Tetek Refil: October 2020

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Why former Cowboys QB Danny White says there are ‘too many me-first players’ in Dallas - The Dallas Morning News

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Former Cowboys quarterback Danny White joined the K&C Masterpiece Show on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM] to talk about his former team. Here are some of the highlights.

Is the key for Ben dinucci, this week to run short routes or, or just not to sit around and try and make too big of a play?

White: Well, yeah, you know, that’s dangerous because if you take the deep throw out of your game plan, you know, those corners are gonna squat on the receivers and you’re not gonna have anybody to throw the ball to and if you do you risk an interception but... so when you do throw the ball down he’s got to have max protection to help out those young tackles.

What’s the difference on joining a team like the Cowboys when they’re on top of the world versus now being a Dallas Cowboy where you’re just told the Cowboys were good at football at some point?

Well, you know, in my opinion, and that’s all it is my opinion: They’ve got too many me-first players and not enough team-first players.

When I played with with Gil [Brandt] and coach [Tom] Landry, I mean there was a huge emphasis placed on effort. And they would talk to your coaches in college, like to find out what your background was, what kind of family you come from, stuff like that. For a lot of emphasis on the wonderlic test. And so a lot of the intangibles were addressed. And I’m not saying they’re not being addressed now. But I think in the recent past the Cowboys have just not had enough of that type of mentality, that mental toughness that went with, with guys like Lee Roy Jordan, Jethro Pugh, Larry Cole and guys that just refused to lose. And that’s all that mattered to them and if we did lose it was not any fun on the plane ride back from the game, or that whole week in practice, because we just didn’t believe we were supposed to lose.

And there’s just not enough of those kind of players and you’re seeing the Cowboys make some moves now that I applaud and and think should have been made, probably weeks ago, to get those guys that are me-first players out of the locker room, because that becomes a cancer.

How can you spot the me-first players?

White: Well, you have to be in the locker room or in the meeting room to be able to spot them. All I know is from the broadcast booth, it was obvious, just by body language and the way they were carrying themselves in and out of the huddle, off the field on the field, that there was some real internal issues going on. And it can be little things. You know, Dontari Poe doesn’t get in the right gap and let the linemen get up on Jaylon Smith and Jaylon Smith can’t do his job. But it all starts with Dontari not doing his job and it affects other players.

And that leads to Jaylon having ill feelings towards Dontari and that’s got to get addressed and if it doesn’t get addressed it’s just going to fester.

And I think that’s the kind of thing, at least from my viewpoint. It looks to me like the really good players, the good effort players were being affected by the me-first players. And it looks to me and now like the Cowboys, as a result of the people, the coaches, the captains — captains are so critical to that process. They got to be willing to sell out of teammates, even, for the good of the team, if that’s what it takes for the team to be successful. And I don’t know if the captains are doing their job or what type of structure they have, but the captains have to put the team first that’s why it’s so important to select the right kind of captains. But it can’t be just one player. In my opinion Jaylon Smith has been playing hard. But it can’t just be Jaylon. It’s got to be those guys up front that are protecting him. It’s got to be the guys behind him.

And there are two reasons to get cut: lack of talent or lack of effort. And only the coaches and the people in the locker room can make those decisions.

— Click here to listen to the full interview.

Find more Cowboys stories from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Texas congressional candidates fight over preexisting conditions - The Texas Tribune

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In an ad for her bid for the U.S. House, former Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne tells the story about how her daughter needed nine surgeries in her first year. Van Duyne, a Republican, says her insurance company denied coverage for her daughter “on her most invasive surgery.”

“But there was no way I was going to let my daughter down, so I fought them and won,” she says in the spot, adding that she knows how important it is to provide protections for people with preexisting conditions.

It’s a message that congressional candidates in both parties are pushing hard in the final days of the 2020 elections. Many Republicans, including Van Duyne, are stressing that they want to preserve protections for preexisting conditions, despite the party’s long-held goal to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, which mandates that people with preexisting conditions can’t be denied or charged more for insurance.

Democrats, meanwhile, are calling that claim disingenuous given the Republican Party’s longtime opposition to the 2010 health care law. They argue that Republicans have spent the last 10 years trying to take those protections away.

“Ask every single one of them where they stand on [Republican Texas Attorney General] Ken Paxton’s lawsuit to repeal the ACA,” Abhi Rahman, communications director for Texas Democrats, said. “It’s frankly disgusting that they say they’re going to protect preexisting conditions when they want to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a plan to replace it. It fires me up because these people are lying to the people of Texas.”

Van Duyne’s opponent in the North Texas district, Democrat Candace Valanzuela, says she wants to expand the Affordable Care Act and has also emphasized protections for those with preexisting conditions — she suffers from chronic back pain after a car accident.

The issue has taken on even more salience during the coronavirus pandemic. Texas already had the highest rate and largest number of people without health insurance in the U.S. and the pandemic increased that rate — as of May, 29% of Texans under the age of 65 were uninsured. It has also sprouted worries that having had the virus would be a preexisting condition if protections were eliminated.

In 2017, a Republican-controlled Congress attempted to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act — a promise Republicans ran on during the 2016 election. However, it became clear that none of the proposals would garner enough votes to pass. Democrats then ran on the issue during the 2018 midterm elections, defending the Affordable Care Act. They flipped the House, gaining a net total of 41 seats.

Now Republicans and the Trump administration’s best hope of eliminating the law is in the courts. Paxton, the Texas attorney general, sued the federal government in 2018 seeking to overturn the individual mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act, which sought to penalize those who choose to remain uninsured but was zeroed out in a Republican tax bill. The lawsuit will be heard by the Supreme Court on Nov. 10, and Paxton’s office is arguing that the whole law should be repealed if the individual mandate portion is overturned.

Texas Democrats are emphasizing those efforts to fight the law in their ads and their platforms, warning that voters may find their health care in limbo if the Affordable Care Act is struck down by an increasingly conservative Supreme Court.

But GOP candidates are seeking to undercut those attacks, saying that it’s other parts of the law they oppose and that they’d seek to protect preexisting condition rules.

Making that case is easier for Van Duyne, who has never served in Congress. Her campaign didn’t respond to a question how she would prefer to protect preexisting conditions. However, some more well-known Republicans have been parts of years-long fights to repeal the health care law.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was Senate majority whip in 2017 when Republicans wanted to repeal the law. But in a recent ad, he emphasized his support for the protection of those with preexisting conditions, saying that it “is something we all agree should be covered.” He also touted a bill he cosponsored, the 2019 Protect Act, which he says will safeguard people with preexisting conditions from being charged more by insurance companies. However, experts have said that legislation does not go as far as Obamacare in ensuring those protections.

His opponent, Democrat MJ Hegar, is highlighting the issue and Cornyn’s record. After Cornyn joked that it was “ACA vs. ACB” during Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearing, Hegar’s campaign pounced.

“Your little line isn’t cute, John, it’s potentially deadly for 5 million Texans with pre-existing conditions,” Hegar tweeted.

Cornyn has not clearly stated whether or not he supports the Texas-led challenge against the Affordable Care Act. He has said he wants the “Constitution to be enforced.”

The issue of preexisting conditions has also come up in the race for U.S. Rep. Will Hurd’s seat in West Texas — one of the “most medically underserved districts in the country,” according to Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones.

Throughout her campaign, Jones has attacked Republican Tony Gonzales for supporting the elimination of the Affordable Care Act, and as a result, the protections of people with preexisting conditions. Gonzales said he does support the elimination of Obamacare but pledged to support those with preexisting conditions, often reminding voters that he has one himself — he went into a coma for three days and suffered brain trauma and kidney failure after being incorrectly intubated.

"It's not an easy fix. It takes folks to come together and come up with a solution to it. It's not a one size fits all," Gonzales said in an interview with The Texas Tribune. "In District 23, the Affordable Care Act does not work right, so we need to come up with a replacement to that. I look forward to getting on the Hill and working toward a replacement that covers preexisting conditions."

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, recently fought with former congressman Beto O’Rourke on Twitter after O’Rourke tweeted that Crenshaw was a “gaslighting Texas Trump puppet” for trying to reduce access to health care.

Crenshaw, while admitting that he does want to eliminate Obamacare, said he has supported amendments to Democratic legislation to address preexisting conditions such as H.R. 692, which would preserve health care for people with preexisting conditions if the Affordable Care Act was changed or repealed.

Straying from the crowd, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, has kept to the message of leaving the government out of health care in his race against Democrat Wendy Davis. He said the current health care system “created the preexisting condition issue” and plans to increase individual access to health care by centering it “on personal control carried out through expansive personal health-care savings supplemented by individuals, employers, and even charitable third parties.”

But Roy has picked up on a common attack Republicans are using against their opponents: highlighting the popularity of an expensive “Medicare for All” proposal among many Democratic voters. Davis has not called for Medicare for All, but does support a government-run “public option” health insurance alternative.

“I’m glad my opponent just mentioned her support of a public option which is pretty much the JV path to Medicare-for-All and the problem with that is it would lead us to a $25 trillion system that we cannot afford,” Roy said in a debate against Davis. “This is the system of a government solution which causes rationing and increases pricing rather than putting you in control of your healthcare.”

Texans are still split on the issue of health care, with Republican voters being less concerned about the issue. And a majority of Texans aren’t sold on the idea of universal health care — a February University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll found that 41% of Texas voters supported it while 46% preferred the current system.

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Texas congressional candidates fight over preexisting conditions - The Texas Tribune

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But GOP candidates are seeking to undercut those attacks, saying that it’s other parts of the law they oppose and that they’d seek to protect preexisting condition rules.

“Your little line isn’t cute, John, it’s potentially deadly for 5 million Texans with pre-existing conditions,” Hegar tweeted.

Cornyn has not clearly stated whether or not he supports the Texas-led challenge against the Affordable Care Act. He has said he wants the “Constitution to be enforced.”

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Why Are So Many People Voting? – BillMoyers.com - BillMoyers.com

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Three days from Tuesday’s moment in this election marathon, there is plenty we don’t know. As someone famously said, there are Known Unknowns and Unknown Unknowns. We are all holding our collective breaths for the outcomes, from the Presidency to control of state legislative chambers, and for the resilience of our democratic process in general.

But one thing we can say with some confidence is that there will be a record turnout in this election. As of this Friday evening, over 86,300,000 people have already voted. This is measured against 137 million people who voted in 2016, and a Total Voting Eligible Population of 239 million people, according to Professor Michael McDonald and the U.S. Elections Project. While it is too early to say that this extraordinary early vote are new voters and not just the same voters voting earlier, it seems clear that turnout this year will almost certainly be over 150 million votes cast; it could well go over 160 million.

There are lots of reasons for this, but I want to highlight one that is not properly credited. So many people are voting early because people have successfully fought to open the process of registration and voting over the last twenty years, building off the trailblazing work of the civil rights movement. Major expansions of opportunities for people to register and vote were increasingly the norm before any of the adjustments because of COVID-19.

A full accounting would take far longer, but consider these comparisons, first in voter registration options:

• In 2000, six states had Same Day Registration (SDR), which studies have shown boosts turnout 5-7 percent. In 2020, 21 states and Washington, D.C. are offering voters this chance.

• In 2002, Arizona became the first state to provide for online voter registration; today it operates in 40 states.

• Only five years ago, no states had automatic voter registration (AVR), which proactively and automatically registers people when they visit the Department of Motor Vehicles and sometimes other agencies. Oregon was the first adopter in 2016, and 16 states and DC now have the procedure in place.

• Over the last twenty years, according to The Sentencing Project (which has led the way on this issue), 24 states have made it more possible for people with felony convictions to vote. There are still 5.2 million people who are ineligible, but that is down from 6.1 million in 2016—despite efforts in Florida to throw roadblocks at the implementation of Amendment 4 in restoring ex-felon voting rights, which passed in 2018 with an overwhelming Yes vote.

• In 23 states, sixteen and/or seventeen year-olds can pre-register, making high school registration efforts possible and effective.

Even more striking than these registration actions: several additional options for voters to actually cast their votes have opened up in the last several years.

• Early in-person voting has increased steadily and dramatically. In 2000, 29 states allowed people to vote early. This year, it is available in 43 states along with Washington, D.C. Early voting takes pressure off the crushes of election day, but also allows far more people to vote in person than a one-day Tuesday election day. Of the 85 million people who have voted so far, 31 million are early in-person votes.

• The expansion of voting by mail has been a huge development. While court challenges by Republicans seeking to undermine mail-in voting have dragged into the final week of the election, states have made adjustments this year that have made this critical mechanism more available, including twelve states that mailed applications to every registered voter, and four—California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Vermont—which mailed actual ballots to every registered voter. Even before this year, five states—Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, California, and again the District of Columbia—were conducting their elections almost entirely by mail. The results have been high turnout rates, efficient systems for tracking and counting, and, need we say it, no discernible voting fraud.

None of this is meant to breeze by, or minimize, the disgraceful attempts by the Trump campaign, Republican parties in many states, and some Republican legislatures to undermine voting options and hold down the vote. But it is important to note that there have been heroic efforts by voting rights organizations to fight back against these tactics, with significant (though not universal) success.

These democracy-expanding efforts have not just been defensive. The gains in voting access catalogued here are the result of tenacious and sustained efforts by organizations, who have made expanding voting rights and improving our democracy the central focus of their efforts since the 2000 election. They have been joined increasingly by labor organizations, women’s organizations, environmental organizations, and gun safety advocates, all of whom have recognized that making our democracy work better is critical to successful efforts on so many issues. These efforts should not be overlooked, and are bearing fruit today.

What lessons are there here for future work? The major implication is to truly embrace the conclusion that these ‘process reforms’ really matter. This was true in the 2018 elections, and it is already hugely true in 2020. Working toward a fully inclusive democracy, with an level playing field for all, will make government more responsive and help restore a good share of lost faith in our system. And it will prevent the still-present specter of minority rule from pulling the country backward.

That said, there’s more work to be done. If there is a Biden administration and a Democratic House and Senate, the passage of the Voting Rights Advancement Act and the adoption of the comprehensive reforms represented in HR 1 should be at the top of the federal legislative agenda.

Perhaps even more important, there will very likely be new opportunities in states to pass innovative and expansive measures to encourage people to vote. Some of those will be to make permanent the pandemic-induced expansions from this year. Some will be to further expand voter registration. And maybe a really bold state will adopt ‘universal civic duty voting’, making the act of participation a required civic duty for every citizen. It is a concept we have utilized for serving on juries for many years, and which Australia has successfully used for 96 years—with participation rates consistently around 90 percent. If we know that making the process more inclusive works, this could be a time for thinking big about continuing to move that needle.

Days Until the Election
3.

Today I Learned, Election Edition

A survey of ballot measures nationwide, and when we should expect results. (FiveThirtyEight)
An even more comprehensive elections tracker from @Taniel. (What’s on the Ballot)
This appeals court order is an obvious attempt to steal the Minnesota election. (The Week)
Trump campaign targeting 2016 voters who dropped off in 2018, but losing others in the process. (Wall Street Journal)
Great piece from Marcia Brown on the Pennsylvania Women for Biden-Harris Facebook group, which has an astounding 124,000 members. (The American Prospect)
Alarms sounding among some in the Biden camp on Black and Latino turnout. (Bloomberg)’
The three states Trump’s eyeing for post-election lawsuits make up his hypothetical map: Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Nevada. (Axios)
John Cornyn has a resume inflation problem. (Salon)

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NFL hot seat: Five coaches in danger of being fired - Sportsnaut

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NFL hot seat: We’re already at the halfway point of the NFL season with Week 8 underway and two head coaches already fired. With two changes made, who is the next head coach in danger of being fired?

New York Jets coach Adam Gase is the runaway favorite to be canned next. However, he will face plenty of competition from other coaches overseeing some of the NFL’s worst teams. So, while Gase might be next to go, surprises happen.

Let’s take a look at the NFL hot seat and the five coaches in danger of being fired this season.

NFL Week 8: Schedule and game predictions

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia on the hot seat

Heading into Week 6, Patricia was on the brink of being fired. Facing the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Lions needed to pull out a victory to keep Patricia’s seat from bursting into flames. Sure enough, Detroit won and delivered a last-second victory in Week 7.

Sitting at 3-3, the Lions are within striking distance for a playoff spot. However, the second half of their schedule will be tough. After Week 12, Detroit faces the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ultimately, this team likely finishes with a 7-9 or 8-8 record and that will result in Patricia being fired after Week 17.

When will New York Jets fire Adam Gase?

As the only winless team in the NFL, there is no coach more deserving of being fired. Since being hired by the Jets, Gase holds a 7-16 record. It’s been particularly bad this season, with the proclaimed “offensive guru” orchestrating an attack that ranks last in total yards and points.

The calls are growing louder for Gase to be axed. He is the problem in New York and it would seem like the organization realizes that. If the Jets lose by three-plus touchdowns to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and fall to 0-8, Gase may be fired. Given this team is tanking for Trevor Lawrence, though, maybe they let him drive this into the ground for the No. 1 pick. Until he is gone, Gase will lead the NFL hot seat.

Will the Cincinnati Bengals fire Zac Taylor?

Cincinnati took a chance on Taylor in 2019, hiring the Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach. The organization hoped it found the next Sean McVay. We’re now 23 games into Taylor’s tenure and the team has a 3-19-1 record. Quite simply, the clock is ticking.

It’s not just about the record, either. While this offense has improved slightly with Joe Burrow at quarterback and a healthy Joe Mixon, a lot of talent is being wasted. On top of that, there have been multiple issues with players calling out the coaching staff and taking extreme measures to get out. If the Bengals finish with fewer than four wins, it would be in the organization’s best interest to find a new coach.

Jacksonville Jaguars rumors: Will Doug Marrone survive another season?

Jacksonville stuck by Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell last offseason. Even after winning just 11 total games in the past two years, the Jaguars believed he could turn things around. Since winning in Week 1, Jacksonville hasn’t really stood a chance in games since.

It’s evident owner Shahid Khan trust his coach and general manager, but that can only last for so long. The Jaguars are destined for a 2-14 or 3-13 record, a notable step back from their 6-10 mark in 2019. Marrone won’t be fired during the year, but no one should be surprised if he is fired the Monday after Week 17.

NFL mock draft: Jaguars land franchise quarterback, offensive weapon

Dallas Cowboys rumors: Could Mike McCarthy be one-and-done in Dallas?

Mike McCarthy conned Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. After telling the team during the interview that he watched every play from the 2019 season, McCarthy admitted that it was a lie during his introductory press conference. As for the self-evaluation and changes he made after being fired by the Green Bay Packers, he looks like the same coach as before.

The dysfunctional in Dallas is legitimate. Players are calling out the coaching staff, highlighting some of McCarthy’s baffling in-game decisions. Injuries have played a key role in the team’s 2-5 record, but McCarthy’s laughable hiring of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is the bigger problem. Given how loyal Jones is, even if the Cowboys finish 3-13, McCarthy will likely avoid a one-and-done exit. However, the hot seat would be scorching in Dallas heading into 2021.

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Now That More Americans Can Work From Anywhere, Many Are Planning To Move Away - wgbh.org

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As coronavirus cases continue to spike and working from home seems permanent, many Americans are planning to set off to live in new places.

An astonishing 14 million to 23 million Americans intend to relocate to a different city or region as a result of telework, according to a new study released by Upwork, a freelancing platform. The survey was conducted Oct. 1-15 among 20,490 Americans 18 and over.

The large migration is motivated by people no longer confined to the city where their job is located. The pandemic has shifted many companies' view on working from home. Facebook announced plans for half of its employees to work from home permanently. The company even hired a director of remote work in September to ease the transition.

"As our survey shows, many people see remote work as an opportunity to relocate to where they want and where they can afford to live," says Adam Ozimek, chief economist at Upwork. "This is an early indicator of the much larger impacts that remote work could have in increasing economic efficiency and spreading opportunity."

Big cities will see the largest out-migration, according to the survey. About 20% of respondents planning to move live in a major city. Since many expect remote work to be more long term, more than half aim to relocate over two hours away or even farther from their current home.

Another study conducted by United Van Lines, a major household moving company, found that people wanted to relocate out of New York state at a higher rate than the national average. And, by the beginning of September, the requests to leave San Francisco had grown to more than double the U.S. average. The survey was conducted between March and August.

Nationally, there is a 32% increase in moving interest compared to this time last year, the United Van Lines survey found. The most common reasons associated with pandemic-influenced moves were: concerns for personal and family health and wellbeing, desires to be closer to family, changes in employment status or work arrangement (including the ability to work remotely) and desires for lifestyle change or improvement of quality of life.

Customers told the moving company that the pandemic made them re-evaluate what was important to their family, which meant being closer to extended family and friends. Other customers said they had to widen their job search out of state.

Adedayo Akala is an intern on the NPR Business Desk.

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As many as 50 face quarantine at Portland High School - Press Herald

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Portland school officials have detected four cases of COVID-19 among four different schools that could force up to 50 people at Portland High School into quarantine, administrators say.

One person each tested positive at Rowe Elementary School, King Middle School, Lyman Moore Middle School and Portland High School, Superintendent Xavier Botana said in a community letter Friday.

Botana did not identify the people who tested positive or specify what their roles were at their respective schools, citing health privacy rules. He did not say what condition they were in, either.

The positive cases from Rowe and King were not at school during their infectious period, which means they did not have close contact with anyone at school, he said.

“We do expect the other two cases, at Moore and (Portland High School), to lead to significantly more contacts being quarantined – perhaps as many as 50 at PHS,” he said in the letter.

Close contacts have already heard from health authorities or school officials, Botana said.

The superintendent of schools also urged community members to follow pandemic safety guidelines, including wearing masks, practicing hand hygiene, maintaining physical distance and keeping children home if they show symptoms of illness.

“We are hoping for the speedy recovery of our community members,” Botana said in the letter. “COVID-19 cases are rising nationwide and in Maine and this pandemic continues to pose challenges for all of us. We believe that our district can maintain safe and healthy learning environments if we continue to strictly adhere to our safe practices.”

This story will be updated.

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Maine CDC reports 101 cases as worrying surge continues

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As many as 50 face quarantine at Portland High School - The Bethel Citizen

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A boy rides a bicycle past Portland High School on Saturday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer Buy this Photo

Portland school officials have detected four cases of COVID-19 among four different schools that could force up to 50 people at Portland High School into quarantine, administrators say.

One person each tested positive at Rowe Elementary School, King Middle School, Lyman Moore Middle School and Portland High School, Superintendent Xavier Botana said in a community letter Friday.

Botana did not identify the people who tested positive or specify what their roles were at their respective schools, citing health privacy rules. He did not say what condition they were in, either.

The positive cases from Rowe and King were not at school during their infectious period, which means they did not have close contact with anyone at school, he said.

“We do expect the other two cases, at Moore and (Portland High School), to lead to significantly more contacts being quarantined – perhaps as many as 50 at PHS,” he said in the letter.

Close contacts have already heard from health authorities or school officials, Botana said.

This story will be updated.

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Other View: The danger of portraying COVID-19 as political issue rather than health crisis - Freeport Journal-Standard

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Bill Belichick explains why the Patriots are playing so many young players, and it's all about the salary cap - CBS Sports

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NFL: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

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Heading into Week 8, the New England Patriots are a disappointing 2-4. They've been horrendous on offense since quarterback Cam Newton contracted COVID-19, and the defense has taken a large step backward from the level it displayed last season, when it was one of the best units in recent memory.

A former Patriots assistant coach has a theory regarding the team's backslide: it's about an increase in young players on the field. Charlie Weis, Bill Belichick's former offensive coordinator, floated that theory on his Sirius XM NFL Radio show, and Belichick seemed to confirm it -- at least in part.

"I've noticed watching the Patriots that you're playing a whole bunch of young guys," Weis said. "Are most of them playing because you like them, or are some of them playing because of the world we're living in?"

Belichick confirmed that more young players are on the field (New England is using its youngest roster since 2016, according to Spotrac), but the reason was actually different than the one Weis offered. According to Belichick, it's more about the salary cap than anything else.

"We were pretty heavily invested in our team the past few years," Belichick said. "From a salary-cap standpoint, we didn't have much flexibility at all. I think that was obvious on the Cam Newton contract. Then we had some opt-outs, so we lost some players there that would normally be giving us a significant amount of playtime. And then like every year, a couple guys are banged up and we've missed some guys here and there in certain games. I think when you combine it all together, there is opportunity there, and some of that opportunity has gone to younger players. Again, because of our cap situation -- in this particular year, this is kind of the year that we've taken to, I would say, adjust our cap from the spending that we've had in accumulation of prior years. We just haven't been able to have the kind of depth on our roster that we've had in some other years. That's provided more opportunity for younger players. So it's a combination of all the reasons."

That's pretty fascinating! And taking a look at New England's spending over the last several years, it indeed holds true. The Patriots have committed salaries equal to only 87.4 percent of the salary cap this season, per Spotrac, compared with at least 97 percent in each of the last three years and at least 93 percent in every year since 2013.

Year	Salary	Adj Cap	Room	Cap %
2013	$ 124,037,085	$ 130,256,344	$ 6,219,259	95.2%
2014	$ 134,321,836	$ 139,109,051	$ 4,787,215	96.6%
2015	$ 141,316,422	$ 144,578,084	$ 3,261,662	97.7%
2016	$ 148,847,888	$ 159,642,451	$ 10,794,563	93.2%
2017	$ 163,713,427	$ 167,560,488	$ 3,847,061	97.7%
2018	$ 175,954,265	$ 180,212,602	$ 4,258,337	97.6%
2019	$ 194,984,949	$ 200,373,423	$ 5,388,474	97.3%
2020	$ 184,092,085	$ 210,657,571	$ 26,565,486	87.4%

A big reason the Patriots might have done this is that the cap is expected to drop next season due to a revenue shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the current projected cap of $175 million for 2021, the Patriots would be set to have around $44 million in cap space for next year. By staying more than $26 million under this year's cap, though, the Patriots are able to roll over enough space to give them over $70 million in room next offseason -- the fourth-highest total in the league at the moment. As they attempt to build their roster for the future, that could be a major advantage they have over some other teams.

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Halloween a dangerous crossroads for COVID-19 in California - Los Angeles Times

Black voters a focal point in election, but many feel campaigns haven't done enough - TribLIVE

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Jojo Burgess has spent the past month or so reaching out to Black voters across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

A common sentiment, according to Burgess, is: “Why vote? No one cares about us.”

While a record 137.5 million Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election, Black voter turnout decreased by about 765,000 and dropped for the first time in two decades, according to the Pew Research Center.

Democrats, in particular, are hoping there isn’t a repeat of that this year. About 83% of Black registered voters identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party, compared with 10% for Republicans, according to Pew.

Burgess, who is Black and serves as second vice chair of the Washington County Democratic Committee, said he has been encouraging people to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden. Still, he thinks neither party has done a good enough job of trying to win the votes or trust of Black people.

This summer, after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other high-profile violent incidents between police and Black people, hundreds of thousands of Americans — many of them white — took to the streets in protest.

Burgess, 50, said he sensed a momentum shift nationally that he thought could result in meaningful changes, including policies addressing racial injustice and police brutality.

But a police reform bill called the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that passed the Democratic-controlled U.S. House in June stalled in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate, and President Trump said he would veto the bill if it came to his desk.

Support for the protests also waned. In June, 54% of Americans said they supported the protests, but that dropped to 39% by September, according to Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research polling. Support among whites dropped from 53% to 34% in that span, while it went from 81% to 63% among Blacks, the Pew research showed.

University of Michigan political scientist Christian Davenport said the nation has historically seen public support wane among white Americans for social justice movements — what he calls “compassion fatigue.”

“When this was all about the (George Floyd) video and the visceral response to seeing someone’s life get squeezed out of them, that’s fine,” Davenport said. “But from the moment that topic is raised to awareness, the clock starts ticking with regards to, ‘How quickly can we resolve this so I can get back to my normal life?’”

For Tanisha Long, who has been working to start a Black Lives Matter chapter in the Pittsburgh region, Biden is her preferred candidate but she doesn’t think he’s an ideal one when it comes to addressing systemic racism. Long argued Biden and his running mate, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, who is Indian American and Black, have a mixed record when it comes to criminal justice issues.

“It’s weird: Going into this election we had all these candidates but it was whittled down to white, old men. That’s a turnoff to minority voters,” said Long, 30, of Crafton.

Still, she said she thinks Black voters should vote for Biden “because our lives depend on it.”

Long said she feels the Democratic Party is more sympathetic on race issues that matter to her, but the candidates have not been in Black communities enough.

“I would love to see them in the communities more often instead of just talking about them,” she said.

Ike Hajinazarian, Biden’s press secretary for Western Pennsylvania, said Biden’s campaign spent $280 million on a digital and television ad campaign targeting Black voters through the fall.

“Vice President Biden is acutely aware of the racial injustice that persists in our country, and one of his top priorities as president will be to work to root out systemic racism,” Hajinazarian said in an email.

He referenced Biden’s “Build Back Better” and “Lift Every Voice” plans that aim to improve economic opportunities for all Americans. Hajinazarian said Biden views all issue through the lens of injustice.

“Inequality — be it racial or socioeconomic — is inextricably intertwined with each and every issue we face as Americans,” he said.

Paris Dennard, the GOP’s Senior Communications Advisor for Black Media Affairs, said this election campaign has been different when it comes to reaching urban voters. He referenced the Trump campaign’s launch of Black Voices for Trump Community Centers in 15 cities, including in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Dennard said the centers have hosted over 150 engagement events, knocked on over 55,000 doors and made 85,000 phone calls to people within the predominantly Black communities. He said the campaign has also bought advertisements in historically Black newspapers and other media outlets to reach their readers and viewers.

“There’s no doubt our engagement effort in Pennsylvania has been significant, and we think that it’s going to make a difference,” he said.

Dennard, who is Black, said the GOP has tried to drive home to Black voters what Republicans have done to support school choice and Black entrepreneurs and Trump’s efforts to bring criminal justice reform.

“He’s been a true champion in every aspect of Black voters’ lives,” he said about Trump.

Lenny McAllister, a Black Republican from Penn Hills who has run for Congress in Illinois and Pennsylvania, said, “I think (Republican campaigns) are trying to make an economic and education argument to win over the voters.”

He said Republicans are focused on reminding voters of the economy’s well-being before the pandemic. He said they also are reminding voters that Trump signed the First Step Act, which reformed federal prisons and sentencing laws to reduce recidivism, decrease prison populations and bolster public safety.

McAllister said that bill and the party’s stance on school choice put Republicans “on the right side of history.”

“Those two issues have an impact to equal opportunity in America, to chase the American dream,” he said.

But the Republican establishment could do much better when it comes to messaging and reaching urban voters, who tend to vote Democratic, he said.

“That is less because of the effectiveness of Democrats and more so to the legacy problems that Republicans and conservatives have had in reaching urban voters and minority voters,” McAllister said, adding Republican politicians must do better at explaining, crafting and implementing free-market solutions that benefit all Americans.

“For the most part, they’ve failed at doing that for roughly 50 years. That must change for America to become stronger and more equal for all,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed.

Dillon Carr is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Dillon at 412-871-2325, dcarr@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Categories: Election | Local | Regional | Top Stories

2020 election news: Live updates - CNN

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Ivanka Trump, President Trump's daughter and White House adviser, speaks during a campaign event for her father on October 27 in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

President Trump's daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump has been making a last-ditch effort in the final days before the election to raise money for the cash-strapped Trump campaign.

On Friday, just four days before Election Day, she headlined a fundraiser event in Detroit, Michigan, ahead of the President’s rally in Waterford Township, Michigan, a Trump political aide told CNN.

She has headlined eleven events since Sunday and is expected to remain on the campaign trail through Election Day.

President Trump’s campaign heads into the final days before the campaign significantly financially outgunned by the Biden campaign.

Trump campaign officials insist they have the resources to compete effectively, with advertising on television nationally and in a dozen states. And they say their ground operation will help them prevail Nov. 3. But with questions about potential legal battles in key battleground states after the election, it is clear there are efforts to line the coffers.

Ivanka Trump’s events this week have taken critical time away from in-person campaigning as a top surrogate. Friday’s haul brings Trump’s fundraising total for her father’s campaign to over $13 million just this week, and $38 million since August, the aide said.

There were roughly 30 attendees at the Friday event, which raised $3 million for the Trump campaign. The event was also attended by GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

Earlier this week, she traveled to Mountain View and Beverly Hills, California, for a trio of high dollar fundraisers Sunday evening and Monday, respectively.

She participated in three events that raised $10 million total, the a political aide said, over two days. The Sunday event in Mountain View was an hourlong “fireside chat” at a private home.

In Beverly Hills on Monday, she attended a small private fundraising lunch at Spago and another “fireside chat” at a private home in Beverly Hills, where there were about 50 attendees, per the aide.

Those private events come as the White House coronavirus task force has warned states, including California, against holding small gatherings that can lead to community transmission. The Michigan event appeared to follow local guidelines, which place a cap on indoor gatherings at 50 people.

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Columbiana County stays at orange; hospitals in no danger - SalemNews.net

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Power outages, coronavirus dash Halloween plans for many - NOLA.com

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During a normal year, Mary Alice Stull would walk her two kids from their home in the St. Claude area to Faubourg Marigny for Halloween, where houses are known for being especially festooned with frightening decor.

But this year, with many neighborhoods certain to be dark due to widespread power outages, Stull’s five-year-old daughter, who plans to dress as a fairy, will stay home and use a flashlight to search for hidden candy. It’s not quite the same, but her daughter is still excited.

no.sundaywild.092820.002.jpg — It's party time for colorful skeletons at the Phoenix Bar Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in New Orleans. The year has been more trick than treat, and the early homage to Halloween's ghouls, goblins and skeletons warms the spirit.
STAFF PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

It's party time for colorful skeletons at the Phoenix Bar Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in New Orleans. The year has been more trick than treat, and the early homage to Halloween's ghouls, goblins and skeletons warms the spirit.
STAFF PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

“When you’re a mom, you pull out whatever tricks you can,” Stull, 32, said. “Halloween is something we have done as a family. ... The fact that we can’t do it right now. ... I’m trying to do as much as I can to keep it alive.”

Even though Stull is doing her best, the latest complications wrought by Hurricane Zeta have worn on her. Just ask how's she making out in 2020 -- or, for that matter, just about any parent juggling hurricane season, virtual school, the coronavirus pandemic and Halloween expectations.

“Do you want the fake answer or the truth?” she said. “I’m very tired.”

How residents are bracing for possible days without power in metro New Orleans

Even before Hurricane Zeta took out the power at Rouquette Lodge in Mandeville, it was hard for April Lucia’s dad to stay connected. COVID-19 …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said traditional trick or treating is not safe this year. The agency recommends protective face masks, hand sanitizer, social distancing and individually bagged treats to decrease the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.

no.sundaywild.092820.001.jpg — Felipe Fischer places Halloween decorations at his home Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in New Orleans. The year has been more trick than treat, and a vigorous homage to ghouls, goblins and skeletons warms the spirit.
STAFF PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

Felipe Fischer places Halloween decorations at his home Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in New Orleans. The year has been more trick than treat, and a vigorous homage to ghouls, goblins and skeletons warms the spirit.
STAFF PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

Some community groups have pivoted to drive-thru trunk-or-treats and treat bags to avoid large crowds that could spread the coronavirus. But dark streets and downed trees in many across the New Orleans area have upended those plans. And although parents are trying to come up with alternate activities, the lack of electricity makes it complicated.

“We can’t shower, wash clothes. We can’t cook,” said Brittany Lisenby, 34, an Algiers mother of three with a fourth on the way. “The only restaurant open is Brother’s Chicken, so I think we’re going to get that until we’re sick of it.”

Before Hurricane Zeta plunged much of the New Orleans area into darkness and made some streets unsafe for foot traffic, kids were going to show off costumes at school parades and attend socially distanced events put on by local businesses and churches. Now that many of those places lack power, parents are scouring social media and refreshing the Entergy maps to see what activities might be safe - and where.

NO.orphansouls.adv.004.jpg — Jeff Thomas pets his dog Sophie as his neighbor Ricki Lou says hello at his Bywater home in New Orleans, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. For the last 7 years, Jeff Thomas, a self-titled "scaredy cat" who loves haunted houses, has decorated his front porch with eerie masks, mannequins and dolls. Every year, his Halloween decorations evolve and recycle. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

Jeff Thomas pets his dog Sophie as his neighbor Ricki Lou says hello at his Bywater home in New Orleans, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. For the last 7 years, Jeff Thomas, a self-titled "scaredy cat" who loves haunted houses, has decorated his front porch with eerie masks, mannequins and dolls. Every year, his Halloween decorations evolve and recycle. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

Lisenby, who runs a small moving company, has been checking an Irish Channel neighborhood's Facebook page, where there is a map of participating houses that appear to have power. And although she’s trying to keep her kids -- ages 13, 8 and 5 -- happy, she has other things on her mind.

“I think we’ll get a hotel room tonight, but rent is due,” Lisenby said. “And all kinds of other bills. It’s hard to determine which is more important.”

For kids, the most important thing is simple: candy and costumes.

“If she has three mini-bags of M&Ms and gets to dress up as a kitty, she’s happy as a clam,” said Candace Ray, a 41-year-old therapist who plans to take her 4-year-old to a small trunk-or-treat put on by a preschool.

“Normally we have a block party, a police detail and a DJ,” said Ray, who lives in Metairie. “This year we couldn't get a permit.”

So Ray will plop a bowl of candy on her porch, because she still doesn’t have power for porch lights to let kids know she’s participating. The trunk-or-treat is timed and socially distanced, with wristbands required.

With almost every power pole down on her street in Metairie, Ashleigh Pilgrim, 33, has taken to scouting other streets that might be safe for her 5- and 9-year-old. She has a contingency plan to go to a socially distanced fall festival at Metairie Baptist Church during the day.

Photo gallery: New Orleans proves Halloweening from home never looked so good

The trick-or-treaters might be sparse this year and there may not be many parties to dress up for, but New Orleanians are still getting into t…

“If the night is a big old flop, at least we got something done,” said Pilgrim, whose kids plan to dress as a hedgehog and werewolf. “I told them we’re going to do our best, take them out and see where it goes. As long as they're in their costumes running around, they're going to be fine.”

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Danger Danger's Ted Poley Announces 'Miss Your Touch' Jewelry Collection - BLABBERMOUTH.NET

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Ted Poley has a secret. It's a whopper but it probably isn't what you think.

Best known as the lead singer for the rock band DANGER DANGER (voted one of VH1's all-time "hair metal" bands), Ted is a highly skilled, original and creative jewelry designer.

Ted has teamed with Novell and Continental Jewelry to commemorate this difficult, but what is sure to be resilient period of world history.

At this time of social distancing, when we are masking facial expressions so we can protect each other, we are speaking much more through our eyes. The one common feeling most shared is that we miss the physical human touch of others.

Ted took that emotion and turned it into a heartfelt collection of jewelry ideas.

Miss Your Touch is the easiest way of reminding someone how you would hold them close if you could. The design and that emotion are fertile ground for boundless ideas of expression.

"I created the Miss Your Touch concept so that during this time people can still express their closeness to their loved ones," comments Ted. "This is a way to stay connected a tangible way to let the people you care about know that you are still close — despite the current distancing situation."

Ted has sold millions of albums worldwide while touring non-stop for over 30 years. He is also known for singing lead vocals on and writing the lyrics for "Escape From The City" — featured prominently in SEGA's popular Sonic The Hedgehog game series.

A portion of the designer's proceeds will benefit local no-kill animal shelters. Proceeds from Novell and Continental Jewelry's profits will benefit COVID-19 First Responders Relief Funds.

For more information, visit www.missyourtouchjewelry.com.

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Saturday, October 31, 2020

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia on the hot seat

When will New York Jets fire Adam Gase?

Will the Cincinnati Bengals fire Zac Taylor?

Jacksonville Jaguars rumors: Will Doug Marrone survive another season?

Dallas Cowboys rumors: Could Mike McCarthy be one-and-done in Dallas?

Friday, October 30, 2020