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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Sports Hub

  • Broncos’ Russell Wilson says he’s ‘ready to roll’ in London

    By KEN MAGUIRE
    AP Sports Writer

    HARROW, England (AP) _ Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson proclaimed himself “ready to roll” despite a lingering hamstring injury Wednesday ahead of Denver’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.

    Wilson was a limited participant in practice at the Harrow School outside London and coach Nathaniel Hackett was noncommittal, but the veteran quarterback was optimistic.

    “I feel great, ready to roll,” Wilson said. “I’m super locked in and ready to hopefully get a big win in London.”

    Wilson, who was held out of Sunday’s 16-9 loss to the New York Jets by Hackett because of a strained hamstring, estimated he stayed on his feet for half of the eight-hour flight to Britain.

    “I was walking up and down the aisles,” Wilson said. “Everybody was knocked out. I was doing high-knees, working on my legs and everything else, making sure I’m ready to rock.”

    Wilson took part in stretching and throwing drills but didn’t roll out and throw during the portion of practice that was open to the media at the private school once attended by Winston Churchill.

    “I always want to be out on the field,” he said. “That obviously was tough not being out there. I wanted to help us win and get on a hot streak and just get us rolling.”

    Hackett echoed his comments from earlier in the week, saying Wednesday that Wilson “is trending in the right way.”

    The rookie coach said Wilson did “quite a bit” in practice. Asked what Wilson needs to show him, Hackett said “that he can protect himself, just want to be sure that as he gets out there, he’s able to escape, he’s able to move and so forth.”

    “We want to be smart with him,” Hackett said of Wilson’s limited practice. “We don’t want any setbacks.”

    Backup Brett Rypien threw for 225 yards and one interception against the Jets his second career start. The third-year player out of Boise State completed 24 of 46 passes with no touchdowns.

    The Broncos (2-5) lost their fourth straight despite another outstanding defensive performance, and Hackett has faced more scrutiny than any rookie coach in the league because of his team’s offensive woes and his debatable in-game decision-making.

    “I always feel pressure on myself, from the standpoint of me personally,” Hackett said. “We are who we are and we’ve got to dig ourselves out of this.”

    Wilson, new contract in hand, is off to the worst start of his 11-year career, completing 58.6% of his passes with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He has missed just four games as a pro.

    With the Seahawks in 2018, Wilson threw three touchdown passes in Seattle’s 27-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders at Wembley.

    Second-year safety Caden Sterns (hip) did not practice Wednesday.

    “It’s been something that he’s been dealing with for quite a while right now, and so we want to make sure that he’s going to be OK long-term,” Hackett said.

    CB Essang Bassey (hamstring), OLB Baron Browning (hip), WR Tyrie Cleveland (groin), T Cam Fleming (quad) and DL Mike Purcell (knee) also did not practice. ILB Josey Jewell (knee) was limited.

    Also Wednesday, the Broncos designated veteran offensive lineman Tom Compton for return from the physically unable to perform list, though he’s not yet been activated. Left tackle Garett Bolles sustained a season-ending leg injury earlier this month and Fleming is expected to miss time.

    New addition Marlon Mack could be an immediate help. The running back was signed off the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad after an injury to Mike Boone.

    “We want to get him up top speed as fast as we can,” Hackett said of Mack.

  • 2022 Denver Nuggets Basketball Clinic for Special Olympics Colorado Athletes

    Kroenke Sports & Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO) are pleased to bring back a once in a lifetime opportunity for SOCO Athletes. You’re invited to join us for this heartwarming event featuring Denver Nuggets players leading a basketball skills clinic for Colorado athletes with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This event is at full capacity and booked up in record time.  
     
    LOGISTICS 
     
    When: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 
     
    Where: Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver, CO 80204 
     
    Time: Registration: 12:45 pm, Clinic: 1:30pm – 2:30pm 

  • NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUTH SPORTS AND NBC SPORTS NEXT’S SPORTSENGINE TEAM UP TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS WEEK 2022

    Weeklong Celebration Chock Full of Virtual Learning and Fun Activities for All Families, Volunteers and Professionals Who Support Youth Sports

     

    National Youth Sports Week Will Culminate with an In-Person ‘Play Day’ in Atlanta, Hosted by

    Olympic Champion Sanya Richards-Ross

     

     

    Oct. 21, 2022 – Honoring young athletes and the organizations that serve them, the National Council of Youth Sports – through a collaboration with youth sports technology leader, SportsEngine – will host National Youth Sports Week, Oct. 24-29, dedicated to educating and inspiring parents, coaches, volunteers, and administrators.

     

    The six-day celebration will incorporate both virtual and live events, which will promote topics including the importance of child safety, excellence in coaching, and health & wellness. Each day will be themed with content and activities presented in partnership with NBC Sports Next’s SportsEngine, TrueSport, Positive Coaching Alliance, National Center for Safety Initiatives, and LakePoint Sports. The event is free and open to the public.

     

    “National Youth Sports Week is an unprecedented initiative to Mobilize our country in collective impact, Engage more young people physically, and Communicate youth sports benefits and how they help to create a healthier society,” said Wayne Moss, National Council of Youth Sports Executive Director. “Safety is foundational to the youth sports experience and protecting young people should be our collective top priority.”

     

    National Youth Sports Week agenda includes both virtual and live events, including learning webinars, award nominations, tip sessions for coaches & administrators, ideas & checklists for families, and participation activities. Additionally, SportsEngine will host a special edition of For the Love of Sport podcast focusing on information and resources about keeping young athletes safe.

     

    Monday, Oct. 24

    NCYS will kick off the week’s activities by sharing insight and information about the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports. Attendees will be encouraged to share what they have learned on social media, using the hashtag #nationalyouthsportsweek.

     

    Tuesday, Oct. 25

    Coaches Day by Positive Coaching Alliance will provide tips about how to be an effective coach, as well as opportunities to sign up as a volunteer. Also offered will be a coaching webinar, titled “Develop Winners in Life Through Sports,” as well as access to select courses within the PCA’s curriculum. Training also will be made available courtesy of the CoachSafely Foundation.

     

    Wednesday, Oct. 26

    Athlete Health & Wellness Day by TrueSport will highlight tools, resources and content that support a healthy athlete in body and mind. Learn about nutrition and habits that promote good mental health.

     

    Thursday, Oct. 27

    Sport Safety Day by NCSI (National Center for Safety Initiatives) will promote the importance of safety on and off the field through background screening, abuse prevention and training, concussion awareness, and more. The day will culminate with a live webinar, bringing industry leaders from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, USA Lacrosse, and USA Artistic Swimming to discuss The Future of Safety (in youth sports). The panel will begin at 2 p.m. ET. Registration is open to all organizations, administrators, volunteers, coaches, and parents.

     

    Friday, Oct. 28

    Spirit Day by SportsEngine provides an opportunity for athletes, coaches and parents to win prizes by showing their team pride by wearing their team jerseys or spirit wear and sharing it on social media. Also, they can learn about some of sports’ greatest traditions and how to create their own.

     

    Saturday, Oct. 29

    Play Day by NCYS invites youth sports enthusiasts in the greater Atlanta area for an in-person experience at the 1,300-acre LakePoint Sports campus in Emerson, Ga. The day will be hosted by Olympic Champion sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross and will offer participation activities for young athletes and their families in basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball and futsol.  Joining Richards-Ross will be members from the Harlem Globetrotters and Freddie Falcon from the Atlanta Falcons NFL team.  Richards-Ross also will host an autograph session.

     

    For more information on National Youth Sports Week and to register for various activities throughout the week, visit the event schedule on the SportsEngine website.

     

     

    About National Council for Youth Sports

    The mission of NCYS is to improve the safety and quality of all youth sports organizations through curating and disseminating credible resources. NCYS members comprise many of the Who’s Who in the youth sports industry. The NCYS membership includes national community-based organizations, local unaffiliated community-based organizations, National Governing Bodies, Parks & Recreation Departments and Destination Marketing Organizations. NCYS member organizations serve some 60 million youth registered in organized sports programs in every state and U.S. Territory. Learn more at https://www.ncys.org.

     

    About NBC Sports Next

    NBC Sports Next is a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to all NBCUniversal digital applications in sports and technology within its three groups: Youth & Recreational Sports, Golf, and Betting & Gaming. NBC Sports Next, known for its sports technology product innovation, equips more than 30MM players, coaches, athletes, sports administrators and fans in 40 countries with more than 25 sports solution products, including SportsEngine, a youth sports club, league and team management platform; GolfNow, the leading online tee time marketplace and provider of golf course operations technology and services; GolfPass the ultimate golf membership that connects golfers to exclusive content, tee time credits, coaching, tips and other benefits; TeamUnify, swim team management services; GoMotion, sports and fitness business software solutions; and NBC Sports Edge, a leading platform for fantasy sports information and betting-focused tools. NBC Sports Next is fueled by its mission to innovate, create larger-than-life events and connect with sports fans through technology to provide the ultimate in immersive experiences.

  • CPW celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day to honor Colorado sportspersons and their contributions to wildlife and habitat conservation

    CPW celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day to honor Colorado sportspersons and their contributions to wildlife and habitat conservation

    Colorado hunters and anglers are vital contributors to conservation efforts for nongame species

    DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife recognizes the contributions of the state’s sportspeople by celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 24. National Hunting and Fishing Day is observed annually on the fourth Saturday of September, honoring hunters and anglers for their leadership in conserving America’s wildlife and habitats.
     
    “Coloradans have a rich tradition of embracing an outdoor lifestyle and participating in recreational activities in wildlife habitats that hunting and fishing license fees help to conserve,” said CPW Acting Director Heather Dugan. “Our outdoor resources are the foundation of our strong economy and a key contributor to the Colorado way of life.” 

    In order to ensure that outdoor traditions can be passed down to future generations, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has dedicated itself to protecting critical wildlife habitats so wildlife and recreation can be enjoyed in Colorado for decades to come.

    In Colorado, hunters and anglers fund more than 70 percent of CPW’s wildlife management programs through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses, habitat stamps, as well as taxes paid on hunting and fishing equipment, firearms and ammunition. This generates millions of dollars for conservation programs that benefit both game and nongame species statewide. Recent conservation efforts include reintroducing the greenback cutthroat trout, Colorado’s state fish, to its native waters, and the reintroduction and continued monitoring of black-footed ferrets on the state’s eastern plains.

    Learn more about CPW’s conservation efforts here.

    “Hunters and anglers are one of the biggest reasons Colorado enjoys such abundant wildlife,” said Bryan Posthumus, statewide hunter outreach coordinator for CPW. “While only roughly 40 of the 960 species in Colorado are huntable, the fees from hunting and fishing licenses help conserve all wildlife in the state, including threatened and endangered species.”

    National Hunting and Fishing Day is a great opportunity to acknowledge all that our sportspeople do for conservation, and in turn, recreation in Colorado. CPW remains committed to connecting people to the great outdoors and dedicating funds to sustain state lands. Learn more about Colorado’s Outdoor Principles and how outdoor recreation can be enjoyed and balanced with thoughtful conservation. 

    Please note that National Hunting and Fishing day coincides with National Public Lands Day each year. On Sept. 24, entrance to all National Parks is free of charge, but Colorado State Parks admission will still require an annual or daily parks pass.

  • Share your love of hunting with others and win prizes doing it with CPW’s Annual Take a Friend Hunting Contest

    Share your love of hunting with others and win prizes doing it with CPW’s Annual Take a Friend Hunting Contest

    DENVER – For the fourth consecutive year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is encouraging hunters to take a friend hunting. As a reward for hunters sharing their expertise and love of hunting, CPW created a contest for mentors who take the time to pass on their knowledge, with prizes for the mentor as well as the mentee.

    “I often run into people wanting to hunt but they just don’t know how to start. Most of them just need a mentor to help out,” said CPW Hunter Outreach Coordinator Bryan Posthumus. “It is so easy to ask your friends, co-workers, or family if they want to hunt and help them get started. Quite a few started out small game hunting. Many of the hunters last year are planning on hunting with their new hunting buddy this year.”  

    Hunting has several barriers that can make getting started difficult. Equipment can be expensive and knowledge is hard to obtain. Taking your friends hunting can reduce those barriers by allowing you to share equipment and pass on the knowledge that only experience can teach. For new hunters, getting started can seem overwhelming. Encouraging a hunter to take you with them and show you the ropes can help you get started. With CPWs Take a Friend Hunting Contest, you can win a variety of prizes that will help you in future hunts.

    How it works
    If you are a hunter, take a friend hunting! If you want to learn to hunt, encourage a hunter to take you with them! Then submit a photograph and brief story of your time in the field for a chance to win a variety of hunting related prizes. Submissions will be judged by their ability to inspire and are due by Feb. 28, 2023.

    To be eligible to enter:
    Hunters must commit to mentoring an eligible new or former hunter in Colorado on at least three separate occasions. The occasions may involve any part of the mentoring process including scouting, testing/purchasing hunting gear, sighting in/practicing with hunting firearms/archery equipment, or game processing and game cooking. At least one occasion must be taking the mentee hunting. Mentor and mentee must be at least 18 yrs of age. 

    Mentors must:

    • hold a valid 2022 Colorado hunting license.
    • have held a Colorado hunting license in at least 3 of the last 5 years (2017-2021).

    Mentees must either have:

    • never had a hunting license until 2022,
    • only had a hunting license in 2021 (e.g., a second-year hunter) or
    • not had a hunting license in the past five consecutive years (i.e., since 2017).

    Contest participants must follow all applicable Colorado hunting regulations; this includes possession of all appropriate licenses. Employees of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and their immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee, are not eligible.

    Prizes
    Prizes will be awarded at the end of March to winners of the photo/narrative competition. There will be multiple winners selected for a variety of prizes. Prizes include: binoculars, headlamps, butcher kits, game calls, gift cards and more.

    All prizes are non-transferable. No substitution may be made except as provided. The winner is responsible for all taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use. Please check the CPW website for more details and an updated list of prizes!

    To learn more, see the official rules and find out more about how to Take a Friend Hunting in 2022.

  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife promotes sober boating ahead of Operation Dry Water and the holiday weekend

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife promotes sober boating ahead of Operation Dry Water and the holiday weekend

    DENVER – Boaters heading out onto the water this weekend will see additional Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers enforcing boating under the influence (BUI) laws as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign. This enforcement operation is timed closely to the July 4th holiday each year to educate boaters on the dangers of boating under the influence and reduce the number of accidents on waterways. Dangers include:

    • Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, vision and reaction time on the water, which can increase fatigue and the dangers of cold-water immersion.
    • Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion are added factors in a boating environment; all of these intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs, and some medications. A general rule to remember is that one drink on land is equivalent to three drinks on the water.
    • Alcohol can be dangerous for passengers, too. Intoxication on board can cause injuries from slips, falls overboard and other dangerous accidents.

    “Boating is a favorite pastime of Coloradans and visitors alike, but we want to make sure that everyone is enjoying their time on the water responsibly,” said Grant Brown, boating safety program manager with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Alcohol use is one of the leading contributing factors in recreational boating deaths in the country. We encourage boaters to boat smart, boat safe and boat sober.”

    Penalties for boating under the influence include receiving fines, having your boat impounded, potential jail time and the loss of boating privileges. Boaters with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level above the .08 state limit should expect to be arrested for BUI. In Colorado, Operation Dry Water operations will include increased patrols and checkpoints. 

    In Colorado, boaters must also take into account the risks that unpredictable weather can present while recreating on the water. Dangerous weather conditions include strong wind gusts that can knock a paddleboarder or kayaker into the water, and cold water temperatures that exist year-round.

    CPW advises the following boating safety tips before heading out onto the water:

    • Wear your life jacket
    • Check your boat and all required boating safety gear.
    • Avoid boating alone and tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
    • Stand-up paddleboards are considered vessels in Colorado and require a life jacket on board at all times. 
    • Protect your self from the dangers of cold water shock. Regardless of your age or experience level, cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency.

    For more information on boating safety, visit cpw.state.co.us.

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  • Outdoor safety tips for Fourth of July weekend celebrations

    Outdoor safety tips for Fourth of July weekend celebrations

    DENVER – Nature belongs to all of us, and recreating responsibly shows you care about keeping our landscapes healthy and wildlife thriving. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is sharing a few safety tips ahead of the holiday weekend to help you balance your outdoor recreation with mindful conservation.

    Be Careful with Fire

    • Colorado’s low humidity can create dry, dangerous conditions that impact if fires are allowed or restricted.
    • Check fire restrictions or bans before you go. Visit www.coemergency.com to find county-specific fire information. 
    • Avoid parking or driving on dry grass. Check your tire pressure, exhaust pipes and if chains or exposed wheel rims are dragging from your vehicle that may create sparks. 
    • Use designated campfire areas when allowed and available. 
    • Keep campfires small and manageable.
    • Put fires out with water until you can touch the embers.
    • Never leave a campfire unattended and report campfires that have been left burning.
    • Fireworks are not permitted on Front Range public lands.

    Wear a Life Jacket

    Enjoy the water, but always do so with a life jacket on – they save lives. Before going onto the water make sure you are carrying basic safety gear:

    • Wear your life jacket​
    • Check your boat and all required boating safety gear.
    • Avoid boating alone and tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
    • Boat sober. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths. 
    • Stand-up paddleboards are considered vessels in Colorado and require a life jacket on board at all times. 
    • Protect yourself from the dangers of cold water immersion and shock. Regardless of your age or experience level, cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency.

    Be Bear Aware

    Staying bear aware while on trails and when camping helps keep bears wild and reduces human-bear conflicts. For more resources and information on how to be “bear aware,” visit cpw.state.co.us.

    • Safely store food, beverages and toiletries in campsite lockers called bear boxes (if provided), in bear-proof containers away from your tent or locked in the trunk of your vehicle.
    • Keep a clean campsite. Scrape grill grates after use and clean used dishes. 
    • Never bring food or anything that smells like food into your tent. 
    • Lock cars and RVs whenever you leave your site and at night and close windows. 
    • Stay alert and respect forage areas like berry patches and oak brush.
    • Keep dogs leashed at all times.
    • NEVER feed or approach a bear. 

    Know Before You Go

      • Be aware of weather conditions, water temperatures and trail closures where you plan to visit. 
      • Camping reservations are required at Colorado State Parks. 
      • Use the CPW Park Finder to learn about outdoor activities available at each state park and visit the park’s web page to learn about park or trail closures. 
      • Tools such as COTREX provide additional outdoor opportunities in the surrounding areas if your desired trailhead, park or location is crowded or closed.
      • On a holiday weekend, expect lines and potential gate closures. Have a backup plan and please be kind to park staff and other park visitors.

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  • DENVER BRONCOS DALTON RISNER TO HOST FREE YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP 

    What: Offensive Lineman for the Denver Broncos, Dalton Risner, along with his RisnerUp Foundation will host their second annual youth football camp at Wiggins High School on July 11. This camp offers a variety of activities from life skills and educational/leadership exercises, to NFL-inspired drills. The event is open to rising 4th graders through rising 8th graders who are looking to find their inner strength. All participants will receive a t-shirt and breakfast.

    Sign up is available at https://risnerup.org/.

    When: Monday, July 11, 2022

    8:00 am – 12:00 pm

    Where: Wiggins High School

    201 Tiger Way

    Wiggins, CO 80654

    Who: Dalton Risner, Denver Broncos

    RisnerUp Foundation

    About Dalton Risner: Kansas State University alum and offensive lineman for the Denver Broncos, Dalton Risner is entering his fourth season in the NFL. After he was drafted in the second round by the Broncos in 2019, he has started in all 38 games over the past three years. However, Risner is more than just a professional football player, he has a passion for helping others after being raised in the small town of Wiggins, Colorado.

    About RisnerUp: The RisnerUp Foundation was created in hopes of bringing more love and kindness into the world. RisnerUp aims to encourage others to make a positive impact on those around them. This foundation reflects Dalton Risner’s personal values by highlighting the importance of having a positive attitude and strong work ethic in all aspects of life. To learn more, visit https://risnerup.org/ or visit on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

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  • States That Have Born the Most MVPs in American Sports History

    Springtime is one of the busiest periods on the professional sports calendar each year. Opening day for the 2022 Major League Baseball season fell on April 7 this year. The National Basketball Association and National Hockey League both end their regular seasons and begin their playoffs in April. While football fans have to wait until the fall for their teams to retake the field, many pro football obsessives eagerly anticipate the next generation of players entering the league with April’s National Football League draft.

    This exciting time for fans of the “Big Four” sports in the U.S. is increasingly becoming a worldwide phenomenon as the leagues attract more top-end international talent. Reigning American League MVP and Japan native Shohei Ohtani has revolutionized the MLB as one of the first players in generations to achieve success simultaneously as a pitcher, hitter, and fielder, while many of baseball’s other top stars, including recent MVPs like Jose Abreu and Jose Altuve, hail from Latin America.

    The last three NBA MVP awards have gone to international players—two for Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and one for Serbia’s Nikola Jokic—and a fourth looks likely, with Antetokounmpo, Jokic, and Cameroon’s Joel Embiid being the frontrunners for this year’s award. The NHL has long drawn a large portion of its player pool from Canada and Europe in addition to the U.S., and even the NFL—which has only around 3% international players—has been attempting to inspire more global interest by playing regular season games in the U.K., Mexico, and Germany.

    Despite recent growth of the Big Four sports’ international talent pool, international players still represent a small share of MVP award winners historically. The U.S. has produced 70% of all MVP award recipients, while Canada is responsible for 20.6% of winners, and all other countries combined have produced 9.4%. Only 15 countries outside of Canada and the U.S. have ever produced MVPs.


    For now, the U.S. remains the leading producer of top end talent in its major sports leagues, and some states are far ahead of the pack. In particular, California has been a hotbed for MVPs, with 47 all-time winners, nearly half of which (21) have been awarded since the year 2000. California’s recent dominance in MVPs has been fueled by all-time greats like the MLB’s Barry Bonds (7 total MVP awards) and the NFL’s Aaron Rodgers (4) and Tom Brady (3).


    In fact, California alone has produced more than 10% of all Big Four MVP winners in history. California and many of the other leading states are among the U.S. leaders in population, which increases the number of top athletes who may emerge from those states. But one state stands out for punching above its weight: Louisiana. Despite being in the middle of the pack for U.S. population, the Bayou State has produced 19 MVP awards from nine unique winners, including 10 NBA MVPs, second only to New York’s 13, and eight NFL MVPs, behind only California’s 12.


    Researchers at HotDog.com ranked U.S. states and territories according to the total number of MVP awards won by Big Four athletes born in each location. All NFL MVP awards issued since the NFL/AFL merger agreement in 1966–67 were included; all NBA MVP and NHL Hart Memorial Trophy winners were included; and all of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Most Valuable Player award winners in MLB’s AL and NL were included. In the event of a tie, the location with the greater number of unique MVP award winners was ranked higher, and recency was also factored in.

    The analysis found that Colorado-born players have won a total of 0 MVP awards throughout the history of “Big Four” American sports. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:

    • Total MVP awards: 0
    • Different MVP award winners: 0
    • Total NFL MVPs: 0
    • Total NBA MVPs: 0
    • Total MLB MVPs: 0
    • Total NHL MVPs: 0
    • Most recent award: N/A

    For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

    • Total MVP awards: 403
    • Different MVP award winners: 278
    • Total NFL MVPs: 57
    • Total NBA MVPs: 66
    • Total MLB MVPs: 183
    • Total NHL MVPs: 97
    • Most recent award: 2021

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on HotDog.com’s website: http://hotdog.com/blog/states-most-mvps/

  • Broncos return favor in grabbing rookie back from Eagles

    By ARNIE STAPLETON
    AP Pro Football Writer

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) _ The Denver Broncos host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday but the games have already begun.

    Two months after losing cornerback Mac McCain III when the Eagles plucked him from their practice squad, the Broncos on Wednesday returned the favor, signing McCain off waivers from Philadelphia.

    Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II, the ninth overall draft pick in 2021, didn’t practice Wednesday after leaving Denver’s 30-16 win at Dallas late in the fourth quarter with a sprained knee.

    Before Denver put in a waiver claim, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was asked about McCain and fellow rookie cornerback Kay Vincent Jr., a seventh-rounded draft pick the Broncos traded to the Eagles recently for a sixth-round pick even though Vincent didn’t play a snap in Denver.

    “They’re both doing well, Sirianni replied. “They’re both doing well. We did have to cut Mac yesterday just to make room on our roster for Jordan Howard, our running back. Mac was really good here. We’re hoping we get him back, to be honest with you. Mac has done a good job, especially on the scout team. He had a little bit of run in the Cowboys game when he was up, and he’s just done a good job.

    “We just felt like that’s such an important position_that cornerback position. We had an opportunity to get both those guys on our roster. We took advantage of it because they both have a lot of talent,” Sirianni added. “As I’ve gotten to know both of the guys, they’ve got high football character and (I’m) looking forward to continuing to work with those guys. We definitely just saw the talent. The preseason games particularly with Mac, and then the speed with Kary. We’re excited to have them on our roster.”

    Several hours later, Sirianni learned the Broncos (5-4) had grabbed McCain back just four days before the Eagles (3-6) visit Denver.

    McCain is a rookie from North Carolina A&T State University who signed with Denver as a college free agent in May and spent time on the Broncos’ practice squad before being signed to Philadelphia’s active roster on Sept. 7. He appeared in one game for the Eagles, logging 15 snaps on special teams in Week 3 at Dallas.

    When training camp opened, Broncos coach Vic Fangio said, “Mac’s a young guy, limited college background in what he’s been exposed to from a football standpoint. He’s learning. He’s got a long way to go to be a regular player in this league, but we like his potential.”

    The Broncos also activated tight end Noah Fant from the reserve/COVID-19 list and signed cornerback Duke Dawson Jr. to their practice squad Wednesday.

    Fant, who is second on the team with 37 catches and three touchdowns, had been on the COVID-19 list since Nov. 2.

    Dawson was activated from reserve/PUP on Monday and he’s a candidate for a roster callup this weekend. He’s played in 26 career games with the Broncos, who acquired the former 2018 second-round pick from the Patriots in 2019.

    Surtain was among a season-high nine Broncos held out of practice, including six starters. The other starters were: LT Garett Bolles (ankle), RT Bobby Massie (ankle), WR Tim Patrick (knee), DE Shelby Harris (non-COVID-19 illness) and OLB Malik Reed (hip).

    ___

    More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL