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MTG World champions secure top 8 finishes at Pro Tour Lord of the Rings

Barcelona hosted The Lord of the Rings Pro Tour tournament from July 28 to 30, showcasing the Modern format for the first time in years and multiple Magic: The Gathering World Champions securing a top-eight playoff finish. 

Over 200 of the best Magic players from around the globe gathered in Barcelona for the final Pro Tour tournament of the 2022-2023 season . Players competed in a total of six rounds of Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Draft and up to 10 Swiss rounds of Modern Constructed, seeking a top eight finish and an invite to the 2022-2023 Magic World Championship that is scheduled to take place from Sept. 22 to 24 in Las Vegas .  

Top-eight MTG players at Pro Tour Lord of the Rings

First to secure a top-eight finish at Pro Tour Lord of the Rings was Javier Dominguez. The MTG 2019 World Champion secured a seat at the top eight playoffs after having made the top eight at the previous Pro Tour March of the Machine tournament in Minneapolis. Dominguez brought the Mono-Green Tron deck to Pro Tour Lord Barcelona, defeating Kazune Kosaka on Rakdos Evoke to earn his thirteenth and final match win at the tournament. 

Heading into the Barcelona tournament with seven Pro Tour wins and a World Championship title from 1999 was Kai Budde. Playing Temur Rhinos, Budde secured a top-eight finish at Pro Tour Lord of the Rings by defeating Sean Goddard on Five-Color Creativity. Joining Budde and Dominguez were six other top Magic players, including Nielsen and Calcano. 

• First : Javier Dominguez from Spain playing Mono-Green Tron
• Second : Christian Calcano from the United States playing Mono-Green Tron
• Third : Simon Nielsen from Denmark playing Mono-Green Tron
• Fourth : Jake Beardsley from the United States playing Rakdos Evoke
• Fifth : Marco Del Pivo from Italy playing Temur Rhinos
• Sixth : Stefano Vinci from Italy playing Temur Rhinos
• Seventh : Kai Budde from Germany playing Temur Rhinos
• Eigth: Dominic Harvey from Canada playing Amulet Titan

Having already secured a World Championship invite to Las Vegas from the top-eight group was Simon Nielsen, who also went undefeated during day one of Pro Tour Barcelona. And standing out from the group was Harvey’s eighth-place finish on the only deck that wasn’t Mono-Green Tron, Rakdos Evoke, or Temur Rhinos. 

Fans can watch the top eight playoff action unfold at Pro Tour Lord of the Rings on July 30, starting at 3am CT on Twitch . 

Pro Tour The Lord of the Rings

View as Slideshow | Expand Decks

Format: Draft Date: 2023-07-28 Source: mtgmelee.com

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My Road to Winning the MTG Pro Tour

After finally being crowned Pro Tour champion, Reid's giving the inside scoop on how he got there.

By Reid Duke | @ReidDuke | Published 2/25/2023 | 8 min read

While there have been plenty of sweet and highly-competitive Magic tournaments, there hasn't been a Pro Tour since 2019. The combination of a world-wide pandemic and an emphasis on Magic Arena changed the landscape of MTG's organized play for 2020, 2021, and 2022.

I did my best to roll with the punches in these years. I love playing MTG in any form, and was grateful to be able to play some high-level Magic while everyone was stuck at home. However, I never felt quite the same excitement as in the old days, when players from all across the world would converge on one tournament hall to battle it out.

Worse yet, I never really hit my stride. I managed to keep my head above water when it came to my ranking and qualifications for tournaments. However, despite playing in every major event, I never broke through to a top finish during this play-from-home era.

But the Pro Tour is back, baby, and so am I!

If you want a more in-depth report, I suggest checking out my article on CFB Pro as well.

Preparation

Truth be told, this tournament didn't represent the peak of either my preparation or my confidence.

I had gone "all in" for Worlds back in October, with weeks of practice and study. I strove endlessly to make every card choice and draft pick perfectly, and not leave any possible advantage on the table. That resulted in a "just okay" 8-6 finish .

The Worlds experience burned me out, and I knew I'd need some time to recharge before I'd be able to repeat that process for a future tournament. Instead, my goal for Pro Tour Phyrexia was mainly to have fun, and enjoy getting back to tabletop MTG. I wasn't expecting any particular result. I think that in a strange way, this worked in my favor, as it helped me to stay calm and play my best throughout the event.

Team Line-Up

I started practicing full-time the Friday before the tournament (so about one full week of dedicated preparation). I shared a house in Philadelphia with an awesome team. I couldn't have done it without their help.

Here was the team line-up.

PT Competitors:

• Jim Davis (USA)
• Eli Kassis (USA)
• Martin Juza (Czech Republic)
• Ben Lundquist (USA)
• No Ah Ma (Korea)
• Seth Manfield (USA)
• Gabriel Nassif (France)
• Logan Nettles (USA)
• Sam Pardee (USA)
• Luis Scott-Vargas (USA)
• Mike Sigrist (USA)
• Jakub Toth (Czech Republic)
• Brent Vos (Netherlands)

Outside Assists:

• Kai Budde (Germany)
• Andrew Cuneo (USA)
• Frank Karsten (Netherlands)
• Will Kreuger (USA)
• Raphael Levy (France)
• Carolyn Pardee (Canada)

The "testing house" experience is always a lot of fun. It's a great excuse to gather friends from all over the world to hang out and play Magic. There's always some amount of stress, as we all want to do well in the tournament. But I find there's no better - or more fun - way to challenge each other to be our best. For instance, everybody hyping up Siggy (Mike Sigrist) and Martin Juza as the best drafters, and wondering who'd be able to take a match off of them!

Plus, No Ah Ma brought us a lifetime supply of snacks from Korea!

We had a really great team dynamic and a great experience. At various points, people would stop to point out how good it felt to be playing again. Of course, it was not without the normal gaming house snafus.

This was me minding my own business with a Magic Online draft as two of my teammates decided to pass a flimsy box of hot pizza over my head…

During my best years on the Pro Tour, I felt that I had a bigger edge in the Booster Draft rounds than in the Constructed rounds. Most players qualify for the PT by playing Constructed. Plus, while you can get a crash course in a Constructed format over the course of a few weeks, the best drafters tend to be the ones who've played thousands and thousands of drafts over the course of a long career.

Combine the experience advantage with an elite team capable of figuring out a draft format quickly, and I often feel pretty confident sitting down for a Pro Tour draft.

I had a fair bit of driving to do going between New York and Philadelphia, so this time around I stayed up to date with the Limited Resources, Lords of Limited, Drafting Archetypes and Mystical Dispute podcasts. Each was helpful in their own way.

My draft strategy was to build a solid deck, and not go "all-in" on the toxic strategy, which can sometimes go badly when things don't work out for you. My favorite color is red, and I only planned to draft blue if it proved to be very, very open at the table.

It's a good thing the Limited preparation went well, because I felt totally lost in Pioneer. I believe the format is very balanced, with all of the big decks having strengths and weaknesses. You can fall in love with a deck after a good set of games, but if you play it long enough, you'll inevitably hit a bad run, or encounter a bad matchup that'll scare you off of it.

My goal was to choose a deck that was powerful, proactive, and for which we had a good deck list.

My favorite Pioneer deck, Mono-Blue Spirits, simply wasn't going to be a good choice in a world where Rakdos Midrange, Gruul, White Weenie and Rakdos Sac are among the top decks. Rakdos Midrange and Lotus Field appealed to me, and I had a good run when I played Gruul, but none of them really felt "special" as a deck that would give me an edge over the field.

In the end, I trusted my team when it came to the Izzet Indomitable Creativity deck. As a team, we'd put a ton of work into it (especially Mike Sigrist, who had played the most), so I knew it would be a solid choice.

Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Izzet Creativity by Reid Duke

'Izzet Creativity' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!

Created By: Reid Duke

Event: Pro Tour Phyrexia

Market Price: $316.53

Put any number of cards from your hand on the bottom of your library, then draw that many cards plus one.

Spikefield Hazard deals 1 damage to any target. If a permanent dealt damage this way would die this turn, exile it instead.

Investigate. If this spell was cast from a graveyard, investigate twice instead. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") Flashback {3}{U}

This spell can't be countered. Rending Volley deals 4 damage to target white or blue creature.

Look at the top four cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

({T}: Add {R}.)

Casualty 1 (As you cast this spell, you may sacrifice a creature with power 1 or greater. When you do, copy this spell and you may choose a new target for the copy.) Counter target spell unless its controller pays {2}.

Indestructible As long as your devotion to red and green is less than seven, Xenagos isn't a creature. At the beginning of combat on your turn, another target creature you control gains haste and gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is that creature's power.

Destroy X target artifacts and/or creatures. For each permanent destroyed this way, its controller reveals cards from the top of their library until an artifact or creature card is revealed and exiles that card. Those players put the exiled cards onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays {2}.

{T}: Add {U}.

Choose target spell or permanent that's red or green. Its owner puts it on the top or bottom of their library.

{T}: Add {R}. Channel — {3}{R}, Discard Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance: Create two 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens. They gain haste until end of turn. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.

(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.) I — Create a 2/2 red Goblin Shaman creature token with "Whenever this creature attacks, create a Treasure token." II — You may discard up to two cards. If you do, draw that many cards. III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control.

Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for {1}.) Look at the top seven cards of your library. Put two of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {U} or {R}. Shivan Reef deals 1 damage to you.

{T}: Add {U}. Channel — {3}{U}, Discard Otawara, Soaring City: Return target artifact, creature, enchantment, or planeswalker to its owner's hand. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.

{T}: Add {C}. {1}: Mutavault becomes a 2/2 creature with all creature types until end of turn. It's still a land.

Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, create an X/X blue Shark creature token with flying, where X is that spell's mana value. Cycling {X}{1}{U} ({X}{1}{U}, Discard this card: Draw a card.) When you cycle Shark Typhoon, create an X/X blue Shark creature token with flying.

If you control two or more other lands, Hall of Storm Giants enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {U}. {5}{U}: Until end of turn, Hall of Storm Giants becomes a 7/7 blue Giant creature with ward {3}. It's still a land. (Whenever it becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays {3}.)

Counter target spell with mana value 4 or greater.

Fiery Impulse deals 2 damage to target creature. Spell mastery — If there are two or more instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard, Fiery Impulse deals 3 damage instead.

As an additional cost to cast this spell, discard a card. Draw two cards and create two Treasure tokens. (They're artifacts with "{T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.")

Copy target instant or sorcery spell, then return it to its owner's hand. You may choose new targets for the copy.

Stormcarved Coast enters the battlefield tapped unless you control two or more other lands. {T}: Add {U} or {R}.

Trample When Worldspine Wurm dies, create three 5/5 green Wurm creature tokens with trample. When Worldspine Wurm is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.

Counter target noncreature spell.

Fire Prophecy deals 3 damage to target creature. You may put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. If you do, draw a card.

({T}: Add {U} or {R}.) As Steam Vents enters the battlefield, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters the battlefield tapped.

Flash This spell can't be countered. Whenever you cast a spell, choose up to one — • Return target spell you don't control to its owner's hand. • Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.

This spell costs {2} less to cast if it targets a blue spell. Counter target spell unless its controller pays {3}.

Spirebluff Canal enters the battlefield tapped unless you control two or fewer other lands. {T}: Add {U} or {R}.

The Tournament

Red is my favorite color to draft in Phyrexia: All Will Be One , and I was fortunate to wind up with two solid red decks in the draft portions of the tournament.

First, I finished 3-0 in the first draft with R/G, which is a great start. I still had no expectations for how I'd finish in the event, but I was having fun, and it felt great to get a Pro Tour Draft "trophy" again after it had been so long.

After going 3-2 in the Pioneer rounds, I was thrilled to finish the day at 6-2. Before the event started, I would've been relatively happy with any result that let me play Day 2. At 6-2, I wasn't really picturing myself battling for Top 8, but I felt like I was at least on track for a solid finish.

In the day two draft portion, I went 2-1 with R/W (losing to R/G in the finals, humorously enough).

I rattled off three Pioneer wins, then defeated my teammate Gabriel Nassif in the "win-and-in" round to make the top 8!

Quarterfinals against Nathan Steuer

I drew a scary pairing for the first round of Top 8: World Champion Nathan Steuer with Lotus Field combo. The matchup is bad in game 1 because I only had "soft counters" like Make Disappear, while his deck could generate astronomical amounts of mana. This would force me to race towards my own combo, but that would also mean walking straight into Otawara, Soaring City on Worldspine Wurm, and there's basically no counterplay against that.

My 0-2 start against Nathan Steuer was discouraging, especially because I felt like I'd had pretty good positions at a couple of points in both games. Thankfully, I'm pretty good at keeping calm and staying focused, so I knocked the negative thoughts out of my head, continued playing my best, and managed to turn things around!

The first time the trophy felt within my reach was when I won the quarterfinals. Before that moment, I was just happy to be playing and was prepared for any outcome. But suddenly I felt like I could actually win the whole thing!

Semifinals and Finals

I thought my sideboarded games against Derrick Davis's Enigmatic Incarnation deck would be favorable, so when I was able to win one of the pre-sideboarded games, it boosted my confidence. I wasn't sure how the finals would go, since Selesnya Auras is a volatile and scary deck. Ben Madsen mulliganed a lot, and that influenced the outcome of the match. If he'd kept seven-card hands with Gladecover Scout every game, I suspect you'd be reading his tournament report instead of mine right now!

Winning the Pro Tour is a dream come true.  I don't attribute the result only to myself, but also to my team, and the great network of support I have in my life.

It didn't hit me right away when the finals ended, because I was still in "game mode," trying to stay calm and focused. It was only when Cedric Phillips called me to the front of the stage and announced, "Pro Tour Phyrexia Champion - Reid Duke," that it became real. I teared up a little at that moment.

In the next few days, I've been overwhelmed by the amount of support and encouragement I've received. Knowing how many people were cheering for me, and were happy to see me win – that's almost better than the win itself.

Thanks to all of you for following my progress over the years. Long live the Pro Tour!

On my way out from the tournament site, I stopped at Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market to get something to eat. I sat down at a table next to a father and son who'd attended the convention. They recognized me and we started chatting. They had me sign a card, and I asked them how their weekend had been.

After about 10 minutes, they asked me, "So did you do the Pro Tour Qualifier today?"

"No," I said, "I won the Pro Tour."

There was a pause. "What do you mean? Like the main event?"

"Yeah," I said, "I won. The trophy's in that case right there."

They were duly impressed, and went home with some cool photos.

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Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour Fantasy Drafts!

• Pro Tour: Amsterdam …

Pro Tour: Amsterdam Scheduled Events Guide

Looking for a little action on the side?

We have an array of enticing activities just for you, weary traveler. Come inside and see, we promise we won't bite.

While the Pro Tour competitors hack each other to bits, you have the chance to delve into some fun, make new friends, and get your hands on very special prizes.

Let's take a look at what's in store for you...

Nullrune Events

Enter a specially labeled Nullrune Event and you will be rewarded with a stunning Rainbow Foil Alternate Art Nullrune equipment, just in time to protect you from Rosetta's Wizards and Runeblades! Featuring a mix of formats including Classic Constructed, Blitz, Sealed, and more, now's your chance to collect all four pieces over the course of the weekend!

Nullrune Events will be taking place all weekend long from Friday July 26 to Sunday July 28.

Event Schedule

Face off against the best for your chance at the lion's share of $30,000! Featuring a two-day gauntlet of Classic Constructed, in a high synergy metagame that rewards technical deckbuilding and razor-edge gameplay, anyone could venture into the mists and become the next champion! But make no mistake, Misteria is pathed with peril. Each match will be unforgiving, yet also spectacular. Have you got what it takes?

The Calling begins on Saturday July 27 at 10:00 AM.

Classic Constructed

Battle hardened.

Tales are whispered through generations, stories of titans who used to roam the land. With all heroes and weapons legal for play, take up the mantle of a Living Legend and battle your way to the top. Experience the game at its full power, and claim your share of $2,000! With so many deckbuilding options to explore, the possibilities are near endless. Who will rise to become the new Monarch?

Battle Hardened begins on Sunday July 28 at 9:00 AM.

Living Legend

Cosplay contest.

Bring your favourite Flesh and Blood character to life through costume and you could win exclusive prizes such as a cold foil Taylor , and the new fabric promos and playmats! Get ready to marvel at what mind-blowing 'fits our dedicated cosplay community has cooked up!

The Cosplay Contest takes place on Saturday July 27 at 6:00 PM.

Square up for some budget beatdowns and you could score a Gold Foil! Commoner is similar to Blitz, but uses special deckbuilding rules where every card in your main deck must be common rarity, and your weapons/equipment must be rare or common rarity. If you're fresh to the game, Ira, Crimson Haze is an excellent all-rounder choice to bring into battle!

The Commoner Gold Foil event takes place on Saturday July 27 at 10:00 AM.

Learn to Play

Fresh to FAB? Learn how to play at the Pro Tour! Simply rock up to the Learn to Play booth and our friendly staff will guide you through the basics of the Ira Welcome Deck, to deck building with booster packs, and eventually entering the ring with Blitz. If you and your friends have been cruising down the Road to Amsterdam, this is where you can collect your prizes and free 1 Day New Player Experience!

New Player Experiences will be running throughout the weekend from Friday July 26 to Sunday July 28.

Road to Amsterdam

Alpha draft.

Count your lucky stars if you are selected to compete in this prestigious event where players rip open precious packs of the very first Flesh and Blood set ever printed, Welcome to Rathe (Alpha Edition). Due to the scarcity of these cards, you could very well open an incredibly coveted treasure that will make everyone around you green with jealousy! You can go into the random draw to qualify for Alpha Draft simply by participating in specially labeled Qualifier side events.

The Alpha Draft event takes place on Sunday July 28 at 1:00 PM.

Welcome to Rathe

Game design panel.

Join senior game designer Bryan Gottlieb and the LSS Devs at the Main Stage to hear some juicy behind the scenes insight on Flesh and Blood! Here's where you can put forward your burning questions such as "When will X hero get new support?" and "When will you print another blue 6-power for Brute?"

The Game Design Panel takes place on Friday July 26 at 1:00 PM.

Stage Schedule

Tickets and registration, event details, traveller's guide.

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Pro Tour The Lord of the Rings - Top 8 Players & Deck Lists

Pro Tour The Lord of the Rings is well underway in Barcelona, and we're officially down to the Top 8. Some of the best players in the world have come together in Spain to slug it out with some of Modern's hardest-hitting decks. The Top 8 kicked off today at 4 a.m. ET, so be sure to tune in here . In the meantime, let's take a look at the Top 8 players and their decklists.

Pro Tour The Lord of the Rings Top 8 Players And Deck Lists

Below are the remaining players, which decks they're playing, and their particular list. So, without further ado, let's jump in.

Javier Dominguez

Mono Green Tron

Main 60 cards (22 distinct).

Side 15 cards (14 distinct)

Christian Calcano

Mono Green Tron (Jegantha Companion)

Main 60 cards (20 distinct).

Simon Nielsen

Jake Beardsley

Rakdos evoke, main 60 cards (21 distinct).

Side 15 cards (9 distinct)

Marco Del Pivo

Italy has a plethora of great MTG players, Del Pivo among them. For Pro Tour Lord of the Rings, he sleeved up Temur Rhinos, one of the tournament's better-performing decks, with three copies in the finals. He said he landed on the deck because it fit his playstyle. Apparently, it was a good choice.

Temur Rhinos

Main 60 cards (25 distinct).

Stefano Vinci

Main 60 cards (24 distinct)

Side 15 cards (8 distinct)

Dominic Harvey

Canadian Dominic Harvey got off to a rocky start but made the Top 8 nonetheless. Now he's looking to "tighten up and Titan up" and bring home the win for Canada. Considering how much Tron there is in the semi-finals, the event could certainly come down to Tron vs. Titan in a showdown of big mana. Let's take a look at his list, which has 61 cards.

Amulet Titan

Main 61 cards (25 distinct).

Side 15 cards (12 distinct)

There you have it, my friends—the pro tour Lord of the Rings Top 8 players and decks. Follow the link in the introduction to check out the action. Good luck to all the players.

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3 former Top 100 draft picks are possible first-time All-Pros for 2024 Bills

Ralph ventre | jul 9, 2024.

• Buffalo Bills | News, Scores, Schedules & Standings

The Buffalo Bills experienced a changing of the guard this offseason.

The Bills released former All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer and Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse as salary cap casualties. Homegrown cornerback Tre'Davious White, who also has All-Pro credentials, was cut with a post-June 1 designation.

By parting ways with multiple aging talents, the Bills have created opportunities for others to step up and play to their All-Pro potential.

Here are three Bills who are candidates to become first-time All-Pro selections in 2024.

LB Terrel Bernard

The 2022 third-round draft pick emerged as a highly-productive starter in Year 2. Seamlessly replacing free-agent departure Tremaine Edmunds on Buffalo's defense, Bernard totaled 143 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries over 17 regular season starts.

Bernard excelled as the Bills' green dot on-field communicator and helped offset the loss of linebacker Matt Milano , who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 5.

RB James Cook

His second NFL season was an epiphany of sorts for the second-round running back. After a limited role as a rookie, Cook established himself as Buffalo's primary ball carrier and ranked amongst the league leaders in yards from scrimmage.

The 24-year-old Cook, who earned a Pro Bowl nod, averaged 4.7 yards per rush and 10.1 yards per catch. His 1,567 scrimmage were third most amongst all running backs. All-Pro First Team selection Christian McCaffrey led the way by eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark.

RELATED: Cook left out of NFL executive-polled RB ranking

CB Rasul Douglas

Acquired shortly before the trade deadline, Douglas immediately made significant contributions as the CB1 . He accounted for four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 1.0 sack over nine regular season appearances with the Bills.

Douglas, who will turn 29 years old on August 29, has competed for four NFL teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles who made the cornerback a Top 100 draft pick in 2017. Seemingly a perfect fit for Sean McDermott's defensive scheme, Douglas could be headed for a career year as a leader on what should be a highly-ranked unit.

—  Enjoy free coverage of the Bills from  Buffalo Bills on SI   —

More Buffalo Bills News:

• Bills sleepers you should be targeting in your fantasy football drafts
• 2024 Bills Training Camp Primer: Breaking down the running backs
• Newspaper writer offers wildly odd prediction for Bills' WR Mack Hollins
• WATCH: Savannah Bananas mimic Bills Mafia tailgate staple in Buffalo series finale
• No Reunion for Bills and franchise's fourth all-time sacks leader

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2024 NFL Draft generated more than $213M for Detroit area, study says

More than $100m will be retained to support local business.

The 2024 NFL Draft broke the league's all-time record for event attendance, with 775,000 people visiting Detroit for the annual rookie showcase. As a result, Motor City enjoyed substantial economic gains, with Visit Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission revealing Thursday that the draft -- and its thousands of out-of-state visitors -- generated more than $213 million for the region.

A study developed by Dr. Patrick Rishe, director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis, compiled the spending from both local and visiting fans, as well as the NFL , to estimate a $213.6 million economic impact on Detroit and Southeast Michigan -- particularly Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Of the $213.6 million, an estimated $161.3 million (or 75%) came from visitors.

"That spending went into the pockets of Detroit businesses and will help strengthen our community for years to come," said Claude Molinari, president of Visit Detroit. "I am also proud that more than 50 million people watched Detroit shine on national television, which will be critical for Michigan's long-term population and economic growth."

An estimated 30% of all guests at the 2024 NFL Draft traveled more than 100 miles to visit Detroit for draft weekend, the report added, while $106.4 million of the $161.3 million in gross economic impact is being retained long-term within the Detroit region as new income for households, business proprietors, and tax revenues.

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Seven-round NFL mock draft, Round 3: Building a win-now team from active players for 2024 season

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Hunter is a constant thorn in the side of offensive lines, racking up 62 sacks and four Pro Bowl nods over the past five seasons.

Darrisaw has blossomed into one of the league's top left tackles. He’ll give his new quarterback, Lamar Jackson , a chance to execute whether he’s throwing from the pocket or on the move looking for second and third options.

New Commanders head coach Dan Quinn signed former Cowboys defenders Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong this offseason, so grabbing Lawrence here makes a lot of sense.

Surtain made his second straight Pro Bowl last season and is looking to have an even better campaign in 2024.

Wilkins is athletic enough to play inside or outside, outmaneuvering guards to disrupt plays and overpowering tackles at 5-technique.

Hendrickson has posted 13-plus sacks in three of the past four seasons, including a career-high 17.5 in 2023. The Giants snag one of the top edge rushers in the league.

Another pass rusher flies off the board, with the Titans plucking Allen after watching him rack up 17.5 sacks for a division rival in 2023.

Allen is an ageless wonder, grabbing 100 or more passes in five of the last seven seasons. He heads to the Jets as a red zone threat (43 receiving touchdowns since 2017) for mock teammate Jared Goff .

Minnesota brings Winfield back to where he played his college ball. He can follow in his father's footsteps as a star Vikings defender.

The Falcons continue building along the line of scrimmage with one of the game's top guards. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid recently said Thuney should be ready for the start of the season after having surgery on a pectoral muscle.

Bates earned a Pro Bowl nod in his first season with the Falcons after intercepting six passes and making 132 tackles.

Anderson was the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the future looks extremely bright for him. The Broncos should love seeing him still available at this point in the mock draft.

Off-ball linebackers might not have the most positional value in today’s NFL, but Davis' ability to read and react from the middle of the defense makes him one of the top 100 players in the league heading into Year 13.

Sweat had no issues switching from Washington to Chicago after a 2023 midseason trade, so another move to Jacksonville should not impede him as a pass rusher or run defender. 

Buckner’s strength and height make him a problem as an interior pass rusher and lane-clogger in the middle of a defense.

New head coach Mike Macdonald brings Hamilton across the country from Baltimore, where he played an important part in Macdonald’s success as a coordinator.

Williams is one of the game's top off-ball linebackers. He possesses the athleticism New Orleans has always looked for in its second-level defenders.

 Cooper finished in the top 10 in receiving yards last year and there's no reason to believe he'll fall off in his 10th season.

Nacua stays with the Rams to team up with Baker Mayfield , who will appreciate the second-year pro's strong hands and ability to run after the catch.

The Steelers get a powerful, intelligent blocker to help earlier mock picks Russell Wilson and Christian McCaffrey play their best.

Sneed can match up with any receiver on the field because of his size/speed combination.

Bland's nine interceptions in 2023 included five pick-sixes, but even if he never duplicates those outrageous stats in his career, it's tough to ignore him as an established playmaker at a crucial position.

Smith's power as an interior blocker is formidable. The Eagles take him one spot before the Cowboys -- Smith's real-life team -- come on the clock.

The Cowboys repay the Eagles for snapping up Tyler Smith by bolstering the other side of the line of scrimmage with Carter, ensuring the matchup inside continues for another season.

Fields showed enough improvement during the 2023 season to give the Packers hope that Matt LaFleur could help him take the next step.

Huff broke out for the Jets last year, leading to a large payday in free agency . He seems a good fit as a quarterback chaser in the Buccaneers' scheme.

The 12th-year veteran is still a savvy playmaker. Mathieu returns to Houston, where he played back in 2018.

Witherspoon had a strong rookie season and should only get better.

Penix's accuracy from the pocket could fit quite nicely in Detroit.

Smith's a savvy passer and leader who can occasionally make defenses pay for ignoring his athleticism.

It did not take long for LaPorta to be mentioned in the same breath with real-life 49er George Kittle as a top NFL tight end out of Iowa.

Gibbs' combination of speed, willingness to run between the tackles and receiving ability should fit nicely in the Chiefs' offense.

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In third pro start, Michael Thorbjornsen shares second at John Deere Classic

Finished atop pga tour university ranking to earn automatic tour membership.

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The hard evidence continues to pile up: PGA TOUR University grads are ready to compete at professional golf’s highest level. Immediately.

“I knew I needed a big round,” Thorbjornsen said afterward. “Again, you can't really force a big round … It just comes to you. I set myself up the best way I probably could today … It just clicks, and things went my way today.”

The youth movement is at the forefront of professional golf. Thorbjornsen, 22, looks to become a central part of it. The Stanford alum finished No. 1 on this year’s PGA TOUR University Ranking to earn automatic TOUR membership – narrowly edging Georgia Tech’s Christo Lamprecht for the top spot after the NCAA Championship – and the John Deere marked his third start as a TOUR member. It was an inauspicious start to his pro career (T39 at the Travelers Championship, missed cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic), but Thorbjornsen’s combination of talent and poise was apparent in the Quad Cities. The Massachusetts native held sixth place into the final round, but he surged Sunday with birdies at Nos. 4 and 6 followed by an electric run of six straight birdies at Nos. 8-13 – all coming from inside 12 feet. It was a ball-striking clinic, cutting Thompson’s six-shot advantage to three strokes and giving the eventual winner something to think about.

Michael Thorbjornsen cards his sixth-straight birdie on No. 13 at John Deere

Thorbjornsen’s momentum slowed at the short par-4 14th; he missed the green well right, pitched to 36 feet and three-putted for a bogey that all but derailed his chances of joining last year’s PGA TOUR University No. 1 Ludvig Åberg as winners in their year of graduation. He’ll have plenty more chances, though, and he finished in style Sunday with a 15-foot birdie at the difficult par-4 18th to assume a share of second place.

Michael Thorbjornsen finishes with 15-footer from fringe at John Deere

This marks Thorbjornsen’s second top-five finish on TOUR in just 11 starts – he finished solo fourth at the 2022 Travelers Championship as an amateur, an early indication of what could be. He moves from No. 200 to No. 119 in the FedExCup standings, and although substantial legwork remains to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs (top 70 after the Wyndham Championship), he shouldn’t be counted out.

“Obviously feeling really good with where the game is at,” Thorbjornsen said, “and there are still things I can improve on.”

Kevin Prise is an associate editor for the PGA TOUR. He is on a lifelong quest to break 80 on a course that exceeds 6,000 yards and to see the Buffalo Bills win a Super Bowl. Follow Kevin Prise on Twitter .

NFL Pro Bowler's Blunt Admission To Being Drafted By Lions

There was a time when the Detroit Lions weren't a desirable destination for anyone, including wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

During an appearance on  "The Pivot Podcast," the two-time Pro Bowler gave a candid description of his initial anger after being selected by the Lions in the 2021 NFL draft.

He didn't know many players on the team, and he was also joining one of the worst franchises in the NFL at the time. The Lions had only won five games in the previous season.

It also didn't help that St. Brown fell to the fourth round on the draft board. Nothing seemed to be going his way in the beginning.

"I remember getting drafted and seeing the 313, I said, '[expletive].' The one team I told my brother I do not want to go to is Detroit," said St. Brown .

[Warning: Some might find the language in this video offensive.]

St. Brown was hoping to join his brother, Equanimeous St. Brown, in Green Bay with legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers or catch passes from Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.

Even the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott sounded like a great idea to Amon-Ra St. Brown. But none of those teams were in the cards for the talented young receiver.

Instead, he joined a Lions team that had hired Dan Campbell as the head coach and traded for Jared Goff at quarterback. Looking back, St. Brown is thankful things turned out the way they did.

"Looking back on it, I was hot. When I got drafted, I wasn't even excited. I was mad at the situation at what happened. But looking back on it now, it completely flipped for me," St. Brown said.

The Lions went from being the perennial punchline NFL team to Super Bowl contenders. They only won three games in St. Brown's rookie season, and two years later, they were a 12-5 team barely losing in the NFC Championship to the San Francisco 49ers.

It was a dramatic turn from what St. Brown thought the Lions would be to what they ultimately became. 

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