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Chris Perkins: How do they fit? A closer look at Dolphins’ 2023 draft class

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

The 2023 NFL draft was low-key for the Dolphins because they didn’t have a first-round pick and only had four selections overall. The Dolphins lost one first-round pick in the Tom Brady/Sean Payton tampering decision and the other in the deal to acquire edge rusher Bradley Chubb.Still, they improved their team talent by selecting cornerback Cam Smith in the second round and running back Devon Achane in the third round.Smith makes the defensive backs room even deeper and more talented. He’ll likely battle for a starting spot in the nickel package, where the Dolphins are fairly veteran-laden.Achane will battle for playing time as a running back and/or as a slot receiver.In the sixth round the Dolphins selected Stanford tight end Elijah Higgins, who will convert from wide receiver, and Michigan offensive tackle Ryan Hayes, who could be moved inside to guard.Here’s a closer look at each:Cornerback Cam Smith, South Carolina, second round (No. 51)Smith adds to an already...

Grayson Rodriguez dominates Tigers, earns first major league win as Orioles split doubleheader, 6-4

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

Climbing through the Orioles’ minor league system, Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall competed whenever they pitched, even if they shared an organization and even if they played for different affiliates.However Baltimore’s top pitching prospects could, they sought to one-up each other. In a given week, they would pursue the most innings, the highest strikeout totals, the best outing. On Saturday, the first day the dynamic young pitchers shared in the majors, those competitions all went to Rodriguez.After Hall struck out seven over three innings of two-run relief in the first game of Baltimore’s doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, Rodriguez delivered five scoreless frames with nine strikeouts as the Orioles’ starter in the nightcap, a 6-4 victory that earned him his first major league win.Zach McKinstry opened Rodriguez’s night with a double, only to erase himself from the bases trying to advance to third on a ground ball to the left side, with shortstop...

Oklahoma RB Eric Gray highlights final draft day as Giants touch base with Saquon Barkley

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

Giants GM Joe Schoen picked elusive, pass-catching Oklahoma running back Eric Gray on the final day of the NFL Draft to add another weapon to Brian Daboll’s offense.“Super productive, really good hands out of the backfield, also has some elusiveness to him inside,” Schoen said of Gray. “He’s also done some returns in his past. He was comfortable catching punts at the Senior Bowl.”The Giants used their No. 172 overall pick in the fifth round on Gray to supplement a backfield that for now is missing Saquon Barkley. Barkley, 26, is unhappy with his contract situation, hasn’t signed his franchise tag tender and is staying away from the team facility.Schoen did say he “had conversations last week” with Barkley’s reps, at least, “touching base again” and agreeing to “circle up after the draft.” He didn’t commit to making any imminent offers either, though.“We’ll talk this coming week,R...

UCF draft tracker: No Knights picked, multiple UDFAs sign with NFL teams

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

No UCF football players were taken in this weekend’s NFL draft, snapping a six-year streak for the school.Although zero Knights heard their names called for the first time since 2016, multiple players from Gus Malzahn’s program are expected to sign as undrafted free agents with NFL organizations.Of the nine Knights who participated in the team’s pro day at the end of March, long snapper Alex Ward likely had the best chance of being selected despite the rarity of snappers getting picked each year.That’s because Ward was the lone long snapper at this year’s NFL Combine and also participated in the Senior Bowl.Shortly after the draft was completed Saturday night, Ward signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams.In addition to Ward, former UCF offensive lineman Sam Jackson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars while offensive lineman Ryan Swoboda ended up with the Detroit Lions.Email Jason Beede at [email protected] or foll...

Boston mayor, council president: White supremacist groups are ‘not welcome here’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and City Council President Ed Flynn strongly condemned a Saturday appearance by the white nationalist group, Patriot Front, which joined a faith-based protest outside a Satanic conference in Copley Square.Clad in khakis and blue hooded sweatshirts with their faces hidden behind scarves and hats, their roughly hour-long appearance was also denounced by Satanists and Christians alike, the two groups who were most at odds during SatanCon 2023.“Boston stands firmly against the hateful ideology of white supremacist groups, and their presence is not welcome here,” Wu and Flynn said in a joint statement emailed to the Herald.Unlike last summer, where authorities said they had no advance knowledge of Patriot Front’s plans to demonstrate and march through Boston streets, scanner activity late Saturday morning indicated police had a heads up that the group was on its way to Copley Square. They arrived shortly before 12:30 p.m.“I left my apartment, was walking down the...

Man seriously wounded in Upper Beaches shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

A man has been seriously injured following a shooting in the Upper Beaches. Police say they were called to a building in the area of Gerrard Street East and Coxwell Avenue just before 8 p.m. Saturday for reports someone had been shot. When they arrived they found a man inside a building suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby trauma centre in serious but non-life threatening condition. Police did not provide an age for the victim or any immediate suspect information.

Texas man kills 5 neighbors after they complained of gunfire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

CLEVELAND, Texas (AP) — A Texas man went next door with a rifle and fatally shot five of his neighbors, including an 8-year-old boy, after they asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, authorities said Saturday.The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, remained at large more than 18 hours after the shooting and authorities warned that he might still be armed. The attack happened just before midnight Friday near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say it is not uncommon to hear neighbors unwind by firing off guns. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Oropeza used an AR-style rifle, and as the search for him dragged into Saturday evening, authorities had widened their efforts to as far as “10 to 20 miles” from the murder scene. He said Oropeza may still have a weapon but that he believes authorities have the rifle used in the shooting. Capers said they found clothes and a phone whi...

Army identifies 3 soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Army identified on Saturday the three soldiers who were killed when two helicopters collided in Alaska while returning from a training mission.The helicopters were headed to Fort Wainwright from a mission in the Donnelly Training Area when they crashed at 1:39 p.m. Thursday, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Healy.The U.S. Army announced Friday that it has grounded aviation units for training after 12 soldiers died within the last month in helicopter crashes in Alaska and Kentucky. “The move grounds all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, until they complete the required training,” the Army said in a statement. Killed in Thursday’s crash were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, New York; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle D. McKenna, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Duane Wayment, 32, of North Logan, Utah.A fourth soldier was injured and was taken to Fairbanks Memor...

Berkeley church celebrates 100th anniversary

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

BERKELEY, Mo. - One north St. Louis County church is officially marking its centennial this weekend.The Prince of Peace Church in Berkeley is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Saturday and Sunday. Organizers held an anniversary fellowship barbecue Saturday on church grounds. In addition to meals, there were also a few bouncy houses for children to enjoy. Trending -- Missouri morgue now a paranormal Airbnb destination Senior pastor Willie E. Kilpatrick says he impressed with the progress of the church since he started serving there. "When I came here 23 years ago, we had, approximately, 23 ministries. Now we have 33. We have boys mentoring, we have outreach that we do, community activities. That has certainly been a great beacon of light in the city of Berkley."On Sunday, the church will hold an anniversary worship service at 10 a.m.

Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex reopens, celebrates upgrades

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:04 GMT

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - After a string of renovations, a major host of local sporting events has reopened.The Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday to unveil its major changes. Top story: Family of skateboarder shot execution-style pleads for gunman to come forward Among the changes, 16 turf fields have been renovated, and WiFi signals around the property have been improved. Also, the facility now has the ability to live-stream events taking place, in addition to new access gates, concession areas, and merchandise kiosks.Last year, "Perfect Game", a gigantic youth baseball, softball, and scouting service, announced a 10-year deal to hold its tournaments at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex starting this year.