Blue Jays manager John Schneider saves woman choking at lunch, given free beer by restaurant - Fox News

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider sprung to action when he saw a woman choking on food while at a lunch with his wife near the team’s spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida.

Schneider and his wife, Jess, were at Clear Sky Draught Haus, which is a short drive from the team's facility, when the woman began choking on a piece of shrimp. Schneider quickly assessed the situation, and when no one she was dining with began to help her, he stepped in. 

Schneider began performing the Heimlich maneuver and the woman stopped choking. 

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Manager John Schneider #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 21, 2022, in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 4-2. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

"I learned it in about the sixth grade and hadn’t thought about it since," Schneider said via MLB.com. "So, it was like, ‘I think I remember how to do this.’ I’m a bigger guy, so I think that helped a little bit. But no, I hadn’t thought about the Heimlich maneuver since grade 6."

While he was thanked by the woman and her friends at lunch, they didn’t know who he was.

BLUE JAYS' ALEK MANOAH RIPS MLB NETWORK ANALYST WHO BODY-SHAMED HIM: ‘MY JOB ISN’T TO PLEASE YOU'

That didn’t matter to Schneider, who was just happy things didn’t get worse. 

"It’s not like you’re looking for a pat on the back," he said. "She said thank you and carried on with her meal with her friends. We kind of just said, ‘See you later.’ Again, I wasn’t looking for a big compliment."

Interim manager John Schneider #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks across the field during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards during game one of a double header on September 5, 2022, in Baltimore, Maryland. (G Fiume/Getty Images)

The restaurant thought Schneider deserved something for saving one of their patrons though.

The restaurant manager came over to Schneider and thanked him for his services. A free beer was also brought as well. 

BLUE JAYS SUPERSTAR VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR SAYS YANKEES WERE ‘EASIEST TEAM’ TO PLAY AGAINST LAST SEASON

"I was a little bit rattled afterwards. So, the beer did come in handy," Schneider said.

Schneider knew that there was going to be added pressure on him this year as he embarks on his first full season as the Blue Jays’ manager, but not like this.

Manager John Schneider #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays watches the game in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during game one of a doubleheader at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on October 5, 2022, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

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He took over for Charlie Montoyo, who was fired mid-season in 2022. He got a three-year contract after leading the Blue Jays to a 46-28 record during the regular season to finish 92-70, good for second in the AL East. The Blue Jays, however, couldn’t get past the Seattle Mariners in the wild-card round.

Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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Cowboys Free Agency Projection: Who's In, Who's Out, Biggest Needs - Sports Illustrated

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Cowboys Free Agency Projection: Who's In, Who's Out, Biggest Needs  Sports Illustrated
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Bryce Elder shaves his lucky beard - MLB.com

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Elder arrived at Spring Training without the big, bushy good-luck beard his mother, grandmother and Braves manager Brian Snitker hated.

“[Snitker] made some comments last year and I kind of thought he was joking, and then I realized he wasn’t,” Elder said. “He’s made a comment quite a few times about how he likes it clean shaven.”

Superstitions, rituals and habits rule in the baseball world, so Elder wasn’t going to mess with the facial hair that continued to give him luck as it got heavier and heavier -- or messier and messier, depending on the perspective. But truth be told, he understood what his mother, grandmother and Snitker were thinking.

“I hated it,” Elder said. “The first night I got home, I shaved it. But it worked. So I rode with it. Hopefully I don’t ever have to see it again.”

As uncomfortable or unsightly as the beard might have been, nobody was complaining when Elder helped the Braves win a fifth consecutive National League East title by posting a 1.75 ERA over the four starts he made after Sept. 1. His success at the big league level extended the good fortune he had found since beginning an early July road trip with Triple-A Gwinnett without one of his toiletries.

“We went to Norfolk and it was a two-week trip,” Elder said. “I had been really inconsistent and not really any good. I forgot my razor and then for two weeks I threw good. So I was like, 'I’m going to keep [the beard].' It worked out.”

Told Elder wasn’t initially sure he was joking about the beard last year, Snitker paused, chuckled and said, “He looks good now.”

What really matters is how Elder looks as he spends Spring Training attempting to strengthen the Braves’ confidence in their starting pitching depth. Michael Soroka’s bid to compete with Ian Anderson for the fifth spot in Atlanta’s rotation may evaporate as he deals with a tight hamstring.

Elder would seemingly be the next man on the depth chart if the Braves find a rotation need at some point during the next few weeks and months. While the 23-year-old right-hander might not be positioned to begin the season in Atlanta’s rotation, he is just one injury or ailment away from stepping in.

“It’s kind of very encouraging to know we have him in the mix,” Snitker said of Elder, who posted a 2.79 ERA while making his first nine career starts last year.

As Elder produced a 2.48 ERA over five July starts for Gwinnett, he positioned himself to be a key contributor in Atlanta. He limited the Marlins to one run over seven innings during a spot start on Aug. 14 and then returned to allow one or zero earned runs in each of his three September starts in the Majors.

Along with helping the Braves win two of those three games, Elder allowed Snitker to set his rotation for the final regular season weekend series against the Mets. Atlanta essentially wrapped up yet another NL East crown by sweeping that three-game set against New York.

How did this experience prove beneficial for Elder?

“I think just kind of knowing that what I can do in the simplest form can get it done,” Elder said. “All I’ve got to do is go out and execute pitches.”

Elder walked 16 percent of the batters faced in his first four career starts and then produced a much more efficient 7.1 percent walk rate over his final five starts. His improvement extended the steady growth he has experienced through just two professional seasons.

There is still plenty to learn for Elder, who is already considered by many teammates to be the best golfer in the Braves’ organization. He stopped playing baseball for a few years before resuming it during his sophomore year of high school, when a coach agreed to allow him to play baseball and golf, which are both played scholastically in the spring in Texas. 

Eight years later, Elder is in a good spot, even without that good-luck beard.

“It has happened so quick,” Elder said. “I don’t want to say I was underprepared. But for some of that, I didn’t know what to expect. Now, I understand what it looks like and what it takes. I’m much more prepared this year.”

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Free-agent QBs 49ers could sign to back up Trey Lance, Brock Purdy - Niner Noise

The 49ers suddenly find themselves in a position to need a veteran quarterback to help oversee Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, and these free agents may make sense.

As strange as it seems, the San Francisco 49ers may finally be able to bid farewell to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.

At least based on what head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters at the very beginning of the Niners’ offseason.

That leaves two quarterbacks under contract heading into 2023, Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, both of whom will be competing for the starting job next season but are also dealing with some notable injuries suffered last year.

Even if both were healthy, Shanahan might want to add a veteran quarterback to mentor the two young signal-callers.

San Francisco doesn’t need a high-profile name here, and it’s very possible a quarterback added in NFL free agency doesn’t even wind up making the 53-man roster in 2023, provided both Lance and Purdy are ready to go.

That said, these four veteran quarterbacks could be added to the 49ers’ offseason roster through training camp to provide that mentorship.

And they’d likely come in on the cheap, too.

49ers free-agent quarterback No. 1: Nate Sudfeld

The Niners may deter a reunion with Garoppolo, but Nate Sudfeld will be out there after spending 2021 on San Francisco’s practice squad before being re-signed entering 2022.

Purdy’s play in the preseason ultimately pushed Sudfeld off the regular-season roster, and he subsequently signed on with the Detroit Lions for a year.

Again a free agent, Sudfeld knows Shanahan’s system and was a well-respected addition by the front office during that 2022 offseason and prior to being let go.

Granted, Sudfeld might be a bit salty after the 49ers said goodbye once, but he probably won’t have too many suitors and will surely arrive on the cheap.

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49ers Free agent wish list: Marcus Davenport and the 49ers are a match made in heaven - Niners Nation

The 49ers have had tremendous success in recent seasons identifying athletically gifted edge rushers and plugging them into spots that create mismatches against interior offensive linemen. Nobody in the NFL is better than Kris Kocurek at maximizing talent on the defensive line, and this offseason is the perfect opportunity to jumpstart a unit that could use a bit of a tune up.

Sticking with the theme of potential free agent defensive linemen, I’m going to focus on one particular player who fits this specific archetype that has led to a vast amount of success for the 49ers in recent seasons.

Marcus Davenport

Davenport was selected 14th overall in the 2018 draft after starring at University of Texas San Antonio for four seasons. After testing off the charts at the combine, the New Orleans Saints moved their 2018 and 2019 first round picks as well as a 2018 fifth rounder to move up from the 27th pick to the 14th overall spot to select Davenport.

Listed at 6’6 265 pounds, Davenport had a special combination of size and explosiveness that would make any defensive coaches mouth water at the thought of how they could develop and utilize this exceptional athlete at the next level.

I’m a firm believer in sacks on their own being an inefficient metric to chart individual pass rush production. There simply are too many outside factors at play like how long the quarterback holds the ball, what the protection scheme looks like, does another player benefit from the sack by cleaning up another player's pressure etc.

While some might look at the fact Davenport only had one sack during the 2022 season, I’d be much more inclined to emphasize the value of the 12 percent pressure rate he logged, which is far more indicative of the success and consistency of a pass rusher on an individual level.

That pressure rate is something that has been consistent throughout Davenport’s NFL career, as he has recorded a double-digit pressure rate in each of his five seasons in the NFL.

Davenport is more than capable of winning off the edge in a more traditional role, but perhaps his most valuable trait is his ability to wreak havoc on the interior when he gets isolated on guards.

That would play extremely well on the 49ers defensive front, where players like Arden Key and Charles Omenihu have had breakout seasons being utilized in a similar role during their time in the red and gold.

There are some glaring similarities between Omenihu and Davenport from a physical traits' standpoint that would indicate the latter is a strong candidate to replicate the success that the former had in the same capacity with the 49ers. Here’s a look at some physical traits and test scores from the combine from each.

Charles Omenihu

6’5

280 pounds (although it's been reported its closer to 265 now)

7.48 second 3-cone drill

4.36 second short shuttle

Marcus Davenport

6’6

265 pounds

7.20 second 3-cone drill

4.41 second short shuttle

I put together some cut ups of Davenport from this past season that highlight his ability to win off the edge, as well as the value he adds when isolated on interior linemen.

This first clip shows Davenport utilizing a chop move to soften the edge, before finishing with a rip move to win the corner and help bring down Joe Burrow for a sack.

In this next one, Davenport will be lined up on the edge, but end up matching with the left guard due to a stunt being run. Look at the raw power Davenport has to drive back to the guard with what looks like a long arm, forcing an errant throw from Burrow in the pocket.

The 49ers have had great success in recent years finding ways to isolate long/athletic defensive ends on interior offensive linemen

Have to wonder what the ceiling would be if you gave Kris Kocurek and Darryl Tapp a player with the physical tools that Marcus Davenport has pic.twitter.com/DEZl6IMp97

— Jordan Elliott (@splash_cousin) February 17, 2023

Here’s one more that demonstrates the sheer force that Davenport can generate when isolated on an interior lineman.

Davenport is tailor-made for the role that Key and Omenihu have thrived in. The versatility to line up on the edge, as well as the interior, would be a nightmare for opposing offenses in the game plan for. A potential front four of Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Drake Jackson, and Davenport could be a game wrecking force in obvious passing situations.

It’s clear what kind of potential Davenport possesses, and the track record the 49ers have with getting the best out of players with similar traits. What remains to be seen is what kind of market Davenport would command.

It’s also worth noting that due to some financial maneuvering, Davenport would count as a 7.6 million dollar dead cap hit if the Saints were to let him walk this off-season. It is not clear how much the Saints will prioritize bringing Davenport back at this point, but if the interest is strong enough on their part, they will also gain additional financial flexibility if they can work out a deal to retain his services.

Ultimately, I think there is a strong chance Davenport hits the open market. According to Spotrac, New Orleans is currently $-54,605,434 in cap space while also being linked to a veteran quarterback who will eat a large chunk of whatever space they manage to free up with the annual “how on earth did they pull that off” cap manipulation that general manager Mickey Loomis has become well known for.

San Francisco has a great pitch to make to Davenport. Will they make it?

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12 under-the-radar free agents Commanders should target in 2023 - Riggo's Rag

Which under-the-radar free agents should the Washington Commanders pursue to bolster their playoff hopes in 2023?

Year 4 of the Ron Rivera regime is unofficially underway with changes to the Washington Commanders’ coaching staff coming very soon – if it hasn’t happened already. Following the addition of new assistants and an offensive coordinator, the front office must quickly turn their attention to free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft.

The free agency period formally arrives late in the afternoon of March 15, but teams can initiate the negotiation process for new players two days earlier. Will the Commanders be active? Are any mega-stars coming to Washington? Will the organization look for less than tier-one players and bargains?

When Rivera came to town following the 2019 season, the team was very active in free agency and signed a substantial number of players that have produced varying degrees of success.

Under the Rivera reign, players such as William Jackson, Curtis Samuel, DeAndre Carter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Lamar Miller came into the fold early. Last year, the front office was hoping to make a less costly impact in free agency with a mix of aging offensive linemen, key returnees, and a flexible defensive back. The results were mixed.

One major move from Washington wasn’t a part of free agency, but it did send shockwaves across the NFL landscape. Trading for quarterback Carson Wentz and his hefty salary.

Washington will move on from Wentz and gain $26.17 million this spring, with no negative impact on the salary cap whatsoever.

Today, we will take a look at 12 solid under-the-radar players that could be affordable. Obviously, there is no path to signing all of these, but adding a few is certainly reasonable.

Our focus is squarely on team needs – offensive line, linebacker, and cornerback – not necessarily in that order. Let’s jump right in.

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Houston Texans Free Agency: Re-Sign Ogbo Okoronkwo? - Battle Red Blog

The Houston Texans season is over and the offseason is upon us. The Texans have a key player that will be entering free agency in March and should be re-signed.

That player is defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo. Okoronkwo did not have much of an impact throughout the first half of the season, but put together an impressive second half of the season. Okoronkwo bet on himself, signing a one-year deal last offseason and it looks like he could receive a multi-year deal in free agency.

Okoronkwo did not record a sack until week 13, but continued his dominant play throughout the rest of the season, ending with five sacks, 31 tackles, one forced fumble, 25 hurries, 36 total pressures on the opposing quarterback and had an 81.9 pass-rush grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Texans defensive line as a whole did not meet expectations by any means, but there were a few players who deserve credit and Okoronkwo is one of them. It would be ideal for the Texans to re-sign Okoronkwo before free agency begins to avoid being potentially outbid for his services.

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