FINAL SneakerReporter 2020 NFL Draft Position Rankings

FINAL SneakerReporter 2020 NFL Draft Position Rankings

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by | Apr 23, 2020 | Featured, NFL

The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft begins today at 8:00 PM EST and will air on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. After a crazy draft season, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic we will finally see which players are going where over the next three days. Before the picks are announced here’s a final look at SneakerReporter’s positional rankings for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Quarterback:

1) Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)

2) Joe Burrow (LSU)

3) Jordan Love (Utah State)

4) Justin Herbert (Oregon)

5) Jacob Eason (Washington)

Running Back:

1) Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin)

2) D’ Andre Swift (Georgia)

3) Clyde Edwards-Helaire (LSU)

4) J.K. Dobbins (Ohio State)

5) Cam Akers (Florida State)

 

Wide Receiver:

1) Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)

2) CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)

3) Henry Ruggs III (Alabama)

4) Laviska Shenault (Colorado)

5) Justin Jefferson (LSU)

 

Tight End:

1) Cole Kmet (Notre Dame)

2) Hunter Bryant (Washington)

3) Harrison Bryant (Florida Atlantic)

4) Adam Trautman (Dayton)

5) Colby Parkinson (Stanford)

 

Offensive Tackle:

1) Tristan Wirfs (Iowa)

2) Jedrick Willis (Alabama)

3) Andrew Thomas (Georgia)

4) Josh Jones (Houston)

5) Mekhi Becton (Louisville)

 

Offensive Lineman:

1) Lloyd Cushenberry (LSU)

2) Cesar Ruiz (Michigan)

3) John Simpson (Clemson)

4) Robert Hunt (Lousiana)

5) Matt Hennessy (Temple)

Defensive Lineman:

1) Derrick Brown (Auburn)

2) Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina)

3) Marlon Davidson (Auburn)

4) Neville Gallimore (Oklahoma)

5) Jordan Elliott (Missouri)

Edge Rusher:

1) Chase Young (Ohio State)

2) K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU)

3) Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State)

4) Josh Uche (Michigan)

5) A.J. Epenesa (Iowa)

Linebacker:

1) Isaiah Simmons (Clemson)

2) Patrick Queen (LSU)

3) Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma)

4) Zack Baun (Wisconsin)

5) Jordyn Brooks (Texas Tech)

Cornerback:

1) Jeff Okudah (Ohio State)

2) Trevon Diggs (Alabama)

3) CJ Henderson (Florida)

4) Kristian Fulton (LSU)

5) Jeff Gladney (TCU)

Safety:

1) Antoine Winfield Jr. (Minnesota)

2) Xavier McKinney (Alabama)

3) Grant Delpit (LSU)

4) Kyle Dugger (Lenoir-Rhyne)

5) Ashtyn Davis (California)

Apr 23, 2020 No Comments
BREAKING NEWS: Rob Gronkowski Returning to NFL and Reuniting With Tom Brady

BREAKING NEWS: Rob Gronkowski Returning to NFL and Reuniting With Tom Brady

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by | Apr 21, 2020 | Featured, NFL

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially landed quarterback, Tom Brady as a free agent it was widely reported that there was an influx of players interested in joining the G.O.A.T. in Florida.

Now, we are seeing that come to fruition as rumors are surfacing that former New England Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski—and current holder of the WWE 24/7 Championship belt—is looking to return from retirement and he has told the franchise that he wishes to play with Brady and the Buccaneers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news that the All-Pro duo would be joining forces once more in Florida:

This whole deal came together in seemingly a blink of an eye. Here’s a step-by-step look at how this news was rolled out this afternoon.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapport sent shockwaves through the football world with his tweet:

ESPN’s Adam Schefter chimed in to mention that the Patriots and Buccaneers have had ongoing discussions about a possible deal:

Finally, the last of the NFL insiders big three, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer said that Gronkowski has gone as far as to already take a physical for Tampa Bay:

Of course, in retrospect, Barstool Sports was the first to mention that this reunion had serious potential of happening. Nearly two weeks ago through the Twitter account, @NFLInsiderLeroy (Barstool personality Pardon My Take’s dog) posted this:

For now, the list of weapons that Brady will have at his disposal is out of this world. ESPN’s Field Yates broke it down here:

Most likely the team will move on from one of O.J. Howard or Cameron Brate as having three starter quality tight ends seems like overkill but who knows, maybe Arians holds on to them all.

Gronkowski holds the record for the most touchdown passes caught from Brady (78) and the two will look to add even more to that total whenever the NFL season kicks off.

Apr 21, 2020 No Comments
ESPN’s “The Last Dance”: How To Watch The Miniseries Detailing The Sunrise and Sunset of Sports’ Greatest Faction

ESPN’s “The Last Dance”: How To Watch The Miniseries Detailing The Sunrise and Sunset of Sports’ Greatest Faction

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by | Apr 19, 2020 | Featured, NBA

To think that this magnanimous documentary was pitched to the masses during this time last year and that it’s being released two months earlier than its June 2020 debut date is more than a treat.

Rather, it comes as a beacon of reassurance that the NBA family does indeed look out for its millions upon millions of patrons who pay their undivided attention towards those storylines that stretch across this great league. And speaking of the entertainment aspect so desperately conveyed by the league and its TV partners, we’ve gotten some basketball-related content in the past two weeks, most notably the NBA 2K20 Players Tournament and the NBA HORSE Challenge.

But now, expect all of your social media sites to blow up after tonight’s kickoff of the 10-part docuseries known as “The Last Dance”, a more explicit, descriptive look at the emergence of the dominant Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 1990s, its championship reigns and eventual demise leading up to their 1997-1998 season.

As said earlier, this was supposed to air shortly after the conclusion of this year’s finals but as reality would tell the current story of humanity, an NBA Finals, let alone any playoff series, seems highly unlikely to start on time this year due to the league’s suspension as a result of the COVID-19 crisis directly affecting the world as we know it.

So, thanks to a little intervention from the likes of fans, NBA and WNBA players, and a certain superstar by the name of LeBron James begging the sports network to drop the documentary earlier on Twitter, ESPN is deciding to release a compilation of more than 22 years worth of concealed, unedited, and raw film detailing quite arguably the most memorable, marketable and influential run in the history of sports that involved six championships, multiple All-Star selections, year-end award recipients and the construction of a legacy so impactful that it will forever go un-tarnished.

Directed by Jason Hehir, this miniseries focuses on the 1997-98 champion Bulls and plans to delve deep into just what transpired in the breakup between Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr and no, it won’t pull any punches. With everybody being in the house as a result of this worldwide quarantine, it’s no secret that the anticipation for what could go down as the most anticipated sports documentary of all time has fervently increased.

We’re likely to see a different side of the man fans declare as “His Airness” tonight, so that initially mum Michael Jordan, who we all knew never gave the media that kind of kerosene to start their journalistic fire, will finally open up to the NBA universe and his many fans and prognosticators alike about why he felt the Bulls didn’t want him anymore after ’98 and what he really thought of his running mates in Chicago red during their years atop the NBA mountain.

And, some perceptions will be changed in regards to understanding his persona as a leader, cultural emblem, player, and person. That’s bound to happen. But, we’ll leave it to the producers of this already legendary series to describe that to us in whatever way they will. What will be shown tonight will be that never-before-seen footage of Jordan’s final days in a Bulls uniform, including personal tales and opinions from his teammates and coaches, and those closest around him during his time in the spotlight.

We’re scheduled to hear some wild stories tonight (apparently, more than just the already-known Jordan punching Steve Kerr in a heated practice) and in the next five weeks ahead, as the TV-14 edits of parts 1&2 air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 while the uncensored versions of the series will take place on ESPN.

The rest of the schedule goes as follows:

‘The Last Dance’ Schedule

  • Sunday, April 19, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 1 and 2
  • Sunday, April 26, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 3 and 4
  • Sunday, May 3, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 5 and 6
  • Sunday, May 10, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 7 and 8
  • Sunday, May 17, 9 p.m. ET — Episodes 9 and 10

*Encore showings of the previous week’s episodes will air at 7 p.m. ET.

Apr 19, 2020 No Comments
BREAKING NEWS: Carolina Panthers Make Christian McCaffrey Highest-Paid Running Back in NFL History

BREAKING NEWS: Carolina Panthers Make Christian McCaffrey Highest-Paid Running Back in NFL History

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by | Apr 13, 2020 | Featured, NFL

There have been a lot of changes to the Carolina Panthers since the 2019 season ended. Ron Rivera is no longer the head coach (he’s with the Washington Redskins), Greg Olsen signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent, Luke Kechly retired, and the team released Cam Newton after being unable to find a trade partner.

The franchise plucked Matt Rhule from the college ranks and is hoping that he can work his culture magic in the NFL too.

It looks like they already got one player to buy in as it was announced that All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey has agreed to a four-year extension worth $64 million total—$16 million per year—with the Panthers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news:

This deal makes McCaffrey’ the highest-paid running back in NFL history. He beats out Dallas Cowboys Star Ezekiel Elliott for the honor:

McCaffrey, through another Schefter tweet, said that he’s excited to remain with the organization that drafted him:

McCaffrey has been nothing short of great through his first three years in the NFL, just take a look at the list of accomplishments that ESPN’s Field Yates shared on Twitter:

Rhule and new offensive coordinator Joe Brady are hopeful that they can create a system that gets the most out of McCaffrey’s talents and revitalizes the fan base in Carolina.

Apr 13, 2020 No Comments
NBA HORSE Challenge: The Rundown

NBA HORSE Challenge: The Rundown

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by | Apr 12, 2020 | Featured, NBA

So, as of yesterday, it’s officially been one month since the NBA – and more formally, the sporting world – was halted due to concerns surrounding the global COVID-19 crisis that has affected millions of humans in more ways than one. It’s been a rough, worrisome, and pretty boring void that sports and competition usually fill at a surplus this time of the year and while we’ve been without hardwood hoops in the last month of the regular season, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been proactive in giving basketball fans something to cheer on during this uncertain time.

The NBA 2k20 Players Tournament came to an end Saturday night, as All-Star Suns guard Devin Booker took home the virtual gold in a sweep over teammate DeAndre Ayton in the tournament final, broadcasted live to the masses on ESPN as if it were a primetime matchup.

But now that the charitable 2K tournament is over, just what, you ask, succeeds it while captivating NBA fans for the next couple of weeks? Look no further than the inaugural NBA HORSE Challenge brought to you by State Farm, officially beginning tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Headlined by both NBA/WNBA superstars and National Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinees, eight participants will duke it out in an old fashioned game of H.O.R.S.E – AKA that game that you and your friends probably in the played on the driveway in which one player calls a shot, makes it and leaves it up to his or her opponent to copy the shot, or risk going up a letter.

This classic game will have pairs of current All-Stars like Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, Chicago Bulls guard Zach Lavine and Utah Jazz Guard Mike Conley go up with, or pair against, legends such as “The Truth” Paul Pierce, “Big Shot” Chauncey Billups, and WNBA current players and greats in Tamika Catchings, and Allie Quigley of the Chicago Sky. ESPN Commentator Mark Jones will serve as the official host and lead commentator for the games, as all competitors will attempt their shots within the safety and comfort of their isolated humble abodes.

State Farm will officially donate $200,000 on behalf of the participants to charities focused on Coronavirus relief and response efforts as this donation adds on to the already gratuitous $74 Million raised by the NBA and Nationa Basketball Players Association to support the many people, communities, and countries affected by this disease through its NBA Together campaign.

Here’s how the tournament works, per NBA.com’s official press release:

“Participants of the NBA HORSE Challenge presented by State Farm will be divided into two groups of four, with the winners of the first two games in each group meeting in the semifinals.  The winner from each group will move on to the championship round.  ESPN will present the four quarterfinal games on Sunday. The semifinals and the championship game will air on Thursday, April 16, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

A coin toss at the start of each game will determine who shoots first, with the more senior player calling heads or tails.  Players must describe each shot attempt, specifying the type of score they intend to make before taking a shot, such as a bank shot or swish. Dunking is prohibited. The first player in each game to accumulate the letters “H-O-R-S-E” after failing to match five shots is eliminated.”

As there are two groups of competitors in this challenge, Group one features battles between Chauncey Billups, Tamika Catchings, Mike Conley Jr., and Trae Young, and Group two will have games consisting of Zach LaVine, Chris Paul, Paul Pierce, and Allie Quigley going at it.

Here are the matchups:

This is an elaborate effort by the NBA family to keep the sporting world unified during a tough time, so be sure not to miss out on the games of HORSE starting tonight on ESPN.

Apr 12, 2020 No Comments
Top 10 Easter-Themed Basketball Sneakers

Top 10 Easter-Themed Basketball Sneakers

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by | Apr 12, 2020 | Featured, NBA, Sneakers

Obviously Christmas-themed signature basketball sneakers are/were the ‘creme de la creme’ of specialty colorways in the NBA. Not too far behind the Christmas packs, are the Easter packs that brands used to put out just a few years ago. At SneakerReporter we compiled a list of the Top 10 Easter-themed Basketball Sneakers. There was some criteria that had to be met in order for a shoe to be considered for the list. First, the shoe has to be a signature basketball silhouette – brand does not matter. Second, the shoe has to have an apparent “Easter” theme to it, whether it be pastel colors, details on the upper, and originality. How much a shoe has those three phases of criteria will determine how high the shoe is in our Top 10. Look below to find out which sneakers made up our list and to see if there were any surprises you weren’t expecting.

 

 

10. Nike Kobe 11 Elite Low “Easter” (2016)

 

           

 

 

9. Nike Lebron X Low “Easter” (2013)

 

           

 

 

8. Adidas Dame 2 “Easter” (2016)

 

           

 

 

7. Nike Kyrie 2 “Easter” (2016)

 

                 

 

 

6. Adidas Dame 1 “Easter” (2015)

 

           

 

 

5. Nike Lebron XII “Easter” (2015)

 

                 

 

 

4. Nike Kobe 9 EM Low “Easter” (2014)

 

           

 

 

3. Nike KD V “Easter” (2013)

 

           

 

 

2. Nike KD IV “Easter” (2012)

 

           

 

 

1. Nike Kobe 8 “Easter” (2013)

 

                 

 

 

 

 

Apr 12, 2020 No Comments