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    BYU Basketball rounds out roster with UVU grad transfer – The Daily Universe – Universe.byu.edu - June 19, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    BYU Basketball Head Coach Mark Pope announced on June 12 that former UVU guard Brandon Averette will join the Cougars as a graduate transfer for the upcoming 2020-21 season, helping to fill out a roster that lost seven seniors.

    Pope found immediate success in his first year at BYU after moving from UVU himself, thanks to the veteran leadership and experience of starters like TJ Haws, Jake Toolson and Yoeli Childs. The team climbed the national rankings all year, eventually cracking the top 15, and Pope hopes to continue the trend by adding older players instead of just relying on high school recruits.

    This will be Averettes third stop in his college basketball career. He played his first two years at Oklahoma State, after which Pope recruited him to come to Utah and attend UVU. He redshirted the 2018-19 season, Popes last with the Wolverines, due to NCAA transfer rules, and then earned a spot on the All-WAC Newcomer Team last year as a junior.

    Brandon Averette is one of the most explosive, cat-quick, clever playmakers in college basketball, Pope said in a statement. We feel so blessed to have him join our locker room. He is universally beloved by his teammates for his competitive spirit and playmaking ability. Its going to take about two seconds for Cougar fans to fall in love with his quiet charisma and winning charm.

    The teams announcement on Twitter welcomed Averette to, The Best Locker Room in America, showing the priority that Popes program puts on camaraderie and chemistry.

    With Averettes playmaking abilities and the departure of point guard TJ Haws, he will likely take over the primary ball-handler duties, allowing fellow senior Alex Barcello to remain in the shooting guard, off-ball position he flourished in last year as a starter.

    The 5-foot-11 Averette lacks some of the size that Haws had at 6-foot-4, but with six players over 6-foot-6, BYU can make up for the lack of height in the backcourt with a wealth of size at the three forward spots.

    Averette joins Purdue transfer Matt Haarms as the two marquee additions to the BYU Basketball roster this offseason, but there are a few other names mentioned in a BYU press release that show the group is nearing its finished form.

    Freshman Hunter Erickson, a returned missionary from Timpview High School, and junior college transfers Gideon George (New Mexico Junior College) and Spencer Johnson (Salt Lake Community College) were also named as newcomers to the upcoming seasons roster.

    Assistant Coach Chris Burgess appeared on BYU Sports Nation on Thursday, June 11, confirming the direction the coaching staff is going in with prioritizing more experienced graduate transfers when re-tooling the roster.

    Transfers and staying older makes you really good, Burgess said. Youre getting a leader, an older guy. We love older players and guys that have been through it. They know whats important and they know what matters. Its sacrificing yourself, having no agenda and winning.

    Burgess, who was part of Popes coaching staff at UVU that recruited Averette, told Cougar fans what they can expect from the recent addition.

    Lets go! Fired up to coach BA again! Burgess said in a Tweet. Cougar Nation is gonna love how hard he competes on both ends of the floor.

    Toolson, who also transferred from UVU to BYU just one year ago, said hes glad BYU didnt end up getting other transfer targets such as Mac McClung and Daivien Williamson earlier in the offseason. He had the chance to play with Averette at UVU two years ago and says he was the best player on the team.

    Consider it a blessing we missed out on every other guy in the portal, Toolson said in a Tweet. BA was the best player on our UVU team two years ago during his redshirt, and it wasnt even close. So excited to watch him ball out.

    Averette followed up the announcement Tweet with a highlight reel, showing off his impressive athleticism for a smaller point guard.

    I would like to thank God for putting the talents and the people in my life to help me grow and succeed, Averette said in a Tweet announcing his transfer. Thank you to my family, all my coaches and teammates that have helped me to this point.

    Between Averette and explosive forwards like Haarms and Gavin Baxter, BYU Basketball will have no shortage of exciting plays in the Marriott Center this season.

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    BYU Basketball rounds out roster with UVU grad transfer - The Daily Universe - Universe.byu.edu

    Bun Hut on the Lower East Side Serves Bahamian Bao and Roti – Eater NY - June 19, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    The meteoric rise in popularity of the Chinese steamed bao, folded over fillings into a taco-shaped sandwich, has continued across the city. As adapted here by restaurants like Momofuku, it was initially loaded with soy-braised pork belly, shiitake mushrooms, and other mainly Asian ingredients, but the list of fillings eventually became endless and international. Now, in New York, this enticing assemblage has figuratively come to the Caribbean, or at least the nearby Bahamas.

    The chef responsible is Kermit Ray Mackey, co-owner of Bun Hut along with Kevin Mathiasen, a CPA. Mackey was born in the Bahamas and worked in resort restaurants on several of its islands, including Great Exuma and Bimini, before coming to the States. After visiting China, he was inspired to fold typical Bahamian fillings into steamed bao, including coconut shrimp, cracked conch, curried goat, and pulled jackfruit, to intriguing effect.

    Bun Hut is located near the bucolic intersection of Stanton and Attorney streets on the Lower East Side, far from the fleshpots of Hell Square, so the streets will likely be nearly empty when you arrive. The premises was previously the most recent home of Colors, the legacy restaurant of Windows on the World, and before that Lowlife, a restaurant partly inspired by a Luc Sante book, which merged French food with Lower East Side classics, putting borscht and lamb tartare on the same menu. Obviously, both restaurants failed.

    With doors flung open three weeks ago to reveal a mainly darkened interior with a bar in the rear, Bun Hut is another of the surprisingly large number of restaurants that have appeared during the pandemic. It is also the only restaurant in town I know of specifically devoted to Bahamian fare, though many of the menus dishes are shared with other islands. In addition to bao, the bill of fare features wrapped rotis (rather than the bust-up shot favored in Guyanese restaurants); entrees like jerk chicken and braised oxtail, served with rice and beans; sides; punches; and desserts.

    The bao come disassembled in a box, comprising two warm bao, a main ingredient, a craisin-studded mayo slaw, and sauces that run to honey lime chipotle aioli, Haitian pikliz, and Mackeys very sweet mango chutney. I tried two of the nine bao offered (all $10 or $12). I liked the Bahamian coconut shrimp, a dish popularized in the East Village by Sugar Reef in the early 90s. The dish finds five spice-coated crustaceans fried to order its tempting to simply pop them in your mouth without bothering with the bao.

    Even better was the cracked conch, the pink-shelled creature rendered as small flat fritters that went especially well with the steamed buns when a little slaw was tucked inside and the chipotle aioli liberally applied. Other bao that Im itching to try include she-crab cake and pulled jackfruit.

    Part of my delight at hearing about Bun Hut were the rotis. These Indian-inspired wraps, native to the Caribbean, are one of my favorite viands, and sadly lacking in Manhattan since Terrys Gourmet, the Trinidadian-run deli at 16th and Sixth Avenue, closed. (You pretty much have to go to Jersey City, Flatbush, or South Richmond Hill to get a great one, though some pan-Caribbean restaurants sell them.) Bun Huts examples use a diversity of ingredients, including shredded cabbage, potatoes, and plantains, in addition to coconut curry chicken, jerk chicken, spicy pork, and curry goat.

    Unfortunately, the kitchen was out of goat the day I ordered it, but the chicken curry was fine, with a nice mixture of light and dark meat and a mild curry flavor. This roti deploys a real dal puri as the wrapper, a flatbread with crushed yellow split peas between its flaky layers. Most priced at $12, these rotis constitute a full meal; in fact, I shared mine with a friend.

    Though I found the hibiscus lemonade ($6) forgettable, the coconut tart (two for $8) was spectacular. Paved with granulated sugar and bulging with shredded coconut, it was shaped like an empanada. According to co-owner Mathiasen, it was inspired by a Bahamian pastry the chef ate as a child called guava duff. Eat one, and give the other to a friend. Theyre that rich. 178 Stanton Street, between Clinton and Attorney streets, Lower East Side

    This is the second in a series of columns called Sietsemas Picks, in which I cover places Im enjoying in our takeout-centric times. In the first entry, I visited Happy Hot Hunan on the Upper West Side.

    A couple of other new restaurants I like and have written about that have opened during the pandemic: Pane Pasta and Terra Thai.

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    Bun Hut on the Lower East Side Serves Bahamian Bao and Roti - Eater NY

    ESPN to Present an Evening of Exploring Issues of Race in Sports around the World June 24 – ESPN Press Room - June 19, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    ESPN will present a special evening of programming exploring the multi-faceted issues of racism and social justice in sports Wednesday, June 24, starting at 7 p.m. ET. The previously announced Time for Change: We Wont be Defeated from ESPNs multiplatform content initiative exploring the intersections of sports, race and culture, The Undefeated, will air at 8 p.m. on ESPN and at 11 p.m. on ESPN2 as the centerpiece of the five-and-one-half hours of programming.

    We want to augment Time for Change with an important and ambitious night of programming, said Ilan Ben-Hanan, ESPN senior vice president, programming and acquisitions. The night will be dedicated to impactful storytelling around the issues of racism, diversity, inclusion, and social justice on a global scale.

    The one-hour Time for Change will examine black athletes experiences with injustice and the unifying role that sports continues to play in bridging the divide between law enforcement and people of color in America. SportsCenter anchors Elle Duncan, Michael Eaves and Jay Harris will be joined by ESPN college sports reporter and NBA studio host Maria Taylor to host the show. Time for Change will feature a series of roundtable discussions with athletes and other leading voices in sports and culture.

    The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with a re-air of the 30 for 30 documentary The 16th Man. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the film showcases the South African Springbok National Rugby Team and its impact on South Africas transition from apartheid to beginning cooperation including interviews with players and political activists alongside archival footage. Of note, June 24 is the 25thanniversary of Nelson Mandelas famous Sport has the power to change the world speech at the Rugby World Cup Final in South Africa.

    At 9 p.m., Giants of Africatells the storyofMasai Ujiri, currently the President of Basketball Operations for the Toronto Raptors and in 2010 became the firstAfrican-born general manager for a major North American sports team, the NBAs Denver Nuggets. The 90-minute film highlights his journey to create lasting change and empower others to dream big by growing the gameofbasketball inAfrica. This is the U.S. premiere of the program.

    At 10:30 p.m., ESPN will air the U.S. premiere of The Australian Dream, a two-hour documentary film released in Australia last year. FeaturingAustralianFootball League (AFL) playerAdam Goodes, the film examinesAustralianAboriginal identity and racism in Australia, with Goodes being called an ape by a 13-year-old spectator as the catalyst event to his advocacy work for indigenous people. The film is an inspiring and empowering story, through which a deep and powerful narrative is told about sport, race and belonging.

    -30-

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    ESPN to Present an Evening of Exploring Issues of Race in Sports around the World June 24 - ESPN Press Room

    Chris D’Elia and the rise of Twitter as a platform to call out sexual predators – Mashable - June 19, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Comedian Chris D'Elia first noticed Michaela Coletta's Instagram photos years ago, when she was 17, according to the now 25-year-old. He took the opportunity to DM her.

    "He noticed I liked some of his photos on Instagram and immediately started messaging me," Coletta told Mashable. "From my Instagram photos, you could visibly tell I was still in high school."

    In an emailed statement to Mashable, Coletta described behavior she knew to be a pattern. "This man is HORRIBLE," she wrote. "The amount of messages I've gotten from other girls that are too afraid to speak up is... insane. With almost the exact same stories, same ages... some as young as 14 [sic]."

    In a span of hours on Tuesday night, Coletta and dozens of other women both named and anonymous went public with stories about D'Elia on Twitter.

    Survivors of sexual misconduct and inappropriate advances have taken to whisper networks in recent years as police often don't believe accusers when they come forward. Many also never report what happened to authorities due to fears that nothing will happen even after they endure an excruciating trial. In this current moment of social upheaval, the whisper network is more public and vital than ever, and much of it is happening on Twitter. Some other famous examples include the Harvey Weinstein Google doc and the Shitty Media Men list, but while those documents contained the whispers, Twitter fueled their delivery.

    In this current moment of social upheaval, the whisper network is more public and vital than ever, and much of it is happening on Twitter.

    And it's not just sexual misconduct being revealed in these online whisper networks. As accusations against D'Elia piled up on Twitter, people separately began raising concerns about systemic racism in their workplace. Emboldened by the police brutality protests unfolding on the streets, people took to Twitter to share their own stories of discrimination. The media industry has had a "racial reckoning," as CNN called it, with present and former Black employees and other employees of color exposing deep-seated racism at publishers from Bon Appetit to Refinery29. Crisis Text Line employees and volunteers' Twitter complaints led the nonprofit's board to oust its founder and CEO. These discussions were, if not sparked on Twitter, then at least amplified considerably on the platform.

    When the wronged feel like the powerful will ignore them, they embrace another outlet: Twitter. Opponents of whisper networks say social media isn't the right venue to seek justice. But after the individual whispers turn into a collective roar, the powerful start to listen.

    After Coletta and D'Elia moved their conversation from Instagram DMs to email, she said he began talking to her with his now-infamous RocketMail account. The same email account appears in several screenshots from various accusers. He told her he wanted to see her when he performed in Vancouver, where she lives, she said. After that, they moved their conversation to Kik, a messenger app popular with both teens and predators.

    "That's when he really started getting explicit (probably because Kik is easy to wipe and leave no trace)," wrote Coletta. "He said he wanted to see my body and it felt SUPER weird. I sent him one though, because I felt pressured to."

    Coletta continued, "The way he spoke to me was intimidating and also extremely straight to the point. He also sent a shirtless photo of himself back to me. I remember him saying how tiny my waist is and how I have such big breasts perfectly. I also remember exactly what photos he's seen of me, that are VERY clearly taken in a child's bedroom with pink walls."

    In a statement to People, D'Elia denies the dozens of accusations, hopping around an apology and blaming his "lifestyle."

    "I know I have said and done things that might have offended people during my career, but I have never knowingly pursued any underage women at any point," D'Elia said in his statement to People. "All of my relationships have been both legal and consensual and I have never met or exchanged any inappropriate photos with the people who have tweeted about me. That being said, I really am truly sorry. I was a dumb guy who ABSOLUTELY let myself get caught up in my lifestyle. Thats MY fault. I own it. Ive been reflecting on this for some time now and I promise I will continue to do better."

    Coletta said D'Elia told her he wanted to make-out with her a recurring theme in his messages to young women and that he wanted to fly her out to Los Angeles. After that, Coletta slowly stopped responding "just so he would go away," she said. He did message her when he was in her area, but she kept ignoring him.

    "I have been public about it since it happened," said Coletta, who told her friends and her boyfriend at the time. She tweeted about one of D'Elia's emails in 2015 (and recently tweeted the screenshot of said email), and then she tweeted again when she saw his character in Netflix's series You "because of the insane irony that he is literally playing himself in that role," she said. On the show, D'Elia plays Henderson, a comedian who drugged and raped victims and took photos of them while unconscious.

    Coletta deleted the second tweet soon after because a friend had previously been vocal about D'Elia and she said he subsequently threatened her. "I deleted the tweet about 'You,'" said Coletta, "because he's KNOWN for searching his own name and fighting with people or harassing, like he did to my friend."

    On Tuesday, that same friend sent her a tweet by Simone Rossi, who goes by @girlpowertbh on Twitter. "I still cant believe netflix cast chris delia as the pedophile...like the literal IRONY," Rossi tweeted on June 16, also evoking D'Elia's You character:

    Rossi threaded her tweet with screenshots of email conversations she said she had with D'Elia that were sent in 2014, when Rossi was 16.

    "Imagine being 16 and being groomed by a stand up comedian twice ur age and the only reason you never met up and never got physically m*lested was because u had just gotten a boyfriend ur own age," Rossi then wrote.

    These tweets prompted Coletta to speak out once again on Tuesday. "I immediately made a tweet about it because FINALLY it was getting attention," she said.

    Twitter erupted almost immediately with similar stories about D'Elia. In addition to other women coming forward on their own accounts, many others messaged their stories to @SheRatesDogs, an account that spotlights gross messages women receive from men. Michaela Okland, who runs SheRatesDogs, threaded anonymous DMs she received as well as other tweets:

    In a matter of hours, dozens of women both named and anonymous spoke up about him. And in addition to these accusations going viral, D'Elia's thinly-veiled pedophilic "jokes" started going around as well:

    We know that stories like the ones about D'Elia don't exist in a vacuum. Not only are we entering the third year of the #MeToo era calling anything "post-MeToo" seems like a farce but we're in a time of deep social unrest. (The "Me Too" phrase was actually coined in 2006 by activist Tarana Burke, but it took on new life after the New York Times and New Yorker investigations exposed Weinstein's pattern of sexual harassment.) The recent protests have made more Americans question whether the police actually "serve and protect," whether our justice system actually carries out justice. When authorities won't give a voice to the victims of wrongdoings whether these wrongdoings happen on the streets, in an office, or in someone's DMs the victims turn to social media to give themselves a voice.

    In addition to brutality and racism, the police system's often shambolic handling of sexual assault cases has come up in recent weeks. In response to protesters who've called for the abolition of police, opponents often cite rape as a crime that we need police to investigate. Yet, the vast majority of assaulters do not go to jail or prison; they're not even reported. Tweets like the one below (about the Minneapolis police discovering 1,700 untested rape kits) go viral and highlight the police's incompetence:

    While protesters fight racial inequality and police brutality in the streets, others do so online, especially on Twitter. This is seen in the circulation of bail funds and other requests for donations; protest and supply organizing; and coming forward with harrowing stories about racism. Exposing racism has snowballed into exposing other injustices, as is the case with D'Elia.

    "I use twitter more than any other socials and have been on it for probably over 12 years [so] I had a bit of a follow[ing] already," said Coletta. "Plus [it's] my main news source that I feel like I can actually trust since its coming straight from the people experiencing it."

    Okland started SheRatesDogs in 2018 and her following has ballooned to over 500,000. She said she chose Twitter (though she subsequently made an Instagram account) because of the retweet function.

    "It's more of an echo chamber on Instagram," said Okland. But not on Twitter, where retweets allow her to get on feeds of people particularly men who may not have thought about these issues before.

    Many reports on D'Elia went viral on Twitter, including the SheRatesDog's thread. But this isn't the first time the account has exposed abusers, Okland told Mashable. She had previously shared stories about a professor and a would-be Bachelorette contestant though nothing quite on this scale.

    She became aware of the emerging conversation about D'Elia from Rossi's tweet, which Okland saw before it went massively viral. "I had actually gotten a DM about Chris two months ago," she said, and that's what she quote-tweeted Rossi with and jumpstarted her thread.

    "I'm not usually an exposing account," said Okland, who said she feels guilt and anxiety at the thought of something bad happening to someone she posted about. That's why she usually keeps everyone anonymous. "If I was logging on and ruining three or four lives a day, that wouldn't be healthy," she said. "Even though there are people who say shitty things or do shitty things, that's just not a good life to live." But given Rossi's tweet, what Okland has heard in-person from female comics about D'Elia, and the two-month-old DM, she decided to get involved.

    That DM several months ago came from a woman in Cleveland, Ohio, who chose to remain anonymous on both Twitter and in her discussion with Mashable, in order to not jeopardize her employment:

    As in her retelling to SheRatesDogs, the woman told me that D'Elia stayed at the hotel where she works two years ago. Her supervisor at the time, another woman in her early 20s, worked the overnight shift. D'Elia allegedly called the front desk to say that his air conditioning wasn't working. Due to the hotel not having overnight maintenance, the supervisor went to D'Elia's room to help.

    The supervisor said D'Elia exposed himself to her and didn't cover himself when she asked. He called the front desk again some time later, but the supervisor refused to go back to his room and told him that maintenance would arrive in the morning.

    "I came into work the next day and the hotel's assistant general manager told us the story as a 'do not go to the room alone' warning and named D'Elia and his room number," the woman told Mashable. "He wasn't removed or barred from the hotel, but I don't know that he ever came back."

    "Nobody would even see or believe me posting it on my own"

    The woman said she loves the account SheRatesDogs in general because it made her feel less personally attacked and alone when she received abusive messages on dating apps. She told the account her D'Elia story because she saw that Okland tweeted something about him one day, "and I had to get it out," she said. "I didn't think she'd ever see it, but I didn't have anyone else to tell."

    The hotel management didn't do anything about the incident, the woman said. "I can't call the police two years later and they wouldn't care anyway, and nobody would even see or believe me posting it on my own," she said. "She created a place online where women could be believed *and* let the frustrations out and be funny or angry or whatever."

    D'Elia is far from the only example of allegations against someone gathering steam on Twitter. This month alone has ushered in a similar trend at several American universities.

    In the same way students have created accounts to unmask their fellow students' racism, they're also creating Twitter accounts to expose sexual assaulters. Students at a number of universities, including Rutgers and UC San Diego, have followed the lead of Assaulters at UMich, which now has over 12,000 followers.

    The University of Michigan account started because the account owner, who chose to remain anonymous, wanted there to be a voice for survivors.

    "The University of Michigan has failed one too many survivors by simply doing nothing when approached with sexual assault cases," said the account owner. In 2018, a dozen assault incidents at the university were logged in an academic whisper network created by Karen Kelsky. Earlier this year, the university saw two #MeToo scandals back to back.

    In a statement to Mashable, the University of Michigan took issue with the criticisms and pointed to a website outlining the university's response to sexual assaults:

    While we certainly understand the difficulty of reporting sexual misconduct and the ensuing process, it's just not accurate to say the University of Michigan is doing nothing.

    We've implemented new processes, added staff to our Office for Institutional Equity that handles investigations, created a special victims unitwithin our campus police department, made reporting easier and more visible, implemented mandatory training for all employees and students and are constantlyrevising and updating our policies. And we publish an annual report with details on all reports of sexual misconduct that are shared with the university.

    The account's creator chose Twitter because it's a global platform. "I believed it would have the most impact," they said. Scrolling through Assaulters at UMich's now-locked feed is a similarly visceral experience to scrolling through SheRatesDogs' D'Elia thread: Account after account of assault, often contrasted with the alleged assaulter's smiling LinkedIn photo. The account has received thousands of stories, even from people who don't attend the University of Michigan or even reside in the state.

    As of publication, the account is locked due to an individual posted about on the account threatening a lawsuit. In addition, the account owner said, they locked it following an attempted hack. While they eventually plan on unlocking, they want to ensure that survivors and their stories are completely safe.

    Assaulters at UMich has received both positive and negative feedback. One common criticism is that Twitter isn't the best way to seek justice, but the account's owner said there isn't any better way to empower survivors at the moment. "Until something has been created, I will continue to use this platform to shed light on the prevalence of assaults that take place on college campuses," they said.

    Okland, too, has no plans to get rid of SheRatesDogs anytime soon. She said she's received over 500 DMs about D'Elia, from accusers themselves and their loved ones. The responsibility overwhelms her, but she loves running the account and has no plans to give it away.

    What's more, is that her messages are already flooding with stories about other abusers.

    "It'll probably happen again," said Okland. "Especially just after this situation... I mean I have, like, five completely unrelated DMs about another guy."

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    Chris D'Elia and the rise of Twitter as a platform to call out sexual predators - Mashable

    Serving People In Dire Need in Alexandria – Virginia Connection Newspapers - June 19, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Part 1 of a series on food insecurity in Alexandria during the coronavirus

    The regular Thursday morning pop-up grocery at Historic Christ Church has been closed for the last three months and transformed into a delivery service. The pop-up grocery served more than 30 families in need each week.

    The church has kept the Lazarus Food Pantry (pop-up grocery) running but in drastically modified ways, according to Barbara Fallon who is the volunteer coordinator of this effort, now run out of a staff members home and the Methodist Church across the street. We are reaching those in tremendous need who are falling between the cracks from some of the other major City food efforts, Fallon says.

    In February they were hearing about the coronavirus but the pantry kept going. We had an arrangement with Marymount nurses, and Pamela came with music and meditation yoga for people waiting for the pop-up pantry to open. Fallon says the last two weeks they moved the pantry outdoors for the first time.

    March 12 was very chilly. We set up a long line of tables for safetys sake and 40 chairs. We had hand sanitizers. The next week the health situation was getting more serious, so instead of clients having the usual shopper experience, the volunteers prepackaged grocery bags for the first time ever and served them from the Meade Room kitchen at the church. We had to be quick.

    Fallon says they prepackaged 90 bags of food. People were starting to get nervous. Fifty came out the final day and got fresh vegetables, eggs, frozen meats. We were as generous as possible. We had 35 extra grocery sacks, thank goodness, because the calls kept coming in for food. Some people walking by on the street who saw the line of people said they didnt know they offered the food, and we reached additional people in need that way.

    At the last two pantries they took the phone numbers of those who wanted to participate so they could send a group text to the clients telling them what to expect in the future, and about other food resources such as the ALIVE! Free giveaway and Hunger Free Alexandria.

    Fallon says she delivers to people who are really in dire need. For instance, 87-year-old Magna, who has a room in a Del Ray house. She hadnt been out for a month, and she had no food. I text her that Im coming. I leave the food in her front yard and wave. She must cook because she loves the fresh produce.

    Fallon says, Most of the people are families with kids. I delivered to a Spanish single mother with a darling first grader who translated for her. Fallon said she had gotten the call asking her to make another delivery the same day for this familys emergency. They had no food. She said when the mother got the sacks of groceries she could say only one English word with a smile Happy.

    Melanie Gray, Director of Outreach and Mission at Christ Church, says the former pop-up grocery volunteers now sack up groceries. The network of volunteers I created years ago is able to work now. It took a while to pull it together to make it work, but once its working, it works really well. The food pantry volunteers do the shopping and another group of go-getters deliver the groceries every day.

    There was a lull of a few weeks and we wondered how we were going to regroup. Gray set up a Care Team of volunteers who called 200 people in the Christ Church records to check in and see if they needed food. Fallon says a lot of these people are sequestered and dont have the internet or any way to find out about the resources the City offers. A lot is by word of mouth.

    But we were getting all of these callswhat are we going to do? The church building was closed. Thats when Liz Denson, Grays Assistant at Christ Church, offered her home as a storage place. Denson says she had all the groceries and other supplies in her living room but eventually there was too much. So she approached the Methodist Church across the street that offered their refrigerator and storage space.

    Today Denson, with a couple of Methodist church volunteers, will load up bags for deliveries and carry them across the street to her home where Christ Church volunteers will pick them up for delivery. I try to recruit the help of my 10-year-old son to carry the bags and the 8-year-old and three-year-old help in small ways. I make it a point to talk about what I am doing so they understand what is happening in the City.

    Denson pulls out her handy spreadsheet by zip code to cluster the daily deliveries. She has a list for each client. We ask what they need. They mostly all get the same food but today one single mom with two kids has requested paper towels, dish soap, toothpaste, baby wipes. We give them what we have.

    Denson put out the word to volunteers to drop off groceries at her house. Fallon says volunteers bought food with their own funds. They got a couple of grants to provide Giant gift cards and ALIVE! generously provided Denson with a lot of food. In addition, gleaning will begin at the Farmers Market, which will add fresh produce to their supplies. Fallon says originally it was food, food, food. But now they have been able to add diapers and toiletries. And now were adding crayons and coloring books.

    Gray says they have learned as they go along and we make corrections. The families asked for more masa flour, rice, snacks for the kids, cups of noodles, laundry detergent, trash bags, very specific things. And the airlines repackaged their snacks and provided packages of pretzels and things which the kids loved.

    Lazarus Counselors at Christ Church helps residents in the City in crisis situations by addressing the immediate needs. Gray says since March 19, Lazarus Counselors have taken 462 calls and spent over $119,000 on 339 client bills and 128 gift cards and groceries. Gray explains the churchs Lazarus ministry reaches out with financial counseling and support for people facing financial emergencies as well as offering a shop and share assistance through the pop-up grocery. They have spent $14,630.15 on groceries for 128 families, including 475 people with 54 receiving groceries and 109 receiving gift cards.

    In addition to food, the Lazarus ministry has been able to give people $250 to pay a portion of their rent. Even so, This is like putting a bandaid on a cancer. But, Gray says, People are so grateful for something; they want to be heard. It shows the system is working.

    Gray adds starting today the ACT fund has been set up to help City of Alexandria employees making under $60,000. Lazarus has a phone call for intake and a City employee can go online and start the application. We plan to get back within 48 hours. Nobody needs to know you need money. It can be used for gas, food, whatever you need.

    These efforts are funded through a cooperative effort from six churches, grants from United Way, FEMA, and ACT for Alexandria as well as over $75,000 from 198 individuals.

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    Serving People In Dire Need in Alexandria - Virginia Connection Newspapers

    CAA Strengthens Diversity And Inclusion Efforts With Addition Of Lisa Joseph Metelus To CAA Board, Participation In Blackout Tuesday – Deadline - June 2, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    During a time where people of color specifically Black people and members of marginalized communities are being treated with injustice, CAA is looking to push the needle with new efforts that aim to foster the agencys commitment to diversity and inclusion.

    CAA has taken action and appointed Lisa Joseph Metelus to the CAA Board, the agencys new leadership structure, formed in January and underscoring the companys continued growth and next-generation strategy. CAA employees worldwide will also participate in Blackout Tuesday on June 2 which marks a day of reflection, disconnecting from work, to provoke accountability, change, and meaningful action. Finally, the agency is set tohost its fourth annual Amplify conference, convening diverse leading artists and executives from the most impactful organizations in entertainment, sports, media, brands, technology, and social justice to accelerate the growth, value, and visibility of diversity in business.

    The events over the past couple weeks continue to demonstrate the injustices Black people face daily, said Richard Lovett, President, CAA. Its critical that we look hard at the deeply flawed systems and racial prejudice that persist in our communities, and most importantly, how we can each be an active ally in changing what is so broken. Words are not enough as always, were committed to taking action, and being brave and united for all of our colleagues, clients, and friends in the Black community.

    Metelus joins Risa Gertner, Michael Levine, Emma Banks, Joe Cohen, Maha Dakhil, Paul Danforth, Michelle Kydd Lee, Joel Lubin, Sonya Rosenfeld, Rick Roskin, and Tiffany Ward, who collectively oversee the day-to-day management of the agency.

    As Co-Head of Basketball Marketing and Servicing, Metelus, who joined CAA Sports in 2011, helps oversee the off-the-court efforts of more than four dozen emerging and NBA All-Star players. Her personal clients include Dwyane Wade, Zion Williamson, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Collin Sexton, among others. Earlier this year, Metelus was integral in the ideation and launch of CAA AMP, a cultural strategy agency, with an in-depth understanding of unique communities, voices, passions, values, and beliefs. Led by Wade, CAA AMP is housed within CAAs award-winning Brand Consulting division, and provides additional expertise and focus on helping brands understand the powerful role of cultural amplification today, delivering marketing solutions that reach new audiences and deeper consumer engagement.

    A strong advocate for the empowerment of female executives in sports, Metelus launched PLAYMAKEHER, which is dedicated to bringing together men and women in celebration of women within the entertainment and sports industries.

    We have reached an inflection point for change in sports and entertainment. The need for inclusion of black voices in senior management level positions and board rooms is necessary for the progress of our industry and many other industries with global reach. Its important that we reflect who we represent, said Metelus. This role allows me to bring my voice and perspective into the board room, to impact decision-making, drive new business development and continue advocating for our rising black leaders.

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    CAA Strengthens Diversity And Inclusion Efforts With Addition Of Lisa Joseph Metelus To CAA Board, Participation In Blackout Tuesday - Deadline

    Film room: 3 Cowboys in danger of losing their starting jobs, including an inconsistent nose tackle – The Dallas Morning News - June 2, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Under the Jason Garrett regime, the Dallas Cowboys rarely had much turnover in their starting lineups. If a player was starting, the Cowboys stubbornly stuck with him despite the fact that others may be more deserving.

    This is why Jason Witten continued to start over Blake Jarwin despite being ineffective and a shell of his former self and Jeff Heath maintained his starting spot despite years of mediocre play.

    Luckily, the Garrett era is over, and Mike McCarthys new regime will lead to some much-need turnover at some key positions. With that in mind, lets dive into a few Cowboys who are in danger of losing their starting gigs in 2020.

    Lets get the easiest one out of the way first.

    Antwaun Woods has proven to be quite the value since signing a two-year, $1.05 million deal in 2018. Hes started 25 games for the Cowboys, where he built a reputation for his effort and ability to disrupt.

    When Woods is at his best, hes able to penetrate and disrupt in the backfield. Hes shown the ability to beat one-on-one blocks and his effort level often enabled him to make plays outside his responsibility.

    However, Woods lacked consistency, as he was just as likely to get displaced out his gap as he was to penetrate and disrupt. Woods also struggled mightily against double teams, which isnt great given that a nose tackles first job requirement is to demand and absorb double teams in an effort to give the linebackers a chance to pursue without being immediately encumbered by blockers. When you add in Woods inability to make an impact as a pass-rusher, his inconsistency against the run became a bigger and bigger issue upfront.

    Essentially, Woods was a backup caliber nose tackle who somehow found himself with a starting gig. The only reason Woods ever became Dallas starter is the teams flat-out refusal to allocate any significant resources toward the nose tackle position. In 2018, Woods beat out the likes of Datone Jones, Brian Price and Caraun Reid to win the nose tackle job, and he beat Christian Covington for the same gig in 2019 none of which will be vying for a starting gig in 2020 on their new teams.

    When the Cowboys hired Mike McCarthy, he and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan made it clear that they wanted to get bigger at nose tackle, which all but resigned the 6-foot-1, 318-pound nose tackle to a backup gig.

    This became abundantly clear when the Cowboys spent some real resources on the nose tackle position by signing the 6-3, 346-pound Dontari Poe, who didnt sign a two-year, $9 million to be a backup. While Poe brings the same disruptive ability as Woods, he should also be much more consistent, as his 346-pound frame will have him much more prepared to take on and absorb double teams in the A-gaps.

    While the others on this list are in danger of losing their starting gigs, Woods has already lost his, as Poe will assuredly replace him among Dallas starting defense.

    Unlike Woods, Connor Williams is still the favorite to remain the starting left guard, but hes going to be pushed for the first time in his career, as Connor McGovern is finally healthy and ready to compete for a starting gig.

    Entering the league as a converted tackle and second-round pick, Williams hasnt been bad as the starting left guard over the last two seasons, but he has been the weakest link among a Cowboys starting lineup that included three All-Pros (Zack Martin, Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick) and another who played at an All-Pro level in 2019 (Lael Collins).

    Williams is a supreme athlete for the position who does well blocking in space and on the move. Hes shown promising growth each season hes been on the field. As a rookie, Williams was deficient in the strength department, which forced him into technical inefficiencies in an attempt to compensate. However, in his second season, Williams added bulk and was much more prepared to deal with power inside, though he still had some maddening technical issues that caused him to struggle at times.

    The man who will be pushing Williams for the left guard spot is much more of a mystery, as McGovern missed his entire rookie year because of a pec injury. McGovern is about 10 pounds bigger than Williams and plays with a much more aggressive demeanor. McGovern is a people-mover who did a great job clearing running lanes in college. Most importantly, McGovern displayed an innate ability to recover when initially put in a precarious position one of the areas where he has a clear advantage over Williams.

    Luckily for Williams, McGovern does have his fair share of issues, especially in terms of his footwork and hand timing. McGoverns inconsistent footwork in pass protection often leads to variance in McGoverns movement efficiency. McGovern will often overset shaded defensive linemen, which opens up the inside move for defenders.

    Ultimately, while Williams starting experience gives him an early advantage, hes still in real danger of losing the starting left guard gig to McGovern in 2020.

    Through Jamize Olawales tenure in Dallas, much has been promised but little has been delivered. When the Cowboys acquired Olawale, many were excited to see what Jason Garrett and Dallas offensive staff could conjure up for the athletic fullback, as it appeared Dallas was transitioning from the old traditional fullback to a more modern one who was moved around the formation while contributing in the passing game.

    Unfortunately, despite his athletic and receiving talents, Olawale has been used as a traditional lead-blocking fullback, which is a complete waste of his skill set. In his two years with the Cowboys, Olawale has just two catches on six targets, making Olawale nothing more than a below-average lead blocker whose biggest contribution came on special teams.

    Luckily for Olawale, Mike McCarthys offense had done a much better job utilizing the fullbacks in the passing game. Now, its not like the fullback position is all of a sudden going to garner 30+ targets per season, but 10+ receptions are much more likely.

    While Olawales new three-year, $5.4 million contract is a strong indication that hes the favorite to win the fullback job, he wont be gifted the position either, as undrafted rookies Sewo Olonilua and Charlie Taumoepeau will push him for the fullback gig.

    While neither Olonilua nor Taumoepeau has much experience at fullback, they both have the size, athleticism and pass-catching ability to be effective weapons at the position. Olonilua is the better athlete and ball-carrier, but Taumoepeau projects to be a more effective blocker and consistent pass-catcher of the two.

    Nevertheless, if either wants to beat out Olawale for the fullback gig, they will also need to prove themselves on special teams, an area where Olawale has thrived since arriving to Dallas.

    If they can, it will put Olawales job in serious danger, as Olonilua and Taumoepeau are both younger and much cheaper than Olawale.

    Find more Cowboys stories from The Dallas Morning News here.

    Read more here:
    Film room: 3 Cowboys in danger of losing their starting jobs, including an inconsistent nose tackle - The Dallas Morning News

    Way-Too-Early Depth Charts: Projecting the Jaguars’ Wide Receiver Room – Sports Illustrated - June 2, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    For now, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the other 31 NFL clubs are restricted to a virtual world and have yet to take any fields together for offseason team activities. Competitions for starting roles have yet to be had but rest assured, they will still eventually be battled.

    But with the season still scheduled as of today to begin on time, it can still be a worthwhile exercise to project how certain position groups may shape up come the regular season. For the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are set to trot out one of the league's youngest rosters in 2020, there are a number of positions that still needed to be sorted out from top to bottom, whether it be at the starting role or along the depth.

    As this offseason progresses, we will take a look at each position and give our best guess as to what the depth chart will look like come September, or whenever the season does start.

    We already covered the quarterbacksand running backs, and now we will move onto the wide receiver group.

    Jacksonville's wide receiver group is set to feature some changes this fall as a result of the departure of veteran Marqise Lee and the drafting of two rookies within the drafts first five rounds.

    With the No. 42 overall pick, Jacksonville added Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault, a versatile height/weight/speed threat who is set to make an impact in various areas of the offense. Three rounds later, Jacksonville took Texas wide receiver Collin Johnson with the No. 165 pick.

    With a few new faces set to be featured on the outside of Jacksonville's offense, the Jaguars' passing game will have a new look compared to what was fielded in 2019. With the rookies, how should the depth chart be expected to shape up?

    WR No. 1: DJ Chark

    There isn't any question who the Jaguars' top wide receiver is going to be for the 2020 season. Third-year receiver DJ Chark was the Jaguars' leader among wide receivers in catches, yards, and touchdowns in 2019, and he should only be expected to be even better under new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.

    Last year, Chark caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns, all while dealing with a grueling ankle injury toward the end of the season. He displayed big-play ability, red zone prowess, and advanced route running for this stage of his career. Chark's performance led to him getting a Pro Bowl invitation, making him the first Jaguars offensive player to make it to the Pro Bowl since Allen Robinson in 2015.

    Well, I think that he is playing with a load of confidence right now and that is very exciting," Gruden said about Chark last week. "Hes got the skill set with the size, speed and ability to come in and out of cuts. I think we can do a little bit more with him. Id like to get him inside and do some more things with him in the slot."

    WR No. 2: Chris Conley/Laviska Shenault

    In his first season with the Jaguars, Conley had the most productive season of his five-year NFL career. The former Kansas City Chief had issues with consistency as a catcher, but he was one of the Jaguars' most explosive playmaking threats thanks to his speed and size.

    In 16 games, Conley caught 47 passes for 775 yards and five touchdowns, establishing himself as a player who can win after the catch and as a vertical threat thanks to his athleticism. He wouldn't start on the outside for a number of NFL teams, but the best bet is to see him return as the Jaguars' starter across from Chark early on next season.

    But Shenault should be expected to be nipping right at Conley's heels as the season progresses. He has the size and speed to play on the outside and the Jaguars are clearly high on his talent since they took him with their third most valuable selection in last month's draft.

    With that said, Shenault will likely have to earn his snaps as the season progresses. He will be asked to learn multiple roles in Jacksonville's offense while also having to nail down the details of the standard life in the NFL for a wide receiver. Conley is the most experienced wide receiver on the Jaguars' roster, so expect for him to be tasked with a heavy workload to at least start the 2020 season.

    Slot WR: Dede Westbrook

    For the last two seasons, the Jaguars have done their best to turn Dede Westbrook into a viable threat from the slot position. Westbrook has impressed with his ability at the catch point and yard after catch effectiveness, but he will have to take a step forward in the final year of his rookie contract.

    A fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Westbrook has caught 132 for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns in 31 games over the last two seasons. Westbrook has yet to crack 720 receiving yards in a season, and his yards per reception have decreased each year of his career, so there is absolutely room for improvement for Westbrook. With that said, the Jaguars have long been high on his toughness, speed, and ability as a blocker, so he will get another year to earn a significant spot on the offense.

    WR No. 4: Keelan Cole

    On the surface, fourth-year wide receiver had perhaps the least productive season of his career. He recorded career-lows in receptions (24), yards (361), targets (25), but did tie a career-high with three touchdown catches. But context is needed when examining Cole's 2019 season, which in reality was a rousing success.

    In 2019, Cole played just 370 offensive snaps, the first time in his career he has played fewer than 670 snaps. Despite the heavy reduction in playing time, Cole proved to be a reliable threat for the Jaguars when thrown into the mix in 2019, specifically in the red zone. Cole will likely have a hard time finding snaps again due to the crowded nature of the Jaguars' wide receiver room, but he has the talent to make an impact if given the chance.

    WR No. 5: Collin Johnson

    The Jaguars' largest wide receiver at 6-foot-6 and 222-pounds, Collin Johnson offers the Jaguars a skill set which no other receiver on the room has. He plays above the rim and excels in jump ball and contested catch situations, giving the Jaguars a receiver who can use his size and strength to win as opposed to using speed and agility.

    It will likely be hard for Johnson to find a consistent role in the Jaguars' offense early on due to the presence of Chark, Conley, Shenault, Westbrooks, and Cole, but he could potentially be a red zone role player thanks to his size and ability to win 50/50 passes/

    Missed the cut: C.J. Board, Michael Walker

    C.J. Board and Michael Walker each made regular season appearances last season, but it is hard seeing either making the roster. Board will have to somehow make more of an impression on the Jaguars this offseason than one of the Jaguars' other top six wide receivers, and the addition of Johnson specifically will make it tough for Board to carve out a role.

    Walker was the Jaguars' primary kick returner toward the end of 2019, but lost the job following two fumbles on kickoffs. With seventh-round pick Chris Claybrooks likely to take over return duties, Walker's chances to make the active roster are slim at this point.

    Read more:
    Way-Too-Early Depth Charts: Projecting the Jaguars' Wide Receiver Room - Sports Illustrated

    THIRD WAVE: Many local restaurants reopen today and more are on the way – dayton.com - June 2, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    A third wave of restaurant dining-room reopenings will happen today, Monday June 1.

    Gov. Mike DeWine and state health officials lifted their mandatory shutdown of all dine-in services effective May 21, and many restaurants and pubs began serving diners that night. Some restaurant owners waited until just after the Memorial Day holiday and reopened last week. Today kicks off a third wave of reopenings.

    >> ALSO NEW TODAY:One of Daytons longest-running food trucks is for sale; owners plan restaurant

    Heres a partial list of restaurants reopening today, followed by a mention of a few planning to reopen later this week. Were certain this is not a full, comprehensive list; if you have a favorite, give them a call or check their social-media pages to find out their reopening plans.

    --Basils on Market: Both the downtown Dayton location and the Troy restaurant will reopen at 11 a.m. today, June 1, and will be open for lunch and dinner six days a week, closed Sundays. The Dayton location will re-launch itsall-you-can-eat crab special this Friday, June 5, and it will likely be coming soon to the Troy location, Basils co-founder Todd Uhlir said in a phone interview.

    >>PHOTOS: Damage in the aftermath of Saturday protests in Dayton

    --First Watch(multiple locations):The breakfast, brunch and lunch chain reopened its dining rooms nationwide, including all Dayton-area locations, at 7 a.m. today. In addition, First Watch restaurants are also open for take-out, which can be ordered online atfirstwatch.com or by calling your local restaurant. Delivery is available through UberEats and DoorDash.

    --Flyby BBQin Beavercreek: This fast-casual barbecue restaurant at the Mall at Fairfield Commons was among the first restaurants to shut down its dining room, before the statewide order to do so. It reopens today, June 1 for dine-in, carry-out, and delivery via DoorDash, UberEats or Postmates.

    >>Dayton restaurant to open location in Springfield

    --Georges Family Restaurantin Harrison Twp.: The restaurant opened its dining room this morning and is also offering online ordering atGeorgesDayton.com or by phone at 937-275-0705. Curbside pickup is available.

    --Kabukiin Centerville: This sushi and Korean restaurant will reopen its dining room today, and is still offering curbside takeout as well as delivery through DoorDash and GrubHub.

    --Marions Piazza (Shroyer Road/Dayton location only): The CEO of Marions says the dining rooms at the nine Marions locations in southwest Ohio will reopen in a staggered fashion throughout June, starting today with the original Dayton location. Reservations are required.

    >> RELATED:Heres how things will change as Marions Piazza begins to reopen its dining rooms

    --Nicks Restaurant in Xenia: This popular Greene County eatery will reopen its patio and its dining room today for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

    --Phebes Cafe in downtown Dayton, a breakfast and lunch spot, reopened this morning.

    --Skyline Chili(Kettering): This Cincinnati-based chili chain has remained open for drive-through carryout, and at least one location, on Wilmington Pike in Kettering, is reopening its dining room today, starting at 10:30 a.m.

    >>BACK TO BUSINESS: How fitness centers are finding new normal

    Coming later this week, tentatively, areLilys Bistro in Daytons Oregon District on Tuesday, June 2 (keep an eye on Lilys social media to confirm);Sunrise Cafe andCalypso Grill in Yellow Springs on Wednesday, June 3; theOakwood Club in Oakwood andGiovannis in Fairborn on Thursday, June 4.

    Read the rest here:
    THIRD WAVE: Many local restaurants reopen today and more are on the way - dayton.com

    A Look at the Colts QB room ahead of training camp – Stampede Blue - June 2, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    With teams still not able to properly access their facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is some question about exactly if and when training camp will begin as well as what that will look like if it does. Last year, the Colts started camp in the last week of July, so there is certainly time for things to begin like normal, although there is no certainty.

    However, lets assume that some of the early positive signs prove to hold up and we are able to resume some kind of normal. The Colts are primed to be an exciting team in 2020, and ahead of camp, were going to review every position group and see how they look on paper.

    Today we are going to dig into the quarterback room. The surprise retirement of Andrew Luck ahead of 2019 took the Colts quarterback group from the best in the AFC South to the worst. It forced the signing of Brian Hoyer, and pushed Jacoby Brissett into a starting role for which he simply is not adequate. That task for him was made harder still by a wide receiver group that was decimated by injury.

    2020 is a very different era for the Colts quarterback room. Joining the roster is a borderline Hall of Fame talent in Philip Rivers at age 38. Rivers had a down year in 2019. He threw for 4,615 yards, 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. The interception number is somewhat troubling, but the film doesnt show a player who has lost a step.

    Rivers was not helped out by his running game, which featured Austin Ekeler and Melvin Gordon, who ranked 35th and 33rd in DVOA respectively for the season and combined to rush for just 78 yards more than Marlon Mack did on his own despite missing two games with a broken hand.

    Additionally, Rivers did not get the kind of protection in Los Angeles that hell have coming into 2020 in Indianapolis. The question is, can he deliver the kind of play he put on film in 2018, or was 2019 a portent of his decline in play?

    Based on the film, this is a player who is more than capable of doing what the Colts need from him and more. He had to carry a poor and injured defense and an impotent running game in 2019 with the Chargers. That led to him playing hero ball and throwing up some inadvisable passes that led to a higher number of picks than you would like to see from him.

    The biggest difference here is that the Colts have essentially got a balanced team. They have a young and talented defense that shouldnt put him in a position to need to consistently carry them. With one of the best offensive lines in football, a great running back tandem, and what is hopefully a replenished receiver corps, Rivers should be able to fit into the framework of the offense and take them from a passing offense that ranked 24th in DVOA to at least the top half of the league, if not a top ten passing attack. The Chargers finished 9th in that category in 2019 and 2nd in 2018.

    Rivers may not be the quarterback he was ten years ago, but he is arguably still a top 10 NFL QB whose addition fixes the Colts biggest weakness going into the 2020 season.

    On a one-year $25M deal, Rivers is a low risk player who could be re-signed after this season. Frank Reich and Nick Sirianni have repeatedly talked about Rivers interest in playing more than just this season, and Rivers himself has alluded to the same. If this relationship works out, he could very well be back for more.

    Getting to see Rivers in camp and get a look at how quickly he can develop chemistry with the receivers will be very exciting.

    Brissett is in the last year of his deal with the Colts, and set to make $21.375M in 2020. After a disappointing 2019 in which he showed no significant progress as a passer, any idea that Brissett might have starter potential has been washed away. The Colts have repeatedly talked about how much they love Jacoby Brissett, but as they say, actions speak louder than words.

    Their actions? They signed veteran QB Philip Rivers to be the starter, and drafted Jacob Eason to be their long-term backup. Those arent things you do if you believe in Jacoby Brissett. With almost no opportunity to prepare for Lucks retirement, Brissett was the teams solution. They didnt do a long-term deal with him because they wanted to see what they had. Now theyve seen it, and it is highly unlikely that Brissett is wearing the horseshoe in 2021.

    Training camp and the preseason may be Brissetts best chance to prove he deserves a shot with another team in 2021. Hell need to really bring it if he wants to make that a reality.

    In terms of the backup to Philip Rivers, the obvious answer is Jacoby Brissett. But the Colts made moves to secure their future QB room with the selection of Jacob Eason with the 122nd pick overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. The line from the Colts has been that Eason will compete with Chad Kelly for the 3rd string QB spot. As with Brissett, you cannot always take what the Colts say about the quarterback position at face value.

    Eason is a very intriguing player. He had one of the best arms of the 2020 quarterback class, right up there with Jordan Love in terms of arm talent. There are questions about his accuracy, work ethic, and ability to work through progressions quickly that will need to be answered before the Colts know what they have in him, but Eason was low risk for the Colts and provides them with a QB on the roster beyond 2020.

    The real question is, can he challenge Jacoby Brissett for the top backup spot? There is little doubt that the Colts would love him to step into that role. If they get great progress from him as a player and see him grow through the course of the season, that is a huge source of encouragement for them. With Brissett on the hook for a big chunk of his salary, it is unlikely that theyre parting ways with him, but itll be worth keeping an eye on the two at camp to see how they stack up.

    Personally, Im not as high on Eason as some. He seems to have many of the same flaws that troubled Brissett, and issues working through progressions rarely evaporate at the next level. Regardless, hell be a player to watch at camp.

    There is a dedicated segment of the fan base that really wants to see Chad Kelly get his shot. Im really sorry to say this, but theres no indication of any kind that this is something that is in the cards. As much as the Colts have been glowing about Brissett while moving his replacement pieces into position, they havent even bothered with the lip service for Chad Kelly. With a draft pick spent on Jacob Eason and money invested into Jacoby Brissett, I just dont see any way short of a massive injury or total flame-out for Eason that would keep him on the roster at cut-downs.

    What are your thoughts on this QB room and how it stacks up in the division?

    Read more:
    A Look at the Colts QB room ahead of training camp - Stampede Blue

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