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Brexit watchers doubt whether the U.K. has done enough to convince the European Union to allow trade talks to start as soon as October.

Despite a swathe of policy documents, with a new one on data protection scheduled for release on Thursday, analysts say Prime Minister Theresa Mays government is still hazy on where it matters most to the bloc.

It remains unlikely that enough progress can be made to move on to the future EU-U.K. relationship anytime soon, said Carsten Nickel, deputy director of research at Teneo Intelligence. Despite the position papers, the U.K.s preferences for the future relationship remain vague, and progress on key divorce items has been limited.

Thats not to say the U.K. hasnt made some concessions. On Wednesday it accepted EU law will have sway in Britain even after Brexit, potentially smoothing the way for deals on citizens rights and commerce. By seeking a transition for after March 2019 it has also dropped threats that no deal is better than a bad deal.

The problem is that while May is fixated on future relations the EU is concentrating on settling the terms of separation such as the Irish border, giving protection the Europeans living in the U.K. and the divorce bill.

Only when sufficient progress is made on those topics will the EU acquiesce to moving on. The danger is that the U.K. is deemed not to have caved enough and time is not on its side.

With talks set to resume next week in Brussels, European Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein on Wednesday reminded the British of the blocs priorities.

Our own position is very clear, is very transparent, and is unchanged, he told reporters in Brussels. We hope to make progress on the three main issues that we -- not only we but also the EU27 -- have set out and need to be clarified upfront.

The U.K. is playing a "risky game" by not offering anything new on two sticking points -- the divorce bill or the rights of EU citizens, said Andrew Goodwin at Oxford Economics.

"This increases the likelihood that progress will be slow, which would put further pressure on what is already a very tight timetable," he said.

Others are more optimistic. The position papers represent a sensible U.K. approach hiding in plain sight, Rupert Harrison, a former Treasury adviser now at BlackRock Inc., said in a tweet on Wednesday.

As well as giving ground on the EU Court of Justice, the U.K. has also said EU citizens will continue to enjoy visa-free travel on Brexit and in July conceded it would make a financial settlement though it remains extremely cagey on what its willing to pay.

In the talks next week British negotiators wont reveal the amount the U.K. is willing to pay, nor even hint at where they believe it has financial obligations, according to a person familiar with the talks.

U.K. officials believe they will have more leverage if they refrain from revealing their position on the bill until far later in the negotiation process. They will though warn the EU not to make greater financial demands over its contributions to the blocs investment bank, a person familiar with the Brexit negotiations said.

The final paper this week reveals the government plans to adhere to European data-sharing rules, to minimize disruption for U.K.-based companies conducting business with the bloc. To be sure, its relatively easy for the U.K. to seek alignment with the EU when its convenient.

Global tech companies including Facebook Inc., Alphabet Inc. and Snap Inc. have been expanding operations in the U.K. over the past few years. Any issues with the transfer of data between the U.K. and Europe will cause these companies unwanted headaches.

The real test is still to come. May has paved the way for a compromise over ECJ jurisdiction, but now EU negotiators will be looking for any other red lines she is willing to blur.

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UK Progress on Brexit Questioned as Bill Still Unresolved - Bloomberg - Bloomberg

More progress for Matthews He took part in individual position drills Wednesday and that participation continued Thursday as Jordan Matthews inches closer to getting full clearance. That wont come in time for Saturdays preseason game at Baltimore, but the receiver will be making the trip with the team this weekend.

Jordan Matthews and Cordy Glenn both of whom are progressing well, will make the trip. Well continue to list them as day to day. We believe theyre headed in the right direction, said head coach Sean McDermott. I really dont think theyll play at this point. We do want to get them acclimated to traveling with us and going through that process. Staying in the hotel the night before and being involved in the meetings. We may even have them warm up with the team and be on the sideline too.

The urgency to get Matthews in a preseason game doesnt seem to be there for McDermott and his coaching staff. They have full confidence in Matthews capabilities as a receiver.

We know Jordan and what he can do, said McDermott. Hes made a tremendous amount of progress over the last week. He stays after and works with the quarterbacks.

RELATED: GLENN STICKING TO THE PLAN TO PLAY WEEK 1

Taylor puts in solid week After the preseason performance by the offense at Philadelphia, QB Tyrod Taylor said there are no excuses. Committed to making the offense function more consistently, Taylor redoubled his efforts in practice this week.

The first thing I noticed was his leadership. It hasnt changed. Hes the first one in the building and one of the last to leave, McDermott said. From a head coaching standpoint I appreciate that. I know his teammates appreciate that about him.

I feel like hes more decisive and playing more free within the offense. Hes developing some continuity and chemistry with his receivers. Even thought Jordan (Matthews) is probably not going to play Saturday night, youre seeing that develop through practice reps.

In his first two seasons as the Bills starting quarterback, Taylor at times was reluctant to take risks in the passing game. Even though hes in a new scheme, McDermott and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison have pushed the mantra of playing free and taking a few more calculated risks.

For our players I want them to know that playing free is powerful. Theres power in that, said McDermott. Were not going out there to think. Im the one who has to think. Theyve got to go out there and play and basically default into the habits that theyve built through the week or the preseason. When they do that theres power in that. You tend to put on display the best version of yourself when you play free and aggressive.

Taylor and the offense will get the opportunity to demonstrate that on Saturday night in Baltimore.

Ragland battling through each day He had a major uphill climb entering training camp. Returning from a major knee injury, in a new defensive scheme and with healthy competition at his position. From the start Reggie Ragland has battled and gone the extra mile, something that hasnt been lost of his head coach.

The thing I love about Reggie is hes doing a really good job off the field right now in terms of extra work before practice, extra work after practice in terms of his conditioning and getting himself where he needs to be, said McDermott. Coming off the injury that we know hes coming off of youre starting from a position of deficit. Hes really working hard. He continues to get himself comfortable with our system. His best football is in front of him.

Hes right, sometimes my knee feels good, sometimes its sore, Ragland said. I just know I have to keep getting better. I know Im young and I still have time, so Im not pressed about some of the things, but I know I still have to keep getting better. Coach McDermott, and all of the coaches tell me this all of the time, so Im just going to keep getting better.

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More progress for Matthews - BuffaloBills.com

Hey A.V. Club readers. Hi. We know that the past 24 hours have been bumpysomething thats been true of every one of our site redesigns, but especially when it involves this significant of a transition.

We knew from the moment we were told wed be moving to Kinja that it would be a major overhaul. We knew wed be trying to take a decade-plus of contentfiled according to its own complex, not exactly modular organization systemand fit into someone elses platform, then asking the administrators of that platform to tailor it to suit our own, very complicated, idiosyncratic needs. Its a minor miracle we made it here at all.

That said, were well aware that the site isnt all the way there. Again, weve been on Kinja barely a day; were all still figuring out how to work it ourselves. And weve spent the hours since the switch compiling our own list of the things that dont work, then figuring out what other improvements need to be made to the navigation, to the comments, to the designto just about everything. Were going to get there eventually. It will just take a little time.

For now, though, here are some common concerns weve heard:

Im having problems commenting.If youve already followed the instructions in this Newswire from yesterday and youre still having trouble logging in, or youre still showing up in the grays despite using our claim form, contact the help desk. Someone will respond directly and assist you, we promise.

I thought all our old Disqus comments were supposed to migrate over, but I dont see them.They couldnt import everything at once, but weve been assured that those archived comments should start trickling in over the coming days.

I cant find TV Club reviews.Yep. The good news is that not long after yesterdays launch, we added TV Reviews to the navigation bar on the desktop site (its expected to be added to the mobile site nav bar soon). If you click on that, youll be taken to a landing page with every TV Club review. Use the drop-down menu at the top to find a specific show page. From there, you can use the second drop-down menu to narrow it down to reviews from a specific season.

I cant find film/music/book/game/comics reviews.All other, non-TV reviews are rolled up under the Reviews tab in the nav bar. On that landing page, use the drop-down menu at the top to narrow it to the specific kind of review youre looking for.

I miss the review box where you could easily see the letter grades before clicking on them.Yeah, that thing was nice. We (probably) wont have something like that again, but we are discussing the best way to get those letter grades back on the front and landing pages alongside their respective reviews, so you can see them before clicking.

You guys stopped covering comics, books, and podcasts?!We didnt! For now, at least, the Comics, Books, and Podmass categories are rolled up under AUX, and were still definitely covering all of them. You can also find book and comics reviews under Reviews using the drop-down menu at the top.

Your navigation, in general, is confusing and needs to be improved ASAP.We agree. Now that were here and things are no longer just hypothetical, were able to actually see how its all being sorted, then start figuring out what doesnt make sense, and discuss how to better organize things. Fixing navigation is absolutely our first priority.

Your search function doesnt work.We know. Its on the list.

Your RSS feed doesnt work anymore.We know. Its on the list. Hey, look at that: They fixed it.

Please just go back to the old site.We cant. What we can do is improve this site until its as good as it can possibly be. Again, this will take some time. But now that were here, its all that were focused on.

In the meantime, you can help us by adding to our already very long list of necessary improvements by filling out this feedback form, which will then be read by real people (real people who are also having to contend with major, occasionally frustrating changes on their endso, just something to keep in mind). They will then be taken into account during our ongoing reconstruction. We genuinely need your help with identifying everything that needs to be fixed or improved, so anything constructive you have to offer there is much appreciated.

For now, thanks for your patienceand, as always, just for being here.

Original post:

The Kinja-ing: An update on a work in progress - A.V. Club

UPDATE: THURSDAY, AUG. 24 ... The ChetcoBar fire near Brookings continues to grow, but weather conditions over the past few days have allowed crews to make progress against what has been declared the nation's top priority wildfire.

Firefighters have been building direct fire line and indirect contingency line on the south and southwestern flank of the fire using hand crews, dozers and helicopter bucket drops. Crews continued to improve defensible space, prepping structures and setting up sprinkler systems around homes.

The locally-known Chetco Wind is expected over the fire area beginning tonight, creating gusty

Northeast winds and causing a drop in relative humidity and much warmer temperatures through Saturday. Firefighters have been preparing for this change in weather by building direct fire line and contingency lines on the south and southwestern portions of the fire and increasing the number of structural firefighting resources to assist with structure protection. The team will use helicopters and air tankers as weather allows.

Level 2 ("SET") and Level 3 ("GO!") evacuations remain in effect. Residents in the level 2 evacuation area are advised to remain prepared to leave the area at a moment's notice, while residents in the Level 3 evacuation area are advised to stay out of the area completely. An interactive map of the evacuation area can be viewed here.

Those who have not signed up for reverse 911, can sign up for the emergency alert here.

The Red Cross is continuing to staff an emergency evacuation shelter at Riley Creek Elementary at 94350 6th St. Gold Beach, OR. (541) 600-6068. There is no shelter in Brookings.

Smoke impacts and haze will increase today along the coast in the Gold Beach and Brookings-Harbor region due to northeast winds transporting smoke to the southwest. Highway 101 will continue to have limited visibility due to sea fog this morning transitioning to smoke midday. For more info about air quality, click here.

UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, AUG. 23 ... Firefighters on the ChetcoBar fire in theKalmiposisWilderness near Brookings made progress yesterday and overnight, building direct and contingency indirect line on the south and southwestern flank of the fire including establishing dozer line and working around structures to improve defensible space.

The fire growth was minimal yesterday. The same is expected today because of favorable weather. The fire is still about 5.2 miles northeast of Brookings. It has burned 99,944 acres. Officials project the fire may not be contained until mid-October.

The public is asked to avoid the fire affected area and watch for fire crews and heavy equipment enroute to and from the fire line.

Community Meeting:A community meeting is being planned at Gold Beach this evening. The time and location will be announced later today.

Weather: Yesterdays weather patterns of cooler air and higher relative humidity (RHs) is expected through Thursday, along with the light to moderate afternoon and evening sea breezes. Areas of fog and low clouds this morning will clear back to the coast this afternoon.

One more night of excellent humidity recovery is expected tonight, with a deep marine layer ahead of an approaching weak cold front. Cool high pressure will build into the Pacific Northwest behind this front, presenting another round of gusty north to northeast winds Thursday night into Friday. Onshore flow is expected to return Sunday or Monday, returning to the regions typical weather.

Smoke and haze will continue to be visible along Gold Beach and Brookings-Harbor as there's little air movement. That is expected to change as soon as the coastal winds pick up in the afternoon. Rogue River valley and Gold Beach will see unhealthy levels throughout the day. Highway 101 will have limited visibility as smoke infiltrates along the coast. For more info about air quality, please visit the Oregon Smoke Blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Evacuations: For current information on areas under an evacuation please visit our interactive map. Yesterday, portions of the evacuation area was reduced to a Level 2, allowing residents in the fire affected area from Cape Ferrello Road and Carpenterville Road north to Pistol River and east and west off Carpenterville Road to return to their homes. Residents returning to their homes in Level 2 evacuation areas can obtain re-entry forms at established check points with verifiable proof of residency. Re-entry forms are no longer available at Rays Market. The Red Cross is continuing to staff an emergency evacuation shelter at Riley Creek Elementary in Gold Beach 94350 6th St. Gold Beach, OR. (541)-600-6068. There is no shelter in Brookings.

If you've been curious about the meanings of the levels in the "Ready! Set! Go!" evacuation scheme, here's a helpful guide ...

UPDATE: TUESDAY, AUG. 22 ... The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho has designated the Chetco Bar fire as the nation's top priority. The designation boosts the availability of firefighting resources as fire managers prioritize how to use limited personnel and materials.

Higher relative humidity and diminished winds caused minimal perimeter growth overnight, leaving the fire at about 98,000 acres. Some residents are being allowed to return to the homes they had to evacuate over the past few days. Three homes have been destroyed by the fire.

Yesterdays weather patterns will continue throughout today and tonight with cooler temps, fog and low lying clouds. Slightly higher relative humiditys overnight (60-70%) and lighter winds slowed the fires growth compared to previous days. We are seeing full humidity recoveries as high in elevation as 1500.

The fire is still approximately 2.5 miles northeast of Brookings. Brookings and Harbor area will have some low-lying smoke as a result of the fire. Air quality will improve slightly but sensitive groups should limit exposure to the outdoors. For more information about air quality, please visit the Oregon Smoke Blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Fire crews used favorable weather conditions to their advantage to continue building direct and contingency indirect line on the south and southwestern flank of the fire, in the area between the Chetco River and Carpenterville. Structural protection resources are continuing to assess and work around structures to make them more defensible.

There is no community meeting scheduled at this time. Evacuations: Curry County Sheriffs Office, in consultation with the Chetco Bar Incident Management Teams, are working to get displaced residents back into their homes as soon as possible. Evacuation orders remain in effect at this time. For current information on boundaries please visit our interactive map at http://arcg.is/1zXWzD

The Red Cross is staffing an emergency evacuation shelter at Riley Creek Elementary in Gold Beach 94350 6th St. Gold Beach, OR. (541)-600-6068. There is no shelter in Brookings.

UPDATE: MONDAY, AUG. 21 ... The Chetco Bar fire in the Rogue River-SiskiyouNational Forest has tripled in size since Sunday morning. It's now burned more than 91,000 acres, leading to road and trail closures and evacuation orders.

Strong winds yesterday and overnight pushed the fire to the south and west. The present perimeter of the fire is in the vicinity of Nook Bar west to Ransom Ridge and north to Bosley Butte. Structure protection equipment will focus their work around homes.

Unstable atmospheric conditions seen for the past several days will ease as a different weather pattern moves into the area. An infrared flight estimated the size at 91,551 acres.

There will be significant smoke this weekend in the Brookings and Harbor area as a result of the fire. Air quality will fluctuate between moderate and unhealthy for sensitive groups in Brookings. For more information about air quality, please visit the Oregon Smoke Blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Evacuations: Yesterday the Curry County Sheriffs Office issued an additional mandatory evacuation (Level 3) order that includes an area from the junction of Hwy 101 andCarpentervilleRd. north to the Pistol River, and east to the previous Level 3 evacuation areas. The Sheriffs Office will continue to evaluate the need for additional evacuation orders as necessary to protect public safety. The Red Cross is staffing an emergency evacuation shelter at Riley Creek Elementary in Gold Beach 943506thSt. Gold Beach, OR. (541)-600-6068. There is no shelter in Brookings.

Evacuation Meeting: A meeting will be held for displaced residences at the Red Cross Evacuation Shelter,- Riley Creek Elementary in Gold Beach 943506thSt. at 3:30 p.m. For further information please call the shelter at (541)-600-6068.

Closures: An area closure is in effect in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in addition to the trail closures in place. Before you head out into the woods this weekend pleases check Inciweb or the Rouge River Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) homepage for all closure orders including those that pertain to the Chetco Bar Fire.

Community Meeting: Azalea Middle School, 505 Pacific Ave, Brookings on Monday, Aug. 21, 6 p.m.

UPDATE: SUNDAY, AUG. 20 ...The Chetco Bar fire, which has been slowly burning in the fire scar of the 2002 Biscuit fire in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness for more than a month, has quickly grown in size and threat level, now reaching an estimated 31,000 acres and forcing evacuations and closures.

The Curry County Sheriffs Office has issued a mandatory Level 3 (GO!) evacuation order that encompasses Gardner Ridge Road to the Wilson Creek area, and along the Chetco River from Gardner Ridge Road to the Wilderness Retreat area. A Level 2 notice (Be Ready) has been issued from Tide Rock to Cameron Bridge and from Shady to Mt. Emily road. The Sheriffs Office will be evaluating the need for additional evacuation orders as necessary to protect public safety.

There is a public meeting planned for 3 p.m.Sunday afternoon at Azalea Middle School, 505 Pacific Ave, Brookings.

Currently, strong north winds overnight continued to push the fire to the south. The south perimeter of the fire is in the vicinity of Little Redwood Campground and Panda Ridge. Overnight, structure protection and a burnout operation was successful in protecting the Wilderness Retreat area. Incoming structure protection equipment will focus their work around homes.

Unstable atmospheric conditions will continue for most of the day with winds easing somewhat this afternoon. There will be significant smoke this weekend in the Brookings and Harbor area as a result of the fire. Air quality will fluctuate between moderate and unhealthy for sensitive groups in Brookings. For more information about air quality, please visit the Oregon Smoke Blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Closures:

An area closure is in effect in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in addition to the trail closures in place. Before you head out into the woods this weekend pleases check Inciweb or the Rouge River Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) homepage for all closure orders including those that pertain to the Chetco Bar Fire.

Safety Message:

As the eclipse approaches and traffic in the area significantly increases, please keep yourself and others safe. August is peak wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest. A small spark can rapidly become a large fire. Know fire risks and respect fire restrictions, such as campfire bans. Tread lightly and leave no trace. Leave your site better than you found it.

Social Media Resources:

Twitter: @RRSNF #ChetcoBarFireInciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5385/

ORIGINAL POST: The Chetco Bar fire has been slowly burning since mid-July in an area of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness burned by the 2002 Biscuit fire. Because of its slow movement and back country location, fire managers have taken a careful approach of building contingency lines and planning for long term containment.

But the fire made an unexpected run and jumped containment lines last night, triggering road closures and evacuation orders.

It moved much more quickly yesterday and last night than we expected; the containment plans we had are no longer feasible, US Forest Service Incident Commander Bob Houseman told the Curry Coastal Pilot. If the fire behaves like that again today, it could be pressing that (Wilderness Retreat) area by this afternoon.

As a result of the fires movement, more resources arrived on scene today including engines, crews and overhead. More fire resources are in route and expected in the coming days. With strong north winds and lower relative humidity the fire moved to the south and is established in the Quail Prairie drainage. An infrared flight estimates the fire at 10,963 acres.

The Curry County Sheriffs Department has issued a Level 3 (GO!) mandatory evacuation. The evacuation order area is in the Wilderness Area and along the Chetco River above Loeb State Park. Level 3, or "GO!": LEAVE WITHIN 24 HOURS alerts residents that danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should evacuate as soon as possible but no later than 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19.

There is also an evacuation warning area at the three river bars along the Chetco River - Miller, Nook and Redwood bars.

At 8 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 19, the voluntary evacuation warning will become a mandatory evacuation order. A warning means that there is a probability of the need to evacuate. Residents should make arrangements to move property and livestock. People with special health needs or other concerns should relocate during the warning.

Displaced residents may relocate to the evacuation shelter at the Brookings-Harbor High School (625 Pioneer Rd, Brookings, 97415). The American Red Cross is staffing this shelter. Travelers in campers and motels are asked to relocate elsewhere along the Oregonian coast.

The Sheriffs Department is turning back public traffic along the North Bank Chetco River Road at the Loeb State Park. Only residents will be allowed to proceed past that checkpoint. Due to the imminent risk to public safety, there will be no exceptions to this policy. We strongly advise travelers to avoid this area so the appropriate law enforcement and wildland firefighter resources can respond to this emergency.

Chetco Bar Fire Information will be staffed 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and can be reached at 541-247-3680. There will be a Community Meeting Sunday, 3 p.m., at the Azalea Middle School, 505 Pacific Ave, Brookings.

The Sheriff will be hold a press conference at 5:00 pm at the Brookings Emergency Operations Center (898 Elk Dr. Brookings, OR)

Continue reading here:

Crews Make Progress, But Chetco Bar Fire Still Grows - Jefferson Public Radio

Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson made an 11-yard catch in the second quarter of Thursdays preseason game in Miami seemingly just a blip in the game recap.

To Watson, however, the catch was a milestone.

It was the first reception Watson made in a game since Jan. 3, 2016, when he hauled in six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown as a member of the New Orleans Saints.

When he came into the locker room at halftime, Watson had a text message from his wife waiting.

She told me that the kids were going crazy, he said. It was a victory for all of us.

Watson missed all last season after he tore his Achilles in the Ravens 2016 third preseason game. Now the 36-year-old veteran enters Saturdays preseason game against the Buffalo Bills 364 days later making progress but still trying to get all the way back.

Coming up on about a year since surgery and theres still more to get, Watson said. But Im satisfied with my progress; I think Im coming along great and getting back to playing football.

Last year, former Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. was in a similar position trying to return from a ruptured Achilles. Smith didnt play in the preseason, but made his debut in Week 1 to the tune of five catches.

Watsons on track to be in the Ravens lineup when they kick off the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 10. The question is: at what level?

The Ravens could certainly use him considering theyve had season-ending injuries to Dennis Pitta (hip) and Crockett Gillmore (knee), and Darren Waller is suspended for the year. That has left Watson, Nick Boyle, Maxx Williams and Larry Donnell as the teams top tight ends.

Of the four, Watson holds the most potential as a playmaking pass catcher. In 2015, Watson set or tied career highs in catches (74), receiving yards (825) and touchdowns (six) in his last full season with the Saints. The Ravens would be ecstatic with similar production.

Watson has been gradually re-building his game. He first returned to the practice field during minicamp on a limited basis. Hes increased his practice reps and is now full-go in training camp and the preseason, according to Head Coach John Harbaugh.

Hes done an excellent job of working hard to get himself to where he can perform, Harbaugh said. Im excited about Ben.

Despite being a month into training camp, Watson still stays after the veterans exit practice to catch extra throws from the teams quarterbacks. Hes trying to work through some muscle imbalances he still has in his legs.

Just like Smith, Watsons calf muscle shrunk after the injury. He similarly calls it baby calf.

Its trying to gain weight. I moved it up to solid food now; its off of the breast milk, growing up a little bit, Watson joked. Its still a process. Theres still a ways to go with the strength.

Watson has flashed at times during practices open to reporters, particularly in the red-zone, where the 6-foot-3, 251-pound target should be a major weapon.

Asked if he feels quicker now than he did at the start of training camp, Watson said, definitely. But he added that he does feel some deficiency when he does certain movements.

The great thing about the body is its able to compensate, and its able to maneuver, he said. When somethings not right, something else kicks in. Im still going through a maintenance program.

Mentally, Watson also said hes made great strides. Hes not thinking about the injury anymore, and his body is listening to his brain.

A lot of football is reactionary. Being able to read a coverage on the fly and have your body do what your mind wants it to do, it takes some time to get back to that, Watson said. But as I watch film, I still have a ways to go.

Read more:

Benjamin Watson Making Progress After Achilles, But Not All the ... - BaltimoreRavens.com

Despite having no suspects in custody, Danville police say progress is being made in the investigation into the shooting death of a 16-year-old high school student earlier this month.

I will tell you that the investigation has not stalled and is moving forward, Danville Police Department Lt. Mike Wallace said.

Wallace said police have filed no charges related to the killing of Nitaya Adams, 16, of Danville. A shooting early in the morning on Aug. 6 along Paxton Street left Adams dead and sent bullet hole through walls of neighboring houses and at least one vehicle.

I will continue to make the plea to call us if they have any information, Wallace said.

Adams father Malcolm Plummer said that police had not told him any more information on his daughters shooting. Plummer said he was confident the investigation would lead to arrests, however.

The Virginia medical examiners officer would not reveal the cause or manner of death in the shooting, Tracie Cooper, administrator for the Roanoke office, said.

Theres a note in here to refer all calls to law enforcement, Cooper said.

Cooper added that police departments can ask the medical examiners office to refer questions to them when information on victims is related to an ongoing investigation.

Adams, who was a rising senior at George Washington High School, was out spending the last weekend before school started with friends before she was shot, family members said earlier this month. Family described Adams as funny and compassionate and said she wanted to pursue a career in nursing.

Continue reading here:

Police: Progress, but no arrests in shooting of GW student - GoDanRiver.com

It was around the 20-hour mark that I realized I had been playing XCOM 2: War of the Chosen completely wrong.

You see, when youre playing a game for review theres an urge to see everything. Not in a completionist sort of way, mind you. But you want to make sure that you follow the game around all its twists and turns, scooping all of those nutty experiences out of the bottom of the jar. So in reviewing XCOM 2 two years ago I resorted to save-scumming meticulously saving my game before every battle and painstakingly retracing my steps when something went wrong on a mission.

Not only is that the wrong way to play War of the Chosen, but it very nearly spoiled the game for me. Thats because this time around the team at Firaxis is leaning into the pain and the hardship inherent in their game.

Im not saying that waging a guerilla war against a superior foe from the bowels of a beat up old airship was easy the first time around. But War of the Chosen has transformed XCOM 2 into a taught, nearly roguelike experience. Its simply not the same game anymore.

In War of the Chosen, death is not the end. I know that now, and thats why Im starting over from beginning.

[EDITORS NOTE: This is a review-in-progress highlighting Charlies thoughts on his first 20 or so hours with XCOM 2: War of the Chosen. That opinion and this text are not final and do not represent our final review. Well update this page with further thoughts as Charlie plays more of War of the Chosen and will add a score at that time.]

War of the Chosen is effectively a total conversion for XCOM 2, but the core of the original game is still there. This is clear from the opening cinematic, which leads into the games original opening CGI sequence and tutorial battle. What Firaxis has done is grafted a number of key additions onto an already excellent experience. The DLC fully delivers on its promise with new mechanics to learn, new factions to befriend and deadly new enemies to fight against.

There are the Reapers, a friendly group of ranged fighters that are focused on stealth. The starting character, named Elena Dragunova, comes equipped with a scoped carbine. Shes just as deadly as any Sharpshooter and stealthier by half. Shes able to take one or more actions, including shooting at and killing aliens, before she leaves concealment. Out of the box she is instantly the best recon fighter that XCOM has ever had. And thats before you get to level her up and gain new powers over time.

War of the Chosen boasts performances from no fewer than five members of the original cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Another new face is Pratal Mox. Hes the first member of the friendly Skirmisher faction that youll meet. The Skirmishers are genetically engineered humans, members of the Advent military that have defected and thrown in their lot with XCOM. Mox has a grapple that he can use to reach high places, or to pull enemies toward him for a vicious melee strike. His bullpup rifle is also able to fire twice in one round, making him a nimble flanker.

Over and above these new factions, where War of the Chosen excels is in bringing characters to the fore. Dragunova is voiced by Marina Sirtis, who played Counsellor Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Performing Mox is Michael Dorn, who played Lieutenant Commander Worf. In fact, War of the Chosen boasts performances from no fewer than five members of the original cast of TNG including Jonathan Frakes (Commander William T. Riker), John de Lancie (Q) and Denise Crosby (Security Chief Tasha Yar).

This isnt just a sentimental reunion for reunions sake. All of the actors do an excellent job of pushing the storyline forward.

Oh, by the way ... theres a much meatier story now.

The original XCOM 2 was a sort of race against the clock to prevent the Advent project from getting off the ground. But, truth be told, it never felt like all that much of a threat. Sure, the Avatar projects progress meter would move along every once in awhile, but it didnt feel like anything was really happening when it did.

This time, sitting on your heels is simply not an option. Every mission is important, and every mission has the risk of being especially deadly thanks to The Chosen.

In the Alien Hunters DLC, Firaxis dreamed up a set of powerful boss aliens that would harass players across multiple missions. In War of the Chosen, theyve amped that idea up a notch by borrowing from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordors Nemesis system.

As you do battle against The Chosen their skills improve, making them more and more dangerous over time. The result is that there are now four different timers ticking down, one for the Avatar project and one for each of the Chosen left alive. They are as aggressive as they are cunning, and I have absolutely grown to hate them, and thats something that I love.

War of the Chosen also introduces Bonds. When XCOM operatives go on missions together they grow closer, and formal Bonds allow them to grant each other perks during a mission. Of course, should a bondmate die or get captured (which is also a thing that can happen now, necessitating rescue missions) the survivor will receive an emotional scar that will decrease their combat effectiveness in the future.

As if that werent enough, theres also a new enemy type: The Lost, a zombie-like race of mutated humans that crop up in certain areas around the map. Some missions focus on The Lost, with Left 4 Dead-style last-ditch standoffs and running gun battles through the streets. At other times The Lost just get tossed into the mix randomly. Youll be trying to destroy an objective as quietly as possible to keep them from streaming onto the map, where they cause chaos by attacking Advent and XCOM forces alike.

All of these factors the new factions, the excellent voice acting, the soldier Bonds, The Lost and the new and dynamic mission types combine to create more drama than ever before.

But you wont see that drama if you coddle your soldiers with save-scumming, like I did. This time around, the games Iron Man mode which literally prevents you from saving the game on your own is absolutely necessary. Its the only way to be sure that theres the opportunity to lose the game.

I call it an opportunity because in XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, fighting a losing battle might be just as much fun as fighting and winning. It will hurt and my favorite soldiers will die. But when Im done Ill have a much, much more interesting story to tell.

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XCOM 2: War of the Chosen review-in-progress - Polygon - Polygon

President Trump unveiled a new strategy for the U.S. war in Afghanistan on Aug. 21. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

President Trump delivered a sharpwarning to Pakistan on Monday,saying he intends to hold itsleaders to account for harboringmilitantgroups responsible for perpetuating instability across the border in Afghanistan.

During a prime-time address to the nation, Trumpsaid the United States would once more accelerate its longest military mission and bring renewed focus to achieving victory in Afghanistan.

It is time for Pakistan, the president declared, to demonstrate its commitment to civilization, order and to peace.

He declined, however, to similarly admonish three other regional powers which the United States views ascomplicit inundermining progress there: Russia, Iran and to a lesser extent China, which has a stake in Afghanistan's stability but shows little motivation to take a more active role in providing for its security.

Here's a look ateach country's involvement in Afghanistan:

Russia

Since April,notlong after he declared America's longest war a stalemate, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen.John Nicholson, has voiced concern aboutMoscow's apparent effort to arm the Taliban. Those weapons include medium and heavy machine guns, officials have said,used to cut down Afghan troops in multiple southern provinces, including areaswhereU.S. military advisers and Special Operations forces aredeployed.

U.S. officials have said that any country shipping weapons into Afghanistan would be in violation of international law. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis vowed toengage theRussians through diplomatic channels, hopeful that doing so would encourage them to halt their alleged meddling.

Russia has denied working with the Taliban, saying its interactions with the fundamentalist group thatonce ruled Afghanistan have been focused on encouraging it to make peace. Video published by CNN in July appears to contradict that.

Iran

Like Russia, Iranviews Afghanistan as within its sphere of influence, as The Washington Post'sErin Cunningham characterized it earlier this year.Iranian operatives have been active in the west, where the two countries share a 500-mile border, as well as in the south.

Afghan government officials have indicated Iran and Russia appear to be coordinating, supplying weapons and training to the Taliban in an effort to create loyalty and promote unrest.

In a piece published this month, the New York Times' Carlotta Gallexplored this burgeoning dynamic in considerable detail. Here's an excerpt:

Iran has conducted an intensifying covert intervention, much of which is only now coming to light. It is providing local Taliban insurgents with weapons, money and training. It has offered Taliban commanders sanctuary and fuel for their trucks. It has padded Taliban ranks by recruiting among Afghan Sunni refugees in Iran, according to Afghan and Western officials.

Iran has come to see the Taliban not only as the lesser of its enemies but also as a useful proxy force. The more recent introduction of the Islamic State, which carried out a terrorist attack on Irans parliament this year, into Afghanistan has only added to the Talibans appeal.

China

Trump has been candidin his criticism of China for not doing more to help counter the provocative actions being taken by North Korea, whose leaders have threatened a nuclear attack against the United States. But his administration has said little about Beijing's comparatively minor contributionsin Afghanistan.

China, as one observer notes, has chosen to assume a minimalistic role in the security sector, refusing to get involved in direct military operations but benefiting nonetheless from the U.S. and NATO presence there.

And asMilitary Times' Shawn Snow reported in March, Beijing is seen as something of a freeloader in Afghanistan, but there is growing evidence small numbers of Chinese security forces there's disagreement as to whether they are military personnel or police units have been deployedacross the border to conduct counterterrorism patrols. China is concerned about Uighur militants who remain active in the region and have professed support for the Islamic State.

Since 2015 China hascontributed some funding and combat equipment for the Afghan security forces. Still, its interests are primarilyeconomic, focused on Afghanistan's natural resources and its potential to help connect China with other trade partners.

China was one of four countries, including Russia, Iran and Pakistan, that sentenvoys to an Afghan summit in the spring talks the United States refused to attend. And China was quick to show solidarity with ally Pakistan after Trump's remarks Monday.

A spokeswoman for China's foreign minister, speaking with the Reuters news agency Tuesday, conveyed Beijing's contentment with the U.S. continuing to do the heavy lifting.

We hope, the spokeswoman added, the relevant U.S. policies can help promote the security, stability and development of Afghanistan and the region.

Some in Afghanistan and India praised President Trump's Aug. 21 speech, but his rhetoric set off alarm bells in Pakistan. (The Washington Post)

Here are six costly failures from Americas longest war. No. 1: cashmere goats.

Trumps muscular but vague Afghanistan speech, annotated

Trump faces the grim reality of Afghanistan: No quick path to victory and no clear way out

See original here:

Three countries undermining Afghanistan progress that President Trump didn't call out - Washington Post

A look at how the Giants rookies performed in the team's Preseason matchup vs. the Browns:

Preseason in the NFL means different things to different players.

For the young guys, its about getting an opportunity to prove the stage is not too big and that your teams assessment of you was justified. And the New York Giants got another good look at their youth on Monday night in Cleveland.

>> WATCH GIANTS VS. BROWNS HIGHLIGHTS

TE Evan Engram

Depth chart: TE2 Preseason Week 1: 2 TGTS, 1 REC, 11 YDS Preseason Week 2: 4 TGTS, 3 REC, 32 YDS

You never know where the first-round pick is going to line up on any given play, and thats just how the Giants like it. Engram tied for a team-high with three catches for 32 yards, including a 21-yard catch-and-run when he came out of the backfield. It was the longest offensive play of the game from either sideline, run or pass.

Depth chart: RDT2 Preseason Week 1: 4 TCKLS (2 SOLO) Preseason Week 2: 3 TCKLS (2 SOLO)

While Jay Bromley has been a steady Eddie on the top line next to All-Pro Damon Harrison, Steve Spagnuolo thought Tomlinson took a major step between the first and second weeks of the preseason. Hes playing more violent, the defensive coordinator said, as the second-round pick gets more comfortable with the players around him. Those three will make up the bulk of the interior rotation while veteran Corbin Bryant was placed on injured reserve last week with an elbow injury.

>> READ TOMLINSON'S ROOKIE BLOG

QB Davis Webb

Depth chart: QB4 Preseason Week 1: 8/16, 67 YDS, 61.2 RTG Preseason Week 2: DNP

Ideally, McAdoo would have liked to play all four quarterbacks in Cleveland, but with the way the game unfolded, that didnt turn out to be the case. Eli Manning, after sitting the opener, started the game before Geno Smith came in just before halftime. Josh Johnson, who started the first game vs. Pittsburgh, was third and played only the final two minutes of the game after Smith threw an interception deep in Browns territory. The assumption was Webb would take a developmental role this year behind Manning the backup, whoever that may be, but McAdoo opened the door for the rookie even if its just a crack.

I think we all have to be careful making assumptions, he said last week before the second preseason game. Josh and Geno are competing right now for the number two spot, and if that doesnt look the way we want it to look, Davis will get a crack.

RB Wayne Gallman

Depth chart: RB5 Preseason Week 1: 5 CAR, 11 YDS; 1 REC, 4 YDS Preseason Week 2: 5 CAR, 22 YDS, LOST FUM; 2 REC, 20 YDS

Gallman, who finished his college career third in Clemson history in rushing touchdowns and fifth in rushing yards, provided a spark when he came in at the beginning of the fourth quarter. His first run was an 11-yard gain, followed by a pair of 10-yard receptions. However, the bad came with the good for the rookie. Gallman dropped a pass and lost a fumble at the Browns 10-yard line. It was one of three turnovers for the Giants on the night.

DE Avery Moss

Depth chart: RDE4 Preseason Week 1: 2 TCKL (1 SOLO) Preseason Week 2: 1 SOLO TCKL

Ahead of him, Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon played for the first time together since Dec. 4 of last season and absolutely dominated when they were in. Thats a lot to aspire to for the rest of the unit, including the rookie Moss. Hes trying to make the most of every rep as the Giants look to find a healthy rotation of defensive ends. Theres a crowd behind JPP and OV, though. Romeo Okwara and Kerry Wynn lead the next wave.

OT Adam Bisnowaty

Depth chart: RT2 Preseason Weeks 1 & 2: Relieved starter Bobby Hart

Like he has since he arrived at the facility, Bisnowaty has been on the second team at right tackle. Hes playing behind Bobby Hart, who is part of the five returning starters from a year ago on the offensive line. As a whole, the Giants managed 65 yards on 20 carries against the Browns in addition to 147 passing yards.

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Rookie Progress Report: Engram makes presence felt - Giants.com (blog)

Three Charlottesville residents are facing misdemeanor charges after Monday evenings raucous City Council meeting that was taken over by those demanding answers for the citys handling of the Aug. 12 Unite the Right rally.

Donna Gasapo Gray, 43, was charged with disorderly conduct. Two others, Mark Heisey, 30, and Sara Michel Tansey, 29, were chared with obstruction of justice.

The council agreed to continue the meeting following the arrests, but cancelled the planned agenda. The meeting then turned into a town-hall style meeting that ended after 1 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The Charlottesville City Council voted unanimously early Tuesday morning to cover the citys statues of Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson in black fabric, which will represent the city's mourning of Heather Heyer.

Heyer was killed earlier this month in what many have described as white nationalist terrorism. At least 30 others were injured in the attack.

Some time after the Aug. 12 white nationalist Unite the Right rally was shut down by authorities due to violence between ralliers and counter-protesters, a 20-year-old man from Ohio who came to attend the rally allegedly drove his car into a crowd of Downtown Mall pedestrians on Fourth Street.

The council voted on other resolutions after a tumultuous council meeting Monday evening. Activists and residents took over the meeting to express their anger and frustration about how the city and police officials handled the rally.

In addition to seeking the removal of the citys Lee statue, councilors voted to direct the Board of Architectural Review to make a decision on removing the nearby Jackson statue.

People in the crowd said three were arrested. They called for Mayor Mike Signers removal. His eyes welled as people told the City Council how they experienced the vicious car attack that slammed into a crowd of counter-protesters crossing the Downtown Mall.

A woman said her daughter was supposed to start her fourth year at the University of Virginia this week. She wont be attending the first day of class because of her injuries, the mother said.

Another man said hes suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

He said he can still see the bodies that went flying after the car struck the crowd several hours after the Unite the Right rally was shut down because of rampant street-fighting outside Emancipation Park, the location where white nationalists and white supremacists gathered on Aug. 12 for their Unite the Right rally.

Within 30 minutes of starting its meeting, the entire City Council, the city attorney, the city manager and council clerk all retreated into a backroom. Two women stood on top of the dais with a banner: Blood on your hands.

City Council candidate and community activist Nikuyah Walker asked: Why did you think you can walk in here and do a business-as-usual meeting after what happened on the 12th?

Mayor Mike Signer and Councilor Kathy Galvin are now supporting the removal of Charlottesvilles statue of Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park, but the change did not spare them from criticism Monday.

Last week, Signer asked for the state General Assembly to hold an emergency session to consider amending the states law regarding statues. A lawsuit citing that law is preventing the city from removing the statue as planned because of a court injunction.

A spokesperson for Gov. Terry McAuliffe intimated last week that a special session was unlikely.

Photos and video of the attack on Deandre Harris, an instructional assistant with the city schools, remain viral on social media.

Galvin held a news conference Monday to announce her change of mind, and she called for the removal of the statue of Thomas Stonewall Jackson, too.

It is time for the Jackson and Lee statues to be relocated to a battlefield park or a museum where they will neither be reviled or revered, she said, adding that shed prefer the statues there so they can be preserved and explained more fully.

She said the state legislature would need to play a role in their removal.

Weve been told that if we take them down tonight, were going to be personally sued, Councilor Wes Bellamy said Monday night. We will personally be held liable and charged with a class-six felony.

Councilor Kristin Szakos encouraged the protesters to challenge the states legislators.

You cant just show up to City Council meetings, Szakos told the protesters. You have to go to the state legislature. Virginia has laws that restrict what we can do.

Signer and Galvins change of heart, however, failed to placate those who accosted their local elected officials almost immediately at the start of the meeting.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Nina-Alice Antony said there was not enough evidence to convict Jason Kessler of disorderly conduct stemming from the May 14 vigil.

It then became an urban-populist coup.

Someone needs to be held accountable, said Don Gathers, the former chairman of the blue ribbon commission that recommended relocating the Lee statue.

Something is going to happen by any means necessary, he added. People are tired and theyre fed up its going down, for real.

Social justice activist Emily Gorcenski said many protesters had tried to warn the city that violence would come to the city if the rally was permitted.

Aside from the well-documented clashes that took place on Market Street and in Emancipation Park, protesters Monday said the Unite the Right ralliers went to majority African-American communities south of the downtown area to harass residents there.

Gorcenski said activists and counter-protesters took it upon themselves to defend the community.

Charlottesville isnt the capital of the resistance, Gorcenski said, excoriating Signers declaration of resistance against President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Charlottesville now, she said, is the capital of the [anti-fascists].

Signer read a resolution at the start of the meeting to commemorate the three lives lost, but not before someone in the crowd accused him of being responsible for the loss of life.

The protesters criticized the council for allegedly allowing the rally happen. Signer defended himself and the council, explaining that the council attempted previously to move the rally to McIntire Park.

The crowd also took aim at police officers for not intervening more in the melees that took place on Aug. 12.

We tried really hard. A federal judge forced us to have the rally downtown, Signer said.

Responding to the allegations that he ordered police to not protect people counter-protesting in the street, Signer said the mayor has no real police power.

Signers attempts to calm the crowd repeatedly failed. He tried to cut the meeting short, but that didnt work either.

Bellamy attempted to regain control and coordinate a town-hall style meeting, giving the floor to everyone gathered. The councilors appeared visibly rattled as they came out to the crowd at 8 p.m. It continued past 11 p.m., and dozens of people made their frustration and anger known.

The reason my two daughters and I were out there protesting and putting our bodies in our lines is because we knew that so many others could not, said the woman who told the crowd that her daughter wouldnt be able to attend classes at UVa later this week.

Its not about the statues, she said. We were out there because our community is hurting. what I want to see is meaningful changes in our community.

After the violent street-fighting compelled local and state officials to end the rally prematurely before noon Aug. 12, James A. Fields Jr. allegedly drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters with intent to kill about two hours later.

James Alex Fields Jr. is accused of killing Heather Heyer and injuring 30 others when he rammed his car into a crowd of protesters on Aug. 12.

Local paralegal Heather Heyer was killed. At least 30 were hospitalized because of their injuries.

Two state police officers, H. Jay Cullen and Berke Bates, died several hours later when a Virginia State Police helicopter crashed in Albemarle County.

Fields is facing second-degree murder and other charges.

Previously, 19 injuries resulting from the attack that followed the white nationalist Unite the Right rally had been reported by the University of Virginia Medical Center.

The protesters Monday said they expect there are many more injuries and criminal assaults that have not been reported.

There were hundreds of people that were hurt, said housing activist Joy Johnson. Way more than 19 people got hurt, she added, citing the number that city officials previously reported were injured in the car attack.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Sentara Martha Jefferson hospital said they treated 11 people who were injured in the car attack. A spokesperson for the UVa Medical Center said they treated 19.

Im still pissed, Johnson said. Im still angry.

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Three arrested as councilors vote to shroud Confederate statues at meeting overwhelmed by anger - The Daily Progress

DES MOINES | Gov. Kim Reynolds kicked off a tour Tuesday to mark the beginning of K-12 classes for the 2017-18 school year by touting gains in reading scores among students in kindergarten through third grade.

Reynolds and Ryan Wise, director of the state Department of Education, said 70 percent of students met or surpassed statewide benchmarks during the 2016-17 school year increasing 3 percent from fall 2016 to spring 2017. That builds on a 4 percent increase during the 2015-16 school year, they said, calling the progress significant.

"We're seeing growth, we're seeing progress and so we need to continue to look at that and figure out how we can continue to scale that success with school districts across the state," Reynolds told her weekly news conference which was held at the Edmunds Fine Arts Academy in Des Moines the first stop on her Start of School tour that coincides with Wednesday's official opening of K-12 schools under a new state law. The governor and Wise also visited the Emmetsburg Community School District on Tuesday, and plan stops in the Forest City, Central Springs and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura community school districts on Wednesday.

State leaders are looking at long-term ways to strengthen Iowa's workforce talent pipeline, and Wise said one important early step is ensuring all students read proficiently by the end of third grade. In 2012, Iowa adopted a major initiative to identify struggling readers and provide intensive intervention, he said, and now school districts screen students' reading skills on an assessment three times a year which helps teachers identify and intervene for students not reading at grade level.

"Early literacy is critical because success in school starts with the ability to read," Wise said. "Students who struggle to read early on are more likely to drop out of school, are less likely to pursue post-secondary education and training and less likely to earn a living wage."

State lawmakers last session decided to abandon a previous approach to force students to repeat third grade if they were not reading at grade level by the end of the year. The state-mandated summer reading program for struggling third-graders had already been delayed and moved back to 2018 before lawmakers decided a pilot program which provided extra money so struggling third graders could attend summer school would not be continued, but Reynolds said Tuesday there may be other ways to accomplish the goal of boosting reading skills among elementary students.

Deborah Reed of the Iowa Reading Research Center said a number of Iowa's 333 school districts are continuing summer reading programs but they've gone from a required approach to an option for helping students address their literacy needs. "It's part of an array of interventions that might be provided by a school districts" and they work collaboratively to find ways to refine and redeliver instruction based on quality reading performance data.

Reynolds said she is focusing on reading, Iowa's Teacher Leadership and Compensation System and Iowa's STEM initiative during her school visits.

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Iowa politics: Gov. Reynolds touts progress among early readers - Mason City Globe Gazette

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- This has been a pleasantly quiet summer for the Minnesota Vikings, though it's worth remembering there was no drama at this time a year ago, either.

Before Teddy Bridgewater blew out his knee days before the preseason finale, and then Adrian Peterson got hurt, and injuries decimated the offensive line, and head coach Mike Zimmer underwent the first of many eye surgeries, and offensive coordinator Norv Turner quit, and a 5-0 start crumbled into an 8-8 finish, the Vikings felt much as they do now: optimistic about one of the NFL's most stacked defenses and an offense that can do enough to make them a tough out come January.

"Defensively, I kind of know who we are and what we are. It's similar to what we've been," Zimmer told me after a recent practice. "Offensively, I think we're still a little bit trying to find exactly the right balance of what we're doing -- but I like a lot of things we're doing offensively.

"I don't think the identity of the team is going to change too much. I don't think we're going to go to The Greatest Show on Turf, and I don't think we're going to be the '85 Bears, either. But this team has some talent, and we've got a chance."

The Vikes have really felt that way since they had the mighty Seattle Seahawks beat in a divisional playoff game 19 months ago -- until Blair Walsh yanked a 27-yard game-winning field-goal attempt.Seemingly every bit of their luck since followed that thing wide left.

To be sure, the Vikings have their work cut out to get out of the NFC North, which they've wrested away from Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers just once in the past six seasons. Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions are coming off their own playoff campaign, taking the spotlight in the division away from Minnesota -- and that may not be a bad thing here.

Just as the 5-0 start last season covered up some of the flaws that eventually got exposed, the way things fell apart might be obscuring some of the reasons the Vikings are excited about their chances for bouncing back. That list includes:

Sam Bradford has settled in: The former No. 1 pick put together his most efficient season in 2016 (71.6 percent passing, 20 TDs, five interceptions, 99.3 rating) despite not joining the Vikings until a cutdown-day trade from Philadelphia and having to learn Turner's offense on the fly, with little run threat to help him. Now Bradford, 29, has had an offseason to work with his teammates and a coordinator, Pat Shurmur, who has a lot of history to draw on in sculpting the offense around Bradford's skill set.

"I think [Bradford] feels so much more comfortable, obviously," Zimmer said. "He's throwing the ball well. He's got a good feeling for Pat, checking and all the different things that he does."

Dalvin Cook might be special: Ask anyone at Vikings HQ about the upside of this team, and they'll bring up Cook, who slid into the second round of April's draft for reasons that had little to do with his unquestioned explosiveness as a runner. He can make an offensive line look better. The one-time NFL MVP Peterson is gone, but with Cook, ex-Oakland Raider Latavius Murray and third-down back Jerick McKinnon, the NFL's least productive running team a year ago (1,205 yards, 3.2 per carry) has some juice.

The O-line shouldn't be horrible: That's a low bar, but the Vikings set it there last season. Is Riley Reiff an ideal left tackle? Probably not. (There are reasons the Lions moved him to right.) But he should be an upgrade over the T.J. Clemmings-Jake Long combo the Vikings played with most of last season. Ditto Mike Remmers at right tackle. Left guard Alex Boone feels better after being beat up last season. Third-round pick Pat Elflein is a likely Week 1 starter at center. Depth seems better, too -- even with Reiff and Boone sitting out last week's exhibition against Seattle, the line played much better than in its opener. Accountability and attitude will be key. As Boone told me: "We've got to smash people and have fun doing it, embrace it."

Defense remains loaded: Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter, Linval Joseph, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith ... that's an excellent core on defense, and all those guys are under age 30. They know Zimmer's scheme inside and out. One guy to keep an eye on is Barr, whose effort and productivity last season weren't acceptable. People who have watched him recently say Barr is a different guy right now.

"I think Barr has had an unbelievable spring, unbelievable training camp," Zimmer said.

Rookies might make an impact: Unlike last year, when they ranked dead last in offensive and defensive snaps from rookies, the Vikings could have as many as four first-year starters from their draft class -- Cook, Elflein, linebacker Ben Gedeon and guard Danny Isidora. They also spent more on undrafted rookies than in years past and have a few who could contribute, led by defensive end Tashawn Bower.

Zim is Zim again: He went through a lot last year, yet at age 61, none of it seems to have softened him.

"There's nothing different," said veteran cornerback Terence Newman, who has spent much of his 15-year career with Zimmer. "Obviously, he wants this team to win and be better than we were last year. So, he's going to be tough and stringent. But that's always him."

Said Boone: "I think he's probably tougher now."

That approach doesn't fit everyone, especially when things start going south. But Zimmer has shown under the right circumstances he can make it work.

There's plenty the Vikings still have to figure out: nickel cornerback, both kicking jobs, how to best utilize a receiver group with a bunch of solid No. 2/3 type guys (Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Michael Floyd) but no true No. 1 mismatch threat, the right combination on an O-line that still figures as the team's biggest weakness until it shows otherwise. Entering his eighth season, Bradford has to shake the stigma of never reaching the playoffs. An uncertain future at quarterback -- Bradford's in a contract year, while Bridgewater continues to rehab in hopes of returning sometime in 2017 -- contributes to the feeling the Vikings are at something of a fork in the road. Repeat last season, and changes are inevitable.

The Vikings aren't thinking that way now, though.

"Last year was last year and some [expletive]-up things happened. But nine years in this league, I've seen a lot of messed-up things like that," Boone said. "Going forward, this is our team. This is the group of guys we're going to go out and fight with and I'm excited about that."

Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.

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Vikings' D, Sam Bradford's progress have Mike Zimmer optimistic - NFL.com

Barron's

Too Short: Dow Gains 196 Points as Tax Progress Lifts Stocks Barron's Stocks rallied today on reports that the Trump administration has been making progress on its tax plan. But is more than just an oversold bounce? Illustration: Getty Images. The S&P 500 gained 1% to 2452.51 today while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ... and more »

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Too Short: Dow Gains 196 Points as Tax Progress Lifts Stocks - Barron's

SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 17: Jhoulys Chacin

San Diego Padres look to play spoiler in St. Louis by Jonathan Goehring

Four starting pitchers have separated themselves from the rest and have become staples in the San Diego rotation in 2017. This doesnt mean theyre starters of the future necessarily, but merely that they are what fans are used to seeing take the mound since they have started consistently throughout the campaign.

The rotation has faced its struggles, but has also experienced some pleasant surprises. The following are letter grades which we have assigned to the four staples of the rotation: Jhoulys Chacin, Clayton Richard, Luis Perdomo, and Dinelson Lamet. The grades are based on performance compared to expectations, so strong stats do not necessarily convert to high grades and vice versa.

11-8, 3.98 ERA

There is a lot to be said for consistency, which is exactly what Chacin brings. Even though the right-hander began the season as the opening day starter, expectations werent that high. The Padres didnt invest much in him, just a one-year, $1.75 million contract. Chacin was only supposed to be a contributor to the rotation, not the ace. And since he has acted like an ace at times and leads the club in virtually every pitching statistic, he earns himself a nice grade for his efforts in 2017.

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6-12, 4.77 ERA

Yikes is about all we can say when it comes to Richard. Yes, the 33-year-old has had some flashes, like his first start at Dodger Stadium, or his most recent complete game victory over the Phillies. But Richard has been inconsistent, and that may be a generous way of putting it. Signed to the same one-year, $1.75 million contract, expectations were a bit higher for Richard than any other starter coming in to the year. He was a returning player, and the spring training favorite to be named the ace. Theres no reason to give up on Richard, but his miserable record and inflated ERA make his 2017 campaign a less than successful one.

6-8, 4.93 ERA

Perdomo was the one member of the rotation who brought uncertainty coming into 2017. Now, hes one of the only ones the staff can rely on. It hasnt been smooth sailing for Perdomo by any means, but the right-hander has earned the trust of his team. Starting 22 games, he has been reliable and relatively consistent. Every month, Perdomos ERA has been above 4, but he has also started no fewer than three games a month and hasnt pitched less than 16 innings. While Perdomo isnt ace material, he is also no longer the major unknown of the rotation. And inning eater and a starter with potential is how to describe the 24-year-old.

7-5, 4.84 ERA

It is exciting to see Lamet beginning to figure it out. He isnt a household name, maybe not even for San Diego fans just yet. But the 25-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has turned his opportunity quite possibly into a career. When first inserted into the rotation in May, Lamet was not used to the majors. His stats were below average, but not all that surprising given his low expectations. Following the all-star break, Lamet has a 3.69 ERA in seven starts 39 innings. Hes going deeper into games and staying composed in difficult moments. And, most importantly, Lamet has a winning record, something that only one other member of the rotation shares.

More:

San Diego Padres: Grading rotation staples on 2017 progress - Friars on Base

Richard Shotwell / Invision / AP

In this Nov. 15, 2016, file photo, Wilmer Valderrama attends the Peoples Choice Awards 2017 nominations news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif. In a statement Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, the National Latino Media Coalition said it was heartened by CBS doubling the number of Latino writers and series cast members since 2016. One example of a Latino newcomer to CBS: Wilmer Valderrama, who joined the cast of NCIS last season as agent NickTorres.

Associated Press

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 | 6:26 p.m.

LOS ANGELES Latino leaders meeting with top CBS executives last week were braced for a confrontation over a protracted scarcity of Latino actors and stories on the network's prime-time shows.

"We said, 'That's it, no more'" in preparing for the encounter, said Alex Nogales of the National Latino Media Coalition.

Instead, the coalition said in a statement Tuesday it found CBS has made "record commitments" to improved representation of Latinos, which Nogales said has galvanized the group to demand more from other networks.

"We're going to be very militant from here on out. ... The next target is Fox," he said, with a meeting to be requested next week. Letter-writing campaigns and boycotts could be among the tools employed to push broadcasters to act, he said.

Fox didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nogales said that what he and fellow coalition member Thomas A. Saenz learned from CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves and other CBS executives proves change is possible.

Without releasing specific numbers per its agreement with CBS, the coalition said the network has doubled the number of Latino writers and cast members since 2016; agreed to order scripts from Latinos or with Latino themes, and will hear additional pitches from 10 Latino writers or producers.

One example of a Latino newcomer to CBS: Wilmer Valderrama, who joined the cast of "NCIS" last season as agent Nick Torres.

When he and Saenz left the meeting after seeing more recent, encouraging data, Nogales said, they shared the same thought: "'Man, if we had known we were going to get all these good things, we would have asked for more.'"

Saenz is the president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, while Nogales heads the National Hispanic Media Coalition.

In a statement, CBS called the meeting "very positive" and said it looked forward to continued progress and collaboration.

At a Television Critics Association meeting earlier this month, CBS executives were questioned about other diversity issues: Its new fall shows that are largely topped by male stars, as well as the departure of Asian actors Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park from "Hawaii Five-O" over their reported demands for pay equal to the show's white stars.

The push for ethnic diversity came after the four major networks, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, fielded a fall 1999 slate of new shows with only white stars. The Latino coalition joined with black, Asian-American and American Indian civil rights groups to demand small-screen ethnic diversity.

Change has come in fits in starts, with African-American actors and producers making greater strides than other minorities. But in 2015, an Associated Press analysis of regular cast members on prime-time comedies and dramas found casts at three of the four networks were still whiter than the nation as a whole.

Networks must realize they can no longer relegate Latinos, a group that represents 18 percent of the U.S. population and has economic clout, to relative invisibility, Nogales said.

"People get their information from TV and film. If Latinos are absent or depicted as lesser than others, that's the way we're going to be treated," he said.

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Latino coalition: CBS diversity progress is part of new push - Las Vegas Sun

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First-team offensive line looked good for the most part against a good Seattle defense. Fix the negative plays and I think we would've put up six points on the first drive! Dalvin Cook looked ready to eat as well! Can't wait until Sept. 11! SKOL! -- Kyle Alexander Texas

I agree and head coach Mike Zimmer seemed to agree as well based on his postgame comments and his meeting with reporters yesterday. The first three series against Seattle represented a positive step for the offensive line, and they didnt even have left tackle Riley Reiff or left guard Alex Boone. Cook looked explosive and used every inch of space his blockers gave him. Presuming Reiff and Boone are ready to go for next Sundays preseason game, itll be interesting to see how the Vikings parse out reps for Joe Berger, Nick Easton and Pat Elflein as the coaching staff tries to determine its depth chart for the regular season

Much better moving the ball. Especially against that team. But still did not get in the end zone. Do you think we should be concerned? -- Toby Smart Alaska

The negative plays sacks, negative runs and penalties are always a concern if they are happening, and they were happening too often last season. Penalties also stalled the first drive in Seattle on Friday night. Coach Zimmer acknowledged this during his meeting with reporters on Sunday and said he had the offense working a lot on red zone situations in practice. I wouldnt be overly concerned at this moment, but if these issues flare up on Sunday against the 49ers in the third preseason game, then questions are going to exist all the way into Week 1 of the regular season.

I know it's only the second preseason game, but I'm a little nervous with our defense giving up some easy mid-range passing yards. I know not all the starters were in, but it seems to be a weak point this year. Are Zimmer and (defensive coordinator George) Edwards addressing this before the season starts? We start the season with a pass-heavy team the Saints. -- Todd R. Stockton, CA

Yes, they are addressing it right now. Coach Zimmer said on Sunday that coverage was going to be a point of emphasis in practice this week after Russell Wilson and Co. were able to hit the Vikings defense for several explosive gains in the first half on Friday night. Granted, two starters Andrew Sendejo and Trae Waynes didnt play, but that doesnt excuse mistakes made by others. I expect those issues will be corrected and youll see a defense clicking on all cylinders next Sunday night against the 49ers.

Good game Friday night! Although we took the loss, I feel like we saw more positives from the game than we saw in our win against Buffalo. My question is about Terence Newman. You're around the team and see a lot of the practices. Do you feel like he is starting to slow down or regress? Thoughts? Thanks and SKOL! -- Jerry Provost

It is interesting that folks, myself included, feel better about the teams overall performance after the loss to Seattle than they did after defeating Buffalo last week. Im guessing its because offensive improvement has been the focus in 2017 and the offense was significantly better in Seattle than it was in Buffalo. As for Newman, I feel hes still a big-time asset for the defense. And its not just as a mentor and coach on the field influence. Hes still playing at a high level, he can play multiple positions in the defense and I do value his leadership and veteran presence.

I'm convinced we need to get Bucky involved more frequently. Perhaps once we get near or in the red zone. He is ridiculously athletic and tall. He and Rudy along with Diggs/Thielen is a solid mix. Have you heard anything on getting him more involved with the 1s? -- Dan Witherington

Hodges made a great catch for a score on Friday night and I can see how witnessing that would compel you to want to see him more often with the starters. That day may come for Hodges and maybe itll be sooner than later, but right now he needs to keep improving his game every day in practice and continue to become a more well-rounded player. Obviously the Vikings see a lot of potential in him, which is why he was drafted, but Rudolph and David Morgan are the top two guys right now and itll be hard for Hodges to change that in the near future.

I've seen photos and a few videos on Teddy and he looks really great. Is there any definite timeframe on his return or is it safe to say this year is basically a rehab year for him? -- Javaris Lee Batesville, MS

The team has not defined a timetable for Teddys return, but that doesnt mean theres pessimism about his rehab and return. I know everyone wants the answer to the question of when Bridgewater will be able to return to action, but we just have to accept the fact that there currently is no timetable and it just has to be a wait and see approach.

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Monday Morning Mailbag: Offensive Line Making Progress - Vikings.com

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Monday hailed what it said was "a dramatic shift" in the Syria conflict, saying that the Syrian army, with Moscow's help, was well on its way to pushing militants out of the central part of the country.

In a statement from the Russian Defence Ministry, Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoi said that the province of Aleppo had been entirely "liberated" with control of 50 population centers and more than 2,700 square kilometers (1042.48 square miles) of territory taken back.

"In the last month a dramatic shift has taken place in Syria," said Rudskoi. "With the support of the Russian air force, Syrian forces have notched up a series of significant successes and won a major defeat over a big group of Islamic State fighters in the central part of Syria."

With Islamic State fighters concentrated in Deir al-Zor, he said Russia had stepped up its reconnaissance and bombing runs in the area and that the Syrian army was closing in on the militant group from three sides.

Rudskoi said the Syrian army was advancing at a pace of 30-40 kilometers (43.5 miles) or more every 24 hours and that -- with Russia's help -- it was using new battlefield tactics such as surprise landings by helicopter.

"The main aim is to destroy the last stronghold of the terrorists in the Deir al-Zor region," said Rudskoi.

Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Christian Lowe

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Russia hails progress in Syria conflict, ups bombing runs - Reuters

Continuing to gain a firmer grasp of the Bears offense, quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky both showed signs of growth in Saturday nights 24-23 preseason win over the Cardinals.

Glennon rebounded from an early interception to throw a 7-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kendall Wright with :36 left in the first half, giving the Bears a 10-7 lead they would not relinquish.

Glennon completed 4 of 5 passes for 36 yards on the possession, including a 6-yarder to tight end Zach Miller on third-and-five to sustain the drive. The veteran quarterback finished the game connecting on 13 of 18 passes for 89 yards with one TD and a 78.2 passer rating.

Bears quarterback Mike Glennon throws a pass in Saturday night's preseason win in Arizona.

It was a vast improvement over the preseason opener Aug. 10 against the Broncos when Glennon threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and posted a 0.0 passer rating.

Last week after the game I was already eager to kind of be in this situation and had to wait nine days, so it was good to get out here, said Glennon, who played the entire first half Saturday night.

On Glennons TD pass, he showed poise and patience in the face of a Cardinals blitz, calmly standing his ground in the pocket and waiting for Wright to break to the outside.

I could feel that they were about to bring that all-out blitz, Glennon said. In those situations, the receivers just got to win and Ive got to get the ball out of my hands, and Kendall did a good job getting open.

Glennon was also a calming influence in the huddle, at least on rookie running back Tarik Cohen, who started in place of the injured Jordan Howard. The fourth-round pick from North Carolina A&T had an impressive game, rushing for 77 yards on 11 carries in just over one quarter.

Hes a leader, Cohen said of Glennon. He was helping me out there, telling me to keep my head in the right place and to not get too excited because theres always that next play. I got a good sense of leadership out of him.

After veteran backup Mark Sanchez played one series early in the second half, Trubisky entered the game with 2:04 left in the third quarter. Solid but not as spectacular as he was in the preseason opener, Trubisky completed 6 of 8 passes for 60 yards with one TD and a 135.4 rating.

Trubisky felt he was tested a little bit more by offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.

There were some different plays from last week, Trubisky said. Ive just got to continue to develop and master this offense. Its going to be different each week, so its my job to study and memorize the game plan and go out there and execute it.

[Loggains] had a bunch of good calls going for us. The ones that didnt work for us on third downs, Ive just got to make those better on my end.

Trubisky was hit several times, but he was only sacked once.

I was just trying to keep my eyes up as long as possible and trying to get the ball to receivers before I have to take the sack, Trubisky said. Obviously I wanted to take care of the football, which I did. But I think I can learn from watching film and just trying to get the ball out a little faster to help my o-line out and just find the right guy when they bring pressure in my face. Its just one of the things that Im going to have to continue to learn from and I will.

Trubisky and the Bears were challenged by a Cardinals defense known for its exotic blitzes.

Arizona brought some pretty different stuff, Trubisky said. But in the short two days we had to prepare for it I felt I went out there and had myself protected the right way with the calls and all that. I just need to get the ball out a little sooner.

I felt like I was seeing everything. Thats a good defense. Theyve got really good things going schematically. Theyve got a bunch of good players. We just need to execute on our end and I just need to do my job and help my teammates do their jobs.

Read this article:

Glennon, Trubisky show progress in win - ChicagoBears.com

In 1958 when I arrived for my first year at the University of Virginia, the school and the town were very much segregated. No black students at UVa; the Paramount Theater would not allow blacks on the main level, and they were relegated to the balcony. Drinking fountains were labeled For colored only and For whites only. The public schools were also dealing with discrimination. The white schools closed down for two years, not wanting to integrate.

In 1964, our federal government passed the Civil Right Act, allowing blacks the same rights as whites. Prior to 1964, the South primarily supported the Democratic Party, but after that the South became Republican, as it is today.

In 2008, our country elected a black president, Barack Obama. Now, thats progress. All of us should feel proud that our society has moved forward.

By and large, the hate groups are a tiny percentage of the American population. Every society has fringe groups like them, and hopefully over time they will be fewer and hopefully disappear.

I was at the Aug. 12 demonstration, spending most of my time at the corner of 2nd and Market streets, which was very active. There were marches on both sides and loud chanting, all filled with lots of emotions with the black community mostly standing in the background watching There was no violence as far as I could see.

When I returned home and surfed the TV, you would have had the impression the world was coming to an end. It appeared that all the news outlets had the same footage of people shoving, punching, swinging bats but I suspect that represented only few minutes.

Yes, the car killing was tragic and well covered in the news.

Our country is far from perfect, but over time we seem to do the right thing. Most, if not all, of us were raised with prejudice, and I know over time I have adjusted my attitude, like most people I know. Our three children have a much healthier attitude about discrimination, and our eight grandchildren appear to have no prejudices. That's progress, and hopefully our country will eventually see everyone as equal.

Vito Cetta, Albemarle County

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Opinion/Letter: In spite of all, progress is evident - The Daily Progress

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What have you noticed about Adam Gotsis' play over the last few weeks -- what kind of role does he appear to handle?

-- Endive Kerfuffle

First of all, either your parents are the most creative people on the planet, or you have one of the best fake names I've ever seen. That looks like the sort of pseudonym I'd concoct.

At this moment, you're counting on him to provide relief rotational snaps in place of Derek Wolfe at the three-technique end spot, including some pass-rush opportunities. His recent work has been promising; when I watched him in one-on-one pass-rush drills against the 49ers, I saw him use some swim moves more effectively than I've seen from him before.

The physical tools are there with Gotsis; it's a matter of technical refinement and turning his natural strength into something that allows him to hold his ground when offensive linemen try to drive him back at the snap. The last week was perhaps the most promising one of Gotsis' brief career; now he needs to stack more progress on top of that.

Barring an injury this week, Jamaal Charles should see his first extensive work of the preseason Saturday against the Packers.

Looking at the landscape of the league, one player always pops up on the "trade block": Sheldon Richardson of the Jets. Then you look at their current roster, and they need everything, including RB and WR, then you look at the Broncos roster and there seems to be a logjam at both of those positions with some big decisions to be made. How likely would you think it would be, before final cuts, to go after a player like that, and do you think we have enough to offer?

-- Matt Heuser

Any trade requires two to tango, so to speak. It's not as simple as the Broncos saying, "I want that guy; here's what we have," and making it happen.

Consider where the Jets stand on the waiver-priority claim list: No. 6 because of their 5-11 finish last year. They have a decent chance of being able to get most of the players they would try to claim off waivers after final cuts. This is an obstruction to a potential trade, as the Jets could simply opt to wait for cuts and make their claims, and thus bolster those positions of need without surrendering anything.

Furthermore, before they address any depth issues on the defensive line, they want to get a long look at Gotsis and Zach Kerr, both of whom had some flashes of brilliance in extended work Saturday against the 49ers.

How is Jake Butt's recovery coming along and will he be able to play at all this season?

-- Don Fenton

It's too early to tell. He has been seen working out after practice on his own, but given that his torn ACL was his second in a three-year span, the Broncos want to bring him along slowly and ensure that his rehabilitation is complete before working him up to speed and into game action. With Butt, you have to play the long game; the Broncos got a late-first-round/early-second-round talent, but the reason they got him in the fifth round was because of the injury history.

To ensure maximum return on investment -- which could give the Broncos a potent red-zone weapon and solid outside blocker for many years to come, if Butt lives up to his potential -- they have to be patient. If the Broncos have to sacrifice a good chunk of this season to give Butt the best possible chance of being an outstanding contributor for the years beyond that, that is a price worth paying given his long-term potential.

I don't see the reason for having four preseason games. Instead the NFL should have a college-football style spring game to determine who should make the roster and who should not. Agree?

-- Foyozia Ahmed

Disagree. For one thing, one game of repetitions isn't nearly enough to get a read on your roster. For another, preseason games are a revenue generator. An average of 58,394 tickets were sold to each of the preseason games played between Thursday and Sunday -- a total of 884,012 tickets sold. Until a better way of preparing for the regular season while preserving a revenue stream is created, these games aren't going anywhere.

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The analysis, opinion and speculation in this story represents that of the author, gathered through research and reporting, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Denver Broncos organization.

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Mason's Mailbag: Adam Gotsis' progress - DenverBroncos.com (blog)