R-ace GP will make its Toyota Racing Series debut next season as part of an alliance with Australian team mtec Motorsport. The two squads have struck a three-year deal to join forces in the New Zealand series, and will run under the 'mtec Motorsport - Engineered By R-ace GP' banner. The deal coincides with the introduction of the new FT-60 technical package in TRS , underpinned by the same chassis and tyre package used in Formula Renault Eurocup   which is currently being led by R-ace driver Aussie . "It's a long-term arrangement and the aim is to provide mtec Motorsport and its drivers with the processes, knowledge and data that has been accumulated by R-ace GP running the Tatuus chassis and Hankook tyre combination in the Formula Renault Eurocup," explained mtec boss Bruin Beasley. "It's an agreement which puts mtec Motorsport ahead of the game and should help ensure we are in the box seat come January." The mtec outfit has been a regular in TRS over the past three seasons, while R-ace GP has run the likes of in Formula Renault since being formed in 2011.


The Atlanta Falcons lost a good one last week when assistant general manager Scott Pioli stepped down from his post. Not only was Pioli instrumental in keeping Atlanta competitive these last few years, by all accounts he is a terrific human being. If you need proof, just watch this commencement speech Pioli gave this past weekend at his alma mater, Central Connecticut State University. It's 20 minutes long but worth every second. In the statement Pioli released after his decision to leave the Falcons, he said he wants to pursue other potential opportunities. Statement from Scott Pioli on the news of the day out of Flowery Branch. pic.twitter.com/oArGWeDpwA - Jason Butt (@JasonHButt) May 16, 2019 This could mean Pioli is in the mix for the Jets' opening at general manager. He previously served as the Chiefs' GM from 2009-2012. MORE: This photo of the other contestants in James Holzhauer's latest 'Jeopardy' win sums up his run Aaron Rodgers excited about new Packers RG Billy Turner Roundup: Stranger Things Returning July 4th; Blues Make Stanley Cup Final; U.S. Intercepts Russian Bombers Off Coast of Alaska Surprise rookie makes a name for himself in Redskins' OTAs Devin Bush takes 1st-team reps Steelers OTAs


Today's episode of NASCAR America airs from 5-6 p.m. ET and will recap Kurt Busch 's win over younger brother Kyle on Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway. Jeff Burton is joined by A.J. Allmendinger and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett to discuss that and other storylines. If you can't catch either of today's shows on TV, watch online at http:/nascarstream.nbcsports.com. If you plan to stream the show on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified. Once you enter that information, you'll have access to the stream. Click here at 5 p.m. ET to watch live via the stream.


Aliceana Belling marched past the rows of pink princess dresses at her local Walmart last month and headed straight to the superhero outfits. She mulled the options for Halloween. Iron Man? Spider-Man? The Hulk? Then she saw the Captain America suit, shiny shield and all. "I can fly in the air outside!" Aliceana, 3, said from her home in Fond du Lac, Wis., where she plans to go trick-or-treating as the Marvel Comics superhero this Halloween. "I'm going to save dogs!" Aliceana and her parents, Brittany and A.J. Belling, make up one of many families that are fed up with the strict princess dresses for girls, action figures for boys stereotyping that they say still pervades children's toys, clothes, costumes and other merchandise. Retailers and manufacturers in the $22 billion toy industry, along with media companies, are starting to heed these concerns. Not only are toymakers more wary of marketing some items only to boys or only to girls, they and major store chains are creating gender-neutral or androgynous labels and store aisles. In August, Target announced that it would no longer use signs to label toys for girls and boys in their stores. For the first time this year, the Disney Store is banishing girl and boy designations from its children's Halloween costumes, labeling all outfits "for kids." It also has switched to generic tags on lunchboxes, backpacks and other accessories. Amazon no longer uses gender-based categories for children's toys. Next spring, Mattel is introducing a line of action figures based on a new franchise, DC Super Hero Girls . And on Monday , the TV series " Supergirl " debuted on CBS. "The gender barriers are breaking down, and both manufacturers and retailers are not labeling toys like they used to," said Jim Silver, the editor in chief of TTPM , a toy review website. "The industry's learned that you shouldn't be labeling for a specific gender. There are so many girls who want to be Iron Man and Captain America, and boys who want to play with Easy-Bake." The shift is part of a wider movement in retail to blur gender lines, as society moves beyond stereotypes, and celebrities as varied as Caitlyn Jenner and Jaden Smith put a spotlight on an array of gender identities. In fashion, designers like Rad Hourani are creating androgynous labels, and top-tier designers, from Marc Jacobs to Hermès, are eroding the divide between feminine and masculine clothes. The rise in popularity of athletic wear and relatively genderless offerings from companies like North Face and Patagonia have also helped spread unisex design. Footwear brands like Converse, Vans or Birkenstock also now market the same styles for both men and women. Wearable technology , like smartwatches and activity monitors, has been relatively gender-neutral. "If a guy wants to go out and buy a woman's scarf and thinks that's fashionable, whatever his sexual preference, it's going to happen," said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at the New York-based research firm NPD. "This is something where the world jumped way ahead of retail, and now retail is trying to catch up." Still, the most significant shifts in gender categorizing   and certainly the most debated   have been in children's merchandise. The shifts stem from a growing recognition, first among niche outlets and now among mainstream companies, of the role many traditional toys, clothes and costumes have played in reinforcing gender stereotyping. Experts have linked the items to all manner of gender disparities, including gaps in boys' and girls' self-confidence levels and career choices. Parents have taken to social media to protest retailers' overly girly offerings, or to show off their children defying gender norms. Last year, Land's End introduced a line of science-themed shirts for girls after a New Jersey mother, Lisa Ryder, posted an open letter on the brand's Facebook page calling out its boy-only science collection. More recently, a Virginia father, Paul Henson, garnered widespread kudos online for his Facebook post about his 3-year-old son, who intends to dress as Elsa from Disney's "Frozen" movie this Halloween. Target's move to remove gender labels from its toy section came after Abi Bechtel of Ohio took to Twitter to protest a sign on display at the retailer for "Girls' Building Sets." Target announced in August that it was removing gender-based signs from its children's toys and bedding aisles. The retailer's online store still labels girls' and boys' toys, however, because its data suggests that many shoppers on the site still search for products by gender, according to a spokeswoman, Molly Snyder. (The site does allow shoppers to search for gender-neutral toys.) Toys "R" Us has not categorized girls' and boys' toys in its stores for some time, said Richard Barry, the retailer's global chief merchandising officer. "What we're seeing is that there are different play patterns that appeal to different kids, and gender lines are not necessarily what drives that," Mr. Barry said. The retailer's role-play series   like its Pizza Chef or Cash Register play sets   are popular with girls and boys, he said. (The Toys "R" Us website continues to designate girls' and boys' toys; its Housekeeping and Ironing Board play sets, both in pink, are considered girls' toys.) And despite the recent changes, a stroll through the toy section at a Target or a Toys "R" Us is still a gender-specific experience. At a Target store in Brooklyn, there were the "Frozen" princess dresses, My Little Pony figurines, and the convertible-driving, glitter-haired Barbie dolls in one half of the children's section. Then there were the separate aisles of Roboraptor robot dinosaurs, Star Wars spaceships and Nerf guns. Segregation along gender lines in the toy category had worsened over the past decades before the recent pushback, said Elizabeth V. Sweet , a lecturer in sociology at the University of California, Davis who has written extensively on gender stereotypes in children's toys. She puts much of the blame on the dismantling, in 1984, of restrictions on television programming aimed at children. Soon after, the top toys, like Transformers, GoBots and My Little Pony, all had their own TV shows. This media franchising, she said, with storybook themes for girls and battles and adventures for boys, still colors much merchandise along gender. "The pink aisle is still really pink, because the products in the pink aisle are still really pink," Ms. Sweet said. "Practically everything is gendered," she added. "School supplies. Toothbrushes. Snacks with bunnies or princesses on them, and snacks with Superman. And boy is the gender-neutral default. For girls, they 'shrink it and pink it.'" Some toy makers have made some efforts to change that rigid assortment   but not without controversy. Lego's "Friends" line, introduced in 2012 to appeal to girls, upset consumers because of its pink and purple blocks, curvy figurines and themes like hairdressing and horse riding. Lego responded by adding play sets that included an inventor's studio and veterinarian's office, and has said the line has been a huge success. The Danish company is now gaining ground on Mattel, the world's largest toymaker, raking in sales of 14.1 billion kroner (about $2.1 billion) in the first six months of this year, compared with Mattel's $1.9 billion. Mattel has won praise on parenting blogs for DC Super Hero Girls, a line it developed with DC Comics that will go on sale next year. The figures, led by Wonder Woman, are athletic. They strike powerful poses, and there is not a pink outfit in sight. Young girls that Mattel surveyed had said they "wanted their superheroes to be authentic superheroes," according to Tania Missad, Mattel's director of global consumer insights. Girls roundly dismissed an early prototype that put the superheroes in heels, she said. "They told us, 'She's not going to be able to fight with heels.'" Still, Mattel's research showed some differences in what girls and boys wanted in their action figures, Ms. Missad said. "For boys it's very much about telling a story of the good guy killing the villain. There's a winner and a loser," she said. "Girls wanted the action and the battle, but would tell us: 'Why does the good girl have to kill the villain? Can't they be friends in the end?'" Jess Day of Let Toys Be Toys , a British nonprofit group that promotes gender-neutral toys, says that's nonsense. "Research repeatedly shows that boys and girls are more alike than different," Ms. Day said in an email. "We'd like to see more products that are simply aimed at children who like superheroes, and that's an interest that crosses gender." Mrs. Belling, who blogs at The Domestic Geek , complains of the general dearth in female action figures: "Princess Leia is usually missing" from Star Wars merchandise, she said. And she was worried that Aliceana's Captain America "Muscle" costume , "meant to fit young boys," she said, would fit awkwardly on her frame. Mrs. Belling, for now, is relieved that Aliceana's superhero costume seems to fit, at least. Aliceana has begged to wear it in the house and yard before Halloween night. "She's often been interested in clothes, then they'd turn out to be for boys," Mrs. Belling said. "But Captain America, she's actually pulling that off."


There's nothing nicer for an overnight leader of a golf tournament to extend his margin over the rest of the field before even having to hit a shot. For Brooks Koepka at the 2019 PGA Championship , it happened before he even woke up on Friday. Koepka's closest challenger (by far) on Thursday, Danny Lee, shot a six-under-par 64 at Bethpage Black to start his event. But a brutal start to his second round saw him give back all six of those shots in just seven holes. RELATED: Danny Lee contemplated a drastic career change after hurting his back Teeing off on the more difficult back nine, Lee parred the beastly 10th, but then things got away from him quickly. He made back-to-back bogeys on 11 and 12 before making back-to-back double bogeys on 15 and 16. Even with pars on 17 and 18, it added up to a disastrous 41 on his first nine. For a man who hasn't competed in a major since missing the cut at the 2017 PGA Championship, this wasn't the most surprising development. Still, that was a pretty quick ejection from the top of the leader board. Despite the bumps, though, Lee is still in the tournament at even par, which keeps him in the top 15 currently at a course that's set up more like a typical U.S. Open than a PGA Championship. But the 41 immediately benefits Brooks, who went to sleep on Thursday night holding a one-shot lead. Not that Koepka needs any help. The man who fired a course-record 63 on Thursday is trying to win his fourth major title in his last eight starts . And now he's been staked to a four-shot lead early on Day 2. Good luck to the rest of the field. RELATED: The latest from Friday at the PGA Championship


Kimberly Cheng reports for the KTLA 5 News on May 22, 2019.


NOTE : USA TODAY Sports' Paul White, via car, causeway, plane and rail, will reach every major league camp this spring. Follow his exploits on Twitter -- @PBJWhite - as he makes his way through the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues before imparting all you didn't know about every team right here. TODAY : Milwaukee Brewers PHOENIX   If you run across Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson, don't start with, "Yo, Jimmy." Not much has changed for a Milwaukee team that spent 159 days in first place last season. In fact, it's remarkably little for a team whose time not atop the National League Central was four days in April and every single day of September. Going from tied for the division at the beginning of the season's final month to eight games out when it ended qualifies as a collapse. The Brewers' 9-17 finish was a pace that would have qualified for last place in any division in the majors. What did Milwaukee do about it? Trade the guy they called Yo. That's pretty much it. But Yovani Gallardo was the guy with the lowest earned-run average in a steady, balanced and underrated rotation that made the Brewers relevant all summer. He went to Texas for three young players because the Brewers believe Nelson can step in. General manager Doug Melvin said it in January: "Jimmy Nelson is in the rotation," though Nelson was 2-9 with a 4.93 earned run average filling in for the Brewers last year, mostly in the second half of the season. That includes 0-4, 7.56 during the team's ugly September. Neither Melvin nor manager Ron Roenicke has wavered this spring as Nelson has posted a 6.23 ERA. "He was the most dominant pitcher in Triple-A," Roenicke says. Nelson was Pitcher of the Year in the Pacific Coast League, though he was gone for good on July 7. Before then, Nelson was 10-2 with a 1.46 ERA and 70 hits allowed in 111 innings. More pertinent to this discussion that doesn't really exist in Brewers camp is that Nelson is a 6-foot-6, 243-pound guy who throws overpowering fastballs. That's what made him the top prospect in the Milwaukee system before last year, what made life so difficult for minor league batters. The so far unwavering support from his bosses just might be playing into the soft-spoken Nelson's approach. After all, he comes from Niceville, Fla., and, yes, Nelson's heard all the ribbing about the name. It's a coastal town in the panhandle that he says, "Is pretty much south Alabama" and is the home of the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival. For the uninitiated, Nelson also feels compelled to point out, that's mullet the fish, not the hair style. The fall mullet run   oh, just about baseball playoff time   is an angler's dream because the mullet proliferation also attracts larger species of would-be marine predators. And it all spawns a music and food festival. But Nelson can put his hometown on the baseball map. He's one of seven players who have been drafted out the high school in the town of 14,000, but the only one to get to the majors. Still, his is a calm, business-as-usual approach. "Coming into spring training, no matter what year, I've been working on stuff," he says. There's no battling to make the team, no being put into a position of needing to impress the brass every time out. Nelson is just doing the spring tuning that's especially important with all the moving parts of a big man's delivery. "That's a big thing whether you're big or small, repeating your delivery, being consistent," he says. "It's just like a hitter getting his swing. We've done this so many times, it's just a repetition thing. Sometimes, in spring training, you have to work out those kinks and bad habits and this is the time to do it." He's also trying to improve the curveball he'd like to mix in more with a slider, changeup and, of course, the fastball. The curve has been good this spring, the slider that's been so nasty in the minors not so sharp. "This is a good time to work on stuff in games against hitters," Nelson says. "Then, once you get toward the end of spring training, start getting to more game speed and start mentally preparing for the season." The Brewers remain officially confident it's going to work. ** Still standing It sounded like an arbitration hearing   or maybe one of those Scott Boras binders stuffed with the stats to convince you t his is the guy. It's more than five months now since the Brewers 2014 season ended in frustration. No heads rolled. Oh, tongues wagged on the talk shows and from fans looking to blame someone for a September gone so wrong. Whatever questions might have remained about recriminations ended last week when the Brewers picked up the option that will keep Roenicke under contract through the 2016 season. Melvin   he's without a contract beyond this year but, at 62 and with 40-something years in baseball, says that's not terribly relevant   made the announcement and made his case. Roenicke's Brewers have posted winning records in three of his four seasons, including a division title in 2011, his first year running a major league club. His winning percentage is .517. Melvin was prepared, pulling out a sheet of paper and reciting: "Winning percentage of .517 is the same as Joe Maddon's. Bob Melvin .516; Bruce Bochy .502; John Farrell .497. When you grade it out, he's had success. Clint Hurdle has three winning seasons in 12 seasons. Manager's jobs are tough." Want even more emphatic evidence? "Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox   62 years of managing, four World Series (titles)," Melvin says. "And they're Hall of Famers. That tells you how hard managing is." None of that guarantees longevity and Roenicke appreciates the new certainty. "Of course I was wondering," he says. "It's part of the job, I know. At times, we know as managers we can do everything right and things can go wrong and you can still be let go. If that's going to crush you and you can't handle it, then you shouldn't be doing the job." Melvin believes Roenicke, like Maddon and San Diego's Bud Black a product of the Mike Scioscia managing tree, is still growing. "Managers learn as they go," he says, pointing out Bochy had a five-season stretch early in his career with San Diego when the most wins he had was 79. "That's not to knock Bruce Bochy," Melvin says. "He's a Hall of Fame manager. Sometimes managers get better the same way the players do." Nobody around the Brewers wants a repeat of that '14 finish. September was so sour, the organization couldn't   wouldn't   react immediately. Players get a 10-minute cooling-down period after a game before they face the media. The Brewers front office needed more. "I would say that was probably a three-week cooling-down period that we needed," Melvin says. "Ron wasn't happy. I wasn't happy. Mark (Attanasio, owner) wasn't happy, the fans weren't happy. It took a little longer to get through it. You have to act professional and sit down and say, 'What do we want to do?'" Melvin says he understands some people still are waiting for the answer. "I know people think we didn't make a lot of changes," he says. "You can trade players just to make changes but we have young players. Sometimes it's better to work with the players you have instead of getting someone you don't know about. I've made many trades where I look back and say, 'Man, I wish I had known more about the guy.' " He's also opting for the known quantity with his manager. ** Brighter lights, bigger cities There's a common warning scouts like to sound on budding prospects: "Things change when there's a second deck on the stadium." That's supposed to mean not everyone can handle major league pressure. Players, though, respond that pressure is relative. If you're 7 and batting in the final inning of the T-Ball championship game, it's the biggest moment you've ever faced. And so it goes every step of the way. Taylor Jungmann is trying to pitch his way into a major league rotation. The 25-year-old right-hander has achieved next-in-line status with the Brewers, who sent him to the minors last week to get him stretched out for the Class AAA rotation. For him, trying to find his way to his first game in one of those multi-decked stadiums is getting easier. "I don't think the fans have anything to do with it," he says. "I guess for some people it might be the fans but for me it's the same game. It's just the guys you're around who make it a bigger deal." That's part of the progression. Jungmann's been through it before. As a freshman at the University of Texas, he relieved in the finals of the College World Series   and threw six straight balls as LSU pulled out a victory. Oh, and Jungmann was the next day's starter. He dominated that game to keep the Longhorns alive in the tournament. He knew he was in line to start the next day when that unexpected call came to the bullpen. "I didn't have the right mindset coming in," he says. "You should always have the right mindset. It happened out of nowhere." Until that point, he admits to being pretty much oblivious to pressure. "My freshman year, I don't think I even knew how big a stage it was," he says. "I think I had that much confidence in my stuff, it didn't matter where I was, I was going to get guys out." Suddenly, the relief outing changed things. "The next day was a super hot day," he recalls. "I was about to start and then it rained. It was almost like that rain just kind of gave me time to relax. Whoa, OK. It cooled off a bit, I was relaxed and ready to go. It slowed it down." That's the repeating lesson he keeps finding, especially when you're not oblivious to who you're facing. "My first camp coming out of college," Jungmann says. "Ooh, man, I see these guys on TV all the time. You're getting to talk with the guys, you're in the clubhouse with them. You've only seen them on TV, so that first year in camp was a little eye-opening. The first spring game is like that for most guys." And you gradually get used to it. "You don't let it get to you too much," Jungmann says. "You can't. Those are the guys you have to get out. Every outing after that, every year after that it just slows down a little. You're more comfortable. "You have to get to, 'This is what I do to relax, this is what I do to get outs.'" His spring this year with the Brewers consisted of three scoreless outings and one ugly seven-run inning. Next test is the Brewers' new affiliate in high-altitude Colorado Springs. He's moving up   but still waiting for a look at that upper deck. GALLERY: Spring training scenes


Toyota will once again be able to go one lap longer between fuel stops than its privateer LMP1 rivals at the Le Mans 24 Hours later this month. The re-imposition of the advantage on stint length that Toyota had at Le Mans last year has been confirmed with the publication of the latest Equivalence of Technology (EoT). It means that the Toyota TS050 Hybrids will be able to complete 11 laps of the 13.626km Circuit de la Sarthe during green-flag running and the non-hybrid entries from Rebellion, SMP Racing, ByKolles and DragonSpeed 10 laps. Longer refuelling stints for Toyota were part of the original EoT implemented at the start of the 2018/19 WEC season along with a theoretical 0.25 percent advantage in laptime. The Japanese manufacturer subsequently agreed to these being removed ahead of the Fuji WEC round last October as the rulemakers struggled make the privateer LMP1s competitive. But Toyota stressed at the time that it had not agreed to the changes, which also included wiping out the advantage it had in refuelling time, for Le Mans. Read Also: Alonso: Privateers' test day pace hard to understand Vandoorne reflects on "spectacular" first taste of Le Mans Le Mans test day: Buemi keeps #8 Toyota on top Toyota Motorsport GmbH technical director Pascal Vasselon described the differences in fuel usage allowed to the Toyotas and the privateers as "massive". "We are talking about something like 35 percent," he said. "We could not dream about a better demonstration of the efficiency advantage that a hybrid system brings." The revised diameters of the refuelling restrictors in LMP1 are designed to give the Toyotas a two-second advantage in the pits, though at least one independent has privately stated that this is likely to be nearer five seconds. The maximum petrol per stint for privateers is now 50.8kg for normally-aspirated cars and 48.4kg for turbos. Those figures at the last round of the WEC at Spa were respectively 56.5kg and 52.8kg. Vasselon has also clarified previous comments about the removal of the 26kg increase in minimum weight for the Toyotas ahead of Fuji, explaining that it was always intended that this would be revised rather than removed for Le Mans. This reflects the lower amounts of hybrid energy deployment and fuel allowed per kilometre at Le Mans than at the shorter WEC races. The Toyotas will now run 10kg heavier than at Le Mans last year to remove the 0.25 percent advantage, which is equivalent to half a second at Le Mans. Vasselon described the half-second as "a kind of safeguard" that reflected Toyota's perceived potential of the privateer cars for last year's race. "Now we do not need the safeguard; now we are down to zero," he said. Toyota was able negotiate the series of advantages because the technical rule changes under the EoT did not conform to the FIA's stability statutes. Its agreement was required for any revisions to the rules. #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TS050: SÃ©bastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, Fernando Alonso, Brendon Hartley, Mike Conway Photo by: Marc Fleury


Saido Berahino has been found guilty of drink driving at Highbury Magistrates' Court relating to a incident back in London back in February. The Stoke City striker was arrested at 3am for an incident that occurred outside VQ in Bloomsbury, where police witnessed the 25-year-old speeding off in a vehicle after an apparent altercation. Just in: Stoke City football star Saido Berahino guilty of drink-driving https://t.co/tqwsVbXAMu   Tom Burnett (@TomBurnett88) May 15, 2019 The court heard police (via Stoke Sentinel ) were called to reports of a possible stabbing involving seven people outside the cafe, in which Burundi-born Berahino claims he was attempting to flee a group of robbers, who had surrounded his car just minutes before. Berahino's case against the charge referred to his attempting to escape the robbers, however, chair of the bench Mark Oxenham said the prosecution had not proved their case beyond reasonable doubt, stating: "[..] the defendant was not in fear of death or fear of serious injury to himself or his companions". Ex- West Brom forward Berahino was behind the wheel of the car when police followed it the short distance to Bedford Square, before being stopped and asked about the fight through the vehicle's window. The striker was found to have 103mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, with the legal limit just 35mg. Sometimes that hurt changes you for the better.   Saido Berahino (@SBerahino) April 15, 2019 Having started his career with the Baggies, Berahino had loan spells with Northampton Town, Brentford and Peterborough United in between making 121 appearances with the Hawthorns outfit and netting 36 goals. His performances for the midlands side earned him a move to Stoke in 2016, in a deal that could be worth up to £15m, but he has endured a bitterly disappointing spell with the Potters . With just five goals in 56 matches, he is now facing up to being charged with drink driving for the second time in four years.


The Ravens took a look at one of their former players for a possible reunion. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that they had safety Brynden Trawick in for a workout . Trawick signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and appeared in 38 games for the team over the next three years. He made one start on defense and saw the majority of his time on special teams. That remained the case with the Raiders in 2016 and with the Titans over the last two years. Trawick went to the Pro Bowl as a special teams player after the 2017 season. Trawick has 74 tackles and one interception over his six NFL seasons.


No one was hurt after a vehicle crashed on Wednesday into the front patio of a popular Highlands gay bar, according to police. The van crashed into the patio of Chill Bar Highlands , 1117 Bardstown Road, about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, bursting through the patio's fencing, knocking over tables and chairs. Louisville Metro Police Department spokesman Lamont Washington said officers took an incident report and called the crash "an accident." "There was no ill-will or anything criminal about this," Washington said. Chill Bar posted photos on its Facebook page that showed a van smashed up against several tables and chairs on the bar's patio. Read mmore: Looking for gay bars in Louisville during Pride Month? The bar was closed at the time of the crash but is expected to operate as normal Wednesday evening, owner David Graham said. The crash came during Pride Month and Louisville's Pride Week, when Chill Bar has numerous events scheduled to celebrate the LGBTQ community. Graham said the driver of the van told police he had swerved to avoid hitting a car and lost control of the vehicle. Volunteers have helped piece the patio back together, he said, putting back displaced bricks and painting a temporary wooden fence. "ALL events will go on as scheduled. NOTHING will stop us from having the best PRIDE WEEK ever," Chill Bar posted on its Facebook page. "Happy Pride, everyone." More: What does LGBTQIA mean? And more answers to your Pride Month questions Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com or 502-582-7030. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe . This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville gay bar patio hit by van during Pride Week; 'no foul play'


LONDON (Reuters) - Qatar and other countries have been talking to both Iran and the United States about de-escalation, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Sunday, urging both sides to meet and find a compromise. "We believe that at one point there should an engagement   it cannot last forever like this," he told reporters in London on Sunday. "Since they are not willing to engage in further escalation, they should come up with ideas that open the doors." Sheikh Mohammed said several countries including Qatar, Oman Iraq and Japan had been urging de-escalation with the two sides. "All these countries are concerned what escalation could lead to," he said. "There were attempts by Qatar and by other countries in the region to de-escalate the situation: we have been speaking to the U.S. and we have been talking to the Iranians as well." "What we are trying to do is really to bridge the gap and create a conversation between the two parties as escalation is not going to benefit anyone in the region," he said. Tensions have risen between Iran and the United States in recent weeks after Washington reimposed economic sanctions on Iran after pulling out of a big-power nuclear deal, and sending forces to the Middle East in a show of force to counter what U.S. officials called Iranian threats to U.S. troops and interests. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by William James)


It's been a rough few days for former Detroit Lions tight end Michael Roberts. He's now been dumped by his third NFL team in a week. The Lions initially traded Roberts to the New England Patriots for a conditional future draft pick. However, Roberts failed his physical with the Patriots and reverted back to the Lions. Detroit had seen enough of its 2017 fourth-round pick to know they didn't want him back, so the Lions waived Roberts once the trade was officially negated. Green Bay claimed Roberts and the remaining two years on his contract via the waiver wire on Monday. Unfortunately for Roberts, he also failed his physical with the Packers once he reported to the team. The Packers subsequently waived him. Roberts is now a free agent and has no further ties to the Lions. MORE: Rob Pelinka May Not Have Known the Cap Rules for Anthony Davis Trade Report: ESPN plans to stop featuring LaVar Ball after his inappropriate remark to Molly Qerim Four potential Kawhi Leonard landing spots in free agency Mike Conley's trade to Utah could have a silver lining, for Boston Raiders DE Clelin Ferrell signs contract, offers message to fans


The Boston Celtics are clearly high on rookie forward Grant Williams and for good reason, with the former All-American displaying leadership, radiating positivity, gushing green as longtime Celtics fan and most importantly, showing that he's the type of player that can stick around in the league for a long time. Why? Because like Celtics fan favorite Marcus Smart, Williams has shown he makes winning plays. Timely plays. Plays that change the course of the game even though they were made with hustle and sheer determination. Here's what one Celtics coach had to say about the Williams and Smart comparison, continuing to breathe life into the idea that Boston made a series of steals in the 2019 NBA Draft - with Williams, Carsen Edwards and Tremont Waters all players that have either passed their test in Las Vegas and Romeo Langford's falling to the bottom of the lottery: "Everyone loves Marcus ( Smart ), right? Because he's a dog, right? Grant is a bigger Marcus. He just gets after it. He made a bunch of plays here in Vegas that a rookie shouldn't be able to read. He's smart and plays hard. That's a combo that gets guys minutes right away." Williams isn't really a player that will constantly average a high volume of points because his scoring moves are relatively limited. He likes to use a spin move to get past defenders baseline when he's in the mid-post and he's quite effective with that move and he's powerful as well, so he can body through defenders on his way to the rim. Not known as much of three-point shooter at Tennessee, Williams knocked down 7-19 (36.8 percent) of his shots from deep in Summer League. He makes impressive reads that reminds one of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. Yet, Williams' best skill - like Smart - is his willpower. . @Grant2Will was one of the best rookies in the Vegas with averages of 13/6/2, but his impact went far beyond the numbers. Watch full SL highlights here: https://t.co/F8fyaXQqSk - Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) July 21, 2019 Determined to stop his man from scoring, Williams fights hard at the point of attack. When challenged by opponents, he'll seek to make a play. The Celtics will always have a great chance to win 50-50 balls when he's on the court because he hustles. Thats what made Smart a beloved figure in Boston and while Williams' personality is the water to Smart's fire, both are ruthless competitors when they step on the court. Dogs. Or wolves, better yet. Although Williams will have to earn his spot in the rotation, it's already assumed that he'll be able to man one of the spots available in the second unit, one that could also include fellow rookies in Edwards and Langford. Though a youthful group, with their lack of experience sure to show itself at multiple points next season, they'll be a group of warriors. One that finds Williams as an instruments piece of the equation. MORE: UFC's Thiago Santos shares brutal update on injuries suffered in loss to Jon Jones Damon Harrison is thrilled the Lions signed Mike Daniels Report: Lonzo Ball sells original Big Baller Brand warehouse for $4.26 million Giants Training Camp Day Two: Daniel Jones lights it up Things starting as expected for 2 former Steelers


For all the speculation about Miami, Detroit, New York, Phoenix and Orlando, Russell Westbrook may have been eyeing Houston and a reunion with former running mate James Harden as his landing pad from the moment Paul George requested a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers to team up with Kawhi Leonard. After 11 years in Oklahoma City - he was the second longest-tenured player with his team behind the Heat's Udonis Haslem, who hasn't officially retired yet - the 30-year-old Westbrook is reportedly headed to Houston for a package of draft picks and 34-year-old nine-time All-Star Chris Paul. But even though Westbrook liked an image of himself in a Heat jersey , and ESPN's Tim Bontemps had earlier reported that "Miami is the only place that makes any sense," ESPN's Royce Young reported on Thursday, moments after the trade news broke , the eight-time All-Star and former MVP always had eyes for Houston, saying it was his "preferred destination basically from the beginning of this process" and "other teams were only lightly considered." The Rockets were Westbrook's preferred destination basically from the beginning of this process. Other teams were only lightly considered. - Royce Young (@royceyoung) July 12, 2019 The Thunder have now acquired eight first-round draft picks, four pick swaps and three players - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and Chris Paul - this month in deals for Paul George, Russell Westbrook and Jerami Grant. MORE: Alex Morgan made a perfect trophy joke after winning Best Female Athlete at ESPYS Breaking down the Oklahoma City Thunder's future draft picks The Ringer believes Raiders could trade SS Karl Joseph to Cowboys After Packers pass on Jalen Thompson, focus shifts to Natrell Jamerson NBA Depth Charts


As they continue to explore various trade scenarios regarding their most appealing veteran players, the Tigers are attempting to package multiple trade chips, according to MLB.com's Jon Morosi . It's part of a bid to draw top-end prospect talent to Detroit this summer. The concept of a package deal isn't a new one. On occasion, it's even pulled off   such as with this memorable swap we recently looked back on   though most such ideas tend to end up on the cutting-room floor. In this case, the Detroit organization has three chief attractions to dangle. Outfielder Nicholas Castellanos is the most obvious trade piece as a pending free agent, but he's not going to draw a franchise-altering return on his own. Reliever Shane Greene has thrown well at the right time and has another season of control remaining, though rivals surely value him somewhere in the realm of the mid-point between this year's 1.22 ERA and last year's 5.12 mark. Much as the Tigers might like to turn Castellanos and Greene into a significant prospect haul, they're likely aware that even two quality MLB pieces such as those won't induce hesitant contenders to part with premium prospects. With the purpose in mind "to access the highest tier of available prospects," as Morosi characterizes it, the Tigers are at least opening the door to package arrangements involving the third and most valuable major trade chip: starter Matthew Boyd . In this day and age, it's as hard as ever to pry top prospects free via trade. But controllable, high-quality starting pitching is an increasingly rare asset in its own right. The Tigers' best hope of getting big-time new talent is surely to line something up for Boyd and his three remaining seasons of arbitration control. While the southpaw hasn't quite maintained his hot start in terms of results, he can shoulder a workload and carries appealing peripherals (including a 14.0% swinging-strike rate). Boyd is the sort of pitcher that might get a contender to pay a price it'd rather not, though his breakout is still fresh and there are surely questions as to its sustainability. Adding in another much-needed piece could help move the ball, no doubt, but it's questionable whether the Tigers' other top trade chips are valuable enough secondary pieces to do so. There's an argument to be made that Castellanos is the top rental bat available as a young and established slugger, but he's not particularly cheap and there are alternatives. Greene seems likelier to tip the scales as a late-inning reliever with another season of control, but he's going to be due a big raise (from his $4M current salary) and has a rather uneven overall track record.


Baguette Racing leads the Le Mans Esports Super Final after five of the nine races have taken place, holding a slender lead over Kitty Krew. Twelve three-driver teams are battling it out in nine-races over a 24-hour period, with a $100,000 prize pool and a place on the real-life podium. The first eight races set the grid and time intervals for the 90-minute finale, which will decide the series champions. Baguette, which is made up of Red Bull Esports driver Aurelien Mallet, Christopher Cabrera and Alexandre Arnou, didn't win any of the races but finished no lower than fourth in each race. It's leading the points table, four points ahead of Kitty Krew   they emerged victorious in a tense third race at Silverstone with modern prototypes. The team with the most prize money accumulated so far is the Mad Motorsport entry, it sits third in the points standings, but won the opening two races and brought its total prize money up to $9,000 by dominating the fifth race. Mad opted to prioritise its budget on cars that would be advantageous in the early races, sacrificing its chances of major success in the finale. "Our team has gone for the strategy, where we're aiming for the wins the smaller races," Mad Motorsport driver Cian Butler told Motorsport.com. "We're going for top six in the final race, anything more is a bonus." Williams Esports sit level on points with Mad in fourth place, it picked up second place and $2,000 in the second race. Wildcard entry Veloce rounds out the top five. Both Williams and Veloce have suffered mixed fortunes so far. The fifth race was the perfect microcosm of this. Veloce was punted off down the order, recovered but was then handed a stop-go penalty for causing a collision. Veloce then nicked fifth place from Kitty Krew on the final lap of the race, while further up the road, Williams lost the final place on the podium to Keep it Simple Racing. Keep it Simple's Tobin Leigh had taken a dominant victory in the previous race, lapping the entire field, while the Chinese trio who topped the Asian qualifying competition, picked up second despite a bizarre pitlane crash. The remaining four races of the Super Final are been streamed right now across Motorsport.tv, YouTube and Twitch. The final race will also be on Facebook, with the broadcast beginning at 9.15am CET on Saturday morning.


It's a lost no player wants to be on: Largest blown 54-hole lead in PGA Tour history. But just as in life, crazy things can happen in golf. Imagine playing your tail off for 54 holes, building a massive lead and then the final round comes and, suddenly, POOF!, the lead disappears and the tournament you figured you had in the bag is gone. Even worse if it comes in a major. Elite golfers will tell you they take things one shot at a time. That's got to be mostly true. But it can't be easy to at least think a little bit into the immediate future when you're sporting what most would consider an insurmountable lead. If you do think that way, it can lead to a crushing demise. RELATED: When did the word 'par' become a part of golf lingo? That's what has happened to seven players in PGA Tour history. The biggest blown lead in golf history entering the final round of a four-round tournament is six strokes. Here's the players who it has happened to, according to the PGA Tour media guide : Biggest 54-hole leads lost in golf history (all led by 6 strokes) Bobby Cruickshank, 1928 Florida Open Gay Brewer, 1969 Danny Thomas-Diplomat Classic Hal Sutton, 1983 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic Greg Norman, 1996 Masters Tournament Sergio Garcia, 2005 Wachovia Championship Spencer Levin, 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open Dustin Johnson, 2017 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions Here's how it happened to them, chronologically. 1928 Florida Open: Bobby Cruickshank Back in the 1920s, the PGA Tour hadn't yet formed, but professionals played on a circuit run by the PGA of America that would eventually become the PGA Tour. That's where Scotland's Cruickshank played, and quite successfully, we might add. Cruickshank won 17 times and even notched top-6 finishes in all four majors, highlighted y runner-up showings at the 1923 and 1932 U.S. Opens. But, the 1928 Florida Open got away from Cruickshank. The details are scarce, but Cruickshank clearly did not enjoy the final day, shooting 80, and Henry Ciuci came away as the unlikely winner. 1969 Danny Thomas-Diplomat Classic: Gay Brewer Gay Brewer, 1967 Masters champion, took a healthy six-stroke lead into the final round of the 1969 Danny Thomas-Diplomat Classic in Florida at Diplomat Presidential Country Club. Brewer shot a 73 in that final round and a hard-charging Arnold Palmer stole the win. Brewer would never have a chance to avenge that loss -- it was the first and only time the tournament was played. 1983 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic: Hal Sutton The PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year in 1982, Sutton had a little setback that would end up being a mere blip on the radar of an otherwise stellar career when he coughed up a six-shot, 54-hole advantage at the 1983 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic. Sutton was unraveled by a disappointing 77 in the tournament's final round and settle for a T3 finish. Calvin Peete won the tournament when he fired a final-round score of 69. 1996 Masters Tournament: Greg Norman This is, no doubt, the most memorable and most painful entry in the "blown 54-hole lead" club. Greg Norman, one of the most dominant players of his era, looked like he was finally going to get the monkey off his back at Augusta National, a place where he finished inside the top 5 six times previously, including two T2s. Already a two-time Open Champion, Norman looked poised to win the green jacket and become the first Australian-born player to do so. But, it wasn't meant to be for the Shark. Norman imploded in the final round with a 6-over 78, just enough for a stalking Nick Faldo to pounce. Faldo fired a 67 that day to defeat Norman by five shots and seemed more apologetic than ecstatic in the aftermath. Even with the 78, Norman would still finish second. 2005 Wachovia Championship: Sergio Garcia Garcia began the final round at Quail Hollow six strokes ahead of Vijay Singh. The 2017 Masters champ had an early meltdown, but recovered to hold a one-shot lead with two to play. With a bogey-par finish, Garcia shot 72 and went into a three-man playoff with Singh and Jim Furyk. The playoff would go four holes with Singh winning, but Garcia was eliminated with a three-putt bogey on the first playoff hole. "They say you learn more from your losses than your wins," Garcia said at the time. "And I've got a lot from this week to learn." And he did. 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open: Spencer Levin Talk about a brutal place to have a meltdown. TPC Scottsdale's par-3 16th hole is, hands down, the most rowdy in golf. The entire tournament has and encourages a party-like atmosphere. But the final round in 2012 was no party for Spencer Levin. Far from it. Throughout his career, Levin has been known as a player who can get hot under the collar. It's certainly not good for his game. Levin shot 4-over 75 in the final round, while Kyle Stanley rallied with a 67 to win the tournament. Levin finished third. Interestingly, it was Stanley a week earlier who surrendered a three-stroke lead on the 72nd hole at Torrey Pines. Redemption came quickly for Stanley. 2017 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions: Dustin Johnson Did anyone see this one coming? A six-stroke lead for the No. 1-ranked player in the world, a major champion, with one round to go? Surely the final 18 holes would be a mere formality for Dustin Johnson, right? Wrong. As was the case for the six players before him, Johnson was not on his game for those last 18 holes. He struggled to a score of 77 (mind you, there were 25 mph winds that day), while Justin Rose emerged victorious, thanks to a final-round 67 that included a back-nine 31. Johnson tied for second. Like Stanley, however, Johnson bounced back to win his very next start -- the Tournament of Champions a couple months later.


Bills safety Rafael Bush has retired after nine seasons in the NFL, according to a team announcement. To replace Bush, the club signed fellow safety Kurt Coleman . Bush, 32, was expected to serve as a depth option and round out his two-year pact. Instead, he's opted to hang 'em up just before the start of training camp. Last year, Bush appeared in 15 games (seven starts) and helped out at the nickel corner spot after Taron Johnson was lost to a torn labrum. Enter Coleman, 31, who has a long history with head coach Sean McDermott thanks to their time together in Carolina. With the Panthers, Coleman enjoyed the two best seasons of his career. He'll likely serve as a reserve behind starters Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer , stepping straight into the role that was supposed to be addressed by Bush. Bush first appeared in the league as an undrafted free agent with the Broncos in 2011, but made a name for himself with the Saints where he saw frequent action. After five straight seasons in New Orleans, he hooked on with the Lions for 2016, returned to the Saints in 2017 and spent '18 with Buffalo.


A burglary call led to the discovery of a body in a north Houston warehouse, police said early Thursday. Police were called to a metal scrap yard in the 3600 block of Schalker , near I-45 and Cavalcade, at about 1:30 a.m. The owner of the metal recycling business called police to report his burglary alarm had gone off, and he saw three or four suspects inside of his business on a security camera. When police responded, the suspects fled, according to HPD Lt. Larry Crowson. While looking for the remaining suspects, police went into a nearby warehouse. Inside they found a man's body. Police said it appeared the body had been there for a couple days, and while the investigation is still on-going the death did not appear to be suspicious. Initial indications are the man could have been homeless, Crowson said. One of the suspects was later found hiding near a dumpster in the scrap yard. Police called in K-9 units and a helicopter, but there were no other immediate arrests. ALSO POPULAR ON KHOU.COM 2.6M pounds of Houston recyclables tossed in landfill Father stabbed to death by son in west Houston, police say Police: Teen killed in shooting outside Cleveland H-E-B, suspects' vehicle found burned in field


UPDATE: A French doctor already under investigation for poisoning seven patients has been charged with poisoning 17 more people at a clinic in eastern France, one of his lawyers said on Thursday. Frederic Pechier worked as an anaesthesiologist at two private clinics in Besancon, when seven patients, aged 37 to 53, went into cardiac arrest from 2008 to 2017. EARLIER: A French doctor already charged in the poisoning of seven patients was brought before a judge Thursday on suspicions he may have poisoned 17 others at a clinic in eastern France, prosecutors said. Frederic Pechier worked as an anaesthesiologist at two private clinics in Besancon, when seven patients, aged 37 to 53, went into cardiac arrest from 2008 to 2017. This week he was brought in for questioning over 66 more suspicious cases of cardiac arrest during operations on patients otherwise considered at low risk of such incidents. "Seventeen cases have been retained" involving patients aged 4 to 80, of whom seven died after doctors were unable to revive them, local prosecutor Etienne Manteaux told a press conference. Pechier has been brought before a judge who will determine if he is charged, and Manteaux has asked that he be jailed pending further investigations. Pechier was "the common denominator" in the new cases, which occurred at a time when he was in open conflict with fellow anaesthesiologists at the Saint-Vincent clinic in Besancon, Manteaux said. "He was most often found close to the operating bloc" when the cases occurred, and made quick diagnoses of the problem and the action to take, "even when nothing allowed anyone to suspect an overdose of potassium or local anesthesia," he said. Prosecutors have alleged he may have tampered with his colleagues' anaesthesia pouches to create operating room emergencies where he could then intervene to show off his supposed talents. Pechier's lawyers have denied the claims, and in November they accused police of altering declarations he made during his initial questioning. During questioning this week, Manteaux said Pechier acknowledged that criminal acts had taken place at Saint-Vincent, but that "he was not responsible for these poisonings."


Houston police need your help identifying two jugging suspects who were caught on camera attacking a man they followed from a bank near Westchase. Police said on May 31, the victim went to the Chase bank in the 11500 block of Westheimer Road to make a deposit. The man told police he walked out the bank holding a blue bag with cash in it. The man then said he drove to his job on the 11140 block of Westheimer and when he got out of his car an older model black Dodge Charger pulled up and two men got out and quickly approached him. One of the suspects was seen on camera punching the man in the chest, causing him to fall. Both of the suspects then wrested the blue bank bag from the man and ran back to the Charger. The man tried breaking the window of the suspects' car but was unsuccessful. Houston police said the suspects are black men between 17 to 23 years old. If you have any information on the suspects or this case, please call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477. Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to charging and/or arrest of the suspects in this case. ALSO POPULAR ON KHOU.COM: Officer injured in motorcycle crash on North Loop near Kirkpatrick; several lanes closed What we know about Beaumont bombing suspect Jonathan Torres Dallas officers respond to 'shooting call' near federal courthouse building


Felony charges dropped against Lakeland woman accused of taking estranged husband's guns


Hugo Lloris has returned to London after leaving Tottenham's pre-season tour prematurely due to a case of tonsillitis. The club captain fell ill shortly after Tottenham landed in Singapore on Thursday and did not take part in any training sessions before jumping on a flight back to England on Sunday. Hugo Lloris has today returned to London from Singapore to continue his recovery from tonsillitis. #SpursTour2019 ⚪ #ICC2019   Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 22, 2019 Tottenham have confirmed that Lloris is back in England to recover in a club statement on their website which read: "Hugo Lloris has today (Monday) returned to London from Singapore to continue his recovery from tonsillitis. "Our club captain missed the 3-2 win against Juventus at the Singapore National Stadium on Sunday having been suffering with illness since Friday. The France goalkeeper is expected to return to training with the first team squad following our pre-season tour of Asia, which concludes against Manchester United in Shanghai on Thursday." Backup keeper Paulo Gazzaniga started between the sticks in Lloris' absence during Sunday's 3-2 victory over Juventus, playing the whole 90 minutes. Harry Kane's winning goal proved to be the talking point of the match, as he looped an effort over the head of Wojciech Szczesny from just inside the Juventus half with virtually the last kick of the game. Gazzaniga will be expected to start again when Spurs face off against United on Thursday, but Mauricio Pochettino may be tempted offer some minutes to under-23 keepers Alfie Whiteman or Jonathan De Bie who joined up with the senior side for the tour. Michel Vorm's departure at the end of the 2018/19 campaign could open the door for one of the youngsters to step up to the first team next season, so Pochettino may use Lloris' departure from the squad as an excuse to give the pair an opportunity to impress.


Many investors rely on stocks that pay dividends to get much-needed income. Yet you can find plenty of companies that could easily afford to pay a lot more money to their shareholders in dividends, yet for whatever reason, they choose not to do so. Sometimes, those stocks are still good investments, with great capacity for share-price appreciation as well as future dividend hikes. To identify a few promising prospects for your consideration, we asked three Motley Fool contributors to choose companies they see as being solid candidates for having the ability to raise dividends in the future. Read on and then tell us what you think about whether these stocks deserve a place in your portfolio. Matt Frankel : One company that could easily double its dividend yield is Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS). Goldman pays an annual dividend amount of $2.40 per share, which is just 14% of the company's 2014 earnings. In fact, Goldman Sachs has only paid out more than 15% of its earnings twice in the past decade. However, while Goldman could easily double its dividend, I don't think it will happen anytime soon. Goldman prefers to use its profits in two ways: reinvesting in its business and buying back shares. Buybacks are definitely Goldman's preferred method of returning capital to shareholders. In fact, Goldman has about 19% fewer outstanding shares than it did in 2011 and has been buying back shares at a rate of more than 6% per year recently. By choosing to buy back shares rather than increase its dividend, Goldman could be telling us that management believes shares are a good value at the current price and that shareholders will get more value from buybacks than they would from a dividend increase. So I hope Goldman's dividend stays low and the buyback stays high for years to come. : Visa (NYSE: V) stands out to me as one stock with a long runway for future dividend increases. Over the next few years, I could see its dividend doubling, or even tripling. The company is a cash cow unlike any other. Less than 10% of its operating cash flow is spent on capital expenditures -- big, long-term investments -- in any given year. Yet even though it doesn't invest much in its business, revenue is up 60% in the past five years on the back of a shift from cash to card-based payments. Payment processing is a rare industry where growth in revenue and profits does not require proportionally large ongoing investments. The company returns nearly all of its cash flow and earnings back to investors in the form of dividends and share repurchases, with share repurchases making up the majority of its capital returns. But as time goes on, and its valuation grows, I find it likely that the company will start directing more of its payouts to dividends over repurchases. After buying back more than 50% of its split-adjusted diluted shares since its IPO, its stock is becoming less liquid. Institutions own more than 90% of its float, which limits how much stock it can buy back without driving up the price. For these reasons, I think Visa will have one of the best dividend growth rates of any publicly traded companies over the next decade, if not longer. Dan Caplinger : One company that's in spectacular shape for raising its dividend is entertainment giant Disney (NYSE: DIS). The multimedia empire has grown impressively in recent years, with the acquisitions of studios including Pixar, Marvel, and most recently Lucasfilm having bolstered Disney's already impressive content collection. Marvel in particular has spawned numerous successful franchises, including multiple blockbuster movies based on Iron Man and Avengers . Lucasfilm has at least that much promise, with future installments of the Star Wars franchise having almost limitless potential. For all of Disney's profitable success, the company is notoriously stingy with its dividends. The stock's current yield sits at just 1.1%, and the company pays out just a quarter of its earnings per share in annual dividends. To be fair, Disney has more than tripled its payout in the past five years, but growth in its share price has prevented Disney from seeing any appreciable increase in its yield. It would be trivial for Disney to double its dividend right now and still maintain a healthy payout ratio of around 50%, leaving it plenty of room to make further strategic acquisitions or other investments in its business. Unfortunately, it's more likely that the House of Mouse will simply persist with its slow but steady increases in its once-yearly payouts, making dividend investors wait patiently to share in the company's success. This $19 trillion industry could destroy the Internet One bleeding-edge technology is about to put the World Wide Web to bed. It could make early investors wildly rich. Experts are calling it the single largest business opportunity in the history of capitalism... The Economist is calling it "transformative"... But you'll probably just call it "how I made my millions." Don't be too late to the party -- click here for one stock to own when the Web goes dark. The article These 3 Companies Could Easily Double Their Dividend originally appeared on Fool.com. Dan Caplinger owns shares of Walt Disney. Jordan Wathen has no position in any stocks mentioned. Matthew Frankel has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Goldman Sachs, Visa, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of Visa and Walt Disney. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days . We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . Copyright © 1995 - 2015 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .


Interested in adopting a pet   or just gazing at some cute-as-can-be kittens? There are dozens of endearing kittens up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Chicago. Animal shelters work hard to care for unhoused pets and connect them to loving homes. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of kittens currently available for adoption. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) Gyoza, domestic shorthair mix Gyoza is a female domestic shorthair kitten being cared for at Harmony House for Cats . Gyoza is a social butterfly, and she'll get along great with other cats. Fear not: She is already house-trained. She's already vaccinated. Here's what Gyoza's friends at Harmony House for Cats think of her: Gyoza wants to be a best friend to your cat or kitten at home or choose a buddy for her here at Harmony House. Born in January 2019, she just needs you to give her a new home. Apply to adopt Gyoza today at Petfinder . Trixie, domestic shorthair Trixie is a sweet female domestic shorthair kitten currently residing at Chicago Pet Rescue . Trixie is happy to keep company with other cats. Fear not: She's already house-trained. She is vaccinated. Trixie's current caretakers say: She is a gorgeous black and white tuxedo kitten who loves to play! She's friendly and sweet! Trixie likes to cuddle and purr. She plays very nicely and is especially fond of wand toys! Read more about Trixie on Petfinder . Blaze, domestic shorthair Blaze is a sweet female domestic shorthair kitten staying at Friends of Petraits . Blaze will get along great with your children, dogs or cats. She has been vaccinated. She has mastered her house-training etiquette. Notes from Blaze's caretakers: She is well behaved in the home and has all her claws. She'd love a home with another young cat to play with. She can be adopted with her brother Devin or Tristan. Read more about how to adopt Blaze on Petfinder . Bobby, domestic shorthair and Russian blue mix Bobby is an adorable male domestic shorthair and Russian blue kitten staying at Feline Friends Chicago . Bobby is happy to keep company with other cats. He's already house-trained. His vaccinations are already up to date. Bobby's current caretakers say: This little guy is super playful and affectionate. Read more about how to adopt Bobby on Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Crews are battling a multi-alarm fire at an apartment building in New Bedford Thursday. The fire broke out at about 10:30 a.m. in a triple-decker on Clark Street. Video from the scene shows heavy flames and smoke rising from the third floor and attic areas. One woman was taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation after being rescued from a second-floor hallway. The Red Cross will assist displaced residents. READ MORE: Crews battle fire in New Bedford triple-decker CHECK OUT WCVB: Get the latest Boston news, weather and sports online, anytime. Stay in the know with Boston's news leader   WCVB.


The surprises continued at the Munich Open on Sunday, as Italy's Matteo Berrettini beat fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final of the ATP clay court tournament. Berrettini, who reached a career-high ranking of 37 after winning the Hungarian Open last month, can win a third career ATP title in Munich. The 23-year-old Italian will face fellow surprise package Cristian Garin in the final on Sunday afternoon (1330 GMT), playing back-to-back matches after his semi-final was postponed due to rain. Chilean Garin upset world number three Alexander Zverev and third seed Marco Cecchinato on his way to the final.


Former school resource officer Scot Peterson was widely criticized after he failed to confront a shooter who opened fire and killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last year. The Broward Sheriff's Office active shooter policy calls for deputies to interrupt a shooting and search for victims when there's a ceasefire. More than a year after the massacre, the former Broward County sheriff's deputy now faces child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury charges. Peterson's attorney, Joseph A. DiRuzzo III, said the charges appear to be "a thinly veiled attempt at politically motivated retribution against Mr. Peterson." He said Peterson cannot be prosecuted as a caregiver since he was acting as a law enforcement officer in an official capacity. Here's what we know about Peterson's response to the shooting. He was armed but never went inside the building When shots rang out at the Parkland school, Peterson didn't run toward the gunfire. Senior Brandon Huff claimed he saw Peterson standing outside behind a stairwell wall with his gun drawn "just pointing it at the building." "He's wearing a bulletproof vest ... while school security guards, coaches pretty much, were running in shielding kids," he said. Footage from the school surveillance cameras showed Peterson positioned outside of the school. Last year, authorities released an edited 27-minute video with portions of surveillance video from that day. The video begins with Peterson, wearing his deputy's uniform, standing between two buildings on campus talking to another adult, then appearing to speak into a radio handset on his shoulder. He walks off screen, but a few minutes later, Peterson appears from another angle positioned outside a building. Students, whose images are pixelated, walk into the frame and then out of it. In past interviews,DiRuzzo said Peterson believed the gunshots were coming from outside the building . He hid for more than 45 minutes Peterson arrived at the 1200 building -- where the massacre took place -- and then moved 75 feet to a "position of increased personal safety" near the 700 and 800 buildings, an arrest warrant affidavit said. The warrant says Peterson stayed there for more than 45 minutes. During that time, the gunman killed five students and one teacher, authorities said. He did report hearing gunshots While he was outside the building, Peterson got on his radio and took a position where he could see the western entry, Former Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel had said. Though his attorney said Peterson wasn't sure where the shots were coming from, he can be heard in dispatch audio released last year saying, "I think we have shots fired, possible shots fired, 1200 building." Immediately after the shooting, responding officers scrambled to the scene but appeared to be following commands from Peterson to close the road in front of the school and set up a perimeter. He was widely criticized by officials In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Peterson was publicly shamed by then-Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel as well as President Donald Trump . Trump called him a coward and criticized him on several occasions. "When it came time to get in there and do something, he didn't have the courage or something happened, but he certainly did a poor job. There's no question about that," Trump said of Peterson on the White House South Lawn, days after the shooting. "Let there be no mistake, Mr. Peterson wishes that he could have prevented the untimely passing of the seventeen victims on that day, and his heart goes out to the families of the victims in their time of need," his lawyer, DiRuzzo, said in a statement last year. "However, the allegations that Mr. Peterson was a coward and that his performance, under the circumstances, failed to meet the standards of police officers are patently untrue."


Welcome to the PHT Morning Skate, a collection of links from around the hockey world. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at phtblog@nbcsports.com . • Why Jake Gardiner hasn't signed with a team yet. ( Featurd ) • It's been a long, strange trip for David Clarkson . ( Toronto Sun ) • Ken Holland is confident that James Neal can bounce back. We'd hope so . ( Sportsnet ) • NHL teams slowly learning lessons about signing aging wingers. ( Yahoo Sports ) • Alberta's premier is happy to avoid debate on a new hockey arena for the Calgary Flames. ( National Post ) • Laine, Connor is now the main event in Winnipeg. ( Sportsnet ) • A look at officiating in the playoffs, player safety and the failure of accountability. ( Last Word on Hockey ) • Unresolved situations around the NHL that could force further trades. ( The Athletic ) • Flyers must overachieve to being playoff contenders this year. ( Featurd ) • The New York Islanders, and the NHL for that matter, overvalue fourth liners. (Eyes on Isles ) • The Penguins aren't the only team worried about the salary cap. ( TribLive ) • Are the Rangers ready to contend now? ( ESPN ) • Is Mitch Marner 's contract impasses holding up the rest of the NHL? ( The Hockey Writers ) • What happens when an NHL team goes for it… every single season. ( The Athletic ) • Each Western Conference GM's best and worst moves. ( The Score ) Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck


It was up to acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney to come to the defense of President Donald Trump's attack on Rep. Elijah Cummings and his majority African-American Baltimore district on Sunday. And Mulvaney´s message was clear: Sure, Trump's tweets may seem racist, but they aren't. "Does the president speak hyperbolically? Absolutely. Have we seen this type of this reaction from his before? Yes," Mulvaney said on CBS´ Face the Nation . "And you will again because he pushes back, he fights back when he feels like he's attacked." Ultimately though there's nothing to do to prevent people being offended because "I understand that everything that Donald Trump says is offensive to some people," he added . . @margbrennan asks @MickMulvaneyOMB if he understands why Baltimore residents would be upset over @realDonaldTrump tweets. Mulvaney: "I understand that everything that Donald Trump says is offensive to some people." pic.twitter.com/Lv15h0pF3z   Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 28, 2019 When host Margaret Brennan pressed Mulvaney on why Trump saying that "no human being would want to live there" could be seen as racist, Mulvaney admitted he did. "I understand why but that doesn't mean that it's racist. The president is pushing back against what he sees as wrong. It's how he's done in the past and he'll continue to do in the future," Mulvaney said. Pressed on the issue by Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday , Mulvaney insisted that " it has absolutely zero to do with race ." Mulvaney said Trump had criticized Cummings because of his attack on conditions at the border, and he would have done the same to any other lawmaker who would have voiced similar criticism. "If I had poverty in my district like they have in Baltimore, if I had crime in my district like they have in Chicago, if I had homelessness in my district like they have in San Francisco, and I spent all of my time in Washington, D.C., chasing down this Mueller investigation, this bizarre impeachment crusade, I'd get fired," Mulvaney said. Chris talks to @MickMulvaneyOMB on Trump's tweet attacks #FNS #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/G6OLlsDL8k   FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) July 28, 2019 When Wallace noted that Trump seems to have a fondness for using the word "infested" to refer to minority lawmakers, Mulvaney dismissed it as a forced analysis . "Infested. It sounds like vermin. It sounds subhuman. And these are all six members of Congress who are people of color," Wallace said. Mulvaney pushed back and accused Wallace of " spending way too much time reading between the lines ." Wallace shot back: "I'm not reading between the lines. I'm reading the lines." Chris talks to @MickMulvaneyOMB about the President using the word "Infested" #FNS #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/xJN2915SUl   FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) July 28, 2019


It would seem that everyone has their own trick on how to get the best deal on a new car but usually the car salesman comes out ahead. These are the tricks you can you use to outsmart a car salesman. But if you come in with a plan and know the tricks car salesmen like to use, you can get yourself a pretty good deal. One of the areas you should focus is the trade-in value of your vehicle. How to Get the Best Price for Your Trade-in Many former car salesmen have said that it's best to negotiate your trade-in's value separately from the price of the new car you want to purchase because your trade-in can get devalued quickly when you're focusing on the final price of the new car. It's also a good idea to learn the best time of the week to buy a new car. What's the Trick to Get the Best Price for Your Trade-in Don't let the car salesman know you have a trade-in right away. Some dealers will try to play tricks with the trade-in value in order to get you into a more expensive car by increasing the price of your trade-in. Your car's trade-in value should not change drastically. Salesmen typically have some wiggle room on trade-in values because it's one area where they can make some additional money. An ex-car salesman posted on a Reddit forum that they used to lie to the owner on trade-in prices they gave customers so they'd make more money. Besides, the sale might also trigger a bonus for the sales person so they might be willing to negotiate your trade-ins value a little more. Here's what happens to your car after you trade it in. Don't like to hassle with sales people? You might think leasing could be better but here's what car dealers won't tell you about leasing.


What is the fatal flaw with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019? Some might say the offensive line. Some might say having a rookie quarterback. Perhaps it is the defensive line or Patrick Peterson's suspension. According to CBS Sports' Will Brinson, it isn't any of those. Their fatal flaw is their leader, head coach Kliff Kingsbury. It's hard to find a truly fatal flaw for this team, because no one expects them to be good. You could go with the offensive line for sure; it was one of the worst units in football last year and while it's improved it's not some outstanding group yet. I would be fine if you said "pressure" generally because of what the selection of Kyler Murray does to this team. Instead I'll take the coach - Kliff Kingsbury is by all accounts very smart and very good at what he does scheming up offenses. But he's also a first-year NFL head coach going against the best of the best when it comes to defensive coordinators. If for some reason he can't manage to translate his abilities to the NFL level, this could get very ugly very quickly. He makes a valid point about there perhaps being no one fatal flaw because of very low expectations for the season. However, they have an offensive system that should have some success. The starting offensive line is capable. David Johnson makes a solid running back. The receiving corps is improved. If anything, their fatal flaw would be losing their most important defensive player for six games. Vance Jospeph's defense runs on guys covering, guys getting to the quarterback and then scheming the rest. Without the best cover corner on the field, this could make things interesting. Is their fatal flaw Kingsbury? It is hard to say. We saw that as perhaps the case in 2018 when Steve Wilks just didn't work out. If it happens for the second year in a row, things could get ugly here. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: This photo of Kyler Murray led to more speculation about his height Tracy Walker is set up to be the next Lions' breakout star Did the Raiders steal the best fullback in the 2019 NFL draft? NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Kyle Rudolph could be a late offseason acquisition Cowboys need


Looking to uncover all that Eagle Lake has to offer? Get to know this Charlotte neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a soul food spot to a Mexican eatery. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Eagle Lake, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Nana's Soul Food Kitchen Topping the list is soul food spot Nana's Soul Food Kitchen . Located at 2908 Oak Lake Blvd., Suite #106, it's the highest rated business in the neighborhood, boasting four stars out of 407 reviews on Yelp. 2. Anita's Mexican Grill Next up is Mexican spot Anita's Mexican Grill , situated at 2904 Yorkmont Road, Suite C. With 4.5 stars out of 114 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. 3. Charlotte Regional Farmers Market The Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is another top choice. Yelpers give the market, located at 1801 Yorkmont Road, four stars out of 136 reviews. 4. Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant , a Caribbean spot, is another neighborhood go-to, with four stars out of 118 Yelp reviews. Head over to 3011 West Blvd. to see for yourself. 5. The Clock Tower Restaurant Check out The Clock Tower Restaurant , which has earned four stars out of 12 reviews on Yelp. You can find the New American spot at 2800 Coliseum Center Drive in the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Build up hedges from Treasuries to high-octane options. Get out of carmakers. Resist credit and emerging markets. Those are just some of the ways battle-ready investors are riding U.S.-China trade tensions as $2 trillion gets wiped off stocks -- halting the bubbling melt-up across risk assets along the way. With Friday's deadline on fresh tariffs looming, all bets are off as a Chinese delegation arrives in Washington on the heels of President Donald Trump's fiery rhetoric. Some money managers are dusting off their safety playbook in earnest, with echoes of tumult in 2018. "We tactically added to Treasuries on the back of trade wobbles," said Mark Holman, chief executive officer of TwentyFour Asset Management in London. He's "holding off credit" and sticking to less volatile, short-term debt. Here are some tactics to consider for the brewing conflict: Small World The thinking goes that when trade tensions hit, U.S. small caps hold up while Chinese stocks wallow in pain -- and there's a trade to front-run just that. Pravit Chintawongvanich at Wells Fargo recommends using the two largest ETFs tracking those markets -- BlackRock Inc.'s China Large-Cap ETF, or FXI, and the Russell 2000 fund, or IWM. Selling protective puts on IWM while buying them on FXI can help investors weather brewing tensions in global commerce, according to the strategist. Junk Jitters High-yield bonds are in the firing line should the latest jawboning over commerce assume a more insidious posture. Yet implied volatility tracking the biggest junk-bond ETF is decidedly low relative to the Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, potentially making it a cheap hedge. Macro Risk Advisors recommends buying put options on BlackRock's benchmark product, with the investing strategy reaping fruit if the price of the ETF dips or price swings break out. Bonds Are Best Don't fret low yields -- longer-dated bonds can make money for cash-rich investors in dashes to safety. Lately, they've tended to rally a lot more when risk appetite nose-dives, and they have a canny propensity to stay relatively firm when equities advance. "For now, our worst-case scenario is a modest correction in global risk assets rather than a full-fledged meltdown," according to Gaurav Saroliya, head of macro strategy at Oxford Economics. "Even so, the case for maintaining portfolio hedges remains." The firm is upgrading core government bonds, downgrading cash and trimming overweights on all risky asset classes. Over at TwentyFour Asset, Holman thinks market bets on U.S. interest-rate cuts are overdone, but tensions in global commerce are spurring a more-bullish posture at the firm. "We initially thought UST had the chance to creep higher in yield so we sold some 10-year notes," he said. "But after the U.S.-China talks wobble we bought them back." U.S. Exceptionalism It's too early to go all-in on America First trades, but here's a top-down reminder about the defensive play from Alain Bokobza, head of global asset allocation at Societe Generale SA. "The protection for now is back to the U.S.," he said in an interview with Bloomberg TV Wednesday. "These are periods where you go back into U.S., you go back into the dollar, you go back into U.S. equities, which are outperforming the rest. They are falling, but in a lower manner than what happens in China or Japan." Pump the Brakes Don't forget: Europe is acutely in the firing line if the hawkish stance from the White House endures. A favorite Trump target, carmakers in the region, look especially vulnerable right now. The Stoxx 600 Automobiles & Parts Index has outperformed the broader benchmark by around 3 percentage points this year. As the gauge of carmakers trades at about 505 euros ($566), Citigroup Inc. suggests a put spread where the investor simultaneously buys protective options at a strike price of 490 euros while selling contracts with a 460 strike. The structure helps offset the cost of the bearish bet and limits losses. The trade makes sense for investors who expect the gauge to fall, but not too far. "With the Trump administration in a hawkish mood, we believe SXAP remains vulnerable," Citi strategists wrote in a note. Submerging Emerging With China taking up more than a quarter of the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, Evercore recently recommended a put strategy on the fund to hedge against event risk like Trump's broadsides on Twitter. The trade gains with limited downside risk as long as the price of the fund drops, though returns are capped. While the firm reckons an agreement can be reached -- curbing the allure of the investing style -- it says the $34 billion ETF remains a hedge-worthy vehicle for trade bears. New World Goldman Sachs Group Inc. gets the final word. Trading last year "suggests services-providing stocks will outperform goods-producing stocks as long as the trade dispute continues," strategist at the bank led by David Kostin wrote in a note. Service providers he cites include Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Among goods producers: Apple Inc., Johnson & Johnson and Exxon Mobil Corp. --With assistance from Alix Steel, Joanna Ossinger and Luke Kawa. To contact the reporters on this story: Cecile Gutscher in London at cgutscher@bloomberg.net;Yakob Peterseil in London at ypeterseil@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Samuel Potter at spotter33@bloomberg.net, Sid Verma For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com ©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


Spending time in Pheasant Run? Get to know this Aurora neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a nail salon to a head shop. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Pheasant Run, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Footique Nail Spa Topping the list is Footique Nail Spa . Located at 16633 E. Smoky Hill Road, it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 128 reviews on Yelp. 2. Formosa Garden Next up is Chinese spot Formosa Garden , situated at 16645 E. Smoky Hill Road With four stars out of 57 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. 3. The Bomb Head Shop The Bomb Head Shop is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 4343 S. Buckley Road, Unit C, four stars out of 12 reviews. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Players moved, others were drafted and some are simply gone, gone, gone. Here's to those who should be impactful in 2019. Or, at least, they better be. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports C.J. Mosley/Le'Veon Bell Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports The Jets opened up the bank vault and spent on players in free agency. C.J. Mosley comes over from the AFC North, as does Le'Veon Bell (kind of). Expect Mosley to add attitude to the defense. And once Bell shakes the rust of missing the entire season due to his holdout, he will be a major asset to Sam Darnold. Not sure it will be enough to turn the team into playoff-bound but at least they are trying. Antonio Brown/Trent Brown Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The Oakland Browns with the acquisitions of Antonio via trade and Trent as a free agent from New England. Would love to tell you the Oakland Browns have as good a chance of making the playoffs as the Cleveland Browns, but they don't. Will be fascinating to see if Derek Carr is able to play up to Antonio Brown's talent or if this will be another Amari Cooper. Earl Thomas USA TODAY Sports The Baltimore Ravens added one of the better defensive backs in the league in Earl Thomas. Guaranteed the drama that was Seattle stays in the Northwest. Almost sure Thomas will have a bigger impact than another free-agent signee, Mark Ingram. Mitch Morse Brian Bahr/Getty Images The Bills need to protect Josh Allen. As the QB heads into his second season, expect him to get a lot of security and support from Mitch Morse, who will become the anchor in the middle of Buffalo's line. Odell Beckham Jr./Olivier Vernon AP Photo/Ron Schwane This could be a split-decision. Olivier Vernon comes to the Browns and will be another fierce defender for Cleveland. Wish we could be as sure of Odell Beckham Jr. Until the mood swings and immaturity is shaken, he could be leaving the Cleveland fans shaking theirs heads or … jumping for joy if he performs as he can. Jason Witten Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports This move benefited everyone. ESPN, although no guarantee its MNF booth will be a drop more listenable, and Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys as Jason Witten returns to the field and brings his considerable talent at tight end. Nick Foles Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports Blake Bortles is gone and Nick Foles has arrived. Foles worked magic in Philly. Twice. The reality is Jacksonville had a brutal season in 2018 after a strong one the year before. If Foles can bring what he brought in Philly, don't be surprised to see a turnaround in Jacksonville. Frank Clark/Tyrann Mathieu Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images The Kansas City defense was weak, to be kind, in 2018. Dee Ford is gone but in his place come Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu. They are 26 and 27, respectively, though it seems as if both have been in the league far beyond their ages. Dee Ford Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Dee Ford and Nick Bosa - if he can stay healthy - will boost the Niners' defense. Let's stick with Ford for now, as he will assuredly will be a force. Realize he had 13 sacks last season and forced seven fumbles in KC. Seven fumbles forced! Landon Collins Elsa/Getty Images The Giants are crumbling piece by piece. Washington was happy to pick up Landon Collins from Big Blue's secondary. He gets two chances each year to show his former team, but good. The problem in Washington won't be Collins, though it figures to be the offense as it could be manned by Dwayne Haskins, the rookie from Ohio State. Kliff Kingsbury/Kyler Murray Christian Petersen/Getty Images If they don't succeed, it won't be in the quiet of the desert. Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray are going to be under the spotlight. The hot light. This isn't the Big 12. This is the big league. Kingsbury's offensive genius and Murray's considerable talents will be watched week in and week out to see if Arizona made the right call. T.J. Hockenson Andy Lyons/Getty Images T.J. Hockenson becomes the third tight end the Lions have drafted in the first round since 2009. That's not exactly good scouting. Hockenson the Hawkeye needs to step in and step up more than Brandon Pettigrew and Eric Ebron did in Motown. Freddie Kitchens AP Photo/David Richard Kind of new would be the best way to describe Freddie Kitchens. He was the offensive coordinator in Cleveland last season, Now, he's the head coach of a team with great expectations. Kitchens has all sorts of offensive tools at his disposal and a strong defense. He'll be expected to produce … quickly. Matt Lafleur Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports Matt Lafleur needs to make things work with Aaron Rodgers. They two must have chemistry and find a way to bring the best out of the Green Bay offense. Rodgers is wonderful. Lafleur needs to realize it and make use of all of the quarterback's greatness and not let the opportunity to be a head coach - see, ego - get in his way. Mike Mayock Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Mike Mayock is out at NFL Network … to the relief of many listeners. He's in a position of some power in Oakland (Jon Gruden is the true muscle). Mayock has to turn around a team that is drowning in losses. Las Vegas lies ahead but Mayock needs to prove his input on the draft delivered mucho talent to the Silver & Black. Miami Twice AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Brian Flores takes over for the mediocre man Adam Gase. Ryan Tannehill is gone to Tennessee and the Dolphins' offense will be run by the 10th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Josh Rosen. The former UCLA QB was taken in the same slot as a Patrick Mahomes was in 2017. No one in Miami could dream of Rosen delivering as Mahomes did last season in Kansas City. He needs to prove he is more than potential for Flores to get off to a swift start. MORE: Poker player argues over dealer chip counting error during crucial all-in hand at WSOP Main Event Colts ranked No. 1 in NFL future power rankings Future looks bright for the Steelers according to ESPN Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense E'Twaun Moore Q&A: 'I didn't know we were going to get all of that back for Anthony Davis'