Showing posts with label Former Sooner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Former Sooner. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Former Sooner Buddy Hield Named Western Conference Rookie of the Month

Former Sooner Buddy Hield was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in December, the NBA announced on Tuesday.

Hield led NBA rookies with a 10.6 scoring average and 3-point shooting percentage at 47.8. In 16 games, Hield scored in double figures in nine games that included finishing with 20 in Monday night's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Vikings Coach: Sam Bradford Has Earned the Right to Start in 2017

The Minnesota Vikings don't yet know whether Teddy Bridgewater will be their starting quarterback again. Their future, instead, could be with former Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford.

Coach Mike Zimmer said in his season-ending press conference that Bradford "has earned the right to be the starting quarterback" after a year during which he set a NFL single-season record with a 71.6 completion percentage. Bradford, who came to Minnesota in a trade Sept. 3 with the Philadelphia Eagles after Bridgewater dislocated his left knee and tore his ACL on Aug. 30, threw for a career-high 3,877 yards and passed for 20 touchdowns against five interceptions.

Monday, January 2, 2017

Sam Bradford Sets NFL Record for Single-Season Completion Percentage

Former Sooner Sam Bradford may have been joined the Vikings ship late a little late, but he’s made his time in Minnesota count.

En route to a Vikings 38-10 win over the Bears Sunday, Bradford set the NFL record for single-season completion percentage, finishing his first season in purple at 71.6.

The previous record was held by Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who finished the 2011 season at 71.2. Bradford also set a franchise record for most completions in a season with 395. He surpassed Daunte Culpepper, who had 379 completions in 2004 and led the league and also topped Culpepper’s franchise-best completion percentage of 69.2 in 2004.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Sam Bradford on Verge of Setting NFL Record

The Vikings’ dink-and-dunk attack might land Sam Bradford in the NFL record book.

The quarterback has completed 71.6 percent of his passes this season. That’s on pace to break the mark of 71.2 percent set by Drew Brees of New Orleans in 2011.

Yes, Bradford, who completed 65 percent of his throws last season for Philadelphia, is an accurate guy. But his run to the record book really started because Pat Shurmur took over for Norv Turner as offensive coordinator on Nov. 2 and went to a short passing game to limit pressure on Bradford behind a porous and injury-riddled offensive line.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Three Sooners Selected to Pro Bowl

The NFL released 2017 Pro Bowl selections Tuesday, and there's a few local representatives.

Former Oklahoma Sooners and current Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray was among AFC selections, after a successful first year with the Titans.

Former OU and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was among NFC selections, but more importantly, has Tampa in the playoff hunt. It would be McCoy's first NFL playoffs since Tampa drafted him in 2010.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Former Sooner Buddy Hield Shooting 50 Percent on Threes in December

Every NBA rookie hears the cautionary tales, the stories about how even Hall of Fame-bound stars such as Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant struggled mightily during their initial NBA seasons. But few first-year players necessarily buy into the idea that it will happen to them.

For New Orleans lottery pick Buddy Hield, however, reality came quickly over the first five weeks of the 2016-17 regular season. The No. 6 overall draftee shot a frustrating 23.7 percent from three-point range in October and November, a far cry from his 45.7 accuracy rate as a decorated senior at the University of Oklahoma. Both from a team and individual standpoint, Hield’s early struggles were very unfamiliar, particularly for a player who was a consensus national player of the year and led the Sooners to a Final Four appearance in April.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Former Sooner Blake Bell Placed on IR

Former Sooner Blake Bell (shoulder) will miss the remainder of this season after being placed on injury reserve list, San Francisco 49ers announced on Tuesday.

Bell sustained a shoulder injury Sunday against the Falcons after catching one pass for 45 yards. With Bell's second season now over, he finishes with four receptions for 85 yards.

The 49ers drafted Bell with the 117th overall pick in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

WATCH >>> Blake "Belldozer" Bell Plows Over TCU Linebacker

Blake Bell Shop



Oklahoma Sooners Nike No. 10 Limited Football Jersey – Crimson/Cream

Monday, December 19, 2016

Former Sooner Blake Griffin to Miss 3-6 Weeks After Knee Surgery

LA Clippers star Blake Griffin will have arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to miss three to six weeks, the team announced Monday.

Griffin will have the procedure to remove loose bodies from his right knee, according to the team. He missed a game last weekend because of a sore right knee but had been playing through it since the issue began.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers told the Orange County Register that the injury was not suffered during the loss to the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 7 and described it as more cumulative in nature.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Adrian Peterson Expected to Play on Sunday After Tearing Meniscus

The Vikings activated former Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson from injured reserve on Saturday, according to an official announcement from the club. Defensive tackle Toby Johnson was waived in a corresponding move.

The 10-year veteran could be a breath of fresh air for a rapidly-stalling Vikings offense. The team is currently 24th in points, 31st in total yards, and 32nd in rushing yards. Peterson had 50 yards on 31 carries through two games this season before placing him on injured reserve in late September. While their banged-up offensive line is a source of many woes, Peterson is one of the few players in football who can negate deficiencies up front.

WATCH >> Adrian Peterson "All Day" - Oklahoma Highlights

Peterson had surgery for a torn meniscus back on Sept. 22. (NFL.com)

Monday, December 12, 2016

Former Sooner All-American Jimbo Elrod Killed in Wreck

James "Jimbo" Elrod, a University of Oklahoma football All-American, died in a car wreck about 3:45 a.m. Monday on the Turner Turnpike, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesman said.

Elrod's wife, Diana, 61, a passenger who was wearing her seat belt, was injured. Capt. Paul Timmons said the eastbound car driven by Jimbo Elrod hit a guardrail and overturned, and he was thrown from the vehicle. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Eli Manning Wants Sterling Shepard More Involved In Offense

Eli Manning didn’t throw any passes to Sterling Shepard on Sunday, but when he ran into the rookie receiver in the team’s facility on Tuesday he offered up something else.

An apology.

“I talked to him, I apologized for not getting him any catches,” Manning said. “We need to get him the ball, get him some catches. It’s just the way the day went on some things. But he’s done a good job all year and we have to do a good job of getting him involved in the offense.”

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Adrian Peterson 'Ahead of Schedule', Runs Sprints at Vikings Practice

Former Sooner Adrian Peterson has taken another step in his recovery from knee surgery.

The star running back, who had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in late September, was spotted running short sprints while his Vikings teammates practiced at Winter Park this morning. Head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman watched closely before the two walked inside toward the locker room.

Tuesday was not the first day Peterson had resumed running, according to head coach Mike Zimmer. Asked when Peterson was healthy enough to start running again, Zimmer said “I don’t know, I’m not in charge of the rehab.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Friday, November 25, 2016

Bob Stoops Willing to Use Former Players on Scout Team

Imagine this: the OU football team practicing against a scout team that included former linebacker Eric Striker and offensive lineman Nila Kasitati.

Sounds like that wouldn't fly with the NCAA, right? Not so fast. According to an NCAA bylaw, it's completely legal to utilize former players in practice.

NCAA bylaw 14.2.1.6 reads: “A former student at the certifying institution (e.g., former student-athlete) may participate in an organized practice session on an occasional basis, provided the institution does not publicize the participation of the former student at any time before the practice session.”

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Vikings Coach: 'No Idea' If Adrian Peterson Returns This Season

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Monday he has "no idea" if former Oklahoma and current Viking running back Adrian Peterson will return this season.

Peterson was placed on IR after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee in Week 2.

RELATED: How Adrian Peterson Ended Up At Oklahoma Instead Of Texas

Peterson is eligible to practice, but is unlikely to return until sometime in mid-December according to previous reports.

(H/T Chris Thomasson)

Sam Bradford Putting Up Solid Numbers As Vikings Quarterback

Playing in the constraints of a run-first offense, former Sooner Sam Bradford has done in eight games what he hasn’t done at any time in his career – have five individual games in which he had a passer rating of 100.0 or above.

In 2012 with the St. Louis Rams, he had four games with a passer rating of 100.0 or higher – but that came in 16 games in a season where he had a season-long passer rating of 82.6.

In 2015 with the Philadelphia Eagles, Bradford had four games with a passer rating of 100.0, but that came in 14 starts in a year where he had a passer rating of 86.4.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Former Sooner Michael Winchester Killed in Shooting at Will Rogers World Airport

Southwest Airlines employee Michael Winchester, who was shot and killed today at Will Rogers Airport, was a former OU football player and father of Kansas City Chiefs deep snapper James Winchester.

Michael was a punter at OU from 1984-85. James Winchester's agent, Ken Sarnoff, confirmed it was James Winchester's father who was killed, according to Transcript sports writer John Shinn. (Norman Transcript)





Photo Courtesy: KOCO-TV

Are you on Google+? Add +Oklahoma Sooners Blog to your Circle!

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Former Sooner Kenny Stills Supports Medical Marijuana Research

Former Sooner and current Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills said he supports the NFL Players Association’s decision to actively study the use of medical marijuana for pain as an alternative to opioids such as Oxycodone.

“I feel like that NFLPA knows what they’re doing,” Stills told the Palm Beach Post Thursday. “I’ve always felt that medical marijuana is a good substitute for the prescription drugs that we’re using. And so if the science and the doctors say the same thing, then I don’t see why it’s an issue. You’re starting to see in more states it’s become legal. And more states where it’s becoming legal for recreational use. So if it can help, I don’t see why not. There is always going to be some negativity or uproar about something. But if the players need it, then I’m all for it.”

Friday, November 11, 2016

Blake Griffin Focused on Clippers, Not Returning to OKC in Free Agency

Former Sooner Blake Griffin brushed aside notions that those close to him would be recruiting the star power forward to play for his hometown team after the season.

"People that I talk to and my friends and family from back home, I think they're ... I would say true friends and family, where they know that my main focus is this season and this team," Griffin said after the Clippers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111-80 on Wednesday night. "And they know that I enjoy playing here and I love this team, coaching staff, everybody. So they know that that's my main focus. So I think they pretty much know not to bring that up."

RELATED: Blake Griffin Makes Largest Donation to University by Basketball Player 

The five-time All-Star was born and raised in Oklahoma City and attended Oklahoma for two years, where he was the national college player of the year in 2009. Griffin was drafted first overall in 2009 by the Clippers and has spent his entire NBA career in Los Angeles.(ESPN)

WATCH: Blake Griffin Dunks

Are you on Google+? Add +Oklahoma Sooners Blog to your Circle!

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Bob Stoops on Trevor Knight's Injury: 'I Hate It For Him'

Former Sooner and current Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight suffered a shoulder injury the other night at Mississippi State that will sideline him for at least the rest of the regular season, and OU head coach Bob Stoops expressed his sympathy for his old signal caller Wednesday night.

“Yeah, I hate it for him and haven’t had a minute to catch up with him yet,” Stoops said. “But anyway, yeah, hate it for him, and just unfortunate. So, hopefully it can heal up, and I don’t know, maybe—I don’t know what they said, maybe bowl game, but maybe not. I haven’t heard the details of it.”