newyorkpost--2020-04-24--City Council’s insane bid to ‘help’ workers right out of their jobs

Mom-and-pop shops as well as medium-sized businesses find themselves hanging by a thin hair in this crisis — yet City Council Speaker Corey Johnson wants to add to their burdens with a bundle of new mandates .
One bill would force essential businesses to retain every employee unless they have a “ just cause ” to fire someone .
A second part of the package would require employers of 100 or more to pay low-wage shift workers a premium of $ 40 to $ 75 per shift during the pandemic .
Council members profess surprise that many business owners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposals that seem to assume that any business still operating is profiteering .
As one exasperated councilman told The Post , “ Nobody disagrees with the idea of hazard pay but it ’ s a matter of who will pay for it.
” CoJo spokesperson Jennifer Fermino tells us these proposals are just the start of a collaborative process : “ The council will take into account serious feedback — exemptions may be possible.
” How generous .
The idea , she says , is to incentivize essential workers to stay on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sorry : This reeks of progressives exploiting the crisis to push measures that ordinarily would be unthinkable .
A wiser council veteran grumbles : “ This legislation isn ’ t just a straw that may break the camel ’ s back — it ’ s a boulder.
” In other words , it would kill the jobs the council thinks it ’ s protecting or enhancing .
One way or another , Johnson ’ s bid at playing King Canute — ordering the economy , rather than the ocean — will fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it fails by not passing — rather than becoming law and pushing the local economy into a deeper downward spiral .

Mom-and-pop shops as well as medium-sized businesses find themselves hanging by a thin hair in this crisis — yet City Council Speaker Corey Johnson wants to add to their burdens with a bundle of new mandates.
One bill would force essential businesses to retain every employee unless they have a “just cause” to fire someone. A second part of the package would require employers of 100 or more to pay low-wage shift workers a premium of $40 to $75 per shift during the pandemic.
Council members profess surprise that many business owners, even nonprofit leaders, are furious at proposals that seem to assume that any business still operating is profiteering. As one exasperated councilman told The Post, “Nobody disagrees with the idea of hazard pay but it’s a matter of who will pay for it.”
CoJo spokesperson Jennifer Fermino tells us these proposals are just the start of a collaborative process: “The council will take into account serious feedback — exemptions may be possible.” How generous.
The idea, she says, is to incentivize essential workers to stay on the job rather than collect enhanced unemployment benefits.
Sorry: This reeks of progressives exploiting the crisis to push measures that ordinarily would be unthinkable.
A wiser council veteran grumbles: “This legislation isn’t just a straw that may break the camel’s back — it’s a boulder.” In other words, it would kill the jobs the council thinks it’s protecting or enhancing.
One way or another, Johnson’s bid at playing King Canute — ordering the economy, rather than the ocean — will fail. Far better for the city if it fails by not passing — rather than becoming law and pushing the local economy into a deeper downward spiral.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--What NFL Draft 2020 picks are doing with all of their extra hats

Close friends and family of the top 2020 NFL Draft picks won ’ t need to go hat shopping for a long time .
The NFL sent pre-draft care packages , including the hats of all 32 teams , to 57 prospects identified as possible first-rounders .
That ’ s more than 1,800 hats distributed in order to capture a signature welcome-to-the-NFL moment that could have been missing in the virtual draft .
Every time a new draft pick showed up on the television screen Thursday night already sporting his new team ’ s hat , there were 31 others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extras ?
That decision is up to the player , NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy told The Post .
The package also included the cameras used by prospects in their homes to film live reactions and interviews , but not a jersey for all 32 teams .
Each first-round pick will receive the proper commemorative No .
1 jersey with his name on the back from the league at a later date , in addition to his official jersey and number from the team .
“ It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is with us would receive the team ’ s No .
1 jersey and also the hat , ” McCarthy said .
“ This was in the lieu of the photo that the player would take with the commissioner.
” The 32 No .
1 jerseys hung on a clothing rack at commissioner Roger Goodell ’ s home in Bronxville , N.Y. during the first round .
Goodell autographed each one , now available at nfl.com/auction as part of the Draft-a-thon to benefit six charities working with first responders , healthcare professionals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also welcomed each prospect with a FaceTime call , replacing the customary handshake or bear hug .
Giants rookie Andrew Thomas said he will give the extra hats to his friends .
No reason to keep around the merchandise of 31 opponents .
“ What I ’ ll probably do is go around seeing which family members like certain teams , ” Tua Tagovailoa told Yahoo Sports before the Dolphins selected him with the No .
5 pick .
“ I ’ d give them a hat .
I ’ d give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ d probably just send them back to the NFL.
” Odds are they all are Dolphins fans now , Tua .

Close friends and family of the top 2020 NFL Draft picks won’t need to go hat shopping for a long time.
The NFL sent pre-draft care packages, including the hats of all 32 teams, to 57 prospects identified as possible first-rounders. That’s more than 1,800 hats distributed in order to capture a signature welcome-to-the-NFL moment that could have been missing in the virtual draft.
Every time a new draft pick showed up on the television screen Thursday night already sporting his new team’s hat, there were 31 others discarded somewhere nearby.
What happens to the extras? That decision is up to the player, NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy told The Post.
The package also included the cameras used by prospects in their homes to film live reactions and interviews, but not a jersey for all 32 teams. Each first-round pick will receive the proper commemorative No. 1 jersey with his name on the back from the league at a later date, in addition to his official jersey and number from the team.
“It’s a draft day tradition that a player who is with us would receive the team’s No. 1 jersey and also the hat,” McCarthy said. “This was in the lieu of the photo that the player would take with the commissioner.”
The 32 No. 1 jerseys hung on a clothing rack at commissioner Roger Goodell’s home in Bronxville, N.Y. during the first round.
Goodell autographed each one, now available at nfl.com/auction as part of the Draft-a-thon to benefit six charities working with first responders, healthcare professionals and others impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. He also welcomed each prospect with a FaceTime call, replacing the customary handshake or bear hug.
Giants rookie Andrew Thomas said he will give the extra hats to his friends. No reason to keep around the merchandise of 31 opponents.
“What I’ll probably do is go around seeing which family members like certain teams,” Tua Tagovailoa told Yahoo Sports before the Dolphins selected him with the No. 5 pick. “I’d give them a hat. I’d give them a jersey. And if not, I’d probably just send them back to the NFL.”
Odds are they all are Dolphins fans now, Tua.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--How the coronavirus horrors could strengthen communities in the long run

In just the past five weeks , more than 26 million ...

Get ready for the “Great De-densification.”
As the coronavirus temporarily empties our cities, this may be the time for a return of American localism. Local governments and business could lead the way.
In the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville praised Americans for their ability to form small communities to get things done and saw in the American township a model of participatory democracy and civic spirit. The postwar years rattled that vision, as government subsumed a lot of tasks that private associations had done on their own, and people moved from farms and rural areas to big cities. The future, we understood, lay in urban density and big, central government or corporate operations.
The coronavirus, with a little help, may make us think differently.
The pandemic has made clear that our local networks are the ones that matter most. When things look bleak, we often turn homeward. Working as a young professional flying all over the world and living in an apartment building (or out of a suitcase) may no longer be as exciting and attractive as it was a year ago, when restaurants and gyms can be closed by government order, everyone has a face mask at the ready and you can be stranded at the first sign of an outbreak. Indeed, many young professionals in crowded cities have returned to their hometowns to wait out the crisis. Families are rushing to buy homes outside of major urban centers like New York to get away from possible vectors of infection.
And we may finally have the digital economy we all were told was coming in the early 2000s. That one fizzled; people saw technology as a supplement to their existing lives rather than helping frame an alternative. This doesn’t mean technology is the answer — sometimes the most essential jobs in this pandemic have been those that require direct, personal contact rather than expertise in abstract or esoteric knowledge. But this time may be an opportunity to better integrate technology into the way we want to live.
Living locally doesn’t mean no risk, but the pandemic has shown how much we rely on networks and processes we have little insight into or control over. In other words, we can be rooted in our communities while still doing the sophisticated work of the global economy — or we can decide that economy is not for us and find other fulfilling work.
Local governments should be thinking about what will bring life back to downtowns and rural areas devastated by decades of global capitalism and urbanization. The trends among millennials for small-scale, artisanal, customized jobs will only increase. Less expensive places to live and work, which are less crowded and with more opportunity for community-building, will only become more attractive. Perhaps some combination of training programs, flexible zoning variances, easier transfer of any certifications between states and rental allowances (say, to freshen up small-town business districts) could do the trick. Tax breaks for relocating or building homes with enhanced features like gardens, front porches (great for social distancing!) or infection-resistant materials could be offered.
Corporations, too, would benefit from thinking about what a dispersed, connected workforce might look like. The pandemic is showing that videoconferencing and other forms of communication will become increasingly accepted for everything from corporate boardrooms to courtrooms. It would not be surprising to see corporations revisit how they buy and use real estate — maybe the age of the skyscraper or campus is ending, as people become more accustomed to digital conference calls and working with teams (as many corporations already do) spread out among different locations. Offices and in-person conferences of course will still be necessary, but it may not be critical to keep thousands of people together in large buildings or require them to take mass transportation to get to their jobs.
The outcome of the tragedy of this pandemic may be the realization that there is a common good, greater than each of our own desires, that makes us better when we work together, whether in local settings or online.
Gerald Russello is editor of The University Bookman.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Giants select Xavier McKinney with No. 36 pick in NFL Draft 2020

The Giants were all set .
They had a trade worked out and were set Friday night to move out of the No .
36 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft .
They found a trade partner and were going to drop in the second round in order to add an additional pick .
Only one player could cancel the trade .
“ We had made up our mind that if Xavier fell to us we were taking him , ’ ’ general manager Dave Gettleman said .
Indeed , Alabama safety Xavier McKinney was on the board .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the potential trade was gone .
“ We did have something , if Xavier had been gone , we did have a team wiling to move up and we would have moved back , ’ ’ Gettleman said .
“ We felt the value of getting Xavier there was just too good to pass up.
’ ’ A day after addressing a huge need with the first-round selection of offensive tackle Andrew Thomas , the Giants added the top safety in the entire draft .
The Giants had a first-round grade on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it through the first round .
“ We saw him hanging around , ’ ’ head coach Joe Judge said .
“ We were very fortunate.
’ ’ Just like that , after signing James Bradberry in free agency , the Giants have the makings of a legitimate secondary .
McKinney figures to start quickly and perhaps immediately , teaming with Jabrill Peppers , who will be able to move closer to the line of scrimmage , where he is more effective .
McKinney can roam the deep half of the field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McKinney is extremely versatile .
He can play in a slot cornerback role , in the box or as a deep safety .
According to Pro Football Talk , McKinney played 291 snaps in the box , 232 snaps in the slot and 282 snaps at free safety .
He was one of four players in college football that played 100 snaps at inside linebacker , outside linebacker and cornerback .
He is not Isaiah Simmons , the do-everything Clemson linebacker who was taken No .
8 overall by the Cardinals , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defensive players in the draft .
“ One of the important things for us this year was getting a safety that can play the deep part of the field , ’ ’ Gettleman said .
“ Xavier certainly played back there enough that we feel very comfortable with that part of his game.
’ ’ Judge went as far as to say McKinney will “ allow us to use a lot of our players in different ways , because of his versatility it will complement everyone else on our roster.
’ ’ McKinney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the NFL Scouting Combine , and that might have hurt his stock a bit and dropped him out of the first round .
He never got a chance to improve that time , as Alabama ’ s pro day was canceled after social distancing measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ That ’ s the only thing we can think of , ’ ’ Gettleman said of why McKinney dropped into the second round .
“ Very frankly , it ’ s how fast does a guy play .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his underwear on a track.
’ ’ There were plenty of pass-rush options on the board when it came time for the Giants to pick , as three offensive players were taken with the first three picks of the second round .
The Giants opted not to take Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun or Penn State edge-player Yetur Gross-Matos , two highly regarded players who produced plenty of sacks this past season .
McKinney follows Landon Collins as an Alabama safety coming to the Giants in the second round .
Collins came aboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McKinney was the pick .
No doubt Judge received plenty of inside information from Nick Saban .
Judge worked for Saban for three years at Alabama .
Judge said he first noticed McKinney two years ago when he was in Tuscaloosa scouting other players for the Patriots .
“ He just stuck out as a guy on the field that flies around , plays with a lot of passion and energy , ’ ’ Judge said .
“ He also has that ability to be that quarterback on the back end.
’ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in free agency .
In addition to Peppers and now McKinney , they have Julian Love entering his second season after starting five games as a rookie .
“ You can never , ’ ’ Gettleman said , “ have enough DBs .
’ ’

The Giants were all set. They had a trade worked out and were set Friday night to move out of the No. 36 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. They found a trade partner and were going to drop in the second round in order to add an additional pick.
Only one player could cancel the trade.
“We had our mind made up our mind that if Xavier fell to us we were taking him,’’ general manager Dave Gettleman said.
Indeed, Alabama safety Xavier McKinney was on the board. That was that. He was the pick and the potential trade was gone.
“We did have something, if Xavier had been gone,’’ Gettleman said. “We felt the value of getting Xavier there was just too good to pass up.’’
A day after addressing a huge need with the first-round selection of offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, the Giants added the top safety in the entire draft. The Giants had a first-round grade on McKinney and did not expect him to make it through Thursday.
“We saw him hanging around,’’ head coach Joe Judge said. “We were very fortunate.’’
Just like that, after signing James Bradberry in free agency, the Giants have the makings of a legitimate secondary. McKinney figures to start quickly and perhaps immediately, teaming with Jabrill Peppers, who will be able to move closer to the line of scrimmage, where he is more effective. McKinney can roam the deep half of the field.
Peppers after the pick was made tweeted “YESSSSSSIR’’ with a whole bunch of exclamation points.
A two-year starter at Alabama, McKinney is extremely versatile. He can play in a slot cornerback role, in the box or as a deep safety. According to Pro Football Talk, McKinney played 291 snaps in the box, 232 snaps in the slot and 282 snaps at free safety. He was one of four players in college football to play 100 snaps at inside linebacker, outside linebacker and cornerback.
“I consider myself a DB,’’ McKinney said. “A DB is somebody who can play safety, free safety, corner, slot nickel, anywhere.’’
He is not Isaiah Simmons, the do-everything Clemson linebacker who was taken No. 8 overall by the Cardinals, but he is one of the most versatile defensive players in the draft.
“One of the important things for us this year was getting a safety that can play the deep part of the field,’’ Gettleman said.
Judge went as far as to say McKinney will “allow us to use a lot of our players in different ways, because of his versatility it will complement everyone else on our roster.’’
McKinney did not run well (4.63) at the NFL Scouting Combine, and that might have hurt his stock a bit. He never got a chance to improve that time, as Alabama’s pro day was canceled, with social distancing measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That’s the only thing we can think of,’’ Gettleman said of why McKinney dropped into the second round. “Very frankly, it’s how fast does a guy play. It’s not what he does in his underwear on a track.’’
• Giants’ NFL Draft tracker: Live round-by-round picks and analysis
McKinney said he experienced cramps before running the 40 at the combine, calling it a “fake time.’’ Earlier in the draft process, he said he ran 4.52.
“I don’t know how much it hurt me,’’ McKinney said. “To be honest I really don’t care much about the 40 anyways. I think my tape says it all.’’
As far as slipping into the second round, McKinney said he was “very surprised.”
“I’m happy to be a Giant and that’s all that matters now,’’ he said.
McKinney follows Landon Collins in 2015 as an Alabama safety coming to the Giants in the second round. Judge received plenty of inside information from Nick Saban. Judge worked for Saban for three years at Alabama. Judge said he first noticed McKinney two years ago when he was in Tuscaloosa scouting for the Patriots.
“He just stuck out as a guy on the field that flies around, plays with a lot of passion and energy,’’ Judge said. “He also has that ability to be that quarterback on the back end.’’
In addition to Peppers and now McKinney, the Giants have Julian Love entering his second season after starting five games as a rookie.
“You can never,’’ Gettleman said, “have enough DBs.’’


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Knicks finally acknowledge Jeremy Lin in desperate programming move

With Brock Aller soon to jump from the Cavaliers to ...

Call it Linsanity Week.
As MSG Network desperately seeks programming during the suspension of the Knicks’ season, Jeremy Lin’s top games during his infamous 2011-12 campaign will air starting Monday.
The Lin-fest is the first time the Knicks have acknowledged Lin being a part of franchise history. Lin left on bad terms after the Rockets redid his offer sheet, placing a poison-pill, $15 million final year after realizing the Knicks would match the original one. Carmelo Anthony called Lin’s revised offer sheet “ridiculous.’’
Knicks owner James Dolan was bitter at what he felt was a betrayal after Lin became a global icon and decided to let him go to Houston. Upon Lin’s returns to the Garden, no ceremonial video moment was staged to acknowledge his place in Knicks’ lore.
When MSG Network started telecasting past contests last month, fans on social media wondered why Lin wasn’t part of it.
The week calls for nine of Lin’s games to be showcased, including his sensational performance against Kobe Bryant’s Lakers and his buzzer-beating win in Toronto.
Lin played for Beijing Ducks this past season. During the NBA Finals, when Lin won a ring as a bit player for Toronto, he told The Post, “I love the New York fans. I feel like that was such a special moment in my life. The big reason is [the fans] made it special. Just walking down the street, wherever I went, being in that arena playing at that time, all the fans make it special.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--How St. John’s legend Lou Carnesecca is faring during ‘vicious’ coronavirus

They are coping the best they can , same as you , ...

All these years later, even during a pandemic that he considers as dangerous as anything he’s ever faced — and the legendary St. John’s Hall of Fame coach fought in World War II — Lou Carnesecca hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
“I’m locked up,” he said jokingly in a phone interview with The Post. “I have to ask the warden for a pass.”
At the age of 95 and confined to his Queens home — his daughter Enes goes shopping for him and his wife Mary — Carnesecca is doing his best to make the most of a difficult situation. He’s reading a lot and catching up with old players and friends on the phone, while strictly adhering to stay-at-home orders that are in place through May 15.
“Thank God I’m fine. Good,” St. John’s all-time winningest coach with a 526-200 mark across 24 seasons said, when asked for an update on his health. “I’m worried like everybody else, but I’m fine. You got to be lucky, too. This thing is vicious.”
Just the other day, he received a letter from a team manager from the early 1970’s. Marco Baldi, who played for Carnesecca from 1985-88, called him and told him about the hardships he’s seen up close in Italy. His days are filled with reminiscing, recalling fond memories of his long coaching career.
It brightens up his day, at a time when there are mostly dark clouds, the coronavirus wreaking havoc on his city. Carnesecca expressed hope the world can get a handle on this virus that has yet to slow down. He feels fortunate, to have so many people in his life who are concerned about him, and to be in good health himself.
“Hey, they were a part of my life,” he said of his hundreds of former players. “In those days, they used to stay four years. They didn’t fly the coup after a year or two. You got to know them better. It’s wonderful, really. After all these years we’re still in contact.
“I tell them now that I should’ve played you more. And they agree with me.”
Carnesecca’s coaching career began at the high school level at St. Ann’s Academy (now Archbishop Molloy) in 1950, continued across 24 years at St. John’s and included three seasons at the professional ranks with the New York Nets of the ABA from 1971-73.
He led St. John’s to the 1985 Final Four and reached 15 NCAA Tournaments in his final 17 seasons, producing pros such as Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson, Bill Wennington, Jayson Williams and Malik Sealy, among many others. Since Carnesecca retired following the 1991-92 season, St. John’s has had a few big years — it reached the Elite Eight in 2000 — but hasn’t been able to recreate the sustained success that marked the Carnesecca era.
“Don’t forget, we got all city guys. I would say 85-90 percent of our guys were local,” he said. “Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx. It was different.
“I never had to leave New York. I coached high school, college and pro, and never left New York. That’s a big, big plus. I knew the kids from the JV, I knew the coaches, I knew the area. So that was a big, big advantage.”
Without any games to watch, Carnesecca can’t help but follow the news closely. He’s riveted by the heroes who face the virus every day in local hospitals — “they deserve the accolades,” he said — and what is being done to slow down this terrorizing pandemic. He’s not quite old enough to have lived through the 1918 flu pandemic, but his parents told him horror stories of their experiences with it.
“I’ve been through a few things. The [Great] Depression. World War II. 9/11. President [John F.] Kennedy’s [assassination],” he said. “A lot of things have happened, but this is unbelievable. … This thing is going to go down as probably one of the worst [we’ve ever faced].
“This thing came so sudden, and wacked us, and it’s still wacking us. But I think we’re going to get control. We are trying. We got some pretty good minds working on it. We’re going to crack it.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Small business owners brace for pain when $310B loan program opens Monday

The Small Business Administration will begin OK ’ ing a second round of loans to struggling businesses on Monday — a process that will be closely watched by hoards of mom-and-pop owners who say they were excluded from the stimulus program the first time around .
The second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans kicks off April 27 at 10:30 am with $ 310 billion in funding .
“ We encourage all approved lenders to process loan applications previously submitted by eligible borrowers and disburse funds expeditiously , ” SBA chief Jovita Carranza and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The loans have been highly sought after by businesses suffering from coronavirus quarantines because they can be converted into grants by companies that keep their employees on the payroll for an eight week period after the loan is granted .
The first round of $ 350 billion in funding ran out of cash after just 13 days on April 16 .
Since then , it ’ s emerged that dozens of publicly traded companies , some with valuations over $ 100 million , received funding , including $ 30 million from Ruth ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shop and the Wilhelmina International talent agency that represents celebrities from Nicki Minaj to Nick Jonas .
Small business owner Allan Ripp , who applied for a loan from Citibank in the first go around and came away empty handed , said he ’ s still concerned about being left out of the process while bigger companies get their loans .
“ After enduring two weeks of automated hell with Citi ’ s portal and being repeatedly advised to stay patient while our application is ‘ escalated ’ with no meaningful sign that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have a lot of confidence that we ’ ll be fortunate enough to receive funding , especially knowing how quickly the new round of funding will be committed.
” In a statement to The Post , a Citi spokesman said , “ Citi is committed to supporting small businesses and has been pleased to participate in the Small Business Administration ’ s Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) .
We worked with applicants as quickly as possible to help them complete and submit their applications and regret that some of our clients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SBA ’ s funds being exhausted.
” “ We have continued to process applications in anticipation of additional program funding , ” the Citi statement continued , “ and we ’ re ready to continue helping small business owners get the funding they need to keep their employees on the payroll .
”

The Small Business Administration will begin OK’ing a second round of loans to struggling businesses on Monday — a process that will be closely watched by hoards of mom-and-pop owners who say they were excluded from the stimulus program the first time around.
The second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans kicks off April 27 at 10:30 am with $310 billion in funding.
“We encourage all approved lenders to process loan applications previously submitted by eligible borrowers and disburse funds expeditiously,” SBA chief Jovita Carranza and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a joint statement on Friday.
The loans have been highly sought after by businesses suffering from coronavirus quarantines because they can be converted into grants by companies that keep their employees on the payroll for an eight week period after the loan is granted. The first round of $350 billion in funding ran out of cash after just 13 days on April 16.
Since then, it’s emerged that dozens of publicly traded companies, some with valuations over $100 million, received funding, including $30 million from Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Potbelly Sandwich Shop and the Wilhelmina International talent agency that represents celebrities from Nicki Minaj to Nick Jonas.
Small business owner Allan Ripp, who applied for a loan from Citibank in the first go around and came away empty handed, said he’s still concerned about being left out of the process while bigger companies get their loans.
“After enduring two weeks of automated hell with Citi’s portal and being repeatedly advised to stay patient while our application is ‘escalated’ with no meaningful sign that it has been, I don’t have a lot of confidence that we’ll be fortunate enough to receive funding, especially knowing how quickly the new round of funding will be committed.”
In a statement to The Post, a Citi spokesman said, “Citi is committed to supporting small businesses and has been pleased to participate in the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). We worked with applicants as quickly as possible to help them complete and submit their applications and regret that some of our clients did not receive funding prior to the SBA’s funds being exhausted.”
“We have continued to process applications in anticipation of additional program funding,” the Citi statement continued, “and we’re ready to continue helping small business owners get the funding they need to keep their employees on the payroll.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Sheriff denies police cover-up of ‘Tiger King’ star’s missing husband

The Florida county sheriff investigating a suspicious , decades-old disappearance , revived by the Netflix series “ Tiger King : Murder , Mayhem and Madness , ” said that his police department is not involved in a cover-up related to the case .
Among the cast of bizarre characters featured in the Netflix documentary is Hillsborough County , Fla. , animal sanctuary owner Carole Baskin .
She is also the former wife of apparent multi-millionaire Don Lewis , who went missing in 1997 .
Baskin vehemently denies any role in his disappearance .
In a new interview with former prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillsborough County sheriff Chad Chronister took on theories that Baskin ’ s brother , who was a deputy sheriff on the Hillsborough county police force and on duty the night of Lewis ’ disappearance , is somehow involved in the case .
“ If you dare to Google yourself , you ’ re going to find out that there ’ s a conspiracy theory going on and a suggestion of a cover-up , ” said Grace on a new episode of the Fox Nation series , “ A Tiger King Investigation.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bull by the horns , Sheriff , ” she pressed .
“ She had a brother on your force , on the sheriff department force… What do you say to claims that he helped her cover up a murder and that he helped her that night ?
” “ I would say those claims are false , ” replied Chronister .
“ He was actually assigned to a call , ” continued Chronister , “ He had actually had someone under arrest .
Someone was in his car .
He went to booking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory of cover-up is dispelled when you can track back and see that his actions that night were accounted for.
” On the night of Lewis ’ disappearance , Baskin claimed to have gone to the grocery store at 3 a.m. to buy milk for tiger cubs and that her vehicle broke down .
Chronister said that Baskin ’ s brother and another officer at the time corroborated that account .
“ [ Baskin ’ s brother ] had asked for one of his other friends , another deputy , to please take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chronister .
“ Another deputy sheriff did pick her up from the Albertson ’ s and give her a ride back to the animal sanctuary.
” While Chronister dismissed any theories of a law enforcement conspiracy , he does believe that Lewis was murdered , in a “ sophisticated and complex ” plot , involving more than one person .
Lewis ’ abandoned car was found in the parking lot of a private country airport and Baskin has said that Lewis was planning on traveling to Costa Rica , where he had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this individual never left the country , ” said Chronister .
“ I think it was staged and meant to appear like someone had just pulled up , parked , and I think they wanted us to believe that he would never [ have ] intended on returning and that he had left .
“ No doubt in my mind .
I ’ m thoroughly convinced that he was killed , ” Chronister continued while stressing that he is not naming Baskin as a person of interest in the disappearance .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Lewis ’ ] death… That ’ s why it would be irresponsible to call Carol Baskin even a person of interest , ” he concluded .
To hear more of Grace ’ s fascinating interview with Sheriff Chronister , including his recollections of Baskin ’ s suspicious behavior following reports of her former husband ’ s disappearance , watch all of “ A Tiger King Investigation with Nancy Grace ” on Fox Nation .

The Florida county sheriff investigating a suspicious, decades-old disappearance, revived by the Netflix series “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” said that his police department is not involved in a cover-up related to the case.
Among the cast of bizarre characters featured in the Netflix documentary is Hillsborough County, Fla., animal sanctuary owner Carole Baskin.
She is also the former wife of apparent multi-millionaire Don Lewis, who went missing in 1997. Baskin vehemently denies any role in his disappearance.
In a new interview with former prosecutor and Fox Nation host Nancy Grace, Hillsborough County sheriff Chad Chronister took on theories that Baskin’s brother, who was a deputy sheriff on the Hillsborough county police force and on duty the night of Lewis’ disappearance, is somehow involved in the case.
“If you dare to Google yourself, you’re going to find out that there’s a conspiracy theory going on and a suggestion of a cover-up,” said Grace on a new episode of the Fox Nation series, “A Tiger King Investigation.”
“So let’s just grab the bull by the horns, Sheriff,” she pressed. “She had a brother on your force, on the sheriff department force… What do you say to claims that he helped her cover up a murder and that he helped her that night?”
“I would say those claims are false,” replied Chronister.
“He was actually assigned to a call,” continued Chronister, “He had actually had someone under arrest. Someone was in his car. He went to booking during that time. Any type of theory of cover-up is dispelled when you can track back and see that his actions that night were accounted for.”
On the night of Lewis’ disappearance, Baskin claimed to have gone to the grocery store at 3 a.m. to buy milk for tiger cubs and that her vehicle broke down.
Chronister said that Baskin’s brother and another officer at the time corroborated that account.
“[Baskin’s brother] had asked for one of his other friends, another deputy, to please take her to the home,” said Chronister. “Another deputy sheriff did pick her up from the Albertson’s and give her a ride back to the animal sanctuary.”
While Chronister dismissed any theories of a law enforcement conspiracy, he does believe that Lewis was murdered, in a “sophisticated and complex” plot, involving more than one person.
Lewis’ abandoned car was found in the parking lot of a private country airport and Baskin has said that Lewis was planning on traveling to Costa Rica, where he had a home.
“This individual was murdered and this individual never left the country,” said Chronister. “I think it was staged and meant to appear like someone had just pulled up, parked, and I think they wanted us to believe that he would never [have] intended on returning and that he had left.
“No doubt in my mind. I’m thoroughly convinced that he was killed,” Chronister continued while stressing that he is not naming Baskin as a person of interest in the disappearance.
“There are other people who benefited by [Lewis’] death… That’s why it would be irresponsible to call Carol Baskin even a person of interest,” he concluded.
To hear more of Grace’s fascinating interview with Sheriff Chronister, including his recollections of Baskin’s suspicious behavior following reports of her former husband’s disappearance, watch all of “A Tiger King Investigation with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--The 10 best available players on Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft

INDIANAPOLIS — He lost to Fromm , but might be asked ...

The big names are gone, but future impact players aren’t.
Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft lacks the cache of the previous two, but some of the league best players were unknowns just hoping for a shot.
Tom Brady (sixth round) ring a bell? Kam Chancellor (fifth round)? Richard Sherman (fifth round)? Geno Atkins (fourth round) There are gems to be found in rounds 4-7.
Here are 10 of the top prospects still available:
Akeem Davis-Gaither, OLB, Appalachian State
Teams crave versatility in linebackers and that’s Davis-Gaither’s strengths, the ability to cover and rush the passer. At 224 pounds, he will need to put on weight, but in the least, he should be a special teams contributor right away.
Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
A one-time top-five recruit who lost his job at Georgia to Jake Fromm, Eason had a strong season at Washington, showcasing a big arm and quality pocket mobility. Accuracy and decision-making remain concerns, as the 6-foot-6 Eason threw 16 interceptions in just 29 college games.
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
After three quarterbacks were taken in the first six picks, only two others followed through the opening three rounds. Fromm’s arm strength and lack of mobility hurt him, but he is a winner, leading Georgia to three straight SEC East crowns and throwing 78 touchdown passes, just 18 interceptions and completing 63.3 percent of his passes in the premier conference in the country over three seasons.
Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
Not a speed merchant, but has the size and skillset to stick, and possibly even be a difference maker with his ability to make plays down the field. The 6-foot-4 Gandy-Golden averaged 17.7 yards per catch in the fall – which was ranked in the top 10 among receivers with 60 or more receptions – while catching 79 passes for 1,396 yards.
Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
If not for a season-ending ankle injury in October that required surgery, the 6-foot-1 Hall would be long gone by now. As a junior, he led the nation with 22 pass breakups. There is always risk taking a player coming off an injury, especially when he’s still not 100 percent – that’s the case with Hall – but it’s even harder to make up for a lack of talent.
Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
Big and fast, the 6-foot-5, 258-pound tight end ran a 4.49 40 – the fastest of any tight end in this draft. He also caught at least six touchdowns each of the last three years.
La’Mical Perine, RB, Florida
With so many teams preferring multiple back rotations, the physical Perine should have a place in the league. At 5-foot-11 and 216 pounds, the bruising Perine could be a short-yardage weapon, as his 30 career touchdowns at Florida suggest.
Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
Yes, his size at 5-foot-8 is a concern, which is a major reason he’s still available. But it’s hard to teach ball skills like Robertson possesses. In three years, he had 14 interceptions and produced 16 passes defensed this past season and added 44 tackles, a sign of his toughness.
Kenny Robinson, S, XFL
After an academic issue led to his expulsion at West Virginia, Robinson thrived in the since-shuttered XFL, producing 21 tackles and two interceptions in just five games with the St. Louis BattleHawks. That came on the heels of a standout sophomore season for the Mountaineers, when he was an All-Big 12 first team selection and had four interceptions and 77 tackles. The Wilkinsburg, Pa. native makes plays.
Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame
The ball skills may never get there, but you can’t teach speed or size, and at 6-foot, Pride profiles well at the next level. His three interceptions in four years at Notre Dame illustrate he’s not a takeaway artist, but his 18 passes defensed show he’s frequently around the ball in good position.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Giants could snag a center on Day 3 of NFL Draft

Having addressed needs on the offensive line in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and the defensive backfield @ @ @ @ @ the Giants doubled up with another offensive tackle in the third round .
This leaves @ @ @ @ @ going to snap the ball to Daniel Jones ?
There were thoughts the Giants would @ @ @ @ @ Day 2 of the draft but they did not .
For now , they have @ @ @ @ @ experienced center on the roster .
There is some talk of trying tackle Nick Gates @ @ @ @ @ Halapio is coming off a torn Achilles tendon and is unsigned , but he is @ @ @ @ @ can pass a physical .
The top center still available is Wisconsin ’ s Tyler @ @ @ @ @ make a run at a center at pick No .
110 early in the fourth @ @ @ @ @ expected to dig into the deep wide receiver class , but a ton of them @ @ @ @

Having addressed needs on the offensive line in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and the defensive backfield in the second round, the Giants doubled up with another offensive tackle in the third round.
This leaves the question: Who is going to snap the ball to Daniel Jones?
• Giants’ NFL Draft tracker: Live round-by-round picks and analysis
There were thoughts the Giants would go for a center on Day 2 of the draft but they did not. For now, they have Spencer Pulley as the only experienced center on the roster. There is some talk of trying tackle Nick Gates at some point. Jon Halapio is coming off a torn Achilles tendon and is unsigned, but he is likely to return once he can pass a physical.
The top center still available is Wisconsin’s Tyler Biadasz. Perhaps the Giants make a run at a center at pick No. 110 early in the fourth round. They also are expected to dig into the deep wide receiver class, but a ton of them are already gone.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Jets could grab another receiver on Day 3 of NFL Draft

The Jets have six remaining picks entering Saturday Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft and Joe Douglas needs to @ @ @ @ @ team .
Douglas can stay true to his draft board and find players to fill @ @ @ @ @ they have so many of them .
The third day is not really about pinpointing @ @ @ @ @ positional depth .
The Jets still could use another wide receiver after taking Denzel Mims @ @ @ @ @ Running back , tight end and guard are other positions of need .
There is @ @ @ @ @ a developmental quarterback or a kicker or punter .
There are plenty of directions the @ @ @ @

The Jets have six remaining picks entering Saturday Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft and Joe Douglas needs to add some depth to his team.
Douglas can stay true to his draft board and find players to fill holes for the Jets because they have so many of them. The third day is not really about pinpointing players, but addressing some positional depth.
• Jets’ NFL Draft tracker: Live round-by-round picks and analysis
The Jets still could use another wide receiver after taking Denzel Mims in the second round. Running back, tight end and guard are other positions of need.
There is also a chance Douglas takes a developmental quarterback or a kicker or punter. There are plenty of directions the Jets could go.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--How Eagles are spinning Jalen Hurts-Carson Wentz situation

In a second day stunner , Jalen Hurts is headed to ...

Carson Wentz went from hearing the cha-ching of cashing in on an extension to the sound of a ticking clock in a span of 10 months.
The Eagles dropped a second-round stunner on the 2020 NFL Draft by selecting former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts with the No. 53 pick despite having the 27-year-old Wentz under contract through 2024 on a four-year deal worth $128 million.
General manager Howie Roseman and coach Doug Pederson immediately tried to downplay any talk of a quarterback controversy, but better luck next time. Some Eagles fans never warmed to the injury-prone Wentz and the arrival of Hurts could reinforce the adage the most popular player on a team is the backup quarterback.
“We’ve shown how we feel about Carson by our actions — by the amount of picks we’ve put into [helping] him and by the contract extension,” Roseman said. “We believe this is the guy to lead us to our next Super Bowl championship, but for better or worse we are quarterback developers. We want to be a quarterback factory.”
The Eagles paired Donovan McNabb and Jeff Garcia last decade and then won Super Bowl LII behind backup Nick Foles after Wentz’s MVP-caliber season was cut short. The beloved Foles left in free agency, allowing Wentz not to live in his shadow.
Enter Hurts, who starred at the Senior Bowl and drew a comparison to Dak Prescott from the game’s executive director Jim Nagy, a former Seahawks scout.
“Nobody is going to be looking at a rookie quarterback taking over for a Pro Bowl quarterback,” Roseman said, “but at the end of the day we believe in the quarterback position.”
Some scouts believe Hurts could fill a complementary role like Taysom Hill does for Drew Brees and the Saints. Hill spells Brees for certain plays, especially in the red zone, and plays on special teams.
“It’s something we are going to explore,” Pederson said. “First and foremost, Jalen Hurts is a good quarterback, he was drafted as a quarterback and he is a quarterback first. But he has a unique skill set. He is a great runner.”
Roseman informed Wentz earlier in the day of the possibility of selecting Hurts and, after the pick was made, Wentz quickly turned to Twitter to welcome Hurts to “the best football city in America.”
The durable Hurts was 38-4 as a college starter and accounted for 123 touchdowns. He transferred after losing his job at Alabama to Tua Tagovailoa, who was the No. 5 pick by the Dolphins — but first proved he could be a great teammate as a backup, which mattered to the Eagles’ brass.
“I don’t put a ceiling on myself or my game,” Hurts said. “I’m excited to soak it all in like a sponge and improve every day.”
The Eagles managed to keep their interest quiet despite scouting Hurts’ games at Oklahoma, background phone calls to coaches and arranging a one-on-one meeting at Oklahoma’s pro day, before the coronavirus pandemic.
“I control what I can,” Hurts said. “This is a great moment for me and family.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Musical sensation ‘Six’ releases worldwide video

While the queens of ‘ Six ’ may not be reigning on Broadway or the West End , they managed to find a way to inspire their pandemic-panicked fans — by enlisting them in a music video .
A couple of weeks ago , the ‘ Six ’ Instagram account asked fans to sing part of a song that would be featured in a ‘ Worldwide ” mashup .
Little did they know that they would be joined by the former and current stars of the musical when the song aired .
From New York to London to Australia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bliss cruise line , queens old and new gathered to sing the opening number of the show , which then transitioned to a supercut of all the fans singing .
Even writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss joined in the fun as special guests .
The video is raising money for The Actor ’ s Fund , Acting for others , Support act , all of which were set up to support actors , and other theatre personal during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The production , which opened on the West End @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Moss ’ college thesis project about King Henry VIII ’ s wives , and has since gathered an intensely loyal fanbase .
The Broadway production of the musical was slated to open March 12 , the day that Broadway was shuttered .

While the queens of ‘Six’ may not be reigning on Broadway or the West End, they managed to find a way to inspire their pandemic-panicked fans — by enlisting them in a music video.
A couple of weeks ago, the ‘Six’ Instagram account asked fans to sing part of a song that would be featured in a ‘Worldwide” mashup.
Little did they know that they would be joined by the former and current stars of the musical when the song aired.
From New York to London to Australia, all the way to the company on the Bliss cruise line, queens old and new gathered to sing the opening number of the show, which then transitioned to a supercut of all the fans singing.
Even writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss joined in the fun as special guests.
The video is raising money for The Actor’s Fund, Acting for others, Support act, all of which were set up to support actors, and other theatre personal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The production, which opened on the West End in 2017, started out as Marlow and Moss’ college thesis project about King Henry VIII’s wives, and has since gathered an intensely loyal fanbase.
The Broadway production of the musical was slated to open March 12, the day that Broadway was shuttered.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--This isn’t only time Giants, Jets drafted first-round picks at same position

The Giants and Jets selected players at the same position in the first round of the NFL draft for the second year in a row and ninth time since 1970 , when the teams started drafting together following the NFL/AFL merger .
Here ’ s look at how the previous decisions have turned out : Edge : Too soon to tell .
Edge : Ross was a key contributor to two Giants Super Bowl winners , but “ Revis Island ” was a four-time All-Pro and generational corner .
Edge : Robertson led in tackles , 283-103 , and sacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision , but he was not worth the fourth pick , which the Jets traded up to get .
Edge : Mitchell by quite a bit .
He totaled 159 catches , 2,103 yards and 16 TDs compared to 43-401-1 for Brown , most of which came after he left the Giants .
Edge : Oh … my … God !
Thomas is one of the draft ’ s all-time busts , never rushing for more than 728 yards in a season .
Hampton was a force in the 1990s with five consecutive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 74 regular-season games to Cadigan ’ s 64 .
Moore ’ s legacy is enhanced by a Super Bowl XXV title and clouded by a 1993 indictment for steroid possession .
Edge : Ward frustrated Jets fans with holding penalties and had his helmet infamously thrown at him by Raiders DE Lyle Alzado in the 1982 playoffs , but he was a fixture for years opposite RT Marvin Powell and had a better career than King .
Edge : Even if you take away his 7,400-plus yards as a Redskin , Hall of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York , 3,880 yards to 217 .

The Giants and Jets selected players at the same position in the first round of the NFL draft for the second year in a row and ninth time since 1970, when the teams started drafting together following the NFL/AFL merger. Here’s look at how the previous decisions have turned out:
2020
Giants (4): Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Giants (17): Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
2019
Jets (3): Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
Giants (17): Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Edge: Too soon to tell.
2007
Jets (14): Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
Giants (20): Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
Edge: Ross was a key contributor to two Giants Super Bowl winners, but “Revis Island” was a four-time All-Pro and generational corner.
• Giants’ NFL Draft tracker: Live round-by-round picks and analysis
2003
Jets (4): Dwayne Robertson, DT, Kentucky
Giants (25): William Joseph, DT, Miami
Edge: Robertson led in tackles, 283-103, and sacks, 16-7. So he wins by decision, but he was not worth the fourth pick, which the Jets traded up to get.
1992
Giants (14): Derek Brown, TE, Notre Dame
Jets (15): Johnny Mitchell, TE, Nebraska
Edge: Mitchell by quite a bit. He totaled 159 catches, 2,103 yards and 16 TDs compared to 43-401-1 for Brown, most of which came after he left the Giants.
1990
Jets (2): Blair Thomas, RB, Penn State
Giants (24): Rodney Hampton, RB, Georgia
Edge: Oh … my … God! Thomas is one of the draft’s all-time busts, never rushing for more than 728 yards in a season. Hampton was a force in the 1990s with five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
1988
Jets (8): Dave Cadigan, T/G, USC
Giants (10): Eric Moore, G, Indiana
Edge: Moore started 74 regular-season games to Cadigan’s 64. Moore’s legacy is enhanced by a Super Bowl XXV title and clouded by a 1993 indictment for steroid possession.
• Jets’ NFL Draft tracker: Live round-by-round picks and analysis
1978
Jets (4): Chris Ward, T, Ohio State
Giants (10): Gordon King, T, Stanford
Edge: Ward frustrated Jets fans with holding penalties and had his helmet infamously thrown at him by Raiders DE Lyle Alzado in the 1982 playoffs, but he was a fixture for years opposite RT Marvin Powell and had a better career than King.
1971
Jets (6): John Riggins, RB, Kansas
Giants (18): Rocky Thompson, RB, West Texas A&M
Edge: Even if you take away his 7,400-plus yards as a Redskin, Hall of Famer Riggo still outrushed Thompson in New York, 3,880 yards to 217.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Joe Douglas shows Jets fans he can work some NFL Draft magic

The Jets got bigger on Thursday night and then got ...

There, of course, is still work to be done.
But the early returns on Jets general manager Joe Douglas, through the first two nights of the 2020 NFL Draft (his first as a GM), cannot be graded as anything but positive.
Douglas went chalk in Thursday night’s first round, securing the tackle he had targeted all along when he called Mekhi Becton’s name with the 11th-overall pick.
It wasn’t the sexy, flashy pick some Jets fans might have wanted — such as CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy or another of the six receivers that went in the first round. But it was an efficient, critical move to help protect Sam Darnold, the franchise quarterback.
In Friday night’s second round, however, Douglas transformed into Trader Joe and delivered the sexy, flashy pick after he traded down 11 spots and still landed Baylor receiver Denzel Mims, who was considered by talent evaluators to be drafted early in the second round.
As the Jets’ 48th-overall pick approached, fans grew giddy that Mims still was on the board.
Then Douglas traded the pick to Seattle for the Seahawks’ 59th-overall pick and the 101st overall, and that left fans wondering why the Jets weren’t taking a receiver in what has been described as one of the best, deepest receiver drafts in memory.
The move gave the Jets three third-round picks (the last of which they’d later trade), but it upset a lot of fans who thought they’d lost the chance to get Mims as they watched in agony as two more receivers were drafted following the trade.
Mims, meanwhile, remained on the board.
“At the time when we were getting close to 48, we had a strong group of players, not only receivers but other positions, that we liked,’’ Douglas said. “Moving back to 59, you realize you may lose a few of them, but we were still going to have enough players we were excited about. We felt that wasn’t too far to move back.’’
As much (if not more) as the Jets entered this draft needing a tackle, they desperately need big-play receiver help for Darnold, who lost his favorite target, speedster Robby Anderson, to free agency this offseason.
Alas, when pick No. 59 arrived, guess who was still on the board?
Mims.
Maybe Douglas would have happy with Mims at No. 48. Maybe Douglas knew something. Maybe he gambled. Maybe he just got lucky. But the end result was landing a skilled receiver who has a chance to be a big playmaker … and adding a third third-round pick in the process.
That’s a win-win until further notice tells us anything differently.
• Jets’ NFL Draft tracker: Live round-by-round picks and analysis
Speaking of win-win situations, the trade down and Mims falling to 59 sounds like it might have lit an added flame under the Baylor receiver, who admitted that he was rankled by falling that far down the board when some draft experts predicted he could go as early as the late in the first round.
A chip on the shoulder never hurts an athlete who’s got something to prove.
“I got upset a little bit,’’ Mims said. “But I cleared my head. I’m glad to be a Jet at 59. I’ve always been underrated all my life.’’
Douglas heard the disappointment in Mims’ voice when he called him after the pick, and he loved it.
“Usually, when you call the guys [after they’re drafted], they’re excited, but Denzel had a real chip on his shoulder,’’ Douglas said. “It was important to him that he was going to make teams that passed him up pay … and we can’t wait to get that attitude in our building.’’
When Douglas was asked directly if he believes Mims has the skill set and makeup to become the No. 1 receiver Darnold has lacked the past two years, he declined to go there.
But if this is going to be deemed the strong pick it appears to be, Mims will need to contribute right away. That’ll mean creating as much synergy as he can with Darnold in a short period of time, which may be challenging under the COVID-19 restrictions.
“I can come in right away and get rolling together [with Darnold] and build a great connection and make the Jets program a lot better,’’ Mims said. “I believe the Jets believe in me.’’
And, after the first two nights Joe Douglas had in his first draft as a GM, Jets fans should probably start believing in him.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Rutgers University to freeze tuition in plan to offset coronavirus hardships

Rutgers University announced plans to freeze tuition and cut the pay of senior leadership and new construction to stave off the financial challenges of the coronavirus pandemic .
University President Robert Barchi said he will recommend to the Board of Governors a tuition freeze at current levels for undergraduates in the 2021 budget .
Meanwhile , he and other members of senior leadership will take between 5 and 10 percent pay cut and major construction projects will be halted as the university forecasts a $ 200 million loss in revenue in its current budget and potentially an even greater shortfall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Rutgers will weather this storm , but our university—and indeed all of higher education—confronts perhaps the greatest academic and operational challenge in its history , ” Barchi said in a letter sent Friday to Rutgers staff and students .
Barchi , who is leaving his position at the end of the school year , earns a base salary of $ 705,305 at the gig , public records show .
It ’ s not yet clear what will happen to the 3,000 adjunct professors at New Jersey ’ s flagship public university , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belt-tightening , NJ.com reported .
Barchi will join chancellors , executive vice presidents , the executive director , and head coaches for football and men ’ s and women ’ s basketball in taking the 10 percent pay cut over the next four months .
“ The steps we are taking today will help us address the immediate impact of the COVID-19 outbreak , but they are only the beginning of what we must consider , ” Barchi wrote .
“ Equally substantial steps will be needed as we craft a budget for @ @ @ @ @

Rutgers University announced plans to freeze tuition and cut the pay of senior leadership and new construction to stave off the financial challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
University President Robert Barchi said he will recommend to the Board of Governors a tuition freeze at current levels for undergraduates in the 2021 budget.
Meanwhile, he and other members of senior leadership will take between 5 and 10 percent pay cut and major construction projects will be halted as the university forecasts a $200 million loss in revenue in its current budget and potentially an even greater shortfall in 2021, according to Barchi.
“Rutgers will weather this storm, but our university—and indeed all of higher education—confronts perhaps the greatest academic and operational challenge in its history,” Barchi said in a letter sent Friday to Rutgers staff and students.
Barchi, who is leaving his position at the end of the school year, earns a base salary of $705,305 at the gig, public records show.
It’s not yet clear what will happen to the 3,000 adjunct professors at New Jersey’s flagship public university, who fear for their jobs during the belt-tightening, NJ.com reported.
Barchi will join chancellors, executive vice presidents, the executive director, and head coaches for football and men’s and women’s basketball in taking the 10 percent pay cut over the next four months.
“The steps we are taking today will help us address the immediate impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, but they are only the beginning of what we must consider,” Barchi wrote.
“Equally substantial steps will be needed as we craft a budget for the coming year.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--ExxonMobil producing hand sanitizer to donate to health workers and first responders

ExxonMobile has devised a single solution for the double whammy of historic low oil prices and a coronavirus pandemic : converting one of its plants to make medical-grade hand sanitizer for health care providers and first responders .
The oil and gas giant has reconfigured a facility in Louisianna to produce the product , which it plans to donate for free to medical workers within the state and in New York , Texas , New Jersey , New Mexico and Pennsylvania , ExxonMobil announced Friday .
“ We ’ re focused on keeping our people and communities safe while supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Darren Woods , chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation , in a statement .
Exxon ’ s move comes a month after liquor companies undertook similar initiatives to produce the product , including Bacardi and Anheuser Busch .
Hand sanitizers can be made out of two alcohols .
One is similar to the ethanol in alcoholic beverages ; the other , isopropyl alcohol , is usually derived from fossil fuels .
Exxon ’ s initial production run using isopropyl alcohol at the Baton Rouge site yielded 160,000 gallons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill almost 5 million 4-ounce bottles , according to the company .
More batches are planned .
The company said it ’ s also increased its capability to manufacture specialized polypropylene used in medical masks and gowns , with the ability to make enough of the thermoplastic polymer to produce 200 million medical masks or 20 million gowns .

ExxonMobile has devised a single solution for the double whammy of historic low oil prices and a coronavirus pandemic: converting one of its plants to make medical-grade hand sanitizer for health care providers and first responders.
The oil and gas giant has reconfigured a facility in Louisianna to produce the product, which it plans to donate for free to medical workers within the state and in New York, Texas, New Jersey, New Mexico and Pennsylvania, ExxonMobil announced Friday.
“We’re focused on keeping our people and communities safe while supporting frontline responders and meeting customer needs,” said Darren Woods, chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in a statement.
Exxon’s move comes a month after liquor companies undertook similar initiatives to produce the product, including Bacardi and Anheuser Busch.
Hand sanitizers can be made out of two alcohols. One is similar to the ethanol in alcoholic beverages; the other, isopropyl alcohol, is usually derived from fossil fuels.
Exxon’s initial production run using isopropyl alcohol at the Baton Rouge site yielded 160,000 gallons of medical-grade sanitizer, or enough to fill almost 5 million 4-ounce bottles, according to the company. More batches are planned.
The company said it’s also increased its capability to manufacture specialized polypropylene used in medical masks and gowns, with the ability to make enough of the thermoplastic polymer to produce 200 million medical masks or 20 million gowns.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Las Vegas will have to wait to throw biggest NFL Draft party

This was supposed to be the week Las Vegas stamped itself as the sports capital of the world .
The 2020 NFL Draft was planned to be Vegas ’ coming-out party as a legitimate sports city .
Not just a fight town with a few special attractions .
But a legitimate sports city and the respect that comes with that .
The glitz and glamour would have been over the top .
A stage complete with a red carpet was to be built along the Fountains at the Bellagio with all the draft prospects arriving on the stage by boat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and celebrity-filled parties throughout the week .
It would have been a fitting way to formally announce the arrival of the Raiders to Las Vegas and show off the $ 1.8 billion Allegiant Stadium on the city ’ s south end awaiting its first NFL game .
Add the success of the Golden Knights of the NHL and the proliferation of boxing , MMA , rodeo , auto racing , golf , NCAA and other major events , Las Vegas was ready to pronounce itself the mecca of everything .
What other city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and facilities like T-Mobile Arena , the MGM Grand Garden Arena , and the Thomas & Mack Center ?
COVID-19 changed all that .
There aren ’ t 600,000 people walking up and down the Strip this weekend .
No concerts .
No parties .
The greatest draft weekend ever will have to wait until 2022 .
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fumbled the announcement Thursday that the 2022 NFL Draft will be held in Las Vegas .
We knew what he meant .
Now all those plans in place for this year won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world will be back to normal by then and , if so , Las Vegas will be ready to show off .
“ We were extremely disappointed to not have the draft in Las Vegas , ” said Chris Baldizan , a senior vice president of Entertainment and Marketing for MGM Resorts .
“ But to have that announcement made on national television , it helps the city to have hope of what ’ s to come once we get through this .
We ’ re going to come out of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NFL has faith in Las Vegas and is ready to come back in 2022.
” The blueprint is already in place .
The red carpet across the Fountains at the Bellagio will remain in the plans , which also included transporting the players along Flamingo Road to the Caesars Forum , where the draft choices were to be announced and introduced .
No doubt there will be some tweaking of those plans as the world deals with the ramifications of COVID-19 .
“ It would be ideal to duplicate the efforts we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not completely knowing what the world will look like in two years , ” Baldizan told The Post .
“ Hopefully , we ’ ll be somewhere close to that atmosphere .
At the end of the day , it ’ s about making a great experience for NFL fans and our guests .
Whatever that means , we ’ re going to do.
” The NFL draft , which began moving the draft to different cities in 2015 , is scheduled to be held in Cleveland in 2021 and Kansas City in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fit for 2022 .
When it will be back to normal remains uncertain .
The casinos have been closed since mid-March and will remain closed at least through Thursday under a stay-at-home order issued by Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak .
Not only did Las Vegas lose the millions upon millions of dollars in revenue that would have been generated by hosting the NFL draft , it ’ s also losing the millions normally generated through normal business .
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has called the shutdown of businesses “ insanity ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be reopened .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
This was supposed to be the week Las Vegas stamped itself as the sports capital of the world.
The 2020 NFL Draft was planned to be Vegas’ coming-out party as a legitimate sports city. Not just a fight town with a few special attractions. But a legitimate sports city and the respect that comes with that.
The glitz and glamour would have been over the top. A stage complete with a red carpet was to be built along the Fountains at the Bellagio with all the draft prospects arriving on the stage by boat. There would have been top-tier concerts and celebrity-filled parties throughout the week.
It would have been a fitting way to formally announce the arrival of the Raiders to Las Vegas and show off the $1.8 billion Allegiant Stadium on the city’s south end awaiting its first NFL game. Add the success of the Golden Knights of the NHL and the proliferation of boxing, MMA, rodeo, auto racing, golf, NCAA and other major events, Las Vegas was ready to pronounce itself the mecca of everything.
What other city can boast of a new 65,000-seat stadium and facilities like T-Mobile Arena, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and the Thomas & Mack Center?
COVID-19 changed all that. There aren’t 600,000 people walking up and down the Strip this weekend. No concerts. No parties. The greatest draft weekend ever will have to wait until 2022.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fumbled the announcement Thursday that the 2022 NFL Draft will be held in Las Vegas. We knew what he meant. Now all those plans in place for this year won’t go to waste. Hopefully the world will be back to normal by then and, if so, Las Vegas will be ready to show off.
“We were extremely disappointed to not have the draft in Las Vegas,” said Chris Baldizan, a senior vice president of Entertainment and Marketing for MGM Resorts. “But to have that announcement made on national television, it helps the city to have hope of what’s to come once we get through this. We’re going to come out of this and it’s nice to know the NFL has faith in Las Vegas and is ready to come back in 2022.”
The blueprint is already in place. The red carpet across the Fountains at the Bellagio will remain in the plans, which also included transporting the players along Flamingo Road to the Caesars Forum, where the draft choices were to be announced and introduced. No doubt there will be some tweaking of those plans as the world deals with the ramifications of COVID-19.
“It would be ideal to duplicate the efforts we were already working on as a city not completely knowing what the world will look like in two years,” Baldizan told The Post. “Hopefully, we’ll be somewhere close to that atmosphere. At the end of the day, it’s about making a great experience for NFL fans and our guests. Whatever that means, we’re going to do.”
The NFL draft, which began moving the draft to different cities in 2015, is scheduled to be held in Cleveland in 2021 and Kansas City in 2023. Las Vegas is a good fit for 2022. When it will be back to normal remains uncertain. The casinos have been closed since mid-March and will remain closed at least through Thursday under a stay-at-home order issued by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak.
Not only did Las Vegas lose the millions upon millions of dollars in revenue that would have been generated by hosting the NFL draft, it’s also losing the millions normally generated through normal business.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has called the shutdown of businesses “insanity” and has drawn criticism for saying casinos should be reopened.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Patriots picked these players instead of Tom Brady successor

Roger Goodell is making full use of his basement during ...

No one keeps the rest of the NFL guessing quite like Bill Belichick.
The Patriots’ search for a Tom Brady replacement turned up … three future defensive starters and two tight ends? Hmm.
After trading out of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Belichick used two second-round picks Friday night on safety Kyle Dugger (No. 37) of Lenoir-Rhyne University and outside linebacker Josh Uche (No. 60) of Michigan. He used three third-round picks on outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings (No. 87) of Alabama and tight ends Devin Asiasi (No. 91) of UCLA and Daltone Keene (No. 101) of Virginia Tech.
Well, at least Asiasi and Keene address the enormous hole left behind by Rob Gronkowski, who unretired earlier this week and was traded to the Buccaneers at his request to reunite with Brady.
“My reaction is hard to explain,” Dugger said. “But I’d say probably the closest thing would definitely be Christmas. My first Christmas.”
Entering the night with five second- and third-round picks, the Patriots traded up twice, with the Ravens and Raiders.
Finding a challenger for second-year pro Jarrett Stidham as the long-term replacement for Brady wasn’t in the cards. The Patriots passed once on Jalen Hurts before he was taken by the Eagles and five times on sliding quarterbacks Jacob Eason and Jake Fromm.
In a weak tight end class, only Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet was off the board in the first 59 picks. The Patriots were patient and doubled down, like they once did with Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
Belichick got his small-school fix with Dugger, who was named the 2019 NCAA Division II defensive player of the year despite playing in just seven games because of injury. Lenoir-Rhyne’s first draft pick since 2000 burst onto the scene at the Senior Bowl and continued to shine at the NFL combine, where the chip on his shoulder from high school under-recruitment stood out.
“It’s definitely grown into a mountain on my shoulders,” Dugger said. “It’s definitely something that’s going to be permanent.”
Starting safeties Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung both are 32 years old and under contract through the 2021 season, allowing Dugger to be groomed to take over, especially for Chung as a box safety with some linebacker traits. Trading Duron Harmon to the Lions opened up a spot in the Patriots’ preferred three-safety rotation.
After six years in college, the 24-year-old Dugger will be an older rookie. He also had six career punt returns for touchdowns. Special teams are dear to Belichick’s heart.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Titans drafting Isaiah Wilson ignited Brooklyn joy: ‘Shock’

The 2020 NFL draft was nothing like Isaiah Wilson envisioned ... .

The Jets and Giants were done for the night Thursday, each having selected offensive tackles in the NFL draft. But the excitement wasn’t over. It was nearing midnight and in parts around Brooklyn, there would be explosions of joy coming from anyone who had come across Isaiah Wilson.
“We all went crazy,” recalled former high school teammate Tegha Egbiri, who was on a Zoom call with several of his former teammates at the time Wilson was picked. “We were in shock, honestly.”
“My phone was blowing up,” Wilson’s Poly Prep coach, Kevin Fountaine, said. “It’s very exciting.”
The 6-foot-7, 350-pound Wilson, a two-year starter at right tackle, made history, just the second player from the five boroughs in 34 years to be taken in the first round, chosen 29th overall by the Titans after a strong three-year career at Georgia. Six years after Staten Island defensive tackle Dominique Easley was taken 29th by the Patriots, the Brooklyn native joined him in select company.
All along the way, Wilson bet on himself, by passing on prep powerhouses to stay four years at Poly Prep. After leaving Georgia following his redshirt sophomore season rather than return, he was initially expected to be taken on the second day, possibly as late as the third round. But the second-team All-SEC selection’s stock picked up late, and he was scooped up by the Titans, who are coming off a trip to the AFC Championship game and lost starting right tackle Jack Conklin to free agency.
“I want to buy my mom a house wherever she wants,” Wilson told Titans Online.
It was clear Wilson was unique in high school. He moved extraordinarily well for a young man his size. He played lacrosse as a junior, wrestled until he got too big and was used as a wildcat quarterback on occasion, even scoring three touchdowns in a game once.
“Oh, my goodness. I felt like teams were afraid to play us sometimes,” Egbiri said. “No one actually believed how big he was until you stepped on the field with him.”
Wilson has stayed in contact with many of his high school teammates and has been back to spend time with the current team. Last week, he jumped on a Zoom call with Fountaine and his players to discuss the draft process.
“He’s one of those kids who remembers where he come from, which is great,” Fountaine said. “Any time he could come back, he would take the opportunity.”
He drew a who’s who of big-name college coaches to Poly Prep and was a five-star, All-American recruit, picking Georgia over Michigan and Alabama. Off the field, though, is where Wilson truly separated himself. He had to wake up at 3:30 a.m. to get to school on time and frequently didn’t get home until 8:30 p.m. Football and school were his life. Everything else took a backseat. He put aside being a kid for his dreams. They came true Thursday night.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Hawaii is now paying for tourists to leave if they won’t follow quarantine rules

Hawaii is paying for visitors to leave .
The state agency that welcomes travelers to Hawaii is paying to give them the boot if they don ’ t abide by Hawaii ’ s mandated two-week quarantine when they arrive .
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has set aside $ 25,000 for the costs to send rule-breaking tourists packing , with outbound flights being organized by the Visitor Aloha Society , a nonprofit that typically assists visitors with problems during their stay .
“ The ability to return people quickly to their airports of origin during the coronavirus crisis greatly assists law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ success of our statewide emergency measures , ” Hawaii ’ s Attorney General Clare Connors said in a statement .
“ The fact scarce government funds do not need to be expended for these return trips also helps fulfill the mission of keeping Hawaii safe.
” So far the state has paid to send 19 people back home since the rule was established April 1 during the coronavirus pandemic , according to the state ’ s Health Department .
One woman from Los Angeles was flown out after she was caught violating her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoors to social media .
Another two visitors who were caught breaking quarantine were given a second chance — only to be caught again after they switched hotels , the Health Department said .
Some scofflaws have faced misdemeanor charges and have been forced to pay fines .
Hawaii has seen a dramatic drop off of visitors as the country grapples with the spread of the coronavirus and global air travel tanks .
On Thursday 438 people arrived by air , a 98.5 percent decline from the 30,000 who arrive daily on average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tourism Authority .
The state has confirmed 596 coronavirus cases along with another 12 related deaths , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .

Hawaii is paying for visitors to leave.
The state agency that welcomes travelers to Hawaii is paying to give them the boot if they don’t abide by Hawaii’s mandated two-week quarantine when they arrive.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has set aside $25,000 for the costs to send rule-breaking tourists packing, with outbound flights being organized by the Visitor Aloha Society, a nonprofit that typically assists visitors with problems during their stay.
“The ability to return people quickly to their airports of origin during the coronavirus crisis greatly assists law enforcement’s ability to ensure the success of our statewide emergency measures,” Hawaii’s Attorney General Clare Connors said in a statement.
“The fact scarce government funds do not need to be expended for these return trips also helps fulfill the mission of keeping Hawaii safe.”
So far the state has paid to send 19 people back home since the rule was established April 1 during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the state’s Health Department.
One woman from Los Angeles was flown out after she was caught violating her quarantine when she shared images from the outdoors to social media.
Another two visitors who were caught breaking quarantine were given a second chance — only to be caught again after they switched hotels, the Health Department said.
Some scofflaws have faced misdemeanor charges and have been forced to pay fines.
Hawaii has seen a dramatic drop off of visitors as the country grapples with the spread of the coronavirus and global air travel tanks.
On Thursday 438 people arrived by air, a 98.5 percent decline from the 30,000 who arrive daily on average this time of year, according to the Tourism Authority.
The state has confirmed 596 coronavirus cases along with another 12 related deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Jets, Patriots swap NFL Draft picks in another eyebrow-raising trade

He traded with them last fall and he did it again Friday night .
The Jets ’ general manager traded @ @ @ @ @ of the evening , sending New England his third third-round pick ( 101st overall ) @ @ @ @ @ .
125 and 129 ) and a sixth-rounder in 2021 .
It sets up a @ @ @ @ @ Jets , who now have a whopping six picks — three fourth-rounders , a fifth @ @ @ @ @ in the day , the Jets dealt their second-round pick to the Seahawks to move @ @ @ @ @ round and add a third rounder .
With the Jets ’ pick , the Patriots @ @ @ @ @ .

Joe Douglas isn’t afraid of the big, bad Patriots.
He traded with them last fall and he did it again Friday night.
The Jets’ general manager traded down for the second time of the evening, sending New England his third third-round pick (101st overall) for two fourth-rounders (No. 125 and 129) and a sixth-rounder in 2021.
• Jets’ NFL Draft tracker: Live round-by-round picks and analysis
It sets up a big third day for the Jets, who now have a whopping six picks — three fourth-rounders, a fifth and two sixes. Earlier in the day, the Jets dealt their second-round pick to the Seahawks to move back 11 slots in that round and add a third rounder. With the Jets’ pick, the Patriots took Virginia Tech tight end Dalton Keene.


newyorkpost--2020-04-25--Chicago’s horse-drawn carriages to end in 2021

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council voted Friday to end horse-drawn carriage rides in the city after Dec. 31 .
Alderman Brendan Reilly , whose ward includes the city ’ s central business district , said he has tried to persuade carriage operators to “ treat their animals in a humane way.
” When the violations continued , he had no choice but to push to banish them from city streets , Reilly said .
“ This is a banner day for overworked horses in Chicago , who will no longer be forced to pound the pavement through extreme heat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are often deprived of even a drink of water , ” said Newkirk , president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals .
Larry Ortega , the owner of Chicago Horse and Carriage , has dismissed the animal cruelty argument .
“ Even though there are city , state and federal laws clearly stating what is animal cruelty , there has never been one horse driver or owner arrested operating on the city streets of Chicago , ” Ortega previously said .
The horse-drawn carriage industry has been shrinking for years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ three companies , with 10 licenses unused .
At one time , the city had 60 licenses available .
With the vote , Chicago joins cities such as Salt Lake City and Camden , New Jersey , that have banned horse-drawn carriages .

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council voted Friday to end horse-drawn carriage rides in the city after Dec. 31.
Alderman Brendan Reilly, whose ward includes the city’s central business district, said he has tried to persuade carriage operators to “treat their animals in a humane way.” When the violations continued, he had no choice but to push to banish them from city streets, Reilly said.
Animal rights activist Ingrid Newkirk praised the aldermen’s decision.
“This is a banner day for overworked horses in Chicago, who will no longer be forced to pound the pavement through extreme heat, thunderstorms, or blizzards and who are often deprived of even a drink of water,” said Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Larry Ortega, the owner of Chicago Horse and Carriage, has dismissed the animal cruelty argument.
“Even though there are city, state and federal laws clearly stating what is animal cruelty, there has never been one horse driver or owner arrested operating on the city streets of Chicago,” Ortega previously said.
The horse-drawn carriage industry has been shrinking for years. The City Council’s decision affects three companies, with 10 licenses unused. At one time, the city had 60 licenses available.
With the vote, Chicago joins cities such as Salt Lake City and Camden, New Jersey, that have banned horse-drawn carriages.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Julian Okwara drafted by Lions, his brother Romeo’s team

They took nearly identical paths from Nigeria to America , but Julian and Romeo Okwara were never able to play together .
Not in high school or college .
But now , at the highest level of the sport , the two defensive linemen will be able to call one another teammates for the first time .
The Lions made that a reality on Friday night in the 2020 NFL Draft , by selecting Julian in the third round ( 67th overall ) out of Notre Dame , reuniting him with Romeo .
“ We about to be roommates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a video posted by Roc Nation Sports after getting off the phone with the Lions .
The Nigerian natives both attended Ardrey Kell High School ( N.C. ) and Notre Dame .
Romeo went undrafted before signing with the Giants and then getting picked up by the Lions in 2018 .
He appeared in 24 games last year , making 28 tackles and notching 1.5 sacks .
Julian was a better college prospect , producing 13 sacks the past two years .
“ He was excited , too , ” Julian , 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a conference call with Lions reporters .
“ Looking forward to being in the same city .
Me learning through him , with him .
I ’ m excited for that.
” The Okwaras will be the fourth pair of brothers that are currently teammates , joining Jason and Devin McCourty with the Patriots , Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin with the Seahawks , and Trey and Terrell Edmunds with the Steelers .

They took nearly identical paths from Nigeria to America, but Julian and Romeo Okwara were never able to play together. Not in high school or college. But now, at the highest level of the sport, the two defensive linemen will be able to call one another teammates for the first time.
The Lions made that a reality on Friday night in the 2020 NFL Draft, by selecting Julian in the third round (67th overall) out of Notre Dame, reuniting him with Romeo.
“We about to be roommates, bro,” Julian told Romeo in a video posted by Roc Nation Sports after getting off the phone with the Lions.
The Nigerian natives both attended Ardrey Kell High School (N.C.) and Notre Dame. Romeo went undrafted before signing with the Giants and then getting picked up by the Lions in 2018. He appeared in 24 games last year, making 28 tackles and notching 1.5 sacks. Julian was a better college prospect, producing 13 sacks the past two years.
“He was excited, too,” Julian, 22, said of the 24-year-old Romeo, in a conference call with Lions reporters. “Looking forward to being in the same city. Me learning through him, with him. I’m excited for that.”
The Okwaras will be the fourth pair of brothers that are currently teammates, joining Jason and Devin McCourty with the Patriots, Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin with the Seahawks, and Trey and Terrell Edmunds with the Steelers.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Giants select Matt Peart with No. 99 pick in NFL Draft 2020

Two is better than one ?
That is how the Giants looked at their offensive tackle position .
After taking Andrew Thomas in the first round , they doubled up Friday night , taking Matt Peart of UConn near the end of the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft .
The 99th pick was a compensatory selection based on the Giants losing safety Landon Collins in free agency .
Peart was a four-year starter in college after not playing at all in high school .
He grew up in The Bronx after his family emigrated from Kingston , Jamaica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Giants , as Peart — all 6-foot-7 of him — is not considered to be ready to play right away in the NFL .
Perhaps in a 2021 , Peart will be able to move in at right tackle as a building block , with Thomas at left tackle if veteran Nate Solder is not back with the team .
“ Definitely got a lot of upside , ’ ’ head coach Joe Judge said .
“ I don ’ t want to say developmental .
He ’ s developing.
’ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giants to get to Peart .
They had to sit out from pick 36 , when they took safety Xavier McKinney , all the way to 99 .
Lest we forget ( no one does ) , they traded away pick No .
68 to the Jets in the deal for defensive tackle Leonard Williams .
The Jets at 68 took defensive back Ashtyn Davis .
Gettleman said he was adamant that he would not “ dip into next year ’ s draft class , ’ ’ hence he was unwilling to trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
99 .
The far more immediate need for the Giants is at center , but the Giants did not select Wisconsin ’ s Tyler Biadasz , who was on the board when they took Peart .
“ We had [ Peart ] rated well above the centers on our board , ’ ’ Gettleman said .
Peart has the ideal body type for offensive tackle , and Judge said it is rare to say a 315-pound player is skinny , but that is how he describes Peart .
Judge also said his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with him .
“ I always like the athletic players who you don ’ t feel are tapped out , ’ ’ Judge said .
“ This guy ’ s got tremendous upside .
’ ’

Two is better than one?
That is how the Giants looked at their offensive tackle position. After taking Andrew Thomas in the first round, they doubled up Friday night, taking Matt Peart of UConn near the end of the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 99th pick was a compensatory selection based on the Giants losing safety Landon Collins in free agency.
Peart was a four-year starter in college after not playing at all in high school. He grew up in The Bronx after his family emigrated from Kingston, Jamaica. This is a down-the-road move by the Giants, as Peart — all 6-foot-7 of him — is not considered to be ready to play right away in the NFL. Perhaps in a 2021, Peart will be able to move in at right tackle as a building block, with Thomas at left tackle if veteran Nate Solder is not back with the team.
“Definitely got a lot of upside,’’ head coach Joe Judge said. “I don’t want to say developmental. He’s developing.’’
This was quite a wait for the Giants to get to Peart. They had to sit out from pick 36, when they took safety Xavier McKinney, all the way to 99. Lest we forget (no one does), they traded away pick No. 68 to the Jets in the deal for defensive tackle Leonard Williams. The Jets at 68 took defensive back Ashtyn Davis.
• Giants’ NFL Draft tracker: Live round-by-round picks and analysis
Gettleman said he was adamant that he would not “dip into next year’s draft class,’’ hence he was unwilling to trade up to get a player before No. 99.
The far more immediate need for the Giants is at center, but the Giants did not select Wisconsin’s Tyler Biadasz, who was on the board when they took Peart.
“We had [Peart] rated well above the centers on our board,’’ Gettleman said.
Peart has the ideal body type for offensive tackle, and Judge said it is rare to say a 315-pound player is skinny, but that is how he describes Peart. Judge also said his coaching staff is especially excited to work with him.
“I always like the athletic players who you don’t feel are tapped out,’’ Judge said. “This guy’s got tremendous upside.’’


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Aaron Rodgers congratulates Jordan Love after 2020 NFL Draft stunner

All is fair in Love and war .
Veteran quarterback Aaron ...

Aaron Rodgers is on good terms with his potential successor — for now — after a dramatic start to Jordan Love’s career with the Packers.
While the 15-year veteran was not consulted about Green Bay’s first-round scheme to trade with the Dolphins and nab the small-school gunslinger with the No. 26 pick, Love says the two have had an amicable first exchange.
“I was able to talk with him earlier,” the former Utah State Aggie told Maria Taylor during ABC’s broadcast of the 2020 NFL Draft on Friday. “Really good guy. Just congratulated me, and I was just letting him know that I was excited to be able to work with him.”
Rodgers threw 4,002 yards, 26 touchdowns and four interceptions and led the Packers to the NFC Championship game last season.
However, at 36 years of age and a history of speaking out about personnel decisions, the situation could sour quickly.
“I think that when you go through kind of the way things went tonight, you weigh the short-term and the long-term and the way the board went, this was just the best decision for the Packers,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said on a conference call shortly after round one.
Gutekunst had not spoken to his quarterback at that time, but he told reporters Rodgers would approach facing the ghost of Christmas future with the organization’s best interest in mind having been in a nearly identical situation when he was drafted in 2005 to back up an aging Brett Favre.
“He’s obviously been through this and he’s a pro and I think it’s something that’s a long-term decision,” Gutekunst said. “Obviously Aaron has been around a long time and he knows what we’re playing for right now, so that’s what’s most important right now.”
Love, 21, was a divisive draft prospect who has been touted as having Patrick Mahomes-level potential, but has drawn criticism for inaccuracy, especially in his final year at Utah State. He is expected to serve as an understudy for at least a year to develop while Rodgers plays out the two years remaining on his four-year, $134 million contract.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Identical twin sisters die of coronavirus just three days apart

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Katy and Emma @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 within three days of each other in southern England , BBC.com reported .
@ @ @ @ @ had come into the world together and would go out together as well , ” @ @ @ @ @ told the outlet .
The two had lived together , and suffered underlying health issues @ @ @ @ @ Both had worked in the nursing field .
‘ All they ever wanted to do @ @ @ @ @ , ” Zoe said .
‘ Ever since they were young … they ’ d @ @ @ @ @ nurses caring for their dolls .
“ They gave their everything to all the patients @ @ @ @ @ were exceptional … It doesn ’ t feel like any of this is real.
” @ @ @ @ @ Children ’ s Hospital , where Katy , a pediatric nurse , died Tuesday and @ @ @ @ @ surgical nurse there , died Friday .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Identical twins, identical deaths.
Katy and Emma Davis, 37, died of COVID-19 within three days of each other in southern England, BBC.com reported.
“They always said they had come into the world together and would go out together as well,” their sister, Zoe, told the outlet.
The two had lived together, and suffered underlying health issues, the sister said. Both had worked in the nursing field.
‘All they ever wanted to do was to help other people,” Zoe said. ‘Ever since they were young … they’d pretend they were doctors and nurses caring for their dolls.
“They gave their everything to all the patients they looked after. They were exceptional … It doesn’t feel like any of this is real.”
Both had worked at Southampton Children’s Hospital, where Katy, a pediatric nurse, died Tuesday and where Emma, a former surgical nurse there, died Friday.


newyorkpost--2020-04-24--Lou Carnesecca’s take on Mike Anderson, Chris Mullin’s St. John’s exit

All these years later , even during a pandemic that he ...

St. John’s fans aren’t the only ones encouraged by Mike Anderson’s first season in Queens. The school’s all-time winningest coach liked what he saw as well from the veteran coach.
“Oh, I was impressed,” Lou Carnesecca told The Post in a rare interview. “I would say Coach Anderson is ready-made. You know what I mean by that? He’s ready. He’s coached at a very high level. He’s coached some great, great teams. So, he knows his Ps and Qs.”
St. John’s went 17-15 in Anderson’s first year in Queens, knocking off projected NCAA tournament teams such as Arizona, West Virginia, Marquette and Creighton, extending his streak of 18 seasons without a losing campaign. It won its opening-round Big East Tournament game, rallying from a big deficit to knock off Georgetown, and was up at halftime in the quarterfinals over Creighton before the tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Johnnies would have likely been headed to the NIT, had one been played, barring a surprising run to the conference’s tournament title.
“And when he gets some [more] good players, they’re going to be [a force] to be reckoned with because his style, you got to prepare for it. They come at you with pressure for the whole game,” the 95-year-old Carnesecca said. “I think he’ll do a great job. I thought he did a wonderful job this year.”
Carnesecca, of course, knows the previous coach, his former star player Chris Mullin, well. Mullin, who had never previously coached before taking the job in 2015 at his alma mater, led the Johnnies to the NCAA Tournament in his fourth and final season before parting ways with the program last spring. He spent this past year working for NBC Sports Bay Area as a pregame and postgame analyst for Warriors games.
“I just don’t know if he was happy. You’d have to ask him,” Carnesecca said. “It was a new venture for him, too. He knows basketball very well. But coaching is not an easy thing, because there’s so much involved today. It’s much more difficult than when I started. You got many more factors.”