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Several years ago, during Donald Trump's first administration, Fox News weekend host Pete Hegseth was vetted for undersecretary positions, and a Senate staffer for a Republican official worked on the background check. What he found was enough to persuade him against the nomination. Justin Higgins, the former policy advisor to Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), told MSNBC that many of the more recent allegations happened after his office vetted Hegseth. He also said that they did a political vetting, not a criminal one, and not one that would examine national security concerns. At the time, Higgins said that Hegseth was being vetted for a few undersecretary roles at the Department of Defense and a few undersecretary positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs. ALSO READ: 'It's offensive': Multiple senators object to Trump's plan to usher in Pete Hegseth "It was taking public information and searching through all of the public records, public statements he's made, financial records, legal statements, and it appears to me based on my vetting experience that a lot of these new allegations came from amazing investigative reporting that resulted in tips," said Higgins, who has since switched parties. He said that as a result they never saw the information that is coming out now. However, even in 2016, Huelskamp's office could see "how uniquely unqualified he was based on his resume alone." "They would give us a list of a person to vet and potential positions they were being looked at," he recalled. For Hegseth, "the reason was pretty clear: he has no experience working with Congress on creating and passing a large budget. He has no experience running or working in a large bureaucracy where he's in a senior position in that bureaucracy. And lastly, military policy experience, i.e., how do we modernize the military in the 21st century with the rise of AI, and also foreign policy experience. This gentleman has none of that." The interview came after reporters told MSNBC there are new accusations about possible drunken behavior while working for nonprofits. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin frequently answers calls in the middle of the night with military emergencies. "There have got to be Republican senators, senators asking themselves, 'Do I want somebody who maybe might have a drinking problem? Maybe might not be altogether with it at all hours, making those decisions?'" speculated host Katy Tur. Hegseth has denied all of the allegations against him. See the comments below or at the link here . - YouTube youtu.beCyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on biggest day for online shopping
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Sean Dyche said Nottingham Forest ’s surprise achievers are reaping a reward for bringing Chris Wood back to life as he paid tribute to his former Burnley forward for answering his critics. Wood has scored 10 Premier League goals, a total exceeded only by Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer and Alexander Isak, to help Forest go third with their Boxing Day win over Tottenham. Dyche made the New Zealand international Burnley’s record buy when he paid Leeds £15m for the striker in 2017 and Wood went on to become the Clarets’ record scorer in the Premier League with 49 goals. He now has the same status with Forest after proving prolific for Nuno Espirito Santo , but only after a time at Newcastle where he only got five goals in 39 appearances and a slow start to his life at the City Ground. And Dyche, whose Everton team host Wood’s Forest on Sunday, was quick to praise the high-flying side, saying: “I have been impressed by what they’ve been doing – very organised, working to plan the counter and break and defend well. They’ve done that very well. They’ve brought to life Woody, who I know well, and the goals he’s been scoring, and they’ve turned into a very strong outfit.” Dyche sees similarities in how Nuno is using Wood and how he did during their time together at Turf Moor as he said the striker’s attitude is a key factor in his revival. “Possibly his maturity in the game, his knowledge of the game,” he added. “He’s got a different format they’re working to there which seems to be to his liking. He’s got wide players, they’ve got a strength behind them, and they get the ball up to him quickly. “That seems to be a thing that’s good for him and not massively dissimilar to what we were trying to achieve at Burnley. But yeah, I think a lot of credit to him, credit to his professionalism to keep on top of himself. He had a quiet spell when he first went there and [there were] a few question marks over him. That can happen with strikers. He’s had that before and he’s come through it. Certainly a very good player, and someone I’ve got a lot of respect for.”NoneGainey McKenna & Egleston Announces A Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Customers Bancorp, Inc. (CUBI)
President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction
TRENTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 27, 2024-- Jackpot.com , the online website and app that allows individuals to safely and securely order official state lottery tickets and scratchers from their mobile phone and other devices, announced today that a New Jersey resident has won a $2 million dollar Powerball prize after purchasing a ticket on the Jackpot.com app. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241227524088/en/ Ordering Mega Millions tickets via the Jackpot.com app has never been easier. (Graphic: Business Wire) This latest claimed prize comes amid a surging Mega Millions jackpot that now sits at $1.15 billion. The lucky player, who wishes to remain anonymous, is still relatively new to the Jackpot.com app, though they experienced some quick luck, scoring a massive win just three weeks after signing up with the lottery courier. “This time of year is always busy for the lottery industry, and now even more than usual given all the buzz around the over one billion dollar Mega Millions jackpot, but it’s great to celebrate any life-changing win,” said Akshay Khanna, CEO and co-founder of Jackpot.com . “For those who have yet to purchase lottery tickets online via Jackpot.com , don’t wait! We are very excited to award this prize to our winner and hope people continue to leverage the ease and accessibility of ordering lottery tickets digitally, you never know if you’ll be the next winner.” Jackpot.com has launched a special promotion for new players that join the website or app, giving a FREE Mega Millions ticket on their first play by using promo code XMAS. This latest prize is part of a flurry of activity within the lottery industry that took place over the course of 2024. The record-breaking year started off strong as a once-in-a-lifetime $842.4 million Powerball jackpot was won on New Year’s Day, shortly followed by a second lucky winner that took home a $1.13 billion Mega Millions prize in March, and a $1.326 billion Powerball jackpot that was won in April, all of which signify some of the largest prizes ever awarded. Following its New Jersey launch in May 2024, Jackpot.com has become one of the major players in the Garden State lottery landscape, contributing to a fiscal year 2024 sales amount totaling $3.63 billion, the fourth-highest sales result in the New Jersey Lottery’s history. Currently live in eight states (AK, AZ, CO, MA, NJ, NY, OH, TX) with more on the way, Jackpot.com has significantly invested in responsible gaming protocols and player safety by allowing customers to set limits on both spending and daily deposits, as well as providing access to local and national responsible gambling resources, self-exclusion, self-suspension and automated notifications that offer help should problematic behavior be detected. Jackpot.com is also the only lottery courier service to launch with iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling. About Jackpot.com Jackpot.com allows customers to order official state lottery tickets from their mobile phone, tablet, or computer. Currently available in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Arkansas, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Texas, Jackpot.com is expanding its safe and secure lottery courier service to additional markets across the US. An Associate Member of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), Jackpot.com has invested significantly in responsible gaming safeguards, with default spending limits and other features built in throughout the experience, earning it iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gaming. To learn more, visit www.jackpot.com or download the iOS or Android app. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241227524088/en/ jackpot@5wpr.com KEYWORD: NEW JERSEY UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT APPS/APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ONLINE MOBILE/WIRELESS CASINO/GAMING SOURCE: Jackpot.com Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/27/2024 01:00 PM/DISC: 12/27/2024 01:03 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241227524088/en
Justin Tucker's erratic season isn't getting any better, and it's hurting Baltimore's outlookCalifornia to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sitesThe Bank of England will be vigilant over the possibility that investors will take greater risks after a year of relative stability in markets, Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden said on Monday. Ramsden, who is head of markets at the BoE and in charge of its balance sheet, said there had been no major bank failures or bouts of market dysfunction in 2024, even though political events had stoked volatility. “I am ... mindful that whilst this has been a year of relative stability, that is never a sign that we should get complacent,” Ramsden said in a speech at the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, a think tank. “As famed economist Hyman Minsky once said, ‘stability breeds instability’ and the comparatively calmer market conditions of this year could lead to greater risk-taking in future,” Ramsden added. Britain’s government bond market – the subject of a meltdown in 2022 triggered by then-Prime Minister Liz Truss’s unfunded tax cuts and exacerbated by the structure of pension funds – was functioning in an orderly manner, Ramsden said. But he added vulnerabilities remained around the leverage of hedge funds and the concentration of the market – something the BoE would watch carefully. Last month the BoE said financial firms outside the banking system, such as hedge funds, remained vulnerable to a sudden financial shock and would not all be able to access the funding they would need in such a crisis. Ramsden’s speech also touched on the Contingent Non-Bank Financial Institution Repo Facility (CNRF), a new financial stability tool that insurers and pension funds will be able to use during severe turbulence in the gilt market. He said he understood why these companies were interested to know the circumstances under which BoE would activate the CNRF, but he said the central bank could not give a definitive list, given how market dysfunction can arise in different ways. “What I can say is that the Bank will draw on a mix of quantitative and qualitative information to assess whether the conditions for activating the CNRF are met,” Ramsden said. Source: Reuters (Writing by Andy Bruce, Editing by William Schomberg)
HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70 Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.NEW YORK — A Marine veteran who used a chokehold on an agitated subway rider was acquitted on Monday in a death that became a prism for differing views about public safety, valor and vigilantism. A Manhattan jury cleared Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely’s 2023 killing. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed last week because the jury deadlocked on that count. Both applause and anger erupted in the courtroom as the verdict was read, and Neely’s father and two supporters were ushered out after audibly reacting. Another person also left, wailing with tears. “It really, really hurts,” Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, said outside the courthouse. “I had enough of this. The system is rigged.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the Democrat whose office brought the case, said prosecutors “followed the facts and the evidence from beginning to end” and respect the verdict. There was no immediate comment from lawyers for Penny, who rushed to a waiting car after the verdict. Penny’s attorneys claimed he was protecting himself and other subway passengers from a volatile, mentally ill man who made alarming remarks and gestures. The case amplified many American fault lines, among them race, politics, crime, urban life, mental illness and homelessness. Neely was Black. Penny is white. There were sometimes dueling demonstrations outside the courthouse, including Monday, when chants could be heard through the window ahead of the verdict. Penny, 26, served four years in the Marines and went on to study architecture. Neely, 30, was a sometime subway performer with a tragic life story: His mother was killed and stuffed in a suitcase when he was a teenager. As a younger man, Neely did Michael Jackson tributes on the city’s streets and subways. But Neely also struggled with mental illness after losing his mother, whose boyfriend was convicted of murdering her. He subsequently was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia and was repeatedly hospitalized. Neely told a doctor in 2017 that being homeless, living in poverty and having to “dig through the garbage” for food made him feel so hopeless that he sometimes thought of killing himself, hospital records show. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
2025 Audi A6 e-tron reviewUs Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more! The holiday season is in full swing, proving that it truly is the most wonderful time of the year. While many of Us spend our time spreading festive cheer and good wishes, the weather often begins to plummet. Bah humbug, indeed! In preparation for the winter, we’ve already stocked up on cozy but chic outerwear inspired by celebrities and plush loungewear to keep Us warm when we’re spending time at home. If you’re looking for another seasonal essential to add to your wardrobe, don’t forget about winter footwear. Of course, we compiled a helpful list to get you started. From house slippers to workout-friendly hiking boots, we’ve got you covered! Check out our top picks ahead. 1. Our Absolute Favorite: These burgundy snow boots have a metallic-like glow. They have a non-slip rubber sole, making them a perfect option for wintertime hiking and camping — was $46, now just $28! 2. Cozy Foldover: These plush booties have a comfy foldover design sure to keep your ankles warm — $26! 3. Button Down Cutie: These ankle booties are perfect for indoor or outdoor wear. They’re ultra cozy and feature a cute button design on the cable knit-style fabric — was $43, now just $19! 4. Classic Silhouette: These waterproof boots have the classic snowboot design, but feature cozy fabric for additional warmth — was $49, now just $27! 5. Trending Topic: These ankle boots come in a chic silhouette that looks just like a designer without the expensive price tag — was $44, now just $33! 6. Lovely Loungewear: Upgrade your house shoes with the help of these plush, luxe-looking slippers . They come in a slew of shades ranging from neutral hues to lively animal print — $19! 7. Olive It: Do you live in an area notorious for random rain showers? These olive-colored rain boots are a chic way to stay dry— $40! 8. Everyday Wear: These winter boots have plush linings that will keep your feet warm during your daily commute to work—$26! Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News 9. Celeb-Loved Style: These Rachel Roy platform slippers feature a faux shearling fabric and has a platform sole for additional height — was $34, now just $10!
CT officials hail state finances as pension fund hits $60 billionJudge denies Musk $56 billion Tesla compensation packageIsrael threatened on Tuesday to return to war in Lebanon if its truce with Hezbollah collapses, and said this time its attacks would go deeper and target the Lebanese state itself, after the deadliest day since the ceasefire was agreed last week. In its strongest threat since the truce was agreed to end 14 months of war with Hezbollah, Israel said it would hold Lebanon responsible for failing to disarm militants who violate the ceasefire. "If we return to war we will act strongly, we will go deeper, and the most important thing they need to know: that there will be no longer be an exemption for the state of Lebanon," Defense Minister Israel Katz said. "If until now we separated the state of Lebanon from Hezbollah... it will no longer be [like this]," he said during a visit to the northern border area. Despite last week's truce, Israeli forces have continued strikes against what they say are Hezbollah fighters ignoring the agreement to halt attacks and withdraw beyond the Litani River, about 30 km (18 miles) from the frontier. On Monday, Hezbollah shelled an Israeli military post, while Lebanese authorities said at least 12 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon. Another person was killed on Tuesday by a drone strike, Lebanon said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said any infraction of the truce would be punished, however small. "We are enforcing this ceasefire with an iron fist," he said ahead of a cabinet meeting in the northern border city of Nahariya. "We are currently in a ceasefire, I note, a ceasefire, not the end of the war," he added. DIPLOMACY Top Lebanese officials urged Washington and Paris to press Israel to uphold the ceasefire, after dozens of military operations on Lebanese soil that Beirut has deemed violations, two senior Lebanese political sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The sources said caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a close Hezbollah ally who negotiated the deal on behalf of Lebanon, spoke to officials at the White House and French presidency late on Monday. Mikati, quoted by the Lebanese news agency, said that diplomatic communications had intensified since Monday to stop Israeli violations of the ceasefire. He also said a recruitment drive was under way by the Lebanese army to strengthen its presence in the south. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters on Monday that the ceasefire "is holding" and that the U.S. had "anticipated that there might be violations". The truce came into effect on Nov. 27 and prohibits Israel from conducting offensive military operations in Lebanon, while requiring Lebanon to prevent armed groups including Hezbollah from launching attacks on Israel. It gives Israeli troops 60 days to withdraw from south Lebanon. A mission chaired by the United States is tasked with monitoring, verifying and helping enforce the truce, but it has yet to begin work. Lebanon's Mikati met in Beirut on Monday with U.S. General Jasper Jeffers, who will chair the monitoring committee. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that France's representative to the committee, General Guillaume Ponchin, would arrive in Beirut on Wednesday and that the committee would hold its first meeting on Thursday. "There is an urgency to finalize the mechanism, otherwise it will be too late," one of the sources said, referring to Israel's gradual intensification of strikes despite the truce.
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save EDITOR'S NOTE: On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. No one wants to see any player take a vicious hit like the one that knocked Trevor Lawrence out of the game. It’s easy to agree on that point. Eliminating violent shots is the hard part. The NFL has instituted several rules to protect quarterbacks but football is a physical sport and players have to react instantly and make split-second decisions going at high speeds so injuries keep occurring. Lawrence was carted off the field in the first half of Jacksonville’s 23-20 loss to Houston on Sunday after Azeez Al-Shaair leveled the defenseless quarterback with a forearm to the facemask. The late hit put Lawrence in the fencing position — both fists clenched — and he stayed on the ground for several minutes, while a brawl ensued. Lawrence didn’t require hospitalization for his concussion but it’s unknown when he’ll return. 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The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County 2 bucks illegally killed with crossbow in Corvallis OSU football: Three takeaways from Oregon State's loss at Boise State Prosecutor: Driver on laughing gas caused double fatal in Sweet Home Linn County deputy resigns during menacing case More allegations against ex-OSU coach OSU women's basketball: Marotte takes a more aggressive approach on offense OSU football: Boise State's pass rush is formidable Recently made-over park sees this change after Albany got an earful A busy day: A series of crashes in Sweet Home OSU football: Preview and prediction for regular-season finale against Boise State Strike to end, GAPS reaches tentative deal with Albany teachers UPDATED: GAPS teacher strike NOT off after talks over returning to the classroom break down OSU football: Bray expects Johnson to see action against Boise State “Thank you to everyone who has reached out/been praying for me,” Lawrence wrote on X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.” Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and faces a fine and potential suspension after his latest unsportsmanlike penalty. The Texans' linebacker was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline that wasn’t flagged. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Lawrence was injured on the play. Al-Shaair once got away with grabbing Tom Brady by the throat on a pass rush in a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers. Outraged Jaguars players called Al-Shaair’s hit “dirty” and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans made it known he didn’t condone it. “It’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. Unfortunate play. Not representative of who Azeez is. He’s a smart player, really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there. His loss really affected us on the defensive side. Just not what we’re coaching. Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath. That’s not what we’re about. Not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it.” Fox Sports color analyst Daryl Johnston, a former fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t hold back his criticism, calling it a “cheap shot.” “It’s everything you’re not supposed to do,” Johnston said. “Everything. You’ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you’re trying to prevent in this situation. It’s reckless. It’s disrespectful. There’s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field and you respect him. And there’s opportunities to be physical and give big hits and play this game in that manner. And there’s other times when there’s a respect that you grant to your opponent.” Some former NFL quarterbacks blasted Al-Shaair on social media. “There is no place in the game of football for dirty hits like this one,” Robert Griffin III wrote on X. Chase Daniel called it “one of the dirtiest hits” he’s ever seen on a quarterback. Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, right, jumps on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after his late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, bottom, during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Even defensive players struggled to defend Al-Shaair. “That was uncalled for,” Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan said on Fox’s studio show while fellow Hall of Famer Howie Long agreed. But the play also sparked debate about the quarterback slide. Lawrence slid feet first, which signals that he’s giving himself up on the play. The NFL rulebook states: “A defender must pull up when a runner begins a feet-first slide.” But defensive players aren’t automatically penalized if they make contact with a sliding quarterback if they already committed and the contact is unavoidable. The rules state it’s a foul when “the defender makes forcible contact into the head or neck area of the runner with the helmet, shoulder, or forearm, or commits some other act that is unnecessary roughness.” Al-Shaair did that so he was penalized and will face other repercussions. Still, given the hard-hitting nature of the sport, it won’t be the last time this happens. Here are the 10 best NFL rookie quarterbacks since 1960 Caleb Williams is the most anticipated NFL rookie When Caleb Williams took the field for the Chicago Bears' first regular season game against the Tennessee Titans, the anticipation for the rookie's debut game—possibly the most ever—was on full display. Despite a tough debut for the quarterback, the Bears secured a 24-17 win, a notable feat for the rookie. The victory made Williams the first #1 overall pick with a Week 1 win in over 20 years. Going forward this season, Williams is expected to eclipse C.J. Stroud's record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign with the Houston Texans. However, Stroud's success is an anomaly. Drafting a successful quarterback, especially one who is effective right away, is difficult. When teams have a high first-round draft pick, and they're coming off an unsuccessful few seasons, it's assumed that they will use their first pick on a quarterback . That player will assume the title of "the face of the franchise" and will get the central attention, win or lose. To see which quarterbacks have faced that challenge and triumphed, ATS.io compiled a ranking of the 10 best rookie quarterbacks since 1960 using data from StatHead . Rookies were defined as players who are in their first season of professional football and have not been on the roster of another professional team. Quarterbacks were ranked according to adjusted net yards per pass attempt, which quantifies efficient passing skill. Ties were broken using passer rating. Only rookie quarterbacks with at least 10 games played and 200 total passing attempts were considered. Since 1967, 130 quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. Of those drafted, only 61 have won a playoff game as a starter, according to The Athletic, which used data from NFL Research . The biggest reason this success rate is not guaranteed is because there are differences between college and pro offensive systems. In the collegiate game, the ball is snapped at different points on the field, passing windows are wider, and defenders and linemen are not as quick, making the adjustment to the pro level more difficult. NFL scouts and general managers are gambling on what skills can be transferable and how long those adjustments might take, which is why some teams prefer redshirt quarterbacks to ease the transition. However, just because a team may not want to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, doesn't mean they can't find a diamond in the rough later in the draft. Think about Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Dak Prescott, all of which were not first-round picks, but have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL. #10. Gardner Minshew (2019) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.44 - Passer rating: 91.2 - Season stats: 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions Coming out of college, Gardner Minshew was not a highly sought-after quarterback for NFL teams. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 draft—a draft that was headlined by Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Daniel Jones. Nonetheless, Minshew's rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars was filled with many accomplishments. He won Rookie of the Week seven times despite not winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Minshew also had the highest passer rating of any rookie quarterback that started in 2019. #9. Baker Mayfield (2018) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.77 - Passer rating: 93.7 - Season stats: 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions Pressure was high for Baker Mayfield as the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. When he joined the Cleveland Browns, there was an expectation that once the team figured out the quarterback position, it could be playoff-ready. After trading for Jarvis Landry, a young wide receiver from the Miami Dolphins, in the offseason, the Browns were on their way. Mayfield's rookie season was filled with many firsts, and the Landry-Mayfield connection filled the stat sheet. Mayfield set the record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in 2019 with 27 surpassing prior marks from Payton Manning and Russell Wilson. #8. Justin Herbert (2020) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.84 - Passer rating: 98.3 - Season stats: 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Justin Herbert was the third quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL draft behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. As the No. 6 overall pick, expectations were high, but there was also an assumption that it would be a few years before Herbert's development would take shape. Then, Chargers starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was accidentally punctured in the lung by a team doctor administering a painkiller before the second game of the season, and it wasn't clear what Taylor's status would be moving forward. When Herbert was given the nod to start minutes before the game, fans didn't know what to expect. Herbert shocked viewers when he threw for over 300 yards and only one interception in that game. He continued his strong rookie showing throughout the season and went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. #7. Ben Roethlisberger (2004) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.93 - Passer rating: 98.1 - Season stats: 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions Ben Roethlisberger was the third quarterback selected in his draft class behind the likes of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers—though fans wouldn't have been able to tell. From the moment Roethlisberger was called up by the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in his first game—Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens—it was clear he had a special arm, gaining the nickname "Golden Arm." While the next several games were bumpy for Steelers fans, it was clear that Roethlisberger was the future of the franchise. The Steelers had a solid running game and its receiving core, led by Hines Ward, was one of the best in the league . Once Roethlisberger gained his footing a few games in, he was unstoppable. He led Pittsburgh to its best record ever: 15-1. He also started the season on an eight-game winning streak, becoming the first rookie to do so. Additionally, Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. #6. Matt Ryan (2008) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 87.7 - Season stats: 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions As the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, there were high expectations on Matt Ryan's shoulders heading to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were coming off back-to-back losing seasons and off-the-field legal troubles with its starting quarterback Michael Vick overshadowing the team's play. Ryan was expected to pick up the pieces. He did that immediately, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 record in his rookie season and becoming the clear favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year halfway through the season, which he went on to win. The tag team of Ryan and running back Michael Turner was one of the best offensive forces in the sport that season. #5. Russell Wilson (2012) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 100 - Season stats: 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Russell Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Considering Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck headlined the NFL Draft that year, it was not believed that Wilson would be a starter come Week 1, but that quickly changed. Going into the 2012 NFL Draft, Tarvaris Jackson was the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback, and the team signed NFL veteran quarterback Matt Flynn as an insurance policy on the injury-prone Jackson . It was assumed in the short term that either Jackson or Flynn would lead the franchise. Once training camp arrived, however, the Seahawks' quarterback position was uncertain. Jackson was traded to the Buffalo Bills, and Flynn was underwhelming at camp, forcing Head Coach Pete Carroll to take a gamble on his rookie quarterback, Wilson, in Week 1. Carroll, nor Wilson, ever looked back. Wilson was one of the best passing quarterbacks that season. He led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year. #4. Dan Marino (1983) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.39 - Passer rating: 96 - Season stats: 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions When Dan Marino was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, the NFL looked very different. Running the ball was the name of the game. The quarterback would either run the football himself at the line of scrimmage or hand it off to the running back, and the offensive linemen would claw and push the pile forward as the runner powered his legs. It was not a pretty sight. However, Marino took a different approach, throwing the ball with a unique quick release for that era. He led the Dolphins to a 9-1 record after replacing David Woodley midway through his rookie season, ending with a 12-4 record. He went on to win Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie to start a Pro Bowl. #3. C.J. Stroud (2023) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 100.8 - Season stats: 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions When C.J. Stroud was drafted No. 2 by the Houston Texans last year, there were a lot of questions, not about his ability, but about the organization that he would be playing for. The Texans were coming off of a 3-13-1 season in 2022, finishing with the worst record in the league, and a lot of volatility in its front office. The team fired its head coach and a top executive before the draft. Weeks later, the team hired former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans as its next head coach. While Ryans is a defensive-minded coach, Stroud was seen as a key ingredient to the team's success since Ryans hired his coaching staff around the quarterback. Stroud led the NFL in yards and TD-to-interception ratio during his rookie season, which is an efficiency statistic considering he didn't get his first interception until his sixth regular-season game against the New Orleans Saints. While Stroud was a part of the league MVP conversation for most of the season, he didn't ultimately win the title. However, he was named 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and his rookie season is seen as one of the best in NFL history. #2. Robert Griffin III (2012) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 102.4 - Season stats: 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions Leading into the 2012 draft, it wasn't a matter of whether Washington would pick a quarterback, it was a matter of who. After several seasons of mediocre quarterback play and losing seasons from the likes of Jason Campbell, Donovan McNabb, and Rex Grossman, it was time for a new face to lead the offense. At No. 2, Washington selected Robert Griffin III making him the second quarterback selected in the 2012 NFL draft behind Andrew Luck. Griffin started his rookie year campaign with one of the best performances football fans have ever seen. He completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns, beating the New Orleans Saints. That game earned him the highest passer rating by a rookie ever, 158.3. He now shares that record with Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota. Griffin III went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. #1. Dak Prescott (2016) - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.86 - Passer rating: 104.9 - Season stats: 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, 4 interceptions Dak Prescott is statistically the best rookie quarterback ever, racking up the best passer rating as a rookie. After losing his first game, he led the Cowboys on an 11-game winning streak. That season, he led the team to its fourth-best season ever with a 13-3 record. Prescott was the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the first NFL quarterback to be drafted in the fourth round or later to start all 16 regular season games. Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Shanna Kelly. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Divisive Rhetoric On Religion Harms Constitutional Unity: Supreme Court Judge
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Attorneys for Meta shareholders asked a Delaware judge Monday to sanction the company's former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and fellow Facebook board member and current White House chief of staff Jeff Zients for deleting emails related to the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal , despite being told to preserve such records. The plaintiff attorneys contend that Sandberg and Zients used personal email accounts to communicate about key issues relating to their 2018 shareholder lawsuit that alleged Facebook officers and directors violated both the law and their fiduciary duties in failing for years to protect the privacy of user data. “Although Sandberg and Zients received a litigation hold requiring them to preserve documents from these accounts, they both knowingly and permanently destroyed electronically stored information from such sources,” attorneys said in a court filing. The plaintiffs say the former board members were either “reckless or intentional” in destroying documents, noting that Sandberg deleted communications to and from her Gmail account after only 30 days, even after being notified of the “litigation hold” to preserve documents. Zients never disabled an auto-delete function on his email account, even though he, too, received a litigation hold and consulted with lawyers, they said. The plaintiffs argue that Sandberg and Zients should be prohibited from testifying about information they sent or received using their personal email accounts. They also say the burden of proof for any affirmative defense they present should be raised to a standard of “clear and convincing evidence,” instead of the lower standard of a “preponderance” of the evidence. Sandberg was deposed last week. Plaintiff attorney Max Huffman said Zients is “busy” and will be deposed in February “after there’s an effective transition in Washington.” Defense attorney Berton Ashman described the email deletions as “unfortunate” but argued that the plaintiffs have not shown that they were prejudiced in any way. “There’s no intent here to destroy relevant or responsive information,” Ashman told Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster, adding that there no “trove of missing emails.” “There’s no grand scheme or suggestion of bad behavior,” he added. Ashman said the vast majority of emails that Sandberg and Zients sent or received using their personal accounts were also received by other individuals at Facebook. He suggested that any emails that may have been deleted have been made available to the plaintiffs from other sources at Facebook. Huffman, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, said Sandberg does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. “She unilaterally controlled what was kept and what was destroyed,” he told the judge. Laster, who is scheduled to preside over a non-jury trial in April, said he wanted to see a transcript of Sandberg’s deposition before ruling on the motion for sanctions. Last year, the judge rejected a defense motion arguing that the lawsuit should be dismissed because the plaintiffs did not first demand that Facebook’s board take legal action before filing litigation themselves. He agreed with the plaintiffs that such a demand would have been futile because of doubts that a majority of the relevant Facebook board members, many with close personal and business ties to Mark Zuckerberg, would be willing to confront the CEO and founder of the company over its privacy failures. Laster noted that, in deciding on a motion to dismiss, he was required to accept the allegations in the complaint as true. The complaint alleges that Facebook officials repeatedly and continually violated a 2012 consent order with the Federal Trade Commission under which Facebook agreed to stop collecting and sharing personal data on platform users and friends without their consent. Facebook later sold user data to commercial partners in direct violation of the consent order and removed disclosures from privacy settings that were required under consent order, the lawsuit alleges. The company’s conduct resulted in significant fines from regulators in Europe and culminated in the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018. That case involved a British political consulting firm hired by Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign that paid a Facebook app developer for the personal information of tens of millions Facebook users. The fallout led to Facebook agreeing to pay unprecedented $5 billion penalty to settle FTC charges that the company violated the 2012 consent order by deceiving users about their ability to protect their personal information.
The Cleveland Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson have agreed to a contract restructure, a source confirmed to ESPN on Friday. The move signals that Watson is likely to return to Cleveland in 2025 despite his on-field struggles and back-to-back season-ending injuries. Watson has two years remaining on the five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million deal that he signed upon being traded to Cleveland before the 2022 season. The Browns owe Watson $46 million in each of the next two seasons, and he has a cap hit of $72.9 million in 2025 and 2026 -- both the second highest in the NFL. Editor's Picks Haslam backs Stefanski, GM, will look at all else 15d Jeremy Fowler GM noncommittal on Watson's Browns future 50d Daniel Oyefusi DTR struggles with 2 INTs, to get another shot 5d Daniel Oyefusi According to NFL Network, which first reported the restructure, the new deal does not change Watson's 2025 cap hit but lets the Browns spread the cap hit at the end of the contract. Releasing Watson after the season with a pre-June 1 designation would have triggered a league-record dead cap hit of $172 million. Watson, 29, has been sidelined since late October with a right Achilles tendon tear. In seven games, Watson posted the lowest total QBR of qualifying passers in the NFL. Watson has played in just 19 games since the Browns traded three first-round picks for him and gave him what -- at the time -- was a record amount of guaranteed money in a contract. He served an 11-game suspension in 2022 after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. Watson was limited to just six games in 2023 because of injuries and missed the final eight after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. In recent months, the Browns have been noncommittal on Watson's standing as the starting quarterback when healthy. General manager Andrew Berry said it's "possible" when asked if Watson could return as the team's starter. Owner Jimmy Haslam told ESPN earlier this month that he was supportive of Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski but that it was too early to make any decisions regarding the quarterback position . The Browns also restructured Watson's contract before the season, creating $44.79 million in cap space that the team is expected to carry over to become cap compliant in the 2025 offseason. The Browns are 3-12 and host the Miami Dolphins in their home finale on Sunday.