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By Sally French | NerdWallet

When traveling, packing less makes it easier to experience more. When you’re not weighed down by bulky bags, you have more freedom to jump on public transit or walk long distances without tiring. You’ll have fewer worries about repacking or losing items. With carry-ons only, you’ll avoid checked bag fees, waiting at the luggage carousel and the risk of lost luggage.

If you travel backpack-only, you’ll be forced me to leave even more at home than you otherwise would with a full suitcase. It means sacrificing just-in-case items.

And that’s where my 10-$10 rule comes in.

What is the 10-$10 rule?

The 10-$10 rule is a packing strategy that helps you decide what to bring and what to leave behind. The premise is straightforward: If you can acquire a just-in-case item upon arrival for less than $10 and within 10 minutes, don’t pack it.

For cheap, small items that you’ll absolutely use — say a toothbrush, deodorant or underwear — pack them regardless. But for large or just-in-case items, buy them upon arrival, granted they cost less than about $10 and are easily purchasable within 10 minutes.

Under the 10-$10 rule, items you generally shouldn’t pack include:

• Books (perhaps pack one, but will you really read that second one?).
• First-aid kits.
• Over-the-counter medications that you only sometimes use (e.g. antacid tablets or ibuprofen).
• Weather-contingent items like ponchos and umbrellas (particularly if it’s not even rainy season).

Of course, the 10 minutes is key. There probably aren’t drugstores in the wilderness, in which case packing something like a first-aid kit for a camping trip can make sense.

I’ve come up with this rule over the years of traveling carry-on only, and then progressing to backpack-only. When all your possessions are on your back, overpacking is not just unnecessary weight, but it makes it especially tough to sift through the items you really need.

Make the 10-$10 rule your own

The 10-$10 is more of a guideline than a rigid, one-size-fits-all rule. Embrace its spirit, and adjust the timing and dollar figure to your liking. Factors you consider might include:

Group type

A single, able-bodied adult might easily pop into a store and make a quick purchase. Others who are less mobile, or families with kids, might find that a single convenience store run exceeds 10 minutes, in which case packing more from home makes sense.

Item size

I sometimes make exceptions for an item’s size depending on the likelihood of using it.

Antihistamine cream is small and easy to pack, but I’ll never know whether I need it for a bug bite until it happens. Though such an item might never get used, I’ll more likely use it on a lakefront vacation in Florida than a trip in downtown Denver, where high elevations make it relatively bug-free.

Meanwhile, bulky items like beach towels never make the cut.

Budget

For budget-conscious travelers who can’t afford inflated hotel gift shop prices, the $10 threshold might be too high. Adjust it according to the flexibility of your budget.

As my own savings account has grown, I’m more willing to push the $10 rule higher. But in my younger years, my $10 rule was more like a $3 rule. Back then, I was more likely to pack a just-in-case umbrella, because the thought of forking over cash amidst a downpour felt wasteful. These days, I’m usually willing to gamble that it won’t rain.

Your own flexibility

If you’re picky, realize that it might take more than 10 minutes to find the item you want, in which case the 10-$10 rule doesn’t apply. I’m generally okay using any sort of skincare products. But if you demand a specific brand, pack your own.

And in some situations, like traveling with babies, taking 10 minutes to track down something like diaper cream might not be worth it when you could have packed it from home. The 10-$10 rule isn’t for you.

Location

Items that make the 10-$10 cut on one trip might not on another. In New York City, where there’s no shortage of retailers, I’m more willing to underpack. That’s less often the case on trips to small towns or national parks where storefronts are limited.

Don’t overpack, but don’t overshop either

It’s usually okay to spend a little more than you would to buy the same things at home. I don’t mind paying the markup for sunscreen sold on the beach versus dealing with checked luggage to pack sunscreen from home.

On the other hand, watch out for wasteful spending. Once you’ve found a cheap souvenir stall, it can be tempting to buy anything under $10 — like fanny packs, sunglasses and hats. Don’t overlook the minimalist spirit of the 10-$10 rule, which is not only packing what you absolutely need — but also only buying what you absolutely need.

Benefits of the 10-$10 rule

Packing light taught me that I often don’t even need stuff I thought I did.

Hotels often supply items you might’ve packed anyway

Many hotels these days are tightening up on the free toiletries left on your bathroom counter, presumably to mitigate waste. But often, hotels still offer those freebies — you just have to ask.

On a recent stay at the Hotel Virginia Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, Calif., the lobby attendant gave me complimentary toiletries like toothpaste and razors. I was delighted by the complimentary sunscreen at the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani in Honolulu.

Even at Disneyland, I’ve picked up free bandages for my blistered feet at a first aid station in the park.

Most hotels and vacation rentals provide irons, hairdryers and towels, so definitely don’t pack those bulky items. Some also offer items like robes and umbrellas.

You net a great souvenir

On a trip to Thailand, I intentionally under-packed. Buying a sundress, shirts, sandals and floppy hat from vendors who lined the beach was all part of the experience. Plus, they’re functional souvenirs that I truly love.

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Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia.

The article My Travel Secret For Not Overpacking? The 10-$10 Rule originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Nikki Ekstein | (TNS) Bloomberg News

No matter what’s trending in fashion, the New York City uniform has remained constant — any cut, any style, but make it black. And the same has long been true of Manhattan hotels, with slick onyx, creamy white and neutral linens serving as reliable antidotes to the city’s sensory overload.

Not anymore.

“If you think about what the consumer wants today, they don’t want beige,” says Elizabeth Mullins, managing director of the Fifth Avenue Hotel and chief operating officer of its parent company, Flâneur Hospitality. “They want a hotel with soul.”

Mullins, a veteran of Ritz-Carlton and the Walt Disney Co., says this has been true ever since the pandemic left people wanting to reawaken their senses and “feel something” along their travels. Most commonly, they want to feel a sense of place. “But it’s hard to evoke much of anything when you’re beige.”

The good news is that with New York hotels suddenly awash in saturated hues, there’s no more room for a sleepy hotel stay. Here’s a look at the brightest, splashiest openings from Tribeca to Union Square and NoMad.

The Fifth Avenue Hotel

This former Gilded Age mansion on 28th Street and Fifth Avenue is a shockingly rare example of low-rise opulence smack in the middle of the NoMad neighborhood, just down the street from the Ned, Ace and Ritz-Carlton hotels. But this is less the preserved home of a turn-of-the-century tycoon and more of a fun-filled portal into Manhattan’s modern wonderland.

If you don’t like judging a book by its cover, don’t judge this hotel by its traditionally styled lobby, with its elegantly draped double-height windows and crystal chandeliers. But if you must, form your opinion from the contents of two vintage hutches against the back wall: The cheeky curiosities include a single goldfish cracker in a “plastic baggie” made from crystal.

That sense of humor is a through line for this kaleidoscopic hotel, fashioned with all sorts of winks and nods by the ever-whimsical designer Martin Brudnizki. In one hallway is a gallery wall of framed eyes — some painted, some drawn, some googly. Its 153 rooms feature martini carts piled high with full-size spirits and fresh-baked lemon cookies, all from chef Andrew Carmellini, who runs the excellent Café Carmellini restaurant downstairs. Mercury glass panels behind the headboards create a brilliant optical illusion: they reflect the twinkle of star-shaped ceiling lights, making each room feel twice its actual size.

Don’t miss a nightcap at the ground-floor Portrait Bar. Now that the Library Bar at the former NoMad hotel is a members-only space for the Ned, this is the neighborhood’s “it” spot for throwback glamour, complete with coffered ceilings and white-tuxedoed barkeeps. Rooms from $709

The Warren Street Hotel

Designer Kit Kemp is the OG preacher of “anything but beige,” and her third New York City property for Firmdale Hotels is every bit as hypersaturated and pattern-happy as its predecessors, the Whitby and Crosby Street. The lobby can cure jet lag with its bursts of mustard yellow, kelly green and royal blue. Yet the double-paned, floor-to-ceiling windows in the rooms — with spectacular downtown vantages toward One World Trade or Herzog & de Meuron’s “Jenga building” — make for pin-drop-quiet sleep when you need it.

For fans of the U.K.-based brand (and there are many), the overall look will be familiar: dramatically oversize headboards and upholstered dress forms in mix-and-match patterns are Kemp’s indispensable signatures. The same is growing true about other design tropes she’s adapted here, such as long displays of white porcelain pots adorned with mushrooms and fairies in glowing, red-painted nooks, or the color-block leather stools at the bar. If it’s slightly formulaic by now, there’s a reason for that: the effect is still mesmerizing.

But now, Kemp is adding her daughters’ stamps to the mix. The cheekiest rooms are the work of Minnie Kemp: They include throw pillows with a textile featuring strands of spaghetti threaded through the tines of a fork — a bright blue-and-yellow pattern with tiny red-sauce splotches. Tossed against a zany floral headboard, it’s as bold as design statements get. In true Firmdale fashion, it works spectacularly. Rooms from $745

Fouquet’s New York

Another Brudnizki special is this French-inflected 97-room gem on Greenwich Street, which has already earned two Michelin Keys and whose pink-and-green color palette was inspired by a dainty box of macarons. But that doesn’t mean the hotel is entirely demure. By one central staircase you’ll find a giant, bedazzled sculpture of a gorilla wearing a Team USA-inspired hat and holding the Eiffel Tower in its clenched fist. Custom toile wallpaper in the rooms sport New York street scenes interspersed with cheeky drawings of pigeons snatching croissants. (It’s a permanent installation by France-based contemporary sculptor Eddy Maniez.)

Thoughtful details abound, including green marble luggage benches built into little foyers. Ditto on the amenity side: The hotel has thought of all sorts of clever perks, such as a full cinema in the basement (with velvet chaise seats!) that can be used for kids’ movie screenings on rainy days.

Don’t miss a spritz on the frilly French rooftop space, Le Vaux, which is otherwise only accessible to locals who’ve joined Fouquet’s members club. And try to poke your head into the lobby speakeasy bar, which opens after 4 p.m. on days it’s not booked for private events. (Look between the gilded bookcases; the door looks like any of the other wooden wall panels at first glance.) Rooms from $900

Virgin Hotel NoMad

The most eye-catching space at the Virgin Hotel is hidden away on the third floor, around the corner from a coffee bar that feels almost as long as a football field. Do a little exploring, though, and you’ll wonder how Everdene restaurant has stayed a New York secret. The food is solid— mostly American classics with a twist, delicious if not exactly star-worthy — but the space itself feels like a rarefied haven. On one side, rainbowlike bookshelves dramatically arch from floor to ceiling, filled with tomes in bright corresponding colors; on the other are swooping blue banquettes that face walls of windows and two massive outdoor terraces. One floor up, in a separate oasis, is a rooftop pool decked out with black-and-white striped loungers, all with killer views of the Empire State Building.

That’s a lot of amenities for a hotel with shockingly well-priced rooms, though there are 460 of them — a big number by New York standards. Even the entry-level ones have separated, suitelike foyers, a brand standard designed to give solo female travelers extra privacy. (We love not having to say hi to room service staff while wearing a bathrobe.)

Also standard at all Virgin hotels are a handful of supersmart, space-saving design tricks. There’s always a very comfortable bed that includes a built-in cushion in one corner: You can sit against it if you want to work with your computer on your lap. In most rooms here the upholstered gray headboards stretch a few extra feet to one side, forming bench seating to go with a small round table — a functional dining space. Elsewhere, splashes of red abound; it’s the Richard Branson signature.

One more notable amenity: the Halo Salt Journey, which is a quick, 30-minute whirl in the Exhale spa’s Himalayan salt chamber. Staffers set you up with thigh-high Theragun compression boots and an LED face mask that stimulates collagen production while you recline in a zero-gravity chair; it’s a wellness boost that makes you feel like you’ve gone straight to outer space. Rooms from $305

W Union Square

Nothing stays cool for 20 years, not even the original downtown New York location of the world’s first hip hotel brand. But as W’s devotees have grown older and more sophisticated, so, too, have its properties. Nowhere will that be more visible than at this fully redesigned global flagship, slated to wrap its four-year-long renovation in November after numerous lengthy delays. (The hotel has been open continuously throughout construction.)

“We’ve really moved from being this original lifestyle hospitality disrupter to being firmly rooted in the luxury lifestyle portfolio for Marriott,” says George Fleck, senior vice president and global brand leader for W Hotels. “But we don’t want to lose the playfulness and sense of style that we’ve been known for,” he says. “It’s an evolution, not a revolution.”

Part of that is simply shifting the colors to richer and more saturated tones, such as the forest green carpeting and orange leather headboards that stretch all the way to the ceiling in many of the hotel’s 256 rooms. Downstairs, a sizable gym with a Peloton “studio space” is done in minty green-and-yellow checkerboard tile; on the second floor, a Beaux Arts “Living Room” replete with ornamental plaster work gets a dose of fun from a mod, ochre-toned fireplace shaped like a giant rainbow (similar to the Virgin Hotel bookshelves). It’s refined and smart but with a cheeky edge— a little like New York itself. Rooms from $550

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©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Glenn Whipp | Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES — The Emmys these last few years have been a model of all or almost nothing at all.

To follow the last ceremony, held in January after the writers’ and actors’ strikes postponed the event for a few months, you really needed to be aware of only three shows — “Succession,” “The Bear” and “Beef.” They won Emmys for series, writing and directing in their respective categories, and their casts took eight of the 12 acting awards. While the winners were (mostly) worthy, it made for an evening almost entirely devoid of drama, unless you were worried that Matty Matheson might pass out onstage during that long kiss Ebon Moss-Bachrach planted on him after “The Bear” won comedy series.

This year, if you’ve watched “Shōgun,” “Baby Reindeer” and “The Bear,” you’re pretty much set.

Here are my final predictions for the 76th Primetime Emmys on Sept. 15, airing at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

COMEDY SERIES

“Abbott Elementary”

“The Bear”

“Curb Your Enthusiasm”

“Hacks”

“Only Murders in the Building”

“Palm Royale”

“Reservation Dogs”

“What We Do in the Shadows”

Winner: “The Bear”

“The Bear” drops its new seasons in June, putting it in a weird place for the Emmys. Its third season, which premiered a couple months ago to some complaints that the show was inconsistent and a little light on plot, will be eligible next year, as the Emmy eligibility cutoff date is May 31. What will be celebrated at this year’s ceremony is the faultless second season — the one with the classic episodes “Fishes” (the Jamie Lee Curtis Christmas hour) and “Forks” (the culmination of the Richie redemption arc). If all that feels like a chaos menu, take it up with the Television Academy.

COMEDY ACTRESS

Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”

Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”

Maya Rudolph, “Loot”

Jean Smart, “Hacks”

Kristen Wiig, “Palm Royale”

Winner: Smart

Smart won this Emmy for the first two seasons of “Hacks.” Then, because of the strikes and a heart procedure Smart had in February 2023, the show’s third season was delayed a year. But it was worth the wait, as “Hacks” really burrowed into the complicated relationship between Deborah Vance, Smart’s showbiz legend, and Ava, Deborah’s progressive young writing partner, played by Hannah Einbinder. Edebiri won an Emmy for supporting actress last time out and could now win lead. She’s great! But “Hacks” gave Smart more to do and a better character arc. And voters clearly adore her.

COMEDY ACTOR

Matt Berry, “What We Do in the Shadows”

Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”

Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”

Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”

Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, “Reservation Dogs”

Winner: White

This category boasts three comedy legends (Short, Martin and David), two first-time nominees (Berry for the fifth season of “What We Do in the Shadows” and Woon-A-Tai for the third and final year of “Reservation Dogs”) and White, who won at the delayed 2023 ceremony and will prevail again for the season that ended with Carmy melting down while locked inside the restaurant’s walk-in fridge. “No amount of good is worth how terrible this feels,” he says, a vibe that won’t ever be used as evidence that “The Bear” belongs in the comedy categories.

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Carol Burnett, “Palm Royale”

Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”

Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”

Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”

Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”

Meryl Streep, “Only Murders in the Building”

Winner: Einbinder

OK, maybe you need to watch “Hacks” too for this year’s Emmys. With the third season’s focus on the shifting power dynamics between Ava and Deborah, “Hacks” gave Einbinder room to play a character growing as confident and ambitious as her mentor. Like Smart, Einbinder has the meatiest role among the nominees. This is her third nomination, and it’s time for her to join her co-star as an Emmy winner. (And in case you were wondering: Yes, Streep has an Emmy. Three, in fact.)

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR

Lionel Boyce, “The Bear”

Paul W. Downs, “Hacks”

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”

Paul Rudd, “Only Murders in the Building”

Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary”

Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

Winner: Moss-Bachrach

Moss-Bachrach won for “The Bear’s” first season, where he spent most of his time screaming at people, although you didn’t have to look all that closely to see Richie’s pain and vulnerability. Season 2 saw Richie wearing suits, acting like a grown-up and celebrating his personal growth by singing along to Taylor Swift. When everything clicked for Richie in the series’ best episode, “Forks,” you wanted to cry for joy. I can’t wait to see whom he kisses onstage this year.

LIMITED SERIES

“Baby Reindeer”

“Fargo”

“Lessons in Chemistry”

“Ripley”

“True Detective: Night Country”

Winner: “Baby Reindeer”

All five of the nominees earned at least 10 nominations each with “True Detective” leading the field with 19. But “Baby Reindeer” became a viewing phenomenon when it landed on Netflix in April. There has been controversy, with the woman who identified herself as the inspiration for the show’s stalker character suing the streamer, accusing Netflix of defamation. But I don’t see that derailing the show’s chances, although the gorgeous, meticulously crafted “Ripley” could be a spoiler.

LIMITED SERIES ACTRESS

Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”

Brie Larson, “Lessons in Chemistry”

Juno Temple, “Fargo”

Sofía Vergara, “Griselda”

Naomi Watts, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Winner: Foster

All the goodwill Jodie Foster earned while campaigning for her Oscar-nominated turn in “Nyad” should carry over here, particularly for a role that saw her returning to eerie, atmospheric crime-solving horror. Foster has picked up many honors over the years — two Oscars, four Golden Globes, a SAG Award, plus career tributes — but never an Emmy. In fact, this is her first nomination. Expect a big ovation when she wins.

LIMITED SERIES ACTOR

Matt Bomer, “Fellow Travelers”

Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”

Jon Hamm, “Fargo”

Tom Hollander, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Andrew Scott, “Ripley”

Winner: Gadd

Gadd earned three nominations for “Baby Reindeer” — lead actor, writer and executive producer. Unlike the Oscars, where members choose the winners in all categories, the Emmys are decided by peer groups within each field. Actors vote for actors, writers vote for writing and everyone decides series. So it’s not like a member of the actors branch looks at Gadd on the ballot and thinks, “OK, I can check off his name for writing ‘Baby Reindeer’ and vote for the series, but I’m going to go with Andrew Scott for ‘Ripley.’”

Personally, I’d go with Scott for his masterful turn as the antihero in “Ripley” in a heartbeat. And it wouldn’t be surprising if Emmy voters finally gave this great actor his due. But I’m leaning toward Gadd for his raw portrait of a flawed man consumed by shame. He’ll get bonus points from his peers for writing himself such a powerful part.

LIMITED SERIES SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Dakota Fanning, “Ripley”

Lily Gladstone, “Under the Bridge”

Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”

Aja Naomi King, “Lessons in Chemistry”

Diane Lane, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Nava Mau, “Baby Reindeer”

Kali Reis, “True Detective: Night Country”

Winner: Gunning

I’d love to see Reis holding an Emmy alongside her “True Detective” co-star Foster after the ceremony. The former world champion boxer brought such a raw intensity and presence to her portrayal of Iñupiat state trooper Evangeline Navarro. But I suspect Gunning will be hard to beat here for the way she invested such empathy into the stalker on “Baby Reindeer.” The series is unimaginable without her.

LIMITED SERIES SUPPORTING ACTOR

Jonathan Bailey, “Fellow Travelers”

Robert Downey Jr., “The Sympathizer”

Tom Goodman-Hill, “Baby Reindeer”

John Hawkes, “True Detective: North Country”

Lamorne Morris, “Fargo”

Lewis Pullman, “Lessons in Chemistry”

Treat Williams, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Winner: Bailey

There was a time when Downey winning for his showy, multi-role performance in “The Sympathizer” seemed a sure thing. But his nomination was the series’ only recognition, which doesn’t indicate much enthusiasm for “The Sympathizer.” It’s a tough category to predict, but I’ll go with Bailey, the English actor who has been wowing us for more than a decade in shows like “Broadchurch,” “Crashing” and “Bridgerton.” It looks like he’s focusing on film now, with major roles in “Wicked” and the next “Jurassic Park” movie, so Emmy voters should send him out in style for his beautiful work in the heartfelt “Fellow Travelers.”

DRAMA SERIES

“The Crown”

“Fallout”

“The Gilded Age”

“The Morning Show”

“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

“Shōgun”

“Slow Horses”

“3 Body Problem”

Winner: “Shōgun”

The new season of “Slow Horses” just landed with all the attendant acclaim you’d expect for this celebrated spy series, which finally broke through with Emmy voters this year for its third season. It’s one of two shows nominated that actually deserves awards recognition, the other, of course, being “Shōgun.” With a whopping 25 nominations, “Shōgun” is the overwhelming favorite to sweep through most of the drama categories, including the two lead acting awards, directing and probably writing — though it wouldn’t be a shock if “Slow Horses” prevails in that latter category.

DRAMA ACTRESS

Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”

Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age”

Maya Erskine, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Anna Sawai, “Shōgun”

Imelda Staunton, “The Crown”

Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”

Winner: Sawai

Before the nominations, it felt like the only person who could take this Emmy over Sawai was Emma Stone, who won her second Oscar earlier this year for “Poor Things” and might have been even better in “The Curse,” in which she and Nathan Fielder played hosts of a home renovation show. But then Stone wasn’t nominated. And neither was “The Curse” — for anything. That shutout feels more cringe-inducing than anything this weird, disquieting show offered. So that leaves Sawai, who probably would have won easily anyway. (She’s also great in “Pachinko,” which just returned for its second season.)

DRAMA ACTOR

Donald Glover, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Walton Goggins, “Fallout”

Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”

Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun”

Dominic West, “The Crown”

Idris Elba, “Hijack”

Winner: Sanada

How about an early prediction for the 2025 Emmys: Oldman wins this award for the fourth season of “Slow Horses.” In a career studded with brilliant work, his portrayal of the foul-mouthed, flatulent, booze-soaked veteran secret agent Jackson Lamb might be the best thing he has ever done. But Sanada carried “Shōgun” playing the pragmatic, charismatic tactician always two steps ahead of his enemies (and allies).

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Christine Baranski, “The Gilded Age”

Nicole Beharie, “The Morning Show”

Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”

Greta Lee, “The Morning Show”

Lesley Manville, “The Crown”

Karen Pittman, “The Morning Show”

Holland Taylor, “The Morning Show”

Winner: Debicki

Debicki stands as the overwhelming favorite for her sensitive portrayal of a melancholy Diana on “The Crown,” but castmate Manville might be more deserving. You know this if you saw Manville’s showcase episode, “Ritz,” the gorgeous, devastating highlight of “The Crown’s” final season. It’s Manville’s first Emmy nomination. Debicki was recognized last year, ultimately losing to Jennifer Coolidge for “The White Lotus.” Voters likely will elevate her this year.

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR

Tadanobu Asano, “Shōgun”

Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”

Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”

Jon Hamm, “The Morning Show”

Takehiro Hira, “Shōgun”

Jack Lowden, “Slow Horses”

Jonathan Pryce, “The Crown”

Winner: Crudup

The soapy “The Morning Show” would have been a better fit for the Daytime Emmys, but in a soft year it pulled in 16 nominations, including nine for acting. But even the people who watch it to complain about how bad it is have nothing but love for Crudup and his charming, chaotic Cory Ellison. For many, Crudup, who won an Emmy for the series’ first season, is the only reason they still tune in. The man can utter a line like “Alex Levy is Lazarus… which I guess makes me Jesus” and somehow keep a straight face.

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The football community Friday reacted to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion suffered Thursday night in the 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Tagovailoa has a history with concussions, experiencing at least two during the 2022 season. On one of those, sustained in Cincinnati that fall, Tagovailoa went into the same fencing response, with arms extended and fingers curling, as he exhibited when he went down Thursday night after ramming his head into Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s shoulder while scrambling for a first down.

Like in 2022 — and against the wishes of coach Mike McDaniel — ample national sports talk surrounded whether Tagovailoa should retire after yet another case of head trauma.

Nick Saban, Tagovailoa’s college coach at Alabama who has since retired and been in the media, said on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show,” any decision should be based on medical advice.

“Tua’s such a great competitor, but I think this has to be a medical decision,” Saban said. “You have to let medical people who understand the circumstances around these injuries, these concussions — and when you have multiple concussions, that’s not a good sign. I think Tua, his family and everyone else should listen to all the medical evidence to make sure you’re not compromising your future health-wise by continuing to play football.”

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce implored Tagovailoa to retire.

“He’s going to live longer than he’s going to play football,” Pierce told Las Vegas reporters Friday. “Take care of your family.”

Manti Te’o, the former NFL and Notre Dame linebacker who is friends with Tagovailoa, said on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” he wanted to see the quarterback call it quits two years ago.

“After he suffered the one against the Bengals, I wanted him to walk. When I saw him have to be carted off the field, I wanted him to walk,” Te’o said. “That was hard… What people have to understand is that, it’s just a game, and then there’s life.

“Is it hard for me? Yeah. But I can’t imagine how it is for Uncle Galu and Auntie Diane (Tagovailoa’s parents) to watch their son, again, go down.

“I want the best for Tua, the man, the father. He’s a father of two now. I want him to be able — not today — but 10, 15, 20 years down the line, to be able to raise his children, to be able to walk his daughter down the aisle.”

On ESPN’s “Get Up,” former NFL linebacker Bart Scott revealed what once led him away from the game.

“I started seeing spots and lights. I had light sensitivity,” Scott said. “I never really shared this with anybody, but I feel inclined to do this in this intimate setting that we have. I didn’t know what to do, and I said — you know what? — it’s time to fold it up.

“It’s about the people that are around Tua. Because it’s hard not to make an emotional decision. That’s why you put people around you, your team, that you trust with your life and to make lifelong decisions.”

On the “Rich Eisen Show,” Eisen posed the question of how does Tagovailoa play with the added caution he needs to take in order to play football.

“If you’re sitting here saying, ‘Well, Tua should just remind himself to be more careful,’ I mean, how do you play quarterback that way?” he asked. “Which is another reason why, if that’s the way you got to play quarterback, maybe you shouldn’t play quarterback anymore? I know Mike McDaniel asked for this conversation not to be had, but this is the conversation (Friday), 100 percent.”

Dolphins players also had emotional responses Thursday night.

“It makes me sick. I think anyone, for the human eye, like, it sucks,” said quarterback Skylar Thompson, who entered for Tagovailoa and may be counted on to start coming games. “You care about the person more than the player. Everybody in the organization would say the same thing. So, just really praying for Tua, and hopefully everything will come out all right.”

Said veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell: “Tua’s such a great guy and, given his history, it makes it a little tougher. He’s tough. He’s resilient. It’s the worst part of the game. I’m hoping he’s OK. I’m definitely going to reach out to him and pray for him and go out there and continue to fight for him.”

Armstead update

Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead appears to be in a good spot after he left Thursday’s game early with a shoulder injury.

“I think, so far, with the information, I’m optimistic that it will be something where he’ll be playing here sooner than later,” McDaniel said Friday, “but realistically, I don’t totally know besides the fact that it doesn’t look like it’s the worst-case scenario where you’re worried about the season and stuff. It’s not in that realm.

“If we would have allowed his competitive nature to kind of overtake the process, I could see where he would go back in the game in a situation if he was fighting for it; however, he knew something was wrong.”

McDaniel opted for veteran backup Kendall Lamm over rookie second-round pick Patrick Paul to enter for Armstead. He said Friday he didn’t want to put the rookie in a difficult predicament against a tough opponent as the result wasn’t going well for Miami.

The Dolphins also had injuries to guard Robert Jones (shoulder) and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique) Thursday.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State’s passing game was erratic for much of the spring and preseason. Through two games? Some good moments, but mostly inconsistent play all around from the quarterback to the receivers to the offensive linemen.

After an 0-2 start and a long break between the loss to Boston College and facing Memphis, there has been plenty of time for the Seminoles to make corrections on the practice field as well as learn and grow. There’s also been plenty of time for media and fans to contemplate changes, including benching transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.

If Gators fire Billy Napier, DJ Lagway might be quarterbacking FSU, UCF or Miami next year | Commentary

But the problems of a failing passing attack extend beyond the quarterback. It’s evident in seven drops, and not just by receivers but by tight end Kyle Morlock (three) and running back Lawrance Toafili (two). And it’s reflected in a veteran offensive line that often isn’t giving Uiagalelei enough time to throw.

“There’s not much that did click,” coach Mike Norvell said of the loss to Boston College. “We struggled to win one-on-ones early. There were times where we were giving up, getting pressure. There were times where we missed a throw or missed an opportunity for a catch.”

Uiagalelei went from completing 19 of 27 passes (70.4%) for 193 yards in the loss to Georgia Tech, mostly on short routes, to hitting just 21 of 42 passes (50%) for 272 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Boston College. The fourth-down interception was returned to set up a short BC touchdown.

And while the Seminoles had seven drops, it’s easy to find seven passes where Uiagalelei missed a would-be receiver by a yard or two. His pass into the end zone to a wide-open Darion Williamson also wasn’t close, a potential touchdown that could have shifted momentum.

It’s not as easy for FSU’s coaches as inserting the most popular guy on campus, which when teams are losing is the talented backup quarterback, redshirt freshman in Brock Glenn. It’s a nuanced problem and one where coaches have to contemplate a bottom-line question: Who can make the right decisions that build drives, which result in a touchdown or field goal?

It’s a question that will define not just the matchup with Memphis (2-0) but potentially this season. Do the coaches, and players, have confidence in Uiagalelei to guide them? Should the coaches see what Glenn can do, designating a drive or two ahead of time and trying it out? Or do they move on to Glenn as the starter?

Norvell has quite the decision to make, an unfortunate one this early in the year. And one ahead of a game against his former school in Memphis. A home loss, or a sluggish win, could result in deafening boos from an already antsy fan base.

What Glenn offers is a quarterback with more speed and agility. He could open up a dimension of the run game. And he does process faster than Uiagalelei, who has struggled with his decision-making. But starting Glenn means FSU has punted on Uiagalelei. Are coaches ready to do that?

Regardless of how it plays out, the Seminoles must play better around the quarterback. Drops are part of the game, but seven is excessive. Few linemen are perfect in pass protection, but they can admit they should have blocked far better and can do so moving forward.

FSU likely looked at the luxury of an early bye week over the summer as a time to rest and recharge. Instead, the coaches are recalibrating the passing attack.

Coaches: Norvell, 5th season at FSU, 31-19 (69-34 overall); Ryan Silverfield, 5th season at Memphis, 33-19.

Quick slant: The Seminoles are 5-2 after a bye since Norvell was hired in 2020, but they have won their last five. … FSU is paying Memphis, Norvell’s old school, a $1.3 million guarantee for this game. … Memphis played two Power 5 schools in 2023, losing 34-27 to Missouri at St. Louis and defeating Iowa State 36-26 in the Liberty Bowl.

About FSU: FSU’s schedule was viewed as challenging, although not among the toughest nationally. Still, the Seminoles are the only P4 team to open with a pair of conference games. … FSU will induct Lamarcus Joyner, a member of the 2013 national title team, as well as Anquan Boldin into its athletics hall of fame Friday … FSU doesn’t rank all that well among the FBS teams, although special teams has been a bright spot. Ryan Fitzgerald is 4 of 4 on field-goal attempts, making a 59-yarder, while Alex Mastromanno averages 49.9 yards per punt.

About Memphis: Silverfield was Norvell’s offensive line coach at Memphis from 2016-19 before he was elevated to head coach. … Memphis can run but the offense runs through QB Seth Henigan, a four-year starter who owns the school record for passing yards (11,233). He has thrown a touchdown pass in 39 straight games … WR Roc Taylor had 1,083 receiving yards last year, and the senior has 9 catches for 114 yards to start 2024.

3 things to watch

Leadership, anyone?: When a top-10 team opens as a double-digit favorite yet loses both games, it’s reasonable to question taking an opponent lightly and leadership. It’s clear there is a lack of leadership on offense and defense. One sophomore who has earned more playing time, LB Justin Cryer, has been cited as learning to speak up. The Seminoles need more of that.

The defensive front: This area has been a major disappointment, failing to generate pressure (albeit against two mobile QBs in Thomas Castellanos and Haynes King) or limit the run. FSU now gets a chance to apply pressure to a drop-back passer as Henigan runs just a few times per game. Do the Seminoles get back in the groove? If Henigan can deliver quick strikes to receivers, it’s an indicator of what could be a long year at FSU.

Can FSU run?: FSU will miss Jaylin Lucas, a scatback runner and pass-catcher who could have been a playmaker. The Seminoles have talented options in Toafili, Roydell Williams and freshman Kam Davis (who is 224 pounds). Defenses are crowding the box and making it tough to run, so it is critical to be more effective and explosive in the pass game. If FSU can find rhythm in the passing attack, a veteran line’s job gets easier. But the Seminoles can’t abandon a game plan that must revolve around the run.

Up next …

FSU vs. Memphis

When: Saturday, at Doak Campbell Stadium, noon

TV/radio: ESPN; Radio: 810 AM in Orlando; SiriusXM Ch. 119 or 193.

Weather: 83 degrees, 50% rain chance

Favorite: FSU 6.5 points

 

 

 

Here are the top stories for Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Get the weather forecast for today here.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here.

Schools chief seeks external review of police officer’s bullying complaint

Lavish catering under ex-UF president Ben Sasse: $38,610 sushi bar, holiday party that cost nearly $900 per person

Boca Raton’s new residential project rises as the city experiences continued growth

Dwyane Wade statue at Kaseya Center to be unveiled Oct. 27, with a halftime ceremony the following night vs. Pistons

Timing of huge pay hikes to police union bosses draws scrutiny in Fort Lauderdale

Woman arrested in murder of her octogenarian grandparents in Fort Lauderdale

Memorial Healthcare System board severs contract with its CEO

DeSantis’ congressional redistricting plan lands at Florida Supreme Court

Miss Manners: Can I ask my friend why her husband disappeared from social media posts?

If the Federal Reserve moves ahead with an anticipated interest rate cut next week, tepid South Florida homebuyers are likely to vacate the sidelines and start shopping, observers say.

But Sheila Bair, the former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., is not so sure a reduction is advisable.

The onetime FDIC leader who helped steer the U.S. banking system through the housing crisis of 2008 told a virtual conference sponsored by Optimum Bank of Fort Lauderdale on Thursday that Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell should dial back recent dovish comments on inflation. She also said the central bank should “stand pat next week” when the Federal Open Market Committee is scheduled to discuss its next move.

“Most importantly, it is still too soon to declare victory over inflation,” Bair told an online audience of several thousand people.

“The worst-case scenario for both banking and the U.S. economy is a stagflation scenario where the economy slows but inflation and interest rates have to remain high,” she asserted. “You must avoid this scenario at all costs.”

Bair’s remarks came after rates for 30-year fixed rate home mortgages fell again for the sixth straight week, this time to a low of 6.29% in the week ended Sept. 6, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

In addition, the U.S. Labor Department reported the consumer price index for August rose 2.5% from the year before, dropping from 2.9% in July. The latter adds up to a potential rate cut when the Fed meets next week.

“Yes, commodity prices came down providing a headline CPI rate of 2.5%,” Bair acknowledged. But, she added, commodity prices remain “highly volatile, particularly energy,” core inflation remains above 3%, housing inflation has been “persistent” and “lower mortgage rates will only exacerbate supply-demand imbalances.”

She added that a recession does not appear to be imminent as the labor market, while slowing, “still appears to be in pretty good shape.”

“This looks like a soft landing to me and I suggest caution against the Fed doing anything too drastic,” she said. ” And clearly while lower rates will give a boost to Wall Street, will the benefits trickle down to Main Street?”

High central bank interest rates have aggravated housing affordability problems in Florida and around the nation, a byproduct of central bank efforts to tame rapid inflation. The effect of higher central bank rates, while not having an immediate impact on mortgage rates, eventually made it more expensive for people to borrow to buy a home and for builders to finance construction.

Bair said any cut should be by a quarter point at the most, adding that Powell, the Fed chair, should respond to what economic data shows, not to financial market pressures.

“His rate cutting finger may be a bit itchy but it’s better to under promise and over deliver later on rate cuts if the data supports it,” she said.

‘For every win, a loss’

Rebel Cole, a finance professor at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business who served as one of the Optimum Bank panelists, acknowledged in a post-conference interview that when borrowing, rate cuts give many homebuyers the ability to afford a bigger house.

“A 1% drop has a massive impact on the monthly payment,” he said. “That’s a good thing for everybody, especially for people in fancy house like me.”

“But for every win there is a loss,” Cole said. “As more people come back into the market that’s going to put more pressure on housing prices.”

It is also unclear whether a quarter-point cut next week and another later this year “is really going to move the needle that far,” he said.

Cole worries that profligate spending by the U.S. government, which is now more than $335 trillion in debt, will neutralize any monetary moves.  .

“It’s really a tight wire the Fed has to walk,” Cole said. “You can’t run monetary policy in isolation from fiscal policy.”

Inflation still hurts small business

Bill Herrle, executive director of the 10,000-member National Independent Business Federation — Florida, said the chief concern for his members is inflation, followed by the tight labor market.

“Inflation impacts them in energy costs, costs of goods sold and raw materials,” he said. “Generally does it leave less capital to invest in the business? Absolutely. That doesn’t mean they fill the gap with loans. Typically it has a suppressing effect on a business owner’s desire to expand.”

Businesses are still competing for talent that’s in short supply, Herrle added.

“We’re trying to hire workers. What do we do when they’re not available? We increase wages,” he said. “For small buisness owners, wages have been increasing at a 30-year record-setting pace.”

Avoiding a regional slowdown

In separate interviews, real estate analysts, economists, brokers and small business advocates all said there is an appetite for more economic expansion in Florida that is being sourced through a continuing flow of relocations by out-of-state businesses and residents.

Brokers are also seeing ownership turnovers in existing businesses and the start of new ones.

“Florida is slowing, but it’s still very strong and the labor market is extremely tight in Florida relative to the national market,” said Sean Snaith, director of an economic research center at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Mike Pappas, CEO of the The Keyes Family of Companies, said South Florida’s supply of single-family homes is improving.

“There is more selection and more opportunities today and a more balanced market,” he said. “There has actually been more listings on the market with price reductions. You’re seeing people become more reasonable. We’re not seeing the double-digit price appreciation we saw during the COVID surge. We’re back to a more normal single digit appreciation.

“We are seeing first time homebuyers are coming back into the market at a greater percentage,” he added.

But Ken Johnson, a longtime South Florida real estate economist who recently moved from FAU to the University of Mississippi, predicts a cyclical action of slowly declining mortgage rates that will trigger buying activity, which will warm up the housing market and, in turn, inflation.

“The Fed will get hawkish,” he said. “You will have this saw-tooth movement in rates going down.”

“We’ll work our way back to 4.5% to 5.5% 30-year mortgage rates,” he said. But buyers shouldn’t expect a return to 3% as “it doesn’t make sense.”

And, in fact, the recent downward trend in rates is generating interest among people who have been on the sidelines, said Diane Mastay, mortgage director at Tropical Financial Credit Union.

“Maybe it’s just been all the talk and expectations,” she said. “It always piques people’s interest when the Fed cuts the rates. If people were looking to purchase and wait on the sidelines, we get a lot more inquiries when this happens. That’s a good thing. We want to see the market get to where it used to be — people buying. We are starting to get an uptick in applications.”

Tropical, though, is not hearing from people seeking to refinance as many customers are holding mortgages at rates that are much lower than they are now.

Timothy Terry, president and CEO of Optimum Bank Holdings, said the Fort Lauderdale institution has been “pretty active on the lending front” particularly with entrepreneurs who are seeking loans supported by the Small Business Administration.

“They are eternal optimists,” he said. “For us, probably the main SBA loans we see right now are people buying franchises. These are people currently working and acquired some net worth and they want to borrow some money.”

Andrew Cagnetta, CEO of Transworld Business Advisors, said his South Florida brokerage firm has seen a rebound in the sale of businesses since COVID slowed activity.

“We do see things picking up now,” he said. “I think everybody feels better. The SBA loan program has been very helpful for small business.”

Deals are capped at $5 million.

“No. 1 always for us is the hospitality industry” such as restaurants, Cagnetta said. Then comes construction businesses, and then service business such as landscaping, hair salons or pool services. Healthcare businesses such as physician practices, laboratories and home care agencies are also in demand.

In the commercial real estate and construction fields, lending continues to be a conservative proposition, according to a South Florida broker and lender.

“I know in the multi-family sector, many developers are sitting on terrific sites,” said Tere Blanca, founder, chairman and CEO of  Blanca Commercial Real Estate. “There seems to be a wait-and-see approach.”

The office sector “is very challenging to underwrite because of the cost of construction and the high interest rate environment.”

Although there are  “pockets here and there” containing substantial office vacancies, South Florida is continuing to benefit from inbound migration and stable businesses occupying the majority of spaces.

But loans on many commercial properties are coming due this year and next and are in line to be financed at higher rates. And banks are being more “choosey” about what projects they will finance to build, said Ben Jacobson, principal of Forman Capital in Boynton Beach.

“There are banks that are still active,” he said. “What will banks do once these rates change? I don’t think anyone knows. Does that solve all of the problem loans on their balance sheets? No, not really. They still have to contend with that.”

As for any change in interest rates, he said. “I don’t know you are going to see meaningful change yet. It’ll be more of a Pyrrhic victory.”

Concerning the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, there’s a clear winner.

The debate revealed one person to be thin-skinned, ill-prepared and untethered to the truth, and the other person to be well-informed, extremely confident and strong enough to stand up to a bully.

If lies about migrants eating cats and dogs or praising world dictators or acting like a schoolyard bully, or being worried about crowd size are things you want in a president, then Trump is your man. But if having someone who will stand up to dictators, who actually cares about people in need, will protect a woman’s right to control her body, and will not spread baseless conspiracy theories, the choice is clear.

Harris showed herself to be a competent, compassionate, highly intelligent, strong woman who will be a president for all people.

Steven T. Hoover, Margate

Read about Project 2025

For a bunch of old dudes in wigs who didn’t have Internet access, our founding fathers were pretty smart.

Having fought a war to escape the tyranny of autocratic rule, they created a government with three equal parts, each with oversight of the other. Like a three-legged stool, our democracy is solid, no matter its footing. But cut off one leg, and the whole thing comes tumbling down.

Some will dismiss as fear-mongering our cries of the end of democracy should Donald Trump be reelected. But don’t listen to me; listen to your leaders. Read Project 2025, the blueprint for the first 180 days of a new Trump administration.

Disband the Department of Education. Eliminate the Department of Homeland Security. Replace experienced, nonpartisan career civil servants with Trump loyalists who will be terminated if they don’t do his bidding. Weaponize the Justice Department to wreak revenge on his detractors.

Consolidate all power in the executive branch — e.g., Trump.

Don’t take my word for it. Read Project 2025.  If that’s the democracy you want then, by all means, vote for Trump.

Joel Speiser, Delray Beach

A test of character

In Donald Trump’s first campaign, he said Barack Obama wasn’t born in the U.S. Trump claimed to have sent private investigators to Hawaii and that they couldn’t believe what they found. What did they find? He was lying, of course, and he continues to lie. What does that say about his character?

The 2020 election lie was far worse. Trump tried to overthrow the government. In all our history, there has never been as treasonous or shameful act by anyone in power.

Why is that alone not disqualifying? I am also curious to know why so many Americans would have been OK with Trump remaining in power, when he clearly and decisively lost the election.

John Musinsky, Boca Raton

Backing the blue (ticket)

In a letter to the editor published 0n Aug. 27 is an outstanding statement from Dr. Howard Olarsch that succinctly sums up the Trump effect: “His legacy is an untrustworthy Supreme Court, a dysfunctional Congress and an inability to deal with truth.”

The second is from Neal Bluestein, to whom you give valuable space. About the Harris-Walz ticket, he states: “I guess liberals believe ‘any blue will do, even these two.'” In keeping with that theme, I would personally vote for the Blues Brothers before I would vote for Trump.

Dick Dann, Tamarac

You can submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or by filling out the form below. Letters are limited to less than 150 words and must be signed. Include your email address, city of residence and daytime phone for verification. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. 

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Today is Friday, Sept. 13, the 257th day of 2024. There are 109 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 13, 2008, crews rescued people from their homes in an all-out search for thousands of Texans who had stayed behind overnight to face Hurricane Ike.

Also on this date:

In 1788, the Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election and declared New York City the temporary national capital.

In 1948, Republican Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was elected to the U.S. Senate; she became the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress.

In 1971, a four-day inmate rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in western New York ended as police and guards stormed the prison; the ordeal and final assault claimed the lives of 32 inmates and 11 hostages.

In 1997, a funeral was held in Calcutta, India, for Nobel peace laureate Mother Teresa.

In 1993, at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands after signing an accord granting limited Palestinian autonomy.

In 2010, Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic to win his first U.S. Open title and complete a career Grand Slam.

In 2021, school resumed for New York City public school students in the nation’s largest experiment of in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Barbara Bain is 93.
• Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias is 84.
• Rock singer David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears) is 83.
• Actor Jacqueline Bisset is 80.
• Singer Peter Cetera is 80.
• Actor Jean Smart is 73.
• Record producer Don Was is 72.
• Chef Alain Ducasse is 68.
• Rock singer-musician Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) is 63.
• Olympic gold medal sprinter Michael Johnson is 57.
• Filmmaker Tyler Perry is 55.
• Fashion designer Stella McCartney is 53.
• Former tennis player Goran Ivanisevic (ee-van-EE’-seh-vihch) is 53.
• Country musician Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts) is 49.
• Singer-songwriter Fiona Apple is 47.
• Actor Ben Savage is 44.
• Soccer player Thomas Müller is 35.
• Rock singer Niall Horan (One Direction) is 31.
• Actor Lili Reinhart (TV: “Riverdale”) is 28.

MIAMI GARDENS — The night the Miami Dolphins pretended could never happen ended with Damar Hamlin relating he saw Tua Tagovailoa move his limbs on the field and so wasn’t overly concerned. The Buffalo safety then said he’d pray for the Miami Dolphins quarterback.

“No one likes to witness that,’’ said Hamlin, who knows all about the dangers of football, nearly dying himself on a field two years ago. “He’s my brother. We’re playing. You don’t want the worst of the worst to happen.”

As stood at his locker late Thursday night, all solemn and sincere, there was an Old Testament quality to his words, like the prophet Jeremiah lamenting the evil, decay and disaster he saw around him. Except Hamlin was on the winning side, as usual in this meeting, and all around him were smiles.

“Great night,’’ he said.

It was the Dolphins lamenting the decay, disaster and infernal decision-making that put them in this spot. Again. Or at least the spot as those of us watching, lo these many Old-Testamnt years.

It wasn’t just the Dolphins team that got ripped by Buffalo, 31-10. It was the full Dolphins organization that looks shredded. Do we need to go chapter and verse?

There were roster details like the lack of a third receiver – remember, they signed Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year contract knowing he’d be hurt at season’s start – played directly into Tua’s first two interceptions. The third receiver in each question, Grant Dubos and Robbie Chosen, came into camp in late August and ran the kind of pattern that showed a communication issue with Tagovailoa.

Their left tackle, Terron Armstead, who they held out of practice all summer for fear of injury, was injured. Again.

Buffalo ran at will, once for a 49-yard touchdown, over what you can call the Christian Wilkins Hole for the middle of the Dolphins defense. He’s gone. And couldn’t be replaced.

Then there was Tua’s injury, as painful as it was to watch again. The splayed fingers? The medics around him? The players taking knees on the field? It was the kind of sad scene that’s hung over this organization like Banquo’s Ghost for the past couple of years even if they pretended it didn’t exst.

The good news is Tagovailoa walked off the field, wobbly as he was. Coach Mike McDaniel kissed him on the forehead in a wonderful touch of humanity. The human condition matters. Always.

It’s the colder, more corporate condition you have to consider in the sober light of a violent game and fragile body. This was a night the foundation of the Dolphins plan collapsed, the nuts and bolts broke, coiled springs shot in all directions and the question became afterward if Humpty Dumpty can be put together again.

Everyone got new contracts with the Dolphins, starting with Tagovailoa. Good or him. Who isn’t for players making more money?

But was anyone watching out for the larger organization’s future in this? Wasn’t anyone – like General Manager Chris Grier – concerned another concussion on top of his need-a-next-step game meant there’s no rush to sign him to a four-year, $212 million contract?

This isn’t some second guess. This was the first guess for months leading up to the contract. But here they are, still losing to Buffalo, still wondering if Tagovialoa can stay healthy, much less if he can become a top quarterback.

Forget his first interceptions. You can explain those as third-receiver problems. But that third interception was as bad an NFL pass as you’ll see. An attempt to throw out of bounds under pressure even reach out of bounds. It was instead intercepted and returned 49 easy yards for a game-sealing touchdown.

And then he suffered the concussion when he ran head-first into Hamlin’s shoulder. And where does it go now?

If this debacle against Buffalo is indicative of where the Dolphins are in Week Two, it’s going to be the longest of seasons. We’re not there yet. But you can see it from here if they don’t tighten their screws.

Meanwhile, they’re in the hole against AFC East king Buffalo. It’s 12-2 against the Dolphins of late. It cracked the code to hold Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to 67 yards combined receiving Thursday. It’s held this praised Dolphins offense to 20, 14 and 10 points in their last three meetings. It had a minimalist game from quarterback Josh Allen. It still dominated.

Tagovailoa went around the locker room talking to players, McDaniel related. That’s the lone good news of this night.

“A gut check for this team early in the season,’’ McDaniel said.

It’s beyond that. It’s a check of this organization. Buffalo found this organization’s problems – a third receiver, a weakened defense, age-and-injury concerns and, yes, the quarterback. Thursday was a defining game considering how much Dolphins’ hope was put into it.

The question of the Dolphins season is if that definition can be changed.

 

In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Dave Hyde and David Furones discuss quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffering another concussion and break down Miami’s disastrous loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football.

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MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins lost a key game to their division rival and, even worse, lost their quarterback to another case of head trauma.

Tua Tagovailoa exited the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills with a concussion on Thursday night.

Tagovailoa was scrambling for a first down on fourth-and-4 deep into the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. As he charged forward, he collided head-first with Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa dipped his helmet into Hamlin’s shoulder.

Tagovailoa was down for minutes and went into a fencing posture with his right hand up and fingers curly with the left grabbing at his head while he lied on the turf. Teammates gestured immediately for assistance from the sideline.

Tagovailoa got up and walking on his own with trainers alongside him, escorting him into the tunnel.

He was ruled out for the remainder of the game moments later. He went 17 of 25 for 145 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions before exiting.

Before the conclusion of Thursday’s game, the Amazon Prime Video broadcast reported Tagovailoa had full movement in his extremities.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said his quarterback was in good spirits after the game.

Related Articles

• Miami Dolphins | Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 31-10 loss vs. the Buffalo Bills
• Miami Dolphins | Hyde: Bills dominate, Tua hurt, Hill shut down — 10 thoughts on Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to Buffalo
• Miami Dolphins | Instant Analysis: Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 10
• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins Deep Dive: Hyde and Furones on Tua suffering another concussion; ugly loss to Bills | VIDEO

“My thought was concern and I was just worried about my guy,” McDaniel said of his immediate reaction. “It’s not something that you ever want to be a part of.”

“It makes me sick. I think anyone, for the human eye, like, it sucks,” said backup quarterback Skylar Thompson, who entered for Tagovailoa. “In my position, you never want to have your opportunity come with something like that, and (I) have a lot of love for Tua. Built a great relationship with him.

“You care about the person more than the player. Everybody in the organization would say the same thing. So just really praying for Tua and hopefully everything will come out all right.”

The irony with Hamlin being the defender on the tackle is that he once went into cardiac arrest on the field at Cincinnati toward the end of the 2022 season, in January 2023. One of Tagovailoa’s concussions that season also took place in Cincinnati against the Bengals.

“My love and prayers with @Tua,” Hamlin posted on X after the game. “Sending you strength and healing for a speedy recovery.”

Said Bills quarterback Josh Allen on the Prime Video post-game show of Tagovailoa: “You can’t help but feel for him. He’s a great football player but an even better human being.”

In the 2022 season, Tagovailoa suffered multiple concussions, causing him to miss five and half games. He made it through his first full season healthy in 2023.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Hyde and Furones on Tua suffering another concussion; ugly loss to Bills | VIDEO

Tagovailoa said, between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he considered retirement before returning last season. Ahead of this season, the Dolphins signed Tagovailoa to a four-year contract extension worth $212.4 million.

Thompson entered for Tagovailoa after Miami’s starter took the hit. He went 8 of 14 for 80 yards in the spot duty, and he may now be counted on as the Dolphins starter, unless the team looks for an outside passer.

“I’m confident,” said Thompson. “I feel like I’m ready for whatever is to come.”

McDaniel’s mind was far from thinking of any potential plan at quarterback in the coming weeks after witnessing another case of head trauma for Tagovailoa.

“Right now, it’s more about getting a proper procedural evaluation (Friday) and taking it one day at a time,” the Dolphins coach said. “The furthest thing from my mind is what is the timeline. We just need to evaluate, and I’m just worried about my teammate, like the rest of the guys are.”

McDaniel also stayed away from the topic of Tagovailoa’s future in football.

Tagovailoa’s head injury added to an awful Thursday night for the franchise, solidifying the Dolphins (1-1) are still behind the Bills, who have won the past four division titles, in the AFC East.

Buffalo (2-0) continues to dominate Miami, earning a fifth consecutive win in the AFC East rivalry, with wins in 12 of the past 13 meetings.

The Dolphins turned the ball over three times, on Tagovailoa’s interceptions, and had four turnovers on downs.

“That’s the main thing that the football team is feeling, is supreme disappointment, because they’ve put a lot into it,” McDaniel said. “They have high expectations. And you can’t even evaluate appropriately when you’re playing football that way and giving it to the opponent, giving them extra possessions.”

Buffalo running back James Cook scorched his hometown team for three total touchdowns — two rushing — while going for 78 yards on the ground and a 17-yard touchdown reception. Allen went 13 of 19 for 139 yards and the touchdown pass to Cook.

On a night when star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were held to 65 combined receiving yards, running back De’Von Achane, after entering questionable with an ankle injury, had 22 carries for 96 yards and seven receptions for another 69 yards and a touchdown through the air.

The night immediately started in Buffalo’s favor as Miami’s opening drive resulted in an interception, and that turnover resulted in a Bills touchdown.

Tagovailoa threw to wide receiver Grant DuBose for his first regular season target in the NFL. The third-and-13 pass deflected off Dubose’s shoulder pad as he didn’t turn around on his route and was intercepted by cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram.

With DuBose, Robbie Chosen and Braxton Berrios the three wide receivers in the formation, McDaniel said the team was trying to reinsert Waddle into the lineup, but they were late in the play clock.

His 25-yard return gave Allen a short field, and on fourth-and-3 from the 17-yard line, he found Cook wide open. Linebacker David Long Jr. got tied up in traffic from wide receivers on the left side crossing over the middle, which freed up Cook, the Miami product from Central High.

The Dolphins responded with a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. Achane scored out of the right flat, with Tagovailoa finding him and fullback Alec Ingold out to block for him.

Late in the first quarter, Tagovailoa threw his second interception, targeting Chosen this time. It appeared to be a miscommunication on the route, as Chosen pulled up and Tagovailoa threw over him. The pass was intercepted by Christian Benford.

That turnover gifted Buffalo 3 points on a 43-yard field goal for Tyler Bass.

With a 10-7 lead, the Bills got back to scoring touchdowns. Cook had a 1-yard rushing score after Allen threw to running back Ty Johnson, beating cornerback Jalen Ramsey on a wheel route, for 33 yards to get to the 1-yard line. Miami safety Jordan Poyer, the former Bill, got hit for a personal foul for a helmet-to-helmet hit on former teammate, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, on the series.

After the Dolphins turned it over on downs on a fourth-down sack in which Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver beat left guard Robert Jones, Cook scored his third touchdown on the following play from scrimmage, scampering 49 yards to the end zone.

Miami took a 24-10 deficit into halftime after kicking a field goal before intermission.

In the third period, Tagovailoa was facing pressure and trying to throw a pass away to the Buffalo sideline, but he didn’t quite get it there. Ingram took his second interception 31 yards for a touchdown that put the Bills ahead, 31-10.

Along with Tagovailoa, Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead and left guard Robert Jones left early with shoulder injuries.

The Dolphins, coming off the Thursday night game, get the weekend off before they travel to Seattle for a Week 3 game against the Seahawks on Sept. 22.

• Farther and daughter Roberto and Mikaela Guzman dance salsa in the parkiong lot, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is seen during warmups prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is seen during warmups prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle comes up just short of the end zone being defended by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Buffalo Bills running back James Cook runs in a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel objects to a call during a game against the Buffalo Bills Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane runs for a first down against the Buffalo Bills Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou eyes Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17)Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir is taken down by Miami Dolphins Jordan Poyer Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa drops back to throwThursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• uMiami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa reacts after a fall in which he suffered a concussion against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leaves the filed after suffering a concussion against the Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leaves the filed after suffering a concussion against the Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Mia i Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, right, confers with Buffalo Bills head Coach Sean McDermott after the Dolphins loss, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws a pass during the loss to the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa takes the field for a game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Tua would leave the game with three interceptions and a concussion. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins fans react in the closing minutes of the loss to the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright runs the ball against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Show Caption1 of 19

Farther and daughter Roberto and Mikaela Guzman dance salsa in the parkiong lot, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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General Daily Insight for September 13, 2024

We can be our most capable selves today. The Moon is in Capricorn, igniting our inner ambition. This bonfire is stoked even higher by our desires when the Moon squares Venus in Libra at 7:30 am EDT. The Moon will be busy throughout the day, forming a trine to the Sun in Virgo before squaring Chiron in Aries, so we can find satisfaction in repetition. Contrastingly, we will potentially crave change when the Moon makes one more trine to rebellious Uranus in Taurus.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Professional partnerships are the order of the day. The Moon in your 10th House of Success is zeroing your focus in on your ambitions, but you can loop others into those ambitions when the Moon squares Venus in your 7th House of Relationships. These people may prove very valuable, but the one danger here is overly relying on them or expecting too much without giving in return. Make sure that your connections remain equal, allowing everyone to benefit without feeling taken advantage of.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

There’s nothing wrong with a few extra bells and whistles! A compelling square between the Moon in your worldly 9th house and aesthetic Venus in your routine 6th house is reminding you that life should be a rich sensory experience. Take some time to come up with ways to make your usual daily habits more enjoyable or even glamorous. You can plausibly reshape your life into something much more luxurious with just a couple of small changes. Let yourself live your best life.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

There’s an undeniably dramatic vibration coming your way. It’s natural to feel rather tense and brooding while the Moon shivers in your secretive 8th house. Still, you may be lured out from the shadows when the Moon squares Venus in your vivid 5th house, giving you the impetus to show yourself off. It’s alright if you feel a bit out of sorts between these two opposing forces — instead of overthinking it, let yourself follow your whims, from the wings to the spotlight.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

This is a day for creature comforts. You want to spend time with people who matter to you while the Moon curls up in your relationship sector. Staying home and inviting them over is a great idea as Luna settles things with pleasant Venus in your domestic 4th house. Even if it is a rather last-minute affair with simple snacks or even takeout, you and a few of your closest connections can have a really lovely night all huddled together under your roof.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

The mundane feels unusually magical at this time. You’re primed to get your life in proper order while the Moon is marching through your efficient 6th house. Those essential nuts and bolts get a nice dose of fairy dust as the Moon bumps up against Venus in your busy 3rd house, showing you how to view everything through rose-colored glasses. As long as you don’t get too carried away, there’s no reason you can’t waltz through the day to whatever special destination you choose.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

No matter how disciplined you are, you deserve to spoil yourself today. Life is all about having a nice time as the Moon parties in your joyous 5th house. This upbeat aura also encompasses the more materialistic aspects of your life when the Moon squares aesthetic Venus in your deluxe 2nd house. If you’ve been mulling over a big purchase or other indulgence, you may finally splash out on it. To avoid buyer’s remorse, just be sure to go for quality over quantity.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your feelings are undeniably powerful. You’ll have a tough time ignoring them while the Moon moves through your 4th House of Emotions, but its square to your ruler Venus in your friendly sign will invite you to spread joy and love everywhere you go. There’s nothing wrong with this in theory, and your peers should respond well to your outpouring of kindness. Even so, beware of generosity when it isn’t deserved, or when others might take advantage of your giving spirit.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Life is taking on a fantastical hue. There is a magnetic alignment overhead between the Moon in your 3rd House of Neighborhoods and Venus in your 12th House of Visions, blurring the lines between your reality and your imagination. It’ll be nigh impossible to see anything but loveliness on offer! Noticing the optimistic aspects of the world is wonderful, but don’t leap at the first thing you spot — it may turn out to be a mirage that evaporates as soon as you reach out.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Others may pull you away from the work in front of you. You’re in an efficient frame of mind while the Moon works in your 2nd House of Income, inspiring you to roll up your sleeves. The Moon’s square to Venus in your 11th House of Humanity opposes this, demanding that you leave a personal project in favor of gathering with your chosen people. You’ll have to decide between delaying whatever you were putting together versus risking missing out on a fun group activity.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You can shine brightly, provided you choose the best place to do so. The Moon in your determined sign is motivating you to tap into your emotions and intuition more freely. Plus, a potent angle to Venus in your reputation sector can simplify the process of doing this to your advantage. A well-chosen interaction at the right time with the right people could reflect wonderfully upon you, and people will be very likely to remember it down the line. Being open is being wise.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Sticking to your typical boundaries simply isn’t plausible at present. You could float along like a cloud while the Moon moves through your subconscious sector, but that may not satisfy you once the Moon complains to Venus in your vast 9th house. You may experience a desire for change or for something different, so by all means go looking for some ways to spice up your life — just don’t dive so deep that you can’t get back to where you started.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

How much do you have in your cup, Pisces? It might be almost impossible to keep a lid on your giving tendencies as the Moon in your altruistic 11th house burdens Venus in your transformational 8th house, so brace yourself for all sorts of appeals that tug on your heartstrings everywhere you go. You can support as many people as you choose in whatever manner you want, but remember to give to yourself too! Remember: you can’t pour from an empty cup.

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who threw three interceptions, including a pick-6, left Thursday’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter with a concussion. 

That was soon after left tackle Terron Armstead and left guard Robert Jones both left the game with shoulder injuries.

Wow.

Thursday night games are never easy. And when the Dolphins face Buffalo, which entered having beaten Miami 13 of the previous 15 times they’ve played, well, things become much more complicated.

Here are some more takeaways from Thursday night’s game: 

The contract extension/restructure moves taking a big early hit

Dolphins owner Steve Ross, who entertained NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, saw some of his offseason money take a hit Thursday night.

Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension, left the game with yet another concussion. He had two diagnosed concussions in 2022, and one other situation of suspected head trauma (vs. Buffalo).

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, whose contract was restructured with $65 million guaranteed, had a rough start to the week with his police detainment before Sunday’s game.

At least coach Mike McDaniel, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who also got offseason contract extensions, are OK. — Chris Perkins

Related Articles

• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa exits with concussion as Buffalo pounds Miami in AFC East showdown
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• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins Deep Dive: Hyde and Furones on Tua suffering another concussion; ugly loss to Bills | VIDEO
• Miami Dolphins | Instant Analysis: Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 10
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• Miami Dolphins | Chris Perkins: Why am I writing my third Dolphins column in eight months about Tyreek Hill’s off-the-field life?

Tua INTs turns into 17 points, including another 17-7 deficit

Tagovailoa had a pass deflect off wide receiver Grant DuBose and be intercepted by cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram. But that wasn’t the amazing part.

Buffalo scored a 17-yard touchdown on fourth-and-3 on a pass from quarterback Josh Allen to running back James Cook to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

In the second quarter Tagovailoa had an interception by cornerback Christian Benford while targeting wide receiver Robbie Chosen. Buffalo turned that into a 43-yard field goal.

Cook’s 1-yard run gave the Bills a 17-7 lead in the second quarter.

It marked the second consecutive game the Dolphins faced a 17-7 second quarter deficit. The Jaguars opened the same lead last Sunday in the Dolphins’ 20-17 victory.

Tagovailoa’s third interception was a third-quarter pick-6 on a pass it appeared he was trying to throw out of bounds while avoiding a pass rush. 

Ingram returned it 31 yards for a touchdown, streaking down Buffalo’s sideline.

Tagovailoa had a career-high 14 interceptions last season, the first year he played every game.

Dolphins’ 30-somethings extend their rough start

It’s been a rough start for the Dolphins and their 30-somethings. Let’s take a quick look:

— Edge rusher Shaq Barrett (31) suddenly retired shortly before training camp;

— WR Odell Beckham Jr. (31) is on the physically-unable-to-perform list;

— RB Raheem Mostert (32) missed Buffalo game with chest injury;

— Armstead (33) had a strong opener vs. Jacksonville but sustained right shoulder injury in third quarter vs. Buffalo and left the game;

— Hill (30) had his pregame detainment on Sunday became a national news story before he had seven receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown. He had three receptions for 24 yards Thursday;

— DL Calais Campbell (38) got off to a good start in Week 1 with three tackles, including one sack. He had one tackle Thursday;

— S Jordan Poyer (33) was good in opener vs. Jacksonville, but had an unsportsmanlike conduct Thursday.

CB Jalen Ramsey (29), who is battling a hamstring injury, joins the 30-something club in six weeks (Oct. 24).

Dolphins Deep Dive: Hyde and Furones on Tua suffering another concussion; ugly loss to Bills | VIDEO

Buffalo takeover at Hard Rock Stadium is understated

The Bills fans had a huge presence in the 2023 season finale at Hard Rock Stadium, a 21-14 Buffalo victory.

Thursday’s crowd was a little less Buffalo-centric than many of the past few meetings.

Bills fans travel well, and they especially love coming to South Florida and the Elbo Room on Fort Lauderdale beach.

Fourth downs not kind to Dolphins so far

Tagovailoa was sacked on fourth-and-2 in the second quarter, dropping the Dolphins to 0 for 3 on fourth-down attempts on the season. Tagovailoa was sacked Thursday by Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver.

Against Jacksonville, the Dolphins failed on fourth-and-8 and fourth-and-3.

Tagovailoa scrambled on fourth-and-4 in the third quarter for a first down on the play he was hurt.

Strangely, Tagovailoa ran into Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin, whose on-field trauma two seasons ago saw him getting chest compressions on the field.

Big boy play-calling continues

McDaniel is expanding the offense. Fullback Alec Ingold had a three-yard carry on third-and-1 in the first quarter and tight end Jonnu Smith had four receptions for 40 yards in the first quarter. Ingold ended with two carries for two yards. Smith ended with six receptions for 53 yards.

It’s modest totals. But it’s nice to see McDaniel utilizing some of the Dolphins’ most physical offensive players early in the game.

Jalen Ramsey a full go, but going slowly

It didn’t seem as though Ramsey, who has been battling a hamstring injury, was on a snap count Thursday. Ramsey, who was beaten for a 33-yard gain by running back Ty Johnson against Buffalo and flagged for a 40-yard pass interference against Jacksonville rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., is off to a slow start this season.

Left side of OL halted by shoulder injuries

The left side of the offensive line is in question due to shoulder injuries to Armstead and Jones. Veteran Kendall Lamm replaced Armstead at left tackle and Lester Cotton replaced Jones at left guard.

It’ll likely be that way for the Seattle game in Week 3 if Armstead and Jones are sidelined.

It’s doubtful that rookie tackle Patrick Paul would get the start over Lamm, who has been a strong backup in two seasons.

Jaelan Phillips has quiet game

Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who had a good comeback last Sunday after sustaining that season-ending Achilles injury in November, had a quiet game Thursday.

Phillips showed speed but didn’t necessarily make any plays. He had a crucial late-game sack against Jacksonville.

Phillips ended with no tackles Thursday.

Buffalo dominance

Allen improved to 12-2 against the Dolphins with Thursday’s victory.

Buffalo has now defeated the Dolphins 14 of the past 16 times they’ve played.

McDaniel fell to 1-5 against Buffalo.

The Dolphins, by the way, were money in September under McDaniel entering Thursday.

Miami is now 7-2 in September games under McDaniel, and 4-1 in September home games under McDaniel.

Don’t play Josh Allen if you’re the Dolphins, or on Thursday, and definitely don’t do both

Since Christmas Day of 2018, Josh Allen is 18-1 against the Dolphins OR on Thursdays. In those 19 games, Allen is 441 of 642 for 5,171 yards, 49 TD passes and 13 interceptions for a 109.9 passer rating, with a tacked-on 828 rushing yards on 115 non-kneeldown carries (7.2 yards per run) with 9 TDs. — Steve Svekis

Dolphins have seen the tackles for loss pile up

A game after the Dolphins, for the first time in almost five years, allowing as many as eight members of an opposing team to register at least one tackle for loss (a sack for a loss of yardage or a tackle of a ball-carrier for negative yardage), the Dolphins saw nine Bills pile up 10 more TFLs. The Dolphins hadn’t seen eight players register at least a one TFL in a game since Nov. 17, 2019, also against the Bills, when the Dolphins, after having shipped Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil to Houston in the offseason, started an offensive line of tackles Julie’n Davenport and Jesse Davis, guards Michael Deiter and Evan Boehm and center Daniel Kilgore.

Kicking on third down from Bills’ 16 with EIGHT seconds left in the half?

With a top-echelon-paid quarterback. There must be trust that if a play isn’t immediately open he will toss the ball away with time on the clock. That was gobsmacking.

When the lights have been brightest, Tua has suffered in the McDaniel era

With his completing 17-of-25 passes for 145 yards with one TD and three INTs (a 56.7 passer rating) against the Bills on Thursday night, Tua Tagovailoa’s statistics in 13 career nationally broadcast games with Mike McDaniel as coach are 235 of 382, 2,718, 12 TDs, 14 INTs with seven fumbles, a purely mediocre 78.2 passer rating. The Dolphins have gone 3-10 in those games.

Dolphins almost always have issues with running quarterbacks

While it is easy to fixate on Josh Allen’s dominance of the Dolphins, it must be noted that Miami has gotten piled up on by ANY legit mobile QB, certainly in recent years. Since 2018 (the start of Allen’s career) vs. QBs under 30 who own a career 5.40 yards per carry (non-kneeldowns), the Dolphins now have played 24 games against such passers. The average yardage allowed has been 414.3 per game (9,942 total), while the median has been 423.5. Their average net offensive points per game (offensive points scored minus touchdowns by interception or QB fumble or safeties via sacks or QB penalty) is now 29.9 per game (717 total). Worth mentioning with remaining games against Allen, Kyler Murray and Anthony Richardson.

Dolphins’ durability questions are as evident at running back as anywhere

With Raheem Mostert missing Week 2 and De’Von Achane having limped into the Bills matchup, it should be noted that the Dolphins’ running back room came into this year with little proof of durability, with Mostert’s 234 touches last season by far the most in a season for any of Miami’s backs. The room having entered the season with Mostert, Achane and Jeff Wilson having averaged 93 touches per NFL season, and Achane, the electric second-year runner, missed starts on three separate occasions due to injury in his rookie season.

Phillips or Rousseau?

In the 2021 draft, the Dolphins were looking for an edge rusher and snapped up the Miami Hurricanes’ Jaelan Phillips with the 18th selection. Twelve picks later, the Bills grabbed Phillips’ UM teammate, Gregory Rousseau. After Game 2 of the 2024 season, here are a few stats to compare the rising standouts: Games played: Rousseau 48, Phillips 44. Sacks: Phillips 23, Rousseau 20. Forced fumbles: Rousseau 4, Phillips 1. Tackles for loss: Rousseau 34, Phillips 25. Quarterback hits: Phillips 53, Rousseau 44.

On deck: At Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 22, 4:05 p.m., Lumen Field

Seattle is one of three teams the Dolphins have won a road playoff game against, along with the Chiefs and Steelers. Interestingly, Miami also has won a home playoff game against each of those franchises. … The Seahawks are quarterbacked by Miramar High School star Geno Smith.

• Farther and daughter Roberto and Mikaela Guzman dance salsa in the parkiong lot, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is seen during warmups prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is seen during warmups prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle comes up just short of the end zone being defended by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Buffalo Bills running back James Cook runs in a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel objects to a call during a game against the Buffalo Bills Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane runs for a first down against the Buffalo Bills Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou eyes Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17)Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir is taken down by Miami Dolphins Jordan Poyer Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa drops back to throwThursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• uMiami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa reacts after a fall in which he suffered a concussion against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leaves the filed after suffering a concussion against the Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leaves the filed after suffering a concussion against the Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Mia i Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, right, confers with Buffalo Bills head Coach Sean McDermott after the Dolphins loss, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws a pass during the loss to the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa takes the field for a game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Tua would leave the game with three interceptions and a concussion. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins fans react in the closing minutes of the loss to the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright runs the ball against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Show Caption1 of 19

Farther and daughter Roberto and Mikaela Guzman dance salsa in the parkiong lot, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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Today is Thursday, Sept. 12, the 256th day of 2024. There are 110 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 12, 2013, Voyager 1, launched 36 years earlier, became the first man-made spacecraft ever to leave the solar system.

Also on this date:

In 1857, the S.S. Central America (also known as the “Ship of Gold”) sank off the coast of South Carolina after sailing into a hurricane in one of the worst maritime disasters in American history; 425 people were killed and thousands of pounds of gold sank with the ship to the bottom of the ocean.

In 1940, the Lascaux cave paintings, estimated to be 17,000 years old, were discovered in southwestern France.

In 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Cooper v. Aaron, unanimously ruled that Arkansas officials who were resisting public school desegregation orders could not disregard the high court’s rulings.

In 1959, the Soviet Union launched its Luna 2 space probe, which made a crash landing on the moon.

In 1962, in a speech at Rice University in Houston, President John F. Kennedy reaffirmed his support for the manned space program, declaring: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

In 1977, South African Black student leader and anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, 30, died while in police custody, triggering an international outcry.

In 1994, truck driver Frank Eugene Corder piloted a stolen single-engine Cessna airplane into restricted airspace in Washington, D.C., and crashed it into the South Lawn of the White House.

In 2003, in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, U.S. forces mistakenly opened fire on vehicles carrying police, killing eight of them.

In 2008, a Metrolink commuter train struck a freight train head-on in Los Angeles, killing 25 people.

In 2011, Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal to win his first U.S. Open championship.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Linda Gray is 84.
• Singer Maria Muldaur is 82.
• Author Michael Ondaatje is 81.
• Actor Joe Pantoliano is 73.
• Photographer Nan Goldin is 71.
• Composer Hans Zimmer is 67.
• Actor Rachel Ward is 67.
• TV host-commentator Greg Gutfeld is 60.
• Actor-comedian Louis (loo-ee) C.K. is 57.
• Golfer Angel Cabrera is 55.
• Country singer Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) is 50.
• Rapper 2 Chainz is 47.
• Singer Ruben Studdard is 46.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming is 44.
• Singer-actor Jennifer Hudson is 43.
• Actor Alfie Allen is 38.
• Actor Emmy Rossum is 38.
• Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is 35.
• Country singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini is 31.
• Actor Sydney Sweeney is 27.

Miami-Dade County basically held steady in 2024 as it pertains to the presence of its high school alumni on NFL teams’ opening-week rosters, but again are lagging far behind their neighbors to the north in Broward County.

Related Articles

• High School Sports | Broward County again leads the way with most South Florida high school graduates in the NFL on opening weekend
• High School Sports | It’s Lamar Jackson, and not too much else, when it comes to Palm Beach County high school grads in the NFL

The 2024 first-week NFL population for Miami-Dade ticked downward slightly, from 2023’s 30 to 28, still well ahead of its stunningly low 23 in 2022.

While the southernmost chunk of the tri-county area had closed the Broward County lead to 48-30 last year (after 2022’s 55-23 rout), the margin opened up again in 2024, with Broward owning a 50-28 edge.

Here are Miami-Dade County’s NFL players (by alphabetical order of last name, by high school and by NFL team):

Yasir Abdullah, Jaguars, Miami Carol City

Tutu Atwell, Rams, Miami Northwestern

Tatum Bethune, 49ers, Miami Central

Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Titans, Miami Carol City

Artie Burns, Seahawks, Miami Northwestern

Deon Bush, Chiefs, Miami Columbus

Dalvin Cook, Cowboys, Miami Central

James Cook, Bills, Miami Central

Amari Cooper, Browns, Miami Northwestern

Lavonte David, Buccaneers, Miami Northwestern

Carlton Davis III, Lions, Miami Norland

Denzel Daxon, Cowboys, Miami Carol City

Frank Gore Jr., Bills, Miami Killian

D.J. Ivey, Bengals, Homestead South Dade

Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Chargers, Homestead South Dade

Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers, Miami Northwestern

Kamren Kinchens, Rams, Miami Northwestern

Denzel Perryman, Chargers, Coral Gables

Eddy Pineiro, Panthers, Miami Sunset

Gregory Rousseau, Bills, Hialeah Champagnat

Tyrique Stevenson, Bears, Miami Southridge

Leonard Taylor III, Jets, Miami Palmetto

Kadeem Telfort, Packers, Miami Booker T. Washington

Keir Thomas, Rams, Miami Central

Tyquan Thornton, Patriots, Miami Booker T. Washington

Joshua Uche, Patriots, Miami Columbus

Anthony Walker Jr., Dolphins, Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace

Divaad Wilson, Cardinals, Miami Northwestern

BY SCHOOL

MIAMI NORTHWESTERN (7): Tutu Atwell, Rams; Artie Burns, Seahawks; Amari Cooper, Browns; Lavonte David, Buccaneers; Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers; Kamren Kinchens, Rams; Divaad Wilson, Cardinals

MIAMI CENTRAL (4): Tatum Bethune, 49ers; Dalvin Cook, Cowboys; James Cook, Bills; Keir Thomas, Rams

MIAMI CAROL CITY (3): Yasir Abdullah, Jaguars; Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Titans; Denzel Daxon, Cowboys

HOMESTEAD SOUTH DADE (2): D.J. Ivey, Bengals; Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Chargers

MIAMI BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (2): Kadeem Telfort, Packers; Tyquan Thornton, Patriots

MIAMI COLUMBUS (2): Deon Bush, Chiefs; Joshua Uche, Patriots

CORAL GABLES (1): Denzel Perryman, Chargers

HIALEAH CHAMPAGNAT (1): Gregory Rousseau, Bills

MIAMI GARDENS MONSIGNOR PACE (1): Anthony Walker Jr., Dolphins

MIAMI KILLIAN (1): Frank Gore Jr., Bills

MIAMI NORLAND (1): Carlton Davis III, Lions

MIAMI PALMETTO (1): Leonard Taylor III, Jets

MIAMI SOUTHRIDGE (1): Tyrique Stevenson, Bears

MIAMI SUNSET (1): Eddy Pineiro, Panthers

 

BY TEAM

BILLS (3): James Cook, Miami Central; Frank Gore Jr., Miami Killian; Gregory Rousseau, Hialeah Champagnat

RAMS (3): Tutu Atwell, Rams, Miami Northwestern; Kamren Kinchens, Miami Northwestern; Keir Thomas, Miami Central

BUCCANEERS (2): Lavonte David, Miami Northwestern; Calijah Kancey, Miami Northwestern

CHARGERS (2): Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Homestead South Dade; Denzel Perryman, Coral Gables

COWBOYS (2): Dalvin Cook, Miami Central; Denzel Daxon, Miami Carol City

PATRIOTS (2): Tyquan Thornton, Miami Booker T. Washington; Joshua Uche, Miami Columbus

49ERS (1): Tatum Bethune, Miami Central

BEARS (1): Tyrique Stevenson, Miami Southridge

BENGALS (1): D.J. Ivey, South Dade

BROWNS (1): Amari Cooper, Miami Northwestern

CARDINALS (1): Divaad Wilson, Miami Northwestern

CHIEFS (1): Deon Bush, Miami Columbus

DOLPHINS (1): Anthony Walker Jr., Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace

JAGUARS (1): Yasir Abdullah, Miami Carol City

JETS (1): Leonard Taylor III, Miami Palmetto

LIONS (1): Carlton Davis III, Miami Norland

PACKERS (1): Kadeem Telfort, Miami Booker T. Washington

PANTHERS (1): Eddy Pineiro, Miami Sunset

SEAHAWKS (1): Artie Burns, Miami Northwestern

TITANS (1): Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Miami Carol City

TEAM REPRESENTATION (THREE COUNTIES)

BILLS (6): James Cook, Miami Central; Te’Cory Couch, Chaminade-Madonna; Kaiir Elam, Benjamin; Frank Gore Jr., Miami Killian; Gregory Rousseau, Hialeah Champagnat; Mike White, University School

BROWNS (5): Devin Bush Jr., Flanagan; Amari Cooper, Miami Northwestern; Myles Harden, Miramar; Jerry Jeudy, Deerfield Beach; Elijah Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas

CHARGERS (5): Joey Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Homestead South Dade; Joshua Palmer, St. Thomas Aquinas; Denzel Perryman, Coral Gables; Asante Samuel Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas

RAVENS (5): Zay Flowers, University School; Tyler Huntley, Hallandale; Eddie Jackson, Boyd Anderson; Lamar Jackson, Boynton Beach; Trayvon Mullen, Coconut Creek

SEAHAWKS (5): Artie Burns, Miami Northwestern; Faion Hicks, Flanagan; Kenny McIntosh, University School; Mike Morris, American Heritage-Delray; Geno Smith, Miramar

VIKINGS (5): Josh Metellus, Flanagan; Fabian Moreau, Western; Brandon Powell, Deerfield Beach; Sammis Reyes, North Broward Prep; Dallas Turner, St. Thomas Aquinas

49ERS (4): Tatum Bethune, Miami Central; Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jon Feliciano, Western; Jonathan Garvin, Lake Worth

BUCCANEERS (4): Lavonte David, Miami Northwestern; Calijah Kancey, Miami Northwestern; Shaun Peterson Jr., Nova; Michael Pratt, Deerfield Beach

PACKERS (4): Deslin Alexandre, Deerfield Beach; Jonathan Ford, Dillard; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., American Heritage; Kadeem Telfort, Miami Booker T. Washington

PATRIOTS (4): Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer; Tyquan Thornton, Miami Booker T. Washington; Joshua Uche, Miami Columbus; Marco Wilson, American Heritage

BEARS (3): Khalil Herbert, American Heritage; Travis Homer, Oxbridge Academy; Tyrique Stevenson, Miami Southridge

BENGALS (3): Jordan Battle, St. Thomas Aquinas; D.J. Ivey, South Dade; Zack Moss, Hallandale

BRONCOS (3): Nik Bonitto, St. Thomas Aquinas; Keidron Smith, Oxbridge Academy; Pat Surtain II, American Heritage

DOLPHINS (3): Robbie Chosen, South Plantation; Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage; Anthony Walker Jr., Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace

EAGLES (3): Fred Johnson, Royal Palm Beach; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, St. Thomas Aquinas; Tyler Steen, St. Thomas Aquinas

LIONS (3): Carlton Davis III, Miami Norland; James Houston IV, American Heritage; Tre’Quan Smith, Village Academy

RAMS (3): Tutu Atwell, Miami Northwestern; Kamren Kinchens, Miami Northwestern; Keir Thomas, Miami Central

TITANS (3): Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Miami Carol City; Calvin Ridley, Monarch; James Williams, American Heritage

CARDINALS (2): Jaden Davis, St. Thomas Aquinas; Divaad Wilson, Miami Northwestern

COWBOYS (2): Dalvin Cook, Miami Central; Denzel Daxon, Miami Carol City

GIANTS (2): Brian Burns, American Heritage; Devin Singletary, American Heritage-Delray

JAGUARS (2): Yasir Abdullah, Miami Carol City; Tyson Campbell, American Heritage

JETS (2): Leonard Taylor III, Miami Palmetto; Jordan Travis, Benjamin

SAINTS (2): Kevin Austin Jr., North Broward Prep; A.T. Perry, Park Vista

CHIEFS (2): Marquise Brown, Chaminade-Madonna; Deon Bush, Miami Columbus

COLTS (1): Chris Lammons, Plantation

FALCONS (1): Brandon Dorlus, Deerfield Beach

PANTHERS (1): Eddy Pineiro, Miami Sunset

RAIDERS (1): Nesta Jade Silvera, American Heritage

STEELERS (1): Brandon Johnson, American Heritage

COMMANDERS (0)

TEXANS (0)

 

For the second year in a row, Palm Beach County had a mere 12 of its high school alumni on NFL opening-weekend rosters, a 33% reduction from the county’s number (18) of only three years ago.

Related Articles

• High School Sports | Broward County again leads the way with most South Florida high school graduates in the NFL on opening weekend
• High School Sports | Miami-Dade high school alumni’s NFL population slightly decreases on 2024’s opening weekend

Of course, one of those players, Boynton Beach graduate Lamar Jackson, won his second NFL MVP for the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 season.

Here is the list, in alphabetical order by last name of the players, who were either on the 53-man roster, the practice squad or on an injured list. At the end, there is a listing of how many come from each school and are on each NFL team.

Jacoby Brissett, Patriots, Dwyer

Kaiir Elam, Bills, Benjamin

Jonathan Garvin, 49ers, Lake Worth

Travis Homer, Bears, Oxbridge Academy

Lamar Jackson, Ravens, Boynton Beach

Fred Johnson, Eagles, Royal Palm Beach

Mike Morris, Seahawks, American Heritage-Delray

A.T. Perry, Saints, Park Vista

Devin Singletary, Giants, American Heritage-Delray

Keidron Smith, Broncos, Oxbridge Academy

Tre’Quan Smith, Lions, Village Academy

Jordan Travis, Jets, Benjamin

BY SCHOOL

AMERICAN HERITAGE-DELRAY (2): Mike Morris, Seahawks; Devin Singletary, Giants

BENJAMIN (2): Kaiir Elam, Bills; Jordan Travis, Jets

OXBRIDGE ACADEMY (2): Travis Homer, Bears; Keidron Smith, Broncos

BOYNTON BEACH (1): Lamar Jackson, Ravens

DWYER (1): Jacoby Brissett, Patriots

LAKE WORTH (1): Jonathan Garvin, 49ers

PARK VISTA (1): A.T. Perry, Saints

ROYAL PALM BEACH (1): Fred Johnson, Eagles

VILLAGE ACADEMY (1): Tre’Quan Smith, Lions

 

BY TEAM

49ERS (1): Jonathan Garvin, Lake Worth

BEARS (1): Travis Homer, Oxbridge Academy

BILLS (1): Kaiir Elam, Benjamin

BRONCOS (1): Keidron Smith, Oxbridge Academy

EAGLES (1): Fred Johnson, Royal Palm Beach

GIANTS (1): Devin Singletary, American Heritage-Delray

JETS (1): Jordan Travis, Benjamin

LIONS (1): Tre’Quan Smith, Village Academy

PATRIOTS (1): Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer

RAVENS (1): Lamar Jackson, Boynton Beach

SAINTS (1): A.T. Perry, Park Vista

SEAHAWKS (1): Mike Morris, American Heritage-Delray

 

TEAM REPRESENTATION (THREE COUNTIES)

BILLS (6): James Cook, Miami Central; Te’Cory Couch, Chaminade-Madonna; Kaiir Elam, Benjamin; Frank Gore Jr., Miami Killian; Gregory Rousseau, Hialeah Champagnat; Mike White, University School

BROWNS (5): Devin Bush Jr., Flanagan; Amari Cooper, Miami Northwestern; Myles Harden, Miramar; Jerry Jeudy, Deerfield Beach; Elijah Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas

CHARGERS (5): Joey Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Homestead South Dade; Joshua Palmer, St. Thomas Aquinas; Denzel Perryman, Coral Gables; Asante Samuel Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas

RAVENS (5): Zay Flowers, University School; Tyler Huntley, Hallandale; Eddie Jackson, Boyd Anderson; Lamar Jackson, Boynton Beach; Trayvon Mullen, Coconut Creek

SEAHAWKS (5): Artie Burns, Miami Northwestern; Faion Hicks, Flanagan; Kenny McIntosh, University School; Mike Morris, American Heritage-Delray; Geno Smith, Miramar

VIKINGS (5): Josh Metellus, Flanagan; Fabian Moreau, Western; Brandon Powell, Deerfield Beach; Sammis Reyes, North Broward Prep; Dallas Turner, St. Thomas Aquinas

49ERS (4): Tatum Bethune, Miami Central; Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jon Feliciano, Western; Jonathan Garvin, Lake Worth

BUCCANEERS (4): Lavonte David, Miami Northwestern; Calijah Kancey, Miami Northwestern; Shaun Peterson Jr., Nova; Michael Pratt, Deerfield Beach

PACKERS (4): Deslin Alexandre, Deerfield Beach; Jonathan Ford, Dillard; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., American Heritage; Kadeem Telfort, Miami Booker T. Washington

PATRIOTS (4): Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer; Tyquan Thornton, Miami Booker T. Washington; Joshua Uche, Miami Columbus; Marco Wilson, American Heritage

BEARS (3): Khalil Herbert, American Heritage; Travis Homer, Oxbridge Academy; Tyrique Stevenson, Miami Southridge

BENGALS (3): Jordan Battle, St. Thomas Aquinas; D.J. Ivey, South Dade; Zack Moss, Hallandale

BRONCOS (3): Nik Bonitto, St. Thomas Aquinas; Keidron Smith, Oxbridge Academy; Pat Surtain II, American Heritage

DOLPHINS (3): Robbie Chosen, South Plantation; Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage; Anthony Walker Jr., Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace

EAGLES (3): Fred Johnson, Royal Palm Beach; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, St. Thomas Aquinas; Tyler Steen, St. Thomas Aquinas

LIONS (3): Carlton Davis III, Miami Norland; James Houston IV, American Heritage; Tre’Quan Smith, Village Academy

RAMS (3): Tutu Atwell, Miami Northwestern; Kamren Kinchens, Miami Northwestern; Keir Thomas, Miami Central

TITANS (3): Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Miami Carol City; Calvin Ridley, Monarch; James Williams, American Heritage

CARDINALS (2): Jaden Davis, St. Thomas Aquinas; Divaad Wilson, Miami Northwestern

COWBOYS (2): Dalvin Cook, Miami Central; Denzel Daxon, Miami Carol City

GIANTS (2): Brian Burns, American Heritage; Devin Singletary, American Heritage-Delray

JAGUARS (2): Yasir Abdullah, Miami Carol City; Tyson Campbell, American Heritage

JETS (2): Leonard Taylor III, Miami Palmetto; Jordan Travis, Benjamin

SAINTS (2): Kevin Austin Jr., North Broward Prep; A.T. Perry, Park Vista

CHIEFS (2): Marquise Brown, Chaminade-Madonna; Deon Bush, Miami Columbus

COLTS (1): Chris Lammons, Plantation

FALCONS (1): Brandon Dorlus, Deerfield Beach

PANTHERS (1): Eddy Pineiro, Miami Sunset

RAIDERS (1): Nesta Jade Silvera, American Heritage

STEELERS (1): Brandon Johnson, American Heritage

COMMANDERS (0)

TEXANS (0)

 

Broward County, after experiencing a dip last season, saw its high schools’ graduates populating NFL rosters on opening weekend inch back upward, again being well ahead of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties’ presence combined.

Related Articles

• High School Sports | Miami-Dade high school alumni’s NFL population slightly decreases on 2024’s opening weekend
• High School Sports | It’s Lamar Jackson, and not too much else, when it comes to Palm Beach County high school grads in the NFL

Broward had 50 players on Week 1’s 53-man active rosters, practice squads or reserve lists, up from 2023’s 48. The number still is well behind the massive 62 of 2021, but up from last year’s 48, which had been a decrease from 2022’s 55.

Miami-Dade County (28) and Palm Beach County boasted a combined 40 players in Week 1.

Miami-Dade had 30 in 2023.

In 2021, Broward led Miami-Dade 62-36. In 2022, a sharp 305 downturn had the 954 ahead by a whopping 55-23, while last year had the gap closed to 48-30.

A year after, for the first time, American Heritage taking over the top Broward spot by itself, with a 11-10 lead over perennial No. 1 representative St. Thomas Aquinas, the schools were deadlocked again at the top this season, with 11 alumni each.

Here are the three counties’ NFL players (by alphabetical order of last name, by high school and by NFL team):

BY COUNTY

BROWARD

Deslin Alexandre, Packers, Deerfield Beach

Kevin Austin Jr., Saints, North Broward Prep

Jordan Battle, Bengals, St. Thomas Aquinas

Nik Bonitto, Broncos, St. Thomas Aquinas

Joey Bosa, Chargers, St. Thomas Aquinas

Nick Bosa, 49ers, St. Thomas Aquinas

Marquise Brown, Chiefs, Chaminade-Madonna

Brian Burns, Giants, American Heritage

Devin Bush Jr., Browns, Flanagan

Tyson Campbell, Jaguars, American Heritage

Robbie Chosen, Dolphins, South Plantation

Te’Cory Couch, Bills, Chaminade-Madonna

Jaden Davis, Cardinals, St. Thomas Aquinas

Brandon Dorlus, Falcons, Deerfield Beach

Jon Feliciano, 49ers, Western

Zay Flowers, Ravens, University School

Jonathan Ford, Packers, Dillard

Myles Harden, Browns, Miramar

Khalil Herbert, Bears, American Heritage

Faion Hicks, Seahawks, Flanagan

James Houston IV, Lions, American Heritage

Tyler Huntley, Ravens, Hallandale

Eddie Jackson, Ravens, Boyd Anderson

Jerry Jeudy, Browns, Deerfield Beach

Brandon Johnson, Steelers, American Heritage

Chris Lammons, Colts, Plantation

Kenny McIntosh, Seahawks, University School

Josh Metellus, Vikings, Flanagan

Elijah Moore, Browns, St. Thomas Aquinas

Fabian Moreau, Vikings, Western

Zack Moss, Bengals, Hallandale

Trayvon Mullen, Ravens, Coconut Creek

Joshua Palmer, Chargers, St. Thomas Aquinas

Shaun Peterson Jr., Buccaneers, Nova

Brandon Powell, Vikings, Deerfield Beach

Michael Pratt, Buccaneers, Deerfield Beach

Sammis Reyes, Vikings, North Broward Prep

Calvin Ridley, Titans, Monarch

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Eagles, St. Thomas Aquinas

Asante Samuel Jr., Chargers, St. Thomas Aquinas

Anthony Schwartz, Dolphins, American Heritage

Nesta Jade Silvera, Raiders, American Heritage

Tedarrell Slaton Jr., Packers, American Heritage

Geno Smith, Seahawks, Miramar

Tyler Steen, Eagles, St. Thomas Aquinas

Pat Surtain II, Broncos, American Heritage

Dallas Turner, Vikings, St. Thomas Aquinas

Mike White, Bills, University School

James Williams, Titans, American Heritage

Marco Wilson, Patriots, American Heritage

BY SCHOOL

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (11): Jordan Battle, Bengals; Nik Bonitto, Broncos; Joey Bosa, Chargers; Nick Bosa, 49ers; Jaden Davis, Cardinals; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Eagles; Elijah Moore, Browns; Joshua Palmer, Chargers; Asante Samuel Jr., Chargers; Tyler Steen, Eagles; Dallas Turner, Vikings

AMERICAN HERITAGE (11): Brian Burns, Giants; Tyson Campbell, Jaguars; Khalil Herbert, Bears; James Houston IV, Lions; Brandon Johnson, Steelers; Anthony Schwartz, Dolphins; Nesta Jade Silvera, Raiders; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., Packers; Pat Surtain II, Broncos; James Williams, Titans; Marco Wilson, Patriots

DEERFIELD BEACH (5): Deslin Alexandre, Packers; Brandon Dorlus, Falcons; Jerry Jeudy, Browns; Brandon Powell, Vikings; Michael Pratt, Buccaneers

FLANAGAN (3): Devin Bush Jr., Browns; Faion Hicks, Seahawks; Josh Metellus, Vikings

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL (3): Zay Flowers, Ravens; Kenny McIntosh, Seahawks; Mike White, Bills

CHAMINADE-MADONNA (2): Marquise Brown, Chiefs; Te’Cory Couch, Bills

HALLANDALE (2): Tyler Huntley, Ravens; Zack Moss, Bengals

MIRAMAR (2): Myles Harden, Browns; Geno Smith, Seahawks

NORTH BROWARD PREP (2): Kevin Austin Jr., Saints; Sammis Reyes, Vikings

WESTERN (2): Jon Feliciano, 49ers; Fabian Moreau, Vikings

BOYD ANDERSON (1): Eddie Jackson, Ravens

COCONUT CREEK (1): Trayvon Mullen, Ravens

DILLARD (1): Jonathan Ford, Packers

MONARCH (1): Calvin Ridley, Titans

NOVA (1): Shaun Peterson Jr., Buccaneers

PLANTATION (1): Chris Lammons, Colts

SOUTH PLANTATION (1): Robbie Chosen, Dolphins

 

BY TEAM

BROWARD

VIKINGS (5): Josh Metellus, Flanagan; Fabian Moreau, Western; Brandon Powell, Deerfield Beach; Sammis Reyes, North Broward Prep; Dallas Turner, St. Thomas Aquinas

BROWNS (4): Devin Bush Jr., Flanagan; Myles Harden, Miramar; Jerry Jeudy, Deerfield Beach; Elijah Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas

RAVENS (4): Zay Flowers, University School; Tyler Huntley, Hallandale; Eddie Jackson, Boyd Anderson; Trayvon Mullen, Coconut Creek

CHARGERS (3): Joey Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Joshua Palmer, St. Thomas Aquinas; Asante Samuel Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas

PACKERS (3): Deslin Alexandre, Deerfield Beach; Jonathan Ford, Dillard; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., American Heritage

SEAHAWKS (3): Faion Hicks, Flanagan; Kenny McIntosh, University School; Geno Smith, Miramar

49ERS (2): Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jon Feliciano, Western

BENGALS (2): Jordan Battle, St. Thomas Aquinas; Zack Moss, Hallandale

BILLS (2): Te’Cory Couch, Chaminade-Madonna; Mike White, University School

BRONCOS (2): Nik Bonitto, St. Thomas Aquinas; Pat Surtain II, American Heritage

BUCCANEERS (2): Shaun Peterson Jr., Nova; Michael Pratt, Deerfield Beach

DOLPHINS (2): Robbie Chosen, South Plantation; Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage

EAGLES (2): Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, St. Thomas Aquinas; Tyler Steen, St. Thomas Aquinas

TITANS (2): Calvin Ridley, Monarch; James Williams, American Heritage

BEARS (1): Khalil Herbert, American Heritage

CARDINALS (1): Jaden Davis, St. Thomas Aquinas

CHIEFS (1): Marquise Brown, Chaminade-Madonna

COLTS (1): Chris Lammons, Plantation

FALCONS (1): Brandon Dorlus, Deerfield Beach

GIANTS (1): Brian Burns, American Heritage

JAGUARS (1): Tyson Campbell, American Heritage

LIONS (1): James Houston IV, American Heritage

PATRIOTS (1): Marco Wilson, American Heritage

RAIDERS (1): Nesta Jade Silvera, American Heritage

SAINTS (1): Kevin Austin Jr., North Broward Prep

STEELERS (1): Brandon Johnson, American Heritage

ALL THREE COUNTIES

BILLS (6): James Cook, Miami Central; Te’Cory Couch, Chaminade-Madonna; Kaiir Elam, Benjamin; Frank Gore Jr., Miami Killian; Gregory Rousseau, Hialeah Champagnat; Mike White, University School

BROWNS (5): Devin Bush Jr., Flanagan; Amari Cooper, Miami Northwestern; Myles Harden, Miramar; Jerry Jeudy, Deerfield Beach; Elijah Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas

CHARGERS (5): Joey Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Homestead South Dade; Joshua Palmer, St. Thomas Aquinas; Denzel Perryman, Coral Gables; Asante Samuel Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas

RAVENS (5): Zay Flowers, University School; Tyler Huntley, Hallandale; Eddie Jackson, Boyd Anderson; Lamar Jackson, Boynton Beach; Trayvon Mullen, Coconut Creek

SEAHAWKS (5): Artie Burns, Miami Northwestern; Faion Hicks, Flanagan; Kenny McIntosh, University School; Mike Morris, American Heritage-Delray; Geno Smith, Miramar

VIKINGS (5): Josh Metellus, Flanagan; Fabian Moreau, Western; Brandon Powell, Deerfield Beach; Sammis Reyes, North Broward Prep; Dallas Turner, St. Thomas Aquinas

49ERS (4): Tatum Bethune, Miami Central; Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jon Feliciano, Western; Jonathan Garvin, Lake Worth

BUCCANEERS (4): Lavonte David, Miami Northwestern; Calijah Kancey, Miami Northwestern; Shaun Peterson Jr., Nova; Michael Pratt, Deerfield Beach

PACKERS (4): Deslin Alexandre, Deerfield Beach; Jonathan Ford, Dillard; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., American Heritage; Kadeem Telfort, Miami Booker T. Washington

PATRIOTS (4): Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer; Tyquan Thornton, Miami Booker T. Washington; Joshua Uche, Miami Columbus; Marco Wilson, American Heritage

BEARS (3): Khalil Herbert, American Heritage; Travis Homer, Oxbridge Academy; Tyrique Stevenson, Miami Southridge

BENGALS (3): Jordan Battle, St. Thomas Aquinas; D.J. Ivey, South Dade; Zack Moss, Hallandale

BRONCOS (3): Nik Bonitto, St. Thomas Aquinas; Keidron Smith, Oxbridge Academy; Pat Surtain II, American Heritage

DOLPHINS (3): Robbie Chosen, South Plantation; Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage; Anthony Walker Jr., Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace

EAGLES (3): Fred Johnson, Royal Palm Beach; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, St. Thomas Aquinas; Tyler Steen, St. Thomas Aquinas

LIONS (3): Carlton Davis III, Miami Norland; James Houston IV, American Heritage; Tre’Quan Smith, Village Academy

RAMS (3): Tutu Atwell, Miami Northwestern; Kamren Kinchens, Miami Northwestern; Keir Thomas, Miami Central

TITANS (3): Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Miami Carol City; Calvin Ridley, Monarch; James Williams, American Heritage

CARDINALS (2): Jaden Davis, St. Thomas Aquinas; Divaad Wilson, Miami Northwestern

COWBOYS (2): Dalvin Cook, Miami Central; Denzel Daxon, Miami Carol City

GIANTS (2): Brian Burns, American Heritage; Devin Singletary, American Heritage-Delray

JAGUARS (2): Yasir Abdullah, Miami Carol City; Tyson Campbell, American Heritage

JETS (2): Leonard Taylor III, Miami Palmetto; Jordan Travis, Benjamin

SAINTS (2): Kevin Austin Jr., North Broward Prep; A.T. Perry, Park Vista

CHIEFS (2): Marquise Brown, Chaminade-Madonna; Deon Bush, Miami Columbus

COLTS (1): Chris Lammons, Plantation

FALCONS (1): Brandon Dorlus, Deerfield Beach

PANTHERS (1): Eddy Pineiro, Miami Sunset

RAIDERS (1): Nesta Jade Silvera, American Heritage

STEELERS (1): Brandon Johnson, American Heritage

General Daily Insight for September 12, 2024

The energy of the cosmos is positively through the roof today! The Sun in efficient Virgo is making a potent square to lucky Jupiter in Gemini at 6:53 am EDT, encouraging us to take a gamble on ourselves, albeit a well-considered gamble. The Moon in competent Capricorn will then oppose Mars in Cancer, inspiring us to follow our feelings to the finish line. A final lunar trine to Mercury in Virgo should make it easy to wrap things up on an effective note.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Speaking up for yourself isn’t typically something Rams struggle with, but you may need a reminder to do so at present. The vivacious Sun’s square to Jupiter in your talkative 3rd house could result in you uncovering a unique opportunity, but not if you keep quiet. Be willing to ask around if anyone knows about anything that might be up your alley. Someone could have just the thing to make the effort totally worth it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You shouldn’t have to refuse yourself anything today. Your heart is set on enjoying yourself while the Sun moves through your 5th House of Pleasure, but enjoying yourself might require a bit of spending when the Sun squares Jupiter in your 2nd House of Wealth. Something shiny may catch your eye! It could be all but impossible to keep from throwing your money at it. That’s technically alright, but be sure you don’t break the bank in the process, or you’ll regret it.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your feelings are larger than life at the moment. Your emotions are already amplified while the Sun visits your sensitive 4th house, and a shocking event could set off major reactions when the Sun shoves boundless Jupiter in your personal 1st house. This doesn’t mean you’ll react in a bad way or be overwhelmed, but you may surprise yourself with how strong your feelings are, perhaps far stronger than you ever realized. There’s nothing wrong with being honest regarding your emotions.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your current life may seem a bit all over the place. You’re probably busier than usual while the Sun visits your chatty 3rd house, but there’s no guarantee you can stay focused when the Sun squares Jupiter in your dreamy 12th house. One minute you’re running around town taking care of business, the next you’ve tumbled down a rabbit hole to some fantasy land. This isn’t very productive energy, but if you focus on going with the flow, then you can certainly have fun.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Fun times are calling your name, Leo! You’re in an efficient frame of mind while the Sun toils in your 2nd House of Earnings, making this a good time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Contrastingly, the Sun will jab Jupiter in your 11th House of Group Activities, so people may start clamoring for your attention, even begging for you to come out and play. Work should be able to wait for now. Don’t feel any guilt about enjoying yourself!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You have all the power you need to succeed. A special cosmic vitality emboldens you as the Sun vibes in your logical sign, filling you up with positive energy. These blessings take a specific turn for the professional when the Sun squares lucky Jupiter in your 10th House of Reputation. You can make leaps and bounds up the professional ladder. That said, remember that Jupiter can bring out your inner gambler — so if you’re betting on anything, do it wisely.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Anything and everything could seem possible on a day like this! Life has taken on a fantastical hue with the Sun shimmering in your magical 12th house, enticing you to go wandering through a dreamland. This transit draws you out into the world as the Sun dazzles Jupiter in your boundless 9th house, giving you reason after reason to charge off in search of adventure. You can fly far as you like, but don’t lose sight of where you’ve come from.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

It’s alright if you feel pulled in multiple directions. The Sun is in your idealistic 11th house, driving you to connect with others and play your part in group dynamics. Even so, it might be tough to continually go along with everyone when the Sun squares Jupiter in your private 8th house. One minute you’re happy to come together, the next you want to follow your single-player program. Search for a balance between the two extremes, and you should feel much better.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Someone might be about to boost you when you need it most. Thanks to the potent square between the Sun in your career sector and lucky Jupiter in your connection sector, a particular person is potentially going to be the perfect catalyst to push you forward like never before! This can be especially relevant if you’re already working with a professional partner on a goal. If you normally handle things on your own, consider exchanging the program for something more group-oriented.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Excitement is one thing, but productivity is quite another. Fortunately, under today’s stars, you have the rare chance to bring these two together as the Sun in your expansion sector jolts Jupiter with energy in your daily work sector. This offers you a big dose of can-do possibilities for tasks that might otherwise feel quite mundane. Think outside your usual boxes and you could come up with some very impressive results! There’s no need to follow outdated ways of doing things.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Pleasure can look like a lot of different things to you right now. The Sun is in your intimate 8th house, but it’s picking a fight with Jupiter in your expressive 5th house. This may leave you pinging back and forth between keeping your circle small and showing off to as many people as possible. It’s not about the audience, but about how much of yourself you’re willing to share. Even if you normally prefer to keep things small, let yourself live large.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your emotions are burning brightly! Due to a square between the Sun in your partnership sector and Jupiter in your feelings quadrant, there’s an increased risk that other people can push your buttons more easily than usual. Thankfully, these buttons could put you on track for positive outcomes — you’ll just need to let your guard down and accept the conversations that take place. The more you try to keep others out, the more stressful it will be, so focus on the bright side.

By FRANKLIN BRICEÑO

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Alberto Fujimori, whose decade-long presidency began with triumphs righting Peru’s economy and defeating a brutal insurgency only to end in autocratic excess that later sent him to prison, has died. He was 86.

His death Wednesday in the capital, Lima, was announced by his daughter Keiko Fujimori in a post on X.

Fujimori, who governed with an increasingly authoritarian hand in 1990-2000, was pardoned in December from his convictions for corruption and responsibility for the murder of 25 people. His daughter said in July that he was planning to run for Peru’s presidency for the fourth time in 2026.

The former university president and mathematics professor was the consummate political outsider when he emerged from obscurity to win Peru’s 1990 election over writer Mario Vargas Llosa. Over a tumultuous political career, he repeatedly made risky, go-for-broke decisions that alternately earned him adoration and reproach.

He took over a country ravaged by runaway inflation and guerrilla violence, mending the economy with bold actions including mass privatizations of state industries. Defeating fanatical Shining Path rebels took a little longer but also won him broad-based support.

His presidency, however, collapsed just as dramatically.

After briefly shutting down Congress and elbowing himself into a controversial third term, he fled the country in disgrace in 2000 when leaked videotapes showed his spy chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, bribing lawmakers. The president went to Japan, the land of his parents, and famously faxed in his resignation.

He stunned supporters and foes alike five years later when he landed in neighboring Chile, where he was arrested and then extradited to Peru. He had hoped to run for Peru’s presidency in 2006, but instead wound up in court facing charges of abuse of power.

The high-stakes political gambler would lose miserably. He became the first former president in the world to be tried and convicted in his own country for human rights violations. He was not found to have personally ordered the 25 death-squad killings for which he was convicted, but he was deemed responsible because the crimes were committed in his government’s name.

His 25-year sentence did not stop Fujimori from seeking political revindication, which he planned from a prison built in a police academy on the outskirts of Lima, the capital.

His congresswoman daughter Keiko tried in 2011 to restore the family dynasty by running for the presidency but was narrowly defeated in a runoff. She ran again in 2016 and 2021, when she lost by just 44,000 votes after a campaign in which she promised to free her father.

“After a long battle with cancer, our father, Alberto Fujimori, has just departed to meet the Lord,” she said on X Wednesday. “We ask those who loved him to accompany us with a prayer for the eternal rest of his soul.”

Fujimori’s presidency was, in fact, a brash display of outright authoritarianism, known locally as “caudillismo,” in a region shakily stepping away from dictatorships toward democracy.

He is survived by his four children. The oldest, Keiko, became first lady in 1996 when his father divorced his mother, Susana Higuchi, in a bitter battle in which she accused Fujimori of having her tortured. The youngest child, Kenji, was elected a congressman.

Fujimori was born July 28, 1938, Peruvian Independence Day, and his immigrant parents picked cotton until they could open a tailor’s shop in downtown Lima.

He earned a degree in agricultural engineering in 1956, and then studied in France and the United States, where he received a graduate degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in 1972.

In 1984 he became rector of the Agricultural University in Lima, and six years later, he ran for president without ever having held political office, billing himself as a clean alternative to Peru’s corrupt, discredited political class.

He soared from 6% in the polls a month before the 1990 election to finish second out of nine in the balloting. He went on to beat Vargas Llosa in a runoff.

The victory, he later said, came from the same frustration that fueled the Shining Path.

“My government is the product of rejection, of being fed up with Peru because of the frivolity, corruption and nonfunctioning of the traditional political class and the bureaucracy,” he said.

Once in office, Fujimori’s tough talk and hands-on style at first won him only plaudits, as car bombings still ripped through the capital and annual inflation approached 8,000 percent.

He applied the same economic shock therapy that Vargas Llosa had advocated but he had argued against in the campaign.

Privatizing state-owned industries, Fujimori slashed public spending and attracted record foreign investment.

Known affectionately as “El chino,” due to his Asian ancestry, Fujimori often donned peasant garb to visit jungle Indigenous communities and highland farmers, while delivering electricity and drinking water to dirt-poor villages. That distinguished him from the patrician, white politicians who typically lacked his commoner’s touch.

Fujimori also gave Peru’s security forces free rein to take on the Shining Path.

In September 1992, police captured rebel leader Abimael Guzmán. Deservedly or not, Fujimori took credit.

Taking power just years after much of the region had shed dictatorships, the former university professor ultimately represented a step back. He developed a growing taste for power and resorted to increasingly anti-democratic means to amass more of it.

In April 1992, he shut down Congress and the courts, accusing them of shackling his efforts to defeat the Shining Path and spur economic reforms.

International pressure forced him to call elections for an assembly to replace the Congress. The new legislative body, dominated by his supporters, changed Peru’s constitution to allow the president to serve two consecutive five-year terms. Fujimori was swept back into office in 1995, after a brief border war with Ecuador, in an election landslide.

Human rights advocates at home and abroad blasted him for pushing through a general amnesty law forgiving human rights abuses committed by security forces during Peru’s “anti-subversive” campaign between 1980 and 1995.

The conflict would claim nearly 70,000 lives, a truth commission found, with the military responsible for more than a third of the deaths. Journalists and businessmen were kidnapped, students disappeared and at least 2,000 highland peasant women were forcibly sterilized.

In 1996, Fujimori’s majority bloc in Congress put him on the path for a third term when it approved a law that determined his first five years as president didn’t count because the new constitution was not yet in place when he was elected.

A year later, Fujimori’s Congress fired three Constitutional Tribunal judges who tried to overturn the legislation, and his foes accused him of imposing a democratically elected dictatorship.

By then, almost daily revelations were showing the monumental scale of corruption around Fujimori. About 1,500 people connected to his government were prosecuted on corruption and other charges, including eight former Cabinet ministers, three former military commanders, an attorney general and a former chief of the Supreme Court.

The accusations against Fujimori led to years of legal wrangling. In December, Peru’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of a humanitarian pardon granted to Fujimori on Christmas Eve in 2017 by then-President Pablo Kuczynski. Wearing a face mask and getting supplemental oxygen, Fujimori walked out of the prison door and got in a sport utility vehicle driven by his daughter-in-law.

The last time he was seen in public was on Sept. 4, leaving a private hospital in a wheelchair. He told the press that he had undergone a CT scan and when asked if his presidential candidacy was still going ahead, he smiled and said “We’ll see, we’ll see.”

___

Frank Bajak, the principal writer of this obituary, retired from The Associated Press in 2024. Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Mexico City contributed.