In a move that was expected, the Patriots will be re-signing kicker Nick Folk, a league source confirmed to ESPN. The NFL Network first reported the decision. Folk will replace Kai Forbath, who was waived on Monday.
Highlights: Thunder 139, Wolves 127
Check out the highlights from the Minnesota Timberwolves’ overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Report: Lane Kiffin Nearing Deal to Become Next Ole Miss Head Coach
Lane Kiffin is reportedly on the verge of a deal to become the next head coach at Ole Miss.
It appears Lane Kiffin is headed back to the SEC. According to USA Today’s Dan Wolken, Kiffin is on the verge of a deal to become Ole Miss’s next head coach.
Kiffin, whose FAU Owls play for the Conference USA championship on Saturday, could have a deal finalized after the game, Wolken notes.
Kiffin had also been linked to the Arkansas opening and met with both Ole Miss and the Razorbacks this week in Boca Raton, Fla.
FAU went 25-13 in three seasons under Kiffin. He took the FAU job following a brief stint as an assistant at Alabama and a 28-15 stretch as the head coach at USC.
In January of 2007, the Oakland Raiders hired the 31-year-old Kiffin, making him the youngest NFL head coach since 1946. He struggled, however, during his brief tenure in Oakland, going 5-15 in only 20 games. Kiffin then returned to college to lead Tennessee for one season.
He will be replacing Matt Luke, who was fired on Dec. 1 following a third-straight season without a bowl appearance.
A number of Ole Miss players reportedly “stormed out” of the meeting in which Athletics Director Keith Carter told players Luke had been fired. After the meeting, junior offensive lineman Chandler Tuitt said “half the team” is talking about leaving, adding that if the entire coaching staff is dismissed he doesn’t think many players will stay with the program.
According to 247sports, Ole Miss has the No. 37 recruiting class in the country for 2020 and the 11th best class in the SEC.
Kiffin, 44, will look to help the Rebels make their first bowl game since 2015-16, when the school beat Oklahoma State in the Peach Bowl.
Beilein disputes report players unhappy with him
Cavs coach John Beilein disputed a report that his players are unhappy with his coaching style, telling reporters Friday night that he has his players’ attention and that they have been receptive.
Howard’s Ron Prince Resigns in Wake of Allegations of Verbal Abuse, Player Intimidation
Howard head football coach Ron Prince resigned Friday, following the university opening an investigation into allegations of verbal abuse and player intimidation.
Howard head football coach Ron Prince resigned Friday, following the university opening an investigation into allegations of verbal abuse and player intimidation.
“Coach Ron Prince has resigned as head coach of Howard’s football program, effective immediately,” Howard Athletic Director Kery Davis said Friday in a statement. “The university and Coach Prince have agreed to mutually part ways. A national search for a replacement will begin immediately.”
Prince was hired in Dec. 2018 and coached only nine games for the Bison. He was placed on leave Nov. 6, after a parent accused him of being “threatening, hostile, abusive and disrespectful of young men and coaching staff.”
Since Prince’s arrival, 17 total players entered the transfer portal, including Caylin Newton, the brother of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, and the 2018 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Before his time at Howard, Prince had an extensive coaching resume. Among other roles, he was previously the head coach at Kansas State from 2006-08 and the assistant head coach at the Detroit Lions from 2014-2017.
Director of football operations Aaron Kelton will continue interim responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Bison football program.
Greta Gerwig Turned to Cardi B to Get Through Her Pregnancy
Report: Cavs Open to Trading Kevin Love
The struggling Cavaliers are reportedly ready to listen to trade offers for veteran forward Kevin Love.
Kevin Love’s days in Cleveland might be numbered.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavaliers are open to moving the veteran power forward.
“I’m told that Cleveland is ready now to listen to offers on Kevin Love as we get to that December 15 date and then the February trade deadline,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s NBA Countdown on Friday.
Heading into Friday night, the Cavs have one of the league’s worst records at 5-15, but the 31-year-old Love is averaging 16.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
In 2018, Love, who was first acquired to help bolster the LeBron James-led Cavaliers, signed a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension with the Cavs through 2022-23.
“He’s going to be a player very much in demand, and I think there’s going to be a lot of conversations between Cleveland and teams all over the league about Love,” Wojnarowski said.
According to Wojnarowski, a number of teams, in both conferences, who have title aspirations could be interested in acquiring the forward. But if Love is dealt, it will likely be after Dec. 15, the first day when players who signed free agent contracts in the offseason can be moved.
Early Friday, a report from The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Shams Charania surfaced stating that Cleveland players are not seeing eye-to-eye with new head coach John Beilein.
“Guys drowned out his voice, and when guys start searching for the next in line for help, I believe you’ve lost them,” an anonymous Cavs player is quoted as saying.
Cleveland got off to a better start to the season than many pundits predicted, but entering Friday night, the young team has lost 10 of its last 11 games.
Petition With 200,000 Signatures Seeks Removal of Michael Vick as Honorary Pro Bowl Captain
A popular petition with more than 200,000 signatures is calling for the removal of Michael Vick as an honorary 2020 Pro Bowl captain.
On Nov. 26, the NFL announced that Pro Football Hall of Famers Terrell Davis, Darrell Green and Bruce Smith, and Michael Vick would serve as 2020 Pro Bowl Legends captains, acting as “mentors” for the players while leading a specific team’s offense or defense.
But in the wake of the announcement, a woman named Joanna Lind started a petition on change.org, calling on the league to strip Vick of the role. As of Friday evening, more than 220,000 people have signed it.
“Just saw this on Facebook and was absolutely disgusted,” she wrote on the petition page, referring to news of Vick’s inclusion. “When is the NFL going to take any responsibility for the behavior of its current and former players? To honor a man who had zero regard for animals is unacceptable and I would like your help to make sure he is not honored at the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl.”
Vick served 18 months in federal prison in 2007 after being found guilty for running a “cruel and inhumane” dogfighting ring and later lying about it. He was suspended by the league and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Following his release from prison, the former Falcons quarterback returned to the NFL playing for the Eagles, Jets and Steelers before retiring in 2017.
The 2020 NFL Pro Bowl will take place on Jan. 26 in Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET.
Even Without J.Lo’s Budget, Your Outfit Will Look Expensive With This Boot Trend
If you’re like me, you’re probably very excited that J.Lo is hosting SNL this weekend. And as an added bonus, she’s been out and about in NYC a lot this week doing press, attending rehearsals, etc. It was the latter occasion that bestowed upon us her latest look, and it’s a good one indeed. All week, Lopez has been wearing primarily Coach pieces (She’s the new face of the brand, after all.) On this occasion, she paired a sheer knee-length dress with a slightly puffy coat and her signature hoop earrings and aviators, but it was her boots that really drove the look home.
For the rehearsal, Lopez wore the year’s most expensive-looking shoe trend: knee-high croc-embossed boots. Naturally, she chose a designer pair (by Jimmy Choo), but even if you don’t have her designer-size wardrobe budget, you can still count on this trend making whatever it’s paired with look expensive, whatever the price point. (You’ve probably noticed that we’ve touched on this previously.)
Keep scrolling to shop Lopez’s boots and some of my favorite less-expensive croc knee boots.
Next up, the controversial trend J.Lo ditched skinny jeans for.
Steve Kerr Reacts to David Fizdale Firing: ‘That Would’ve Been Me Three Years Ago’
On a day when David Fizdale was fired by the Knicks, Steve Kerr weighed in on his choice to coach the Warriors in 2014.
In the spring of 2014, Steve Kerr was faced with a decision about which NBA team he wanted to coach: the New York Knicks or Golden State Warriors.
Three NBA championships and one NBA Coach of the Year award later, Kerr and the Warriors have proven to be more than just a successful match.
But speaking on the same day that Knicks head coach David Fizdale was fired, Kerr was asked about how different his career would have been had he taken the New York job.
“If I had gone to New York, that would’ve been me like three years ago. I’m well aware of that,” Kerr said. “It’s just the way it goes. I think I made the right choice.”
The thought of teaming up with Phil Jackson, who was still with the Knicks as team president 2014, was reportedly appealing to Kerr. But New York was coming off a 37-win season and Carmelo Anthony was set to be an unrestricted free agent.
At the time, Kerr said the decision to take the Warriors’ job felt “like the right move on many levels,” citing Golden State’s talented young roster and the geographic proximity to his family.
New York hired Derek Fisher instead of Kerr, but Fisher was fired 54 games into the 2015-16 season. After two years of Jeff Hornacek and one-plus season of David Fizdale, the Knicks are again looking for their next head coach.
“As we know in this business it’s extremely fragile,” Kerr said Friday. “Your job is dependent on a lot of things when you’re a coach in this league. No. 1 probably is the talent that you’re able to coach, but just as important is the strength of the organization and the group around you. And it takes a really strong organization to help coaches and help players get through difficult times.”