Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Michael Penix, J.

The chances of four quarterbacks going in the top ten of the NFL Draft is thought to be fairly high. Could it be possible for a fifth to do the same?

Some evaluators believe things could be trending that way, at least according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. In Schefter’s latest draft notes column, he says some are speculating that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. could go as high as No. 8 overall to the Atlanta Falcons.

Most mock drafts have had Penix going in the middle of the first round at best. The suggestion of him potentially going in the top ten is a new one, and potentially a huge reach in the eyes of some evaluators. The Falcons certainly profile as a team that would like to add a quarterback, but the top tier options are likely to be off the board by the time they pick at No. 8.

On the other hand, there is certainly an undercurrent of support for Penix, who has seemingly impressed teams with his pre-draft workouts. A potential landing spot in the first round had been looking more likely, but one has to wonder if even his backers think it would be a reach to pick him that high.

CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND – JULY 22: Tiger Woods of the United States acknowledges the crowds after holing a par putt on the ninth hole during the final round of the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 22, 2018 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods to receive $100m equity payment for staying loyal to PGA Tour

Tiger Woods will today receive an email from Sawgrass HQ informing him that he will receive up to $100 million in equity for staying loyal to the PGA Tour, with Rory McIlroy benefitting possibly to the tune of $50M for not joining LIV Golf.

Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, will press the button on the ultra-personal messages that have been eagerly awaited since Strategic Sports Group — a consortium of US investors led by Liverpool FC owner Fenway Sports — pumped $1.5 billion into PGA Tour Enterprises, the new for-profit company, three months ago.

Dak Prescott

Dak Prescott quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott was blamed for another failure of the Dallas Cowboys after an unexpected loss in the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers. With no Super Bowl to show for, owner Jerry Jones answered by not giving him a long awaited contract extension.

Furthermore, considering many salary cap issues, the Cowboys haven’t made big splashes in free agency and lost key players such as running back Tony Pollard and offensive tackle Tyron Smith.

Now, when the entire NFL is watching his situation unfold, Prescott sent a clear message to the Dallas Cowboys. If negotiations aren’t successful, he is absolutely ready to leave in 2025.

I’m not going to say I fear being here or not. I don’t fear either situation, to be candid with you. I love this game and love to play and love to better myself as a player and my teammates around me. Right now it’s with the Dallas Cowboys. It’s where I want to be and that’s where I am and that’s the focus. And, after this season, we’ll see where we’re at and if the future holds that. And then, if not, we’ll go from there.”

Kenny Anderson

Former NBA All-Star Kenny Anderson has resigned as head men’s basketball coach at Fisk University after five seasons at the helm, per an announcement on Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I will enjoy my life, but I will miss everyone at Fisk University,” Anderson posted Saturday morning. “I have been here for five years and truly love it. My daughter graduated from here! I don’t know what else to say!”

Anderson, 53, took over as men’s basketball coach to turn the program around. The 2023-24 season was his most successful as the Bulldogs finished the season 14-16, losing to Dillard in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference semifinals.

Anderson’s career record at Fisk stands at 43-95 overall and 25-34 in GCAC play.

Anderson played 15 seasons in the NBA, including making the Eastern Conference All-Star team as a member of the New Jersey Nets in 1994.

OJ Simpson

 No matter what you think,  if he done it or not, he was acquitted!  LONG before the Bronco chase gripped a national television audience and the “Trial of the Century” captivated the country, OJ Simpson was making his mark on the football field and television.

The Juice was the best running back of his era during an 11-year NFL career mostly played with the Buffalo Bills. Everybody tuned in on Sundays to watch ” The Juice-No. 32,.”  He won a national championship and a Heisman Trophy in college and set records in the NFL and became one of the first Blacks to get commercials running through airports as a Hertz spokesman.  Simpson also was the first to be a Sports analyst on a network.  But Simpson’s accomplishments on the field were overshadowed and his image was forever ruined by alleged charges that he killed his former wife and her male friend in 1994. Though he was acquitted of murder,  the acquittal set the country into a racial divide. Blacks and Whites were at war with the decision. Simpson was later found liable for the deaths in a separate civil case.

The verdict tarnished Simpson’s  legacy that resulted in a muted reaction to the news of his death last Thursday. He wasn’t acknowledged publicly by the NFL, the Bills or the San Francisco 49ers, where he played his final two seasons. An ill-advised Caitlin Jenner tweeted “Good Riddance” which sparked an outcry by Nightcap Shannon “Unc”  Sharp and Chad “Ocho”  Johnson stating “foul”.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame issued a statement attributed to its President Jim Porter that said: “OJ Simpson was the first player to reach a rushing mark many thought could not be attained in a 14-game season when he topped 2,000 yards. His on-field contributions will be preserved in the Hall’s archives in Canton, Ohio.”

Simpson’s name remains on the Bills’ Wall of Fame, which rings the inside of Highmark Stadium, known as Rich Stadium during his playing days. That could change in a few years when the Bills move into a new stadium set to open across the street in 2026. Fans previously petitioned the team to remove Simpson’s name from the wall.

Otherwise, there are very few reminders of Simpson’s time playing in Buffalo. No statues. Many of his teammates and friends have moved away or died.

Ja Morant 

In a win for Ja Morant, a Tennessee judge ruled Monday that the Memphis Grizzlies superstar fairly raised self-defense in a lawsuit filed by a teenager he punched in July 2022, according to a court filing obtained by ESPN.

The ruling comes after a December 2023 civil immunity hearing in Memphis, where Morant testified that he “swung first” at Joshua Holloway, then 17, to protect himself during an altercation that led to Holloway filing a September 2022 lawsuit accusing Morant of assault.

The altercation came about during a pickup basketball game. Holloway, allegedly frustrated by losing several games, was accused of throwing a one-handed pass at Morant during a check-ball situation.

The ball hit Morant in the face, after which Morant said Holloway took a step toward him and that he then stepped forward and punched Holloway.

After that blow, Morant’s friend, Davonte Pack, punched Holloway — an act for which Pack was later arrested for misdemeanor assault. The charge against Pack was later dismissed.

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Ja Morant