Ms Suu Kyi was told she faces fresh charges a month after she was detained during a military coup.
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Sunday, February 28, 2021
'It's about time': Director Zhao makes history
Chloe Zhao, director of Nomadland, is hailed as a "huge inspiration for young Asian girls".
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In pictures: Globes stars still shine without red carpet
Images from the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony split between Los Angeles and New York.
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Hyunjin: K-pop star suspended for school bullying sparks debate
The singer of South Korean boy band Stray Kids is accused of being verbally abusive while in middle school.
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New on SI: Irv Cross, Former NFL Pro Bowl Player and Broadcaster, Dies at 81
Cross was selected to two Pro Bowls as a player and was a commentator with CBS for 23 years.
Former NFL cornerback and legendary commentator Irv Cross passed away at age 81, CBS Sports announced on Sunday. Cross was a commentator with CBS from 1971 to 1994.
"He was a true gentleman and trailblazer in the sports television industry and will be remembered for his accomplishments and the paths he paved for those who followed," Sean McManus, the chairman of CBS Sports, said in a statement.
Cross was drafted by the Eagles in 1961 from Northwestern and appeared in Pro Bowls in both 1964 and 1965. He was traded to the Rams in 1966 but he would eventually return to the Eagles in 1969, retiring that same year.
He was with CBS for 23 years, 14 of them as an analyst on "The NFL Today," and was the first Black recipient of the Pete Rozelle Award. The award was given to a member of the media by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for "longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football."
Cross died near his home in Roseville, Minnesota, according to the Eagles. In the release, the Eagles said flowers and donations could be sent in Cross's honor to the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation or the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
Golden Globe Awards 2021: Virtual ceremony gets under way
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are hosting the year's first major film and TV awards ceremony.
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Cape Town: Pictures of how Muslim worship helps quell South African ganglands
A team of Islamic scholars in South Africa is on a mission to some dangerous and drug-infested areas.
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Coronavirus: The misleading claims about an Indian remedy
A traditional herbal remedy said to "cure" Covid has resurfaced, but there's no evidence it works.
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Sir Kazuo Ishiguro warns of young authors self-censoring out of 'fear'
Writers may be self-censoring because they don't want to be "cancelled", author Kazuo Ishiguro says.
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Yemen: The nine-year-old war-zone school teacher
Ahmed, blind since birth, stands in for teachers who don't make it in to their ruined school in Yemen.
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Why this teen set up a prize-winning fake cosmetics shop
Polish teenager Krystyna Paszko's idea won an EU prize - she tells the BBC the story behind it.
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The midwives braving armed gangs in Colombia
A group of Afro-Colombian women use their skills to help women give birth in areas run by gangs.
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Afghanistan: A year of violence on the road to peace
On the anniversary of the US-Taliban deal, Afghanistan finds itself in a precarious state.
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Iran nuclear deal: Tehran rules out informal talks on reviving accord
Tehran insists the US must lift all of its unilateral sanctions before talks can resume.
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Denver family wows neighbourhood with snow art
The Mosley family spent 10 hours creating this colourful snake sculpture out of snow.
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New on SI: Josh Gordon Teams Up With Johnny Manziel in Startup Football League
The pair of former Cleveland Browns will team up once again in the Fan Controlled Football league.
Former NFL wide receiver Josh Gordon has joined the Fan Controlled Football league's
Zappers, and he'll have a familiar face throwing him the ball in the coming weeks.Gordon will be joined by former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel upon signing with the Zappers. Manziel joined the new startup league in December after stints in the Alliance of American Football as well as the Canadian Football League.
Gordon last played in the NFL in 2019. He was conditionally reinstated by the NFL in December 2020 after a year-long suspension for violating its substance abuse policy, but he was placed on the commissioner's exempt list shortly thereafter. Gordon has been suspended six times since 2013, logging stints with the Browns and Patriots during his time on the field.
Manziel and Gordon briefly intersected in Cleveland in 2014 as Gordon played the final five games of the season. Manziel logged just eight starts in two seasons with the Browns, throwing seven touchdowns and five interceptions in 2015 as Gordon served a year-long suspension. Gordon reached the Pro Bowl in 2013, leading the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards.
Perhaps the pair of former teammates can find success together in the FCF. The Atlanta-based league broadcasts all games on Twitch, where fans can call plays and engage with coaches and team owners.
Inter Milan owners close Chinese side Jiangsu
Chinese Super League champions Jiangsu FC - who have the same owners as Inter Milan - "cease operations".
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Myanmar coup: Death toll rises as police crack down on protesters
Police have fired on protesters in Myanmar, on the deadliest day since rallies against the country's coup began.
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CPAC: Trump to return to political stage at conservative conference
The former US president will address the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida.
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Doctor joins Zoom court hearing while operating on patient
Medical officials in California say they will investigate surgeon Scott Green.
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Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: Blinken says US concerned about atrocities
Human rights violations have taken place in Tigray region, Secretary of State Antony Blinken says.
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Hong Kong charges 47 activists in largest use yet of new security law
The pro-democracy figures are accused of "subversion" under the controversial security legislation.
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Myanmar coup: Casualties rise as police step up crackdown
Police fire live rounds, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse anti-coup rallies in several cities.
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Saturday, February 27, 2021
Dominican Republic announces plans for Haiti border fence
The 380km barrier will curb the flow of illegal migrants, drugs and stolen vehicles, the president says.
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New on SI: Mike Tomlin Critical of NFL's Lack of Black Head Coaches
Tomlin is one of three Black head coaches in the NFL. He addressed Eric Bieniemy not landing a head coaching job yet "a real head-scratcher."
A week after addressing the issue on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin discussed the NFL's lack of Black head coaches in a follow-up interview with
Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, expressing his concern about the lack of progress in Black coaches getting hired for open jobs.“I don’t have an answer for you as to how to make it better,” Tomlin said. “The optimist in me says things will get better, but there’s been no evidence in the recent cycles to back that up. Without evidence, all we have is hope. We just haven’t been able to move the needle.”
Tomlin specifically addressed Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who has not followed in the paths of previous offensive coordinators under Andy Reid that have gone on to become head coaches. That Bieniemy has yet to matriculate to the next level is, to Tomlin, a "real head-scratcher."
“Every offensive coordinator Andy Reid has had in the last 20 years got a head job," Tomlin said. "One of those guys, Brad Childress, hired me in Minnesota in 2006. Now, Andy has the best offense he’s ever had and (Bieniemy) can’t get a job?”
Tomlin also addressed the issue of him not having a Black coordinator during his 14-year helm with the Steelers. Last offseason, he interviewed Pep Hamilton for his vacant offensive coordinator position but ended up promoting quarterbacks coach Matt Canada instead.
“I always do what is best for our organization,” Tomlin said. “I believe in hiring from within in most cases. ... I’m highly sensitive to it, but I don’t regret (not having a Black coordinator). I’ve had some good (Black) coaches leave for other jobs. Ray Horton. Scottie Montgomery went back to college. Kirby Wilson was hurt in that house fire.”
Tomlin is one of three Black head coaches in the NFL, along with Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins and David Culley of the Houston Texans.
New York Governor Cuomo faces fresh claims of sexual harassment
New York's governor denies wrongdoing and orders an external inquiry after claims by a second ex-aide.
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Cryptocurrencies: Why Nigeria is a global leader in Bitcoin trade
A devaluing currency and hard economic conditions make cryptocurrencies attractive despite the risks.
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Has China lifted 100 million people out of poverty?
President Xi says China has achieved his poverty reduction pledge - but has it?
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Covid: How this Indian firm is vaccinating the world
The Serum Institute of India isn't a household name, but it's the world's largest vaccine maker.
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Covid vaccine: Germany urged to back AstraZeneca jab for over-65s
A senior German immunologist tells the BBC that his country should reverse its decision on the jab.
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Golden Globe Awards 2021: Stars prepare for virtual ceremony
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler return to host the year's first major film and TV awards ceremony on Sunday.
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The Florida coffee shop where Trump is king
A look inside a "liberal-free zone" and meeting spot for people on the political right.
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Maids in Lebanon: 'My employer treats me like a slave'
Lucy's dream of working in the Middle East turned into a nightmare of abuse. She's not the only one.
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El Salvador polls: More power for President Nayib Bukele?
While the election is for the legislative assembly, it is seen as a key test for President Bukele.
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New on SI: Mayor of New Orleans Recruits Russell Wilson and Ciara to the Saints
Wilson has listed the Saints as one of four teams he'd consider being traded to.
Nobody can ever say that the mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, isn't a woman of the people.
Despite the fact that
Seahawks quarterback hasn't officially requested a trade, Cantrell posted a video on Twitter not only recruiting Wilson to the Saints but also his wife, pop singer Ciara.With Ciara's song "Level Up" playing in the background, Cantrell made her case for why Wilson should make his way to the Big Easy.
"I've heard the rumors now, and I want to make sure that you understand that the city of New Orleans is a place for you and your beautiful family," Cantrell said. "I know, Mr. Wilson, that you will be a great addition to the New Orleans Saints, and more importantly, I can see us in that number winning that Super Bowl championship once again."
Cantrell also said she could see Ciara on the main stage of the annual Essence Festival that is held in New Orleans.
After rumors of Wilson demanding a trade from the Seahawks began to swirl earlier this week, Wilson's agent Mark Rogers told ESPN that Wilson informed the team he wants to remain in Seattle. However, if the team did entertain trading him, he'd only consider the Saints, Cowboys, Raiders and Bears.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is still on the roster.
Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine: FDA approves single-shot jab
The US is the first country in the world to approve the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
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Covid-19: Belgium prisoners quarantined after virus outbreak
All inmates at Namur prison have been confined to their cells amid the virus outbreak, officials say.
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Pompeii: Archaeologists unveil ceremonial chariot discovery
The ornate discovery was used during festivities and parades almost 2,000 years ago, experts say.
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Jamal Khashoggi: How intelligence report could dent US-Saudi ties for years
The release of the US intelligence probe into the Khashoggi murder deepens diplomatic difficulties.
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LeBron vs Zlatan: Who won the politics bout?
"I will never shut up," James tells Ibrahimovic in political activism spat.
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Indian man killed by his own rooster during cockfight
The man had tried to stop the bird escaping when he was struck in the groin by a knife on the animal's leg.
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Myanmar coup: Security forces intensify protest crackdown
Unconfirmed local reports suggest a woman was shot during Saturday's demonstrations.
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Venice: Low tides leave canals dry
In stark contrast to floods in December, some of the city's boats and gondolas are beached.
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Nigeria kidnappings: Hunt for 300 girls as second abducted school group freed
Some 317 girls remain missing in Zamfara state, but 42 people abducted in Niger state are freed.
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Friday, February 26, 2021
Coronavirus: Biden's $1.9tn Covid relief bill passes House vote
The coronavirus aid plan passes despite total Republican opposition, but must now go to the Senate.
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Tiger Woods car crash: Golfer 'in good spirits' after latest treatment
The golfer received successful "follow-up procedures" following Tuesday's serious car crash in LA.
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Haiti prison escape: Hundreds of inmates flee from Croix-des-Bouquets jail
The prison's director is among 25 people killed in the mass escape near the capital, Port-au-Prince.
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Mayday: How the White Helmets and James Le Mesurier got pulled into a deadly battle for truth
James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Istanbul in 2019 with a sense that Syrian and Russian disinformation had destroyed his reputation.
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The Dissident: Jamal Khashoggi documentary points finger at Saudi Arabia's crown prince
The Dissident explores what happened to the Saudi journalist and who might have ordered his murder.
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Mourning the sisters killed as they taught handicrafts
Ayesha and Irshad were breadwinners in a former Pakistani tribal area where militancy is rising again.
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Monsters, mania and the unstoppable march of Pokémon
Several waves of Pokémania have swept the globe, keeping this lucrative franchise relevant for 25 years.
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John F Kennedy: When the US president met Africa's independence heroes
A photo archive reveals John F Kennedy's efforts to court African leaders in the post-colonial era.
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Week in pictures: 20-26 February 2021
A selection of striking images taken around the world this week.
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Bitcoin energy use 'bigger than most countries'
Could the cryptocurrency's huge electricity consumption also sink it?
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Ros Atkins on... Is Facebook too powerful?
Ros Atkins looks at the consequences of Facebook's power on events in Myanmar, Washington DC and Australia.
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New on SI: No Surprise at All That ESPN Would Go With Mike Greenberg to Host NFL Draft: TRAINA THOUGHTS
ESPN continues to make Mike Greenberg the face of the network.
1. On the latest episode of the SI Media Podcast, during a conversation about Jim Nantz’s current negotiations with CBS, The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis made the point that viewers don’t watch sports just because of the announcers.
Fans are going to watch NFL games, the NCAA Tournament, the NBA playoffs, etc., no matter who is calling the action. This is true for the NFL Draft as well.
So with ESPN needing a host for this year’s draft after parting ways with Trey Wingo, t
he network reportedly has turned to Mike Greenberg.You’d think the network would want to use someone who has a connection to the NFL or college football, but that isn’t nearly as important as the opportunity for cross-promotion that Greenberg provides.
The fact is, Greenberg has sort of become the face of ESPN. I’m not sure there’s another employee the Worldwide Leader values more outside of maybe Stephen A. Smith.
ESPN broke up a successful morning radio show (Mike & Mike) so they could give Greenberg his own morning show (Get Up) and then ended up giving Greenberg his own radio show (Greeny) in addition to the morning show.
So it’s not a shock that ESPN would go out of its way to give the public even more Mike Greenberg. (If Greenberg isn’t your cup of tea, however, you can always watch the draft on ABC where Rece Davis will anchor the coverage.)
Now this is the part where I’m supposed to get snarky and say that ESPN is giving us more Mike Greenberg even though no one has ever asked for more Mike Greenberg. But that’s mean. I don’t want to be mean. I’m sure Mike Greenberg is a very nice guy. And it’s not like he’s bad at his job.
I get why ESPN loves him. He’ll be a professional; he won’t say or do anything controversial or memorable and he’ll keep the NFL happy. Those are the most important things for ESPN. Personally, I’d prefer someone who is somewhat entertaining, but like Curtis said, people tune in for the event, not the person calling the event.
2. I love this Inside the NBA bit in which Shaq gets quizzed on the first names of NBA players.
3. Since there has been a lot of talk this week about changing the NBA logo, I'd like to throw my two cents in and say that THIS should be the NBA logo.
4. Now that Russell Wilson has made it known that he would accept a trade to the Bears, a couple of Chicago players are going into recruitment mode.
5. Mike Tyson is very unhappy that Hulu has made an unauthorized documentary about him, so he put out a statement on Instagram asking people not to watch it, which will now lead to even more people watching it.
6. The latest Sports Illustrated Media Podcast features two interviews. First up is Bryan Curtis, Editor-At-Large for The Ringer.
Curtis talks about a recent article he wrote that connects Brent Musburger's firing from CBS in 1990, which elevated Jim Nantz as the network's lead voice, to Nantz's current contract situation with CBS. Curtis also discusses the NFL asking networks for a 100% rights fee increase on their TV deals, why announcers don't matter as much as we think and much more.
Following Curtis, Alan Sepinwall, the chief TV critic for Rolling Stone joins the podcast to share some television recommendations for listeners. In addition, Sepinwall and Traina discuss Your Honor, Ted Lasso, Young Rock and Schitt's Creek. Sepinwall also shares his thoughts on this week's Golden Globe Awards and gives us his personal picks for some of the categories. Lastly, Sepinwall, who wrote the book, The Sopranos Sessions, talks about how many people watched the smash HBO show for the first time during the pandemic
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Stitcher.
You can also watch the SI Media Podcast on YouTube.
7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: If you can deal with Jimmy Fallon constantly throwing his body around and laughing in such a ridiculously exaggerated manner, this clip of Eddie Murphy imitating famous people and telling stories is worth your time.
Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Stitcher. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter and Instagram.
Japan gender equality minister opposes change on separate spouse surnames
Japan's Tamayo Marukawa signs a document opposing a move for separate surnames for married couples.
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New on SI: Former Washington Football Team Employees Ask NFL to Release Report Findings
In July, the NFL took over the investigation into allegations of workplace sexual harassment within the Washington Football Team.
Twenty former Washington Football Team employees asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday to release the final report of an independent investigation into the organization’s conduct when it’s completed.
Owner Dan Snyder hired lawyer Beth Wilkinson to conduct an independent investigation in July after several female former employees
made allegations of workplace sexual harassment. The NFL in July took over control of the investigation.“There must be accountability for the actions we believe are detailed in this report,” the employees wrote in their letter to Goodell. “But there cannot be accountability without transparency. And there cannot be healing for any of us without understanding the truth, which will provide confirmation that we are not alone, and that our allegations are supported by others.”
A spokesman said the NFL had not yet received the final report. Wilkinson declined to comment on the status of the investigation, referring comment to the league office.
“If the NFL does not yet have the report, it should let us know when it expects to receive it and commit to making it public (at) once at that time,” said Lisa Banks, one of the lawyers representing 40 former team employees.
Goodell said at his pre-Super Bowl virtual news conference that Washington “has made a lot of changes already.” He said findings from Wilkinson’s report would be shared with the team “and others.”
“They asked for this type of review,” Goodell said Feb. 4. “They asked for the recommendations on this. Dan and Tanya (Snyder) are going to be done making those changes for the football club. ... It’s good to see that. But I expect that Beth’s recommendations will be something that will be added to that.”
Washington hired Jason Wright as team president last summer and is in the midst of an internal review of all gameday operations.
Seventeen former employees signed the letter to Goodell by name and three others anonymously. They asked for identities and other private information to be redacted but for the league to make the results of the investigation available to the public.
“Not to do so here would be a betrayal of the many women who courageously came forward to provide vital information to assist with the NFL investigation,” Banks and fellow attorney Debra Katz wrote in another letter to Goodell dated Thursday. “For its own credibility, it is crucial that the NFL release the investigative report, while also protecting from disclosure any witnesses who requested confidentiality. Without public scrutiny of the report’s findings, our clients and the public at large will not be able to trust the NFL to police this type of behavior and act decisively to penalize those in its ranks, including owners, who allow women to be exploited and mistreated.”
New on SI: 2021 NFL Draft: Fantasy Rookie Report - Tight Ends
Senior fantasy analyst Michael Fabiano breaks down the incoming rookie tight ends on-field & fantasy potential
Fabiano's Fantasy Rookie Reports
If there’s a statistical "ugly duckling" among rookie offensive skill positions, there's no doubt it's the tight ends. Typically, they don’t make much of a fantasy impact. Case in point: The 2020 class didn’t have a single player who scored more than 62 points. Dating back to 2016, the lone rookie player at the position to score more than 130 fantasy points is Evan Engram. He scored nearly 174 points back in 2017.
Since 2000, we’ve seen just three tight ends (including Engram) score more than 150 points in their rookie campaigns. That’s not good. What’s more, the top-10 point producers at the position during that time include guys like John Carlson, Timothy Wright, Jermaine Gresham, and Tony Moeaki. That’s not exactly an elite list.
The 2021 class of tight ends isn’t deep and likely won’t curb this trend outside of one potential star: Kyle Pitts. So, for those fans looking to get a head start on doing their due diligence at the position, here’s my (short) look at the top tight ends for 2021.
Note: Age listed is at the start of the 2021 NFL season.
Kyle Pitts, Florida
- 20 years old, 6-foot-6, 246 pounds
2020 Stats: (8 games) 43 receptions, 770 yards, 17.9 YPC, 12 touchdowns
Pitts is considered one of the best tight end prospects to come out of college in the last decade or more. The word “generational” is often used to describe him, and comparisons to Tony Gonzalez and Travis Kelce aren’t uncommon. In his final season at Florida, Pitts led all tight ends with 770 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
A big target at 6-foot-6 and 246 pounds, Pitts is a wide receiver in a tight end’s body. He’s athletic, possesses good route-running skills and hands for a player of his size. He’s a versatile receiver too, lining up in-line, H-back, inside the slot, and outside. Pitts was so good in college that he earned a 96.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. That’s the best grade their scouting department has ever given a tight end.
Possible destinations: Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles
MORE FANTASY ARTICLES FROM MICHAEL FABIANO
Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
- 22 years old, 6-foot-5, 258 pounds
2020 Stats: (4 games) 23 receptions, 310 yards, 13.5 YPC, 1 touchdown
Freiermuth was on pace to produce strong numbers this past season, but an injured shoulder that required a surgical procedure ended his campaign after four games. He is expected to be fine for the start of the 2021 NFL season, and the ailment isn’t going to keep him from being one of the first tight ends picked in the upcoming draft.
Freiermuth, nicknamed "Baby Gronk" due to his similar skill set, can be a real playmaker on the next level. He scored eight touchdowns as a freshman and found the end zone 15 times in his first 25 games at Penn State. He was also tough to bring down in his final full season of 2019, breaking nine tackles on his 43 catches. He could turn into a true fantasy football star, in time, at the next level.
Possible destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans
Brevin Jordan, Miami
- 21 years old, 6-foot-3, 245 pounds
2020 Stats: (8 games) 38 receptions, 576 yards, 15.2 YPC, 7 touchdowns
Jordan enjoyed a productive 2020 campaign, ranking tied for 12th in targets, tied for eighth in catches, and sixth in receiving yards among tight ends. He also led the position in yards after the catch and averaged an impressive 9.3 yards per reception. His skills as a playmaker in the passing game make him intriguing in fantasy land.
Jordan thrived in the slot, ranking first in yards per route run from that spot on the line of scrimmage per Pro Football Focus. He has some work to do in terms of his in-line blocking, so I’d project him to be used primarily as a pass-catcher who can create mismatches at the next level. The Hurricanes have also produced more than their share of productive NFL tight ends, making Jordan even more attractive.
Possible destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
Hunter Long, Boston College
- 22 years old, 6-foot-5, 253 pounds
2020 Stats: (11 games) 57 receptions, 685 yards, 12.0 YPC, 5 touchdowns
Long is coming off an impressive 2020 campaign that saw him lead all tight ends in targets (89) and catches (57) while also ranking second behind Kyle Pitts in yards (685). He was especially productive when Notre Dame transfer Phil Jurkovec took over as the Eagles’ quarterback, but Long does have questions at the next level.
While he’s a nice route runner with good hands who did well against man coverage, Long is not on an elite level when it comes to his athletic prowess. He also broke just three tackles on his 57 receptions in 2020, and he’s not what you would call a matchup nightmare like Pitts. Long is a good blocker, though, and he should be a solid addition at the next level. Whether he can be a fantasy star is in question.
Possible destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all of the latest breaking fantasy football news and the best analysis in the business!
Twitter unveils 'super follow' feature
The network will enable users to charge for extra content such as bonus tweets and newsletters.
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New on SI: Why the Patriots’ Open Quarterback Spot Is Still the NFL’s Most Interesting
Multiple superstar signal-callers are understandably getting the headlines, but the situation in New England is still worthy of just as much attention.
There is one quarterback decision we’re not talking a great deal about this offseason, despite the fact that it will end up being the most significant. This is not to insult Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson, but unless either of them is going to a team like the 49ers, who are legitimately one transcendent superstar away from winning the Super Bowl, it will likely generate more in terms of media attention and uniform sales than anything else. (Wilson’s agent
recently listed the Cowboys, Saints, Bears and Raiders as preferred destinations; of the teams on that list that could even facilitate a trade involving multiple first-round picks, are any of them just one Russell Wilson away from a Super Bowl?)The Patriots are without a quarterback at a fascinating time. The Cam Newton era, which, in another world and at another place in Newton’s career arc, might have been the perfect bridge to a new brand of football beyond Tom Brady, was not enough to propel New England into the postseason. Their “down” year consisted of a 7–9 record with wins over a handful of good teams and their first missed playoff berth in more than a decade. It seems they are now on the lookout for another option.
Bill Belichick is presumably getting more of his defensive starters back alongside a great deal of cap space and one of the highest draft picks he’s had as a head coach in New England. Who he picks to operate under center, or who picks him, will speak volumes about where the rest of the NFL is headed for a few reasons.
While I would never argue that Brady’s Super Bowl championship in Tampa legitimized the idea that he was the brains behind the Patriot Way in New England, we all heard former Patriots during Super Bowl week echo that idea. It may not be a correct perception, but it is now a perception that exists in the NFL’s collective psyche. How does that impact, if at all, Belichick’s ability to continue luring premium talent on affordable deals with the idea that he can magically hoist them into the playoffs with his sheer force of brain power? Does Brady’s success elsewhere lower his old team on the totem pole for a prospective free agent or player with a no-trade clause who can effectively force his way out of town? While it’s not surprising that the Patriots were not on anyone’s leaked list of preferred trade destinations (Matt Stafford, reportedly, specifically asked not to be traded to New England), it is notable so far. This ties into the fact that Patriots assistants and executives have been leaping off the bandwagon for some time now and raises questions about how they might feel about the state of things.
If Belichick manages to score a top quarterback on the market—betting service PointsBet recently listed Marcus Mariota as the odds-on favorite, followed by Newton, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jarrett Stidham, Andy Dalton, collegiate quarterbacks Mac Jones and Trey Lance, and Derek Carr—how does a rebirth of the Patriots’ machine affect the plans and expectations of everyone else in and around football? For example, there is a good chance the Bills are going for it this offseason while Josh Allen is still on his rookie contract and coordinators Brian Daboll and Leslie Frasier are still in town. There’s a good chance the Jets are looking at drafting a rookie quarterback or trying to formulate a presence in the Watson sweepstakes. There’s a good chance the Dolphins view themselves as one or two key pieces away from lording over this division for some time.
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Belichick’s reestablishing the fact that he is the greatest head coach in modern NFL history and attaining a quarterback befitting of that notion—something that would not only affect the AFC East, but our thoughts on the future of the Chiefs’ potential dynasty and beyond—will almost certainly matter more in the lives of the lay NFL fan than one of these other superstar quarterbacks moving to a new place that has sacrificed so much draft capital to attain them that it will somewhat negate the quarterback’s presence in the first place.
Belichick’s failure to do so would also speak volumes about what the NFL will look like over the next decade.
The young girl who became pen-pal with Bollywood's biggest stars
A unearthed photo album uncovers personal letters from the biggest stars of the 1950s and 60s.
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Nigeria's Zamfara attack: Hundreds of schoolgirls feared kidnapped
A teacher in the north-western Zamfara state tells the BBC at least 300 girls are unaccounted for.
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Thursday, February 25, 2021
Singapore: Briton jailed for breaking strict quarantine
Nigel Skea, 52, was jailed and fined for breaking hotel quarantine to meet his fiancée on another floor.
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North Korea: Russian diplomats leave by hand-pushed trolley
The diplomats had no choice as Pyongyang has banned trains from leaving as part of Covid measures.
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Covid-19: Sri Lanka reverses 'anti-Muslim' cremation order
Critics said the forced burial order was intended to target minorities and did not respect religions.
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Melissa Caddick: Missing fraud suspect's foot found on Australian beach
The disappearance of Melissa Caddick - who is accused of stealing from investors - has flummoxed police.
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Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: How a massacre in the sacred city of Aksum unfolded
Eritrean troops killed hundreds in Aksum in Ethiopia's Tigray region, witnesses tell Amnesty and the BBC.
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Biden approves US airstrike on Iran-backed militias in Syria
The Pentagon said the strike on Syria was in response to an attack on US and coalition personnel in Iraq.
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Covid-19: US high school band students rehearse in individual bubbles
Wenatchee High School in Washington state found a creative way for their band students to practise safely.
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Why Greenpeace is dropping huge boulders into the sea
Fishing community leaders say Greenpeace's action is dangerous and illegal.
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Golden Globes: Celebrity make-up artists on their job in the pandemic
Hollywood make-up artists on their experiences of working in the time of Covid-19.
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Fijian rugby league players sing tribute to Sydney quarantine staff
The rugby league players performed a song from their balconies in hotel quarantine in Australia.
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Amazon rainforest plots sold via Facebook Marketplace ads
Protected land reserved for Brazil's indigenous communities is being traded on the social network.
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K-pop superstars Blackpink in climate change message
K-pop superstars Blackpink have emerged as the latest force in the global fight against climate change.
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Analysis: Can Asia help Myanmar find a way out of coup crisis?
While Western sanctions may not help, China and South East Asia's influence may have some sway.
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'Op Silent Viper': How an Indian rape suspect was caught after 22 years
The case went cold after the man accused disappeared following a brutal 1999 gang rape in India.
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China denies requiring anal swabs from US diplomats
US media claims diplomats were made to undergo anal swabs to test for coronavirus.
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China's Xi declares victory in ending extreme poverty
Some have questioned China's definition of extreme poverty as earning less than $620 a year.
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Jamal Khashoggi: US to release declassified report on murder
Joe Biden plans to speak to the Saudi king as the report into the journalist's murder goes public.
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Andrew Cuomo: Why is New York's governor facing controversy?
Mr Cuomo was once seen as a hero of the pandemic. Now he faces scrutiny from inside his party.
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Armenia PM Nikol Pashinyan denounces 'attempted military coup'
He urges his supporters to gather in the capital Yerevan, after the army says he must resign.
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Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Princess Latifa urges UK police to reopen sister's kidnap case
Dubai ruler's captive daughter writes to British police about her sister's abduction 20 years ago.
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Myanmar coup: Facebook, Instagram place immediate ban on military
Facebook said deadly violence in Myanmar had brought about the need for the ban on the military.
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Singapore: Police officer's wife admits to killing Myanmar maid
The domestic helper from Myanmar was reportedly tortured and starved before her death.
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Hit TV show Frasier to be revived after 20 years
Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier Crane, will return but it is not known if other cast members will too.
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Man survives 14 hours 'clinging to sea rubbish'
Vidam Perevertilov's decision to swim towards a "black dot" - a life buoy - saved his life.
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Goldman Sachs: Bank boss rejects work from home as the 'new normal'
Remote working is "an aberration" that will be corrected as soon as possible says Goldman Sachs chief.
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Chinese £3,200 budget electric car takes on Tesla
The mini electric vehicle being made by China's biggest carmaker is now outselling Tesla two to one.
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Australia passes law to make Google and Facebook pay for news
The world-first law is designed to make the tech giants pay news publishers for content.
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GameStop surges again as Reddit crashes temporarily
Trading in GameStop shares halted minutes before markets closed but jumped again in late trading.
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The colourful fridges popping up on American streets
Local communities in the US have come up with a novel way to help feed those going hungry.
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North Korea enslaved South Korean prisoners of war in coal mines
A report describes how prisoners of war are used as slave labour to generate money for the regime.
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Brazilian Amazon: Juma descendants of 'last warrior' vow to carry on legacy
After the death of the last male member of an indigenous group, his grandchildren take an unusual step.
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Biden's Covid stimulus plan: It costs $2tn but what's in it?
Democrats are working on a massive package of measures to help the US through the pandemic.
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Looming battle for Yemen's Marib city risks humanitarian disaster
A rebel attack on the government's northern stronghold of Marib threatens mass displacement.
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Have Australians fallen out of love with Sydney and Melbourne?
Figures show Australians are moving out of the large cities in search of a better quality of life.
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Viewpoint: Self-defence not the answer to Nigeria's kidnap crisis
The defence minister said people should at times provide their own security but it is not that easy.
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Kenya: A sustainable solution to locust swarms?
An NGO is training and paying communities in Kenya to catch locusts, so they can be turned into animal feed.
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Ghislaine Maxwell offers to give up UK and French citizenship for bail
The British socialite is in jail in New York awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
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Amnesty strips Alexei Navalny of 'prisoner of conscience' status
Amnesty said it took the decision after complaints of "hate speech" by the Russian opposition leader.
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Ecuador jail fight: Dozens of inmates killed in gang war
The violence is thought to be linked to a battle for control of the jails after a gang leader's killing.
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Dozens of dolphins found dead on Mozambique beach
The cause of death is still unknown but a recent cyclone is among the theories being investigated.
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New Zealand: Rescuers save 28 whales from stranding spot
Rescuers have successfully refloated 28 pilot whales on a notorious New Zealand beach, Farewell Spit.
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Covid: WHO scheme Covax delivers first vaccines to Ghana
It is a milestone for the WHO scheme, which aims to ensure the fair distribution of Covid-19 jabs.
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Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Malaysia deports Myanmar nationals despite court order
The High Court had earlier issued a stay to put the deportation on hold pending a Wednesday hearing.
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New Zealand: Pilot whales refloated at stranding spot
A group of 28 pilot whales are back in the sea after beaching themselves twice in two days.
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Franco: Melilla enclave removes last statue of fascist dictator on Spanish soil
Workers carry away the monument of the fascist dictator in the Spanish enclave of Melilla.
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China court orders man to pay wife for housework in landmark case
The landmark case has sparked debate as it shines a spotlight on housewives' unpaid labour.
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Apple buys a company every three to four weeks
The technology giant has bought around 100 companies in six years, chief executive Tim Cook has revealed.
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Tiger Woods: Proud champion who bounced back
The man considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all time has overcome many challenges in his career.
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Biden holds first foreign meeting with Canada's Justin Trudeau
"US leadership has been sorely missed over the past years," the Canadian prime minister said.
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Syrian torture verdict expected in landmark German case
A man who fled Syria is accused in Germany of being a "cog in the wheel" of a state torture machine.
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Daniel Prude: No charges for US officers over 'spit-hood' death
Officers in New York were filmed using a hood to restrain Daniel Prude until he stopped breathing.
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The Simpsons creator Matt Groening on equality, memes and monorails
BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat sits down for a Zoom chat with Matt Groening.
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Walker Swamp: The mission to restore an Australian wetland
Walker Swamp had been destroyed by 150 years of farming - now it is replenished and welcoming life.
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Senegal's teenage jockey races to fame
Fallou Diop won the country's top racing prize when he was just 17.
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Priyanka Dewan: The roller-skating star who beat disability stigma
Since taking up skating at the age of eight, Priyanka Dewan has become an international champion.
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Coronavirus: Do I send my child back to school?
President Biden wants most children in classrooms again by April - but do parents think that's safe?
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Motera: The world's largest cricket stadium to host India-England Test
India's Motera stadium gives an unobstructed view of the pitch to 110,000 spectators.
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Collision between train and truck causes massive explosion in Texas
An 18-wheeler truck crashes with a freight car carrying gasoline.
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New on SI: Report: Ben Roethlisberger Intends to Play 2021 Season
Roethlisberger's agent told NFL Network that the Steelers want him back and conversations will happen about contract restructuring.
Ben Roethlisberger's agent confirmed to NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala that the Steelers do want to bring the quarterback back for the upcoming 2021 season, and conversations will happen about contract restructuring.
"They want Ben back and will contact me soon to address his cap situation,"
Ryan Tollner told Kinkhabwala. "As we've shared since the season ended, we are happy to creatively adjust his contract to help them build the best team possible. A year ago, Ben wasn't sure if he could throw again, but he battled back to get 12 wins and the 8th division title of his career. They lost steam down the stretch and that doesn't sit well for him, so the fire burns strong and there is plenty of gas in the tank."The news comes after Roethlisberger and Steelers President Art Rooney II met earlier on Tuesday, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
However, less than a week ago, general manager Kevin Colbert did not commit to bringing back Roethlisberger next season.
"As we sit here today, Ben is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers," Colbert said. "...He reiterated to us that he wants to continue to play. We told him we have to look at this current situation."
Pittsburgh had made it clear that the quarterback would not be returning without a restructured contract, which Roethlisberger said he was willing to re-do. While Colbert did not entirely shut the door on the 38-year-old's return at the time, it's clear that Roethlisberger will have to take a massive pay cut.
Under his current contract, he has a $41.25 million cap hit for the 2021 season. Pittsburgh is approximately $30 million over the cap. Roethlisberger has a $15 million roster bonus on the horizon that would be paid if he's still on the team by March 19.
Only time will tell whether the cap-strapped franchise and Roethlisberger can strike a deal, but all signs are pointing towards one in the coming days.
Covid infection in Lagos 'may top Africa's official total'
An antibodies survey in Nigeria suggests millions, not thousands, have already had coronavirus.
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New on SI: Cassius Marsh, Linebacker and ‘Foil King’
NFL veteran Cassius Marsh’s love of fantasy card games like Magic and Pokémon, and how he’s passing that love on to others.
Cassius Marsh appears over Zoom dressed in a Steelers sweatshirt and tiger-stripe shorts. The 6' 4", 254-pound outside linebacker is a splattered canvas of tattoos that stretch out to his knuckles. His stringy blonde hair hangs over a black headband and settles alongside a golden earring dangling from his left ear.
He is sitting inside the space that will soon become his very own trading card store, Cash Cards Unlimited, in Westlake Village, California. They open on Feb. 26 and specialize in Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon along with various sports trading cards. Just inside the door, in front of a custom mural featuring Pokémon like Rayquaza, Charizard and Mewtwo, and Goku from the Japanese anime cartoon Dragon Ball-Z, is a glass display case of some of his “big hitters,” like a first-edition Yu-Gi-Oh! Box, the likes of which has sold on eBay for upwards of $6,000, and single Pokémon base set blister packs, which could sell for more than $1,500 apiece for 10 cards (these are the cardboard-backed packages of cards you saw at the register of every toy store and pharmacy from 1996-2000 and cost $3 apiece at the time).
His goal is to make the rapidly ballooning trading card collectible shopping experience feel like you’re at a Louis Vuitton store. Indeed, you must check in on a sleek, encased iPad that also acts as a contact tracer before you’re escorted into the “show room,” which is just beyond the “vibe area,” lit with a contrast of neon bulbs. The main gathering space evokes a high-end boutique, or perhaps an expensive marijuana dispensary, with a few small tables featuring premium product. A black curtain cordons off the customers from a few industrial shelves full of sealed product that will either be shipped out, sold in person or opened on camera.
“I’ve always recognized the value in Magic Cards,” says Marsh, who, on social media, also calls himself the “Foil King,” named after the shiny, foil-like texture that special Pokémon and Magic cards have. “It was kind of this unseen market. To see what Magic has done, Pokémon cards have done in the last six months, sports cards, to see the explosion of collectables and trading cards, it’s pretty unreal.
“All of this stuff, it’s art. For the new generation, these cards are similar to buying a Picasso. They’re high-end collectibles. High-end art. A lot of these pieces are extremely rare. Some of these sports cards are one of one. It’s like getting a personal piece from a famous artist. It’s just in its infancy right now.”
If all of this seems out of the ordinary, that’s the point. Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon, specifically, have given a lot to Marsh, providing him with comfort as a young child being raised by a working single mother. Now, he can properly elevate the hobby’s aesthetic beyond its roots inside dimly lit, unfriendly card dungeons, tucked away in dated strip malls. (In case you were wondering, there is a hype video of Marsh online flicking Pokémon cards out of his hands
like singles at a gentlemen’s club.) On a deeper level, his presence here as a person who looks nothing like the dated and damaging stereotype of a trading-card game obsessive (taped glasses, matted hair, inhaler affixed in hand) is also intentional. Parents have written Marsh and thanked him in the past for making Magic and Pokémon seem more broadly acceptable. He has since tried to take up that mantle.In the past, it was a hobby Marsh felt an inclination to hide. His dad, former NFL receiver Curtis Marsh, and half-brother, former NFL cornerback Curtis Marsh Jr. knew little, if anything, about his affinity for fantasy card games. Now, he’s played Magic with the likes of former Seahawks wideout Doug Baldwin and Taven Bryan, the Jaguars’ 2018 first-round pick (who Marsh “crushed,” because Bryan was playing some “janky, not-tiered-up, not foiled-out decks”). Marsh attended some of The Gathering’s biggest professional tournaments and showcases, and appears on some of the genre’s most popular web series. In the NFL, he is a pied piper of fantasy card playing games.
By diving back into his childhood, Marsh has secured a rare slice of post-career purpose in conjunction with a market that is absolutely exploding in popularity. A first-edition Pokémon base set box (36 packs featuring 10 cards apiece, still in its original packaging) sold for $408,000 at a recent Heritage Auction. Marsh’s store has an empty base set booster box sitting in a display case out front, which could fetch upwards of $350 on eBay. A Black Lotus card, the holy grail of Magic collecting, recently topped out at over $500,000 at auction. The former rapper Logic purchased a single Pokémon card—a base set Charizard—for more than $220,000 (or roughly the entirety of his final album’s opening week sales) back in October.
But Marsh’s connection to his own past, and the past of his new followers and friends, ensures that this endeavor has a deeper meaning beyond the bubble.
“People anticipate you’re going to get picked on and made fun of,” Marsh says. “It’s made out to be a kids-only thing which I just don’t agree with, man. If you’re a creative and you’re into the fantasy world, anime, all that stuff, it goes hand in hand…who cares?”
Josh Lee Kwai was born in the 1980s and previously worked in the film industry, so he is acutely aware of how the brick wall was figuratively built (and maintained) between those who fell into the two quintessential coming of age categories: Jock and Nerd.
The co-host of The Command Zone podcast, a weekly show devoted to a particular style of Magic: The Gathering gameplay and its wildly popular web series Game Knights, Lee Kwai and Jimmy Wong have racked up more than 100 million views on YouTube and are sponsored by Wizards of the Cost, the gold standard of the trading card industry which manufactures Magic cards and originally produced the first (and, historically, most beloved) series of Pokémon trading cards.
So, it was with a bit of trepidation that Lee Kwai welcomed Marsh onto Game Knights a few years back at the behest of Wizards of the Coast. He was hopeful given his own sports fandom—he admitted that listening to NBA players Tim Duncan and David Robinson talking about playing the videogame Starcraft back in the 90s was a cathartic experience—but nervous that a green hobbyist might come onto the show and get immediately snuffed out by the game’s detailed fan base. Guests do confessional-style interviews in the middle of a live game, forcing them to delve into their moves and why they made them, which makes knowing the game and having an ability to explain its intricacies critical. Being based in L.A., his show has been targeted by celebrities in the past, though they may not have had the requisite knowledge of Magic to carry them through an episode.
Their arrangement had a strange backstory; Marsh was revealed to the general public as a devout Magic: The Gathering player after his car window was smashed outside of a Seattle nightclub back in 2016 while playing for the Seahawks, and he tweeted that nearly $20,000 worth of cards were stolen (Marsh says that in today’s market, that number has probably doubled, given that the bag contained eight of the original “Dual Lands” cards, which are some of the more valuable in the hobby).
Wizards of the Coast made a trip to the Seahawks’ facility to deliver him a gift basket of Magic cards and added Marsh to their roster of influencers, often paying him in product (Marsh now has enough comped Magic cards to fill a school bus, which he’s using as initial inventory to help start the store).
“I think this is a failure in all communities, but I think our first feeling to be completely honest with you was, ‘Is this guy for real?’,” Lee Kwai says. “You’re not sure how into it he actually is. He showed up and we weren’t sure what to expect.”
Lee Kwai’s doubts vanished the minute Marsh began talking about various card combinations he likes to play. A basketball fan who has played a great deal of pickup ball, Lee Kwai said he can tell what kind of player you are after a few dribbles. The same can be said for Magic players. He’d passed the test. He was fluent in the language (A sampling of Marsh’s confessional on a recent episode: “I blocked with the Guildmage. I don’t block with the Serra Angel because the creatures won’t be sevens-sevens forever, so I’ll still have one blocker”). The parameters of his latter visits onto Game Knights quickly changed; no longer was it a fear of carrying a novice through the show, it was a fear of whether their own decks were inferior to Marsh’s.
“When Cassius is coming on, it’s well known that we have to bring the good stuff,” Lee Kwai says.
On a larger level, Lee Kwai noticed the open arms of his viewers and followers. He joked that some of them are the kinds of people that would refer to any athletic competition as “Sports Ball,” a reflection of their contempt and a call back to the historically antagonistic relationship between those dated jock-nerd archetypes. Now, there was a kind of beautiful, mutual admiration. Marsh’s respect for the community was legitimate (he talked openly about the humbling experience of getting shellacked while a featured player at a Magic tournament). The community responded in kind, welcoming a guy who, maybe 20 years ago, looked like the avatar of someone who might have spiked their cards into the mud.
“I wish we were at the point where people didn’t feel nerdy,” Lee Kwai says. “I think that’s lessened now but it’s not gone. Absolutely the Magic community loves Cassius. Loves the fact that he’s a football player.
“Whatever it is, seeing an NFL player who likes the things that they like, it does matter. It totally matters. It does make them puff out their chest a little bit. It’s not just for nerds. It’s a cool thing that cool people like.”
Marsh’s favorite Magic card is a “Land” card called Misty Rainforest.
In gameplay, it allows the player to “search their library for a Forest or Island card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.” Marsh, though, loves it for the artwork, which depicts a lush, overgrown rainforest shrouded in a light haze. A peninsula juts out of a clearing in full view of several cascading waterfalls.
His girlfriend had a version of the card commissioned as a painting that sits on his nightstand. Both Marsh and his son, Cassius Jr., are in the artwork looking out at the water.
“It’s just a piece that makes me feel like I would love to live inside the art,” he said. “I tear up whenever I look at it or think about it. That card is pretty near and dear to my heart.”
Marsh’s first trip to a card store came when he was 11 years old. His mom gave him $5 to spend at A Hidden Fortress in Simi Valley, California and he stumbled on a pair of grown men playing Magic. It seemed to streamline neatly with his other fantasy interests, like the Japanese manga series Yu-Gi-Oh! and the hours he spent hardwired to his GameBoy leveling up his Pokémon.
“My mom would be like, ‘We just drove two hours and you haven’t taken your head up from that game one time.’ And I just remember being like I have to get my Wartortle to evolve into a Blastoise, I remember having to get that done. It was just so much fun, and I continue to have so much fun with Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering.”
In those memories, Marsh brings up what seems central to the entire hobby; something we’re all universally seeking and sometimes thankfully find in a pack of cards. Comfort. The ability to zone out of the world for just a moment. The chance, as an adult, to play and to belong. Outside of young tech millionaires with disposable income jacking up the prices of vintage collectibles online and YouTube celebrities opening product every hour on the hour for free, that sense of comfort could be the biggest reason why Magic has endured for so long and other games, like Pokémon, are seeing such a comeback.
Feeling the game on that kind of level cements his authenticity in the community above anything else.
“I was in the house bored all the time and my mom worked a lot. Being able to ride my bike to the card store and hang out and have a couple of guys that could interact with me and play a game I enjoyed, that was huge for me,” Marsh said. “When I come home from a long day, being able to open packs and collect and pull new cards I’ve been wanting and just sitting there trying to build out the most perfect deck, falling deep into that world, it’s definitely something I look forward to, something that I crave.”
New on SI: Aaron Rodgers to Begin 'Jeopardy!' Two-Week Guest Host Stint on April 5
Rodgers previously appeared on 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' in 2015 and raised $50,000 for Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer.
Aaron Rodgers didn't win another Super Bowl this year, but he's about to take a 10-show victory lap as a guest host on Jeopardy!
According to USA Today's Gary Levin, Rodgers is among a group of celebrities slated to host the popular show for two weeks apiece this spring. The Packers quarterback's stint will start on April 5, following Katie Couric and Dr. Mehmet Oz's hosting gigs in March. Each host filmed their 10 episodes over two days in January.Levin reports other future guest hosts include CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, Today host Savannah Guthrie and actress Mayim Bialik.
Last month, Rodgers announced that he had recently hosted an episode of Jeopardy! as the show continues filming following the death of legendary host Alex Trebek. The three-time NFL MVP called Trebek "one of my idols growing up."
Rodgers previously appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy! in 2015, defeating astronaut Mark Kelly and Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary. The victory raised $50,000 for Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer.
Trebek died on Nov. 8, 2020, at 80 after hosting Jeopardy! for more than 30 years. He had pancreatic cancer since 2019 and continued to host the program in 2020. The final Jeopardy! episodes with Trebek aired on Dec. 25.
Former contestant Ken Jennings debuted as the program's guest host in January. Last week, he wrapped his six-week run guest-hosting the show. Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards stepped behind the lectern on Monday as the host for the next 10 episodes.
New on SI: 2021 NFL Draft: Fantasy Rookie Report - Quarterbacks
Senior fantasy analyst Michael Fabiano breaks down the incoming rookie quarterbacks and their on-field & fantasy potential.
Rookie quarterbacks haven't exactly been a fountain of fantasy production over the years, but could we see a change in that trend? Eight of the top-12 fantasy seasons from first-year field generals have been produced since 2015. That includes five players in the last three seasons, led by Justin Herbert’s 332.8 points last year.
Of course, we also must keep in mind that only 16 rookie quarterbacks have scored 200+ fantasy points, and a mere three scored over 300 points since 2000. So, for the last 20 years, just three rookies would have finished in the top 10 in fantasy points at the position this past season. Heck, Dak Prescott's impressive 286.9 points in his rookie season of 2016 would have ranked "only" 12th in points among quarterbacks in 2020.
Regardless, rookie field generals are making a bigger impact in the world of fantasy football. That could continue in 2021, as the NFL welcomes what many consider a generational talent in Trevor Lawrence and at least two others who could be starters right out of the gate. So, for those fans looking to get a head start on doing their due diligence at the position, here’s my look at the top quarterbacks of the 2021 class.
Note: Age listed is at the start of the 2021 NFL season.
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
- 21 years old, 6-foot-6, 220 pounds
2020 Stats: 3,153 passing yards, 69.2 completion percentage, 24 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 68 carries, 203 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns (10 games)
Lawrence is considered the best quarterback prospect to come out of college since Andrew Luck. In three seasons at Clemson, he went 34-2, won three ACC titles and a National Championship. He completed 66.6 percent of his passes and threw for 10,098 yards, and scored a combined 108 touchdowns (18 rushing) in his career.
In 2020, Lawrence finished second in on-target pass percentage (82.6) among field generals, and his arms strength allows him to complete passes at all three levels accurately. Lawrence can also escape the pocket when protection breaks down and make plays with his legs. He underwent successful surgery on his left labrum and is expected to be back at 100 percent for the start of the 2021 NFL season.
Possible destinations: Jacksonville Jaguars
Justin Fields, Ohio State
- 22 years old, 6-foot-3, 228 pounds
2020 Stats: 2,100 passing yards, 70.2 completion percentage, 22 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 81 carries, 383 rushing yards, 5 touchdowns (8 games)
Fields had plenty of success during his time at Ohio State, winning 20 games in 22 starts and two Big-10 titles while also making an appearance in the 2020 National Championship Game. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes in two seasons with the Buckeyes, finishing with 78 total touchdowns (15 rushing) in his career.
Fields completed 70.2 percent of his passes during an abbreviated 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He does well on deep throws and ranked 16th in air yards among quarterbacks despite not playing a full season. Fields can also put up numbers on the ground, which is huge in the world of fantasy football. He rushed for a combined 867 yards with 15 touchdowns during his 22 games at Ohio State.
Possible destinations: New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos
Zach Wilson, BYU
- 22 years old, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
2020 Stats: (12 games) 3,692 passing yards, 73.5 completion percentage, 33 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 70 carries, 254 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns
Wilson's junior season at BYU was one for the ages, as he completed nearly 74 percent of his passes and led the Cougars to an 11-1 record. His 33 touchdown passes are 20 more than he had his first 18 games combined. Wilson also ranked second among quarterbacks in air yards this past season with a solid 2,187.
Wilson has the tools to make every throw, which is evident in his 95.0 passing grade on tight-window throws, per Pro Football Focus. That’s a higher grade than Joe Burrow, who had a grade of 90.5 percent in 2019. While he doesn’t have elite skills as a runner, Wilson does have some mobility if the pocket collapses around him. If there’s one downside, Wilson’s college competition wasn’t all that impressive.
Possible destinations: New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos
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Trey Lance, North Dakota State
- 21 years old, 6-foot-4, 226 pounds
2019 Stats: (16 games) 2,786 passing yards, 66.9 completion percentage, 28 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 169 carries, 1,100 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns
Lance went "undefeated" in 2020, though North Dakota opted to cancel its schedule after one game due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He had 149 passing yards, 143 rushing yards, three total touchdowns (2 rushing), and a pick in that one game. His skills as a runner at the quarterback position remind some of fantasy star Josh Allen.
While he'll be a locked-in first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lance could need some time to develop at the next level. The arm strength is there, and he showed great poise during his collegiate career. Lance is also a good decision-maker, which is obvious from one stat in his 2019 season: he threw zero interceptions on 287 pass attempts. Much like Wilson, one of the questions about Lance is the level of competition he ultimately faced at the Football Championship Subdivision level.
Possible destinations: Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears
Mac Jones, Alabama
- 23 years old, 6-foot-3, 214 pounds
2020 Stats: 4,500 passing yards, 77.4 completion percentage, 41 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 35 carries, 14 rushing yards, 1 touchdown (13 games)
Jones is coming off a spectacular statistical campaign, leading all quarterbacks in passing yards while finishing second in touchdown passes. He also led Alabama to another National Championship. Over his last 24 collegiate games, Jones threw for an impressive 55 touchdown passes while throwing just seven interceptions.
Jones, who completed more than 77 percent of his passes, led his position in terms of one-target percentage (84.5) and finished with a bananas 145.2 rating. More of a classic drop-back passer, he won't give fantasy fans much as a runner. You also have to wonder how much of his statistical success came due to the ridiculous talent the Crimson Tide possessed in all phases of the offense, including Devonta Smith.
Possible destinations: Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Washington Football Team, New Orleans Saints
Kyle Trask, Florida
- 23 years old, 6-foot-5, 240 pounds
2020 Stats: 4,283 passing yards, 68.9 completion percentage, 43 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 64 carries, 50 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns (12 games)
Trask is a big passer at 6-foot-5 who produced terrific stat lines against top SEC competition in his final collegiate season. He also lit up the Crimson Tide for over 400 yards and five total touchdowns in the SEC Championship Game, albeit in a losing effort. In his final 24 games at Florida, Trask produced 68 touchdown passes.
Built in the mold of Ben Roethlisberger, Trask is a true pocket passer who isn’t as immobile as Mac Jones but won’t do much as a runner. He ranked first among field generals in air yards (2,338) and ranked 19th in on-target pass percentage this past season. Trask likely won't be a first-rounder, but he's a good Round 2 bet for a quarterback-needy team that missed on the position in Round 1.
Possible destinations: Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all of the latest breaking fantasy football news and the best analysis in the business!
Disha Ravi: India activist, 22, granted bail by court
Disha Ravi's arrest for sharing a document intended to help farmers sparked widespread outrage.
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North Korea man wandered for hours in DMZ amid South's security blunders
The man swam ashore and was ignored eight times on CCTV in the heavily fortified border zone.
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Vanessa Bryant criticises Meek Mill for 'insensitive' Kobe Bryant lyric
She says lyrics for a leaked song are "extremely insensitive and disrespectful" to her family.
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Nika Melia, Georgian opposition leader, is arrested at party HQ
Dramatic video shows Nika Melia barricaded in a room with supporters as police raid his party's HQ.
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Ebola vaccines arrive in Guinea after dust storm delay
These are the first cases in West Africa, five years after the end of the world's deadliest outbreak.
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Monday, February 22, 2021
Clubhouse confirms data spillage of its audio streams
A user has been banned for streaming audio from multiple Clubhouse chatrooms onto their website.
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Facebook reverses ban on news pages in Australia
Facebook will reverse a decision to block access to news content, Australia's government says.
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Boeing 777: Signs of 'metal fatigue' found on Denver plane engine
The aircraft had to make an emergency landing after its engine failed, scattering debris over homes below.
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Australia: Oldest rock art is 17,300-year-old kangaroo
Scientists determined the painting's age by examining ancient wasp nests around the artwork.
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500,000 deaths: The 'colourful' lives lost to Covid
The sheer scale of the US death toll is hard to comprehend - it helps to hear the individual stories.
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Gender-reveal device explosion kills father-to-be
Christopher Pekny was making a device to be used at his child's gender-reveal party, police say.
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El Chapo's wife Emma Coronel Aispuro arrested in US over 'drug trafficking'
Emma Coronel Aispuro's arrest comes two years after her husband was convicted in the US over his cartel.
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Extinction: Freshwater fish in 'catastrophic' decline
Numbers are plunging due to pollution, unsustainable fishing and the draining of rivers.
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South Korea coronavirus: PM aims for 'herd immunity by autumn'
The prime minister says vaccinations are on track after criticism the country has been slow to start.
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Sri Lanka human rights: UK seeks new UN resolution on abuses
The resolution calls for human rights abusers in the bloody civil war to be held to account.
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Covid US death toll: Imagining what 500,000 lost lives look like
Half a million Americans have died of the coronavirus. Here's a look behind this grim milestone.
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Sarika Kale: The sports star who could afford just one meal a day
Sarika Kale says she survived on instant noodles and chutney for years because that's all she could afford.
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Thousands dead but no prosecutions - why Liberia has not acted
Horrific tales dominate the history of Liberia's civil war but no-one has been put on trial there.
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New on SI: MAQB: How the Salary Cap Will Affect the Franchise Tag Numbers
The franchise tag window is about to open, but we still have uncertainty about the league's financial picture in 2021.
Tuesday is the first milepost in the NFL offseason. Let’s jump into it …
• That’s right, starting Tuesday, teams can apply the franchise tag to players. We don’t have the official numbers yet, because those are based on where the cap lands. But here are projections for a $180 million cap, a $183 million cap (that’s been the working number for some teams) and a $185 million cap.
Position by position for 180/183/185, all figures in millions:
QB: $24.76/$25.17/$25.45
WR: $15.76/$16.03/$16.02
RB: $8.54/$8.68/$8.78
TE: $9.47/$9.63/$9.73
OL: $13.57/$13.79/$13.94
DE: $15.85/$16.113/$16.29
DT: $13.70/$13.93/$14.08
LB: $14.59/$14.83/$14.99
CB: $14.85/$15.10/$15.27
S: $10.47/$10.64/$10.76
Because the cap will be lower, and even with inflation factored in, all those numbers are down (and some significantly so) from 2020. Which puts first-time tag candidates in different situations from those who might be tagged for a second time (like Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, Broncos S Justin Simmons, and Washington G Brandon Scherff), since those guys, by rule, would be tagged at 120% of their 2020 tag number.
• Of the second-timers, Prescott is most likely to get a repeat tag. Both Denver and Washington want to keep their 2020 tagged players long-term, and are confident they can do it, the question is whether another tag is the mechanism they’ll use to get it done (I presume it would be if such deals aren’t done by the March 9 deadline). Prescott’s 2021 tag figure is $37.691 million, Scherff’s is $15.981 million and Simmons’s is $13.792 million. Of the first-timer candidates, I think Bucs WR Chris Godwin and Panthers OT Taylor Moton are likely to get tagged, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lions WR Kenny Golladay to find the same fate. I’m a little more up in the air on Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin, Packers RB Aaron Jones and Jets S Marcus Maye.
• And while we’re here, I wouldn’t expect a ton of news before the March 9 deadline (Tuesday is simply when the window opens) to tag guys. The reason teams wait? It allows some to hold the tag over two guys (Tampa would be an example, with Godwin and Shaq Barrett set to be free agents), and keeps open the chance to tag a second guy if the guy that was earmarked for the tag initially gets a deal. The caveat this year is that with the cap likely to go down, it’ll be much harder for cap-strapped teams (like Pittsburgh with Bud Dupree) to swallow the single-year lump-sum number that comes with franchising a player.
• Fun fact that I got from ex-Chargers coach Mike McCoy last week that I’m not sure I’d heard before: The famed Wildcat package was actually named after ex-Northwestern quarterback Brett Basanez. Back when McCoy was with the Panthers, a decade and a half ago, Carolina unveiled the look with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart running the zone-read. But initially, the idea was borne of building in contingencies if Basanez, an option quarterback in college,and the third-stringer behind Jake Delhomme and Chris Weinke, was forced into action. Basanez’s alma mater? Northwestern. Hence, the Wildcat. From there, then Carolina OC Dan Henning went to Miami with it, and Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams put it on the front page in 2009, and made the term (which is for a personnel package, more than a scheme look) a permanent part of our lexicon. And, of course, the Panthers’ coach responsible for it was John Fox, who wound up being the Broncos’ coach during the Tebowmania season of 2011, which is
what McCoy and I were on the phone to talk about, in the wake Tim Tebow’s retirement from baseball. “Yeah, we just took advantage of what Tim did best, and that’s what it’s all about,” McCoy said. “Coaches, players, everyone adjusted to what we did best, and Foxy got everyone to buy-in. Everyone bought into that style, it wasn’t just Tim. And it was exciting, because it was always different, every week.”• Amid the messiness of the Texans’ situation, a certain perception of GM Nick Caserio has emerged among some NFL people that he’s just “Bill Belichick, Scouting Edition.” And I don’t know if that’s a fair picture to paint. To me, one example that he’s not lies in who he picked to be his head coach—ex-Ravens assistant David Culley. Caserio has told people that he believes you need a different type of coach, more of a unifier, to reach players and build the right culture, than you did in generations past. That’s what Culley is, to be sure. So I do think, at least in one early example in his tenure, and with the biggest decision he’s made to this point, he’s shown that he can veer from the path that was laid out for him over his first couple decades in the NFL.
• And while we’re there, here’s another point: Caserio has shown signs he’ll be more inclusive with his scouts and coaches than New England was in the draft and free-agent process. Caserio oversaw a department in Foxboro that dealt with an exodus of rising stars who didn’t feel involved enough working for the Patriots. And while he was there, those around Caserio saw him evolve from a guy who was uptight and hyper-concerned with carrying himself as a Patriot, so to speak, early in his time as the scouting chief (2009 to ‘11) to someone who was far more comfortable in his own skin and a little less Belichickian, at the end. I’ve maintained all along that Caserio, for all else that went wrong, was a really good hire. And, of course, given the situation brewing around Deshaun Watson, he’ll have to prove he was.
• My buddy Ian Rapoport over at NFL Network reported earlier Monday that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was diagnosed with COVID-19, which was the impetus for the team closing its facility as a precaution last week. As I understand it, it’s also slowed the team’s process a little in resolving the Ben Roethlisberger situation. The sides, of course, do have time to work out some adjustment to the $19 million he’s due in 2021. But the longer it drags out, the more time Pittsburgh has to sniff around other options, as well.
• Cam Newton did a very interesting interview on the I AM ATHLETE podcast with Brandon Marshall, Chad Ochocinco and Fred Taylor. And in it, Newton left the door wide open for a return to New England. Asked if he’d go back on a one-year deal, Newton responded, “Hell yes.” And while explaining his struggles, he spoke of Belichick and Josh McDaniels in fairly reverential terms. I’d say this, too: The Patriots have a full understanding of how a stripped-down skill-position group and the scheme adjustment from Tom Brady handcuffed Newton in Year 1. So I’ll say it again: Do not rule out Newton going back for a second go-round in Foxboro. I don’t think he’ll be back without competition. But I do think based on the way he worked, and how he fit into the culture, he bought himself enough capital in the building to where, if a clear upgrade isn’t available, the Patriots would look at bringing him back.
• I genuinely love this from new Lions coach Dan Campbell, via MLive.com: “I said this to Chris [Spielman] the other day, I was like, ‘I love the fact we’re only known as meatheads. I’m a meathead? I have limited brain capacity? I like [that people think] that. I’m good with that, you know what I mean? I have zero problem with it. That whole press conference was literally for our team and our fans and community and people that want the Lions to succeed. … I want to be in Detroit. I want this job, because I identify with this job. You talk about it fitting like a glove? This thing fits me like no other, because I just feel like I can relate to this. I understand, man. I think I’m kind of a gritty guy, you know? Without trying to toot my own horn, I just know who I am.” This is very, very similar to what Campbell said to me last month after his press conference, and it very much fits a principle that one of Campbell’s mentors, Bill Parcells, had: Don’t talk to the media, talk through the media. The idea was to have another audience in mind. And in his players and his new city, Campbell sure did.
• And to wrap up where we started, here are projections for 2021 transition tags, if the cap lands at the projected figure of $183 million:
QB: $23.08 million
WR: $14.38 million
RB: $7.24 million
TE: $8.20 million
OL: $12.69 million
DE: $13.97 million
DT: $11.78 million
LB: $12.75 million
CB: $13.33 million
S: $9.08 million
