Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 8-21-20

Sports
Ronald Jones Is The ‘Main Guy’ In Buccaneers’ Backfield
LeBron James Approves Of Kamala Harris As Joe Biden's Running Mate
LEBRON JAMES AND KAMALA HARRIS
Every skill position player on the Tampa Bay Bucca- neers’ roster has a tremen- dous opportunity to put up big numbers this season with Tom Brady running the of- fense, and running back Ronald Jones is apparently one player who is poised to take advantage of the situa- tion.
Jones, whom the Bucca- neers selected with the 38th overall pick in the draft two years ago, has drawn rave re- views for the work he has put in with Brady this summer. He’s focused on improving as a pass catcher, and head
RONALD JONES
coach Bruce Arians told reporters this week that Jones has already seized the top spot in the backfield.
Jones caught 32 passes total in three seasons at USC,
but he showed improvement in that department last year. He led the Bucs in rushing with 724 yards and six touch- downs while also catching 31 passes. Jones could double that number in 2020 if he earns Brady’s trust, and he recently spoke about how he is trying to do just that.
“He always tells me to get low in my routes and run my routes like I already have the ball,” Jones said of Brady giving him advice.
Deion Sanders Has Message For Players Opting Out Of Sports
DEION SANDERS Deion Sanders had a
message recently for athletes who are opting out of their sports.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer reminded athletes that sports are a business and that athletes are interchangeable.
Sanders’ comments come a day after the final tally showed 69 NFL players opted out of playing this season. The New England Patriots topped the list with eight players choosing not to play. Some of the notable players who opted out include Nate Solder, Dont’a Hightower, Damien Williams, CJ Mosley and Star Lotulelei.
Sanders, 52, played both professional football and base- ball during his career, and also ran track in college. He was a versatile, hard-working ath- lete, who was recognized as one of the best players in the league during his time in the NFL. He doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable conversa- tions, which probably explains why he didn’t mind sending a tweet that would make some feel uncomfortable.
LeBron James tweeted his support for presumptive Democrat presidential nom- inee Joe Biden’s choice for his running mate, Sen. Ka- mala Harris, D-Calif., last week.
The Los Angeles Lakers star congratulated the law- maker on Instagram. “Con- grats and well deserved Sen. Kamala Harris!! Love to see and support it! Appreci- ate you JB,” he wrote.
James is not afraid to get into the political waters. The four-time MVP endorsed Hillary Clinton for presi- dent during the 2016 election and campaigned for her in
Ohio while he was still with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It’s unclear whether he will be campaigning for Biden in California, Ohio or any other state especially in the middle of the Lakers’ playoff push and his pursuit of a fourth ring.
Biden named Harris his running mate last Tues- day. He said in an email to supporters that Harris “is the best person to help me take this fight to Donald Trump and Mike Pence and then to lead this nation starting in January 2021.”
Harris said she was “honored” to be nominated.
Ex-Vikings DE Everson
Griffen Agrees To One-Year,
$6M Deal With Cowboys
Before they take the field for their first practice, the Dallas Cowboys have added to their defensive line, agree- ing to a one-year deal with veteran Everson Griffen.
The deal is worth $6M, with $3M in base salary and $3M in roster bonuses.
The Cowboys have kept an eye on Griffen for much of the offseason and added him to the roster this week. In 10 seasons with the Vikings, Griffen recorded
EVERSON GRIFFEN
74.5 sacks, including eight last season when he was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time.
Geno Smith Rips ESPN For Story On 2015 Locker Room Fight
It has now been five years since Geno Smith was in- volved in one of the most infa- mous locker room altercations in NFL history, and the former Jets quarterback does not ap- preciate the way the story was rehashed recently.
Smith suffered a broken jaw before the 2015 season after then-teammate IK En- emkpali sucker-punched him in the locker room.
The dispute began over $600 that Smith supposedly owed Enemkpali when the quarterback no-showed a youth football camp that En- emkpali had invited him to. ESPN’s Rich Cimini spoke with several former Jets play-
GENO SMITH
ers about the incident and published a lengthy piece on Tuesday, which irritated Smith.
Smith, who has never re- ally given his entire side of the story, then went on a rant and said he will tell the truth about the incident when he’s ready.
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