Aaron Rodgers isn’t leaving Green Bay and neither is his go-to target.
The Packers placed the franchise tag on All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, according to multiple reports. The move ensures the Packers will have a ninth straight year of Adams catching passes from Rodgers, who confirmed earlier in the day he would be returning to Green Bay next season.
Adams, 29, is still reportedly seeking a long-term deal but the franchise tag — if he plays on it — will earn him $20.1 million and allows the Packers some more time to get that contract done.
Rodgers and Adams have connected for a franchise-record 68 touchdown passes. Eleven of those touchdowns came last season when Adams hauled in career-highs of 123 passes and 1,553 yards.
The Packers placed the franchise tag on Davante Adams (r.) on Tuesday after Aaron Rodgers revealed he’s returning to Green Bay.AP
Adams was named an All-Pro receiver for the second straight season.
The Motorola Edge X30, announced in China at the end of last year, is coming to the US as the Motorola Edge Plus (or the 30 Pro in Europe and other markets). It comes with higher-end specs than 2021’s Motorola Edge offered, starting with the Android flagship chipset-du-jour, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. While Motorola appears to have addressed some of our complaints about that mid-range device, this is also a much more expensive phone at $999, setting the bar that much higher for its feature set.
The Edge Plus checks plenty of boxes for a flagship phone in 2022: there’s a big 6.7-inch 1080p OLED with up to 144Hz refresh rate, sub-6GHz 5G including C-band (a Verizon version of the phone will have mmWave, the unlocked model won’t), a 4,800mAh battery, 8GB or 12GB of RAM, fast 30W wired charging, and 15W wireless charging. Motorola even includes a 30W charger in the box, a quaint vestige of years past.
Motorola is also offering a new Smart Stylus, sold separately as a bundle with a case designed to hold it. It’s an active stylus in the vein of Samsung’s S Pen that can do more than the simple passive stylus sold with phones like Motorola’s Moto G Stylus. Like the S Pen, it’s sensitive to pressure and can be used as a remote control for certain actions without touching the pen to the screen. Motorola says it will announce pricing and availability for the stylus and case “in the coming weeks.”
There are two 50-megapixel cameras on the Edge Plus’ rear panel: an f/1.8 standard wide with optical image stabilization and an f/2.2 ultrawide. The main camera should offer improved autofocus, which was a weak spot for the 2021 Edge. The third lens on the phone’s rear triple-camera array is a 2-megapixel depth sensor of questionable utility. On the front, there’s a 60-megapixel selfie camera.
However, there are a few spots on the spec sheet that don’t look as rosy, especially for a $1,000 phone. Weather resistance is only rated at IP52, meaning there’s some protection against water spray, but it can’t be fully submerged like the IP68 devices in this class.
There’s glass on the front and back of the phone, which is good, but it’s the older Gorilla Glass 3 and 5, respectively. Both the Pixel 6 and Samsung S22 Plus use newer Gorilla Glass Victus (Victus Plus in the S22’s case) on the front to protect from both scratches and drops. The Edge Plus is also built with a polycarbonate plastic exterior frame rather than aluminum. Motorola says it will support the Edge Plus with three years of security updates, which also falls short of the best support policies among Android phones.
If nothing else, the Edge Plus is another high-end Android option in the US, where we have precious few devices to choose from. The Edge Plus is available unlocked for $100 off for a “limited time.” It will be offered from Verizon and other carriers in the coming months, according to Motorola.
It’s been a while since TAG Heuer introduced a Connected smartwatch that wasn’t just a special edition of an earlier model, but that new model is finally here — and it might just be a welcome upgrade. The watchmaker has introduced the Connected Calibre E4, a revamp that brings both modern components and an expanded lineup. There’s a redesigned, easier-to-use 45mm version (shown below) for those who prefer sporty watches like some TAG Carrera models, but you’ll also find a new 42mm variant (above) with a sleeker, thinner case. This is for enthusiasts who either prefer mid-sized timepieces or want something better-suited to formal occasions.
You can also expect some much-needed internal upgrades. Calibre E4 promises speedier performance through a Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chip with Bluetooth 5.0, and you’ll reportedly see 30 percent longer battery life with the 45mm Connected versus its predecessor (the 42mm should last a “full day” that includes five hours of golfing). An altimeter will help you track workouts like hikes, while a brighter display should keep content visible outdoors. There’s even a improved, vertically-oriented charger that uses magnets to keep the watch in place and use it as a very expensive nightstand clock.
TAG Heuer/LVMH
Software plays an important role as well. The new Connected will run Wear OS 2 out of the box, but it will be TAG Heuer’s first to support Wear OS 3 when the free upgrade arrives. The company’s updated Sports app now offers guided workouts as well as performance tracking for activities like golf, running and swimming.
Be ready to pay a premium — these are luxury smartwatches, after all. TAG Heuer launches the Connected Calibre E4 on March 10th starting at $1,800 for the steel 42mm model, and $2,050 for its 45mm counterpart with a rubber strap. You’ll need to spend $2,250 to get the 45mm edition with a steel bracelet, and a “full titanium” version will cost $2,550. Look at it this way, though: this is arguably a better bargain than sibling brand Louis Vuitton’s $3,500 smartwatch, especially if you want a broadly supported platform.
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Tag Heuer has officially debuted its fourth-generation of luxury Wear OS-powered smartwatches, the Connected Calibre E4 series, offering a faster and more powerful processor, longer battery life, an improved displays, and additional software features. Tag Heuer is also bringing back the smaller 42mm size alongside the “standard” 45mm version, which the company didn’t offer back when the E3 series was released in 2020.
From the outside, the new 45mm Connected Calibre E4 has a more streamlined design than the 2020 model, with less chunky buttons and a more pronounced crown to help navigate around the watch. It has a more traditional design, though, with a flat sapphire crystal covering the OLED panel and a pricier titanium option. The 42mm variant, on the other hand, is the more stylish of the two, with a thinner case and smaller bezel that blends neatly into the display underneath a domed sapphire crystal.
The 42mm model (top) and the 45mm model (bottom)Image: Tag Heuer
Both watches, however, benefit from the bigger internal upgrades that Tag Heuer is making with the new models. That includes an upgrade to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4100 Plus, the company’s most powerful smartwatch processor, the addition of Bluetooth 5.0 (which Tag Heuer says will enable data to sync to a smartphone twice as quickly as the previous generation), and an altimeter (which joins the existing accelerometer, heart rate monitor, compass and GPS sensors).
Tag Heuer is also promising a full day of battery life on both models. The larger 45mm variant (with its larger battery) is rated for a full day of activity with either one hour of running and two hours of walking or five hours of golf tracking mixed in. The 42mm model, on the other hand, is rated to only reach a full day’s worth of battery life with an hour or less of run tracking. There’s also a new stand-style charger, which magnetically snaps onto the watch and helps display it on your nightstand when you’re recharging overnight.
There’s also some additional software improvements. Tag Heuer is adding guided workouts that run entirely on the Connected smartwatches with the new update, along with a variety of new watchfaces that integrate more data from things like fitness, sports, weather, and more.
The 42mm modelImage: Tag Heuer
The 45mm modelImage: Tag Heuer
Unfortunately, the Connected Calibre E4 won’t ship with Wear OS 3, Google’s overhaul of its smartwatch operating system that it’s collaborating on with Samsung — instead, it’ll come with the existing Wear OS 2 platform, with Tag Heuer promising that a free upgrade will arrive in the future “when the update becomes available.”
Lastly, there’s the elephant in the room: the price. Despite the fact that they’re smartwatches, the Connected Calibre E4 models (like their predecessors) still carry Tag Heuer’s luxury fashion price tags. The 42mm model is set to cost $1,800, while the 45mm starts at $2,050 for a steel model with a rubber strap, $2,250 for steel with a bracelet, and $2,550 for the full titanium model.
To soften the blow, Tag Heuer is continuing its upgrade program, wherein owners of older Connected smartwatches can trade them in for credit on the new model, but its still a hefty price to pay for a smartwatch that will likely be outdated in just two to three years.
The Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4 is set to go March 10th.
Brooks Nader has recalled details of a frightening incident and urged followers to stay alert.
Nader took to Instagram on Thursday to share a harrowing story of how an apparent stalker had tracked her location using an Apple air tag while out in New York City.
Air tags are button sized, wireless tracking devices that can stick to various objects like purses, phones, keys and more — and users can see the location of their items via the “find my phone” feature on their Apple devices.
After a night of bar hopping and meeting up with friends in the city, Nader had received a suspicious notification on her phone that alerted her that an unknown device had been tracking her location for “a while.”
“I was at a bar in Tribeca,” the 25-year-old informed her followers on Instagram. “I was at the bar and waiting on someone alone and had my coat on the chair behind me. It was crowded. Lots of people.”
“Then I went to meet some girlfriends at a bar nearby. I didn’t get any notifications. Then I went to the next spot, no notifications. Then, stupidly, I was walking home alone because I live in the neighborhood, around 11:30 PM … I was already on my walk home when I got the notifications that said someone is tracking you and has been for a while,” she continued. “So I freaked out, obviously. And then, of course, my phone died.”
“My man was freaking out, it was like midnight and it turns out that it was an air tag which is a tiny white circular thing that Apple makes and it’s used for horrible horrible things after I researched it.”
Prior to the harrowing experience, Nader shared that she had no idea that these devices had even existed and informed friends and followers to check their surroundings and to stay alert at all times.
“So I’m kind of just trying to raise awareness and tell all my ladies out there to watch your belongings, look out for the notification,” she added. “The only silver lining is that I actually got notified that someone was tracking me.”
“It was the scariest moment ever. I just want people to be aware that this exists,” the Sports Illustrated model remarked.
“Ladies, do not be alone when you’re out at night. Be in a group,” Nader advised women in an interview with Fox News. “I was alone for about 45 minutes waiting for friends and I’m certain that’s when this all occurred. I don’t think this would have happened had I been with my husband or a bunch of girlfriends. And don’t walk home alone at night. I was walking home when I got the notification, which was frightening. Take a taxi. And have your phone handy. Check your notifications, especially when you’re out. I’m grateful the Find My app notified me.”
Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium turned into laundry day.
Flags spilled onto the turf non-stop for almost four hours as the Cowboys hosted the Raiders. The officiating crew led by referee Shawn Hochuli, son of Ed, produced 28 accepted penalties — 14 for each team — for 276 total yards (166 against Dallas). The calls ranged from obvious false starts to an esoteric foul on Raiders center Andre James for a head bob. Dallas defensive back Anthony Brown was flagged four times for pass interference, with the last one setting up Las Vegas to win 36-33 in overtime.
One of the more curious calls was roughing the passer on Cowboys rookie linebacker Micah Parsons in the third quarter. He tapped a falling Raiders QB Derek Carr on the helmet after Carr threw a pass to Hunter Renfrow. Carr’s head then made incidental contact with Parsons’ knee.
Parsons spoke for a lot of players and fans with his assessment of the play and the crew’s flag-happy nature.
“We should be playing football, not tag,” he told reporters after the game, per Jori Epstein of USA Today. “When are you going to let us truly play?”
MORE: Vegas-Dallas dust-up leads to ejections, hilarious meme
It was a rhetorical question, but Parsons wouldn’t receive a satisfactory answer if he made a direct query to the league office. The NFL is intent on keeping quarterbacks — and then everyone else on the field — healthy. That means calls like the roughing penalty.
A frustrated Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones sure wished the zebras had let ’em play more, especially with regard to the PI penalties.
“Oakland (sic) took advantage of the situation,” Jones said. “I call it ‘throw-up ball.’ Right way to play it in a game like this [is] just throw it out there and get a penalty.”
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, who’s a fan of not being fined by the league, kept it short and sweet when he was asked about the flagfest.
It wouldn’t surprise Parsons, Jones or McCarthy to learn that Hochuli’s crew throws the most flags in the league. According to pro-football-reference.com‘s stats, the crew had called 135 penalties in its previous 10 games this season, with 66 against home teams and 69 against visiting teams. After Thursday, the total was up to 163, which, according to nflpenalties.com’s totals, put it No. 1 among officiating crews with the remainder of Week 12 to play. The three-flag difference between home and road didn’t change.
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And while the officials stayed true to form Thursday, they didn’t come that close to making league history. The NFL record for penalties by both teams is 37, set by the Browns (21) and Bears (16) on Nov. 25, 1951. The most since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger is 35, by the expansion Buccaneers (20) and Seahawks (15) on Oct. 17, 1976.
The $15.4 billion spent on the Tokyo Olympics, the most ever for the international games, could have won a gold medal for global good, according to a recent study by the University of Oxford.
The money could have built 300 300-bed hospitals, each of which costs about $55 million in Japan.
it might also have funded the construction of 1,200 elementary schools, at a cost of about $13 million each.
The jet-set crowd, meanwhile, might have purchased 38 Boeing 747 aircrafts – about $400 million per plane.
The perspective comes at a time when the Olympic Games are under increasing scrutiny for the shocking cost of the events.
“The [International Olympic Committee] and host cities have no interest in tracking costs, because tracking tends to reveal cost overruns, which have increasingly become an embarrassment to the IOC and host cities,” Oxford author Bent Flyvberg said in an email reported by The Associated Press.
The Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was surely an expensive proposition.VCG via Getty Images
Critics say the stated $15.4 billion price tag of the games does not tell the full cost.
“Several Japanese government audits say the real outlay for the Tokyo Games is even more than the official figure, perhaps twice as much,” the AP reports. “All but $6.7 billion comes from public money from Japanese taxpayers. According to the latest budget, the IOC’s contribution is $1.3 billion.”
Real Madrid have reportedly been told to shell out €50 million to sign Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.
According to Spanish outlet El Gol Digital, Bayern Munich have named that amount as the price for the Polish goal-machine for any club interested in Lewandowski.
Recent rumors have claimed that Lewandowski could be looking for new challenges, and Real Madrid have emerged as one of the potential suitors.
The Pole finished the 2020-21 season as the top-scorer in Europe’s top five domestic leagues, trumping Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi. The former Dortmund star scored 41 goals in the Bundesliga last season, while Messi managed 30 in La Liga.
As far as Real Madrid are concerned, Karim Benzema has been handling the majority of the goal-scoring burden for them since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus in 2018. But with the Frenchman turning 34 in December, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are looking for a new goal-scoring outlet.
However, Lewandowski will turn 33 in August as well, so it seems highly unlikely that Los Blancos will consider signing him this summer.
Also Read: Fabrizio Romano’s Transfer Roundup: Arsenal’s plans for midfield, Update on Barcelona’s plans for Griezmann and more
Chelsea to rival Real Madrid for Robert Lewandowski
Chelsea have spoken to agent Pini Zahavi about Robert Lewandowski, according to Sport Bild. #CFC#FCBayern
Along with Real Madrid, Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Lewandowski. The Blues are in the market for a striker this summer and are rumored to be interested in Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland as well.
Dortmund are unlikely to let Haaland leave this summer, so Lewandowski seems a more realistic target for the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League winners.
According to Sport Bild, Chelsea are currently in talks with Lewandowski’s entourage over a possible move. Moreover, The Sun has claimed that the Polish striker is interested in a move to Stamford Bridge, making things all the more interesting.
Whether Chelsea manage to land Lewandowski this summer or decide to wait a year out for Haaland remains to be seen.
The Asian carp is getting a new name from wildlife agencies who think the title is offensive — but some critics say the move is a solution fishing for a problem.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service rebranded the freshwater fish wreaking havoc in the Midwest as “invasive carp” in April.
“We wanted to move away from any terms that cast Asian culture and people in a negative light,” Charlie Wooley, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office for the service, told The Associated Press.
Minnesota long ago dropped the Asian carp label – which refers to four different species – and a group called the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee plans to do the same beginning Aug. 2.
News of the change drew some snarky responses on social media, with some noting the name referred to the fact the fish were brought to the US from China for pond maintenance before they spread to rivers.
“Black coffee is next,” one Twitter user said. “Chinese food, Mexican food, white lies, brown sugar, calling ships her.”
“1980: dungeons and dragons is going to turn the kids into Satanists,” another user said. “2021: Asian carp will turn the kids into racists.”
Minnesota had previously stopped using “Asian” in the fish’s name.Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
“The Name ‘Asian Carp’ Said to Cast Asian Culture and People in a Negative Light,” said another, quoting a news article, before adding, “(Among Those Who Can’t Distinguish Between People and Fish).”
Minnesota had its own backlash when it changed the name in 2014, state Sen. Foung Hawj said.
“I had more hate mail than you could shake a stick at,” Hawj told the AP. He had decided “the last straw” before changing then name was when a group of visitors from Asia came to the Minneapolis airport and were greeted by a PSA sign that read “Kill Asian Carp.”
The race-free rebrand isn’t likely to settle the debate over what to call the different species. As a population control measure, the state of Illinois is planning a new name that will be appetizing for people selling and eating the fish, which is now mostly used as bait or pet food.
Carp jump from the Illinois river as scientists aboard a research boat activate an electric current to stun fish so they can be scooped up and examined near Havana, Ill.John Flesher, File/AP
A new name will be unveiled soon that won’t call to mind regular carp, a spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources told the AP.
“It’s a four-letter word in this country,” Assistant Fisheries Chief Kevin Irons said. It wouldn’t be the first food-based fish rebrand – the fish once known as the Patagonian toothfish is now on menus as Chilean sea bass, the AP noted.
Another invasive species, the Gypsy Moth, also recently got a woke rebrand from the Entomological Society of America because its name is considered an ethnic slur by some Romani people.
Gypsy Moth caterpillars were surging in the upstate New York this year, leaving forests barren of leaves while raining poop into residential yards.
The Usos came into tonight’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view with one thing on their mind. It was to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. This has been the main goal for Jimmy and Jey Uso, ever since Roman Reigns got the Bloodline on the same page.
They would have that opportunity tonight as they faced off against The Mysterios on the kick-off show of Money in the Bank.
The Mysterios, who were the first father-son combination to win Tag Team titles in WWE history, were the favorites at Fort Worth, Texas, as the company finally made its return to the road after a 17-month exile in the ThunderDome.
Despite the valiant efforts of The Mysterios, Jimmy and Jey Uso were able to walk away with the titles and become seven-time Tag Team Champions.
Their win on the kick-off show means that The Bloodline is draped in gold at the moment. Roman Reigns still has to get the beat Edge, who seems to have the Tribal Chief’s number over the past few episodes.
The Mysterios will take issue with the way The Usos won the titles
The Usos may have won the SmackDown Tag team titles, but the victory was controversial. Jimmy Uso was able to secure the win, with a little help from his brother, who supported him as he rolled up Rey Mysterio for the win.
The Mysterios will certainly take issue with this and may address this on the upcoming episode of SmackDown.
The feud between them looks to be far from over and it seems as though we could see The Mysterios and The Usos fight over the titles at least till SummerSlam.
What were your thoughts on The Usos’ seventh tag team championship victory? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
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