eight first-round picks from 2011 through 2015, only three are with the team, and one of them -- cornerback Justin Gilbert -- is fighting | Forum
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Dec 22 '18
Something got into Raw on Monday night . Cheap Nike Basketball Jerseys ... and hopefully its here to stay.Fresh off a particularly underwhelming stretch in recent months, the WWEs flagship brand returned to must-see status for the second straight week.No, this wasnt three hours of perfection and not quite the well-balanced effort from one week before. But at the very least, Raw made a concerted effort to live up to its name on Monday -- it was edgy and vicious, with plenty of chances taken. It was also fast-paced.In many ways, it was everything one can ask for as a fan.Raws greatest victory Monday was its return to being a true variety show. There were pay-per-view quality matches (Kevin Owens-Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns-Chris Jericho), well-played comedy and a deeper commitment to the kind of dramatic, soap opera-like presentation of story lines often seen in the late 1990s.The central theme of the show, which emanated from Austin, Texas, was a trio of double-crosses. Jericho spurned the desperate attempts from Owens to repair their friendship, and the devilish duo of Rusev and Lana conspired to trick Enzo Amore into a savage beating in their hotel room.But the show closed with Charlotte, quickly ascending to status as one of WWEs true elite heels (regardless of gender), fawningly apologizing to her estranged father, Ric Flair, before unleashing a vicious slap across his face. Charlotte stuffed the subsequent run-in from Raw womens champion Sasha Banks just as stiffly, providing ample tease for the 30-minute ironman match that was made official minutes earlier for the Dec. 18 Roadblock: End of the Line PPV.There was a cruel edge to Charlottes words and actions that made the entire sequence feel real, punctuated by her constant berating of Banks throughout the beatdown. And it was likely no coincidence that Charlottes segment, along with the Rusev-Amore brawl, was saved for the final hour of the show.Lets not beat around the bush: This wasnt PG-rated material.Monday marked the closest Raw has come to feeling like the Attitude Era in a very long time. Again, it wasnt perfect (more on that below). The first hour of the show was largely forgettable and the ruthless beating Amore endured may not have been enough to overcome the overtly sexual (and largely predictable) nature of the segment, which received polarizing reactions on social media.But give WWE credit for trying something here and making a pointed effort to improve the creative tendencies and patterns that had grown stale.The more Raw can do to retain this level of unpredictable electricity, the better -- for everyone.Hits and missesSometimes its the little things that stand out the most. Credit Owens for landing such an impactful jab on Seth Rollins during the shows opening segment. You know whats funny to me? The fact that you dont realize that sometimes best friends fight, Owens said, referencing his falling out with Jericho. Of course you dont know that because you dont have any friends. Lets just look at the way you treated your little Shield brothers -- not even your friends, you call them your brothers -- and you stabbed them in the back first chance you got. The truth hurts.It was frustrating to see two weeks of buildup in the brewing beef between Zayn and Raw general manager Mick Foley (which felt like a trade to SmackDown could be imminent) so easily tossed aside. Owens and Zayn are always money together inside the ring and they proved that once more on Monday. But with nothing at stake in terms of prize or story line, there was very much a cheap thrill element to the booking, especially since the goal was simply to make Owens look strong again after his loss to Reigns the previous week.Amores brief backstage segment with Ric Flair was everything it should have been from a comedic standpoint (including Amores closing line of I wont be soft, baby). Seriously, Enzo and The Natch -- it just has a certain ring to it. Can we get them a sitcom or at least a WWE Network special?Amores hotel room debacle provided equal moments of good and bad in terms of entertainment, but I will say this for Rusev: He may be the heel in this feud, yet the storyline treatment his wife Lana has received from Amore (and Reigns before him) has been far from babyface behavior. I dont think its out of line to suggest Enzos character had it coming.The booking to the finish of Rollins singles match with the Big Show was atrocious, as the giant walked off and willingly accepted a countout loss after choke-slamming Owens into the ring (which was a setup for Rollins to land a Pedigree). But lets not bury the lead: hats off to The Big Show for coming back in such great shape. In recent weeks, he gave interviews to multiple outlets saying he is under 400 pounds for the first time since 1995. And he was sporting a legit beard, to boot.WWE cruiserweight champion Rich Swann has such a captivating ability to take over the screen and instantly change the culture of whats happening with his dance moves and electric vibe. And his finish of TJ Perkins on Monday, after Perkins spring-boarded off the top rope and was met with a kick to the face was a fun end to a good little match:GOODNIGHT Perkins! - @MichaelCole@GottaGetSwann defeats @MegaTJP on @WWE #RAW! pic.twitter.com/wNztrl0kMC- WWE (@WWE) December 6, 2016Im all for cruiserweight Jack Gallaghers in-ring antics and unique style, which he showcased in his Raw debut by defeating Ariya Daivari. But The Extraordinary Gentleman is going to have to bring something bigger to the dance than a dropkick as a finishing move.It has happened twice now and both times have felt a bit backward. Can we stop having Banks, as a champion, issue PPV challenges to Charlotte? Shouldnt it be the other way around?Move of the nightKevin Owens and Sami Zayn produced plenty of great spots on Monday as they rekindled their rivalry. But for as good as Owens flip over the top rope was, Zayns tornado DDT off the second turnbuckle and onto the ring apron was even better.TORNADO DDT ON THE APRON by @ILikeSamiZayn!! @FightOwensFight #RAW pic.twitter.com/SjgixvMLgA- WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 6, 2016Line of the nightYou son of a b----! Im your daughter. Im your flesh and your blood. Who was she to dedicate her victory to my father? My father! You turn your back on me? -- Charlotte, at her heel best, berating her father, Ric Flair, for celebrating with Raw womens champion Sasha Banks on last weeks episode of Raw. Wholesale Nike NBA Jerseys . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Cheap NBA Jerseys Authentic . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. http://www.cheapnbajerseysnike.com/ . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. The Cleveland Browns have traded linebacker Barkevious Mingo, a former first-round pick, to the New England Patriots?in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2017.The trade was reported by ESPNs Adam Schefter.Mingo, 25, was the sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft and has seven sacks in three seasons.The Browns did not pick up his fifth-year option, and he was scheduled to become a free agent after this season.The Patriots hope he will provide some additional pass rush.Mingo was drafted by the Browns when Mike Lombardi was general manager. Lombardi spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as an assistant to the Patriots coaching staff and remains a confidant to coach Bill Belichick.The Patriots are deep at their end-of-the-line position, which is where Mingo projects to play, as Jabaal Sheard and Rob Ninkovich are starters and Chris Long, Shea McClellin and Trey Flowers are also on the depth chart.Ninkovich is rehabilitating from a torn triceps muscle that could sideline him into the regular season.The Patriots now have acquired the No. 6 and No. 7 overall picks from the 2013 NFL draft in separate trades. Earlier this offseason, the Patriots acquired offensive lineman Jonathan Cooper from the Arizona Cardinals in the trade that sent Chandler Jones to Arizona. The Browns selected Mingo with the sixth overall pick, and Cooper was picked by the Cardinals with the next selection in the first round.Mingo never found a role in Cleveland. He had been tried as a pass-rusher, then as a pass-defender, without much effectiveness at either. This trainingg camp the Browns even tried him at inside linebacker, but his status with the team was summed up by Sashi Brown, the teams vice president of football operations, on Thursday morning when he met with Browns media in Tampa: Hes showing up on [special] teams. Cheap NBA Jerseys China. . Wed like to see him show up more in the defense.Mingo started 16 games in three seasons, his sack total going from five to two to zero. The Browns recent first-round picks have not met expectations, as none of Clevelands four first-rounders taken between 2011 and 2013 is still with the team. Mingo was traded; running back Trent Richardson is out of the NFL; quarterback Brandon Weeden is a backup with Houston; and defensive tackle Phil Taylor is with the Broncos.Of the teams eight first-round picks from 2011 through 2015, only three are with the team, and one of them -- cornerback Justin Gilbert -- is fighting for a roster spot. Gilbert was drafted in the first round with quarterback Johnny Manziel in 2014.The Patriots also previously lost a 2017 fourth-round pick because of the penalties handed out as part of Deflategate.The Browns have acquired these 2017 picks: the Eagles first-round pick, the Titans second-round pick, the Colts seventh-round pick and now the Patriots fifth-round pick. They also own Philadelphias 2018 second-round pick.ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss and ESPN Browns reporter Pat McManamon contributed to this report. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '
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