Connect with us

Alabama

New England Patriots cut starter to grab former Alabama offensive lineman

Published

on

New England Patriots cut starter to grab former Alabama offensive lineman


The New England Patriots were awarded guard Lester Cotton from NFL waivers on Tuesday after the former Alabama lineman had been let go by the Miami Dolphins on Monday.

To make room on their 53-man active roster for Cotton, the Patriots released Michael Jordan, who had started 11 of New England’s 12 games at left guard.

While Jordan had played 684 offensive snaps for the Patriots this season, Cotton had played 60 at left guard in two games for the Dolphins, although he had appeared in every game on special teams.

Cole Strange played left guard for New England as a first-round rookie in 2022 and the first 10 games of 2023 before a knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Strange returned to practice for the first time last week and can be activated from injured reserve anytime before Dec. 11.

Advertisement

The Patriots hold the fourth spot in the NFL waiver-wire order this week, which means only the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders passed on Cotton before he was claimed.

By adding Cotton off waivers, New England also picked up his contract. He’s in the second season of a two-year, $2.135 million deal signed with Miami last year.

The Dolphins waived Cotton to create a roster spot for offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, who returned from a quadriceps injury and had been on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Cotton entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Oakland Raiders after starting for two seasons at Alabama, including for the 2017 CFP national championship team. Cotton came to Alabama as a 2014 Parade All-American and an All-State selection at Central-Tuscaloosa.

Cotton has started nine games in the regular season and one in the postseason during his NFL career. He has played in 43 regular-season and two playoff games.

Advertisement

Cotton has been waived six times during his NFL career.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.





Source link

Advertisement

Alabama

Alabama’s SEC opponents revealed for 2026-27 season

Published

on

Alabama’s SEC opponents revealed for 2026-27 season


The SEC opponents for Alabama women’s basketball during the 2026-27 campaign has been officially revealed.

The Tide will face some of the top teams in all of women’s college basketball throughout SEC play this upcoming season. Alabama will face Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Texas A&M at home, with Ole Miss being the Tide’s only SEC opponent that they will face twice this year, both home and away. Alabama will be on the road for matchups against Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas as well.

The dates, start times, and television network for each will be revealed at a later date.

Alabama held a 7-9 record throughout SEC play last season. The Tide were widely regarded as one of the top teams in the nation despite struggling at times during conference play, and Alabama was able to make a run during the SEC Tournament with a shocking upset to the Tennessee Lady Vols in Nashville. 

Advertisement

Alabama went 24-11 last season as a whole, but the Tide will undoubtedly need to play better during SEC play this year nonetheless.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.





Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

Two Alabama bridges rank among longest in U.S. Have you crossed them?

Published

on

Two Alabama bridges rank among longest in U.S. Have you crossed them?


play

In Alabama’s coastal landscape, two Alabama bridges quietly stand among the longest in the United States. 

A new World Atlas ranking of the 11 longest bridges in the United States is a reminder that not all crossings are so forgettable. These are the spans that stretch the idea of a “quick drive” into something else entirely.

Advertisement

As World Atlas notes, the country’s roughly 617,000 bridges are mostly routine. The ones on this list “swallow the horizon,” turning open water into a roadway that can take ten or fifteen minutes to cross. 

Louisiana dominates the ranking, but Alabama also makes its presence known with two entries: the Jubilee Parkway and the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge.

Jubilee Parkway: Alabama’s 7.5-mile bridge ranks No. 7 among longest in US

Ranked at No. 7 on World Atlas’ list, the Jubilee Parkway carries Interstate 10 across Mobile Bay as a pair of parallel viaduct bridges stretching 7.5 miles between Mobile and Spanish Fort/Daphne. Opened in 1978, the four-lane crossing is often called the “Bayway.”

The World Atlas says the bridge takes its name from Mobile Bay’s “jubilee” phenomenon, when marine life is pushed into shallow water, making it unusually easy to catch.

General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge: 6.08-mile span ranks No. 10 in U.S.

The General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge ranks No. 10 on the World Atlas list, stretching 6.08 miles across the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta northeast of Mobile as part of Interstate 65.

Advertisement

World Atlas says the bridge is better known locally as the “Dolly Parton Bridge,” a nickname inspired by the paired arch design that, locals say, resembles a distinctive silhouette when viewed from certain angles.

Completed in 1980, it features twin parallel weathering-steel arches and concrete viaducts carrying four lanes over the wide, marshy delta.

Longest bridges in the U.S. Full World Atlas ranking

World Atlas ranks these as the longest bridges in the U.S.:

Advertisement
  1. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway: 23.83 miles
  2. Manchac Swamp Bridge: 22.8 miles
  3. Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge: 18.2 miles
  4. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel: 17.6 miles
  5. Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge: 11 miles
  6. Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge: 8.26 miles
  7. Jubilee Parkway: 7.5 miles
  8. San Mateo-Hayward Bridge: 7 miles
  9. Seven Mile Bridge: 6.79 miles
  10. General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge: 6.08 miles
  11. Norfolk Southern Lake Pontchartrain Bridge: 5.8 miles

Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.



Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

Late nights, Father’s day deals and fireworks at Alabama Adventure

Published

on

Late nights, Father’s day deals and fireworks at Alabama Adventure


The iconic wooden roller coaster at Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure is officially back in action, along with some seasonal deals. This Father’s Day, dads can get into the park for free to ride the restored coaster, Rampage.

It’s not the only attraction returning; this Halloween, Alabama Adventure is bringing back not one but two haunted houses for the first time since the late 2000s.

If you can’t wait until then, the Bessemer park will be open late on Saturdays and end with a pop of color. Adventure Summer Nights will have the park open until 9:30 p.m. once a week with a fireworks show to round off the night.

And as an apology to their loyal visitors, people who bought a daily ticket before June 10 are welcome to come back and try their new and improved attractions for free. If you’re a season pass holder, don’t feel left out—pass holder discounts are doubled for the month of July.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending