HENDERSON, Nev. — Gardner Minshew will open the season because the Las Vegas Raiders’ beginning quarterback, coach Antonio Pierce introduced Sunday.

Minshew, who signed with the Raiders as a free agent this offseason, was competing with Aidan O’Connell for the job.

“A number of issues went into it,” Pierce mentioned. “It wasn’t based mostly off of [solely] final night time. There’s numerous elements. So, we really feel like Gardner offers us the most effective alternative to get off to a quick begin, and that is what we’re going with. We help him, our group’s behind it, our workers’s behind it, the group’s behind it.”

The Raiders open the 2024 season on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1.

Requested particularly what went into the choice, Pierce identified the “expertise” of Minshew, who’s getting into his sixth NFL season, in addition to the totality of the competitors.

“The operation, the method and simply every little thing we noticed in follow,” Pierce mentioned. “A few of it confirmed up within the video games. A number of stuff we will get higher at. I do not suppose something here’s a completed product however based mostly off of the place we wish to go within the first quarter of the season, we really feel like Gardner offers us the most effective alternative.”

Minshew, 28, is on his fourth group after signing a two-year, $25 million contract, together with $15 million assured, with the Raiders on March 14.

In two preseason video games, he threw for 212 yards on 16-of-33 passing with a landing. The cell Minshew additionally had 12 yards speeding on two makes an attempt.

O’Connell, in the meantime, was a mixed 21-of-29 for 172 yards with a TD and an interception, which was returned for a landing.

“I feel we each put collectively an excellent physique of labor, performed some nice ball and left it as much as Coach to make a tough resolution,” Minshew mentioned after the Raiders’ lackluster 27-12 exhibition loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night time at Allegiant Stadium.

“I am tremendous optimistic about what we’re going to have the ability to do as a group this 12 months and simply wanting ahead to this 12 months, typically.”

Pierce mentioned the choice to go together with Minshew was made after consulting with normal supervisor Tom Telesco and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

“His persona is infectious, his power is infectious, his management is infectious,” Pierce mentioned of Minshew. “Issues of enchancment — [his] footwork within the pocket, staying on script.

“There’s some magic about him when he does break the pocket and does his factor, however there’s numerous occasions the place if the primary [or] second learn is there, we have got to let it rip. So, he understands that. And extra importantly, caring for the soccer.”

O’Connell, a fourth-round decide in 2023 who was put in as a rookie starter by Pierce when he was elevated to interim coach on Nov. 1, completed robust final season. He threw eight landing passes with out an interception within the Raiders’ ultimate 4 video games, when Las Vegas went 3-1.

The Raiders’ lone loss in that stretch? To Minshew and the Indianapolis Colts on New 12 months’s Eve.

“These two gents are professionals,” Pierce mentioned. “The best way they’ve dealt with this competitors has actually resonated all through our constructing … they’ve cheered one another on, they have been good teammates, they’ve introduced out the most effective model of one another in practices and, I feel, within the video games. They each took it on the chin like a champ. And I informed them, simply each be prepared. Within the Nationwide Soccer League, you by no means know.

“However Aidan is a younger participant that has an amazing upside that I feel will nonetheless be a starter right here on this league … will likely be a starter sooner or later on this league, if it is this 12 months or subsequent 12 months, however he’ll play in video games. And I feel Gardner has finished job of … being that older presence. He is performed a few years within the league, and he is been by means of some adversity, in order that’s been good for Aidan.”

Whereas this would be the sixth straight season Minshew begins no less than one sport, his solely different Week 1 begin got here in 2020 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Minshew will likely be beginning for his fourth completely different franchise since 2020, tying Andy Dalton, Carson Wentz and Baker Mayfield for probably the most in that span, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Info analysis. The Minnesota Vikings’ Sam Darnold will even seemingly be part of this checklist this season.

PARIS — Alain Delon, the internationally acclaimed French actor who embodied each the unhealthy man and the policeman and made hearts throb all over the world, died at age 88, French media reported.

Together with his good-looking appears to be like and tender method, the prolific actor was in a position to mix toughness with an interesting, susceptible high quality that made him one among France’s memorable main males.

Delon was additionally a producer. He additionally appeared in performs, and in later years, in tv motion pictures.

French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute on X to “a French monument.”

“Alain Delon has performed legendary roles and made the world dream,” he wrote. “Melancholic, widespread, secretive, he was greater than a star.”

Delon’s youngsters introduced the loss of life on Sunday in an announcement to the French nationwide information company Agence France-Presse, a standard observe in France. Tributes to Delon instantly began pouring in on social platforms, and all main French media switched to full-fledged protection of his wealthy profession.

Earlier this 12 months, his son Anthony had mentioned his father had been identified with B-cell lymphoma, a kind of most cancers.

Over the previous 12 months, Delon’s fragile well being situation had been on the coronary heart of a household dispute over his care that gave rise to bitter exchanges by means of the media amongst his three youngsters.

On the prime of his profession, within the Nineteen Sixties and Seventies, Delon was sought out by among the world’s high administrators, from Luchino Visconti to Joseph Losey.

In his later years, Delon grew disillusioned with the film business, saying that cash had killed the dream. “Cash, commerce and tv have wrecked the dream machine,” he wrote in a 2003 version of the newsweekly, Le Nouvel Observateur. “My cinema is useless. And me, too.”

However he continued to work incessantly, showing in a number of TV motion pictures in his 70s.

Delon’s presence was unforgettable, whether or not taking part in morally wicked heroes or romantic main males. He first drew acclaim in 1960 with “Plein Soleil,” directed by Réne Clément, through which he performed a assassin making an attempt to tackle the identification of his victims.

He made a number of Italian motion pictures, working, most notably with Visconti within the 1961 movie “Rocco and His Brothers,” through which Delon portrays a self-sacrificing brother intent on serving to his sibling. The film received the Particular Jury Prize on the Venice Movie Competition.

The 1963 Visconti movie “Le Guepard” (The Leopard) starring Delon received the Palme d’Or, the very best honor on the Cannes Movie Competition. His different movies included Clément’s “Is Paris Burning,” with a screenplay by Gore Vidal and Francis Ford Coppola amongst others; “La Piscine” (The Sinners), directed by Jacques Deray; and, in a departure, Losey’s “The Assassination of Trotsky” in 1972.

In 1968, Delon started producing motion pictures – 26 of them by 1990 – a part of a frenzied and confident momentum that he maintained all through his life.

His confidence was palpable in his assertion to Femme in 1996, ‘I wish to be cherished the way in which I like myself!’ This echoed his charismatic display screen persona.

Delon continued to captivate audiences for years – on the way in which courting criticism for feedback deemed outdated. In 2010, he appeared in “Un mari de trop” (“One Husband Too Many”) and returned to the stage in 2011 with “An Bizarre Day,” alongside his daughter Anouchka.

He briefly presided over the Miss France jury however stepped down in 2013 after a disagreement over some controversial statements, which included critiques on girls, LGBTQIA+ rights, and migrants. Regardless of these controversies, he obtained a Palme d’Honneur on the 2019 Cannes Movie Competition, a choice that sparked additional debate.

The Cannes Movie Competition on Sunday expressed its “disappointment.” Delon “embodied French cinema far past its borders,” it mentioned, in an announcement.

The Brigitte Bardot Basis, devoted to animal safety, paid tribute to “an distinctive man, an unforgettable artist and an awesome pal of animals,” in an announcement launched on social media. Delon was “an in depth pal” of French movie legend Brigitte Bardot “who’s deeply saddened by his passing,” the assertion mentioned. “We lose a valuable pal and a person with an enormous coronary heart.”

French movie producer Alain Terzian mentioned Delon was “the final of the giants.”

“It is a web page being turned within the historical past of French cinema,” he informed France Inter radio. Terzian, who produced a number of movies directed by Delon, recalled that “each time he arrived someplace … there was a form of virtually mystical, quasi-religious respect. He was fascinating.”

Born on Nov. 8, 1935, in Sceaux, simply south of Paris, Delon was positioned with a foster household after his mother and father’ separation when he was 4. He then attended a Roman Catholic boarding faculty.

At 17, Delon joined the navy and was despatched to Indochina. Again in France in 1956, he held varied odd jobs from waiter to a service within the Paris meat market earlier than turning to performing.

Delon had a son, Anthony, in 1964 together with his then-wife Nathalie Canovas, who performed alongside him in Jean-Pierre Melville’s “The Samurai” in 1967. He had two extra youngsters, Anouchka and Alain-Fabien, with a later companion, Rosalie van Breemen, with whom he produced a tune and video clip in 1987. He was additionally broadly believed to have been the daddy of Ari Boulogne, the son of German mannequin and singer Nico, though he by no means publicly acknowledged paternity.

“I’m superb at three issues: my job, foolishness and kids,” he mentioned in a 1995 L’Specific interview.

Delon juggled various actions all through his life, from establishing a steady of trotting horses to growing cologne for women and men, adopted by watches, glasses and different equipment. He additionally collected work and sculptures.

Delon introduced an finish to his performing profession in 1999, solely to proceed, showing in Bertrand Blier’s “Les Acteurs” (The Actors) the identical 12 months. Later he appeared in a number of tv police reveals.

His attractiveness sustained him. In August 2002, Delon informed a weekly journal, L’Humanite Hebdo, that he would not nonetheless be within the enterprise if that weren’t so.

“You may by no means see me outdated and ugly,” he mentioned when he was already nearing 70, “as a result of I will go away earlier than, or I will die.”

Nonetheless, it was in 2019 that Delon encapsulated his emotions about his life’s which means throughout a gala occasion honoring him on the Cannes Movie Competition. “One factor I am certain about is that if there’s one thing I am pleased with, actually, the one factor, it is my profession.”

Retired AP correspondent Elaine Ganley contributed biographical materials to this story.

Actual Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti criticized his gamers following Sunday’s shock 1-1 draw with Mallorca, demanding that they each focus extra and defend higher shifting ahead amongst different issues.

The guests took the lead with barely 1 / 4 of an hour down on the clock in Son Moix by Rodrygo, solely to concede an equalizer eight minutes into the second half from Muriqi.

Dominated in midfield for essentially the most half, many felt that Madrid had been second finest and Ancelotti additionally thought that it “wasn’t an excellent sport” from his males regardless of them beginning the sport nicely.

“We’d like extra stability. We have already stated it earlier than, we’re very offensive however stability is prime,” Ancelotti additional said.

Requested how he’ll discover stated stability, Ancelotti answered that it’s important the gamers are “pondering the identical means”.

“Once we win the ball again, we’ve to consider all of it collectively. Chances are you’ll suppose that it’s the drawback of the striker, however it might be the issue of the protection, or of the midfielders.

“It isn’t an issue of 1, two or three. It’s a drawback of a staff that on this match didn’t perceive it was a key side. Mallorca performed a terrific sport defensively, higher than us. The draw is [the] appropriate [score],” the Italian added.

Whereas Ancelotti believed a stalemate was a good consequence, he did not significantly prefer it.

“Final 12 months I used to be proud of some attracts, however not in the present day,” he stated. “We may have achieved a lot better. I do not need to make excuses. We simply needed to do higher, with extra angle. You possibly can be taught from these matches. It’s clear the place the issue lies.”

“The issue is that the staff was too open,” Ancelotti defined at one other level of his post-match interview. “We’ve to pay attention extra, as we normally do. It’s neither a bodily nor a psychological drawback.”

Sticking with the identical XI that gained the UEFA Tremendous Cup midweek, Ancelotti famous that “final 12 months we did not make many modifications, however once we enter the Champions League we’ll rotate extra”.

“When speaking concerning the defensive side, we weren’t good … We’ve to enhance it. We’re speaking about angle and collective dedication,” he concluded.

Actual Madrid acquired their LaLiga title defence off to a limp begin as they have been held to a 1-1 draw at Mallorca, with Vedat Muriqi’s second-half header cancelling out Rodrygo’s early strike and spoiling Kylian Mbappé’s eagerly awaited debut on Sunday.

Actual’s so-called “New Galacticos” with Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior headlining a stellar squad got here crashing again to earth with a dreary efficiency at a raucous Son Moix.

Actual Madrid began properly and took the lead due to a superb curling strike by Brazilian ahead Rodrygo assisted by a back-heeled go from his countryman Vinicius within the thirteenth minute.

Nevertheless, Mallorca began to create some probabilities in counter-attacks as a toothless Actual grew annoyed, dominating possession however missing concepts up entrance.

With Mbappé and Bellingham nowhere to be discovered, Vinícius was arguably Actual’s solely weapon towards a disciplined Mallorca defence. However the Brazilian ended up shedding his cool and was taunted by the native followers each time he touched the ball.

The Son Moix stadium has been a troublesome place for Vinicius, who in February 2023 was racially abused by the native supporters there.

On Sunday, he had a number of heated exchanges with rivals and was reprimanded by the referee after staring into the stands as if daring followers to shout at him all of the extra.

Actual goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made three superb saves to maintain the customer’s lead, however there was nothing he might do to cease Muriqi’s highly effective header from a nook within the 53rd minute that degree for the locals.

Vinicius’s struggles and Mallorca’s equaliser annoyed Actual thereafter. They solely actually threatened twice with related strikes by Mbappe, who sprinted up the left channel in counter-attacks however had his angled strikes denied by an impressed Dominik Greif in aim for Mallorca.

Actual ended the match with 10-men after defender Ferland Mendy was proven a straight pink for a sliding deal with deep into added time.

Someday after a depleted Barca fought again to win 2-1 at Valencia regardless of lacking a number of key starters, a star-studded Actual Madrid laboured away to little avail, suggesting they might have to work more durable than they thought to suit Mbappe into their squad.

The Indianapolis Colts relaxation at 1-1 forward of their closing preseason showdown this Thursday towards the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Whereas there are many positives for Indianapolis to look over from the previous two contests, there are additionally robust choices forward for sure gamers which may not match what the Colts try to do as a franchise for the longer term. With cuts approaching, some transactions might be anticipated, whereas others would possibly come as a shock. For second-year deal with Blake Freeland, it is perhaps a actuality if one thing would not change.

What occurs subsequent for the Colts? Do not miss out on any information and evaluation! Take a second and join our free e-newsletter and get breaking Colts information delivered to your inbox day by day!

By way of two preseason video games Freeland has been one of many largest liabilities on the Colts’ offensive line. Per Professional Soccer Focus, Freeland has logged 59 offensive snaps and gathered blocking grades of 61.0 general and 81.9 run blocking. The run blocking for Freeland is not the problem, it is the abysmal go blocking that put his quarterback continually in danger. Freeland sits on the backside of Indy’s offensive line roster efficiency with a 34.9 mark. Preserving in thoughts that Freeland has been enjoying primarily towards backups and roster bubble hopefuls, it makes issues worse for his future as a Colts swing deal with. Additionally, take into account that if Anthony Richardson had been to wish to play behind Freeland in the course of the common season, it makes issues a bit scarier for the teaching employees.

The competitors is not serving to Freeland’s case, as rookie Matt Goncalves has struggled, however nonetheless outplayed the previous BYU Cougar in go professional within the preseason. Freeland could also be a serviceable depth deal with if he can regain some momentum defending the quarterback, nevertheless it is not wanting promising for him at this junction. With any NFL franchise, it would not matter if an offensive deal with is unimaginable at run-blocking, they will not belief that participant if they’re as unhealthy as Freeland has been in defending his quarterbacks if it may be averted. Exterior of Goncalves, there’s Arlington Hambright and Jake Witt to compete with Freeland, and each have performed much better in go safety. They’re additionally serviceable, or higher, within the run-blocking division.

There are nonetheless veteran free agent offensive tackles that Indianapolis can signal who will are available and be higher on day one than Freeland at pass-blocking. If Freeland desires to maintain himself from being reduce or positioned on the follow squad, he has to permit much less strain and QB hits. With yet one more preseason recreation remaining, we’ll see how a lot Shane Steichen and Tony Sparano Jr. wish to belief Freeland.

Need extra Colts content material? Take a look at the most recent episode of the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast!

Observe Horseshoe Huddle on Fb and X; subscribe on YouTube for a number of Colts live-stream podcasts per week.

The Atlanta Falcons misplaced 13-12 to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, however this being a preseason sport, the contours of the competition matter little or no.

Let’s discuss what we actually realized from the large moments and the selections main as much as the sport.

The Falcons worth well being an incredible deal

Atlanta sat, by workforce reporter Terrin Waack’s rely, 37 gamers on Saturday. To place that in some perspective, which means they basically performed with the identical 53 man roster they’d have on common season Sundays…however that quantity was with out mainly any of their starters and most of their prime reserves.

That meant the preseason product was understandably iffy, however it was additionally a significant assertion on what Raheem Morris and firm consider the preseason. It’s a time for the reserves to get their work and make their circumstances for depth chart jockeying and roster spot grabbing, not a time for established gamers to get in somewhat work, and method borrowed from legendary preseason hater Sean McVay. The accidents to Bralen Trice and DeMarcco Hellams made the Falcons even extra cautious within the second week, and fortunately, they escaped from this sport with none further accidents that we all know of.

I put this takeaway first as a result of it’s clearly the one which issues essentially the most to the Falcons, who’re prepared to danger somewhat rust from starters within the service of getting these starters to the season wholesome. Provided that this franchise clearly expects to contend in 2024 and given what number of gamers they’ve both coming off main harm (Kirk Cousins, Grady Jarrett) or just set to play too massive a job to danger their well being, you’d be hard-pressed to quibble with lots of the selections the Falcons made on Saturday. That’s true even when I’d have actually preferred to see Michael Penix toss the soccer round once more, and even when the choice to park Penix for the preseason finale deserves its personal article quickly.

The massive roster choices have already been made

Let’s assume these 37 gamers are all roster locks, which I assume is a good factor to say. That leaves 16 open spots and one other small raft of potential follow squad roles to fill. Even the competitions for beginning jobs are being determined in follow, in the event that they haven’t already been determined.

Out of these 16 spots, Younghoe Koo, Liam McCullough, and Bradley Pinion have three of them and are merely enjoying as a result of they’re specialists. Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, James Smith-Williams, and Micah Abernathy are possible all roster locks as effectively and are merely getting expertise and filling essential gameday niches owing to the variety of gamers out there. That would go away one thing like 9 spots open, and that’s should you assume (as I’ve) that Taylor Heinicke might be ticketed for one more workforce’s roster. There’s not a whole lot of precise competitors happening for roster spots right here, in different phrases.

There’s nothing flawed with that, however it does take away somewhat little bit of the small intrigue preseason can provide us. Nonetheless…

The massive preseason moments are enjoyable and worthwhile

Chris Blair has been grinding away for a short time now, making an attempt to make the roster final summer time, winding up stealing his means again onto the Falcons follow squad, signing a reserve/future take care of the workforce, after which competing this summer time. Possibly all of it provides as much as one thing, perhaps it doesn’t, however Blair was a standout on Saturday in a means that may matter an incredible deal for him.

Posting practically 100 yards and searching easy and succesful as a receiver, Blair made his case for a roster spot and certain helped impress a brand new teaching employees sufficient to place him in severe consideration for a follow squad slot if the receiver depth chart is already fairly settled of their minds. If he doesn’t stick round, he did sufficient to be a focus for one other franchise that wants receiver assist. In a largely forgettable grind of a sport, Blair’s standout day, Natrone Brooks displaying out as maybe the most effective defender on the sector for the Falcons and making his personal case for a spot this 12 months, and Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus enjoying effectively and displaying the teaching employees they are often relied on to be disruptive forces if known as upon have been vivid moments with probably outsized implications for these gamers.

Coaches don’t love preseason video games, however gamers who wish to make an affect or seize a spot need to benefit from the alternative. If Blair and Brooks wind up being follow squad mainstays and even contributors for this Falcons workforce, Saturday can have mattered loads.

Younghoe Koo can have the fanbase on edge for some time

Koo, like Matt Bryant earlier than him, has been a favourite of Falcons followers for some time now. While you’re a kicker and also you’re dependable, that tends to occur. The issue is that misses shortly take your luster away, no less than till you string collectively many profitable kicks.

That’s the place Koo is now. After a few ugly video games in 2023 took among the shine away from a principally profitable season, Koo whiffed 3 times on Saturday in opposition to the Ravens, all of them to the left. That might be a correctable situation that Koo irons out—he’s actually busted out of brief slumps and rebounded from errors loads of occasions in Atlanta—and the season will roll round and we’ll return to being fairly comfy when he traces as much as strive a area aim. Many Falcons followers nonetheless aren’t sweating Koo’s standing in any respect, to be honest.

However for the remainder of the fanbase, Koo is now like some other kicker within the league not named, say, Justin Tucker. Breath will likely be held till he returns to the shape that made him one of many league’s higher kickers, and if there’s a vivid notice right here, it’s that he has the expertise and the historical past to make us imagine that’s borderline inevitable.