Lions sign OL Evan Brown to practice squad, release Beau BenzschawelLions sign OL Evan Brown to practice squad, release Beau Benzschawel
Brown played for the Cleveland Browns earlier in 2020
Day: December 4, 2020
What could the Giants’ offense look like with Colt McCoy starting under center?What could the Giants’ offense look like with Colt McCoy starting under center?
The Giants offense was just beginning to click — a little — and so was second-year quarterback Daniel Jones. He was playing better. Probably not quite at the "elite level" his coaches described, but he and the offense were definitely improving at exactly the right time.
Wentz takes accountability, impresses teammatesWentz takes accountability, impresses teammates
Eagles QB Carson Wentz took accountability for his struggles during an address to the team this week, a gesture that is resonating well in the locker room as Philadelphia looks to snap its three-game losing streak Sunday against the Packers.
Twelve dynamic teams announced for QBE ShootoutTwelve dynamic teams announced for QBE Shootout
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on November 19, 2020. Tournament host Greg Norman announced today the 12 two-man teams for the 2020 QBE Shootout. This year's tournament will be held December 9 – 13 and will celebrate its 20th year at Tiburon Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. The QBE Shootout will welcome 16 of the top 50 ranked players in the world to Naples including world #13 Daniel Berger, #14 and U.S. Open runner-up Matthew Wolff, #19 Tony Finau and #20 Louis Oosthuizen. Seven QBE Shootout participants finished inside the top 25 at last week's Masters Tournament including world #27 Cameron Smith, who finished T2. Smith also set a Masters' record by becoming the first player to shoot all four rounds in the 60s. World #22 Abraham Ancer, #26 Marc Leishman and #38 Kevin Na all finished tied for 13th place while Cameron Champ and Sebastian Muñoz had strong showings with a four-way tie for 19th. The 32nd edition of the Shootout will feature eight new teams competing for the $3.6 million purse. The four returning teams include defending champions Rory Sabbatini and Kevin Tway; Harris English and Matt Kuchar, a team that has claimed victory at the Shootout in 2013 and 2016; Ryan Palmer and Harold Varner III as well as Billy Horschel and Brendon Todd; both teams finished T3 last year. "I couldn't be more pleased with the collection of players heading to Tiburon Golf Club this year. We have one of the strongest fields in the event's history and that has led to 12 incredible pairings," Tournament Host Greg Norman said. "The competition will be fierce this year, so I'm looking forward to an exciting three days of golf for our global television audience to enjoy." Sungjae Im has withdrawn from the tournament and has been replaced by Na. Golf Channel will broadcast Friday's first round competition and the final two rounds will be featured live on both Golf Channel and NBC. The QBE Shootout will once again showcase a scramble format during the first round, a modified alternate shot format on Saturday and a final round better ball on Sunday. CureSearch for Children's Cancer will continue to be the tournament's primary charitable beneficiary. Since 1989, the Shootout has raised more than $14 million for charitable causes. For the latest QBE Shootout news and information, visit the official tournament website at www.qbeshootout.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @QBEshootout. Below is a snapshot of the 12 teams: Rory Sabbatini – Kevin Tway (Combined seven PGA TOUR wins and 2019 QBE Shootout) Sabbatini will be playing in his eleventh Shootout and Tway his second. In addition to his win, Sabbatini finished runner-up in both 2011 and 2012 with two different partners. They will attempt to become the first team since 2004 to successfully defend its QBE Shootout title. Louis Oosthuizen – Bubba Watson (26 worldwide wins including three major Championships) The South African will be playing in his first Shootout while Watson will be making his sixth appearance. Watson defeated Oosthuizen in a playoff to win the first of his two Masters in 2012. The only time these two faced each other in a Presidents Cup was 2015 when Oosthuizen and Branden Grace defeated Watson and J.B. Holmes in four ball. Harris English – Matt Kuchar (11 PGA TOUR wins and two QBE Shootout wins as a team) Playing together for the first time since 2017, Kuchar and English will partner for the sixth time. One of the most successful pairings in Shootout history, this team has won twice (2013, 2016) and also has two runner-up finishes (2014, 2015). The duo holds the tournament record for largest margin of victory, which was seven strokes when they won in 2013. Daniel Berger – Steve Stricker (15 PGA TOUR wins and two QBE Shootout wins) Paired together for the first time. Stricker won the 2011 Shootout with Jerry Kelly and the 2017 title with Sean O'Hair. Stricker, the current U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, snapped a streak of eleven consecutive appearances from 2008 through 2018 last year when he served as Assistant Captain of the U.S. Presidents Cup team. Berger is making his third start and first since 2017 when he and Gary Woodland finished T4. Sebastian Muñoz – Joaquin Niemann (Both secured first PGA TOUR title in 2019) This pairing marks the first Latin American team in Shootout history; Muñoz representing Colombia and Niemann representing Chile. One of the young gun teams this year, both are in their 20s. The last time a rookie team won the Shootout was Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele in 2011. Abraham Ancer – Matthew Wolff (Two worldwide wins) Ancer, age 27 and Wolff, 21, is the youngest team in the Shootout and they also boast the highest combined world ranking in the field. This will be Ancer's first appearance while Wolff returns after finishing 6th last year with Viktor Hovland. Ancer, currently ranked #22 in the world, was the first Mexican player to crack the top 50 in the world in 2019 and the first Mexican player to participate in the Presidents Cup. Billy Horschel – Brendon Todd (Eight PGA TOUR wins) This team finished T3 last year. Horschel will be making his eighth consecutive start and Todd his second. Both players qualified for the TOUR Championship in September. During the 2019-2020 season, they combined for ten top-10 finishes. Ryan Palmer – Harold Varner III (Five worldwide wins) Playing together for the second straight year, having finished T3 last year. Both are making their third start in the QBE Shootout. Palmer has skyrocketed up the world golf rankings in 2020 from 91 to start the year to currently 31. Marc Leishman – Cameron Smith (16 worldwide wins) This Australian duo is another rookie team in the Shootout. It is also the first all-Australian team since 2005 when Steve Elkington and Greg Norman played together. Ten years separate these two with Leishman, age 37 and Smith, 27. Cameron Champ – Tony Finau (Three PGA TOUR wins) Regarded as two of the longest hitters on TOUR, Champ and Finau are back at the QBE Shootout after missing the 2019 event and will be paired together for the first time. Both finished in the top 10 at the PGA Championship and by season's end were qualified for the TOUR Championship. Lanto Griffin – Mackenzie Hughes (Two PGA TOUR wins) Another rookie team to the Shootout. Hughes was the first rookie in 20 years to win wire-to-wire when he won the 2016 RSM Classic, in only his fifth PGA TOUR start. Griffin earned his first TOUR victory at the 2019 Houston Open in his 33rd start. Kevin Na – Sean O'Hair (Eight PGA TOUR wins and two QBE Shootout wins) O'Hair, a two-time champion, returns for his 10th consecutive appearance. O'Hair has won at Tiburon with two different partners so it could be a good sign for Na, who is making his second appearance. Na finished T3 in 2018 with Bryson DeChambeau.
NHL shifting focus to Jan. 15 start dateNHL shifting focus to Jan. 15 start date
It seems the NHL and NHLPA had some meaningful discussions over the past few days.
Vote of confidence: Politicians eye Saleh for LionsVote of confidence: Politicians eye Saleh for Lions
A group of Michigan state legislators have penned a letter to Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp asking her to hire 49ers defensive coordinator and Michigan native Robert Saleh as the new head coach in Detroit.
Is the NFL jobbing the Pittsburgh Steelers?Is the NFL jobbing the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Eric Ebron saying the league is “trying to see us fail” might be overselling it, but if there ever was a team that could play the disrespect card, it's the 2020 Steelers.
Haas strengthens Ferrari ties with Resta moveHaas strengthens Ferrari ties with Resta move
Chassis engineering head Simone Resta is moving from Ferrari to the Haas Formula One team in a strengthening of technical ties after the U.S.-owned team signed Mick Schumacher for next season.
Tony Finau finds form with new putter setupTony Finau finds form with new putter setup
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico - During the 2020 FedExCup Playoffs, Tony Finau began "messing around" with a new shaft placement on his Piretti Elite putter, as a training aid to help combat a tendency of missing left on right-to-left putts. Utilizing the same putter head, the shaft adjustment increases the loft from 3 to 4 degrees, with the shaft slightly back of the head. RELATED: Full leaderboard This week, Finau decided to put the once-training aid into play, and it's paying dividends. Finau has opened the Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN in rounds of 67-66, sharing the lead at 9-under through the morning wave at El Camaleon GC. The Utah native has hit just 22 of 36 greens in regulation - ranking in the back half of the field - but has moved into contention via up-and-down prowess, as well as maximizing birdie opportunities. He's averaging 1.5 putts per green in regulation, and he has recorded just three bogeys through 36 holes. "It's always nice to see the ball go in," said Finau after signing his scorecard early Friday afternoon. "I've had a lot of one-putts this week, and a lot of great par-saves. I think that's been the story for me these first couple of days ... I'm making birdies on the holes that I'm hitting it close, but whenever I'm missing the green or out of play, I'm getting it up by the green and I'm getting it up-and-down. "So that's extremely important if you want to stay in contention." Finau admits he is "no stranger to changing the putting grip or changing the putter," and figured this week represented as good a time as any to change things up. The 31-year-old has recorded three top-five finishes since the Return to Golf in June, and is 4-for-4 in made cuts to begin the 2020-21 TOUR campaign, but said the putter "hadn't felt great for the past couple of months." He entered the Mayakoba Golf Classic at No. 95 this season in Strokes Gained: Putting, and believed there was ample room for improvement. "I think it's a good thing and a good look for me," said Finau. "I usually putt with a standard loft; this one has a little bit more. Same grip, but quite a different look." Same stroke, as well? "I'm not 100 percent sure," he said. "But I know I'm rolling it nicely, and that's the most important thing." Finau has utilized his Piretti Elite putter head since 2017, and he has maintained a consistent presence on leaderboards in that span. He has finished sixth, seventh and 17th in the past three FedExCups, respectively. But he's still chasing his first TOUR title since the 2016 Puerto Rico Open. With 40 top-10s on TOUR, the game is there. Sometimes the line between winning and a close call can be razor-thin. A new look with the flat stick could prove the difference. "I just felt like it was time for a change," Finau said. "My body feels good, my game feels good. Anytime I'm putting it nicely, I think that's always a great feeling. "I know the putter felt good in my hand, and anytime it missed, it hit the hole, so that's usually a good sign. I'll definitely take that confidence going into the weekend."