Sports

Bucs GM: Team Has Front-Runner for NFL Draft, Mum on Pick

Published

11 years ago

April 21, 2015

In this Feb. 21, 2015, file photo, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reiterated that while “there is a leader in the clubhouse” about who they’ll take with the first overall pick in the NFL draft, they are in no hurry to say who that may be.

General manager Jason Licht said Monday that there’s no benefit to reveal whether the pick will be Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, or anyone else.

“Once again, we all feel very comfortable with where we’re at right now,” Licht said. He added the Bucs have spent weeks not only poring over game film and scouting reports, but doing extensive interviews to gather as much information as possible about the highest rated quarterbacks in the draft, as well as other prospects.

Without providing any clues about which way the team might be leaning, the GM stressed he, coach Lovie Smith and the Glazer family, which owns the club, “couldn’t feel more confident about the process we’ve gone through so far.”

That includes the vetting of Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner who also generated headlines off the field while playing for Florida State, including being accused of — but never arrested or charged with — sexual assault.

The former Florida State student who said the quarterback assaulted her filed a civil lawsuit against the quarterback last week.

Licht said the team was neither surprised by the lawsuit, nor caught off guard by any information contained in the legal action.

“Maybe 25 years from now, I’ll write a book. But we feel very confident in the amount of work we’ve done Internally. We’ve had work done externally, third parties, on and on and on. There have been no surprises,” Licht said.

“We’ve talked to a lot of people. A lot probably is not a big enough word,” Licht added. “But we’re not going to publicly talk about who we talked to. That’s just what we decided internally. We’re not going to talk about the process.”

The Bucs are coming off a 2-14 season and have the top overall pick in the draft for the first time since 1987, when they selected Vinny Testaverde. Quarterback is a priority again after ranking 30th among 32 teams in total offense in 2014.

Winston and Mariota, the 2014 Heisman winner from Oregon, are regarded as the top players at their position in the draft.

“Going all the way back to (the scouting combine), we said we had a leader in the clubhouse. We still do. If we had to pick today, we’d feel very comfortable making the pick. With that said, we’ll wait, we’ll use the majority of our allotted time. There’s always something that could pop up that you wish you would have waited,” Licht said.

The Bucs have fielded some calls about the prospect of a trade.

“This time of year, you get a lot of calls every day — not making offers but at least gaging your interest if you would be open to it. And that will continue,” the general manager said. “But it would have to be an offer that sets this franchise even further ahead than what you thought you were going to with the decision that you made.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Bucs GM: Team Has Front-Runner for NFL Draft, Mum on Pick

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

6 days ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.