All posts tagged: NFL

Trailblazer Traore’s draft pick a big win for NFL Academy

Trailblazer Traore’s draft pick a big win for NFL Academy

Published by Sam Flores

LONDON, May 1 : When Seydou Traore’s name was called by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the NFL Draft last week, it was music to the ears of Kris Durham, the former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver who now heads the UK-based NFL Academy. South London-raised Traore was one of the original intake at the Academy in 2019 and is proof that an unconventional pathway to the NFL is possible. “Seydou’s paved a path for the future generations and the generations after that,” Durham told Reuters. The Academy was created to unearth and polish international talent ready to be fed into the American college system and for Traore, a promising soccer goalkeeper, it was a natural fit. After moving to the Clearwater Academy in Florida for his final school year, he carved out an impressive college football career as a tight end, firstly with Arkansas State and then the Mississippi State Bulldogs where last season he made 35 receptions and five touchdowns. Traore admits it was a surreal moment when he was selected …

Rams 2026 NFL draft: A close look at their five picks

Rams 2026 NFL draft: A close look at their five picks

Published by Sam Flores

p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> Miami wide receiver CJ Daniels celebrates during the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State in December. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images) 6-2, 202 pounds | Miami | Round 6, Pick 197 Notable: Daniels played six seasons of college football, four at Liberty, one at Louisiana State and last season at Miami. During his career, he caught 198 passes for 2,996 yards and 28 touchdowns. Last season: Daniels caught 50 passes for 557 yards and seven touchdowns for the Hurricanes. Why the Rams drafted him: Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are star receivers, but the Rams need another weapon for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Daniels joins a position group that also includes Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith and Konata Mumpfield. The Rams traded up to pick Daniels, sending their Nos. 207, 251 and 252 picks to the Philadelphia Eagles for No. 197. Source link

Processing Speed: The NFL Draft’s Hardest-to-Measure Skill

Processing Speed: The NFL Draft’s Hardest-to-Measure Skill

Published by Jenni Sidey

Like many of my patients, I have always dreamed of being a professional athlete. That dream was never realistic for me, and many decades into my life, any athletic feat is a cause for celebration. But I am still an avid sports fan, and I am particularly interested in understanding what makes for a great player. And one of my favorite events is the NFL draft, where evaluations of future performance often ride on intangible skills that neuropsychologists measure in our work. Obviously, a basic requirement is the physical component of sports. You will never be an NFL quarterback without being able to throw a football a long way, accurately, with pace. You will never play in the NBA without speed, quickness, and the ability to shoot. We are now in the season of the NFL Draft. The NBA Draft follows at the end of June. I listen to dozens of podcasts about these drafts, and I keep noticing that the skill scouts praise in their best prospects is the one that matters just as …

Why Pittsburgh is a natural fit to host the 2026 NFL draft : NPR

Why Pittsburgh is a natural fit to host the 2026 NFL draft : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

The North Shore of the Allegheny River outside Acrisure Stadium on Tuesday, in Pittsburgh. Jeff Swensen for NPR hide caption toggle caption Jeff Swensen for NPR PITTSBURGH — Amir Grigsby is standing on North Shore Drive, just blocks from the Steelers’ home stadium, where Pittsburgh is hosting this year’s NFL draft. He’s talking fervently about how the Steel Curtain dominated the NFL “back in the day.” He’s referring to the fearsome Steelers defense of the 1970s, which led the team to victory in four Super Bowls, launching one of the greatest American sports dynasties. Grigsby wasn’t born yet — he’s only 22. But as a fifth-generation Pittsburgher, he was raised on those stories of the city’s winning spirit. “The need to be great is very prominent in Pittsburgh,” he said. Amir Grigsby talks about his love for Pittsburgh sports outside Acrisure Stadium. Jeff Swensen for NPR hide caption toggle caption Jeff Swensen for NPR The city expects between 500,000 and 700,000 fans to attend the draft, or about double Pittsburgh’s population. During the three-day event …

NFL Draft 2026 order: Full list of picks for every team

NFL Draft 2026 order: Full list of picks for every team

Published by Daniella Wilson

The Las Vegas Raiders will be first on the clock when the NFL Draft 2026 begins – and their plans for the No.1 pick are hardly a secret. It would be a huge shock if the California franchise didn’t take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, who many consider to be a top prospect at the position, first off the board. The Draft offers all 32 NFL teams the chance to snap up the best players in the college game, with seven rounds to bolster their rosters with future talent. The order is decided by last season’s standings and serves as a balancing act to keep the NFL competitive. The team with the worst record, the Raiders, goes first in each round and the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks pick last – but trades ahead of time and on the night mean things can and will change as the Draft wears on. While Mendoza looks nailed on to be the first pick in 2026, what unfolds after is anyone’s guess. Radio Times brings you all the details …

Pittsburgh Shows Off New Public Art Projects in Advance of NFL Draft

Pittsburgh Shows Off New Public Art Projects in Advance of NFL Draft

Published by Jenni Sidey

The three-day NFL draft, hosted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, kicks off in the Steel City on Thursday. The main events will take place downtown: at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore and Point State Park, where Pittsburgh’s famous three rivers meet. The city is expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors—by some estimates, far more than the population of the city itself. The draft is taking over the city to such a degree that roads downtown have preemptively closed and the public schools have switched to three days of asynchronous remote learning. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has also invested in spiffing up some of the empty storefronts and underwhelming blocks downtown with public art projects by local artists. There are over 35 projects, ranging from light installations to murals to window displays, currently on view downtown. Check out some of the newer projects that have been installed this year. Joshua Challen Ice, Aurora V2 Image Credit: Photo Benjamin Filio/Courtesy Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership This is one of Ice’s two installations at 144 Smithfield Street, the former home …

NFL Draft 2026 on TV | Free UK coverage and live stream

NFL Draft 2026 on TV | Free UK coverage and live stream

Published by Daniella Wilson

The NFL Draft returns this week for its 2026 edition – with the future stars of the gridiron set to discover their league landing spots. Once a year, all 32 franchises get their chance to recruit the best players from the college game in a bid to bolster their roster and build for the future. It is the result of years of scouting, thousands of hours of tape, countless mock drafts, and weeks of pro-days, work-outs, and player interviews. Dreams will be realised and, often, there is drama to match the events of the postseason. The Tennessee Titans used the 2025 first pick on Miami QB Cam Ward. This year, the Las Vegas Raiders will start us off and are expected to go for Indiana passer Fernando Mendoza. There will be extensive coverage across all three days for viewers this side of the Atlantic – and the good news is that they can tune in for free this year. Radio Times brings you all the details about how to watch the NFL Draft 2026 in …

NFL reporter fired after fierce post mocking Dianna Russini’s resignation from The Athletic

NFL reporter fired after fierce post mocking Dianna Russini’s resignation from The Athletic

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter USA Today NFL reporter Crissy Froyd has been fired after publicly celebrating the resignation of Dianna Russini from The Athletic. Russini, 43, who worked as a senior NFL insider for the sports outlet, announced Tuesday that she was stepping down from her position after pictures of her holding hands with New England Patriots’ head coach, Mike Vrabel, 50, were published. Both individuals — who are married — have shared statements denying any wrongdoing. In the wake of her resignation, Froyd, a USA Today Sports contractor, slammed Russini on X. “I’m sure you were told to submit this or that you’d get fired instead,” Froyd wrote. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. We know who you really are and what you’ve been up to for years. It does so much detriment to women in sports who have done things …

Likelihood of NFL Replacement Refs Enters New Stage With Background Checks, Physicals

Likelihood of NFL Replacement Refs Enters New Stage With Background Checks, Physicals

Published by Sam Flores

The NFL’s process of hiring replacement referees has reached another stage, according to a memo sent to teams. Several replacement officials have completed hiring steps including background checks and will soon progress to undergoing physical exams, per a memo sent to teams on Wednesday that was obtained by The Associated Press. Training sessions with NFL officiating supervisors would then begin as early as next month. The league has undertaken these steps because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press last month. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the conversations are private. The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association is set to expire on May 31. NFL senior vice president of officiating Perry Fewell informed head coaches and general managers in the memo that teams will receive further information in the coming weeks about when replacement refs would be able to work offseason workout programs and minicamps, which begin in June. The league and the union have been negotiating …

NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic over photos with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel: ‘I refuse to lend it further oxygen’

NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic over photos with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel: ‘I refuse to lend it further oxygen’

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from her role at The Athletic after photos emerged last week of her holding hands and hugging New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a luxury resort in Arizona. Russini, 43, and Vrabel, 50 — who are both married — shared statements denying any wrongdoing hours after the images were published by Page Six. The photos were reportedly taken March 28 at the Ambiente hotel in Sedona. On Saturday, The New York Times, which acquired The Athletic as its sports outlet in 2022, confirmed that the nature of Russini’s relationship with Vrabel and her coverage were being reviewed. The Athletic’s editorial guidelines require that their journalists avoid any activities that pose a conflict of interest or the appearance …