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Heading into the 2022 NFL season, the expectation is that defensive end Yannick Ngakoue will be the new top edge rusher for the Indianapolis Colts. After all, he’s recorded more sacks (8.0) in each of his six NFL seasons than any Colts defender posted last year (7.0).

But there’s one other edge defender that shouldn’t be forgotten about in Indianapolis. Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said as much when talking about 2021 first-round pick Kwity Paye.

“I believe with Kwity, a guy the way he goes, he can be the guy,” Bradley told the media on August 16. “But I think also because of the second effort, it’s going to give him some opportunities.”

Paye started slowly as a rookie, but he eventually carved out a significant role by Week 7. He posted 32 combined tackles, including 3 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits and 4.0 sacks in his first NFL season.

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Paye’s Second Effort Making the Difference

Bradley was pretty complimentary of Paye while speaking to reporters on August 16. He called the 23-year-old “very physical” and “tough-minded.” Bradley also added that he trusts Paye.

Interestingly, Bradley concluded that all of those positive traits stem from his best asset — his effort.

“He’s got a good skillset in there and because of his effort, a lot of his sacks come on [the] second effort,” said Bradley.

The defensive coordinator says the percentage of sacks that come from second effort are “real high,” in the NFL. But with quarterbacks such as Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson on the 2022 schedule for Indianapolis, Paye’s second effort will be even more important.

“Some of the [quarterbacks] we are going to face this year have that ability to extend plays,” Bradley said. “That’s where the second effort part comes in.”

High Expectations for Paye

Bradley is hardly the only one to have noticed Paye’s effort.

“The cool thing about Kwity is he’s a real high-motor guy,” an NFL executive told Heavy senior NFL reporter Matt Lombardo. “No one really is talking about him, but if he …read more

Source:: Heavy.com

SAN JOSE – A San Jose fire captain is navigating a new reality after losing all three of his children in a traffic collision Sunday near Hollister.

Capt. Steve Biakanja’s twin 14-year-old daughters Leigh and Lucy and 12-year-old son Ben were killed in the crash, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser organized by San Jose Fire Station 16. The collision also claimed the life of his ex-wife, Lisa Biakanja.

“In the wake of great tragedy, San Jose Fire Station 16 is asking for your support to raise funds for Captain Steve Biakanja as he navigates a new reality following the recent deaths of all three of his children in a terrible auto accident,” the GoFundMe page said.

San Jose fire Capt. Steve Biakanja’s three teenage children and ex-wife were killed in a traffic collision near Hollister on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. San Jose Fire Station 16 has organized a Go Fund Me fundraiser to raise money to help cover funeral expenses. 

“With your help, we can do our best to ease the burden of this tragedy and to honor the memory of his beloved children.”

The funds will be used to cover the children’s funeral costs, as well as counseling, meals and other forms of support for Biakanja and his wife, Thuan, according to the page.

The collision occurred at 8:05 p.m. Sunday on State Route 156 west of Fairview Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. In a statement, the CHP said a 2014 Tesla was traveling eastbound on the highway when it crossed over the solid double yellow lines and crashed into a 2015 Freightliner traveling in the opposite direction.

The four occupants of the Tesla – identified as residents of Carmel Valley – suffered fatal injuries, according to the CHP.

The CHP said the driver of the tractor-trailer, identified as a 39-year-old Madera man, was taken to Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister with minor injuries.

An investigation is underway into the crash, and it was not immediately known if drugs or alcohol played a role, the CHP said.

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Source:: The Mercury News

The rollout of NASA’s new rocket in Florida, drought and wildfires in southern Europe, a view of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, a bridge collapse in Norway, the aftermath of missile attacks in Ukraine, Independence Day in Indonesia, a presidential election in Kenya, a surf competition in Panama, and much more

…read more

Source:: The Atlantic – Best of

Not all Boston Celtics players are created equal. Sure, there are the Larry Birds, Paul Pierces, and (potentially) Jayson Tatums of the world, but not every player who dons the green and white has the chance to be immortalized in Boston legend. In fact, most never get that chance.

This past year alone, 28 different players suited up for the Celtics. Few of them earned regular rotational minutes, and even fewer have the chance to enshrine their names in Celtics lore. But they are all Celtics. It will forever say that they played for Boston, and they will always be considered a Celtic (at least, for a brief moment in time).

And one of those players, who was, at least briefly, a member of the Celtics, has now been linked to the team’s greatest rival – the Los Angeles Lakers. According to sources who spoke with Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, former Celtics wing Nik Stauskas could be a potential Lakers target this summer.

“They could look at other veteran guys, too, like E’Twaun Moore or Nik Stauskas. I think they’d be more likely to take a gamble than take a guy who’s a one-way player and can’t stay on the floor,” a Western Conference executive told Deveney.

That circus three from Stauskas was special pic.twitter.com/pOIta7bb1l

— Celtics Lab Podcast (@CelticsLab) March 17, 2022

Though he only suited up for eight games with the Celtics, it would still be another case of a former Bostonian going to suit up for their cross-country rivals. But why would Staukas draw interest from Los Angeles?

Stauskas’ Potential Fit With Lakers

Last season, the Lakers were the laughing stock of the NBA. They filled their roster with wily veterans and landed Russell Westbrook, forming a Big 3 of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the star point guard. But that didn’t really work out for them.

Thanks to a multitude of injury issues, a lack of floor spacing, and subpar defense, they ended up missing the Play-In Tournament entirely. However, they’ve taken a different approach this offseason, and Stauskas would fit their gameplan.

Instead of signing a bunch of veterans who seem to be entering the final years of their respective careers, Los Angeles has signed younger players with something to prove. Guys like Troy Brown Jr., Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Thomas Bryant should fit in nicely with their core.

Considering Stauskas hasn’t found a consistent home in years, he would fit …read more

Source:: Heavy.com