Jett Modkins, a special teams assistant for the Detroit Lions since 2021, interviewed with the 49ers as special teams coordinator on Sunday.

Modkins, 39, has been an assistant special teams coordinator for Detroit for the past 4 seasons. The 49ers fired special teams coordinator Brian Schneider last week after three seasons.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said moving deposed defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen to the opening special teams spot was a possibility if Sorensen was accessible. There can be the query of interviewing a minority candidate for the position, which is what Modkins is suitable for.

Shanahan said last week the plan was to call passing game coordinator Klay Kubiak offensive coordinator. The 49ers made no announcement regarding the hiring, and CBS Sports reported that under the Rooney Rule, the 49ers were required to interview two different outside candidates.

The 49ers are also in search of a defensive coordinator and have already interviewed two minority candidates: Robert Saleh, their former defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2021, and DeShea Townsend, who can be a defensive position coach with the Lions.

Modkins is the son of Minnesota assistant coach Curtis Modkins. Jett Modkins played at Glendale (Arizona) Community College and Kent State and spent the 2020 season with Denver because the Broncos' diversity coaching intern.

Originally published: January 12, 2025 at 6:07 pm PST

Patriots

Just someday after the Patriots are set to interview Mike Vrabel for his or her head coaching position, New England will reportedly meet arguably probably the most interesting candidate on this offseason's coaching carousel.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter The Patriots will interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson on Friday. New England first requested a possibility to interview Johnson on Monday, lower than 24 hours after the team fired Jerod Mayo as head coach.

The Patriots already confirmed personal interviews with former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and longtime NFL assistant coach Pep Hamilton on Tuesday, with Vrabel reportedly set to begin against New England on Thursday.

Johnson's meeting with New England can be virtual because Johnson or any coach whose team is playing within the playoffs cannot meet in person until their team is eliminated.

So New England can have to attend weeks if it wants to noticeably push for a second interview with Johnson – considering the Lions are considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

While noted on Wednesday With Vrabel considered a “leading candidate” for the Patriots' head coaching job, a young, offensive-minded coach like Johnson could offer the very best ceiling amongst potential hires.

Johnson, 38, has been riding high in NFL coaching circles since taking up because the Lions' offensive coordinator in 2022. He has led a dynamic Detroit offense the past three seasons, with the Lions entering this postseason ranked first within the league in points (564).

While Detroit averaged 33.2 points per game this season, the Patriots have yet to attain greater than 30 points in a single game since 2022.

Even though New England doesn't have the identical talent as Detroit on the offensive side of the ball (particularly on the offensive line and at wide receiver), the chance to work with a talented QB like Drake Maye reportedly intrigued Johnson.

“Johnson and Maye are former University of North Carolina quarterbacks, but they have no prior relationship, although Johnson is a fan of Maye from afar.” Chad Graff wrote on Wednesday.

Even if New England doesn't get their reported top goal in Vrabel, Johnson isn't exactly a guaranteed backup option given his coveted status across the league.

According to Dianna Russini, Johnson can be expected to conduct virtual interviews with the Bears and Jaguars this week.

policy

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris' CNN interview was notable since it was her first since President Joe Biden left office and named her as his successor.

Sitting next to her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who quietly endorsed her, Harris deflected questions from Dana Bash on Thursday without causing political harm or giving herself a major advantage.

In the 27-minute interview, she was methodical and risk-averse, acting like a top seed within the early rounds of the U.S. Open tennis tournament attempting to hold serve, survive and advance to the subsequent round – on this case, her Sept. 10 debate with former President Donald Trump.

Here are seven insights from the interview:

She paid tribute to Biden’s political legacy …

The Biden administration's economic record? Great. The president's stance on Israel and Gaza? Hers is similar. His position on the border? She shares it and would sign the bill his team helped negotiate. Fracking in Pennsylvania? Biden is for it, and so is she.

As it seems, Harris is best in a position to market Biden's successes and defend his accomplishments than ever before. Perhaps that's not a giant surprise, considering the president has lost his political skills lately and has trouble speaking coherently.

But if there was any doubt about whether Harris would make a difference between herself and Biden's legacy, she gave a transparent answer on Thursday night.

She won't do it.

… but desires to put an end to each him and Trump.

Harris offered herself as a continuation of Biden's leadership, at the same time as she distanced herself from him.

When Bash asked if she regretted defending Biden's suitability for the office and his ability to serve a second term, Harris said no and praised the president.

Then, in the subsequent breath, she skillfully made each him and Trump disappear into the rearview mirror.

“I am so proud to have served as Joe Biden's vice president,” she said. “I am so proud to run with Tim Walz for President of the United States and to bring America what I believe the American people deserve, which is a new way forward and to close a chapter that I believe was at odds with the true spirit of our country.”

Biden, in fact, has mostly been either president, vice chairman or a number one presidential candidate for the past 15 years.

She is stealing votes from the Republicans.

Since her rise, Harris has moved cautiously toward the political center, abandoning a lot of left-wing positions from her 2020 presidential campaign and pitching Republicans who never backed Trump on the Democratic National Convention last week.

On Thursday, she announced that she would appoint a Republican to her cabinet – a symbolic step to point out that she would govern in a bipartisan manner.

“It would be to the benefit of the American public to have a member of my Cabinet who is a Republican,” she said.

It was once common for presidents to provide at the very least one cabinet position to the opposite party. President Barack Obama appointed Republican Representative Ray LaHood of Illinois as his Secretary of Transportation. President George W. Bush appointed Democrat Norman Y. Mineta as Secretary of Transportation.

Biden and Trump haven’t appointed any members of the opposite party to their cabinets.

Harris prefers to not discuss her race and gender.

Trump triggered a flood of negative headlines when he falsely suggests that Harris identified as black later in life and for political reasons. It was an absurd claim, and the Vice President tried to chop her off.

“Same old, hackneyed script,” she said when Bash asked her in regards to the claim. “Next question, please.”

When asked if she had anything so as to add, Harris replied, “That's all.”

Even after an easy query a couple of viral New York Times photo As her niece watched her on the Democratic National Convention, Harris refused to embrace the prospect of becoming the primary black woman elected president.

“I'm running because I believe I'm the best person for this job right now, for all Americans, regardless of race and gender,” she said, providing a matter-of-fact description of the photo relatively than revealing any emotions she felt when taking a look at the photo.

“I saw the photo,” she continued. “And it touched me deeply. And, you're right, she is – it's the back of her head and her two little braids and – and then I'm in the foreground of the photo, speaking, of course. It's very humiliating.”

She still finds it difficult to be spontaneous and effective.

Harris' speeches are full of easy, meaningful sentences.

But Thursday's interview was a reminder that, and not using a script, she sometimes delivers long-winded, zigzagging answers.

When Harris spoke about her feelings when Biden told her he was ending his campaign and endorsing her, she said she didn’t initially consider how this momentous turn of events would impact her life and legacy.

“To be honest, my first thought was of him,” she said. “I think history will show us a number of things about Joe Biden's presidency. I think history will show that it was transformative in many ways, whether it was in terms of what we accomplished in finally investing in America's infrastructure, in new economies, in new industries, what we did to bring our allies back together and have confidence in us as America and grow that alliance, what we did to stay true to our principles, including one of the most important international rules and norms, which is the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

It was not easy and meaningful.

Dana Bash mastered a troublesome night with confidence.

In an environment arranged by Harris' campaign team that was intended to look friendly – just three people sitting together in a restaurant in Savannah, Georgia – it might be difficult for Bash to get much news out of the vice chairman.

Nevertheless, the veteran journalist had a superb evening. In some of the necessary interviews of her profession, she went through an important questions surrounding Harris's young candidacy, including exactly what concrete plans she would pursue and why she had not implemented a few of her proposals during her term as vice chairman.

When Harris dodged a gap query about her plans for “Day 1,” Bash asked it again. When there was still no clear answer, she asked Walz. He didn't really answer either. At some point, every Inquisitor has to maneuver on, and Bash did.

Harris's Republican critics might need wanted a tougher interrogation – or more direct questions on their assessment of Biden's suitability and acumen – but Bash pressured the vice chairman when vital.

It also forced Walz to confess that he had made a mistake in stating the length of his military service: “My grammar is not always correct,” he said.

Walz can sit well and smile.

At their joint rallies, Walz played the role of enthusiastic cheerleader, waving each arms to the group in support of Harris.

However, during a joint interview, his role was quieter. Most of the time he sat in silence, waiting for Bash to ask him to talk. At one point in the course of the first a part of the interview he didn't speak for a full eight minutes.

Bash knew Harris was the necessary person he needed to listen to from, and Walz probably knew that too.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are apparently preparing for a brand new media offensive: “CBS Sunday Morning” revealed that the couple filmed an interview with Jane Pauley that may air this weekend.

The chat would mark the primary time the California-based couple have taken part in a joint interview since their blockbuster sessions with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and their 2022 Netflix documentary series. In those interviews, which got here after they stepped back from royal duties in 2020, they sparked a three-year media storm wherein they shared sensational revelations concerning the British royal family, alleging types of racism, cruelty and dysfunction, and specifically amplifying criticism of certain members.

But a brief clip from Harry and Meghan's interview with Pauley posted on social media suggests the California-based couple may avoid discussing Harry's relatives, from whom they’re notoriously estranged. In fact, a report in People magazine this week said King Charles III has stopped taking his son's calls. For the American and British public, Harry and Meghan's revelations have also develop into increasingly polarizing, as evidenced by the controversy that followed Harry receiving an award named in honor of American war hero Pat Tillman on the ESPYs.

The CBS Sunday interview could concentrate on one other latest initiative the Duke and Duchess try out with their Archewell Foundation, which involves children and social media. Page Six reported.

In the clip, the couple talks about continuing their work with parents who’ve lost their children to online bullying and abuse. Last October, the couple headlined a Project Healthy Minds festival in New York City, where they discussed the damaging effects of social media on young people's mental health.

This “CBS Sunday” interview comes amid what may very well be a serious latest media cycle for the couple, who’re still trying to search out their footing as media moguls, entrepreneurs and influential public figures.

Meghan was the subject of reports about ending filming a brand new cooking series for Netflix, which was a part of her five-year, $100 million take care of the platform. Harry can also be said to be working on his own show about skilled polo. Meghan has also announced plans to sell luxury home and lifestyle items through her latest American brand, Riviera Orchard. However, no launch dates for the cooking and polo shows or Meghan's lifestyle band have been announced.

Still, the couple has been making headlines currently. Following the ESPY controversy, Harry made more global headlines by giving an interview to British television about his high-profile legal battle with the British tabloids over their past phone-tapping and other illegal practices.

However, the once-popular British duke sparked fresh criticism when he said within the documentary “Tabloids on Trial” that his determination to fight against the tabloid press was “central” to his fractured relationship together with his father, brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate Middleton. In various online forums, Harry was criticised for blaming his falling out together with his family on his court battles, relatively than taking responsibility for his decision to “talk incessantly about his family on a global scale”.

As a part of Harry and Meghan’s latest media cycle, the Duke can also be the quilt star for this week's People magazine, with a protracted story specializing in his other legal battle: getting the British government to provide him armed police protection when he visits the United Kingdom together with his wife and family. Harry was not interviewed for the story, but “sources” near him suggested he or his PR team approved the story.

The story allows Harry to argue that his estrangement from his family also stems from not getting the police protection he robotically enjoyed when he and Meghan were working members of the royal family. The Harry sources say he doesn't feel protected bringing his wife and youngsters, Archie and Lilibet, to the UK and that he’s frustrated that his father, as royal, is unwilling to assist him.

“Harry is scared and believes his father is the only one who can do something about it,” a royal insider told People. Another source acquainted with the situation said: “Harry is determined to protect his own family at all costs.”

Since losing the automated right to police protection, Harry has been waging an unsuccessful legal battle with the British government to have his protection restored, something he believes Charles could easily achieve.

But People reported, citing sources at Buckingham Palace, that under the British structure the monarch has no governing power and that the authority to supply police protection doesn’t lie with Charles but with the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC), which acts on behalf of the British government.

While people near Harry said the problem had created “an impenetrable wall” between him and his father, sources near the king accused his son of resorting to “emotional blackmail” and threatened the king that he may never see his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet again if he didn’t address his son's safety concerns.

Originally published: August 1, 2024 at 10:54 am

Jeffries meeting on Sunday

Loss of donor support

In 2004, the 4 boys' Grand Slam titles were shared between two 17-year-olds.

Three went to the player who was considered probably the most talented, the last to the presumably second best player – who, nonetheless, even then didn’t want to simply accept being only the second best.

The first player had a really successful profession: he was recurrently ranked on this planet's top 20, reached No. 6 at his peak, and reached two Grand Slam semifinals. The second player, the losing junior, had an impressive profession: three major titles, two Olympic gold medals, a Davis Cup victory, world No. 1 rating. He did this by exploiting all of his talent, while the opposite player appeared to not quite exploit his potential.

Twenty years after these triumphs as juniors, each are nearing the top of their careers. The more successful player is eight months younger, but is near retirement – seven years of injuries have pushed his body to its absolute limits.

The other player is having fun with a late renaissance after battling injuries for a variety of years, but is now ranked thirty seventh at age 37, making him the oldest player on this planet's top 50. He is loved for his showmanship and strokeplay, and can be considered one of the most important crowd-pullers wherever he performs – especially at Roland Garros in his hometown of Paris.

On Monday evening, Gael Monfils once more thrilled the Court Philippe-Chatrier for several hours in the very best night session. It was not only that he defeated the 24-year-old Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild in 4 sets, it was also the best way he did it: a cavalcade of running forehand passing shots, jumping backhand volleys and interactions with the group.

Twenty-four hours earlier, his former junior rival Andy Murray took to the identical court to face Stan Wawrinka. Murray, getting back from his recent injury layoff, fought bravely for a couple of sets but lost 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. It is anticipated to be his last French Open.

For an extended time, Murray may very well be used as a stick against Monfils, the contemporary who showed what you would achieve with more effort. But over time, that comparison has grow to be superficial. The concept that Monfils isn't trying hard is silly – he's won 12 titles himself – and their different careers speak for themselves.

Murray, who has a dedication that might make most mere mortals cringe, managed to interrupt into the highest of men's tennis and stay there. Monfils, despite not winning the key titles he promised, continues to be some of the popular players on the tour and fills stadiums all over the world. No wonder when he does things like this…

HE SWITCHED HANDS WITH THE VOLLEY @Gael_Monfils goes with the left!#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/PWRFcPK3Oh

— TennisTV (@TennisTV) 10 April 2024

Monfils definitely has no regrets.

“Impossible,” he said in a conversation on the eve of the tournament.

“So many people forget where I come from and who I am. Nobody knows me. I couldn't have predicted for a second who I am now. I am one of the luckiest people to have made it. I never expected this career. My mother is a nurse and works night shifts to help me play tennis. My father worked in telecommunications at the time because he played football but had to stop quite early.

“I used to be living in a not so good area of ​​Paris and I had this dream. And now I'm here talking to you. You know my name. This is unattainable. I did it.”

---

Back when Monfils was the all-conquering junior, Murray was asked at Wimbledon in 2004 if the Frenchman was the boy's equivalent of Roger Federer.

“No, I don’t think so,” said 17-year-old Murray with a kind of querulousness that would soon become a habit.

“He's done very well and won in Australia and on the French Open. But I had a detailed match with him last week and he struggled through his match today. I beat him 6-4, 6-1 on the French Open last yr. So he's beatable.”

Monfils won the junior tournament at Wimbledon that year, while Murray secured a place on the leaderboard with his victory at the US Open. Monfils' hopes of becoming only the second player after Stefan Edberg in 1983 to complete a boys' Grand Slam in the calendar year ended in the third round at Flushing Meadows.

This may all look like ancient history today, however the two have known one another for for much longer. “It's crazy because the first time I played against Andy was when I was 11 and he was 10,” remembers Monfils.

Monfils made the leap to skilled tennis before Murray, reaching the second round of the 2005 Australian Open. Both he and Murray made the third round at Wimbledon that yr, and Monfils was named ATP Newcomer of the Year at the top of the season.

The two crossed paths again the next yr once they met in the primary round of the French Open. Monfils won in five sets, avenging Murray for the victory that they had achieved of their first meeting on the skilled tour in Hamburg.

Surprisingly, the pair have only met six times on the essential tour, with Murray leading the head-to-head 4-2. Their last meeting at this level was a decade ago, just before their dominant junior days. The match, a French Open quarter-final, may very well be seen as the beginning of their small-time careers, with Murray coming out on top and winning in five sets.

Before the match, Murray said: “He's a great athlete – perhaps the best we've had in tennis. He's played his best tennis here by far in the Grand Slams. He loves playing in front of a big crowd. Gael has always been a great entertainer and he's great for the sport.”

Murray was already a two-time Grand Slam winner on the time, and Monfils had not reached a significant semifinal because the 2008 French Open. Monfils did reach one other semifinal on the 2016 US Open, but was defeated by Novak Djokovic in a bizarre match that featured the Serb ripping open his shirt, a muddled rating, and warmth and humidity so intense that each players gave the impression to be confused.

That's still the furthest Monfils has reached at a Grand Slam, but within the eight years since, he's reached two major quarterfinals (one on the 2022 Australian Open, at age 35) and won six more titles, doubling his profession tally, none of which he's achieved at Masters level (1000).

Murray has 14 of those along with all his other major achievements.

“Everyone is different,” says Monfils about his former junior rival. “We have different goals. I'm a big fan of Andy. His successes, his career, he is the guy he is. He's a really respectful and cool guy. A legend of the sport.”

“I never judge others, everyone thinks differently. I try to learn from him and what he did is incredibly good. I try not to make similar decisions myself, but to make decisions that are best for me.”

Monfils also rejects the notion that his talent means he hasn't worked hard or could have tried harder. “(People say) 'Ah, Monfils is not disciplined,'” he told the Guardian this month. “Guys, don't think that because I have fun on the pitch. The work I do off the pitch is big.”

---

Watching Monfils in front of a house crowd stays some of the beautiful tennis experiences. There is a symbiosis in the best way they feed one another with energy.

It didn't take long for the court in Chatrier to begin buzzing on Monday night. The brass band was already in full swing when Monfils one way or the other chased down a volley within the seventh game and sank a forehand passing shot for the win. He asked the group to boost their voices – they usually obliged. It was a spectacular finish to a rally that showcased Monfils's superior defensive and strokeplay skills. The way he moved, it was hard to consider that illness forced him to cancel Geneva last week and he needed to take antibiotics.

At the beginning of the second set, his essential cheerleaders sang “Allez allez Gael” to the tune of “Everybody Dance Now” on a drop volley en path to an early break.

However, he ended up losing that set after a series of harmless errors, as he managed to interrupt to level at 0-0, demonstrating a scarcity of concentration that probably prevented him from reaching the highest of the match.

Even during this set, there was a bouncing backhand volley and a beautifully disguised drop shot; each of which brought the group to their feet.

“I love you, Gael!” yelled one supporter. “Me too!” shouted one other.

A superb backhand pass helped Monfils break from behind within the third set, and a wave of applause soon followed. Monfils won the third set and took the fourth in satisfying, trademark fashion: ace, ace, botched smash, ace, winner. The final shot was a typically graceful flying smash – a version of the “slam dunk” that Pete Sampras used to drag off.

Monfils roared with joy, did a little bit dance, beat his chest and let loose his signature Black Panther cheer on all 4 sides of the court. With this victory, he became the French player with probably the most Grand Slam victories (122), ahead of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

#RolandGarros @Gael_Monfils pic.twitter.com/nV39WQieSm

— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2024

SAN JOSE – A person was arrested early Tuesday evening on suspicion of assaulting a plainclothes police officer assigned to guard San Jose Mayor Mahan, police said.

According to an announcement from San Jose police, the incident occurred just after 6 p.m. The mayor was being interviewed by a journalist when a person “began behaving erratically toward him and surrounding employees,” police said.

A plainclothes police officer assigned to Mahan's security detail intervened and attempted to de-escalate the situation, police said. However, the suspect “became increasingly agitated and threatened the officer as he approached him.”

Despite repeated attempts to de-escalate, the suspect continued to advance toward the officer and eventually struck him, police said. Footage of the incident posted on social media showed the suspect punching the officer in the top.

The officer attempted to detain the suspect, and after a minute-long struggle, he was finally captured with the assistance of several bystanders, police said.

The suspect was taken to Santa Clara County Jail on a charge of assault on a police officer.

Meanwhile, the officer was examined at a neighborhood hospital for minor injuries.

Police said the motive and circumstances surrounding the incident were under investigation.

In an announcement late Monday night, Mahan Chief Communications Officer Tasha Dean said the mayor was grateful to his security team and police.

“The officer’s actions tonight were heroic and a testament to the de-escalation training that makes our officers effective, compassionate and guardians of the community’s trust,” Dean said.

“His thoughts are with the officer and he hopes for a speedy recovery,” Dean continued. “The mayor knows how privileged he is to have an armed officer protecting him at all times and is committed to creating a safer city for everyone.”

During an interview with Mayor Matt Mahan in downtown San Jose, a person yelled at us and fought against Mayor Mahan's security guard.

The fight lasted just a few minutes and the person was arrested by SJPD.

Police said they might collect evidence and send it to the prosecutor's office. pic.twitter.com/aJxGRLC7RU

— Jack Molmud (@jmolmud) April 24, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.