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sports Diasabra 18 December 2021

Boxer Frank Gore open to becoming NFL running back again

(AP) - Frank Gore is open to re- a big brother, so that’s my guy right building. associated with the original league or
turning to the NFL for a Super there. You’re about to make me cry its owners.
Bowl run after he makes his box- talking about my guy.” The Jets have come to Hard Rock
ing debut. Stadium on 33 previous occasions The Birmingham Stallions, Houston
There’s no shortage of Ham fans in and Miami is 17-16 in those games. Gamblers, New Orleans Breakers,
The five-time Pro Bowl running the Vikings’ organization. Undrafted Combined score of those games: and Tampa Bay Bandits comprise the
back faces former NBA All-Star Der- out of Augustana, an NCAA Division Dolphins 731, Jets 731. South Division. The North Division
on Williams on Saturday night on the II program, the native of Duluth, features the Michigan Panthers, New
undercard of the rematch between Minnesota, is in his sixth season with An anomaly? Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars,
Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley. the Vikings and is as well-versed in and Pittsburgh Maulers.
the offense as anyone. Maybe, maybe not.
“I’m excited but I’m also nervous TOGETHER AGAIN
about it because it’s new to me,” Gore “It’s such a comfort to have a play- New England is 21-13 in the Dol- Noah Eagle, Nate Burleson and Ga-
said on the AP Pro Football Podcas t. er like that. There are times when phins’ current stadium, but the com- brielle Nevaeh Green will return to
I’m asking him, ‘Did I call that play bined score of those games is 728- the booth for Nickelodeon’s kid-fo-
Gore ran for 16,000 yards, third most right?,’ or, ‘What’s the motion here?’ 728. cused production of an NFL playoff
in NFL history, during 15 seasons And he’ll get me right,” quarterback game.
with the 49ers, Colts, Dolphins, Bills Kirk Cousins said. “That just says the And no, the Buffalo-Miami series
and Jets. He spurned an offer to re- world about C.J. and what he’s ca- isn’t tied at Hard Rock, but only by CBS and Nickelodeon once again
turn during training camp to spend pable of athletically and also mentally. the thinnest of margins. The score have a wild-card game on Sunday,
time with his family. If a playoff- He’s a great teammate. He’s the kind of 35 previous regular-season game Jan. 16 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Eagle, who
bound team calls now, he’s ready. of person you want in this organiza- between those clubs on Miami’s cur- does radio play-by-play for the NBA’s
tion because he sets the standard for rent home field: Bills 764, Dolphins Los Angeles Clippers, has added
“I’m in the best shape of my life,” so many guys. If you say, ‘How do we 763. some network assignments to his
Gore said. “Boxing shape is totally do things around here?’ go look at calendar, while Burleson is on “The
different than football shape. I feel C.J. Ham. That’s how we do things.” USFL SPRINGS INTO ACTION NFL Today” and “CBS Mornings.”
like I can go out there and give a team NBC has joined Fox Sports as a The 16-year-old Green, who is on
a spark. It has to be a good situation TERRIBLE TRIP broadcast partner for the USFL, Nick’s “All That”, drew lots of posi-
for me and the team.” New York Giants quarterbacks coach which will begin play in April. tive reviews for her role in last year’s
Jerry Schuplinski didn’t have the best broadcast.
Gore said he had boxed as part of his of times when the team trained in NBC will present 21 regular-sea-
football training but didn’t consider Tucson, Arizona leading to their game son and playoff games across NBC Another Nick star, Young Dylan of
getting in the ring for a fight until the against the Chargers in Los Angeles. (eight), USA Network (nine) and “Tyler Perry’s Young Dillon” will
offseason when a boxing coach told Peacock (four). Fox Sports will air the make his sideline reporting debut.
him he had the skills to do it. Schuplinski tested positive for CO- other 22 games with 12 on Fox and 10
VID-19 shortly after the team arrived on FS1. Last year’s 21-9 victory by the New
“Boxing is tougher physically because from Miami and he was isolated in Orleans Saints over the Chicago
I have to spar three times a week,” he the team’s hotel. He spent the week The league will have eight teams, but Bears averaged 30.65 million, mak-
said. “It’s also different because of all working virtually. will play in one host city, which is ex- ing it CBS’ most-viewed first-round
the jogging. In football, I did sprints. pected to be announced shortly. The game since 2014. The 2.06 million
I hate jogging, but I have to do it to be While his symptoms were minor, an- team names will be familiar to those average for the kids-oriented broad-
in the ring.” other problem was watching the Gi- who followed the USFL’s first incar- cast on Nickelodeon made it the
ants play Sunday. nation from 1983-85. The new USFL network’s most-watched program in
Gore, who spent his first 10 seasons is controlled by Fox Sports and is not nearly four years.
in San Francisco, also hopes to even- When the team left, he and guard
tually work in the team’s front office. Wes Martin, who also tested positive,
moved to a hotel in Phoenix to be
“That’s something I’ve always wanted closer to the airport. The game wasn’t
to do because I’ve been around foot- on TV, so Schuplinski sheepishly ad-
ball so long that I know what a foot- mitted he used a relative’s network to
ball player is supposed to be. I know watch it on his mobile device. That
what a football player’s mind has to is until the signal went out for a few
be like,” Gore said. minutes.

HAMMING IT UP So he face-timed his wife, Megan.
Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook rushed She wanted to talk. The harried coach
for a season-high 205 yards last week wanted the game.
against Pittsburgh, finding gaping
holes at the line in a masterful per- “‘Turn on the game, turn on the
formance by his blockers and the game’” Schuplinski said in recalling
offensive coaching staff. Not to be the conversion. “I’m like, ‘We’ll catch
overlooked in the success was full- up later, just show the game right
back C.J. Ham, who was at his pro- now real quick until I get this iPad
tective best. The 2019 Pro Bowl pick going.’”
could find himself going to the all-
star game again this year. He’s back with the Giants, returning
to the New York area on Wednesday.
“He comes to work every day on
time, knows what he needs to do, FIT TO BE TIED
his assignments. If you want to know There’s no guarantee that the New
something at running back, you can York Jets’ trip to South Florida this
ask him. He knows both positions,” weekend to play the Miami Dolphins
Cook said. will result in a close game.

“Off the field, the things he does in But the series at Hard Rock Stadium
the community are outstanding. He’s couldn’t be closer, part of an astound-
a dad, and the things he does with his ing trend for the Dolphins when
kids are amazing. I look up to him as facing AFC East foes in their home