As Mumbai Indians gear up to face Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23, 2026, uncertainty surrounds the availability of Rohit Sharma, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.
A decision on Rohit’s participation will be taken just before the toss, with the team management closely monitoring his fitness ahead of the high-profile clash. There are encouraging signs from the Mumbai Indians camp. Rohit was seen batting in the nets on Wednesday, undergoing a controlled training session. However, ESPNcricinfo suggest he mostly faced throwdowns and avoided big shots during his 25-minute stint, indicating a cautious approach in his recovery.
— mipaltan (@mipaltan)
The injury, sustained earlier this month on April 12, has already ruled him out of MI’s last two matches against Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. If Rohit is deemed fit to bat but not field, MI could use him as an Impact Player to manage his workload. This would allow the team to utilize his batting strength without risking further strain on his hamstring.
In case Rohit is unavailable, Danish Malewar is likely to continue as an opener alongside Quinton de Kock, having filled in during his absence.
A Key Figure Against CSK
Rohit Sharma is the leading run-scorer in the history of the Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings rivalry, with 913 runs across 31 matches. He holds a significant advantage at today's venue, having surpassed 500 IPL runs against CSK alone at the Wankhede Stadium.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) currently lead the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) 21–18 in their 39 overall head-to-head encounters in the IPL as of April 2026 . When including their matches from the defunct Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20), the record stands at 22-19 across 41 meetings. These teams have met in a record four IPL finals (2010, 2013, 2015, and 2019). MI has won three of those four championship clashes (2013, 2015 and 2019). Although MI leads historically, CSK has been more successful recently, winning 5 of their last 6 meetings between 2022 and early 2025. MI won the most recent encounter on 20 April 2025 by 9 wickets.
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles (0) reacts in the first half at the Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
They say deadlines spur action, so here we are on the day of the 2026 NFL Draft presenting you with the most important story of the NFL calendar. Just in time, baby.
Thanks to Fran Duffy’s Diehard Draft Guide and Dane Brugler’s Beast for the essential treasure trove of names, beautiful names. All 344 names highlighted below are real prospects in this year’s draft.
Most likely to have a nose where his mouth should be
1. CJ Picazo, G, Concordia, St. Paul
Weirdest theme park
1. Isaiah World, T, Oregon
Most likely to get chased by a dog
1. Riley Mahlman, T, Wisconsin
Best compliment to a spider
1. Sterling Webb, DT, Missouri
Most likely to put raisins in the chicken salad
1. Ryan Whitely, C, Saginaw Valley State
Most likely to open an auto dealership
2. Josh Celiscar, Edge, South Florida
1. Jackson Carsello, C, Northwestern
Worst pop-up ad
1. Kam Olds, Edge, Kentucky
Most likely to have been conceived at a bar
5. Evan Beerntsen, G, Northwestern
4. Monkell Goodwine, DT, South Carolina
3. Jager Burton, C, Kentucky
2. Dacari Collins, WR, Louisville
1. Makylan Pounders, T, Louisville
Rudest response to the opening line of Moby Dick
1. Ismail Mahdi, RB, Arizona
Best chance to win a Royal Rumble
18. Trent Battle, RB, TCU
17. Jax Harrington, G, Louisiana
16. Rodeo Graham Jr., RB, Southeastern Louisiana
15. Scooby Williams, LB, Texas A&M
14. Justice James, CB, Kansas State
13. Octavian Smith Jr., WR, Maryland
12. Marlon Gunn Jr., RB, East Carolina
11. Karate Brenson, WR, Wake Forest
10. Trey Smack, K, Florida
9. Rasheed Reason, CB, East Carolina
8. Danarius Hollywood, CB, Prairie View A&M
7. Matthew McDoom, CB, Cincinnati
6. Cameron Threatt, CB, Delta State
5. Justus Johnson, CB, SE Missouri State
4. VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
3. Marcellus Marshall, G, Minnesota
2. Cash Jones, RB, Georgia
1. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Best news about you and Dupree
1. Ja’Naylon Dupree, WR, Jackson State
Most interesting low-level bad guy in a sci-fi trilogy
43. Michael Mokofisi, G, Utah
42. Jez Janvier, T, Southern Miss.
41. Shiyazh Pete, T, Kentucky
40. Tamarion Crumpley, CB, UAB
39. Botros Alisandro, CB, Old Dominion
38. Weylin Lapuaho, G, BYU
37. Inumidun Ayo-Durojaiye, LB, Yale
36. Zhen Sotelo, G, Hawaii
35. Ckelby Givens, Edge, Southern
34. Bayo Kannike, G, San Diego State
33. E. Jai Mason, WR, Charlotte
32. Zion Nason, DT, Louisiana Tech
31. Kolbe Katsis, WR, Northern Arizona
30. Trond Grizzell, WR, California
29. Jernias Tafia, DT, Colorado State
28. Nahree Biggins, RB, Central Michigan
27. Dekel Crowdus, WR, Wisconsin
26. Zelmar Vedder, CB, Houston
25. Keanu Koht, Edge, Vanderbilt
24. Mahamane Moussa, G, Louisville
23. Slade Shufelt, Edge, Portland State
22. Omar Aigbedion, G, Baylor
21. Zukudo Igwenagu, Edge, UMass
20. Alani Makihele, G, UNLV
19. Aghogho Eyafe, WR, Jacksonville State
18. Junior Tuihalamaka, Edge, Notre Dame
17. Ky’ron Craggette, RB, Seton Hill
16. Dodji Dahoue, T, Eastern Michigan
15. Nyzier Fourqurean, CB, Wisconsin
14. Jimto Obidegwu, T, North Texas
13. Jimeto Obigbo, G, Arizona State
12. Qian Magwood, WR, Ball State
11. Nuer Gatkuoth, Edge, Wake Forest
10. Mackavelli Malotumau, DT, Western Kentucky
9. Tsion Nunnally, WR, Idaho State
8. Kyndrich Breedlove, CB, Arizona State
7. Chubba Maae, G, Arizona
6. Pius Odjugo, DT, Ohio
5. Zy Crisler, G, Colorado
4. Shakespeare Louis, S, Southeastern Louisiana
3. Gafa Faga, DT, San Jose State
2. Elvin Fofanah, TE, Gardner-Webb
1. Laith Marjan, K, Kansas
Biggest fan of Outback Steakhouse
1. Noe Ruelas, K, UCF
Oct 4, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights kicker Noe Ruelas (16) kicks the extra point during the first quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Best full sentence
11. Jordan Favors, S, Appalachian State
10. Jake Burns, G, Bowling Green
9. Walker Parks, G, Clemson
8. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
7. Latrelle Smith-Leaks,
6. Kyron Drones, QB, Virginia Tech
5. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
4. Race Stewart, DT, Western Michigan
3. Kendric Rhymes, RB, Tennessee State
2. Diego Pounds, T, Ole Miss
1. Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma
Best name for a wayward drive
1. KJ Shankle, RB, East Texas A&M
Most obviously a fake name created by a kid
4. Victory David, WR, Western Colorado
3. Dan Dishman, TE, Texas-San Antonio
2. TJ Guy, Edge, Michigan
1. Jett Coolman, WR, Florida Atlantic
Most recently rejected Crayola color
1. Sincere Brown, WR, Colorado
Most likely transcription error you catch for the word “cameras” while scrolling Instagram
1. Cam Ross, WR, Virginia
Most handsome
2. Dash Luke, WR, Missouri State
1. Connor Finer, WR, Rhode Island
Worst sequel
1. Michael Jackson III, WR, Purdue
Juiciest rumor after the 8th grade dance
1. Bryan Felter, G, Rutgers
Most offputting way for Hank to describe the seasoning of his dish
1. Hank Pepper, LS, USC
Best nominative determinism
9. Noah Short, WR, Army
8. Aidan Meek, T, San Diego State
7. Sabastian Harsh, Edge, NC State
6. Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland
5. Jay Sharp, RB, West Florida
4. Jordan Smart, WR, Arkansa State
3. Jay Fair, WR, USC
2. Rashad Luckey, RB, Concord
1. Hayden Large, TE, Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Hayden Large (88) rushes the ball during the second half of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday October 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin.
Most surprising skirmish
1. Chance Battle, T, Indiana (Pa.)
Most disappointing answer when you find out what Kimo’s bringing to the potluck
1. Kimo Makane’ole, G, West Virginia
Most likely father of Pollard
1. Mysonne Pollard, S, Delaware
Most likely to trick you into calling you Stephen
1. Stephen Saywahn, S, Louisiana-Monroe
Best news about Cory’s effort to crack the safe
1. Cory Godinet, G, Texas-San Antonio
Nicest thing to say to Xavier
1. Xavier Ugorji, RB, Benedictine (Kan.)
Sexiest characters in the romance novel the woman next to you on the plane is reading
Most likely to be overheard during George of the Jungle’s job interview
1. George Sell, G, Wake Forest
Most likely to have twins
1. Reuben Fatheree II, T, Texas A&M
Happiest Dalton
1. Dalton Merryman, T, Houston
Most likely to have a happy-go-lucky son named Pierre
6. Jaxson Moi, DT, Tennessee
5. Martavius French, LB, Colorado
4. Yves Bosmans, WR, Charleston
3. David Chapeau, P, Louisville
2. Jaiden Francois, S, Duke
1. Jamel Fils-Aime, DT, Troy
Worst news for Mitchell the snowman
1. Mitchell Melton, Edge, Virginia
Most likely to be complimented for not even showing yet
1. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon, center, takes the field before the game against Oklahoma State at Autzen. He carries it so well!
Most embarrassing day for Cannon
1. Cannon Panfiloff, T, Montana
Most likely to declare bankruptcy
1. Sione Nomani, G, San Jose State
Least likely to declare bankruptcy
1. Al’Zillion Hamilton, CB, Fresno State
Most likely to run for local office
1. D’Andre Townes-Blue, G, Jackson State
Least serious Isaiah
1. Isaiah Sillemon, G, New Mexico
Best substitute when you can’t remember the phrase “French Canadian”
1. Montriel Lee, G, Central Oklahoma
Funniest spoonerism
22. Gage Summers, LB, Akron
21. Sam Benjamin, DT, San Diego State
20. Cam Miller, CB, Rutgers
19. Hunter Peck, Edge, Montana
18. Brock Fox, G, Augustana
17. Kam Dewberry, G, Alabama
16. Tawee Walker, RB, Cincinnati
15. Jay Hardy, DT, Auburn
14. Mason Jones, T, New Mexico
13. Paul Rubelt, T, UCF
12. Trent Battle, RB, TCU
11. Sam Howard, LB, Tulane
10. Pat Coogan, C, Indiana
9. Jake Timm, C, Buffalo
8. Ben Mann, LS, Boston College
7. Cory Hall, Edge, UNLV
6. Luke Petitbon, C, Florida State
5. Tommy Rittenhouse, QB, Illinois State
4. Dan Hicks, Edge, Mercer
3. Finn Lappin, P, Kansas
2. Nick Dawkins, C, Penn State
1. Jaren Kump, C, Utah
Worst out of office message
1. Jacob Bizy, G, Florida State
Most painful injury
1. Torrie Cox Jr., CB, Illinois
Best feet
1. Boogie Trotter, CB, Marshall
Most supportive thing to yell to Willis during the whittling competition
1. Carver Willis, G, Washington
Most likely to get you mistakenly kicked out of class
4. Sidney Fugar, T, Baylor
3. Febechi Nwaiwu, G, Oklahoma
2. Blake Bustard, T, Southern Miss.
1. Jaylen Fuksa, CB, Pittsburg State
Best name for a calf
1. Myles Mooyoung, CB, Coastal Carolina
Most stubborn
1. D’yoni Hill, CB, Wisconsin
Most single-minded polar bear predator
1. Chase Whitebear, CB, Oklahoma Baptist
Most likely product of an inter-sentience marriage
1. Andrew Wilson-Lamp, CB, Toledo
Most likely to be smoked by Aaron Rodgers
1. Justin Payoute, CB, Ferris State
Most paradoxical
1. Gentle Hunt, DT, Illinois
Most likely to be Greg Bovino’s screenname
1. Chief Borders, Edge, UNLV
Oddest recap of art class
1. Drew Stevens, K, Iowa
Most likely to make a knockoff guitar
1. Wes Pahl, P, Oklahoma State
Creepiest co-worker
2. Nate Glantz, QB, Lindenwood
1. Landon Ogles, P, Eastern Washington
Most lyrical
13. Bryson Eason, Edge, Tennessee
12. Quentin Moten, CB, Northern Arizona
11. Braylon Braxton, QB, Southern Miss.
10. Xavier Tolliver, S, Houston Christian
9. Ahmari Harvey, CB, Georgia Tech
8. Cody Hardy, TE, NC State
7. Isaiah Jatta, T, BYU
6. Markel Bell, T, Miami
5. Makai McCall, Edge, NC Central
4. Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa
3. Amorie Morrison, Edge, UAB
2. Jonjon Vaughns, LB, UCLA
1. Mo Olowo, S, Northern Iowa
Dec 31, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Kaden Wetjen (21) escapes a tackle from Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Bryan Longwell (11) in the third quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Least precocious
1. Isheem Young, S, Memphis
Most likely to be heard during a french broadcast of the 2000 World Series
1. Derik Lecaptain, LB, Minnesota
Most likely to have been your high school history teacher
1. Mister Williams, LB, San Diego State
Worst superhero
3. Jorel Liverpool, Edge, Charlotte
2. Noah Avinger, S, Utah State
1. Latrell Couchman, LB, Maine
Most likely nickname for Kevin to give himself when he’s tired of working in his dad’s office
1. Kevin Jobity Jr., DT, Syracuse
Most likely to call themselves a straight shooter
1. Frank Lee IV, Edge, Eastern Kentucky
Most likely to have the nickname “Hanson”
1. Jeffrey M’ba, DT, SMU
Worst babysitter
1. Christopher Eaton Jr., Edge, Sam Houston State
Biggest Frasier fan
1. Niles King, Edge, San Diego State
Most specific battlefield job
1. Cannon Butler, Edge, Iowa State
Most direct answer as to who these eels belong to
1. Ken Seals, QB, TCU
Coolest
1. Miles Davis, RB, Utah State
Best mode of transportation
1. Soloman Vanhorse, RB, Indiana
Weirdest way to describe time spent in the bathroom
1. Deuce Spann, WR, Pittsburgh
Busiest Friday night
3. Billy Pullen, Edge, Louisiana-Monroe
2. Maximus Pulley, S, Wofford
1. Joseph Manjack IV, WR, TCU
Most obviously created by faulty A.I.
20. Patrick Gurd, TE, Cincinnati
19. Colton Peoples, LS, Washington State
18. John Ferlmann, LS, Ohio State
17. Trenton Alan Yowe, CB, Arkansas State
16. Ty’metrius Patterson, LB, Benedict
15. Payton Zdroik, DT, Air Force
14. Caleb Junko, P, Pittsburgh
13. Benjamin Tolble, WR, Youngstown State
12. Wendol Philord, CB, Florida Atlantic
11. Var’Keyes Gumms, TE, UNLV
10. Nolan Ulm, WR, Eastern Washington
9. Xyre Wilson, WR, Valdosta State
8. Ty Pezza, WR, Brown
7. Az Williams, S, Troy
6. Jy Gilmore, CB, Georgia Tech
5. O’Mega Blake, WR, Arkansas
4. Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss
3. Andrew McIlquham, LS, UNLV
2. KK Reno, LB, Southeastern Louisiana
1. Qwyn Williams, DT, Hawaii
Best name for a late-night host’s dog
1. Jimmy Kibble, WR, Georgetown
Best shorthand when looking for the password to The Beast
1. Dane Key, WR, Nebraska
Most concise instructions to the painter
1. Tanner Wall, S, BYU
Best potential Chris Bermanisms
8. Lawrence “Mad” Hattar, G, Michigan
7. Monroe Free”Fal”ling, T, Georgia
6. Bryce “You” Boettcher “Butt I did,” LB, Oregon
5. Dillon Thieneman “Square,” S, Oregon
4. Max Iheanachor “Gesundheit,” T, Arizona State
3. KC “Immaculate” Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
2. Dariel “Haywood” Djabome, LB, Rutgers
1. Chy “Me a” Rivers, RB, Kentucky
Most likely to have a strong opinion about the best guard of all-time
7. Kobe Baynes, G, Kansas
6. Kobe Singleton, CB, Oregon State
5. Jordan Lovett, S, Kentucky
4. Kobe Paysour, WR, North Carolina
3. Kobe Stewart, Edge, Buffalo
2. Kobe Prentice, WR, Baylor
1. Michael Jordan Jr., DT, Fresno State
Rudest way to describe the congregation
2. Christian Hilborn, T, Washington State
1. Christian Hicks, Edge, Mercer
Deepest inner turmoil
1. Shakur Smalls, S, Arkansas
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) fights off Maine Black Bears defensive back Shakur Smalls (3) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Maine Black Bears at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.
Strongest sense of self
1. Tommy Thomas, WR, Chadron State
Oddest new playground game
1. Chase Belcher, RB, Kennesaw State
Most quicklyrejected Disney characters
5. Antavious Fish, LB, Sam Houston State
4. Coleby Hamm, RB, McNeese State
3. Anwar Sparrow, LB, Syracuse
2. Squirrel White, WR, Florida State
1. Mickey Rewolinski, G, Eastern Michigan
Best way to describe your recent stretch of happiness
1. Ben Smiley III, Edge, UConn
Most Canadian
2. Channing Canada, CB, TCU
1. Xavian Sorey Jr., LB, Arkansas
Clearest sign it’s been 23.5 years since “Hey Ma” was released
2. Cam’Ron Ransom, QB, Bethune-Cookman
1. Cam’Ron Stewart, Edge, Temple
Most fun to say
25. Jack Dingle, LB, Cincinnati
24. Scarlee Jean, T, Florida Atlantic
23. Kaufusi Pakofe, DT, BYU
22. Atticus Sappington, K, Oregon
21. Ephysians Prysock, CB, Washington
20. Gunner Maldonado, S, Kansas State
19. Fa’alili Fa’amoe, T, Wake Forest
18. Edward Bobino III, DT, Stephen F. Austin
17. Ryan Mosesso, T, UMass
16. Quindarius Dunnigan, Edge, Michigan State
15. Aneesh Vyas, DT, Washington
14. Tacario Davis, WR, Washington
13. Mana Taimani, DT, Colorado
12. Oluwaseyi Omotosho, LB, West Virginia
11. Kajiya Hollawayne, WR, Temple
10. Que McBroom, T, Louisiana-Monroe
9. Kapena Gushiken, S, Ole Miss
8. Tahj Ra-El, S, Purdue
7. David Tuihalangingie, LB, San Jose State
6. Alajujuan Sparks Jr., DT, Prairie View A&M
5. Toluwalope Ayedegbe, RB, British Columbia
4. Peseti Lapuaho, T, San Jose State
3. Kuao Peihopa, G, Hawaii
2. Pooda Walker, DT, Memphis
1. Chibuike Madu, Edge, Nigeria (IPP)
Most likely to become a lawyer
3. Council Allen, WR, Valdosta State
2. Logan Loya, WR, UCLA
1. J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, Florida
Worst drink
1. Jake Tarwater, TE, Fresno State
Most likely to be in heaven
3. Bishop Fitzgerald, S, USC
2. Brock Dieu, C, Washington State
1. Angel King, S, Weber State
Best characters in a crime novel you picked up at the airport
11. Dontay Corleone, WR, Cincinnati
10. Frankie Dunn Jr., CB, Jackson State
9. Jordan Crook, LB, Arizona State
8. Tommy Dunn Jr., DT, Kansas
7. Rocco Underwood, LS, Florida
6. Deno Wardlow, S, Charleston
5. Vito Tisdale Jr., CB, Eastern Kentucky
4. Mordecai McDaniel, S, Oklahoma State
3. Myles Slusher, S, Purdue
2. Guz Zilinskas, C, Rutgers
1. Sullivan Moon, K, Colorado Mesa
Best advice to diversify when you type “ha” too often
Borussia Dortmund youngster snubs Frankfurt move to sign new contract
18-year-old Elias Benkara has decided to extend his contract with Borussia Dortmund beyond the summer, according to Bild.
Benkara has reportedly held talks with Eintracht Frankfurt, while Feyenoord and RSC Anderlecht have also been linked with a move for the young defender.
However, it now appears he has now opted to stay at BVB, with a contract until 2029 expected to be signed soon.
The report claims the young centre-back believes he can break into the first team.
Benkara has already been included in the squad several times for Dortmund, but is still waiting for his senior debut.
The 2026 NFL Draft is nearly upon us. We know who'll be the first overall pick. After that, a crop of good-not-great prospects at most positions mean this year's draft is incredibly difficult to predict.
Fortunately, we know enough about what every franchise needs and which players have shined the brightest to make some educated guesses.
Fernando Mendoza will almost certainly be the first man drafted Thursday night. Behind him will be a cache of solid pass rushers, long-limbed cornerbacks, shifty wideouts and two studs at positions that aren't as valuable as the three I just mentioned. While Jeremiyah Love (running back) and Caleb Downs (safety) may have to wait to hear their names called, it's not too difficult to envision a draft board that pushes one, or both, into the top five.
That's not the case in FTW's final mock for 2026. In fact, a Love slide compels a surprising suitor to move up and select the Notre Dame star. So where will everyone else land? Let's take a look at the first two rounds, and check out our Big Board as the first round approaches.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Needs: QB, WR, OT, CB, EDGE
Mendoza's elite downfield accuracy means he'll dazzle when it comes to advanced stats like completion percentage over expected (CPOE). He balances pinpoint throws with strong, quick decision making and enough athleticism to keep defenses wary of his run game. He needs wideouts who can turn his sideline throws into first downs, but the Raiders have a boatload to spend this offseason in hopes of putting him in position to thrive.
While he lacks elite physical traits, you can't argue with his outcomes. Las Vegas needs a winner -- ideally immediately given how quickly it's cycled through head coaches. Mendoza has been wrecking shop at INDIANA.
2. New York Jets: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
Needs: QB, WR, CB, LB, EDGE
Bailey's stock has soared in the pre-draft process as evaluators realize, yep, he's got the chops to bring his double-digit sack production to Sundays. He led the FBS with 14.5 sacks last fall, earning every bit of his NIL payday at Texas Tech and helping transform the Red Raiders into a College Football Playoff winner.
Now he gets to be the guy who saves Aaron Glenn's job or, more realistically, helps convince the Jets' next head coach to come to New York. The Jets will be a mess in 2026 as they line up chess pieces for 2027 and beyond with a war chest of draft picks. Bailey gets to be the face of that youth movement.
3. Arizona Cardinals: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Needs: QB, OT, WR, LB, EDGE
Reese's versatility can help him plug holes in a few places along the defense but most notably as a pass rusher. He had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in his All-American 2025. But his work against the run will make him a three-down presence for a team in search of new stars around which it can build.
Arizona has taken the slow road back to respectability. Winning in 2026 will require a massive defensive effort. Thus, one of 2026's most athletic and versatile defenders gets his chance to be a superstar in the desert.
4. Tennessee Titans: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Needs: EDGE, WR, LB, IOL, TE
There's been some traction for Jeremiyah Love to breach the top five here. It's reasonable, but helping Cam Ward will take more than just a do-it-all running back -- Christian McCaffrey couldn't make flawed quarterbacks better in Carolina, for example. Instead, Tennessee makes a minor reach for the surest thing at wideout in this year's draft; the latest link in an Ohio State chain of receivers.
Tate isn't a burner, but his ability to create separation makes him a viable WR1. It would also make Calvin Ridley's waning influence and the uneven play of second-year wideouts Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor easier to handle. His precise routes and timing give Ward a trustworthy "throw it before he's open" target who can help massage away his growing pains.
5. New York Giants: WR Makai Lemon, USC
Needs: DT, LB, IOL, WR, CB
Beef up John Harbaugh's defense with a Swiss Army Knife linebacker, or bolster Jaxson Dart in his efforts to prove he's a franchise quarterback? Sonny Styles may be an All-Pro in waiting, but off-ball linebacker is a less valuable position than wideout, so New York opts to give Malik Nabers a skilled running mate. If the Giants think Styles be available with their newly-acquired pick at No. 10, Lemon could be the call.
Lemon was a bit of an enigma at the combine, but his ability to shake cornerbacks and and plant-and-go acceleration makes him a weapon. He reads defenses with preternatural accuracy, leaving man coverage behind and finding soft spots in zone to move the chains with strong hands and top notch body control. His separation and ability to win at every level makes Dart's job juuuuust a bit easier -- and gives him another reason to stop running face-first into trouble.
6. Cleveland Browns: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
Needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, S, LB, EDGE
Yep, there's a lot of smoke that Dallas will use its two first round picks to trade up here and select Sonny Styles. Given Jerry Jones' love of do-it-all linebackers and perpetual desire to cash in his chips, it's reasonable. But the Cowboys need more help than a single first round pick can provide; as un-Cowboys as it may be, a trade back may be the best option (especially given the, uh, fluid nature of Reuben Bain's draft stock).
Thus, Cleveland keeps its pick and takes the top offensive lineman off my board. Fano combines absurd power and athleticism at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds. That agility boosts his recovery when beaten, which will be an asset when squaring up with rookie mistakes and elite edge rushers. He's been a starter at left tackle since arriving at Utah and can have a similarly uplifting presence in Ohio.
7. Washington Commanders: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Needs: WR, TE, IOL, RB, CB, S
Twist! With the top two wideouts off the board, Washington instead opts to flank Jayden Daniels with 2026's top tight end. It's a move that allows the team to work in two tight end sets with dynamic movers in Sadiq and the recently signed Chig Okonkwo while also leaving the door open for Zach Ertz to return in a veteran depth role.
Sadiq is a ludicrous athlete who brings in-line blocking chops. He can seal off running lanes or get out in space to deflect defensive backs. More importantly, he's got excellent speed up the seam and quick change-of-direction skills to snap off linebackers and slot corners. Pair that with solid hands and, baby, you've got a stew going.
8. New Orleans Saints: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Needs: CB, EDGE, DL, WR
Tate and Lemon are off the board. Travis Etienne's presence makes Jeremiyah Love a no-go. Bolstering Tyler Shough's playmaking corps will have to wait until Day 2.
Instead, New Orleans boosts a top 10 defense by adding one of 2026's most impactful and dynamic players. Downs can play deep or near the line of scrimmage and line up tracking slot receivers with ease. His NFL ceiling is "Brian Branch, but better." He's a fixer, plain and simple, who can help be the difference between good and great for the Saints.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, LB, S
Kansas City lost both Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie to the Rams (via free agency and trade), leaving the team in dire need of secondary help. Fortunately, last year's crash-out leaves the Chiefs in position to take the 2026 draft's first cornerback.
Delane led the SEC with 11 pass breakups and hauled in a pair of interceptions in 11 games. He can be trusted in single coverage on the sideline, with fluid hips and turn-and-go speed to keep up with NFL deep threats. He's so remarkably smooth, giving defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo a player he can trust from the moment Delane enters the facility.
10. New York Giants (via Cincinnati Bengals): LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Needs: EDGE, DL, LB, S, CB
The Giants traded away a defensive centerpiece to land this pick. Enter Dexter Lawrence's replacement; a different kind of athletic marvel who can star in the middle of the defense.
Styles is a former safety who plays like it (complimentary), using elite athleticism to create problems at every level. He has the speed to turn and run with slot receivers and the physicality to meet a running back at the line of scrimmage and leave him with nothing but regret. Now he gets to be a hole-filler and, importantly, dynamic blitzing presence behind the edge-rushing prowess of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter (and, if he sticks around, Kayvon Thibodeaux).
The Vikings, in dire need of support for J.J. McCarthy, cannot abide by Love's draft slide. Thus, a deal; Minnesota sends the 18th and 49th overall picks, as well as a 2027 fourth-rounder, to a needy Miami team in exchange for the 11th and 94th selections. It's a slight overpay for a relatively inexpensive position, but Love's immense skill set makes it worthwhile.
Love brings value as a runner (nearly seven yards per carry the last two seasons) and receiver (280 yards, three touchdowns in 12 games last fall). He could provide peak Le'Veon Bell reps for a team with an average run game around McCarthy in 2026. He's a bit of a luxury pick from a team with needs elsewhere, but aggression is a big part of the Vikings' philosophy. Now they get another player who can make this offense hum even with a subpar quarterback, maximizing playmakers around an iffy QB situation.
12. Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami
Needs: EDGE, DL, LB, S, CB
Dallas held tight and still managed to fill a major need at No. 12. Bain's arm length makes him a bit of a mystery in a draft low on superstars, but there's no arguing his production. Now he'll be tasked with boosting Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and what was one of 2025's worst defenses.
Bain's arms delivered 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in an All-American 2025. He's tremendously powerful and violently quick at the point of attack, making tackles wary with his punches and then, once they've braced for impact, wheeling around or cutting inside them to generate chaos.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Needs: LB, DL, S, EDGE… QB?
Les Snead did a very un-Les Snead thing last season, trading away a first round pick… to get another first round pick. Maximizing the Falcons' frustrations has led him to gold. Waiting at No. 13 is a player who could be 2026's top blocker.
Mauigoa is a rampart in pass protection, but he's truly devastating in space where his 315-pound frame flies upfield to demolish poor, poor linebackers. Now he gets to be Rob Havenstein's replacement -- and if he misses time due to a lingering back injury, Los Angeles has the personnel to thrive even as he rehabs this fall.
14. Baltimore Ravens: IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Needs: IOL, EDGE, DL, WR, CB
Baltimore needs help on a rebuilt interior of its offensive line. The top interior lineman of the draft is available at No. 14. So while the Detroit Lions may offer up a hefty reward to jump three spots in the pecking order, general manager Eric DeCosta sits tight and gets a player who'll be an immediate floor-raiser up front.
The massive Nittany Lion is a brick wall at 330 pounds and has the quickness and aggression to create space at the second level. He can get out in front of Derrick Henry and create the space needed for one of the NFL's most prolific backs to bolt to green grass. His strength makes him a brick wall in pass protection and gives him the leverage to toss defensive linemen out of running lanes.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Needs: EDGE, LB, CB, WR
Tampa's stagnation clears a path to take an experienced, win-now competitor. That's Mesidor, who'll bring six years of college experience to his age-25 rookie season. While he lacks the upside of Bain, he's available without a trade up that could cost a needy team valuable draft assets.
The beefy defender can play multiple roles, kicking inside to use his strength as a disruption or moving outside to bring pressure from the edge. That culminated in 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in his Miami finale. Injuries are a concern, but his ability to add value against the pass and run give him the chance to make an immediate impact for a playoff team.
16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): WR Kevin Concepcion, Texas A&M
Needs: QB, WR, CB, LB, EDGE
Garrett Wilson split wide. Concepcion in the slot. Suddenly, Geno Smith -- or whomever is slinging passes for the Jets -- has some electricity to harness.
Concepcion is a playmaker the Jets badly need, capable of scoring from anywhere on the gridiron. That includes one rushing touchdown, two punt return scores and nine receiving touchdowns for the Aggies last fall. His acceleration and shiftiness create separation at the line of scrimmage against press coverage or well into routes in man. While he's not the big-bodied downfield threat New York needs (that'll come later), his ability to turn short passes into big gains would be an immediate cheat code for a team that keeps dying on the opening level.
17. Detroit Lions: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Needs: OL, EDGE, LB, CB
Freeling has perhaps the highest potential of any lineman in the draft. He's also raw, having spent only a single season as a full-time starter in college. Granted, he was excellent for Georgia before lighting the combine on fire. Now he joins a roster that needs immediate help at tackle after Taylor Decker opted off the roster this offseason.
The Bulldog star was an absolute stud at the combine, posting some of the best all-around numbers in offensive line history. He's got long arms, quick countering and smooth lateral movement. While he's still got tools to add to his box, he lands with a franchise capable of taking him down every aisle of Home Depot.
18. Miami Dolphins (via proposed trade with Minnesota Vikings): WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Needs: CB, S, WR, TE, EDGE
Someone's gotta catch passes from Malik Willis. While the 11th overall pick might have been a little steep for Cooper, a spot at No. 18 makes more sense -- even if the trade back saw two need-filling edge rushers come off the board who could have otherwise been Dolphin targets.
Cooper's hands and body control are his headlines, as he has supreme focus and the ability to contort his way into almost impossible catches. But he can play inside and out, be an asset in gadget plays and has the fight-through-traffic traits capable of boosting Willis, even if his WR2 is either Malik Washington, Tutu Atwell or Jalen Tolbert.
19. Carolina Panthers: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Needs: CB, S, OT, TE, WR
Could this be a place to add another receiving arrow to Bryce Young's quiver? Both the young quarterback and head coach Dave Canales are facing a prove-it year, even after last season's division title. But with four wideouts and a tight end already off the board, Carolina instead opts to bolster the league's 24th-ranked passing defense.
McCoy missed all of 2025 due to a torn ACL. Then he rolled up at Tennessee's pro day and ran a 4.38-second 40 with a 38-inch vertical leap, assuaging recovery concerns. He's got fluid hips and the route and ball recognition to be trusted on a island, giving Jaycee Horn a trustworthy sideline companion.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Needs: EDGE, DL, LB, S, CB
After landing Bain, pass rush isn't the priority it once was. But bolstering a defense with the league's seventh-worst sack rate isn't a one-man job. Fortunately, there's an in-state product with a dense resume of production -- 33 tackles for loss and 25 sacks over his last three seasons. While he may be a bit of a reach compared to most draft boards, Jerry Jones knows those accomplished college players can pay off (see: Travis Frederick in 2013).
The Texas A&M star handled the jump from Bowling Green with aplomb, racking up 11.5 sacks in 2025 to help push the Aggies to the College Football Playoff. While he doesn't have an enormous frame at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, his versatile pass rushing attack makes him an asset from the second level. He has elite closing speed and lateral quickness, which could make him a menace even to the most mobile quarterbacks.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Needs: QB, WR, CB, S, G
Ty Simpson and a handful of solid wideout prospects remain on the board. But the Alabama quarterback is no sure thing. Instead, the Steelers opt to bolster, uh, whomever is throwing passes in 2026 and beyond by adding Tyson to a receiving corps already dotted with big bodied playmakers in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman.
The 6-foot-2, 200 pound Tyson is a versatile player who can line up anywhere from the slot to the X, creating a headache for opposing defensive coordinators and limiting the double teams that hamstrung a shallow wideout group last fall. He is an explosive route runner who creates separation well, though he can suffer from a lack of discipline that brings some sloppiness to his game. In the right system, he can be 2026's top rookie wideout.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: S Dillon Theineman, Oregon
Needs: OG, LB, DL, EDGE, DB
Eljiah Molden cooled off after a hot start in LA. Tony Jefferson is 34 years old. There's room for upgrades across the Chargers' secondary. In comes a player no stranger to toiling after thriving at Purdue for two seasons, then playing a key role for a College Football Playoff Ducks team.
Thieneman is an uber-athletic safety who can fill multiple roles out of the secondary. He's got the closing speed to work as an over-the-top help defender and the lateral quickness to break on slot receivers and snuff out completions near the line of scrimmage. Now he gets to do a little bit of everything as part of Jim Harbaugh's last line of defense.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Needs: OT, EDGE, S, TE… WR?
Howie Roseman's last first round pick from Toledo was Quinyon Mitchell. Here, he returns to the MAC's DBU to reunite a pair of Rockets in his secondary.
McNeil-Warren is a big, rangy safety at 6-foot-4 with solid closing speed (a low 4.5-second 40) and the length to be a disruptor downfield. What shines brightest about him cannot be taught. McNeil-Warren has an innate nose for the ball. He forced eight fumbles his last three seasons and knocked down 10 passes over the last two years. Factor in steady downhill tackling and you've got a safety who can thrive in every aspect of the game.
Cleveland's second Day 1 selection provides an opportunity to gamble on a high ceiling player with injury and consistency concerns. Banks is a nearly 330 pound monster whose gap-shooting ability and power in the middle would cut off quarterbacks' egress once Myles Garrett comes crashing into the pocket.
He's also got the anchor to prevent running lanes from opening up or can slice inside for big stops (seven tackles for loss in 2024). He and Mason Graham would keep Cleveland's defensive line operating with All-Pro potential, though he's still got plenty to learn to be a truly dynamic interior threat.
25. Chicago Bears: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Needs: EDGE, DL, C, CB
Faulk's 6-foot-6, 275-pound frame gives him the bulk to line up at end across from Montez Sweat. Though he was more of a rising tide than a water spout in 2025, his ability to generate pressure and send blockers backward creates space for teammates to make plays, which could make the team's previous pass rushing splurges (Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo) look a little better in 2026. Any pocket-crashing contributions he can make would be a balm for a burned defense that ranked just 27th in pressure rate last fall.
He's complete enough to be a three-down presence, working on the edge on passing plays and using his size and strength to hold his ground on handoffs. Though questions remain about his explosiveness, he's a player who can be a positive force even with modest counting stats.
26. Buffalo Bills: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Needs: WR, EDGE, CB, LB, S
The board has turned out poorly for the Bills, as Denzel Boston has some Keon Coleman similarities and the edge rushing supply isn't ideal. Fortunately, they can bolster their secondary with a handful of great-not-elite cornerback prospects at No. 26.
That leads us to Terrell, who is capable of playing outside or in the slot, allowing the young duo of Maxwell Hairston and Christian Benford to keep their place in the prospective starting lineup. A.J.'s younger brother is on the smaller side at 5-foot-10, but makes up for this with a tenacious punch at the line of scrimmage and ability to turn and run in press coverage. He's got a higher floor than any other available corner, giving him the chance to compete immediately for a Bills team that suddenly has competition atop the AFC East.
27. San Francisco 49ers: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Needs: OL, S, WR, TE, RB
With Trent Williams' contract resolved, the 49ers have their tackle spots locked down for the immediate future. But Proctor could fill a role on the inside while biding his time, playing guard but kicking out to the edge should Williams get hurt or suffer an age related decline. At nearly 38 years old and without having played a full season since 2013, there's value there -- even if it's putting a lot on the rookie's plate.
Proctor is a misplaced fairy tale villain, slimming down to 350 pounds at the combine packed onto a 6-foot-7 frame. He's massive and powerful, and while his technique needs refinement his ceiling is as high as anyone in the draft. He can be a mauler inside or out, which gives him a slight edge over a more polished blocker like Blake Miller at No. 27.
28. Houston Texans: OT Blake Miller, Clemson
Needs: OL, DT, RB, TE
The Texans' offensive line is in a near-perpetual state of flux. Enter one of college football's most consistent and battle-tested blockers.
The three-time All-ACC right tackle has a strong anchor to repel power rushes and the lateral quickness to stay in front of speed rushes. He doesn't recover as cleanly as the guys in the top tier of tackles, but he's got an NFL build and high floor to allow him to contribute immediately. He's a solid run blocker and a true team player, suggesting he could kick inside if needed as an early detour to his pro potential. He's got the ability to usurp Aireontae Ersery at tackle or serve as insurance should Ed Ingram or Wyatt Teller backslide at guard.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Los Angeles Rams): LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, LB, S
Kansas City already bolstered its defense by landing Delane in the top 10. Now they add another key reinforcement in one of 2025's most productive players. Rodriguez is a menace, a sideline-to-sideline goblin with the burst to fill gaps and closing speed to meet tailbacks right as they turn the corner.
He's a havoc engine who creates chaos at every level. He can get to the backfield (11 tackles for loss in 2025). He can stand up in coverage (four interceptions, six passes defensed). He identifies and gets to the ball with scary awareness, proven by last year's FBS-leading seven forced fumbles.
Oh, and the former Virginia quarterback (!) had a pair of rushing touchdowns last season, too.
30. Miami Dolphins (via Denver Broncos): CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Needs: CB, S, WR, TE, EDGE
Johnson is balm to the burned and beleaguered Dolphins cornerback rotation (with all due respect to Storm Duck). He's proven capable of thriving across any scheme the Aztecs could throw at him, holding up in man, zone, press and whatever San Diego State cooked up to frustrate Mountain West foes.
He was uber productive as a senior, knocking down 13 passes and intercepting four more, albeit against fairly average competition. With a 6-foot frame and 4.4-flat 40 speed, he should be able to handle a higher level of play on Sundays.
31. New England Patriots: EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson
Needs: OT, LB, EDGE, WR, DT
There's a wide array of good-not-elite pass rushing prospects available for the Patriots late in the first round. Parker's profile as a beefy, but quick, edge defender with long arms and a 260-plus pound anchor may put him at the top of Mike Vrabel's wish list.
Parker's production waned from his 2024 11-sack campaign, but he remains a problem on the edge. He uses leverage well to stay low and use his prodigious power to uproot blockers or hold his ground against the run. While he isn't the twitchiest athlete available, he should provide quality reps right away at an expensive position of need.
32. Tennessee Titans (via proposed trade with Seattle Seahawks): EDGE Gabe Jacas, Illinois
Needs: EDGE, WR, LB, IOL, TE
Tennessee jumps back into the first round, taking advantage of a Seattle team that hoped a high level edge rusher or defensive back might drop to the final pick of Day 1. The price? The 35th and 144th picks of the draft.
That allows the Titans to skip the line to add an edge rusher who can handle the rigors of the team's four-man front. Jacas is an experienced pocket-crumpler who improved consistently across his Illinois career. He's got a fast first step and a great understanding of leverage, which helps him dislodge tackles when he can't win with speed. Like Tate, he'd be an immediate boost for a roster in dire need of talent.
33. New York Jets: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
Needs: QB, WR, CB, LB, EDGE
Ty Simpson remains on the board, but with Geno Smith in place to take the fall for 2026 the impetus to gamble on a flawed young prospect is lessened. The Jets have plenty of holes to fill, and double-dipping with two playmaking, but very different, wideouts would be a boon for whomever is throwing passes in 2027. Here, they get the best high long post runner in his class.
34. Arizona Cardinals: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
Needs: QB, OT, WR, LB, EDGE
35. Seattle Seahawks (via proposed trade with Tennessee Titans): EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, OL
36. Las Vegas Raiders: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Needs: QB, WR, OT, CB, EDGE
37. New York Giants: DL Peter Woods, Clemson
Needs: DT, LB, IOL, WR, CB
38. Houston Texans (via Washington Commanders): DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Needs: OL, DT, RB, TE
39. Cleveland Browns: WR Chris Brazzell, Tennessee
Needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, S, LB, EDGE
40. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, LB, S
Fearing a potential run on wideouts, the Chiefs take a player who, like Patrick Mahomes, is rehabbing a torn ACL. Bell's physical play and straight-line speed make him an intriguing downfield threat for Kansas City.
41. Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
Needs: EDGE, CB, OL, TE, LB
42. New Orleans Saints: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Needs: CB, EDGE, DL, WR
43. Miami Dolphins: TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Needs: CB, S, WR, TE, EDGE
44. New York Jets (via Dallas Cowboys): LB C.J. Allen, Georgia
Needs: QB, WR, CB, LB, EDGE
45. Baltimore Ravens: CB Keionte Scott, Miami
Needs: IOL, EDGE, DL, WR, CB
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Needs: EDGE, LB, CB, WR
47. Indianapolis Colts: CB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Needs: OT, WR, EDGE, LB, S
48. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Dunker may not be as steady a pick as Chase Bisontis in the middle of the Lions' line. Do you really think Dan Campbell would pass up a meaty Iowa tackle with a glorious ginger mullet and a reputation for butt-whippings, though?
51. Carolina Panthers: DL Domonique Orange, Iowa State
60. Arizona Cardinals (via proposed trade with Chicago Bears, via Buffalo Bills): QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Needs: QB, OT, WR, LB, EDGE
Arizona sends the first pick of the third round and the 143rd pick in exchange for No. 60 and the 239th selection. That's a reasonable price for a young quarterback who can bide his time behind the two journeymen atop the Cardinals' depth chart, Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew.
61. Los Angeles Rams: LB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
Needs: LB, DL, S, EDGE… QB?
62. Denver Broncos: LB Josiah Trotter, Missouri
Needs: TE, LB, EDGE, DL
63. New England Patriots: TE Max Klare, Ohio State
Needs: OT, LB, EDGE, WR, DT
64. Seattle Seahawks: RB Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
Texas A&M basketball coach Bucky McMillan is slowly but surely building a roster that rivals any recent Aggie depth chart purely from a talent perspective after landing Kansas State transfer guard PJ Haggerty earlier this month, combined with former Radford guard Lukas Walls, and Tennessee transfer forward Cade Phillips last week.
However, after the transfer portal officially closed on Tuesday night, McMillan and his veteran staff pulled off one of the best 24 hours in program history, landing a commitment from NBA G-League guard Bryson Warren, who was once a five-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, and is in line to receive a waiver to play next season, mainly due to having never played college basketball.
Combined with junior forward Mackenzie Mgbako announcing his return, paired with the addition of LSU transfer guard Jalen Reece, Texas A&M's 2026-2027 roster is slowly coming together, and based on the tape, Bryson Warren looks like a perfect fit in Bucky McMillan's fast-paced system that relies on shooting a high percentage from the field and beyond the arc.
During his final season with the Westminster Knicks, 19.9 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.0 RPG, and 1.1 STL in 33 minutes a night, while shooting 37% from three, and, thanks to TexAgs basketball insider Luke Evangelist who dropped the news, for providing a quick cut up of Warren's G-league performances, looks more than ready to match his scoring average with the Maroon & White next season.
A spot up shooter, Warren has shown the confidence pull up from deep at any given time, his elite range and equally impressive ability to drive the paint and sink the defense inside to open up outside options is the exact skillset McMillan is looking for. Combined with what PJ Haggerty brings on offense, Texas A&M might roll out one of the most elite guard rotations in the SEC next fall.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Colorado was sent back to the drawing board following a 17-16 rebound season as numerous of the team's young stars found new homes in the transfer portal, but it appears Tad Boyle and his staff are hard at work bringing in next year's team.
The Buffs landed another key piece on Wednesday in UNC Greensboro transfer forward Justin Neely, a first-team All-SoCon selection last season. The Spartans' standout averaged 17.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, shooting 54% from the field and 78% from the free throw line in 2025.
Neely dropped a career high 35 points in a loss against Western Carolina and brought home another career high 24 rebounds against Samford, en route to becoming a true two-way player for UNC Greensboro.
UNC Greensboro transfer forward Justin Neely has committed to Colorado, source told @On3.
Before his one season at UNC Greensboro, Neely played four years at UAlbany, where he earned the America East Sixth Man of the Year award in 2024. The 6-foot-6 forward should prove to be a key piece for the Buffaloes, who struggled on the glass last year and lost their top rebounder in Bangot Dak to the transfer portal.
Neely should serve as the secondary option offensively as well, giving the Buffs another non-guard scoring option for guard Barrington Hargress to rely on.
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page onFacebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
A mourning dove walks the grounds at Evergreen Park, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Sheboygan, Wis. | Gary C. Klein/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Spurs could be in some trouble in the first round, as Victor Wembanyama is out for an unknown period of time dealing with a significant concussion
Question of the Day
What states do you consider to be in the “midwest?” Is the midwest separate from the great plains? What about “great lakes states” or the rust belt? Mostly the broad definition people have of the midwest drives me nuts, and I want this matter to be fully settled in today’s comment section
SHAWNEE — Aditya Singh understands the odds of hearing his name called during the NFL Draft.
“Yeah,” he said, “it’s a long shot.”
Ditto for getting signed as an undrafted free agent, going to camp or making a roster
But none of that is stopping the Oklahoma Baptist defensive tackle from forging ahead with the biggest of football dreams. Being a long shot never deterred him before. Why would it now?
Especially when he has a chance to make history — Singh would be the first full-blooded Indian American in the NFL.
When the NFL Draft starts Thursday evening in Pittsburgh, players such as Fernando Mendoza and David Bailey, Caleb Downs and Jeremiyah Love will be front and center. But among the 5 million or so Indian Americans in the United States, not to mention the 1.47 billion people in India, the most populous nation in the world, no player will be more watched than Singh.
“This NFL journey, this road that I’m on is far bigger than myself,” he said. “It gives me a burning passion. … At the end of the day, this opportunity, any NFL opportunity, would create a huge opening for my community.”
Both of Singh’s parents were born in India before moving to the United States.
His father often jokes about how he arrived.
“He had $20 in his pocket,” Singh said. “That’s about it.”
But both of his parents had a dream and a work ethic to turn it into a reality.
Every day growing up in New Jersey, Singh watched his mom and dad tirelessly toil. His father, for instance, worked in information technology, and he was always on conference calls or taking online courses.
Singh adopted a similar attitude when he realized his passion for football.
When a scholarship to an FBS program didn’t come, he opted to take a preferred walk-on spot at UMass. When the coaches wanted him to play offensive line even though he felt better suited for defensive line, he had to try.
But after a couple of seasons not seeing the field, he decided to bet on himself and ask to be moved to defensive line.
“I just love the fact that you know the odds are stacked against you,” he said of playing defensive line. “You’re gonna have to deal with someone every play, most of the time two people, trying to attack you.
“I just fell in love with the violence and the process that it took to be a good defensive lineman.”
Eventually, Singh left UMass — he took a bachelor’s degree with him — and transferred to Division II Southern Connecticut State. After a season there, he transferred again, this time to Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee.
Last fall, he played 710 of the Division II Bison’s 793 defensive snaps.
“That’s unheard of for an interior defensive tackle,” he said.
It’s certainly rare.
According to Pro Football Focus, only two interior defensive linemen at the FBS level played 700 or more snaps last season. OU defensive tackle David Stone had the most of any in the state with 454 snaps.
Playing that many snaps while finishing the season with 47 tackles was huge for Singh.
“Being able to deal with that, I knew I could play at the professional level,” he said. “Being able to stand in there, be strong and still make plays, I was able to prove what I’ve been trying to prove for the past X amount of years.”
Singh set about training at TEST Football Academy, back home in New Jersey, then played in a couple of senior showcases, The FCS Bowl and The Dream Bowl. Then at UMass’s pro day, where he met with reps from several teams, including the Patriots and 49ers, he posted some impressive numbers.
His three-cone drill time of 7.82 seconds, for instance, was better than former OU standout Gracen Halton’s 8.09 at the NFL Combine.
Halton is widely considered one of the top 10 defensive tackles in the draft.
Test numbers do not an NFL player make, but Singh, who’s listed at 6-foot-1, 280 pounds, said having numbers similar to players who had been invited to the combine was a confidence builder.
“It proves to me that I belong,” he said, then clarified. “Not only belong, I can thrive.”
If an NFL team agrees, Singh would become a pioneer.
Sanjay Beach and Brandon Chillar, both of whom had Indian heritage, played in the NFL. But as far as anyone knows, there’s never been a player born to two Indian parents who made the league.
“Obviously, I know how many people are following this journey, how many people are connected to it,” Singh said, “and it absolutely creates a sense of pressure. Because at the end of the day, it’s bigger than me.
“It’s for my family. It’s for my community. And that’s what creates the pressure. But pressure creates purpose, too.”
He’s faced pressure before. Long odds, too.
None of it stopped Aditya Singh.
It isn’t stopping him now, either.
“If I didn’t deal with very tough times in the beginning, I probably wouldn’t be as prepared for this,” he said. “I think the preparation through adversity is what helped me be in this situation today.
“I’m ready to attack it head on, like I have everything else in this football journey.”
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
NFL Draft
WHAT TO KNOW: 7 p.m. Thursday, Round 1; 6 p.m. Friday, Rounds 2 and 3; 11 a.m. Saturday, Rounds 4-7 in Pittsburgh (ESPN, NFL Network)
The Rams reached the NFC Championship Game last season, head into this season as the betting favorites to win the Super Bowl, and should draft another good player tonight, when they own the 13th pick in the first round, thanks to a forward-thinking trade with the Falcons last year.
A year ago, the Rams traded their own first- and third-round picks to the Falcons for Atlanta's second- and seventh-round picks, plus their 2026 first-round pick. The Falcons badly wanted pass rusher James Pearce, and they were willing to give up their 2026 first-round pick to go up and get him.
Rams General Manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay have earned the job security that makes it easy for them to think ahead when making trades. They didn't need the instant gratification of adding a player in the first round in 2025, when they anticipated that with the Falcons' first-round pick they'd have a chance to add an even better player in 2026.
While the Rams played the long game, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris knew they were on the hot seat. Knowing their 2025 job status was "win now or get fired," they didn't have time to worry about their 2026 first-round pick. Sure enough, Fontenot and Morris were both fired at the end of last season. The new regime in Atlanta has to rebuild without a first-round pick, while Pearce is not currently with the team as he faces legal charges stemming from alleged abuse of his ex-girlfriend.
The Rams are in much better shape. They traded away their own first-round pick for cornerback Trent McDuffie, but the Falcons' first-round pick means they still have the ammunition to bolster their roster tonight. Maybe they'll add a good player with the 13th pick, or maybe Snead will trade it for more picks or another player, but either way, the Super Bowl favorites should get better tonight.
The long-term thinking the Rams showed during last year's draft is one of the reasons they've been able to consistently stay near the top of a league that is structured to promote parity.
IOWA CITY — After his time as a graduate assistant with Iowa football from 2012 to 2014, Chris Polizzi’s path took him to a handful of places.
He worked on staff at Western Carolina, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin and Tulsa, spending time as defensive coordinator at both UT Martin and Tulsa. He was also UT Martin’s co-special teams coordinator for kickoff and kickoff return.
But there was a common thread between all the stops he made after leaving the Hawkeyes: it didn’t feel like it did at Iowa.
“I guess I use the term, you can’t enjoy the sweet until you’ve tasted the bitter,” Polizzi said. “Everywhere I went (after Iowa), there was something off or just didn’t feel right about where it was. And believe me, I had tremendous experiences there. But it just wasn’t Iowa. And I think it all stems from the head coach.”
He rejoined the program as an analyst and spent last season assisting defensive coordinator Phil Parker with the secondary. Polizzi provided a helping hand to special teams coordinator LeVar Woods, but it was on a much more limited basis.
“When my hand hits the door handle here in this building, I absolutely love it,” Polizzi said. “And I can’t say that that’s the same in a lot of other places. I can’t wait to be here. I can’t wait to work with these players. I can’t wait to be in this building. It’s just a great feeling.”
After the conclusion of last season, Woods left Iowa to become the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for Big Ten foe Michigan State.
Polizzi earned a promotion.
He enters his first season as the Hawkeyes’ special teams coordinator, taking over a group that looks vastly different than it did in 2025.
This change is a big deal. Iowa's special teams are rich in tradition. That's part of how the Hawkeyes gain an edge and win in the margins. Iowa’s ability to continue to thrive in what almost feels like a new era of special teams is an important storyline ahead of the 2026 campaign and beyond.
“I want to highlight some of the things that are the same as far as special teams go,” Polizzi said. “The structure — it's been very productive over a number of years. The techniques that produce the results are the same, and the expectations, frankly, from within the building and outside the building are the same.”
But there are also differences.
“The communication style,” Polizzi said. “I love LeVar. He's a friend of mine. We're different people, different coaches. And the standard — the standard of what was special teams when coach Woods took over is completely different now than what the standard is of today… The standard is what the players and the previous coaches have set, and we cannot go backwards from that standard.”
The Hawkeyes' special teams unit has endured a major overhaul. Woods, who had great success leading that unit, is gone. So is Kaden Wetjen, the program’s all-time leader in combined return touchdowns, and Drew Stevens, the program’s all-time leading in made field goals. On top of that, punter Rhys Dakin followed Woods to Michigan State.
None of those departures will be easy to fill, particularly Woods, Wetjen and Stevens.
“Event, response, outcome,” Polizzi said. “You're going to control about 10% of the world around you, 90% of it is going to be your response to the events. Again, leading back with coach (Kirk) Ferentz, you see how he handles responsibility and opportunities and change and flux, and it's always with a steady hand at the wheel. It's never with a knee-jerk reaction.”
So where does Iowa go from here?
Polizzi threw out a handful of names for who could replace Wetjen in the return game: Zach Lutmer, KJ Parker, Jaylen Watson, Brevin Doll, and Reece Vander Zee. Lutmer, who had a breakout 2025 campaign at defensive back, has shown that he can be dynamic with the ball, which he flashed during his pick-six against Minnesota last season.
“I'd say there's nobody out of the competition at this point,” Polizzi said. “You should see the line for the Jugs machine. (It's like) when the Dairy Queen down on Riverside opens up. That line is down around the corner. It's a long and distinguished line of guys that are working towards it.”
Iowa has a pair of newcomers competing for the punting job. Transfer Tanner Philpott, a Waukee Northwest grad, was an AFCA Division III Coaches’ second-team All-American at Simpson College last season. Meanwhile, Boston Everitt comes from a far different background as a native of Australia, who has never played in a game of American football before.
“I'd say it's been a very healthy competition," Polizzi said. "Both of the guys are working hard, and they both bring a lot of different elements to the table. One's right-footed. One's left-footed. One's kicked on a collegiate level. One, this was the first time he's ever put on a helmet. They both have tremendous leg talent. They both work well with one another."
At kicker, Iowa brings back Caden Buhr, who appeared sparingly last season behind Stevens. The Hawkeyes also added someone much more experienced in North Dakota State transfer Eli Ozick, who has converted on 19-of-23 field goals in his college career.
“Again, that's one I don't foresee us saying or naming any starter until we run out of that tunnel (for the 2026 season-opener) versus Northern Illinois, just because I think you allow it as much time as it can to play out and see who has the hot hand,” Polizzi said. “But you enjoy having the experience of two guys that you know can go out there and kick with confidence.”
There is plenty of work to be done, but Polizzi has also been able to reflect on what the opportunity of leading Iowa’s special teams unit means to him.
“It's a dream come true,” Polizzi said. “I hope I don't get emotional here, but there were some times in there where I didn't know if I'd ever be standing here. I didn't know if I'd ever make it back to Iowa. I didn't know if I would ever have the opportunity to coach with this caliber of player and with this caliber of staff ever again.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
The day is here for former Notre Dame stars like running back Jeremiyah Love to find out where they’ll play their next snaps in football.
The NFL draft will start tonight, as the first round will start off the festivities and we’ll most likely see at least one Irish player getting their name called. There is a possibility that a second is taken, but it remains to be seen if that actually is the case.
Regardless of what happens later tonight, we know that Love will go extremely early, the biggest question is which team will take him. His backfield mate, Jadarian Price has seen some rumors that he could go near the end of the first, and wide receiver Malachi Fields also had some buzz to get taken as well, but that has died down.
Find out below all of the NFL draft information as we’ll find out which team will take the talented Notre Dame stars.
What channel is the NFL draft on today?
TV Channel: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes
Livestream: NFL+, ESPN+, Disney+ and ESPN Deportes APP
Radio: SiriusXM (Channel 88), Westwood One Sports and ESPN Radio
The NFL draft will broadcast nationally on multiple stations, giving fans plenty of options to watch the picks. With so many networks broadcasting the action, it will be difficult to miss which Notre Dame players get selected
NFL draft time today
Date: Thursday, April 23rd
Start time: 8 p.m. EDT
The NFL draft will begin on Thursday from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and will continue on Friday and Saturday. The start time for the second round and third rounds is 7 p.m. EDT and the draft concluded on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. EDT.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
It's the lone team event on the PGA Tour. It's also in a tough spot on the schedule: two weeks after a major, one week after a signature event and right before back-to-back sigs.
The 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans will be played at TPC Louisiana as teams of two pros compete in a mixed format consisting of alternate shot for the first and third rounds, and fourball (better ball) for the second and final rounds.
The team of Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry is the headliner. Why did Lowry and Koepka team up? Turns out they've been friends for years. Other notables include the brothers Fitzpatrick (Matt and Alex), a duo of youngsters, Blades Brown and Luke Clanton, and the defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak. The complete field features 74 teams.
Two years ago, Lowry teamed up with Rory McIlroy to win the title. Billy Horschel, who is paired with Tom Hoge in 2026, is the only golfer to win the event when it was individual stroke-play competition and as a member of a twosome after it becamse a team event.
Zurich Classic payout, purse: How much does each team get?
The total purse for the 2026 Zurich Classic is $9.5 million. The winners of the Zurich Classic each receives $1,372,750 million.
2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans format
The PGA Tour stop uses the Ryder Cup-style formats of four-balls and foursomes. Four-ball, also known as best ball, is in play for the first and third rounds. Foursomes, also known as alternate shot, will be used for the second and final rounds. The tournament is April 23-26.
Where is the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans played?
The Zurich is held at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana, just southwest of the city of New Orleans. The golf course ranks No. 2 on the Golfweek's Best: Top public-access golf courses in Louisiana list. The tournament started in 1938 and has been held at TPC Louisiana since 2005. It became a team event during the 2016-17 PGA Tour season.
Every NFL Draft inevitably produces a handful of prospects who slip past their projected range, only to emerge as impactful contributors far earlier than expected. Day 2, in particular, and as evaluated based on insights from NFL.com specifically their feature on 2026 draft sleepers, it has long been fertile ground for uncovering these hidden values—players who may lack elite hype but possess the production, traits, and football intelligence to outperform their draft position. In today’s evaluation landscape, where measurable athleticism is weighed alongside on-field consistency and versatility, certain prospects can be miscast or overlooked due to scheme fit, positional value, or simple overanalysis. That’s where true draft inefficiencies emerge.
The 2026 class presents a compelling group of Day 2 talents who check critical boxes across scouting models and tape evaluation alike. These are players who have demonstrated high-level production against strong competition, backed by athletic profiles that translate to the modern NFL. More importantly, they bring functional skills—instincts, adaptability, and situational awareness—that often separate long-term starters from rotational depth.
What makes this group particularly intriguing is how well-rounded many of these prospects are. Rather than one-dimensional specialists, they project as players capable of filling multiple roles within evolving offensive and defensive systems. For front offices willing to trust the total profile instead of chasing positional trends or consensus rankings, these prospects represent clear opportunities to gain value. Inevitably, some teams will pass—and history suggests they’ll spend years wishing they hadn’t.
1. Anthony Hill Jr.
Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) celebrates during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Anthony Hill Jr. embodies the modern linebacker prototype—rangy, disruptive, and scheme-versatile. His production at Texas, highlighted by impact plays behind the line of scrimmage and turnover creation, underscores a defender who consistently influences games in multiple phases. What separates Hill is the blend of high-end athleticism with proven on-field instincts, allowing him to diagnose quickly and close space with authority. For teams seeking a Day 2 defender with legitimate three-down upside, passing on Hill could prove costly given his trajectory toward becoming a defensive centerpiece.
2. D’Angelo Ponds
Indiana defensive back D’Angelo Ponds (DB25) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
D’Angelo Ponds profiles as one of the more intriguing value cornerbacks in the class due to his combination of ball production and fluid athletic traits. His ability to consistently find the football—paired with strong coverage instincts—suggests a defender who can translate quickly to NFL passing schemes. Ponds’ athletic profile supports his playmaking résumé, giving him the tools to mirror receivers and contest throws at all levels of the field. Teams that overlook him on Day 2 risk missing out on a corner who could outperform his draft slot through sheer consistency and football intelligence.
3. Jake Golday
Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday (11) attempts to tackle UCF Knights quarterback Cam Fancher (14) in the second half at Nippert Stadium. Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Jake Golday fits the analytical model of a Day 2 steal almost perfectly: productive, experienced, and more athletic than his public perception suggests. After transferring to Cincinnati, he elevated his game significantly, culminating in a highly productive final season and conference recognition. His size-speed profile—backed by strong testing numbers—indicates a linebacker capable of holding up physically while still offering range in pursuit. Golday may lack headline buzz, but his combination of reliability and measurable traits makes him the type of player teams regret letting slide.
Louisiana State Tigers defensive back A.J. Haulcy (13) returns an interception against Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
A.J. Haulcy stands out as one of the safest projections among Day 2 defensive backs, thanks to a résumé built on consistency, versatility, and high-level production. Across multiple programs, he demonstrated the ability to contribute in a variety of roles, from deep safety alignments to hybrid nickel responsibilities. His combination of size and speed, along with a track record of tackling and ball production, makes him an easy fit in modern defensive schemes. Haulcy may not carry elite hype, but his well-rounded profile suggests a plug-and-play contributor with long-term starter potential.
5. Eli Stowers
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (TE25) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Eli Stowers enters the draft as one of the most complete tight end prospects outside the first round, blending elite production with strong athletic testing. His decorated college career—including major national awards—reflects both his reliability as a pass catcher and his ability to perform in high-pressure situations. Stowers’ dual-threat profile, combining receiving polish with athletic upside, makes him particularly valuable in today’s offense-driven NFL. Given how difficult it is to find tight ends with both production and measurables, teams that pass on him in the middle rounds could be leaving a high-impact offensive weapon on the board.
Conclusion
Indiana defensive back D’Angelo Ponds (DB25) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Day 2 is where smart teams build the backbone of their roster, and this group exemplifies that principle. Each of these prospects carries the profile of a future contributor who can quickly outperform expectations. The margin between a solid draft and a great one often lies here—and overlooking these players could prove to be a costly mistake.
Editor's note: The writer is a 60-year-old Lake Worth Beach resident who flies his own airplane and ran the Tokyo Marathon before heading to Boston for this week's race.
BOSTON — On race morning of the Boston Marathon, the quiet town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts was transformed into the epicenter of the running world.
Over 30,000 runners from every corner of the earth converged on the Athletes' Village, turning this tiny town into a sea of neon jerseys and nervous energy for its 130th running.
The air was thick with anticipation. Most of us have worked for years to make it to this point. The cool bite of the Massachusetts spring, our school bus ride to the start, the long lines for the porta potty added to the anticipation.
The music over the PA was interrupted by the announcement that it was my time to head to the start. The excitement at this moment was palpable and mirrored the racing pulses of the crowd.
The excitement reached its peak at the starting line, where the iconic blue and yellow paint marked the beginning of the 26.2-mile pilgrimage through Greater Boston. Under the gaze of the "It All Starts Here" sign, the starter’s gun triggered an immediate, adrenaline-fueled plunge.
Runners were catapulted down a dramatic 200-foot drop in the first half-mile, a steep downhill rush flanked by cheering locals who pushed us out of the village and toward the distant Boston skyline.
The Palm Beach Roadrunners, my partners in training for the last two years, brought 21 members to Beantown.
The Hopkinton roar feels a world away from where it all began: 16 weeks ago, whether standing on the humid, pitch-black asphalt of either Bradley Park or the Dunkin Donuts on Donald Ross Road at 6:30 a.m. While the rest of the world slept, we were out there chasing headlamps. This wasn’t the crisp New England air but a thick blanket of tropical heat that made every mile feel earned.
The cycle started "easy" at 25 miles a week, but soon the mileage grew like weeds in my Lake Worth Beach garden, peaking at grueling stretches of more than 60 miles.
My life became a repetitive blur of 4 a.m. alarms, sweat-soaked singlets, and the relentless pounding of the Lake Trail, of crossing the Lake Worth Bridge, running past the under-renovation Gulfstream Hotel. All to build the grit I’d need for a finish line I couldn't yet see.
Earning a bib for Boston is a ruthless numbers game. Meeting the qualifying time for my age (60) and gender only qualifies me to register for the big event. Because the field is capped, the B.A.A. ranks every applicant by how much they "beat the clock," meaning my official qualifying time must be significantly faster than the baseline just to survive the cut-off.
For the 2026 race, the standards were tightened by a grueling five minutes across the board, forcing me to chase a mark that was more ambitious than I had imagined.
Even after I hit my mark, the anxiety didn't end until the "cut-off" time was announced. In recent years, thousands of runners who technically qualified were still rejected because they didn't have a large enough "buffer" (sometimes six minutes faster than their required time).
It’s a system that demands you don't just run fast, but that you outrun the collective speed of the entire global field. It makes that final acceptance email feel like winning the lottery or an Olympic medal.
Dave Masterson ran his 7th Boston Marathon
Dave Masterson, president of the Palm Beach Roadrunners who lives in Palm Beach Gardens, ran his seventh Boston Marathon. He has completed over 70 marathons and wrote a book being released this summer: "Marathon 101."
“I enjoy the sport because it brings together the things I value highly,” Masterson said. “Those being friendship, fitness, travel, laughter and personal accomplishments. It’s a most fulfilling lifestyle to chase!”.
Masterson ran a time of 3:20:51 - 123rd in his age group of males 60-to-64.
Hannah Anderson, is a hairdresser and mother of three. The Lake Worth Beach resident started running with “PBRR” in 2020 after her first marathon. To date, she has run eight marathons and two ultramarathons (50 milers).
“Running has been my therapy since I was 13,” Anderson explained. “It’s a great way to clear my head and, at times, just escape from the daily chaos of life. Along with karate, it’s my main form of exercise. It sets an example for my children that it’s important to care for yourself, and no matter what stage in life we are at, we can continue to chase and accomplish goals.”
Hannah posted a 3:24:34 in Boston -289th in her age group.
Kevin Lanning, who lives in Jupiter, is a professor of Psychology and Data Science at Florida Atlantic University and he shows no sign of slowing down at 69.
“I began running after the pandemic and joined the Palm Beach Road Runners in 2022,” Lanning recalled. “At one level, I run because running evokes changes in brain chemistry that bathe me in positive feelings ranging from satisfaction to ecstasy, all accompanied by a sense of gratitude for loved ones and for the thousands of strangers who cheer as I run by. And I run because I can. At my age, this is not to be taken for granted.”
Lanning has now run eight marathons, including the New York Marathon for each of the last three years and the Boston Marathon for the last two years.
Lanning clocked in at 3:46:49 - 177th in his age group.
The fastest runner with the Palm Beach Roadrunners was Niki Desjardin from Juno Beach. An environmental consultant, she ran a 3:07:44 and was 52nd in her age group - female 45-49.
The PBRR women's masters team placed fifth out of 31 teams. Besides Desjardin, other runners in that group were Christina Rooney, Kelly Bruno, Rachel Bachmann, Kerry Houlette, Kim Dahlmeier, Nicole Foster, Hannah Anderson, Jennifer Pressley and Sandra Holahan.
The Boston course was a net downhill, but most of the that is in the first four miles. Then it leveled out for the next eight miles, through the towns of Ashland, Farmingham and Natick.
By Mile 12, I can hear a low hum that grows into a deafening wall of sound. This is the Scream Tunnel at Wellesley College.
It was the loudest part of the race, where students lined the barricades for nearly a mile waving hand-drawn signs, giving high-fives, and commencing the legendary tradition of offering kisses to the runners as they passed.
The real test began at Mile 16 in Newton’s Lower Falls. After turning right at the Newton Fire Station, I faced four rolling hills. The final, and most infamous, is Heartbreak Hill at Mile 20, a half-mile incline that tested my resolve just as I was "hitting the wall.”
Descending into Brookline, I hit Coolidge Corner, where the crowds swelled and the historic architecture felt like a tunnel toward the city.
Seeing CITGO sign welcome sight for runners
At Mile 25 sits the massive CITGO Sign towered over Kenmore Square, near Fenway Park. Seeing that yellow and blue diamond was the ultimate welcome sight, signaling there was just over a mile to the finish.
The final sequence was a rite of passage: right on Hereford, left on Boylston Street. Turning onto Boylston for the last four blocks was a sensory overload. The Boston Marathon finish line in Copley Square, flanked by the ancient Boston Public Library and the Old South Church, was where the journey ended and the celebration began.
Running a marathon was a true test of grit and endurance. I did get swallowed up by heartbreak hill and struggled the last six miles. My time of 4:04:56 was not my best but that is what makes this whole adventure so compelling.
Afterward, I always assess what I can do to improve the next time out; in this case, it will be Chicago on October 10. It will be my fourth major marathon that included a recent one I did in Tokyo.
Though crossing the finish line may have seemed like an individual accomplishment, it’s the passion, persistence, and camaraderie of my fellow Palm Beach Roadrunners that made my two-year journey a rousing success.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos have 73 players under contract for the 2026 NFL season.
The NFL's offseason roster limit is 90 players, so Denver still has room to make 17 additions. The Broncos currently hold seven draft picks. If they use exactly seven picks (which is not guaranteed with the possibility of trades), Denver would have room to sign 10 undrafted free agents following the draft.
It's not uncommon, though, for the Broncos to sign more UDFAs than they have spots for, cutting bottom-of-the-roster players to make room for new rookies after the draft. So the team could end up making more than 17 additions in the coming days. While we wait for the draft to begin, here's a quick look at the current roster.
Broncos 90-man offseason roster
QB Bo Nix
QB Jarrett Stidham
QB Sam Ehlinger
FB Adam Prentice
RB J.K. Dobbins
RB RJ Harvey
RB Tyler Badie
RB Jaleel McLaughlin
RB Cody Schrader
RB Deuce Vaughn
WR Courtland Sutton
WR Jaylen Waddle
WR Pat Bryant
WR Marvin Mims
WR Troy Franklin
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey
WR Michael Bandy
TE Evan Engram
TE Adam Trautman
TE/FB Nate Adkins
TE Lucas Krull
TE Caleb Lohner
OT Mike McGlinchey
OT Garett Bolles
G Quinn Meinerz
G Ben Powers
C Luke Wattenberg
C Alex Forsyth
OL Alex Palczewski
OT Frank Crum
OL Calvin Throckmorton
OL Matt Peart
OL Nick Gargiulo
OT Marques Cox
OL Michael Deiter
OL Nash Jones
DE Zach Allen
DT D.J. Jones
DT Malcolm Roach
DE Sai'vion Jones
DL Eyioma Uwazurike
DL Matt Henningsen
DL Jordan Jackson
DL Jordan Miller
DL Kristian Williams
OLB Jonathon Cooper
OLB Nik Bonitto
OLB Jonah Elliss
OLB Dondrea Tillman
OLB Que Robinson
OLB Johnny Walker
OLB Garrett Nelson
LB Alex Singleton
LB Justin Strnad
LB Drew Sanders
LB Karene Reid
LB Lavelle Bailey
LB Jordan Turner
CB Pat Surtain
CB Riley Moss
CB Ja’Quan McMillian
CB Jahdae Barron
CB Kris Abrams-Draine
CB Reese Taylor
CB Jaden Robinson
S Brandon Jones
S Talanoa Hufunga
S Devon Key
S Tycen Anderson
S JL Skinner
P Jeremy Crawshaw
LS Mitchell Fraboni
K Wil Lutz
The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh from April 23-25. After that, veterans will report for the start of Denver's offseason program on May 4 (view the Broncos' offseason schedule here).
The show also will announce the winners of our premier awards, which include boys athlete of the year, girls athlete of the year, boys team of the year, girls team of the year, coach of the year and our Courage Award recipient.
The show also will announce the winners of our premier awards, which include boys athlete of the year, girls athlete of the year, boys team of the year, girls team of the year, coach of the year and our Courage Award recipient.
BOSTON -- As the Philadelphia 76ers move forward with their Round 1 series with the Boston Celtics, they will have to continue to fight without Joel Embiid. The big fella underwent an appendectomy on April 9 and has been sidelined since as he recovers from the major surgery.
The Sixers did announce on Monday that he has begun a strength and conditioning program, but one should not expect Embiid to return any time soon. He still has to overcome so many obstacles to be able to return to play for Philadelphia. One doesn't have something as serious as an appendectomy and return to play in two weeks.
When looking at NBA players who had the surgery in the past, Embiid is likely weeks away still as he continues his recovery. However, if he were to return at some point? It would, obviously, give the team a big boost.
"At the end of the day, it'll be the biggest lift that we could ask for right now," said Kelly Oubre Jr. after Tuesday's Game 2 win over the Celtics. "He’s such a talent, and he's our guy, so, you know, praying for his recovery, and I hope everything is going well back at home. We're gonna go home and check on him. Everybody's gonna huddle around him and say a prayer so that he can come back, but, you know, I think he's doing everything that he possibly can, so I think it'll be the biggest lift that we could ask for."
Until the Sixers can get an idea of an Embiid return, they will look to Oubre and others to continue stepping up and producing at a high level. Game 3 against the Celtics is set for Friday night at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The NFL Draft is taking place in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1947, when the steel industry was still going strong in the Steel City.
A lot has changed in nearly 80 years, as the 1948 Draft (which took place in December 1947) took place in a hotel behind closed doors and without much fanfare.
Now, the NFL Draft is arguably the second-biggest day on football fans' calendars. And to those whose teams are perennial disappointments, the hope it symbolizes makes it No. 1.
Here's what you need to know about the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh:
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the Las Vegas Raiders' pick at No. 1 overall.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have 12 picks in the draft, beginning with the 21st selection.
Entry into the NFL Draft festivities is completely free.
The draft will take place over three days, with Round 1 on Thursday, Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and the remaining rounds on Saturday.
The Draft Theater and Main Stage are set up across the North Shore of the Allegheny River, with the area outside Acrisure Stadium serving as an amphitheater.
The NFL Draft Experience, a fan festival, is taking place at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Zak Brown has been fighting the same fight for years. The McLaren CEO wants eleven independent teams on the Formula 1 grid, full stop, and he has never been subtle about the fact that the Red Bull and Racing Bulls arrangement offends him on principle. Now Mercedes is circling a minority stake in Alpine, and Brown has picked his moment to make the point again.
Mercedes, which already supplies Alpine with engines and gearboxes for the 2026 season, is in discussions to buy the 24 percent of the Enstone team currently owned by American investment consortium Otro Capital.
Otro bought in for around €200 million in 2023. Three years on, the stake is reportedly worth north of €500 million, putting Alpine’s total valuation somewhere between €1.7 and €2 billion. Christian Horner and a separate investor group are believed to be circling the same shares.
Brown hasn’t hidden his thoughts on this. Any move that deepens the technical or ownership link between two teams is bad for the sport.
Why Brown Says It’s a Competitive Problem, Not a Paranoid One
Brown’s case rests on examples.
He points to Daniel Ricciardo’s fastest lap in Singapore in 2024, when the Australian, then driving for Racing Bulls, took the bonus point off McLaren and handed it to Max Verstappen in the middle of a title fight. He cites the Ferrari and Haas staff swaps, where engineers move between the two outfits without the financial friction an independent team would face to poach the same people. He brings up the 2020 “pink Mercedes” controversy, when Racing Point arrived at Silverstone with a car that looked suspiciously like the previous year’s championship-winning Mercedes.
SUZUKA, JAPAN – MARCH 29: Arvid Lindblad of Great Britain driving the (41) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 03 RB Ford leads Isack Hadjar of France driving the (6) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on March 29, 2026 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202603290534 // Usage for editorial use only //
And he reaches for a football analogy that cuts closer than the F1 version: imagine two Premier League clubs owned by the same group, playing each other on the final day, with one facing relegation if it loses. Everyone watching knows how that match ends.
“We’ve seen employees move overnight between affiliated teams, creating unfair advantages,” Brown argues, per reporting this week. “We often have to wait a long time or make financial deals, which in turn affects our budget. That is not fair and gives others a financial and sporting advantage.”
The Mercedes Factor Makes This Awkward
Brown has to navigate this claim carefully, however. Mercedes is McLaren’s engine supplier. Has been for years. Any criticism of the Silver Arrows’ investment plans is, by definition, criticism of a company Brown depends on to bolt power units into his cars every other weekend.
Brown insists the objection is structural, not personal.
“It applies to anybody and everybody. A/B teams and co-ownership are detrimental to the sport.” He says the same standard applies to Horner’s Alpine bid as to Toto Wolff’s. He has also, perhaps pointedly, welcomed the idea of Horner returning to the paddock and praised current Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies for running a cleaner separation between Red Bull and Racing Bulls than previous regimes managed.
This comes as Concorde Agreement discussions are reportedly touching on whether Red Bull should eventually divest one of its teams over time, and the FIA is expected to tighten its cross-ownership rules. Brown’s public lobbying lands in the middle of that negotiation window, and McLaren’s CEO is betting that fan appetite for eleven genuine competitors will carry the argument in his favor.
Brown also confirmed the pickup of Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long-time Red Bull race engineer, who joins McLaren after 2027.
“With his experience and age, Lambiase can stay with McLaren for a very long time and continue to grow,” Brown said. Stability, in other words, is what McLaren is building toward. Competitive-balance stability on the grid, as Brown tells it, requires the rest of F1 to stop building in the opposite direction.
Whether the FIA agrees in time to stop the Mercedes-Alpine deal is the question the next twelve months will answer.
After months of waiting, the 2026 NFL draft is finally here.
Wisconsin Badgers fans know their team has been trending in the wrong direction these past two seasons, but there are still a few players who should hear their name called in this year's draft.
The 2025 NFL draft was memorable for plenty of reasons, as it took place in Green Bay, WI. One year later, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the honor of hosting the draft.
Close to 300 collegiate athletes will hear their names called over the next three days as they look to take their careers to the next level.
As always, Day 1 of the NFL draft is exclusively for the first round. Sadly for Badgers fans, there aren't any players on this team who are among the top 32 players.
Day 2 will feature the second and third rounds, while the fourth through seventh rounds commence on Day 3. All three days will be available to watch on TV and can also be listened to on the radio.
How to watch all three days of the 2026 NFL draft
Thursday, April 23 - Day 1: 8 p.m. EDT
Friday, April 24 - Day 2: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, April 25 - Day 3: Noon EDT
NOTE: Fans can watch all three days of the NFL draft on ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, and ESPN Deportes.
How to listen to all three days of the 2026 NFL draft
Coverage of the 2026 NFL draft begins at the same time on the radio, which fans can listen to via SiriusXM (Channel 88), Westwood One Sports, and ESPN Radio.
How to watch all three days of the 2026 NFL draft on livestream
Numerous streaming options are available, including: NFL+, ESPN+, Disney+, the ESPN Deportes app, Hulu+Live TV, YouTube TV, and Fubo TV.
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Sep 19, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) scores a 3rd quarter touchdown in front of New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | Robert Deutsch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Good morning Gang Green Nation! We finally made it to draft day 2026. By the end of tonight the New York Jets will, barring blockbuster trades, select two new hopes for a better tomorrow. Many Jets fans will be outraged, as is tradition. What a great day for Jets fans, and therefore, the world.
Here are your links to your New York Jets this glorious Thursday in April:
NewYorkJets.com – Final Tally | Which Players Were Mocked to the Jets Most in the Last 3 Months?
NewYorkJets.com – Jets Mock Draft Roundup 15.0 | The League’s Draft Experts Present their Final First Round Projections
MADRID (AP) — A new international group representing soccer players launched on Thursday as a rival to long established global union FIFPRO, which has been in dispute with FIFA.
The Association of International Footballers (AIF) was founded in Madrid by David Aganzo, president of the new group that claims it will represent nearly 30,000 players. Aganzo also leads the players' association in Spain (AFE) and was ousted as FIFPRO president in 2024.
Aganzo and other officials twice last year met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in what was widely seen as a challenge by the world soccer body to Netherlands-based FIFPRO's mandate to represent players worldwide.
FIFA is the subject of a formal complaint made 18 months ago to the European Commission in Brussels by FIFPRO's European division and the European Leagues group. The filing challenges the quality of FIFA's governance and consultation with stakeholders.
FIFA said on Thursday it was made aware of the creation of AIF and remained "committed to open and constructive engagement with football stakeholders that uphold core principles, including representativeness.”
FIFPRO criticized the new group.
“FIFPRO recognises the strong work over several decades of AFE for men’s football players in Spain,” it said in a statement. “However, the concept announced in Madrid by its current president appears nothing more than a speculative attempt to boost his own standing through a group which lacks the fundamental legitimacy to represent professional footballers globally.”
FIFPRO said the new concept was “driven by personal motives rather than a mandate from players around the world.”
Aganzo said the new model for a players' union was needed in part because players' voices were not being heard through FIFPRO. The new group said women's players also needed stronger representation.
“Soccer players need a stronger voice,” Aganzo said. “They don't have the possibility to make decisions. AIF has been created to fight for them.”
FIFPRO said Aganzo "has engaged with groups that fail to meet basic standards of player representation," which it said must “be responsible and sustainable, built from the players up, through collective structures that ensure independence, legitimacy and accountability.”
“Such an approach to player representation is not in the best interests of professional footballers.”
FIFPRO claims its role is based on a mandate from 70 national player associations representing more than 60,000 footballers and is formally recognised by the European Union and international football governing bodies and stakeholders.
AIF will be governed by members from unions in Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland.
It has only been a few months since Super Bowl 60 concluded and it seems like a lifetime ago that the Seattle Seahawks were hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Football-starved fans are left with a seven-month break between meaningful games, even though free agency and the draft are supposed to fill that void.
All hope isn't lost though.
The 2026 NFL Draft is here, and it will be followed by a new schedule release in May before the summer kicks into high gear.
Then it's the home stretch, when training camps begin and preseason action kicks off again. Week 1 will be here before you know it, so enjoy those free weekend schedules while you can. And don't forget to carve out more than a few weeknights, as the 2026 regular season schedule brings more than a few quirks.
Here's what to know about when the regular season starts and when you can expect the schedule to be released in 2026.
The 2026 NFL regular season will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Continuing tradition, the Super Bowl champions will kick off the season as the Seahawks get one last moment in the spotlight before turning the page to 2026.
While the kickoff game is typically set for the Thursday night after Labor Day, this season's was moved to Wednesday to accommodate a new international game. The Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 10 in the league's first-ever Australia game.
That means that fans can expect games to take place on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday in Week 1.
When is the NFL schedule release 2026?
The NFL schedule is typically released in the spring. They haven't announced an exact date yet, but it is typically announced in May after the draft, and free agency gives some clarity on what the 32 rosters will look like.
It's often a trap teams and fans can fall into when their draft class doesn't pan out as hoped. Quarterbacks can fade from franchise saviors to Day 2 developmental picks after underperforming in their final NCAA season.
All signs point to that not happening in 2027.
Teams have made quarterback decisions for 2026 with the 2027 NFL Draft class in mind. Potential top-five selections in this year's draft opted instead to return to school for another year before joining the professional ranks.
It's a close battle for the top spot between a trio of passers: Oregon's Dante Moore, Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Texas' Arch Manning. All three are likely first-round passers in 2027 if they decide to declare.
They're worth knowing more about but they're also not the only intriguing passers hitting the NFL next spring. Here's a look at our top 10 quarterbacks for the next draft class:
2027 NFL Draft QB rankings
1. Dante Moore, Oregon
Moore would’ve been justifiably in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick had he decided to come out after one season as a starter with the Ducks. His 2025 tape wasn’t flawless by any means but he showed more than enough to warrant top quarterback consideration. He returns to Eugene in 2026 with a new-look offense around him. Jeremiah McClellan and Dakorien Moore return as his top wideouts, but he’ll be without top 2025 targets, Malik Benson and Kenyon Sadiq.
Strengths: Moore is a mobile pocket passer with a fast release who took steps as an intermediate passer in 2025. His deep ball touch is among the best in the class. He’s not a true dual-threat quarterback, but his mobility can extend plays and he’s comfortable throwing on the run.
Areas for improvement: Moore struggled against Indiana in 2025. The Hoosiers’ defense is as close to a pro system as he has seen in the college ranks with their use of pre-snap disguises. If Moore can improve on his post-snap play recognition, he’ll be a lock top-three pick. His leaner frame (206 pounds at 6-foot-3) is a slight concern as well.
2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Sayin burst onto the scene in 2025, his first season as a starter in Columbus. The redshirt freshman led the country in completion percentage (77.0%) in 2025 and threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns. Another offseason with the Buckeyes should help him further develop his game. Though Carnell Tate is gone to the NFL, he’ll get his top target and likely top-five draft pick Jeremiah Smith back in 2026 to throw to.
Strengths: Sayin has a quick, consistent release which he maintains even when pressured. His processing post-snap was advanced for a redshirt freshman in 2025. His ball placement, especially deep, is among the best in the class. He’s aggressive without taking too many risks and can extend plays with good mobility.
Areas for improvement: Like Moore, he struggled most against Indiana’s defense. He also had a tougher time against Miami in the College Football Playoff when facing a talented defensive line. He has frame questions as well at 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds so adding a few pounds would address some durability concerns.
3. Arch Manning, Texas
Twelve months ago, it was Manning whom everyone had penciled in as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. What a difference six months made.
Manning struggled out of the gate in his first season as the Longhorns’ starter. New starters on the offensive line and wide receiver room took some time to sort out. He looked like a much better player in December than he did in September. If he can build on that finish, he’s a threat for the No. 1 spot.
Strengths: Prototypical size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) with plus athleticism that makes him a natural fit for bootlegs, play-action and designed runs. Good accuracy on deep passing with a repeatable release. Took on more pre-snap responsibilities over the course of the season.
Areas for improvement: Manning sprayed throws early on in 2025 as his confidence took a hit with five interceptions in the first five games as a starter. Footwork can break down under pressure. Can hold onto the ball too long and needs to speed up his progressions.
4. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Sellers was another underperformer in 2025 who opted to return to school rather than declare for the NFL draft. He’s a rare athlete for his size (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) and made highlight-level plays throughout the year for South Carolina. He regressed in 2025 after a strong start to his career in 2024 as a true dual-threat quarterback.
His top receivers return in 2026, including his younger brother, Trey Sellers. Former Georgia and Purdue wideout Nitro Tuggle also transferred to South Carolina for 2026 to add to a wide receiver room with Sellers and big-bodied speedster Nyck Harbor.
Strengths: Elite athleticism that will draw (fairly or unfairly) comparisons to Cam Newton. Very strong arm with solid accuracy deep. Lower body power to break tackles as an open-field runner with good footwork, thanks to his soccer background. Eye manipulation took a step forward.
Areas for improvement: Accuracy took a step back in 2025 as his completion percentage dropped from 64.8% to 59.8%. Fumbles are a concern (17 in 24 starts). He’s a big body but doesn’t do enough to avoid contact; he’s been sacked 71 times in those 24 starts. Average release and can get locked onto his first read.
5. Jayden Maiava, USC
Maiava played well enough down the stretch for the Trojans to warrant consideration as a draft pick for 2026. He opted to return to USC in 2026 and continue to build his draft stock with a second season as a starter.
He’ll be without top targets Makai Lemon, Ja’Kobi Lane, and Lake McRee as the trio has moved on to the NFL. He should get a boost at that position from N.C. State transfer Terrell Anderson, in addition to returning starter Tanook Hines.
Strengths: Great size (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) with decent scrambling ability in a powerful frame. Took on a bigger pre-snap role in 2025 and made significant improvements in ball security and accuracy (59.8% in 2024 to 65.3% in 2025). Good timing which thrives on quick game slants and hitches. Excellent deep ball placement.
Areas for improvement: Footwork can drop off against pressure. Intermediate throws over the middle can be spotty accuracy-wise. Can lock onto primary receivers for too long which leaves him vulnerable to batted passes.
6. C.J. Carr, Notre Dame
Carr is a pocket passer who played very well in his first season as a starter in 2025. He’s got good size with a repeatable, clean release. He can reset in the pocket and excels when he establishes a rhythm backed by his good accuracy. He’ll need to show strides as a passer without the threat of Jeremiyah Love in the backfield for opposing defenses.
7. Brendan Soresby, Texas Tech
Soresby was a sleeper for the 2026 NFL Draft before opting to transfer to Texas Tech instead of declaring for the draft. He’s got prototypical size at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds with good mobility and a strong arm. Ball security and eye manipulation are two of his stronger suits. He’ll need to improve his accuracy down-to-down, maintain his footwork under pressure and stand tall in the pocket more to move up these rankings.
8. John Mateer, Oklahoma
Mateer’s 2025 campaign was derailed by a hand injury that he never seemed to fully recover from. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who eludes defenders and delivers the ball out of multiple arm slots. His processing is very good for this stage of his development and he can throw with anticipation. He needs to get better about holding on to the ball too long and throwing into windows that won’t be there at the NFL level.
9. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
After an off-field legal battle, Chambliss will be back at Ole Miss in 2026. He’s a dynamic dual-threat runner with a strong arm to challenge defenses deep. He showed growth in the Ole Miss offense throughout the season. For a running quarterback, he takes care of the ball. His slight frame (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) is a concern because of how much contact he takes. His accuracy on non-deep passes also needs improvement
10. Sam Leavitt, LSU
Leavitt transferred from Arizona State to LSU for 2026 and could benefit from a season under new Tigers coach Lane Kiffin. He’s a dual-threat quarterback at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds who doesn’t turn the ball over thanks to his good decision-making. He handles pressure well and throws with anticipation with an NFL-caliber arm. He needs to speed up his mechanics and release, and show he can handle an upgrade in competition in 2026.
On the National Hockey League's annual draft day in 1984, 18-year-old Luc Robitaille waited excitedly to hear his name. It was a long wait.
The draft began at 11 a.m. at the Montreal Forum as the 21 teams announced their first-round picks. Eight hours later — in the ninth round — the Los Angeles Kings chose Robitaille as the 171st overall pick.
"There were only around a dozen kids left in the stands waiting to hear their name," he recalled. "When I heard mine, I was the happiest person alive."
He raced down to the floor but it was nearly deserted at that late hour. When he finally found a member of the Kings, a manager named John Wolf, he introduced himself.
Wolf congratulated the teen and reached for a box under the table to give him a Kings hat as a welcome gift.
"But he was out of hats," Robitaille said. "So he pulled a tiny pin off his jacket and gave it to me." When Robitaille's father died a few years ago, the hockey great found the pin among his dad's keepsakes.
Temper Your Emotions Like Luc Robitaille
Robitaille wasn't bitter at getting drafted so late. Because he wasn't ranked as a hot prospect, he was thrilled that a team took a chance on him.
"My name was on the list," he said. "I knew it was up to me. People said, 'You're a ninth round pick, it'll never happen, the odds are .0001% that I'd make it (as a pro).'"
Determined to excel, he debuted in 1986 and was named the NHL's top rookie. It was an auspicious start to a legendary 19-year career.
He became the NHL's all-time leading scorer among left wingers, a Stanley Cup champion and a Hall of Famer.
In 2007, he joined the Kings' front office and has served as its president since 2017. The Kings have won two Stanley Cups since Robitaille joined its management ranks.
Robitaille: Commit To Constant Improvement
Like many star athletes, Robitaille credits his mindset for much of his success. Throughout his career, he sought continual improvement.
He played in 1,432 regular season games and 159 playoff games.
"There were games where I didn't play good," he said. "But I prepared for every single game like it was the most important game of my life."
In his first few years in the NHL, Robitaille followed the advice of experts and more experienced high achievers.
"At 20, I was eating wheat pasta with tomato sauce, at bed at 10 p.m.," he said with a laugh. "Whatever I needed to do, I did it."
If he was displeased with his performance, he learned to move on. Staying positive helped him maintain a competitive edge.
"One of the great things about being a professional athlete is all that matters is your next game," he said. "I never thought 10 games ahead. It was just keep pushing to be a little bit better each game. Even after I scored, I thought, 'I've got to do better next game.'"
Find Your Strengths
A Montreal native, Robitaille loved hockey from a young age. His skating skills weren't great, but he showed high in-game intelligence and playmaking ability during his teen years playing junior hockey in Canada.
His desire to keep improving never waned. An established star at 39, he didn't stop putting in the effort on the ice. Instead, he devoted the summer before his last season to improving his power skating.
His humility won over players and fans alike. As a rookie, he often cited a Quebec reporter who once called his skating style "slower than the Zamboni." A Zamboni is the lumbering machine that's used to resurface the ice at hockey rinks.
Robitaille: Blend Toughness With Problem-Solving Savvy
Robitaille understood early on how to rebound from disappointment. He sought to extract lessons from each game.
"If you shoot 250 times and get 40 goals, you're a superstar," he said. "You're constantly failing. That's life. I never dwell on what bad things can happen. I'm all about solutions, not stewing in the problem."
Darren Abbott, the Kings' chief revenue officer, admires Robitaille's approach to problem-solving.
"He always wants to find a solution," Abbott said. "He will say, 'We can figure this out'" — and that motivates everyone to work together and resolve the issue.
Stand Up For Yourself
During Robitaille's playing career (1986-2006), fights erupted much more than in today's game. He didn't flinch when fists were flying.
"The Kings wore purple and gold uniforms in Robitaille's early years," wrote longtime hockey journalist Eric Duhatschek in "The Athletic." "Most of that time, the predominant colors on Robitaille's body were black and blue."
Midway through his career, Robitaille joined the New York Rangers. He played alongside hockey legend Mark Messier for two years.
Upon joining the Rangers, Robitaille was aware of Messier's reputation as a mean, intimidating guy. That perception soon faded.
"I was floored and surprised," Robitaille said. "Mark Messier, one of the great leaders in the game, treated everybody good and fairly. If you did your part, he trusted you."
Plan To Win: Develop And Execute What Matters Most
As a Kings executive, Robitaille's success reflects the lessons he learned playing with top leaders such as Messier. By prioritizing team results and giving honest, supportive feedback, Robitaille brings out the best in his colleagues.
"The way you treat people has got to be real," he said. "No slogans. And you've got to have a plan."
As president of the Kings, Robitaille works with his leadership team to develop plans and execute them effectively.
"Every decision we make, (team owner Philip Anschutz) will ask, 'Is this part of the plan?' and 'Is everybody in agreement with it?' You better answer and be truthful about it," Robitaille said.
Part of the plan, of course, involves winning. Robitaille sets a high bar every year: winning the Stanley Cup.
"Everybody should understand that's the goal," he said. "Not just the players but the people selling tickets, doing our social media, everybody. It's all to elevate the franchise" and seek the championship.
Yet Robitaille balances the importance of winning with an ability to connect with staffers on a human level.
"He's a leader but he's also a friend," said Abbott, who has known Robitaille since 2012. "He will take the time to talk to anybody. He has an infectious passion for the Kings and a tenacity about him, but he also understands we all have families" and lives outside of work.
Make Bold Calls Like Robitaille
When Robitaille and Abbott strategize to tackle high-stakes negotiations with third parties, they don't hold back.
"There were times we disagreed on an approach to a task," Abbott said. "We argued and argued. But by the time the (executive) team comes together to negotiate, there's no doubt we're all on the same page."
During those internal debates, Robitaille listens to input. Rather than impose his will, he's receptive to his colleagues' suggestions.
"There's no, 'I'm the boss.'" Abbott said. "He learns with every conversation."
"He's able to identify what the other party wants," Abbott said. "He asks probing questions to get what they're truly after. He's very good at picking up" their underlying concerns and producing win-win outcomes.
Luc Robitaille's Keys:
All-time leading scorer among left wingers, a Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Famer in a 19-year NHL career. Now an L.A. Kings executive.
Overcame: Making the pros as an underdog chosen in the ninth round and 171st pick of the 1984 draft.
Lesson: "The greats push themselves to get better every day. It's a way of living."
LA28 Olympic organizers said more than four million tickets were sold in the initial phase earlier this month.
"The response to our initial on-sale was nothing short of historic," LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover said in a press release. "Fans from near and far have spoken: the world wants to be part of the LA28 Games. The success of Drop 1 is about more than momentum — it reflects LA28's commitment to delivering a fiscally responsible Games that create a lasting legacy for Los Angeles and its communities.”
Over an April 2-6 presale for locals in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City (which hosts canoe slalom and softball), 95% of all tickets under $100 were sold with about half a million $28 tickets going to locals.
When also including the first overall ticket drop from April 9-19, women's Olympic event sessions outsold men's sessions 93% to 88%. Artistic gymnastics was the quickest seller of available drop one tickets. Tickets were sold to 85 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
Registration is open through July 22 at tickets.la28.org for the next ticket drop in August.
Those randomly selected for time slots will get emails with specific details about date, time and duration of their time slot.
Those who registered for the Los Angeles and Oklahoma City presale and the first drop and who were not randomly selected or did not purchase a maximum amount of tickets are automatically entered for any future ticket drops and do not need to re-register.
The ticket maximums are 12 total for Olympic events with a limit of four each for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Separately, up to 12 tickets can be purchased for soccer matches — that will be held across the country — that do not count toward the maximum of 12 for the rest of the Olympic events.
There will be 351 medal events at the 2028 Games, the most in Olympic history.
The Games return to the U.S. for the first time since Salt Lake City 2002 (Winter) and Atlanta 1996 (Summer).
Pittsburgh will be the center of the football universe when the 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday night.
The Raiders will kick off the annual event with the No. 1 overall pick. They are widely expected to select Fernando Mendoza, but after the Indiana quarterback is taken off the board, it's unclear how the rest of the first round will play out.
This year, the Steelers will have 12 total picks. How will the hometown crowd react to Pittsburgh's selections?
Here is everything that you need to know about the 2026 NFL Draft, including TV and streaming options for the event.
How to watch NFL Draft 2026: TV channel, live stream
The 2026 NFL Draft will air live on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Viewers looking to stream the NFL Draft can watch every round on fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
NFL Draft 2026 dates, start times
Date: Thursday, April 23 | Friday, April 24 | Saturday, April 25
Time: 8 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. ET | Noon ET
The 2026 NFL Draft will begin with Round 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 23. The event will continue with Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, April 24, and conclude with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25.
Michigan Hockey remains one of the premier blue blood programs in the nation. Whether it be the Wolverines’ continual standing near or atop the Big Ten, deep postseason runs or a flood of NHL talent, Ann Arbor is still a top destination.
However, Michigan has not won a national championship since 1998, and until it does, the when question will linger. This is not to say the Wolverines have underwhelmed. Since 2022, they have reached the Frozen Four four times (minus a 2025 campaign in which they did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament) and three of those semifinal losses (2022 Denver, 2023 Quinnipiac, 2026 Denver) came to eventual champions.
Perhaps the most recent loss stung the most, as this 2025-26 team felt different from years past. It defended at a high level and had a deep blue line, Jack Ivankovic was the best goalie head coach Brandon Naurato has had at Michigan, and the likes of T.J. Hughes, Michael Hage, Will Horcoff and Jayden Perron maintained a seemingly perpetually strong forwards group.
Was this team good enough to win it all? Certainly. But the Pioneers’ Johnny Hicks made 49 saves, and Denver once again found a way to eliminate the Wolverines. We now enter the offseason with the same question: Why not Michigan?
The Denver problem
Regardless of who head coach David Carle has in his lineup, regardless of who graduated or departed to the pros or sustained injury, the Pioneers have been right in the mix all decade.
No, they are not the sole reason behind the Wolverines’ playoff letdowns. But we have seen the same story over and over when they face in a do-or-die situation, with Denver coming out victorious in all of the recent meetings.
Michigan is never going to be like Denver. The Wolverines’ outrageous NIL money and proximity to the USNTDP create different boundaries than the Colorado school, which relies on recruiting student-athletes that are committed to the full experience and buy into Carle’s message.
This is not to say Naurato does not have a grip on the culture — far from it. Yet, the Pioneers are the standard in college hockey in large part because of their culture. Every team should want to emulate them, but what can the Wolverines steal from their counterparts?
Too much talent?
What is Michigan’s relationship with the NHL like? Take the 2022 draft for example. Owen Power went No. 1, Matty Beniers was No. 2, Luke Hughes was No. 4 and Kent Johnson was No. 5. None of them made it past their sophomore years in Ann Arbor.
While few programs would deny such tantalizing and productive players, it is difficult to sustain success with so much turnover. In the last couple years alone, the Wolverines have sent those four, along with players like Adam Fantilli, Frank Nazar III, Gavin Brindley, Seamus Casey, Rutger McGroarty, Cam York and more to the NHL.
Sure, other schools face this problem, too, but while they are not quite on the 2010s Kentucky or modern Duke Basketball stage of one-and-dones, they are probably the closest thing in college hockey. Would Naurato be better-suited looking for players that fit a heavier, older style better designed to win a title?
Yes. However, a complete overhaul in evaluating talent is easier said than done.
Winning ugly
Playoff hockey is all about dominating below the goal line, stymying your opponent in the neutral zone and great goaltending. Michigan has had some or all at times during this Naurato run, just not quite to Denver or Western Michigan or Quinnipiac’s abilities during their championship seasons.
Again, that is what made this most recent demise so frustrating is that it finally felt like the Wolverines could win in all three categories. Maybe this is a turning point season where Naurato and company better understand the demands of the NCAA Tournament and can use that experience to avoid a similar fate next spring. But until it happens, Naurato and the program will always have that trophy dangling above their heads.
The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.
The opening match of the World Cup is always a big deal. The host country kicks off the tournament hoping to get off to a strong start in front of its own fans.
In 2010, South Africa played host for the first time, allowing Bafana Bafana the chance to participate in the competition for only the third time. Grouped with Mexico, Uruguay and France, it was not going to be an easy tournament for South Africa, but they made a big first impression.
The opening match in Johannesburg was loud and boisterous. Vuvuzelas, which became part of the 2010 World Cup story, were non-stop. The noise inside Soccer City went up a level in the 55th minute when Siphiwe Tshabalala opened the scoring for the hosts.
Tshabalala said years later that he contemplated chipping it over Mexico goalkeeper Óscar Pérez after spotting how far he was off his line. He chose power and benefitted from a small bounce the ball took before he made contact.
"That helped, I think, and the connection was so good that as soon as the ball left my foot I knew it was going in,” Tshabalala told FIFA.com.
The goal set off wild celebrations inside the stadium and Tshabalala and several teammates joined in on a dance they had rehearsed believing that they would need to break it out.
The match would end in a 1-1 draw and South Africa's happy mood would take a hit in its second match, a 3-0 defeat to Uruguay. But there would still be a chance to advance to the knockout round entering their final group game. Uruguay clinched first place with a win over Mexico, which meant South Africa needed a high-scoring win over France.
It didn't happen, unfortunately, but South Africa did achieve a memorable 2-1 win over France, but it wasn’t enough to advance due to goal difference. Regardless, it was a memorable finish to the tournament — one that began with a goal that’s never been forgotten.
“That was always going to be the biggest goal in my career, no matter what came after, because it touched so many lives and brought joy to so many people,” Tshabalala said. “I’ll always love it – it’s beautiful – but the goal is bigger than me as an individual.”
Sixteen years later and Bafana Bafana will be back at the World Cup after finishing first in its qualifying group, earning an automatic place. There will sure to be many mentions of Tshabalala’s famous goal with South Africa and Mexico featuring in the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Apr 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft theater stage at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Happy NFL Draft day! The first-round kicks off at 8 p.m. EST tonight — in the heart of Steelers country: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
We’ll have specific open threads and plenty of draft content coming out throughout the weekend. It’s a busy few days that will only get even busier for Steelers fans as Pittsburgh has 12 scheduled picks.
While you wait around today for that first “the pick is in” chime on the TV ticker, feel free to hang out here at BTSC to discuss the latest rumors, your favorite mock draft scenarios, or what to do in Pittsburgh if you’re in the area.
And if you want a discussion starter, check out the great draft content we’ve already published this cycle:
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 0-2 vs. Rochester Red Wings
SS Anthony Volpe 0-3, 1 K, fielding error SS Jonathan Ornelas 0-1 CF Jasson Domínguez 1-4, 2 K 2B Max Schuemann 0-3, 1 K DH Spencer Jones 0-4, 3 K RF Yanquiel Fernández 0-3 LF Oswaldo Cabrera 1-3, 1 K 3B Paul DeJong 0-2, 1 BB, 1 K, throwing error 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 0-3, 1 K C Payton Henry 0-2, 1 BB
Elmer Rodríguez 5.2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K (loss) Kervin Castro 1.1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 K, 1 HR Danny Watson 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 K Harrison Cohen 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Double-A Somerset Patriots:W, 9-8 at Richmond Flying Squirrels
SS George Lombard Jr. 0-5, 1 K RF Garrett Martin 1-5, 1 R, 2 K CF Jace Avina 1-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K 2B Marco Luciano 2-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, throwing error 1B Tyler Hardman 1-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K LF DJ Gladney 2-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 3 K DH Kenedy Corona 2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 K — homers in the eighth and ninth inning put them on top C Miguel Palma 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K, throwing error PH Coby Morales 0-1, 1 K C Manuel Palencia 0-0 3B Owen Cobb 1-4, 1 R
Trent Sellers 4 IP, 6 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HR Wilmy Sanchez 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB Will Brian 2 IP, 0 R, 2 K Geoffrey Gilbert 2 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (win)
CORONA FOR THE LEAD! 🔥
Down to Somerset's final strike, Kenedy Corona mashes his second HR of the night to give Somerset a ninth inning lead! pic.twitter.com/Wiqh24R1U9
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:W, 4-3 vs. Brooklyn Cyclones
2B Kaeden Kent 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB SS Core Jackson 0-4, 1 K 1B Kyle West 3-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R — walk-off bomb to lead off the ninth C Eric Genther 0-2, 2 BB 3B Roderick Arias 1-4, 1 K, 1 SB RF Wilson Rodriguez 0-2, 1 R, 1 SB DH Tyler Wilson 0-2, 2 BB, 1 K LF Josh Moylan 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K CF Camden Troyer 1-4, 1 R, 1 K
Luis Serna 5.1 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K Yerry Rodriguez 1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 K (blown save) Andrew Landry 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K Brady Kirtner 1 IP, 0 R (win)
Kyle West said IT'S MY TURN!! RENEGADES WALK IT OFF WITH A HOMER FOR THE 2ND NIGHT IN A ROW!😱 pic.twitter.com/GCYoGUqepF
Apr 21, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A 2026 NFL Draft stage activation at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
It’s officially NFL Draft day!
The 2026 NFL Draft will kick off in Pittsburgh on Thursday night, ushering in a new era of hope for all 32 teams. It’s a wild night full of surprises, huge moves, and emotions aplenty. While the pre-draft process has felt tiresome and frustrating at times, NFL Draft night is undeniably electric. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
So if you’re interested in catching all of the drama of NFL Draft weekend, this post serves as a guide on how to consume it. You have TV, streaming, and radio options all laid out before you—and announcer details, so you don’t miss your favorite draft analyst.
BUT ALSO: If you’re looking for a Detroit Lions-specific draft show, we’re going to be broadcasting our own draft show for all of Day 1 over on our YouTube and Twitch pages. You can find them below:
And here’s how you can catch the 2026 NFL Draft on other media:
NFL Draft: Day 1 (Round 1)
When: Thursday, April 23 — 8 p.m. ET Where: Pittsburgh, PA TV: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC Announcers:
NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Joel Klatt, Ian Rapoport, and Kurt Warner
ESPN: Mike Greenberg will anchor ESPN’s coverage and will be joined by Mel Kiper Jr., Booger McFarland, Louis Riddick, Laura Rutledge, and Adam Schefter
ABC: Rece Davis will anchor and be joined by Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Molly McGrath, Field Yates, and Pete Thamel
Online streaming: NFL Plus, ESPN App, ABC, Hulu, Disney+ Radio: Westwood One, Sirius XM, ESPN Radio
NFL Draft: Day 2 (Rounds 2-3)
When: Friday, April 24 — 7 p.m. ET Where: Pittsburgh, PA TV: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC
Announcers:
NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Joel Klatt, Ian Rapoport
ESPN: Mike Greenberg will anchor ESPN’s coverage and will be joined by Mel Kiper Jr., Booger McFarland, Louis Riddick, Laura Rutledge, and Adam Schefter
ABC: Rece Davis will anchor and be joined by Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Molly McGrath, Field Yates, and Pete Thamel
Online streaming: NFL Plus, ESPN App, ABC, Hulu, Disney+ Radio: Westwood One, Sirius XM, ESPN Radio
NFL Draft: Day 3 (Rounds 4-7)
When: Saturday, April 25 — Noon ET Where: Pittsburgh, PA TV: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC Announcers:
NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Ian Rapoport
ESPN: Rece Davis will anchor along with Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Louis Riddick, Field Yates, and Peter Schrager
ABC: (Simulcasting ESPN’s broadcast)
Online streaming: NFL Plus, ESPN App, ABC, Hulu, Disney+ Radio: Westwood One, Sirius XM, ESPN Radio
We are almost there… | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The New York Giants are set to take center stage at the 2026 NFL Draft this week, holding two top-10 selections and plenty of intrigue surrounding the future of the franchise.
Round 1 kicks off Thursday night in Pittsburgh, where the Giants are expected to be aggressive as they look to reshape the roster under a new era. With picks No. 5 and No. 10 overall, all eyes will be on what direction the front office takes—whether it’s targeting a cornerstone defender, a new wide receiver, or making a splash trade.
This year’s draft runs three days, with multiple viewing and listening options for fans who want to follow every pick, rumor, and reaction.
ESPN and ABC provide separate primetime coverage and analysis
Streaming:
NFL+ (subscription required)
ESPN App
Disney+ and Hulu (live TV packages required)
Giants-specific coverage
Fans looking for a more team-centered experience can follow along with official Giants platforms throughout the draft:
Live reaction show: Giants.com
YouTube: New York Giants official channel
Mobile app: Giants app (live updates, clips, analysis)
These platforms will provide instant breakdowns of each pick, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content from the team’s war room.
How to listen
Radio: WFAN 660 AM | 101.9 FM
Coverage includes live draft reaction, expert analysis, and call-ins
National radio:
SiriusXM NFL Radio
ESPN Radio
What to watch for
The Giants’ draft strategy is one of the biggest storylines of the week. Holding two premium picks gives them flexibility to:
Target elite prospects on both sides of the ball
Package picks in a trade-up or trade-back scenario
Address key roster needs immediately
League buzz has connected New York to several top prospects, and with uncertainty across the top of the board, the Giants could ultimately shape how the entire first round unfolds.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 13: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on April 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 13-7. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phillies have been bad and unlucky to start the season. Now they can officially add “injured” to that list of grievances, as J.T. Realmuto was placed on the injured list with back spasms, joining the likes of Jhoan Duran, Jonathan Bowlan, and Zach Pop who were already on the IL. Get ready for a whole lot more Rafael Marchán and some Garrett Stubbs.
Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi speaks to members of the media during a pre NFL draft press conference held at the Titans practice facility Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The 2026 NFL Draft has finally arrived! The Tennessee Titans are slated to make the No. 4 overall selection on Thursday evening. We can end months of speculation as general manager Mike Borgonzi will deliver his decision. The Titans are expected to choose between running back Jeremiyah Love, linebacker Sonny Styles, or pass rushers David Bailey, and Arvell Reese.
The Titans are entering the NFL Draft with sizable roster needs. Borgonzi is attempting to rebuild a team around Cam Ward that went 3-14 for a second consecutive season. Before the Titans officially make their choice, we’ve identified their biggest roster holes.
EDGE rusher
The Titans have two excellent defensive linemen in Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers, but they do not have a dynamic EDGE rusher. They acquired Jermaine Johnson II via trade, who is on a one-year prove-it deal. Right now, the Titans may be overly reliant on contributions from Jacob Martin, Jaylen Harrell, and Femi Oladejo at the position. It’s a huge need, and precisely why Reese or Bailey would be strongly considered at No. 4.
Interior offensive line
The Titans have created holes at right guard and center this offseason. Kevin Zeitler, a solid 2025 starter, has not been re-signed and is still available in free agency. Lloyd Cushenberry was released due to a failed physical designation. Brian Daboll currently has Austin Schlottmann, Jackson Slater, and Cordell Volson at right guard/center. Not great! Unless the Titans re-sign Zeitler after the draft, they need to draft at least one starting-caliber linemen.
Wide receiver
There are split opinions here. The Titans have five roster-worthy wide receivers in Wan’Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Bryce Oliver. Robinson was signed to a big contract and Ridley’s deal was restructured to keep him around. However, the Titans lack a clear-cut No. 1 option and Ridley won’t be here in 2027. Investing in Cam Ward means finding him a dynamic wideout to grow with.
Running back
Though Jeremiyah Love is among the favorites at No. 4 overall, running back isn’t a big-time need. The Titans are in an adequate position with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears on the roster. The backfield lacks dynamic ability and both Spears and Pollard are entering contract years, and both were acquired by Ran Carthon.
Linebacker
Robert Saleh is a defensive minded head coach with a rich history of coaching and developing linebackers. Despite that, the Titans didn’t do anything notable at linebacker this offseason. Coach Saleh is surely excited about inheriting Cedric Gray after his breakout season, but Cody Barton, James Williams, and Mohamoud Diabate are less inspiring.
Apr 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Colton Cowser (17) and center fielder Leody Taveras (30) and right fielder Dylan Beavers (12) celebrate in the outfield after the win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Hello, friends.
The Orioles have escaped Kansas City with a series win after pulling off a comeback to get an 8-6 victory in yesterday’s game, bringing themselves back within a game of .500. The Royals broke a long losing streak with their win on Tuesday but remain in the basement of the American League. You could maybe say that it would have been better if the O’s really embarrassed the worst team, which they didn’t do. Still, they won two of three, and they showed some resilience in doing it, so that’s something. Check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals.
One thing I think that we can hope for coming out of that series is that the signs of life from Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo at the plate continue. Mayo, in particular, had a pair of three-run homers over the course of the series. Struggling outfielders Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser had two hits apiece in Wednesday’s game as well. The problems that the team has had so far will seem a lot easier to overcome if these guys are able to start hitting at least decently.
Less positive is the continuing struggle of this year’s edition of the veteran starting pitcher signing, Chris Bassitt. The team spotted him a five-run lead yesterday after scoring six runs in the top of the sixth inning and Bassitt still couldn’t get through the bottom of the inning without making things way more interesting. He gave up a home run to the first batter he saw after the big O’s offensive outburst. In all, Bassitt gave up five runs in 5.1 innings to raise his season ERA to 6.75 after five starts.
It’s not quite Charlie Morton territory. Morton had a 10.89 ERA after the same number of games, after which he got dumped from the rotation. With each of Cade Povich and Brandon Young starting off well for Triple-A Norfolk, I understand the impulse to do the same for Bassitt. I doubt that the Orioles will, at least not unless this drags out for a longer at this level of bad results. Maybe another five starts. At least we don’t have to worry about him for a few more days.
There’s a little Orioles injury news that will probably hang in limbo over the off day today. Jackson Holliday was sent back to Baltimore yesterday for an MRI on his hand after his latest rehab stint was shut down following an uncomfortable swing in Norfolk. There was no news about it after yesterday’s game and there probably won’t be in the off day either. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out if there are any updates to be had there – or with any of the other injured O’s who might be back any day now or might just keep on lingering.
The Orioles will next be in action on Friday night at home against the Red Sox starting at 7:05. As of this writing, there is not a scheduled starter for the Orioles. If they don’t use the off day to skip Dean Kremer’s turn, then it will be Kremer who would be on turn to make the start. The Red Sox will send out Brayan Bello, who’s struggled to begin the 2026 season. This does not necessarily mean anything where the enigmatic Orioles offense is concerned.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Orioles place Helsley on family leave/bereavement list, recall Espada (Baltimore Baseball) There was a roster move ahead of yesterday’s game, with the closer leaving for a few days for the family medical or bereavement leave list. The team did not announce the specific circumstances. If it is a medical situation, I wish the best for it turning out well. If it’s bereavement, condolences to the family.
Jeremiah Jackson is getting his hacks in (FanGraphs) The folks at FanGraphs have taken notice of the strong start by an unlikely Oriole. Now that Jackson’s BABIP luck has reached a more stable place, what might he do the rest of the way?
Today in 1994, future Hall of Famer Lee Smith picked up his ninth save of the season in the 16th game played by the Orioles. This was a new MLB record for fastest to nine saves. The Orioles beat the Mariners, 4-3, as Smith got his save. He did not allow a run over 12 April appearances that year.
In their 25th game one year ago, the Orioles lost to the Tigers, 4-3, in the first game of a doubleheader, to fall to 10-15 on the season. Jordan Westburg, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramón Urías all had three hits in the losing effort for the O’s. For the time being, the 2026 edition of the team is doing two games better than those guys.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2022 pitcher Louis Head, 2009 pitcher Sean Henn, and 1957 infielder Buddy Peterson.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: playwright William Shakespeare (1564), 15th president James Buchanan (1791), physicist Max Planck (1858), baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn (1921), actress Shirley Temple (1928), musician Roy Orbison (1936), wrestler/actor John Cena (1977), comedian/host John Oliver (1977), baseball Hall of Famer Andruw Jones (1977), and gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim (2000).
On this day in history…
In 1014, the Irish, led by High King Brian Boru, repelled a Viking invasion in the Battle of Clontarf, though Brian Boru himself was killed in the battle.
In 1635, the Boston Latin School was founded. Still in operation continuously on through today, this school is recognized as the first public school in what is now the United States.
In 1985, Coca-Cola released New Coke, a change to its formula. Within three months, they brought back the previous Coca-Cola formula. New Coke survived as Coke II through 2002.
In 2005, the first YouTube video was posted. One of its co-founders released a video titled “Me at the zoo”.
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on April 23. Have a safe Thursday.
Yildiz & Juventus duo doubtful for Milan clash – Expected lineup revealed
Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is currently training separately, as his availability against Milan remains in doubt.
The 20-year-old was relegated to the bench during Sunday’s win over Bologna, only making a late cameo appearance.
The Turkish international has been struggling with a physical discomfort that has been impeding him in recent weeks.
According to Tuttosport, Yildiz underwent personalised training on Wednesday, alongside Khephren Thuram and Emil Holm.
Yildiz, Thuram & Holm training still training separately
The source still expects the Turkish attacker and the French midfielder to earn call-ups, but the Swedish wing-back’s condition is a bit more complicated, having hurt his calf against his parent club, Bologna.
On the other hand, Dusan Vlahovic is unlikely to be fit enough for the clash against Milan. A return against Hellas Verona would be a more plausible target.
Mattia Perin, Juan Cabal, Vasilije Adzic, and Arkadiusz Milik are certainly unavailable for the San Siro trip.
With so many absences and uncertainties, it remains to be seen who Luciano Spalletti will decide to field in what will be a crucial contest, not only for Champions League qualification, but also in the battle for the podium spots.
Expected Juventus starting XI against Milan
Jonathan David has followed up on his goal against Bolognaby scoring a sensational strike in training that earned him the applause and admiration of his teammates.
Therefore, Spalletti is expected to entrust the Canadian with a starting role for the second week in a row.
The 26-year-old will be supported by Francisco Conceicao, who will start on the right wing. As for the opposite flank, Yildiz would be the favourite should he return to full fitness, while Jeremie Boga is the alternative.
In the middle of the park, Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram should link up once more, while Teun Koopmeiners and Fabio Miretti will be ready to step up should the Frenchman fold.
Andrea Cambiaso and Weston McKennie are the obvious choices for the wing-back slots, while the backline should also remain intact, with Gleison Bremer operating between Pierre Kalulu and Lloyd Kelly.
Juventus Probable XI (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz (Boga); David.
Arsenal officials set to travel because of one of their younsgters
Lucas Nygaard moved to Arsenal in 2024 after the Gunners judged him to be a strong addition for their youth system, and he has continued to make progress since arriving at the club.
He is not yet close to first-team involvement, and the most likely next step in his development appears to be further senior experience away from the Emirates. That pathway has already begun through a temporary move designed to give him regular minutes.
Loan Spell In Denmark
Nygaard joined Brabrand IF on a three-month loan, but the Danish side is now keen to keep him until the end of the season. They believe continued game time would benefit both the player and the club during the remainder of the campaign.
Arsenal are also understood to recognise the value of consistent competitive football for the 19-year-old and are prepared to sanction another temporary arrangement in the coming weeks if conditions are suitable.
Brabrand IF currently appear to be the club showing the strongest interest in retaining him for the rest of the term, which would provide continuity in his development and a stable environment.
For Arsenal, ensuring young players receive the right loan experience remains an important part of the progression process.
Arsenal Monitoring Situation Closely
Arsenal are now prepared to send officials to the Danish club to assess the environment and determine whether it is the right place for their youngster to remain for a longer period.
This information was confirmed by the sporting director of the club, Andreas Rasch-Christensen, who said to Tipsbladet:
“The plan is for them to visit very soon. They are following him and have a regular dialogue with our goalkeeping coach and staff in relation to, I suppose, finding out what their plans with him should be.”
Those comments suggest Arsenal are maintaining close oversight of Nygaard’s development while carefully considering the next phase of his career. If the visit is positive, an extended stay with Brabrand IF could become the preferred option before the season concludes.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 8: Luis Garcia #57 of the Philadelphia Phillies kisses his glove as he walks off the field after pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 8, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies have been shuffling the bullpen as they look to correct virtually every facet of the team after a brutal start to the season.
The team has cycled through fringe roster options like Seth Johnson, Chase Shugart and Kyle Backhus as star closer Jhoan Duran recovers from an oblique injury. And Tuesday’s loss to the Chicago Cubs marked a low point for the pitching staff so far.
“Phillies pitchers walked an obscene 10 batters (and hit two more) in a 7-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs,” Jim Salisbury noted for NBC Sports Philadelphia. “They’ve only gotten 13 innings from their starting pitchers the last three games with a bullpen game (Kyle Backhus will start) on tap Wednesday night. Taijuan Walker is expected to get the bulk of the work in relief.”
The range of relief options employed by the team so far and the extent of their poor performances has been one of the harsher surprises for the Phillies this season. After trading away Matt Strahm and bringing in Brad Keller, it seemed like the team had assembled its most clearly defined bullpen in some time.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Former Pitcher Cut By New York Mets, Joins Minnesota Twins Organization
Instead, the bullpen shuffle will continue for the foreseeable future. And in the meantime, the Phillies got an update on one long-time reliever who was recently cut by their division rival.
Luis Garcia, who pitched for the Phillies from 2013 to 2018, racking up 223 strikeouts across 251 games in the process, joined the Minnesota Twins on a minor league contract this week, according to Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The news came shortly after the New York Mets released him.
“Garcia, 39, opened the season with the same Mets team against whom the Twins will open a road series tonight,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams reported on Tuesday. “He signed a one-year, $1.75MM contract in the offseason but was cut loose after only six appearances. In that time, Garcia was knocked around for six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and a pair of walks with four strikeouts.”
Former Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Luis Garcia, Cut By New York Mets, Could Return To Big Leagues
Garcia appeared to have something left in the tank last year, as he posted a 3.42 ERA in 58 total games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels. But his short Mets stint suggested he had lost some velocity on several pitches in his repertoire.
The Twins could use some relief corp reinforcement and a minor-league deal for a veteran like Garcia appears to be a relatively risk free way to take a shot at some remaining upside.
“Garcia’s velocity is down this year, but there’s little harm in taking a nearly free look at a veteran reliever who, in addition to that 3.86 ERA over the past five seasons, has punched out a solid 22.3% of his opponents against a sharp 7.8% walk rate and a huge 53% ground-ball rate,” Adams added.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 27: James Peoples #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rushes as Xe'ree Alexander #10 of the Washington Huskies defends during the third quarter at Husky Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Blake Dahlin/ISI Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Warmer weather, cherry blossoms in the Quad, and post-8:00pm sunsets all indicate Spring returning to Seattle, but for you fine readers of UW Dawg Pound, it means it’s time for Spring Football. (If this sounds like a familiar intro, I did kind of copy it from my OL position breakdown. In Gabey Lucas fashion, I too dislike writing intros and will try to avoid them as possible).
On to the linebackers & EDGEs.
2025 Season Refresher
We’re grouping the linebackers with the EDGEs this Spring because there’s some positional fluidity between those groups under defensive coordinator Ryan Walters. However, if we’re looking back at the 2025 season, these two groups had very different seasons.
At the outset of the 2025 season, linebacker seemed like a promising group with some short term questions. The top three LBs from the 2024 season, Carson Bruener, Alphonzo Tuputala, and Khmori House, had all departed, but Jacob Manu and Taariq “Buddah” al-Uqdah were incoming veteran transfers from Arizona and WSU respectively. Manu and Buddah weren’t just veterans, they were proven highly productive starters from Power 4 (or recently Power 4) programs. In addition to those two, we also had a promising in-house option in Deven Bryant, a highly-touted HS recruit in Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, and a multi-stop transfer in Xe’ree Alexander to round out the depth chart. The questions though revolved around how the rotation would shake out over the course of the season. Manu was coming off of a torn ACL and likely wouldn’t be available until mid-season, and with an available redshirt, it wasn’t a certainty that he would even play more than four games if healthy. ZRS was also coming off of a knee injury sustained during his HS senior season, so he was also largely written off as a redshirt candidate. That left Buddah and Bryant as the likeliest week 1 starters with Alexander providing depth. Not a terrible situation, but not as immediately promising as the on-paper additions would suggest.
On the flip side, EDGE seemed far more promising at the outset of the season. Zach Durfee, the long-hyped yet snake-bitten EDGE, finally seemed healthy enough to be a #1 pass rushing option. Opposite of Durfee, it appeared like the staff had a deep rotation to rotate through. Deshawn Lynch had been a decent part-time starter in 2024, Russell Davis II had blown up against UCLA in ‘24 with 3 sacks before getting injured, Isaiah Ward had shown flashes as a rotational player, and Jacob Lane had been a quietly productive role player for a couple seasons.
For both groups, the preseason outlooked got flipped upside down, and not in a necessarily negative way. At LB, Buddah and Bryant did start the season as the primary LBs, but Buddah suffered a season ending injury in September, and Bryant started to get picked on by opposing offenses. Fortunately, Alexander was a revelation as his he progressively gained traction over the course of the season as a stout run stuffer and blitzer, eventually earning a bowl game MVP nod. Additionally, Manu and ZRS were able to get healthy by midseason, and both lived up to their billing once on the field. At EDGE, Durfee did have his best season as a Husky, but he was hampered by nagging injuries throughout. Davis never actually recovered enough from his ‘24 injury to see the field, and Ward missed almost half the season to an injury as well. Unexpectedly though, Lynch had a breakout season in his final year, at one point leading the conference in pass breakups, as well as snagging a near pick-6 in the bowl game.
By the end of the ‘25 season, the general fan sentiment was that the LB room outperformed expectations by season end, and the EDGE group probably underachieved expectations while posting a comparatively average performance.
Roster Situation
Departures:
Deven Bryant (LB, Transfer – USC)
Jonathan Epperson Jr. (LB, Transfer – Portland State)
Anthony Ward (LB, Exhausted Eligibility)
Zach Durfee (EDGE, Exhausted Eligibility/NFL)
Deshawn Lynch (EDGE, Exhausted Eligibility/NFL)
Milton Hopkins Jr. (EDGE, Exhausted Eligibility)
Looking towards 2026 and Spring Practices, the departures somewhat align with the season ending sentiment for the respective positions. The LBs lose Deven Bryant and Jonathan Epperson Jr. to the Transfer Portal. Bryant likely didn’t figure into long term plans after being surpassed by Alexander and ZRS in ‘25, and Epperson likely saw himself buried on the depth chart for at least another year and decided to look elsewhere for playing time. Neither of them were projected to be in the 2-deep in ‘26 and likely represent more than a hit to the positional depth.
On the other hand, EDGE lost two of their top producers from ‘25 with both Durfee and Lynch running out of eligibility. These were anticipated losses, but with limited proven production behind them on the depth chart, they leave behind more questions than long-term answers.
Returning Linebackers: Taariq Al-Uqdah, Jacob Manu, Xe’ree Alexander, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, Donovan Robinson Jr.
Returning EDGEs: Jacob Lane, Isaiah Ward, Russell Davis II, Devin Hyde, Victor Sanchez Hernandez, Hayden Moore
Moving on to the returners from the respective positions, it’s clear why the outlook for the two positions are heading in opposite directions. With basically every significant contributor returning from the ‘25 LB group, the only unproven returner that hasn’t seen extended playing time is RS freshman Donovan Robinson Jr., who coming out of HS was an extremely talented, multi-positional prospect who had played everywhere from safety to LB to WR and returner. His upside elevates the overall talent in the room, but as a relatively raw prospect at the LB position, he represents talented depth at this point as the hypothetical 5th option in a nominally 2-LB system. That’s a great spot to be in.
By comparison, EDGE is lacking returning star power and reliable depth. Jacob Lane probably figures to be a key member of the rotation as the steadiest and most durable upperclassman option from the returners. Devin Hyde, a rising sophomore, seems to be a player the staff also has high hopes for in his second year. He played in every game of his true freshman season, and even broke into the back end of a relatively deep EDGE rotation that liked to keep players fresh. Hyde may not get the “starter” nod, but I expect his role to grow in year 2. A big 2nd year leap would go a long way to settle down concerns with this group’s upside.
In my opinion, Davis and Ward slot in right behind Lane and Hyde in the EDGE rotation. When healthy, the two former Arizona transfers bring edge rushing juice that’s been lacking in the room for a few years, but much like Durfee, neither have been able to capitalize on their talents due to injuries. If both can stay healthy, I could see them playing a large role in sub packages.
Finally, Victor Sanchez Hernandez and Hayden Moore figure into the EDGE pictures as depth and developmental pieces. Sanchez Hernandez was an intriguing local developmental prospect that always figured to need some time growing into the role. As a former elite martial artist with limited football experience, there’s definitely some athletic upside but a very limited sample size to project his future production and role at this point. Moore on the other hand is likely no more than a depth player at this point in his career. The former Michigan transfer is heading into his 3rd year with UW and has seen sporadic playing time. I would not be surprised if his role is again limited to depth and special teams.
Spring Practice Arrivals (Position, Arrival From, Rating, Height, Weight):
Ezaya Tokio (LB, HS, 3-star, 6-4, 230)
Logan George (EDGE, Ohio State, 3-star, 6-4, 264)
Ramzak Fruean (EDGE, HS, 4-star, 6-4, 226)
With Coach Walters’ most common personnel packages last year comprising 2 LBs and 2 EDGEs, the Huskies were in a pretty safe spot numbers and depth wise prior to any offseason additions. Most teams aim to stay three deep or better at every position, so with 5 returning LBs and 6 returning EDGEs, the additions can be viewed as a mix of upgrading talent and solidifying a long-term pipeline of talent.
Tokio is the sole LB addition, and as a HS recruit, he represents the staff’s long term plans to replace soon to be out-going seniors Manu and Alexander. Obviously we’re well stocked with ZRS already figuring to be a starter in his sophomore year, plus Buddah has eligibility through 2027, but Tokio is a talent that should keep the rotation stable after this season.
George on the other hand should be viewed more as a shot in the arm addition. Formerly of Utah State, Idaho State, and Ohio State, he seems to be the staff’s latest attempt at solving the pass rush (or lack of pass rush) problem. George’s circuitous journey is an interesting one. After walking on at Utah State all the way back in 2021, George took an LDS mission and ended up at Idaho State after he returned in 2023. In 2024 he was one of the top edge rushers in the Big Sky Conference at the FCS level, which landed him an opportunity to transfer to Ohio State. Injuries limited his availability in Columbus, which landed him back in the portal, and he eventually made his way to Montlake. Somehow through all of these moves, George will only be a junior this season despite being in his 6th year post-high school. We’ve done well picking up productive former Big Sky linemen under this staff, so the hope is that George can at least elevate the floor of the position.
Fruean, the final addition to these groups, is a ceiling raising addition. The late-rising blue chip local prospect was a priority recruit for the staff. At Bethel HS, Fruean played everywhere on defense (and even some offense), playing EDGE, LB, and safety at various times. He primarily played LB and safety, but his frame and projectable athleticism may make EDGE his highest upside position long term. I won’t be surprised if we saw him play some off-ball LB in certain packages though. Coach Walters even mentioned that possibility recently. Fruean’s an exciting one to keep an eye on.
Things to Keep an Eye On – Spring Practice
Does an EDGE Make the Leap?
One of the biggest questions the Huskies have on defense is how we’ll be generating a pass rush. A lot of UW fans expected incoming freshman Derek Colman-Brusa, a highly-touted local recruit, to come in and provide the instant impact jolt on the EDGE like ZRS and John Mills did last year. However, now that we’re into Spring Practices, it’s become clear that DCB has physically developed beyond his HS EDGE position and will likely be a day 1 starter at DT. If true, that’s a win for the defense as a whole, but that still leaves EDGE looking for a path towards improvement.
We’ve already gone through the returnees and additions, so folks should have a pretty good sense of the group that we’re working with. Crossing our fingers for health and durability is unfortunately not a good plan, so I’m hesitant to pin my hopes on a leap in production from Ward and Davis, and in my opinion, Lane is a solid player who’s production could grow with larger volume, but after multiple years of growing responsibilities, I’m not expecting a huge leap in production. Devin Hyde and Ramzak Fruean are the two players who I could reasonably expect to make a significant added contribution to the group. My hope for Hyde to make the leap is based on his consistent, albeit small presence on the field last year indicating faith from the staff that he’s a talent that could develop rapidly with playing time and experience. Similarly, while Fruean is a new addition, practice reports indicate similar opportunities for his early development working with the #1 and #2 defenses this Spring. Pair Lane, Hyde, and Fruean with George, yet another player coming off of injury who we won’t get a good read on until Summer, and it’d be reasonable to expect moderate improvement this season. If we are fortunate to get Ward and Davis healthy, then the ceiling does get a bit higher. Time will tell if that’ll be enough to elevate this defense to meet our playoff-caliber expectations.
Leveraging Strengths at Linebacker
We’re going to see a lot of personnel packages mixing and matching individual players’ strengths on defense this season, but I fully expect there to be a typical rotation that largely gets settled this Spring. Why this is important to keep an eye on is because it’ll be an indication of our defensive game plan next season. Walters is one of the best defensive minds in college these days, and it is in large part due to his ability and willingness to tailor the schemes and game plan to the personnel he has. Last season, we ran 4-2-5 personnel and Even fronts (4 on the line, usually 2 EDGEs & 2 DTs) at a higher clip than what many of us expected given his prominent use of 3-4 personnel and 5-man fronts at Illinois. This was because the roster that he inherited was better suited for Even fronts.
Even with this unexpected shift towards 4-2-5 personnel groupings, Walters still found ways to incorporate 5-man front looks and concepts. Similar to Tuputala’s multi-positional role at LB in 2024, Alexander proved in 2025 that he had the ability to be a playmaker as a hybrid LB/EDGE. While his role was primarily as an off-ball linebacker, where he was an above average run stuffer and capable coverage player, by also being able to rotate down to the EDGE spot in certain fronts Walters was able to play 4 and 5-man fronts without having to substitute personnel. In today’s world of tempo offenses that can trap the defense with mismatched personnel on the field, that schematic versatility is valuable, even if Alexander probably isn’t our best option at EDGE when he’s filling the role. It also gives the staff more options to sort out our EDGE rotation.
Knowing that we have at least three starting caliber LBs (TBD on Buddah’s recovery), the staff is working through different packages this Spring to figure out how to get Alexander, Manu, and ZRS on the field at the same time without having to completely restructure the defense. Alexander periodically playing at EDGE is definitely one option that’s getting repped. ZRS and Fruean are two other options at the LB/EDGE role who are getting some run. According to practice reports, ZRS is even getting looks at the slot nickel position (or to older folks, the old-school SAM position before nickel DBs were ubiquitous).
Regardless of what role the LBs end up playing in these packages, it’s clear that the staff would prefer to play at least three of them as often as possible. That means that some other position is getting subbed out. Total speculation, but knowing that Alexander is LB/EDGE versatile, ZRS may be LB/nickel versatile, we have questions at EDGE, and a solid DB rotation, here are some interesting base personnel groupings that we could see down the line:
4-3 Personnel
DT: Elinneus Davis, Darin Conley
EDGE: Jacob Lane, Derek Colman-Brusa
LB: Jacob Manu, Xe’ree Alexander, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
This hypothetical grouping keeps the 3 LBs on the field and puts DCB in the Lynch role as a jumbo EDGE who can kick inside in 5-man fronts with Alexander rolling down to EDGE. It assumes that someone like Darin Conley is a better overall option than whoever would be the EDGE2 and assumes that DCB is versatile enough to play inside and outside on the line. The pros are that it maintains the basic defensive structures while getting the 3 LBs on the field while finding ways of keeping our best DL/EDGE options on the field as well. If ZRS can actually play in space well enough to take the slot nickel off the field (a huge IF), then this grouping could actually get run as a down-to-down look and not just a situational sub package.
3-3-5 Personnel
DT: Elinneus Davis, Derek Colman-Brusa
EDGE: Jacob Lane
LB: Jacob Manu, Xe’ree Alexander, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
If ZRS can’t play in the slot well enough to warrant subbing out the slot nickel, then the next best option might be going to 3-3-5 personnel. Now, I’m talking about just the personnel grouping and not the 3-3-5 stack front defensive architecture which would be a major departure from what we typically run. I’m thinking more along the lines of 3-3-5 personnel arranged in a 4-man Even front where Alexander or ZRS rotates down to the EDGE spot opposite from Lane. You get almost all of the pros that you’d get from my hypothetical 4-3 personnel lineup, but now you have a slot nickel so the LBs can now focus more on the box instead of chasing slot receivers around the field. The downside with this grouping though is that I’m not sure if you’d be able to play as much 5-man looks. Lane is quite a bit smaller than your conventional DT, or a jumbo EDGE like Lynch was, so you may not want him playing inside all that much. If the staff trusts Lane there though, both Alexander and ZRS could both roll down to the EDGE spots and give a pretty stacked front 5.
4-2-5 Nickel Personnel
DT: Elinneus Davis, Derek Colman-Brusa
EDGE: Jacob Lane, Devin Hyde
LB: Xe’ree Alexander, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
Tacking this one on at the end just to show what we might see if we go with similar position-by-position numbers in our defensive front as last year. I’m picking Alexander and ZRS as the 2 LBs that stay on the field just because they seem to be the most scheme versatile and are the incumbents from the end of last season. I’m also picking Hyde as the second EDGE based on his size being comparable to Lane and the general buzz surrounding his name from players and the staff. You could also slot Logan George or even Victor Sanchez Hernandez here as they are all in the 6-4+ and 250+ lb range where you might feel a bit better about them kicking inside the tackles on certain 5-man front calls. Now the obvious downside to this look is that you only have the 2 LBs instead of 3 in the other scenarios. The other downside is that, like the 3-3-5 option, one of the 3 potential inside DL in a 5-man front is going to be well under 300 lbs. Again, that was less of an issue last year when we used this grouping because Deshawn Lynch was a jumbo EDGE. You could sub Hyde out for another DT while sliding DCB to the jumbo EDGE role, but I still think I’d prefer a scenario that gets at least 3 LBs on the field.
I need to emphasize that this is totally speculative and more of a thought experiment than anything else, but I do think that it’ll be important to keep an eye on how the staff leverages the strength at LB since it’ll likely have ripple effects on how the rest of the defense’s 2-deeps shape up.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets infielder Jacob Reimer (98) throws the ball during the New York Mets spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Starter Brandon Waddell had a slow start to the game, allowing three first inning runs. He would settle down in his next two frames, handing off a 3-0 deficit to the bullpen. The score stayed 3-0 until the fifth, when Ji Hwan Bae doubled home two to make it 3-2. Jackson Cluff hit a three run home run in the sixth to make it 5-3 Mets. Both clubs traded runs in the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eight, giving Syracuse a 6-4 lead heading into the eighth inning.
The eighth inning saw the bullpen start to fall apart, as they surrendered a run in the eighth. Eventually, they would blow the game completely, getting walked off in the bottom of the ninth.
Will Watson, the 2024 seventh round pick who burst onto the scene with a 2.60 ERA across three levels last year, continued his slow start to the 2026 campaign. He surrendered a three run home run in the second, another run in the third, and it was academic from there for Erie.
The two bright spots on the day for the Rumble Ponies are Eli Serrano, who pushed his season OPS to .942 and drove in their only run with a double, and Jacob Reimer, who has struggled mightily this year, but went 4-4 on the day.
CF A.J. Ewing: 0-4, K
SS Marco Vargas: 0-4, 2 K
3B Jacob Reimer: 4-4, R, 2B
C Chris Suero: 1-4, K
LF Eli Serrano III: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
RF Jose Ramos: 0-4, K
DH Kevin Parada: 1-3, BB
1B Nick Lorusso: 0-4, 3 K
2B Wyatt Young: 0-3, 2 K
RHP Will Watson: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, L (0-3)
LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP
Brooklyn continued to struggle in 2026, dropping their 12 game over their first 16. They actually led this game 2-0 after one, with Corey Collins and Ronald Hernandez driving in the runs with a sacrifice fly and double respectively. Hudson Valley slowly but surely chipped away at the small lead, and eventually led the game themselves by a score of 3-2 after four. A John Bay single would tie it in the sixth, and that score would hold until the ninth inning, when Bryce Jenkins would surrender a walk off home run.
A win! The only win in the organization besides THE METS WHO SNAPPED THEIR 12 GAME LOSING STREAK(!!!).
St. Lucie actually trailed 2-0 after a two run home run in the second inning, but starter Frank Camarillo settled down from there to deliver five innings of two run ball. The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with RBI singles by JT Benson and Branny De Oleo. Julio Zayas gave tgem the lead with a double in the seventh, AJ Salgado added a run with a sacrifice fly, and Sam Biller added another insurance run with a double of his own. The St. Lucie pen was nearly perfect surrendering just two hits and a walk.
SS Elian Peña: 1-3, R, 2 BB, K
2B Sam Robertson: 0-4, R, 2 K
1B Randy Guzman: 0-3, BB, 2 K
DH Julio Zayas: 2-4, 2B, RBI, K
RF AJ Salgado: 0-3, R, RBI, 2 K, SB (2)
CF JT Benson: 1-4, R, RBI, SB (3)
C Chase Meggers: 0-1, R, 3 BB, K
LF Sam Biller: 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, K, SB (5)
3B Branny De Oleo: 1-4, RBI, 2 K, E (2)
RHP Frank Camarillo: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
LHP Nate Lavender: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Elwis Mijares: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W (2-0)
RHP Tyler McLoughlin: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, WP (1), S (1)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: WR De'Zhaun Stribling #1 of the Ole Miss Rebels runs up the field during the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday January 1, 2026 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tonight, the 2026 NFL Draft lurches into motion in the city that gave us Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Sudden Death, which is a masterpiece of American cinema.
No matter what happens over the next three days on the banks of the Allegheny, Ohio, and Monongahela, we will be spared from hearing the words “mock draft” until maybe late Sunday night when a deranged person fires off their 2027 mock draft. Related, in a proper society, this person would be thrown in prison.
Per the usual draft schedule, the first round will be tonight, Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday evening, and Rounds 4-7 will run the length of Saturday. You know those draft war rooms smell crazy by noon-ish on Saturday.
Unlike the 2025 draft, which had 8 Ole Miss players drafted, this year’s version will not feature as many, which is kinda wild considering Ole Miss was a few plays away from the national title game. It’s also unlikely any Ole Miss players will be drafted on Thursday, but several names should be called Friday and Saturday.
So let’s take a quick look at those names, plus those who will get free agent opportunities.
De’Zhaun Stribling
Depending on your mock draft dealer, Stribling could go anywhere from late Round 2 to Round 3-ish. You may recall the large, speedy wide receiver had a great combine in addition to closing the last 5 games of the 2025 season (2 regular/3 playoff) with 25 receptions for 420 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Speaking of, remember when Georgia thought they were going to come back and win the Sugar Bowl?
Lol, nope.
Zxavian Harris
Our super-sized adult son is expected to go in the Rounds 2-4 range, depending on how things play out into Saturday. My advice to the team that drafts him is make sure you have enough depth so you don’t have to play him a quarter of a million snaps.
That’s not a knock against Harris, as no one his size is built to play that many plays, but it’s more of a reminder that he was forced to play a quarter of a million plays against Miami, which was wildly unfair to him.
Diego Pounds and Dae’Quan Wright
Ole Miss’ 2025 starting left tackle and tight end, respectively, are likely Saturday names, though it’s possible they find themselves in an NFL camp via the undrafted free agent process. But as the old saying goes, IT ONLY TAKES ONE TEAM, BOB.
Of the two, Pounds is more likely to be drafted. He can play both tackle spots, and large left tackles who are good in pass protection are valuable.
In fact, someone should write a book about that. Maybe call it The Blinder Side. Or Blind Spot. Or Blind Left.
Just workshopping a few names. We can circle back to this.
Wydett Williams Jr.
If Williams gets drafted, it’s most likely going to be in Rounds 6-7 (SIX SEVEN, HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS). I lean toward him not being drafted but, again, IT JUST TAKES ONE, BOB.
Undrafted Free Agents
These guys will be featured in the flurry of tweets following the end of the draft. Their chances of even making a practice squad will be slim, but as the philosopher Lloyd Christmas once said, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance.”
Harrison Wallace III
Jayden Williams
Kapena Gushiken
Logan Diggs
Andrew Jones
There is a timeline where a team drafts Wallace, Williams, or Gushiken late, though that would be a surprise. Gushiken may seem like an odd inclusion, but he had an absurd Ole Miss pro day, which created INTRIGUE in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
Good luck to those drafted and undrafted. We will be rooting for you and hope to see you on a roster (53-man or practice squad) in the fall.
Apr 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft theater stage at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The 2026 NFL Draft officially begins for the Cleveland Browns and the rest of the teams in the NFL tonight at 8:00 pm ET. For Browns fans, Cleveland could be on the clock somewhere between 8:40 pm ET to 9:00 pm ET, as they hold the No. 6 overall pick. Later in the evening, closer to 11:00 pm ET, they are scheduled to be on the clock to make the No. 24 overall pick. It feels good to be heavily involved in the first round of an NFL Draft again, doesn’t it?
We will have all of your Browns-related coverage on the draft here at Dawgs By Nature throughout the weekend. This thread will act as a “live blog,” with updates about the latest small rumors, picks, or trades involving Cleveland or other NFL teams. You should also use the comments section as your NFL Draft open thread! (Newest updates will be at the top of the live blog below)
Browns NFL Draft Live Blog
7:00 AM: Good morning, Browns fans, and welcome to our annual NFL Draft live blog! Each year, I like to begin the live blog by taking a look at how the host city has set-up for the draft, including the draft stage. Let’s see how the layout looks for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
A couple of notes about this year’s site:
Pittsburgh has split their draft festivities among two locations: the North Shore area (where the Steelers play) and Point State Park across the river. Fans will have to enter threw security at each location. To get from one part to the other, they’ll have to walk to the Roberto Clemente Bridge, passing by PNC Park. On Friday and Saturday, a ferry will be available to transport fans across the river.
The city is projecting 500,000 to 700,000 fans over the three-day span, potentially making it one of the busiest events in Pittsburgh’s history. The school system has gne to remove learning from Wednesday through Friday to prepare for traffic.
Here is a shot of some giant Super Bowl trophies located in the green room:
See the giant Super Bowl Trophies inside the Green room? Yes, the green room is inside the Great Hall at Acrisure Stadium. pic.twitter.com/2dkB1c7EmJ
The Wyndham Grand will also have a light projection on it during the evening of the NFL Draft, showing teams that are on the clock, as well as prospects who are being selected. Here’s a shot of how it looks in the day and at night:
We’ll try to have more NFL Draft Fan Experience notes during the afternoon on Thursday, when fans actually attend the festivities. That should include me (Chris Pokorny), as I will be trying to make the drive to Pittsburgh to soak in some of the fan experience.
Stephen Jones says George Pickens will play on the franchise tag this upcoming season.
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys will not hold contract talks regarding a long-term deal with their franchise-tagged wide receiver George Pickens, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones.
The Cowboys informed Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, of their decision last week, hoping to put to rest the questions of an extension that would need to be completed by July 15.
Dallas placed the nonexclusive $27.3 million franchise tag on Pickens in March. The last time the Cowboys signed a player tagged for the first time to an extension was wide receiver Dez Bryant in 2015.
Since then, the Cowboys have seen quarterback Dak Prescott, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Tony Pollard play a season on the tag. The Cowboys reached long-term deals with Prescott and Lawrence after they used the tag for a second time. Schultz and Pollard left via free agency after their one season under the tag.
Did the Cowboys make a wise decision regarding George Pickens?
FRISCO — One of the best moves the Cowboys made this offseason occurred last week. The front office informed George Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, the wide receiver isn’t getting a long-term deal.
For now.
The Cowboys want to avoid any more contract mess when it comes to their star players. Pickens is scheduled to play under the $27.2 million franchise tag for the 2026 season.
Cowboys officials indicated Wednesday the conversations were cordial with Pickens and Mulugheta. Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones conducted the phone call with Mulugheta and everyone involved, at least from the team side, is good with how things turned out.
Considering how things went with Micah Parsons last year, when an verbal agreement between the sides turned sideways and ended with the Cowboys trading their best player before the season, this seems to be the best possible outcome with Pickens.
What could create a storm in the 2026 NFL Draft is trades, and the Cowboys have not shied away from that being a possibility in the hours leading up to the draft, while it’s going on, or after the dust settles.
“You could imagine getting a call right now and making a trade,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “Picks or players, you can imagine that. That hasn’t usually been our experience, it has to happen when a team gets the urgency of having a player within striking range with where their pick’s going to be, we all understand that. But certainly the nature of having extra picks in that first round gives more credence to some options here, and one of them would be [trading] up or down.”
Jones followed up by saying that the Cowboys had already been receiving trade calls from other teams ahead of the first round of the draft, which begins Thursday night. However, it doesn’t appear that Dallas is necessarily in a push to pick up the phone and explore a trade up scenario.
“I don’t know that,” Jones said when asked if the Cowboys would make calls to move up in the draft. “They’re usually, candidly, better coming in than going out. The results are better for us.”
That being said, Jones didn’t shy away from the possibility that Dallas could be aggressive in making some sort of move in order to get a player they feel like is a difference maker.
“We’re in a position that we can do some things, flexibility, that allow us if that opportunity were there and we could do a now thing regarding the financial of it, we’ve probably had more flexibility than we’ve had in years past.” Jones said.
There’s several possibilities when it comes to what the Cowboys will do on Thursday night.
Dallas Cowboys’ Stephen Jones hints at possibly trading back in the 2026 NFL Draft
Dallas mostly did what all decision makers do, speaking in a way to make it clear that all options are open. But Stephen Jones noted that moving up and back could both make sense for the franchise. Jones emphasized that it’s not a set thing that Dallas will pick twice in the first round on Thursday.
He said that scenarios exist where the Cowboys could pick up additional selections, and still have the privilege of choosing twice in the first round. But it’s also possible that the team could be motivated to move up and get a special player in their eyes, sacrificing Dallas’ second pick.
It’s also important to note that the two picks aren’t necessarily a package. Each pick is its own entity, so the franchise essentially has two different trade opportunities. The Cowboys could stay put at 12 and trade up or back with the 20th pick, or vice versa.
The only thing that’s clear at this point is that Dallas is open to exploring all paths. While the Cowboys are seemingly entertaining everything, their eventual decisions will ultimately be influenced by everything else that happens around them.
Daily Discussion Question: What do you want to see happen today?
The NFL Red Carpet is coming together at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Seventeen NFL Draft propsects will walk the carpet night one of the draft. | Ethan Morrison / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The day has finally arrive and the 2026 NFL Draft will soon be over. It goes by quicker than you always expect it to. The first round is tonight for Day 1, then Day 2 will cover both the second and third rounds, before Day 3 speed runs through the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds.
For the Denver Broncos, it is highly unlikely we’ll see them trade up into the first round, so just sit back, watch some Jaylen Waddle highlights and root for the AFC West to draft all the first round busts possible. Or just enjoy the process. It is a fun and unique event that many of us look forward to every year — even during the Elway years when he was drafting not so great players every April.
Here are the details for the 2026 NFL Draft and other odds and ends. Enjoy Day 1 of the draft tonight!
2026 NFL Draft Schedule
When: Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 6 p.m. MT Where: Acrisure Stadium, the North Short, and Point Start Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania How to watch: ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network Streaming: NFL+, ESPN App, Disney+, and Hulu
Draft Schedule
Round 1 on Thursday, April 23rd
Rounds 2-3 on Friday, April 24th
Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25th
In the first round, teams will have eight minutes per pick. In the second round, the clock will shrink to seven minutes. Then from rounds four to six it is reduced even further to five minutes per pick and, finally, in round seven it drops to just four minutes per pick.
2026 NFL Draft Order – First Round
Pick 1: Las Vegas Raiders
Pick 2: New York Jets
Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals
Pick 4: Tennessee Titans
Pick 5: New York Giants
Pick 6: Cleveland Browns
Pick 7: Washington Commanders
Pick 8: New Orleans Saints
Pick 9: Kansas City Chiefs
Pick 10: New York Giants (via CIN)
Pick 11: Miami Dolphins
Pick 12: Dallas Cowboys
Pick 13: Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)
Pick 14: Baltimore Ravens
Pick 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick 16: New York Jets (via IND)
Pick 17: Detroit Lions
Pick 18: Minnesota Vikings
Pick 19: Carolina Panthers
Pick 20: Dallas Cowboys (via GB)
Pick 21: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick 22: Los Angeles Chargers
Pick 23: Philadelphia Eagles
Pick 24: Cleveland Browns (via JAX)
Pick 25: Chicago Bears
Pick 26: Buffalo Bills
Pick 27: San Francisco 49ers
Pick 28: Houston Texans
Pick 29: Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR)
Pick 30: Miami Dolphins (via DEN)
Pick 31: New England Patriots
Pick 32: Seattle Seahawks
NFL Draft Prospect Profiles
We covered 55 prospects this draft season. The list has a heavy-Broncos focus on it, but there might be a few guys here who go in the first round.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 24: A general view of a Trade Alert on screen during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For his entire time as the Chicago Bears’ general manager, Ryan Poles has shown a willingness to move around in the draft in order to get the players he wants. While he’s not averse to taking deals, the fact of the matter is that most of his trades, like most of the trades throughout the league, still fall within the constraints of the famed Jimmy Johnson chart. Additionally, it is completely consistent that future picks are devalued by one round when that math is performed.
Last year, there was a belief that a weak-ish top of the draft might soften the trade market and drive costs down. It didn’t. The best way to get ahead remains leveraging assets like DJ Moore to gain additional picks, preferably in the first two days of the draft.
With that out of the way, the chart below is an attempt to summarize the range of moves available to Chicago in the first few days.
In simple terms, thanks to the DJ Moore trade, the Bears have significantly more power to move around than might be expected from a playoff team, with the ability to get into the Top 10 if desired and the capacity to find a number of “just right size” trades depending on who might be left on the board.
Liverpool top Premier League injury table with 9 players out ahead of Palace clash
The scale of Liverpool’s current injury problems has been laid bare ahead of our clash with Crystal Palace, with new Premier League data confirming we are the worst-affected squad in the division.
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According to figures released by the Premier League, Liverpool have the most injuries with nine players out, highlighting just how stretched Arne Slot’s options are heading into a crucial stage of the season.
Liverpool injury crisis laid bare by Premier League data
The dataset shows a clear gap between us and the rest of the league, with even Chelsea, the next worst hit, still two players better off in terms of availability.
That context matters because it underlines that this isn’t just a difficult spell, it’s the toughest injury situation in the entire Premier League right now.
When you look at the names currently sidelined, it becomes even more concerning, with Hugo Ekitike ruled out long-term after surgery, while both Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili are unavailable, leaving us short in goal.
Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Stefan Bajcetic are also among those missing, meaning the spine and depth of the squad have both taken significant hits.
Palace boost adds to Liverpool challenge
What makes the situation more difficult heading into the weekend is that Crystal Palace appear to be heading in the opposite direction in terms of availability.
Oliver Glasner has already suggested that Adam Wharton should be back in time to face us, giving the visitors a timely boost just as we are dealing with our worst injury period of the season.
At the same time, the long-term nature of some of our absentees cannot be ignored, with Paul Joyce confirming: “Hugo Ekitike has undergone successful surgery on the achilles injury… No timescale is being placed on the striker’s return.”
That means this isn’t a short-term issue we can quickly recover from, but something that will continue to impact us as we push for a top-five finish.
Despite that, we’ve already shown resilience, most notably in the late derby win over Everton, but there’s no doubt the current injury situation is making that task far more difficult than it should be.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Coen Carr #55 of the Michigan State Spartans is introduced before the game against the UConn Huskies during the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Yesterday, the Michigan State Men’s Basketball Team announced that Divine Ugochukwu was leaving the team and entering the transfer portal. At TOC, we were getting ready to write an article comparing the amount of portal defections among all the Big Ten schools as we expected to have a big zero next to our name. So much for that. Divine’s 11th hour departure scrapped the need for that article (though we still may do it).
As much as we were marveling at the fact that no one had left for the portal, we were also getting frustrated at the fact that no one was coming to E.L. from the portal. Later Wednesday, that also changed with the announcement that MSU was getting Anton Bonke from Charlotte. Now we present to you our revised projection for next season’s rotation. For this article, we are assuming that PG Jeremy Fears Jr. will come back; he has until May 27th to remove his name from the NBA Draft.
In our original piece, we had projected Ugochukwu to be the starting shooting guard in 2026-27. We believed he would come out on top of a three-man race between himself, Kur Teng, and Josiah Jervis to be Jeremy Fears Jr.’s backcourt running mate. Our original starting 5 was:
PG: Jeremy Fears Jr.
SG: Divine Ugochukwu
SF: Jordan Scott
PF: Coen Carr
C: Ethan Taylor
With the Divine departure and the Anton arrival (how you like those adjacent alliterations?), we had a few options to consider in our new projection. In the front court, the question was if we were ready to hand Bonke the starting center spot over incoming top-40 freshman, Ethan Taylor. In the back court, there were a few possibilities for how to handle the opening at SG. We could have simply taken Teng or Jervis and plugged them into Ugo’s spot. We could have slid Scott and Carr to the 2 and 3 roles, like they were last year, and put Cam Ward at the 4. Or we could have moved 2025 portal transfer Kaleb Glenn into the 3-spot between Scott and Carr. Like last time, we trusted the democratic process.
Our new projected starting lineup for 2026-27 is:
PG: Jeremy Fears Jr.
SG: Jordan Scott
SF: Kaleb Glenn
PF: Coen Carr
C: Anton Bonke
In this event, we would then have the following depth:
PG: Carlos Medlock Jr.
SG: Kur Teng
SF: Jasiah Jervis
PF: Cam Ward, Jesse McCulloch
C: Ethan Taylor, Jesse McCulloch
In our 2nd projection, we are still predicting a small-ball starting 5 with Coen Carr at the PF spot. When he goes to the bench, either Ward or McCulloch would allow Izzo to role with a more traditional lineup with 2 bigs on the court, though those two admittedly have very different skill sets. We also believe this version of the starters offers ample shooting and the ability to spread the floor. Jeremy Fears’ three-point shooting improved greatly toward the end of last season. Jordan Scott regressed a little at the end but still finished at 37%; hopefully some more consistency has him above 40% next year. Kaleb Glenn shot 41% from deep in his last season of action at Florida Atlantic. Even Bonke shot 34% from beyond the arc for Charlotte, though he only took about one per game. Among the reserves, we know that Teng and McCulloch are reliable shooters, and we will see what we get from the freshmen.
As in our initial projection, this leaves Julius Avent, the 4th incoming freshman, and the Walton Twins, Colin and Brennan, at the end of the bench. There are now 14 players signed for next year’s roster, leaving one open spot. Could we still see the implementation of the 5th year of eligibility rule and get one of Carson Cooper or Jaxon Kohler back? Will Coach Izzo get a depth point guard to play with the third string (or to take minutes from Medlock in order to infuriate TOC Nation)?
Let’s hear from you. Do you agree with this version of the starting lineup? What will the minutes look like? Will we fill that 15th spot?
TSMC doesn’t need High-NA EUV to complete its current roadmap – A12, A13, and N2U nodes unveiled TSMC has unveiled its newest technology roadmap, which extends until 2029. On it, TSMC has unveiled three new lithography nodes, none of which require High-NA EUV machines. TSMC believes that standard Low-NA EUV machines will be used for […]
Halo Archive has restored over 1.9 billion Halo 3 matches and hundreds of millions of Halo 2 records, bringing Bungie era stats back online through a dedicated community effort.
Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam have gradually stepped back from building and maintaining their own social features, leaving Discord to become the default platform for player communication.
Windows handhelds may have found a breakthrough. FSR 4 INT8, XeFG, and XeLL can turn compromised 30 FPS gaming into smooth 60 FPS play, making devices like the Legion Go far more capable than expected.
Intel's upcoming Z970 motherboards for Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs will replace both high-end Z890 and mainstream B860 options. Intel Z970 Motherboards To Cover An Extensive Market With Both High-End & Mainstream Options For Nova Lake Builders Intel's 900-series motherboards will have a wide range of options for PC builders. The flagship Z990 chipset will be the recommended choice for enthusiast Nova Lake Desktop CPUs, featuring a dual compute tile configuration, while the Z970 chipset will retain a primary focus on the high-end market. Based on a new post by Jaykihn at X, it looks like the Z970 chipset may not […]
Despite having been originally released on PlayStation 4, Final Fantasy VII Remake never made it to the original Nintendo Switch, debuting on the Nintendo Switch 2 earlier this year with one of the most impressive third-party ports we have seen to date. The last-generation Nintendo system, with some pointed modifications, however, can run the PC version of the game surprisingly well, even with the performance overhead of the Box64 + Wine translation layer required to get the PC version to run on an ARM-based system. This impressive technical feat was achieved by modder Naga, who detailed the creation of a […]
South Korean-Japanese developer NEXON has announced a new PC game called Embers of the Uncrowned. It's an isometric dark fantasy MMORPG developed by a team of self-described "hardcore MMORPG veterans" with a deep passion for the genre, set on a continent ravaged by an elven invasion. In the game, players take the role of the illegitimate heir to House Harborwell. They're a mercenary called back by destiny to reclaim their lost domain and restore their noble house. The players' character growth is directly tied to their House's growth. Constructing buildings in the settlement produces essential items for the journey, while upgrading […]
While we wait for the first Intel Core Series 3 "Wildcat Lake" laptops to make it to retail, the company has showcased its own reference design, which offers a clean design with a slim aluminum body. Intel Shows How Wildcat Lake Laptops Should Be Done With Its Reference Design, Awesome Colors & Fanless Operating In Low-Power Mode Last week, Intel announced its Core Series 3 "Wildcat Lake" CPUs. These CPUs will be powering laptops, with MacBook Neo being aimed as their main competitor. Now, Intel is showcasing its own reference design to the press, and honestly, it looks great. First […]
Earlier this month, we reported that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie by Nintendo and Universal's Illumination set the biggest theatrical debut of 2026 in the United States. However, maintaining momentum across all territories was far from a given, especially with the rather scathing reviews from film critics. Now, according to data collected by IMDbPro's Box Office Mojo, it appears that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the highest-grossing film released this year, with nearly $756 million grossed across all territories. It's an almost even split: $361,825,355 earned in the United States (47.9%) and $393,990,000 earned elsewhere (52.1%), with Mexico leading […]
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says Nvidia still hasn't sold a single H200 AI GPU to China, despite the ban being lifted four months ago. The Chinese government is making it difficult for Chinese companies to import Nvidia chips in a bid to support the country's own domestic semiconductor industry.
Bolt Graphics has announced its completed tape-out of a test chip for its Zeus GPU, marking the startup's first move from FPGA emulation to manufactured silicon.
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Bitcoin, the pioneer cryptocurrency, jumped roughly 6% over the past week, pushing straight into the key $79K resistance zone. Meanwhile, well-known crypto trader Michael van de Poppe says that as long as the $75,000 support holds, Bitcoin could still move higher toward $85,000–$88,000 in the next one to two weeks.
Why $79K Is Such a Hard Wall to Break
For the past weeks, Bitcoin has been showing healthy price behavior despite a small pullback after testing the $79,468 level.
According to van de Poppe’s analysis, this level is filled with sell orders and short positions that have been building up over weeks. Of this, Bitcoin may pause or move slightly lower before attempting another breakout.
Poppe says that Bitcoin could gather strength again before making another attempt higher. The more likely scenario, and the one van de Poppe lays out clearly, is a three-step process:
First, Bitcoin tests the $79K wall.
Second, it pulls back slightly to gather momentum.
Third, it finds fresh buying strength and pushes through, this time targeting $86,000 with real force behind it.
Poppe notes that “this is not weakness. It is the market doing what it needs to do before a bigger move.”
Coinglass Data Hint, Short Squeeze Setup
Market data also points to a possible short squeeze. According to CoinGlass data, Bitcoin’s funding rate is slightly negative at -0.0092%, while open interest has increased to $60.54 billion.
This means more traders are betting that the price will fall, but Bitcoin is still holding steady.
When this kind of setup plays out, short sellers often get forced to close their positions at the same time. This can quickly push the price higher.
Key Levels Traders Are Watching
Not every analyst is purely bullish. Crypto analyst Ted Pillow laid out the support structure clearly for those watching the downside.
The immediate floor sits near $76,000. Below that, $75,650 and $75,400 are the next meaningful support levels. If selling pressure intensifies further, $74,250 comes into play, and the main line in the sand sits at $73,200, which van de Poppe also identifies as the broader support range that must hold for the bullish case to remain intact.
A failure to reclaim $77,350 in the near term would be the first warning sign that Bitcoin needs more time before its next push higher.
The Digital Asset Market Structure CLARITY Act is hitting a key moment, with Senate talks now slipping into May due to delays around stablecoin rules. Most issues are close to being sorted, but timing is becoming the real problem.
According to the reports, with a tight calendar and a possible July vote window, the bill still has a shot in 2026, but there’s very little room left for further delays.
Against this backdrop, WalletConnect CEO Jess Houlgrave, in an exclusive interview with Coinpedia, shared her take on what this means for crypto adoption and where the Clarity Act still falls short.
Clarity Is Improving, But Not Complete
Houlgrave said the current version of the Clarity Act is “a step forward for the industry,” especially with clearer roles for the SEC and CFTC, defined registration paths, and better treatment of developers and self-custody.
At the same time, she made it clear that the framework is not finished.
“The Senate process is still unsettled on stablecoin yield, the DeFi provisions, and how network tokens are defined in practice,” she said, adding that these are foundational pieces that still need to be resolved.
Stablecoins Move Closer to Real Payments
On stablecoins, Houlgrave pointed to a more practical shift. With frameworks building on top of earlier efforts like the GENIUS Act, she said payment providers now have a clearer path.
“The upside is a permitted payment stablecoin framework, clearer custody rules, and a path to integrate stablecoin rails alongside existing systems,” she explained. That said, compliance remains a key layer, even if the tooling to support it already exists.
The Biggest Unlock for Crypto Adoption
For Houlgrave, the single most important regulatory decision is around self-custody.
“Giving self-custodial infrastructure a clear, durable safe harbour” would unlock growth, she said, pushing back against the idea that non-custodial software should be regulated like financial intermediaries. According to her, that confusion has slowed product development and pushed innovation offshore.
Global Fragmentation Still a Risk
While progress is visible globally, she noted that different jurisdictions are still working with different assumptions.
“Today it works despite the regulatory stack, not because of it,” she said, highlighting the need for interoperability as crypto payments scale across borders.
What Happens If It Passes
If the Clarity Act moves forward, Houlgrave expects immediate shifts in sentiment, even if full implementation takes time.
“Clarity Act passing is the starting gun, not the finish line,” she said.
Still, clearer compliance paths, institutional capital inflows, and deeper banking integration are likely to follow quickly, especially in payments and on-chain settlement.
When Charles Hoskinson and others in the crypto space talk about operating with regulatory clarity today, one name rarely gets the credit it deserves: Ripple.
That is the argument analyst Bradley Kimes made in a recent podcast, and it is starting to cut through as new money flows into crypto and asks the obvious question — how did we get here?
The Fight Most People Have Already Forgotten
The SEC versus Ripple case did not end quietly. It ended after years of litigation, and somewhere between $150 and $200 million was spent by Ripple defending its position. Brad Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen could have walked away earlier. A settlement was available. They chose not to take it.
“Ripple, Brad Garlinghouse, and Chris Larsen could have gotten out of that case much earlier if they were just worried about themselves,” Kimes said. “They could have gotten out free and clear. They chose to stay in for the longer fight for the betterment of the entire space.”
That fight produced something no other crypto project has: a court-tested legal position on token classification, won through litigation rather than granted through lobbying. The clarity that followed did not appear by accident. Someone paid for it.
$13 Trillion Waiting for a Switch to Flip
Kimes frames the current market as a holding pattern. Institutional money is present but not fully deployed. It is, in his words, “sitting on the sidelines” waiting for the Clarity Act to advance through the Senate before making deeper commitments to the projects and infrastructure it already believes in.
The numbers he points to are significant. Around $13 trillion in annual transactional volume tied to GTreasury operations, plus additional multi-trillion flows through Ripple Prime, formerly Hidden Road. None of it, he says, currently runs on blockchain rails.
“That’s a $13 trillion light switch just waiting to go.”
He argues that once regulatory clarity arrives, those flows do not gradually migrate. They move fast. Companies are already sitting on prepared announcements and product launches, fingers on the press release button, waiting for the moment the framework is confirmed.
Why Ripple Is Already Inside the Room
What separates Ripple from most of the projects that will benefit from the Clarity Act, according to Kimes, is that Ripple is not waiting to be let in. It is already inside regulated financial conversations, already past the classification hurdles that others are still navigating, and already connected to the institutional infrastructure that will need to move first.
XRP’s commodity designation, he says, removes constraints that earlier created uncertainty around token holdings and institutional participation. The legal groundwork is done. The regulatory groundwork is nearly done. What remains is the moment the switch flips.
Crypto prices retreated on Thursday as concerns over the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire weighed on market sentiment. Bitcoin (BTC) price fell 2% to $77,593 on Thursday as it gave up most of its gains from Wednesday when it hit above $79,000…
World Liberty Financial co-founder Zach Witkoff has come under renewed scrutiny after body camera footage from a 2022 drug-related arrest resurfaced. According to recently surfaced footage on X, Witkoff was detained on New Year’s Day 2022 outside the E11EVEN nightclub…
Sports tourism has reached a total economic impact of $274.5 billion, according to a new industry report, as millions of travellers continue to attend and participate in sporting events across the United States. The study, […]
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has partnered with China-based travel platform Mafengwo to launch AI-powered, multilingual visitor guides at Sentosa Sensory scape as well as Exploria and Curiosity Cove at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. This innovative pilot programme, which […]
Outrigger Hospitality Group has launched a $100m transformation of the Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort, its original flagship property located on one of Hawaiʻi’s most historic beachfront sites. The redevelopment aims to reposition the resort as […]
Frankfurt Airport has unveiled more than 3,000m² of new duty free and travel retail space with the opening of Terminal 3, marking a major expansion of its commercial offering. The development forms part of a […]
Mongolian governmental institutions have emerged as the target of a previously undocumented China-aligned advanced persistent threat (APT) group tracked as GopherWhisper.
"The group wields a wide array of tools mostly written in Go, using injectors and loaders to deploy and execute various backdoors in its arsenal," Slovakian cybersecurity company ESET said in a report shared with The Hacker
Vercel on Wednesday revealed that it has identified an additional set of customer accounts that were compromised as part of a security incident that enabled unauthorized access to its internal systems.
The company said it made the discovery after expanding its investigation to include an extra set of compromise indicators, alongside a review of requests to the Vercel network and environment
Proton CEO Andy Yen is sounding the alarm on the global push for age verification, warning that current proposals will strip away online anonymity for everyone while handing unprecedented surveillance power to Big Tech.
Africa Tourism Gains Momentum as Nordic Roadshow Targets Scandinavian TravelersAfrican tourism businesses gain valuable exposure at the Nordic Roadshow, connecting...
A new leak has revealed the price of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. The regular version costs about as much as a modern-day AAA game, and the Collector’s Edition is understandably a lot more expensive.
Seagate has expanded its portfolio of mass storage solutions with the refreshed One Touch, new FireCuda X Vault, and new LaCie 8big Pro5 RAID system. They are available for purchase via the official website.
MSI has released another 32-inch gaming monitor based on 4th Gen QD-OLED panel technology. Capable of up to 300 nits SDR peak brightness, the MPG 322UR X24 also features an 80 Gbps DisplayPort connection and a USB Type-C port capable of recharging devices at up to 98 W.
Motorola's next-generation folding flagship will be officially unveiled in just a few days. A leak reveals a promo video of the smartphone in advance, which primarily demonstrates how versatile the large secondary display of the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026, also known as Razr 70 Ultra, can be used.
Notebookcheck got some hands-on time with an laptop powered by Intel's Wildcat Lake CPUs. It was an Intel reference device with an unspecified six-core CPU and 16 GB of soldered memory.
Deal | Pentiment, a 2D narrative-driven adventure RPG from Obsidian, has now dropped to a record-low price on Steam. The discount comes as part of the Steam Medieval Fest, where a ton of other medieval games are also on sale. Pentiment is critically acclaimed and boasts a "Very Positive" Steam rating.
You can find really good camera setups in the mid-range as well. A good example is the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, which we’ve already had the chance to test extensively during a visit to London. So does it really have to be a flagship smartphone?
The next-generation OnePlus 16 has surfaced in a new leak. The upcoming flagship may see major display upgrades, including a refresh rate of up to 240Hz.
Yesterday, the Honor 600 and Honor 600 Pro got their global launch, and today they've been announced for European markets as well. The phones come with a 6,400 mAh battery in Europe (down from 7,000 mAh internationally), but the rest of the specs have remained the same, thankfully. Both the Honor 600 and the Honor 600 Pro purchased in Europe will receive six years of Android updates.
The Honor 600 is priced at €549.99 with 128GB of storage, €649.99 with 256GB of storage, and €699.99 with 512GB. However, if you're an early bird you can get both the 256GB and the 512GB versions for just...
believes there is a clear number one choice for the best opponent he ever shared the ring with. Calzaghe holds the distinct honour of being one of the few boxers to retire with an undefeated record, winning all 46 of his professional contests as he became unified super-middleweight champion before stepping up to 175lbs for […]
Former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion has revealed which man hit him hardest during his 32-fight professional career. Haye established himself as one of the biggest punchers in the cruiserweight division during the 2000s, with his first 16 victories all coming inside of the distance, as the Bermondsey-born operator announced himself on the big stage. […]
A Lamborghini Huracán is built to deliver an extraordinary driving experience. The naturally aspirated V10, the razor-sharp steering, the low center of gravity – every element is engineered for precision. But even the most finely tuned supercar relies on components that wear over time. The challenge for many owners is recognizing when performance has started to slip, because the decline is often so gradual that it feels normal. Knowing what to look for – and acting early – is the difference between a car that still thrills and one that merely looks the part.
Car enthusiasts in Pasadena spend a lot of time thinking about performance, safety features, and resale value. Yet one thing many drivers never plan for is what happens after a serious crash. When injuries, medical bills, and time away from work enter the picture, legal help becomes just as important as vehicle repairs. That is where experienced Pasadena car accident attorneys come in.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a collision, you deserve more than an insurance adjuster’s quick offer. You deserve personal attention, clear guidance, and strong advocacy from professionals who focus on injury cases in your community. Many drivers start by exploring Pasadena TX car accident attorneys to understand their options and learn what fair compensation looks like.
When to Contact Pasadena Car Accident Attorneys
Many people wait to talk with an attorney because they hope the insurance process will be simple. However, early legal help often makes a major difference in the outcome of your claim.
You should reach out to Pasadena car accident attorneys as soon as possible if:
– You suffered any physical injury, even if it seemed minor at first
– Your vehicle damage looks extensive or may be a total loss
– You feel pressured to give a recorded statement to an insurance company
– You received medical bills you cannot comfortably pay
– You are unsure how your lost wages will be covered
Acting quickly allows a legal team to preserve evidence, track down witnesses, and review crucial documents before they become harder to obtain. Waiting too long can weaken your claim, especially if important details fade or paperwork goes missing.
What to Expect From an Initial Consultation
Many people feel nervous about talking to an attorney for the first time. You may worry about cost, commitment, or being judged for what happened in the crash. A good consultation should remove those worries, not increase them.
During an initial meeting with Pasadena car accident attorneys, you can expect:
– A straightforward conversation about how the collision happened
– Review of any documents you already have, such as police reports and medical records
– Questions about your injuries, treatment, and how your daily life has changed
– Clear explanations of your rights and the claims process in simple language
A strong legal team will listen carefully, ask follow‑up questions, and make sure you understand every option before you decide how to move forward. You should leave the consultation feeling more informed, more supported, and less overwhelmed.
Key Steps to Protect Your Rights After a Collision in Pasadena
Right after a crash, most people focus on their car and their phone. However, the choices you make in the hours and days that follow can strongly affect your injury claim.
To protect yourself:
– Seek medical attention immediately. Even if you feel “okay,” adrenaline can mask serious injuries. A prompt exam protects your health and documents your condition.
– Follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Skipping visits or ignoring recommendations can hurt both your recovery and your claim.
– Collect and organize paperwork. Keep copies of medical records, repair estimates, prescriptions, and anything else related to the collision.
– Avoid casual conversations with insurance adjusters. Provide only basic facts until you understand your rights.
– Reach out to Pasadena car accident attorneys early. Getting guidance before you sign anything or accept any payment helps you avoid costly mistakes.
By taking these steps, you give your legal team the strongest possible foundation to pursue full compensation on your behalf.
How Pasadena Car Accident Attorneys Help With Insurance Claims
Insurance companies train their employees to minimize payouts and close claims quickly. Adjusters may sound friendly, but their loyalty lies with their employer’s bottom line, not your long‑term health.
Experienced Pasadena TX car accident attorneys work to level this playing field. They can:
– Handle all communication with insurance adjusters so you do not feel pressured or tricked
– Calculate the full value of your claim, including future medical needs and lost earning potential
– Gather evidence such as medical opinions, expert evaluations, and financial records
– Challenge low offers with detailed counter‑arguments backed by documents and expert support
This approach lets you focus on healing, while professionals handle the negotiation process. Instead of accepting the first number placed in front of you, you gain a clear picture of what your claim should truly cover.
Types of Compensation You May Pursue
After a serious collision, the financial strain often grows month after month. Effective Pasadena TX car accident attorneys look beyond immediate costs and consider the long‑term impact on your life.
Compensation may include:
– Medical expenses – emergency care, hospital stays, follow‑up visits, physical therapy, medication, and future treatment
– Lost income – wages you missed while recovering, including overtime or bonuses
– Reduced earning capacity – if your injuries limit the type or amount of work you can do going forward
– Property damage – repairs or replacement of your vehicle and damaged personal items inside it
– Pain and suffering – physical discomfort, limitations on activities you once enjoyed, and disruption of daily life
– Emotional distress – anxiety, sleep issues, and other mental health effects tied to the crash
By carefully documenting these areas, your legal team builds a complete picture of how the collision affected you, not just your car.
Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident
In stressful moments, even careful drivers make choices that weaken valid claims. You can protect yourself by avoiding several frequent missteps:
– Posting about the collision on social media. Adjusters may review your posts and twist them out of context.
– Downplaying your pain. Telling medical staff that you feel “fine” when you hurt can lead to incomplete records.
– Accepting a quick settlement. Early offers often fail to account for ongoing treatment or future complications.
– Signing documents you do not fully understand. Some forms limit your ability to seek additional compensation later.
When you feel unsure, pause and consult with Pasadena car accident attorneys before taking action. A brief conversation can prevent long‑term problems.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire Legal Help in Pasadena
Choosing legal representation is personal. You want a team that understands your concerns, respects your time, and communicates clearly.
Consider asking these questions:
– How often do you handle car accident cases in Pasadena?
– Who will manage my case on a day‑to‑day basis, and how can I reach them?
– How do you keep clients updated on progress and decisions?
– What is your approach if the insurance company refuses to settle fairly?
– Do you work on a contingency fee basis, and what does that mean for my case?
The answers should help you feel comfortable, informed, and confident about the partnership. If something feels rushed or unclear, keep asking until you receive plain‑language explanations.
Taking the Next Step Toward Recovery
You already care about safety, maintenance, and smart decisions on the road. When a collision causes injuries, apply that same care to protecting your health, your finances, and your future. You do not have to handle adjusters, paperwork, and deadlines alone.
By contacting Pasadena car accident attorneys, you take a practical step toward:
– Understanding your legal rights
– Valuing your claim accurately
– Holding negligent drivers and insurers accountable
– Securing resources for medical care and daily needs
Your energy belongs on healing and rebuilding your daily routine. Let experienced legal professionals shoulder the stress of the claims process while you focus on recovery.
Today’s consumers entering a modern dealership anticipate more than just a transaction; they expect a personalized experience that balances efficiency with expert guidance.
Car buying has progressed considerably, with technology, customer expectations, and vehicle selection shaping the way dealerships operate. Today’s buyers look for convenience, clarity, and an environment where shopping for a new car is informative and stress-free.
Transparency in Pre-Owned Vehicle Purchases
When shopping for a pre-owned car, buyers prioritize transparency regarding vehicle history, pricing, and overall value. Detailed inspection reports, third-party certification, and clear ownership records help customers make confident choices.
Modern dealerships invest in these systems to establish trust and promote repeat visits. Transparency also reduces surprises and increases satisfaction during the buying process.
Flexible Financing Options
Financial considerations play a big part in car buying. Access to clear financing options allows consumers to preview budget limits and repayment terms.
Modern dealerships present multiple funding pathways, including traditional loans, credit union partnerships, and manufacturer programs.
Transparent explanations of monthly payments, interest rates, and loan durations help buyers make educated decisions without unnecessary stress.
Electric Vehicles and Emerging Technology
The rise of electric vehicles has reshaped expectations for dealership staff expertise. Buyers look for knowledgeable guidance on battery life, charging infrastructure, and long-term savings.
Dedicated EV sections and hands-on demonstrations allow customers to explore features and learn about incentives. Educating buyers about these vehicles reflects a dealership’s commitment to innovation and changing consumer demands.
Engaging Physical Showrooms
Comfortable, well-designed showrooms contribute to a desirable car buying experience. Spacious layouts, clear signage, and inviting waiting areas help buyers feel at ease. Amenities such as refreshments, digital kiosks, and interactive displays create a desirable environment.
A thoughtful physical space elevates the perception of professionalism while encouraging exploration and interaction with available models.
Personalized Customer Experiences
Personalization is expected in modern dealerships. Staff who recall previous visits, individual preferences, and vehicle interests boosts satisfaction. CRM systems help track interactions, allowing recommendations customized to each buyer.
Highlighting trim options, color choices, and features based on prior interest creates a sense of being valued and heard. Personalized attention strengthens loyalty and improves the overall buying journey.
Technology That Simplifies Shopping
Digital tools improve convenience and efficiency. Interactive screens, online inventory access, and scheduling platforms allow buyers to examine options independently. Comparing models, reading reviews, and evaluating pricing online reduce the need for lengthy in-person consultations.
Modern dealerships combine digital self-service with expert guidance to create a balanced and informative shopping experience.
Test Drives and Vehicle Demonstrations
Test drives remain an important expectation. Modern dealerships offer flexible scheduling and an expanded vehicle selection.
Some use virtual or augmented reality simulations to supplement physical trials, letting buyers experience features or driving conditions in a controlled environment. These approaches expand comprehension of performance, comfort, and technology.
Educating Buyers Beyond the Sale
Customer education is a growing focus. Staff explain features, maintenance, safety ratings, and warranties clearly. Workshops and informational materials support decision-making without pressure.
Modern dealerships strive to build trust through knowledge, transforming transactions into informed experiences. Educated buyers feel powerful and confident in their choices.
Post-Purchase Support and Service
After-sales support greatly shapes the modern dealership experience. Accessible service departments, loyalty programs, and maintenance reminders promote long-term customer satisfaction.
Buyers appreciate reliability and responsiveness, which strengthens relationships and encourages repeat business. A focus on post-purchase care reflects professionalism and commitment to customer needs.
Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility
Modern buyers increasingly value environmental practices. Dealerships highlight energy-efficient facilities, recycling programs, and electric vehicle incentives. Communicating sustainability efforts allow buyers to line up purchases with personal values and demonstrates social responsibility.
This transparency contributes to a positive perception of the dealership.
Community Involvement and Local Presence
Participation in local events, sponsorships, and collaborations demonstrates a dealership’s investment in the surrounding community. Shoppers respond positively to businesses that contribute beyond sales.
This kind of local involvement encourages trust and increases overall satisfaction, creating a more memorable buying experience.
Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Accessibility is imperative. Showrooms should provide clear signage, ample parking, and mobility accommodations. Inclusive design means that all buyers can explore vehicles comfortably and confidently.
Considering accessibility reflects awareness of diverse consumer needs and heightens the professionalism of the dealership.
Digital and Mobile Tools
Modern dealerships extend their presence online through mobile apps, chat support, and service booking platforms. Buyers can access inventory, calculate financing, or estimate trade-in values before visiting.
These tools provide flexibility and convenience, allowing shoppers to visit with the dealership on their own schedule.
Staff Expertise and Ongoing Training
Knowledgeable staff define the modern dealership experience. Regular training makes sure employees stay informed about new technology, safety features, and market trends.
Well-prepared staff answer questions confidently, helping buyers make smart decisions without feeling pressured. Expertise signals professionalism and boosts trust.
Safety and Cleanliness Standards
Safety and hygiene influence buyer confidence. Showrooms maintain high levels of cleanliness, and vehicles for test drives are sanitized consistently. Visible attention to these details reassures customers and reflects the dealership’s commitment to care and professionalism.
Flexible Scheduling and Customer Convenience
Dealerships accommodate busy lifestyles with extended hours, weekend availability, and appointment-only consultations. Flexible scheduling allows buyers to explore options at convenient times, reducing friction in the buying process and reaching a wider audience.
Convenience remains a central expectation in the modern car buying experience.
Transparent Pricing and Communication
Clear and accurate information about pricing, promotions, and vehicle availability builds credibility. Buyers expect consistency across marketing channels and transparent communication about deals and incentives.
A commitment to honesty strengthens trust and reinforces a professional reputation.
What Today’s Buyers Can Expect
Today’s car buyers have high expectations for a modern dealership experience. They want knowledgeable staff, clear financing options, personalized attention, and accessible technology.
Comfortable showrooms, transparent pricing, and educational resources all contribute to a positive journey. Dealerships that embrace innovation, sustainability, and community engagement create long-term relationships and elevate the standard of automotive retail.
Shoppers visiting a modern dealership can expect personable guidance, detailed information on electric vehicles, and support when shopping for a new or pre-owned car. Every interaction is designed to inform, build confidence, and make the experience both enjoyable and efficient.
A modern dealership represents a shift from transaction-focused sales to a fully customer-centric approach. This transformation reflects changing consumer expectations, advances in technology, and greater attention to convenience, transparency, and personalization.
Buyers leave feeling informed, valued, and prepared for their purchase decisions.
Trendyol Süper Lig kulüpleri, 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı dolayısıyla kutlama mesajları yayımladı.
Beşiktaş Kulübü, sosyal medya hesaplarından yayımladığı paylaşımda, "Cumhuriyet'imizin kurucusu Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk tarafından 23 Nisan 1920'de TBMM'nin açılışı ile birlikte dünya çocuklarına armağan edilen 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı kutlu olsun." ifadelerini kullandı.
Fenerbahçe Kulübü, "Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi'nin açılışının 106. yıl dönümünü coşkuyla kutladığımız bu anlamlı günde, geleceğimizin teminatı olan çocuklarımızın 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı'nı en içten duygularımızla kutluyoruz. Bu anlamlı günü çocuklara armağan eden Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk başta olmak üzere, tüm silah arkadaşlarını minnet, saygı ve şükranla anıyoruz. Atatürk’ün izinde, çocuklarımızın aydınlattığı nice 23 Nisanlara." paylaşımını yaptı.
Galatasaray Kulübü, "'Egemenlik kayıtsız şartsız milletindir' diyerek kurulan Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi'nin 106. yılı ve Ulu Önderimiz Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'ün, çocuklara armağan ettiği 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı kutlu olsun, çocuklarımız hep mutlu olsun." mesajını paylaştı.
Trabzonspor Kulübü ise mesajında şu ifadelere yer verdi:
"'Küçük hanımlar, küçük beyler! Sizler hepiniz geleceğin bir gülü, yıldızı ve ikbal ışığısınız. Memleketi asıl ışığa boğacak olan sizsiniz.' Çocuklarımızın gülüşüyle aydınlanan yarınlara, umutla… Ulu Önder Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'ün armağanı 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı kutlu olsun."
Spor federasyonları, 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı'nı mesajlarla kutladı.
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonunun (TFF) yayımladığı mesajda, "Millet iradesinin en güçlü simgesi Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi'nin açılışının 106. yıl dönümünü ve Cumhuriyetimizin kurucusu Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'ün dünya çocuklarına armağan ettiği 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı'nı büyük coşku ve gururla kutluyoruz." denildi.
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi'nin Türk milletinin "Ya istiklal, ya ölüm!" diyerek verdiği varoluş mücadelesinin siyasi ve hukuki zaferinin simgesi olduğunu vurgulayan TFF, açıklamasında "Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, bu anlamlı günü geleceğimizin teminatı çocuklarımıza bayram olarak armağan etti. Bu vesileyle Cumhuriyetimizin kurucusu ve TBMM'nin ilk Başkanı Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ve silah arkadaşları ile bu eşsiz vatan uğruna canlarını feda eden aziz şehitlerimizi ve kahraman gazilerimizi rahmet, minnet ve saygıyla anıyoruz. Varlıklarıyla dünyamıza neşe katan, ülkemizin ve futbolumuzun geleceği çocuklarımızın 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı'nı en içten dileklerimizle kutluyoruz." ifadelerine yer verdi.
Türkiye Basketbol Federasyonu
Türkiye Basketbol Federasyonu (TBF) "Ulu Önder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’ün, geleceğe daima umutla bakmamızı sağlayan aydınlık nesillere armağan ettiği 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı kutlu olsun." mesajını paylaştı.
TBF Başkanı Hidayet Türkoğlu da yayımladığı mesajda şunları kaydetti:
"23 Nisan, milletimizin kendi kaderini tayin etme iradesini tüm dünyaya ilan ettiği, bağımsızlığımızın ve egemenliğimizin temellerinin atıldığı tarihi bir dönüm noktasıdır. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’ün bu anlamlı günü çocuklara armağan etmesi ise, geleceğe duyulan güvenin ve inancın en güçlü ifadesidir. Çocuklarımız, yarının güçlü Türkiye’sini inşa edecek, ülkemizi her alanda daha ileriye taşıyacak en kıymetli değerlerimizdir. Sporun birleştirici gücüyle büyüyen, paylaşmayı, mücadeleyi ve birlikte başarmayı öğrenen nesiller; hem sahada hem hayatta ülkemizi en iyi şekilde temsil edecektir. Başta Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk olmak üzere, Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi’nin kuruluşunda emeği geçen tüm kahramanlarımızı saygı ve minnetle anıyor, tüm çocuklarımızın ve milletimizin 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramımızı en içten dileklerimle kutluyorum."
Türkiye Voleybol Federasyonu
Türkiye Voleybol Federasyonu (TVF), "Milli egemenliğin sembolü olan TBMM'nin kuruluş yıl dönümü ve dünyada çocuklara armağan edilmiş tek bayram olan 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk tarafından yarının teminatı ve geleceğimiz olan çocuklarımıza adanmıştır. Dünya çocuklarına armağan edilen bu anlamlı günün 106. yıl dönümünü en içten dileklerimizle kutluyor; Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’ü ve silah arkadaşlarını saygı, minnet ve rahmetle anıyoruz." paylaşımını yaptı.
TVF Başkanı Mehmet Akif Üstündağ da "23 Nisan 1920’de Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi’nin açılışıyla taçlanan 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı’nı kutluyor, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk başta olmak üzere bu anlamlı günü çocuklara armağan eden tüm kahramanlarımızı saygı ve minnetle anıyorum. Geleceğimizin teminatı olan çocuklarımızın bayramı kutlu olsun." mesajıyla bayramı kutladı.
Diğer spor federasyonları da 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı'na dair şu mesajlara yer verdi:
Türkiye Hentbol Federasyonu: "Bir çocuğun gözlerindeki ışık, bir milletin en parlak yarınıdır 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı kutlu olsun!"
Türkiye Atletizm Federasyonu: "Geleceğin şampiyonları, bugünün çocukları! Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'ün çocuklara armağan ettiği bu eşsiz günde, pistlerde koşan, engelleri aşan ve ay-yıldızlı bayrağı yarınlara taşıyacak olan tüm çocuklarımızın bayramını kutluyoruz. Daha hızlı, daha yükseğe ve hep birlikte!"
Türkiye Modern Pentatlon Federasyonu: "Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'ün çocuklara armağan ettiği bu anlamlı günde, geleceğimizin teminatı olan çocuklarımızın sporla büyümesi, özgüvenle gelişmesi ve sağlıklı bireyler olarak yetişmesi en büyük temennimizdir. Türkiye Modern Pentatlon Federasyonu olarak çocuklarımızın yanında olmaya, onları sporla buluşturmaya devam ediyoruz. Egemenliğimizin simgesi bu özel günü, tüm çocuklarımızın neşesiyle kutluyor, başta Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk olmak üzere, tüm kahramanlarımızı saygı ve minnetle anıyoruz."
Türkiye Eskrim Federasyonu: "'Egemenlik, kayıtsız şartsız milletindir.' sözünden ilhamla kurulan Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi'nin 106. yılını ve Ulu Önderimiz Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'ün çocuklara armağan ettiği 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı'nı gurur ve coşkuyla kutluyoruz. Geleceğimizin teminatı olan tüm çocuklarımızın yüzü daima gülsün."
Süper Lig'in düşümü bu hafta ya çözülecek, ya da Arap saçına dönecek. Galatasaray yenerse hemen hemen şampiyonluğunu ilan edecek. Fenerbahçe yenerse işler iyice karışacak. Sezonun bu en önemli maçının biletleri de önemine göre oldukça yüksek fiyattan satışa çıktı.
Trendyol Süper Lig'in 31. haftasında 26 Nisan Pazar günü oynanacak Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derbi mücadelesinin öncelikli biletleri satışa sunuldu.
Sarı-kırmızılı kulübün açıklamasına göre biletler, GSPlus Premium ile GSPara kredi ve banka kartı sahipleri için satışa çıktı.
Galatasaray logolu Passo Taraftar Kart sahipleri için ise biletler, yarın saat 10.00'da Passo uygulaması ve passo.com.tr adresinden satışa sunulacak.
RAMS Park'ta oynanacak derbinin bilet fiyatları şu şekilde:
Beşiktaş, 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı nedeniyle Başkan Serdal Adalı imzasıyla bir kutlama mesajı yayınladı.
Beşiktaş Kulübü Başkanı Serdal Adalı, 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı'nı mesajla kutladı.
Siyah-beyazlı kulübün açıklamasında başkan Adalı'nın şu ifadelerine yer verildi:
"Bugün; aziz milletimizin egemenliğinin tecelli ettiği makam olan Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi'nin açılışının 106. yıl dönümü. Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi'nin kuruluş yıl dönümü olan bugün, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'nin en parlak sayfalarından birisi olarak tarihteki yerini almıştır. Bu vesileyle Ulu Önderimiz Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'ü, silah arkadaşlarını ve tüm şehitlerimizi bir kez daha saygıyla rahmetle anıyorum. Bu önemli günün Atatürk tarafından çocuklarımıza bayram olarak armağan edilmiş olmasının ayrıcalığını yaşıyoruz. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'ün çocuklara armağan ettiği bu anlamlı gün, geleceğimizin teminatı olan evlatlarımıza duyduğumuz inancın en güçlü simgesidir. Bizler de Beşiktaş camiası olarak, bu özel günün değerlerini yaşatmak ve gelecek nesillere daha güçlü bir miras bırakmak için var gücümüzle çalışmaya devam ediyoruz. Beşiktaş Ailesi adına; Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi'nin açılışının 106. yıl dönümünü ve ülkemizdeki çocuklarımız başta olmak üzere tüm dünya çocuklarının ve milletimizin 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı'nı kutluyorum."
Trendyol 1. Lig'de 37. hafta oynanacak maçlarda görev yapacak hakemler belli oldu.
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Merkez Hakem Kurulundan (MHK) yapılan açıklamaya göre ligde bu hafta oynanacak iki müsabakada kadın hakemler düdük çalacak.
Ligde Serikspor-Atakaş Hatayspor maçını Asen Albayrak, Adana Demirspor-Eminevim Ümraniyespor mücadelesini ise Melek Dakan yönetecek.
1. Lig'de bu hafta oynanacak maçlarda görev yapacak hakemler şunlar:
25 Nisan Cumartesi:
13.30 İmaj Altyapı Vanspor FK-İstanbulspor: Alpaslan Şen
13.30 Serikspor-Atakaş Hatayspor: Asen Albayrak
16.00 Adana Demirspor-Eminevim Ümraniyespor: Melek Dakan
26 Nisan Pazar:
16.00 Emre Gökdemir İnşaat Ankara Keçiörengücü-Manisa FK: Fatih Tokail
16.00 SMS Grup Sarıyer-Esenler Erokspor: Erdem Mertoğlu
Süper Lig'de sezonun en önemli maçında görev alacak hakem açıklandı. Buna göre Galatasara - Fenerbahçe maçını Yasin Kol yönetecek. Bilindiği gibi sarı-kırmızılıların Kol için çekinceleri vardı.
Trendyol Süper Lig'in 31. haftasında oynanacak maçlarda düdük çalacak hakemler belli oldu. Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Merkez Hakem Kurulundan (MHK) yapılan açıklamaya göre, ligde bu hafta oynanacak Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derbisini hakem Yasin Kol yönetecek.
Süper Lig'de 31. hafta maçlarında görev yapacak hakemler şunlar:
Gençlerbirliği'ne kaybederek Türkiye Kupası'na veda eden Galatasaray'ın son dönem performansı çok kötü. Fenerbahçe derbisi öncesi bu durum kafaları karıştırıyor.
Galatasaray son olarak Gençlerbirliği'ne kendi evinde 2-0 kaybederek Türkiye Kupası'na veda etti. Sergilenen futbol da canları sıktı. Sarı-Kırmızılılar, 26 Nisan Pazar günü ligde ezeli rakibi Fenerbahçe'yi konuk edecek. Cim-Bom'un bitime 4 hafta kala 4 puanlık bir avantajı bulunuyor.
ERKEN GOLLERLE BİTİRMİŞTİ
Ancak son 6 resmi maçtaki durum, canları sıkmış durumda:
2 galibiyet
1 beraberlik
3 mağlubiyet
Gençlerbirliği 0-2 (Türkiye Kupası)
Gençlerbirliği 2-1
Kocaelispor 1-1
Göztepe 3-1
Trabzonspor 1-2
Liverpool 0-4 (Şampiyonlar Ligi)
Galatasaray, ligdeki Göztepe ve Gençlerbirliği sınavlarında erken goller bulmuştu. Ancak Cim-Bom, kısa sürede açılış yapamadığı her mücadelede problem yaşadı.
OYUNCULARIN DURUMU
Galatasaray'da rotasyon amacıyla kullanılan futbolcuların performansları kimseyi memnun etmedi. Osimhen'in yokluğu da takımı ciddi şekilde etkiledi. Nijeryalı yıldızın, Fenerbahçe derbisinde sahaya ilk 11'de çıkması bekleniyor. Teknik Direktör Okan Buruk, kupa maçına oranla sahaya çok farklı bir kadro sürecek.
Yunan-Roma güləşi üzrə 2 qat Avropa çempionu olmuş Qurban Qurbanov (82 kq) Tiranadakı yarışla bağlı təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, Azərbaycan Güləş Federasiyasının rəsmi saytına açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:
“İndiki keçid dövrümdə titulu qorumaq daha çətin oldu. Ötən il Avropa çempionu olduqdan sonra ardıcıl ağır zədələr aldım. Hər iki çempionluğum mənə əzizdir. Sözsüz, çempion kimi çıxış edəndə məsuliyyət daha çox olur. Həsrət Cəfərov bu yarışda 4-cü dəfə Avropa çempionu oldu. Əlbəttə, aramızda xoş bir rəqabət var. Biz də istəyirik ki, bundan da böyük uğurlar qazanaq. Özümü, Həsrəti, bütün komandanı təbrik edirəm”.
Xatırladaq ki, 82 kq çəki dərəcəsində yarışan Qurban Qurbanov Albaniyanın paytaxtı Tiranada təşkil edilmiş Avropa çempionatında bolqarıstanlı Svetoslav Nikolov (7:3) və moldovalı Mihail Braduya (5:4) qalib gələrək yarımfinala yüksəlib. Qurbanov finalın bir addımlığında gürcüstanlı dünya və Avropa mükafatçısı Gela Bolkvadzeni üstələyib – 2:1. Qurbanov həlledici görüşdə rusiyalı Adlet Tyulbayevlə üz-üzə gəlib. Güləşçimiz 4:2 hesablı qələbəylə titulunu qoruyub.
2025/2026-cı illər mövsümündəki uğurlu çıxışı ilə diqqət mərkəzində olan “Sabah” Azərbaycan kubokunda 20-ci ev qoluna imza atıb.
Arena.az Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının (PFL) rəsmi saytına istinadən xəbər verir ki, bu topu Velko Simiç vurub.
O, yarımfinalın “Qarabağ”la cavab görüşündə (2:1) hesabı bərabərləşdirib.
Bakı klubu ölkə kuboku tarixinə evdə 20 və daha çox qol vurmuş 30-cu komanda kimi düşüb. 13-cü ev görüşünə çıxan “Sabah” qol sayını 21-ə çatdırıb. Orta məhsuldarlıq 1,62-yə bərabərdir.
Qeyd edək ki, Azərbaycan Kuboku çərçivəsində evdə ən çox qola imza atmış komanda “Qarabağ”dır. Ağdam təmsilçisi 193 dəfə fərqlənib.
“Qarabağ” üzərindəki qələbə ilə (2:1, ilk oyun 2:2) finala yüksəlmiş “bayquşlar” finalda “Zirə” ilə üz-üzə gələcəklər. Həlledici oyun mayın 13-də keçiriləcək.
Los Angeles Lakers cephesinde takımın önemli parçalarından Austin Reaves'in sahalara dönüşe, yıldız isim Luka Doncic'ten daha yakın olduğu belirtiliyor.
San Antonio Spurs yıldızı Victor Wembanyama, geçirdiği sarsıntı (concussion) sonrası Portland Trail Blazers'a karşı oynanacak play-off ilk turu 3. maçı için belirsizliğini koruyor.
Galatasaray, derbiye Yasin Kol'un atanmasının ardından Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu'nun mevcut yönetimiyle olan tüm ilişkilerini askıya aldığını açıkladı.
Fenerbahçe, yaşanan puan kayıplarının ardından tüm odağını Galatasaray derbisine çevirdi. Yönetim ise kritik maç öncesi prim kararını açıklayarak hazırlıklarını hızlandırdı.
Yarımmüdafiəçi Frenki de Yonq “Barselona”nın tarixinə düşüb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, o, Kataloniya klubunda ən çox oyun keçirən niderlandlı futbolçu statusunu qazanıb.
De Yonq La Liqada XXXIII turda “Selta” ilə matçda ikinci hissədə meydana daxil olub. Niderlandlı futbolçu bununla da “Barselona” formasıyla 293-cü matçına çıxıb.
“Liverpul”un qapıçısı Alisson Bekker karyerasını İtaliyada davam etdirməyə yaxındır.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, braziliyalı qolkiper “Yuventus”un təklifini qəbul edib. Bu barədə insayder Alfredo Pedula məlumat yayıb. Alisson yeni mövsümdə A Seriyası klubunda oynamağa razılıq verib.
Qolkiperlə anlaşan “Yuventus” yaxın zamanda “Liverpul”la da danışıqlara başlayacaq.
Bekker bu mövsüm İngiltərə Premyer Liqasında 2 oyuna çıxıb.
Azərbaycan boksçusu Nəbi İsgəndərov (70 kq) Braziliyanın Fos-du-İquasu şəhərində keçirilən Dünya Kubokunda növbəti qələbəsini qazanıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, milli üzvü 1/8 finalda Murodjon Aşuraliyevlə (Tacikistan) üz-üzə gəlib.
Hər 3 raundu xeyrinə bitirən boksçumuz yekunda 5:0 (30:27, 30:27, 30:27, 30:27, 29:28) hesabı ilə qalib gəlib. O, sabah 1/4 finalda Farux Toxtassunovla (Qazaxıstan) gücünü yoxlayacaq.
Qeyd edək ki, Dünya Kubokunda İsgəndərov millimizin 1/4 finalda mübarizə aparacaq 4-cü boksçusu olub. Daha bir idmançımız isə bu mərhələyə vəsiqə üçün bu gün rinqə çıxacaq.
Strahinja Pavlovic has delivered a glowing endorsement of Dusan Vlahovic, describing his Serbia teammate and potential future Milan colleague as one of the finest strikers in world football, while carefully sidestepping the question of whether the Juventus forward should join the Rossoneri this summer.
The Milan defender, speaking to Tuttosport, made no secret of his close personal relationship with Vlahovic, revealing the two speak or message each other almost every day.
“Before coming to Milan I asked him what Italy was like, I also had a chat about it with Milenkovic and Terzic. There are a lot of my compatriots playing here and I really like that.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus FC reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Juventus FC at Artemio Franchi on November 22, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Pavlovic coy when asked about Milan & Vlahovic links
When pressed on whether a player of Vlahovic’s calibre would be a useful addition to Allegri’s squad, Pavlovic was diplomatic but unmistakably enthusiastic in his praise.
“That is not a question for me,” he said with a smile. “But I can say he is a great player with tremendous quality. When he is in form he is number one, the best striker in the league and one of the best in the world. Marking him in training is not easy.”
He also noted that he faced Vlahovic directly during the first league meeting between Milan and Juventus this season, when the Serbian came off the bench in the final 20 minutes.
With Vlahovic’s contract at Juventus expiring in June and renewal talks ongoing, Pavlovic’s words will only add further fuel to speculation about his next destination.
Hakan Calhanoglu’s future at Inter Milan has been resolved, at least for the immediate term, with the club deciding to retain the Turkish midfielder for the 2026/27 season despite failing to agree a contract extension beyond his current deal, which expires in 2027.
The outcome represents something of a compromise, as per FCInter1908.
Calhanoglu had hoped to extend his stay on terms equal to or better than his current €6.5 million per season salary, but Oaktree’s well-documented preference for younger profiles and strict restrictions on renewals for players over 30 made that impossible.
Rather than allowing the situation to drift into open conflict, both parties have settled on continuing as they are, with Calhanoglu seeing out his existing deal and the possibility of a longer-term arrangement remaining open should circumstances change, including the midfielder’s potential willingness to accept a reduced salary.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 21: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, celebrates with Hakan Calhanoglu after during the Coppa Italia Semi-Final match between FC Internazionale and Como at San Siro on April 21, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Chivu leads Inter push to keep Calhanoglu
Cristian Chivu has been central to the resolution. The Inter head coach considers Calhanoglu indispensable to his project and made his feelings clear to the club’s hierarchy, who acted accordingly.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Chivu also played a role in mediating the high-profile fallout between Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez during the summer, a detail that speaks to the trust the Romanian coach has built within the dressing room.
Despite some physical fragility this season, 13 matches missed through injury plus a couple of precautionary absences, Calhanoglu has still contributed 12 goals and seven assists, underscoring why letting him leave would have been a risk Inter were not prepared to take. The Galatasaray sirens, for now, will have to wait.
A remarkable diplomatic intervention has thrust Italian football back into the World Cup conversation, with a US special envoy confirming he has formally requested that FIFA replace Iran with Italy at this summer’s tournament.
Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-born Trump envoy, told the Financial Times that he has personally approached both Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino with the proposal.
“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup,” Zampolli said. “I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 07: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks alongside President of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino after unveiling the 2025 Club World Cup trophy in the Oval Office at the White House on March 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump signed an executive order establishing a White House Task Force for the 2026 World Cup. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Italy could be handed World Cup lifeline
According to the FT, the move is part of a broader effort to repair relations between Trump and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, following tensions that emerged amid the American president’s public attacks on Pope Leo XIV during the Iran conflict.
Iran’s participation in the tournament has been complicated by the country’s request for FIFA to relocate their matches from the United States to Mexico, citing the ongoing geopolitical situation. Iran issued a statement on Wednesday saying they remain prepared for the tournament and intend to participate, though their position is dependent on receiving a formal response from FIFA regarding the venue request.
The White House, FIFA, the FIGC and Iran’s football federation had not yet responded to requests for comment.
Italy missed out on the World Cup for a third consecutive time in March, losing their playoff final to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties. Whether Zampolli’s intervention carries any real weight with FIFA, whose regulations make unilateral replacements of this nature highly complex, remains deeply uncertain.
West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes is catching the attention of some top clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
Despite their poor season, the Hammers midfielder has impressed with his consistent performances.
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His silky transitions, tactical intelligence, and relentless engine have turned heads all over Europe.
Now, according to Foot Mercato, the sharks are officially circling the London Stadium.
Paris Saint-Germain have formally initiated contact with his representatives, setting the stage for a massive summer transfer battle that also heavily involves Manchester United.
It’s no secret that PSG sporting director Luis Campos is obsessed with building a Parisian empire fueled by elite Portuguese talent.
PSG target move for Portuguese midfielder
You only have to look at their current squad, boasting the likes of Vitinha, Gonçalo Ramos, João Neves, and Nuno Mendes, to see a very clear, heavily scouted pattern.
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Taking Fernandes to the Parc des Princes feels like the ultimate, logical next step in Campos’s recruitment strategy.
Fernandes is represented by Gestifute, the mega-agency that PSG already maintains a spectacularly strong working relationship with.
With several Parisian stars already under the Gestifute umbrella, negotiating the finer details of a summer switch would be a seamless process if the French champions decide to formally open their checkbook.
However, PSG are certainly not going to have a free run at the young maestro.
Fernandes is impressed with his compatriot and has actively recommended him to the INEOS hierarchy.
With the Red Devils desperately looking to rebuild their engine room and prepare for life after Casemiro, adding a dynamic, Premier League-proven 21-year-old fits their new recruitment model perfectly.
When your club captain practically begs the board to sign someone, it naturally forces the recruitment team to take a very close look.
If they West Ham United suffer the devastating financial blow of relegation, a massive fire sale is inevitable, and a player with 4 goals and 3 assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this term will be the very first asset out the door.
Chelsea’s ongoing search for stability on the touchline appears far from settled, with several names now being linked to a possible managerial change.
After a disastrous spell at the club, Liam Rosenior was sacked by the club on Wednesday.
Having failed to win in the last five Premier League games without scoring a goal, the Blues hierarchy decided it was time for a change, once again.
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The Premier League giants parted ways with Enzo Maresca earlier this year and after just four months in charge of the club, Rosenior was relieved of his duties with Chelsea struggling to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Chelsea target yet another young manager
Matthias Jaissle, Head Coach of Al Ahli (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
According to TEAMtalk, Al Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle has emerged as one of the latest candidates being considered as a potential replacement for Rosenior.
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While no final decision has been made, Chelsea’s leadership is believed to be evaluating multiple profiles, from emerging young tacticians to established names with top-level experience.
The inclusion of Jaissle, alongside several other high-profile candidates, shows how seriously the club is taking its long-term planning after a period marked by inconsistency and rebuilding.
Jaissle’s rise in management has been relatively rapid, but it has also been impressive enough to attract attention from major European clubs.
The 38-year-old began his managerial journey in 2021 with Austrian side FC Liefering, part of the Red Bull football network known for developing young coaching talent.
His work there quickly earned him a promotion to Red Bull Salzburg, where he enjoyed two productive seasons that included strong domestic performances and competitive displays in European competitions.
Currently managing Al Ahli, Jaissle has gained valuable experience in handling high expectations and working with star-studded squads.
Several other names are on the radar of the Blues hierarchy
Chelsea are also keen to explore the possibility of speaking with Germany national team manager Julian Nagelsmann, a coach widely respected for his tactical intelligence and experience managing elite clubs such as RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich.
Several Premier League-tested managers have also been linked. Oliver Glasner, currently associated with Crystal Palace, has built a reputation for organizing disciplined, hard-working teams capable of competing against stronger opposition.
Another intriguing name mentioned is Cesc Fàbregas, currently managing Como. The former Chelsea midfielder brings a deep understanding of the club’s culture and playing philosophy, which could make him an appealing long-term option if the club decides to take a bold approach with a younger manager.
The summer transfer window is rapidly approaching and Premier League clubs are looking for new midfielders.
While Manchester United and Chelsea are both navigating massive squad rebuilds, they’ve seemingly locked onto the exact same target.
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With Man United deading with the impending departure of Casemiro and Chelsea looking to add more depth and quality to the side that has struggled massively this season, the midfield has become a priority.
Man United and Chelsea target Bournemouth midfielder
According to The Mirror, the two clubs are fiercely battling it out for Bournemouth’s dynamic 22-year-old sensation, Alex Scott.
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The talented midfielder has been an absolute standout for the Cherries, consistently dictating the tempo and showcasing his elite ability to drive forward with the ball.
His spectacular man-of-the-match performance against United themselves, followed by a crucial match-winning goal against Arsenal, proved he belongs on the biggest stage.
It’s no wonder he recently caught the eye of the national team setup, earning a senior England call-up back in November before narrowly missing out on Thomas Tuchel’s March squad.
After aggressively overhauling their forward line last year by bringing in massive names like Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha, the INEOS hierarchy is now pivoting to fix their engine room.
Premier League clubs will need to pay a premuim for Scott
Over at Chelsea, the boardroom is equally desperate to inject proven Premier League quality into their squad, viewing the 22-year-old as an ideal fit for their long-term vision.
Bournemouth are understandably reluctant to lose one of their most prized assets and are holding all the cards in negotiations.
While initial whispers suggested a £25m bargain, realistic valuations indicate that the Cherries will demand a much heftier fee in the region of €60 million (around £50m) to even consider sanctioning a sale.
Both Man United and Chelsea have heavily scouted the youngster and are expected to firm up their interest with official bids soon.
For Scott, the opportunity to swap the Vitality Stadium for Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge represents the ultimate career leap.
Hansi Flick hopes Lamine Yamal’s injury is not “serious”, after the teenage sensation was forced off during Barcelona’s victory over Celta Vigo. The Blaugrana moved nine points clear at the LaLiga summit with six games remaining, following a 1-0 win at the Camp Nou. However, the victory was marred by injury to Yamal, who hobbled […]
Manchester City moved top of the Premier League table for the first time since August with a narrow 1-0 victory at Burnley that relegated Scott Parker’s side. On a significant night at both ends of the table, City followed up their home win over Arsenal with another Erling Haaland-inspired triumph to steal ahead of their […]
Google has been a proud part of Austria’s landscape for years, and today, we’re announcing our first data center in Kronstorf, generating 100 direct jobs. This facility …
Report: Calhanoglu to stay at Inter for another year
Hakan Calhanoglu’s future at Inter Milan has been resolved, at least for the immediate term, with the club deciding to retain the Turkish midfielder for the 2026/27 season despite failing to agree a contract extension beyond his current deal, which expires in 2027.
The outcome represents something of a compromise, as per FCInter1908.
Calhanoglu had hoped to extend his stay on terms equal to or better than his current €6.5 million per season salary, but Oaktree’s well-documented preference for younger profiles and strict restrictions on renewals for players over 30 made that impossible.
Rather than allowing the situation to drift into open conflict, both parties have settled on continuing as they are, with Calhanoglu seeing out his existing deal and the possibility of a longer-term arrangement remaining open should circumstances change, including the midfielder’s potential willingness to accept a reduced salary.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 21: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, celebrates with Hakan Calhanoglu after during the Coppa Italia Semi-Final match between FC Internazionale and Como at San Siro on April 21, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Chivu leads Inter push to keep Calhanoglu
Cristian Chivu has been central to the resolution. The Inter head coach considers Calhanoglu indispensable to his project and made his feelings clear to the club’s hierarchy, who acted accordingly.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Chivu also played a role in mediating the high-profile fallout between Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez during the summer, a detail that speaks to the trust the Romanian coach has built within the dressing room.
Despite some physical fragility this season, 13 matches missed through injury plus a couple of precautionary absences, Calhanoglu has still contributed 12 goals and seven assists, underscoring why letting him leave would have been a risk Inter were not prepared to take. The Galatasaray sirens, for now, will have to wait.
The SRH opener’s 135* against DC was an innings built on a subtle shift in geometry, balance & intent
Till Tuesday night at Uppal, Abhishek Sharma had begun to look a touch too readable. The talent was never in doubt and neither was the intent, but bowlers had started to guide him into a familiar pattern. Deep midwicket and deep cover were two coordinates of concern in recent times, fields set not just to contain him but to expose a familiar pattern.
They dragged Abhishek wider, lured him into the square and waited with protection in place. For Abhishek, the violence was still there but the options seemed to be shrinking. For a batter who thrives on instinct, that narrowing of the map had begun to matter.
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Against Delhi Capitals, Sharma did not merely snap a lean stretch. He redrew the field. His 135 not out off 68 balls, with 10 fours and 10 sixes, powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to 242/2 and set up a 47-run win. It was also the ninth T20 hundred of his career. But the significance of the innings lay beyond volume — it was a smart adjustment.
Sharma looked less rushed, less eager to manufacture and more willing to let the ball arrive on his terms. Beneath the flourish lay fine recalibrations.
That change was most visible in his scoring arc. The arc that once stretched across the horizontal now narrowed and surged straight. Seventy-one runs flowed down the ground through long-on and long-off. A corridor he had long neglected was now reclaimed with authority.
The old temptation was to keep forcing the game square, especially through cover and point. Here, the bat path looked cleaner and the intent straighter. The off drive fetched him 34 runs.
His footwork, still instinctive and balletic, found a new grammar. Previously, he stepped away recklessly to manufacture width and force the square hit. Sharma now moved into the ball, momentum forward, closing angles, and meeting it on his terms.
“On a flat track, he (Sharma) is almost like Chris Gayle,” former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said. The SRH opener exhibited a stable base, clean extension and a mind remapping the field in real time. In doing so, the 25-year-old dismantled Delhi’s plans with disarming ease.
Bad news for Real Madrid ahead of the match against Real Betis scheduled for this Friday.
Thursday’s training session has left two names causing serious concern for the coaching staff: Arda Güler and Éder Militao, who could both miss out on the squad.
The Turkish midfielder was unable to take to the Valdebebas pitch due to muscle discomfort.
A situation that leaves Álvaro Arbeloa facing a complicated scenario, as Güler has become a key part of his setup.
Waiting on Eder Militao
Meanwhile, the situation surrounding Éder Militao has Madrid fans on edge. The Brazilian centre-back went off in pain midway through the last match against Alavés and is undergoing medical tests to determine the exact extent of his knee problem.
On 16 May, Rousey will fight for the first time since her December 2016 loss to Nunes, which came 13 months after her defeat by Holm. Both losses occurred via knockout, with Holm stopping Rousey early in round two and Nunes doing so inside 48 seconds.
The results and their nature led Rousey to leave the UFC and focus on acting and professional wrestling, but now she is preparing to face fellow MMA trailblazer Gina Carano live on Netflix, headlining a card organised by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions.
Ahead of that bout, 39-year-old Rousey spoke to The Independent about her title loss to Holm and failed title challenge against Nunes.
Ronda Rousey’s KO loss to Holly Holm felt like a moment in time – the end of her peak (Getty)
“I was having neurological issues, and I was getting hit and basically losing chunks of my vision, depth perception, ability to track moving objects, to think clearly,” Rousey said.
“I thought these were concussion symptoms, because the more concussions I got, the easier it was for me to get these symptoms. So, after my first loss, I was like: ‘F***, it’s finally caught up to me. I’m never gonna be able to compete at the highest level again.’
“But there were a lot of other factors. I had a bad mouthguard, stuff like that. My teeth got knocked loose, the very first punch of the [Holm] fight, so I convinced myself: ‘Maybe it was just that.’
“I came back again, and again I had to drag myself through it, because I felt like I was expected to come back – and I was coming back for everybody else and not for me. But then the same thing: the first time I got hit, I couldn’t see.
“I just felt like I was forced to retire; there was no way I could safely compete at the highest level anymore.
“But it was also the toxicity of my training camp. The process wasn’t fun anymore, and I was just so over it. Everything was so result-oriented, and I wanted to enjoy the everyday and not just the possible results.
“That’s kind of what led me to pro wrestling, but I didn’t wanna go public about it, because I didn’t want WWE to be like, ‘We don’t wanna work with you,’ because of the baggage – they’ve had bad press from concussions in the past. So, I had to keep it to myself, but that’s kind of what forced my hand.”
Rousey’s final UFC fight saw her stopped by Amanda Nunes in 48 seconds (Getty)
Ahead of her return against Carano, 44, Rousey added that she has seemingly found the cause of her neurological issues.
“Fortunately, because Dana [White, UFC president] sent me to the Cleveland Clinic, we got a diagnosis for what was actually going on with me,” she explained.
“They think it’s actually migraines, and they got me on preventative migraine medication, and we’ve been able to test with sparring and see that it works. It’s been absolutely life-changing for me.”
No one has won more on the PGA Tour this season than Matt Fitzpatrick.
After just losing out at The Players to Cameron Young on the final hole, the Englishman bounced back emphatically with a win at the Valspar Championship, and beat Scottie Scheffler in a playoff duel at the RBC Heritage.
His play in 2026 has seen Fitzpatrick rise to number three in the Official World Golf Rankings, behind only Scheffler and McIlroy, which is the highest ranking of the 31-year-old’s career.
Fitzpatrick is now a four-time winner on the PGA Tour and a US Open winner, yet entering The Masters, he wasn’t among the top favorites to win the Green Jacket. But his brother, Alex Fitzpatrick, who is playing with him at the Zurich Classic this week, isn’t surprised by that.
Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Why Alex Fitzpatrick isn’t surprised that Matt Fitzpatrick isn’t a favorite at majors
Before the Zurich Classic, where Alex Fitzpatrick hopes to earn a PGA Tour exemption with a win alongside his brother, the DP World Tour member was asked if it surprises him that Matt Fitzpatrick isn’t favored to win more majors.
Alex explained why he isn’t: “Not really, no. You know, your Rorys and Scotties of the world, they’re always going to be the favorites going into the majors and stuff. Unbelievable players.
“With all the hard work that I’ve seen him do and all the behind-the-scenes stuff that I’ve seen, it’s hard to say I didn’t expect it. I did expect it. Sorry.
“Golf is a hard enough game. To see him from last year where he wasn’t playing the golf he wanted to to now winning multiple events in the year, I think, yeah, he’ll contend at all the majors he wants to this year. Hopefully I didn’t jinx it, but it wouldn’t surprise me if I see him pick one off. That would be pretty cool.”
Following up on that, Matt Fitzpatrick said if he feels overlooked, “I think all relative. You are always going to have guys in and around form, in and around the majors. You know, realistically, I haven’t — since winning the U.S. Open, I haven’t really shown that.
“Last year I did at The Open and even at the PGA I had a chance, but that was still early on in some of the changes I was making.
“Yeah, like I say, I do feel it’s all relative. If you’re in form going into the majors, you’re always going to be someone that’s going to be looked at. Obviously, I would assume, which I hate doing, I hate assuming, all of a sudden I’m going to be one of the favorites of the PGA. Two months ago, that was probably never the case.
“So it all comes to, I guess, the form you’re in and people’s talking points and history. It doesn’t really bother me either way. It’s, like, you know, it’s great to have the recognition, but also, happy to fly under the radar too.”
Matt Fitzpatrick says why he’s a different player now that he’s world number three
With two wins in 2026 and three in the space of five months, Fitzpatrick said that he’s a different player now to the one he was when he won the US Open in 2023.
The Sheffield-born star said, “I’ve always believed in myself that I could achieve some of the things I have already achieved. I feel like my game probably wasn’t — didn’t necessarily match my own expectations or beliefs, maybe a few years ago.
“I feel like now I’m a different player. My game is very much different to where it was in the past, and obviously, the results so far this season have kind of matched up more to the beliefs that I’ve had in myself and my own ability to contend.
“I think because of that, it’s obviously nice to have that confidence going into the season and going into the rest of the events. Like I say, I’m also always happy to be flying under the radar. It doesn’t bother me at all.”
The Fitzpatrick brothers are favorites to win the Zurich this week, and if Matt can claim his third win of the month, surely he’ll be considered among the very favourites to win the PGA Championship at Aronimink.
Texas A&M’s offense has carried much of the spotlight this season, but the most consistent force on the roster has come from the bullpen. While the Aggies continue searching for stability on the mound, one reliever has delivered every time his number has been called and now, he’s earning national recognition for it.
On Tuesday, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced its 2026 Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List, and junior right‑hander Clayton Freshcorn was among the 61 relievers selected. The award honors the top relief pitcher in Division I baseball.
Freshcorn has been nothing short of dominant. Through 17 appearances, he owns a 2–1 record, seven saves, and a 2.00 ERA across 27 innings. He’s struck out 33 while issuing only four walks, holding opponents to a .228 average and stringing together 13 scoreless innings along the way.
In a season where A&M’s pitching depth has been tested, Freshcorn has been the Aggies’ most reliable late‑game weapon, consistently shutting the door in tight SEC matchups and giving the staff a stabilizing presence at the back end of the bullpen.
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The NFL draft has finally arrived. After a long wait, the action in Pittsburgh will kick off Thursday night. Of course, Cincinnati Bengals fans will likely have to wait one more day before seeing their team jump in the action, unless Duke Tobin makes a big splash and jumps back into the first round on Thursday. The Bengals traded the No. 10 pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
The Bengals still have seven picks entering the draft. They have one pick in the second, third and fourth rounds plus two picks each in the sixth and seventh rounds.
With that, here is our final seven-round mock draft for the Bengals, with a Day 2 trade mixed in.
No. 41 - Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Trading back was tempting, but the Bengals would be hard-pressed to pass up one of the top inside linebackers in this class. The former quarterback could soon become the quarterback of the defense for Al Golden and immediately upgrade the linebacking group after both Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter struggled as rookies.
No. 86 - Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan
Bengals acquire Nos. 86 and 123 from Chargers for No. 72
The Bengals move back in round three, picking up an extra fourth-round pick and landing a very intriguing hybrid player in Jaishawn Barham. He played both outside and edge defender at Michigan, displaying excellent explosiveness and physicality. He had ten tackles for a loss last season. He also brings plenty of game experience, having started 47 games across four seasons (two at Michigan, two at Maryland).
No. 110 - Trey Zuhn III, OL, Texas A&M
Zuhn played almost his entire career at left tackle, but projects to center in the NFL, which fits what the Bengals need down the line, with Ted Karras likely entering his final season in Cincinnati. Zuhn started 50 games over the last four seasons. He did start one game at center, which will help with his transition to the position at the next level.
No. 123 - Jalon Kilgore, DB, South Carolina
With the extra pick acquired from the Chargers, the Bengals add a potential option at nickel in Jalon Kilgore. Kilgore has played both the slot and deep safety, but is more of a fit in the box. The bet is on his athleticism carrying him through and he does bring good production against the pass to the table (29 passes defended, eight interceptions).
No. 189 - Eric Rivers, WR, Georgia Tech
A smaller receiver (5-10, 178) but one with plenty of speed (4.35 40). Rivers has the potential to stretch the field for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and operate in the slot. He can also compete to be the primary punt returner.
No. 199 - Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech
Back-to-back Yellow Jackets in this mock. The Bengals continue to add depth on the interior defensive line, especially with TJ Slaton among those now as a potential cut candidate. van den Berg would be the first player from South Africa to be drafted to the NFL.
No. 221 - Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State
Kacmarek is one of the better blocking tight ends in this class and the Bengals can use all the protection they can get. The Bengals do still like the potential of Erick All Jr., but Kacmarek could be viewed as potential protege for Drew Sample, as Paul Dehner of The Athletic noted.
No. 226 - Nolan Rucci, OT, Penn State
A developmental offensive tackle option for the Bengals, Rucci started 18 games in two seasons for Penn State after transferring from Wisconsin, including 12 starts in 2025. His father, Todd, was a second-round pick (No. 51 overall) of the New England Patriots in 1993 and his grandfather, Thomas Gilburg, was a second-round pick (No. 21 overall) by the Baltimore Colts in 1961. His mother, Stacy, also played field hockey at Penn State.
The Atlanta Braves got back on track on Wednesday after losing on Tuesday (11-4), with an 8-6 win over the Washington Nationals. The offense showcased its power by hitting four runs, with centerfielder Michael Harris II hitting two of them.
The pitching was okay.
Right-hander Didier Fuentes — four earned runs and seven strikeouts in three innings — provided a shaky performance. Left-hander Martin Perez — two earned runs and struck out four in three innings — on the other hand, did well. Since both Fuentes and Perez will be unavailable to pitch on Thursday, the Braves made another roster move.
The Atlanta Braves are calling up top prospect JR Ritchie to start Thursday
Since Fuentes won’t be available for the next few days, the Braves have optioned him back to Triple-A Gwinnett and are calling up right-hander JR Ritchie, per Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game. Ritchie, 22, is the Braves' No. 2 prospect in the organization and the 79th prospect in baseball, and will make his MLB debut on Thursday against the Nationals.
J.R. Ritchie, 22, is set to make his MLB debut on Thursday vs. the Nats.#Braves No. 2 prospect is 3-1 with a 0.99 ERA and 13BB/28 K, .167 BAA in 5 GS (27.1 IP) for Triple-A Gwinnett @GoStripers to open 2026. https://t.co/eHJve8SX3B
In five starts, Ritchie is 3-1 with a 0.99 ERA, 13 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 27.1 IP for Triple-A Gwinnett.
To add to the moves being made, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that right-hander Carlos Carrasco will be called up to provide long relief. To clear a spot for Carrasco, the Braves placed left-hander Dylan Dodd on the injured list with a back or oblique strain.
This could be Ritchie’s only start before he is sent down. However, the Braves will need a starter for their game on April 29 against the Detroit Tigers, and Ritchie could be an option to get another start.
Every year, the NFL draft features big trades that impact the league for years to come. Within the past year, teams have been willing to part with their first-round picks in order to land superstar players like Micah Parsons, Sauce Gardner, and Trent McDuffie. That should set the table for the first two nights of the draft, as teams survey the market to assess whether it's worth it to trade up in the first few rounds.
This year's prospect class is considered weaker than usual, which means the trades may not come until the middle of the first round. However, trade rumors will surely swirl all night for teams that want to jockey their position as players fall.
Additionally, the back end of the first round is certainly of interest for teams who may be interested in trading back into the first round to secure a quarterback. Last year, the New York Giants got Jaxson Dart at pick No. 26 with a trade, and a similar deal could happen for quarterback Ty Simpson this year.
The Sporting News is tracking every trade in the first three rounds of the NFL draft. Follow along for full updates.
Report – Turkey Superstar To Stay At Inter Milan Next Season
Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu looks set to stay at San Siro for at least one more season despite his contractual wobble.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, the 32-year-old’s decisive impact has convinced the club to fend off Galatasaray’s interest.
Hakan Calhanoglu seemed on the verge of leaving Serie A last summer, with the Rams Park giants trying to lure him to Istanbul.
However, manager Cristian Chivu persuaded the former AC Milan midfielder to turn down the Lions’ advances.
Furthermore, Chivu has helped Calhanoglu patch things up with Lautaro Martinez and re-establish himself as one of the most influential figures at the club.
Hakan Calhanoglu Set to Stay at Inter Milan Next Season
Despite several injury setbacks, Calhanoglu has been one of Inter’s standout performers this term.
Indeed, he has scored nine goals and added four assists across 22 Serie A appearances.
Furthermore, his match-winning performance against Como on Tuesday catapulted Inter into their 16th Coppa Italia final.
Still, Calhanoglu’s contract runs until 2027, with the Nerazzurri yet to offer him a new deal.
Nevertheless, the runaway Serie A leaders are keen to hold onto their midfield cornerstone.
Moreover, the player looks equally enthusiastic about staying at San Siro for one more year.
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
NFL scouts are not down on the 2026 quarterback class because it lacks names, they are down on it because too many of the names still require projection instead of belief.
That is why Fernando Mendoza has separated himself this late in the cycle. He is not viewed as flawless, but he is viewed as the only passer who consistently checks the trust box.
That distinction matters more than raw talent when teams start weighing first-round risk at the league’s most expensive position.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Fernando Mendoza is the only QB teams trust
The split becomes obvious when Touchdown Wire report outlines how teams see traits across the class but struggle to fully trust anyone beyond Mendoza.
That aligns with the broader scouting view. Mendoza’s 2025 production stands out with 41 touchdown passes, six interceptions and a 72 percent completion rate, while his processing and accuracy give teams a clearer projection into NFL structure.
He is not just productive. He is predictable in the right way, which is why evaluators are more comfortable tying a franchise decision to him than anyone else in the group.
Why the 2026 QB class falls apart after QB1
The concern with the rest of the class is not talent, it is reliability. Too many prospects show flashes without sustaining them over a full season or under pressure.
Ty Simpson still carries intrigue, but limited starting experience and an uneven finish leave questions about how quickly he can translate. Drew Allar has size and arm strength, yet accuracy and decision-making remain inconsistent when games tighten.
Carson Beck offers experience and physical tools, but questions around decision speed and whether he can elevate an offense continue to follow him into the draft cycle.
This is why the drop-off feels sharp. Mendoza gives teams a clear starting point. Everyone else still asks them to make a leap.
Shedeur Sanders, quarterback, watches as Coach Todd Monken speaks on the radio during a 7 on 7 training session at the Browns mini camp in Berea on April 21, 2026. | Lisa Scalfaro / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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NEW YORK — Sean Marks has asked a lot of Brooklyn. He’s asked it to live with the losses, to stare at the standings without flinching and to trust that all the patience, all the picks and all the flexibility were building toward something better.
That’s an easier sell when the losing still feels like part of the setup. It gets harder when the general manager starts handing out extensions that say the setup is over and the next phase is supposed to begin.
That’s why the Nets’ decision to sign Jordi Fernández and his entire coaching staff to multi-year extensions says as much about Marks as it does about the coach. This wasn’t just a reward for surviving two ugly seasons. It was Marks telling everyone that, as far as he’s concerned, the coaching question is settled. The staff is settled. The developmental structure is settled. From here, the scrutiny shifts back where it belongs.
That makes this both a sensible move and a risky one. The sensible part isn’t hard to see. Fernández didn’t walk into a normal NBA job in April 2024. He walked into a teardown. Soon after he arrived, Brooklyn traded Mikal Bridges, regained control of its 2025 and 2026 first-round picks from the Houston Rockets and committed itself to an organizational reset that was always going to be painful.
Over the next two seasons, Fernández went 46-118 while coaching through injuries, constant lineup changes and, this past year, the NBA’s youngest roster, half of it under 24 and featuring a league-record five first-round rookies. The record is ugly. The circumstances were, too.
Marks clearly believes Fernández and his staff handled the hard part of the job well. In the team’s announcement, he praised Fernández for building a foundation rooted in player development, competitiveness and honest communication. Teams talk about culture all the time. They don’t usually extend an entire staff after seasons of 26 and 20 wins unless they truly believe in the people doing the work.
That belief also changes the pressure on Marks. The first two years of the rebuild gave him some cover. The roster was young. The focus was development. The losses came with the territory. Brooklyn could point to growth, culture and long-term planning and have a fair reason for doing it.
Now the future Marks kept pointing to is starting to arrive. The Nets head into the May 10 lottery with a 40% chance to pick in the top three for the first time since 2010. They’re projected to have more than $30 million in cap space again this offseason. They also control 13 first-round picks and 19 second-round picks over the next seven drafts, with nine of those firsts tradable. Marks has spent years building optionality. At some point, optionality has to start resembling a contender.
Marks himself framed the next phase that way when he addressed the rebuild timeline. He said the Nets have put themselves in position to be “opportunistic,” but only if whatever becomes available fits Brooklyn’s timeline, its young players and the broader approach he, Joe Tsai, Fernández and the rest of the organization want to take. That’s a fair answer. It’s also the answer of a general manager who now owns the pace of this rebuild more fully than before. He can’t point to uncertainty on the bench. He just erased that qualifier himself.
And there’s another reason this move puts extra heat on him: the last coach extension under his watch didn’t hold for long. Brooklyn gave Jacque Vaughn a multi-year extension in February 2023 and fired him less than a year later after a 21-33 start. That doesn’t make the Fernández extension wrong. It does mean Marks doesn’t get to make another coaching bet without carrying that recent history into the room with him.
To be fair, Marks has earned praise and criticism over the course of his tenure. He deserves credit for helping build the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era and for salvaging a huge pile of assets once that star experiment collapsed. He also owns the fact that the star era ended without a title and that the Vaughn extension aged poorly almost immediately. That’s why this move changes the feel of the conversation. Marks has already shown he can tear down, recoup and reposition. What he has to show now is that he can turn all that patience into a championship contender in Brooklyn.
That’s what this move says, whether Marks intended to say it so bluntly or not. He didn’t just reward Fernández. He told everyone the Nets are done treating the coaching side of this rebuild like unfinished business. From here, if Brooklyn still looks stuck, if the asset pile still feels more impressive than the roster, if the climb never starts looking like a climb, that won’t land first on the coach.
Di Marzio: Bayern & Milan preparing onslaughts for Juventus striker
Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic are still trying to reach an agreement on a new contract, but if the negotiations go awry, Bayern Munich and Milan will be ready to pounce.
The 26-year-old’s current deal will expire at the end of the season, leaving his future up in the air. The Juventus management had only recently relaunched contract talkswith the Serbian’s entourage following a long hiatus.
Nevertheless, the two parties have yet to strike a deal. Some sources believe that the player’s recent injury setback prompted the management to postpone the negotiations.
Juventus facing Bayern & Milan competition for Dusan Vlahovic
Vlahovic had only just returned from a serious knee injury that kept him on the sidelines for four months, only to pick up a fresh knock while warming up against Genoa. He had only made one brief cameo following his return.
According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus still intend to renew the striker’s contract, but they’re facing competition from Bayern Munich and Milan, who are ready to offer the player an alternative destination.
Vlahovic would find himself an ally at Milanello in the shape of Max Allegri, who coached at Juventus for two and a half years, at least if the head coach is confirmed for next season.
The pair’s relationship had its highs and lows, but they share mutual respect and admiration towards one another.
Why Bayern Munich are interested in Vlahovic
Di Marzio also reveals that Bayern are in the market for a new striker, even though Harry Kane isn’t expected to go anywhere this summer.
The Bavarian giants are unlikely to keep Nicolas Jackson beyond his current loan spell, so the Senegalese is expected to return to Chelsea in the summer, creating an opening up front.
Vincent Kompany is said to be seeking a centre-forward capable of replacing Kane, and playing alongside the free-scoring Englishman on certain occasions.
While these two tracks represent interesting possibilities, the current priority for Vlahovic and his entourage is to close a deal with Juventus.
Wes Morgan said he is "sad and hurt" to see Leicester City drop into League One just a decade after he captained the club to the Premier League title.
The 42-year-old former defender retired as a player after helping the Foxes claim the FA Cup in 2021.
Just five years later, the club has tumbled into the third tier for just the second time in its 142-year history after suffering successive relegations.
Leicester's fate was sealed just 12 days before the 10-year anniversary of the 5,000-1 title success of 2016.
"I'm sad to see where we were as a club when I left, to where it is now," Morgan told BBC East Midlands Today.
"I just don't want to see the team in that position and I can understand the fans and how they feel angry about the position they are in.
"It hurts to see where the club is, but at the same time I know football, know that things change and it goes full-circle sometimes. I know the club will be back."
Former Jamaica international Morgan made 324 appearances in his near decade-long stay with the club, having joined the Foxes from East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest in 2012.
He was part of the team that won promotion as Championship title-winners in 2014, led them in the 'great escape' as they narrowly avoided relegation a year later and then went on to skipper them to the famous Premier League title win.
In his time at the club, he featured for the Foxes in the Champions League quarter-finals and played in the Europa League before finally calling it quits after they claimed the FA Cup for the first time.
Morgan says he treasures those years of success and feels they "need to be enjoyed" - even now, when the club is at one of the lowest points in its existence.
"I'm sure the memories of our successes are still quite fresh in the minds of fans, so it is difficult," he said.
"For me, the time we had 10 years ago, the special moment, needs to be celebrated and talked about."
When Morgan left, the Premier League title-winning side had largely been broken up already.
However, the final member of that side, striker Jamie Vardy, only moved on after last season's relegation from the top flight.
The reasons Leicester has tumbled to the depths they have in recent years will be many, with a torrent of criticism being aimed at the club's hierarchy and ownership, and people repeatedly questioning the influence of a succession of managers and woeful performances of a highly-paid squad of players.
Morgan was not exacting in levelling blame when asked about Leicester's struggles but said his generation of players achieved something few could expect to emulate.
"It's hard to repeat what that group did, to have that same sort of mentality and sustain that high level," he said.
"Trying to manage the standards and trying to manage the group and keep the levels is difficult. If you don't quite get it right, it can easily fall by the wayside."
A spell on the sidelines that would mean the end of the season for Lamine Yamal and a race against time with the 2026 World Cup now just seven weeks away.
This Thursday morning, more worrying news is coming out of Barcelona. Still awaiting the official verdict, Cadena SER reports that the player may have suffered a hamstring rupture and that he has been deeply affected by the news.
OneFootball will update you as soon as the official verdict comes in!
Chelsea sacked manager Liam Rosenior on Wednesday following a catastrophic run of form that has left the London club's Champions League hopes hanging by a thread while they also endured their worst goalscoring drought in over a century.
Rosenior lasted less than four months in the role after his January appointment following Enzo Maresca's departure, becoming the latest casualty of Chelsea's turbulent season after seven defeats in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Rosenior's dismissal came a day after a humiliating 3-0 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion, which saw the south-coast club leapfrog Chelsea into sixth place in the table. Chelsea are now seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Here are five potential candidates to replace him – and one who surely won’t.
Felipe Luis
Felipe Luis was sacked by Flamengo last month, despite winning several trophies during his 100-game stint in charge of the Brazilian club. The former Chelsea defender would be a gamble, however, given his lack of experience coaching in European football.
Felipe Luis managed Flamengo for 18 months (Getty)
Andoni Iraola
The Bournemouth manager, who will leave the south coast club this summer, has proven he can earn results in the Premier League while playing an attractive brand of football. He has also done it while improving young players and increasing their value, something that is clearly part of the current Chelsea project. But Iraola is reported to be considering a move back to his home club, Athletic Bilbao, for family reasons as much as football ones.
Cesc Fabregas
Like Felipe Luis, Fabregas would be something of a gamble given his lack of experience, having managed only one club, the Italian side Como. But Fabregas has worked wonders with the Serie A minnows and has them on the brink of European football next season. The 38-year-old is widely considered one of the brightest young coaches in the game.
Cesc Fabregas has built an impressive reputation at Como (Reuters)
Marco Silva
The Fulham manager has regularly been tipped to move on from Craven Cottage during his impressive five-year spell. He has a notable track record, winning trophies in Portugal and Greece in years gone by, and may feel he is ready for a new challenge at a Champions League club when his contract expires this summer.
Xabi Alonso
The former Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager is still out of work after his time at the Santiago Bernabeu was cut short earlier this season. He may be holding out for the Liverpool job, giving his links to Anfield, but Alonso will no doubt be considered by the Chelsea hierarchy and remains one of the most sought-after coaches in Europe.
Frank Lampard
Lampard would be a popular pick among fans at a time when the club is drifting and supporter sentiment is at a deep low. But surely the Coventry manager will not be tempted by a risky jump to Stamford Bridge – again – having just steered his team to the Championship title and a return to the premier League after 25 years away.
Frank Lampard has guided Coventry to the Championship title (PA)
The Boston Red Sox can’t figure out how to put together a winning streak, as they haven’t won three consecutive games this season. The Red Sox have two losing streaks of three or more games (March 28 to April 1 and April 4-6) and have lost two straight to the New York Yankees.
Unable to fully put things together as a team, Red Sox manager Alex Cora voiced his frustrations that his players aren’t producing when they need to.
Alex Cora says that the Boston Red Sox “need to be better”
“We have to be better,” Cora said postgame. “Second and third with no outs, we've got to score. We've got to find a way to put the ball in play and score and where we’re at right now, it's been tough. The whole home stand, right? We had some situations with [Tarik] Skubal when he pitched, bases loaded no outs. We score one, first and third, no outs, we didn’t score. So we got to be better. Everybody here believes that we have a good team. Good teams have to find a way to score runs against good pitching.”
The Red Sox's lone run came on a two-out single to centerfield by outfielder Jarren Duran, which scored infielder Trevor Story. The game would end a batter later when infielder Caleb Durbin grounded out to shortstop.
The best chance the Red Sox had to cut in and possibly overtake the Yankees was in the bottom of the second like Cora said. With runners on second base and third base and no outs, three straight Red Sox hitters: Durbin, catcher Connor Wong and infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa struck out.
As a team, the Red Sox are hitting .223 (23rd) and 20th in ERA for the pitching staff (4.39). If the Red Sox are to turn things around they will need their two star players, outfielder Roman Anthony and left-hander Garrett Crochet, to turn their seasons around.
Anthony is hitting .225 with a .686 OPS in 22 games, while Crochet is 2-3 with a 7.88 ERA in five starts.
MUMBAI: Captaining five-time champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings is never a straightforward task. The challenge becomes even more daunting when the men in charge are asked to fill the towering shoes of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, figures who enjoy near-mythical status at their respective franchises. MI skipper Hardik Pandya and CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad are discovering firsthand how heavy that burden can be.
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As the IPL heavyweights prepare to lock horns at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, the spotlight will not only be on two sides desperate to resurrect faltering campaigns but also on captains struggling to find form while navigating the pressures of leadership.
Both Pandya and Gaikwad entered the 19th edition of the IPL with impressive credentials. Pandya had a stellar 2025, scoring 217 runs and claiming nine wickets, playing a pivotal role in India’s triumph at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Gaikwad, meanwhile, enjoyed a solid domestic season for Maharashtra before marking his return to the Indian ODI side with a century against South Africa in Dec 2025. However, the transition from individual success to leading high-profile IPL franchises has been anything but smooth.
Pandya’s struggles have been particularly stark. The 32-year-old has managed just 96 runs in five matches this season, with his declining effectiveness in the death overs becoming increasingly evident. His last two innings, a laboured 14 off 12 balls against Punjab Kings and a scratchy 15 off 16 deliveries versus Gujarat Titans, have underlined his inability to dominate opposition bowling attacks when it matters most.
With the ball too, Pandya has not been potent. He has taken only three wickets while conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.69, a worrying spike from his career average of 9.29.
Rohit and Dhoni have a hit
The availability of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni for Thursday’s clash remains uncertain, with both players subject to fitness assessments by their respective medical teams.
“MS, we will know today. That decision will be made once the medical staff is completely satisfied that he is ready to go,” CSK bowling consultant Eric Simons said on Wednesday. Both, though, had a hit in the nets on match eve.
2 - hundreds have been recorded in matches between MI vs CSK — 114* off 48 balls by Sanath Jayasuriya on May 14, 2008 and 105* off 63 balls by Rohit Sharma on April 14, 2024, both at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
88 - Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten knock off 58 balls in Dubai on Sept 19, 2021, the highest individual innings for CSK against MI in the IPL.
It’s not looking good... update on Lamine Yamal’s injury, says SER
FC Barcelona is holding its breath after the latest reports on the physical condition of its young star, Lamine Yamal. His injury-enforced exit in the win at Celta de Vigo has put all of Barça and Spanish football on alert.
As journalist Santi Ovalle reported on Cadena SER, the signs are far from positive. Initial examinations indicate that the academy product has suffered a muscle tear, a diagnosis that would drastically change the recovery timetable initially expected by the club’s medical staff.
"It doesn’t look good because he has a tear, and now we need to see how severe it is," Ovalle explained, also stressing that the player is "really shaken" emotionally.
FC Barcelona is expected to issue an official statement later this morning after the player undergoes more extensive tests at the Joan Gamper training ground. These tests will determine the size of the tear and, therefore, the exact amount of time Lamine will have to stay off the pitch.
With the end of the season and the World Cup on the horizon
This injury comes at a time of maximum pressure in the schedule. The Mataró-born player’s participation in El Clásico is completely ruled out, and his presence at the World Cup is more in doubt than ever.
Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has landed in the middle of a developing anti-doping controversy, with the possibility of facing anything from a warning to a six-month suspension following a reported positive test for a banned recreational substance during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to conduct a detailed investigation, aiming to ensure due process while speeding up proceedings. The final outcome will depend on factors such as the quantity of the substance found and the circumstances surrounding its use.
According to the report by The News, Dr Waqar Ahmad, founder chairman of the Anti-Doping Organisation of Pakistan, clarified the framework governing such cases. “There is no punishment for the use of recreational substances outside competition,” he explained. “However, if such substances are detected during competition, the athlete may face consequences ranging from a simple reprimand to a suspension of up to six months.”
He added that “Each case is judged on its merits. Education, intent, and rehabilitation all play a role in determining the outcome.”
With Nawaz currently in Pakistan, the ICC has delegated the probe to the PCB for logistical and practical reasons. The PCB’s medical panel has already completed its investigation and submitted a report to the ICC, which will make the final decision since the alleged violation occurred during an ICC event.
“It is a time-consuming and resource-intensive exercise for ICC committee members to travel and conduct inquiries locally,” Dr Waqar noted. “Therefore, the subordinate body is entrusted to carry out a thorough probe and submit its findings to the game’s governing body for final adjudication.”
Recreational substances commonly flagged in such cases include cannabis, cocaine, and MDMA. Nawaz is expected to clarify how the substance entered his system, whether through inadvertent use, medication, or other means. There is also a possibility that prescribed medication during a rehabilitation phase could play a role in his defense which he used ahead of T20 World Cup 2026.
Nawaz was set to join Surrey County Cricket Club for the upcoming T20 Blast after receiving a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the PCB. However, the deal has now reportedly fallen through, and he will no longer feature for the club this summer. Despite the ongoing investigation, Nawaz has continued to play in the Pakistan Super League, representing Multan Sultans. He recently bowled three wicketless overs in their six-wicket win over Rawalpindi in Karachi. The outcome of the investigation will be crucial in determining Nawaz’s future in international cricket. If found guilty of violating anti-doping regulations, he could face suspension or further disciplinary action.
Dorothy Wall has been drafted into the starting line-up [Getty Images]
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has made one change to his starting XV for Saturday's Women's Six Nations trip to France.
Dorothy Wall replaces Ruth Campbell in the second row in the only alteration from the line-up that started last week's resounding 57-20 win over Italy in Galway.
On the bench, Eilis Cahill is named as the back-up tight-head prop as Sadhbh McGrath drops out of the squad.
Ireland are aiming for a first away Women's Six Nations win over France and are also hoping to avenge last year's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Les Bleues.
Bemand has stuck with the same backline after a free-flowing attacking performance that yielded nine tries in Galway.
Stacey Flood continues at full-back with right wing Beibhinn Parsons hoping to build on her hat-trick against the Italians. On the opposite wing, Robyn O'Connor is retained after her try-scoring debut in Galway.
Aoife Dalton and Nancy McGillivray continue in midfield with Dannah O'Brien and Emily Lane - who has three try assists in this year's tournament - remaining in the half-backs.
Ellena Perry, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang form an unchanged front row, with Wall recalled to partner Fiona Tuite in the second row after dropping to the bench for the Italy game.
The in-form back row includes Aoife Wafer, who recaptured her best form against Italy, captain Erin King and Brittany Hogan.
Eli Stowers is no stranger to a position change with his versatile skillset. In high school, he was a four-star recruit at quarterback while also winning a Texas state championship in the high jump.
He alternated between quarterback and tight end in his first two years at Texas A&M, hardly seeing the field. After transferring to New Mexico State, he completed four passes at QB, but largely played tight end.
In his two years at Vanderbilt, he was almost exclusively a tight end, with the exception of one completed pass in 2024. This went for a touchdown, meaning that Stowers has 5 completed passes at the collegiate level, with two going for touchdowns.
Now, Stowers may be undergoing another position change to wide receiver. Here's everything to know about the tight end's transition.
It remains to be seen where exactly Stowers will play, as different NFL scouts appear to be projecting him at different positions.
Some see him as a tight end, the position he played for the back half of his collegiate career. Other scouts see his 40-yard dash time, as well as his athleticism and vertical jump as the perfect build for an NFL wide receiver.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah scouted for three NFL teams and compared Stowers' number most closely to WR DK Metcalf. This occurred during a telecast of the NFL Scouting Combine prior to Stowers' 40-yard dash time. But his pace only furthered the WR comparisons.
Eli Stowers 40 time
Stowers ran a 4.51 in the 40-yard dash, which lands him in third among tight ends, with Kenyon Sadiq running a 4.39 and RJ Maryland also running a 4.51.
Compare this number to wide receivers and Stowers would rank No. 27 out of 35 wide receivers.
The Chicago Bears took a big step forward last season. Now, they're eyeing title contention.
Caleb Williams' growth, one of the NFL's best run games and strong fourth-quarter play all contributed to the Bears winning the NFC North under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
Heading into 2026, Chicago has added safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush, prioritizing its defense in free agency. But with the No. 25 pick in the draft and plenty more, the team will be continuing to address its needs, from pass rusher to the offensive line.
The Sporting News is tracking the Bears' selections at the 2026 NFL Draft, along with a breakdown of Chicago's positional needs and predictions. Here's the latest on the Bears' picks.
Safety: The Bears had one of the NFL's better safety rooms in 2025, with Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Owens and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all contributing. None of those players are returning. Chicago partially addressed safety by signing former Seahawk Coby Bryant, but Ben Johnson still needs another playmaker alongside him.
EDGE: The Bears could use some help for Montez Sweat, who posted 10.0 sacks in 2025 to lead the team. Only one other EDGE had more than 1.5, which was Austin Booker with 4.5 sacks. Adding another pass rusher opposite of Sweat could help elevate a Chicago defense that put up just 35 as a team last year.
Offensive Tackle: The Bears' offensive line saw some changes this offseason, with Drew Dalman's retirement being the most surprising. However, with Ozzy Trapilo recovering from an injury, the Bears are currently set to have a LT competition including Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet. They could certainly pursue a rookie to lead that competition — or finding a longer-term center option than Garrett Bradbury would also be wise.
‘My main objective shouldn’t be to motivate a Real Madrid player’ – Alvaro Arbeloa
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has told the media that his job is not to motivate his players, which is part of the demands they should make of themselves. He also gave an update on the fitness of Eder Militao, after he went off on Tuesday with an injury.
One of the criticisms of Real Madrid this season is that their players seem to have upped the ante in the Champions League, but have struggled to show the same vivaciousness in La Liga. Arbeloa was asked about how he intends to fire his side up for the final stages of the season.
“My main objective shouldn’t be to motivate a Real Madrid player; they have very high standards for themselves. My objective is to prepare them for what awaits them on the pitch.”
‘Others things to blame for defeats’ – Arbeloa
Nevertheless, it was put to him that at times this season, it seemed Los Blancos were clearly lacking in that regard.
“Other things must have happened, there are many things to do well beyond that. There will be other reasons that we haven’t won games, and I can’t remove responsibility from myself for that. You have to be very well prepared, tactically, football-wise, at every level and do a lot of things.”
Real Madrid’s academy involvement
One of the positives of Arbeloa’s tenure so far has been the progress of several academy players, most notably Thiago Pitarch, who started both legs of their Champions League Round of 16 tie with Manchester City. Yet their involvement has declined somewhat with the return of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham from injury.
“The lads have helped, they’ve shown they can do it in the first team. It’s one of the most positive things about this season. We’ve seen they do very well, the other day with the Youth League, also with Castilla… My confidence in them will always remain intact.”
Kylian Mbappe likes Mourinho and Eder Militao fitness
“He’s going to have a scan now, but it doesn’t seem serious. We’ll see what the results of this test show.”
Los Blancos travel to La Cartuja on Friday night to face Real Betis in La Liga, when they will try to reduce the gap to Barcelona down to six points before their clash with Getafe.
Club Brugge back in the title race after Gent deny Union St Gilloise
They say a week is a long time in football, and for Club Brugge and Union St Gilloise, this week has already seen the title race pendulum swing both ways. After Union beat Club Brugge on Sunday, it looked like the title was destined for Brussels. Both sides had been imperious against the other sides in the play-offs.
Yet, just three days later, Club Brugge had closed the gap from four points to just two. On Wednesday, Club Brugge welcomed KV Mechelen to the Jan Breydel. By half-time, it looked like Club Brugge were about to drop more points with the game balanced at 1-1. 45 minutes later, Club Brugge had scored another five goals to ensure they picked up three vital points with an emphatic victory. It got even better for the side when the full time whistle blew in Brussels.
Gent had held Union to a 0-0 draw, a result that massively benefits Club Brugge. Now the side will need to ensure they do not drop anymore points to Union before the two sides meet in Brugge in a few weeks time. Ivan Leko was confident following the defeat on Sunday that his side were not out of the title race. On the other side, David Hubert was also keen to point out that his side had not won anything yet. Both men were right, but one is certainly far happier than the other.
Club Brugge will travel the short distance to Gent on Sunday hoping to avoid dropping any points, while Union will remain in Brussels to face city rivals Anderlecht.
2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button has reflected on his "emotional" reunion with his title-winning Brawn GP car at the 83rd Goodwood Members' Meeting.
Over the Members' Meeting weekend, the Briton drove a Jaguar E-type and his Chevrolet Camaro Z28, as well as the Brawn GP F1 car. Having previously driven the BGP 001 at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, in 2019, Button was driving the car again for the first time in seven years.
"I always do [have a smile on my face] at Goodwood anyway, but yeah, Goodwood and my Brawn championship-winning car - very emotional," he explained after completing a run at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
"It was pretty awesome going out. I've only ever driven historics around here, so getting out in an F1 car was a little bit of a shock initially, but it feels so natural. It does. It feels so much more natural than anything I drive here.
"But it's insane how quick these things are. You forget. I'm arriving at corners thinking, 'Oh, I'll just brake where I did in theE-type.' It was so much further, and sometimes you're not even braking.
After an emotional reunion with his title-winning #Brawn BGP 001 at #83MM, Jenson Button couldn't wipe the smile off his face! Did you catch the 2009 #F1 World Champion in action? pic.twitter.com/kAF4zVcr7G
"I don't know what speed we are on the back straight, but it's quick, so a wonderful opportunity for me. You know, this is... this is my life, you know? Having Ross be that kind to let me drive his car again is pretty amazing. Amazing year, 2009. I drove the car in 2019, at Silverstone, but lovely to drive it here.
"I think people forget how special these cars were in terms of the size, the weight, the sound. Pretty spectacular. No better place to drive it and show off than here at Goodwood."
Button retired from full-time racing at the end of 2025 after completing his final season in the World Endurance Championship.
Apr 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft theater stage at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
We have finally arrived at the NFL Draft after the incredibly long process, and we get to see where the Notre Dame football players land in the league.
The 2026 NFL Draft Round 1 begins Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) in Pittsburgh, PA, broadcast on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network. Rounds 2–3 follow on Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. ET, and Rounds 4–7 on Saturday, April 25, at noon ET. NFL.com +3
Round 1: Thursday, April 23, 8 p.m. ET
Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. ET
Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 25, 12 p.m. ET NFL.com +2
You can stream the draft on Fubo, NFL+, or the ESPN App. The first pick is expected to be announced around 8 p.m. ET.
There are seven Notre Dame players that have been projected to possibly be drafted over the next three days:
RB Jeremiyah Love
RB Jadarian Price
WR Malachi Fields
TE Eli Raridon
OL Billy Schrauth
OL Aamil Wagner
WR Will Pauling
Six Irish players were selected in the 2024 draft and 7 Irish players were selected in the 2025 draft, so this year seems like it will be in the same neighborhood. During the three year span in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 NFL Drafts, 21 Notre Dame players were selected.
PLAYER
ROUND
OVERALL PICK
NFL TEAM
Jeremiyah Love
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Jadarian Price
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Malachi Fields
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Eli Raridon
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Billy Schrauth
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Aamil Wagner
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Will Pauling
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Junior Tuihalamaka
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Jordan Botelho
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Jared Dawson
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James Rendell
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Noah Burnette
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Gabe Rubio
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DeVonta Smith
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Jalen Stroman
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Jake Tafelski
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OPEN THREAD
The open thread is OPEN below for NFL Draft discussion AL DAY. I know many of us are on Twitter or Bluesky for most of the event, but I encourage you to vent and do other things that require more than 280 characters here. Be sure to check The Feed for important updates and highlights during the Draft.
With the start of the 2026 NFL Draft just hours away, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah issued his final mock draft, which had the Detroit Lions standing firm at their No. 17 spot and selecting a potential immediate starter to a position of need with their first-round pick.
Per Jeremiah, the Lions are projected to draft Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, who will instantly fill the void at left tackle created by the recent release of Taylor Decker. He also mentioned that the Lions would avoid the temptation of trading up in the draft to secure an offensive tackle, as he believes the Lions will have plenty of options to choose from at No. 17.
There’s a widespread expectation that the Lions will draft an offensive tackle in Round 1. They could be tempted to trade up for one, but I expect them to have options even if they stand pat. Freeling is ultra athletic and could give the Lions the opportunity to keep Penei Sewell at right tackle, if they so choose.
With the offensive line being a top priority for the Honolulu Blue, Freeling falling to them at No. 17 would certainly be quite an exciting way to kick off a potentially fruitful weekend from the Steel City.
The Madrid Open and the Canadian Open are two of the six biggest mixed events in tennis outside the Grand Slams, known as ATP Masters 1000s and WTA 1000s. The BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., the Miami Open, the Italian Open and the Cincinnati Open are the others.
These events award the most prize money and the most rankings points, other than the season-ending ATP and WTA Tour Finals, for which only the top eight singles players of the season qualify. They also receive the most money for sponsorships and media rights.
Licenses for these events are valued at roughly $500 million. Tennis isn’t making more of them at the moment. The Grand Slams aren’t for sale. A 1,000-level license is the most valuable commodity in the sport.
Fans also travel from all manner of time zones and cross plenty of borders to attend — and to see their favorite players. To be at one of these events is supposed to be akin to being at the center of the tennis universe, where it’s all happening, because by rule, during a combined ATP and WTA 1000 event, nothing can happen at the tour level anywhere else. They run 12 days, which is why ATP Challenger Tour and WTA 125 events — the second rungs of professional tennis — see their entry lists get stacked during the second week of the headline show, in case top players lose early.
But over the past 18 to 24 months, the biggest stars in the sport have been getting more outspoken about the relentlessness of the 11-month season, and more choosy about the events that they skip in order to play as much and as effectively as they can for as long as possible. At this year’s Madrid Open, the event has run into a bit of bad luck with one of the brightest lights in the entire sport.
The rest of its laundry list of withdrawals — 23 across the men’s and women’s draws, from and up down the rankings — is connected to its place in the tennis calendar, and its outlier status in the clay-court swing that defines the middle part of the year.
Alcaraz, a two-time winner of the event who last year missed it with a forearm injury, made it two straight misses last week. He withdrew from the Barcelona Open with a wrist injury after winning his first match, then withdrew from the Madrid Open too in short order.
“I’m trying to be very patient these days, but we’re doing OK, we’re here, waiting for some tests in the coming days, and from there we’ll see how the injury is and what the next steps will be,” Alcaraz said during a news conference at the Laureus event.
“For now, I’m just trying to stay positive and keep my spirits up, even though these days feel long.”
On the same day Alcaraz pulled out, Djokovic announced he would skip Madrid for the third time in four years. Djokovic, who will turn 39 next month, is a kind of part-time tennis player at the moment, though he remains the world No. 4 because he has proven that when he shows up for big events and feels motivated, there are only two players in the world who can consistently beat him — Alcaraz and Sinner.
“Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete this year,” Djokovic wrote on social media. He lost in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, then pulled out of the Miami Open with a right-arm injury. He has not played since.
“I’m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!”
Djokovic’s announcement didn’t come as a shock, even though he is a three-time winner in Madrid and has a home in Spain. Tournament organizers, who were distressed but not panicked by the rising tide of withdrawals, met this announcement with regrets.
“We hope to see you back here as soon as possible so we can enjoy your tennis as we have done so many times in the Caja Mágica,” the tournament wrote on social media.
Other notable withdrawals include Jack Draper, last year’s finalist and a former world No. 4, who is nursing a knee injury, and a slew of Americans: Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Sebastian Korda. On the women’s side, two-time major finalist Amanda Anisimova, the in-form Karolína Muchová, Emma Raducanu, Emma Navarro and Barbora Krejčíková are all out, but the top five players in the world are all present and correct.
Feliciano Lopez, the former player who serves as the tournament co-director with two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza, said in a statement Tuesday that the Madrid Open remains one of the key stops on the clay calendar.
“We deliver an event and experience players value,” Lopez said. “Withdrawals are part of the sport and reflect individual circumstances in that moment. Players want to perform at their best and don’t want to miss Madrid unless they have to.”
For an event as big as the Madrid Open, most of the revenues, including media rights fees, sponsorships and the bulk of tickets, especially for the more expensive late-round matches, are locked in before players take the court for the first matches. The biggest impact of withdrawals is likely on last-minute ticket buyers — or on disappointed fans who were hoping to see a star or two and end up missing out at the one tournament they can attend per year.
That said, if the Madrid Open got a reputation for not being able to attract all the best players consistently, selling high-price sponsorships and hospitality packages could become more difficult. And if players are getting choosier about the events they play, the event is the biggest on the European clay-court swing with the most possible reasons to give it a miss, outside of sudden, acute injuries like the one Alcaraz suffered during his Barcelona Open win over Otto Virtanen of Finland.
On the ATP Tour, most of the best non-American men are loath to miss the Monte Carlo Masters. Many of them live in Monaco, and the event takes place at the Monte Carlo Country Club, where many of them train. The Americans often play the U.S. Clay Court Championships in Houston on the men’s side, and the Charleston Open on the women’s side. They are both the week before the Monte Carlo Masters.
During that week, men’s and women’s players alike mostly rest, train and then fly across the Atlantic, ahead of what for many of them ends up being a three-month trip to Europe that doesn’t end until after Wimbledon. Given the lack of success on the surface on the men’s side, any U.S. ATP Tour player with a longer-term injury concern (like Taylor Fritz, who is managing knee tendonitis) is likely to pick the terre battue as their layoff period. Ben Shelton’s triumph at the Munich Open this past Sunday was the biggest win for an American man on clay since Andre Agassi won the Italian Open — in 2002.
The Madrid Open also has some baked-in challenges from the sport’s calendar. Like the Canadian Open, it’s an ATP Masters and WTA 1000 event ahead of a Grand Slam on the same surface. The Canadian Open, a hard-court event played in Toronto and Montreal because neither city has a venue big enough to house both tours at once, starts four weeks before the U.S. Open. The Madrid Open starts four weeks before the French Open.
But both tournaments have another 1,000-level event between them and the Grand Slam for which they are a preparation. The Cincinnati Open follows the Canadian Open; the Italian Open follows the Italian Open.
Given how physical the sport has become, players who can afford to skip a tournament without the loss of money and rankings points that comes with it can be wary of playing two events of this size back to back right before a Grand Slam. The back-to-back-to-back lineup carries an increased risk of injury. According to two people briefed on discussions, who were not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing internal plans, the tours plan to look at the timing of the events as part of an ongoing effort to streamline and optimize the prize money, rankings and schedule ahead of the 2028 season. The WTA Tour announced a council devoted to optimizing its calendar in February.
Then there are the conditions. Madrid sits more than 2,000 feet above sea level, and the weather can be plenty hot and dry, though cooler at night. Tennis balls fly faster through the air the thinner and drier it gets, and the Madrid Open has historically been more favorable to big-serving players than its clay-court cousins.
“It’s a different sort of clay court,” said Brian Garber, the coach of Ethan Quinn, the rising American.
If preparation for the French Open is the primary goal, a player choosing between Madrid and Rome would have an easy decision, and Madrid would not come out on top. The Italian Open is a much closer facsimile in terms of elevation and weather, and it comes without a potential three-week gap of no serious match practice in helpful conditions.
In addition, the Madrid Open has a reputation among players and coaches as being a tough place to get extended time for practice courts. Organizers have scrambled in recent years to add additional courts to accommodate the tournament’s shift to a two-week event with 96 players in each of the main draws, 48 in each of the qualifying draws, and 32 teams in each doubles event.
Real Madrid’s famous soccer stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu, will install a court for the biggest stars to get acclimatized away from prying eyes, thanks to a quirk in the La Liga team’s fixture schedule. This is in keeping with the event’s experimental streak: It is one of the most creative from a media perspective, offering live streams on Twitch and more complete highlights than most tournaments in its class.
Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 who has won four consecutive ATP Masters 1000 tournaments going back to last season, generally doesn’t have much trouble finding a practice court. He’s never been past the quarterfinals in Madrid, so he has something of a personal mission that he spoke of in an interview on the tournament’s website.
“I have to try to figure out how to play on this surface and in Madrid,” he said. For the tournament, just being there might be enough.
After losing 12 straight games, the New York Mets have won a game. A single by infielder Mark Vientos to drive in infielder Brett Baty in the eighth inning would prove to be the game-winning run.
Right-hander Luke Weaver would come in to save the game for the Mets in the ninth inning, which he did with ease. Weaver faced the heart of the Minnesota Twins order and allowed one hit to infielder Brooks Lee and the rest were strikeouts.
Luke Weaver had “no fear” when facing Byron Buxton and the Minnesota Twins
“Look, this wasn't about attitude,” Weaver said post-game to Steve Gelbs of SNY. “This wasn't about work ethic. This wasn't about a bad demeanor. There was none of that. It's about just showing up every day, giving you something to cheer about. And thankfully, today, we freaking did that.”
Weaver added about his demeanor on the mound when facing Twins outfielder Byron Buxton he is not afraid of anybody. Weaver would get Buxton out swinging on an 87-mile-per-hour changeup.
“Look, people smell fear. I'm not the biggest guy in the room, but I ain't scared of nobody, and that's the attitude I try to take, and if I screw up, it's on me. But at the end of the day, I'm gonna sleep at night and I'm gonna feel good about the effort I put in, and I ain't fearing nobody you remember that.”
Weaver has gotten off to a rough start this season after signing a two-year ($22 million) contract, but has pitched three straight scoreless innings. Overall the 32-year-old is 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 games.
Now that the Mets have ended their skids, the only place for them to go is up, as right-hander Devin Williams said once they “get that one win…everything else will take care of itself.”
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "ON THE CLOCK" for the New England Patriots during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 NFL Draft has arrived, and things will look different this time around for the New England Patriots.
After back-to-back years picking quickly inside the top-5, the Patriots are back near the end of the first round with the 31st overall selection.
The timing of the first round will look different as well, with the NFL reducing the time per pick in Round 1 from 10 minutes to eight. If every team uses their full amount of time, that would put the Patriots on the clock just after midnight — around 12:08 a.m. ET.
That timeline will likely move up, however, as teams typically don’t use their full eight minutes for each pick. If that trend holds, New England is projected to make its selection closer to 10:30 p.m. ET, barring a trade up or down the board.
Patriots draft picks
Round 1 • Pick 31 — 8 minutes per pick
Round 2 • Pick 63 — 7 minutes per pick
Round 3 • Pick 95 — 5 minutes per pick
Round 4 • Pick 125 and 131 — 5 minutes per pick
Round 6 • Pick 191, 198, 202, and 212— 5 minutes per pick
Round 7 • Pick 247 — 4 minutes per pick
Unlike recent drafts, predicting New England’s first-round selection is more difficult. Addressing needs at edge rusher and offensive tackle remain among the most likely options depending on how the board shakes out. The hope is that whoever is selected can help get the Patriots back to the Super Bowl, as they currently hold the fourth-best odds to win the AFC on FanDuel Sportsbook.
It's draft day, and unlike the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants, Philadelphia will pick at the back end of the first round. Their initial pick will come at No. 23 overall on night one.
The Eagles have nine selections in the 2026 NFL draft: Picks: Nos. 23, 54, 68, 98, 114, 137, 153, 178, 197, and could land more if Howie Roseman starts wheeling and dealing. For fans who aren't focused on where Fernando Mendoza, David Bailey, Arvell Reese, or Jeremiah Love may land, Philadelphia fans could have a lengthy first-round wait unless Howie Roseman moves up for a player he covets.
Philadelphia is on the clock at No. 23 overall as we enter Thursday, leaving fans and experts with a 23-pick wait thanks to another playoff berth and winning back-to-back NFC East crowns.
For fans and experts who are curious, we're examining the exact time each NFL team made the 23rd selection over the past five years:
New for 2026
The time between first-round selections has been shortened from 10 minutes to eight minutes. It’s the first timing adjustment since 2008, when the allotment dropped from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. The timing for Rounds 2-7 remains unchanged from last year.
HALL OF FAME PRESENTED BY EMIRATES: ANCELOTTI, GULLIT AND KAKÁ VOTED BEST MIDFIELDERS
Carlo Ancelotti, Ruud Gullit, and Ricardo Kaká officially enter the Hall of Fame presented by Emirates as the greatest midfielders in the history of AC Milan.
It is a prestigious prize, awarded by the Rossoneri's supporters in a worldwide vote, that celebrates their ability to embody the passion and values of the Club, as well as the success they achieved during their AC Milan careers. While at the Club, Gullit and Kaká thrilled generations of fans and won the Ballon d'Or in 1987 and 2007, respectively, while Ancelotti - before his success in the dugout - was a technical leader on the pitch under the guidance of Arrigo Sacchi.
Their names will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame alongside Honorary Member Franco Baresi and Elected Members Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko and Marco van Basten, winners in the forwards category, together forming the "Class of 2026". In the coming years, goalkeepers and defenders who have left an indelible mark on the Club's history will also be added.
The award ceremonies will begin on Sunday, 26 April, ahead of the meeting between AC Milan and Juventus at San Siro. Before kick-off, in front of the Rossoneri crowd in the stands, Ruud Gullit will be the first midfielder to receive the trophy crafted by Tiffany & Co., the Official Trophy Maker of the Hall of Fame. The trophy is a symbol of excellence and timeless elegance, which perfectly reflects the stature of the names engraved on it. The recognition will also be presented to the other two Legends at a later date.
Launched as part of the celebrations for the Club's 125th Anniversary, the Hall of Fame presented by Emirates aims to honour the century-long legacy of AC Milan while inspiring future generations of Rossoneri fans to continue writing new chapters in its history.
Racing fans can expect a high-octane start to the season at Muskingum County Speedway with the return of Essential Ohio Energy Opening Night, according to a community announcement.
The dirt track, located at 7985 Frazeysburg Road, has long been intertwined with Ohio’s oil and gas industry. Longtime owner and promoter Ronnie Moran was a self-employed oil well driller and industry supporter. After his passing, his grandson Tristin Moran took over as track promoter.
Celebrating tradition and industry
“We are excited to get the 2026 season underway,” Tristin Moran said in the announcement. “Our opening night celebrates an industry that has helped drive our community’s growth, and the Muskingum County Speedway is thankful for ONEi’s continued partnership.”
Bruce Tague, executive director of ONEi, said the institute is honored to help kick off another year of dirt track racing in Zanesville.
“The Muskingum County Speedway is a cornerstone of this community, and we are proud to support an event that celebrates the tradition and community strength that define our essential industry," Tague said.
More races planned
Essential Ohio Energy Opening Night is the first of three races sponsored by ONEi and its foundation this season. Other races include the Ronnie Moran Memorial and the Shale Crescent Dirt Cup.
Gates will open at 4 p.m., with hot laps starting at 5 p.m. and races beginning at 6 p.m.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
Horner is eyeing a route back into the sport after his sacking from Red Bull last summer, following two decades of success leading the outfit as team principal. He won 14 F1 world championships in total.
Brown enjoyed a fractious and fierce relationship with Horner over the last few years, with the pair clashing over Red Bull’s cost-cap breach, incidents between star drivers Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, and even Red Bull’s internal investigation over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” levelled at Horner, for which he was cleared twice in 2024.
Yet, speaking at a McLaren media event on Wednesday, Brown has backed his long-term adversary to return to the paddock soon. “Christian was a great personality for the sport,” said the American.
“They come and go. It’d be great to have Christian back in the sport. He’s a great operator.
“I’d rather have 10 weak team principals, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon! It’d be great to have him back.
“I’m sure given his passion… I’d be shocked if he wasn’t back in the sport.”
Brown also spoke passionately about the concept of “A/B teams” in Formula 1, given Mercedes’s interest in Alpine and Red Bull’s two-team structure with Racing Bulls acting as a junior outfit for the main Red Bull team.
Zak Brown and Christian Horner were fierce rivals in the F1 paddock (Getty)
"In today's day and age, if that's permitted, I think it runs a real high risk of compromising the integrity of sporting fairness,” said Brown, who has long voiced his disapproval of one company owning two teams.
"And what would turn fans off is if they don't feel like there's 11 independent racing teams. I've been vocal about it from day one. We've seen it play out on track in a sporting way, with Daniel Ricciardo taking the fastest lap point away [Singapore GP, 2024] from us to help the other team.
"We've seen IP [intellectual property] violations on the Aston Martin/Racing Point brake ducts. We've seen employees move overnight, where we either have to wait and sometimes make financial deals, which then impact us in the cost cap.
"So when you see other teams that move from one to the other and then also without financial compensation, that's an unfair financial advantage. That's an unfair sporting advantage. We've seen Ferrari and Haas move people back and forth, and we know with IP, there's a lot in your head with that.
Brown has criticised the concept of “A and B teams’ in the sport (Getty)
"Can you imagine a Premier League game where you've got two teams owned by the same group - one's going to get relegated if they lose, and the other can afford to lose? That's what we run the risk of.
“So I think having engine power units as suppliers is as far as it should go and then in my view, all 11 teams should be absolutely as independent as possible because I think it has a high risk, and we have seen it, to compromise the integrity of the sport."
”It applies to anybody and everybody. So A and B teams, co-ownership, regardless of who it is, I frown upon it. I don't think it's healthy for the sport.”
F1 returns with the Miami Grand Prix, round four of the 2026 season, on 1-3 May.
Michigan football has produced at least one first-round pick each year since 2019.
But that streak is expected to end Thursday night, when the 2026 NFL Draft begins. None of the Wolverines’ top prospects are projected to come off the board Day 1.
No player from any of the other college programs in the state of Michigan is expected to be one of the top 32 choices, either. But eventually, a Wolverine will be selected. A couple of Spartans, a Bronco and a Chippewa may also be among the 257 draft hopefuls taken before the weekend ends.
Here’s a list of players from Michigan colleges and universities who could hear their names called over the next three days in the NFL draft:
Buzz: A talented pass rusher and team captain, Moore was one of the leaders of the Wolverines’ defense last season. He collected a team-high 10 sacks and forced two fumbles in 2025.
Jaishawn Barham, EDGE
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-3, 240.
Projection: Round 3.
Buzz: Barham earned a reputation as a hard hitter who routinely made bone-rattling tackles as he floated between an off-ball linebacker position and the edge of the defensive line. Flashing speed, power and explosiveness, he produced 10 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2025.
Marlin Klein, TE
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-6, 248.
Projection: Rounds 4-5.
Buzz: Klein had big shoes to fill after Mackey Award finalist Colston Loveland moved on to the NFL last April. But he didn't measure up to his esteemed predecessor. Last season, the German-born player contributed only 24 catches, 248 receiving yards and one touchdown. Still, Klein is an intriguing prospect because of his tantalizing physical traits and perceived untapped potential.
Rayshaun Benny, DT
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-3, 298.
Projection: Rounds 4-5.
Buzz: The Oak Park alum helped anchor Michigan’s defensive line last season, logging 458 snaps – more than any other player in his position group. Although he was not seen as a disruptive force, Benny was productive. In 2025, he amassed 35 tackles and 1½ sacks.
Jimmy Rolder, LB
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-2, 238.
Projection: Rounds 4-7.
Buzz: Rolder didn’t become a full-time starter until last season, his fourth with the Wolverines. As soon as he became a fixture in the middle, he distinguished himself as a strong run defender and sure tackler, producing a team-high 73 stops. Considered an average athlete, Rolder makes up for his physical limitations with excellent technique.
Matt Gulbin, C
School: Michigan State.
Vitals: 6-3, 305.
Projection: Rounds 5-6.
Buzz: Gulbin was in East Lansing for one season after transferring from Wake Forest. In his short time at MSU, he distinguished himself as the best performer on a deficient offensive line. In 2025, he thrived as a run blocker and was also solid in pass protection, allowing just five pressures in 11 starts.
Nadame Tucker, EDGE
School: Western Michigan.
Vitals: 6-1, 247.
Projection: Rounds 5-7.
Buzz: Tucker played at two junior colleges and one Power Four school – Houston – before coming to Western Michigan for his final college season. In Kalamazoo, Tucker raised his profile, topping the Football Bowl Subdivision in sacks (14½) and tackles for loss (21). Tucker eventually earned recognition as the MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Ryan Eckley, P
School: Michigan State.
Vitals: 6-0, 200.
Projection: Rounds 6-7.
Buzz: Eckley was a special teams ace throughout his college career at MSU. Last season, the three-time All-Big Ten selection led the FBS with an average of 48.5 yards per punt. If there is one knock on Eckley, it's that his right leg is so strong he sometimes outkicks his coverage.
Dominic Zvada, K
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-3, 178.
Projection: Round 7.
Buzz: In 2024, Zvada was one of the top kickers in the FBS. But his performance dipped last season as he missed eight of 25 field goal attempts. Zvada has historically been accurate from long distances, but has an inconsistent track record converting kicks inside 40 yards.
Michael Heldman, EDGE
School: Central Michigan.
Vitals: 6-3, 268.
Projection: Round 7.
Buzz: After failing to deliver much impact during his first four years at CMU, Heldman made his presence felt throughout the 2025 season. He led the Chippewas with 16½ tackles for loss and 10½ sacks, demonstrating he could be a disruptive pass rusher on a consistent basis.
Max Bredeson, FB/TE
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-2, 252.
Projection: Round 7.
Buzz: Bredeson, a prototypical H-Back, is happy to play the role of lead blocker. Although he doesn’t have outstanding physical traits, he is tough and dedicated to his craft. At the next level, he could be an asset on special teams.
Thoroughbred owners spent countless dollars in the hopes one of their horses might make it to the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
As this year's race approaches, 27 owners — spread across the 20 competing racehorses — are in line to be represented. There's a possibility for at least one change, though: Iron Honor might withdraw, moving Chip Honcho into the field. Iron Honor's trainer, Chad Brown, said it is likely they will focus on the Preakness Stakes; Iron Honor still will be part of the Derby provided he's at Churchill Downs by 11 a.m. Saturday. Chip Honcho has four owners: Leland Ackerley Racing (Lee Ackerley), James Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia.
Here's a look at the rest of the owners lineup in the Run for the Roses, listed in alphabetical order by horse's name (sole owners with multiple Derby entrants are grouped together):
What to know: Bernhard is one of two owners with multiple starters in this year's Derby; Vincent Viola of St. Elias stable has three horses in the race (Fulleffort, Golden Tempo and Iron Honor).
This is the first Derby for Bernhard.
Josephine Abercrombie founded Pin Oak Stud in 1952; she owned it until her death in 2022 at the age of 96. Later that year, Bernhard and her husband, Jim, bought Pin Oak. They owned it together until Jim's death Nov. 16. Since then, horses have been a source of comfort for Dana. Especially Albus and Incredibolt. "Losing Jim so suddenly ... was a profound, horrible experience," she told the Thoroughbred Daily News earlier this month. "I still have extreme waves of grief. I'm trying to get through it for everybody and to kind of take charge of a lot of our businesses again. But the two horses that have qualified for the Derby are such a great achievement for Pin Oak and our whole team. I see Jim in that every single day." That both her starters likely will be longshots come Derby Day doesn't bother Dana in the slightest. "I always think our horses will win. ... So when we don't win, it's a little bit surprising to me," she told TDN. "Maybe not to everyone else, but it is to me. So I absolutely have full confidence in Incredibolt and Albus."
Owner: Wathnan Racing (Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani)
What to know: Wathnan Racing's owner is Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar. Per the stable's website, "Wathnan Racing is named after a desert Arabian, a beloved stallion of Al Thani family folklore. He, in turn, was named for his kind and eager disposition — 'wathnan' can be translated as a 'crown of ears,' referring to his pricked ears, the surest sign that a horse truly is your friend." The stable was founded in October 2022, first racing in Qatar before beginning to run in the United Kingdom. Wathnan has not yet made North America a priority — since 2023, it has just 152 starts on the continent, per Equibase. This also doubles as Wathnan's Derby debut. It's a strong hand: Commandment enters atop the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 150. He's won four of his five starts, with victories in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes (both run at Gulfstream Park) this year.
What to know: Noda, one of Japan's richest men, owns Danox Co. (and by extension, Derby starter Danon Bourbon). According to Forbes, Noda has a net worth of more than $3.4 billion. He is the chairman and CEO of Obic, which Forbes notes is a "publicly traded computer-system integrator and custom software maker." Forbes reports that through the fiscal year that ended in March 2025, Obic "posted $452 million in net profit on $848 million in revenue." Noda founded the business in 1968 using money from his wife's savings. Though this will be Noda's first Derby appearance, he's a longtime race-winning owner in Japan.
What to know: Klarman, the owner of Klaravich Stables, gives it a go for the fifth time in the Run for the Roses. In his first two appearances, in 2004 (with Read the Footnotes, which placed seventh) and 2017 (Practical Joke, which finished fifth), Klarman was in a partnership. But in his two most recent Derby starts — a ninth in 2021 with Highly Motivated and a 13th in 2024 with Domestic Product — he's been the sole owner. He founded Klaravich Stables more than three decades ago with his friend, Jeff Ravich. The stable took its name by combining the first three letters of Klarman's last name with Ravich. After nearly a decade together, Ravich left the partnership "to start his own stable on the West Coast," according to America's Best Racing. While Derby glory has eluded Klarman to this point, he has a pair of Preakness Stakes wins to his name: 2017 (courtesy of Cloud Computing, which he owned in partnership with William Lawrence) and again in 2022 (via Early Voting). Klaravich Stables has finished in the top three in earnings among North American owners six straight years (2020-25). Klarman made his money in investments, running The Baupost Group. Forbes reports he's worth $1.5 billion. An ardent fan of the Boston Red Sox, Klarman is one of the team's minority owners.
Owners: St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola); Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf)
What to know: Both St. Elias and Starlight have already had a taste of Derby success. St. Elias won in 2017 with Always Dreaming. Starlight is a two-time winner, first with Justify (2018) and then Authentic (2020). Justify went on to capture the Triple Crown.
Viola is one of the world's richest people. Forbes put his net worth at $7.1 billion, as of April 21. But he wasn't born with a silver spoon. Forbes points out Viola was the "son of a truck driver from Brooklyn" before founding Virtu Financial, an electronic-trading firm, in 2008. He took the company public seven years later. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. In 2003, he created the Combating Terrorism Center at his alma mater. Viola also owns an NHL team, the Florida Panthers.
A native of Louisville, Wolf founded Starlight Racing in 2000 along with his wife, Laurie Wolf. A onetime professor, Wolf later started an Atlanta-based hedge fund, Columbus Partners. He stayed with the hedge fund until his retirement. If Fulleffort reaches the line first May 2, Wolf will become only the fourth owner with at least three wins in the Run for the Roses, joining Calumet Farm (eight) Col. E.R. Bradley (four) and Belair Stud (three).
Gustavson is seeking his second Derby win, as he was part of the ownership group for 2020 champion Authentic. According to Spendthrift Farm's official website, Gustavson joined "with the 2004 purchase of the farm by owner B. Wayne Hughes." Prior to becoming the owner, Gustavson was the farm's marketing director and president. Spendthrift originally was bought by Leslie Combs II in 1937. He died in 1990, and the farm went into bankruptcy amid a downturn in the thoroughbred industry. Prior to Combs' death, Triple Crown winners Affirmed and Seattle Slew lived on the farm after they retired from racing. Per America's Best Racing, "Ted Taylor purchased the main 496-acre tract of Spendthrift at a court-ordered bankruptcy auction in 1994" before Bruce Kline and a group of partners bought it in 2000. Once Hughes took over in 2004, he began returning Spendthrift to the status it had enjoyed during Combs' long reign.
Owners: Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito); St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)
What to know: Viola owns two other Derby entrants, Fulleffort and Iron Honor.
Phipps Pulito has one prior Derby start: She was 17th in 2021 with Dynamic One. While it's the only start she's credited with, Phipps Stable has a long history in the sport. Ogden Mills Phipps, who went by "Dinny," led Phipps Stable until his death in 2016. His daughter, Phipps Pulito, now campaigns horses with her family's name alongside her brother, Ogden. "When my grandfather and my dad had it, Phipps Stable was one of the biggest stables," Phipps Pulito told Daily Racing Form in February. "There wasn't all of these partnerships, and trainers didn't have that many horses either. When we had 35, 40 horses in training, we were one of the bigger stables, and this game is a bit of a numbers game, too." Prior to Dinny's death, he saw one of his thoroughbreds win the Run for the Roses, as Orb was the 2013 champion. Dinny's grandmother was Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps, who started Wheatley Stable in 1926. Though she never won the Derby, she made seven appearances in the race. Her most famous horse was Bold Ruler — Secretariat's father. And there's more: As America's Best Racing writes, Dinny's "great-grandfather, Henry Phipps, was a childhood friend and business partner of Andrew Carnegie, and they made their fortunes together in the iron and steel business in the 19th century."
Owners: St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola); William Lawrence; Glassman Racing
Viola owns two other Derby entrants, Fulleffort and Golden Tempo.
Lawrence is CEO and chief investment officer of Meridian Capital Partners, a hedge fund. Per America's Best Racing, "Lawrence, who grew up outside Albany, New York, and started attending the races at Saratoga at the age of 12, was introduced to frequent partner Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables by a mutual friend."
Glassman Racing is owned by the husband-and-wife team of Karl and Cathi Glassman. They launched their stable in 1995. Their most successful horse to this point is Arthur's Ride, the winner of the 2024 Whitney Stakes, a Grade 1 event at Saratoga. Beyond any on-track glory, Arthur's Ride always would have held a special place in the couple's heart: He was named after Karl's father, who died in 2022 at the age of 91, having lived through the Great Depression. "He was so poor when he was little," Karl told BloodHorse in 2024. "Heck, he spent the first 2 1/2 years of his life being raised in a chicken coop in Nebraska. That's how tough the Depression was."
What to know:Reddam Racing and its eponymous owner, Paul Reddam, hope the stars align for the third time on Derby day. Reddam has won the Run for the Roses twice, first in 2012 with I'll Have Another, then again in 2016 with Nyquist. Doug O'Neill was the trainer for both of those victories; he also trains Pavlovian. The lone difference between this year and Reddam's two prior wins? It won't be the same jockey. Mario Gutierrez was the winner in 2012 and 2016. But Pavlovian's jockey will be Edwin Maldonado, making his Derby debut. A Canadian who hails from Windsor, Ontario, Reddam once was a philosophy professor at California State University-Los Angeles. He then left higher education to found DiTech, a mortgage loan company. Per a 2016 Courier Journal article, the company "was the first of its kind to advertise its current rates on television and billboards." Reddam later sold DiTech to General Motors. As of April 19, Reddam Racing is 15th in winnings among North American owners in 2026. Like Wolf, a victory in this year's Derby would be the third for Reddam, making him only the fourth owner to accomplish that feat.
What to know: This will be Speedway Stables' second Derby start. It hopes the encore is better than the debut. In 2019, Roadster started wide and never got in the mix, taking 15th in a 19-horse field. Speedway isn't a stable that revs up too much in terms of starts: Since 2015, it's logged barely 300 total starts. And that's including races in which Speedway was in a partnership. Speedway doesn't yet have a Triple Crown win to its name, but it notched a Breeders' Cup victory in 2021, as Corniche captured the Juvenile. Speedway has 15 other graded-stakes wins — more than half of those in Grade 1 events. Speedway is a legacy ownership, in a sense. As America's Best Racing recounted, "Fluor and Weiner’s fathers were partners in racehorse ownership together, so the pair decided to pick up the torch." Fluor had been on the board of directors for the company of the same name, founded by his great-grandfather; Fluor retired from that position in 2021. He also once had been the chairman and CEO of Texas Crude Energy, an oil and gas exploration company. Weiner also worked at Texas Crude Energy as the company president.
Owners: Robert & Lawana Low; Repole Stable (Mike Repole)
What to know: Neither the Lows nor Repole are new to the Derby. This will be the third showing for the Lows; their best finish was third, with Steppenwolfer, in 2006. It'll be Derby Try No. 9 for Repole, who took third with Mo Donegal in 2022.
The Lows have 14 graded-stakes wins, four of the Grade 1 variety. Robert Low founded the Prime Inc. trucking company. He and his wife own the Primatara Horse Farm, located in Springfield, Missouri. On the property is one of the largest homes in the U.S. measuring more than 70,000 square feet.
Repole needs little introduction. Year in and year out, Repole Stable is among the successful in the industry. It's finished in the top 45 in winnings every year since 2008. That includes seven top-10 finishes (2010-13, 2023-25). According to Forbes, Repole's net worth is $2.5 billion. He made his big bucks in the beverage industry. He founded Glaceau, which makes Vitaminwater, and then sold the brand to Coca-Cola for $4.1 billion. Repole then created Bodyarmor; he again sold to Coca-Cola, this time for $5.6 billion.
What to know: The Derby is old hat for Oxley. Silent Tactic will be the ninth thoroughbred he's owned to run in the historic race. Oxley has one victory in the Run for the Roses: Monarchos won in 2001 with a time of 1:59.97. That was the second-best time in the history of the Derby behind the immortal Secretariat. Since Monarchos' triumph, the best an Oxley-owned horse has finished on Derby Day is fifth (Danzig Moon, 2015). Along with the 2001 Derby triumph, Oxley also has two Breeders' Cup wins: the 2016 Juvenile (with Classic Empire) and the 1999 Distaff (with Beautiful Pleasure). Oxley acquired his wealth via the oil industry, founding Oxley Petroleum — an oil and gas exploration firm based in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, per America's Best Racing — in 1962. He then sold Oxley Petroleum in 2003 to start another company: Oxley Resources LLC, which American's Best Racing wrote is "a smaller-scale oil and gas exploration and production venture." Oxley has athletic bloodlines, as his father is John T. Oxley, a Hall of Fame polo player and former chairman of the U.S. Polo Association.
Owners: Brunetti Dugan Stables; Black Type Thoroughbreds (Jake Ballis); Steve Adkisson; Swinbank Stables (Reagan Swinbank)
What to know: Every member of this ownership group is competing in the Run for the Roses for the first time ... except for Swinbank. In 2009, Swinbank was one of five owners of Join in the Dance, which finished seventh in the Derby. (One of Join in the Dance's other owners: then-NBA player Rashard Lewis.) A Texan, Swinbank had a heavy heart last year. His daughter was at Camp Mystic when it flooded in July 2025, killing 28 people, including 25 campers. Though Swinbank's daughter is among the survivors, it took a toll. "The funerals are brutal, but they do provide some closure. And as a community, we are getting through it," Swinbank told the Thoroughbred Daily News last year. "They're just kids. And they saw life-and-death situations that no one should ever have to see, let alone children."
Ballis co-founded Black Type Thoroughbreds. He and Swinbank are longtime friends. "I've known Jake since we were 10 years old, and I've kind of followed along with what Jake and his wife Maddie dictate,” Swinbank told TDN. "They say we should buy the horse, we buy it. I don't provide that much input, other than if the price gets too high."
Adkisson is a co-founder of Adkisson Group, a real estate development and investment firm based in Houston. "I've always loved the sport and the racing, and I finally got with the right group of people with Black Type Thoroughbreds," Adkisson told Past The Wire TV last year.
Brunetti Dugan Stables has been around less than a year. Little is known about it, other than it is a limited-liability company (LLC) registered in Texas.
Owners: Norman Stables (Robbie Norman); Saints or Sinners (Hans & Ana Maron)
What to know: Norman had one of the most inspiring stories of last year's Derby. He was the sole owner of Coal Battle, which finished 11th. Unlike so many thoroughbred owners with astounding wealth, Norman owned a small chain of grocery stores in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. He entered the industry more than a decade ago, which coincided with one of the most trying times of his life: Norman had recently gotten divorced. Watching a documentary on 2012 Belmont Stakes champion Union Rags inspired him. "I didn’t like to hunt, I didn’t like to fish, I tried golf and I didn’t like golf," Norman told the Call News last year. "I chose the perfect hobby for me." One can't argue with the results now that he owns Derby starters in consecutive years.
The other member of the ownership group, Saints or Sinners, is run by the husband-and-wife team of Hans and Ana Maron. Originally from Switzerland, Hans made his money via the beverage brand fairlife. Per Saints or Sinners' website, his "love affair with competition began with a passion for basketball (which he coached eventually) and quickly extended to horse racing at nearby Golden Gate Fields. Never afraid to take risks worth the experience, he bought his first race horse at the tender age of 25." He met Ana in college. Though she initially didn't have much interest in the sport, that's changed. "When we attend live racing, in the wee hours of the morning, you’ll find me at the barns in boots and jeans greeting the athletes and thanking the workers!" she said on the stable's website. Per Equibase, Saints or Sinners has a win-place-show rate of 53% (21-20-20 in 116 starts) in 2026, as of April 19.
What to know: John Amerman served as the CEO of the Mattel toy company for 11 years. John and his wife, Jerry, originally got into thoroughbred ownership via partnerships. In 1995, John and Jerry founded their own stable: Amerman Racing. As years went on, the pair decided to focus their finances into breeding as opposed to buying yearlings. It's paid off, as this is Amerman's second homebred Derby entrant: Endlessly placed ninth in the 2024 Run for the Roses. "It's a different way of handling the industry," John Amerman told BloodHorse in 2017. "For many years we went to the sales and finally we decided to take things into our own hands. But it takes a few years to develop a good group of broodmares. We believe we're there now." Though the Amermans don't yet own a Triple Crown victory, they have two wins in the Breeders' Cup: the 2016 Juvenile Turf (with Oscar Performance) and the 2003 Distaff (with Adoration).
Owners: OGMA Investments (Gustavo Delgado); JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo); High Step Racing (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira, Todd Perry)
What to know: This is the second Derby for Delgado and Restrepo. They were part of the winning ownership team in 2023 with that year's Derby champion, Mage. It will be the Derby debut for the five members of High Step Racing.
Delgado, as he was for Mage, is also The Puma's trainer.
Restrepo owns Marquee Bloodstock, which he launched in 2014. And he has deep roots in the sport. "Restrepo is the fifth generation of his family to participate in the Thoroughbred industry, reaching back to his great-great grandfather, who owned racehorses in Colombia in the 1800s," the Paulick Report wrote in a feature on Restrepo in 2019. "He could recall each branch of the family tree's contribution to its racing legacy with ease, from a grandfather who owned racetracks in Colombia to uncles who emigrated to New York and became trainers."
The quintet that comprises High Step Racing is a fairly new outfit. The stable was founded in 2023. Per its official website, "The group is based in Milton, (Georgia), focusing on collaborative ownership and racing of high-quality thoroughbred horses.
What to know: In addition to being Wonder Dean's owner, Yamamoto is also its breeder. Additionally, Yamamoto owns the dam, Wonder Siang Praw, who had win-place-show percentage of 50% (3-3-5) in 22 starts. Nearly every horse bred by Yamamoto's family carries the "Wonder" prefix. This will be Yamamoto's Derby debut. Wonder Dean has two wins in six career races, with a pair of runners-up as well. In his most recent start, Wonder Dean captured the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse, topping fellow Derby entrant Six Speed by 2½ lengths.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
The event enlisted a panel that included Churchill Downs reporter Kaitlin Benson, Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone and Horse Racing Nation’s Ed DeRosa with Courier Journal horse racing reporter Jason Frakes to provide insight on the best and worst in the field. The group broke down several races and discussed the horses and jockeys expected to hit the track in the 152nd Run for the Roses.
Here are five takeaways from the Better Derby Betting event:
If you go to Churchill Downs this week, don’t expect to see Renegade because he’s not there. He’s still in Florida with the plan being to wait until the very last minute to bring him into town.
Despite Renegade being expected to be the Derby’s morning-line favorite, the panel wasn’t sold on the colt, with DeRosa’s preference being Further Ado. Benson believes Renegade will be too far back during the race and called jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.’s Derby record “terrible.” Ortiz is 0 for 9 in the Derby, with his best finish being fourth while riding Improbable in 2019. He was scheduled to ride Forte, the favorite, in 2023, before the horse scratched. But Stone countered by calling Ortiz a generational talent and saying he believes Ortiz will win a Kentucky Derby soon.
Benson liked Albus, a Riley Mott-trained horse, for the bottom of a superfecta, but the panel raised some concerns about the colt’s pedigree and maturity. There’s potential there, but because of some immaturity, Albus isn’t a favored horse in the race. DeRosa has Albus in the bottom 10% of the horses in the field.
But what sets Albus back even more is that he’s the only horse in the field that has raced at Churchill Downs but hasn’t won there. Since 1992, Kentucky Derby horses that had raced at Churchill Downs but didn’t win coming into the Run for the Roses are 0 for 46, according to DeRosa.
Chad Brown has been known to be a conservative trainer. He’s not opposed to pulling one of his horses if he doesn’t believe they’re ready. That’s what has created some interest in Emerging Market. Although the 3-year-old colt has only two previous starts, he won both, the most recent being the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. There’s a belief that he can still be competitive in the field despite his inexperience.
"This is an extremely difficult task,” Stone said. “... Perhaps the Derby is one race too soon, but perhaps not.”
The Puma shipped late and didn’t arrive until Tuesday. And his only work was walking around shed row despite initial reports that he would get some track work in. While interviewing trainer Gustavo Delgado, Benson picked up on some reluctance in the horse, saying that the level of confidence “wasn’t what I was looking for.” Stone echoed the sentiments.
“The interview they did the day before, they were beaming with confidence. They were really excited to be here,” Stone said. “... Then the interview today was now, we’re to the point where we have to get lucky, make sure everything goes well. Reading between the lines here, playing psychologist, if you will. But it was enough for us to mention it here. Put it that way.”
DeRosa named Further Ado and Fulleffort as his favorites to win the Kentucky Derby. He noted that Further Ado has the highest combined margin of victory at Keeneland since 1991 after winning the Bluegrass Stakes six months after breaking his maiden at the Lexington track. Stone, too, is intrigued by Further Ado, who he said reminded him of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro because of his upside. He picked Further Ado and Fulleffort as his favorites.
Benson named Chief Wallabee as her Derby winner, while Frakes stuck with The Puma as his pick.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
Matt Fitzpatrick climbed to the top of the PGA Tour money list with his playoff victory over Scottie Scheffler at the RBC Heritage on April 19 at the Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C., and surpassed a personal milestone in terms of his bank account.
Fitzpatrick has slightly more than $9.1 million in earnings this season, topping his previous career best of $8.1 million in 2022-23, the season in which he won the first of his two RBC titles and also posted a tie for 10th in the Masters, a tie for ninth at The Memorial, and a tie for second at the BMW Championship.
The native of England has a knack for finishing strong in big-money events. The RBC is a signature event for which he pulled in $3.6 million. Fitzpatrick earned $2.725 million for a solo second in The Players (more than the $1.638 million for winning the Valspar Championship a week later) and cashed six-figure checks at the Masters, Pebble Beach, the Genesis Invitational and the WM Phoenix Open.
Scheffler moved to second with a $2.16 million check. Cameron Young, who led the money list for one week after his tie for third in the Masters, tied for 25th at Harbour Town and dropped to third.
Matt Fitzpatrick playing with his brother at Zurich
Fitzpatrick will have a chance to add to his lead this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He's playing with his brother Alex and has two top-20 finishes at the TPC Louisiana. Scheffler isn't playing in New Orleans, and the next-highest players on the money list in the Zurich field are No. 24 Ryan Gerard, No. 28 Sahith Theegala, No. 40 Shane Lowry, No. 42 Sam Stevens, and No. 44 Austin Smotherman.
None of them can catch Fitzpatrick with a victory in New Orleans.
How many millionaires are on the PGA Tour this season?
There are 58 players who have earned $1 million or more in on-course earnings this season, 29 with $2 million or more, 15 with $3 million or more and nine with $4 million or more.
Last season where were 67 millionaires through the RBC Heritage, 32 with $2 million or more, 19 with $3 million or more and 13 with $4 million or more. Rory McIlroy led the money list with more than $13.2 million but there was one less tournament on the Western Swing with the cancellation of The Sentry.
Ty Pezza didn’t really consider this a possibility until the week before his last college football game at Brown.
Dartmouth was about to visit for Senior Day and Pezza was in the process of capping the best of his four seasons with the Bears. The wide receiver and North Kingstown native was focused to that point on graduating this spring and putting his dual major in computer science and economics to work instead of ever suiting up again.
A lot can change in a few months, and the coming days could illustrate just how much. Pezza should have a real opportunity to sign a professional contract and take part in a rookie minicamp after the NFL Draft is complete.
“I talked to some coaches and had some interest from some scouts, and I decided to go for it,” Pezza said Wednesday afternoon. “Started training, getting to workouts when I could, hopping on calls with scouts and teams — that's pretty much it.”
Pezza totaled 46 catches for 599 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, leading Brown in all three categories. He played in all 10 games and took a major jump from a junior year that saw him become a more consistent factor with the offense. Pezza blended size with athleticism on the perimeter at a listed 6 feet 4 inches and 225 pounds.
“It’s surreal that I have a chance to be in any professional sports league,” Pezza said. “[Major League Baseball] when I was 8 years old was always the dream, but now I’d much rather be in the NFL.”
Pezza grew up a Boston Red Sox fan and a catcher, hoping to be the next Jason Varitek or David Ortiz. He prepped at Phillips Exeter in New Hampshire before committing to the Bears and steadily developed over the course of his career. Pezza totaled six catches for 93 yards and a score in a Governor’s Cup win over Rhode Island and enjoyed a huge game against Cornell, racking up nine catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
That baseline ability turned some heads and Pezza has been able to market himself during the predraft process through a Brown connection. His agent is Joe Linta, father of former Bears quarterback TJ Linta and a veteran in the business who represents clients such as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco, San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie and New England Patriots defensive back Dell Pettus.
“It was great that I got a guy like him,” Pezza said. “He has the experience of having a bunch of big guys who have done really well in the NFL — huge contracts. He’s also done a lot of stuff with guys like me — Ivy League, FCS — who have made it.”
Pezza has gained 10 pounds since the close of the season for an anticipated move to tight end or H-back. He’s been able to use former teammate Mark Mahoney as a resource, a bigger receiver in college who made the same transition as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs. Pezza also collected 10 tackles on special teams this season — that's a role he’d likely need to embrace at the next level.
“If I have a chance early on to play, it’s most likely going to be special teams,” Pezza said. “I think that’s kind of boosted my stock. Pairing that with having pass-catching ability and some experience in the blocking game — tailoring my game now more toward that.”
Pezza has spoken with or worked out for multiple NFL teams to date — the 49ers, Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and others have been in touch. He took part in an open workout on campus with fellow receiver Solomon Miller and defensive back Elias Archie before going to a regional pro day at Bryant in late March. Pezza doesn’t expect to hear his name called during a three-day draft that starts with Thursday night's first round, but there’s more than one route to landing on an NFL roster.
“There’s going to be a lot more than I’m going to have to learn, especially in the blocking game,” Pezza said. “But, again, I did some of that stuff, too. Hopefully, I won’t be going in too blind.”
Will other players with RI ties be drafted by NFL teams?
Pezza should have some company from the state in taking the next step. AJ Peña and Ayinde Johnson are among those worth monitoring from the Rams while Michael Otty and Elijah Elliott could be among the Bulldogs who receive some interest.
Peña left URI as the program’s all-time leader in multiple defensive categories. He profiles as an edge rusher or outside linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme, collecting 72 tackles, 21 tackles for loss at 11 sacks in 2025. Johnson totaled 70 tackles, 13 pass breakups and two interceptions as a disruptive defensive back.
Otty moved past an injury-riddled 2024 season with an impressive 2025 campaign, dominating along the defensive line. He finished with 17 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles while lining up inside. Elliott finished with nearly 1,200 scrimmage yards, 14 total touchdowns and 44 catches as a potential three-down running back.
Celtic have won their first game after the Scottish Premiership split in each of the past five seasons, doing so by an aggregate score of 17-1. They last failed to win on matchday 34 in 2018-19 (0-0 v Hibs), and last lost in 2017-18 (2-1 v Hibs).
No side has had more high turnovers (256), shot-ending high turnovers (49), pressed sequences (442), or a lower PPDA (opposition passes allowed per defensive action – 9.6) in the Premiership this season than Celtic.
Celtic have won their past eight meetings with Falkirk in all competitions; only once before have they enjoyed a longer winning run over the Bairns, winning 10 in a row from March 1950 to August 1954.
Falkirk have lost 16 of their past 18 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D2) since a 2-0 league win in October 1994 under Jim Jefferies.
Falkirk are yet to play out the same result twice in a row away from home in the Premiership in 2025-26. They won last time out on the road 3-2 at Motherwell, but on the six previous occasions they have won away they followed it up by losing their next away league match five times (D1 – v Rangers in November).
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin today, though no one from the Louisville football team is expected to hear their name just yet. Wide receiver Chris Bell had been a projected first-round pick, but an ACL injury caused a drop in his draft stock.
Still, Louisville has had a strong history of sending players to the league. Since 2010, the Cardinals have had at least one draft pick in 12 drafts. Last year, three players were drafted: quarterback Tyler Shough and cornerback Quincy Riley went to the New Orleans Saints in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, while the Kansas City Chiefs took defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte in the third round.
Bell’s selection will make him the first UofL receiver to be drafted since Jamari Thrash, who went to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
A handful of Kentucky players are also hoping to hear their names called this weekend. The Wildcats have had at least two players selected in seven straight drafts, the program's longest such streak since 1984-91. Six UK players were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
Here’s a look at the latest mock drafts and how to watch the 2026 NFL Draft:
The first round of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. today. The second and third rounds will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, with the final four rounds starting at noon Saturday.
The former Oregon offensive lineman cited persistent injuries as the primary reason for stepping away after six NFL seasons. Lemieux underwent five surgeries and spent more time in rehabilitation than on the field, ultimately choosing to protect his long-term health.
Selected 150th overall, Lemieux appeared in 25 games and made 16 starts during his career. He began with the Giants, where he started a career-high nine contests as a rookie, before brief stints with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks. He earned a Super Bowl ring as a practice-squad member with the Seahawks earlier this year.
In his announcement, Lemieux reflected on his journey.
"After graduating from the University of Oregon and being drafted by the New York Giants, I had dreams of a 10+ year, All-Pro career. I believed I could get there. But after (five) surgeries and more time in the training room than on the field, the game started to look different to me. That is why I am deciding to step away with the health that I have," he wrote."While I didn't achieve that goal, the lessons I learned through the injuries, the releases, and finally getting back on the field mean more to me going forward than any accolade ever could have. And the relationships built along the way have been the most impactful of all."I am thankful for the game. I've dedicated my life to football, and it has rewarded me immensely. But I've always seen myself as more than a football player, and I'm ready to show the world just that."
Lemieux closed with, "Stay tuned for what's next."
The Pittsburgh Steelers overhauled their running back room this offseason, forming one of the most fearsome duos in the league — and that isn't lost on NFL legend Jerome Bettis.
Speaking with Penn Live's Nick Farabaugh, Bettis said the Steelers have "two hammers" in running backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, and referenced the duo as "Thunder and Lightning," a nickname that fits the pair well.
Jerome Bettis told me he 'loves' the physicality the Steelers have in the backfield with Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren.
"They have two hammers."
Bettis referred to them as 'thunder and lightning' but still thinks they need another 3rd down RB who can catch out of the backfield.
Football has seen some terrific running back duos dominate out of the backfield and earn some amazing nicknames in the process, such as the Detroit Lions from 2023–2025 with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, AKA Sonic and Knuckles.
Warren and Dowdle should more than live up to the Thunder and Lightning title this upcoming season, given both undrafted running backs have far exceeded expectations in their individual careers and are each coming off 1,000-yard performances in 2025.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Within eight minutes, the tension hanging in the air at Little Caesars Arena gave way to euphoria.
A dominant 30-3 Detroit Pistons run in the third quarter saved the night – if not the series – in turning a game tied at 46 into a 27-point rout. Over 8:05 of game time, the Pistons held the Orlando Magic to just one made field goal.
A team coming off of its most disappointing loss of the season in Game 1 remembered who it was, and raised the defensive intensity to a level only the Pistons can sustain. The Pistons roared back to life in Game 2, winning 98-83 to tie the series against the Magic 1-1 on Wednesday, April 22.
The win – their first in a home playoff game since May 26, 2008, snapping an NBA-record 11-game skid – was a return to form for a team coming off its best regular season in nearly 20 years, with the most suffocating defense in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons won 60 games because of efforts like Wednesday's.
“When we play defense at the level we’re capable of, it triggers everything for us,’ coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We can be an elite defensive team, a disruptive defensive team that pushes and gets us transition easy baskets. And that’s what we did.”
They held the Magic to 1-for-9 shooting and forced six turnovers during the 30-3 run, which expanded their lead to 76-49 with 4:34 left in the third. Cade Cunningham, who led the Pistons with 27 points and 11 assists, led an 11-0 run to open the half. Orlando answered with a 3-pointer from Bane with 8:54 left. Then the onslaught resumed, with the Pistons going on a 19-0 run before the next Magic score –a a free throw from Goga Bitadze – with 4:20 left .
The Pistons won the third quarter, 38-16, shooting 60.9% (14-for-23) while holding Orlando to 29.4% (5-for-17) with six turnovers.
“We just embraced the environment and, truthfully, just took advantage of the moment,” said Tobias Harris, who had a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double with two blocks and two steals. “We knew that first half wasn’t to our standard of playing. We had to figure out defensively how we were going to impact the game. I thought we came out with the type of energy and the type of effort that we needed on the defensive end and I thought offensively we were able to find the gaps in the defense we needed to make the right plays.”
In Sunday’s 112-101 loss, the Pistons looked unready. They struggled to match Orlando’s physicality and will early, falling behind 18-3 and never taking the lead. The Magic were fired up after defeating the Charlotte Hornets in the play-in tournament finale. Detroit, coming off of a week of practice and no games, looked rusty.
Their first half on Wednesday was better, but only marginally. Defensively, they were sharp from the jump, holding the Magic to 26.9% shooting, thanks to seven blocked shots. The effort both individually and collectively, compared to Game 1, ranked among their best of the season.
Yet, they couldn't sustain a lead. The Pistons committed 11 turnovers, gave up 11 offensive rebounds and missed five of eight first-half free throws. A foul disparity favored the Magic, who had 21 free throws (though they made only 14).
A halftime speech from Bickerstaff helped the team refocus after halftime.
“He really got on us in the locker room,” Harris said. “There’s no more ‘My bads.’ They’re out there hustling, getting offensive boards on us and there’s too many of them. For us as a group, we know that’s not our standard, so he was on us. But we obviously felt it as a group, we needed to be better for each other.”
The Pistons still turned the ball over too much in the second half, with 10. But their best defensive quarter of the night more than made up for it. They also cleaned up other areas, grabbing six offensive rebounds to Orlando’s two and attempting more free throws, 16-11.
Their performance revealed nothing new. Rather, it reaffirmed what they showed through 82 games – an ability to bounce back and to physically overwhelm opposing teams.
After six rough quarters to open the series, the margin for error is tight moving forward. Game 3 will be in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday (1 p.m., Peacock). To prevail, the Pistons will have to lean on the lessons learned and habits formed during their regular season.
“There’s nothing to get flustered about,” Cunningham said. “We knew it was going to be a tough series coming in. We dropped Game 1. Obviously we wanted to play better. But it was a lot to learn from and a lot to get better at and I think today was a good step forward in the right direction for us. We feel good, man. It’s the same. It’s going to be a long series, this one doesn't change anything. We’ve got to keep going.”
Despite being the NFL's biggest brand, the Cowboys haven't made much of a dent on the league standings in recent years.
Dallas missed the postseason for the second straight year in 2025, seeing its playoff hopes crumble as injuries, poor performance and a husk-like defense reared their ugly heads.
The Cowboys found some answers at some key positions during head coach Brian Schottenheimer's first season in charge. Dak Prescott re-established himself as one of the league's best passers after an injury-plagued 2024 season, while George Pickens made himself indispensable, tallying more than 1,400 receiving yards.
Still, that defense was dire, taking the ignominious title of football's worst. Reinforcements could be on the way -- the Cowboys hold two first-round selections in the 2026 draft. Only time will tell if they'll stop the rot, however.
The Sporting News is tracking every Cowboys selection in the 2026 NFL draft, from the first round to the seventh. Follow along below as Dallas makes its picks.
Defensive back: The Cowboys were football's worst defense in 2025, conceding more points, yards and third down conversions than any other side in the land. Dallas has a lot of holes across its defense. Few loom as large as in the secondary, however -- the Cowboys routinely gave up big plays at untimely moments.
EDGE: Despite posting an above-average pressure rate, Dallas' pass rush proved fairly toothless after trading Micah Parsons, recording just 35 sacks in 2025 -- the joint-seventh-worst mark in football. The Cowboys will seek a remedy for its impotence in the pocket.
Linebacker: Dallas' defense was lackluster in all aspects. Adding a quality reinforcement in the linebacker spot could go a long way in pushing the front seven forward under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
There are multiple ways to conjure up a winner in the NFL.
Some franchises build through the draft, wading through the ferns with savvy scouting departments and gleaming selections.
Others attempt to skip the queue entirely, relying on blockbuster signings to round out their rosters. These franchises look to turn their brand strength to attract the gridiron's biggest luminaries to their shores.
For all of their flourishes -- and gleaming contracts -- the Chiefs have primarily employed the former technique to create one of football's greatest-ever dynasties. Kansas City has lived in the draft in the past decade or so, turning prized pieces like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones into gemstones.
It hasn't always worked out for the Chiefs. In 2009, Kansas City selected Eric Fisher with the No. 5 pick in the draft, hoping to cement its pass rush for years to come. The LSU product proceeded to record nine sacks across five seasons with the Chiefs, failing to impress.
Still, Kansas City's hit rate is better than most, especially in the first round of the NFL draft. Here's a look back at their first-round draft history.
The last time Kansas City held a first-round pick was in 2024. Despite hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, the Chiefs actually selected No. 28 in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Kansas City moved up four spots to secure the Texas alum, sending its first-round pick (No. 32 overall), third-round pick (No. 95 overall) and seventh-round pick (No. 221 overall) to land the speedy wideout.
Worthy has been a solid presence in the Chiefs' aerial attack in the years since his selection. He was Kansas City's second- and fourth-leading pass-catcher during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, respectively, combining to record 1,170 receiving yards and seven scores across the campaigns.
The Chiefs have bypassed the first round of the NFL draft more often than most franchises in recent years, using their selections to beef up trade proposals.
Still, Kansas City has collected a few notable players over the past decade, none more valuable to its setup than Mahomes.
Here's a look at the Chiefs' first-round selections since 2017.
2017: QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
Fresh off of a 12-4 record and divisional round appearance, Kansas City looked on the up-and-up heading into the 2017 NFL draft. With Alex Smith under center, the Chiefs had a reliable -- if somewhat underwhelming -- signal-caller to push them towards success.
Andy Reid's side didn't need another quarterback. Mahomes was too good to pass up, however, blessed with an arm made from titan and dancing feet. Mahomes was college football's most effective hurler during his time at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' subpar record belied his impact, even as he turned records into rubble.
Kansas City was entranced, leaping inside the top-10 to select him. In hindsight, it was an inspired choice. Mahomes replaced Smith as starter in 2018. That same year, he picked up his first MVP award. Another one followed in 2022, as did three Lombardi Trophies and Super Bowl MVP awards. Mahomes is on pace to break every major statistical record in NFL history. And at just 30 years old, he still has plenty more to offer.
The No. 32 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Edwards-Helaire was expected to take command of Kansas City's backfield. The diminutive running back drew comparisons to Pro Bowl-level running backs across his time with the Tigers, dazzling with inch-perfect footwork and an assortment of feints and jinks to displace defenders.
Edwards-Helaire started his NFL career with a flourish, tallying 1,100 yards of total offense for the Super Bowl-bound Chiefs. His production tumbled as years went on, however, prompting Kansas City to release him partway through the 2024 season.
2022: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
McDuffie starred with the Huskies, twice capturing All-Pac-12 honors. Considered one of the top defensive back prospects in the 2022 draft, McDuffie's body control, aggression and twitchiness made him a favorite of fans and scouts alike.
Like they did with Mahomes, the Chiefs orchestrated a deal to move up in the first round and take McDuffie, selecting him No. 21 overall.
McDuffie emerged a starter from his opening moments in Kansas City's practice facility. By his second season, he was a first-team All-Pro.
All told, McDuffie captured two Super Bowl titles during his time with the Chiefs. He was dealt to the Rams during the 2026 offseason, immediately securing the largest defensive back contract in league history upon his arrival.
2022: DE George Karlaftis, Purdue
The second of Kansas City's two first-round picks in 2022, Karlaftis was expected to be the next in an impressive lineage of Chiefs pass-rushers. A first-team All-American during his final year at Purdue, the Greek-born Karlaftis expected to hear his name called a little earlier than it did during the 2022 draft.
Ultimately, though, he landed with the Chiefs. He has gone from strength-to-strength in the years since his arrival, taking charge of Kansas City's pass rush alongside Chris Jones. Karlaftis ranks second in sacks (30.5), tackles for loss (34) and quarterback hits (79) on the Chiefs since 2022, only bested by Jones. In July 2025, he landed a four-year, $88 million contract extension. Of that total, $62 million is guaranteed. He is the 14th-highest-paid edge rusher in the league by average annual value (AAV).
One year after drafting Karlaftis, the Chiefs attempted to add another building block to their defensive line in the form of Anudike-Uzomah, a Kansas State alum.
Anudike-Uzomah emerged as one of the nation's top pass-rushers across his three years in Manhattan, earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors after tallying 11.0 sacks as a junior.
Kansas City selected Anudike-Uzomah with the second-to-last pick in the first round of the 2023 draft. His assortment of swim and rip-through move and harrowing length made him an enticing addition into Steve Spagnuolo's ranks.
Anudike-Uzomah has played sparingly in the years since his selection, failing to establish himself as a consistent threat in the pass rush. He tallied three sacks across his first two seasons. Anudike-Uzomah was ruled out of the 2025 campaign after suffering a severe hamstring injury in preseason.
2024, WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
Worthy was a polarizing talent during his draft cycle. On one hand, he possessed scorching speed, posting the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history in 2024.
On the other, he was gaunt and inconsistent -- traits that rarely find a home on NFL rosters.
Ultimately, Worthy's speed and agility won out. The Chiefs moved up to select him, taking Worthy with the No. 28 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
The jury is still out on the former Longhorns star. Worthy's blazing speed can at times make him a nightmare assignment, particularly for lead-footed defenders. Still, his production has left a lot to be desired, with Worthy failing to eclipse 650 yards in either of his first two seasons.
Still in his early 20s, time is certainly on Worthy's side. But the Chiefs will be hoping for improved performances in the years to come.
JEDEC is shifting the focus of LPDDR6 from mobile platforms to datacenters – Thanks AI Last year, JEDEC unveiled its JESD209-6 LPDDR6 memory standard, a new high-bandwidth memory type designed for phones, laptops, and other mobile platforms. Now, JEDEC has previewed new updates to the standard, shifting its focus from mobile platforms to “datacenter and […]
Leading provider of industrial PC solutions AAEON (Stock Code: 6579) today announced the BOXER-6407-TWL, an ultra-slim compact embedded PC available with either the Intel Processor N250 or N150 CPU SKU from the Intel Processor N-series (formerly Twin Lake). Central to the product's value proposition is its compact 153 mm x 101 mm x 30 mm size, with its height being particularly notable, given it is 35% slimmer than previous models from AAEON's Ultra-slim Box PC portfolio. AAEON has said this design decision was made to satisfy market demand for more advanced, fanless platforms that can be integrated into existing systems with minimal space, such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment and digital signage installations.
Highlighting its suitability for retrofitting and modernizing industrial setups, the BOXER-6407-TWL offers both VGA and HDMI display outputs to ensure compatibility with existing display panels. Meanwhile, the PC features a robust industrial I/O comprised of three USB ports (USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 1, USB 2.0 x 3), dual Gigabit Ethernet LAN, and two DB-9 ports for RS-232/422/485. This positioning of the product as one for industrial environments is consistent with its mechanical specifications, which boast a fanless, ventless chassis with a single-mold top cover, allowing it to operate in temperatures as high as 60°C while preventing dust ingress.
AMD's stock has been experiencing a significant rise over the past few months, with the company's share price reaching a record $303.46 at the time of writing and a market capitalization of nearly half a trillion USD, precisely $494.74 billion. Historically, AMD's stock has struggled to match the levels of NVIDIA and, to some extent, Intel. However, the company has seen a massive turnaround with the expansion of AI data centers. AMD has been performing well in the data center space with its EPYC processors and Instinct MI accelerators, and the stock price has followed this upward trajectory. This is AMD's best stock performance yet, supported by a strong current and upcoming product portfolio that has major investors confident in the company's operations, financials, and execution of plans.
AMD is on track to ship its EPYC "Venice" server CPUs with "Zen 6" architecture, the Instinct MI400 series of accelerators for AI training, inference, and HPC workloads, and Pensando "Vulcano" AI NICs, all housed within a rack-scale system called "Helios." Expected to match and exceed NVIDIA's "Vera Rubin" in some areas, AMD will be competitive in the world's largest industry today—AI data centers. However, the company is not resting on its laurels and has already prepared a 2027 update of this product portfolio for the next-generation AI rack. This execution has instilled confidence in AMD's investors, driving the stock price significantly higher.
Yesterday, TSMC unveiled its latest A13 node preview at the North America Technology Symposium, highlighting the company's ongoing developments. However, the most significant news isn't about a new node but the technology behind it. TSMC announced it would rely on older ASML Low-NA EUV tools instead of the more expensive High-NA EUV scanners. With the High-NA EUV scanner priced at about €350 million ($410 million), the capital expenditure required to equip a modern facility is substantial. TSMC claims it can maintain a competitive advantage using the existing Low-NA EUV technology, which costs roughly half as much per machine. Kevin Zhang, TSMC's deputy Co-COO and SVP, noted to Reuters, "This is where I think our R&D has done exceptionally well in terms of leveraging existing EUV technology while setting an aggressive technology scaling roadmap. This is definitely a strength."
TSMC's use of Low-NA EUV lithography involves a technique called multi-patterning, where the EUV machine takes multiple passes to etch a design on a single layer. By performing two Low-NA etching runs, TSMC can achieve benefits similar to High-NA exposure, effectively reducing the need for new tools. However, there are limitations to the Low-NA multi-patterning technique, which will be addressed later by introducing High-NA systems, but only for nodes at 1 nm and below. For now, and for recent nodes, TSMC sees a way to maximize performance from the existing Low-NA systems at a much lower capital expenditure than would be required for High-NA systems.
Forza Horizon 5 launched on PlayStation 5 last year, and a few short months after its release, it was evident how the game was a smashing success on Sony's console, outselling even first-party games. Today, co-developer Virtuos confirmed on its official website that the racing game they helped develop was one of the best-selling games in 2025, surpassing 5 million copies worldwide. "Forza Horizon 5 was one of the best-selling titles on PlayStation 5 in 2025, surpassing 5 million copies sold on the platform, and earning widespread acclaim with a 92 Metacritic score," Virtuos wrote on a new infographic. The […]
Today, South Korean developer Pearl Abyss released Crimson Desert patch 1.04 on nearly all platforms (Mac users will have to wait until a later time). This update adds most of the enhancements and features outlined a couple of weeks ago in the official roadmap, except for boss rematches, which will be released in a future patch. Three difficulty modes (Easy, Normal, and Hard) have been added under Settings > Play. Easy reduces damage taken, lowers enemy stats, and extends Parry/Dodge windows. Normal is unchanged from the existing gameplay experience. Hard arguably brings the most significant changes: food effects only apply after the full consumption animation completes, […]
Alienware unleashes its most powerful Area-51 Desktop PC to date, powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 CPU & a starting price of $4299. Dell's Area-51 PC With AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Starts at $4299 & Fully-Spec'd Config Above $7000 Alienware recently launched its Area-51 Desktop PC with AMD's Ryzen 9000 & Ryzen 9000X3D CPUs. The gaming PC offers full-on ATX hardware, delivering impressive capabilities for pre-built gamers. Today, Alienware is updating its Area-51 Desktop PC with AMD's newly launched Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 CPU, delivering faster speeds of up to 5.6 GHz, and the same 2nd Gen 3D V-Cache that […]
Rambus has announced its LPDDR5X SOCAMM2 memory chipset, a vital component to enable the next-gen compact memory for AI datacenters. SOCAMM2 Lays The Key Foundation of Next-Gen AI Datacenters As Rambus Gears Up Its LPDDR5X-Based Chipset For Launch Press Release: Rambus, a premier chip and silicon IP provider making data faster and safer, today announced a SOCAMM2 (Small Outline Compression Attached Memory Module) chipset designed to enable low-power, high-performance LPDDR5X-based memory modules for AI server platforms. The SOCAMM2 chipset represents the first step in a broader Rambus roadmap of LPDDR-based server module solutions, reflecting the company’s ongoing collaboration with industry partners to support new memory architectures optimized […]
JEDEC has previewed its LPDDR6 memory standard, powering future AI datacenters & mobile platforms with 512 GB capacities & SOCAMM2 variants. JEDEC's LPDDR6 SOCAMM2 Modules Are Going To Be A Mouth-Watering Piece of Memory Technology For AI Datacenters Today, JEDEC unveiled a new set of features for its upcoming LPDDR6 memory standard "JESD209-6". The new memory standard will play a vital role in powering future AI datacenters, PCs, and mobile platforms. LPDDR6 will not just provide a more power-efficient memory solution, but it will also offer increased performance and higher capacities than existing LPDDR5 and LPDDR5X standards. Memory makers are […]
Hypelist is a platform to save, organize, and explore your taste across movies, books, music, places, and more. Follow people you trust, build lists, and discover what others are loving. With millions of recommendations shared, Hypelist is where taste lives. Now on the web, with more space to explore, compare, and go deeper. Featured as Apple "App of the Day" and "Apps We Love". As seen in Forbes, Vanity Fair, TechCrunch, Yahoo, and El Pais. Over 1 million users.
GigTrip is a tool for discovering concerts on a map and planning travel around them. You can explore events across Europe and the US, filter them by genre and date, view detailed event pages, and build multi-modal routes to the concert venue. GigTrip is designed for people who want to plan travel around live music, not just discover events in one location.
Bitcoin price has moved back above $78,000, with momentum supported by a clear return of aggressive buying activity. Binance net taker volume has crossed $1 billion for the third time this month, signaling that demand is coming from active market participants rather than passive positioning.
BTC price move is developing just below the $80,000–$82,000 resistance zone, where price is beginning to compress instead of pulling back. This behavior reflects strength at higher levels, as buyers continue to absorb supply near resistance. With demand building and structure tightening, Bitcoin is now positioned at a point where the next move is likely to be decisive rather than gradual.
$1B Buying Pressure Signals Strong Demand Return
Order flow data is providing a clearer picture of current market behavior. Binance net taker volume exceeding $1 billion on multiple occasions indicates that buyers are executing at market rather than waiting for retracements. This type of activity is typically associated with conviction-driven participation.
The repetition of these spikes is the key factor. Single instances can reflect short-term reactions, but sustained occurrences suggest that demand is consistently entering the market. Each surge aligns with Bitcoin holding or reclaiming higher levels, reinforcing the idea that buyers are supporting price strength rather than chasing extended moves. This shift reduces the likelihood of sharp downside continuation, as supply is gradually being absorbed instead of overwhelming demand.
BTC Monthly Chart Shows Early Reversal Structure
On the monthly timeframe, Bitcoin is forming a Morning Star pattern, a structure that historically appears near the end of corrective phases. The pattern reflects three stages: sustained selling pressure, stabilization, and a recovery attempt.
The significance lies in the transition. The market is moving from a phase dominated by distribution into one where accumulation begins to form. This does not imply immediate upside continuation, but it signals that downside momentum is weakening. Previous cycles have shown that this phase often precedes broader expansion, though it typically involves consolidation before a sustained move develops.
Bitcoin’s current structure is defined by compression below a key resistance band. After establishing a base near $63,000, price has formed a sequence of higher lows, gradually pushing toward the $80,000–$82,000 zone. This behavior reflects controlled strength. Instead of sharp upward moves followed by rejection, price is advancing steadily while holding gains. The absence of aggressive selling near resistance suggests that supply in this region is being tested and partially absorbed.
Moreover, the short-term moving averages are trending upward and supporting price action, reinforcing the shift in momentum. The structure indicates that buyers are maintaining control in the short term, even as the market approaches a critical level. A decisive move above $82,000 would confirm a breakout and shift the structure into a continuation phase, with higher targets coming into play.
Key Levels to Watch
The $75,000 level remains the immediate support, maintaining the current higher-low structure. The $80,000–$82,000 range acts as the primary resistance zone controlling short-term direction.
A breakout above $82,000 opens the path toward $88,000–$92,000, while a drop below $75,000 may extend consolidation toward $70,000.
Final Take
Bitcoin is transitioning into a phase where structure and demand are beginning to align. The coin is no longer reacting to downside pressure but is gradually stabilizing and building upward momentum. The key development is not the reclaim of $78,000 alone, but the behavior around resistance. Now, the BTC price is holding near highs, demand is consistent, and supply is being tested rather than dominating.
If this structure sustains, the probability shifts toward continuation. The next move depends on whether Bitcoin can convert this compression into a confirmed breakout above resistance.
Sportsbook rewards have entered a new phase. A growing share of wagering volume on regulated offshore and crypto-native platforms has shifted from fiat to stablecoins and major tokens, and the promotional terms have evolved with the rails. In early 2026, welcome credits, reloads, and rakeback are defined by settlement speed, custody model, and chain selection rather than flat deposit-match headlines.
Crypto betting platforms have not simply copied the welcome-offer playbook of legacy sportsbooks. They have reworked it around the properties of on-chain payments, and the clearest signal of that rework is the rise of stablecoin-denominated promotions with shorter settlement windows and lower rollover multiples on mid-sized deposits. When a consumer compares operators in the current market, the most useful point of reference is the category of sportsbook bonuses that have already migrated their terms to reflect blockchain settlement, because that cohort illustrates how the underlying rail changes the practical value of an offer far more than the headline number on the landing page suggests. Readers who trace those terms back to the chain layer will notice that the most favorable offer structures tend to cluster around platforms that have embraced native on-chain accounting rather than bolted crypto deposits onto a legacy fiat backend.
How Blockchain Settlement Rewrote Sportsbook Bonus Mechanics
The core difference between a legacy welcome offer and a crypto-denominated one is how quickly funds move between operator, consumer, and settlement layer. On a card or bank rail, a deposit match can sit pending for one to three business days and rollover clearance can wait another two. On a stablecoin rail those windows collapse to minutes, and to seconds on Layer 2 networks. Operators have responded with shorter expiration windows and lower rollover multiples, because faster clearance reduces exposure.
The Stablecoin Shift in Deposit Matches and Rebates
The most visible change in crypto-native sportsbook promotions is the migration of deposit-match language from Bitcoin and Ethereum to dollar-pegged stablecoins. Three years ago a 200 percent match priced in Bitcoin could produce wildly different real-dollar values depending on when the chain confirmed. That volatility pushed platforms to redenominate headline offers in USDT and USDC, and weekly rakeback now pays in stablecoin balances rather than native tokens.
Chain Selection Changes What a Bonus Is Actually Worth
A headline bonus number tells only part of the story when crypto rails are involved. The chain that processes the deposit sets the effective floor on what the bonus produces, because gas costs, confirmation latency, and withdrawal routing drag on redeemed value. A 100 dollar match credited on Ethereum mainnet yields differently than the same match on Polygon or Base, because withdrawal costs differ by an order of magnitude.
Rollover Requirements in a Faster Settlement World
Rollover multiples, which govern how many times a promotional balance must be wagered before it converts to withdrawable funds, have also tightened under faster settlement. Where legacy operators historically priced rollover at 10x or 15x, crypto-native platforms now advertise 4x and 5x on headline offers. Faster settlement cuts the operator’s working-capital cost, and that savings is passed through as tighter terms.
Custody and Self-Custody in the Promotional Flow
The custody model under a crypto sportsbook bonus is one of the least-discussed but most decision-relevant details on any offer page. On a custodial platform, the promotional credit is an internal ledger entry; on a self-custody design, the consumer retains control of the underlying keys and the promotional funds are released against an on-chain signature at clearance. Context on how an exchange wallet moves into on-chain prediction markets helps illustrate how these custody and promotional primitives are evolving across adjacent product lines.
A Side-by-Side View of Crypto and Legacy Bonus Structures
The table below summarizes four common welcome-bonus configurations in the current market, grouped by the underlying rail.
Bonus Structure
Typical Rail
Clearance Window
Rollover Multiple
Deposit match, legacy
Card or bank
One to three days
8x to 15x
Deposit match, stablecoin
USDC or USDT
Minutes
4x to 6x
First-bet credit, native token
Bitcoin or Ethereum
One block confirmation
3x to 5x
Weekly rakeback, stablecoin
Layer 2 network
Instant
1x or no rollover
None of these structures is universally superior; legacy fiat matches still dominate regulated state markets where crypto rails are restricted.
Transparency and On-Chain Audit Trails
A quieter advantage of on-chain bonus architectures is auditability. When a promotional credit is issued as an on-chain token transfer, the hash can be inspected on a public block explorer and the amount independently verified. That capability has no equivalent in the legacy fiat environment, where a deposit match exists only as an operator ledger entry that must be trusted.
Common Pitfalls When Crypto Bonus Terms Meet On-Chain Reality
Crypto-denominated sportsbook promotions bring structural advantages but also introduce pitfalls that legacy fiat offers do not share. The following items capture the most frequent issues.
Chain mismatch: depositing on a different network than the one the bonus clears on, which can block or delay the promotional credit.
Gas and withdrawal fees: ignoring per-chain transfer costs that eat into the real yield of a cleared bonus, especially on Ethereum mainnet during peak periods.
Custody assumption: assuming a platform is self-custodial when it is actually custodial, which changes the dispute process and the speed of withdrawal.
Regulatory Direction and What It Means for Bonus Design
Regulatory activity in the crypto wagering space has moved meaningfully over the last 18 months, and the direction is shaping which bonus structures operators can sustainably offer. Tighter stablecoin oversight, clearer licensing frameworks in offshore jurisdictions, and regulator attention to promotional transparency have pushed operators toward simpler, more auditable bonus language. Broader market analysis of the crypto landscape, including the a16z State of Crypto 2025 market analysis, indicates that institutional capital continues to move deeper into the infrastructure layer that underlies these platforms, which tightens the expectations placed on consumer-facing operators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do crypto sportsbook bonuses clear faster than legacy fiat promotions?
In most cases, yes. Stablecoin-denominated matches on modern rails typically clear within minutes once rollover conditions are met, while legacy fiat matches can sit in a pending state for one to three business days.
How does chain selection affect the real value of a bonus?
Chain selection sets the floor on gas costs and withdrawal fees that apply to the cleared balance, so the same headline match can produce different real yields depending on which network processes the credit. Layer 2 networks generally preserve more of the nominal value.
Are rollover multiples really lower on crypto-denominated offers?
On the informed segment of the market, yes. Faster settlement cuts the operator’s working-capital cost of holding promotional balances, and that reduction is often passed through as tighter rollover terms. Crypto matches in 2026 often carry 4x to 6x multiples versus 8x to 15x on legacy fiat.
Asteroid Shiba is down nearly 12% in 24 hours, trading around $0.00036. The drop comes as profit-takers exit after one of the most explosive meme coin runs of 2026, where the token surged over 700,000% in a single week from near-zero to a high of $0.00046, driven by viral retail interest and buzz around SpaceX and Elon Musk-linked space narratives.
The sell-off is not tied to any project issue. Early buyers made massive gains fast and cashed out. One wallet turned $575 into $1.17 million in a matter of days. When gains are that large, selling pressure follows naturally.
Bitcoin dominance is also rising, pulling liquidity away from high-risk tokens and making it harder for meme coins to hold momentum. Despite the drop, Asteroid Shiba still holds a market cap above $160 million.
Three Reasons the Rally May Not Be Over
The token’s chart still shows a pattern of higher highs and higher lows since the CTO takeover, a structure that points to sustained buying interest rather than a one-time spike. The jump from near-zero to a nine-figure market cap in days shows early-stage momentum may still have room to run.
The space narrative also remains alive. With the SpaceX IPO story continuing to circulate and Elon Musk keeping space themes in public conversation, Asteroid Shiba stays relevant across social media, which is often all a meme coin needs to attract fresh attention.
Wallet distribution is also healthier than most meme coins at this stage. Larger holders make up a bigger share of participation, and the well-publicised profit stories from early traders are bringing new speculative money back into the token.
The Risk
Meme coins at this stage live and die by attention. The fundamentals here are thin, the volatility is extreme, and one shift in market sentiment can wipe gains fast. The structure looks bullish, but nothing about this token is built to last without continued narrative momentum.
Xiaomi has introduced its MiMo-V2.5 model family, adding multimodal capabilities and advancing its push into top-tier AI systems. According to Xiaomi, the new MiMo-V2.5 and MiMo-V2.5-Pro models combine image, audio, and video processing into a single system, bringing features that…
Bitcoin price rallied to a 12-month high above $79,000 on Wednesday before pulling back to $78,000 as investors booked profits. However, derivatives data suggest the asset may be building momentum for another move higher. According to data from crypto.news, Bitcoin…
Crypto venture firm Blockchain Capital has moved to raise $700 million across two new funds as investment appetite shows signs of concentration despite a slowdown in overall deal flow. Bloomberg, citing a person familiar with the matter, reported that the…
Air Serbia will resume direct flights between Belgrade and Munich on 22 May 2026, after an 18-year hiatus. Flights will operate daily, ensuring continuity and efficiency in connecting these two cities. Air Serbia is boosting […]
Apple has rolled out a software fix for iOS and iPadOS to address a Notification Services flaw that stored notifications marked for deletion on the device.
The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-28950 (CVSS score: N/A), has been described as a logging issue that has been addressed with improved data redaction.
"Notifications marked for deletion could be unexpectedly retained on the device,"
Revitalizing Traditional Earthen Buildings in China – Tulou Architecture Drives Sustainable Tourism, Cultural Preservation, and Rural Economic Growth Through Government‑Led...
JAL, ANA, United, Delta, Lufthansa, and More Face Widespread Flight Cancellations Across Japan Disrupting Singapore, Munich, Dallas, Mexico City, and...
Leaked changelog reveals One UI 8.5 stable update for the Galaxy S25 series will bring a noticeable visual refresh, leaning into cleaner layouts, blur effects, and more fluid elements that adapt naturally to how you use the phone daily.
Galaxy AI takes center stage with smarter, more practical tools. From screening calls with Bixby to editing photos using simple text prompts, the update makes AI feel less like a feature and more like part of the experience.
Camera upgrades focus on convenience and control, via TarunVats. Document scanning is faster, dual video recording is easier, and real-time color previews remove guesswork, giving users more confidence before they even hit record.
Everyday usability gets a boost across the system. Lock screen personalization is smarter, weather insights are more detailed, and call handling now includes direct voicemail and context-aware quick replies that actually make sense.
Connectivity and ecosystem features continue to expand. Sharing files across Galaxy devices, and even Apple hardware, becomes smoother, while hotspot access and family-based device syncing feel more polished and reliable.
Security, battery, and accessibility improvements round things off. You get clearer battery insights, stronger theft protection, and better assistive controls, making the update feel balanced between flashy upgrades and meaningful daily improvements.
Galaxy S25 One UI 8.5 changelog
Visual Design
Fresh new look: One UI seamlessly integrates into your daily routine by combining immersive visuals with meaningful personalization for a more refined and sophisticated design. Transparent blur effects add depth and make content easier to navigate, while floating elements react organically to your workflow for a more focused experience. Through familiar and intuitive data visualization, One UI delivers a design that feels both personal and relatable, helping you focus on what matters.
Galaxy AI
Screen calls before answering: Use Bixby Text Call to decide if you want to talk. You can let a call assistant answer for you and ask the caller who they are and why they’re calling.
Edit images with text prompts: Image editing has never been easier. Just describe how you want your image to change. You can change the color of someone’s clothes, add something to an empty table, or anything else you can think of.
Add items from one image to another: Photo assist makes it easy to combine elements from different images. Take an object from one picture and add it to a different picture. Galaxy AI smooths it out and makes it look natural.
Add style to any photo: You can now apply fun styles to any photo with Photo assist, not just pictures of people or pets. In thumbnail view, you can touch and hold to reorder your styles and put your favorites near the front.
Continuous image generation: Keep creating without stopping. Photo Assist now lets you generate AI images using different features from the results screen without saving each iteration. When you’re done, you can review all your creations in your history and pick your favorites.
Create images with Creative Studio: Creative Studio is now available on the Apps screen for easier access. You can use creative studio to create custom wallpapers, unique stickers, and personalized profile images that you can use throughout on your phone.
Now brief on the Lock screen: Get more personalized suggestions on your Lock screen. Now brief will show useful information based on your context.
Enhanced AI select: Start AI select instantly by touching and holding the edge handle. Missed something in a video? Use the Rewind button to go back and select exactly what you need.
Auto language detection in Interpreter: Keep the conversation flowing. After you choose which languages to translate, Interpreter will detect when each one is being spoken, so you don’t need to press the Microphone button each time someone talks.
Bixby
Smarter device control: Talk to Bixby in your own words. Bixby is now better at finding the setting or feature you need, even if you don’t use exact commands or feature names. Just say what you need and let Bixby do the rest.
Ask anything, anytime: Whether you need a quick answer or detailed information, just ask Bixby for an instant response. There’s no need to spend time on multiple searches or switching between apps.
Conversation history: Looking back at past conversations with Bixby is easier than ever. You can now access your conversation history from the side panel in the Bixby app.
Camera
Pro-grade document scans: Scanning documents is now faster and more powerful. A scan button will appear automatically whenever you point your camera at a document. You can easily capture multiple pages into a single PDF file, while the new Remove tool automatically cleans up distracting fingers, folded corners, and unwanted moire for a perfect finish.
Auto motion photos: When set to Auto, your camera will only record a motion photo if it detects movement in the scene. Otherwise, it’s saved as a still image to save space.
Capture both sides of the story: Now you can record yourself and the action in front of you. Just tap the dual recording icon in the video mode quick controls to start filming with the front and rear cameras at the same time.
Log video color previews in real time: Take the guesswork out of filming in Log. You can now apply a cinematic LUT preview while you record, letting you see exactly how your final color-corrected video will look before you even start editing. LUT previews are also available in Gallery and Studio.
New portrait filters: Three new filters are available to add vibrant film-like effects to your pictures.
Home and Lock screens
Automatic Lock screen layout: Wallpapers with pictures of people or pets now fit perfectly every time. When you choose a photo for your Lock screen, the photo will automatically be adjusted to best fit your clock and widget layout.
New downloadable wallpapers: Discover new wallpapers featuring interactive elements. Wallpapers are downloadable so they don’t use up your storage space when not in use.
Add weather effects to wallpapers: Bring your wallpaper to life with the current weather conditions. When you choose your wallpaper, you can add weather effects directly from the preview screen.
More customizable clock fonts: Personalize your Lock screen clock. You can now adjust the thickness of more font styles to match your preferred look.
Weather
Enhanced weather widget: Quickly check upcoming precipitation in the Weather widget on your Home screen. The widget now shows a graph if precipitation is expected in the next few hours.
Pollen index: Check how much pollen is in the air to help manage your allergies. You can check pollen levels for trees, grass, and ragweed.
Communication
Direct voicemail: Can’t answer right now? Let callers record a voice message directly on your phone that you can listen to later. The message will appear on your screen as it’s being recorded so you can answer at any time.
Decline calls with personalized messages: When a call is ringing, new quick decline messages will appear based on your calendar events and other activity. You can tell callers that you can’t answer because you’re in a meeting, exercising, or other reasons even without typing.
Clock
Weather alarm backgrounds: Wake up to an alarm that gets you ready for the day’s weather. Your alarm screen can now show the current weather conditions as a background when it rings.
Time zone converter: Compare time zones at a glance. The new slider in the Clock app makes it easy to check the time difference between places around the world.
Connectivity
Storage Share: Access your files anywhere. Files from your other Samsung phones, tablets, and PCs are available in the My Files app on your phone. You can also access your phone’s files on other Samsung devices, even your TV.
Auto Hotspot: Share your phone’s internet connection more easily. You can now share your hotspot with your Samsung account family group, or create your own hotspot sharing group with anyone you choose.
Family device sharing: Easily connect and share files, screens, cameras, storage and more with your family. Family device sharing lets you use features like Quick Share, Camera Share, Storage Share, Auto Hotspot, and Multi control with Galaxy devices that belong to your family members.
Quickly connect to Smart View devices: Connect to your favorite display faster. You can now add a shortcut on your Home screen to instantly mirror your phone’s screen to a TV or other display device.
Enhanced Auracast features: It’s easier than ever to listen to and broadcast sound with Auracast. Options for both broadcasting and listening are now located in the Audio broadcast menu in Settings.
Voice broadcasts: Broadcast your voice to people around you with Auracast. In addition to media sound, you can now broadcast your voice using your phone’s built-in microphone.
Quick Share
Share with Apple devices: Share with even more devices than before. You can now use Quick Share to seamlessly share photos, videos, and other files with iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other devices that support AirDrop.
Avoid unwanted sharing requests: You can now set Quick Share to only receive files from other devices signed in to your Samsung account or Google account.
Photo sharing suggestions: Share photos with the right people faster. When you share pictures that include friends or family, Quick Share can recognize who’s in them and suggest sharing directly with those people.
Samsung Health
Enhanced weekly reports: See a fuller picture of your health each week. Weekly reports now include data from your medication tracker and mindfulness sessions.
Upgraded sharing experience: Share your workouts your way. Mix and match your exercise stats with photos from your workout to create the perfect social media post.
Start meditations from your watch: Find calm right from your wrist. You can now start favorite or recommended meditations directly on your Galaxy Watch without picking up your phone.
Antioxidant measurements from your watch: Check your antioxidant levels anytime. Measure directly from your Galaxy Watch, even if it’s not connected to your phone. Works with Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Battery and power
Revamped battery info: See your battery use more clearly. The redesigned Battery settings screen makes it easier to check remaining time, charging status, and daily usage over the past week.
Improved Power saving: Use Power saving to make your battery last longer without charging. Choose Standard for moderate savings and customizable limits, or choose Maximum to turn off all non-essential features and make your battery last as long as possible.
Security and privacy
Privacy alerts: Stay informed about your privacy. You’ll now get alerts when an app’s permissions could put your personal data at risk along with suggestions for what you can do about it.
Theft protection: Keep your phone and data safe in case it is lost or stolen. Turn on Failed authentication lock to automatically lock the screen in case there are too many failed attempts to verify your identity using your fingerprints, PIN, pattern, or password. Identity check also protects even more settings than before.
Turn off Auto blocker temporarily: If you need to temporarily disable Auto blocker’s security protection, a new option lets you turn it on automatically 30 minutes later so you don’t forget.
Check the security status of your devices: Keep all your devices protected. Knox Matrix now shows when any of the supported devices signed in to your Samsung account need a software update for the latest security protections.
Accessibility
Easily control Bluetooth hearing aids: Access settings for your Bluetooth hearing aids directly from the Accessibility shortcut. A pop-up will appear that lets you change your hearing program, turn Ambient sound on or off, and more.
Control magnification with mouse or keyboard: Keep what you need magnified in view with these new options. You can make the magnified area follow the cursor as you type or move when you change focus using the keyboard. When using a mouse, you can make the magnified area shift as you move the pointer to the edge of the screen.
Dwell action and Corner actions: The Auto action after pointer stops feature has been divided into 2 features. Dwell action lets you set custom actions when your mouse stops moving for a certain amount of time. Corner actions let you set a different action for each corner of the screen.
Dim strobing in videos: A new setting lets you dim strobing effects in videos for more comfortable viewing.
Even more improvements
Continue using apps when folding: Enjoy more seamless app experiences. You can now keep the app you were using on the main screen open on the cover screen when you fold your phone.
More customizable quick panel: Arrange your quick settings just the way you like them. You can now add, remove, reorder, and reorganize controls in the quick panel.
Customize Calendar countdown widgets: Make your countdown widgets look just the way you like. Use Drawing assist to generate a background image, choose an image from Gallery, or go with a solid color.
Early alerts for reminders: Get alerts before reminders are due to make sure you don’t forget important tasks. You can choose how far in advance to get an alert for each reminder.
Insert tables in Samsung Notes: Organize information in your notes with tables. You can adjust column widths, colors, and border designs while the auto calculation feature helps you stay productive and save time.
Redesigned New tab page: The page that appears when you open a new tab in Samsung Browser has been redesigned to help you quickly access the websites and features you need the most. The New tab page now shows the current security status as well as open tabs from Samsung Browser on other devices.
Partial screen recording: Include only what you need in your screen recordings. You can now select only the part of the screen that you want to record.
Calculator nudges: Save time on calculations. Numbers and formulas copied to your clipboard will be suggested when you open Calculator so you can enter them with a quick tap.
Keep window sizes in DeX: DeX now remembers your app window sizes and positions. When you open an app again, it appears just as you left it.
Triple Zero service enhancement: Software enhancement to provide an additional layer of connectivity to Triple Zero services during emergency service outages.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra camera crop mismatch issue is back in focus, and this time it is tied to Samsung’s Close Focus Enhancement feature. Samsung once again acknowledged the problem, and the fix may take more time to arrive.
Galaxy S26 Ultra users are running into a frustrating camera glitch that refuses to stay subtle. What users see in the Viewfinder does not always match what gets saved after post-processing.
The issue is tied to Close Focus Enhancement
The bug shows up when users shoot ultra-close subjects and the phone switches lenses automatically. Close Focus Enhancement is designed to improve macro shots by shifting to a different sensor and adjusting framing.
You frame a subject tightly, hit the shutter, and the saved image ends up slightly zoomed out or reframed. That inconsistency breaks trust in the shooting experience, especially for users relying on precise composition.
Samsung acknowledges the issue but offers no timeline
A moderator on the official Community forums has now acknowledged the bug, via MojoTrick. According to the moderator, Samsung is aware of the discrepancy and is working on improvements; however, no firmware rollout window has been shared.
Not the first time this problem has surfaced
Many Galaxy S26 Ultra users have already reported the close-up camera problem. Like this time, Samsung moderator acknowledged the problem and pledged to provide a firmware update to fix the glitch upon verification.
For now, users are left to work around the issue. If precision matters, it is safer to double-check framing after capture. Keeping the device updated is also key, as fixes will likely arrive through a future firmware rollout.
We are still months away from the OnePlus 16's unveiling, but we've already come across a few leaks and rumors about the phone, with reliable tipster Digital Chat Station claiming it will be powered by Qualcomm's yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro SoC.
In a Weibo post, the tipster has reiterated that the OnePlus 16 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro (SM8975) and revealed a few details about the flagship's display.
OnePlus 15
According to DCS, the OnePlus 16 will pack a custom 6.78" 1.5K resolution LTPO BOE display, surrounded by narrow bezels on all...
Next month, kickstarts a three-fight plan before his potential 2027 retirement and the heavyweight ruler has now provided an update on his final months as a professional. Usyk has established himself as a boxing legend in recent years, building on his phenomenal undisputed run as a cruiserweight and replicating the feat as a heavyweight, becoming […]
Fenerbahçe'nin devre arasında Angers Kulübü'nden getirdiği Sidiki Cherif, tekrar eski takımına dönebilir. Eğer Sarı-Lacivertliler 2 forvet takviyesi yaparsa bu ihtimal masada bulunacak.
Fenerbahçe devre arasında 4 milyon euro bedelle Sidiki Cherif'i Angers Kulübü'nden kiralamıştı. 2 ekip arasındaki anlaşmaya göre; Sarı-Lacivertliler sezon sonunda 18 milyon euro daha vererek genç forvetin tapusunu alacak. Ayrıca mukavelede +3 milyon euroluk bonus maddeleri mevcut...
EN BÜYÜK ELEŞTİRİ KONUSU
Devre arasında elindeki golcüleri gönderen Fenerbahçe sadece Cherif hamlesini yapmıştı. Zaten yönetimin en fazla eleştirildiği konu da buydu. 2026 yazında kesin olarak 1 santrfor gelecek. Ancak bu bölgeye ikinci bir forvetin alınması durumunda tablo bir hayli değişecek...
3. GOLCÜ KONUMUNA DÜŞECEK
Böyle bir ihtimalde, Sidiki Cherif takımda 3. forvet durumuna düşecek. Şartlar bu yönde gelişirse, 19 yaşındaki futbolcunun kiralanması bekleniyor. Ve bu kulüp de büyük ihtimalle oyuncunun eski ekibi Angers olacak. Özetle her şey, Fenerbahçe Yönetimi'nin kaç golcü transferi yapacağına bağlı...
Fenerbahçe'de satılması planlanan isimlerden biri; Jayden Oosterwolde... Hollandalı savunmacıdan gelecek bonservis bedeli ise yeni stopere harcanacak...
Fenerbahçe, 2023 yılının Ocak ayında Parma'ya 6 milyon euro ödeyerek Jayden Oosterwolde'yi kadrosuna kattı. Hollandalı savunmacının mevcut sözleşmesi 30 Haziran 2028'e kadar devam ediyor. Ancak bu yaz satılması bekleniyor. Aslında 1.89 boyundaki stoperin daha önce de Avrupa'ya gitme ihtimalleri vardı.
DURUM DEĞİŞECEK
Ancak geçirdiği sakatlıklar sebebiyle ayrılık ihtimali mecburen rafa kalktı. Ancak 2026 yazında durumun değişmesi bekleniyor. Bazı Avrupa ekipleri, 24 yaşındaki futbolcuyu takip ediyor. Fenerbahçe Yönetimi ise mümkün olan en yüksek bonservis bedelini elde etmeyi hedefliyor.
SADECE SKRİNİAR
Çünkü bu paranın tamamının yeni stoper hamlesinde kullanılması planlanıyor. Jayden Oosterwolde, bu sezon fazlasıyla eleştirilen isimler arasında yer alıyor. Şu anda Fenerbahçe'nin savunma hattında tribünlerin tepki göstermediği tek isim; Skriniar... Onun haricinde yaşanabilecek muhtemel ayrılıkların normal karşılanması bekleniyor.
Fenerbahçe'nin West Ham United'dan satın alma opsiyonuyla kiraladığı Edson Alvarez konusunda İngiliz ekibi kararını verdi. Bununla birlikte oyuncunun geleceği de şekillendi.
Fenerbahçe'nin bu seneki en sürpriz hamlelerinden biri Edson Alvarez'di. 28 yaşındaki futbolcu, West Ham United'dan kiralandı. İki kulüp arasındaki sözleşmede 22 milyon euroluk satın alma opsiyonu da bulunuyordu. Ancak Meksikalı futbolcunun Fenerbahçe kariyeri daha çok sakatlıklarla geçti.
DAHA ÖNCEDEN VERİLDİ
1.90 boyundaki ön libero, Süper Lig'de sadece 11 maça çıkabildi. Sahada 767 dakika kaldı. 1 asist üretti. Fenerbahçe cephesi, Edson Alvarez'in opsiyonunu kullanmayacak. Bu konudaki karar daha önce verildi. Bütün bunlar yaşanırken West Ham United cephesinden de kritik bir hamle geldi.
KENDİNE KULÜP BUL
Premier Lig'de düşmeme mücadelesi veren West Ham'ın, oyuncu cephesine önümüzdeki sezon kendisiyle devam edilmeyeceğini bildirdiği öğrenildi. Bu hamlenin anlamı, "Kendine kulüp bul" idi... West Ham, Edson Alvarez'i 2024 yazında Ajax'tan transfer etmişti. 38 milyon euro bonservis bedeli ödediler. Orada da beklentileri karşılayamadı.
Archie Brown ile birlikte Fenerbahçe'nin sol bek rotasyonunu oluşturan Levent Mercan'ın sezon sonunda satılabileceği konuşuluyor. Ancak mevcut koşullarda takımda kalma ihtimali daha yüksek...
Fenerbahçe'de ayrılacak oyuncular arasında Levent Mercan da gösteriliyor. 2024 yazında 2 milyon euro karşılığında Karagümrük'ten transfer edilen 25 yaşındaki futbolcunun 30 Haziran 2028 tarihine kadar sözleşmesi var. Levent şu anda Archie Brown ile Fenerbahçe'nin sol bek rotasyonunu oluşturuyor.
YABANCI BİR SOL BEK
Şu anda yabancı bir sol bek konusunda çalışmalar sürüyor. Alınan bilgilere göre; bu bölgedeki operasyon, Archie Brown'un ayrılığı üzerine yapılıyor. Eğer Levent Mercan da giderse, 2 yabancı kontenjanı sadece sol bekte kullanılacak. Yönetimin böyle bir riske girmek istemediği belirtildi.
BULMAK ÇOK ZOR
Mevcut koşullar düşünüldüğünde yerli bir sol bek bulmak çok zor... Bu sebeple Levent'in önümüzdeki sezon devam etme ihtimalinin yüksek olduğu öğrenildi. 1.76 boyundaki futbolcu bu sezon Süper Lig'de 17 karşılaşmaya çıktı. Sahada 993 dakika kaldı. 3 asisti bulunuyor.
Fenerbahçe tribünlerinin, "Komutan" lakabını taktığı Mert Hakan Yandaş'ın sözleşmesi bu sezonun ardından bitiyor. 31 yaşındaki orta saha oyuncusuyla yola devam edilmeyeceği öğrenildi.
Mert Hakan Yandaş, 2020 yazında Sivasspor'dan bedelsiz olarak Fenerbahçe'ye gelmişti. O dönemde Galatasaray'ın da oyuncuya bir ilgisi vardı. Tecrübeli oyuncunun tartışmalarla başlayan Fenerbahçe kariyeri, benzer şekilde de ilerledi. Bahis soruşturması kapsamında tutuklanan 31 yaşındaki futbolcu, kısa süre önce dışarı çıkmıştı.
HENÜZ BİLİNMİYOR
Mert Hakan Yandaş'ın sözleşmesi 30 Haziran'da tamamlanacak. Ve alınan bilgilere göre; Fenerbahçe Yönetimi, onunla yola devam etmeyi planlamıyor. 19 Ağustos'ta 32 yaşına girecek olan 1.74 boyundaki futbolcunun kariyeriyle ilgili nasıl bir karar vereceği henüz bilinmiyor.
BÜTÜN İHTİMALLER AÇIK
Mert Hakan'ın sürpriz bir şekilde, Fenerbahçe'den ayrılması halinde futbolu bırakabileceği de konuşuluyor. Sarı-Lacivertli taraftarların "Komutan" lakabını taktığı orta saha oyuncusu konusunda çok ilginç gelişmeler yaşanabilir. 2026 yazı, onun kariyerinde devasa bir rol oynayacak.
Galatasaray, MHK'ye iletilmek üzere TFF'ye bir yazı yazdı... hafta sonu Rams Park'ta oynanacak derbide Yasin Kol'un düdük çalmasını istemediklerini iletti. İşte o iddialar ve nedenleri...
Hafta sonunda oynanacak Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derbisinin hakemi bugün açıklanacak. İddialara göre şu anda Yasin Kol ilk aday. TFF Başkanı İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu ve MHK Başkanı Ferhat Gündoğdu'nun prensi olan Kol'a Galatasaray cephesinin iddiasına göre Fenerbahçe'den destek var.
SON DÖNEM HATALARI ORTADA
Sarı-kırmızılı cephe ise Trabzon bölgesi hakeminin bu maçta olmaması gerektiğini savunuyor. Yasin Kol için kendilerinin ilk yarıda Fenerbahçe deplasmanındaki performansının yanı sıra Galatasaray - Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe-Beşiktaş derbilerindeki performansını da örnek gösteriyorlar.
MAÇLARIN KONTROLÜNÜ KAYBETTİ
Bu iddialara göre Yasin Kol kariyerinde pek çok maçın kontrolünü kaybetti... sık sık kararlarının değiştiği müsabakalar var. Galatasaray cephesine göre Yasin Kol bu baskıyı kaldırabilecek bir isim değil. Ayrıca ismi son dönemde çok fazla yıprandı.
TFF'YE YAZI GÖNDERİLDİ
Özellikle iki takımın da yabancı ağırlıklı sahaya çıkacağı ortamda MHK'nin derbi için "FIFA Kokartlı" yani yabancı dil bilen Avrupa arenasında düzenli görev alan bir hakemi seçmesi gerektiği savunuluyor. Tüm bunları alt alta yazan Galatasaray cephesinin MHK'ye bildirilmek üzere TFF'ye "aman ha Yasin Kol'u atamayın" anlamına gelen bir yazı gönderdiği iddia ediliyor.
Ruben Hallali, a meteorologist, told French media outlet BFMTV the sudden temperature fluctuation recorded at a weather station at the Charles de Gaulle Airport was unlikely to be a natural event.
The new funding rounds are expected to be completed in the next six months, but the firm has already begun deploying some of the new capital, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The GSR Crypto Core3 ETF is GSR's first crypto exchange-traded product, giving investors access to the top three largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Yunan-Roma güləşi üzrə Avropa üçüncüsü olmuş Nihat Məmmədli (60 kq) Tiranadakı yarışla bağl təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, Azərbaycan Güləş Federasiyasının mətbuat xidmətinə açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:
“Bu, artıq Avropa çempionatında 4-cü medalımdır. Buna görə şükür edirəm. Təbii ki, qızıl medalla qayıtmağı çox istərdim. İki Avropa çempionatında qızıl medal qazanmışdım. Bəzən hər şey istədiyin kimi olmur. Əlbəttə, səhvi başqalarında axtara bilmərəm. Bu yarışa kimi çox yaxşı təlim-məşq toplanışlarından keçmişdik. Çox yaxşı hazırlaşmışdıq komanda olaraq. Bundan sonra daha yaxşı hazırlaşıb, əlimdən gələni edəcəyəm ki, yenidən çempion olum”.
Xatırladaq ki, Albaniyanın paytaxtı Tiranada təşkil edilmiş yarışa 1/4 finaldan qoşulmuş Nihat Məmmədli (60 kq) ukraynalı Vladislav Kuzkoya şans tanımayıb – 5:0. Həmyerlimiz yarımfinalda ermənistanlı Suren Ağacanyana (tuş) uduzub. Nihat bürünc medal uğrunda görüşdə rusiyalı Suner Konunova 6:0 hesabıyla qalib gələrək Avropa üçüncüsü olub. Bu, onun analoji yarışlarda 4-cü (2 qızıl, 2 bürünc) medalı kimi tarixə düşüb.
Beşiktaş'ta Sergen Yalçın, oyuncularını Alanyaspor maçının zorluğuna karşı uyararak fiziksel mücadelede güçlü olup fırsatları iyi değerlendirmeleri gerektiğini vurguladı.
Pazar günü oynanacak derbi maçında Galatasaray ile karşılaşmaya hazırlanan Fenerbahçe'de Marco Asensio'nun geri dönüşü için büyük çaba harcandığı öğrenildi.
Yunan-Roma güləşi üzrə 2 qat Avropa çempionu Qurban Qurbanov (82 kq) təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Qurbanov Güləş Federasiyasının mətbuat xidmətinə açıqlamasında çempionluğunu belə şərh edib:
“İndiki keçid dövrümdə titulu qorumaq daha çətin oldu. Ötən il Avropa çempionu olduqdan sonra ardıcıl ağır zədələr aldım. Hər iki çempionluğum mənə əzizdir. Sözsüz, çempion kimi çıxış edəndə məsuliyyət daha çox olur. Həsrət Cəfərov bu gün 4-cü dəfə Avropa çempionu oldu. Əlbəttə, aramızda xoş bir rəqabət var. Biz də istəyirik ki, bundan da böyük uğurlar qazanaq. Özümü, Həsrəti, bütün komandanı təbrik edirəm”.
“Sabah” Azərbaycan kubokunda 20-ci ev qoluna imza atıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu topu Velko Simiç vurub. O, 1/2 finalın “Qarabağ”la cavab görüşündə (2:1) hesabı bərabərləşdirib.
Bakı klubu ölkə kuboku tarixinə evdə 20 və daha çox qol vuran 30-cu komanda kimi düşüb. 13-cü ev görüşünə çıxan “Sabah” qol sayını 21-ə çatdırıb. Orta məhsuldarlıq 1,62-yə bərabərdir.
Qeyd edək ki, evdə ən çox qola imza atan komanda “Qarabağ”dır. Ağdam təmsilçisi 193 dəfə fərqlənib.
“Qarabağ” yarımfinalda “Sabah”a məğlub olub ölkə kubokundan ələnəndən sonra Elvin Cəfərquliyevin sosial şəbəkədə paylaşımı:
Niyə ay yoldaş? Bu nə deməkdir?
Məqsəd?
Niyyət?
Nə demək istəyirsən, yoldaş Cəfərquliyev?
Əvəzedici heyətə göndərilməyin cavabıdır bu?
Yoxsa nə?
Ümumiyyətlə, ölkə gündəminin 2-3 ən qaynar mövzusundan biri bu məsələ idi. Ən müxtəlif iddialar səsləndirilir.
Lakin fikir versəniz, peşəkarlar hələ bu mövzuya toxunmayıb.
Çünki məğz tam aydın deyil. Belədə tərəfləri haqlı və ya haqsıza ayırmaq doğru olmaz.
Klub onu cəzalandırıb. Bu klubun mövqeyidir. Etik olaraq detalı açıqlamamaları anlaşılandır. Lakin Elvini zavallı obrazında göstərənlər yanılırlar.
Elvin doğrudan da iddia etdiyiniz qədər haqsızlığa uğrayıbsa, tribunamız açıqdır, danışsın, dərc edək.
Danışmır. Əvəzində belə bir paylaşım.
Hərdən düşünürəm, əksər idmançılarımız psixoloqla sıx işləməlidir. Rabitəsiz davranışları, absurd yanaşmaları belə düşünməyə vadar edir.
Qardaş, yoldaş, paylaşımın pis görünür. Acıqlısansa, bunu əndirabadi işarələrlə büruzə verməyə çalışma. Yanındayıq, açıq de, reallıq ictimailəşsin, haqsızlıq üstündən çəkilsin.
Həm danışmırsan, həm də atmaca mahiyyətli paylaşım…
Faktiki olaraq ən yaxşılarımızdan birisən, hər hərəkətin, davranışın, qərarın diqqət mərkəzindədir. Ruh halın belə bizi narahat edə bilər.
Nə baş verirsə, açıqlanası deyilsə, yaxşı, olsun, onda belə qəribə, tayminqi uğursuz, forması itici paylaşımın yaratdığı suallar da dağılsın ətrafa…
Tiktok sosial şəbəkəsində yeni açılmış “futbolpress” səhifəsi bizə aid deyil!
Bildiririk ki, “Futbolpress.az” saytının sosial media platformalarındakı səhifələri müvafiq rəsmi adıyla fəaliyyət göstərir.
Sizə təqdim etdiyimiz səhifənin saytımıza heç bir aidiyyatı yoxdur və bununla bağlı hüquq-mühafizə orqanları və media təşkilatlarına rəsmi müraciət ünvanlamışıq.
Yunan-Roma güləşi üzrə 4 qat Avropa çempionu Həsrət Cəfərov (67 kq) təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, o, Güləş Federasiyasının mətbuat xidmətinə açıqlamasında bunları deyib:
“Təəssüratlarım çox yaxşıdır, olduqca sevincliyəm. Ardıcıl dördüncü “qızıl”ımı qazanıram. Bu, “qızıl”ların arxasında isə həqiqətən böyük əziyyət, zəhmət dayanır. Bu medalı qazandıqdan sonra onun qürurunu indi daha dərindən hiss edirəm. Çəkdiyim heç bir əziyyət yadıma düşmür – yadda qalan yalnız bu “qızıl” olur. Bu tarixi uğurumu qızıma həsr edirəm”.
“Qarabağ”ın qapıçısı Fabian Buntiç Azərbaycan kubokunun yarımfinal mərhələsində “Sabah”a qarşı keçirilən cavab oyunundan (1:2) sonra jurnalistlərin suallarını cavablandırıb. Msport.az xəbər […]
The page leads with Lazio’s Coppa Italia heroics, “Lazio, è Maramotta,” celebrating their penalty shootout victory over Atalanta, with young goalkeeper Edoardo Motta saving four spot kicks.
Goals from Isaksen and Taylor proved decisive in a shootout win after a 1-1 draw at 120 minutes, courtesy of strikes from Romagnoli and Pasalic. The Coppa Italia final will be played at the Stadio Olimpico on 13 May, Lazio vs Inter.
The main splash is dedicated to Juventus’ pursuit of Alisson, “Alisson Scontato”, with the paper reporting that Liverpool are irritated by the Brazilian’s desire to leave Anfield a year early, and that Juventus are pressing ahead with negotiations. Milan’s interest in Goretzka is also flagged.
Elsewhere, a brief on Napoli’s vote of confidence in Conte as manager.
Tuttosport
Leads with an exclusive from Strahinja Pavlovic, “Il mio amico Vlahovic è il numero 1”, the Milan defender enthusing about his Serbia teammate and Milan target, calling him one of the best strikers in the world. Juventus’ interest in Atalanta’s Bernasconi is also flagged, described as a priority should Cambiaso depart.
Smaller headlines cover Chivu’s happiness at Inter and Calhanoglu’s expected renewal, plus D’Aversa calling on Torino’s pride ahead of their next fixture.
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Gazzetta leads on Calhanoglu’s imminent Inter renewal, “Inter Resto”, with the headline declaring Hakan wants to stay, describing him as “incredible” and Chivu’s pressing as decisive in convincing him to extend.
Two transfer scoops flank the masthead: Juventus sprinting for Alisson (“Sprint Alisson”) and Milan moving for Goretzka (“Mossa Goretzka”), with the paper reporting a three-year deal is being discussed for the German.
Lazio’s Coppa Italia final berth is also prominently featured, with Motta’s four penalty saves celebrated and Atalanta’s frustration at the Ederson goal controversy noted.
According to a latest report from Financial Times, a US special envoy to Donald Trump is actively pushing an explosive idea: kicking Iran out of the upcoming tournament and allowing Italy to take their spot.
It sounds like something straight out of a football manager simulation, but the proposal is entirely real and has already been pitched at the highest levels of global leadership.
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The man behind the proposal is Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-born diplomat who serves as a special envoy to Trump.
FIFA advised to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup
Zampolli openly confirmed that he has floated the unprecedented swap idea directly to both the US President and FIFA head Gianni Infantino.
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For Italian fans, this would be the ultimate, miraculous lifeline. The Azzurri suffered a devastating 4-1 penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final in March, officially confirming their absence from a third consecutive World Cup following misses in 2018 and 2022.
Zampolli argues that the four-time world champions have the historic pedigree to justify a backdoor inclusion, calling it a “dream” to see them compete on American soil.
He said:
“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and [Fifa president Gianni] Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”
The proposed swap is actually a calculated effort to repair the deeply fractured relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Steps are being taken to repair Italy and US relations
The two leaders recently suffered a major political fallout after the American president launched attacks against Pope Leo XIV regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Offering Italy a golden ticket to football’s biggest stage is being seen as a step to repair relationships.
Will FIFA actually rewrite its own rulebook to appease a diplomatic rift? It’s highly unlikely that Infantino will take the bait and completely undermine the integrity of the qualification process just to patch up US-Italian relations.
Still, the mere fact that a backdoor Italy swap is being seriously discussed in the Oval Office highlights just how incredibly complicated and politically charged the 2026 World Cup has become.
La Liga icon drops bombshell on Carvajal-Arbeloa conflict: ‘This is all about bad blood’
The internal situation at Real Madrid continues to attract attention, with growing focus on the strained relationship between Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Arbeloa.
What initially appeared to be a sporting decision has now evolved into a deeper issue, and former goalkeeper Santiago Canizares has offered a strong and direct explanation.
Tensions between the experienced defender and the current manager have reportedly been present since the early days of Arbeloa’s tenure.
Carvajal feels mistreated
Carvajal, now one of the senior figures in the squad, is believed to feel sidelined and unfairly treated, particularly at a stage in his career where every appearance matters.
The situation carries even greater weight due to its potential impact on international ambitions.
With the FIFA World Cup approaching, the 34-year-old is eager to remain in contention for the Spain squad.
However, limited opportunities at club level could seriously damage his chances of selection.
Canizares’s take on the matter
Speaking on the radio programme El Partidazo de COPE, Canizares shared his perspective on what might be driving the conflict.
Carvajal is not happy with Arbeloa’s treatment. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
He pointed towards unresolved history between the two as a key factor behind the ongoing tension.
“This is all about bad blood. Carvajal was the one who forced Arbeloa out, and there’s jealousy.
“When someone is taken off a team where they have performed well and won titles, and another player comes in – the one who replaces them – the player who’s been replaced always sees it as unfair and doesn’t like the situation.
“And they hold onto that. ‘Who replaced me? Carvajal.’ That’s my theory, and that’s how I explain it,” he said.
He further expanded on his view, arguing that Carvajal’s status at the club should have earned him more trust and opportunities under Arbeloa.
“This is what is happening at Real Madrid. Carvajal, given his stature, deserved the chance to show what he was capable of, and Arbeloa didn’t let him.
“He didn’t let him and speaks about him like that because he was the one who benched him.
‘For me, there is absolutely no doubt. It’s as plain as day,” he concluded.
Today’s Papers: Calhanoglu stays at Inter, Reaction to Lazio Coppa Italia win & Motta heroics
Corriere dello Sport
The page leads with Lazio’s Coppa Italia heroics, “Lazio, è Maramotta,” celebrating their penalty shootout victory over Atalanta, with young goalkeeper Edoardo Motta saving four spot kicks.
Goals from Isaksen and Taylor proved decisive in a shootout win after a 1-1 draw at 120 minutes, courtesy of strikes from Romagnoli and Pasalic. The Coppa Italia final will be played at the Stadio Olimpico on 13 May, Lazio vs Inter.
The main splash is dedicated to Juventus’ pursuit of Alisson, “Alisson Scontato”, with the paper reporting that Liverpool are irritated by the Brazilian’s desire to leave Anfield a year early, and that Juventus are pressing ahead with negotiations. Milan’s interest in Goretzka is also flagged.
Elsewhere, a brief on Napoli’s vote of confidence in Conte as manager.
Tuttosport
Leads with an exclusive from Strahinja Pavlovic, “Il mio amico Vlahovic è il numero 1”, the Milan defender enthusing about his Serbia teammate and Milan target, calling him one of the best strikers in the world. Juventus’ interest in Atalanta’s Bernasconi is also flagged, described as a priority should Cambiaso depart.
Smaller headlines cover Chivu’s happiness at Inter and Calhanoglu’s expected renewal, plus D’Aversa calling on Torino’s pride ahead of their next fixture.
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Gazzetta leads on Calhanoglu’s imminent Inter renewal, “Inter Resto”, with the headline declaring Hakan wants to stay, describing him as “incredible” and Chivu’s pressing as decisive in convincing him to extend.
Two transfer scoops flank the masthead: Juventus sprinting for Alisson (“Sprint Alisson”) and Milan moving for Goretzka (“Mossa Goretzka”), with the paper reporting a three-year deal is being discussed for the German.
Lazio’s Coppa Italia final berth is also prominently featured, with Motta’s four penalty saves celebrated and Atalanta’s frustration at the Ederson goal controversy noted.
DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Pioneering coach Marie-Louise Eta has a chance to influence the battle for Champions League spots in the Bundesliga as her Union Berlin team takes on third-place Leipzig on Friday.
After Bayern Munich wrapped up the title last week, the focus shifts to a host of teams behind in a vibrant and often surprising fight for the top four places.
Runner-up Borussia Dortmund can seal a Champions League spot this weekend, while it could be a nervous few weeks for teams like Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen.
That's especially true because Germany could yet land an extra Champions League spot for the fifth-place team by overhauling Spain on UEFA's “European performance spot” ranking. That would depend on strong showings by Bayern in the Champions League and Freiburg in the Europa League.
Key matchups
Eta stayed upbeat after a 2-1 loss to Wolfsburg in her historic first game as head coach, and there were positives. Union created plenty of chances but just didn't convert them. Leipzig will be a tougher challenge Friday. Ole Werner's team is on a four-game winning run and looking to return to the Champions League after missing out this season.
The Rhine derby between Leverkusen and Cologne is always a standout game. This time it could play a big role in determining whether Leverkusen gets a Champions League spot, and potentially whether Kasper Hjulmand gets another season as Leverkusen coach.
A win for Dortmund against Freiburg on Sunday will make sure of a Champions League spot for next season, regardless of whether there are four or five places for German teams.
Players to watch
Harry Kane's charge for the single-season Bundesliga scoring record may be over, with Vincent Kompany increasingly minded to rest him for Champions League and German Cup runs, Nicolas Jackson has stepped up with goals in Bayern's last two Bundesliga games.
Hoffenheim forward Fisnik Asllani is having a breakout season with nine goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga. More goal contributions against Hamburger SV on Saturday could strengthen his team's Champions League push.
Young striker Dzenan Pejcinovic has found form when it matters to revive Wolfsburg, scoring in its last two games as the relegation-threatened team prepares to face Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. It makes a chance from scoring at the wrong time. His first goals of the season were a hat trick in a losing cause, then the consolation goal in an 8-1 loss.
Out of action
Bayern and Germany forward Serge Gnabry ruled himself out of the rest of the season, World Cup included, in a social media post Wednesday after a muscle tear in training.
Manchester United want Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven
Manchester United are considering signing Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven this summer, according to The Athletic. Man United want to strengthen at the back ahead of their return to Europe next season and after watching Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez struggle with injuries this season. The Red Devils want a left-footed defender and have identified Van de Ven as a key target. The Netherlands international is likely to leave Spurs even if they end up surviving relegation at the end of the season.
Van de Ven will be perfect for Man United but the Old Trafford club will still need to raise funds through sales and Manuel Ugarte is being considered. The Red Devils co-owner Jim Ratcliffe is of the view the 25-year-old Uruguayan should be sold. Ugarte started in the defeat against Leeds United last Monday with Kobbie Mainoo injured, and Ratcliffe would not have been impressed with his performances while watching from the Old Trafford directors’ box. He joined the Red Devils in a £50.5 million deal from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 but has largely struggled and is set to be made available for transfer.
Ipswich Town full-back Darnell Furlong highlighted the work behind the scenes of the physios and medical staff after scoring his first goal for the club in their victory at Charlton Athletic.
The game at The Valley was the first of three in a row away from home and Town will be certain of automatic promotion back to the Premier League if they can win two of them.
Ipswich have been affected by a number of injuries of late and left-back Leif Davis was missing against Charlton with a hamstring problem.
"It's a very tough schedule with a lot of games (having been) cancelled and having to be replayed but the squad is doing everything possible to prepare for it," Furlong told BBC Radio Suffolk.
"We're going to need the whole squad as we've shown already. We've got a great team behind us and they do everything they can to get us in the best shape possible and we're very thankful for that as players."
When asked about the importance of the victory, Furlong described the 2-1 comeback win at Charlton as "massive".
"The emotion on the pitch and the stress we're going through, but [we have] the resilience to keep going and do what we believe in and we get there in the end.
"There's always pressure whenever you step onto a football pitch, you are demanding from yourself, you want to go and get three points obviously - the games are bigger and mean more at the moment with the stage of the season we're at but we've all been there before, it is what it is and we keep going."
Furlong's goal came in his 37th appearance for Ipswich this season - and was his first since March 2025 when he scored for his previous club West Brom against Leeds.
"It was a nice time to do it, I've been wanting to get that goal for the club so I'm thankful it happened.
"There were a lot of bodies in the way so I couldn't kind of see it but managed to catch it at the end just as it went in so it was a great feeling, but just a case of business as usual after the game," he said.
Ipswich's next game is against West Brom at The Hawthorns in a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.
Furlong still has friends at the West Midlands club, where he spent six years, and is pleased they have avoided relegation.
"It'll be nice to see some people there. It'll be strange going there as the away team, but I've done it before when I was at West Brom and went to QPR," he added, refering to another of his former clubs.
"We'll be going for the three points but it's nice to see them safe - I knew they'd get out, I knew they had the quality it was just a case of a bit of confidence - I'm happy for them but focused on us."
Japanese Muay Thai phenom Shimon Yoshinari has arrived on the biggest stage of his young career, and the 21-year-old has no intention of letting the moment pass without leaving a lasting mark.
The WBC Muay Thai World Champion takes on Johan “Jojo” Ghazali in a flyweight Muay Thai clash at ONE SAMURAI 1 on Wednesday, April 29, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, streaming on pay-per-view via live.onefc.com.
Shimon enters with a 25-1 career record and a perfect 4-0 promotional slate since his ONE debut in 2024. His resume already includes victories over Dedduanglek Torfunfarm and four-time Muay Thai World Champion Yodlekpet Or Atchariya.
When the call came to compete at ONE SAMURAI 1 against one of the promotion’s most recognizable young stars, he did not hesitate.
He said:
“It was an offer from such a huge event, so honestly I was just happy. Johan is a well-known and popular fighter, so I felt like it was a real challenge worth taking on. I never really imagined I’d be fighting him — I had only seen him fight on TV.”
As the excitement settled, preparation took over. Shimon and his team at EIWA Sports Gym have built a game plan designed specifically around the threat Ghazali presents, and he arrives in peak condition with every detail locked in.
He said:
“Both my mind and body are in perfect shape. My gym president and trainer put the strategy together, and my job is to execute it. On top of my own training, I’ve been studying my opponent, and that includes preparing specifically for Ghazali.”
Ariake Arena, in front of a Tokyo crowd, provides the backdrop for the most important performance of Shimon’s career. A dominant showing against a globally known opponent can accelerate both his reputation and his ONE World Title ambitions.
He said:
“ONE SAMURAI 1 only has elite fighters, so I want to have a fight that leaves an impression. I want to finish it in a dramatic way. Ghazali is a globally recognized fighter, so I want to shock people around the world.”
Shimon Looks To Manage Distance Against Aggressive Ghazali
Shimon Yoshinari has done his homework on Johan Ghazali, and what he has found is a fighter unlike any he has encountered before.
The 19-year-old, who trains out of Rentap Muaythai Gym and Superbon Training Camp, brings a 27-9 professional record and an 8-3 promotional slate into this contest. Six of those promotional victories have come by finish. His relentless forward pressure and all-out attacking style have made him one of the most exciting and dangerous fighters on the roster.
Shimon recognizes the challenge Ghazali presents, drawing a partial comparison to a familiar face while acknowledging the differences:
“He strikes me as a mentally tough, aggressive fighter who suits the ONE style. In the way he closes the distance and pressures forward, he reminds me a bit of Yodlekpet, but his build and striking are different, so I can’t say it’s the same type of fight I’ve experienced before.”
That unpredictability makes distance management the central pillar of Shimon’s strategy. Known for his thunderous left hook and punishing calf kicks, he has identified where the danger lies and how he plans to neutralize it.
He said:
“[He favors] close-range punching exchanges, and I think he’ll use his elbows a lot, so I need to be careful there. But if I can manage the distance my way, I think it works in my favor.”
Chris: Once again we dominated a match, had numerous chances, got no luck from the officials and threw away two points! We should have won by three or four goals. We just cannot kill off teams, it is so frustrating. We should be comfortably in the European places this season but now it will be a scrap. A new striker has to be a priority for us this summer.
Terry: Positives were a great performance again and good goals. Jimenez is awesome, he's like a Duracell bunny and just keeps going. Hill was so unlucky after another solid game. We'll miss Senesi. I'm proud to be a Cherry. Negatives were VAR and officials.
John: I cannot believe that Evanilson's goal was not given, his hand was offside but you can't score with your hand! Also how does that Leeds goal count as the striker is offside and blocking Petrovic? It's madness! Overall another good display from the team.
Scott: The 2-2 draw still doesn't make sense, Bournemouth should've won 3-1 and would've been moved up to sixth place and chance for a European boost.
Andy: VAR again tried hard to ruin the game - ref was third rate at best. Cherries were the best team and result was injustice
Leeds fans
David: The great thing about this Leeds team is they never give up. Maybe we were lucky with the offside at the end, but it was an amazing strike by Sean Longstaff. Bournemouth definitely shaded it, but we showed true Yorkshire grit and resilience.
Jim: A well fought out game between two competitive teams. Leeds battled to the last minute. Delighted for Sean Longstaff, he's fighting hard to get back in the team, and what a great team spirit!
Chris: Leeds keep on improving and it's down to Daniel Farke who's found the way to get the best out of the team - not just with motivation but starting line-ups and earlier substitutions when needed. It's all part of the steep learning curve Leeds have been on in the Premier League. I have no doubt whatsoever Leeds are staying up this year as they'll take more points from the remaining games. The third-from-bottom position will go to the wire I think and Leeds might have a say against West Ham.
The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods you’d totally do a sushi night with: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, Kung_Fu_Zizou (AKA KFZ), Juninho, Ezek and, of course… yours truly.
Franco Taking the Endrick Route?
🚨 BREAKING: Real Madrid are seriously considering letting Franco Mastantuono go – as happened with Endrick.
No one at the club doubts Mastantuono's talent, but the idea that he needs an intermediate step is beginning to take shape.
🚨💣| BREAKING: Real Madrid believe Inter Milan midfielder Nicolò Barella is the best value-for-money target available and are prepared to pursue a deal worth around €50 million.
Gavi, Joan Garcia react after Barcelona 1-0 Celta Vigo: ‘We want to win the title as quickly as possible’
Barcelona’s narrow 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo may not have been their most convincing performance, but it could prove decisive in the La Liga title race.
While the spotlight has largely been on injuries and late drama, Gavi offered an honest insight into the tactical challenges faced during the match, particularly regarding his unusual role on the pitch.
Deployed as a false winger on the left, the young midfielder admitted that adapting to the position was not straightforward, especially against a compact defensive setup.
He explained how the team had to adjust to Celta’s structure and why the role felt demanding on the night.
“I do what the manager asks of me. I’m a player who can play in various positions, and I believe that’s very important for a footballer in the team.
“Perhaps it was more difficult today, because Celta were also defending with a back five, but ultimately I’m at the disposal of the team and the manager.
“Sometimes there will be easier games, and others more difficult, but the most important thing is to win, and that’s exactly what we did,” he said.
Crucial win in the title race
Despite the tactical discomfort, the result keeps Barcelona firmly in control of the title race, holding a significant advantage over Real Madrid with only a handful of matches remaining.
Gavi made it clear that the squad’s focus is now on finishing the job as quickly as possible.
“What we want is to win the title as quickly as possible. Whether it’s against Real Madrid or before that. I hope it’s soon.
“This victory was extremely important. It was crucial for winning the title because the league isn’t decided yet.
“We must win all the remaining matches, and today we did what we had to do, which was to win the match, and that’s all.”
On Lamine’s injury
The victory, however, was overshadowed by concerns over Lamine Yamal, whose injury has raised alarm within the squad.
Joan Garcia was heavily involved in the game. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Gavi did not hide the importance of the youngster, admitting the dressing room felt the impact immediately.
“He’s the best, and of course, it’s a big blow for us because he’s a very important player and we need him.
“He was gutted in the dressing room because he understands how important he is to us. I don’t know how long he’ll be out for, but I hope it’s as short as possible because we need him.”
Joan Garcia takes the stage
At the other end of the pitch, Joan Garcia played a decisive role in securing all three points.
The goalkeeper produced key saves, including an early intervention that set the tone for the match. Reflecting on that moment, said,
“It’s been happening all season that they create chances in the opening minutes; we need to improve, but luckily I managed to save it.”
Garcia also stressed the importance of grinding out results at this stage of the campaign, especially in tight matches like this one.
“It was extremely important to win, especially at home; we know we have to pick up three points in every game.”
Summing up the performance, the goalkeeper acknowledged the quality of the opposition and the adjustments made after the break that helped Barcelona secure the win.
“Today’s match was very tough against a team like Celta, who play very well, but I think we competed well and managed to get the three points.
“They’re a top-class side who find the man in space, and if you don’t press them well, you end up chasing them.
“In the second half, we tweaked a couple of things and were better,” he concluded.
Ona Batlle: Former Man United Women star set for return to England
Former Manchester United Women star, Ona Batlle, is set for a return to England.
Man United career
The Spaniard joined Manchester United from Levante in 2020.
Batlle played 77 times for the Red Devils, scoring three goals.
The full-back joined FC Barcelona that summer and has played three seasons in Catalonia.
She has won three league titles, two Copa de la Reinas and three Supercopas de España.
Batlle also won the Champions League with the Catalans in 2024 during her first season back in Spain.
Return to England
The BBC report that the 26-year-old is close to sealing a return to the Women’s Super League.
The report states that, “Spain defender Ona Batlle is close to agreeing a move to Arsenal as a free agent in the summer.”
It is also stated that, “the 26-year-old Spaniard has been a priority target for the Gunners, with Republic of Ireland full-back Katie McCabe set to exit.”
What’s more, they have been in talks with the defender since January, trying to arrange a pre-contract agreement.
The BBC assert that “Batlle’s arrival would be one of the biggest moves in recent years as Arsenal have revamped their approach to recruitment, targeting top players early.”
Ian Willcock
Another former Manchester United Women staff member, Ian Willcock, is also on the move.
Journalist Conner Roberts reports that, “Tottenham Hotspur confirm the appointment of former Manchester United goal-keeper coach Ian Willcock to their Women’s First Team coaching staff.”
Willcock worked as part of Manchester United’s backroom staff and will be working alongside Head Coach Martin Ho and Assistant Coach Lawrence Shamieh at Tottenham Hotspur.
Real Madrid want to finalise superstar’s renewal before the World Cup
Real Madrid are stepping up efforts to resolve one of the most important contract situations at the club.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish giants are aiming to finalise Vinicius Jr.’s renewal before the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Despite being one of the club’s most influential players, Vinicius’ long-term future remains uncertain.
His current deal runs until 2027, yet there has been little concrete progress in negotiations so far.
This delay has raised concerns within the club, especially given his importance both on and off the pitch.
Financial disagreements
At the heart of the issue lies a disagreement over wages, as the Brazilian forward is reportedly seeking parity with Kylian Mbappe, who sits at the top of Real Madrid’s salary structure.
However, while Real Madrid are willing to offer Vinicius an improved deal, they are not prepared to match Mbappe’s earnings.
Interestingly, the report suggests that the player had previously accepted similar terms before later rejecting them, which is why Real Madrid are unwilling to make changes to their offer.
Real Madrid are pushing to secure Vinicius’ renewal. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Furthermore, there was even a stage where the possibility of a summer exit was considered if no agreement could be reached.
As such, that scenario now appears highly unlikely, as club president Florentino Perez is said to have taken personal control of the situation, viewing Vinicius’ renewal as a top priority.
Internally, the Brazilian is seen as irreplaceable not just for his performances, but for his unique profile in the current transfer market.
Real Madrid reportedly believe there is no comparable player available, which is another reason why they want to renew his deal.
The club’s objective is to resolve the situation before the World Cup to avoid unnecessary distractions and uncertainty.
From the player’s side, the situation remains somewhat unclear, as Vinicius has consistently expressed his desire to continue at Real Madrid, but there has been no urgency in putting pen to paper.
We asked for your thoughts after Manchester City moved top of the Premier League on goals scored with a 1-0 victory over Burnley.
Here are some of your comments:
John: The energy and emotion expended beating Arsenal three days beforehand surely told. Nico Gonzalez should've started in place of the injured Rodri and Nico O'Reilly is more effective further forward, even if playing at left-back. While goal difference may become key, if you cannot win well then this is the time to win ugly.
Anthony: After scoring so early, it was disappointing to only score one goal - but it's job done. Three weeks ago, if I was told we would be top with five games to go, I would've snapped your hand off. Over to Arsenal now, can they cope? The Emirates will be twitching.
Ben: A frustrating watch, but that's understandable after such an emotional win on Sunday. Nobody thought we would be here four weeks ago. Well done, boys!
Roy: Only beating Burnley 1-0? It was a pathetic performance. We are not worthy.
Harry: It wasn't good, but it was good enough. The players will know the decision-making and finishing wasn't good enough. Antoine Semenyo has been fantastic but he looked gassed and he needs to remember to pass. I could wax lyrical about how poor we were in front of goal, but credit has to go to Martin Dubravka. The few times we were clinical, he stopped it.
Brian: Manchester City had to win this game, and with a 1-0 lead from the sixth minute the focus was clearly on not losing. A few chances were squandered, but a result is a result. They are in the driving seat now and they are being chased. For both Arsenal and City, losing is not an option now and every game is a cup final. Burnley were tough opposition and it was a nervy experience, but the pride of winning and being on top is worth the pain.
Kelly Pannek became the first PWHL player to earn 30 points in a season, and was quickly joined by teammate Taylor Heise, but the Minnesota Frost lost their penultimate regular-season game to Seattle, 5-4, in front of 11,882 fans at Climate Pledge Arena late Wednesday.
The Frost, who have won the PWHL’s only two championships, already were locked into the third of four postseason spots when the playoffs begin next week.
Pannek, a wing from Plymouth, had a goal and assist to give her a league-leading 32 points. Heise, a center from Lake City, Minn., scored a pair of goals, the second a game-tying shot that gave her 30 points this season, and 65 for her career — one point away from Montréal captain Marie-Philip Poulin’s league-high benchmark.
Goaltender Nicole Hensley stopped 23 shots for Minnesota, while Seattle rookie Hannah Murphy stopped 38 of 42 shots to earn the victory.
“For us, we’re all just about building right now, about trying to do little things well, and obviously we got a little bit loose with our game,” Frost coach Ken Klee said. “I thought we had a good push. It was a good hockey game. Obviously, they’re pushing to try to score goals and trying to do well, also.”
Minnesota is scheduled to close the regular season on Saturday at Vancouver.
“Going into playoffs, it’s the confidence, it’s having your teammates’ backs, and just going there and relentlessly playing,” said Heise, a key player on both of Minnesota’s Walter Cup championships. “Playoffs is amazing. It is phenomenal in the PWHL, and we’re just really excited, especially to have at least one home game and getting our fans in.”
Frost Head Coach Ken Klee on the team’s overall performance and game result: “It gave us the opportunity to work on our six-on-five a little bit and had two groups get a few shifts out of it.
“For us, we’re all just about building right now – about trying to do little things well – and obviously we got a little bit loose with our game, and I thought we had a good push. It was a good hockey game. Obviously, they’re pushing to try to score goals and trying to do well also.”
NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to be one of the most fascinating stories of IPL 2026 — a 15-year-old who watches cartoons before matches and then goes out to break records on the big stage.
A subdued outing with the bat could not stop the teenage sensation from scripting history as Rajasthan Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs in Lucknow on Wednesday. Sooryavanshi managed just 8 off 11 balls, but his brief stay was enough to etch his name into the record books.
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Despite the lean outing, Sooryavanshi remains Rajasthan Royals’ top-scorer this season with 254 runs. Remarkably, he has already smashed two half-centuries, both coming off just 15 balls — making them the joint third-fastest fifties in IPL history.
Cartoon talks, cricket dominance
However, it was his light-hearted post-match interaction that truly captured fans’ imagination. Asked about his mindset at an age when most kids are glued to cartoons, Sooryavanshi responded with disarming honesty.
“Dimaag me kuch nahi chalta hai. Aaj bhi har din match se pahle hum bhi cartoon dekhte hain, aadat hai dekhne ka (smile). Abhi bhi hum cartoon dekh rahe hain, par focus game par bhi hai (Even today I watch cartoons before every match, but focus is on game too),” he said with a grin.
The innocence of the response quickly went viral, perfectly capturing the duality of a teenager balancing childhood habits with elite-level cricket.
And despite the quiet knock in Lucknow, the youngster is already looking ahead with confidence.
“Accha karenge agla match me. Jeet ke 2 points liye, aage badi playoffs ki taraf,” he added.
WATCH:
— i (@i)
Ravindra Jadeja leads RR’s charge
Ravindra Jadeja anchored the win for Rajasthan Royals with a fine all-round performance. His unbeaten 43 and a crucial wicket earned him the Player of the Match award.
RR captain Riyan Parag admitted his side could have pushed closer to 180, but the bowlers, led by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, ensured the total was more than enough.
The win lifted Rajasthan Royals to second in the standings, but once again, it was their cartoon-loving teenage prodigy who stole the show.
ROME (AP) — Best known in Europe for memorable defeats in recent seasons, Inter Milan remains a force at home in Italy.
In Cristian Chivu’s first season coaching the club, Inter is closing in on the Serie A title and could still raise two trophies after also reaching the Italian Cup final.
If Inter wins at Torino and Napoli and AC Milan don’t win this weekend, Inter can clinch the Italian league title with four rounds remaining.
The domestic success has come in sharp contrast to Inter’s ouster from this season’s Champions League by tiny Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt; and a 5-0 rout by Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s final.
Not since José Mourinho led Inter to a treble in 2010 has Inter won the league and Cup in the same season.
Chivu played on the 2010 team and is quickly making a name for himself in the coaching ranks after helping Parma avoid relegation last season.
“I’m just Cristian. My only responsibility is to these players,” Chivu said when asked about being compared to Mourinho. “I’m just trying to do my job in the best manner possible for those who believed in me, for these wonderful players, and I hope to achieve some of our objectives.”
Chivu was asked about the possibility of winning both trophies after Inter came back from two goals down to beat Como 3-2 in the Italian Cup semifinals on Tuesday. Inter will face Lazio in the May 13 final.
Key matchups
A matchup between second-place Milan and fourth-place Juventus on Sunday isn’t just about securing Champions League places.
It’s also a meeting between the two top United States internationals in Italy.
Milan forward Christian Pulisic has not scored since December for club or country, while McKennie has become an indispensable player for Juventus since Luciano Spalletti was named coach in October.
After this meeting, Pulisic and McKennie won’t see each other again until they unite for national team training camp at a home World Cup.
Players to watch
Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez made several spectacular saves against Como in the Italian Cup using a butterfly position borrowed from hockey goaltenders.
By dropping to his knees and raising his arms to cover more space, Martínez was able to make reflex saves seem easy.
Still, Martínez remains Inter’s second choice ’keeper after Yann Sommer, who is expected to start at Torino on Sunday.
Out of action
Inter captain and Serie A scoring leader Lautaro Martinez remains out with a muscle issue.
Off the field
Authorities in Milan are investigating an alleged prostitution ring that reportedly has involved more than 70 soccer players. Four people have been arrested for allegedly arranging the escort service, although no players have been placed under formal investigation.
“The losing streak is over. The Mets win their first game since April 7, snapping their skid after 12 games in Juan Soto's return from the injured list. The bad news for the Mets: Francisco Lindor exited the game with left calf tightness,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.
With the Mets finally winning, attention shifted to the Philadelphia Phillies, who are also mired in a lengthy losing streak. Despite their slow start, there remains confidence in manager Rob Thomson.
“Dave Dombrowski is concerned about what is going on with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he said manager Rob Thomson is not on the hot seat despite the team's seven-game losing streak. Dombrowski, the Phillies' president of baseball operations, instead is focused on the team's overall play during an 8-15 start this season,” ESPN wrote.
The Phillies lost again on Wednesday night, extending their skid and further cementing their struggles as one of the worst stretches in baseball. Their run production issues have also become a major concern.
“The longest losing streak in baseball now belongs to the Philadelphia Phillies, who dropped their eighth straight and are tied with the Mets for the worst record in the National League at 8-16. At -50, the Phillies also have the worst run differential in baseball by 15 runs,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.
The Phillies and Mets are typically competing for control of the NL East, but at the moment, both are fighting to avoid being among the worst teams in baseball. Philadelphia’s inability to score runs has been especially uncharacteristic.
While no division is won in April, seasons can certainly be lost early if trends continue. The Phillies understand that something must change quickly, and now the entire league is watching. If the offense does not improve, this troubling stretch could continue for quite some time.
Makai Lemon's time at USC bolstered his place one of the premier prospects for this year's NFL Draft.
With a crowd full of questions back on February 27, several of Lemon's answers have now been circling the internet and garnering criticism from some.
The criticisms are not about his answers to the questions, per se, but about his body language throughout the press conference. Lemon had a tendency to shift around, move side-to-side and keep strong eye contact with reporters.
Here's more about Lemon's combine process and how his draft stock could be affected.
This clip specifically is one of two that has gone viral on social media over a month after the initial press conference.
Criticism has come both from his inability to stand still for much of the press conference, as well as a perceived "intensity" in his eye contact and overall body language.
Lemon was asked about the combine press conference Wednesday. He told PennLive's Nick Farabaugh, "It was a learning experience, definitely, just how to carry myself more professionally. I definitely didn't expect it to look like that, but I'll learn from it."
Makai Lemon talked about his viral NFL Combine podium session as a learning experience.
“It was a learning experience. It’s about how to carry myself more professionally. I definitely didn’t expect it to look like that, but I’ll learn from it moving forward.” pic.twitter.com/u1jy563m4s
Rams general manager Les Snead told Farmer, "At the combine you're usually getting some version of a personality. A lot of times it's 'This is my interview personality,' and that's not necessarily who they are 365 days a year."
Snead attended a workout of 17 USC players, including Lemon. An anonymous executive took Lemon's press conference from a different angle.
"We don't want a guy who's phony and coached up," the executive said. "We want a guy to be his authentic self. As long as he's not a jerk, we love it."
The larger concern for another scout was Lemon's individual team interview, with former NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko taking to social media.
"I talked to a scout just now who said he didn’t know what Makai Lemon’s motive was behind his combine interviews but whoever advised the kid needs to be fired. 'Absolutely bombed it' word for word." Fehoko said.
I talked to a scout just now who said he didn’t know what Makai Lemon’s motive was behind his combine interviews but whoever advised the kid needs to be fired. “Absolutely bombed it” word for word.
Lemon appears to be a slam dunk first-round pick for many, believed to go in the middle of the first round.
Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer has Lemon at No. 16 to the New York Jets in his latest mock draft. Any team looking to bolster their offensive unit could benefit from someone like Lemon, who could slot in at WR1 for many programs.
If anything, it seems that NFL execs may have qualms with Lemon's individual interviews with teams and concerns about executing plays on the gridiron.
The Seahawks mounted football's highest plateau in 2025, hoisting their second Lombardi Trophy in memorable fashion. They largely have the NFL draft to thank for their successes.
While pieces like Sam Darnold, Rashid Shaheed, Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence were acquired via trade or free agency signing, Seattle's infrastructure was constructed in the draft. From Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist Nick Emmanwori, young, drafted talent made the difference for the Seahawks during their trek to a title. They'll hope to keep that tradition alive in the 2026 NFL draft -- although they'll have to be more judicious with their selections to do so.
The 2026 offseason hasn't been the easiest for Seattle brass to navigate. Riq Woolen and Kenneth Walker II are gone, wooed by big-money deals in Philadelphia and Kansas City, respectively. Perhaps the Seahawks can find ready-made replacements in the seven-round spectacle set to take over Pittsburgh over the next few days.
The Sporting News is tracking every Seahawks selection in the 2026 NFL draft. Follow along below as Seattle makes its picks.
The Seahawks have four selections in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Round 1, Pick No. 32:
Round 2, Pick No. 64:
Round 3, Pick No. 96:
Round 6, Pick No. 188:
Seahawks NFL Draft needs
Cornerback: Riq Woolen's departure leaves a gaping hole in Seattle's secondary. Devon Witherspoon is an All-Pro-caliber cornerback who should continue to strike fear in opposition hurlers from his post. But don't be surprised to see the Seahawks attempt to beef up the supporting cast around him in light of Woolen's absence.
Running back: Walker is gone, jet-setting for Kansas City after capturing Super Bowl MVP honors. Zach Charbonnet, meanwhile, is in recovery, having sustained a torn ACL during the playoffs. Seattle needs a tailback who can take on the lion's share of carries as Charbonnet works his way back to full-health. Notre Dame's Jadarian Prince and Arkansas' Mike Washington Jr. are leading candidates to land in the Emerald City come the end of the second round.
A cloud hung over the Oklahoma City Thunder in their 120-107 Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns. Even though they opened up their 2026 NBA playoffs Round 1 series with a 2-0 lead, an injury development has caused most folks to hover their hand above the panic button.
Being OKC's best player through six quarters of the NBA playoffs, Williams' worst nightmare materialized. He sustained a hamstring injury in the third quarter. He eventually left the Thunder bench and exited the game. Uh oh. Not good.
It is Williams' third hamstring injury. He had two right hamstring strains. The first happened on Jan. 17. The second happened on Feb. 11. This third one is on his left leg. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed it after the game.
"We think he aggravated his left hamstring," Daigneault said. "We’ll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we’ll update you guys when appropriate.”
Just brutal. Williams had 19 points and four assists before he sustained the injury. He did so on a fastbreak layup that he missed. Afterward, he played a couple of possessions before he fouled Devin Booker to check out. After being checked by the OKC staff on the bench, he eventually walked through a tunnel.
We'll see how much time Williams has to miss — if any. Think it's fair to say any extended absence will affect OKC's odds to win back-to-back titles. He only played in 33 games in the regular season as he dealt with an injury-plagued year with his wrist and hamstring.
“Iglesias slept on his shoulder wrong last night. That's why he was unavailable tonight. He may be available if needed tomorrow night,” Braves beat writer Mark Bowman wrote.
By Tuesday, Iglesias was placed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. The Braves made roster moves to ensure their pitching staff wouldn’t be overworked during this stretch.
“The Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation this morning, per a team announcement. Lefty Dylan Dodd was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Iglesias’ spot on the active roster,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams wrote.
With Iglesias sidelined due to an unusual injury, there is uncertainty surrounding how much time he will miss. As a result, the Braves could explore adding another left-handed arm to the bullpen. The St. Louis Cardinals have a potential option in JoJo Romero.
“However, the Braves' bullpen, while strong, still could use some reinforcements. It's unclear how long Iglesias will be out, and while Robert Suarez can fill in as the closer temporarily, it would be wise for Atlanta to be looking into making bullpen upgrades. Rental pitching has come in high demand in recent years at the trade deadline. Someone like Romero could bring back a good haul,” SI’s Curt Bishop wrote.
Romero features an aggressive arsenal from the left side and could provide a boost to Atlanta’s bullpen depth. Currently, the Braves rely on Dylan Lee and José Suárez as their primary left-handed options. Adding Romero could pay major dividends for the bullpen.
Atlanta does not expect Iglesias to be out long, but reinforcing an already strong bullpen is never a bad idea. Romero is owed just $4.2 million this season and still has multiple years of team control remaining.
Three players that can transform Chelsea to title challengers next season
Chelsea look set to miss out on UEFA Champions League football for the third time in four seasons under the BlueCo regime.
The Blues have realised that their youth-centric project is going down the drain and want to add some experience (preferably Premier League) to their ranks this summer.
Chelsea are poised to target players that can provide the winning calm and know-how that have been missing at Stamford Bridge for a few years now.
Without further ado, read on as we analyse three experienced players who can transform Chelsea next season.
Bernardo Silva
Manchester City’s maestro Bernardo Silva has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, and Chelsea should be at the front of the queue to snap him up.
Chelsea could use his invaluable experience in the ranks. He can provide significant value in midfield, playing alongside Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez.
The 31-year-old’s ability to provide solutions in difficult situations and perform under pressure can rub off on the current Chelsea players.
Chelsea are reportedly trying to spend big money to sign Valentin Barco, but they can afford to hold off on signing the Argentine for a more assured addition in Silva.
Barco is at Strasbourg and won’t escape their grasp for a season or two. They should pursue the ‘exceptional’ Silva in the meantime for his leadership qualities.
Robin Roefs
One area where Chelsea have been particularly susceptible is between the sticks. Filip Jorgensen and Robert Sanchez have failed to cover themselves in glory.
If Chelsea want to reestablish themselves in the upper echelon of the Premier League, they need a reliable goalkeeper, and Sunderland’s Robin Roefs fits the bill.
Roefs has taken the Premier League by storm in his first season, and even though there is room for improvement, he will be a massive upgrade on what the Blues have.
He can provide competition for Mike Penders next season. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris lauded the 23-year-old’s shot-stopping ability.
He said, “He is quick, very mobile when he manages crosses, and he is really well connected with his backline, so when there are balls in behind, he is always well aware and mobile in these situations, and he is good with his feet.”
Antonio Rudiger
Antonio Rudiger is leaving Real Madrid this summer as a free agent, and he is another name Chelsea should have on their shortlist.
While injuries and age have chipped away at his ability, Rudiger is still a high-level defender.
His aggression, winning mentality, and leadership qualities can prove influential for this group.
Chelsea need to sell Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Benoit Badiashile, while Mamadou Sarr needs another loan to improve drastically in the air.
Rudiger can be a short-term solution while the Blues reshuffle the deck at the back. He knows the Premier League and the club.
The Blues need at least two new centre-halves if all those players leave, and Rudiger should be one of the additions.
Round 9 in K League 2 delivers a defining moment in the early promotion race, headlined by a heavyweight clash between the top two. With Busan IPark setting the pace and Suwon Samsung Bluewings close behind, the battle for first place takes centre stage, while elsewhere teams look to build momentum or keep themselves within touching distance. As the table begins to take clearer shape, this round could prove a significant marker in the push for promotion.
Match of the Round
Top-of-the-table clash: Suwon Bluewings vs. Busan IPark
After the early feel-out phase, the K League 2 season is beginning to heat up, with the shape of the title race starting to emerge. Busan IPark lead the way with an impressive record of seven wins and one draw, while Suwon Bluewings sit just three points behind in second. These two promotion contenders now go head-to-head in Round 9.
Suwon were widely tipped as title favourites following the appointment of head coach Lee Jung-hyo ahead of the season. However, a draw against Chungbuk Cheongju in Round 6 and a defeat to Gimpo FC in Round 7 slowed their momentum, as opponents found ways to disrupt their build-up play and limit their attacking output. A similar pattern emerged in Round 8 against Gyeongnam FC, but Suwon managed to grind out a 1-0 win with a second-half goal. While their attack is still finding full rhythm, their defensive record remains outstanding, conceding just two goals in eight matches - the best in the league.
Busan, meanwhile, are in relentless form with seven consecutive wins. They have scored a league-high 18 goals in eight matches, with a variety of contributors highlighting their attacking depth. Cristian Renato and Baek Ga-on have each scored four goals, while Kim Chan and Gabriel Honorio have added two apiece, alongside six other players who have chipped in with one goal each. In their most recent match against Suwon FC, midfielder Xavier stepped in as a makeshift forward and found the net, helping to cover for the injured Kim Chan.
With top spot and the early-season driving seat up for grabs, the clash between Suwon and Busan takes place on Saturday, April 25th at 2 PM at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Team of the Round
Five-unbeaten Cheonan City
Cheonan extended their unbeaten run to five matches (two wins, three draws) with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory away to Daegu FC in Round 8.
They struggled in the first half, conceding possession and coming under sustained pressure from Daegu. Goalkeeper Park Dae-han made several key saves to keep them in the game, but they still fell behind. The turning point came early in the second half when Daegu were reduced to ten men, allowing Cheonan to seize control. Increasing the tempo down the flanks, they pushed forward aggressively, and in stoppage time, substitutes Lee Joon-ho and Sarjani struck in quick succession to complete the turnaround. Head coach Park Jin-sub’s bold tactical adjustments and use of substitutions proved decisive, with the match later selected as the round’s best.
Cheonan now return home looking to extend their run to six matches unbeaten as they face Seongnam FC, who have lost their last two games. With just one point separating the sides, another closely contested match is expected. Kickoff is set for Saturday, April 25th at 4:30 PM at Cheonan Sports Complex.
Player of the Round
Seoul E-Land super sub Byun Kyung-jun
Seoul E-Land are one of the league's form teams, climbing to third place on the back of four consecutive wins. Within a well-balanced squad, Byun Kyung-jun has recently stood out with his impact off the bench.
After missing time due to injury during winter training, Byun made his first appearance of the season in Round 7 against Paju Frontier and immediately made an impression with two goals. He followed that up in Round 8 against Ansan Greeners, scoring his side’s second goal in a 2-0 win.
What makes his performances particularly notable is his efficiency. Against Paju, he came on in the 70th minute and scored twice, while against Ansan, he entered in the 57th minute and added another goal. Across those two appearances, he has scored three times despite limited minutes. In addition to his finishing, his ability to make penetrating runs in behind the defence has added a new dimension to Seoul E-Land’s attack.
Seoul E-Land will look to extend their winning streak to five matches as they take on Hwaseong FC. Their first meeting of the season takes place on Sunday, April 26th at 2 PM at Mokdong Stadium.
Drafting with only six draft choices is difficult.
The Washington Commanders only have six choices in the 2026 NFL Draft, and only two of those are in the top 100 (No. 7 and No. 71). It would be great if the Commanders could trade down a few spots, pick up an extra selection, and still get an impact player.
I attempted to draft via the 2026 Mock Draft Simulator from Pro Football Network. The Commanders' selections this year going into the draft are at No. 7, No. 71, No. 147, No. 187, No. 209, and No. 223. Note: I will reject all trades offered, sticking with the six current Commanders draft positions.
Okay, this was much more difficult than you might imagine without draft picks in the second and fourth rounds. I really wanted to obtain a quality corner, center and wide receiver. But my second choice was not until 71, and my third not until 147.
We conduct two different seven-round mock drafts using the PFSN mock draft simulator.
First mock draft
7. Rueben Bain Jr, DE Miami (Florida)
71. Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
147. Kaleon Black, RB, Indiana
187. Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M
209. Carver Willis, OT, Washington
223. Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami (Florida)
That was much harder than it looks when you have to take the players available on the board at that time. Here is a second mock draft attempt, in which I sought to see what the Commanders' 2026 draft could perhaps produce.
Despite playing sparingly for much of his collegiate career, Jordyn Tyson has emerged as a favorite of fans and scouts alike.
The 6-2, 205-pound wideout is bursting with potential, with some calling him the best pass-catcher in his class when healthy. That final bit has been elusive thus far; across four seasons at Colorado and Arizona State, Tyson played in just 33 games -- good for an average of less than nine games a year.
Still, there is reason to be excited about Tyson's tools. At his best, he's a pass-catching savant, using precise footwork and an acrobat-like leaps to surge to establish himself as one of football's more prominent wideouts.
Jordyn and Jaylon Tyson are, indeed, related. The draft hopeful and Cavaliers guard are brothers, bonded by blood -- and athletic prowess.
Jordyn Tyson brother: Jaylon Tyson
Tyson's brother is Jaylon Tyson. If that name sounds familiar, that's because it is. Jaylon is a budding basketball talent who has shined off the bench in Cleveland. He came to prominence during the 2025-26 season, seeing his minutes triple and his scoring averages quadruple in his second year.
Prior to his time in the NBA, Jaylon spent time at Texas, Texas Tech and California. He left the Red Raiders in a haste following the 2022-23 season, citing racially insensitive comments made by Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams as the reason for his departure.
“Last year, I was racially discriminated against on multiple occasions. I was called a slave, and that Mark Adams was my master,” Jaylon told Sports Illustrated. “When he said that I kind of froze and went down a dark path in my life that I had never [experienced] before. It was very embarrassing for me and my family to have to go through this process.”
Adams was suspended for the comments. He eventually resigned from his post.
As far as Jordyn and Jaylon's relationship is concerned, the two are close as can be. Jaylon was Jordyn's confidant as the wide receiver dealt with injury struggles throughout his time in college.
“He was very important to my rehab because he was consistently in my ear,” Jordyn told Andscape. “He helped instill confidence, especially following that first injury. He helped take my mind off [the injury] by just talking me through it. He was there every step of the way. I can’t thank him enough.”
When asked about Jordyn's NFL prospects, Jaylon was confident he'd find his footing regardless of situation. He's a Tyson, after all.
“He’ll be a difference maker wherever he goes,” Jaylon said. “He’s a dog on the field. He’s a Tyson. We always want to run towards the smoke. That’s how we were raised. We don’t shy from nobody. His talent speaks for itself, but his mental approach to the game is what separates him from everyone else.”
When was Jaylon Tyson drafted?
The Cavaliers selected Jaylon with the No. 20 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. A 6-6 guard with a smooth shooting stroke and strong on-ball skills, Jaylon was an alluring proposition for a Cleveland roster seeking secondary ball-handlers behind Donovan Mitchell. He has made himself an indispensable part of Kenny Atkinson's operation as of late -- a far cry from a rookie campaign that saw him make just three starts.
How old is Jaylon Tyson?
Jaylon is 23 years old. He will turn 24 on Dec. 2.
All told, Jordyn Tyson has two siblings: older brothers Jaylon and Berron.
Like Jordyn and Jaylon, Berron also flocked to athletics as a child, emerging as a top-tier athlete of his own. His sport of choice is the same as Jordyn's: football.
Jordyn Tyson brother: Berron Tyson
Tyson's brother is Berron Tyson. He, too, spent some time on the gridiron, turning out for Division I side South Alabama from 2014-17.
Berron was a running back and cornerback for the Jaguars, tallying 11 carries for 56 yards and two touchdowns and four tackles across his collegiate career. He also ran track at South Alabama, garnering praise as a decathlete.
Berron now serves as the Associate Director of Sports Performance (Men's Basketball, Dance) and Austin Peay. He filled a similar role at his alma mater as well as Alabama State, where he was the schools' Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning.
Jordyn Tyson's parents are John Tyson and Sandra Tyson. They have played vital roles in his development on- and off-the-gridiron -- albeit in different ways.
Jordyn Tyson dad: John Tyson
Jordyn Tyson's dad is John Tyson. Jordyn takes after his father in one distinctive way: he, too, was a gridiron fiend.
John is a software engineer. Before he started his professional career, though, he was a college football player. John turned out for Florida A&M from 1989-91.
According to Arizona Central, Jordyn credits John -- in addition to Jaylon -- with helping facilitate his football development. He didn't tolerate any half-stepping on the road to athletic success, Jordyn says.
“I feel like my dad was very hard on us, but it was a good thing," Jordyn told Sun Devil Athletics in 2026. "I thank him every day for it, to be honest, because it made us pay attention to the things that are necessary to be in the position we are in now,”
Jordyn Tyson mom: Sandra Tyson
Jordyn Tyson's mom is Sandra Tyson. He described her as one of his "best friends", fostering the environment for him, Jaylon and Berron to pursue their athletic dreams.
“This family would not be going if it weren’t for her," Jordyn said. "She takes care of all the little small details and all the work that we need done. We wouldn’t be able to do it without her.”
Born in Germany to American parents, Sandra joined the Air Force, where she met John. The couple moved to Texas to begin their life together. For a while, it was just John, Sandra and Berron -- John's son from a previous relationship.
Soon, Jaylon and Jordyn came along, setting the family on a course for athletic stardom. While John expected a lot from his sons, Sandra was a calming presence -- at least as long as the boys were behaving well.
“Growing up with Jaylon as his older brother, there was always, always, always competition. They fought a lot, I’m not going to lie,” Sandra said. “When they were young, I could still discipline them and pull them off of each other at that age.
“Then once they got a little bigger in stature, they hated me filming them. I would just grab my camera and start videotaping and say, ‘Oh, I got it on camera! That’s the only way I could get them to stop, because sometimes it was so hard to get the two off of each other.”
Her efforts look to have worked a treat -- not only have Jordyn and Jaylon established themselves as budding stars in their respective pursuits. They've done so while maintaining a close relationship.
Where is Jordyn Tyson from?
Jordyn Tyson hails from Allen, Texas, a suburb located in the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. He starred at nearby Allen and Independence High Schools. He was listed as a three-star prospect, according to 247 Sports and ESPN.
Players hoping to make it to the NFL can't just perform well on the field and try to stay out of trouble off the field. They also have to measure well.
With all the data available to NFL teams today, there are metrics they want ideal players to fit. Players who come up short of that window are often scrutinized and sometimes written off before their careers even get underway. Quarterback Kenny Pickett was a prime example of this, with his hand size the talk of the 2022 NFL Draft. It didn't stop the Pittsburgh Steelers from selecting him with the 20th pick, but five years later, he will join his fifth franchise.
The 2026 NFL Draft class is riddled with talent on both sides of the ball. One of the players expected to be drafted early in the first round is Miami EDGE rusher Rueben Bain. He spent three years with the Hurricanes and tallied 20.5 sacks over his collegiate career. Bain's biggest knock against his profile at the next level is that his arm length fell short of the typical window for pass rushers.
Here is more on why Bain has been scrutinized for his arm length.
Here is how Bain measured at the 2026 NFL Combine.
6-2
263 lbs.
9 1/8" hand
30 7/8" arm
The arm length may not seem like an issue based on the number alone, but it is a historically low figure. Bain has the third-shortest arms for a defensive end that have ever been measured at the NFL Combine. The only two EDGE rushers with shorter arms are Cashius Howell (30 1/4") and Nate Williams (30 5/8").
Howell spent his collegiate career split between Bowling Green and Texas A&M. He is not projected to get selected in the first round like Bain is, and doesn't have the same explosiveness.
If you are unfamiliar with Williams' name, that would likely be why teams are iffy on Bain. He didn't have the same collegiate production as Bain, but he still never translated his game to the NFL.
The vibe coming out of Bain's Pro Day at Miami was that there wasn't a lot of concern about his arm length. At the time, there was chatter that he could even be in contention to go No. 2 behind Fernando Mendoza, though he is now more consistently being mocked in the back-half of the top-ten.
One of the analysts on hand had this to say about Bain: "Multiple evaluators (NFL insider Jason) La Canfora communicated with thought Bain stood as good a chance as any of the other top few picks at landing in the No. 2 overall slot. They pointed to Bain’s maturity while at the same time valuing how much younger he is than other top pass rushers who utilized the transfer portal in college. There appears to be a growing sense that the people making Draft Day decisions prize Bain more than those who specialize in mock drafts, as La Canfora puts it.”
Another evaluator brushed off the prospect's arm length. They said, "Go check his wingspan differential. His arms are not going to be a problem. This kid did nothing but produce. I think he’s definitely in play at 2.”
Suspension setback for Barcelona as utility man ruled out of Getafe test
Barcelona’s narrow win over Celta Vigo may have strengthened their position in the La Liga title race, but the match has left Hansi Flick with fresh selection concerns ahead of a crucial away trip to Getafe.
While much of the attention has been on the injury scares involving Lamine Yamal and Joao Cancelo, another setback has emerged, this time in the form of a suspension.
Who is suspended?
Simply put, versatile defender Eric Garcia will miss Barcelona’s next La Liga fixture after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign.
The booking came deep into stoppage time against Celta Vigo, when the defender was penalised for a late challenge on Ilaix Moriba near the edge of the penalty area.
As a result, he is now automatically suspended for one match under league regulations.
This absence could prove significant for Flick, who has come to rely heavily on Garcia’s versatility.
Whether deployed in defence or stepping into midfield when required, the Spaniard has become a key figure in maintaining balance within the team.
The timing of the suspension is far from ideal because Barcelona are entering a decisive phase in their title push.
Eric Garcia will be unavailable against Getafe. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
This means every match carries added weight, and squad availability becomes even more critical.
Facing Getafe away is rarely straightforward, and missing an important rotational player only adds to the challenge.
There are some positives
There is, however, some relief for Barcelona, as both Jules Kounde and Frenkie de Jong managed to avoid bookings in the same match, ensuring they remain available for selection.
Elsewhere, Barcelona are also monitoring the disciplinary situation of other players.
Raphinha and Marc Bernal are both one booking away from suspension, although neither featured in the recent match, which means they avoided immediate risk.
Raphinha is not expected to return in time for the Getafe clash due to injury concerns, but Bernal could still be in contention for a place in the squad.
All things considered, Barcelona head into the next fixture with mixed news – relief in some areas, but a clear defensive gap to address.
A playoff series has turned into a full-on identity battle in Salt Lake City—and Utah is making its pitch loud and visible.
When the Utah Mammoth dropped the puck on their inaugural season in 2024, the Vegas Golden Knights already had a foothold in the region, having spent years cultivating a fanbase across Utah. Now, with the two clubs meeting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time, Utah isn’t just trying to win games—it’s trying to win people over.
On Friday, the Mammoth will stage their first-ever jersey exchange outside Delta Center, inviting fans to trade in Golden Knights sweaters for a clean, logo-only Mammoth home jersey. The offer is simple: first come, first served, no cost attached—just a symbolic reset of allegiance, while supplies last.
“It’s been incredible to see the way Utah has embraced this team from day one,” owners Ryan Smith and Ashley Smith said in a joint statement.
The timing isn’t accidental. The exchange begins at noon local time, just hours before Utah hosts its first-ever home playoff game. The series itself is already simmering, tied 1–1 after the Mammoth stole Game 2 in Vegas with a 3–2 win Tuesday night.
Utah Makes Its Move for the Market
Long before Utah had a franchise to call its own, Salt Lake City existed in a kind of hockey gray area—one the Golden Knights were quick to claim.
From their inception in 2017, Vegas—backed by owner Bill Foley—aggressively pursued a broader regional identity, branding themselves as a team not just for Nevada, but for the entire Mountain West. Broadcast reach through AT&T Sports Network helped extend that footprint, and Utah became a natural extension of their audience.
That strategy paid off. For years, Golden Knights jerseys dotted crowds in Salt Lake City, a visual reminder of a market without its own team.
A Subtle Shift in Allegiance
That dynamic began to change in 2024, when Smith Entertainment Group secured an NHL franchise in the wake of the Arizona Coyotes relocation. Suddenly, Utah wasn’t a secondary market—it was center stage.
Foley, for his part, downplayed the shift at the time.
“We give up Salt Lake City as a secondary territory, but we get Arizona, so we’re OK,” he told KLAS-TV. “We still have our sphere of influence. But we love Salt Lake. We have a lot of fans there.”
That may still be true—but the Mammoth are clearly intent on shrinking that number, one jersey at a time.
Friday’s exchange won’t officially change anyone’s loyalty. But visually, at least, it’s a bold attempt to redraw the map—and in the middle of a playoff series, it adds another layer to an already charged matchup.
🗞️ Front pages, Lamine sparks fears six weeks before the World Cup
He is, without any doubt, the star of Thursday’s front pages. Lamine Yamal’s injury has an entire country holding its breath after he finished the match against Celta de Vigo in pain.
The Mataró native had to go off injured, and today he will undergo tests to determine the extent of the problem. In the meantime, Spanish fans are on edge waiting to find out whether or not he will make the World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Blaugrana side continues to dominate the headlines. Barça Femení have once again been crowned Liga F champions. That is how Thursday begins on the newsstands.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 22: Ildemaro Vargas #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks high-fives teammate Jose Fernandez #11 after hitting a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Chase Field on April 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This season, outside of a couple hiccups, has gotten off to an excellent start for the D-Backs. After a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers to open season, the team has reeled off a 13-7 record and lost consecutive games just once to the major league leading Atlanta Braves. But these last two games have been pretty ugly – particularly on the pitching side as they allowed 21 runs and the starters pitched less than five innings total while allowing 16 runs. Even for an offense that has shown an ability to score runs in bunches with a joyful dynamism, that kind of run differential is difficult to overcome. It’s also forced the team’s bullpen to cover an absurd number of innings as a result. So the D-Backs were hoping to reverse both of those trends against a (nominally) weaker opponent in the White Sox, but instead the pitching continued to struggle to contain a surprisingly feisty Chicago offense and instead had to be bailed out by an excellent offensive output.
Eduardo Rodriguez has been a particular bright spot in a pitching staff that has been surprisingly resilient so far. Of course, the bar to clear for the veteran is essentially underground given his combined 5.02 ERA and 1.534 WHIP since signing as a free agent before the 2024 season. But ever since his excellent World Baseball Classic run with Team Venezuela, Rodriguez has been on another level, working to a 1.96 ERA and 1.217 WHIP through his first four starts. There were definitely some worrying signs underneath those surface numbers – including a 4.22 FIP and 4.19 expected ERA – but I was willing to overlook them as long as he limited the baserunners and home runs. Unfortunately, neither of those results were meant to be on Wednesday evening as he walked three batters and gave up two home runs, limiting his outing to just five innings and looking much more like the pitcher who struggled through the last two seasons than the one who dominated in the WBC.
In fairness, it was not a banner day for any of the pitchers on the field today. The two offenses combined to score 18 runs on 28 hits, secured 11 walks, and struck out just 13 times for the game. In the entire game, there was exactly one half inning (the visiting half of the second) that didn’t feature at least one baserunner. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that tonight’s matchup was the team’s second game of the season to stretch over three hours in duration and it felt like it. Every time one of the fanbases might have internally asked for a clean inning, they were quickly thwarted with any of the extra base hits that seemed to be falling for everyone in both lineups. There were just three starters on each team respectively that failed to secure at least one hit in the game.
Thankfully for Rodriguez and the pitching staff, the Arizona bats did not come to play around today. After Rodriguez’s rough first inning, the D-Backs quickly built a rally off a leadoff walk to Jose Fernandez, a Nolan Arenado single, and Ildemaro Vargas’ second three-run homer in as many nights. It was the first of three straight innings when the home team would score, eventually building a lead out to 8-4 going into the sixth inning. Those RBIs included another Vargas home run for two runs and a run-scoring single for Nolan Arenado – part of an incredible four-hit day with three RBIs.
Even after Rodriguez left the game, the White Sox consistently showed an impressive level of working counts and find ways to take good pitches either into the stands or for soft contact that extended the innings. There was little relaxation to be had as both Taylor Clarke and Ryan Thompson failed to keep the South Siders off the board and keep the game from becoming a laugher. Michael Soroka has been the (nearly) undisputed ace of the staff so far this year and should have an excellent opportunity to pick up his fifth victory on the young season.
It’s the sort of story that always comes out when a manager goes, but actually tends to indicate doom long before then. Even weeks before Liam Rosenior left Chelsea – a decision eventually confirmed on Wednesday evening – some players couldn’t help indulging in some of the unfair commentary.
Sources say some comments surrounded Rosenior’s decision not to wear his glasses at the training ground. One or two even joked about whether it was to look tougher.
This fed into a huge reason why the 41-year-old has now gone, and why Chelsea now face up to an FA Cup semi-final with Calum McFarlane again a stand-in. Rosenior never had full authority over that dressing room, in a development that was all too predictable. A promising young coach just wasn’t ready for this job, at this time, as anyone could have told the hierarchy.
Even the considerable number of players who were sympathetic to Rosenior sensed a change in him around the same time. They felt he wasn’t as sure of himself as in January, that he became too forced, even with the tactical insights that he does display a talent for. The increasing penchant for “manager speak” became worse.
It didn’t help that some insiders were openly talking about how his instructions weren’t being followed, and that people were joking about the "LinkedIn" language. “Marking assignments” has probably entered the football vernacular for the wrong reasons. Chelsea sources have been keen to insist that this decision wasn’t down to any rupture in relationships, and it is true that he had the backing of many people at the club. People like him. He is seen as a good and honest guy, who can obviously succeed in the right setting.
That’s partly why there was a sensitivity to an otherwise brutally abrupt sacking. Some leading figures still wanted to persist with him. The situation essentially became untenable, however, once it was apparent that some of the dressing room was “close to mutiny”.
A core of players – to use classic football parlance – just “weren’t having him”. While that had already been a primary factor in just how bad performances got, producing the club’s worst run of league results since 1912, a final straw was the post-match interview after the 3-0 defeat to Brighton.
As if sick of constantly having to explain defeats, Rosenior pointed to players in the most striking language, describing it as “unacceptable”. Multiple sources insist some of the players felt the same about the interview, that there was “anger”.
That response is itself seen as a bit rich given certain individual performances, but it points to something that never changes in football – and that this club knows better than most. Ultimately, it’s much more difficult to change the players than the manager. That’s especially when so many of them are on lengthy contracts, as has become a trend at Stamford Bridge under BlueCo. Rosenior himself had a six-year contract, but many sources state that the terms will only mean a one-year payout. The description within Chelsea is that it as “favourable” to both parties.
Rosenior appeared to have lost the dressing room (PA)
A sourness might persist in how it’s not like many of the players currently look like they are worth keeping, either. Aside from the obvious questions about the strategy in how the squad has been put together, one description has been of a “spoiled” group. Figures at teams who recently beat them were scathing, the atmosphere around the Chelsea group reminding them of the worst moments around their own clubs.
It’s not like Rosenior really did anything to justify such a premature appointment, however. His perceptive tactical insights were a bit pointless if he couldn't get enough players to fully follow them. The final interview played into another doubt that had been playing on the minds of those at the club, that Rosenior’s very profile was increasingly “becoming a distraction every week”.
Rosenior faced chants calling for his sacking during the loss to Brighton in midweek (PA)
That was most emphasised with the Enzo Fernandez controversy. It came full circle with the Argentine ultimately offering a defining image of Rosenior’s departure, standing there and shrugging his shoulders to the away crowd, while also reflecting the circularity of Chelsea problems beyond the manager. Rosenior obviously had to deal with Fernandez in some way, and club sources both backed him and initially felt it was impressive management. The midfielder is a strong character who had the support of some key players; however, it just ended up creating more noise; another distraction and more controversy. It all came back around.
Ultimately, nothing was actually resolved. More problems festered. Not all of those problems were down to Rosenior’s inexperience, or personality, mind. One argument that has repeatedly been made within Chelsea over the past few weeks is that it’s always difficult for a new coach to come in mid-season anyway, but especially when there are tactical differences to their predecessor. Rosenior was attempting to introduce his own ideology.
There’s even a belief from some sources that spoke to TheIndependent that a shift away from Enzo Maresca’s more possession-based approach – especially after the Club World Cup – may have contributed to an injury crisis, which only made Rosenior’s job harder, with his best players frequently absent.
All of which only emphasises what a mess the club has become. Something was going wrong at almost every level. Certain fan dissent still sees the departure of Maresca as utterly needless, but that decision tends to be defended within Chelsea. There is now a widespread belief in football that the Italian will take over from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City whenever the Catalan leaves. Whatever the truth of that, it was not a future Chelsea could countenance.
Liam Rosenior and Chelsea co-owner owner Behdad Eghbali (PA)
But it’s not like the present is what they want, either. Fingers can be pointed at everywhere, but all of that is a consequence of the thinking at the top. The talk within Stamford Bridge has been of “full accountability at the highest levels”, but so much ultimately comes back to the ownership. Behdad Eghbali is the key voice. They’d love Andoni Iraola but would he even like this job? It was written in The Independent on Tuesday evening that these failures almost represent a morality play for a private equity group fundamentally seeking to exploit football; that this is a project that just doesn't have the right priorities.
Rosenior's lamentable fate, and a career that may have been set back by an ill-advised appointment he couldn't say no to, is just another act in that play. It never looked like a long-term plan. It came together chaotically and ended chaotically. That’s the story of Chelsea right now.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with an efficient 37 points and nine assists. Chet Holmgren had 19 points and eight rebounds. Jalen Williams tallied 19 points and four assists before he exited with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker had 22 points and seven assists. Dillon Brooks went off for 30 points and six rebounds. Jalen Green had 21 points and five rebounds.
Let's look at some of the best photos from the Thunder's 13-point Game 2 win over the Suns:
Club now considering whether to extend player’s contract after learning of fresh Man Utd interest
Real Madrid would reportedly consider extending Aurelien Tchouameni’s contract amid growing interest from Manchester United.
Should the European giants open the door for him to depart this summer, it’s expected they will demand in the region of £70 million, according to Ben Jacobs.
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As for United, they’ve set their sights on the Frenchman ahead of a major midfield overhaul at Old Trafford. Los Blancos will also be doing the same, hence the recent links.
He put pen to paper on a six-year deal to run until June 2028, meaning both he and Madrid will now be considering where his future lies as he approaches the latter stages of his contract.
If not Tchouameni, who else are United monitoring?
Of course, should a deal for Tchouameni prove unfeasible, United have plenty of alternatives on the shortlist.
It’s common knowledge now that Elliot Anderson is their first-choice, but the same can also be said for Manchester City, who do have the edge over their cross-city rivals in pursuit of the Nottingham Forest talisman.
Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, Joao Gomes and Sandro Tonali are all being considered by INEOS chiefs.
‘Alisson likes the idea…’ – Fabrizio Romano shares transfer update Liverpool fans won’t enjoy
Fabrizio Romano has posted a transfer update regarding how Alisson Becker purportedly feels about a rumoured return to Serie A.
There were reports from Italy on Wednesday that the Liverpool goalkeeper has given his approval to a prospective move to Juventus, who are said to be keen on bringing the former Roma stopper back to the Italian top flight.
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The Brazil international has been an undisputed first choice at Anfield ever since joining the Reds in 2018, although he’s been plagued by injuries throughout that time and has been sidelined once again over the past few weeks.
Romano issues Alisson update amid Juventus interest
Taking to X on Wednesday, Romano claimed that Alisson could be tempted by the prospect of returning to Serie A, but would only leave Liverpool in the right manner given his respect for the club.
The Italian transfer reporter posted:‘Juventus want to sign a top GK this summer and Alisson is seen as dream target. Liverpool extended his contract until 2027 but talks with Alisson and Mamardashvili’s camp will take place in the next weeks.
‘Alisson likes the idea of returning to Italy but respects LFC and wants to assess his future with the club.’
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Losing Alisson this summer would be a frightening prospect
Whilst Alisson has more than earned the right to depart Liverpool on his own terms, the thought of him leaving in a summer in which we’re already losing Mo Salah and Andy Robertson would be frightening.
Virgil van Dijk spoke this week about the loss of several experienced leaders from the Anfield dressing room, and our long-serving goalkeeper is now one of the most senior voices in the squad, along with being a crucial presence on the pitch.
After an outstanding performance against Marseille in January, Arne Slot lauded the 33-year-old as ‘the best goalkeeper in the world’, an assessment with which many Reds fans would agree on the evidence of his eight years on Merseyside.
Alisson’s recurring injury troubles and the presence of Giorgi Mamardashvili as his long-term successor might nudge FSG towards a pragmatic decision to let our number 1 depart if he wishes to join Juventus this year, in which case Liverpool would bank a transfer fee for him.
However, given his ongoing importance at Anfield and the leadership void which’ll be created by the exits of Salah and Robertson, losing our first-choice goalkeeper in the coming months would be very difficult to take for Kopites, and hopefully he’ll feel that his LFC story isn’t done for another while yet.
‘Top five in Europe’ – Owen’s verdict will excite Liverpool fans
Liverpool’s season has been defined by big moments at both ends of the pitch, but the injury to Hugo Ekitike remains one of the most significant setbacks we’ve faced heading into the run-in.
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The French forward’s absence will be felt not just in the coming weeks, but far into next season as well, and it’s something that has drawn a strong reaction from Michael Owen.
Owen delivers strong verdict on Ekitike injury
Speaking via the Liverpool ECHO, the former Liverpool striker made it clear just how highly he rates the 23-year-old following his difficult setback.
He said: “How gutted am I for Hugo Ekitike? Very much so,” before continuing with a glowing assessment of the forward’s impact.
“I’m hugely upset for him and gutted for him and everyone at Liverpool.
“I believe this season he was one of the top five strikers in Europe with the way he was playing. He is elite and was showing strong signs of this throughout the season.
“He can make things happen and his speed, quick thinking and awareness were clear to see, so it’s a huge shame Liverpool will miss him now and also for his World Cup ambitions too.
“I hope he can be ready for the start of next season as from what he has shown, he has a bright future at Liverpool.”
Why Ekitike still matters for Liverpool
For us, that backing matters, because it reinforces the idea that this isn’t just a promising player, it’s someone who was already delivering at a very high level before his injury.
Paul Joyce has already confirmed that the striker has undergone successful surgery and is now beginning his rehabilitation, although no firm timeline has been placed on his return.
That uncertainty only adds to the frustration, especially when you consider the impact he was having, with 17 goals and six assists in 45 appearances across all competitions since his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The France international has also shown his mentality in the aftermath of the setback, telling supporters that their strength and love will be his driving force as he works towards returning to Anfield.
There’s no denying this is a huge blow for Liverpool in the short term, but Owen’s comments underline the bigger picture, which is that Ekitike still has everything needed to become a key figure for us once he’s back on the pitch.
Micah Richards claims “nonsense” from Liam Rosenior played role in his sacking
Micah Richards doesn’t believe Liam Rosenior helped himself with his comments in the media which put more pressure on himself and the players.
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Chelsea sacked Rosenior on Wednesday, less than four months after signing a six and a half year contract at Stamford Bridge.
His final game in charge was a dismal 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Tuesday, which was Chelsea’s fifth in a row in the league without scoring.
Micah Richards on Liam Rosenior sacking
Calum McFarlane has been placed in charge for the remainder of the season, and he’ll lead the team out for Sunday’s FA Cup semi final against Leeds at Wembley.
“In his interviews, he started playing up to the media which has not helped him,” Richards told Sky Sports.
“Respecting the ball? That’s nonsense. For everyone, we know what social media is like these days.
“Every little detail, everything is scrutinised. I don’t think he helped himself in that aspect which brought more pressure to him, and then the players as well.”
Attention nows turns to appointing a replacement, and it’s understood the Blues are going to take their time before announcing a successor.
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Andoni Iraola is believed to be the early front runner for the job, but it’s been reported he’d need convincing to take the job.
Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton was the final straw, which represented the Blues fifth consecutive defeat in the league without scoring.
Fabrizio Romano speaks on Liam Rosenior sacking
Chelsea now sit eighth in the league, and are in serious danger of playing no European football next season, which would be nothing short of a disaster.
The appointment of Rosenior is yet another failure for the club’s sporting hierarchy, who are coming under increased pressure, with supporters wondering why they are still in their roles.
Despite a good start, the wheels came of quickly for Rosenior, with his position becoming untenable, and Chelsea never really recovered from the 5-2 defeat against PSG in Paris.
It’s clear the players lost belief in him that night, and Romano has provided an update on one of the key reasons for his sacking.
“The connection was complicated, and that was a crucial factor because when Chelsea saw some of the players were unhappy with Liam Rosenior, that was a crucial point to sack him,” he told his YouTube channel.
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Chelsea have placed Calum McFarlane in interim charge for the remainder of the season, and he’ll lead the Blues out in Sunday’s FA Cup semi final against Leeds.
Arsenal must respond now or risk losing another title race
Arsenal look as if they are about to lose the title again, and it is extremely painful for the Arsenal community.
Winning our first Premier League title in over 20 years, since the unforgettable 2003/04 Invincibles season under Arsene Wenger, would feel like heaven for all of us Gooners. I am sure everyone would agree with that.
We have come close again this season. For long periods, Arsenal have looked like the most convincing side at the top of the table. This has been one of our strongest campaigns in years, which makes the current situation even harder to take.
Title hopes slipping away again
The recent defeat to Bournemouth, a game many would have expected us to win, has completely shifted the momentum. Performances like that raise serious questions, especially at this stage of the season.
Then came the clash with Manchester City. It was always going to be a difficult game against Pep Guardiola’s side, but Arsenal needed to show resilience. Even a draw could have been enough to keep control of the title race.
Instead, the gap has narrowed, and once again we find ourselves looking over our shoulder. City have the experience, the squad depth, and the belief that comes from winning titles. That is exactly what makes this situation so worrying for Arsenal fans.
Time to show character
This is not the first time Arsenal have been in a strong position and allowed it to slip. That is what makes this moment feel so familiar, and so frustrating.
Mikel Arteta’s side cannot afford for this to become a pattern. The players need to show character, composure, and belief if they are going to take the final step and win the title.
There is still time, but there is no margin for error now. Every remaining game has to be treated like a final. Arsenal must respond immediately and hope that Manchester City drop points along the way.
As difficult as it is to admit, many fans are starting to feel that sense of doubt creeping in again. But this team still has the chance to prove everyone wrong.
Can Arsenal hold their nerve and finally get over the line, or are we about to see another title slip away?
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Sunderland could sack Regis Le Bris if they miss out on Europe
Regis Le Bris has done an impressive job at Sunderland since being appointed as head coach in June 2024.
The French boss guided the Black Cats back to the Premier League after an eight year absence, beating Sheffield United 2-1 in the play-off final last year.
Sunderland have exceeded expectations in the English top-flight this campaign under Le Bris.
But despite his brilliant work at the Stadium of Light, Le Bris’ job is by no means safe.
According to journalist Alex Crook, the 50-year-old could be sacked if the club miss out on Europe.
Sunderland’s ambitious owners Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and partner Juan Sartori have not ruled out a change in the dugout this summer.
European football within reach
The Black Cats made a strong start to the 2025-26 campaign, picking up 17 points from their opening nine league games.
They hadn’t lost at home until mid February when Liverpool prevailed 1-0 following a 61st-minute goal from Virgil van Dijk.
Sunderland have collected 10 points from their previous six league fixtures.
Although they came out on the losing side of a seven-goal thriller with Aston Villa last weekend, Le Bris’ side are still very much in the race for European football next season.
They are currently four points behind Brighton & Hove Albion in sixth.
One of them put my way asked would selling a key player or multiple key players like Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento or Lewis Hall show the Public Investment Fund (PIF) are not committed to this project?
My answer is not necessarily.
It has always been made clear behind the scenes at Newcastle United that the club had the backing from the very top to spend to the maximum within the financial rules.
However, to generate the sorts of revenues needed to truly compete, Newcastle cannot just rely on owner funding like clubs did in a previous era given the regulations now in place.
In order to boost income streams, they therefore need to be regularly competing in the Champions League, find ways to turbocharge commercial revenue and trade more strategically.
That means departures are inevitable this summer as Newcastle are going to need to sell to rebuild, particularly if Eddie Howe's side miss out on the top five and any European football whatsoever, which is looking increasingly likely.
Personally, I think the biggest judge of the owners' commitment will be what happens with the club's infrastructure projects which, obviously, fall outside the Premier League and Uefa's financial regulations.
An announcement regarding a major capital investment is in the pipeline as we continue to wait for updates on the possible site for a new state-of-the-art training base and a decision on the future of St James' Park.
A PIF delegation are due on Tyneside next week for a series of summits and I would expect their commitment to the club to be underlined then after the fund scaled back a number of other investments elsewhere.
Newcastle's hierarchy speak to the PIF every day and maintain the owners remain deeply supportive.
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Brian McDermott will lead England's men into this autumn's Rugby League World Cup as their new head coach.
The 56-year-old, who won four Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, the World Club Challenge and the League Leaders' Shield in eight years as head coach of Leeds Rhinos, takes over from Shaun Wane, who stepped down in January.
McDermott, currently working as an assistant coach at NRL club Gold Coast Titans, will take the England role on a part-time basis, in contrast to his full-time predecessor Wane.
The Yorkshireman was selected by the Rugby Football League from a five-man shortlist, which also included current Leeds head coach Brad Arthur, Warrington's Sam Burgess, St Helens' Paul Rowley and former England head coach Steve McNamara.
McDermott said: "I'm incredibly proud to take on the role of England head coach ahead of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
"My focus now is on creating an environment where players can perform with confidence, represent the shirt with pride, and give themselves the best chance of going deep into the tournament.
"I've always been hands-on and close to the detail, and that will be important in this role. My job now is to get the standards right, build belief in the group, and make sure we're ready when it matters."
McDermott began his career as a head coach in 2006 with Harlequins RL - now London Broncos - before taking charge of Leeds in 2010, enjoying a trophy-laden eight-year stint, during which he also coached the United States national team.
He subsequently had spells with Toronto Wolfpack and Featherstone, before becoming an assistant coach at Newcastle Knights in 2022, and then the Titans last September.
England's World Cup campaign in Australia begins against Tonga in Perth on 17 October, with games against France and Papua New Guinea to follow.
Hull KR's treble-winning head coach Willie Peters had told the BBC in February that he was keen to have discussions over the role, but ruled himself out of the running by accepting an offer to join new NRL side Papua New Guinea Chiefs at the end of this season.
A world-beating ex-marine who quotes Alan Partridge - analysis
When a rugby league great in Kevin Sinfield says Brian McDermott is the best coach he ever played under, it is a clear sign his appointment as England head coach for the forthcoming World Cup cannot be taken lightly.
There is no denying the 56-year-old's roll of honour - four Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge, all achieved with Leeds.
He has also expanded on his head coaching experience at London, the Rhinos, Toronto and Featherstone with stints as an assistant in the NRL with Newcastle and Gold Coast.
The former marine, who also boxed during his time in the services before a distinguished playing career as an aggressive front-rower, has an intimidating aura and could be described as a complex character.
To his inner sanctum, his players in particular, he can be a jovial character - quoting Alan Partridge and enjoying typical training ground banter in between his demanding push for high standards.
That's not to say he's universally liked by his personnel, and his manner of dealing with the dropping of players such as Rob Burrow caused genuine friction, as outlined in the late England star's book - although in fairness McDermott also contributed to said publication.
An area where McDermott's more playful side was far less evident was in his dealings with the media. If England want a smooth diplomat who will charm the media pack, then McDermott is probably the wrong guy for the job.
However, Australian 'supercoach' Wayne Bennett was similarly awkward in his approach to the media, and his appointment did England little harm - almost taking them to World Cup glory in 2017, when they lost the final narrowly to Australia.
McDermott will have little chance to work with the players before taking his selected squad to the World Cup this October.
His task will be to bring the players together and give them the best chance of challenging the Australian dominance of the competition.
He will certainly have seen plenty of the opposition in his recent and current roles down under.
Who joins his coaching staff could also be interesting - as he assesses the mix of dynamics and personalities needed to get the best out of England's elite.
LAFC midfielder Mark Delgado (8) chips the ball away to safety during an MLS game between LAFC and Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at BMO Stadium In Los Angeles Calif at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles Calif
LOS ANGELES -- LAFC played to a 0-0 draw against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night, a result that stabilized the defensive side of the equation but left the same attacking questions lingering. It was cleaner. It was more controlled. But it never quite threatened.
And that was the story.
The opening minutes made it clear what this match would demand. Colorado didn’t wait to settle in, pressing early and forcing LAFC into uncomfortable moments in their own half. A loose sequence between Aaron Long and Ryan Porteous in the 16th minute nearly turned costly, a reminder of the defensive lapses that plagued Sunday’s loss.
This time, though, there was a difference behind them.
Hugo Lloris was sharp from the start, reacting quickly to the deflection and then stepping in repeatedly as Colorado found space. By the 22nd minute, poor positioning out of the back allowed Rafael Navarro a clean look, only for Lloris to dive and push it away. Four minutes later, he was called into action again, denying Dante Sealy from distance to preserve the clean sheet.
Quick reaction from Hugo Lloris to keep the clean sheet 🧤
That sequence shaped the first takeaway of the night: the defensive reset started with Lloris, but it required far more from the structure in front of him.
“We’re happy to not give up goals,” defender Eddie Segura said. “At the same time, there's a little bit of a sour taste in our mouths not being able to get the win.”
For long stretches of the first half, LAFC didn’t look like a team dictating play. They looked like one absorbing it.
On the ball, the issues were familiar. The buildup was slow. The spacing between attackers stretched too far. Promising moments, like a 14th-minute counter where Son Heung-min found Jacob Shaffelburg in stride, ended without danger. Final passes missed. Runs went unrewarded.
By halftime, the numbers told the story: no shots, no rhythm, and a goalkeeper doing more work than anyone in black and gold would have preferred.
Head coach Marc Dos Santos didn’t point to fatigue as an excuse, but he didn’t ignore it either.
“We’re in this gray area now that you know we're evaluating a little bit of fatigue,” he said. “Offensively, we have to find a way that we’re confident and comfortable again, and now we got a little bit out of track.”
That tension — between fatigue and execution — has started to define this stretch.
Since opening their season in the Champions Cup, LAFC has played 15 matches in 64 days. The schedule hasn’t slowed, and neither has the toll it’s taken on training, cohesion, and sharpness in the final third.
The second half offered a shift, but not a breakthrough. Mathieu Choinière came closest early on, curling a right-footed effort that struck both the crossbar and the post — a sequence that summed up the night as much as any stat line. Inches from a moment, but never quite there.
Ten minutes later, Shaffelburg — LAFC’s most active attacker all night — found himself through on goal after a Timothy Tillman pass. His finish slid just wide. That lack of connection showed up again in the 73rd minute, when Son and David Martínez tangled at the edge of the box with only the goalkeeper to beat. A moment that should have produced a shot instead dissolved into hesitation.
Just one of those nights.
“Sometimes I feel that they’re far from each other,” he said. “We have to grow with the ball.”
That growth is hard to find right now. LAFC is in the middle of its most congested stretch of the season, playing every few days with little time to actually train.
“There’s always one group recovering and another training,” Dos Santos said. “That part to balance, it's the most difficult part right now for us.”
Within that context, there were still a few positives — just not in the areas LAFC needed most.
Aaron Long’s return was one of them. In his first appearance since last July’s Achilles injury, he gave LAFC 45 steady minutes. He was aggressive, organized, and helped stabilize a back line that had been stretched in recent matches.
“What we saw from the first 45 minutes, we have a lot of positive things,” Dos Santos said. “He was connected.”
Stephen Eustáquio’s return in the second half added another layer in midfield. Not a solution on its own, but another option to help link play. Those are steps forward, but the main issue didn’t change.
LAFC controlled more of the second half and pushed Colorado back, but never finished a sequence. For all that territory, Zack Steffen was rarely forced into a defining save. That contrast summed up the night.
Defensively, it was a response. After conceding six goals in their previous two matches, LAFC stayed compact and protected the box against one of the league’s higher-scoring teams. But going forward, the same questions remain.
The answers will have to come soon, as the Black & Gold head back on the road this weekend for a matchup against Minnesota United. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 1:45 p.m.
On Thursday, the 2026 NFL Draft will begin in Pittsburgh. Roger Goodell and his league have looked to improve how long the first round takes after changing the time limit for the first time since 2008.
This year, the maximum time per first round selection is eight minutes, which is two minutes shorter than in previous years. A first draft night that often ended after 11:30 p.m. ET will look to end prior to 11 p.m. to the delight of viewers.
However, it remains to be seen if teams will take the full duration of their pick limit in this rule's inception, due to not being used to a shortened maximum. There may be some adjustments needed to be made, but it is acceptable to predict that each pick this year will take around five minutes.
Here is the rundown on when to hear your team's selection, and a quick recap of the first-round draft order.
The NFL Draft will begin on Thursday night at around 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Las Vegas Raiders will almost certainly take 2025 Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, followed by the New York Jets taking either David Bailey or Arvell Reese. This year, six teams will have two first-round draft selections (Jets, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys).
Here is who will be drafting from the first 32 spots in this year's opening round of the NFL Draft.
For the first time since 2008, the NFL announced that it was shortening the first round selection time. This year marks the first time in NFL history that the maximum time per first-round pick will be eight minutes. From 2008-2025, the draft's first round had 10 minutes allocated to each team's first-round draft decision.
Last year's draft ended at around 11:43 p.m. ET, so with this new change, the end time has the potential to move up even further. Teams don't usually take the full time designated for their draft selection, but that remains to be seen with a shorter time to make a decision or field calls about trading picks.
Just off of maximum time alone, the league has saved a ceiling of 64 minutes (two minutes per 32 picks). The other rounds of the draft have not seen changes to the maximum time allocated per pick.
When last year's first-round pick maximum was set to 10 minutes, the draft ended at 11:43 p.m. ET. The new changes, which stipulate just eight minutes between selections, should save the league a maximum of 64 minutes (two minutes less per pick across 32 picks). This year, it can be predicted that the first round will end around 10:40 p.m. ET, meaning the opening round will take about 160 total minutes to conclude.
This projected duration, divided among the NFL's 32 teams, comes out to about five minutes per team. With each pick taking a projected five of the eight minutes, here is a projection of when each team's selection will be announced (all times Eastern).
Pick No. 1 (Las Vegas Raiders): 8:05 p.m.
Pick No. 2 (New York Jets): 8:10 p.m.
Pick No. 3 (Arizona Cardinals): 8:15 p.m.
Pick No. 4 (Tennessee Titans): 8:20 p.m.
Pick No. 5 (New York Giants): 8:25 p.m.
Pick No. 6 (Cleveland Browns): 8:30 p.m.
Pick No. 7 (Washington Commanders): 8:35 p.m.
Pick No. 8 (New Orleans Saints): 8:40 p.m.
Pick No. 9 (Kansas City Chiefs): 8:45 p.m.
Pick No. 10 (New York Giants, from CIN): 8:50 p.m.
Pick No. 11 (Miami Dolphins): 8:55 p.m.
Pick No. 12 (Dallas Cowboys): 9:00 p.m.
Pick No. 13 (Los Angeles Rams, from ATL): 9:05 p.m.
Pick No. 14 (Baltimore Ravens): 9:10 p.m.
Pick No. 15 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 9:15 p.m.
Pick No. 16 (New York Jets, from IND): 9:20 p.m.
Pick No. 17 (Detroit Lions): 9:25 p.m.
Pick No. 18 (Minnesota Vikings): 9:30 p.m.
Pick No. 19 (Carolina Panthers): 9:35 p.m.
Pick No. 20 (Dallas Cowboys): 9:40 p.m.
Pick No. 21 (Pittsburgh Steelers): 9:45 p.m.
Pick No. 22 (Los Angeles Chargers): 9:50 p.m.
Pick No. 23 (Philadelphia Eagles): 9:55 p.m.
Pick No. 24 (Cleveland Browns, from JAX): 10:00 p.m.
Pick No. 25 (Chicago Bears): 10:05 p.m.
Pick No. 26 (Buffalo Bills): 10:10 p.m.
Pick No. 27 (San Francisco 49ers): 10:15 p.m.
Pick No. 28 (Houston Texans): 10:20 p.m.
Pick No. 29 (Kansas City Chiefs, from LAR): 10:25 p.m.
Draft nights can be stressful for any team in any sport. For team personnel, a lot rides on banking on teams ahead of yours not to pick the player you covet. In 2003, this was seen firsthand.
The Minnesota Vikings were jumped by two teams after being under the notion that they had traded their pick away. However, the Baltimore Ravens had never sent their card into the league, meaning the trade was not valid. While it was Baltimore who cost Minnesota a bit of respect around the league, it was the Vikings' front office that got the blunt end of the sword in the media.
This year, the NFL announced it would be shortening the first-round pick timer from 10 minutes to eight in order to speed up the draft that frequently ends around 11:30 p.m. ET. Teams will have to be more on the ball in their decision-making than ever before at this new rule's inception.
Here is what happens if time runs out for a team making their pick, along with a recap of Minnesota's mishap.
What happens if time runs out for NFL Draft picks?
If a team were to not get their pick in before their allocated time frame, the team after them can make their selection immediately. Once the team that was jumped gets their card into the league, their pick will go live.
In 2003, the Vikings were a victim of confusion that resulted in being jumped in the draft. They had thought their trade with the Ravens went through, since Minnesota submitted the trade to the league. However, Baltimore did not, which meant the Jacksonville Jaguars (and later the Carolina Panthers) had moved up and were on the clock.
This year, with time between picks being shortened from 10 minutes to eight minutes, it will be interesting to see if a team fails to get its draft picks in on time.
At the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, teams will have eight minutes to make their first-round selection. This marks the first time that the pick time has been changed since 2008, when it shifted from 15 minutes to 10.
The second through seventh round time limits will remain the same, according to the NFL. In the second round, teams have seven minutes to get their pick in. For rounds three through six, this number shrinks to five minutes, while the seventh round is four minutes per pick.
In 2003, Minnesota was a part of an unfortunate event in NFL history. The team was working to trade out of the No. 7 spot with the Ravens in exchange for their No. 10 pick and the Ravens' fourth and sixth-round draft selections. While the Vikings submitted their trade request to the league, Baltimore did not.
"We had called in the trade, and we thought it was done," Rob Brzezinski, Minnesota's vice president of football operations, said, according to ESPN. "We're all sitting there in the draft room, just watching on TV, and all hell broke loose."
The Vikings reported the deal by phone to Joel Bussert, the NFL's vice president of player personnel, and thought the Ravens were doing the same. However, Baltimore never did. According to the Ravens, their call to Bussert was never picked up.
"The deal was not consummated," general manager Ozzie Newsome said at the time. "A deal is not a deal until I talk to Joel Bussert, and I never talked to Joel Bussert."
After the Vikings' pick was absent at No. 8, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers quickly made their selections before Minnesota could. Minnesota would eventually select defensive tackle Kevin Williams at the No. 9 spot, Carolina's original drafting slot. According to Minnesota, they had always wanted to draft Williams at No. 7 prior to landing a trade. Unfortunately for Williams, his signing bonus was roughly $3 million less at No. 9 than it would have been at No. 7. The defensive tackle ended up being the right selection, as he finished his career with six Pro Bowl appearances and five All-Pro awards.
The Mauigoa name carries increased weight in the world of football. Francisco Mauigoa emerged as one of college football's finest defenders during his time at Washington State and Miami (Fla.).
A few years later, his younger brother, Francis, came down the pipeline. There are a fair few differences between the elder Mauigoa brother and his hulking younger brother — chief among them, Francisco plays linebacker, while Francis opens up lanes on the offensive line.
Nevertheless, both players are making their impacts felt at the next level. All the while, they're continuing in the tradition of countless Samoan players young and old who have become gridiron eternals, imprinting themselves into the billowing tapestry that is the sport's history.
With that, here's what you need to know about Francis and Francisco Mauigoa's relationship.
Francis Mauigoa, indeed, is related to Francisco Mauigoa. The two are brothers, bonded by blood — and a passion for the gridiron.
Francis Mauigoa brother: Francisco Mauigoa
Francis Mauigoa's older brother is Francisco Mauigoa. The Jets linebacker flocked to the gridiron from a young age, coming to prominence on the lush plains that lined the American Samoa landscape.
The Mauigoas took their talents to the mainland United States, arriving in California ahead of Francisco's junior season. He shined during two years at Aquinas High School, earning three-star billing as a linebacker while producing more than 1,000 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior. Francisco committed to Washington State, where he spent two seasons. Ahead of the 2023 season, Francisco entered the transfer portal. He subsequently landed in Miami (Fla.), taking hold of the linebacker corps behind vaunted pass rusher Rueben Bain. Francisco made an inspired choice transferring to the Hurricanes. He got there just in time to greet his younger brother, Francis, who earned coveted five-star billing and committed to Miami after talks with his family.
The Jets selected Francisco Mauigoa in the fifth round (162nd overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. He quietly emerged as a steady performer in New York's defense in his maiden year as a pro, amassing 45 tackles (16 solo) in eight starts.
Why is Francisco Mauigoa called Kiko?
Francisco Mauigoa's nickname is Kiko. It's unclear quite where the moniker came from, although it is likely that it emerged at some point during his childhood. Oftentimes, people named Francisco are instead called "Paco", an apparent reference to Saint Francis of Assisi — the pater communitatis (father of the community) of the Franciscan order. Kiko doesn't share the same origins. However, it could reference something specific to his Samoan background.
The eldest of the Mauigoa's NFL-bound brothers, Francisco is 23 years old.
How many siblings does Francis Mauigoa have?
All told, Francis Mauigoa has six siblings: elder brothers Frederick and Francisco, younger brothers Fidelis and Frank and sisters Frantacia and Fedelma, per Samoa News.
Francis Mauigoa brother: Frederick Mauigoa
Francis Mauioga's eldest brother is Fredrick Mauigoa. He, too, played high-level college football, enjoying a splendid spell at Washington State. Like his youngest brother, Frederick found joy on the offensive line, garnering award consideration as a center.
Frederick spent the entirety of his childhood in American Samoa, turning out for powerhouse program Tafuna High School.
His gridiron journey took him to Pullman, Wash. then Charlotte. Frederick signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He failed to make the final roster, seeing his contract waived prior to the start of the 2020 preseason. He landed in Cincinnati, although his contract was voided before the end of the season.
Francis Mauigoa brothers
Francis Mauigoa has four brothers in total: Frederick, Francisco, Fidelis and Frank. Not much is known about Fidelis and Frank — at least not at present.
Francis Mauigoa has two sisters: Frantacia and Fedelma. They, too, have evaded the spotlight, with little information made public regarding their personal histories and career aspirations.
Who are Francis Mauigoa's parents?
Francis Mauigoa's parents are Fa'alialia Mauigoa and Telesia Mauigoa.
Francis Mauigoa dad: Fa'alialia Mauigoa
Francis Mauigoa's father is Fa'alialia Mauigoa. He and his wife played a pivotal role in helping Francis settle at Miami. In fact, Francis brought the topic of his recruitment to his family on the eve of signing day, holding talks in the family's surrogate situation room in Hawai'i.
It was "a family decision", Francis told NCAA.com in May 2025.
"Because it affected everyone."
Francis opted to join Francisco on the Hurricanes. Fa'alialia and Telesia followed suit, moving minutes from their sons.
Francis Mauigoa's mother is Telesia Mauigoa. Like her husband, Fa'alialia, Telesia sacrificed a lot to help Francis reach his NFL dreams. Francis' parents sent him across the country, allowing him to receive first class training.
Francis said he was forever indebted to his family for their contributions to his playing career.
"They sacrificed a lot for me to be at where I was," Francis said at the NFL Combine, per YardBarker. "Sending me all the way to IMG Academy at a very early age, I didn't even know no English, but they took a chance on me to go by myself. ... They sent me out there for a reason, and I'm making sure that I'm not letting them down."
Francis and Francisco made sure to repay their parents for their efforts, using their NIL money to retire them and allow them to set up shop in Vice City.
Francis Mauigoa is Samoan. His roots have helped shape the person he has become — even if he was one of the few Samoans to was ashore in Miami during his time with the Hurricanes.
"Being someone who grew up in a Samoan household, I was taught to respect everyone, from the elders all the way to the youngest, no matter what age or what ethnicity. I was taught to be humble," Francis told the NCAA. "So being Samoan, it built who I am, and it formed me to be this type of person that I am today."
Francis and Francisco are the latest in a long line of Samoan flagbearers to find NFL success. From Domata Peko and Mike Iupati to contemporary standouts like Penei Sewell and Frankie Luvu, American Samoa — a tiny island of 50,000 located in the South Pacific — has played an outsized impact on the gridiron.
Francis Mauigoa hails from Ili'ili, American Samoa, a town of a little more than 3,000 located in the southwest of Tutuila, the largest and most populous of American Samoa.
Football journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Ronaldo could be about to live out another dream in the very near future.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said, “for Cristiano Ronaldo fans, this could be a big day. Reports from Saudi and I can confirm this information about Cristiano Ronaldo Junior, who is about to turn 16-years-old in June.”
He continued, “Al-Nassr board of directors and technical staff are considering to include Ronaldo Junior as part of the first team next season.”
The Italian suggested that he will be part of the training group, but it is unknown at this stage whether this would result in significant minutes in the first team matches.
He explained, “Cristiano Ronaldo always had this dream to play at least a few games together with his son and this now becomes a serious possibility. Al-Nassr have not made an official decision on this but it remains a real possibility.”
If they were to play together next season, they would follow in the footsteps of Rivaldo and Rivaldinho. They both scored in the same match for Brazilian side Mogi Mirim in 2015.
Former Manchester United loan star Henrik Larsson also played with his son Jordan Larsson for Högaborgs BK in Sweden’s third tier.
In a recent interview, Topuria was critical of Tsarukyan's headline-making antics outside of the cage. The 29-year-old has struck a fan on his walk to the octagon, head butted an opponent during face-offs, engaged in a post-fight brawl at RAF 6, got thrown off an airplane and tackled MMA icon Urijah Faber off the stage during their RAF 8 match last weekend.
Topuria called Tsarukyan 'dumb' and 'a f*cking kid' that flaunts his father's wealth. On Wednesday, Tsarukyan responded to Topuria's comments during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
"He's jealous," Tsarukyan said. "He wants to say like I'm nothing and if you see like offer me him, he's not going to take it because he wants to tell everybody in this world that I'm not in his level. He was saying like [Charles] Oliveira is good fighter, [Justin] Gaethje is good fighter, Max Holloway is good fighter, but he didn't say anything about me. How can it be like, it's just a joke."
"I mean, in my culture, where I come from, if you say about someone, you've got to explain why, right? You ask him why and he doesn't know like answer why am I dumb or I'm like ret*rded or whatever," Tsarukyan explained.
"If you say something, you've got to answer why, right? You ask him why, he says I don't know, so he's the stupid guy, not me because he doesn't know even like why I'm ret*ard or dumb and f*ck."
Topuria headlines the UFC White House event on June 14 against two-time interim titleholder Justin Gaethje. He predicted that he'd break Tsarukyan's jaw in the first round if the two fought. Tsarukyan wants Topuria to prove it and sign to fight him following the UFC Freedom 250 unification bout with Gaethje.
"Good luck to him. We'll see when the fight happens, and we'll see how I'm not going to take him down. I can takedown anybody. So, about that, he's going to break my jaw. Whatever he wants to do, just accept the fight. Why you ducking if you're super confident that you can beat me so easy in the first round? Just sign the contract after this fight and don't move up and stay there and beat (me) because I'm an easy fight. Why move up," Tsarukyan said.
"He has his own fanbase, but like he behaves like untouchable and like he's superstar. But he's not, and I'm going to bring him back on the Earth."
Topuria accused Tsarukyan of being a 'Twitter gangster,' but when the two see each other it's a different story.
"I'm not a gangster. I'm the man," said Tsarukyan. "But he's not. He shaves his ass. He shaves his arms, legs. At least I'm a man. I don't do that."
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards [5] with forward Julius Randle against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Jan. 29, 2025.
Thursday's slate brings another day of exciting NBA playoff hoops after the Detroit Pistons went on an electric 30-3 run against the Orlando Magic, tying the series and re-asserting their status as the No. 1 squad in the Eastern Conference. Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder handled business against the Phoenix Suns once again, increasing their series lead to 2-0. In the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings sit at a 2-0 deficit against Colorado while the Anaheim Ducks tied their series against the Edmonton Oilers after a 6-4 victory on Wednesday. With that, here are tonight's best bets brought to you by BetOnline.org. Click here to join. All new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.
First Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves +2.5
Rundown: Following a 30-point masterclass by Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves return to Minneapolis for Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets, tied 1-1.
Down by 19 points, Minnesota refused to give in on Monday as Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo complemented Edwards' firepower, scoring 24 and 16 points respectively. After being outscored by Denver by 14 in the first quarter, the Timberwolves went on to outshoot Denver both from the field and beyond the arc. Minnesota also overwhelmed their opponent defensively with six steals and two blocks.
As for the Nuggets, Jamaal Murray scored 30 points of his own, backed by star Nikola Jokić's 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Nonetheless, their efforts were not enough as a late missed Christian Braun free throw swung the momentum in favor of Minnesota. With both teams having excellent rosters, the decisive factor in either of them winning is who can make their buckets when it comes down to the wire.
With Minnesota having the howls of the Target Center-faithful by their side, bettors can expect them to sustain their energy.
Second Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -2.5
Rundown: The Cleveland Cavaliers head on the road for Game 3 against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.
Cleveland enters Thursday looking to build on what it started, a 2-0 series lead fueled by dominance on both ends of the court. On Monday, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden logged a respective 30 and 28 points. Harden also had himself a night on defense, collecting five steals. Meanwhile, Evan Mobley scored 25 points and contributed on the glass with eight rebounds.
For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett commanded the offense with 26 and 22 points apiece. However, Toronto lost the turnover battle, coughing up the ball a season-high 22 times. On the contrary, Cleveland only had 12 turnovers, proving to be the difference maker in Game 2. For Toronto to turn this series around, not only do they have to work on taking care of the ball, but also hitting on their 3-pointers after shooting 27%.
With the Cavaliers' postseason track record against Toronto of 12 consecutive wins, count on them to keep executing.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: CJ Fodrey #19 of the Austin FC gets kicked in the shoulder by Reid Roberts #18 of the San Jose Earthquakes during the match at PayPal Park on April 22, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Playing a lineup of mostly backups due to a plethora of injuries — midfielder Jorge Alastuey, who was called up Monday from the second team, started, if that tells one anything — the Verde & Black still had thoughts midway through the second half of possibly leaving San Jose with a result.
But the Earthquakes, who are MLS’ hottest and best team through the season’s first two months, quickly demolished those hopes.
San Jose (8-1-0, 24 points) scored four times in an eight-minute span to turn the game into a rout and take a 5-1 win at PayPal Park.
Joseph Rosales gave Austin FC (1-4-4, 7 points) a lead in the ninth minute after he took advantage of an awful pass by Ronaldo Vieira deep in Earthquakes territory.
Jack Jasinski scored on a header in the 58th minute for San Jose to tie the match, then Timo Werner’s penalty conversion started the Earthquakes’ run of late goals. Preston Judd scored twice and Ousseni Bouda found the net to reach the game’s final tally.
Here are some key takeaways from the match as Austin FC plays its third game in eight days Saturday when it hosts Houston.
Austin FC entered the match in a bad spot
There’s a reason Austin FC entered the contest a massive 5-1 underdog.
And the final result showed the oddsmakers know what they’re doing.
An Austin FC team playing without Owen Wolff, Dani Pereira, Myrto Uzuni, Jayden Nelson and Oleksandr Svatok in the starting lineup isn’t going to win many games. (Svatok, who played 90 minutes Saturday at Toronto, is the only one of the five not injured.)
And the club’s health situation got worse when starting left back Guilherme Biro left the game in the first half. (Reserve winger Robert Taylor was also out with an injury.)
Austin FC coach Nico Estévez lamented his team losing its “mindset” and “shape” in the game’s final 20 minutes, but any club that has to start Alastuey, CJ Fodrey and Besard Sabovic is already in a losing position.
Goalie Brad Stuver almost single-handedly kept the Verde & Black in the contest the first 80 minutes. And he certainly saved Austin FC from an embarrassing scoreline the likes of 8-1 or 9-1 with some highlight-reel saves.
“We didn’t adjust well to what they were doing in the second half,” Stuver said.
He’s right. But with its current available roster, a near-miracle was Austin FC’s biggest chance to get a result. Tactics weren’t going to save it.
Bottom line
Estévez is currently bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Until it gets at least half of the players back it was missing Wednesday, Austin FC is going to be hoping for draws.
The good news is Estévez made it sound like none of the team's injuries are serious.
The bad news is things might get worse before they get better if he has to field a similar lineup Saturday.
Estévez made the right call in not bringing Svatok and Ilie Sánchez off the bench once San Jose scored its second goal. Not only because the game was lost at that point, but because the club will need those two players for significant minutes against Houston.
Austin FC also needs to hope that Joseph Rosales, Facundo Torres and Jon Gallagher hold up physically after playing a lot of minutes this season. An injury to any of those three, especially Rosales or Torres, under the current situation would be disastrous.
As noted previously in this space, Austin FC needs to go into the World Cup break in a position where it has a chance to run up the standings in the second half of the season.
Producing four points in its next two matches at home against clubs in the bottom half of the Western Conference would go a long way toward that.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Beau Leroux #34 of the San Jose Earthquakes competes for a header against Facundo Torres #11 of the Austin FC during the match at PayPal Park on April 22, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Liverpool must act fast: Man United ready to steal most-wanted star
Liverpool are going to have to be quick here. Manchester United are looking to steal a long-term target.
It was reported on Tuesday by the Telegraph that Manchester United were looking to sign Aurelien Tchouameni. Wednesday has seen more reporting on that, with BBC Sport claiming he’s wanted by the club.
Speculation is growing that Tchouameni could leave Real Madrid this summer, especially as they hope to sign Rodri from Manchester City. Their UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich has brought about calls for a bit of an overhaul, particularly in midfield.
And so it sounds as though Tchouameni may end up being available here. United seem to think so, moving him up their shortlist.
Tchouameni confirmed those talks himself, in fact, and Liverpool have continued to be linked ever since. They’ve viewed him as the ideal defensive midfielder.
However, they haven’t really used a sitting midfielder under Arne Slot. It seems the timing is off for a deal in 2026 as Liverpool don’t quite have the same need for such a player.
And so they’ve got to make a decision quickly. Do they want that kind of player? Can they adapt their team for Tchouameni?
Honestly, it feels like the team is crying out for a new defensive midfielder as they sorely lack an ability to win the ball back through the middle. Tchouameni would fix that.
But consider this one for too long and the opportunity will disappear. Even worse, he’ll head to United.
Aurelien Tchouameni: Situation Summary
Real Madrid Consistency and Performance
As of 22 April 2026, Aurélien Tchouaméni remains a cornerstone of the Real Madrid midfield. The 26-year-old has been arguably Los Blancos' most consistent performer this season, recording one goal and maintaining a 91.4% pass completion rate across 2,314 minutes of La Liga action. Statistically, he ranks in the 91st percentile for aerial duels won and 83rd for defensive contributions among European midfielders. Most recently, he was declared fit for the upcoming clash with Elche after recovering from a heavy blow to his ankle sustained during a Champions League fixture against Manchester City in March.
Transfer Shortlist and Manchester United Interest
Despite his integral role at the Bernabéu, Tchouaméni’s future is subject to growing speculation as he enters the final two years of his contract. Reports on 21 April 2026 confirm that Manchester United have placed him on their "shortlist of candidates" to replace the outgoing Casemiro this summer. While Real Madrid have shown no official intention to sell, United co-owners INEOS believe that Madrid’s pursuit of Manchester City’s Rodri could "open the door" for a deal. Valued at approximately €68.4 million, Tchouaméni is also being monitored by Liverpool and Arsenal as part of a projected midfield reshuffle in the Spanish capital.
Yamal's lamine: Trump's wish… 5 things to start Thursday
Thursday begins on a bittersweet note, with news ranging from the euphoria of new titles to maximum concern over the health of star players.
As the schedule tightens, clubs and national teams are starting to play their most decisive matches in the boardrooms and the treatment rooms.
The latest in football is moving between the uncertainty of injuries and geopolitical moves that could change the makeup of the next World Cup. Below, we review the five key points shaping Thursday’s football agenda.
National alarm over Lamine Yamal
All of Spain is anxiously awaiting the results of Lamine Yamal’s medical tests. The young FC Barcelona star had to come off injured after scoring the winning goal against Celta, leaving a worrying image as he left the pitch. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the risk that the national team’s brightest gem could miss the tournament has set off all the alarm bells in Las Rozas.
Italy dreams of Trump’s World Cup
World-shaking news is rattling FIFA headquarters. According to the Financial Times, the Trump Administration has formally suggested to Gianni Infantino the possibility of excluding Iran from the World Cup and giving its place to Italy. This political maneuver, justified by the Azzurra’s footballing "pedigree," seeks to rebuild diplomatic relations with the Italian government, sparking a storm of opinion across international football.
Uncertainty over Militao at Madrid
In the capital, Real Madrid are preparing for their clash with Real Betis with one main doubt: Éder Militao. The Brazilian center-back finished the last match against Alavés with physical discomfort. Álvaro Arbeloa will wait until the very last minute to find out whether he can count on his defensive leader or if he will have to reshuffle the back line for Betis’ demanding visit.
Barça Femení extends its dominance
The good news of the day comes from FC Barcelona Femení, who have been crowned Liga F champions after thrashing Espanyol 1-4 in the Catalan derby. With this win, the Blaugrana claim their seventh consecutive league title, confirming an unquestionable hegemony in Spanish football. Pere Romeu’s team keeps breaking records and is already focused on the Copa de la Reina final and the Champions League.
Earthquake on the Chelsea bench
Patience has run out at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have officially sacked Liam Rosenior after just four months in the job. A run of five straight defeats and a worrying lack of goals were the triggers for a decision that leaves the London club in deep institutional crisis. Calum McFarlane will take charge on an interim basis while the board looks for direction for a project that seems to be drifting.
I recently alluded to this idea that World of Warcraft is losing control of its quality ... well, control. And this concept really came to ahead this week with Midnight's 12.0.5 patch, which introduced a mountain of new bugs.
Alphacool International GmbH from Braunschweig is a pioneer in PC water-cooling technology. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry and over 20 years of experience, Alphacool is once again expanding its portfolio with the new Apex Manifold 360 mm.
The Apex Manifold 360 mm is designed for visually striking custom water-cooling builds and enables especially clean tubing runs for a neat and organized system layout. Four chambers and eight G1/4" inlet and outlet ports provide flexible integration of multiple components, while allowing hard tubes and soft tubes to be routed particularly straight and easily.
It was recently rumored that PlayStation would be moving away from publishing PC ports of its mainline first-party single-player games, which came with the implication that Sony would not port the upcoming Marvel's Wolverine game to PC. Speaking at a recent ALT Games Festival event in Australia, Shuhei Yoshida, Sony's former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, commented on the PlayStation exclusive situation and how PC ports impact Sony's gaming portfolio and financials in his view. Yoshida is of the opinion that PC ports are largely a positive move for Sony, and that they don't meaningfully detract from console hardware sales or game sales on consoles.
Instead, Yoshida says that Sony's PC ports could help recoup some of the initial game design and development costs—presumably because games usually get a bump in sales when they launch on other platforms, and because developing a new game is far more costly than porting an existing game to a new platform. The latter is especially true with modern hardware, which all share similar x86 platform specifications, with the exception of systems like the Nintendo Switch 2 and Valve's upcoming Steam Frame. He also goes on to say that he is "not seeing any proof of them (Sony) changing their strategy this generation, but if they are changing, it's going to be interesting how they are able to maintain the investment on big budget games." On the topic of AAA game budgets, Yoshida comments that the ever-increasing budgets in the AAA industry don't seem sustainable. The full interview with Shuhei Yoshida on YouTube follows.
TSMC has presented its latest technology roadmap through 2029, bringing advanced processes such as A13 and A12 by 2029. TSMC Reluctant To Use ASML's Advanced EUV Machines Due To Cost Constraints, Focuses On Die Shrinks For 2029 With A13 & A12 During TSMC's 2026 North American Technology Symposium, the company presented its latest roadmap, which includes some major updates. These new processes will offer a further refinement, such as savings in area size, and the utilization of new technologies. Starting with the roadmap itself, following the mass production of its N2 process technology, which is expected in the first products […]
Intel 14A finally has a big name backing it up, and it's Elon Musk, who will be leveraging the process technology at the TeraFab project. Intel & Elon Partnership Deeper Than Expected As Musk Announces 14A Process Technology For Tesla's TeraFab During its Q1 2026 earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made it official that the TeraFab project was going to use 14A, Intel's much-discussed process technology, which is expected to be a game-changer for them in the Foundry business. Elon stated that they (Tesla) are excited to use the Intel 14A process, calling it "State-of-the-Art". He also acknowledged that […]
The CLARITY Act could be completed by the end of May 2026, according to Senator Bernie Moreno, raising hopes for long-awaited crypto regulation. Meanwhile, prediction market odds have slightly improved from 38% to 46%, but delays and political pressure remain doubtful.
On the other hand, a Republican on the Senate Banking Committee is still pushing to delay the CLARITY Act markup to May.
CLARITY Act Timeline Points to End of May Decision
The CLARITY Act, which aims to define crypto market structure, has been stuck in the Senate despite earlier momentum. A delay in the markup process now risks pushing the timeline further.
Speaking at a DC event in Washington, Senator Bernie Moreno said,
“I think we’re going to get it done by the end of May.”
His statement comes at a time when concerns are rising over whether the bill can move forward fast enough.
The delay in scheduling a markup has created uncertainty. Without it, the bill cannot move to a full Senate vote, making timing very important.
Pressure Builds as May Deadline Becomes Critical
Moreno has already warned that missing the May window could push crypto legislation off track for a long time. If the bill does not progress soon, it risks being lost amid a busy political calendar and the upcoming election cycle.
At the same time, he strongly pushed back against banking-sector concerns about stablecoin yields. He called these concerns “noise” and even said they are “completely fake,” urging banks to focus on innovation instead of slowing progress.
At the same time, global competition is increasing.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that if the U.S. delays crypto regulation, innovation could move to other countries like Dubai and Singapore. Countries like Russia are legalizing BTC for cross-border trade, and the U.S. risks falling behind.
Clarity Act Odds Jumped On Polymarket Prediction
The uncertainty is already affecting market sentiment. On prediction platform Polymarket, the odds of the CLARITY Act passing in 2026 moved from 38% to 46% after Moreno said we’re going to get the CLARITY Act done by the end of May.
The next few weeks are critical. If the Senate moves quickly and schedules the markup, the bill still has a chance to pass by May.
A post linked to Sam Bankman-Fried claims FTX’s top six investments could be worth about $114 billion as of April 22, 2026, if they had not been sold during bankruptcy proceedings. The projected value is dominated by Anthropic at $82.3B, making up over 70% of the total, followed by SpaceX at $15B. Additional holdings include Solana at $5.1B, Robinhood at $4.9B, Genesis Digital Assets at $3.5B, and Cursor at $3B. The estimate underscores how bankruptcy-driven asset sales, aimed at quickly recovering funds for creditors, may have resulted in significant opportunity costs, as several of these assets appreciated sharply after liquidation.
RawImage is an unfiltered AI image generator that delivers professional-quality results in about three seconds while keeping your prompts and images private. Buy credits with crypto, avoid subscriptions, and choose Fast, HD, or Max modes across multiple aspect ratios. Operated by an Austrian company, it follows GDPR and the EU AI Act, auto-deletes data on your schedule, and stores no logs. Use it in your browser—no GPU or setup required—to create anything you imagine.
AI-driven exploits and cross-chain flaws have pushed crypto security risks into focus in 2026, experts at CertiK warn, with losses already crossing $600 million. According to the blockchain security firm, attackers have leaned on a mix of social engineering, infrastructure…
The American Bankers Association has called for more time on stablecoin rulemaking tied to the GENIUS Act, citing gaps in regulatory coordination. The American Bankers Association, in a letter sent Tuesday, urged the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Federal Deposit…
Thailand wants to streamline access to crypto derivatives by allowing firms to operate under a single licensed entity. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand, a new public consultation has opened on rules that would let licensed digital…
FlyArystan Launches New Aktau to Batumi Route, Boosting Kazakhstan-Georgia Tourism Growth with its Enhanced Travel Options Starting June 2026FlyArystan introduces...
South Africa Joins Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Kenya, and More Countries in Pioneering Emirates-Wesgro Initiative to Redefine...
Samsung’s newly unveiled display tech could offer glasses-free 3D viewing on the Galaxy S28 Ultra. The official press release itself confirms the potential adoption of the screen technology in phones, tablets, and other devices.
A newly published paper in Nature details a collaboration between Samsung’s Visual Technology Team and POSTECH. The focus is on a new display architecture built around something called a Metasurface Lenticular Lens.
Instead of relying on traditional lenticular layers, Samsung uses nanoscale structures to precisely control how light is directed toward your eyes. The system can switch between standard 2D and immersive 3D using voltage control.
The display adjusts polarization states in real time; users can toggle depth effects on demand. Samsung claims a viewing angle of up to 100 degrees, which is roughly six times wider than older glasses-free 3D implementations.
This eliminates the rigid head positioning that killed earlier attempts. You are no longer locked into a narrow zone where the effect works. Move naturally, share the screen, and the 3D holds up. The entire optical layer comes in at just 1.2mm thin.
This approach of the South Korean tech giant fits into modern OLED stacks without forcing major design trade-offs. The team has already tested the concept on real OLED panels using a fabricated 50x50mm metalens.
The timing lines up with the Galaxy S28 generation, especially as Samsung continues to push display differentiation beyond brightness, refresh rate and Privacy screen.
A switchable 3D panel fits naturally into that strategy. It also opens doors for the Galaxy Z Fold lineup, where larger screen real estate makes depth effects more meaningful for gaming, media, and even multitasking.
If Samsung gets this right, glasses-free 3D will not feel like a gimmick anymore.
Infinity Nikki Version 2.5 Where All Souls Return is live today on iOS, Android, PC, and PS5, adding the Boneyard region, new Ability Outfits, and PS5 Pro visual enhancements.
Honor launched the Honor 600 Pro in the global market today. Honor’s new flagship smartphone features an iPhone 17 Pro-like design, capable cameras, and a 120 Hz AMOLED panel with very thin bezels. We already had the chance to play around with the Honor 600 Pro and here are our first impressions.
Vaio has released updated Vaio SX14-R (VJS4R2) ultralight laptops, with Intel Ultra Series 3 processors. The sub-1kg laptops feature faster CPUs and SSDs, enhanced CoPilot+ AI performance, and carbon fiber bodies.
Yesterday a rumor claimed the vanilla iPhone 18 would have some downgrades, and now a report seemingly clarifies one of the areas where Apple will save some money: the screen.
The leading candidate for the handset's display allegedly uses Samsung's M12+ material, which is a very slight enhancement of the M12 that was used in the iPhone 14 Pro and the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
On the other hand, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will both use the M16 material, the successor to the M14 which made its debut in the iPhone 16 Pro and which was then used in the entire iPhone 17 family.
So, if this...
Galatasaray, Gençlerbirliği'ne yenilerek Türkiye Kupası'na veda etti. Teknik direktör Okan Buruk, 60'tan sonra takımının performansının düştüğü iddialarına karşı kolları sıvadı. Fenerbahçe derbisi öncesi rakibini yıkmak adına "panzehir" hazırladı. Hedefi koşu mesafesini değil, "doğru pozisyon almayı" merkeze koyduğu bir sistem.
Volkan Demirel, Galatasaray'ın oyununun 60. dakikadan sonra düşüşe geçtiğini söyledi... benzer bir açıklamayı bu sezon sarı-kırmızılılardan iki maçta 4 puan alan Kocaelispor teknik direktörü Selçuk İnan da söyledi. Okan Buruk, Fenerbahçe derbisinden önce bu soruna çözüm arıyor.
KÖTÜYE GİDİYOR TEZLERİNE KARŞI
Buruk her ne kadar, "Galatasaray'ın oyunu her geçen gün daha da geriye gidiyor" tezlerine katılmasa da "Fenerbahçe galibiyetlerinin yeri her zaman ayrıdır" diyerek derbi öncesinde galibiyet stratetijisi belirlemek üzere kolları sıvadı.
ZİHİNSEL VE FİZİKSEL BOŞALIM
Okan Buruk'a göre her sezon sallandığı dönemler oldu... bu sezon bu sallanma dönemi Şampiyonlar Ligi gruplarından sonra Juventus ve Liverpool eşleşmeleri ile pik yapan aşırı konsantrasyon dönemine geldi. Oyuncular şu anda bu sürecin zihinsel ve fiziksel boşalımını yaşıyor.
DERBİ PLANI ÜZERİNDE ÇALIŞIYOR
Buruk derbide takım boyunu 30-35 metreye çekmek istiyor. Koşu mesafesini değil, "doğru pozisyon almayı" merkeze koyduğu bir sistem üzerinde çalışıyor.
Derbinin her anını %100 baskıyla oynamaya çalışmayacak. Topa sahip olarak "dinlenme" sekansları oluşturacak. Juventus ve Liverpool maçlarındaki yırtıcı baskıyı derbinin tamamına yaymayacak. Belli periyotlara saklayacak.
Gençlerbirliği yenilgisi sonrasında oyuncularını, "bu akşam üzüldük. Bu kadar üzüntü yeter" diye motive eden Okan Buruk'a tribünden de destek geldi. ultrAslan tribün lideri Sebahattin Şirin, "sabaha kadar toparlanıp, kafaları kaldırıp..." diyerek Galatasaraylı oyuncuların dikkatini çekti.
Gençlerbirliği teknik direktörü Volkan Demirel, Rams Park'ta 2-0 kazandıkları maç sonrasında "60-65 dakikadan sonra Galatasaray'ın performans olarak düştüğü bir durum var" diyerek çeyrek finalde eledikleri rakiplerinin yumuşak karnını açıkladı.
OKAN BURUK AÇIKLAMA YAPTI
Okan Buruk ise bu yenilginin kendilerine hafta sonunda Fenerbahçe karşısında önemli bir avantaj sağlayacağına inandığını söyledi:
- Kendimizi affettirmek için bu hafta sonu önemli bir şansımız var. Ligde şampiyonluğa yürüyoruz. Bu hafta sonu oynayacağımız maç ligdeki en önemli maç.
Zaten maç sonunda da Günay'a yapılanları hatırlatarak Fenerbahçe derbisinde yaşanacak ters bir sonucun nelere malolacağını anlatan bir konuşma yaptı. En dikkat çekici ifadesi ise şu oldu:
- Bu akşam üzüldük. Bu kadar üzüntü yeter.
ULTASLAN'DAN UYARI GELDİ
ultrAslan tribün lideri Sebahattin Şirin de taraftar adına derbiden mutlak galibiyet istediklerini şu şekilde dile getirdi:
- Galatasaray forması giyen her oyuncu bizim için çok değerlidir. Sabaha kadar toparlanıp, kafaları kaldırıp pazar günü omuz omuza verip aslan gibi savaşmamız gereken bir maçımız var! Bu takımı omuz omuza hep beraber şampiyon yapacağız!
Ligde kazandıkları maçın ardından İstanbul'da oynanan Gençlerbirliği maçına 9 değişiklikle çıkmanın kendilerine çeyrek finale malolduğunu itiraf eden Galatasaray Teknik Direktörü Okan Buruk'un, gelecek sezon yerlerine oyuncu aradığı Günay Güvenç, Noa Lang, Kaan Ayhan, Ahmed Kutucu ve Mauro Icardi'yi aynı anda 11'de başlatması tepkilerin merkezinde.
Galatasaray sahasında Gençlerbirliği'ne 2-0 yenildi. Türkiye Kupası'na veda etti. Okan Buruk maçtan sonra "mağlubiyeti maça ve rakibe yüzde yüz konsantre olmayışımıza, rakibi önemsemeyişimize bağlamak istiyorum" diyerek akıllarının Fenerbahçe derbisinde olduğunu itiraf etti.
Kendisini "bir önceki maça göre tabii ki 9 oyuncu değiştirdik" diyerek savunmaya çalıştı ancak Volkan Demirel'in de 2-1 kaybettikleri Süper Lig maçına göre pek çok değişiklik yaptığını, "rakibimizin de oyuncu değişiklik sayısı yüksekti" diyerek itiraf etti.
5 OYUNCU GELECEK SEZON YOK
Maçın kadrosunda yer alan bazı oyuncuları gelecek sezon kadroda düşünülmediği iddiası ise faturanın büyüklüğüne neden oldu. Galatasaray'da gelecek sezon kadroda olması beklenmeyen isimler:
-Günay Güvenç
-Noa Lang
-Kaan Ayhan
-Ahmed Kutucu
-Mauro Icardi
Buruk'un yerlerine arayışta olduğu 5 oyuncuyu birden Gençlerbirliği karşısında sahaya sürmesinin psikolojik kırılmaya neden olduğu iddia edildi.
Yaptığı hatayla Türkiye Kupası'nda çeyrek finali Gençlerbirliği'ne hediye eden Günay Güvenç maç sonunda Okan Buruk'un derbi motivasyonu için koz oldu. Galatasaray teknik direktörü önce yuhalanıp sonra alkışlanan tecrübeli kaleci üzerinden derbi motivasyonu için konuşma yaptı.
Adeta "Fenerbahçe yoksa ben de yokum" diyen Galatasaray dün gece sahasında Gençlerbirliği'ne 2-0 yenilerek Türkiye Kupası'na çeyrek finalde veda etti. Yediği hatalı gollerden sonra tribünler Günay Güvenç'i önce yuhaladı. Sonra da alkışladı. Maçın ardından Günay kendisine sorulan "Taraftarın desteği hakkında neler söylersin?" sorusunu cevapsız bıraktı.
DERBİ MOTİVSYONU GÜNAY'DAN
Anlaşılan o ki Okan Buruk, Günay'ın yaşadıklarını hafta sonunda oynanacak derbide psikolojik koz olarak kullanmaya karar verdi:
- Bu akşam için belki bana ve oyuncularıma olacak motivasyonlardan biri de maçın sonunda yaşadığımız olay ve Günay'a verilen destek. Bu desteği her zaman bize veriyorlar, bizler de bu desteği hak etmek için pazar günü onlar için oynayacağız!
GAZI İLK ALAN OSIMHEN OLDU
Yine anlaşılacağı üzere Buruk'un soyunma odasında derbiyi "Günay için kazanmalıyız" mimvalinde yaptığı açıklamalardan ilk etkilenen de Victor Osimhen oldu. Nijeryalı maç sonunda "Günay Güvenç’in yanındayız" diyerek şu açıklamayı yaptı:
- Tek bir an bir oyuncuyu tanımlamaz; hatalar futbolun bir parçasıdır. Bu, onun takıma kattığı emek, bağlılık ve tutkudan asla daha ağır basamaz.
- Futbol inişli çıkışlı bir oyundur; asıl önemli olan bu anlara nasıl tepki verdiğimiz ve bu süreçte birbirimizi nasıl desteklediğimizdir.
Yunan-Roma güləşi üzrə 4 qat Avropa çempionu olmuş Həsrət Cəfərov (67 kq) Tiranadakı yarışla bağl təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, Azərbaycan Güləş Federasiyasının mətbuat xidmətinə açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:
“Təəssüratlarım həqiqətən çox gözəldir. Bu gün çox sevincliyəm. Ardıcıl 4-cü “qızıl”ımı qazanıram. Həqiqətən də bu qızıl medalların arxasında böyük əziyyət, zəhmət dayanır. Bu “qızıl”ı qazandıqdan sonra onun həzzini indi hiss edirəm. Heç bir əziyyət yadıma düşmür. Yalnız yadda qalan bu “qızıl” olur. Bu “qızıl”ımı, tarixi uğurumu qızıma həsr edirəm”.
Xatırladaq ki, Albaniyanın paytaxtı Tiranada keçirilən Avropa çempionatında 67 kq çəki dərəcəsində mübarizə aparan Həsrət Cəfərov startda isveçli Niklas Oehleni 5:1 hesabıyla üstələyib. Titullu güləşçimiz bolqarıstanlı Abu Muslim Amayevi isə “tuş”la yolundan kənarlaşdırıb. Cəfərov gərgin keçən yarımfinal görüşündə gürcüstanlı Dieqo Çxikvadzeyə 4:2 hesabıyla qalib gələrək finala yüksəlib. Həsrət həlledici görüşdə də türkiyəli Murat Fıratdan üstün olub – 7:5.
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Qurban Qurbanov Azərbaycan futbolunda ən yaxşı nəticələri qazanıb, təkrarlanması uzun illər mümkünsüz görünən tarix yazıb. Ardıcıl 12-13 il davam edən dominantlıq elə-belə mümkün olmur. Epizodik uğur başqa yerli mütəxəssislərimizdə də olub, Qurbanov böyük bir istisnadır, müstəsnadır.
Bu və oxşar səbəblərdən futbolumuzda olan aktivasiyalar barədə fikir icad etmək istəyərkən onun yanaşmalarını prioritet saymağım tam təbiidir, məntiqəuyğundur.
Fəlsəfi ifadə etsəm, nəticələr göstərir ki, Qurbanov fenomeni Azərbaycan futbolu üçün subyektiv yox, obyektivdir.
Obyektivdən baxmaq, görmək istəyəndə özümün deyil, Qurbanovun baxış bucağından, rakursundan baxmağım ən yaxşı yanaşma olardı.
Subyektiv yox, obyektiv.
Gəlin bu anlamda gündəmin qaynar mövzusu olan “Sabah” – “Qarabağ” oyunundakı penalti qalmaqalına OBYEKTİV rakursdan baxaq.
Qurbanov:
“Bu barədə fikir bildirməyim, fərqli qarşılana bilər”.
Hm…
Son vaxtlar toxunduğum məsələnin “zınqırovuna” toxunuş edim: siz açıq-aşkar (?) olanı açıq-aşkar deyə bilmirsinizsə (?), biz bunu necə və niyə edək?
Sitat:
“Topun ələ dəydiyi görünürdü. Amma Rəhim Həsənov yəqin ki, bununla bağlı açıqlama verəcək”.
– Ok, Qurban hoca, biz də sizin kimi edəcəyik. Rəhimin nə deyəcəyini gözləyəcəyik – nə deyəcəyini bilə-bilə.
Sitat:
“Bəzən bu cür fikirlər səsləndirəndə, deyirlər ki, rəqibin qələbəsinə kölgə salınır”.
– Nə deyirlərsə desinlər. Həqiqət sizin dilinizdən çıxacaqsa, bu, hamımızınkından daha desibelli çıxacaq. Dəqiq mövqe, fikir, qərar varsa, demək, açıqlamaq gərəkdir.
Sitat:
“Həmin epizodu penalti kimi gördüm. Olan şeylərdir”.
– Bəs bunu deyin də. Bu qədər ehtiyatla, dolayı danışmaq niyə? Çıxışın əvvəlində bu haqda danışmağın fərqli qarşılana biləcəyi ehtimalını səsləndirib ehtiyat edirsiniz, amma yekunda penalti ola bilmə ehtimalı barədə…
Həqiqətən, biz bu həqiqəti bilməliyik, baş məşqçilər, klub rəhbərləri açıq, net danışmayınca medianın mövzu haqda emosional yazıları subyektiv olur, bu da qeyri-peşəkarlıqdır. Bəli, siz danışmalısınız, həm də qəti, açıq. Onda biz də o obyektivdən rahat baxa bilərik; istər emosional olsun, istər rasional və s.
Dolayıçılıq ediriksə, bu da yanlış deyil. Onda medianın da dolayıçılığını qınamayaq.
Biz politkorrekt danışaq, eyhamla işarə vuraq, media asıb-kəssin, ağ yuyub qara sərsin…
Hmm…
Doğru olmur, yoldaşlar.
Bəli, Rəvan Həmzəzadənin son dəqiqədəki penalti qərarı penalti kimi görünüb, lakin penalti verilməyən qərar kimi səciyyələndirilə bilər. Mümkündür ki, Rəvan şablona əsaslanıb verdi o qərarı, ancaq müzakirəyə açıq epizod kimi qabarır. Hakimlər Komitəsinin sədri Rəhim Həsənovun şərhini gözləyək.
Hmm.. ok..
Bu da bizim politkorrekt yanaşmamız.
Nə şiş yansın, nə kabab.
Elçin Cəlilov
P.S.
İllərlə “yanğınlarda” var-gəl edib, “qızmadıq istisinə, kor olduq tüstüsünə”…
P.P.S.
Nazim Hikmətin şeirindən, “Sən yanmasan, mən yanmasan, necə çıxar qaranlıqlar aydınlığa” misraları deyir ki, “…gəlin yığışaq, gedək müharibəyə!” qazverməsi olmasın, doğru üçün döyüşürüksə, birlikdə döyüşək.
Azərbaycan millisinin futbolçusu Nəriman Axundzadənin formasını geyindiyi “Kolumbus Kryu” MLS-də növbəti oyuna çıxıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komanda azarkeşləri önündə “Los Anceles Qalaksi” ilə qarşılaşıb. Matç “Kolumbus Kryu”nun qələbəsiylə başa çatıb – 2:1.
Nəriman bu oyunda meydana çıxmayıb. O, sona qədər ehtiyatda qalıb.
“Kolumbus Kryu” 9 turdan sonra 9 xalla 9-cu sıradadır.
Following Liam Rosenior’s brutally swift exit from Stamford Bridge this week, the rumour mill went into absolute overdrive.
Social media was full of reports that the tactician was walking away with a historic £24 million golden handshake.
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However, according to respected journalist Ben Jacobs, the actual financial reality of Rosenior’s departure is vastly different from the sensationalised headlines.
Chelsea do not owe Rosenior hefty pay package
It’s incredibly easy to see exactly why that massive £24 million figure started circulating in the press.
Just a few months ago in January, the BlueCo ownership proudly handed Rosenior a mammoth six-and-a-half-year contract, supposedly tying him down to the West London project until the summer of 2032.
Naturally, when a club pulls the plug on a deal of that length after a mere 23 matches in charge, fans expect a monumental financial penalty.
But Jacobs has firmly poured cold water on those wild suggestions, reporting that the final severance package is “nowhere near” that astronomical amount.
Instead of being owed the entire remainder of that staggering 2032 contract, the separation agreement is significantly more modest.
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Rosenior will reportedly receive several months of continued pay, but Chelsea are strictly not liable for the remaining years of the deal.
As per Jacobs, the club’s hierarchy actually views the final settlement as highly “favourable to all parties.”
For an ownership group that has already burned through tens of millions in compensation for previous dismissed managers like Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, discovering a legally sound escape in Rosenior’s contract shows Chelsea have matured and become sensible.
Rosenior’s incredibly brief tenure was nothing short of a disaster. He leaves with a meager 47.8% win rate and a dismal 1.52 points-per-game record.
United’s desperation to keep their captain makes total sense.
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Despite the chaotic turbulence at Old Trafford this season, including the controversial sacking of head coach Ruben Amorim, Fernandes has been completely unplayable.
Operating back in his favoured number 10 role, he’s put up ridiculous, player-of-the-season numbers, notching an incredible 18 assists in the Premier League alone.
Unsurprisingly, that kind of elite form has him firmly in the conversation for the PFA Player of the Year award.
However, keeping him isn’t as simple as just saying “no” to suitors.
It recently came to light that Fernandes’ contract contains a massive vulnerability: a release clause in the region of £56.5m to £57m that can only be triggered by non-Premier League clubs.
The Red Devils are favourites to qualify for the Champions League next season and Man United feel that it would be enough to convice Fernandes to stay.
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According to RMC, the Chelsea hierarchy is actively drawing up a shiny new shortlist, and departing Bournemouth mastermind Andoni Iraola has emerged as a serious contender to take the incredibly hot seat at Stamford Bridge.
Liam Rosenior era did not last long at Chelsea
To truly understand why Chelsea are panicking, you have to look at the staggering numbers.
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Rosenior was handed a massive, headline-grabbing contract that supposedly ran all the way until 2032 just a few months ago in January.
Fast forward to late April, and he has been shown the door after just 23 matches in charge of the Premier League side.
A completely humiliating run of five consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring a single goal, a historic, miserable low the club hasn’t experienced since 1912.
Calum McFarlane has been officially tasked with steadying the ship as interim boss until the end of the season, leaving the board to desperately plot their next massive, long-term move.
Andoni Iraola among options to become new Blues boss
The 43-year-old Spaniard is arguably one of the most sought-after managers on the market right now.
Having recently confirmed he will not be signing a new deal at the Vitality Stadium, with experienced German coach Marco Rose already announced as his direct successor for the 2026/27 campaign, Iraola is perfectly positioned for a massive step up.
During his time on the South Coast, Iraola proved he can build a relentless, high-energy, attacking unit that consistently punches above its weight, turning the Cherries into a genuinely formidable side.
For a heavily assembled Chelsea squad completely devoid of confidence and a clear tactical identity, bringing in a demanding, forward-thinking coach like him feels like a logical decision.
However, the Blues certainly won’t have a free run at the Spaniard. Manchester United are also heavily linked with Iraola as they weigh up their own long-term coaching options following Michael Carrick’s interim spell, setting the stage for a massive summer tug-of-war between the two Premier League giants.
Heading into the 2026 summer transfer window, Dutch midfielder Kees Smit is attracting attention from several top clubs, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.
The 20-year-old AZ Alkmaar midfielder has openly hinted that he feels ready to test himself at the highest level, and that honesty has only fueled growing interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
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Over the past season, Smit has steadily built a reputation as one of the Eredivisie’s standout young talents.
His confidence on the ball, sharp football intelligence, and ability to control matches from midfield have caught the attention of scouts across the continent.
Now, with top Premier League sides and elite European teams reportedly monitoring him, his future looks set to be one of the defining stories of the upcoming transfer window.
One of the biggest signs that this transfer saga could turn into something major is the involvement of super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has reportedly been tasked by AZ Alkmaar to manage negotiations.
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Whenever Mendes enters the picture, it usually signals a deal of significant scale and in Smit’s case, expectations are already high.
AZ are preparing to demand a fee somewhere between €60 million and €80 million, which would comfortably break records for a Dutch club sale.
That valuation reflects not just his current performances, but his enormous long-term potential.
Smit has impressed with his ability to dictate play from deep midfield areas while also contributing creatively in attacking phases.
Arsenal and Liverpool have also been linked, largely due to their preference for midfielders who are comfortable in possession and capable of driving play forward.
Even Tottenham Hotspur have occasionally been mentioned as observers of his progress.
Interest isn’t limited to England. In Spain, Barcelona have revived their admiration for the Dutch youngster.
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund are known for nurturing young talent and have been linked as a potential destination, while Paris Saint-Germain are rumored to be keeping a watchful eye on developments.
From AZ Alkmaar’s perspective, the situation is favourable. Smit remains under contract until 2029, giving the club significant leverage in negotiations.
Hansi Flick talks Lamine, Cancelo, VAR after Barcelona 1-0 Celta Vigo
Barcelona took another decisive step towards the La Liga title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo at the Spotify Camp Nou, but it was far from a comfortable night for Hansi Flick and his players.
The German coach was visibly animated at full-time, celebrating passionately with his staff, fully aware of the importance of the three points at this stage of the season.
However, beneath that relief was a clear sense that the performance left room for improvement.
Reflecting on the match, Flick admitted that his side had to dig deep against a well-organised opponent.
“We’re happy. We really struggled today—Celta plays very well—but we managed to get the three points,” he began saying.
Flick’s analysis
Tactically, Flick acknowledged that the game did not unfold as expected, particularly in the opening 45 minutes.
Flick was not happy with the VAR decision. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
He pointed to disruption caused by early setbacks as a major factor.
“The first half was very difficult—different from what we expected.”
Expanding on that, he explained how injuries impacted the rhythm of the team and forced adjustments mid-game.
“We had two injuries in the first half, and that affected the team.
“We fought together, but we gave away easy balls; we have to do much better because we have the quality,” he said.
Barcelona also struggled to assert control, something Flick made clear needs immediate improvement as the title race intensifies.
“We have to control the game. They usually press us high up the field with intensity, but they can also sit deep defensively.
“It’s not easy to create chances. We gave away easy balls,” he insisted.
The disallowed goal
The match could have been more comfortable for Barcelona had Ferran Torres’ second-half strike not been ruled out for offside, a decision that clearly frustrated Flick.
He revealed that, based on what he saw, the goal should have stood and would have eased late pressure on his side.
“My feeling is that it’s a goal. I’d like an explanation as to why it’s offside,” he noted.
Adding to the controversial VAR decision, Flick made it clear that he remains unconvinced, even if he accepts the outcome.
“I don’t understand why VAR decided it wasn’t a goal. These things worry me. The referee and the fourth official would see it the same way I do.
“They’ve made a decision, but we have to accept it. I don’t want to make excuses. In the final minutes, we had to play with more intelligence.”
On injuries
Cancelo and Lamine were forced off. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
There was also concern surrounding Lamine Yamal, who picked up an injury during the match. Flick chose to remain cautious rather than speculate on the severity.
“We’ll have to see him tomorrow to see what’s going on. We’ll have a clear diagnosis.
“It’s not easy; we have to take care of him. It’s a shame for us, just like with Joao Cancelo.
“Cancelo’s injury doesn’t seem to be serious, but we’ll have to wait and see,” he acknowledged.
When pressed further on Yamal’s condition, Flick reiterated the uncertainty while highlighting the broader challenges his squad is facing.
“I think I’ve already answered that. I think he has an injury, but we’ll have to wait and see how long he’ll be out. I can’t say anything else. We have to wait.
“As a coach, you have to manage these things. It’s a shame that Lamine got injured now, but I’m also thinking about Raphinha, Bernal, and Christensen.
“Now we have to focus on Getafe. I wouldn’t say I’m upset; I’m thinking about a lot of things. We fought hard,” he concluded.
Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference)
Houston; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Rockets -9.5; over/under is 205.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers lead series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference first round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Lakers won the last matchup 101-94 on Wednesday, led by 28 points from LeBron James. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 23.
The Rockets have gone 29-23 against Western Conference opponents. Houston is 23-8 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 14.4 turnovers per game.
The Lakers are 33-19 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is 8-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Rockets are shooting 47.9% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points lower than the 48.3% the Lakers allow to opponents. The Lakers are shooting 50.2% from the field, 4.2% higher than the 46.0% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Durant is scoring 26.0 points per game with 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Rockets. Amen Thompson is averaging 18.9 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 59.5% over the past 10 games.
James is averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 7-3, averaging 117.5 points, 46.1 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 8.0 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.1 points per game.
Lakers: 7-3, averaging 111.7 points, 39.9 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
Lakers: Austin Reaves: out (oblique), Jake LaRavia: day to day (leg), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Boston Celtics (56-26, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Celtics -7.5; over/under is 215.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 1-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics are in a 1-1 series tie in the Eastern Conference first round. The 76ers defeated the Celtics 111-97 in the last matchup on Tuesday. VJ Edgecombe led the 76ers with 30 points, and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 36.
The 76ers are 9-7 against the rest of their division. Philadelphia ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 50.1 points per game in the paint led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 14.0.
The Celtics are 10-6 against the rest of the division. Boston ranks third in the league averaging 15.5 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 36.7% from deep. Derrick White leads the team averaging 2.7 makes while shooting 32.7% from 3-point range.
The 76ers make 46.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.0 percentage points higher than the Celtics have allowed to their opponents (44.2%). The Celtics are shooting 46.7% from the field, which equals what the 76ers' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Maxey is scoring 28.3 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists for the 76ers. Paul George is averaging 19.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 47.5% over the past 10 games.
Brown is averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Celtics. Sam Hauser is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 5-5, averaging 110.7 points, 44.9 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.7 points per game.
Celtics: 7-3, averaging 119.3 points, 45.8 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Joel Embiid: day to day (abdomen).
Celtics: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Arizona Cardinals have a number of needs they will try to address in the 2026 NFL draft. They really could go with any position during the draft.
Over the next few articles, we will go over players who could be targets in each round.
Let's have a look at linebackers.
Round 1: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Styles is fast. He is fierce. He looks like a star.
Round 2: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
He was the nation's top linebacker in 2025, leading the dominant Texas Tech defense. He had 63 solo tackles, led the nation with seven forced fumbles, 11 tackles for loss and four interceptions. He is fast and athletic.
Round 3: Kyle Louis, Pitt
He is six feet tall and 220 pounds with speed. He had 85 total tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss.
Round 4: Deontae Lawson, Alabama
He was a three-year starter for Alabama and two-year captain. He is 6-3 and 226 pounds with twitchy athleticism.
Round 5: Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
Elliott is 6-2 and 231 pounds and showed explosiveness with his jumps. He was productive with 98 tackles 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Round 6: Jack Kelly, BYU
Kelly has pass-rushing juice and might be able to play some off the edge, as he had 10 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. He ran the 40 in 4.57 seconds at almost 6-2 and 240 pounds.
Round 7: Eric Gentry, USC
He is very tall at almost 6-7, weighing 221 pounds. He had 76 tackles, three sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
How do you follow up a nine-win improvement and Super Bowl appearance? History shows it isn't easy to get back to the Super Bowl and win it, but the foundation to sustained success starts at the draft.
The New England Patriots are in a much more luxurious spot than they were a year ago, without as many obvious needs, but there are still areas of the roster that could use an upgrade or simply just more depth.
The wide receiver position is chief among them, but the potential addition of Eagles WR A.J. Brown in the months ahead could make it less of a concern in this draft. The Patriots brought in Dre'Mont Jones to upgrade their pass-rush this offseason, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Mike Vrabel bring in a young, moldable pass-rusher after he spent the playoffs watching elite edge defenders get after his quarterback.
The Sporting News is tracking every Patriots selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, from the first round to the seventh. Follow along below as New England makes its picks.
The Patriots have 11 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Round 1, Pick No. 31:
Round 2, Pick No. 63:
Round 3, Pick No. 95:
Round 4, Pick No. 125:
Round 4, Pick No. 131:
Round 5, Pick No. 171:
Round 6, Pick No. 191:
Round 6, Pick No. 198:
Round 6, Pick No. 202:
Round 6, Pick No. 212:
Round 7, Pick No. 247:
Patriots NFL Draft needs
Edge rusher: The Patriots lost K'Lavon Chaisson to free agency after his surprisingly strong season and are relying on veterans Harold Landry III and Dre'Mont Jones in 2026. There are worse duos, but if New England wants to round its defense into one of the NFL's truly elite units, a long-term upgrade is needed. Fortunately, there will be plenty of options in the late first and second rounds.
Wide receiver: The potential acquisition of Brown would make wide receiver less of a need for the Patriots, particularly after signing Romeo Doubs, but it wouldn't hurt to add fresh young talent to the unit with Kayshon Boutte a trade candidate. If the Patriots aren't completely confident they can get Brown, wide receiver is a must.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are rolling in their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavaliers easily handled the Raptors 115-105 in Game 2 at Rocket Arena to go up 2-0.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland in scoring Tuesday with 30 points, while James Harden dropped 28 points and Evan Mobley added 25 points.
Now the series heads to Toronto for Game 3, giving the Raptors plenty of opportunities to get back into it with a win at home in Scotiabank Arena. Scottie Barnes was the leading scorer for Toronto in their last game, dropping 26 points in Game 2, while RJ Barrett was the top contributor in Game 1 with 24 points. The Raptors will need a full team effort to get a win on Thursday night.
One key matchup that might significantly impact Toronto's trajectory is Brandon Ingram vs. Dean Wade. At 6-foot-8, Ingram is usually used to rising above his defenders for clean mid-range shots. Much like Kevin Durant, Ingram is a skilled assassin in that area of the court, often making shots regardless of his defenders' contesting. However, Wade's physical and aggressive strategy to deny Ingram the ball has challenged the star forward. Ingram scored 17 points in Game 1 but had only seven points in Game 2. If he is able to bounce back in Game 3, Ingram might be able to contribute enough to get Toronto a win at home.
Here's what you need to know about Wednesday's matchup between the Cavaliers and Raptors, including broadcast information and start time.
The Trotter family is well-known among NFL fans, and another member is trying to carve his own path in the league. Josiah Trotter is set to join the NFL after three years in college, two at West Virginia and one in Missouri, following in the footsteps of a few family members.
"Just growing up, my dad coming through this, my brother, watching him. It's just fun to be able to carry that legacy, carry that last name, and just continue going. I enjoy that process of it." Trotter said, via the Carolina Panthers.
Trotter has big shoes to fill, as both his dad and brother had big accomplishments in the NFL, but Josiah hopes he can join their company. Here's a breakdown of the Trotter family.
Josiah is the youngest son of former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. After his third season in college, Josiah relied a lot on his dad's advice to determine whether he should enter the NFL Draft.
"It was really a big decision for me and my dad," Trotter said. "We really wanted to pray about it first, do our due diligence, homework. My dad, just being a big factor in that, doing his homework, whether people reached out to him or he reached out to people, trying to figure out what was the best decision for me, and the opportunity."
Where did Jeremiah Trotter go to college?
Jeremiah Trotter played three seasons at Stephen F. Austin from 1995 to 1997. At the time, the Lumberjacks were part of the Southland Conference as the program has been a Division I FCS football program for its entire existence.
When was Jeremiah Trotter drafted?
The Eagles drafted Trotter with the 72nd pick in the third round of the 1998 draft and would go on to give Philadelphia incredible value with that pick.
Jeremiah Trotter NFL career
Trotter had a long NFL career, playing 11 seasons in the league, mostly with the Eagles. In that span, Trotter had six seasons with at least 100 tackles and six seasons with at least one sack as a middle linebacker.
Year
Team
Games
Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Forced Fumbles
Passes Defended
1998
Eagles
8
3
0.0
0
0
0
1999
Eagles
16
123
2.5
2
3
7
2000
Eagles
16
120
3.0
1
1
4
2001
Eagles
16
115
3.5
2
2
10
2002
Washington
12
91
0.0
1
0
4
2003
Washington
16
114
1.5
1
1
11
2004
Eagles
16
69
1.0
0
0
1
2005
Eagles
15
121
1.0
1
2
10
2006
Eagles
16
113
0.0
1
1
4
2007
Buccaneers
3
13
0.0
0
0
0
2009
Eagles
13
32
0.0
0
0
0
In 2016, Trotter was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame for his productions with the organization.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is Josiah Trotter's older brother. Growing up, Josiah looked up to Jeremiah Jr., especially considering the two were both pursuing careers in the NFL.
"It was definitely an experience with him. Being the younger brother, sometimes you get beat up. Sometimes you win games, you lose games with him," Trotter said, via the Carolina Panthers. "But it was fun. I love having him as an older brother. He's the reason I love playing football. Just watching him, he just means a lot to me. He's a big factor why I'm the player I am today."
Where did Jeremiah Trotter Jr. go to college?
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. spent three seasons at Clemson before entering the draft in 2024. From 2021 to 2023, Trotter Jr. played in 39 games for the Tigers and totaled 192 tackles, 29.5 tackles-for-loss, 13 sacks four interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Great to see Jeremiah Trotter Junior with big Pick 6 for Clemson against Notre Dame during the week that his dad was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. It’s been a tough year for their family losing Tammi Trotter, Jeremiah Senior‘s wife
The Eagles drafted Trotter was drafted with pick No. 155 in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft, bringing another member of the Trotter family to Philadelphia.
Trotter Jr. has been in the NFL since 2024, playing in every game for the Eagles in that span. As a rookie, Trotter Jr. was a part of the Eagles Super Bowl championship team, doing what his dad never did.
The Trotter matriarch was Tammi Trotter, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 46 after a fight with breast cancer. Tammi was an associate broker realtor for 18 years while her husband played in the NFL.
I’m stunned and heartbroken to learn of the passing of a true bright light in this world. Tammi Trotter - a go-getter, who loved her family fiercely and raised good humans. I had no idea she was sick. Join me in keeping @JTrotter_54 and his kids in your thoughts. Cancer is evil pic.twitter.com/rmE2iRSoZo
When Jeremiah Jr. made the Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2024, the Trotter patriarch explained what that would've meant for Tammi.
"Man, it's emotional," he told TMZ. "Just knowing how proud I know she would be of him and excited for the team. Her memory lives on through us, and through Jeremiah, especially Jeremiah because he looks just like her."
Jeremiah said that of his three kids, Jeremiah Jr. is the one who is most like his late wife.
"Out of all of my kids, he looks the most like her," Trotter said. "So every time I look at him, I see her. I know she would be extremely proud of him, of all our kids, TreMil, Josiah, and we just try to be the best people and carry on her memory the best way we can."
"Once he has his mind set up, he's going to go do something, he's going to do it to its full potential and really try," he said. "And that's the same way my mom was."
Josiah Trotter sister: TreMil Trotter
The eldest of the Trotter siblings is TreMil, who is the only sister of the three. She was a high school athlete in New Jersey and attended Thomas Edison State University. Currently, TreMil lives in Texas and works for the Tom James Company.
Former NFL running back Terrance Ganaway is Jeremiah's nephew and the cousin of TreMil, Jeremiah Jr. and Josiah. Ganaway was played college at Houston in 2007 and Baylor from 2008 to 2011, and was drafted by the New York Jets in 2012.
Ganaway played just one year in the NFL, playing just three games for the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012 after the Jets cut him.
Where is Josiah Trotter from?
Josiah grew up in the Philadelphia area, attending high school at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Pennsylvania.
It is as he recalls a gesture from Martin Johnson that the emotions hit Lewis Moody. With a warm smile and his trademark courage, the former England captain has confronted probing questions on his diagnosis with motor neurone disease (MND) as he unveils a new charitable challenge to support others like him and is happy to detail his symptoms and the uncertain road ahead. But the memory of Johnson’s recent supportive words during the Race to the Slater Cup, an endeavour to support another MND-afflicted former rugby player, stops Moody in his tracks.
“Johnno was fantastic when we did the Ed Slater ride about being really aware and seeing the level of fatigue that hit me as we were going along, and being able to say, ‘mate, it’s ok, take a rest’…” Moody begins before the words trail off. “Just him saying, ‘don’t worry, we’ve got it from here’.” It is put to Moody that it is probably the only time in his life that Johnson, that titan and captain of the 2003 World Cup-winning side, has ever told him to ease off. “It was,” he admits, recalling an old training ground punch from his former skipper on one of the rare occasions where Moody was not at full tilt with a chuckle.
Martin Johnson (centre) has thrown his support behind former Leicester and England teammate Lewis Moody (left) (Getty)
Recognising that he can, or may need to, take his foot off at times is one of the adjustments that the 71-cap England international has had to get used to since his diagnosis in September. It says plenty about Moody that his mind turned to how he could help a community of which he is now a part almost immediately.
Within a matter of months, he and Kenny Logan, the great friend of the late Doddie Weir who is now a key figure within the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation (MNDF), had begun strategising over how best to raise awareness and funds to continue to fight MND.
The rugby community has rallied around Lewis Moody since his diagnosis (Getty)
Over seven days in June in the lead-up to the Gallagher Prem final, Moody will be joined by his teenage sons Dylan and Ethan and a collection of rugby icons to take on a 500-mile cycle ride from Newcastle to Twickenham. It is a circuitous journey that will take in the grounds that made Moody great – from Bracknell RFC, where he began his rugby life as a five-year-old, to Oakham School, with emotional stops at Leicester Tigers and Bath. Along for the ride, literally, will be Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson and Mike Tindall and a whole host of others beside.
It is a mark of the man just how many of his former teammates and rivals have committed their time; so, too, that this is far from his first fundraising endeavour. In the past, these have been to support children battling brain tumours; with his own situation in mind, there is a new cause.
“There's a weird sort of satisfaction that comes from discomfort,” Moody explains. “I have to be more mindful of that stuff now. With MND, the specialists were cautious: be wary of extreme exertion, you will fatigue quickly, you'll be more tired, look after yourself, all that type of stuff. There are different boundaries in place for me now but 100 per cent there's nothing like having the opportunity to get together and feel a bit of discomfort together. Taking the race element out of it which is really nice, it's just about getting from A to B. There'll be plenty of complaining along the way I'm sure.
“I suppose from a personal point of view, there is something about wanting to show that I can still do things like this. However progression occurs, and whilst having to slightly temper my mindset a little bit from where it would have been in the past, it is not about winning the race or anything, it’s about getting to an end.”
Lewis Moody will lead a host of former teammates in a charitable challenge (PA)
The haste with which this has been arranged is not a coincidence. Moody, never one to sit on the sidelines, had wished to be an active participant, and does not know how the degenerative disease with which he has been diagnosed will progress. “Being in a privileged position of having a platform to use, I want to have the biggest impact possible,” he makes clear. “I have done a challenge every year since retiring. Some years I have done more than one. I really wanted to make sure that I got another one in. I don’t know how many I have got left to do, so the reason for it being so soon is to make sure that physically I feel like I can contribute and get through it.”
For now, his symptoms are reasonably stable. “I’m good at the moment. The only sort of significant noticeable change is still in my hand. The shoulder strength is diminished as it was, but not significantly reduced since diagnosis. Without a shadow of a doubt, the hardest thing is noticing little things every day. The other day I noticed a slight difference in my finger strength. Whether it was opening a bottle top, holding a fork, cutting your food – those little things mentally are a challenge when they present themselves, but I think within a day you can move past it and just focus on functional things I can do, rather than things that I’m less able to. But at the minute, touch wood, everything still remains slow, so hopefully it will continue.”
The late Doddie Weir set up the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to fund research into MND (PA Wire)
Moody speaks with admiration for the work done by Weir and Kevin Sinfield, among others, in already raising many millions to fight MND. He speaks of “picking up the baton” and taking the drive that took him to the top of the rugby world into this venture. “In some ways I have found it a privilege. It is a remarkable space you enter, this MND world, the individuals that have worked so hard and so long and the uncertainty that surrounds it.
“Weirdly, that news gives you certainty because it allows you to focus on the things that are important in life. Life is uncertain for all of us and I have been given the opportunity to have a really clear vision of what I want to do with my time now. And that is to spend it with the people I love and that is doing the things I love and doing it with purpose. Being a part of this campaign, part of this wonderful foundation, gives me purpose.
Lewis Moody feels hope for the future after his diagnosis (Getty)
“I think the space I’ve arrived in is vastly different to the one that Doddie and Rob [Burrow] arrived in, in that I feel a sense of hope. When I speak to specialists, they speak about hope. I don’t know if that would have been the case when those guys were diagnosed.
“Since that moment you become slightly more aware of the realities, the science and research that is going on but there is genuine hope a cure will be found. When we say cure, whether that is like AIDS and it is about symptom repression, less so a complete cure and it will probably be a combination of things that gradually diminish it. We have already found something for the genetic form of MND which is almost a means of reversing the symptoms for the three per cent of people that have the genetic form so now it is about the 97 per cent.
“The old competitive, fighting spirit that has languished away from the spotlight for a while, this little platform has given my teeth a little bit more sharpness and readiness to get stuck into this. That hope comes from that space. There is so much being done, there are so many people applying for grants for various different things. But hope is one thing – we need to turn hope into genuine actions that lead to outcomes and that is what people living with it want to see.”
The Lewis Moody & Friends Cycle Challenge is a 500-mile, seven-day cycling challenge from Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle, to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, taking place from 14-20 June 2026. For more information or to support the challenge, please visit: https://uk.emma-live.com/LewisMoodyCycle.
Real Madrid forward walking disciplinary tightrope with suspension threat looming ahead of El Clasico
Real Madrid’s preparation for the upcoming El Clasico has taken a tense turn, with Kylian Mbappe now walking a disciplinary tightrope that could have massive implications for the La Liga title race.
The French superstar has been nothing short of sensational this season, leading the scoring charts in La Liga with 24.
His dominance in front of goal has put him firmly in control of the Pichichi race, ahead of Vedat Muriqi.
However, despite his brilliance, a looming suspension threat could derail Real Madrid at the worst possible moment.
What’s the story?
As things stand, Mbappe has already accumulated four yellow cards in the league, meaning he is now just one caution away from a one-match suspension.
That reality places immediate pressure on the forward ahead of Real Madrid’s upcoming fixture against Real Betis.
The clash at the Benito Villamarín is no ordinary game.
Not only is it another key step in Madrid’s pursuit of Barcelona at the top, but it also represents a potential turning point in Mbappe’s availability for the biggest match of the season.
Kylian Mbappe is running at risk. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
If he receives a yellow card in this fixture, he will be suspended for the following game.
Even if he avoids a booking against Betis, the danger does not disappear, as Real Madrid will then face Espanyol, where Mbappe would once again have to tread carefully.
Another yellow in that match would rule him out of the highly anticipated El Clasico against Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou.
That potential absence could prove decisive, as the upcoming Clasico is expected to play a major role in determining the fate of the La Liga title.
Barcelona could either secure the championship around that time or be on the verge of doing so, while Real Madrid will be desperate to delay celebrations and keep their hopes alive.
So from a tactical standpoint, one can expect Mbappe to receive a booking against Betis, so that the Frenchman arrives at the Camp Nou with a clean slate.
However, that would also mean he would miss the Espanyol clash, something that could give Muriqi a chance to close down the gap on the scoring charts.
Jofra Archer etched his name into Rajasthan Royals history with a match-winning spell that also made him the franchise’s leading wicket-taker in the IPL.
Archer’s figures of 3/20 against Lucknow Super Giants not only sealed a dominant 40-run win but also took his tally to 68 wickets for Rajasthan, moving him past Yuzvendra Chahal (66) and into the top spot. He now leads a list that includes the likes of Siddharth Trivedi (65), Shane Watson (61) and Shane Warne (57).
It was a landmark performance on a night where Rajasthan’s bowlers once again carried the side. Defending just 159, the Royals produced a clinical effort to bowl LSG out for 119 in 18 overs, registering the lowest total successfully defended in IPL 2026 in a full, uninterrupted game.
While Mohammed Shami and Mohsin Khan had earlier combined to dismantle Rajasthan’s top order, it was Archer who ensured there would be no comeback in the chase. His pace and bounce proved too much for the LSG middle order, including a key wicket of Aiden Markram with a rising delivery.
LSG’s chase never gained momentum. Mitchell Marsh fought a lone battle with 55, but poor shot selection and regular wickets derailed the innings after Rishabh Pant’s early dismissal. Contributions from Nicholas Pooran and others never materialised, as Rajasthan kept striking at regular intervals.
Earlier, Rajasthan had struggled with the bat after being put in, with their top order collapsing once again. It was Ravindra Jadeja who rescued the innings with a composed unbeaten 43 off 29 balls, ensuring they had something to defend.
In the end, though, the night belonged to Archer. Not just for his spell, but for a milestone that underlines his impact in Royals colours — now officially their most successful wicket-taker in IPL history.
Chelsea publicly brief that they still back those behind hiring Liam Rosenior
Despite sacking him after just less that four months being here, Chelsea still back those who hired Liam Rosenior.
Isn’t that absolute madness? They are going through managers like there is no tomorrow, yet they are not holding those accountable who are actually hiring these managers – the sporting directors.
EXCLUSIVE!! Chelsea now tracking Premier League winger – his name will universally excite Chelsea fans!! 👀
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They never seem to get any blame from the ownership through their media briefings, it always goes back to the many managers they have turfed through in their fours years in charge at this club.
But Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, the ones who pick the managers and have built this weak squad, get let off scot free.
It makes absolutely zero sense to me.
Chelsea backing the directors yet again
Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
According to a report from The Guardian yesterday, there is still backing for the club’s five sporting directors, Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Sam Jewell, Joe Shields and Dave Fallows.
Can you imagine being SO bad at your job yet your manager says nothing at all and just keeps backing you? Would never happen, right? It’s pure madness and delusion.
In other news today…
There are expected to be between five to ten candidates to become Chelsea’s next manager with there admiration for Cesc Fabregas according to reports that came out yesterday.
Liam Rosenior’s fallout with certain groups in the Chelsea dressing room was apparently key to his downfall, and it was apparently the Spanish speaking players who disliked him the most.
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Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Everton confirm that Jarrad Branthwaite will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring issue.
“Everton can confirm Jarrad Branthwaite sustained a hamstring injury during Sunday’s Merseyside derby. The injury is unrelated to the hamstring area which required surgery in October, with a scan confirming no procedure is needed this time around. Branthwaite will now undergo rehabilitation at Finch Farm with Everton’s medical team and is unlikely to feature again this season.” [Everton FC]
Branthwaite is injured again. Where does that leave him and Everton? [The Athletic]
Everton want to sign a new striker in the summer transfer window, and the Friedkin group are now lining up a move for AZ Alkmaar star Troy Parrott. [Football Fancast]
Mixed feelings for Everton supporters as Leicester City are relegated from the Championship and fall to League One three years after sliding doors moment. [Liverpool Echo]
The 165th submission from “My Everton” deals with cancellations & memories of a lifetime. [Everton FC]
#OTD 22 April 1961, Harry Catterick took charge of his first @Everton game as manager. He arrived from @swfc who were also his first opponents, back at his former club, with #Everton winning 1-2. The Owls featured @winghalf6 who would sign for the Toffees on 27 Dec 1962. pic.twitter.com/4YMu98sjud
— Everton FC Heritage Society (@EvertonHeritage) April 22, 2026
Everton can now go after Jackson Tchatchoua for a bargain fee this summer, and the Toffees really do need him. [4th Official]
West Ham predicted XI vs Everton – Callum Wilson gets rare start as Nuno switches up. [West Ham Zone]
On this day, 37 years ago, Leasowe Pacific won the Women’s FA Cup, defeating Friends of Fulham 3-2 in a thriller at Old Trafford. Cup winner Mo Mallon (later Marley) would enjoy further success as player & manager after the club rebranded as Everton Ladies in 1995.@EvertonWomenpic.twitter.com/XCsDEKHjWe
— Everton FC Heritage Society (@EvertonHeritage) April 22, 2026
Everton Women are delighted to announce their participation in World Sevens Football’s first-ever London edition. [Everton FC]
Here are four reasons for Evertonians to stay optimistic as they begin to show signs of progress. [Football 365]
What to Watch
Salford v Bromley in League 2 action with several matches on the continent. So……not much!
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks off the field during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Andy Pages might be the secret sauce in the potent Los Angeles Dodgers lineup.
The Dodgers right-handed hitting centerfielder, Pages is off to a fine start for the 2026 season.
After the Dodgers April 22 game in San Francisco, Pages is hitting .353/.404/.576/.980, with 13 runs scored, four doubles, five home runs, and 21 RBIs in 85 at-bats.
At the conclusion of play April 22, Pages led MLB in batting average.
Here is what Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, told dodgersbeat.com, “Oh gosh, man, you just can’t say enough about what Andy’s done.”
For this old scout, Pages is a future All Star.
A complete player, the success Pages is having is not surprising.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Last season, Pages smoked 27 home runs and drove in 87 runs for the World Champion Dodgers.
Despite his outstanding production, Pages might be getting lost in a Super Star lineup that includes Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, and more.
Pages won’t be 26 until December 8.
Pages was signed by the Dodgers out of Cuba in the 2017-2018 Major League Baseball international signing period.
Pages never played professional baseball in Cuba.
Pages played youth baseball, including under 15, and under 18 Cuban Youth Leagues.
Pages was scouted by Dodgers personnel in a Dominican Republic international showcase.
The Dodgers gave Pages a $300,000 signing bonus, which is now paying dividends on a club that spotrac.com lists as having a $415,21`2,461 Luxury Tax Payroll.
spotrac.com lists Pages’ 2026 contract value to be $800,000.
Pages has four years of salary arbitration ahead. He can’t become a free agent until following the 2030 season.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages (44) at bat during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
The Progress of Andy Pages:
Pages became a notable Dodgers prospect in 2020, when mlbpipeline.com ranked him the Dodgers No. 14 prospect.
At the time, mlbpipeline.comgave him an overall scouting grade of 50, which equates to an everyday Major League player with at least solid tool that can carry the player’s game.
In his case, Pages’ Grade 65 arm strength was well above average.
He was believed to have only average hitting ability, with emerging, better than average power.
By 2024, Pages was ranked No. 3 among Dodgers prospects by mlbpipeline.com
His overall grade remained a 55, but his power grade climbed to 60, and his arm strength to Grade 70.
Pages made his major league debut with the Dodgers on April 16, 2024, at the age of 23.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 2: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Getty Images
What Makes Pages Special?
Dodgers games are made more exciting with the presence of Andy Pages.
Pages is still making up for lost time in 2023, when he suffered a torn labrum injury.
Pages has a 6-1, 212 frame, with plenty of strength in both his upper and lower body.
Pages has “plus” power, which can’t be ignored.
Pages has a refined upper-cut type swing, with quick bat speed that provides topspin on balls he drives to the gaps, or over the fence.
Pages has excellent hand-eye coordination, which helps with a fluid swing path.
A solid contact hitter, Pages doesn’t get cheated at the plate.
While Pages doesn’t strike out much, he doesn’t walk that much, either. His role is to drive in the Dodgers hitters who are on base when he hits.
A good defensive outfielder, Pages has that strong arm from right field that runners are wise not to test.
As MLB.com stated, Pages’ incredible catch in the 2025 World Series saved the Dodgers.
Rutgers has added a trio of games to its future schedules, including a home-and-home series with a former Big East rival.
The Scarlet Knights completed their 2027 slate with a home game against FCS opponent Long Island and its 2028 slate with a road meeting with UConn, according to a report from the Bergen Record.
The game against the Huskies is the first half of a home-and-home series, with the return leg being played in Piscataway during the 2029 season.
Rutgers last faced UConn during the 2013 season, suffering a 28-17 loss on the road. The Scarlet Knights have faced the Huskies 33 times, holding a 22-11 lead in the series.
Rutgers went 5-5 against UConn during head coach Greg Schiano’s first stint with the program, winning five of their final seven meetings before he left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After achieving recent success under Jim Mora Jr., UConn is currently lead by first-year head coach Jason Candle, who joined the program from Toledo this offseason after Mora left for Colorado State. Candle’s offensive coordinator is Nunzio Campanile, who previously served as an assistant coach at Rutgers.
The meeting with LIU will be the first time the programs face off. The Sharks are led by Ron Cooper, who was an assistant coach under Schiano with the Buccaneers during the 2012 season.
Here are Rutgers football’s future schedules:
2026
vs. UMass (Sept. 5)
at Boston College (Sept. 12)
vs. Howard (Sept. 19)
Big Ten home games: Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, USC
Big Ten away games: Maryland, Northwestern, Penn State, Wisconsin
2027
vs. Akron (Sept. 4)
vs. Boston College (Sept. 11)
vs. Long Island (Sept. 18)
Big Ten home games: Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, Washington
Big Ten away games: Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, UCLA
2028
vs. Norfolk State (Sept. 2)
vs. Kent State (Sept. 16)
@ UConn (Sept. 9)
Big Ten home games: Illinois, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA.
Big Ten away games: Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Oregon.
An anonymous NFL general manager says the Los Angeles Rams could prioritize defense with their first-round pick in the draft.
The general manager told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that the Rams will go away from the wide receiver expectations and will look for a pass rusher early in the draft.
"But one GM believes the Rams will look at pass rusher somewhere early in the draft because of rising contract costs for veteran rushers," Fowler wrote. "( Byron Young is a 2027 free agent and Jared Verse enters his third season.)"
Fowler also added that the Rams have been linked to USC star wide receiver Makai Lemon. Lemon is still very much a possibility for the Rams; however, there is a chance they go another route given their unpredictability.
Edge Rusher Could Elevate Rams Defense
A pass rusher is not at the top of Los Angeles' position needs to be addressed. At the top of that list are a wide receiver, an offensive lineman and a linebacker.
Those are by far the Rams' biggest needs; however, adding a pass rusher wouldn't hurt either. Potentially selecting a pass rusher is far from an urgent need; still, it is a premier position in the sport. Even with the current group, which is a solid one, getting an elite pass rusher could take the Rams' defense to another level.
On top of that, rotational depth matters, which is something the Rams didn't have last season. Chris Shula's defense works best when the front stays fresh and the pressure comes in waves. If an edge rusher is there for the taking, the Rams may take a bite, depending on how things play out.
A wide receiver or offensive lineman is at the top of the list, but a pass rusher may not be so far off.
ONE Championship will make history when the inaugural edition of ONE SAMURAI, the promotion’s new monthly event series, makes its big premiere this coming Wednesday, April 29.
The world’s largest martial arts organization will broadcast ONE SAMURAI 1 live to over 195 countries around the globe.
To find out where you can watch ONE SAMURAI 1 anywhere in the world, check below.
It was another losing season for the New York Giants, who finished 4-13, missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons.
Last season, the Giants were able to get a new franchise quarterback in the first round, selecting Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. They also had the No. 3 overall pick, which was used on Abdul Carter, who finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, despite facing consequences for violating team policies.
This season, the Giants have the chance to build on last year's draft class with the No. 5 and No. 10 picks. As the only team with two top ten picks, the Giants can take a serious leap forward Thursday.
The Sporting News is tracking each of the Giants' 2026 NFL Draft selections, from the first through the seventh round.
Defensive line additions: The most glaring issue for the Giants in 2025 was their inability to prevent the run game, allowing opponents to average 145.3 rushing yards. Multiple additions may be in order for the Giants in this case, primarily in the form of defensive tackles. There's certainly a chance that the Giants will take a DT on both Thursday and Friday.
Find a secondary star: Caleb Downs is a common mock draft pairing for the New York Giants, who are seeking a star player in their secondary. The Giants defense is in need of versatility, which aligns well with the athleticism that Downs can bring, especially to a team ranked 28th in the NFL last season in defensive yards.
Give Dart another target: The later rounds of the Giants' 2026 draft are likely to include a receiver. Jaxson Dart is still developing as a quarterback but showed promise in his rookie season, finishing fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. Having an additional target could help to gradually improve this Giants offense.
Manchester United Eye Richard Rios as Transfer Market Heats Up
Midfield priorities take shape
As the summer window begins to stir into life, Manchester United appear to be navigating a familiar tension, ambition set against pragmatism. According to a report by Caught Offside, Benfica midfielder Richard Rios has emerged as a credible option, though not yet the headline act.
Rios, currently plying his trade with Benfica, is described as “highly unlikely to stay at Benfica” beyond the end of this season, with offers in the region of €45m likely to be accepted. That figure, however, exists within a shifting marketplace. Some clubs reportedly value him closer to €30m, highlighting a gap that could define the pace and direction of negotiations.
This is the modern transfer ecosystem in microcosm, uncertain, reactive, and shaped by events yet to unfold.
Competing interest across Europe
United are not alone in their admiration. Fulham have already made contact, while Napoli are said to have held internal discussions over a possible bid. The interest is described as concrete, even if the commitment levels vary.
There is also a broader narrative at play. Rios is 25, entering what should be the peak years of his career, and possesses the kind of versatility modern midfields demand. Clubs are not merely buying players, they are investing in systems, in adaptability, in the ability to respond to tactical evolution.
United’s recruitment puzzle
For United, the situation is layered. Scouts have reportedly watched Rios closely, with “all the feedback being very positive so far.” Yet he remains one name among several. Links to Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Carlos Baleba underline a recruitment strategy still taking shape.
Photo IMAGO
One source noted in the report that “it’s shaping up for United to make one ‘statement’ signing in midfield, ideally Anderson, whilst also shoring up their squad depth with one more player who’d likely be a bit cheaper.”
Rios fits that second category neatly, assuming his price remains within reach. If Benfica hold firm at €45m, or attempt to push higher after the World Cup, the calculus changes.
Timing could prove decisive
International tournaments have long acted as accelerants in the transfer market. A strong showing on a global stage can elevate a player’s profile overnight, and with it, their valuation. Benfica may well be tempted to wait.
For interested clubs, the decision becomes strategic. Move early and secure value, or wait and risk inflation. In Rios, they see a player of promise. In the market, they see volatility.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Manchester United perspective, this feels like a familiar crossroads. The mention that “it’s shaping up for United to make one ‘statement’ signing in midfield” will resonate strongly with supporters who have seen recruitment drift between marquee names and short term fixes in recent seasons.
Rios looks like a sensible addition on paper. At €30m, he represents value, depth, and potential upside. At €45m, questions begin to emerge. Is he transformative, or simply another squad option? United’s midfield has lacked balance, energy, and control, and fans will rightly wonder whether this is the profile that solves those issues.
There is also the wider concern about timing. If Fulham have already made contact and Napoli are progressing internally, United risk repeating a pattern of hesitation. Waiting for clarity can often lead to missed opportunities.
A curious supporter might ask, why not act decisively now? If the scouting feedback is as positive as reported, then this is the moment to move. Allowing a World Cup to inflate the price feels like unnecessary risk.
Ultimately, Rios could be a smart piece of business, but only if he forms part of a coherent plan. United need structure in recruitment, not just names on a list.
Jess Warner Judd began her career as an 800m runner before progressing up through the distances [Getty Images]
Jess Warner Judd does not remember much about that night in Rome.
It has been a long and difficult journey since, but the 31-year-old speaks with admirable ease about the traumatic events which have led her to a London Marathon debut in 2026.
"I'm very lucky to have had sort of a second chance at running. It's a second chance I just didn't think I'd probably have," Warner Judd tells BBC Sport.
"I remember having really horrible discussions after trying to restart my track season and it quickly not happening. The doctors, who were brilliant, saying that I would probably have to retire if I kept trying before I had therapy, because my body wasn't going to cope."
The distressing details of what unfolded at Stadio Olimpico are recalled vividly by her husband Rob, who witnessed it all from the stands alongside Warner Judd's father and coach, Mike, in June 2024.
Less than 10 months had passed since Warner Judd celebrated one of her proudest achievements, placing eighth in the world over 10,000m, but it became evident early in the European Championship final that something was amiss.
The noticeable lack of co-ordination. The veering out into lanes two and three. The distress increasingly visible across her face.
"It got to the point around five or six kilometres in when Mike and I had got as close as we could to the track and were shouting at her to stop," says Rob.
Warner Judd struggled on until, with 600m to go, she collapsed.
Jess Warner Judd could not be cleared medically to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games [Getty Images]
It was not until late into the night that Rob and Mike were finally able to visit Warner Judd. In hospital but unaware of the seriousness of what had occurred, she apologised for not being able to finish the race.
She had suffered a seizure, caused by undiagnosed epilepsy. Another had followed once she had been taken off the track on a stretcher, this time so severe that she had to be sedated.
"That really hit home that it was a very, very serious scenario," says Rob.
"It also hit home that there are more important things to life than running. At that point, I was like, I don't care if she never races ever again, as long as she's OK."
The first indication had arrived a few months earlier when, at a low-key 10,000m race in California, Warner Judd failed to cross a finish line for the first in her career.
She had suffered a similar mid-race seizure there but, because epilepsy is difficult to diagnose and seizures are often the only symptom, subsequent medical tests were unable to identify the cause.
This time, Warner Judd got an answer when she was diagnosed with focal epilepsy, meaning her seizures typically start in one side of the brain and cause unusual feelings, sensations or movements.
Unsure then what the future might hold, her journey back has proven far from straightforward.
With an Olympic Games on the horizon, Warner Judd attempted an immediate return to running but soon discovered that her body was not up to the task.
For an athlete with an 800m personal best below two minutes, it took her a demoralising 12 minutes to run her first mile.
But even once she was physically able to resume normal training, her epilepsy under control with the help of medication, it became clear that she had not moved on mentally.
Warner Judd recalls feeling like she was "having a panic attack" upon returning to the track, and required a year of therapy to fully process her trauma.
"It was really difficult to love running again," says Warner Judd.
"Going for a run used to be my safe space, to clear my head and feel better. Then to have that association between racing and having a seizure... I was so scared of that happening again.
"It realigns your aims and perspective on life. Coming back to running, I just wanted to do it for me.
"If I run well and achieve good things, great. But that's very much a secondary goal. You never know when it will get taken away, so I want to enjoy it the best I can."
Jess Warner Judd placed eighth in the 10,000m at the World Championships in 2023, seven seconds off the podium [Getty Images]
Warner Judd has settled in to her new home in Rob's home town of Clitheroe. The couple moved to Lancashire last year, accompanied by cocker spaniels Bruce and Bernie, and rabbits Bea and Bailey, after Warner Judd completed her PhD in regenerative medicine at Loughborough.
The pair train together on the surrounding hills and country lanes - Rob is also running this year's London Marathon - while Warner Judd has quickly grown fond of her part-time job at a local supermarket.
For Rob, the difficulty is often striking a balance between concern for his partner's wellbeing while, he says, "also acknowledging she has to push herself at times".
While Warner Judd's return to elite-level athletics is itself remarkable, her marathon debut in New York in November suggests much more is to come.
Although it may have taken her family time to accept the idea of targeting the 26.2-mile distance, she exceeded all expectations by clocking two hours 24 minutes and 45 seconds on the challenging course.
Placing seventh, Warner Judd, who maintains her only goal was to finish, crossed the line two seconds behind Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and within five minutes of winner Hellen Obiri.
It took just 24 hours for Warner Judd to reverse her claim that she would never do another - and she could not turn down the opportunity to race in London.
And so on Sunday, little over a marathon away from her home town of Canvey Island, in Essex, Warner Judd will complete a full-circle moment when she lines up in Greenwich Park, 14 years after winning her fourth Mini London Marathon.
As for a return to the track? While that once felt impossible, Warner Judd is leaving the door open.
But, following a rollercoaster two years during which she feared her time in the sport might be over, it will only happen on her terms, when she is ready.
"I really want to go back to it," Warner Judd says.
"But before, I wanted to go back to prove that I could do it. I think that part has gone now.
"Now, I want to go back if I'm going to enjoy it and I feel I can run well.
"I do feel like there's unfinished business there. It's not goodbye forever - just for now."
The Phoenix Suns lost Game 2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which makes the series between the two teams 2-0 in favor of the defending champions. Unfortunately, it appears to be a convincing result because the Suns continue to struggle.
While the Suns are struggling, the players have some gripes with what is happening. Superstar guard Devin Booker believes that the referees are not doing a good job of calling the game down the middle.
Devin Booker is unhappy with the referees after Game 2
In the third quarter of Game 2, people saw when Alex Caruso asked the referees to call a technical foul on Booker. That set Booker off because the referees caved in and assessed a technical on the Suns' superstar.
Evidently, Booker was unhappy with the referees because that was not something he had seen in his 11 years in the league. That is why he made sure to make some callouts during his fiery post-game press conference alongside Jalen Green.
He even name-checked one particular referee, James Williams, who is also a multi-year veteran of the NBA officiating crew. Unfortunately, Williams drew Booker's ire because of what happened with that technical foul fiasco.
"It's definitely something that has to be looked into. I heard Caruso tell them to call the tech, and he ended up doing it. In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James was terrible tonight, through and through," Booker said after Game 2.
"It's bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as the WWE if they're not held responsible."
Aside from that, Booker also made sure to point out that people should watch the clips to see what happened. He is valid with his concerns about the technical foul because most people online agree that it was not a good call.
Moving forward, this should be something that must be dealt with because a star player like this puts a spotlight on a bad part of the league. While Booker will not automatically get favorable calls, he will likely experience a fairer officiating crew.
BYU players celebrate during their MPSF tournament win over Stanford on April 22, 2026.
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Abby Shelton/BYU
No. 5 seed BYU was the only lower seed to advance in the first round of the MPSF tournament Wednesday evening, toppling No. 4 seed Stanford in four sets at the Smith Fieldhouse.
The Cougars made the most of being this year’s designated host for the league’s postseason play, getting some revenge on the Cardinal from a pair of road losses last month and earning the victory on set scores of 25-18, 25-14, 23-25, 25-21.
“(Tonight was) an opportunity to make up for earlier in the season,” BYU head coach Shawn Olmstead said. “That was just a really funky weekend. … I’m not making excuses, but I knew that when this was coming, … that’s what (my team) wanted more than anything because when we played them there, it just wasn’t us.”
The Cougars got the last laugh Wednesday, playing much better than their first two contests against the Cardinal right from the get-go.
“(Our) hot start was months incoming,” BYU freshman middle blocker AJ Cottle said following a night that saw him tally nine blocks and 10 kills while hitting .769.
“After (losing to) Stanford, that left a sour taste in our mouth. … We were more excited to play this game, I think, than any other game this season.”
It was all BYU early on Wednesday evening. The Cougars ran away with the first set, taking a lead by as many as eight points and never trailing en route to a comfortable 7-point win.
BYU gained control midway through the set on a 5-0 run that included three straight blocks for a 13-7 advantage.
The Cougars grew their lead from there until Stanford fought back, cutting things to 21-18 before four straight BYU points ended the set.
In the second set things got even more lopsided as the Cougars coasted to another win. This time it was a 6-0 run that gave them a 12-5 lead and all the momentum for a victory.
The Cardinal had no answer for BYU, as the Cougars hit a whopping .600 and cruised with ease past Stanford.
Olmstead credited Cottle for powering his team’s impressive second set.
“We finally really got AJ rolling,” he said. “We (said), ‘Ride AJ’ … because what that’s going to do is just make them start paying a ton of attention (to him) and then we can go from there and open things up and have one on ones at the pins. And that’s what we got, and that’s why we were so good.”
Things did not go as well for the Cougars in the third as the Cardinal gave BYU a much more competitive set, ultimately eking out a two point victory to keep their season alive.
Stanford, which entered the set with 15 total kills in the match, pushed the right buttons and more than doubled its tally by picking up 16 kills. A late Cardinal surge saw the school score four in a row to take a 21-23 lead and ultimately hang on for the win.
BYU took care of business in the fourth set, holding Stanford at bay to take the match.
The Cougars went ahead early, holding an edge for most of the set and keeping the Cardinal from ever finding the momentum they had in the third.
The win sends BYU to the tournament’s semifinal round Thursday night, where the Cougars will face No. 1 seed UCLA. The Cougars lost twice to the Bruins last week in Los Angeles, both in four sets.
“We got to … come out the way we came out tonight,” Olmstead said when asked about playing UCLA again. “Then we’ll go toe to toe with them and see if we can make a few adjustments and get them a little rattled here in Provo.”
BYU players celebrate following their MPSF tournament win over Stanford on April 22, 2026.
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Abby Shelton/BYU
Mark Vientos saw the stop sign. He admitted as much later, though, to hear him discuss the sixth-inning play on which he was thrown out at home by several feet in a tie game, the fact that he saw third base coach Tim Leiper hold his hands up did not strike Vientos as an admission at all.
“I was just following my instincts. Once I saw [Marcus Semien’s double] was hit off the wall, I was like, I’m gonna go score on that,” Vientos said. “Leip gave me the stop sign, but I followed my instincts and went home.”
As it happened, Vientos’ instincts did not doom the Mets, in large part because with runners on first and second and two out in the eighth, he wrestled an inside pitch into short right field to score Brett Baty with the eventual winning run.
“I’m glad he got that hit and redeemed himself,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said with a chuckle that felt appropriately nervous, given that Vientos made clear he would probably make the same choice again.
“Obviously, depending on the situation, we want to make the right play. But I’m always going to be aggressive. I’m not going to play passive on the baseball field,” Vientos said. “I’d rather make a mistake aggressive than passive.”
In some ways, the 2026 New York Mets are an example of that same philosophy: If the 2025 team sputtered out with the same old names, David Stearns was determined not to replicate last year’s failures this year. What the Mets must discern – now that their shoulders are free of that unfathomable losing streak -- is what parts of their current roster might eventually look like aggressive mistakes.
Wednesday night’s win did not happen because the Mets made drastic changes. Juan Soto’s return certainly helped, though it was quickly undermined by the departure of Francisco Lindor, who appeared to suffer nearly the same injury that sidelined Soto while scoring in the fourth.
It happened because the Mets, led by their manager, emphasized the need to trust track records as the present spiraled.
“You feel like you’re doing the right things. You evaluate things. You look around. People are doing what you should be doing,” Clay Holmes said after throwing seven strong innings. “You kind of really want to reach for something to do, but you’re already doing those things. Sometimes, that can be a little harder. You have to double down on the belief in yourself.”
Holmes, for example, tripled down on his sinker Wednesday, using it 73 percent of the time – almost as he might have in his days as a reliever. The righty is pitching to a 2.10 ERA in five starts this season.
But no one has been more stubborn than the Mets lineup, which has changed in terms of personnel even as it has committed to being aggressive through its slump. Mendoza said Wednesday that even though his lineup compiled the lowest on-base percentage in baseball, he was not clamoring for patience.
“It’s hard to get behind in counts here,” Mendoza said. “You have to be able to stay on the attack with good pitches in the strike zone.”
Quite obviously, little has changed because the Mets won Wednesday’s game 3-2. They still have the worst on-base percentage in baseball. Only two teams are swinging more frequently than they are. Only three are swinging at a higher percentage of pitches out of the zone. But last year’s team was baseball’s fifth-most patient and look where that got them. This year’s team will not make the same mistake.
Exactly what mistakes it will make now, after the baseball gods finally permitted them a win, remains to be seen. If Lindor is out for a significant period – and it is important to remember that Soto received what was considered a best-case diagnosis for a calf-related injury and still missed nearly three weeks – the Mets will have to wait even longer to see what the intended version of their lineup can produce.
But in the meantime, they will cross their fingers that Bichette can swing his way into a hot streak, that Vientos can turn a bloop into an offensive blaze, that two walks from Baty on Wednesday mean he is seeing the ball better…that everyone keeps doing what they would normally be doing in the hopes that better results must somehow follow.
“You have to stay positive. You can’t come to the ballpark expecting the worst, even if you’re going through a very rough stretch,” Mendoza said. “You come to the ballpark expecting good things to happen. And yes, it doesn’t matter how hard it is and how things are unfolding. Your mindset has to be expect something good to happen for us.”
No one should expect anything less than good things from the Mets, in whom Steve Cohen invested roughly $380 million this year. But when he chatted with reporters this week, he was careful to describe himself as “calm but concerned” in the only on-the-record comments he would offer, wary not to seem too worried nor too relaxed.
His roster is set. This team is in place. If a 12-game losing streak in April would be interpreted by some as a stop sign for championship dreams, the Mets seem resigned to ignore it. They are trusting their instincts, and those instincts are telling veteran members of their clubhouse that they are better than they have shown -- or at least, that if they are not as good as some believed, their best chance is to run past the red flags anyway.
Duane Rankin: "Ya'll should be interviewing the officials." Dillon Brooks after Game 2 loss to OKC as he fouled out with 30 points. "That should be a new thing in the NBA. Officials got to explain themselves because it's getting ridiculous when you can see it. It starts getting fiery. No control out there. Now they're just whistling on one side." On friendship/competition w/Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: I'm on the court. I don't care who it is. It can be anybody on the court. I'm going right at you." #Suns #ThunderUp
Dillon Brooks after Game 2 loss to OKC as he fouled out with 30 points.
"That should be a new thing in the NBA. Officials got to explain themselves because it's getting ridiculous when you can see it. It starts getting fiery. No… pic.twitter.com/Lgvdi3B8af
"I know I haven't won a championship in this league but I have been in it for 11 years now, so to get to this point to be treated like that, for me to even be saying something out loud it's bad. It's my first time in 11 years but it's needed.… https://t.co/04JkmCdX3Tpic.twitter.com/mOx5QpdJxM
"Caruso is moving forward on that and if that's an unnatural shooting motion compared to what guys are doing to get fouls nowadays, like you can play them side by side and I'll let you guys be the judge. Pull the clips, run it back. I'm… pic.twitter.com/F5zzbCMsRV
Thunder star forward Jalen Williams left Wednesday night's 120-107 Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns after suffering an apparent injury to his left hamstring in the third quarter and did not return. "We think he aggravated his left hamstring," head coach Mark Daigneault said. "We'll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we'll update you guys appropriately." Williams grabbed his left leg and motioned toward the bench after missing a contested layup on a fast break with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter. Williams appeared to mouth the words, "Left hammy." He intentionally took a foul a couple of possessions later so he could exit the game and immediately headed to the locker room for further evaluation.
Shams Charania: Reporting for Inside the NBA -- Spurs' Victor Wembanyama conducts cardio work Wednesday as he works through concussion protocol: “I’m told Victor Wembanyama was able to participate in cardio work here late Wednesday, because his symptoms didn't worsen. He wasn't feeling worse than he did when he suffered that concussion, and as of right now, my understanding is he is hopeful that he'll be able to travel with the team to Portland on Thursday, but whether he's able to clear concussion protocol in time to play in game 3 on Friday in Portland is an obvious question in jeopardy for the Spurs, because there are guidelines and protocols when it comes to the concussion policy. 48 hours after solving the concussion is when Victor would be able to, without restrictions, participate in activities. Within 24 hours you're able to have at least light activity, which is what he was able to do today because his symptoms didn't worsen. So that is the one good piece of news for the spurs that he was able to come in and do that. But overall, this is a process that's going to be seen by not only the Spurs medical staff but the League concussion protocol director. And he has to check boxes every single day, he has to clear neurological exams every single day. And what we know about the Spurs is they're going to always err on the side of caution, especially with someone like Victor Wembanyama. And what we also know with concussions, it's not always a straight line. So the Spurs are taking this day by day. We'll know more on Thursday about whether he'll be able to play on Friday.”
Reporting for Inside the NBA -- Spurs' Victor Wembanyama conducts cardio work Wednesday as he works through concussion protocol: pic.twitter.com/v5akihX2j9
Hermoso believes: “Champions League still a possibility.”
Mario Hermoso, who left this summer, has surprisingly become a pillar of Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma side.
The Grugliasco-born coach placed his faith in him, and the Spanish defender has repaid his faith with performances brimming with leadership.
The former Atlético Madrid player, who arrived last season on a free transfer, has played 30 games, scoring three goals and one assist. These numbers reflect the consistency he failed to find a year ago between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen.
Mario Hermoso, on the sidelines of the Elvis Lives event at La Rinascente, spoke about the final days of the championship with a hint of bitterness regarding the current sixth-place finish: “We’re in the final sprint, we’d like to achieve a better position like the one we’ve enjoyed for much of the season.”
The Roma defender, however, doesn’t want to surrender to fate and hopes to return to fourth place: “As long as there are games and points to be had, we’ll try until the end.”
BBC Sport: 48-year-old set to be candidate for Chelsea job, crucial factor could help him
Fulham manager Marco Silva is set to be a candidate for the vacant Chelsea job this summer according to reports.
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Liam Rosenior was sacked by Chelsea on Wednesday evening less than four months after signing a six and a half year contract.
The final straw was a 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Tuesday night, which was Chelsea’s fifth consecutive league defeat without scoring.
Marco Silva a candidate for Chelsea job
Callum McFarlane has been put in interim charge for the remainder of the season, whilst Chelsea take their time to conduct their search for a new head coach.
Apr 22, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Anaheim Ducks celebrate a goal scored by forward Alex Killorn (17) during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place.
EDMONTON, AB – For the first time in nine long arduous years, the Anaheim Ducks have won a Stanley Cup Playoff game.
After the Edmonton Oilers erased a two-goal Ducks lead with just over six minutes remaining, Cutter Gauthier netted his second goal of the game with just under five minutes to play, and Ryan Poehling locked down the game with an empty-net strike to capture Game 2, 6-4, on Wednesday at Rogers Place.
With the series tied 1-1, Anaheim returns home on Friday for Game 3 for the first playoff game at Honda Center since 2018.
“It's a huge honor,” Gauthier said of being the man to snap the drought. “It's been a long, long time that the Ducks made it to the playoffs. So being in this position, we're super happy and grateful, but we're not gonna take it for granted either. So, every single night we go in and we have a game against these guys, we're gonna give it our all. And you're going to see that Friday night as well.”
Gauthier–Anaheim’s leading scorer from the regular season and a 40-goal man–got his first strike of the series on the power play, part of a three-point game. Alex Killorn responded to a personally subpar Game 1 with a three-point night, including a power play goal and shorthanded assist.
The Ducks went 2-for-3 on the power play with Killorn and Gauthier’s tallies, and Anaheim also shut down all four Edmonton power plays, including a shorthanded marker from Ryan Poehling.
Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl netted a goal and an assist for four points in the first two games of this series. Zach Hyman and Connor Murphy scored their first goals of the playoffs. Connor McDavid–the NHL’s regular-season points leader–was held scoreless for the second straight game.
Lukas Dostal made 33 saves in his first career playoff win, and the Ducks first playoff victory since the 2017 Western Conference Final. Connor Ingram made 22 saves in the loss.
“It's huge,” Dostal said. “Obviously, it's been a long time coming for this organization, so I'm also very glad that we can get a first win, but obviously it's a long series. They have a good team, but we show some resilience today. Guys played unbelievable.”
For the second time in two games–and as it was in 49 of 82 regular season games for the Ducks–Anaheim trailed on the opening goal, as Leon Draisaitl got the benefit of a bounce in front nine minutes in.
Draistaitl threw the puck in front, and as Dostál had overcommitted a bit, the cross-zone feed deflected off Drew Helleson’s skate and by the Ducks netminder, 1-0.
Unlike Game 1, however, Anaheim kept up their early pace and struck back nearly four minutes later, as Gauthier hit the scoresheet for the first time in the series.
Gauthier–who was second in the league in shots per 60 minutes in the regular season but registered just one on net in Game 1–came out firing and wired a wrister around a Beckett Sennecke screen to level the game on the power play, 1-1.
Dating back to the regular season, Anaheim has now scored power play goals in six straight games.
Dostál was sharp late in the period negating several Connor McDavid opportunities.
The second period was fast and furious, but the Ducks set the pace with goals in all three man-power situations.
Following two dominant possession shifts by Anaheim’s fourth and first lines, Jacob Trouba roped a shot to the far corner of the Edmonton net to put the Ducks in front, 2-1, less than three minutes into the period.
Three minutes later, Alex Killorn scored on the power play. Gauthier battled the puck down the right wall to Killorn, whose centering pass deflected off an Edmonton stick, off Ingram’s pad and right back to Killorn for the rebound goal, 3-1.
Edmonton got one back six minutes later, as Kasperi Kapanen held in a Trouba clear attempt at the blue line. Draisaitl found Connor Murphy, who blasted a shot around layers of traffic in the slot, 3-2.
The Oilers had a chance to tie on the power play with five minutes left in the period, but that’s where the Ducks completed the man-power trifecta.
McDavid made a spinning backhand pass attempt in his own zone that went nowhere near an Edmonton player, and Killorn jumped on it at the blue line. The 36-year-old fed a frame-perfect pass to Ryan Poehling in front, who deflected in the Ducks fourth goal, 4-2.
Edmonton responded once more with the fifth total goal of the period, as the Oilers worked the puck around and Zach Hyman tipped home a Mattias Ekholm point shot, 4-3.
Despite the late strike, Anaheim took a one-goal lead into the third period for the second time in two games this series.
Unlike in Game 1 where the Ducks sat back and attempted to simply defend the one-goal lead, the Ducks had a controlled push, still getting opportunities but not getting too far out of position.
Anaheim couldn’t capitalize, and eventually, it was a push too far that Edmonton sprung the other way.
The Ducks second line had a controlling shift with extra effort from Beckett Sennecke, and Pavel Mintyukov intercepted a clear from Edmonton at center ice. Mintyukov then tried to thread a breakout, but McDavid knocked it down and sent the Oilers the other way.
In the Ducks zone, Killorn couldn’t clear the ensuing play, and Matt Savoie won the battle. Josh Samanski, a rookie in his playoff debut, nailed the far corner to tie the game, 4-4, with 6:09 remaining.
However, Anaheim did not let up, as Gauthier hit the go-ahead goal and eventual game winner with less than five minutes remaining.
You might look at the league table and think Sunderland are a shoo-in to beat Nottingham Forest given they’re fighting it out near the bottom, but they’re in decent form and seem to be turning a corner – so, to give us the lowdown on Friday’s opponents, we’re joined by Matt from top Podcast and YouTube channel Forest Focus to hear more about what we can expect! On today’s show…
Are their European exploits an unnecessary distraction?
Is their new manager the catalyst for their recent form?
Who are the big players that we’ll face on Friday?
Does Matt think Forest will beat Sunderland?
All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Patrick Bailey #14 of the San Francisco Giants lets go of his bat after he hit a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning at Oracle Park on April 22, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Tuesday, we talked about Cainings. The San Francisco Giants introduced Los Angeles Dodgers ace and international superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the concept, with the most common type of Caining in existence. Call it the Standard Caining. In the Standard Caining, a pitcher has a very good game, but their offense doesn’t do enough. Because they had merely a very good game, rather than a great one, they’re rudely handed a loss when their incompetent offense fails to do their job.
Matt Cain, to pick a random name to use as an example, received a losing decision on 26 different occasions in which he pitched at least six innings while allowing two or fewer earned runs. Yamamoto’s impersonation was quite admirable, as the reigning World Series MVP pitched seven mostly-dominant innings but, thanks to a three-run first and a lifeless offense, received a notch in the L column.
Today, we talk about a less common variant of the Caining, one that the Giants introduced to Dodgers ace and international superstar Shohei Ohtani. Let’s call it an Advanced Caining. In the Advanced Caining, a pitcher goes above and beyond with not just a good game, but a great one. But the offense is, once again, inept. And eventually, the pitcher is forced to leave the game, leaving a bullpen to wear the blame when the magic runs out.
Matt Cain, to once again pick a random and arbitrary name to use as an example, had 17 different instances in which he pitched six or more innings, gave up zero or one runs, handed the bullpen a tie or a lead, and then watched, arms dangled over the railing, as the bullpen lost the game, and the offense did nothing to keep that outcome from occurring.
Ohtani now is intimately acquainted with an Advanced Caining which, admittedly, has an added flair to it when the pitcher getting Advanced Cained is also the designated hitter anchoring the offense doing the Advanced Caining. It’s a vicious cycle being both the Cainer and the Cainee. You’re not sure whether to feel victimized or guilty.
The two-way sensation had a game that, Giants fans will be loathe to admit, lived up to the hype. He struck out the side in the first inning, albeit working around two singles. He set down the side in order in the second, and then again in the third, and then once more for old time’s sake in the fourth. He cruised through the fifth.
It wasn’t until the sixth inning that Ohtani appeared to be in any sort of danger, and even then he dismissed of it easily. The Giants waited until there were two outs to try any sort of shenanigans, with Matt Chapman reaching on an infield single, and Rafael Devers smacking a double, his second hit of the day.
But Ohtani, still hitting triple digits even as his night neared an end, overpowered Casey Schmitt and ended the inning with emphasis.
It was his seventh strikeout of the game, which paired well with his zero walks. He’d thrown 23 pitches in excess of 99 mph. He’d given up just five hits. He hadn’t allowed a runner to score, earned or otherwise.
And none of it mattered. Because the Dodgers bullpen couldn’t maintain what he had accomplished. Because the Dodgers offense couldn’t match what he had thrown.
Because Tyler Mahle pitched better than Shohei Ohtani.
Because Patrick Bailey hit better than Shohei Ohtani.
A Caining requires a worthy adversary on the mound, and the Giants — despite what you would think entering the series — have provided that worthy adversary, first in the form of Landen Roupp, and next in the form of Mahle.
Mahle was excellent on Wednesday. He was beyond excellent. He was so good that someone in the comment section will be mad at me for mentioning Ohtani’s name five times before ever getting to Mahle’s, and that person will be right.
The veteran, whose debut season with the Giants had been a debacle prior to this game, not only matched Ohtani, but surpassed him. He threw the same number of pitches (91) as his opponent, but made it through seven innings, instead of six. He gave up the same number of baserunners (five), but none of them were extra-base hits. He faced a runner in scoring position in just two innings, and one was because Drew Gilbert took a truly atrocious route to a routine fly ball and instead let it fall for a single.
He had his help, mind you: Devers, Willy Adames, and Luis Arráez in particular had some standout defensive plays to keep the outs coming. But all great performances require a supporting cast, and Mahle’s showing was exactly that: greatness, with a fantastic supporting cast. And when you do that against the Dodgers, you earn some fans.
And so, as Mahle walked off the mound for the final time, as fans stretched and sang, we had been treated to two of the three components of the Advanced Caining: a great performance by a pitcher (Ohtani), and a great performance by an opposing pitcher (Mahle) in response.
All that was left was the third and final component: an offense eager to face anyone other than the star pitcher, and a bullpen prepared to waste a great start. And if it wasn’t clear to you until now, that offense was the Giants’, and that bullpen was the Dodgers’.
Southpaw Jack Dreyer replaced Ohtani, taking the mound for the bottom of the seventh inning in a scoreless game.
After two pitches, Jung Hoo Lee — who is not just heating up, but quietly starting to look a lot better against lefties — had started a rally with a leadoff single.
After two more pitches, Heliot Ramos — who, it seems, is fully back — knocked his second single of the day, putting runners at first and second with no outs.
Gilbert came to bat, and Bailey came onto the on-deck circle. As the camera cut to Bailey in-between pitches, you could see him look back at the dugout. You imagined he was wondering if his game would continue or not.
With Daniel Susac on the Injured List, pinch-hitting for Bailey is less straightforward, but I assumed the situation was simple: should Gilbert advance the runners, Bailey — who, despite being mired in the slump of all slumps, is reliably putting the ball in play and not striking out — would hit. Should Gilbert leave the runners where they are, Jerar Encarnación, with his high power but higher strikeouts, would enter the game.
Thankfully for Bailey, Gilbert did his part, laying down a smooth bunt that easily advanced Ramos to second and Lee to third. And with that, Bailey stepped to the plate, needing to just put the ball relatively halfway deep into the outfield to give the Giants the lead.
He took a first pitch slider for a strike, then watched as Dreyer spiked one in the dirt. A slider found the plate, and Bailey fouled it off. A second slider found the plate, and Bailey again fouled it off.
A third slider found the plate, and Bailey launched it into the bleachers.
It was a healing swing of the bat for someone who entered the game with zero extra-base hits, one run batted in, and three million calls to KNBR complaining about his lack of offense. A swing of the bat that reminded himself, his teammates, and his fans that he’s a better hitter than what we’ve seen over the first month of the season.
With a lead secured, the only thing left to do to complete the Advance Caining was to have the winning bullpen learn from the losing bullpen’s failures. And so Caleb Kilian took the mound for the eighth inning and worked around a leadoff single, retiring Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, and Will Smith. And Ryan Walker jogged out for the ninth, looking for his second dramatic save in as many days.
Walker got Freddie Freeman to fly the ball lazily to left for the first out. He got Teoscar Hernández to lift one to center, where it fell into Gilbert’s glove for the second out. He walked Max Muncy on four pitches, because why not.
And then, always with a love of theatrics and style points, Walker induced a weak chopper from Andy Pages, and played his own defensive hero for the third — and 27th — out.
Despite what the media may lead you to believe, Shohei Ohtani is not the only baseball player on the planet. There are other players, you know. Numerous others, if you can believe it. Players like Tyler Mahle. Players like Patrick Bailey. Players like Ryan Walker.
The Los Angeles Lakers have surprised just about everyone by jumping out to a 2-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets, even without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Doncic and Reaves continue to be sidelined with hamstring and oblique strains, respectively, and the Lakers have been missing lots of offense without them for roughly the last three weeks.
But without them, Los Angeles has played gritty and smart defense that has held Houston to under 100 points in both of the first two games. Offensively, L.A. has been patient on offense, looking to fast-break off its defense and moving the ball around in its halfcourt offense. It has been hot from 3-point range, and several players have stepped things up in terms of scoring.
Fox Sports 1 personality Skip Bayless has been a vocal critic of both Doncic and LeBron James. He made an appearance on "The Arena" and made a bold statement by saying that he feels the Lakers are better without Doncic (h/t Heavy Sports).
“I just think they’re a little better basketball team on both ends of the floor without Luka,” Bayless said.
“... Last night and obviously in Game 1, I saw a team with LeBron orchestrating. LeBron has far less ego than Luka does. Luka has to be the whole show, and obviously, he can be a defensive liability.”
It is true that Doncic can control the ball a lot and slow down the pace of the game, but that can also be said of other ball-dominant superstars, including James. When someone like that is out of action, it forces everyone to step things up in multiple categories, and in the short-term, it can result in better, quicker ball movement and better defense. Without Doncic, who won his second scoring title this season, his teammates know they cannot rely on their offense to defeat a quality team such as the Rockets.
Bayless took things a step further and threw some significant shade at Doncic.
“Luka is the most inefficient player in the league,” Bayless continued. “He is obviously an offensive scoring genius, but he led the league in shots attempted per game. He led the league in three-point attempts per game. He led the league in free-throw attempts per game, and he led the league in turnovers.
“He also led the league in scoring, but he’s the Showtime Laker singular where the whole show, the whole world revolves around Luka. [In Game 2], especially on defense, I saw connection. I saw trust, positivity, and momentum on defense that fed the offense.”
Make no mistake: If the Lakers are going to do more than get past a flawed Rockets team in the first round of the playoffs, they will need Doncic and Reaves to safely return from their injuries, even if Doncic is as inefficient as Bayless claims.
Neither has a firm timetable for a return to game action. But according to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers feel Reaves is further along in his recovery than Doncic is. Both recently returned to practice, albeit in a very limited capacity, and both were given a rough, estimated timetable of four to six weeks after they suffered their injuries on April 2.
The Eagles are just one year removed from a Super Bowl victory, and after failing to go back-to-back, the Eagles are hungry to turn around their playoff fate.
With the NFL Draft in full swing, the Eagles now have a chance to secure the players who could bring the banners back to Philadelphia. Their first pick doesn't come until No. 23, but the team does have eight total picks to make across the seven rounds.
There are a handful of gaps that the Eagles will look to fill in this draft cycle, beginning on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.
The Sporting News is tracking each of the Eagles' 2026 NFL Draft selections, from the first through the seventh round.
Wide receiver implications: A.J. Brown is the big name on the trade market once again, with the Eagles considering moving on from the WR. If the Eagles draft a wide receiver, there could be major implications for the outlook of Jalen Hurts' passing targets in 2026. There's also a chance that the Eagles try to use A.J. Brown as a chip for a better draft pick to potentially fill in at wide receiver.
Breaking up passes: The Eagles have been linked to Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the first round as a way to bolster their defensive unit. While the Eagles did finish eighth in defensive passing yards, a player like McNeil-Warren could take the Eagles passing defense to an elite caliber.
Defensive line: When it came to defending the rush in 2025, the Eagles struggled. They ranked 22nd in the NFL, allowing 124.4 rushing yards/game. As the Eagles try to fix up their 2025 weaknesses, a more effective defensive line is a major part of the equation
As the NFL salary cap continues to skyrocket, so will the contracts for its rookies.
Since 2011, the league has used a rookie wage scale for the contracts of every player selected in the draft — depending on the slot a player is taken at, there are already specific salary parameters in place over a four-year deal. The higher a player is drafted, the more they will make over their rookie deal in total.
In 2026, a rookie deal is expected to top $50 million in total value for the first time as the salary cap has continued climbing. Plenty of money is on the table for each 2026 rookie, with estimates available for how much each pick will be making.
Here's a breakdown of how much the rookies from the 2026 NFL Draft class are expected to make on their first deals.
There are 32 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft, and each slot carries a specific value for how much the drafted player's contract will be worth over four years — every drafted player receives a four-year deal. For players taken in the first round, they also get a team fifth-year option in their contract.
Throughout the draft, every pick will carry a slightly smaller overall contract value than the previous one. The figures are determined by the NFL's salary cap, which moved up to $301.2 million in 2026.
In 2026, the No. 1 overall pick is set to earn a total of $54,565,500 over four years, according to Spotrac, with an estimated $9,921,000 in their first season and $17,361,750 by the final season of the deal.
In contrast, the No. 32 overall pick, which ends the first round, is estimated to receive $16,168,614 over their four-year rookie deal, per Spotrac, with an estimated $2,939,748 in Year 1 and $5,144,559 by Year 4.
NFL salary by draft pick
Here's a look at the expected total contract value and Year 1 salary for the first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Spotrac.
Based on the NFL's rookie wage scale, there is a significant drop off from Round 1 to Round 2. Not only do Round 2 players, and any remaining draftees, not receive a team fifth-year option, but their expected total contract value drops by a few million dollars, and only first-round picks have their contracts fully guaranteed. Later-round picks typically have partially-guaranteed deals.
In 2026, the drop off in financial value from Pick No. 32 ($16,168,614) to Pick No. 33 ($12,937,488) is around $3.23 million over the life of the four-year deal, per Spotrac. Then, from Round 2 on, the pay scale steadily decreases until reaching $4,359,258 over the four-year deal, which is given to Picks No. 248 through No. 257 to close the draft.
Here's a look at how the four-year contract value and 2026 rookie salary varies for the first and last pick of each round in Rounds 2-7, per Spotrac:
Round 2, Pick 33: $12,937,488 total value, $2,352,270 in 2026
Round 2, Pick 64: $7,722,792 total value, $1,404,144 in 2026
Round 3, Pick 65: $7,274,960 total value, $1,322,720 in 2026
Round 3, Pick 100: $6,599,626 total value, $1,199,932 in 2026
Round 4, Pick 101: $5,482,354 total value, $1,194,339 in 2026
Round 4, Pick 140: $4,993,306 total value, $1,072,076 in 2026
Round 5, Pick 141: $4,781,518 total value, $1,019,130 in 2026
Round 5, Pick 181: $4,604,883 total value, $974,971 in 2026
Round 6, Pick 182: $4,565,698 total value, $965,175 in 2026
Round 6, Pick 216: $4,440,874 total value, $933,969 in 2026
Round 7, Pick 217: $4,417,085 total value, $928,021 in 2026
Round 7, Pick 257: $4,359,258 total value, $913,565 in 2026
NFL rookie minimum salary
The minimum base salary for an NFL rookie in 2026 is $885,000. That is an increase from $840,000 in 2025, per Spotrac.
It was another disappointing season in Cleveland for a fanbase that has had a rough experience since the turn of the century.
The difference now is that Cleveland broke the playoff drought in 2020 and secured its first win since 1994. It made the playoffs again in 2023 before the team took a turn for the worse.
Now with the draft at hand and two first round picks in tow, the Cleveland Browns have a chance to rewrite the script in 2026. The Browns will get the No. 6, No. 24 and No. 39 picks in the draft, a prime opportunity to develop a young core.
The Sporting News is tracking each of the Browns' 2026 NFL Draft selections, from the first through the seventh round.
Find Shedeur some targets: Wide receiver is the position of need for the Browns in this draft class and they have the pick number to potentially get the best on the market in Carnell Tate. If the Browns choose to trade down or wait until their second pick, they could still end up with some elite receivers, including USC's Makai Lemon or Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr.
Offensive tackle: The Browns have a clear need to rehaul parts of their offensive structure. In 2025, the Browns' offense was 30th in the NFL in total yards and 27th in rushing yards. Most of this falls on the offensive line, with OT being a point of emphasis in Cleveland. With two first round picks, a receiver and a tackle could be a likely combination
More offensive line additions: The issues don't end at OT for Cleveland, who is likely to seek out a guard as well. While Cleveland's offensive line could benefit from multiple new additions, it's unclear what order they will be targeted. Don't be surprised, however, if Cleveland drafts a guard on Thursday.
Chelsea and Man United to go head-to-head for new head coach
Manchester United have a huge decision to make in the next few weeks. After sacking Ruben Amorim in January, the club hired Darren Fletcher as an interim for two matches and then Michael Carrick.
The Englishman has done a stellar job, with United beating teams such as Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea during his tenure. As a result, the Red Devils find themselves in a great position to secure Champions League football, needing just six points from the remaining five games to consolidate a spot amongst Europe’s elite next season.
Decision
Owing to the success the team has had with Carrick at the helm, it is thought that the permanent job is his to lose at this point.
Nonetheless, sources suggest that United are still scouring the market for a replacement coach, and they have been linked to a plethora of names. Names such as AFC Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann and Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique have been linked to the Old Trafford hotseat.
Chelsea effect
After United defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, the Blues lost their fifth consecutive game on Tuesday when they were beaten 0-3 by Brighton & Hove Albion.
This led to the sacking of manager Liam Rosenior yesterday, and now Chelsea will provide stiff competition in United’s search for a permanent manager.
Journalist Ben Jacobs reports that, “Chelsea have not yet formally spoken to any candidates to replace Liam Rosenior. However, Andoni Iraola is expected to be one of the leading names approached.”
Julian Nagelsmann seems less likely as he was not “sold on the model” of the club when he was last interviewed for a job.
Luis Enrique is also seen as unlikely for Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, as he seems certain to extend his trophy-laden stay in Paris.
What’s more, “Eddie Howe, Francesco Fariola, Filipe Luís and Edin Terzic (also a candidate for Athletic Club) all have admirers within the club and have come up in discussion for previous vacancies.”
The Newcastle boss, Howe, is also said to have admirers at United.
Whoever United or Chelsea appoint or do not appoint in the summer, the two clubs will once again be fishing in similar waters.
Michael Carrick's record as Man United boss in 2026
he Arizona Cardinals have a number of needs they will try to address in the 2026 NFL draft. They really could go with any position during the draft.
Over the next few articles, we will go over players who could be targets in each round.
Let's have a look at edge defenders.
Round 1: David Bailey, Texas Tech
Bailey led the nation with 14.5 sacks for Texas Tech. He has the size and athleticism. He improved every season. He will be a top-10 pick and is the favorite to be drafted second overall.
Round 2: Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
He had 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in the SEC. He is a little short and has short arms, but he has athleticism and plays ferociously.
Round 3: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
He is 6-5 and 256 pounds with 33-inch arms. He had 8.5 sacks in 2024 and 2025.
Round 4: LT Overton, Alabama
He is strong but not a super twitchy pass rusher. He is 6-3 and 274 pounds. He had seven career sacks.
Round 5: Max Llewellyn, Iowa
He is long and was productive. He is 6-5 and 258 pounds with over 32-inch arms. He improved every year and finished last season with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.
Round 6: Tyreak Sapp, Florida
He had seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2024 but his production dropped to one and 3.5 last year. He is a bit of a tweener, perhaps suited better for the defensive interior but only 273 pounds.
Round 7: Logan Fano, Utah
He is 6-5 and 257 pounds, and he has motor. He had 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss last season.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
SEATTLE (AP) — Alex Carpenter and Gabrielle David scored nine seconds apart, Anna Wilgren added a goal for her third in two games, and the Seattle Torrent beat the Minnesota Frost 5-4 on Wednesday night for their first victory in the series.
Seattle (8-1-4-16) secured three draft-order points to take the top spot in the Gold Plan standings for a chance at the first overall pick in the PWHL entry draft.
Minnesota (13-3-4-9), which had already clinched third place, had won the previous three games against the Torrent in regulation by a total of 13-3.
Carpenter, who entered with at least one point against every PWHL team this season except for Minnesota, knocked in a loose puck to tie it at 2-all in the second and David sent a shot over goaltender Nicole Hensley.
Captain Hilary Knight gave Seattle the lead for good by finishing off Theresa Schafzahl's nice pass 2:29 into the third.
Minnesota forward Kelly Pannek capped the scoring with 12.5 seconds left and she became the first player in PWHL history to reach 30 points in a season.
Taylor Heise scored two goals for Minnesota and Grace Zumwinkle added another as each player reached 13 goals this season.
Up next
Minnesota plays at Vancouver on Saturday in a regular-season finale.
Seattle plays its final game of the season on Saturday when it hosts Montreal.
Liverpool have two new options to replace Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool was something that most people thought would happen over the next year or so.
In fact, some fans even believed that he'd choose to follow when his contract expired.
However, that wasn't what happened with Liverpool choosing to spend on an obscene amount of money on new players to try and reaffirm their place as England's best team.
Again, this isn't exactly what's happened as the club are currently battling for the Champions League places and find themselves in fifth position.
This lack of form has almost forced the Reds' hand into entering the transfer market for new players with two intriguing options now emerging as potential replacements for the Egyptian King.
Jarrod Bowen or Dario Osorio could join Liverpool as Mohamed Salah's replacements
Replacing Salah is clearly not going to be an easy task for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes to accomplish.
Even though the attacker hasn't been in the best run of form this season, it's still going to be hard for Liverpool to find a player as good as him.
However, over the last couple of days more links have started to emerge and now, Jarrod Bowen and Dario Osorio are actually being looked at as potential options for the Anfield outfit.
A report from DaveOCKOP has detailed that Bowen is now a name that Liverpool are 'looking at' this summer.
The online outlet details that even if West Ham United don't end up being relegated then the 29-year-old could still be an option for the club.
The Reds need somebody who can hit the ground running as soon as they arrive which is exactly what Bowen gives them.
In Osorio's case, the links have emerged from talkSPORT with the player himself admitting that Liverpool are interested in signing him.
"My agent tells me when there’s genuine interest, and to be honest, I don’t really follow social media on those topics," he said.
"As I said before, I always dream of playing in the best stadiums in the world against the best teams."
Comparing Jarrod Bowen and Dario Osorio and deciding who would be the better option
Osorio is a good option for a long-term replacement but, since the Reds will need someone to come in and help ease the pressure from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz's shoulders, Bowen is the player Liverpool should sign.
He already has years of Premier League experience under his belt and, even though the Hammers are 17th in the league, he's still contributed to 19 goals across all competitions.
He's been played all across the front three this term but his favoured position is on the right-wing which is exactly where they'll have a gap that needs to be filled.
And, if the Reds' injury crisis follows them through into the 2026-27 season, the Englishman could fill in for Isak if needed.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 25: A general view of the video board on stage with The Pick Is In for the Minnesota Vikings during the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 25, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NFL Draft begins Thursday in Pittsburgh rumors have been swirling about which prospect teams will pick. The Minnesota Vikings have been linked to safety Dillon Thieneman and more recently to tight end Kenyon Sadiq, although not as strongly as Thieneman has been.
However, there is no guarantee either prospect will be available when the Vikings are on the clock at #18. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some likely scenarios for the Vikings for the first night of the draft.
The Likely First Prospects Drafted
For the Vikings, it doesn’t really matter much which team picks the top ten prospects. It’s highly unlikely the Vikings are going to trade up into the top ten so if Caleb Downs is picked at #5 or #9 isn’t relevant. What is relevant are which of the top prospects are picked ahead of the Vikings. With that in mind, here are the top prospects that are highly likely to be picked in the top ten and effectively out of reach for the Vikings:
QB Fernando Mendoza
ED Arvell Reese
ED David Bailey
RB Jeremiyah Love
LB Sonny Styles
WR Carnell Tate
CB Mansoor Delane
S Caleb Downs
WR Jordyn Tyson
ED Rueban Bain Jr.
Beyond these ten prospects, I would also add the two top offensive line prospects as very likely to be taken ahead of the Vikings. They are:
OT Francis Mauigoa
OT Spencer Fano
All of the above names are -130 (56.5% implied probability) of being selected in the top ten and even higher therefore that they’d be selected in the top 15.
#12: Where the First Round Gets Interesting
Dallas owns the twelfth pick in the draft and there has been rumors that they could trade this pick either up or down. Stephen Jones said its not possible for them to trade up into the top five, presumably ruling that out. But if the Cowboys don’t trade this pick, there is a chance that their preferred prospects for this pick are gone. If that were the case, they might look to trade down or if that didn’t work out, pick the top player on their board, even if its not a great value at #12.
There really isn’t a good read on who the Cowboys may pick here if they don’t trade the pick. DraftKings has Mansoor Delane at the most likely pick at +600, which is a lot lower probability for the favorite compared to just about any other draft slot in the top 15-20. And Delane is likely to be gone by twelve. The Cowboys reportedly have first-round grades on just twelve players this year
One of the more likely options if all the above names are off the board is Dillon Thieneman, who has been linked heavily to the Vikings. Jermod McCoy had been linked to the Cowboys, but apparently there are significant medical concerns with McCoy that he may need an additional knee surgery to correct a problem and his knee issue may be a degenerative condition. Given those concerns, McCoy is now expected to be drafted in the late first round or possibly second round.
This is also where multiple trades could happen
There is also considerable speculation that there could be multiple trades in this range of the first round as teams looking for an offensive lineman may look to trade up. Some teams picking in this range may also be willing to trade down a bit and select an edge rusher.
As it stands currently, the Rams picking at #13 are thought to be looking at a pass catcher, most likely Makai Lemon, but possibly Kenyon Sadiq.
The Ravens at #14 have been strongly linked to the top guard in the draft Olaivavega Ioane, which is also a big need. They have also been rumored to be willing to trade down a bit too.
Tampa Bay picks next at #15 but is rumored to be looking to trade down a bit and pick an edge rusher, most likely Akheem Mesidor. However, if they don’t trade down there is a significant chance that they take Kenyon Sadiq here, who has been linked to the Vikings recently. The rumor that the Bucs are looking to trade down may indicate that the Bucs prefer to draft an edge rusher first, but they have met with every tight end expected to be drafted in the first three or four rounds.
The Jets pick at #16 and are rumored to be targeting a receiver here, possibly Omar Cooper Jr.
The Lions pick next and are widely thought to prefer tackle Kadyn Proctor. In fact, they may be a candidate to trade up a few spots to get their guy.
And Then the Vikings Are On the Clock
I expect one way or another Kadyn Proctor will be off the board by the time the Vikings are on the clock, which would leave the following prospects available (most likely) ranked by the consensus board with prospects the Vikings have met with during the pre-draft process in bold:
#14 OT Monroe Freeling
#15 CB Jermod McCoy
#17 TE Kenyon Sadiq
#18 S Dillon Thieneman
#20 ED Keldric Faulk
#23 WR KC Concepcion
#24 S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
#25 WR Denzel Boston
#26 OT Caleb Lomu
#27 OT Blake Miller
#28 DT Peter Woods
#29 Kayden McDonald
I’m guessing if these are the prospects available when the Vikings are on the clock at #18 the Vikings will pick Kenyon Sadiq.
It’s unclear who is the highest player available on the Vikings’ board, but the Vikings have met with a couple safety prospects expected to be drafted on Day Two (Treydan Stukes and Jalon Kilgore) and just one tight end (Oscar Delp). But more than that, drafting Sadiq here could accomplish a few things. First, given Sadiq’s skillset, it sharply reduces the need to draft for another wide receiver. Maybe a late Day Three pick instead of a potential Day Two pick. Secondly, it could make T.J. Hockenson expendable via trade, saving $10 million in cap space this year, although not sure if the Vikings will actually do so. Sadiq also has the skillset that fits very well with existing personnel and the direction the Vikings want to go offensively. Sadiq isn’t a traditional tight end- he’s an H-back that can be WR3, block, motion, and run jet sweeps. And he allows the Vikings to blur 11 and 12 personnel.
The Vikings have a lot more needs on defense, and there is a good chance the next three picks would be defensive players if the Vikings took Sadiq here.
If Sadiq is not available, I expect the Vikings will consider trading down, even if Thieneman is available. They’ll take Thieneman if no trade deal can be done and he’s available. If they trade down, Kayden McDonald could be in play.
Liam Rosenior actually deserves a measure of sympathy after what has been a harrowing few months before being put out of his misery.
The end result is another BlueCo-created crisis that has resulted in a revolving door of managers, a toxic relationship between the owners and Chelsea's fanbase, as well as the biggest pre-tax losses in Premier League history, announced as £262m at the start of April.
When the group took control of Chelsea in a £4.25bn deal in succession to Roman Abramovich in May 2022, Chelsea had just finished third in the Premier League under current England head coach Thomas Tuchel and had not been outside the top five in seven years. They had won the Champions League one year previously.
Now, they face a fight to secure any kind of European football next season, with the heavy financial hit that would bring.
Rosenior's dismissal may solve one problem, but those in Chelsea's boardroom must take the major share of the blame for a club that looks increasingly out of control.
Chelsea's recent losses eclipsed Manchester City's £197.5m deficit in 2011, despite bringing in £490.9m in revenue, which the club says is the second highest total in its history.
Since the current ownership took control in 2022, Chelsea have spent around £1.5bn on players, focusing on securing a raft of younger players on long-term contracts.
Calum McFarlane returns in the role of safety net between now and the end of the season, the former Under-21 coach having bridged the gap between Maresca and Rosenior earlier this season.
He must navigate an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday before trying to make sure Chelsea at least earn a place in Europe.
And then, after that period of "self-reflection", Chelsea will start work - in their words - "to bring stability to the head coach position."
Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) celebrates his run against Corner Canyon at home plate during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan kept pace with the leaders in Region 3 baseball on Wednesday afternoon with another come-from behind victory.
Despite falling behind by four runs after just two innings, the Beetdiggers didn’t get deterred, rallying to force extra innings and then prevailing it in the bottom of the 10th for the 8-7 victory.
With its second-straight one-run win over corner Canyon, Jordan finds itself in a three-way tie for first place in Region with a 5-3 record along with American Fork and Lone Peak.
On Tuesday, Jordan rallied for the 3-2 win at Corner Canyon after trailing 2-0 after three innings.
Twenty-four hours later, Jordan found itself in an even bigger hole as Corner Canyon scored three runs in the first and four more in the second to open up a 7-3 lead.
Over the next eight innings, however, Jordan relievers Caden Capener and Kade Carter kept Corner Canyon’s hitters in check, which allowed their own hitters to chip away at the deficit.
Jordan pitcher Caden Capener (13) delivers a pitch to a Corner Canyon batter during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Zach Sorenson (37) delivers a pitch against Jordan during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Levi Hines (14) celebrates his double during a baseball game against Jordan held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Will Baik (16) delivers a pitch during a baseball game against Jordan held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Maddux Florence (8) delivers a pitch to Jordan catcher Easton Wartman (9) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan infielder Isaac Salazar (14) connects with the ball during a baseball game against Corner Canyon held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon infielder Zach Sorenson (37) connects with the ball during a baseball game against Jordan held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan outfielder Dallon Molder (8) celebrates his double that allowed a teammate to score to bring the Beetdiggers within one run of tying Corner Canyon as Corner Canyon second baseman Tanner MacKay (27) looks on during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon players celebrate around infielder Zach Sorenson (37) after he and a teammate scored runs off a wild throw to first base by Jordan during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon outfielder Truman Munier (3) fields a ground ball off a Jordan hit during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) slides past Corner Canyon catcher Krew Thorn (11) and onto home plate to score a run during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Levi Hines (14) delivers a pitch to Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan infielder Kody Kemp (3) looks to field the ball off a Corner Canyon hit during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan pitcher Daniel Strope (6) delivers a pitch to Corner Canyon infielder Zach Sorenson (37) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) celebrates his double against Corner Canyon at second base during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) celebrates his run against Corner Canyon at home plate during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan outfielder Joseph Peak (19) cheers after making a catch for an out against Corner Canyon and to end the inning during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon catcher Krew Thorn (11) and second baseman Tanner MacKay (27) celebrate after Thorn hit a two-run home run against Jordan during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon shortstop Lincoln Eure (1) beats the tag at home plate by Jordan catcher Easton Wartman (9) to score a run off a double by infielder Zach Sorenson (37) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan players watch as a hit from Corner Canyon catcher Krew Thorn goes over the fence for a two-run home run during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan players celebrate after a bunt from outfielder Joseph Peak (19) allowed a teammate to score and defeat Corner Canyon 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan infielder Kody Kemp (3) beats the tag by Corner Canyon shortstop Lincoln Eure (1) at second base during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan outfielder Joseph Peak (19) bunts the ball for a single, allowing a teammate to score and defeat Corner Canyon 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon shortstop Lincoln Eure (1) throws to first base after a force-out on Jordan outfielder Beckham Livingston (27) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The resulting catch completed a double play to end the inning.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
The Beetdiggers cut the lead to 7-6 with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and then scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game inning extras.
Carter pitched all three of the extra innings for Jordan, only allowing one hit and recording three strikeouts. He had a big day at the plate as well going 3 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. He leads the team with 19 RBIs on the season.
Dallon Molder went 2 for 3 with two walks and two RBI as well for the ‘Diggers.
Jordan travels to Corner Canyon for the third game of the series on Friday as it looks to complete the sweep and stay at the top of the league standings.
Going into the final quarter and the Phoenix Suns rapidly catching up to the 10-point gap, the last thing the defending champions want is to lose their core stars. But Game 2 showed signs of a rollercoaster and anxiety from the first quarter. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 120–107 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night provided a commanding 2–0 series lead, but the celebration inside the Paycom Center was muted by a growing list of medical concerns. While the Thunder’s depth and elite shot-making carried them to a double-digit win, the availability of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams for the upcoming trip to Arizona is now the biggest concern after this game.
The most immediate concern centers on Jalen Williams after a non-contact sequence. After an injury-cursed year, J-Dub was hit with another setback in the third quarter. He seemingly landed too hard while going for a layup that Suns’ defenders swatted away. When he tried to move to the other end where the play continued, he was in visible pain and staggering. He intentionally committed a foul at the 5:53 mark just to sub himself out of the game.
As Cason Wallace subbed in his place, OKC ruled out J-Dub for the rest of the game with a left hamstring injury. Williams, whose had only 33 regular season appearances due to the same injury in his right hamstring, was torching the Suns with 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting in 23 minutes when he exited the game.
Head coach Mark Daigneault confirmed the severity of the situation in the post-game presser. “We think he aggravated his left hamstring. We’ll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we’ll update you guys when appropriate.”
The timing is particularly cruel for the All-Star wing. It appears to be a classic case of ‘contralateral injury’ wherein players returning from a hamstring strain on one side are at high risk of injuring the other, healthy side that’s overcompensating for the weakened leg. If very severe, it could sideline him for an extended period once more.
While OKC has found a way to play without Williams, they were under the threat of getting more shorthanded.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s in-game injury presents trouble for OKC
Compounding the anxiety for the OKC faithful was a first-quarter scare involving the newly crowned Clutch Player of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After an awkward fall during a physical drive, Gilgeous-Alexander appeared to tweak his left hand. He was clutching his hand in pain and needed several moments on the bench.
Fans noticed a tense moment where trainers were seen working on his fingers at the bench. One spectator claimed that the trainer ‘popped’ his fingers back into place. However, unlike Williams, Shai remained in the game to make several plays. The very next play after the injury, he hit a step-back jumper over Devin Booker.
Fans picking up several clips of rampant ‘flopping’ and the lack of whistles for the Suns couldn’t overshadow SGA playing through visible pain. Every time he made a shot, he had to hunch over, holding his hand and willing the pain away.
Daigneault was quick to praise his star’s poise under the physical pressure, remarking, “Shai made the right play all night.. His floor game was outstanding.. He got us really good shots.”
While Gilgeous-Alexander’s 37-point explosion, including 13-of-25 from the field and a perfect 9-9 from the charity stripe proved he could manage the discomfort, the trouble for Thunder is far from over. Williams’ absence leaves a significant gap that Phoenix will liklely look to exploit as Game 3 moves to their home on Friday.
As of Thursday morning, Williams is still questionable for Game 3. The medical staff is expected to monitor both his hamstring and Shai’s hand closely over the next 48 hours before a conclusive injury report.
Apr 22, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; San Diego FC forward Amahl Pellegrino (90) reacts as a referee displays a red card during the second half against the Houston Dynamo FC at Shell Energy Stadium.
SDFC’s two-match road trip ends in back-to-back league losses, falling 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday night, stretching to a four-game losing streak.
Coming off a 4-2 loss on the weekend in Sandy, Utah, against Real Salt Lake, San Diego's third consecutive loss, SDFC’s winless period grew to six matches in all competitions.
It was the road teams that saw success in this matchup last season, splitting the two-match series, as both clubs ended their road visits with four-goal scored victories in 2025.
After a calm offensive start into the game, it was Houston that got onto the scoresheet first off a lethal long ball attack in the 35-minute with forwards Ondřej Lingr and Ibrahim Aliyu connecting for the 1-0 score.
Starting from an overhead pass falling for Ondřej Lingr between two SDFC defenders, the Czech forward held the ball up at the top of the penalty box and laid off a through ball pass into the area for Ibrahim Aliyu, whose first timed shot blasted into the net, giving the Dynamo the advantage.
Although taking a dominant 65%-35% ball possession lead into the halftime break, SDFC still trailed with their offense unable to create chances off those possession spells, ending the period with zero shots on target.
Dynamo’s Lingr had a chance to ice the match in the 74-minute, being played through on goal and rounding SDFC goalkeeping Duran Ferree, only for his shot to be double denied by both goal posts, keeping the match at 1-0 with 15-minutes of regular time remaining.
SDFC’s period of bad luck continued to grow with a 79-minute red card given to forward Amahl Pellegrino after catching the head of Dynamo’s Felipe Andrade with a high kick, as the seemingly unintentional but dangerous play confirmed the red card decision, leaving San Diego a player down while chasing a result.
Even after putting an end to a four-match sending-off streak last matchday, SDFC’s 2026 red card nightmares continued, as Pellegrino's first career MLS red card brought the club's season total to six in all competitions.
In the 84-minute, San Diego looked to have leveled the match at 1-1 with substitute Marcus Ingvartsen’s shot hitting the back of the net, but immediately, referee Rubiel Vazquez called the potential equalizer back with fellow substitute David Vazquez being offside on the setup pass.
Despite the nine minutes of added stoppage time and a Dynamo red card for Ondřej Lingr’s kickout foul on SDFC’s Ian Pilcher in the 90+7-minute, the Chrome & Azul were unable to find the tying score as they ultimately fell 1-0.
SDFC’s losing streak totals grew after their slim 1-0 loss at Shell Energy Stadium, now on a four-match MLS losing streak, having gone their last seven matches in all competitions winless.
Following the 1-0 defeat on Wednesday night to the Houston Dynamo, San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas reflected on his side's performance at the postgame press conference, focusing on the squad’s progress despite the result.
“We dominated a lot of the game, played away from home on two days' rest and put them very deep. We didn't concede very many chances. They took the chance that they got. This is football.”
“We're going to take that, and we're going to make sure that we don't take any steps back, because we need to keep taking steps in the right direction. Because ultimately, we're here to win games.”
“The team is starting to play better, starting to not give up the big chances that we were giving up, and we're headed in the right direction. And what I would say is we're going to be there when it counts.”
“I would say the silver lining is that we're starting to play better. We're getting more players back and the group is very, very hungry to get back to our best.”
San Diego FC are back at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night following their two-match road trip, hosting the Portland Timbers on April 25 at 6:30 p.m. with eyes on snapping the losing and winless period at the club.
A more than familiar foe for SDFC, having faced the Timbers five times in 2025, with three victories, including an MLS Cup Playoff Round One series win for the Chrome & Azul.
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