usatoday--2020-10-19--When retirement arrives sooner than expected: What to do, what to know

Millions of Americans spend decades preparing for retirement , yet it sometimes sneaks up suddenly , when you 're least expecting it .
That 's what happened to Rocky Mann .
He was n't planning to hang up his wings as a pilot for Southwest Airlines for at least a couple more years .
But when the company offered him a generous buyout package this summer , he took it .
He and his wife Linda , a Southwest flight attendant who continues to work , are in good shape financially .
They own a home in Cave Creek , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mann , who turns 61 in November , said Southwest will pay him more than two-thirds of his regular pay until 65 .
He also will retain his health insurance until then .
Save better , spend better : Money tips and advice delivered right to your inbox .
Sign up here While Mann likes the company and still enjoys flying , he said retirement will free him of the need to complete flight-simulation testing and keep up with various other occupational responsibilities .
`` The day I made the decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 pounds was lifted off my shoulders , '' he said .
Although Americans typically assume they will retire when they want , and on their own terms , many are in for a surprise .
Half of the retired respondents to an Allianz Life Insurance survey said they left work earlier than expected .
For some people , like Mann , it works out well .
For others , an expedited retirement can be troublesome .
Most retirees said they quit working for reasons outside their control , such as a surprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survey of 1,000 mostly middle-class Americans was conducted in January , just before the COVID-19 pandemic led to broad layoffs .
“ Many Americans are in need of a wake-up call about the very real possibility that their retirement start date might not be when they want it to be , ” said Kelly LaVigne , an Allianz vice president , in a prepared statement .
When the decision comes sooner than expected , it can put pressure on your finances .
`` People say they 'll wait until 65 , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Dana Anspach , founder of Sensible Money , a financial planning firm in Scottsdale .
Here are some aspects to ponder if you suddenly are given the option , or are forced , to stop working prematurely .
Dentist visits : Dentists expected to raise fees , exit family practices as pandemic keeps patients away Planning how to spend that time While you might like the vision of unfettered free time , it can be a problem , too .
Many people derive satisfaction from their jobs , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an earlier than expected departure .
Mann , who likes to golf , ride motorcycles , travel and volunteer for a boxer-dog rescue group , said he 's prepared for this aspect .
`` Filling my days will be no problem , '' he said .
But a lot of workers still have n't planned it out , including the possibility of spending more time with spouses or other family members , for better or worse .
`` Narrow down what 's important to you and what makes you happy , '' advised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Mann 's adviser at Sensible Money .
Even if a retirement package is n't great financially , `` you might be better off taking it , '' she said , depending on how you view work compared to other activities .
It 's easier to accept an early retirement package if you can retain some subsidized health-insurance coverage from your employer , at least until Medicare kicks in at age 65 .
Otherwise , you had better be prepared to pay what could be several thousand dollars or more in annual health-insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a health savings account , you 're ahead of the game , as money taken from these accounts can be withdrawn tax-free and used for a range of medical expenses .
And if your post-work income is low enough , you might qualify for an income-tax credit to lower your monthly insurance premiums when you enroll through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace .
An online calculator at healthcare.gov can help determine the number of credits and other savings .
But health costs are n't the only factor .
So is your health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove more stressful and hazardous in the age of COVID-19 .
If you continue to work , there can be added precautions , regulations or other hassles , not to mention continuing interaction with co-workers , vendors or customers that could expose you to catching the virus .
`` COVID has changed the ( retirement ) tipping point for a lot of people , '' said Anspach .
It can be advantageous , emotionally as well as financially , to work part-time after you end your official career .
You will generate extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay sharp mentally .
The problem is that you might not find the right part-time work , especially during the current period of elevated unemployment .
One interesting finding from the Allianz study involved part-time work .
Among people still employed , 65 % said they expect to be able to work at least part-time in retirement , yet only 7 % of retired respondents said they 're still working .
In part , this might be because people view work with less enthusiasm the older they get .
When asked whether they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have basic expenses met or retire to a more lavish lifestyle at 75 , fewer than one in four pre-retirees chose the latter .
Part-time work also can be an issue if you have started to receive Social Security retirement benefits .
`` If you 're taking Social Security early and working part-time , some of the Social Security income might need to be returned , '' Shepard said .
Assuming you are drawing Social Security and are n't yet at full retirement age ( between 66 and 67 for most people still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced .
For example , for anyone now claiming benefits who was born in 1958 ( and thus still below full retirement age ) , $ 1 in Social Security benefits will be withheld for every $ 2 earned above $ 18,240 .
Those benefits are n't truly lost , the Social Security Administration says , as the agency will boost your benefits down the road to reflect amounts withheld .
But such reductions still could crimp your near-term cash flow .
This benefit reduction is one reason to delay claiming Social Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits you receive ; they will be larger if you defer longer .
Anspach said she typically recommends delaying Social Security to age 70 if possible .
That 's the age when monthly benefits are maximized .
But they also will gradually increase the longer you hold out past 62 , when Social Security initially may be claimed .
If you delay , you can hopefully live off part-time job income or withdrawals from personal retirement accounts , paying income taxes at presumably modest rates .
No taxes typically are due on withdrawals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One key consideration in mulling an early retirement decision is whether you can afford it .
Leaving work early usually means reducing the number of contributions to IRAs or workplace 401 ( k ) plans .
It also might mean your assets will need to last longer , to help replace full-time job income that 's no longer coming in .
It thus could help to cut your expenses by downsizing your home or reducing other outlays , but this is n't easy to do , especially for active retirees who want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the Allianz survey , six in 10 workers voiced concern about running out of money before they die , yet most indicated they have n't been doing much about it .
Only about one in three respondents said they are saving or plan to save more money , and even smaller proportions have set long-term financial goals or devised a retirement plan .
Early retirement can sound plenty appealing , until the realities set in .

When retirement arrives sooner than expected: What to do, what to know
Show Caption Hide Caption Here are 3 ways to protect retirement accounts from cybercriminals Cybersecurity experts share three tips for protecting your 401(k) and other accounts from online thieves. USA TODAY
Millions of Americans spend decades preparing for retirement, yet it sometimes sneaks up suddenly, when you're least expecting it.
That's what happened to Rocky Mann. He wasn't planning to hang up his wings as a pilot for Southwest Airlines for at least a couple more years. But when the company offered him a generous buyout package this summer, he took it.
He and his wife Linda, a Southwest flight attendant who continues to work, are in good shape financially. They own a home in Cave Creek, Arizona, with no plans to downsize. Mann, who turns 61 in November, said Southwest will pay him more than two-thirds of his regular pay until 65. He also will retain his health insurance until then.
Save better, spend better: Money tips and advice delivered right to your inbox. Sign up here
While Mann likes the company and still enjoys flying, he said retirement will free him of the need to complete flight-simulation testing and keep up with various other occupational responsibilities.
"The day I made the decision to take the offer, it felt like 1,000 pounds was lifted off my shoulders," he said.
Although Americans typically assume they will retire when they want, and on their own terms, many are in for a surprise. Half of the retired respondents to an Allianz Life Insurance survey said they left work earlier than expected. For some people, like Mann, it works out well. For others, an expedited retirement can be troublesome.
Most retirees said they quit working for reasons outside their control, such as a surprise job loss or health issues. The survey of 1,000 mostly middle-class Americans was conducted in January, just before the COVID-19 pandemic led to broad layoffs.
“Many Americans are in need of a wake-up call about the very real possibility that their retirement start date might not be when they want it to be,” said Kelly LaVigne, an Allianz vice president, in a prepared statement.
When the decision comes sooner than expected, it can put pressure on your finances.
"People say they'll wait until 65, but the average retirement age remains 61 or 62," said Dana Anspach, founder of Sensible Money, a financial planning firm in Scottsdale.
Here are some aspects to ponder if you suddenly are given the option, or are forced, to stop working prematurely:
Dentist visits: Dentists expected to raise fees, exit family practices as pandemic keeps patients away
Election 2020: College students struggle to spot misinformation online
Planning how to spend that time
While you might like the vision of unfettered free time, it can be a problem, too. Many people derive satisfaction from their jobs, along with social interaction. That could disappear with an earlier than expected departure.
Mann, who likes to golf, ride motorcycles, travel and volunteer for a boxer dog rescue group, said he's prepared for this aspect. "Filling my days will be no problem," he said.
But a lot of workers still haven't planned it out, including the possibility of spending more time with spouses or other family members, for better or worse.
"Narrow down what's important to you and what makes you happy," advised Amy Shepard, a certified financial planner and Mann's adviser at Sensible Money. Even if a retirement package isn't great financially, "you might be better off taking it," she said, depending on how you view work compared to other activities.
Evaluating health costs
It's easier to accept an early retirement package if you can retain some subsidized health insurance coverage from your employer, at least until Medicare kicks in at age 65. Otherwise, you had better be prepared to pay what could be several thousand dollars or more in annual health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
If you have a health savings account, you're ahead of the game, as money taken from these accounts can be withdrawn tax-free and used for a range of medical expenses.
And if your post-work income is low enough, you might qualify for an income-tax credit to lower your monthly insurance premiums when you enroll through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. An online calculator at healthcare.gov can help determine the number of credits and other savings.
But health costs aren't the only factor. So is your health status.
Staying on the job might prove more stressful and hazardous in the age of COVID-19. If you continue to work, there can be added precautions, regulations, or other hassles, not to mention continuing interaction with co-workers, vendors, or customers that could expose you to catching the virus.
"COVID has changed the (retirement) tipping point for a lot of people," said Anspach.
Fitting in part-time employment
It can be advantageous, emotionally as well as financially, to work part time after you end your official career. You will generate extra income and possibly nurture social interactions and stay sharp mentally. The problem is that you might not find the right part-time work, especially during the current period of elevated unemployment.
One interesting finding from the Allianz study involved part-time work. Among people still employed, 65% said they expect to be able to work at least part time in retirement, yet only 7% of retired respondents said they're still working.
In part, this might be because people view work with less enthusiasm the older they get. When asked whether they’d rather retire at 55 and have basic expenses met or retire to a more lavish lifestyle at 75, fewer than one in four pre-retirees chose the latter.
Juggling Social Security, part-time work
Part-time work also can be an issue if you have started to receive Social Security retirement benefits. "If you're taking Social Security early and working part time, some of the Social Security income might need to be returned," Shepard said.
Assuming you are drawing Social Security and aren't yet at full retirement age (between 66 and 67 for most people still employed), some benefits could be reduced. For example, for anyone now claiming benefits who was born in 1958 (and thus still below full retirement age), $1 in Social Security benefits will be withheld for every $2 earned above $18,240.
Those benefits aren't truly lost, the Social Security Administration says, as the agency will boost your benefits down the road to reflect amounts withheld. But such reductions still could crimp your near-term cash flow.
Claiming Social Security benefits
This benefit reduction is one reason to delay claiming Social Security. Another involves the size of the monthly benefits you receive; they will be larger if you defer longer.
Anspach said she typically recommends delaying Social Security to age 70 if possible. That's the age when monthly benefits are maximized. But they also will gradually increase the longer you hold out past 62, when Social Security initially may be claimed.
If you delay, you can hopefully live off part-time job income or withdrawals from personal retirement accounts, paying income taxes at presumably modest rates. No taxes typically are due on withdrawals from Roth IRAs or health savings accounts.
Getting ready to cut costs
One key consideration in mulling an early retirement decision is whether you can afford it. Leaving work early usually means reducing the number of contributions to IRAs or workplace 401(k) plans. It also might mean your assets will need to last longer, to help replace full-time job income that's no longer coming in.
It thus could help to cut your expenses by downsizing your home or reducing other outlays, but this isn't easy to do, especially for active retirees who want to travel or pursue expensive hobbies.
In the Allianz survey, 6 in 10 workers voiced concern about running out of money before they die, yet most indicated they haven't been doing much about it. Only about 1 in 3 respondents said they are saving or plan to save more money, and even smaller proportions have set long-term financial goals or devised a retirement plan.
Early retirement can sound plenty appealing, until the realities set in.
Reach Wiles at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.


usatoday--2020-10-19--NFL Week 6 winners and losers: Bucs' defense shines, Adam Gase's Jets hit embarrassing low

One undefeated NFL team ( the Green Bay Packers ) fell in Week 6 , while two previously winless teams ( the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants ) earned their first victory .
The Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers , meanwhile , maintained their unblemished records for another week .
And teams making their cases for playoff runs had another chance to shine .
Perhaps no squad made a bigger statement than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , who toppled Aaron Rodgers and a Packers team that was coming off a bye week .
Meanwhile , Tom Brady 's old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction .
Here are the Week 6 NFL winners and losers : It was looking like it would be a long day for Tampa Bay after Aaron Rodgers and the Packers raced out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter .
In the second , the defense took over and the Buccaneers ( 4-2 ) cruised to a 38-10 victory .
And it all started with that pass rush .
The constant pressure in Rodgers ' face completely threw off the timing of the Packers offense .
It came from linebackers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the interior of the Bucs defensive line pushed linemen into Rodgers ' space in the pocket .
While Rodgers ' two picks happened on plays in which there was little pressure , it was the persistent threat throughout the game that had Green Bay on edge .
Tampa finished with five sacks , but it was 13 QB hits that destroyed Green Bay .
That the Buccaneers did it to a Packers team that had allowed only three sacks in their first four games of the year just shows how dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that the Bucs have the NFL 's best rushing defense and it 's not a stretch to say that the defensive front is the strength of this team .
WHAT WE LEARNED : Week 6 taught us plenty about some contenders MORE THAN TB12 : Buccaneers prove they 're more than just the Tom Brady show BELOW .500 : Patriots in a place they have n't seen since 2002 Nothing like exploiting a matchup against a group of weaker linebackers to get back on track .
That 's what San Francisco 49ers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should silence critics who were calling for him to lose his job .
In the 49ers ' 24-16 victory against the Los Angeles Rams , Garoppolo was ultra-efficient ( 23 of 33 for 268 yards with three touchdowns ) and targeted his tight ends to take advantage of the favorable matchup .
The Niners capitalized on short and quick passes , many of which were down the middle of the field , that looked to get their playmakers in open space .
Those quick passes did two things : take the pressure off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sting out of the L.A. pass rush .
The Rams generated just two pressures all game long .
That 's a recipe the 49ers can ride to return to form , even with all their injuries .
This was a game in which the Titans let their opponent back into the game .
But in a 42-36 victory against the Houston Texans , Tennessee proved again that it can contend in the AFC behind a steady formula : an effective rushing offense , efficiency in the red zone and smart and measured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a steady dose of Derrick Henry ( 24 touches , 264 yards , two touchdowns ) and clean play from quarterback Ryan Tannehill ( 30 of 41 for 364 yards , four touchdowns and one interception ) , the Titans are now 5-0 and one of two remaining undefeated squads in the conference .
Though the Tennessee defense will have several plays it will want back , it made enough plays in key situations , like the stopped two-point conversion late in the game that held the deficit at seven points before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into overtime .
But most impressive about this team is how it has responded to its COVID-19 outbreak from earlier this month , winning two games in five days without much time practicing .
Nine years after he last served as a head coach in the NFL , Morris won in his first try as the Falcons ' interim coach after the organization fired Dan Quinn last week .
Morris did it in convincing fashion , as Atlanta beat the Minnesota Vikings 40-23 and in the process shed some of the criticisms that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Falcons raced out to a big lead and held it .
They flashed speed and aggressiveness on defense and forced turnovers .
Their offense was effective on third downs ( nine of 17 ) , fourth downs ( three of three ) and in the red zone ( two of three ) .
As Morris tries to make his way back to head coaching full time , this was a great first step .
It 's time to end the Gase experiment in New York .
The Jets put up another embarrassing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miami Dolphins .
They 're the only winless team left in the NFL , and Sunday 's shutout came against a squad that had n't blanked any team in six seasons .
The Jets generated 263 yards of total offense .
Titans running back Derrick Henry alone accounted for 264 yards on Sunday .
New York converted just two of 17 third-down tries .
The Jets have lost their six games by an average of 18 points .
According to the CBS broadcast , 31 of Gase 's 40 losses as a head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double digits .
This is a roster that has some massive holes , to be sure , but it 's undisciplined play , needless penalties and abysmal execution that are the trademarks of this team .
In their 18-12 loss to the Denver Broncos , the Patriots offense sputtered .
And , for the first time since 2001 , New England ( 2-3 ) is under .500 after five games in a season .
The loss uncovered some significant issues that could plague the team down the stretch .
The Patriots lack star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no significant production out of their tight ends .
The offensive line is leaky and allows far too much pressure to break through .
Simply put , beyond quarterback Cam Newton , the team just does n't really have any other players who can take over .
And , after a trying set of weeks in which a COVID-19 outbreak limited practice time , New England simply looked like a team out of sorts , and its star player looks like someone who knows he has to press to put his team in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rushing defense , which came into Sunday ranked fourth in the league but was dominated by Pittsburgh 's offensive line , deserves a lot of blame for the Browns ' 38-7 loss to the Steelers .
So does coach Kevin Stefanski 's entire staff for being outcoached and failing to adjust .
But Mayfield , who was banged up headed into the game and took several shots from Pittsburgh 's pass rush , was pulled before the fourth quarter even started .
`` I did n't want to see him get hit one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game .
But Mayfield ( 10 of 18 for 119 yards , one touchdown , two interceptions ) has been far too careless with the football in his career .
Those turnovers not only completely slow down Cleveland 's offense , they also put the defense in compromising positions .
He has now committed 46 turnovers in 36 career games .
Unless he cleans that up quickly , it may force the franchise to reevaluate his long-term future with the team .
It 's not quite time to start talking about Zimmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extension as head coach of the Vikings — as a candidate for the hot seat , but it may be quickly approaching .
Minnesota fell to 1-5 with a 40-23 blowout loss to a previously winless Falcons team that just fired its coach and general manager .
Quarterback Kirk Cousins did throw for 343 yards with three scores , but most of that came when the game was essentially decided , and his three interceptions in the first half were costly .
Cousins has been consistently underwhelming in his time in Minnesota and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that come with his salary .
But perhaps most concerning for Zimmer is just how bad the defense has been .
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan gashed the Vikings for 371 yards and four touchdowns , but it was often effort plays like missed tackles and mental mistakes like blown coverages that sunk the Vikings .
Typically , those are signs of a poorly coached team .

NFL Week 6 winners and losers: Bucs' defense shines, Adam Gase's Jets hit embarrassing low
Show Caption Hide Caption NFL Week 6 overreactions: Tom Brady, Tampa look like Super Bowl contenders SportsPulse: In a battle of the Bays it was Tampa that looked like the superior team. Mackenzie Salmon overreacts to all the biggest storylines from Week 6 in the NFL. USA TODAY
One undefeated NFL team (the Green Bay Packers) fell in Week 6, while two previously winless teams (the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants) earned their first victory. The Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers, meanwhile, maintained their unblemished records for another week.
And teams making their cases for playoff runs had another chance to shine. Perhaps no squad made a bigger statement than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who toppled Aaron Rodgers and a Packers team that was coming off a bye week. Meanwhile, Tom Brady's old team may be headed in the opposite direction.
Here are the Week 6 NFL winners and losers:
WINNERS
Buccaneers' defensive line
It was looking like it would be a long day for Tampa Bay after Aaron Rodgers and the Packers raced out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter. In the second, the defense took over and the Buccaneers (4-2) cruised to a 38-10 victory. And it all started with that pass rush.
The Buccaneers blitz limited Aaron Rodgers today, with just 3 completions for 28 yards on 12 attempts and 3 sacks (-26.0 EPA, lowest by any QB in a game vs blitz this season).
Buccaneers Defense on Blitzes (2020):
➤ 15 sacks (1st)
➤ 6 INT (1st)#GBvsTB | #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/30gAcY91Xb — Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 19, 2020
The constant pressure in Rodgers' face completely threw off the timing of the Packers offense. It came from linebackers and safeties on the edges of the pocket, but the interior of the Bucs defensive line pushed linemen into Rodgers' space in the pocket. While Rodgers' two picks happened on plays in which there was little pressure, it was the persistent threat throughout the game that had Green Bay on edge. Tampa finished with five sacks, but it was 13 QB hits that destroyed Green Bay. That the Buccaneers did it to a Packers team that had allowed only three sacks in their first four games of the year just shows how dangerous this group is. Throw in the fact that the Bucs have the NFL's best rushing defense and it's not a stretch to say that the defensive front is the strength of this team.
WHAT WE LEARNED: Week 6 taught us plenty about some contenders
MORE THAN TB12: Buccaneers prove they're more than just the Tom Brady show
BELOW .500: Patriots in a place they haven't seen since 2002
Jimmy Garoppolo
Nothing like exploiting a matchup against a group of weaker linebackers to get back on track. That's what San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo did, and it should silence critics who were calling for him to lose his job. In the 49ers' 24-16 victory against the Los Angeles Rams, Garoppolo was ultra-efficient (23 of 33 for 268 yards with three touchdowns) and targeted his tight ends to take advantage of the favorable matchup.
The Niners capitalized on short and quick passes, many of which were down the middle of the field, that looked to get their playmakers in open space. Those quick passes did two things: take the pressure off the San Francisco offensive line and remove the sting out of the L.A. pass rush. The Rams generated just two pressures all game long. That's a recipe the 49ers can ride to return to form, even with all their injuries.
Tennessee Titans
This was a game in which the Titans let their opponent back into the game. But in a 42-36 victory against the Houston Texans, Tennessee proved again that it can contend in the AFC behind a steady formula: an effective rushing offense, efficiency in the red zone and smart and measured play late in games. Thanks to a steady dose of Derrick Henry (24 touches, 264 yards, two touchdowns) and clean play from quarterback Ryan Tannehill (30 of 41 for 364 yards, four touchdowns and one interception), the Titans are now 5-0 and one of two remaining undefeated squads in the conference.
Though the Tennessee defense will have several plays it will want back, it made enough plays in key situations, like the stopped two-point conversion late in the game that held the deficit at seven points before the Titans tied the game and sent it into overtime. But most impressive about this team is how it has responded to its COVID-19 outbreak from earlier this month, winning two games in five days without much time practicing.
Raheem Morris
Nine years after he last served as a head coach in the NFL, Morris won in his first try as the Falcons' interim coach after the organization fired Dan Quinn last week. Morris did it in convincing fashion, as Atlanta beat the Minnesota Vikings 40-23 and in the process shed some of the criticisms that had plagued this team under Quinn.
The Falcons raced out to a big lead and held it. They flashed speed and aggressiveness on defense and forced turnovers. Their offense was effective on third downs (nine of 17), fourth downs (three of three) and in the red zone (two of three). As Morris tries to make his way back to head coaching full time, this was a great first step.
LOSERS
Adam Gase
It's time to end the Gase experiment in New York. The Jets put up another embarrassing performance in a 24-0 loss to the Miami Dolphins. They're the only winless team left in the NFL, and Sunday's shutout came against a squad that hadn't blanked any team in six seasons. The Jets generated 263 yards of total offense. Titans running back Derrick Henry alone accounted for 264 yards on Sunday. New York converted just two of 17 third-down tries.
The Jets have lost their six games by an average of 18 points. According to the CBS broadcast, 31 of Gase's 40 losses as a head coach in his career have been by double digits. This is a roster that has some massive holes, to be sure, but it's undisciplined play, needless penalties and abysmal execution that are the trademarks of this team.
New England Patriots
In their 18-12 loss to the Denver Broncos, the Patriots offense sputtered. And, for the first time since 2002, New England (2-3) is under .500 through the fifth game or later in a season. The loss uncovered some significant issues that could plague the team down the stretch.
The Patriots lack star power at receiver and are getting virtually no significant production out of their tight ends. The offensive line is leaky and allows far too much pressure to break through. Simply put, beyond quarterback Cam Newton, the team just doesn't really have any other players who can take over. And, after a trying set of weeks in which a COVID-19 outbreak limited practice time, New England simply looked like a team out of sorts, and its star player looks like someone who knows he has to press to put his team in a position to win.
Baker Mayfield
Cleveland's rushing defense, which came into Sunday ranked fourth in the league but was dominated by Pittsburgh's offensive line, deserves a lot of blame for the Browns' 38-7 loss to the Steelers. So does coach Kevin Stefanski's entire staff for being outcoached and failing to adjust. But Mayfield, who was banged up headed into the game and took several shots from Pittsburgh's pass rush, was pulled before the fourth quarter even started. "I didn't want to see him get hit one more time," Stefanski said after the game.
But Mayfield (10 of 18 for 119 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions) has been far too careless with the football in his career. Those turnovers not only completely slow down Cleveland's offense, they also put the defense in compromising positions. He has now committed 46 turnovers in 36 career games. Unless he cleans that up quickly, it may force the franchise to reevaluate his long-term future with the team.
Mike Zimmer
It's not quite time to start talking about Zimmer — who in July signed a three-year extension as head coach of the Vikings — as a candidate for the hot seat, but it may be quickly approaching. Minnesota fell to 1-5 with a 40-23 blowout loss to a previously winless Falcons team that just fired its coach and general manager.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins did throw for 343 yards with three scores, but most of that came when the game was essentially decided, and his three interceptions in the first half were costly. Cousins has been consistently underwhelming in his time in Minnesota and hasn't lived up to the expectations that come with his salary. But perhaps most concerning for Zimmer is just how bad the defense has been. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan gashed the Vikings for 371 yards and four touchdowns, but it was often effort plays like missed tackles and mental mistakes like blown coverages that sunk the Vikings. Typically, those are signs of a poorly coached team.


usatoday--2020-10-19--'Refrigerator-sized' asteroid may 'buzz-cut' Earth day before election, Neil deGrasse Tyson says

A 6.5-foot asteroid will zoom past Earth just before Election Day but astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson says it 's nothing to worry about .
`` Asteroid 2018VP1 , a refrigerator-sized space-rock , is hurtling towards us at more than 40,000 km/hr .
It may buzz-cut Earth on Nov 2 , the day before the Presidential Election , '' he said .
NASA has previously said it has a 0.41 % chance of entering our atmosphere .
`` It ’ s not big enough to cause harm .
So if the World ends in 2020 , it won ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tyson said .
NASA has been tracking the asteroid since it was discovered in 2018 by the Zwicky Transient Facility at Palomar Observatory in California .
They 've been monitoring its progress and found it was likely to be near Earth on Nov. 2 .
In August , news of the 6.5-foot asteroid 's approach spread due to its proximity to Election Day in the United States .
NASA , through an official social media account dedicated to asteroid observation , dispelled the notion .
Fact check : Chance of an asteroid hitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than dying of COVID-19 According to NASA , 2018VP1 poses `` no threat '' to Earth .
`` It currently has a 0.41 % chance of entering our planet ’ s atmosphere , but if it did , it would disintegrate due to its extremely small size , '' NASA said .

'Refrigerator-sized' asteroid may 'buzz-cut' Earth day before election, Neil deGrasse Tyson says
Show Caption Hide Caption Near-Earth asteroids explained: preventing an apocalypse One cosmic rock a half-mile wide could change our planet forever, unless we spot it well-ahead of time. USA TODAY
A 6.5-foot asteroid will zoom past Earth just before Election Day but astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson says it's nothing to worry about.
"Asteroid 2018VP1, a refrigerator-sized space-rock, is hurtling towards us at more than 40,000 km/hr. It may buzz-cut Earth on Nov 2, the day before the Presidential Election," he said.
NASA has previously said it has a 0.41% chance of entering our atmosphere.
"It’s not big enough to cause harm. So if the World ends in 2020, it won’t be the fault of the Universe," Tyson said.
NASA has been tracking the asteroid since it was discovered in 2018 by the Zwicky Transient Facility at Palomar Observatory in California. They've been monitoring its progress and found it was likely to be near Earth on Nov. 2.
In August, news of the 6.5-foot asteroid's approach spread due to its proximity to Election Day in the United States.
NASA, through an official social media account dedicated to asteroid observation, dispelled the notion.
Fact check: Chance of an asteroid hitting Earth on Nov. 2 is not higher than dying of COVID-19
Asteroid 2018VP1, a refrigerator-sized space-rock, is hurtling towards us at more than 40,000 km/hr.
It may buzz-cut Earth on Nov 2, the day before the Presidential Election.
It’s not big enough to cause harm. So if the World ends in 2020, it won’t be the fault of the Universe. pic.twitter.com/eiy9G9w4Ez — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 18, 2020
According to NASA, 2018VP1 poses "no threat" to Earth.
"It currently has a 0.41% chance of entering our planet’s atmosphere, but if it did, it would disintegrate due to its extremely small size," NASA said.


usatoday--2020-10-16--These will be the hottest gifts of 2020

These will be the hottest gifts of 2020

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed ’ s editors .
Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission .
Although the holidays seem like a long ways away , you really should start thinking about ordering gifts now .
Why ?
Because if you wait too long , the hottest items will be sold out or back-ordered , and because of COVID-19 many experts are worried about shipping delays this year .
Plus , if you put these items on your radar now , you ’ ll be able to keep an eye out for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Here at Reviewed , we test hundreds of products throughout the year , from robot vacuums to weighted blankets .
Our experts know the best of the best and exactly what everyone will be prying after this year .
Below , you ’ ll find the 10 hottest gifts for 2020 that everyone will have on their wishlists .
Need help finding products ?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter .
It ’ s free and you can unsubscribe at any time .
Disney+ was last year ’ s hottest streaming service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With new offerings like Hamilton and the new live-action Mulan , Disney+ is as enticing as ever .
Plus , with access to pretty much every Disney , Pixar , Star Wars , and Marvel movie , it ’ ll surely bring a smile to anyone ’ s face .
You can give a one-year subscription for your recipient and Disney+ will email instructions on how to redeem it to your recipient on the day you choose .
Get a Disney+ gift subscription at Disney+ for $ 69.99 Whenever there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know everyone is going to want one .
This year , gamers are blessed with the new Xbox Series X and Series S and Playstation 5 , both of which claim to be the most powerful console yet .
Plus , to get access to the latest games , you ’ re going to need one .
Both sold out pretty much immediately when their pre-orders were released in September , but keep your eye out for whenever pre-orders open up or when the console are officially released in November .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Get the PlayStation 5 at PlayStation Kids can join in on the gardening fun most adults have been having in quarantine with this garden kitchen from Fisher-Price .
Recommend for kids 12 to 36 months , this adorable playset had a garden side and a kitchen side , so kiddos can cook what they grow .
Our parenting editor , Anna Lane , believes this will be a hot item amongst younger kids this year .
Get the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Grow-the-Fun Garden to Kitchen at Target for $ 79.99 People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Revlon hair dryer brush that manages to blow dry and straighten hair for less than $ 50 .
The Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer might be the most popular product of 2020 and , therefore , will be the most popular gift of 2020 .
Aside from the 90,000 Amazon reviewers that are obsessed with the cult-favorite product , our beauty expert tried it out to see if it lives up to the hype , and found that it perfectly styles her hair in less than 30 minutes .
Get the Revlon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for $ 29.39 Last year , Apple AirPods were probably the most coveted products of the holiday season , but this year the upgraded AirPods Pro will be all the rage .
They earned our pick as the best truly wireless earphones because Apple somehow managed to make the amazing AirPods even better .
They ’ ve been fitted with better sound , have incredible noise-cancellation , and are finally water-resistant .
What more could you want ?
Get the Apple AirPods Pro at Amazon for $ 220 Going on this year ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blankets are going to be a big hit again .
Plus , the weighted beads can have a calming effect—something we can all use right now .
When we tested some of the best weighted blankets on the market , we found we liked snuggling up with the Gravity Blanket the most .
This would be a great gift for anyone who loves cozying up with a warm cup of tea or needs an extra stress reliever in their life .
Get the Gravity Blanket from Gravity for $ 189 These days cooking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many gadgets to choose from and too many pots and pans to wash that sometimes it ’ s just easier to order take out .
But the Always Pan from Our Place claims to replace eight pieces of cookware and can do everything from sautéing , frying , boiling pasta , and so much more .
After testing it , we loved its versatility as well as how absolutely gorgeous it is with its terracotta finish and Instagrammable look .
Get the Always Pan from Our Place for $ 145 The person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learn a new skill .
MasterClass offers virtual classes from famous celebrities on pretty much every topic , like cooking with Gordon Ramsay , basketball with Steph Curry , or acting with Natalie Portman .
Our editor-in-chief has used MasterClass himself and says the classes are inspiring , interesting , and , most importantly , self-paced , so they can do it whenever they have free time .
Give an All-Access Pass from MasterClass for $ 15 per month These days we ’ re spending more time at home than ever—and spending more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Give your giftee the gift of clean floors without lifting a finger with a robot vacuum .
The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the best robot vacuum we 've ever tested .
Not only does it have incredible cleaning power , but it also empties itself out in its charging port—meaning even less work for your recipient .
Get the iRobot Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum at Amazon for $ 799 Now that most of us are working from home or taking classes virtually , we could use some good headphones to cancel out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noise-canceling ones .
The Sony WH-1000XM4 ’ s are our new favorite noise-canceling headphones ( dethroning their original flagship , the WH-1000XM3 ) .
They look nearly identical as their predecessor and have the same nifty feature of active noise-cancelation .
But they have better sound and a more seamless Bluetooth connection that makes them worth the upgrade .
Get the Sony WH-1000XM4 at Amazon for $ 348 The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered .
Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram for the latest deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time .

These will be the hottest gifts of 2020
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
Although the holidays seem like a long ways away, you really should start thinking about ordering gifts now. Why? Because if you wait too long, the hottest items will be sold out or back-ordered, and because of COVID-19 many experts are worried about shipping delays this year. Plus, if you put these items on your radar now, you’ll be able to keep an eye out for them during Black Friday and other holiday sales.
Here at Reviewed, we test hundreds of products throughout the year, from robot vacuums to weighted blankets. Our experts know the best of the best and exactly what everyone will be prying after this year. Below, you’ll find the 10 hottest gifts for 2020 that everyone will have on their wishlists.
Need help finding products? Sign up for our weekly newsletter. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.
1. Disney+ Subscription
Disney+ was last year’s hottest streaming service and its popularity has not slowed down. With new offerings like Hamilton and the new live-action Mulan, Disney+ is as enticing as ever. Plus, with access to pretty much every Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel movie, it’ll surely bring a smile to anyone’s face. You can give a one-year subscription for your recipient and Disney+ will email instructions on how to redeem it to your recipient on the day you choose.
Get a Disney+ gift subscription at Disney+ for $69.99
2. Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5
Whenever there is a release of a new gaming console, you know everyone is going to want one. This year, gamers are blessed with the new Xbox Series X and Series S and Playstation 5, both of which claim to be the most powerful console yet. Plus, to get access to the latest games, you’re going to need one. Both sold out pretty much immediately when their pre-orders were released in September, but keep your eye out for whenever pre-orders open up or when the console are officially released in November.
3. Laugh & Learn Grow-the-Fun Garden to Kitchen
Kids can join in on the gardening fun most adults have been having in quarantine with this garden kitchen from Fisher-Price. Recommend for kids 12 to 36 months, this adorable playset had a garden side and a kitchen side, so kiddos can cook what they grow. Our parenting editor, Anna Lane, believes this will be a hot item amongst younger kids this year.
Get the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Grow-the-Fun Garden to Kitchen at Target for $79.99
4. Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer
People can't stop talking about the magical Revlon hair dryer brush that manages to blow dry and straighten hair for less than $50. The Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer might be the most popular product of 2020 and, therefore, will be the most popular gift of 2020. Aside from the 90,000 Amazon reviewers that are obsessed with the cult-favorite product, our beauty expert tried it out to see if it lives up to the hype, and found that it perfectly styles her hair in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer at Amazon for $29.39
5. Apple AirPods Pro
Last year, Apple AirPods were probably the most coveted products of the holiday season, but this year the upgraded AirPods Pro will be all the rage. They earned our pick as the best truly wireless earphones because Apple somehow managed to make the amazing AirPods even better. They’ve been fitted with better sound, have incredible noise-cancellation, and are finally water-resistant. What more could you want?
Get the Apple AirPods Pro at Amazon for $220
6. Gravity Blanket
Going on this year’s theme of at-home coziness, weighted blankets are going to be a big hit again. Plus, the weighted beads can have a calming effect—something we can all use right now. When we tested some of the best weighted blankets on the market, we found we liked snuggling up with the Gravity Blanket the most. This would be a great gift for anyone who loves cozying up with a warm cup of tea or needs an extra stress reliever in their life.
Get the Gravity Blanket from Gravity for $189
7. Always Pan
These days cooking can be super overwhelming. There are so many gadgets to choose from and too many pots and pans to wash that sometimes it’s just easier to order take out. But the Always Pan from Our Place claims to replace eight pieces of cookware and can do everything from sautéing, frying, boiling pasta, and so much more. After testing it, we loved its versatility as well as how absolutely gorgeous it is with its terracotta finish and Instagrammable look.
Get the Always Pan from Our Place for $145
8. MasterClass Subscription
The person who seemingly has everything might love to learn a new skill. MasterClass offers virtual classes from famous celebrities on pretty much every topic, like cooking with Gordon Ramsay, basketball with Steph Curry, or acting with Natalie Portman. Our editor-in-chief has used MasterClass himself and says the classes are inspiring, interesting, and, most importantly, self-paced, so they can do it whenever they have free time.
Give an All-Access Pass from MasterClass for $15 per month
9. iRobot Roomba i7+
These days we’re spending more time at home than ever—and spending more time noticing how dirty our floors are. Give your giftee the gift of clean floors without lifting a finger with a robot vacuum. The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the best robot vacuum we've ever tested. Not only does it have incredible cleaning power, but it also empties itself out in its charging port—meaning even less work for your recipient.
Get the iRobot Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum at Amazon for $799
10. Sony Noise-Canceling Headphones
Now that most of us are working from home or taking classes virtually, we could use some good headphones to cancel out our family members and roommates, specifically noise-canceling ones. The Sony WH-1000XM4’s are our new favorite noise-canceling headphones (dethroning their original flagship, the WH-1000XM3). They look nearly identical as their predecessor and have the same nifty feature of active noise-cancelation. But they have better sound and a more seamless Bluetooth connection that makes them worth the upgrade.
Get the Sony WH-1000XM4 at Amazon for $348
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.


usatoday--2020-10-19--Election 2020 live updates: Early voting begins in Florida; Kamala Harris in Orlando, Jacksonville;

Election 2020 live updates: Early voting begins in Florida; Kamala Harris in Orlando, Jacksonville; Trump in Arizona

Early in-person voting begins today in Florida , the battleground state where the Trump and Biden campaigns have increasingly dedicated their time and money in the final weeks of the presidential campaign .
The two campaigns have flooded the state with ads as polls show a tight race there .
The Sunshine State 's 29 electoral votes are crucial to a win for both President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden .
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will be in Orlando and Jacksonville Monday to encourage early voting .
The California senator is restarting live campaigning after she canceled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her staff tested positive for COVID-19 .
The two camps also are looking ahead to Thursday , when Biden and Trump will meet in a final debate in Nashville and the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the confirmation of Trump 's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett .
• Bill Barr : The attorney general 's steadfast defense of President Donald Trump has drawn the Justice Department into the middle of partisan politics .
• John Brennan : The ex-CIA director told USA TODAY in an interview he worries about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump may unleash between Election Day and Inauguration Day if Joe Biden wins .
• Where are the candidates ?
: While Harris is in Florida , President Donad Trump holds rallies in Phoenix and Tucson , Arizona .
Vice President Mike Pence campaigns Monday in Maine and Pennsylvania .
• Third debate : Trump attacked NBC News White House Correspondent Kristen Welker days before she moderates the final debate in Nashville on Thursday .
📆 15 days until Election Day , three days until the final presidential debate , 93 days until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
🗳 Voting : See USA TODAY 's Voter Guide for information on registering to vote , when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues .
We will update this article throughout the day .
You can follow all of USA TODAY 's politics reporters on Twitter or subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter .
COVID stimulus updates : Pelosi says there 's a 48-hour deadline to get deal done House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said Sunday the White House has 48 hours to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nov. 3 election .
`` I ’ m optimistic , '' Pelosi told ABC News `` This Week '' host George Stephanopoulos .
`` Because again , we ’ ve been back and forth on all of this . ''
When pressed on whether Americans would see a COVID relief package passed before the Nov. 3 election , Pelosi said “ that depends on the administration . ''
“ With all due respect to some of the people in the president ’ s administration , they are not legislators , ” Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we now have agreement in the language , ” though talks remained ongoing .

Election 2020 live updates: Early voting begins in Florida; Trump and Fauci spar; 6 Russian operatives charged in hacking operation
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Early in-person voting begins today in Florida, the battleground state where the Trump and Biden campaigns have increasingly dedicated their time and money in the final weeks of the presidential campaign.
The two campaigns have flooded the state with ads as polls show a tight race there. The Sunshine State's 29 electoral votes are crucial to a win for both President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will be in Orlando and Jacksonville Monday to encourage early voting. The California senator is restarting live campaigning after she canceled several weekend campaign events because members of her staff tested positive for COVID-19.
The two camps also are looking ahead to Thursday, when Biden and Trump will meet in a final debate in Nashville and the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the confirmation of Trump's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
☕ The latest:
The latest on stimulus: Will Republicans and Democrats reach a deal by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Tuesday deadline? Here what we know about COVID-19 relief talks.
Will Republicans and Democrats reach a deal by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Tuesday deadline? Here what we know about COVID-19 relief talks. Bill Barr: The attorney general's steadfast defense of President Donald Trump has drawn the Justice Department into the middle of partisan politics.
The attorney general's steadfast defense of President Donald Trump has drawn the Justice Department into the middle of partisan politics. John Brennan: The ex-CIA director told USA TODAY in an interview he worries about the social and political havoc President Donald Trump may unleash between Election Day and Inauguration Day if Joe Biden wins.
The ex-CIA director told USA TODAY in an interview he worries about the social and political havoc President Donald Trump may unleash between Election Day and Inauguration Day if Joe Biden wins. Where are the candidates?: While Harris is in Florida, President Donad Trump holds rallies in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Vice President Mike Pence campaigns Monday in Maine and Pennsylvania.
While Harris is in Florida, President Donad Trump holds rallies in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Vice President Mike Pence campaigns Monday in Maine and Pennsylvania. Third debate: Trump attacked NBC News White House Correspondent Kristen Welker days before she moderates the final debate in Nashville on Thursday.
📊 What the polls are saying: Joe Biden still holds a commanding lead nationally over President Donald Trump, but Trump regained a slight polling average advantage in Ohio and took a chunk out of Biden's gains in Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Meanwhile, Biden made gains in Georgia. Here's what we learned from this week's polls.
📆 15 days until Election Day, three days until the final presidential debate, 93 days until Inauguration Day, 75 days left in 2020.
🗳 Voting: See USA TODAY's Voter Guide for information on registering to vote, when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues.
We will update this article throughout the day. You can follow all of USA TODAY's politics reporters on Twitter or subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter.
President Donald Trump's campaign said Monday the president will take part in the final debate Thursday after the Commission on Presidential Debates announced it would mute candidates' microphones during portions of their exchanges.
Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will have their microphones suspended while each delivers an opening two-minute answer to questions, a response to a widely panned debate late last month in which Trump repeatedly interrupted his rival.
"President Trump is committed to debating Joe Biden regardless of last minute rule changes," Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said in a statement, describing the move as the "latest attempt to provide advantage to their favored candidate."
Both campaigns initially agreed to allow the rival candidate to speak and both interrupted each other during the first debate on Sept. 29, though Trump interrupted far more than Biden.
The 90-minute debate, which will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, is divided into six 15-minute segments, with each candidate granted two minutes to deliver uninterrupted remarks before proceeding to open debate. The open discussion will not feature a mute button, but interruptions by either candidate will count against their time.
A Biden campaign spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump campaign aides had repeatedly argued that debate rules, which had been negotiated by both campaigns earlier this year, should not be changed. Trump bowed out of a second debate, which had been set for Miami, after the commission changed it to a virtual format following Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis earlier this month.
— John Fritze and Joey Garrison
ExxonMobil tweets at Trump
One of the world’s largest oil companies wants you to know: Its CEO didn’t agree to a quid pro quo with President Donald Trump.
The unusual admission came in the form of a tweet from ExxonMobil on Monday in response to earlier remarks from Trump, who told a rally crowd in Arizona that he didn’t like to raise campaign cash because it involved asking for favors of companies with business before the federal government.
“So I call some guy -- the head of Exxon. I call the head of Exxon. I don't know. But -- you know -- I'll use a company. ‘Hi, how you doing? How's energy coming? When are you doing the exploration? Oh, you need a couple of permits huh? Okay.' But I call the head of Exxon I say, 'You know, I'd love to send me $25 million for the campaign,'” Trump said of the hypothetical call.
“I would raise a billion dollars in one day if I wanted to. I don't wanna do that,” he said. “I don't wanna do it.”
Trump has been raising the hypothetical scenario for several days to explain his lackluster fundraising compared with Democrat Joe Biden. Monday was the first time Trump named a specific company as he discussed the hypothetical.
“We are aware of the President’s statement regarding a hypothetical call with our CEO,” ExxonMobil tweeted Monday in response. “And just so we’re all clear, it never happened.”
—John Fritze
Senate Democrats attempted to adjourn the Senate until after the election – a failed attempt at halting Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.
The maneuver used by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., aiming to adjourn the chamber until Nov. 9 was blocked by Republicans Monday evening in a 48-42 vote. It was one of several failed tactics Democrats have enlisted in recent days to slow Barrett’s inevitable confirmation to the high court next week by the Senate.
Schumer, in his appeal to adjourn the chamber, noted that Republicans blocked Merrick Garland’s nomination by President Barack Obama eight months before the 2016 election but were moving forward on Barrett “while a presidential election is already underway.”
“This is the most rushed, most partisan, least legitimate Supreme Court nomination process in our nation's history -- in our nation's entire history -- and it should not proceed,” he said.
Schumer on Monday also forced the Senate to vote on moving forward on House-passed resolution that aims to block changes to the Community Reinvestment Act, which Democrats say would harm low-income and minority communities. The maneuver is rarely used, though can be employed by any senator if no other senator on the floor objects. The proposal was blocked from moving forward in a party-line vote of 43-48, failing to secure a majority.
Democrats have employed similar tactics since Barrett’s nomination, including at least one attempt to halt her nomination during hearings last week to vet her nomination. Such strategies are expected to continue by Democrats throughout the week and into next week as Barrett’s confirmation process moves forward.
“Because our Republican colleagues have made such a mockery of the Supreme Court confirmation process, we are not going to have business as usual in the Senate,” Schumer promised. 48-42 table
— Christal Hayes
Senate Republicans are introducing several measures aimed at blocking Democrats from potentially adding additional seats to the Supreme Court should they gain power after the November election.
The proposals backed by six GOP senators and led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, offer a response to threats that Democrats could pack the courts after President Donald Trump and Republicans quickly moved to fill the vacancy left by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Federal appeals judge Amy Coney Barrett has sailed through the confirmation process, with her likely being approved by the full Senate next week and taking her place as the ninth member of the Supreme Court just days before Election Day.
The Washington Post was the first to report the proposals, noting they are mostly symbolic.
The first of the two proposals calls for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require any change in the number of Justices to pass with two-thirds of congressional support then would require three-fourths of states to ratify the changes within seven years.
The second is a bill that would likely make it impossible for Senate Democrats to change the makeup of the court, even if they do take control of the chamber after the election. It would block any proposal altering the number of Justices on the high court from even being considered in the Senate unless there was a supermajority – three-fourths of the chamber – of senators supportive of allowing the legislation from being brought forward.
Cruz, in a statement announcing the two proposals, warned that Democrats expanding the court would be “destroying the foundations of our democratic system.”
“We must take action before election day to safeguard the Supreme Court and the constitutional liberties that hang in the balance,” Cruz added.
— Christal Hayes
Six Russian intelligence officers have been charged in a global computer hacking operation that targeted at least three countries and the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
The seven-count indictment unsealed Monday outlined what federal authorities described as the most "disruptive and destructive" effort attributed to a single operation, said Assistant Attorney General John Demers, chief of the Justice Department's National Security Division.
Federal authorities said the Russian operatives were associated with the same group, known as the "Sandworm" team of military unit 74455, that was linked to Russia's campaign to interfere with the 2016 U.S. election.
The action Monday does not include charges of election interference in the current United States election, but it does allege that the group sought to disrupt 2017 elections in France and destablize the governments of Ukraine and Georgia while attempting to sabotage computer networks supporting the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
– Kevin Johnson
6 charged: Six Russian intelligence operatives charged in global hacking operation; same group linked to 2016 election
Facing polls that give Joe Biden double-digit leads – and news reports that some of his aides believe he will lose the election – President Donald Trump sought Monday to boost the morale of his staff with a pep talk.
"These are suppression stories and suppression polls," Trump said during a 25-minute conference call.
Trump claimed "internal polls" show him ahead in key states – though he did not share details – and attacked reporters for promoting "fake news" about doubts within his campaign team.
The incumbent repeated deeply personal attacks on Biden, calling him "corrupt" and saying "he should be in jail," despite a lack of any evidence of wrongdoing by the Democratic nominee.
Fauci and Trump: After Fauci said he's not surprised Trump got COVID-19, president calls top disease experts a 'disaster'
The president also criticized members of his own administration, singling out Dr. Anthony Fauci and saying that firing the infectious diseases expert would be more trouble than it's worth.
Trump claimed Fauci drops a "bomb" every time he goes on television, but "there's a bigger bomb if you fire him. This guy's a disaster."
Voters in numerous polls have questioned Trump's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, but Trump said people don't want to hear about the pandemic and are saying "just leave us alone."
"People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots," Trump said.
Published polls paint a different picture than the one Trump gave his staff.
An analysis of various polls from FiveThirtyEight gives Biden 52.5% of the national vote, compared to 41.8% for Trump, a difference of 10.7 percentage points.
The FiveThirtyEight analysis also gives Biden leads of more than 6.5 percentage points in the pivotal states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
– David Jackson
Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, said that it came as no shock to him when President Donald Trump announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 because the president regularly eschewed the use of masks "as a statement of strength" and put himself in "precarious" situations.
Fauci, who has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, was asked in a CBS News "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday if he was surprised the president contracted the coronavirus.
"Absolutely not," Fauci replied.
Fauci said he believes Trump – who rarely wears a mask in public, particularly before he became infected – avoids masks because he sees it as "a statement of strength, like, 'We're strong, we don't need a mask,' that kind of thing."
– William Cummings
Anthony Fauci: Fauci says president avoids masks as 'statement of strength'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Sunday the White House has 48 hours to reach a deal on COVID-19 relief before the Nov. 3 election.
"I’m optimistic," Pelosi told ABC News "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos. "Because again, we’ve been back and forth on all of this."
When pressed on whether Americans would see a COVID relief package passed before the Nov. 3 election, Pelosi said “that depends on the administration."
“With all due respect to some of the people in the president’s administration, they are not legislators,” Pelosi said. The speaker then said “we now have agreement in the language,” though talks remained ongoing.
– Matthew Brown


usatoday--2020-10-19--No. 1 Clemson stays ahead of No. 2 Alabama in this week's NCAA Re-Rank 1-127

Clemson 's win against Georgia Tech was enough to keep the Tigers ahead of Alabama and atop the USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-127 .
Not that it was an easy decision .
Clemson might 've beat the Yellow Jackets 73-7 , the largest margin of victory in any ACC game , but Alabama overcame a 24-17 deficit late in the first half to beat Georgia 41-24 and become the only unbeaten team in the SEC .
Each has a very good argument .
Clemson is Clemson .
Alabama is Alabama .
That 's the argument .
If you 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five years , you 're not surprised at all that these two teams have created a distance between themselves and the rest of the Bowl Subdivision .
If we 're lucky , the pair will rekindle the rivalry and meet in this year 's College Football Playoff .
Georgia did n't fall far .
The Bulldogs are down just one spot to No .
4 , replaced by new No .
3 Ohio State , after playing well for about 29 minutes against the Crimson Tide .
Overall , the Bulldogs ' defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SEC — just not Alabama .
No .
5 Notre Dame had the opportunity to move into the top three but looked listless in a 12-7 win against Louisville .
Ohio State and No .
6 Penn State will join the playoff chase this weekend with the start of Big Ten play .
TIGERS ON TOP : Clemson lead Alabama at No .
1 n Amway Coaches Poll HIGHS AND LOWS : Winners and losers from Week 7 in college football Among the biggest movers forward this week are Coastal Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted wins against ranked opponents .
Tennessee , Auburn and Mississippi State are among the group that had the biggest falls .
And the re-rank makes one last addition : Massachusetts joins the list after making its debut against Georgia Southern .
The Minutemen lost 41-0 and slot in at No .
126 , one spot from the bottom .
Welcome to the season !

No. 1 Clemson stays ahead of No. 2 Alabama in this week's NCAA Re-Rank 1-127
Show Caption Hide Caption Amway Coaches Poll: Clemson and Alabama still on top USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg breaks down the latest Amway Coaches Poll. USA TODAY
Clemson's win against Georgia Tech was enough to keep the Tigers ahead of Alabama and atop the USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-127.
Not that it was an easy decision. Clemson might've beat the Yellow Jackets 73-7, the largest margin of victory in any ACC game, but Alabama overcame a 24-17 deficit late in the first half to beat Georgia 41-24 and become the only unbeaten team in the SEC.
Each has a very good argument. Clemson is Clemson. Alabama is Alabama. That's the argument. If you've been watching college football for the past five years, you're not surprised at all that these two teams have created a distance between themselves and the rest of the Bowl Subdivision. If we're lucky, the pair will rekindle the rivalry and meet in this year's College Football Playoff.
Georgia didn't fall far. The Bulldogs are down just one spot to No. 4, replaced by new No. 3 Ohio State, after playing well for about 29 minutes against the Crimson Tide. Overall, the Bulldogs' defense seems capable of stopping any opponent in the SEC — just not Alabama.
No. 5 Notre Dame had the opportunity to move into the top three but looked listless in a 12-7 win against Louisville. Ohio State and No. 6 Penn State will join the playoff chase this weekend with the start of Big Ten play.
TIGERS ON TOP: Clemson lead Alabama at No. 1 n Amway Coaches Poll
HIGHS AND LOWS: Winners and losers from Week 7 in college football
MISERY INDEX: Central Florida leads this week's list of frustrated programs
Among the biggest movers forward this week are Coastal Carolina, Florida State and South Carolina after each posted wins against ranked opponents. Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi State are among the group that had the biggest falls.
And the re-rank makes one last addition: Massachusetts joins the list after making its debut against Georgia Southern. The Minutemen lost 41-0 and slot in at No. 126, one spot from the bottom. Welcome to the season!


usatoday--2020-10-20--Jeff Bridges reveals he's been diagnosed with lymphoma: 'The prognosis is good'

The Oscar winner revealed on Twitter Monday that he 's been diagnosed with lymphoma , a cancer of the lymphatic system , according to Mayo Clinic .
`` As the Dude would say.. New S**T has come to light , '' wrote Bridges , referencing his 1998 cult classic `` The Big Lebowski . ''
`` Although it is a serious disease , I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good . ''
It 's unclear if Bridges has Hodgkin 's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma .
Bridges said he 's `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his followers up to date on his recovery .
The `` Crazy Heart '' actor expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love .
`` I ’ m profoundly grateful for the love and support from my family and friends , '' he wrote in another tweet .
`` Thank you for your prayers and well wishes . ''
Bridges then attempted to shift attention from his health to encouraging his fans to exercise their vote in the upcoming election : `` And , while I have you , please remember to go vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together . ''
The affable Bridges is considered Hollywood royalty , the son of actors Lloyd and Dorothy Bridges .
Bridges has earned seven Academy Award nominations over his illustrious career for his work in 1971 's `` The Last Picture Show , '' 1974 's `` Thunderbolt and Lightfoot , '' 1984 's `` Starman , '' 2000 's `` The Contender , '' 2009 's `` Crazy Heart , '' 2010 's `` True Grit , '' and 2016 's `` Hell or High Water . ''
He took home a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Otis `` Bad '' Blake in `` Crazy Heart . ''
Bridges is currently working on the FX on Hulu series `` The Old Man , '' where he stars as former intelligence officer David Chase .
He also serves as an executive producer on the series scheduled to debut in 2021 .
In a joined statement , Bridges ' colleagues at FX , Touchstone Television , Hulu and FX Productions said , `` Our thoughts go out to Jeff and his family during this challenging time . ''
`` They have our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
`` We wish him a safe and full recovery .
And , as Jeff always says , 'We are all in this together . '
Jeff , we are all in this together with you . ''
Actress Patricia Arquette tweeted : “ Sending you and your family love and healing .
”

Jeff Bridges reveals he's been diagnosed with lymphoma: 'The prognosis is good'
Show Caption Hide Caption Jeff Bridges announces he's been diagnosed with lymphoma Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges revealed to fans on Twitter that he's been diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. USA TODAY
Jeff Bridges is sharing a health update.
The Oscar winner revealed on Twitter Monday that he's been diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, according to Mayo Clinic.
"As the Dude would say.. New S**T has come to light," wrote Bridges, referencing his 1998 cult classic "The Big Lebowski." "Although it is a serious disease, I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good."
It's unclear if Bridges has Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Bridges said he's "starting treatment" and promised to keep his followers up to date on his recovery. The "Crazy Heart" actor expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love.
As the Dude would say.. New S**T has come to light.
I have been diagnosed with Lymphoma. Although it is a serious disease, I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good.
I’m starting treatment and will keep you posted on my recovery. — Jeff Bridges (@TheJeffBridges) October 20, 2020
"I’m profoundly grateful for the love and support from my family and friends," he wrote in another tweet. "Thank you for your prayers and well wishes."
Bridges then attempted to shift attention from his health to encouraging his fans to exercise their vote in the upcoming election: "And, while I have you, please remember to go vote. Because we are all in this together."
The affable Bridges is considered Hollywood royalty, the son of actors Lloyd and Dorothy Bridges.
Bridges has earned seven Academy Award nominations over his illustrious career for his work in 1971's "The Last Picture Show," 1974's "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," 1984's "Starman," 2000's "The Contender," 2009's "Crazy Heart," 2010's "True Grit," and 2016's "Hell or High Water."
He took home a best actor Oscar for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in "Crazy Heart."
Bridges is currently working on the FX on Hulu series "The Old Man," where he stars as former intelligence officer David Chase. He also serves as an executive producer on the series scheduled to debut in 2021.
In a joined statement, Bridges' colleagues at FX, Touchstone Television, Hulu and FX Productions said, "Our thoughts go out to Jeff and his family during this challenging time."
"They have our love and support," the statement added. "We wish him a safe and full recovery. And, as Jeff always says, 'We are all in this together.' Jeff, we are all in this together with you."
Actress Patricia Arquette tweeted: “Sending you and your family love and healing.”
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-10-19--Tennessee poll worker fired after turning away voters in Black Lives Matter shirts, masks

MEMPHIS — A Shelby County , Tennessee , poll worker was fired Friday after election officials learned that he had turned away voters who were wearing masks and T-shirts that said Black Lives Matter .
“ What he did was patently wrong and he was fired , ” said Suzanne Thompson , spokeswoman for the Shelby County Election Commission .
State law prohibits people from wearing items with the name of a political party or candidate currently on the ballot while in a polling place , but statements like “ Black Lives Matter ” or “ I Can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
A manager of operations went to the Dave Wells Community Center in Memphis during early voting and fired the worker on the spot after confirming the reports , Thompson said .
2020 Election : Memphis women look for common ground in early voting initiative Voting : What COVID-19 precautions to expect when you cast your vote in Shelby County A day later , a second poll worker at the location did not show up for work , quitting .
The two poll workers were friends and drove to work together , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government and religion .
She can be reached at katherine.burgess @ commercialappeal.com , 901-529-2799 or followed on Twitter @ kathsburgess .

Katherine Burgess, Memphis Commercial Appeal

Tennessee poll worker fired after turning away voters in Black Lives Matter shirts, masks
Show Caption Hide Caption Why voter suppression in the US has increased since 2013 Civil rights experts point to long wait times to vote as a sign of growing voter suppression in the U.S. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
MEMPHIS — A Shelby County, Tennessee, poll worker was fired Friday after election officials learned that he had turned away voters who were wearing masks and T-shirts that said Black Lives Matter.
“What he did was patently wrong and he was fired,” said Suzanne Thompson, spokeswoman for the Shelby County Election Commission.
State law prohibits people from wearing items with the name of a political party or candidate currently on the ballot while in a polling place, but statements like “Black Lives Matter” or “I Can’t Breathe” are not violations of that law.
A manager of operations went to the Dave Wells Community Center in Memphis during early voting and fired the worker on the spot after confirming the reports, Thompson said.
2020 Election: Memphis women look for common ground in early voting initiative
Voting: What COVID-19 precautions to expect when you cast your vote in Shelby County
A day later, a second poll worker at the location did not show up for work, quitting. The two poll workers were friends and drove to work together, Thompson said.
Katherine Burgess covers county government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, 901-529-2799 or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.


usatoday--2020-10-19--New Yorker writer and CNN pundit Jeffrey Toobin suspended while nude Zoom mishap is investigated

Jeffrey Toobin is trending on Twitter and not in a good way .
Toobin , The New Yorker writer and CNN legal analyst , has been suspended by the magazine while it investigates a screw up that , according to reports , left his genitals exposed while on a Zoom call last week with colleagues and a radio station .
Toobin on Monday apologized abjectly in a statement to Vice , which was first to report the story .
“ I made an embarrassingly stupid mistake , believing I was off-camera .
I apologize to my wife , family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I believed I was not visible on Zoom .
I thought no one on the Zoom call could see me .
I thought I had muted the Zoom video . ''
A spokeswoman for The New Yorker confirmed his suspension to USA TODAY , saying they were investigating the matter .
“ Jeff Toobin has asked for some time off while he deals with a personal issue , which we have granted , ” the cable news network said in a statement .
The particulars of what happened and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's statement , it appears he may have accidentally exposed himself while on a Zoom call , thinking the video and audio were off .
He last tweeted on Oct. 13 , an analysis of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett ’ s confirmation hearing .
He was last seen on CNN on Saturday , Vice reported .
Toobin , 60 , has been a familiar face on TV for years , commenting on legal issues for CNN and reporting for The New Yorker .
He 's also written numerous books , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crimes and Misdemeanors : The Investigation of Donald Trump , '' on his Twitter profile .
Doubleday , an imprint of Random House , which published Toobin ’ s latest book , had no comment .
Since the coronavirus pandemic forced millions to work from home via video phone conversations , accidental nudity has been a growing problem as users struggled to cope with an unfamiliar and sometimes balky technology .

New Yorker writer and CNN pundit Jeffrey Toobin suspended while nude Zoom incident is investigated
Show Caption Hide Caption Jeffrey Toobin fired after nude Zoom debacle The New Yorker has fired writer Jeffrey Toobin after it was reported that he exposed himself on a Zoom call. USA TODAY
Jeffrey Toobin is trending on Twitter and not in a good way.
Toobin, The New Yorker writer and CNN legal analyst, has been suspended by the magazine while it investigates an incident that, according to reports, left his genitals exposed while on a Zoom call last week with colleagues and a radio station.
Toobin on Monday abjectly apologized in a statement to Vice, which was first to report the story.
“I made an embarrassingly stupid mistake, believing I was off-camera. I apologize to my wife, family, friends and co-workers," the statement said. “I believed I was not visible on Zoom. I thought no one on the Zoom call could see me. I thought I had muted the Zoom video."
A spokeswoman for The New Yorker confirmed Toobin's suspension to USA TODAY, saying they were investigating the matter.
CNN confirmed Toobin is taking time off.
“Jeff Toobin has asked for some time off while he deals with a personal issue, which we have granted,” the cable news network said in a statement.
The particulars of what happened and how are still murky, but from Toobin's statement, it appears he may have exposed himself while on a Zoom call, thinking the video and audio were off.
He last tweeted on Oct. 13, an analysis of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearing. He was last seen on CNN on Saturday, Vice reported.
Toobin, 60, has been a familiar face on TV for years, commenting on legal issues for CNN and reporting for The New Yorker.
He's also written numerous books, and promotes his most recent, "True Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Investigation of Donald Trump," on his Twitter profile.
Doubleday, an imprint of Random House, which published Toobin’s latest book, had no comment.
Since the coronavirus pandemic forced millions to work from home via video phone conversations, accidental nudity has been a growing problem as users struggle to cope with an unfamiliar and sometimes balky technology.


usatoday--2020-10-20--Tom Herman: No mandate forcing Texas players to stay on field for playing of 'The Eyes of Texas'

As far as “ The Eyes of Texas ” goes , Tom Herman laid all his cards on the table Monday .
The Longhorns coach said there would be no mandate that players stay on the field for the post-game singing of the school song .
Administrators hope that players would stay to show appreciation for the fans , but nobody at UT has “ mandated our players do anything , ” Herman said .
Thus , it ’ s unclear whether any players will stay for The Eyes after Saturday ’ s game against Baylor ( 1-1 , 1-1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a jarring image at Royal-Memorial Stadium , but one that Texas fans may have to accept .
“ I think mandate is a very strong word , ” Herman said .
“ That ’ s never been a word that ’ s been used to us as coaches from our administration , nor from us coaches to our players.
” Herman typically talks for about a half-hour on Mondays .
This particular Monday was notable for its length ( 50 minutes ) and its message .
The coach talked about off-week fixes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and expounded on his close relationship with Baylor coach Dave Aranda .
But a good portion was spent on The Eyes , a century-old song that is forcing UT faithful to choose sides .
“ If you line 10 guys up in a locker room , you might get nine or 10 different opinions on what we should do , what the song means , what the fans mean , what the university means , ” Herman said .
“ And so just handling that encouragement with the utmost sensitivity , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Herman reiterated that athletic director Chris Del Conte has been talking to coaches for weeks about this issue .
The athletic director has told players they are not required to sing the lyrics , but he “ expects ” players to participate in team traditions , which means staying on the field while fans sing .
In Del Conte ’ s view , staying on the field for The Eyes is a way to salute the fans that support the program .
Some players believe the song should be changed because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at minstrel shows by white singers in blackface in the early 1900s .
“ We are working through some unprecedented times with very transparent , very honest , open dialogue , ” Herman said .
The coach , who has taken multiple stands on issues for players ’ rights , believes this one has not divided the Texas locker room .
“ We had a great team meeting , ” Herman said .
“ The result of that meeting , I think the general pulse of the team , is that we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve ever been right now as a team .
I couldn ’ t be prouder of our team for staying unified throughout all of this , throughout the last few months .
“ And when I say unified , that doesn ’ t mean everybody agrees , ” he continued .
“ What that means is that there has been a ton of open , honest and mature conversation in regards to a lot of topics .
We ’ re a very divided country — very , very divided country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposite.
” Misery Index : Central Florida , the self-proclaimed national power , no longer to be feared Football , with players actually blocking and tackling each other , is still the primary objective here .
The Longhorns ( 2-2 , 1-2 ) are probably eager to shift the focus back to the field .
But even that was in question last week with the Bears going through a COVID-19 outbreak .
Baylor stopped workouts last week and had to reschedule its game against Oklahoma State .
The school announced Sunday it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indications are the game will happen as scheduled .
In Waco on Monday , Aranda told reporters , “ We had our tests ( Sunday ) , and everyone is negative , coaches , players , everybody .
We ’ ve been in the right direction for the last couple of those .
I feel like by the middle of the week we ’ ll have most everybody back .
So far , so good , headed in the right direction.
” Are the Longhorns headed in the right direction ?
Herman remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas has six regular-season games left and has yet to play Oklahoma State , Iowa State or Kansas State .
“ We ’ ve got all of those guys in front of us , ” Herman said .
“ And so we ’ ve just got to continue on this trajectory .
There is no doubt in my mind that everybody in that locker room sees tangible improvement.
” All eyes will be on the head coach .
Herman can not escape them , at night or early in the morn ’ .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if you start paying attention to the noise , the Internet , the Twitter and the constant bashing after losing a four-overtime ballgame , there are pitfalls to that , ” Herman said .
“ As much as we preach that over the four years that we ’ ve been here in eliminating the distractions and eliminating the noise that this place , the University of Texas , is famous for … our guys are as dialed in and as unified as ever , ” he said .

Tom Herman: No mandate forcing Texas players to stay on field for playing of 'The Eyes of Texas'
As far as “The Eyes of Texas” goes, Tom Herman laid all his cards on the table Monday.
The Longhorns coach said there would be no mandate that players stay on the field for the post-game singing of the school song. Administrators hope that players would stay to show appreciation for the fans, but nobody at UT has “mandated our players do anything,” Herman said.
Thus, it’s unclear whether any players will stay for The Eyes after Saturday’s game against Baylor (1-1, 1-1 Big 12). It could be a jarring image at Royal-Memorial Stadium, but one that Texas fans may have to accept.
“I think mandate is a very strong word,” Herman said. “That’s never been a word that’s been used to us as coaches from our administration, nor from us coaches to our players.”
Herman typically talks for about a half-hour on Mondays. This particular Monday was notable for its length (50 minutes) and its message. The coach talked about off-week fixes, dabbled in philosophy, filibustered a little and expounded on his close relationship with Baylor coach Dave Aranda.
But a good portion was spent on The Eyes, a century-old song that is forcing UT faithful to choose sides.
“If you line 10 guys up in a locker room, you might get nine or 10 different opinions on what we should do, what the song means, what the fans mean, what the university means,” Herman said. “And so just handling that encouragement with the utmost sensitivity, I think is topic No. 1 for us.”
Herman reiterated that athletic director Chris Del Conte has been talking to coaches for weeks about this issue. The athletic director has told players they are not required to sing the lyrics, but he “expects” players to participate in team traditions, which means staying on the field while fans sing.
In Del Conte’s view, staying on the field for The Eyes is a way to salute the fans that support the program. Some players believe the song should be changed because of its origins. The song was performed at minstrel shows by white singers in blackface in the early 1900s.
“We are working through some unprecedented times with very transparent, very honest, open dialogue,” Herman said. The coach, who has taken multiple stands on issues for players’ rights, believes this one has not divided the Texas locker room.
“We had a great team meeting,” Herman said. “The result of that meeting, I think the general pulse of the team, is that we’re in as good a place as we’ve ever been right now as a team. I couldn’t be prouder of our team for staying unified throughout all of this, throughout the last few months.
“And when I say unified, that doesn’t mean everybody agrees,” he continued. “What that means is that there has been a ton of open, honest and mature conversation in regards to a lot of topics. We’re a very divided country — very, very divided country. And our locker room is exactly the opposite.”
NCAA 1-127 Re-Rank: No. 1 Clemson stays ahead of No. 2 Alabama
Misery Index: Central Florida, the self-proclaimed national power, no longer to be feared
Football, with players actually blocking and tackling each other, is still the primary objective here. The Longhorns (2-2, 1-2) are probably eager to shift the focus back to the field. But even that was in question last week with the Bears going through a COVID-19 outbreak.
Baylor stopped workouts last week and had to reschedule its game against Oklahoma State. The school announced Sunday it was restarting workouts, and Herman said all indications are the game will happen as scheduled.
In Waco on Monday, Aranda told reporters, “We had our tests (Sunday), and everyone is negative, coaches, players, everybody. We’ve been in the right direction for the last couple of those. I feel like by the middle of the week we’ll have most everybody back. So far, so good, headed in the right direction.”
Are the Longhorns headed in the right direction?
Herman remains optimistic about the Horns’ prospects. Texas has six regular-season games left and has yet to play Oklahoma State, Iowa State or Kansas State.
“We’ve got all of those guys in front of us,” Herman said. “And so we’ve just got to continue on this trajectory. There is no doubt in my mind that everybody in that locker room sees tangible improvement.”
All eyes will be on the head coach. Herman cannot escape them, at night or early in the morn’.
“I think, especially around here, if you start paying attention to the noise, the Internet, the Twitter and the constant bashing after losing a four-overtime ballgame, there are pitfalls to that,” Herman said.
“As much as we preach that over the four years that we’ve been here in eliminating the distractions and eliminating the noise that this place, the University of Texas, is famous for … our guys are as dialed in and as unified as ever,” he said.