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49ers QB Sam Darnold sees season-ending showcase as meaningful

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Inside the 49ers’ joyous locker room Sunday, some players wondered aloud if they’d get still paid for the wild-card round, which they’ll bypass as the No. 1 seed. The answer: Yes, $45,500 apiece.When one player posed that question to sixth-year veteran Sam Darnold, however, a teammate interrupted and teased how Darnold wouldn’t know the answer, because he’s never gone to the playoffs.Well, Darnold is going now, in his first year with the 49ers as their backup. Because the 49ers are locked into the NFC playoffs’ top spot, they will stash Brock Purdy for the playoffs and instead start Darnold in Sunday’s regular-season finale. He’ll oppose a playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams team that will start Carson Wentz over Matthew Stafford.“I’m just excited to keep playing more football, man,” Darnold said. “Week 18 isn’t the last week of football we’re going to be playing here. That’s always a good feeling...

Letters: Football option | Wages over tips | Verify Trump

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.High school footballcan fill college voidWhat happened to the student-athlete of my generation? Today college football is almost unrecognizable. Commercials get more playing time than the players do. Is it holding, or pass interference? The guy in the striped shirt can make that call on every play but can make the wrong call. How much is offered to a kid to switch teams? An undefeated team this year lost by 60 points because two dozen players opted out due to the transfer portal, NIL or the NFL draft.The real student-athlete got free tuition, was a hero on campus, played the game he loved, and may have had the four years of his life — no big cars or jewelry in the locker room. The game meant more than money.Next year check out your local high school teams. Hard work, solid GPAs, good seats, affordable prices, no travel and something to feel good about.Bill ChestnutSan RamonInstead of tips, workerss...

Years after successful appeal, Vallejo man convicted once again in Hayward murder

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

HAYWARD — Years after his successful appeal, a Vallejo man has been convicted once again of murdering a Hayward man in front of his then-10-year-old daughter as they walked to the store to get ice cream.Dereak Turner, 34, was convicted of second-degree murder and personal use of a firearm in the 2009 shooting death of Thomas Cunningham, court records show. Turner is set to be sentenced on March 1, and faces life with a chance for parole after 15-40 years.In Turner’s first trial, prosecutors told the jury that he was accused of a second, unrelated homicide in Oakland. A judge later shelved the second murder charge after a defense motion argued the evidence in it was weak, but allowed the Cunningham murder trial to proceed with the same jury that had heard Turner was an alleged two-time killer. In 2021, an appellate court ruled that the trial court has “abused its discretion” and denied Turner a fair trial.In Turner’s first trial, he argued solely that th...

Family of ex-East Bay detective arrested on attempted murder thanks police who resolved standoff

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

MARTINEZ — The mother of a former Pittsburg police detective who held police, SWAT and FBI members at bay and shut down a Pleasant Hill neighborhood during two tense standoffs over a 36-hour period last month thanked police Thursday for “saving my son’s life.”“I can’t tell you how grateful I am to the law officers,” Muehaw Saelee said outside the A.F. Bray Courthouse building, where her son, Chunliam “Nai” Saechao pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him at his arraignment inside the A.F. Bray Courthouse. “I cannot thank you enough for what you did.“There are so many officers who put their life on the line and who risked their own happiness and that of their families to help my son.”Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Discovery of body in Hercules triggers death investigation Crime and Public Safety | Fourth suspect arrested as probe over Oakland officer’s killing contin...

Marine in Pleasant Hill standoff pleads not guilty

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

MARTINEZ, Calif. (KRON) -- At the Contra Costa County courthouse, supporters of Chunliam "Nai" Saechao gathered in support of the U.S. Marine and retired police officer. On Thursday, Saechao pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Pleasant Hill police SWAT team members.On December 7, Saechao got into a lengthy standoff with a SWAT team when he locked the doors to his house, shot his wife through a garage, shot at SWAT vehicles, and refused to surrender to police, according to the Pleasant Hill Police Department. While he was barricaded inside his Cleopatra Drive home, Saechao continuously posted on social media. One tweet stated, "Come try to kill me if you dare I’ll kill you back." Another tweet stated, “And just so you know I am perfectly sane."Family members said they are grateful SWAT team members were ultimately able to take the 40-year-old Marine into custody without using lethal force. His wife recovered at a hospital. Saechao's defense team asserts that he suffe...

Falcons-Saints rivalry renewed with a playoff berth still possible for either team

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

ATLANTA (7-9) at NEW ORLEANS (8-8)Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBSBETTING LINE: Saints by 3, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Falcons 5-11, Saints 6-9-1.SERIES RECORD: Falcons lead 55-54.LAST MEETING: Falcons beat Saints 24-15 on Nov. 26, 2023, in Atlanta.LAST WEEK: Falcons lost to Bears 37-17; Saints beat Buccaneers 23-13FALCONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (8), PASS (22), SCORING (26).FALCONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (19), PASS (8), SCORING (T-9).SAINTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (2), PASS (28), SCORING (T-21).SAINTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (1), PASS (25), SCORING (T-21).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Falcons minus-9; Saints plus-8.FALCONS PLAYER TO WATCH: With QB Taylor Heinicke possibly limited by his left ankle injury, Atlanta could re-emphasize its running game led by rookie Bijan Robinson. Robinson is tied with William Andrews (1,332 in 1979) for most yards from scrimmage by a rookie in franchise history. SAINTS PLAYER TO WATCH: TE Juwan Johnson set career highs with...

With Huntley at QB, the Ravens will try to get even for their loss to Steelers earlier this season

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

PITTSBURGH (9-7) at BALTIMORE (13-3)Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST, ESPNOPENING LINE: Steelers by 4 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Steelers 9-7, Ravens 11-5.SERIES RECORD: Steelers lead 34-25.LAST MEETING: Steelers beat Ravens 17-10 on Oct. 8 in Pittsburgh.LAST WEEK: Steelers beat Seahawks 30-20; Ravens beat Dolphins 56-19.STEELERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (27), RUSH (12), PASS (25), SCORING (25).STEELERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (18), PASS (22), SCORING (7).RAVENS OFFENSE: OVERALL (4), RUSH (1), PASS (21), SCORING (2).RAVENS DEFENSE: OVERALL (4), RUSH (13), PASS (6), SCORING (1).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Steelers plus-11; Ravens plus-12.STEELERS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Mason Rudolph. The longtime backup will make his third straight start after leading Pittsburgh’s offense to a pair of breakout performances in season-saving (for now) wins over Cincinnati and Seattle. Rudolph could establish himself as a viable challenger to Kenny Pickett in 2024 if he can keep finding ways t...

49ers and Rams turn to some reserves headed into low-impact finale

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Figuring out how many players he can rest for the playoffs while still fielding a team in a meaningless Week 18 game is a new challenge for San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.It sure beats the alternative of still having plenty at stake in the regular-season finale.The NFC West rivalry between the 49ers (12-4) and Los Angeles Rams (9-7) will have a decidedly different feel when they meet on Sunday with both playoff-bound teams approaching the game almost like an exhibition. “This is just stuff that’s a little annoying to think about but once you kind of do, which we had time to do the last couple days, I just had to talk to some players so they understand it,” Shanahan said. “We’re good. We’re going to enjoy this week.” San Francisco clinched the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye last week, allowing Shanahan to make the decision to sit quarterback Brock Purdy in place of Sam Darnold, giving running back Christian McCaffrey time to heal from a min...

Former Montana football coach Don Read, who led team to first national title, dies at age 90

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Don Read, who helped build Montana into a Football Championship Subdivision powerhouse during a decade as its coach and led the team to its first national championship in 1995, died Wednesday, just days before the Grizzlies were set to play for a third national title. He was 90.Read’s son, Bruce, confirmed his father’s death to the Oregonian while not disclosing a cause.“He was a great person who touched many hearts and lives in a positive way,” said Bruce Read, an assistant coach at Lewis & Clark College in Portland. “I can’t tell you how many people have reached out.”Read’s teams ran an exciting, pass-first offense, drawing capacity crowds to Washington-Grizzly Stadium, which opened in 1986 — Read’s first season. Under Read, Montana never had a losing season, won all 10 of its games against rival Montana State, and posted an 85-36 record.“He was a great guy and great coach and he really got things going here,” Robin Sel...

Barcelona edges Las Palmas with late Gundogan goal. Ramos tells fan to ‘shut up’ after Sevilla loss

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:23 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed a penalty kick in stoppage time to win 2-1 at Las Palmas and keep pace with leaders Real Madrid and Girona in the Spanish league on Thursday.Ilkay Gundogan sent his shot from the penalty spot into the middle of the net three minutes into added time to keep Barcelona within seven points of leaders Madrid and Girona at the halfway point of the season.Madrid, which is ahead of Girona on a tiebreaker, defeated Mallorca 1-0 on Wednesday, while Girona beat fifth-place Atletico Madrid 4-3.“Everyone is having a hard time winning,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said. “Girona’s victory came in the last second, Madrid needed a goal off a corner in the 80th, and we did it with a penalty in the final moments. We have what it takes to win the league, you have to respect the defending champions.”It was another poor performance by Barcelona, which ended last year with three setbacks before edging last-place Almeria in a match in which it was booed by its ...