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So many 2-win teams in the NFL to choose from

Nine NFL teams have nearly no chance nine weeks into the season. The Patriots, Raiders, Jaguars, Browns, Giants, Saints and Panthers are 2-7. The Dolphins and Titans are 2-6. On the opposite side, 11 teams have at least six wins. So much for parity. The league’s goal has always been to have every team stay in contention for as long as possible. But 28.1% of the teams — more than a quarter of the league — will likely spend the second half battling for draft positioning. Maybe Miami still has a chance to stage a turnaround because Tua Tagovailoa is back and playing well. ...

Will Penn State ever become consistently elite?

Too many obstacles in the way to become consistently elite By Cory Giger sports@altoonamirror.com No, Penn State will not become a consistently elite program. Why? Let me count the ways. 1. James Franklin is not a good enough coach. He beats up on weaker competition but is 1-14 against the top five and 3-18 against the top 10. Mic drop. But if you need more … 2. To become elite, consistently, means winning multiple playoff games most years. Penn State should be able to win a first-round game a lot of years, especially when it’s at home. That gets you in the final eight, ...

Braving mental health conversations

In professional sports, athletes are celebrated for their physical strength, grit and determination. But as the world of sports evolves, so does our understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest levels. Athletes like Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Kevin Love have bravely stepped forward to remind us that mental health is as important as physical fitness. Their openness has sparked a much-needed conversation by challenging beliefs about mental toughness and resilience in sports. The question isn’t whether mental health matters but how the sports world will respond ...

Some QBs simply need more time to develop

Anthony Richardson got fewer starts than Bryce Young before he was sent to the bench. The Indianapolis Colts benched their second-year quarterback this week after his 10th career start, including six this season. The Colts (4-4) are turning to 39-year-old Joe Flacco because coach Shane Steichen believes the veteran gives the team “the best chance to win right now.” He’s not wrong. Flacco, a Super Bowl MVP with the Ravens more than a decade ago, is 2-1 in three appearances with the Colts. He was 4-1 with Cleveland last year, helping the Browns reach the playoffs. The ...

Penn State in need of fast start, effective Pribula to win

What is PSU’s best formula for beating Ohio State? By Cory Giger sports@altoonamirror.com Everybody keeps heaping all kinds of praise on Andy Kotelnicki as an offensive coordinator. Be that as it may, he needs to be doing his job better in the first half. The Lions scored seven points in the first half against Illinois (tied 7-7 at the break). They scored six points in the first half at USC (trailed 20-6). Kotelnicki’s incredibly creative playcalling on the first series of that game was masterful, but it only produced a field goal, and the offense managed just three more ...

Davis scare brings about awareness

By Michael Boytim mboytim@altoonamirror.com Any headline about a local kid suffering sudden cardiac arrest playing high school football should justifiably worry any parent who is considering whether or not their son should participate in the sport. A similar concern over concussions and the impact of that injury on developing brains has also caused some hesitation from parents before signing their kids up for sports over the last decade. But one parent who would encourage kids to keep participating in extracurricular activities is Dave Davis — the father of Hollidaysburg ...