NFL

Carolina Panthers Name Bryce Young QB1 For 2023

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2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young has been officially named as the starting quarterback of the Carolina Panthers. The announcement came as the team’s training camp gets underway. “Yes, he’s QB1,” Head Coach Frank Reich told reporters. “When we decided to pick Bryce we imagined and saw the vision that we’d be standing here today saying he’s QB1.” The Panthers traded up from the ninth spot in the draft to take Young. The team traded their 2023 and 2024 first-round picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore to the Chicago Bears.

Additionally, Young said it was a “huge blessing” to be in the position that he is. “I respect the coaches and I want to do whatever I can to play whatever role it is I’m called on to help the team,” he said. “So that means a lot [being called the starter]. For me, it’s making sure I take things day by day. I want to keep improving, keep growing.” Young played three seasons at Alabama and young the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore in 2021.

Read More: Justin Herbert gets massive five-year extension from the Chargers

Young Headlines New Chapter For Panthers

Bryce Young
SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA – JULY 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers attempts a pass during Carolina Panthers Training Camp at Wofford College on July 26, 2023 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Young is just the third first-round quarterback drafted by the Panthers. He follows Kerry Collins in 1995 and Cam Newton in 2011. With Young under center, the team is hoping to begin a new chapter for the franchise, which has been suffering for many years. The team has failed to post a winning record since 2017. Furthermore, 2017 was also the last time they reached the playoffs. However, the franchise spent big in the offseason. They had two potent offensive weapons for Young in WR Adam Thielen and RB Miles Sanders.

The Panthers are a team ready to be competitive once again. They have their quarterback of the future, a well-regarded head coach, and were not afraid to spend on their roster. However, it remains to be seen how they will come together on the field. Furthermore, the Panthers will still need to overcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have won the NFC South for the last two years. Despite this, they appear to have faith that Young is the player to get achieve that.

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Netflix Set To Make Docuseries On Jerry Jones & Dallas Cowboys

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Netflix has delivered a ton of great sports content over the years. From “Last Chance U” to the “Bad Sport” series that chronicled six different sports stories. The streaming giant knows how to land the great drama involved in sports. However, it seems every streaming platform is looking for the magic that ESPN found with “The Last Dance.” The documentary followed Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls epic domination of the NBA in the 1990s.

Now, one of the more popular streaming platforms may have just found that gold. It is being reported that Netflix has purchased the rights to the story of Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. The upcoming docuseries will feature 10 episodes on the story of Jones and his franchise. At the same time, the Bulls were dominating the basketball court in the 90s. The Cowboys owned the gridiron. Dallas’ dominance of a decade sparked generations of fans for the team from coast to coast.

Read More: Up To 80% Of NFL Players Smoke Weed, According To Travis Kelce

Netflix Cashes In On Dallas Cowboys

Jones is arguably the most notable owner of any sports franchise in the entire United States. Undoubtedly the owner has managed to keep a more hands-on approach to his team than other owners in the NFL. However, that approach also comes with a lot of backlash. Many feel that ownership shouldn’t be as involved in the day-to-day operations of a team. However, nobody wants to be the one to break that news to Mr. Jones.

But the docuseries didn’t come cheap. The rights to this story were sold at a whopping $50 million. However, the money is more than likely no object to Jones. The longtime Cowboys owner would just like to hold that Lombardi Trophy one more time. Love them or hate them. The Cowboys and Jones have left a lasting impression on the entire sports community. Netflix will now get the chance to have fans see the story of the franchise from firsthand accounts. For the latest news in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.

Read More: NFL Expected To Suspend More Players For Gambling

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Indianapolis Cut Isaiah Rodgers Over Gambling Supension

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Sources reported earlier this week that another round of NFL players were being handed suspensions for betting-related offenses. The biggest name on the list was believed to be the Colts’ starting right-side cornerback Isaiah Rodgers.

Rodgers was a sixth-round pick out of UMass in 2020, but quickly proved his skill and ability. He made the 2020 all-rookie team and quickly earned the starting role in Indy. However, earlier this month, Rodgers acknowledged the gambling accusations against him and admitted “full responsibility” for his actions on social media.

Furthermore, it was also reported that Rodgers had directly bet on Colts games. This led pundits to believe that his punishment would be especially severe. That assumption proved to be correct.

Related: Five players suspended for gambling offenses

Rodgers Suspended Indefinitely, Cut By Colts

Rodgers, along with Colts defensive end Rashod Berry and free agent defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor, was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the league’s gambling policy. Meanwhile, Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was suspended for six games.

About an hour after the news broke, it was revealed that Rodgers and Berry had been waived by the team. 2022 undrafted free agent and all-rookie corner Dallis Flowers is now listed as RCB1. In a statement, Colts GM Chris Ballad explained the decision. “The integrity of the game is of the utmost importance. As an organization, we will continue to educate our players, coaches, and staff on the policies in place and the significant consequences that may occur with violations.”

Further details have since emerged about the nature of Rodgers’ betting. Per ESPN‘s David Purdum, Rodgers had been betting on Colts games. One particular bet of note was an over/under prop bet on rushing yards for a Colts running back.

Related: Rob Gronkowski sends cease and desist to Baby Gronk; cites his dad being too annoying as the reason

Soccer Player Gets Eight-Month Ban For Gambling

The NFL is not the only league dealing with players gambling. The Football Association (FA), which oversees soccer in the United Kingdom, handed down an eight-month ban to Brentford striker Ivan Toney in May.

According to an FA investigation, Toney breached betting rules 262 times between February 2017 and January 2021. Furthermore, Toney admitted to 232 breaches. This included 13 bets across seven matches where Toney bet on his own team to lose. However, Toney did not play in any of the games in question.

Initially, the FA had wanted to hand down a 15-month ban to Toney. However, after Toney was diagnosed with a gambling addiction, the agreed-upon 11-month ban was reduced to eight. That means Toney, who led Brentford with 21 goals last season, will be out until mid-January. On June 12, the London club paid $27.7 million to acquire German striker Kevin Schade from SC Freiburg. Schade had joined Brentford on loan for the second half of the 2022-23 season.

Related: Lionel Messi joins Inter Miami

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Up To 80% Of NFL Players Smoke Weed, According To Travis Kelce

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Travis Kelce is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer. After playing as a hybrid QB/TE for the University of Cincinnati, he was taken in the third round of the 2013 draft by the Chiefs. From there, he has blossomed into one of the league’s greatest-ever tight ends. He became TE1 for the Chiefs in his sophomore year and currently holds a host of records at the position. Furthermore, he sits fourth all-time in receiving yards for a tight end as he enters his tenth NFL season.

But we’re not here to talk about Travis Kelce. Instead, we’re here to make talk about a bold claim he made in a recent interview. According to Kelce, between 50 and 80 percent of all NFL players smoke weed. Additionally, Kelce revealed just how players get away with such a prevalent practice.

Read More: NCAA committee recommends scrapping drug testing for weed

Kelce Shares NFL Weed Smoking Secrets

Travis Kelce in June 2023
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JUNE 13: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the press during Chiefs Mini Camp on June 13, 2023 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)

Speaking with Vanity Fair, Kelce revealed how NFL players typically get away with smoking weed. “If you just stop in the middle of July, you’re fine. A lot of guys stop a week before and they still pass because everybody’s working out in the heat and sweating their tail off. Nobody’s really getting hit for it anymore.” In 2021, the NFL relaxed its stance on marijuana. Players were only tested in a two-week window before the season, as opposed to more rigorous testing schedules. Furthermore, the threshold for a positive test was raised from 35ng/ml to 150ng/ml.

While Kelce hasn’t been suspended during his time in the NFL for smoking the good kush, he was in college. He missed the entire 2009 season for violating the NCAA’s marijuana policy. Meanwhile, Kansas City legalized recreational weed this year. As a result, there are just six teams still located in states where weed is illegal under all circumstances. They are both Texas teams, the Falcons, Panthers, Packers, and Colts. However, if what Kelce says is true, it’s like that’s not stopping players lighting up.

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NFL Expected To Suspend More Players For Gambling

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Another wave of gambling-related suspensions is expected to be handed down by the NFL head office this week. The biggest name linked to this latest batch of suspensions is Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers.

Rodgers was a sixth-round pick out of UMass in 2020, but quickly proved his skill and ability. Making the all-rookie team, he is currently listed as the starting right-side cornerback in Indianapolis.

However, earlier this month, Rodgers acknowledged the gambling accusations against him and admitted “full responsibility” for his actions on social media. However, the punishment for Rodgers could be particularly severe, as it is believed that he placed bets on Colts games.

Related: Five NFL players suspended for gambling

NFL Ramping Up Gambling Crackdown

The word of new suspensions, first reported by ESPN, comes just months after a major crackdown on the league’s gambling policy. The first major wave of crackdowns came in late April, headlined by the suspension of Lions’ wide receiver Jameson Williams.

These latest suspensions are just one facet of the NFL’s campaign against sports betting on the part of its athletes. Elsewhere, the NFL announced that all 2023 rookies will have to attend mandatory anti-gambling education training. Meanwhile, NFL officials will be making in-person visits to every team to stress the league’s policy on gambling.

ESPN‘s report did specify when the suspensions would be officially announced. Furthermore, it is unknown which players other than Rodgers would be facing a suspension. However, it is believed that all players named will be facing a season-long suspension. By comparison, Williams received a six-game suspension.

Related: Leonard Fournette involved in serious highway crash

Calvin Ridley Ready For NFL Return

One player who knows just how strict the NFL can be about gambling is Calvin Ridley. Ridley was suspended “indefinitely” in 2022 for betting on NFL games while away from the Atlanta Falcons. Subsequently, the Falcons traded him at the deadline to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ridley was officially reinstated to the league in March 2023.

Ridley has been hard at work with the Jaguars as he prepares for his return to the NFL. Per the latest reports from the team, Ridley is “as advertised” and well on his way to returning to his pre-suspension dominance. While Ridley had a career year in 2020, he only played five games in 2021 before stepping away from the Falcosn for mental health reasons.

“I’ve been really impressed with Calvin,” Jags offensive coordinator Press Taylor told reporters. “I’ve watched every snap Calvin’s played in the NFL, just like a lot of our guys have, so we’re very confident in the player we’re getting. And then to be able to meet him in person, we’ve had a lot of people vouch for him going back to when we acquired him.”

Related: Former college star and NFL backup Ryan Mallett drowns in Florida

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Leonard Fournette Survives Fiery Incident On Highway

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Leonard Fournette is still waiting for his next destination in his NFL career. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent the first three seasons of his career in Jacksonville. While the last three have been spent in Tampa Bay. During his time with the Buccaneers, Fournette was a part of the franchise’s second Super Bowl victory. As the Bucs defeated the Kansas City Chiefs behind the stellar play of then-QB Tom Brady. However, all of that seems minuscule at the moment.

On Tuesday, Fournette was involved in a horrifying incident on a Florida highway. According to the reports obtained by ‘TMZ’ Fournette’s vehicle went up in flames while the former LSU star was driving. The issue stemmed from a mechanical mishap, not from a collision. The aftermath of the incident is Fournette’s vehicle completely in ash as the flames engulfed the entire vehicle. However, the running back walked away from the incident with no injuries. Check out the photos from the incident in the tweet shared below.

Read More: Tom Brady Shows Off Pro-Ready Physique During Greek Vacation

Fournette Walks Away From Scary Incident With No Injuries

Fournette took to his Instagram after the incident to share footage of his car torched. In his caption of the post, Fournette acknowledged how lucky he was. “Man it was one of those days today, but I would like thank God, my car caught on fire while I was driving, But I am still blessed.” The 28-year-old could have seen this play out in a much different way. Thankfully, everyone can be grateful that no damage was sustained by Fournette.

While his NFL career has yet to find its next chapter, Fournette can still be a valuable pickup. Last season was the most games the former Heisman candidate has played in his entire career, 16. However, football is the last thing on anyone’s mind at a time like this. Now is the time to appreciate what you have and to remember that all of this can be gone in the blink of an eye. For the latest news in sports, stick with us at HNHH.

Read More: Tom Brady Links Up With MrBeast, Shows His Arm Is Still Great

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Antonio Brown Explains Viral Gold Grill Photo From Central Michigan

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Antonio Brown has explained the background to the viral photo of himself flexing his golden grill while at the University of Central Michigan. Brown says that the photographer told him not to smile and that, in response, he shot back the meanest mug he could. Brown discussed the picture while appearing on Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s podcast, It Needed To Be Said.

“I had a permanent grill at the bottom, 8-pack and I just smiled, and the dude said, [Don’t smile],” said Brown. “So he pi**ed me off so much I gave him the meanest mug I could give him. I was really trying to scare him.”

Read More: Antonio Brown Lays Up Next To Woman Who Looks Like Gisele Bündchen

Antonio Brown Playing For The Bucs

TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 08: Antonio Brown #81 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on November 08, 2020, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Brown continued: “We had just won the championship, too, in 2007 for the school. So for me, I wanted to really put some swag in the picture. I had the pork chops. You know, I couldn’t really get a full beard at the time. So I had to give him a cr*zy mug like.”

Brown attended Central Michigan from 2007–2009. Elsewhere in the interview with Hill, Brown discussed his final game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He infamously stormed off the field in the middle of the third quarter without explanation.

Antonio Brown Explains The Viral Photo

“We (were) about to play the Jets and I am already hurt,” Brown said. “So I took pictures to send to the coach and told him ‘Look, If we’re going to win the Super Bowl I’m going to need to take these last two weeks to recover up so I can give you my best when we go to win the Super Bowl,’ but the coach called me saying that I wasn’t resting. So then Tom (Brady) called me and told me he’d hit me with 10-12 (passes), so he gassed me up, and that’s all I needed to hear. But you know as a player, if you f***ing up but your team needs you then you just suck it up for the game and for the team. I already know they were being fake to me the whole time I was there. I got suspended (for breaking Covid-19 rules) and I came back and they had some guys hurt, so they wanted to get everything out of me — they treated me like I’m a dog.”

Read More: Antonio Brown Hints NFL Return Amid Arena Football Drama

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SOURCE SPORTS: NFL Receives $78M in Loands From Minority Banks to Support Diversity in Business

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The NFL has announced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting diversity and economic opportunities. The league has secured a $78 million loan from 16 Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and minority- and women-focused banks. These funds will be utilized to foster business growth and expand opportunities for diverse enterprises across the United States. Bank of America played a crucial role in identifying these financial institutions, which are known for investing in diverse individuals, businesses, and communities.

By establishing relationships with these diverse financial institutions, the NFL aims to provide economic opportunities that are often only available to larger financial organizations. This strategic move will fuel growth and investment within the communities they serve and increase these institutions’ visibility and reach.

“The NFL is thoroughly committed to improving diversity across all aspects of the League, and that includes doing business with diverse suppliers and partners,” said Joe Siclare, Executive Vice President of Finance and League Policy at the NFL. “We are excited that this program, will help enhance the reach of these institutions while investing in the local communities that they serve.”

The league worked closely with Bank of America to design a three-year term loan facility that not only offers financial returns in the form of interest but also opens doors for future collaborations between the NFL, its clubs, and the partnering banks.

“The NFL consulted with Bank of America to establish this opportunity for diverse financial institutions,” said Elliott McCabe, Managing Director of Bank of America’s Sports Finance & Advisory Group. “We share a commitment to advancing diversity & inclusion and economic opportunity, and through this effort we will help provide these institutions with new opportunities to engage with the League and the local Clubs in their communities.”

To ensure the success of this initiative, the NFL and Bank of America sought guidance from the National Black Bank Foundation (NBBF), an esteemed organization known for providing legal, regulatory, and operational support services to Black-owned banks. The NBBF’s expertise has been invaluable in advancing the NFL’s commitment to diversity and social justice.

“Minority-focused banks, and especially Black-owned or operated banks, are trusted community partners that are more important now than ever given the challenges we are seeing across the country in banking,” said Ashley Bell, co-founder of National Black Bank Foundation. “The NFL’s decision to look for solutions beyond Wall Street and to the centers of hope along Main Street and MLK Jr. Drives will move the needle as others follow their lead.”

Through this visionary initiative, the NFL is championing economic inclusivity and fostering partnerships empowering diverse enterprises and communities nationwide. By collaborating with these financial institutions, the league is taking tangible steps toward a more equitable and prosperous future.

The Minority Depository Institutions, Community Development Financial Institutions, and minority and women-focused lenders that the NFL is partnering with include:

  • Adelphi Bank – Columbus, OH (MDI, Black or African American owned)
  • Agility Bank, N.A. – Houston, TX (MDI, Women-owned and led)
  • Asian Bank – Philadelphia, PA (MDI and CDFI, Asian or Pacific Islander American owned)
  • Central Bank of Kansas City – Kansas City, MO (CDFI)
  • Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company – Nashville, TN (MDI and CDFI, Black or African American owned)
  • Citizens Trust Bank – Atlanta, GA (MDI and CDFI, Black or African American owned)
  • City First Bank, National Association – Washington D.C. (MDI and CDFI, Board is majority African American)
  • First Independence Bank – Detroit, MI (MDI and CDFI, Black or African American owned)
  • FWBank, an Illinois Banking Institution – Chicago, IL (Women-owned, women-led and women-focused)
  • Industrial Bank – Washington D.C. (MDI and CDFI, Black or African American owned)
  • Mechanics and Farmers Bank – Durham, NC (MDI and CDFI, Black or African American owned)
  • Optus Bank – Columbia, SC (MDI and CDFI, Black or African American owned)
  • Ponce Bank – The Bronx, NY (MDI and CDFI, Board majority is Hispanic American)
  • Southern Bancorp Bank – Arkadelphia, AR (CDFI)
  • Texas National Bank – Mercedes, TX (MDI and CDFI, Hispanic American owned)
  • Unity National Bank of Houston – Houston, TX (MDI, Black or African American owned)

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Antonio Brown Hints NFL Return Amid Arena Football Drama

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Antonio Brown simply cannot stay out of the news. After his dramatic exit from the NFL in 2021, Brown made his return to football earlier this year after buying a majority stake in the Albany Empire, an arena football team in New York. However, drama has followed Brown like a shadow. There is an overarching mystery about just who actually owns the team. An investigation recently released that Brown is actually more akin to a mouthpiece for an ownership trust.

Furthermore, Brown’s tenure has been marred by scandal. Despite the Empire being two-time defending champions, they are 1-3 in the 2023 season. Furthermore, they lost a well-respected head coach after multiple payment deadlines were missed. That was followed by rumors that Brown will be suiting up for the team. Now more drama, and more rumors, have surfaced.

New Rumors, New Drama

ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Antonio Brown attends Friday’s at Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge on February 3, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

Let’s start with the drama. Brown recently had to eat humble pie after a local Italian restaurant claimed that the team walked out on a $700 tab. Eventually, after a days-long local media blitz, Brown visited the restaurant to pay the tab and offer an apology. However, that is not the end of the recent problems for the team. Brown has long claimed that he owns “95%” of the Empire. The other 5% is currently owned by a local couple, Charlotte and Steve von Schiller. The von Schillers purchased their stake last year but now want to be bought out due to the infamy that Brown’s ownership tenure. Furthermore, the von Schillers have indicated they are willing to pursue legal options if needs be.

However, Brown now has his eye back on the NFL. According to his agent, JR Rickert, Brown has been receiving “genuine” interest from NFL teams ahead of the 2023 season. “He is exploring the right fit,” his agent told CBS. “I think that he is a multi-talented individual who does everything at a high level,” Rickert continued, “and whatever he commits to, he goes all in.” Do you think an NFL team should re-sign Brown? Let us know in the comments.

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SOURCE SPORTS: NFL’s Inspire Change Initiative Hits $300 Million in Support for Social Justice

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NFL's Inspire Change Initiative Hits $300 Million in Support for Social Justice

The NFL today revealed that the league’s Inspire Change campaign had received more than $300 million in social justice donations from the NFL Family. This achievement comes as the NFL and the Players Coalition renewed 15 grant partnerships to encourage further improvements in police-community relations, criminal justice reform, education, and economic development.

“Players Coalition and the NFL have collaborated over the past five years through Inspire Change grants to help drive direct impact by supporting organizations at the frontlines of social justice and racial equity work,” said Anquan Boldin, co-founder of Players Coalition. “While the work is far from over, we look forward to advancing aligned partnerships with grant recipients and building on our continued partnership with the NFL to address priority social justice issues.”

“The NFL Family is proud to have contributed more than $300 million to support social justice efforts in communities across the country, but our work is far from over,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President, Social Responsibility. “The positive impact of this work is being felt every day, and we are committed to continuing our efforts with players, clubs, and our Inspire Change grant partners to break down barriers to opportunity and end systemic racism.”

You can see the impact of Inspire Change on organizations like Alabama Appleseed in the video here.

“There was no reason for the NFL to care about what was happening in Alabama except that they legitimately wanted to help solve problems,” said Carla Crowder, Executive Director of Alabama Appleseed. “The NFL gave us not only resources to hire more people, but a national platform to lift up the crisis around prisons, excessive punishment, and the human rights of incarcerated Alabamians.”

The Player-Owner Social Justice Committee, which consists of a 10-person panel of players, Legends, and team owners, recently approved the 15 renewal grants. Nonprofit groups that are bringing about measurable change in all four areas of Inspire Change are given grants.

You can learn more about the Inspire Change initiative here.

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