Monday's Nigeria-France game did not disappoint in the "fan costume" department.
Nigeria's World Cup fan game: world class.
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lundi 30 juin 2014
No comments | 09:48
Arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history has high opinions of the defending champions.
"I think they have the capability."
-Joe Montana, when asked if the Seahawks could become a dynasty
The Seattle Seahawks won their first Super Bowl in February, demolishing the Denver Broncos 43-8. NFL legend and Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana would not be surprised if it is the first of many for this group, per the Seattle Times.
Montana would certainly know what a budding dynasty looks like. After being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft, Montana seized the starting job from Steve DeBerg in 1980 before winning his, and the franchise's, first Super Bowl in 1981. Montana would lead the 49ers to three more Super Bowl titles in the 1980's (84, 88, 89).
Seattle had a ton of cap space going into this offseason, helping it give extensions to corner Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas. They still have room to lock up quarterback Russell Wilson when his rookie deal expires at the end of the 2015-16 campaign as well.
"I want to play. That's what anybody wants to do."
- Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, on wanting to start immediately
The Cleveland Browns stopped the freefall, drafting Johnny Football with the 22nd overall pick, their second selection of the first round. The franchise has been vocal about making him earn any playing time, something Manziel expects to make happen by Week 1, per NFL.com.
Coming into training camp, Manziel is the backup behind veteran signal-caller Brian Hoyer. Should he win the job out of camp, Manziel's first assignment will be the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"... it’s non-stop. They want to be winners."
-Darrelle Revis on joining the Patriots
Only a few years back but what seems like a lifetime ago, Darrelle Revis was the best cornerback in football by a wide margin. Now, Revis is suiting up with his third team in as many years, and he is out to prove he's still the standard at his position, according to the Tampa Tribune.
After spending one forgettable season with the Buccaneers, Revis signed a two-year deal with the New England Patriots. Revis is still chasing his first Super Bowl appearance after falling in the AFC Championship game twice with the New York Jets in 2010 and 2011.
"I've seen incredible progress."
-Bears quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh on Jay Cutler
The Chicago Bears opened up the vault this offseason, signing quarterback Jay Cutler to a massive seven-year extension worth $126 million. Cavanaugh seems satisfied with the investment, stating Cutler has become everything the team has asked for and then some, according to CSN Chicago.
Cutler has spent the last five years in Chicago after three with the Denver Broncos. Since joining the team he grew up rooting for, Cutler has led the Bears to only one playoff appearance, falling in the 2011 NFC Championship game to the Green Bay Packers.
"I think we really had our vacation. I think that part’s over."
-Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on the end of the offseason
The last time Tom Brady and the Patriots won the Super Bowl, texting was a form of communication most people didn't understand. Now, 10 years later, Brady is hoping his team shows up ready to work for training camp come the end of July, per the Providence Journal.
After falling to the Denver Broncos in the AFC title game last year, New England was aggressive in free agency, adding former All-Pro corner Darrelle Revis along with Brandon Browner and wide receiver Brandon LaFell.
"...I just didn't feel like I had it anymore."
-Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew on his post-season thoughts
After finishing up his eighth season - all with the Jacksonville Jaguars - Maurice Jones-Drew thought about hanging up his cleats. Instead, Jones-Drew signed with the Oakland Raiders for three years and $7.5 million, with $1.2M guaranteed in 2014, and is confident in his abilities, per the Los Angeles Times.
The last great season for Jones-Drew was in 2011, when he amassed 1,606 rushing and 374 receiving yards to accompany 10 touchdowns. Since then, Jones-Drew has only played in 21 games over the last two years, mostly due to foot injuries.
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No comments | 09:48
Unrestricted. Restricted. Young. Old. There are hundreds of free agents in the NHL. Here are the guys at the top of the list.
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No comments | 09:48
Paul Pogba thought he'd scored. Vincent Enyeama says NOPE.
What a save.
France and Nigeria are still tied up at 0-0, but that should change soon. This is an open game with lots of chances at both ends.
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No comments | 09:33
Was Ahmed Musa offside here?
Looks like he is, just by his head and shoulder. He thought he'd scored Nigeria's opener off the cross that happened a second later, but it was correctly called back.
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No comments | 07:19
The Kits
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
A late Dutch rally (combined with a controversial penalty decision) sent Mexico packing but not before we got to see perhaps one of the best kit combinations in the entire tournament. The Netherlands wore their home kits for the second match in a row and for the second time in the tournament as they faced off against Mexico in their green home kits with a return to the white shorts and socks that they were forced to switch out of for their last game.
PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images
Greece's excellent blue away kits are now probably folded and packed for the long trip home as they left the tournament after losing to ten-man Costa Rica on penalties. The Ticos wore their away kits for the third time in four games and it still doesn't look any better. The white Lotto kit is a weird mix of swooping lines, piping, gold graphical elements and just about everything in between. Still, despite the absolutely abject first half of the match and the sending off of Oscar Duarte, Costa Rico moves on to the quarterfinals.
The Boots
JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images
On Match Day 17, the goalkeepers stole the show. Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa made some fantastic saves to keep Mexico in the match against a resurgent Netherlands side after Mexico went a goal up. Memo did it in a pair of Nike Mercurial Vapor X boots but a late penalty means that the former Ajaccio keeper is now free to concentrate on finding a new club for the upcoming season.
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
Costa Rica's Keylor Navas was the star of his side's win over Greece. The Levante man made a number of saves that kept ten man Costa Rica in the match before saving a penalty in the shootout that sent the Ticos into the quarter finals and raptures. Navas is one of only seven goalkeepers out of the 96 goalkeepers that were brought to the World Cup wearing Nike's Magista boot.
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No comments | 07:19
Jalen Dalton is one of the top defensive linemen in the class of 2015, and the prospect is receiving some high-level interest.
Dalton attends Clemmons (N.C.) West Forsyth High School, and is projected to play defensive end at the next level. He is listed at 6'5 and weighs in at 235 pounds.
The 247Sports Composite, which aggregates the ratings of all four major recruiting services, rates Dalton as the sixth-best weakside defensive end in the nation and the second-best player in the state of North Carolina.
Dalton claims offers from Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, Auburn, Michigan, Penn State, South Carolina, N.C. State and Texas, among others.
Note: Recruits commit and decommit throughout the process. No effort is made to note commitments or decommitments in these scouting reports. All we note is claimed offers at the time of evaluation.
There is a lot to like about Jalen Dalton. First, he has excellent size and length at 6'5, 235. Coaches cannot teach length, but they can teach a long player to play with length. Dalton does a decent job keeping blockers off him using his long arms, and that should only improve in college.
Dalton can fire out of his stance low and engage blockers, quickly finding the football and shedding. Dalton then finds the football and closes on the ball carrier quickly in the open field. Dalton is not the biggest player at this point, and will not be able to sit against bigger blockers until he adds functional strength in the lower half.
As a pass rusher, Dalton shows a good bit of ability. Dalton is adept at bending the edge and can quickly execute stunts and twists. He could be a valuable player in defensive line games. I do want to see more consistent get-off from Dalton, however.
Dalton might not be an instant-impact type -- he will need time in the college strength program, though it is possible he could play a good bit on passing downs. Dalton profiles as a potential multi-year starter at the highest level of college football.
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