Kind of makes me want I used to be on spring break this week. Alas, it is time to hold working. Caffeinate and dominate, everybody.
Let’s have a very good Tuesday, lets?
YEAH, THAT’LL DO (MAYBE?). Trey Wingo broke the web on Monday, if solely briefly. Why is that? Because the previous ESPN tv and radio host and present podcast host of Trey Wingo Presents introduced a commerce between the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets involving Aaron Rodgers was “executed.”
That’s large information.
However, it was instantly disputed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who stated on a dwell broadcast of NFL Total Access that “nothing has occurred” concerning a deal between the Packers and Jets for the Super Bowl champion quarterback and four-time NFL MVP.
Buzzkill.
While the deal will not be official (but?), former Ohio State large receiver Garrett Wilson instantly rushed to Twitter upon listening to of Wingo’s report that Rodgers had been traded to the Jets. It’s clear that he can be in favor of getting a future Hall of Fame quarterback throwing him the soccer within the Big Apple. And actually, who would not?
Wilson later clarified he doesn’t but know whether or not Rodgers will really grow to be a Jet, although, and that he had merely seen the rumor on Twitter like everybody else.
Wilson received NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors for catching 83 passes on 139 targets for 1,103 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first season with New York. He did that with the likes of Zach Wilson – sure, the quarterback drafted 9 spots forward of Justin Fields – Joe Flacco and Mike White beneath heart.
Imagine what Wilson’s stats would seem like with Rodgers, who has a profession completion proportion of 65.3% and has collected over 59,000 passing yards and 475 touchdowns to solely 105 interceptions from 2005-22.
Yeah, I wish to see that.
For Wilson’s sake, I hope it occurs, and by all accounts, it seems doubtless that it’ll. We simply want to attend patiently till the deal turns into formally official.
BRUCE THORNTON, EVERYONE. As the 2022-23 season wound down for Ohio State males’s basketball, head coach Chris Holtmann wanted constant manufacturing from any person… anyone… to assist the Buckeyes climb out of the deep, darkish pit they discovered themselves in after shedding 14 of 15 video games in January and February.
Like Batman in “The Dark Knight Rises,” Bruce Thornton – metaphorically talking – noticed the sunshine from the underside of Ohio State’s pit, scaled the wall and reached the highest as Holtmann and his employees chanted “Rise.” And as all good level guards ought to do, he tossed the rope down and led his crew out of the darkness.
No, however in all seriousness, the Buckeyes’ late-season enchancment was primarily attributable to Thornton’s efforts within the stretch run. His performances between Ohio State’s loss to Michigan and the crew’s ultimate loss to Purdue deserve loads of reward, because the Alpharetta, Georgia, native slowly however certainly pushed via the freshman wall to grow to be what seemed like a seasoned vet by the season’s finish.
In that stretch, Thornton began in all 13 video games for Ohio State and averaged 14.5 factors on 51.4% capturing, together with a 36.7% clip from deep, in these contests. He additionally added 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per sport because the Buckeyes amassed a 5-8 document.
At the Big Ten Tournament, Thorton was one of many main sources of offense for Ohio State – if not the main supply of offense – together with Justice Sueing, Brice Sensabaugh and, within the ultimate two video games, Roddy Gayle.
Thorton’s statistical averages elevated to fifteen.5 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per contest as he led the No. 13-seeded Buckeyes to an inconceivable 3-1 document and helped this system grow to be the bottom seed ever to succeed in the semifinal spherical of the Big Ten Tournament. Thorton earned a spot on the Big Ten’s All-Tournament crew for his efforts.
As Ohio State on BTN acknowledged within the tweet above, the long run seems shiny in Columbus. That is due to Bruce Thornton, whose resolution to push via adversity and overcome hardship in his first season has created surprising optimism across the Ohio State program regardless of having considered one of its worst seasons in current reminiscence.
I, for one, am excited to see the place Thornton takes the Buckeyes. If Gayle, Felix Okpara and incoming items Taison Chatman, Scotty Middleton, Devin Royal and Austin Parks can develop equally – hopefully, earlier than late February, in fact – Ohio State might be in for a a lot better season in 2023-24.
MIYAN WILLIAMS IS LIMITLESS. Over the previous three years, Miyan Williams has grow to be a fan-favorite participant at Ohio State. His hard-nosed, downhill-run fashion resonates properly with these in Buckeye Nation.
On Monday, a NIL company known as Limitless introduced a partnership with Williams forward of his fourth season with the Buckeyes. Limitless is a fairly becoming identify for Williams, as he has persistently exceeded expectations at Ohio State. Whenever a wall stands earlier than him, he runs via the barrier at full pace.
Coming off a profession 12 months at Ohio State by which he collected 825 yards and 14 touchdowns, there was an opportunity Williams might have departed for the NFL after 2022. However, he determined to stay round for an additional season in Columbus, which may imply one final journey for the Cincinnati native in a scarlet and grey uniform. That stated, having NIL illustration is smart for the previous three-star.
From Pete Nakos of On3:
“We had a lot of respect for him for a long time,” Limitless director of recruiting Aeneas Hawkins instructed On3. “Reached out to him recently and found some synergy, some space in which we thought we could help him with his NIL experience while he wrapped up his college career. Definitely excited to have him on board.”
Launched by former Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford this previous April, Limitless has expanded from simply three athletes to just about 50 and rising. Clifford and a number of staff of the company are from Cincinnati, identical to Williams. The frequent floor made for a straightforward connection between the 2 events.
Clifford offered Limitless NIL to TEAM Group Holdings in February, however he and his companions are nonetheless operating the day-to-day operations. The present Limitless NIL roster features a handful of Penn State gamers. Former Ohio State defensive finish Zach Harrison additionally labored with the group.
Nakos additionally wrote that Williams’ cope with Limitless will primarily deal with increasing his private model, together with a clothes line known as “Never Been Regular” that Williams launched in October. Williams will even have entry to monetary advisers at Beacon Pointe, a monetary advisory agency.
“There’s a good combination of factors going for him,” Hawkins stated. “He’s one of the better running backs in college football, one of the best. And he’s playing for one of the best teams in college football. He’s a guy who’s performed at a high level on the biggest stages that college football has to offer. So, yeah, absolutely, we think he’s more marketable than the standard college football player. … But, you know, he’s also a great dude. He’s a great ambassador for the university, so felt like it was a no-brainer.”
Off the heels of an ideal NIL deal between Marvin Harrison Jr. and Monarc Sport to advertise Monarc’s Seeker pass-catching machine, Williams’ cope with Limitless continues a sizzling streak for identify, picture and likeness alternatives for Ohio State’s gamers. For followers of the soccer program, that needs to be as encouraging an indication as any for retaining gifted gamers and recruiting highschool prospects sooner or later.
Hopefully, Ohio State’s gamers, the NIL divisions throughout the athletic division and the collectives can hold the ball rolling like this sooner or later.
ANOTHER ENDORSEMENT FOR JSN. Earlier this month, former NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl large receiver Steve Smith Sr. endorsed Jaxon Smith-Njigba because the No. 1 pass-catcher within the 2023 draft. He claimed JSN’s physique management and soccer IQ as the first causes coaches and executives will love the Ohio State product.
Last week, one other NFL Pro Bowler added his seal of approval for Smith-Njigba, doubling down on what Smith stated about his physique management and soccer IQ and including that his pace – the first query NFL personnel have about JSN – is not as vital an element as some make it out to be.
“He is my primary receiver… It’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Period, level clean. There’s nothing he cannot do in an NFL sport proper now should you put him on the sphere. I do know he thrives within the slot, however I imagine he may be profitable on the surface as properly. His house and the place he operates finest is in the midst of the sphere, and he does it higher than a whole lot of guys which are within the NFL, even now at this stage of his younger profession that has not even began. This child simply has it. If you possibly can have the sport decelerate due to your sensible, your savvy, your understanding of what it’s that you’re anticipating defenses to do and you’ll be able to regulate, his pace does not matter. He by no means modifications or shifts gears. When you perceive what defenses are going to do, (you) do not should be the quickest. I simply need to know methods to get open. He does that higher than anybody on this draft.”
“The child simply has it.”
I like that approach of describing a expertise like Jaxon Smith-Njigba. It actually works for most of the NFL gamers Ohio State has produced during the last decade and alter. Players like Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Denzel Ward, Chase Young, Justin Fields, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, amongst many, many others, all had “it,” and plenty of nonetheless have “it” even to at the present time.
When the NFL draft begins on April 27, I count on C.J. Stroud, who additionally has “it,” to be one of many first gamers drafted, maybe even with the No. 1 general decide. While I would not count on Smith-Njigba to be taken that prime, I do not suppose he’ll be ready for very lengthy. If he’s, the crew that has him fall into their lap will probably be a really fortunate franchise for years to come back.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Empire State of Mind” by JAY-Z ft. Alicia Keys.
CUT TO THE CHASE. How this little see-through fish will get its rainbow shimmer… Japan courtroom orders retrial for 87-year demise row ex-boxer… At the 2023 Oscars, films made a comeback… Alabama’s spring sport kicked off nationwide tv in favor of Deion Sanders and Colorado… Why can we love tales concerning the finish of the world?
