sports // 18

Extra points

» Thoughts from around the NFL

3 Eric Wilkins Sports Editor

We. M sports jy |, @theotherpress.ca

he dastardly lull that is the

NFL off-season is almost over, and with it, the miserable bits and bobs of speculative writing based off of nothing more than statistics and hype. And so we trundle into August, growing ever closer to more meaningful football than third-stringers fighting for spots on special teams.

In anattempt to add some excitement to the most predictable play in football, the NFL is experimenting with moving PATs back from the two-yard line to the 15-yard line. The first two weeks of the pre-season will see teams have the option of choosing to go for two points from the two-yard line or kick the equivalent ofa 33-yard field goal for the extra point to spice up the play that was converted 99.6 per cent of the time last season (five

: misses league-wide). Ravens’

: kicker Justin Tucker is one of

: those staunchly against the

: idea: “I don’t think the game

: needs to be changed unless

: there’s areal safety concern.

: think people are proposing

: some of these rule changes just : because maybe they don’t have : anything better to do.” Hey,

: Justin, John Carney called; he

: wants his fear of PATS back.

In addition to the trial of

: the 33-yard PATS, the league

: has increased the height of the : field goal posts five feet to 35

: after issues, namely Tucker’s

: field goal against the Patriots

: a few seasons ago, were voiced : by concerned parties. The

; posts now appear comically

: high and significantly more

: unstable. So, with added : : height comes less load-bearing : : responsibility, and the league : has also decreed that dunking : in celebration is now a 15-yard : penalty. PoorJimmy Graham. : : Not every story has a happy : : ending, but for former NFL- : hopeful Brian Banks, there

: is one after all. The former

: high school standout’s NFL

: dreams were all but dashed

: when he was falsely accused of : rape backin 2002. He served

: five years in prison, followed

: by five years of parole before

: evidence finally surfaced that

: Banks’ accuser had made

: the whole thing up. Wanetta

: Gibson wanted, apparently

: not very badly though, to help

: Banks but didn’t want to return : the $1.5-million settlement

: she snagged from the Long

: Beach Unified school district.

: Instead, after 10 years of being : wrongfully convicted, Gibson

: was caught on tape bya private : investigator and the rest is

: history. Banks tried to stick

: with a team, going for a short

: stint with Atlanta, following

: his exoneration but his years

: away from the game turned

out to be too much of a moun-

: tain to overcome. Though

: he’s not playing inthe NFL,

: Banks is set to start work for : the NFL's football operations

department. Not the career

: asa player he had dreamed : of, but fora man whose life : was ruined over a decade

: ago, things are looking up.

theotherpress.ca

UWE OUIER PRESS tS Woes

ASSISTANT EDITOR STAFF WRITER SPORTS REPORTER

The Other Press is now hiring an Assistant Editor.

The Assistant Editor is responsible for editing and fact-checking the entirety of the newspaper, as well as managing special tasks as assigned by the Editor-in-Chief.

Must haves:

* A thorough understanding of the Canadian Press Stylebook, as well as the Other Press’ own style guide

* Exceptional editing and writing skills

* Experience with fact-checking newspaper articles and plagiarism prevention tactics

* Able to work under a tight deadline

* A willingness to contribute original articles on a weekly basis

Pay: $700/month

Interested? Apply by August 20, 2014 to editor@theotherpress.ca. Interviews will be taking place on August 22, 2014.

Do you love writing? Want to be more involved with the Douglas community?

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The Staff Writer is responsible for writing two to three quality articles on a weekly basis. The successful applicant will also be responsible for working with the current Section Editors on producing relevant college-related content.

Must haves: * Experience writing, with a history in student journalism a plus

* Interest in student and community news and events

* Strong writing skills

* Willingness to collaborate with other writers/editors

Pay: $200/month

Interested? Apply by September 5, 2014 to editor@theotherpress.ca.

Do you know the score? Love writing? The Other Press is hiring a Sports Reporter.

The Sports Reporter is responsible for writing two to three quality articles on a weekly basis for the Sports section. The successful applicant will also be responsible for working with the current Sports Editor on producing relevant content, conducting interviews, and taking photos.

Must haves: * Experience and familiarity with conducting interviews and sports-style article writing

* Interest in student and community news and events

* Strong writing skills

+ Digital photography skills (equipment is provided)

+ Acurrent or previous connection to the Douglas athletics department is preferred

Pay: $260/month

Interested? Apply by September 5, 2014 to editor@theotherpress.ca.