Category: NFL

Oakland Raiders 2017 draft report: McKenzie gets his men in the draft

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Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie stands on the field before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND–All winter long, the Oakland Raiders knew that they would drafting late in the first round and they are happy with their first round.

Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie went defense with his first pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and it was a great pick.

McKenzie made Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley was the 24th pick in the first round for the Raiders.

In his career with the Buckeyes, Conley picked off six passes and made 91 tackles in 42 games and was named a second team All-Big Ten in 2016.

The Raiders stayed on the defensive side of the ball with their second-round pick, as Obi Melifonwu was drafted out of the University of Connecticut.

In his four years in Storrs, Melifonwu played in 48 games and was named first team All-American Athletic Conference in 2016, and was also named to the All-ECAC team along with the All-New England team.

McKenzie stayed on the defensive side with his third pick, as they drafted Defensive Lineman Eddie Vanderdoes out of UCLA.

As a freshman, Vanderdoes was named to the First Team All-American Freshman by both the Football Writers of America and Sporting News.

With their fourth-round pick, the Raiders finally took an offensive player, as they took Florida Offensive Lineman David Sharpe, who played with Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio’s son Luke with the Gators.

Sharpe played in 27 games with the Gators, including starting all 14 games in 2016 after playing all 13 games in 2015. As a true freshman, Sharpe played in six games in a reserve role.

Once again, the Raiders returned to the defensive side of the ball with their next draft pick, as they drafted Wake Forest linebacker Marquel Lee.

While with the Demon Deacons, Lee was named First-team All-ACC in 2016 by the Associated Press and named second team All-ACC by both the coaches and media.

In the seventh round, the Raiders once again stayed on the defensive side of the ball with their pick, as they drafted Safety Shalom Luami out of Washington State.

Luami was named First-Team All-Pac 12 in his final year with the Cougars, as he helped lead them to a Holiday Bowl berth against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Prior to playing for Mike Leach in Pullman, Luami played junior college ball at City College of San Francisco, where in his two years with the Rams, Luami earned All-California First-Team All-Region accolades as a freshman and then as a sophomore, he was named First -Team All-American and California Community College Defensive Player of the Year.

McKenzie took North Carolina running back Elijah Hood in the seventh round, just his second offensive player of the draft.

In his three years in Chapel Hill, Hood ended up ninth All-Time on the Tar Heels list in rushing yards, as he gained 2,580 yards in his three seasons.

McKenzie brought in another player for the offensive side of the ball, as he drafted tackle Jylan Ware out of Alabama State.

With multiple picks in the seventh round, McKenzie needed more defensive lineman, and is what he got with Toledo defensive tackle Treyvon Hester.

Summary of 49ers’ moves in 2017 NFL Draft

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From left to right, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch poses for photos with draft picks Reuben Foster, Solomon Thomas and head coach Kyle Shanahan at a news conference in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, April 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By: Ana Kieu

The San Francisco 49ers obviously made a lot of moves during free agency, but here’s the lowdown on what the team did when they were on the clock in the 2017 NFL Draft in the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the first time the draft was held in Philadelphia since 1961.

The four-day long event was the 82nd meeting in which all of the NFL teams selected brand-new players. The entire draft was held in an outdoor theater on the Rocky Steps for the first time in league history.

April 27, 2017
On the first day of the draft, the 49ers selected Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas in the first round with the third overall pick. Thomas stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 273 lbs.

With this pick, the 49ers chose defensive linemen with their first overall picks for the third consecutive draft. In 2016, they picked DeForest Buckner in the first round with the seventh overall pick. In 2015, they picked Arik Armstead in the first round with the 17th overall pick.

The 49ers took Thomas over LSU running back Leonard Fournette, LSU safety Jamal Adams and Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen.

Thomas was born in Chicago, Illinois. He spent five years in Australia as a child, but ended up returning to the United States. He attended Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas. He finished his high school career with 78 tackles and 12.5 sacks. He was ranked as a four-star recruit.

Thomas committed to Stanford University in 2014. He redshirted in his freshman year. He played in all 14 games in his sophomore year. He started all 13 games in his junior year. He was named to the First Team All-Pac 12 and won the Morris Trophy that year. He finished his college career with a team-leading 62 tackles, 15 for loss and eight quarterback sacks.

The 49ers made a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, upgrading their defense by selecting inside linebacker Reuben Foster in the first round with the 31st overall pick. Foster is six-foot-tall, weighs 229 lbs and has an arm length of 32 3/8 along with a hand size of 10 1/4. He lost 20 lbs last year. He played college football at Alabama as an inside linebacker.

Foster is definitely a star. He was considered the No. 1 inside linebacker of his class. He won the Butkus Award at the end of the 2016 season. ESPN regarded him as a four-star recruit. He finished his college career with 115 tackles, 13 for losses, and five sacks.

Foster attended Troup County High School in LaGrange, Georgia. He played in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game, earning Defensive MVP Honors with six tackles and 2.5 for loss.

April 28, 2017
On the second day of the draft, the 49ers added a new piece to their secondary, selecting Colorado cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon in the third round with the 66th overall pick.

Witherspoon played at Sacramento City College in 2013 before transferring to the University of Colorado Boulder. He played at Colorado from 2014 to 2016. He finished his college career with 71 tackles and three interceptions. He also earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Witherspoon attended Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, California. He played just one season of high school football.

The 49ers had the next pick, but they traded their 67th overall pick to the New Orleans Saints for a second-round pick and seventh-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Saints used that pick to take Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara.

There was a plot twist that turned a peaceful night into an indecisive frenzy.

The 49ers traded back into the end of the third round, moving up to the 104th overall pick to select a new quarterback. They sent the 109th and 219th overall picks to the Minnesota Vikings.

The 49ers selected Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard in the third round with that pick. He stands at six-foot-two and weighs 219 lbs. He’s the grandson of legendary NFL personnel man Bobby Beathard.

C.J. finished his college career with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He completed 58.6 percent of his passes last season.

April 29, 2017
On the third day of the draft, the 49ers selected Denver Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs in the fourth round with the 121st overall pick. They also took Denver’s fifth-round selection with the 177th overall pick in exchange for the 49ers’ fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Bibbs carried 29 times for 129 yards last season. He caught two passes for 75 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown catch-and-run against the Oakland Raiders. He wasn’t selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Bibbs contributes to the 49ers’ depth as he joins running backs Carlos Hyde, Tim Hightower, DuJuan Harris, Mike Davis and Raheem Mostert.

The 49ers traded up to the 121st overall pick with the Indianapolis Colts to draft Utah running back Joe Williams. They gave them the 143rd overall pick in the fourth round and 161st overall pick in the fifth round.

The 49ers selected Iowa tight end George Kittle to compliment Beathard.

Kittle played at Iowa from 2013 to 2016. He finished his college career with 48 receptions for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Kittle attended Iowa City West High School in Iowa City, Iowa, Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma. His father, Bruce, is a former college football coach who also played at Iowa.

The 49ers selected Louisiana Tech wide receiver Trent Taylor in the fifth round with the 177th overall pick. Taylor finished his college career with an NCAA-best 1,803 yards, 12 touchdowns and 136 passes, averaging 10.5 yards on 17 punt returns in his senior year. He ranked fifth in career receptions with 327. He ranked second in college football in receptions.

Taylor attended Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana. He finished his high school career with 107 receptions for 1,650 yards.

The 49ers selected Ole Miss defensive tackle D.J. Jones in the sixth round with the 198th overall pick. Jones started all 12 games in his senior year, finishing with 30 tackles, three tackles for losses and two sacks.

Jones spent his final two seasons at Mississippi after he was listed as a top-five junior college prospect at East Mississippi Junior College. He recorded 40 tackles and four sacks in his first season after transferring to the SEC school.

The 49ers selected Utah pass rusher Pita Taumoepenu in the sixth round with the 202nd overall pick. Taumoepenu recorded nine sacks last season. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection. He tied for third place in the Pac-12 with three forced fumbles and tied for fourth in the conference in sacks.

Taumoepenu was born in Euless, Texas on March 9, 1994. He moved to Tonga with his family when he was three years old. He learned how to play rugby. He eventually went to Provo, Utah to become an all-state pick with 25 sacks in his senior year. The NCAA had some issues with the splitting of his high school career between two countries, but he ended up playing in seven games as a freshman.

The 49ers used their final pick of the draft to select Miami defensive back Adrian Colbert in the seventh round with the 229th overall pick. Colbert played his first three seasons at Texas before transferring to Miami. He finished his college career with 48 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended.

Notes
The 49ers selected 10 players during the 2017 NFL Draft. They have up to seven players to add to the 90-man roster as undrafted rookies.

Aaron Hernandez saga may just be getting started

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In this still image from video, Aaron Hernandez, right, listens beside defense attorney Ronald Sullivan, Friday, April 14, 2017, in court in Boston, as he is pronounced not guilty of murder in the 2012 shootings of two men in a drive-by shooting in Boston. (WHDH-TV via AP, Pool)

By: Ana Kieu

It’s obvious that former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was a criminal who has done a lot of bad things, but the saga surrounding his death may just be getting started. Hernandez was a rather strange man — very talented, yet very secretive and reserved. He was a man of mystery.

Aaron’s two murder trials clearly affected him, but they also affected his family. They haven’t openly commented since his debatable death. They just put up a sign on the door of their Connecticut home that said “no comment.”

Aaron’s older brother D.J. served as a graduate assistant for the Iowa Hawkeyes’ football team. He tried to land a full-time position, but was unable to do so. He was also willing to coach at the Division II level. Many teams were hesistant to hire him because they wanted to avoid the negative publicity. Aaron’s murder trials affected everything from job opportunities to finding dates. Today, D.J. wants a fresh start and now goes by his middle name Jonathan. He currently runs a roofing business named High Rise Roofing in Wylie, Texas.

Aaron’s father Dennis Hernandez passed away on January 6, 2006 after suffering complications from a routine hernia surgery. He was a custodian at Bristol Eastern High School in Bristol, Connecticut. He enjoyed watching both of his sons play sports. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Aaron may have been affected by the sudden death of his father. After all, he was only 16 years old at the time.

Following Dennis’ death, Aaron’s mother Terri Valentine-Hernandez married Jeffrey Cummings, who had a criminal record that included drug charges and domestic violence. He attacked Terri with a knife after a night of drinking. He made cuts on her cheek, shoulder and wrist. He went back to prison. Shortly after the violent incident, Terri filed for divorce.

Terri also dealt with problems of her own. She was arrested for getting involved in a gambling ring when she was simply trying to provide for her family. As a result, no charges were filed against her.

Aaron committed suicide by hanging himself with a bed sheet in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster, Massachussetts. Kyle Kennedy was Aaron’s alleged prison boyfriend. This controversial statement was released just days after Aaron’s death.

The war of words got quite heated between the two lawyers. Kennedy’s lawyer Lawrence F. Army Jr., said that Aaron knew the 22-year-old man before either of them went to prison. Army also said that Aaron wrote a note that said “I think I’m going to hang it up, lol.” three weeks before hanging himself.

Meanwhile, Aaron’s lawyer Jose Baez said that he never wrote a suicide note to a prison boyfriend. Baez slammed the rumors, claiming that they were just malicious leaks used to tarnish a dead person. He only confirmed the two letters that Aaron wrote to his fiancee Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez and their four-year-old daughter Avielle.

Aaron’s funeral was held on Monday. The following day, his lawyers asked the court to dismiss the murder conviction. Under the law of Massachussetts, his conviction could be vacated because he died before his appeal was heard. He might’ve killed former Boston Bandits linebacker Odin Lloyd to conceal his bisexuality. As bad as it sounds, it’s understandable if he was bisexual and wanted to hide it from the NFL. It’s arguably the most homophobic sports league among the players, coaches and fans.

Kennedy broke his silence Thursday. He said that he missed his friend Aaron and would like to send his condolences to his mother, fiancee and daughter.

Court records also broke the details on Aaron’s home Thursday. His home in North Attleboro, Massachussetts, is worthless. However, there was an offer made by an undisclosed buyer that was worth $1.3 million. The home includes a pool, a sauna and a movie theater.

Jenkins-Hernandez and Avielle currently live in a condo in North Providence, Rhode Island. It seems like she chose Hernandez over her sister, who dated Lloyd before the time of his death. She’s an unmarried widow now, which is a horrible thing. Her daughter will probably get bullied when she goes to school.

There seems to be no end in sight when it comes to the Hernandez saga.

As of right now, best-selling author James Patterson is currently working on a “true crime story” about Hernandez. Patterson is best known for the Alex Cross series of novels. His upcoming book will be in stores in early 2018.

Oakland Raiders Update Report: Lynch coming home

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Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is tackled by Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis (58) during an NFL football game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, January 17, 2016 in Charlotte. The Panthers won 31-24. (Perry Knotts via AP)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND–Well, the trade to bring home one of Oakland’s most legendary high school players of recent years is about to come into fruition.

Marshawn Lynch, who went to Oakland Technical High School before heading to CAL is about to become the newest member of the Oakland Raiders.

Lynch, who retired after the 2015 season after playing with the Seattle Seahawks will be signing a two-year deal, according to league sources.

The two former AFC Western Division rivals should have the deal finalized on Wednesday afternoon, and he passes his physical, and Lynch will be a Raider officially.

“He’s one heck of a football player, and I hope to play with him. … Of course, anyone would want Marshawn Lynch, any quarterback in the NFL,” Derek Carr said last week. “As we add pieces, we’ll hug them up and bring them in just as a family and treat them the same way that we do with all of our other teammates.”

Lynch was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 2007 NFL Draft out of CAL, gained 9,112 yards and scored 74 touchdowns while playing for the Bills and the Seattle Seahawks, whom he helped lead to a Super Bowl XLVIII win over the Denver Broncos.

The nine-year veteran will be the veteran leader in the backfield for Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, both of whom are entering their seasons in the NFL. Lynch will essentially be replacing Latavius Murray, who left for the Minnesota Vikings via free agency.

“Marshawn is one of the best running backs I’ve ever played against in my short career so far,” linebacker Khalil Mack said. “You talk about a player, a hell of a player. It would be a great, great, great treat to have him on this side, on the dark side.”

ESPN.com contributed to this story.

Seahawks-Raiders agree on deal for Lynch

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Marshawn Lynch, a former NFL football running back with the Seattle Seahawks, speaks Thursday, May 5, 2016, at a job fair in Seattle sponsored by the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, an organization backed by Starbucks and other companies that seeks to increase employment and education opportunities for youth aged 16-24. The Seahawks announced Thursday that Lynch has been placed on the reserve/retired list. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — Retired running back Marshawn Lynch is set to come out of retirement after the Raiders and Seahawks agreed to a trade that will allow Lynch to play for Oakland, sources tell ESPN NFL Insider, Adam Schefter.

In order for the deal to be complete, Lynch must first pass a physical, which is expected to place on Wednesday at the team’s Alameda headquarters. Per Tom Pelissaro of USA Today, Seattle will receive Oakland’s 2018 5th-round pick in exchange for Lynch and the Seahawks’ 2018 6th-round.

Sources report that its a two-year deal (but essentially a one-year deal) worth a maximum value of $8.5 million with $3 million in base salary.

Lynch retired from the NFL after the 2015 season, was born and raised in Oakland and attended Oakland Technical High School where he was star. The length of the contract is interesting given the fact that the Raiders are heading to Las Vegas by 2019.

The NFL Network first reported the deal between Oakland and Seattle.

Lynch, who turned 31 this past Saturday, was the No. 12 pick in the 2007 draft by the Buffalo Bills out of Cal,  has rushed for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns in nine NFL seasons. Lynch played through an injury-plagued 2015 season where he only rushed for 417 yards on 3.8 yards per carry in seven games.

Oakland is looking to fill the hole at running back, after losing last year’s starter Latavius Murray to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. The Raiders had the sixth-best rushing attack in 2016 and think that adding Lynch to the mix with youngsters Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington could add even more punch to the Raiders’ offense.

The five-time Pro Bowl running back had his best season in 2012 where he rushed for a career-high 1,590 yards and 12 touchdowns while catching 23 passes for 196 yards and a score. Lynch was named first-team All-Pro that season.

The 5-foot-11 Lynch led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2013 and 2014 with 12 touchdowns and 13 touchdowns respectively. “Beast Mode” had four straight seasons rushing for at least 1,200 yards from 2011 through 2014.

Per ESPN Stats and Information, Lynch ranks second in the NFL in rushing touchdowns since 2007 with 74, only second behind running back Adrian Peterson’s 97 rushing touchdowns, who signed with the New Orleans Saints this week after spending his first 10 seasons in Minnesota.

 

 

 

 

Family holds funeral for Aaron Hernandez, many questions remain unanswered

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Defendant Aaron Hernandez listens during his double murder trial in Suffolk Superior Court, Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Boston. Hernandez is on trial for the July 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado who he encountered in a Boston nightclub. The former New England Patriots NFL football player is already serving a life sentence in the 2013 killing of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, Pool)

By: Ana Kieu

Aaron Hernandez was a former New England Patriots tight end who was convicted of killing semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd in 2013. Lloyd played for the Boston Bandits as a linebacker. As a result, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He was also indicted for killing both Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in 2012, however, the judges acquitted him of a double homicide.

Despite having dug himself in a hole, Hernandez remained vehement. How did all of this happen?

Aaron was the son of custodian Dennis Hernandez and school secretary Terri Valentine-Hernandez. He was born in Bristol, Connecticut. He attended Bristol Central High School, where he played for the Rams, starting as a wide receiver before shifting to a tight end. In his senior year of high school, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Connecticut after recording 67 receptions for 1,807 yards, 24 offensive touchdowns, 72 tackles, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four blocked kicks on defense. He also set the Connecticut record with 376 receiving yards in a single game and 180.7 receiving yards per game.

Hernandez’s beautiful life no longer existed. His father died from hernia surgery complications when he was 16. His father was only 49 years old. This moment possibly changed his life forever. He became a quiet person who kept to himself. He opted to play football at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, instead of his initial plan to follow his brother D.J.’s footsteps at the nearby University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut.

Hernandez played college football under head coach Urban Meyer. In his freshman year, he started three games with the Florida Gators, finishing the 2007 season with nine receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns. In his sophomore year, he started 11 out of 13 games, finishing the 2008 season with 34 receptions for 381 yards and five touchdowns. In his junior year, he led the Gators with 68 receptions for 850 yards and five touchdowns. He also won the John Mackey Award as the country’s best tight end in 2009.

Hernandez forwent his senior year to enter the 2010 NFL Draft. He finished his college career with 111 receptions for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns as a Gator. He was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round with the No. 113 pick in the draft. He signed a four-year contract with a $200,000 signing bonus on June 8, 2010. New England also drafted tight end Rob Gronkowski the day before.

In 2010, Hernandez became the youngest active player on an active roster in the NFL. He finished the season with 45 receptions for 563 yards and six touchdowns. In 2011, he wore the No. 85 on his jersey, but ultimately decided to wear his college number of No. 81. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate. In 2012, he signed a five-year, $40 million contract extension with a $12.5 million signing bonus.

Hernandez’s career was great, but his life slowly went downhill. In 2012, he was indicted for the double homicide of de Abreu and Furtado, but was eventually found not guilty. In 2013, he murdered Lloyd, the boyfriend of his fiancee’s sister. He was charged with first degree murder and five gun charges. These incidents weren’t only wrong, they were also really unbelievable. How could a successful man commit such crimes?

Yes, Hernandez experienced grief after his father’s death, but there are still other possibilities surrounding his personal life that never separated from the workplace. He committed suicide by hanging himself with a bed sheet in the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts on April 19, 2017. He left three suicide notes behind. His fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, demanded that the Massachussetts district attorney must provide copies of the notes. The family received the notes just moments before his private funeral at the O’Brien Funeral Home in Bristol.

Was Hernandez bisexual? Many sources say that he had an alleged male lover in prison. He apparently seduced a 22-year-old armed robber named Kyle Kennedy. We don’t know if this actually happened because his sex life was discreet. If he was bisexual, it’s understandable why he tried to conceal his sexual orientation. The NFL is arguably the most homophobic sports league. Football is a very macho and masculine sport. Despite defensive end Michael Sam becoming the first openly gay player in the league, the homophobia hasn’t ended.

Whether or not Hernandez was bisexual, this provided a twist in the aftermath of his death. The NFL cannot probe about sexual orientation in the hiring process, but gay-hate crimes are common and I wouldn’t be surprised if he did hide his sexual orientation. He seemed like a shy, reserved person. Whatever happens, happens, but one thing’s for sure — he wasted his talent and threw away a career with a plethora of golden opportunities.

Sports Headlines podcast with Tony Renteria: Hernandez was not murdered as attorney had assessed; also A’s and Giants commentary

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inmateaid.com photo: Illustration of dimensions of Aaron Hernandez prison cell

On the Sports Headlines podcast with Tony:

Aaron Hernandez’ death was ruled a suicide and written notes from the former New England Patriots wide receiver were found in the same cell that Hernandez was reported to have hanged himself. There were three hand written notes next to the Holy Bible that was in the same cell with Hernandez and the verse John 3:16 was written in blood on Hernandez’ forehead. The tracks of the prison cell door was stuff with cardboard to impede the prison guards from gaining entry. A medical examiner Henry N Nields had determined that the cause of death was by asphyxia and that the prison guard said Hernandez was locked in his cell by 8PM the night in question and that at 3:00 AM he was discovered by the guard staff hanging in his cell. Hernandez attorney Jose Baez has requested that an independent autopsy on Hernandez be performed by well know medical examiner Dr. Michael Haden.

Tony also takes a look at the A’s and Giants latest performances.

 

 

Raiders close to deal with Marshawn Lynch; Seahawks still holds RB’s rights

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Marshawn Lynch, right, a former NFL football running back with the Seattle Seahawks greets Sheri Schultz, left, the wife of Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Thursday, May 5, 2016, before he spoke at a job fair in Seattle sponsored by the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, an organization backed by Starbucks and other companies that seeks to increase employment and education opportunities for youth aged 16-24. The Seahawks announced Thursday that Lynch has been placed on the reserve/retired list. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — “Beast Mode” back on the football field?

Almost a done deal.

NFL Network’s Michael Silver and Mike Garafolo reported Friday that Marshawn Lynch is nearing a new contract agreement with the 30-year-old running back.

But before Lynch can officially play for his hometown Raiders, Seattle must trade Lynch as they still hold his rights as he retired after the Seahawks’ Super Bowl 50 loss to the New England Patriots at the end of the 2014 season.

Sources close to the situation told Garafolo that Oakland and Seattle are optimistic that a deal can be struck, the two sides have yet to engage in trade talks for one of the NFL’s most punishing running backs when healthy.

Lynch sat out all of 2016 after an injury-filled 2015 (where he dealt with hamstrings/hernia injuries) but has been durable for the majority of his nine-year career. Three years removed from a Super Bowl championship (a season that Lynch rushed for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns), it’s fair to ask how much football does the former Oakland Tecbnical High School product have left?

The rumors have been swirling for weeks that Lynch was itching to resurrect his career and Oakland was his preferred choice, not Seattle. Lynch took to Twitter to clear the air of those rumors:

“If u kno me you kno my business is my business,” Lynch tweeted, “and if u don’t kno me that’s a fun fact for ya… when (expletive) get REAL I’ll let you kno!!!!”

Oakland, who have second-year running backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington slated to share the load in the backfield after letting starter Latavius Murray (and his 12 rushing touchdowns) depart for Minnesota via free agency, may believe Lynch is an upgrade and will add more bite to a deep running back corps.

NFL Network’s Steve Wyche noted that he was in Alameda this week and sources told him that one possible sticking point in a deal coming together between Oakland and Lynch, would be the compensation that Oakland would need to give Lynch. Wyche got indication that Oakland really wants to get a deal done and see Lynch as a key piece to a potential Super Bowl participant this season, but want some assurances from Lynch before the NFL Draft on Apr. 27.

According to Spotrac.com, Oakland is sixth in the NFL with roughly $33 million in salary cap space and have key core players who are up for hefty extensions, most notably quarterback Derek Carr and defensive end Khalil Mack.

Wyche was adamant that the Raiders didn’t want to dip to heavy into that cash to overpay for Lynch. Sources told Wyche that Oakland wants to, “take care of the horses.”

Carr and Mack are two of the Raiders’ biggest “horses” who’ve earned new contracts.

Should Lynch and the Raiders come to an agreement, it would give the Silver & Black some much needed great news, in wake of the organization’s announcement to relocate to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas in the next two years.

 

 

 

Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony Renteria: A look at what the Kings have in store for next season; Cain helps his own cause; 49ers to deal away second draft pick

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Sacramento Kings’ Langston Galloway dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

On the Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Sacramento Kings conclude a weird but yet historical season which started with the opening of their new arena, DeMacus Cousins getting traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, and new hopes that the Kings can make haste while the sunshine by getting some decent drafts.

#2 What’s the future of the Kings of the Kings for next season?

#3 The Giants after taking a 4-3 loss on Tuesday came back on Wednesday to get a 6-2 victory with the help of Giants starter Matt Cain who also helped his cause scoring the tying run.

#4  Tony discusses the possibility that the 49ers will deal their #2 draft pick for a running back

#5 The Portland Trailblazers match up against the Golden State Warriors and Tony says this one ends in four games and tells you why

Tony reviews all the sports headlines each week on the podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

 

San Francisco 49ers report: 49ers Release CB Brock Following Domestic Violence Arrest

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sanfrancisco49ers.com file photo: San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock who was recently released by the 49ers for domestic violence charges

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers released cornerback Tramaine Brock from their roster. The drop comes a day after Brock was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. The report had stated that there were visible marks on the victim.

Brock is the first such case of an arrest under the new regime of GM John Lynch, which might suggest the 49ers will be going after a zero tolerance policy, especially when it comes to something as heinous as domestic violence. It was foreshadowed in the introductory presser of Lynch and head coach Kyle Shannahan that a zero tolerance policy would be held for off the field issues.

It looks like Lynch is a man of his word as he tries to renavigate the organization to being respectable once again.

Brock had been one of the longest tenured 49ers on the roster, dating back to 2010. Last season, Brock had 49 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception. On his career, he’s picked the ball off 11 times and has two touchdowns.

Brock was heading into a contract year, as his four-year deal was coming to an end.

The release, of course, will weaken an already poor secondary but shows that there is no room on the team for any criminals and that the 49ers will once again attempt to “win with class”.