Urban Meyer house hunting in Austin? Texas rumor hits the net - msnNOW

Urban Meyer, who has not coached in college football since the 2018 season, is the best coach available. Texas Longhorns fans have been talking all fall about how he’s the kind of coach who could step in and replace Tom Herman to get the Longhorns back where they want to be. And guess what? Right on cue after the team lost to Iowa State, our first Urban Meyer-to-Texas rumor hit the net.

© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Expect more rumors linking Urban Meyer to the Longhorns.

A new website called Austonia, which we previously have never heard of, started a rumor about Meyer’s wife Shelley going to Austin to check out the real estate market. Austin is where the University of Texas is located.

Exclusive: Urban Meyer's wife said to be eyeing real estate in Austin. Could a Longhorns coaching position be on the table? https://t.co/cjmbM2mjel

— Austonia (@austonianews) November 30, 2020

Is there anything to this rumor? Probably not, but this is a good reminder of a few things. One, expect there to be lots of talk about Texas possibly moving on from Herman. And two, expect more rumors linking Meyer to the Longhorns.

Herman has a hefty $15 million buyout, but we wouldn’t expect that kind of number to stand in the way of the boosters reeling in Meyer if he is interested. Herman has gone 30-18 over four years and has Texas 5-3 this season.

Before all the Texas rumors, all the talk last year was about Meyer headed to a different school. In the past, Meyer has offered some criticism of Herman while serving as an analyst for Fox.

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Related slideshow: The 25 best rivalries in college football (Provided by Yardbarker)

The 25 best rivalries in college football

Perhaps the best part of each college football season is the collection of rivalries that feature rabid fans, packed stadiums and hot tempers on the field. Starting toward the end of November, it's all about the rivalries — with cool trophies and funny names.Here's our ranking of the top 25 college football rivalries currently and ones we'd like to see start up again.

25. Indiana vs. Purdue

These schools play for the famed Old Oaken Bucket each season. Though neither program has been in contention for a Big Ten title in recent years, it's still one of the most storied and respected rivalries in all of sports. The Hoosiers and Boilermakers first met in 1891. Purdue holds a significant lead in the series (74-41-6) and has won the last two meetings.

24. DePauw vs. Wabash

We're going to stay in the state of Indiana but drop down to Division III. Each year DePauw's Tigers face Wabash's Little Giants with the Monon Bell on the line. The 300-pound locomotive bell has gone to the victor of each game since 1932, though these schools first met in 1890. Wabash holds a slight edge in the series, thanks to victories in nine of the last 10 meetings.

23. Lafayette vs. Lehigh

Simply known as "The Rivalry," these FCS schools, located less than 20 miles apart in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, started taking on each other in 1884, thus, reportedly, making it the most played matchup between schools in all of college football. Though Lafayette leads the series 78-71-5, Lehigh has won four in a row and nine of the last 11 get-togethers.

22. Iowa vs. Iowa State

These in-state rivals went from 1935-76 without playing each other, but this has been a regular matchup since 1977. While Iowa has won the last four meetings in the series, we put it on this list because both teams have reason to feel good about things in 2019. When the schools meet in Ames on Sept. 14, it might have the makings of a memorable affair.

21. Minnesota vs. Wisconsin

It's always a spirited contest when Paul Bunyan's Axe is on the line. However, we have a feeling things could get ratcheted up for the 2019 installment, at least from the Wisconsin side. The Badgers' 14-game winning streak in the rivalry ended last season when P.J. Fleck's Gophers rowed the boat into Madison and shipped out with a decisive 37-15 victory to get their hands on the Axe for the first time since 2003.

20. Clemson vs. South Carolina

Obviously a big deal to the good folks of South Carolina, this rivalry has been rather streaky since the 2009 season. That year, the Gamecocks won what would be the first of five straight over the Tigers. However, Clemson has returned the favor by winning five in a row — and the last three by a combined 146-52.

19. Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State

Who doesn't love them some Bedlam. Fans of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State football certainly do. This series has some great history that includes players diving into a creek to recover the ball, the mafia fixing games and plenty of high-scoring shootouts. About the only thing that has dampened this series is Oklahoma's dominance (88-18-7). The Sooners have won four in a row and 14 of the last 16 matchups.

18. BYU vs. Utah

This is dubbed the "Holy War," in reference to both school's having several members who are part of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The teams even met in the 2015 Las Vegas Bowl, which became known as the "Holy War in Sin City." Utah leads the series 61-34-4 and has won the last eight meetings.

17. Michigan vs. Michigan State

Remember Mike Hart's "little brother" comment regarding Michigan State from a few years back? It's still kind of true, considering Michigan leads the series 70-36-15. After the Spartans won three straight from 2013-15, the Wolverines claimed two of the last three meetings and will host this year's version in Ann Arbor.

16. Michigan vs. Notre Dame

Sticking with the Wolverines, this is one rivalry of which they do not hold the advantage overall or of late. The Wolverines lead 24-17-1 in the all-time series with Notre Dame, but the Irish have won the last two meetings. After the teams play this year in Ann Arbor, the series will again go on hiatus. It's always disappointing that these schools can't find a way to make it a point to play each other every year.

15. Washington vs. Washington State

The Apple Cup might be the best rivalry on the West Coast from the standpoint that both schools are among the best in the Pac-12. Of course, Washington has had its way in recent years during a rivalry that began in 1900. The Huskies have won six in a row by an average margin of almost 22 points. Still, the history and longevity of this series makes it pretty special.

14. USC vs. UCLA

One day, the battle for Los Angeles is going to mean something again. We just don't know when because both teams are far from national championship contenders, and even earning a bowl bid has been a chore of late. USC had won three straight in the series until UCLA scored 13 unanswered fourth-quarter points to win 34-27 last season in a game that was actually quite entertaining.

13. Texas vs. Texas A&M

It's too bad this rivalry has been put on hiatus since 2011 due to the Aggies leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. Reportedly, there has been talk of trying to revive the rivalry starting early in the next decade, but thus far nothing has been agreed upon. Prior to the series being halted, the Longhorns had won three of four and lead 76-37-5 all time.

12. Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia

Bad news first: The "Backyard Brawl" between Pitt and West Virginia has not been played since 2011 when the Mountaineers won their third straight in the series. Here's the good news: The rivalry will start up again in 2022. OK, that's still a ways to wait, but we know it's coming and it will be wild, heated and fun for more than just the fan bases of both schools. Pitt leads 61-40-3 over West Virginia.

11. Florida vs. Florida State

Since 2001, the Gators and Seminoles have split their 18 meetings. Now that's a rivalry. Of course, it wasn't like the teams were alternating victories. Florida won six in a row from 2004-09, and Florida State took five straight before the Gators ended the fun — and the Seminoles' lengthy bowl run — with last year's 41-14 rout at Gainesville. At the moment, it's about the Gators, but FSU should be hungry.

10. California vs. Stanford

It goes by a few different names ("The Play," The Stanford Band Play"). That does not matter, but this is one rivalry that will forever be defined by one game and arguably the most improbable finish ever in college football. We are long since removed from that remarkable 1982 afternoon in Berkeley, but the rivalry is still pretty intense. Stanford, though, leads 64-46-11 in the all-time series of the "Big Game" and has won nine in a row.

9. Harvard vs. Yale

"The Game" has been going strong since 1875. It's the one day of the school year when academics truly don't come first at these hallowed Ivy League institutions. The game day traditions at both schools are as much a part of the season-finale contest as the on-field matchup itself. While Yale owns a 67-60-8 advantage in the all-time series, Harvard has won 15 of the last 18.

8. Notre Dame vs. USC

This rivalry is more about history than anything else, especially since the last five matchups have not been all that close — though SC did lead 10-0 in last year's meeting before losing 24-17. These are still two of the most storied programs that make it a point to play each other every year and treat the rivalry with respect — the way it ought to be.

7. Florida State vs. Miami

One reason this rivalry ranks high on our list is because for years the caliber of star players on the field at the same time was like a future Pro Bowl. From the various "wide right" — or "left — to Miami's impressive 2018 comeback from 27-7 down, the Seminoles and Hurricanes continue to thrill. Miami holds a slight edge in the all-time series.

6. Mississippi vs. Mississippi State

The rivalry game known as the Egg Bowl was first played in 1901 and is one of the longest uninterrupted such contests in college football history. Neither team is keen on the other, and that includes players, coaches, fans, anybody. It's also a Thanksgiving week — or weekend — staple. The Rebels lead the all-time series 62-45-6, but it has been relatively close with Mississippi State holding a 12-11 advantage beginning with the 1996 season.

5. Georgia vs. Florida

With Jacksonville, Florida, as the setting, one of the best scenes in all of college football happens when the Bulldogs and Gators meet each season. Though the name is no longer officially used, the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" is the perfect description for the atmosphere and experience that is a Georgia-Florida football game. On the field Georgia has won the last two meetings after Florida dominated for years. However, with both teams expected to challenge for the SEC East Division title, this year's installment should be something special.

4. Alabama vs. Auburn

It's simple: Nobody on either side of the Iron Bowl rivalry likes anybody associated with the other. The heated nature of this series has gone behind the football field and shown just how misguided sports fans, in general, can be and to what lengths they will go to support their teams. Alabama leads the series and has won four of the last five entering this year's meeting at Auburn.

3. Oklahoma vs. Texas

The atmosphere at the Cotton Bowl during the Texas State Fair in October is the perfect backdrop for the Red River Showdown. It's even better when both teams are good. That's been the case the last two years and should be again in 2019. Last season was extra special with these rivals also meeting in the Big 12 championship game. Let's hope we get a repeat in 2019.

2. Michigan vs. Ohio State

This is another rivalry where the teams and their respective fans just don't like each other. While it's not quite as heated as, say, the Iron Bowl, it's still that one game each team is expected to win. Of late, it's all Ohio State, winner of seven in a row and 14 of 15. Last season was slated to be the year Michigan showed up and ended its series slide. Instead, Jim Harbaugh's guys were blasted 62-39 by the Buckeyes. The Wolverines should not be taken seriously until they are able to beat Ohio State again.

1. Army vs. Navy

It's perhaps the one rivalry where records truly don't matter and respect is abound. The pageantry, emotion and tradition displayed annually between these service academies are always something to be seen. Navy leads the series 60-52-7, but Army has won the last three meetings by a combined 12 points. Then again, after watching the effort put forth by both teams, it's easy to see why this rivalry is about more than just football.

26/26 SLIDES

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Immigration: Visa applications open under UK's post-Brexit system - BBC News

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New immigration rules will be "simple and flexible", ministers have promised, as the UK's points-based post-Brexit system prepares to go live.

From Tuesday all foreign nationals, including from the European Union, who want to work in the UK from 1 January will have to apply online for a visa.

Those seeking a skilled worker visa will need a job offer, to be proficient in English and earn at least £25,600.

Free movement from and to the EU will come to an end on 31 December.

• Brexit: Will the borders be ready?
• Post-Brexit migration and farming rules become law
• Foreign butchers and bricklayers 'needed in UK'
• Disused airport confirmed as Brexit lorry park

The UK left the EU on 31 January but has been largely following its rules during the subsequent 11-month transition period, as the two sides try to reach agreement over a trade deal.

As talks continue in London, the UK is stepping up its preparations for leaving the EU's single market and customs union at the end of the year.

The government has announced it is setting up a new Border Operations Centre, which it says will ensure round-the-clock surveillance of goods and passengers coming in and out of British ports for the first time.

Border preparations stepped up

It will use £20m software produced by the US tech firm Palantir, which gathers information from different government computers, in the hope of minimising the amount of "short-term" disruption at the border in the days and weeks after 1 January.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the new system would enable the authorities to identify and get on top of bottlenecks "quickly and decisively".

• Disused airport confirmed as Brexit lorry park
• Ports 'chaos' warning over customs controls

Business groups have said delays at the border are inevitable given the looming changes to customs procedures while Labour said "glaring questions" remained unanswered about what businesses needed to do.

"The government is putting the burden on businesses to prepare for the end of the transition period when it has not explained what it is those businesses are getting ready for," said shadow minister Rachel Reeves.

"The government is re-badging a basic element of preparation but still can't tell us how many customs agents are recruited or trained or whether crucial IT is ready."

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Gove said: "A lot of what businesses need to do is the same whether or not we get a free trade agreement or not.

"There's no harm in doing these things because they'll be necessary come what may."

The basics

• Brexit happened but rules didn't change at once: The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020, but leaders needed time to negotiate a deal for life afterwards - they got 11 months.
• Talks are happening: The UK and the EU have until 31 December 2020 to agree a trade deal as well as other things, such as fishing rights.
• If there is no deal: Border checks and taxes will be introduced for goods travelling between the UK and the EU. But deal or no deal, we will still see changes.

To tackle what the Cabinet Office calls the "challenges" of potential disruption at the UK border next year, a Border Operations Centre will use big data technology to try to "identify the root causes" of hold-ups to passengers and freight.

The software system is produced by the controversial US tech firm Palantir and will pull together information from different government computers to monitor the flow of people and vehicles across the UK border.

Palantir has courted controversy in the United States, where its systems are used by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This has led the human rights organisation Amnesty International to warn of "a high risk that Palantir is contributing to serious human rights violations of migrants and asylum-seekers".

The company denies the suggestion and says it remains extremely concerned about protecting human rights, privacy rights, and civil liberties in general.

The UK government has stressed that Palantir will only process data in Britain and that strict measures are in place to protect personal information.

What is changing in immigration?

The UK's new immigration system will determine who can work in the country from 1 January.

Online applications for visas via a range of new "routes" will open on Tuesday.

Applications for skilled worker visas will be judged on the basis of a points system, which is modelled on the system in place in Australia for many years.

Points will be awarded for a job offer at the appropriate skill level in an eligible occupation, knowledge of English and whether applicants meet a salary threshold - which will typically be at least £25,600.

The cost of applying will be between £610 to £1,408 and people will have to show they have enough money to support themselves as well as having proof of identity.

Applicants will have to wait about three weeks to find out whether they have been successful.

How do the rules affect people already living in the UK?

EU citizens already living in the UK by 31 December and their families do not have to go through the new system but instead can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, and have until 30 June 2021 to do so.

If they are successful, they will be able to remain in the UK and claim the same benefits as UK citizens if they become unemployed.

Irish citizens do not need to apply to the scheme and will not require permission to come to the UK, as the UK and Ireland are both part of a Common Travel Area.

Different rules apply to workers from outside the EU, and EU migrants arriving after the end of the transition period. Those who lose their job will have to return to their home country, unless they have indefinite leave to remain.

The Home Office rules about which workers can remain in the UK after losing a job are complex but can be read here.

Route for 'exceptional talent'

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the system would be "simple, effective and flexible" and enable employers to fill skills gaps while also placing a greater onus on firms to train and invest in British workers.

Ms Patel and other critics of free movement have long argued it has left British firms overly reliant on low-skilled workers from the continent and put applicants from the rest of the rest of the world at a disadvantage.

But unions have warned of a looming crisis over the recruitment of social care staff under the new rules and says action is also needed to support those foreign-born NHS workers whose visas are expiring.

Applications also opened on Tuesday for Global Talent, Innovator and Start-Up visas designed to attract "those who have an exceptional talent or show exceptional promise in the fields of engineering, science, tech or culture".

New rules for international students came into force in October.

The rights of the more than three million EU citizens already working in the UK are protected under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement signed by the UK and EU earlier this year.

As of 30 September, 2.1 million people had been granted settled status and 1.6 million pre-settled status - ensuring they can remain in the UK.

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Texas defensive back Caden Sterns opting out to begin NFL draft preparation - ESPN

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Texas defensive back Caden Sterns is opting out to begin preparation for the NFL draft, he announced Monday.

pic.twitter.com/XS1RLhbhGb

— Caden Sterns (@CSterns_7) December 1, 2020

Sterns, the Big 12 freshman of the year in 2018, is tied for second on the team with 52 tackles in seven games, to go along with an interception and three pass breakups.

The Cibolo, Texas, native made 28 career starts for the Longhorns and had a team-high 172 tackles (125 solo), eight pass breakups and five interceptions.

Sterns is the second Texas player to opt out this week, joining offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi, a potential top-10 draft pick. Texas, which has two regular-season games left, fell out of contention for the Big 12 title game after Friday's loss to Iowa State.

"I'll always look back at my time in Austin as some of the best years of my life, especially with my teammates who have become my brothers," Sterns wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. "I want to thank Coach [Tom] Herman, Coach [Chris] Ash and all of my coaches for guiding me in taking my game to the next level and all they've done for me throughout my career at UT."

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Israeli Tourism Ministry Warns Against Discussing Sensitive Topics With UAE Citizens - NPR

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Israeli tourists deplane from a FlyDubai flight from Tel Aviv to Dubai, on Nov. 28. Malak Harb/AP

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Don't promote democracy, talk about the royal families or comment on treatment of foreign workers.

Israel is advising tourism professionals and businesspeople to avoid discussing those and other sensitive political topics with residents of the United Arab Emirates, as it protects its new peace deal with the Gulf Arab country and promotes new daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, launched last week.

"United Arab Emirates: Do and Do Not," the tourism ministry's 29-page Hebrew-language advisory published Nov. 8, is the first public Israeli government comment on the issue of Emirati political freedoms, but it stops short of criticizing alleged abuses.

"The United Arab Emirates is not a democratic country and it is not acceptable to speak about democracies as a preferred model of government," the advisory says. It also recommends "not to speak to Emiratis about the royal families," "avoid speaking about local politics" and "avoid speaking about government or state policy towards foreign workers."

The ministry says the guidelines are not government policy but cultural sensitivity tips aimed primarily at Israeli tourism operators preparing to receive Emirati visitors, whenever Israel lifts its COVID-19 ban on incoming tourism. It aims for 100,000 Gulf visitors in the coming years, with many expected to visit Islam's third-holiest site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Although the two countries shared quiet ties for years, it's largely a new cultural encounter. Israeli passport-holders traveled in special delegations by invitation only, and Emiratis were not previously known to visit Israel.

The deputy mayor of Jerusalem has asked Israeli officials to update security protocols at the airport, where Arab and Muslim visitors regularly face stringent questioning, so anticipated Emirati visitors will receive a warmer welcome.

The tourism ministry is also offering some recommended "do's": Praise the UAE's accomplishments in the Middle East. Use the term "female empowerment" instead of "feminism." Set up business meetings with Emiratis at least three weeks in advance. Hotels seeking Emirati guests should consider setting up separate swimming areas for men and women.

The advisory also includes a code of conduct on dress and customs for Israelis traveling to the UAE for business. Airlines are introducing multiple daily nonstop flights.

The new route to Dubai is fueling a buzz for travel-hungry Israelis marooned at home during the pandemic and eager to visit a part of the region previously off-limits. The UAE is one of just a few destinations Israel allows residents to visit without quarantining upon return.

The author of the advisory, Yossi Mann, says Emiratis — governed by dynastic rulers with limited elections for an advisory council — are wary about dysfunctional political systems and failed democracy movements and prefer a system of tribal family affiliations. He worries that raising sensitive political topics could cast a shadow on the Israel-Emirates peace deal, signed in September, which he calls a breakthrough in Jewish-Muslim relations after years of hostility.

"They're still a traditional society. They're doing huge progress for them and they should do it step by step," says Mann, a senior lecturer in Mideast studies at Bar Ilan University, researcher at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center and a consultant to oil and gas companies in the region. "Because I believe there is a new era between Jews and Muslims, I think we should be sensitive to them. They are making a courageous step."

Israel is also worried its citizens could misbehave while vacationing in the UAE.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation did not respond to NPR's request for comment on the Israeli advisory.

The State Department's travel advisory for U.S. citizens in the UAE offers similar advice on behavior and dress, and warns travelers they could be arrested or deported for "making derogatory statements about the UAE, the royal families, the local governments or other people." But unlike Israel, the U.S. has also reported human rights concerns there.

The UAE has promoted religious tolerance and female politicians, and, this month, allowed unmarried couples to live together and relaxed alcohol bans. But it bans political parties and labor unions, arrests democracy advocates and government critics, criminalizes gay sex and has not effectively prevented abuse of foreign workers, who make up the majority of the population, according to the State Department.

Analysts and activists in both Israel and the Gulf criticized the Israeli approach.

"Gulf citizens are worldly and engage in the topics that the Israeli government is steering its tourists from," says Bader Al-Saif, a Kuwait-based fellow with the Carnegie Middle East Center. "It's how one engages in these topics that would matter."

"The message is: be silent. If you want to go to the UAE, and have a collaboration with them, don't talk about anything that would light a fuse," says Eitay Mack, a left-wing Israeli human rights lawyer.

If the oil-rich Gulf country begins to invest in Israeli universities and institutions, he warns it could quash Israeli criticism of Gulf policy, much as Chinese investments in Australian universities are alleged to have led to pro-China censorship.

"After the UAE ... bring all their money, it will be much harder to do this discussion. Now is the time to set the rules," Mack says.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a research fellow at the Forum for Regional Thinking, a progressive Israeli think tank, says Israel is expected to lobby for Emirati interests in Washington as it has done with Egypt and Jordan, and already reportedly mediated the sale of Israeli spyware to Emirati officials to track dissidents.

"Israeli citizens should question this alliance with an authoritarian regime," Tsurkov says. "Most countries around world have normal relations with these regimes. But not all countries go and do lobbying work on behalf of those regimes. Not all countries sell spyware to hack into phones of activists."

In August, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the UAE was an "advanced democracy" in an interview with an Emirati TV news channel. He posted it to Twitter, then deleted it shortly after.

Sami Sockol contributed to this story from Jerusalem.

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DK Metcalf posts career high in receiving yards as Seattle Seahawks soar in Philadelphia - ESPN

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  Brady HendersonESPN

There's something about Russell Wilson playing in prime time. And there's something about DK Metcalf playing in Philadelphia.

The Wilson-to-Metcalf combination -- plus another strong performance from the Seattle Seahawks' resurgent defense -- was enough for a 23-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Metcalf caught 10 passes for a career-high 177 yards while doing most of his damage against All-Pro cornerback Darius Slay. That topped his 160-yard performance at the same stadium in January, when he set an NFL rookie postseason record in Seattle's wild-card win over the Eagles.

"It's kind of like coming home," Metcalf said. "A place that had a chance to draft me but didn't, so I've got to make them pay."

Monday's victory gave Seattle (8-3) a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West, and it gave the Seahawks seven consecutive wins over Philadelphia (including playoffs) dating to 2011.

2 Related

It also continued Wilson's dominance under the lights. He is 29-8-1 in prime-time games (defined as starting at 7 p.m. ET or later) for a .776 winning percentage. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, that's the best by any starting quarterback since 1950 with at least 20 starts. Steve Young (23-7, .767) is second.

Wilson improved to 10-2 on Monday Night Football, good for an .833 winning percentage that is also best in MNF history.

Wilson completed 22 of 31 attempts for 230 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers. It was his second straight game without an interception or lost fumble after he committed 10 turnovers in Weeks 7 through 10, the most in any four-game stretch of his career.

Wilson connected with wide receiver David Moore on a goal-line fade for his touchdown. Chris Carson scored Seattle's other touchdown on a 16-yard run. He carried eight times for 41 yards in his return from a foot injury that sidelined him for four games. Carlos Hyde led Seahawks running backs with 15 carries (for 22 yards) as they relied more on their run game for the second straight week after leaning heavily on Wilson in the first nine games.

The Seahawks' defense, which was being gashed at a historic rate in the first half of the season, turned in its second consecutive strong performance. It forced three-and-outs on the Eagles' first five possessions, sacked Carson Wentz six times, intercepted him once and held Philadelphia to nine points until a late Hail Mary. It marked only the second time this season that a team began a game with five straight three-and-outs, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.

The Seahawks' pass rush win rate of 62% Monday was their highest in a game this season. Their 22 sacks since Week 8 are three more than any other team has recorded in that span.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was kicking himself postgame for Seattle's two failed attempts on fourth-and-2 early in the game, saying that he didn't like how he handled the timing of those decisions. He was otherwise pleased with how Seattle didn't commit a turnover on offense and continued its turnaround on defense.

"It was great to see our guys play like that and play consistently," he said. "Again, like last week, a lot of corrections, a lot of things, fixes during the game, a lot of great communication. We've taken a real nice step forward, and I'm hoping we can just keep building on it."

Metcalf sealed Seattle's win by recovering the onside kick after Wentz's Hail Mary touchdown to Richard Rodgers.

Metcalf has a league-leading 1,039 receiving yards through 11 games. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, that makes him the fastest player in Seahawks history to top 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He also has the fifth-most yards by a first- or second-year player through 11 games in the past 30 seasons. With 1,939 career receiving yards, Metcalf is 88 away from passing Joey Galloway for the most through two seasons in franchise history.

Metcalf accounted for 77% of the Seahawks' 230 receiving yards Monday, the third-highest such percentage in the past five seasons. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Metcalf lined up against Slay on 26 of his 27 routes. When Slay was the nearest defender, Metcalf caught seven of 10 targets for 141 yards. The 141 yards are the second most by a receiver against a single defender this season.

Slay said he might have played the worst game of his career Monday.

The Eagles were one of eight teams to select a wide receiver in last year's draft before Seattle chose Metcalf with the final pick of the second round. Metcalf found another source of motivation Monday, when Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz approached him and said, according to Metcalf, "I was in Detroit with Megatron, but you're not there yet."

"In my mind, I'm not trying to be Megatron," Metcalf said. "I'm trying to be me. So I had a little chip on my shoulder the whole game."

Schwartz's side of the story was that he was complimenting Metcalf by saying that Metcalf is the closest thing Schwartz has seen to Calvin Johnson.

"He poked the bear, and then Slay had to go out there and end up having to deal with that bear," said Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs, who was teammates with Slay in Detroit. "So, hey, Slay needs to blame his D-coordinator for that."

Seahawks All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner finished with five tackles to push him past 100 for the ninth time in as many NFL seasons. According to research by ESPN Stats & Info, Wagner is tied with Keith Brooking for the second-most consecutive seasons with 100 tackles in the past 20 years. London Fletcher has the most, with 13.

"We're looking at a Hall of Fame football player," Carroll said of Wagner. "We're so accustomed to the way he plays and [these] tremendously consistent numbers he continues to add up, and we maybe don't realize how great a player he is and how hard it is to do what he's doing. That's just an all-timer. ... Shoot, we've got five games left to play, so he's going to have a ton this year."

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Kim Jong Un received experimental COVID-19 vaccine from China, analyst says - New York Post

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family were recently given an experimental coronavirus vaccine from China, a US analyst said on Tuesday.

The Kims were vaccinated “within the last two to three weeks thanks to a vaccine candidate supplied by the Chinese government,” Harry Kazianis, a North Korea expert at the Center for the National Interest think tank in Washington, wrote in an article for the online outlet 19FortyFive.

Kazianis added that it’s unclear which Chinese company provided its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, or if it was proven to be safe.

At least three Chinese companies were developing a coronavirus vaccine, including Sinophram Group, Sinovac Biotech Ltd and CanSinoBio, Kazianis said, citing US medical scientist Peter Hotez.

None of the companies are known to have launched Phase 3 clinical trials of their coronavirus drugs. But Sinophram has said nearly one million in China have used its vaccine candidate.

North Korea has not reported any coronavirus infections. But experts outside the country have been skeptical of that claim — pointing out that it shares a border with China, the original source of the outbreak.

The vaccination news comes as the Hermit Kingdom was reported to have beefed up security at its borders to defend against the pandemic.

With Post wires

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December 01, 2020 at 12:55PM
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Kim Jong Un received experimental COVID-19 vaccine from China, analyst says - New York Post
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NBC Reveals Schedule Changes After Ravens-Steelers NFL Game Is Moved, Again - Deadline

The NFL’s decision to shift its Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers game from Tuesday to Wednesday has led NBC to revise its primetime lineups for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Check out the new schedules below.

The AFC North matchup originally was set for primetime on Thanksgiving but was moved to Sunday after multiple positive Covid-19 tests then pushed again to Tuesday. It now will be played Wednesday — but not in primetime. NBC will air the game starting at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT, leaving its 8-11 p.m. slots for The 88th Annual Christmas In Rockefeller Center, which is highlighted by the tree-lighting ceremony, and Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes.

Last year’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center special won the night with 6.89 million viewers and posted a 1.1 in adults 18-49. Both were down from the previous year.

Ravens-Steelers being moved from Tuesday night — the league’s first game to be rescheduled three times amid the pandemic — led NBC to tweak that night’s schedule again. It now will, well, kick off The Voice at 8 p.m., followed by a Weakest Link repeat at 9 and a new episode of Transplant at 10.

Thursday will see the network airing The Voice Holiday Celebration at 8, Law & Order: SVU at 9 and Dateline NBC at 10. Friday’s lineup will have a Voice rerun at 8 and a two-hour Dateline NBC from 9-11.

Here is this week’s revised NBC schedule after the NFL moves:

Tuesday:

8 p.m. – The Voice
9 p.m. – Weakest Link (R)
10 p.m. – Transplant

Thursday

8 p.m. – The Voice Holiday Celebration
9 p.m. – Law & Order: SVU
10 p.m. – Dateline NBC

Friday, Dec. 4

8 p.m. – The Voice (R)
9 p.m. – Dateline NBC

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December 01, 2020 at 09:17AM
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NBC Reveals Schedule Changes After Ravens-Steelers NFL Game Is Moved, Again - Deadline
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