By Bob Priddy, Missourinet Contributing Editor
(MIZ)—The NFL was paying attention to the Missouri Tigers in 2023, evidenced by the dozen players either drafted or signed as undrafted free agents.
Six players were drafted, the most since 2009 and only one short of the record set in 1981.
Defensive Lineman Darius Robinson was a first-rounder, the 27th pick, by Arizona; Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw was a second rounder, picked by Detroit; Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper went to Green Bay in the third round and Javon foster was Jacksonville’s pick in the fourth round. Jaylon Carlisle (Colds), and Kris Abrams Draine (Denver) were fifth round picks.
Corey Schrader was quickly picked up by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent. The Carolina Panthers will give kicker Harrison Mevis a look. The Jets are interested in offensive lineman Marcellus Johnson while the Buccaneers have signed Xavier Delgado, another offensive lineman. And running back Nate Pete has signed with the Dallas Cowboys. The Detroit Lions have invited defensive lineman Josh Landry to their rookie mini-camp.
Four guys are hoping somebody will call: Defensive lineman Realus George jr., defensive end Nyles Gaddy, Linebacker Chad Bailey, and linebacker Ben Straatmann. (ZOU)
(BATTLEHAWKS)—The St. Louis Battlehawks made the fourth quarter a nightmare for the DC Defenders during the weekend, handing the Defenders their first home lost in their four seaons in the XFL and, now, the UFL.
The ‘Hawks led only 17-12 at the half but capitalized on the Defenders’ two fourth-down failures, a blocked punt, an interception, and a fumble to bury DC 45-12, the most lopsided victory in Battlehawks history.
The ‘Hawks blew the game open with about nine minutes left when Quarterback A. J. McCarron hit Hakeem Butler for an 80-yard touchdown pass. It’s the longest play in the UFL this year and the longest scoring play in the Battlehawks’ history.
(BASEBALL)—Our two MLB teams had 4-6 weeks, the Royals losing three in a row. The Cardinals missed a chance to reach .500 with a 12th-inning loss on Sunday to the Mets. Former Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader drove in the tying run and scored the winner in a 4-2 Mets victory.
The Royals have moved to Detroit for a midweek series. They’re still four games above .500.
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(INDYCAR)—IndyCar got the race it needed at Barber Motorsports Park last weekend after a tough week that saw three drivers for the sport’s leading team penalized for having the push-to-pass mechanism in the year’s first race.
Josef Newgarden’s season-opening win at St. Petersburg was taken away as was the third-place finish by teammate Scott McLaughlin. Their third teammate, Will Power, was fined but he was not disqualified. Pato O’Ward has been given the St. Petersburg victory.
Newgarden and McLaughlin used the push-to-pass button, which should have been disabled, during the race. The button increases engine power for a few seconds in passing situations. It had been used in recent testing and was supposed to have been removed for the race.
Both drivers said they did not realize they were not supposed to have that capability.
The fact that the problems occurred with Team Penske only increased the embarrassment throughout the sport and cast a shadow over IndyCar in the days leading to last weekend’s race. Team owner Roger Penske also owns IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His teams for decades have been known for their strict professional discipline and ultra-high race organization and preparation. The situation revealed a crack in that perfection and several competitors were quick to react.
Newgarden and McLaughlin said they were not aware they could not use the P2P button. Newly-crowned St. Petersburg winner Pato O’Ward appreciated Newgarden taking one for the team but “I truly feel like him taking the fall for something that he needs a team of people to help with…I think it’s a bit unfair to him.”
But Colton Herta, who drives for Andretti Global and who finished third in the revised standings from the St. Petersburg race, was less forgiving. He flatly called Newgarden’s comments “a lie.”
Newgarden, whom some might regard as a physical embodiment of the Penske image, was emotional when he met with reporters before the race last weekend. He struggled with his composure as he denied being “a liar,” and apologized for the incidents. “I’ve worked my entire career to hold myself to a very high standard and clearly I’ve fallen very short of that in this respect. It’s a difficult thing to wrestle with…It’s crushing…I don’t ant that win on my books, either. If it was tainted, I don’t want to be near it. Unfortunately, it is.”
“You can call me every name in the book; you can call me incompetent, call me an idiot…call me stupid…but I’m not a liar,” he said.
Newgarden went out afterward and topped the Friday practice speeds but could not match those numbers in qualifying. He started eighth and finished sixteenth in the race.
The closely-contested race that featured a lot of close, sometimes too-close, competition went to McLaughlin, with Power chasing him at the end. McLaughlin led 58 of the 90 laps on the 2.3-mile road course and cranked out the hottest lap of the day at more than 122 mph.
Herta, who finished eighth, retained the series points lead by one over Power.
IndyCar moves to Indianapolis now for the leadup to the Indianapolis 500, starting with a race on the infield road course on May 11.
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McLaren driver David Malukas is now a FORMER McLaren driver. He’s been released because his wrist injuries from a pre-season mountain biking incident still has not healed sufficiently to allow him to drive.
Malukas signed a contract last September hurt himself in February.
McLaren has used substitute drivers for the first four races but says it needs someone in the seat permanently.
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Longtime IndyCar driver and official Wally Dallenbch has died at age 87. He stated in 13 Indianapolis 500s. His best finishes were a air of fourths in 1976-77. After hanging up hishelmet, he served as competition director and chief steward for about 25 years of CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) after its split from IndyCar.
(NASCAR)—Win number three for Denny Hamlin this year, this one coming at Dover. He beat series points leader Kyle Larson by .256 second. Hamlin’ win, his 54th, ties him with the legendary Lee Petty.
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Newly-retired Kevin Harvick will be back in a seat next month for NASCAR’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He’ll qualify Kyle Larson’s car whle Larson is in Indianapolis qualifying for the 500. Larson plans to “do the double” on Memorial Day Sunday—run the 500 and then jet to Charlotte for the 600 mile race there that night.
(FORMULA1)—Formula One had the weekend off. Next up: The Grand Prix of Miami next Sunday.