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Dolphins bolster secondary, take CB Cam Smith in NFL draft

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins added depth to their secondary by selecting South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith with the 51st pick of the NFL draft Friday night.Smith — a prospect that some experts felt had first-round talent — had six interceptions and 3.5 tackles for loss during his career with the Gamecocks. He’s joining a Dolphins secondary that was decimated by injuries last season, which played a role in Miami finishing 27th in passing defense in 2022.This offseason, the Dolphins fired defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, brought in Vic Fangio to lead the defense and traded for former Rams All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.The selection is a bit of a surprise for the Dolphins, who could have added a tight end, offensive lineman or running back with their first pick of the draft. Miami will pick again at No. 84 in the third round.The Dolphins did not have a first-round pick after forfeiting one when an NFL investigation found they violated the league’s antitamper...

Outspoken abortion provider LeRoy ‘Lee’ Carhart dies at 81

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

LeRoy “Lee” Carhart, who emerged from a two-decade career in the Air Force to become one of the best-known late-term abortion providers in the United States, has died. He was 81.Carhart died Friday, according to Clinics for Abortions & Reproductive Excellence in Bellevue, Nebraska, where he was the medical director. His cause of death was not released by the clinic.Carhart began focusing on abortions after retiring from the Air Force in 1985. He was one of only a handful of late-term abortion providers in the U.S. and was among the most vocal. “Lee had a very simple belief that patients know what is best for their life plan and was there to support them,” the clinic’s statement said. “His lifelong commitment to serving patients seeking abortion services will be continued by his staff and doctors at both Maryland and Nebraska CARE locations.” He founded his first clinic specializing in abortion in 1992 with a mission to provide abortion care in a compassionate, comfortable ...

Rams take TCU’s Steve Avila to help rebuild offensive line

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

TARZANA, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams were gutted by injuries on the offensive line last season, ultimately using 13 different starting combinations in 17 games. They looked to address those issues by selecting TCU guard Steve Avila in the second round with the 36th overall pick of the NFL draft on Friday night.Avila played every position except left tackle during his five seasons with the Horned Frogs, earning consensus All-America honors at left guard as a redshirt senior in 2022.“I couldn’t really tell you where the versatility comes from,” Avila said in a video teleconference from Fort Worth, Texas. “I know it started right when I got to college because that whole year I was playing right tackle for the scout team. … It’s great, you know, for an organization that can have an offensive lineman that can move around, and I take very much pride in doing so.”A key piece up front during TCU’s unexpected run to the College Football Playoff title game, which it lost to Georgia, Av...

Steelers bring CB Joey Porter Jr. home in NFL draft

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joey Porter Jr. is going home.The Pittsburgh Steelers selected the Penn State cornerback and Pittsburgh native with the first pick in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night.The Steelers addressed a need with their second selection of the second round by taking defensive tackle Keeanu Benton out of Wisconsin.Benton will likely be given time to develop behind a group that includes longtime captain Cam Heyward.It won’t be that way for Porter. The son of former Steelers linebacker and assistant coach Joey Porter Sr., played high school football in Pittsburgh’s northern suburbs before spending four seasons with the Nittany Lions. The 22-year-old joins a cornerback group in need of an influx of youth and talent. While the Steelers signed veteran Patrick Peterson during the offseason, they also Cam Sutton to Detroit in free agency.The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Porter gives the Steelers a defender with size and the skills necessary to play in a scheme that...

Patriots take Georgia Tech’s Keion White in NFL draft

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots added one of the most agile edge rushers in this year’s NFL draft class, selecting Georgia Tech’s Keion White with the 46th overall pick on Friday night.White began his career at Old Dominion as a tight end before transferring to the Yellow Jackets and moving to defense. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder had 17 1/2 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss last season.He is still learning the position, giving him a lot of room to master different techniques as a professional.It was the first of New England’s two picks on the second day of the draft. The Patriots entered Friday also holding the 76th overall pick in the third round — one of 11 remaining picks they had. A trade with the Steelers on Thursday gave New England a fourth-round pick (120th overall).On Thursday, the Patriots moved back three spots in the first round and selected former Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the 17th pick.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https:...

Packers take TE Musgrave, WR Reed in 2nd round of NFL draft

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers got a couple weapons for new starting quarterback Jordan Love by selecting Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave and Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night.Green Bay chose Musgrave with the 42nd overall selection, a pick they acquired in the trade that sent four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.The Packers also entered the night with the No. 45 selection in the draft, but they sent that to Detroit in a trade that brought them the No. 48 choice and a fifth-round pick. They then moved down two more spots and got a sixth-round pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before taking Reed at No. 50.Green Bay entered this draft needing to find more targets for Love, who had made just one start while backing up Rodgers the last three seasons.Although Green Bay drafted three receivers last year – North Dakota State’s Christian Watson in the second, Nevada’s Romeo Doubs in the f...

Titans trade up, take QB Will Levis in 2nd round of draft

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans ended Will Levis’ wait to hear his name called Friday night, trading up eight spots with Arizona to select the Kentucky quarterback with the No. 33 pick overall Friday night in the NFL draft.Levis left Kansas City after sitting around and never hearing his name called Thursday night. Talking to reporters via a Zoom call, Levis said where he was drafted won’t affect his work ethic. Levis had visited Tennessee and said he felt he connected with everyone he met. “I ended up where I was meant to be, and I’m just looking forward to competing and getting started,” Levis said.Levis flew home Friday and said he was eating after just walking through the door at home just as his name was called. Levis said he left Kansas City to make sure he got home in time for a big family gathering planned for Saturday believing he would be drafted in the first round Thursday night. “I was ecstatic to get the call,” Levis said. TV cameras kept going ...

Gary Payton II delivers diploma to mother in sweet surprise

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gary Payton II beamed as he shared the special news: He’s now a college graduate.The Golden State guard promised his mother he would one day earn his degree from Oregon State, and on Friday morning ahead of Game 6 of the first-round playoff series against Sacramento he presented her with the diploma in person.Monique Payton returned to Payton’s home from getting coffee when he asked her please not to spill. She looked down and there was the diploma for her son’s degree in human development and family science.“I was so surprised!!!” the proud mother said Friday via text message. “I had no idea he was going to complete his degree! I had forgotten all about it! Thank God he didn’t forget or break his promise.!”She did have a little bit of warning this was in the works. Payton had sent his mom a text message with a photo of the paper a couple of weeks ago.“I was like, ‘No freaking way,’” she said of her reaction then. “He said ‘love you, I go...

Falcons trade up in 2nd round to draft Syracuse OL Bergeron

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons addressed a need on their offensive line by selecting Syracuse offensive tackle Matthew Bergeron after trading with Indianapolis in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night.Bergeron was introduced as a guard, an indication he will be given an opportunity to fill the left guard position left vacant when Elijah Wilkinson signed as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. Wilkinson started nine games at left guard for Atlanta last season.The Falcons acquired the No. 38 overall pick in the draft from the Colts for the No. 44 overall pick in the second round and a fourth-round pick, No. 110 overall, on Saturday.Bergeron, a native of Quebec, played right tackle and left tackle at Syracuse. He said he worked at left guard in one Senior Bowl practice and also talked with Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford about moving to guard in the NFL.“We talked about my versatility,” Bergeron said, adding “I told them how open I am (to the...

Commanders pick defensive back Quan Martin 47th in NFL draft

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:40 GMT

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Commanders continued bolstering their secondary in the second round of the NFL draft Friday night, taking Illinois defensive back Quan Martin with the 47th pick.They took Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes with the 16th selection in the first round.Martin, whose given name is Jartavius but prefers to go by Quan, was a five-year starter with the Illini and could split his time between safety and nickel back with the Commanders. He made 64 tackles, forced two fumbles and had three interceptions during his final college season.Washington went with Martin over several offensive linemen available in the middle of the second round. Getting protection for quarterbacks Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett remains a priority for the front office, though signing some linemen in free agency was a step toward doing that.The Commanders do not have their own third-round pick as a result of the trade 13 months ago with Indianapolis for Carson Wentz, who went ...