You should know better. When it comes to being healthy, you re just trying to do your best. But it can be tricky to know what you should and shouldn t do when you re constantly being bombarded with health advice from all directions. Turns out, some of the common and age-old stuff you ve heard or read all over the internet is actually...wrong. Click through the gallery above for 40 of the *worst* pieces of health advice you should never follow and why. You need to shave your pubic hair Pubic hair actually serves a purpose it's designed to be protective of your vagina, and also helps prevent irritation from friction during sex. Whether you do it or not, shaving down there is ultimately a personal preference. You absolutely don't have to groom down there if you don't want to. You should try an elimination diet to lose weight Wrong. An elimination diet is just what it sounds like: It involves eliminating certain foods from your diet. But it's designed to help figure out if you have any food intolerances or allergies not to lose weight. You can use the pull-out method to avoid getting pregnant This is a huge myth , and one that comes with some potentially serious consequences. The pull-out method isn't foolproof. In fact, about 4 percent of couples get pregnant if the male partner withdraws before ejaculating, according to research published in the journal Contraception . For weight loss, focus on exercise over diet People have argued this for years, but research actually suggests the opposite is true. The reason dieting is so much more effective than exercise is because it takes a ton of activity to create a daily 500- to 700-calorie deficit you'd need to lose a pound in a week through working out. That doesn't mean exercise isn't important it is. But it's crucial to eat well when weight loss is your goal. Don't eat before bed to avoid weight gain Nope, you actually don't need to worry so much about taking this advice. Some studies suggest the opposite, that eating a snack before bed can help you feel more satiated and eat less overall. But there's really no convincing data to prove that eating just before bed is a significant factor in weight gain or weight loss for that matter. Follow your hunger cues and eat when you need fuel. You should worry about your genetics first when it comes to Alzheimer's risk Yes, having a family member with Alzheimer's disease may increase your risk of developing it yourself down the road. But lifestyle factors also play a big role . Diet, exercise, and sleep can help you slow or even stave off the brain degeneration associated with Alzheimer's and those are factors you actually have control over. Stay far away from coffee entirely when you're pregnant The issue with this is the caffeine, and experts agree that some caffeine (coffee included) is totally fine when you're pregnant. The general scientific consensus is that consuming more than about 300 milligrams of caffeine daily may increase your risks of pregnancy loss and having a baby with a low birth weight, per the World Health Organization . That's why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women stick to less than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day, or about eight ounces of coffee. If you switch to decaf, you can have even more. You need to call your doc about period spotting, always Sure, it's not ideal, but it doesn't necessarily mean that something is seriously wrong with your health. Instead, it could mean something as simple as your ovulation pattern is a little off or that your body is adjusting to new birth control. If it persists, though, talk to your doctor. To kick a hangover ASAP, chug a sports drink Certain drinks *might* help replace electrolytes sodium, potassium, phosphorus, chloride, calcium, and magnesium and generally help regulate fluid levels in the body. But most hangovers aren't linked to an electrolyte imbalance. So, while sports drinks might help you rehydrate, they're unlikely to magically cure your hangover. Douche to clean your vagina Your vagina is like a self-cleaning oven . It has a delicate microbiome that works hard to keep itself healthy. Douching messes with this and can actually raise your risk of developing certain infections. So, take a pass. To clean a wound, soak it in salt water Actually, the opposite is true. Salt water, like you'd find at a beach or bay, isn't sterile and can contain harmful bacteria  including flesh-eating bacteria . That can open you up to a serious infection. See your doctor ASAP about period clots You don't have to wake your gyno up in the middle of the night for clots in your period blood. It's completely normal . Typically, anti-coagulants released by your body when you have your period fend off period blood clots. But sometimes especially if you have a heavy flow not all of your uterine tissue is able to be broken down. That can lead to clots forming and being released during your period. While not all women experience clots, it's still normal to have them. Drink apple cider vinegar when you have a cold People claim that drinking a diluted solution of apple cider vinegar will change your body's pH levels to create an environment where bacteria and viruses can't live. This isn't proven. The effects of ACV have been studied on bacteria that's outside the body, but it's unknown how it works on bacteria inside the body. Plus, most colds are caused by viruses not bacteria which means it's not going to do much anyway. You only need to take prenatal vitamins when you're pregnant Prenatal vitamins are there to fill in any nutritional gaps and make sure there is an abundance of all the vital nutrients your baby needs to grow. Ideally you should start taking them as soon as you start trying to conceive, since your baby will need those extra nutrients from the moment of conception. Many doctors also recommend that breastfeeding moms also take prenatal vitamins to help fill nutritional gaps. Don't bother getting a flu shot Yes, the flu vaccine is more effective at preventing the flu in some years than others. But getting the flu shot can also lower your risk of developing serious complications of the flu, and help ensure that you'll have a milder course of the illness if you do happen to catch it. So, get your flu shot. You should expect to feel exhausted on your period Sure, you're probably not going to feel amazing 24/7 on your period, but feeling wiped all the time could be a sign that something is off. If your periods tend to be heavy or last for more than seven days, you could develop iron deficiency anemia , a condition that happens when you have too little iron in your body. Anemia can torpedo your energy, leave you feeling weak, and cause shortness of breath, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services . If this describes you when Flo comes to town, call your doctor. Do a body wrap to lose weight fast People claim that body wraps can help you drop pounds fast , but it's not the kind of weight loss you're after. Body wraps could make you look thinner and may even cause you to lose a few pounds, but it will all be due to losing water weight and therefore will be temporary. You should take turmeric for a sharp mind Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and works as an antioxidant. But while many people claim it can sharpen your mind and stave off Alzheimer's disease, there isn't really scientific evidence to back that up. You don't need to wash your feet in the shower When you shower, soap and water runs down your legs and onto your feet, making it seem like it's got the area covered. But you don't get a pass on not washing your feet in the shower they accumulate a lot of dirt and could use a serious scrub. You should stick with the same birth control for life Not only is there no medical reason to do this, most women end up switching birth control over time due to side effects or lifestyle changes, says WH advisor Sheeva Talebian, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at CCRM NY. And that's totally fine find a BC that works for you at any given stage of life. Don't worry about getting the flu more than once Unfortunately, that's not the case . There are several strains of the flu that circulate on any given year and, even if you caught one strain of the flu, it doesn't mean you're not able to catch another strain. You still need to get a period even if you're on the pill Here's the deal: Some women will stop getting their period on the pill because the lining of their uterus is thin from the hormones in their oral contraceptives, says Kim Langdon, MD, an ob-gyn and writer at Parenting Pod . If the uterine lining doesn't thicken due to hormonal fluctuation, it doesn't need to shed each month like it does during a regular period. "This is perfectly safe and will change back to normal once they go off the pill," Dr. Langdon says. Use a jade egg to strengthen your vagina Please ignore this fake news. A jade egg is an egg-shaped weight that you insert and hold inside your vagina. The egg has been said to strengthen your pelvic floor, by requiring those muscles to clench to keep it in place. But because the eggs are made of stone, they're porous and can absorb bacteria bacteria that you can't fully remove during cleanings. It can also be hard to remove them because they're slippery. All in all, doctors recommend that you t ake a pass . You need to take a break from the pill Nope. There's no evidence of long-term issues from continuing to use the birth control pill. In fact, as soon as a healthy woman stops taking the pill, her body goes back to its pre-pill state in about three months. So, if you used to have bad PMS or heavy periods, you'll be stuck dealing with them again. It's better to drink alkaline water than regular water Alkaline water is water that falls around 8 or 9 on the pH scale, about 1 to 2 levels above regular water's neutral pH (7). Fans say that alkaline water prevents your body's pH from becoming too acidic, by counterbalancing anything that would bring down your pH. But there's really no conclusive evidence that alkaline water is any better than plain old water. You don't need to clean your belly button Your belly button can trap all kinds of gunk, including dead skin cells that naturally shed daily, debris, sweat, oil secretions, and small clothing fibers. But bacteria and yeast can grow out of control in there and, worst case scenario, you could end up with a bacterial or yeast infection. So, clean your belly button regularly with gentle soap and water. Eat honey to help with spring allergies The concept behind this makes sense: Eating local honey exposes you to the local pollens (that you're allergic to) and can actually make you immune to them. Unfortunately, this is an urban myth . Local honey does contain pollen, but it's not the same as the airborne pollens that cause seasonal allergies (trees, grasses, and weeds, which are dispersed through the air). There's also no scientific evidence to back this up. You don't have to worry about your period if you're in water We've allll heard that your period stops when you, say, go swimming. While that would be awesome, it's just not the case . "It doesn't matter if you're in water or on the top of a mountain or in a ditch, your period still comes," says Michele Haughton, MD , an ob/gyn at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. Don't go on the pill if you want to avoid weight gain This is *not* an excuse to avoid the pill if it's a birth-control method that makes sense for you. While some women say they've gained weight on the pill, a review of more than 40 studies showed no specific evidence that birth control pills cause weight gain. That said, some women gain a little water weight while taking pills that contain estrogen, as the hormone can cause fluid retention, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But it won't stick around. If that's the case for you, you'll likely just pee it out when you take the placebo pills. Clean your vagina after sex to avoid pregnancy Douching, i.e., washing or cleaning out the inside of your vagina with water or other fluids, won't help prevent pregnancy. But it will do other icky things that you definitely don't want, like throw off the balance of bacteria that keeps your vagina healthy, increasing your risk of developing an infection down there. You should always buy organic tampons over the regular kind One benefit of using organic tampons is that they are usually unscented, which can be good if you have sensitive skin. But other than that, it's really personal preference. "The bottom line, though, is that conventional tampons are monitored by the FDA and are, by and large, safe for most women," says Alyssa Dweck , MD, an ob-gyn in Westchester, New York, and author of The Complete A to Z for Your V. Get rid of a sunburn with coconut oil It seems like a good fit for tackling burned skin, but there's no evidence that coconut oil is better to proven treatments like cold milk soaks and aloe vera, says Estee Williams, MD , assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. It's important to eat foods with probiotics added to them While it likely can't hurt, getting your probiotics this way likely isn't doing much. Many of the probiotic strains added to foods are chosen because they're safe and can be manufactured cheaply and easily. Basically, they're not necessarily the best ones for your health. Instead, eat foods with naturally occurring probiotics, or speak with your doctor about a supplement. You absolutely need to take a multivitamin Not everyone needs to take a multivitamin. If you eat a well-balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables in it, you may be getting sufficient amounts of vitamins and other nutrients already. Before you waste your money, talk to your doctor and dietitian about your eating and lifestyle habits to help gauge whether a multivitamin makes sense for you and would actually fill a nutritional deficiency. It's also worth pointing out that supplements aren't rigorously regulated, so you should always check with your MD before popping any unknown pills. You should do a coffee enema to detoxify the body If you're a healthy adult, you really don't need to do an enema (which is when you pump water or another substance into the rectum to the large intestine in order to flush out poop) of any sort, let alone a coffee enema. There's a misconception that ridding the body of all feces is detoxifying and de-bloating, but that just isn't the case. Your body is perfectly capable of taking care of itself when it comes to your waste products. Detox teas are safe and effective for weight loss There are *tons* of teas on the market that claim to help you de-bloat and flush toxins out of the body, and help you drop pounds fast. Pause: These sips tend to feature ingredients with laxative or diuretic properties, meaning they really just make you have to poop or pee. (So, you might feel lighter in a sense, but you won't really lose weight in a meaningful, long-term way.) These teas also have icky side effects a lot of the time, like painful gas, diarrhea, nausea, and more. Steer clear. You don't need to wear sunscreen indoors Whoever told you this one? Correct them already. If you're sitting by a window or driving in the car, you're still exposed to UV rays. Also, just because you're inside most of the day doesn't mean you won't see *any* sunlight so it's always better to be safe than sorry. Lather up with the SPF, stat. Get vitamin D from the sun Nope, there's no such thing as a healthy tan. Time in the sun without sunblock should be reserved for super-short stints. If you're deficient in vitamin D, your doctor would be the one to let you know. In those cases, it's still not an excuse to ditch the SPF a supplement might help instead. Avoid soy because it's linked to breast cancer risk Practically everyone has read somewhere on Internet that soy may increase estrogen levels, which studies have shown is linked to breast and ovarian cancers. But this finding is super outdated and originally stemmed from research in mice (and you're not a mouse, right?). Ask any expert you trust, and they'll likely tell you that this advice is bogus. You should clean yourself with wipes after going number two The skin around your anus is actually super sensitive, so you don't want to over-clean it . Wiping too much and using scented, packaged wipes can also cause irritation or even microscopic tears (fissures) or leave the area too moist, and in turn, making it a breeding ground for bacteria. When it comes to cleansing your tush, just use a minimal amount of toilet paper and rinse the region with warm water thoroughly in the shower.


Third-string quarterback Joe Webb took every snap for the Houston Texans in their 28-26 loss to the Green Bay Packers Thursday night at Lambeau Field. Due to second-string quarterback A.J. McCarron suffering an injury to the thumb on his throwing hand, and franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson not needing any opening preseason action, Webb played a full game. Coach Bill O'Brien was complementary of Webb after the game. "Joe is really what we we're looking for in a Houston Texan," O'Brien said via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Bill O'Brien on Joe Webb: 'Joe is really what we're looking for in a Houston Texan' - Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 9, 2019 Webb completed 25 passes on 40 attempts for 286 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He also ran six times for 47 yards, and threw a few blocks on the edge for running backs. How Webb epitomizes what the Texans are looking for in a player is his willingness to play special teams, receiver, or anything the team is looking for. In the opening preseason game, the club was looking for a full-time quarterback, even though they had just signed undrafted rookie Jordan Ta'amu on Wednesday. While Webb may be what the Texans are looking for in terms of heart, having the former 2010 sixth-round pick play a whole game can't be a winning formula for Houston, even though O'Brien did manage to squeeze a 9-7 record and AFC South title out of the likes of Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates, and Brandon Weeden in 2015. MORE: 6 takeaways from Packers' preseason victory over Texans Duke Johnson trade: what they're saying around the NFL A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Winners and losers from Patriots' preseason blowout win over Lions Rookie standouts: Ty Johnson, others show potential in first preseason game


Training camps have literally just started, and already some NFL teams are behind the eight ball with difficult circumstances to overcome, for various reasons. Some big-time suspensions have been handed down recently that have a few teams reeling. Other teams have been bitten by the injury bug. Then there are the teams that simply are facing an uphill climb in a rough division. These 10 NFL teams are all looking at potentially rough starts to the 2019 season. Tennessee Titans Starting left tackle Taylor Lewan is going to miss the first four games of the season after testing positive for a banned substance. That's a brutal blow to a team that was already looking like a potential cellar dweller in 2019 . Quarterback Marcus Mariota has been injury-prone throughout his career, and he's facing a make-or-break campaign in 2019. Lewan is also a key run-blocker, so his impending absence is doubly painful for the Titans. With games against the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons to open the season, Tennessee could be looking at an 0-4 start. Tampa Bay Buccaneers There are a couple of main reasons the Bucs find themselves on this list. First and foremost, the loss of pass-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul ( for at least the beginning of the season ) cannot be overstated as a significant detriment. He had 12.5 sacks last year and is one of the most dangerous 4-3 defensive ends in the game. Tampa Bay also has a distinct lack of bankable talent at the running back position and will be relying on the turnover-prone Jameis Winston to keep the offense going in a positive direction. As good a coach as Bruce Arians is, these are big issues to overcome. Seattle Seahawks Heading into training camp, the big question mark facing the Seahawks was whether they had enough talent and depth up front to continue dominating defensively. Then, star defensive tackle Jarran Reed was hit with a six-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy. This is a young man who racked up 50 tackles and 10.5 sacks playing inside last year for the 'Hawks. Losing that amount of production on a team that was already shallow at the position is a brutal blow. Seattle did sign veteran Earl Mitchell to help soften the impact. Yet he won't be able to replace Reed. Houston Texans Houston opened camp with some huge names on the PUP list , but that's not the main reason the Texans are behind the eight ball to open the season. Instead, it's the way the team addressed its biggest need   the offensive line   this offseason. In particular, drafting small-school left tackle Tytus Howard in the first round was a baffling move. As it stands, Julie'n Davenport and Seantrel Henderson   two mediocre talents (at best)   are penciled in as the starters at the offensive tackle spot. Deshaun Watson is one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, but we legitimately fear for his health playing behind these guys. Arizona Cardinals Like their NFC West rival Seahawks, the Cardinals are opening the 2019 season without a star defender. Patrick Peterson   one of the best cover cornerbacks in the league   is suspended the first six games of the season for PEDs . Arizona was already facing a massive uphill climb in 2019 under the guidance of rookie head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who's starting rookie quarterback Kyler Murray. So, despite a lot of excitement surrounding this offense, fans were already having to temper expectations. To lose a player of Peterson's caliber and his leadership and stability doubles down on the impact this suspension will have on the Cardinals. Los Angeles Chargers Melvin Gordon is holding out of training camp and has threatened to hold out of games without a contract extension he feels is worthy of his talent. Gordon is one of the most productive touchdown makers in the NFL, having totaled 38 touchdowns the past three seasons. The latest reports on this contract impasse indicate the Chargers have no intention of caving to Gordon's demands. And quite honestly, an argument can be made that Los Angeles should stick to its guns . Yet despite that, the Chargers would be hard-pressed to even remotely replace Gordon is he does hold out of regular-season games. Washington Redskins Where to start? There are a number of big issues facing Washington here at the start of camp. Seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams isn't at training camp and could hold out for a while . That's not good news for whomever starts under center. And that situation is weird, too. It's a three-way battle between journeyman Case Keenum, rookie Dwayne Haskins and Colt McCoy. The defense, already without starting inside linebacker Reuben Foster (out for the year with knee injury), will wade into the 2019 season without Mason Foster (the other starter), who was stunningly cut on the day he was set to report. Dysfunctional as usual, and Washington will struggle right out of the gate in 2019. Cincinnati Bengals By virtue of Andy Dalton being the undisputed starter in Cincinnati once more, the Bengals will open the season playing catch-up to the rest of the highly competitive AFC North. Throwing even more fuel on the bonfire that is a Dalton-led offense, the Bengals' smart decision to select former Alabama left tackle Jonah Williams in Round 1 backfired immediately. He's likely out for the season following shoulder surgery. Then there's the simple fact that rookie head coach Zac Taylor is as green as they come, having never even had a coordinator position in the NFL before landing this job. Buckle up, Bengals fans. Atlanta Falcons On the first day of training camp, the Falcons lost two defenders to likely season-ending injuries. Backup defensive tackle Michael Bennett is out with a fractured ankle , and backup safety J.J. Wilcox is out with a torn ACL . The Wilcox injury hurts worse right now, because starting safety Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal are both coming back from season-ending lower-body injuries suffered last year. But both injuries have to scare the heck out of the Falcons and their fans after last year's snake-bitten season that saw multiple starters go down for the season. New England Patriots For the record, history tells us that as long as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are pulling the strings, the Patriots are going to be just fine . However, the defending champs certainly have a bunch of issues they'll have to overcome this summer. Finding a replacement for Rob Gronkowski is first among them. His value cannot be quantified by stats alone, and there are few tight ends in the history of the league who could even match them to begin with. New England also has to find an immediate replacement for starting outside linebacker Trey Flowers, who signed with Detroit in free agency. Additionally, Mr. Reliable, Julian Edelman, is opening camp with a thumb injury and won't be available for a few weeks . Related slideshow: Biggest storyline for each team entering camp (Provided by Yardbarker)


For Elon Musk and Tesla, the blows from Wall Street came one after another this week -- a relentless barrage that left the stock so beat up that some now wonder if it can ever regain its status as the ultimate 21st century disrupter. Morgan Stanley threw the biggest blow, declaring that in a worst-case scenario, Tesla's shares could sink to a shocking $10. A Wedbush analyst said the carmaker is facing a "code red situation" and cast doubt on whether Tesla can sell enough of its electric cars to make a profit. And Citigroup and Robert W. Baird & Co. analysts, among others, slashed their target prices, citing concerns about cash flow and consumer demand. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk at the unveiling of the Model Y crossover on March 15. The stock has fallen almost 10% this week, leaving it down a staggering 43% on the year. Some $23 billion in shareholder value has been wiped out, sinking the company's market cap back below that of General Motors and Ford. Even Tesla's benchmark bonds now trade at just 81 cents on the dollar, pushing their yield north of 9%. This investor panic could fade, of course, and go down as just more evidence of Tesla's famous volatility. Indeed, the stock rebounded Thursday, briefly approaching the $200 mark again, after an upbeat email that Musk sent to employees countered days of escalating doubt that the company will hit its vehicle delivery targets. But it plunged again Friday to about $190. The stock is the single biggest decliner in the Nasdaq 100 Stock Index since the start of the year. What makes the collapse so stunning is that it comes just five months after even many of Musk's critics on Wall Street were beginning to believe he was poised to put the company on a path toward sustainable profitability. Its stock soared at year-end as sales, production and profits strengthened. Tesla, it seemed, was almost out of the woods, Musk's caustic tweets a thing of the past. But that optimism has now reversed so dramatically that one bearish analyst says that Tesla is in danger of ending up a niche player at best. The concerns about the company -- everything from growing competition to the consumers' swing back to big sport utilities -- aren't necessarily new but have been stoked by a series of more urgent warnings. Musk himself added to the gloom and doom last week when he told staff in a memo that even after a recent $2.7 billion fund raising in markets, the company risked running out of cash in 10 months without "hardcore" cost cuts. Then came renewed attention on a fatality in a Tesla operating on Autopilot -- part of the company's crucial push into autonomous driving. "Tesla's stock for a while was wildly inflated as many investors thought that the company could not only become a very profitable large automaker, but will also dominate other fields like solar energy, energy storage and autonomous mobility," Barclays analyst Brian Johnson said. But now the auto part "seems to be headed more towards a niche automaker.'' Those other businesses? "Nowhere to be seen," he said. The cracks in the Tesla story started showing up early in the year: A decision to cut prices, Musk's warning about a " difficult " road ahead and fourth-quarter profit that missed estimates all fueled concern that demand was waning for its cars. But the fears finally burst open after the company reported a massive loss for the first three months of the year, along with a sharp drop in sales. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives called the quarter "one of top debacles" ever seen in his 20 years of experience. Citron Research founder and prominent short seller Andrew Left -- who said last year Tesla was smoking the rest of the automotive industry -- abandoned his long bet on the stock. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas, who just a year ago had set a price target as high as $379 on Tesla, said the share price may now be headed for as low as $10. "Demand is at the heart of the problem," Jonas wrote in a note, becoming more blunt in a call the next day. Once a growth story, Tesla is now more of a "distressed credit and restructuring story,'' he said. The company is burning through cash and demand is lacking, he said. One risk is in China, where Tesla has a big focus at a time of increasing trade tensions and more local competition. Tesla stands by its forecast of delivering 360,000 to 400,000 cars in 2019. A leaked email from Musk to Tesla employees suggested the company has a chance to hit its targets for the second quarter, and may even exceed the record 90,700 deliveries achieved in the last three months of 2018. Many analysts are skeptical. Evercore ISI estimates Tesla will deliver 343,000 cars in 2019, for example. Tesla also failed to excite market enthusiasm with its sudden decision last month to pivot towards becoming a robo-taxi company, running a fleet of self-driven cars. Musk has said Tesla's autonomous technology has the potential to make it a half-trillion-dollar company one day. But Barclays' Johnson ascribes no value to the robo-taxi business. Morgan Stanley's Jonas assumes a $45 a share valuation for it, a far cry from August 2015 when he said it could be worth as much as $244 . While historically Tesla has behaved like an emerging growth stock, where management could invent its own milestones, that has changed in the last six months, said Roth Capital Partners analyst Craig Irwin. Investors now "care more about units, average pricing, gross margins and the expectations of profits." While the bulls and bears on Tesla have a history of being extremely polarized -- price targets on the stock currently range from $54 to $530, according to Bloomberg data -- many agree that the company's electric car technology overall is still far ahead of the competition. Yet, that may not prove to be enough to support the lofty valuations of the past. "Electric vehicles are certainly the future of transportation, but I don't think Tesla will be the one that profits from it," Bradford Meikle, a senior analyst for Williams Trading who this week cut his Tesla price target to just $70, said on Bloomberg Television. "The value of the brand is going down every day."


NFL preseason football at its absolute best. Buffalo Bills running back Christian Wade is a former rugby player from England . The 28-year-old actually ranked third in tries in Premiership Rugby, England's top division. Instead of continuing his career, Wade decided to sign a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills. He had never played a single football snap in real game action prior to the Bills' preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts Thursday evening. What followed was legendary. Wade took a handoff and bolted 65 yards for a touchdown. In his first football game ever. On his first NFL touch. Former England rugby superstar Christian Wade just scored a 65-yard TD!!! @ChristianWade3 #INDvsBUF pic.twitter.com/4You01TFXz   NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2019 His first football game ever. At any level. His first NFL snap. Wade goes 65 yards for a score. That really is some wild stuff. Given the Bills' surplus of talent at running back, Wade faces an uphill climb to break camp with the team. In no way does that make this specific play any less amazing. Related Slideshow: Best MVP candidate for all 32 teams in 2019 NFL season (provided by imagn)


Video by ABC News LONDON   Dutch and British voters on Thursday kicked off four days of elections across the European Union for the bloc's Parliament, a vote that pits supporters of close European integration against populist euroskeptics who want to severely restrict immigration and give more powers back to their national governments. Polls opened first in the Netherlands and half an hour later in the United Kingdom   a nation still in political chaos over its plans to leave bloc altogether. They were the only nations among the EU's 28 members that held an election Thursday. Others will be voting through Sunday. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who bicycled to his voting station in a suburb of The Hague, backs a more united EU, saying he doesn't want his country to follow the U.K. out of the EU door. "For our safety, for our jobs, for our prosperity, our stability, we need to stay a part of European Union," he said. The elections, which end Sunday night, come as support is surging for populists and nationalists who want to rein in the EU's powers and strictly limit immigration. Meanwhile, Europe's traditional political powerhouses, both conservative and left-wing, insist that unity is the best buffer against the shifting economic and security challenges posed by an emerging new world order. French President Emmanuel Macron says the challenge is "not to cede to a coalition of destruction and disintegration" that will seek to dismantle the EU unity that has been built up over the past six decades. Many EU leaders embrace the idea of further European integration as a way to bolster prosperity and influence. In a significant challenge to those centrist forces, populists across several countries have united ahead of the elections. On Saturday, Italy's anti-migrant Interior Minister Matteo Salvini was joined at a rally by 10 other nationalist leaders, including far-right leaders Marine Le Pen of France's National Rally party and Joerg Meuthen of the Alternative for Germany party. The populists are seeking to join forces across national boundaries to give them a much stronger voice in the European Parliament and overthrow Europe's traditional political structure. Voters across Europe are electing 751 lawmakers, although that number is set to drop to 705 when Britain leaves the EU. The U.K. has 73 European lawmakers, who would lose their jobs when their country completes its messy divorce from the EU. Results of the four days of voting will not be officially released until Sunday night, but Dutch national broadcaster NOS will publish a Netherlands exit poll after ballot boxes close Thursday night. On Thursday morning, British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn warned that "the far-right is on the rise," adding that "the actions we take now will have huge consequences for our future." The British vote may have a direct impact on the future of embattled Prime Minister Theresa May, whose Conservative Party appears to be losing support amid a prolonged Brexit impasse. May has tried but failed for months to get lawmakers in the British Parliament to back her plan to leave the EU. Both the Conservatives and Labour in Britain were predicted to be heading for an electoral pasting in Thursday's vote, due to the chaos over Britain's impending departure from the EU. Results of the vote will be announced Sunday night, and a poor showing for the Conservatives would increase the calls for May to step down as party leader, which would set in motion a leadership contest. Britain's Brexit party, led by Nigel Farage, has appeared to gain strength in recent voter surveys. Farage voted Thursday, then declared he hopes to have the shortest possible tenure as a member of the European Parliament because he wants Britain to leave the EU as quickly as possible. "If you want Brexit, you've got to vote Brexit," he said, warning lawmakers from Britain's two major parties   Conservatives and Labour   that they will be vanquished at Britain's next general election unless they respect voters' desire to leave the EU. Voting in Britain was marred by the inability of hundreds of the 3 million EU citizens in Britain to vote despite having a legal right to do so. The Electoral Commission blamed the problem on the short notice that officials had to prepare for the election, which would not have been held in Britain if the country had left the EU in March as planned. The Netherlands could provide a snapshot of what is to come. Polls show the right-wing populist Forum for Democracy led by charismatic intellectual Thierry Baudet running neck-and-neck with Rutte's center-right VVD party. While the Netherlands, an affluent trading nation, profits from the EU's open borders and single market, it also is a major contributor to EU coffers. Astrid van Foreest, 75, voted for Rutte's party, saying the Netherlands needs to be part of the EU. "We are such a small country. We can't do without Europe," she said. "Europe has brought us a lot of riches   not for everybody. That is a point to be improved. We can't do it all on our own." Baudet, whose party emerged as a surprise winner of provincial elections in March, identifies more with hard-line Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban than with the nationalist populist movement led by Itay's Salvini, although in a debate Wednesday night he called Salvini a "hero of Europe" for his crackdown on migration. "The immigration we get here from Africa and the Mideast is completely contrary to our culture, our values, our way of life, tolerance, love of women and so on," Baudet said. "That has to stop and it will not happen at the European level." ___ Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Santa Ana? We've rounded up the latest rental listings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to finding housing in Santa Ana if you're on a budget of $1,700/month. Read on for the listings. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 901 S. Harbor Blvd. (Riverview West) Listed at $1,615/month, this 516-square-foot one-bedroom and one bathroom apartment is located at 901 S. Harbor Blvd. In the unit, you can anticipate a balcony. When it comes to building amenities, anticipate a fitness center, on-site laundry and a swimming pool. Luckily for pet owners, both dogs and cats are welcome. According to Walk Score, this location is very walkable, is very bikeable and has a few nearby public transportation options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 4200 W. First St. (Riverview West) Next, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit over at 4200 W. First St. It's listed for $1,621/month for its 631 square feet. Amenities offered in the building include on-site laundry. The residence also has a dishwasher, hardwood flooring and stainless steel appliances. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are welcome. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is quite walkable, is relatively bikeable and has some transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 3683 S. Bear St. Then, check out this 560-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom abode that's located at 3683 S. Bear St. It's listed for $1,650/month. When it comes to building amenities, anticipate a fitness center, outdoor space and a swimming pool. Also, expect to find quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances in the unit. Pets are not permitted. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, the surrounding area is somewhat walkable, is fairly bikeable and has some transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 1300 Fairhaven Ave. Listed at $1,674/month, this 750-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom spot is located at 1300 Fairhaven Ave. Building amenities include assigned parking and on-site laundry. The residence also comes with hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances. Pet lovers are in luck: cats and dogs are allowed. According to Walk Score's assessment, the surrounding area is somewhat walkable, is bikeable and has a few nearby public transportation options. (Check out the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Santa Ana . This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The FBI is asking for help identifying the man suspected of robbing a bank in Denver Monday evening. The suspect is described as a white man between 40 and 45 years old with a short beard and acne marks on his face, the FBI said. He was wearing a black and white hat, button-up style shirt, dark pants and dark shoes. He was also carrying a black bag, police said. He's suspected of robbing the First Bank at 275 S. Federal Blvd. in Denver just before 6 p.m. on Monday by presenting note demanding money to the teller. Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime. Anyone with information about this bank robbery or another incident can contact the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171. They can also remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000 by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Local stories from 9NEWS


PHOENIX (AP) The Colorado Rockies look nothing like the struggling squad that was 3-12 on April 14 and on its way to a long season. They're 37-22 since that rough start, including another hard-fought victory Thursday. Chris Iannetta's two-run, bases-loaded single in the 10th inning lifted the Rockies to a 6-4 win that completed a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks. That came after the Rockies tied it at 4 on Tony Wolters' pinch-hit RBI single in the top of the ninth. ''There's a ton of resiliency in this team,'' Rockies manager Bud Black said. ''There's fight in this group. ... I think there's a real level-headedness to this group that allows it to think clearly.'' Iannetta, a former Diamondbacks catcher, singled off the center-field wall against Yoshihisa Hirano (3-4) with one out to drive in Ian Desmond and Brendan Rodgers. ''You're trying to hit a sacrifice fly, they fall behind 2-0, so now you're looking for a pitch over the plate to hopefully do it with,'' Iannetta said. ''I hit it good. I felt my hands rattle a little bit, so I know I didn't get all of it, but I got a lot of it.'' Desmond got to third base on a single by Rodgers, who was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque earlier in the day and entered in the bottom of the ninth at shortstop when Rockies star third baseman Nolan Arenado left with a bruised left big toe. Arenado said he's dealt with a sore foot since the Rockies' previous series against San Diego, when he fouled a ball of his foot, and that it has swelled up and required ice. He got X-rays after Thursday's game and said he's in pain, but it's something he said he will have to deal with. Scott Oberg (5-0) got the win with two scoreless innings in relief, but had to pitch out of jam in the bottom of the 10th when the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one out. He got Ildemaro Vargas to fly out, and then struck out David Peralta swinging to end the game. The Rockies had a chance to win it in the ninth after Wolters tied it off Holland, who was pitching for the first time in a week. But Daniel Murphy grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners at first and third. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo shouldered the responsibility for not finding opportunities for Holland to pitch since June 12. ''I'm not going to use that as an excuse,'' Holland said. ''We should've won and we needed to win, and I let it slip away from us there, so I take responsibility for that.'' Charlie Blackmon and Desmond homered for the Rockies, who have won eight in a row over the Diamondbacks. ''These are tough times right now. It's a very grinding, tough situation that we're walking through,'' Lovullo said. ''We're all frustrated, but we've got to move off that as quickly as possible.'' Christian Walker's two-run pinch-hit homer keyed a three-run sixth, helping the Diamondbacks take a 4-3 lead. Ketel Marte had four hits and tied a club record for consecutive three-hit games with his fourth. Peralta drove in Marte with a single in the sixth. Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray pitched six innings, allowing three runs and four hits with nine strikeouts and five walks. Blackmon hit the second pitch of the game into the seats in right field, his fifth leadoff home run of the season and 35th of his career. Desmond's solo shot came in the fifth, his 10th of the season. The Diamondbacks tied it at 1 in the bottom of the first inning on Eduardo Escobar's sacrifice fly. Rockiers starter Jeff Hoffman was done at the 82-pitch mark with two outs in the third after he hit Nick Ahmed with a pitch. Hoffman allowed a run on three hits, walked four, struck out five and threw a pair of wild pitches in his shortest outing of the season. The Rockies made it 2-1 following a leadoff walk to Arenado to open the fourth. Arenado made it to second base on a long fly out and scored on Ryan McMahon's two-out double. McMahon is 14 for 31 with 10 RBIs over a career-best seven-game hitting streak. ''It feels good to win against a good team,'' Arenado said. ''To come here and get a sweep is not an easy thing to do.'' LO-'CATCH'-STRO The Diamondbacks' Tim Locastro, who entered in the fifth in center field, made two running catches that ended in collisions with the wall. He flagged down deep line drives from Pat Valaika and David Dahl in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. TRAINERS' ROOM Rockies: Story was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right thumb before Thursday's game. Story was injured while sliding head-first into second base trying to stretch a hit into a double in the sixth inning Wednesday night. ''A relief that it's not as bad as it could have been,'' Story said. Diamondbacks: Ahmed was removed after four innings with a left hand bruise, the result of being hit by Hoffman's pitch. He told Lovullo he is OK to play after X-rays were negative, but Lovullo will make a decision on Ahmed's availability on Friday. UP NEXT Rockies: Colorado opens a three-game series with the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium, with RHP German Marquez (7-3, 4.57 earned run average) getting the start in the opener. Marquez entered Thursday second in the NL with 102 1/3 innings pitched. Diamondbacks: RHP Taylor Clarke (1-2, 5.34) starts the opener of a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. The Giants will be the first team Clarke has faced more than once in his career. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- C.J. Cron believed in spring training that the Minnesota Twins were going to have a good offense this season. Their hitting hasn't just been good, it has been powerful. The Twins tied a franchise record with eight home runs and beat the Los Angeles Angels 16-7 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep. The Twins-- who also went deep eight times earlier this season at Baltimore -- joined the 2005 Texas Rangers as the only teams in MLB history to have multiple games in a season with eight or more home runs. BOX SCORE: TWINS 16, ANGELS 7 "It's all just kind of clicked and hopefully there's no stopping," said Cron, who had five hits, including a home run against his former team. "When you are hitting like this it is contagious. If you look at this lineup you are going to see a lot of power. We have the ability to do that and it is nice to show it." Miguel Sano and Jonathan Schoop went deep twice for Minnesota. Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco and Eddie Rosario also homered. It was the third time in franchise history -- dating to their days as the Washington Senators -- Minnesota homered eight times. "It's pretty amazing. Our guys continue to go up there and not give up at bats," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "We've had some games this season where we have hit a lot of homers. It's not as if our guys go up there swinging for the fences." Schoop drove in four runs and Sano three as the Twins won six of seven on their road trip that began in Seattle and wound up with their first sweep in Anaheim since 1996. Minnesota, which leads the AL Central by eight games at 33-16, hit 22 homers against the Mariners and the Angels. There were a total of 11 home runs in this game, which was originally set for Wednesday but postponed due to unplayable field conditions following a pregame storm. The eight home runs also tied the Angels' mark for most allowed. It previously happened twice, with the most recent being 2005 vs. Texas. Four of the seven hits Matt Harvey (2-4) allowed in 2 2/3 innings went over the wall as the right-hander gave up eight runs for the second time this season. Noe Ramirez and Cody Allen allowed two long balls apiece. "The long balls were killing us. It's hard, like I've said times, to tell where on the plate it is but they came out swinging," manager Brad Ausmus said. Tommy La Stella hit his first grand slam in the ninth for the Angels, who have dropped four straight. David Fletcher and Brian Goodwin also homered for Los Angeles. Minnesota broke open the game in the second inning with six runs, which included a three-run shot by Schoop and two-run drive by Polanco. Harvey was chased in the third after solo homers by Cron and Sano. The Twins hit three home runs in the seventh to extend their lead to 14-2. Sano's two-run shot and Schoop's solo homer marked the sixth time the Twins had gone back-to-back this season. Kepler added a two-run drive. Twins starter Martin Perez (7-1) went five innings and yielded two runs and five hits. ROAD WARRIORS Minnesota is 18-8, batting .292 and averaging 6.96 runs per game on the road, which are all the best in the majors. The Twins batted .326 (89 for 273) with 37 extra-base hits against the Mariners and Angels while outscoring them 67-27. "We've played well on the road. We don't get distracted," Baldelli said. "I don't see any difference in how we prepare here compared to home." TOUGH DAY Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun came up twice with the bases loaded but was unable to get a hit. He struck out in the third and grounded into a force out to end the fifth. LATE RELIEF Angels first baseman Jared Walsh, who made five relief appearances at Triple-A Salt Lake this season, pitched for the first time in the majors. He gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth. TRAINER'S ROOM Twins: Kepler bruised his right knee when he hit the wall while chasing Goodwin's home run in the ninth inning. Baldelli though didn't think it was serious. ... DH Nelson Cruz (left wrist sprain) returned to Minneapolis. He is eligible to come off the injured list on Friday but Baldelli said they are still seeing how he is doing swinging during batting practice. Angels: SS Andrelton Simmons (left ankle sprain) saw a foot and ankle specialist Wednesday and expects to remain in a walking boot for at least two weeks. . LHP Andrew Heaney (elbow) had a bullpen session before Thursday's game and could make his season debut Sunday. UP NEXT Twins: Return home and open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. RHP Jose Berrios (6-2, 3.39 ERA) has seven or more strikeouts in his last four starts. Angels: Conclude their homestand with three games against Texas. RHP Griffin Canning (2-3, 3.80 ERA), who became the second LA starter to go seven innings last Saturday against Kansas City, gets the call on Friday. ------ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP--Sports


O n June 8, 2018, the world was shocked by the news of Anthony Bourdain's death. People around the globe posted online tributes and shared stories of the celebrity chef, best-selling author, and award-winning TV personality, outlining the myriad ways in which Bourdain left a lasting impact on them, whether directly or indirectly. Through collective grief over Bourdain's death, it became clear that he was a role model to people around the world, both for those who knew him personally and those who'd only been acquainted with him through a screen or on a page. The captivating stories Bourdain shared with the world detailing his food and travel exploits (from his New York Times best seller Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly to the Emmy Award winning series No Reservations on the Travel Channel and Parts Unknown on CNN) played an important role in encouraging travelers everywhere to think more critically about the ways we understand people, cultures, and places unfamiliar to us. While June 8 marks the anniversary of Bourdain's death, two of his longtime friends, chefs Eric Ripert and José Andrés, have chosen to honor Bourdain's life on different day of the month. In a tweet sent on May 30, the chefs declared that they would recognize June 25 (Bourdain's birthday) as "Bourdain Day." In the video, posted by Ripert, the two call June "a very important month" and encourage people around the world to share their own tributes to Bourdain using the hashtag #BourdainDay. IMPORTANT! JUNE 25th #BOURDAINDAY Celebrating the Life, Legacy & Birthday of our Dear Friend Anthony! Wherever U are & whoever UR with, join @chefjoseandres I & share your tributes & memories using #BourdainDay & wish Anthony Peace & Happy Birthday! RT/Spread the word! CHEERS! pic.twitter.com/Sw28hDupfw   Eric Ripert (@ericripert) May 30, 2019 When AFAR first wrote the blueprint for what our publication would become back in 2009, Anthony Bourdain was a huge influence. His openness to the world, his unending interest in talking to people of all backgrounds, and his ability to discover stories at every turn were inspirations. Here, a few AFAR editors share the lessons they learned from Bourdain, in the spirit of celebrating his lasting legacy throughout the month of June and beyond. "I still remember the Lebanon episode of No Reservations . Shortly after Anthony Bourdain and his crew arrived in Beirut , a conflict broke out and bound them to the hotel. It would have been easy to hole up in a suite until the coast was clear, but instead, Bourdain went to the kitchen. He talked to people who lived and worked in this vibrant and sometimes hostile environment. He listened to their stories, he cooked alongside them and unified everyone at the hotel guests and staff alike for a meal. He strove to find grounding in the chaos. While that particular situation was more severe than most, the lesson translates to all travel: Do more than simply visit a place. Engage with the world."  Nicole Antonio, AFAR managing editor "I met Anthony Bourdain in New York City a few years ago at an event that celebrated Singapore's iconic street food heritage a humble cuisine that became a bucket list travel experience for people around the world, thanks to him. Last week I happened to be in Singapore and spent time with a dear friend of Bourdain's: KF Seetoh , the go-to authority on Singaporean street food. As Seetoh shared Bourdain's awe for the delicious tradition of hawker dining culture in Singapore and told the world why we should elevate this cuisine I was reminded of the depths of Bourdain's empathy, which he took with him everywhere he went. Here was an individual who was truly able to walk a mile in another person's shoes and who inspired the world to do the same."  Jennifer Flowers, AFAR deputy editor "Bourdain was completely fearless in his travels. There was no destination too daunting, no food item too weird. He cannonballed into a place feet first and soaked up everything its people had to offer. He treated getting to know a place like the privilege it is and in so doing uncovered its essence. If I can be half as intrepid in my daily life and in my journeys abroad, I'll consider it a lesson well learned from the man who elevated travel to an art."  Kate Sommers-Dawes, AFAR deputy digital editor "More than anything, Anthony Bourdain taught me to embrace the unknown. He was always so at ease when he traveled, never afraid of unfamiliar places, or people, or food; he just dove in head first. I'm always trying to be more like that. Travel can be intimidating, but thanks to Bourdain, I know that I'm only cheating myself if I don't go beyond my comfort zone."  Natalie Beauregard, AFAR guides editor "I often felt that No Reservations should have been called 'No Bulls**t.' That's the side of Bourdain I most appreciated: He'd go into a city he'd never been to and seek out real people. He was 'authentic' before it was co-opted by marketers. He could appreciate the high and the low, and I got the sense that he could see people for who they really were, beyond any glitz or glamour. He used his books and shows to speak truth and celebrate the shared humanity that exists across this big, messy world we all call home. "  Julia Cosgrove, AFAR editor in chief If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out. In the United States, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The International Association for Suicide Prevention can provide contact information for crisis centers around the world. >>Next: Making the World Better, One Traveler at a Time


The Chargers training camp officially begins in less than two weeks. There will be some position battles to keep an eye on with many players looking to solidify roster spots. We took a look at the players that had the most to gain from a strong showing this summer. Now, we take a look at the players who have the most to lose once it begins on July 25. G Dan Feeney Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports After finishing with a decent rookie campaign in 2017, Feeney experienced a sophomore slump in 2018 as the team's starting left guard. He had the most pressures given up by any guard. Feeney ended up with a poor 45.6 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Feeney was a big reason why the Chargers ranked near the bottom in pass blocking efficiency last year. The former Indiana product is now in a position where he will have to show he's worth putting out there in a starting role in 2019. If he is unable to do so, there's a great chance the highly anticipated Forrest Lamp gets the nod over him going into the regular season. WR Travis Benjamin Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The Chargers lost Tyrell Williams this offseason, leaving the No. 3 wide receiver spot wide open. As of now, Benjamin is the frontrunner given the fact that he has the veteran experience and the coaching staff loves him for his speed and the ability to beat defenders over the top. Benjamin saw his production drop significantly in 2018 after a decent 2017 campaign. Even though he might have the third spot on paper, he should not be in a comfortable position as he will have Artavis Scott, Dylan Cantrell, Geremy Davis as well as a few others behind him fighting for the job. In order to sustain the job, he will need to be efficient in catching the football and show he's improved when it comes to taking contact, as that has been a big issue over the course of the past few years. LB Jatavis Brown Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports Like Kyzir White and Denzel Perryman, Brown had his 2018 season cut short due to an injury. Three lower body injuries have held Brown back ever since being the 2016 fifth-round draft pick. He has shined when he is on the field, but nothing is set in stone for the former Akron product as durability concerns have started to creep up. Brown will have to not only fight off White once again but fourth-round selection Drue Tranquill has the opportunity to push Brown down the depth chart this summer, too. CB Michael Davis Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Davis will look to lock up the spot after holding it down over the final few months of the year. He got the start to play opposite of Casey Hayward after Trevor Williams was hampered with an ankle injury that eventually sidelined him in December. Davis had his highs and lows but the weaknesses were truly exposed when the Chargers faced the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round, where he looked out of place. Knowing that Los Angeles has proven to be more superior in coverage when Williams is on the field, it wouldn't be surprising to see him when his starting role back with ease. MORE: Poker player loses brutal 31 million chip hand with pocket aces at 2019 WSOP Main Event Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul News: Major trade target at safety, levels to Cowboys WRs, NFL's best RB NBA Depth Charts 2 Raiders who will become fan favorites during training camp


2020 Democratic presidential candidate and California Sen. Kamala Harris accused President Trump of holding "America's infrastructure hostage" after scrapping his White House meeting with Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday. Trump cut infrastructure negotiations short after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, told the press that the president had "engaged in a cover-up" following a meeting with her caucus. In remarks from the Rose Garden, Trump urged Democrats to end their various investigations into him so that they can tackle infrastructure. During her appearance on "The Late Show," Harris assured host Stephen Colbert, as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, that their investigations will not stop. "So he's gonna hold America's infrastructure hostage, right, over the issue of investigations," Harris said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The 2020 candidate then told Colbert that the average cost of four car tires is about $400, which she claimed Americans are forced to pay "because our roads are falling apart." "If you want to talk about a representative government, shouldn't leaders lead on behalf of the people as opposed to self-interest?" Harris continued. "We cannot abandon our democracy for the sake of appeasing somebody who is completely focused on his interests only."


Gov. Doug, slayer of pirates. Ducey late Friday rejected a sneaky move by Arizona legislators to award themselves what amounts to a million-dollar pay increase. In vetoing a per-diem pay boost, Ducey essentially called out Maricopa County legislators for the buckaneers they are. "Arizona is the sixth largest state in terms of land area," he wrote in his veto message. "So for rural legislators and those representing areas outside of Maricopa County, there is a strong case to be made for ensuring we are appropriately recognizing what is required for them to be here at the state Capitol in Phoenix." Translation: you Maricopa County legislators should be ashamed of yourselves. Piracy is afoot in Maricopa County Legislators went the better part of five months without talking about the need to boost their pay. Then suddenly, in the final hours of this year's legislative session, over a holiday weekend, what do you know? Up popped a bill tripling legislators' per-diem expense pay. Senate Bill 1558 sailed through the Legislature before the ink was dry. On Memorial Day. Actually, I have no argument with boosting expense pay for the 37 legislators who live outside of Maricopa County. It's not fair to expect them to live in a hovel four or five months of the year. The new law would have raised their daily expense pay to $185 from $60. It's Maricopa County lawmakers who should be embarrassed. They could have done right by their rural colleagues and voted their 37 colleagues a long-overdue per diem raise. But because they have the numbers   53 of Arizona's 90 legislators live in the Valley   they decided to cut themselves in for a share of the loot. A 24-karat cut. Want more opinions? Subscribe to azcentral.com . Under the bill vetoed by Ducey, Maricopa County lawmakers would have collected $92.50 day for their expenses, up from the current $35. That is, $92.50 a day, seven days a week while in the Legislature is in session, along with a limited number of days the rest of the year. Leading me   and Ducey, apparently   to wonder … what expenses? The per-diem scam They already live here. Unlike other state employees, they already are separately paid for their commute to and from the state Capitol. So what expenses? The answer, of course, is that they have no expenses. This was just a way for Maricopa County legislators to do an end-run around the state constitution to pad their pockets. Around you and me. According to the constitution, only voters can raise legislative pay. Of course, it's been 21 years since we raised their pay to $24,000. But I seem to recall that that pay raise was conditioned on an end to the per-diem scam. But legislators ignored that voter mandate. They kept the pay raise and their per diem. This year, they tried ignoring us once again. Rather than putting a pay raise on the ballot next year and making the case for why we should pay them more, legislators decided to go around us. Because they don't trust us. Or respect us. Their move to triple their per diem would have cost the state just over a million dollars a year, assuming a 120-day session and 14 extra working days during the off-season. Gov. Ducey has a better idea Ducey pledged to work with the Legislature next year to address the need to fairly compensate out-county legislators for their expenses in living here for what amounts to four or five months. "Any change in the per diem rate should also be prospective and apply to the next Legislature, which will be sworn in on Jan. 11, 2021," he wrote. Better yet, just abolish per diem and enact a radical new concept, one to which other state employees already adhere. The one that says you've got to actually have expenses before you can be reimbursed for them. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com . This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gov. Doug Ducey won't let metro Phoenix legislators pad their pockets


There's only one game tonight   Houston vs. Texas   so it may not feel like the All-Star break is over until tomorrow, but officially speaking the second half of the 2019 baseball season begins today. Let's take a look at where we stand as the regular season's final two and a half months or so gets underway. The Races Do we even have races? Yes and no. Five of the majors' six divisions feature first place teams with five and a half games or more and the Dodgers lead the NL West by a whopping 13.5 games. The one division that is close   the NL Central   is close by virtue of its putatively top three teams more or less sucking eggs for the past month and a half or so, with Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis all failing to gain any traction while, luckily, not losing much ground. Only four and a half games separate the entire division, top to bottom. Still, there is some reason to believe that things might get a bit more competitive down the stretch. The Minnesota Twins spent most of the first half with a substantial lead over the disappointing   and favored   Cleveland Indians, but Cleveland has come on strong of late. The Indians hit the All-Star break with a six-game winning streak and are 21-6 since June 1. That, along with some recent scuffling by the Twins, has cut the Twins' once seemingly insurmountable 11.5-game lead to a far more manageable five and a half. That could be cut down even more this weekend when Minnesota comes to Cleveland for a three-game series. The Washington Nationals have similarly righted their once foundering ship, going 23-9 in June and July to move up from fourth place into second place in the NL East. They are still six behind the Braves, who have remained strong, but they have overtaken the Phillies who were favored by some to rule the NL East in 2019. They also play Atlanta 14 times in the second half including seven games in July. It could be moving time for the talented Nats. Similarly, over in the American League West, the Oakland Athletics, once 12 games back of the Astros, are a more reasonable seven and a half. They travel to Houston a week from Monday and will look to make their move. The Wild Card is, as usual, something of a mess. Less so in the American League where there are only five non-division leaders over .500 it's not terribly difficult to separate them into camps of contenders (Tampa Bay, Boston, Cleveland, Oakland and perhaps Texas) and pretenders (everyone else). In the National League, however, there are nine teams either in Wild Card position or within four and a half games of being so. The situation will likely remain as clear as mud until at least September. The Trade Deadline At the outset, let us be reminded that the trade deadline is different this year than it has been in the past. It's a hard deadline now, with trade waivers eliminated. As such, no players able to be traded after July 31. If a player is placed on outright waivers, clears them and signs with another team he can appear in the postseason if he's on the new team's roster by September 1, but there will no longer be Justin Verlander -style August trades of star players to contenders. That means teams will be forced to make some earlier decisions. Which, given how many teams are at least within striking distance of a Wild Card slot, makes some of those decisions difficult ones. Generally speaking, though, I think the buyers and the sellers break down thusly: Buyers : Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Twins, Astros, Athletics, Braves, Nationals, Phillies, Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers; Sellers : Blue Jays, Orioles, Royals, Tigers, Mariners, Marlins, Mets, Giants; Unclear : Indians, White Sox, Angels, Rangers, Pirates, Reds, Diamondbacks, Padres, Rockies The buyer/seller breakdown is pretty straightforward, with obvious contenders buying and teams going nowhere selling. That third group of teams is hard to figure. The Indians, as noted above, are contending   they're in playoff position right now, actually   but they are rumored to be open to trading Trevor Bauer . As we discussed the other day dealing him could be characterized as a white flag trade or it could be characterized as a bold move to rejigger the roster with more offense for the playoff push. Either way, they could simultaneously be unloading talent to contenders, making them a seller, and acquiring talent for the home stretch. Most of the rest of those clubs are in a weird middle ground where, on the surface they are in contention, but did not enter the season seemingly set up to contend. The Reds, for example, are only four and a half out in the Central, but they are widely expected to deal Yasiel Puig . But . . . what if in two weeks they have surged while the rest of the Central has faltered? Same goes for the putatively rebuilding Rangers who have surprised. The White Sox and Padres are on the rise but are building for something more in the future which could cut either way at the deadline. The Diamondbacks have sent mixed signals as to their intentions for much of the year. The Rockies are on a win-now footing but they have pretty consistently chosen not to improve themselves in ways that would seem to make sense. All of which is to say: who knows? As for the top players available, relievers, as always, will be the most heavily-trafficked commodity. Leading that long list is Giants closer Will Smith , who the Dodgers covet, making for a very, very rare deal between historic rivals. The Padres' Kirby Yates might also be had. Other relievers on the block include Tony Watson and Sam Dyson of the Giants, Jake Diekman of the Royals, Shane Greene of the Tigers, Alex Colome of the White Sox and Mychal Givens of the Orioles. Some have argued that a team would do well to acquire Orioles starter Andrew Cashner and move him to the bullpen as well. Though, to be fair, people have been saying that since his days with the Padres and no one has ever gotten around to doing it. Sexier than the relievers are the starting pitchers on the block. The big name is the Giants Madison Bumgarner who would be a strong addition to any contender, even if he'd cost a lot to acquire. The Jays' Marcus Stroman is likewise available and the native New Yorker has made no secret of his desire to join the Yankees. Mike Minor was talked about as a top trade target for much of the first half but, as noted, the Rangers have exceeded expectations and may not want to part with him as easily as previously suspected. Matthew Boyd of the Tigers could be had. Tanner Roark of the Reds and Jordan Lyles of the Pirates technically pitch for contenders based on the standings, but whether their front offices actually believe it enough to keep them off the market is an open question. If their respective clubs choose to eat a big portion of their big contracts it wouldn't be crazy to see Danny Duffy of the Royals and Jeff Samardzija of the Giants bandied about in trade rumors. There aren't a ton of impact position players available, but look for their to be discussions about outfielders and free agents to be Yasiel Puig and Nicholas Castellanos of the Reds and Tigers, respectively, first baseman Justin Smoak of the Blue Jays and, perhaps, Whit Merrifield of the Royals. Pablo Sandoval has quietly had an excellent season in San Francisco, though given how he fared the last time he left the Bay Area it would not be shocking for contenders to be wary. Melky Cabrera is still chugging along and is hitting pretty well this year so the Pirates might see fit to send him to his ninth big league team. Dee Gordon of the Mariners might interest some contenders due to his speed and defensive versatility. The Orioles trading Trey Mancini might further demoralize an already demoralized fan base, but it might get them a nice haul as well. Homers and the Battle for Individual Awards Major league batters are on pace to hit 6,668 homers, which would shatter the record of 6,105 hit in 2017. While everyone is hitting big flies, it seems, and a few hitters   Christian Yelich , Cody Bellinger , Pete Alonso , Mike Trout   project to 50 dingers or more if their current home run rates and health hold up. Those homers   and their status as the big bats on contenders   makes Yelich and Bellinger the top candidates for the NL MVP Award. If they falter   and their teams surge into the playoffs   look for Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddie Freeman , Kris Bryant and Anthony Rendon to join the conversation as well. In the American League we'll end up having the same conversation we always have in which everyone acknowledges that Mike Trout is easily the best baseball player on the planet yet strains to find reasons not to give him the MVP hardware. Look for D.J. LeMahieu , Matt Chapman , Alex Bregman and Jorge Polanco all to get that kind of heat. If one of them or someone else goes on a serious tear in September while Trout remains merely, boringly amazing, I'm sure Trout will, once again, finish in second place. And we'll all look back on it one day, shake our head and laugh. As for the Cy Young Award, Mike Minor of the Rangers, Charlie Morton of the Rays, Lucas Giolito of the White Sox and, as always, Justin Verlander of the Astros currently look to be in the conversation. The National League Cy Young race looks way sexier, though, with Max Scherzer 's dominant past month or two thrusting him into a nice race with the Dodgers Hyun-Jin Ryu . The overpowering future Hall of Famer or the finesse guy with pinpoint control? It's a classic battle. The Rookie of the Year race is not much of a race in the National League: they may as well give it to Pete Alonso now and save everyone some time at the awards banquet next winter. I suppose Fernando Tatís Jr. has an argument   and he's a fantastic player   but his stint on the injured list early in the season probably ended his chances at anything other than a second place finish. In the AL, Brandon Lowe of the Rays seems like the man to beat, though you can be forgiven if you haven't noticed that Orioles starter John Means has been fantastic this year as well. If you care about the always-hard-to-figure Manager of the Year Award, just know that it usually goes to the guy whose team the so-called experts underestimated in the preseason. As such, it would not be at all shocking if Rocco Baldelli of the Twins wins it in the AL with Chris Woodward of the Rangers following him. If those surprise teams both falter the votes tend to fall back to giving it to the manager of the best team and/or the manager of the team which overcame injury and/or adversity. Put Aaron Boone of the Yankees in that picture on both counts. The NL is lacking in true surprise teams this year so figure Dave Roberts of the Dodgers to be the front runner. So that's where we stand on the last day without baseball until playoff off-days in October. We have that one game in Texas tonight and a full slate on tap for the weekend. Welcome to the second half. Follow @craigcalcaterra Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Over the last week, NFL Network has revealed players Nos. 21-100 on their annual "NFL Top 100" list, as voted on by players. Broncos cornerback Chris Harris isn't among players Nos. 21-100 so that means he is either among the top 20 players on the list or not on the list at all. Unfortunately, the latter seems to be the case. NFL Network has noted that Vikings wide receiver Adam Theilen (No. 33) is the highest-ranked undrafted player on the list and Patriots defensive back Stephon Gilmore (No. 22) is the highest-ranked cornerback on the list. So that means Harris is unranked this year. Harris has been outrageously underrated for years (he was ranked No. 86 last year) but not making the Top 100 list is over-the-top ridiculous. The four-time Pro Bowler is the only cornerback in the league with multiple interceptions in each of the last seven seasons. Denver does have one more player yet to be ranked: outside linebacker Von Miller, who was ranked No. 9 last year. Last week, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb ( No. 82 ) and running back Phillip Lindsay ( No. 68 ) made the Top 100 list after impressive rookie seasons. MORE: Jayson Tatum and others defend LeBron James for celebrating at Bronny's AAU game Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith have 'been as advertised' for Packers Day 3 Cowboys Camp: Prescott's deep ball, passing zones impressive Steve Ballmer is Open to Changing Clippers' Name and Logo Malik Jackson on Fletcher Cox being biggest reason he signed with the Eagles


When training camp opened, Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens shot down a report that offensive coordinator Todd Monken's transition to the team has been rocky enough that Kitchens had to take over a larger role in the offense. Monken did the same from Browns camp on Thursday. He said that Kitchens is "the head coach and he's going to call the plays," which makes for a lot of involvement. Monken added that there's nothing unusual about any head coach having an active role in the offense. "It makes no sense to me," Monken said, via Cleveland.com. "When I was at Oklahoma State, guess who was involved? Mike Gundy. When I was at Tampa, guess who was involved? Dirk Koetter. It's silly   absolutely silly ." The offense will remain a work in progress until the start of the regular season, but we'll get a first glimpse at it next Thursday when they open the preseason against Washington.


The retail apocalypse has descended on America. The retail apocalypse has descended on America. More than 3,500 stores are expected to close across the U.S. in the next couple of months. Department stores like Macy's, Sears and J.C. Penney, and retailers including BCBG, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Bebe have all been forced to close up dozens of stores. Walking through a mall in 2017 is like walking through a graveyard. Click ahead for photographic proof that a retail apocalypse is hitting the U.S. hard. Also on MSN Money: Retailers closing the most stores Perhaps most emblematic of the retail apocalypse are photos of dead malls. As customers increasingly shop online, malls are suffering the consequences. Visits to malls declined by 50% between 2010 and 2013, according to the real-estate research firm Cushman & Wakefield. In the nearly two years since it closed, Chicago's Lincoln Mall has transformed from a vibrant shopping center into an eerie, deserted wasteland. The mall was forced to close after many retailers   including Sears   shuttered their locations inside the shopping center. Photographer Seph Lawless documents abandoned and forgotten malls across the US. While abandoned malls are spooky, shopping centers in their death throes are scary in a different way. Regency Square Mall in Richmond, Virginia is still open   but a number of shops have gone dark as retailers have closed their stores. The mall's operators have attempted to cover up the closures by installing vending machines in boarded up walls. The mall seems almost as empty as the already abandoned malls. Roughly a third of shopping malls are at risk of dying off as a result of store closures, according to data from Green Street Advisors. When a mall loses an anchor store, like Sears, it can be nearly impossible to survive. Retailers are struggling to maintain some semblance of normalcy as sales slump. Sears has been hit with both plummeting sales and dwindling inventory, as seen in this empty area of a store in Richmond, Virginia. Kmart, which merged with Sears in 2005, has been criticized for its disorganized stores. Some shoppers say Kmart's rough set up is "depressing." At one store in Hillsboro, Ohio, Kmart hung white sheets to hide the area where the grocery section once was. Sears plans to shutter 108 Kmart stores and 42 Sears stores by April. Macy's financial struggles are similarly apparent in its disheveled appearance. A July 2016 visit to Macy's Manhattan flagship store revealed messy shelves and lots of sales. It's difficult to convince shoppers that this apparel is high-quality when it's presented so haphazardly. Still, the Manhattan Macy's is better than the scene at Minneapolis's Nicollet Mall location, days before its closure. Ummm...help! #macys #fourthfloor #fromstorage pic.twitter.com/iXti9G3pPB   Kavita Kumar (@kavitakumar) March 16, 2017 Macy's is closing 68 locations in early 2017. Sad. Bye Macy's. pic.twitter.com/zpVxKultJr   Kavita Kumar (@kavitakumar) March 16, 2017 A recent visit to a Manhattan JCPenney revealed similar disorganization. In addition to clothes thrown on the floor, packaging was damaged and opened. JCPenney is closing 138 stores early this year. Nearly everything at RadioShack is on sale as the chain prepares to close 552 stores. A store in Manhattan is covered with signs highlighting sales. However, the displays seem to be hastily set up. Wet Seal is closing all 171 locations. And, Crocs is closing 160 locations. RIP, retail as we know it.


Syracuse WR Jamal Custis is a very large, athletic target that uses his imposing size to his advantage. Before his senior season, Custis struggled to find the field outside of special teams due to injuries and a general lack of opportunity. When he finally got his shot as a senior, however, he led Syracuse in receiving yards and touchdowns. Custis posted good numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine, but chose not to run a complete workout. He was one of the more impressive receivers to play in the East-West Shrine Game, which was another area that caught the attention of Chiefs' scouts. Stats 2014: 10 games, four receptions for 15 yards. 2015: 9 games, one reception, 7 yards and one touchdown. 2017: 8 games, eight receptions, 120 yards and one touchdown. 2018 : 13 games, 51 receptions, 906 yards and six touchdowns. Combine results Height: 6-4 Weight: 214 Hands: 10 7/8 inches 40-yard dash: 4.5 20-yard dash: N/A 10-yard dash: 1.6 225-pound bench: DNP Vertical jump: 34.5 inches Broad jump: 124 inches 20-yard shuttle: DNP Three-cone drill: DNP Highlights Fit with the Chiefs The Chiefs have done a good job locating top undrafted receivers in the past dating back to Albert Wilson in 2014. Now that they have the leagues MVP throwing the football, the draw on top undrafted receiving talent is even greater. Kansas City signed Custis as an undrafted free agent this spring and gave him over $100,000 in guaranteed money . Needless to say that is quite a bit of coin to invest in a player that went undrafted. This could give Custis a bit more leeway to develop that other rookies won't have. It's clear that the Chiefs' brass is high on what he can potentially bring to the offense. He sports 4.5 40-yard dash speed in a 6-foot-4 frame, which is rare to find. Custis could be a big time threat in the redzone with his ability to box out defensive backs and leaping ability get up over them and grab the football. With the uncertainty that remains around star receiver Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs are looking for someone to step up in their receiving corps. They have plenty of small and fast receivers, so a big and physical player such as Custis could bring a unique value to the offense. He could also be an instant contributor on special teams. His ability as the gunner for Syracuse on punts helped him stick on the team before he was able to put his receiving skills on full display. Chiefs' undrafted free agents Position Player School Article Release Date WR Jamal Custis Syracuse 5/27 DE Tim Ward Old Dominion 5/28 RB James Williams Washington State 5/29 CB Mark Fields Clemson 5/30 WR Cody Thompson Toledo 5/31 CB Jalin Burrell New Mexico 6/1 LB Gary Johnson Texas 6/2 TE/FB John Lovett Princeton 6/3 OT Dino Boyd Cincinnati 6/4 WR Felton Davis Michigan State 6/5 LB Darius Harris Middle Tennessee 6/6 TE Joe Fortson Valdosta State 6/7 RB Marcus Marshall James Madison 6/8 QB Kyle Shurmur Vanderbilt 6/9 CB Dakari Monroe San Jose State 6/10 S Andrew Soroh Florida Atlantic 6/11 P Jack Fox Rice 6/12 CB Herb Miller Florida Atlantic 6/13 MORE: Draymond Green to LeBron James' 14-Year-Old Son: "I'm at Your F--king Neck This Summer" Tim Tebow's horrible season is extremely impressive and MLB is not out for him yet Four potential Khris Middleton landing spots in free agency Richie Incognito signing points to more power football for Raiders Packers should have one of NFL's most improved secondaries in 2019


Disaster struck for Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman in the closing minutes of Friday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. With less than four minutes remaining in the 50-minute session, Hamlin lost control of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at the apex of Turns 3 and 4, backing the car into the outside retaining wall. The 11 crew wasted no time pulling out the backup car after Hamlin drove the car back to the garage area. RELATED: Chase Elliott leads opening practice As drivers salvaged the last moments of the session, Newman backed the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford into the Turn 3 wall directly after entry into the corner. The 6 team made the decision to unload the backup from the hauler after surveying the damage to the primary car. Per the NASCAR Rule Book, both drivers will start at the rear of the field in Sunday's Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 (3 p.m. ET on NBCSN/NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) as a result of opting for alternative vehicles. Hamlin was 16th in practice, while Newman was 24th. Monster Energy Series Busch Pole qualifying is set for Friday at 4:35 p.m. ET on NBCSN. ]]>


The Houston Texans and edge defender Jadeveon Clowney missed the deadline at 3:00 p.m. Central Time, July 15 to negotiate a contract extension. Now, Clowney is only eligible to play under the one-year deal of the franchise tag, which has not yet signed. Both the Texans and Clowney are precluded from negotiations on an extension until after the conclusion of the 2019 season. The Texans slapped Clowney with a linebacker tag, which Spotrac projects to be close to $17 million against the 2019 salary cap. Part of the complication in signing Clowney to a long-term contract was not just whether or not the All-Pro edge defender was worth the money. The Texans are still on the rookie contract of 2017 first-round quarterback Deshaun Watson. Any extensions or big-money deals the Texans make are going to have to factor in how it impacts their negotiations with Watson and how much salary cap space the club will have. The Texans can afford the $17.0 million cap hit. According to Over the Cap , the Texans were projected to have $40.8 million on Monday prior to the 3:00 p.m. Central deadline. Houston still has the cap space to work out contract negotiations should they decide to make a trade, like they did at last year's deadline for Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas. Now, the new watch becomes seeing when Clowney will show up at last for team activities. The former 2014 No. 1 overall pick has been absent from the offseason program, including organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. Why Clowney did not face any fines for missing minicamp was because he is technically still a free agent. However, the Texans retain his exclusive rights, so, he's not exactly an unrestricted free agent. Last season, Clowney missed much of the club's offseason program as he rehabbed from a late season knee injury and subsequent surgery. The former South Carolina Gamecock participated in off-field activities, including team meetings. This season, he has been away from team facilities, and that could factor in to how effective he is once the NFL season kicks off in New Orleans. MORE: Michael Bisping's cageside reaction to Urijah Faber's stunning KO was too good Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense 'Madden NFL 20' ratings: See where the Steelers players are rated Tom Brady claps back at hater on Twitter


Like a Roomba vacuum, this Mercedes-Benz concept robot deploys on its own after a big mess (in this case, a car crash). The robot is equipped with a glowing safety triangle to warn other drivers of a recent crash. Mercedes showed off the cute robot as part of its ESF 2019 safety concept , along with nearly a dozen other advanced, forward-thinking future safety features. Sometimes, a carmaker slips a gem into a broadly run-of-the-mill exercise in previewing a future technology. In the case of Mercedes-Benz's ESF 2019 concept , a showcase of tomorrow's safety technologies that we looked at up close, that gem is this: a tiny robot that motors out of the safety vehicle concept's rear end, backtracks up the road, and warns other drivers of the danger posed by a crashed vehicle up ahead. Mercedes-Benz intriguingly refers to the cute little pseudo-Roomba as "Warning Triangle 4.0." We have no idea what versions 2.0 or 3.0 looked like-if they ever existed-but we're fairly certain Warning Triangle 1.0 is, um, a regular, nonrobotic warning triangle. You know, the reflective, three-sided thing that comes in practically every roadside emergency kit. Amusing though it may be, Warning Triangle 4.0, or WT 4.0 as we'll call it, serves a noble purpose: warning other drivers that there is a hazard ahead-such as your crashed vehicle. As you can imagine, after certain accidents, occupants might not be in any condition to exit the vehicle and set up road triangles or flares; Mercedes also is thinking of the driverless future, when a self-driving vehicle might crash-who's to deploy the triangle in that scenario? For either situation, the WT 4.0 bridges the gap between the accident's occurrence and authorities arriving on the scene. On the ESF 2019 concept, the WT 4.0 lives in a little binnacle beneath the rear bumper. When deployed, that binnacle lowers, ramp style, toward the ground, releasing the robot. The bot then scoots a ways behind the vehicle while raising a backlit triangle. It is backstopped, at least on the ESF concept, by car-to-X communication. For those other vehicles not connected to the grid, so to speak, the ESF boasts a larger triangle that rises up from the car's roof, as well as by a rear window capable of displaying messages. Bright-orange electroluminescent paint strips on the sides of the ESF concept are its ultimate post-crash communication fallback, should either the adorable robot triangle or the rooftop triangle be out of commission and car-to-X links severed. Will the Warning Triangle 4.0 become a real safety feature? Possibly. The entire point of the ESF 2019 concept was to preview features that might be relevant to drivers of the future, who by then will think of self-driving cars as normal. As with any new tech, however, autonomous driving brings with it a new set of opportunities for looking at automotive safety in a new light-one that involves less human intervention, whether that's before, during, or after a crash.


Numerous parkgoers at Disneyland reported on Twitter that rides were shut for safety inspections after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Southern California Friday evening at 8:19 p.m. Patrons also left movie theaters, while the Dodgers game continued uninterrupted. At Disneyland and Monorail stopped because of earthquake. pic.twitter.com/66ZT6uIW08   Angela Kim (@angelaishere) July 6, 2019 Everyone evacuating from the Millenium Falcon. Bizarre to be in Battu for the aftershock #disney #disneyland #earthquake pic.twitter.com/ArOhYVnf14   Kyle Reilly (@kylereilly) July 6, 2019 The large earthquake centered in the Searles Valley near the town of Ridgecrest came on the heels of Thursday's 6.4 quake in the same area, which caused road and building damage in the immediate area, which is over 100 miles from the city of Los Angeles. Thousands of aftershocks occurred after Thursday's temblor. No damage in Los Angeles was immediately reported, though areas closer to the epicenter reported power outages. The shaker was felt as far as Las Vegas and Kingman, Ariz. Moviegoers streamed out of several movie theaters in the Los Angeles area, but no injuries were immediately reported. happy to report that my movie theater evacuated in a swift but orderly manner. now about 1/3 of us are waiting for FAR FROM HOME to resume   rob pilkington (@_robpilkington_) July 6, 2019 Sign up for Variety's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .


The James Harden and Chris Paul partnership may be over, but Harden still wanted to set the record straight about their relationship. Harden said Saturday that the rumored rift was "false talk" and that he has "nothing negative to say" about Paul after he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. . @JHarden13 on Chris Paul and all the media chatter the last few weeks, said it was all " false talk. Chris was great with him while he was here, great leader. Guys have disagreements on the court all the time. I've got nothing negative to say about Chris." @KPRC2   Adam Wexler (@KPRC2AdamW) July 20, 2019 Despite Harden's comments, it's pretty clear he and Paul didn't always completely see eye-to-eye . This had been pushed aside by Houston as normal behavior between two stars, but Harden probably doesn't mind the fact that he'll instead be playing alongside Russell Westbrook next season.


PHILADELPHIA (CBS)   According to a spokesperson from the Philadelphia Sheriff's office, the son of outgoing Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams was one of men who was shot on Friday night. The incident happened shortly before 5:30 p.m. on the 3100 block of North 16th Street in North Philadelphia. The sheriff's 42-year-old son was rushed to a nearby hospital where his condition is still unknown. Police say another person was shot multiple times throughout his body. He was also rushed to an area hospital, where he later died. No arrests have been made, but a weapon was discovered, authorities say. An investigation of Philadelphia's 165th homicide of 2019 is ongoing.


The Warriors won't have Kevin Durant back in their lineup to start the NBA Finals, but another injured star appears set to return. Head coach Steve Kerr confirmed Thursday to reporters, including Mark Medina of The Bay Area News Group ( Twitter link ), that DeMarcus Cousins will be active for Game 1. Cousins, who missed more than half of the 2018-19 season while recovering from an Achilles tear, suffered a torn quad in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs against the Clippers. While that injury seemed likely to finish his season, he worked hard to rehab the quad and get healthy enough to return to the court before the end of the playoffs. When Cousins signed a one-year, $5.34M deal with the Warriors last summer, this was the sort of opportunity he anticipated. Having never appeared in a playoff game before, the 28-year-old wanted a chance to compete for a title, and he'll get that chance beginning on Thursday night. It's not clear what sort of role Cousins will play against the Raptors. According to Medina ( via Twitter ), Kerr said he has a sense of the workload the big man will get in Game 1, but declined to offer specifics. Technically, the Warriors were a better team with Cousins off the court than with him on it during the regular season and during his brief playoff stint. Plus, his presence would reduce the likelihood of Golden State playing Raptors center Marc Gasol off the floor. Those factors, combined with Cousins still needing to get his conditioning back to where it was, point to a limited role for the former All-Star, but we'll see what Kerr has in mind. As for Durant, Kerr said Thursday that the former Finals MVP probably won't be able to practice before Game 2, making it unlikely he suits up until at least Game 3 ( Twitter link via Marc Berman of The New York Post).