The Pieniazek kids will celebrate two men Sunday. They still mix up which one they call "Dad" and which they call "Daddy." The man they see every day, Jake Cassinari, is dad. Their daddy, Jordan Pieniazek, was a Cincinnati firefighter who died in a motorcycle crash on his way to work three years ago. Jake's first Father's Day won't be typical. Part of it will probably be spent at the gravesite of the man he knew from church and still misses. Liz Cassinari   formerly Pieniazek   said the plans for the holiday were up in the air leading up to this weekend, but she knows her family's faith in God will be their map and compass, as it has always been. It was faith that led Liz to bring her own kitchen table to her husband's funeral inviting the hundreds of people in attendance to join her family's journey with God. That same faith guided her as she kept Jordan's memory alive for her three children, now 10, 6 and 4. And she says it was God who brought her together with Jake allowing them to start a new chapter in their lives. "Many don't see how he has surrendered his dream of a 'normal family and how it is formed,'" Liz wrote of Jake on Facebook. "As I have watched him kneel down in the dirt and clean the stone of his friend, his children's Daddy and his wife's first love, I can't help but cry and give thanks to God for who this man is." A quiver of strength Liz said the last conversation she had with Jordan before he died was about Jake. They were all at the same get-together with friends from church. In the midst of the party, she said she felt a calling to look at Jake. On the car ride home, she told Jordan and they decided they might try to spend more time with him. Maybe God was telling them he needed support. The next morning, Jordan left for work and never came home. It was the day after the first birthday of his son, Ever. It fell on Liz to break the news to him and his two older sisters: Zoe and LillyMae. Liz kept going to her church. She kept her family moving forward. But she said that call to look at Jake never left her mind. After the one-year anniversary of Jordan's death, Liz went on a trip to Colorado. A few last-minute scheduling issues with a friend meant Jake would be the one picking her up from the airport. "Once you're married and you're around another man alone, it feels like you're cheating, but you're not," Liz joked. After an awkward car ride, Jake dropped her off at home, but then he called her and wanted to come back. Liz recalled that he said: "You can completely just say no. I respect Jordan so much, I respect the kids and I respect you so much, but I was wondering if you would ever want to go on a date." Liz responded with a warning. "You don't want this," Liz told him. "This does not look pretty all the time. This can be really ugly." He assured her that he knew what he was getting into. "You need to know that I will always love another man," Liz told him. "I don't know if that's ever going to go away." But Jake said he too missed Jordan. He said, he too didn't want to waste time on a casual relationship. He said if Liz needed time, he would wait. "I just cried a lot," she said. "I still battle with that. You really wanted to take all this on? You didn't want to dive into a little relationship? You wanted to dive into a marriage and having three children?" The wedding was Aug. 4, 2018. Jordan's father and brother walked her down the aisle. At the altar, she gave to Jake a quiver with three arrows in it; each one had one of the kids' names on it. "Jordan and I had always viewed the kids as something that makes us strong and is a blessing," Liz said. "That was now his quiver and he was now three arrows stronger." Not taking daddy's place LillyMae is the oldest. Losing Jordan hit her hard. Liz recalls her saying: "Now mom, if something happens to you, I don't know if I can get Ever out of his crib to get him his bottle." "She thought that if something happened to me that she'd have to take care of everything," Liz said. "She was 6." Jake allowed LillyMae to rest, Liz said. But with a new dad, what happens to the old one? "We can't just block that part of the kids' lives out," Liz said. "If we try to cover that up, it's not going to allow them to heal." She said she made sure the kids knew Jordan would want them to be protected and that Jake wants them to keep loving their daddy. Jake often ask the kids to tell stories about Jordan. He tells them he's not a replacement, but an addition. "Physically, I am taking his spot," Jake tells them. "But in their hearts, I am not trying to take your daddy's spot." Like the rest of their lives, his parenting is built around his faith. "Jake without Jesus, on my own, wouldn't be able to do it," he said. "There's a lot that I don't know and that I'm still finding out and figuring out." Liz added: "Tack on and learning how to be a husband too. Not just to a woman, but to a widow." She says he's a natural and no one would ever guess he's not their biological father though he is the only one in the family with brown eyes. "He has blown me away with how he communicates with the kids," Liz said. "He loves them so much, but its filled with truth and grace." A 100-pound box of donuts After the wedding, Jake and Liz bought a house on five acres of a run-down Christmas tree farm in Springboro. They want to use the land to help others. The plans are nebulous, but Liz notes, "my heart is with the widow." She says she'd love to build a retreat of sorts. The house is full of light, but still a work in progress. There's a hearth, but no mantle yet. A huge map fills one wall where the children practice naming continents. There's are touches all around that would be at home on any Pinterest board. The calendar is packed with appointments. May 1 was marked "Jordan's Jesus Day." It's here at a wooden dining room table that Liz home-schools the kids. LillyMae works on PowerPoint presentations for her online curriculum. Zoey and Ever work on letters. Everyone jumps in to help with animal sounds. "I can do a good elephant," Zoe says. "Dad… Daddy could, too." For Liz, moving to a quite piece of land has proven to be a break for all of them. "We just needed rest. We get to be the five of us and just rebuild what was broken," she said of the move, but noted rehabbing a home can be tough. "It's making us work together even more. It's creating memories for the five us… It's actually restoring us." Meanwhile, Jake is tackling fatherhood with an added layer of difficulty. He said Ever recently asked him why Jordan's motorcycle couldn't jump. The slow breeze through the pines accompanies him while he takes a knee and tries to explain things to a 4-year-old. It's a pose he strikes often. He takes the responsibility seriously. "You can't step back," he said. "Passivity is a trait of mine that's really hard to battle against." But he smiles when he looks at Liz. "It's really awesome to have a team," he says. Back when they were dating, she explained her life to him this way: "I'm like a box of donuts, a hundred-pound box of donuts. It's the sweetest kind of heavy." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati family keeping dad's memory alive as they celebrate 2 dads


Visiting Briarforest Area, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Houston neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a pizza spot to authentic Thai and Japanese restaurants. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Briarforest Area, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Thai Bistro Topping the list is Thai and Asian fusion spot Thai Bistro . Located at 11660 Westheimer Road, Suite 115, it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting four stars out of 113 reviews on Yelp. The menu features Thai appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts, such as curries, fried rice, vermicelli noodle dishes and purple rice pudding. 2. Ramen Bar Ichi Next up is Ramen Bar Ichi , a spot to score made-from-scratch ramen, situated in the Seiwa Market at 1801 S. Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 108. With 4.5 stars out of 618 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. Aside from the signature ramen dishes, the restaurant serves classic Japanese appetizers, rice bowls, fried dishes, salads, desserts and sake. 3. Top It Pizza Top It Pizza , serving homemade specialty and custom-made pizzas, is another top choice.Yelpers give the business, located at 11700 Westheimer Road, Suite E, 4.5 stars out of 387 reviews. Diners can choose from several sauces, meats, cheeses and more than a dozen veggie toppings to create their own pizza, or they can opt for an off-the-menu specialty pie such as a chicken carbonara, spinach artichoke or the signature Little Italy pizza. 4. Cafe Caspian Café Caspian , a Persian/Iranian restaurant, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 232 Yelp reviews.Head over to 12126 Westheimer Road, Suite 116, to see for yourself. On the menu , you'll find Persian cuisine such as kebabs, lamb shanks, vegetarian rice dishes, haleem stew and a sweet rice pudding. 5. 88 Boiling Crawfish and Seafood And then there's 88 Boiling Crawfish and Seafood , a local favorite with four stars out of 573 reviews.Stop by 1910 Wilcrest Drive to hit up the seafood and Cajun/Creole spot next time you're in the neighborhood. The restaurant specializes in fried and grilled seafood platters and fresh boils, but you'll also see raw oysters, fried rice, chicken wings, gumbo and on the menu. 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.


The Lightning have signed the first of their restricted free agents. According to multiple reports, the Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Danick Martel to a two-way contract for the 2019-2020 season. Martel was one of seven restricted free agents still needing contracts. With him signed, Adam Erne , Cedric Paquette , Brayden Point , Ben Thomas , Dominik Masin , and Carter Verhaeghe are the remaining names on General Manager Julien BriseBois' summer to-do list. AHL reporter Tony Androckitis first announced the signing on Twitter . Joe Smith of The Athletic then followed up the with detail that the contract is indeed a two-way deal. #tblightning have signed RFA forward Danick Martel to a one-year, two way deal. Still have Paquette and Erne, among others, to go.   Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) July 4, 2019 As of publishing, the dollar amount was not reported yet but we will update when that number emerges. The Lightning claimed Martel off of waivers at the start of last season in a somewhat surprising move for a team with so much forward depth. The team kept him on the roster in Tampa all season likely at least in part because placing him back on waivers would have allowed the Flyers , Martel's original team, to claim him and send him directly to the AHL. Prior to last season, Martel had been primarily an AHL player and one of the leaders of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In the 2017-2018 season, he posted 25 goals and 40 points in 59 games. Last season, Martel played just thirteen total games. In nine NHL games, he scored two points. In a four game conditioning stint in Syracuse, he scored one point. Last year was much different for Martel in that he spent much of the season in the press box. Heading into this season, it will be interesting to see how the team plans to use him. With even more depth at forward arriving this season, the team could be hoping he'll pass through waivers to go be a top six forward in Syracuse. But if they think he won't clear, he could reprise his role as the 13th or 14th forward on the NHL roster this season. Traditionally, the Lightning front office has a habit of resolving the RFA contracts of depth players in bunches so it wouldn't be surprising to get more news later today or through the long weekend. Paquette , Erne , Thomas, Masin, and Verhaeghe should all be standard negotiations so they'll like wrap up over the next week or so. The Brayden Point negotiation is obviously a different situation and that could drag on long into the summer. But for now, the front office can cross one name off its list as it ensures Danick Martel will return this fall to compete for a spot on the fourth line in Tampa.


Los Angeles will continue to see unusually cool weather over the next few days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach 69 degrees today and 66 on Friday. The coming days will also see mostly cloudy skies, forecast to last through Saturday. Skies will partially clear on Sunday. Winds will continue to be fairly calm in the course of the week, with the highest speeds today at just 9 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


ABB FIA Formula E operations staff wore blue high-visibility kit at the Paris E-Prix as a result of disturbances in the French capital caused by the 'gilets jaunes' protest movement. The 'gilets jaunes' (yellow vests) movement began in November 2018 as a protest initially against the economic policies of French president Emmanuel Macron and has since become a wider crusade for economic justice in France. With the FE race taking place in the heart of Paris near protest sites that have included the Place de la Republique and the Champs-Elysees, the championship had to adjust its security measures. In addition to FE's standard security protocols for city-centre events, Motorsport.com understands that the championship worked closely with the Parisian authorities and had special measures in place to monitor potential flashpoints near the track. Additional security personnel were also engaged for this weekend's event and stricter search policies on arrival at the venue were enacted. When asked what specific measures FE had taken on advice from the Parisian authorities by Motorsport.com, FE CEO and founder Alejandro Agag replied: "More security, increased security. And we changed our staff gilet." FE sends production and operations staff out to each venue well in advance of each race to operate the track and facilities construction. These personnel usually wear the traditional yellow high-vis jackets now associated with the gilets jaunes movement. For the Paris race only, Agag explained that these staff, who are also required to take down the FE track and associated buildings, wore blue high-vis kit instead. "Everyone around building [the track] is in a yellow gilet   everyone in the world [working on building projects also does]," he said. "Except this race they are blue. Obviously we are careful with those situations. We increased the security and we [were] ready for any kind of small disturbance or anything. "But [we were] given assurances by everyone here that [was] not going to be a problem. But obviously we are always vigilant." It is understood that no protests were attempted at the track on Saturday, although there was a protest march elsewhere in the city, as thousands of trade unionists and left-wing activists joined the gilets jaunes protesters.


Experience is a good thing, and having as much high level experience is only an additive in a team's quest for greatness. According to Pro Football Focus, the Houston Texans will have seven returning players for the 2019 season. Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Johnathan Joseph, and Benardrick McKinney all had a Pro Football Focus grade of 80 or higher. Projected starters in Houston with 80.0+ grades from the 2018 season pic.twitter.com/tBEwFZYUH6 - Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 27, 2019 This season all of the above mention will be returning when the season starts. The only questionable one is Clowney due to his contract status with the team. With the new additions that Texans general manager Brian Gaine has made, the club's hope is that they will have more than seven players in 2019 with a PFF grade of 80 or higher. Candidates who could get an 80-grade or higher would be new cornerback Bradley Roby and safety Tashaun Gipson. The Texans also have youthful depth with rookies Tytus Howard and Lonnie Johnson as well as Max Scharping that could be dark horses to get grades higher than 80 for the year. If 80-grades mean wins, then that is the report card the Texans are looking for in 2019. MORE: Journalist shares incredible story about Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia Ahead of Finals, Stephen Curry defends Kevin Durant against critics Damon Harrison tired of repeated contract talks The Bears-Packers rivalry runs all the way up to Virginia McCaskey NFL world responds to passing of Packers legend Bart Starr


A new signing can give a club such a remarkable lift, whether it be through their on-field performances or the optimism that comes with landing a top transfer target. Arsenal are no strangers to that kind of boost. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has enjoyed a marvellous first full season at the Emirates Stadium, finishing as the Premier League's joint top scorer and firing the Gunners into the Europa League final. The Gabon international is likely to partner Alexandre Lacazette in Baku, the pair possessing the talent to sink Chelsea in the showpiece event and secure Arsenal's return to the Champions League . The success they have had in red and white is hardly surprising given they joined the north Londoners for a combined fee of over £100m. Those kind of eye-watering figures won't be seen in the upcoming window, though. Sorry, Arsenal fans. It has been widely reported that Unai Emery will have a budget of £40m this summer, if the Gunners fail to win the Europa League, a far cry from the mammoth sums of yesteryear. Nevertheless, it's not an insignificant amount and shrewd business can be done. Here's how the Spaniard should use that £40m, plus a little extra from the sales of some dead wood in the squad. Eric Bailly - £25m Admittedly, Bailly has not exactly done much for Manchester United in the last two campaigns, both of which were curtailed by long-term injury. As a result, he has made the same number of Premier League appearances in 2017/18 and 2018/19 combined as he did during his debut season at Old Trafford. However, he is a solid defender when fit and the Gunners are in dire need of just that. Shkodran Mustafi is substandard and needs replacing, Stephan Lichtsteiner's contract is expiring in June and Laurent Koscielny isn't getting any younger. Bailly is also one of the quickest centre-backs in the country, a quality that could come in handy given the dearth of pace at the back for Emery. Sokratis Papastathopoulos isn't exactly fleet of foot and many of those around him are comfortably into their 30s, making pace a rare commodity at the Emirates. Ryan Fraser - £15m With just a year left to run on his current deal with Bournemouth , the mercurial Fraser could be available for a bargain price. Still just 25 years-of-age, he has combined blistering speed with intelligence and drive to become one of the breakthrough stars of this campaign. Eight goals and 15 assists in all competitions proves the threat the Scotsman poses, his delivery from out wide terrorising hapless defenders. Imagine the carnage that would ensue if he had Aubameyang and Lacazette on the end of his crosses. Daniel Sturridge - Free Danny Welbeck is on his way out and a new understudy to the Aubameyang-Lacazette double act is required. Where can Arsenal find another proven Premier League striker who isn't massively in decline and wouldn't cost a fortune? Well, Daniel Sturridge is available. The marksman is set to become a free agent after six years at Liverpool and you would be a fool to underestimate his prodigious skillset. With unerring finishing ability and deft ball control, Sturridge is lethal when fit and firing. Unfortunately, his career at Anfield has been hampered by injury problems. Of course, he would be playing second fiddle under Emery and therefore, wouldn't be pushing his clearly-fragile body to breaking point. There would be time to recuperate as the games would come less frequently. Once he is called upon, the hitman would fill in rather nicely for those ahead of him in the pecking order. Vincent Kompany - Free This would be a seismic transfer, enough to shake both Manchester and London to their core. Manchester City's heroic captain almost appeared to be saying goodbye to the Sky Blues' supporters during their title celebrations at Brighton on Sunday, with his Etihad Stadium future perhaps having already been decided. If he is to depart the club, where he is undoubtedly a legend, he will need a new home that suits his playing ability, but doesn't directly threaten his beloved City. That rules out Liverpool and eternal foes United, but a switch to Arsenal isn't as ludicrous as it may initially seem. Emery's side aren't going to be challenging the Citizens. Realistically, that's just not going to happen anytime soon. However, they are most certainly a global brand now, easily prestigious enough to have a player with such a distinguished career in their ranks. Remember the defensive issues we discussed earlier? This is the kind of leader who can single-handedly solve such conundrums.


Appreciating classic cars is something everyone should enjoy. Since 1952, Classic Car Club of America has been working to collecting and preserving some of the finest cars from around the globe. The organization also helps educate the public and boost appreciation for the fine craftsmanship found in older automobiles. As technology pushes ahead and we see all kinds of stories in mainstream media about kids these days supposedly not even wanting to learn how to drive, it's good to know not everyone wants to slam the door on the history of the automobile. CCCA pours most of its time and energy into a specific range of car model years: 1915 to 1948. That not to say a Packard from 1911 won't get any attention. More Classic Cars: Arizona Barn Find 1957 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Is A Cool Project Car 1964 Studebaker Commander Wagonaire Lives Up To Its Name Quite a few CCCA members also belong to the organization's chartered Region where they live. Each year, Regional Events like region tours and grand classics allow members to interact with one another and have some fun. The regions cover the entire continental United States plus portions of Canada. Members of CCCA and even other classic car owners can benefit from other resources provided by the organization. For example, there are online classifieds where all kinds of cars are listed for sale. The site contains articles with tech tips so car owners know better how to restore and maintain their classic rides. Since CCCA began over half a century ago, the organization has faithfully engaged in outreach efforts. Car shows, The Classic Car magazine, plus CARavans events have allowed people who might not own a classic to interact with the community. There's also the Classic Car Club of America's Museum at the famous Gilmore Car Museum, which has been in existence since 1987. Despite popular misperceptions, you don't actually have to own a classic car to join CCCA. While the organization says owning a classic car enhances the experience, it isn't an absolute requirement. Instead, CCCA is all about camaraderie and supporting each other in the goal of preserving excellent automotive history.


Gleyber Torres hit two home runs and Gary Sanchez and Cameron Maybin each had one as the Yankees beat the Orioles 5-3 in the first game of a straight doubleheader at the Stadium on Wednesday. The doubleheader was to make up for one of the two games that had been rained out in this three-game series. BOX SCORE: YANKEES 5, ORIOLES 3 The Yankees (25-16), who had not played since Sunday afternoon, improved to a season-high nine games above .500 and move a half game behind the Rays in the division race. The Orioles (14-27) have lost five of their last six games. J.A. Happ also got dinged by the long ball. He allowed three runs, two on solo shots. He struck out three and did not walk a hitter. Interestingly, Aaron Boone came out to get Happ with one out in the sixth inning, despite the fact it was the first game of a doubleheader, even though he had just thrown 64 pitches. Happ gave up a first-inning home run to Trey Mancini and a fourth-inning leadoff homer to Renato Nunez. Happ has allowed 11 home runs in nine starts this season after allowing a career-high 27 homers last season. The Yankees, however, outpowered the Orioles. Torres homered in his first two at-bats of the day off Orioles right-hander David Hess. They were the sixth and seventh homers of the season for Torres. It was his fourth career multi-home run game and the second of the season, the first since April 4 in Baltimore. Sanchez hit his 12th home run of the season, a 443-foot monster, opposite field shot into right-center field. His 12 homers lead all major league catchers   despite the fact he missed 11 games on the injured list with a strained left calf. Maybin's homer was his first of the season and with the Yankees. The Orioles have already given up 88 home runs this season and are on pace to allow over 300 this season, which would be a record. Boone surprisingly went to his bullpen early Wednesday, perhaps because the Yankees are off on Thursday and have not played the two previous days. Adam Ottavino, who had not pitched since Friday, allowed one hit in one inning's work, striking out two. Tommy Kahnle pitched a perfect 0.2 of an inning. Zack Britton pitched a perfect eighth inning and closer Aroldis Chapman, who also had not pitched since Friday, worked around a two-out double to Joey Rickard to close it out. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Charles Howell III got off to a great start to the season when he ended an 11-year winning drought with his playoff victory at the RSM Classic in November. And now at the Rocket Mortgage Classic , the 40-year-old has put himself in great position following a 7-under 65 in the first round at Detroit Golf Club on Thursday. Howell concluded his opening round with one bogey, four birdies and two eagles. Howell started at No. 10 alongside Kevin Kisner and Rickie Fowler - who made an eagle on No. 17 - at 7:35 a.m. Howell bogeyed No. 11 but got the shot back with a birdie on No. 13, setting up his first eagle on the next hole. On the par-five 14 th - his fifth hole of the day - Howell drove his tee shot 307 yards into the fairway, then followed with a 245-yard approach that settled about 11 feet from the hole. He sank the ensuing putt to get to 2 under. This is the 1,867th round of Charles Howell III's career. It's the ninth round where he's had TWO eagles. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/5Kpmzs4anE - PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 27, 2019 While Fowler dunked his 122-yard approach into the cup at the 17 th , Howell birdied the hole. Then came two more birdies on Nos. 4 and 6, setting up an impressive back nine capped by another eagle at No. 7. Howell's drive found the fairway, and his 217-yard chip landed about five feet from the pin, setting up an eagle putt on the par-five 7 th . The Oklahoma State product, who ranks 15 th in the FedEx Cup standings, finished his round T-1 at 7 under. https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/which-major-has-been-your-favorite-so-fa MORE: NBA trade rumor rankings: The latest on Bradley Beal Patriots veteran Julian Edelman does a hilarious Bill Belichick impression Roundup: Donald Trump Subreddit Quarantined, Kevin Love Gets Expensive Steve Austin Pendant, Tristan Thompson Buys New Mansion Davante Adams already conducting the Darnell Savage hype train PFF: Pats have No. 1 ranked roster heading into 2019


The Detroit Lions held their first day of mandatory minicamp and while Darius Slay and Damon Harrison were notable no shows as they seek changes in their contracts, those players who did attend worked out at various levels of participation. Darius Slay and Damon Harrison officially not at Lions mandatory minicamp - Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) June 4, 2019 "It's nothing uncharted territory from that aspect of it," coach Matt Patricia said in his morning press conference regarding the absence fo Slay and Harrison. "We're just focused on the guys that are here. We're really just trying to get better. We've had great attendance through the spring of guys here trying to get better. That's our main focus: to really improve the players out on the field. We'll have all different situations we deal with from whatever it is. Our energy and our focus right now is just trying to get better out on the field." Of the remaining 88-players on the active roster who were out on the field, 77 appeared to participate without restrictions while the remaining 11 were limited or completely unable to practice. The Lions top two wide receivers, Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, began the day with trainers and did some light jogging. It wasn't long before they completed their time with the training staff and were traveling with their position group. As practice wore on, both did walk/jog-through routes with coaches and took turns catching passes. Slot receiver Tommylee Lewis, who was absent from the OTA practice open to the media last week, was also with trainers today. He traveled with Golladay/Jones and the rest of the receivers group but he was noticeably slowed by a lower-body injury. He also caught passes from coaches but he was definitely walking not jogging. Fullback Nick Bawden, and tight ends Isaac Nauta and Jerome Cunningham, also spend considerable time with trainers today and appeared more limited than the trio of receivers listed above. Nauta and Lewis played catch at one point but were not seen jogging. Defenders Trey Flowers, Austin Bryant, Steve Longa and David Jones rarely left the training area. Flowers and Longa were seen jogging at the back of the field but it was difficult to tell (because of proximity to the designated media area) how much they participated in beyond that. Corner Justin Coleman wasn't seen with trainers and traveled with the defensive backs group, but if he took an on-field snap, I didn't see it. Of the 11 not fully participating, Coleman, Golladay and Jones look the closest to returning but at this point in the offseason, don't expect the team to rush any of the starters back too quickly and it wouldn't be surprising if they don't return until training camp. MORE: WATCH: Did Nike just reveal Kevin Durant's free agency destination? Did Nike accidentally reveal that Kevin Durant is staying with the Warriors? Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball Return of NASCAR: Packers planning ways to get 4 OLBs on the field together PFF projects Raiders DE Maxx Crosby to beat out Arden Key for starting role


There is a new offensive lineman in Cleveland. The Browns have signed center Lo Falemaka. The team announced the move itself with a press release on Monday afternoon. Falemaka is an undrafted rookie from Utah. He started in parts of three different seasons for the Utes. The 6-5, 303-pounder battled several injuries in his college career but did earn All-PAC 12 honorable mention twice. The Browns were busy auditioning potential signings on Monday. In addition to Falemaka, the team reportedly worked out RB Orleans Darkwa and offensive linemen Cyrus and Arie Kouandjio . Cleveland did not need to make any corollary move to create space on the roster as there was still one spot left. The roster now sits at 90 with training camp kicking off Thursday. Welcome to Cleveland, Lo! MORE: Francisco Lindor's one-handed HR should be evidence of MLB's juiced baseballs Lakers' Quinn Cook Q&A: 'It feels like this team has been together a while' 6 rookies who could surprise at Patriots training camp Brooks Koepka Calls Out J.B. Holmes Following Disastrous Final Round at The Open Phil Simms: 'Multiple' teams were set to take Daniel Jones before No. 17


The Broncos brought back a familiar face, along with signing three guys who impressed in a minicamp tryout. The team announced the signing of defensive lineman DeShawn Williams , who went to camp with them last year and spent a week on the practice squad. He played in four games with the Bengals in 2016, after going to camp with them as an undrafted rookie from Clemson in 2015. They also signed tight end Bug Howard, offensive lineman Nathan Jacobson, and defensive lineman Deyon Sizer. To clear roster space for those additions, they waived tight end Temarrick Hemingway , defensive lineman Jaylen Johnson, defensive lineman Cashaud Lyons, and tackle Brian Wallace.


Adam Levine and Jonah Hill Grammy-winning Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and Oscar-nominated actor and producer Jonah Hill are more than celebrity friends   they're lifelong buddies who met thanks to their dads! In 2014, Jonah shared how their fathers first met in middle school (in the principal's office no less) and became fast friends. As adults, they remained close and their sons grew up as playmates. Jonah even shared that he thinks of Adam as "family." Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Golden Globe-nominated actor Tobey Maguire have shared a close friendship since first meeting at an audition in 1987. At just 12, both rising stars shared unique similarities, including being raised by single moms , trying to break into show business and living in Los Angeles. Since then, the pair have remained loyal friends, seeing each other through the rises and falls in their careers. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck The friendship between actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck is the stuff bromances are made of. First meeting in 1981 when Matt was 10 and Ben was just 8, the boys from Cambridge, Massachusetts, went on to work together in Hollywood, earning their first Oscars together as screenwriters for their hit 1997 film "Good Will Hunting." Even throughout the many changes in their careers and personal lives, these two have remained loyal friends . Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts For more than two decades, Australian actresses Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts have been the best of friends. Although they already knew each other by the time they landed roles on the 1991 Australian romantic drama "Flirting," it was while working together on the film that their friendship truly blossomed. Through marriages, divorces and career highs and lows, the two women have remained a constant source of support, love and admiration for one another. BJ Novak and Mindy Kaling While the world will probably always wonder if BJ Novak and Mindy Kaling are more than friends, the official response from both camps is that they're nothing more than super close pals , although at one point, they did briefly date. The duo first met in 2004 while working as writers on the comedy series "The Office" and have remained besties over the years, offering encouragement , support and hilarious social media banter for us to enjoy. Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith Hip-hop star turned actress and producer Queen Latifah first met Jada Pinkett Smith more than 30 years ago , when both women were still teens. Long before they starred together in films like "Set It Off!" and "Girls Trip," the ladies had a chance encounter at a Baltimore night club, where Queen Latifah was performing. Today, the ladies are still the best of friends and laugh about their first meeting, admitting that neither one was actually old enough to be in a nightclub at the time. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Twenty-five years ago, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler met in Chicago at the ImprovOlympic, thanks to their mutual friend, theater co-founder Charna Halpern. The pair instantly clicked and quickly became the best of friends, later working together on the hit sketch comedy series "Saturday Night Live." Over the years, as both women have explored other professional ventures, including producing and writing, they've continued to support one another, often appearing in each other's projects. Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier Legendary performers, authors and civil rights activists Harry Belafonte (left) and Sidney Poitier (right) met in 1947 when they were just 20 years old. Working at the American Negro Theater, the men, who happened to be born just nine days apart, found they shared incredible similarities (both had parents from the West Indies and both dreamed of becoming stars), which helped cement their lifelong friendship and brotherhood that has lasted more than 70 years. Debi Mazar and Madonna Before Debi Mazar and Madonna were stars, the two were fast friends after connecting in a night club elevator in the early 1980s. Debi would later become Madge's makeup and hair stylist, and would even appear in several of her early music videos, including "Papa Don't Preach" and "True Blue." Although Madonna's epic rise to fame has made hanging out together difficult, Debi says the two are still close and make sure to schedule time together when they can. Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff Meeting in 1985 at a party, DJ Jazzy Jeff and up-and-coming rapper Will Smith developed a fast friendship that led to the formation of their hip-hop group, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. The friends released their debut album, "Rock the House," in '87 and would go on to release four more albums before Will's acting career took off. Although Will doesn't make much music these days, Jeff has worked on all of his solo music projects as well. The two remain close friends to this day . Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King Lifelong besties Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King first met while working together in their early 20s in Baltimore. The two women hardly knew one another, but when a brutal snowstorm hit the city, Oprah kindly offered Gayle a place to stay, cementing what would become more than 40 years of friendship. Today, both women are as close as ever, reportedly talking as much as four times a day on the telephone. Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston Actresses Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston first met in 1994 on the set of their sitcom, "Friends." The women became instant friends and remained connected long after their series came to an end in 2004. Over the years, they've supported each other through marriages, divorces, kids (Courteney's), and career highs and lows, with Jennifer telling People magazine , "There's no judgment in Court ... She's extremely fair, ridiculously loyal and fiercely loving." Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz Actresses and BFFs Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz first clicked while filming their 2000 action-adventure movie "Charlie's Angels" and have remained tightly connected ever since. In 2018, Drew, who currently stars on the Netflix original series "Santa Clarita Diet," told ET Online that her relationship with Cameron was "more than best friends," saying they were more like sisters who "push each other" and are "very honest with one another." Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen Not only were they each other's date to the 2018 Met Gala, but Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen have been besties since the '90s , when Andy was introduced to her through a mutual friend. Before she was Carrie on "Sex and the City" and he was the face of Bravo, the two were close friends, spending their free time together. Nearly 30 years later, they still adore each other and (thankfully) don't mind sharing photographic evidence on Instagram . Betty White and Lucille Ball Emmy-winning comedic actresses Lucille Ball and Betty White first met in 1956 while Betty was filming "A Date With Angels" at Lucy's Desilu Studios. The two performers felt an instant, mutual affection for one another and quickly became inseparable friends until Lucy's death in 1989. In 2017, Betty, now in her 90s, shared how their 33-year-friendship even led to the friendship of both of their mothers, DeDe Ball and Tess White. Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor The unlikely 20-year friendship of actress and entrepreneur Elizabeth Taylor and the King of Pop Michael Jackson actually made a lot of sense. Both performers were child stars who endured abusive, domineering parents that guided the early years of their careers. First meeting in 1984, after Liz's husband Richard Burton passed away, the two icons would remain the closest of friends and confidantes until Michael's death in 2009. Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart Legendary stars Henry Fonda (left) and James "Jimmy" Stewart (right) were friends for 50 years , remaining close until Henry's death in 1982. What made their bromance even more amazing is that Jimmy was a deeply religious Republican and Henry a liberal-leaning, agnostic Democrat. How did they make their friendship so successful? By not talking about divisive subjects, choosing instead to spend time together building kites and model airplanes, or, their favorite: playing practical jokes. Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor Elizabeth Taylor had an even more unlikely friendship with the woman whose husband she stole in 1958, actress Debbie Reynolds. In one of the most scandalous Hollywood love triangles , Debbie's husband, Eddie Fisher, had an affair that led to him to divorce Debbie and marry Liz. Although the women didn't speak for years after, they were later able to reconcile , with Liz even leaving Debbie her famous sapphire jewels after her death in 2011. Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra Three of the members of The Rat Pack: Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra, were also close friends throughout their lives. Along with fellow members Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford, the trio performed in sold-out Las Vegas shows and on the big screen in films like "Ocean's 11" and "Robin and the 7 Hoods." During the civil rights movement, Frank even went so far as to skip performances where African-Americans were banned. George Burns and Jack Benny George Burns (left) and Jack Benny (right) were more than vaudeville partners. The two men, who rose to fame through their radio and television acts, including "The George Burns Show" and "The Jack Benny Program," were also best friends for more than 50 years . Their connection lasted until Jack's death in 1974. In a sweet gesture, before Jack passed, he convinced producers to hire his friend for the comedy "The Sunshine Boys," which won George an Oscar.


FARMINGDALE, N.Y.   It's often unfamiliar territory for club professionals playing in the PGA Championship. That's not exactly the case for Jason Caron this week. The 46-year-old head professional at Mill River Club on Long Island played two full seasons on the PGA Tour (2000, 2003) and six seasons on the then-Nationwide Tour. His history at Bethpage Black, though, is why Caron who opened with an even-par 70 on Thursday, lowest among club pros in the morning wave feels so at home. Caron finished T-30 in the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage and credits his 30-plus rounds on the Black course to his success on Thursday. Walking up to the 18th green after a PGA of America official announced each player, despite playing with two tour pros (Byeong Hun-an and Andrew Putnam), Caron had the loudest support from a group of members and friends who came out to follow him. RELATED: Follow all the first-round action from the 2019 PGA Championship Among his supporters was Caron's wife, his assistant at Mill River, and quite the player herself. Liz Janangelo Caron was a four-time All-American at Duke and the 2004 NCAA player of the year before playing two seasons on the LPGA Tour. Caron credits, in part, a tip from his wife that resulted in his T-4 finish at the PGA Professional Championship last month, to earn the spot at Bethpage. "I feel like you guys should interview her," Caron told the assembled media after his first round. "It was about a year or so ago, and she told me to keep my hands a little out in front of me. I'm not sure I'm still doing it, but it feels like it anyway." That tip got him here, rubbing elbows with a bunch of PGA Tour players who he used to compete against on a weekly basis. Caron played a practice round with Lucas Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champ here, and Jason Dufner earlier in the week. And as he's made his way around the grounds at Bethpage, just 10 miles down the road from Mill River, he's bumped into tour veterans like Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson, who greeted him. With his old caddie, Brent Carlson, on his bag, there's no doubt it feels like old times. Carlson, who they call "Shakes," caddied for Caron on tour in 2004 and 2005. As the duo have made their way around Bethpage all week, players have commented on "The Dream Team" being back together, Carlson said. "It's awesome it's just amazing to be here with Jason and see him play so well," Carlson said. "It's really like old times." As Caron walked out of the scoring tent Thursday, he saw Carlson surrounded by media and told him jokingly: "What are you, a celebrity, Shakes?" For Thursday at Bethpage, Caron was the one who was a big deal once again. And it's clear he's very much back in comfortable surrounds inside the ropes. This isn't a typical club pro with $667,364 in Web.com Tour earnings to his credit, major championship experience and the support of his local Long Island crowd Caron will enter Friday with the belief he belongs among this field of players. "If I can just go out there and not think about the consequences, everything will work its way out," he said. "I'm comfortable with my surroundings. The sightlines are different because we play it so far back than we'd normally play. But I hit a lot of greens, I think it was 13, which is what you have to do to play well around here." RELATED: Watch Tiger Woods eagle Bethpage Black's signature hole in the opening round See the video. Guess Those Calves! - PGA Championship Edition


Juventus have confirmed that Riccardo Orsolini has left the club to join Bologna on a permanent deal for a fee worth up to €15m, that will be paid over three instalments. The Italian winger spent the entirety of last season on loan with the Serie A side, as well as the second half of the prior campaign, making 45 appearances across the two spells and scoring ten goals in the process. UFFICIALE | Riccardo Orsolini ceduto a titolo definitivo al @BfcOfficialPage ➡ https://t.co/QAdlO9i9KZ pic.twitter.com/q4qQizKDFG   JuventusFC (@juventusfc) June 20, 2019 Such has been the 22-year-old's form that Bologna have opted to make the deal permanent, with the move being announced by Juventus themselves. An Italian Under-21 international, Orsolini is currently away with the national side as they compete in the European Championships, and featured in the starting lineup as the hosts fell to a 1-0 defeat to Poland on Wednesday. "Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that Bologna F.C. 1909 S.p.A. has exercised its option right for the definitive acquisition of the registration rights of the player Riccardo Orsolini for a consideration of €15m to be paid in three financial years," read a statement on the club's official website . "The economic effect is positive for about €10.5m." A product of Ascoli's youth academy, Orsolini made six first team outings for the Serie B side before the Bianconeri snapped the forward up for a fee of €6m, plus an additional €4m in potential add-ons. Failing to make a senior appearance for the Turin-based club, he was immediately sent on loan to Atalanta, where his ten showings in all competitions failed to produce any goals. However, during the year spent at the club, he won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Golden Boot in 2017, scoring five times in the competition.


For the Falcons to get their run game back into respectable territory, they'll need more than just a few offensive line upgrades. Atlanta also has to get better performances from the players in their backfield. On that score, the single most crucial factor will be how well starting running back Devonta Freeman plays. Freeman missed all but two games of the 2018 season. To say the Falcons struggled running the ball without him would be an understatement. The team finished the year ranked No. 27 in the league in rushing yards per game and Football Outsiders put them at No. 22 in rushing DVOA. Coach Dan Quinn gave some positive updates on Freeman this morning. Speaking with 92.9 The Game, Quinn said the team was guarded about him early this offseason but Freeman is "cutting violently" and working well. Dan Quinn told @tbm929 & Rob Tribble the Falcons were guarded at the beginning of the offseason about Devonta Freeman. But the Atlanta running has been cutting violently, working well and that's a good thing for the Falcons heading into the summer. - 92.9 The Game (@929TheGame) June 10, 2019 Tevin Coleman is an impressive running back in his own right, but it's clear the team missed Freeman's decisive one-cut-and-go style in 2018. When he's healthy, Freeman is one of the top running backs in the league. From 2015-2016, Julio Jones was the only player in the NFL who produced more total yards from scrimmage . MORE: NHL fans weren't impressed with Mike Milbury's questions for Pam from 'The Office' WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling impressing staff going into Packers minicamp Sleeping on Patriots WR Demaryius Thomas would be a huge mistake Bears believe Clinton-Dix is an upgrade over Amos TE Darren Waller has the most to gain during Raiders' training camp


Craving noodles? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top noodle sources in Plano, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you're on the hunt. 1. Mr. Wok Mr. Wok , located at 2600 14th St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Chinese and Asian fusion spot, which offers noodles and more, four stars out of 455 reviews. 2. Ikigai Udon Ikigai Udon , a Japanese and Asian fusion spot that offers noodles and more, is another go-to, with four stars out of 347 Yelp reviews. Head over to 8245 Preston Road, Suite 100, to see for yourself. 3. Bull Daddy Noodle Bistro Last but not least, check out Bull Daddy Noodle Bistro , which has earned four stars out of 229 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Taiwanese and Chinese spot, which offers noodles and more, at 3309 Coit Road, Suite 100. 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.


It's been over 40 years since an NBA franchise has called Buffalo home. Though the city hasn't hosted a professional basketball game in nearly half a century, the western New York region is still incredibly interested in the sport. On this week's episode of The Kyle Silagyi Variety Hour , host Kyle Silagyi is joined by BillsWire writers Justin DiLoro and Rich Kowalski to discuss the feasibility of an NBA team in Buffalo. They also discuss the Tampa Bay Rays' pitch to play half of their games in Montreal and how the struggling franchise can learn from the Buffalo Bills. Listen Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts RadioPublic RSS MORE: This perfect Shaq impersonation at the NBA Awards show had fans in tears How the Nets can sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Deandre Jordan Roundup: Donald Trump on Iran; Bernie Sanders' Proposal; Jussie Smollett; Coffee and Fat Loss Play speed fuels standout offseason for Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling Los Angeles Lakers 'think they have a strong shot' at signing Kawhi Leonard according to report


Chinese internet giants like Alibaba and Tencent are unlikely to be targeted in the same manner as telecommunications giant Huawei amid escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, according to Gil Luria, director of research at D.A. Davidson. Still, the Trump administration's move to crackdown on Huawei is a "grave escalation with China that at minimum plunges the prospect of continued trade negotiations into doubt," Paul Triolo, geo-technology practice head at political consultancy Eurasia Group, wrote in a note. China internet giants like Alibaba and Tencent are unlikely to be targeted in the same manner as telecommunications giant Huawei amid escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, an analyst told CNBC on Thursday. First and foremost, the deterioration of United States-China relations will likely hurt Chinese firms that compete with American companies, according to Gil Luria, director of research at D.A. Davidson. "The focus on Huawei appears to be motivated by concerns regarding secrecy and intellectual property, but Huawei is also a main competitor to many American telecom equipment companies," Luria told CNBC. "Companies that are domestic Chinese focused such as Alibaba and Tencent are less likely to be directly targeted," he said, adding that the former's sales in the U.S. are negligible and that outgoing Chairman Jack Ma has done a "masterful job of positioning himself as friendly to the U.S." Still, he said, those firms would be unable to escape the secondary effects of a slowing Chinese economy   which has partially been pressured by heightened American tariffs. 'Long-reach' implications U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared a national emergency over threats against American technology by signing an executive order that allows officials to block transactions involving information or communication technology that "poses an unacceptable risk" to American national security. While Alibaba, Tencent, and even Baidu, may be spared from stringent restrictions on doing business in the U.S., other Chinese information technology firms could potentially suffer. "The scope of the order is potentially far-reaching and could impact upon many mainland Chinese manufacturers of telecommunications equipment as well as communications services suppliers," Rajiv Biswas, chief economist for Asia Pacific at global data provider IHS Markit, told CNBC. The latest escalation of the technology war between the world's two largest economies was reflected in the May 10 decision by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to reject an application by China Mobile to provide communications services in the U.S. on national security grounds, Biswas said. Gallery: Why this Chinese tech titan is so controversial (lovemoney) Following the executive order, the U.S. Department of Commerce said it was adding Huawei and its affiliates to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Entity List, which would make it more difficult for the Chinese telecom giant to do business with American companies. Wednesday's moves from the Trump administration is a "grave escalation with China that at minimum plunges the prospect of continued trade negotiations into doubt," Paul Triolo, geo-technology practice head at political consultancy Eurasia Group, wrote in a note. "Unless handled carefully, this situation is likely to place U.S. and Chinese companies at new risk." Huawei's networks of customers around the world could potentially be hit if the U.S. fully implements its moves against the Chinese firm because the company would be "unable to upgrade software and conduct routine maintenance and hardware replacement" since it would no longer have access to U.S. suppliers, according to Triolo. Biswas agreed, saying the turn of events adds to uncertainties about the "long-reach" implications for non-Chinese communication companies that use parts made by Huawei and other Chinese network equipment providers. "President Trump's executive order may also have wider geopolitical implications for key U.S. allies, such as the U.K. and other Western European countries that are considering allowing the use of Chinese communications equipment in their 5G rollouts," he added. For its part, the U.S. is trying to convince allies to ban Huawei from participating in their plans for the next-generation high-speed mobile internet known as 5G. Washington claims that Huawei's technology risks potentially allowing Chinese espionage through those high-speed networks   but Huawei says the security concerns are unfounded. So far, European countries have resisted such calls from Washington but further restrictions could persuade international carriers to "immediately begin contingency plans," Triolo said. While the expectation is for Beijing to retaliate with some countermeasures against U.S. communication companies to show a tough negotiating stance, Biswas said the broader "U.S.-China technology war is likely to be much more protracted than the trade war, since it is focused on U.S. national security concerns that cannot easily be resolved." MSN UK are Empowering Happiness for mental health awareness month. Find out more about our campaign and the charities working to stop people falling into crisis here .


UNCASVILLE, Conn.   Diana Taurasi is a beautiful contradiction. She is so complex. She is so simple. Here she was holding court Thursday following a Phoenix Mercury workout at Mohegan Sun, a 15-minute exploration of topics related and unrelated to her basketball past, present and future. It was, because it always is with her, insightful and entertaining. Women's basketball's greatest player and wittiest wiseguy spoke of equal pay for women, of recent back surgery, of the U.S. women's World Cup victory and its implications, of UConn's move to the Big East, of remaining a driven and dominant athlete, of her accomplishments. "I've done everything," she said. Absolutely. But goals remain. What goals? It was at this point where Taurasi was   just almost   lost for words. "I didn't set out to win Olympic medals, to play at UConn, to play in the WNBA," she said. "I just loved to play basketball. It's really very simple. Then when you start thinking about those other things, that's when thinking gets complicated. I'm thinking about whether I can wake up tomorrow and feel good. … It's not even about … I still want to play. I still want to come (to the gym) on a day off." At the heart of all Taurasi, 37, says and does, there is a really basic and straightforward force that keeps her going through three NCAA titles, three WNBA championships and four Olympic gold medals. It's just doing what she does. That's the goal. She reaches it every morning. Thursday she reached it by attending an optional team workout. She spent a half hour instructing teammate DeWanna Bonner, sharing some offensive tricks she's picked up over the years. Penny Taylor, Taurasi's wife and a Mercury assistant coach, rebounded during the drills. "There's a sense of just having some pride in what you're doing," Taurasi said. "I still want to prove myself to myself, my teammates, my coaches. It's nothing complicated." The back sure can be complicated, though. Nine weeks ago, Taurasi had surgery to repair a bulging disc that was causing numbness and eventually atrophy in one leg. She has missed the first 13 games of her 15th season and hopes to make her 2019 debut Friday against the Sun. When athletes reach their mid-30s it is common to wonder how many years he or she has left. That's convenient but a little irresponsible. It's 2019. Backs are being repaired in an hour and patients are walking out of the hospital the next day, as Taurasi did. Why shouldn't the conversation about athletes considering retirement start at 40 instead of 30? Sue Bird, 39, said that last year it has stuck with me. "It's a different world now in athletics and recovery and different outlets to keep your body in shape, your mind in shape," Taurasi said. "Turn on ESPN today and you've got Roger Federer and (Rafael) Nadal and Serena (Williams) still at the top of their game. You've got Tom (Brady) down the road, what he's doing at   what is he, 52 now? There are just so many different avenues if you want to keep playing. You hit a certain age and it's, are you still motivated to play? It's the motivation, the drive that kind of leads you, and the body goes, too." For Taurasi, the mouth goes, the mind whirs, no filter. Thank goodness. Her personality has changed as much as her approach to basketball. Not at all. The last time Taurasi held back was the last time she didn't want the ball in the clutch. Never. On UConn's move to the Big East, Taurasi said, "It just feels right. The American was nice while it lasted, I guess, but no one wants to watch UConn-Tulane or Toledo. I don't even know who's in the American. I didn't even watch the games." There you go. The guess-what-D-said moment of the interview. She crushed the AAC and even poor Toledo, and you know how long she paused to give a hoot? Not one second. Taurasi rarely leaves a group setting without dropping a wisecrack. Yet, just as often, she leaves behind something thought-provoking. Two of her closest friends are Bird and Bird's girlfriend Megan Rapinoe, the outspoken and controversial star of the U.S. soccer team. "The pressure that was built from the social side, the political side, the sports world, there was just a lot of pressure and anxiety, I felt like, in those 90 minutes of soccer," Taurasi said of the team's victory in the championship game over Netherlands. "It was probably more than just winning a World Cup. It was kind of winning an opportunity to say what you wanted to say. I felt like, you lose that game and uh oh, here they come (critics). 'You want to talk all that (stuff) and you can't win a game to win the World Cup.' I'm so proud of what they've been able to do. … A lot of teams with expectations crumble. And to see what has happened in the last four days in this country with women's sport and around them, it makes me proud." Bird injected herself into a national conversation last week by writing an article for The Players Tribune entitled, "So the President (expletive) Hates My Girlfriend." "I'm just so impressed with how they've carried themselves," Taurasi said. "Sue and Megan (are) the most humble, the most forward, the most honest people I've been around. That's why their message resonates with so many people, because it's just honesty. They're not doing it for branding. They're not doing it for monetary gain. They're just really spreading what they feel and what they live through. I think a lot of people can relate to that. Whether it's on gay rights, whether it's on equal pay, whether it's on immigration   I just think it's stuff that affects everyone." The conversation turned back to basketball and toward the future. What's next? Taurasi can't possibly play until she's 52 like Brady. "I'm so entrenched in still wanting to be a really good basketball player than I can't even think about what I'm going to do afterwards," Taurasi said. "I try to envision what life is after basketball, but I just see myself working out and just being a basketball player still."     ©2019 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) Visit The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) at www.courant.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Video by CBS News As onlookers in the gallery shed tears, some in elation, some in disgust, the Missouri House voted 110 to 44 Friday to ban abortions after 8 weeks of pregnancy, without exceptions for rape and incest. The measure, the most restrictive in Missouri's recent history, is on its way to Gov. Mike Parson's desk for final approval. The bill would criminalize any abortion beyond eight weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of medical emergencies. Doctors who perform abortions after eight weeks face five to 15 years in prison. There is no punishment for the mother. Emotions continued to run high as the measure headed for passage. Opponents chanted "when you lie, people die" before being escorted out of the gallery. House Republicans argued the bill protected the unborn and gave a "voice for the voiceless." "We are a pro-life state and we are here to prove it," state Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, said. The bill has been a priority for the Missouri Legislature. House Speaker Elijah Haahr choked up when urging members to vote for the bill, saying their vote would be remembered by their children and grandchildren. "I will vote yes on this bill and that vote will follow me for the rest of my life," Haahr said. "And it will be the proudest vote I have ever taken." The vote was largely along party lines. State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, voted in favor and state Rep. Rory Rowland, D-Independence, voted "present." One anti-abortion Republican voted against the bill because there were no exceptions for rape or incest. "(My constituents) think this is going too far," Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin, said. Without those exceptions, the bill was not "pro-quality of life," opponents countered. "Life is more than breath," state Rep. Barbara Washington, D-Kansas City, said. They also noted the bill wasn't banning abortions, but banning access to a safe, legal abortion. "Bleach. Acid. Bitter concoction. Knitting needles. Bicycle spokes. Ballpoint pens. Jumping from the top of the stairs or roof -- these are ways women around the world who don't have access to legal abortion perform their own," state Rep. Sarah Unsicker, D-Webster Groves, said. "Abortion is a health care issue." The bill passed the Missouri Senate early Thursday, after more than 24 hours of continuous negotiations between Senate Democrats and the Republican super majority. That day anti-abortion activists flooded the Capitol, trying to get lawmakers to halt talks with Democrats and bring the bill up for a vote immediately. A day before the Missouri Senate vote, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that bars virtually all abortions at any stage of pregnancy. Other states, including Georgia and Mississippi, have banned abortion when a fetal heartbeat can be heard. The intent is that one or more of these laws will draw a challenge to return the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court. Activists hope a new conservative majority will overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision affirming a woman's right to an abortion without undue government interference. The goal of the legislation was not to overturn Roe v. Wade, bill sponsor Rep. Nick Schroer said. "However, if and when that fight comes, we will be fully ready," Schroer, R-O'Fallon, said. As a fail-safe, if the eight-week ban is thrown out by the courts, the bill also bars abortion after 14 weeks, 18 weeks and then 20 weeks. Under this provision, if there is a medical emergency during the third trimester, physicians must attempt to save the child. The measure also establishes criminal penalties for abortions sought solely because of a prenatal diagnosis, test, or screening indicating Down Syndrome or the potential of Down Syndrome in an unborn child. The bill also doubles the amount of medical malpractice insurance an abortion provider is required to have. Physicians who perform medication abortions must have something called "tail insurance", which continues to cover them after they've retired or changed employers. It also expands a tax credit for pregnancy resource centers, family planning entities that discourage abortions. Those who donate to the centers will be reimbursed by the state for up to 70 percent of their contribution, higher than the previous 50 percent rate. The bill eliminated the cap on the tax credit, though its current $2.5 million ceiling has never been reached. Lastly, if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, Missouri law would automatically ban all abortions. Parson has been an enthusiastic supporter of the bill and he has until July 14 to sign it. "My administration will execute the laws the legislature passes and this pro-life administration will not back down," Parson told reporters Wednesday evening. The Missouri chapter of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists urged Parson to veto the bill. "HB 126 would force clinicians to decide between their patient's needs and facing criminal proceedings," the group said in a statement. "All clinicians must be able to practice medicine that is informed by their years of medical education, training, experience, and the available evidence, freely and without threat of criminal punishment." Missouri already has highly restrictive abortion laws. Only one clinic -- Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis -- offers the procedure. Those who seek abortions often visit clinics right across the Missouri border. Hope Clinic, in Granite City, Ill., has a billboard welcoming travelers from Missouri to Illinois, saying it's where they can "have a safe, legal abortion." "Our doors remain open for any patient who needs abortion care," Dr. Erin King, Hope Clinic's executive director, said in a statement condemning the bill. "We will do everything in our power to make sure that further barriers like expenses associated with seeking this care such as traveling long distances, time off from work, and childcare are lessened to the best of our ability." The nearest clinic that offers abortion in the Kansas City metro area is in Overland Park, Kan.     ©2019 The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.) Visit The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.) at www.kansascity.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


The results are in, and some parents would gladly brave the unpleasant in exchange for a solid 8 hours. Honestly, who wouldn't? Ahh, sleep, the rarest, most precious commodity especially for parents with young kids. Because for parents, even if they've finally gotten their little ones to fall asleep , there's no guarantee they'll stay asleep. And beyond that, the general stress of simply being a parent can leave even the most exhausted adults tossing and turning for hours. It's exhausting just thinking about it. Baby brand Hatch Baby knows just how sleep-deprived parents are and took the liberty of surveying over 1,000 moms and dads to learn more about their sleep habits. The survey revealed 25 percent of parents today only sleep three to five hours every night, with 47 percent of parents with toddlers, and 60 of parents with preschoolers, reporting that their sleep gets disrupted when their child comes into their bedroom in during the night. And remember when we mentioned how hard it is to get kids to go to sleep? This rings true for one-fifth of parents: 20 percent of survey-takers consider sleep training their kids to be the most challenging family life stressor. Knowing all this, Hatch Baby went deeper to find out exactly what a good night's sleep is worth to fatigued parents. Seriously, what would you be willing to trade for a full night of sleep? We're talking no street noise, no restless kids, and definitely no early alarm clock. Seventy-seven percent of parents with kids under the age of 6 said they'd be willing to give up something they love, or do something they dislike, in exchange for a good night's sleep. What kind of "something," you ask? In exchange for one good night of sleep: 40 percent of parents would give up social media for a month; 39 percent of parents would sit in traffic for an hour; 30 percent of parents would get dental work done; and 33 percent of dads and 19 percent of moms would brave cutting their own hair. You have to admit, with a guaranteed-blissful 8 hours on the table, going in for a root canal suddenly doesn't sound so bad. But since swapping hair cuts and social media for sleep isn't actually a real thing, the best you can do is establish a consistent sleep routine while your kids are young. "Some children are naturally good sleepers and some need a little help learning the skill," says Jillian Dowling, certified Hatch Baby sleep expert in the survey press release. "My best tip in this situation is to make sure all children learn to sleep well from a young age by implementing a consistent bedtime routine." Related video: Kids all tell lies, but many parents are making it worse (Provided by wkyc )


Check out where this cute puppy likes to cool off. Adorable! Credit: @rocksthehusky (Instagram)


When you're headed overseas, researching tourist scams is important, but you should also make an effort to lookup local social customs like whether eating with your hands is frowned down upon or the exact firmness needed for an introductory handshake. If you're traveling abroad and to an unfamiliar destination check Dondoo.com before your next trip, as Johnny Jet recently recommended. It's a website that tells you what not to do while overseas and how to avoid committing a cultural faux pas. According to Dondoo, in Finland, you should not offer someone white or yellow flowers as a gift, which are traditionally reserved for funerals. In Uruguay, a "hello kiss" is considered a customary greeting. And in the U.S., it's bad form to surprise friends by showing up at their home, uninvited (which feels like basic etiquette?). Depending on the country, it also has vital information on local laws and safety precautions, like warnings of prohibited items you shouldn't transport into a country or purchase while overseas. To use Dondoo , just search for your destination or scroll to the bottom for its map feature. You'll find other helpful travel details there, like your country's calling code, currency, and which side of the road they drive on (in case you plan to rent a car). And if you don't speak the language, use apps like Google Translate or learn a few basic phrases so you can get by.


Sean McVay and Les Snead both received contract extensions through 2023 recently, tying them together for the foreseeable future. Given all the success they've had on the field and in the personnel department, there's little reason to believe the next five years won't be as great as the last two have been. They're in sync when it comes to football, but they're not always on the same page. The two took a quiz about each other, picking who's the better cook, who has better hair, who's the better karaoke singer and who takes longer to get ready. Spoiler alert: They flunked this test. The dynamic duo is together til 2023. We wanted to see how well they know each other. Let's just say we're glad they're on the same page on the field. pic.twitter.com/Zybe7tyTP4 - Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 7, 2019 The biggest takeaway from the video is the fact that McVay can't cook an egg. He can cook up a screen pass that goes for 52-yards on third-and-33, but he can't make an egg. Go figure. Snead takes pride in his hair, as does McVay, but the GM got the nod thanks to a fan vote long ago. McVay thought it was a draw. When deciding who to draft in the fourth round, these two see eye-to-eye. But away from football, not so much. MORE: ESPN's Molly Qerim walked off set after Max Kellerman said Kobe's on his 'all-NBA worst team' Packers' decision to cut OT Jason Spriggs places spotlight on second-year UDFA Alex Light Roundup: SpaceX Launches Falcon 9; Toni Morrison Passes Away; Barneys Files for Bankruptcy Eagles' release unofficial depth chart for preseason opener vs. Titans NFL veteran Ted Ginn Jr. shares story of when LeBron James lent him one of his cars for prom


It may only be preseason right now, but it's never too early for players to post some motivational material in their lockers. For a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there will be plenty of opportunities this season to prove their doubters wrong, with some holding out little hope that a team with back-to-back 5-11 seasons and one of the toughest road stretches will be able to improve much in 2019, even with Bruce Arians in charge. And, naturally, many will point the finger at the defense, which finished near the bottom of the league last season across the board. Still, when you bring in Todd Bowles to be your new defensive coordinator, draft a star linebacker in Devin White and bring in behemoth defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, you'd expect to get some respect, right? Well, apparently not, according to this tweet from Sunday Night Football on NBC. Take a look. DEE-FENSE DEE-FENSE pic.twitter.com/kAMdGP2EUh - SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 5, 2019 Fair or foul, the Bucs didn't make the cut, which prompted this response from the team on Twitter. https://t.co/PcHLszA4R0 pic.twitter.com/ChB00HHGLI - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 6, 2019 Oh, Stanley, how we miss you. The world was such a better place when The Office was on, don't you think? To be honest, I think the Bucs defense flying under the radar is a good thing. If Bowles can manage to improve their ranking of 27th overall last year, Tampa Bay will surprise more than a few people. MORE: NBA fans shouldn't be furious Kobe Bryant was named third team All-Decade Quick hits, observations from Packers' second joint practice with Texans Observations from Lions training camp, Day 11, Hockenson and Amendola shine Report: NCAA adopting a 'Rich Paul rule' for potential NBA draftees to maintain eligibility Jared Cook sends the Saints defense reeling in play of the day


PARIS   The biggest game of this Women's World Cup so far   and for more than a few members of the United States team that knocked out host nation France with a 2-1 win here Friday, the biggest game of their lives   was only a few minutes old. The players were still in their uniforms, still trying to process what had just transpired on the Parc des Princes pitch. It was a moment to celebrate, to be sure. But because this is a World Cup, and because the victory over Les Bleues catapulted the U.S. into Tuesday's semifinal against England in Lyon, the Americans weren't allowed to bask in glory for long before being asked to look toward what comes next. And what comes next for the title favorites is another huge test. Tuesday's contest at the Olympic Stadium might not be able to surpass the France match in terms of pure theater, but make no mistake about it: This one won't be easy, either. "England's an awesome team   we know that," U.S. midfielder Samantha Mewis said moments after the final whistle on Friday. "England has a lot of threats. Of course we're going to continue to play our game, but there's definitely a lot of things that we're going to have to focus on because we know that they're really well-rounded and dangerous in a lot of areas." The U.S. knows England well, having met the Lionesses in the group stage of the SheBelieves Cup back in March. That tilt ended 2-2, with a close to full-strength U.S. lineup falling behind in the second half before Tobin Heath equalized inside the final 25 minutes to rescue a point for her team. Through five games at France 2019, England has only looked stronger. Unlike the Americans, who struggled in their first elimination match against Spain, Phil Neville's side has gotten better in every game. And in striker Ellen White   who has four goals in her last three games and is tied for the tournament lead with Americans Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe and Australian Sam Kerr   they have the sort of in-form striker that a team can ride all the way to a title. "She is obviously coming into this next game confident," Morgan said of White, while pointing out that she's hardly England's only weapon. "For us, it's definitely not only looking at her but also the wingers and the speed that they have and looking at the 10 spot and looking at [playmaker Fran] Kirby. "They have a lot of talent. We obviously need to look forward quite quickly." They also have to look at their own play. These fearless Americans are more than capable of blocking out any potential distraction, like Rapinoe's spat with President Donald Trump. They're more than willing to take on any comer; they proved that against France. Yet as strong as Friday's performance was defensively, and as well as the visitors took advantage of their chances, scoring inside the first 15 minutes for the fifth game running, they were also fortunate not to be punished by at-times sloppy possession. There is still room for improvement. "It's no secret that we have to get better on the ball, playing better with it, better offensively, better in our possession and our passing," said Rapinoe, who had both U.S. goals on Friday. "I think we can be better," Mewis said. "France was a really great team and they presented us with a lot of challenges, they had a lot of the ball. I give us credit for grinding it out and getting the win, but I think we know we have more to offer and we're going to try to build on that for the next game." England, meantime, ran over a good Norwegian team, 3-0, and will have an extra day's rest. "England was super clinical the other night," Rapinoe said. "We have absolutely our work cut out for us." Neville's squad is one on the rise, there's no question about that. They came within a whisker of reaching the final four years ago in Canada, only do be undone by an own goal in the semis against Japan. Still, the U.S. remains the favorite. They know what it takes to win a World Cup, and the performance against France only reinforced their status as favorites. England doesn't have that sort of experience. Not yet. "We're just getting warmed up   we're on a mission," coach Jill Ellis told her team after it took another step toward the trophy on Friday. "I respect Phil, and I know he'll have his players ready, as will we. We'll see how it plays out." More from Yahoo Sports: Why Alex Morgan was key to USWNT despite not scoring Report: Kevin Durant's free agent wish list has four teams Rapinoe steals show as USWNT beats co-favorite France Report: Kawhi wants Magic involved in Lakers meeting Related Slideshow: Best of the 2019 Women's World Cup (Provided by imagn)


As Manjula Sridhar went into the operation theater of a maternity ward in Chennai, the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu , her mother began arguing with the doctor over a water shortage that threatened to delay the delivery. Cradling her little girl, Sridhar recalls the doctor saying that they would have to wait for a water tanker to arrive because all the water in Egmore's Government Hospital for Women and Children had run out . "We have a problem at home and we have a problem here in the hospital. How can we trust our own government?" Sridhar said. The problem is Chennai has become the first major Indian city to face an acute water shortage. Every morning, millions of residents line up daily to fill cans and pots of water from state water trucks across the city. Some residents get their rationed quota of water daily, while others get it once a week. People are having to wash utensils in the same dirty water, saving a few bottles of clean water to cook food. But it is the city's essential services that have been the hardest hit: hospitals, businesses and schools have struggled to stay afloat. Another hospital a mile away has been unable to cater to the hundreds of women who come for deliveries each week. The operation theater of the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children has barely any water to clean the medical equipment, said Prema S., a 30-year old nurse in the maternity ward. Like many in south India, she uses an initial for her surname. "I have never encountered a situation like this ... smaller hospitals like ours are not given any importance," she added. With the ongoing water shortage, businesses across the city have been forced to shut down and have no option but to wait for the crisis to pass. A line of small restaurants at Chennai's Pantheon Road have had their shutters down for weeks. One restauranteur, Kathir J,. said he has been closed for two weeks and he is losing 5,000 rupees ($72) every day. "I used to have at least 20-30 customers during lunch and more during dinner. This was where people who could afford a complete meal for 20 rupees (30 cents) came," he added. Nationwide crisis Four reservoirs, which supply Chennai's water, have almost run dry. And the groundwater levels have dropped drastically over the years. "Because the level of water in the reservoirs has gone down, and due to less rainfall ... a drinking water problem has arisen in Chennai," said Edappadi K. Palaniswami, chief minister of Tamil Nadu Friday. Even as the government scrambles to provide a steady water supply to the city, people have accepted that running water will not be available for a long time. Families have started to fill small tanks in their homes and use water sparingly. "I carry a bottle with me to school from the water we get from the tanker. I feel bad because it feels like stealing that water from my family," said Janani, a 16-year-old student at a Chennai school, who was not comfortable sharing her last name. The shortage in India's sixth largest city is symbolic of a crisis that is being felt across a country battling with one of its longest heatwaves, which has killed at least 137 people. India has been inching closer to a debilitating water crisis for months. With poor water management and unsupervised groundwater extraction, experts said that 600 million of India's 1.3 billion people are facing acute water shortage. According to a report released by Niti Aayog -- a government-run think tank -- 21 major cities including New Delhi will run out of groundwater by 2020. "This crisis is further driven by a poorly defined legal framework for groundwater that rests ownership with landowners and leads to unchecked extraction. This crisis is most acute in the Indian agriculture sector, where groundwater accounts for 63% of all irrigation water," states the report. Politics over water Tamil Nadu's opposition party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) launched a statewide protest Saturday. "The government is not even acknowledging that there is a water crisis," said DMK's Saravanan Annadurai to CNN. "Only if they acknowledge that there is a crisis, we can find a solution." The state government has dismissed reports that water is not reaching everyone in the city. "The reports that every district does not have water, is not true. We are working to supply water to every district ... don't make water political," said Palaniswami. Annadurai accused the state government, which is led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party (AIADMK) and is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling coalition, of "dismissing the reports as exaggeration by the media and the opposition." Annadurai added that "restaurants have been closed, students are in schools where there is no water, people working in IT companies have been asked to stay at home." The Tamil Nadu state government has finally begun accepting help from other states. During Friday's press conference, Palaniswami announced that the state is accepting the Kerala government's offer of 2 million litres of water every day -- which will be brought in by rail to Chennai. For a city used to receiving 820 million litres of water every day, this may be a drop in the bucket but it is help that the residents of Chennai desperately need. "I'm scared for my daughter," Sridhar said. "If we already have water problems now, how am I going to make sure that she has water to drink tomorrow?"


The Buffalo Bills have been said to be "playoff caliber." If they can make a deep run into the playoffs for the first time in more than two decades, then they'll participate in a series of changes to the NFL's broadcasting schedule . The NFL announced changes to its playoff time schedule on Wednesday. Divisional round games will start later in the day at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., moving back from last year's 1:05 p.m. and 4:40 start times. These will now align with the times for the AFC and NFL Conference Championship contests. In addition, those who need an extra break during the Super Bowl will be losing one commercial break, as the number will decrease from five breaks to four. The NFL is also moving on from its single-header test, one that particularly impacts markets that have multiple teams residing in them. This change means that every market will now be able to see three Sunday afternoon games. Buffalo has traditionally been one of the top-rated markets for viewership in the NFL, even when the team is not a part of a game. Last season, Buffalo had the highest market share among cities with teams who were not in the playoffs. Now, just imagine what the figures will be if the Bills make it to the playoffs and move beyond the Wild Card round. It could be something that should be on the radar for viewers this winter. MORE: 'Jeopardy' fans ripped James Holzhauer for how he said Dr. Dre's name but here's why he did it NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Report: Wizards would want Lonzo Ball included in Bradley Beal trade Former NFL great Mark Gastineau has a GoFundMe for the fight of his life Hockenson's best route favors the Lions offense


Diego Simeone could be in for a testing summer as star names and legendary figures seek a new challenge away from Atlético Madrid. The 2018/19 season started with so much promise after beating arch rivals Real Madrid 4-2 in the UEFA Super Cup. However, that was as good as it got for Los Colchoneros after exiting both the Copa del Rey and Champions League at the last 16 stage. Simeone's side finished eleven points behind La Liga champions Barcelona, and with both Real and Barça targeting big signings this summer, the Argentine needs to keep his best players to remain competitive. So, with the summer transfer window now open, who should stay and who should go in order for Atletico to continue to challenge for major honours. Goalkeepers Jan Oblak- KEEP- Simeone would have been delighted that his big Slovenian signed a new four-year contract last month. Oblak has become one of the best goalkeepers in the world but Atletico will know that they will have to continue fighting for big trophies to ensure that Oblak doesn't seek a new challenge. Antonio Adan- KEEP- The Spanish stopper has another year left on his contract and is a worthy understudy to Oblak. Full Backs Juanfran - LEAVING - The 34-year-old will leave Atletico when his contract expires at the end of the season, bringing an end to an eight-year spell. Santiago Arias - KEEP - Although the Colombian's first season at Los Rojiblancos wasn't a success, the departure of Juanfran could allow Arias to nail down the starting spot at right back next season. Filipe Luis - KEEP - The 33-year-old will be a free agent when his contract expires in the summer, with a number of top European clubs seeing him as a decent addition to their respective squads. With Lucas Hernandez on the way to Bayern Munich, Simeone cannot afford to lose the Brazilian as well. Lucas Hernandez- LEAVING - World Cup-winner Hernandez has agreed a deal to join Bayern, and will earn Atleti a whopping €80m when he departs. Centre Backs Diego Godin - LEAVING - The Uruguayan warrior was in tears as he confirmed his departure from Atletico after nine years at the club. He leaves this summer having twice captained Simeone's side in Champions League finals, and in 2014 he won La Liga . Jose Gimenez - KEEP - After being nurtured by his compatriot Godin for both club and country, Gimenez will now have to carry the mantle and become the leader of a new look defence. Stevan Savic - KEEP - The former Manchester City man could turn into a back up option if Simeone recruits a couple of top class centre halves this summer. Central Midfielders Koke - KEEP - The 27-year-old, who has amassed over 400 appearances for his beloved Atletico, could be named the club's new captain. With influential figures leaving this summer, Koke's leadership could prove crucial in Simeone's bid to stay amongst the European elite. Thomas Partey- KEEP- With Manchester United and Arsenal amongst the clubs monitoring the Ghanaian, Simeone could be left powerless if Partey's £43.5m release clause is triggered. Normally deployed at the base of midfield, the 25-year-old is due to link up with the Ghana squad for next month's African Cup of Nations in Egypt. Saul Niguez- KEEP- Various reports had linked the midfielder with a summer move to either Manchester City or Manchester United, but Los Rojiblancos will not budge on his €150m release clause. The 24-year-old signed an eight-year contract before the start of the 2018-19 season. Rodri- KEEP- With a €70m release clause, the 22-year-old could be the man identified by Pep Guardiola to be Fernandinho's long-term successor - though Rodri only joined Atleti less than a year ago from Villarreal. Attacking Midfielders and Wingers Thomas Lemar - KEEP - At 23, the Frenchman could certainly still star for Atletico in the future but the clubs record €70m signing endured a difficult first season as he struggled to adapt to Simeone's demanding tactics. Vitolo - SELL - His Atleti move hasn't worked out as yet and a series of hamstring injuries have restricted the former Sevilla man to just 13 La Liga starts. His one goal this season came in the Copa del Rey against Sant Andreu and he could be another player sacrificed this summer. Gelson Martins - KEEP - Made 12 appearances for Los Rojiblancos in the first half of the season, but struggled to impress before being sent on loan to Monaco. However, he managed to produce some improved form in Ligue 1, racking up four goals and four assists to help steer the club away from the relegation zone. Antoine Griezmann - SELL - After releasing the infamous 'The Decision' video last summer, Griezmann has once again grabbed the footballing headlines after announcing his desire to leave Atletico this summer. The Frenchman reportedly has a £108m release clause and has his heart set on a move to Barcelona. Forwards Angel Correa - KEEP - The Argentine will have to overcome the disappointment of not being selected in this summer's Copa America squad. Simeone will hope that Correa will come back next season with fire in his belly and a point to prove. Nikola Kalinic - SELL - Simeone will be hoping to cash in on the Croatian this summer after Kalinic failed to impress in his first season at the club. Alvaro Morata - KEEP - The Chelsea forward wants to remain at Atletico after he ended a miserable 18 months in London by joining in January on a temporary season-and-a-half deal. With Griezmann's departure looking imminent, Morata may relish the opportunity to become the clubs main man. Diego Costa - KEEP - Yes, he can be a liability and have moments of madness - epitomised earlier in the season when he received an eight-game ban for insulting a referee. But Simeone and Chelsea fans know better than anyone that Costa, when on song and focused, can lead sides to big trophies.


Two formerly high-impact players of the Tennessee Titans defense have been lost this offseason. Former outside linebacker Brian Orakpo announced his retirement in late December, while fellow past teammate Derrick Morgan became a free agent and then retired on Monday. Orakpo made his presence felt over 10 NFL seasons - four with the Titans - racking up 423 tackles, 66 sacks, 31 passes defensed, one interception and a score in 132 games. Morgan was also a force within the defensive scheme, playing under five different coaches and posting a total of 305 tackles, 44.5 sacks, 26 passes defensed over 18 games. So, what happens in their absence as the Titans move forward? The answer to that question likely lies in up-and-coming outside linebacker, Harold Landry. Yes, it is time. Me looking at Harold Landry pic.twitter.com/jz7H8m1z1p - Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) July 15, 2019 Landry was originally selected at No. 41 overall by the Titans in the 2018 NFL Draft, and will be called upon to play a larger role in 2019. The second-year player showed some serious flashes of potential on his rookie year, recording 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two passes defensed, 14 quarterback hits and one forced fumble. But while Landry was dominant at times, he also didn't always maintain consistently dominant performances. Such is to expected from a player on the first season of their professional career, but it's something he'll have to work at as the Titans hope he can progress into a player who is capable of filling the shoes of a force like Orakpo. The outlook for Landry is positive, and some analysts have pinned the upcoming season as a Pro Bowl year for him. NFL.com's Marc Sessler noted this recently, and also had plenty of good things to say about Landry. Landry's part-time role is set to grow with Brian Orakpo (who retired) and Derrick Morgan (who's still a free agent) out the door," he said. "A second-round pick in 2018, the rookie showed pass-rushing promise down the stretch and triggered a game-turning forced fumble of Carson Wentz in a Week 4 comeback win over the Eagles. Landry should benefit from one-on-one matchups, with Cameron Wake added to the mix. "I think he will break out. … First-step quickness, outstanding closing burst and had a knack for getting it done," NFL Network's Bucky Brooks said on the "Move The Sticks" podcast in May. "We saw flashes of it during his rookie season with the Titans. I believe we get a bigger dose [in 2019]." Landry has also drawn many positive reviews from teammates and coaches, who say he is continually growing and putting in the work for personal improvement. It will be interesting to see just how much of a factor Landry turns into as he comes into his own. Landry will stay in competition as a part of an OLB corps composed of Sharif Finch, Gimel President, Derick Roberson, D'Andre Walker. MORE: Michael Bisping's cageside reaction to Urijah Faber's stunning KO was too good Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense 'Madden NFL 20' ratings: See where the Steelers players are rated Roundup: Monica Lewinsky Fire Tweet, Richard Seymour in the Money at World Series of Poker, Robert Kraft New Girlfriend Comparing T.J. Hockenson to the proper 1st round tight end