Friday, May 28, 2021 Wyoming Tribune Eagle Page C3 Raiders counting on Richie Incognito to lead young line

By W.G. Ramirez |

HENDERSON, Nev. – Offensive lineman Richie Incognito’s upcoming season is all about leadership. Washington Wizards’ Russell Westbrook, second from right, is With veteran center Rodney Hud- helped to the locker room after an injury during the second half of son, guard Gabe Jackson and tackle Game 2 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Trent Brown shipped elsewhere dur- Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in Philadelphia. Associated Press ing the offseason, Incognito, who re- cently signed a one-year contract to return to the Raiders, will be relied upon to mentor and guide NBA: Players are younger players. “It’s great to be able to have been here for a couple of years and be estab- again airing concerns lished and be a leader for these young guys,” Incognito said. “It’s great be- cause we have some really good expe- about fan behavior rience in the room. It’s my job to keep those guys going, keep ’em hungry, Continued from C1 and energy to the start of keep ’em humble. And when we get out names of the fans who were the playoffs, but it is critical on Sunday, just play as one and go out involved. The Knicks said that we all show respect for there and really get after people.” they forwarded information players, officials and our fel- Incognito is eager to return after guard Richie Incognito, left, performs a drill during an NFL football to authorities. low fans,” the NBA said organized team activity at the team’s training facility Wednesday in Henderson, Nev. missing the 2020 season with an Achil- Associated Press “We investigated the mat- Thursday. les tendon injury that required sur- NBA buildings are wel- ter and determined that this gery. His rehab has him feeling 10 coming their largest crowds Incognito said Cable’s expectations the odds that say he should be watch- patron, who is not a season years younger than the man who will of the season for the playoffs, for a physical offensive line suit him, ing football rather than playing, after a ticket holder, did indeed spit turn 38 in July and who looked as agile after a regular season where considering he sets the tempo with a diverse training regimen that has built on Trae Young, and for that as his younger linemates during the attendance was severely lim- raucous approach every day in prac- his conditioning, helped with his foot- reason, he is now banned first two days of voluntary workouts at tice, hoping his energy becomes work and ignited his explosiveness. from The Garden indefinite- ited because of policies put in the team’s practice facility. contagious. “It’s honestly just staying and feel- ly,” the Knicks said. “We place to keep players and “A lot of things can get misconstrued One of his first orders of business is ing young,” Incognito said. “One of the apologize to Trae and the en- others safe during the about Richie,” Raiders defensive end to work with 24-year-old center Andre keys to my success is still being able to tire Atlanta Hawks organiza- pandemic. said Wednesday. “I James and first-round pick Alex move around. The injury was frustrat- tion for this fan’s behavior.” It has not been without mean, yeah, he is a little crazy. But at Leatherwood out of Alabama. Incog- ing, but I knew from the start I was Video showed that some- problems, and players are again airing concerns about the same time, you would never know nito described both as hard workers coming back.” one spit on Young while he because he’s such a disciplined and was preparing to inbound the behavior. with a lot of enthusiasm to learn and Incognito’s bond with his team- good dude. ... A lot of guys would com- basketball in the fourth quar- “I’m sick and tired of it, improve. mates was evident on the second day of plain. He comes out to practice all the ter of New York’s win over honestly,” Westbrook said. It doesn’t hurt that Incognito, who workouts. He joked between reps with time, he don’t take no days off unless Atlanta at Madison Square He’s not alone. Los Ange- has played with four franchises, has the offensive linemen, sparking the Garden. Young did not men- les Lakers star LeBron coach makes him take days off. put in his own work the past six-plus chemistry that is important to him tion it in his postgame inter- James – who chimed in on “He’s gonna really be that vocal months after surgery and set an exam- heading into the season. views and McMillan said he Twitter shortly after the leader for sure. They got a dog on ple for what it takes to start. “We’re a young team, we’re learning was unaware of the incident Westbrook incident Wednes- there.” “He’s a big positive influence a new defense, offense. We’re trying to until Thursday morning. day – has said in the past that Working with offensive line coach around the building,” defensive end sharpen our tools to be more produc- Young was the subject of fan behavior is an issue, and Tom Cable has helped relieve some of said. “The guy’s been in tive, put up more points, put more profane chants from some clearly still does. the pressure for Incognito, while stan- it for 17 years playing offensive line, pressure on teams,” Incognito said. “I fans in that arena throughout Brooklyn guard Kyrie Ir- dards have been set high for a front honestly unheard of. He’s a leader. He think we have a bunch of sharp guys, the first two games of the se- ving – in advance of Game 3 line that needs to protect quarterback loves football and the guy looks like he we got a bunch of hard-working guys, ries; the Hawks’ guard taunt- of the Nets’ series at Boston – in an offense that finished is 25 years old. It honestly doesn’t and now is the time to lay the founda- ed them right back after his said he hoped the scene there seventh in the NFL with 4,217 yards make any sense.” tion for training camp. It’s great for shot with less than a second on Friday night “is strictly passing in 2020. Maybe not, but Incognito is defying team building to be around the guys.” left gave Atlanta a win in basketball, there’s no bellig- Game 1. Even New York erence or any racism going Mayor Bill di Blasio weighed on, subtle racism, people in this week on Young’s pen- yelling (expletive) from the chant for trying to draw fouls, crowd.” More comfortable Tua Tagovailoa both in a news conference “We go into a hostile envi- and on his office’s Twitter ronment and we welcome it, page. we enjoy it, we want the vitri- “There’s obviously a line,” ol – as long as it’s not over the optimistic he’ll be much better in 2021 Brooklyn forward Blake line,” Brooklyn coach Steve Griffin said Thursday. “I Nash said. “We want to face By Steven Wine surgery. He said that be- think what happened to Russ some adversity. That noise Associated Press cause he’s stronger and no is obviously far behind that and that energy coming from longer hindered by his hip, line.” the opposing fans is some- MIAMI – Tua Tagovailoa he notices a big improve- Westbrook was leaving the thing that can spur your team says his surgically repaired ment with his passing Wizards’ game in Philadel- on, a challenge to help you hip feels 10 times better than motion. phia with an ankle injury lock in and be more focused.” last year, and he looks differ- “Throwing isn’t as much when someone sitting over Westbrook has been part of ent, too. arm this year as it was last the tunnel that leads from the high-profile incidents in- He’s sporting a beard. year,” he said. “I can feel it. floor threw the popcorn on volving fans before, includ- “What do you think?” the Also from recordings, I can him. ing one where a fan in Utah quarter- see the difference. Physical- “We apologize to Russell was alleged to have directed back said after a practice ly and mentally, I’m at a bet- Westbrook and the Washing- racial taunts his way. West- session Wednesday. “My ter stage.” ton Wizards for being sub- brook was fined $25,000 for mom and my grandmother Coach Brian Flores jected to this type of his reactions to that incident, have been telling me to shave benched Tagovailoa twice unacceptable and disre- one in which Utah guard it.” last year, and the rookie’s spectful behavior,” the 76ers Donovan Mitchell even came The beard’s future is un- Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, left, runs a drill worst game came when the said in a statement announc- to his defense. decided, and the jury is still with running back Myles Gaskin, right, at the team’s NFL foot- stakes were highest – a 56-26 ing the ban. “There is no “These arenas, they’ve got out on Tua, too. There are ball training facility Wednesday in Davie, Fla. Associated Press loss at Buffalo in the season place for it in our sport or to start protecting the play- many Tagovailoa detractors, finale. arena.” ers. We’ll see what the NBA and he’s his own harsh critic physically, and also has an “I didn’t actually know the There was brief specula- The NBA said Thursday does,” Westbrook said regarding an up-and-down improved grasp of the Dol- playbook necessarily really, tion early in the offseason that its rules on fan behavior Wednesday night. “I’ve been rookie season in 2020. phins’ playbook. really well. That’s my fault. that Miami might again use will be “vigorously enforced in a lot of incidents where He’s optimistic he’ll be “Last year I wasn’t com- Now I’m feeling more com- its top draft pick on a quar- in order to ensure a safe and fans, they say whatever, and much improved in Year 2, fortable calling plays, check- fortable. I can maneuver terback, or try to trade for respectful environment for the consequences for me are however. Now 18 months re- ing plays, alerting plays,” he through these things.” Houston’s Deshaun Watson. all involved.” a lot more detrimental to moved from surgery for the said. “I rode with the play. Tagovailoa’s training regi- Instead, Tagovailoa is still “The return of more NBA those people in the stands be- hip injury that ended his Ala- Even if I knew in a way it men this spring is much dif- No. 1 and hoping to show he fans to our arenas has cause they feel like they’re bama career, Tagovailoa wasn’t going to work, I was ferent than a year ago, when can be Miami’s franchise brought great excitement untouchable.” said he feels much better going to try to make it work. he was still recovering from quarterback.

PREP SOFTBALL Tebow: Lawrence impressed by turnout at workouts Chentral’s Barker Continued from C1 haven’t had that much success in on his left, non-throwing shoulder a video conference call to give USC named East Conference “And I think with any great lead- the past, this is a new year, this is a in February so the team has been recruit Jaxson Dart news that the coach of the year new team and really a new mind- cautious with him so far. high school quarterback from Utah er, especially a coach, you got to CHEYENNE – Cheyenne have someone where communica- set with the coaching staff and what “Every week we’re making some won the 2020-21 Gatorade National they’re bringing in,” he said. “The adjustments and progressing for- Football Player of the Year award. Central softball coach Carrie tion is super detailed and precise. Barker was And he’s definitely that way. Every- biggest thing is just to continue ward and we have a great plan The award recognizes outstanding being myself, and obviously, I’m being cautious, but also getting athletic excellence, high standards voted the Wyo- one’s on the same page and I just going to put the work in and I’m back in the swing of doing normal of academic achievement and ex- ming East Con- like the energy that he’s bringing in going to earn it. I’m gonna be pre- things at practice,” Lawrence said. emplary character demonstrated ference coach of here, and that we’re expecting to pared, but overall, just keep being “I feel like I’m pretty far along. I on and off the field. the year. win this year. We don’t have a five- me.” don’t want to give like a certain per- “It’s really special to be a part of Barker led the year plan. This isn’t let’s get a little Lawrence has been impressed centage, but I feel like I’m doing re- that,” said Lawrence, who signed Lady Indians to bit better and then eventually we’ll the Jaguars have had almost 100 ally well. It doesn’t bother me at all. an endorsement deal with Gato- the inaugural title win. Let’s win as soon as we can. percent participation at voluntary Honestly, I’m a little limited on rade last month. “I love how it’s Barker game, where they Let’s win now,” Lawrence said. workouts this week. weight that I can do with my left three things involved in that. It’s lost to Campbell Lawrence is used to winning. He “It just shows kind of where this shoulder but other than that, move- obviously what you do on the field, County 14-9. was 34-2 as Clemson’s starter and team is at and what we want moving ment-wise, I got full range of mo- what you do in the classroom and in Central finished the season on a led the Tigers to the 2018 national forward so I really like the energy tion. It’s feeling really good so your community. I think that’s a six-game winning streak prior championship. that’s here right now,” he said. “Re- we’re making all the steps in the super cool thing for an award that to that loss and went 12-8 on the “They didn’t bring me in to ex- ally just excited to be a part of it.” right direction.” prestigious to make all those things season. pect to lose so even though we Lawrence had labrum surgery Lawrence took time Tuesday on just as important as the other one.” From wire reports