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Chicago Bears free-agent tracker: Long snapper Patrick Scales to return

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

In his second offseason with the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Poles has plenty of salary-cap space to rework a roster that finished 3-14 in 2022.As the NFL’s new league year approaches, allowing free agents to begin signing with new teams, the Tribune will track all of the Bears’ arrivals and departures and provide insight into what they mean.The free-agency negotiation window will open across the league at 11 a.m. Monday. Unrestricted free agents can finalize deals when the new league year begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday.Here’s the latest.FridayLong snapper Patrick Scales is returning to the Bears, his agent tweeted. What it means: Scales, 35, has been with the Bears since 2015 and hasn’t missed a game in the last five seasons. He returns with a specialist unit that includes kicker Cairo Santos and punter Trenton Gill.Scales is the longest-tenured Bears player on a roster that Poles has largely turned over.TuesdayThe Bears are bringing back veteran fullbac...

Guregian: Devin McCourty’s retirement leaves Patriots with huge void

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

Devin McCourty earned several nicknames from his teammates. Perhaps it was Matthew Slater who came up with the best one.He called him “Mr. Patriot.”During a media session a few years back, Slater explained why he gave McCourty, who announced his retirement Friday, that moniker.“I just think of everything he embodies and what he stands for. Obviously his on-the-field play is elite, he’s one of the best players at his position in the league. On the field, he’s like another coach,” said Slater. “He’s so reliable, so consistent, his football I.Q. is the best that I’ve seen over the last several years. It’s up there with the best over the course of my career.“And then what he does off the field, as well. The type of man he is, his consistent character, the things that he does in the community, the type of teammate that he is. If you’re looking for a guy that you want to build a team around, you want young players to look to and model, that’...

Tips for dealing with daylight saving time and less sleep from a Boston doctor: ‘Make smaller changes earlier’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

Yay! We get more sunlight starting on Sunday, with 7 p.m. sunsets coming soon!While this is an exciting time of year as the clocks spring forward one hour for daylight saving time, those lighter evenings come at a cost.Losing an hour of sleep can lead to more traffic accidents, and scientific researchers have noticed an increase in heart attacks and strokes in the days following the change to daylight saving time each spring.“Loss of sleep is not a good thing,” said Milena Pavlova, medical director of the Sleep Testing Center at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. “It affects peoples’ cognitive performance and their hormones.“The early part of the day is usually challenging for many people who are prone to better productivity at night,” Pavlova added.For teenagers with packed schedules and an early school start time, the transition can be especially hard. In some cases, it can cause sleep disorders.“In teens, we see a higher prevale...

Tom Brady, Mac Jones among current and former Patriots reacting to Devin McCourty’s retirement

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

News of Devin McCourty’s retirement sent shockwaves through the greater Patriots community Friday, with current and former players taking to social media to say congratulations.McCourty announced his retirement in a brief video posted to social media Friday afternoon. He ends his career after 13 seasons in the NFL, all spent with the Patriots. McCourty finishes as a three-time Super Bowl champion and 12-time team captain.Below is a sampling of the reaction to his retirement from Tom Brady, Mac Jones, Julian Edelman, Stephon Gilmore and others.Tom BradyTom Brady honors Devin McCourty: pic.twitter.com/Ndwz7el7Uo— Dakota Randall (@DakRandallNESN) March 10, 2023Mac JonesMac Jones reacts to Devin McCourty's retirement: pic.twitter.com/wDOkleFQ9W— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) March 10, 2023Julian Edelman View this post on InstagramA post shared by Julian Edelman (@edelman11)Stephon GilmoreLegendary https://t.co/ZBL7V4BHxH— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0...

Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft release statements on Devin McCourty’s retirement

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

Patriots safety Devin McCourty announced his NFL retirement Friday, ending a legendary 13-year career in New England.McCourty is expected to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame one day. He won three Super Bowls in New England and was voted to two Pro Bowls. A 12-time captain, he is revered as both one of the great players and leaders in franchise history.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots S Devin McCourty announces NFL retirement after 13 seasons New England Patriots | NFL Draft 2023: Patriots receive two compensatory picks, own 10 total New England Patriots | The Patriots’ 18 best defensive fits in NFL free agency New England Patriots | How the Patriots can fix their offense in free agency New England Patriots | Long football careers linked to impulsive behavior, less white matter in the brain: Boston University CTE study Shortly after McCourty announced his retirement in an In...

Heat’s Kevin Love eager for opportunity alongside Kyle Lowry

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

Being in a hole has largely been the story of this uneven Miami Heat season.Being whole is something that mostly has been an abstract, particularly since Feb. 2, Kyle Lowry’s last game before being sidelined by knee pain.However, with Lowry regularly scrimmaging in recent days, an imminent return is expected, possibly in Saturday night’s road game against the Orlando Magic.For Kevin Love, playing with Lowry is part of the reason that the Heat stood as such an attractive option on the buyout market, with Love to this point limited to starting games alongside fill-in starting point guard Gabe Vincent.“Gabe, love how he plays, I love what he brings to the table,” Love said as the Heat turned their attention to Friday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami-Dade Arena, “and I think it’s a great blend and a great marriage with those two when they’re both within our lineup.“But Kyle’s a Hall of Fame player. I mean, ...

Mike Preston: Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti can’t be happy about the state of the organization | COMMENTARY

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

I wonder what Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is thinking these days with his organization being in such despair.There have been other dark moments, like the double-murder trial involving Hall of Fame middle linebacker Ray Lewis in 2000 and the domestic violence criminal charges against running back Ray Rice in 2014. There was the null-and-void trade for wide receiver Terrell Owens in 2004 and the purge of the Super Bowl XXXV team following the 2001 season.But at least then the Ravens had great players on the roster like Lewis, safety Ed Reed and outside linebackers Peter Boulware and Terrell Suggs. Then general manager Ozzie Newsome provided hope as demonstrated by the fans’ corny mantra of “In Ozzie We Trust.”Right now, the Ravens are an organization just twirling and dangling in the wind. There is only one alpha male on this roster, inside linebacker Roquan Smith. Shoot, the Ravens don’t even have a starting quarterback because no one is sure where Lamar Jack...

Nose tackle Michael Pierce agrees to pay cut as Ravens continue to clear cap space

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce agreed to take a $2 million pay cut as part of a contract restructure that will give the team about $2.7 million in salary cap space.Pierce, 30, signed a three-year, $16.5 million deal to return to the Ravens before last season but played just three games before he had season-ending surgery to repair a torn biceps. He was a candidate to be cut as the Ravens clear cap space to accommodate the $32.4 million nonexclusive franchise tag they placed on quarterback Lamar Jackson.Instead, the Ravens will keep an interior run stuffer who was playing well before his injury last season. Pierce played his first four seasons in Baltimore before he signed a free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020. Though he played at least 14 games every year during his initial stint with the Ravens, he has not played more than eight games in a season since 2019.Pierce could earn back much of his pay cut if he meets a series of incentives.In a previous move to clear ca...

Revolution keeper Djordje Petrovic looking to keep shutout streak going

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

New England Revolution second-year goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic hopes to accomplish a significant club first against a formidable opponent.Petrovic will attempt become the only keeper in club history to open the season with three consecutive clean sheets when the Revolution (2-0-0) confront reigning MLS champion LAFC (1-0-0) on Sunday night (10:30) at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.Petrovic has logged 180 shutout minutes in wins against Charlotte FC (1-0) and the Houston Dynamo (3-0). Petrovic, a member of the Serbia National Team who experienced a call up in January, needs eight move saves to reach a hundred in his MLS tenure.“He’s played well but he wasn’t kept that busy in the last game against Houston,” said Revolution head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena. “He had one really good save at the end of the Charlotte game.“He is very reliable and he has grown as a goalkeeper from last year and he continues to get better. I think his distribution has gotten better and his ability t...

Patriots safety Devin McCourty announces NFL retirement after 13 seasons

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:26 GMT

Nicknamed “Red Coat” by his teammates, Devin McCourty’s destiny as a future Patriots Hall of Famer has long been clear.After his announcement Friday afternoon, the wait shouldn’t be much longer.In a video posted to social media, McCourty announced he is retiring from the NFL. McCourty ends his playing career after 13 seasons, three Super Bowl championships and two Pro Bowl nods. The 35-year-old grew into a franchise great in New England, where he was named to the franchise’s 2010s All-Decade team.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | NFL Draft 2023: Patriots receive two compensatory picks, own 10 total New England Patriots | The Patriots’ 18 best defensive fits in NFL free agency New England Patriots | How the Patriots can fix their offense in free agency New England Patriots | Long football careers linked to impulsive behavior, less white matter in the brain: Boston University CTE study ...