gold storm casino fish slots
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Next stop: the National Football League. Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III declared for the NFL draft on Monday, two days after playing in what was likely his final collegiate game. He's heading to the professional ranks early, where he's projected to be one of the first players taken in the upcoming draft. "As a kid from St. Louis, it has always been my dream to play in (the) NFL," Burden wrote in an announcement posted to social media. "I am blessed to have a family and community that have helped support this dream and fuel me to put in the work in pursuit of this goal." Burden has been Mizzou's most transformational player in recent years, a five-star prospect who picked his home state school, starred on a national stage and signed high-visibility name, image and likeness deals. “The legacy of Luther Burden,” Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said Saturday, “is going to be the monumental decision he made to come to the University of Missouri, when nobody else thought he should have. His trajectory changed the program’s." In high school, Burden starred for Cardinal Ritter and, for his senior year, East St. Louis, where he was the St. Louis Post-Dispatch co-offensive player of the year after a senior season that included 34 total touchdowns. Recruiting services made Burden one of the premier prospects in his class. When he committed to Mizzou in October 2021, Burden became just the third consensus five-star recruit to do so, following fellow wide receiver Dorial Green Beckham and defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, who later slipped to four-star status after starting at the junior college level. "I just want to start a trend in St. Louis for the younger people," Burden said at his commitment ceremony. "Start a trend to stay home and take our talents to Missouri.” Burden contributed immediately, scoring nine total touchdowns — including one punt return — during his freshman season. Last year's overall breakout for Missouri saw Burden catch 86 passes for 1,212 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. That campaign placed Burden third in MU program history for receiving yards in a single season, trailing Danario Alexander's 2009 season and Jeremy Maclin's 2008 run. Despite entering the 2024 season as a front-runner for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver, and in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy, Burden had a more subdued campaign with 61 catches, the most on the team, and 676 receiving yards. With 192 career receptions, Burden is fourth in program history. His one catch in the Tigers' Saturday win over Arkansas broke a tie in the record books with Alexander. Off the field, he made waves for Missouri in the NIL space. A line of Burden-branded potato chips steadily expanded in flavors and popularity over the course of his college career. He recently appeared in an ad for Nautica's fall clothing line alongside Louisiana State gymnast-turned-model Olivia "Livvy" Dunne. Burden, a junior, walked in Mizzou's Senior Day ceremony held before that snowy game Saturday against the Razorbacks. It seemed to be a clear sign that Burden would be answering the NFL's call sooner rather than later. "While this decision is a step toward my professional future, it is by no means the end of my relationship with Mizzou," Burden wrote. "I will always carry a piece of this university with me, and I will continue to represent Mizzou with pride as I pursue my dreams. MIZ. Just call 3." The league requires players to spend at least three seasons in college ranks, so this is the earliest Burden can enter the draft. The scouting and draft cycle will pick up steam as college and professional seasons end, but early projections show Burden going solidly in the first round — with a significant chance of being a top-10 pick. Burden's draft declaration will almost certainly lead to him opting out of Missouri's bowl game, of which the date, location and opponent will be announced on Dec. 8. The risk of injury in a game with little incentive will likely keep Burden off the field to protect his chances in the draft. Mizzou could see a couple of other players declare early for the draft during the next month. For some, it's a way to test the waters and the viability of their opportunities at the next level before ultimately withdrawing from the draft and returning to college, if nothing else ©2024 STLtoday.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Trudeau, on an unannounced visit, had been seen smiling Friday as he exited a hotel in West Palm Beach to head to a dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Afterward, Trump posted on his Truth Social website that he had had "a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau." He said the two men had discussed issues including "the Fentanyl and Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration." He added, "Prime Minister Trudeau has made a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation of U.S. Families." Trudeau told journalists that he had had an "excellent conversation" with Trump, but did not elaborate. Trump has blamed Canada and Mexico for not stemming an influx of undocumented migrants and he blames them, and China, for drug problems in the United States. Trudeau's trip came after Trump sent shockwaves through the region Monday when he announced 25 percent import tariffs against Canada and Mexico and 10 percent against China if they failed to address the drug and migration problems. Such tariffs could have a devastating impact if imposed. More than three-quarters of Canadian exports, or Can$592.7 billion ($423 billion), went to the United States last year, and nearly two million Canadian jobs are dependent on trade. A Canadian government source had told AFP that Canada was considering possible retaliatory tariffs against the United States. Trudeau was the first foreign leader to meet with the US president-elect. But on Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke to Trump by phone and later ruled out a trade war with the United States. "There will not be a potential tariff war," she told reporters Thursday. Trump later said that Sheinbaum had "agreed to stop migration through Mexico... effectively closing our Southern border." But she said that there would be no closing of the border, stating: "Of course we do not agree with that." Some have suggested Trump's tariff threat was bluster, or an opening salvo in future trade negotiations. But Trudeau rejected those views when he spoke with reporters earlier in Prince Edward Island province. "Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out," Trudeau said. "There's no question about it." amc/jgc/nro/bbk/bfm
The Pittsburgh Steelers take on what is typically an unenviable task -- traveling on a short week for a Thursday night primetime game. However, a few things are playing in Pittsburgh's favor as Week 12 of the NFL regular season kicks off. Namely, the "trip" to Cleveland is a little more than two hours by road and when the Steelers arrive there, they'll be facing a backup quarterback at the helm of a massively underwhelming 2-8 Browns team. The Steelers (8-2) are coming off a huge win over Baltimore to stay atop the AFC North. And Pittsburgh is beginning to set its sights on potential home-field advantage come playoff time. ODDS AND TRENDS The Steelers are a consensus 3.5-point favorite. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 80 percent of the spread-line money. Pittsburgh's -195 moneyline to simply win the game has been even more popular, drawing 95 percent of all money wagered. The Browns enter Thursday night having failed to cover the spread in nine of their past 12 games. Meanwhile, the Steelers have covered the spread in every game during their five-game win streak. The 37.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 65 percent of the money and 70 percent of the total bets. Each of Cleveland's past eight November home games has gone under the total points line. PROP PICKS --Steelers WR George Pickens Over 50 Receiving Yards (-195 at DraftKings): Russell Wilson has thrown six touchdowns in the four games since he took over as the starting quarterback. Two of those have gone to Pickens, who has at least 74 receiving yards in each of those games. There is some concern that Pittsburgh gains a big early lead and turns to a run-heavy attack, but Wilson throws an excellent deep ball and that plays into Pickens' strength. This is the most popular player prop at the book. --Steelers RB Najee Harris Anytime TD (+100 at BetRivers): That potential for a run-heavy approach should benefit Harris, who found the sledding tough against Baltimore with 63 yards on the ground. He was also held out of the end zone for the second time in three games. Keep in mind that Cleveland has allowed only three touchdowns on the ground all season, but the Browns have allowed 12 through the air. Harris has a trio of scores on the ground and receiving through 10 games. KEY STAT The Browns have won the first quarter in five consecutive home games against the Steelers. THE NEWS The Steelers have certainly been locked in. They are currently riding a five-game winning streak, most recently edging the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 on Sunday. Chris Boswell booted six field goals against Baltimore, while Wilson completed 23 of 36 passes for 205 yards and an interception. Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to go through the wringer. The Browns ended up on the wrong end of a 35-14 blowout while facing the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday, marking their seventh loss in the past eight games. Cleveland now has to go up against one of the most unforgiving defenses in the league. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston is determined to direct a fundamentally sound performance against Pittsburgh, which allows the second-fewest points per game in the NFL (16.2). "It's precision passing. Getting the ball out on time. Elite operation and just doing our job. It's the simple things," Winston said. "This team (the Steelers) is not going to try and fool you. They're going to line up and say, 'Give us your best, we're going to give you our best.'" Winston threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns on 30-for-46 passing in the setback against New Orleans, with Jerry Jeudy hauling in six catches for 142 yards and a score. Star running back Nick Chubb continued to struggle since his return from a knee injury that cut his 2023 season short, finishing with 50 yards on 11 carries. INJURY REPORT The Browns could be without standout defensive end Myles Garrett, who missed practice on Tuesday because of a hip injury. Wide receiver Elijah Moore (shoulder), guard Joel Bitonio (pectoral) and cornerbacks Denzel Ward (ribs/ankle) and Greg Newsome II (shoulder) were among those limited during the session. Linebacker Alex Highsmith is dealing with an ankle issue and was ruled out by the Steelers along with cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring). THEY SAID IT Wilson is starting to feel like he might be part of something special, but he also doesn't want Pittsburgh to get ahead of itself. "I definitely think that we have a chance (to make a deep playoff run)," said Wilson, who has played in two Super Bowls. "I think the biggest thing for us is continuing to just take each week as the most important week of it all. "I think that it's not really even just the week, it's just the day, it's just the moments in between. I think the greatest teams, the greatest players, in any sport, especially the teams I've been on, is the moment -- it's never too far away. It's right here, right now. And you're just locked into that." PREDICTION Divisional road games on short weeks typically shape up as a daunting task. That's not the case for the Steelers, who will be hyper-focused to put this one out of reach early before enjoying 10 days ahead of a trip to Cleveland. With a second game against the Browns before a huge game at Philadelphia, this is not an under-manned opponent Pittsburgh will look past. --Steelers 27, Browns 19 --Field Level Media