Monthly Archives: June 2022

Celtics assistant Will Hardy will reportedly be the next Jazz coach. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Utah Jazz have reportedly found a replacement for Quin Snyder after he surprisingly left the team in June. Boston Celtics assistant Will Hardy is reportedly finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Utah Jazz, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Hardy, 34, will join the Jazz after spending one season with the Celtics. Prior to joining Ime Udoka's staff, Hardy spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs. Hardy also served as a member of Team USA's coaching staff at the 2020 Olympic games.

Hardy played college basketball at Williams, and joined the Spurs after leaving the school. Hardy initially started in the video room before working his way to assistant coach with the Spurs. He also coached the team's Summer League squad.

Prior to joining the Celtics, Hardy received head coaching interviews with the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder. After those teams passed, Hardy joined Udoka's staff in Boston.

Hardy's one season in Boston may have influenced the Jazz's decision to give him a shot. Former Boston Celtics executive Danny Ainge helped lead the Jazz's coaching search. Ainge and Hardy did not overlap with the Celtics. Ainge stepped down as a Celtics executive last June. Hardy joined the team a few weeks later. Ainge then decided to join the Jazz last December, and was entrusted with running the team's coaching search after Snyder stepped down.

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Celtics assistant Will Hardy reportedly expected to be next Jazz coach - Yahoo Sports

With inflation at a 40-year high, Americans are feeling the pinch in their wallets ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. The cost of a family cookout for 10 has gone up 11%, according to a new report from Wells Fargo Food and Agribusiness Industry Advisory Group.

Inflation is a "real pain point" for Americans, Karol Aure-Flynn, Wells Fargo sector analyst and co-author of the report, told Yahoo Finance (video above).

Protein prices are the leading "pain points" for consumers, Aure-Flynn said. Ground beef prices are up 11.8% year over year. Prices for chicken wings and chicken breasts are up 38% and 24%, respectively, while drumstick prices are up 12%. Poultry-based hotdogs are up 15.3%, and beef franks are up 6.3%.

"Price inflation has two components," explained Aure-Flynn. "One is the cost inflation part, where the producers, processors, and manufacturers have to pass on some of just really rough waters that they've had to navigate. And the other part is demand."

For example, she said, "Chicken producers have been dealing with some disease issues. So the supply is down. And with demand up, then you're going to still see prices high." For beef, it's a herd issue. "Herd size (think beef cattle) cannot increase on a dime, and therefore, with a constrained supply and without a decrease in feed cost, consumers are likely to see elevated protein prices for some time," the report states.

Courtesy: Getty Images

There are some ways to rein in costs though. "So we're looking for shrimp on the barbie, pork tacos, my favorite, shrimp tacos," Aure-Flynn said.

"Shrimp and pork are relatively good buys, along with tomatoes, and all serve well in tacos. Average prices for pork are up 3.1% from last year, versus 12-15% for other proteins, making it a relative bargain. Shrimp is in the same boat. Current prices are still below the 5-year average of $4.21. Tomatoes will make great taco-toppers, up only about 1% this year. BBQ pork ribs are a traditional favorite and great alternative or addition to tacos," the authors found

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Aure-Flynn recommends being on the lookout for "deals," with retailers looking to keep products moving off shelves. "A slowdown in demand, despite higher prices overall, may create specials that offer bargains for consumers. Plan ahead to seek longer shelf-life items (frozen patties, for example) that can relieve some of the sticker shock. Reserve last-minute shopping trips for perishable fruits and vegetables."

Another tip: Shop the frozen section. "Although prices for fresh ground beef are up by 11.8%, demand for pre-formed beef patties has fallen off a little this year versus previous years, so look in the frozen section for advantageous pricing," the report notes.

But skip the ice cream aisle. Ice cream prices have bounced 6% since this time last year. Instead, opt for nondairy desserts, such as sherbet, gelato, and popsicles, which have declined in price by 4.5%.

Avocado prices to moderate

Courtesy: Getty Images

There is some good news coming for avocado lovers, however.

From 2018 to 2021, retail sales for avocados have nearly doubled, while prices increases in 2022 have contributed to a 24% year-to-date increase in sales volume by dollar, however, overall unit volume increases continue, according to the report.

Aure-Flynn told Yahoo Finance consumers will likely "see some moderation price wise" as California producers get into their "very heavy season" which occurs from mid-April to mid-July. This means there will be better supplies to improve offerings.

The report also encouraged shoppers to look in the frozen food aisle for "innovative new avocado offerings" like frozen guacamole and avocado dips and cubed fresh frozen avocados for salads and smoothies.

"Consumers really need to be looking and be mindful of seasonality" which could lead to better deals overall, Aure-Flynn said.

Another way to cut costsmake it from scratch! "One thing we really had fun with was ... homemade alternatives are. Fourth of July, who doesn't have that wonderful memory of making ice cream with their grandparents? You know, this may be the time for us to start going back to some old-fashioned options on that front."

Brooke DiPalma is a producer and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com.

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Inflation is 'a pain point' for Americans this Fourth of July, analyst says - Yahoo Finance

Pat Perez had a very straightforward, honest answer when asked why he joined the LIV Golf Invitational Series on Tuesday.

After months of controversy and players ducking or avoiding questions about the Saudi Arabian-backed league, it was refreshing.

Perez was among the latest wave of golfers to join the LIV Golf series, and hell make his debut this week outside of Portland at Pumpkin Ridge. Its unclear how much Perez was paid to make the jump from the PGA Tour to the LIV series, but its reportedly around the $10 million mark.

While he said plainly that he didnt have any concerns regarding Saudi Arabias alleged crimes and poor human rights records, he was very honest about why he joined the league in the first place.

Last season, while fighting for a spot in the FedExCup Playoffs on Tour, Perez missed the birth of his son.

August 18, I get a call my wifes going into labor, Perez said, via CBS' Kyle Porter. Im in Jersey. Im getting ready to start the FedEx Playoffs. Im No. 116 on the list, I cant leave. I cant miss it. I cant get back. I cant get [to my wife] and back without spending $150,000 on a private flight. Im not doing that.

So I had to suck on it and I had to miss my sons birth. And, you know, fortunately I made the cut and I moved up my status by playing all right, but it still sucked. I have to tell him one day why I wasnt there.

Perez finished T16 at The Northern Trust last year, which marked his final event of the season. He finished No. 80 in the FedExCup standings that season, which earned him exempt status through the end of this season though, now that hes with LIV Golf, he wont be allowed to compete on Tour.

Perez, 46, has won three times on the PGA Tour, most recently at the CIMB Classic in 2017. He had just three top-10 finishes on Tour so far this season, and most recently finished T26 at the Memorial Tournament earlier this month. Hes currently ranked No. 170 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

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As far as reasons to leave the PGA Tour for a lighter schedule and more money, its hard to blame Perez considering what he went through last fall.

Im a 30-33 week guy. Every year Ive done it, and now I dont have to, Perez said. And I get to be with them. I get to be with my family. At my age, this is an absolute golden opportunity for me Its a no-brainer for a guy my age thats been on the road.

Pat Perez will join the LIV Golf Invitational Series this week in Oregon. (Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Perez, along with Brooks Koepka and other first-time LIV members, was asked directly how he can square accepting money from Saudi Arabia after the country's horrific record on human rights.

Perez, and Koepka, didn't care about any of that.

"I don't have any concerns," Perez said. "I'm playing golf ... I understand the topics you're trying to bring up, and they're horrible events, but I'm here to play golf."

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Pat Perez missed his son's birth playing on the PGA Tour, which pushed him to join LIV Golf - Yahoo Sports

Minty Bets is already placing her bets for the upcoming season and she has a few in the NFC West that shes categorizing as free money. Listen to find out where the smart bets are (for the Rams, against the Seahawks).

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MINTY BETS: Welcome to Yahoo Sportsbook Daily. It's Tuesday June 28th and I'm your betting guide Minty Bets. NFL training camps are right around the corner, which means it's time to talk some NFL future bets. So let's get right into it.

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[WHISTLE]

MINTY BETS: The first bet I have is going to be the Rams to win the NFC West at +140. On Yahoo Sportsbook, I came out with my first NFL features video of the year just two weeks ago, and I picked the Rams over 10 and 1/2 wins. I still like that bet, and I'm going to raise it and bet the Rams to win the NFC West. Actually, I already bet this a month ago.

You're getting plus money for the Super Bowl champs in a division where the 49ers will start Trey Lance, which is kind of an unknown how he'll do in the starting role. Also, in this division, you've got the Arizona Cardinals, where the wide receiver core is impressive, but Kyler Murray is a mess. And then you've got the Seattle Seahawks, who are probably going to be one of the worst teams in the league. I'll touch more on that later.

Back to the Rams. I know the Super Bowl hangover is real, and they lost key players like Von Miller, Robert Woods, OBJ and more, but they made Aaron Donald the highest-paid defensive player in league history. So that's an upside. Plus, they added a few more pieces that should gel well for the team this season. Matt Stafford still dominates under center along with that potent offense, and the Rams have recorded 11 or more regular-season wins in 3 of five seasons under Sean McVay.

So I'm liking the Rams to win the division and going over with this total. Don't forget about the extra regular-season game we have that was added on last season too. That should help the total go over. But my official bet for this pod is the Rams to win the NFC West.

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Next up, I have the Seattle Seahawks under 5 and 1/2 wins at plus 115. I am so high on this bet for two main reasons. Number one, Drew Lock, is their starter, supposedly. He really hasn't shown us enough for us to be able to confidently conclude if he is a good or bad quarterback in the NFL. When he entered the league in 2019, he didn't start for the Broncos until week 12, when things didn't matter.

Then in 2020, they pushed him right into the deep end of the pool made him play, and it was a season where the Broncos had a really tough schedule. They played the Titans, Steelers, Patriots, Bills, and of course, all of their AFC West opponents that year. So that was a really rough year for him.

And then, this last season of 2021, he was just a filler for Teddy Bridgewater when Teddy was hurt. And then Drew finished off the season again starting in week 15, when it didn't matter anymore. So, for now, we can say the numbers tell us that Drew Lock is a below-average player.

Now for a reason number two. The Seahawks have the absolute toughest schedule this year, and I don't mean in terms of opponents. They are the team that will be traveling the farthest with a total travel mileage of 29,446 miles. And they cross time zones 34 times.

The Steelers don't even leave their Eastern time zone this year, and they'll only travel a total of 6,442 miles. How insane is that? So, needless to say, the Seahawks are going to struggle a ton, especially without Russell Wilson. The books are making their under-plus money, so I am absolutely betting this immediately.

And for one last bet, I want to highlight going off of that Seattle win total, this is right off of bet MGM site. The Seahawks just start 0 in 4 is plus 600, guys. I may just be handing out free money here. I'm just putting a little bit of money on this, and I'll tell you why. They start the season off by traveling to Pittsburgh. How ironic given what I mentioned earlier about the travel. And I know the Steelers are probably going to be a bust this season, but they're still under the coaching of Mike Tomlin, and that man is good at his job.

Then they play at home against the Bears, who we really don't quite know how they'll do this season. Then the Seahawks head to Dallas, and for their fourth game, they're back at home against the Broncos. Against their former starter. That's really good chance Seattle starts 0 in 4 at plus 600.

Now to recap my picks. I've got the Rams to win the NFC West. The Seahawks under 5 and 1/2 wins, and the Seahawks to start 0 in 4. You can follow me on Twitter over at Minty Bets and follow all of our content over at Yahoo Sportsbook.

Bet $10 on any game at BetMGM and get $200 in free bets added to your account. You don't need to win your bet to receive the promotion. Just go to betmgm.com/yahoovip to get started. New BetMGM customers only must be 21 and older in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wyoming only. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. I will be back tomorrow on Yahoo Sportsbook Daily. Until then, goodbye and good luck.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

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NFL futures: Fade the Seahawks & Super Bowl hangovers - Yahoo Sports

Another one of Jimmy Garoppolos former teammates is slamming the quarterback for how he handled injuries with the New England Patriots.

Former Patriots star wide receiver Julian Edelman said on the latest episode of the I Am Athlete podcast this week that he and several teammates were mad at Garoppolo during the 2016 season specifically when Garoppolo, who was filling in for a suspended Tom Brady, was ruled out of their game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 of the season. Jacoby Brissett, who was dealing with an injury of his own, took Garoppolos place.

"I don't know, we're all football players here, Edelman said. But Jacoby [Brissett], he tore ligaments in his thumb in the win against [the Texans in Week 3]. So we go into Week 4, and I guess Jimmy was practicing and then decided not to play. Jacoby played with no ligaments in his thumb, which you can't do that as a quarterback. You can't grip [the football].

"A lot of guys got mad at it. I'm not going to lie, I got mad about it. I sacrificed my body all day long. All day long. I was taking shots for this, numbing up that, ribs, broken ribs, shoulders, Grade 3, hanging on by limbs just to play.

That conversation started with Edelman reading comments that former Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett made last year.

Bennett called Garoppolo a bitch who quit on his team right before the game.

Thats why you cant win with a bitch as a quarterback, Bennett said at the time.

Garoppolo was traded to the San Francisco 49ers after that season.

Martellus Bennett also called Jimmy Garoppolo a derogatory word who quit on his team over the 2016 incident. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe/Getty Images)

Though he was widely expected to be one of the top quarterbacks in the league upon his arrival in the Bay Area, Garoppolo dealt with several high-profile injuries. He tore his ACL in 2018, and missed the rest of that season. He sprained his ankle in 2020, and had that season cut short, too.

Garoppolo has played just two full seasons, first in 2019 and again last year, though he split time with rookie Trey Lance.

Garoppolo is widely expected to be traded away before the season starts, though hes currently recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old has one year left on his five-year, $137.5 million deal.

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While he was admittedly mad about the situation back in 2016, Edelman said he has a better understanding of Garoppolos motives now that some time has passed.

You also gotta look, he just got paid, Edelman said. He got paid [nearly] $30 million [a season]. So maybe Im the dumb guy who cant make as much money sacrificing for that team. I guess I played for the memories, not the money.

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Julian Edelman rips Jimmy Garoppolo for not playing through injury with Patriots in 2016 - Yahoo Sports

Let's get the obvious out of the way. No one on the fantasy baseball waiver wire is going to be a 1-for-1 replacement for Bryce Harper. The All-Star outfielder had been hitting an excellent .318/.385/.599 with a .985 OPS and 15 home runs. He was playing like a clear NL MVP candidate.

But now he's set to be out indefinitely after fracturing his thumb as a result of getting hit by a Blake Snell pitch.

So yeah, no one player will replace the production of a Bryce Harper, which is no consolation to fantasy managers who used a top-10 draft pick to select the Phillies superstar.

What fantasy managers can do, however, is seek out a productive, maybe even underrated outfield-eligible player or more than one to fill the position slot while their star is on the mend.

You could try to swing a fantasy trade to help make up for Harper's loss, but here are five low-rostered players to consider on the waiver wire today, if you prefer to go the traditional route.

Cooper has been delivering in June, going 29-for-80 and bringing his season line up to .307/.372/.452 with an .824 OPS. Statcast supports that sublime line, with his expected average and slugging to this point coming in at .298 and .499, respectively.

Cooper might not deliver Harper's dynamic numbers, but he'll help solidify your batting average and provide some over-the-fence pop. There's also room for underrated run and RBI potential with Cooper, who usually bats in the middle of the order for a surprising Marlins offense that may just be playing in a park that seemingly no longer suppresses scoring. He also qualifies at first base as well, which is always a plus.

Let's see: A catcher who qualifies in the outfield, batting high in the batting order of a solid offense who's finally getting the consistent playing time he deserves. What's not to like?

Alfaro's bat has always held serious potential even going back to his Miami days, and he could be reaching that potential now with increased opportunities. Alfaro's expected numbers are now .271 (average) and .571 (slugging); those are drool-worthy marks for any fantasy hitter in today's MLB, much less a CATCHER. His current BABIP is only 5 points higher than his career mark, so it doesn't look like this is just some blip on the radar.

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San Diego will need Alfaro's offense with Manny Machado still sidelined. Ride the wave.

Speaking of riding the wave, yet another Pirates rookie hitter is making an impact. Suwinski has gotten off on a hot note in the power department to start his MLB career. Pittsburgh's No. 28-ranked prospect is up to 12 home runs in 171 at-bats; hard to have seen this coming.

Jack Suwinski's power has been making a fantasy impact. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Of course, Suwinski comes with a major warning label: He could single-handedly debilitate your batting average category. With that, a current .242 BABIP might signify that the youngster has been mired in a bit of bad luck (his 112.4 average exit velocity does inspire some confidence that his fortunes could change), but he'll have to cut back on his ugly 31.6 K-percentage mark for that to get going. For what it's worth, he never struck out more than 28 percent of the time in the minors; of course, the Majors are a different beast.

Suwinski is not the first unheralded prospect to make an early mark in MLB this year. If you can stomach Suwinski's batting average woes say, if you have guys like Luis Arraez and Michael Brantley on your team he could be worth a look for potentially dynamic power and underrated speed for as long as the good times last.

This pick is solely for deep-league fantasy managers who are not only looking for a replacement outfielder but someone who can provide a stolen-base boost as well.

[Play in one of Yahoo's MLB DFS contests]

Peterson is now up to nine stolen bases on the year in limited playing time for the Brewers. He also has six home runs, so a 10-15 season might be in the cards, especially with Peterson getting more playing time as a multi-position defender.

Full disclosure: Max Kepler might be my favorite pick out of this bunch, solely because of what he could be for the rest of the season.

If you open up Kepler's Statcast page, you will witness a glorious sea of red. Kepler is currently slashing an unassuming .244/.348/.401, but Statcast says he should be up to a .305 average and a .523 slugging (not to mention, a .393 xwOBA).

Of course, Kepler's issue has been the same one it's always been: He's struggled against lefties (he has a disappointing .642 lifetime OPS against them for his career), but there could be signs of hope this season. The 29-year-old outfielder has put together a .747 OPS against left-handed pitchers this year (not to mention a .360 OBP mark helpful for his run-scoring potential as part of a potent Twins lineup).

You'll want Kepler in your lineup if (and when) his Statcast expected numbers start taking shape on the field of play.

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Fantasy Baseball: 5 outfield-eligible players who could help fill the Bryce Harper void - Yahoo Sports

The LIV Golf Invitational Series has made its way to the United States.

The second LIV Golf event will take place this week at Pumpkin Ridge outside of Portland, marking the first event inside the United States.

Though the controversy surrounding the new Saudi Arabian-backed venture hasnt died down, it has recruited several more of the sports biggest names in the weeks since the inaugural tournament in London.

Heres everything you need to know for the LIV Golf event in Oregon.

The tournament wont be broadcast on TV anywhere, but it will be streamed for free on LIV Golfs YouTube and Facebook pages, and on LIVGolf.com.

The shotgun start will begin at 4:15 p.m. ET.

Most of the 12 teams will have the same captains that ran teams in the London event. A few, however, have new captains.

4 Aces - Dustin Johnson

Niblicks - Graeme McDowell

Majestics - Lee Westwood

Iron Heads - Kevin Na

Stinger - Louis Oosthuizen

Cleeks - Martin Kaymer

Crushers - Bryson DeChambeau

Hy Flyers - Phil Mickelson

Fire Balls - Sergio Garcia

Smash - Brooks Koepka

Torque - Hideto Tanihara

Punch - Wade Ormsby

Each regular season LIV Golf event has a purse of $25 million.

Of that, $5 million will be split between the top three teams, with the top team receiving $3 million. The remaining $20 million will be split individually, with the first place winner earning $4 million and the last place finisher receiving $120,000.

By comparison, The Players Championship offers a purse of $20 million, which is the most in any single event on PGA Tour outside of the Tour Championship.

There are several big names joining the event this week in Oregon.

Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka and Abraham Ancer will all be competing. That group adds significant credibility to the new league considering where they all stand in the Official World Golf Rankings. The league now has eight players inside the top-40 in the OWGR, thanks to the four new additions.

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Matthew Wolff, Eugenio Chacarra and Carlos Ortiz joined the series on Monday too.

Dustin Johnson is still the highest-ranking player in the world at No. 17, though hes followed closely behind by Koepka at No. 19. DeChambeau enters at No. 31, and Reed is No. 39.

Those rankings are sure to get worse as the weeks go by, however, as the LIV events arent eligible for any points in the rankings.

LIV Golf has made its way to the United States. Here's everything you need to know before the tournament at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon. (Steve Dykes/LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The London event was held without much issue. While very few golfers were willing to address the sportswashing accusations head on, and the event averaged fewer than 100,000 viewers in each round, Charl Schwartzel took home the first title of the season.

The PGA Tour is holding the John Deere Classic this week at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. Most of the big names on Tour are sitting this week out ahead of the Scottish Open and the British Open in the coming weeks.

As far as the field in Oregon, the PGA Tour will suspend the new players indefinitely once they tee off on Thursday.

While the league is pushing forward, local officials arent happy about it.

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden called out the league, and directly cited a former hit-and-run case in the state in 2016 while doing so. A Saudi Arabian student was facing a first-degree murder charge after the death of Fallon Smart, but he vanished after a tracking device was removed something the U.S. government thinks the Saudi Arabian government was behind.

Its wrong to be silent when Saudi Arabia tries to cleanse blood-stained hands, in the fight for Oregonians to get justice Fallon Smart was killed very close to our house in Southeast Portland, and the person charged with the crime, a hit-and-run death, was, based on all the evidence, whisked out of the country by the Saudis before he stood for trial, Wyden said.

North Plains, Oregon, mayor Teri Lenahan was one of 10 local mayors who wrote a letter officially opposing the tournament too. Pumpkin Ridge sits just west of Portland in North Plains, which has a population of less than 4,000 people.

We oppose this event because it is being sponsored by a repressive government whose human rights abuses are documented. We refuse to support these abuses by complicity allowing the Saudi-backed organization to play in our backyard, the letter read.

We believe that we have a moral obligation to take a stand and speak out against this event in order to protect the people we serve. While our local jurisdictions may not be able to prevent this event, we stand together to voice our concerns about the unwelcomed potential risks, visitors and harm this event could have on our communities.

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How to watch the second LIV Golf tournament in Oregon - Yahoo Sports

Urban Meyer was the worst head-coaching hire in NFL history.

Here's where some feel the need to point out other bad hires. Yes, Steve Spurrier, Lou Holtz and Bobby Petrino were bad. And none of them, or any other failure you want to name, was worse than Meyer.

Meyer was a unique combination: atrocious on the field while also bringing immense shame to the franchise off the field. Meyer started making terrible decisions days after he was hired, and it never stopped. It would be fun to recount the dozens of incredibly bad moments from the Meyer era, but this preview is about the 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hopefully Jacksonville has cleaned up the mess from last season.

It cant get worse than what weve been through here, Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen said, according to the Associated Press.

It's hard to properly project the Jaguars this season because last season was so toxic. The Jaguars were 3-14 and earned the first overall pick of the draft. None of those players could have thrived in such a stunningly dysfunctional environment.

The Jaguars need to quickly put that in the past because it would be a shame if they wasted another year with Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence has to feel like this is his rookie season. It must have seemed last year like he wasn't even in the NFL, with a head coach who was more interested in staying behind in Ohio and hanging out at bars after a loss than making his team better. At one point Lawrence had to question why Meyer made the inexplicable decision to bench top running back James Robinson. Not many rookie quarterbacks have to be the adult in the room.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is hoping for bigger things in his second season. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Lawrence didn't have a great team around him either. Lawrence was one of the most hyped prospects in NFL history, but stuck with a disaster of a head coach and a team that couldn't help him. He had a bad season, and it can't all be blamed on Meyer. Lawrence missed way too many easy throws and had too many costly mistakes. But of all the 2021 Jaguars who were held back due to an incompetent coach, Lawrence tops the list. Hopefully there is no long-term damage. A stellar performance by Lawrence in a Week 18 upset win over the Indianapolis Colts provides hope.

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"I dont want to say anything, you never know whats around the corner, but I really do feel like Ive been through more than a lot of people can say theyve been through in their first season," Lawrence said, according to the Florida Times-Union.

The Jaguars hired a former NFL quarterback to help develop Lawrence. Doug Pederson, who once outcoached Bill Belichick to win a Super Bowl, is the Jaguars' new head coach. Pederson's time with the Philadelphia Eagles went sour in a hurry. A lot of the shine has come off Pederson since that Super Bowl. But he's unquestionably an upgrade, and his experience as a QB and a coach will help Lawrence. That's crucial.

The Jaguars are probably going to post another losing season. The roster still has plenty of holes. One safe prediction remains about the 2022 Jaguars: It will be better than last season.

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

The Jaguars overpaid for everyone. The contract given to Christian Kirk $72 million over four years for a receiver with no 1,000-yard seasons and four 100-yard games in four NFL seasons was so egregious it completely changed the receiver market in the NFL. Even if there's an argument that the contract didn't look so bad once the details were revealed, it's one of the biggest overpays in recent history. Maybe ever. It's questionable how much Kirk will even help Trevor Lawrence. Signing Brandon Scherff, an elite guard, will help an offensive line that needed it. But he wasn't cheap either: $49.5 million over three years. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (three years, $45 million), defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (three years, $30 million), cornerback Darious Williams (three years, $30 million) and receiver Zay Jones (three years, $24 million) were all severely overpaid. But the Jaguars must have felt they needed to pay a tax to land anyone, and those player are all upgrades. The draft brought top overall pick Travon Walker, whose selection will be questioned if it doesn't work out, and linebacker Devin Lloyd in the first round. More offensive line help might have been better than a combine superstar with little college production or an off-the-ball linebacker. Luke Fortner, a third-round pick, could end up replacing retired Brandon Linder at center. It's not that the Jaguars didn't upgrade the roster. They did. But the costs involved were shocking.

GRADE: B-minus

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

If you want to be optimistic that Trevor Lawrence will take a huge leap in year two prospects graded as high as Lawrence rarely bust then rewatch the season finale against the Colts. All of a sudden, Lawrence looked like a star. From the first drive of the game he was in control. He made multiple third-down throws on that drive that some NFL veterans couldn't make. He made the right decisions from the first drive throughout the game. Then he had the highlight of his rookie year, bringing in a bad snap and buying time to find Marvin Jones on a beautiful touchdown throw.

The Jaguars kept the Colts from the playoffs with an upset win, and Lawrence was the best player in that game. He threw for 223 yards, two touchdowns and had a 111.8 passer rating. That was the game in which Lawrence finally looked like he was worth all the hype. It was a great way to enter the offseason.

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

The Jaguars' win total at BetMGM is 6.5, and there are reasons to believe they can hit the over. Even if you don't love Doug Pederson, the upgrade from Meyer to Pederson (or to any professional, really) is massive. Going from the worst coach in NFL history to a former Super Bowl winner should be worth a few wins. Trevor Lawrence will be better and the roster is upgraded, even if the Jaguars overpaid for all the upgrades. A 7-10 season is possible.

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "Travis Etienne had a washout rookie year, suffering a season-ending Lisfranc injury in August. But at least the injury is far in the rearview mirror, and Etienne is on track to be ready to start 2022 on time. The new Jacksonville coaching staff was impressed with Etiennes work during June workouts, and lets not forget Etienne was a star at Clemson and a first-round draft choice.

"The Jaguars dont have much running back depth, especially if James Robinson has a sluggish return from his Achilles injury. And unlike Etienne, Robinson doesnt have time on his side his injury occurred in December. With Urban Meyer mercifully gone and Trevor Lawrence almost certain to improve in his second year, the Jaguars offense likely takes a modest step forward this year. Etienne is far from a sure thing, but hes an exciting pass-catcher and a capable runner, even if no one really considers him a true bell cow. Hash it all together and Etienne looks like an interesting option in early Yahoo drafts, with a reasonable ADP of 54.5."

[Create or join a Yahoo fantasy football league now!]

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

Simply put, Travon Walker wasn't as good as Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux in college. Maybe that will mean nothing in the NFL, but it also can't be ignored. Walker had 13 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in three college seasons at Georgia. He had a lot of competition for tackles on a stacked Bulldogs defense, but you'd still like to see more out of a top overall pick. Hutchinson was second in the Heisman Trophy voting last season. Thibodeaux had nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss as a freshman alone. The Jaguars took Walker, who was awesome at the combine, ahead of both pass rushers, two elite offensive tackles and a pair or top-end cornerbacks too. Walker's athletic profile is intriguing and it could work out great for the Jaguars, but there will be plenty of scrutiny over the next few years regarding that decision.

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

One of the most telling quotes of the offseason came from Khan, the Jaguars owner. He said, in regards to Urban Meyer, "When you lose the respect, the trust and an issue of truthfulness, how can you work with someone like that?" That quote said more about Khan than Meyer. Khan was the one who hired Meyer, despite many unflattering stories about Meyer at Florida and Ohio State. The hire was questionable from the start, but Khan couldn't see that. He's the one responsible for the worst head-coaching hire in NFL history, and he resisted firing Meyer until he had no choice, long after everyone else realized Meyer needed to go. The Jaguars are 42-119 since Khan became owner. We put owners in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for "their record," so Khan should be judged by his record too. He has long been accused of being an absentee owner, and the results don't lie. His decision to keep GM Trent Baalke was widely criticized, and could turn out to be another mistake from the owner. Jaguars fans deserve better than a stretch of 10 double-digit losing seasons in 11 years. That failure starts at the top.

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

It's hard to predict big things for a team as bad as the Jaguars were last season. Yet, their three wins were against the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Colts. That's not bad. They have a quarterback who could take a massive leap. They had an enormous upgrade at head coach. There are some good young players like pass rusher Josh Allen, and perhaps running back Travis Etienne can take off in his second year after missing his rookie season due to a foot injury. The schedule is much easier this season. If you simply erase everything about the 2021 Jaguars because their head coach was aggressively making them worse at every turn, you can see a team that could be pretty good. If we're talking absolute best-case scenario, maybe Trevor Lawrence is an MVP candidate and the Jaguars are in the playoff hunt. There's a reason Lawrence had such a high grade coming out of Clemson. If he plays 17 times like he did against the Colts in last season's finale, the NFL will have a new star quarterback.

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

Trevor Lawrence was bad for most of last season. He had valid excuses, especially since he was a rookie, but Urban Meyer wasn't the one airmailing easy passes. There were times last season Lawrence looked nothing like a generational prospect. When you land a Lawrence, you expect greatness for a decade or more. If Lawrence looks lost again, the Jaguars might start worrying. Jacksonville can lose a lot of games, Travon Walker can look like a bad pick and the Jaguars might feel they wasted a lot of money on all those free-agent additions, but all that really matters this season is Lawrence's development.

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

I believe in Trevor Lawrence. He's too good to fail. With a better situation last season, we might view him like we did Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert coming into their second seasons. Lawrence is about to make a pretty big leap and that can carry the Jaguars up the standings. The AFC will be too tough for the Jaguars to make the playoffs, but they'll look like a different team, Lawrence will establish himself as a future star and things will be looking up in Jacksonville for the first time in a while.

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

32. Houston Texans 31. Atlanta Falcons30. New York Giants

The rest is here:

2022 NFL Preview: Jaguars try to remove the stink of the disastrous Urban Meyer era - Yahoo Sports

For many high school female students, sports are a way to remain active, play alongside friends and possibly support their families at the professional level in the future. This month marked 50 years since the landmark federal law Title IX helped women across the country receive a fair chance in athletics, increasing access to perks usually reserved to men. These benefits certainly leveled the playing field, but did they enhance the chances of Black and Brown student-athletes?

Reilyn Turner is the exception to that statement. The sophomore forward on the UCLA womens soccer team is a force in the Pac-12 and became the first college student-athlete to sign a sponsorship deal with Nike.

"As an advocate for women in sports and equality, Nike having those same values is really important to me," Turner told Yahoo Sports. "I know they're going to push the boundaries the same way I want to in professional career on and off the pitch."

Half a century later, Title IX remains undeniably significant. However, Black girls routinely still endure some form of disparity; the 37-world legislation makes no mention of race in its language. Title IX followed other monumental measures rooted in equal opportunity. The Civil Rights Act became law eight years prior and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 forbid discriminatory voting practices. Why couldn't the same energy be kept for Black competitors?

According to the Women's Sports Foundation, girls are withdrawing from sports at two times the rate of boys at the age of 14. Factors like cost and transportation are primary contributors, but the nonprofit also notes the lack of role models for young women. As someone who credits her parents and older sister for instilling a competitive spirit early on, Turner, who is half Black and half Mexican, wants to leverage her influence to encourage young women of color that a career in sports is attainable, regardless of whether you were raised with and athletic mindset or not.

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"With Title IX, I think it's so important to strive for equality between men and women in sports. As an African American and Mexican American woman, really trying to be that representation for younger kids that have the same background as me is a real privilege. It's easier for them to see their goals as achievable when they see someone that looks like them doing the same thing."

UCLA soccer player Reilyn Turner is one of many Black, Brown and Native female athletes who are paving the way for future generations in the net 50 years of Title IX. (Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

Many of the athletics expanded after the Title IX agreement rowing, swimming and lacrosse, for example were not as readily accessible to Black women in 1972, perhaps even today. U.S. womens national team (USWNT) winger Crystal Dunn told Yahoo Sports in August 2020 about her own experience playing in a "middle-class sport."

"Youre basically the only one on the pitch until you play on a college team. Although its getting better, I think where we really dropped the ball was at the youth level. In our country, soccer is pretty much a middle-class sport, compared to overseas where you dont need to invest a lot of money for your child to play. Thank goodness I had parents who were financially able to finance my participation in a traveling club where I would be seen by top recruiters."

Madison Hammond, defender for the NWSL's Angel City FC, told Yahoo Sports that during her time with the OL Reign, she participated in an exercise that examined the individual players privilege. As prompts like "Did you grow up in a two-parent household" and "Could you afford to attend college without a scholarship?" were asked, Reign players were instructed to step forward. After all 10 questions, it was a moment of reflection for the 24-year-old Nike athlete.

"Every single person that participated were also Black and Brown, and that moment was extremely eye-opening for me," Hammond recalled. "We're all on the same team together, but I have a teammate who didn't take any steps forward and then there's another who took all 10. Yet, you're still somehow supposed to reach the same goals and accumulate similar awards. Your starting point is much different than the woman next to you. You're a pro, you're at the same level and you might have made it, but many don't realize the sacrifices we all have to make to get to this position."

Hammond understands the influence she has as a Native American and Black female player, and her message to younger women is ingrained in recognizing her impact doesnt have to be made on the pitch. Women can make a sizable difference across all sectors of sport.

Madison Hammond, now with Angel City FC, knows her impact on the game goes beyond just the playing field. (Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Hammond and Turner both credit Nike for encouraging them to openly discuss these topics. As the first Native American player in the NWSL, Hammond is an ambassador of Nike's N7 program. The focus of N7 is to shine a light on Native American and Indigenous athletes and figures across North America. Title IX encourages women to play as their authentic selves, and that's what Hammond intends to do for the entirety of her career.

By 2025, Nike also plans to reach a target goal of 50% girl participation worldwide in all sport-based community programs funded by the Made to Play commitment. That includes recruiting more female coaches and developing gender-inclusive programs that are tailored specifically toward individuals of all fitness levels. The mission promotes sport as creative, inclusive and unlimited in possibility. In the company's words, "If you have a body, you are an athlete."

Fifty years may have passed, but Title IX is still young at heart. As we enter the next half century, filled with Black, Brown and Indigenous players leveraging their platform for societal changes, theres a confidence among women in sports that barriers will be broken and an equal playing field will be achieved for all women, no matter their race.

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Title IX: How the next generation of Black and Brown athletes are taking action to champion more diversity in sport - Yahoo Sports