Andy Murray to coach long-time rival Novak Djokovic at Australian Open
CLEVELAND (AP) — Two days before recording another milestone, resume-building sack on Sunday at Cincinnati, Myles Garrett delivered a jarring hit — on the Browns. In this case, any roughness could be deemed necessary. Garrett piled on to what has been a painful and puzzling season in Cleveland by saying he doesn't have any interest in going through another rebuild and wants to know exactly what the organization's offseason plans are to fix things. If that wasn't enough, Garrett indicated for the first time that he would consider leaving the Browns if his vision doesn't mesh with the team's ambitions. “It’s a possibility,” he said of playing elsewhere. "But I want to be a Cleveland Brown. I want to play my career here.” It's unclear how Garrett's comments were received by owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who have plenty to consider as the Browns (3-12) head into the final two weeks of a season that began with playoff expectations and could be followed by upheaval. The Browns haven't been this bad since going 0-16 in 2017. Garrett, who reached 100 career sacks by taking down Cincinnati's Joe Burrow late in the first half of Sunday's 24-6 loss , may have either added to the Haslams' long list of concerns — the Deshaun Watson contract situation is a priority — or brought them clarity. There's no denying that Garrett's remarks carry substantial weight, which is partly why he spoke up. He's the Browns' best player, a franchise cornerstone, a future Hall of Famer and arguably the most disruptive defensive force in the game today. He's also leading with actions. Garrett showed extraordinary effort in chasing down and tackling Burrow before tumbling out of bounds and crashing into Cleveland's bench and some portable heaters. He might be frustrated, but he's not giving up. “A testament of who he is as a player and who he is as a person,” linebacker Jordan Hicks said. What the reigning Defensive Player of the Year says matters. It will be interesting to see if the Haslams listen. At this point, there are indications the Browns intend to stick with coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, whose major misses in recent drafts have become more magnified with each loss. There will be changes; it's just a matter of how drastic and if they'll be enough to satisfy Garrett's wishes. He turns 29 on Dec. 29 and has two years left on a $125 million contract extension. The All-Pro is in his prime and doesn't want to waste another season in a pointless pursuit of a Super Bowl title. His goal is to win a championship with Cleveland — or someone. Garrett's serious. He's asking the Browns to show him they are, too. Cleveland's defense is doing its part. For the second week in a row, the Browns contained one of the NFL's most talented offenses, holding the Bengals and their top-ranked passing game below most of their season averages. Burrow did throw three TD passes — for the seventh game in a row — but Cincinnati scored fewer than 27 points for the first time in seven games. The Browns continue to beat themselves with costly turnovers, some more costly than others. They drove to the Cincinnati 1-yard line in the opening minutes only to have D'Onta Foreman fumble as he neared the goal line. The Bengals capitalized by driving 99 yards to take a 7-0 lead that could have been Cleveland's. Running back Jerome Ford is making the most of a heavier workload and finishing strong. He ripped off a 66-yard run on the game's first play and finished with 131 all-purpose yards, including 92 on 11 carries and scored Cleveland's only TD. Ford's emergence as a potential No. 1 back — Nick Chubb's injuries have clouded his future — gives the team one less thing to worry about as it retools the roster. Kicker Dustin Hopkins hasn't shaken a startling slump. After being benched for a week to work through his struggles, Hopkins missed his only kick, pushing an extra point to the right. Hopkins felt confident going in, but he's back to trying to identify issues that could be equally mechanical and mental. He's just 16 of 25 on field goals, 16 of 19 on PATs and the Browns' decision to sign him to a three-year, $15.9 million extension this summer looks worse every week. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his calf early in Sunday's game, leaving his status in doubt for a second straight start this week. If Thompson-Robinson can't go, the Browns could go back to Jameis Winston, but he's dealing with a sore right shoulder. ... Tight end David Njoku is dealing with yet another injury after hurting his knee. The team is awaiting results on an MRI, perhaps a sign of the severity. Njoku has missed time with injuries all season. He finished with eight catches for 66 yards. 20 — Interceptions for the Browns this season. Thompson-Robinson's two picks on Sunday gave the team 10 in the last four games. Probably a half-empty stadium for a final home game on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, who are still in the hunt for a wild-card spot. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions made a move on Tuesday that would have seemed incomprehensible just two seasons ago. The Lions waived edge rusher James Houston, who had one of the best rookie seasons (2022) for an edge rusher in recent memory but has not returned to that form since. Asked why it didn’t work out in Detroit, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said, “It just didn’t.” “It just didn’t. We had James up for a number of games, came back off of injury, got back, and it just never quite worked out,” Campbell said. Houston, a sixth-round pick by Detroit in 2022, collected eight sacks in seven games during his rookie season and appeared to have a limitless ceiling on what he could become as a pass rusher in the following seasons. But he appeared to fall out of favor with the coaching staff as early as 2023 training camp — Detroit was unsuccessfully trying to turn him into a well-rounded outside linebacker that could play every down — then broke an ankle in Week 2 of that season while playing on special teams. He didn’t return until the NFC Championship game, where he had limited snaps (11) and didn’t make an impact on the stat sheet. In training camp before this season, the Lions continued to try to improve other parts of Houston’s game but eventually gave up on the experiment, allowing him to just focus on rushing the passer. He has 13 pressures and just one sack in 2024, even with there being a clear vacancy on the edge following several key injuries. This time two years ago, Houston was getting called up from the practice squad to make his NFL debut against the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving Day. Houston dazzled in front of a national television audience , sacking Bills quarterback Josh Allen twice as Detroit took Buffalo to the wire in a 28-25 loss that came on a last-second field goal. Now, before the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game in 2024, the Lions have decided to move on. Houston hinted at the potential parting with a cryptic social media post on Monday night. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Live... Learn.. Move on” with a peace sign emoji. “Look, wish him the best of luck, and sometimes you just need a fresh start and this could be great for him, so, wish him the best,” Campbell said. Houston, 26, is just the third Brad Holmes draft pick to no longer be on the active roster or practice squad (Antoine Green, Chase Lucas).
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WORCESTER – It took a couple of overtime periods, but Oliver Ames is back on top for the third straight season. Senior captain Jackson Mercieri delivered the lone goal as he hit home the game-winner in the 102nd minute during the second overtime period to lift No. 3 Oliver Ames over No. 4 Hingham in the Div. 2 state boys soccer final at Worcester State University on Saturday. “All joking aside, I’d like to thank the Lord for keeping (our kids) safe and healthy all year because we were very thin at times,” said Oliver Ames coach John Barata. “So, I do thank God that we were healthy and that he was able to help navigate this season, which was a very long season.” With Hingham (19-3-1) turning its offensive pressure up during the end of regulation and the overtime periods, Oliver Ames (18-2-2) used a timeout to collect itself after a near game-ender by Hingham’s Aadam Healey. After that timeout, the Tigers pushed the ball up field and Mercieri was able to finish it off before heading towards the Oliver Ames fans to celebrate. “I just said, ‘Let’s finish this damn thing. Let’s stick to the game plan to get the ball to Jackson,’ ” Barata said about what he told his team during the timeout. “We’ve been here. (Hingham) is nervous as hell. You can tell because they settled with four guys back the whole game. So, they kind of helped us. ... We didn’t want to go to PKs.” Over the first 80 minutes, there were only two shots on net before each team traded shots on goal in the second overtime period. “It’s the winning culture,” said Mercieri about being part of a three-peat. “It’s what we strive for. We keep ourselves to such high standards that we want to have nothing less. We want nothing less than to win every single game we play. We just believe in the bottom of our hearts. We just believe. It’s just the culture we have and it’s in the blood of OA.”
The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday's newspapers... DAILY MIRROR Man Utd have reservations over triggering Alvaro Carreras' £25m buy-back clause in January after selling the left-back to Benfica last summer. The deal helped to ease United's financial concerns but the club have seen the need for a left-sided full-back develop. Dani Olmo's agent Andy Bara has reportedly arrived in Manchester with Premier League clubs considering whether to take advantage of Barcelona's uncertain ability to register the player. Sport claim that Barcelona are happy to sell Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen, with the decision made not to hand the latter a new deal. The Dane joined Barca on a free transfer from Chelsea but has been out for a lengthy spell this season. Newcastle, Juventus and AC Milan have been linked. Trending Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player DAILY MAIL Manchester United are intent on keeping Antony at the club when the January transfer window opens next week - and the player's agent has clarified his current situation amid speculation that the Brazilian could leave the club. Also See: Transfer Centre LIVE! Stream Sky Sports with NOW Download the Sky Sports app Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp Ruben Amorim stressed that Manchester United must adopt survival mode after a fourth defeat in five Premier League games. Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City plan to be active in the January transfer window. Legendary sports reporter Chris Kamara made his triumphant return to broadcasting on Boxing Day, two years after stepping back from his Soccer Saturday duties due to a speech condition. THE SUN Ruben Amorim indicated Marcus Rashford is still not doing enough for his liking after leaving the forward out of Manchester United's squad for a fourth straight game. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Wayne Rooney has been left clinging onto his job after Frank Lampard's Coventry thrashed Plymouth 4-0. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's cheat sheet was exposed on his water bottle before saving Erling Haaland's penalty against Manchester City. Wilfried Zaha could be blocked from a return to the Premier League in January by a little-known rule. The Ivorian winger, on loan at Lyon from Galatasaray, may be prevented from representing a third team in the 2024-25 campaign after his 15-minute cameo in the Turkish Super Cup thumping should FIFA deem that an official match. DAILY TELEGRAPH Arsenal hold an interest in Wolves forward Matheus Cunha but would face a huge battle landing him during the transfer window while the Brazilian is involved in a fight for survival at Molineux. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Crystal Palace full-back Danny Imray has a host of Championship and League One promotion-chasers looking to sign him on loan for the second half of the campaign. Ipswich are among the teams looking at Scottish midfielder Jordan Holsgrove during his spell at Portuguese club Estoril. THE TIMES Nottingham Forest and their fans are dreaming about a return to European football after this win against Tottenham Hotspur sent them up to third in the Premier League - but Spurs supporters attacked their chairman Daniel Levy following a ninth league loss of the season in their opening 18 games. The Newcastle United assistant manager Jason Tindall was sent off after a 20-man brawl in the St James' Park tunnel at half-time during the home side's 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Wayne Rooney has insisted he is the right man to lead Plymouth Argyle despite their 4-0 hammering by Frank Lampard's Coventry City keeping them bottom of the Sky Bet Championship. However, the former Manchester United and England captain accepted that he would inevitably face intense pressure. DAILY RECORD Brendan Rodgers has promised Celtic can still find another level after victory over Motherwell saw them continue their unbeaten start to the Premiership season. Stuart Kettlewell accused ref Ross Hardie of talking to his Motherwell side like schoolchildren. Tom from Southampton became a millionaire for free with Super 6! Could you be the next jackpot winner? Play for free!There have been more public debates over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since 2020 than before, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, defending the government on the issue of transparency in India-China relations. The LAC agreement announced on October 21 this year, as well as the terms of the disengagement process, has led to many questions being asked, including in Parliament’s ongoing Winter Session, where Mr. Jaishankar was pointedly asked about whether India would regain the situation prior to April 2020, when Chinese PLA troops amassed troops and transgressed territory along the LAC. Speaking at the launch of “ India’s World ”, a new bi-monthly Foreign Policy magazine in India, Mr. Jaishankar said that it was unfair to target the Modi government when previous governments in the past have maintained a degree of secrecy over sensitive issues. “Look where China is concerned, it is [a relationship] where there has been much more reticence,” Mr. Jaishankar explained, speaking about several India-China agreements in the past, including the 1993 LAC agreement over Sumdorong Chu, which is still highly classified. He also referred to the 2005 decision to declare India and China “Strategic Partners” and the 2006 decision to begin talks on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). “Was there a debate then?” asked Mr. Jaishankar, claiming that military and industry stakeholders had not been consulted for those decisions. “When people talk about transparency, let us remember what the history is. In the last four and a half years, I have seen more debates about China than I have seen in 40 years before that,” he said in response to a question by C. Rajamohan, Strategic analyst and the Chairperson of the editorial board of the new magazine. The inaugural edition of the magazine, edited by Happymon Jacob, Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University has focused on a “Grand Strategy for India”. ‘Confidential exercise’ Mr. Jaishankar, who had served in the Indian Foreign Service for decades prior to becoming the External Affairs Minister, also said that he had seen a number of examples where diplomacy would not have produced results if it had been discussed openly. “You can’t conduct diplomacy by putting everything out there in the open, because then you know what could happen will never happen.” He said while he believed there was a benefit to ensuring the government’s policymakers communicate about such agreements, “the reality is that diplomacy by nature, is a confidential exercise”. Speaking about Indian Foreign Policy, Mr. Jaishankar said that it is wrong to judge it in the context of one political dispensation over another, as changes in foreign policy are necessitated by a number of factors. He listed “four big factors” that initiated changes in India: when the Domestic economic model changed through reforms in 1991, or the change of international landscape from the bipolar cold war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to a unipolar U.S.-led world, and now to a multipolar world, and when globalisation changed the behaviour and relations between countries, and with the advent of newer technological tools driving policy. “Given that all these factors are changing, how can foreign policy remain the same,” Mr. Jaishankar asked. “When we speak about changing foreign policy, if there is talk of a ‘post-Nehruvian construct’, it should not be treated as a political attack. “ “It didn’t require [PM] Narendra Modi to do it,” he added, referring to India’s economic reforms in 1991. “[PM P.V.] Narasimha Rao started it”. When asked about India’s ties with Europe, Mr. Jaishankar said that the attitude of European countries, which had initially, in 2022, held “tricky conversations” about India’s stand on the Russian war in Ukraine, were now quite “encouraging of India trying to be helpful in some way, in regard to this conflict”, referring to Prime Minister Modi’s visits to Moscow and Kyiv, and his offer to convey messages between them. Mr. Jaishankar was speaking to an audience of foreign policy experts and several diplomats, who attended the launch of the magazine. Significantly, the diplomats included both Russia’s Ambassador to India Denis Alipov, and Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk, who were seated in the same row, as the External Affairs Minister spoke. Published - December 15, 2024 11:25 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp RedditThe lawmaker representing Ilorin South in the Kwara State House of Assembly (KWSHA), Yusuf Maryam Aladi, on Sunday supported and empowered over 1,000 residents, including widows and artisans. She put the monetary worth of the exercise at well over N20 million. The lawmaker gave out 20 grinding machines, 20 chest freezers, 20 dryers, 20 catering equipment, 100 hair clippers, generating sets, 20 welding machines, 20 solar panels, 20 sewing machines, and cooking gas to male and female artisans. At the event held at the Bishop Smith Secondary School, Ilorin, the legislator also supported over 500 widows with cash and food items, including semovita, salt, and N10,000 each, as part of her widow support. According to her, no fewer than 100 pupils benefit from her education scholarships with due support and encouragement from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The guest speaker, Lawal Olohungbebe, urged the youths to be wary of their contributions to the nation’s economy. Speaking on the title “Contributions of artisans to nation building,” Olohungbebe charged artisans to utilize the trending technology to enhance their productivity. According to him, networking should be encouraged among artisans, as well as improved customer-relationship practices. “Your integrity in business is unequalled and unparalleled; it is supposed to be the pride of every artisan,” he urged, adding that promptness and dedication to duty matter in business activities. The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sunday Fagbemi, while commending Aladi, said it is not always easy to give back to the source, describing the beneficiaries as the source. Fagbemi advised the beneficiaries not to sell the items, saying: “Please don’t, for the sake of the ravaging economic hardship, sell these items. Empower yourselves with them; the donor has good intentions for you to break the shackles of poverty.”