newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Gov. Cuomo talks coronavirus strategy, ‘cynical’ New Yorkers on ‘The Daily Show’

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Governor Cuomo on Wednesday night revealed his strategy for convincing “ cynical ” New Yorkers to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic — laying out all the facts , however grim , at his daily press briefings .
The governor explained on “ The Daily Show ” that his open-book style that has made his daily briefings must-see TV is crucial to getting New Yorkers to buy into the state ’ s strict mitigation efforts .
“ If New Yorkers had said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing it , ’ — and New Yorkers are a defiant bunch — I would have been powerless , ” Cuomo told host Trevor Noah .
“ I can ’ t enforce a stay-at-home order for 19 million people .
“ And they are smart and they are cynical .
If they don ’ t believe you or you haven ’ t made your argument , or you haven ’ t laid out the facts , they ’ re not going to do it.
” Because of this temperament , Cuomo has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll projections — to help execute his public policy .
“ The ability to have a plan was purely dependent on New Yorkers buying in , ” Cuomo said .
“ I am not there to filter , I am not there to manipulate .
Here ’ s the situation , here are the facts , I ’ m going to tell you everything I know , ” he said , adding there ’ s “ no sugarcoating it.
” The governor on March 20 ordered sweeping measures that shut down all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-solitary outdoor activities .
The mitigation efforts — dubbed “ New York State on Pause ” — went into effect on March 22 and are still ongoing .
New York has seen over 257,000 coronavirus cases , as of Wednesday , with 15,302 deaths from the disease .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday night revealed his strategy for convincing “cynical” New Yorkers to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic — laying out all the facts, however grim, at his daily press briefings.
The governor explained on “The Daily Show” that his open-book style that has made his daily briefings must-see TV is crucial to getting New Yorkers to buy into the state’s strict mitigation efforts.
“If New Yorkers had said, ‘No, I’m not doing it’ — and New Yorkers are a defiant bunch — I would have been powerless,” Cuomo told host Trevor Noah. “I can’t enforce a stay-at-home order for 19 million people.
“And they are smart and they are cynical. If they don’t believe you or you haven’t made your argument, or you haven’t laid out the facts, they’re not going to do it.”
Because of this temperament, Cuomo has been transparent — sharing things like jarring coronavirus death toll projections — to help execute his public policy.
“The ability to have a plan was purely dependent on New Yorkers buying in,” Cuomo said.
“I am not there to filter, I am not there to manipulate. Here’s the situation, here are the facts, I’m going to tell you everything I know,” he said, adding there’s “no sugarcoating it.”
The governor on March 20 ordered sweeping measures that shut down all non-essential business across the state and banned non-solitary outdoor activities.
The mitigation efforts — dubbed “New York State on Pause” — went into effect on March 22 and are still ongoing.
New York has seen over 257,000 coronavirus cases, as of Wednesday, with 15,302 deaths from the disease.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Saints cancel offseason program due to coronavirus pandemic

Sean Payton said he was “ cleared ” Tuesday , eight days after ...

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NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints have canceled their offseason program because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and informed players they will not be required to report to club headquarters until training camp — whenever that may be.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said coach Sean Payton informed players of the decision on Wednesday, adding that the club will remain in regular communication with players between now and the opening of training camp.
“We’re going to have some things that we talk to them about,” Loomis said, adding that Payton’s message to players was essentially, “Pay attention to your family. Pay attention to keeping yourself and your family safe. Abide by the orders of each of the states that you’re in. We’ll handle the rest of it. Get yourself in shape and then when we’re able to get together we’ll move on and have a great training camp and a great season.”
The Saints decision comes as leaders in some states have begun to relax, or discuss relaxing, stay-at-home orders that have caused widespread economic hardship Louisiana, with a population of about 4.65 million, has seen the coronavirus take a relatively high toll in the state.
Louisiana’s Department of Health reported Wednesday there were more than 25,000 coronavirus cases in the state, with 1,473 people having died from the virus. However, Louisiana also has begin seeing a gradual drop in hospitalizations..
Loomis said the team still would conduct various meetings with players online, but would not use “virtual” drills to conduct anything that would require physical exertion.
“We’ll have some stuff that guys will participate in,” Loomis said. “We’re not going to be doing virtual workouts and things like that. We want to make sure guys are focused on their families and safety. Look, we have a lot of guys we have great faith and trust in in terms of being in shape when we do get going in training camp.”
While the Saints’ decision means fewer opportunities to run or walk through plays being installed for the coming season, and fewer chances for teammates to work on communication and chemistry on the field, New Orleans could be as well-equipped to adjust as any team.
Payton has been the coach and his offensive system has been in place since 2006. Dennis Allen has served as defensive coordinator since he replace Rob Ryan during the 2015 season. The Saints’ past three playoff teams also have most regulars coming back, led by 41-year-old quarterback Drew Brees, entering his 15th season with the club.
“It is a bit of an advantage if you have the same coaching staff, you haven’t had a lot of changes on your coaching staff, you have a core group of players that are the same and a system that we’ve had here for 14 years,” Loomis said. “I probably would feel a little differently if we did have a lot of changes on our roster and our coaching staff, but we’re fortunate that we don’t.”
Loomis likened this offseason to that of 2011, when strife between the league and player’s union led to a lockout that wiped out all teams’ offseason programs before it was resolved in time for training camp.
“We able to hit the ground running at the end of that period,” Loomis said, alluding to numerous NFL offensive records set that season and a 13-3 regular season record that ties for the best in franchise history.
What remains in question is when training camp will start.
“We don’t know what the future holds. We’re going to plan as if we’re going to have our normal training camp but we don’t know.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Joe Burrow glued to phone and couch is first taste of virtual NFL Draft 2020

There was Roger Goodell , there were boos and there was Joe Burrow glued to his phone before the pick was announced .
But when Goodell announced Burrow to the Bengals with the No .
1 pick Thursday night , the camera switched to the LSU quarterback on his couch at home .
There was no reaction because Burrow , who had traded the typical suit and tie for what appeared to be sweatpants and sneakers , had headphones on and appeared to be already FaceTiming with his new bosses in Cincinnati .
And so the virtual NFL Draft of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes with being drafted — walking across the stage for a handshake , hug and jersey pose with Goodell — was missing as top prospects were spread across the country instead of being in Las Vegas as planned , because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The camera later came back to Burrow , who had put on a Bengals hat and stood up to hug his parents .
Minutes after that , Burrow joined the broadcast for an interview with ESPN ’ s Suzy Kolber .
From the comfort of his home in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from where he will soon play professional football — Burrow sat between his parents on a couch , a much more comfortable-looking scene than the typical on-scene green room , if not still anxious .
Before the pick , ESPN showed feeds inside the homes of Bengals fans , some of whom were already wearing Burrow jerseys .

There was Roger Goodell, there were boos and there was Joe Burrow glued to his phone before the pick was announced.
But when Goodell announced Burrow to the Bengals with the No. 1 pick Thursday night, the camera switched to the LSU quarterback on his couch at home. There was no reaction because Burrow, who had traded the typical suit and tie for what appeared to be sweatpants and sneakers, had headphones on and appeared to be already FaceTiming with his new bosses in Cincinnati.
And so the virtual NFL Draft of 2020 began.
The typical fanfare that comes with being drafted — walking across the stage for a handshake, hug and jersey pose with Goodell — was missing as top prospects were spread across the country instead of being in Las Vegas as planned, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The camera later came back to Burrow, who had put on a Bengals hat and stood up to hug his parents. Minutes after that, Burrow joined the broadcast for an interview with ESPN’s Suzy Kolber.
From the comfort of his home in Athens, Ohio — about 156 miles from where he will soon play professional football — Burrow sat between his parents on a couch, a much more comfortable-looking scene than the typical on-scene green room, if not still anxious.
Before the pick, ESPN showed feeds inside the homes of Bengals fans, some of whom were already wearing Burrow jerseys.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Giants select Andrew Thomas with No. 4 pick in NFL Draft

The Giants finally made the investment they needed to make and just like that , the football lives of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley are greatly enhanced and , just maybe , a whole lot more pleasant and productive .
In an unprecedented all-remote NFL Draft 2020 , the Giants got back to the basics Thursday night , using the No .
4 overall pick to select Andrew Thomas , a left tackle from Georgia .
Isaiah Simmons , the do-everything Clemson linebacker , was on the board but the Giants opted to address their defensive needs later in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top-rated offensive lineman .
By taking Thomas , 22 , GM Dave Gettleman passes on the other top tackles , Jedrick Wills , Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becson .
There was oh-so-much talk about the depressing state of the Giants ’ offensive line , a unit that was front-and-center in the failures of a franchise that lost an NFL-high 36 games the past three years .
When Gettleman took over two years ago as general manager , he vowed to “ fix ’ ’ the offensive line .
Two years later , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In his first two drafts running the show for the Giants , Gettleman took Barkley , a running back , and Jones , a quarterback , with his first-round picks and watched as the Giants won a total of nine games the past two seasons .
With the addition of Thomas , perhaps the holes will open more widely for Barkley and the pocket will stay clean longer for Jones .

Finally.
The Giants finally made the investment they needed to make and just like that, the football lives of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley are greatly enhanced and, just maybe, a whole lot more pleasant and productive.
In an unprecedented all-remote 2020 NFL Draft, the Giants got back to the basics Thursday night, using the No. 4-overall pick to select Andrew Thomas, a physically desirable and technically strong left tackle from Georgia.
“I’ve always kind of gotten a chuckle out of people saying, ‘You draft a quarterback, you got to get him weapons,’ ’’ general manager Dave Gettleman said. “No, you don’t draft a quarterback and then get weapons. Once you draft a quarterback you get guys in front of him who will keep him upright.
“This is an important piece for us in Daniel’s development, and Saquon as well. Don’t forget the running part of it. And he is a hell of a run blocker.’’
Isaiah Simmons, the do-everything Clemson linebacker, was on the board but the Giants were unwilling to pass on their top-rated offensive lineman. By taking Thomas, they passed on the other top tackles, Jedrick Wills, Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton.
“All of ‘em got great traits, they’re all going to be tremendous pros,’’ head coach Joe Judge said, “but we did what was best for the Giants.”
Gettleman was more than willing to trade down a few spots in order to gain additional draft picks, though he was unwilling to drop too far and lose out on one of his top-rated tackles. Nothing materialized.
“We had conversations but everyone was touchy-feely, yes, maybe, no. There were no firm offers anywhere,’’ Gettleman said. “There was nothing that made me look at [co-owner] John Mara and Joe and say, ‘Let’s trade back and let’s get some more picks.’ There really wasn’t much there.’’
There was oh-so-much talk about the depressing state of the Giants offensive line, a unit that was front-and-center in the failures of a franchise that lost an NFL-high 36 games the past three years. When Gettleman took over two years ago as general manager, he vowed to “fix’’ the offensive line. Two years later, he finally made good on that promise.
Gettleman in his first two drafts running the show for the Giants took Barkley, a running back, and Jones, a quarterback, with his first-round picks and watched as the Giants won a total of nine games the past two seasons. With the addition of Thomas, perhaps the holes will open more widely for Barkley and the pocket will stay clean longer for Jones.
“I’ll do my best to help protect the quarterback and open up lanes,’’ Thomas said, wearing a Giants hat at his Georgia home. “It’s a blessing to be able to play with guys as talented as they are.”
• Giants’ NFL Draft tracker: Live round-by-round picks and analysis
Thomas is widely considered the most “pro-ready’’ player to move into an immediate starting role as a left tackle. He has the prototype long arms and length. Thomas started 15 games as a freshman at right tackle and started the past two years at Georgia on the left side. He is considered to be an outstanding run blocker and allowed only one sack this past season.
Judge said Thomas will begin his NFL career working on both the left and right side. With expensive and underperforming Nate Solder returning, Thomas can slip in immediately at right tackle and, if necessary, transition over to the left side in 2021 if Solder does not return. Or else, the Giants could move Solder to right tackle and start Thomas at left tackle, although moving Solder, entering his 10th NFL season, to an unfamiliar spot is probably not wise.
“Everyone’s going to come in Day 1 and compete and as they shake out, whoever demonstrates being the starter at whatever position, that’s where they’ll fall,’’ Judge said. “No preconceived notion. This is not a finish line for [Thomas], this is a starting point.’’
The Redskins with the No. 2-overall pick took defensive end Chase Young. Two picks later, the Giants selected a player tasked with blocking him. The Giants were impressed with how effectively Thomas was able to deal with the top pass-rushers in the talent-laden Southeastern Conference.
Thomas, sounding calm and low-key, said it meant something to him to be the first tackle taken.
“Definitely,’’ he said. “I work hard every day to be the best. I don’t understand why you play this game if you don’t want to be the best.’’


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Tip from Ashton Kutcher led to Iowa’s coronavirus testing deal

IOWA CITY , Iowa — Iowa ’ s governor said the state ’ s $ 26 million contract to increase coronavirus testing was reached after she acted on a tip from actor Ashton Kutcher , a revelation that increased skepticism about the no-bid deal .
Critics of Gov .
Kim Reynolds said they were puzzled by the celebrity ’ s cameo in Iowa ’ s outbreak response , particularly when the state has been slow to tap some of its own experts .
Reynolds , a Republican , said she recently called Kutcher , an Iowa native , to ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging residents to stay home .
Kutcher asked whether she ’ d heard about TestUtah , a public-private partnership recently launched to increase testing , Reynolds said .
The actor told her “ it looked very promising and it looked like other states should potentially take a look , ” the governor recalled .
Kutcher , a tech investor , volunteered that he had a friend working for one of the TestUtah contractors and offered to arrange a meeting .
Reynolds said she spoke with Kutcher ’ s associate and her aides soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gary Herbert .
“ We were able to start that conversation and ramp it up relatively quickly , ” Reynolds said .
Last week , Iowa signed a $ 26 million contract with Nomi Health , a virtually unknown Utah startup that says it ’ s developing a “ modern payment system for healthcare.
” Under the contract , Nomi Health will supply 540,000 coronavirus tests to Iowa over the next six months .
Its partners include Utah-based Co-Diagnostics , which recently received federal approval to sell COVID-19 testing kits , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies will also run the TestIowa website where residents take voluntary assessments to determine whether they qualify for testing and set up testing appointments .
Kutcher , a venture capitalist , is not an investor in the firms , his publicist said .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear which Kutcher friend was involved .
But he has ties to Qualtrics CEO Ryan Smith , whose company is providing Iowa ’ s online assessment tool and has previously worked with the state .
In a Qualtrics news release , Reynolds said the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping Iowa monitor the virus and determine where to put testing sites .
Smith called the deal “ an example of the way we all need to come together to fight this virus.
” Reynolds launched a # TestIowaChallenge campaign on Twitter urging residents to complete the assessments , which ask for personal health and contact information .
The governor challenged Kutcher , who recorded a promotional video .
More than 80,000 people completed assessments in the first 24 hours .
The contract requires Nomi Health to safeguard the confidential assessment data and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program is over .
The program aims to roughly triple Iowa ’ s testing capacity by adding 3,000 tests per day , which will be conducted at mobile sites around the state .
The first testing will begin Saturday in Des Moines .
Reynolds revealed Kutcher ’ s role when asked why she didn ’ t consider Iowa-based institutions or companies for the contract .
Minnesota is partnering with the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic for statewide testing .
The governor said the deal “ has an Iowa touch.
” Kutcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from high school in Tiffin and became a model while attending the University of Iowa .
He hit it big on “ That ’ 70s Show ” before starring in movies such as “ Valentine ’ s Day ” and “ No Strings Attached.
” Critics questioned why the governor took input from Kutcher but doesn ’ t appear to have consulted top Iowa experts on the testing contract .
“ Mr .
Kutcher seems like a great guy but not sure what public health expertise he brings for advising our pandemic response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has faulted the governor for failing to protect workers during the pandemic .
“ But if he ’ s available , maybe he can go inspect the meatpacking plants.
” The state reported Thursday that Iowa ’ s coronavirus death toll has risen by six to 96 and that 282 infected residents were hospitalized .
Half of the dead are residents of long-term care facilities , Reynolds said .

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa’s governor said the state’s $26 million contract to increase coronavirus testing was reached after she acted on a tip from actor Ashton Kutcher, a revelation that increased skepticism about the no-bid deal.
Critics of Gov. Kim Reynolds said they were puzzled by the celebrity’s cameo in Iowa’s outbreak response, particularly when the state has been slow to tap some of its own experts.
Reynolds, a Republican, said she recently called Kutcher, an Iowa native, to ask him to record a public service announcement urging residents to stay home.
Kutcher asked whether she’d heard about TestUtah, a public-private partnership recently launched to increase testing, Reynolds said. The actor told her “it looked very promising and it looked like other states should potentially take a look,” the governor recalled.
Kutcher, a tech investor, volunteered that he had a friend working for one of the TestUtah contractors and offered to arrange a meeting. Reynolds said she spoke with Kutcher’s associate and her aides soon connected with the office of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.
“We were able to start that conversation and ramp it up relatively quickly,” Reynolds said.
Last week, Iowa signed a $26 million contract with Nomi Health, a virtually unknown Utah startup that says it’s developing a “modern payment system for healthcare.”
Under the contract, Nomi Health will supply 540,000 coronavirus tests to Iowa over the next six months. Its partners include Utah-based Co-Diagnostics, which recently received federal approval to sell COVID-19 testing kits, and tech firms Qualtrics and Domo.
The companies will also run the TestIowa website where residents take voluntary assessments to determine whether they qualify for testing and set up testing appointments.
Kutcher, a venture capitalist, is not an investor in the firms, his publicist said.
It wasn’t immediately clear which Kutcher friend was involved. But he has ties to Qualtrics CEO Ryan Smith, whose company is providing Iowa’s online assessment tool and has previously worked with the state.
In a Qualtrics news release, Reynolds said the company’s product will save lives by helping Iowa monitor the virus and determine where to put testing sites. Smith called the deal “an example of the way we all need to come together to fight this virus.”
Reynolds launched a #TestIowaChallenge campaign on Twitter urging residents to complete the assessments, which ask for personal health and contact information. The governor challenged Kutcher, who recorded a promotional video. More than 80,000 people completed assessments in the first 24 hours.
The contract requires Nomi Health to safeguard the confidential assessment data and either return or destroy it when the program is over.
The program aims to roughly triple Iowa’s testing capacity by adding 3,000 tests per day, which will be conducted at mobile sites around the state. The first testing will begin Saturday in Des Moines.
Reynolds revealed Kutcher’s role when asked why she didn’t consider Iowa-based institutions or companies for the contract. Minnesota is partnering with the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic for statewide testing.
The governor said the deal “has an Iowa touch.”
Kutcher grew up in Cedar Rapids, graduated from high school in Tiffin and became a model while attending the University of Iowa. He hit it big on “That ’70s Show” before starring in movies such as “Valentine’s Day” and “No Strings Attached.”
Critics questioned why the governor took input from Kutcher but doesn’t appear to have consulted top Iowa experts on the testing contract.
“Mr. Kutcher seems like a great guy but not sure what public health expertise he brings for advising our pandemic response,” said Democratic Sen. Joe Bolkcom, who has faulted the governor for failing to protect workers during the pandemic. “But if he’s available, maybe he can go inspect the meatpacking plants.”
The state reported Thursday that Iowa’s coronavirus death toll has risen by six to 96 and that 282 infected residents were hospitalized. Half of the dead are residents of long-term care facilities, Reynolds said.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Tristan Wirfs creates his own NFL Draft red carpet

Top NFL prospects couldn ’ t get to the red carpet Thursday night , so Tristan Wirfs brought the red carpet to Iowa .
The stud offensive tackle kicked off his NFL Draft night by rolling out an actual red carpet in front of his family ’ s home in Mount Vernon , Iowa , according to a video from ESPN ’ s Rich Cimini .
The video shows his mom , Sarah , walking down the carpet , and Wirfs waiting at the other end with a hug and a bouquet of flowers .
Wirfs is expected to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has established himself as one of the draft ’ s clear-cut top four offensive tackles .
He lived in a trailer park with his mom , sister and grandmother until he was in kindergarten , when they moved into the house where his mother still lives .
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit the country , prospects were set to flock to Las Vegas for the NFL Draft .
It was planned in style with draft picks being ferried to the stage , which was supposed to be on top of the famous fountains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the picks will be announced from commissioner Roger Goodell ’ s basement in Bronxville .
But Wirfs still found a way to make the night special .

Top NFL prospects couldn’t get to the red carpet Thursday night, so Tristan Wirfs brought the red carpet to Iowa.
The stud offensive tackle kicked off his NFL Draft night by rolling out an actual red carpet in front of his family’s home in Mount Vernon, Iowa, according to a video from ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The video shows his mom, Sarah, walking down the carpet, and Wirfs waiting at the other end with a hug and a bouquet of flowers.
After establishing himself as one of the draft’s clear-cut top four offensive tackles, Wirfs was selected No. 13 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming teammates with Tom Brady after the Bucs traded up one spot with the San Francisco 49ers. He lived in a trailer park with his mom, sister and grandmother until he was in kindergarten, when they moved into the house where his mother still lives.
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit the country, prospects were set to flock to Las Vegas for the NFL Draft. It was planned in style with draft picks being ferried to the stage, which was supposed to be on top of the famous fountains at the Bellagio Hotel.
Instead, the picks are being announced from commissioner Roger Goodell’s basement in Bronxville. But Wirfs still found a way to make the night special.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--How ‘Superstore’ is moving forward without star America Ferrera

Thursday night ’ s “ Superstore ” season finale left viewers with a half-cliffhanger after series star America Ferrera announced on Instagram that she was leaving the NBC sitcom — just after it was renewed for a sixth season in February .
On the two-part finale , concluding this fall , Ferrera ’ s character , Amy Sosa , accepted a job with Cloud 9 ’ s corporate parent in California , thousands of miles from the store ’ s St. Louis location .
That was expected as a way to explain Ferrera ’ s departure .
What wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cloud 9 associate Jonah ( Ben Feldman ) , offering to move with her to the West Coast .
“ We had to shut down production one week early ( due to the COVID-19 pandemic ) so we didn ’ t get to shoot what was planned as the season finale , ” says “ Superstore ” co-showrunner Jonathan Greene .
“ The farewell episode was going to give Amy and America their proper sendoffs ; we did a table read [ for the episode ] but didn ’ t get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , America agreed , and was fully on-board , for doing that as the season premiere next season .
“ You ’ ll have to tune in at the beginning of Season 6 to find out if Jonah will go with Amy to California.
” Co-showrunner Gabe Miller says the show ’ s staff was apprised “ about halfway through the season ” that Ferrera might be ( amicably ) leaving .
“ We were prepared for it to possibly happen , ” he says .
“ There were a lot of factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an actor and now as a director and executive producer of ‘ Gentefied ’ on Netflix .
She ’ s got so much going on that it wasn ’ t surprising she would want to go .
She ’ s had a lot of opportunities come her way.
” Greene says that the door is open to Ferrera perhaps returning to “ Superstore ” after her swan song .
“ There ’ s no specific plan to bring America back , but we would love to have her return from time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the great things about [ Amy ] leaving to join corporate is that she ’ ll still be in the world of the show — so that makes it easy to bring her back as needed and wanted.
” With Ferrera ’ s imminent departure , the show ’ s writers and producers are thinking of ways to retool and refine the show ’ s ensemble core cast : Lauren Ash ( no-nonsense Dina ) , Mark McKinney ( high-talker Glenn ) , Colton Dunn ( sarcastic Garrett ) , Nichole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nico Santos ( Cheyennne ’ s work bff , Mateo ) .
“ I think we ’ re looking to use some of the space and energy that went to Amy and to spread that a little more around the cast , ” says Miller .
“ We ’ ll get a little deeper into those characters and see their dynamics with each other and have them stepping up and looking out for each other .
Garrett is someone who can be the ‘ sensible ’ stand-in for viewers as he reacts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-workers ] .
Glenn has had a parental role , looking out for the staff , at times .
“ Those elements are there and maybe we ’ ll bring them out or some people will step up.
” And there is the possibility of a new cast member joining the show , Miller and Green say .
“ It ’ s something we ’ ve definitely talked about and it ’ s a natural question when a cast member leaves , ” Miller says .
“ I think there ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in.
” “ It ’ s not so much replacing Amy , ” says Greene .
“ At this point in the show ’ s run , going into a sixth season , we want to bring in new elements to shake things up for our characters .
”

Thursday night’s “Superstore” season finale left viewers with a half-cliffhanger after series star America Ferrera announced on Instagram that she was leaving the NBC sitcom — just after it was renewed for a sixth season in February.
On the two-part finale, concluding this fall, Ferrera’s character, Amy Sosa, accepted a job with Cloud 9’s corporate parent in California, thousands of miles from the store’s St. Louis location. That was expected as a way to explain Ferrera’s departure. What wasn’t expected was Amy’s boyfriend, Cloud 9 associate Jonah (Ben Feldman), offering to move with her to the West Coast.
“We had to shut down production one week early (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) so we didn’t get to shoot what was planned as the season finale,” says “Superstore” co-showrunner Jonathan Green. “The farewell episode was going to give Amy and America their proper sendoffs; we did a table read [for the episode] but didn’t get to shoot it. At the same time, America agreed, and was fully on-board, for doing that as the season premiere next season.
“You’ll have to tune in at the beginning of Season 6 to find out if Jonah will go with Amy to California.”
Co-showrunner Gabe Miller says the show’s staff was apprised “about halfway through the season” that Ferrera might be (amicably) leaving. “We were prepared for it to possibly happen,” he says. “There were a lot of factors involved; she’s so talented as an actor and now as a director and executive producer of ‘Gentefied’ on Netflix. She’s got so much going on that it wasn’t surprising she would want to go. She’s had a lot of opportunities come her way.”
Green says that the door is open to Ferrera perhaps returning to “Superstore” after her swan song. “There’s no specific plan to bring America back, but we would love to have her return from time to time,” he says. “One of the great things about [Amy] leaving to join corporate is that she’ll still be in the world of the show — so that makes it easy to bring her back as needed and wanted.”
With Ferrera’s imminent departure, the show’s writers and producers are thinking of ways to retool and refine the show’s ensemble core cast: Lauren Ash (no-nonsense Dina), Mark McKinney (high-talker Glenn), Colton Dunn (sarcastic Garrett), Nichole Bloom (wifty millennial Cheyenne) and Nico Santos (Cheyennne’s work bff, Mateo).
“I think we’re looking to use some of the space and energy that went to Amy and to spread that a little more around the cast,” says Miller. “We’ll get a little deeper into those characters and see their dynamics with each other and have them stepping up and looking out for each other. Garrett is someone who can be the ‘sensible’ stand-in for viewers as he reacts to the more crazy elements [of his co-workers]. Glenn has had a parental role, looking out for the staff, at times.
“Those elements are there and maybe we’ll bring them out or some people will step up.”
And there is the possibility of a new cast member joining the show, Miller and Green say. “It’s something we’ve definitely talked about and it’s a natural question when a cast member leaves,” Miller says. “I think there’s a reasonable chance to eventually bring someone else in.”
“It’s not so much replacing Amy,” says Green. “At this point in the show’s run, going into a sixth season, we want to bring in new elements to shake things up for our characters.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Joe Burrow selected by Bengals with No. 1 pick in NFL Draft

The Post ’ s Ryan Dunleavy will be providing a pick-by-pick analysis ...

The 2020 NFL Draft looked completely different than usual — until it came time to make the picks.
Virtual setting or not, like always, quarterbacks ruled the first round Thursday night, when the smokescreens faded away and the surprisingly smooth-running operation got underway.
The Bengals started a run on passers with the predictable selection of Joe Burrow at No. 1, followed by the Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5 and the Chargers with Justin Herbert at No. 6. It marked just the third time since the 1970 merger that three quarterbacks were among in the top six picks, joining 1971 and 1999.
But that wasn’t the end: The Packers traded up to No. 26 and took Jordan Love in an echo of the past. He will sit behind Aaron Rodgers, just like Rodgers once waited three years behind Brett Favre.
“We had a lot of confidence in who we were going to select,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said, “and there was nothing that could happen that could change our mind.”
Neither the Dolphins nor the Chargers needed to trade up to land their franchise quarterback, despite the enticement efforts of the Lions and Giants, who hoped to move down from No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. The Dolphins reportedly made multiple offers to the Bengals over the last few weeks with an eye on Burrow.
“I’m trying to prove this was the right decision,” Tagovailoa said. “What I did in college can’t translate. It’s a clean slate. I have to earn the respect in the NFL.”
There were no trades among the first 12 picks of the draft — a rarity and a sign of some of the time-crunch virtual challenges drafting under stay-at-home orders in the coronavirus pandemic.
In a scene unlike any in draft history, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced selections from the basement of his Bronxville, N.Y., home. In-home cameras captured reactions from prospects practicing social distancing with small crowds rather than celebrating at huge draft parties or shaking hands with Goodell on stage in Las Vegas.
Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, a 69-year-old cancer survivor who underwent chemotherapy two years ago, was shown wearing a mask in the home space he shared with a team IT employee. Like every GM, Gettleman conducted business around the league and with his staff of coaches and scouts through virtual meeting software.
There were no known technological failures despite pre-draft fears of hackers, power outages and other unforeseen variables. A moment of silence and Harry Connick Jr.’s rendition of the national anthem kicked off the draft, and a virtual chat room of fans, including Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, booed Goodell to keep one tradition alive.
Prioritizing quarterbacks is another.
“I know what type of leader I am,” Herbert said. “I’m genuine. I’m real. I’m myself.”
In the days leading up to the draft, there was talk the injury-prone Tagovailoa and inconsistent Herbert both could tumble out of the top 10.
The Dolphins didn’t “Tank for Tua” and the No. 1 pick — a popular saying in September — but still got the player considered the top-overall prospect before Burrow’s breakout, 60-touchdown, Heisman Trophy-winning season at LSU. With veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fold, the Dolphins could “redshirt” Tagovailoa as he regains full strength following hip surgery.
“I’m going to compete as if I’m going to be the starter,” Tagovailoa said. “That has to be the mindset.”
Burrow, who grew up in Ohio and sat the bench at Ohio State before transferring, is staying home to rescue a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season — the longest active drought in the NFL.
“As soon as the pick came in,” Burrow said, “people were outside the house honking their horns and screaming out the window.”
Herbert started 42 games at Oregon but questions emerged about his inconsistency in light of that experience and his introverted personality. Now, the Senior Bowl’s Most Valuable Player is the face of a team moving into a new stadium, moving on from 16-year quarterback Philip Rivers and trying to build excitement in the Rams’ shadow.
“If I can’t get on a flight, I’m going to drive down,” Herbert said. “I can’t wait to get back to work.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Coronavirus patients admitted to Queens nursing home — with body bags

`` They don ’ t have a right to object .
That is the ...

Gabrielle Fonrouge, Bernadette Hogan, Bruce Golding

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The first coronavirus patients admitted to a Queens nursing home under a controversial state mandate arrived along with some grim accessories — a supply of body bags, The Post has learned.
An executive at the facility — which was previously free of the deadly disease — said the bags were in the shipment of personal protective equipment received the same day the home was forced to begin treating two people discharged from hospitals with COVID-19.
“My colleague noticed that one of the boxes was extremely heavy. Curious as to what could possibly be making that particular box so much heavier than the rest, he opened it,” the exec told The Post Thursday.
“The first two coronavirus patients were accompanied by five body bags.”
Within days, three of the bags were filled with the first of 30 residents who would die there after Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Health Department handed down its March 25 directive that bars nursing homes from refusing to admit “medically stable” coronavirus patients, the exec said.
Like clockwork, the nursing home has received five body bags a week — every week — from city officials.
“Cuomo has blood on his hands. He really does. There’s no way to sugarcoat this,” the health care executive added.
“Why in the world would you be sending coronavirus patients to a nursing home, where the most vulnerable population to this disease resides?”
Since March 25, the Queens nursing home has admitted 17 patients from hospitals who tested positive for coronavirus, but in a bitter irony, most of them have fared well, the exec said. Those who have died passed away without a test or while awaiting the results from one.
“The rest of the people are dropping like flies — literally like flies — and most of them have been with us for years,” the exec added.
COVID-19 has killed at least 3,540 residents of New York’s nursing homes and adult care facilities as of Wednesday, according to the most recent state Health Department data.
The Queens story is painfully repeating at a Manhattan nursing home.
Administrators there told The Post they’ve also received body bags in weekly shipments of supplies, which City Hall confirmed the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene was distributing to nursing homes.
One of the Manhattan administrators said the state’s admission mandate came with no warning or even time to prepare facilities for an influx of coronavirus patients, who the state says must be quarantined inside nursing homes and treated by separate staffers.
“By the time I even got to the work the next day, I had phone calls, emails from just about every hospital in the area,” the administrator said. Previously, the person added, the facility had required “two negative test results before we’d even consider taking someone into the building.”
Officials at both nursing homes declined to have their names published because they feared retribution from Cuomo, who regulates them. The Post reviewed emails, state regulatory orders, other public documents and spoke to five employees across the two facilities to confirm their stories.
Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi called the “blood on his hands” comment about the governor “disgusting” and accused nursing home operators of “trying to deflect from their failures.”
He vowed state officials were “going to get to the bottom” of the high death count in nursing homes, where Cuomo has said COVID-19 spreads “like fire through dry grass.”
Earlier, Cuomo said that if a nursing home can’t properly quarantine and treat the patients, it was supposed to move them to other facilities or ask the Health Department to arrange a transfer.
But the March 25 mandate does not detail how, and state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said he was not aware that DOH had received any transfer requests.
“That is the rule and that is the regulation and they have to comply with that,” Cuomo said at the coronavirus briefing in Albany.
“And the regulation is common sense: If you can’t provide adequate care, you can’t have the patient in your facility and that’s your basic fiduciary obligation — I would say, ethical obligation — and it’s also your legal obligation.”
“Now, when a person gets transferred, they lose a patient, they lose that revenue, I understand, but the relationship is, the contract is, ‘You have this resident, you get paid, you must provide adequate care,’” he said.
Cuomo also doubled down on his remark a day earlier that “it’s not our job” to provide nursing homes with personal protective equipment, saying, “We have given them thousands and thousands of PPE.”
“It’s their primary responsibility like it’s a hospital’s primary responsibility. And hospitals ran into problems, nursing homes ran into problems.”
“This is a national story, right? Turn on the national news any given time, and you have people saying, ‘We can’t get enough PPE,’ right?” he added.
A member of Cuomo’s coronavirus task force — SUNY-Empire State College president Jim Malatras — said the state had distributed 417,000 surgical grade masks, 101,000 gowns, 85,000 face shields, 422,000 gloves and 5,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to nursing homes over the last two weeks.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Trash talk starts in Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson-Tom Brady-Peyton Manning charity match

Sports will be brought back briefly by some of its ...

Details for the event have not yet been officially announced, but the trash talking already has begun.
Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning will take on Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady in a made-for-TV match in May called “The Match: Champions for Charity” with all proceeds going to COVID-19 relief.
There have been reports that the event will take place on May 24 at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla., where Woods is a member. Details are still to be announced, and the PGA Tour still must sign off on the event.
It will be televised on TNT, with social and digital content leading up to and during the event available through Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. According to a release from Turner Sports, tournament organizers are working with state and local government and public health officials to ensure the event follows safety and health protocols.
Meanwhile, Woods on Thursday appeared on a Golf Digest video chirping about the showdown between the superstars from two sports.
“There has been a little bit of trash talk already, a little bit of banter back and forth,” Woods said on the video. “Whether it’s, ‘I might need extra caddies to carry my Super Bowls,’ because [Brady] has more Super Bowls than my partner [Manning]. Or, ‘I’ve got more majors than Phil, so I’m gonna have to have a truck come up to the first tee and U-Haul it out.’
“We’ve had banter back and forth, and it’s been fantastic,’’ Woods went on. “We like to give out the needle, and to give out the needle you gotta be able to take it. It’s been fun, and it’ll be like that when we play, when we compete. There will be banter back and forth, but it won’t be as rough as what we have in our text exchange.”
Woods and Mickelson met in a $9 million winner-take-all duel in Las Vegas in November 2018, a match won by Mickelson in 22 holes.
Manning and Woods have played together in pro-ams before, most recently at the Memorial last year, and Mickelson and Brady have played together at Augusta National.
“It’s on now,” Mickelson tweeted Wednesday in response to Bleacher Report leaking the news of the match.
Mickelson added on Twitter: “After feeling the sting of defeat the first time around, Looks like @TigerWoods is bringing a ringer to The Match (#PeytonManning). I’m bringing a GOAT. @TomBrady — Ready to hit bombs?”
The last live golf seen on television was March 12, the first round of The Players Championship, which was canceled later that night as coronavirus crisis accelerated.
The PGA Tour recently announced that it plans to resume its season in June, starting with four tournaments without spectators. No spectators will be allowed at the May charity match.
There was a report that officials coordinating the event plan to feature stars throughout the PGA, NFL, and NBA as part of the TV broadcast. That would likely include former NBA star Charles Barkley, who’s currently an “NBA on TNT” studio analyst, for off-site guest commentary. Barkley was a part of the 2018 broadcast event when Woods and Mickelson played in Las Vegas.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Trump bashes Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp again over opening state

President Trump on Thursday ripped Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp for his plan to reopen many of his state ’ s businesses on Friday , declaring , “ I am not happy about Brian Kemp.
” “ I want the states to open more than he does .
But I do not like at this early stage .
I wasn ’ t happy with it , or with Brian Kemp , ” Trump said of the Republican governor at the daily briefing of the Coronavirus Task Force at the White House .
The president initially supported Kemp ’ s move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday ’ s briefing over his reopening of such businesses as hair salons and tattoo parlors .
Trump had called Kemp a day earlier to express his views , but bristled when a reporter asked if the governor was defying him .
“ No he didn ’ t defy me .
That ’ s your language .
I said [ to Kemp ] you make your own decision .
I told him that , ” he continued , adding that Kemp was not following the task force ’ s guidelines for reopening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with the people in Georgia to be safe .
I don ’ t want this thing to flare up because you ’ re deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines , ” he said , referring to the governor .
“ I could ’ ve stopped him but I decided to watch it closely so we will see what happens .
I told him very distinctly , I said , ‘ You do what you think is best.
’ But if you ask me , I am not happy.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen include bowling alleys .
But to start operating again , the businesses must follow strict social distancing and hygiene requirements , which can be troublesome , especially for services like haircuts that usually require close contact .

President Trump on Thursday ripped Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for his plan to reopen many of his state’s businesses on Friday, declaring, “I am not happy about Brian Kemp.”
“I want the states to open more than he does. But I do not like at this early stage. I wasn’t happy with it, or with Brian Kemp,” Trump said of the Republican governor at the daily briefing of the coronavirus task force at the White House.
The president initially supported Kemp’s move, but lashed out at him at Wednesday’s briefing over his reopening of such businesses as hair salons and tattoo parlors.
Trump had called Kemp a day earlier to express his views, but bristled when a reporter asked if the governor was defying him.
“No he didn’t defy me. That’s your language. I said [to Kemp], ‘You make your own decision.’ I told him that,” he continued, adding that Kemp was not following the task force’s guidelines for reopening.
“I want people to be safe and with the people in Georgia to be safe. I don’t want this thing to flare up because you’re deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines,” he said, referring to the governor.
“I could’ve stopped him but I decided to watch it closely, so we will see what happens. I told him very distinctly, I said, ‘You do what you think is best.’ But if you ask me, I am not happy.”
Kemp announced the move on Monday.
Other businesses given the green light to reopen include bowling alleys.
But to start operating again, the businesses must follow strict social distancing and hygiene requirements, which can be troublesome, especially for services like haircuts that usually require close contact.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Stop slamming surfers, bikers: No evidence outdoor activities pose coronavirus risks

Italian police showed off how they used a drone to ...

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Forgive Jacksonville, Fla., for it has sinned.
The largest city in the Sunshine State partly re-opened its beaches, and it became something of a national scandal. CNN ran disapproving segments, and the hashtag #FloridaIdiots trended widely on Twitter.
As the CNN report put it, “the scene at Jacksonville Beach wasn’t one of caution in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. Crowds cheered and flooded the beach when police took the barriers down. People were seen swimming, biking, surfing, running and fishing.”
None of these activities has been shown to be vectors for the spread of COVID-19. In fact, no outdoors activities have been shown to be dangerous at all. A recent study examined hundreds of outbreaks and traced only one to an outdoor environment.
Surfers and bikers are the least of our worries. Yet there is a segment of American opinion that takes it as its responsibility to scold and shame anyone who dares to go out to get a little fresh air.
Early on in the crisis, CNN anchors spent 20 minutes inveighing against people walking, running, biking and roller-blading along San Francisco’s Embarcadero, the port city’s waterfront road.
Noting that some people were holding hands, Jake Tapper called it “enraging.” Of course, random strangers don’t hold hands, but people who are likely in close proximity whether they are enjoying a stroll or not.
Despite there being no indication that outdoor spaces abet the spread of the disease, parks have been shut down throughout the United States, and the closures at times enforced with rigor.
No less than Tom Brady was chased from a closed Tampa Bay park after he was discovered working out, apparently alone. A father in Colorado was briefly detained by police for the alleged offense of playing t-ball with his 6-year-old daughter on a softball field.
A sure sign of fanaticism is the inability to make distinctions, in this instance between risky and non-risky activities and between places hard-hit and places not. It’s one thing to hold a day-long, 100-person family reunion in a public park, quite another to jog through one.
It’s one thing to begin opening up in New York City, where there have been more than 10,000 deaths, and another to begin opening in Montana, where there have been 14.
Jacksonville, Fla., is the seat of Duval County. With a population of nearly a million people, the county has had 17 deaths from the novel coronavirus. It is hardly a hot spot.
At least some of the spleen would be taken out of the coronavirus debate if people acknowledged that we live in a vast continental country, with radically different ways of life from one end of it to another. Not only are not all states the same, not all counties within states are the same.
Anti-lockdown protests at the Michigan state capitol last week got a lot of attention (and a lot of criticism for, yes, lack of social distancing because some protesters milled about on the capitol grounds). One argument of the demonstrators is that Michigan shouldn’t be uniformly locked down if conditions around the states aren’t uniform.
Sparsely populated Alcona County in northern Michigan has four coronavirus cases and no deaths, according to the latest state data. Wayne County, encompassing the city of Detroit, has 6,677 cases and 597 deaths. One of these things is not like the other.
But such is the lockdown zealotry that any thought that these kind of places should be treated differently is considered heresy, sure to get people killed. It seems indisputable that the lockdowns have slowed the spread of the disease, but at an enormous economic cost. We are going to have to show some flexibility and be willing to adopt a patchwork approach to opening up around the country.
We simply can’t be beholden to public officials and commentators who, to paraphrase H.L. Mencken, have the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be rollerblading.
Rich Lowry is the author of “The Case for Nationalism: How It Made Us Powerful, United and Free.” Twitter: @RichLowry


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Trump says he ‘doesn’t agree’ with Dr. Fauci’s testing concerns

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President Trump on Thursday rebuffed concerns from Dr. Anthony Fauci that the country was behind with coronavirus testing , saying “ I don ’ t agree with him.
” In an interview earlier Thursday , Fauci , an infectious disease specialist and respected member of the White House coronavirus taskforce , told Time Magazine he feared the US was not where it needed to be in terms of COVID-19 screening .
“ We need to significantly ramp up not only the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them… ” Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said .
“ I am not overly confident right now at all that we have what it takes to do that .
We are doing better , and I think we are going to get there , but we are not there yet , ” he added .
Asked about the comments during the White House coronavirus briefing , the president said the country was “ very advanced in testing ” despite just 1.4 percent of the population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done very well in testing .
We ’ ve tested far more than anybody else in the world , ” Trump said .
“ I don ’ t agree with him on that .
I think we ’ re doing a great job on testing .
If he said that , I don ’ t agree with him , ” he added .
Fauci and Trump ’ s relationship has been strained since he was brought onto the taskforce — the president earlier this month boosting a tweet with the hashtag # FireFauci @

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President Trump on Thursday rebuffed concerns from Dr. Anthony Fauci that the country was behind with coronavirus testing, saying “I don’t agree with him.”
In an interview earlier Thursday, Fauci, an infectious disease specialist and respected member of the White House coronavirus taskforce, told Time Magazine he feared the US was not where it needed to be in terms of COVID-19 screening.
“We need to significantly ramp up not only the number of tests, but the capacity to perform them…” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said.
“I am not overly confident right now at all that we have what it takes to do that. We are doing better, and I think we are going to get there, but we are not there yet,” he added.
Asked about the comments during the White House coronavirus briefing, the president said the country was “very advanced in testing” despite just 1.4 percent of the population being tested.
“We’ve done very well in testing. We’ve tested far more than anybody else in the world,” Trump said.
“I don’t agree with him on that. I think we’re doing a great job on testing. If he said that, I don’t agree with him,” he added.
Fauci and Trump’s relationship has been strained since he was brought onto the taskforce — the president earlier this month boosting a tweet with the hashtag #FireFauci.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--NFL Draft tracker 2020: Live first-round updates, picks and analysis

The Post ’ s Ryan Dunleavy will be providing a pick-by-pick analysis of all 32 first-round selections in Thursday night @ @ @ @ @ .
Because of the coronavirus pandemic , this is the first time the draft is @ @ @ @ @ homes of general managers .
Bengals turned down multiple trade offers from the Dolphins in @ @ @ @ @ do what their last three first-round quarterback draft picks did not : Win in the @ @ @ @ @ best pass-rushing prospect of the decade ?
If so , as some scouts say , @ @ @ @ @ than Nick and Joey Bosa , Myles Garrett , Khalil Mack and Jadeveon Clowney .
@ @ @ @ @ cornerback with the length and physicality to play press man coverage without drawing penalties .
@ @ @ @ @ of traded Darius Slay .

The Post’s Ryan Dunleavy will be providing a pick-by-pick analysis of all 32 first-round selections in Thursday night’s 2020 NFL Draft.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this is the first time the draft is being held virtually in the homes of general managers.
2020 NFL Draft Tracker
1. Cincinnati Bengals — Joe Burrow (QB, LSU)
Bengals turned down multiple trade offers from the Dolphins in hopes Burrow can at least do what their last three first-round quarterback draft picks did not: Win in the playoffs.
2. Washington Redskins — Chase Young (DE, Ohio State)
Is he the best pass-rushing prospect of the decade? If so, as some scouts say, that means he is better than Nick and Joey Bosa, Myles Garrett, Khalil Mack and Jadeveon Clowney.
3. Detroit Lions — Jeff Okudah (CB, Ohio State)
Okudah is a shutdown perimeter cornerback with the length and physicality to play press man coverage without drawing penalties. He will fill the shoes of traded Darius Slay.
4. New York Giants — Andrew Thomas (OT, Georgia)
He started 41 games at Georgia, including 15 at right tackle as a true freshman and the last 26 at left tackle. Of the top four offensive tackles, he generally is considered the steadiest and thus the safest pick.
5. Miami Dolphins — Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama)
The left-hander was the consensus No. 1 prospect when last season began but a third serious injury — dislocated hip — in as many seasons raised durability concerns. In the end, talent wins out.
6. Los Angeles Chargers — Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon)
Senior Bowl Most Valuable Player made 42 starts in college but made too many head-scratching mistakes for his experience. He will try to reverse bad trend for Oregon quarterbacks in NFL.
7. Carolina Panthers — Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
He might have been the cleanest prospect in the draft class, when film is combined with character. He is a dominant run-stuffer who can generate some pass rush.
8. Arizona Cardinals — Isaiah Simmons (LB, Clemson)
He considers his position to be “defense,” after playing 100 or more snaps last season at five different positions. He can rush the passer, stop the run and cover in the slot.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars — C.J. Henderson (CB, Florida)
Henderson started shooting up the draft board in the weeks before the draft. He will make plays on the ball and can take chances because of recovery speed.
10. Cleveland Browns — Jedrick Wills (OT, Alabama)
A top pass protector, he played right tackle, protecting Tagovailoa’s blind side. Wills is the most pro-ready of all the tackles and will be expected to start at left tackle.
11. New York Jets — Mekhi Becton (OT, Louisville)
How is it possible that a 6-foot-7, 364-pound man ran the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds? He is the definition of a freak, with a high ceiling for potential and a low floor if he busts out.
12. Las Vegas Raiders — Henry Ruggs (WR, Alabama)
Late Raiders owner Al Davis would have loved this pick because the 5-foot-11 Ruggs is all about speed (4.27 seconds 40-yard dash) and catching the deep ball.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Tristan Wirfs (OT, Iowa)
Protection for new quarterback Tom Brady after trading up one pick. Wirfs started at right tackle and prefers to remain on the perimeter, but there is a thought he could become an All-Pro guard.
14. San Francisco 49ers — Javon Kinlaw (DT, South Carolina)
Talk about a life-changing moment. Kinlaw grew up homeless and now is set to become a millionaire. The Senior Bowl standout will wreak havoc in the backfield on an already deep defensive line.
15. Denver Broncos — Jerry Jeudy (WR, Alabama)
A lot of teams could regret this one if Jeudy proves to be the next Julio Jones. Other than some mild injury concerns that popped up this week, he is the complete package.
16. Atlanta Falcons — A.J. Terrell (CB, Clemson)
Who was going to be the No. 3 cornerback selected? The Falcons wanted to trade up for Henderson or Okudah but settled for a tested big-game player.
17. Dallas Cowboys — Ceedee Lamb (WR, Oklahoma)
One of the steals of the first round. He averaged 21.4 yards per catch last season because he makes tacklers miss and uses speed to rack up yards after catch.
18. Miami Dolphins — Austin Jackson (OT, USC)
Is this a reach? Maybe given the rawness of his skills. But with three first-rounders and 14 total picks over seven rounds, the Dolphins can take some chances.
19. Las Vegas Raiders, Damon Arnette (CB, Ohio State)
Ohio State is the new DBU. As in Defensive Backs University. He wasn’t a first-rounder in many mock drafts, but GM Mike Mayock doesn’t listen to the crowd.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars — K’Lavon Chaisson (OLB, LSU)
In a draft class light on edge rushers, Chaisson was the consensus No. 2 option behind Young. He is much further along in his development as a pass-rusher than playing against the run.
21. Philadelphia Eagles — Jalen Reagor (WR, TCU)
A bit of a surprise the Eagles did not trade up for Lamb, but Reagor does it all: Lines up in the slot, runs gadget plays, returns kicks. Think DeSean Jackson Light.
22. Minnesota Vikings — Justin Jefferson (WR, LSU)
Jefferson scored four touchdowns in a half in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs and 18 for the season. A replacement for traded headache Stefon Diggs.
23. Los Angeles Chargers — Kenneth Murray (ILB, Oklahoma)
The Patriots traded down, as they often do. The Chargers grabbed a sideline-to-sideline playmaker who is considered one of the highest character players in the first round.
24. New Orleans Saints – Cesar Ruiz (C, Michigan)
The Camden, N.J. native dedicated his draft process to his late father, tragically killed in a vehicle accident. He is a tone-setter with the flexibility to play guard.
25. San Francisco 49ers — Brandon Aiyuk (WR, Arizona State)
He underwent core muscle surgery once it became clear OTAs would be postponed, but his health didn’t scare off the 49ers, who traded up. He is a dangerous returner, too.
26. Green Bay Packers – Jordan Love (QB, Utah State)
Start the clock on Aaron Rodgers after the Packers traded up for the gunslinger, whose numbers fell off a cliff from 2018 to 2019. Love has some magic in his game, though.
27. Seattle Seahawks – Jordyn Brooks (MLB, Texas Tech)
He made 367 career tackles, including 20 for a loss last season, playing like a honing missile to the ball. The Seahawks’ defensive reload continues.
28. Baltimore Ravens – Patrick Queen (ILB, LSU)
A classic Ravens pick despite just starting one season. Forget that he is a bit undersized. He will fit right into the smashmouth AFC North.
29. Tennessee Titans – Isaiah Wilson (OT, Georgia)
The Brooklyn native offers prototypical tackle size at 6-foot-6, 350 pounds. As you might expect given those measurements, his footwork can be a little sloppy, but has a lot of room to develop.
30. Miami Dolphins – Noah Igbinoghene (CB, Auburn)
The former wide receiver is just two years into his cornerback career but doesn’t shy away from contact. He is the son of two Olympian track stars.
31. Minnesota Vikings – Jeff Gladney (CB, TCU)
Gladney plays with a chip on his shoulder and likes to talk trash. He had 27 pass break-ups over the last two seasons. The Vikings are redoing the entire secondary.
32. Kansas City Chiefs – Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, LSU)
The only thing more surprising than Andy Reid taking a running back in the first round is that he passed on Jonathan Taylor and D’Andre Swift. The shifty Edwards-Helaire is a pass-catcher, too.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--New York’s magic method for ‘balancing’ the Medicaid budget

New York spent only $ 9.2 million on Medicaid in March — next to nothing when monthly outlays average almost @ @ @ @ @ insanely little amid the coronavirus pandemic .
What ’ s the deal ?
As the @ @ @ @ @ Hammond explains , the Cuomo administration just delayed the payments to nominally balance the budget @ @ @ @ @ played a year ago .
The state Health Department put off paying providers until April @ @ @ @ @ year , and voila Medicaid met its budget cap .
Now you see how New @ @ @ @ @ $ 4 billion Medicaid deficit that the state hadn ’ t figured out how to @ @ @ @ @ all health programs .
The budget passed into law last month doesn ’ t solve @ @ @ @ @ but merely postpones needed slashing of state outlays in hopes the feds completely bail out @ @ @ @ @ of overspending in the course of sending legitimate coronavirus relief .
When the reckoning finally @ @ @ @ @ going to be brutal .

New York spent only $9.2 million on Medicaid in March — next to nothing when monthly outlays average almost $2 billion, and insanely little amid the coronavirus pandemic. What’s the deal?
As the Empire Center’s Bill Hammond explains, the Cuomo administration just delayed the payments to nominally balance the budget, a trick it also played a year ago.
The state Health Department put off paying providers until April, in the new fiscal year, and voila Medicaid met its budget cap.
Now you see how New York wound up with a $4 billion Medicaid deficit that the state hadn’t figured out how to close before COVID-19 further slammed all health programs.
The budget passed into law last month doesn’t solve the problem, either, but merely postpones needed slashing of state outlays in hopes the feds completely bail out Cuomo & Co. for years of overspending in the course of sending legitimate coronavirus relief.
When the reckoning finally comes, it’s going to be brutal.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Discovery CEO David Zaslav holding poker tourney for CV relief

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) High-rollers from Bryan Cranston to @ @ @ @ @ are joining a poker tournament to raise cash for Mount Sinai ’ s coronavirus fund @ @ @ @ @ Cheryl Hines and Boris Becker are among the names taking part in the game on @ @ @ @ @ Zaslav is spearheading the event , where 100 percent of the proceeds will go to @ @ @ @ @ the front line .
Zaslav is kicking off the tournament with a $ 500,000 donation @ @ @ @ @ CEO of Goldman Sachs , and CNBC ’ s Joe Kernen are also testing their @ @ @ @ @ s staff , supported by volunteers , has treated up to 2,000 patients daily .
@ @ @ @ @ vital PPE and meals for staff .

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High-rollers from Bryan Cranston to Chip Gaines and Joy Behar are joining a poker tournament to raise cash for Mount Sinai’s coronavirus fund.
Chef Bobby Flay, Cheryl Hines and Boris Becker are among the names taking part in the game on Saturday, which is hosted by America’s Cardroom.
Discovery CEO David Zaslav is spearheading the event, where 100 percent of the proceeds will go to support health care workers on the front line.
Zaslav is kicking off the tournament with a $500,000 donation, while David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, and CNBC’s Joe Kernen are also testing their luck.
Mount Sinai’s staff, supported by volunteers, has treated up to 2,000 patients daily. The funds raised will provide vital PPE and meals for staff.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Even amid coronavirus, New York’s leaders can’t resist ‘school payola’

City Hall moved rapidly Sunday to stop plans to spend up to $ 700 million on idle school buses through the end of June — rapidly , that is , after The Post ’ s Susan Edelman exposed the madness .
City Hall spokesperson Freddi Goldstein pretends Mayor Bill de Blasio simply wanted time to review the bus contracts that the Department of Education was poised to award — pleasing politically connected owners and the unions for bus drivers and matrons .
Mind you , the mayor already spends tens of millions a year beyond what city contracts require for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as political payback .
With the city out upward of $ 7.4 billion in revenue from the coronavirus crisis , such giveaways are unconscionable .
Nor will it encourage Congress to send the mayor a nickel of the billions he wants in aid .
Edelman notes other ongoing fiscal follies under Chancellor Richard Carranza , such as consulting contracts to hire new nurses when hundreds are already on the DOE payroll , idled by the lockdown .
And $ 40 million for IBM to prep 300,000 iPads — when the DOE has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPads .
Another eyebrow-raiser is a two-month , $ 1.2 million contract with Accenture to provide “ management consulting ” on COVID-19 issues .
Huh ?
The city has an entire agency dedicated to emergency management , not to mention whole packs of managers at DOE HQ and City Hall .
Rather than facing the facts of this crisis , de Blasio and Carranza seem intent on continuing business-as-usual wherever they can get away with it .
It ’ s simply shameful .

City Hall moved rapidly Sunday to stop plans to spend up to $700 million on idle school buses through the end of June — rapidly, that is, after The Post’s Susan Edelman exposed the madness.
City Hall spokesperson Freddi Goldstein pretends Mayor Bill de Blasio simply wanted time to review the bus contracts that the Department of Education was poised to award — pleasing politically connected owners and the unions for bus drivers and matrons.
Mind you, the mayor already spends tens of millions a year beyond what city contracts require for some of those bus workers, purely as political payback.
With the city out upward of $7.4 billion in revenue from the coronavirus crisis, such giveaways are unconscionable. Nor will it encourage Congress to send the mayor a nickel of the billions he wants in aid.
Edelman notes other ongoing fiscal follies under Chancellor Richard Carranza, such as consulting contracts to hire new nurses when hundreds are already on the DOE payroll, idled by the lockdown. And $40 million for IBM to prep 300,000 iPads — when the DOE has already shelled out $189 million on those iPads.
Another eyebrow-raiser is a two-month, $1.2 million contract with Accenture to provide “management consulting” on COVID-19 issues. Huh? The city has an entire agency dedicated to emergency management, not to mention whole packs of managers at DOE HQ and City Hall.
Rather than facing the facts of this crisis, de Blasio and Carranza seem intent on continuing business-as-usual wherever they can get away with it. It’s simply shameful.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Elites go to war on homeschooling — just when everyone’s doing it

Five NYC families tell The Post how they 're coping with ...

We’re all homeschoolers now. Schools have closed for more than 55 million students nationwide, and at least 34 states have shuttered schools for the rest of the academic year. Just in time, our media and academic elites are coming out swinging against homeschooling.
The Washington Post and Salon have raised questions about the practice lately. More alarming, Harvard Magazine this week unleashed a thoroughly unfounded attack on homeschooling, drawing on the work of Harvard University law professor Elizabeth Bartholet.
The article cited Bartholet’s call for “a presumptive ban,” because homeschooling supposedly “violates children’s right to a ‘meaningful education’ and their right to be protected from potential child abuse.”
Strangely enough, the article left out the fact that nearly two-thirds of US students aren’t proficient in reading, and that the most rigorous evidence shows that homeschool students tend to fare better academically and socially than do their peers in conventional schools.
The article also forgot to mention the 2004 report from the US Department of Education estimating that 1 in 10 students in government schools will experience school-employee sexual misconduct by the time they graduate from high school.
By Bartholet’s own logic, she should call for a presumptive ban on government schooling.
More fundamentally, Bartholet argues that the burden of proof should be on parents to get permission from the government to homeschool their own children. But this view is backward. Our children don’t belong to the government. As the US Supreme Court ruled in 1925, “the child is not the mere creature of the state.”
Bartholet also charges that parents have “essentially authoritarian control over their children” and that “it’s always dangerous to put powerful people in charge of the powerless, and to give the powerful ones total authority.” This is beyond parody. Does she not realize that using government force to ban homeschooling is the definition of authoritarianism?
The article’s anti-conservative and anti-religious bias was palpable. It argued that many homeschooling families “are driven by conservative Christian beliefs” and that “some of these parents are ‘extreme religious ideologues.’ ”
This is fearmongering. I’m not a religious believer, but all Americans have a First Amendment right to freely exercise their religious beliefs, even if some academic elites don’t like it. At some point, moreover, secularism of the kind that animates Bartholet and the Harvard piece bleeds into a kind of dogma of its own.
Perhaps even more disturbing was the bizarre image that accompanied the article: that of a sad homeschooled child imprisoned in her home while other kids are free to play outside. That image, again, had it completely backward. Homeschoolers actually have more time to play outside, since they aren’t stuck in classrooms all day.
A 2019 study in the Peabody Journal of Education found that homeschool students are also more likely to participate in cultural and family activities than are similar students in government-run schools.
Incidentally, the house in the Harvard image was built out of four books. And just in case you didn’t pick up the anti-religious animus from the text, one of the books was the Bible.
More amusing still, another book was originally misspelled as “artithmatic,” though Harvard Magazine corrected the spelling error a few days later. Talk about an extraordinary self-own.
The article, it seems, is part of a broader Harvard campaign against homeschooling. Harvard Law School will be hosting an anti-homeschooling conference this June. According to its program, the conference’s “focus will be on problems of educational deprivation and child maltreatment” — suggesting that the framing and conclusions are predetermined.
I would love to attend for the sake of healthy viewpoint diversity. Alas, attendance is by invitation only.
There is plenty of room for debating the merits of homeschooling. But an all-out attack on the right of families to homeschool their own children, at a time when nearly all families are homeschooling by necessity, displays the level of un-self-awareness only elite liberal academe is truly capable of.
We need a genuine exchange of ideas based on the evidence rather than sensationalism and dark assumptions about religious families. And we should always discuss the merits of homeschooling relative to a realistic alternative — government schooling — rather than perfection.
Corey DeAngelis, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, is director of school choice at Reason Foundation. Twitter: @DeAngelisCorey


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Top DHS scientists says heat, humidity slow coronavirus

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A top scientist from the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that preliminary research shows that the coronavirus dies out more quickly in hot , humid weather than in colder , drier conditions .
“ Increasing the temperature and humidity … is generally less favorable to the virus , ” said William Bryan , head of science and technology at DHS , said during the daily Coronavirus Task Force daily briefing at the White House .
Bryan said the preliminary study showed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower at higher temperatures and humidity than in colder weather .
“ If you look as the temperature increases , as the humidity increases , no sun involved , you can see how drastically the half-life goes down on the virus .
So it ’ s dying in a much more rapid pace [ with ] just exposure to higher temperatures and to humidity , ” Bryan continued .
But he also said that it dissipates more quickly in sunlight than in the dark because ultraviolet light helps kill the bug .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bleach were also extremely effective in killing the virus .
President Trump welcomed the news and predicted that more people would be willing to venture outdoors in the late spring and summer when the weather warms up .
The president also speculated that bombarding human bodies with light could be effective , as well as perhaps injecting disinfectants into the lungs — moves Bryan downplayed .
“ So , suppose we heat the body with a tremendous , whether it ’ s ultraviolet or just very powerful light , and I think you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but you ’ re going to test it , ” Trump said , apparently referring to an earlier conversation with Bryan .
“ And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body , which you can either do through the skin or in some other way , and I think you said you were going to test that too .
Sounds interesting , ” he continued before asking about an “ injection ” of “ disinfectant ” into patients .
“ And then I see the disinfectant , [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minute .
One minute .
And is there a way we can do something like that , by injection inside or almost a cleaning … It ’ ll be interesting to check that , ” the president said although that notion was quickly discounted .
Dr. Deborah Birx said later she had also not seen any evidence that bombarding a patient with light would be effective .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A top scientist from the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that preliminary research shows that the coronavirus dies out more quickly in hot, humid weather than in colder, drier conditions.
“Increasing the temperature and humidity … is generally less favorable to the virus,” said William Bryan, head of science and technology at DHS, said during the daily Coronavirus Task Force daily briefing at the White House.
Bryan said the preliminary study showed that the half life of the virus was lower at higher temperatures and humidity than in colder weather.
“If you look as the temperature increases, as the humidity increases, no sun involved, you can see how drastically the half-life goes down on the virus. So it’s dying in a much more rapid pace [with] just exposure to higher temperatures and to humidity,” Bryan continued.
But he also said that it dissipates more quickly in sunlight than in the dark because ultraviolet light helps kill the bug.
The DHS scientists said that disinfectants and household bleach were also extremely effective in killing the virus.
President Trump welcomed the news and predicted that more people would be willing to venture outdoors in the late spring and summer when the weather warms up.
The president also speculated that bombarding human bodies with light could be effective, as well as perhaps injecting disinfectants into the lungs — moves Bryan downplayed.
“So, suppose we heat the body with a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it,” Trump said, apparently referring to an earlier conversation with Bryan.
“And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can either do through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said you were going to test that too. Sounds interesting,” he continued before asking about an “injection” of “disinfectant” into patients.
“And then I see the disinfectant, [which] knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning … It’ll be interesting to check that,” the president said although that notion was quickly discounted.
Dr. Deborah Birx said later she had also not seen any evidence that bombarding a patient with light would be effective.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--Jets 2020 NFL Draft tracker: Round-by-round picks and analysis

Joe Douglas enters his first draft at the Jets GM , and he ’ s not going to have it @ @ @ @ @ his team needs include receivers , a long sought-after edge rusher and a cornerback .
@ @ @ @ @ to focus on the future of the left tackle position .
Oh , and those @ @ @ @ @ dividends quickly if he wants to pull Gang Green out of a stretch of four @ @ @ @ @ in a row without the playoffs .
Despite his myriad of needs , Douglas knows @ @ @ @ @ for , and shared the criteria back when he was hired to run the Jets @ @ @ @ @ going to find passionate people that love the game of football , that hate losing @ @ @ @ @ , that love to prepare , that love to practice , that love to compete @ @ @ @ @ media in June .
Round 3 , No .
68 overall ( via Giants ) @ @ @ @ @ 211 overall ( via Chiefs )

Joe Douglas enters his first draft at the Jets GM, and he’s not going to have it easy.
For starters, his team needs include receivers, a long sought-after edge rusher and a cornerback. He’ll also want to focus on the future of the left tackle position. Oh, and those picks will need to pay dividends quickly if he wants to pull Gang Green out of a stretch of four straight losing seasons and nine in a row without the playoffs.
Despite his myriad of needs, Douglas knows who he’s looking for, and shared the criteria back when he was hired to run the Jets,
“We’re going to find passionate people that love the game of football, that hate losing more than they love winning, that love to prepare, that love to practice, that love to compete,” he told the media in June.
Follow our full first-round draft tracker here.
Round 1, No. 11 overall — Mekhi Becton, OT/Louisville
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 364 pounds
Skinny: The Jets got a massive new piece for their offensive line. Becton can play left or right tackle and gives the Jets a potential major upgrade at the position. Becton is a freakish athlete for his size. he ran a 5.12 40-yard dash and can reverse dunk a basketball.
Round 2, No. 59 overall (via Seahawks) — Denzel Mims, WR/Baylor
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 207 pounds
Skinny: The Jets added more speed to their offense. Mims is a burner who ran the 40 in 4.38 seconds at the combine. He is a bit raw, coming from a Baylor offense where he was not asked to run a full route tree, but he has rare physical traits and should help Sam Darnold.
Round 3, No. 68 overall (via Giants) — Ashtyn Davis, S/California
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 202 pounds
Skinny: Davis is a versatile weapon who can play safety, nickel corner and special teams. He ran track at Cal as well as playing football, where he began as a walk-on. Davis had groin surgery in December and did not run at the combine but he was one of the best hurdlers in the NCAA, so his speed and athleticism should not be a concern.
Round 3, No. 79 overall — Jabari Zuniga, EDGE/Florida
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 264 pounds
Skinny: Zuniga is a monster in the weight room who was productive when healthy. He returned to school last year hoping to boost his draft stock but ankle injuries limited him to six games. He had 18 ½ sacks in four years for the Gators.
Round 4, No. 120 overall — Lamical Perine, RB/Florida
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 216 pounds
Skinny: A powerful runner who led the Gators in rushing for three straight years. Perine showed he can catch the ball last year with 40 catches. He will provide a complement to Le’Veon Bell and be a role player as a rookie.
Round 4, No. 125 overall (via Patriots) — James Morgan, QB/FIU
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 229 pounds
Skinny: Morgan began his career at Bowling Green before transferring in 2018 to FIU. He has a strong arm and led the team to a win over crosstown rival Miami and two bowl games. He is actually older than Sam Darnold, who he will now learn from.
Round 4, No. 129 overall (via Patriots) — Cameron Clark, OT/Charlotte
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 308 pounds
Skinny: He started 35 games in four seasons for Charlotte and elevated his draft stock against Clemson in 2019. He played left tackle in college but may move to right tackle or inside to guard in the NFL.
Round 5, No. 158 overall — Bryce Hall, CB/Virginia
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 202 pounds
Skinny: Projected to be a Day 2 draft pick, Hall slid because of medical questions. He suffered a serious left ankle injury that required surgery and cut his senior season short. If he is healthy, this could be a nice steal for the Jets.
Round 6, No. 191 overall — Braden Mann P/Texas A&M
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 198 pounds
Skinny: Mann won the Ray Guy Award last year as the nation’s top punter. He also is a kickoff specialist with 42 touchbacks last year. Will replace Lachlan Edwards as Jets punter.


newyorkpost--2020-04-23--ESPN won’t put NFL Draft prospects on TV if they’re not social distancing

The NFL is ensuring that all 2020 NFL Draft prospects are complying with mandated social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus crisis – and those who refuse risk not getting put on TV when they get drafted .
With the draft taking place in a virtual format on Thursday night , many of the draftees will be hosting draft parties at their homes , with cameras at the ready to peek inside their homes when they get drafted .
But with the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing , they will be expected to do so in groups of 10 or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the draftees ’ parties show them hosting too many people , or not adhering to social distancing guidelines , ESPN and ABC will not put them on TV , according to the Action Network .
It ’ s one of many challenges that cable networks and NFL front offices will have to juggle on an unprecedented draft night .
With every analyst , GM and executive plugged in remotely , many expect technical difficulties to pop up at some point .
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will read off every pick as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a live feed in his basement .

The NFL is ensuring that all 2020 NFL Draft prospects are complying with mandated social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus crisis – and those who refuse risk not getting put on TV when they get drafted.
With the draft taking place in a virtual format on Thursday night, many of the draftees will be hosting draft parties at their homes, with cameras at the ready to peek inside their homes when they get drafted. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, they will be expected to do so in groups of 10 or fewer people, per CDC recommendations.
If the draftees’ parties show them hosting too many people, or not adhering to social distancing guidelines, ESPN and ABC will not put them on TV, according to the Action Network.
It’s one of many challenges that cable networks and NFL front offices will have to juggle on an unprecedented draft night. With every analyst, GM and executive plugged in remotely, many expect technical difficulties to pop up at some point.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will read off every pick as he typically does, though it will be from a live feed in his basement.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Trump says report about gravely ill Kim Jong Un is ‘incorrect’

President Trump pushed back on a report that Kim Jong Un is gravely ill — but didn ’ t say if he had been in contact with the North Korean leader .
“ I think the report was incorrect , ” the president said during Thursday ’ s daily White House briefing , adding that he had heard it was based on “ old documents.
” On Tuesday , Trump said he might reach out to officials in the Hermit Kingdom to inquire about Kim , with whom he has been in regular contact for the past couple of years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Thursday ’ s briefing whether he had called to ask about the despot , who was conspicuously absent during the 108th birthday of his grandfather , the North Korea ’ s founder Kim Il Sung .
“ We have a good relationship with North Korea , I have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un and I hope he ’ s OK , ” Trump said .
The South Korea-based Daily NK reported Monday that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12 , citing an unnamed source in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seoul officials rejected a subsequent CNN report citing an unnamed American official saying the US was “ monitoring intelligence ” that Kim was in serious danger after surgery .

President Trump pushed back on a report that Kim Jong Un is gravely ill — but didn’t say if he had been in contact with the North Korean leader.
“I think the report was incorrect,” the president said during Thursday’s daily White House briefing, adding that he had heard it was based on “old documents.”
On Tuesday, Trump said he might reach out to officials in the Hermit Kingdom to inquire about Kim, with whom he has been in regular contact for the past couple of years.
But the president did not say during Thursday’s briefing whether he had called to ask about the despot, who was conspicuously absent during the 108th birthday of his grandfather, North Korea’s founder, Kim Il Sung.
“We have a good relationship with North Korea, I have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un and I hope he’s OK,” Trump said.
The South Korea-based Daily NK reported Monday that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12, citing an unnamed source in North Korea, Reuters reported.
Two Seoul officials rejected a subsequent CNN report citing an unnamed American official saying the US was “monitoring intelligence” that Kim was in serious danger after surgery.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--American couple quarantining in Mexico gunned down while driving

A Syracuse-area man who had been quarantining in Mexico during the coronavirus pandemic was fatally shot along with his physical-education girlfriend when gunmen opened fire on their Jeep , according to reports .
Pat Landers , 32 , of upstate Baldwinsville , and his gal pal Karla Baca were driving along a street in Juarez on Monday in the vehicle with New York plates when at least 20 bullets were fired at them , the Daily Mail reported , citing KTSM .
Police in the border city just south of El Paso , Texas , are investigating the shocking attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatherless .
Despite a stay-at-home order since March 23 , more than 100 killings have been reported in Juarez this month , according to the Daily Mail .
Police have attributed most of the violence to drug cartels .
Landers and Baca had been dating for the past three or four months and were hunkered down in Mexico due to the pandemic , his Syracuse-area friend Dave LaBarge told The Post-Standard .
“ He was a good dude , ” LaBarge told the Syracuse newspaper about the golf pro .
“ He had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 years old , he sank a hole-in-one at the Pope ’ s Grove Golf Course and another at the Millstone Golf Course six years later , according to The Post-Standard .
Landers , who was a landlord for investment properties the Syracuse area , recently finished remodeling a house along the Seneca River , his pal said .
Another friend , Adam Howe , told the outlet that Landers met Baca on a trip to Texas several months ago , adding that he liked to travel to Las Vegas and other areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather .
Howe said the last time they spoke was just a few days ago when Landers said he was trying to learn more Spanish — and joked that if he ate any more churros , he ’ d be fatter than him .
Howe said he spent all of Tuesday crying when he found out that Landers , who was supposed to be a groomsman at his July wedding , had been killed .
“ I want people to know he was a great father and loved his son Cameron , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved him more than anything in the world .
”

A Syracuse-area man who had been quarantining in Mexico during the coronavirus pandemic was fatally shot along with his girlfriend when gunmen opened fire on their Jeep, according to reports.
Pat Landers, 32, of upstate Baldwinsville, and his gal pal, Karla Baca, a physical education teacher, were driving along a street in Juarez on Monday in the vehicle with New York plates when at least 20 bullets were fired at them, the Daily Mail reported, citing KTSM.
Police in the border city just south of El Paso, Texas, are investigating the shocking attack, which left Landers’ son, Cameron, fatherless.
Despite a stay-at-home order since March 23, more than 100 killings have been reported in Juarez this month, according to the Daily Mail. Police have attributed most of the violence to drug cartels.
Landers and Baca had been dating for the past three or four months and were hunkered down in Mexico due to the pandemic, his Syracuse-area friend Dave LaBarge told the Post-Standard.
“He was a good dude,” LaBarge told the Syracuse newspaper about the golf pro. “He had an extraordinary life.”
When Landers was 13 years old, he sank a hole-in-one at the Pope’s Grove Golf Course and another at the Millstone Golf Course six years later, according to the Post-Standard.
Landers, who was a landlord for investment properties in the Syracuse area, recently finished remodeling a house along the Seneca River, his pal said.
Another friend, Adam Howe, told the outlet that Landers met Baca on a trip to Texas several months ago, adding that he liked to travel to Las Vegas and other areas in the South because of the warm weather.
Howe said the last time they spoke was just a few days ago when Landers said he was trying to learn more Spanish — and joked that if he ate any more churros, he’d be fatter than him.
Howe said he spent all of Tuesday crying when he found out that Landers, who was supposed to be a groomsman at his July wedding, had been killed.
“I want people to know he was a great father and loved his son, Cameron,” Howe told Spectrum News. “He loved him more than anything in the world.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Jets expected to look for receiver on Day 2 of NFL Draft

The Jets got their protector in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ playmaker .
Wide receiver is the position to watch in Round 2 ( Pick : @ @ @ @ @ discussion leading up to the draft has been about the depth at receiver in this @ @ @ @ @ should be a bunch taken Friday .
USC ’ s Michael Pittman Jr. , Notre @ @ @ @ @ , Colorado ’ s Laviska Shenault and Penn State ’ s KJ Hamler are all @ @ @ @ @ round ( Picks : 68 , 79 ) cornerback , edge-rusher , interior offensive line @ @ @ @ @ positions to watch .
Keep an eye on LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry if he is @ @ @ @ @ in the third round .
At cornerback , Amik Robertson of Louisiana Tech or Virginia @ @ @ @ @ be the pick .

The Jets got their protector in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night. Now, they need to find a playmaker.
Wide receiver is the position to watch in Round 2 (Pick: 48). All the discussion leading up to the draft has been about the depth at receiver in this draft. That means there should be a bunch taken Friday.
USC’s Michael Pittman Jr., Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool, Colorado’s Laviska Shenault and Penn State’s KJ Hamler are all possibilities.
In the third round (Picks: 68, 79) cornerback, edge-rusher, interior offensive line and running back are all positions to watch. Keep an eye on LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry if he is there when the Jets pick in the third round. At cornerback, Amik Robertson of Louisiana Tech or Virginia’s Bryce Hall could be the pick.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Giants may snag another offensive lineman on Day 2 of NFL Draft

A huge need was addressed with the selection of offensive tackle Andrew Thomas with the No .
4-overall pick .
@ @ @ @ @ Friday night on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft : No .
36 early @ @ @ @ @ No .
99 near the end of the third round .
They would like to @ @ @ @ @ out of No .
36 in order to gain an additional pick in the third @ @ @ @ @ an offensive lineman , there is more work to be done up-front and it will @ @ @ @ @ the Giants go for a center as early as the second round .
Matt Hennessy @ @ @ @ @ option , as the Nyack native and Don Bosco ( N.J. ) product grew up @ @ @ @ @ instantly compete for a starting job .

A huge need was addressed with the selection of offensive tackle Andrew Thomas with the No. 4-overall pick.
The Giants have two picks Friday night on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft: No. 36 early in the second round and No. 99 near the end of the third round. They would like to trade down a few spots out of No. 36 in order to gain an additional pick in the third round.
Even after adding an offensive lineman, there is more work to be done up-front and it will come as no surprise if the Giants go for a center as early as the second round. Matt Hennessy of Temple is a strong option, as the Nyack native and Don Bosco (N.J.) product grew up a Giants fan and would instantly compete for a starting job.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Kung fu kid jumps for joy on school reopening day

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This martial arts-loving kid couldn’t contain his excitement to be out of quarantine. Watch the 10-year-old show off his kung fu skills, including several impressive back handsprings, in this video filmed in Shaodong, China, on the school’s reopening day.
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