Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save University of North Carolina Chancellor Lee Roberts, left, hands new North Carolina coach Bill Belichick, right, a sleeveless UNC hoodie during Thursday's press conference in Chapel Hill, N.C. Bill Belichick had just been introduced Thursday as North Carolina's next football coach when chancellor Lee Roberts came armed with a gift: a short-sleeved gray hoodie — a bit of a trademark from Belichick's NFL coaching days — bearing a blue interlocking "NC" logo. It was the visual confirmation, which will take some getting used to, that the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach whose name became synonymous with NFL success has taken an unexpected first dive into college coaching. He now leads a program at a school with a national name brand but one that has been unable to sustain fleeting pockets of high-level success when it comes to football. "I've always wanted to coach in college football," Belichick said during his introductory campus news conference. "It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK. But this is really kind of a dream come true." Somers Point man killed in two-vehicle crash in Egg Harbor Township Atlantic City Airshow canceled for 2025 Atlantic City police officer accused of assaulting, pointing gun at wife Somers Point man killed after motorcycle strikes SUV on Longport Boulevard Atlantic City Mayor Small indicted on witness tampering charge in child abuse case Mays Landing's Level Up comic and video game shop to close after 18 years GoFundMe started for Somers Point man seriously injured in Egg Harbor Township crash 14 arrested following drug operations in Atlantic City Troopers gave special treatment to drivers with courtesy cards, watchdog finds Body found in fridge in Belleplain State Forest Lower Township man charged with possession of child porn Atlantic commissioners say no privatization planned for ACUA after landfill odor problem Long Beach Island fire damages multimillion-dollar bayfront home Who are The Press' 2024 High School Football All-Stars? Who are The Press' football Player, Team and Coach of the Year? Belichick, who met with his new team before the media, certainly seemed at ease Thursday. He bypassed the terse and grumpy responses he became known for during his time with the Patriots — something he joked about as his news conference "aura" during Monday's appearance on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show." Instead, he came with a grin and quips, starting when he walked into the room and scanned the large crowd of reporters, former players and others with university ties. "Big crowd," he said lowly to Roberts, then scanned the room with a smile before taking his seat. Members of the media and the public listen at Thursday's press conference. And it was, along with the magnitude of a hire that had seized a national spotlight that typically falls on UNC more for its tradition-rich blueblood basketball program. The school's trustees approved terms of the five-year deal earlier Thursday, followed by the governors of the state's public university system after the news conference. The deal pays Belichick $10 million in base and supplemental salary per year — though it is guaranteed only for the first three years, including for buyout purposes — and there is also up to $3.5 million in annual bonuses. As for the buyout if Belichick leaves, there's a $10 million fee if done before June 2025, which would discourage an unexpected jump to an NFL opening before next season, and then $1 million after that date. There are also estimates for the school to allocate $10 million for assistant coaching salaries, $1 million for strength-and-conditioning staff, $5.3 million for support staff such as general manager, and $13 million in eventual revenue sharing to athletes. North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham, right, shakes hands with new head football coach Bill Belichick, left. "I do think football is the economic driver in college sports, and we need to be really good in football to continue to remain relevant on a national basis," UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said after the news conference. "We're there in basketball, we're there in a lot of our Olympic sports. But we need to make sure our football program is elite. "I think this demonstrates our commitment to it. Now the performance is going to demonstrate whether or not we can do it." Belichick arrived wearing a dark suit, a light blue dress shirt and a tie bearing a white-and-light-blue pattern. He sat between Roberts and Cunningham, who paid his own tribute by donning a suit jacket with the sleeves cut off to mimic Belichick's cut-off sideline look. "I'm here to, as Bubba said, teach, develop and build a program in the way that I believe in," Belichick said. Moving on from the 73-year-old Mack Brown to hire the 72-year-old Belichick means UNC is turning to a coach who has never worked at the college level, yet had incredible success in the NFL alongside quarterback Tom Brady throughout most of his 24-year tenure with the Patriots, which ended last season. New North Carolina coach Bill Belichick holds up a sweatshirt that belonged to his father when he was on the coaching staff at UNC during Thursday's press conference. Belichick holds 333 career regular-season and postseason wins in the NFL, trailing only Don Shula's 347 for the NFL record, while his 31 playoff wins are the most in league history. He had been linked to NFL jobs in the time since his departure from the Patriots, notably the Atlanta Falcons in January. And he had seemingly settled into the media world, including appearances on former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning's "Manningcast" broadcasts during Monday Night Football as well as appearances on McAfee's show. That's why word of Belichick's conversations with UNC — first reported by Inside Carolina and confirmed by the AP last week — stirred such surprise as an unexpected and unconventional candidate. There's also at least a small family tie to the UNC program for Belichick; his late father, Steve, was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953-55. Belichick offered a nod to that by pulling out a white school sweatshirt of his father's during the news conference. When asked about fan concerns that he might leave quickly for the next NFL job, Belichick said: "I didn't come here to leave." And when asked how long he might want to keep coaching, he was quick with a quip. "It beats working," Belichick said, drawing chuckles. "My dad told me this: when you love what you do, it's not work. I love what I do. I love coaching." He's arriving on campus at a time of rapid changes in college athletics, from free player movement through the transfer portal and athletes' ability to cash in on endorsements to the looming arrival of revenue sharing. And he's taking over a program that for a school with a national name-brand that has never sustained elite football success in its long history. Belichick said his staff, both in coaching and support, would certainly have a "strong presence of NFL people." Interim Tar Heels coach Freddie Kitchens is an example; Belichick said he intends to retain the former Cleveland Browns head coach on his staff. Another is Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager and executive who is leaving a media job to become UNC's GM. Lombardi attended Thursday's news conference. "To work again with Belichick is probably another dream come true," Lombardi said. "We had success in Cleveland, we had success together in New England, and it feels right to work that way. And I love building football teams." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!wolfeyvgc champion 。

Unamused 49ers GM: Cool it with Kyle Shanahan 'hot seat' talk

The Stock Market Has Entered The Danger ZoneThis Week in Web3: Bitcoin Price, Crypto Interest Hit All-Time Highs

NoneWill Gustav Nyquist Score a Goal Against the Stars on December 12?

NoneThe Gunners delivered the statement Champions League victory their manager had demanded to bounce back from a narrow defeat at Inter Milan last time out. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track, lifting them to seventh place with 10 points in the new-look 36-team table. It was Arsenal’s biggest away win in the Champions League since beating Inter by the same scoreline in 2003. “For sure, especially against opposition we played at their home who have not lost a game in 18 months – they have been in top form here – so to play with the level, the determination, the purpose and the fluidity we showed today, I am very pleased,” said Arteta. “The team played with so much courage, because they are so good. When I’m watching them live they are so good! They were all exceptional today. It was a big performance, a big win and we are really happy. “The performance was there a few times when we have played big teams. That’s the level that we have to be able to cope and you have to make it happen, and that creates belief.” A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners took the lead after only seven minutes when Martinelli tucked in Jurrien Timber’s cross, and Saka teed up Havertz for a tap-in to double the advantage. Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Declan Rice’s corner into the back of the net. To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Viktor Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after David Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved. A miserable night for prolific Sporting striker Gyokeres was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.

None

None

None

By Funto Omojola, NerdWallet Mobile wallets that allow you to pay using your phone have been around for well more than a decade, and over those years they’ve grown in popularity, becoming a key part of consumers’ credit card usage. According to a “state of credit card report” for 2025 from credit bureau Experian, 53% of Americans in a survey say they use digital wallets more frequently than traditional payment methods. To further incentivize mobile wallet usage, some credit card issuers offer bonus rewards when you elect to pay that way. But those incentives can go beyond just higher reward rates. In fact, mobile wallets in some ways are becoming an essential part of activating and holding a credit card. For example, they can offer immediate access to your credit line, and they can be easier and safer than paying with a physical card. From a rewards perspective, it can make a lot of sense to reach for your phone now instead of your physical card. The Apple Card offers its highest reward rates when you use it through the Apple Pay mobile wallet. Same goes for the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® when you use it to make purchases via the PayPal digital wallet. The Kroger grocery store giant has a co-branded credit card that earns the most when you pay using an eligible digital wallet, and some major credit cards with quarterly rotating bonus categories have a history of incentivizing digital wallet use. But again, these days it’s not just about the rewards. Mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and PayPal can offer immediate access to your credit line while you wait for your physical card to arrive after approval. Indeed, most major issuers including Bank of America®, Capital One and Chase now offer instant virtual credit card numbers for eligible cards that can be used upon approval by adding them to a digital wallet. Additionally, many co-branded credit cards — those offered in partnership with another brand — commonly offer instant card access and can be used immediately on in-brand purchases. Credit cards typically take seven to 10 days to arrive after approval, so instant access to your credit line can be particularly useful if you need to make an urgent or unexpected purchase. Plus, they allow you to start spending toward a card’s sign-up bonus right away. As issuers push toward mobile payments, a growing number of merchants and businesses are similarly adopting the payment method. The percentage of U.S. businesses that used digital wallets increased to 62% in 2023, compared to 47% the previous year, according to a 2023 survey commissioned by the Federal Reserve Financial Services. Wider acceptance is potentially good news for the average American, who according to Experian has about four credit cards. While that won’t necessarily weigh down your wallet, it can be hard to manage multiple cards and rewards categories at once. Mobile wallets offer a more efficient way to store and organize all of your workhorse cards, while not having to carry around ones that you don’t use often. They can also help you more easily monitor your spending and rewards, and some even track your orders’ status and arrival time. Plus, paying with a digital wallet offers added security. That’s because it uses technology called tokenization when you pay, which masks your real credit card number and instead sends an encrypted “token” that’s unique to each payment. This is unlike swiping or dipping a physical card, during which your credit card number is more directly accessible. And again, because a mobile wallet doesn’t require you to have your physical cards present, there’s less chance of one falling out of your pocket or purse. More From NerdWallet Funto Omojola writes for NerdWallet. Email: fomojola@nerdwallet.com. The article Activating Your Credit Card? Don’t Skip the Mobile Wallet Step originally appeared on NerdWallet .DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos signed left tackle Garett Bolles to a four-year extension on Thursday, locking up a big piece to protect rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Bolles has spent his entire career with the organization after being drafted out of Utah with the 20th overall pick in 2017. He has a chance this season to help the Broncos into the postseason for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. The Broncos (8-5) are currently in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. They can put some distance between them and Indianapolis on Sunday (6-7) with a win over the Colts. After an up-and-down start in Denver, Bolles has developed into a dependable pass protector. He's allowed one sack and 24 quarterback pressures over 13 starts this season. What's more, his 4.9 percent quarterback pressure rate is the second-lowest mark among tackles with at least 200 pass blocking snaps this season, according to NextGen Stats. With time to scan the field, Nix leads all rookies in completions (277), yards passing (2,842), offensive touchdowns (22) and passing touchdowns (17). Bolles earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors after the 2020 season. On social media , Bolles posted: “Broncos Country, It’s been a great 8 years! Thanks for everything! And ... I’m not leaving. The show goes on!” Since 2017, Bolles has allowed the sixth-fewest sacks (36) among tackles with at least 3,100 snaps. The extension of Bolles means the Broncos have all five starting offensive linemen on board through next season. Guard Quinn Meinerz agreed to four-year contract extension in July. The Broncos also signed cornerback Patrick Surtain II to a four-year contract extension in September worth $96 million, including $77.5 million in guarantees. Linebacker Jonathon Cooper agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension in November. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflRoblox chief product officer Manuel Bronstein sells $518,789 in stock