|
|
their Game 7 victories in the conference finals. |
The New York Jets shook up the NFL draft on Saturday by soaring three spots to No. 3 overall in a stunning swap with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Jets acquired the third pick in a strong sign that they intend to get one of the top quarterbacks available. They sent the Colts their first-rounder 鈥?No. 6 overall 鈥?along with two second-rounders this year and a second-rounder next year to complete the massive deal.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard said the teams had been discussing a potential trade since early in the week.
"They had an interest to move up to (No.) 3 and kind of went back and forth for the last four or five days http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-justin-bethel-jersey ," Ballard said in a video posted on the Colts' website. "Talked to a couple other teams, but we still wanted to stay in position in that top 10 where we could still get a premium player. We feel like at (No.) 6, we'll still be able to get a premium player."
After losing out to Minnesota in the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes at the start of free agency, New York re-signed veteran Josh McCown and agreed to terms with Teddy Bridgewater, both on one-year deals. But it was believed the Jets would still focus on finding a quarterback of the future with their first-round pick in next month's draft.
By moving up to No. 3, New York assures itself of getting one of the top-rated quarterbacks available. USC's Sam Darnold, UCLA's Josh Rosen, Wyoming's Josh Allen and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield are all considered potential top-five selections.
Moving on up. pic.fm2BSLylso
鈥?New York Jets (@nyjets) March 17, 2018
General manager Mike Maccagnan has been zeroing in on the QBs up close, attending the pro days of both Mayfield and Rosen. He also plans to attend the pro days for Darnold and Allen.
The Jets have been very active during the first few days of the NFL's free agency period , which officially began Wednesday. In addition to the moves with McCown and Bridgewater, New York signed cornerback Trumaine Johnson , running back Isaiah Crowell, kicker Cairo Santos and linebacker Avery Williamson , and agreed to terms with center Spencer Long. The Jets also re-signed cornerback Morris Claiborne, defensive lineman Mike Pennel Authentic Justin Bethel Jersey , offensive tackle Ben Ijalana and safety Terrence Brooks.
The flurry of activity comes as the Jets look to improve on two straight 5-11 seasons and try to end a seven-year playoff drought. Getting a quarterback to build around was a priority entering this offseason 鈥?familiar territory for a franchise that mostly has struggled to find sustained success under center since the days of Joe Namath. The Jets have had 30 starting quarterbacks since Broadway Joe's last game for them in 1976. The last time New York took a quarterback with a high first-round pick was 2009, when it drafted Mark Sanchez. After helping lead the Jets to the AFC championship game his first two seasons, Sanchez mostly struggled, and the likes of Greg McElroy, Geno Smith, Michael Vick, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty and McCown have all started games in the years since.
With this deal, New York has a chance to find its new face of the franchise. But Maccagnan & Co. know there will be big-time pressure on them to make the correct choice at No. 3. The last time the Jets had the third pick was 1981, when they took UCLA running back Freeman McNeil, who made three Pro Bowls during his 12-year NFL career and was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor.
For the Colts, they now have nine picks overall and appear to be in a rebuilding phase after going 4-12 and missing the playoffs for the third straight year. Getting extra picks from the Jets will surely help, giving Indianapolis four selections in the top 50 in this year's draft.
Pleasure doing business with you, @nyjets! pic.oAgpEudDWj
鈥?Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 17, 2018
Questions still surround the status of quarterback Andrew Luck's surgically repaired right shoulder, leading rusher Frank Gore is a free agent and Indianapolis still needs to fix a leaky offensive line. The Colts also need improvements on defense after finishing 30th overall and 31st in sacks.
The Colts had done very little in free agency 鈥?until Saturday. They signed backup defensive end Denico Autry from Oakland to a three-year deal and already have lost two other key players: receiver Donte Moncrief Brandon Parker Color Rush Jersey , an occasional starter, and emerging cornerback Rashaan Melvin.
It is widely believed that the Colts were very interested in N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb with the No. 3 pick. Indianapolis still might be able to land the promising pass rusher at No. 6, especially if three or more quarterbacks are taken in the first five spots. That is, if the Colts don't do some more wheeling and dealing before the April 26-28 draft with their plethora of picks.
"We'll still be open if an opportunity 鈥?the right opportunity 鈥?presents itself at six to move down," Ballard said. "But right now, we feel pretty good. It would have to be a pretty attractive offer for us to move away from six because of the player we think we're going to get."
AP Sports Writer Michael Marot in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
Masai Ujiri believes Dwane Casey deserves to be recognized as the best coach in the NBA, but the Toronto president doesn’t think Casey should be leading the Raptors.
So the Raptors fired Casey, praising him on his way out the door.
Hours after the Raptors announced they were parting ways with Casey on Friday – days after the team was swept in the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second straight season – Ujiri said he doesn’t think he will ever work with a better person.
”Nothing in particular that coach Casey did wrong, but I think it was time for this to happen,” he said.
Casey led the Raptors to a franchise-record 59 wins this season as Toronto earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time. He posted a 320-238 record in seven seasons and is the franchise’s winningest coach.
”I hope coach Casey gets coach of the year, because he deserves it,” Ujiri said. ”I saw everything he did here. I saw the job he did this year. He deserves it.”
But that wasn’t enough for Casey to keep his job.
James and Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said it was disappointing to hear that Casey had been fired, especially after the year the Raptors had.
”Probably within the last five years, I bet they’ve improved in winning percentage every single year,” James said. ”But I guess their front office wants playoff success. That’s what it boils down to.”
On Tuesday, Casey was named coach of the year by the National Basketball Coaches Association Josh Jackson Packers Jersey , an award voted on by NBA head coaches. A media panel voted separately for the NBA’s coach of the year award, which will be announced June 25.
Under Casey, the Raptors won four Atlantic Division titles and advanced to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons. But Toronto couldn’t get past Cleveland, losing to LeBron James and the Cavs in each of the past three playoffs.
Ujiri said he spent ”countless hours” evaluating the team in the days following this year’s defeat before deciding to fire Casey. It was the first time he’d had to fire a coach in more than a decade as an NBA executive.
”It’s the hardest thing I’ve done in my life,” Ujiri said. ”In terms of collaboration, I don’t think I’ll work with a better person. Maybe my dad. This guy is phenomenal. A listener, a learner, a performer and a real person.”
Ujiri had little to say about who his next head coach might be, but said he would be ”open” to considering a wide range of potential candidates.
”We’ll start that process right after I finish here,” Ujiri said. ”We’ll look everywhere. I’m not ruling out anything. We’ll do a thorough job.”
Ujiri denied reports that Casey had precipitated his firing by seeking a contract extension. Casey had one year remaining on a three-year, $18 million dollar extension he received in June, 2016.
Toronto’s assistant coaches remain in their roles, Ujiri said.
”All of them are with us for now,” Ujiri said. ”Obviously some of them will get interviews. We’re going to go through that.”
After Toronto’s playoff exit last spring, Ujiri demanded a ”culture reset,” leading a greater emphasis on ball movement Cheap Jihad Ward Jersey , depth, and 3-point shooting. On Friday, Ujiri said he wants his new coach to continue that style moving forward.
”I hope we can because you try to get those kind of players to fit that mode,” Ujiri said. ”Hopefully there’s a smooth transition but a new coach is going to have his style, he’s going to have his voice.”
Earlier this week, as they cleaned out their lockers, All-Star guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan spoke positively about Casey.
DeRozan credited Casey with all of his success while Lowry called Casey ”one of the best coaches out there.”
Still, Lowry was dejected by the team’s playoff performance, calling it a ”wasted year” after a third straight elimination at the hands of James and the Cavs.
”We felt like we could possibly make the NBA Finals,” Lowry said. ”That was our goal.”
On Wednesday, Casey insisted ”the gap is closing” between the Raptors and Cavaliers.
”A lot of folks have run up against Cleveland in the last few years and had the same challenge and it went down the same way,” he said. ”That’s the mountain this organization has to climb.”
—
AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.
—
.
« his wide receivers in March in California.signed with Washingto »
Weitere Artikel der Kategorie Allgemein
RSS-Feed abonnieren
Besucher
Forum Statistiken
