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The Miami Dolphins, as things stand now, have one pick on Friday, and that’s their second-round selection, the No. 55 pick of the NFL draft, and the 23rd pick of the round.

Here are 20 players who might be available when the Dolphins make their selection, guys who either fit Miami’s needs or reasonably fit into the best player available category: 

Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

Sanders (6-4, 245) is thin, but he could be an immediate No. 3 receiver behind recceivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and ahead of tight ends Durham Smythe and Jonnu Smith, and slot receiver Braxton Berrios. He’s athletic with good hands, and could be the missing link in the passing game.

Javon Bullard, S, Georgia

Bullard (5-11, 198) can play safety and slot/nickel, which offers the type of value the Dolphins need. He’s not ideal at either right now, but he’ll have time to grow as a rookie and he’d be an insurance policy in case safety Jevon Holland (final year of contract) or safety Jordan Poyer (one-year contract) doesn’t return.

Jackson-Powers Johnson, IOL, Oregon

Powers-Johnson (6-3, 328) is a talented center/guard who might be the best center in the draft. However, he’s considered good enough that the Dolphins could start him at either position as a rookie.

Michael Hall, DT, Ohio State

Hall (6-3, 290) needs to add weight, but he could fit with the Dolphins as a rotational player in his rookie season, learning from fellow defensive lineman Zach Sieler while adding bulk. 

Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

Paul (6-7, 331) is long-armed, athletic, and smart. He could start at guard as a rookie and then kick outside to left tackle next season, assuming Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead retires. 

Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

Fiske (6-4, 292) is a relative lightweight so he needs to add bulk, but he’s a high-motor guy with good feet and a relentless attitude. He’d be a good fit alongside Sieler because they’re both fairly athletic.  

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Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State

Sinnott (6-4, 250) could be slightly over-drafted as a second-rounder, but he had 49 receptions, 676 yards and six touchdowns, and was called upon to block regularly, so he could either play alongside Smythe or rotate with Smythe.

Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia

Frazier (6-3, 313) is barrel-chested, strong and agile. If the Dolphins go for an interior offensive lineman in the second round, and more specifically, a center, he’s a good choice.

Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan

Jenkins (6-3, 299), whose father, Kris, was a Pro Bowl defensive tackle for Carolina and the New York Jets, is smallish, but he’s adept on taking on double teams. He’d fill the void left by ex-Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.  

Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Newton (6-2, 304) is athletic and smart, which is how he makes up for his lack of bulk. He shows knowledge of angles and combines that with good feet to stop the run and rush the passer. He’d likely start alongside Sieler.

Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

Suamataia (6-5, 326) is a bit rough around the edges but he has the potential to develop quickly, which is generally what you want from a second-round pick. Suamataia can play left or right tackle but it’s not known if he can play guard. Still, he’d be a good fit as a backup tackle.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri

Rakestraw (5-11, 183) is here because, as the Dolphins have shown the past two seasons, you can never have too many cornerbacks. This pick, which seems unlikely but possible, would be more of a statement about the projected development of Cam Smith, last year’s second-round pick, than Rakestraw’s talent.

Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State

Hicks (6-2, 211) is big-bodied and physical. He can play in the box or play deep, which means he has versatility, and that’s a bonus as the Dolphins’ safeties unit, Holland and Jordan Poyer might not return intact after this season.

Christian Haynes, G, Connecticut

Haynes (6-3, 317) is regarded as a starting-caliber NFL right guard right now, and that could be intriguing and freeing for the Dolphins, who need interior offensive line help, especially at right guard, where Rob Hunt departed.

Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame

Fisher (6-6, 310) can play right or left tackle due to his athleticism and good feet but he’s regarded as a better RT prospect. It’s not known whether Fisher can play guard, which could be a requirement for him as a rookie.

Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington

Rosengarten (6-5, 308) is a bit of a work in progress because he’s a bit slow but he’s smart and has a little bit of athleticism. He’d be viewed as a replacement for Armstead down the line.

Cooper DeJean, S, Iowa

DeJean (6-0, 203) is a bit of a ’tweener meaning he’s one of the best cornerbacks in the draft but some think he’s better suited for safety. Whatever the case, the Dolphins could use his athleticism. 

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Mitchell (6-2, 205) has the size and speed the Dolphins could use among their receiver ranks. Yes, Miami already has two quality receivers, but as the Dolphins saw late last season there could be big problems if one is slowed.

Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

McKinstry (5-11, 199) could be another testament to what the Dolphins have learned the hard way, which is you can never have too many cornerbacks. Yes, Miami has lots of possibilities but there’s no guarantee players such as Smith and Nik Needham will be ready to contribute and play well.

Maason Smith, DT, LSU

Smith (6-5, 306) is a bit inexperienced but Miami has lots of defensive tackles so there might not be a pressure on Smith to play immediately. Then again, Miami probably needs someone to be a starter or top rotational player so Smith might be hard-pressed to fill the role the Dolphins need.

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins got the pass rushing help they needed when they selected Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson with the 21st pick in Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft..

Robinson (6-3, 254) can play inside or outside although he’s mostly a pass rushing specialist from the outside who can play standing up or with his hand in the dirt.

“It’s some of the versatility we liked,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said.

Selecting Robinson could have been considered as a bit of a tough choice because of who else was available.

The Dolphins could have selected Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton and Duke center/guard Graham Barton.

If they wanted the best player available they could have selected Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who went No. 22 to Philadelphia.

The Dolphins also could have selected Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the No. 21 pick.

Robinson only had 11.5 sacks in college between Maryland and Penn State. The Dolphins reiterated, once again, that sacks numbers don’t tell the whole story, that Robinson was disruptive in the passing game.

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“We’ve always talked about the ability to disrupt the passer, and his disruption numbers are all very high,” Grier said.

There were trade possibilities for the Dolphins, including trading down.

“We had about four or five teams trying to move into our spot,” Grier said, adding that the draft board kept falling Miami’s way and “at that point we decided to stay where we were because the offers weren’t enticing enough for us to move.”

Grier said Miami wasn’t considering trading up.

“There were multiple players there that we liked at 21,” he said.

Grier said he wasn’t surprised that the first round included six quarterbacks in the first 12 picks and 14 consecutive offensive players.

“It’s like everything, you do your homework and you talk to a bunch of people,” he said. “We had a pretty good idea that five (quarterbacks) were going to go before our pick, and we were told there was a possibility of six so we were kind of working through it.

“So when you do your homework and work through people, and even just digging through our own analytics and going through everything, for us it wasn’t really surprised.”

Grier has had a nice draft record in the top rounds in the past few years.

The Dolphins’ chances of drafting a defensive player seemed to increase midway through the first round because the first 14 picks were offensive players. 

Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse, who fit the Dolphins’ needs, went at No. 19 to the Los Angeles Rams.

Then, Washington offensive tackle Troy Fantanu, who also fit the Dolphins’ needs, went No. 20 to Pittsburgh.

The Dolphins’ last seven first-round picks are wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips in 2021, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, right tackle Austin Jackson and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene in 2020, defensive lineman Christian Wilkins in 2019, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2018.

That’s quite a collection of talent.

Six of them, all except Igbinoghene, are quality players, and Fitzpatrick, who has played most of his career for Pittsburgh, has been a three-time All Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Grier has been in charge of the draft since 2016, when Miami selected offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in the first round, cornerback Xavien Howard in the second round and running back Kenyan Drake in the third round along with wide receiver/return man Jakeem Grant in the sixth round.

But the Dolphins’ first selections of the past two drafts — cornerback Cam Smith, a 2023 second-round pick, and linebacker Channing Tindall, the 2022 third-round pick — have been disappointments early in their careers.

Fortunately for Grier, running back De’Von Achane, the 2023 third-round pick, had a good rookie season.

As for the Dolphins’ first-round needs in this draft:

— The Dolphins needed an edge rusher because returning starters Phillips (Achilles) and Bradley Chubb (knee) are rehabbing injuries, and Andrew Van Ginkel departed in free agency;

— The Dolphins need a defensive tackle because Christian Wilkins departed in free agency;

— The Dolphins need an interior offensive lineman because center Connor Williams (free agent/knee injury) might not return. Among interior offensive linemen Miami has newly-signed center/guard Aaron Brewer and returnees Liam Eichenberg, who started at center and guard last season, Robert Jones, who started five games at guard last season, and Lester Cotton, who started eight games at guard last season;

— The Dolphins need an offensive tackle because Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead is likely playing his final season after considering retirement this offseason, and if this is like previous seasons he might only make around 10-12 regular season starts due to injury.

The Robinson selection might not seem to be a natural pick for coach Mike McDaniel, who is offensive-minded. But he’s said in the past edge rusher is his favorite position.

“The cool thing about the opportunity that we had at that pick is that if you have a player contribute in pass rush, those are things that you feel very fortunate to not pass up,” McDaniel said. 

“As passing games become more and more of a focus, those players are really a big part of the driving force of your defense.”

The NFC champion San Francisco 49ers made Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall the 31st pick in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night.

Pearsall was projected as a second-round pick Friday, but outperformed expectations after a strong showing at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

He registered 42 inches in the vertical jump and a 10 feet, 9 inches in the broad jump. He ran 4.41 in the 40-yard dash, ranking 10th best among receivers at the combine.

UF football spring transfer tracker: Gators search for first winning season under Billy Napier

Twenty-one receivers have been drafted from the Gators since 2000, including six since 2020.

Pearsall is the eighth UF  receiver drafted in the first round and last since Kadarius Toney (2021, Giants, 20th overall).

Pearsall transferred from Arizona State after playing three seasons in his hometown.

Pearsall led the Gators with 65 receptions and 965 receiving yards, along with 5 touchdowns. He finished 35 yards shy of becoming UF’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Taylor Jacobs, whose 1,088 in 2002 helped earn him the No. 44 selection in the 2003 draft.

Forty-one (63.1%) of his catches were for first downs.

Sure, just as everyone said before the playoffs began, this is one great, in-state hockey rivalry.

In South Florida.

In Tampa, they’re booing now. In St. Pete, they’re livid. On west coast of Florida, they can’t believe their big weapon, Nikola Kucherov, hasn’t scored or how their top-rated power play was harmless in four chances Thursday in the Panthers’ 5-3 win in Game 3.

It’s 3-0 in the series now, meaning the remnants of Tampa Bay’s proud Stanley Cup dynasty is being ground to dust like the Ming Dynasty by the Florida Panthers.

“I thought the big story would be the penalty-killing,’’ Panthers coach Paul Maurice said about Game 3.

This series’ big story is bigger. It’s better. It’s Panth-ier. The story is that Vegas’s co-favorites to win it all have entered the playoffs in just the manner you’d want a team with championship aspirations to do.

They’ve come out and taken the lead every game. Their goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, hasn’t been asked to do too much but has made big moments when asked. Their specialty teams like, yes, the penalty kill, have flexed their muscle.

The Panthers’ big guns have come out gunning in these opening games, too. Sam Reinhart scored his second goal of the series on Thursday minutes after Tampa Bay had its first lead of the series, 2-1. Brandon Montour then made it 3-2 from just inside the blue line.

This series has been so one-sided that Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk has been able to hone his shooting at empty nets. He got his second such goal to end Game 3. Can someone call Elias for the record on empty-net goals in a series sweep?

“The depth of this lineup is a joke, right?” said Steven Lorentz after the game on Bally Sports.

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Lorentz scoring on the fourth line. That’s who.

No joking, these Panthers made a run to the Stanley Cup Final last spring and are better this spring. That doesn’t mean they make it back. It just means it’s going to take a special team or hot goalie to knock them off and Tampa Bay isn’t it.

The most impressive stretch for the Panthers of this series was the third period Thursday when they entered with a goal lead and Tampa Bay knew its season was effectively on the line.

The Panthers gave up seven shots in that period to the league’s fifth-ranked offense. Seven. Sure, Tampa Bay scored with five minutes left to cut it 4-3, but the Panthers weren’t releasing their vise grip on this series.

Tampa Bay’s big offense has taken 19, 23 and 29 shots this series. That’s nothing.

“We’re in a position right now that we would have dreamed about at the beginning of the series,” Tkachuk said. “We’re in a great position. To stand here now and say we’re up 3-0, I’ll gladly take it.

“But there have been stretches where they’ve played really, really well. think it’s been a close series so far in the first three games.”

That’s just the defense-first, grind-like-a-banshee style of this team.

“We never dominate games that’s not really who we are,’’ Maurice said. “Most of are games we are in the grinder. That’s how our games are played. And battled.”

Some things beyond taking too many penalties Thursday will have to be cleared up as the playoffs run. They’re not all hockey-centric, either. Montour, for instance, wore an odd T-shirt after the game that seemed to be decorated with pictures of veteran teammate Nick Cousins.

Quirky? Well, this team has the quirk gene in it.

More than that, it has a playoff gene. A contending gene. It can close out this series Saturday in Tampa Bay with a win. Tampa Bay has won enough series through the years to know the trouble it’s facing.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said, “You want the believers to show up to the rink (Friday). And if you’re not going to believe, then you don’t have to come. We’ll see how many guys show up.”

That’s what the Panthers have done to a former champion. This big state rivalry only feels big in one part of the state.

 

General Daily Insight for April 26, 2024

Emotions are coursing through us like lightning bolts. The emotional Moon works with transformational Pluto at 1:36 am EDT to create positive inner changes and passionate emotions, but this aspect can breed obsession if we aren’t careful. Later on, the Moon will struggle against the egocentric Sun, which can lead to insecurity, inner conflict, and confusion regarding different choices. The overall energy is at a high frequency that invites anxiety into our homes, but we can counteract it if we stay present.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Out of the frying pan, into the fire! You’re likely to see certain circumstances involving mentors or mentees of yours begin to open up and provide more positive answers for you, after a time of confusion and closed-off energy. That said, the shifting situation could create some tension for you, either internal worries or external financial strains. Now is not the time to make promises you aren’t completely sure you can keep. Instead, focus on stabilizing what you know you can provide.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Personal insecurities could arise when you have to depend on another person. You may be used to working with someone else on your own terms, not having to depend on them fully. It’s okay if you’re apprehensive about trusting this person, even if the connection will be your path to a ton of positive possibilities. Still, don’t let baseless anxieties take away your chance to build a solid foundation for your life. Sometimes you just have to let go of the reins.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

A current social connection might be deepening more quickly than you’d expected. Whether you’ve just met or have been acquaintances for a while, you could have been holding back. They may have recently done or said something that caused you to feel safer with them or even believe that you two could be kindred spirits. Still, past wounds from other relationships are potentially nagging at the back of your mind. Be aware of the risks of reaching out, but don’t isolate yourself.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Consistency is currently vital — that doesn’t mean it’s easy. You may have locked down a schedule that you know will elevate your life, whether it’s related to your physical or mental health, but today’s chaos might throw that steady progress off its rhythm. Keep in mind that your structure is yours, and if it works for you, then no one else should judge or interrupt it. Entertaining unhelpful outside critiques could be self-defeating, so do your best to keep living on your own terms.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Feel free to wear your heart on your sleeve, Leo! Naysayers may have been telling you that you were too much, too exuberant, too all-over-the-place, but here’s the thing — that’s their preference, not your moral failing. The universe supports your efforts to be yourself, with all the colorful sides to your personality. If others don’t like it, they can take a hike. When people criticize you for no good reason, just let it go in one ear and out the other.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You’re finding a way to make your present living space work for you. You might not be living in your dream home just yet, but there are things that you can do to make your environment that much brighter. Today is a great day to get started on a home improvement project. If you’re not sure what’s right for you or what decor looks good, don’t worry — you’re allowed to change things as you go. You’re learning through experimentation, and that’s okay!

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your words can fuel your actions. Specifically, you may have been talking about something for a long time with your friends, but the time has come to start actually putting your ideas into motion. This prospect can be daunting. It’s much easier to think and talk about something than it is to do it, but you have the power and the strategic ability to do both. The key to realizing your vision is to trust yourself and your ability to lay out your plan.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Your inner sense of direction is stronger than ever. It may have been difficult to know what you felt before, whether you were getting pulled in multiple directions or had too many people in your ear about how you should be feeling, but you’re capable of looking past the fog of chaos into clear potential. This time is key for you to take charge of your soul’s security without letting others impact your stability. It’s your life — you should be steering it!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Certain changes taking place are likely very specific to who you are. You’re potentially undergoing a mindset shift, where you’re no longer looking at life the same way you used to. It’s possible that, one way or another, you’re simply not the person you used to be. This can be bittersweet, saying goodbye to a self-image that you carried for a long time, but recognizing that you can change and evolve may also be freeing. Don’t let yourself be locked into the past.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Spiritual changes are ready to boost your soul, now that you’re in a more secure place. You know that you can trust your powerful intuition, even if you once hesitated before listening to your inner voice. Instead of allowing the noise of the outside world to distract you, listen to what’s going on inside and be open to making decisions from that place. Setting aside this internal compass in favor of the outside world’s current whims could end up with you feeling quite lost.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Positive changes to your community may be having a strong effect on you. You might not have realized what a difference it would make to have these people supporting you or to collaborate with a certain group. At last, you’re seeing the benefits — and they’re possibly more than you ever expected. Even so, inner struggles could be inciting internal doubts regarding the benefits that you’re providing to the group. You can soothe them by looking for ways to give back without fear.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

The world’s view of you is shifting. Whether you’re making a conscious change to your reputation or announcing a recent milestone that you’ve taken on in life, you’ll probably notice once others begin seeing you differently. This may affect your presence online and in real life. Embarking on such a transformative journey might wear on your nerves, but you have the tools that you need to succeed! Letting your doubts damage your confidence will only bring you down. Trust yourself and keep moving forward.

POMPANO BEACH — With starting ace Sophia Bertorelli likely lost for the season with a shoulder injury, Coral Springs Charter turned to freshman pitcher Courtney Wahlbrink, and she’s delivered all year.

Wahlbrink (21-3) tossed a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the defending-champion Panthers topped Western 10-3 Thursday night for the BCAA Big 8 softball championship at Four-Fields Complex. She was named tournament MVP after going 3-0 with 26 strikeouts.

“It’s definitely big shoes to fill,” said Wahlbrink, who has been on the varsity for three years and made 15 appearances last year and finished with a 3-0 record pitching behind Bertorelli. “It was hard living up to the legacy she has had at the school. It’s been an honor to pitch under Sophie and I know she’ll be back next season.

Coral Springs Charter successfully defended its BCAA Big 8 softball championship on Thursday night with a 10-3 win over Western at Four Fields Park in Pompano Beach. (Gary Curreri/Courtesy)

“I know my team always has my back and I honestly have to give it to them,” she added. “It is not just me. This is definitely a big win and gets us ready for the district finals next week. Hopefully, we’ll make it to states with this momentum.”

Senior Kate Matson and sophomore Gio Gurgel each hit a home run and junior Addi Michel went 4 for 4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases for the Panthers. It marked the second straight year Coral Springs Charter downed Western in the title game. The Panthers, who have won four of the past six BCAA titles, won last year’s championship 5-4.

Coral Springs Charter (22-3), the top-ranked Class 3A team in the state, has won 15 straight since a 3-2 loss in eight innings on March 21 against Doral Academy. The Panthers’ other losses this season were 5-2 against Park Vista and 2-0 against Wellington. They have outscored the opposition 193-27 and also defeated Western 6-0 on March 18.

“When you lose a pitcher like Sophia, you get a little concerned because you have to ride a freshman,” said Coral Springs Charter coach Mark Montimurro, whose team fell to Somerset Palms 1-0 in the regional finals in eight innings last year. “We know what we have in Wahlbrink. She is a dominant horse, even though she is young. Would we love to have Sophie and Courtney 1-2, yes, but you have to play with the hand you’re dealt.

Coral Springs Charter sophomore Gio Gurgel celebrates her three-run home run as the defending champion Panthers topped Western 10-3 Thursday night for the BCAA Big 8 softball championship at Four-Fields Complex. (Gary Curreri/Courtesy)

“We are hoping for a late-season miracle,” said Montimurro about getting Bertorelli and her surgically repaired shoulder back by the end of the year. “The good thing about the playoffs is you have rest in between. Courtney is pitching well; we play good defense behind her, and the bats are starting to come alive. We are working a lot on hitting this year.”

Coral Springs Charter scored in the bottom of the first inning when Michel scored on an error.  Western tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second on a two-out double to right-center field by junior Kennedy Butter, which scored senior Jade Castillo.

Coral Springs Charter went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the second when Matson was hit by a pitch and the courtesy runner, sophomore Ashlyn Ward, came around to score on a fielder’s choice by senior Kayleigh Cuccia.

The Panthers extended the lead to 6-1 on Matson’s 2-run bomb to right-center field in the third and plated three more in the bottom of the fourth on a three-run blast by Gurgel, her team-leading seventh of the season.

Coral Springs Charter sophomore Gio Gurgel celebrates with her teammates following her three-run home run as the defending champion Panthers topped Western 10-3 Thursday night for the BCAA Big 8 softball championship at Four-Fields Complex. (Gary Curreri/Courtesy)

Gurgel, who missed all of last season with torn cartilage in her knee, said she and her team are “feeling it” this season.

“We have come out strong and Courtney has our back, and we have hers,” Gurgel said. “Last year I missed my chance and had to watch them play up to the regional finals. I wanted to come back strong. I was so hyped when I saw the ball go over the fence.”

Western (20-4-1), ranked third in the Class 7A state poll, had won three in a row since a 2-0 loss to Wellington. The Wildcats tied Bishop Verot (4-4) and lost 4-1 to Stoneman Douglas in the season opener. They were able to score two unearned runs off Wahlbrink in the top of the fourth on an infield single by Butter to cut the lead to 6-3.

MIAMI GARDENS —The Miami Dolphins selected Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night.

Here are some things to know about the Dolphins’ first-round pick:

Name: Chop Robinson

Pos./round: Edge rusher/1st round (No. 21)

School: Penn State

Year: Junior

Ht: 6-3; Wt: 254

Hometown: Gaithersburg, Md.

Comment: First name is Demeioun but he was nicknamed “Pork Chop” because he was 11 pounds at birth, and the nickname was later shortened. …

“He looked like a baby sumo wrestler,” his father, John Robinson told The Athletic in 2022. “One of my neighbors was like, ‘Oh, look at Pork Chop,’ and then it kind of stuck and we kept calling him ‘Pork Chop.’ He was a fat baby. By about 4, he started to grow upward and it stretched him out. He got another nickname, which is ‘Plump.’ In Little League football and all that, he was known as ‘Plump.’ ” . …

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Robinson should be a Day One starter if veterans Bradley Chubb (knee) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) aren’t ready following their season-ending injuries. …

Last season Robinson had 15 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. …

Robinson was a first-team All Big Ten selection last season and a third-team All-America selection. …

Robinson started his college career at Maryland at 2021 and had 19 tackles and 2.0 sacks. …

Robinson ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. …

Robinson joins a line of Dolphins defensive line products from Penn State that includes defensive ends Cam Wake and Jared Odrick. …

The Dolphins might have had their eye on other edge rushers but UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and Florida State’s Jared Verse were selected shortly before Robinson was selected.

Quick thoughts from South Florida Sun Sentinel staffers on the Miami Dolphins‘ selection of edge rusher Chop Robinson in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist

I like the selection of an edge rusher. This is a solid pick, but unspectacular. Chop Robinson is regarded as someone with a quick first step but his immediate impact remains a question. Still, Miami needed an edge rusher and it got one. No argument here.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has said edge defender is his favorite position — a bit of a shocking admission for the offensive whiz. But it proved true as the Dolphins went edge rusher first in the opening round in Chop Robinson, even as they have outside linebackers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb under contract but both rehabbing from serious injuries. Miami could’ve easily gone offensive line or selected the first cornerback in the draft, but even with the draft’s top three edge rushers — Laitau Latu, Dallas Turner and Jared Verse — taken, the Dolphins took the fourth player at that position.

Steve Svekis, Sports Senior Content Editor

The Dolphins desperately needed a pass-rush addition with neither Jaelan Phillips (ruptured Achilles on Nov. 24) nor Bradley Chubb (torn ACL on New Year’s Eve) likely to be at 100 percent until late in the season, if at all in 2024, and the team having lost Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency. This was the Dolphins’ most glaring hole, and it was addressed.

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has said edge rusher is his favorite position in football, despite having an offensive background.

True to form then, the Dolphins selected Penn State edge defender Chop Robinson with the No. 21 pick in Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft.

“I’m honestly just blessed and happy to be a Dolphin,” Robinson said in a web conference call with reporters shortly after being picked, adding he had plenty of contact with the organization between the NFL scouting combine and his pro day.

It was the first time the Dolphins picked in the draft’s opening round in three years, the last being Jaelan Phillips, the former Miami Hurricane edge rusher who was the Dolphins’ selection with the No. 18 pick in 2021 after they picked wide receiver Jaylen Waddle at 6 that year. So, the last two first-round picks for the Miami Dolphins have now been pass rushers.

“He was a player that we kind of identified early that we liked,” general manager Chris Grier said late Thursday night. “He was someone that we felt could impact our team and had some traits we liked, both as a person and a player.

“He plays hard. He plays his ass off, and that’s what we like. And then, obviously, the athletic traits and what he has. You see a first-step quickness, the explosion, his ability to bend.”

Added McDaniel: “If you have a player contributing in pass rush, those are things that you feel very fortunate to not pass up. As passing games become more and more of a focus, those players are a really big part of the driving force of your defense.”

With Phillips (Achilles) and fellow outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (knee) rehabbing from season-ending injuries this offseason, Robinson gives Miami a security blanket at the position if either does not quite return to form or is delayed in recovery. He can also work into a pass-rushing rotation with Phillips, Chubb and veteran signing Shaquil Barrett when all are healthy.

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“I feel like that’s going to be a great situation for me,” said Robinson, who added he has never been to Miami before, “coming in and learning from those guys, competing every day, being able to take things from them and put it into my game.”

The Dolphins lost outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency to the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, so there was already a void, and the team likely wanted to stock up on edge rushers after having so many injuries at the position last season.

Robinson, who is 6 foot 3, 254 pounds, was the draft’s fourth edge defender taken behind Laiatu Latu, Dallas Turner and Jared Verse. The Dolphins got the fifth defensive player selected in the draft, benefiting from the first 14 picks going to offense, with six of the first 12 being quarterbacks.

Robinson is an athletic, quick player at his size, running a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He had four sacks last season for the Nittany Lions and 5 1/2 in 2022.

“For us, it’s an important part, but we always talk about the ability to rush the passer,” Grier said about Robinson’s sack numbers that don’t exactly jump off the page. “Working the analytics, watching him, what he does, what he contributes … we think a lot of his traits and things he does on film translate.”

Robinson said he feels improving his hand placement will help him increase his sack numbers as a pro.

Putting together a high pressure rate, though, Robinson has drawn comparisons to another standout Penn State pass rusher, Micah Parsons, for his athleticism.

“Robinson might not be as fast as Parsons, but he’s close,” wrote NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein in a scouting report. “He’s ultra-twitchy with the explosiveness to get on top of blockers and overwhelm them in an instant. However, he will need to level up his hand skills and attack angles to reach his potential against NFL tackles. Robinson’s electric athletic traits alone should give him a floor as a good NFL starter.”

Last season, Robinson was carted off the field with an undisclosed injury from a helmet-to-helmet collision with an offensive lineman against Ohio State in October.

Robinson’s name, Chop, comes from the nickname “Pork Chop” because he was 11 pounds at birth. With a first name of Demeioun, the nickname was later shortened to “Chop.”

With the pick, Miami passed up the opportunity to take one of several offensive linemen available: Duke’s Graham Barton, Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson or Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton among them. They also could have taken the first cornerback of the draft with an array of talented defensive backs on the board or Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton.

Grier said Miami was active on the phones seeking trades throughout the first round, including trying to get back into the opening round for another player.

“There were a couple players at the end we were excited for,” Grier said, “so we were active in trying to get back in to get another one here in the late first.”

The Dolphins enter Friday with a second-round pick, No. 55 overall, as Rounds 2 and 3 of the draft take place, with the fourth through seventh rounds Saturday. Miami is currently slated to be without a third-round pick Friday, one that was stripped from the team for its tampering violation penalty handed down in August 2022, along with a first-rounder last year.

1984: DL Stefan Humphries, Chicago Bears (71st selection, third round, Michigan)

1988: WR Michael Irvin, Dallas Cowboys (11th selection, first round, Miami)

1991: K Richie Andrews, Detroit Lions (151st selection, sixth round, Florida State)

1991: WR Slip Watkins, Detroit Lions (285th selection, 12th round, Louisiana State)

1993: DE Sterling Palmer, Washington (101st selection, fourth round, Florida State)

1997: LB Twan Russell, Washington (148th selection, fifth round, Miami)

1997: DB Daryl Porter, Pittsburgh Steelers (186th selection, sixth round, Boston College)

2006: S Nate Salley, Carolina Panthers (121st selection, fourth round, Ohio State)

2008: LB Tavares Gooden, Baltimore Ravens (71st selection, third round, Miami)

2010: S Major Wright, Chicago Bears (75th selection, third round, Florida)

2010: DT Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals (120th selection, fourth round, Georgia)

2010: T Sam Young, Dallas Cowboys (179th selection, sixth round, Notre Dame)

2011: WR Leonard Hankerson, Washington (79th selection, third round, Miami)

2011: T Marcus Gilbert, Pittsburgh Steelers (63rd selection, second round, Florida)

2012: S Christian Thompson, Baltimore Ravens (130th selection, fourth round, South Carolina State)

2012: T Andrew Datko, Green Bay Packers (241st selection, seventh round, Florida State)

2013: RB Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (37th selection, second round, North Carolina)

2014: S Dezmen Southward, Atlanta Falcons (68th selection, third round, Wisconsin)

2014: OL Brandon Linder, Jacksonville Jaguars (93rd selection, third round, Miami)

2014: RB James White, New England Patriots (130th selection, fourth round, Wisconsin)

2014: DB Lamarcus Joyner, St. Louis Rams (41st selection, second round, Florida State)

2015: WR Phillip Dorsett, Indianapolis Colts (29th selection, first round, Miami)

2015: WR Rashad Greene, Jacksonville Jaguars (139th selection, fifth round, Florida State)

2015: OL Bobby Hart, New York Giants (226th pick, seventh round, Florida State)

2016: DE Joey Bosa, San Diego Chargers (Third selection, first round, Ohio State)

2016: QB Jake Rudock, Detroit Lions (191st selection, sixth round, Michigan)

2019: DE Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers (Second selection, first round, Ohio State)

2019: RB Jordan Scarlett, Carolina Panthers (154th selection, fifth round, Florida)

2020: CB Damon Arnette, Las Vegas Raiders (19th selection, first round, Ohio State)

2021: WR Elijah Moore, New York Jets (34 selection, second round, Ole Miss)

2021: CB Asante Samuel Jr., Los Angeles Chargers (47th selection, second round, Florida State)

2021: WR Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers (77th selection, third round, Tennessee)

2022: LB Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos (64th selection, second round, Oklahoma)

2023: G Tyler Steen, Philadelphia Eagles (65th selection, third round, Alabama)

2023: S Jordan Battle, Cincinnati Bengals (95th selection, third round, Alabama)

2024: EDGE Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings (17th selection, first round, Alabama)

About the time Boston fans began leaving quietly into the night with less than a minute left, the small smile of accomplishment began flickering on Miami Heat players. Tyler Herro, at the free-throw-line, offered a quick grin to Bam Adebayo, who offered one back before finishing their night’s work.

Caleb Martin, as the clock ticked toward zero, smiled at Jaime Jaquez Jr., before walking off the court by the stone faces of Boston Celtic players and the stunned looks of their fans.

What had they done in pulling off a 111-101 win in Game 2 of their playoff series? Was this a one-off kind of wonderful night that reversed a 20-point loss in Game 1 and rewarded their resolve?

Or was it a step toward something more surprising? Erik Spoelstra stood amid his players in the locker room afterward, as shown on TNT, and amid the talk of a “very productive” game and caution to rest up on Thursday planted the seed of something interesting.

“We understand, you know, that this is still a long series,’’ he said.

No one outside the Heat expected a long series. No one really thinks an injured, eighth-seeded Heat can pull off what would be the biggest playoff upset in NBA history by beating top-seeded Boston. It would be the greatest story ever dribbled.

The Heat start a rookie, a 20-year-old, an undrafted veteran who was out of a job when the Heat signed him and two mid-level, first-round picks who have three All-Star appearances combined (all three by Adebayo). Four of Boston’s five starters have played in multiple All-Star games.

You can make a sensible case that Boston is better in every area than the Heat except, strikingly, the coaching. This was another night that told you everything about Spoelstra.

“I’m going to give Coach Spo a lot of credit for giving those guys the confidence that they can win,’’ TNT’s Kenny Smith said.

Start there in explaining Game 2. The young Heat were run off the court from the start of Game 1 and lost by 20 points. So, Spoelstra not only had to emotionally help his players regroup but strategically give them something to believe in.

He did both by insisting they take the 3-point shots Boston was leaving open to them. “Take them and keep taking them,’’ as he said. And as TNT’s Smith said, “What player doesn’t like a coach to have confidence in you and tell you to take shots?”

The Heat shot more 3-pointers (43) than regular field goals (32) in Game 2. Somehow, they didn’t seem forced at all. Seven players made at last one. Every starter scored in double digits, even the 20-year-old, Nikola Jovic, who had 11 points and nine rebounds.

The Heat pitched a perfect game Wednesday in that regard, getting help from everyone, everywhere. Herro ran the offense much of the night had had 24 points and 14 assists. Adebayo hit shot after shot when Boston tried to draw close in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

In so doing, Herro and Adebayo answered some nagging questions about their games. Next question: Can they do that again? And again?

Boston has the health advantage, the 64-win team advantage, the nine-point favorite advantage, the All-Star-talent advantage and. perhaps, the motivational advantage of the Heat having stolen their season last year in Game 7.

Or maybe that last one is a Heat an advantage? Has it planted the seed of doubt in Boston’s minds? Or maybe the Celtics are just in their own heads?

Jayson Tatum is Exhibit A. He felt the need to flop in an off-the-ball bump with the Heat’s Duncan Robinson in the third quarter. He got that call, but didn’t a couple of others and soon had lost the composure that defines great players in big games.

Tatum scored 28 points in Game 2. Sidekick Jaylen Brown had 33. But they combined for an insignificant nine points in the fourth quarter. Kristaps Porzingis, their big offseason addition, was 1 of 9 shooting.

A bad night at the office for Boston? Or did the Heat unmask a front-running fraud?

“Especially with that team, it’s never going to go how people expect it to go,’’ Tatum said afterward of the Heat.

Sounds like the scars of last season haven’t healed.

It’s still a long way from being the long series Spoelstra talked to his team about afterward. Game 3 will tell us more.

“You don’t realize the Heat culture they have there,’’ Shaquille O’Neal said on TNT.

Game 2 was a win for Heat culture, a testament to Spoelstra’s ways and the kind of surprise that’s the best part of sports. The question now is whether there’s more coming.

 

General Daily Insight for April 25, 2024

It’s easy to get overwhelmed. The sensitive Moon faces off with expansive Jupiter and shocking Uranus, making it difficult to reckon with change — whether it’s looming in the near future or weighing us down in the recent past. We can breathe a sigh of relief as communicative Mercury stations direct at 8:54 am EDT, eliminating confusion and easing communication. Finally, the Moon enters Sagittarius, taking us from a deep, sensitive emotionality to a more adventurous and bold inner voice. Rise above the turbulent emotions!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Overarching changes can make your ongoing journey feel unfamiliar in both exciting and frightening ways. Uncertainty is one of your main enemies today, so it’s crucial that you keep up a brave attitude and make an effort to understand your emotions. Do this before attempting to lead others, because nervous confusion will muddy the waters of authority. The more that you clearly communicate your vision to others, the more capable you’ll be of guiding everyone along the path to mutual success.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You might be rethinking recent changes that you’ve made to your life. Regardless of how resolute you were in the beginning, in the light of the present, you’re realizing that some tweaks need to be enacted. It’s possible that this isn’t what you wanted at all. This can be confusing, but look at it as a window to clarity that you couldn’t have seen until this moment. You still have time to begin the necessary edits, so listen to your heart and make them!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You may be unsure of how to feel about someone. Your feelings toward this peer might not be consistent — or perhaps it’s their actions that aren’t consistent. They’re a delight one moment, but the most irritating person you know in the next! Of course, you can’t entirely control anyone else’s behavior, but it is up to you to decide if they have a place in your life or not. If they can’t respect your boundaries, they may not continue the journey with you.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Abrupt changes in your community or friend group could throw you off course. You might not have expected someone in your life to have chosen so speedily or taken such a bold risk, but now that everything’s in motion, you’re forced to adapt to the shifting tide of their choices. The people involved may make this a difficult situation to navigate, and they’re probably paying close attention to how you react to the whole tangle. Think carefully before taking your next step.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your feelings inside may be wildly different from your true emotions. You may be trying to spare someone’s feelings, so rather than spill your guts, you’re stuffing down any impassioned emotions that are coursing through your veins. Sometimes you have to be congratulatory when you don’t feel like it or pretend that you’re confident even when you’re down in the dumps. Moments like that aren’t easy. Do your best, but don’t beat yourself up about it if the truth shines through.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Healthy self-expression may not be your strong suit, Virgo. You might struggle admitting when you need a boost, as you probably prefer to be the person who’s providing the help rather than receiving it. Nevertheless, a little rain falls into everyone’s life — sometimes you simply have to share someone else’s umbrella. It’s not always easy to be the one reaching out for another’s hand, but odds are, you’ve supported people in the past and they’ll be glad to uplift you in return.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You’re learning to express yourself with bold confidence. It might have been easier to let others speak over you or for you in the past, but nowadays, you’re realizing just how important it is to have a seat at the table where your voice will be heard. You’re not meant to sit back and let others shape the world while you sit back and listen! You have a valuable approach to life and more to offer than just a body filling a seat.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Someone in your life might not appreciate the new you. Regardless of how much you like yourself and the person you’re becoming, a friend or loved one could be too attached to the old you. Whoever you used to be is someone that should be honored and treasured, but isn’t a persona that you have to be forever. Give yourself the room that you need to evolve into the best version of yourself, and if they don’t like it, then that’s a them problem!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You may need to create more structure in your life. At present, you’re more likely to notice when a lack of structure is holding you back from achieving everything that you want to achieve. No matter how smart you are, if you aren’t consistent, it’ll be practically impossible to meet your goals. While you don’t have to get completely organized overnight, and you’ve probably taken some positive steps already, make an effort to line things up more reliably for the sake of your goals.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Risks that you’re taking could have an effect on the people around you. You might feel that it’s okay if you don’t get enough sleep at night or spend time with reckless people who chase adrenaline highs, but be careful. At this time, small gambles can add up to much bigger hazards before you know it! Be aware of what you’re bringing into your life. Check in with yourself and ask if continuously playing with this fire is worth the potential of getting burned.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your head and your heart may have opposing opinions. Keep in mind the idea of a false dichotomy — if it seems like you have to pick between two bad options, there is almost always a third path or compromise that you could choose instead. Talk to others and see what they think, because decision paralysis is the last thing that you want to deal with at present. Be honest about what kind of a compromise would make both your mind and soul respond positively.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

It might be difficult to meet other people where they’re currently at. Remember — others can’t see everything the way that you do. While conflicting viewpoints are bound to arise sooner or later, the discussion about them can be civil. You’re strong enough to hold your opinion without condemning others, although some stances will be more of a struggle to empathize with. Try to open your heart to their viewpoint, but if they’re unwilling to do the same for you, re-evaluate the debate before continuing.

By BILL TROCCHI (Associated Press)

ATLANTA — Michael Harris II doubled home Ronald Acuña Jr. in the 10th inning and the Atlanta Braves edged the Miami Marlins 4-3 after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.

The Marlins had tied it in the ninth with two runs off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias, who blew his first save in eight chances this season, but saw their chances to take a lead with no outs quickly collapse.

Luis Arraez, Bryan De La Cruz and Jazz Chisholm Jr. all singled to load the bases. Braves first baseman Matt Olson committed a fielding error on Josh Bell’s grounder that allowed two runs to score and tied the game at 3. With Marlins then on second and third, however, Iglesias retired the next three batters to get out of the ninth.

A.J. Minter (4-1) struck out Chisholm with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 10th to earn the win for the Braves, who have won nine of their last 10.

“Every game is not going to be pretty,” Harris said. “I’m just glad our defense just gave us a chance to just need one run at the end. It was clutch of Minter to get those outs with runners on. (Austin) Riley made a nice play at third. Defense was great.”

Riley threw out Nick Gordon at the plate with one out in the 10th, and Orlando Arcia threw out Chisholm at home with one out in the ninth to preserve the 3-3 tie both times.

“You like the fight to battle back in the ninth against a really good closer and one of the best teams in the National League,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “It’s a tough loss. We’ve had a few of those this year. We had chances. We just couldn’t get the big hit.”

The Braves threatened in the ninth, but Acuña grounded into a double play with two men on to end the inning.

Tanner Scott (0-4) took the loss for the Marlins, who have been swept three times this season.

Braves starter Reynaldo López allowed one run and three hits in seven innings, walked two and struck out six. He has given up two runs in 25 innings for a 0.72 ERA in his first four starts with Atlanta.

“The greatest thing you can have in this sport is really strong starts and we’ve had a bunch of them lately,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He was really good again.”

Harris was 3 for 5 with a run scored and the winning RBI. Marcell Ozuna went 3 for 4 with two RBIs to give him an MLB-best 29.

Sixto Sánchez, starting for the first time since 2020, gave up three runs in 2 2/3 innings for the Marlins.

Jesús Sánchez snapped a 21-inning scoreless streak for the Marlins with a 430-foot home run off the roof of the Chop House in right field in the second inning.

Acuña opened the game for the Braves with a walk and stolen base, the eighth straight game he has reached base to lead off a game. He reached third on a single by Harris, then scored on a balk. Ozuna then singled home Harris for a 2-0 lead.

Ozuna knocked in Olson in the third with a single after Olson doubled to right. The hit snapped an 0-for-25 stretch for Olson.

UP NEXT

Marlins: LHP Jesús Luzardo (0-2, 6.58) will open a four-game series at home against Nationals RHP Trevor Williams (2-0, 2.91) on Friday.

BOSTON — Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 111-101 NBA playoff victory over the Boston Celtics:

– No, it’s not as simple as Erik Spoelstra assembling his players at Tuesday’s practice and Wednesday morning’s shootaround at TD Garden and telling them to make 3-pointers.

– (Typically coaches do not demand, “Do not miss!”)

– But in this series, to be competitive while shorthanded, the Heat need to junk it up.

– Typically, that has the Heat trying to play in the mud, the type of slow-paced defensive grind that makes you wonder what else is on.

– This time, they recognized they had to win over the top.

– With over-the-top 3-point shooting.

– Or at least an over-the-top total of 3-point attempts.

– So they turned TD Garden into a launch pad.

– And injected life into the series.

– It’s almost as if it makes you want them to invite Glen Rice, Jason Kapono, Daequan Cook, James Jones and Ray Allen to Saturday’s Game 3 to throw up ceremonial pregame 3-pointers.

– OK, maybe not Ray Allen.

– That’s too complicated.

– But without Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, it is the longball by necessity.

– So when it comes to Wednesday night’s approach — wash, rinse and repeat.

– Hope is located at the 3-point arc.

– For better or worse.

– The Heat again opened with Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Caleb Martin and Tyler Herro. Jovic had been on the injury report earlier in the day due to back spasms.

– Martin was booed on his first touch.

– The series clearly has its villain.

– And no 14-0 Celtics run to open this time.

– Instead the Heat took a 3-2 lead on a Jovic 3-pointer.

– Setting the tone for what would follow.

– Haywood Highsmith and Duncan Robinson entered together as the Heat’s first reserves.

– Delon Wright and Kevin Love later entered together, making it nine deep.

– Before the game, Spoelstra brushed off a media question about heightened intensity.

– “You guys always ask me about how I feel about the team,” he said. “It really comes down to your habits. And you just continue to work your habits. We have a bunch of competitors.”

– As the series transitions to Miami, Adebayo said it still is a series.

– “It’s first one to four,” he said. “You’ve got to have that mentality.”

– Spoelstra was asked pregame about how the playoffs could help in the development of Jovic and Jaquez.

– He said it was not the moment for that.

– “It’s a matter of contributing to winning right now,” he said. “They’ve put in the time, they’ve earned these opportunities. Now it’s about impacting winning against a very good team.”

– Both played well in this one.

– Of getting Herro going, Spoelstra said going in, “We need to get a little bit more intentional in our actions to try to shake him free. They’re a very good defense, so there is a balance.”

– They did just that.

– Spoelstra continues to stress that the Heat’s zone is not viewed internally as a panacea.

– “It’s not going to save us,” he said. “The offensive shooting ability they have and the guys that can bring two defenders in certain instances is always going to be there. So we have to scramble. We have to make those multiple efforts.”

– He added, “Schemes can’t save you.”

– Spoelstra also took time ahead of Game 2 to praise Celtics guard Derrick White.

– “He’s one of the most underrated players in the league, because he does it at both ends,” Spoelstra said. “He eats defensively, and offensively, very solid, efficient decision-maker. When the ball’s in his hands, he makes a lot of the right plays. But when he’s off the ball, he’ll make you pay if you’re not aware where he is.”

– As for Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, Spoelstra had similar praise.

–  “He really does it at both ends, because of the size, also at the rim defensively,” he said. “Offensively, he helps them spread the floor, and even if you’re there, he’s big enough to get his threes off, can post mismatches. Look, that’s the deal. You have to find a way to conquer these challenges within the game.”

– Wright said there is a certain reality to the series, “They’re a good team. Our room for error is not as high as theirs.”

– Robinson, on playing through his back issue, “At this point, it’s just all about trying to find solutions and put your best foot forward to try to compete and ultimately win.”

– Spoelstra addressed the Celtics’ 3-pointers after Boston’s shooting exhibition in Game 1.

– “We have to do a better job,” he said. “I mean, we’ve never been only-protect-the-paint-rim at all costs. This is more dynamic than you typically see, because of the number of guys that can hurt you from beyond the 3-point line.”

– Of his candidacy for Defensive Player of the Year, as one of the three finalists, Adebayo said, “You can put your center on anybody on the court, star player, role players, big men, whatever the case may be, I feel like that’s a luxury to have.”

– Herro extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 36, dating to the regular season. Herro’s longest such streak is 53 combined regular-season and playoff games, a run that ended March 2, 2021.

BOSTON — The Miami Heat, at least this injury-depleted version of the Miami Heat, could not have asked for more, could not have scripted it better.

There were 3-pointers falling at a record pace, silky Bam Adebayo mid-range jumpers nestling through the net when relief points were needed, Tyler Herro sizzling as both set-up man and scorer, and a defense that reminded what Erik Spoelstra’s team can look like at its best.

And, through it all, still a fight to the finish.

Going against Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum can have that effect.

So no humbling Game 2 rout in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference opening-round playoff series like the 20-point mauling the Celtics put on the Heat in Sunday’s series opener.

Instead, the Heat fighting their way to a 111-101 victory Wednesday night at TD Garden, finding a way even  amid the injury absences of Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier.

“In the playoffs,” Heat forward Caleb Martin said, “it’s great to have a short-term memory.”

And even better to be able to keep the faith.

“For me and my team,” Adebayo said, “it’s like why lose faith now? A lot of people think we’re going to buy into that we can’t get it done. It’s different; our guys believe.”

So now No. 8 seed and No. 1 seed 1 tied 1-1, with the No. 8 seed stealing homecourt advantage.

“These series are potentially long and they’re tough,” Spoelstra said, “and you have to stay emotionally and mentally stable throughout all of it.”

While the Celtics got 33 points from Brown and 28 from Tatum, the Heat’s attack was more balanced. There were 24 points and a season-high 14 assists from Herro, 21 points and 10 rebounds from Adebayo, as well as 21 points from Martin, 14 from Jaime Jaquez Jr. and 11 from Nikola Jovic.

Of Adebayo, Spoelstra said, “He was great when we needed to be settled.”

The Heat closed 23 of 43 on 3-pointers, two conversions shy of the all-time NBA playoff record.

“We decided to come in and just let it fly,” Martin said.

The series now shifts to Kaseya Center for Saturday’s Game 3 and Monday’s Game 4, before now returning next Wednesday to TD Garden for a Game 5.

“They put together a good game plan for them and they feel confident,” Brown acknowledged afterward. “I just thought they made a lot of shots that we normally feel comfortable with.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Wednesday night’s playoff game:

1. Closing time: The Heat led 28-27 after the first quarter, with the Celtics then taking a 61-58 lead into halftime.

From there, the Heat pushed to a 12-point lead in the third quarter, before Boston closed within 85-79 going into the fourth.

Later, the Heat went up 102-91 with  4:12 left, before the Celtics drew within 102-96 with 3:16 to play, forcing a Heat timeout.

“Knowing them, they’re going to come back.” Spoelstra said of the Celtics’ late push.

A Martin 3-pointer and Herro driving layup followed for a 107-96 Heat lead, with the Heat holding on from there.

2. The long ball: The 3-point emphasis was clear for the Heat from the outset, with 15 of their first 19 attempts in the first quarter from beyond the arc.

That included a pair of 3-pointers apiece in the opening period from Jovic, Herro and Jaquez.

The Heat kept launching from there.

“In terms of the threes,” Spoelstra said, “you have to take them based on how they were playing us the first two games. That may change Game 3. There’s always going to be adjustments.”

The Heat then moved to 13 of 24 on 3-pointers at halftime, their high on 3-pointers in a half this season and most for a playoff half.

Through three quarters, the Heat were 19 of 33 from beyond the arc, at that stage one shy of their playoff single-game record.

“That always looks better when you make some shots,” Spoelstra said. “But those are the ones that were available.”

The Heat’s 20th 3-pointer also gave them the most by a Celtics opponent in the playoffs.

“Guys that we want shooting the ball was hitting them,”  Brown said “and we couldn’t get them to miss. We thought they were decent closeouts.”

3. The villain: After his hard foul against Tatum at the close of Game 1, Martin was jeered from his first touch.

He countered the noise by opening 4 of 5 on 3-pointers, evoking memories of what he did against the Celtics in last season’s Eastern Conference finals, when he finished as runner-up for MVP of that series to Butler.

“He’s the ultimate X-factor,” Spoelstra said of Martin. “He’s the X-factor of X-factors.”

Martin went 0 for 4 on 3-pointers in Game 1.

“I really knew I was going to come in and let it fly,” Martin said, “stop being passive and just play the game.”

4. Herro ball: Praised earlier in the day by Spoelstra for his playmaking, Herro played was artful and adept as the Heat’s primary ballhandler.

He was up to 18 points and eight assists going into the fourth quarter, a stage he also was 6 of 9 on 3-pointers.

“Obviously it’s a luxury to have a guy who can do both,” Adebayo said.

With Butler and Rozier out, it largely remains Herro or bust when it comes to shot creation for the Heat, be it for himself or for teammates.

“Just trying to make the right play, read the game, read the context of the game,” Herro said of Wednesday night’s playmaking.

5. The Jovic factor: The question of where the Heat first might find more 3-point shooting was somewhat answered early, with Jovic converting a pair of 3-pointers in the opening 2:30.

Jovic had been added to the injury report earlier in the day due to back spasms, but again was in the Heat starting lineup.

Jovic, who continually pushed the ball on bustout dribbles after defensive rebounds or Celtics turnovers, was up to 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists going into the fourth quarter.,

Jovic’s play largely kept Kevin Love out of the Heat rotation.

By JACQUES BILLEAUD, JONATHAN J. COOPER and JOSH KELETY (Associated Press)

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump ‘s chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and 16 others for their roles in an attempt to overturn Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

The indictment released Wednesday names 11 Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Trump won Arizona in 2020. They include the former state party chair, a 2022 U.S. Senate candidate and two sitting state lawmakers, who are charged with nine counts each of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

The identities of seven other defendants, including Giuliani and Meadows, were not immediately released because they had not yet been served with the documents. They were readily identifiable based on descriptions of the defendants, however.

Trump himself was not charged but was referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator.

With the indictments, Arizona becomes the fourth state where allies of the former president have been charged with using false or unproven claims about voter fraud related to the election. Heading into a likely November rematch with Biden, Trump continues to spread lies about the last election that are echoed by many of his supporters.

“I will not allow American democracy to be undermined,” Democratic state Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a video released by her office. “It’s too important.”

The indictment alludes to Giuliani as an attorney “who was often identified as the Mayor” and spread false allegations of election fraud. Another defendant is referred to as Trump’s “ chief of staff in 2020,” which describes Meadows.

Descriptions of other unnamed defendants point to Mike Roman, who was Trump’s director of Election Day operations; John Eastman, a lawyer who devised a strategy to try to persuade Congress not to certify the election; and Christina Bobb, a lawyer who worked with Giuliani.

A lawyer for Eastman, Charles Burnham, said his client is innocent. Bobb did not respond to a text message seeking comment, nor did a lawyer who is representing Roman in a case in Georgia.

George Terwilliger, a lawyer representing Meadows, said he had not yet seen the indictment but if Meadows is named, “it is a blatantly political and politicized accusation and will be contested and defeated.” Giuliani’s political adviser, Ted Goodman, decried what he called “the continued weaponization of our justice system.”

The 11 people who had been nominated to be Arizona’s Republican electors met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were “duly elected and qualified” electors and claiming that Trump carried the state. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.

Biden won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes. Of the eight lawsuits that unsuccessfully challenged Biden’s victory in the state, one was filed by the 11 Republicans.

Their lawsuit asked a judge to de-certify the results that gave Biden his victory in Arizona and block the state from sending them to the Electoral College. In dismissing the case, U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa said the Republicans lacked legal standing, waited too long to bring their case and “failed to provide the court with factual support for their extraordinary claims.”

Days after that lawsuit was dismissed, the 11 participated in the certificate signing.

The Arizona charges come after a string of indictments against fake electors in other states.

In December, a Nevada grand jury indicted six Republicans on felony charges of offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged instrument in connection with false election certificates. They have pleaded not guilty.

Michigan’s Attorney General in July filed felony charges that included forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery against 16 Republican fake electors. One had charges dropped after reaching a cooperation deal, and the 15 remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Three fake electors also have been charged in Georgia alongside Trump and others in a sweeping indictment accusing them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally overturn the results. They have pleaded not guilty.

In Wisconsin, 10 Republicans who posed as electors settled a civil lawsuit, admitting their actions were part of an effort to overturn Biden’s victory. There is no known criminal investigation in Wisconsin.

Trump was indicted in August in federal court over efforts to cling to power after his defeat, including the fake electors scheme. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday will hear arguments on his claim in that case that he can’t be prosecuted for acts he committed while serving as president.

In early January, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said that state’s five Republican electors cannot be prosecuted under the current law. In New Mexico and Pennsylvania, fake electors added a caveat saying the election certificate was submitted in case they were later recognized as duly elected, qualified electors. No charges have been filed in Pennsylvania.

In Arizona, Mayes’ predecessor, Republican Mark Brnovich, conducted an investigation of the 2020 election, but the fake elector allegations were not part of that examination, according to Mayes’ office.

The so-called fake electors facing charges are Kelli Ward, the state GOP’s chair from 2019 until early 2023; state Sen. Jake Hoffman; Tyler Bowyer, an executive of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA who serves on the Republican National Committee; state Sen. Anthony Kern, who was photographed in restricted areas outside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack and is now a candidate in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District; Greg Safsten, a former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party; energy industry executive James Lamon, who lost a 2022 Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat; Robert Montgomery, chairman of the Cochise County Republican Committee in 2020; Samuel Moorhead, a Republican precinct committee member in Gila County; Nancy Cottle, who in 2020 was the first vice president of the Arizona Federation of Republican Women; Loraine Pellegrino, past president of the Ahwatukee Republican Women; and Michael Ward, an osteopathic physician who is married to Kelli Ward.

In a statement, Hoffman accused Mayes of weaponizing the attorney general’s office in bringing the case but didn’t directly comment on the indictment’s allegations.

“Let me be unequivocal, I am innocent of any crime, I will vigorously defend myself, and I look forward to the day when I am vindicated of this naked political persecution by the judicial process,” Hoffman said.

None of the others responded to either phone, email or social media messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

___

Associated Press writers Gabe Stern and Scott Sonner in Las Vegas, Kate Brumback in Atlanta and Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.

Joseph Wilkinson | New York Daily News

Hamas released Wednesday a propaganda/proof of life video of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

The 24-year-old was one of the hundreds of people taken hostage in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. He’s one of 133 hostages remaining in Gaza, though dozens of them are believed to be dead.

In the heavily edited video, which is also clearly scripted, Goldberg-Polin criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.

“Think of us detainees in underground hell, without water, food or sun, without the treatment I (have needed) for so long,” Goldberg-Polin says.

At the end of the video, he directly addresses his family and tells them he loves them.

The video is not dated, but Goldberg-Polin notes the beginning of Passover on Monday and mentions being held by Hamas for “almost 200 days.” Wednesday marked exactly the 200th day since the Hamas attack.

Hamas has released hostage videos in the past, including one of French-Israeli woman Mia Schem less than two weeks after the assault. Schem, 21, was one of the 105 hostages freed during a temporary ceasefire in November.

Of the 133 hostages still held by Hamas, Israel believes 97 are still alive. The country considers all unreturned people to be hostages, whether alive or dead.

Goldberg-Polin was born in the San Francisco Bay Area and also lived in Richmond, Va., before moving to Israel with his family when he was in elementary school. He was attending the Re’im music festival in southern Israel when Hamas attacked the event.

During the assault, Goldberg-Polin and others gathered in a bunker. Hamas fighters threw grenades into the bunker, and part of Goldberg-Polin’s left arm was blown off in the explosion.

While Goldberg-Polin has been held captive by Hamas, his mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, has become a leading voice calling for the hostages’ release. In November, she met with Pope Francis, and last week Time magazine named her one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People.

“It’s as if it’s Oct. 8” in Israel, she told the magazine. “It cannot move forward. The country is in such reeling.”

“I cannot digest that Passover is next week,” she continued. “It’s actually perverse to even start to think about the holiday of freedom from captivity. I just said today, and I was not kidding, ‘Is there a way, could I find any doctor that could put me in an induced coma for the week?’ Like, I don’t want to be conscious. It will be so acutely painful.”

_____

©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Running off at the typewriter …

Back in 2017, the college football establishment — including many of my FSU buddies — got a big laugh out of UCF self-proclaiming its undefeated football team as national champions and even handing out national-title rings to drive home the point. Now it’s UCF fans who are laughing at FSU after the Seminoles recently unveiled ACC championship rings that are inscribed with “Unconquered” and “13-0.”

The problem is that FSU was neither 13-0 nor unconquered. The Seminoles got thrashed 63-3 by Georgia in the Orange Bowl in the most lopsided bowl loss in college football history.

Don’t get me wrong, I wrote at the time that the Seminoles got robbed by the College Football Playoff Committee back in December when they became the only undefeated Power 5 conference champion in history to be left out of the playoff. And, yes, the Orange Bowl was a meaningless afterthought because quarterback Jordan Travis was injured and most of FSU’s star players had opted out of the game.

However, the Orange Bowl was still played and you just can’t conveniently omit the result.

In fact, you could say that UCF’s 2017 national championship claim is  more legit than FSU’s 13-0 claim. History will always reflect that FSU’s record last season was 13-1, but the NCAA record book does actually recognize two national champions for the  2017 season — Alabama (based on its victory in the College Football Playoff title game) and UCF (based on its No. 1 final ranking in the NCAA-recognized Colley’s Bias Free Matrix Rankings).

In hindsight, the Seminoles should have made a statement by refusing to play in the Orange Bowl. It would have saved them the embarrassment of getting throttled by Georgia and it would have made the inscription on their championship rings resonate and stand up to scrutiny. …

Short stuff: If the Orlando Magic keep shooting this horribly in their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team is going to have to change its playoff mantra from “Everybody In” to “Nothing’s Going In.” … Since Reggie Bush is getting his Heisman Trophy back because paying players is now allowed, shouldn’t the Gators get their 1984 and 1990 SEC titles back as well? Just sayin’.  … For all those NFL fans who are giddy about their team taking a quarterback in Thursday’s QB-heavy draft, just remember that only one of the five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2021 draft remains with his original team — and that’s Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, who was picked No. 1 overall and hasn’t exactly been great. The other four — Zach Wilson (No. 2 pick), Trey Lance (No. 3), Justin Fields (No. 11) and Mac Jones (No. 15) — all have been traded. … Did you see where Jim Harbaugh got a “15-0” tattoo on his arm to commemorate the Michigan Wolverines’ undefeated record and national title? He should have gotten a tattoo of designated sign-stealer Connor Stalions wearing a Groucho Marx disguise while looking through a pair of high-powered binoculars! …

With Caitlin Clark being drafted by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and her rookie salary of $76,536 being widely reported in the national media, there has been the requisite amount of indignation from those who don’t know any better. Whoopi Goldberg railed on The View that women athletes “have the headlines, they have the fans, they have the viewers. When the hell are they going to get paid?” Tweeted President Biden in regard to Clark: “Women are not paid their fair share.” The main complaint, of course, is that WNBA players don’t make a fraction of what NBA players make. Why? Here’s a quick economics lesson: The NBA generated $10.6 billion last season and made a $3 billion profit. The WNBA generates $60 million and relies on funding from the NBA to stay financially afloat. In a perfect world, yes, WNBA players would make as much per game as NBA players, but the WNBA has to start creating more interest and making more money for that to happen. Hopefully, Caitlin Clark can further that process. As for those worried about Clark being underpaid, she just signed a $28 million endorsement deal with Nike. I think she’s gonna be just fine. …

And while we’re on the subject of salaries for female athletes, shouldn’t Whoopi and President Biden also go to bat for Nelly Korda, who just became the third LPGA golfer in history to win five times in a row? Korda won a combined $2.4 million for winning those five tournaments while Scottie Scheffler made $16.25 million for winning four of his last five men’s golf tournaments. If you’re scoring at home, Scheffler has made more than twice as much money in his last five tournaments than Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus combined to make during their entire PGA Tour careers. … As if he were dealing with a bad marriage, a Tallahassee judge has ordered FSU and the ACC to try to settle their issues through mediation. Coming soon: ACC accuses FSU of infidelity (having an affair with the SEC) while FSU argues that it should not have to pay child support to Wake Forest, Boston College and Syracuse. … Question: When is Whoopi Goldberg going to rail against MLS players making five times less money than English Premier League players? … Tweet of the Week comes from former NFL player Ross Tucker, who lampooned the ridiculousness of the NFL media speculation heading into the draft: “BREAKING: Just found out there’s a team open to trading down YET looking to trade up BUT don’t be surprised if they just stand pat and make a pick.” … My state of Florida mock draft: Jaguars, with the 17th pick, take Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama); Dolphins, with the 21st pick, take Graham Barton (OL, Duke); Buccaneers, with the 26th pick, take Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, LSU). …

Last word: From William “Refrigerator” Perry, on NFL Draft Day in 1985: “I’ve been big ever since I was little.”

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on X (formerly Twitter) @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen

 

A two-year investigation of a gang that has operated in Riviera Beach for more than two decades culminated in 12 of its members facing racketeering charges, law enforcement officials said, several who are already in state or federal custody on other charges.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced at a news conference Tuesday the charges against members of the Broadmoor Gang that came of the investigation dubbed “Operation U.” The gang was named after a U-shaped apartment complex by the same name in Riviera Beach, giving investigators the name of the operation, Violent Crimes Division Capt. Laurence Poston said.

Members of the gang have been committing “a laundry list of crimes” in the county and surrounding areas, Poston said, ranging from murder and conspiracy to commit murder to aggravated assaults on law enforcement to burglaries, firearm violations and others.

One of the 12 people facing charges is Kemarcio Mitchell, 29, of Riviera Beach, who is currently facing a separate federal charge in connection with the February shooting at the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens.

“These guys were very violent, very prolific and would stop at nothing to further their gang’s initiatives,” Poston said.

Among the others accused of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering are:

• Xavier Baa, 25, of Mangonia Park.
• Zaquan Baa, 22, of West Palm Beach.
• Cynthia Bristol, 34, of West Palm Beach.
• Devonte Durden, 30, of Riviera Beach.
• Jerome Fields, 30, of Riviera Beach.
• Jaylon Griffin, 29, of West Palm Beach.
• Lawrence Hardwick, 34, of Riviera Beach.
• Deshawn Houston, 34, of Lake Park.
• Kevin Monroe, 33, of West Palm Beach.
• Anthony Thurston, 37, of Riviera Beach.

One person who will face the same charges has yet to be arrested, and Sheriff’s Office officials did not publicly identify the person Tuesday.

Twelve people who the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said were members of a gang in Riviera Beach are facing charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The investigation began in 2022 after a string of shootings and murders tied to the gang throughout the county after the leader of the gang, Monroe, told members to “go out and eradicate and take out their rivals,” Poston said.

The gang has continually operated in Palm Beach County since at least 2012, but members have been meeting up in various parts of Riviera Beach since 2004, according to a probable cause affidavit. People rose in the ranks as their criminal records and arrests increased, and the group has associated itself with national gangs, the affidavit said.

The gang mostly operates in Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach and unincorporated areas of the county. Its members and associates also created a company called “UUE,” or Up Under ‘Em, which sells pure-bred pitbulls, according to the affidavit.

The men and women accused of the racketeering charges have been arrested in recent years for a range of offenses, including drug- and weapon-related charges, fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, resisting officers without violence, robbery and burglary with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm and others. The affidavit alleges their previous offenses were “a pattern of racketeering activity” done in “furtherance” of the gang.

Xavier Baa, Zaquan Baa, Fields and Hardwick were arrested on Monday and booked into the jail.

Bristol, Houston, Monroe, and Thurston are currently in state prisons, Florida Department of Corrections records show. It was not clear Wednesday afternoon who the three currently in federal custody are.

Luther Campbell, the rap artist, coach and civic activist, has filed paperwork setting up a campaign to challenge Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick in the Democratic primary.

He hadn’t made a formal announcement as of Wednesday afternoon. But he filed a document dated Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission establishing the Luther Luke Campbell for Congress campaign organization.

He has until noon Friday to qualify for the Aug. 20 primary ballot. Cherfilus-McCormick qualified for the ballot earlier this week.

The two will compete in the Broward-Palm Beach County 20th Congressional District in what promises to be a contentious, attention-grabbing contest over the next four months.

As he’s made the rounds testing the waters for his candidacy, Campbell has been sharply critical of the incumbent on social media. At one point, he asked, “what the (heck) has this lady done” — using an expletive instead of heck.

Cherfilus-McCormick, who was previously CEO of a home health care agency, has spent heavily from her own pocket when she faced tough campaigns. She was first elected in a January 2022 special election, and is serving in her third year in Congress.

Neither Campbell nor Cherfilus-McCormick immediately responded to a request for comment.

Campbell had promised a decision would come on Wednesday, but as of late afternoon none of his multiple social media accounts said anything about his running.

The website Florida Politics, which first reported Campbell’s federal filing reported that “sources close to Campbell said his mind is still not made up yet about running, largely because of concerns about financial disclosures related to his music career.”

Voter records show neither Campbell nor Cherfilus-McCormick live in Florida’s 20th District. Both are registered to vote in Miramar — in the district represented by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston.

Members of Congress are required to be residents of the state they’re representing or seek to represent, but aren’t required to live in the district.

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Campbell, 63, is known as Luke Skyywalker and later Uncle Luke from his career as a rap artist. As the leader of 2 Live Crew, he was acquitted by a Broward County jury of obscenity charges for an appearance in Hollywood decades ago. A federal judge in South Florida declared the lyrics of its platinum-selling album “Nasty As They Wanna Be” were obscene, a ruling eventually overturned by an appeals court.

He has since become a youth and school coach, and a political activist. In 2011, he unsuccessfully ran for Miami-Dade mayor.

Cherfilus-McCormick, 45, is the only Haitian American member of Congress and has been outspoken on policies aimed at resolving the nation’s turmoil. She most recently was strongly critical of the Biden administration’s decision to resume deportation flights to Haiti amid the gang-fueled violence in the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince.

Campbell’s brother, Stanley, will also be on the ballot in August. He qualified this week as a candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. He’ll face former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and at least two other candidates for the nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.

The 20th Congressional District is one of the most heavily Democratic in the nation, virtually guaranteeing that the primary winner will win the November general election. The district takes in most of the African American and Caribbean American communities in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Post.news.