Ryan Fitzpatrick believes 49ers will bounce back during 2025 NFL season
Ryan Fitzpatrick believes 49ers will bounce back during 2025 NFL season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
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Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Geno Smith aims to bring stability and firepower to Raiders' struggling offense
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Raiders have been searching at quarterback since a messy divorce late in the 2022 season ended Derek Carr's nine-year reign. And even Carr's tenure came up short of expectations with the team making the playoffs just twice. Now the Raiders are counting on veteran Geno Smith to provide much-needed stability and add punch to an offense among the NFL's worst last season. But, he isn't expected to do it by himself in Las Vegas. He has two potentially dynamic offensive weapons in tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, as well as wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who comes off his first 1,000-yard season. All three are 28 and younger, and Smith is closing in on 35 as he enters his 12th season. 'In this league, every day you got to prove yourself, not only to your guys but to the rest of the league,' Smith said. "So for me, when you're coming to a new team, you got to set the standard, set the example, and it's through hard work. I wanted to make sure that my guys know that I was going to be here 100% of the time, going to put all the work in, going to maximize our resources and just really put our best foot forward. "I'm not a big talker. I just want guys to kind of follow me through example, and I just try to push myself, push the guys and let the rest handle itself.' It may be a new city and a new group of teammates for Smith, but there is a sense of familiarity as he goes back to work for coach Pete Carroll. His career was in limbo when Carroll signed him in 2019 to join Seattle. He became the starter in 2022 and led the NFL that season by completing 69.8% of his passes while throwing for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year, and the Seahawks had winning records in all three seasons with Smith at the controls. Smith threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season, but he failed to reach an agreement to stay in Seattle. The Raiders acquired him in a March 7 trade in which they sent back a third-round draft pick. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback then signed a two-year, $75 million extension that takes him through the 2027 season. Smith said at his introductory news conference that he had 'unfinished business,' given the way his time ended in Seattle. 'He's such an all-in guy that there's no question what his commitment is and his conviction, and so that just helps the message (get) embedded even more so,' Carroll said. 'It's why he's so valuable to us.' Smith is a major reason why the Raiders have genuine hope they can improve an offense that last season ranked 29th in scoring and 27th in yardage. Having Bowers and Jeanty in the lineup are two other notable reasons for such optimism. Bowers was second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting last season to Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels. Bowers set an NFL rookie record with 112 catches for a first-year mark for a tight end with 1,194 yards receiving and was named to the AP All-Pro team. 'He's one of the better tight ends in the NFL,' Smith said. "I can't give him the ball enough. I feel bad every time I don't throw him the ball. So I'm just trying to make sure that I'm maximizing his ability, his talent, because that's going to help our team.' Jeanty is expected to be the Raiders' next Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, and in fact is the favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Las Vegas took him sixth in this year's draft after Jeanty led the nation with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing to finish second in the Heisman Trophy voting. 'Ashton is a smooth running back out of the backfield,' Smith said. 'We've seen what he can do against contact and breaking tackles. The thing that's really impressing me is his ability to catch out of the backfield. He's a real natural in that aspect.' The NFL, in the end, is a quarterback-driven league, and the onus ultimately will be on Smith to make all the pieces work in Chip Kelly's offense. The Raiders have been searching for such a quarterback. Maybe Smith is the answer. 'Geno is a hell of a quarterback," defensive end Maxx Crosby said. 'He's another guy that gets slept on for some reason, but Geno can play and he's super competitive. Getting to see him and go against him every single day has been an awesome experience so far.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Seahawks open training camp with competition at multiple spots
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks' decision to release Noah Fant on Sunday ahead of the start of training camp cleared $8.91 million against the salary cap, as well as set up competition with the tight end group. Following the Seahawks' first day of training camp on Wednesday, coach Mike Macdonald said there were multiple reasons why Fant was cut after 130 receptions, 1,400 yards and five touchdowns in three seasons with the Seahawks. 'We love Noah and wish him the best,' Macdonald said. 'But, we also love the guys that are still here. They know what's at stake and it's going to be a lot of fun watching that competition in the tight end room." Second-year tight end AJ Barner, who caught 30 passes for 245 yards last season, as well as rookie Elijah Arroyo, who the Seahawks selected in the second round this year, figure to lead that competition. There will be others to monitor over the six weeks leading up to the Seahawks' season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 7. Right guard is one of keen interest, as Anthony Bradford broke camp as the starter there last season before landing on injured reserve. He's in competition with Christian Haynes as well as perhaps even rookie Bryce Cabeldue. 'It's going to take time, but it's going to declare itself," Macdonald said of the competition. 'But, I don't want to just put a number on the guys right now." Macdonald said there were a couple of updates on players who were limited during minicamp. Running back Kenneth Walker III, who did not participate in full-speed drills in June because of ankle issues, did so on Wednesday. Fifth-round pick and wide receiver Tory Horton was mostly an observer in the spring and early part of the summer because of a knee issue, but a "full-go" participant on Wednesday, Macdonald said, though his repetitions will be managed. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, meanwhile, is 'not necessarily close' to returning to the field after being placed on the physically unable to perform list last Thursday, according to Macdonald. There were also newcomers such as veteran Shaquill Griffin, who started 53 games with the Seahawks from 2017 to 2020, and is expected to compete for the third cornerback spot. "He fits in great," Macdonald said. 'The building and staff love him, and it's only a couple of days with the rest of the DB room. But, he's going to be a guy that we're going to lean on to be a vet presence. It's been fun so far." The Seahawks hope additions such as Griffin could help propel the team to a better season than 2024 where the club went 10-7 and finished second in the NFC West but did not qualify for the playoffs after Macdonald's first year with the team. When asked about outsiders' expectations of the Seahawks for the 2025 season, Macdonald said they couldn't be any higher internally, either. 'Yeah, we want to win a championship,' Macdonald said. 'But in order to do that, we have to become a championship team. We have to become the team that we're trying to be. We have a vision for our team of who we want to be.' ___ AP NFL:
New York Post
10 minutes ago
- New York Post
Taylor Rooks gets married in star-studded NYC event that included Jack Harlow and Saquon Barkley
Broadcaster Taylor Rooks tied the knot in a recent ceremony in New York, with a guest list that included some of sports' biggest stars. Little is known about the nuptials or Rooks' new hubby, but the NBA reporter posted images from the wedding on her Instagram on Wednesday. She captioned the post, 'What a night. This is love.' Among the glamorous shots from her big day, several featured high-profile athletes from the NFL and NBA. One snap showed Rooks posing between rapper Jack Harlow and Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley. 3 Sports broadcaster Taylor Rooks got married in NYC. Instagram / Taylor Rooks Another image showed NBA stars Kevin Durant and Draymond Green in attendance. A separate photo featured Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin in attendance. Others at the wedding included Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell, along with his fiancée, Coco Jones. Former FS1 host Joy Taylor appeared to be a bridesmaid. 'So happy for my girl,' Taylor wrote in a post on her own Instagram Story sharing Rooks' post, 'Love you sis!' 3 Taylor Rooks looks on during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. NBAE via Getty Images Rooks shared other photos on her story, including a second image of Durant sitting at a table at the reception, smiling among other guests. Rooks' new husband remains a bit of a mystery, with a menu seen in one of the photos only giving the clue that his first name was Shane. She has kept much of her personal life private, and the wedding announcement came as a shock to many of her fans. 3 Sports broadcaster Taylor Rooks Instagram / Taylor Rooks The ceremony kicks off what will be a big change for Rooks, who is set to take over as the host for Prime Video's new NBA studio show in the fall alongside Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki. She recently left her NBA reporting job at TNT and Bleacher Report. 'I'm thrilled to continue to grow my role at Prime Video and help shape their NBA coverage from the ground up,' Rooks said in a statement in January. 'With the addition of legends like Dirk and Blake, we're not just building a show, we are crafting an experience that will be entertaining and truly special for basketball fans. 'This is a career milestone for me and I'm incredibly excited to share my love and passion for this game with NBA fans all over the world.'
