That’s a wrap on the 2026 NFL Draft, and here are the newest members of the Minnesota Vikings:

1(18): Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

2 (51): Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

3 (82): Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State

3 (97): Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

3 (98): Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami

5 (159): Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan

5 (163): Charles Demmings, CB, SFA

6 (198): Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

7 (235): Gavin Gerhardt, C, Cincinnati

The Vikings entered draft weekend with four picks in the Top 100. They ended up with five, and given how it all unfolded, the positional priorities of those picks made sense at a 30,000-foot level.

Here are my main takeaways. The result? Mixed emotions. Feel free to drag me in the comments.

NO RISK, NO REWARD AT #18 (THERE IS DEFINITELY RISK)

In my previous article, I advocated for Rob Brzezinski going defensive line at #18. I did not include Caleb Banks among those options. Even though I sometimes have trouble remembering what I had for dinner the previous night, I *think* I saw Banks mocked a few times in the first round. However, it was not the consensus view.

It was also not for lack of talent.

Banks is an absolute freak of an athlete, and it’s not hyperbole to say the upside is off-the-charts. We’re talking about Chris Jones here.

Banks’ 9.83 RAS, out of a possible 10.00, ranked 39th out of 2279 defensive tackles from 1987 to 2026. Math was never my thing, but I believe that is the top 1.7% since…1987. Be right back. I’m going to put on Appetite for Destruction and see if I can find my old Predator VHS in the basement.

Now, the doomerism. Repeated injuries to the same foot scare me—a lot. I cannot think of a worse thing for a 6’6’’, 327-pound interior lineman. I’m sure the Vikings did all the requisite due diligence, including second, third, and twenty-fifth opinions from various medical professionals on the recovery and subsequent timeline. On the surface, everything looks good, and a 100% full-go for training camp is the expectation. But doctors are not psychics, either. They can tell you an injury is fully healed and offer some insight into future risk, but the latter is fraught with considerable uncertainty.

In the end, you have to cross your fingers and trust the process. As soon as the Vikings were on the clock, I noticed Brzezinski rush that card up to the podium faster than Rick Spielman used to say, “I’ll need a 7th,” whenever a fellow GM called him up – whether it was actually to discuss a trade or not.

Banks was clearly a priority. Whether that meant he was the best player available overall, the best at the most pressing-need position, or both, we will never truly know. What’s said at pressers afterward can often be molded to reflect the reality of the draft board, but by all accounts and rumors, Banks appeared to be foremost on the Vikings’ radar. Every other DT was right there, along with the most mocked player for the Vikings at #18, Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.

If everything goes as planned, Banks is a starter in Week 1 and becomes the best Vikings’ first-round pick on defense since at least Harrison Smith 14 years ago. However, things going as planned isn’t exactly the Vikings’ modus operandi.

File it under “cautiously optimistic” for me.

I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE JONATHAN GREENARD TRADE

File this under “The Packers.” I hate it. Worse, I do not understand it. I’ve frequently discussed my fondness for Jonathan Greenard and my view of his potential to be traded. Here’s a recap:

To quote Hall & Oates: “I can’t go for that, no (No). No can do.” I want nothing to do with this. You can never have enough pass rushers; Dallas Turner is on his rookie deal, and Andrew Van Ginkel has battled pesky neck issues. I’m a huge fan of Greenard. He always seems to be around the ball carrier and causing havoc on every play. His playmaking ability jumps off the screen. The lack of sacks (3.0) during an injury-shortened season was an anomaly. Even with the injuries, his pressure rate of 13.5% ranked seventh in the NFL. He’s 28 and definitely in his prime. If someone makes an incredible offer, including a first-round pick, I get it. Maxx Crosby just got two first-rounders from the Baltimore Ravens. The numbers would support it, even after a tough year in 2025. Since 2023, Greenard has 4.5 fewer sacks (32 vs. 27.5) and 15 fewer QB hits in two fewer starts than Crosby. And I saw this:

Well, Greenard is now with the Philadelphia Eagles, and the incredible offer never arrived. Two third-round picks, one in this draft (#98 overall, Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami) and one in 2027. I waited 24 hours to digest this, hoping my immediate, visceral dislike would subside, but it did not. Not to get at least a second-rounder for someone of Greenard’s talent? It’s a head-scratcher, especially for a team that, for all intents and purposes, is in playoff success or bust mode for 2026. The Eagles seem to know what they have just received, as an immediate four-year, $100 million offer (with $50 million guaranteed) greeted Greenard as he got off the plane.

The move saves the Vikings a tad over $12 million against this year’s cap. We’ll see what that could mean, but that’s a topic for another article. I always feel that where there is a will, there is a way in these situations. We went through something similar with Danielle Hunter a few years back and managed to figure it out.

Dallas Turner now moves into a clear starting role. His development last season was impressive, and, of course, Brian Flores is his defensive coordinator. Even so, a post from ESPN’s Bill Barnwell in early March still lingers in the back of my mind:

Know the Vikings are in a rough cap bind, and he’s still young, but not sure Dallas Turner is as ready to step in for Jonathan Greenard as his sack total might suggest.

Turner had eight sacks last year, but that included 2.5 coverage sacks, 2.5 unblocked sacks, and a sack where the tackle was late off the ball.

Greenard had an 8.4 percent quick pressure rate, which was fourth-best amongst edges with 200 pass rushes or more. Turner was at 4.0 percent, which was 38th.

Hopefully, such concerns are exaggerated, and Turner can turn in a season comparable to what a healthy Greenard would have delivered, but that is certainly not guaranteed. There is no doubt he has the potential.

Given that the trade was happening, the choice of the impressive and incredibly versatile Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday made a ton of sense in the second round (#51 overall). His hybrid skill set is custom-made for a Flores defense. I would imagine he will initially be the backup to Andrew Van Ginkel, get some spot snaps here and there, and be an immediate contributor on special teams. This will give him time to develop and improve his coverage, with the opportunity to become a long-term replacement for Blake Cashman or Eric Wilson.

And the trend is indeed our friend here:

The point remains, however: Trading Greenard seems to make little sense to me given the compensation and expectations for the upcoming season. I hope I am wrong. Goodness knows there is precedent.

BRIAN FLORES: MORE THAN A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

With the GM situation in flux and Mike Pettine retired, I am not breaking any news when I say that Brian Flores seems to have filled a considerable portion of the organizational power vacuum. Given his history in the scouting department in New England and the fact that the top three picks (and five of the first seven) were on the defensive side of the ball, it is clear that Flores was deeply involved in the planning and execution of this draft.

In addition to Caleb Banks and Jake Golday, the Vikings drafted Vince Wilfork… I mean, Iowa State’s Domonique Orange at #82 overall to fill the role Wilfork played so well for the Patriots during their heyday. Expect “Big Citrus” to be a two-down mainstay for years to come.

The Vikings’ final Top 100 pick (#98) was Miami safety Jakobe Thomas. With the vibes trending toward Harrison Smith running it back, he may be primarily a depth piece at first, but the path to the starting role in the post-Smith era is clear. Like Golday, Thomas is incredibly athletic and schematically versatile. With probably a year to further develop, he should be able to seamlessly fit into the hybrid role Smith has made a Hall of Fame career out of – at the line (blitz/run support), in the slot, or covering the deep part of the field.

Given that he played in the FCS for Stephen F. Austin, cornerback Charles Demmings was a bit of a surprise pick at #163 in the fifth round. But just looking at the pre-draft scouting report, he also seems like a player with a skill set that could be an ideal fit for the Flores scheme. It will be interesting to see how he does during OTAs and training camp. Some quick (albeit preliminary) digging into the numbers suggests there were somewhere between 10 and 15 cornerbacks from FCS schools on NFL rosters or practice quads at various points during the 2025 season. Hopefully, Demmings can join them.

THERE WERE OFFENSIVE SELECTIONS, TOO

Oh, yeah, there were some picks on the offensive side of the ball. Caleb Tiernan, an offensive tackle from Northwestern, was taken directly ahead of Jakobe Thomas in the third round (#97 overall). From what I have read, he may be better suited for guard in the NFL, which could mean an immediate backup role behind Donovan Jackson or Will Fries.

The same goes for center Gavin Gerhardt of Cincinnati, taken in the seventh (#235 overall). Blake Brandel played well at center last year and appears to be the favorite to keep the job heading into the summer. Gerhardt now joins Michael Jurgens in the backup competition.

Fullback Max Bredeson from Michigan (fifth-round, #159) has the unenviable task of replacing an absolute Vikings legend in C.J. Ham – one of my favorite Vikings players over the past 25 years. This pick was probably the most surprising position-wise, as it was unclear whether KOC would remain one of the few teams that use a fullback after Ham’s retirement. But, as the DN’s own Christopher Gates noted right after the pick, Bredeson could be used more in a hybrid H-back role. We shall see.

Given Aaron Jones’ age, Jordan Mason entering a contract year, and Ty Chandler’s departure in free agency, the long-term running back situation is quite uncertain. Enter Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne in the sixth round (#198 overall). He’s a quick but undersized back with the potential to develop into a starter. It was definitely a position of need heading into 2027.

With the possible exception of Max Bredeson (due to his position), it doesn’t appear that any of the players taken on the offensive side of the ball will be major non-special-teams contributors in 2026 (barring injuries). Immediate depth and long-term potential are the priorities here. But that does not exactly fit the desperation of the moment come September.

MIXED EMOTIONS AT THIS POINT

You’re not the only one
With mixed emotions
You’re not the only ship
Adrift on this ocean

-The Rolling Stones

Drafting Mick Jagger and Keith Richards could not have evoked as many mixed emotions as I have right now while writing this. Brzezinski and company prioritized both athleticism and schematic versatility going into the draft.

There were risks taken, and Brzezinski felt like a guy who knew he was playing with house money. He was going to do his thing and let the chips fall where they may—the Sinatra Strategy. As noted, Flores clearly seems to have had his ear, given his scouting history. But at the end of the day, Brzezinski had to balance it all and assess the board before each selection, making the final call.

This feeling seems to be shared by the national media talking heads, as the ubiquitous post-draft “grades” were all over the damn place. From what I have seen, single-pick grades ranged from an “A” to an “F”. Most final overall assessments were in the “B+” to C-” range, with a “D” sprinkled in here and there. This underscores how the Vikings often swam against the tide of consensus and expectation throughout the process.

Given the Jonathan Greenard trade, the unknowns surrounding Dallas Turner’s expanded role, the significant question mark about Caleb Banks’ health and long-term availability, the pending Harrison Smith decision, and uncertainty around the WR3 position, among others, you would be hard-pressed to say the Vikings are a better team than they were last week. If the season started tomorrow? Absolutely not.

The good news? The season does not start tomorrow. Dallas Turner could become a consistent double-digit sack machine. Banks could be fine for the rest of the offseason, thrive in training camp and the preseason, and dominate all the way to 2026 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Harrison Smith could run it back for one more great season. Tai Felton could step up to become an outstanding WR3. All of those things could happen!

But you only know what you know. And right now, we know none of it. What I do know is that I’m a fan of the Minnesota Vikings, and things rarely go as planned for us. Some success appears. Hope rises. Heartbreak follows. Rinse. Repeat. The history is the history.

You can’t always get what you want, all right. Ask a Vikings fan. But after decade after decade of coming up short, I damn well know what we need: a Lombardi Trophy.

Maybe it will all work out, and this is the year. We have to get some satisfaction sometime, right? Either way, we have all been there before. My 19^th nervous breakdown doesn’t even date to this century.

Okay, I’m done here.

How does everyone else feel?

Did we want Didier Fuentes back in Atlanta? I wanted him back and taking a rotation spot. Of course, the whole “must stay down after being optioned unless recalled due to injury” rule put a minor spanner in that particular set of works… until the Braves apparently found a way around it through the miracle of life:

This move does create some short-term implications. Lee has started off very well for the Braves, with a 34 ERA-, 39 FIP-, 82 xFIP-, and five shutdowns to two meltdowns, with one of the meltdowns having nothing to do with him (Eli White’s misadventures, 2026 edition). He already has 0.4 fWAR in 13 innings after finishing 2025 with 0.3 fWAR in total. With his temporary absence, the Braves only have Aaron Bummer (much, much worse in the early going than his prior Braves tenure) and Jose Suarez (enigmatic to say the least) from the left side. Martin Perez could theoretically fulfill that role, but unless Fuentes is taking his starting spot tonight, that won’t matter for this series.

Fuentes returns for this third stint in about four weeks of play. He made the Opening Day roster and had a nice four-inning relief appearance against the Royals before going back to Triple-A. He was recalled last week and had a pretty wild start against the Nationals, with a 7/1 K/BB ratio and a homer allowed, but four runs charged to him in three innings of work. Maybe the Braves throw him in there against the Tigers with Perez held back, or maybe it’ll be the reverse — or maybe he’s just added length while Dylan Lee spends some time with his expanding family. Anyway, stay tuned.

The Alabama Crimson Tide suffered their first SEC series loss of the season vs. Tennessee in Knoxville this past weekend. 

Alabama now holds an overall record of 44-6 (16-5 SEC) following the series loss. The Tide struggled immensely following Saturday’s 12-0 win, as the Vols were able to secure back-to-back victories in the final two games of the series. 

Here are three takeaways from Alabama’s series loss on the road vs. Tennessee. 

Jocelyn Briski shines on Saturday, records 5 IP

Briski has been excellent in the circle for the Tide this season. The star flamethrower surrendered just two hits and a walk during Saturday’s 12-0 win, as Briski delivered five scoreless innings to begin the series in Knoxville.

Briski’s performance on Saturday was one of the Tide’s lone bright spots this past weekend, as the talented pitcher continues to shine throughout SEC play. 

Brooke Wells stays red hot, hits home run Saturday

Wells has been one of the best hitters in Alabama’s lineup during the entire 2026 campaign. The first baseman went 1-for-3 with a RBI on Saturday, as Wells hit a towering home run to begin the game in the first inning. 

Wells is currently hitting a team high .419 on the season, as the star continues to dominate at the plate throughout the month of April. 

Alexis Pupillo goes ice cold, records 0 hits across series 

Pupillo struggled immensely on the road in Knoxville this weekend. The star hitter went 0-for-8 with one RBI across three games vs. Tennessee, as Pupillo simply struggled this past weekend in Knoxville. 

The star hitter could easily bounce back during Alabama’s three-game set vs. South Carolina next weekend, as Pupillo was a non-factor on the road against Tennessee. 

Alabama will begin a three-game set vs. South Carolina on April 30 at 6 p.m. CT, as the Tide will look to get back in the win column following the first series loss of the 2026 season.  

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

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama softball takeaways from series loss vs. Tennessee Volunteers

Josh Hader, Bryan Abreu concerns make Astros' bullpen one of MLB's worst originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Houston Astros came into the season with their closer, Josh Hader, on the 60-day injured list. 

That was the starting point for a recipe for disaster, as the rest of the bullpen has not picked up the slack, not even flamethrower Bryan Abreu. 

Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller ranked Houston's bullpen as the second-worst in the Majors. 

"Not having Josh Hader (biceps) yet this season has left the Astros without an established closer. Meanwhile, Bryan Abreu has gotten out to a positively disastrous start to the year after a four-year stretch as maybe the most reliable setup man in all of baseball," Miller wrote Tuesday. "His 12.96 ERA through 10 appearances is at the forefront of Houston's bullpen-wide, MLB-worst ERA of 6.31." 

AJ Blubaugh and Enyel De Los Santos, two of Houston's primary middle relievers, both have an ERA above 6.00. One of the major bright spots has been Kai-Wei Teng, who could make spot starts down the road. 

More: Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece

"Astros relievers have also combined for 10 losses, but only one blown save, oddly enough. That spared them from dead last," Miller added. 

For the Astros, Hader cannot come back fast enough. But they'll also need Abreu to return to form if they want to gain ground in the AL West. 

More MLB news:

• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jacob DeGrom is under 200 strikeouts away from 2,000 for his career
• Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award
• Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
• Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade

The Punjab Kings are on the verge of rewriting their record books as they prepare to welcome the Rajasthan Royals this Tuesday in New Chandigarh.

The hosts are currently enjoying a remarkable seven-game winning run since the start of the season. They are just one victory away from equaling their all-time longest undefeated streak.

This previous benchmark of eight consecutive wins was established a decade ago across the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Confidence is soaring in the Punjab dugout following a spectacular performance over the weekend. They proved their championship credentials by successfully hunting down a massive target of 265 runs set by the Delhi Capitals.

In contrast, the Rajasthan Royals are searching for answers after falling to their third defeat of the year. Despite putting up a formidable score of 228 runs, their bowling unit could not contain the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Another concern for the Rajasthan management is the output of their leader, Riyan Parag. While the coaching staff frequently praise his incredible timing during practice sessions, those results are not translating into tangible runs on the scorecard. With fewer than 90 runs across eight outings and a sluggish scoring rate, his place in the lineup is being questioned.

In this article, The Sporting News will track the IPL 2026 match and provide each team's live win probabilities.

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Live scorecard:

PBKS vs RR IPL 2026: Win probability and toss result

After six overs, PBKS are 65/1

It has been smooths ailing for Punjab until now. Jofra Archer has been the bright spot for RR, and he removed Arya after the youngster played a cameo of 29 off 11 balls. 

Toss: Rajasthan Royals have won the toss and have opted to field

MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinion

PBKS vs RR Playing XI

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer(c), Cooper Connolly, Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Impact Subs: Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar, Musheer Khan

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja

Impact subs: Ravi Bishnoi, Ravi Singh, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Shimron Hetmyer

PBKS vs RR IPL 2026: Win percentage

PBKS vs RR IPL 2026 odds

Punjab Kings are the favourites to win this IPL 2026 match at 1.74 on Dafa, while the odds for Rajasthan Royals to win are 2.10.

* Odds are correct at time of publish but subject to change.

*All odds via Dafabet.

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There is an overwhelming volume of MLB data these days. While sometimes being lost in a sea of arm angles, release points, pitch mixes, velocity surges and barrel rates, fantasy baseball managers in 2026 can sometimes lose sight of simple statistics that have proven to have significant correlation to fantasy success.

For starting pitchers, that stat is K-BB%. Pitchers who are making their own breaks by striking out many batters and limiting free trips to first base are typically able to ride the wave of batted-ball luck and have successful seasons. Here are the top-12 K-BB% leaders thus far. There are some surprising names on the list, which may prompt managers to add certain hurlers via the trade market or waiver wire. Their K-BB% has been listed in brackets beside their name.

Cam Schlittler, Yankees (27.8%)

Schlittler is becoming the newest fantasy ace. He was effective in 14 starts last season (2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP), thrived in October (1.26 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) and has opened 2026 in dominant fashion (1.77 ERA, 0.73 WHIP). His success is well-supported by a 1.53 FIP. Managers who are looking to acquire an ace may be able to get him for less than the established stars.

Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (27.7%)

Although their arsenals are different, Misiorowski has similarities to Dylan Cease (who will be covered later in this article) by being able to offset some walks with a game-changing strikeout rate. His 37.2% strikeout rate currently leads all qualified pitchers. Hopefully he can match Cease’s durability, as starters who throw as hard as Misiorowski sometimes wind up on the injured list. That’s more of a worry for those in dynasty leagues — most managers can enjoy having found a discounted ace on a team that is known for their great work with pitchers.

Nolan McLean, Mets (25.9%)

Managers who believed in McLean’s eight-start sample at the end of 2025 have been rewarded with an ace. His velocity is up, as is his strikeout rate. McLean’s xERA is a dazzling 2.27, and his other ERA estimators are in the same range. Hopefully a dormant Mets lineup can get their act together and give him more run support.

Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers (25.8%)

Glasnow has always collected strikeouts in bunches, and after experiencing regression with his walk rate in 2025, he is back on track this year. We already knew that the right-hander would be effective on a per-start basis. But his value can only climb to a certain point if he continues a career-long pattern of making fewer than 25 starts.

Michael Soroka, Diamondbacks (23.5%)

Soroka may be the riskiest pitcher on this list. His strikeout rate is 7.4% higher than his career mark, which has allowed him to overcome a .333 BABIP that stems from the fact that he is often giving up plenty of hard contact (12.7% barrel rate). Most of the popular ERA estimators believe in the 28-year-old, but Statcast disagrees (4.61 xERA). And the biggest long-term concern remains his durability, as Soroka last logged a 100-inning season in 2019. He’s a sell-high candidate.

Ryan Weathers, Yankees (23.4%)

Weathers is the best waiver-wire option on this list, as he remains available in 49% of Yahoo leagues. The left-hander has been less consistent than others on this list, as he pitched into the eighth inning in two of his six starts but didn’t come out for the sixth frame on three occasions. Still, the overall package has been plenty good enough to make Weathers a waiver-wire gem or undervalued target on the Yahoo trade market.

Will Warren, Yankees (23.3%)

Warren is the second Yankees starter on this list who quickly went from a late-round draft option to a lineup centerpiece. The right-hander hasn’t changed dramatically in any area, as small-but-significant improvements to his strikeout, walk and barrel rates have combined to make him more effective. There is still time to acquire Warren for a reasonable return, and those in shallow leagues may be able to freely add him (73% roster rate).

Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (23.2%)

Gausman seems intent on wrapping up his five-year term with the Blue Jays and riding into free agency on a high note. This is the stingiest he has ever been with walks, and he is matching the strikeout rates from his dominant seasons with the Giants. At worst, he’s a rock-solid No. 2 fantasy starter.

Dylan Cease, Blue Jays (23.2%)

Two pitchers have recorded a 12-strikeout game this season, and Cease has done it twice. He’s continuing a career-long trend of walking more batters than he should, but his ridiculous 35.5% whiff rate is carrying him to success. Cease tends to rotate between good and bad seasons, and this is the year for a good one. But some regression will come when his strikeout rate normalizes.

Chase Dollander, Rockies (23.1%)

Having a Rockies pitcher on this list is by far the most surprising aspect of the article. Dollander has succeeded by following an opener in six of his seven outings, but he also threw seven shutout frames while working as a traditional starter last time out. The right-hander has allowed one or fewer runs in each of his past six appearances and has struck out 25 batters across his past three outings. Even with concerns over his home park, it’s time for him to be added in more leagues (38% roster rate).

Tarik Skubal, Tigers (22.5%)

Skubal is the least surprising pitcher on this list, but it’s worth noting that he’s the only member of the “Big 3” from draft season to make the cut. His current K-BB% is his worst mark since 2022, and he will likely move into the top three on this list by season’s end.

Shota Imanaga, Cubs (21.8%)

After regressing during an injury-impacted 2025 season, Imanaga is back to being a set-and-forget fantasy starter. His improvement stems from reclaiming a solid strikeout rate, as he has always had outstanding control skills. Imanaga gives up plenty of fly balls, which leads to many easy outs and some homers. He walks a fine line with his velocity, but it is back up this year, making him a good trade target.

This week, we asked Jacksonville Jaguars fans to grade the team’s 2026 NFL Draft.

Over half of the respondents gave Jacksonville a “D” or “F” grade.

The Jaguars’ draft wasn’t very well received by national media, either.

If draft grades mattered, the Jags would be in danger of dropping out of the league.

Even with the caveat that the team didn’t have a top-50 pick due to last year’s Travis Hunter trade, the process from general manager James Gladstone and company was confounding. They reached aggressively without considering other teams’ boards, and the prospects they did select generally don’t have high ceilings.

Maybe that latter point has to do with the relative weakness of this year’s talent pool. Still, after acquiring the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in the previous offseason, this draft class felt underwhelming. Public faith in Jacksonville’s new-ish regime is understandably wavering.

The Jaguars currently have +2500 odds to win Super Bowl LXI, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Top comments from Saturday’s post:

Giants' Rafael Devers questioned if he's 'forgotten how to hit' amid brutal start originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The San Francisco Giants are off to a very poor start this season. They're 13-15, and if it weren't for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, there might be a lot more heat on the Giants as a whole.

One of the main reasons why the Giants are struggling so much this season is their offense, and more specifically, one player on the offense: Rafael Devers.

Things have gotten so bad for the expensive first baseman that ESPN's David Schoenfield questioned if Devers has "forgotten how to hit." While not meant to be taken literally, it's a sign of how things are going terribly for the Giants.

Rafael Devers questioned if he's 'forgotten how to hit'

"Last year, he drew 112 walks, nearly doubling his previous career high," Schoenfield writes. "This season, he's on pace for 35. He has also had trouble catching up to fastballs. It's like he has forgotten how to hit."

The Giants slugger is hitting .216 on the season with a .562 OPS with 36 strikeouts and only six walks through 28 games.

He's struggled a ton this season and isn't nearly as good as he was a year ago or in any year of his career previously.

Schoenfield called Devers the biggest disappointment at first base in all of baseball this year, and it's not hard to see why.

More: Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece

His defense is very suspect, so much so that he might not reside at first base come season's end. But that's hardly scratching the surface of his struggles this year.

That .562 OPS is a brutal figure, and with his struggles to hit fastballs and his brutal walk rate, there are very legitimate concerns about his production at the plate.

Schoenfield questioning, even if in jest, if Devers has forgotten how to hit, is a sign of just how bad things are this season.

2026 hasn't gone to plan for the Giants, but no player has been on the downswing more than Devers this season.

More MLB news:

• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jacob DeGrom is under 200 strikeouts away from 2,000 for his career
• Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award
• Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
• Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade

The Pittsburgh Steelers are making a rare move as they look to bring quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a second season with the team.

The Steelers are placing a right of first refusal tender on Rodgers despite him being an unrestricted free agent, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

The unrestricted free agent tender allows Rodgers to negotiate with other NFL teams, if he so desires.

However, the Steelers will reserve the right to match any offer sheet he could sign as a condition of the tender. Pittsburgh would retain exclusive negotiating rights with the quarterback if he doesn't ink an offer sheet with another team before July 22, 2026 or the first day of NFL training camp, whichever comes first.

If Rodgers agrees to sign the tender with the Steelers, he would receive a 10% raise off his salary from 2025, which would pay him about $15 million for the 2026 season.

The NFL explained the unique situation surrounding Rodgers to its teams in a note that read as follows:

"UFA Aaron Rodgers, QB, California, received the UFA Tender from his Prior Club (Pittsburgh Steelers) and remains eligible to sign with any club," the NFL wrote (via Schefter). "The Steelers will receive exclusive negotiating rights for Rodgers if he does not sign by July 22, 2026 or the first scheduled day of the first 2026 NFL training camp, whichever is later."

"If Rodgers signs with a New Club before that date, he would be a potential Compensatory Free Agent ("CFA") lost be the Steelers and a potential CFA gained by the New Club if all other requirements are met under the Compensatory Draft System's rules."

(This story will be updated as more information becomes available.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers tag Aaron Rodgers with rare contract tender. What is it?

Blue Jays Manager Shares High Praise For Ranger Suarez After 1-Hit Outing originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox turned to left-hander Ranger Suarez in the first game of a three-game series on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays, and he delivered a gem.

Suarez was dominant from the get-go as he didn’t allow a hit until a leadoff double by Jesus Sanchez in the bottom of the sixth. It was the only hit Suarez allowed, as he went eight shutout innings, while he also struck out 10 in a dominant outing.

Following the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider had nothing but praise for the left-hander.

“His pitches were unpredictable,” Schneider said of Suarez. “With his stuff, for one, but he was all around the box. Everyone's going to make mistakes, and when they do, you have to capitalize. 

“I think it was just a combination of not doing that, and him being pretty stubborn by not living in the middle of the plate. That was the story tonight.”

The Blue Jays' offense struggled to hit Suarez, who dropped his ERA to 3.09 and improved to 2-2 with the win, as Greg Weissert pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the win.

“I wasn’t thinking about a no-hitter,” Suarez said. “I wanted to get quick outs. That was my mentality, trying to get quick outs so I could go deeper into the game.”

With the win, the Red Sox have now won three straight games and are 2-0 since firing manager Alex Cora.

Boston is now 12-17 and will turn to Payton Tolle on Tuesday.

More MLB: Red Sox's Trevor Story Details Conversation With Craig Breslow After Alex Cora Move

Aaron Rodgers and his seemingly never-ending waiting game have dominated NFL headlines over the past several months, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have finally received some great news just a few days after the 2026 NFL Draft.

According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the Steelers expect a “‘formal word’” from Rodgers in the coming weeks, and there is optimism he will play next season.

“The Steelers still have no formal word from aging quarterback Aaron Rodgers about his plans for 2026,” La Canfora wrote. “But, there remains a sense within the organization that he will play next season, with formal word anticipated in the coming weeks.”

Rodgers has been down this road before with the Steelers, making the team wait all of last offseason before finally signing on the dotted line in June.

Hopefully, La Canfora’s report comes to fruition, and Rodgers gives his decision to the Steelers sooner rather than later, as fans eagerly await a glimpse at the team’s completed new-look quarterback room.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers get positive Aaron Rodgers update after 2026 NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is often the yardstick by which recruiting rankings are judged. Coming out of college football, the NFL Draft represents the best indication of a player’s ability. NFL Draft picks account for the vast majority of the best players in college football. Outside of recruiting rankings, it’s the only other point in a player’s career where they are sorted by talent and ability in a quantitative form.

With that in mind, a report card for how recruiting rankings across the industry stack up can be produced by scoring the NFL Draft. After previously breaking down the first round, we are now expanding the lens to all seven rounds for a more complete picture of how each outlet fared. Doing so allows us to learn from successes and mistakes in hopes of improving our rankings product down the road.

By and large, the recruiting industry does a great job of projecting future success at the college level on an annual basis. Forecasting a 17-18 year-old high school football player as a future draft pick relative to thousands of peers is much easier said than done.

Note: Beginning with the 2026 cycle (as early as the 2029 NFL Draft) there will be three outlets compared: Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN following On3’s acquisition and integration of Rivals as its recruiting brand in July 2025. 

Closest to the pick: How each outlet stacked up

The method: To keep this as simple as possible, we will assign a winner for each draft pick based on how close the numeric ranking is to their draft spot. If there is an equal distance between two rankings and the draft spot, those sites will get credit for a win, including if the highest ranking is an unranked four-star. No winner is awarded for players who were not ranked as a blue-chip prospect (4-star or 5-star) by any site. We are counting prospects from the 2021-2023 cycles, as On3’s inaugural ranking came during the 2021 cycle. 

Results for the 2026 NFL Draft’s first round:
1. On3 – 8
2. 247Sports, Rivals (previous scouting team)– 6 (tied)
3. ESPN – 5

Three year running total: Round 1 (2021-2023 cycles):
1. On3 – 28
2. Rivals (previous scouting team) – 15 (tie)
3. 247Sports, ESPN – 14 (tie)

Overall, it was another strong showing by the recruiting industry as 25/32 (78%) first-rounders were ranked as a five-star or a four-star by at least one outlet. One of the non-blue-chip players signed with a G6 program out of high school, making for a 81% hit rate on blue-chip first-rounders who signed at the Power 4 level. Seven first-rounders were ranked as Rivals Industry five-stars: Sonny Styles, Francis Mauigoa, Caleb Downs, Kadyn Proctor, Ty Simpson, Monroe Freeling, and Peter Woods. Styles, Mauigoa, Downs, and Proctor were Five-Star Plus+ prospects – those who are five-stars for every outlet. Additionally, Carnell Tate (247Sports, Rivals’ previous scouting team) and Makai Lemon (ESPN) were ranked as five-stars by at least one outlet, bringing the total to 9/32 five-stars in the first round.

Results for the 2026 NFL Draft’s Rounds 1-3
1. On3 – 22
2. Rivals (previous scouting team) – 16
3. 247Sports – 15
4. ESPN – 13

Three year running total: Rounds 1-3 (2021-2023 cycles):
1. On3 – 64
2. Rivals (previous scouting team) – 33
3. 247Sports – 31
4. ESPN – 27

We view rounds 1-3 as a key barometer of rankings success. In looking to establish big picture trends within the NFL Draft, we find that the first three rounds present the best mix of top prospects who project as NFL starters and a sample size large enough to account for all positions.

Results for the 2026 NFL Draft’s Rounds 1-7
1. On3 – 40
2. ESPN – 32
3. 247Sports – 29
4. Rivals (previous scouting team) – 28

Three year running total: Rounds 1-7 (2021-2023 cycles):
1. On3 – 97
2. ESPN – 63
3. 247Sports – 57
4. Rivals (previous scouting team) – 54

Measuring consistency across the industry

We can get a feel for the consistency of rankings by measuring the average distance from high school ranking to the draft spot for prospects who are ranked as a blue-chip by at least one outlet. This measure helps to account for big hits and misses relative to the rest of the industry. 

In assessing the first round, On3 and 247Sports had the most consistent rankings relative to the draft spot for prospects from the 2021-2023 recruiting cycles for the second consecutive year.

Through three rounds, On3’s rankings landed around 19% closer to the actual draft slot than 247Sports, 33% closer than Rivals’ previous scouting team, and 36% closer than ESPN. Across the full draft, On3’s rankings landed about 14% closer to the actual draft slot than 247Sports, 34% closer than ESPN, and 40% closer than Rivals’ previous scouting team.

Which outlet identified the most future draft picks

Blue-chip prospects – defined as four-stars and five-stars – are players who are projected as future draft picks. Here is the tally of prospects from the 2021-2023 cycles who were tabbed as a blue-chip prospect by each site.

1. On3 – 105
2. ESPN – 99
3. 247Sports – 98
4. Rivals (previous scouting team) –91

The biggest wins across the industry

These are prospects that each outlet had ranked considerably higher than the rest of the industry and were also the closest to the draft spot. 

On3:Jeremiyah Love, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Vega Ioane (blue-chip outlier), Blake Miller, Monroe Freeling (5-star outlier), Caleb Lomu, Chase Bisontis, Colton Hood (blue-chip outlier), R Mason Thomas, Zion Young (blue-chip outlier), Brandon Cisse (blue-chip outlier), Malachi Fields (blue-chip outlier)

247Sports:David Bailey, Spencer Fano, Kenyon Sadiq, Jadarian Price, Kayden McDonald, CJ Allen, Eli Stowers (ranked as a QB), Markell Bell (blue-chip outlier), Oscar Delp, Chris McClellan

ESPN:Mansoor Delane (blue-chip outlier), Makai Lemon (5-star outlier), Denzel Boston (blue-chip outlier), Jacob Rodriguez (blue-chip outlier/ranked as a QB), Lee Hunter, Sam Roush, Gennings Dunker (blue-chip outlier)

Rivals (previous scouting team):Carnell Tate, Rueben Bain, KC Concepcion (blue-chip outlier), Omar Cooper Jr. (blue-chip outlier), Keldric Faulk (5-star outlier), Christen Miller, Avieon Terrell, Domonique Orange (blue-chip outlier)

The New England Patriots reportedly signed former Culver-Stockton undrafted rookie wide receiver Kyle Dixon to a deal with $252,500 in guarantees, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

It's an impressive contract for an undrafted rookie, and it shows the potential the Patriots see in Dixon before he steps foot onto the NFL field. Dixon finished his run at Culver-Stockton with 143 total catches for 2,394 yards and 24 touchdowns through 22 games.

Last season, he tallied 83 catches for 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning All-American honors for his efforts. His 83 receptions are the most in school history.

Now, he'll have an opportunity to showcase his talents for the Patriots at the next level.

NAIA to NFL: Former Culver-Stockton College WR Kyle Dixon is signing with the Patriots on a deal with $252,500 in guarantees.

Dixon (6-2, 220) posted a 40.5 vertical and 10-11 broad at Mizzou pro day. Repped by Hardik Sanghavi of Exclusive Sports Group. pic.twitter.com/Qgr2tR5QSl

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2026

The Patriots didn't draft a wide receiver, but they signed four undrafted rookies, including North Texas' Cameron Dorner, James Madison's Nick DeGennaro and Georgetown's Jimmy Kibble.

However, Dixon would be the name to watch in that group, given the money committed in his deal. He could be an early favorite to stick on the roster.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots sign promising undrafted rookie WR with lucrative guarantees

Striker Connor Hall is set to leave Brackley Town following their relegation from the National League.

The 28-year-old has made 77 appearances since joining the club in 2024 and scored 17 goals last term as they won the National League North title.

He has netted six in 33 games this season, but posted on X: "Been a pleasure and a real shame it's had to end. Met some fantastic people along the way. Thanks for all your support."

Brackley finished 21st after winning just 10 of their 46 games, four points from safety.

"Thank you for the memories and of course, the goals," said a club response.

Nobody wants to be swept in the first round. The exit was far too soon, but the Suns exceeded all expectations, winning 45 games without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Jordan Ott built one of the most improved defenses in the league and got the most out of a roster few believed in. Losing to the league’s best team and defending champions in the opening round just highlights how far this group has come in such a short amount of time.

Let’s recap the Suns’ year and look ahead to next season.

The core

Devin Booker continues to carry the franchise as the primary scorer and playmaker. Though he finished far below his ADP in 9-cat leagues (63rd), his main counting stats remained elite in High Score, finishing 26th overall, averaging over 45 fantasy points per game (FPPG). I suspect he’ll be more efficient next year, which would bump him back into that third-round territory by draft season.

Dillon Brooks was a surprise, delivering a career-best 20 points per game while anchoring Ott’s defensive identity. He’ll generally be better for points leagues, but he showed real growth as the Suns' second scoring option with Jalen Green out for nearly 40% of the season.

Seeing Green for just 32 games wasn’t enough. Although it was more of the same — inefficient buckets with minimal contributions elsewhere. He couldn’t find his rhythm because of all of the injuries. Still, we know who he is and his long-term fit next to Booker is a legitimate question.

More Fantasy Exit interviews

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• What to watch for with losers from play-in tournament

The breakout - Collin Gillespie

With Green limited to just 32 games, Gillespie stepped into heavy minutes across 80 games (58 starts), securing a critical role in Phoenix’s rotation. The guy who went undrafted in real life and all fantasy leagues this season ended up breaking the Suns franchise record for 3s made in a season with 232 triples. A pretty wild feat and it helped him close out the regular season as an 8th-round value in 9-cat leagues.

The problem? He's an unrestricted free agent this summer. It’ll be difficult to retain his services, as he’ll be one of the best backup point guards available. He can shoot, playmake and is a team-first role player that contenders could use to upgrade their depth. I’d like him to stay in Phoenix for fantasy purposes, but we’ll have to see how the summer shakes out.

The Future

Dynasty and 12-team managers, pay attention here. Oso Ighodaro played all 82 regular-season games, the first Sun to do so since Mikal Bridges in 2021-22. His minutes and usage crept up late in the season and his performance was enough to take notice. The free-throw shooting is ugly, but the intangibles are pretty fantasy-friendly. Assists, steals, blocks and double-double upside.

Mark Williams is a restricted free agent this summer. He was solid when he actually played. He averaged almost 12 points with 8 rebounds and 2 stocks in just 23 minutes per night. He also missed 40 games and all of the postseason with a foot injury.  That’s the issue with Williams, he’s always hurt. So, I see some sleeper potential in Ighodaro and possibly Kaman Maluach heading into next season.

The cap situation looks gross, meaning Phoenix will likely have to run it back with this squad once again. They have a first-round pick coming up in June, but Booker’s sucking up $57M, Green and Brooks combine for $57M, Grayson Allen $18M and they still have to pay Bradley Beal $19M until 2030. The chances of keeping Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin look slim unless a trade happens. This team won’t be a true contender, but they have a strong mix of youth and vets to contend for a spot among the top-10 teams in the West, while offering various level of fantasy value.

Mexico is getting a jump-start on World Cup preparation, naming a dozen Liga MX-based players to a camp that begins May 6 and will continue through the start of the tournament.

While Mexico manager Javier Aguirre won't be required to name the players on his final roster, due to FIFA at the end of May, the players on this list are expected to be part of the final roster - especially after Liga MX clubs pushed to receive that guarantee before releasing their players for the postseason.

Five Chivas players, including standout forward Armando "Hormiga" Gonzalez and Illinois-born attacker Brian Gutierrez, are included on the list. So, too, is teenage sensation Gilberto Mora, who missed much of the Liga MX season recovering from a sports hernia.

This is a special tournament for El Tri, with veteran manager Aguirre regularly underlining the unique nature of playing a World Cup at home. Mexico plays its entire group stage in its home country and if it tops Group A would also play its Round of 32 contest in Mexico City with the winner of that game staying in the capital city for the Round of 16.

With that in mind, Liga MX club owners agreed to release their players to Aguirre before the league's postseason for a training camp set to begin May 6.

Which players made the Mexico national team roster?

Below is the full list of Liga MX call-ups.

Goalkeepers

• Raul "Tala" Rangel - Chivas
• Carlos Acevedo - Santos Laguna

Defenders

• Jesus Gallardo - Toluca
• Israel Reyes - Club América

Midfielders

• Brian Gutierrez - Chivas
• Luis Romo - Chivas
• Erik Lira - Cruz Azul
• Gilberto Mora - Club Tijuana
• Roberto Alvarado - Chivas

Forwards

• Armando Gonzalez - Chivas
• Alexis Vega - Toluca
• Memo Martinez - Pumas

This seems to mean the end of the World Cup hope for several players who looked to have their places set. Toluca midfielder Marcel Ruiz, who suffered an ACL tear that he was pushing through in hopes of making the final roster, is not on the list. Nor is his club teammate, center back Everardo Lopez.

Many also expected Richard Ledezma, a Phoenix-born wingback for Chivas, to be included after he made his Mexico debut this year and impressed as a fullback option. But the 25-year-old is not on the list.

Cruz Azul midfielder Charly Rodriguez consistently received criticism from fans but seemed to have won Aguirre's confidence. He, too, is absent from the list.

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Additionally, eight young players who may be included in the 2030 World Cup cycle led by Rafa Marquez have been called into the camp to help with training and give them experience.

Those players are León goalkeeper Oscar Garcia, Puebla defender Luis Rey Mejia, Atletico San Luis defender Eduardo Aguila, Juarez fullback Denzell García, Monterrey midfielder Iker Fimbres, FC Juarez midfielder Jairo Torres and Tijuana attacker Kevin Castaneda.

What Europe-based players could Mexico add to its World Cup roster?

The roster will be supplemented by Mexico's Europe-based players, with Fulham forward Raul Jimenez and center-back pairing Johan Vasquez of Genoa and Cesar Montes of Lokomotiv Moscow among the notable names who are expected to be added. Alvaro Fidalgo, a former América midfielder who was naturalized after many years in the country but now plays for Real Betis, also looks set to claim a roster spot after a promising El Tri debut in March.

There is less certainty about midfielder Edson Alvarez. Often Mexico's captain, Alvarez is fighting a knee injury suffered with Fenerbahçe and hasn't played since February. And while Obed Vargas continues to get minutes from Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid, an interview Aguirre made in which he implied he wouldn't have called the Alaska-born midfielder for the World Cup before he made that transfer has raised doubts that he will include the 20-year-old in the final squad.

There also are questions about which center forwards Aguirre will call to join Gonzalez and Jimenez. Santi Gimenez seemed to be a sure thing after his move to AC Milan but is yet to score this season after returning from an injury absence. Inter Miami forward German Berterame has struggled to score since his move from Monterrey but will also contend for a place in the team.

The final roster will be announced June 1.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: El Tri World Cup roster taking shape with Liga MX calls

The 2027 NFL Draft will take place in Washington, D.C. next year. In that draft, the Vikings still have their first-round pick, but a lot could happen in the next 12 months. Before then, though, there will be plenty of speculation and buildup for the team and who they may add to the roster through the draft in a class that many are saying could be one of generational wealth.

Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling recently released the latest way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft of the cycle, which has the team going offense for a change. He has them going with Missouri star running back Ahmad Hardy as a way for the team to get back to establishing the run for their quarterback and offense overall.

Easterling explains the Hardy pick, writing, "Aaron Jones has been one of the NFL’s most complete running backs throughout his career, but the Vikings could look for his successor next offseason. Hardy is a dynamic, explosive runner who can take any touch to the house."

The 2027 NFL Draft is going to be loaded with running back talent, a year after there was a significant dip. Whether it is Hardy, Kewan Lacy out of Ole Miss, or Jadan Baugh out of Florida, there will be options for the Vikings.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: The Vikings land Ahmad Hardy in another 2027 NFL Mock Draft

April 28 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Guardians will call up top prospect Travis Bazzana for Tuesday's game with the Tampa Bay Rays, a league source told UPI.

Bazzana, who joined the Guardians as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, hit .287 with 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 10 RBIs and eight stolen bases over 24 starts this season for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.

The Australian also recorded three hits, including a home run, during the World Baseball Classic.

Bazzana, 23, is the No. 16 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He earned the Cape Cod League batting title and MVP honors in 2023, when he hit .375 with six doubles, six home runs, two triples, 31 RBIs and 14 stolen bases for the Falmouth Commodores.

The 5-foot-11, 199-pound infielder hit .360 with 52 doubles, 45 home runs, 11 triples, 165 RBIs and 66 stolen bases over three seasons at Oregon State.

That tenure ended with a stellar 2024 campaign in which he hit .407 with a school-record 28 home runs. Bazzana also hit 16 double and four triples, with 66 RBIs and 16 steals that season.

He hit .252 with 14 home runs, 61 RBIs and 25 stolen bases over 135 minor league appearances.

The Guardians (15-15) sit in second place in the American League Central, one-half game behind the Detroit Tigers (15-14). They will host the Rays (17-11) at 6:10 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Cleveland.

Move over Dan Orlovsky, Mike Tannenbaum is here to plant his flag as the biggest cheerleader of the Los Angeles Rams shocking the world and picking Ty Simpson with their first round selection in the NFL Draft.

The Rams picking Simpson at #13 overall was the most polarizing pick in Thursday night’s first round. While Dan Orlovsky celebrated his vindication after hyping Simpson’s pro prospects for months, it only seemed fitting that he would become the heir apparent to his close, personal friend Matthew Stafford. While the pick may have been a reach, it gives the Rams a clear succession plan at the position.

However, it also spurned an opportunity to provide Stafford and the Rams with a player who could contribute right away on a team that was in the NFC Championship game just last season. With Stafford at the helm, the Rams’ Super Bowl window isn’t going to last forever. So spending a first rounder on a backup quarterback feels like a luxury choice that could hurt the team in the near-term. And Sean McVay’s viral reaction to the pick has led many to assume that the Ty Simpson choice was far from a unanimous sentiment in the Rams draft room.

Of course, this makes perfect debate fodder for ESPN, who had been driving the Ty Simpson hype train as the draft’s major story. That looks like it will continue throughout much of the offseason with Tannenbaum pouring even more gasoline on the fire on Get Up with a take so hot that he is willing to get physical over it.

“I am ready to fight anybody who says this wasn’t one of the greatest decisions we’ve seen in recent memory.”

—@RealTannenbaum on the Rams drafting Ty Simpson 13th overall pic.twitter.com/lIykiUdtiw

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 28, 2026

“I am ready to fight anybody who says this wasn’t one of the greatest decisions we’ve seen in recent memory, “Tannenbaum said. “You think about the Green Bay Packers going from Favre to Rodgers, Rodgers to Love, those were decade long positive decisions. And you can ask the Pittsburgh Steelers, guys, how easy it is to replace a franchise quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger. They’re not going to be drafting high for the foreseeable future. They’re playing chess, a lot of other teams are playing checkers. And by the way, at 38 years old with a bad back, it’s not inconceivable that Ty Simpson’s on the field during a 17-game season. So this should pay off for a long, long time.”

Let’s just take a breath here. Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, needs to be so worked up over Ty Simpson that they need to get involved in fisticuffs. Although we’re all guilty for wanting to see Mike Tannenbaum and Dan Orlovsky to issue an open challenge for a no holds barred tag-team match on the next WWE PLE show, it’s just not that serious. The look on Dan Graziano’s face when Tannenbaum said that remark was incredible.

Secondly, one of the greatest decisions in recent memory? We’re talking about things like the Patriots drafting Tom Brady or the Saints signing Drew Brees in free agency. The Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes when Alex Smith was firmly entrenched as their starter. Is that the class of player Mike Tannenbaum is ready to put Ty Simpson in on April 28, 2026? Because if so then we should just go ahead and get his gold jacket ready for Canton.

Not everyone in the football world will agree with that hyperbolic sentiment. But just don’t tell Mike Tannenbaum about it because otherwise he might come looking for you.

The post Mike Tannenbaum wants to fight critics of Ty Simpson Rams pick appeared first on Awful Announcing.

The UFC opens its schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 275, which goes down at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there "Down Under" to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for the show have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the plans – and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

UFC Fight Night 275 broadcast

The entire UFC Fight Night 275 card streams on Paramount+ in the U.S.

The main card lineup is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. ET following prelims slated to start at 4 a.m. ET.

UFC Fight Night 275 desk analysts

Dan Hellie serves as desk anchor and host at UFC Fight Night 275.

Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman and former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith will join Hellie in analyst roles throughout the event and on the post-fight show.

UFC Fight Night 275 roving reporter

UFC correspondent McKenzie Pavacich will conduct pre- and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC Fight Night 275 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event.

UFC Fight Night 275 octagon announcer

The renowned Joe Martinez will introduce the fighters before battle and read official bout results inside the cage at UFC Fight Night 275.

UFC Fight Night 275 cageside commentators

Brendan Fitzgerald will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC Fight Night 275.

He'll command play-by-play and be joined in the booth by UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping and retired lightweight contender Paul Felder.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Perth broadcast team set: Michael Bisping takes break from 'TUF'

Former Denver Broncos tight end Jake Butt was really impressed with new Broncos running back Jonah Coleman.

"The Broncos got the steal of the draft in RB Jonah Coleman," Butt tweeted on Monday. "You’ll love him as player, but even more as a person. Great runner, vision, feel for cut backs, but also great in pass pro. Catches the ball well. NFL starter."

The Broncos selected Coleman with the 108th pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft on Saturday morning, and it is already proving to be a great relationship. Prior to the draft, Coleman called Denver the "highlight" of his draft process. After the draft wrapped up, a video surfaced of Coleman calling his own shot to the Broncos from behind an NFL draft podium.

Coleman appears poised to serve as Denver's RB3 behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey in the Davis Webb-led offense going into 2026. Butt and others seem to believe he could be a steal.

The Broncos got the steal of the draft in RB Jonah Coleman. You’ll love him as player, but even more as a person. Great runner, vision, feel for cut backs, but also great in pass pro. Catches the ball well. NFL starter

— Jake Butt (@Jbooty88) April 27, 2026

Here’s a sampling of how other fans and pundits reacted to the pick:

LOVE THIS FIT, GREAT VALUE!

RB Jonah Coleman to the Broncos

1st down or TD on 35% of runs

#1 in class

71% of rushing yards came AFTER contact

#1 in class

12.4 yards after catch

#1 in class

when hit at or behind the LOS:

#1 YPC in class
#1 first down rate in class

639… pic.twitter.com/6d1w4zVcQs

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 25, 2026

Jonah Coleman will be doing this now in the Mile High to protect Bo Nix in pass pro 🔥

That was against Sonny Styles, the No. 7th overall pick 😳 pic.twitter.com/n3plCFf1oH

— SleeperBroncos (@SleeperBroncos) April 27, 2026

Almost ever year there is a day 3 RB steal in the NFL Draft

Jonah Coleman is the one in 2026

— FFSnoog | Fantasy Football (@FFSnoog) April 25, 2026

I think the Broncos getting Jonah Coleman in the 4th is a pretty good steal, great power back to put next to RJ Harvey. #NFLDraft

— Sailor JC Smith. (@sailorjcsmith13) April 25, 2026

The Denver Broncos just got the RB2 in Round 4. What a steal

Jonah Coleman 📈 https://t.co/ZFFvfnKyvy

— d o g (@FFDynastyDog) April 25, 2026

I had Jonah Coleman as a Day TWO pick so this is a steal for Denver. https://t.co/UVIlWJxcNR

— Swipa (@SwipaCam) April 25, 2026

Jonah Coleman is a steal. Nice pick by the Broncos

— Matthew J. Lenix (@StarConscience) April 25, 2026

Jonah Coleman in the fourth round is such a good value pick for the Denver Broncos.

— Alterraun⚡ (@Hockfan445) April 26, 2026

Jonah Coleman was also a popular at 62. So saying it’s great value at 108 is an understatement.

— 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 (@CameronParkerPO) April 25, 2026

Coleman is set to report for rookie minicamp next month.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL draft: Jake Butt, others think Broncos got steal in Jonah Coleman

Manchester City are frustrated they will have to play three games in six days in the title run-in after two rearranged games were announced either side of the FA Cup final.

City believe the Premier League’s principle for rescheduling matches has not been followed as it was announced they will host Crystal Palace on 13 May and travel to Bournemouth on 19 May.

In between, Pep Guardiola’s team, who are battling with Arsenal to become champions, visit Wembley on 16 May for the FA Cup final against Chelsea, giving them two trips to the south.

City feel their match against Palace, which was due to be played on the weekend when Guardiola’s side instead beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, had not been rearranged sooner.

The Premier League had known since 4 February – when City beat Newcastle in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final – that they would need a new date to meet Oliver Glasner’s team.

City had three free midweeks, beginning on the 20th and 27th of April and the 4th of May, though Palace were involved in Europa Conference League action in the last two, and had proposed various alternative dates.

City noted their Premier League match against Burnley, which had to be rescheduled because of the FA Cup semi-finals, was instead rearranged for 22 April.

City would have preferred to face Palace then, partly because it would have been easier to find a new date to face Burnley, who are not in Europe.

But while Palace were picked for a Monday night clash against West Ham on 20 April, that could have been moved to the Sunday.

To further complicate matters, the Premier League cited referenced a principle that all FA Cup semi‑finalists should play in the first available midweek ahead of the semi‑final. However, the Premier League handbook does not reference any such principle.

At the end of the season, City would have preferred to face Bournemouth on 12 May and then Palace on 21 May, with Uefa wanting 20 May to be kept clear so nothing clashes with the Europa League final, which will feature either Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest.

However, City are aware that Arsenal’s trip to Wolves was rearranged for a February night when there were four Champions League matches.

Michigan basketball is continuing to cement its 2026-27 roster, partially through the transfer portal, but also via good, old-fashioned, high school recruiting. Though the Wolverines had already signed four high school players (four-star forward Quinn Costello, four-star guard Joseph Hartman, three-star forward Malachi Brown, and center Marcus Moller), they added two more on Tuesday.

Having committed in the middle of the Final Four against Arizona, five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr. is the big get for the class. He made the announcement live on the broadcast with the Fab Five. The California-based guard figures to get involved quickly, not unlike fellow former five-star guard Trey McKenney. But the Wolverines also signed another guard in four-star Lincoln Cosby, who could also figure in relatively early. He hails from the basketball factory Montverde Academy in Florida.

Here is the full release from the Michigan basketball program.

Full release

David and Meredith Kaplan University of Michigan basketball coach Dusty May announced Tuesday (April 28) the signing of 6-5 guard Brandon McCoy Jr. and 6-10 forward Lincoln Cosby to Big Ten Scholarship Agreements.

The duo joins Michigan's previously announced November signees -- Quinn Costello, Joseph Hartman, Marcus Molller and Malachi Brown -- to bring the Wolverines' Class of 2026 to six newcomers.

"Brandon and Lincoln are two outstanding additions to our program," said May. "Brandon is an explosive scorer and competitor who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. Lincoln has tremendous size, versatility and upside, and we're excited about his long-term future. Both fit the culture and vision we're building at Michigan."

McCoy, a consensus five-star prospect, is ranked among the nation's top 20 players in the Class of 2026. A dynamic three-level scorer with athleticism and defensive versatility, he starred at Sierra Canyon School during his senior season after beginning his prep career at St. John Bosco High School.

"Brandon is a special talent and someone who has the ability to impact the game in so many ways. He has a special feel for the game and competitiveness that really stands out. He can score at all three levels, create for others, and make winning plays on both ends of the floor. What stands out most is his approach to the game and his desire to keep getting better."

As a senior, McCoy helped Sierra Canyon to a 30-1 record and the 2026 CIF-SS Open Division title while averaging 19.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He earned 2026 California All-State Player of the Year honors and was selected to the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic.

Internationally, McCoy has helped USA Basketball win three gold medals at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship, FIBA U17 World Cup and FIBA U19 World Cup. He also competed in the 2026 Nike Hoop Summit, helping Team USA defeat the World Team in overtime.

Cosby, who will redshirt the 2026-27 season while recovering from ACL surgery, is a consensus four-star prospect and top-50 recruit who reclassified from the Class of 2027 into the 2026 class before committing to Michigan in February. A lengthy, athletic wing, he developed at Overtime Elite before transferring to Montverde Academy.

"Lincoln has great size, athleticism and versatility, and he impacts the game in a lot of ways. He can defend multiple positions, rebound, run the floor, and make plays with the ball in his hands. We're excited to support him through his rehab process and help him come back even stronger."

Cosby played five games at Montverde during the 2025-26 season before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. Prior to that, he was at Overtime Elite, where he became the youngest player ever to sign with the league. During the summer of 2025, he averaged 17.4 points with 444 Athletics on the Puma Pro16 circuit.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan basketball's 2026 class grows with two new guards

Mumbai Indians have their backs firmly pressed against the wall this IPL 2026 season and Wednesday evening at Wankhede Stadium now offers them perhaps their last real chance to salvage something meaningful from a campaign that has threatened to unravel completely.

The five-time champions have had a season to forget. They have lost five of their seven games, and their most recent defeat against Chennai Super Kings has been the heaviest in their entire T20 history, losing by 103 runs. 

Hardik Pandya has managed just 97 runs and three wickets, while Suryakumar Yadav has contributed only 110 runs. Even Jasprit Bumrah has had an uncharacteristically quiet season, having taken just two wickets.

Mumbai sit ninth with just four points and a deeply concerning net run rate of -0.736, having won only two of their seven games. 

Sunrisers are arriving at Wankhede in full confidence. Ishan Kishan and Abhisek Sharma have formed a devastating partnership which is a mixture of not only brute hitting but also real consistency about it. And now the return of Pat Cummins have somewhat lifted their bowling line up too.

Hyderabad are sitting third with ten points from eight games and a healthy net run rate of +0.815, having won five and lost three.

Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad Prediction: Who Will Win

The form factor is deeply against Mumbai who have not had a considerable set of victories. Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand have strung together four consecutive victories. 

Mumbai's campaign has been a real stop-start affair, and they have dearly missed the presence of Rohit Sharma, who has not featured since the RCB game. However, there has been a hugely positive development on the fitness front, with Rohit likely to return here, giving Mumbai a genuine boost that this campaign has so desperately needed. Will Jacks could also slot in alongside Sherfane Rutherford and Hardik Pandya to offer real firepower in the middle order.

Sunrisers, however, have not been without their own considerable threats. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan have had a devastating partnership at the top, and Travis Head has had the ability to take any attack apart on his day.

Yet Mumbai have had reason for optimism too. Jasprit Bumrah has had a stranglehold over Abhishek Sharma, having dismissed him twice while conceding just 17 runs off 23 balls. If Bumrah has his say early, Mumbai could stem the very source of power that has made Sunrisers so dangerous all season. 

Prediction: Mumbai to win

MI vs. SRH Pitch Report: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Wankhede Stadium has been one of the quickest scoring grounds in the country and this season has done nothing to change that. The pitch here has always been true, allowing batters to hit through the line with remarkable freedom.

Bowlers have had a brief window of opportunity, with the ball swinging just a touch in the first over or two before conditions have eased considerably. This season has taken scoring to another level entirely, with the average score having climbed nearly 30 runs above the long-term average of 171.

MORE: Cricket matches today | IPL Matches Today | Who will qualify for the playoffs? 

Head-to-Head: MI vs. SRH

Mumbai Indians have thoroughly dominated this rivalry over the years, and the recent history has done nothing to suggest that trend has been shifting. 

The last five encounters have told the same familiar story, with Mumbai having won four of them convincingly.

MI vs. SRH Betting Tips

Here is our favourite betting angle for the MI vs. SRH match.

Rohit Sharma has liking for Sunrisers bowling. And he could continue his merry way in this clash. 

Dafabet

BEST IPL ODDS AND OFFERS

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MI vs. SRH Lineups, Team News

Mumbai could make plenty of changes for this clash. Rohit Sharma will likely come in, while Will Jacks could also slot in for Mitchell Santner, who has been ruled out of IPL. 

SRH are unlikely to make any change. 

MI predicted lineup to play SRH

Quinton de Kock (WK), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya (C), Tilak Varma, Sherfane Rutherford, Will Jacks, Jasprit Bumrah, Krish Bhagat, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar

Impact player: Suryakumar Yadav

SRH predicted lineup to play MI

Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (WK), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (C), Shivang Kumar, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge

Impact player: Eshan Malinga

MI vs. SRH Odds: Who is the favourite for IPL 2026 clash?

• MI to win: 1.87
• SRH to win: 1.94

*All odds via Dafabet.

BET HERE: Best cricket betting sites in India | Dafabet IPL Betting Offer

How to watch MI vs. SRH IPL 2026 match: Live Stream, TV Channel

Here is all the key information for how to watch MI vs. SRH:

• Date: Wednesday, 29 April 
• Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
• Time: 7:30 PM (IST)
• TV/Stream: JioHotstar, Star Sports Network

Lakers predicted to steal Nuggets' $276 million three-time MVP via blockbuster trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Things have lined up perfectly for Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves and advance to the second round of the postseason. 

The Timberwolves are playing without their No. 1 scoring option, Anthony Edwards (left knee hyperextension), and their three-point center wing Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles injury), creating a clear path for Denver to get the job done in round No. 1. 

However, the Nuggets have dropped the ball thus far, as they’re currently on the brink of elimination even after securing a Game 5 victory on their home floor (they now trail the Timberwolves 3-2). 

If Denver flames out early and Jokic opts not to sign a long-term extension with the franchise after three consecutive playoff duds, Locked on Nuggets’ Matt Moore believes the Los Angeles Lakers will secure his services in the offseason via a blockbuster trade.

“If Joker declines the extension, then they will trade him, because you can’t lose Nikola Jokic for nothing,” Moore said Sunday. “They will trade him to the Lakers, I guess, if that’s what he wants, or wherever he wants to go. They’ll trade him and get a bunch back for him.” 

The Nuggets should do everything in their power to turn things around and give Jokic a legitimate reason to ink a long-term deal with the organization this summer. While Denver would undoubtedly land a significant haul for Jokic in a hypothetical trade scenario (a deal would likely be centered on Austin Reaves), they wouldn’t receive a player anywhere near as skilled as Jokic. 

The NBA champion center has the vision chops of a dynamic pass-first point guard, the pick-and-pop ability of a daunting stretch five, the off-the-dribble shot-creation and slashing ability of a sluggish yet near-unguardable wing, and the polished low-post skills of a traditional back-to-the-basket big man. 

Essentially, Jokic can do it all on the hardwood, and pairing him with Luka Doncic in Los Angeles would be unfair in every way imaginable.

If Los Angeles falls short in the postseason, it’s reasonable to assume they'll be prepared to go all-in for another superstar, and it appears like Jokic could be that guy (Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will also be on its radar this offseason). 

Like always, it’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for the championship-aspiring Lakers.

More NBA news: 

• Lakers predicted to build around Luka Doncic, trade $53.8 million 23.3 PPG breakout star
• Warriors predicted to land $101 million Lakers superstar to help Stephen Curry win fifth title
• Celtics sign 26-year-old ex-Raptors history-making guard to help Jaylen Brown in playoffs

Charlie Austin has been on Sky Sports news suggesting that Chelsea might not actually want to appoint a new manager.

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Chelsea’s latest hunt for a new manager is underway, and the names of several candidates have already been mentioned. Andoni Iraola’s name has come up early, with Marco Silva also mentioned as a realistic, Premier League experienced candidate.

But One pundit isn’t convinced the Blues even want a new coach, as he explained on Sky Sports News. Charlie Austin questioned whether BlueCo (after churning through five coaches in four years) really want a manager at all.

Austin jokes that BlueCo would rather not have a coach at all

“As much as they talk about coaching and managers… I’m not sure Chelsea and BlueCo and the hierarchy actually want a manager to come in there. They might say it, but I’m not sure they actually want it,” Austin said, and he’s only partly joking.

“They have five sporting directors, five sporting directors making decisions, and they’re not getting it right at the moment.”

Well, nobody is going to dispute that…

You can see the former striker speaking in the clip embedded here:

In other news…

Liam Delap’s plan is to stay at Chelsea this summer and fight for his place. We’re not sure the club will be thinking the same thing.

Marc Cucurella has been linked with moves away from Chelsea, with Barcelona apparently hot on his heels this summer.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Formula One returns this weekend after a five-week break with the Miami Grand Prix. It’s the first race on U.S. soil for 2026, meaning it’s also the first race of the season to have a decent start time for U.S. viewers (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT). All the action will be held at Miami International Autodrome — and there are still tickets available, if you’re interested in watching in person.

This year, F1 has moved to a new streaming home, Apple TV. So if you want to catch this weekend's race live, you'll need access to Apple TV (or F1 TV Premium, now free with an Apple TV subscription). Ready to watch the Miami Grand Prix? Here's everything you need to know about this weekend’s USA F1 race, plus the full 2026 F1 Grand Prix schedule. 

How to watch the F1 Miami Grand Prix

Date: Sunday, May 3

Time: 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT

Location: Miami International Autodrome

TV channel: N/A

Streaming: Apple TV, F1 TV 

When does F1 come back?

Formula One racing returns from a five-week break this weekend with the 2026 Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, May 3. But it’s the second sprint weekend of the season, so don’t miss the action on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2.

Miami Grand Prix start time 

The 2026 Miami Grand Prix will kick off at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 3.

Miami Grand Prix TV channel 

F1 races used to air on ESPN and ESPN2 in the U.S., but Apple TV has signed an exclusive five-year deal to be the U.S. broadcaster of Formula 1 starting this season. That means the Australian Grand Prix and every other race of the 2026 F1 season will stream live on Apple TV. 

For those without traditional cable, that makes watching F1 much easier. If you aren't already an Apple TV subscriber and don't want to shell out for yet another streaming service, we have a guide on how to get Apple TV for free in 2026. 

How to watch the 2026 F1 season

Miami Grand Prix schedule 

All times Eastern

Friday, May 1

• Practice One: 12:00 p.m. — 1:30 p.m. ET

• Sprint Qualifying: 4:30 p.m. — 5:14 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 2

• Sprint: 12:00 p.m. — 1:00 p.m. ET

• Qualifying: 4:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, May 3

• Miami Grand Prix: 4:00 p.m. ET

More ways to watch the 2026 F1 season

F1 2026 Grand Prix schedule

March 6-8: Australian Grand Prix

March 13-15: Chinese Grand Prix

March 27-29: Japanese Grand Prix

April 10-12: Bahrain Grand Prix

April 17-19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

May 1-3: Miami Grand Prix

May 22-24: Canadian Grand Prix

June 5-7: Monaco Grand Prix

June 12-14: Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona-Catalunya)

June 26-28: Austrian Grand Prix

July 3-5: British Grand Prix

July 17-19: Belgian Grand Prix

July 24-26: Hungarian Grand Prix

Aug. 21-23: Dutch Grand Prix

Sept. 4-6: Italian Grand Prix

Sept. 11-13: Spanish Grand Prix

Sept. 24-26: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Oct. 9-11: Singapore Grand Prix

Oct. 23-25: United States Grand Prix

Oct. 30-Nov. 1: Mexico City Grand Prix

Nov. 6-8: São Paulo Grand Prix

Nov. 19-21: Las Vegas Grand Prix

Nov. 27-29: Qatar Grand Prix

Dec. 4-6: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of the Houston Texans and the 2026 NFL Draft.

Zaniness in the 1st Round…yep: With all the mock drafting that goes on out there and all the endless analysis of what is a glorified hiring fair, you would think that any and all possibilities would be accounted for coming into the 1st night of the draft. Yeah, about that…Sure, you probably had the Cardinals taking Love at 3. Maybe you didn’t quite see the Titans picking Tate at 4, but a Buckeye receiver going in the top 5 of the Draft is almost as constant as death, taxes, Caesar and the Northern Star. However, all of the trades went wild after that. Dallas, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Buffalo, the New Jersey/New York Jets, San Francisco and the Houston Texans moved up, down and all around that night. Seemed to be enough for Caserio to feel a sense of FOMO with the trades, hence trading up two spots. Was someone going to take Rutledge before 28? Rumors indicate that a lot of teams liked this IOL, and maybe Houston received intel that another team was going to make a move. Need I mention Ty Simpson and the Rams? All in all, placing any faith in a mock drafts is roughly akin to building a house on loose mud. 

Did Houston outfox Tennessee? Dunking on the BE-SFs is a Texans’ tradition. Again, if rumors are to be believed, the Texans received word that other teams, particularly the Giants and Titans, were looking at Jayden McDonald. That he slid to the 2nd round was one of the big headlines coming into Night 2 of the Draft. The Giants certainly would have loved him to replace Dexter Lawrence, who they just traded to the Bengals, and the Titans, with Robert Salah, would also desire him along their D-line. Thus, Houston made another Draft Day deal, sending picks to get that #36, which gave them McDonald and allowing them to beat out the Titans yet again. 

Texans Theme: Toughness. Most of the picks were either defense or positions associated with physicality. That was by design. Rutledge and McDonald are renown for tough playing as interior Oline and DT, respectively. The TE (Klein), well, a head-scratcher for the 2nd round’, but in theory, he could be a tough blocker. Then another guard (Nwaiwu), LB (Woodaz) and safety (Ramsey) in the 4th/5th round. The team did throw in a sure-handed slot receiver (Bond) but then closed out the draft with a LB from the National Champion Hoosiers (Fisher).  Will these all pan out? Too early to call now, but it won’t be for lack of trying from the Caserio regime. 

Speaking of Marlin Klein: Of all the picks by the Texans, his selection might be the one that gave most pause. A 2nd round pick on a guy like Klein, with only 12 starts in his career? Maybe Houston wants to enter the German market, but unless the Texans are playing in Berlin next season, but no one will be more under the microscope than this guy. Possible that he evolves into something special, but he doesn’t scream Gronk or pre-murder Hernandez, if that is what Caserio was thinking. Of course, one hopes Klein does not follow in the footsteps of another 2nd round Michigan TE taken by Houston: Benni Joppru. (Kids, ask your parents about what this TE did not do for the Texans, or in the NFL for that matter). 

Any UDFAs worth watching?: While most of the football headlines about player movement ended with the drafting of Mr. Irrelevant, there is still quite the market in Undrafted Free Agents (UDFAs). Houston is no exception. As of now, they are filling out the rosters with these hopefuls that didn’t hear their names called this weekend. Many will not make the cut, but that is not always the case. Long-time Houston fans recall Arian Foster, Jonathan Weeks and AJ Boyne. Maybe a name to consider: P Jack Stonehouse. Why the punter? Well, Houston did make a deal with the Saints for Kai Kroeger, sending a 2027 6th rounder for him. However, he did not exactly set the world afire punting in the Superdome. Townsend wasn’t perfect, and Frank Ross is one of the best special team coaches out there, but Kroeger doesn’t have that big an investment in him. Stonehouse may not have a lot of hype (how many punters do?), but he should get more than a fair shake at the punting job this preseason. 

FUN WITH NUMBERS

30: Number of Draft trades executed by Nick Caserio during his tenure:  For those that had some money riding on Caserio making a trade, you didn’t have to wait too long. Caserio made a deal with the Bills on Night 1 to move up two sports in the 1st round to get Rutledge to main the offensive interior. He followed that up with 4 trades over the next two days. Perhaps the best trade was the one to move up two spots with Las Vegas to draft McDonald. 

6: Total picks for Houston in the 2027 Draft. For those who can’t quite get over their draft porn fix, here is looking ahead to 2027. Houston has a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th as of now but does anyone think it will remain that way in 12 months (see previous FUN WITH NUMBERS entry). 

GAME BALLS

Kayden McDonald: A legit first round talent, but one of two players who did not hear his name called in the Green Room on Night 1. Goodell apparently asked him to come back for Week 2. His reward: Going to a team that now might have the best overall DL in the NFL. With Will Anderson, Jr and Danielle Hunter as his bookends, McDonald is going to get every chance to feast like he did last season at Ohio State. If he can channel his disappointment at not being a 1st rounder into his play, everyone associated with Houston is going to be very, very happy.

The City of Pittsburgh: Even if they got trolled hard (see below), they did put together one heck of a draft celebration. When you are home to one of the iconic franchises in the game, you have to rise to the occasion, and they did. Good for the Yinzers, even if Iron City Beer will always be second best to its Texan counterpart, 

Our Men on the Ground: Yes, we at Battle Red Blog got a couple of our guys right into the maelstrom, even getting the chance to ask questions of our future stars.  

SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTEN TO MEL KIPER JR AND STEPHEN A. SMITH IDIOCITIC RANTS ON THEIR LACK OF ACTUAL, ACCURATE NFL DRAFT KNOWLEDGE ON REPEAT UNTIL THE SCHEDULE RELEASE

Steelers’ Front Office in the 1st Round: Bad enough that their 1st round pick got swiped by Howie Roseman and the Eagles. However, to have that happen while you are on the phone with the draft pick, and have the Eagles call him while you are talking, only to see that the Eagles moved up, by dealing with their mortal enemy (Dallas) to get the pick to take your pick…that is some serious gettin’ trolled in public. Perhaps the Steelers still made a good pick, but that will go down in draft lore, and maybe not in a good way.

Mel Kiper, Jr.: Why hasn’t he retired, especially when he said he would years ago? 

Mike Vrabel/Dianna Russini: You would think that both of these people have seen enough crises/trainwrecks in their business associations to figure out what to do and what not to do. Apparently, they didn’t get the memo. The Patriots won’t fire Vrabel, but the trolling he is about to receive on the road will be epic, and very well deserved.  Russini, well, perhaps it is most telling when Nancy Armor and Christine Brennan, usually staunch defenders of their female sports reporting colleagues, are ripping her a new one. All of this right before the draft. It got drowned out with the picks and commentary, but would it shock anyone to see yet more leaked photos come out soon? 

With that, the NFL Draft leaves Pittsburgh, with Washington D.C. on the clock for the 2027 Draft. Now we turn our attention to the next big event on the calendar, the schedule release, currently slated for mid-May (tentatively the 13th). More to follow when that comes out. 

The Dallas Cowboys have been extremely busy since the 2025 season ended. Thankfully that campaign feels like forever ago now, although a lot is going to have to happen for us to fully forget how miserable the defense was.

Christian Parker is here now as the defensive coordinator and seems to have enough support to ensure that an event like last year’s defense is not even possible. The Cowboys have thrown an enormous amount of resources at the defensive side of the ball and will look very different as a result of it.

With the draft now behind us we can tie a bow on the major points of roster construction that the team will pass through this offseason. Obviously there will be a few things here and there, but the meat and potatoes have been cooked and plated.

Below you will find the significant points of roster adjustments that the Cowboys have made this offseason.

Returning

• Javonte Williams
• George Pickens (franchise tag)
• T.J. Bass (tender)
• Sam Williams
• Josh Butler
• Reddy Steward
• Princeton Fant
• Brandon Aubrey

Note: This list only includes players who returned after their previous contract expired. Players who could have maybe been released but had their contracts adjusted are not included.

Free Agency Additions

• Jalen Thompson
• P.J. Locke
• Otito Ogbonnia
• Rashan Gary (trade)
• Tyrus Wheat
• Sam Howell
• Cobie Durant
• Matt Hennessy
• Corey Ballentine
• Derion Kendrick
• Jonathan Bullard
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Draft Class

• 1: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
• 1: Malachi Lawrence, UCF
• 3: Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
• 4: Drew Shelton, Penn State
• 4: Devin Moore, Florida
• 4: LT Overton, Alabama
• 7: Anthony Smith, East Carolina
• Dee Winters was also acquired during the draft by way of trade

There is a lot of work here. No one is ever going to say something silly like that the Cowboys are “all in”, but they are walking the walk a little bit.

Wins will ultimately define whether the walk was legitimate, but they are at the very least on their way.

Right?

The 2026 major championship season is now underway, with the PGA Championship, The Open Championship and the US Open set to follow The Masters in the calendar.

Rory McIlroy won The Masters at Augusta National earlier this month, successfully defending his title for his second green jacket.

But many others endured a very different experience in Georgia, which has prompted a potential rule change for The Open Championship.

Sergio Garcia was reprimanded by Augusta officials after he damaged a tee box out of frustration, while there were calls for Robert MacIntyre to be disqualified from The Masters after he was caught flipping his middle finger and smashing his club into the ground.

Such misconduct on the course could now be severely punished at The Open, which takes place at Royal Birkdale in July.

The Open could introduce a two-shot penalty for on-course misconduct

Speaking to BBC Sport, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said of a new code of conduct policy at Royal Birkdale: “It will depend on the circumstance and a determination of what their actions may lead to, but you could well see a two-shot penalty, for example, being deployed.

“We will clarify all of those details in the buildup to the championship.”

That definitely would have put the likes of Garcia and MacIntyre in trouble at The Masters, and indeed several others elsewhere.

Earlier this month, Max Homa threw his club in frustration at the RBC Heritage, which again would have undoubtedly led to punishment under the possible code of conduct policy for The Open.

Player misconduct should decline under possible two-shot penalty

While eradicating misconduct entirely won’t be an easy feat, introducing a two-shot penalty looks like a very smart starting place.

Such a punishment could have major implications for the leaderboard, with the margins for error having become increasingly small.

A two-shot penalty could be the difference between a made cut and a missed cut, or more importantly first and second place.

McIlroy triumphed at The Masters by a single shot, with similar margins having played out at The Open over recent years.

MacIntyre said his bad behaviour won’t change following criticism of his outburst at Augusta, but a two-shot penalty is very likely to change his mind.

Tempers do, of course, often reach boiling point in the heat of the moment given what is at stake, especially at major championships.

But players should take their responsibility as role models very seriously, and shouldn’t be allowed to cross the line, just as fans aren’t.

Read more:

Rick Shiels says if Sergio Garcia should be banned from The Masters after his behaviour on the final day

Golf fans have mixed reactions after the venue for The Open Championship in 2028 is confirmed

Sergio García posts apology on social media after his outburst at The Masters

The Chicago Cubs did something no team had managed against Mason Miller in nearly nine months.

The San Diego Padres closer had been operating on a ridiculous scoreless run, turning late innings into a near-automatic shutdown whenever he took the mound.

But the Cubs finally broke through, even if San Diego still managed to survive the scare.

Chicago Cubs finally score on Mason Miller after a long drought

As highlighted by MLB on X, Chicago ended one of the most dominant active streaks in baseball.

“Cubs score the first run off Mason Miller since August 5, 2025,” the MLB X handle tweeted.

That run ended Miller’s scoreless streak at 34 2/3 innings, a Padres franchise record and one of the longest relief streaks in modern MLB history.

The moment came in the ninth inning with the Padres leading 9-5, when the Cubs loaded the bases, and Nico Hoerner brought home the first run on a groundout.

How Chicago Cubs made Mason Miller look human in the ninth inning

The inning started with drama, as Matt Shaw reached on an infield single that appeared close to rolling foul but was ruled fair.

Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong followed with singles of their own, loading the bases and putting Miller in real trouble for the first time in months.

Hoerner’s groundout officially snapped the streak, and a wild pitch later brought in another run to make the finish more uncomfortable for San Diego.

Miller still recovered enough to close out the 9-7 win, striking out Alex Bregman to end it and secure his 10th save of the season.

So while the Padres walked away with the result, the Cubs walked away with the rare achievement. They finally proved Miller could be touched.

Read more:

The Cadillac Formula 1 team has revealed a special livery for this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix – its first race event on home soil.

Cadillac is making its world championship debut this year, with a highest finish of 13th over the opening three rounds – Valtteri Bottas achieved that result in China.

The good, the bad and the ugly from Cadillac’s F1 debut

The team’s maiden car, named MAC-26 as a tribute to American motorsport icon Mario Andretti, usually sports a dual black-and-white livery, which was unveiled in an approximately $20m advertisement at this year’s Super Bowl.

Cadillac has now revealed a new design for the Floridian contest, incorporating the stars and stripes of the United States flag.

The rear wing features an unusually colourful touch, with the ‘USA’ acronym amid the country’s red, white and blue, though this is yet to be shown via imagery.

“The Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s special Miami Grand Prix livery is a natural extension and speaks without excess. It's deliberate and confident,” said chief brand advisor Cassidy Towriss. “This is our first home race, and it mattered to us that fans still recognize what they've come to know. I can’t wait for the crowd to see it on track for the first time. There's no place like home.”

The best Miami Grand Prix result by an American car so far is Kevin Magnussen’s 10th place for Haas in 2023, after the Dane qualified fourth but dropped down the order in the race.

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Matchday nine of the Icon League has been played, and the regular-season champion has been decided. With nine wins from nine games, Fokus Eagles are deserved champions, and no fewer than two players made the Team of the Week. 

Andrea Hoxha, the Eagles’ goalkeeper, is the first player on the list. He produced numerous saves and stopped a nine-meter shot. But by now, everyone should know that Hoxha is not only outstanding on his line. He is the player with the most touches and keeps contributing offensively as well. He did so again against Buzz Club, scoring one goal and providing a beautiful trivela assist for his teammate Sidney Friede. 

Friede was the standout player on the pitch, and there was no way around him this week. With four excellent goals, Friede put his team on course for victory early on. His goals had everything a football fan could want: a clean volley, a backheel goal, a clever finish using the boards, and one nutmegging Julian Mehl. 

Noah Jones scored three goals to help Berlin City to victory. The Berlin side beat the Wontorriors 7–3. A very clear final score. In reality, though, the game was much closer. Jones’ clinical finishing in particular made the result look so emphatic. 

The only player to make the Team of the Week despite his team losing is Norbert Jaszczak. The Pole gave everything and led his team into overtime with four goals and two assists, but it still was not enough for his team’s first win. Even so, Jaszczak was the outstanding player on the pitch, and his performance definitely deserved a victory. 

OneFootball celebrated their first win after seven defeats against The Pack. Amer Dzindic was especially committed, never giving up despite trailing 0–6 and continuing to drive his team forward. He took responsibility, scored a goal himself, and provided the decisive assist for the golden goal in overtime.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr has signed a new two-year contract to keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2028 season.

The 52-year-old former Somerset all-rounder has been in charge at the County Ground since 2018.

Kerr guided his side to third in Division One of the County Championship last season and has also won the One-Day Cup in 2019, as well as the Vitality Blast twice, in 2023 and 2025.

He previously led the club's academy and second XI from 2005 to 2015 and then became a first-team bowling coach before stepping up to the head coach role.

"My hunger and desire to be successful and to develop players only gets stronger," Kerr told the club website.

"It's incredibly exciting when you look at the potential of the club. The group of players we have can achieve great things.

"It's been an incredible journey so far and one that's brought successes to the club. Hopefully, we can add to that success in the coming years."

Somerset's director of cricket Andy Hurry said Kerr's passion for the county is "plain for all to see".

"As well as leading the team to three major titles, he has instilled a culture within the dressing room that has enabled our players and staff to thrive," said Hurry.

"This is evidenced in the number of players and coaches who have been selected for global tournaments and international cricket over the last few years."

Somerset are unbeaten in their first three County Championship matches this season, with two wins and a draw, and are second in the table, only behind Warwickshire, who have played one game more.

Kerr at the heart of Somerset success - analysis

Anthony Gibson, BBC Radio Somerset commentator

Jason Kerr has been at the heart of Somerset's success over the past eight seasons, in the course of which they have won the Royal London Cup, two Vitality Blast titles and come oh-so close to winning the really big one – the County Championship.

Quite apart from his technical coaching expertise, which is of the highest order, his greatest strength has been the team spirit that he has nurtured, built as it is on a squad of almost entirely home-produced players, many of whom he developed when he was in charge of the matchless Somerset pathway.

If you are looking for a reason why Somerset, as a small club, so consistently punches above its weight, then look no further than Jason Kerr.

Florida football is riding a wave of momentum like few teams in the conference, having secured commitments from multiple blue-chip recruits in the last month. A cornerstone piece in the Gators 2027 recruiting class, five-star interior offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller's choice to target Gainesville for the start of his collegiate career speaks volumes to the trajectory of Jon Sumrall's program.

The top recruit at his position is an immediate identity builder. Offensive and defensive linemen dominate the highest tier of recruiting rankings — according to On3 industry rankings, three of the top five play in the trenches. Hiller's decision to join the Gators is a tone-setter for the new regime. Physical football is the clear path for Florida to return to prominence, a fact that is reflected on the recruiting trail.

To compete in the SEC means to constantly be locked in an arms race with the likes of Alabama, Georgia and Texas. The first-year coach has the Orange and Blue competing alongside the conference elites once again. So, is Florida back in the elite recruiting conversation and can Sumrall translate this into wins?

New offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner is expected to emphasize multiple run schemes, both inside and outside zones, paired with a tempo and rhythm pass game. Having a dominant force like Hiller makes this plan much more viable.

At 6-feet-5-inches, 305 pounds, Hiller is incredibly mobile for his size — his near 4.9-second 40-yard dash proves this. Expect him to be able to generate movement in zone schemes and climb to linebackers on space runs.

More than half of the nation's 21 five-star prospects have already committed, according to ESPN. This denotes the national strategy in recruiting is shifting. Commitments are coming earlier, NIL negotiations are only becoming more complex and programs are prioritizing blue-chip talent like Hiller, who can attract others to join.

Florida doesn't seem to be done yet, with several top-10 prospects still uncommitted, the Gators remain in the hunt to land another game-changing player for its 2027 class. The big question now becomes, can the program close?

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Five-star OL commit Maxwell Hiller signals new era at Florida football

On Saturday night, top 10 UFC featherweights Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal looked to inch closer to a title opportunity in 2026 when they faced off in the main event of the promotion’s latest Fight Night card inside the UFC Apex.

Just like he did when he became a champion at 135 pounds, Sterling used his outstanding grappling to win the first two rounds and score a unanimous decision victory over the red-hot Zalal. Following their clash on Saturday, let’s take a look at where they now land in our updated UFC featherweight rankings.

10. Arnold Allen (20-4)

A few years ago, England’s Arnold Allen was primed to be a future title contender after winning 10 straight to start his UFC career. However, then he started to face the elites of the division and saw what the deep end of the water at featherweight was, as he lost two straight.

However, he scored a must-win in 2024 against Giga Chikadze. Unfortunately, he was sidelined for a year and a half before he finally returned for a tough test at UFC 324 against Jean Silva. Despite his best efforts in a great fight, he came up short against the Brazilian. Falling for the third time in his last four fights.

9. Youssef Zalal (18-6-1)

After going winless in four-straight, Youssef Zalal was cut from the UFC four years ago and had to fight his way back into the company. He did that and entered UFC 320 on an impressive seven-fight win streak. In his tough scrap on the main card of a PPV, he dominated and scored a first-round submission win on a top-10 stalwart, Josh Emmet.

The huge victory landed him his first headlining spot when he took on former bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling. Unfortunately, the future Hall of Famer was able to outwork him. Ending his win streak at eight straight.

8. Steve Garcia (19-5)

After losing two of his first three inside the Octagon and seeming on the verge of being cut, veteran Steve Garcia has caught fire over the last four years. In that time, he has won seven straight, with all but one coming by decision.

Of his last four victories, three were first-round knockouts. He has violently earned his spot in our latest UFC featherweight rankings top 10.

7. Yair Rodriguez (20-5)

After a period where he battled injuries and some tough losses, there was doubt as to whether Yair Rodriguez would ever reach his potential. He quieted all the uncertainty with massive wins over Brian Ortega and Josh Emmett. The latter made him the new interim champion. However, his reign was short-lived as Alexander Volkanovski took back the undisputed spot at UFC 290.

He then followed that up with another decisive loss in his home country to Brian Ortega in February. He entered UFC 314 in a must-win situation if he ever wanted to fight for UFC gold again. In a big fight welcoming Patricio Pitbull to the UFC, “El Pantera” posted a dominant win to get his name back in the championship conversation.

6. Aljamain Sterling (26-5)

After an outstanding run at bantamweight that should land him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame, Aljamain Sterling made the jump to featherweight in 2024. While he split his first two at 145 pounds, his lone loss came against the division’s top contender, Movsar Evloev.

Since that defeat, he has won two straight, including an April main event victory over one of the division’s hottest fighters, Youssef Zalal.

5. Jean Silva (17-3)

If there were any doubts about how good Jean Silva was, he sent a massive message to the division at UFC 314 by shutting down Bryce Mitchell’s grappling and pummeling him on the feet. Unfortunately, despite looking good at points in his follow-up against Diego Lopes in September, he suffered a TKO loss that ended a 13-fight win streak.

But he proved he remains an emerging contender at 145 in January of this year when he bounced back with a hard-fought win against another ranked fighter in Arnold Allen at UFC 324. The victory got him back on track and in the contender mix for 2026.

4. Lerone Murphy (17-1-1)

England’s Lerone Murphy has quietly become one of the best 145-pound fighters in the world. “The Miracle” had won nine straight inside the Octagon, and seemingly set himself up for a title fight in his next bout with his win at UFC 319.

However, instead, he was given the unsolvable puzzle that is Movsar Evloev in March. Unfortunately, he was the Russian’s latest decision loss victim. Murphy is still one of the best featherweights in the world, but a title shot in 2026 is now unlikely.

3. Diego Lopes (27-8)

After making his UFC debut in a very difficult short-notice clash with Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes has had an impressive run inside the Octagon. He is 6-3 in the UFC, with his setbacks coming in elite competition. However, in that time, he has scored some big wins, including over Brian Ortega and Jean Silva.

In January, he got a second — maybe unwarranted — crack at the title. And just like his opportunity in April 2025, he was outpointed and outworked by division legend Alexander Volkanovski. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old remains one of the must-watch fighters in the division.

2. Movsar Evloev (20-0) – Top Contender

Since he entered the UFC in 2019, former M1 star Movsar Evloev has been a problem that fighters at featherweight just can’t solve. Entering 2026, the Russian was 9-0 inside the Octagon and has scored wins over top talent like Diego Lopes, Aljamain Sterling, and Arnold Allen.

Evloev extended his unbeaten run in March when he scored his biggest victory yet against Lerone Murphy in his foe’s home country. While he isn’t an exciting fighter, he has done more than enough to be the No. 1 contender to Volkanovski.

1. Alexander Volkanovski (28-4) – Champion

Alexander Volkanovski has solidified his place as the best featherweight of all time. However, trips up in weight for a second title and the rise of Ilia Topuria led to three straight losses for “The Great” and speculation that his best days were behind him.

However, he has bounced back from those setbacks to reassert his dominance at 145 pounds with back-to-back wins over Diego Lopes. The most recent came in front of his countrymen at UFC 325. While he didn’t get the finish, he proved once again he was levels above the native of Brazil.

Related Headlines

• How to Watch UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates
• Complete UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Aljamain Sterling Delivers In Lopsided Win
• Ilia Topuria is Now Willing to Take Fight He Has Long Resisted?

Penguins playoff tickets 2026: See the cheapest prices, seats, schedule for NHL postseason games in Pittsburgh originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After a three-year drought, the Penguins are back. And Pittsburgh is ready for some NHL Playoff action.

The 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup victors will begin their title hunt in the best way possible, against rival Flyers. You couldn't draw it up any better.

BUY NOW: Get tickets to Penguins playoff games on StubHub

The road to glory won't be easy, but it'll be worthwhile. Can Pittsburgh use early playoff momentum to skate to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance?

There's only one way to find out. Here's how to support the Penguins during their NHL Playoff run with tickets to every game.

Penguins 2026 playoff tickets

• Tickets: StubHub

Tickets to Penguins games are available now on StubHub!

Pittsburgh will have home-ice advantage during the series. Prices for Game 1 at PPG Paints Arena currently start at $215.

Click below for the latest look at ticket availability.

BUY NOW: Latest prices, seats for Penguins playoff games at PPG Paints Arena

Penguins 2026 playoff schedule

The Penguins will face the Flyers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Below is a look at upcoming games.

First round

Philadelphia leads 3-2

*If necessary

NHL Playoffs 2026 dates

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are about to begin. Below is a look at key dates throughout the postseason.

• April 18: First day of playoffs
• June 21: Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 (if necessary)

NHL Playoffs 2026 bracket, matchups

It is no secret that Barcelona are dreaming big this coming summer, with the club setting their sights firmly on Julian Alvarez and Alessandro Bastoni, among others.

However, in order to facilitate a move for either of these stars, Barcelona must generate fresh revenue and that is where player sales come into the picture.

Recent reports suggest the Catalans are ready to sell three first-team stars this summer in the form of Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo.

But do they want to leave?

Cadena SER has done a follow-up story on Barcelona’s quest to secure exits of these three players this summer, offering perspective on how each of them feels about the decision.

As far as Balde is concerned, he has no desire to leave Camp Nou and wants to continue his progression under Hansi Flick.

Araujo, Balde reluctant to leave (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Catalans, too, rate Balde highly and despite the recent links to Marc Cucurella, they won’t consider a sale for the Spanish international unless there is a significant offer.

Araujo also wants to continue at Barça, but he is less sure than Balde, knowing he might not be as important to the club’s team setup compared to the left-back.

Araujo has often faced criticism for his inconsistency, and it is clear that he is not Flick’s first-choice option in central defence. This could harbour some doubt in the Uruguayan’s mind heading into the summer transfer window.

The final player on the list is Kounde, who is more likely to leave Barcelona among the three in the coming summer.

The report adds that Kounde could leave Barcelona if the club receive a strong offer. The Frenchman is drawn to the idea of playing in the Premier League.

FIFA is reportedly set to change the rules around yellow card suspensions at the 2026 World Cup, in a bid to avoid players missing key knockout games.

According to reports from The Athletic and BBC, FIFA will add a second amnesty stage at this summer's tournament, wiping away all yellow cards at the end of the group stage as well as after the quarterfinals.

The new rule is set to be adopted this week at the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver.

Previously, the only amnesty stage came after the quarterfinal. That meant that a player would be suspended if they received total two yellow cards prior to their team's game in the last eight.

But the 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time and as a result, the knockout stage will begin with the Round of 32 instead of the Round of 16 like prior editions.

That has led to the second stage of yellow card amnesty, which means that players will only receive a suspension if they are yellow carded in two of three group stage matches, or in two matches out of the round of 32, round of 16 and quarterfinal.

The new regulation should result in fewer teams missing key players for World Cup knockout matches.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup yellow card amnesty: FIFA to introduce second phase

Alex Cora Shares Emotional Farewell Message For Red Sox Nation originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Soxshockingly parted ways with Alex Cora on Saturday, firing him and five of his assistant coaches after the team's disappointing 10-17 start.

Cora has been active on social media since then. On Sunday, he posted the word "Happy!" on X along with a smiling emoji. He's also posted several photos to his Instagram story, including ones of him and his fired coaches leaving Baltimore and getting dinner together in the North End.

On Tuesday, the World Series-winning manager shared an emotional message on X thanking Red Sox Nation for supporting him and his family over the last eight years.

Boston, we will miss you.
Gracias for making us part of you. #RedSoxNation, you are the ❤️ of that team, keep believing, you really care and that’s what pushes everyone in the @RedSox to give it all day in and day out.
With respect and love
AC

— Alex (@ac13alex) April 28, 2026

"Boston, we will miss you. Gracias for making us part of you. #RedSoxNation, you are the (heart emoji) of that team, keep believing, you really care and that’s what pushes everyone in the @RedSox to give it all day in and day out. With respect and love AC."

Cora played for Boston, too, helping the team win a World Series as a player in 2007. He's had a special relationship with Red Sox fans for two decades now, establishing himself as a pillar of the organization and the community.

After nearly a decade as one of Boston's most successful and respected managers in team history, it will be interesting to see what Cora does next. However, Red Sox fans will always remember and appreciate him for leading the best team in franchise history in 2018.

More MLB: What's Driving Red Sox's Stunning Turnaround?

Patriots Reportedly Release 1,523-Yard RB After Drafting Jam Miller originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots are making roster adjustments following the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, and it looks like they have decided to part ways with one of their running backs on Tuesday.

According to Doug Kyed from the Boston Herald, the Patriots have released running back Elijah Mitchell.

The Patriots released RB Elijah Mitchell, per source.

— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) April 28, 2026

New England signed Mitchell to the practice squad in late December and then inked him to a future contract after the conclusion of the Super Bowl in February.

Mitchell has spent four seasons in the NFL, playing three years with the San Francisco 49ers and one season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Over the course of 28 career games, he has recorded 1,523 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

New England drafted Alabama running back Jam Miller in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, suggesting Mitchell's departure could be due to Miller's addition.

The Patriots also released two players on Monday, including tight end Hunter Lang and wide receiver John Jiles.

New England is gearing up for the rookie minicamp and mandatory minicamp, and we can expect a few more moves on the horizon.

More NFL: Patriots Need To Sign Former Chargers First Round Pick To Address Hole On Roster After Draft

To paraphrase Harold Wilson, a week is a long time in football.

It certainly proved that way for West Bromwich Albion last week.

Off the back of a huge away win at Preston North End, Albion went into the week knowing that a win at home to a beleaguered Watford, coupled with anything less than that for Oxford against Wrexham, would make them mathematically safe.

Both of those things came to pass as the Baggies ran out emphatic winners against the Hornets, while the U's fell to defeat.

We were allowed just 72 hours to bask in the glow of Championship survival before it was ripped away from us.

At 5pm on Friday, the EFL announced that they would be deducting Albion two points because of alleged financial breaches - which the club continue to claim they are innocent of.

Gallingly, no clarification was offered as to why Albion were found guilty or even how much the club were supposed to be in breach by, as the EFL neglected to provide the written reasons for the sanction.

A strong club statement highlighted the ridiculous nature of the decision, pointing out that the reason they were perceived to be over the limit was that the EFL were counting charitable donations as losses because of a rule change which had occurred after Albion had made the donations. The losses had then been applied to Albion's profit and sustainability calculation retrospectively.

The absurdity of the situation was not lost on respected figures around the football world, such as Kieran Maguire, Henry Winter and others, who were quick to point out how ridiculous the sanction, process, timing and lack of transparency appeared.

But, while social media feeds were awash with strong opinions on the potentially season-defining deduction, everyone inside the club focused on the final, powerful line of the club's statement.

"For now, we will settle this on the pitch."

It was a stance very much in line with the way James Morrison had approached the initial rumours of the charge a week earlier.

The interim boss knew he would face questions on the subject ahead of Albion's clash at Deepdale, but he very politely informed journalists that he had little to say on the matter, that he was only focusing on things within his control.

He also informed the media that his players would not be discussing the matter either, as he had taken the step of banning all talk of the story in the dressing room.

I doubt James Morrison sees himself as a master psychologist, but what is clear is that he understands players and fans, and he knows how to unify a club.

Most of this season, we have been a club divided.

Boardroom wrangles, two managers sacked, and fans and players about as disconnected at times as I can remember.

Yet, in a few short weeks, Morrison has changed all of that, and we have a club where it feels like everyone is pulling in the same direction again.

Albion have exhibited incredible mental strength and resilience to outwork and outfight teams week in, week out, resulting in an incredible 10-game unbeaten run.

And, following an unprecedentedly tumultuous week, Morrison kept minds focused on the task at hand as Albion confirmed safety for a second time on Saturday afternoon with a draw at home to Ipswich.

A truly testing week had been navigated flawlessly and, despite the best efforts of the EFL, our season was settled in the only place it should be – on the pitch!

Atlético-PI’s 8-1 rout of Rio Negro-RR is the biggest win of this edition of the Brazilian Women’s A2 ChampionshipCredits: @samukafotos_/Disclosure @atleticopiauiense

Atlético-PI’s 8-1 thrashing of Rio Negro-RR this Monday (28) became the biggest win of this edition of the Brazilian Women’s A2 Championship. At Lindolfo Monteiro, in Teresina, the home side won with goals from Natalinha (2), Eduarda Balbino (2), Steffany, Edilene, Duda and Giovana - Samira pulled one back for the team from Roraima.

With the emphatic result, Atlético regained the lead on goal difference. They are tied on 18 points with Vasco, who also have a 100% record in the competition, but sit top of the table with a goal difference of 17 compared to Cruzmaltino’s 16.

The second biggest win of the season also came in the current round, the tournament’s sixth, in Vasco’s 5-0 victory over Paysandu at Curuzu, in Belém, on Saturday (25). On the same day, Minas Brasília beat UDA-AL 5-1 at Gerson Amaral, in Coruripe.

Also by a 5-1 scoreline, Itabirito-MG defeated Vila Nova in the fifth round, on April 19, at Onésio Brasileiro Alvarenga, in Goiânia. The day before, Taubaté overcame UDA-AL 4-0 at Joaquim de Morais Filho, in Taubaté. This was also the scoreline of Vasco’s win over Pérolas Negras at Nivaldo Pereira, in Nova Iguaçu, in the third round, on March 28.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Penguins vs. Flyers playoff tickets 2026: How to buy, prices, schedule for Battle of Pennsylvania series originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Hockey fans couldn't ask for anything better. The Penguins and Flyers will kick things off in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a rivalry battle.

The Battle of Pennsylvania  was played four times throughout the regular season. The teams split the series, though Philly's wins came in shootouts. The Pens outscored their rivals 16-9.

BUY NOW: Get tickets to Penguins vs. Flyers playoff series on StubHub

Fortunately for the Flyers, history doesn't matter right now, and they have the momentum heading into the postseason after a thrilling playoff-clinching showdown.

This will be one to remember. Here's how you can see all the action live and in-person with tickets to every game of the Penguins vs. Flyers playoff series.

Penguins vs. Flyers playoff tickets

• Tickets: StubHub

Tickets to the Penguins-Flyers playoff series are available now on StubHub!

Pittsburgh will host Games 1 and 2 while Philly will host Games 3 and 4. Currently, the get-in price for the games is about $250. Should the series go to extras, the price will likely rise.

Click the link below for the latest look at ticket availability.

BUY NOW: Latest prices, seats for Penguins-Flyers in Battle of Pennsylvania

Penguins vs. Flyers playoff schedule

The Penguins will have home-ice advantage when they face the Flyers in the first round of the NHL Playoffs.

Here's a complete schedule of the series.

Philadelphia leads 3-2

*If necessary

NHL Playoffs 2026 bracket, matchups

Below is a look at the bracket and matchups for the NHL Playoffs. For ticket details to every series click here.

Eastern Conference

• (A1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins
• (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A3) Montreal Canadiens
• (M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Ottawa Senators
• (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (M3) Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

• (C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Los Angeles Kings
• (C2) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild
• (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Utah Mammoth
• (P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) Anaheim Ducks

Generally, five-star recruits are expected to eventually be day one, or at least day two, NFL draft picks. For former five-star defensive tackle Damon Payne, it didn't exactly work out that way.

Payne hailed from Belleville High School, mere minutes from Ann Arbor, but opted to start his career playing for Nick Saban at Alabama. He never quite took hold in Tuscaloosa, even when Kalen DeBoer took over the Crimson Tide in 2024. Thus, in 2025, Payne opted to return home, where he hoped his career would flourish.

Payne still was a reserve player, and though he saw a lot of time on task, he didn't necessarily have a statline that indicated his intermittent dominance. With 16 tackles and two tackles for loss, Payne wasn't seen in the same light as teammate Rayshaun Benny.

Thus, unlike Benny (who ended up being a seventh-round pick), Payne didn't get the call that he was getting selected in the 2026 NFL draft. But, he is still getting his opportunity, having signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.

✍️ Damon Payne has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs! pic.twitter.com/xM7rHEEfJZ

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 26, 2026

The Chiefs often had a cadre of Wolverines up front, ranging from Frank Clark to Taco Charlton to Mike Danna. Danna was the last man standing in Kansas City, but ultimately was released this offseason. Payne will come in and hope to continue the tradition of former Michigan players playing stalwart on the historically disrupted defensive line.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Damon Payne signs with Chiefs as undrafted free agent

Ice hockey games at the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps could be moved to Paris or Lyon because the new mayor of Nice opposes a temporary venue in the home stadium of a local football club.

The organizing committee said on Tuesday it was broadening its look for a suitable venue to "existing facilities in other major metropolitan areas such as Lyon or Paris" which seat at least 10,000 people.

A decision could come at a May 11 meeting of the organizing committee's executive committee.

Organizers had originally planned to use the Allianz Riviera Arena stadium of Ligue 1 football club OGC Nice, mainly for men's matches, with other games and ice sports also to take place in the Mediterranian city.

But the new Nice mayor, Éric Ciotti, has vetoed the plans because the club should not be barred from playing in its stadium for a lengthy period of time owing to the Olympics.

Two other possible stadiums for a temporary venue in Nice were studied but had limitations, "particularly due to their very high cost and impact,” organizers said.

Instead, they are now looking at several other options "that are better suited and more sustainable."

Moving the matches to Lyon or even Paris would make the Games even more spread out which also a source of criticism around this year's Milan/Cortina Games where the majority of ice sports were held in Milan and the other events across the Italian Alps.

The Georgia Bulldogs had eight players selected in the 2026 NFL draft, but the Bulldogs still had several notable players get passed up in the draft including a pair of All-SEC specialists. Following the draft, every year there's a frenzy to land the top undrafted players. This year's draft was no different.

Shortly after the draft, five Georgia players signed as undrafted free agents with NFL teams. The Minnesota Vikings took on two undrafted Georgia players in punter Brett Thorson and wide receiver Dillon Bell.

Last year, a pair of undrafted Dawgs (linebacker Chaz Chambliss and tight end Ben Yurosek) made the Vikings' 53-man roster. Yurosek and Chambliss both ended up having a significant role for the Vikings with both players appearing in 12 games.

Being undrafted does not mean a player's career is over, but players have to find an NFL team willing to take a risk on them as an undrafted free agent. Joining Bell and Thorson as undrafted Georgia players to sign are wide receiver Noah Thomas (Cincinnati Bengals), long snapper Beau Gardner (Chicago Bears) and running back Cash Jones (Atlanta Falcons).

Georgia Bulldogs that signed as free agents

• Running back Cash Jones: Atlanta Falcons
• Wide receiver Noah Thomas: Cincinnati Bengals
• Punter Brett Thorson: Minnesota Vikings
• Wide receiver Dillon Bell: Minnesota Vikings
• Long snapper Beau Gardner: Chicago Bears

Georgia Bulldogs that received minicamp invitations

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The New England Patriots pass rush was not great last season, and it lost one of its biggest contributors in K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency.

Chaisson had a career year for the Patriots and signed with the Washington Commanders in free agency. The Patriots addressed his departure by signing Dre'Mont Jones and drafting Gabe Jacas. However, the pass rush could still use some more juice. The team should look into signing Von Miller, who is still a free agent.

Miller is bound for the Hall of Fame when he hangs it up. He is an eight-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, two-time Super Bowl champion, and was the Super Bowl 50 MVP. He may be 37 now, but he still had nine sacks and 10 tackles for a loss last season. He would have led the Patriots in sacks and been toed for the team lead in tackles for a loss. Miller did that starting just three games, and playing less than 40% of defensive snaps for the Commanders. He did manage to stay healthy the entire season.

He has played less than 40% of snaps for three consecutive seasons now, and it's clear he is no longer the player he once was for the Denver Broncos. However, he is thriving in a limited role where he can come in strictly to get after the quarterback. He has 15 sacks in his last 30 games. 

Miler signed a one-year deal with the Commanders last season, and with their addition of Chaisson, they do not need Miller. However, the Patriots could benefit from adding him as a depth piece who comes in on passing situations. Miller has nothing left to prove, but has noted that he does not want to retire.

"I'm definitely not at the beginning, but they're still falling for the same tricks," Miller said on "The Rick Eisen Show" earlier this offseason. "I can't leave. They're still falling for this stuff. I gotta roll the dice again. I had nine sacks last year, and I only played 35, 37 percent, so they're still falling for it. They're still falling for the same tricks I've been doing my whole career. I'm going to keep rolling the dice until they figure it out."

Miller would be a cheap addition for the Patriots, and he would not take significant playing time away from Harold Landry, Jacas or Jones. He would also be great insurance against an injury.

In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears waited patiently as their turn with the No. 25 selection came up, as other teams were busy maneuvering around the board with trades.

Coming into the draft, the Bears were widely expected to address their defense with their first round pick, whether it was on the defensive line or in the secondary, primarily at safety, which is where they went selecting Dillon Thieneman.

Many mock drafts leading up to the draft had expected Thieneman to be long gone before the Bears' selection in the first round came up, and if they wanted to go get him, a trade would be required. That was not the case, and general manager Ryan Poles recently spoke about the anxious moments that were there watching the board fall, ultimately giving Chicago one of the top players on their board, while also fulfilling a big need on their roster.

"Yeah, there were," Poles said. "I think I've talked about our simulator usage, some mocks – hundreds of mocks – to kind of hone in and give us different challenges as we're picking to go through and simulate the draft. It was 50/50 with him oftentimes. So, we weren't sure if he was going to make it. I think there was a lot. I think it was 18 that seemed to be the spot that everyone said he was going to. We knew if we got past that, there was a good chance.

"Again, in our sequence we had two more guys that were close, so we knew that we were going to get a good football player. I drew a line on our top 100 of ones that we would be looking to trade back, trade up, and it fell where we had a couple of guys there in the sequence. We looked to potentially move back a little bit. There wasn't much interest right behind us where we felt comfortable in terms of the numbers, so we just moved forward, and we loved the player, so we were excited about it."

Coming into the draft, it certainly felt like there was a very slim chance that Thieneman would be available to Chicago at the No. 25 pick, but things played out in the front office's favor, and they got one of the best players in the draft class. Following Thursday night, several draft pundits have praised the Bears for their selection of Thieneman and what he will bring to the defense from the moment he steps on the field.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears GM Ryan Poles opens up on anxiety in first round of NFL draft

East Carolina @ NC State | Tue, Apr 28 @ 6:00pm | ACCNX | Stats

It’s only been two weeks since NC State and East Carolina last faced off, a game that resulted in a one-sided Wolfpack win, but the direction of the two teams since that game has been dramatically different. The Pirates exited that game languishing a bit, with a beat up roster and an RPI ranking that was NCAA Regional iffy. NC State exited that game with an RPI that, while still lower than that of ECU, was trending upwards and finally into the 40’s – a good position with the closing stretch of the season upcoming.

Well…

The Wolfpack, as you well know around here, have lost back-to-back ACC series, getting bludgeoned by bats at Wake Forest and then letting a winnable series escape them at Virginia Tech. Instead of that upwardly mobile RPI figure, State’s NCAA Regional resume is on the outside looking in with a sub-.500 ACC mark and an RPI ranking of 53rd.

The Pirates, meanwhile, are winners of six of their seven games since the Wolfpack came to down on April 14th. Over the last four games – all wins – East Carolina’s offense has found their groove and plated 52 runs, with double-digit outputs in each of those four games. This has propelled the Pirates into a tie for first place in the American while also boosting their RPI ranking to 28th, firmly putting ECU into the NCAA Regional field.

This has suddenly become a must-win game for NC State. With series remaining vs Miami, at Stanford, and vs North Carolina, as well as a midweek game against NC A&T. The Wolfpack have to finish 7-4 in those remaining 11 games (8 are at home), with one of those wins coming against the RPI #293 Aggies. Technically, that 6-4 mark against the remainder of the schedule could come in any combination, but for a Pack team that is just 3-5 in their last eight games, carrying some momentum into the coming weekend series against the Hurricanes would be nice. More importantly, a loss today would drop the Wolfpack’s RPI score by 40 points, potentially dropping the Pack into the 60’s in RPI ranking, a tenuous position for the team’s NCAA Regional hopes.

A depleted Wolfpack pitching staff will send rJR RHP Julien Peissel (0-1, 18.00 ERA, 4.0 IP, 12.5 BB%, 20.8 K%) to the mound to start the game. This will likely be a Johnny Wholestaff game for State. An also-depleted ECU pitching staff will counter with rSR LHP Nick Moran (1-0, 5.29 ERA, 17.0 IP, 10.6 BB%, 19.7 K%), in what figures to be a game featuring multiple pitching changes for the Pirates.

The 2026 NFL Draft is officially closed, and the Atlanta Falcons clearly had one concept in mind in Ian Cunningham’s first draft as general manager: Take as many bets on high-end traits as possible.

With Zachariah Branch, the bet is on his speed and return ability to hold him up as he continues to develop as an overall receiver in the NFL.

For Kendal Daniels, it’s a bet on the versatility from his safety days at Oklahoma, combined with his ability to play the run as a linebacker, to become another chess piece in the Jeff Ulbrich puzzle.

Anterio Thompson, Harold Perkins, and Ethan Onwiana all have traits that can potentially show themselves on special teams or otherwise, before becoming potential stalwarts on a Falcons roster that is still in its early stages of being reworked under the first year of Cunningham, Matt Ryan, and Kevin Stefanski.

The only “sure thing” the Falcons really drafted in this year’s draft was an undersized outside cornerback in Avieon Terrell, who even NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah reported would “project best as a nickel” at the NFL level.

Alongside these worthwhile gambles, the Falcons brought in 16 undrafted free agents and extended four rookie minicamp invites to help fill out this summer’s 90-man roster. While the focus has been on the beautiful moment between the Terrell Brothers and the flipping of Harold Perkins from the evil empire, these 20 individuals have bought themselves a golden ticket to an opportunity at an NFL roster.

And when the list was finalized, there were five names that stood out immediately.

Auburn TE Brandon Frazier

Since joining the team as, coincidentally, an undrafted free agent in 2023, I have been waiting for Joshua Simon to emerge as the H-Back for the Falcons. I thought his combination of athleticism (8.65 RAS, sub 4.7 40-yard dash) could be conducive to him having the explosive element necessary to be a part of the rotation at tight end. Unfortunately, it seems like this year, he’s on his last leg as Stefanski and company have zero ties to the young man.

Even more unfortunately, Brandon Frazier is coming in at a whopping 6’7”, 267 pounds, and is known as a terrific blocker. I don’t see too many scenarios where Frazier does not unseat Simon for that fourth tight end spot and could even start nipping at the heels of Charlie Woerner, who is going into the final year of his contract, with a good enough showing this summer.

Miami C James Brockermeyer

Is he undersized? Yes.

Can he play any other interior offensive lineman positions? You could try, but probably not.

Could he struggle with stronger interior players? Of course, but that’s also why he’s a UDFA.

In 2024, Brockermeyer also allowed only one sack and eight pressures over the course of the season, snagging him an All Big-Ten Honorable Mention. He helped lead Miami to the national championship game and has been noted as a smart, fundamental player. With uncertainty at the center position, Ryan Neuzil may have the pole position, but this is, by far, the most open position “battle” on the offensive line.

Minnesota State Moorhead QB Jake Strand

I will not sit here and act like I have watched any of Minnesota State Moorhead quarterback Jake Strand before he was announced as a UDFA for the Falcons. I will say that the limited tape that I have seen of him shows that he has an impressive arm that can get the ball to its target from multiple arm angles.

Now, he’s still a clear project; he’s inconsistent, he’s streaky, he’s got some real work to do with his footwork. But…there could be something there.

With the amount of burn the Michael Penix, Tua Tagovailoa saga will get here in the coming year, the Strand/Trevor Siemian battle will be very under the radar, but it will be pivotal. Siemian may win solely off the fact that both Penix and Tagovailoa struggle with staying on the field and Siemian is at least a known commodity.

But I’d like to see what the Falcons can get from the 21-year-old graduate, especially since he’s got his Engineering Physics degree.

Wisconsin OL Riley Mahlman

With the sudden retirement of Kaleb McGary, the Falcons immediately pivoted and brought in former Kansas City tackle Jawaan Taylor to fill the void. But outside of Jake Matthews, Atlanta does not have many sure things at the tackle positions. Behind Matthews and Taylor is swing tackle Storm Norton, but he’s coming off a lost 2025 season due to an ankle injury. If Norton is out again, the Falcons are looking at names like former seventh-round pick Jack Nelson and former sixth-round pick from the Seahawks, Michael Jerrell. 

So, with a solid summer, Wisconsin’s Riley Mahlman, who has experience at both tackle spots and was a solid run blocker in college, can find himself with the opportunity to be a practice squad player waiting to be called up if the injury bug bites.

The Denver Broncos invited former Wisconsin running back Julius Davis to their rookie minicamp, according to the Denver Post's Luca Evans.

Davis began his college career at Wisconsin in 2019, joining the program as a three-star recruit and the top in-state player in the class. He then appeared in nine games over four seasons with the program. He totaled 35 carries for 200 rushing yards during that playing time.

Davis transferred out of the program after the 2022 season. The running back committed to Montana State, where he excelled over the final three years of his college career. Davis first turned 104 carries into 722 yards and six touchdowns as a redshirt junior in 2023. He started 2024 off on a strong note, totaling 227 yards and three touchdowns before missing much of the campaign due to injury. Finally, the running back took advantage of an extra year of eligibility in 2025, totaling 1,123 yards and eight touchdowns on 170 carries.

The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, native now has his first NFL opportunity. He'll work to turn the rookie minicamp invite into an invite to this summer's training camp. If all goes well, Davis could compete for a spot on the Broncos' practice squad.

Another #Broncos rookie minicamp invite: Montana State RB Julius Davis, per source.

Ran for 1,123 yards on 170 carries (6.6 YPC), 8 rushing TD last year. pic.twitter.com/DzhkTajndY

— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) April 27, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football transfer Julius Davis invited NFL Broncos minicamp

Francis Ngannou thinks heavyweight MMA isn't where it used to be.

Ngannou (18-3) parted ways with the UFC in 2023 as heavyweight champion. The split was far from amicable, but Ngannou managed to pursue his dreams of lacing up the gloves twice against two of the biggest names in Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

He has only competed once in MMA since, when he knocked out Renan Ferreira in the first round to win the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title in October 2024. "The Predator" points to UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall's current rift with the promotion as a sign that heavyweight MMA is struggling.

"I think there is a lot of, I would say, mismanagement," Ngannou told The Schmo on the state of heavyweight MMA. "There is a lot of mismanagement that sometimes gets stuff screwed up, and then that's where we are today. You see, even now, there's a lot of heavyweights out there like Tom Aspinall. He's having troubles with this.

"I think there's a mismanagement. You see all these situations that don't come and entertain. When I say mismanagement, I wasn't talking about, like, managers. I was talking mostly about the promotion. So I think there's something like that out there, which is not right."

Ngannou returns to the cage when he takes on Phillipe Lins (18-5) in MVP's inaugural MMA event on May 16 from Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Calif. Lins is an experienced veteran, but doesn't carry the name value Ngannou does.

"Nowadays with all these different companies, it's hard to just focus on a name like, 'I want this name, I want this guy,'" Ngannou said. "I've done that for a while, and it didn't work really good. We can take a good example of the Jon Jones fight that we've been talking about around six years since I fought Jairzinho Rozenstruik to the point that it's kind of annoying to talk about. So whatever fight makes sense, opponent makes sense to fight, just fight. Remember, the goal at the end of the day is to fight."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Francis Ngannou places blame for heavyweight MMA decline

John Stones is set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, bringing an end to a decade-long spell at the Etihad Stadium.

The 31-year-old defender joined City from Everton in 2016 for a fee of £47.5 million and has since been a key part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. Over the course of his time in Manchester, Stones has made 293 appearances and helped the side collect 19 major trophies.

That haul includes six Premier League titles, with a seventh still a possibility this season, as well as a Champions League triumph in 2023 when he started the final victory over Inter Milan. He has also won two FA Cups, five League Cups, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and three Community Shields.

In total, Stones has scored 19 goals and registered nine assists for City, often contributing in important moments from defence. However, injuries have limited his involvement in recent seasons, and this campaign he has featured only 20 times across all competitions.

His departure follows the news that fellow long-serving midfielder Bernardo Silva will also leave at the end of the season after nine years at the club. 

With both players now preparing to move on, it marks the end of an era for a core group that has defined City’s dominance under Pep Guardiola and helped establish the club as a major force in European football.

When you have an abysmal away record the last thing you should do is give away a soft goal inside a minute.

Amazingly Killie have now done this in three consecutive away games - surely that is some kind of world record?

It is shocking and I don't know if it's a job for Neil McCann or a sports psychologist following our latest calamity at Pittodrie.

Following that initial collapse we settled into the game fairly well and should have taken something given we hit the woodwork on three occasions.

The return of Max Stryjek has been long overdue and it was fantastic to see him back on the park following heart surgery.

The only positive from the weekend was St Mirren surprisingly losing at home to Livingston.

Thankfully we are back at home this Saturday to face Dundee United, who we have an excellent record against this season.

It's an absolutely massive game and I predict we will sneak a 1-0 win.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

As the dust settled on the 2026 NFL Draft, Jordan Schultz reported the Bills invited an intriguing wide receiver to their rookie minicamp, former third-round Bengals draft pick Jermaine Burton.

While I can’t claim to be the conductor of The WR Train — that would be WGR550’s Jeremy White, of course — my ears always perk up when I catch wind of the Bills acquiring a wideout at any stage of the calendar year.

And as a draft nerd, this news really got the juices flowing… I vividly recall scouting Burton two years ago. He was distinctly on the minds of many as a potential Day 2 selection for the Bills in a draft that ultimately netted the Bills Keon Coleman at the top of the second round.

Now that Burton will be attending Buffalo’s rookie minicamp in the not-too-distant future, let’s dive into what he brings to the field as the quintessential low-risk, high-reward option for the Bills in early May.

Let’s quickly start with Burton’s natural talent. As a high-school recruit in the class of 2020, he was the No. 15 wideout in 247 Sports’ Composite Ranking, one spot below current Chargers receiver Quentin Johnson and two spots ahead of Colts wideout Josh Downs.

Across four collegiate seasons — the first two at Georgia, the last two at Alabama — Burton caught a total of 132 passes for 2,376 yards (18 yards per grab) with 23 touchdowns.

In the 2024 draft, Burton was my WR16, slightly behind the Malachi Corley and Ricky Pearsall, with a third-round grade.

He was ultimately the 13th receiver picked, selected in the third round at No. 78 overall.

Here are my observational notes on Burton before the draft:

“Easy speed. Sudden and glides on the field. Shows natural ability to flip on the jets, and at top speed he absolutely flies. Awesome hands. The suddenness that comes with his athleticism helps him generate separation, and he ran a fair amount of routes (mostly vertical) in college but doesn’t translate after the catch. Minimal flashes in those scenarios. Tracks it over his head awesomely, and his true speciality is his ability to stretch defenses vertically. Decent height and slender-ish frame lends itself to his effortless speed. Despite smaller-ish frame, he’s a tenacious blocker on the outside. Somewhat of a niche WR but his speed and flashes of dynamic route running make him an intriguing WR prospect who can be instant impact down the field. Older-ish prospect.

And here’s all his pertinent NFL Combine information:

During those four seasons in the SEC, Burton aligned on the boundary on 74% of his snaps, dropped just four passes on 197 targets and won on 52.6% of his contested-catch opportunities, per PFF.

During his rookie season with the Bengals, Burton appeared on just 11.5% of the offensive snaps and caught four passes for 107 yards without a touchdown. He had two 40-plus yard receptions against the Chiefs and Eagles that year.

As far as why Burton’s available before the start of his third professional season, he was allegedly involved in a domestic dispute, per ESPN, but no charges were filed and no punishment was handed down by the NFL.

Beyond that serious matter, there’s no use speculating as to the exact details that led to his release in Cincinnati, and while of course the Bills will probably be closely monitoring Burton, what transpired during his first stop in the NFL is essentially irrelevant now because Buffalo’s brass first needs to see if Burton can make an impact at rookie minicamp before it assess how much “risk” he poses if they decide to make room for him on the roster entering mandatory minicamp/training camp.

There’s no question Burton is a clearly talented, vertical-based wideout. He’ll take part in Bills rookie minicamp with the potential to be this year’s version of the Chase Claypool Experiment, a trail run that was going well in 2024 before the wideout was injured at St. John Fisher.

England defender John Stones said he "lived all my dreams out" at Manchester City after confirming he will leave at the end of the season.

Stones, whose contract runs out this summer, has made 293 appearances since joining from Everton for £47.5m in 2016.

He helped City win six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, the Club World Cup and the Uefa Super Cup.

"It has been my home for the past 10 years and it will be my home for the rest of my life," said an emotional Stones in a social media post.

"It has been a rollercoaster in many ways. I came as a kid and now leaving as a man - becoming a father, a husband and, on the pitch, a very fulfilled player.

"I lived all my dreams out and lifted all the things that I came here to achieve.

"At the start of my career here I never would thought I would be in this position. Firstly, to achieve everything but to have the love, the bond with everyone. Every dream has been smashed out of the park."

Stones was Pep Guardiola's second signing at City, becoming the world's second most expensive defender at the time.

"I don't think it would have been anywhere near as successful without him," said Stones.

"I'm so grateful that I've been able to spend so long with him, win everything with him. I feel lucky and grateful for what he's done for me."

More to follow.

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Jose Mourinho’s chances of becoming Real Madrid’s manager have soared after a bombshell twist in the Spanish capital, according to David Ornstein.

From Manchester to Madrid

Despite having appeared to be on a steady decline since leaving Old Trafford in December 2018, the Special One is now firmly in line to take charge of Los Blancos this summer. Mourinho was dismissed by Manchester United after two and a half years in charge, as the Portuguese’s infamous ‘third season’ implosion was set off with little surprise.

The Setubal native would go on to have spells with Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma, Besiktas, and his current club, SL Benfica – with mixed results at all four. However, he did win the Europa Conference League in the Italian capital.

Under Mourinho’s watch, Benfica are unbeaten in Liga Portugal but remain seven points adrift of table-toppers – and his former side – Porto, with only three games left to play.

This invincible run in the league has been countered by early exits from the Taca de Portugal and the Champions League. The defeat in Europe at the hands of, ironically, Madrid was marred by controversy after allegations of racial abuse were levelled at Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni.

Mourinho himself drew widespread criticism for suggesting the victim, Brazilian superstar Vinicius Junior, had incited the incident, throwing further doubt on his future as Benfica boss. Another ex-United boss, Ruben Amorim, has been strongly linked with the hot seat at the Estadio da Luz should Mourinho depart this summer.

And while reports linking the 63-year-old to jobs like Newcastle United or the Saudi Pro League were given little credence, Ornstein has now dropped a game-changing update on Real Madrid’s hunt for a new manager.

Perez wants reunion with Jose

The Athletic reporter reveals Florentino Perez, the president at the Santiago Bernabeu, has settled on Mourinho as his “favoured candidate” to replace interim coach Alvaro Arbeloa.

Arbeloa was appointed in January to take over from Xabi Alonso after the former Bayer Leverkusen boss was shown his marching orders in a move which mirrored INEOS’ appointment of Michael Carrick around the same time.

However, Perez has no interest in sticking with his caretaker as he looks to “rebuild a project that has fallen into disrepair” following the second consecutive campaign without a major trophy.

“Multiple sources, speaking anonymously as they did not have permission to comment, have told The Athletic that the decision on who will become Madrid’s next coach is being driven by Perez.

“That is in contrast to the hiring of Alonso to replace Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season, a process which was led by Madrid’s general manager Jose Angel Sanchez, but given the green light by Perez.”

While the president is the “main supporter” of Mourinho’s return, with the Portuguese tactician having previously managed Real between 2010 and 2013, there are “other voices” who are opposed to the appointment.

It will require a fee in the region of €3 million to prise Mourinho from the Portuguese capital as his contract runs until June 2027, but includes a break clause if triggered within 10 days of the end of the season.

Final Thoughts

A blockbuster reunion between football’s most outspoken manager and the sport’s biggest club is a script which practically writes itself – which is why Perez’s decision to target Mourinho is so bizarre.

Every United fan will be able to predict, with flawless prescience, exactly how this move will play out for the La Liga giants. The ‘Special One’ is no longer in his prime, even if the return to the Bernabeu will constitute absolute primetime viewing.

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Arsenal are one of the clubs interested in recruiting the services of Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi in the summer, according to talkSPORT. The 19-year-old has captured the attention of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta who could now look to bring him to the Emirates Stadium club. Kroupi scored home and away against Arsenal and Manchester United, with 11 league goals to his name in 29 appearances this term. The North Londoners are not the only club keen on the Frenchman, with Manchester City and the Red Devils also keeping tabs on his situation.

Kroupi does not have a release clause in his Cherries contract after arriving in a £10 million deal last year. However, Bournemouth could demand top dollar from suitors to sell their teenage striking sensation and whether Arsenal is ready for a bidding battle remains to be seen. The Gunners have Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez as their top target in the position, but it could cost £86m (€100m) to tempt the La Liga club into doing business with them. Kroupi will not cost up to that and the opportunity to play Champions League football and challenge for the Premier League could appeal to him.

Arsenal are expected to sell one out of Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in the summer to make room for another striker.

Kroupi has proven himself after just one season in the Premier League, but he is far from a one-season wonder as he notched 22 goals in 30 Ligue 2 games last term.

It has not been a good week for Villanova in the center market.

Last week, both Ben Defty (Arizona State) and Christian Reeves (Kansas) went off the board. That trend continued into this week as Georgetown transfer Julius Halaifonua committed to Oklahoma State. That is three seven footers that have found new homes as the Wildcats remain in search of a starting big man next to Kwame Evans Jr.

Villanova was linked to Halaifonua early in the process but as time went on, it seemed that it was out on the center. As a sophomore, Halaifonua averaged 9.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He played in 32 games for the Hoyas, making 28 starts.

Kevin Willard has pulled off many surprises this offseason, including Elijah Crawford and Buddy Simmons, in the backcourt. On Friday, Matt mentioned in a previous post that the Wildcats have been connected to 19-year-old Luigi Suigo out of Italy. The 7-foot-3 center has declared for the NBA Draft so fans will have to wait until the June 15th deadline to withdraw.

Outside of Suigo, there is a good chance that Willard and the Wildcats are working on names that we have not heard connections to just yet. Regardless, the fact that the Wildcats remain in the center market proves that the coaching staff wants to get bigger — and that is a necessity compared to last year’s team.

BANDON, Ore. – Allie Knight spends her days teaching golf to others in her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. She often holds camps for youngsters in the mornings and gives lessons in the afternoon. But in between the time spent working on other people's games, she works on her own.

"Usually I try to get out on the course in the morning, try to be the first one off at 7:30 if I can," Knight said. "I play really quick and then I'll be at work giving lessons at noon or 1 until the evening, a lot of times till 8 at night."

Through two days of the 2026 PGA Professional Championship, that work is paying off. Knight is one of nine women in the field of 312 PGA professionals competing at the scenic and pristine Bandon Dunes Golf Resort this week, and she's not simply in the field — she's contending.

Knight fired a 67 on the Bandon Dunes course Sunday and followed it with a 73 Monday on the Pacific Dunes course to finish her first 36 holes in 3 under, comfortably inside the cutline and just five shots off the lead, sitting in a tie for 13th.

"I've just been hitting the ball really well," Knight told Golfweek on Monday. "[On Sunday] I made a bunch of putts and that's how I got under par. Today, my putter just kind of struggled. I think I had like four or five three-putts out there. I mean the greens are big and it's going to happen. As long as I keep hitting the ball like I am and just get my putter going . . . I know it's going to get windy. I think it's going to get tougher, so just trying to keep my mindset to know that when it gets windy, it's going to be hard and it's okay."

Difficult conditions don't seem to worry Knight, who won the PGA Women's Stroke Play Championship in February to punch her ticket to the KPMG Women's PGA Championship for the sixth straight year. She's never made the cut there, but she also had never made the cut at the PGA Professional Championship in two tries before this year at Bandon Dunes.

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Knight isn't eligible to qualify for the men's PGA Championship (the top 20 finishers at Bandon Dunes earn a spot in the field in May at Aronimink), but she's using the opportunity to get ready for Hazeltine.

"I think it's good preparation before the KPMG," said Knight, who played college golf at Middle Tennessee State. "Hopefully you get to play four days, and there's not many tournaments I'm going to play in where I'm playing four days of golf, and that's a lot. So it's preparation for that coming up in June, just being able to to be out here and competing and just keeping that competitive edge going."

And just as the windy conditions don't faze her, neither does teeing it up against the men. She does it all the time back in Knoxville.

"There's definitely a lot of great players there and we've got a good Monday pro-am series that I'll try to play in every Monday, and that's really great to to be at home playing in that and having some really competitive rounds going . . . It's so special to be one of nine [women] out here. I mean, it's always awesome to come out here and represent the PGA as a female. It's always a a special thing."

While Knight might be a long way from home, she has no shortage of support being sent from Tennessee all the way to Oregon.

We've known Allie since she was in middle school, she's the real deal! So happy to see her playing so well on such a huge stage.

— Todd Reeves (@ToddReeves828) April 28, 2026

"I was born and raised in Knoxville and lived there my whole life other than leaving for college," she said. "I feel like in the golf community there, I've got a great support system and I know a lot of people there. It's always cool to feel that and get all the texts that I've got and everything from everybody cheering me on. It's great."

From Rocky Top to rocky cliffs alongside the Pacific Ocean, it's safe to say Knight's game is traveling quite well.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Female pro from Tennessee contending at PGA Professional Championship

Ty Simpson reveals that he had 'secret' meeting with Rams coach Sean McVay before NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Much was made of Rams coach Sean McVay's supposed lack of interest after the organization selected QB Ty Simpson in the top half of the first round, but it turns out L.A.'s pursuit of Simpson was more wide-ranging than previously believed.

Simpson revealed that he and McVay spent "hours" getting to know each other before the draft, dealing another blow to the narrative that the Super Bowl-winning coach and GM Les Snead weren't on the same page when it came to drafting the quarterback.

The Rams and Simpson worked to keep their plans under wraps, and the decision to take him at No. 13 evidently wasn't as much of a shock to both parties as it was to the rest of the NFL.

Here's what Simpson had to say about his "secret" meetings with McVay.

MORE: What Ty Simpson pick means for Matthew Stafford, Rams moving forward 

Ty Simpson meeting with Sean McVay

Simpson told ESPN Radio on Monday that he held private meetings with McVay leading up to the draft.

"We tried to keep this under wraps as long as we could. It was something to where I knew they were interested, but they wanted to make it private and didn't want people to know that they were interested," Simpson said. "So, I had some secret meetings with Coach McVay, and I just was trying to be on script and do what everybody told me and not to tell anybody."

Simpson initially said after being drafted that the Rams had only communicated with his agent. 

Instead, Simpson revealed Monday that, in one of his meetings with McVay, the two "talked for hours and hours" about nothing but football.

"You can tell the obsession he has for the game, and you can tell the love he has for quarterback play," Simpson said.

MORE:Why Rams received worst draft grade of all 32 teams

Simpson's comments come less than a week after McVay had to push back on the narrative that he wasn't on board with the selection. After McVay appeared solemn in the Rams' press conference following the first round and didn't sound overly excited when he made the call to Simpson, he came back the next day and told reporters his demeanor was a combination of non-football issues and wanting to maintain a level of respect for Matthew Stafford.

The long conversations between Simpson and McVay may have been one reason why McVay didn't sound like he was over the moon when he made his draft call to Simpson: the two already knew each other well, and Simpson likely knew he was going to be a Ram unless someone traded up ahead of the 13th pick.

McVay has his quarterback of the future. The question now is how long it will take for him to succeed reigning MVP Matthew Stafford.

Even though they came short of their ultimate goals, last year was a profound success for the New England Patriots. In the first season after going from Jerod Mayo to Mike Vrabel, the Patriots went from 4-13 to 14-3, reaching Super Bowl LX in the process.

However, not all aspects of the Patriots’ transition went smoothly. Some moves didn’t pan out the way the team imagined.

One of those decisions the Patriots may be regretting was making LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While he was starting at left tackle as a 21-year-old rookie, Campbell allowed five sacks during the regular season and another four in the playoffs. In other words, he had some growing pains as a first-year pro.

Recently, the Patriots selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Is he arriving in New England as someone who will push Campbell at the left tackle position, or is Lomu being looked at as a potential long-term replacement for right tackle, Morgan Moses, who is 35? Lomu played 1,582 snaps at left tackle in college, compared to just 18 at right tackle.

Shortly after the draft concluded, Essentially Sports’ NFL insider Tony Pauline dropped an interesting nugget regarding how the Patriots may view Campbell internally. Specifically, he wonders if the Lomu selection means the Patriots have already “given up on Campbell,” one year after making him the fourth overall pick.

Teams don’t just give up on No. 4 picks after just one season, especially at positions that often feature a longer learning curve going from college to the NFL. We’re guessing the Patriots aren’t anywhere close to giving up on Campbell either.

The Patriots also selected offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover with the 196th pick, adding yet another tackle to compete for playing time as a rookie. What does it all mean? If anything, the Patriots are sending signals to their offensive line that last year’s performance wasn’t always up to par, and if they’re not ready to improve, then the team will continue bringing in potential replacements, even if you’re a recent first-round pick.

Related: 2026 NFL Power Rankings: Evaluating Worst, Best Teams After NFL Draft

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John Stones will leave Manchester City at the end of the season after 10 trophy-filled years at the Etihad, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

The defender, 31, joined City from Everton in 2016, becoming manager Pep Guardiola's second signing, and has made 293 appearances to date, scoring 19 goals.

The England international has won six Premier League titles and the Champions League in a decade of dominance for City.

There may be more silverware to come, with the club chasing a domestic treble this season, having already won the League Cup.

"They say all good things must come to an end... but this thing we have had has been the greatest and it will remain a part of me forever," Stones said in a post on Instagram.

jw/gj

This football season, the Illini will have a new face under the center in Katin Houser. The Anaheim, California native comes to Illinois by way of East Carolina via Michigan State. At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, he has good size for a Big Ten quarterback. He is good in the pocket with a real ability to scramble and move or run off the option.

Trending upward

Houser had some struggles in East Lansing, playing 13 games over two years (he started in seven as a redshirt-freshman), posting a 58.5% completion rate (113 completions in 193 attempts), six touchdowns, and five interceptions.

After leaving Michigan State, Houser has grown and developed in his two years at East Carolina, putting up impressive stats: 5,306 yards, a 64% completion rate, 37 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. Last season was his “breakout year”: 3,300 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and only six interceptions (down from 11 interceptions the year before). In terms of his ability to run, he ran for 193 yards on 85 carries for nine touchdowns and a passer rating of 146.3.

As a comparison, last season Luke Altmyer’s numbers were 246-365 (67.4%) for 3,007 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only six interceptions, all of which gave him a passer rating of 153.8. He added 100 carries for 249 yards and five touchdowns.

Houser was named to the Manning Award watch list in 2024 and the Preseason Manning Award watch list in 2025

Experience and Leadership

As a redshirt-senior, Houser has gained plenty of experience, and having previously played in the Big Ten is a plus. He possesses a high football IQ and experience, which will be invaluable in a quarterback room that has two redshirt freshmen and one true freshman. Houser is also a winner with a 15-7 record at East Carolina, 14-6 as a starter. Also, his experience of going from starter to back-up to starter shows his grit and determination, which the younger guys like Carson Boyd, Michael Clayton, and Jershaun Newton can draw on.

Fit in Illinois’ Offense

It gives the Illini a seasoned starter, with the physical capabilities of size, strong arm (the ability to throw downfield), and the ability to run. He is the type of QB that would work well in a Barry Lunney offense. Then factor in his Field awareness, game management, and football IQ. As mentioned earlier, the younger QBs in the program will benefit from learning what he knows.

Is there a downside?

The biggest issue will be blending with this summer team. Unlike Altmyer, Houser only has this season, and both the offensive line and receiving corps lack experience in the system. While Houser has good numbers, they do come from the AAC. This is not a knock on the AAC, but the Big Ten is a different league!

The Receivers

The Illini will have two of their top three wide-outs from last season returning in Hudson Clement (36 catches, 454 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Collin Dixon (35 catches, 548 yards, 5 touchdowns). Two transfers they will be counting on are Alex Perry from FIU, with 56 catches for 840 yards and 9 TDs. And Jayshon Platt from FAU had 46 receptions for 720 yards and five TDs. This will give Houser some experienced receivers to work with. After that, they will depend on four transfers and seven underclassmen, including five freshmen.

In the tight end room, there are no TEs with significant game experience at Illinois. However, they do have a commitment from Eddie Kaspar from Illinois State, and Kaden Feagin will be switching to tight end. Last season, out of the backfield, Feagin caught 16 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

The O-Line

The O-Line will be revamped as well, with only one returning starter, senior Brandon Henderson. There is some depth from last year, but there is a lack of experience. In the last three seasons, the Illini line has allowed 30+ sacks per year. Now Bret Bielema and company have used the transfer portal to bring in Center Jake Renfro, RS Sr (Wisconsin), and OT Christian Martin, RS Jr. (Colorado State), who are expected to step into the Center and Left Tackle, respectively. They are counting on Nathan Knapik, RS Sophomore OT, and Brandon Hansen, JR IOL, to step up. It may take the preseason to get this unit pulled together,

The Illini will have a solid running game with JR Ca’Lil Valentine, 131 carries, 638 yards, and four touchdowns, and SR Aidan Laughery, 75 attempts, 400 yards, with three touchdowns. With Feagin moving to TE, the numbers should increase for both, and they should provide a good complement to Houser and the passing game.

All in all, Houser is stepping into a situation with the Illini that has a nice upside, and he has the tools to take advantage of it. Given that this is not his first transfer, the process of acclimating to new teammates should be easier. Offensive Coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. will have some adjustments that will meld well with Houser’s physical and mental talents. Sept. 5 is just a little over 4 months away!

When Playa Society founder and creative director Esther Wallace pitched the WNBA on an apparel partnership in 2021, she didn't think they would say yes.

Wallace was only three years into business and admits as a young entrepreneur, she had neither planned that far ahead nor was she ready for the league's response.

"I thought I needed to have all these things checked off before I could get a partner that big, but when they said yes, it then became this kind of responsibility," Wallace told USA TODAY Sports. "Now I kind of got this new market to create, essentially, on my shoulders and have to show everybody ... this can be successful.

"That everybody else was wrong when they said you couldn't sell women's sports merch or WNBA merch. I felt all of that pressure kind of in my hands, like I have to carry this torch now."

The former basketball player and coach released her first WNBA collaboration at the end of the 2021 season. By the midway point of the following year, she was at the 2022 WNBA All-Star game in Chicago selling her products. Wallace says she wasn't overly confident in what she brought to the event ― 100 T-shirts and some shorts ― but an interaction with Hall of Famer Sylvia Fowles changed everything.

Fans were clamoring for a Fowles-specific shirt because the center was retiring, and Wallace, though still unsure of where the partnership may take her, obliged. Word of her tribute shirt reached Fowles, who found the apparel designer postgame, hugged her and thanked her for honoring the WNBA and her legacy. Wallace said the moment reminded her she was exactly where she needed to be. Fowles' hug gave Wallace more energy to keep going and cultivate a space that wasn't quite carved out yet.

"That was really the moment where I was like, this is why this is so important. This is why I was like I need to continue to build this and to continue to grow and move in that direction. That was really what did it for me," Wallace said. "It's the (story.) It's not about a T-shirt. It's not about putting product on the market. It's about celebrating the women. It's about this community. It's about the stories that go untold and the players that go unseen."

WNBA 2022 All-Star T-shirt + Shorts
Candace Parker T-shirt + Shorts
Sylvia Fowles Icon T-shirthttps://t.co/3ZoaKD4AuTpic.twitter.com/fB3NTyxSfA

— Playa Society (@Playa_Society) July 15, 2022

By 2023, Playa Society was growing in parallel with the WNBA, women's basketball and women's sports. Wallace held her first pop-up shop at the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four in Dallas. She describes the event as a "small room" with a "small budget," but there was nothing small about what unfolded.

Over the course of four hours, Wallace told USA that 600 customers showed up, staying long after they purchased merchandise. People were hanging around, engaging in conversations that started with a shirt and quickly evolved into something more. Playa Society was building something special.

The company, one that had been bootstrapping to arrive at moments like the Final Four, had created a community. The apparel, which focused on promoting authenticity and storytelling, was now fostering those same tenets beyond the needle and thread. Wallace says soon, moments like Dallas began to happen more frequently. As the popularity of women's sports jumped, Playa Society had the same jump.

View this post on Instagram

Wallace began working with college stars like Olivia Miles and then traction in the WNBA picked up, too. According to Wallace, Playa Society became the unofficial players' brand, finding its way from legends like Fowles and Candace Parker to current players such as Paige Bueckers.

With the stroke of Wallace's pencil in each Playa Society design, the brand connected the past, present and future. For Wallace, that sort of impact can't be measured. It happens organically, and many times it has happened because she leaned into her instincts and experiences.

"There's so many elements of this that can't be manufactured. Right? It's just kind of like when you move from that authentic place, you build the authentic brand that tells authentic stories and has an authentic connection to the community," Wallace said. "The goal is always to find those connections within culture and community. I think that's what we've always done, even just looking at how we essentially brought streetwear to women's sports in the WNBA, right? Nobody was making that connection."

From player T-shirts to a custom court with the Atlanta Dream to a "Love and Basketball" collaboration last year, Playa Society makes opportunities happen that many others don't see. It's what makes Wallace and the brand special and what has helped it skyrocket in recognition and popularity. Wallace told USA TODAY Sports she wants to be "the GOAT" of T-shirts and clothing for the women's sports space. To do that, it has to be about quality over quantity.

"I always want to make sure that I'm holding myself to that high standard, but, again, I think I just go back to, if I see Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray doing their TikTok taste tests, and they just happen to throw on a Playa Society shirt, for me, that means I'm successful in these moments because I'm creating product that they want to put on in their every day life and same with the fans," Wallace said.

"When Angel Reese got traded, and everybody on Twitter's like 'Playa Society, we need that T-shirt,' then I'm like we're moving in the right direction because the fans and the players feel a connection."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Playa Society became the accidental standard-bearer for women's sports

Let’s get the obvious take out of the way: draft grades are worthless for at least three years (I’d say even as long as five). Trying to figure out if any team, the Packers or otherwise, did well on draft weekend while we’re less than a week removed from draft weekend is pointless.

That said, I think there are still some things we can say about process. There’s a reason certain teams tend to do well in the draft and certain teams tend to do poorly. 

Does your team tend to consistently and aggressively trade up? Are they consistently drafting outside established successful player archetypes? Are they trying to make players with obvious flaws work because of certain other interesting attributes (a great 40 time, a particularly strong throwing arm)? Chances are they’ll be striking out more often than not. Look turnover at the GM spot in the near future.

But if your team consistently collects surplus value, nails the traits that have historically worked well at certain positions, and doesn’t chase shiny objects, there’s a good chance they’ll pick winners pretty frequently. The draft is an inexact science at best, though, so there’s no guarantee that sort of process will work. But it’s a lot better than the alternative.

In that kind of context, grades make some kind of sense. You just rarely get that kind of nuance from the quick-take national media, especially when they don’t necessarily have the time or interest in really understanding the context of why teams make the moves that they do.

With that in mind, the best bet might be waiting three years to grade anything, after all.

Dane Brugler ranks Packers 2026 draft class 26th out 32 NFL teams | Packers Wire

The Beastmaster says the low ranking is primarily due to pick volume; he had good things to say about most of the Packers’ picks.

Packers’ Defensive Draft Picks are Rookie of Year Long Shots | Sports Illustrated

So you’re saying there’s a chance?

Packers use draft, free agency to bulk up defensive line for new scheme | Packers News

The Packers’ defensive line looks to be in a much better place than it was at the start of last season.

Why the Packers traded up for a kicker and what it means for Brandon McManus | The Athletic ($)

It should mean McManus is about to be on the outside looking in, but he’s led a pretty charmed life so far.

Can the Rams’ Ty Simpson, Matthew Stafford approach work? | ESPN

People will point to Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love as evidence that this approach can work, but I think both Love and Rodgers were significantly better prospects than Simpson.

World’s longest tiramisu assembled in London | UPI

I am prepared to help with the disassembly.

Golden Knights win over Mammoth twice in one overtime originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Vegas Golden Knights thought they had won already.

Head coach John Tortorella had already left the bench area by the time Pavel Dorofeyev's overtime goal was overturned Monday night against the Utah Mammoth.

It was called back for offside on Jack Eichel, so they had to do it again.

Shea Theodore provided the actual final note of the song, depositing the game-winner for real later in the first OT period and sending Vegas home happy, even after it took a little while.

“Obviously, it sucks having that (first) one called back, but we kept our foot on the gas," Theodore told reporters after the game, via Sportsnet. "Scoring an OT winner is pretty special.”

MORE: A scene that sums up Sidney Crosby and the Penguins

It was a wild Game 4, with Vegas opening up a 3-0 lead, giving it all back, then pulling out the 5-4 overtime victory.

After the game, Golden Knights star Mitch Marner summed up the oddity of the finish.

“I think that’s maybe a first for me, just everyone jumping on the ice and then obviously the offside call,” Marner told reporters, via Sportsnet. “The building got pretty rocking there, and there was the sigh of relief for their fanbase and for them. For us, I think we just realized that we did a lot of good things throughout that period that gave us that look and as soon as we got back to the bench, it was the same idea — just trying to do the same things we did that got us that opportunity that we scored on. I thought we did that very well.”

The game, played in Salt Lake City, had crazy swings of emotions throughout for the fans -- including when the Vegas winning goal was disallowed, giving new life to their home Mammoth.

But in the end, the Golden Knights spoiled the home fans' fun, and the series is now tied 2-2.

MORE: Playoff hockey shows what this Maple Leafs season was missing

Loaned by Wolverhampton to Paris FC last winter, Marshall Munetsi (29) would like to continue his spell with the Parisian club next season, according to Foot Mercato. And this despite the fact that the Wolves, with whom he remains under contract until 2028, and Nottingham Forest, who would like to secure his services during the next transfer window, are moving closer to reaching an agreement.

And although, as things stand, no discussions have taken place with the Parisian management regarding the future of the former Stade de Reims player, the situation is expected to become clearer in the coming weeks, once the season has ended.

Having established himself as a key player in Antoine Kombouaré’s side, Munetsi has now made 13 appearances (10 as a starter), scoring four goals and providing two assists for Paris FC. An impressive return to Ligue 1 for the Zimbabwean midfielder, who has played a significant role in helping the Jean Bouin residents quickly secure their place in the top flight.

GFFN | Léo Aschi

The flanks are a priority for the future of Roma.

Wesley will need to return to the right flank, his usual position, and the Giallorossi are already actively searching for a player who can operate on the left.

Fenerbahçe’s Jayden Oosterwolde is a popular name in this regard.

The Roman club has also shown interest in Carlos Augusto and Fortini, but the Dutchman has been in Roma’s orbit since last January.

According to a report in Turkish newspaper Sabah, the Giallorossi are ready to make an offer for the number 24.

After long-term pursuit of Oosterwolde in January, Roma are reportedly ready to return, offering €15 million.

Fenerbahçe, however, are valued higher. The Turkish club has no intention of lowering the €20 million threshold to let their defender leave.

Now the decision is up to the Roman club: either grant the club’s demands to bring the 2001-born player to Gasperini’s court or move on to other options.

Across recent seasons, a host of club legends and heroes have departed Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson, and Kyle Walker, just to name a few, have left City after trophy-laden spells at the club. Another club legend, Bernardo Silva, is set to leave City at the end of this season. It has now been announced that yet another City hero, John Stones, is set to depart Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of this season. Despite his body failing him at times, John Stones has made an immense contribution to City’s recent era of dominance.

John Stones has announced that he will leave Manchester City at the end of this season.

In an emotional announcement on his Instagram account, John Stones confirmed that he will leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of this season. The most poignant quote from Stones came when he spoke about what Manchester City meant to him. The England international said the club will always be home to him, as he fought back tears. Speaking on what City meant to him, Stones said: “What does Manchester City mean to me? It’s been my home for the past 10 years, and it’ll be my home for the rest of my life… Give me a sec….”

The full clip of John Stones announcement that he will be leaving City can be found at the link above.

Manchester City have also confirmed on their official website that John Stones will leave the club after spending 10 years at the club. In that time, Stones helped City win 19 major trophies. The elegant centre-back has left a major mark at City during his decade at the club.

It has somewhat been forgotten just how good John Stones was for City.

Unfortunately, injuries have wrecked recent seasons for John Stones. Due to this, it has somewhat been forgotten just how good Stones was for Manchester City. He was an important player in a City side that won 19 major trophies during his time at the club. Stones was almost the prototypical Pep Guardiola centre-back given just how good he is in possession. There was perhaps no greater instance of this than the role that John Stones played for City during their treble-winning season in 2022-23.

Pep Guardiola tasked John Stones with playing as a centre-back out of possession for City at the backend of the 2022-23 season. In possession, Stones became a midfielder for his team. That role required exceptional technical and tactical ability. Traits, that Stones has in abundance. He was dominant in this role, and the best performance from the elegant centre-back came in Manchester City’s famous 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final. Stones controlled the match in midfield, and he played a key role in Manchester City’s triumph in Istanbul. If any performance encapsulated John Stones at his best, that was it. It was a performance for the ages from the England international on the biggest stage.

Final thoughts.

It isn’t a surprise to see that John Stones has announced that he will leave Manchester City at the end of this season. That move has felt on the cards for some time. It is sad to see the news now confirmed. John Stones has been a superb contributor and a hero for City during his decade at the club. His contribution has been integral to Manchester City’s era of dominance and it is hoped that Stones receives a fitting tribute at the end of this season.

A fantastic free transfer could be exactly what Liverpool need. They're trying to make it happen.

CaughtOffside are among those claiming that Liverpool are still in the hunt for Marcos Senesi. The Bournemouth star is out of contract in the summer and is expected to move elsewhere.

It's easy to see why Liverpool hold an interest, too. Senesi is the kind of player who could transform their team and add something they're sorely lacking - attacking production from deep.

This is something Liverpool really, really need. Their deeper players don't really break teams down, whether you're looking at their centre-backs or their deeper midfielders.

Ibrahima Konate, for instance, plays around 56 passes per 90 minutes. He creates a chance just shy of once every four 90s (0.23 per 90) and plays almost exactly two long passes per 90.

Ryan Gravenberch plays a similar number of passes (50) but does create a bit more: 0.84 chances per 90 minutes. As for long passes, you're looking at well under one per 90 (0.71).

Senesi's numbers are notably higher. While his passes are roughly the same (48), the Argentine creates around the same number of chances as the midfielder, Gravenberch (0.71). Notably, he creates more big chances - 0.22 per 90 to the Dutchman's 0.13.

The Bournemouth star is also spreading play more than the pair of them combined. Senesi plays over five long balls per 90, so more than double what Konate manages.

This isn't to say that Senesi is 'better' than either player. He would, however, add something that Liverpool don't have in their squad and potentially transform them going forward - reducing pressure on the midfielders and simply bringing more from deep.

No centre-back has a higher number of expected assists this season. He's above the 93rd percentile for defensive contributions, long balls and created chances - a special kind of defender and exactly the kind of player you pick up on a free.

Let's see if Liverpool can get it done.

Lewis Hamilton called the 2025 Formula 1 season the worst of his career. He qualified last on merit in Las Vegas — the first time that had ever happened in 19 years. He called himself “useless” after Hungary. Ferrari chairman John Elkann told him publicly to talk less and drive more.

That’s where things stood five months ago.

Hamilton persevered and returned in 2026 with a fresh mindset. And that, more than anything, tells you what you need to know about where Lewis Hamilton’s head is at heading into Miami.

WATCH: The Miami Grand Prix, Exclusively on Apple TV+ This Sunday!

Why Hamilton Went to Ferrari in the First Place

When Lewis Hamilton left the comfort and success at Mercedes, it wasn’t about the money. Hamilton left Mercedes — 12 seasons, six championships, every record that matters — for one reason. Ferrari was his dream team. It was always the dream.

The great Michael Schumacher won five titles there. The Tifosi are the most passionate fans in the sport. The red car carries weight that silver never did. Hamilton said Ferrari had “every ingredient” to win a championship. He talked about fulfilling a childhood dream. He wasn’t performing for the cameras. Hamilton meant it.

What nobody fully accounted for was how brutal the transition would be. Twelve years at Mercedes meant 12 years of muscle memory, engineering language, relationships, and culture built into everything he did. Hamilton arrived at Ferrari when the 2025 car was already finished — built without him. He had no input. He had to learn an entirely foreign machine while racing it against the world’s best drivers.

It didn’t work. He went the entire 2025 season without a Grand Prix podium for the first time in his career. Leclerc outqualified him 19 to 5. The points gap at year’s end: 86. Ferrari essentially shut down development midseason to focus on 2026, leaving Hamilton to fight with what he had. He went to Abu Dhabi, describing the year as “a nightmare” and said he “couldn’t wait to get away from all this.”

Also Read:: Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton: Focus on Building a Championship-Winning Car for 2026

Where Hamilton and Ferrari Stand in 2026

He’s better. The numbers are real.

Fourth in Australia. Third in China — his first Ferrari Grand Prix podium, finally, after 25 races with Ferrari. Sixth in Japan. Forty-one points through three rounds. It’s his best start to a season since 2023 and more points than he had through five races of 2025.

The complicated part is right there on the timing sheet. Teammate Charles Leclerc has 49 points. Leclerc is third. Hamilton is fourth, eight points back, in the same car. The qualifying head-to-head this year is 0-3 in Leclerc’s favor. Japan was a real step backward — Hamilton finished sixth when the safety car should have handed him a podium shot.

He said on Christmas Day, he made a specific mental decision about how he was going to approach this season. He ran 63 miles between the Chinese and Japanese rounds. He’s been at the factory more. He helped build the SF-26 — something he never had with the car that made his life miserable last year.

“It’s a huge difference, and a huge undertaking,” Hamilton said about his second winter at Ferrari. “You can arrive and jump into a cockpit, but learning the new tools, particularly a different culture and a different way that people like to work, and adopting that.” He let the sentence hang there. He didn’t need to finish it.

Year one was surviving. Year two is supposed to be different. So far it’s a little of both.

Also Read:: Will Lewis Hamilton Win in 2026? Ferrari’s SF-26 and the Case for a Comeback

Controversial 2026 F1 Regulations Haven’t Hurt Him

One thing working in Lewis Hamilton’s favor: the 2026 regulations wiped the slate clean for everyone.

New power units. Active aerodynamics. A completely different car that nobody, not Leclerc, not Verstappen, not Antonelli, had driven before February. Hamilton had actual input on the SF-26. Sky Sports F1’s David Croft made the point plainly: the fact that Hamilton helped develop this car is not a small thing.

Ferrari is legitimately fast. Heading into the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, they sit econd in the constructors’ standings. The prancing horse has a podium at every round. The SF-26 is a real car in a way the SF-25 never was.

The issue is Mercedes is faster. Hamilton isn’t fourth in the championship because he’s lost a step — he’s fourth because he’s in the third-quickest car most Sundays, behind a teammate with seven years of Ferrari DNA baked in. Those are two separate problems. Ferrari has to fix the first one. Hamilton has to fix the second himself.

The Leclerc & Hamilton Dynamic at Ferrari

Nobody is saying it out loud, but the numbers are saying it anyway.

Leclerc, 28, has been at Ferrari since 2019. He knows every engineer, every system, every nuance of how that team operates. He is, at this point, the closest thing to a Ferrari-bred driver since Schumacher.

Hamilton, 41, has seven championships and has put up the greatest statistical Formula 1 career in history. And right now, his teammate is outscoring and outqualifying him, and has been doing so consistently over two seasons.

In 2025 it wasn’t close. In 2026 the gap is smaller — China proved Hamilton can beat Leclerc on the same day when everything clicks. But Japan proved the gap can still open up in a hurry.

After the Chinese Grand Prix in March, Leclerc was candid and generous about their on-track battle.

“I actually really enjoyed the race. A little bit disappointed to lose out on the podium, but on the other side, I’m happy for Lewis, and I think he deserves it more than I do on a weekend like this, where he’s been more on top of things than me…I enjoyed the fight and the only big negative I would say is the gap to Mercedes.”

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was equally positive about letting them race wheel-to-wheel. “They are professional and I think it makes sense in this situation to let them race…at the end of the day, I think it’s also the best way to build up a team.”

The moment Ferrari builds a car that can actually win a championship, this dynamic is going to force some decisions nobody at Maranello is going to enjoy making.

Hamilton’s Place as He Heads into Miami

Hamilton has won in Miami. The crowd in Miami came to Formula 1 partly because of him — the Netflix docuseries Drive to Survive turned him into a mainstream sports figure beyond motorsport years ago. He fits this city.

He needs this weekend. The championship math isn’t a crisis — 31 points back from Antonelli with 19 races left is very manageable. But two races of being outscored by Leclerc, a sixth in Japan, and a mediocre Miami will start generating a very familiar narrative about a 41-year-old running out of time.

One strong weekend flips that entirely. Ferrari’s upgrade cycle is coming. The car is going to get better. Hamilton knows this circuit.

He came to Ferrari to win a championship. The dream isn’t dead. But he’s 41 years old, in his second season at a team still finding itself, watching a 19-year-old break his records in the seat he used to own.

The window isn’t getting bigger. The Lewis Hamilton Miami Grand Prix showing needs to count.

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“It was definitely tough,” Proctor said. “I ain’t going to lie. When I was younger, it was, I wouldn’t say it was like bullying or anything like that, but, you know, I was always the bigger, chunkier kid, so everybody’s going to try to laugh and make fun of you. But it’s all right. You know, I got the last laugh now.”

Proctor said he has weighed 400 pounds.

“I really want to say shout out to (trainer) Ryan Smith and my nutritionists that were at Alabama because they helped me a lot through that in that process,” Proctor said. “I knew it was going to be a hard process. But Ryan helped me with like, ‘Yo, you got to go to Hotworx or do something that you find enjoyable,’ instead of, you know, I didn’t like walking on a treadmill seven days a week for two months straight. Like, that was just not fun. So I found something in Hotworx that I enjoyed going in there. Felt good to get a nice sweat in. It’s 130 degrees in there and do a workout. It doesn’t take long — 15, 30 minutes and you’re out of there. You’re done. And that’s kind of how I lost 20, 30 pounds because I was going there day in and day out, and I was finding success from it.

“But I would say another thing, not eating after 7 p.m. is probably the biggest thing because you’re not giving your body enough time to digest. So I found out when I don’t eat after 7 p.m., I come in, I have a good weigh-in, and it just felt good. Like, it just started feeling good for me to have great weigh-ins in the morning.”

Proctor is going to quickly endear himself to Miami fans

Former Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton will reportedly take part in the Buffalo Bills’ rookie minicamp this summer, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. 

Originally a third round selection by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, Burton is an extremely young receiver that will look to get back on an NFL roster prior to the 2026 campaign. Burton was released by the Bengals in December, but the talented playmaker is still just 24 years old, and will look to emerge as a standout from Bills’ rookie minicamp this summer.

Maybe this time things will work out for Burton? I’ve seen very few wide receivers to ever have the level of body control that Burton does, and he pairs it with very good speed and hands. He could be an excellent player – but the consistent off-field and even on-field attitude issues have pretty well ruined a promising career. Can he revive that in Buffalo? With a prolific passing offense but a lack of receivers, it’s as good of a shot as anywhere.

Next, one of Alabama’s only remaining unsigned UDFAs found his landing spot as well:

Congrats to Geno, and best of luck in the pros!

Now the big news in the college football world yesterday was the announcement about Texas Tech QB, Brendon Sorsby:

Right now, you could close out this story, flip over to a gambling app and vaporize your entire paycheck. You could destroy your kids’ college funds or your chances of ever owning a house. Or, if you happen to be in a position to do so, you could blast a hole in the title hopes of one of the nation’s top-ranked college football programs.

All of that, right from the betting app on your phone. No matter how much you appreciate, adore or profit from sports gambling, it’s undeniable we’ve just crossed an ominous new milestone on Monday.

Brendan Sorsby, incoming quarterback for Texas Tech, potential Heisman candidate, possible 2027 NFL Draft first-rounder, is checking into a residential treatment program for gambling addiction. Gambling has now torpedoed both Sorsby’s own immediate future and, likely, that of the preseason top-10 Red Raiders.

Sorsby has been one of the more prolific QBs in college football the last couple of seasons for Cincinnati, and he was one of the biggest names in the transfer portal when Texas Tech landed him. On top of this knocking a major blow to Sorsby’s career, it also means that the Red Raiders will have to navigate what happens when you drop (rumored) north of $5M on a player who then may not even play for you.

I don’t imagine this will be the end to this story. There very well may be ramifications to all of sports stemming from it for years to come.

This one isn’t news or anything, but I thought it was a fairly unique piece from ESPN. Rather than jumping straight to everyone’s favorite “way-too-early-2027-mock-draft”, this piece looks at who will be the player replacing each of the top 32 draft picks on their team.

Replacing the first round of the NFL draft: Who’s up next in college football?

Replacements: Jackson Lloyd, Jayvin James, Nick Brooks

The Crimson Tide’s offensive line is facing immense pressure to improve dramatically after the offense struggled to run the ball and protect quarterback Ty Simpson last season. Alabama ranked 125th in the FBS in rushing offense (104.1 yards) and tied for 111th in sacks allowed (2.13). Tide coach Kalen DeBoer hired new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm to help turn things around. Proctor was a massive offensive tackle at 6 feet, 7 inches and 366 pounds. He struggled with his weight early in the season but played better down the stretch. Redshirt freshman Jackson Lloyd, who played in five games last season, was the No. 1 left tackle in the spring. Mississippi State transfer Jayvin James and Texas transfer Nick Brooks were battling for the right tackle job. — Mark Schlabach

If anything, this will give you a quick rundown of a whole list of new names that we all may be seeing for the first time around college football.

Last, College Football Nerds threw a stray punch at Alabama’s front 7 in a thread talking about LSU’s Harold Perkins

I don’t think they’re wrong either. Overton underwhelmed, as did James Smith and Qua Russaw. That’s a trio of 5-star players who made no appreciable impact last season. Plus Deontae Lawson didn’t seem to shake off his injury hesitancy until the final 1/3 of the season.

Now does that mean some combination of Devan Thompkins, Dez Zulu, Caleb Woodson, and some younger players can all come in and outperform the players they’re replacing? Who knows. But, for what it’s worth, the Tide’s secondary last year gave the front 7 a whole lot of leeway, and that whole group is coming back. I’d say they had a very legitimate argument at being the best secondary in the country last year, and now they bring an extra year of experience across the board. Alabama has plenty of other question marks, but the secondary is something we should all be excited about.

Roll Tide!

Sound the buzzers - the slump is officially over.

I did not think it would be Rangers away that would rescue our form. However, in retrospect I should have seen it coming with our recent results there.

To have beaten Rangers and drawn with them twice, only losing to Hearts once while also beating Celtic at home, is it a surprise we are being nominated for so many rewards?

Five Motherwell players were named in the PFA Scotland team of the year and now Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise make up half of the shortlist for Premiership player of the year. It speaks volumes about Motherwell's season.

People are quick to speculate what the title race will mean for Hearts, Rangers and Celtic and if this season has been a glitch in the matrix or not, but if anything it shows with the right resources the giants can be toppled.

In my 23 years on this planet, I cannot remember a time Motherwell were held in such high regard as they are now.

Season-ticket sales are at their highest in years while multiple sold-out away ends also highlight the true sense of excitement and belief about the club and the future.

A win this weekend against Falkirk is essential since we then host Celtic and Hearts.

European football may not be officially confirmed yet but it's best to look out the passports and beach towels in preparation.

French President Emmanuel Macron believes that Paris Saint-Germain will beat Bayern Munich 3-1 on Tuesday night but was more cautious on whether PSG can go all the way and retain the Champions League title.

Macron, who normally supports PSG's big rivals Olympique Marseille, made the prediction when asked by school children during a visit to Andorra on Tuesday morning, French media said.

"I'm actually an OM fan, but PSG are playing tonight, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for them! I think they'll win 3–1," Macron was quoted as saying.

Asked whether PSG could lift the trophy like last year, he said: "You can never be certain but it is a great team."

Tuesday's match at the Parc des Princes is the first leg of the semi-final tie. The return leg in Munich is next week Wednesday. The winner faces either Arsenal or Atletico Madrid in the May 30 final in Budapest.

Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire had two huge banners with PSG's colours hung at city hall in support of the capital club.

‘Tonight I’ll be beside the team at Parc des Princes to support them. We’ve brought out our finest colours, and all Parisians will be behind you. We’re expecting a win. Good luck," Grégoire said in a video on X.

NHL forward Travis Konecny is facing heavy criticism after a series of controversial moments in a heated first-round clash between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

The latest flashpoint came in Game 5, when Konecny cross-checked Sidney Crosby after the final buzzer, sparking a large scrum.

NHL analyst Josh Yohe did not hold back in his assessment of the play. He wrote on X that Konecny’s actions showed ‘clear intent to injure.’

“It’s a nasty series, and both teams have crossed lines,” Yohe said. “But no one has been cheaper/more dirty in this series than Konecny, whose cross-check of Crosby after the game had ended was a clear intent to injure.”

MORE: Sidney Crosby makes desperate call as Penguins fall 3-0 to Flyers

Yohe also referenced an earlier incident where Konecny appeared to kick Bryan Rust during a Game 3 altercation.

“Earlier in this series, Konecny tried to kick Rust,” Yohe added. “Very dirty player.”

Game 5 has added more fuel to the rivalry. The Penguins secured a 3-2 win, cutting the Flyers’ series lead to 3-2 after trailing 3-0. The matchup has now turned into one of the most physical battles of the 2026 playoffs.

Philadelphia’s approach in the series has centered on shutting down Crosby. Players like Travis Sanheim have used aggressive defensive pressure and repeated cross-checks (in game 2) to limit space for Pittsburgh’s captain. Garnet Hathaway has also targeted Crosby, adding to the growing hostility between the two teams.

MORE: Sidney Crosby fumes over penalties as Penguins fall into 3-0 hole vs Flyers

Sidney Crosby talked about the Penguins overcoming adversity

Despite the physical targeting, Crosby delivered again in Game 5. He recorded two assists and showed resilience after taking a painful shot to his left knee. His leadership has helped Pittsburgh mount a comeback, with belief growing inside the locker room.

Crosby emphasized the team’s mindset after the game, stating, “We’ve done a great job of handling adversity. Again, here, we’re faced with more. It doesn’t get any easier… we have a lot of belief in our group, and we’ve done it time and time again. We’ve got to go do it again.”

After another win, the Penguins now head into Game 6 with renewed confidence. With emotions running high, the series now shifts back to Philadelphia under intense pressure.

The Cleveland Browns had a documented pursuit of former Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard before he signed with the New York Giants in free agency. However, the Browns have now found their man as they look to bring the fullback back to Northeast Ohio.

After the NFL Draft, where they also did not add a fullback, the Browns have signed veteran Michael Burton to their roster.

A 34-year-old veteran, Burton has been around the block quite a bit, playing in the NFL for 11 seasons. He has played for the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Washington, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Denver Broncos throughout his NFL career. He now looks to fill a vital role in new head coach Todd Monken's offense.

The last time the Browns used a fullback

During the Kevin Stefanski era, the Browns did not roster a fullback. Instead, Stefanski would use former backup center Nick Harris, an extra tight end, or even defensive tackle Adin Huntington in this role when bringing a jumbo package onto the field. The last time the Browns rostered a fullback was five years ago during the 2021 season.

Andy Janovich was the last player to suit up for the Browns as a fullback.

However, Monken got the most out of Ricard in Baltimore. This is not to say that Burton is on the same plane as the 300-pounder Ricard in terms of usage, but Monken at least has a key piece to his offense now on the roster.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns add key position to the roster for first time since 2021

The 2026 MLB season is through five weeks. Following suit with previous seasons, this is the common point in the schedule where players break out of early-season slumps. Of course, certain players are continuing their outstanding production. This is what makes baseball the greatest sport in the world. Entering week six, here are the top 10 third basemen rankings.

MORE: 3 MLB teams who could fire their managers and hire Alex Cora

1. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers

Muncy is healthy and off to a torrid start. Entering the week, he leads the Dodgers in home runs. He’s fallen short of 40 home runs in four seasons, but this can be the year he reaches the plateau.

2. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

Ramirez is heating up, and this doesn’t bode well for opposing teams. After a slow start, the Cleveland third baseman is doing damage via the long ball and stealing bases. He’s aiming for a third consecutive season reaching 30 home runs and 40 stolen bases.

3. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

After a modest few weeks, Caminero has found his stride. The second-year player is locked in and demolishing opposing pitchers. Junior Caminero will be the face of the Rays for the next decade.

4. Brendan Donovan, Seattle Mariners

Donovan was the catalyst to Seattle’s offense before suffering a groin injury. Still, his fast start sees his numbers among the league’s best third basemen. The Mariners are anxiously awaiting his return as they have their sights set on a deep postseason run.

5. Josh Jung, Texas Rangers

Last season, Jung didn’t look right following wrist surgery in 2024. He struggled the entire season to regain his post-injury form. This year, he is fully recovered and hitting the ball with authority.

6. Amed Rosario, New York Yankees

Rosario’s lack of power leads to him being overlooked. He’s made a career or being a good MLB player. This season, he’s using his experience to his advantage.

7. Miguel Vargas, Chicago White Sox

Vargas won’t hit for a high average and racks up swings and misses. However, when he’s locked in, he displays above-average power. Entering the week, Vargas is riding a hot streak.

8. Carlos Correa, Houston Astros

Correa looks to be over the back issue that plagued him for the better part of two seasons. He’s off to a great start to the season and reaching base at the highest rate in his career. He will play a major role in helping Houston reach the playoffs following last season’s disaster.

9. Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants

He’s streaky, but when he’s on, he’s on. Chapman hasn’t hit for power early on, but his emphasis on contact is noticeable. The veteran is reaching base at the highest rate of his career.

10. Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals

Garcia is battling a slow start following last year’s breakout season. Entering the week, he’s struggled with off-speed pitches that have led to swings and misses. However, the entire Royals lineup has struggled through the first month of the season.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

I’m going to do something a little bit different in this space than most of other people. One of the benefits of a classical education (read: liberal arts) is a reading of the classics. In Socrates “Apology”, he asserted that he was the wisest man in Athens because he did not pretend to know that which he did not know. This simple act made him wiser than all of those who did. I’m not sure why that image popped into my head when talking about the NFL draft.

Actually, I’m lying. I know exactly why it popped into my head. This is what most people do when it comes to the NFL draft. Make no mistake, there are some folks that put in the hours of studying these players. They watch the tape. They read the scouting reports. They are familiar with most of the players. Fizzy Joe and Kenneth are our two guys here on site that do an excellent job doing that. I’ll click and read anything they have to offer on the draft because it is more than what I know.

I know that if I were to opine on the individual players and whether they are good picks or not then my opinions would not really be my opinions. They would be regurgitated opinions from someone else. I have multiple sources I like to read to learn more about guys, but if I’m going to take the time to write this for public consumption then it needs to have at least some of my own research sprinkled in.

So, if you want advice number one, it would be to seek out people that have their own informed opinions. Like I said, Fizzy Joe and Kenneth would be the go to people on this site. The rest of us have opinions and we may have even seen some of the players play, but most of our opinions are based upon the opinions of others. Then, it becomes an amplification effect. Suddenly, it turns into the “people are saying” gamut when really it is only one or two experts saying it and a bunch of people repeating it.

This is not just a football thing by the way. I have general opinions on basketball as well. I know a LOT about baseball, but I don’t dive into the weeds in analyzing players I have never seen play. I have never pounded the table for any player I had not personally watched. So, I will not be offering any individual or overall draft grades and I would be suspicious of anyone who does unless they know what they are talking about. Even then, it is just an educated guess.

The second point I would make is that you can properly understand drafts when you start to see patterns in the picks. This is mostly applicable to football and baseball when you have multiple selections. You start to see the same kind of player and that kind of player is a nod to the philosophical feelings of the people selecting them. The Texans took a lot of trench players or players for positions where they already had starters.

The best laid plans of mice and men always derail seasons. No team makes it through a season with the 22 guys that started it. Heck, even without injuries there are going to be guys on the bench that outshine guys in the starting lineup. We saw that on the offensive line last season. We’ve seen rookies gain traction and start playing tons of plays by the end of the season. We also have seen injuries.

Beyond the personality quirks of the players involved, the 2026 draft was clearly about raising the floor. That means they didn’t pick any sparkling players that would necessarily be difference makers that could take them from the divisional round to the Super Bowl. Kayden McDonald might turn out to be a notable exception there, but there are a lot of ifs that need to come true for that to happen. This draft was all about making sure the team had the depth to make it through a long and grueling season. This is a season that would likely include an 18th or even 19th game.

Of course, that brings us to those same personalities. Based on those that know, these players all had a certain SWARM mentality coming in. Most of them were team captains at their respective schools or were huge character guys. Is this ultimately a good thing? What we know is that sometimes you have a high character guy that is also a high end physical talent. That is Will Anderson. Will Anderson is not available at number 28 in the first round.

So, from that point on, teams have a choice. There are three prongs here: football character, on field production, and physical traits. You usually can have two out of three once you get outside the top ten to fifteen picks. The Texans didn’t always pick physical traits. In fact, they probably only did that with their last second round selection in Marlin Klein. Most of them were character and production picks. Was that the best way to go?

These are questions best asked and answered later. However, the pattern reflects the mind or minds of those picking the players. I can do the same thing in baseball when looking at drafts. You can start to see what general managers and scouts value. Again, whether their values make sense can only be tested after several seasons. Once their rookie contracts are signed, it doesn’t matter where they were selected. Their performance on the practice field and preseason will determine whether they make the team and have a spot in the regular rotation.

Fabio Di Giannantonio believes that Marc Marquez has had a bit of bad luck at the start of the 2026 MotoGP season and gave his opinion on who’s been Ducati’s top rider through the first four rounds.

The Italian, who finished the race in Jerez just ahead of Marquez, was also voted by fans as the top Ducati rider across all four rounds so far.

He told Paddock TV: “We need to analyse one thing, that our bike is quite good now. We have just been a little unlucky. It’s not about that we are bad with speed or we can’t overtake. We can do it very well.”

Fabio Di Giannantonio describes Marc Marquez as ‘unlucky’ early in 2026 while weighing up Ducati’s line-up

However, the VR46 rider feels that Marquez has had his fair share of bad luck in the early stages of the 2026 campaign.

Speaking to reporters after the Spanish GP, Di Giannantonio was asked about how he views the current hierarchy within Ducati’s six-man roster.

Given his position as the top-ranked Ducati rider in the championship standings, it wouldn’t be surprising if he saw himself as their lead man. But Di Giannantonio doesn’t see it that way.

“Me, the best Ducati rider? I disagree. Marc Marquez is very fast like me, but unlucky here and there.

“Alex [Marquez] is coming back. I’m doing a good job, but I don’t like this title of best Ducati rider. I’m Fabio with the VR46 team: together we’re doing a great job. We’re third, but there are still a lot of races left.”

After a slow start to 2026 for Alex Marquez, he finally gave Ducati something to celebrate by taking their first win of the season at Jerez.

The result also made him just one of two riders to win at least two Grands Prix at Jerez since 2019 (Fabio Quartararo).

Fabio Di Giannantonio also explained where he needs to get better with the Ducati GP26

Di Giannantonio was quick to point out that there’s still work to be done, especially if he wants to catch up to the Aprilia riders ahead of him in the championship.

He pinpointed his feel for the front end as an area that needs attention, adding that engineers back in Borgo Panigale are already looking into solutions for him.

“The front end is the most important aspect for a rider,” Di Giannantonio disclosed. “It’s the basis for braking and corner entry, and the line is the approach to exiting. We’ve improved this year, we’ve made a step forward, but we’re still lacking something compared to our rivals.

“I was getting closer to Marco Bezzecchi because he made a couple of mistakes. But I asked a lot of the front end, and I was taking a lot of risks.

“As I said, I need to improve the front end’s effectiveness so I can brake hard on corner entry and feel the bike more. And not only that: my weak point is the start. We’re talking to Ducati, looking for a solution for me.”

Read more:

The horses and the post positions are set, so the 152nd Kentucky Derby can officially get underway. On Saturday, 20 horses will take the track looking to etch their names into the record books.

Renegade enters the event as the favorite, and coincidentally was selected in the first post position for the race. That’s a strong starting spot, as horses in the first post have eight wins at the Derby.

But the favorite hasn’t picked up a win in the event in recent years, just ask Journalism, which entered the 2025 Kentucky Derby as the favorite and finished second to Sovereignty. Can Renegade overcome the other competitors?

Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 Kentucky Derby ahead of the race.

When is the 2026 Kentucky Derby?

The 2026 Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday, May 2. The race has traditionally taken place the first Saturday in May, though it didn't start that way. From 1875-1931, the race usually occurred in the middle of the month. That changed in 1932, when the event started being held the first Saturday in May.

That schedule has remained consistent since 1932, though did change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Derby was scheduled for the first Saturday in May originally, but had to be moved to Sept. 5 due to the pandemic. 

Kentucky Derby 2026 start time

Coverage of the Kentucky Derby is essentially an all-day event. But if you only want to tune in for the actual race, that is slated to occur at 6:57 p.m. ET. That time is not exact, and will depend on a number of factors, including how quickly the horses get into their post positions.

Where is the Kentucky Derby in 2026?

The Kentucky Derby is always held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race has been held at the track since its inception. Churchill Downs is named after John and Henry Churchill, who leased the land for the racetrack. 

The track is currently operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Kentucky Derby 2026 field, post positions and odds

Below is the field, post positions and odds for each horse in the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The favorite, Renegade, holds the No. 1 post position. Fulleffort sits in the No. 20 post.

1. Renegade (4-1)

2. Albus (30-1)

3. Intrepido (50-1)

4. Litmus Test (30-1)

5. Right to Party (30-1)

6. Commandment (6-1)

7. Danon Bourbon (20-1)

8. So Happy (15-1)

9. The Puma (10-1)

10. Wonder Dean (30-1)

11. Incredibolt (20-1)

12. Chief Wallabee (8-1)

13. Silent Tactic (20-1)

14. Potente (20-1)

15. Emerging Market (15-1)

16. Pavlovian (30-1)

17. Six Speed (50-1)

18. Further Ado (6-1)

19. Golden Tempo (30-1)

20. Fulleffort (20-1)

Kentucky Derby 2026 weather updates

The weather shouldn’t play a significant role in the 2026 Kentucky Derby. It’s supposed to be partly cloudy in Louisville on Saturday, with a high of 62. The chance of rain is pretty small on the actual day of the race. It could rain in the city Wednesday, and there’s a slight chance for rain Friday, which should bear monitoring. But on the actual race day, the weather forecast looks pretty clear.

Kentucky Derby 2026 payout, purse

The winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby will receive roughly $3.1 million. That's what 2024 winner Sovereignty won last year.

In total, the event has a purse of $5 million. The horse that finishes in second place will win roughly $1 million.

The total purse at the event used to be about $3 million, but that changed in 2024, when it shot up to $5 million total.

Michael Reaves via Getty Images

Does Bob Baffert have a horse in the 2026 Kentucky Derby?

Controversial trainer Bob Baffert — who has a lengthy history of his horses failing drug tests — has two horses in the 2026 Kentucky Derby. He trained both Potente and Litmus Test.

Baffert returned to the event last year after a three-year ban from the race after his 2021 winner Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned steroid.

Medina Spirit was stripped of its win following a second positive test, leading to Baffert's suspension. Mandaloun was named the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

It’s a big race for Baffert, who would claim the record with his seventh Kentucky Derby victory if either Potente or Litmus Test is victorious. Baffert is currently tied with Ben Jones. Each man has trained six horses which have won the Kentucky Derby.

How to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby

While the race won't begin until 6:57 p.m. ET, coverage of the Kentucky Derby will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Peacock and NBCSN will stream the undercard and have even earlier coverage at noon ET.

This year will mark the 26th time the Kentucky Derby has aired on NBC.

Auburn baseball's Ethin Bingaman was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday, Apr. 27, by the league offices.

Now, his second of the year, Bingaman collects another freshman of the week from the SEC. The freshman first gained the honor back on Feb. 23 for the Tigers.

Bingaman had quite the week at the plate last week for Auburn. He recorded three home runs in the third game against Oklahoma on Sunday, Apr. 26. That set a program record for home runs from a freshman in a game and was the fifth time in an SEC game for Auburn.

He went 2-for 3 in game two against Oklahoma and 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the midweek against Samford. Bingaman leads the Tigers with 21 RBI in conference play. Auburn now prepares to hit the road to take on Texas A&M in an SEC road series starting on Friday, May 1.

Bing bomb x 3. 💣

1/4 mile worth of HRs for the freshman.#WarEagle | @BingamanEthinpic.twitter.com/6k6ROvLbW9

— Auburn Baseball (@AuburnBaseball) April 27, 2026

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jac on Twitter@Jac_Myrick

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn baseball: Ethin Bingaman named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week

MADRID (AP) — Brazil and Real Madrid defender Éder Militão on Tuesday underwent surgery to fix a hamstring problem that is set to keep him from playing in the World Cup.

The recovery process for these types of surgeries is at least a few months, according to Spanish media reports. Brazil makes its World Cup debut on June 14, in less than seven weeks.

Militão was hurt in Madrid's 2-1 win over Alaves in La Liga last week.

Madrid said the central defender successfully underwent surgery “for the rupture of the proximal tendon of the biceps femoris in his left leg.”

“Militão will begin his recovery work in the coming days,” Madrid added, without giving a timetable for the player's return.

The 28-year-old Brazil international has been marred by injuries throughout his career, including serious knee issues.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Apr. 28—Baseball and soccer playoff schedules for local teams this week.

Baseball playoff series are best two out of three with game two immediately following game one and game three, if necessary, taking place the following day.

Baseball

Class 6A

Hartselle vs. Cullman on Thursday at 5 p.m. Game 3 on Friday at 5 p.m.

Class 5A

East Limestone vs. Lincoln on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Game 3 on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Class 3A

Elkmont vs. Collinsville on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Game 3 on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Class 2A

Lindsay Lane vs. Cold Springs on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Game 3 on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Class 1A

Athens Bible vs. Skyline on Thursday at 1 p.m. Game 3 on Friday at 1 p.m.

Soccer

Class 6A

Decatur girls vs. Cullman on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Class 5A

East Limestone girls vs. Brewer on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Class 4A

Danville girls at Mars Hill on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

West Morgan boys at Mars Hill on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Class 1A-3A

Clements girls at Whitesburg Christian on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

— caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2

Apr. 28—PRICEVILLE — In the final game at its home field located at the old Priceville high school, Priceville softball rolled to a big 8-2 win.

Kelsey Green had a huge day at the plate, going three-for-four with a home run and four RBIs. Elizabeth Murphy got the win in the circle, allowing five hits and two RBIs with six strikeouts in seven innings. She also added two hits at the plate, while Taylor Mize had a hit and two RBIs.

Priceville will play at its new field at the current high school beginning next season.

—

Hartselle 14, Hewitt-Trussville 2: Katie Norgard and RC Wolf each hit home runs as the top-ranked team in Class 6A rolled to a big win.

Norgard and Wolf each had two RBIs, while Amelia Fox finished with three hits and four RBIs and Aubree Peak had two hits and four RBIs.

—

East Limestone 12, Elkmont 1: Kailey Matthews hit two doubles and a triple and finished with four RBIs as East Limestone raced to a big win.

Morgan Stoudmire and Brooklyn Phillips each added two hits and two RBIs. Nyla Parker led Elkmont with two hits and an RBI.

—

Athens 15, James Clemens 0: Jazz Davis homered and finished with three hits and four RBIs as Athens cruised to a win.

Lexie Thornton added three hits and three RBIs, while Rayne Brewer had two hits and two RBIs.

—

Athens Bible 5, Whitesburg Christian 4: Addie Tucker pitched a complete game for Athens Bible, allowing five hits and four runs with 11 strikeouts.

Addyson Butler led the Trojans at the plate, driving in three runs on three hits.

—

Clements 15, Columbia 0: Hayslee Dubose and Zailey Moran each hit home runs in an easy win on Monday.

Both players finished with two RBIs. Olivia Moody had three hits and two RBIs, while Aubrey Hall had two hits and three RBIs.

—

Curry 11, West Morgan 1: Alyssa Cleveland hit a solo home run as the Rebels took a tough loss on Monday.

—

Madison Academy 15, Danville 2: Kate Randolph led Danville with two hits, while Kennedy Borden added a hit and an RBI.

• Stones announces Man City exit in heartfelt interview ahead of June contract expiry
• Englishman has struggled to maintain fitness for club and country this season
• Everton among clubs interested to sign six-time Premier League winner

Manchester City defender John Stones has announced that he will be leaving the club when his contract expires this summer.

The 31-year-old is out of contract at the Etihad Stadium in June and in contention to make Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Stones has struggled for minutes and fitness again this term and has proved unreliable from a fitness standpoint, prompting club officials to enter the January market and sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for £20 million.

“I want him to be fit” – Pep Guardiola admits injuries have held John Stones back at Manchester City

Since joining forces with Pep Guardiola in 2016 from Everton, Stones has established himself as one of the finest defenders to play in the Premier League, winning six league titles and the UEFA Champions League among a plethora of silverware under the Manchester City manager.

Stones to leave Man City this summer

In a heartfelt video interview released across Stones’ and Manchester City’s channels on Tuesday afternoon, it has been confirmed that the Barnsley-born defender will leave the Blues in June.

“It’s been a rollercoaster in many ways,” the centre-half said. “I came as a kid and now leaving as a man, becoming a father, a husband, and on the pitch a very fulfilled player I suppose and living all my dreams out, and lifting all the things that I came here to achieve.

“At the start of my career here, I never would’ve thought I’d be in this position. Firstly, achieving everything, but to have the love, the bond with everyone. Every dream has been smashed out of the park.

“From day one, as soon as I came, I felt at home and felt loved. I think I can only relate it to me as a little kid; if you said to me that I’d be playing at Manchester City, winning everything, the fans are singing your name, your song throughout the stadium, wherever you go in the world, I don’t think I would’ve believed them.”

What is Stones’ message to the Man City fanbase?

On his relationship with the Manchester City fans, the Englishman added: “The Man City fans, yeah they mean everything to me. I hope that they can…I hope that I’ve made them proud.

12 Manchester City players could leave the Etihad Stadium in major summer clear-out

“I hope that they can relate to me as a person, and as a player, with how I’ve played, how I’ve represented the club, and will do for the rest of my life.

“Manchester City will always be my home, and I’m thankful, honestly, from the bottom of my heart. This is my team forever, it always will be, and I can’t speak…I haven’t got the words to kind of say what I feel and how much I love everything about it.”

Stones follows in the footsteps of club captain Bernardo Silva, who has also confirmed he will be leaving Manchester City when his own deal expires in June.

Guardians' Parker Messick joins Paul Skenes as 2nd player with this impressive MLB history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Parker Messick hasn't exactly gotten a lot of run support in the early stages of his MLB career with the Cleveland Guardians.

But in spite of that, the Guardians have had a chance to win basically every time the young left-hander takes the mound, because he's been pretty darn dominant.

Messick has been so good that he's joined a level of impressiveness only previously reached by Paul Skenes.

The stat: Pitchers who have allowed 19 or fewer runs in their first 13 games while striking out at least 76 guys.

The list is Messick and Skenes:

Only TWO pitchers in Major League Baseball history have thrown 76+ strikeouts while allowing 19-or-fewer runs in their first 13 career games pitched 📊:

1. PARKER MESSICK (2025-26)
2. Paul Skenes (2024)#GuardsBall | @CleGuardianspic.twitter.com/xuwOPV3wAW

— Luke Potosky (@LukePotosky) April 28, 2026

This season specifically, Messick has a 1.73 ERA through six starts with 38 strikeouts in 36.1 innings pitched.

He went 5.2 innings on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing one run and striking out nine. He left with a lead, but the Guardians' bullpen couldn't keep it.

Messick doesn't throw with the same velocity as Skenes, but the southpaw has a lot of pitches that move in a lot of different ways.

His down-darting changeup might be his nastiest pitch, but his cutter and his breaking ball work well off of his well-commanded heater, too.

Nothing about this seems to be a fluke. Messick's stuff is legitimately good, and his stats are proving it.

Maybe he won't always be quite as good as Skenes, but it'd be hard to draw up a better start to his career than this.

MORE: Travis Bazzana is already unlike anyone else in Cleveland baseball history

Yankees 4, Rangers 2

• Things were going pretty well until the Yankees hit all those home runs.
• Then things stopped going well.
• Jack Leiter was looking…what’s a good word…how about “fire”? The young people say “fire,” right?
• Do they still say “on fleek”? Can I say Jack Leiter was “on fleek” at first?
• Then bad things happened. Three of them, to be precise, in a four batter span. Ben Rice homered, Aaron Judge homered, and Jazz Chisholm, Jr. homered.
• Jazz Chisholm may be a junior but his government name isn’t Jazz. Its Jasrado. I don’t know how the rules work when you are a junior but use a nickname.
• Leiter did go six innings, which is good, but he had to deal with a lot of traffic, allowing eight hits in all, walking a guy, and hitting Aaron Judge on an 0-2 pitch in the first.
• 0-2 HBPs cause me physical pain.
• Peyton Gray threw two shutout innings and Gavin Collyer threw one, and they both still have career ERAs of 0.00, so that’s fun.
• In Collyer’s seven outings this season, he has struck out the first batter he faced twice, walked the first batter he faced twice, and hit the first batter he faced twice.
• Once again, the bats disappointed. Seven hits, of which the only extra base hit was a Joc Pederson pinch hit homer in the seventh.
• Skip Schumaker had Danny Jansen pinch hit for Evan Carter to lead off the 8th, when the Yankees brought lefty Tim Hill in to start the inning. Carter had started the game against lefty Max Fried and fanned twice. Having to use your backup catcher to hit for one of your better players in the late innings isn’t ideal.
• As it turned out, though, it maybe kind of worked, because Alejandro Osuna, who came into the game for Jansen (who grounded out) when the teams went back out into the field, had a two out single in the ninth for the only other Ranger run of the game.
• Our buddy Jazz Jr. tried to get the Rangers back into the game in the ninth, booting a grounder by Joc Pederson where Pederson was originally called safe, only to have it reversed on a challenge, and then making an error two batters later on what would have been a Josh Smith game inning grounder.
• The motley offense is getting me down, man.
• Jack Leiter hit 97.8 mph with his fastball, averaging 96.2 mph. Peyton Gray touched 92.5 mph with his fastball. Gavin Collyer touched 98.4 mph with his fastball.
• Brandon Nimmo had a 109.0 mph GIDP. Joc Pederson’s homer was 108.2 mph. Josh Jung had a 105.0 mph single and a 100.1 mph GIDP. Corey Seager had a 102.9 mph groundout. Ezequiel Duran had a 100.4 mph groundout.
• Okay, time to break the losing streak on Tuesday.

Was Cincinnati aware of Brendan Sorsby’s betting habits?

Texas Tech announced Monday that the former Bearcats quarterback would be taking a leave of absence to seek inpatient treatment for a gambling addiction. Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech in the offseason, played the last two seasons at Cincinnati and reportedly placed a bet on Indiana to win a game while he was a freshman with the Hoosiers in 2022.

According to USA Today, Cincinnati “was alerted” to Sorsby’s betting ahead of the 2025 season. 

When contacted by USA TODAY Sports on Monday, senior associate athletic director Zach Stipe released a statement saying, “Cincinnati Athletics has no comment at this time.”

The Big 12, which includes Cincinnati, uses ProhiBet, a compliance driven app every student-athlete in the conference must download on their phone. The app notifies universities when athletes attempt to sign up for betting platforms or place prohibited wagers.

Per multiple reports, Sorsby has regularly placed bets in recent years and regularly wagered on pitches at Cincinnati Reds games and on UFC fights. College athletes are prohibited from betting on both college and professional sports, though UFC fights are allowed via a loophole since mixed martial arts is not sanctioned by the NCAA in any capacity.

Players can lose their eligibility permanently for wagering on events at their own school and lose their eligibility for a portion of a season for wagers on professional sports if the total amount is less than $800. A college football player betting on a college football game at another school leads to a half-season ban.

If Cincinnati knew of Sorsby’s wagering and didn’t take any action, it can also face NCAA sanctions.

Sorsby has one season of eligibility remaining after he redshirted in 2022. Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers was deemed permanently ineligible by the NCAA after he admitted in a plea agreement that he had wagered on Iowa State games when he was part of the team. 

Tech’s announcement that Sorsby was entering treatment also came on the same day that the QB’s attorneys moved to dismiss a lawsuit by Cincinnati stemming from his transfer to Texas Tech. The school is seeking $1 million in liquidated damages for Sorsby’s transfer and arguing that he owes the money because of a multi-year revenue sharing agreement he signed with the team ahead of the 2025 season. Sorsby was Cincy’s starting QB for two seasons and was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal in December.  

McLaren boss Zak Brown reckons it would be “very foolish” to discount Red Bull after a poor start to the 2026 Formula 1 campaign because the competitive order will only converge.

The Austrian outfit has slipped into the midfield this year as it is sixth after three rounds with only 16 points, causing Max Verstappen, who is yet to score a podium, to be incredibly frustrated.

This comes at the start of a new regulation cycle which has partly shaken up the order and caused the gap between the top and bottom to increase; the F1 grid was separated by 1.235s in Q1 at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, compared to 3.737s in 2026.

So as is the case with any rules era, teams should converge over time as they understand the new cars better and apply updates - McLaren being a great example of that.

It struggled at the start of the ground-effect period in 2022 before eventually claiming the 2024 and 2025 titles, so that is why Brown is not discounting other teams just yet, particularly when many will bring upgrades to this weekend’s Miami GP.

Can Miami really be the start of a 'new' F1 season?

“It would be very foolish to write Red Bull off, I also think Audi's done a very good job,” said the McLaren CEO, whose team is third in the standings and 30 points ahead of Red Bull and 44 clear of eighth-placed Audi.

“So I think it would be foolish to not think the other teams are going to move up the grid quickly. Things are only going to consolidate over time, not widen.

“We see how quickly the sport can change and how people quickly can get competitive and then sometimes not.”

Zak Brown, McLaren

Red Bull has suffered quite the decline since its domination of the 2023 season when it won 21 of 22 grands prix, breaking records like the most wins and points (860) in a campaign.

But then it was outdeveloped by its rivals as the ground-effect era progressed, while Red Bull also underwent a huge transformation of personnel as many were poached by other teams.

McLaren signed Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay with Gianpiero Lambiase also set to join, Jonathan Wheatley headed to Sauber (now Audi), while Adrian Newey left for Aston Martin.

Laurent Mekies also replaced Christian Horner as team principal midway through 2025, which was also Helmut Marko’s final year at the organisation, meaning it is quite the transformation.

So speaking about what Red Bull needs to do, particularly with it being the first year of the team developing in-house power units, Brown said: “They have to kind of do a little bit of a reset. They lost a lot of people: Christian, Wheatley, GP [Lambiase] eventually, Newey.

“So much what I came into, which was a different situation because they were very competitive, but the majority of the pitwall's changed.

"I rate Laurent, I think he does a very good job. He's technical, he's young and he's got to rebuild the people that he lost and rebuild the team.

"I have no doubt he will, and much like McLaren had an immense amount of talent that just needed to be unlocked, I think that's probably the same as Red Bull.

“They've been very dominant up to not very long ago, so there's a lot of talent in there and I think he'll just need to get it redirected.”

McLaren’s 'new car' upgrade raises hopes of Mercedes fight at Miami GP

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

The San Francisco 49ers should've done more to address their safety group this offseason after a mediocre showing and Jason Pinnock's departure in free agency.

However, after the 2026 NFL draft, the only safeties they've added have been Patrick McMorris and undrafted free agent Jalen Stroman.

With the position likely being a need again next offseason, Pro Football Focus' Daire Carragher is already projecting that the 49ers will take LSU safety Ty Benefield in the first round of the 2027 NFL draft.

"The Boise State transfer already has a significant sample size, with 2,169 career snaps in college football," Carragher wrote. "He must improve his tackling efficiency — an 18.1% career missed-tackle rate — but his versatility to align across the defense gives him significant upside as he transitions to SEC play."

Benefield was a three-star recruit out of Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, California, before spending three seasons at Boise State, where he earned All-Mountain West honors once. In 41 games for the Broncos, he recorded 235 tackles (18 for a loss), 12 passes defensed, five interceptions, three sacks, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

The 20-year-old entered the transfer portal this offseason and landed at LSU, where he'll either cement himself as a first-round prospect or drop in the projections.

This pick would be historic for this iteration of the 49ers, as they've never taken a safety before the third round since John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan took over as general manager and head coach, respectively.

Taking Ji'Ayir Brown at No. 87 overall in 2023 is the highest they've every take a safety, and taking Renardo Green at No. 64 in 2024 is the highest they've taken any defensive back.

More 49ers: Get to know each member of 49ers undrafted free agent class

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers make stunning 1st-round selection in early 2027 mock draft

Parc des Princes, in Paris, will be the stage for one of the most anticipated clashes in European football this season!

This Tuesday (28), at 4 p.m., reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain host Bayern Munich for the first leg of the 2025/26 Champions League semifinals.

The other semifinal, between Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal, gets underway on Wednesday (29).

Match Details

Date and Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 4 p.m. (Brasília time)

Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris (France)

Referee: Sandro Schärer (Switzerland)

Broadcast: TNT, HBO Max, and Live Text on OneFootball

Road to the semifinal

Both teams are in excellent form, leading their domestic leagues, with Bayern already crowned Bundesliga champions.

However, their paths in this season’s Champions League have been quite different:

• Bayern Munich: Had a solid first phase (finishing second), steamrolled Atalanta in the round of 16, and knocked out mighty Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, with memorable wins at the Santiago Bernabéu (2-1) and the Allianz Arena (4-3).
• PSG: The reigning champions had a shaky start in the "league phase," needing to get past Monaco in the playoffs. In the quarterfinals, however, the team rediscovered its best football and eliminated Liverpool with two emphatic 2-0 wins.

Recent head-to-head

In the fourth round of this edition, the Germans and French already faced off at Parc des Princes, and Bayern came out on top with a 2-1 win.

Lineups and Absences

Both teams are expected to take the field with their strongest available lineups, relying on their powerful attacking systems.

PSG are counting on the trio of Doué, Dembélé, and Kvaratskhelia. Bayern, meanwhile, are pinning their hopes on the quartet of Olise, Musiala, Luis Díaz, and top scorer Harry Kane.

The German side, however, are dealing with more injuries: Bischof, Karl, Gnabry, Guerreiro, and Ulreich are sidelined.

For the French side, only Quentin Ndjantou is a confirmed absentee.

Probable Lineups:

PSG

Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, and Nuno Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, and João Neves; Doué, Dembélé, and Kvaratskhelia; coach: Luis Enrique

Bayern

Neuer; Stanišić, Upamecano, Tah, and Laimer; Kimmich and Pavlović; Olise, Musiala, and Luis Díaz; Harry Kane; coach: Vincent Kompany

What the coaches are saying

Luis Enrique (PSG): "Every coach wants to reach the final stretch in the best possible condition. Right now, we are in the semifinals and all players are available, except Quentin Ndjantou. The magic of the Champions League gives the players special energy."

Vincent Kompany (Bayern): "Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, as the reigning champion, is probably the toughest challenge. I don’t want to stop here. Now come the decisive weeks. We’re looking forward to them, but we also know how difficult it will be. Our confidence is there, and that means a lot in football."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Spring practice concluded earlier this month across college football, and USA TODAY Sports' post-spring rankings see the Alabama Crimson Tide in a different spot than before.

Alabama fell one spot to No. 12 in top 25 rankings by veteran college football analysts Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg, the first batch of rankings released by USA TODAY Sports since its initial way-too-early list the day after the College Football Playoff National Championship in January.

The Crimson Tide are one spot below Texas A&M and one spot ahead of Michigan in the new rankings. Alabama will meet the Aggies in the regular season on Oct. 24 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Myerberg laid out a few areas that have coach Kalen DeBoer's attention -- if not his concern -- entering his third season in Tuscaloosa:

"The focus of spring practice was the quarterback competition between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. Mack has more experience in the system, however Russell is more dynamic and shined in the team's spring game. That battle will be one to watch in the fall. Two other areas that has Kalen DeBoer’s attention are improving a dismal running game and getting receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams back to his game-breaking best."

Stephen A. Smith not happy with Alabama football

📸 Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images https://t.co/v6c0PWcwr1pic.twitter.com/zSfYVIs3mv

— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) April 26, 2026

How bad was Alabama's rushing attack last season? The Tide ranked second to last in the SEC in rushing yards per game (104.13), just a whip and a whisker above LSU's 104.0. Daniel Hill was arguably the best back in short-yardage situations last year and is entering his junior season in 2026.

Alabama's front seven, meanwhile, is another concern for DeBoer and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, Myerberg writes.

"The defense returns safeties Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb but will need more from the front seven. Two key components that emerged were transfers Devan Thompkins (Southern California) and Caleb Woodson (Virginia Tech)."

Ole Miss and Southern California are two teams that jumped Alabama in USA TODAY Sports' post-spring rankings. The Crimson Tide moved ahead of one team, though: Texas Tech. The Red Raiders saw an eight-point drop to No. 15.

The Trojans and Crimson Tide finished with the nation's Nos. 1 and 2 recruiting classes, respectively, for the class of 2026 according to 247Sports.

Ranking 2026 SEC football teams after spring practice

The SEC had eight teams in the top 25 of USA TODAY Sports' post-spring rankings. Here's a look at which teams were ranked, and where.

• 1. Texas Longhorns (No. 3 nationally)
• 2. Georgia Bulldogs (No. 4 nationally)
• 3. Oklahoma Sooners (No. 7 nationally)
• 4. Ole Miss Rebels (No. 9 nationally)
• 5. Texas A&M Aggies (No. 11 nationally)
• 6. Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 12 nationally)
• 7. LSU Tigers (No. 17 nationally)
• 8. Tennessee Volunteers (No. 20 nationally)

Alabama football schedule 2026

Alabama will open the 2026 season against East Carolina on Sept. 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Here's a full look at the Crimson Tide's 2026 regular-season schedule. Kickoff times and TV channel designations have not been announced.

• Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina
• Sept. 12: at Kentucky
• Sept. 19: vs. Florida State
• Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina
• Oct. 3: at Mississippi State
• Oct. 10: vs. Georgia
• Oct. 17: at Tennessee
• Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M
• Nov. 7: at LSU
• Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt
• Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga
• Nov. 28: vs. Auburn

Follow us at @RollTideWire on X and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football dips in USA TODAY Sports post-spring top 25 rankings

Crawley Town have confirmed that Louie Copley has suffered another injury, marking the third setback of his four-month loan from Arsenal.

Photo via Crawley Town on Instagram

Louie Copley was absent from Crawley Town’s squad to face Accrington Stanley at the weekend, and the club have confirmed that this was due to injury.

Though details of the problem aren’t currently available, it’s a concern for the on-loan Arsenal midfielder given the two injury absences he’s already had in the last few months.

Copley was out of action for three games between January and February, and in his return match against Tranmere Rovers he suffered a setback ruling him out of Crawley’s next seven fixtures.

Photo via Crawley Town on Instagram

The 19-year-old’s second return from injury went a lot better at first, as he started four of Crawley’s next five games, playing 30 minutes as a substitute in the only one he didn’t start.

In fact, following Copley’s last appearance against Shrewsbury Town, he received praise from former Arsenal academy coach and Crawley boss Colin Kazim-Richards.

“I’ve been very impressed,” Kazim-Richards said of Copley. “Obviously he’s come from an institution where I was. I thought today (against Shrewsbury), changing the shape a little bit would suit him a lot and I think I was right. It gives him an extra freedom, it gives him an extra space.

“It gives him an extra outlet, an extra option when he has the ball. I think he showed a lot of maturity dropping down in the lines and being able to pick up the ball in spaces.”

Photo via Crawley Town

Sadly, that positive display was followed by another injury absence, and Copley will now be fighting to get fit for Crawley’s final match of the season against Salford City.

The match is vitally important to Crawley, as they’re only clear of the relegation zone on goal difference. If they lose and Harrogate Town don’t, they’ll be sent down to the National League.

Aldershot Town strikers Kwame Thomas and Hady Ghandour are among 12 players who have left the National League club following the end of the 2025-26 season.

Thomas, once of Coventry City and Wrexham, scored seven goals in 37 league appearances this season in what was his second spell at the Recreation Ground.

Ghandour netted five times in 30 league games and departs after three years with the Shots, who finished 21st in the fifth tier and avoided relegation by four points.

Other players to leave who have been at the club since 2023 include defender Olly Scott and midfielders Dejan Tetek, Theo Widdrington and Tyler Frost.

Goalkeepers Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Marcus Dewhurst and Pat Nash, defenders Luke Jenkins and Josh Brooking, and versatile player Matt Penney have also gone.

The club said: "All remaining players are either under contract for the 2026-27 season or in talks to continue at Aldershot Town."

Another NFL draft is in the books, and it was once again an infomercial for the Ohio State football program. The Buckeyes had four guys selected among the top 11 picks in the 2026 NFL draft, and a total of 11 players taken, both leading the way.

But in the world of the NFL and big-time college football, it's never too early to look ahead to the next year, especially at a place like Ohio State, where NFL widgets head down the assembly line like your neighborhood Amazon fulfillment center. After all, not many programs can compare to the success of putting players in the League like the one on the banks of the Olentangy.

We thought we'd take a look at next year's potential NFL draft class, and it sure looks like it could have another Scarlet and Gray hue to it. We are breaking this out in a few categories -- those that are locks to go early in the draft, those that will be eligible and will likely be drafted, those that might need solid years to make an impression, and some rising juniors or redshirt sophomores that could have early draft decisions to make.

That being said, let's dive right in at how things look for Ohio State in the 2027 NFL draft that is all set to take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C

Ohio State 2027 NFL draft early pick probable locks

Jeremiah Smith is most likely going to be the No. 1 player on the draft board for a lot of teams, and if Julian Sayin has the type of year we all think, he, too, should be a first-rounder. Both will only be three years removed from high school and will still have eligibility left, but it would be a shock for either one of them to come back to college. With a productive year, Jackson could find himself in the first round, but at the least, he should be an early round pick.

2027 NFL draft Ohio State players with potential decisions to make

We aren't including Sayin and Smith here because, while both are technically underclassmen, it's hard to imagine either making a decision to return to Columbus. All of these guys might need some pretty big years to be on the NFL's radar, but we've seen it happen before. Dwayne Haskins and Malik Hooker are two examples of guys who had breakout years and left early after starting just one season.

All of these guys are in the running to get playing time, and if they start and have great years, there will be decisions to make. McClain, Houston, and Pierce appear to be the most likely starters who could break out and improve their NFL draft stock significantly. Others will have to surprise and develop into significant contributors, but never say never.

2027 NFL draft Ohio State seniors who could break out

Obviously, not all of these guys will grab the spotlight and be starters, and that will hurt their chances. However, all of them are in competitions to be a part of the rotation, and if they win a significant role, there is an ability to make a splash with NFL scouts and executives. You can take it to the bank that several of these seniors will be a part of all the fun in D.C.

Long story short -- it sure looks like it will be another banner year with quite the NFL haul for Ohio State players again next year. And we'll be here for it all.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football potential 2027 NFL draft class: A very early look

Texas A&M's basketball program is in good hands under coach Bucky McMillan, who is entering his second season at the helm after leading the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament last month, but after building his first roster completely from the transfer portal, losing most of his starters, including star forward Rashaun Agee, was guaranteed.

As soon as the transfer portal opened, McMillan and his staff went to work, first adding star transfer shooting guard PJ Haggerty, followed by former Samford/Radford guard Lukas Walls and Tennessee transfer forward Cade Phillips, who will serve as key depth pieces after losing most of last season's bench.

After a short pause, the Aggies hit the jackpot once more, receiving the news that star forward Mackenzie Mgbako is set to return, while landing a commitment from NBA G-League guard Bryson Warren, followed by commitments from former LSU guard Jalen Reece, McNeese transfer guard Tyshawn Archie, and, as of Sunday, LMU transfer forward Jalen Shelley. Texas A&M should be considered a preseason Top 25 team entering the summer.

However, given the blue-blood basketball programs that have reloaded, especially the Texas Longhorns, ESPN's early preseason rankings placed the Aggies as the fifth team among the "next five" programs, just outside the Top 25, behind UCLA, Ohio State, BYU, and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

In my opinion, the Aggies are more than talented and experienced enough to be included in the Top 25, but given Bryson Warren's impending eligibility, the roster isn't set, while McMillan will likely add one more forward or center before officially heading into the 2026-2027 season.

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.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M included in 'Next five' of ESPN's preseason Top 25 rankings

It becoming much more common for high school stars to move up a class to start their collegiate career, and Notre Dame could once again be on the winning end of one of those moves.

The Irish saw quarterback Teddy Jarrard make the move from the 2027 cycle, to this past one, and on Monday on of its top targets will now be part of the 2027 class. New Jersey edge rusher Jackson Vaughn, made the move to get to college early, and the Irish are high on his list.

It was a dual announcement that Hayes Fawcett shared on social media, as the 6-foot, 4-inch and 225-pound pass rusher also share his top-9 schools, with Notre Dame being one of them. Vaughn is now ranked as the No. 202 overall player in his new class, but remember, he’s a year younger than almost everyone else.

The talent is there, and Vaughn would be a great addition to the Notre Dame 2027 class.

BREAKING: Elite 2028 EDGE Jackson Vaughn has Reclassified to the 2027 Class, he tells me for @Rivals⁰⁰The 6’4 225 EDGE from Oradell, NJ is down to these 9 schools

He was one of the top overall recruits in the ‘28 Classhttps://t.co/WyBjqcK4e6pic.twitter.com/pIka5ZVSFh

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 27, 2026

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.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame a top contender for reclassified 2027 edge rusher

What channel is Celtics vs. 76ers on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 5 of NBA Playoffs series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Celtics will have a chance to punch their ticket to the conference semifinals when they face the 76ers in Game 5.

Boston spoiled Joel Embiid's return in Game 4 behind a 32-point performance from Payton Pritchard, who made six of his team's 24 3-pointers. Jayson Tatum had a double-double (30 points, 11 assists), helping lead the Celtics to a 128-96 victory.

With a 3-1 series lead, the Celtics could gain some valuable rest days by defeating the Sixers on Tuesday night. Boston would meet either Atlanta or New York in the next round, but that series will require at least a Game 6 — and possibly a Game 7.

Here is everything you need to know about Celtics vs. 76ers, including TV and streaming options for Game 5 of the first-round series.

What channel is Celtics vs. 76ers on today?

• TV channel: ESPN
• Live stream:ESPN app

Celtics vs. 76ers Game 5 will air on ESPN. The game will also be available to stream on the ESPN app.

Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and college sports, plus "SportsCenter," "First Take" and all your favorite ESPN shows — anytime, anywhere — only in the ESPN app.

Celtics vs. 76ers Game 5 start time

• Date: Tuesday, April 28
• Time: 7 p.m. ET

Celtics vs. 76ers Game 5 is scheduled to tip off Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be played at TD Garden in Boston.

Celtics vs. 76ers schedule

Boston leads series 3-1

*If necessary

NBA Playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the updated 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News.

NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026

Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason:

*Can move up depending on earlier series

Related Links

• Latest NBA news and rumors
• Full 2025-26 NBA schedule and scores
• How to bet on the NBA
• The GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

Kansas Jayhawks News

The Kansas baseball team keeps rolling

For Kansas basketball, the roster could wildly improve at any moment with Tyran Stokes allegedly close to announcing a decision

Why Kansas Basketball’s incoming transfer class may be better than we think

Links!

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Has the fossil fuel industry changed forever due to the current oil crisis?

USA Today says these three locations are “overdue” for a hurricane

Texas Tech’s new QB is facing an investigation and gambling rehab after betting on his own games at Indiana

Question of the Day

Stolen directly from Shabs: What’s a song or album you really like from an artist whose overall work you really don’t like? Not talking for political/personal reasons, just a band or artist that’s never really clicked for you except that one time. Most one hit wonders should also be excluded, has to be an artist you’ve at least given a legitimate shot.

Four-star Anna High (Texas) interior offensive lineman Peyton Miller committed to the Florida Gators on Monday.

Miller is the second blue-chip offensive lineman to make a pledge to Florida this month, giving new offensive line coach Phil Trautwein a couple of big wins on the recruiting trail. Five-star interior lineman Maxwell Hiller committed on April 8.

Trautwein wanted Miller at Penn State, but the distance from home was a bit of an issue, according ot 247Sports. There was mutual interest between the two, however, thanks to Trautwein's history of developing NFL linemen. His interest carried over when Trautwein joined Jon Sumrall's staff at Florida.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 290-pound prospect picked the Orange and Blue over Arizona State, Clemson, Texas, Texas Tech and SMU, among others.

Florida is up to 10 commits in the 2027 class and is ranked No. 10 by 247Sports.

BREAKING: Four-Star IOL Peyton Miller has Committed to Florida, he tells me for @Rivals⁰
The 6’5 305 IOL from Anna, TX chose the Gators over Texas Tech, Clemson, and Texas

“I want to help the Gators become champions again!”https://t.co/Jbev27Jbu9pic.twitter.com/wp0sXDy18q

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 27, 2026

Recruiting Summary

ESPN is the highest on Miller, ranking him inside the top 100 overall at No. 68 and as the top center in the class of 2027. 247Sports puts him at No. 143 nationally and No. 8 among interior offensive linemen. Rivals is the lowest on him at Nos. 258 and No. 18, respectively.

Among composite rankings, 247Sports has Miller higher at Nos. 124 and 9. The Rivals industry ranking has him just a bit lower at Nos. 130 and 10.

Scouting Report

Here's what 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks said in an April report on Miller:

"Versatile offensive lineman with physical specs that could move around the front. Possesses valuable snapping experience as a true center. Three-sport athlete with experience in shot put/discus and wrestling. Adequate athlete in close quarters.

"Testing numbers suggest significant athletic potential. Higher center of gravity for an IOL, but works to gain leverage. Hand placement is a plus. High-floor player in pads with multi-sport markers and position value that point to significant developmental upside. Projects to the P4 level with the possibility of playing beyond college."

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football recruiting earns commitment from 4-star Peyton Miller

New York Giants offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa will be tasked with blocking some of the top defensive talent in all of football throughout his rookie campaign.

The Giants selected Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft last weekend. The talented lineman is expected to play a massive role in protecting star quarterback Jaxson Dart this season, and Mauigoa will be tested on a week-to-week basis during his first season in the NFL. 

The former Miami big man took a moment to speak with Malik Nabers and Micah Parsons during a Bleacher Report segment following his selection in the first round, and Mauigoa was asked how he feels he would do against the Green Bay Packers' superstar.

Absolutely LOVE this quote from #Giants OL Francis Mauigoa when asked how he’d do vs #Packers Micah Parsons.

“Ima prepare my ass off. Ima study everything. He’s known for his stuff and I got stuff to prove.”

“Micah I’m not ducking any smoke. I’m ready for it” pic.twitter.com/r7bsHXvuf3

— The Giant Topic (@TheGiantTopic) April 27, 2026

"I'm gonna prepare my (expletive) off. I will prepare my (expletive) off," he said. "I know he's known for his stuff, I got some stuff to prove. Respect for his game, but I'm gonna prepare my (expletive) off. I'm going to study everything, but yeah, he's alright."

Parsons shot back and told Mauigoa to hope he's on injured reserve (IR) whenever the two teams play.

Mauigoa ended the interview with a clear message to Parsons. 

“Micah, I'm not ducking any smoke. I'm ready for it," he said.

The matchup between the two will have to wait until at least the 2027 campaign, as the Giants will not face the Packers in 2026. Parsons would have been an excellent test for Mauigoa early on in his career, but the rookie will undoubtedly face a plethora of tough opponents this season, nonetheless. 

Mauigoa and Parsons will more than likely face each other at some point, but the rookie’s confidence is an excellent sign prior to training camp this summer. 

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' Francis Mauigoa to Micah Parsons: 'I'm not ducking any smoke'

The Carolina Panthers' 2026 NFL Draft class is already being heralded as one of this year's very best. General manager Dan Morgan and company seemingly hit on a number of win-wins, picking up considerable value while addressing some of their roster's biggest needs.

But how do the seven picks measure up—physically and athletically?

Let's take a look at the class' Relative Athletic Scores (RAS), spider graphs and player comparisons . . .

First round (No. 19): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Monroe Freeling was drafted in round 1 with pick 19 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.99 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 1645 OT from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/EmUzHhKn1Ppic.twitter.com/PupJtgYrxR

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 24, 2026

Player comparisons (per MockDraftable): Broderick Jones (2023), Tommy Doyle (2021), Tyler Guyton (2024), Jack Conklin (2016), Joe Thomas (2007)

Second round (No. 49): Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech

New #Panthers DT Lee Hunter is a nose tackle, so the poor overall score isn't a concern.

He hit 1 for 3 for baselines with an average or better 10 split, but very slightly under weight (>320) and poor broad.

He went 0 for 2 for the nice to haves: No cone and no bench. pic.twitter.com/wEjnzpCO5n

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 26, 2026

Player comparisons (per MockDraftable): Kelcy Quarles (2014), Johnathan Hankins (2013), Tim Settle (2018), DeMario Pressley (2008), McKinnley Jackson (2024)

Third round (No. 83): Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

Chris Brazzell II was drafted in round 3 with pick 83 in the 2026 draft class. He does not qualify for a #RAS due to a lack of measurements.https://t.co/pQZjKM7c0mpic.twitter.com/ZoEEYeiNiH

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 25, 2026

Player comparisons (per MockDraftable): Beaux Collins (2025), Marvin Harrison (2024), Elijhah Badger (2025), KeAndre Lambert-Smith (2025), Dont'e Thornton Jr. (2025)

Fourth round (No. 129): Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M

Will Lee III was drafted in round 4 with pick 129 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.39 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 189 out of 3075 CB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/q2DBf8xWrZpic.twitter.com/WnDoinD4HT

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 25, 2026

Player comparisons (per MockDraftable): Elijah Jones (20240, Marcellas Dial (2024), Marcus Maxey (2006), Will Blackmon (2006), Jerome Murphy (2010)

Fifth round (No. 144): Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State

Sam Hecht was drafted in round 5 with pick 144 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 7.76 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 166 out of 735 OC from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/CDIEJCV7kCpic.twitter.com/dxRDOKZFjy

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 25, 2026

Player comparisons (per MockDraftable): Matt Gulbin (2026), Michal Menet (2021), Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (2024), Greg Mancz (2015), Pat Ross (2006)

Fifth round (No. 151): Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State

Zakee Wheatley was drafted in round 5 with pick 151 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 7.68 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 305 out of 1313 FS from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/J4YkHNa7oxpic.twitter.com/d55bz77wTD

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 25, 2026

Player comparisons (per MockDraftable): Matt Ware (2004), Nikia Codie (1999), Thomas DeCoud (2008), Brad Ware (1999), Deon Grant (2000)

Seventh round (No. 227): Jackson Kuwatch, LB, Miami (Ohio)

Jackson Kuwatch was drafted in round 7 with pick 227 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 8.86 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 397 out of 3480 LB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/dEDbuyuCUppic.twitter.com/4RH5puZHZc

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 25, 2026

Spider graph not available (Did not participate at combine)

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Spider graphs, RAS, comps for Panthers' picks

The Philadelphia 76ers will head back to the TD Garden on Tuesday night for Game 5 of their Round 1 series with the Boston Celtics, and if you're wondering how you can watch all the action live, you've come to the right place. The Sixers will look to stave off elimination and stay alive with a win in this contest.

The Celtics took both games in Philadelphia to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series as they now look to finish off the Sixers and advance to Round 2 to take on the winner of the series between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks. Meanwhile, Philadelphia will have to dig deep and come up with some of the shooting that it used to win Game 2 earlier in this series in order to stay alive.

Here's when and where you should tune in to see the matchup:

How to watch

• Date: Tuesday, April 28
• Time: 7 p.m. EDT
• Location: TD Garden Boston, MA
• Channel: NBC/Peacock

Notable injuries

Sixers: PROBABLE: Joel Embiid (post appendectomy surgery recovery)

Celtics: NONE

Uniform assignments

Sixers: Association Edition (White)

Celtics: Statement Edition (Black)

Probable starting lineups

Philadelphia 76ers

• Guard - Tyrese Maxey
• Guard - VJ Edgecombe
• Forward - Paul George
• Forward - Kelly Oubre Jr.
• Center - Joel Embiid

Boston Celtics

• Guard - Derrick White
• Guard - Jaylen Brown
• Forward - Sam Hauser
• Forward - Jayson Tatum
• Center - Neemias Queta

Complete series schedule

• Game 1: Celtics 123 Sixers 91
• Game 2: Sixers 111 Celtics 97
• Game 3: Celtics 108 Sixers 100
• Game 4: Celtics 128 Sixers 96
• Game 5: @ BOS April 28
• Game 6: @ PHI April 30 - if necessary
• Game 7: @ BOS May 2 - if necessary

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Pistons vs. Celtics Game 5: How to watch, lineups, broadcast info

Marshall Manning's going viral again, and for good reason!

Marshall, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, is preparing for his ninth-grade season at Baylor High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was named a "top performer" at his latest 7-on-7 event.

View this post on Instagram

Matthew Layton of Prep Redzone West Virginia shared these highlights of the young QB and his "standout weekend," saying Marshall has a "very bright future" ahead.

🚨SMOKY MOUNTAIN SUMMIT TOP PERFORMER🚨

2030 Baylor School (TN) QB Marshall Manning

Very bright future for this young man.

Check out his standout weekend 👇@PrepRedzone#PRZSmokyMountainSummitpic.twitter.com/n9OhYMoqSS

— Matthew Layton | Prep Redzone (@The304Scout) April 21, 2026

Videos of Marshall Manning's QB prowess have already gone viral twice this year. First, for the fundamentals and high ball carriage he demonstrated while running through drills with QB Country Chattanooga. That video went viral on Twitter/X, as fans and pundits compared the QB's mannerisms to Peyton's, who just so happened to be spotted coaching him at another recent 7-on-7 tournament:

View this post on Instagram

Marshall also went viral for his performance in a 7-on-7 competition in Tennessee when Prep Redzone Tennessee's Shayne Pickering shared this clip of the young QB in action:

Baylor (TN) quarterback Marshall Manning has shown good velocity and anticipation the entire day today

He has taken another step forward into his development and will be an exciting young QB for Baylor to build around#PRZMusicCityMayhempic.twitter.com/Og6xutBXc4

— Shayne Pickering (@shaynep_media) March 14, 2026

Marshall Manning still has four years of high school football ahead of him before potentially playing at the college level, but football fans are already eager to see what the future holds as the young QB looks to continue the Manning family legacy at the position.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Peyton Manning's son named a 'top performer' at 7-on-7 tournament

Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos earns NFL chance, but it requires a position change originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Tommy Castellanos is getting an NFL opportunity after a college career at Boston College and Florida State.

It comes with a catch, though -- the college QB will have to change positions.

Castellanos has been invited to Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp, where he will play wide receiver, according to Logan B. Robinson.

The invite makes a lot of sense, because Castellanos previously played for current Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley at BC.

Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos will also attend the Dolphins' rookie minicamp after getting an invite.

Castellanos has ties with Jeff Hafley after playing for him in 2023 at Boston College. He became the first player in Eagles' history to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush…

— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) April 26, 2026

MORE: Diego Pavia, Shedeur Sanders and an NFL QB problem that goes back to Tim Tebow

Castellanos actually began his college career at Central Florida but barely played, and so he transferred from UCF to Boston College, where he broke out.

In 2023, he threw for 2,248 yards and 15 touchdowns while running 215 times for 1,113 yards and 13 more TDs.

His 2024 was shortened by injury, and he left BC after that season to head to Florida State.

In 2025, Castellanos threw for 2,760 yards with 15 TDs and ran 137 times for 557 yards and nine more scores.

He was interception-prone in his college career, and at just 5-foot-9, he didn't project as an NFL QB.

He ran a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, which might not be as fast as he would've hoped for. He'll have to use his quickness more than his outright speed to potentially earn further opportunity with the Dolphins.

More NFL news:

• Jaguars TE going viral for the oddest reason
• How the Steelers are setting up for Arch Manning
• Eagles might have a DeVonta Smith problem
• Patriots give another A.J. Brown signal
• From Falcons to Cardinals, Tyler Allgeier can't catch a break

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — There are lots of ways for high schoolers to make money these days. They can babysit, walk dogs, bag groceries, wait on tables, mow lawns and caddie at a public golf course.

Wait, what? Caddie at a public golf course?

More than a dozen teenagers are making good money – with an eye on a college scholarship – at The Park, the former West Palm Beach Country Club that was reimagined and rebuilt three years ago through an effort led by former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.

Club officials chose The Park as the new name because they wanted it to sound inviting to the community. They hoped to attract young golfers, minorities and families who don’t normally play the sport.

When Brian Conley became The Park’s general manager in 2023, he had several “must-haves” for the facility that had been closed for five years.

“One of them was to develop a junior caddie program,” Conley said. “We were confident we could build a caddie yard that would support a junior caddies program.”

Having caddies is common for area high-end, private golf courses such as Seminole, The Bear’s Club, Medalist and McArthur. Not so much at public facilities, where golfers don’t usually have deep pockets and a desire for someone to carry their clubs. Conley realized his idea was playing into a two-club wind, in golf speak.

“There’s caddie yards all over South Florida, but not at a public golf course,” Conley said. “We kind of knew going in, we’re going to have that stigma to start. ‘What public golf course can have a caddie program? Nobody's going to pay for it. Nobody's going to use them.’ ”

Now imagine starting a junior caddie program. But Conley persisted, making caddie manager Dean Casello one of his first hires and telling him he wanted to introduce young loopers to the game.

“The kids are getting exposed to different types of backgrounds, types of golf, successful businessmen and women,” Casello said. “And they make good money - $70 for each round, plus they get a small salary from the club.”

Young caddies eligible for paid college education through Evans Scholars

Plus, and this is a big plus, the young caddies are eligible to have their college education paid for through the Evans Scholars Foundation, which awards full tuition and housing scholarships to promising young caddies with financial need.

Currently, seven South Florida residents receive free education (and housing) at universities across the country as Evans Scholars. Some of them have been helped by the local First Tee-Gold Coast.

“These programs are about more than golf. They are about opening doors,” said Jupiter resident Jack Druga, vice-president of development at the ESF. “Florida is a key growth region for us, and we are excited to work alongside clubs and community partners who believe in giving young people meaningful opportunities through caddying.”

The junior caddie program also is growing among Treasure Coast golf clubs. The Western Golf Association, which oversees the ESF, recently partnered with the Indian River Golf Foundation in Vero Beach to train and place eight students at clubs, including RedStick Golf Club, Quail Valley Golf Club, John’s Island Club and The Moorings at Hawk’s Nest.

New caddies must undergo a 4-day training program at The Park

A newcomer can’t start caddying immediately. Casello utilizes a four-day training program at The Park that continues until the junior caddies show they’re capable of handling the job.

“We’ll go over many different parts of caddying, from carrying a golf bag to reading a green to caddie and player interactions,” Casello said.

Once they learn the basics, the young loopers will shadow veteran caddies on the course for two days. Then they’ll carry the bag for another caddie or employee. The final step is passing a caddie quiz.

After they start caddying, they’ll get a rating from the player. The caddie must earn a rating of four (out of five) to continue caddying. Because they are in high school, they only caddie on the weekend during school and throughout the week in the summer - and they must be at least 15.

Casello said it’s not essential a caddie plays golf or has a background in the sport, but many do. Sophia Enriquez, a 16-year-old Wellington resident, played two seasons at King’s Academy and has a 6 handicap, but now studies online.

“It’s just a joy being out with people,” Enriquez said. “I'm young, but I have a lot of knowledge about golf, so I’m able to help other people have fun and just be out on the course in the sun. The money is nice, but it’s not just about the money. It’s fun being on the golf course. I make friends through the caddie program, so that's even better.”

What would be best is someday earning an Evans Scholarship to pay for their college. Enriquez’s goal is to go to law school and become a sports agent.

“It would mean a lot,” she said of earning a scholarship. “I'm a very determined girl, almost to a fault. I'm too hard on myself, but I want to do well at what I'm doing 100 percent of the time. I would like to get out of what I'm putting into caddying.”

Another junior caddie, Joe Roads of West Palm Beach, attends Suncoast High. Despite being relatively new to the game, he has an 11 handicap and wants to study finance or accounting.

“I'm not the best player, but I'm emerging,” Rhoads said. “I'm two years into the game and I'm happy to be out here. I love interacting with people and being able to provide a good, catchy service to those who want to play golf.”

When asked what he wants from his caddies, GM Conley gave a surprising answer.

“Have fun,” he said. “Like everything else here, just have fun. It’s a game, it's golf. Treat it as a job. Treat it with respect, obviously. But if they have fun, you're gonna have fun.”

If you’re interested in helping fund scholarships for junior caddies, the third annual Rosie ProAm – named in honor of former Palm Beach Post golf writer Tim Rosaforte -- will be held at Old Marsh May 3-4 and has dozens of golf auction items such as foursomes to local private clubs, lessons and signed memorabilia. To bid, go to www.RosieProAm.com. The auction closes May 4. The Rosie ProAm has raised $400,000.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Junior caddies eligible for Evans Scholars college scholarships

The 2026 NFL Draft quarterback class presents a compelling mix of high-end talent, developmental upside, and scheme-specific fits that reflect the league’s evolving demands at the position. Headlined by a potential franchise cornerstone in Fernando Mendoza, this group spans from polished pocket passers to dynamic dual-threat athletes, each bringing a distinct skill set into vastly different organizational contexts. Teams approached this class with varying levels of urgency—some seeking immediate stability under center, others investing in long-term developmental projects behind established starters.

What stands out most is the diversity in archetypes. Prospects like Ty Simpson and Drew Allar offer prototypical size and arm strength suited for vertical passing systems, while players such as Cade Klubnik and Taylen Green introduce mobility and improvisational value that align with modern offensive flexibility. Meanwhile, later-round selections like Behren Morton and Garrett Nussmeier highlight the continued importance of depth, system fit, and quarterback development pipelines across the league.

RELATED: How much the top 10 NFL Draft picks will earn in their rookie deals

This class may not be defined solely by instant superstardom, but rather by its breadth — quarterbacks capable of carving out meaningful roles in different ways. Some will be asked to lead immediately, others to refine their craft over time, but collectively they represent the next wave of signal-callers tasked with shaping offenses across the NFL. Ultimately, the success of this group will hinge not just on raw talent, but on coaching, environment, and each player’s ability to adapt to the speed and complexity of the professional game.

Fernando Mendoza (Raiders, Round 1 Pick 1)

Mendoza profiles as a poised, rhythm passer with the size and arm talent to anchor an offense early in his career. His processing over the middle and ability to layer throws suggest a quarterback capable of elevating a structured system right away. For the Raiders, he likely represents a foundational piece—someone who can stabilize the position while the roster develops around him. If his pocket discipline continues to mature, he has clear long-term franchise quarterback upside.

Ty Simpson (Rams, Round 1 Pick 13)

Simpson brings a blend of athleticism and vertical passing ability that fits well in a modern, play-action-heavy scheme. His experience in a pro-style environment should ease his transition, though consistency under pressure remains an area to refine. With the Rams, he could benefit from a strong supporting cast and creative play-calling, allowing him to develop without being overextended early. His ceiling hinges on improved decision-making and limiting turnover-worthy plays.

Carson Beck (Cardinals, Round 3 Pick 65)

Beck offers prototypical size and a polished pocket presence, with an emphasis on timing and ball placement. While not overly dynamic as a runner, his command of structure and ability to distribute efficiently make him a viable long-term starter candidate. In Arizona, he could initially serve as a stabilizing backup with the upside to compete for starting reps. His success will depend on how well he adapts to tighter NFL windows and accelerates his internal clock.

Drew Allar (Steelers, Round 3 Pick 76)

Allar’s arm strength is among the most impressive in the class, capable of driving the ball to any area of the field. He pairs that with a sturdy frame and flashes of anticipation, though his consistency and touch can fluctuate. Pittsburgh may view him as a developmental successor, allowing time to refine his mechanics and decision-making. If he harnesses his physical tools, he has the potential to become a high-end starter in a vertical passing offense.

Cade Klubnik (Jets, Round 4 Pick 110)

Klubnik’s mobility and improvisational instincts stand out, giving him value in off-script situations. He thrives when extending plays, though his progression reading and pocket patience are still evolving. With the Jets, he projects as a developmental option who could eventually challenge for a larger role if his processing sharpens. His path to impact will depend on balancing his natural playmaking with more disciplined quarterbacking.

RELATED: Best quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL draft

Cole Payton (Eagles, Round 5 Pick 178)

Payton enters as a versatile athlete with dual-threat capabilities, offering intriguing upside in a creative offensive system. His running ability and toughness make him a potential package player early on, while his passing mechanics remain a work in progress. Philadelphia could leverage his skill set situationally while developing him behind the scenes. If his accuracy improves, he could grow into a valuable rotational or spot-start option.

Taylen Green (Browns, Round 6 Pick 182)

Green is one of the most dynamic runners at the position, with the size-speed combination to stress defenses in space. His arm talent flashes, but consistency and accuracy—especially on intermediate throws—need refinement. Cleveland may view him as a developmental project with gadget potential early in his career. His ultimate impact will depend on how much his passing game progresses to complement his athleticism.

Athan Kaliakmanis (Commanders, Round 7 Pick 223)

Kaliakmanis brings a strong arm and experience operating in structured offenses, though his decision-making has been inconsistent. He has the physical tools to function in a vertical scheme but must improve his anticipation and ball security. In Washington, he likely competes for a depth role while working to refine his mechanics. If he becomes more efficient, he could carve out a reliable backup role with spot-start potential.

Behren Morton (Patriots, Round 7 Pick 234)

Morton is a rhythm passer with a quick release and comfort operating in spread concepts. His accuracy in short-to-intermediate areas stands out, though his arm strength and durability questions may limit his ceiling. New England could view him as a system fit who can execute timing-based concepts efficiently. His path to relevance hinges on maximizing precision and decision-making within a structured offense.

RELATED: Last 10 quarterbacks drafted first overall

Garrett Nussmeier (Chiefs, Round 7 Pick 249)

Nussmeier is an aggressive passer with a live arm and willingness to attack tight windows. That mentality can create explosive plays but also leads to volatility and turnover risk. In Kansas City, he lands in an ideal developmental environment where he can refine his decision-making behind an elite starter. If he learns to balance aggression with discipline, he could become a valuable long-term backup with upside.

Conclusion

The 2026 quarterback class is less about a single dominant figure and more about a spectrum of potential outcomes across the league. Several players have the tools to outperform their draft position if placed in the right developmental structure. In time, this group could be remembered for its depth and adaptability rather than headline star power.

Notable sporting legends like Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench and Crystal Robinson began their journeys in Oklahoma.

Those are just a few of The Sooner State's sporting trailblazers. Every year it seems like a new standout puts themselves on the national scale.

Which high schools in Oklahoma are considered the best for high school athletes today? 

According to one study conducted by Niche, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for "reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school"—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.

25. Hooker High School

• Total number of sports: 11

24. Piedmont High School

• Total number of sports: 20

23. Del City High School

• Total number of sports: 13

22. Norman North High School

• Total number of sports: 14

21. Santa Fe High School (Edmond)

• Total number of sports: 19

20. Kingfisher High School

• Total number of sports: 12

19. Tuttle High School

• Total number of sports: 10

18. Fort Gibson High School

• Total number of sports: 16

17. Oklahoma Bible Academy (Enid)

• Total number of sports: 10

16. Bethany High School

• Total number of sports: 13

15. Weatherford High School

• Total number of sports: 12

14. Verdigris High School (Claremore)

• Total number of sports: 16

13. Mustang High School

• Total number of sports: 20

12. Deer Creek High School (Edmond)

• Total number of sports: 21

11. Carl Albert High School (Oklahoma City)

• Total number of sports: 17

10. Stillwater High School

• Total number of sports: 20

9. Union High School (Tulsa)

• Total number of sports: 24

8. Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (Oklahoma City)

• Total number of sports: 14

7. Bishop Kelley High School

• Total number of sports: 20

6. Owasso High School

• Total number of sports: 25

5. Jenks High School

• Total number of sports: 21

4. Booker T. Washington High School (Tulsa)

• Total number of sports: 20

3. Lincoln Christian School (Tulsa)

• Total number of sports: 17

2. Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City)

• Total number of sports: 14

1. Bixby High School

• Total number of sports: 24

Data via Niche survey statistics

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: See Oklahoma's top high schools for athletes

It is fair to say the first full season as a professional head coach for Mark Jones at the Ospreys has been a baptism of fire.

Results will show it has been a disappointing campaign.

Ospreys lie in 11th position in the United Rugby Championship (URC), out of play-off contention with two league games remaining. They were also knocked out of the Challenge Cup at the last-16 stage by Ulster.

That does not tell the whole story. Off the field the Ospreys have endured a torrid time, their very existence threatened.

There has been a turbulent three months which started with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announcing Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, as the preferred bidder to buy Cardiff from the governing body.

Ninety days of discussions followed but came to nothing when the deal collapsed and Ospreys were told last week, along with the other three regions, their future was safe until 2028.

Throughout all that trouble and strife, Jones has been the one constant for Ospreys fans and staff.

He is the man who has had to answer the questions about Ospreys and Y11 and try and reassure his players, coaches and staff. More than just a rugby coach.

"It's been a hell of a season just reflecting on it," said Jones.

"I'm just doing my job as I see it and doing the best I can.

"Have I got everything right? No, I probably haven't. But what I've tried to do is just be open and honest with things and as professional as I can.

"It's been tough but it's what the job is."

• Morgan leads from front in emotional tribute to cousin
• Ospreys 'positive' as Scarlets set to sign WRU deal

Jones says the Ospreys players and staff have left him in awe.

"The staff, players, coaches and supporters have handled a lot this year, as have some of the counterparts in other regions," said Jones.

"I held our staff in high esteem anyway after being in the building for three years.

"They've made a big impression on me and you find out in real times of adversity what you're made of."

And Jones, whose coaching career has taken him as far as Namibia and New Zealand, believes the tough times have made bonds tighter.

"We've seen it throughout the season with everything that's gone on. Everybody's got closer together," he added.

"We've had to lose players through the season because of the uncertainty. We've lost staff members and there's more workload for people, but they just pull together, get tighter and work harder for each other.

"It's been a bit of a privilege to see them come together like we have and there are some wonderful characters here."

Coping with loss of Morgan and Lake

That uncertainty around the region's future was a major factor in Ospreys losing Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake to Gloucester for next season.

Centre Phil Cokanasiga is also headed to Kingsholm and lock James Fender to France, with versatile back Jack Walsh also expected to leave.

Meanwhile Wales wing Tom Rogers has signed from Scarlets.

Retention and recruitment have been difficult in the circumstances, with most new additions normally signed earlier in the season

"We'd love to add players to the squad," said Jones.

"We have been talking and discussing with players right through but in that period of time, some players have come off the market.

"Others have come on and we've got a lot of homegrown talent there, which is coming through nicely and want to carry on developing.

"We know with players leaving we need to replace them and and try to make sure we've got a competitive squad for next year.

"The certainty now we've got some funding up until 2028 is going to help with talking to our own players, but also players from outside."

• Wales scrum-half Hardy signs new Ospreys deal
• Welsh pair Morse and Deaves sign new Ospreys deals

Dealing with Sharks statements

Jones has had to deal with Sharks head coach JP Pietersen and owner Marco Masotti questioning the Ospreys' integrity after the 21-17 win for the Welsh side in Bridgend earlier this month.

There were two areas of contention. One was a challenge by Ospreys wing Luke Morgan on Ethan Hooker after the Springbok scored a try.

It left the South African international with a shoulder injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season.

Jones had already defended Morgan and condemned the online abuse the former Sevens star had received, with no further punishment coming from the URC.

Then came Masotti's astonishing claim Ospreys officials should take a lie detector test about events in the game's final stages which led to uncontested scrums.

The Sharks had struggled in the set-piece during the first half but their scrum transformed when Springboks props Ox Nche and Vincent Koch entered the fray.

Then Ospreys loose-head replacement Garyn Phillips was forced off the pitch with a hamstring injury that will end his season.

The player he replaced, Gareth Thomas, failed his head injury assessment while starting tight-head Tom Botha was struggling with a neck issue.

Both Thomas and Phillips missed the following 24-21 defeat against Cardiff.

'I will take lie detector test - but what good will it do?'

"We've done everything we needed to do during the game with the sub front row situation," said Jones.

"I could be childish and produce a scan for Garyn but where's that going to get anybody? Nowhere.

"I know they want me to take a lie detector test or something. I'm more than happy to do that. That's not a problem. If that's what it takes but, again, what good's that going to do?"

The URC has so far not announced whether Sharks will face any disciplinary measures for the comments.

Jones says Ospreys "would rather move on, leave our rugby talking for itself".

"I feel like it's got blown out of proportion," said Jones.

"We are conscious we want to try to hold the game in high regard and trust the officials to get on with things and make the right decisions.

"There's always going to be opinion and controversy in games. That's why they are called laws, not rules, aren't they? They're open to interpretation."

Jones accepts there will be added motivation when the sides face each other early next season in South Africa.

"We're going to play them at some point next season," said Jones.

"It'll be a physical encounter, no-holes barred and as tough as it always is against South African teams."

• Where Welsh sides stand after late drama in URC

NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Clark will have a picture book out this fall based on her own life, one she knows is like few others’.

Random House Books for Young Readers announced Tuesday that “EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams” will be published Nov. 3. In rhyming verse, the WNBA star shares a message about the importance of effort and support.

Clark, whose book features illustrations by Adriana Predoi, was inspired by an inscription above the mirror that hung in her childhood bedroom: “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little EXTRA.”

“Basketball has given me so many incredible opportunities, but what has always meant the most to me are the people who’ve supported me along the way,” Clark said in a statement. “I hope this book reminds kids that they’re never alone in chasing their dreams and that giving a little extra to the people and moments is what makes them EXTRAordinary.”

The 24-year-old Indiana Fever guard, widely credited with raising the profile of women's basketball, returned to action recently after injuries limited her to 13 games in 2025. She scored seven points Saturday in a preseason victory over the New York Liberty.

In total, the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team has six returning players for the 2026-27 season.

Even though none of these come as a real surprise, it's still important for longtime head coach Greg Gard to know he still had a solid foundation to build around.

Of the six returnees, Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp are by far the most important. Those two will return to the starting lineup, but there's still room for these bench players to leave a mark on Wisconsin's upcoming season.

All for the 👐

Excited to have these guys back in Madtown pic.twitter.com/kQ8Bi8H953

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) April 27, 2026

1. Nolan Winter

Winter and Rapp are a clear one-two combo, but Winter is by far the most important returning player. Rapp made quite an impact late in the season, but Winter has started 67 of his 104 career games in Madison and now it's time for the seven-footer to end his career with a bang.

2. Austin Rapp

Rapp's barrage of three-pointers against Michigan in the Big Ten tournament semifinals made people realize just how good the Australian forward can be. His 23.1 minutes per game average is going to skyrocket this season, and rightfully so.

3. Jack Janicki

Entering his junior season, Janicki was actually listed as a potential starter by Jon Rothstein. While that likely won't be the case, the Minnesota native has played 63 career games with the Badgers, which is just 10 shy of the final three returning players combined.

4. Will Garlock

Garlock is a 7-foot forward that this team would love to build around. He was 13-18 from the field last season, which is a small sample size, but Gard clearly sees a lot in the Wisconsin native to have played him in 30 games as a freshman.

5. Hayden Jones

Other than Janicki, Jones is the only returning bench player who started a game last season. The New Zealand guard appeared in 27 games but averaged just 7.1 minutes per game. That's up slightly from Garlock's 6.0, but Wisconsin is once again guard-heavy, so Jones role could be impacted by their transfers and incoming freshmen.

6. Zach Kinziger

Kinziger was an absolute superstar at De Pere High School, but he's entering just his second season at Madison. Of the returning players, he averaged 4.8 minutes, which is the fewest, and appeared in 16 games. That's not saying he's a bad player, far from it, but it's a waiting game at this point as Gard will continue to develop Kinziger, who should be a massive focal point in the coming years.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin men's basketball six returning players 2026-27 season ranked

Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko admits it is disappointing Casemiro is quitting the club this summer but is pleased the Brazilian still has another four games to show his worth.

Casemiro scored his eighth goal of the season to set United on their way to a vital victory over Brentford that leaves them on the brink of Champions League qualification.

Almost immediately, head coach Michael Carrick closed the door on any possibility of the Brazilian reversing his decision to quit and give it "one more year" as the United fans demanded.

Sesko feels that is a shame.

But he knows the 34-year-old former Real Madrid man still has a massive role to play as United look to secure a top-three finish for only the fifth time in 13 seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

"He's a working machine," said Sesko. "What he's putting on the pitch is unbelievable. You need someone like this.

"Unfortunately, he's leaving, but we are pleased we can manage him until the last minute in the game and we're going to use him."

Casemiro has made 157 appearances and scored 26 goals since joining Manchester United from Real in 2022.

And it could be his influence at Old Trafford continues long after his exit.

From an experience standpoint alone, his impact is huge, highlighted by the free-kicks he won inside the home penalty area in injury-time against Brentford as the visitors were chasing an equaliser.

"You are stupid if you don't look at him and try to be like him when it comes to work-rate and stuff," said Sesko.

"Everyone is pleased that he is here."