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49ers will sit Purdy, start Darnold; McCaffrey sees NFL rushing title as team award

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

SANTA CLARA — With the NFC playoffs’ No. 1-seed already secured, Brock Purdy will sit out Sunday’s regular-season finale and Sam Darnold will start against the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams, coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday.Purdy, at this point, is the 49ers’ only healthy scratch for a game that won’t impact playoff positioning for the 49ers (12-4).In turn, the Rams, with a wild-card berth already in hand, will sideline their No. 1 quarterback, Matthew Stafford, and instead go with Carson Wentz, NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo first reported.“Brock’s the only guy for sure I don’t plan on playing,” Shanahan said, before amending that by noting injured players also will get this game off and benefit further from next week’s wild-card bye.The 49ers could potentially host the Rams two weeks later in the divisional round, so Shanahan expects both sides to deploy “vanilla” game plans, though he noted how well each side ...

High school girls soccer rankings Jan. 3, 2024: Bay Area News Group Top 15

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

Bay Area News Group Top 15(Mercury News & East Bay Times)(Records through Monday)No. 1 ST. FRANCIS (3-1-1)Previous ranking: 1Since last ranking: Lost to Capistrano Valley 4-1. Up next: Thursday at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 3:15 p.m. No. 2 SAN RAMON VALLEY (7-0)Previous ranking: 2Since last ranking: Did not play.Up next: Jan. 9 at Dougherty Valley, 6:30 p.m.No. 3 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (6-0)Previous ranking: 3Since last ranking: Did not playUp next: Thursday at St. Ignatius, 3:15 p.m. No. 4 BERKELEY (7-1-1)Previous ranking: 5Since last ranking: Beat James Logan 3-0, San Leandro 4-0.Up next: Saturday vs. Skyline 1 p.m. No. 5 MONTE VISTA (4-1-1)Previous ranking: 4Since last ranking: Did not playUp next:Jan. 9 at Carondelet, 6:30 p.m.No. 6 LEIGH (6-0)Previous ranking: 7Since last ranking: Beat Piedmont Hills 6-0. Up next: Wednesday vs. Piedmont Hills, 7 p.m. No. 7 CARONDELET (6-2-2)Previous ranking: 6Since last ranking: Beat Northgate 1-0, tied Cypress 2-2, lost to Santiago-Corona 1-0, tied...

High school boys soccer rankings Jan. 3, 2024: Bay Area News Group Top 15

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

Bay Area News Group boys soccer Top 15(Mercury News & East Bay Times)(Records through Monday)No. 1 BERKELEY (9-0)Previous ranking: 1Since last ranking: Did not playUp next: Friday vs. Hayward, 6:30 p.m.No. 2 ST. FRANCIS (6-0)Previous ranking: 2Since last ranking: Beat Harbor 5-0Up next: Thursday vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral, 6 p.m.No. 3 MOUNTAIN VIEW (8-1)Previous ranking: 5Since last ranking: Beat Serra 3-2Up next: Thursday at Gunn, 7 p.m.No. 4 MONTE VISTA (6-1-1)Previous ranking: 6Since last ranking: Did not playUp next: Tuesday vs. De La Salle, 6:30 p.m.No. 5 BISHOP O’DOWD (3-0-1)Previous ranking: 7Since last ranking: Did not playUp next: Wednesday at Hayward, 6 p.m.No. 6 DE LA SALLE (3-2-1)Previous ranking: 4Since last ranking: Beat Loyola 3-0, lost to Harvard-Westlake 2-1, Gulliver Prep 3-1Up next: Friday vs. James Logan, 7 p.m.No. 7 CARLMONT (6-1)Previous ranking: 9Since last ranking: Did not playUp next: Thursday at Woodside, 4 p.m.No. 8 NEWARK MEMORIAL (7-0-3)Previou...

Police: Imam shot outside New Jersey mosque has died

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

By Zenebou Sylla and Celina Tebor | CNNHassan Sharif, the imam who was shot Wednesday outside a mosque in Newark, New Jersey, has died, a law enforcement source tells CNN.The imam died at about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, the source said.Sharif worked as a transportation security officer (TSO) at Newark Liberty International Airport since 2006, according to a statement from the Transportation Security Administration.“We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing and send our condolences to his family, friends and co-workers,” TSA said.Officials will hold a news conference at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.The shooting happened outside the Masjid Muhammad-Newark mosque about 6 a.m., Newark Public Safety said.The imam – a mosque’s cleric or prayer leader – was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, police said.“My prayers are with Imam Hassan Sharif,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in an earlier statement. “At this point, we do not have any informati...

Alameda: Fire damages equipment at Peet’s Coffee warehouse; no one injured

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

By Kiley Russell | Bay City NewsAn early morning fire damaged some equipment at a Peet’s Coffee warehouse in Alameda on Wednesday but no injuries were reported, according to the Alameda Fire Department.Crews first responded to a call about the fire in the 2000 block of Harbor Bay Parkway on Bay Farm Island about 5:50 a.m. and were able to extinguish the blaze and clear the scene by about 8:20 a.m., said department spokesperson Kevin Tidwell.“The fire was contained to a hopper system on the exterior of the building. It didn’t spread throughout the remainder of the structure,” Tidwell said.Tidwell said the department has previously responded to similar fires at the same location.Wednesday’s response included 20 fire department personnel, three engines, two trucks, an ambulance, a care unit and a battalion chief, Tidwell said.

Kurtenbach: Rust is fake — the 49ers should rest all their big names against the Rams

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

The leading cause of injury in the NFL is playing football.So you can see the problem the 49ers have with playing a game on Sunday.After clinching the NFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round playoff bye with last weekend’s win in Washington, the 49ers’ attention is rightly on that Divisional Round game they’ll host on the weekend of Jan. 19-20. That’s the next meaningful game they’ll play.The goal is to ensure every player on the roster is healthy enough to play in that game.But the Niners still need to play the Los Angeles Rams in the regular-season finale on Sunday in a game that neither team will care about.It makes everything a bit tricky.“It’s all risk,” Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday.And it’s on Shanahan to manage that risk. He’s off to a good start. On Wednesday, he announced that Brock Purdy — dealing with a stinger in his left, non-throwing shoulder — will sit out the Week 18 game.“Brock is the only guy I for ...

George Kliavkoff speaks: Pac-12 commissioner blames the schools for lacking patience, takes credit for Pac-12 football success

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

In his first public comments in months, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff did not express sorrow over the downfall of the conference or accept responsibility for his role in the collapse of a century-old college sports institution.Instead, Kliavkoff appeared to take credit for the Pac-12’s successful football season and blame the schools for the failed media rights negotiations.Who does Kliavkoff think he is, Larry Scott?Approached by reporters in the Superdome on Monday night, following Washington’s playoff victory over Texas, Kliavkoff offered several brief comments.He told Yahoo:“Happy for the kids. They don’t deserve all the nonsense going on around them. We were focused on rebuilding football. Took 2 1/2 years. I wish it would have happened quicker. If some of our schools would have been a little more patient, it would have paid off.”Seconds later, in a subsequent interview, he told 247Sports:“Surreal. It’s surreal. It’s upsetting that some of our schools weren&#...

Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes about Aaron Rodgers’ anti-vax, ‘tin-foil’ theories started nasty feud

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

It’s easy to imagine that Aaron Rodgers has been looking for a way to stick it to Jimmy Kimmel after the many jokes the late-night host has made at the quarterback’s expense over the years.But to Rodgers’ critics, the outspoken NFL star has only lived up to his reputation for making wild claims by suggesting that Kimmel’s name could in documents that are expected to identify associates and clients of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The documents were expected to be released this week, following a court order from a federal judge. In commenting on the documents, the New York Jets quarterback incited Kimmel’s wrath, with the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host threatening to take him to court.Rodgers made the link during his most recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday. Epstein, who died by suicide in August 2019, was known to be friendly with a number of high-profile figures — including with former Presidents Donald ...

Brock Purdy will not play in regular-season finale vs. Rams, Shanahan says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

(KRON) -- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will not play in the team's regular-season finale next Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (9-7), head coach Kyle Shanahan said in a news conference Wednesday. With the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home-field advantage already clinched, Purdy will rest in the team's Week 18 home matchup against their division rival. Backup Sam Darnold will start under center. San Francisco 49ers clinch No. 1 seed; Is it time to rest key players? Shanahan did not announce any other players who will be resting for a game in which nothing will be at stake for the 49ers (12-4). He added all other healthy players should be prepared to play.Running back Christian McCaffrey will also not play Sunday but for a different reason. The NFL's leading rusher left Sunday's game against Washington early with a mild calf strain. McCaffrey should be ready to return for the 49ers' first playoff game, a home divisional round matchup on either Jan. 20 or 21. Elijah Mi...

Vikings will start Nick Mullens at QB for finale vs. Lions

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:13:39 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings will start quarterback Nick Mullens in their final regular-season game, with their bid for the playoffs nearly exhausted by persistent problems at the vital position.Coach Kevin O’Connell announced his decision before practice on Wednesday. The Vikings play at Detroit on Sunday, needing a win and three other NFC games to go their way to convert a postseason long shot. Mullens replaced rookie Jaren Hall after halftime in last week’s loss to Green Bay, after an interception and a fumble by Hall each set up a Packers touchdown. That was the fifth quarterback switch in nine games for the Vikings, starting with the torn Achilles tendon for Kirk Cousins that uprooted everything.Hall was the first sub for Cousins, but a concussion forced him out of his first start. Joshua Dobbs gave the Vikings a brief spark, but he threw four interceptions in a loss to Chicago on Nov. 27 and was pulled from a scoreless game in his next appearance. Mulle...