The Giants will be in Cleveland for a pair of joint practices with the Browns that will mark their first chance to see wide receiver Odell Beckham in person since they traded him in 2019.
Beckham missed last year’s game between the teams with a torn ACL, so there wasn’t much focus on the reunion when the Browns came to town. General Manager Dave Gettleman and co-owner John Mara were both asked about it during Tuesday press conferences, however.
The Giants picked up safety Jabrill Peppers, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, and edge rusher Oshane Ximenes in deal, which Mara said he thinks “will work out well for both sides.” Gettleman has said you need a few years to assess a deal and proclaimed himself happy with this one.
“I’m happy,” Gettleman said. “We got Dexter. Ximines has had his injury issues, but when he’s been out there, he’s shown promise. Jabrill has done a hell of a job for us, so I like that group.”
The Giants haven’t made the playoffs since dealing Beckham while Beckham had a rough first season in Cleveland and missed last year’s playoff run, so neither team has gotten an overwhelming return on the deal. Both sides will hope a change in fortunes will follow this week’s practice sessions.
The Lions continue to make changes. Whether that changes the franchise’s fortunes remains to be seen.
Via Eric Woodward of ESPN.com, Lions coach Dan Campbell said Friday that the team has dismissed head athletic trainer Dave Grantino.
“Our guys were getting proper treatment,” Campbell said. It was nothing like that, but it felt like we needed to go another way.”
The Lions, according to Campbell, are in talks with an unnamed replacement.
The timing seems odd, with the move coming multiple weeks into training camp. But something has prompted the organization to move in a different direction. Whether it happened at the behest of Campbell or first-year G.M. Brad Holmes or someone else remains to be seen. Whether it makes things better for the Lions also remains to be seen.
Granito arrived in Detroit in 2019, after serving in the same capacity at the University of Michigan. Before that, Granito spent 15 years with the Patriots.
Foo Fighters versus Westboro Baptist Church round three.
As the Dave Grohl-fronted band continues its national tour, the rockers have encountered some surprises — including a postponed concert, fighting off anti-vaxxers and a guest appearance from Dave Chappelle.
The latest surprise involves the Westboro Baptist Church protesting the band’s Aug. 5 show in Bonner Springs, Kan. The protestors were standing outside of the Azura Amphitheater, waving an array of signs that read “No Peace for the Wicked” and “God Hates Your Idols.”
In the ultimate troll, the band drove up in a flatbed truck each sporting Bee Gees influenced outfits — inspired by their new alter egos the “Dee Gees,” the tour’s latest gimmick
Grohl, 52, addressed the crowd right before the band covered the Bee Gees’ “You Should Be Dancing.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, I got something to say,” he said. “Because you know what? I love you! I do. The way I look at it, I love everybody. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Can’t you just love everybody? Because I think it’s about love. That’s what I think. I deliver all of my love, and you shouldn’t be hating. You know what you should be doing? You should be dancing!”
Ahead of their tour, the Foo Fighters — under the alias “Dee Gees” — recorded their most recent album, “Hail Satin,” which featured their lighthearted covers of Bee Gees songs.
Grohl and his bandmates are no strangers to Westboro Baptist Church protests. A decade ago, similar to the most recent confrontation, the band performed an impromptu flatbed concert to troll protesters. Then again in 2015, the band pulled a gag on protestors in Kansas City when the group Rickrolled the crowd, eventually drowning out chants and subsequently creating a “giant dance party.”
After the latest showdown, it’s safe to say the Foo Fighters are three for three against the Westboro Baptist Church protestors.
Dave Bautista has become Scarlett Johansson’s first Marvel co-star to comment on her lawsuit against Disney – but his words have divided fans.
On Thursday (29 July), Johansson alleged that the simultaneous release of Black Widow on Disney Plus as well as in cinemas violated her contract and a “promise” Marvel made before production.
The actor’s lawsuit says that her compensation for the movie was “largely based” on Black Widow’s box office performance, and had “extracted a promise from Marvel that the release would be a ‘theatrical release’.’
It continues: “Disney was well aware of this promise, but nonetheless directed Marvel to violate its pledge and instead release the Picture on the Disney+ streaming service the very same day it was released in movie theatres.”
In response to Johansson, Disney released a statement, telling The Independent: “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Disney has fully complied with Ms Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20m (£14.3m) she has received to date.”
Disney has been widely criticised for its response, with Johansson’s talent agency condemning the studio for disclosing her salary.
As of writing, aside from Bautista, none of Johansson’s’ fellow Marvel stars have commented on the controversy.
Scarlett Johansson in ‘Black Widow’
(Marvel Studios)
After the news broke, the actor, who plays Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, shared a link to a report on Twitter, writing: “Told em they should’ve made a #Drax movie but noooooo!”
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His post, which seemingly jokes that the studio could have avoided a lawsuit had they opted to make a standalone Drax film instead of Black Widow, has divided fans, with many complaining that he’s making light of Johansson’s tough situation.
Others jumped to the actor’s defence, arguing that he meant no harm from the message.
Dave Bautista divides fans over response to Scarlett Johansson’s Disney lawsuit
(Twitter @DaveBautista)
As it stands, Black Widow is one of the lowest-grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films to date with global takings of $319.5m (£229m), a figure that cinema owners are attributing to the simultaneous streaming release.
The film, which is Johansson’s character’s long overdue standalone outing, is expected to be her final MCU appearance. It was originally scheduled to be released in May 2020, but was delayed until June 2021.
2021’s most anticipated release that isn’t Cruellais finally here: Emma Stone has welcomed her first child with husband Dave McCary, the nice comedy boy she met while hosting SNLa few years ago. TMZ reports that Stone gave birth on March 13 in Los Angeles, with the news only becoming public now. No further details were given, such as the child’s gender or name. The couple got together after Stone’s SNL hosting stint in 2016, when McCary directed her in the instant-classic “Wells for Boys” sketch and got chummy with her in Studio 8H. Although never directly confirmed by Stone or McCary, it’s believed that the couple were married in 2020; they also never confirmed her pregnancy, with the only visual source being paparazzi photos of Stone with a noticeable baby bump over the past few months. Still, big congrats to the couple, who we hope will channel the parental powers of the Penderghasts in Easy A.
Now that the Giants have signed wide receiver Kenny Golladay and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson — and re-signed defensive lineman Leonard Williams — let’s rank general manager Dave Gettleman’s biggest remaining needs to address in free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft.
These rankings go from most important to least important.
1. Edge rusher: Yes, Williams will help the pass rush. But the Giants don’t have a lot of answers at outside linebacker, with Oshane Ximines and Lorenzo Carter leading that group. Gettleman isn’t going to find an elite outside linebacker in free agency right now, but he certainly could address the position in the draft. Ximines had 4.5 sacks as a rookie in 2019, but had zero last season, when he was limited to four games. Carter had one sack last year in five games. He needs to finally take the next step, as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
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2. Offensive guard: At left guard, the Giants have Shane Lemieux and Will Hernandez. Neither is a great option. At right guard, they no longer have Kevin Zeitler, who was released for salary cap reasons, even though he’s still productive. Gettleman hasn’t signed a single offensive lineman in free agency so far this offseason. The right guard spot is a major concern. Starting Lemieux at left guard and Hernandez at right guard (or vice versa) is a possibility — albeit a scary one for quarterback Daniel Jones. Gettleman should address his interior offensive line high in the draft. Remember, center Nick Gates can slide to guard, if Gettleman drafts a center.
3. Defensive line depth: Dalvin Tomlinson is gone, off to the Vikings. The Giants couldn’t afford to keep both Tomlinson and Williams. Between Dexter Lawrence and Williams, the Giants still have a very solid duo on their defensive line, if Williams can play like he did last season. Austin Johnson figures to be the third starting lineman in the Giants’ 3-4 front. (He’s no Tomlinson, though.) Beyond those guys, coordinator Patrick Graham will be searching. B.J. Hill figures to take on a bigger role in 2021, with Tomlinson gone.
4. Linebacker depth: Middle linebacker Blake Martinez was a nice free agent signing last year. But the Giants still need to solidify the inside linebacker role next to Martinez — and also need to sort out depth at the position. This season could offer a much bigger opportunity for Tae Crowder, last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, if he can beat out Reggie Ragland, who just arrived on a one-year contract. The Giants let Devante Downs walk in free agency, so he’s no longer a depth option. It’s possible Graham could rely heavily on defensive backs — instead of playing Ragland and/or Crowder a bunch — because his safeties, Jabrill Peppers and Xavier McKinney, can handle linebacker-type duties, to a degree.
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Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Dave Chappelle says that his long running beef with Comedy Central over rights to Chappelle’s Show is over. The surprise announcement came during a 10-minute performance titled Redemption Song posted to Chappelle’s Instagram account late Thursday night. The clip closes with news that the sketch comedy will return to Netflix starting today.
Netflix began airing Chappelle’s Show on November 1st but pulled it on November 24th after the comedian complained that Comedy Central’s owner ViacomCBS licensed the show without his approval. “I called them and I told them that this makes me feel bad. And you want to know what they did,” said Chappelle in a clip posted to Instagram on the morning of November 24th. “They agreed that they would take it off their platform just so I could feel better.” Netflix, which has been airing standup specials from Chappelle since 2016, has a lucrative contract with the performer worth tens of millions of dollars.
Now, three months later, and 15 years after Chappelle famously walked off the show that aired on Comedy Central between 2003 and 2006, we have a resolution. According to Chapelle’s telling, Comedy Central reached out to him to make things right.
“I never asked Comedy Central for anything. If you remember I said ‘I’m going to my real boss and I came to you’ because I know where my power lies,” Chappelle said to the Redemption Song audience. “I asked you to stop watching the show and thank god almighty for you, you did. You made that show worthless because without your eyes, it’s nothing. And when you stopped watching it they called me. And I got my name back. And I got my license back, and I got my show back, and they paid me millions of dollars. Thank you very much.”
Chappelle then thanked Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos for his “courage,” and Chris McCarthy of ViacomCBS for “making the past right.”
“Finally after all of these years I can finally say to Comedy Central, ‘it’s been a pleasure doing business with you,’” said Chappelle in closing.
The comedian Dave Chappelle has tested positive for Covid-19 and has canceled several upcoming shows at the Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, a spokeswoman told The Associated Press.
The venue’s website showed cancellations for four shows through Tuesday.
Mr. Chappelle, who had been hosting socially distanced shows in Ohio since June, with rapid testing for audience members and himself, moved his shows to Austin during the winter, the spokeswoman said.
Mr. Chappelle is asymptomatic and quarantining, she said.
Joe Rogan, a comedian and podcast host who had been scheduled to perform with Mr. Chappelle on Friday and Saturday, apologized for the cancellations. “We’ll reschedule them as soon as we can,” Mr. Rogan said early Friday in an Instagram post.
Mr. Chappelle’s positive test result came about three months after he hosted “Saturday Night Live” and commented on the pandemic in a monologue that also heavily touched on the presidential election.
“Do you guys remember what life was like before Covid?” Mr. Chappelle said. “I do. There was a mass shooting every week. Anyone remember that? Thank God for Covid. Someone had to lock these murderous whites up and keep them in the house.”
Dave Chappelle has canceled performances scheduled at Stubbs in Austin, Texas after testing positive for COVID-19, TMZ reports and Chappelle’s representative confirmed to Pitchfork. The canceled dates were among a handful the comedian had booked through this weekend. He had already performed the first of the Austin gigs on Wednesday. Tickets are being refunded.
“Chappelle has safely conducted socially-distanced shows in Ohio since June 2020 and he moved those shows to Austin during the winter,” a statement from Chappelle’s representative reads. “Chappelle implemented COVID-19 protocols which included rapid testing for the audience and daily testing for himself and his team. His diligent testing enabled him to immediately respond by quarantining, thus mitigating the spread of the virus. Chappelle is asymptomatic.”
Chappelle began hosting outdoor, socially distanced performances in his current home state of Ohio since June. His guests included Common, Tiffany Haddish, John Mayer, and several others. After hosting a block party to celebrate the Fourth of July, Chappelle emceed the first post-election episode of Saturday Night Live at the beginning of November.
Earlier this week, Chappelle was photographed maskless with Joe Rogan, Elon Musk, and Grimes. Grimes posted about her own recent experience with the virus on January 9.
