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Patrick Queen Talks About His Pending Free Agency BaltimoreRavens.comPatrick Queen Talks About His Pending Free Agency - BaltimoreRavens.com
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Monday, January 29, 2024
Patrick Queen Talks About His Pending Free Agency - BaltimoreRavens.com
Patrick Queen Talks About His Pending Free Agency - BaltimoreRavens.com
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Judge Sued for Working Too Slowly: Hundreds of Motions Pending | Daily Report - Law.com
DuBose Miller, LLC
01/23/2024Daily Report
TO: ALL MEMBERS OF THE BAR AND ALL CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA The Atlanta Judicial Commission is now accepting nominations for the position of Municipal Court Judge for the City of Atlanta Municipal Court. Members of the bar may nominate themselves or others, and the public is invited to submit nominations. Nominations in writing must be received by February 10, 2024, and should be addressed to: The Atlanta Judicial Commission c/o Von A. DuBose, Esq. 75 14th Street, NE, Suite 2110, Atlanta, GA 30309 A nominee must be at least 25 years of age, a resident of the City of Atlanta for one year prior to appointment and shall have been admitted to practice law in the State of Georgia for at least five years. The Commission will send an application and letter outlining its schedules and procedures to each nominee. The list of nominees is public information and is available upon request. The Commission welcomes communications from organizations or persons familiar with the specific qualifications, experience and ability of any nominee but discourages general endorsement letter-writing campaigns in support of a nominee. A copy of any communication regarding a nominee should be sent to all members of the Commission. FOR THE COMMISSION Von A. DuBose, Esq. Chair Members of The Commission Von A. DuBose, Esq. 75 14th Street NE, Suite 2110 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 [email protected] (404) 720 -8111 William A. Morrison, Esq. 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1110 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 [email protected] (404) 290-4628 Seth David Kirschenbaum, Esq. 918 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Atlanta, Georgia 30306 [email protected] (404) 471-3177 David Coleman [email protected] (404) 626-1726 Cheryl Turner, Esq. 83 Richmond Street Atlanta, Georgia 30312 [email protected] Jeffery E. Tompkins, Esq. 3355 Main Street Atlanta, Georgia 30337 [email protected] (404) 688-4503 Steven K. Weiner, Esq. 730 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 600 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 [email protected] (404) 525-0992 Jan Bryson [email protected] (404) 944-0034
View Announcement ›
Judge Sued for Working Too Slowly: Hundreds of Motions Pending | Daily Report - Law.com
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Steelers veteran CB Levi Wallace takes pending free agency in stride - TribLIVE
In the hours between the end of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff loss in Buffalo and when Levi Wallace went to bed the night of Jan. 15, Wallace already had turned his attention to non-football matters.
“Now that it’s over,” Wallace said Jan. 16, “I was already sending out messages yesterday and getting ready for this golf tournament that my foundation has.
“You, obviously, want to keep playing and make it to the Super Bowl, but that’s, unfortunately, not our reality. So I turn my attention to where I can help in the community and how I can be there with my family.”
Wallace planned to return to the Tucson, Ariz., area where he grew up and still makes his home. Also there are the headquarters for The Levi Wallace Foundation, an organization started three years ago for which his mother serves as president and a board of directors can run while Wallace is busy in the Northeast plying his trade as an NFL cornerback.
“We give away scholarships, but we also pour into the community,” Wallace said, lighting up at the opportunity to discuss his philanthropic endeavor in lieu of discussing the end of the Steelers season. “Just try to help kids go to college that are less fortunate than most people are, especially coming from Tucson where it’s just low-level income all around. We try to just make as many opportunities to send kids to college and get them experiences.”
The foundation and its fund-raising Levi Wallace Golf For Good outing will take Wallace’s focus away from football until it is staged March 2 in Phoenix.
Nine days after that — unless he and the Steelers agree to a contract extension prior — Wallace will become an unrestricted free agent for the second time in his career. The 6-foot, 179-pound Wallace just completed a two-year, $8 million contract.
He takes pending free agency in stride.
“It’s just the business, you know what I mean?” Wallace said. “You sign a contract, the contract ends, free agency comes up.”
A lot has changed in Wallace’s position room since he signed in Pittsburgh. Gone are then-starters Cameron Sutton and Ahkello Witherspoon, replaced in 2023 by Patrick Peterson and Joey Porter Jr. And with Porter’s ascension this past season came Wallace’s demotion from every-down starter at outside cornerback to subpackage defender by December.
Wallace, though, showed value when he again became an every-down outside CB over a regular season-ending three-game winning streak after Peterson moved to safety to address attrition at that position.
Peterson will be 34 next season, and he might be moving to safety on a permanent basis. If he does, the Steelers have no plug-in replacement at starting outside corner opposite Porter.
They could do a lot worse than Wallace, who will be 29 in June and has started 70 of the 82 games he has played over a six-year career that began with the Buffalo Bills.
Wallace actually had more interceptions and passes defended than Porter, tying for the team lead in each with two and 11, respectively, though Wallace being targeted more often than Porter (per Pro Football Focus) likely contributed to that and does not necessarily reflect well on Wallace.
But the Steelers don’t need someone to be better than Porter, their now-unquestioned CB1. What they need is a veteran to serve as insurance in case the likes of 2023 rookies Darius Rush or Cory Trice isn’t ready to step up.
Of course, just like coach Mike Tomlin said of Mason Rudolph, Wallace is a free agent, so he might find a better opportunity elsewhere for 2024.
If so, the Steelers got plenty for their $8 million over the 2022 and ‘23 seasons: a team-most six interceptions, 86 tackles, 24 passes defended in 31 games.
“The last two years with the Steelers have been really good under Coach T,” Wallace said. “It’s been a blessing to be in this locker room, and if I am on another team next year, I will be blessed in that way. If I am back here, I will be blessed in the same way to be able to play professional football.”
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
Steelers veteran CB Levi Wallace takes pending free agency in stride - TribLIVE
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Sunday, January 28, 2024
Pending Home Sales Climbed 8.3% in December - NAR.realtor
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Pending Home Sales Climbed 8.3% in December NAR.realtorPending Home Sales Climbed 8.3% in December - NAR.realtor
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Pending home sales post biggest jump in 3 years, but remain historically low - Yahoo Finance
US pending home sales, a measure of contract signings on existing homes, rebounded in December as softer mortgage rates lured more buyers back to their purchase plans.
The index for pending home sales increased just over 8% to 77.3 in December, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released Friday. The month-over-month uptick was the largest registered since June 2020. A reading under 100 indicates a weaker pace of pending contracts.
The reading exceeded the 2% uptick that economists polled by Bloomberg had previously estimated. Still, December’s pending transactions were the lowest for that month, dating back to 2001. And while contract signings were up just over 1% year over year, they were 25% lower than those recorded in December 2019.
Read more: How to buy a house: 13 steps to getting the keys to your new home
The uptick in the index, an early indicator of the housing market’s health, came as mortgage rates continued to pull back from multi-decade highs in October. The softening of rates, in combination with an influx of new listings last month, was the break some sidelined buyers were waiting for.
Still, any gains in affordability remain fragile, economists warned. The shortage of existing homes on the market, combined with climbing demand, could push home prices higher in the near term.
"The housing market is off to a good start this year, as consumers benefit from falling mortgage rates and stable home prices," Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR, said in a press statement. "Job additions and income growth will further help with housing affordability, but increased supply will be essential to satisfy all potential demand."
'A small win for affordability'
Rate-sensitive homebuyers finally got some relief in December as mortgage rates continued to pull away from recent peaks.
After climbing to its peak of 7.79% in October, the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell from 7.03% in the first week of December to 6.69% in the past week, according to Freddie Mac. Overall, rates have dropped more than a percentage point — giving buyers a sense of renewed optimism in the market.
Read more: Mortgage rates below 7% — is this a good time to buy a house?
That much was reflected across the country, as pending transactions picked up in three of the four major regions last month, the NAR found.
Pending sales in the South jumped 12% in December, rising 1.5% from the previous year. Meanwhile, the West recorded a 14% uptick in pending transactions, up 1.5% from December 2022.
In the Midwest, pending home sales increased almost 6%, up 4% from a year earlier. The Northeast was the only outlier, which recorded a drop of 3% in pending transactions last month, a decline of 4% from December 2022.
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, average mortgage applications for existing home sales in December increased 8% from the previous month, and so far in January, have improved 10%.
Some of that boost in pending transactions could have stemmed from an influx of new listings hitting the market last month. Softening rates in December likely contributed to more active home sellers, a separate report from Realtor.com noted, providing buyers with more options.
There were 9% more newly listed homes in the market last month compared to last year. That uptick in listings marked the second month of inventory increases after a 17-month streak of declines.
"Recovering pending home sales activity emphasizes the impact of a small win in affordability, namely lower mortgage rates," Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com, said in an emailed statement. "Buyers who are currently priced out of the market are eagerly awaiting progress, which could come in the form of lower mortgage rates, more for-sale options, or lower prices."
Home sales expected to rise in 2024
While lower mortgage rates have improved affordability for some buyers, they are only part of the equation. Any notable improvements to buyers’ budgets will depend on whether inventory levels improve this year, economists said.
"Though an uptick in buyer activity is promising, seller activity may not respond as quickly," Jones said. "If for-sale inventory isn’t able to soak up buyer demand, it is possible that prices will start to climb once again."
While rates are certainly lower than October’s peak, they are nowhere near the rates some homeowners are holding on to.
Approximately two-thirds of homeowners with outstanding mortgages have rates under 4% — much lower than this week’s average rate of 6.69%. As of December, more than 90% of homeowners had a rate of less than 6%.
While rates are projected to ease throughout 2024, they are likely to exceed 6.5% for the majority of the calendar year, Realtor.com projected. That could keep homeowners locked-in to their homes, keeping the inventory of previously owned homes tight.
"Inventory is likely to remain low, which will keep home prices high, underlining the importance of mortgage rate improvement for increasing home sales," Jones said.
The National Association of Realtors, however, released an updated forecast on existing home sales on Friday, anticipating a 13% increase to 4.62 million in 2024.
Under the new projection, the annual median home price is expected to rise 1.4% to $395,100 in 2024.
"The housing market is showing signs of recovery, a trend that is likely to persist if mortgage rates keep on their downward trajectory," Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American said. "While the level of sales activity remains low, the observed positive growth is a welcome and promising sign for the housing market."
Gabriella is a personal finance and housing reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @__gabriellacruz.
Pending home sales post biggest jump in 3 years, but remain historically low - Yahoo Finance
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Ranking the Patriots' 24 pending free agents - WEEI
6 rings and football things: ranking the patriots' pending free agents
The Patriots have 24 pending free agents heading into the 2024 season and, after Jerod Mayo told WEEI's The Greg Hill Show on Monday that he's ready to "burn some cash" on the market, it's safe to assume that some of that money will be going to internal players whose contracts are set to expire.
In our inaugural "Wednesday One-Off" episode on the 6 Rings and Football Things podcast, Andy Hart and I ranked all 24 in priority order from least to most important. Here's a peek:
I took it a step further, sans collaboration, for the website. Here's a look at my priority order of Patriots pending free agents, with a snippet on each:
24. QB Nathan Rourke (ERFA)
The Patriots claimed Rourke after his release from the Jacksonville Jaguars in December. He served as the team’s emergency third QB on several occasions and was Bailey Zappe’s backup in their Week 18 season finale versus the Jets.
With New England likely set for a quarterback room reset, Rourke is last on the priority list this offseason.
23. ST Matthew Slater (UFA)
All signs point to the long-time special teamer retiring after 16 NFL seasons but, if he does decide to continue playing, it’d most certainly be in New England.
22. WR Tre Nixon (ERFA)
A former training camp hero, Nixon spend the 2023-24 season on IR after suffering a shoulder injury in the Patriots’ preseason game vs. the Packers this summer.
Given his inability to shine outside of preseason play, I don’t see Nixon being re-signed this spring.
21. LB Terez Hall (RFA)
Like Nixon, Terez Hall spent the entire 2023 season on injured reserve after being released this past summer.
I don’t see New England prioritizing keeping the linebacker around for 2024.
20. OT Riley Reiff (UFA)
After signing a one-year, $5 million contract with the Patriots this offseason, the now-35-year-old journeyman was placed on injured reserve twice in 2023 and played in just one game.
19. LB Christian Elliss (ERFA)
Over the course of putting together their worst season in 20+ years, the Patriots took advantage of their high position on the NFL’s waiver wire, claming four players over the course of the season.
One of which was linebacker Christian Elliss, who five other teams put in claims for. New England’s high priority got them the special teamer.
Perhaps he returns as clearly he was a prized possession, but I wouldn’t expect Jerod Mayo and co. to be pouding the table to keep him.
18. ST Cody Davis (UFA)
Speaking of special teamers, Cody Davis has been a core special teamer with the Patriots since 2020 despite being listed as a safety on the roster.
The former Texas Tech Red Raider started 2023 on the reserve/PUP list after tearing his ACL in 2022. Now 34 years old, you wonder if he’ll return to football at all in ‘24.
17. IOL James Ferentz (UFA)
Ferentz spent the majority of 2023-24 on the practice squad but was elevated to the Patriots active roster for depth purposes for the final three games of the season.
According to the Boston Herald, Ferentz also served as a de facto coaching assistant this season after offensive line coach Adrian Klemm took a medical leave of absence. Perhaps the 34-year-old takes the full-time coaching route moving forward.
16. OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. (ERFA)
The Patriots 2022 fourth-round pick Pierre Strong Jr. to the Browns this past summer in exchange for Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Wheatley, a 6-foot-6 tackle who went undrafted out of Stony Brook in 2020, projected as a developmental depth-piece along the offensive line. He dressed in just two games for the Patriots in 2023 and spent the majority of the season on injured reserve.
15. WR Jalen Reagor (UFA)
A former first round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, Reagor caught just six passes for 105 yards (and a career high 17.5 YPC) for the Patriots in 2023.
He was also used as a kick returner towards the end of the season, and took the opening kickoff of their penultimate game of the season vs. the Bills to the house for a touchdown. Perhaps his return ability can keep him around Foxborough for another year.
14. CB Myles Bryant (UFA)
He may not be a fan favorite, but Myles Bryant has been an important piece of the Patriots roster over the last four seasons.
The former Washington Huskie is also a Bill Belichick and cornerbacks coach Mike Pelligrino favorite. I would expect him to wind up with the Falcons rather than Foxborough in 2024.
13. RB Ezekiel Elliott (UFA)
Arguably the best free agent signing the Patriots made, Ezekiel Elliott was a consummate pro for New England in 2023. The former Cowboy ran for 642 yards and three touchdowns on 184 carries, added 51 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns, and stepped up when it mattered most after Rhamondre Stevenson’s season ended with an ankle injury.
He’s a running back, though. Their shelf lives are small and someone will likely overpay for his services this spring.
12. CB Alex Austin (ERFA)
Like they did with Christian Elliss, New England used their high priority to claim cornerback Alex Austin off waivers in early November.
The 2023 seventh round pick didn’t make his Patriots debut until over a month later, but made his chance count. He tallied nine tackles and his first career interception throughout the team’s final five games.
Austin is an exclusive rights free agent, and can return to the team on the league minimum if they choose. He’s deserving of the opportunity.
11. S Jalen Mills (UFA)
Jalen Mills started just eight games in 2023, his lowest as a Patriot, and played just 40% of the team’s snaps with the emergence of Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers.
Depending on what they do with Dugger, which will get to, Mills’ status on the team could range from ‘very’ to ‘hardly’ important.
10. OT Trent Brown (UFA)
While Trent Brown’s season ended disastrously with several injuries, a “healthy” scratch, and plenty of rumors swirling about his work ethic, it’s hard to argue against his ability as a player when he’s 100% and ready to go.
For the right price and the approval of team leaders in the locker room, a reunion with Brown could make sense, especially if they need to protect a rookie quarterback.
9. TE Mike Gesicki (UFA)
After signing Gesicki to a one-year, $10 million contract this offseason, the Patriots got just 29 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns from the thought-to-be redzone machine.
The problem? They currently have no tight end under contract for 2024. That’s why he cracks the top ten.
8. TE Pharaoh Brown (UFA)
Like Gesicki, Pharaoh Brown makes the top ten given the need at the position. The former Houston Texan and Indianapolis Colt exceeded expectations this season, given that he didn’t arrive in Foxborough until late August.
7. LB Mack Wilson Sr. (UFA)
Likebacker Mack Wilson Sr. impressed in 2023 after the Patriots adjusted his role a bit and used him as a pass rusher as much as they did a true linebacker. He tallied a career high 3.5 sacks.
The former fifth round pick out of Alabama is also a massive fan of the Jerod Mayo hiring, which could help getting him to return to Foxborough.
6. WR Kendrick Bourne (UFA)
Kendrick Bourne was on his way to a career season in 2023 before tearing his ACL in October. The wide receiver who packs all of the energy, something head coach Jerod Mayo said New England needs, caught 37 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns in the team’s first eight games.
Given his return from injury, Bourne likely warrants a “prove it” year in 2024. The Patriots should be all over it.
5. OLB Josh Uche (UFA)
Uche came into 2023, a contract year, off of a 27 tackle, 11.5 sack season and ready to get himself paid.
Unfortunately an injury and, honestly, some poor play could keep the Brinks truck from backing into his driveway. The 2020 second round pick has plenty of potential though and his down season could help the Patriots bring him back at a good price.
4. OLB Anfernee Jennings (UFA)
After beginning the 2023-24 season as a healthy scratch in Week 1 vs. the Eagles, Patriots outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings came on strong to finish the year.
The 2020 third round pick out of Alabama tallied 66 tackles, 15 run stuffs, and 1.5 sacks in 2023 (all career highs) and has set himself up for a solid payday this March. His versatility puts him one spot higher than Uche on my list.
3. TE Hunter Henry (UFA)
As mentioned above, the Patriots are in dire need for tight ends and not only was Hunter Henry their best one last season, but he was also named a captain.
Jerod Mayo cited Henry when talking about New England’s leadership on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show on Monday, telling me that he’s at least in their plans. Perhaps a franchise tag is in order for the 29-year-old.
2. S Kyle Dugger (UFA)
After finishing 2023 with 71 tackles, two interceptions, and 1.5 sacks, Kyle Dugger projects to be one of the highest paid safeties on the free agent market this offseason.
The Patriots should make him one.
The 2020 second round pick out of Lenoir-Rhyne has blown his draft day projections out of the water and while his knock is his below average pass-coverage ability, he’s continued to make improvements in the department year after year.
There isn’t an excuse for Dugger to not be playing football in Foxborough in 2024.
1. OL Mike Onwenu (UFA)
The most important re-signing the Patriots have to make this offseason is of Mike Onwenu.
Onwenu is expected to be one of the top available offensive lineman in free agency this spring and according to a piece from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler last weekend, New England, “essentially know [he’s] not coming back.”
NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry refuted Fowler’s claim on Tuesday, saying that, “one team source indicated that there is a real affinity for Onwenu's game in the building and that they'd like to have him back in Foxboro for 2024 and beyond.”
Onwenu has been a godsend for the Patriots since they selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. He started all 16 games at right tackle as a rookie, and has started 40 games since at both guard and tackle over the last three seasons. The 26-year-old is widely considered one of the better young linemen in football.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
Ranking the Patriots' 24 pending free agents - WEEI
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Julius Randle out indefinitely with dislocated shoulder pending MRI results - Posting and Toasting
New York Knicks forward and two-time All-Star Julius Randle suffered a dislocated right shoulder in the game against the Miami Heat on Saturday at Madison Square Garden and for now he's out indefinitely pending more conclusive results off an upcoming MRI.
The injury took place in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, following a collision with rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the first game played by the latter after missing six straight.
The Knicks won the game 125-109, but the impact of this injury can end up amounting to an ugly loss in grand scheme of things.
Randle was unable to continue the game nor shoot the freebies he earned on that play. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, when asked about the injury, said he was “Very” concerned about it. Thibodeau also mentioned, “[Randle] is a warrior. And so, any time someone walks back, you know it’s something. I don’t wanna speculate until we have the information.”
An MRI is scheduled for Randle on Saturday to assess the injury’s severity, with results expected through Sunday.
Jalen Brunson commented on the injury, saying, “You don’t want to see that from anybody, especially (with) the way he’s been playing. He means a lot to us.”
Randle has yet to miss a game this season. The Knicks are in sole possession of the no. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 29-17 record following Saturday's slate of games.
We'll update this story as it develops and when more information about the injury gets released by the Knicks.
Julius Randle out indefinitely with dislocated shoulder pending MRI results - Posting and Toasting
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2024 NFL Free Agency: 6 pending free agents on defense who deserve to get paid | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics - Pro Football Focus
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