Friday night will be a night Beanie Bishop will remember forever. The West Virginia product made his NFL debut in the Steelers’ preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
But for Bishop, what matters most of all is how his head coach remembers his performance in Pittsburgh’s 20-12 loss.
So how did Bishop perform while getting the start at nickel?
Bishop finished second on the defense in total tackles, with all four coming as solo tackles. But at the same time, the Texans also targeted Bishop’s side of the field frequently, likely trying to pick on the rookie to test him.
Bishop did show hustle, but also got beat when out in space by Texans’ receivers. Houston’s rookie tight end Cade Stover was even able to take advantage of Bishop blitzing for a 16-yard gain.
“I thought he did some good things tonight but we got a lot of work in front of us and opportunities for a young guy like him to round out his game from a detail perspective,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in his postgame press conference about what he saw from Bishop.
Bishop needs to keep putting in work at training camp and continue to impress Tomlin enough to earn more opportunities in games. It now remains to be seen if Bishop starts again in Pittsburgh’s next preseason game against Buffalo next Saturday.
Bishop’s camp success might be surprising for some, but it’s just the latest example of the former West Virginia Mountaineer making the most of every opportunity.
“I have to come back tomorrow and prove myself again and do the same thing the next day,” Bishop said to Aaron Becker of Yardbarker at training camp on Friday. “I’m trying to take advantage of all the reps that I get. Every day I’m coming to compete for a spot just like everyone else.”
Bishop has continually reiterated his desire to prove his doubters wrong, even NFL teams who passed on him, since he showed up in Pittsburgh as a free-agent signee of the Steelers.
“It’s one of those things that helps me every day whenever I think about getting comfortable,” Bishop expressed to WV Sports Now in May.
Bishop has carried a chip on his shoulder going back to when he was an undersized kid. That chip then intensified when he had to start his college career at a Group of 5 program in Western Kentucky.
“I’m 0 surprised with Beanie. He’s a football player. He may not check off all the boxes, but he’s a football player,” said WVU head coach Neal Brown when asked about Bishop already making his presence felt with the Steelers.
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Raiders HC shares harsh reality about Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew competition
Fans of the Las Vegas Raiders couldn’t be blamed for feeling less-than-excited about the club’s quarterback competition between 2023 fourth-round draft pick Aidan O’Connell and journeyman Gardner Minshew this summer. During a recent conversation with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce didn’t offer the most promising preview of what’s to come. “We’re probably not going to be, to be honest, a juggernaut offense,” Pierce admitted to Fowler.
“Would I love to be? Yeah. To sit here and say we’re going to score 30 points a game, that’s not realistic.” It’s hardly a secret that the Raiders were seriously interested in moving up from the 13th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft into the top three selections in order to land a rookie quarterback. Pre-draft rumors and stories routinely linked Las Vegas with LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels, but the Washington Commanders held onto choice No. 2 and then spent that asset to land Daniels. Pierce and others within the Raiders likely can’t help but wonder what could have been every time they see a piece detailing how Daniels has impressed teammates, coaches and even opposing players since his first springtime workout with Washington. As for what Pierce wants in a starter, Fowler said that the coach “is looking for consistency, command of the huddle and, most importantly, someone who will take care of the football.” That’s all well and good, but Paul Gutierrez noted in a different ESPN article posted on Friday that O’Connell and Minshew experienced “up-and-down play throughout training camp” leading up to the Raiders’ preseason opener at the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday afternoon. Pierce seemingly won’t make any final QB1 decision before both O’Connell and Minshew play against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 17
. As of late Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed O’Connell as the betting favorite at -130 odds to start over Minshew (+105) for the club’s Week 1 game at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 8. On paper, O’Connell is the more promising of the two options regarding Las Vegas’ long-term future if only because he turns just 26-years-old in September and is largely an unproven product who went 5-5 as a starter during his rookie season.
Minshew, 28, may never be more than a solid backup good for the occasional start, but there’s a chance O’Connell could flip a figurative switch and play better than advertised between now and Week 18. Then again, Pierce and the Raiders may simply be waiting for a chance to sign Cowboys star Dak Prescott assuming he reaches free agency in March 2025. “Whatever the best of Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, we’re getting that from them,” Pierce added while speaking with Fowler. That “best” clearly doesn’t have Pierce expecting the Raiders to complete a journey to Super Bowl LIX.
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NBA
Lakers Considered Top Destination for Two-Way Forward
All offseason long, fans have clamored for the Lakers to go after players who fit two specific roles: two-way wing and backup center. Those were two holes the team struggled to fill last season, and they have continued to leave them blank this summer, believing internal improvement could solve their problems. However, new rumors suggest that the Lakers could be at the front of the line for an Eastern Conference wing. Lakers Considered Top Destination for Two-Way Forward The Forward in Question Bleacher Report’s Tyler Conway has included the Lakers in a potential list of suitors for Atlanta Hawks wing De’Andre Hunter.
The 26-year-old is coming off of the best statistical season of his career. Across 57 games, he averaged 15.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists on .459/.385/.847 splits. Conway added: “Hunter isn’t going to suddenly change [the Lakers’] championship trajectory, but he’s a near-perfect fit on the perimeter. “While Trae Young is a stellar passer and makes Hunter’s life easier, he’s never played with a player with LeBron James’ gravity. The veteran’s three-point percentage could kick up all the way into the 40 percent mark if he found himself in Los Angeles.” It’s worth noting that Hunter is—technically—a former Laker draft pick.
The team selected him fourth overall in 2019 but had to ship him to the Hawks as part of a complicated draft day trade. The Pelicans controlled that pick as part of the Anthony Davis deal, but ended up trading it to Atlanta for more draft capital. In the six seasons since landing in “The A.” Hunter has played a pivotal role as a starter alongside Trae Young. But with Atlanta appearing to go in a different direction this summer, it makes sense as to why he’s on the block. Aside from the Lakers, Conway also included the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs as other options for the ex-Virginia forward. Does De’Andre Hunter to LA Make Sense? When considering the Hunter-to-LA talk, there are various factors to keep in mind. Pros On one hand, Hunter is a good scorer both inside and outside the arc.
Nearly 46% of his shot attempts came from beyond the arc, and, as mentioned earlier, he knocked them down at a respectable 38% clip. Hunter has also been solid when shooting off the catch, scoring nearly five points per game in that manner—second only to Bogdan Bogdanovic—and shooting 39% of those jumpers—good for fifth on the Hawks. He also shot 39.5% on catch-and-shoot threes, a particular skill the Lakers have missed from their frontcourt next to Davis and LeBron James. Hunter also did damage in the paint as well, averaging five drives per game and making 50% of his shots that way. Defensively, while the numbers weren’t impressive (0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks per game), Hunter still played solid on that end of the floor, using his 225-pound frame and 7’2” wingspan to pick up opposing perimeter players—whether they were All-Stars or rotation guys.
As Hunter told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution prior to the Play-in Tournament in April, he hates getting scored on: “I mean my mindset is to stay in front of the ball. That’s pretty much it. I don’t really like dudes scoring on me. So, I guess you can say that’s my mindset. But yeah, that’s my biggest thing. I don’t like when people score on me.” Cons The main concerns that come with trading for Hunter are his contract and overall health. He is midway through a four-year, $90 million contract, and will be owed $48 million over the next two seasons. Matching the $23 million he’ll make this season won’t be an issue, but the type of players the Lakers include could pose some problems.
The Lakers brass would only make trades if the return brought significant upgrades. Right now, it seems that Hunter isn’t much better than Rui Hachimura or defensive ace Jarred Vanderbilt—one of whom would have to go if LA traded for the Hawks forward. Additionally, Hunter missed a slew of games due to right knee inflammation and injury management. The most games he has played in a season is 67 (2022-23), and has yet to play north of 70 games in his career. For a team that had a CVS receipt of an injury report, adding someone like Hunter may be a somewhat questionable move—even despite his success. The Last Word The Lakers must weigh the above factors and more when considering trading for Hawks wing De’Andre Hunter. There is no denying he’d be a positive in many aspects for this team. However, concerns regarding his injury history and his play in comparison to the team’s current forwards may warrant a case against him.
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Rumor: Golden State Warriors Identify New Trade Target After Failing to Bag Lauri Markkanen
After failing to bag Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz, it may seem like the Golden State Warriors are running out of trade options that would help them stand out in a crowded Western Conference and make one more Finals in the Stephen Curry era. Their understanding of the current state of their roster is the biggest reason behind their aggressive pursuits of Markkanen and Paul George before they ended up with their respective teams. Their decisions show that Curry and the Warriors may not be the premier free-agent destination they once were in the mid-late 2010s.
However, that fact isn’t stopping the Dubs from finding a costar who can help Stephen Curry carry the team to another deep postseason run. They have already identified their latest trade target, and this rumor may end up being the move the Warriors actually pull off this offseason. The Golden State Warriors are negotiating with the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine, per rumors Fansided’s Christopher Kline published a piece that officially links the Dubs with the two-time All-Star. He noted that Markkanen’s decision to stay put in Utah forced the team to look for more reasonable trades, which is the category LaVine fits in.
While there are issues that make the 29-year-old a less desirable target than Markkanen, circumstances force Golden State’s hand. That contract is rough, but it will get gradually less catastrophic as the NBA’s new TV deal takes effect. The cap ceiling around the league is about to skyrocket. Moreover, the Bulls are practically trying to give LaVine away. That relationship has soured past the point of no return. We’ve seen thinly-veiled potshots from the Bulls front office, as well as reports that LaVine wants out, bad. Golden State can fix that situation in one fell swoop and perhaps get a few extra benefits in the process. LaVine had a poor season if you consider his status as a fringe All-Star-caliber player.
He only played 25 games last season, averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists a game. Moreover, there’s also the issue with LaVine’s supposed attitude during his time as Chicago’s top Bull. However, these red flags don’t take away from the fact that LaVine is still a great player that Steve Kerr can repurpose to fit his scheme. It will be interesting to see how much he will cost the Warriors roster before the Bulls ship him off.
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Serbia made one huge mistake late in loss to Team USA
Team USA needed a late comeback on Thursday to defeat Serbia and advance to the men’s basketball gold medal game at the Summer Olympics, and they may have benefitted from a very questionable decision late in the contest. Despite trailing by as many as 17 points and 13 heading into the fourth quarter, Team USA beat Serbia, 95-91. Stephen Curry iced the game for the U.S. by hitting a pair of free throws with 8.1 seconds remaining, but many were wondering why Serbia did not foul sooner. Nikola Jokic made a layup with 24 seconds left to cut Team USA’s lead to 93-91. The expectation was that Serbia would foul immediately on the ensuing possession, but they waited until there were 8.2 seconds remaining and fouled Curry, who is Team USA’s best free throw shooter. Serbia head coach Svetislav Pesic faced a great deal of criticism over the strategy: Serbia could have extended the game to two or three more possessions if they fouled immediately.
That does not mean the U.S. would have missed their free throws, but Serbia had almost no chance after they went down four with under 10 seconds remaining. Curry had a massive game to help Team USA avoid a huge upset, but it is fair to wonder if Serbia missed an opportunity by waiting so long to foul on that last defensive possession.
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