Latest news with #Winters
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Will 49ers' Dee Winters be able to fill Dre Greenlaw's shoes at linebacker?
Dee Winters is 24 years old. The third-year linebacker is young, but not in a way that stirs promise for the future. His time is now — or maybe never. The San Francisco 49ers drafted Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin, 22, in the third round as an insurance policy on Winters. General manager John Lynch said at the NFL league meetings, 'We like a lot of what Dee does, but he's got to show that he can fill those shoes.' If last season was any indication, Dre Greenlaw, the former wearer of the shoes in question, owned a size no one else fit. Not even Winters, who started 10 games while Greenlaw was sidelined with an Achilles injury. 'Dre Greenlaw might've been a one of one, one of the best players I've ever played with, especially when he's on the field,' said tight end George Kittle, asked about the team's consistency issues a year ago. 'And, so, it's a challenge to us to find guys in the locker room that we currently have to step up and bring that energy, and bring that juice.' The 49ers wanted to bring Greenlaw back. The fifth-round gem manned the weak-side spot next to middle linebacker Fred Warner as part of the glue that held the team's defense together, dating to when he made 11 starts as a rookie for the 2019 squad that went to the Super Bowl. But Greenlaw is a Bronco now, having signed a three-year, $35 million deal with Denver, and Winters was not necessarily viewed as his surefire heir apparent in San Francisco. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has maintained hope that Winters could be ready to hold his own alongside Warner. 'I just think he has his best opportunity right now,' Shanahan said. 'He had a decent one last year, but we were always hoping that Dre could come back. 'He's a guy we believe can be a hell of a player. We're just hoping he fully gets there.' In addition to a concussion, Winters dealt with injuries to his ankle, chest and neck that interrupted his ability to take charge in Greenlaw's absence. The general consensus at Levi's Stadium seems such that a healthy Winters is more than capable. 'Knock on wood,' defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. 'Young guys like Dee, their growth can get stunted when they're sitting on the bench just watching. There's nothing like doing. … Hopefully he can continue to stay healthy and absorb every single one of these reps and learn all the nuance that's required to play linebacker.' Echoed Shanahan: 'Hopefully he has good luck avoiding injuries' before adding that Winters 'had a hell of an OTAs' and 'showed that he was capable of doing this.' He was as healthy in June as he appears to be now. So far, so good. Warner, in search of a new 'run and hit' partner — a description regularly used by Shanahan and Lynch to describe prototypical 49ers linebackers — gave Winters a glowing endorsement that doubled as a call to action. 'That's going to be the biggest thing for him this training camp, honestly, is just be out there every single day with intent to be better and to really own it,' Warner said. 'If you want it to be yours, it's there for the taking. 'If you want to be that guy, man, go out there and show your teammates, show the coaches, show everybody that you're ready.' Wednesday marked the team's first training camp session, a chance for Winters to confirm the strong impression he left in OTAs. Brock Purdy threw two picks on Day 1. Winters, whose pass coverage was a bright spot last season, was on the receiving end of one. Pro Football Focus ranked Winters 80th in overall grade and 168th in run defense, Greenlaw's specialty, among 189 eligible NFL linebackers. His pass defense? Sixth, and second only to Warner among all 49ers defenders in 2024. Winters was recently asked about his approach to replacing the impact left behind by Greenlaw. His answer: 'I think it's more important to play as who I am, and that's Dee Winters.'
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Early surprise emerges at a key position battle in training camp for the 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers may quickly wrap up one of their key defensive position battles. Third-year linebacker Dee Winters appears to be the frontrunner for the starting Will LB job through the first couple days of training camp. The WLB plays all three downs alongside Fred Warner, and the absence of a high-level playmaker at the position played a major role in San Francisco's defensive struggles a season ago. Finding a player to adequately replace Dre Greenlaw after Greenlaw left to join the Denver Broncos in free agency is key for the 49ers re-opening a Super Bowl window. Through two training camp practices signs point toward Winters getting the nod over 2025 third-round pick Nick Martin. Winters has gotten the first-team WLB reps to open camp, and Warner has noticed an improvement in the 24-year-old. "I've seen a lot of growth, honestly,' Warner told reporters on Wednesday. 'I've seen a guy who's ready to take that next step. You know, Dee has flashed in a big way through his first two seasons. And I think Year 3 is that year where it's like, 'Man, I know the system. I know what I needed to do in the offseason. And now it's time for me to take control and really put it on tape.' I'm excited for Dee, really.' Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh hasn't been with the 49ers while Winters has been with the club, but he noted Thursday in a press conference that injuries and the roster have never allowed Winters to take any substantial leap. "And so again just like any young guy, the only way they're going to get better is with reps," Saleh said. "And so young guys like Dee, their growth can get stunted when they're sitting on the bench just watching. There's nothing like doing. And so he had an opportunity the last half of last year to get some reps in and it just feels like every day he's learning something again, just through repetition. So, knock on wood, hopefully he can continue to stay healthy and absorb every single one of these reps and learn all the nuance that's required to play linebacker. I think if he does, he's going to be a fun player to watch.' It's a bit of a surprise that Winters burst on the scene this way. Last season was a mixed bag in his 398 defensive snaps. The 49ers went so far as to select Martin in the third round of this year's draft. That choice was a clear indication that San Francisco felt the need to draft a potential starter at WLB. Our assumption entering camp was that Martin would have the inside track to one of the most important open starting jobs on the 49ers' roster. Early indications are that that assumption was incorrect. If Winters plays well enough to earn the nod over the rookie third-round pick, it would be a great sign for San Francisco's defense as it tries to bounce back from its dreary 2024 performance. More 49ers: Future Hall of Famer explains why it 'sucks' practicing against 49ers' top draft pick
Fast Company
4 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Companies use this sneaky pricing trick to overcharge you. One lawmaker wants it banned
It's no secret companies are collecting data while consumers browse their sites. But some companies are doing more with the info than trying improve products or marketing efforts: They are adjusting prices for individual customers based on their personal data. This practice, known as 'surveillance pricing,' has become more common in recent years, with more companies embracing artificial intelligence as a tool to make real-time price changes for individual customers. However, a new bill aims to stop these companies in their tracks. Representative Greg Casar introduced the 'Stop AI Price Gouging and Wage Fixing Act of 2025' on July 23. While some states—such as California, Colorado, Georgia, and Illinois—have proposed similar bans, Casar's bill is the first at the federal level. 'Giant corporations should not be allowed to jack up your prices or lower your wages using data they got spying on you,' Casar said in a statement. 'Whether you know it or not, you may already be getting ripped off by corporations using your personal data to charge you more. This problem is only going to get worse, and Congress should act before this becomes a full blown crisis.' How surveillance pricing works Companies engaging in surveillance pricing use customer data taken from the cookies—text files containing data—or tracking pixels that continue to follow you after leaving their website, providing information on your online activity, preferences, location, and device. This data can then be analyzed by AI programs to help the companies determine a personalized price for their products or services. The ban would impact the pricing systems of numerous retailers that reportedly engage in the practice, from retailers that increase prices for pickup orders when you are close to a store, to rideshare apps that charge more when your phone battery is low. Similarly, Delta Airlines recently came under fire for plans to expand their use of AI-driven pricing. 'We've seen things like people's browsing history, device type, battery, location, and more, inform pricing that focuses on how much that individual might be willing to pay for something—preying on desperation rather than using fair market pricing,' Ben Winters, director of AI and data privacy at the Consumer Federation of America, told Fast Company. (The Consumer Federation of America is one of several consumer-interest organizations and advocacy groups that have endorsed the proposed bill, according to a statement by Casar's office.) One of the benefits of the bill, Winters says, is that it would 'draw clear lines in the sand prohibiting the use of AI systems' to apply data-driven pricing on consumers, and provide customers harmed by this practice the right to sue the company behind the AI-driven prices. 'Too few bills focused on AI and data abuse have this key feature,' Winters says. 'It's one of many reasons we support the bill.' The Federal Trade Commission would be the entity responsible for enforcing the ban against surveillance pricing, which would be treated as a violation of two existing FTC acts regarding 'unfair or deceptive acts or practices' and 'unfair methods of competition,' according to the proposed bill. Surveillance pricing may be more common than you think Last year, the Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation into surveillance pricing, hoping learn more about how companies were using personal data to change prices. The initial results, released in January, found that retailers were using everything from demographic and location information, to mouse movements and abandoned online shopping carts, to match prices to consumers. 'Retailers frequently use people's personal information to set targeted, tailored prices for goods and services—from a person's location and demographics, down to their mouse movements on a webpage,' FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said in a statement earlier this year. The new legislation would not impact higher prices that result from 'reasonable costs' the business takes on to serve different customers, or lower prices from discounts for teachers, veterans, seniors, students, or rewards program members. Lawmakers and advocates that support the bill suggest the ban could make a big difference for consumers struggling to find fair prices amid rising prices and economic uncertainty. 'The ability to compare prices, to rely on consistent prices, and to know why a price is being charged—this is what gives us the power to know if we are getting a fair deal,' Nidhi Hegde, executive director at the American Economic Liberties Project, said in a statement. 'Surveillance pricing destroys the social contract of the marketplace.'
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Major questions linger at position that will set tone for 49ers' defense in 2025
There was a lot of movement happening on the San Francisco 49ers' roster this offseason. The changes they underwent may be best described through the battle happening at linebacker in training camp. What has been a largely rock solid group for San Francisco since 2019 was actually a source of weakness on the 49ers' defense a season ago. Dre Greenlaw's Achilles injury in Super Bowl LVIII threw the group into flux and they never really recovered while trying to piece together a unit around him. With Greenlaw's exit in free agency, the 49ers elected not to sign an established veteran and will instead hold a competition for the two open starting jobs. How those battles shake out and the quality of players who emerge will set the floor for the 49ers' defense in 2025. Here are some of San Francisco's key questions at LB going into camp: Who were the 49ers starting LBs last year? Fred Warner started in the middle of the 49ers' front seven. His three-down running mate for most of the year was veteran De'Vondre Campbell. The third LB spot changed throughout the year with Dee Winters, Tatum Bethune and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles all getting time there. Winters led that group with 398 defensive snaps. Flannigan-Fowles played 150. Did the 49ers lose any key LBs? They sure did. Greenlaw leaving in free agency to join the Denver Broncos is arguably the biggest offseason loss for San Francisco. Flannigan-Fowles is also no longer with the club after spending his entire six-year career with the 49ers. His loss will be felt more on special teams than on the defensive side. Do the 49ers have any injuries at LB? There's nothing major to start camp. Warner is healthy after playing through an ankle fracture last year, and the rest of the group appears poised to hit the ground running when camp opens Thursday. Who are San Francisco's starting LBs? This is one of the top questions they'll answer in camp. Warner will take his usual Mike LB spot. The Will LB job is up for grabs between Winters and rookie third-round pick Nick Martin. The Sam LB job could go to a player like Bethune or former seventh-round pick Jalen Graham. Which LBs are frontrunners for roster spots? Warner will be on the roster, and Winters and Martin can both be penciled in. Bethune appears to be in line for one of those spots, and Luke Gifford has an inside track to the roster because of his special teams contributions. One name to watch will be Curtis Robinson. The team likes him and he plays a ton of special teams, but he's returning from a torn ACL and may not start the season on the active roster. We'll pencil him in to stay on the PUP list to start the year with a return at some point after Week 4. Which LBs are on the 49ers' roster bubble? There's a lot of uncertainty at this position, so we're going to put every LB who isn't Warner, Winters or Martin on the bubble. That includes Bethune and Gifford, along with Graham, Chazz Surratt and undrafted rookie Stone Blanton. More 49ers: Potential starter's injury shouldn't hinder key training camp battle for 49ers
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Tuam baby scandal ‘clearly points to criminality', says top lawyer in new call for Garda probe as excavation dig begins
INVESTIGATORS have been urged to treat the Tuam baby scandal as a 'criminal investigation', it has emerged. Leading human rights lawyer Kevin Winters - who represents campaigner Advertisement 2 Leading human rights lawyer Kevin Winters has raised concerns of 'criminality' at the site Credit: Alamy Mr Winters made the claim as excavation work at the former mother and baby home in Tuam, Co The project started 11 years after historian The Mr Winters said: 'We wrote to Gardai including local Gardai at Tuam urging them to treat the scandal as a criminal investigation. Advertisement Read more in Irish News 'Despite repeated requests from both Annie and ourselves they failed to assign Gardai Pulse investigation numbers until last month when she received confirmation they would issue. 'There could have been various forms of criminality at this site and with the advances in 'The industrial volumes of buried infants and the manner in which they met their fate clearly points to criminality. 'It will be momentous to see the assignment of PULSE record numbers as that crystallises formal criminal investigation status upon this historical human rights debacle.' Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Latest Mr Winters added: 'Equally important is the requirement that the Coroner in Galway upscales intervention after opening the case as far back as 2017. 'There needs to be an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Annie's siblings and all other unexplained deaths. Tuam mother and baby home: Catherine Corless's research revealed that 796 children died at St Mary's in Galway 'There was a suffocating toxicity about the historic Irish State-Catholic Ms Corrigan, whose brothers William and John died at the home, is also taking a civil case against the Bon Secours Sisters and other agencies of the State. Advertisement 'WON'T REST UNTIL JUSTICE' She described today's development as 'both welcome and difficult', adding: 'Whilst it's a relief to see work started on the site it's really only the latest stage in what is still a long road for all of us.' 'What happened at Tuam was criminal so there needs to be both Church and State accountability. 'I won't rest until I see justice for my two brothers who not only need a proper Christian burial but also the full rigours of the law, both domestic and international, applied.' We asked the Gardai for a comment on the claims but no one was available. Advertisement 2 There are no burial records for the almost 800 babies and infants who died at the home Credit: AFP - Getty
