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Jaguars add TE Brenton Strange in 2nd round of NFL draft

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Penn State’s Brenton Strange with the 61st overall pick in the NFL draft Friday night, giving them a versatile tight end to pair with veteran Evan Engram at the position.Jacksonville let tight ends Chris Manhertz and Dan Arnold leave in free agency, creating holes in coach Doug Pederson’s offense. General manager Trent Baalke seemingly filled them by adding the 6-foot-4, 253-pounder with potential to be a matchup problem for defenses and a red zone option for Trevor Lawrence.He joins Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison in Jacksonville’s draft class. Jacksonville drafted Harrison with the 27th pick in the first round Thursday night. Strange had 32 catches for 362 yards and five touchdowns for the Nittany Lions last year. He finished his college career with 70 receptions for 755 yards and 11 scores in four seasons.He joins a position group that includes Engram, Luke Farrell and Gerrit Prince. Jacksonvil...

NFL draft first-round ratings higher than in 2022

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Viewership of the first round of the NFL draft was up 11% over last year, the league announced Friday.According to the league, an average of 11.4 million viewers watched the draft on TV and digital platforms. The average was 10.3 million in 2022.The total audience was 34.2 million, up from the 32.8 million who watched the year before.The quarterback-heavy draft class likely influenced the ratings. Three of the top four picks were quarterbacks, including Bryce Young who went at No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers.Only one quarterback was drafted in the first round last year and Kenny Pickett wasn’t taken until the 20th pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.ABC, ESPN and NFL Network are televising the seven-round draft, which ends Saturday.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLSource

DASH diet ranked No. 1 for heart health, report says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

The American Heart Association did a ranking of the 10 most popular diets for heart health and found that the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension or DASH diet was ranked No. 1 with a score of 100.It’s a diet that prioritizes vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and low-fat dairy, and it’s supported by doctors, clinicians and nutritionists.Also, it encourages “people to limit certain things like really salty foods, or fatty meats or foods that are rich in sugar, like soft drinks,” Washington Post health columnist Anahad O’Connor told WTOP.He added that the DASH diet is great because it’s adaptable and not extremely restrictive.“You can adopt it based on your personal or cultural preferences. It’s also not super expensive. It’s affordable,” O’Connor said.According to the report, a Mediterranean style diet was ranked No. 2 while the paleo and keto diets were ranked the two worst because they ...

Texans trade up to take Penn State C Scruggs in NFL draft

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston traded up to select Penn State center Juice Scruggs with the 62nd pick in the NFL draft Friday night. The Texans sent picks No. 65, 188 and 230 to the Eagles to move up and get their pick near the end of the second round. He joins Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was taken second overall, and Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who the Texans traded up to take third on Thursday night.The 6-foot-3, 301-pound Scruggs is a versatile lineman who played both guard and center at Penn State. He started 12 games last season and was selected to the All-Big Ten third team by coaches. He joins an offensive line led by left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who signed a three-year $75 million extension this offseason that made him the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL and will keep him in Houston through the 2026 season.Houston also had the 73rd pick late Friday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Source

Giants take center Schmitz in second round of NFL draft

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — After losing two centers to free agency, the New York Giants drafted center John Michael Schmitz of Minnesota in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night.Starter Jon Feliciano signed with the San Francisco 49ers and backup Nick Gates went to Washington.While the Giants have 14 offensive linemen on their roster and said they were confident one could play center, they opted to take Schmitz. He played five seasons with the Golden Gophers of the Big Ten Conference, starting his final 35 games.The selection was somewhat surprising because the Giants needed a deep threat at wide receiver and they chose a lineman with the 57th overall selection.New York selected Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks in the first round with the 24th pick overall. It has one pick in the third round, the 89th overall selection.Schmitz was described by the scouts as strong, tough and durable but not the quickest guy on his feet.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://...

Seahawks add edge Derick Hall, RB Zach Charbonnet in draft

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks added depth to their defensive front by selecting Auburn edge rusher Derick Hall with the 37th pick of the NFL draft on Friday night, and then added a running back later in the second round, taking UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet at No. 52 overall. Hall had 19 1/2 sacks in his final 36 games for the Tigers and will likely be an outside linebacker in Seattle’s defensive alignment. He was a first-team all-Southeastern Conference selection his final season, when he had 60 tackles, seven sacks and an interception. Hall is confident in his ability to flourish wherever the Seahawks plug him in, having played all over the field in college.“I did a lot,” Hall said. “These last two years, I was asked to do a lot of different things. I was on the line of scrimmage playing outside, I played (defensive) end, I played outside backer, I dropped, I rushed, I stepped back into (middle linebacker) position. … I was moved around a lot.”Hall was named a team capt...

Bills take Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence 59th in NFL draft

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills addressed its offense again Friday night in the second round of the NFL draft by selecting Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence with the 59th pick.Torrence is listed at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds and noted for never giving up a sack during his four-year college career. He spent his first three seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette before transferring to Florida for his senior year, when Torrence earned first-team All-America and All-SEC honors in 11 starts at right guard. Torrence has the potential to fill an immediate need after the Bills did not re-sign Rodger Saffold this offseason. Saffold started 16 games at left guard under a one-year contract last year. Starting right guard Ryan Bates returns, and Buffalo did sign guard Connor McGovern in free agency last month.The Bills opened the draft on Thursday night by providing Josh Allen another target by trading up two spots and making Utah’s Dalton Kincaid the first tight end taken off the board with the ...

Fundraiser set for fallen Denver restaurant workers

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A fundraiser has been set for two restaurant workers killed in Northwest Denver. Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and Ignacio "Nacho" Gutierrez Morales were shot and killed Monday at American Elm on 38th Avenue. The killer remains on the loose. Denver Police say robbery is a possible motive. The reward for information leading to the killer has been increased to $5,000.The fundraiser is set for 5 p.m. Monday at Hops & Pie at 39th Avenue and Tennyson Street. Reward increased in American Elm double homicide Gene Lucero is a North Denver native. He owns Bar 38, also on 38th Avenue. “'Why' is the big question," he said, "as to what transpired." Lucero said he has eaten at American Elm on a number of occasions. He plans to be at the fundraiser on Monday night. "I get concerned for my own employees. Well then, what, why? What do I need to do, as it relates to my employees? What should i do, even more, for safety purposes?" he said.

Animals from closed Puerto Rico zoo begin arriving in Colorado

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Hundreds of exotic animals are now on their way to Colorado after being rescued from a shuttered zoo in Puerto Rico.That zoo is closing following years of animal welfare complaints, leaving hundreds of animals in need of a new home."This zoo was not accredited, and it lost its USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) exhibitor license," Bert Vescolani said. "It's a rough situation." Colorado’s free public transit program got a boost Vescolani and the Denver Zoo will be rescuing three of those animals, including a kangaroo, a stork and a porcupine. They're expected to arrive at the zoo this weekend."Every single animal is important, and these will be no exception," he said.A sedated lion, housed in Puerto Rico’s only zoo, is transported to a cage in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Friday, April 28, 2023. Puerto Rico is closing the U.S. territory's only zoo following years of suspected negligence, a lack of resources and deaths of animals that were highlighted by activists....

Woman, teen hospitalized after shooting in Northwest Miami-Dade

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:52 GMT

Rescue crews have taken a woman and a teenage boy to the hospital after they came under fire in Northwest Miami-Dade.Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue units have responded to the scene of the shooting in the area of Northwest 80th Street and 11th Court, at around 9:20 p.m., Friday.7News cameras captured an active scene, as investigators combed the area for clues.Witness Shawn Taylor said she heard at least half a dozen shots fired.“We just heard shots and we seen numerous polices and ambulance just going berserk,” she said.When asked how many gunshots she heard, Taylor replied, “We heard about seven, eight shots. We heard ‘boom, boom, boom, boom.'”Investigators said the teen was shot or grazed in a lower extremity.Taylor said she heard gunfire in the same area about a week ago.“You know there’s a lot of killing, so the streets are real hot,” she said.Taylor said the incident took place in front of where her family lives. She said she h...