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The Jacksonville Jaguars currently hold 12 draft selections in 2020, and the team apparently isn’t done adding picks. As the Jaguars continue their aggressive rebuilding process, they have reportedly engaged in trade discussions with multiple teams regarding running back Leonard Fournette.
Fournette, 25, still has two years left on his contract (including a fifth-year option in 2021) and is set to earn $4.17 million in base salary this season. After missing eight games in 2018, the 2017 fourth overall pick amassed 1,152 yards and three touchdowns on the ground last season. He also posted 76 catches for 522 yards.
With Fournette reportedly on the trade block, here’s a list of teams that could make the most by adding the running back.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers haven’t had a reliable running game in what feels like forever. Tampa Bay racked up just 3.7 yards per carry in 2019, which was tied for the second-worst mark in the NFL, and the team has now finished with under four yards per rushing attempt since 2016.
Ronald Jones was expected to be a problem-solver for the team, but the 2018 second-round pick hasn’t matched expectations yet. Though Jones started the team’s last nine games a year ago after a disastrous rookie campaign, he topped 100 yards only once and amassed just 410 yards over that span.
The addition of Tom Brady gives the Bucs Super Bowl aspirations, but with the quarterback turning 43 years old this season, the clock is already ticking for Tampa Bay to give everything it can to support the six-time champion. Fournette would be an immediate solution for this subpar running attack.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are one of only two teams to amass at least 1,000 rushing attempts in the last two seasons combined, which means backfield depth is crucial. Seattle also particularly likes powerful running backs who are strong enough to run through defenders, just like Fournette.
Pete Carroll currently has Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny as options, but both of them carry questions after 2019. Carson has battled injuries in every campaign of his short three-year career and he’s entering the last season of his contract, while Penny is recovering from a torn ACL and offers little contribution to the passing game.
Playing without both Carson and Penny in the playoffs – as exciting as the Marshawn Lynch experiment was – showed Seattle can’t minimize its efforts at the position moving forward.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills have made aggressive, smart decisions year after year since Brandon Beane was named general manager in 2017. However, Buffalo hasn’t addressed the running back position this offseason, and veteran Frank Gore didn’t re-sign after leading the team in rushing attempts.
Devin Singletary showed promise as a rookie and posted 5.1 yards per carry through 12 regular-season appearances. But without Gore, Singletary is basically the Bills’ only RB option right now.
Fournette would complement Buffalo’s backfield well, leaving Singletary in his No. 2 role while adding another undeniable talented weapon to Josh Allen‘s offense.
Kansas City Chiefs
How fun would this be? Patrick Mahomes and his explosive receiving weapons adding a running back of Fournette’s caliber would essentially create unstoppable matchups for this offense.
Kansas City’s average of 98.1 rushing yards per game ranked just 23rd last season, and Damien Williams led the team on the ground despite amassing only 111 attempts and 498 yards.
Due to their quarterback situation, the Chiefs can afford not to have an elite running game, but winning the trenches has always been ideal and Fournette could definitely help Kansas City achieve that. Williams and Fournette would create a great three-down, two-way combination.
If the Chiefs decide to pursue Fournette, they would need to restructure a few contracts to open immediate cap space. Signing a long-term deal with franchise-tagged defensive tackle Chris Jones might be the solution.
Detroit Lions
Though the Lions invested a second-round pick in Kerryon Johnson two years ago, their running game issues appear far from over. When healthy, Johnson has had his moments, but he’s now played in just 18 games since 2018 due to various injuries.
Despite missing half of the season in 2019, Johnson still led Detroit in carries (113), rushing yards (403), and touchdowns (three). In his absence, second-year Bo Scarbrough stepped up as the starting runner, but not necessarily enough to make this duo a reliable one.
Granted, Fournette has had injury issues of his own. But he’d still be a more reliable option for the Lions, who could line up a mouthwatering combination in the backfield with Johnson. That’s an ideal scenario for a team that needs to win right now.
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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
