Monthly Archives: January 2022

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is conducting a review of a secretive division that uses some of the countrys most sensitive databases to investigate the travel and financial records and personal connections of journalists, members of Congress and other Americans not suspected of any crime.

A review is underway to ensure that the activities in question during the prior Administration remain an isolated incident and that proper safeguards are in place to prevent an incident like this from taking place in the future, Luis Miranda, a spokesperson for CBP, told Yahoo News.

CBPs internal probe was prompted by Yahoo News reporting earlier this month on Operation Whistle Pig, a leak investigation targeting reporter Ali Watkins and her then boyfriend, James Wolfe, a Senate staffer. The investigation was launched by Jeffrey Rambo, a border patrol agent assigned to CBPs Counter Network Division who was looking at whether Wolfe provided classified information to Watkins and other reporters.

James Wolfe, former director of security for the Senate Intelligence Committee. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

As many as 20 national security reporters were also investigated during this time, according to an FBI counterintelligence memo included in the Department of Homeland Security inspector general report obtained by Yahoo News.

The DHS inspector general investigation was launched in response to an article in the Washington Post identifying Rambo as a border patrol agent who used a fake name to meet with Watkins, then a reporter for Politico. During the meeting, he questioned her about her sources and about her relationship with Wolfe, and also discussed leak investigations.

At the end of their two-year probe, investigators referred Rambo, his supervisor Dan White and a colleague Charles Ratliff for potential criminal charges including conspiracy and misuse of government computers. White was also referred for multiple potential counts of making false statements. Federal prosecutors declined prosecution, citing, among other reasons, the lack of policies and procedures governing their work.

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Rambo told Yahoo News he was authorized every step of the way, and records included in the DHS investigative report show that his supervisor Dan White ordered him to expand his probe into journalists. White is still working at the Counter Network Division, and Rambo is currently employed as a border patrol agent in San Diego.

The Counter Network Division regularly investigated potential contacts, including journalists, as part of a process it referred to as vetting. As part of this process, the subject would be run through multiple databases, including a terrorism watch list.

Jeff Rambo at his coffee shop in San Diego. (Sandy Huffaker for Yahoo News)

The division regularly conducts database checks on reporters to determine personal connections, Rambos supervisor Dan White told investigators, according to the DHS investigation report obtained by Yahoo News.

Charles Ratliff, another CBP employee brought in to assist Operation Whistle Pig, used the vast resources and databases available to the division to build what investigators later described as a phone tree of contacts mapping out connections between people to identify a hidden network. Such work, which was used to track terrorists, was also directed at Americans, including congressional members and staffers and journalists..

When Congressional Staffers schedule flights, the numbers they use get captured and analyzed by CBP, Rambos supervisor, White, told investigators.

White stated that Ratliff does this all the time inappropriate contacts between people.

Ratliff regularly compiled reports on members of Congress with alleged ties to someone in the Terrorist Screening Database, according to the investigative report obtained by Yahoo News.

CBP marshaled those same resources to identify journalists' confidential sources, which was then passed to the FBI.

Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press reporter Martha Mendoza was one of the journalists vetted by the Counter Network Division targeted only because shed reported on forced labor, one of the issues related to CBPs work. Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington was also swept up in its dragnet.

There is no specific guidance on how to vet someone, Rambo later told investigators. In terms of policy and procedure, to be 100 percent frank there, theres no policy and procedure on vetting.

Martha Mendoza, a journalist with the Associated Press. (Khairil Yusof/Flickr)

The Counter Network Division also investigated NGOs, members of Congress and their respective staffs. Enough Project, a nonprofit named by CBP as one of those organizations investigated by Rambos team, told Yahoo News it was troubled by the revelations.

If the Enough Project was in fact targeted for extreme vetting by a United States government agency for our work to improve mineral supply chains originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo and investigate corruption that robs the Congolese people of their countrys natural resource wealth, it would be deeply troubling, the organization said in a statement to Yahoo News. Such invasive and arbitrary targeting of human rights defenders would be a violation of privacy, a hindrance to this important work, and a waste of public resources.

A CBP official who asked not to be named told Yahoo News that the National Targeting Center has put in place new procedures and training designed to ensure that the First and Fourth amendments are not being violated. The official declined, however, to specify what those measures were.

Congressional oversight committees have also begun looking into the divisions activities.

Rep. Benny Thompson, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee and Carolyn Maloney, chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter to the DHS inspector general requesting the report.

We write you regarding disturbing reports that the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Counter Network Division used government databases to vet journalists, government officials, congressional members and their staff, NGO workers, and others by obtaining travel records as well as financial and personal information, they wrote in a Dec. 14 letter to the DHS inspector general.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigated at least one Counter Network Division employee, Mr. Jeffrey Rambo, who used government databases to gather information on an American journalist Ali Watkins, Thompson and Maloney wrote the DHS, citing reporting by Yahoo News.

Ali Watkins during an interview regrading her reporting on Russian espionage on PBS on June 1, 2017. (PBS/YouTube)

Chairs Thompson and Maloney requested a copy of the Office of the Inspector General report for its investigation into Rambo and any other reports related to conduct by the Counter Network Division by Dec. 21, 2021. The DHS inspector general has to date not provided the committees with the requested information, according to congressional sources.

Sen. Ron Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, which has oversight over CBP, has also requested a copy of the inspector general report, but a spokesman for Wyden said he has still not received a copy.

The inspector general did not respond to a request for comment from Yahoo News about the congressional requests.

The DHS has declined to answer any questions posed by Yahoo News about Operation Whistle Pig and the activities of the Counter Network Division. However, in a statement, the department said that DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is deeply committed to ensuring the protection of First Amendment rights and has promulgated policies that reflect this priority.

We do not condone the investigation of reporters in response to the exercise of First Amendment rights, the statement continued. CBP and every component agency and office in the Department will ensure their practices are consistent with our values and our highest standards.

See the article here:

CBP launches review of secretive division that targeted journalists, lawmakers and other Americans - Yahoo News

Before the national championship game between Alabama and Georgia is played, there is one more bowl game. Its the Texas Bowl between LSU and Kansas State on Tuesday night in Houston.

LSU (6-6) opened as a slight favorite but that point spread has swung pretty significantly toward Kansas State (7-5). The Wildcats are now 7-point favorites at BetMGM with the total sitting at 47.5 as of Tuesday morning.

Why the line movement? Well, LSU will be without a significant chunk of its roster and is expected to split quarterback reps between two walk-ons and a wide receiver. According to The Athletic, the Tigers will have roughly 39 scholarship players available because of transfers, opt-out, COVID and academic issues.

The opt-outs include linebacker Damone Clark, defensive tackle Neil Farrell and running back Tyrion Davis-Price, all of whom have declared for the NFL draft. LSU is also very thin at cornerback.

And then theres the quarterback situation. Max Johnson, the teams starter throughout the regular season, transferred to Texas A&M. Myles Brennan, who was expected to compete with Johnson for the starting job before getting injured, announced he will be back next year under new coach Brian Kelly but reportedly wont play in the bowl. Freshman Garrett Nussmeier played in four games this season and does not want to burn his redshirt.

That leaves the two walk-ons Tavion Faulk and Matt ODowd and Jontre Kirklin, a receiver who played high school quarterback. Its obviously a tenuous situation for the Tigers.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is not expected to play in the Texas Bowl in order to preserve his redshirt, leaving two walk-ons and a receiver to play QB for the Tigers. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Kansas State, meanwhile, is expected to have longtime starting quarterback Skylar Thompson back on the field after a late-season injury. The Wildcats, who finished 7-5 overall, were 6-3 with Thompson in the lineup this season.

From a betting perspective, the spread moved toward Kansas State pretty slowly. K-State was still available at -4.5 a few days ago, but the number has moved to 7 with the reality of LSUs roster situation more publicly available.

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Kansas State is not a team I typically bet as a favorite, though it is 9-5-1 ATS as a favorite during Chris Kliemans three seasons as head coach. Even better, the under is 11-4 when Kansas State is the favorite during that same span.

With LSUs roster in such shape and the fact that Kansas State plays such a plodding style of offense (just 48 plays of 20-plus yards this season, No. 104 in the country), I lean toward the under. But its probably going to be a game Im more inclined to live bet or just stay away from altogether.

Things have been dicey in college basketball lately with so many postponements, but Tuesday nights schedule looks very promising.

The top matchup of the night comes out of the SEC where No. 21 LSU is hosting No. 16 Kentucky. LSU is a 3.5-point favorite with the total at 141.5.

Kentucky is 11-2 on the year and has won four straight games in blowout fashion after losing at Notre Dame on Dec. 11. The four-game winning streak includes an 83-56 blowout over Missouri in UKs SEC opener. LSU, meanwhile, is 12-1 on the year and is coming off that lone defeat a 70-55 road loss to Auburn in the conference opener.

Elsewhere, No. 1 Baylor hosts Oklahoma and is a 12.5-point favorite. No. 2 Duke hosts Georgia Tech as an 18.5-point favorite. No. 6 Kansas travels to Oklahoma State and is favored by 6.5.

In the Big Ten, struggling Michigan is a 4.5-point road favorite over Rutgers while Illinois is favored by 7.5 on the road against Minnesota. There are also two intriguing Big East matchups. Butler is a 3.5-point home dog against No. 24 Seton Hall, and Marquette is favored by 1.5 at home against No. 16 Providence.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari directs players against Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in South Bend, Indiana. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)

There was just one game in the NHL on Monday night, but the action is more plentiful on Tuesday with eight matchups on tap.

In the NBA, there are five games on the schedule. The Cleveland Cavaliers, the best ATS team in the league at 25-10-2, host the Memphis Grizzlies and are 3.5-point favorites. Elsewhere, the Raptors are 5.5-point home favorites over the Spurs, the Knicks are favored by just 1.5 at home against the Pacers, the Suns are 7.5-point road favorites over the Pelicans, and the Lakers are favored by 6.5 at home against the Kings.

With the NBA, you need to make sure youre aware of who is available to play before you bet. Players are dropping out of lineups left and right in recent weeks because of COVID-19.

See original here:

The Daily Sweat: There's one last bowl game, and it features LSU with a makeshift roster - Yahoo Sports

This article first appeared in the Morning Brief. Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. Subscribe

Wednesday, January 5, 2021

Omicron is 2022 wild card, but lots of 'dry powder' is fueling demand

Nowadays, dispatches from the impossibly hot pandemic-era labor market have become a bit anticlimactic.

Yet theyre still worth highlighting, given that employers are still trying to cope with excess demand and open jobs, and the Omicron variant crashing down on the economy driving new infections to over 1 million a day in the U.S.

On Tuesday, the Labor Departments closely watched Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) found that there were over 10 million vacancies in the latest month, with a record 4.5 million people bidding adieu to their gigs. Stocks reacted in mixed fashion, but remained perched comfortably within view of record highs.

Yahoo Finances Emily McCormick reported that turnover was particularly high in the beleaguered food service industry, where Omicron is becoming a drag on indoor dining. Meanwhile, the sheer numbers of workers testing positive and having to isolate themselves are wreaking havoc on travel, retail and public services in urban areas. On Tuesday, Macys (M) was forced to cut store hours as new infections created new staffing headaches.

The massive shortage of workers continues because the economy is booming, according to FWDBonds chief economist Chris Rupkey.

The economic recovery is over and companies have shifted their demand for workers at a pace that is normally only seen during economic booms, he said in a note to clients. The economy is booming today but for how long is the question with the spread of the latest COVID variant that is closing many schools and slowing commerce and buyer traffic at many shops and malls.

As we enter year three of the pandemic, COVID-19 still casts a pall over everything. But at a minimum, the JOLTS data reveal that soaring infections arent (yet) derailing one of the economys biggest macro trends: that is, a restless workforce desperately seeking greener pastures (i.e. better pay, benefits, work/life balance, etc).

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"The very purpose of the workplace has changed, JLL Work Dynamics Americas CEO Sanjay Rishi told Yahoo Finance Live on Tuesday. The purpose of the workplace has to be a social hub... Talent is so portable.

It underscores how underlying demand is still unwinding after 2020s dramatic closures, and putting upward pressure on inflation and the need for labor. The latter is being exacerbated by restrictive vaccine mandates one reason why the Morning Brief has highlighted their obvious failures as skyrocketing positivity rates lead to fewer workers on the job at all levels of the economy.

At a minimum, rapidly multiplying Omicron inflections havent yet led to the markets worst case scenario: government-imposed lockdowns that would strand workers and businesses back at square one.

And with consumers and investors unable to count on support from expansionary fiscal and monetary policy this time around, most are opting to soldier on as best as they can.

We are resolved to finally move beyond and pursue a new post-COVID normal, practice appropriate ongoing caution, and expect additional hardships, market veteran James Paulsen of the Leuthold Group, wrote in a research note this week.

But we are also determined to return to our routines and again embrace aspirations, interactions, and the business of fulfilling lives. Although COVID will still be with us this year, Americans are poised for the pandemic to become endemic, he added.

Consumers now have the wherewithal to continue to satisfy pent-up needs. Excess personal savings (above the normal pre-pandemic savings rate) have ballooned to about $2.2 trillion since March 2020 almost 10% of nominal GDP, the economist added. Never in the postwar era has there been this much dry powder sitting on the sidelines waiting to be unleashed.

The reason? One of the defining characteristics of this boom is pent-up demand [thats] more pronounced than at any point since at least 1970, Paulsen pointed out, which he argued actually predates COVID and can be traced back to the 2008 crisis.

Consumers now have the wherewithal to continue to satisfy pent-up needs. Excess personal savings (above the normal pre-pandemic savings rate) have ballooned to about $2.2 trillion since March 2020 almost 10% of nominal GDP, the economist added. Never in the postwar era has there been this much dry powder sitting on the sidelines waiting to be unleashed.

By Javier E. David, editor at Yahoo Finance. Follow him at @Teflongeek

Economy

7:00 a.m. ET: MBA Mortgage Applications, week ended Dec. 31 (-0.6% during prior week)

8:15 a.m. ET: ADP Employment Change, December (410,000 expected, 534,000 during prior month)

9:45 a.m. ET: Markit US Composite PMI, December final (56.9 prior month)

9:45 a.m. ET: Markit US Services PMI, December final (57.5 expected, 57.5 prior month)

2:00 p.m. ET: FOMC Meeting Minutes, December 15

Earnings

Politics

John D. Porcari, the Port Envoy to the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, will join the White House daily press press briefing at 12:15 p.m. ET.

Two things to watch as Washington prepares for the Jan. 6 anniversary Thursday. The Senate has a hearing at 10:00 a.m. ET on Oversight of the U.S. Capitol Police." And Attorney General Merrick Garland plans a speech in the afternoon on the status of his departments efforts to prosecute those responsible for the riot.

Toyota dethrones GM as U.S. sales leader after nearly a century on top [Reuters]

Euro zone economic recovery faltered in Dec as Omicron spread: PMI [Reuters]

Elizabeth Holmes likely to face 'double-digit sentence' for fleecing investors, experts predict [Yahoo Finance]

CES 2022: The biggest trends to expect from the consumer tech conference [Yahoo Finance]

Bond king Jeffrey Gundlach: The yield curve may be sending a recessionary signal

This is the No. 1 risk to the stock market right now, according to Jim Bianco

KFC to debut Beyond Fried Chicken menu item as plant based boom expands

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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What JOLTS says about the jobs market and everything else: Morning Brief - Yahoo Finance

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The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is almost assuredly going to be Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.

The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year very well may be Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver JaMarr Chase (unless New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones wins it).

What do Parsons and Chase have in common, besides having brilliant first seasons?

Neither played college football in what should have been their junior seasons. Citing COVID-19, both Parsons and Chase sat out the 2020 college seasons at Penn State and LSU, respectively.

Instead they turned to individual training and took extra time to prepare for the NFL draft process and eventually their professional careers. NFL rules require players to be three years out of high school before becoming draft-eligible. They established themselves as bona fide prospects in their first two college seasons.

Chase went fifth overall to Cincinnati, where he has caught 79 passes for 1,429 yards and 13 touchdowns in helping the Bengals win the AFC North. Parsons went 12th overall and his 13 sacks and 84 tackles have helped the Cowboys win the NFC East.

These are two of the biggest stars in the NFL. Already. Parsons has even merited discussion as Defensive Player of the Year. While it is possible another season of traditional college football would have prepared them even more, there is no telling that. And, clearly, they arent any worse for wear.

In fact, missing a season of pounding and practice, it could be argued, helped them be fresher for this season. Or perhaps they actually benefited by stepping away from team-centric coaching and game preparation to focus on individual development.

Yes, thats a cold, bottom-line concept that ignores the joys of actually playing the game or competing as part of the team but this is a business.

All of which brings up an intriguing question that was discussed on this edition of the College Football Enquirer: Could star college players, secure in their draft status as sophomores, begin sitting out their junior seasons?

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No college fan wants to see that. No coaches or anyone else either. And since both Chase and Parsons stepped away from their teams during the COVID-impacted 2020 season, this doesnt seem like much more than a blip.

Still, some young player or perhaps his family, agents and others is going to notice that the NFLs two best rookies didnt need college football like everyone assumed great players needed college football.

It wasnt long ago, after all, that the idea of a player opting out of his teams bowl game was considered shocking and taboo and something NFL teams would hold against them. Now its commonplace for top talent to protect themselves from injury and get a jump on training for the combine and pro days.

Could, to use as an example, Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who just lit up the Rose Bowl with 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns, look at Chase and decide he doesnt need his third year in Columbus to become a star? Would he thus just start training for the 2023 draft?

Could, to use as an example, Alabama linebacker Will Anderson, whose 17.5 sacks and 97 tackles has helped push the Crimson Tide to the national title game, look at Parsons and decide to follow that path, not the more traditional one?

There is no indication either one will. In fact, both are expected back for their junior seasons even though both have done more than enough to be selected in the top 10 whenever they turn pro.

But at some point, will someone do that? If history is an indication, probably.

There was a time when basketball players skipping their senior season of college was considered a shock. Eventually though the NBA was plucking future Hall of Famers (Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James) out of the prep ranks. The NBA now requires a player to be one year removed from high school.

Football is a different sport and the NFLs three-year rule has been good for both the game and the players, who generally need time to physically develop for the violence, demands and challenges ahead.

Still, sometimes guys are ready early. Or in this case, have shown enough that risking further injury, poor play, coaching malfeasance or anything else isn't in their best interest.

Parsons and Chase were two of those players. Heres guessing they wont be the last.

Also on this episode of the College Football Enquirer:

Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard ignite an opt-out debate.

Nick Saban discusses an expanded playoff.

Kentucky and Arkansas cap big-time seasons in the SEC.

Left for dead in August, the Big 12 has a big season and a promising future.

Ohio State flexes in the Rose Bowl.

What to make of Marcus Freemans Notre Dame debut.

A private parts Peoples Court.

Go here to see the original:

Junior-year opt-outs: Will Ja'Marr Chase and Micah Parsons be trendsetters? - Yahoo Sports

Cryptocurrency investors should keep track of various costs associated with Bitcoin mining, Tyler Page, CEO of Bitcoin mining company Cipher Mining (CIFR), said in a Wednesday interview with Yahoo Finance Live.

2022 for the entire industry of Bitcoin mining, I think is going to really be about execution, said Page.

Cipher Mining, which says it's dedicated to providing and securing the vital infrastructure necessary for the Bitcoin network to flourish into the future, made crypto news headlines this past October after purchasing several dozens of thousands of next-generation bitcoin mining hardware from Bitfury, a Bitcoin Blockchain infrastructure provider. The group is also backed by larger investors like Fidelity Management and Research and Counterpoint Group.

Opportunities are boundless this year, but costs also will present a significant challenge to mining operations looking to capitalize, Page said.

The big differentiator, and I think what the investing world needs to start to appreciate to differentiate among these miners, is what kind of cost discipline do they have on the main inputs?, he said. [The main inputs including] cost of power, which is the biggest OpEx cost input, and the cost that you pay for compute power or for mining rigs themselves, which is the biggest CapEX expenditure.

Mining operations attempt to generate Bitcoin at a rate lower than market prices. Its crucial, Page said, to account for costs generally overlooked by investors to calculate a more accurate picture.

The story of a miner is that you're effectively manufacturing Bitcoin for a much lower price than the market price like any commodities E&P type business, he noted. So in addition to the variable costs, both the operating cost for operating your facilities and paying for power or paying for hosting you also need to think about depreciation and amortization of the capital expenditure you've had.

Bitcoin miners had an eventful year, to say the least, in 2021. China enacted a series of crackdowns on mining operations throughout the year, criminalizing it throughout the country by the years end. Even with the government restrictions, experts estimate that as much as 20% of the worlds mining is done in China (down from peaks of 65%) through underground mining.

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A general view shows the Berlin geothermal plant of La Geo Electrical Company, where the Salvadoran government installed a Bitcoin mining facility for the use of bitcoin as legal tender, in Alegria, El Salvador November 13, 2021. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

Mining in the U.S. has increased significantly over the past few years. In October, the U.S. overtook China as the country with the highest amount of crypto miners in the world. Research suggests that approximately one-third of bitcoins hashrate is in the U.S., representing a 400% increase from last year.

Ihsaan Fanusie is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @IFanusie.

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Bitcoin mining has risks that are difficult to price, Cipher Mining CEO says - Yahoo Finance

The game was over. The Cleveland Browns were out of timeouts. The Pittsburgh Steelers had won.

With only 51 seconds remaining, the Steelers up 19-14 and facing third down, all running back Najee Harris had to do was gain two yards to end the game. He ended up gaining much more than that, breaking outside for a 37-yard touchdown to provide a garbage-time exclamation point for Ben Roethlisberger's likely final game at Heinz Field.

It was actually in the Steelers' interest for Harris to fall down as soon as he gained the first down, as they only had to kneel out the clock from there. Scoring gave the ball back back to the Browns with a chance to score, convert an onside kick and score again, though that obviously wasn't happening with how Baker Mayfield was playing.

Harris' touchdown was completely meaningless ... for the Steelers. For some people watching at home, however, it was reason to lose their minds, for good reasons and bad.

When you're a widely owned player like Harris playing in Monday Night Football, you're going to swing some matchups. When you're a widely owned player scoring a garbage-time touchdown in Monday Night Football in the week of most fantasy football championship games, you're going to swing some championships.

In many leagues, Harris' touchdown provided a sudden 9.7 points for anyone who started him, more than enough to change a game. It was the final run of a massive games for the Steelers rookie, with 188 rushing yards and a touchdown on 28 carries plus three receptions for 18 yards.

For some, that touchdown was a thrilling victory:

And for others, well, it doesn't get much worse than that:

It doesn't get much more fantasy football than this.

Photo: BreakingT

$32 at BreakingT

Link:

Najee Harris' meaningless TD was a fantasy football championship winner, and loser, for some - Yahoo Sports

The New York Giants lost their fifth straight game by double digits on Sunday, and this was the ugliest of them all.

Facing the 5-10 Chicago Bears, a team widely expected to fire their head coach after this season, the Giants weren't just bad on offense, they were historically putrid. With starting quarterback Daniel Jones shut down for the season, back-up Mike Glennon finished the day 4-of-11 for 24 passing yards, two interceptions and four fumbles (two lost).

Of Glennon's four completed passes, two gained yards. Throw in the four sacks allowed by the Giants offensive line for a total loss of 34 yards, and the Giants passing game gained a grand total of -10 yards.

That is the fewest passing yards gained in a single NFL game since the then-San Diego Chargers "gained" -19 yards in 1998 (Ryan Leaf was involved), according to Stathead. It's also the first time since 2009 that a team finished in the red.

The Giants ended up losing 29-3. They went into the game with a clear handicap, but teams have lost their starting quarterbacks before and, you know, gained positive yards. Between that performance through the air, an embarrassing gaffe on a kickoff return and some other odd decisions, Giants head coach Joe Judge had plenty to answer for after the game.

Then he took things in an even weirder direction.

When asked by a reporter why fans should have faith that he is the person who can right the ship for 4-12 Giants, Judge reportedly launched into a 10-minute rant in which he claimed, among other things, that he frequently receives calls from players who were on the Giants last year and are now making more money playing elsewhere.

The apparent consensus among these players is they really wish they were back in New York. You can read the full transcript here, including this claim:

"I can tell you were got more players here who are going to be free agents next year, all right, theyre coming in my office every day begging me to come back. I know that. I know that. I know players that we coached last year still calling me twice a week telling me how much they wish they were still here even though theyre getting paid more somewhere else. Ok? So I know weve got the right foundational pieces right there. "

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Now, we're not ones to openly doubt an NFL head coach clearly going through some things, but "NFL players openly saying they want less money" is the kind of claim that can't just be passed along without any scrutiny.

ESPN's Bill Barnwell was one person who sat down and questioned if what Judge was saying was true, and the results were ... interesting.

Basically, of the 34 players who appeared on the Giants active roster last year and are no longer part of the team this year, the only player who could fit Judge's description of having signed elsewhere for more money is defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, who left the Giants this offseason on a two-year, $22 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings.

So unless Judge fudged his criteria a bit or Tomlinson is the kind of person to make multiple calls to an ex-head coach in the middle of the season, Judge's claims seem to be along the lines of a girlfriend from Canada or a dad who works at Nintendo.

Making the Giants' free fall all the more interesting is the report that Judge (and Jones) will be steering the Giants in the 2022 season as well. That was reported two weeks ago, before two more embarrassing losses for the Giants.

There is a very good chance Judge's job security is tied to general manager Dave Gettleman's job security, and both keep looking worse as New York looks overwhelmed on a weekly basis with little hope for the future. Even Scott Simonson, who played for Gettleman when he was the GM of the Carolina Panthers and then joined him with the Giants, is publicly teeing off on his old boss.

This could very well be an offseason of change for the Giants. If it is, the calls Judge gets could suddenly become very real.

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Joe Judge goes on bizarre, dubious rant after Giants post worst passing performance of the century - Yahoo Sports

Entering Week 17, there wasn't much talk about who would win offensive rookie of the year. Mac Jones was a -500 favorite to win the award and it seemed all but locked up. It would have taken something magical to pry the award out of the hands of Jones.

The Cincinnati Bengals had a massive come-from-behind win to knock off the Kansas City Chiefs. As a result of the win, the Bengals clinched the AFC North. The main reason for the win? Ja'Marr Chase posting a ridiculous stat-line that featured 11 receptions on 12 targets, 266 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Following the performance, Chase is now a -200 favorite to win offensive rookie of the year.

There are only two players still on the board at BetMGM for offensive rookie of the year. As mentioned above, Chase is the new favorite. As a result, Mac Jones is now a +170 underdog to win the award. If you hold betting tickets on guys like Trevor Lawrence, Najee Harris, Devonta Smith or Justin Fields, you might as well set fire to them.

As the favorite, Chase is certainly deserving. With his video game-esque performance Sunday, Chase set a new record for rookie receiving yards in a season. His 1,429 receiving yards broke the record set by former college teammate Justin Jefferson just last season.

It's been an up and down season for Chase, which should be expected from a rookie. He took the league by storm, compiling 754 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in his first seven games. He then hit a bit of a rough patch as teams figured him out, posting just 204 yards and 2 touchdowns over his next five games. Chase has regrouped over his last four games, posting 471 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Ja'Marr Chase of the Bengals is the new favorite to win offensive rookie of the year. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

For Mac Jones, it's been a bit of a different story. He's certainly been very solid in his freshman campaign, leading his Patriots back to the playoffs after they missed the postseason last year.

Despite being the betting favorite for most of the season, it always felt like Jones was in that role due to a process of elimination. Trevor Lawrence has been a disappointment of epic proportions. Zach Wilson waited until the last few weeks to show flashes of his ability. Justin Fields is amongst the worst statistical quarterbacks in the league, though he's had very little support around him. Trey Lance has spent the majority of the season on the bench. The second best rookie quarterback might be Davis Mills, a third-round pick with a 2-8 record as a starter.

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Jones' numbers are solid, but nothing to write home about. He doesn't compare favorably statistically to recent rookie quarterbacks such as Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray's rookie seasons. Even Baker Mayfield had a better rookie season statistically a few seasons ago despite starting just 13 games.

It felt like Jones was the favorite because there was no other legitimate choice. If someone did something spectacular, he was always prone to being usurped. Chase finally did something amazing in Week 17.

When analyzing the MVP prospects of players like Jonathan Taylor or Cooper Kupp, we often warn that it's very unlikely that a non-quarterback wins the award. Thankfully, that's not really the case with offensive rookie of the year.

Sure, the last two winners have been quarterbacks. Justin Herbert won the award last year over Justin Jefferson, but Herbert's season was statistically much superior to the season Mac Jones is having this year.

Since 2013, the offensive rookie of the year has been won by three quarterbacks, four running backs and one wide receiver. Ja'Marr Chase looks to become the first wide receiver to win the award since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014.

There's recent precedent of a skill position player winning the award over a quarterback. In 2018, Baker Mayfield broke the rookie touchdown passing record at the time in just 13 starts. However, that wasn't enough for him to win the award over Saquon Barkley.

I probably would not bet on Chase to win the award at his current -200 odds. If you're weary of a potential quarterback bias, Jones is not a terrible bet at +170.

It's also worth noting that one week remains in the regular season. There's a good chance the Bengals have nothing to play for in Week 18, so benching Joe Burrow for all or parts of the game is not out of the question. This would obviously impact Chase should he be catching passes from Brandon Allen.

If Jones has another solid game in a win over the Dolphins and Chase posts a dud in Week 18, does that change the outlook for this award? It very well might.

Remember, two days ago, Jones was -500 to win this award and Chase was +350. After a performance where Jones completed 73% of his passes and threw three touchdowns in a game where his team posted 50 points, Jones is now an underdog. This league.

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NFL betting: Ja'Marr Chase becomes new favorite to win offensive rookie of the year - Yahoo Sports

Bella Thorne is sharing her affirmations for the new year with her 25 million Instagram followers. (Photo by Shy McGrath/WireImage)

Bella Thorne is all about getting things done.

On Tuesday, the 24-year-old actress and singer shared several photos of herself rocking a lavender pant set paired with a black faux fur hat. The post also featured a few selfies where her fiery red hair framed her face. Thorne used the caption to encourage her 25 million Instagram followers to strive for more in the new year.

"Stop saying 'I wanna.' Start saying 'I will,'" she began. "I will be healthier this year I will take more care of my body. I will drink more water. I will pay more attention to my negative mental habits. I will work to change those. I will stop judging myself so harshly. I will be happy. I will work to understand what pushes my artist creativity further into the abyss. I will take more time off I will take more time for myself, to enjoy myself, to enjoy the person I am today, I will not just think about tomorrow or the next day or the next 5 years. I will do things that push my limits. I will challenge myself. I will not let my yearning for more do my soul injustice."

Fans flooded the comments to not only praise the star's look but also her inspiring message.

"Love this mindset!" A fan said.

"You are beautiful," one commenter added.

"You're a good soul Bella," a user continued.

In an interview with British Vogue in April, Thorne opened up about the importance of self-care, especially in the age of social media, which can make many feel "less than."

"We wonder, 'Why aren't I there? Why don't I have this?' So I have a board with photos of what I want my year to look like goals, things that I think I can do and things I've no idea if I can but it all goes on. At the end of the year, when you get to check off things, you feel so liberated because you realize, 'Yes, I work hard, yes, I bust my a** every day, yes I am in a good place,'" she explained.

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Bella Thorne shares intention to say 'I will' in the new year: 'I will stop judging myself so harshly, I will be happy' - Yahoo Life

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff would like the teams in his conference to play one fewer conference game. That's not as easy of a change as you may think.

Teams in the Pac-12 play nine conference games per season like the Big Ten and the Big 12. Teams in the ACC and the SEC play eight games. The extra non-conference game in the SEC and ACC is an opportunity for those teams to potentially schedule a lucrative neutral site game or a home game against a weaker opponent to get a win toward bowl eligibility.

Kliavkoff recognizes that and would love for his teams to have a chance to play another non-conference game. But the way college football teams create their schedules years and even decades in advance makes that change hard to implement. If the Pac-12 announced that it were going to an eight-game conference schedule for its teams in 2023 or even 2024, those teams would have a difficult time finding opponents with most teams' schedules locked in for the near future.

Were not ready to announce anything, but Ive been public about the fact were ready to go from nine conference games to eight immediately," Kliavkoff told the Los Angeles Times. "The issue is everybody else is booked. We would not be able to fill those games in if we decided to do that. The fastest path to get there is if the Big Ten decided to do the same thing, and then we could just schedule 12 games against the Big Ten, and wed be happy to do that for next season. The Big Ten is not ready to make that move yet, and its not my place to put them on a timeline to do that. Theyre in the middle of their media rights negotiations. The minute the Big Ten is ready to play 12 games against us every year, were ready."

Kliavkoff made his comments about the eight-game schedule to the Times as part of a wide-ranging interview following his first football season as commissioner. The Pac-12 had one of its worst seasons in years and failed to win a bowl game in 2021. The 0-5 bowl season was capped off by Ohio State's second-half comeback in a 48-45 win over Utah.

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The Big Ten's television contracts currently expire in 2024 and the conference could be in line for more money from television networks as live sports rights continue to be some of the most valuable properties in television. Nine conference games could be a key to getting as much money as possible too. Networks like Fox and ESPN find games like Ohio State against Purdue more attractive than Ohio State against a smaller school with less appeal and alumni base.

A scheduling deal with the Pac-12 could help make eight games far more palatable, however. The Big Ten and Pac-12 historically play each other in multiple bowl games per season and have a longstanding rivalry with each other. Games like USC vs. Michigan and Oregon vs. Penn State would be extremely appealing to TV networks. We're on board if the Big Ten and Pac-12 want to make this happen sometime soon.

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Pac-12 commish ready to go to 8 conference games and start annual football series with Big Ten - Yahoo Sports