( MENAFN - The Conversation) Being an athlete while also being a mother often comes with challenges. On top of their professional and parental duties, athlete mothers often contend with inequalities and media coverage that reinforces stereotypes. Pregnancy and motherhood are reasons why some sportswomen end their careers . Many athletes grapple with Sport organizations that are unprepared to support them as mothers, alongside cultural pressures to focus on just motherhood. Yet, many athletes have pursued both motherhood and their athletic ambitions and gained professional success and media attention . Acceptance of motherhood and sport careers is shifting. The 2024 Paris Olympics supported athlete mothers by providing spaces for child care, and mothers in the Professional Women's Hockey League are gaining media attention. Media coverage of athlete mothers has been increasingly showcasing how they can have successful sporting careers . It also helps to expose inequalities as they push for support for their careers . These include limited information about training during pregnancy and postpartum, lack of support for family planning, inadequate maternity and child-care policies and insufficient support for identity and career changes. As part of our recently published research , we analyzed news and sport media coverage of 2020 and 2024 Olympic athlete mothers to reveal several themes. We also explored media reports about athlete mothers' sport comebacks . Our research reveals that sport media portrays the idea of being both an athlete and a mother as possible, but with challenges. Athlete mothers must often contend with social expectations that women should do everything for their children, including sacrificing career ambitions . Our research on media stories of boxer Mandy Bujold's and basketball player Kim Gaucher's 2020 Olympic journeys highlights how motherhood can be a penalty in sport . Bujold was returning to top form after giving birth, but the pandemic forced the International Boxing Federation to cancel all upcoming Olympic qualification events. They subsequently reverted to pre-pandemic rankings, which excluded Bujold, as she was on maternity leave. Gaucher was told there would be no children allowed at the Games. She was forced to choose between competing at the Olympics or staying home to breastfeed her daughter. After telling their stories in the media and hiring a lawyer, Bujold retained her ranking and Gaucher was able to bring her daughter to the Olympics to breastfeed her . These two examples highlight the inequitable treatment and stress athlete mothers have to face. They also show that motherhood and sport are compatible. When the media elevates sportswomen's fight for maternity rights, change is possible and celebrated. Our research on Olympic athlete mothers' sporting comebacks shows media stories featuring “super mums” as the stars . Super mums are portrayed as selfless providers of child-care who excel in motherhood and their athletic careers. The super mum character in media stories celebrates these sportswomen's accomplishments. However, the super mum narrative can also ignore the difficulties of balancing motherhood and sport without support. There is a lack of postpartum training guidelines among national and international sporting bodies, and lack of funding to support athlete mothers. The expectation that they have to be able to“do it all” can make any mother feel inadequate . Canadian freestyle skier Cassie Sharpe recently spoke about the pressure this narrative places on athlete mothers : Kenyan Olympic track athlete Faith Kipyegon revealed health issues and fears she had when coming back to sport. Kipyegon managed to train until she was about five months pregnant, but the delivery was traumatic. She needed an emergency C-section to deliver her daughter.“I was so afraid, [thinking], 'Maybe I will not come back, I will just disappear',” she said. These examples showcase the realities elite athlete mothers continue to face. Sports journalist Shireen Ahmed has written about how it is unreasonable to expect athlete mothers to be superwomen:“Yes, that is unrealistic, but sometimes that is what we are faced with. It doesn't always manifest gracefully, but there it is.” Ahmed's reporting of athlete mothers' stories is groundbreaking, as she celebrates their athleticism while exposing some of the challenges they face . While elite women athletes are applauded for their experience and success, they can also face a motherhood penalty in the form of reduced career expectations and support . Despite having experience or previous success, media stories often represent these athletes as exceptions who come back to their careers against all odds. This may reflect veteran athletes navigating an underestimated, but successful, postpartum comeback with less resources . When older athlete mothers do succeed, there is sometimes a shock and surprise narrative in media coverage. This narrative may reinforce stereotypes that motherhood ends fitness and competitive sporting goals. Veteran Canadian Olympian Malindi Elmore's marathon running performance qualified her for the 2020 Olympics, despite her age and her retirement from 1500 m running 17 years earlier. Last September, Elmore set a personal best in the marathon to qualify for Paris 2024 at 43, showing that continued career success as a mother is possible. Changing the way these comeback stories are discussed can reduce pressure for veteran athlete mothers coming back to sport. The themes from our research shows that media stories of motherhood and sport are shifting to celebrate women's sport careers. Media stories that reflect the realities of athlete motherhood and more diverse athlete mothers are needed. There should also be more coverage of racialized and LGBTQ+ mothers and athlete mothers with disabilities. Such coverage would reveal their shared and unique challenges and triumphs, and would offer a more fulsome portrayal of athlete motherhood. MENAFN23122024000199003603ID1109025347 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
With a new year ahead and the holiday fanfare behind, this is a great time to set money goals, especially if you recently spent a lot on gifts and travel and want to get your finances in shape. You’d be in good company, too — according to a January 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center, of the 30% of Americans who made at least one New Year’s resolution, 61% had a goal that was money-related. Right now, you may be highly motivated to solve every single one of your money issues in the next few months, but daily life is guaranteed to get in the way. Your financial to-do list, once so full of promise, can eventually get stuffed in the back of a drawer while you manage more pressing matters. The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions go unfulfilled. So how can you improve your odds of success? It comes down to accepting that you won’t have the time or energy to complete every task to perfection. Creating a system where you can prioritize, plan ahead and hold yourself accountable can help. Many start by setting a goal to trim frivolous costs, which can certainly be helpful, but there are other ways to make a big difference. Taylor Schult — a certified financial planner and founder of Define Financial, an advisory firm in San Diego — recommends starting with a few overlooked financial tasks. Freezing your credit is a quick, easy way to guard yourself against identity theft. It’s free to do, and you can temporarily lift the freeze when you’re applying for a loan or credit card. Schulte also suggests looking into umbrella insurance , which offers additional coverage beyond what your auto, homeowners and other insurance policies provide. This coverage can spare you from massive out-of-pocket costs in the event you get sued. Basic estate planning, including creating a will, is another thing to put high on your list. Putting off this task can create a major headache for your loved ones if something happens to you unexpectedly. “I know it’s a pain point and it’s often kicked down the road,” Schulte says. Paying attention to your spending is always important, but don’t neglect taking steps to protect your money, yourself and your loved ones. So many money goals are born out of social pressure. You “should” want to save up to own a home, even if you’re happily renting. You “should” sacrifice short-term needs and wants to stash away as much as possible for retirement, even though it leaves you feeling deprived. But money goals should be tied to the things that matter most to you. If they aren’t, you’ll quickly lose interest. “If you don’t know what goals to choose, go back to your values and have them guide the goals you set,” says Eric Roberge, a certified financial planner and founder of Beyond Your Hammock, a financial advisory firm in Boston. You can combine goal-setting with a little planning, so expenses are less likely to creep up on you throughout the year. Think about what expected costs will be coming up in the next six to 12 months, like recurring bills, vacations, anticipated home or car repairs, and other expenses. This approach allows you to set money aside each month to put toward planned costs, as well as longer-term goals. Forgetting your goals can be far too easy, so to make something stick, write it down . It can be as simple as a handwritten list you keep on the fridge, or online calendar reminders that will nudge you every so often. For time-sensitive goals, set deadlines. One tactic is to make multiple lists based on what you need to complete within the next week, month or three months. As time passes and you check off items, you can update the list. Enlist others’ help, too. Weekly or monthly household money meetings are useful if you’re completing financial tasks as a group. Or share your goals with a trusted friend or family member who can serve as an accountability partner. Looping in loved ones can help keep you on track. “We don’t mind letting ourselves down,” Schulte says. “But we hate to let other people down.” It’s easy to get stuck in decision-making mode when trying to pick a high-yield savings account, credit card or possible investments, but eventually, you need to make a good-enough choice . Taking action now can have more of a positive effect on your life than waiting until you’ve painstakingly considered each option. Roberge says that though he’d prefer to optimize every financial decision, he doesn’t because if he did, he wouldn’t get things done. “Everything in moderation is one of the things that I live by,” he says. “Going to extremes in any one thing, at the detriment of other things that are important, doesn’t work long-term.” More From NerdWallet Boost Your Credit Card Rewards This Holiday With a Few Extra Clicks Activating Your Credit Card? Don’t Skip the Mobile Wallet Step Should You Donate Your Points and Miles to Charity? Sara Rathner writes for NerdWallet. Email: srathner@nerdwallet.com . Twitter: @sarakrathner. The article Got Money Goals for the New Year? Stay on Track With These Tips originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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( MENAFN - Pressat) Urban Synergy, the award-winning charity supporting young people from under-represented communities, is honoured to represent Lewisham as the borough's chosen charity for 2024/25 at the prestigious London's New Year's Day Parade. Our float, themed“A Brighter Tomorrow: Powered by Youth and Innovation,” highlights the talents, creativity, and resilience of Lewisham's youth, reflecting Urban Synergy's mission to prepare young people for the careers of tomorrow-particularly in fields driven by education, technology, and innovation. Supported by Goldsmiths University, Lewisham Youth Theatre, and local artists from Lewisham Arthouse and performers alongside the Queens' Walking Group and the Skaters' Cabal, the float will offer a glimpse into the future through a vibrant display of music, movement, and design. Leila Thomas (she/her), CEO & Founder of Urban Synergy, and Lewisham Mayoress, said: “So often we hear about the cost of living crisis, food banks and crime. We'll be kick starting 2025 by celebrating young people in urban areas and their mentors, role models and our corporate supporters who are creating safer, happier communities. We are proud to represent Lewisham on such a prestigious platform.” Brenda Dacres (she/her), The Mayor of Lewisham, said: “Urban Synergy was named my Mayoral Charity for 2024 earlier this July, and I couldn't be prouder to support such an incredible organisation. They are an award-winning youth empowerment charity that has already transformed the lives of over 30,000 young people aged between nine and 24. “Urban Synergy inspires, guides, and empowers young minds, connecting them with mentorship, role models, and opportunities that open doors to dreams they might never have imagined. Their work is about lighting a spark of possibility in every young person they touch, building confidence, ambition, and a brighter future for the next generation.” Bilvilyn Asamoah (she/her), Lewisham Young Mayor, said:“As young Mayor, attending this parade is an opportunity to connect with our community and showcase our vibrant culture. I represent the voices of our young and I'm excited to highlight the importance of unity as we step into a new year together.” Victoria Shaskan (she/her), CEO of Lewisham Youth Theatre, said: “Lewisham Youth Theatre (LYT) uses creativity to widen young people's horizons, build their ambitions, and help them make 'an amazing transformation.' That's why we're thrilled to join Urban Synergy to represent the potential of Lewisham's young people in the London New Year's Day Parade.” Cllr Jacq Paschoud (she/her), Speaker of Lewisham Council, added: "It's fantastic that Lewisham has a float in this year's New Year's Day Parade, created by the young people and artists of Lewisham in partnership with Urban Synergy. This highlights the talent of our young people and the community's commitment to celebrating it, while also raising the profile of Urban Synergy, this year's Mayor's Charity, to audiences in London and beyond." Thank you brilliant ones Our thanks go to the artists of Goldsmith University artists for float design and build, and SQS Limited for donating their lorry for the parade. "SQS are a consistently generous supporter of our charity, and we appreciate everything they do for us, from giving young people work experience to being part of our events and a key sponsor throughout the year. Their commitment to diversity and social mobility are inspiring," said Leila Thomas. "This collaboration is a powerful testament to Lewisham's vibrant community spirit and its commitment to nurturing young talent." Urban Synergy is a mentoring charity that has supported more than 30,000 young people from underrepresented communities, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to achieve their full potential. For further information, visit . Press Contact: ... Urban Synergy Communications 00447711331127 MENAFN23122024004644010603ID1109025258 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
'Crazy cheap' Teslas hit the market as Hertz fire sale intensifies after error buying 100,000 EVs By JOE HUTCHISON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 14:49 EST, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 15:03 EST, 27 December 2024 e-mail 2 View comments Hertz's decision to buy 100,000 Teslas has backfired badly - but it does mean cheap EVs are up for grabs. The car rental giant began to sell off its stock of Teslas a year ago - due to a lack of demand from customers who prefer gas models. Bosses also said they wanted to offload the cars due to high repair costs. With slow demand, Hertz is being forced to sell the electric vehicles at steep discounts. In the past week, a Hertz customer shared a jaw-dropping deal on Reddit : a 2023 Tesla Model 3 for just $17,913 - less than half its retail price of $38,990. In January the company said that the proceeds from the sales would go to funding more gas powered cars. It is a departure from its previous target that 25 percent of its overall fleet would be electric by the end of 2024. In 2022, it said it would buy up to 65,000 EVs over five years from Polestar. That was just months after it ordered 100,000 cars from Tesla . The selling of the EV fleet aligns with a broader trend in the US auto market in which demand for electric cars appears to have fallen . The cut prices comes after a rocky financial year for Hertz who reported a wider-than-expected third-quarter loss and missed revenue estimates last month. The company has started to scale back the amount of the vehicles they have in their stock, citing higher repair costs In the last week, a Hertz customer shared to Reddit with a deal they received to purchase a 2023 Model 3 Tesla, for $17,913 - less than half its retail price of $38,990 The company recorded a $1 billion asset impairment charge during the quarter, citing a decline in fleet values, and an overall decline in car prices as consumers delay purchases in the current economy. In its latest report, market research firm Cox Automotive said that affordability remains a challenge for consumers, with fewer models for sale in the $15,000 price bracket, which is more popular among used car buyers. Hertz's depreciation per unit surged 89 percent to $537 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30 from a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, the company lost 68 cents per share compared with analysts' average estimate of a loss of 50 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG. In April, the company reported $392 million in losses for the first quarter with former CEO Stephen Scherr telling investors they 'continued to face headwinds related to our electric vehicle fleet'. Scherr said that the company's strategy going forward was to plan a reduction in EV's, and to sell 30,000 of them by the end of the year. The company recorded a $1 billion asset impairment charge during the quarter, citing a decline in fleet values Hertz brought superstar footballer Tom Brady, seen here, as part of their ad campaign to promote the EV's in their fleet It was a sharp u-turn on their 2021 plans to buy 100,000 of the cars, even enlisting the help of Tom Brady to promote the venture. In a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier this year, Hertz noted that the decision to sell the cars would likely cost around $245 million due to differences between their value at the end of 2023 and the prices for which they eventually sell. Depreciation of its electric vehicle fleet in recent years is another phenomenon Hertz has previously alluded to. Many of the Teslas it purchased were leased to Uber as part of a scheme that enabled drivers to rent them for the job, starting at around $330 a week. Although Teslas are a popular choice among cab drivers, there are various complications when it comes to renting one for a trip, such as limited range and a potential lack of access to charging stations. Tesla Reddit Share or comment on this article: 'Crazy cheap' Teslas hit the market as Hertz fire sale intensifies after error buying 100,000 EVs e-mail Add commentD’Angelo Russell may be providing an international twist. According to a report on Friday by BasketNews, the Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell is interested in playing for the national team of Lithuania. The report adds that Russell has already expressed his intention of representing Lithuania internationally in FIBA Tournaments as well as possibly in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. For context, Russell’s wife Laura Ivaniukas, whom he shares two children with, is of Lithuanian descent. That creates a pathway for Russell to become a citizen of Lithuania, which is needed to represent them internationally. Here are some of the photos that the couple have shared of one another on social media. A post shared by “Like Laura But Foreign” (@laura.iva) A post shared by “Like Laura But Foreign” (@laura.iva) A post shared by D'Angelo Russell (@dloading) The former All-Star Russell, 28, has seen his averages dip this season for the Lakers to a career-low 11.5 points per game. Russell was also recently demoted by the Lakers to the bench after a particularly bad game . Russell’s streaky, ball-dominant, and one-way style of play means he would be a big longshot to make the United States team for the 2028 Olympics as well as for other future international competitions. Thus, joining Lithuania instead could be a viable move for him, and Russell might even be able to recruit one of the Lakers’ reported trade targets who is on that team . This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.BOISE, Idaho — Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of double overtime and Jordan Hansen ended the game on a fourth-down sack to give Northern Illinois a 28-20 victory over Fresno State on Monday in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season. Holst, a freshman walk-on, was making just his third start at quarterback as NIU was without starter Ethan Hampton, who entered with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with six interceptions. Holst completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (8-5). He was also intercepted on the first play of the game. Both teams missed a 35-yard field goal in the final three minutes of regulation, including Dylan Lynch's third miss of the game on the final play to send it to overtime. People are also reading... Fresno State started overtime with a touchdown when Bryson Donelson was left wide open out of the backfield to haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass. NIU needed five plays, and a defensive holding penalty, to score as Holst found Grayson Barnes for a 3-yard touchdown. Donelson finished with 15 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-7). He added three catches for 28 yards and another score. Dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood was 16 of 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards to help go over 1,000 yards for the season. Fresno State was without 14 players, including starting quarterback Mikey Keene after he transferred to Michigan. Two top-three receivers, Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, also did not play as the Bulldogs were forced to use five new starters. UTSA 44, COASTAL CAROLINA 15: Owen McCown threw for 254 yards and a touchdown and UTSA scored the opening 27 points of the Myrtle Beach Bowl to cruise past short-handed Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. UTSA (7-6) broke away in the second quarter by scoring a touchdown on three straight drives for a 21-0 lead. McCown was 14 of 17 in the first half, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer. McCown also scored on a 35-yard run after breaking two tackles near the end zone. The other score was a 9-yard touchdown run by Brandon High. Coastal Carolina (6-7) finished the first half with just 140 total yards — 60 coming on the final drive. The Chanticleers punted on five straight drives to begin the game — with the longest possession lasting seven plays for 25 yards. UTSA added short field goals on its opening two drives of the second half, while Coastal Carolina started with two straight three-and-out drives. UTSA ended CCU’s third drive on Jakevian Rodgers’ first career interception to extend the program's single-game streak with an interception and a sack to 23 games. CCU’s first touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Bryson Graves caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tad Hudson. But UTSA’s Chris Carpenter returned the ensuing kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown to make it 34-7. It was the largest margin of victory in the five-year history of the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
The Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council presented Service to Labor Awards during its fifth annual Holiday Appreciation Breakfast at Avalon Manor in Hobart earlier this month. It recognized people and businesses for their commitment to Northwest Indiana, honoring those who have provided “exemplary service to the community and tireless efforts to preserve the quality of life in Northwest Indiana.” This year's awards went to the design/build construction firm ARCO/Murray, the steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs, St. John Town Councilman Christian Jorgensen and Building Trades Council Past President Dennis Hahney. “We appreciate the relationship we share with our local contractors, community leaders and industry,” said Randy Palmateer, the business nanager for the Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council. “It’s the trifecta that makes us successful with our highly trained, skilled local workforce.” Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts The Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council also partnered with the Construction Advancement Foundation to donate kids to children in needs. They collected more than $10,000 worth of toys during their annual toy drive. The toys were distributed to children in need via the Center for Possibilities in Hobart, the Gary-Merrillville Salvation Army and the Ross Township Trustee’s office in Merrillville. “We had bikes, dolls, games — a whole trailer full of stuff,” Palmateer said. “All were collected by labor and management working together for the kids of the Region.” NIPSCO also gave a $10,000 donation to Center for Possibilities, which assists both children and adults with developmental disabilities. “We really appreciate NIPSCO stepping up with that gift,” Palmateer said. “It’s going to have a big impact on the lives of those center helps.”
SEATTLE – The play that produced Justin Jefferson’s game-winning touchdown at Lumen Field on Sunday wasn’t necessarily meant to go to him. The Vikings lined up with Jefferson as one of three receivers on the left side of the formation, before motioning Jalen Nailor and Jordan Addison to the right side and leaving Jefferson alone. Coach Kevin O’Connell had talked with quarterback Sam Darnold about how the ball could go to Addison or T.J. Hockenson on the front side of the play, if the Seahawks “wanted to shove coverage over” to Jefferson. ”That was kind of a first on a pretty standard concept with a little window dressing or sauce on it, to make things look the same,” O’Connell said Sunday in Seattle after the Vikings’ 27-24 victory . “Justin has an innate feel for open grass and to go find it and to be so decisive with it that the quarterback feels it as he climbs the pocket, and you need a guy that can make that throw on the move in the pocket. “To place it where he did, what a moment.” Jefferson “got such a clean, good release on the inside” of cornerback Riq Woolen, and drove his route toward the sideline, away from safety Julian Love (who’d turned his hips toward the middle of the field). Darnold saw the same thing, and put the ball toward the sideline without setting his feet while he evaded pressure. “‘Jets’ is doing a great job of feeling that zone, and feeling the cloud [corner], to get a little bit of width to get away from the safety,” Darnold said. “I felt like I needed to give him a shot, put it on his back hip and let him do the rest.” The play produced the game-winning 39-yard touchdown, delivered the VIkings’ first victory in Seattle since 2006 and kept them in line for home-field advantage in the NFC if they win their final two games. It also stood out as an example of the Vikings’ ability to find answers against the split-safety coverage teams use to take Jefferson away. Save for a five-yard reception in the red zone, Jefferson caught all of his passes against split-safety coverage, posting 139 yards and scoring twice on nine catches where the Seahawks kept two safeties deep, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Entering Week 16, he’d posted 70 of his 82 catches against zone coverage (the third-most in the league, according to Next Gen Stats). In his last four games, he’s caught 31 passes for 448 yards, and scored five touchdowns in the past three games. During Jefferson’s Offensive Player of the Year season in 2022, O’Connell raved about routes like the one the receiver ran for a touchdown in a Week 16 win over the Giants, where he snapped off a route in front of safety Jason Pinnock for a key fourth-quarter score. Against the Falcons two weeks ago, he split two defenders off motion and beat Dee Alford for a 12-yard score that started his TD run. “Over three years of being defended so many different ways, he’s seen it all at this point,” O’Connell said Monday at TCO Performance Center. “[The plays are] not just lines on paper anymore. There’s an organic adjustment to some of the things we’re doing that has opened up part of the field for us. Sometimes we’re attacking it, other times we’re not. “But when we need that play, we can stack all the information gathered that day on top of the thousands upon thousands of reps of building that rapport, so those guys can make those plays in those moments.” On Sunday, it was clear Jefferson had the connection with Darnold to counter how the Seahawks wanted to defend him. Darnold hit Jefferson for a 27-yard gain on a deep crossing route, drifting to his left and throwing an on-the-move strike to Jefferson, who beat Josh Jobe across the field after Jalen Nailor’s pre-snap motion changed the Seahawks’ coverage rules and gave Jefferson inside leverage on Jobe while Jordan Addison’s deep route occupied the safeties. And the 39-yard score, Darnold said, was the result of the skills the Vikings’ defense forces him and Jefferson to practice. The range of the Vikings’ coverages means Darnold and Jefferson spend plenty of time trying to decipher coverage together and make sure they’re seeing things the same way. O’Connell said Sunday he wants Darnold and Jefferson “to have some freedom in those moments, especially,” to extrapolate beyond a play design based on what they’re getting from defenses. Their adjustments, though, aren’t backyard football. Their practice time is spent making sure Jefferson can adjust his route to a coverage without Darnold having to scrap the timing of a play. “It’s got to be something where there’s freedom and there’s some nuances to Justin being able to do the things he does, but at the same time, it’s got to fit with the progression and the eyes of the quarterback,” O’Connell said Monday. “And that’s where we’ve tried to grow. Whether it’s a core concept and we’re just making little tweaks to it, or it’s a brand new concept for the week, nothing doesn’t go through the filter of, ‘Is this going to be playable?’ Because that’s my number one pet peeve: to go back to that moment and say, with the clicker [reviewing the film] this morning, ‘Hey, why didn’t you throw it here or there?’ I just don’t believe in that.” On Sunday, the Vikings’ careful adaptations produced season highs for Jefferson in catches and yards, to go with his second two-TD game in three weeks. A month after the receiver seemed to tire of questions about what defenses had done to limit him, the Vikings appear to have found the answers. “We’re coming together,” Jefferson said Sunday. “We’re finding different ways to overcome adversity, overcome the different stuff that defenses have been throwing towards us. Sam has done a great job leading our offense. It’s the coaches calling plays, and us just making something work.”
So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidaysJustin: Why ‘Wicked’ is one of the most important films of all time