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Sports

Eagles News: Colts fans weigh in on Carson Wentz trade

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Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …

Stampede Blue Writers Roundtable: Carson Wentz Trade – Stampede Blue
He’s got a lot to prove to me. Wentz finished 31st in EPA per dropback last year. Simply put, good QBs are rarely that bad. For reference, Brissett was 24th in 2017 and 20th in 2019. Even the 2011 Colts finished higher than 31st (OK 30th, but still). In his 5 years of the league, Wentz’s EPA efficiency has ranked 20th, 2nd, 15th, 18th, 31st. He had one good year and has progressively gotten worse. Here are the QBs from the last 10 years that finished 31st or 32nd in EPA efficiency: it’s not an encouraging list. Blaine Gabbert (twice), Blake Bortles, Brandon Weeden, C.J. Beathard, Carson Wentz, Case Keenum, DeShone Kizer, EJ Manuel, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, Josh Rosen, Mark Sanchez, Mason Rudolph, Nick Foles, Peyton Manning, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, Sam Bradford, Sam Darnold. Maybe Reich can get him back to form but I’ll believe it when I see it. Tannehills can happen, but they are veeeery rare.

Reports: Carson Wentz fell out of favor with Eagles locker room, stopped talking to Doug Pederson for weeks – BGN
Those who have experience consuming sports coverage should know it’s not unusual for unflattering leaks to emerge following a person’s exit from a team. It should be no surprise, then, to see such is the case in the aftermath of the Carson Wentz trade. Of course, there have been anonymously-sourced criticisms about Wentz dating back to November 2018. And then more in January 2019. And then more in October 2019. And then more in September 2020. And then more in January 2021. And then more in February 2021. The latest on Wentz comes from Jason La Canfora.

Eagles trade Carson Wentz emergency podcast – PhillyVoice
The Eagles finally did it. They traded Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, and so, there will be an emergency podcast. Brandon Gowton, Benjamin Solak, and I discussed all things Carson Wentz. What’s Wentz’s legacy in Philly? Who won the trade? Where do the Eagles go from here? Is Jalen Hurts the new starter, or will they select a quarterback with their first-round pick?

What kind of QB will Carson Wentz be for the Colts? – NBCSP
Maybe the way Wentz trended the last six months is who he really is now. Maybe whatever physical changes he’s undergone will prevent him from finding the consistency that was so elusive this past season. Even in Indy. Even with Reich. Maybe there’s something else. Maybe he just doesn’t have the drive anymore. Maybe he’ll never be an effective NFL quarterback again. Honestly, I do wonder about all of that. But I think he’ll be OK. Sometimes people just need a fresh start. We saw what it did for Nelson Agholor in Vegas. That wasn’t going to happen here. It just wasn’t. He had to get away. Everything’s in place for Wentz to succeed with the Colts. He couldn’t have asked for a better destination. If it doesn’t work out there? I’m not sure it’s going to work out anywhere.

Now that Carson Wentz is gone, what should the Eagles do at QB? – Inquirer
The jury is still out on Hurts, who played better than Wentz in limited action last season. For a second-round pick who the Eagles originally envisioned as a backup with starter potential, given the right tools and environment, he fared well given the late-season circumstances. Hurts seemingly has all the off-the-field intangibles, and possibly the makeup to handle the Philadelphia pressure-cooker and a likely challenge for the No. 1 spot. Many Eagles players appeared to gravitate toward the rookie in short time.

The Biggest Winner of the Carson Wentz Trade Is Carson Wentz – The Ringer
There’s debate that the Colts did overpay for Wentz, but realistically, their options for a starting QB were limited considering the veteran options left after Stafford was dealt. Indianapolis picks too low in the first round for it to contend for one of the top four QB prospects of this class, the guys who could immediately make a difference for a team coming off a wild-card appearance. So for everyone involved, this trade made a lot of sense. But no one should be happier about it than Wentz, who’s been handed a tremendous lifeline, the only one that gave him a legitimate shot at being the Carson Wentz of old.

What’s next for the Eagles at quarterback? – PFT
So now without Wentz, they need someone to complement, supplement, and/or supplant Hurts as the presumed starter. They could draft that player, they could sign a veteran, or they could trade for someone like, yes, Nick Foles. Whatever they do, the Eagles will do something more than retain a backup who is expected to embrace that spot and not truly challenge the starter. Although Hurts won the one-on-one against Wentz, Hurts still may not be the starter when Week One rolls around. So while the Wentz trade becomes the ending of the starting-quarterback search for the Colts, the transaction may be just the beginning for the Eagles.

DeGone – Iggles Blitz
I hope the Eagles are able to deal Ertz. He’s had a great career in Philly, but it is time to focus on young talent. If the Eagles can move him and get a pick in return, it will help with the rebuild. I had doubts that there would be much of a market for Ertz. He’s on the wrong side of 30 and coming off a bad year. Ertz does have a great track record and a title contender may feel it is worth taking a chance on him. He’s always been valuable on third downs and in the Red Zone. Those are critical situations that can mean the difference in winning and losing.

NFL Trade Rumors: Rams have inquired about Eagles tight end Zach Ertz – Turf Show Times
It’s not hard to understand why Sean McVay would want to pair Ertz with new quarterback Matthew Stafford. LA could make a corresponding move by releasing Tyler Higbee to save several million dollars, but Ertz has an $8.2 million base salary in 2021. The Rams would need to probably restructure that, if only they were also able to figure out how to trade for Ertz when they’ve already used up most of their resources.

2021 NFL Draft Special #1: Ranking the Top QBs w/Mark Schofiel‪d‬ – The SB Nation NFL Show
Michael Kist is joined by Mark Schofield to break down the top 5 quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft!

Sixers Bell Ringer: Joel Embiid’s career-high 50 points lifts Sixers over Bulls – Liberty Ballers
Joel has had plenty of great performances this season, but when someone is putting the MVP consideration compilation reel together at the end of the year, this game will go towards the top of the pile. Although Wendell Carter Jr. made some shots against Embiid, Joel was very engaged defensively, racking up the stocks, making quick rotations, and doing yeoman-like work on the glass. Offensively, what more can be said? The big man is hitting mid-range jumpers as well as anyone in the league. He gets to the foul line as much as anyone. He powers through defenders when he needs to. He euro-steps them around them like no man over 7 feet tall and 280 pounds has any business doing. Joel capped off his night with a long stepback jumper from the corner to nearly ice the game with 41 seconds left. 17-of-26 from the field. 15-of-17 from the foul line. Only two turnovers against five assists. A generational superstar. [BLG Note: Embiid for MVP.]

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Health

What happened to coronavirus, flu ‘twin-demic’? Experts weigh in

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With coronavirus cases soaring in late summer, experts warned about the potential for a so-called “twin-demic,” which they said would’ve seen hospital systems overwhelmed by both COVID-19 and the influx of flu patients, but the surge never came. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is reporting that flu activity in the U.S. “remains lower than usual for this time of year,” which is typically the peak of illnesses.

Since Oct. 1, 2020, or the start of flu season, there have been 165-laboratory confirmed flu-related hospitalizations in the U.S. According to the CDC, not only is this below average for this point in the season, it’s the lowest rate seen since data collection began in 2005.

So why did the influenza virus take a backseat to coronavirus? Experts say it’s a mix of factors, but mitigation measures put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 likely played a big part.

COMMON COLD ANTIBODIES WON’T PROTECT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS, STUDY FINDS

“The same phenomenon was found in the Southern Hemisphere during the winter there (the opposite months from ours) last year and was thought to be caused by the ‘non-pharmaceutical interventions’ adopted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 – masks, sheltering and social distancing, frequent handwashing, and avoiding indoor crowds,” Dr. Henry Miller, former FDA official and currently a senior fellow in health studies at the Pacific Research Institute, told Fox News.

School closures also likely played a role, as early research suggests kids transmit the influenza virus better than they do COVID-19, Dr. Abisola Olulade, a family medicine physician in California, explained.

Coronavirus mitigation measures like social distancing and wearing a mask also likely contributed to low spread of flu virus, experts say
(iStock)

“Transmission of flu is harder than the transmission of coronavirus,” Olulade told Fox News. “Mitigation measures were more limited in their ability to prevent people from getting COVID.”

Olulade said the impact mitigation measures had on the decrease in flu cases raises an interesting question of whether some, such as the use of face masks while in public, may remain in place once the pandemic ends.

“I can’t imagine that the CDC isn’t thinking about this and I hope they are because it’s made such a huge difference,” she said.

TEST THAT DETECTS FLU, CORONAVIRUS, GETS FDA EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION

Olulade also pointed out that while some may suggest that people weren’t testing for the flu amid coronavirus, the positivity rate of those who were remained lower than usual, which indicates that the viral spread in the community was indeed low, and not a matter of what test was conducted.

Dr. Eric Legome, chair of emergency medicine at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside, noted that there wasn’t just a decrease in flu activity this year, but in other common respiratory illnesses as well. Legome said that a longer incubation period, greater infectiousness, and no previous levels of immunity to coronavirus also likely contributed to the surge in cases while other illnesses saw low activity.

CDC SEES RECORD FLU VACCINE DISTRIBUTION

“It is hard to predict what will happen with influenza and other seasonal viruses next year (or any one year, and next year is particularly difficult),” Legome told Fox News. “The current interventions such as masking, etc., may be necessary for a prolonged time. This may serve to prolong the reduction in respiratory disease. It has been theorized, however, once these measures are reduced or eliminated, there may be a significant increase over historical numbers of these infections. That is, we may see unusually severe cold and flu seasons due to factors such as increase susceptibility to some of these diseases.”

Miller said that the strength of the flu virus next year will come down to a matter of probabilities and that it’s impossible to predict whether a dangerous mutant – one that drives new infections – will appear. The vaccine developed for next year may also play a role in how the season goes, but it could be difficult to come up with the right formula based on the low number of strains that circulated this season. 

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

“We determine the vaccine strain by what happens in the Southern Hemisphere,” Olulade continued. “If we don’t have enough information, are we going to select the right strain in the vaccine? We also don’t want to cause hesitation about the vaccine – even if it’s not completely protective it does decrease [the] strength of the virus.”

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US

‘There is real teeth to this’: Legal experts weigh in on Smartmatic’s $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News

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That’s what CNN senior legal analyst Laura Coates told Erin Burnett Thursday night when discussing Smartmatic’s $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, three of the network’s hosts (Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, and Jeanine Pirro), Rudy Giuliani, and Sidney Powell.

“When you are making statements that are knowingly false, and you make them with malice, and you actually tarnish reputations and it has a financial consequence — that’s why you have defamation lawsuits in the first place,” Coates said, explaining the seriousness of the lawsuit.

Coates is not alone in believing Smartmatic’s suit poses real threat to Fox. University of Georgia media law professor Jonathan Peters noted on Twitter that “libel law makes it difficult to prevail where the plaintiff is a public figure and/or where the speech involved a matter of public concern. In various ways, these will be key issues in litigation.” But, Peters added that he believed the “smart money” is on Smartmatic.
That seemed to be the general consensus among legal experts who commented on the case Thursday. Despite Fox describing the suit as “meritless,” Powell calling it a “political maneuver,” and Giuliani saying he looked forward to discovery, most legal experts believed it to have some bite. “This lawsuit is a legitimate threat — a real threat,” CNN legal analyst Ellie Honig said. “There is a real teeth to this.” And Roy Gutterman, who directs the Tully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University, echoed to WaPo, “This complaint establishes a compelling narrative in its 270-plus pages. It will certainly be interesting to see how the defendants frame their responses.”

This is not a nuisance suit

Brian Stelter writes: “Libel suits against media organizations are typically filed on a slippery slope. Journalists have good reason to be concerned about these types of cases. And nuisance lawsuits against newsrooms are a real problem. But I think it’s safe to say that Smartmatic’s action against Fox is not a nuisance suit, and it has little to do with news. It’s going to be hard for Fox to wrap its hosts in a press freedom flag. This case is about entertainers who gave fuel to lies in a desperate bid to keep Trump in power.”

“Disinformation has free reign right now”

When I spoke with Smartmatic’s lawyer, Erik Connolly of “pink slime” fame, about the case, I did press him on whether he was worried his suit could set a precedent that could ultimately harm press freedoms. His response was that the lawsuit would actually be beneficial to legitimate news orgs. “I think it’s the type of case that has to be brought right now to try to get us away from disinformation,” Connolly told me. “Disinformation has a free rein right now. This kind of case can be a shot across the bow that courts can deliver that says, ‘Let’s get back to reality. Let’s get back to factual reporting.'”

A world of people “telling outright lies”

Stelter writes: “I was struck by something Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer representing author E. Jean Carroll, told the NYT. Carroll is suing Trump for defamation. Kaplan ‘stated that the profusion of defamation circumstances associated to the previous president was notable,’ since there’s been a perception that such cases are hard to win. ‘What’s changed,’ Kaplan said, ‘and why we’re seeing so many more defamation cases today than ever before, is because, frankly, we’re living in a world in which people with legitimacy and authority seem to feel no compunction whatsoever about just telling outright lies.’ This is partly why other legal experts are saying Smartmatic has a strong argument — the lies are explicit and easily debunked. And that’s why it may not be so hard to prove that Fox and its hosts knew, or should have known, that they were telling lies — which is the ‘actual malice’ standard that public figures have to meet in defamation cases…”

The lies have consequences

It’s crucial to point out the consequences the slew of conspiracy theories pushed against Smartmatic have had for the company. In its lawsuit, Smartmatic detailed some of the ramifications: a wave of threats against its employees, a “meteoric rise” in cyberattacks, and hundreds of millions of dollars in projected revenue losses. CEO and founder Antonio Mugica told me that there was “no choice” the company had but to file the lawsuit. “The disinformation campaign that was launched against us is an obliterating one. For us, this is existential, and we have to take action.”



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US

Biden’s mask mandate: Transportation officials weigh options to enforce Biden’s new requirement for travelers

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The normal rulemaking process can take months, at least, to complete, so officials are believed to be considering emergency actions that could take effect much sooner. Biden signed an executive order Thursday mandating interstate travelers wear a mask, and on his first day in office, he challenged Americans to wear masks for 100 days to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

Agencies are considering enforcement measures for the executive order such as civil penalties for air travelers from the Federal Aviation Administration, a broader order from the Department of Transportation applying to multiple modes of transit, and a Transportation Security Administration directive, the sources said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive and initial discussions among agency officials and with the transportation industry.

Several of the individuals described the conversations as preliminary and noted it was possible the approaches of each agency could change.

A possible outcome is a patchwork of measures from different agencies that oversee rules for different types of travel such as trains, buses, airplanes, public transportation and ferries. In addition to the FAA, the Transportation Department includes the Federal Railroad Administration overseeing trains, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration overseeing buses, and the Federal Transit Administration, which is involved in transit system oversight. The Coast Guard regulates ferry safety.

Federal action could provide greater consistency and more stringent penalties, and Biden directed multiple federal agencies to “immediately take action.”

Mask requirements currently stem from local government orders governing terminals and airports, plus rules from individual companies and operators outlining passenger conduct.

The project comes as Biden’s administration is still taking shape. Nominees to lead the Transportation, Labor, Homeland Security and Health departments have not yet been confirmed by the Senate. The nominee for transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, testified at his confirmation hearing that once he takes office, he wants to look at “all relevant authorities” to enforce mask wearing. Some agencies are currently led by senior career officials, and the administration’s handpicked policy officials are just settling into their new jobs.

Possible fines

One approach under consideration is enforcing mask-wearing with civil penalties the FAA is allowed to assess against disruptive or non-compliant passengers, according to one of the sources familiar with the discussions. An early conversation included consideration of fines up to $20,000, according to one of the sources familiar with the discussions who stressed it was all preliminary. Agency attorneys were working on the issue, another source said. Two sources said the FAA could act within approximately two weeks.

The FAA policy could be accompanied with a formal or informal recommendation that airlines include the mask rule in the pre-flight safety instructions and demonstrations conducted by flight attendants, according to one of the sources.

At the same time, the Department of Transportation is said to be considering issuing a mask directive that would apply to multiple modes of transportation, according to two sources. It is not clear what form of action the DOT might use and when it could take effect.

Two sources familiar with the matter said Sunday that the Transportation Security Administration was in touch with industry officials as it considers how to act.

Spokespeople for the FAA and DOT declined to comment and referred CNN to the White House for comment on the plans. The White House did not comment when contacted by CNN.

The TSA told CNN in a statement it is “exploring how the agency, in conjunction with the DOT, FAA, CDC and TSA’s security partners (i.e., airports, airlines), can work collaboratively to enforce the President’s travel order for travelers to wear masks while in airports, on planes, trains, ferries, intercity buses, mass transit and passenger rail systems.”

Industry wants action

In the industry, there is an appetite for action. Flight attendants and other transportation employees find themselves on the front lines as tense situations have in some cases turned rowdy, and even violent, when a passenger refuses to mask up.

Airlines for America, representing the largest US carriers, has said on several occasions it backs a federal mandate. It has asked the administration to limit the scope of an order to only passengers, citing other requirements for crew members.

The National Air Carrier Association, whose members include Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air, said Friday the forthcoming rules are “a critical and long-overdue step to ensure the safety of passengers, crewmembers and those working at airports and to eliminate any lingering uncertainty regarding mask requirements in commercial aviation.”

The Association of Flight Attendants, a union which had urged the Trump administration to act last spring, called masks “vitally important” in the cabin “where proper social distancing is not an option.”

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, a Trump nominee serving a five-year term, has said he believes passengers should wear face masks but has not previously required it.

He did recently sign an order directing FAA officials to crack down on passengers who do not follow flight attendant instructions and are disruptive in flight, including not abiding by an airline’s rule to wear a mask. The agency noted it can fine passengers as much as $35,000 for some violations.

The amounts of fines the FAA may levy for various violations are laid out in agency guidelines. Alleged violators may be able to negotiate down to a lower amount.

The most recent version of the guidelines — amended earlier this year — stipulates a fine of between $10,000 and $20,000 for a passenger who is “posing (an) imminent threat to safety of (an) aircraft or the collective safety of other individuals.”

CNN’s Nikki Carvajal contributed to this report.

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