Latest news with #OTAs
Skift
6 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Former Heads of Google Travel and Tripadvisor Form AI Startup to Head Off Online Travel Agencies
The idea of hotels partnering with ex-Googlers and DirectBooking trying to undercut OTA-like Tripadvisor's relationships with LLMs is not without its ironies. Still, the concept of hotels working more closely with LLMs and bypassing OTAs is one that could gain traction. DirectBooker, a startup backed by former Tripadvisor CEO Steve Kaufer and ex-Google Travel head Richard Holden, wants to feed hotel listings directly into AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini — challenging the role of online travel agencies like "The default behavior is going to be for the OTAs to win again," said Sanjay Vakil, a co-founder and the CEO of DirectBooker. "And I would like to head off that outcome. But it's going to take more than three people to do that, so we're looking to grow a little bit." Vakil held various product management leadership roles at Google Travel and Tripadvisor. The other two co-founders of DirectBooker are Chief Product Officer Theresa Meyer and Chief
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Oregon Ducks football star Dillon Gabriel being drafted by Browns in third round questioned as conspiracy
Since being taken in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, former Oregon Ducks football star Dillon Gabriel has outplayed Shedeur Sanders during OTAs and rookie minicamp. Still, some are pushing conspiracy theories about the legitimacy of Gabriel being drafted despite Sanders being linked to the Browns more often leading up to the draft. Advertisement Former Division III rags-to-riches NFL story Cecil Shorts called into question the legitimacy of Gabriel's selection. Shorts believes Sanders is 'way better' than Gabriel. 'Let them battle it out, choose one and ride with them and see what they can do. And I'm not big on switching quarterbacks... I hate that. Let the rookie battle all 17 games; if he's healthy, battle all 17 games. Let him develop. Let him get better,' Shorts said on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. 'To me, talent-wise like you mentioned, Shedeur is way better than Dillon. Dillon wasn't on anybody's list. Let's call a spade of spade. Nobody was thinking about Dillon Gabriel being drafted in the first three rounds. Nobody. Wasn't on anybody's list. Nobody was talking about him on TV at all. Come on, let's be real here.' Advertisement Sanders may have looked more impressive against Big 12 defenses last year in a Colorado Buffaloes offense tailored to him specifically, but Gabriel has proven himself in Berea. That's the only thing that matters now. Not Sanders' notoriety, or anyone's labeling of Gabriel as a 'professional backup.' Shorts may not be onto something here. Sanders can change that, but the results Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has seen this offseason matter more than anything else.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots rookie tackle is off to a good start
The spring isn't optimal for offensive linemen. During OTAs and minicamp, they're not allowed to block. No one's wearing pads. Contact in these practices is prohibited. It's tough to gauge whether an offensive lineman is truly capable of his job. Advertisement That doesn't mean Will Campbell didn't learn anything this offseason. The Patriots first-round pick finished up his first offseason workout program and says he heads into the summer with momentum. The Patriots hope the fourth overall pick will solve their problems at left tackle. Campbell believes he's off to a good start. 'I've gotten more comfortable as the days have gone with the playbook and scheme,' Campbell said. 'It's only going to keep getting better. I keep getting these reps and keep getting this stuff under my belt, it's going to help me move along.' The Patriots wasted no time throwing Campbell into the fire. The LSU product was immediately placed at the team's top left tackle spot to protect Drake Maye's blindside. The rookie spent most of the offseason working next to left guard Cole Strange, but the Patriots did rotate several other players in at that position. Advertisement The team believes they've made the proper steps to solving a long-standing issue. Last season, the Patriots allowed 52 sacks. That was the sixth most in team history and the most sacks allowed by a Patriots team since 1999. The team's sack totals have risen over the last three years – 41 (2022), 48 (2023), and 52. Considering protecting Maye is the priority, the Patriots knew they needed wholesale changes. The team signed veteran right tackle Morgan Moses and veteran center Garrett Bradbury before drafting Campbell with the fourth pick. Despite not being able to practice in pads, Campbell said he felt like this spring set a good foundation. Advertisement 'You have to come out here and treat it like it's a padded practice,' Campbell said. 'This is where the details matter the most when you can key in on those types of things. I'd say just coming out every day and trying to be intentional and find two or three things from the previous practice that I'm trying to grow on, on the next.' The Patriots have high hopes for Campbell. The team believes he'll make an immediate impact and solve one of their biggest problems. The rookie said he plans on sticking around New England for most of the break and feels confident heading into his first training camp. 'Whenever you get into a new place, it's a different thing than I'm used to, so really getting those reps, getting more experience day after day,' Campbell said. 'I can feel myself improving practice after practice. That's the thing I've got to come out and get better every day. I feel like I've done that.' More Patriots Content Advertisement Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mike Yastrzemski's RBI single
Richardson will not participate in OTAs, minicamp Mike Florio and Michael Holley discuss how Anthony Richardson's shoulder injury – which will prevent him from participating in OTAs or mandatory minicamp – impacts Daniel Jones' chances of being the Colts starting QB. 4:55 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Raiders 53-man roster projection: What did we learn in OTAs and minicamp?
No final roster decisions are made during OTAs, but there was valuable insight about the pecking order throughout the Las Vegas Raiders' roster. While several starters on both sides of the ball appear locked in, a few key jobs remain in the air. As always, there will be strong competition to carve out depth roles once training camp begins in July. Advertisement General manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll are early in the process of formulating what the roster will look like, and there's still potential for them to make outside additions before the start of the season. For the most part, OTAs were about laying a foundation. 'We learned a lot,' Carroll said last week. 'The whole purpose here is to figure them out. … We've gone to great depths trying to get to understand our guys, what's important to them, what are their goals and their principles, and how they approach stuff so that we can better teach them and reach them.' Here's a post-OTAs 53-man roster projection for the Raiders. Starter: Geno Smith Depth: Aidan O'Connell, Cam Smith Analysis: Cam Smith's reps in OTAs were extremely limited as the coaching staff focused on getting Geno Smith and O'Connell acclimated to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's system. That'll probably remain the case in training camp, but the rookie will get some burn in preseason games. He's the most mobile quarterback on the roster, has a solid arm and is worth keeping around as a developmental backup. Starter: Ashton Jeanty Depth: Raheem Mostert, Sincere McCormick, Zamir White Analysis: Jeanty is the clear-cut lead back, but the Raiders want to avoid running him into the ground. Mostert will be the primary third-down back and will help spare Jeanty on early downs alongside McCormick. White will compete with Dylan Laube, a skilled returner, to make the roster. Starter: Brock Bowers Depth: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas Analysis: Mayer missed six games due to personal reasons last season and never looked like himself. As good as Bowers is, the Raiders are hopeful Mayer has a bounce-back year to round out the tight end room and allow Kelly to justify using 12 personnel more often. Advertisement Starters: Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Dont'e Thornton Depth: Jack Bech, Tommy Mellott Analysis: Meyers was mostly used as a slot receiver during OTAs, while Tucker and Thornton handled the majority of the reps on the outside with the first-team offense. Bech, drafted in the second round, will make his case for a starting role in training camp. Mellott should be the backup slot receiver and could potentially carve out a role as a returner. Starters: LT Kolton Miller, LG Dylan Parham, C Jackson Powers-Johnson, RG Alex Cappa, RT DJ Glaze Depth: OL Thayer Munford, G Jordan Meredith, OT Charles Grant, G Caleb Rogers Analysis: There's an ongoing position battle at left guard between Parham, Munford and Meredith that's worth keeping an eye on. Munford played offensive tackle his first three years with the Raiders but has experience at guard in college. Rookies Grant and Rogers have a long way to go to get into the rotation. Starters: DT Christian Wilkins, NT Leki Fotu, DT Adam Butler Depth: Zach Carter, Tonka Hemingway, JJ Pegues, Jonah Laulu Analysis: The Raiders flipped between four- and five-man fronts throughout OTAs, but we'll go with a five-man front as their base given the precarious state of their nickelback position. Wilkins missed all of OTAs as he continues to recover from the Jones fracture he suffered last October, and his health will be a major storyline going into training camp. Carter has replaced Wilkins during his absence. If Wilkins misses time in training camp, it'll be interesting to see if rookies Hemingway and Pegues can create some competition. Starters: Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce Depth: Tyree Wilson, Charles Snowden, Jah Joyner Analysis: Wilson and Snowden are jockeying to be the first defensive end off the bench. It's a pivotal year for Wilson as the Raiders decide on his fifth-year option after this season. Barring a major breakout, they'll almost certainly decline it. Joyner is a bendy, explosive pass rusher who could make some noise once the pads come on in training camp. Advertisement Starters: Germaine Pratt, Elandon Roberts Depth: Devin White, Tommy Eichenberg, Amari Gainer Analysis: Pratt signed right before the end of OTAs, so he hasn't practiced with the team yet. But it'll be a major surprise if he doesn't quickly become the starting Will linebacker in training camp. White performed well in that role in OTAs, but he's best coming off the bench at this stage of his career. Eichenberg and Gainer need to show significant special-teams value and progress on defense to make the team. Starters: Eric Stokes, Darien Porter Depth: Jakorian Bennett, Decamerion Richardson, Darnay Holmes Analysis: Stokes and Porter were the starting cornerbacks throughout OTAs. Bennett is still recovering from his surgery to repair a torn labrum in November, however, and could push for one of those spots once he's at full strength. Richardson looks like more of a depth option on the outside, while Holmes is currently the only viable slot corner on the roster. Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao Depth: Lonnie Johnson Jr., Thomas Harper Analysis: Chinn will spend a lot of time lined up at nickelback and working in the box. When he lined up in those areas in OTAs, the Raiders often brought Johnson onto the field as a third safety. Unless the Raiders sign an upgrade at nickelback, expect that to continue into training camp. Harper was solid last season and may push Johnson for his role. K Daniel Carlson P AJ Cole LS Jacob Bobenmoyer Analysis: The Raiders have had an All-Pro-caliber kicking battery for years, and there's no reason to expect that to change. Carlson is going into the final year of his contract and could be in line for an extension soon.
