Columbus
The Newport Plain Talk
Texas lands 4-star ATH recruit Nick Townsend
Four-star recruit Nick Townsend, the No. 3 athlete prospect in the nation in 247Sports' composite rankings for the Class of 2025, verbally committed to Texas on Monday. Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian landed Townsend over finalists Alabama, Texas A&M, Southern California and Arizona State. Townsend, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound tight end and defensive lineman, is rated the No. 114 recruit in the country and No. 21 in the state of Texas in the composite rankings. He caught 18 passes for 431 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games as a junior last season at Houston's Dekaney High School. He also rushed six times for two TDs. On defense, Townsend tallied 76 tackles with eight sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss as well as three fumble recoveries. He could play tight end, linebacker or defensive end at Texas. --Field Level Media
Fresno State's Jeff Tedford steps down for health reasons
Fresno State football coach Jeff Tedford announced Monday he is stepping down due to health concerns. Tedford, 62, compiled a 44-22 record over five seasons with the Bulldogs from 2017-19 and 2022-23. "It is with sad emotions that following my recent medical check-up, it is clear that due to health concerns, my family and I have made the decision to step aside as Fresno State's head coach and allow someone else to lead the football program," Tedford said in a statement. Assistant head coach and linebackers coach Tim Skipper will be the interim head coach for the 2024 season, which...
NCAA Football: Fresno State at San Diego State
Nov 25, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs head coach Jeff Tedford looks on during the first half against the San Diego State Aztecs at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Terrell Davis says he was unjustly removed from flight
Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis said he was handcuffed and removed from a plane Saturday following a false accusation by a flight attendant. Davis, who had a 2,000-yard rushing season and won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos, issued a statement with his version of events Monday on Instagram. Davis, 51, said he was on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Orange County (Calif.) on Saturday with his wife and three children when his son asked a flight attendant for a cup of ice. "The flight attendant either didn't hear or ignored his request and continued...
Reports: Commanders adding ex-Panthers GM to front office
The Washington Commanders are adding former Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer to their front office, multiple outlets reported Monday. Fitterer, 50, will serve as a "personnel executive" under general manager Adam Peters, per reports. Fitterer worked for the Seattle Seahawks from 2001-20, rising to vice president of football operations before being hired as Carolina's GM in 2021. He was fired in January after the team went 14-37 under his leadership. His tenure there will be remembered, in part, for the firing of two head coaches -- Matt Rhule and Frank Reich -- in less than a one-year span. Peters joined the Commanders from the San Francisco 49ers in January. The Commanders finished last season with a 4-13 record and selected Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall draft pick in April. --Field Level Media
Detroit adding Calvin Johnson to Pride of the Lions
The Detroit Lions are adding wide receiver Calvin Johnson to the Pride of the Lions, which celebrates the greatest players in franchise history. Johnson will become the 21st member of the group in a ceremony at halftime of their game on Sept. 30 against the Seattle Seahawks. The 38-year-old Johnson played for the Lions from 2007-15 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Estranged over financial issues immediately after his retirement, Johnson and the Lions have a much-improved relationship today. "We are thrilled to add Calvin Johnson Jr. to the Pride of the Lions," said...
LSU leans on depth to replace Heisman winner, first-rounders
LSU enters fall camp seeking replacements for Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and a pair of his wide receivers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, who all landed in the NFL as first-round picks in April. But the focus for head coach Brian Kelly isn't on the skill positions as the Tigers get back on the field after posting a 10-3 record (6-2 SEC) last season. "Being the No. 1 offense in the country was not good enough," Kelly said Monday at SEC Media Days in Dallas. "We need more balance. We've got to be able to complement each other. We're...
NCAA Football: ReliaQuest Bowl-Wisconsin at Louisiana State
Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) is congratulated by head coach Brian Kelly after being awarded the MVP award after beating the Wisconsin Badgers in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey 'focused on our 16'
Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey pushed for national standards for athletes for Name, Image and Likeness guidance and expects college football to lead the path forward to overcome challenges facing amateur sports. Sankey said college athletics will not "cede authority" to others to solve challenges facing the SEC and others but opened the door to continued collaboration with government authorities on matters related to NIL and gambling. "We're going to continue our dialogue with Congress," Sankey said. "Again, we're going to have to make decisions on our own. But Congress is a place that can help set national standards and...
NCAA Basketball: SEC Conference Tournament Championship-Auburn vs Florida
Mar 17, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; SEC commissioner Greg Sankey looks on before the SEC Tournament championship game between the Florida Gators and the Auburn Tigers at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Saban on 'other side' as SEC Media Days kick off
Arguably the most recognizable face around college football was sent back to his room for his media credential prior to the start of SEC Media Days in Dallas on Monday. Retired Alabama head coach Nick Saban, a member of ESPN's broadcast team on-site for the start of the event, said he's still adjusting to being on the "other side" before LSU coach Brian Kelly took the stage as the first coach in the interview hot seat. "It's a little different. I've never worn a credential in my life. I was always, for 17 years, able to get into SEC Media...
Report: Vikings WR Jordan Addison arrested on suspicion of DUI
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was arrested late Friday night in Los Angeles on suspicion of driving under the influence, the Los Angeles Daily News reported Sunday. Citing the arrest report, the Daily News reported the 22-year-old Addison, who played his final collegiate season at Southern California in 2022, was found asleep at the wheel of his vehicle, which was blocking the primary freeway offramp to Los Angeles International Airport, just after 11 p.m. A half hour later, California Highway Patrol officers arrested Addison following a DUI investigation. He was released from custody shortly after 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning,...
NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Las Vegas Raiders
Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) carries the ball against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Report: Bengals WR Tee Higgins won't sign extension by deadline
Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Tee Higgins will not agree to a contract extension by Monday's deadline, meaning he will be a highly coveted free agent next offseason, NFL Network reported Sunday. Higgins, 25, signed a $21.8 million franchise tag on June 17 and will play the 2024 season on that deal. Of the eight NFL players hit with the franchise tag this offseason, Higgins is the only one not to sign an extension. Higgins hasn't taken part in any offseason activities with the Bengals, including a three-day mandatory minicamp in June. He reportedly requested a trade in March. Higgins was limited by hamstring and rib injuries in 2023, forcing him to miss five games. Still, he caught 42 passes for 656 yards and scored five touchdowns. A second-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Clemson, Higgins has appeared in 58 regular-season games (53 starts) and caught 257 passes for 3,684 and 24 touchdowns. He has added 31 receptions for 457 yards and three scores in seven playoff games. --Field Level Media
Syndication: The Enquirer
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) gets his hand on a deep pass in the third quarter during a Week 17 NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Chiefs won, 25-17.
The Newport Plain Talk
19K+
Posts
13M+
Views
The Newport Plain Talk serves Cocke County and surrounding areas of East Tennessee.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.