Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne finishes off this FIFA goal vs. Real Madrid
RB + B = Finesse Shot pic.twitter.com/spkVwgWiFx
— TotalProSports.com (@TotalProSports) February 15, 2017
Lorenzo Insigne drew first blood at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
In the first leg of the highly anticipated tie between Napoli and Real Madrid in the Champions League’s Round of 16, Insigne was released into Los Blancos’ half in the eighth minute, and – after noticing Keylor Navas was nowhere near his line – fired from 35 yards out to beat the Costa Rican ‘keeper.
Insigne’s strike marked the fastest goal conceded by Real Madrid at home in the Champions League since 2007, and not since 2009 had an Italian player scored against Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu.
2009 – Prior to Insigne, the last Italian player to score vs Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the #UCL was Pirlo in 2009. Magnifico.
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 15, 2017
As for Navas, Insigne’s improvisation marked the first time the 30-year-old shot-stopper has conceded from outside his penalty area in a Champions League fixture on home soil.
The Miami Dolphins are planning on releasing starting left tackle Branden Albert, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
The Dolphins also plan to release defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, a source confirmed to Caplan.
NFL Network first reported the news of the Dolphins’ plans.
Albert wasn’t offered a pay cut or restructured contract before his release, a source told ESPN’s James Walker.
Albert had two years left on his contract, but neither season carried any guaranteed money. He was scheduled to be paid $8.9 million and would have counted $10.6 million against the cap in 2017. By releasing him, the Dolphins save $7.2 million on their cap. The release of Albert leaves $3.4 million in dead money on their cap.
The Dolphins plan to release left tackle Branden Albert, who had two seasons left on his contract. Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini
Mitchell was to make $3.975 million in 2017 (not guaranteed). Scheduled to count $4.5 million against the Dolphins’ salary cap, his release saves the Dolphins $4 million on their cap, with $500,000 in dead money left over.
Albert, 32, is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, including in 2015 with the Dolphins. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted him No. 15 overall in the 2008 draft.
He didn’t play a full season in any of his three seasons with the Dolphins because of injuries, including a dislocated wrist last season that he had surgically repaired in November. He started all 35 games he played for the Dolphins, including 12 last season.
Mitchell, 29, played the past three seasons for the Dolphins after the Houston Texans selected him in the third round of the 2010 draft. Last season he was limited to nine games (five starts) because of a calf injury.
Karim Benzema moved into fifth place on the Champions League’s all-time scoring list by netting his 51st goal to bring Real Madrid level with Napoli on Wednesday.
The goal moves him past Arsenal legend Thierry Henry on the all-time scorer’s list, as Benzema also took sole possession of first place for goals scored by a Frenchman in the competition.
Just over 10 minutes after Napoli grabbed the lead courtesy of Lorenzo Insigne’s stunning long-range strike, Benzema brought the hosts level when he got on the end of Dani Carvajal’s cross into the box before delivering a powerful header.
3 – Karim Benzema has scored more headed goals than any other player in #UCL this season. Roar. pic.twitter.com/sQCRE0TcRY
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 15, 2017
Benzema had a chance to give Real the lead before halftime, but his effort smacked off the post.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Sean McVay’s message to Kyle Shanahan when he accepted his first head-coaching job: “I can’t tell you how happy I am for you, but I can’t believe I’ve got to see you twice a year now.”
The long-standing rivalry between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, often-times intense during the Rams’ original stint in Southern California, now has a compelling new twist: McVay, whose grandfather was part of five Super Bowl titles as a 49ers executive, is the Rams’ new head coach. Shanahan, initially deemed a favorite for the Rams’ vacant post, is the 49ers’ new head coach.
Rams coach Sean McVay said that new 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan had a strong influence on his offensive beliefs. Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images
And, of course, they have history.
Shanahan was the Redskins’ offensive coordinator from 2010-13, while his father, Mike Shanahan, served as head coach. McVay coached tight ends during that four-year stretch, then replaced Shanahan as offensive coordinator after he departed for the Browns.
“Kyle is a guy who’s had a tremendous influence on some of the things I believe in offensively,” McVay said. “He’s a great coach, and I wish him nothing but the best for 14 games — except for those two next year.”
The 49ers won only two games under Chip Kelly in 2016, but both of those wins came against the 4-12 Rams that were led by Jeff Fisher. They embarrassed the Rams, 28-0, during the Monday Night Football opener from Levi’s Stadium, then came from behind to hand them a 22-21 loss at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the second-to-last game of the regular season.
The Rams felt they had their guy and didn’t really care to wait, but only time will tell if they made the right decision.
The Rams and 49ers finished first or second 11 times from 1970-89. But that seems like a lifetime ago. They’ve been the two worst teams in the NFC West each of the past three years, and it’ll be up to McVay and Shanahan, two of the game’s sharpest offensive minds, to turn their respective fortunes around.
Shanahan, who accepted the job immediately after the Falcons’ devastating loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI, is six years older than McVay, who, at 31, is the youngest coach in the NFL’s modern era.
The Grudens, Jon and Jay, were major influences on McVay — but so were the Shanahans.
“We’re all a product of our experiences,” McVay said. “Certainly Kyle and Coach Shanahan’s offense has had a big influence on what I believe and how I think you want to attack a defense. But it’s going to be something that’s going to be an ongoing process, figuring out our players first and then how we fit that scheme to their skill sets.”
