If Robert Kraft wasn’t having a bad enough week, losing out on his 13th bid to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his mood had to get worse on Sunday. The Patriots owner was on hand at Hard Rock Stadium to watch the latest Patriots debacle. Wonder how he felt watching Tua Tagovailoa shred his defense with relative ease? Or seeing Drake Maye, the new face of the franchise, run for his life on practically every pass play? Kraft couldn’t be pleased after watching the litany of mistakes, the lack of discipline that keeps showing up, and the embarrassing product that was on display, particularly in the second quarter of the 34-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins. It would be one thing if this was the exception. If it was just one bad game, or one bad quarter. But that’s not the case. Many of these same problems have plagued the team all season. Between the lack of talent on both sides of the ball, and an inexperienced coaching staff not having much in the way of fixes, it’s been a constant theme. Yes, Maye’s development has been a plus. He’s been the bright light in a sea of darkness. As Kraft knows, the quarterback means so much in the NFL, and landing Maye has been a godsend in that regard. But the Patriots boss also knows a quarterback can’t do it alone. Tom Brady had Bill Belichick. He had terrific offensive coordinators including Charlie Weis, Josh McDaniels and Bill O’Brien. He had the best offensive line coach in the business in Dante Scarnecchia. And the defensive coaches were also pretty good, even if chief mastermind Belichick got most of the credit. Through two decades, Brady also had enough talent with him on offense, defense and special teams to win six Super Bowls. The GOAT also had offensive lines that kept him safe enough to make plays. What exactly does Maye have? Hopefully Robert and Jonathan Kraft have a firm grip on the answer to that question. Because Maye is pretty much lacking in all of those vital areas. There’s still five games to play, and the outlook could change, but right now, the picture is grim. Let’s start with coaching. After sending Belichick on his way, Kraft put his faith in Jerod Mayo to lead the team into the next chapter. Mayo was his hand-picked successor. Everyone knew it wasn’t going to be easy following a legend. And that task became even more daunting given the roster Mayo inherited. Kraft might not be inclined to part with Mayo after one season under those circumstances, but he needs to take a good look at the overall operation. Mayo, does, too. Sunday’s loss in Miami was a massive step backward. Twelve weeks in, this is supposed to be about making progress, not heading in the opposite direction. Between the repeat mistakes, the lack of discipline, and players not knowing what to do (Kyle Dugger was completely lost out there trying to decipher all of the Dolphins motion), Mayo has to decide if this is the group of coaches — on both sides of the ball — he’s going to be comfortable with going forward. And that’s assuming he’s still here. Are these coaches putting the players in the best position to win every week? They had no answers for Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday. There were no fixes to slow down Jaylen Waddle (8 catches, 144 yards, 1 TD) or old friend Jonnu Smith (9 catches, 87 yards, 1 TD). Offensively, Maye continues to be hindered by the players around him, and an overly-cautious play-caller, and by extension, head coach. Kraft has reportedly already reached out to league connections for advice on the best way to support Maye, and what needs to be done. After the loss, Mayo pointed a finger at the players: “Look, once those guys cross the white lines, there’s nothing I can do for them. There’s nothing any coach can do for them once they cross the white line.” Granted, having two starting tackles who are overmatched practically every week isn’t a recipe for success. So they try to get a jump — hence all the false starts — or hold to try and give Maye some time. Is that coaching? But how is it, that the group still can’t figure out how to handle a stunt? The amount of free rushers coming in on Maye — at this stage — is mind-blowing. The offensive line in general has been a huge failure. That brings us to de facto GM Eliot Wolf. He certainly has the pedigree to be a good general manager. Whether he actually becomes one is another story. He was here during Belichick’s regime. Ditto Matt Groh. While the roster failures are on largely Belichick, both Wolf and Groh were heavily involved in personnel under the former coach and chief decision-maker. Wolf’s first foray into free agency hasn’t been anything to brag about. His first draft class, discounting Maye, already looks like a bust. After quarterback, two of the team’s biggest needs — left tackle, No. 1 receiver — weren’t sufficiently addressed in either the draft or free agency. Can Kraft live with more missteps going forward? Along with Mayo, how much rope is he willing to give the front office? There’s five games left to play. The team is 3-9, and once again in the hunt for a top draft pick. We’ll see soon enough how the team finishes, and where the Krafts stand. Maye has the talent and ability to be a star. Rams coach Sean McVay raved about him last week. So did Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel after Sunday’s game. Maybe it’s a bit of lip service, but McDaniel said he wasn’t looking forward to facing him in the future. “I think when you’re able to be a pocket passer but then extend plays and make teams pay when you’re in man coverage or two man, it’s a problem,” McDaniel said. “He’ll continue to make plays as he gets better and better in the pocket. It’s a guy that honestly, I’m not really rooting for his development, being in the division, but I can appreciate the player, and they have a very good player to work with at that position. We’ll continue to have to be on our stuff.” McDaniel won’t have to worry if the Patriots don’t — at the very least — surround Maye with more talent. After the game, Patriots defensive lineman Davon Godchaux advocated patience. Rebuilds take time. “There’s going to be ups and downs. Nobody got it in a day. Rome wasn’t built in a day. The Patriots organization under Jerod Mayo is not going to be built in a day,” Godchaux said. “It’s going to take adversity. It’s going to take bumps and bruises. It’s what (Mayo) has got to go through as a head coach. It’s what we have to learn from, him being a head coach and us being players for him, to just go through adversity and get better. Nobody is pointing fingers. Nobody is blaming anybody.” In the end, assigning blame remains up to ownership. From the coaching staff, to the people assembling the talent, it’s on the Krafts to decide what’s working, and what isn’t. Spending is also their call. They’re going to have a ton of cap space and plenty of money to invest in players heading into next season. That’s also part of this process. Before it gets to that stage, they need to decide if the people they have making the football decisions, picking the groceries, making the game plans and in-game adjustments are up to the task. Having Maye will be a waste if the Patriots can’t make it right with the personnel around him.
All that is needed for an agreement on crossings is political will, UNSG Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Colin Stewart, said on Tuesday at the end-of-year reception held at Ledra Palace in the presence of President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar. The opening of new crossing points would benefit people on both sides of the island, would strengthen intra-island interdependence, building positive conditions for a settlement, and create positive momentum for the next steps, he added. Stewart also said that preparations for an informal meeting in a larger format which will bring together the two leaders and the guarantor powers under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, are already under discussion at the UN headquarters. During the event, the two leaders talked for about 15 minutes , with Christodoulides asking the Turkish Cypriot leader to arrange a meeting. In his speech, Stewart said the traditional end of the year reception under the auspices of the Secretary General’s Good offices mission in Cyprus was also “an opportunity” to bring the two leaders together in a festive social setting, together with their teams, the diplomatic community, a broad spectrum of civil society, both sides of the island and United Nations staff. This gathering, he added, “is also a chance to take stock of what it’s been achieved in the past year in the name of a better future for Cyprus”. “I’m happy to say that while the world around Cyprus continues to go through unprecedented challenges, we are witnessing some new glimmers of hope”, Stewart said. “As you all know, in the first half of the year, a new personal envoy of the Secretary General, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, engaged actively with the parties and other key interlocutors”, he said. Building on this work, he added, the Secretary-General hosted an informal dinner in New York on October 15 for the two leaders. “This is the first time that these two leaders have met under the Secretary General’s auspices”, Stewart noted, adding that they agreed with the Secretary-General to start exploring the opening of new crossing points, “and I’m happy to note that in our initial discussions with the representatives of the leaders, we have noted a new energy, a new optimism, a new commitment to finding an agreement ”. “In fact, there was so much optimism at the beginning, we thought we would have an announcement for you here tonight. But these things take a little while. Nothing of this sort is ever quick and easy, but I’m hopeful”, he added. He expressed the belief that agreement on crossings was “doable in a way that is beneficial to both sides”, noting that all that is needed “as always, is the political will”. “The other important thing that was agreed by the two leaders was to meet again informally in a larger format which will bring together the two leaders and the guarantor powers under the auspices of the Secretary-General, for crucial discussion on the way forward”, Stewart said, adding that preparations for such a meeting are already under discussion at the UN headquarters. He also noted that 2024 has been “a landmark year” for the United Nations in Cyprus. “The 60th anniversary of the United Nations Peacekeeping and mediation presence in Cyprus was an unhappy anniversary in a year of unhappy anniversaries”, he said, adding that, all of which remind us that a settlement of the Cyprus issue, “is long overdue”. Stewart also referred to the work of the Technical Committees noting that, “as always” they have been working “quietly throughout the year on a number of good projects”. He noted, among other things, the work of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the completion of restoration work on a number of sites, on both sides of the divide. Stewart also said that the Technical Committee on Health continues to collaborate on diseases carried by mosquitoes, while the Veterinary subcommittee is now actively looking for ways to allow personal pets to be brought through the Green Line.
Bankwell financial director Carl Porto acquires $6,580 in stock
Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to a ceasefire with HezbollahRichards added five rebounds for the Mocs (5-3). Trey Bonham shot 4 of 11 from the field, including 2 for 8 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 7 from the line to add 15 points. Sean Cusano went 5 of 7 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with 13 points. Earl Timberlake led the Bulldogs (4-4) in scoring, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists. Bryant also got 16 points from Rafael Pinzon. Jakai Robinson finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler brought a new putting grip to the Hero World Challenge and felt enough improvement to be satisfied with the result, a 5-under 67 that left him three shots behind Cameron Young on Thursday. Young was playing for the first time since the BMW Championship more than three months ago and found great success on and around the greens of Albany Golf Club, chipping beautifully and holing four birdie putts from 15 feet or longer for his 64. He led by two shots over Justin Thomas in his first competition since his daughter was born a few weeks ago. Thomas ran off four straight birdies late in his round and was a fraction of an inch away with a fifth. The big surprise was Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf who looked as good as he has all year in compiling eight victories, including an Olympic gold medal. His iron play has no equal. His putting at times has kept him from winning more or winning bigger. He decided to try to a “saw” putting grip from about 20 feet or closer — the putter rests between his right thumb and his fingers, with his left index finger pointed down the shaft. “I’m always looking for ways to improve,” Scheffler said. Scheffler last year began working with renowned putting instructor Phil Kenyon, and he says Kenyon mentioned the alternative putting grip back then. “But it was really our first time working together and it’s something that’s different than what I’ve done in the past,” Scheffler said. “This year I had thought about it from time to time, and it was something that we had just said let’s table that for the end of the season, take a look at it. “Figured this is a good week to try stuff.” He opened with a wedge to 2 feet and he missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 third. But he holed a birdie from about the same distance at the next par 5, No. 6, and holed a sliding 6-footer on the ninth to save par. His longest putt was his last hole, from 12 feet for a closing birdie. “I really enjoyed the way it felt,” he said. “I felt like I’m seeing some improvements in my stroke.” Young, regarded as the best active player without a PGA Tour victory, is treating this holiday tournament as the start of a new season. He worked on getting stronger and got back to the basics in his powerful golf swing. And on this day, he was dialed in with his short game. He only struggled to save par twice and kept piling up birdies in his bogey-free round on an ideal day in the Bahamas. “The wind wasn’t blowing much so it was relatively stress-free,” Young said. Patrick Cantlay, along with Scheffler playing for the first time since the Presidents Cup, also was at 67 with Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala. Thomas also took this occasion to do a little experimenting against a 20-man field. He has using a 46-inch driver at home — a little more than an inch longer than his regular driver — in a bid to gain more speed. On a day with little wind, on a golf course with some room off the tee, he decided to put it in play. “Just with it being a little bit longer, I just kind of have to get the club out in front of me and get on top of it a little bit more,” Thomas said. “I drove the hell out of it on the back, so that was nice to try something different and have it go a little bit better on the back.” Thomas said the longer driver gives him 2 or 3 mph in ball speed and 10 extra yards in the air. “It’s very specific for courses, but gave it a try,” he said. Conditions were easy enough that only four players in field failed to break par, with Jason Day bringing up the rear with a 75. ___ AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
