GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers this week announced that quarterback Jordan Love has been selected as the team’s nominee for the 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

The award is the league’s most prestigious honor, recognizing players who excel on the field and demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact beyond the game.

Love’s commitment to community impact began when he entered the league in 2020 and has deepened since becoming the Packers’ starting quarterback, the club said in a news release.

In May 2024, he launched his foundation, Hands of 10ve, to empower children from all backgrounds to participate in sports, raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention and foster stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve – all causes deeply personal to him.

Through 10ve for Cleats, a Hands of 10ve initiative, Love donates cleats to an entire youth sports team for every touchdown scored during the season. In its first year, the program donated more than 1,300 pairs of cleats to 26 Wisconsin teams, and it is now expanding to include his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif. Hands of 10ve also hosts annual impact events including the Green Bay Charity Softball Game, youth football camps in Bakersfield and Milwaukee, winter coat drives and holiday shopping sprees for local children.

Throughout his career, Love has participated in fundraising initiatives for the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay, Rawhide Youth Services and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, using his platform to advance their missions and make a tangible difference. A steadfast advocate for mental health awareness, Love has sponsored community walks in Brown County and Kern County to raise visibility for organizations dedicated to suicide prevention and supporting those affected by loss. In April, Love visited the Kern County Youth Detention Center in Bakersfield to share a message about resilience and the importance of making positive choices, ultimately surprising each at-risk youth attendee with a $20,000 scholarship toward trade school or college. Within the law enforcement community, Love has raised awareness and funds for the Bakersfield Police Activities League (PAL) through the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative and has served as a keynote speaker at conferences, encouraging open dialogue around mental health while actively working to build stronger, more compassionate relationships between officers and the communities they serve.

“We are pleased to name Jordan Love as our club winner for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award,” said Packers President and CEO Ed Policy. “It’s been a privilege to watch him grow as a leader during his time with the Packers, both in the locker room and in the community. We have been proud to support his dedication to giving back, and we look forward to seeing how he continues to have an impact in Wisconsin and California through his Hands of 10ve Foundation. We are honored to have Jordan represent the Green Bay Packers, on and off the field.”

All 32 club winners will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area. The national winner of the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special airing on Thursday, Feb. 5.

[adrotate group=”1″]

Edward Anthony Marn, 93, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 1, 2025, at Madison Rehab and Nursing Home, in Morgantown.
Born on December 26, 1931, in Lansing, Ohio, Edward’s life was marked by dedication to his family, his community, and his country.

As a young man, Ed served with honor in the United States Air Force. His patriotic service was a point of great pride and set the foundation for his lifelong commitments to both leadership and mentorship.
After his military service, he embarked on a distinguished career in banking and became a well-respected figure during his 17-year tenure as President of the New Martinsville Bank, as well as an executive at Ormet Credit Union until his retirement. His professional integrity and approachable leadership style left a long-lasting imprint on the industry and those who worked alongside him.
Ed met the love of his life, Helen Hundley, at Keesler Air Force Base and they shared a blissful marriage of 71 years. The legacy of their enduring partnership includes children: Cindy Marn of Westover, Karen Biggs (Jimmy) of Aberdeen, Md., Michael Marn (Patty) of Red Lion, Pa., Mary Eberhardt (Keith Bayles) of Uniontown, Pa., and Beth Monroe (Terry) of Alma. He also has seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A devout Catholic, Ed was an active member of Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Paden City, where he served as a Minister of the Eucharist and shared his faith as a teacher of CCD and Acolytes for many years. Later, he continued his worship at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Star City. His faith was a cornerstone of his life, guiding him through both trials and celebrations.
Beyond his professional and spiritual contributions, Ed had a vivacious passion for life and culture. He was an avid golfer and fisherman, a devoted Mountaineers fan, and enjoyed following Ohio State, Duke and Notre Dame in various sports.
Ed was also a gifted storyteller, with many enthralled by his knowledge of history, especially military history. His voice was one of harmony, not only in life but literally as a member of his Barbershop Quartet, “The Mason Dixonaires.”
His philanthropic spirit was evident in his contribution to youth sports, where he coached softball for his daughters. He believed in nurturing the potential of the young and was a positive influence on many young lives.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony Sylvester Marn and Mary Zoladz Marn; as well as his brother, Anthony “Babe” Marn.
Friends may gather at Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Paden City, from 3 to 4 p.m., the time of a Mass of Celebration, on Friday, December 26, with Father Joseph Abraham as celebrant.
McCulla Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.McCulla.com

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros track & field/cross country teams hosted a free youth clinic Saturday at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.  
 
The Vaqueros student-athletes took charge of leading the clinic, shuffling participants by age group among four stations that worked on block starts, wickets, jumping and hurdling and offering advice and support. Kids ranging from first to eighth grade were put through drills to help with setting up their blocks, improve reaction times and mechanics, and teach techniques for jumps, hurdles and relays. 
 

This is the third year in a row the track & field/cross country program hosts a free event in Brownsville, welcoming 35 participants to the newly renovated Sams Memorial Stadium. Head coach Shareese Hicks expressed thanks and respect to Brownsville ISD athletic director Gilbert Leal for allowing the program to use the facility. 
 
“They say children are the future, and with our sport, we really, really love to make an impact. We’re trying to train up future Vaqueros and, who knows, even future Olympians. This is always a special event and it’s fun to be around the kiddos,” Hicks said. “We focused on the fundamentals, introducing them to the sport while making sure they’re having fun. It changes from age group to age group – the older ones, we’re really technical with them, the younger ones, it’s more fun and response. Hearing our student-athletes sharing information that they’ve heard directly from their coaches is so rewarding. I’m so proud of this team and the leadership that they show these young people is awe-inspiring. We’re happy to be able to continue to do this and we look forward to many more.” 

Support UTRGV Track & Field | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube

 

Kody Castellano has a big week ahead.

Castellano’s sixth grade Team Massachusetts Re­­gional Tournament be­gins on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. at Westwood High School against a team from Rhode Is­land.  

With a win, Massachu­setts would play at 10 a.m. on Sunday for the Region­al Championship against the winner of Connecticut and New Jer­sey.  

The regional tournament will send a team to the national cham­pion­ships on Dec. 17 in Na­ples, Florida.

Castellano will line up either at center or guard offensively and may play a bit at defensive tackle on defense.  

The Wilmington resident recently tried out and was selected for the Mass Elite Football All-Star Team. There were close to 100 athletes that tried out for the 6th grade team and 40 were selected.

The 2025 rookie class brings a lot of fantasy football uncertainty. Having a new pool of players to plug into fantasy football lineups is exciting, but their immediate usage and trends may not display their full fantasy potential just yet. Here, I aim to give you an update on how rookies are doing and their fantasy values.

With three-quarters of the NFL season complete, the Browns have built a rookie-heavy offense as the set of rookies that can contribute to fantasy playoff pushes is becoming more defined.

Eric Samulski breaks down his full defense rankings for the 2025 fantasy football playoffs

Rookie Quarterback Check-In

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

Ward continues to struggle through a season that has seen his head coach fired and injuries to multiple offensive weapons. The offensive personnel is already subpar for the Titans and Ward is completing 59.7 percent of his passes for 2,351 yards, seven touchdowns, six interceptions, and -0.20 EPA per play. He is sandwiched between the Browns rookie quarterbacks with that number, good for No. 44 among quarterbacks with 50 plays. Ward is a Dynasty-only fantasy quarterback with SuperFlex consideration in deep leagues.

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

At this point, Dart is the best rookie quarterback from the 2025 class. He is the only rookie with a positive EPA per play, completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 1,556 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions across eight starts, adding 337 yards and seven scores as a rusher. Without Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, it’s difficult to see a QB1 upside weekly on a struggling Giants team. However, rushing upside and his 6.8 yards per attempt put him on the fantasy QB1 borderline for the fantasy playoffs.

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Since taking over as starter for the Saints, Shough has five touchdowns, three interceptions, and three games of over 230 passing yards. It has not been a breakout-worthy performance with a wide range of play, including over 7.0 yards per attempt his first two starts, and under 6.5 yards per attempt his last two. Chris Olave is Shough’s top target and the generous passing volume as the Saints play from behind makes Shough a fantasy QB2.

Shedeur Sanders/Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns

Gabriel suffered a concussion in Week 11 and Sanders took over the starting role. Sanders has gotten the reigns for now and averages 6.6 yards per attempt, completing 50.8-percent of his passes for 405 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. His arm is an improvement over Gabriel’s 5.1 yards per attempt but Sanders is still not fantasy-viable. Both Browns rookies have an EPA per play mark under -0.15 and sack rates over 8.0 percent. The Browns’ franchise quarterback is not likely on the roster, but rookies have the reigns to the offense for now. Sanders is a high-end QB3 while the Browns offense has a few more rookies to be discussed later in this piece.

Running Backs

Workhorses

A few rookie running backs have locked in on a lead role and heavy workload this season. Carrying a high-volume workload, Ashton Jeanty continues to run behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. According to Sumer Sports, his 18.23 percent tackled-for-loss rate is worst among running backs with at least 60 carries. Despite this, his volume yields 4.5 targets per game and a low-end RB1 fantasy output. Jeanty will remain on the RB1 borderline for the fantasy playoffs.

With the Browns on their third quarterback, Quinshon Judkins has been a consistent presence. He is averaging just under 20 touches per game and is a versatile back. Scoring four wildcat touchdowns, Judkins is one of Cleveland’s top offensive playmakers. Set to return from an ankle fracture in Week 14, Omarion Hampton will be running behind a banged-up offensive line but will have heavy opportunity against an Eagles defense missing Jalen Carter. He saw at least 17 touches in Weeks 3-5 prior to his injury and is slated to get a heavy dose of touches again. Judkins and Hampton are in the low-end RB2 range moving forward.

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
181 carries, 635 rushing yards, 43 receptions, 251 receiving yards, 8 total touchdowns, 14.8 PPR Fantasy points per game

Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns
196 carries, 758 rushing yards, 17 receptions, 88 receiving yards, 7 total touchdowns, 13.2 PPR FPPG

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
66 carries, 314 rushing yards, 20 receptions, 136 receiving yards, 2 total touchdowns, 15.4 PPR FPPG

Starters

A few rookies are in starting and streaming territory. Since J.K. Dobbins went down, RJ Harvey has seen at least 14 touches in back-to-back games. The Broncos will always have a committee, but Harvey’s receiving usage of three targets per game boosts his budding fantasy value. TreVeyon Henderson scored five touchdowns in two games in Weeks 10-11 without Rhamondre Stevenson. With Stevenson returning, he is back to a backfield split, but still has seen at least 14 touches in the last two games. Henderson and Harvey have low-end RB2/FLEX upside heading into the fantasy playoffs.

Meanwhile, Kyle Monangai splits a bruising Bears backfield with D’Andre Swift. Woody Marks leads Nick Chubb in the Texans backfield and Devin Neal has the starting Saints role as Alvin Kamara deals with a knee injury. Monangai’s receiving upside is capped while Marks and Neal are a step down skill-wise from Harvey and Henderson. These three are in the RB3/FLEX range.

RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
74 carries, 279 rushing yards, 31 receptions, 222 receiving yards, eight total touchdowns, 10.8 PPR FPPG

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
129 carries, 625 rushing yards, 32 receptions, 199 receiving yards, six total touchdowns, 11.4 PPR FPPG

Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
121 carries, 591 rushing yards, 10 receptions, 97 receiving yards, five total touchdowns, 9.1 PPR FPPG

Woody Marks, Houston Texans
134 carries, 486 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 188 receiving yards, four total touchdowns, 9.1 PPR FPPG

Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints
31 carries, 108 rushing yards, 15 receptions, 86 receiving yards, zero touchdowns, 3.8 PPR FPPG

Handcuffs

The backs to keep as handcuffs are becoming more apparent as roles solidify towards the end of the season. Dylan Sampson and Ollie Gordon are the clear next backs up for their respective teams. Bhayshul Tuten has been getting goal-line/short-yardage usage for the Jaguars, playing 25-30 percent of offensive snaps the last few weeks. LeQuint Allen has a small pass-catching role as well; Tuten is a valuable handcuff behind Travis Etienne while Allen’s role should also be noted. Lastly, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has lost his starting role with the Commanders and is only a handcuff to Chris Rodriguez for now.

Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns

Ollie Gordon, Miami Dolphins

Bhaysul Tuten/LeQuint Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

Ranking and evaluating all of Week 14’s top plays at quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, kicker and defense.

Wide Receivers

Starters & Streamers

The group of rookie receivers fantasy managers are considering for fantasy lineups is getting narrow. Emeka Egbuka’s usage has remained high with six straight games of at least eight targets since Week 7. However, his fantasy output has seen just one double-digit PPR game over that span as he deals with a hamstring injury. Tetairoa McMillan is the WR1 for the Panthers and ranks No. 20 among wide receivers with a 77.9 PFF receiving grade. His 7.5 targets per game give him a solid fantasy floor. Both Egbuka and McMillan rank top-12 among receivers in air yards and are WR2 options for the fantasy playoffs.

The Texans have utilized Jayden Higgins more frequently as the season has gone on. At least five targets in each game from Weeks 10-13 have put him ahead in the Texans’ WR2 role. Luther Burden has also seen an increase in usage, getting at least 20 snaps in every game since the Bears’ Week 9 bye. He is seeing designed touches and usage in the first half, before tapering off in the less-scripted second half. Higgins and Burden belong on fantasy rosters with legitimate WR3/4 upside for the stretch run.

Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14.2 PPR FPPG, caught 52-of-101 targets for 791 yards and six touchdowns

Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
13.5 PPR FPPG, caught 57-of-98 targets for 826 yards and six touchdowns

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans
7.7 PPR FPPG, caught 32-of-50 targets for 359 yards and four touchdowns

Luther Burden, Chicago Bears
6.1 PPR FPPG, caught 26-of-34 targets for 328 yards and one touchdown

Deep Leagues & Dynasty Stashes

Though fantasy managers are not racing to start these receivers in fantasy, they are worth a look with burgeoning roles. Pat Bryant saw seven targets in Week 13 and is looking to battle Troy Franklin and Courtland Sutton for meaningful targets on the Broncos. Matthew Golden has failed to carve out a larger role on the Packers but should be rostered for dynasty purposes amid a murky receiver room. Jaylin Noel is looking to take over the Texans’ slot role from Christian Kirk heading into next season. Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor each get starting snaps for a Titans offense that will be better next season (it must be better next season!). Isaac TeSlaa scored four touchdowns on eight receptions this season. The list goes on…

Pat Bryant, Denver Broncos

Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers

Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans

Chimere Dike/Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans

Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions

Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jaylin Lane, Washington Commanders

Tre Harris, Los Angeles Chargers

Tight Ends

Starters

The tight end position has seen a growing number of rookies make contributions throughout the season. Tyler Warren remains at the top of this list for the Colts, though his production has waned. The Colts are facing better defenses with an injured Daniel Jones (leg), but Warren still ranks No. 3 among tight ends in yards after catch per reception, No. 5 in targets, and gets a steady 52 snaps per game. He is a mid-range TE1.

With at least four targets in every game since Week 7, Colston Loveland warrants starting consideration. Oronde Gadsden broke out with four straight double-digit fantasy games Weeks 6-9, but has struggled recently as blocking tight ends are taking some of his snaps since Chargers LT Joe Alt’s season-ending injury. Harold Fannin Jr. is another one of the Browns rookies that is contributing this season. He is averaging a steady 6.2 targets per game as the team’s leading receiver. Loveland, Gadsden, and Fannin sit on the TE1 borderline for the fantasy playoffs.

Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
13.1 PPR FPPG, caught 58-of-78 targets for 684 yards and four touchdowns

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
8.2 PPR FPPG, caught 31-of-44 targets for 406 yards and three touchdowns

Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers
10.1 PPR FPPG, caught 38-of-51 targets for 534 yards and two touchdowns

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
9.9 PPR FPPG, caught 51-of-74 targets for 505 yards and three touchdowns

Streamers & Stashes

A few young tight ends can be stashed on deep benches or given a look for dynasty purposes. Mason Taylor has had spike weeks, but inconsistencies amidst a subpar Jets quarterback situation. Gunnar Helm is getting increased usage since Week 11, with three straight games of at least five targets and 20 routes run.

Mason Taylor, New York Jets

Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans

The Injured

RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
101 carries, 410 rushing yards, 24 receptions, 207 receiving yards, seven total touchdowns, 16.0 PPR FPPG

WR Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
9.1 PPR FPPG, caught 28-of-45 targets for 298 yards and one touchdown

WR Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks
8.1 PPR FPPG, caught 13-of-22 targets for 161 yards and five touchdowns

Various Stats from Sumer Sports, Pro Football Focus, and FTN

By Pete Gawda

“Jesus told us to love our neighbors,” said Senior Pastor Jon Gleason of Peak View Baptist Church. “We believe in interacting with the community.”

The church has been putting that belief into action in practical ways. Most recently, in November, Peak View provided 80 pounds of ribeye steak and all the trimmings — vegetables, salads and tea — to serve complete meals for all three shifts of Falcon firefighters at each Falcon fire station. Church members also wrote 72 handwritten notes of encouragement and supplied devotional literature for the crews.

Associate Pastor Kevin King, who led the project, said it was a way to share the Gospel while showing support for firefighters. He noted that several firefighters are part of the Peak View congregation and that firefighting is a demanding job.

Deputy Chief Jeff Petersma expressed appreciation for the church’s efforts, saying the gesture showed firefighters that the community cares and recognizes their work.

“This isn’t just one church,” Gleason added. Peak View partnered with local businesses to make the project possible. Sponsors included Breaking Barriers Fitness, Christian Brothers Automotive, County Commissioner Carrie Geitner, East Side Modern Dentistry, Falcon Family Eye Care, Ice Cryospa and Medspa, Life Network, Nana’s Kitchen, Paul Davis Restoration (Colorado Springs) and Splash Bath.

The church organizes a different community outreach each month. Previous efforts have included participating in the Monument Fourth of July parade, helping sponsor a youth basketball camp and showing appreciation for educators through a Donuts for Teachers program.

Peak View also connects with the community by serving lunch on Sundays to anyone who wants to attend. The church meets at Falcon High School at 10 a.m.; they break for lunch around noon and gathers again afterward for a short afternoon service.

Jeremy Skiver, sporting a firefighter helmet, is having fun in the firefighter truck’s drivers seat.

Nathaniel Scalf, Jameson Scalf and Charlie King learning all about the fire house from FFPD firefighters.