Good morning, Broncos Country!

Craig Morton, the Broncos’ Ring of Fame quarterback who helped Denver transition from NFL irrelevance to Super Bowl contender in the late 1970s, died May 9, the Broncos announced on Monday.

Morton, drafted by the Cowboys in 1965, joined the Broncos in 1977 and led them to their first playoff appearance, first AFC Championship and first Super Bowl berth that season.

With the help of the Orange Crush defense, Morton secured home playoff wins over two stalwart franchises, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders, on the way to Super Bowl XII. Morton had even spent several days in the hospital for a hip injury just before the Raiders game, where he led the Broncos

Facing off against his former team, Morton and the Broncos fell short in Super Bowl XII, losing 27-10 behind eight turnovers.

For his performance during that 1977 season, Morton was named the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Year as well as Pro Football Writers of America’s Comeback Player of the Year and Sporting News’ Player of the Year.

As a Bronco, Morton led the team to two division titles and three playoff berths, finishing his career in Denver as the quarterback with the most passing yards (11,895), passing touchdowns (74), pass attempts (1,594) and completions (907) in franchise history at the time. John Elway would shatter those records, but Morton’s 41 regular-season wins remains the third most in franchise history.

In his 18-year career that began with the Cowboys and included a stint with the Giants, Morton threw for 183 touchdowns and 27,908 yards. He was the first quarterback in NFL history to start in two Super Bowls — Super Bowl V with the Cowboys in a losing effort to the Baltimore Colts and of course Super Bowl XII in a losing effor to his former team, 27-10.

Morton’s time in Denver is often overshadowed by the dominance of the Orange Crush defense that was the identity of the franchise in its quest for relevancy, but he was a crucial piece of that rise.

Morton was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988 along with Haven Moses and Jim Turner.

Just before Super Bowl XII and after Denver had toppled the mighty Raiders in the AFC Championship, Moses told the New York Times that Morton was his MVP.

“Craig Morton is unbelievable,” said the 32‐year‐old wide receiver who caught two touchdown passes from Morton in that game and earned the game ball from his teammates. “To me he’s the most valuable player in the National Football League this year.”

The Bears are near the end of Caleb Williams' rookie contract, and soon it will be time to pay him a boatload of money. Before they have to do that, winning a Super Bowl would be a great thing to achieve. The Bears are on a realistic path to that achievement after a successful Year 1 in the new era of Ben Johnson.

In a recent article, Mike Pendleton concludes that the Bears need to strike while the iron is hot before Caleb Williams big payday. Here is what he had to say about the Bears moving forward, heading into the end of Williams's rookie contract:

"Pairing Johnson with Williams was key to the season that the Bears had last year, winning the NFC North division for the first time since 2018, and beating the Green Bay Packers twice last year, including eliminating them from the playoffs.

Chicago understands the urgency to strike big while in the early stages of Williams' career, looking to build the most competitive and talented roster around him while he is still on his rookie deal. Teams that have young quarterbacks have a small window to find the most success before they have to pay the face of their franchise big money, which is where the Bears are approaching in 2026, the last year season for Williams before he's eligible for a lucrative contract extension.

Williams is certainly in line for a massive payday, but for financial reasons, the Bears would most certainly love to capitalize on the highest level of success, winning a Super Bowl sooner rather than later."

The Bears showed in just one season of the Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson experience that they are capable of success. Nearly a play away from an NFC Championship appearance. With Caleb taking another step, there is no reason to believe this team can't reach that destination and much more in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Chicago Bears are gunning for it all in 2026 with good financial setup

Saracens' teenage star Noah Caluori believes he is now ready for the step up to international rugby after a stunning breakthrough season.

The 19-year-old has scored 18 tries in the Prem this campaign, just two short of Sam Simmonds' regular-season record from 2021.

Caluori trained with Steve Borthwick's senior squad before the autumn internationals and is now targeting a Test debut this summer.

"I feel like now is a good time [to play international rugby]," he told the BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

"I feel like I would back myself if I got put into that environment, if I got put into the team. I would be happy to go on the [summer] tour."

• Caluori aims for England debut inside six months - then greatness
• Caluori-led rampant Saracens annihilate sorry Sale

Caluori was catapulted into the spotlight after scoring five tries against Sale on his full Saracens debut in October, earning an immediate call-up to Borthwick's autumn squad and an appearance for England 'A' in November.

However Caluori was not involved in the Six Nations, instead featuring for England Under-20s, and admits playing full international rugby at that point may have come too soon.

On 4 July, England face South Africa in Johannesburg before playing Fiji in an 'away' fixture at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool a week later. They then travel to the small Argentine city of Santiago del Estero to face the Pumas on 18 July.

"Maybe the autumn or the Six Nations would have been a bit of a rush," Caluori said.

"But I feel like I got handled well during the autumn and the Six Nations, putting me into England 'A' to experience that level as well as enjoying my time with the Under-20s, and going on a bit of a physical development plan was good.

"If I were to play [for England] earlier this year it would have been a rush, but now is a good time, especially experiencing this run-in with everything on the line for Saracens. It shows how [critical] every result is, and that's similar to a Test match game.

"I've had some comms [with Steve Borthwick], we've had a chat, and I'm just focused on playing my best rugby from now until the end of the season."

After scoring five tries in the home fixture against Sale, Caluori repeated the feat against them last month, and says he is coming to terms with being one of the most talked-about players in the league.

"I feel like the most pressure that will come on me is maybe internalised pressure," he added.

"And I've dealt with that pretty well and then spoken to people to help me with it, so I can just focus on being the best team-mate and the best person on the pitch I can be.

"But I feel like I'm handling everything pretty well. I'm trying to enjoy it."

Athletes moving into streaming is no longer a side story. It is becoming part of the way they speak directly to their audience.

UFC stars Max Holloway and Renato Moicano, for instance, are active in that space, while Arman Tsarukyan has appeared on major influencer streams. Boxing champion Ryan Garcia has also embraced live streaming.

Basketball is moving the same way. Jaylen Brown and Scottie Barnes are among the NBA names already using streams to show personality and control their own message.

That wider shift gives Carmelo Anthony’s latest view extra weight, as the former 10-time NBA All-Star believes streams should replace post-match press conferences altogether.

Carmelo Anthony says streaming is the new press conference

Speaking on “7PM in Brooklyn”, Melo made the case that players no longer need to hand their immediate reaction to traditional media settings.

He said: “Why give a press conference to a company? When I’m my own IP, I can go, do my own press conference. Streaming is a new press conference.

“Right, nobody wanna sit in a room and answer questions on five, six, seven reporters. They wanna get to the nitty gritty of it and face it face to face with your followers and the people who’s actually watching. They are the ones who really wanna ask the real questions.”

Replacing press conferences with streams still carries obvious risks

The idea is modern, but it is not simple. Press conferences are controlled environments, usually shaped by PR staff, team rules and league expectations.

Streams remove much of that structure. Players can sound more relaxed, but that comfort can create headlines, as Brown recently showed with remarks about Joel Embiid and NBA officiating.

There is also a commercial issue. Press conferences form part of the media ecosystem that broadcasters pay heavily to access, especially when live rights depend on player availability.

Read more:

LSU football has finished spring practice, and the wait for Week 1 begins. Summer doesn’t bring too much big-time news in terms of the Tigers who will take the field this fall, but it is the most important period for recruiting. The spring and summer are when many recruits narrow down their schools of interest, and given this year’s Tiger team and its lack of young depth at several positions, LSU needs to be on many of those recruits’ short lists.

Here are the three most important positions for LSU football to target in the 2027 recruiting class:

Offensive Line

LSU’s offensive line is the clear-cut most important position on this list. The only player in the Tigers’ projected starting five with any chance of staying in Baton Rouge after this upcoming season is right tackle Weston Davis, who is heading into a “prove-it” year after a mostly-poor stretch of play in 2025.

There’s some young depth along the line, with sophomore guard Devin Harper, redshirt freshman guard Solomon Thomas, redshirt sophomore center William Satterwhite II, redshirt freshman tackle Derrin Strey, and true freshman tackle Brysten Martinez. However, even with those potential building blocks, bringing in some top-ranked recruits along the line will be key to turning the position from a question mark into a strength in the future.

Edge Rusher

Kiffin and his staff did a quality job signing talent at edge rusher this offseason, bringing in the No. 1 player at the position, Princewill Umanmielen, and former five-star Jordan Ross. However, Umanmielen is out of eligibility after this season, and Ross is a junior who did not play to his potential during his time at Tennessee.

The Tigers signed the No. 1 player in the country this offseason, Lamar Brown, who will play defensive end under Blake Baker. Brown played more three-technique in high school but is expected to transition smoothly into his new role. They also signed four-star Trenton Henderson, who beefed up considerably this offseason and will hopefully make an impact in the fall.

Beyond those three future pieces, things become more concerning. Redshirt sophomore Jaylen Brown signed with the Tigers out of South Carolina, but he struggled to see the field in Columbia, and it’s hard to see him developing into a high-level starter. There’s also the oft-injured Gabriel Reliford, who had a strong start to the 2025 season before tearing his rotator cuff in Week 4. Reliford was expected to be an impact player this upcoming season, but he tore his ACL in LSU's second spring practice, raising questions about his availability this upcoming year. Given Reliford’s injury history, it’s hard to trust him to become a high-level starter in 2027.

LSU has already secured a commitment from one high-level recruit at this position this offseason, South Carolina native Jaiden Bryant. Bryant is the No. 4 edge rusher in the 2027 class, but if LSU could add some more talent behind him, it would pay dividends.

Cornerback

This is the most concerning position group on LSU’s roster heading into the season. After sophomore cornerback Aidan Anding tore his Achilles this spring, depth at the position is paper-thin.

During a recent press conference, Lane Kiffin was asked for his thoughts on the depth at the position after Anding's injury, and his response didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

“Some guys did some decent things, but nobody stepped up to make you feel great in that,” Kiffin said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do [there].”

The starting two at the position, DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland, have the potential to be one of the best starting cornerback tandems in the country. Both have remaining eligibility beyond this year, but if Woodland has the type of season many expect from him, he could easily decide to forgo that final year of eligibility and enter the draft.

The players behind Pickett and Woodland have potential, despite Kiffin’s concerns. Ja’Keem Jackson is a former top-50 recruit and is entering his second season under cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond. The Tigers’ latest recruiting class also includes four-star cornerbacks Havon Finney Jr. and Dez Ellis, so there’s a chance one or both could develop into starters down the road. However, it would be helpful to have a top-notch recruit or two come in and challenge for a starting spot next season.

There's no way to know how a recruit might develop once they reach the SEC, but LSU could really use some more bites at the apple to ensure a future at the position.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Three key needs for LSU football's 2027 recruiting class

IPL 2026 Playoff Qualification Rules

The tournament features 10 teams split into two groups of five each. Every team plays 14 matches during the league stage. You face the four teams in your own group and one team from the opposite group twice. The remaining four teams from the other group you meet just once.

IPL Points System

• Win = 2 points
• No result = 1 point
• Loss = 0 points

Playoff Qualification for the IPL

The top four teams advance to the playoffs. If teams finish level on points, here's how positions are decided:

• Most wins takes priority
• If wins are equal, higher net run rate decides
• If NRR is also identical, team with most wickets taken gets preference
• If everything remains tied, drawing lots settles it

Playoff Qualification Scenarios for Teams in IPL 2026

Points Table Qualification Trends

Based on how previous seasons have played out, here's what teams typically need to make the playoffs:

16 Points (8 Wins):

• Pretty much a guaranteed playoff spot
• Teams reaching this mark rarely miss out
• Puts you in strong position.

14 Points (7 Wins):

• Gives you a decent shot at qualification
• Not guaranteed though - depends heavily on your net run rate
• Other results around you also matter
• Usually enough but can go either way

12 Points (6 Wins):

• Very difficult to qualify with just six wins
• Only happens in exceptional circumstances
• Would need several other teams to underperform badly
• Net run rate becomes absolutely crucial
• Historically, teams with 12 points have mostly missed out

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How will the play-offs fixture be determined?

Once the league stage wraps up, the top four teams from the points table move into the playoffs. Their positions are decided purely by points with net run rate acting in as the tiebreaker when needed.

The format gives a massive advantage to teams finishing in the top two spots. The first and second placed teams face each other in Qualifier 1, where the winner books a direct ticket to the final. Meanwhile, the third and fourth placed teams battle it out in the Eliminator, and whoever loses goes home immediately

The Eliminator winner then takes on the Qualifier 1 loser in Qualifier 2 to decide who joins the first finalist. This setup heavily rewards teams finishing in the top two because they get a second life if they lose their first playoff match. The stats back this up too, with six of the last eight IPL champions coming from the top two positions after the league stage. 

When are the IPL 2026 play-offs?

• Qualifier 1 –May 26, Dharamshala
• Eliminator –  May 27, New Chandigarh
• Qualifier 2 – May 29, New Chandigarh
• Final – May 31, Ahmedabad

Hansi Flick’s project at FC Barcelona has reached lasting stability. At the press conference ahead of the league clash against Alavés, the German coach officially confirmed his contract renewal with the Blaugrana club until June 30, 2028, with the option to extend the deal by one more year.

Flick, with the natural ease that defines him, joked about the announcement before expressing his satisfaction. "I’m very grateful to the club for this opportunity. Over the past few days, it has become clear to me that I’m in the right place," said the coach, who arrived in Barcelona with the challenge of restoring the team’s competitiveness.

The contract extension comes at a time of complete harmony between the board, the dressing room, and the stands. The commitment to La Masia’s young talents and the vertical style implemented by the German have been key factors in Joan Laporta speeding up talks over his long-term continuity.

The goal: the Champions League

Beyond the signing, the coach is not hiding his sporting ambition. After laying the team’s foundations, Flick is already setting his sights on Europe’s top prize: "Now it’s time to keep winning and try to win the Champions League again," he told the media.

This renewal sends a message of calm and confidence to the Barcelona camp. With his future secured until 2028, Hansi Flick now has full backing to continue building a Barça capable of dominating European football once again.

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

The Cleveland Browns just finished their 2026 rookie minicamp over the weekend. This consisted of all drafted players, undrafted rookie free agents, first-year players, and some tryout guys.

It is also the first year for new head coach Todd Monken and the majority of his coaching staff. The minicamp was held from May 8–10 in Berea at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.

RELATED: LIST OF ROOKIE TRAINING CAMP ATTENDEES

The effort was good each day, but as expected, there were plenty of mistakes. Being called offside seemed to be a popular occurrence all weekend. So was going right when the play called went left. Keep in mind, every player was in shorts with no pads.

A total of 53 athletes participated: 10 draft picks, 6 reserve/futures guys, 12 undrafted rookies, and 25 tryout players looking to secure a training camp contract. Each May, this minicamp will include a few guys who aren’t technically rookies but have been extended an invitation to participate. Call them first-year veterans who have inked the reserve contracts.

Before any of the players arrived in Berea, the coaching staff had held virtual meetings with the players in order to introduce them to parts of the install. This was considered early prep work, so that much of the terminology doesn’t have to be explained on the practice field, which allowed more live practice time.

All in all, the entire weekend had a training camp feel when in reality the majority of players who showed up and participated will be their only indoctrination to Browns football and will be seeking employment elsewhere soon.

The weekend featured meetings and installs and had some real competition during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills on the field, which was utilized to apply what the athletes had been shown already in order to see who has picked it up and who is struggling to learn.    

Each of the three days, the Browns began with morning meetings and then strolled out to the practice field for a walkthrough before the session evolved into the live practice.

Although every player gets a look and is involved, the rookie minicamp is essentially about the recent draft class. Despite not being signed, WR KC Concepcion and S Emmanual McNeil-Warren still showed up and participated.

The entire minicamp is supposed to become an orientation for what’s to come in training camp. These new guys are introduced to what an NFL team does, and bring a new level to the game of football.

The rookies who have already inked their deals will begin offseason conditioning beginning next week and then on May 19, be involved in the first organized team activity practice.

In 11-on-11 drills, OT Spencer Fano was lined up at left tackle while third-rounder Austin Barber was installed at right tackle. Parker Brailsford took the center snaps. Both Concepcion and Denzel Boston were lined up as outside receivers with Taylen Green and tryout player Bryson Barnes (Utah State) at the quarterback position. The majority of the slot receiver reps were either Aaron Anderson (5’-8”, 198 pounds) or Jaelon Reagor (5’-10”, 203 pounds). Both are tryout guys.

Both Joe Royer and Carsen Ryan saw significant snaps at tight end, along with tryout player Jyrin Johnson from Bowling Green.

During training camp, Cleveland will have four quarterbacks and will need a bunch of receivers. At least 15 to service all four signal-callers. Along with the two drafted receivers, the team signed one undrafted rookie free agent in Kole Wilson (5’-7”, 177 pounds) out of Baylor and three tryout receivers. Tylan Wallace was signed in free agency, and despite being viewed more as a return guy, will go into the receiver room until camp breaks. There are eight more receivers currently under contract.

Analysis

Green was drafted as an excellent runner, a head-turning athlete with poor accuracy. But in minicamp, he was hitting small windows in the 11-on-11s. He also showed some high-level processing and the ability to go through with more than one progression. Yes, he ran quite a bit and showcased those skills, especially on a good run on a keeper. He did have some issues with check-downs and will need to tighten the speed of his release.

Concepcion and Boston are different style receivers, but they look really good. They will instantly improve the Browns’ passing game. Another receiver who showed out was the tryout guy, Anderson. He has clean routes with elite footwork.

Fano, Brailsford, and Barber all showed promise, but they also got some indoctrination of the speed of the game at this level. Their true test will come once the veterans show up, who all have another gear.

RB Davon Booth, an undrafted rookie free agent, showed good moves and caught several short passes out of the backfield. He caught a really nice ball from Green running full speed down the sideline. The Browns brought back Ahmani Marshall, and he played quite a bit, showing the ability to find gaps. He seems to be able to process this new offense better than most that were inserted.  

S McNeil-Warren and drafted LB Justin Jefferson should provide good depth in their first year, with plenty of defensive snaps once live games begin. For now, they were active in all drills and showed good athletic ability. Both seem to want to be pushed. McNeil-Warren is a beast. Another safety that looked good and had a couple of batted balls was Zion Washington (6’-1”, 208 pounds) from Boise State.

Keep in mind, it’s just May. Nobody is hitting each other, and it’s going to be an eye-opener for players such as these newly drafted offensive linemen who haven’t tried to block Myles Garrett yet.

The weekend rookie minicamp was to give these younger players an introduction to not only the league, but to the Browns’ way of doing things.  

The 2026 NFL schedule release is set for May 14. The formal offseason program wraps up with a mandatory minicamp from June 9 through 11.   

Is it too early? Yes. Does that matter for MVP consideration? No. Bleacher Report stepped up to the plate last week, naming Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray as a fringe contender for the NFL’s 2026 MVP award.

Murray’s first Vikings season now has a national longshot attached.

Murray signed with the Vikings in March, fresh off seven years with the Arizona Cardinals. His next chapter evidently already comes with possible MVP sizzle.

Vikings’ Passing Game Gives Murray an MVP Opening

Quite the prediction for Murray.

BR: Murray an Honorable Mention for MVP Candidates in 2026

BR’s Moe Moton sized up seven players who could snag the honor for the first time, and Murray got some love. Moton wrote, “Despite Kyler Murray’s recent struggles on the field and with injuries, he’s a talented two-time Pro Bowler who could be one of the league’s best in the right situation. Still in his prime, the 28-year-old could benefit from a change of scenery.”

“With the Minnesota Vikings, Murray will play with two-time All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson, a solid No. 2 receiver in Jordan Addison and reliable pass-catching tight end T.J. Hockenson. Moreover, head coach Kevin O’Connell has fielded a top-six passing offense in three of the previous four years. Murray could flourish with the Vikings’ supporting cast on a team that competes for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.”

Murray currently has +7500 odds to win the award, sandwiched between Jaxson Dart (+7000, NYG) and Cam Ward (+8,000, TEN).

What Murray Must Do to Win MVP

Realistically speaking, it’s a longshot for Murray to win the 2026 MVP award; no one quite knows if he’ll cleanly resonate in the Vikings’ offense, though fans are, of course, dreaming big.

For starters, Minnesota will need a winning record, plus a playoff appearance. In 2025, the club clawed its way to an “ugly” 9-8 record after a 4-8 start, missing the postseason and NFC North crown by one win, believe it or not. So, out of the gate for MVP contendership, Murray must take Minnesota to the postseason.

Winning in the playoffs does not matter for the MVP trophy; voters select the winner before postseason wins and losses. Statistically, Murray will probably have to deliver a stat line in this neighborhood:

• 3,800+ Passing Yards
• 35+ Total Touchdowns
• 15 or Fewer Interceptions
• A Team Record of 12-5 or Better

Vikings’ MVP History

The last guy to win an MVP for the Vikings? Adrian Peterson in 2012 — the last non-quarterback to bring home the league’s top individual hardware. Peterson singlehandedly took Minnesota to the postseason that year, just missing Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record and doing all his damage one season removed from a torn ACL. Peterson also made headlines this week when the Vikings surprised with his inclusion in U.S. Bank Stadium’s Ring of Honor. He’ll be formally inducted alongside 28 other Vikings legends at a home game in 2026.

Before Peterson, quarterback Fran Tarkenton won the award in 1975, and defensive tackle Alan Page started the party for Minnesota in 1971 — back in an era when the NFL entertained MVPs for defensive players.

Ironically, no player from the Cardinals, Murray’s former team, has ever won the award.

The First-Time Other Candidates in 2026

Moton revealed his full list, including these names in addition to Murray:

• Christian McCaffrey (RB, 49ers)
• Dak Prescott (QB, Cowboys)
• Caleb Williams (QB, Bears)
• Drake Maye (QB, Patriots)
• Justin Herbert (QB, Chargers)
• Joe Burrow (QB, Bengals)

Moton deemed the Burrow as the frontrunner from his first-time criteria, explaining, “He possesses MVP-caliber talent and has the supporting cast to rack up big numbers. In 2025, he led the league with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes. Over the past several years, Burrow has built a strong rapport with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In 2024, the former won the receiving triple crown, and the latter recorded double-digit touchdown receptions in the last two seasons.”

“Burrow’s MVP case comes down to two factors: staying healthy and the Bengals winning more games. In three out of six seasons, the 29-year-old has missed at least six outings. Cincinnati hasn’t qualified for the playoffs since the 2022 campaign. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, some believe Burrow’s future with the Bengals could be uncertain following another disappointing season. This team may play with more urgency in a make-or-break campaign.”

Two other Vikings players have MVP odds: quarterback J.J. McCarthy at +25,000 and wide receiver Justin Jefferson at +40,000. Jefferson’s odds are similar to rolling double sixes on a dice twice in a row.

Following their 2-0 loss to FC Barcelona over the weekend, Real Madrid returned to training today with still three games left to be played in the season.

There is nothing left to play for, for Alvaro Arbeloa & co., but they will hope to end the campaign on a strong note while some players will want to build form and momentum heading into the summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Dani Carvajal back in group training

And, according to MARCA, Dani Carvajal is back. The Real Madrid captain returned to full group training during the team’s training session today ahead of their match against Oviedo at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Spanish full-back, who suffered a fracture to the distal phalanx of the little toe on his right foot, is doing everything possible to recover as early as possible.

Back in training. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

The 34-year-old captain’s aim is to return in time for Real Madrid’s final home league match of the season against Athletic Club so that he can say goodbye properly to the supporters who have backed him for more than 13 years.

Carvajal, who first arrived at Real Madrid’s academy setup 22 years ago, picked up the injury during training at Valdebebas ahead of the match against Espanyol. At the time, the club estimated a recovery period of around two weeks.

That timetable would allow him to return in time for the home match against Athletic Club at the Bernabeu on the weekend of 23 May, or at least that is the player’s intention.

Carvajal’s contract expires on 30 June and will be on the move, with no extension being offered. In fact, Real Madrid are already planning a farewell tribute for their captain, who has only featured in 20 matches this season.

Like a number of Premiership clubs, we are facing a pretty big rebuild over the close season.

Several loan players will return to their parent clubs, while some of our standout performers will inevitably attract interest elsewhere.

There are also a handful of players nearing the end of their contracts who, for one reason or another, are unlikely to stay on.

However, Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to Hibernian again highlighted that bringing in a centre-half must be high on John McGlynn's list of priorities for next season.

Conceding from set-pieces continues to plague us, a flaw that dates all the way back to our League 1 days. It remains a glaring weakness and was exposed again early in Saturday's loss.

We found ourselves behind almost immediately when conceding a cheap goal from a corner, leaving us with a mountain to climb and, ultimately, seeing our European hopes go up in smoke.

While they are a rare breed in today's game, we're in need of a proper old-school leader beside Liam Henderson - someone capable of organising the backline and bringing the aggression needed to deal with this ongoing issue from set-pieces.

Given the level of detail McGlynn puts into his work, you would imagine he is already exploring ways to solve this problem, but hopefully it is near the top of his summer shopping list.

Happy Tuesday, Red Sox Nation. The Red Sox start a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies today. It marks the fifth National League opponent the Red Sox have played over the first month of the season. The balanced schedule has been around for a few years now, with fewer divisional games and everyone playing everyone, but it still doesn’t feel quite right to me. So, I’m wondering, how do you feel about the balanced schedule? Do you wish we still played Baltimore 19 times, or whatever it was?

Talk about whatever you want, and be good to one another.

Five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews will announce his commitment on Friday, per Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett. The South Florida native will choose between LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, and Georgia.

Matthews is the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2027 class on both 247Sports and Rivals. Rivals’ recruiting prediction machine gives Texas A&M a 95.4% chance of landing the 6-6, 300-pound offensive tackle, while 247Sports leans toward Miami.

247Sports’ player comparison for Matthews is former Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. Here’s what their scouting director, Andrew Ivins, has to say about Matthews as a prospect:

“Athletic offensive tackle with the quickness and mobility to eventually man the hot corner at the game’s highest levels… Still far from a complete product after starting prep career off as a defensive lineman, but has put extremely encouraging stretches on tape while facing stiff competition… Likely to face an initial adjustment period, but projects as a multi-year starter for a College Football Playoff contender with early-round of the NFL Draft upside,” Ivins wrote.

LSU’s chances of landing the top recruit don’t look great based on Rivals and 247Sports’ predictions, but you never know. Given how Lane Kiffin was able to leverage LSU’s funding during the transfer portal window, it’s hard to count the Tigers out.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Elite LSU football recruit reveals commitment date

Former F1 team boss Guenther Steiner has suggested that Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson finds himself in too many incidents.

Lawson had to retire from the Miami Grand Prix over the weekend because of a gearbox issue. The mechanical problem also played a part in an accident with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

The New Zealander lost drive as Gasly attacked him around the outside at the final corner, resulting in a collision that flipped the Alpine onto the barriers. Neither driver was hurt, and stewards decided not to penalise Lawson after looking into it, noting the circumstances were out of his control.

Guenther Steiner questions how often Liam Lawson avoids trouble

Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner admitted that there wasn’t much Lawson could do in this particular case, saying it was just “bad luck”.

When one of the hosts asked, ‘Why is it always him?’, the former Haas boss responded: “I was thinking the same. At some stage, when something happens, you shouldn’t be involved in it!”

Earlier in the race, Lawson had also come under scrutiny for an incident with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The two went off track while battling for position at turn 11, and despite both drivers leaving the circuit, Racing Bulls instructed Lawson to give up the spot.

This year’s Miami race marked his first DNF of 2026. Last season he retired five times, with four of those due to damage.

Pundits have been quick to point out a pattern. Christijan Albers remarked: “There is always something going on with Lawson.”

Where Liam Lawson stands with penalty points

Liam Lawson has three penalty points so far this season, placing him joint-sixth among the 22 drivers. That’s a quarter of the way to a race ban, but it’s not something he needs to worry about just yet.

Oliver Bearman leads the list with 10 penalty points, followed by Lance Stroll on six and championship leader Kimi Antonelli on five. Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz are both sitting on four.

After the Gasly crash, Martin Brundle came to Lawson’s defence, pointing out that the visual impact of the Alpine flipping made it seem worse than it really was.

Lawson also received backing from David Coulthard for how he raced Verstappen. Despite their team connections, Coulthard highlighted that Lawson is ‘fighting for his career’ and appreciated his aggressive approach given the circumstances.

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Paris Saint-Germain has officially announced that the Parc des Princes will once again become the epicenter of Parisian passion. The club will install giant screens so that its fans can follow the UEFA Champions League final live next Saturday, May 30.

After last season’s success, the club is looking to recreate an experience that is already part of its collective memory. The aim is to reproduce the atmosphere of great European nights, allowing thousands of supporters to thrill together in their own stadium, even though the team will be playing away from home.

The event will not be limited to just broadcasting the match. PSG has confirmed a special program that will include top-level musical and artistic performances. With this, the club hopes to strengthen the bond between the team and its fan base at what they describe as a historic moment.

This initiative comes in response to the team’s qualification for its second consecutive continental final. The board wants to offer a unique alternative for those who cannot travel, ensuring exceptional conditions of safety and entertainment in an iconic venue.

Details about ticket sales, schedules, and logistics will be announced this Thursday. A full house is expected in the stands of the Parisian stronghold to push the team toward its first title in Europe’s top competition.

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

English winger Jonathan Rowe paid tribute to Diego Armando Maradona after scoring the winning goal for Bologna in an away game at Napoli on Monday, taking a picture with the legend’s statue.

Bologna defeated Napoli 3-2 on Monday, with Rowe scoring the winning goal in stoppage time with a fantastic volley.

The English winger, 23, is in his first season at Bologna and has scored eight goals in 42 appearances across all competitions this term.

The ex-Marseille and Norwich starlet celebrated his latest goal with an Instagram picture near the Diego Armando Maradona statue, located in the tunnel of the Napoli stadium, named after their legend.

Rowe’s picture with Maradona’s statue after Napoli 2-3 Bologna

Jonathan Rowe picture with Diego Armando Maradona’s statue (via Instagram).

Rowe initially struggled to get playing time under Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano, but has become a regular starter at the Stadio Dall’Ara in the second half of the campaign.

“It wasn’t immediate to understand your football, and the coach took a bit longer to integrate me into the team in the best possible way,” Rowe said in an interview in April.

“I’m not sure why, maybe he saw something I hadn’t seen. But I kept working hard to earn my place. As wingers, we’re often substituted, so we have to be decisive as quickly as possible. The coach and I are starting to understand each other much better; time helps build chemistry and a good relationship.”

FC Barcelona are still waiting for Robert Lewandowski’s final response to the club’s offer of a one-year contract extension with a reduced salary.

The Polish striker’s agent, Pini Zahavi, is currently in the Catalan capital as discussions continue and the player is weighing up the various proposals now on the table.

Porto emerge as an option

Now, though, according to reports in Portugal, as relayed by SPORT, FC Porto are prepared to offer Lewandowski a one-year contract to replace former Barcelona forward Luuk de Jong.

The Portuguese club have already begun working behind the scenes to convince the 37-year-old striker.

Porto are hoping to unite Lewandowski with one of Poland’s brightest young talents, winger Oskar Pietuszewski, who is regarded as one of the country’s great hopes for the future. Lewandowski would effectively act as a mentor figure within the project.

Porto’s squad also already includes Polish internationals Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior, both of whom are said to be encouraging the veteran to join the club and become the team’s undisputed first-choice striker for the season ahead.

Financially, Porto’s proposal would reportedly be below some of the other offers available to him, but the project would offer him the chance to play alongside several compatriots while competing in the Champions League at the highest possible level.

Lewandowski to Porto? (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Porto are on course to win the Portuguese league comfortably this season, finishing well ahead of Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.

Lewandowski’s options

Lewandowski is still considering Barcelona’s reduced renewal proposal, while AC Milan and Juventus also remain interested in bringing him to Serie A.

Even so, the offer that appears most attractive from both a sporting and financial perspective could be the one from Chicago Fire, who are keen to make him the marquee star of their MLS franchise.

Clubs from Saudi Arabia have also made enquiries and continue pushing hard for his signature.

The Pole still has doubts about a departure because both he and his family are extremely happy in Barcelona, and all signs suggest his close friend Wojciech Szczesny will remain at the club for at least another season.

Lewandowski, who has 18 goals and four assists this term, also wants to speak directly with Hansi Flick to better understand what his future role in the team would be, as he still feels capable of fighting for a starting place.

Luka Doncic's season for Lakers had the most ironic ending originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers had a player from the Luka Doncic trade on the court in crunch time as they tried to prolong their season against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The problem is that it wasn't Luka. It was Maxi Kleber, seemingly in the game out of nowhere to set a screen. In the end, L.A. didn't have enough, OKC completed its sweep, and Doncic ended the campaign in street clothes.

The layers of irony were stacked upon each other as this season came for an end for Luka, with Kleber serving a bit as the ironic cherry on top.

Doncic's health is the big thing, of course. He appeared on the cover of Men's Health magazine in the offseason. 

After being shockingly traded by the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic seemed motivated to get his body into better shape, and he seemingly did so. That didn't stop the hamstring strain that turned out to have ended his season prematurely.

MORE: LeBron's retirement update involves the media in a repetitive way

It's hard to know whether Doncic's journey of physical improvement had anything to do with his hamstring strain. The reality is that it was probably just bad luck.

There's also the LeBron James layer here. All season long, James learned how to play second fiddle to Doncic. But when the games mattered, Doncic wasn't available, so the King had to put on his crown once again.

All told, it wasn't the season Doncic wanted to have in his first full campaign with the Lakers. Last season was supposed to be about adjustments. This one was supposed to be about dominating.

MORE: Donovan Mitchell never wanted the Knicks, only moments like this

The Lakers couldn't stay healthy at all, though, with James and Doncic and Austin Reaves all missing significant time with injuries even before this sad ending note.

And now there are questions. Lakers head coach JJ Redick basically said in his postgame press conference that he knows they aren't good enough to win a title right now, and that this offseason has to work toward solving that.

Doncic will clearly be the center of whatever the Lakers do in the future. They'll just have to hope it's actually him on the floor when the games matter next season and beyond.

More NBA news:

• Bronny James' future with Lakers has 3 possible outcomes
• Clippers are set up to trade Darius Garland again
• Warriors' Steve Kerr news means it's time to talk about LeBron and Steph
• Anthony Davis is the magic touch for the No. 1 pick
• Jaylen Brown blames the 'media' for a problem he created himself

The three points picked up from Falkirk on Saturday could yet prove to be huge for Hibs' season.

We have to hope Celtic can win at Fir Park on Wednesday night and that Hibs find a way to beat Rangers at Ibrox to set up a shootout for fourth on Saturday.

My head tells me such a scenario is unlikely. The football gods have been incredibly unkind to Hibs this season, so we're maybe due some good fortune.

I was so happy for Josh Campbell to get his goals at the weekend. He has a real aptitude for timing those runs into the box and popping up with important goals.

Josh has struggled for game-time and I think he sometimes suffers from being asked to play when we need a midfielder to chase down opponents and run all day, but when he's given the opportunity and remit to get in the box, he's a real threat.

With Jamie McGrath still suspended, Campbell has the chance to make sure he's starting against Motherwell if he can back up Saturday's performance with a similar impact against Rangers.

I've no idea how the game at Ibrox will go, Rangers' season is done but they'll want to bow out with a win in their final home match.

Hibs can't be distracted by what's going on there. With a job to do I'm sure David Gray will have the team focused on the task in hand.

Hopefully things go our way and we're in for a thrilling last game of the season on Saturday.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has insisted that the decision to disallow West Ham United’s goal against Arsenal was ‘200%’ correct.

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

It’s not often that a Tottenham Hotspur manager will defend a decision that favours rivals Arsenal, but that’s exactly what Roberto De Zerbi did on Monday night.

De Zerbi had just seen his team scrape a draw at home to Leeds United, and he suggested that both the referee and his team had felt the pressure of the previous day’s game between West Ham and Arsenal.

Yet the manager added that he can’t understand why there was so much focus on the officiating in the Arsenal match, insisting the foul on David Raya was clear.

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

“I think [the referees] were not calm today,” De Zerbi said. “Maybe they suffer the pressure of yesterday, West Ham-Arsenal game. The VAR.

“For sure, we suffer the pressure today. But also, the referee was not calm today.

“I can’t understand the polemic about yesterday’s VAR [decision] because it was a foul, 200%. Not 100%, 200%, if you want to speak about football.”

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

It’s fair to point out that Spurs had a vested interest in the West Ham goal being disallowed, given the Hammers are their direct rivals in the current relegation scrap.

For once, it was probably a good thing for Spurs to see Arsenal winning a game, meaning De Zerbi wasn’t an entirely neutral party in this case.

But there was no necessity to defend the decision after the fact, with West Ham’s points already dropped. No one was going to give the Hammers their disallowed goal back if De Zerbi said VAR made a mistake. So De Zerbi’s comments are likely his genuine opinion on the incident.

Regardless of the reasons why, Spurs certainly saw an opportunity go begging against Leeds on Monday. A win would have put them on the verge of safety, but they now need four points or more from their final two games to guarantee their top-flight status.

Since returning from a cruciate ligament tear in December, Alphonso Davies has struggled to stay consistently fit due to recurring setbacks.

The Canada international suffered another injury blow in FC Bayern München’s 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain last week and is set to miss the rest of the season with a muscle injury in the back of his left thigh.

The injury has jeopardised Davies’ chances of featuring at the World Cup with Canada, whose opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina is exactly one month away – leaving Bayern in an uncomfortable situation.

According to Bild, Bayern believe Davies will need around six weeks to fully recover from the injury.

The Bayern bosses would reportedly prefer him to skip the tournament entirely in order to recover fully, but that scenario is considered unlikely, as Davies is Canada’s captain and wouldn't want to miss the unique opportunity of representing his country at a World Cup at home.

In Canada, however, officials are reportedly expecting a shorter recovery period of four to five weeks, which could still make it possible for Davies to feature at the tournament in the best-case scenario.

However, the shorter the recovery time, the higher the risk of Davies suffering another injury – something that Bayern will obviously be desperate to avoid.

NFL schedule leaks 2026: Tracking rumors, latest news ahead of official release originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

This NFL season, 285 games will be played to determine a Super Bowl champion. While the last 13 will have the most eyes on them, the first 272 are must-see TV.

From the Chiefs' shocking spiral and Bears' surprise division title run to thrilling moments like the Seahawks' unlikely two-point conversion against the Rams or the Ravens' missed field goal in Week 18, the 2025 season brought drama. 2026 promises to do the same, and a record nine international games mean the league is once again going global.

While much of the offseason remains ahead, the schedule release is upon us, and leaks are already underway as the NFL's 2026 slate is pieced together.

The Sporting News is tracking the latest NFL schedule leaks before the full slate is officially released. Follow along below with all of the credible rumors.

MORE:Every NFL team's strength of schedule in 2026

NFL schedule leaks 2026

Week 1

• TBD vs. Seahawks on Wednesday in season opener
• 49ers vs. Rams in Australia on Thursday (announced)
• Cowboys at Giants on "Sunday Night Football" (announced)

Week 2

• Lions at Bills on "Thursday Night Football" (announced)

Week 3

• Ravens vs. Cowboys in Brazil (announced)

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

• Eagles vs. Cowboys on Thanksgiving (announced)

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18

NFL games without confirmed week

The NFL will have a record nine international games in 2026, but seven still don't have a confirmed date:

• London: TBD vs. Commanders (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
• London: TBD vs. Jaguars (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
• London: TBD vs. Jaguars (Wembley Stadium)
• Paris: TBD vs. Saints (Stade de France)
• Munich: TBD vs. Lions (FC Bayern Munich Stadium)
• Madrid: TBD vs. Dolphins (Santiago Bernabeu Stadium)
• Mexico City: TBD vs. 49ers (Estadio Banorte)

The NFL is also hosting a Week 1 game between the Rams and 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, and a Week 3 game between the Ravens and Cowboys in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The NFL Draft has come and gone. Free agency has died down from a roaring fire to a few glowing embers. The offseason doldrums are upon us.

That means it's time for schedule leaks, some low-key trade rumors that use the vacuum of real news to generate drama and some rest time for the veterans and prospects who will throw themselves back into the fire come August. That doesn't mean it's time to rest, however. Coaches, executives and players still have work to do to either patch the holes that sunk the 2025 season or reinforce the strengths that made last fall a success.

Not all these fixes have the same urgency. The Seattle Seahawks have much different priorities than the Tennessee Titans when it comes to their biggest flaw as the 2026 season approaches. But everyone could use at least a little help.

Thus, I scoured over rosters, 2025 results and advanced stats from Pro Football Reference,NFL Pro and RBSDM.com to find out what concerns from last season could carry over to this one or which new ones could derail Super Bowl hype trains. Let's run down each team's most interesting flaw, in alphabetical order.

Arizona Cardinals: Getting rid of the dang ball

Arizona faced the league's second-lowest blitz rate but fielded its fourth-highest pressure rate thanks to uneven quarterback play (and, trailing throughout the majority of their second halves, the shrug and butt-pat to allow Jacoby Brissett to go out there and try and create some magic). Pass protection is an issue, but so is finding wideouts who can win early and often so whomever is throwing passes in Glendale can get rid of the ball. The Cardinals had one of the league's higher times to throw, and while Trey McBride remains awesome and Michael Wilson bailed out plenty of fantasy seasons last year, additional help is needed.

Atlanta Falcons: Passing game uncertainty

The quarterback room is set and the top two options are an injured Michael Penix Jr. and a diminished Tua Tagovailoa. Not ideal, but workable. The wideout corps, however, has only a single reliable presence to lift that duo. Drake London remains great, but even if Kyle Pitts continues his rise at tight end there are going to be a lot of double-teams thrown London's way.

That means someone from a receiving corps of Jahan Dotson, a returning Olamide Zaccheaus and rookie Zachariah Branch has to step up. This could be a windfall for Bijan Robinson fantasy owners and a headache for Falcons fans, who need someone to elevate their flawed quarterbacks with few reliable receiving options after London.

Baltimore Ravens: Keeping Lamar Jackson out of trouble

2025 was a concerning year for Baltimore's pass protection. The team's 9.6 percent sack rate allowed was one of the worst in the league. Lamar Jackson's absence didn't help, but he posted a career-worst 10.7 percent sack rate when on the field.

As a result, the Ravens' third down conversion rate dipped, what had been the league's most efficient offense fell outside the top 10 and a rebuild took place in the offseason, replacing parts along the offensive line and ushering out the John Harbaugh era.

Buffalo Bills: Wrapping up run plays

The Bills gave up nearly four full yards after contact per carry last season -- last in the NFL and nearly 0.3 full yards more than the 31st place Atlanta Falcons. This was partially a product of backs running through defensive back arm tackles on the outside -- only the Chicago Bears faced more outside runs -- but it played a significant role in what turned out to be the league's second-worst run defense. Modest help has arrived in the form of Bradley Chubb and TJ Parker, but sure-handed, block-shedding tacklers are needed.

Carolina Panthers: Pass rush

Carolina blitzed 27.7 percent of the time and generated pressure on only 26.2 percent of opponent dropbacks, which is the kind of inefficiency that leads you to a nine-game losing streak. That led to a massive contract for edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and a more modest one for off-ball linebacker and useful blitzer Devin Lloyd.

Even with them on board, the pass rushing rotation will lean heavily on 2025 Day 2 draft picks Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen making leaps in their sophomore seasons. They have the talent to get there, but the Panthers could use some veteran rotational help to bring proven production to the position.

Chicago Bears: Pass rush

There's room for Caleb Williams to up his game outside of play-action sets, but that's a pretty minor concern. The league's 27th-ranked pass rush, on the other hand, didn't get the boost it hoped from Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett last season and then made minimal tweaks to the front four. A revitalized Devin Bush will add occasional help as a blitzer, but if Chicago is going to maximize an injury prone cornerback group it needs to create pressure with its down linemen.

Cincinnati Bengals: Stopping big plays in the secondary

The Bengals had the league's fifth-worst passing defense in terms of EPA in 2025, but this wasn't just a coverage issue. Cincinnati gave up 611 yards after catch over expected (YACOE), 200-plus more yards than the second-worst team in the NFL. Minimal pressure created space for opponents to shake free downfield. Poor angles and missed tackles led to bonus yards that made everything worse.

Cleveland Browns: Quarterback

Cleveland is trying to rehabilitate Deshaun Watson, who has been the league's 41st-best quarterback when on the field for the Browns and missed a wide swath of games due to injury and the 20-plus accusations of sexual misconduct that the league itself deemed "predatory behavior." Behind him are Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, 4-9 combined as starters despite a top four defense and the league's 39th and 40th-best quarterbacks in terms of EPA in 2025 out of a field of 40). Just one more year before Watson can reasonably become one of the largest dead salary cap space hits in NFL history.

Dallas Cowboys: Converting pressure into sacks

Dallas' pass rush wasn't as grim as it seemed; the team's 34.7 percent pressure rate was right around league average, as was its blitz rate. But that manifested in only 35 sacks. Now the team heads into 2026 without either Jadeveon Clowney or Osa Odighizuwa, who ranked first and second on the team in total pressures.

Rashan Gary arrived via trade, Quinnen Williams will have a full season with the team and Demarcus Lawrence was one of the franchise's two first round draft picks. They should help keep the pressure rate constant, but it may not matter if they're not better at turning chaos into lost yards.

Denver Broncos: Defensive line depth

Denver is pretty well set on both sides of the ball, but the team's defense regressed after a thrilling 2024, falling from first in EPA allowed to eighth last season. Losing John Franklin-Myers means only one member of the team's three-man front had more than 19 pressures in 2025. While Zach Allen remains a stud and Malcolm Roach and Eyioma Uwazurike remain reliable run stoppers, the Broncos will hope for breakthroughs from recent third round picks Tyler Onyedim and Sai'vion Jones around a 31-year-old D.J. Jones.

Detroit Lions: Offensive line integrity

The Lions once had one of the NFL's most reliable, punishing offensive lines. Time took an ax to that, leaving the group to rely on young replacements (Blake Miller, Christian Mahogany) and questionable veteran imports (Cade Mays, Juice Scruggs, Larry Borom).

Despite an explosive run game, Detroit ranked in the bottom 10 when it came to run play stuff rate and juuuuuust outside the bottom 10 in run game success rate. It also led to a career low in pocket time for Jared Goff, manifesting in the lowest average target distance of his life (6.0 yards downfield, second-lowest in the league ahead of only Aaron Rodgers among full-time starters).

Green Bay Packers: Protecting Jordan Love and clearing space for Josh Jacobs

Green Bay paid a lot of money for Aaron Banks, who underwhelmed his first season as the team's left guard. It's turning left tackle over to Jordan Morgan, a 2024 first round pick who wasn't great as an interior lineman but showed flashes of his Day 1 potential while working on the outside.

2025 second round pick Anthony Belton's rookie season was uneven and frustrating. By those powers combined, the Packers fielded a below-average run game and Jordan Love faced pressure on more than 35 percent of his dropbacks.

Houston Texans: Boosting CJ Stroud with a competent run game

Stroud has never had an above average run game in Houston, but 2025 saw things approach crisis levels with the league's third-worst rushing offense. While Houston generated more than 100 rush yards over expected, it averaged fewer than four yards per carry, showcasing how grim things were behind a rebuilding offensive line. The key to improvement in 2026 will lie with new arrivals Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller (both on the wrong side of 30), first round pick Keylan Rutledge and David Montgomery, who has nearly 1,800 career NFL touches under his belt.

Indianapolis Colts: Receiving depth

Only one team in the league had four players with at least 84 targets last season. That was the Colts, who used a diverse receiving array to help restore Daniel Jones' value. This reduced double teams, helped push Alec Pierce into a new tax bracket and resulted in a 7-1 start (please do not ask what happened next).

Indianapolis has largely opted to keep the band together by re-signing Jones and Pierce, but did so at the expense of losing top target Michael Pittman, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers after Pierce's megadeal went through. Can Josh Downs and Tyler Warren command enough focus to keep Pierce flying? Can Nick Westbrook-Ikhine or Deion Burks pick up the slack? And what will it all look like in the space between Jones' recovery from a torn Achilles and whomever gets the call to start for him until he's ready?

Jacksonville Jaguars: Pass rushers who can finish the job

The Jags got off the ball effectively and had an above-average time to pressure average in their AFC South championship campaign, but didn't turn that into devastating losses. Their 4.6 percent sack rate was fourth-lowest in the league.

While the effective duo of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker remain, the useful blitzing of Devin Lloyd is gone and the depth behind that pair is… limited. Consistently crumpling pockets will be a concern unless someone steps up around or behind that Hines-Allen/Walker tandem.

Kansas City Chiefs: Turning deep throws into big gains

Yards after catch are a superboost for quarterbacks. While the Chiefs' 5.8 yards after catch per reception were fourth best in the NFL, their eight yards after catch over expected across the entire season was the worst mark in the NFL.

Patrick Mahomes threw deep more than he had since 2020 but had the most frustrating season of his career because those downfield connections weren't reliable. Even when they were there, they lacked the "explode to the end zone" juice Tyreek Hill once had in this offense.

Las Vegas Raiders: That receiving corps

Fernando Mendoza steps into an offense where his top wideouts, in some combination, will be Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton. The presence of Brock Bowers and a rebuilt offensive interior in front of Ashton Jeanty and rookie Mike Washington Jr. will help. Even so, third-and-long will be remarkably easy for opposing coordinators to plan against if Las Vegas continues to lack reliable targets who can consistently create separation.

Los Angeles Chargers: Creating downfield space for Justin Herbert

This is step two after overhauling the offensive line. Tyler BIadasz and second round pick Jake Slaughter should be solid contributors inside, but the healthy returns of Joe Alt and (hopefully, as patellar tendon injuries truly suck) Rashawn Slater should upgrade a unit that allowed the league's second-worst pressure rate last fall.

That pressure led to quicker throws, wideouts who weren't quite established in their routes and the lowest average separation number (3.2 yards, second-lowest in the NFL) of Justin Herbert's career. We've been waiting for the Pro Bowl quarterback's breakthrough to MVP candidate, only to have it repeatedly derailed. Paving the way won't just be up to his offensive line but the wideouts around him to create space and thrive downfield.

Los Angeles Rams: Gap-penetrating run stuffers

Look, the Rams don't have many weaknesses -- they're favored to win Super Bowl 61 for a reason. But one issue was in the run game, where an 11.9 percent run stuff rate was second-lowest in the NFL.

With only 66 tackles for loss (24th-best) there's room for improvement along a front where Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske are asked to do a little more as pass rushers than other hand-in-the-dirt linemen. Poona Ford remains one of the league's underappreciated gems, but finding someone who can consistently turn first down into second-and-long would be another jewel in Los Angeles' crown.

Miami Dolphins: Receiving (all)

The Dolphins have several problems to address, but the most glaring is the one that threatens to tank Malik Willis' tenure as a Dolphin in his debut season. His top veteran targets, in no particular order, are a combination of Malik Washington, Greg Dulcich, Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert and Terrace Marshall. Rookies Chris Bell, Caleb Douglas and Will Kacmarek can contribute, but Bell is rehabbing a torn ACL and Kacmarek is primarily a blocking tight end. It's gonna be a rough year for the Miami offense.

Minnesota Vikings: Restoring JJ McCarthy's competence

McCarthy was buoyed by a run-heavy attack at Michigan that created space when he aired the ball out. In his rookie season he threw the ball deep more often than his predecessor Sam Darnold, whose average pass went 8.9 yards downfield to McCarthy's 9.3 It was a bold play for a win-now team loaded with receiving talent, and it failed to pan out.

McCarthy was a disaster, had a 3:9 TD:INT ratio when throwing to those talented wideouts split wide and had a 48.9 passer rating on deep throws. He had only 2.1 yards of separation on those deep shots, on average, because he also stunk in the short range; a -0.12 EPA per dropback on low-risk throws that went an average of only 2.1 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. If he can't restore his short game, the Vikings' deep ball has no prayer.

New England Patriots: Getting Drake Maye a gotta-have-it target

Maye's protection wasn't an issue until it was, as his ability to handle pressure declined dramatically in the postseason. Let's assume Will Campbell continues to grow, Alijah Vera-Tucker stays healthy and Caleb Lomu makes an impact as a rookie. That will buy him more time, but he still needs a reliable WR1 who can maximize his potential as a young gunslinger like Stefon Diggs years earlier in Buffalo. Romeo Doubs was a nice addition, but unless he's ready to make a big leap he's more of a high level WR2 than a true top guy.

New Orleans Saints: Clearing space in the run game

New Orleans got an encouraging rookie campaign from Tyler Shough despite a bottom-two run game. The Saints gave Travis Etienne $48 million in contract value to fix that and take some weight from Alvin Kamara's shoulders, but he could be similarly grounded. The team's 0.76 yards before carry per handoff were third-worst in the NFL -- significantly lower than the 2.2 yards before contact he averaged in 2025.

That's concerning, since his two least efficient seasons as a pro came in seasons where the Jaguars failed to consistently clear space for him. Now Kellen Moore's big ticket acquisition could wind up similarly mired in his first season in Louisiana.

New York Giants: Run defense

The Giants will have a fearsome pass rush after pairing Brian Burns with Abdul Carter and now 2026 fifth overall pick Arvell Reese. This may not matter if opponents simply run all over them like they did in 2025. New York's 0.109 EPA per run play allowed was worst in the league and more than twice as bad as 31st-place Buffalo (0.049). Veteran help has arrived (Shelby Harris, DJ Reader, Tremaine Edmunds) but more reinforcements may be needed.

New York Jets: Secondary stability

New York went through a substantial overhaul after Aaron Glenn's ominous debut. A defense that recorded zero interceptions last fall could have as many as eight new starters. That includes a high-ceiling, iffy-floor cornerback duo in Nahshon Wright and rookie D'Angelo Ponds and a safety combination of Andre Cisco (eight games played in 2025) and a soon-to-be 30-year-old Minkah Fitzpatrick (14 games).

Bolstering the depth there would insulate the team from rookie mistakes or veteran drop-offs. Oh, and the quarterback situation is a mess, but you're not gonna do any better than Geno Smith in the middle of the offseason.

Philadelphia Eagles: Keeping Saquon Barkley fresh

That's not just a mileage problem. Barkley and the Eagles offense in general backslid last fall thanks to stale playcalling and an uneven push up front. Philadelphia faced a top five stacked box rate and that helped lead to a top three run stuff rate as Barkley's yards per carry dropped from 5.8 to 4.1 and the team's rushing EPA fell from first in the NFL to 13th. Replacing embattled offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo should help, though new hire Sean Mannion is taking his first gig higher than position coach.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Clearing running lanes

This isn't just a blocking concern; the Steelers had one of the league's lowest yards-before-contact numbers because they had one of the league's highest stacked box (with eight or more defenders near the line of scrimmage) rates. Mike Tomlin was predictable, in part because he had to be with an aging quarterback. Receiving corps upgrades will ease the burden of crowded running lanes, but whomever is slinging passes in Pittsburgh still has to get the ball out in a way that stretches the field and actually threatens defenses. Barring that, it's going to come down to a Herculean effort up front for Mike McCarthy.

San Francisco 49ers: Over-the-top passing defense

The 49ers had one of 2025's lowest pressure rates, in part, because of one of the NFL's lowest blitz rate. It's easy to understand why Kyle Shanahan was reticent to throw extra attackers at the pocket; his safety help stunk. While passer rating isn't a great metric for the position, it's telling that all four of the safeties to start at least one game last fall gave up a rating of 102.4 or worse in coverage. The Niners only pressured Sam Darnold on 16 percent of his dropbacks in a Week 18 showdown for the NFC's top seed, ceding the easiest path to the Super Bowl to a bitter rival.

Seattle Seahawks: Pass rushing depth

The reigning Super Bowl champions used high value draft picks to backfill free agent losses in the secondary and at running back. That left them unable to take big swings when it came to the pass rush, where veteran Dante Fowler is currently the team's top addition. The Seahawks consistently generated chaos without having to blitz, but the player who led the team in pressures is a 34-year-old DeMarcus Lawrence. Boye Mafe and his 41 pressures are now under contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. While talent remains, it's fair to worry about a dropoff from what was an elite, title-winning unit.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A run game that opens up the passing game

The Buccaneers backslid as Baker Mayfield played through injury last fall. A deficient run game didn't help, ranking fourth-worst in rushing yards over expected and third-worst in rushing yards after contact despite roughly average space-clearing up front (14th in yards before contact per carry). Rachaad White is gone, replaced by Kenneth Gainwell -- coming off a career-best season but who still had only 537 rushing yards. Bucky Irving will be called upon to put an injury-marred and inefficient season behind him, but it's clear a more dynamic attack is necessary.

Tennessee Titans: Big beefy boys on the inside (both sides)

Tennessee didn't do anything entirely well last season and responded by hiring Robert Saleh as head coach and signing or drafting what could be 11 new starters on both sides of the ball. Concerns remain about a defense that was fourth-worst in the NFL against the run remain, particularly after dealing away enormous tackle T'Vondre Sweat. While Peter Skononski is lock solid at left guard, the two interior spots next to him are a question mark even after the signings of Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson and the drafting of Fernando Carmona and Pat Coogan.

Washington Commanders: The secondary

Washington had the league's second-worst passing defense last season, beaten out, just slightly, by the Dallas Cowboys. This offseason's fixes include safety Nick Cross (gave up more than eight yards per target each of the last two seasons) and Amik Robertson (a 115.7 passer rating allowed in 2025). The hope for improvement rests with recent second-round draft picks Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil, though neither was especially impressive as the Commanders fell back to earth after 2024's breakthrough.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Biggest NFL weakness for all 32 teams, from Titans' everything to Rams' ?

Kansas Jayhawks News

247 walks Kansas fans through draft experts’ opinions on Darryn Peterson

Kansas baseball blew a big opportunity against West Virginia over the weekend

SI’s Kansas site takes you through where Kansas and their postseason hopes lie after the sweep

Meanwhile, Kansas Softball is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in quite a while

Links!

The war has no end in sight, and oil prices are back up again

This opinion piece from The Guardian says Republicans would rather self-destruct than distance themselves from Trump. Call me crazy, but I have a hard time seeing any lasting repercussions for them

Politico says Republicans’ gerrymandering push could hurt them in the long run. Apparently these people live in a different America than I do

Sorry for all the political stuff, but it’s all my Google “for you” page wants to talk about. This USA Today article tells you what’s at stake in this week’s midterm elections

Missouri’s star running back was shot over the weekend

Here’s one I know you’ve all been wanting to read about. Why did the T-Rex have such short arms?

Why is the ocean water off the east coast turning different colors?

The NBA did what the NBA does and protected a young star, electing to ignore Wemby throwing an elbow that could have seriously injured Naz Reid, and deciding the act did not warrant any further consequences. I’m not a Spurs hater and I have nothing against Wemby, but this was one of the most dangerous non-basketball acts I’ve seen on a court. You can seriously injure someone by forcefully elbowing them right in the throat. And the NBA doesn’t even think he deserves a fine? The NBA goes further to protect their chosen players than any other league, and on this one, they crossed the line and forgave an unacceptable, violent act that could have caused serious injury. It can be a joke of a league at times

Question of the Day

What sport has the best postseason? You can differentiate between college/pro men’s/women’s for the same sport if you’d like

During the 2026 NFL draft, the New York Giants demonstrated a strong belief in cornerback Colton Hood by selecting him with the 37th overall pick, despite receiving attractive trade-down offers.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen shared these details in the team's Giants Life draft video, offering fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the war room.

"As we headed into Day 2, we're talking through different scenarios. It's an opportunity to acquire more draft picks," Schoen said. "Colton Hood was our top guy on the board going into Day 2. If he was there, we were going to turn the card in. If not, we had a few options to move back in the second round and acquire more picks."

The franchise received proposals from the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints that would have allowed it to fall back to the 41st or 42nd pick. Those deals promised two fourth-round selections and a fifth-round pick in compensation.

Separately, the Detroit Lions offered the 118th, 128th, and 157th picks to slide back to No. 50.

"When we got to pick 37 and Colton Hood was there, it was an easy decision for us," Schoen said.

Although the Giants were more than willing to trade back for additional picks, Hood was the top player on their draft board entering Day 2. Team officials confirmed they would have accepted one of the trade offers had Hood been unavailable at No. 37.

Immediately after the selection, head coach John Harbaugh and Schoen began discussing a plan to move back up for wide receiver Malachi Fields, a maneuver they successfully completed in Round 3.

This sequence of decisions highlights New York’s targeted approach: Securing elite talent at critical positions while remaining flexible to address other needs.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants turned down multiple picks to select Colton Hood at No. 37

This offseason, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko saw a record 10 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, including unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell, and defensive linemen Albert Regis and Tyler Onyedim, who were picked in the second and third rounds, and are all expected to earn key rotational roles this fall.

Last offseason, Elko predicted that 10-12 players from his 2025 roster would be drafted, as the third-year head coach prepared for these departures, adding several veteran defensive linemen, including Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka, and defensive tackles CJ Sims (North Carolina) and Angelo McCullum (Illinois), who are all expected to make significant impacts next season.

Replacing Howell's pass rush production after he racked up 11.5 sacks will be a tough ask, but Anto Saka, who stands 6'4" and nearly 260 pounds, is a favorite among NFL scouts and will likely earn the starting big defensive end job, while CJ Sims is in line to serve as Albert Regis' replacement at nose tackle.

While it's tough to grade Texas A&M's 2026 defensive line, the return of junior defensive tackle DJ Hicks, who recorded a career-high 26 tackles and three sacks last season, will make or break the Aggie D-line based on how much he progresses during his final season. However, taking it from a player who's faced this group in practice, South Carolina transfer guard Trovon Baugh had nothing but praise for his newly formed group.

"A special group, very physical," Baugh stated regarding the Texas A&M defensive line. "Those guys really enjoy competing. We've got a smart group, and they keep you on your toes."

With 1,314 blocking snaps during his career with South Carolina, Trovon Baugh is expected to earn the starting right guard job and is one of the more reliable sources to discuss how tough facing Texas A&M's defensive line has been and will continue to be heading into the fall.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M OL Trovon Baugh praises the Aggies 'physical' D-line

With the early signing period, many prospects have opted to make commitments much earlier, and for Notre Dame, it has taken advantage of the new recruiting calendar.

A literal big target will go off the board later today, as 5-star offensive tackle Olu Olubobola will make his choice, as the Irish are viewed as the frontrunner. Anytime you can add a prospect of that caliber, it’s a huge victory for the program.

He isn’t the only prospect that could be joining Notre Dame’s 2027 class, as on Monday, three others announced when they’ll make their verbals. Find out below which prospects will soon commit along with a bit of background on each of them.

(Note: All rankings are according to the 247Sports Composite.)

Edge rusher Jackson Vaughn

It's about that time, @jwvaughn13!

Top247 EDGE Jackson Vaughn is set to announce his commitment LIVE on the @CBSSportsCFB YouTube Channel on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30 pm ET.

Will it be Auburn, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame or South Carolina?

WATCH https://t.co/zBEiY9sWOI@247Sportspic.twitter.com/n04foyXGjI

— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) May 11, 2026

When: May 26th, 2026

Home: Oradell, New Jersey

Ranking: No. 204 overall, No. 22 edge

Other teams involved: Auburn, LSU, Miami, and South Carolina

Notre Dame’s outlook: The 6-foot, 3-inch and 225-pound edge has the frame to be an elite pass-rusher and you have to like the Irish here. They currently have the only 247Sports Crystal Ball pick for Vaughn, and it’s from their national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn.

Wide receiver Quentin Burrell

NEWS: Four-Star WR Quentin Burrell will announce his Commitment Wednesday, May 13, LIVE on the @Rivals YouTube Channel

He’ll choose between Notre Dame, Michigan, Missouri, and Arizona State

Burrell is one of the top uncommitted WRs in the 2027 classhttps://t.co/gGPgTDg0eMpic.twitter.com/mWPUl9CXPi

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 11, 2026

When: May 13th, 2026

Home: Chicago, Illinois

Ranking: No. 83 overall, No. 14 wide receiver

Other teams involved: Missouri, Michigan and Arizona State

Notre Dame’s outlook: At the moment, it does look like the Irish are trailing the Wolverines, the 247Sports staff favors them, for the 6-foot, 3-inch and 200-pound receivers commitment. Notre Dame hasn’t had the best luck landing prospects from powerhouse Mount Carmel, but the hope is a late push changes that.

Safety Gavin Williams

NEWS: Four-Star Safety Gavin Williams will announce his Commitment Sunday, May 17th, he tells me for @Rivals⁰
He’ll choose between USC, Notre Dame, Washington, and UCLAhttps://t.co/EcE9t0PrQdpic.twitter.com/ovjNh5s16T

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 11, 2026

When: May 17th, 2026

Home: La Verne, California

Ranking: No. 159 overall, No. 11 safety

Other teams involved: Washington, UCLA, and USC

Notre Dame’s chances: As the only team not on the West Coast for the 6-foot, 1-inch and 185-pound defender, its hard for the Irish to get their hopes up landing Williams. 247Sports has the Trojans as the favorite as the moment.

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: Find out the three Notre Dame 2027 prospects who set commitment dates

CBS Sports pinpoints Florida football's home game against South Carolina as a matchup that could define the Gators season.

The contest might be a turning point in Jon Sumrall's first campaign and the beginning of a new era on the gridiron for the Orange and Blue. Florida was slated at No. 23 in the CBS Sports post-spring top-25 rankings and has seen expectations balloon as the hype continues to grow in Gainesville this offseason.

Florida's clash with the Gamecocks is the beginning of a grueling stretch for Sumrall's team — Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma immediately follow the Oct. 10 matchup and illustrate the hefty demands of SEC scheduling. Dropping this game could spell an early-season spiral for Florida; all three of these competitions will take place away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, marking the importance of protecting the Swamp early on.

Conversely, if Florida can emerge victorious, the program has a cushion to lean on before starting this tough stretch.

Solidifying winnable home games will be crucial if Florida wants to meet national expectations — CBS Sports also pegged Florida to be bowl eligible in 2026. The game is framed as a should-win contest for the Gators, as South Carolina is coming off a 4-8 season and is projected to win just 5.5 games this year.

If the Gators hope to find themselves in the college football postseason, this is a near must-win SEC game for Sumrall, who is surprisingly already under pressure before coaching his first regular-season snap.

The goal for Florida should be to come out of Week 6 at above .500. This would mean they'll need to either win on the road at Jordan-Hare against a rival Auburn team or pull off an upset against No. 9 Ole Miss at home.

Florida Gators 2026 football schedule

• Sept. 5 — vs. Florida Atlantic (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida)
• Sept. 12 — vs. Campbell (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida)
• Sept. 19 — at Auburn (Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama)
• Sept. 26 — vs. No. 9 Ole Miss (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida)
• Oct. 3 — at Missouri (Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri)
• Oct. 10 — vs. South Carolina (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida)
• Oct. 17 — at No. 2 Texas (DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas)
• Oct. 24 — Off week
• Oct. 31 — vs. No. 4 Georgia (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)
• Nov. 7 — vs. No. 12 Oklahoma (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida)
• Nov. 14 — at Kentucky (Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky)
• Nov. 21 — vs. Vanderbilt (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida)
• Nov. 27 — at Florida State (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida)

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's most pivotal game in 2026 is this SEC matchup

The Denver Broncos had 60 players at rookie minicamp last weekend, including three eligible "first-year" players who were invited to get more reps ahead of organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp in June.

The three designated first-year players were guard Nash Jones, tight end Caleb Lohner and defensive lineman Jordan Miller. To have an accrued season in the NFL, a player needs to spend at least six games on an active roster, injured reserve or PUP list. Jones, Lohner and Miller do not meet that criteria, so the league lists them as first-year players.

"It’s really a league rule based on pension credits," coach Sean Payton explained on Saturday. "So every year, I’ll get the list: here are the five eligible [players]. We may have all five of them invited. I think we have three or four."

Jones entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas State last year and spent part of his rookie season on Denver's practice squad. Lohner is a former basketball player who was picked by the Broncos in the seventh round of last year's NFL draft out of Utah. Lohner spent last season on the practice squad. Miller signed with Denver as a UDFA out of SMU in 2024, spending the last two years on the team's practice squad.

"[T]hey’re generally Year 1 guys without a pension credit, so they’ve been here nine workouts," Payton said. "In a normal rookie camp, it’d probably be more like 15 [workouts], but we pushed it back. So look, it’s just more exposure for them, more reps for them to steal before we get the whole 90-man [roster] together. So those snaps are invaluable for those guys.”

After getting extra reps at the rookie minicamp, Jones, Lohner and Miller will now look to carry their momentum into the summer while fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster.

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: Denver Broncos: 3 first-year players attended rookie minicamp

Kent have signed Warwickshire spin bowler Jake Lintott on loan until the end of the 2026 T20 Blast.

The 33-year-old will be part of the Spitfires' T20 team and will be available for selection in the County Championship.

Lintott has taken 115 wickets in 104 appearances in T20 cricket, at an average of 23.06.

"We're delighted to welcome Jake into the group for the next block of first-team fixtures," said Kent's director of cricket, Simon Cook.

"He provides us with an extra dimension to our bowling attack in all formats, and will complement the spin options we have to give us more tactical flexibility."

Lintott has also represented Hampshire and Gloucestershire, Southern Brave in the Hundred, as well as Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League and Fortune Barishal in the Bangladesh Premier League.

During a recent episode of the Craig Carton Show, Carton weighed in on rumors of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes being available to play at the start of the 2026 season.

"Patrick Mahomes is not playing football in September for the Kansas City Chiefs," said Carton, "I know you're a bunch of sheep. I know you're not that bright, but when you tear an ACL, you don't come back in six months. Patrick Mahomes is not going to be running plays for the Kansas City Chiefs in OTAs, period. Stop dumbasses."

PATRICK MAHOMES WILL NOT PLAY FOR THE CHIEFS IN SEPTEMBER!

“Patrick Mahomes is not playing football in September for the Kansas City Chiefs! When you tear an ACL, you do not come back from it in six months!” — Craig Carton@craigcartonlive@TyJohnsonNews#NFL#Chiefs… pic.twitter.com/0t9afODYtI

— The Craig Carton Show (@CraigCartonShow) May 4, 2026

Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL late during the Chiefs' Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. After surgery the following day, he's shown drastic improvement in his rehab and is expected to return to the football field ahead of the 2026 season.

"I know he's (Patrick Mahomes) doing a lot of stuff right now. That's what I can give you," said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid during his rookie minicamp press conference," He is throwing the ball, and he does it on his own, so he's not getting in any trouble here."

There continues to be speculation regarding Mahomes' status as OTAs continue this offseason and for months leading up to the 2026 regular season kickoff.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Radio Host dismisses the idea of Patrick Mahomes playing in September

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers are now moving on to the offseason following their Round 2 sweep by the New York Knicks. The Sixers will now look ahead to the summer to find ways to improve their team and move ahead to the future.

Quentin Grimes will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. After a long 2025 offseason of restricted free agency, in which he had to settle for the qualifying offer of $8.7 million. He averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting 33.4% from deep during the season. He then averaged 6.7 points and shot 40% from deep in the playoffs.

"I felt like it was a solid season for me to knowing that whenever guys are in and out or were dealing with injuries, whoever was in, I feel like I was able to prove myself every time I step on the court," Grimes said. "If I had more responsibility, if I was on the bench role, to come in to try to make an impact anywhere I can. So, I was kind of just digesting the whole season as a whole right now."

In the aftermath of a tough Round 2 loss, Grimes was focused more on the season itself than free agency. He believes that everything will take care of itself when the time calls for it.

"We had a pretty good season, considering everything we kind of went through as a team, just battling a whole bunch of stuff," Grimes continued. "I haven't really given any thoughts on what's going on after after today. Everything going in the summertime, it'll take care of itself, really."

With that being said, one has to wonder what the 5-year veteran out of Houston will be looking for in the offseason.

"I haven't really thought about that, honestly," he admitted when asked. "Just got done the season as a whole, just talking with my agents and everything, we’ll kind of figure out what's the best situation, what I'm looking for, but honestly, I haven't really thought about that right now."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Quentin Grimes talks season, free agency after Sixers fall in Round 2

In a post-NBA draft lottery mock draft, Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd was selected No. 60 overall.

With only 60 picks in the draft, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie believes there's a strong chance Wisconsin could see its former 25-year old point guard be taken to close things out.

Currently, the Washington Wizards hold the No. 60 overall pick thanks to a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

One of the major concerns with Boyd going into the draft is his age. The Garnerville, NY, native began his collegiate career during the 2020-21 season at Florida Atlantic.

Boyd was an Owl until the 2024-25 season when he transferred to San Diego State. After just one season with the Aztecs he re-entered the portal and came to Madison.

Keep in mind, Vecenie has a 19-year old being selected in the second round. Boyd is the oldest player drafted, while a pair of 18-year-olds are NBA-bound in this mock draft.

At the end of the day, Boyd is Wisconsin's only shot at having a player drafted this year. John Blackwell will be draft-bound in 2027 as he decided he's best suited at Duke for his senior campaign rather than declaring for the draft alongside Boyd.

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: Washington Wizards select Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd No. 60 overall

There is a specific kind of theater that only exists in the final moments of an AHL playoff series, especially when that series concludes in the pressure cooker of Laval’s Place Bell. When the Toronto Marlies finally put the finishing touches on their Game 5 victory over the Rocket on Saturday, the atmosphere shifted from mere hostility to a full-blown release of frustration from the 10,000-plus in attendance.

As debris began to rain down from the stands, a byproduct of a fan base incensed by the final result and a perceived non-call in the dying seconds, Marlies defenseman Dakota Mermis found himself at the center of a viral postscript. The veteran defenseman spotted a discarded beer can on the ice, picked it up, and delivered a mock chug toward the glass. It was a moment of peak gamesmanship that perfectly encapsulated a series defined by bad blood.

"I think it’s just a fun rivalry. It’s a high, very intense series," Mermis told reporters with a grin following the Marlies’ practice on Monday. "I think that at the end of the day, the fans were just saying cheers on a good hard-fought series and so just enjoying that with them."

Make no mistake, Mermis was being entirely facetious. The "cheers" from the Laval faithful was anything but celebratory. The Rocket fans were at a breaking point, fueled by the elimination and the lingering anger over the officiating moments prior. By reframing the act of throwing trash as a "toast," Mermis showcased the kind of veteran poise, and wit, that has made him a vital part of the Marlies’ leadership group this spring.

Rocket fans threw beer cans on the ice after being eliminated by the Marlies. Dakota Mermis picked up one of the cans and drank it.

🎥: FloHockey | #LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/UgmhwyeuCH

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) May 9, 2026

The gesture wasn’t just a hit in the locker room; it resonated far beyond the AHL footprint. Both Mermis and head coach John Gruden noted that their phones have been buzzing incessantly since the footage made its rounds on social media.

"I received a couple texts from certain people that I usually don't get thinking that they enjoyed that quite a bit, and I think he got quite a few as well," Gruden admitted. "In the moment, it was kind of a great reaction. Nothing's like winning a road playoff game, especially in Laval."

For Mermis, the reach of the clip was unexpected.

"A lot of people reaching out," he said. "A lot of people end up seeing that, that you obviously don't expect. It's just a little thing that happened and you know, just try to have fun with it."

Of course, the analytical question following such a moment is always about the "logistics" of the celebration. When asked if there was actually any liquid left in the projectile, Mermis was quick to shut down any health-and-safety concerns.

"No, no, no. We avoided any of that," Mermis laughed. "It was pretty, pretty low when I picked it up."

The viral moment provided a rare bit of levity for a team that had spent the previous two weeks in a defensive shell, absorbing physical punishment to secure a series win. While the "beer chug" will live on in highlight reels, the real victory for Toronto was the discipline required to ignore the noise and the debris, until the job was done. As the Marlies pivot toward Cleveland, they do so with a bit more swagger and a clear understanding that in the playoffs, sometimes you have to toast your enemies with their own frustration.

The race toward Super Bowl contention in the NFL is no longer just about having a superstar quarterback or a flashy offense. In today’s league, the teams built for sustained success are the ones with balance, depth, coaching stability, and enough talent across the roster to survive injuries, tough schedules, and playoff pressure. NFL.com’s ranking of the top 10 most complete rosters entering the 2026 season highlights exactly which franchises appear best equipped for the long grind ahead — and why several familiar contenders remain firmly in the championship conversation.

What makes this list especially fascinating is the variety of team-building philosophies represented. Some clubs, like the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, are leaning into veteran leadership while surrounding their stars with carefully selected young talent. Others, such as the Houston Texans and New England Patriots, are hoping ascending quarterbacks and aggressive offseason moves can push them into the NFL’s elite tier. Across the board, these teams have minimized glaring weaknesses and assembled lineups capable of winning in multiple ways.

RELATED: NFL sophomores to watch in the 2026 season

Several of these organizations also enter 2026 with strong continuity, both schematically and culturally, which matters more than ever in a hyper-competitive league. Whether it’s dominant defensive fronts, explosive skill-position groups, or improved offensive lines, each roster on this list carries legitimate playoff aspirations. Some may still have questions to answer, but on paper, these are the franchises that look best prepared to compete for a Lombardi Trophy this season.

1. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams enter the 2026 season with a real shot in the Super Bowl title after coming just one possession away from reaching the big game last season. Matthew Stafford continues to lead one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses, anchore by the dangerous receiving duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum give Los Angeles excellent balance offensively, while the additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson significantly upgraded the secondary. With very few weaknesses across the roster, the Rams appear built for another deep playoff run.

2. Seattle Seahawks

The defending champions is still one of the league’s most balanced and disciplined teams despite losing some key contributors in free agency. Sam Darnold showcased his talents last season, while Jaxson Smith-Njigba has developed into one of the team’s most important weapons alongside an improving rushing attack led by rookie Jadarian Price. Defensively, Seattle continues to dominate with stars like Devon Witherspoon, Leonard Williams, and Byron Murphy II anchoring an elite unit. Few teams possess the same level of depth and stability from top to bottom.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles still boast one of the NFL’s deepest offensive rosters, led by Jalen Hurts and an elite group of players which includes A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Marquise Brown. Saquon Barkley adds explosiveness to the ground game, while Dallas Goedert remains a reliable veteran presence at tight end. Defensively, Jalen Carter headlines a disruptive front capable of overwhelming opposing offenses. Although there are some concerns about depth in the secondary and offensive line, Philadelphia remains one of the NFC’s strongest contenders.

4. Baltimore Ravens

Even after a coaching change, the Ravens remain one of the AFC’s most dangerous teams because of Lamar Jackson’s ability to elevate the offense. Baltimore added young receiving talent in Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt while continuing to rely on veterans Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Derrick Henry. Defensively, Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith lead a physical group that added more athleticism and depth this offseason. If the offensive line holds together, the Ravens have the talent to compete with anyone in the conference.

RELATED: Top 10 NFL team offenses entering OTAs

5. Buffalo Bills

The Bills continue to be led by talented quarterback Josh Allen, whose playmaking ability keeps Buffalo among the AFC’s top contenders every season. The addition of DJ Moore gives Allen another proven target, while James Cook and Dalton Kincaid provide versatility within the offense. Defensively, Gregory Rousseau, Ed Oliver, and Bradley Chubb headline a unit transitioning into a new scheme under Jim Leonhard. Buffalo may have some roster questions, but the overall talent level still makes this team extremely dangerous.

6. Detroit Lions

Detroit remains one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive teams thanks to Jared Goff and an elite collection of playmakers that includes Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta. Penei Sewell continues to anchor the offensive line, though depth remains a concern following Taylor Decker’s departure. Defensively, Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Branch headline a young group that still has room to improve. If the defense takes another step forward, the Lions could quickly return to contender status.

7. Denver Broncos

The Broncos quietly built one of the league’s most complete rosters under Sean Payton that had them almost reached the Super Bowl last season. Bo Nix continues to develop nicely, while the addition of Jaylen Waddle gives Denver another explosive weapon alongside Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin. Defensively, Patrick Surtain II leads one of the NFL’s strongest secondaries, supported by an aggressive pass rush featuring Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. Denver’s balance on both sides of the ball makes them a serious AFC threat.

8. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers remain locked and loaded with star power, featuring Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Mike Evans, and Ricky Pearsall showcasing one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive systems. Trent Williams still anchors the offensive line, though one of the biggest concerns is the durability and depth of the whole unit. Defensively, San Francisco hopes healthier seasons from Nick Bosa and Fred Warner can help the group regain elite form. Even with some roster questions, the 49ers still possess enough high-end talent to contend in the NFC.

RELATED: Most popular NFL teams in the world

9. Houston Texans

Houston earned its place on this list largely because of a defense loaded with young talent and elite pass-rushing ability. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter form one of the NFL’s best edge-rushing duos, while the secondary continues to improve with emerging playmakers across the board. The Texans also upgraded the offensive line and added David Montgomery to support quarterback C.J. Stroud. If Stroud returns to his best form, Houston could become one of the AFC’s most complete teams.

10. New England Patriots

The Patriots have made major progress under Mike Vrabel, with Drake Maye quickly emerging as the face of the franchise after leading New England to an AFC Championship appearance last season. The offensive line remains a concern despite additions like Alijah Vera-Tucker and Caleb Lomu, but the backfield duo of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson gives the offense stability. Defensively, the Patriots continue to play disciplined and physical football under Vrabel’s system. While they may still lack elite depth compared to the teams above them, New England’s foundation looks extremely promising entering 2026.

In late April, the Wild earned their first playoff series win in more than a decade by bouncing back. They trailed Dallas 2-1 in the series, and were down by a goal in Game 4, facing the possibility of traveling back to Texas to face elimination.

Instead, they tied the game, won it in overtime, and grabbed the next two games to reach Round 2.

And there, in Round 2, on Monday, they got a hard lesson in how great teams bounce back.

The Wild had routed Colorado in Game 3, getting back into the series with a 5-1 win. They took a lead in Game 4, only to see the powerful Avalanche turn the tables and dominate long stretches. Trailing in the third period, the Wild forged a 2-2 tie on the strength of Nico Sturm’s first playoff goal since 2021.

And from there, it was all Colorado. By the time it was over, the Avalanche led the series 3-1, and the NHL’s best regular season team had improved to 7-1 in the playoffs.

Most notably, immediately after Sturm’s goal, the Avalanche hemmed Minnesota into the defensive zone, and didn’t relent until Parker Kelly had scored the game-winner. They added two more into an empty net for a 5-2 win.

“They’re a good team too. They’re gonna have good shifts. They’re gonna have pushes. You gotta try and limit those,” Wild forward Matt Boldy said. “Yeah, there’s not really much of an answer for it. Yeah, those shifts are big. We know that. But the game’s not always gonna go perfectly. And they’re a good team too. But yeah, we think we left a little out there tonight.”

For Sturm, who won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022, the trouble started long before his goal got the sellout crowd back involved.

“We made bad decisions with the puck tonight, especially in the first half of the game. And, to be honest, we probably didn’t deserve to win when you take the whole game into perspective,” he said, offering some brutal honesty. “I felt like we started playing with about seven, eight minutes left in the second period, that’s when we found our game. At both blue lines, really, that team is too good to where you can get away with some of those mistakes, turning pucks over at the far blue line, not getting pucks out at our blue line. And overall, when you take the whole game, the final score is probably where it was supposed to be, to be honest.”

For the team that has dominated the NHL this season, and is determined to hang a fourth title banner inside Ball Arena, the response to quiet the Minnesota audience was described as “tenacious” by the Colorado coach.

“There was no hesitation on our forecheck,” said Jared Bednar, of his team’s relentless attack. “Guys were skating, they weren’t coasting in, so we came up with some turned-over pucks and were able to find a little bit of space in D-zone for a couple shifts there, and then we ended up getting rewarded.”

The Wild’s bounce back in Round 1 was impressive and inspiring to an army of fans who were desperately hungry for some good postseason news from this franchise. Now facing elimination for the first time this season, they know that an even bigger bounce back will be required.

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It's the eve of the Coppa Italia final, with Inter set to face Lazio at 21:00 CEST on Wednesday 13 May at the Stadio Olimpico. The Nerazzurri held a morning training session at the BPER Training Centre under the guidance of Cristian Chivu and his staff, their final one before travelling to Rome.

Austin Reaves can now leave $14.9 million Lakers contract originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There's going to be a whole lot of attention given to LeBron James' future after the Los Angeles Lakers' season-ending loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.

The reality is that there's a different storyline that might matter more to the Lakers' long-term future, and that's Austin Reaves.

The talented, undrafted guard from Oklahoma is coming to a pivot point in his career, and the direction he takes from here will matter greatly.

Reaves' contract has reached the moment when he has to decide on a player option for 2026-27. The amount written in this current deal for that option is $14.9 million.

Given the level Reaves has reached, it's all but assured that he will decline that player option. And whenever Reaves officially does that, it'll mean he's heading for free agency.

MORE: LeBron's retirement update involves the media in a repetitive way

The reality with Reaves, like it is with any other player in his spot, is that his current team can offer him an additional year and more money per year on a contract than any other team in the NBA.

So if Reaves wants to maximize his next deal, and if the Lakers are willing to pay him a max contract, then staying in Los Angeles would be the move.

But if the Lakers are hesitant to max Reaves out, or if he'd prefer to get out from under the shadow of Luka Doncic, he could always choose to move on.

MORE: Donovan Mitchell never wanted the Knicks, only moments like this

The James decision is big but probably only has one season of implications.

What Reaves decides to do could matter for the next half-decade for the Lakers. Will they have a backcourt of Doncic and Reaves to build everything else around? Or will they have to get a different running mate for Luka?

The player option part is straightforward enough, because Reaves has far outplayed that value. From there is where things will get very interesting.

More NBA news:

• Bronny James' future with Lakers has 3 possible outcomes
• Clippers are set up to trade Darius Garland again
• Warriors' Steve Kerr news means it's time to talk about LeBron and Steph
• Anthony Davis is the magic touch for the No. 1 pick
• Jaylen Brown blames the 'media' for a problem he created himself

Notre Dame's defense is loaded with star-power potential heading into the 2026 season. There's one proven star on defense and that's Unanimous All-American cornerback Leonard Moore who will be the best returning corner in the country two years in a row. There's others that are on the verge like defensive end Boubacar Traore and safety Tae Johnson who PFF has ranked as the No. 1 returning safety in the country. 

Another player making a push to become a star on this loaded defensive roster in rising junior defensive end Bryce Young. Young was one of the highest rated defensive recruits in the 2024 class. The 6-6, 260-pound North Carolina native came to Notre Dame with a lot of hype, but he was relatively raw coming out of high school and needed time to develop. 

In 2024, he played 374 snaps in their 16-game season. He came onto the scene against Purdue when they lost defensive in Jordan Botelho to a season ending injury. His snap volume ramped up during the Louisville game due to an injury suffered by Traore which put an early end to his season as well. In total, Young finished with 17 total pressures and seven hits plus sacks on the quarterback; 15 of his 17 pressures and six of his seven hits plus sacks on the quarterback came from the Louisville game to the end of the season. 

This past year, Young's snap volume went up. He played 314 snaps this season which was 60 less than his freshman season, but the Irish played in four less games. Out of his 314 total snaps, Young played 202 pass rushing snaps. In those 202 pass rushing snaps, Young tallied 29 pressures and 11 hits plus sacks on the quarterback. He also recorded 10 run stops in 104 run snaps. His production last year was good, but there's definitely another level he can get to. 

Notre Dame has one of the best returning edge-rushing duos in the country with Traore and Young. To varying degrees, we're confident in what we're going to see from Traore this upcoming season. It's likely he ends up breaking out nationally and could end up in the same conversation with players like Dylan Stewart from South Carolina, Damon Wilson II from Miami and Collin Simmons from Texas. Young, on the other hand, is more of a question mark. 

There are some things we saw from him this spring, in terms of his development, under new defensive line coach Charlie Partridge that make me confident that Young is on his way to a taking that next big step. For Notre Dame to have one of the best edge-rushing duos in the country, they need Young to play his part as well. We've seen previous defensive lines in South Bend in the past that are dominant to just one side, and that's easy to game plan around. 

Young has first-round NFL talent, measurables and potential. Now, it's about going out and turning that potential into production. He's had a solid first two seasons in South Bend, but this is a year where he's poised to take the next step and be the game-changing counterpart to Traore's impact on a weekly basis. If Young takes the next step as a pass rusher and a run stopper, this defense will be very hard to move the ball against in the fall. 

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On this episode, TJ Jones reacts to an interview with Alvin Kamara from the Terron Armstead podcast and uses it as a springboard into a broader conversation about how the Saints operate, how veterans are treated, and why the franchise feels like it’s finally pivoting into a necessary new phase. TJ starts with Kamara’s interview and highlights how much Kamara has going on beyond football, running through the off-field projects Kamara discussed, including real estate work in Birmingham, a film company, and a mobile money platform initiative connected to Liberia. The tone in this portion is more appreciative than argumentative, with TJ framing Kamara as someone thinking long-term and building real infrastructure outside the game while still being a centerpiece of the Saints’ identity.

From there, the episode shifts into the most debated portion: TJ breaking down comments from former Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu that raised eyebrows about the organization’s approach to veteran players. TJ’s main point is that the quote cycle can get misleading fast, so TJ urges people to view Mathieu’s remarks in full context rather than letting a clipped version drive the narrative. TJ digs into what Mathieu seemed to be suggesting about the Saints being reluctant to move on from veterans and how that can create tension underneath the surface, not necessarily because anyone is “wrong,” but because the league is constantly forcing teams to choose between loyalty, leadership, and production.

The back half of the episode widens the lens to organizational direction, with TJ circling back repeatedly to the departure of Dennis Allen as a turning point the Saints had to make. TJ argues the change was vital because the team had grown complacent, and TJ credits the fan base’s sustained frustration as a real factor in pushing leadership to finally act. That leads into a more pragmatic roster conversation, including how adding another running back like Travis Etienne can help lighten Kamara’s load and keep the offense from being overly dependent on one player. TJ closes by emphasizing the uncomfortable truth of the NFL: it’s a business, and New Orleans has to make tougher, cleaner personnel decisions going forward if performance doesn’t match expectations, even when it involves respected veterans.

The Houston Texans made a quiet but intriguing move on Monday, officially signing running back Evan Hull following a successful tryout at rookie minicamp. 

At first glance, Hull’s career stats—49 rushing yards on 20 carries across three teams—don't scream "game-changer." However, looking deeper into the move suggests the Texans are prioritizing a specific archetype for their backfield depth: the pass-catching specialist.

Why Hull? Why Now?

The Texans’ backfield already features a heavy hitter in David Montgomery, but modern NFL offenses thrive on variety. Hull, a former 2023 fifth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts, was a prolific dual-threat weapon at Northwestern. In 2022, he led all FBS running backs with 54 receptions, showing a natural ability to operate as a safety valve in the passing game.

By signing Hull, the Texans are likely looking for:

• Third-Down Utility: A back who can reliably catch passes out of the backfield to alleviate pressure on C.J. Stroud.
• Special Teams Contributions: As a fringe roster player, Hull's path to the 53-man roster will require him to prove his worth on kick and punt units.
• Roster Flexibility: Moving on from Luke Lachey suggests the team feels comfortable with their tight end depth (likely led by Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan) and sees a greater "upside" in testing a versatile back like Hull.

The Other Side Of The Coin

In the NFL, the distance between "draft day sleeper" and "roster casualty" is often measured in a matter of months. We saw that cold reality play out on Monday as the Houston Texans waived tight end Luke Lachey to clear a spot for Evan Hull.

On paper, it’s a standard transactional swap that involves a move to bolster backfield depth at the expense of a developmental project. But for those watching the trajectory of this roster, cutting ties with Lachey feels like a premature surrender on a high-upside frame.

It’s a tough break for a second-year player still trying to find his footing in the league. Lachey has the physical tools to be a contributor elsewhere, but in Houston, his time simply ran out before it ever really began.

The Verdict

This is the definition of a "bottom-of-the-roster" chess move. While Hull has struggled to find a permanent home after stints with the Colts, Steelers, and Saints, he possesses a skill set—receiving and pass protection—that fits the Texans' offensive scheme.

Cutting a young prospect like Lachey is always a risk, but in the search for a complete backfield, Houston is betting that Hull's collegiate pedigree can finally translate into NFL production. If he can recapture his Northwestern form, the Texans might have just found a bargain-bin contributor for their 2026 campaign.

New York Yankees pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange was all the rage in Spring Training. He was flashing 102 mph on the radar gun, and he was buckling hitters with his nasty movement.

Some even felt that Lagrange could sneak his way on to the big-league roster, but in the end, the Yankees sent him down to Triple-A for some more work.

That proved to be the right decision, because Lagrange has certainly been struggling through his first seven starts of 2026.

Yes, Lagrange is still fanning hitters at an incredible rate, having racked up 38 strikeouts over 28.1 innings of work, but his walks have been just as noticeable.

Lagrange has issued 17 free passes thus far, good for an average of 5.4 walks per nine frames. He owns lifetime 5.2 BB/9, so command has always been an issue for the right-hander. But it isn't getting any better. In fact, it might be getting worse.

This is exactly why I've always pushed back against the notion of turning Lagrange into a reliever. Not that you ever want your pitchers walking batters, but it gets amplified much more when you are entering a game with runners already potentially on base.

Lagrange is 6-foot-7, so it's understandably difficult for him to harness his delivery. But if he ever wants to make it in the big leagues, he will have to rectify this problem.

Remember: Dellin Betances had a very similar issue in the Yankees' minor-league system, but he got it under control (somewhat) in the majors.

Can Lagrange do the same thing?

Well, based on what we have been seeing out of the Dominican native this season, he certainly isn't on the right track.

Lagrange's lack of control is also affecting how he pitches in general, as he has already surrendered six home runs in 2026. Three of them came in his most recent start, when he walked three and gave up five runs in 4.1 innings.

There is no doubting Lagrange's stuff. It's absolutely filthy. But we have seen plenty of pitchers with amazing talent fall flat due to their inability to consistently get the ball over the plate.

You would hate to see the same thing happen with Lagrange, but he is now five seasons into his minor-league tenure, and he hasn't improved.

Perhaps New York can work with Lagrange on his mechanics to ensure better command, but you also have to be careful you don't mess with him too much.

It's definitely a tough situation, and it's something that isn't really being discussed.

Lagrange lays claim to a 4.76 ERA thus far this season, and you already know that the walks are one of the primary reasons why.

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Francesco Bagnaia hailed Jorge Martin’s epic comeback from a nightmare 2025 MotoGP season as “admirable”, saying the Aprilia rider has emerged as a genuine title threat.

Martin dominated last weekend’s French Grand Prix, winning both the sprint and the main race after a difficult qualifying to move one point behind his team-mate Marco Bezzecchi in the championship standings.

The Spaniard’s early 2026 form is in stark contrast to his first year with Aprilia, when he suffered four injuries, struggled for competitiveness and even tried to trigger an early exit clause in his contract. 

Bagnaia knows Martin well from their time together at Ducati, with the latter having also beaten him to the 2024 title in an epic showdown that went down to the wire in Valencia.

The Italian feels Martin is now beginning to show the calmness and consistency that underpinned his title-winning 2024 campaign.

“He’s clearly a title contender,” Bagnaia said when asked about Martin’s performance by Motorsport.com. “He’s using the same strategy he used in 2024 - finishing every race. 

“Here, he finished every race first. But in general, he’s also very good at knowing when to settle for less. So, that’s a plus. I lost the world championship to him for that very reason. 

“When I saw him on Saturday, we both had lunch in the hospitality area at Alpinestar. He looked very relaxed. He knew he could do it today, and he did. 

“I’m very happy for him. He deserves it. Last year was very tough for him. I think he had 21 fractures last year. So, having the strength to come back to this level is admirable. 

“Congratulations to him and especially to Aprilia, which gave him incredible support last year.”

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team

Gresini rider Alex Marquez also believes Martin’s current form was reminiscent of his Ducati heydays, when Martin and Bagnaia were operating on a different level to the rest of the field.

Marquez said he was particularly impressed by how his countryman regained confidence on the Aprilia after undergoing multiple surgeries during an injury-hit 2025 season.

"It is impressive," he said. "When you see him riding, you see that he goes without fear, with his heart wide open," he added.

"And for someone who has hurt himself so badly, so many times, it is something strange. The normal thing would be to see him riding a little more rigidly on the bike. 

“Instead, you see that he has enormous confidence, the same [confidence] he had in 2023 or 2024. So, we can only congratulate him, because he is doing a great job.”

Francesco Bagnaia explains French GP crash: “I didn’t want to lose, I was having a blast”

Jorge Martin’s French GP win comes one year after Aprilia contract saga

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Every season there are a few rookies who overcome their nervousness and excel in their first Stanley Cup playoffs.  

This postseason is no exception with 35 first-year players participating in the playoffs thus far.

Some have left lasting impressions.

Of the three Calder Trophy candidates, the Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer is the odds-on favorite to capture the award. 

Unfortunately for the Islanders, the did not make the playoffs — so Schaefer will have to wait for his postseason debut to really show out.

The other two candidates, Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke, are making their presence felt.

Sennecke has goals in the past three games, four in the playoffs. 

His 23 goals during the regular season tied him with Schaefer for the rookie lead.  His first playoff goal was a tiebreaker in Anaheim’s 7-4 win in Game 3 against Edmonton in Round 1.

Sennecke is tied with Philadelphia’s Porter Martone for the playoff lead in rookie scoring. 

Martone, Alex Bump and Denver Barkey all impressed and are bright spots in the Flyers’ future. All three scored their first ever playoff goals.

Demidov has playoff experience from last season but played only two regular season games and is still considered a rookie. 

He has yet to score a goal in 10 playoff games this year although he has three assists, has looked strong, and is averaging more than 16 minutes of ice time per game.

Defenseman Ian Moore is another Anaheim rookie getting his first taste of the playoffs. After being benched for Games 2 and 3 against Vegas, he came back to score the winning goal in Game 4.

Tampa Bay’s Dominic James split the season between the Lightning and the AHL. He managed two goals and an assist in the seven-game set against Montreal. 

He was a standout at Minnesota-Duluth and is a definite piece of the Lightning’s future.

The most outstanding performance by a rookie so far has been Canadien goalie Jakob Dobeš. He absolutely stoned Tampa Bay in their deciding game, stopping 28 of 29 shots while Montreal managed only nine shots against the Lightning.

For the playoffs to date he is sporting a 2.28 GAA and .912 save percentage.

Dobeš is technically a rookie although he had some regular season and playoff experience during the 2024-25 season. His backup in the playoffs, Jacob Fowler is also a rookie and has yet to see action because of Dobeš’ excellent play.

Another rookie goaltender making himself known is Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt.

Wallstedt was outstanding in Minnesota’s come-from-behind 4-2 series win against Dallas. 

He started eight of the Wild’s nine games going into Monday’s Game 4 with a 2.61/.913. 

On Monday, Wallstedt gave up three goals on 32 shots and the Avalanche took a 3-1 lead going back to Denver with a 5-2 win.

Against Colorado he had a rough start, giving up eight goals in the opening game loss. He was relieved by Filip Gustavsson for game two, another loss, but game back strong in 5-1 Game 3 victory.

Pittsburgh’s Arturs Silovs is still considered a rookie even though he played in games for Vancouver the prior three seasons, including 10 starts in last year’s playoffs.  

Even though the Pens were eliminated by the Flyers, Silovs impressed in his three starts, going 1.52/.939.

ON DECK: FLORIDA PANTHERS OFFSEASON

• IIHF World Championship, Switzerland: May 15-31
• NHL Draft (9th in First Round, Seven Overall): June 26-27; KeyBank Center, Buffalo
• NHL Free Agency: Opens July 1
• Panthers Development Camp: Late June/Early July; IcePlex, Fort Lauderdale
• Panthers Rookie Camp/Tournament: Late August/Early Sept.; Site TBA
• Panthers Training Camp: Early/Mid September; Fort Lauderdale 
• 2026-27 NHL Season Opens: Late September; Site, Opponent TBA

This article: Rookies Becoming Household Names in these Stanley Cup Playoffs originally appeared on Florida Hockey Now.

People come to Los Angeles with big dreams. Some want to make it as Hollywood actors. Others dream of a record deal and music fame. And there’s those who aspire to drink green juice while wearing oversized sunglasses and attend the third-through-seventh inning of a Dodger game at Chavez Ravine while pitching a reality show.

The San Francisco Giants had more humble dreams: To get double-digit hits for the third time in four games and continue their 2026 dominance over the defending world champions. They did that and more Monday night, notching 12 hits and six walks in a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

You know it’s a big hit when the NBCS account breaks out a reference to a 30-year-old Will Smith album! Willy Adames went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, one of five Men In Black and Orange with a multi-hit game Monday night. Rafael Devers got jiggy wit his fifth home run, scored three runs, and reached base four times. Every member of the starting lineup had either a hit or an RBI, truly the mark of an offense that keeps the roof blazin’.

All this on a night where the Giants had two runners thrown out at home, Jesus Rodriguez got his first career stolen base, and Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-5.

Matt Gage (3-1) picked up the win after relieving Trevor McDonald (5.1 IP, 9H, 3R, 2BB, 4K) in the 6th inning, after a Max Muncy home run and a Teoscar Hernandez single chased him from the game. Gage retired all five Dodgers he faced, mowing down the heart of the lineup. Maybe Ohtani and Kyle Tucker could settle for some deferred hits?

McDonald got hit hardest in the 4th inning, when the Dodgers led off the inning with four straight singles, all off of sinkers. The Giants escaped down only 2-1 thanks to an Adames-to-Arraez-to-Schmidt double play.

The Giants countered with three straight singles off lefty Alex Vesia (1-1) from Jung Hoo Lee, Luis Arraez, and Casey Schmidt, who reached base four times Monday. Devers drew a seven-pitch, bases-loaded walk to give the Giants a 4-3 lead before “Big Willy Style” drove in Arraez and Schmidt, just the two of them.

Devers started the scoring with a second-inning homer off starter Rory Sasaki, who had one of his better outings of the season by giving up three runs and six hits and striking out five. Like his walk, this came on a 3-2 pitch, the 8th pitch of the at-bat. Devers nearly fouled out on the previous pitch, but Hernandez got distracted by a Dodgers official holding a folding chair. One pitch later, he made Sasaki and the chair-wielding man pay.

Devers missed on a bases-loaded opportunity in the 3rd, where the Giants loaded the bases in unusual fashion. Rodriguez drew a walk and then stole second when Lee struck out, swinging and missing so badly he threw his bat down the first-base line. He went to third on an Arraez single but didn’t score after Sasaki beaned Schmidt and Sasaki retired Devers and Heliot Ramos.

In the 6th, the Giants showed off some excellent baserunning and some less excellent baserunning. Schmidt singled and took third on a Devers single, with Devers hustling to second when the throw went to third. Ramos followed with a two-run double down the line.

In a very Heliot Ramos sequence, he went to third on a deep fly ball, then got thrown out at home by roughly 20 feet on a Matt Chapman groundout.

Was that the only Giant thrown out at the plate? Heavens no. Harrison Bader doubled in the 8th and made it to third on a delayed start when Rodriguez grounded out to Muncy and Freddie Freeman’s throw back to third went high. One pitch later, Lee grounded to first and Bader was tagged out in a rundown.

The Giants got some insurance in the 8th inning when Schmidt walked and stole second (two steals in one game?!?). An intentional walk to Devers was followed by an unintentional walk to Ramos, an Adames single, and another walk, this time to Chapman.

The Giants rounded out the scoring with an RBI groundout from Rodriguez. Poor Lee was the second Giant hit in the game, but at least he only got nailed by a curveball. That made four walks and a hit batsmen in one inning from Wyatt Mills, who may not be long for the Dodgers roster.

The bullpen went 3.2 innings and only gave up a single, with Keaton Winn and JT Brubaker closing it out. The Dodgers have lost three straight, the Giants have won three out of four, and the Giants’ big hitters are mostly hitting again. That’s what we call a Hollywood Echo Park ending!

Paulo Dybala is eager to know his future. The Argentine made this clear after the victory at the Tardini against Parma.

La Joya’s priority is to remain in the capital; his contract expires on June 30th, and he currently has no agreements with any other clubs, including Boca Juniors.

In the coming weeks, the former Juventus player expects to learn more about a possible renewal, the path Gasperini wanted—or not.

As reported by SiamoLaRoma.it, one of Paulo Dybala’s agents is in Rome and will remain in the capital until after the derby against Lazio.

As of this morning, no official meeting has been scheduled between Paulo Dybala’s agents and Roma.

We’re waiting for the Friedkins to arrive to see if they’re willing to meet to establish a possible contract extension.

The owners will decide; the Argentine striker’s entourage is available to negotiate.

The priority is his permanence in Rome, but it’s highly unlikely that the future of “La Joya” will be decided by this weekend, one way or the other.

We have all stuck our foot in our mouths occasionally. It's easy to do. If you haven't, don't worry. Your time is coming. Spend enough time speaking, and it will, at some point, happen to the best of us. What does that have to do with the Baltimore Ravens, you ask? Well, let's just say a rookie quarterback came dangerously close to sticking a pair of cleats in his oral cavity.

After selecting Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns added Taylen Green during the sixth round this past April. Rookie minicamps are underway, and Green spoke at Cleveland's. After being asked if there was any quarterback who shared his potential, he came dangerously close to making a wild comparison involving Lamar Jackson that may have followed him for a while. Here's the statement via Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.

"To be honest, no. I would say of course Lamar (Jackson), but he ain't 6-[foot-]6. Josh Allen is close, but I'm 230. He's like 260. My dad says Randall Cunningham-ish. I really don't think there's anybody like me. Not in a like cocky [way] or anything, just some confidence. There's nobody that moves like me, that's as tall as me."

Okay, it's easy to see where he was headed. He's discussing his physical profile and style of play. To his credit, the former Arkansas quarterback clearly wasn't attempting to disrespect anyone. In fact, he seemed more focused on explaining why he believes there isn't another quarterback built quite like him. The issue is that once Lamar Jackson's name enters the conversation, the standard changes immediately. Jackson isn't just any athletic quarterback. He's a two-time NFL MVP, a three-time First-Team All-Pro, and one of the most dynamic players professional football has ever seen.

Confidence is necessary, but comparisons matter

Again, Green didn't sound arrogant so much as confident. Honestly, confidence is almost mandatory for quarterbacks entering the NFL, especially developmental prospects drafted into chaotic quarterback rooms like Cleveland's.

Green possesses rare physical tools, and he knows it. At 6-foot-6, roughly 230 pounds, and armed with blazing athleticism, there genuinely are not many quarterbacks built like him physically. A 4.36 forty-yard dash and a 43-inch vertical jump certainly support that argument, but again, any comparison to Lamar Jackson, even if it's innocent, is a touchy subject. Comparing physical traits is one thing. Mentioning yourself anywhere near that resume before proving anything professionally quickly becomes risky territory. Any time someone mentions Lamar 'Action' Jackson, the always-protective Ravens fan base raises an eyebrow.

Green threw 59 touchdown passes in college and 35 interceptions -- rushing for 35 touchdowns while going 24-22 in 46 starts at Boise State (2022-23) and Arkansas (2024-2025).

That's especially true when we're discussing a rookie who hasn't played a snap of pro football yet. That's nearly enough to make every AFC North social media channel pause, if only for a few minutes. Green still has much to prove. The potential is there, but first, he must beat out Deshaun Watson, Gabriel, and Sanders before this even becomes a serious conversation.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Browns QB Taylen Green almost makes risky Lamar Jackson comparison

Jose Mourinho has firmly stated that Benfica’s Champions League qualification will not sway his decision regarding a potential move to Real Madrid.

The 63-year-old manager is widely reported to be a leading candidate to replace Alvaro Arbeloa at the Bernabeu, amid a challenging season for the Spanish giants.

Mourinho, who assumed control at Benfica in September, has overseen an unbeaten run in the Portuguese league with only one match left to play.

However, a draw against Braga on Monday evening has left his side two points behind second-placed Sporting Lisbon, ahead of Saturday’s critical encounter with Estoril.

Addressing the speculation at his post-match press conference, Mourinho declared: "You’re talking about Real Madrid, I’m not talking about Real Madrid. I’m talking about Benfica, and the work we’ve been doing won’t change because we’re second or third. That’s not what’s going to influence my future.

“Obviously, Benfica wants to play in the Champions League, and so do I as a coach, but it has no influence whatsoever."

Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, securing a league title and the Copa del Rey.

The current campaign has been particularly difficult for Los Blancos, culminating in their defeat to Barcelona on Sunday evening, which sealed the league title for their fierce rivals, alongside widely publicised dressing-room unrest.

Real Madrid were also knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage for the second consecutive season.

Having been eliminated by Arsenal last term, Real Madrid fell short against Bayern Munich this time around, suffering a 6-4 aggregate defeat.

The 15-time European Cup winners are set to finish the season trophyless, and the club is expected to appoint a new manager this summer, with Mourinho still well-liked by president Florentino Perez over a decade after he left the club to rejoin Chelsea.

The Cincinnati Bengals won’t find out their 2026 fate until the NFL schedule release on Thursday night. 

But reports and rumors start to trickle out well before that reveal. 

The buzz can be something as simple as say, news about another team’s schedule that, combined with the Cincinnati Reds’ schedule in town, makes a weekend pretty obvious. 

That, or it could be the NFL straight-up revealing a primetime game. 

Below, we’ll post live updates on any news, reports and rumors about the Bengals’ 2026 schedule. 

Bengals 2026 NFL schedule opponents 

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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals schedule release news: Tracking reports and rumors

The SCORE Act is set to again be on the United States House of Representatives agenda Monday, May 18, and the latest, amended version of the proposal to “represent the interests of student athletes, institutions, and conferences” includes language geared at dramatically altering the timeline of hiring coaches during the season.

The language in the SCORE Act’s latest version, made available Monday, May 11, on the rules portion of the House of Representatives website, seeks to establish “parameters for the manner in which an institution (or any person on behalf of an institution) may engage in public or private communication with respect to the employment of, or solicit, recruit, or enter into an employment contract or other arrangement with, any coach employed by another institution with respect to a varsity sports team, if such rules prohibit an institution (or any person on behalf of an institution) from engaging in any such communication, solicitation, recruitment, contract, or other arrangement with any such coach during a season of competition of the varsity sports team of such coach.”

It also seeks to dictate the funds an institution utilizes to pay off the buyouts of a fired coach.

While this element of college athletics is perhaps fresher in the minds of the public after Lane Kiffin’s weeks-long dalliance with LSU while still coaching Ole Miss late in the 2025 season, the debate on the timing of coaching departures in college football with seasons still in the balance traces to at least the 2021 cycle.

Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for the LSU job two days after the Irish concluded their regular season and Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma for Southern California on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2021, less than 12 hours after losing to rival Oklahoma State, costing the Sooners a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Kelly, who was replaced by Kiffin at LSU on Nov. 30, 2025, addressed the exit-status of coaches in the USA TODAY Sports college football podcast May 6, 2026 and advocated for a change to the hiring cycle.

“The timing stinks, ok?" Kelly said. "If we could all just say, 'Hey, (athletics directors), you can't make any decisions on coaches until after this time.' It'd be easy on our lives.

"Trust me, you don't like walking in on your team after they've already been told you're leaving. That's not fun."

There are other key, modified or new elements in the SCORE Act, which is in its third formal attempt in seeking to be passed through the House of Representatives and then addressed by the U.S. Senate.

Among those are an attempt to redefine "associated entity/entities," define compensation and define name, image and likeness (NIL), require arbitration to settle disputes and prohibit state attorneys general from suing on behalf of athletes, since arbitration is the act's goal, regulate agent-compensation from NIL deals with a 5 percent cap and five years' eligibility for student-athletes with proposed modifications to the NCAA's transfer rules for student-athletes.

The proposal wants a “pool limit” that is a dollar amount “calculated and published by an interstate intercollegiate athletic association” that “serves as the annual maximum amount that a (member) institution may provide, in total, to student athletes, including in the form of name, image and likeness or direct payment.”

The "Associated Entity” or "Associated Individual" element is among the more pressing topics in the ongoing House Settlement revenue-share and NIL era as more schools seek to utilize their multimedia rights partners as third-party conduits for athlete recruitment and retention.

The proposal outlines an individual as associated if it is someone “who is or has been a member, employee, director, officer, owner or other representative” who is “known or should be known” to an athletics department and its employees because the individual helps “promote or support varsity sports teams or student athletes” or creates NIL agreements or proposals “solely for the student athletes of such institution.”

This is one element of the House Settlement currently being contested on multiple fronts regarding third-party, multimedia rightsholders such as Playfly Sports, Learfield and JMI Sports. Plaintiff lawyers contend overreach from the College Sports Commission in its handling of these deals and the ongoing arbitration process. The CSC cites language in the House Settlement that specifies an arbitrator – not a judge – is the pathway for assessing the validity of NIL proposals that might come from a school’s MMR, such as Nebraska’s partnership with PlayFly.

Late afternoon Monday, May 11, a third-party arbitrator sided with the CSC against Nebraska when it was ruled in a "binding decision" that PlayFly is an "associated entity" of Cornhuskers athletics and also that the proposed NIL deals had violated the rule "against warehousing NIL rights." The arbitrator deemed that there were no material services or products that accompanied the proposed deals for Nebraska athletes that were reportedly worth millions of dollars.

In a May 7, 2026, op-ed published by The Hill, NCAA President Charlie Baker urged the advancement of the SCORE Act in this next legislative session. Outlining that the NCAA has data that reflect student-athletes do not wish to become full-time employees of their respective institutions and also that additional oversight is needed before more opportunities and sports are sacrificed, Baker wrote that NIL should be an element upon which athletes can earn payment but that current spending levels in college athletics are not sustainable.

“Less than 1 percent of college sports programs nationwide generate meaningful revenue,” Baker wrote, “so the additional cost of an employment mandate would create enormous financial pressure, likely resulting in widespread program cuts — with women’s sports, Olympic sports, historically Black college and university programs, and Division II and III bearing the brunt. Beyond that, coaches would become bosses, and scholarships could be taxed. I speak with student-athletes daily, and this is not an outcome they desire.”

Baker further added, “This includes codifying student-athletes’ right to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness and mandating the health and wellness benefits they deserve, while finally establishing the guardrails necessary to protect young people from predatory agents and “bad actors” currently operating in an unregulated NIL market. Because of this balanced, holistic approach, the SCORE Act has earned the support of student-athlete leaders and nearly every conference — including all four HBCU conferences — across all three divisions.”

The SCORE Act also aims to tackle age-based eligibility issues in the NCAA, advocating against the return of professional players to the collegiate game, and it also pushes for student-athletes to be in residence at a school for a minimum of one year before transferring. It urges institutions to keep academics and progress toward a degree as critical components.

The proposal also tasks leaders with examining the length of collegiate sports seasons, capping the maximum number of competitions within respective sports and also examining the travel now required of many institutions in the aftermath of the latest batch of conference expansions and realignment.

With the university now a member of the ACC, Stanford’s women’s basketball team during the 2025-26 season had conference games at North Carolina, North Carolina State, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Miami and Boston College.

Southern California football, now in the Big Ten Conference, had 2025 contests at Purdue, at Illinois and at Notre Dame in a five-game stretch.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SCORE Act governing NCAA sports seeks change to coaches firing, hiring

Jake Paul has admitted that he might not box again, as he continues to recover from the broken jaw that he suffered against Anthony Joshua.

In December, Paul was stopped by Joshua in six rounds, as the former world heavyweight champion beat the YouTuber-turned-boxer in Miami.

And “AJ”, 36, dealt Paul a broken jaw in that contest, which led the 29-year-old to quickly undergo surgery. Paul actually underwent a second surgery in February, and he has admitted that his fighting future is up in the air.

“I’m getting some new scans here in a couple of days – of the jaw – to get an update on the healing process,” Paul told said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “We’ll see what my doctors say.

“I think I’ll be able to get a more-accurate timeframe of can I even fight again? That is definitely in the realm of possibilities of things.

“It does feel a lot better as weeks go by and time goes by. But I definitely need to get cleared first to be able to spar, but I am sort of staying in shape. I’m always in the gym pretty much regardless, just staying in shape and enjoying some mitt work.

“Most definitely, [there’s a chance I can’t fight again]. I think it just depends on how the bone heals, and then also there’s a tooth missing here that I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to get an implanted tooth of some sort.

“I don’t know how much time that’s going to add to things. But we just have to see and figure out what the smartest thing is for me.

“Definitely my doctor, Arman, he doesn’t want me to fight again. He’s saying he doesn’t want me to. There’s the occasional business person who’s just like, ‘You don’t need to do this.’ [My fiancee] is kind of in both boats. She understands being an athlete and having that feeling inside of you and wanting to prove yourself more and to compete and the love of that.”

Ultimately, the American said: “I’m not done. I can just feel it in my spirit, in my soul and my heart that I have more fights left and unfinished business, in my mind.”

Paul’s loss to Joshua was the second defeat of his career. He previously lost to Tommy Fury – half-brother of ex-heavyweight champion Tyson Fury – on points in 2023.

However, Paul holds 12 wins, including victories over former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, and former boxing champions Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Mike Tyson, 59.

The Indiana Hoosiers were honoured at the White House on Monday after completing a historic championship season under Curt Cignetti.

Indiana finished 16-0 and defeated Miami 27-21 in the College Football Playoff national championship game, giving the programme a defining moment.

However, Fernando Mendoza, their star quarterback and the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, had already signalled he was unlikely to attend the meeting with Donald Trump, and his absence from the ceremony was later confirmed.

Donald Trump says Fernando Mendoza called him and was ‘so nice’ about White House absence

Trump made clear during the ceremony that he held no hard feelings towards Mendoza, despite the quarterback missing Indiana’s visit.

The US president said Mendoza had called him directly and was “so nice” while explaining why he could not be there with his former teammates.

“If he was not here for other reasons like he didn’t like Trump or he didn’t want to come, I wouldn’t have even mentioned him,” Trump said (via Fox News).

He then suggested the call gave him a clear view of Mendoza’s political position, adding that the quarterback was an admirer.

“But he’s a great guy actually and he is actually a big fan of what we’re doing for our country.”

Mendoza’s absence confirms his football-first mindset, as he explained that missing practice as a rookie would not be a good look while trying to prove himself.

That seriousness matters because the Raiders have not guaranteed him the short-term status as a starter, despite taking him first overall in the draft.

Las Vegas have made clear that the best quarterback will play in Week One, setting up the competition between the youngster and names such as Kirk Cousins and Aidan O’Connell.

Read more:

Nabil Bentaleb (31) could leave Lille OSC at the end of the season, and there is plenty of interest in the Algeria international, as per a report from Foot Mercato.

It was only last season that Bentaleb recovered from a heart attack to make a spectacular return to football. This season, he has been a key part of a LOSC side that, with one game remaining, is primed to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. He has played 36 times in all competitions this season, scoring twice and registering two assists. 

However, a departure this summer is on the cards. Bentaleb’s contract with Lille is up, and whilst the option of extending remains open, there is also plenty of interest from abroad.

Besiktas have already approached the midfielder’s entourage, Foot Mercato understands. There is another Turkish club in the race, as well as interest from Saudi Arabia. Closer to home, there is interest from top-six clubs in Ligue 1 and also from clubs in the bottom half of the Premier League table. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

South Africa fast bowler Shabnim Ismail has reversed her international retirement and is included in the Proteas' squad for this summer's T20 World Cup in England.

Ismail, 37, is one of the fastest bowlers in women's cricket and is her country's all-time top wicket-taker in the format despite making her last appearance more than three years ago.

She is joined in the squad by fellow opening bowler Marizanne Kapp, who has recovered from illness, while Dane van Niekerk, who has also come out of retirement in the past year, is included following a calf injury.

South Africa, who were runners-up at the past two Women's T20 World Cups, open their campaign against Australia on 13 June before facing Pakistan, India, the Netherlands and Bangladesh.

They recently enjoyed a 4-1 series win against ODI world champions India.

"Having someone like Shabnim back adds a lot of value to the group," said head coach Mandla Mashimbyi.

"We had good conversations and you could see the hunger she still has to represent South Africa and help this team achieve something special."

South Africa squad: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dane van Niekerk.

• Wong to have scan amid concerns before World Cup
• Women's T20 World Cup 2026 squads
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Adam Ramsay-Peaty has signed up for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in a major boost to organisers.

The three-time Olympic champion will be named in Team England’s 42-strong swimming squad on Tuesday as he targets gold at a fourth consecutive Games.

The inclusion of the world’s fastest breaststroker is a real coup for Glasgow organisers, who stepped in to stage a scaled-down version of the event after Victoria in Australia pulled out as hosts three years ago.

Ramsay-Peaty, 31, admitted he came close to quitting the sport after failing to defend his 100m breaststroke Olympic title in Paris. He described the period as a “self-destructive spiral” as he battled injury problems and mental health struggles.

He married model Holly Ramsay — daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay — in December and spent part of their honeymoon in Australia training with former coach Mel Marshall.

The addition of the shorter 50m breaststroke to the Los Angeles Olympic programme has reignited his passion. But he was reminded of the challenge ahead when he finished fourth in his signature event at a meet in Edinburgh in March.

Peaty responded in trademark fashion by reclaiming his British 50m and 100m breaststroke titles last month, posting times that rank him No 1 in the Commonwealth this season.

“Being selected to represent your country is always an honour and there is something special about a home Commonwealth Games,” said Ramsay-Peaty.

“This event also marks a significant milestone in my international career, which began in Glasgow 12 years ago at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“I’m particularly excited to compete in Scotland this summer because I know everyone will come together to make it a brilliant occasion.”

Ramsay-Peaty — who has won four Commonwealth golds and three silvers — is aiming to become the first British swimmer to win titles at four separate Games.

South African Chad Le Clos won seven golds between 2010 and 2018 but just missed out on the podium top spot four years ago in Birmingham.

Ramsay-Peaty, who is the oldest member of England’s swim team, will be joined by fellow Olympic champions Tom Dean and James Guy, as well as six Paralympic gold medallists, including two-time Commonwealth champion Alice Tai.

Dean – whose battle with Scotland’s Duncan Scott in the 200m freestyle is expected to be one of the Games highlights – missed the recent national championships as he continues to rehab from a shoulder injury

“It’s brilliant to be able to announce such strong swimming and para-swimming squads for Glasgow 2026,” said Team England chef de mission Jonathon Riall.

“We have a number of returning Commonwealth champions and true stars of the sport, alongside some new faces who are set to make their mark this summer.”

Australia are likely to send a strong team to Glasgow, with their trials next month in Sydney, as Olympic champions Kaylee McKeown and Cameron McEvoy are expected to be among the squad.

However, four-time Olympic and seven-time Commonwealth champion Ariarne Titmus won’t be adding to her medal tally after announcing her retirement at the age of 25 last year and will be in Scotland as a broadcaster instead.

Team England are Ready to Win at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Keep up to date on https://teamengland.org/

Prem leaders Northampton Saints have signed Italian winger Malik Faissal to bolster their squad for next season.

The 20-year-old will move to Franklin's Gardens from Zebre, having scored two tries in seven senior appearances for the Parma-based outfit so far.

Faissal has played 10 games for Italy's Under-20 team in the U20s Six Nations over the past two seasons, scoring three tries in two matches against England.

"Malik looks like a very well-rounded player, with some x-factor to his athleticism too. He's got speed and the ability to win the ball in the air, which in today's game is a vital skill," said Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson.

"We've been impressed with his intent too, how hard he works to get into the right places on the field. (Head coach) Sam (Vesty) loved his breakdown elements and how he hits in defence as well."

Faissal will join fellow Italian wing Edoardo Todaro in the squad for 2026-27.

Todaro scored 10 tries in 13 games for Saints at the start of this season and earned a place in the full Italy squad, but then tore a cruciate ligament in his knee and is now working his way back to full fitness.

"Moving to England and getting to play in a competitive league like the Prem is going to be a real challenge but it's a great opportunity for me to grow as a rugby player and as a person," Faissal said.

"I've already had some good conversations with the coaches about my development and where they can help me learn. That coaching was one of the main reasons I wanted to come to Saints, to play amongst a squad that is at the top of its game and learn from them."

There are 12 teams competing in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, which begins on 12 June.

England take on Sri Lanka in the first game at Edgbaston, and the final will be held at Lord's on 5 July.

Here are the squads that have been named so far.

Group 1

Australia: TBC

Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Fahima Khatun, Fariha Islam Trisna, Marufa Akter, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Sultana Khatun, Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Taj Nehar.

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Nandani Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav.

Netherlands: Babette de Leede (c), Caroline de Lange, Frédérique Overdijk, Hannah Landheer, Heather Siegers, Iris Zwilling, Isabel van der Woning, Lara Leemhuis, Myrthe van den Raad, Phebe Molkenboer, Robine Rijke, Rosalie Lawrence, Sanya Khurana, Silver Siegers, Sterre Kalis.

Pakistan: TBC

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dane van Niekerk.

Group 2

England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Charlie Dean, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

Ireland: TBC

New Zealand: Melie Kerr (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu.

Scotland: Kathryn Bryce (c), Chloe Abel, Olivia Bell, Sarah Bryce, Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Gabriella Fontenla, Katherine Fraser, Kirstie Gordon, Ailsa Lister, Maisie Maceira, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Rachel Slater, Pippa Sproul.

Sri Lanka: TBC

West Indies: TBC

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Tigers' Kevin McGonigle in line to win a major award in MLB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Infielder Kevin McGonigle has outperformed expectations for the Detroit Tigers, which is what earned him his eight-year ($150 million) contract extension. Through 39 games, the 21-year-old is hitting .293 with a .830 OPS and has walked (23) more than he's struck out (21). 

McGonigle is on a cold streak as of late, hitting .192 with a .515 OPS in his last seven games. However, this cold streak hasn't hindered his chances of winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

Detroit Tigers Kevin McGonigle is a favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award

In a poll taken by MLB experts, McGonigle finished second (14 first-place votes) to Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (20 first-place votes) to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

"The fun thing about this list of rookies is that almost all of them lead their peer group in something, illustrating the depth of the class," wrote MLB.com's Jason Foster. "In McGonigle's case, he led all MLB rookies in on-base percentage (.395), hits (43) and doubles (11) entering Monday, and was tied for the lead in triples (two). He hit .327 with a .946 OPS in April, collecting 32 hits along the way. That was tops among MLB rookies in all three categories."

More News:Mets' Nolan McLean is overwhelmingly favored to win a major award

Among rookies, McGonigle is leading in batting average, is second to Murakami in walks and is tied for the lead in triples (two). The fight for the American League Rookie of the Year Award will likely come down to the wire. And with the American League Central so weak, McGonigle's and Murakami's performances of lifting their teams to the postseason could influence the voting. 

More News:

• Reds' Sal Stewart is a favorite to win a major award in MLB
• Mets' lack of production from a majority of the roster remains a concern
• The Braves need to improve in one facet of the game moving forward
• Rays need to figure out how to generate more power moving forward
• Athletics' early success has them as an early postseason contender
• Phillies have one area they need to improve on moving forward

Pirates' Konnor Griffin in line to win a major award in MLB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin got off to a slow start, hitting .231 with a .631 OPS in April, Griffin has done better in May. The 20-year-old is hitting .324 with a .959 OPS in 34 at-bats. 

Like his fellow rookie, Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle, Griffin is signed to a lucrative extension (nine years, $140 million) and is starting to show why he is worth the cash. Griffin's success in May and star power at a young age continue to put him in line to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Konnor Griffin is a favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award

In a poll of MLB experts, Griffin finished fourth (two first-place votes) to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Through 35 games, Griffin is hitting .256 with a .721 OPS and has nine stolen bases (hasn't been caught), which are the most among rookies in the National League. 

"Through Sunday, Griffin's nine stole bases were most among NL rookies, while he was tied for first in triples (two) and tied for fourth in hits (32) and RBIs (19)," wrote MLB.com's Jason Foster. "He was hitting .316 with a .913 OPS over his past 10 games through Sunday. This included a four-hit game against the Reds on May 2. Overall, he's his safely in 11 of his past 12 games."

More News:Mets' Nolan McLean is overwhelmingly favored to win a major award

New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean (23 first-place votes) is the overwhelming favorite to win the award, but there's still a lot of season left for Griffin to win. The Mets are the worst team in Major League Baseball (15-25), while the Pirates are a contender to make the playoffs (22-19). This could help sway some voters to put Griffin over McLean. 

More News:

• Reds' Sal Stewart is a favorite to win a major award in MLB
• Mets' lack of production from a majority of the roster remains a concern
• The Braves need to improve in one facet of the game moving forward
• Rays need to figure out how to generate more power moving forward
• Athletics' early success has them as an early postseason contender
• Phillies have one area they need to improve on moving forward

AS Monaco are guaranteed to finish off the podium for the first time since 2023 and for only the second time since the Covid season. It means that, having qualified for back-to-back UEFA Champions League seasons, the Principality club will miss out next season.

With one game remaining in Ligue 1, there is still the chance to qualify for the UEFA Europa League, although their fate is not in their hands. There is also the chance of qualifying for the UEFA Europa Conference League, or the chance of missing out on Europe altogether, depending on the result of the Coupe de France final.

Within this context, Sébastien Pocognoli’s future at Monaco could come under consideration at the end of the season, L’Équipe understands. The Principality club have just five points from their last five games, and the poor end to the Ligue 1 season gives rise to some doubts about whether Pocognoli is the man to lead the club forward into next season.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

If Club Brugge win the league this season, it will be in large part down to the brilliance of Christos Tzolis. The 24-year-old Greek winger has been in sensational form once again for the side he joined back in 2024. Clubs have been trying to pry him away from Belgium, but to no avail. As reported by HLN, Crystal Palace bid twice, with the second one being around €40m. Club Brugge still said no. So, how much is Tzolis really worth?

Norwich City fans will be ruing their luck with how Tzolis has gone on to develop since leaving the club. After joining the Canaries in 2022, Tzolis only played 13 games, scoring one goal. The side allowed him to join Fortuna Dusseldorf on loan the following season with a purchase option included of around €5m, a large amount for Fortuna. Yet, after 24 goals in 37 games, the side decided it was worth picking up the option. They had been debating whether to do it or not after missing out on promotion via the play-offs, but it was obvious during the summer that teams were interested in Tzolis.

Club Brugge were one, and for Tzolis, they could offer him the chance to compete for trophies and play in Europe. He took to Belgian football like a duck to water, scoring 21 goals and providing 14 assists in 56 games. Many players who come to Belgian football and produce such numbers are one and done, with a big move that summer. Yet, Club Brugge rejected offers from Crystal Palace and other clubs for Tzolis. The side are known for playing hard ball; there is a reason Hans Vanaken is still there.

So far this season, Tzolis has been even better. He is already on 19 goals in 49 games with a few to go, so will more than likely score 20 for the third season in a row. He has also grabbed an incredible 24 assists in that time. If Club Brugge are willing to reject offers of €40m for Tzolis, then he is clearly going to demand a record fee for a player from the Belgian Pro League.

With a contract running until 2029, there is also no pressure on Club Brugge to sell Tzolis for anything less than a kings ransom. He has shown over the past three seasons that he has enough quality to play in the major European leagues. This season alone he scored three goals and grabbed five assists in 13 Champions League games.

Once again, Club Brugge are sitting on a goldmine. If they sell Tzolis this summer, they will have enough to sign two or three new players to bolster their squad. If the Greek winger decides to stay another year, they will be looking at competing for trophies once again next season. It is a win win situation for both club and player.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

Southampton have asked for more time to investigate claims that the club were 'spying' on Middlesbrough's training ahead of their Championship play-off semi-final last week.

Boro claimed that one of Southampton's performance analysts had been observing their training from a slope looking down at the club's training ground and potentially recording it.

The Saints have been charged by the English Football League and have 14 days to respond.

"Given the intensity of the fixture schedule and the short turnaround between matches, we have requested time to complete that process thoroughly and responsibly," Southampton CEO Phil Parsons said about the charge, after underlining that the club had been co-operating with the EFL.

"We understand the discussion and speculation that has followed over recent days, but we also believe it is important that the full context is established before conclusions are drawn."

The first game at the Riverside finished goalless with Southampton hosting Middlesbrough in the semi-final second leg this evening.

Gian Piero Gasperini is at the heart of the Roma project.

This is what the Friedkins revealed in the statement releasing Ranieri’s departure from the capital on April 24. “Looking to the future, our direction is clear. The club is solid, with strong leadership and a well-defined vision. AS Roma will always come first. We have full confidence in the path that awaits us under Gian Piero Gasperini’s guidance, with the shared goal of growing, improving, and achieving results worthy of our history.”

The Giallorossi coach is awaiting a meeting with the ownership to begin planning for next season, with many delicate issues to address: from the contract renewals of expiring players to the summer training camp, from the medical staff shakeup to the transfer market planning that must be prioritized. Not to mention the choice of the next sporting director…

Gasperini has clear ideas about how to strengthen Roma for next season. However, the coach wants to meet with the owners to avoid the mix-ups that plagued his first year in the capital.

As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Friedkins are expected in Rome for the derby against Lazio.

A crucial match in the race for next season’s Champions League. Gasperini will have the opportunity to speak with the club to plan a smooth future.

Southampton have requested more time to conduct an internal review after they were charged with spying on Championship play-off rivals Middlesbrough.

The English Football League has accused Saints of "observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match" and not acting "with the utmost good faith" to another club.

Middlesbrough claim that a member of the Southampton coaching staff was found watching and recording a training session at their Rockliffe Park base on Thursday - two days before the teams drew 0-0 at Riverside Stadium in the first leg of their play-off semi-final.

At no stage have Southampton attempted to deny the allegation.

Saints boss Tonda Eckert left Saturday's post-match news conference early after being asked multiple times, and refusing to answer, if he had sent a performance analyst to a Boro training session.

Normally the south coast club would have 14 days to respond to the charges, but the EFL has asked the independent disciplinary commission for "a hearing at the earliest opportunity".

The clubs meet at St Mary's in the second leg on Tuesday evening, with the winners facing Hull City in the final at Wembley on 23 May.

"The club is fully co-operating with the EFL and the disciplinary commission, whilst also undertaking an internal review to ensure that all facts and context are properly understood," said Southampton CEO Phil Parsons.

"Given the intensity of the fixture schedule and the short turnaround between matches, we have requested time to complete that process thoroughly and responsibly.

"We understand the discussion and speculation that has followed over recent days, but we also believe it is important that the full context is established before conclusions are drawn."

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The beautiful Aronimink Golf Club, located in Newtown Square (just west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), is hosting the 108th edition of the PGA Championship this week. Thursday to Sunday is when it all goes down.

The weather looks to largely agree, but will it be a hole-in-one?

Forecast

Long story short, as the event proceeds, the chances of rain drops, but the temperature should increase. With those increases in temperature comes an increase in humidity. Winds also shift direction but remain largely consistent in terms of speed.

Golf, like other sports, is a game of inches. All weather factors need to be taken into consideration for the golfers. The graphic below has more information.

Thursday

On the first day of this event, the weather is looking mainly good. There is a slight chance of a shower in the morning or early afternoon. Fortunately, this clears up as the afternoon progresses. The high is looking to be in the low to mid 60s, and a west-northwest wind between 10-15 mph is possible.

Friday

For Friday, the rain chances are greatly reduced, and the temperature is slightly warmer. A high in the lower 70s is expected with a northwest wind of 10-15 mph.

Saturday

The pattern of warmer temperatures continues. The high is now in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Winds also are expected to shift to come out of the west-southwest from 5-10 mph.

Sunday

The final day of the championship is also the warmest. Highs are expected to climb well into the 80s, with winds out of the west at 10-15 mph.

Previous Weather Impacts

I love looking at notable weather impacts at sporting events, especially since it doesn’t look this way this year.

A notable year that stuck out to me was when the BMW Championship that was held at the Aronimink Golf Club in September 2018. While this is a different event, I wanted to pick the last time this course saw crazy rainfall.

And that sure happened in September 2018, when what was left of Tropical Storm Gordon got swept up by a cold front moving across the country at the time. This brought inches of rainfall to the area causing a delay of play until the next day.

Fortunately, there is no chance of a tropical system for this one, and May is one of the drier months for this part of Pennsylvania.

Here's to hoping the players and the weather bring their "A" game.

Rob Shackelford is a meteorologist and climate scientist at weather.com. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Georgia studying meteorology and experimenting with alternative hurricane forecasting tools.

Jamie Carragher has claimed that Xabi Alonso ‘would love to manage Liverpool’ and would jump at a return to Anfield if he felt there was a chance of it happening.

Amid the steadily increasing pressure on Arne Slot, the former Reds midfielder has been widely touted as a leading candidate to take over from the Dutchman if the latter were to be sacked as our head coach.

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However, several reliable reporters have indicated that FSG are set to keep faith with the 47-year-old, and on Monday it emerged (via The i Paper) that the Spaniard could be tempted to become the next permanent boss of Chelsea as they seek out a successor to Liam Rosenior.

Carragher: Alonso ‘would love to manage Liverpool’

Speaking on Sky Sports‘ Monday Night Football, Carragher claimed that his former teammate Alonso would relish the opportunity to go back to Liverpool, if he felt that the Anfield hierarchy were keen on hiring him.

The pundit said of the ex-Real Madrid boss: “I think he would love to manage Liverpool one day, I’m sure he would, but Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in European football right now.”

Carragher added: “There will be a feeling from a lot of Liverpool supporters that Xabi Alonso’s there and, if we want him, I think he would come to us because there is history with the club, but it looks like the club have made their decision on Slot.

“What tells you they’ve made their decision on Slot is that there’s talks between Xabi Alonso and Chelsea. If there was an inkling that Liverpool were interested in him or that they were gonna change the manager, I think he would go to Liverpool.”

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Alonso won’t stick around for Liverpool if he doesn’t feel wanted

If Carragher’s hunches are correct – and we’ve no reason to believe they aren’t – it’d make the sight of Alonso taking charge at Chelsea all the more gut-punching for Reds supporters whose patience with Slot has run out.

The emotional allure of a return to Anfield may well appeal to the Spaniard, but if he senses that FSG would rather preserve the status quo, he’s not going to wait around for that to change, especially if another club have been more proactive in seeking to hire him.

The worry for Liverpool fans is that the hierarchy are missing a golden opportunity to appoint a coach with proven success (he incredibly won an unbeaten German double with Bayer Leverkusen two years ago) and who’s already adored by supporters, instead showing blind loyalty to a struggling incumbent.

That in itself is frustrating enough without it being compounded by the prospect of Alonso taking the reins at a direct domestic rival in Chelsea, which he has every right to do for his own coaching career (so long as he’s prepared to not get too cosy, with BlueCo already burning through five permanent bosses in four years).

The timing for a rapturous return to Anfield feels right to us. Unfortunately, FSG don’t appear to see it that way.

According to AS, Barcelona midfielder Gavi will be included in Luis de la Fuente’s final 26-man Spain squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Having spent a large chunk of the season out injured, the La Masia graduate has enjoyed a strong run of form since returning in March. And, it has been seemingly enough for him to secure a spot on the plane to North America.

Gavi to fly to the World Cup

From spending 192 days sidelined with a devastating knee injury that needed him to undergo surgery, to becoming a key figure in securing the La Liga title, Gavi has now climbed back onto the World Cup train just in time.

The Barcelona midfielder’s inclusion would be a reward for patience, trust and performances.

Gavi had been a cornerstone player for both Luis Enrique and De la Fuente in the Spain setup before the nightmare ACL injury struck in November 2023.

Gavi will be on the flight for the World Cup. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

While he briefly returned to the Spain setup during the 2025 Nations League campaign after recovering, another setback followed in the form of the knee injury that needed arthroscopic surgery.

A fresh ordeal. But one he has emerged from stronger than before. Since returning from injury, Gavi has once again re-established himself as a permanent fixture in Flick’s Barcelona, playing a key role in the final leg of the season.

With important players like Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha unavailable, the 21-year-old La Masia graduate has stepped up and delivered in a big way in recent weeks.

Now, after re-establishing himself as an indispensable part of Flick’s Barcelona, Gavi is set to be included in the Spain squad for the World Cup.

And he will not be alone from the Barcelona dressing room to be called up. As reported, Joan Garcia is also expected to be included, while the likes of Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal are regulars in the La Roja setup.

It has now been revealed how much Atalanta midfielder Ederson is set to earn at Manchester United, amid reports that there is an agreement in place between his camp and the club.

Ederson interest

Heading into the summer transfer window, United are expected to prioritise midfield reinforcements.

Other positions are also likely to come into play but bolstering the team’s options in the middle of the park is the main item on the agenda, with as many as three midfielders likely to arrive.

One of these options is Ederson, a player who has long been linked to the club. The Brazilian is out of contract next summer and United have been alerted to his availability after a proposed move to Atletico Madrid appears to have stalled.

It’s believed that Atletico have switched their attention to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes, paving the way for United to swoop in for Ederson. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are also thought to be admirers of the Atalanta player.

A recent report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Ederson is not a main target for United but is seen as a market opportunity. Although director of football Jason Wilcox admires him, Ederson is a “Category B” option who would complement a bigger midfield signing.

Another report claimed that United have an agreement in place with the player over personal terms. TEAMtalk have reiterated this, highlighting just how much the 26-year-old is set to earn if he seals a switch to Old Trafford in the summer.

Big payday

TEAMtalk write, “Sources suggest United have an idea on personal terms with the midfielder on a lucrative contract running until 2031, worth approximately €5million (£4.3m / $5.9m) net per year.”

“This package, equating to roughly £100,000 gross per week depending on bonuses, has convinced Ederson to say YES to a move to Old Trafford if official movements are made.”

“The Red Devils view the physical, ball-winning No.6 as an ideal reinforcement or potential replacement for the ageing Casemiro.”

Atalanta are said to want €45million (£38.9m) for Ederson. However, the final fee could rise to €60 million with add-ons.

It’s understood that United are aware of the conditions to get a deal over the line and are considering their options. United are seen as frontrunners for Ederson’s signature.

Featured image Francesco Scaccianoce via Getty Images

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With minutes left at the Stadio Tardini, Parma were ahead, the atmosphere had shifted, and Roma’s push for a Champions League spot seemed ready to collapse in painful fashion.

Then everything changed.

Two late goals flipped the match completely as Roma escaped with a wild 3-2 victory that could end up defining their season.

Roma Refused to Collapse

The match started in a positive way for the Giallorossi.

Donyell Malen opened the scoring after combining well with Paulo Dybala, continuing the strong attacking form that has kept Roma competitive during the final stretch of the season.

For long periods, Roma controlled possession and looked comfortable. The movement in attack was sharp, and Parma struggled to contain the pressure early on.

But the second half completely changed the mood.

Defensive mistakes started creeping in. Parma grew into the match, and suddenly Roma looked nervous. When Mandela Keita scored late to give Parma the lead, it felt like a devastating blow to Roma’s Champions League hopes.

Dybala and Malen Changed the Tempo

Even during the difficult moments, Paulo Dybala kept trying to create something.

His movement between the lines caused problems throughout the match, and his connection with Malen looked dangerous whenever Roma managed to move the ball quickly.

The chemistry between the two attackers is becoming increasingly important for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side as the season reaches its final weeks.

Malen especially continues to justify the attention around his recent form. His finishing, direct movement, and confidence in front of goal have added a different dimension to Roma’s attack.

The latest donyell malen stats also reflect that improvement. His recent goal involvement has become one of the biggest reasons Roma are still competing for a top-four finish.

The Match Turned Chaotic Late On

Roma’s response after going behind changed everything.

Devyne Rensch stepped into the spotlight with a dramatic equalizer before winning the late penalty that gave Roma one final chance.

Malen converted from the spot deep into stoppage time, and suddenly the entire narrative flipped.

Instead of another painful collapse, Roma walked away with one of their most emotional wins of the season.

The celebrations at full time said everything.

Live Odds Shifted With Every Moment

Matches like this show how quickly momentum changes in modern football.

Roma looked in control early, then suddenly appeared close to dropping crucial points before completely reversing the situation again in stoppage time.

That volatility was reflected in live betting movement throughout the match. Fans following the changing probabilities through platforms connected to MelBet apk saw the odds swing dramatically as Parma took the lead and Roma pushed for the comeback.

Games like this are impossible to fully predict because emotion and momentum often take over.

Gasperini’s Roma Still Feels Unfinished

There are still clear issues in this team.

Defensively, Roma looked vulnerable again. Transitions remain a problem, and periods of lost concentration continue to create danger.

But at the same time, there is obvious attacking quality inside this squad.

Gasperini’s aggressive style creates chances, especially when Roma move the ball vertically and attack with speed. The challenge is maintaining control when matches become chaotic.

Against Parma, Roma nearly paid the price for losing that balance.

Instead, they survived because the attack delivered in the biggest moments.

The Champions League Race Is Still Alive

That’s the biggest thing here.

Roma are still alive in the race for a Champions League place.

Dropping points in Parma would have been a massive setback with so few matches remaining. Instead, the late comeback kept pressure on the teams above them and maintained momentum heading into a crucial period of the season.

Every point matters now.

And emotionally, victories like this can change the mood around a club very quickly.

Fans Reacted Instantly Online

The reaction after the final whistle was immediate.

Roma supporters flooded social media with clips, reactions, and celebrations after one of the wildest finishes of the Serie A season.

The discussion around MelBet Instagram Somalia reflected the chaos of the final minutes, with fans reacting to the comeback almost in real time.

That’s what matches like this do. They create moments supporters remember long after the season ends.

Parma Deserved More

Lost in the chaos is the fact Parma played well for large stretches.

They stayed organized, punished Roma’s mistakes, and came extremely close to taking a huge result. For most of the second half, they looked more composed than the visitors.

That’s what makes the ending even more brutal for them.

One moment away from victory, and then suddenly everything disappeared.

Final Thoughts

Roma’s comeback against Parma was messy, emotional, dramatic, and probably impossible to fully explain logically.

But those are often the matches that define a season.

For Roma, the win keeps Champions League qualification alive and reinforces the belief that this team can still produce big moments under pressure.

Now comes the difficult part.

Turning emotion into consistency before time runs out.

It’s no secret that Lawrence Stroll isn’t exactly the most popular figure among his peers, with plenty of people openly saying they’re not interested in working with him.

The Canadian businessman has attracted plenty of criticism since he first appeared on the F1 scene, and over time, that reputation hasn’t really changed.

Even Bernie Ecclestone had his doubts about Stroll from the beginning. He initially put some money into Williams before taking Lance and moving to Force India, where he rebranded the team as Racing Point. By 2022, it had become Aston Martin.

Since then, Stroll has been trying to turn the Silverstone-based team into a title contender. But despite all the money and effort he’s put in, there are still quite a few people who aren’t sold on working with him.

‘A lot of people’ do not want to work with Lawrence Stroll

By 2026, Aston Martin are facing a serious crisis. Ongoing vibration problems and an underpowered Honda engine have left the team struggling just to finish races, let alone compete for points.

The additions of Adrian Newey, Enrico Cardile, and incoming team principal Jonathan Wheatley haven’t turned things around either. Aston Martin remain stuck at the back of the grid, which won’t help improve Stroll’s already shaky reputation.

Spanish F1 commentator Antonio Lobato spoke to SoyMotor about how word has spread across the paddock about Stroll’s reputation.

He said: “No, I don’t know Lawrence Stroll. I’ve heard a lot about him. There are a lot of people in Formula 1 who haven’t wanted to work with Lawrence Stroll because they know what sort of character he has.

“And I don’t know how he’s behaving, how he’s reacting, what internal communications he’s having right now with the people in senior management. I don’t know what’s going on.

“No, I don’t know what conversations he’s had with Honda, I just know that Honda has made a right mess of things obviously but that Aston Martín is responsible absolutely responsible for not having monitored the development of the engine that Honda was preparing.”

Lobato isn’t alone in his opinion. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner told Drive to Wynn earlier this year that he didn’t think Stroll was willing to give Aston Martin enough time to develop into a competitive force.

This impatience became clear when Wheatley replaced Newey as team principal less than halfway through the season, moving Newey back into a technical role.

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The New York Giants have finalized a contract agreement with second-round draft pick Colton Hood, the cornerback selected 37th overall in the 2026 NFL draft out of Tennessee.

NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported the four-year rookie deal is fully guaranteed at $12.81 million and includes a $5.778 million signing bonus, with an estimated $2.354 million cap hit in the first season.

#Giants deal finalized for second-round pick Colton Hood: fully guaranteed $12.81 million, including $5.778 million signing bonus

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 11, 2026

Hood, who played one season apiece at Auburn, Colorado and Tennessee, appeared in 29 college games. He posted 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and 14 passes defensed. His strongest campaign came in 2024 at Colorado, where he led the Big 12 with two interceptions for 105 yards.

The 6-foot defensive back stood out during the Giants’ recent rookie minicamp, highlighted by a standout interception that would have been returned for a touchdown in the two-minute drill. Head coach John Harbaugh lauded Hood’s work in press coverage and overall diligence, stating he looked “really good” and made several plays.

With the deal now finalized, Hood is expected to challenge immediately for a starting spot in the secondary.

The Official signing is anticipated on Tuesday or in the coming days.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants finalize deal with rookie CB Colton Hood

AUSTIN, TX – He’s trying to stay out of it, he really is. But we’re long past that futile exercise. It’s not a matter of when he speaks up, but how. 

So why not now? 

When you’re the head coach at big, bad college sports behemoth Texas, when you’re the former coach at another mega program at USC, when you’ve worked under the greatest coach in college football history at Alabama, someone, at some point, wants your opinion.

“I try my best to not get consumed with how bad it is,” Steve Sarkisian says of college football’s five-year journey down the rabbit hole. ‘It just wears you out.”

OPINION: New CFP expansion plan would kill what college football does best

It’s too late for that. 

In a college sports world where money fuels the engine of drastic, unrecognizable change, common sense is tied up and held hostage in the trunk. Right next to the donut-sized spare you better never have to use.

Until the damn car blows a tire. 

“We all signed up to be part of the NCAA, and then we all allegedly make the rules,” Sarkisian said, and this interview with USA TODAY Sports began with him wondering aloud why anyone cares what he thinks.

It quickly morphed into buckle up, no one is safe. 

“Everyone knows the rules, right?” he says, then says it again in case there’s any misunderstanding. “Then we go to our attorney general and say we don’t like that rule, let’s just sue. Right now, no one is afraid of the consequences.”

So now it’s time someone spoke up. 

The College Football Playoff, and the selection committee. Free player movement, and private NIL. Forgotten academic standards. The systematic breakdown of amateur sports. 

Sarkisian doesn’t need to do this, doesn’t need to say what someone must while others running the sport are bickering over millions and eventually billions. All in the name of higher education. 

He may have the best team in the nation in 2026, and could begin the season on top of the preseason polls for the second consecutive year. He has taken the Longhorns to the CFP semifinals in the two of the past three seasons, and he lacks for absolutely nothing. Financial support, elite facilities, the framework to support players on and off the field. 

Just put your head down and play ball and ignore it all, right? Only he can’t. Not anymore. 

He sees the dichotomy of California, arguably the nation’s No. 1 public academic institution, seamlessly accepting 32 players from the transfer portal — some of those players on their third school. One on his fourth.

He’s sees Power conference schools — with Texas among them — spending their way to a championship roster, and big-money boosters with more control than ever. In some cases, they’ve become de facto team owners. 

He sees free player movement gutting continuity and roster building and development. Sees players who not long ago couldn’t rub a couple of nickels together, now playing one school off the other for real, foundational wealth. Or others who believe there’s value in their game, only to find out there isn’t — and now they’ve lost their scholarship and they’re sitting with hundreds of others in a purgatory portal and may never get back in the game.

An environment where schools must play this unholy game to survive, and those with the financial wherewithal have an inherent advantage. He knows Texas is at the top of the food chain, but that doesn’t mean he can’t see the carnage below. 

A true wild, wild West. No rules, no standards, no fear of being caught.

“It’s like we’ve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL,” Sarkisian said. 

It is here where Sarkisian is reminded of the swift move allegedly pulled off earlier this spring by the Ole Miss staff. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney claims Ole Miss coaches were recruiting Tigers linebacker Luke Ferrelli while he was in class — and after he had just transferred from Cal. Sent Ferrelli a photo of a million dollar check, and Swinney has the receipts to prove it.

And NCAA enforcement has done nothing. Absolutely nothing. 

Guess where Ferrelli is enrolled? Ole Miss. Which brings up another of the “inequitable” hills Sark is prepared to die on.    

“At Texas, we will only take 50% of a player’s academic credit hours,” Sarkisian continues. “You may be a semester from graduating, but you’re going all the way back to 50% if you play here and want a degree. But at Ole Miss, they can take you. All you have to do is take basket weaving, and you can get an Ole Miss degree.”

If you think that’s harsh, we’re just getting started.

Behind the CFP curtain

The latest hot-button issue is the CFP, and the money-driven argu ment of 16 or 24 teams. Those favoring 24 teams sell it as more access, but for whom? Undoubtedly, more Power conference teams. 

But Sarkisian has a bigger problem, one he says has yet to be addressed: the selection committee.

This goes beyond how the committee promised last season to focus on strength of schedule, and wound up right back at wins and losses as the determining factor. Beyond the ridiculous conference championship parameters that handcuffed the committee and left a 12-team playoff with Tulane and James Madison — instead of Notre Dame playing at Ole Miss and Texas playing at Oregon. 

Is the committee actually watching every game of significance, every fall Saturday?

Not highlights, entiregames. And evaluating based on the entirety of the resume, including strength of schedule. 

“The committee doesn’t have the bandwidth to watch that many games,” Sarkisian said. “They see the media and coaches polls, and they copy them. You’ve got a 12-team playoff, and that means there are at least 30 teams that impact it. Now all of a sudden, you want to go to 24? Now the polls become an even greater factor, because now you’re asking (the committee) to watch 40 teams a week — if not 50.”

The enormity of that statement stops Sarkisian mid-sentence: 40 or 50 teams in one weekend. He leans in to make the obvious point that everyone who watches ball Saturday from noon to well past midnight can clearly understand. 

“I’m a football junkie,” he continues. “When we don’t play, I’m watching quad-box because it’s what I love. But I can’t keep up. I don’t vote anymore in the (US LBM) coaches poll, because it’s not fair for me to vote. I couldn’t tell you how NC State played against Wake Forest. How could I know?”

CFP executive director Rich Clark says the committee has access to every game played every weekend, as well as previous games. Each committee member has their own iPad, and direct access to games to watch anytime, anywhere. 

“I can assure you, they watch the games,” Clark said. 

Six of the 13-member selection committee — nearly half — are full-time FBS athletic directors, including chairman and Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek. Four members are former coaches — Mark Dantonio, Gus Malzahn, Jeff Tedford, Mike Riley — two are former players and one is a writer.

That brings us all the way back to strength of schedule vs. wins and losses. Because anyone can watch games, but can it be done through the lens of strength of schedule?

The selection committee began last season with stricter guidelines to heighten strength of schedule. It was all part of an unwritten you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours deal between the SEC the the CFP executive committee. 

The SEC would move to nine conference games and agree to a 16-team format beginning in 2026, and the committee would use strength of schedule as a significant factor in the selection process. They even added new strength of schedule metrics to the equation.

Yet the difference between Texas and Miami in 2025, Sarkisian says, was one loss — not strength of schedule. 

Texas lost road games at Ohio State, Georgia and Florida, the latter likely preventing the Longhorns from earning a spot in the playoff. That one loss, Sarkisian said, shouldn’t have negated three Top 10 wins: No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 9 Vanderbilt.

Miami finished 10-2 in the ACC, and like Texas, failed to reach its conference championship game.

“(Miami coach) Mario Cristobal is a friend of mine, and they had a tremendous season’” Sarkisian said. “Miami lost to two unranked teams last year. What would their record have been if they played our schedule? What would our record have been if we played theirs? But there’s scheduling inequity.”

Cristobal has a simple response: “We beat the three SEC teams we played, including the team (Texas) lost to.”

Miami beat Florida in the regular season, and beat Texas A&M and Ole Miss in the CFP. The Canes had one Top 10 win in the regular season, at home against Notre Dame.

“Everyone talks about NIL. But my biggest gripe is the selection committee,” Sarkisian said. “There’s no transparency on what exactly the committee is doing. We have to figure that out.”

Now Sarkisian is getting lathered up, the former star quarterback at BYU allowing his competitive fire take over. Who among us believes Congress, the biggest do-nothing body next to the NCAA, could get on the same page and make an impact?

So you throw more garbage at the problem. Garbage in, garbage out.  

“I’d go back to a four-team playoff, and have your own conference playoff to get the four teams if you want more inventory for your television partners,” Sarkisian said. “We have to think outside the box. Just adding teams and going to 24, that’s a very spastic view, thinking that’s going to solve the problem. Forever in college athletics, we don’t think about the unintended consequences of decisions we make. It’s all knee-jerk reactions. Look where it has gotten us.”

Rules, what rules?

Big-time college football and the NCAA. These two were never really made for each other, the former always finding workarounds for the rules of the latter. Sometimes legal, other times not. 

When Sarkisian was the coach at USC in 2013, the school found a unique workaround for the problem of serving breakfast bagels to players. You could serve bagels, per NCAA rules. You could just couldn’t serve them with any spread — because it was considered an “excessive meal” instead of a “snack.” Hand on the bible truth.

So Sarkisian came up with the idea to buy a peanut grinder. Giving peanuts to players was legal, and if you threw the peanuts in the grinder, you had peanut butter. Legal peanut butter, not the illegal stuff bought at grocery stores.

From peanut butter as an excessive meal, to ignoring blatant tampering. Some things never change with the sport's governing body.  

“Think about where we are today, and that was not that long ago,” Sarkisian said. “Then I get to Texas in 2021, and the entire world changes. Conference realignment — of which we were a major player — NIL, free player movement, 12-team playoff, revenue sharing, and now we’re talking about a 24-team playoff. No one takes a breath to reset. It's all reactionary.”

He stares out the large window from his meticulous office in the south end zone of Memorial Stadium, and there’s a painting crew on Campbell-Williams Field. They’re painting the logo of a supplement company that agreed in 2025 to a multi-year deal, described by Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte as one of the most lucrative on-field signage in all of college sports.

Texas has the largest athletic budget in all of college sports, generating more than $270 million annually. And the school is always searching for more revenue drivers, more ways to stay ahead of the ever-changing financial landscape.

If the rule is he with the most money wins — and it clearly is — why wouldn’t all involved be chasing cash? Don’t blame Texas or Ohio State or USC or LSU for throwing around financial weight, or elite players for using financial leverage. They aren’t the problem. 

College football is racing toward copying the NFL in every way imaginable — with the exception of how it’s structured. Rules aren’t enforceable, and enforcement is more unpredictable than ever.

Because enforcement leads to legal wrangling, which leads to millions in legal fees and lost suits ― and invariably no more sacred cows with litigation. 

From arguing private NIL deals, to player movement, to eligibility, to finally and frighteningly, judge shopping to avoid consequences for gambling. 

Just last week, two people close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports that Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby will sue the NCAA in Lubbock County, Texas to gain eligibility — if Sorsby and his attorney and the NCAA can’t work out a deal that gets Sorsby on the field in 2026. 

The NCAA has voluminous evidence of Sorsby gambling on multiple sports with $1 and $2 bets, including gambling on Indiana to win in 2022 — when Sorsby was a freshman quarterback for the Hoosiers. Sorsby did not play in the game he bet, multiple people told USA Today Sports.  

“There’s a reason in the NFL, when you get caught tampering, you get drilled. You lose draft picks,” Sarkisian said. ‘You don’t practice the right way, you lose practice days, coaches get fined. There are a lot of things in place to protect their rules and guardrails. Right now in college football, there’s no fear. People do whatever they want.”

SEC super league

We all know where this thing is headed if the NCAA, or whatever governance structure is eventually formed, can’t get its arms around the myriad problems. 

If the federal government and/or the Oval Office can’t push through legislation to control the now uncontrollable.

But it’s not about finding an association of schools willing to start their own league. The pie-in-the-sky idea of the strongest in college football pulling away from the weak, thereby splintering and sucking the life from the sport. 

It may be as simple as the SEC taking care of itself. 

“There’s lot of sentiment for breaking away and having your own rules. That’s realistic,” Sarkisian said. “You’re going to sign up or you don't, but if you do, here’s our rules. Here’s how this thing is going to work.”

There’s nothing futile about that exercise of dramatic change.

And maybe it’s not a matter of when it happens, but how. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian rips CFP committee, NCAA enforcement

While most fans are solely focused on Thursday and the official release of the 2026 NFL schedule, the Tennessee Titans did some housekeeping on Monday, releasing an update on their rookies' new numbers.

For the most part, the numbers stayed the same as the team’s initial press release, revealing the draft class and their selected jersey number. One member of the class, seventh-round tight end Jaren Kanak, did decide to switch it up. Originally slated to wear No. 47, the rookie tight end will now switch to No. 81, likely an indication of where he will see the majority of his snaps.

Update: @KanakJaren will now wear no. 81 https://t.co/B3M5EzjsEi

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) May 11, 2026

There was some speculation among the fanbase after he was selected about where he would eventually line up. Kanak is an intriguing developmental prospect who brings upside to Nashville. A linebacker for three seasons, he transitioned to tight end as a senior and made enough of an impact to be named third-team all-conference in the SEC.

With such varied experience and an interesting skill set, Kanak looks to be viewed more as a receiving threat now with a receiver-like number, although his profile could be one that special teams coordinator John “Bones” Fassel would pound the table for, making that his likely path to the roster.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans rookie TE Jaren Kanak switches jersey number ahead of OTAs

There's a stretch of the road leading to Jupiter Island, the Florida oceanfront town where Tiger Woods lives, that's lined on either side by banyan trees. The branches of these gnarly-looking trees hang over the roadway to create a sort of tunnel – almost like a wormhole into another dimension.

That's fitting because venturing onto Jupiter Island feels like a trip into a different world.

Woods, whose legal troubles include a May 12 hearing over a pending DUI charge, lives in an idyllic place that's secluded from the reality most of us know.

Its houses are shielded, partially or completely, from public roads by walls and lush tropical landscaping. The homes come in a variety of architectural styles, but all ooze wealth and privilege.

Small white placards mark the street numbers, sometimes including the names of either the property owners or their estates. There's a golf course, naturally, as well as tennis courts and other amenities.

There isn't much commercial development on Jupiter Island. The people who live there can afford to have groceries and other supplies delivered from outside the community.

While past residents have included singer Celine Dion and other celebrities, many of the island's inhabitants have quietly amassed their fortunes outside the public eye.

In this regard, Woods stands apart from his more below-the-radar neighbors.

Even in elite company, Tiger Woods stands apart

His golf skills landed him an appearance on "The Mike Douglas Show" at age 2. In the 48 years since then, Woods has accomplished just about everything a golfer could accomplish.

He's a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and has won each of the four major professional championships at least three times.

Sadly, though, over the last couple of decades, his personal problems have kept him in the news, too.

In 2009, he was fined for careless driving after crashing his car into a tree and a fire hydrant. In 2017, he was fined and sentenced to community service after pleading guilty to a reckless driving charge.

In 2021, he was seriously injured, but not charged, following a rollover crash near Los Angeles.

Now he's charged with DUI and failing to submit to a blood or urine test following another rollover crash in March near his Jupiter Island home.

Tiger Woods needs help. His latest crash must be his last. | Opinion

The wreck occurred on Beach Road, a narrow two-lane thoroughfare with a 30 mph speed limit. It's often traveled by bicyclists and golf cart riders. Landscaping trucks frequently park in the traffic lanes.

It's hard to imagine anywhere along that road where it would be remotely safe to drive fast enough to roll a vehicle onto its side.

More than just a PR problem to manage

Since we live in a coarse society where some people delight in seeing the rich and famous knocked off their pedestals, the jokes about Woods have been plentiful. (Sample: "What's the difference between a car and a golf ball?" "Tiger can drive a golf ball.")

No question, Woods has become a polarizing figure at this point in his life. In addition to his erratic driving record, he's been dogged by reports of infidelity and womanizing.

To add a political element to his latest arrest, Woods reportedly told officers who responded to the crash he had been on the phone with President Donald Trump.

If convicted, Woods could face up to one year for the DUI charge, plus 60 days for the test refusal charge. He could be fined up to $1,000 and $500, respectively, on those charges.

Whatever else happens in this case, Woods seemingly needs to acknowledge and seek long-term treatment for addiction to prescription painkillers.

Arresting officers said he had pain pills in his possession at the time of his latest crash. He wasn't found to have alcohol in his system, yet his apparent signs of impairment and his refusal to submit to testing that could detect the presence of other drugs strongly suggest he may have a pill problem.

To that point, prosecutors will be seeking records of his medical prescriptions at the May 12 hearing.

If prescription pain medication is the issue, it's in everyone's best interest – especially his – for Woods not to dance around the problem like he's sizing up a putt.

He needs to confront his addiction head-on. He can't overcome his demons without owning them.

And because of who he is and the situation he's facing, he needs to do so publicly.

If Woods is expecting any leniency because of his celebrity or his political connections, he's likely to be disappointed. As a Martin County resident myself, I feel confident in saying that's not the way our local law enforcement operates.

Opinion: My mom battled alcoholism to become the mother we needed

Woods should use his experiences to help others

Following his arrest, Woods issued a generic-sounding statement saying he would be seeking help for unspecified health issues. He was granted permission to leave the country for treatment.

If he tries to convince the presiding judge he's "cured," it's going to be met with a lot of skepticism in the public arena, if not in court.

Woods probably needs a treatment plan that's long-lasting and court-approved. If he is found guilty of the charges he's facing, it also feels like community service should be a significant component of any sentence he receives.

Not so he can don an orange vest and pick up trash on the side of a highway. With his millions of fans worldwide, imagine how much good he might do speaking honestly and earnestly about the dangers of prescription drug abuse to schools and other groups.

Woods lives a lifestyle far different from the "average" American, but he's still human. That means he's susceptible to some of the same dangers many of us face in our everyday lives.

Realizing and owning up to that vulnerability could be key to Woods getting his life back on track.

Blake Fontenay is USA TODAY's commentary editor.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiger Woods' crash is chance to confront pain pill addiction | Opinion

The Atlanta Braves return home to Truist Park for a series against the Chicago Cubs starting Tuesday night.

It is also the first home game for the Braves since the deaths of legends Ted Turner and Bobby Cox. Turner died on May 6 at the age of 87. Cox died days later on May 9 at the age of 84, weeks shy of his 85th birthday on May 21.

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The Braves will honor their former owner and Baseball Hall of Fame manager with a moment of silence and video tribute before the game at Truist Park. Other special tributes are likely in the works.

Tickets are still available for tonight’s game for fans who don’t have them already. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

TED TURNER MADE THE BRAVES ‘AMERICA’S TEAM’

Ted Turner purchased the Braves in 1976. He had already owned a group of local TV stations but would launch the TBS WTCG-TV Super Station later that year.

The Superstation would air Braves games and Atlanta Hawks games when Turner purchased the team in 1978. It didn’t take long before the teams became fixtures in homes across the country.

Braves games would aired in 24 states across the country.

“Remember back then, growing up, the game of the week was about it,” Atlanta Braves legend Dale Murphy said during April 10 BravesVision broadcast.

“It was just a different kind of thing to have a game on every night, wherever you lived with your hometown broadcast every night. It was, it was such a unique thing,” he said.

And to this day, you will find Braves fan at every stadium they play in - sometimes more than the home crowd fans.

BOBBY COX WAS THE ULTIMATE “PLAYERS MANAGER”

The Atlanta Braves have many legendary names in the organization’ 155-year history. But there will only be one “Skipper.”

Players remember Bobby Cox as the ultimate players’ manager. That’s probably why Cox holds the MLB record for most ejections with 162 in his career.

Cox said he would always stick up for his players as long as they gave it their all.

“If they’re giving 100 percent, they were always going to be backed by me. If they weren’t, it was going to be a different story and that’s all I asked them to do, was entertain the fans, give 100 percent all the time. Let’s try to win, and when you’re trying, it was awfully hard for me to get mad at somebody,” Cox once said.

In the wake of his passing, Braves players kept calling Cox a “second father” to them, including fellow Hall of Famer Chipper Jones.

“He was the leader of men and a second father to so many Atlanta Braves thru the yrs. I’m so sad today, but as I sit here watching my two youngest boys play in their championship games on the day he passed, I can’t help but shout the same things he did from the corner of the dugout. ‘Come on kid, u got this!’” Jones wrote in part on social media.

Haven’t posted on social in quite some time but can’t stay quiet in this time of loss. I’m struggling to tell all what Bobby Cox meant to me and so many others in Braves Country.
He was the leader of men and a second father to so many Atlanta Braves thru the yrs. I’m so sad…

— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) May 10, 2026

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Aston Martin’s Valkyrie Hypercar delivered its strongest statement yet ahead of next month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing fourth at Spa-Francorchamps in a dramatic FIA World Endurance Championship race that underlined the car’s growing competitiveness at the top level of endurance racing.

In only its 10th WEC appearance since debuting in Qatar last season, the British-built Valkyrie came within five seconds of victory at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa, emerging as one of the standout performers in a chaotic race that featured multiple Safety Cars, late-race battles and relentless wheel-to-wheel action.

Sharing the #007 Aston Martin THOR Team entry, British drivers Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble combined sharp racecraft with clever strategy to put the Valkyrie firmly into contention during the closing stages. Tincknell charged through the field with a pair of decisive overtakes that lifted the car from 10th to eighth in a single lap, while a well-timed Safety Car period allowed the team to synchronize its fuel strategy with its Hypercar rivals.

As the race entered its final hour, Gamble found himself locked in a tense five-car scrap for second place. The closing minutes produced a frantic sprint to the flag, with the Briton narrowly avoiding a spinning Alpine through Eau Rouge before passing a Toyota to secure fourth place with less than five minutes remaining.

The result marked not only Valkyrie’s best finish in the WEC, but also the strongest race yet for the #007 crew, who claimed their second consecutive points finish. Aston Martin now sits fourth in the Hypercar Manufacturers’ standings, while Gamble and Tincknell move up to ninth in the drivers’ championship.

There was, however, frustration for sister #009 Valkyrie, driven by Marco Sørensen and Alex Riberas. Both drivers had spent much of the race inside the top 10 and looked poised to capitalize on their strong pace on soft tires after the penultimate restart.

But the race unraveled dramatically when Riberas was forced onto the grass along the high-speed Kemmel Straight while attempting an overtake for fifth place. The resulting spin triggered the final Safety Car period and ultimately forced the car into retirement, ending what had been one of the team’s most promising performances of the season.

Despite the disappointment, the weekend represented another significant milestone for Aston Martin’s Hypercar program. Valkyrie has now scored points in four consecutive WEC races stretching back to Fuji and Bahrain last year, while both cars reached Hyperpole for the first time at Spa, qualifying sixth and seventh on the grid.

Attention now turns to the centerpiece of the endurance racing calendar: the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13-14. Aston Martin will arrive at Circuit de la Sarthe with growing momentum—and hopes of adding a new chapter to a legacy that includes the marque’s famous overall Le Mans victory in 1959 with Roy Salvadori, Carroll Shelby and the legendary DBR1.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Claudio Ranieri was dismissed from Roma on April 24th with a harsh statement.

The former Friedkin consultant distanced himself from Gasperini before the match against Pisa, and the club, in turn, responded a few days later: “AS Roma announces that its relationship with Claudio Ranieri has ended.”

Ranieri is now free and spoke to Sky Sport about a possible national team role: “I said no because I was busy with Roma and couldn’t have two jobs. Now I’m free, why not? Never say never.”

Ranieri has opened his eyes to the national team. Italy, which he rejected when he became a consultant for the Friedkins, is now a professional opportunity for Sir Claudio.

Speaking to Sky Sport, the former senior advisor to Roma added: “Executive or coach? If you get called, you have to say yes and that’s it. We need to get back on our feet; we can’t stay so far away from major events.”

The UNFP Awards for the 2025/26 Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 season took place in Paris on Monday night. Here are the results in full:

Best Player: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)

Best Young Player: Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain)

Best Goalkeeper: Robin Risser (RC Lens)

Best Manager: Pierre Sage (RC Lens)

Best Goal: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain, for his goal against Lille OSC)

Best Player Ligue 2: Zuriko Davitashvili (AS Saint-Étienne)

Best Goalkeeper Ligue 2: Quentin Braat (Rodez)

Best Manager Ligue 2: Stéphane Dumont (ESTAC Troyes)

Best Goal Ligue 2: Dame Gueye (Le Mans FC)

Best Player Premiere Ligue: Melchie Dumornay (OL Lyonnes)

Best Goalkeeper Premiere Ligue: Mylene Chavas (Paris FC)

Best Young Player Premiere Ligue: Justine Rouquet (Montpellier)

Best Frenchman Abroad: Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)

Ligue 1 Team of the season 2025/26

Robin Risser; Nuno Mendes, Malang Sarr, Willian Pacho, Achraf Hakimi; Mamadou Sangaré, Vitinha, Corentin Tolisso; Mason Greenwood, Ousmane Dembélé, Florian Thauvin. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Bayern Munich have held talks with Dušan Vlahović’s father "in the past few days," according to Corriere dello Sport.

However, the report doesn't reveal what the outcome of the meeting was.

It was recently reported in Italian media that Vlahović’s negotiations with Juventus FC over a contract extension beyond the summer have stalled, with the forward waiting for interest from Bayern and FC Barcelona, who are both in the market for a striker.

Juventus are said to have set a deadline for Vlahović’s situation to be clarified before the end of May.

With Nicolas Jackson set to leave Bayern and return to Chelsea once his loan spell ends, the Bavarians are likely to make at least one attacking signing this summer.

Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has been the main name linked with Bayern so far ahead of the transfer window.

Four dragon boats, donated to Ukraine by clubs across England, are on their way to Ukraine to help rehabilitate injured soldiers.

The 40ft racing boats have been donated to the Odesa Dragons team after their equipment and boathouse was destroyed by a Russian attack on the Black Sea city in 2023.

They are being transported to Ukraine in a lorry also filled with donated medical equipment, a generator and a skulling rowboat.

Daniel Windsor, from events company Race the Dragon, which donated two of the boats, said they would give Ukrainians the "opportunity to head back out with their friends, with their colleagues on the water".

Originating in China, dragon boat racing has expanded in popularity around the world - including in Ukraine where four teams were based in Odesa.

A member of the GB Senior Women's dragon boat racing team, Eleanor Fitzgerald, began volunteering with Ukrainian Action in 2025 and has established the link between the British dragon boating community and enthusiasts in Ukraine.

She said the Odesa Dragon Boat Federation had been a "really active club" before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"Odesa is a huge city, a beautiful city based on the Black Sea and unfortunately, since the war has started, things have really changed for them."

"When you live in a place that's a port, the water is part of everything they do, and so not to be able to go on the water is terrible."

Buoyancy aids, paddles and safety equipment were dispatched in January and four 40ft boats are currently being transported.

"The logistics are the hardest part because the generosity of the people is there and that energy is there. But part of that energy has helped with the logistics," she added.

Two boats were donated by Race the Dragon with the others donated by Pershore Dragon Boat Club in Worcestershire and Thames Dragon Boat Club in London.

They are due to arrive in Odesa on Wednesday. There are plans to use the boats to set up a military veterans team in Ukraine.

Fitzgerald said: "This is about building for the future, and that future is the fact is athletes are starting to come back from the war, so military veterans, both men and women, and they're injured.

"Many of them coming back are amputees, many more than multiple amputees.

"And there is also post-traumatic stress disorder as well there. And so what's terribly important is they have a community that they can be part of."

As well as a para-dragons team for military veterans, the Odesa Dragons also hope to use the boats to set up a youth team.

"Get the youth out on the water too, because it's all part of rebuilding and getting people out and doing something normal in what is a somewhat abnormal environment for them," she added.

Race the Dragon, operations director Dan Windsor, said it was "important to support the people of Ukraine".

"What we take for granted, dragon boating with your friends, your colleagues, going down to your local boat club, getting out on the water, fantastic activity to keep you fit, very good for your mental health.

"For someone to have that freedom, that ability taken away from them, we thought it was important to support this project."

What are dragon boats?

• Dragon boats are long, narrow paddling boats used for racing
• They are typically decorated with dragon heads and tails
• They usually have a standard crew of 20 paddlers, a drummer and a helmsman
• The are typically 40 to 42ft (12 to 12.5m) long
• The sport originated in China but is now popular worldwide
• Dragon boat racing will be a demonstration sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

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LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers insist there’s no panic inside their clubhouse. The standings still favor them. October remains the destination. But after Monday night at Dodger Stadium, there’s no denying something feels off about this team right now.

The Giants didn’t just beat the Dodgers 9-3 in the opener of a four-game series. They exposed every crack that has surfaced during what has quietly become one of the roughest stretches of the Dodgers’ season.

Three straight losses. 13 defeats in their last 23 games. And perhaps most alarming, an offense that suddenly looks ordinary.

“We’re in a funk right now,” Max Muncy admitted afterward.

That might actually undersell it.

The Dodgers have now scored three runs or fewer in nine of their last 12 games. Monday’s lineup once again struggled to produce meaningful pressure outside of a brief middle-inning surge carried almost entirely by Muncy, who continues to be one of the few consistent offensive threats in the lineup.

Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani’s struggles have become impossible to ignore.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on from the dugout in the first inning against against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Ohtani went 0-for-5 Monday night and is now 4-for-38 over his last 11 games. Even more startling, he hasn’t homered in his last 111 at-bats. For a player who can alter the energy of an entire stadium with one swing, his current at-bats feel tense, rushed and unusually vulnerable.

Dave Roberts acknowledged as much after the game, saying Ohtani has become “too anxious” at the plate, resulting in a steady diet of pulled ground balls. Roberts added that Ohtani will get a mental breather later this week and won’t hit Wednesday or Thursday around his next pitching start.

The Dodgers need him to reset mentally because right now, the offense is searching for identity.

And for five innings Monday, it looked like Roki Sasaki might give them enough breathing room to survive it.

Sasaki turned in one of his sharper outings of the season early, retiring eight straight batters at one point and limiting San Francisco’s damage to a solo homer by Rafael Devers in the second inning. Devers worked an eight-pitch at-bat before jumping on a 91mph splitter and launching it into the seats for a 1-0 Giants lead.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Outside of that mistake, Sasaki looked composed. His splitter had life. His command was cleaner. His pace looked confident.

Then the sixth inning arrived, and everything unraveled quickly. Back-to-back singles opened the inning before Heliot Ramos ripped a two-run double down the line. Just like that, Sasaki’s night ended before recording an out in the inning.

Sasaki pitched five innings, six hits, three earned runs, five strikeouts, but doesn't fully capture the frustration of how close he appeared to breaking through with his best major league outing yet.

“My stuff was really good today,” Sasaki said. “Second time through, third time through, my pitch selection was a little predictable, so I have to work on that.”

Even after one of his better-commanded starts of the season, Sasaki admitted he still feels “very far away” from becoming the pitcher he wants to be.

Roberts, however, continues to see progress.

“I think that Roki has been good, I really do,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers briefly answered back. Muncy tied the game in the fourth with an RBI single before Andy Pages grounded into a double play that still scored another run, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

Then after Ramos’ two-run double flipped momentum back to San Francisco in the sixth, Muncy responded again.

Trevor McDonald left a pitch out over the plate, and Muncy hammered it 396 feet to the opposite field for a game-tying homer. It was his 11th homer of the season and another reminder that, while much of the lineup searches for rhythm, Muncy has quietly become one of the Dodgers’ steadiest hitters.

But after that swing, the offense vanished.

The Dodgers had a chance to reclaim momentum later in the sixth after Teoscar Hernández moved into scoring position. But Ohtani grounded out to end the inning, another frustrating finish in what has become a difficult stretch for the superstar.

Then came the seventh inning collapse.

Alex Vesia retired the first batter before allowing three straight singles and a walk. By the time Roberts emerged from the dugout, the game had tilted decisively toward San Francisco.

“It’s on me tonight,” Vesia said.

Will Klein inherited the bases-loaded mess but couldn’t escape it. Willy Adames, who entered the night batting just .209 and hitless in his first three at-bats, lined a two-run single to right on a hanging sweeper to extend the Giants’ lead to 6-3.

The Giants piled on three more runs in the ninth, including another RBI single from Adames, a bases-loaded walk by Matt Chapman and a fielder’s choice RBI from Jesús Rodríguez.

And just like that, another frustrating Dodgers night was complete.

Still, inside the clubhouse, the messaging remained steady. Concerned? Yes. Overreacting? No.

“There’s a lot of conversations happening,” Muncy said. “We’re not taking this lightly right now. We also understand it is 162.”

That balance, urgency without panic, is what the Dodgers are trying to maintain.

As the longest-tenured player in the organization, Muncy understands the challenge now is preventing frustration from spiraling into something larger.

“We have to keep staying positive,” Muncy said. “It is easy to dwell on the negative but for us we just have to keep moving forward. We need to keep showing up. We need to keep understanding who we are as a team and who we are as a group. We’re back-to-back champions for a reason. We find ways to get out of this.”

The Dodgers are betting he’s right.

Now they’ll hand the ball to Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday hoping their ace can stop the bleeding before this funk becomes something more significant than just a rough stretch in May.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic says he never got close to being healthy enough to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs.

Doncic incurred a grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2, and the NBA scoring champ missed the Lakers' final 15 games, including their entire postseason run. After a shocking first-round series victory over Houston without Doncic, Los Angeles' season ended Monday night with a 115-110 loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who completed a four-game sweep.

“I know some people wanted me (to come) back, but obviously I wasn’t close to clearing,” Doncic said. “If I could be out there, I would be, 100%. Everybody in that room knows this is really tough. This is the best time to play basketball.”

Doncic said he is running and shooting, but he hasn't progressed to contact work in practice. The Slovenian superstar will probably need another week or two to reach that stage, which pushes his total recovery time toward the two full months that is often required for a return from that level of hamstring injury.

Doncic acknowledged that the disappointing end overshadowed the many good elements of his first full season with the Lakers. He averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds while playing in 64 games.

His partnership with LeBron James and Austin Reaves bloomed down the stretch of the regular season, when the Lakers made a 14-2 run through March before Doncic and Reaves both incurred major injuries in the same game at Oklahoma City.

“Obviously this season didn’t end how we wanted, but I feel like the last push we made in the end of the regular season, we thought we could compete for a championship,” Doncic said. “I think we had a great team. We had great chemistry. Playing with AR and LeBron, it’s an incredible experience. Two great players, and it was really fun to share a court with them.”

Doncic thrived in uniform during a tumultuous year off the court: He separated from his fiancee — the mother of their two daughters, who still live in Europe. Shortly after the Lakers' season ended Monday night, Doncic announced on social media that he won't play for Slovenia's national team this summer because he plans to continue to work toward acquiring joint custody of his daughters.

“First of all, I want to spend time with my daughters, and that’s probably the only thing that’s on my mind right now,” Doncic said of his immediate summer plans. “Second of all, obviously get the work in and come back ready for the season.”

While James is contemplating his future after his 23rd NBA season and Reaves is likely to be in line for a massive contract extension if he can reach a deal with the Lakers, Doncic made it clear he is locked in on the future with the team that acquired him from the Dallas Mavericks in a seismic trade in February 2025.

Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers last summer, keeping him with the 17-time NBA champions for at least two more seasons.

“I feel very comfortable,” Doncic said. “I like living here. I like playing for the Lakers. It’s one of the best organizations in the world, so just being a Laker means a lot to me, and I feel very good here.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Saturday's drab draw at Sunderland served as a timely reminder that Manchester United cannot solely target starters in the summer transfer window.

If United are to avoid another Champions League capitulation, they must vastly improve the squad as a whole.

All confidence of a result at the Stadium of Light vanished when Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko's absences emerged.

It is fair to say that if the 0-0 stalemate was an audition for a role next season, their replacements would not be receiving callbacks.

Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee join Altay Bayindir, Tyrell Malacia and Manuel Ugarte in being blatantly surplus to requirements.

Worryingly, several other players who are regulars in matchday squads and starting line-ups cannot be considered untouchable either.

Ruthlessly speaking, among those who featured at Sunderland, that includes Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo.

It is a time to be positive. And, realistically, United rotated in the North East because their job is all-but done. Champions League is sealed, soon third place will be too.

But we cannot pretend like seeing a startling drop-off when a few key players are missing is not something new. With one eye beyond the summer, that is a concern.

A busier schedule is on the agenda next season, thankfully. No-one is complaining about the Champions League anthem returning to Old Trafford.

Yet, can United expect the likes of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and even Bryan Mbeumo, who has never played in European football, to start every match?

The answer is no. If United are actually internally aiming to challenge for the Premier League title by 2028, the time to get aggressive in the transfer market is now.

I understand that is made harder this summer by the World Cup, uncertainty over the head coach and many players who need replacing potentially being difficult to shift.

But if the Red Devils fail to prepare for the demands that come with their Champions League comeback, they risk crumbling back to square one.

So, over to you. How would you revamp the squad in the summer? Who has to stay, who goes and who do you bring in?

Get in touch with your views here

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC

Chelsea look to be wrapping up their search for a permanent manager, with Xabi Alonso emerging as the club’s preferred candidate.

The iPaper reports that the Blues have drawn up a three-man shortlist to replace Liam Rosenior, but Alonso is understood to be leading the race to become the new head coach.

The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager is also believed to be open to the move despite the difficulties faced by previous Chelsea managers.

Enzo Maresca decided to step away from his role after falling out with the Chelsea owners, while Rosenior was sent packing when the campaign went pear-shaped.

Chelsea are also considering other options, including Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, who is set to be a free agent this summer.

Como manager Cesc Fabregas has also been linked with the vacant role, but the former Chelsea midfielder is expected to remain with the Serie A overachievers for at least another season.

According to Sky Sports, Chelsea want their new manager in place by the middle of next month.

He’s expected to play a massive role in the club’s transfer plans this summer and have greater authority over which players come into the club.

That lack of a greater voice and authority is understood to be the reason behind Maresca’s abrupt departure after four years at the club.

He had several disagreements with senior figures over transfers and squad planning.

Rosenior was brought in from RC Strasbourg solely because of his close ties with the BlueCo system, and it reportedly affected his authority in the dressing room.

Chelsea are now more willing to hand more influence to an experienced figure with a stronger reputation.

Alonso would likely expect that level of authority before agreeing to take the position, especially with the club facing a major rebuild this summer.

The situation on the pitch has also increased the pressure.

Chelsea are dealing with uncertainty around key players including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, while missing out on Champions League football could have financial consequences for senior members of the squad.

The Blues can still end the season with a title as they face Manchester City in the FA Cup final. But there’s a growing feeling that the club can’t afford another disappointing campaign.

Winning La Liga may have completed Barcelona’s biggest objective of the season, but within the club, there is no sense of slowing down before the campaign officially comes to an end.

Instead, Hansi Flick and his squad are now focused on turning an already successful season into one that could enter the history books.

With three league matches remaining, Barcelona have several major records within touching distance. 

What are the records?

The most important target is the famous 100-point mark, something only two teams have managed in the history of La Liga.

Ironically, one of those sides was Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho during the 2011/12 campaign, and the other came a season later when Barcelona, led by Tito Vilanova, reached the same total.

Currently at 91 points, Barcelona need to win their remaining matches to achieve that historic milestone.

Furthermore, Barcelona have found the net in 56 consecutive La Liga matches, placing them closer to another historic milestone.

The all-time league record currently stands at 63 straight matches with a goal.

Barcelona are still chasing several records. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

On the other hand, Barcelona are building another significant streak and could soon reach 11 consecutive victories in the league. 

While that remains some distance away from the club record of 16 set under Pep Guardiola during the 2010/11 season, the current run shows the consistency Flick has managed to build in his first year.

The home record

At home, Barcelona’s dominance has perhaps been even more striking.

The Catalan side are currently on course for 18 consecutive home victories and could nearly complete a perfect home campaign if they defeat Real Betis in one of their remaining fixtures.

Beyond league form, Barcelona also achieved another milestone after their latest El Clasico victory.

The win against Real Madrid allowed Barcelona to draw level in the all-time Clasico record, with both clubs now sitting on 106 victories each alongside 52 draws.

There is even a possibility that Flick’s side could equal another statistic. Barcelona are currently 14 points ahead of their rivals in the standings with three games still left to play. 

If results continue going their way, they could potentially match the club’s biggest-ever points advantage over Real Madrid in La Liga history – a gap of 19 points.

For a club built on pressure, dominance and trophies, the 2025/26 season has become one of deep frustration for Real Madrid.

The disappointment has not only come from missing out on major titles but also from the underwhelming performances of the team’s biggest names. 

Supporters expected a squad packed with world-class talent to respond, but the opposite has happened across much of the campaign.

More worrying for many inside the club is the fact that the same problems are now appearing for a second consecutive season.

Naturally, the spotlight has fallen on Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde – the four players viewed as the faces of Real Madrid’s current and future project.

The €610m failure

Collectively, the quartet carries an astonishing combined market value of around €610 million, based on figures from Transfermarkt. 

Mbappe alone is valued at €200 million, while Vinicius stands at €150 million, Bellingham at €140 million and Valverde at €120 million.

On paper, few squads in world football can compete with that level of individual quality. On the pitch, however, the reality has looked very different.

Despite scoring 41 goals this season, Mbappe has increasingly faced criticism from sections of the Real Madrid support. 

While the numbers remain impressive individually, many fans feel his contributions have done little to improve the team collectively during decisive moments.

There is no unity within the Real Madrid dressing room. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

There is a growing belief that the French forward has become disconnected from the overall structure of the side. 

Instead of functioning within the team dynamic, Mbappe has often looked isolated, focused more on individual moments than collective responsibility.

What about the rest?

It must be noted that Vinicius still has one year remaining on his current contract and discussions over a renewal remain unresolved. 

Although Florentino Perez remains keen to keep him, Vinicius has also attracted criticism for his role during internal tensions surrounding former manager Xabi Alonso.

As for Bellingham, the midfielder has struggled to replicate the level that made him one of Europe’s standout players previously. 

Injuries disrupted the start of his season, but even after returning, his performances have remained below expectations.

Lastly, Valverde’s campaign has perhaps been the most disappointing emotionally.

The Uruguayan midfielder has long been viewed as one of the dressing room’s natural future leaders, but this season has exposed visible frustration in his game. 

Constantly being used in multiple positions has clearly affected his rhythm, while his altercation with Aurelien Tchouameni became another symbol of the growing tension inside the squad.

For Real Madrid, the biggest concern this season is the feeling that a squad filled with elite talent has failed to develop the mentality, leadership and unity needed to compete at the expected level this season.

IPL without MI in playoffs: How many times has Mumbai Indians failed to qualify for IPL playoffs stage? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• With their elimination in IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians have now failed to qualify for the playoffs eight times in 19 seasons.
• The five-time champions have missed the playoff spot in four of the last five IPL editions (2021, 2022, 2024, and 2026).
• Despite a star-studded squad, MI struggled with team combinations and failed to deliver in crucial moments, as seen in their final over loss to RCB.

Mumbai Indians knocked out of IPL 2026 playoff contention

Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 playoff chances came to an end after a narrow last-ball defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday. Despite fighting knocks from Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir, MI failed to defend their total as RCB held their nerve in the final over.

The loss marked Mumbai’s eighth defeat in 11 matches, making them the first team to be officially eliminated from the playoffs race this season.

For a franchise known for dominating the IPL over the years, the early exit will come as a major disappointment. While a few individual performances stood out during the campaign, MI struggled to build momentum and find a settled combination throughout the season.

The five-time champions have faced challenges to qualify for the playoff stage in recent years during their transition phase.

Full list of seasons where MI missed IPL playoffs

*Current standing with games remaining.

MI’s Playoffs qualification record

• Total Seasons Played: 19

• Playoffs Qualifications: 11

• Missed Qualifications: 8

• Playoffs Success Rate: 58%

MORE: Which teams can no longer qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?

Early struggles (2008-2009)

Mumbai Indians had a difficult start to their IPL journey in the first two seasons of the tournament. In the inaugural 2008 season, MI struggled early after Sachin Tendulkar missed several matches due to injury, losing its first four games.

Under Shaun Pollock’s captaincy, Mumbai bounced back well and remained in the race for the semi-finals until the final league match. However, a defeat against Rajasthan Royals saw them finish fifth in the points table.

The struggles continued in 2009 when the IPL was played in South Africa. Mumbai struggled to adjust to the conditions and failed to maintain consistency throughout the season. Despite having several star players, MI finished seventh after winning only 5 of 14 matches. The disappointing season later pushed the franchise to rebuild the team in the following years.

"Defending Champions" curse (2016 & 2018) 

By 2016, Mumbai Indians had already become one of the strongest teams in the IPL, but the season showed how difficult it is to stay at the top consistently. The team had to shift their home matches from Wankhede Stadium to Vizag during the season, which affected their home advantage. Despite some strong individual performances, MI narrowly missed out on a playoff spot by just one win.

A similar story unfolded in 2018, which turned out to be one of the most disappointing seasons for the franchise. Mumbai lost several close matches, including multiple games in the final overs, which badly hurt their campaign.

Their playoff hopes ended after a surprise defeat to bottom-placed Delhi Daredevils in the final league match. Chasing 175, MI struggled against the spin attack of Amit Mishra and Sandeep Lamichhane during the middle overs. Ben Cutting gave the team hope with a late fightback, but Mumbai eventually lost by 11 runs, knocking the defending champions out of the tournament.

A challenging phase for Mumbai Indians (2021–2024)

The 2021 season marked the beginning of a difficult phase for Mumbai Indians. The core group that helped MI win back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020 struggled for consistency and the team missed the playoffs after finishing level on points with Kolkata Knight Riders but behind on Net Run Rate.

Things got worse in 2022 after the mega auction reshaped the squad. MI lost their first eight matches and finished at the bottom of the table for the first time in franchise history.

Mumbai bounced back in 2023 despite missing Jasprit Bumrah, with youngsters like Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera helping the team reach Qualifier 2. However, the form did not continue in 2024, as the captaincy transition and inconsistent performances led to another 10th-place finish.

The 2026 Heartbreak: What's next? 

The 2025 season gave Mumbai Indians fans some hope after the team recovered well to reach the playoffs, but that hope did not carry over into 2026. MI struggled to find consistency throughout the campaign, especially with their bowling attack, while several senior players failed to deliver in important moments.

Although Ryan Rickelton emerged as a positive for the team, constant injuries and frequent changes to the playing XI made it difficult for Mumbai to settle on a strong combination.

For a franchise that has won five IPL titles, the recent trend will be a major concern. Since 2021, Mumbai Indians have gone through an inconsistent transition phase and have struggled to maintain the dominance they were once known for.

Heading into the next season, the management is expected to make important decisions as the team looks to rebuild and return to the top again.

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Two months ago questions were raised as to whether Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky would ever play for the club again.

The Czech Republic international endured a nightmare 17 minutes in their Champions League last-16 match against Atletico Madrid in March, during which he conceded three goals before being substituted by then-manager Igor Tudor.

But after making one of the saves of the season to deny Leeds United a late winner on Monday - ensuring Tottenham earned a point towards potential Premier League survival - the 23-year-old may just have gone some way to redeeming himself.

Mathys Tel's 50th-minute strike had put Spurs ahead but the forward conceded a penalty for a high boot on Ethan Ampadu 24 minutes later and Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted from the spot to level at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Both sides probed for a winner in 13 minutes of added time and Leeds thought they had found it in the 99th minute when James Justin played Sean Longstaff through and the midfielder unleashed a powerful strike at the near post from close range.

Enter Kinsky, who stretched to get fingertips to the ball and ensure it clattered off the crossbar and not into the roof of his net.

It is impossible to say how important that save could be come the end of the season but, for now, it leaves Spurs two points clear of West Ham United in the relegation zone with two games remaining.

"That save is one of the saves of the season," said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports.

"Football is an absolute rollercoaster and who would have thought he would ever play for Tottenham again - and then he does that.

"You would have to have a heart of stone if you weren't delighted for him. Everyone thought his career was over but that save can be the moment that keeps Tottenham in the Premier League."

Read the full article here

Liverpool are plotting a midfield refit ahead of the summer transfer window.

There are question marks over both Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones.

Macca, 27, is a long way short of his 2024/25 Premier League title-winning best and could be sold if no new contract is agreed.

Jones is out of contract in 2027 and he too could be sacrificed amid interest from Inter Milan and Aston Villa.

Those departures would open the door to a big-money arrival and according to a report from Spain the club have got Jude Bellingham once again in their sights.

Bellingham no longer 'untouchable' in Madrid

The 22-year-old chose Real Madrid ahead of Anfield back in 2023 when he left Borussia Dortmund. The former Birmingham player hit the ground running for Madrid - winning the Champions League in his first season - but his output has regressed since then.

Bellingham has missed matches this season with shoulder and hamstring injuries and looks like he could do with a change of scenery.

It’s been a season to forget for Los Blancos and Fichajes claims that Bellingham is no longer considered untouchable.

Under contract until 2029 it would take a mammoth effort to prise him out of the Bernabeu but it would appear that Madrid decision-makers are at least considering the possibility of a sale.

LFC see Bellingham as a perfect fit

“Despite his youth and enormous potential, the Englishman is no longer considered untouchable,” the report reads.

“The possibility of a sale in the upcoming summer transfer window has gained momentum in recent weeks, especially given the interest from several Premier League clubs.

“Liverpool FC appears to have taken the lead. The Anfield club has been following the player for some time and believes his profile is a perfect fit for their project.”

Liverpool last restocked their midfield back in 2023 with the arrivals of Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and the aforementioned Mac Allister.

The sector really needs to be freshened up - with other links existing for the likes of Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton. But Bellingham’s arrival would trump the lot - coming in with a reputation as one of the best players in the world.

Today’s Highlights 🔥

Copa do Brasil

7:30 PM – Internacional vs. Athletic Club – Prime Video

9:30 PM – Fluminense vs. Operário-PR – Prime Video

9:30 PM – Cruzeiro vs. Goiás – SporTV, Premiere and YouTube/GE TV

Saudi League

1:20 PM – Al-Kholood vs. Al Okhdood – YouTube/GOAT

3:00 PM – Al-Nassr vs. Al-Hilal – Band, SporTV, BandSports and YouTube/GOAT

Spanish League

2:00 PM – Celta de Vigo vs. Levante – Disney+

3:00 PM – Betis vs. Elche – ESPN and Disney+

4:30 PM – Osasuna vs. Atlético Madrid – Disney+

Brazilian U-20 Championship - Série A

3:00 PM – Vitória vs. Grêmio – YouTube/TV Vitória

4:00 PM – Palmeiras vs. Avaí – YouTube/TV Palmeiras

English Championship (2nd division)

4:00 PM – Southampton vs. Middlesbrough – ESPN 4, XSports and Disney+

Women’s Copa do Brasil

6:30 PM – Vasco da Gama vs. Araguari – SporTV

Argentine League

7:00 PM – Belgrano vs. Unión Santa Fe – Disney+

9:30 PM – Argentinos Jrs. vs. Huracán – ESPN and Disney+

Brazilian Série B Championship

7:30 PM – Londrina vs. São Bernardo FC – ESPN and Disney+

NWSL

8:00 PM – Boston Legacy vs. Orlando Pride – YouTube/GOAT

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

A summer transfer could be on the cards for SV Werder Bremen goalkeeper Mio Backhaus, with several clubs said to be circling the 22-year-old.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen are the latest club to be linked with Backhaus, with Sky Germany reporting that Die Werkself have joined the race for his signature.

Die Werkself's current No. 1, Mark Flekken, has faced significant criticism for his performances in his first season at the club.

Brighton & Hove Albion, Inter Milan, AC Milan, SC Freiburg and Newcastle United have also been mentioned as suitors for Backhaus.

According to Sky, Werder are open to talks should a club wish to move into concrete negotiations.

The Chargers signed tight end David Njoku to a one-year, $8 million deal Monday.

Njoku spent the first nine years of his career with the Browns, but will now play in Mike McDaniel's offense in LA and catch passes from quarterback Justin Herbert.

Here are five things you should know about Njoku:

A Pro Bowler

The Chargers added proven talent to the tight end room. While Njoku is coming off a down year, the 29-year-old had a stellar performance in 2023 where he recorded 882 yards with six touchdowns. The career-high campaign earned him his first Pro Bowl selection that year.

Former Miami Hurricane

The Chargers selected Akheem Mesidor out of Miami with the No. 22 overall pick in this year's NFL draft. Mesidor won't be the only Hurricane on the team, as that is also Njoku's alma mater. Like Mesidor, he was also a first-round pick (at just 20 years old).

Mentored by fellow Miami alum Jeremy Shockey

Shockey was a first-round pick in 2002 out of Miami and a four-time Pro Bowler. He played 10 seasons in the NFL, most notably for the New York Giants. Njoku worked with Shockey to help him sharpen his skills before entering the NFL.

National Champion high jumper

Njoku is a true athlete, as he's earned accolades in another sport besides football. The tight end competed in the high jump and won the national championship in the spring of 2014. He was also a state champion in New Jersey that same year, with his best jump measuring 6 feet 11 inches.

Considered one of the best tight ends in Browns history

Throughout nine seasons with Cleveland, Njoku ranks third on the all-time franchise leaderboard for receptions (384) and second in franchise history among tight ends with 34 touchdowns.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers sign David Njoku: 5 things to know about the tight end

NBA legend LeBron James said he is unsure "what the future holds" after the Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the play-offs.

Reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder won 115-110 to seal a 4-0 victory in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final.

Widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, 41-year-old James is out of contract in the summer.

"I've got a lot of time. I'll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them," he said.

"It's about the process - if I can commit to still being in love with the process of showing up to the arena five and a half hours before a game to start preparing.

"When the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do."

James is the leading points scorer in NBA history and has won four titles and four Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.

"There's nothing I need to show in this league," he said.

"I've done it all; I've seen it all. Just trying to compete and trying to win championships - that's a motivating factor."

James scored 24 points at Crypto.com Arena in LA, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the current MVP, scored 35 points and contributed eight assists for the Thunder.

The Thunder, who beat the Phoenix Suns 4-0 in the first round of the play-offs, will play the Minnesota Timberwolves or the San Antonio Spurs - their semi is level at 2-2 - in the Western Conference final.

In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers earned a 112-103 home win against the Detroit Pistons to level the series at 2-2.

Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points at Rocket Arena for the Cavs, who lost the first two games.

Mitchell scored 39 in the second half, equalling the record - set by Eric Floyd of the Golden State Warriors in 1987 - for the most points in one half of a post-season game.

The Cavs or the Pistons will play the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference final.

Everybody is saying the same thing about the Mets after blockbuster MLB trade over the weekend. originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There have already been some moves around Major League Baseball, with the San Francisco Giants sending young catcher Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians. 

Bailey being traded came as somewhat of a surprise, as the 26-year-old is one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, though his offensive production has been a bit worrisome over the past few years, effectively ending his time in the Bay Area.

There are going to be some teams that also decide to get rid of players who we don't expect them to, and the New York Mets could be at the top of that list. The Mets have some of the more interesting trade candidates around baseball, with Freddy Peralta continuing to be mentioned among potential moves.

“On Friday, rumors began centered around Peralta. Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com reported on X that the Chicago Cubs called the Mets about Peralta. Then, he followed up with a conflicting report and said the Cubs have called about many pitchers, but not specifically Peralta. Regardless, the noise has begun and the Mets are towards the bottom of the league standings. Peralta is going to be a free agent after the season,” Patrick McAvoy of SI wrote.

Peralta is going to have a massive market if the Mets decide to go in that direction. There really isn't much reason for them not to at least consider a trade, unless Peralta takes an extension sometime before the deadline.

More MLB news:

• Yankees’ Cam Schlittler is the best pitcher in baseball, and this stat only confirms it
• Aaron Judge is only 36 home runs away from doing something that no one in MLB history has ever accomplished
• Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto does something that only Bo Bichette has done for Toronto
• Phillies urged to move on from Andrew Painter to replace him with Red Sox’s three-time All-Star
• Dodgers could break baseball by trading with Mets, but New York shouldn’t trade with Los Angeles
• Blue Jays have no reason to call Mets for this two-time All-Star if New York continues to struggle

Yankees’ Cam Schlittler is the best pitcher in baseball, and this stat only confirms it originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

We can go down a list of why the New York Yankees have done what they've done throughout the season, and that list has to start with somebody like Cam Schlittler. 

The 25-year-old has arguably been the best starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. He's already thrown 53.1 innings, striking out 59, walking just nine, and posting a 1.35 ERA already.

What makes things even crazier is that he was actually the second pitcher in Major League Baseball history to accomplish that feat, showing just how ridiculous his start to the campaign has been when you really look at it.

"Cam Schlittler of the Yankees is the first MLB pitcher to have 50+ strikeouts, fewer than 10 walks, no more than 1 HR allowed, [and] a sub-1.50 ERA over his first 9 starts of a season since Walter Johnson in 1913," OptaSTATS wrote.

Schlittler has a good bit of the season left to show why he's been as good as he's throwing the baseball right now over a full 162. 

I knew right away when watching him pitch against the Boston Red Sox a year ago that he was going to be one of the best starters in baseball for a very long time. I didn't know he was going to be this dominant right away, but the kid has all the makings of a big leaguer, and one that has top-five-pitcher-in-the-game potential.

More MLB news:

• Aaron Judge is only 36 home runs away from doing something that no one in MLB history has ever accomplished
• Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto does something that only Bo Bichette has done for Toronto
• Phillies urged to move on from Andrew Painter to replace him with Red Sox’s three-time All-Star
• Dodgers could break baseball by trading with Mets, but New York shouldn’t trade with Los Angeles
• Blue Jays have no reason to call Mets for this two-time All-Star if New York continues to struggle
• Ex-Mets star Pete Alonso not expected to be traded by Orioles despite slow start

Aaron Judge is only 36 home runs away from doing something that no one in MLB history has ever accomplished originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge continues to do things at a ridiculous level, perhaps something we've never seen before. 

While there's certainly an argument that Judge isn't the greatest hitter ever, it's becoming almost difficult to argue that at times. 

On the flip side, there's definitely still a strong argument for guys like Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, and many others. Regardless, Judge is incredible, and the fact that he even gets compared to guys like that shows how good he is on the field.

What's crazy to consider is that Judge definitely has an opportunity to surpass those guys in a couple of different ways. One of them was recently discussed by Sports Illustrated, as Judge has an opportunity to be the first player ever to hit 50 or more home runs in a season five times in his career.

“That's an insane number. Judge is already tied with Ruth, Sosa and McGwire. Those are guys you want to be connected to when it comes to power numbers. Judge is certainly on pace to surpass them. In all of the seasons that have already been played, only these four guys have even hit 50 or more homers four different times. No one has been able to do this five times.

“Right now, Judge is 36 homers away from creating that club. That means Ruth didn't. Hank Aaron didn't. Barry Bonds didn't. The list goes on, but no one has been able to hit 50 or more homers in five different seasons,” Patrick McAvoy of SI wrote.

Hitting 50 home runs in four campaigns to begin with is ridiculous, but the fact that Judge has an opportunity to do it a fifth time just goes to show what this guy has continued to do. 

It's not going to be easy for him to do so, as he has 16 on the year, and while he might be on a good track to hit 50-plus, hitting another 34 home runs isn't exactly like walking in the park, though the 34-year-old from California has made it seem like that over the past few seasons.

More MLB news:

• Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto does something that only Bo Bichette has done for Toronto
• Phillies urged to move on from Andrew Painter to replace him with Red Sox’s three-time All-Star
• Dodgers could break baseball by trading with Mets, but New York shouldn’t trade with Los Angeles
• Blue Jays have no reason to call Mets for this two-time All-Star if New York continues to struggle
• Ex-Mets star Pete Alonso not expected to be traded by Orioles despite slow start
• Conflicting reports raises questions about whether Mets are trading Freddy Peralta to Cubs

Last weekend’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid delivered everything expected from one of football’s fiercest rivalries.

The match carried enormous pressure, emotional tension and constant confrontation across the pitch as Barcelona moved one step closer to securing the La Liga title. 

While the football itself dominated headlines, one particular battle became one of the biggest talking points after the final whistle.

As has often been the case in recent Clasicos, Gavi and Vinicius Jr. spent large parts of the match provoking and challenging each other during physical duels and heated exchanges.

Words were exchanged

The pair repeatedly crossed paths throughout the game, with frustrations growing as the intensity increased. 

After the match, Gavi admitted he had told Vinicius to “shut up” after the Real Madrid winger attempted to provoke Barcelona supporters by gesturing about the club’s Champions League success.

Now, fresh footage has revealed the full exchange between the two players during one of the game’s most tense moments.

At one stage, Gavi walked directly towards the Brazilian winger and said,“Hey, where’s your Ballon d’Or?”

Vinicius responded with a laugh before replying, “I’ve got Champions League titles, you…”

The confrontation did not end there. As tempers continued rising during the second half, another exchange between the pair was picked up during the match.

Trying to calm the situation, Vinicius told the Barcelona midfielder, “What do you want, mate? I’m keeping my cool”.

Gavi immediately fired back with another sharp response, “Right, well shut up and play. Stop playing the fool.”

The tension surrounding Vinicius extended beyond Gavi alone. At one point, Ferran Torres was also heard shouting towards the Real Madrid star from the Barcelona bench, telling him, “Shut up, you idiot.”

All these scenes perfectly reflected the atmosphere of a Clasico that carried huge importance for both clubs. 

Barcelona eventually emerged from the chaos in a far stronger position, not only winning the game but also winning the La Liga title.

Source: AS

Real Madrid continue searching for answers after a hugely disappointing campaign, and Jose Mourinho appears to be at the top of their agenda.

As reported before, the Portuguese coach has emerged as one of the strongest candidates to take control of a Real Madrid project that many inside the club believe has completely lost direction. 

Following months of inconsistency, dressing room tension and growing frustration among supporters, there is a feeling that Madrid need a manager capable of restoring authority immediately.

That is where Mourinho’s profile continues to attract attention.

Club president Florentino Perez is understood to believe Real Madrid now require a coach with personality, experience and enough authority to regain control of a fractured dressing room. 

Mourinho, with his history at the club and reputation for managing high-pressure environments, is increasingly being viewed as a serious solution.

Mourinho addresses his future

Interestingly, speculation surrounding the Portuguese’s future intensified after a dramatic evening involving Benfica.

Mourinho did not provide proper clarity on his future. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Benfica entered their crucial clash against Braga knowing victory was essential in their push to secure Champions League qualification. 

However, they stumbled badly, drawing 2-2. That result naturally increased pressure around Mourinho’s future and reignited questions regarding the links with Real Madrid.

Speaking after the game, the Portuguese manager avoided giving any direct clarification about his plans for next season. 

“From the moment we entered this final phase, I decided I didn’t want to listen to anyone, that I wanted to be ‘isolated’ in my workspace. 

“There’s a match against Estoril (in the next round) and from Monday onwards I’ll be able to comment on what my future as a manager will be and the future of Benfica,” he said, as quoted by SPORT.

While Mourinho stopped short of confirming any negotiations, the fact that he left the door open regarding his future will inevitably intensify rumours surrounding a possible return to Madrid.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James says he has no idea whether his 24-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers' season-ending playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night was the final game of his NBA career.

The top scorer in league history stuck to the strategy he has taken into the past several summers when he declined to announce his future immediately after the Lakers' final postseason defeat.

He hasn't ruled out retirement or a return to the Lakers, and he said nothing about the possibility of moving to another team as he contemplates an unprecedented 24th NBA season.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” the 41-year-old James said. “I’ve got a lot of time now. I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then obviously when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”

James' record 23rd season ended with a heartbreaking 115-110 loss, completing a four-game sweep of the short-handed Lakers by the defending NBA champions. Los Angeles began the playoffs without NBA scoring champ Luka Doncic and second-leading scorer Austin Reaves due to injury, yet James led the Lakers to a first-round upset of Houston before running into the league's best team in the second round.

“It’s amazing what he’s doing out there at this age," Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It's very impressive. It's hard to put it to words. He's not very old in the grand scheme of life, but for the NBA, he's pretty old, and he doesn't seem like it out there. He was a force. He was the top of the scouting report all series. His size gave us issues at times. He was impressive out there. I'm not sure we'll see anything like that again, his longevity and his greatness.”

James has played in more games, won more games, scored more points and taken more shots than everybody else who ever put on a uniform, but he has never put a limit on his time in the game.

Instead, he repeated his oft-stated declarations that he'll figure it out with his family over a few glasses of wine in the next couple of months.

“Nobody has any idea what the future holds, and I don’t either,” James said. “I’ll take time to recalibrate and look over the season and see what’s best for my future, and when I get to that point, everyone will know.”

James showed only marginal signs of age's encroachment in his 23rd season, continuing to play versatile basketball at an elite level throughout the Lakers' successful regular season.

Injuries forced his largest compromises: He missed training camp and the first 14 games of the season with sciatica, and he missed eight additional games during the regular season, eliminating him from consideration for inclusion on the All-NBA teams for the 22nd consecutive time.

With Doncic winning the NBA scoring title and Reaves emerging as a legitimate top-level NBA scorer, James willingly assumed a supporting role as the No. 3 option in the Lakers' offense — and it worked.

His 20.9 points per game were his fewest since his rookie season, largely because his 3-point shooting accuracy declined to 31.7%, and his 33.2 minutes per game were his fewest ever. Yet he contributed 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds with another season of steady performances — and when the Lakers needed him to step up, he did it repeatedly.

“It was so many different seasons in one season with our ballclub,” James said. “Obviously injuries played a big part in it, but as far as our identity, I thought it was super-resilient.”

James was chosen for the All-Star Game for the 22nd time, and right before the midseason break, he became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. He surpassed Robert Parish's record for the most regular-season games played in late March.

The Lakers picked up steam down the stretch in the regular season, winning 16 of 18 heading into April and kindling hope of being a dark-horse candidate to give trouble to the Thunder or Spurs in the playoffs. But that's when Doncic and Reaves both incurred major injuries, sidelining both indefinitely.

James handled the disappointment by stepping up and coolly taking charge of the Lakers' offense again. While nearly every NBA observer wrote off Los Angeles' chances of any playoff run, James and his supporting cast improbably knocked off the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets in six games in the first round, sending the Lakers into the second round for only the second time since 2020.

“For our group to have the moment that we had when Luka goes down with the hamstring and AR goes down with the oblique and we’re staring down the barrel of a playoff series with Houston, I thought our guys responded and were just super-resilient,” James said. “To win that series was big-time for the group that went out there.”

James' reasons to prolong his career in Los Angeles would be multifold.

He has spent the past two seasons playing alongside Bronny James, his oldest son and a backup guard for the Lakers. They even got significant playoff minutes together this season, allowing LeBron to live another dream.

His family loves living in Southern California — and while his sons are both out of the family home, he has spoken frequently of his desire to watch the progress of his 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri, a competitive volleyball player.

And the Lakers' outstanding play down the stretch suggested they could be among the NBA's best teams with full health for Doncic, James and Reaves — who is expected to sign a massive contract to stay with the Lakers this summer.

Whether the Lakers can actually contend for a championship next season will be one factor that James must weigh, but finding a true title contender to join at this stage of his career would be difficult even if the Thunder and the rising San Antonio Spurs didn't appear to be head and shoulders above the rest of the league.

For now, James will take time off to enjoy life away from the daily grind that has allowed his career to reach unprecedented lengths — and if he decides not to come back, he doesn't appear to have regrets about how this season ended."

“I left everything I could on the floor,” James said. “I control what I can control, and I can leave the floor saying even though I hate losing, I was locked in on what we needed to do.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Talks

First

Champions

New 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk report shows San Francisco is giving him a taste of his own medicine originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It sounds like the San Francisco 49ers aren't in a rush to move on from Brandon Aiyuk just yet, and there are reasons for that, ones that work in San Francisco's favor. 

The last thing the 49ers want to do is help him out after the disgruntled wide receiver didn't show up to anything a year ago. The 49ers have made that clear multiple times now, and they're going to work on their timeline, not his.

The latest update suggests that nothing has happened yet, with Matt Maiocco going as far as to say that there's no chance he's going to play in a 49ers uniform again.

“Nothing has changed in the Brandon Aiyuk saga since Dec. 13. That was the day the San Francisco 49ers placed him on the reserve/left squad list, which officially ended his season last year,” Maiocco said on his YouTube. “He remains on that list, and the 49ers still hold his rights.

“There is no chance he plays another game for the San Francisco 49ers, and the team is simply waiting to see whether any organization is willing to step up with a trade offer. He is still under contract, but he will not play again for the 49ers, and the organization is not expected to pay him further for the remainder of his NFL career.”

This doesn't really seem like something most of us didn't already know at this point, barring something drastic happening. The taste that Aiyuk left in the 49ers' mouth probably wasn't too good, as they did right by him, and he didn't do what was needed for them.

More NFL news:

• 49ers not expected to show interest in Pro Bowler who is still on the market
• Bears get update on landing eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro who has played for 15 years
• Dolphins' new head coach reveals reason for cutting ties with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Tua Tagovailoa
• Fifteenth richest person in the world now being floated as potential Seahawks buyer
• Bears have no chance to trade for Maxx Crosby if latest news plays out
• Bengals get Joe Burrow trade update that should ease fans minds

Wolves' problems go far beyond one bad result. The real fear is that the negativity and toxicity around this club will roll straight into next season unless there is a serious reset.

I had ice cream on the beach before kick-off against Brighton on Saturday and I might as well have stayed there because too many of these players were still sat on their deckchairs when the game started. They never looked like they had turned up for the fight.

At half-time, Wolves' xG was 0.0. Zero. That is embarrassing. For a Premier League side, even one already going down, that is nowhere near good enough. And the bigger picture is even worse. Wolves have now been beaten by all 19 other Premier League teams this season. That tells you exactly where this team is.

Relegated or not, these players should be fighting for the badge, showing pride and giving fans something to hold on to. Instead, far too many of them look like they have mentally switched off. And Rob Edwards should be getting far more out of this group than he is.

The biggest issue is mentality. This squad has checked out. There are no leaders, no-one stepping up when the game turns against us and no real sense of fight when it matters most. We go behind, nobody rallies the troops and then we concede again far too quickly. That is not good enough.

Fans do not expect perfection. They expect effort, honesty, and pride. They want players who understand how privileged they are to wear the shirt and represent this club.

Rob Edwards has stood up for the players enough times now but he has to own some of this too. He has been praising the attitude and the work on the training ground and then we saw something completely different. That gap is hard to ignore and it raises real questions about where this team is really at.

This summer needs to be about more than transfers. It needs a full refresh of the attitude and the mentality. Wolves do not just need better players. They need a team with a spine, because right now this side has seems to have lost it.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves

This Tuesday, the Spanish sports press wakes up split by a stark contrast. While the streets of Barcelona are flooded with "culé passion" after winning their 29th La Liga title, in Madrid the mood is one of urgent rebuilding under the slogan of an imminent "structural change."

The Catalan capital has taken to the streets to celebrate a title that confirms the domestic dominance of Hansi Flick’s project. The newspapers published in Barcelona, Mundo Deportivo and Sport, devote their front pages entirely to the champions’ parade.

According to figures reported by Mundo Deportivo, around 750,000 people packed the streets to cheer the players’ bus. The central image shows a smiling Lamine Yamal, already transformed into the great icon of Barcelona fandom.

Despite the euphoria over the league title, the message is ambitious. Lamine, along with Lewandowski and Szczesny, promised the fans that the next big objective is the Champions League. "There will definitely be a Champions League parade," said the young winger.

Real Madrid, "toward a new Madrid"

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the newspaper AS bluntly declares: "Toward a new Madrid." After what they describe as a "failed season," the club is preparing a major overhaul of its structure and squad.

There will not only be changes in the dugout. Between three and four signings of "established players" are being planned, with strengthening the defense as the absolute priority.

For its part, the newspaper MARCA focuses on Kylian Mbappé. Under the headline "Mbappé doesn’t hide," the paper highlights that the French forward went to Valdebebas on his day off to speed up recovery from his injury, firmly intending to return this very week.

Beyond the two giants, Real Betis is the main story in Seville. The newspaper Estadio Deportivo highlights that the green-and-white side is obliged to beat Elche to keep dreaming of Europe’s top competition.

Meanwhile, Levante is living its own "impossible dream" as it tries to escape the relegation zone, as pointed out by Superdeporte.

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