That is no longer the case. Former players are becoming the popular choice for teams, considering the success of Udoka and Kidd this season.

Commissioner Adam Silver is now pleased to field questions and address the leagues diversity surge, because its been an issue for years.

Get Court Sense

Bounce around the NBA with our Celtics-centric look at the latest happenings on and off the court.

One of the things weve done, and this isnt unique to the NBA and Ive learned this from other businesses, is that you have to talk about these issues all the time, he said Thursday prior to Game 1 of the Finals between the Celtics and Warriors. If you care about diversity and inclusion in your workplace, youve got to look at the data. Youve got to constantly present it to your colleagues, to your department heads, to your teams, and it has to become a focus. Its my job in part to say thats a priority for this organization.

Its not that those coaches who took an unconventional route college, through the analytics circles or low-level organization jobs have been dissuaded from applying for jobs, its that younger NBA players, including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, have said they prefer to be coached by someone who has played the game. There is generally a bond there.

While Im particularly proud of those numbers, and roughly 50 percent of our head coaches are Black now, the goal is that thats not newsworthy, and that when people are hired, their first reaction isnt the color of their skin, Silver said. I dont want to be nave, either, though, because I know that what we do in this league is important symbolically, not just for sports but for other industries, and people watch us all around the world.

Im also putting aside the color of the skin of those coaches. What were also seeing, and this is something we very much focused on, is the emergence of a whole new class of former players who have moved into head coaching positions.

Silver said the league was made more aware of some coaching prospects who accused general managers and team presidents of hiring candidates they were already familiar with. The league had to revamp its coaching networks, develop better training programs for aspiring coaches, and increase the communication networks between candidates and teams.

I remember Rick Carlisle came to us as head of the Coaches Association in the league a few years ago, said we all collectively need to do a better job, Silver said. One of the ways we decided is again, technology helps, having a better database, so that head coaches who are looking for assistants or team governors who are looking for coaches have a database, which they could quickly see who is available, who is interested in coaching, how much experience they have. These changes come only incrementally. It doesnt help just to bang the pulpit and say, go do this. You have to work with people and you have to understand what the obstacles are.

Silver promised the improvement will funnel into more front office positions.

Im proud of the job we have done in the league office, he said. We are making a lot of progress in terms of general managers, team presidents, both on the basketball side and the business side, but more work to be done.

There had been speculation that the NBA had decided to expand to 32 teams with new clubs in Seattle and Las Vegas. Officials in Seattle, which has a new arena that hosts the NHLs Kraken and WNBAs Storm, are apparently getting positive feedback about a team in the next decade.

But Silver again dispelled rumors about an NBA return to Seattle, at least in the next few years. The league is going to eventually expand, but there are no immediate plans.

That talk is not true. At least maybe there are people talking who are not at the league office about us potentially expanding after the 2024 season, Silver said. We are not discussing that at this time. At some point this league invariably will expand, but its not at this moment that we are discussing it. But one of the factors in expanding is the potential dilution of talent.

Silver questioned whether adding 30 more jobs would dilute a talent base that may already be thinned because of early-entry mistakes, lack of player development, and overseas leagues that pay more for lower-level players.

I find it remarkable that when you have the second-most-played sport in the world after soccer, tens of millions now just talking on the NBA side of young men playing in this game, and then you have the 450 best in the world in this league, that theres a few of them who separate themselves even among those 450 as the very best of the best, but there is then a drop-off in talent, Silver said. So expansion does create a certain amount of dilution. And even sort of adding another 30 players or so that are roughly comparable, there still are only so many of the truly top-tier super talents to go around. That is something on the mind of the other teams as we think about expansion.

But those are wonderful markets. We were in Seattle. Im sorry we are no longer there. Well be looking at it at some point, but theres no specific timeline

And Silver dashed any hopes for those pining for the return of the 2-3-2 Finals format after the league returned to 2-2-1-1-1 in 2014. The 2-2-1-1-1 format is going to stay, even though it potentially adds an additional cross-country trip for each team.

Thats one of the first things I changed when I became commissioner, was moving back to this 2-2-1-1-1 model, Silver said. It just feels, as long as the flight is, we just feel its better from a competitive standpoint. It always felt to me in all my years in the league before we switched back to this format that, first of all, the players are used to, on their bodies, the 2-2-1-1-1 format from the earlier rounds. And it just always felt that three in that second city felt long and arduous.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

Thompson knows the Celtics well

Warriors guard Klay Thompson is the son of longtime NBA player Mychal Thompson and has cherished memories of attending games as a child. One of the more notable games he attended was when Klay was a sophomore at Washington State, and he and his father went to Game 7 of the 2010 Finals between the Celtics and Lakers.

I would say my rookie year, just playing that team of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and [Kevin Garnett]. That was like a welcome to the NBA moment for me because just a couple years before I was watching them battle Kobe [Bryant] and Pau [Gasol] in the Finals, and I was just mesmerized by how great those teams were, both the Lakers and the Celtics, Thompson said. So life comes full circle, now being able to play [the Celtics] in the Finals. I was watching them in college, Game 7, at Staples, with my dad, and now its 12 years later, and I get to play the team that I was rooting against. Its amazing.

Being a lifelong Lakers fan, Thompson said he did not know much about the Warriors when he was drafted 11th overall in 2011. The Warriors had won a combined 62 games in the two seasons before he arrived.

I remember watching the We Believe team [of 2006-07]. They were a gritty team of guys who might have been outcasts to other organizations but created such a fun brand of basketball, upsetting a 1 seed.

The Bay Area has always been considered an exceptional basketball market because of its local talent and support for the Warriors, even in difficult times.

I remember how crazy the fans were during that run and how great Bay Area basketball fans were. I grew up in a Laker household, so we didnt have many Warriors games on. But I always knew that basketball was just a beloved sport in the Bay. Thats obvious, just the amount of talent that has come out of this area. They have had so many players out of Oakland that for such a small city, you knew they live and breathe basketball.

ETC.

Heat have work in the offseason

The Heat had every intention of reaching the Finals with their offseason decisions. They executed a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry, added rugged forward P.J. Tucker, and allowed Victor Oladipo to get healthy during the season with the hopes of a deep playoff run.

That run ended in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics. The Heat were never truly healthy. Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro suffered a groin injury. Butler and Tucker battled knee issues and Lowry a hamstring injury. The Heat struggled to score and relied heavily on undrafted players such as Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.

The Heat have some issues to address in the offseason. Oladipo is a free agent, and Duncan Robinson has four years left on his contract and barely played in the postseason.

Its probably tough for me to answer that right now because of all of the emotions, coach Erik Spoelstra said of the teams needs. When it ends like this, it ends with a thud. Youre not ever contemplating that I would be speaking in front of you guys talking about the offseason. It just was not even a thought with anybody in the locker room. Thats part of the makeup that I love about this group.

So I say, exceeded expectations, how do I say that without being disrespectful? No, it feels heartbreaking. We just wanted a crack at it. A crack at Golden State, and just find out, you know, as competitors.

The Heat have some weaknesses. Jimmy Butler has a lot of miles on him after 11 seasons. Center Bam Adebayo is special defensively, but as he showed in the Celtics series, he is hesitant on offense. Lowry and Tucker are 36 and 37, respectively. The teams window is closing and injuries played a major role this season.

I love this group, Spoelstra said. This team was here to compete for a title. In that regard, I think we lived up to those expectations. But we fell short. Well never know, and thats the part that well have to live with.

These last two series, it was a daily meeting with the training staff to get an inventory of where guys were. But these guys were so committed to the challenge that they are willing to do whatever it took to get themselves out there and really compete at a high level physically. It just shows you the mental toughness of the guys in the locker room.

Lowry signed with the hopes of winning another championship. His previous team, the Raptors, moved him because they were retooling. Lowry has two years left on his contract totaling $59 million, meaning hell be difficult to move because of his age.

Its been a wild season for me, he said. But Im given an opportunity to play basketball, and any time I get a chance to play, Im really happy to do it. I will never make an excuse about injuries, never. I was out there. Jimmy was hurt. Tyler was hurt. Tuck was hurt. They had guys hurt. I wish I would have been able to play a little bit better, at a higher level, but I didnt. It just adds fuel. You dont know how many more opportunities you will have to get back to this, so for me, honestly, it was a waste of a year. I only play to win championships.

The Heat are not likely to be favored to win the East next season barring major offseason moves. More likely, Miami is going to have to stick with its veteran crew and hope it works. Robinson could be a trade chip to get a more impactful player.

It was fun, and I appreciate the guys, my teammates, and I appreciate the opportunity, but for me its a waste of a year, Lowry said. Youre not playing for a championship, youre not winning a championship.

I think [a second year] helps. I think everything helps, having some continuity with the team and understanding who youre going to be there with and tendencies and understand the offense, terminologies, defensive schemes, offensive schemes, emotions, personalities. It definitely helps. We look forward to the opportunity of getting better over the summer and getting back to this opportunity next year.

Layups

College players are beginning to embrace staying in school and are using the draft evaluation for honest advice. Players such as Gonzagas Drew Timme, Miamis Isaiah Wong, and LSUs Shareef ONeal (son of Shaquille ONeal) were among 112 candidates who decided to bypass the draft and return to school. The NLI (name, image, likeness) opportunities are having an impact, but it appears college prospects are also making sounder decisions and would rather have another year in school than being undrafted and going the G-League route. Its good for the NBA and for college basketball The Lakers Darvin Ham took a similar road to an NBA head coaching job as Ime Udoka, a veteran player and then a longtime assistant who didnt carry the allure or big name but was considered a rising star in coaching circles. The Lakers took a chance on Ham over retreads Kenny Atkinson and Terry Stotts, and drew raves around the league for their decision. Ham, because of his pristine reputation around the league, especially as the backbone for the Bucks 2021 championship, had negotiating power. Ham was assured that former Laker Kurt Rambis, who has become notorious for meddling in organization affairs and helping making roster and personnel decisions, would not have further influence on those calls. Former coach Frank Vogel had to deal with Rambis and others in the organization during his tenure, all of whom had an opinion on how the Lakers should be run. Ham was assured he wont have to deal with so many voices The Hornets are the last team without a head coach and the job appears down to Atkinson and longtime coach Mike DAntoni. The question for owner Michael Jordan comes down to which coach can bring the best out of All-Star LaMelo Ball, who struggled at times with former coach James Borrego, who hesitated to discipline or bench Ball for his lackadaisical stretches because of organization and fan backlash. The one thing a new coach needs in Charlotte is the authority to make strong decisions without concern of repercussions. Borrego did a solid job but never carried the big name or the high level of respect. DAntoni, especially, would carry that respect if he gets the job.

Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.

See the rest here:
NBA can be proud of its diversity in coaching ranks - The Boston Globe

Brazilian gymnast Arthur Nory is finding inspiration bigger than himself as he begins his quest for a third Olympic Games.

The 28-year-old has reached the highest echelons of his sport, capturing an Olympic bronze medal on the floor at a home Games at Rio 2016 and winning the world title on the horizontal bar in 2019.

Now, he has inspiration beyond just medals: his team and his mother.

When Nory made his 2022 debut last month at the Brazil Trophy, the nations individual apparatus championships, he competed on five of the six events. It was a departure from previous years where Nory focused on his specialties, but part of helping his national squad.

When he competes next, likely the Pan American Championships next month, he hopes to compete on all six.

I'm preparing, preparing myself, my body for the next competition because I know it's a good for the team, [to compete] my floor. So, we will focus on the team to qualify to the world championship this year and to qualify to Paris 2024, said Nory in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com. I know that as a team we can give more strength. We can be stronger as a team.

The all-around is a return to Norys roots. He competed in the all-around at Rio, finishing 11th in the final and made the finals at the 2013-15 worlds, before specializing from 2017-2022.

Its a welcome return, says Nory.

I know for me, it's better doing more events because I'm happier and happy to be performing them and being in competitions where I have goals, like Pan American, South American Games and World Championship, he explained. For me to be there, I have to do more events because it's a team competition and that's made me happy.

A year ago, he found happiness watching his close friend, Rebeca Andrade, make history at the Olympic Games. She became the first Latin American woman to win a medal in the all-around final and the first Brazilian to claim gymnastics Olympic gold.

Ive been close to Rebeca since she was a kid, since she was supposed to compete at the Youth Olympic Games in 2014 and she hurt her feet and couldnt compete. We already knew she was a phenomenon, she always was. She always faced obstacles, he said in Portuguese.

She was so confident and so prepared for these Tokyo Games, it was beautiful to watch her training, her concentration. I remember a moment before the Olympics, before traveling to Tokyo, that the whole team was in a room, he continued, beaming with pride. The coaches spoke, the whole staff spoke, and she was the only athlete that raised her hand to speak to everyone. She was so mature about it. I even get chills remembering it. She said, This Olympics to me is not a dream, its a goal. I worked so hard to be here so now Im going to enjoy it, focus on doing my best, because I know Im ready.

Nory has also found motivation in doing his best for his mum, Nadna Oyakawa. Just prior to last seasons world championships, Oyakawa suffered a hemorrhagic stroke that has caused motor deficiencies.

With her son by her side, Oyakawa is slowly recovering. Nory posted a video in November, dancing with his mom for her birthday.

She slowly can move her arm, she can walk slowly... Her speaking is getting a little bit better every day, but all the memories, she can remember everything, he said of his mums condition. Shes good. She's here with me and I am watching her and helping her to write again now, with the left hand and walking and doing physiotherapy.

As his mum recovers, he uses it as motivation what he still feels he has left to accomplish in the sport.

An Olympic gold medal, he said succinctly of his goals. I'm working so hard. It's a goal, but I know it's a consequence of the work, all the work. So, I'm working for that, to reach that goal, to win another Olympic medal because it's a very special moment for all athletes.

Made even more special by whom he hopes will be there to witness it.

I think that I will fight. I will fight every day to be on the team and be in Paris, Nory said, then my mom, she will be fine to be there and see me competing.

Go here to read the rest:
Arthur Nory: Brazilian gymnast talks motivation, inspiration, team and Paris 2024 Olympics - Olympics

Max Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull Racing until 2028, making it likely that the Dutchman can be admired in Formula 1 for many years to come. After his career, the reigning world champion does not expect to have much to do with the motorsport class, he told Formule1.nl.

Verstappen is currently an integral part of Formula 1. Whereas Lewis Hamilton belonged to the top of the sport for years, Verstappen is increasingly taking over that role. In battle with Charles Leclerc, he is pulling the longest straw for the time being this season.

Although he enjoys his time in the sport, he also knows that there is more in life to enjoy. Verstappen therefore has no interest in taking up other things in Formula 1 after his active career. "You won't see me back as an analyst or in a team role. Really not," Verstappen let us know. "I don't have the motivation for that either."

The Red Bull driver can imagine remaining active in motorsport, but seems happy to do so more in the background. In doing so, he takes his father, who drives rallies, as an example.

Read the original here:
Verstappen admits: "I don't have the motivation for that either" - GPblog

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was surprised by becoming a source of inspiration for the Miami Heat during the Eastern Conference finals.

He recently told the website Andscape.comhe didn't expect his words to be used as motivation.

It was exciting to know that people pay that much attention to my words and what I say," Green told the website. "Wow. They really watched what I had to say and that motivated them? Im getting better at this motivational thing. Thats great."

Shortly after the Warriors clinched a berth in the NBA Finals, Green gave his prediction of who they would play. Here's what Green told the crew on TNT's Inside The NBA after the game.

"I think both teams are tough," Green said. "Boston creates constant problems, especially offensively and their defense is incredible."

When pressed by Shaquille O'Neal, Green revealed his pick.

"If you're asking who I want to play, I'm gonna tell you who I think we're gonna play," Green said. "We're gonna play Boston. That's who we're gonna play."

After the Miami Heat forced a Game 7 against the Celtics, Heat team captain Udonis Haslem responding to Green by telling the ESPN broadcasters, "Tell Draymond thank you."

Scroll to Continue

MORE HEAT RELATED STORIES

Takeaways from the Heat's Game 7 loss. CLICK HERE.

Erik Spoelstra on Max Strus' overturned 3-pointer. CLICK HERE

Miami Heat fall to Boston Celtics in Game 7. CLICK HERE

For a look at some of the latest Heat apparel. CLICK HERE

TWITTER: @ShandelRich

Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here

For any Heat or NBA questions, please email shandelrich@gmail.com

See original here:
Draymond Green Shocked The Miami Heat Needed Him For Motivation - Sports Illustrated

When I first heard we were going to resume a more normal routine similar to pre-pandemic times, I was really excited to get a school year back on campus. Although it was not the same, I was still able to be around my friends and the staff at school.

Coming back took some adjustment, as we had to wear masks, take weekly COVID tests and stay socially distanced. Plus, we were applying to college.

The pandemic, unfortunately, made me less focused on school, and I lost some of my motivation. Being a yearbook editor, taking AP classes and having to do online classes would constantly conflict with my tendency to procrastinate, so finally being on campus allowed me to get back into rhythm.

Being surrounded by peers who pushed me to try harder and get work done was another major benefit to coming back to campus. Those people helped motivate me and helped me realize that I was not facing this alone.

See the rest here:
'The pandemic, unfortunately, made me less focused on school, and I lost some of my motivation.' - Los Angeles Times

Almost a week has gone by since MJF no-showed a fan meet-and-greet leading up to AEW Double or Nothing, and its still hard to decipher which aspects of the situation are real and which are fictional. One such element is the now-infamous plane ticket, which MJF had reportedly purchased to fly out of Las Vegas on Saturday, the night before the pay-per-view. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, however, MJF either never purchased such a ticket or canceled it prior to boarding.

An airport source Saturday night said the system showed [MJF] having a ticket to fly out Tuesday, the day he left for Los Angeles, the Observer reported.

Regarding Double Or Nothing, no one at AEW would confirm on Sunday that MJFs match against Wardlow was officially on or off the PPV card after the company pulled videos advertising the contest from YouTube. One of Meltzers sources close to the matter did say by that evening, AEW was certain he was going to do the show, and that it would be the opening match. Theres also speculation that the MJF will he, wont he controversy flame was fanned in effort to maintain interest on the PPV Double or Nothing was going up against Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat on Sunday night, which accrued an audience of 10 million viewers.

As it turned out, MJF did show up for Double or Nothing and took a definitive loss against his old enforcer, Wardlow, being taken away on a stretcher afterward. He appeared on Wednesdays episode of Dynamite at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles and cut a scathing promo about his status in AEW and against AEW President Tony Khan, finishing with an expletive-laced tirade that got his microphone cut off. During the ensuing commercial break, cameras caught new AEW World Champion CM Punk walking to the ring to confront MJF, who ended up bailing through the crowd. According to Meltzer, CM Punk coming out at the end of the promo was part of AEWs plan, but MJF going on for nine minutes was not.

Have a news tip or correction? Send it to [emailprotected]

Follow this link:
Possible Motivation For AEW Fanning Flames Of MJF Controversy - Wrestling Inc.

Skipper Varazdat Haroyan has insisted Armenia's lingering sense of injustice will not be a factor in their latest clash with the Republic of Ireland on Saturday evening.

The sides meet at the Republican Stadium in Yerevan as the new Nations League campaign gets under way, but for Armenian football fans it will rekindle memories of their teams 2-1 Euro 2012 qualifying defeat in Dublin in October 2011.

That night, the visitors had goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky sent off for handling outside his area despite his claims that the ball had hit his chest, and their anger was compounded by referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalezs failure to penalise Republic striker Simon Cox for handball during the build-up.

Asked if that would provide extra motivation this time around, defender Haroyan said: "We are very motivated for tomorrows game. All the players and all Armenians remember the game back in 2011.

"But that game took place almost 11 years ago, a lot of time has passed since that and we have had a lot of good matches after that, so for tomorrows game, we are very much motivated and we will do our best to get a good result."

Armenia are newly promoted to League B after winning their League C group last time around, and while they know life may be significantly more testing this time around, they are relishing the opportunity to test themselves at a higher level.

Coach Joaquin Caparros said: "We are promoted from League C and it's a really good feeling. Of course we know how difficult it is going to be for us in this league, but we are confident.

"We have good players and we will do our best to compete at this level in the group generally and also in tomorrows game."

Armenia head into the game looking for something of a reset after a series of indifferent results.

They made a more than creditable start to their World Cup qualifying campaign with successive wins over Liechtenstein, Iceland and Romania, but their last two competitive fixtures ended in a 5-0 defeat by North Macedonia and a 4-1 reverse at the hands of Germany, both at home, and they were trounced 9-0 in Norway during Marchs round of friendlies.

Asked how his players had reacted to that horror show, Caparros said: "I dont want anyone to remind me about that game.

"Of course it was a tough result for us to accept, but the team has already forgotten it and we are preparing for the upcoming matches."

Follow Armenia v Republic of Ireland (Saturday, 2pm) via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RT News app. Watch live coverage on RT2 and RT Player commencing at 1pm with live radio coverage on RT Radio 1.

See the original post:
Motivation not an issue, according to Armenian skipper Varazdat Haroyan - RTE.ie

Tim Henman hopes the chance to complete the calendar Grand Slam will motivate Rafael Nadal to play at Wimbledon and beyond.

Nadal has won the first two major tournaments of the year for the first time in his career after adding a 14th French Open title to the Australian Open he won in January.

There will be doubts surrounding his participation at SW19 in only three weeks due to the chronic foot injury which has plagued the Spaniard and prompted rumours of retirement.

But the 36-year-old said after his three-set demolition of Casper Ruud at Roland Garros that he would keep fighting to keep on going.

Eurosport pundit and former British number one Henman said: When you have won as much as he has, you just never know whats around the corner.

I think he has been very frank, and very honest, to say that he doesnt know if he is going to be back here. But when you see a performance like that hes 3-1 down in the second set, he wins 11 games in a row it was just another clay-court masterclass.

You would have thought that when he wins these big titles dont forget hes won the Australian Open, the French Open, now you can talk about the grand slam being on surely it is going to motivate him to keep on going.

Thats what we are keeping our fingers crossed for because its a privilege to see one of the greatest champions in our sport playing like that.

Visit link:
Rafael Nadal will be motivated by calendar Grand Slam, Tim Henman suggests - The Independent

While it finds concentrated with the selection of Poland, Robert Lewandowski left clear once again that his wish is to go out of the Bayern Munich in the next market. The attacker accumulates 12 seasons in Germany, of which eight have been in the Bavarian discipline. However, to his 33 years of age, has in mind culminate his career in another club that allow him compete by new challenges.

In front of the words that left the '9' front the microphones, his exagente, Cezary Kucharski, offered some statements for 'Sport1' speaking on the future of his ancient customer and on the situation that is living. "I think that Robert really wants to go. These statements are violent. It needs a new motivation. His heart does time that went of the Bayern", affirmed the mnager.

Besides, also it stood out that if they retain him it is likely that do not have the best exert. "After these words, really no longer think that follow giving 100% of performance for the Bayern. Certainly no longer it treats of money. In that then, when it was in the Borussia Dortmund, still was young and had fear. Now it is a player experienced and knows what want to", sentenced the representative.

For the moment, the ariete continues in the module of the Polish selection to contest the commitments pautados for the Nations League. First it will receive to Wales this Wednesday for afterwards split course to Belgium. Afterwards, it will visit in Rotterdam the Low Countries and will close the fourth date confronting again to the Belgian group, this time on Polish floor in the city of Warsaw.

While his situation continues in the limbo, the Barcelona keeps firm his wish to do with his services. The Barcelona already have sent a proposal of 32 million euros to the offices Teutonics and are expecting an answer to resolve the last fringes. The ones of the Allianz Sand do not want to go out of his star, but also recognise that this is the last opportunity that will have to take out 'cut' by his sale.

Continued here:
Lewandowski's former agent sees him out of Bayern: "He needs another motivation" - FC Barcelona Noticias

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars spent all that money on Christian Kirk. They spent a nice chunk of change on Zay Jones in free agency, too. And the connection between Marvin Jones and quarterback Trevor Lawrence should only get better in Year 2.

But at OTAs on Tuesday, the wide receiver I couldn't stop watching was running back Travis Etienne.

Back from a Lisfranc injury that robbed him of his rookie season, the 2021 first-round pick seemingly only caught passes during the two-hour practice. Afterward, I asked him if we may as well change his designation to WR now.

"Nah, nah just position flexibility," Etienne says. "If I'm in those positions throughout the game and we get good matchups, we'll be able to exploit them. So it's just me being able to do more and being valuable.

"Football is all about matchups so I mean if I could be like Deebo Samuel, I would love that. Honestly the game is a game of productivity. If you can produce, the team is always going to have a need for you. It's just trying to be the best player I can be so I can be on the field at all times."

Etienne, the former 2018 and 2019 ACC Offensive Player of the Year at Clemson, wants to be used in a way like the discontent San Francisco star.

I tell him that it doesn't seem like Deebo really enjoys being Deebo on the field right now, considering his rift with the 49ers and apparently reluctance to rejoin the organization.

"Well see it's different for him because he's the receiver going to the backfield. I'm the running back going to receiver," Etienne explains.

"For me that's taking less pounding on my body. For him that's putting my pounding on his. You've got to see it from his perspective. For me, it's totally fine because I get to get outside in space and just work against DBs, smaller guys and I don't have to run between the tackles. Who wouldn't love that?"

Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.

Sorry! There was an error processing your subscription.

Fair enough. Etienne was more productive as a pass-catcher at Clemson in successive years, finishing with 102 receptions for 1,155 yards and eight touchdowns in his four years with the Tigers.

After the Jags selected him with the No. 25 overall pick, then-coach Urban Meyer raised eyebrows when he said he'd slot Etienne solely at receiver for minicamp. It was curious and clunky considering James Robinson was coming off a 1,000-yard rushing season and the Jags had signed Carlos Hyde to a two-year deal.

The experiment didn't last long, though. Etienne suffered the Lisfranc injury during an exhibition and missed the entire season. "Missed" of course being the operative word for the failed Meyer era in 2021.

"Just seeing the results you definitely are like, if there was any year to miss, I missed a great one," Etienne told reporters in April in what is the early leader for Quote of NFL Offseason.

Enter Doug Pederson, who appears to be fulfilling the Meyer Prophecy for Etienne.

Except it's early. From talking with people inside the organization, I get the impression Etienne's heavy workload at receiver is less about Etienne himself and more about Lawrence as the captain of this offense and Pederson's philosophy as a program builder as a whole.

This offense will go as Lawrence goes, and right now he needs every rep he can get in Pederson's system with OC Press Taylor and QBs coach Mike McCoy. Getting Lawrence to grow in this passing offense should be Priority 1 for that group. Additionally, Pederson can't truly evaluate the run game (or line play) without pads. Handing the ball off right now to Etienne or anyone for that matter is little more than just doing it for the sake of doing it.

Etienne wouldn't agree that he's back to 100 percent even though he looked like it on the field. He admits he still has to clear some mental hurdles with his foot before being able to say he's back to true form.

He declined to share what his personal goals for this season are just yet. But if and when Etienne becomes that slash-type of player Samuel has been for the Niners, it'll be because of the work he and Lawrence have been putting in together for years.

"Just knowing what we want to bring throughout the season, we have to work at it," Etienne says. "It's not just going to come to us. It's about repetition, and we definitely do that."

Here is the original post:
Travis Etienne healthy, motivated and all-in on becoming Jaguars' Deebo-like weapon - CBS Sports