Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid reacts to the camp scuffle between rookie standouts
"It's one thing you see with the rookies, because they do a couple different things before we actually get them out on the field, where they're together at these different functions." said Reid, "There's certain pride in your rookie class, and what, how you're going to establish yourself, and that. Then, when they compete, those two are competitive guys, and they get in there, banging around a little bit. I think it's all healthy. They're friends, so it works out off the field, but they're both trying to chase a starting spot and see what they can do there."
Last season in college, Gillotte earned Second-team All-ACC honors and led the Louisville Cardinals with 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, starting 12 games and recording 43 total tackles. Simmons earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors for the 2024 National Champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
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NBC Sports
12 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
WNBA Preview: Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Kayla Thornton injuries shake up playoff picture
Trysta Krick and Jay Croucher outline why Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream is a strong candidate for WNBA's most improved player award. Injuries suck, don't they? Particularly those that occur around this time of the season, affecting star players while impacting the potential futures of those teams competing for playoff positioning. They can be real downers, and oftentimes are. But not always. The injury bug has been biting lately, affecting some of the WNBA's top players. Yet, things haven't been as doom and gloom as one might imagine. What has transpired in the couple of weeks following the All-Star Break for some teams that've had bad luck with health has been interesting to interpret. RELATED: What WNBA games are on this week? When Caitlin Clark injured her groin on July 15 in the waning moments of a win over the Connecticut Sun, I expected that the Indiana Fever would play about .500 basketball for however long the injured superstar guard would be sidelined. That expectation immediately seemed too rich following the team's back-to-back losses to the New York Liberty, both before and after the All-Star Break. But the Fever have since strung together five straight wins, including impressive ones over the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm. They're now 9-7 this season in 16 games without Clark (10-7 if including the Commissioner's Cup Championship). While the Fever's best-case scenario would certainly not have included Clark missing more than half of the team's games to this point in the season, her absences have allowed Indiana to establish an identity without her on the court. Clark will return at some point, and the reps the team has put together without her could prove valuable in high-stakes games later in the season, should she be out of the lineup. Meanwhile, the Valkyries faced a similar situation, but possibly more extreme considering the makeup of their team — they lost their lone All-Star, Kayla Thornton, to a season-ending injury in one of the team's practice sessions before their first game back from the All-Star Break. My thoughts on the matter were undoubtedly pessimistic; I internally wrote off Golden State and its hopes of staying in the playoff race without its best player. Truthfully, I could end up being correct once all the dust settles, however, only one game separates the Valkyries, the current No. 8 seed, from the ninth-seeded Washington Mystics. Yet, here they are nearly two weeks removed from the loss of Thornton, having won four of their six games post-All-Star Break. I still have reservations about Golden State sustaining this level of play throughout the rest of the season. However, I'd love to be wrong. Conversely, the New York Liberty have had to pick themselves up from off the canvas recently after losing their first three games of a four-game stretch in which Breanna Stewart missed due to a leg injury. Even with a couple of those losses coming to teams such as the Dallas Wings and Sun, who would miss the postseason if it began today, the defending champions ultimately should receive a bit of grace. The Minnesota Lynx suddenly finds itself in a similar situation to the teams mentioned above, after losing one of the likely MVP front-runners, Napheesa Collier, to an ankle injury in Saturday's near-record-setting 53-point win over the Las Vegas Aces. At this point, her injury status for Tuesday's game is unknown, as there have not been any updates since Saturday's win. Similarly to the Liberty, the Lynx are a proven great team, and the cushion they've built at the top of the standings should make the hopefully short-term injury less worrisome. THE WEEK AHEAD Minnesota Lynx at Seattle Storm (Tuesday, August 5 at 10 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass) Minnesota has played like the best team in the league from the start of the season to now, which is reflected in its league-best 24-5 record. The Lynx face the possibility of entering Tuesday's contest without their best player, Napheesa Collier. And while their 2-1 record this season without Collier shows they're capable of winning in her absence, the task is much more challenging without the services of a likely MVP candidate and reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Regardless, they'll face a desperate Storm team that's fresh off back-to-back home losses while having lost three of four games. The veteran-led group has slid to the sixth spot in the standings and presumably will take the floor on Tuesday with the edge and energy of a team recognizing it needs to stop the bleeding. Regardless of who is available to play, the matchup should be a good one. Indiana Fever at Phoenix Mercury (Thursday, August 7 at 10 p.m. ET on Prime Video) In this contest, we get two teams trending in opposite directions. The Fever, without Caitlin Clark, has reeled off five straight wins and currently owns the league's longest winning streak. Meanwhile, the Mercury, losers of six of their last eight games, will enter Thursday's contest with minimal momentum despite being one of the surprise teams through the first half of the season. On top of their recent losing, Satou Sabally missed Phoenix's win over Chicago on Sunday for personal reasons, which came on the heels of being benched by head coach Nate Tibbetts in the prior game. The Fever beat the Mercury last week in DeWanna Bonner's return to Indiana, which could provide them with a mental advantage going into Thursday's contest. Los Angeles Sparks at Golden State Valkyries (Saturday, August 9 at 8:30 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass) While the Sparks don't own a long winning streak, they've won six of their last seven games to inch themselves closer to the eighth and final playoff spot. Rae Burrell's and Cameron Brink's returns from injury, along with Rickea Jackson's stellar play of late, have only made the Sparks deeper and more talented up and down the nightly rotation. They've executed down the stretch to pull off some crucial wins recently, and now appear capable of beating any team on any given night. Golden State had been doing some nice things over its recent three-game win streak before it was snapped in Las Vegas on Sunday, and with playoff seeding still within reach for both, Saturday's matchup could have implications on how everything ultimately shakes out. For that reason alone, Saturday's game is one worth paying attention to. Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty (Sunday, August 10 at 12:30 p.m. ET on ABC) Will Napheesa Collier play? Will Breanna Stewart play? Time will tell. Returns from injury for both players would bring this already fun 2024 WNBA Finals rematch an even greater viewing experience. The two teams have only met once this season, which was recently on July 30 in a game the Lynx won over the Stewart-less Liberty. Whether each team is whole or not remains to be seen. Nevertheless, a revenge-seeking Liberty team facing the best team in the league this season should lead to an exceptional game for the national television audience to experience. Both veteran squads understand the importance of playing good basketball down the stretch and heading into the postseason. Washington Mystics at Dallas Wings (Sunday, August 10 at 4 p.m. ET on CBSSN) If you love this rookie class, you'll love this matchup. Paige Bueckers, JJ Quinerly, Aziaha James and the Wings will host Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and the Mystics. Each of these rookies has had a productive season and perhaps even exceeded expectations. Neither team, however, has necessarily played well recently. But both are still playing meaningful games. For the Wings, they'll want to maximize Bueckers and continue trying to put together lineups and schemes that can help form the team's identity and provide them some direction throughout the rest of this season and over the upcoming ones. The Mystics, on the other hand, are likely in the mindset of treating each game like a must-win — they're currently on the outside of the playoff bracket, looking in, but are a game in the loss column out of the No. 8 seed. So again, come for the rookies, stay for what should be a great game.
Newsweek
12 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Yankees Predicted to Make Drastic Bullpen Change, Move on From 2 Stars
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The New York Yankees acquired Jake Bird, David Bednar and Camilo Doval at this year's trade deadline. Those additions could mean the end for some other pitchers in their bullpen. Luke Weaver and Devin Williams are both going to be free agents at the end of this year. Williams is a two-time All-Star and two-time Trevor Hoffman National League reliever of the Year. Weaver has been great in his time with the Yankees, becoming a key player last season. However, with the Yankees' recent additions all being under club control past this year, FanSided's Stephen Parello predicted the Yankees would cut ties with both Williams and Weaver in the offseason. NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 14: Devin Williams #38 and Luke Weaver #30 of the New York Yankees talk before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 14, 2025 in... NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 14: Devin Williams #38 and Luke Weaver #30 of the New York Yankees talk before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 14, 2025 in New York, New York. More NewWilliams was expected to be a star for the Yankees, but things have not worked out as planned. He has a 5.01 ERA and was removed from the closer's role at one point this year. The Yankees did not hide their interest in replacing Williams, even though he remains in the closer's role for now. Bednar and Doval are both All-Star closers. "With two other relievers with ninth-inning experience now on the roster in David Bednar and Camilo Doval — both of whom are under team control beyond this season — the writing is on the wall for Williams," wrote Parello. "He'll survive the rest of the season, but he's a surefire goner once he hits free agency." Weaver had a 2.89 ERA last season, and was great for the Yankees in October. He picked up four saves, finished 12 games and had a 1.76 ERA. This year he has a 3.02 ERA. "Unfortunately, a 6.60 ERA since returning from the IL on June 20 has tanked what started off as a dominant season for Weaver, and now throws his future in doubt," wrote Parello. "In addition to Bednar and Doval, the Yankees also acquired Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies, who, despite some real performance question marks, is under team control through 2028. That all makes for a crowded bullpen mix moving forward, and if Weaver commands too much money on the open market, he'll likely find himself suiting up elsewhere in 2026." Weaver and Williams could have been a dominant duo in the Bronx, and looked the part at times. However, the Yankees have set themselves up to move on in the offseason. More MLB: Scary Red Sox Injury Update Reveals Rookie's Season Could Suddenly be Over
USA Today
41 minutes ago
- USA Today
In offseason work, Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr. prioritizes physical play, on-ball skills
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