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NBC Sports
16 minutes ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Chris Long speaks out on NFLPA hiding the collusion ruling
When it comes to the collusion ruling that came to light this week, no current players have said a word. Most former players have kept quiet, too. On Friday, one prominent former player had something to say. Chris Long, who entered as the second pick in the draft and exited as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (and won a couple of Super Bowls along the way), hosts the Green Light Podcast. His latest episode features Pablo Torre, who unearthed the 61-page ruling in the collusion case. In it, Long bluntly spoke his mind regarding the NFL Players Association's failure to use the partial victory as leverage, potentially in order to protect former NFLPA president J.C. Tretter from internal or external scrutiny over his criticism of quarterback Russell Wilson for failing to get a fully-guaranteed contract in 2022. 'After I say this, somebody's gonna reach out to me and say, 'Well, you don't know the whole story' or 'yada, yada, yada' or 'You might wanna take a beat,'' Long said. 'But if I found out that a major bargaining chip in us getting what we want is being buried to protect one person, I'd say, 'Get this guy the fuck out of here.' 'And I got plenty of money. You know, I made my money. But for me, the thing that makes me upset is — and I understand why owners don't want to give guaranteed money. You know, we're like rally cars, bro. We're all gonna break. And, you know, the product, you don't want to pay guaranteed money for a product that you know that is gonna break and be sitting on the sideline. I get all that from a business standpoint, but this is what we want, and we're not gonna get it, it seems like, ever, because now you've got a smoking gun that says, 'Hey, they did collude.' And the arbiter can't even — the arbiter's gaslighting us. The NFLPA is kind of looking the other way.' Long also addressed the obvious imbalance between the owners and the players. The owners will shut the game down without blinking. The players will not. 'We're never gonna have leverage,' Long said, 'because a year of our earning potential and playing potential is too valuable to the person trying to leverage that year in relation to owners, who are just doing business and will continue doing business and have been doing business before you were fucking in high school playing football. Like, to them, a year is nothing. To them, a game is nothing. We, as a population in pro sports, we are probably the people with the least leverage, because there's the most players on teams, it's harder to get everybody mobilized and on the same page.' Can it ever change? Said Long: 'The only way this changes, in my opinion, is if a high-profile quarterback . . . would have to say, 'I ain't fucking playing.'' Good luck with that. High-profile quarterbacks are usually far closer to company men than instigators. But if one of them would want to defy that reality, there would be no complaining from the tiny little corner of the Internet. Don't count on it happening. Long was in Las Vegas at the Sack Summit. When he asked current players for their reaction to the collusion ruling, they hadn't heard about it. That's the biggest problem. Player apathy. The owners use it against the players. More recently, their union has been using it against them, too.
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
After ankle surgery, what's next for Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Edey? Here's what one doctor says
The offseason injury bug found its way back to Memphis. While participating in an offseason training session last week, Grizzlies center Zach Edey sprained his left ankle. He recently had surgery to stabilize the ankle and will be reevaluated in four months. The injury is expected to keep the 7-foot-4 second-year player out for the beginning of the season, which starts Oct. 21. Advertisement The Grizzlies now must adjust to playing without Edey, who won't have the benefit of participating in a normal first NBA offseason. The Commercial Appeal spoke with Dr. Kenneth Jung, an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles, to help provide clarity on Edey's outlook. Jung has worked with the Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Kings, among other professional sports teams. Explaining Zach Edey's injury Edey's surgery was for an ankle sprain, a notion that can be perplexing. In theory, he could have healed from the sprain and been able to return to action before the NBA season began. Advertisement However, there's more to this injury. Surgery was elected to address the laxity in his left ankle, the Grizzlies said on June 10. In Jung's words, the ligaments in an ankle are like pieces of taffy. "Each time you roll it or sprain it, it can get a little more stretched out," he said. "It's not elastic. It doesn't go back to its original length . . . If it's stretched out, it doesn't necessarily in part have the same stability to the joint as it did before." Edey's surgery will stabilize the ankle and prevent constant sprains that could progressively get worse. Zach Edey's recovery process Jung said doctors will let the ankle heal before working on range of motion or anything else. Advertisement "You don't want it to heal stretched out," he said. "If it heals stretched out, then you might as well have not done anything." Jung estimates that it will take the ligament four to eight weeks to stabilize and heal before Edey can start rehab. Then there will be a gradual ramp-up toward basketball activity. Strength and confidence will be two of the biggest factors that determine how fast or methodical Edey's return will be after he's reevaluated in four months. "I'm sure that he's had episodes where he kind of just plants on it and it rolls," Jung said. "If he feels unsteady in that sense, then it's building up that confidence again where he can plant on it, push off and go. He's got to trust it again." Zach Edey's return These types of ankle surgeries are usually done in the offseason. While not the most common surgical procedure, there are NBA players who have had a similar surgery and returned to basketball. Advertisement Former Grizzlies guard Sam Merrill needed surgery in 2022 after enduring chronic ankle sprains. At the time, he called the surgery a "pretty rare" process. NBA veteran Taj Gibson had issues with his left ankle for multiple seasons before seeing a foot specialist and getting surgery in June 2015. He was able to return at the beginning of the following season and played in 73 games. Each player's body is different, but these examples show that Memphis can still factor Edey into its long-term plans. "(The surgeries) do very well," Jung said. "You hear ankle sprain, and it's not like Achilles rupture or ACL tear when the general public automatically associates it with surgery. In this case, you're doing surgery more for the chronic instability. Not necessarily because he had an ankle sprain." Advertisement Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Zach Edey injury: Doctor explains Grizzlies center's ankle surgery
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Memphis Grizzlies NBA Summer League schedule 2025: Games, times, TV in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas
The NBA has released the full schedule for the Memphis Grizzlies and all teams for the 2025 Las Vegas Summer League games. Scheduling for the Grizzlies' Salt Lake City Summer League games already had been announced. Advertisement The Grizzlies will play four games in Las Vegas, starting on July 11, before having a chance to advance to the semifinals and championship game. Summer league play in Vegas runs July 10-20. Memphis will play the Boston Celtics on July 11; Portland Trail Blazers on July 12; Golden State Warriors on July 15; and Atlanta Hawks on July 17. All Las Vegas games will be televised. As usual, Memphis will begin its run in Utah at the Salt Lake City Summer League with three other teams. The Grizzlies will play three games in Utah before heading to Las Vegas. The games in Utah won't count against their tournament record for Las Vegas. The Grizzlies play the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on July 5; Utah Jazz on July 7; and Philadelphia 76ers on July 8. Advertisement Summer league will be the first chance Grizzlies fans can see 2025 draft picks Cedric Coward, Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack. Coward, a first-round pick at No. 11 overall, is still "TBD" for summer league due to a shoulder injury from last season, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman said. Coward said he feels healthy, but the Grizzlies want to see him practicing with contact before being cleared for games. Memphis hasn't announced its summer league team, but there are several names from the current roster who could be included. Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson are among the current players who have expressed interest in playing summer league games. Cam Spencer also could be included after playing sparingly this past season. Advertisement Former first-round pick Zach Edey had hoped to play in summer league, but his ankle injury will keep him out. Here is the full Grizzlies summer league schedule. Full Grizzlies Las Vegas, Salt Lake City Summer League schedule All times Central Salt Lake City July 5: Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder (6 p.m.) July 7: Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz (8 p.m.) July 8: Grizzlies vs. Philadelphia 76ers (6 p.m.) Las Vegas July 11: Grizzlies vs. Celtics (3 p.m., NBATV) July 12: Grizzlies vs. Blazers (9:30 p.m., ESPN2) July 15: Grizzlies vs. Warriors (9:30 p.m., ESPN+) July 17: Grizzlies vs. Hawks (5 p.m., NBATV) Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies Las Vegas NBA Summer League schedule 2025 released
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Memphis Grizzlies draft West Virginia's Javon Small at No. 48 overall in 2025 NBA Draft
The Memphis Grizzlies took Javon Small with the 48th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on June 26. Small, a guard out of West Virginia, joins No. 11 overall pick Cedric Coward as players acquired in the draft this year by the Grizzlies. Advertisement Small may be listed at 6-foot-2, but he's one of the most athletic guards in the draft. He has a vertical of more than 40 inches and put together a productive college career. In four collegiate seasons at three schools, Small averaged at least 15 points and four assists three times. He averaged 18.6 points and 5.6 assists while shooting 35.3% on 3-pointers as a senior. Small spent his first two seasons at East Carolina. He transferred to Oklahoma State and finished his career at West Virginia. With Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Anthony backing up Ja Morant, the Grizzlies have established depth at point guard, but Small's ability to create his own shot and get teammates involved should increase the competition. Advertisement Adding Small and Coward gives the Grizzlies two rookies who will add athleticism and defensive potential to the perimeter. Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies pick WVU's Javon Small at No. 48 in 2025 NBA Draft
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Memphis Grizzlies draft grades for Cedric Coward, Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack
The Memphis Grizzlies did exactly what they set out to accomplish in the 2025 NBA draft. Memphis needed help on the wing, and it wanted players who could provide an edge on defense after the usually strong Grizzlies defense looked below average in the second half of this season. Advertisement The Grizzlies acquired forward Cedric Coward, plus guards Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack in the 2025 NBA draft to help with those issues. This class is mostly about a shift in identity for the Grizzlies. Last season, Memphis prioritized adding a big man after trading Steven Adams and more 3-point shooting. Those problems were addressed with what turned out to be a strong three-man draft class in Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer. Here are grades for each Grizzlies selection from the 2025 NBA draft. Cedric Coward, No. 11 overall (first round) Cedric Coward is the prize possession of the draft class for Memphis. The Grizzlies traded up to No. 11 from the 16th pick to acquire the 6-foot-6 forward. Advertisement Coward has a combination of production and strong physical traits that are enticing. He averaged 17.7 points in six games at Washington State as a junior. He shot 38.8% on 3-pointers and 72% on shots inside the 3-point line in three years combined at Eastern Washington and Washington State. Oh, he also has a 7-2.5 wingspan and a 38-inch vertical. These traits are enticing, but the six games played at Washington State can be viewed as a concern. Coward is coming off a shoulder injury, and he didn't play much high major basketball. There is risk to the pick, but the Grizzlies needed a wing with high upside, and Coward has that on both ends with his shooting, scoring and defensive potential. Grade: A Javon Small, No. 48 overall (second round) Memphis selected Javon Small in the second round out of West Virginia to add in its guard rotation. Small stands at 6-2, but he's a big-time athlete who had strong production at multiple high major college programs. Advertisement Small averaged at least 15 points and four assists per game in each of his last three seasons at East Carolina, Oklahoma State and West Virginia. He also provided a defensive edge, finishing his college career with 103 steals in 97 games. It's no secret that Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo has had success with twitchy point guards who can get to the rim. Small fits that bill. Overall, Small is a solid prospect, but it's hard to see his fit in Memphis. The Grizzlies have Ja Morant and Scotty Pippen Jr. as a solid tandem of point guards, plus they recently acquired Cole Anthony. Maybe all three of those point guards won't be on the roster when the season starts, and then the Small fit as a two-way developing option would make more sense. Advertisement Small has ability as a scorer, but he shot 35% on 3-pointers in college. Considering that he will be somewhat undersized, Small's shooting and ability to score around the basket will need to improve for this pick to be a hit. Grade: C Jahmai Mashack, No. 59 overall (second round) This pick is a simple one to evaluate. Mashack wasn't drafted because of any particular area of his offensive game. This choice is all about defense. Mashack was arguably college basketball's most disruptive perimeter defender at Tennessee, and it's a skill that should quickly translate to the NBA. His ability to navigate screens defensively and guard bigger players as a 6-4 guard is unique. Advertisement His overall longevity will depend on offensive progression as a shooter. NBA teams will challenge Mashack to knock down open shots. If he can deliver, the Grizzlies hit a home run with the last pick in the draft. Mashack shot 34.3% on 3-pointers in college, so there's a lot of room for growth. However, his defensive potential gives him enough positional versatility to stick around and make an impact. Grade: B Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies 2025 NBA draft grades for Cedric Coward, others
