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Articles by Garrett Woodlock
2019 NFL Preview: NFC South
(Phantom Designs/Def Pen Sports) Over the past few years, the NFC South has been the pinnacle for teams in the NFC. Whether it was the Panthers in the Super Bowl or the Falcons or even last season when the Saints were clearly the best team in the NFC but missed out on a Super Bowl appearance based on a blown call. The NFC South has seemingly three teams each season who are in contention to make the playoffs.
Def Pen's 2019 NFL Preview: AFC West
(Phantom Designs/Def Pen Sports) With both the Chiefs and the Chargers winning twelve games during the 2018 regular season, it appeared that the AFC West would have a representative in the Super Bowl. Then January came around, and the Patriots beat both the Chargers and the Chiefs in consecutive weeks ending both teams’ Super Bowl hopes. The Chiefs had themselves a very interesting offseason which saw them lose players, the quickly replace them.
Pro Bowl DT Daniels Agrees to Deal with Lions
Mike Daniels (Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America) The Green Bay Packers shocked the league on Wednesday when they released former pro bowl defensive tackle, Mike Daniels. Daniel’s spent the duration of his seven-year career in Green Bay prior to being released. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, 30-year-old Mike Daniels drew interest from nearly a dozen teams. Daniels met with Cleveland Browns’ officials on Thursday but failed to come to terms on a deal with the team.
Gerald McCoy Agrees to Sign 1-Year Deal with Panthers
Gerald McCoy (Photo Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports) Back on May 20th, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy after nine seasons with the team. Tampa Bay’s original plan was to find a team who would be willing to give them future draft picks in return for McCoy. After failing to find a trade partner, the Buccaneers’ front office decided that at the age of 31, McCoy was not worth the remaining money he was owed on his contract.
2019 NFL Schedule Release: Top 10 Games to Watch
Alvin Kamara and Drew Brees (Chris Graythen/Getty Images North America) Tuesday night, The NFL released the schedule for each of the 32 teams. As soon as the schedules were out, fans and players alike were looking through their teams’ schedule and circled a few games. These 10 games are surrounded by hype, whether it is rematches of playoff games, or two Heisman Trophy winners going head-to-head, these games will draw in a lot of viewers around the world. Every game. For every NFL team.
2019 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 Giants Prepare For the Future| Def Pen
Dwayne Haskins (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images North America) Now that the scouting combine and the bulk of free-agency have passed, the next big milestone in the 2019 offseason is the NFL Draft. Impressive outings during the combine have boosted the stocks of quite a few payers, while injuries, as well as disappointing performances at the combine, have sunk the stocks of other players.
Rams, Eric Weddle Agree to Two-Year Deal
Eric Weddle Rob Carr/Getty Images North America) Friday afternoon, the Rams and safety Eric Weddle agreed to terms on a two-year deal. The deal has a base value of $10.5 million, but can be worth up to $12.5 million with incentives. This makes the second offseason in a row in which the Rams have signed a veteran playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. With the addition of Weddle, the Rams’ star-studded defense has improved from their NFC Champion roster.
REPORT: Steelers, Bills Finalizing Antonio Brown Trade
Antonio Brown (Andy Lyons/Getty Images North America) The Pittsburgh Steelers’ and star wide receiver Antonio Brown have had a publically troubled relationship for quite some time now. With recent reports of Brown meeting with Steelers’ owner Art Rooney II in Miami last month, it became apparent that his time in Pittsburgh was over. Late Thursday night, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport broke the news of a trade agreement between the Steelers and Bills, sending Brown to Buffalo.
Eric Reid, Panthers Agree to 3-Year, $22 Million Deal
Eric Reid (Grant Halverson/Getty Images North America) The Carolina Panthers and safety Eric Reid have agreed to a three-year contract extension, worth $22 million. Reid was signed by the Panthers during the 2018 regular season after safety Da’Norris Searcy was placed on Injured Reserve due to a concussion. In his 13 starts, Eric Reid totaled 71 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 5 passes broken up.
2019 NFL Mock Draft: Defense Dominates the Top Picks
Kyler Murray (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America) The 2019 Draft is just a few months away, but now that players have officially declared it’s mock draft season. This years’ NFL draft will be a little bit different than last. While there isn’t the same buzz around franchise cornerstone quarterbacks, this years’ draft features the deepest group of talented pass rushers of recent memory. 1.
Aaron Donald Wins 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Aaron Donald was named 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo) Winner AARON DONALD, DT 2018 Stats: 20.5 Sacks/59 TKL/ 4 FF The numbers Aaron Donald put up this season are just ridiculous. When you consider that Donald put those numbers up playing on the interior of the line, it seems almost impossible. The Rams went all out this season picking up defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.
Patrick Mahomes Wins 2019 NFL MVP
Patrick Mahomes was named the 2019 NFL MVP. (Photo Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports) Winner PATRICK MAHOMES, QB 2018 Stats: 5,097 Yards/50 TD/12 INT/113.8 Rating Patrick Mahomes came into the season with the expectation to be a quarterback that could lead the Chiefs to a wildcard spot if he could limit his turnovers. After week 1, those expectations changed drastically. He took the league by storm throwing ten touchdown passes in the first two games of the season and didn’t look back.
REPORT: Timberwolves Fire President, Head Coach Tom Thibodeau
Minnesota has moved on from president and head coach Tom Thibodeau, according to ESPN. (Kyndell Harkness / Minnesota Star Tribune) The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly fired president and head coach Tom Thibodeau according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The move comes just hours after the team the Los Angeles Lakers by 22 points. Minnesota has fired President and Coach Tom Thibodeau, league source tells ESPN.
Box Office: 'Aquaman' Beats Out 'Escape Room' To Stay On Top
‘Aquaman’ beat out newcomer ‘Escape Room’ at the box office this week to take the crown for the third consecutive week. (Warner Bros.) In a quiet weekend at the box office, Aquaman continued to make noise as it beat out Escape Room to take the top spot for the third week in a row. The Jason Momoa-led superhero flick brought in $30.7 million domestically in its third outing, pushing its total haul over $250 million.
Cody Zeller Out 4-6 Weeks Following Surgery on Right Hand
Cody Zeller will mis significant time following a successful hand injury. (Dave Reginek/Getty Images North America) The Charlotte Hornets are awaiting their starting center’s return as soon as possible following Cody Zeller’s hand surgery on Friday. Zeller broke his hand and missed only his second game of the season on Thursday as he awaited surgery. The Hornets published an official update on his health Friday.
Cardi B Shares Plans For A Sophomore Album In 2019
(Instagram: @IAmCardiB) One thing that most can agree on, 2018 was the year of Cardi B. Seeing the star rise as the months went on, the rapper has broken records across the board and has a fire that can’t be put out. Rolling into the new year with people still loving her and the support still going strong, plans for a new album are surely in motion, according to a recent Instagram live session the rapper had. Y’all looking forward to a new album from CardiB? ?
UFC 232 in Los Angeles: Main Card Predictions
(L-R) Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and Alexander Gustafsson touch gloves prior to their UFC light heavyweight championship bout at the Air Canada Center on September 21, 2013 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Sometimes, it’s fun to root for the bad guy. After being pushed as the face of the UFC, due to recent transgressions Jon Jones has fallen rapidly out of grace with the UFC brass, but sometimes talent trumps all.
NBA Sends Memo to Teams Reinforcing the Tampering Rule
The NBA sent a memo reminding teams about the tampering rules, in response to the perceived tampering by LeBron James (above) toward Anthony Davis. (Frank Franklin II/AP) The hubbub around the NBA has been the perceived tampering by LeBron James toward New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis. The NBA has decided to act quickly, sending a memo to all teams reminding them of the rule that tampering is not allowed.
Kansas State's Dean Wade out Indefinitely with Torn Foot Tendon
Kansas State star Dean Wade driving in against West Virginia (Source: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images ) Kansas State star and Preseason Big 12 player of the year Dean Wade is out indefinitely with a torn tendon in his right foot. The senior forward suffered the injury on Saturday’s win over Georgia State. The injury has Dean Wade listed as out indefinitely and could cause the forward to miss up to eight weeks of action. This is a blow to the Wildcats and to the senior star.
Cam Newton Shut Down by Panthers with Shoulder Injury
The Panthers have decided to shut down Cam Newton for the rest of the season. (Photo Credit: Bob Leverone/Associated Press) At one point this season, the Carolina Panthers were sitting pretty at 6-2. They were right in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt. Through Week 9, Carolina was something close to a no-brainer as far as postseason spots go. Cam Newton was emerging as a potential MVP candidate. Since then, the Panthers season has been nothing short of a disaster.
MLB, Cuban Baseball Federation Make Historical Agreement
The Cuban National team celebrates a victory in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. (Matt Roberts/Getty Images) History was made today as the Cuban Baseball Federation and Major League Baseball have come to an agreement that will allow players to sign big league contracts without having to defect from the country. The deal is alike of the one with Korea and Japan in that it hopes to streamline and also regulate the players who are going to the United States.
Roy Williams Signs 8-Year Extension with North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams (Source: Nick Laham/Getty Images) The North Carolina Tar Heels have signed head coach Roy Williams to an eight-year extension through 2028. The three-time National Championship winning head coach would be 77 at the end of the deal.
Romeo Miller Could Play a Role in 'Bad Boys 3'
Romeo Miller may play a role alongside Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in ‘Bad Boys 3’ according to the actor/rapper’s Instagram. (Jeff Kravitz/Getty) Earlier this year, after years of rumors, Bad Boys 3 was finally confirmed to be in development. Fans of the original two films were ecstatic to hear that both Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are set to return. Then, earlier this week, Romeo Miller hinted that he may be joining the sequel also.
Allonzo Trier Signs Two-Year Contract with the Knicks.
Allonzo Trier’s contract signing comes less than six months after he went undrafted. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports) Allonzo Trier has signed a two-year contract with the New York Knicks. The reported $6.9 million move makes the undrafted guard out of Arizona the second two-way player to sign a guaranteed contract within the first two months of the season. Gary Clark was converted from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract by the Houston Rockets earlier this season.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim Named NBA G League President
Shareef Abdur-Rahim has been promoted to President of the NBA G League.
Jimmy Butler on Infamous Practice Beatdown of Timberwolves Starters: 'I Only Shot Once'
Jimmy Butler spoke on the details of his infamous practice, which featured Butler showing out against the rest of the Timberwolves starters. (Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) Jimmy Butler showed his desire for a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the start of the 2018-19 NBA season. His wish was finally granted nearly a month into the season, as the All-Star wing was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, and Jerryd Bayless.
Jimmy Butler Says Blake Griffin Can't Score Against Him: 'Ain't Worried About You'
Jimmy Butler showed confidence in himself when talking on the idea of Pistons’ star Blake Griffin scoring on him. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Things got chippy towards the end of the Philadelphia 76ers’ comeback victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday, with questionable calls and hot tempers paving the way for an altercation between All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Blake Griffin: Blake Griffin and Jimmy Butler got a little chippy tonight ?
Magic Suspend Mo Bamba for Violating Team Rules
Mo Bamba (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images North America) The Orlando Magic’s rookie big man, Mo Bamba, did not play on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks because he violated team rules, coach Steve Clifford told ESPN after the game. ‘It’s just bad on my part, and I need to be better. I’ve got to be on time,’ Bamba said. The suspension came after Bamba was late for the team walk-through at the hotel in Dallas on Monday, according to Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel.
REPORT: McCutchen to Sign With the Philadelphia Phillies
Andrew McCutchen rounding the bases earlier this year for the New York Yankees. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America) The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly agreed to terms of a contract that brings on outfielder Andrew McCutchen. The deal is structured to be three years for a total of $50 million for the Phillies. Matt Gelb broke the news first, supplemented by Jon Heyman who followed with the details.
REPORT: Cavs' Tristan Thompson Out 2-4 Weeks
Tristan Thompson (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via GettyImages) Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson is expected to miss two to four weeks due to a left foot sprain, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson is expected to miss two to four weeks with a sprained foot, league source tells ESPN.
Tory Lanez Previews New Music From 'Chixtape 5' With T-Pain
Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP There have been few artists in 2018 that have worked harder than Tory Lanez. The Toronto singer and rapper kicked off the year with his sophomore studio album, Memories Don’t Die. With features from 50 Cent, Fabolous and more, the album delivered everything and more. Before the end of the year, Tory Lanez came back with another full body of work that featured Gunna, Meek Mill and many more.
Houston Rockets Sign Rookie Gary Clark to 3-Year, $3.7 Million Deal
Gary Clark (Yi-Chin Lee/Chron photographer) Gary Clark has reportedly agreed to a new contract with the Houston Rockets, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Rockets decided to transform Gary’s two-way contract into a full NBA contract. The new deal is a 3-year, $3.7 million contract which is fully guaranteed this season, half-guaranteed in 2019-2020 and has a guaranteed date for the 2020-2021 season.
Nothing is What It Is Seems This Week in 'The Good Place'
Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani and Jason are now in Janet’s world, an endless void, made necessary when Shawn’s minion demons came a calling. (NBC) It’s been a few weeks since the last episode of The Good Place but it’s finally time to learn the fate of The Soul Squad. Last time we saw our heroes, Janet was kicking some demon ass and Eleanor finally revealed her feelings for Chidi. However, the demons called for back up and pretty soon they overwhelmed them.
LeBron Interested in Having Carmelo Anthony Join the Lakers
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony’s storied friendship may lead them to become teammates in Los Angeles (Julio Cortez-AP) Carmelo Anthony may be headed to the Los Angeles Lakers if friend and fellow 2003 NBA Draft selection LeBron James gets his way, reportedly. LeBron is said to believe Anthony still has something to offer a young team such as the Lakers, as first reported by Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
Kelvin Benjamin Signs One-Year Deal with Chiefs
Kelvin Benjamin wipes his sweat in pre-game warm ups. ( Source: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images North America) Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs for the remainder of this season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the signing on Twitter Thursday night. Former Bills’ WR Kelvin Benjamin is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, per source. Another weapon for stretch run.
Alex Smith Deals with Serious Infection Following Leg Surgery
Alex Smith runs on the field before a game. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America) Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith is dealing with a serious infection after having surgeries to repair his injured leg. Smith broke his fibula and tibia while playing against the Houston Texans on November 18th. The infection was first reported by Burgundy Blog on Twitter last night.
Mike Conley on Lack of Career All-Star Selections, Recognition: 'It's Gotten More Frustrating as I've Gotten Older'
Mike Conley recently showed his frustration for the lack of recognition he’s received throughout his career. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) Mike Conley has been with the Memphis Grizzlies in the ultra-competitive Western Conference for his entire career, leading the Grit n’ Grind Grizzlies through multiple playoff runs as the team’s point guard and leader.
Kobe Bryant to Create Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks
Kobe Bryant and Sports Academy will open a new facility together near Los Angeles. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press) A legendary player that will be regarded as one of the best players in this most recent generation, Kobe Bryant continues to remain in touch with the basketball community now years into his retirement. One of the most iconic players on the court, Bryant is leaving his imprint off of it now with his playing days concluded.
Mariners Trade Jean Segura to Phillies for Santana, Crawford
Jean Segura (Rob Carr/Getty Images North America) Jean Segura is the latest member of the Seattle Mariners infield from 2018 to find themselves as a member of an NL East team heading into the New Year. Last week, the Mariners decided to trade Robinson Cano to the New York Mets and now the Mariners are shipping the All-Star shortstop to the Philadelphia Phillies. Following comes from Jon Morosi of MLB Network and Jon Heyman of FanCred.
Chicago Bulls Fire Head Coach Fred Hoiberg After Four Seasons, Jim Boylen Named New Head Coach
Fred Hoiberg (Getty Images North America) Fred Hoiberg has been fired as head coach of the Chicago Bulls after four seasons and a 115-155 record in that time. He made the playoffs once and was eliminated in the first round in 2016-17 playoffs at the hands of the Boston Celtics. Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo! Sport relays the team announcement and Adrian Wojnarwoski shares the information about his remaining contract and the news of Jim Boylen taking over as interim coach.
Grit-and-Grind Grizzlies: Revived and Revamped
Aidan Lising/Def Pen Sports The NBA has come a long way since the Grit-and-Grind Memphis Grizzlies were last a real threat in the Western Conference. Back in 2014-15, the last season the Grizzlies made it past the first round of the playoffs, current stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Karl-Anthony Towns had either just begun their professional journey, or hadn’t been drafted at all. Steph Curry had just won his first MVP.
Packers Fire Head Coach Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy (Stacy Revere/Getty Images North America) After Sunday’s loss the the Arizona Cardinals, the Packers have fired head coach Mike McCarthy. Joe Philbin will fill in as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2018 season. Mike McCarthy had a career record of 125-77-2 over 13 seasons as the Packers head coach. The Packers won Super Bowl 45 with McCarthy as their head coach. Packers have fired Mike McCarthy and named Joe Philbin interim HC.
Reuben Foster Claimed by Washington After Being Released by 49ers
Released by San Francisco just prior to their Week 12 game, Reuben Foster has been claimed by the Washington Redskins. (Photo Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports) After being released by the San Francisco 49ers last weekend while in jail for a domestic violence arrest, linebacker Reuben Foster has been claimed on waivers by the Washington Redskins. Former 49ers’ LB Reuben Foster was claimed by the Washington Redskins, per source.
Gonzaga's Geno Crandall out With Fractured Right Hand
Geno Crandall (Young Kwak-AP) Three weeks into the 2018-2019 college basketball season we have witnessed a lot of surprising things from different teams. One team, in particular, is the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Before the season, our team at DefPen ranked them at the number five spot, so we knew they would be good, but no one thought they would be this good. Starting the season with seven wins and zero losses, the Bulldogs have proved that they are a top team in college basketball.
Stephen Curry Wants At Least One More Ring
(Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images North America) Stephen Curry is undoubtedly one of the most feared players in the NBA. With two MVPs, one being the first unanimous MVP ever, three rings and six all-league awards, the Baby-Faced Assassin is far from finished. In an interview with Alex Squadron from Slam magazine, Curry discussed his desire to bring one more championship to the city of Oakland before the team’s departure to the newly built Chase Center in San Fransico.
GAME OF THE DAY: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Preview
Aidan Lising/Def Pen Sports The Los Angeles Lakers seem to have found their footing, winning seven of their last nine. LeBron James and the young Lakers have strung together victories against potential playoff teams like Utah and Portland and hope to add Denver to that list. The Nuggets, meanwhile, have won three in a row but have lost six of their last ten. Denver will aim to right the ship against James and the Lakers at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday night in a prime time matchup on NBA TV.
In Another Post-LeBron World, Cavs Still Making Same Mistakes
(Aidan Lising for Def Pen Sports) Every Cleveland Cavaliers fan remembers where they were the night of July 8, 2010. LeBron James publicly announced his intentions to head to Miami, leaving behind a 61-21 team that had championship aspirations. The 2009-10 Cavaliers had the second-highest attendance in the league and were a top-seven team in the NBA in both offensive and defensive ratings.
Marvin Bagley Releases 'Look at Me Now' Music Video
Marvin Bagley (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America) Marvin Bagley aka MB3FIVE has had a solid start this season for the Sacramento Kings, but that’s not enough for the rookie. The second overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft has been in his bag as of late. From averaging 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game to working on an upcoming album titled ‘Big Jreams’ the big man doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Today, the rookie released his ‘Look at Me Now’ music video.
Anthony Davis Records 10,000 Career Points on 5x5 Night
Anthony Davis (Sean Gardner/Getty Images North America) Anthony Davis recorded his 10,000th career-point while posting a ‘5×5’ night on Wednesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Davis becomes the 11th player to record a 5×5 night in NBA history, and the first to do so this season.
Thanksgiving Game: Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints Preview
Phantom Designs/Def Pen Sports In the past, Saints-Falcons has been the league’s preeminent offensive explosion. While the Saints can absolutely hold their own in that department, this matchup feels a little lackluster compared to what it has been. However, this still lines up as a very good game. The Saints need a win in order to match the Rams and keep the top spot in the NFC as we near the playoffs. Atlanta desperately needs a win.
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