mercurynews--2020-10-12--Inside the Raiders: Jon Gruden’s biggest win in silver and black since 1999 Arrowhead finale

Legend has it that Jon Gruden needed to win at Arrowhead Stadium at the close of the 1999 season to keep his job .
It ’ s more myth than reality , because no one knows for sure whether Raiders owner Al Davis would have pulled the plug after two 8-8 seasons following an improvement from four wins to eight in 1998 and with only a reliable field goal kicker keeping the Raiders out of the playoffs in 1999 .
When the Raiders won 41-38 in overtime that day on a 33-yard field goal by Joe Nedney , Gruden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danced , pumped his fist and was borderline crazy out of sheer joy .
The Gruden that watched his Raiders beat the Chiefs 40-32 Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium was thrilled , but some 20 years later more reserved .
Gruden was in full one-step-at-a-time coach mode by the time he sat for his video teleconference , expressing pride in his team ’ s performance but acknowledging the injury toll through five games and saying his team has a long ways to go .
He ’ s right , of course .
The Raiders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
They won nothing but a single game , abeit at a place where they hadn ’ t won since 2012 It was a bigger win for quarterback Derek Carr , given he ’ d never won in Kansas City and is in Year 3 with Gruden .
Carr needed the win desperately .
Gruden merely wanted it in the worst way .
Turns out he won it in the best way .
If you believe the myth of 1999 ( the game actually took place in 2000 in Week 17 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the Chiefs Sunday was Gruden ’ s second most significant win as Raiders head coach , and without question the biggest win in his second tenure .
It proved his style of offense can be explosive as well as physical and deliberate .
Although executed in a different manner , it was the classic Bill Walsh style game plan .
Throw the house at the opponent with all the bells and whistles in the first half .
Then work the clock and ground the opponent into a fine powder in the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in a shootout just because the first half was headed that way .
He played to the strengths of his team and his own beliefs .
The Raiders controlled the tempo , dictated the pace and actually ran it more times than they passed ( 35 to 31 ) .
He utilized Henry Ruggs III and Nelson Agholor to loosen things up .
In the second half , the Chiefs had to respect that threat even as Gruden was throwing body blows instead of knockout left hooks to the jaw .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gruden couldn ’ t help but poke fun at Profootballfocus.com , an analytical web site that is one of many that that record every play and deem his offense unwilling and unable to throw the ball downfield .
According to NextGen stats , Carr ’ s touchdown passes of 59 yards to Agholor and 72 yards to Ruggs was the first time a Raiders quarterback had thrown two scoring passes of 50 or more yards since Tom Flores in 1966 .
Flores threw touchdown passes of 75 yards to Billy Cannon and 76 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 1966 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City , which predated the construction of Arrowhead Stadium .
The Raiders won 34-13 .
If my math is correct , that was 826 games ago .
“ We try to be aggressive .
We threw it down the field today , ” Gruden said .
“ Some of the Pro Football Focus statisticians will have to scratch their heads .
They ’ ll say , ` Did he really do that ?
’ ” Most important , he was at one with Carr , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ door every time Gruden looks impatient .
The same Gruden who looks impatient every 10 minutes yet has never drafted a rookie quarterback intending him to the be the starter .
Gruden ’ s return in 2018 has been met with legions of skeptics and one-liners , fueled by the reported 10-year , $ 100 million contract that has been accepted as fact but never verified .
He ’ s prone to exaggeration to make a point , which is fodder for “ Gotcha ” attacks on social and mainstream media even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But things are looking up .
Gruden even found a facemask he liked Sunday , switching to a black bandana , and had it in place every time the camera was on him .
So Gruden will be in vogue again until the next loss , with the only way to gain acceptance a playoff berth that looked more within reach Sunday than at any time since he returned .
Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has incurred the wrath of much of Raider nation .
You can ’ t blame them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sub-par defense , most of which predated Guenther ’ s arrival with Gruden .
I wrote after last week ’ s loss to Buffalo that there was no sign of a Raiders defense that could be worthy of a playoff berth .
Felt that way at halftime as the Chiefs moved at will .
As for holding Patrick Mahomes to three straight punts and then an interception by Jeff Heath to set up a game-sealing touchdown , I never saw it coming .
In Las Vegas parlance , Guenther ’ s been dealt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the door before Guenther coached him .
The payroll has been weighted toward offense .
Personnel has been a revolving door .
Injuries have been frequent .
And this year ’ s influx of free agents didn ’ t get an offseason or regular training camp because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Other than Carr and Gruden , Guenther probably enjoyed the flight home as much as anybody .
Maybe more .
Running back Josh Jacobs has kept up a running dialogue with none other than Marcus Allen , which he discussed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talked about everything from running to pass blocking to leadership .
“ We talk about once a week , ” Jacobs said .
“ We ’ ll get on the phone and I ’ ll ask him pointers , what I can do better , things like that.
” Jacobs , who had touchdown runs of seven and two yards , has watched Allen closely in terms of getting in the end zone .
His second score came on a classic Marcus Allen leap and dive .
“ He ’ s one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I ’ ve watched on tape , so I try to ask him how I do that too , ” Jacobs said .
After playing three snaps in his previous nine games , Trent Brown went wire to wire at right tackle against the Chiefs after recovering from a calf injury and made his presence felt .
• Raiders defense shuts down Patrick Mahomes , Chiefs in second half of upset win • NFL does major juggling of schedule due to coronavirus • What Derek Carr , Jon Gruden are saying after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raiders stun Chiefs as Carr shines and defense excels in second half at Arrowhead “ He ’ s a freak , ” Jacobs said .
“ When he ’ s healthy , there ’ s nobody like him.
” As much as it ’ s hard to watch someone taking up a good chunk of the salary cap on the sideline — and believe me , the Raiders were frustrated — if Brown manages to play the last 12 games at peak level sitting out the most of the first four games will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A paid , socially distanced crowd of 13,331 marked the first time the Raiders played this year with fans in the seats .
And somehow Raiders fans not only got in to the stadium but made themselves heard .
Fans were equally delirious on social media , with one Twitter follower conceding he was moved to tears .
Seven years without a win at Arrowhead is a long time .

Legend has it that Jon Gruden needed to win at Arrowhead Stadium at the close of the 1999 season to keep his job.
It’s more myth than reality, because no one knows for sure whether Raiders owner Al Davis would have pulled the plug after two 8-8 seasons following an improvement from four wins to eight in 1998 and with only a reliable field goal kicker keeping the Raiders out of the playoffs in 1999.
When the Raiders won 41-38 in overtime that day on a 33-yard field goal by Joe Nedney, Gruden was beside himself. He jumped, he danced, pumped his fist and was borderline crazy out of sheer joy. The Gruden that watched his Raiders beat the Chiefs 40-32 Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium was thrilled but, some 20 years later, more reserved.
Gruden was in full one-step-at-a-time coach mode by the time he sat for his video teleconference, expressing pride in his team’s performance but acknowledging the injury toll through five games and saying his team has a long ways to go.
He’s right, of course. The Raiders are 3-2 heading in to their bye week. They won nothing but a single game, albeit at a place where they hadn’t won since 2012.
It was a bigger win for quarterback Derek Carr, given he’d never won in Kansas City and is in Year 3 with Gruden. Carr needed the win desperately. Gruden merely wanted it in the worst way. Turns out he won it in the best way.
If you believe the myth of 1999 (the game actually took place in 2000 in Week 17) and a firing was imminent, taking down the Chiefs Sunday was Gruden’s second most significant win as Raiders head coach, and without question the biggest win in his second tenure.
It proved his style of offense can be explosive as well as physical and deliberate. Although executed in a different manner, it was the classic Bill Walsh-style game plan. Throw the house at the opponent with all the bells and whistles in the first half. Then work the clock and ground the opponent into a fine powder in the second half.
Gruden refused to get caught up in a shootout just because the first half was headed that way. He played to the strengths of his team and his own beliefs. The Raiders controlled the tempo, dictated the pace and actually ran it more times than they passed (35 to 31). He utilized Henry Ruggs III and Nelson Agholor to loosen things up. In the second half, the Chiefs had to respect that threat even as Gruden was throwing body blows instead of knockout left hooks to the jaw.
When asked about the early deep strikes, Gruden couldn’t help but poke fun at statistical analysis website Pro Football Focus, one of several analytics outlets that record every play and deem his offense unwilling and unable to throw the ball downfield. According to the NFL’s NextGen stats, Carr’s touchdown passes of 59 yards to Agholor and 72 yards to Ruggs was the first time a Raiders quarterback had thrown two scoring passes of 50 or more yards since Tom Flores in 1966.
Flores threw touchdown passes of 75 yards to Billy Cannon and 76 yards to Hewritt Dixon on Oct. 13, 1966 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, which predated the construction of Arrowhead Stadium. The Raiders won 34-13. If my math is correct, that was 826 games ago.
“We try to be aggressive. We threw it down the field today,” Gruden said. “Some of the Pro Football Focus statisticians will have to scratch their heads. They’ll say, `Did he really do that?'”
Most important, he was at one with Carr, the quarterback who has supposedly been out the door every time Gruden looks impatient. The same Gruden who looks impatient every 10 minutes yet has never drafted a rookie quarterback intending him to the be the starter.
Gruden’s return in 2018 has been met with legions of skeptics and one-liners, fueled by the reported 10-year, $100 million contract that has been accepted as fact but never verified. He’s prone to exaggeration to make a point, which is fodder for “Gotcha” attacks on social and mainstream media even if both mediums are rife with the same.
But things are looking up. Gruden even found a facemask he liked Sunday, switching to a black bandana, and had it in place every time the camera was on him.
So Gruden will be in vogue again until the next loss, with the only way to gain acceptance a playoff berth that looked more within reach Sunday than at any time since he returned.
GUENTHER’S BIG DAY
Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has incurred the wrath of much of Raider nation. You can’t blame them, really, after so many years of sub-par defense, most of which predated Guenther’s arrival with Gruden.
I wrote after last week’s loss to Buffalo that there was no sign of a Raiders defense that could be worthy of a playoff berth. Felt that way at halftime as the Chiefs moved at will.
As for holding Patrick Mahomes to three straight punts and then an interception by Jeff Heath to set up a game-sealing touchdown, I never saw it coming.
In Las Vegas parlance, Guenther’s been dealt some bad hands. Khalil Mack was out the door before Guenther coached him. The payroll has been weighted toward offense. Personnel has been a revolving door. Injuries have been frequent. And this year’s influx of free agents didn’t get an offseason or regular training camp because of the coronavirus pandemic. Guenther moved from the sideline to the coaches against Buffalo to get a different vantage point. He was back on the sideline Sunday.
Other than Carr and Gruden, Guenther probably enjoyed the flight home as much as anybody. Maybe more.
JACOBS AND THE MARCUS ALLEN INFLUENCE
Running back Josh Jacobs has kept up a running dialogue with none other than Marcus Allen, which he discussed following the game. They’ve talked about everything from running to pass blocking to leadership.
“We talk about once a week,” Jacobs said. “We’ll get on the phone and I’ll ask him pointers, what I can do better, things like that.”
Jacobs, who had touchdown runs of seven and two yards. Sunday, has watched Allen closely in terms of getting in the end zone. His second score came on a classic Marcus Allen leap and dive.
“He’s one of the best goal-line, short-yardage runners that I’ve watched on tape, so I try to ask him how I do that too,” Jacobs said.
All gas. No brakes. Josh extends the lead. #LVvsKC | CBS pic.twitter.com/FpPqQ87MYV — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 11, 2020
TRENT BROWN’S IMPACT
After playing three snaps in his previous nine games, Trent Brown went wire to wire at right tackle against the Chiefs after recovering from a calf injury and made his presence felt.
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As much as it’s hard to watch someone taking up a good chunk of the salary cap on the sideline — and believe me, the Raiders were frustrated — if Brown manages to play the last 12 games at peak level sitting out the most of the first four games will seem like a small price to pay.
INVADING ARROWHEAD
A paid, socially distanced crowd of 13,331 marked the first time the Raiders played this year with fans in the seats. And somehow Raiders fans not only got in to the stadium but made themselves heard.
Fans were equally delirious on social media, with one Twitter follower conceding he was moved to tears.
Seven years without a win at Arrowhead is a long time.


mercurynews--2020-10-12--Nobel Prize in economics awarded to two Stanford professors

American economists Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson have been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in economics for their contributions to auction theory , the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Monday .
Milgrom and Wilson , who are both professors at Stanford University in California , were recognized for theoretical discoveries that improved how auctions work .
According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences , they also designed auction formats for goods and services that are difficult to sell in a traditional way , such as radio frequencies .
“ This year ’ s Laureates in Economic Sciences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used their results in practical applications , which have spread globally .
Their discoveries are of great benefit to society , ” Peter Fredriksson , chair of the prize committee , said in a statement .
According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences , the economists invented new formats for auctioning many interrelated objects on behalf of a seller motivated by doing good for society rather than simply achieving the highest price possible .
In 1994 , US authorities first used one of their formats to sell bands of radio spectrum .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefiting from the sale of radio frequencies that were owned by the government but of enormous value to mobile network operators .
The prize for economics is officially known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences .
It was established by Sweden ’ s central bank and has been awarded since 1969 in memory of industrialist Alfred Nobel .
Milgrom and Wilson will share 10 million Swedish kroner ( $ 1.1 million ) in prize money .
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”

Stanford University professors Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson have been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in economics for esoteric insights that have brought order to the power grid, mineral rights and other critical but complex parts of our economy.
Their discoveries pioneered a new approach to how auctions work – and now serve as the conceptual underpinning of bids for services that are difficult to sell in a traditional way, such as bands of radio spectrum and cell service licenses.
Their strategy can be used to improve the allocation of respirators and Personal Protective Equipment in future pandemics. In the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, states bid against each other for supplies, escalating prices and creating chaos.
When the Federal Communications Commission takes bids to allocate radio spectrum for fiercely competitive telecommunication licenses – cell phone rights in northern and southern California markets, for example – it enlists Milgrom’s and Wilson’s strategy. This approach has been adopted in countries around the world.
“This year’s Laureates in Economic Sciences started out with fundamental theory and later used their results in practical applications, which have spread globally. Their discoveries are of great benefit to society,” Peter Fredriksson, chair of the Nobel prize committee, said in a statement.
Neighbors on campus, the two long-time friends and collaborators were startled by Monday morning’s news. Wilson, professor emeritus at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, was Milgrom’s mentor. Milgrom is a professor in the university’s School of Humanities and Sciences.
Wilson’s phone ringer was on ‘silent’ mode, so the Nobel committee called his wife instead. Milgrom, sound asleep, was also incommunicado.
In the predawn darkness at 2:15 a.m., Wilson and his wife Mary crossed the street and repeatedly rang the video-activated doorbell to awaken Milgrom. The drama is recorded on Milgrom’s Nest home security camera.
“Paul, it’s Bob Wilson. You’ve won the Nobel Prize,” shouted Wilson.
After a short pause to take in the news, Milgrom responded, “Wow, yeah. Okay.”
The #NobelPrize committee couldn't reach Paul Milgrom to share the news that he won, so his fellow winner and neighbor Robert Wilson knocked on his door in the middle of the night. pic.twitter.com/MvhxZcgutZ — Stanford University (@Stanford) October 12, 2020
Their auction strategy is nothing like you’d see at a county fair, Sotheby’s art or charity event, where bidders sequentially bid up the value of a tangible item until it is sold. Instead, it’s complex and algorithmically assisted, borrowing from analytical tools used in game theory.
That’s because the value of a property often depends on the value of other properties, also up for auction.
Before Milgrom and Wilson’s concept, bidders in complex auctions of telecommunication spectrum were faced with big strategic uncertainties. Companies didn’t know whether or not they could acquire coverage in every other state, and how much that other coverage would cost.
The economists were inspired after a phone call from the phone company Pacific Bell, which was weighing in on the design of the FCC’s spectrum auction in the early 1990s.
They created a way for multiple bidders to bid on multiple licenses in multiple markets. When an auction round ends, bidders can view the highest offer in each market.
This approach was first used by U.S. authorities in 1994, ensuring that taxpayers were benefiting from the sale of radio frequencies that were owned by the government but of enormous value to mobile network operators.
It has since been adopted in many other realms, from kidney allocation to bidding on precious minerals.
“De Beers (diamond dealers) used to just hand a bag of diamonds to a dealer and say ‘Take it or leave it,’” said Wilson. “We created an auction system in Antwerp that supplanted a large part of the market from the monopoly power of the dominant supplier, De Beers.”
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, “We had such a chaotic system,” said Wilson.
“We don’t just want prices going through the roof,” he said. “We need well-thought out systems.”
Committed to greater public understanding of the field, last week Milgrom presented his work on auction theory to youth at Saratoga High School’s economics club.
Monday’s honor will open the door to other intellectually daring concepts, he said.
“There are times that I have ideas and people think, ‘That’s too novel, that’s crazy, we’re not going to try that,’” he said. “I think that one of the effects of a prize like this is that people will pause before rejecting,” he said. “They’ll take things more seriously, and that will help me make novel things happen.”
The prize for economics is officially known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences. It was established by Sweden’s central bank and has been awarded since 1969 in memory of industrialist Alfred Nobel.
Milgrom and Wilson will share 10 million Swedish kroner ($1.1 million) in prize money.
“Their accomplishments are a shining example of the ways in which fundamental discovery and its application to finding real world solutions can make enormous contributions to modern society,” said Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne in a Monday morning celebration. “Their insights into bidding and pricing have become integral to our modern economy.”
Milgrom and Wilson are the 18th and 19th living Nobel laureates among Stanford’s community of scholars. Stanford has earned 34 Nobel prizes.
In the field of economics, former Dean Michael Spence was honored in 2001 for his contributions to the analysis of markets with asymmetric information. Myron Scholes was honored in 1997 for developing a new method of determining the value of financial derivatives. William Sharpe received the prize in 1990 for his contributions to the theory of financial economics.
Wire services contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-10-12--49ers report card: Flunking their way to third straight home loss

SANTA CLARA — Here is how the 49ers ( 2-3 ) graded in Sunday ’ s 43-17 home loss to the Miami Dolphins ( 2-3 ) : Playing only the first half on a still-painful ankle , Jimmy Garoppolo punctuated his career-worst 15.7 passer rating with a pair of interceptions inside the final two minutes of the first half .
He was 7-of-17 for only 77 yards , and his career-worst 41.2 completion percentage wisely told Kyle Shanahan to pull him in favor of C.J .
Beathard for a second-half , pass-heavy comeback attempt .
Whoever the quarterback has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lapsed , resulting in five sacks this game by a no-name defense .
As Joe Staley tweeted : “ What the hell is this ?
” Off-target passes did not make the best use of the 49ers ’ most complete offensive cast .
George Kittle caught 4 of 8 targets , Brandon Aiyuk 3 of 6 , Deebo Samuel 2-of-8 and Kenrick Bourne 2-of-4 .
An early deficit meant the 49ers would scrap much of their run plays , so that makes the final stats deceivingly impressive ( 131 yards , 6.9 yards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s only carry all game got stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1 , and that came on the 49ers ’ second series to signal how doomed they were .
Raheem Mostert returned from his own 2 1/2-game absence ( like Garoppolo ) and produced a 37-yard run that highlighted a drive capped by Kyle Juszczyk ’ s first rushing touchdown of his 49ers career .
Mostert had just 11 carries for 90 yards .
Defenses are surprising the 49ers weekly , and adjustments are not being executed in a consistent manner .
Roasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one obvious task , after he yielded 124 of Fitzpatrick ’ s first 168 yards , plus two penalties for first-and-goal and ultimately a touchdown .
So much else went wrong with this unit , however .
The pass rush is nonexistent , so much so that Ryan FItzpatrick passed for 350 yards ( 22-of-25 ) and three touchdowns .
He also escaped with a 17-yard scramble and drew a questionable roughing penalty on Fred Warner .
Kwon Alexander surrendered a touchdown catch to the Dolphins ’ backup tight end , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plays .
The 49ers ’ injuries were never as exposed as in this game .
Richard Sherman and Emmanuel Moseley are urgently needed back at cornerback , just as Dee Ford is at defensive end , where Nick Bosa ’ s Week 2 exit looms larger each loss .
Why run when Fitzgerald ’ s air assault dominated the 49ers ?
The Dolphins managed only 2.8 yards per carry but did not need any of that .
Former 49er Matt Breida had 28 yards ( nine carries ) in a backup role to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards , one touchdown ) .
Fred Warner had a team-high 11 tackles and Kwon Alexander had a sack among his five tackles .
As much as we mourn the injured 49ers , let ’ s not forget about DeForest Buckner ’ s void from a leadership level as he ’ s on Indy ’ s payroll .
Kevin White ’ s 49ers debut comes as … a kick returner ?
This 6-foot-3 , former Bears wide receiver was 6 yards deeps in the end zone when he foolishly opted to bring out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line , which is horrible field position when mounting a comeback from a 14-0 deficit .
Trent Taylor ’ s 17-yard punt return set up the 49ers ’ first touchdown drive and he proved a better option than the inactive Dante Pettis .
Coverage units were sound .
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The opening script has lacked bite or success the past two home defeats .
Play calls are not surprising defenses , especially in the run game .
Too much is out of sync , and although there ’ ve been too many injuries , they ’ ve had three too many home losses this season .
Each loss in past years felt like a learning lesson needed for the road to a championship ; each loss this season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rock from that foundation and culture .

SANTA CLARA — Here is how the 49ers (2-3) graded in Sunday’s 43-17 home loss to the Miami Dolphins (2-3):
PASS OFFENSE: F
Playing only the first half on a still-painful ankle, Jimmy Garoppolo punctuated his career-worst 15.7 passer rating with a pair of interceptions inside the final two minutes of the first half. He was 7-of-17 for only 77 yards, and his career-worst 41.2 completion percentage wisely told Kyle Shanahan to pull him in favor of C.J. Beathard for a second-half, pass-heavy comeback attempt. Whoever the quarterback has been this year, the pass protection has lapsed, resulting in five sacks this game by a no-name defense. As Joe Staley tweeted: “What the hell is this?” Off-target passes did not make the best use of the 49ers’ most complete offensive cast. George Kittle caught 4 of 8 targets, Brandon Aiyuk 3 of 6, Deebo Samuel 2-of-8 and Kenrick Bourne 2-of-4.
RUN OFFENSE: C-
An early deficit meant the 49ers would scrap much of their run plays, so that makes the final stats deceivingly impressive (131 yards, 6.9 yards per carry). Jerick McKinnon’s only carry all game got stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1, and that came on the 49ers’ second series to signal how doomed they were. Raheem Mostert returned from his own 2 1/2-game absence (like Garoppolo) and produced a 37-yard run that highlighted a drive capped by Kyle Juszczyk’s first rushing touchdown of his 49ers career. Mostert had just 11 carries for 90 yards. Defenses are surprising the 49ers weekly, and adjustments are not being executed in a consistent manner.
PASS DEFENSE: F
Roasting Brian Allen for his starting debut is one obvious task, after he yielded 124 of Fitzpatrick’s first 168 yards, plus two penalties for first-and-goal and ultimately a touchdown. So much else went wrong with this unit, however. The pass rush is nonexistent, so much so that Ryan FItzpatrick passed for 350 yards (22-of-25) and three touchdowns. He also escaped with a 17-yard scramble and drew a questionable roughing penalty on Fred Warner. Kwon Alexander surrendered a touchdown catch to the Dolphins’ backup tight end, and the 49ers safeties are not making enough helpful plays. The 49ers’ injuries were never as exposed as in this game. Richard Sherman and Emmanuel Moseley are urgently needed back at cornerback, just as Dee Ford is at defensive end, where Nick Bosa’s Week 2 exit looms larger each loss.
RUN DEFENSE: C
Why run when Fitzgerald’s air assault dominated the 49ers? The Dolphins managed only 2.8 yards per carry but did not need any of that. Former 49er Matt Breida had 28 yards (nine carries) in a backup role to Myles Gaskin (16 carries, 57 yards, one touchdown). Fred Warner had a team-high 11 tackles and Kwon Alexander had a sack among his five tackles. As much as we mourn the injured 49ers, let’s not forget about DeForest Buckner’s void from a leadership level as he’s on Indy’s payroll.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C-
Kevin White’s 49ers debut comes as … a kick returner? This 6-foot-3, former Bears wide receiver was 6 yards deeps in the end zone when he foolishly opted to bring out the ball and reached only the 14-yard line, which is horrible field position when mounting a comeback from a 14-0 deficit. Trent Taylor’s 17-yard punt return set up the 49ers’ first touchdown drive and he proved a better option than the inactive Dante Pettis. Coverage units were sound. Related Articles San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers aren’t worried about Nick Bosa’s holdout. They should be
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COACHING: F
It was inexcusable to leave Allen out there for four series as an easy target, and only put in Ahkello Witherspoon once the veteran volunteered for that task. The opening script has lacked bite or success the past two home defeats. Play calls are not surprising defenses, especially in the run game. Too much is out of sync, and although there’ve been too many injuries, they’ve had three too many home losses this season. Each loss in past years felt like a learning lesson needed for the road to a championship; each loss this season seems to chip a giant slice of rock from that foundation and culture.


Word Game: Oct.. 12, 2020

Can you find 19 or more words in FORGERY ?
The list will be published tomorrow .
To purchase the @ @ @ @ @ WordGameBooks.com .
Order it now for just $ 5 while supplies last !
1 .
@ @ @ @ @ or more letters .
2 .
Words that acquire four letters by the addition of @ @ @ @ @ as “ bats ” or “ dies , ” are not allowed .
3 .
@ @ @ @ @ a “ d ” or an “ s ” may not be used .
For @ @ @ @ @ ” is used , “ baked ” or “ bakes ” are not allowed , @ @ @ @ @ “ baking ” are admissible .
4 .
Proper nouns , slang words , or @ @ @ @ @ are not allowed .

TODAY’S WORD — FORGERY (FORGERY: FOR-juh-ree: Something counterfeit or fraudulent.)
Average mark 14 words
Time limit 30 minutes
Can you find 19 or more words in FORGERY? The list will be published tomorrow.
SATURDAY’S WORD — DERANGE dang danger dare darn dean dear deer drag
dragee dreg eager eared earn edge edger endear enrage erne rage ranee rang
range read reed rend aged ager agree anger near need nerd gander garden gear
gender gene genre gnar grade grand grandee greed green grenade
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!
RULES OF THE GAME:
1. Words must be of four or more letters.
2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.
3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.
4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.


mercurynews--2020-10-13--Milpitas: Suspect identified in shooting death of woman

MILPITAS – Authorities on Monday identified a suspect in the shooting death of a woman in Milpitas over the weekend , a man they say is armed and dangerous .
Anyone who encounters Kevin James Gitmed , 35 , of Gilroy , should immediately call 911 , Milpitas police Capt .
John Torrez said in a news release Monday .
A warrant has been issued for Gitmed ’ s arrest .
The shooting was reported about 10:15 p.m. Saturday on Ranch Drive .
Officers arrived to find a woman , described as a 40-year-old San Jose resident , suffering from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman was taken to a hospital , where she died .
Torrez said Gitmed and the victim knew one another , and the shooting “ was not a random act of violence.
” Gitmed is described as white , 6 feet 1 inches tall and 250 pounds , with blond hair and brown eyes .
He also has several tattoos on his hands , arms and chest , Torrez said .
Anyone with information about Gitmed ’ s whereabouts or information related to the case can contact police at 408-586-2400 .
Those wishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 408-586-2500 or www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/crimetip .

MILPITAS – Authorities on Monday identified a suspect in the shooting death of a woman in Milpitas over the weekend, a man they say is armed and dangerous.
Anyone who encounters Kevin James Gitmed, 35, of Gilroy, should immediately call 911, Milpitas police Capt. John Torrez said in a news release Monday. A warrant has been issued for Gitmed’s arrest and police said he was still at-large Tuesday.
The shooting was reported at about 10:15 p.m. Saturday on Ranch Drive. Officers arrived to find a woman, described as a 40-year-old San Jose resident, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Torrez said Gitmed and the victim knew one another, and the shooting “was not a random act of violence.”
It was the second homicide in Milpitas in as many days.
Gitmed is described as white, 6 feet 1 inches tall and 250 pounds, with blond hair and brown eyes. He also has several tattoos on his hands, arms and chest, Torrez said.
Anyone with information about Gitmed’s whereabouts or information related to the case can contact police at 408-586-2400. Those wishing to remain anonymous can leave a tip at 408-586-2500 or www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/crimetip.


mercurynews--2020-10-13--Oakland’s Rachel Efron delivers stunning new jazz-pop piano album

Rachel Efron is back with a new stunning album , “ Human As I Came.
” The Oakland singer-songwriter-pianist sounds absolutely terrific throughout the 11-track offering .
The album catches your attention from the get-go , opening with two stand-out racks — “ I Changed My Mind , I Want You ” and “ Your Money Costs Too Much ” — which also happen to be the first two singles off “ Human As I Came.
” Efron ’ s technique , like always , is topnotch as she marries piano pop and jazz styles on a record that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at other times strikingly emotional and raw .
The feel of the record probably has a lot to do with the space Efron was in — emotionally , mentally and physically — as she wrote material for the album .
Having been diagnosed with late-stage neurological Lyme Disease in 2012 , Efron stopped performing and focused on getting healthy .
Her therapy included herbs and medicinal foods , but also just taking time to watch the sunsets and rest .
But she never stopped writing during that period , eventually ending up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Even on my worst days , creatively , musically I was healthy , ” she says .
“ Music was a way I could continue to experience myself as completely well .
More than almost anything else in my life , it was a light that guided my way through .
“ Now that I ’ m so much healthier , I have even more access to that side of myself .
I am taking more creative risks than ever before .
It ’ s a feeling of both a wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a deep clarity of what is mine to make.
” “ Human As I Came ” is due out Oct. 16 .
Efron will perform a live-streamed album release concert on Nov. 16 .
For information about the new album and the concert event , visit rachelefron.com .

Rachel Efron is back with a new stunning album, “Human As I Came.”
The Oakland singer-songwriter-pianist sounds absolutely terrific throughout the 11-track offering. The album catches your attention from the get-go, opening with two stand-out racks — “I Changed My Mind, I Want You” and “Your Money Costs Too Much” — which also happen to be the first two singles off “Human As I Came.”
Efron’s technique, like always, is topnotch as she marries piano pop and jazz styles on a record that is at times easy like Sunday morning and at other times strikingly emotional and raw.
The feel of the record probably has a lot to do with the space Efron was in — emotionally, mentally and physically — as she wrote material for the album. Having been diagnosed with late-stage neurological Lyme Disease in 2012, Efron stopped performing and focused on getting healthy. Her therapy included herbs and medicinal foods, but also just taking time to watch the sunsets and rest.
But she never stopped writing during that period, eventually ending up with enough new material for a new record.
“Even on my worst days, creatively, musically I was healthy,” she says. “Music was a way I could continue to experience myself as completely well. More than almost anything else in my life, it was a light that guided my way through.
“Now that I’m so much healthier, I have even more access to that side of myself. I am taking more creative risks than ever before. It’s a feeling of both a wide open canvas in front of me, and a deep clarity of what is mine to make.”
Details: “Human As I Came” is due out Oct. 16 and multiple streaming sites. Efron will perform a live-streamed album release concert on Nov. 16. For information about the new album and the concert event, visit rachelefron.com.


mercurynews--2020-10-13--‘It’s great to be back’: Thousands attend Trump’s first rally since contracting coronavirus

By Jill Colvin and Jonathan Lemire | Associated Press SANFORD , Florida — Just a week after his release from the hospital , President Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail Monday for the first time since contracting the coronavirus , resuming his effort to stage a late comeback in the election ’ s final stretch .
“ It ’ s great to be back in my home state , Florida , to make my official return to the campaign trail , ” Trump declared in front of a crowd of thousands of supporters , standing shoulder-to-shoulder , mostly without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said that , after being given experimental medication and other VIP treatment , he ’ s feeling great and glad he no longer needs to be concerned about infection because he ’ s now “ immune.
” “ I feel so powerful , ” said Trump , displaying no obvious signs of lingering infection .
“ I ’ ll walk into that audience .
I ’ ll walk in there , I ’ ll kiss everyone in that audience .
I ’ ll kiss the guys and the beautiful women … everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big fat kiss.
” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious-disease expert , said Monday on CNN that those who recover from COVID-19 are likely to be immune for a limited period of time , but there are cases emerging of people getting reinfected weeks or months later .
With three weeks to go before Election Day , Trump — whose doctor said Monday for the first time that he had received a negative test for COVID-19 — is pushing to correct a stubborn deficit in national and battleground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation about a virus that he spent months downplaying .
That includes in Florida , which is seen as critical to his re-election chances .
Trump narrowly beat his 2016 rival , Democrat Hillary Clinton , in the state by just over 112,000 votes .
Some recent polls have suggested a close race in the state , while others have put Democrat Joe Biden ahead .
Trump ’ s Sanford rally was his first stop in a busy week that will include events in Pennsylvania , Iowa , North Carolina and Wisconsin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is facing to recover from a series of self-inflicted setbacks that have rattled his base of support and triggered alarm among Republicans who fear the White House is on the verge of being lost to Biden .
And it comes amid still-unanswered questions about the impact so much travel so soon could have on the 74-year-old president ’ s health .
The progression of COVID-19 is often unpredictable , and there can be long-term complications .
After Air Force One lifted off from Joint Base Andrews , the president ’ s doctor released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump had tested negative for the virus — and had done so on consecutive days .
His doctor , Navy Cmdr .
Scott Conley , said that the tests , taking in conjunction with other data , including viral load , have led him to conclude that Trump was not contagious .
For days , the White House had sidestepped questions about whether Trump had tested negative .
Conley over the weekend said that the president met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for safely discontinuing isolation and that by “ currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer considered a transmission risk .
Some medical experts , however , have voiced skepticism that Trump could be declared contagion-free so soon .
And it was unclear what — if any — added precautions and safety measures the campaign planned to take to prevent the trip from further spreading a virus that has already infected so many of the president ’ s closest aides and allies , including his campaign manager and the head of the Republican Party .
Trump ’ s decision to so quickly return to the campaign trail drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ President Trump comes to Sanford today bringing nothing but reckless behavior , divisive rhetoric , and fear mongering , ” Biden said in a statement .
“ But , equally dangerous is what he fails to bring : no plan to get this virus that has taken the lives of over 15,000 Floridians under control.
” Florida state Rep. Shevrin Jones , a Democrat who is running for state Senate and who recently recovered from his own COVID-19 infection , said in a conference call with reporters that Trump should not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wisdom of holding such an event , noting the climbing test positivity rates in parts of the Sun Belt .
“ We know that that is asking for trouble when you do that , ” Fauci said .
Trump has been eager to show the world that he is no longer sidelined by a virus that he has consistently played down and that has killed 215,000 people across the nation , including more than 15,000 in Florida .
Indeed , Trump on Monday continued to mock Biden for his efforts to encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deriding as “ crazy ” the circles Biden ’ s campaign uses to delineate individual space .
“ He ’ s got a lot of bad days coming , ” Trump said at another point .
Since his release from a military hospital after three days of around-the-clock care that included access to experimental antibody treatments unavailable to the public , Trump has used his personal experience to try to convince the public that he was right all along .
He has repeatedly told Americans who contract the virus that they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” although hundreds of people in the U.S. die of the virus every day .
• Trump tests negative for coronavirus on consecutive days , doctor says • Opinion : Don ’ t succumb to hatred , even in the era of Trump • Joe Biden ’ s polling better than any challenger since 1936 • How Team Trump used Fox News as a laundromat for unverified Russian information about top Democrats • Trump claims he ’ s free of virus , ready for campaign trail Trump on Saturday held his first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crowd of hundreds of people on the South Lawn from a White House balcony .
Appearing without a mask and with bandages still visible on his hands , likely from intravenous injections , Trump spoke for just 18 minutes — far less than his usual campaign rallies , which can last upwards of 90 minutes .
He told the crowd the virus is “ disappearing , ” even as cases have been on the rise .
Associated Press writer Curt Anderson contributed to this report .

By Jill Colvin and Jonathan Lemire | Associated Press
SANFORD, Florida — Just a week after his release from the hospital, President Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail Monday for the first time since contracting the coronavirus, resuming his effort to stage a late comeback in the election’s final stretch.
“It’s great to be back in my home state, Florida, to make my official return to the campaign trail,” Trump declared in front of a crowd of thousands of supporters, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, mostly without masks, despite the ongoing pandemic.
Trump said that, after being given experimental medication and other VIP treatment, he’s feeling great and glad he no longer needs to be concerned about infection because he’s now “immune.”
“I feel so powerful,” said Trump, displaying no obvious signs of lingering infection. “I’ll walk into that audience. I’ll walk in there, I’ll kiss everyone in that audience. I’ll kiss the guys and the beautiful women … everybody. I’ll just give ya a big fat kiss.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, said Monday on CNN that those who recover from COVID-19 are likely to be immune for a limited period of time, but there are cases emerging of people getting reinfected weeks or months later.
With three weeks to go before Election Day, Trump — whose doctor said Monday for the first time that he had received a negative test for COVID-19 — is pushing to correct a stubborn deficit in national and battleground state polling as he continues to spread misinformation about a virus that he spent months downplaying.
That includes in Florida, which is seen as critical to his re-election chances. Trump narrowly beat his 2016 rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, in the state by just over 112,000 votes. Some recent polls have suggested a close race in the state, while others have put Democrat Joe Biden ahead.
Trump’s Sanford rally was his first stop in a busy week that will include events in Pennsylvania, Iowa, North Carolina and Wisconsin. The robust schedule underscored the urgency he is facing to recover from a series of self-inflicted setbacks that have rattled his base of support and triggered alarm among Republicans who fear the White House is on the verge of being lost to Biden.
And it comes amid still-unanswered questions about the impact so much travel so soon could have on the 74-year-old president’s health. The progression of COVID-19 is often unpredictable, and there can be long-term complications.
After Air Force One lifted off from Joint Base Andrews, the president’s doctor released an update on his health that said Trump had tested negative for the virus — and had done so on consecutive days. His doctor, Navy Cmdr. Scott Conley, said that the tests, taking in conjunction with other data, including viral load, have led him to conclude that Trump was not contagious.
For days, the White House had sidestepped questions about whether Trump had tested negative. Conley over the weekend said that the president met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for safely discontinuing isolation and that by “currently recognized standards,” Trump was no longer considered a transmission risk.
Some medical experts, however, have voiced skepticism that Trump could be declared contagion-free so soon. And it was unclear what — if any — added precautions and safety measures the campaign planned to take to prevent the trip from further spreading a virus that has already infected so many of the president’s closest aides and allies, including his campaign manager and the head of the Republican Party.
Trump’s decision to so quickly return to the campaign trail drew criticism from Biden and other Democrats.
“President Trump comes to Sanford today bringing nothing but reckless behavior, divisive rhetoric, and fear mongering,” Biden said in a statement. “But, equally dangerous is what he fails to bring: no plan to get this virus that has taken the lives of over 15,000 Floridians under control.”
Florida state Rep. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat who is running for state Senate and who recently recovered from his own COVID-19 infection, said in a conference call with reporters that Trump should not be coming to Florida.
“It’s reckless and irresponsible,” Jones said.
Fauci also questioned the wisdom of holding such an event, noting the climbing test positivity rates in parts of the Sun Belt.
“We know that that is asking for trouble when you do that,” Fauci said.
Trump has been eager to show the world that he is no longer sidelined by a virus that he has consistently played down and that has killed 215,000 people across the nation, including more than 15,000 in Florida.
Indeed, Trump on Monday continued to mock Biden for his efforts to encourage social distancing at his campaign events, deriding as “crazy” the circles Biden’s campaign uses to delineate individual space.
“He’s got a lot of bad days coming,” Trump said at another point.
Since his release from a military hospital after three days of around-the-clock care that included access to experimental antibody treatments unavailable to the public, Trump has used his personal experience to try to convince the public that he was right all along.
He has repeatedly told Americans who contract the virus that they’re “going to get better really fast,” although hundreds of people in the U.S. die of the virus every day.
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Prosecutors, defense spar over fate of Hunter Biden gun deal National Politics | GOP rivals prepare for possible Trump-less debate Trump on Saturday held his first public event since his diagnosis, addressing a crowd of hundreds of people on the South Lawn from a White House balcony. Appearing without a mask and with bandages still visible on his hands, likely from intravenous injections, Trump spoke for just 18 minutes — far less than his usual campaign rallies, which can last upwards of 90 minutes.
He told the crowd the virus is “disappearing,” even as cases have been on the rise.
Associated Press writer Curt Anderson contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-10-13--Palo Alto: Masseur arrested on suspicion of sexual assault

PALO ALTO – A masseur has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a client during a massage appointment at @ @ @ @ @ , authorities said .
The assault was reported at the Spine and Therapy Center at @ @ @ @ @ 8 p.m. on Oct. 7 , the Palo Alto Police Department said in a news @ @ @ @ @ the client was not physically injured .
The masseur , a 27-year-old San Mateo resident @ @ @ @ @ into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose on a charge of sexual @ @ @ @ @ Police said they are not aware of any additional victims .
Administrators at the business @ @ @ @ @ detectives , ” and the masseur has been fired .
Anyone with information related to @ @ @ @ @ at 650-329-2413 .
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email @ @ @ @

PALO ALTO – A masseur has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a client during a massage appointment at a Palo Alto chiropractic office, authorities said.
The assault was reported at the Spine and Therapy Center at 2504 Ash St. just before 8 p.m. on Oct. 7, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a news release Monday.
Police said the client was not physically injured.
The masseur, a 27-year-old San Mateo resident, was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose on a charge of sexual penetration, police said.
Police said they are not aware of any additional victims. Administrators at the business are “working collaboratively with detectives,” and the masseur has been fired.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact police at 650-329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.


mercurynews--2020-10-13--Apple set to unveil new iPhones on Tuesday — what do consumers need to know?

Apple is finally set to announce new iPhones , after weeks of delays and pandemic-related disruptions .
Invitations for the Oct. 13 event featured the phrase “ Hi , Speed , ” hinting at a long-rumored upgrade that would allow the iPhone to connect to the new 5G wireless network that ’ s currently being rolled out by carriers in the United States and abroad .
( The festivities start at 10 a.m. PDT and you can watch it live here and follow along in real-time on CNN Business . )
Though still nascent , 5G promises to deliver much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully deployed .
Beyond phones , It will pave the way for more connected devices : Advances like self-driving cars , virtual reality , smart city technologies and networked robots could be powered by the new network .
Apple is somewhat late to the 5G phone game .
Its new phone will join a growing list of options from Google , Motorola , Samsung , Huawei , LG and others .
But the iPhone may be able to hold its own given its loyal fan base , and some analysts expect the 5G @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of device upgrades , potentially prompting more people than usual to buy the new device .
And the fact that 5G networks aren ’ t completely ubiquitous yet means there ’ s still room to grow .
Only 13 % of smartphones sold in the first half of 2020 had 5G capabilities , and only 6 % of customers would rank 5G as a primary factor in their next smartphone purchase , according to Ben Stanton , an analyst at research firm Canalys .
“ Apple is not too late to 5G , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen mass adoption , ” Stanton told CNN Business .
“ Part of the reason for this is that the killer use-case for 5G on mobile has not yet emerged.
” Apple may give its users more choices than usual with its latest smartphone lineup .
The company is gearing up to launch four new iPhone models on Tuesday , ranging in size from 5.4 inches to 6.7 inches , according to analysts and multiple news reports .
Apple has stuck to a three model lineup for iPhone launches in recent years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ models with more cameras and better displays .
But this time around , a fourth , more basic model with a smaller display — the name “ iPhone 12 mini ” has surfaced in rumors — could help Apple target more price-conscious consumers , though it ’ s unclear how it would compete with the low-cost iPhone SE .
“ Apple has made a serious effort to make its hardware more price-competitive over the last 12 months , ” Stanton said .
“ But Apple ’ s great challenge is that it needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price-competitive without diluting its premium brand image.
” The top end of the new iPhone range could also provide a big draw , with its rumored 6.7-inch display that ’ s even larger than the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max .
“ In particular we are seeing Apple and its Asian suppliers anticipate stepped-up demand for the larger 6.7-inch model which is raising the overall iPhone 12 expectations heading into this ‘ once in a decade ’ potential launch , ” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote in an investor note last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 950 million iPhones globally could be due for an upgrade , which could lead to an “ unprecedented ” cycle .
The last major iPhone “ super cycle ” of upgrades happened in 2014 with the iPhone 6 , said Daniel Morgan , VP and senior portfolio manager at Synovus .
“ Since 2014 , the newest iPhone launches have felt more like ripples [ as ] opposed to a wave.
” iPhone sales have slumped in recent years as people wait longer to switch out older models , though Apple staged somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPhone 11 .
Apple ’ s pricing strategy for the new iPhone lineup will likely be one of the biggest talking points .
In recent years , the company ’ s battle with Samsung for premium smartphone users has led to exorbitant prices that would have been unthinkable for previous devices .
Apple ’ s current top-of-the-line model , the iPhone 11 Pro Max , starts at $ 1,099 and the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G costs $ 1,199 — though Samsung has also released foldable smartphones costing as much as $ 2,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their flagship smartphones in recent months .
And other rivals such as OnePlus and Google appear to have all but stopped competing in the fight for the high-end smartphone market .
Apple could use the 5G features to justify a slightly higher price point for the iPhone 12 , but the fact that it is expected to release four iPhone variants rather than the three could mean a more affordable offering is in the works as well .
When it comes to Apple events , it ’ s rarely just about the phones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pre-holiday launch event to roll out upgrades to its iPads , smart watches and increasingly popular services such as Apple TV+ — though it did much of that already in an event last month .
That hasn ’ t stopped the rumor mill from speculating about updates on other products , including augmented reality glasses , a new HomePod smart speaker and even over-the-ear wireless headphones .
Canalys ’ Stanton also mentioned the possibility Apple would announce “ AirTags , ” a rumored new product consisting of Bluetooth-enabled tiles to help track misplaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain , is that Apple will again showcase the best-practice for virtual events , and set a standard for the industry to follow , ” he added .

Apple is finally set to announce new iPhones, after weeks of delays and pandemic-related disruptions.
Invitations for the Oct. 13 event featured the phrase “Hi, Speed,” hinting at a long-rumored upgrade that would allow the iPhone to connect to the new 5G wireless network that’s currently being rolled out by carriers in the United States and abroad. (The festivities start at 10 a.m. PDT and you can watch it live here and follow along in real-time on CNN Business.)
Though still nascent, 5G promises to deliver much faster connection speeds when it’s fully deployed. Beyond phones, It will pave the way for more connected devices: Advances like self-driving cars, virtual reality, smart city technologies and networked robots could be powered by the new network.
Apple is somewhat late to the 5G phone game. Its new phone will join a growing list of options from Google, Motorola, Samsung, Huawei, LG and others.
But the iPhone may be able to hold its own given its loyal fan base, and some analysts expect the 5G iPhone to generate a “supercycle” of device upgrades, potentially prompting more people than usual to buy the new device. And the fact that 5G networks aren’t completely ubiquitous yet means there’s still room to grow.
Only 13% of smartphones sold in the first half of 2020 had 5G capabilities, and only 6% of customers would rank 5G as a primary factor in their next smartphone purchase, according to Ben Stanton, an analyst at research firm Canalys.
“Apple is not too late to 5G, as smartphones with 5G have not yet seen mass adoption,” Stanton told CNN Business. “Part of the reason for this is that the killer use-case for 5G on mobile has not yet emerged.”
Four new iPhones
Apple may give its users more choices than usual with its latest smartphone lineup. The company is gearing up to launch four new iPhone models on Tuesday, ranging in size from 5.4 inches to 6.7 inches, according to analysts and multiple news reports.
Apple has stuck to a three model lineup for iPhone launches in recent years, with one basic model and two pricier models with more cameras and better displays. But this time around, a fourth, more basic model with a smaller display — the name “iPhone 12 mini” has surfaced in rumors — could help Apple target more price-conscious consumers, though it’s unclear how it would compete with the low-cost iPhone SE.
“Apple has made a serious effort to make its hardware more price-competitive over the last 12 months,” Stanton said. “But Apple’s great challenge is that it needs to find a way to become more price-competitive without diluting its premium brand image.”
The top end of the new iPhone range could also provide a big draw, with its rumored 6.7-inch display that’s even larger than the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max.
“In particular we are seeing Apple and its Asian suppliers anticipate stepped-up demand for the larger 6.7-inch model which is raising the overall iPhone 12 expectations heading into this ‘once in a decade’ potential launch,” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote in an investor note last week.
Wedbush estimates that 350 million of the 950 million iPhones globally could be due for an upgrade, which could lead to an “unprecedented” cycle.
The last major iPhone “super cycle” of upgrades happened in 2014 with the iPhone 6, said Daniel Morgan, VP and senior portfolio manager at Synovus. “Since 2014, the newest iPhone launches have felt more like ripples [as] opposed to a wave.”
iPhone sales have slumped in recent years as people wait longer to switch out older models, though Apple staged somewhat of a recovery in 2020 with the iPhone 11.
Eyes on the price
Apple’s pricing strategy for the new iPhone lineup will likely be one of the biggest talking points. In recent years, the company’s battle with Samsung for premium smartphone users has led to exorbitant prices that would have been unthinkable for previous devices.
Apple’s current top-of-the-line model, the iPhone 11 Pro Max, starts at $1,099 and the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G costs $1,199 — though Samsung has also released foldable smartphones costing as much as $2,000.
Both companies have released lower-cost models of their flagship smartphones in recent months. And other rivals such as OnePlus and Google appear to have all but stopped competing in the fight for the high-end smartphone market.
Apple could use the 5G features to justify a slightly higher price point for the iPhone 12, but the fact that it is expected to release four iPhone variants rather than the three could mean a more affordable offering is in the works as well.
One more thing?
When it comes to Apple events, it’s rarely just about the phones.
The company has previously used its pre-holiday launch event to roll out upgrades to its iPads, smart watches and increasingly popular services such as Apple TV+ — though it did much of that already in an event last month.
That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from speculating about updates on other products, including augmented reality glasses, a new HomePod smart speaker and even over-the-ear wireless headphones.
Canalys’ Stanton also mentioned the possibility Apple would announce “AirTags,” a rumored new product consisting of Bluetooth-enabled tiles to help track misplaced valuables.
“One thing that is certain, is that Apple will again showcase the best-practice for virtual events, and set a standard for the industry to follow,” he added.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-10-12--49ers’ Richard Sherman has injury setback, cornerback depth continues to unravel

After a horrendous day for the 49ers ’ pass defense in a blowout 43-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins , the unit was ready to turn the page and welcome veteran leader Richard Sherman back from the injured reserve list .
The next page only contains more bad news .
Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday that Sherman has had “ setbacks ” while recovering from a calf injury he suffered in Week 1 against the Cardinals and the 49ers are no longer counting on him to play on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams .
A defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rack up 342 yards and three touchdowns through the air needs Sherman more than ever , but he ’ s not likely to see the field .
“ Sherm we were hoping to get him back this week , had some setbacks last week , the healing hasn ’ t gone the way we ’ re hoping for so I know we ’ re going to try a few different procedures on him this week , but we ’ re not counting on him , ” Shanahan said .
The 49ers ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgical , but did not provide a timeline for when the corner might be available again .
It ’ s possible Sherman could have more high-profile company on injured reserve too , as linebacker Kwon Alexander has an ankle injury that could be a high-ankle sprain .
Shanahan said the 49ers aren ’ t certain of the severity or specific nature of Alexander ’ s ankle injury , but indicated the team could discuss a possible injured reserve placement if he is indeed diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain .
Aside from Sherman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Waun Williams ( knee sprain ) , Dontae Johnson ( groin injury ) and Emmanuel Moseley ( concussion ) on Sunday against the Dolphins .
Oft-injured veteran Jason Verrett started on one side of the field and the 49ers elevated Brian Allen from the practice squad to start opposite of him .
Allen had one of the worst performances of any 49ers defender in recent memory , giving up a 47-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage , allowing four other catches and also committing two pass interference penalties .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ fifth series and replaced him with former third-round draft pick Ahkello Witherspoon , who Shanahan said was only dressed to play in an emergency .
Witherspoon was coming off of a hamstring injury and appeared ineffective at practices during the week , so Shanahan said the 49ers felt compelled to promote Allen from the practice squad and also leave Ken Webster ahead of Witherspoon on the depth chart .
With Allen completely unreliable and Webster dealing with a tight hamstring in the second quarter , Witherspoon talked his way into the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I know I was expecting ( Witherspoon ) to go that week and I think he was too , but it didn ’ t look that way at all in practice , ” Shanahan said .
“ When I talked to him , the way he described it , how tight he felt , that ’ s what he said .
I never question guys what they tell me when you ask them , they speak what is in their heart.
” Shanahan said the 49ers decided on Thursday evening that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squad and start against Miami and added that he was “ glad ” Witherspoon spoke up and said he would be able to play when the defense began to struggle on Sunday .
The Los Angeles Rams present another challenging test for the 49ers on Sunday and with Sherman likely out , Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will spend the rest of the week determining who can play and how effective they might be .

After a horrendous day for the 49ers’ pass defense in a blowout 43-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins, the unit was ready to turn the page and welcome veteran leader Richard Sherman back from the injured reserve list.
The next page only contains more bad news.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday that Sherman has had “setbacks” while recovering from a calf injury he suffered in Week 1 against the Cardinals and the 49ers are no longer counting on him to play on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.
A defense that allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins to rack up 342 yards and three touchdowns through the air needs Sherman more than ever, but he’s not likely to see the field.
“Sherm we were hoping to get him back this week, had some setbacks last week, the healing hasn’t gone the way we’re hoping for so I know we’re going to try a few different procedures on him this week, but we’re not counting on him,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers’ head coach said the procedures were not surgical, but did not provide a timeline for when the corner might be available again. It’s possible Sherman could have more high-profile company on injured reserve too, as linebacker Kwon Alexander has an ankle injury that could be a high-ankle sprain.
Shanahan said the 49ers aren’t certain of the severity or specific nature of Alexander’s ankle injury, but indicated the team could discuss a possible injured reserve placement if he is indeed diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain.
Aside from Sherman, the 49ers were also missing cornerbacks K’Waun Williams (knee sprain), Dontae Johnson (groin injury) and Emmanuel Moseley (concussion) on Sunday against the Dolphins. Oft-injured veteran Jason Verrett started on one side of the field and the 49ers elevated Brian Allen from the practice squad to start opposite of him.
Allen had one of the worst performances of any 49ers defender in recent memory, giving up a 47-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage, allowing four other catches and also committing two pass interference penalties. The 49ers finally removed Allen on the Dolphins’ fifth series and replaced him with former third-round draft pick Ahkello Witherspoon, who Shanahan said was only dressed to play in an emergency.
Witherspoon was coming off of a hamstring injury and appeared ineffective at practices during the week, so Shanahan said the 49ers felt compelled to promote Allen from the practice squad and also leave Ken Webster ahead of Witherspoon on the depth chart.
With Allen completely unreliable and Webster dealing with a tight hamstring in the second quarter, Witherspoon talked his way into the game and convinced Shanahan to let him play.
“I know I was expecting (Witherspoon) to go that week and I think he was too, but it didn’t look that way at all in practice,” Shanahan said. “When I talked to him, the way he described it, how tight he felt, that’s what he said. I never question guys what they tell me when you ask them, they speak what is in their heart.”
Shanahan said the 49ers decided on Thursday evening that Allen would come up from the practice squad and start against Miami and added that he was “glad” Witherspoon spoke up and said he would be able to play when the defense began to struggle on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Rams present another challenging test for the 49ers on Sunday and with Sherman likely out, Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will spend the rest of the week determining who can play and how effective they might be.


mercurynews--2020-10-12--Billy Beane could leave Athletics, baseball behind for Fenway financial gig, per report

Trailblazing Oakland A ’ s executive Billy Beane could leave the organization if his RedBall Acquisition Corp. , a special-purpose acquisition company , completes a successful merger with John Henry ’ s Fenway Sports Group , the Wall Street Journal reports .
Because Fenway Sports Group is the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox , MLB could deem the merger a conflict of interest for Beane .
The Journal specified that Beane would not take a job heading up the Red Sox front office , instead focusing on the company ’ s potential for acquiring additional soccer clubs beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ champion owned by Fenway .
The A ’ s have not responded for comment on the report .
Beane has long been interested in European club soccer , and this could be his opportunity to increase his involvement in that world beyond his current minority ownership stakes with England ’ s Barnsley Football Club and the Netherlands ’ AZ Alkmaar .
The A ’ s will be under financial duress after a season without fans in the stands , impacted by the coronavirus pandemic .
Because of the financial hit , A ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of the team ’ s employees , including scouts , and cut off stipends for its minor league players .
Though Fisher reversed course , his decision didn ’ t sit well with the front office .
The team ’ s already cost-effective payroll could be further impacted by the pandemic .
Beane has been with the A ’ s since 1989 , when he joined the team as a free-agent outfielder .
• Bob Melvin reflects on ALDS loss to Astros : ‘ We ran into a buzzsaw ’ • Billy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A ’ s • Five Oakland A ’ s free agents who fit the San Francisco Giants needs for 2021 He became a scout in 1990 for the A ’ s and learned at the foot of then-general manager Sandy Alderson , who had become interested in identifying undervalued players through deeper study of analytics .
After the 1997 season , Beane succeeded Alderson as the Athletics ’ GM and furthered his practice on a shoestring budget by MLB standards , popularized as “ Moneyball.
” Henry courted Beane after the 2002 season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beane a $ 12.5 million deal to leave Oakland for Boston and become the highest paid general manager in baseball .
But Beane decided to stay with the A ’ s .
In 2015 , Beane was promoted to his current position as the A ’ s executive vice president of baseball , making David Forst the team ’ s general manager under his management and the natural successor if Beane were to leave .

Trailblazing Oakland A’s executive Billy Beane could leave the organization if his RedBall Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company, completes a successful merger with John Henry’s Fenway Sports Group, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Because Fenway Sports Group is the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, MLB could deem the merger a conflict of interest for Beane.
The Journal specified that Beane would not take a job heading up the Red Sox front office, instead focusing on the company’s potential for acquiring additional soccer clubs beyond Liverpool, the current English Premier League champion owned by Fenway.
The A’s have not responded for comment on the report.
Beane has long been interested in European club soccer, and this could be his opportunity to increase his involvement in that world beyond his current minority ownership stakes with England’s Barnsley Football Club and the Netherlands’ AZ Alkmaar.
The A’s will be under financial duress after a season without fans in the stands, impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the financial hit, A’s owner John Fisher decided to furlough most of the team’s employees, including scouts, and cut off stipends for its minor league players. Though Fisher reversed course, his decision didn’t sit well with the front office. The team’s already cost-effective payroll could be further impacted by the pandemic.
Beane has been with the A’s since 1989, when he joined the team as a free-agent outfielder.
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A’s suffer historic ninth-inning collapse while getting swept in Washington Oakland Athletics | A’s fall again as Nationals win on Ruiz’s walkoff home run He became a scout in 1990 for the A’s and learned at the foot of then-general manager Sandy Alderson, who had become interested in identifying undervalued players through deeper study of analytics.
After the 1997 season, Beane succeeded Alderson as the Athletics’ GM and furthered his practice on a shoestring budget by MLB standards, popularized as “Moneyball.”
Henry courted Beane after the 2002 season, when the Red Sox owner offered Beane a $12.5 million deal to leave Oakland for Boston and become the highest paid general manager in baseball. But Beane decided to stay with the A’s. In 2015, Beane was promoted to his current position as the A’s executive vice president of baseball, making David Forst the team’s general manager under his management and the natural successor if Beane were to leave.


mercurynews--2020-10-12--Minnesota 2,350-pounder wins Half Moon Bay pumpkin honors

A college horticulture teacher from Anoka , Minnesota , who drove 35 hours to transport his gargantuan gourd to the @ @ @ @ @ World Championship Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Monday .
Travis Gienger ’ s pride @ @ @ @ @ during this pandemic period , tipped the scales at 2,350 pounds , the second-heaviest pumpkin @ @ @ @ @ 47-year contest .
For his efforts , Gienger won $ 16,450 , or $ 7 @ @ @ @ @ rights .
Oregon grower Steve Daletas took second place with a 2,174-pound pumpkin , and @ @ @ @ @ several spots .
Jose Ceja came in third with his 1,975-pounder .
Leonardo Urena , @ @ @ @ @ year , placed fourth with a 1,940-pounder .
The Half Moon Bay record is held @ @ @ @ @ who won the 2017 contest with a 2,363-pound pumpkin .
But , organizers say , @ @ @ @ @ is the heaviest pumpkin grown in North America this year .

It’s a pageant where only poundage matters.
A college horticulture teacher from Anoka, Minnesota, who drove 35 hours to transport his gargantuan gourd to the Bay Area won the annual World Championship Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Monday.
Travis Gienger’s pride and joy, carefully tended during this pandemic period, tipped the scales at 2,350 pounds, the second-heaviest pumpkin in the history of the 47-year contest.
For his efforts, Gienger won $16,450, or $7 per pound — and bragging rights.
Oregon grower Steve Daletas took second place with a 2,174-pound pumpkin, and Napa growers took the next several spots. Jose Ceja came in third with his 1,975-pounder. Leonardo Urena, who took top honors last year, placed fourth with a 1,940-pounder.
The Half Moon Bay record is held by grower Joel Holland, who won the 2017 contest with a 2,363-pound pumpkin. But, organizers say, Gienger’s Minnesota entry is the heaviest pumpkin grown in North America this year.


mercurynews--2020-10-12--After pulling Garoppolo in blowout loss, Shanahan ‘hopeful’ 49ers’ quarterback will start this week

With his quarterback unable to move in the pocket and unable to keep his team competitive , San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan replaced Jimmy Garoppolo at halftime of Sunday ’ s 43-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins .
Garoppolo was immobile and ineffective in a disastrous return from a high-ankle sprain as he completed 7-of-17 passes for 77 yards and tossed two interceptions before Shanahan replaced him with backup C.J .
Beathard .
The 49ers don ’ t have a quarterback controversy , but Shanahan can ’ t yet commit to naming Garoppolo the starter for a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles Rams .
The 49ers ’ signal-caller must first demonstrate he ’ s healthy at practice this week , which may not be easy for a player who was clearly feeling the effects of a high-ankle sprain that forced him to miss the previous two games .
“ I know he ’ s sore from the first half .
I think his ankle is a little bit sore and his body a little bit from some of the hits that he had , but nothing that made it worse , ” Shanahan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you expect it after a game .
Nothing too bad happened , and we got him out of there before that did.
” Shanahan said one of the primary reasons he pulled Garoppolo was the massive 23-point halftime deficit the 49ers faced .
With the offense needing to pass to have a chance at erasing Miami ’ s lead , the 49ers didn ’ t want Garoppolo playing on an injured ankle behind an offensive line that ’ s been an obvious weakness for the team this season .
“ We ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I expect him to be at least the same and if not better , ” Shanahan said .
“ Hopefully we can get a week of that Wednesday , Thursday , Friday and hopefully we get him out there Sunday night.
” Shanahan didn ’ t analyze Beathard ’ s performance during a Monday press conference and did not divulge any details on how the 49ers would proceed if Garoppolo is unable to play , but did say he wants to prioritize the run game moving forward .
The 49ers averaged 6.9 yards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dolphins , but early turnovers and a horrendous performance against Miami ’ s offense forced Shanahan ’ s offense to play from behind throughout the day .

With his quarterback unable to move in the pocket and unable to keep his team competitive, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan replaced Jimmy Garoppolo at halftime of Sunday’s 43-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Garoppolo was immobile and ineffective in a disastrous return from a high-ankle sprain as he completed 7-of-17 passes for 77 yards and tossed two interceptions before Shanahan replaced him with backup C.J. Beathard.
The 49ers don’t have a quarterback controversy, but Shanahan can’t yet commit to naming Garoppolo the starter for a “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers’ signal-caller must first demonstrate he’s healthy at practice this week, which may not be easy for a player who was clearly feeling the effects of a high-ankle sprain that forced him to miss the previous two games.
“I know he’s sore from the first half. I think his ankle is a little bit sore and his body a little bit from some of the hits that he had, but nothing that made it worse,” Shanahan said Sunday. “It was like you expect it after a game. Nothing too bad happened, and we got him out of there before that did.”
Shanahan said one of the primary reasons he pulled Garoppolo was the massive 23-point halftime deficit the 49ers faced. With the offense needing to pass to have a chance at erasing Miami’s lead, the 49ers didn’t want Garoppolo playing on an injured ankle behind an offensive line that’s been an obvious weakness for the team this season.
“We’ll see how he is on Wednesday, I expect him to be at least the same and if not better,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully we can get a week of that Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and hopefully we get him out there Sunday night.”
Shanahan didn’t analyze Beathard’s performance during a Monday press conference and did not divulge any details on how the 49ers would proceed if Garoppolo is unable to play, but did say he wants to prioritize the run game moving forward. The 49ers averaged 6.9 yards per carry on 19 attempts against the Dolphins, but early turnovers and a horrendous performance against Miami’s offense forced Shanahan’s offense to play from behind throughout the day.


mercurynews--2020-10-12--San Jose State football team is passing COVID-19 test in Humboldt County

San Jose State ’ s football team has not had a positive test for COVID-19 while practicing at Humboldt State University for the past 10 days , school officials said .
The Spartans ’ contingent of 141 players , coaches and staff were scheduled to get tested Monday , its third test since arriving in Arcata on Oct. 2 , a San Jose State athletics department spokesman said .
The team ’ s previous tests in Humboldt took place last Monday and Wednesday , the spokesman added .
San Jose State is using a PCR ( polymerase chain reaction ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spartans .
The PCR method is considered a reliable test that the California Department of Public Health requires in its return-to-play guidelines for collegiate athletics .
The rapid antigen test used by the Pac-12 Conference produces quicker results but also has false-negative results about 50 percent of the time , according to medical literature .
State guidelines say antigen tests , which detect the presence of viral proteins , are not a replacement for PCR .
A Humboldt County public health spokeswoman said her office had requested the use of PCR molecular testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team .
The Spartans relocated 320 miles to Arcata because they do not have the approval to conduct contact drills in Santa Clara County , which has restricted activities this year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic .
School officials estimated the cost of the move to be between $ 100,000 and $ 150,000 , depending on how long they stay .
The situation could change this week .
Santa Clara County is expected to move into the “ orange ” grouping of California ’ s four-tier system that determines the risk level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move from the more strict “ red ” level could happen as soon as Tuesday .
Theoretically , San Jose State — and its intra-county neighbor Stanford — would have a better chance to get approval to return to on-campus practice once the county enters the orange tier .
A San Jose State spokesman said school officials have been preparing a plan that would fall in line with the county ’ s latest directive .
The San Francisco 49ers and San Jose Earthquakes gained approval to play after working with county public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Spartans , who open the 2020 season Oct. 24 against Air Force , probably would return to San Jose as quickly as possible once on-campus practice is approved , school officials said .
Stanford , which is practicing at Woodside High School in San Mateo County , opens the season Nov. 7 at Oregon and then plays host to Colorado a week later .
According to the Humboldt State news release , the Spartans are staying in dormitories that have been unused this semester .
The residences are separate from those used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fall , the school said .
• What it is costing San Jose State football to practice at Humboldt State • San Jose State moved to Humboldt State campus because it needed to practice , coach says Humboldt State has employed a hybrid model used by the 23-campus California State University system .
It involves a mix of virtual classes with face-to-face attendance for science laboratories and other essential instruction .
About 1,200 students out of a total enrollment of 6,431 are expected to attend fall classes on campus , a Humboldt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is closed to the general public .

San Jose State’s football team has not had a positive test for COVID-19 while practicing at Humboldt State University for the past 10 days, school officials said.
The Spartans’ contingent of 141 players, coaches and staff were scheduled to get tested Monday, its third test since arriving in Arcata on Oct. 2, a San Jose State athletics department spokesman said.
The team’s previous tests in Humboldt took place last Monday and Wednesday, the spokesman added. San Jose State is using a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to track the health of the Spartans.
The PCR method is considered a reliable test that the California Department of Public Health requires in its return-to-play guidelines for collegiate athletics.
The rapid antigen test used by the Pac-12 Conference produces quicker results but also has false-negative results about 50 percent of the time, according to medical literature. State guidelines say antigen tests, which detect the presence of viral proteins, are not a replacement for PCR.
A Humboldt County public health spokeswoman said her office had requested the use of PCR molecular testing to monitor the San Jose State football team.
The Spartans relocated 320 miles to Arcata because they do not have the approval to conduct contact drills in Santa Clara County, which has restricted activities this year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. School officials estimated the cost of the move to be between $100,000 and $150,000, depending on how long they stay.
The situation could change this week. Santa Clara County is expected to move into the “orange” grouping of California’s four-tier system that determines the risk level and what activities are permitted. The move from the more strict “red” level could happen as soon as Tuesday.
Theoretically, San Jose State — and its intra-county neighbor Stanford — would have a better chance to get approval to return to on-campus practice once the county enters the orange tier. A San Jose State spokesman said school officials have been preparing a plan that would fall in line with the county’s latest directive.
The San Francisco 49ers and San Jose Earthquakes gained approval to play after working with county public health officials for months over the summer.
The Spartans, who open the 2020 season Oct. 24 against Air Force, probably would return to San Jose as quickly as possible once on-campus practice is approved, school officials said.
Stanford, which is practicing at Woodside High School in San Mateo County, opens the season Nov. 7 at Oregon and then plays host to Colorado a week later.
According to the Humboldt State news release, the Spartans are staying in dormitories that have been unused this semester. The residences are separate from those used by the 771 students living on campus this fall, the school said.
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About 1,200 students out of a total enrollment of 6,431 are expected to attend fall classes on campus, a Humboldt State spokesman said Monday.
The campus is closed to the general public.


mercurynews--2020-10-13--Police: Man upset about Chiefs’ loss to Raiders pointed a gun before fight

KANSAS CITY , Kan. — A Kansas City Chief ’ s fan who was upset about the team ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Raiders pointed a gun at a victim in a neighborhood about 10 miles ( 16.09 @ @ @ @ @ Stadium , authorities say .
Police in Kansas City , Kansas , said in a @ @ @ @ @ disturbance call around 5 p.m. Sunday , after the game ended .
A victim and @ @ @ @ @ a person , upset over the result of the Chiefs ’ 40-32 loss to the @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A physical fight then ensued as one of the witnesses attempted to disarm @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The suspect then fled the scene.
” Police recovered the gun on @ @ @ @ @ .
The release didn ’ t indicate what sparked the fight , and a police @ @ @ @ @ respond to a text message .

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A Kansas City Chief’s fan who was upset about the team’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders pointed a gun at a victim in a neighborhood about 10 miles (16.09 kilometers) away from Arrowhead Stadium, authorities say.
Police in Kansas City, Kansas, said in a tweet that officers responded to disturbance call around 5 p.m. Sunday, after the game ended. A victim and witnesses then told officers that a person, upset over the result of the Chiefs’ 40-32 loss to the Raiders, pointed a gun.
“A physical fight then ensued as one of the witnesses attempted to disarm the suspect,” police said. “The suspect then fled the scene.”
Police recovered the gun on the scene and notified detectives. The release didn’t indicate what sparked the fight, and a police spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a text message.