A Keepnet Full of Dreams

In 2009 Avon days and Stour Ways was launched, a book that was essentially a romp through four decades of coarse fishing by Kevin Grozier and a few of his friends on those world famous rivers of Southern England, the Hampshire Avon and Dorset Stour, for the magnificent Barbel, Carp, Chub, Dace, Perch, Pike and Roach that are found in them. In the five years since publication, his book has attracted a great deal of praise across the angling world with many readers writing, phoning or e-mailing Kevin to let him know how much they enjoyed it.

In A Keepnet Full of Dreams, Kevin has continued the same style in bringing his fishing experiences up to date. The book follows the same amusing, and sometimes irreverent anecdotal style which, judging by the many letters he received proved to be so popular with Avon Days. The new book, like the previous one, is not an unrelenting catalogue of big fish captures. Once again it is essentially a story book, including an account of his first experiences carp fishing abroad.

Dave Steuart, having read Avon Days in 2009 told Kevin it was one of the best angling books he had ever read and warned him he would never write a better book, or even come near it. Yet in his foreword to Kevin’s new book A Keepnet Full of Dreams Dave tells us he was wrong!

Another friend, Rae Borras who wrote the earlier foreword to Avon Days tells us in his foreword to the new book that “there is a passion which seeps through every sentence of his writing.”

David Irving suspended first four games for substance abuse

The NFL has suspended Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving the first four games of the season for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

Irving sat out the first four games last season for violation of the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. It marks the fifth consecutive season the Cowboys will begin the year with a defensive starter suspended. DeMarcus Lawrence, Orlando Scandrick, Rolando McClain, Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory also have served suspensions since 2014.

The news of Andre Hal’s diagnosis weighs heavy on the hearts of everyone in the Houston Texans family, he said.

Hal has spent his entire four-year career NFL with Houston. He posted 47 tackles and three interceptions last season.

Hal’s diagnosis comes just three days after Giants GM Dave Gettleman revealed he was found to have lymphoma during a recent physical exam.\

I’m fine, just really sore, Baez said after the game (via the Chicago Tribune). It got me really good right on the elbow. I thought the pain was going to go right way, but it numbed my whole arm and even my ribs.

After icing and other treatments, (i)t’s actually feeling pretty good, Baez said.

Although he is hitting just .175 (7-for-40) in June, the Tribune writes that he arguably has been the Cubs’ most valuable player this season because of his power, fielding prowess and versatility.

Such a move undoubtedly would be seen as a publicity stunt — Tebow is 30 and has a .230/.317/.353 slash line in his minor league career. But that doesn’t mean this show shouldn’t get a stop at Citi Field.

I think that’s something I’ll have to figure out, pray about it and see where my heart’s at with everything, Tebow said. How do you put a timetable on dreams or ambition or heart?

Packers fan’s lawsuit against Bears could impact anthem debate

As the NFL braces for the NFL Players Association’s potential legal challenge(s) to the new anthem policy, the league should be concerned, at least a little bit, about the possibility of a lawsuit based on the First Amendment.

What’s that, you say? The First Amendment doesn’t apply to private employers? It generally doesn’t. But when private employers put their employees to work in a publicly-funded venue, the analysis possibly changes.

Coach John Harbaugh said that Crabtree has been great for our locker room and has shared the tricks of the trade with his younger teammates in hopes of lifting the entire group. If that happens, it will mark a big step in the right direction for a beleaguered receiving group and a new role for Crabtree as he moves into his second decade as a professional.

Mara also is one of the few NFL owners who has made public comments on Kaepernick, who claims the NFL colluded to freeze him out after he started the anthem protests in 2016. He did not play in 2017 and remains unsigned.

Kaepernick’s original message — furthered by those like Piscataway native Malcolm Jenkins of the Eagles — was to protest social injustices, police brutality and racism. The protests have been construed by some, like Trump, as anti-American and anti-military.

More on the NFL 2018 NFL Over-Under Win Totals: Browns poised to be an AFC wild-card contender You hopped onto a 73-9 team and he took the easy way out in my mind, Garrett during an interview on Thursday with 92.3 the Fan in Cleveland. It’s different when LeBron [James] left [Cleveland]. He went to [Miami to join] Wade and Bosh but it wasn’t something that was already guaranteed, something you already knew was going to have immediate success.

[James] had to gel and work things into place. According to Garrett, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Durant has ruined the NBA. KD broke the league, Garrett said. With KD, you just stick him in and he scores. You already knew what they had. They were 73-9 before and you put the second-best player in the world on an already all-time great team and of course you’re going to have success, pretty easy success. Anyone can have an off night and they can still find a way to win.

Eric Ebron expects to play Ertz role in Reich’s offense

While the Indianapolis Colts ‘ defense is in the early stages of a comprehensive overhaul, new coach Frank Reich’s offense has a chance to take the league by surprise if Andrew Luck is healthy and the major offseason acquisitions come through.

One of those newcomers is former Lions first-round pick Eric Ebron, who expects to be featured in an offensive system that will borrow heavily from the Super Bowl champions.

Now that he has Reich and Luck in his corner, Ebron has found a new level of confidence in Indianapolis.

When Andrew Luck is healthy, he is one of the most dominant quarterbacks in this league, Ebron added. So I just look forward to playing with him. And whenever he gets healthy, I’ll just tell him, I’m 7-11, man. I’m always open, so just find me.

Jenkins, who for most of the past two seasons raised his fist during the anthem, has always said the protests were not about the flag or the military. Instead, they were about advocating for racial equality, and improved relations between police officers and the inner city communities that they serve.

All of this was written on the signs, which began with You Aren’t Listening.

Mike Glennon, Matt Schaub, Chase Daniel, Nick Foles, Teddy Bridgewater. All five of those quarterbacks are projected to be backups (if not third-stringers) in 2018, but all make more than Houston Texans franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson. 

Yes, it’s early to call Watson underpaid, but the 2017 No. 12 overall pick was lighting up the league and running away with the Offensive Rookie of the Year award before suffering a torn ACL midway through the season.

Belichick: Relationship with Tom Brady always good

jets_059The Tom Brady- Rob Gronkowski Watch is officially over when it comes to the offseason workout program.

After being absent from the New England Patriots ‘ voluntary organized team activities, Brady and Gronkowski reported Tuesday morning for the start of the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp, as expected.

When McLeod went through some of the growing pains in his AHL transition, Kowalsky saw positive signs.

Even when he was caught out of position or holding on to a puck too long, he self identified the error.

Some of the mistakes he made, he knew right away when I was coming to him, whether it was on the bench or showing video, Kowalsky said. You like to see that. Some of these guys, where they play, they get coaching, but because they’re the superstars, they get away with some things from a habit and detail standpoint. He was making an effort to impress us that way.

Given the Devils’ depth at center entering the 2017-18 season, the team also had the luxury to give McLeod another season in juniors instead of throwing him into the fire early. Winning the 2017 NHL Draft Lottery and taking Nico Hischier No. 1 overall gave the Devils an NHL-ready center, and they already had Pavel Zacha, Travis Zajac and Brian Boyle in the fold.

Jenkins said it was a lost opportunity to have a meaningful discussion.

I feel like they could’ve had some productive talks, he said. You’re always looking to bring both sides together. Some positive could come out of a meeting like that. 

Recently, Trump hosted Kardashian for a discussion on prison reform. Kardashian also is pushing for a pardon of Alice Marie Johnson, a 62-year-old serving a life sentence for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense.

If you can meet with a Kardashian, there are some other activists that you can meet with as well, Jenkins said.   

With McLeod’s skill, speed and size, he could often take over play and do a lot of things on his own at the junior level. When he’s playing against opponents with similar size and speed at the pro level, that’s not the case for anyone, with a few rare exceptions.

Rockies’ Gonzalez scratched with back spasms

jets_058Colorado cleanup hitter Carlos Gonzalez experienced back spasms Saturday and was scratched from the Rockies’ game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Noel Cuevas replaced him in right field and Trevor Story moved up a slot to replace Gonzalez in the lineup.

Before the game, the Rockies also recalled left-handed pitcher Sam Howard from Triple-A Albuquerque to take the roster spot of left-handed reliever Harrison Musgrave, who was placed on the bereavement list following the death of his grandfather.

Manager Bud Black said Musgrave is expected back Wednesday.

Lester (7-2) allowed a two-out triple in the third to Austin Meadows, then retired Marte on a groundout. The left-hander struck out five and walked two in seven innings, improving to 5-1 in his past six starts.

Justin Wilson worked a perfect eighth, Steve Cishek retired all three batters in the ninth for his second save and the Cubs remained a half-game behind NL Central-leading Milwaukee.

Nick Kingham (2-3) allowed both runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings. Pittsburgh lost for the sixth time in seven games and has dropped seven straight series. The Pirates are 5-16 following a 26-17 start.

Buehler began Friday with four perfect innings and was still cruising in the sixth when manager Dave Roberts became concerned about a drop in Buehler’s velocity. Roberts and a trainer ran to the mound and spoke with Buehler before removing him. Roberts said Buehler was having some difficulty breathing.

The team plans to have Dr. Neal ElAttrache review CT scans and X-rays of Buehler’s ribs.

A timetable, right now, is really wide open because we don’t want to jeopardize anything with his mechanics or anything to be compromised, Roberts said. We want to make sure he’s in a good spot physically and mentally before he makes another start.

The Dodgers have been plagued by injuries, especially to the starting rotation. Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dennis Santana are all on the disabled list. Santana was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Saturday with a right rotator cuff strain.

It’s possible Buehler could land on the DL, too.

Kellen Winslow’s representatives strongly deny burglary allegations

jets_057Former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow II recently was arrested for suspicion of burglary. His agent and lawyer insist that Winslow was doing nothing wrong.

Lawyer Harvey Steinberg told NBC News that Winslow emphatically denies committing any burglary.

A neighbor at the trailer park told 10news.com that, when confronted, Winslow claimed he was looking for his dog.

It is time for the NFL to remedy inequities and force NFL teams to stop exploiting women, read the letter, which was distributed to the media. If not, you and the NFL can expect a backlash the likes of which will show the NFL what women’s power is all about.

Please inform me as to what steps you plan to take to demonstrate leadership to remedy the sex discrimination in pay and working conditions for NFL cheerleaders. We look forward to receiving your response in writing within one week from today.

But the Jaguars likely play it safe with Cann, which gives Walker more reps in what is shaping up as a training camp battle for the job.

I’m taking care of [the injury] in the training room, doing individual drills, making sure I can still do what I can do but anything else as far as playing time and when I’ll be back, you’ve got to talk to the training staff and the coaches, Cann said.

It says a lot about our pitching, Palka said. I don’t know stats-wise, but you look at the lineup that’s the best lineup (in baseball). Our pitching did awesome.

Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson and Trayce Thompson added one RBI apiece for Chicago, which has won six of its last 10 overall. The White Sox finished their seven-game road trip at 4-3, capping their second winning trip of the season.

If you get some pitching, you catch the ball as consistently as you possibly can, you get a little timely hitting, anything is possible, Chicago manager Rick Renteria said. They’ve proven that over the last week or so.

Chiefs OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif wants to put ‘M.D.’ on his jersey. He totally should

jets_056Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is a lot of things. He’s an NFL player, obviously. He covered the 2018 Olympics as a correspondent for Radio-Canada. On Tuesday, he’ll add medical doctor to his resume.

Duvernay-Tardif wants his Chiefs jersey to reflect that last accomplishment.

I want to put Duvernay-Tardif M.D. on my jersey,Duvernay-Tardif said, via Aaron Rose of the Kansas City Star. I’ve already started a conversation with the league office and they say that anything is possible.

If I make it to the Pro Bowl in the same year that I graduate from medicine … and win the Super Bowl, then I don’t know what I’m going to do,Duvernay-Tardif said. All my goals will be accomplished.

If you can get through med school successfully while playing in the NFL, you should be able to put any name you want on the back of your jersey. I’d probably go with something less subtle, like, THAT’S DR. DUVERNAY-TARDIF TO YOU,but if Duvernay-Tardif wants to go with Duvernay-Tardif M.D.then the league should honor that.

He studies the taps and recommends a new IPA, from Scofflaw Brewing Co., determined to show off the best Atlanta has to offer.

As the piano intro to Don’t Stop Believin’blares, Lewis beams. It’s game day, and he loves this unpredictability. When his wife told him this morning he’d need to bring Jazz to his Royals game today, a rush of adrenaline passed through him.

That’s what you live for! he shouted. I shut it down for game day. Shut it down early.

He treasures each at-bat, each jump shot and is always an open book to his kids after years of neglect. They all know about the jail time, the bankruptcy and the concussion issues. Part of the reason Lewis is working nonstop is because he isn’t counting on the NFL helping him. At all. Three times he has requested disability from the league. Three times he’s been denied. Part of Lewis thinks the NFL is exacting revenge because he was part of the concussion lawsuit.

But Lewis says the NFL, which did not respond to a request for comment, also considers disabledthe inability to literally function day to day, overlooking cognitive damage. That’s Roger Goodell’s problem with players past.

Bears sign five tryout players, including Matt McCants

The Bears announced they signed five players, while placing four on waivers.

Chicago signed receiver Matt Fleming, defensive back John Franklin III, offensive lineman Jeremi Hall, defensive back Tyrin Holloway and offensive lineman Matt McCants. They cut offensive lineman Travis Averill, linebacker Howard Jones, offensive lineman Cameron Lee and linebacker Nyles Morgan.

The Giants made McCants a sixth-round pick in 2012. He spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad, but the Giants waived him before the start of the 2013 season.

It’s a pretty simple answer for cornerback Mike Hughes. He’s going to see limited snaps in a reserve role with the Minnesota Vikings. It’s the deepest position on the roster.

Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes will retain their starting spots on the boundaries. The Vikings re-signed Terence Newman, who served as the primary slot cornerback last year. He’s going into his age-40 season but remains an effective defender.

If Newman shows decline in his play, Mackensie Alexander would probably slide into the slot position.

Ajayi and a friend stayed at the mansion for five days after the Super Bowl in February, throwing at least three parties, according to TMZ. The owner specifically banned parties at the house, and charged $5,000 for each party, though Ajayi has yet to pay the charges.

The owner claims Ajayi broke a table, scratched floors and violated the no smoking policy during Ajayi’s stay.

He also accuses Ajayi of pushing him in the chest “in a menacing and threatening manner” when the owner confronted the running back February 18. The owner said local security was called to remove Ajayi from the property.

TMZ said neither Ajayi nor his representation has responded to a request for comment.

Reich, who was hired in February, is a quarterback whisperer who helped turn Carson Wentz into an MVP candidate overnight. His presence should help, as should that of No. 6 overall pick Quenton Nelson, who should dominate from the get-go as a pass protector and run-blocker at left guard.  cardinals_045

Terrell Owens rips Jason Garrett, says it’s ‘mind-boggling’ the Cowboys’ coach still has job

Terrell Owens ripped Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett in a radio interview Wednesday, saying at one point that he believes it’s “mind-boggling” that Garrett still has a job.

The 44-year-old Owens also drew an NBA comparison, pointing to the Toronto Raptors’ recent firing of head coach Dwane Casey. Casey went 320-238 (.573) in seven seasons with five playoff appearances, including one trip to the Eastern Conference finals. Garrett has gone 67-53 (.558) in seven-plus seasons with two playoff appearances.

(Casey) was voted unanimous coach of the year, has taken Toronto to the playoffs, had three straight years of winning 50-plus games and then they don’t make it beyond what the expectations are within that organization and he gets fired, Owens said on The Fan. “And then you have Jason Garrett, who has no accomplishments, not even close to that, and he continues to still have a job.

It all boils down to players being the scapegoat for his inability to lead the team as he should. For me, it’s mind-boggling. I don’t understand it. And I think Jerry (Jones) — again, he’s the owner at the end of the day, he has to feel good with himself about the decisions — but I just don’t understand why this guy still has a job.

Schneider, and his wife, Jill, bought the home in 2015 for just over $2.8 million, according to property records. The 32-year-old goalie has been on the Devils since he was traded to the franchise from the Vancouver Canucks in 2013.

Located on half an acre in ritzy Short Hills, the 2015-built home has six bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms and has “a fabulous modern vibe for today’s lifestyle,” according to the listing.

On the first floor, the home has a chef’s kitchen that is adjoined by a breakfast area and a butler’s pantry that has a wet bar and wine fridge.

The master suite, which has a gas fireplace and a marble bathroom with a steam shower and heated floors, is on the second floor, as are four other bedrooms, according to the listing.

The home also has various entertainment options. The basement level of the home features a recreation room, an exercise room, a full bathroom and a humidity-controlled wine cellar. The private backyard has a fire pit and an outdoor kitchen.cowboys_070

Eagles LB Paul Worrilow will miss 2018 season with torn ACL

For Eagles fans, the excitement of seeing Carson Wentz on the field for the first day of OTAs was quickly extinguished when linebacker Paul Worrilow was carted off the field after colliding with a teammate.

Finally, the Golden Knights are Canada’s team because Canada needs a Vegas Stanley Cup win as much as the NHL needs a Vegas Stanley Cup win. It needs something unpredictable, uncategorical, unquantifiable and unbelievable. It needs a playoff newbie to burn postseason norms in a bonfire of the vanities. It needs every single owner to look at every single general manager with narrowed eyes when it’s suggested ancillary players are given fat and happy contracts, instead of keeping them hungry like the Knights are. It needs an expansion team to win the Stanley Cup to underscore that no one knows anything.

And if they win … well, that’s a lot of revenue pouring into one franchise, which means they probably wouldn’t require revenue-sharing welfare — which would be very Canadian of them.

Goodwin broke into the league as a wide receiver with the Steelers in 2014, but was converted to cornerback by the Falcons a couple of years later. He played in 26 games for Atlanta in 2016 and 2017 and closed out last season with two appearances for the Cardinals.

The 49ers waived wide receiver DeAndre Carter to make room for Goodwin on their roster. He spent last season on their practice squad.

“We are proud of the work the league and our players have done over the course of the year to help strengthen our communities, raise awareness on issues of social injustice, and help find solutions. The policy instituted today will have no effect on that whatsoever. Our communication has been strong with the leaders of our team and that will continue. I plan on meeting with Coach (Sean) McDermott, (general manager) Brandon Beane and players in the near future to reiterate that.” ravens_145