Page 25 - Florida Sentinel 8-10-18

Sports
Jameis Winston Remains
Aqib Talib Says Beef With Michael Crabtree Is Over
AQIB TALIB AND MICHAEL CRABTREE
There will be no chain- snatching this year.
Aqib Talib said on Tuesday that his beef with Michael Crabtree is over.
Talib shared his comments in a much more colorful way, saying the “s—‘s dead.”
Talib and Crabtree have an interesting history. They fought during a game and got suspended last year. The season before that, Talib ripped off Crabtree’s chain in a game.
Talib and Crabtree were facing each other twice a season during those years owing to their time with the Broncos and Raiders, but they’re both with new teams now.
Ex-NFL Star Steve Smith
No. 1 On Depth Chart; Will
Opens Up About Battle
Play Against Dolphins
With Depression
Despite some cryptic com- ments from coach Dirk Koet- ter suggesting that Ryan Fitzpatrick could wrest the starting quarterback job from Jameis Winston, Winston remains the team’s starting quarterback, unofficially.
The first depth of the year has Winston as the No. 1 quarterback, notwithstanding a looming three-game suspen- sion under the Personal Con- duct Policy. Fitzpatrick will start the first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins Thursday (tonight) and Win- ston will follow.
The third quarterback on the depth chart is Ryan Grif- fin, followed by Austin
JAMEIS WINSTON Allen. Both will play also.
Elsewhere on the offensive side of the ball, Peyton Bar- ber is the No. 1 running back, ahead of Jacquizz Rodgers. Rookie Ronald Jones is No. 3, with veteran Charles Sims buried among a trio in a cate- gory dubbed “other.”
Steve Smith was the epit- ome of cockiness and confi- dence during his 16-year NFL career, but the former wide re- ceiver was apparently battling some mental health issues while terrorizing opposing de- fensive backs.
In a piece he wrote for NFL.com, Smith opened up about his struggles with de- pression both during his play- ing days and since he decided to retire in 2016. Smith, who first saw a sports psychologist in 2002, says he learned to shut out “noise and negative thoughts” while he was playing, but he revealed that he never really enjoyed his or his team’s accomplishments.
“Well, what if I told you I never truly enjoyed those mo- ments, never felt genuine de- light in my accomplishments? ... Despite all of my achieve- ments, I routinely felt trapped, inferior and alone,” Smith wrote. “This overwhelmed me internally and often left me
STEVE SMITH
mentally, physically and emo- tionally broken.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me, nor is there with any- one else who suffers from de- pression and other mental health disorders,” Smith con- cluded. “All human beings have strengths and weaknesses, physical and mental. You’re de- fined by how you play the hand you’re dealt in life. I’ve spent the last year grieving, in a sense, the fact that I no longer am a football player — the one thing I have been my entire life. Reidentifying myself has been quite the process and learning to be OK with that even more so.”
Giants Have Discussed
Making Odell Beckham
NFL’s Highest-Paid WR
Odell Beckham, Jr.’s
agent was in New York over the weekend to talk with the Giants about a potential con- tract extension with the star re- ceiver, but no agreement had been reached as of Monday. There have been some signs, however, that progress is being made.
Beckham’s agent negoti- ated in “good faith” with the Giants about a contract that would make the 25-year-old
ODELL BECKHAM, JR.
the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
Prescott Stands By Anthem Comments Despite Backlash
If there is one thing you can say about Dak Prescott, it’s that he is not a flip-flop- per.
Prescott is standing by his comments on the national anthem despite the backlash he has faced. The Dallas Cow- boys quarterback said from training camp last month that he does not believe a football game is the “time or venue” for a protest.
“When you bring such a controversy to the stadium, to the game, to the field, it takes away. It takes away from that. I’m up for taking the next step ... and not just kneeling,” Prescott said in late July.
Prescott was the target of criticism from those who be- lieve his viewpoint is imped- ing the social progress of African-Americans.
Prescott was asked about
DAK PRESCOTT
the mural on Sunday and said he knew he would face back- lash and that he is not sur- prised.
“As I said, I made my statement. I stand by what I said. I just said some people may have misunderstood it or whatever. I feel strongly about what I said. And it is what it is.”
He also clarified that he is not opposed to the mission and goals of those who protest during the anthem; he just disagrees with the venue.
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