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    NFL Enlists Caitlin Clark to Help Shape Flag Football’s Future

     

    Iowa City Press-Citizen

    Even the world’s most dominant sports league is taking full notice of the Caitlin Clark phenomenon.

    The NFL is bringing the WNBA superstar to its annual meeting next week in Palm Beach, Fla., to participate in a panel discussion on women’s sports and the league’s aspirations around flag football. Clark will participate in the session for NFL team owners and personnel along with tennis icon Serena Williams, former Giants quarterback and current front-office staffer Eli Manning, and Broncos co-owner Mellody Hobson.

    Flag football is a key initiative for the NFL, and the sport has gained entry into the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It’s also a critical youth participation initiative involving both boys and girls. The NFL has also shown keen interest in professional flag football teams for both men and women.

    “Flag football is a high priority of ours. It’s an opportunity for young women to participate in our game … and as we look forward, there definitely seems to be an appetite and interest in a professional flag league for both men and women,” said NFL EVP Jeff Miller in response to a Front Office Sports question at a briefing previewing the meeting. “So it’s a continuation of the growth in women’s sports, and the role that the NFL can play in it.”

    Clark’s historic ascent through college basketball and now the WNBA has included a still-ongoing bevy of viewership records, increased national exposure, team construction projects, and moves of Indiana Fever games to larger venues.

    “We don’t get an opportunity to talk about this enough, just the explosion of women in sports,” said Troy Vincent, NFL EVP of football operations. “This is happening across the globe, and we want to continue that conversation among our membership.”

    Williams is a part-owner of the Dolphins, while Clark has also shown interest in eventual NFL team ownership.

    More Rule Changes?

    The NFL, meanwhile, detailed a series of potential rules changes that will be considered at the annual meeting, following a previously disclosed set of team-based proposals. Among the possible shifts coming from the league’s competition committee:

    • A change in kickoff touchbacks from the receiving team’s 30-yard line to the 35. The intent is to disincentivize teams from kicking the ball into the end zone and increase the number of returned kickoffs dramatically—while doing so within the confines of the dynamic kickoff introduced last year that reduced player injuries. The proposed change would also make the dynamic kickoff elements permanent after a one-year trial in 2024.
    • An alteration in onside kick rules to allow that any time the kicking team is trailing. Currently, onside kicks are permitted only in the fourth quarter. The proposed change would still require onside kicks to be declared in advance.
    • A proposed expansion of instant replay to allow replay officials to aid on-field officials in overruling certain objective calls such as facemark penalties and horse-collar tackles.

    Like the team-based proposals, passage of the proposals will require support from at least 24 of 32 team owners.

    “The special teams working group would say they think the kickoff return number will be between 60% and 70%, as opposed to 33%, where we ended last year,” said Rich McKay, Falcons CEO and co-chair of the competition committee, about the proposed touchback change. “They see this going up substantially because of that yardage difference.”

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    Is Spaanse bar van familie Rutten alweer gesloten?

    De familie Rutten volgen we wekelijks in Daar Gaan Ze Weer met hun Spaanse bar. Vlakbij Polopos waar ze neer zijn gedaald sinds Het Spaanse Dorp begonnen ze fanatiek.

    Maar nu lijkt het er toch op dat de bar inmiddels alweer gesloten is.

    Langzame ommezwaai

    In Daar Gaan Ze Weer gaan Demi en Elisa fanatiek aan de slag met de bar, waar de mannen komen helpen bij het verbouwen.

    Het enthousiasme was groot bij de opening, maar inmiddels is er toch wel een keerzijde.

    In de meest recente aflevering zien we de dames al klagen dat ze geen toestemming krijgen om uit te bouwen. Daarnaast beginnen de lange dagen Demi toch op te breken.

    Want op de vrije dagen moeten ze ook nog eens inkopen doen.

    Sinds augustus leeg

    Nu zijn er beelden opgedoken van een dichte zaak. Jan Roderick, die deelnam aan De Verraders, laat op Instagram zien dat het pand hermetisch is afgesloten.

    RealityFBI nam daarop contact op met hem en leerde dat de eigenaresse van het pand heeft laten weten dat het al sinds augustus leeg staat. Vanaf dat moment is de familie Rutten niet meer gezien bij de bar.

    ➡️ Niets missen van Daar Gaan Ze Weer? Volg ook de Facebook-groep!

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    Caitlin Clark’s Boyfriend Connor McCaffery Shares Sweet Post for WNBA Star on Valentine’s Day

    Connor McCaffery and Caitlin Clark
    Connor McCaffery and Caitlin Clark. Photo: Connor McCaffery/ Instagram

    Love is in the air for Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery this Valentine’s Day!

    McCaffery, 26, posted a sweet tribute to the WNBA star, 23, on his Instagram Story as they celebrate Valentine’s Day on Friday, Feb. 14.

    “V day,” McCaffery wrote over a black and white image of the couple. The romantic photo was taken from behind as the athletic couple walked hand in hand down a street at nighttime behind two other people.

    “Love you @caitlinclark22,” McCaffery added over the photo to his Instagram Story, tagging Clark, who reposted the photo along with a black heart emoji.

    Connor McCafferty and Caitlyn Clark
    Connor McCaffery and Caitlin Clark.Connor McCafferty/Instagram

    The adorable post comes just after the Indiana Fever star, who was named the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year last season, celebrated her 23rd birthday on Jan. 22.

    Caitlin Clark Goes Glam for Date Night with Boyfriend Connor McCaffery at Fever Gala

    McCaffery, who previously worked for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers before taking an assistant coaching position on Butler University’s men’s basketball team last fall, penned a thoughtful post to his girlfriend on her birthday.

    “Happy 23rd CC ❤️ (finally we’re celebrating together this year 🥹)! You have an incredible ability to inspire and lift up those around you, and I am lucky to learn from you every day. Thank you for always being you 🤞🏼I love you,” McCaffery, the son of legendary Iowa coach Fran McCaffery, wrote on Instagram.

    Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

    Clark and McCaffery met as student-athletes at the University of Iowa before pursuing their respective careers in basketball.

    They’re often seen out together at sporting events, whether it’s supporting the Pacers during date night at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis or checking out a New York Yankees game with VIP treatment.

    Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Connor McCaffery
    Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Connor McCaffery.Dylan Buell/Getty

    Who Is Caitlin Clark’s Boyfriend? All About Connor McCaffery

    On April 25, 2024, the couple celebrated their first anniversary together. “One year of the best mems w my fav person 🖤,” Clark wrote in her post for McCaffery as they marked the milestone. The WNBA star added, “you make everyday better and I can’t wait for many more adventures together… love you 🤞🏻😇.”

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