FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets went with protection over a pass catcher with their first-round pick in the NFL draft.
Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu was selected at No. 11 overall by New York after the Jets traded down one spot Thursday night.
“I'm just excited about Olu,” general manager Joe Douglas said. “A proven pass protector, left tackle. I feel like he can really develop and become an impact player for us moving forward.”
The pick came after the Jets dealt the No. 10 overall selection to the Minnesota Vikings — who took Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. New York also sent a sixth-rounder (No. 203) to Minnesota, which traded No. 11 overall along with a fourth-rounder (No. 129) and a fifth-rounder (No. 157) to the Jets.
There was some buzz leading up to the draft that New York could go with Georgia tight end Brock Bowers or try to get one of the top wide receivers. But the selection of the 6-foot-6, 312-pound Fashanu gives the Jets depth on their revamped offensive line, added protection for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a potential future starter.
“It wasn’t necessarily the top of the needs, but I know they really loved Olu," Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” after the Jets took Fashanu. "I love what Joe did, moving back and getting a couple more picks.”
Fashanu said New York "definitely showed interest” in him during his visit with the team leading up to the draft, but he wasn't sure the Jets would take him.
“Honestly, I think they did a good job of disguising it because it didn't seem like any more than any other team that showed interest," Fashanu said during a video call with reporters. "I didn't want to say it throughout the process, but after taking a (top) 30 visit after the combine, for me, the Jets was the obvious place for me.”
After injuries and inconsistency caused New York to constantly shuffle its starting five up front, Douglas focused on upgrading the unit in free agency during the offseason.
Among the major moves the Jets made were signing eight-time Pro Bowl selection Tyron Smith, acquiring offensive tackle Morgan Moses from Baltimore and signing former Ravens guard John Simpson.
They’re all expected to start, along with center Joe Tippmann and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. But Smith is 33 and has played only 30 games in the past four seasons because of injuries. Moses is also 33 and was sidelined for three games last season with a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery.
And both tackles are only signed to one-year deals. So, Fashanu gives the Jets an option in case of injury this season — and a player who could potentially take over next season.
“I feel like I'm kind of living like a fairy tale or something like that,” Fashanu said of playing with Smith. "He's the first player I ever watched while watching film as a tackle. I didn't start playing football until I was a freshman in high school and, at the time, he was the absolute standard at left tackle.
“So for me, getting the opportunity to watch years upon years of film of him and now having this great opportunity to learn with him and learn any tips of advice that he has for me, what more can I ask for?”
Fashanu was an Associated Press first-team All-America selection and the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year last season. He was a two-year starter at left tackle for the Nittany Lions and allowed only one sack in his entire college career.
Fashanu said he took a lot of practice snaps at right tackle in college, but Douglas said the Jets project him as a left tackle in the pros. And that means Fashanu will likely mostly sit for at least a year behind Smith.
“I think that's what he's had his most success at in high school and college,” Douglas said. “Obviously, he's been a dominant left tackle at Penn State the last two years. We've got a great room of vets that can take him under their wing and great coaches that can develop him.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
FILE - Penn State offensive lineman Olu Fashanu runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. The New York Jets selected Fashanu with the 11th pick after trading down one spot in the NFL draft Thursday night, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
BOSTON (AP) — Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery wanted to do something different with his team heading into a first-round Game 7 matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Bruins were facing the prospect of blowing back-to-back 3-1 leads in the opening round and a sense of impending doom hung over the team.
Montgomery hoped a little change of scenery might do the trick. So instead of sleeping in their own beads ahead of the winner-take-all game Saturday night, they stayed at a hotel and took buses to TD Garden.
“The thinking was, we're 2-5 at home the last two years in the playoffs, and what's going to allow us to eliminate the noise?” Montgomery said.
He thought back to a visit he made to the New England Patriots' spring minicamp last year. There he spoke with former coach Bill Belichick about the importance of limiting distractions.
“It's something that stuck with me. And it's something that I've been preaching as the playoffs have been nearing,” he said.
It just may have saved Boston's season.
The Bruins overcame a deficit to tie it in regulation, then David Pastrnak scored 1:54 into overtime and the Bruins beat the Maple Leafs 2-1.
It was the kind of total team performance Montgomery was aiming for since taking a 3-1 lead on Toronto.
It was also a slump-busing night for Pastrnak, who had a team-high four shots on goal after posting just two goals and two assists through six games. His puck handling was integral to jumpstarting Boston's offense in the third period and in overtime.
“A little relief as well,” Pastrnak said. “Obviously, the happiness from the group and sticking together the whole series was unbelievable and we couldn't be prouder of ourselves.”
Boston moves into the next round with netminder Jeremy Swayman playing at nearly his highest level of the season. Since Montgomery stopped alternating Linus Ullmark and Swayman in Game 3, Swayman hasn't allowed more than two goals in a game.
“He was our best player in the series and it's not close,” Montgomery said.
It helped them narrowly avoid becoming the first NHL, NBA or Major League Baseball team to lose consecutive best-of-seven series after holding a 3-1 lead.
Montgomery said it is an experience he thinks will help them going forward.
“I think we’re a better team because of what we just went through. Now they know what it takes to push through,” he said. “First round’s the wild, wild west. It usually is. This year it seems like there’s only two Game 7s. But usually there’s six.”
And next up is another chance at redemption against a Florida Panthers team that rallied from 3-1 in last year’s first round to send home a Bruins team that set league records for wins and points in the regular season.
“That’s playoff hockey," Montgomery said. "Last year had no bearing on how this was going to bear out. We knew that. It’s a storyline, and that’s part of what comes with playoffs. That’s going to happen. But at the end of the day, we did a great job staying in moment, believing in our group. And we came out on top.”
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Boston Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon, left, battles Toronto Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg during the first period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman (1) blocks a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) as Morgan Geekie (39) defends during the second period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Toronto Maple Leafs fans react after catching a puck that went over the glass during the third period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Toronto Maple Leafs' Tyler Bertuzzi (59) leaves the ice between John Tavares (91) and Morgan Rielly (44) after the team lost to the Boston Bruins in overtime during Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery cheers after a goal by center Trent Frederic (11) during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series agains the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Toronto Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies (23) collides with Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman (1) during the second period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Bruins' Hampus Lindholm (27) celebrates his goal with Justin Brazeau (55) and Trent Frederic (11) behind Toronto Maple Leafs' David Kampf (64) during the third period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman (1) and Linus Ullmark (35) celebrate after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime during Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak (88) sets up to score on Toronto Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov (35) in overtime during Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his goal with Morgan Geekie (39), Charlie McAvoy (73) and Brandon Carlo (25) in overtime during Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
