PREVIEW | Getafe vs Barcelona: team news, lineups, predictions (La Liga 25/04)
Getafe and Barcelona clash this Saturday at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez for round 32 of the La Liga.
Getafe have picked up 41 points and currently lie in 8th position. Last time out, José Bordalás's team triumphed 0-1 against Real Sociedad (La Liga 2025/26).
Barcelona have won 79 points to date and are placed in 1st position. In their last fixture, the catalães won 1-0 against Celta de Vigo (La Liga 2025/26).
The last meeting between the two teams ended with Barcelona winning 3-0.
As a player, the former Borussia Dortmund manager came up through the ranks at 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig of the Regionalliga Nordost—a highly successful but now crestfallen fourth-tier club. The 4-time East German cup winners have developed talent, including most notably former Germany internationals Uwe Rösler and Olaf Marschall.
The now 49-year-old then moved to Hannover 96, where he achieved promotion to the Bundesliga under coach Horst Ehrmantraut—a substantial achievement in a first season that saw only 37 goals conceded. Rose formed a highly dependable back line alongside US international right-back Steve Cherundolo.
Jürgen Klopp, then only in his second season as a manager, came calling in 2002/3. The player, who had a reputation for commitment, intensity, and leadership, looked at home at the Mewa Arena from the outset.
The side included legendary Ukrainian international striker Andriy Voronin, who went on to play for Liverpool, Brazilian midfield maestro Antônio da Silva (later of Borussia Dortmund), and Germany international centre-back Manuel Friedrich, who moved on to Bayer Leverkusen.
Klopp got off to an impressive start, and the club won promotion in 2004 through the play-offs. The following season, they earned a place in the UEFA Cup by winning the Fair Play award—the club’s first taste of international competition. Rose showed characteristic dedication by following the ‘Nullfünfer’ back to the 2. Bundesliga at the end of 06-07, despite losing his mentor to BVB.
After 8 significant seasons at the south-west based club, Rose dropped down to Mainz 05 U23s for a final season as a player before becoming assistant manager, then manager, in the fourth tier.
The 1.87m athletic and combative defensive all-rounder enjoyed a good reputation as a player. South Africa international Delron Buckley, who played alongside Rose for three seasons, said, “Marco was not just an outstanding defender, he was a good and supportive friend, someone who helped me a lot to integrate in my early time at Mainz.”
His coaches, Jurgen Klopp and later Thomas Tuchel, undoubtedly influenced his eventual move into coaching when he became manager of Mainz 05’s U23s after a final season as player-manager in the Regionalliga Südwest.
For his first full coaching position, Marco joined a club with a really good reputation for talent development. Past players from the record Austrian champions’ academy include Erling Haaland, Kevin Kampl, Dominik Szoboszlai, Naby Keïta, Konrad Laimer, and Sadio Mané. As coach of the U18s, the now-Bournemouth manager won the national U18 title. Most impressively, the following season he led the club to their first European title: the UEFA Youth League.
Having demonstrated his ability, he caught the eye of Borussia Mönchengladbach, by then something of a sleeping giant in German football, their last silverware, the 2. Bundesliga title, more than 10 years in the past. The young manager, who was quickly gaining a reputation for nurturing young talent and executing aggressive, fast-paced football, led a side including top international talents Yann Sommer, Ramy Bensebaini, Marcus Thuram, and Stefan Lainer against all odds into the top 4, and the Champions League.
A pandemic-hit 20-21 season started well, but following Rose’s announcement of an agreement to succeed Edin Terzić as manager at Dortmund, the atmosphere declined at the club. The Rhineland-based side crashed down to 8th, out of European competition, and what’s more, painfully behind newly-promoted Union Berlin.
For only the second time ever, following Peter Bosz from Ajax in 2017, BVB paid a multi-million fee to secure the release of a manager. The anticipation ahead of the Leipzig-born coach’s arrival was at a very high level. Rose, who was famed for the same ‘heavy metal football’ that Jurgen Klopp brought, was expected to restore the fortunes of the ‘Schwarz-Gelben’.
Rose identifies and secures some impressive transfers, including Jude Bellingham, now-captain Emre Can, and Karim Adeyemi. Dortmund played attractive football and kept pace with Bayern for much of the season, but ultimately missed out by an eight-point margin.
The results in European competition are far from impressive, though. The side gets knocked out in the first round by Glasgow Rangers—a second-tier European competition BVB has managed to avoid in all but five previous seasons.
The real issues are unfolding behind the scenes. The previous manager, Edin Terzic (a former West Ham and Besiktas assistant), never actually left—he just moved into the technical director role. For most observers, there’s a constant sense that Borussia are keeping their options open. By season’s end, that’s exactly how it plays out.
The club’s uncharacteristic defensive frailties, conceding 52 goals, and a high injury rate are of concern. Not since 1981-82 had the club relied so heavily on one player—then Manfred Burgsmüller, now Erling Haaland. The team feels more like a group of individuals than a team. The sacking and replacement with Terzic is described by Deutsche Welle as “the death of Rose’s career” and deemed “ruthless” by Bild Zeitung.
Opportunity comes knocking within a short space of time. Rose takes over from Domenico Tedesco at RB Leipzig.
Back in his hometown, the grandson of former Germany international Walter Rose leads the East German side to their first piece of silverware: the DFB Pokal. Much to the chagrin of many neutral Bundesliga fans, RB finishes in a respectable third and challenges all the way.
Despite signing a contract extension, RB finishes seventh in 24/25, well out of contention even for the Conference League—disappointing for a side with a squad value only £90m less than eventual Deutsche Meister Bayer Leverkusen. A side that includes Benjamin Henrichs, Ridle Baku, and Xavi Simons, three of that season’s best players.
Rose was sacked in March, also due to poor results in European competition, where the side crashed out in the league phase. Although they reach the DFB Pokal semifinals and maintain an admirable 56% win rate. Rose also makes strong signings, including Loïs Openda.
Fast forward to the present, over the past year, the German coach has been linked with AC Milan, Rangers, Manchester United, and Tottenham.
Replacing Andoni Iraola at Dean Court, however, is what it turns out to be. The Cherries are perhaps a smaller club than Rose might have been expected to sign for. However, the environment at Dean Court offers not just a highly stable, well-funded, and well-supported one, but also the chance to lead a talented young side into potentially their first-ever season in Europe.
What Marco Rose brings is, importantly, the experience not just in improving sides and taking lesser teams to top-five finishes but also in securing silverware.
His high-pressing, attacking, high-tempo football feels like a style that will bring out the best in the South Coast side.
The last word falls to the current manager. Speaking to Sky, Andoni Iraola underlined the new arrival’s suitability: “I really like German football because as a spectator I love it when things happen.” Iraola continued: “I like that football where the player does everything. The attackers press as defenders, central defenders drive forward, and hold the last line. It is very complete and tactical football, that’s why I liked Rose’s Gladbach—you could see that it worked well.”
For now, the eighth-placed side have five games left to secure a European place. As for the former BVB manager, he now has a three-year deal to prove his worth in the English game.
The 2026 World Snooker Championship takes place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield from 18 April to 4 May - and you can watch every shot of the tournament live on the BBC.
Top seed Zhao Xintong, who became the first champion from China by beating Mark Williams in last year's final, is the favourite this year.
Ronnie O'Sullivan hopes to win a record eighth world title at the age of 50 - 25 years after claiming his first - to move clear of Stephen Hendry as the championship's most successful player.
World number one Judd Trump aims to lift the trophy for the second time, while other contenders include former champions Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby, John Higgins, Mark Williams and Shaun Murphy.
This year is the 50th championship to be held at the Crucible since the tournament moved to Sheffield in 1977.
The two-day final starts on 3 May, with the winner taking home £500,000.
World number one Trump is the number two seed and is joined in the bottom half of the draw by third seed and reigning Masters champion Wilson.
Australian Neil Robertson is the number four seed ahead of veteran duo Higgins and Williams at five and six, with UK Championship winner Selby at seven and Murphy eight.
Other seeds: 9 Xiao Guodong, 10 Wu Yize, 11 Barry Hawkins, 12 Ronnie O'Sullivan, 13 Chris Wakelin, 14 Mark Allen, 15 Si Jiahui, 16 Ding Junhui.
The Englishman, whose most recent world title triumph was in 2022, is making his 34th consecutive appearance at the World Championship.
The 50-year-old, who has not won a ranking title this season and has played a limited schedule, opened his campaign with an emphatic 10-2 win over He Guoqiang.
O'Sullivan will now face four-time champion Higgins in the second-round in a best-of-25 contest starting on Saturday evening.
'The Rocket' lost 17-7 with a session to spare to Zhao in the semi-finals last year.
Moody has reached two ranking event quarter-finals this season and is ranked 40th in the world [Getty Images]
Moody and Liam Pullen both made their debuts after coming through the qualifying tournament at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Moody gave 2024 champion Wilson a tough test before falling to a 10-7 defeat, while Pullen lost 10-6 to 13th seed Chris Wakelin.
China's He was another debutant, while Antoni Kowalski, 22, became the first player from Poland to play at the Crucible.
Former finalists Matthew Stevens, Ali Carter and Jak Jones all claimed one of the 16 qualifying places before being beaten in the first round.
So far, Iran's Hossein Vafaei is the only unseeded player to make it into the second round thanks to a comprehensive 10-3 victory over 15th seed Si Jiahui.
Six qualifiers beat seeded players in 2025, including Zhao who went on to lift the trophy.
With comprehensive television coverage across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four, and uninterrupted streaming on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, audiences won't miss a moment from the first break to the final frame.
Legends of the game Hendry, Steve Davis, John Parrott, Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor will offer their expert analysis throughout the tournament.
The BBC Sport website and app will provide daily coverage via live streams and live text pages, including updates from our reporters at the Crucible.
BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds will have regular updates throughout the Championship.
BBC Sport social media channels will deliver behind-the-scenes content as well as highlight clips from the tournament and player interviews.
Northern Ireland's Mark Allen made a 147 break in the 13th frame of his second-round match against Chris Wakelin.
He became only the 11th player to make a 147 at the Crucible. The maximum was the 15th at the venue in the tournament's history and the first since Selby's clearance in the 2023 final.
Allen, who was 10-2 behind in the match at the time, went on to lose 13-6 to qualifier Wakelin.
The 2026 NFL draft begins Thursday night with Round 1, and the Arizona Cardinals are the center of attention with the third overall pick. It is more or less where the draft has its first pivot point.
The Las Vegas Raiders will select quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. Then, the New York Jets will select a pass rusher, either David Bailey or Arvell Reese.
With the third overall pick, things get interesting.
That leads to a number of questions the Cardinals have entering Round 1.
Will the Cardinals pass on a pass rusher again?
This draft has two pass rushers universally viewed as top-five talents in the draft in Bailey and Reese. The Cardinals have a critical need at the defensive edge, as four players combined for 5.5 sacks at outside linebacker opposite Josh Sweat.
They passed on Will Anderson in 2023, electing instead to trade back and then select tackle Paris Johnson. Anderson is one of the best young defenders in the NFL.
Will the Cardinals pass on a premium position where they have a great need again?
Will the Cardinals trade their pick?
It is believed that the Cardinals' top desire is to trade the third overall pick, move back to be able to take a tackle and get more draft picks.
The Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints are teams believed to be eyeing pick No. 3. The Dallas Cowboys have said they can't move into the top five.
But general manager Monti Ossenfort has been a wheeler and dealer in previous drafts.
Would they draft RB Jeremiyah Love?
For the last week or more, the talk has shifted to the possibility of taking the top running back in the class, Jeremiyah Love, out of Notre Dame. Taking a running back in the top three would be bold, and in the eyes of some, foolish.
They already have a pretty full running back room with James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, Trey Benson and Bam Knight. Love might be the best player in the draft, so there is that debate.
Will they trade back into the first round for a QB?
The Cardinals reportedly really like quarterback Ty Simpson. To get him, they might have to trade back into Round 1. They have the second pick of the second round, so will they use draft capital to get back into the first round and nab a guy they see as a franchise quarterback?
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Derry City boss Tiernan Lynch says his side are ready for an "historic occasion for the city" when they host League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers at Celtic Park on Friday night (20:00 BST).
The Candystripes will be playing at least five of their home fixtures at the GAA venue while a state-of-the-art hybrid pitch is installed at their Brandywell home.
Fans of the club will not have far to travel from their traditional base with only 400 yards separating the two grounds.
"It's a historic occasion for the city and hopefully we can give the fans something to be proud of and make it a memorable occasion as well as a historic occasion," Lynch told BBC Sport NI's Eric White.
"The players have, as they always do, worked extremely hard all week.
"Our preparation hasn't changed at all, apart from our match day minus one, we've got to get on the pitch for the first time today. Again, hopefully it won't have a huge bearing on the game.
"Hopefully we can use this to our benefit where there's a real excitement in coming here and more fans. Our big thing is hopefully we can start well, get the fans behind us and they can pull us over the line, which they've done brilliantly on so many occasions."
Shamrock Rovers are unbeaten in their last nine league games and have won three in a row to sit two points clear of St Patrick's Athletic at the top - and 11 points above fifth-placed Derry.
The Candystripes ended a seven-game winless run last time out with a 2-1 win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park.
"Everybody knows Rovers are a good side and everybody knows how they want to play and what their strengths are," added Lynch.
"Our job is one, to try and stop those strengths and two, implement our game.
"As I've said all along, it would have been very easy with some of the results and performances for the players to really lose heart and down tools and feel sorry for themselves and all the stuff goes with it.
"I think that last week will hopefully make a difference to us. I think to try and get that little bit of belief in the squad and in the team that when you keep working hard that it will eventually pay off.
"I think last week was very much about hunger and heart and desire and all going with it. I do think there's way more in us as far as performances are concerned, but as long as we keep fighting, as long as we keep giving 100%, I think we'll be okay."
McClean carrying knock - Lynch
In terms of squad news, Lynch says James McClean is a doubt for the Rovers game as he is carrying a knock after missing the Shelbourne game through suspension.
"Michael Duffy's still going to be out for a couple of weeks, Brian Maher's still a couple of weeks away, as is Rob Slevin," added the former Larne boss.
"Liam Boyce is back training with the team, albeit not ready to even make a substitute appearance, but hopefully that will be sooner rather than later."
Sidney Crosby voiced clear frustration after the Pittsburgh Penguins fell 5-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 on April 22. The loss pushed Pittsburgh into a 3-0 series deficit in the first round of the NHL playoffs, leaving them one game from elimination.
The night turned tense early when Crosby received the first embellishment penalty of his 21-season career.
The call followed a high-stick from Garnet Hathaway, which led to confusion on the Penguins’ bench. Crosby later questioned the decision and pointed to a pattern in how the game was managed.
“I mean, it’s, it’s very clear that they’re looking for that,” Crosby said to the media after the game. “I don’t know how Rusty ends up with the extra out of all that. I don’t know how I end up with embellishment. Yeah, it’s hard to understand, but you gotta, you gotta play through that.”
Game 3 spiraled in the second period during a massive scrum. Bryan Rust slammed Travis Konecny, triggering a melee that sent 11 players to the penalty box. Rust received a double minor, and the Flyers capitalized quickly.
Trevor Zegras scored on the power play to tie the game, shifting momentum. Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler followed with quick goals as Philadelphia seized control.
Penguins coach disagreed with the referees’ call on Sidney Crosby
Penguins coach Dan Muse strongly disagreed with Crosby’s penalty. He noted the team had not taken a single embellishment call all season.
“We don’t have a single embellishment all year,” Muse said. “Sidney Crosby doesn’t have an embellishment in 21 seasons… I disagree on that strongly.”
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates off the ice after loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The decision added to growing frustration during a chaotic night.
“There’s a scrum. We get the extra penalty,” Muse said. “That changed everything.”
The Flyers now hold full control heading into Game 4 in Philadelphia. Pittsburgh must respond immediately to avoid a sweep. Crosby’s focus remains on regrouping, but the pressure has clearly intensified after a heated and penalty-heavy contest.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 11: Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund reacts during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on April 11, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Hendrik Deckers/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)
Atlético de Madrid are targeting Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Julian Brandt on a free transfer this summer, according to Marca duo David Medina and Isaac Suárez, as the club sees the Germany international as a replacement for the outgoing Antonie Griezmann.
Per Medina and Suarez, Atlético are “leading the race” to sign Brandt, who will leave Dortmund when his contract expires in June. Sporting director Mateu Alemany is said to be spearheading the push for Brandt; Arsenal, set to face Atleti in the UEFA Champions League semifinals next week, reportedly are pursuing the 29-year-old as well.
⚠️𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐓
Coge fuerza Julian Brandt para firmar libre por el Atleti según Marca.
Hace semanas, sacamos este perfil como el más similar a Griezmann con datos de @driblab.
Brandt is a versatile right-footed attacker who can play in midfield or on either wing. He has scored seven goals and provided three assists across 1,364 minutes in the Bundesliga this season, while adding four more goals between the DFB-Pokal and the UEFA Champions League.
However, Brandt this season has lost his place as a starter under head coach Niko Kovač. DAZN’s German football expert Andrés Weiss called him “the definition of inconsistency and frustration” in the two seasons since he helped Dortmund reach the Champions League final in 2024.
No hay nada que haya hecho Julian Brandt en los últimos 18 meses que justifique que un equipo de Champions (semifinalista, es más) le pague prima de fichaje + salario de estrella.
Tenía muy buena pinta hace 5 años. En la 23/24 fue clave para llegar a la final de UCL.
There’s no doubt that Brandt is a good player. He is a quality finisher (11 goals this season) and a crafty playmaker who provided 15 assists between the Bundesliga and the Champions League last season. But selling him as the replacement for Griezmann — the club’s all-time top scorer and one of its biggest legends — seems foolish to me.
Now, if Alemany wants to sign Brandt to replace Thiago Almada and compete with Álex Baena, that would be a fairly smart play. Neither Baena nor Almada has been able to assert himself as a starter due to injuries and inconsistent performances; Almada was sent off in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss at Elche, while Baena endured a frustrating hour before he was substituted.
In just one year, head coach Ben Johnson has altered the course of the Chicago Bears franchise, taking them from worst to first, developing quarterback Caleb Williams and setting the team up potential long-term success. So it's no surprise that general manager Ryan Poles trusts him immensely in every facet of this roster.
According to the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs, Johnson is "heavily involved" in the team's draft process, which doesn't come as a surprise after his contributions in last year's draft, where the Bears landed two potential cornerstones on offense in tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III, picks that had Johnson's fingerprints all over them.
"He has set the tone in that building," Biggs said on The Score. "They're not going to pull the trigger on some draft pick of a player he doesn't want. He's heavily involved."
Johnson exceeded expectations in his season as head coach, where he took a five-win team to the top of the NFC North, for the first time since 2018, going 11-6, beating the Green Bay Packers twice, including in a thrilling wild-card playoff win which marked the Bears' first postseason win in nearly two decades.
That had everything to do with the decision to completely retool the interior offensive line, trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, as well as signing free-agent center Drew Dalman, as well as drafting two young playmakers in Loveland and Burden, all of which helped Williams take the next step in his development.
While the Bears need more defensive help this draft cycle, Johnson will surely have a say in how Chicago bolsters its roster heading into an important 2026 season.
The Miami Dolphins are beginning a very important rebuild under new head coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.
A huge part of this rebuild will be the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Dolphins own 11 total selections, including seven picks inside the top-100 draft picks.
But, with picks Nos. 11 and 30 in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, when will Dolphins fans have to tune in to see their team pick?
When do the Dolphins actually pick?
The 2026 NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, April 23. At 11th overall, the Dolphins will be on the clock.
Each team is given eight minutes to make their pick, which is shorter than the 10 minutes teams had last year. That means that the Dolphins will have to wait, at most, 80 minutes before they are on the clock.
With the NFL Draft typically starting a few minutes after 8 p.m. - with the Tennessee Titans officially being on the clock eight minutes after 8 p.m. last year - Miami will likely be on the clock no later than 9:25 p.m. EST.
Fans should be ready to tune in before that, as most teams won't use all eight minutes of the draft clock. Depending on how fast teams pick, Miami's pick might come in between 9:25 and 9:00 p.m. EST.
Dolphins fans will then have to wait a while for their next pick, which comes at 30th overall at the end of Round 1. There are 232 minutes of draft clock before the Dolphins pick, but teams won't be using all of the time for their picks
Fans should tune in around 11 p.m. EST to see their team make its second first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with the pick likely coming after that time, but before midnight.
The Dolphins will be making their picks a little over an hour after the draft begins, and then a little more than three hours after the draft opens on Thursday night.
Report: Liverpool rightly annoyed at bonkers Juventus request in Alisson Becker pursuit
According to reports from Italy, Liverpool have been left annoyed by one request from Juventus pertaining to a potential transfer for Alisson Becker.
Fabrizio Romano claimed on Wednesday that the Bianconeri view the Reds’ number 1 as their ‘dream target’ as they seek to strengthen in the goalkeeping department, with the 33-year-old said to ‘like the idea’ of returning to Serie A, in which he previously played with Roma.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
The Brazil international has just over a year remaining on his contract at Anfield, with speculation over his future being ramped up in recent days.
Juventus hoping to sign Alisson on a free transfer
A report from Calciomercato has stated that Alisson would be agreeable to a move to Juventus in the summer, but there’s one significant aspect of disagreement between the two clubs.
Liverpool are hoping to reap between €10m and €15m (£8.7m-£13m) for the goalkeeper whilst he’s still under contract, but Bianconeri chiefs would like to obtain him for a lower amount and have even sought to persuade the Reds to let him depart on a free transfer.
That request is believed to have ‘irritated’ the Anfield hierarchy, so it’d seem that a compromise would have to be reached if a club-to-club agreement is to be struck.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as apreferred source on Googleto your favourites list for news you can trust
Liverpool would be daft to give away Alisson for free this summer
Alisson is now 33 and has had an unenviable track record with injuries, and Liverpool’s reported asking price is actually slightly lower than his valuation of €16.6m (£14.4m) by Football Transfers, but that figure still seems to undervalue the Reds’ number 1.
As for the idea that LFC would facilitate a free transfer while he’s still in contract, it’s an audacious request by the Serie A club, to put it diplomatically, and Anfield bosses simply mustn’t entertain that as an option.
If anything, the sheer cheek of that rumoured ploy ought to make Liverpool less inclined to let the goalkeeper join Juventus, although that may risk aggravating the Brazilian if he were to desire a move to Turin.
The painful reality is that Alisson will quite likely leave Merseyside in the next couple of years, but with the Reds already losing two other long-serving stalwarts in Mo Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of this season, to see our number 1 accompanying them out the door would be extremely hard to take.
Hopefully the 33-year-old will stay put for the remainder of his contract, and the Anfield hierarchy mustn’t wilt in their rightful opposition to Juve’s attempts to sign him for free this summer.
The Vikings are going to pick the best player available. Well and good, pretty standard. Just keep in mind that Rob Brzezinski, the short-term GM, did articulate a desire to fill needs.
While chatting with the Minnesota media on Monday, Brzezinski strayed from a coldly rational best-player approach, indicating a willingness attack roster holes. “And I’ve said it before, it’s just getting the board stacked objectively based on talent,” Brzezinski clarified. “And then on draft day, you can work to fill your needs. We’ve been talking a lot about best player available. That doesn’t mean you’re automatically just going to take the highest graded player on your board.”
Vikings to Go After Roster Needs in Draft
The top executive is peeling back the curtain a touch, offering some unusual honesty.
The process so far has involved building a player hierarchy. All along, the only criteria has been to build out a long list of players. Assigning grades is the name of the game to figure out who appears to be the best for the Minnesota Vikings. Scouts, coaches, and everyone else are all pulling on the same rope to try to win the almighty game of tug-of-war taking place.
Aug 24, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Latavius Murray (25) in the huddle in the first quarter against Seattle Seahawks at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
The scientific portion of things has now been completed. Pivoting off of that analysis means picking up the poet’s pen. Put differently, the Vikings will use that pile of research and work from within the lab to show off some agility and elegance tonight.
NFL teams are going to make both predictable and unpredictable decisions before it’s Minnesota’s turn. While doing so, Minnesota’s top decision makers will be working through the shift from possibility to reality. The No. 18 selection will arrive and so will decision time. It’s not automatic that the team’s best player available becomes a Minnesota Viking.
Quite possibly, Ty Simpson is held in high regard in the Twin Cities. The Alabama QB appears to be more likely to go somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd, but strange things happen with passers. Sometimes, QB-hungry teams take good players in a great pick slot due to need. Minnesota will not be that team, at least as it relates to choosing a quarterback.
Boasting all of Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer makes a RD1 QB as close to impossible as it can get. In fact, Brzezinski looped QBs into the conversation, doing so in relation to the Bills. Buffalo’s Josh Allen negates the possibility of a QB high. Likewise, a QB won’t be going to MIN in the opening round.
A similar logic could get applied to other positions (OT, G, WR), though none as ironclad as the purple passer spot. On the other end are positions where there is a need for help. Think safety, corner, running back, center, edge rusher, defensive tackle, and possibly tight end. Bump up each of those positions in your minds as you await the draft tonight.
Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; April 25, 2025; A wide shot captures the stage video board displaying “The Pick Is In” for the Minnesota Vikings during the third round of the NFL Draft, as fans and team personnel await the announcement inside the draft theater in Green Bay. Mandatory Credit: Perry Knotts-Getty Images
The Vikings boast a total of nine selections. Sitting atop the pile is No. 18, which arrives in (roughly) the middle of the 1st. Trading down looks like a wise approach, a strategy that has plenty of appeal for a team that needs a large influx of youth.
At minimum, though, there’s going to be a desire to see a roster hole patched up.
Give the final word to Rob Brzezinski, who dug into his rationale a bit more within that same response: “And so, what we do once we have the board stacked, hopefully, objectively based on ability, then we identify who are the best fits for the Minnesota Vikings. But we want to make sure that we’re not passing a unique talent to fill a need for today. A player that might not have the most impact in 2026 but could be a cornerstone for 2027. And then, we just look for the right fits. Who do we want to be a Minnesota Viking? All those other things outside of what you see on tape that gives you the best chance to be successful. Bringing in all the information, being objective, not trying to fix the process ahead of time, I think that gives you your best chance to be successful.”
At 7 p.m. CT, the 2026 NFL Draft will get rolling. Most think the Vikings will opt for Dillon Thieneman at No. 18.
Nottingham Forest dealt another injury blow in their battle for Premier League survival
Nottingham Forest defender Murillo will miss the game against Sunderland on Friday, boss Vitor Pereira has revealed.
The Brazilian was forced off before half-time of Forest’s win over Burnley in their last outing and is also likely to miss the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Aston Villa.
“He is out,” Pereira said. “We will see. It is a muscle injury.
“I’m not a doctor, I cannot predict, but he will be out tomorrow. I think it will be more than one game.”
“He is okay after the surgery,” Pereira said on the winger. “He is an important player for us, but the most important thing is for him to fully recover and come back at the level he used to have.”
But in better news for Forest, Dan Ndoye is available for Friday’s Premier League clash.
“Dan will be in condition to go to the game,” Pereira said. “That is good news for us.
“Now, he is better and can play tomorrow. He can help us tomorrow because he is on the list. It was not serious, it was just a small problem.”
One of the most interesting questions inside league scouting circles is this: how many true first-round graded players are there are in this class—and who are they? But in the case for the Rams, with little needs on their depth chart, are they only considering a few players in the first round?
Across league consensus, the 2026 draft is viewed as a “thin but high-upside top tier” class, with most teams reportedly assigning somewhere between 10–18 first-round grades depending on scheme fit and evaluation philosophy. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller has publicly noted that his board contained only about a dozen true first-round grades this cycle, reinforcing the idea that elite talent is concentrated rather than spread out. In my opinion, there are only 13 prospects the Rams are considering with their first rounder.
1.
Odds: < 1%
2.
Odds: 2%
3.
Odds: 5%
4.
Odds: < 1%
5.
Odds: 7%
6.
Odds: 3%
7.
Odds: 20%
8.
Odds: 17%
9.
Odds: 4%
10.
Odds: 4%
11.
Odds: 12%
12.
Odds: 8%
13.
Odds: 12%
14.
Odds: 5%
There you have, the Rams first round big board contains: 4 wide receivers, 1 tight end, 3 offensive linemen, 1 edge rushers, 2 linebackers, and 2 cornerbacks. Noticeable omissions were Jordyn Tyson, Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, Rueben Bain, and Caleb Downs. *Francisco Mendoza was not included on this board because it is as close as a guarantee that he goes No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.*
The Rams made it known well before the draft that you can never have enough playmakers on offense and guys that can rush the passer. Hence the Rams board is front loaded with such player types. Mansoor Delane and Chris Johnson made into onto their big board as the Rams have conducted a thorough search of cornerbacks this draft season.
By no means is this a listing of the Rams order preference of players. Los Angeles could very well take a player that is lower on the board simply because they like the fit and there may been more prospects available at another position (more depth) that convinces them to pass on player higher on the board. Regardless, LA Rams fans should be in for an exciting night come Thursday!
Wolverhampton have picked up 17 points and currently lie in 20th position. In their last game, Rob Edwards's team lost 3-0 against Leeds United (Premier League 2025/26).
Tottenham have 31 points to their name this season and occupy 18th position in the table. In their last game, Roberto De Zerbi's team drew 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League 2025/26).
The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw.
Coventry City owner Doug King has voiced his hope that manager Frank Lampard will remain at the club, despite speculation linking him with a return to Chelsea.
King believes Lampard has discovered his "happy place" at Coventry, a factor he hopes will deter any potential advances from his former club.
The managerial position at Chelsea became available on Wednesday following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, who lasted just three months in the role after a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat.
Lampard, who has previously had two spells as head coach at Chelsea, guided Coventry to their first promotion to the top flight in 25 years last week, a significant achievement following a challenging interim period at Chelsea during the 2022-23 campaign.
Speaking to BBC CWR, King praised Lampard’s impact: "He’s done a fantastic job, it’s been an incredible 18 months for us and for him. I said to him ‘do not underestimate how difficult what you’ve just achieved is to do’.
Chelsea are looking for a long-term replacement for Liam Rosenior (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)
“He’s done huge things in his playing career but to get out of this league as champions without a parachute payment, from where we’ve come from, is a huge achievement nobody can take away from him."
King acknowledged the constant churn of managers in football but highlighted Lampard’s deep connection to Coventry.
"You can see how emotionally connected (Lampard) is with the city, you can see what it meant to him to get promotion and then the title and I think he’s found a happy place at the moment," he stated.
While conceding that a substantial offer could emerge, King concluded: "I just think he’s happy, I’m happy, everybody’s happy, we’ve just got smiles on our faces and we don’t worry about what may or may not happen for the head coach."
Lampard’s initial managerial tenure at Chelsea began in the summer of 2019, concluding 18 months later despite securing 44 wins from 84 matches.
He later returned for an 11-game caretaker role at the end of the 2022-23 season, losing eight matches, before taking the helm at Coventry in 2024.
Accolades: 2025 First-Team All-American (On3, CBSSports.com, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News) Second-Team All-American (Walter Camp, The Athletic) First-Team All-Big Ten Big Ten Running Back of the Year.
Only Player in Program History to Have 100 Rushing Yards & 100 Receiving Yards in the Same Game (2025 at UCLA)
Emmett Johnson had an incredible season last year. Look at this stuff from Huskers.com about his production:
In 2025, Johnson led the nation scrimmage yards per game (151.8) and all-purpose yards per game (151.8), ranked second in total yards from scrimmage (1,821) and receptions by a running back (46), fourth in rushing yards (1,451) and rushing yards per game (120.9), sixth in carries (251), 11th in receiving yards by a running back (370) and 17th in total touchdowns (15). Johnson also led the nation by accounting for 40.7 percent of his team’s total yards during the regular season.
Johnson was the foundation of Nebraska’s offense in 2025. He was the only player on the team that you could count on to play good football throughout the 12 games he started. Continually found yardage where there was none. He had incredible patience and cutting ability, and he was the one guy that you would never want to play in that game called Kill the Carrier.
He skipped the bowl game and declared for the NFL Draft. Which was too bad because Nebraska could have used him to churn up some yardage and time in a game where they were clearly outmatched and had a defense that didn’t know how to play defense. Anywhoooooo..
Strengths
Elite Vision and Patience: Johnson is an incredibly decisive runner with a natural feel for pressing the line of scrimmage, allowing blocks to develop before hitting the gap. He excels in both gap and zone concepts.
Dual-Threat Weaponry: His receiving chops are exceptional for the position. With 46 catches in 2025 (the second-most ever by a Nebraska RB), he shows natural hands, route awareness, and the ability to line up in the slot or run routes out of the backfield.
Short-Area Quickness and Elusiveness: A true joystick in tight spaces, his lateral agility and sudden jump-cuts force missed tackles consistently.
Contact Balance: Despite a thinner frame, he runs with a low pad level, routinely breaking arm tackles and falling forward to finish runs.
Workhorse Durability: He proved he could handle a massive volume—logging an 1,800+ scrimmage yard season in the physical Big Ten—without his efficiency or effort dropping late in games.
Weaknesses
Pass Protection: The most consistent red flag in his scouting reports. He struggles with his anchor against blitzing linebackers and needs to improve his recognition of pressure packages to be a trusted every-down back.
Lack of Breakaway Speed: He ran a 4.56 at the combine. He does not possess the elite top-end gear to consistently turn second-level entries into 60-yard touchdowns, often getting caught from behind by faster defensive backs.
Average Play Strength: At 200 pounds, he lacks the raw power to consistently blow through heavy contact or move the pile in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Experience Sample Size: He only has one year of dominant, feature-back production at the college level, breaking out at age 22 after serving in a rotational capacity earlier in his career. (In other words, he was managed by idiots for part of his college career and it may effect his NFL prospects.)
Where’s He Gonna Go?
Johnson’s lack of breakaway speed is the main characteristic that will limit his top end draft ability.
While he doesn’t project as a clear RB1 at the NFL level due to average top-end athletic traits, his floor remains solid. He brings value as a complementary piece to a backfield, with his reliability as a runner and his impact in the passing game giving him a defined role. In the right system, he projects as a steady contributor who can handle volume in stretches while fitting comfortably into a rotation.
Johnson is a hard-charging, gap-scheme runner. He brings a steady dose of urgency, decisiveness and fairly predictable run tracks. Johnson’s production and game-by-game consistency stand out despite average size and top-end speed.
Emmett Johnson enters the 2026 NFL Draft as a well-rounded, high-production running back prospect whose combination of vision, physicality, and versatility projects well to the next level. With his ability to contribute both on the ground and through the air, Johnson has the tools to become a reliable NFL starter and a key piece of an offense at the next level.
But if it is of any consolation, Johnson is still being projected to be selected early on Day 3, which aligns more closely with Spears (third round; 81st overall) and White (fourth round; 130th) rather than Benjamin, who did not come off the board until the final round of the 2020 draft.
Potential NFL Team Fits
Minnesota Vikings: The hometown connection is very real. The Minneapolis native (and Holy Angels alum) recently had a “Top 30” pre-draft visit with the Vikings. Johnson himself stated recently that Minnesota is “definitely interested.” With Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason not under contract beyond this season, the Vikings are actively looking to reset their running back room.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton is heavily scouting the Day 2 and Day 3 running back market. Johnson’s profile as a high-volume receiver out of the backfield fits perfectly into the archetypes Payton historically targets for his offensive system.
Chicago Bears: Evaluators covering the Bears have noted Johnson is a strong schematic fit for Chicago’s rotation. The front office is looking for dual-threat situational backs who can immediately contribute in the passing game while spelling early-down runners.
Zone-Heavy Schemes (Packers, Buccaneers, Seahawks): Teams that rely heavily on outside-zone and mid-zone rushing concepts will covet his patience and one-cut ability.
It's a sound familiar to every NFL fan -- the little chime that plays when each NFL Draft pick is in (and yes, it's also the tune during the NBA Draft).
But where did it come from? How did it become so omnipresent? Shoot, can you make it your ring tone?
Those are all important questions, and they all have answers.
The NFL Draft pick chime is a recognizable sequence of 10 notes.
It plays when a pick is submitted in the NFL Draft, and in the NBA Draft, and in the WNBA Draft -- which are all broadcast by ESPN.
Who created the NFL Draft pick chime?
ESPN itself created the chime through work of Kevin Wilson and Steve Ackels in 2006.
Ackels was an associate producer at the time, and Wilson was the creative director of ESPN Music.
“Kevin Wilson and I were just messing around with an electric piano in the basement of Building Three,” Ackels said, via ESPN Front Row. "... The chime was just one idea among many we were trying out that year. Some stuck, others didn’t. That’s the nature. That’s also what makes it a great story — the life it has taken on after little fanfare.”
It actually didn't debut with a draft's first pick, but rather the No. 8 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.
Right before the Buffalo Bills chose safety Donte Whitner, the chime chimed for the first time.
The rest is history.
“You never think something like that will last,” Ackels said. “But the simplicity of it is part of the charm. It’s a new beginning for many — the player, the team, the fan base. It’s cool that a sound can evoke that meaning.”
Can the ESPN NFL Draft pick chime be a ringtone or notification sound?
This all depends on the type of phone you have, but conceptually, yes.
The 2014 Kevin Costner film Draft Day is certainly no Citizen Kane, but it does offer a few realistic glimpses into the NFL Draft evaluative process. The very memorable line "how come none of Bo Callahan's teammates attended his birthday party?! I WANT TO KNOW!" might seem like Hollywood embellishment of how far NFL teams go in doing their due diligence.
They don't really get that granular? And dig that deep?
For quarterbacks, yes, they absolutely do.
And it makes sense, given that QB is a position where character and personality are just as important as the purely football elements. When you're the quarterback, all aspects gets scrutinized to the nth degree.
Illinois QB Luke Altmyer is arguably the best from the modern era, at the position, in his program's history. He brings a lot to the table, and he looks like a great potential fit for several different teams.
His head coach, Bret Bielema, had special praise for his composure.
Altmyer led Illinois down the field, for a game winning drive that culminated in a walk-off field goal, to give the Illini a Music City Bowl win. Bielema discussed the recordings of the communications between Altmyer and Offensive Coordinator Barry Lunney on that final drive.
"There's some really cool audible audio," Bielema said on a Tuesday media conference call.
"I know you guys (Illini media corps) have listened to it with coach Lunney. I give Pat Pearson (Illinois Football Director of Branding and Creative Media) all the credit in the world.
"He's going into that game, he's like 'Coach, can we record this and talk about, you know, just the interaction between Barry and Luke on the field?' There's actually NFL teams that have asked me about that audio, because it just shows the trust that coach Lunney had in Luke.
"And I think that was the best culmination of a player that I just mutually respect, not just in how he plays, but how he manages the game, as you could ever find, was Luke Altmyer in that Tennessee game.
On Valentine's Day, few Gateshead fans would have been feeling their love for their team after another miserable afternoon.
The home defeat to Brackley was a 16th successive loss in all competitions stretching back to 1 November, and a 13th in the league.
Bottom of the National League, they were toast. Finished. Relegation certainties. Regional football beckoned.
They were 11 points adrift - albeit with three games in hand - but were on a winless league run stretching back to 30 September.
Anyone predicting the bottom four at the end of the season would have written Gateshead down in permanent marker pen.
Now as the National League's regular season comes to an end on Saturday, the Tyneside club's fate is already known.
Why? Because they pulled off one of the greatest ever relegation escapes, safety assured with two games to spare.
"It's an incredible achievement," manager Rob Elliot told BBC Sport.
"It probably redefines what is possible if you have that belief and mentality and that's what the group did."
The bottom 10 in the National League on February 14 and how the table looks now [BBC Sport]
The central figure to this story is manager Elliot. The 39-year-old returned to the club in January for a second spell trying to recapture the magic of the first.
Under Ellliot, Gateshead had finished sixth in the National League in 2024, only denied a play-off spot because the club had failed to meet the entry criteria for joining the English Football League.
But they shrugged off that disappointment to beat Solihull Moors on penalties to win the FA Trophy at Wembley a fortnight later.
He had Heed fifth again the following season when League One Crawley Town made him their new boss, but for both Elliot and Gateshead, the ensuing period was not a success.
The former Newcastle United and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper lasted only five months with Crawley, while his old club had tumbled from fifth all the way to the bottom when he was reappointed.
"There were still some really good people at the club, but there had been a lot of changes for different reasons, upstairs and behind the scenes," said Elliot.
"I felt the club had lost its identity and culture in terms of what it actually is."
Successful busman's holiday in Cornwall
The return did not get off to the best of starts, either.
Five straight defeats added to the malaise that had developed at the International Stadium, although behind-the-scenes Elliot was working hard to change the mentality, while remaining consistent in his messaging and his principles to a squad, which had been bolstered by new additions.
But something needed to change and quickly. It came in the same few days in February as Gateshead, from nowhere, pulled off successive away wins at Halifax Town and Truro City.
Rather than more misery on coach journeys back up the A1, the mood had changed, particularly on the mammoth 457-mile trip back from Cornwall.
"The win at Halifax was massive," said Elliot. "We hadn't beaten them for 20-odd years. We'd done something some very good Gateshead players and teams had not done for a long time. So if you can break that, you can go on to create something.
"Going to Truro, we were on the bus all day Thursday, spent all day Friday together, the game Saturday and back on the bus until the early hours Sunday morning.
"The team effectively got a mini pre-season. That helped everyone to gel and then you win and it becomes a special moment.
"Those back-to-back wins changed the whole culture and changed the direction."
'York win was good, Yeovil even better'
Victory at Truro took them above the Cornish side and off the bottom, but still 10 points short of safety and with lots of work to do.
Across the next month, Gateshead played eight games and collected 12 points and while they had started to improve, other teams, notably Brackley, had hit the wall.
Their next visitors were York City, one of the two clubs with over 100 points in the division along with Rochdale. On paper, a certain three points for the Minstermen.
But Gateshead produced the shock of the season with a deserved 3-1 victory, which catapulted them out of the bottom four and dented York's title chances.
However, for Elliot, the next game at home to Yeovil was even more crucial.
"Sometimes when you're chasing, there's no pressure because you're already in the relegation zone," he said.
"When we climbed two points out of it, it was a test of whether we were a proper team or not, to have that pressure."
They defeated the Glovers 2-1 with a performance that was "everything I wanted" according to Elliot.
"That was the sign this squad was good enough to stay up."
A brighter future?
With momentum on their side, two more wins and a draw culminating in the triumph at Aldershot on 11 April ensured a fifth successive National League season for the Tyneside club.
Now with US-based businessman Stephen Paylor coming in a co-owner, there is hope that the club can avoid lurching into such deep relegation trouble as they had been and move from "survival mode" as Elliot calls it to something more sustainable.
"To secure our status considering where the club was on and off the pitch was pleasing," he said.
"We've now got the responsibility to not let that situation occur again, and be looking forward for the club, rather than looking behind us."
Five other great escape acts
Paul Jewell led a great escape with Bradford in 2000 and then saved Wigan on the last day in 2007 [Getty Images]
With Gateshead pulling off this escape act, we've delved into the archives and pulled up five other teams and moments for whom hope seemed lost after terrible seasons.
Oldham Athletic (1993): With six days of the inaugural Premier League campaign remaining, Oldham were eight points behind Crystal Palace with three matches to play. All over bar the shouting seemingly.
But Oldham produced wins over Aston Villa, Liverpool and Southampton as Palace claimed only one point from their last two games, meaning Joe Royle's side stayed up on goal difference.
Carlisle United (1999): Two words - Jimmy Glass. In injury time of the last game of the season, Carlisle were set for non-league football.
They won a corner, goalkeeper Glass went forward as a last resort and swept home the goal that kept Carlisle up in the old Division Three at Scarborough's expense.
The North Yorkshire club were relegated instead and they have never returned.
Bradford City (2000): It looked like being one season and out of the Premier League for Bradford, when they were six points adrift with five games to go.
But Paul Jewell's Bantams produced a memorable run of 10 points from those matches to send Wimbledon down, culminating in a last-day win over Liverpool, which cost them a place in the Champions League.
West Ham United (2007): A chaotic season at Upton Park seemed to be heading in only one direction after a traumatic 4-3 loss to Tottenham left them 10 points shy of safety with nine games to go.
But inspired by Argentina star Carlos Tevez, the Hammers reeled off seven wins in that finish, capped by victory at champions Manchester United on the final Sunday.
The Hammers' unlikely Old Trafford triumph turned the match between Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic into a relegation shootout, which the Latics won.
Leicester City (2015): There would have been no title wonder of 2016, if not for their great escape the season before.
The Foxes more than doubled their points tally in the final nine games as they produced seven wins and a draw to climb from 20th to 14th, creating momentum that carried over into the following season.
Of the 13 players who secured safety in the penultimate game at Sunderland, 11 would be collecting winners' medals 12 months later.
Manchester United issue hands-off warning on Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United have issued a hands-off warning to clubs interested in Bruno Fernandes this summer
Fernandes is attracting interest from clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia after an outstanding Premier League campaign.
The Portugal international has recorded 18 assists in the Premier League and needs just three more across the final five games to set a new single-season record in the division.
The 31-year-old has also scored eight goals and clubs are keen to test United’s resolve, given the club captain will enter the final 12 months of his deal at Old Trafford this summer.
Al-Ittihad have been named as a potential destination, where Fernandes would link up with Portugal teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix.
However, United are adamant that Fernandes is not for sale under any circumstances. Journalist Samuel Luckhurst has said the Red Devils see Fernandes as central to their long-term project and plan to offer the midfielder a new deal.
Barcelona have not been offered AC Milan’s £60m forward Rafael Leao
Barcelona have not been offered AC Milan’s Rafael Leao. The club are prioritising cheaper options for the left-wing position, according to the Daily Mail.
Barcelona are focusing on a move for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. His signing would take a significant portion of their transfer budget, making a deal for Leao unlikely.
They were expected to sign Marcus Rashford permanently, but are now exploring another loan move for the Manchester United academy graduate.
Facts against Freiburg: BVB have won seven home games in a row
The scenario: Second against seventh. After two defeats (against Leverkusen and Hoffenheim), BVB are looking to secure their place in the Champions League on matchday 31 and maintain their five-point lead over Leipzig. Freiburg recently won two Bundesliga matches in a row for the first time in 2026 (in Mainz and against Heidenheim) and now have more wins (12) than defeats (11) to their name. The SC have not yet managed three consecutive wins this season.
Home/away: Borussia Dortmund now have the joint-second best record at home this season (11 wins, 2 draws, 2 defeats). SC Freiburg have won two away games in a row for the first time this season, against FC St. Pauli and in Mainz, while the club record stands at three away wins in a row. In total, the Baden-based side have recorded four away wins in 15 matches this season (three draws, eight defeats).
Head-to-head: Borussia Dortmund have failed to score in just two of their 51 meetings. The team have won 16 of their last 17 home games (51 goals scored, 5 conceded). Freiburg have won only one of their 25 away games in Dortmund. In their Bundesliga history, the only team they have lost to more often than Borussia Dortmund (34 times) is Bayern Munich (38 times). On seven occasions in this fixture – both at home and away – the Black & Yellows have come from behind to win; against no other club have Freiburg lost more after leading 1-0.
Statistics: BVB have scored 20 goals from set pieces this season and Freiburg have scored 18 – only Bayern have done better (21). When it comes to corners, Dortmund and Freiburg are actually ahead of Bayern, with ten and nine goals from them respectively. The experts here are Julian Ryerson and former Dortmund player Niklas Beste, with the current Dortmund player having taken eight corners leading to goals this season and the former Dortmund player six. This places them first and second in assists from corners.
Reverse fixture: In an intense, entertaining match, BVB deservedly took the lead after half an hour through Ramy Bensebaini, following Carney Chukwuemeka’s shot against the post ten minutes earlier. But the visitors from Baden, who were looking to hit on the counter, also created chances in the first half and found themselves with a numerical advantage from the 53rd minute onwards after Jobe Bellingham was shown a red card following a mistake by Gregor Kobel. Following the red card, Freiburg had 11 shots on goal, equalised through Lucas Höler in the 75th minute and celebrated what they thought was a 2-1 lead, but Igor Matanović’s goal from a scramble was ruled out for offside (86).
Last season: Maxi Beier put Borussia ahead early on in the seventh minute, with Felix Nmecha making it 2-0 shortly before half-time (40). Julian Brandt scored a direct free-kick (66) and Jamie Gittens netted in the 77th minute to seal a 4-0 home win. Freiburg’s Adamu (90+3, violent conduct) and Patrick Osterhage (second yellow card, 63) were sent off.
Iga Swiatek is stepping up her training as she gets ready for her Madrid Open debut.
It was also her first tournament with new coach Francisco Roig, and the quarterfinal exit to Mirra Andreeva meant there wasn’t a deep run to build early momentum under his guidance.
Some of the familiar questions around Swiatek’s game popped up again. But she and Roig are still in the early stages of their partnership, and there’s time ahead of Roland Garros to iron things out.
As part of those preparations, Swiatek has decided to change things up before taking the court in Madrid. She’ll be heading into the tournament without playing any official matches in the lead-up.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Iga Swiatek to train with Pablo Carreno Busta ahead of Madrid Open debut
Swiatek is set to face qualifier Daria Snigur in her opening match, after the Ukrainian came back from four match points down to defeat Daria Kasatkina.
While it’s not unusual for women’s players to work with male hitting partners, it’s less common for WTA players to train alongside active ATP pros.
Still, Swiatek is scheduled to practice on the main Manolo Santana court alongside former top 10 player Pablo Carreno Busta.
Carreno Busta, currently ranked 94th in the world, needed a wildcard entry into his home tournament this year.
The Spaniard will begin his campaign against Marton Fucsovics in the opening round.
How Iga Swiatek has performed at the Madrid Open in previous years
Even though her recent results haven’t been great, there’s plenty of reason for Swiatek to feel confident about her chances in Madrid.
She’s a former champion here, having beaten Aryna Sabalenka in a 2024 final that was voted the best match of that WTA season.
The six-time Grand Slam winner also made it to the semifinals last year, though she was heavily beaten by Coco Gauff, winning just two games in that match.
This time around, she’ll be hoping for another deep run. But with Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina and Andreeva all in her half of the draw, it won’t be easy.
First up is Snigur – an opponent she hasn’t faced before and one who’ll come into the match with plenty of confidence after her opening win over Kasatkina.
📈 Power Rankings: Juventus on the up, Man United return
Power Rankings return, where we rank the form teams in Europe based on recent results.
There are two new faces in the table, including a late dark horse for Champions League qualification.
10. Brighton 🆕
Brighton have snuck out of nowhere into the Champions League race. The Seagulls are unbeaten in five Premier League games, winning four, and thrashed Chelsea 3-0 in midweek to climb above the Blues in the table.
Into the top six, there’s a chance that position could secure Champions League football, if Aston Villa win the Europa League and end the season in the league’s top five. Both look like genuine options.
9. Manchester United 🆕
Manchester United make their return to the Power Rankings table, and the sound of the Champions League anthem is tantalisingly close. A 1-0 win at Chelsea means the Red Devils need just six points to secure their place among Europe’s elite. It’s been an incredible turnaround under Michael Carrick.
8. Juventus ⬆️ (Last week: 9th)
Juventus join the clubs closing in on UEFA’s top club competition. A 2-0 win over Bologna stretched their streak to seven unbeaten and opened up a five-point buffer over Como. The race is in their hands now.
7. Inter Milan ↔️
Credit where credit is due, Inter have recovered from their Bodo/Glimt disaster-class to stand on the edge of a special season.
The Scudetto is in touching distance with a maximum of four points needed from five games, while a remarkable comeback catapulted the club into the Coppa Italia final. Two goals down to Como in the semi-final, a Petar Sucic-inspired turnaround helped Inter into the decider. The domestic double is on.
6. Real Madrid ↔️
A win for Real Madrid on Tuesday night, but it looks a little too late. Los Blancos need to overturn a nine-point deficit to Barcelona in just six games, or face the prospect of a season without silverware. That represents a criminal offence at the Bernabeu.
5. Arsenal ↔️
Is it happening again? ‘Quadruple, to treble, to double, to in trouble’ has been the message on social media as Arsenal’s season has started to unravel.
A 2-1 defeat at Manchester City was a hammer blow to the club’s title dream, and City have since overtaken them as leaders on goal difference.
Momentum is with the Manchester side, and Arsenal need to regroup ahead of a tantalising run-in.
4. Barcelona ↔️
Barcelona are another win closer to La Liga after edging past Celta Vigo 1-0. The Catalans have won 13 of their last 15 games in the league to charge towards the title, with Lamine Yamal’s penalty the difference last time out. However, the club’s talisman suffered a season-ending injury while scoring the winner in a setback to Hansi Flick’s side.
3. Manchester City ↔️
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City just know how to win when it comes to the spring. The Citizens have reeled in Arsenal in the title race after overtook the Gunners at the top this week, after beating Burnley at Turf Moor.
Ahead on goals scored, it’s set to be a dramatic conclusion to the campaign. City had not led the league since the opening weekend, but are now favourites.
2. PSG ↔️
Paris Saint-Germain remain in control of the Ligue 1 race despite a blip against Lyon, as Endrick led Lyon to a 2-1 win at the Parc des Princes.
The Parisians responded well, beating Nantes 3-0 to find form ahead of a mouth-watering Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich next week.
Speaking of which…
1. Bayern Munich ↔️
After a record-breaking Bundesliga title win was sewn up at the weekend, Bayern beat Bayer Leverkusen to reach the DFB-Pokal final for the first time since 2020.
A Champions League mega-clash is up next, as the Bavarians chase a historic treble. You wouldn’t get against them on current form.
West Ham currently have 33 points and lie in 17th position. In their last game, Nuno Espírito Santo's team drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace (Premier League 2025/26).
Everton have 47 points to their name this season and occupy 10th position in the table. In their last encounter, David Moyes's team were beaten 1-2 by Liverpool (Premier League 2025/26).
The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw.
You watch the match, then you check the stats, and the story often changes. Goals, xG, conversion rates, it is all there if you know where to look. The same thinking applies elsewhere. When outcomes depend on numbers, the difference between good and bad decisions becomes easier to spot if you can read the data.
You can watch a match and think one team dominated. Then you check the numbers and see something else. Arsenal average 1.97 goals per game this season, yet their expected goals sit at 50.79 across 30 matches. That gap shows finishing quality, not just chance creation. It is the same idea analysts use every week. You look past the surface and judge performance on data.
Performance Metrics Define Outcomes on the Pitch
Arsenal’s numbers give a clean example of how performance gets measured. They have scored 59 goals in 30 matches, which works out at 1.97 per game. Their expected goals sit lower at 50.79, so they are beating the model by just over eight goals. Possession sits at 56.7 percent, with 14,238 passes completed at 84.6 percent accuracy. That tells you the Gunners control games and finish well.
You see the same pattern across the league. Teams that create a lot of chances do not always convert them. Others take fewer shots but finish at a higher rate. That gap between expected output and real output is where results get decided.
Squad changes add another layer. A team can look stable on paper, then lose a key player and the numbers shift straight away. Arsenal had to deal with that when Gabriel Magalhães was ruled out of Brazil’s upcoming friendlies due to a knee issue. Remove one defender and the whole structure can look different within a week.
Or within a newspaper headline.
That is why analysts do not rely on one stat. They track trends, compare outputs, and check whether performance holds up when conditions change. You end up with a clearer picture of what a team is actually doing, not what it looks like on the surface.
Ranking Systems Link Performance to Financial Outcomes
League tables give you one view, but the deeper numbers sit behind them. You can pull up team rankings, shot maps, pass accuracy, and goal contributions across the entire competition. It turns the season into a set of measurable outputs rather than a list of results.
That data connects directly to financial reward. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will distribute a total prize fund of $2.6 billion, with the winning team earning more than $40 million depending on final allocation. Performance is not an abstract concept here. It gets measured and priced.
You can see the same logic in domestic football. Clubs that finish higher earn more through prize money, broadcasting deals, and competition bonuses. The difference between finishing fourth and fifth in the Premier League can run into tens of millions once European qualification is factored in.
This is where the numbers start to carry weight. A team that converts chances at a higher rate or defends better under pressure moves up the table. That position then feeds into revenue. It is a straight line from performance data to financial outcome, and every club is aware of it.
Translating Data Models Into Platform Selection
The same thinking carries across into other systems where outcomes depend on probability. In football, expected goals give you a baseline for what should happen. Conversion rate shows what actually happens. You compare the two and judge efficiency.
You apply that same logic when looking at payout systems. Return-to-player percentages sit around 96 percent on average in the UK, while stronger platforms push closer to 98 percent. That two-point gap means a £100 stake returns £96 in one case and £98 in another across the long run. It looks small, but it adds up when you scale it.
That is where comparison becomes useful. Looking through the top payout options for online casinos gives you a clear ranking based on return rates, withdrawal speeds, and how consistently platforms process payments. This is not guesswork. You are reading the numbers the same way you would read a match report.
Speed plays a role as well. Some platforms process withdrawals within hours, while others take longer depending on method. That difference is the equivalent of tempo in football. Quick execution keeps things moving. Delays slow everything down.
Once you frame it like that, the process becomes simple. You look at expected return, check real outcomes, and compare options. It is the same mindset used when breaking down a match. Numbers first, then decisions.
Numbers Decide Outcomes Across Systems
There is no guesswork when the data is in front of you. Football shows it every week. Teams that turn chances into goals climb the table and earn more. The same logic applies anywhere outcomes can be measured. Read the numbers properly and the decisions tend to follow.
The Portugal international has been linked with clubs in Europe, MLS and Saudi Arabia, with Barcelona and former side Benfica among those targeting a deal.
Chelsea have now emerged as a shock rival to Silva’s suitors. According to TEAMtalk transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey, the West Londoners view the 31-year-old as an ideal option to ‘inject experience and proven leadership’ into their squad.
Chelsea have endured a difficult campaign with an inexperienced squad struggling for consistent results. A recent run of five consecutive Premier League defeats has all but ended their Champions League hopes and saw head coach Liam Rosenior fired on Wednesday.
Despite interest from Chelsea, a move to a rival Premier League club appears unlikely. The midfielder has previously expressed interest in a transfer to a club closer to his family.
However, he remained at Manchester City, where he has won six Premier League titles among 18 honours. Silva has made 453 appearances for the Citizens, second only to Bert Trautmann among non-English players.
Van Dijk calls on new Liverpool leaders to step up
Virgil van Dijk has called on a new generation of leaders to step up at Liverpool as the club prepare for big-name exits.
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are set to leave Liverpool in the summer, with both having been key figures in the club’s modern success.
Salah and Roberton have spent nine seasons at Anfield and are part of the Reds’ leadership group. Doubts have also emerged over Alisson’s future, which could see another big presence in the dressing room depart.
Van Dijk has opened up on the transition into next season and called on new members of the side to step up and become leaders. The Liverpool captain also urged the club’s owners to make the right decisions this summer as the Reds aim to improve on a disappointing season.
“You have to ask the question to the guys higher up. The leadership boys are falling apart — in terms of players leaving — so players have to step up and see what the guys making the decisions are going to do. But I’m pretty sure everyone has the right intentions to make us, as a club, competitive and hopefully not have a season like we’re having this season again,” the Dutchman told The Times.
“Players have to step up. You grow into that [leadership] role or you already have it in you. That is something players have to show even more next season.”
“After the World Cup, in pre-season, it will be an interesting development in terms of how the manager sees it as well and then we have to tackle the season in the best way possible and not have a season like we have had this season again.”
“We are playing five more games and we have to try to get qualification for Champions League done. It’s definitely not the standards that I expect and envision myself being a Liverpool player — just to qualify for the Champions League.”
Travel: ticket included in the ticketThe ticket for SIGNAL IDUNA PARK is valid for travel to and from the stadium throughout the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This also applies to holders of plastic season tickets. Holders of a ‘Print@Home ticket’ or a ‘mobile ticket’ (e.g. Apple Wallet) must carry a public transport ticket in addition to their match ticket; this must be ordered free of charge online via this page.
Live broadcast: DAZN und NetradioThe match will be broadcast live on TV and streamed on DAZN. Pre-match coverage begins at 16:45 CEST with presenter Freddy Harder and pundit Sebastian Kneißl. Mario Rieker will be providing commentary on the match. BVB Netradio will be reporting through the usual Black & Yellow lens. The reporters are Norbert Dickel (Bild) and Boris Rupert. BVB Netradio will start well before kick-off. It can be accessed by everyone on the homepage and in the BVB app on iPhone and Android devices. A summary of the match, as well as the press conference and comments on the game, will be available on BVB-TV, among other places.
Norbert Dickel
Weather: spring-like and dryThe weather forecast for Sunday is a mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures reaching 15 degrees. In the evening, they will drop to 10 degrees. The chance of rain is given as 5%.
Live ticker: over to the appBVB's digital channels operate at full throttle on matchday. And that's not only the case during the match, but throughout the matchday too – starting at 09:09 CEST, of course. In "Matchday Mode", the BVB app (download) offers news, pictures, posts, videos, statistics and plenty more match info besides. The live ticker starts at kick-off and updates you on all the important moments. In addition to the live ticker, there will be full match highlights, statistics and first-hand info on our WhatsApp, X, Facebook and Instagram social media channels. The match report plus reactions and facts will follow on the website and on the app after the final whistle.
Elliot Anderson price tag revealed as United and City prepare to battle
Manchester United’s hunt for Casemiro’s replacement has hit another roadblock if the latest reports are to be believed.
The Brazilian, who has looked like a player reborn under Michael Carrick, is all set to depart once his contract runs out in the summer.
The fans and his teammates have tried to change his mind, but a move to Inter Miami in the MLS seems like his next destination.
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest was identified as the top priority target to replace the five-time Champions League winner.
Elliot Anderson price tag
Manchester City are reportedly in pole position, but with Rodri’s future still up in the air, there was every chance the Red Devils could potentially hijack the deal.
However, The Athletic have revealed that Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis has slapped a record price tag of £125 million on his head.
The Greek owner has shown in the recent past how stubborn he can be when it comes to valuations, and it will be interesting to see if the Englishman‘s price does come down, especially in case Forest suffer relegation at the end of the season.
“Elliot Anderson tops United’s list for midfield due to his all-action style, but Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is believed to want as much as £125m for him.
City vs United for Elliot Anderson
“Marinakis has shown he is a formidable personality, holding firm on Morgan Gibbs-White last summer despite Spurs attempting to trigger his exit clause.
“Should Forest go down, though, logic dictates Anderson’s price would also reduce. Manchester City are thought to be Anderson’s favoured destination in the event of a move.
“But Rodri’s future is a factor. Some close observers doubt City could agree a fresh contract with Rodri and spend more than £100m on Anderson.”
Given the wage demands of Elliot Anderson and the current price tag, it looks almost impossible for the 20-time English league champions to pull off the deal.
All eyes will be on Forest’s fate in the English top flight. It will also be interesting to see how Marinakis reacts should the England international push for a move away irrespective of his team’s status.
For a player to be eligible for the NFL Draft, he must be three years removed from high school.
Smith has spent just two seasons in Columbus so far, so there's another year still to go.
Barring a shocking shift, Smith will likely be the No. 1 WR in the 2027 NFL Draft class.
In the meantime, college defensive backs will have to figure out how to slow down a guy that, based on talent alone, could certainly be playing in the NFL right now.
The NFL Draft preparatory process includes a multitude of media availabilities. Pro Days, the Scouting Combine, Zoom calls, etc. bring a ton of interview opportunities. A lot of it is talking without actually saying anything, but occasionally, you truly find a gem. Caleb Tiernan won Northwestern's Pro Day by telling the media something that people outside of the NU community just wouldn’t know.
“A lot of people, when they hear Northwestern, they think of nerds, really dorky people," Tiernan said on March 17.
"And trust me if you go to Northwestern, you’re probably really smart, but there’s also a lot of chillers. There’s a lot of guys I’ve done group projects with, where I’m like, dude, you’re kinda like the GOAT.”
It was a humorously brilliant observation from the 6'8" left tackle.
Tiernan is a Detroit area native who choose Northwestern over Michigan. He was also offered by the other two traditional powers of the now defunct Big Ten East division, Ohio State and Penn State.
He's a very solid round two prospect, who didn't just commit to NU out of high school. He stayed for the duration of his career, in an era where transferring has become the norm, not the exception.
“When I made a commitment as a high schooler, I didn’t just commit to a staff,” Tiernan said.
“I committed to the guys in the locker room, committed to a school...I think really just the competitiveness of every single guy is kind of what’s been a culture change here.”
Tiernan and his Wildcats teammates won two bowl games over the past three seasons, as the David Braun era has now taken on more solid footing. Entering year four, Braun has shown the Northwestern community that there is indeed life after Pat Fitzgerald.
"The progression that he made from the '23 season to the '24 season, the '24 season to the '25 season, the choice that he made to be fully committed to really reaching his full potential as a football player, you could see it in the way that he moved," Braun said.
"The way that he operated, the way that he committed to his process, in terms of just even pre-workout, post-workout, was at the facility non-stop, extra film study- that young man made a choice to reach his full potential.
"And now to see that come to fruition with the season that he had last year, and the opportunities that that he's going to have for years to come in the NFL, is so exciting."
Tiernan was second team All-Big Ten this past season. Braun discussed what impresses him most about Tiernan, and it was actually his off-the-field (not on-the-field) qualities.
"I'm most proud of the choice that he made around his leadership and his influence on others within our football program," Braun continued.
"Coming onto our leadership council, prior to the 2024 season, making an active choice to bring that room together, find ways to get that o-line group together away from the facility, to build a true brotherhood, and bonds, and then to be elected a team captain on this 2025 team.
"I told NFL personnel this morning being elected a captain on the 2025 Northwestern football team is like the ultimate honor. If you would have told me two years ago that Caleb Tiernan would have been a captain here, no slight on Caleb, it's just that wasn't something that he wanted to necessarily step into, in terms of a leadership role.
"It was uncomfortable for him, but he stepped into it. He owned it. He brought credibility. He was truly authentic to himself and he had a ton of influence on this football program."
DENVER, CO - APRIL 19: Edwin Diaz #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the mound in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers lost their fourth game out of the last five on Wednesday, falling to the division rival San Francisco Giants and wasting a gem from starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani.
After Ohtani pitched six innings of shutout baseball with seven strikeouts, the Dodgers’ bullpen was tested following a notable injury to star closer Edwin Diaz. And the relievers came up short, giving up the lead in the seventh inning.
“(Giants catcher Patrick) Bailey hammered a three-run shot to snap a scoreless tie in the seventh inning and spur the Giants to a 3-0 win that clinched a series victory over the rival Dodgers on Wednesday night at Oracle Park,” Maria Guardado wrote for MLB.com. “The Giants (11-13) were shut out through the first six innings by two-way star Shohei Ohtani, but they finally managed to break the deadlock against left-hander Jack Dreyer in the bottom of the seventh.”
Los Angeles Dodgers Lose $69 Million Star To Elbow Surgery After Disappointing Debut
Going into this season, the Dodgers’ only real weakness appeared to be the bullpen, which struggled en route to the team’s World Series championship last year. But the Dodgers seemed to shore up that weakness by signing Diaz to a three-year, $69 million contract.
However, he failed to live up to expectations in his Dodgers debut, with a notable downtick in velocity. And the team then revealed that it found “loose bodies” in his elbow, which required surgery.
Diaz will be recovering for an extended period, though he’s expected back at some point this season. In the meantime, the Dodgers’ bullpen will face a tough test without him.
“Díaz’s departure calls for a dramatic change at the back of the Dodgers' bullpen, with no obvious heir apparent waiting in the wings,” Owen Perkins wrote for MLB.com.
Los Angeles Dodgers Star Closer Edwin Diaz Breaks Silence After Surgery
Given his importance to the team’s “three-peat” championship aspirations, Diaz’s recovery will be watched closely. And he offered the first public update following his surgery on Wednesday by sending a five-word message via social media.
His wife, Nashaly Diaz, offered a more specific update via her own Instagram account.
“Thank God Edwin came out of surgery well,” she posted. “It was a success.”
A successful surgery is the first step toward Diaz performing like the Dodgers’ hoped he would after adding him to their star-studded roster. But following a concerning debut and a surprising injury just a handful of games into his tenure with the team, it seems there is a long way to go before the reliever can help close out any meaningful games down the stretch.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Stevenage boss Alex Revell has urged his players to embrace the task ahead of them as they look to secure a place in the League One play-offs.
Boro go into Saturday's lunchtime kick-off at Doncaster in sixth place, three points clear of Luton Town and four head of Plymouth Argyle.
A win could secure a first third-tier play-off appearance since 2012, but even a draw would be enough if their two rivals slip up against Barnsley and Port Vale.
"We want to win every game. We don't change who we are, what we do in terms of that. The most important thing is the mentality of the group, the mentality of the staff to make sure that's the message," Revell told BBC Three Counties Radio.
"It's not about having to win games - if you say 'have to', it just heaps that on the players. They know what's at stake, they know how important the next two games are so the more we heap on them - it doesn't really work like that.
"I've spoken a lot about embracing this moment we're in and enjoying the challenge that we face. There's many clubs and players that want to be in our position but we're there and we'll go into it (on Saturday) no different than any other game."
Stevenage were promoted into the English Football League in 2010 and have yet to reach the Championship.
They bounced back from a 5-1 defeat at Bolton nine days ago by holding leaders Lincoln City to a draw and then beating Barnsley on Tuesday evening.
But Revell said that it was back-to-back games against Plymouth and Reading last month - the first ending in a 1-0 defeat and the second a 1-0 win - that convinced him his team had the belief to finish in the top six.
"If you go back to Reading, the second half was one of the most dominant performances I've seen. I felt we grew in confidence and belief and to get that win was really big. I noticed a little bit of a shift after that," he said.
"Reading are a really good side but in that second half, we played in a way that was so exciting to watch. Sometimes something clicks, something happens in a game where players just look around and think 'you know what, we believe in what we're doing' and I felt that was a real big moment for us.
"Since then we've put in some really good performances that have deserved wins. There's only been one blip (at Bolton) in that time.
"I'd also go back to Plymouth, I thought we were outstanding that day - we didn't get the result but you could see the performance was really good."
Following the game at Doncaster, Stevenage end the season against another mid-table side, Wigan Athletic, at their own Lamex Stadium.
Borussia Moenchengladbach coach Eugen Polanski reacts from the touchline during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Red Bull Arena. Jan Woitas/dpa
Despite Tim Kleindienst's long injury lay-off, Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Eugen Polanski still believes the forward has a chance to be named to Germany's World Cup squad.
Polanski added that he's in contact with the German Football Federation (DFB) regarding Kleindienst's situation.
"I know a few people on the DFB coaching staff. We've already discussed the possibilities a bit and what Tim's potential role might be," the coach said.
"Ultimately, it's up to the national team coach, and Tim is the one who has to deliver, but he's also the one who might be able to help us. Accordingly, it's extremely positive for us at Borussia Mönchengladbach and for me as a coach that the situation is as it is, and that Tim, in my opinion, has good reason to be hopeful," he added.
Kleindienst had good chances of becoming a regular name in the Germany squad, but two knee operations in May and December stopped his development. This season, he played only three games for Gladbach.
The team expects him to return for the penultimate Bundesliga game of the season against Augsburg or for the last game against Hoffenheim.
"My assessment is that even if this World Cup weren’t happening, he'd still be just as focused on getting back with the team as quickly as possible. But this certainly gives him some extra motivation," Polanski said.
The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico starts on June 11.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 7: Brock Bowers #89 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s time for the NFL draft as the three-day event begins Thursday night.
Today’s links post is a reminder of the goal of the draft —- to select as many high-quality players as possible.
Of course, the Las Vegas Raiders have struggled to do so on a consistent basis for several years and it is a major contributing factor toward the team having trouble wining consistently.
NFL Researcher recent posted on X, listing how many Pro Bowl players who were drafted by that team is on every roster. The Raiders only have two such players, which is on the low end of the league. Here is the full list:
Most Pro Bowlers on current roster drafted by that team…
🤔 Daronco's officiating in Fla v Vitória sparks online row
Flamengo’s 2-1 victory over Vitória on the night of last Wednesday (22) at the Maracanã, in the first leg of the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil, sparked intense debate on social media.
Fans expressed outrage over referee Anderson Daronco’s performance, pointing to incidents in which Flamengo players allegedly escaped red cards.
Flamengo supporters, meanwhile, also defended their side, emphasizing Fla’s win in the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil.
Check out the incidents below, and tell us what you thought!
The main complaints from fans centered on three specific moments of aggression that did not result in red cards:
The first complaint came in the first half, when forward Luiz Araújo hit Vitória full-back Ramon in the face with his elbow. The incident went unnoticed by the on-field refereeing team.
In the second half, it was Arrascaeta’s turn to be involved in a rougher play.
The Uruguayan midfielder unintentionally stepped on the same Ramon.
On social media, users pointed out that the foul could have warranted a sending-off, but Daronco did not apply any punishment.
Late in the match, Spanish midfielder Saúl also caught an opponent in the face with his elbow, this time Caíque.
Daronco ended up calling a foul by the Vitória player on the play.
Vitória upset
After the match, president Fábio Mota said he will file a complaint with the CBF this Thursday (23).
"Today, in my view, there were two incidents. We’ll do what any club is supposed to do. We’ll file a complaint about the refereeing tomorrow with the CBF," said the president.
Jair Ventura also strongly criticized the refereeing in the match.
Controversy on social media
As expected, social media lit up with competing narratives over the controversial incidents.
Entering the 2025 college football season, Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell was regarded as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, his remarkable final season at Louisville came to an end when he suffered a torn ACL in late November, which significantly impacted his draft stock.
Five months later, and just over 24 hours before the draft, Bell is widely regarded as a likely second-round pick. His name gained attention plenty of attention from the New Orleans Saints' community during the NFL Combine when he revealed that his former teammate, Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, had vouched for him to general manager Mickey Loomis and the front office.
During his four seasons at Louisville, Bell caught 151 passes for a total of 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns. Notably, nearly half of his receiving yards and touchdowns came during his ten full games in the 2025 season. Standing at 6-foot-2, Bell also earned an outstanding 81.8 Pro Football Focus overall grade last season, and only dropped three passes on 106 targets.
#Louisville WR Chris Bell, a potential first-rounder before tearing his ACL in November, is running 18+ MPH and ahead of schedule in rehab, per agent @ErikBurkhardt and Dr. Dan Cooper who preformed his surgery.
The Saints, who hold pick No. 42 on Day 2 of the draft, are in a prime position to target Bell, who expects to be fully healthy by the time that training camp begins in the summer. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided a crucial rehab update about Bell on Wednesday, sharing a video of the wide receiver reaching 18+ miles per hour on a treadmill, a great sign for teams weighing the risks of selecting an already injured player.
"At 6’2.5, 222 lbs with 4.3 speed, Bell is likely a Friday pick," Rapoport wrote.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 22: Nick Gonzales #3 of the Pittsburgh Pirates slides into home plate to score a run as Kyle Higashioka #11 of the Texas Rangers fields a throw during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on April 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning, all!
Wyatt Langford has a grade 1 flexor strain in his right arm, which marks the fifth IL stint for a soft tissue injury in the first two years of his career. Skip Schumaker says it’s because he “has more muscles than most people.”
Langford is hoping to spend no more than the minimum amount of time on the IL.
Evan Carter was denied an ABS challenge last night because he had left the batter’s box on his way to first base on a called strike three.
Skip Schumaker described last night’s loss as a “weird” one, with Jack Leiter coughing up the lead in the fifth after cruising to the first four innings and Cole Winn and Jalen Beeks giving up another lead in the ninth.
Leiter labeled the outing “beyond frustrating,” capped off as it was by his tripping over a pile of equipment while trying to back up a play.
The Athletic has a piece up answering fan questions about life on the road for MLB players where we learn that the players rate the Rangers’ clubhouse facilities at the top of the league.
The ballot for the 2027 London Marathon will open on Friday 24 April, ahead of this year’s race taking place on Sunday.
An incredible 1,133,813 people entered the ballot for this year’s marathon, a new world record, shattering last year’s total of 840,318. It represents a 36% increase year on year and nearly double the applications for the 2024 race (578,304).
The ballot for next year’s event opens at 8am (BST) on Friday and is open for one week, until 4pm (BST) on Friday 1 May. The results will be announced in early July.
There is the prospect that next year’s event could take place over two days. As it stands, the race will take place on Sunday 25 April, 2027. However, there could be a one-off two-day event, taking place on Saturday 24 April, 2027, as well. Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said: “Entering the 2027 TCS London Marathon ballot could be the first step towards becoming part of something truly life changing.”
Here’s everything you need to know about how to enter:
How can I enter next year’s race?
You can secure a place in the 2027 London Marathon by entering the ballot via the official website.
The ballot opens at 9am (BST) on Friday 24 April and closes at 4pm (BST) on Friday 1 May. The results are compeltely random and will be announced at the start of July.
A two-day marathon event, over the weekend of 24-25 April 2027, is being explored. Should permission be granted for an event on the Saturday as well as the usual Sunday, applicants will be entered for both days, significantly increasing their chances of success.
The cost of a place in the London Marathon for successful UK participants is £79.99. You do not have to pay your entry fee at the ballot, but UK residents can opt to donate their entry fee to the London Marathon Foundation no matter the outcome of the ballot.
You will receive a confirmation email when you apply and you’ll also receive a payment receipt, if you have donated your entry fee. The results of the ballot will be emailed to all entrants in July.
Your entry fee, should you get a place through the ballot, is reduced from £79.99 to £49.99. If you live in the UK and didn’t opt to donate your entry fee when applying, you’ll need to pay the full entry fee of £79.99.
If you don’t get a place in the main ballot, you are automatically entered into a second ballot and that will at least double the chance of getting a place through that second draw. If you are successful in either ballot, your entry is prepaid and confirmed.
The London Marathon could take place over two days in 2027 (PA)
If you are unsuccessful in both ballots, you’ll receive a free hydrartion vest worth over £100, as consolation.
The ballot is performed at random, while alternative options include applying for a charity place while you wait for the results of the ballot – if you end up gaining a ballot place and a charity place, you can return your place to the charity and still raise funds for them as an own-place runner.
When is the 2026 London Marathon?
The 2026 London Marathon is on Sunday 26 April.
Next yeat’s event is set for Sunday 25 April, with the potential for an additional day on Saturday 24 April, 2027.
What time does it start?
8.50am – Elite wheelchair men’s and women’s races.
9.05am – Elite women’s race.
9.35am – Elite men’s race followed by mass start.
The wheelchair races are the first to get underway at the London Marathon (Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the London Marathon live on the BBC, with extensive television coverage and online streaming available via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.
What is the weather forecast?
Sunny temperatures are expected on Sunday, around 15C, with a gentle breeze, with conditions expected to be cooler than last year’s toasty (at least for April) 21C marathon-day peak temperature.
What is the route?
The London Marathon route (Supplied)
The London Marathon tends to follow a largely unchanged route since it was first run in 1981. Covering 26.2 miles, the course begins in Greenwich, dropping down from the high point of the race to follow a largely flat course, first heading east to Woolwich before doubling back on itself and follow the Thames to Bermondsey.
From there, the runners cut across London Bridge and turn right to take in Canary Wharf and London’s old Docklands, before a U-turn to track through central London, running along the Embankment until another right turn at Westminster Bridge towards St James’s Park.
The route takes in many famous London landmarks, from the Cutty Sark (mile six), Tower Bridge (mile 12), the Tower of London (mile 22) the London Eye and Big Ben (both mile 25) before its iconic finish line on The Mall near Buckingham Palace.
What is the prize money on offer?
The 2024 race was the first to offer equal prize money to the elite wheelchair races alongside their able-bodied counterparts.
The winners will receieve $55,000 (£40,700) each, the runner-up $30,000 (£22,200) and third-place $22,500 (£16,665).
There are also $150,000 (£111,000) bonuses on offer for running sub-2:02 for the men and sub-2:15 for the women, $125,000 (£92,600) for setting a new world record, and $25,000 (£18,500) up for grabs in the elite men’s and women’s races for a new course record.
Iowa State wrestling looks to have a new option for a 125-pound starter by adding Rutgers transfer Ayden Smith.
Smith, who announced his commitment to the Cyclones on April 23, is coming off a redshirt freshman season that saw him qualify for the NCAA Championships and go 16-13 on the year. He ultimately went 0-2 at NCAAs, but went the entire season without losing in bonus point fashion. Smith also defeated two-time NCAA All-American Jore Volk of Minnesota during the regular season.
A new report suggests that the WWE fan outcry about the overuse of celebrities in the company has scared Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll from taking part in a planned match next month.
While the Night 2 main event of WrestleMania 42 will go down as a classic, Night 1’s headliner was controversial for many WWE fans. Weeks before the event, sometimes announcer and wrestler Pat McAfee was thrust into the storyline between Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. The random move reportedly came down from TKO CEO Ari Emanuel in an attempt to boost sluggish ticket sales for the two-night event.
McAfee’s surprising addition was loudly panned by WWE fans. However, part of the reason for the backlash was the audience getting exhausted with the company’s overuse of celebrities on the road to WrestleMania 42. Country music star Jelly Roll made a stunning number of appearances in the last month, and rapper Lil Yachty was heavily used over the last couple of weeks.
Pat McAfee succumbs to WWE fan backlash
Credit: WWE
Well, that loud frustration has been heard loud and clear, and it looks like WWE fans won’t be seeing McAfee or Jelly Roll again for a very long time. According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer, McAfee “opted out” of being a focus of the Night 1 main event and plans for a tag match of Rhodes-Jelly Roll vs. Orton-McAfee at Backlash in May.
“The thing is that both of them were very cognisant of what has been said about celebrities in wrestling,” Meltzer claimed. “Both of them love wrestling, and I think that they realised that there was a lot of negative sentiment about it.”
So if you were among those boisterous fans loudly pushing back on WWE’s overuse of celebrity, the campaign was a success, and the celebs will be gone from the company’s content for a while.
The Los Angeles Rams came so close to making the Super Bowl this past season. With Matthew Stafford set to return, postponing retirement for at least a year, the Rams can go all-in for the 2026 season.
After free agency and a blockbuster trade, the NFL Draft is a great chance for the Rams to further go all-in. They have some premium picks to do so as well.
Les Snead and Sean McVay are ready to make some splashes during the draft, starting with the 13th overall selection on night one. But, they have a lot of other picks on Days 2 and 3 as well.
The Sporting News tracked each of the Rams' 2026 NFL Draft selections, from the first through the seventh round.
Los Angeles Rams draft picks 2026
Who did the Rams draft?
The Rams haven't made a pick in the 2026 draft just yet, but they own seven following selections coming into the NFL Draft:
Round 1, Pick No. 13:
Round 2, Pick No. 61:
Round 3, Pick No. 93:
Round 6, Pick No. 207:
Round 7, Pick No. 232
Round 7, Pick No. 251
Round 7, Pick No. 252
Prediction for Rams' next pick: Round 1, Pick No. 13
While the Rams could go a few different routes with this pick, drafting USC wide receiver Makai Lemon makes a ton of sense.
He's often been the pick in mock drafts leading up to the draft, and for good reason. He's a dynamic WR, and would be a great fit with the current WR room, and is also likely to be on the board at 13th overall.
Wide Receiver depth: Puka Nacua and Davante Adams might be the best WR duo in the NFL, but after those two, the Rams could use some help. With plenty of WR options throughout the draft, expect the Rams to address WR at some point by the end of the 2026 NFL Draft
Offensive Tackle: While not the biggest need, the Rams might be looking to upgrade over Warren McClendon Jr. in the draft, and an offensive tackle might be a worthwhile pick for the Rams. Trench help is normally never a bad idea, though this position might be best suited for after Round 1 for the Rams.
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford is back, but Jimmy Garoppolo is considering retirement, and the Rams could still use another backup to develop for a year. They've shown interest in Ty Simpson, though he's not likely to be a first-rounder for the Rams. Round 2 or later is when QB for L.A. is more likely to be the pick
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has shown immense potential, and the ability to make game-breaking plays down the field in his first three seasons in the NFL. Because of that, the Ravens reportedly picked up Flowers’ fifth-year option Thursday, per multiple reports.
The move was expected, as Flowers has exceeded 1,000 yards and made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons. With the decision, Flowers will remain in Baltimore through the 2027 NFL season. After making $2.6 million in 2026, Flowers’ salary will jump to roughly $27 million in 2027 due to the option.
After being selected with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Flowers developed into the team’s top receiving option. He showed off his potential as a rookie, going for 858 yards and five touchdowns, which earned him some down-ballot Rookie of the Year votes.
He’s improved each year since then. During his second season, Flowers finished with 1,059 receiving yards and four touchdowns. That performance was enough to push Flowers into the Pro Bowl, making him the first wideout in team history to receive that honor. Prior to Flowers, the team did have three different wide receivers make the Pro Bowl, but as returners, not as wideouts.
Flowers then built on that performance in 2025, gaining a career-high 1,211 yards and scoring five more touchdowns. He was once again elected to the Pro Bowl.
Despite his improving numbers, Flowers hasn’t been a big-time touchdown scorer in the NFL just yet. He’s mostly been a long-distance scorer, with just four of his touchdowns coming within the 10-yard line. During his time in Baltimore, the team has had strong tight ends — and bruising running back Derrick Henry — cutting into Flowers’ production in the red zone.
With a new coaching staff in Baltimore, that could change. Flowers has flashed as a potential star in the past, but team limitations have resulted in the Ravens really prioritizing the run during Flowers’ NFL career.
That’s generally worked well for the team, so a shift isn’t guaranteed. But if the new staff does decide to go with a more pass-heavy approach, Flowers stands as one of the key players who could benefit most from that shift. As evidenced by his fifth-year option being picked up, the new regime clearly believes in Flowers’ ability to take another step forward.
For much of the 2025-26 season, Liverpool Women looked heavy favourites to suffer relegation. For a side that just two seasons ago finished fourth and was dreaming of bridging the gap to the traditional powers of the FA Women’s Super League, it was an ignominious situation and the club rightly came under fire for their lack of support.
A scramble to sign players in January and salvage their season, though, appears to have fully paid off. The Reds are now well clear of last-place in 10th in the 12-team league, with an eight point advantage on Leicester City at the bottom of the table and West Ham also behind them as a buffer and only three games left to play in the season.
“Our brief to the players as we go into these games is we are looking to win them all and looking to put in good performances that allow us the potential to win games,” said manager Gareth Taylor ahead of their meeting with West Ham on Sunday, likely their best chance at earning another win with Manchester City and Arsenal their final two.
“There are no guarantees but since the turn of the year our play has been very good in the sense of us now looking more likely to kill teams off and dominate games where we can. Manchester City away and Arsenal at home are tough, of course, with both of them being able to field two teams, but our ambition is as always to try to win those games.
“On Sunday we host West Ham at St Helens Stadium and I see it as a good opportunity at home. Our supporters have played a huge part and there is a real connection on the pitch as well as off it. We are in a good moment having pulled clear of the relegation zone and our focus now is looking upwards and trying to climb as much as we can.”
Between the City and Arsenal matches there is also an FA Cup semi-final against Brighton on May 10th, and a positive result against West Ham on Sunday would likely see the focus shift to that match and a chance at silverware in a difficult season—though Chelsea and City being in the other semi would set up a very, very tough final.
The Miami Dolphins are just starting a massive rebuild after a rough 2025 season. Jeff Hafley is the new head coach, while Jon-Eric Sullivan is the new general manager.
Those two new faces are going to be leading this major rebuild, which will truly get underway in the 2026 NFL Draft, where they own a ton of capital.
With two first-rounders, four picks in the third-round, and 11 selections overall, the Dolphins will have plenty of chances to upgrade the roster over the three days of the NFL Draft.
The Sporting News tracked each of the Dolphins' 2026 NFL Draft selections, from the first through the seventh round.
Miami Dolphins draft picks 2026
Who did the Dolphins draft?
The Dolphins haven't made a pick in the 2026 draft just yet, but they own 11 selections coming into the NFL Draft:
Round 1, Pick No. 11:
Round 1, Pick No. 30:
Round 2, Pick No. 43:
Round 3, Pick No. 75:
Round 3, Pick No. 87:
Round 3, Pick No. 90:
Round 3, Pick No. 94:
Round 4, Pick No. 130:
Round 5, Pick No. 151:
Round 7, Pick No. 227:
Round 7, Pick No. 238:
Prediction for Dolphins' next pick: Round 1, Pick No. 11
With so many roster holes for Miami to fill, there are plenty of routes the Dolphins could take with the 11th pick. But this prediction will have the Dolphins drafting LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
The Dolphins need cornerback help, and badly. Delane is the top corner in this year's class, and would be a great pick to give Hafley a new No. 1 cornerback as he takes over the Dolphins defense in 2026 and beyond.
Cornerback: The Dolphins have needed cornerback help for a while now, and this year is no different. They need help, and badly. Whether it's Round 1 or early Round 2, the Dolphins need to address the CB room early this year.
WideReceiver: This might be the most obvious need for Miami this year's draft. After cutting Tyreek Hill and trading Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins have a massive hole at WR. They need to add at least one WR early to give Malik Willis someone good to throw to in 2026.
OffensiveLine: While Miami could use a tight end and defensive line help, the offensive line is a more important issue for Miami to fix this offseason. Aaron Brewer (center) and Patrick Paul (left tackle) are good starters, but the Dolphins could use help at right tackle and offensive guard.
TRENTON — Aubri Vandeventer took control from the first pitch and never let go.
The Monroe High School sophomore struck out nine and worked a complete game, carrying the Hornets to a 3-1 victory over Edgewood on Wednesday, April 23 in a tightly played Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division matchup.
“That’s a great one — a really good softball game,” Monroe coach Tim Kellis said. “Our schedule’s been brutal, and to come out and get our first league win on the road — that’s big for these kids.”
Monroe (5-8, 1-4 SWBL Southwestern) broke through immediately. Sophomore Khloe Holmes laced a two-out double in the top of the first, and she came around to score on an errant throw when attempting to steal third to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead.
That basically set the tone in what became a pitcher’s duel.
Vandeventer did the rest.
The right-hander allowed five hits and one run over seven innings, working around four walks while keeping Edgewood off balance throughout. Monroe added an error-free performance in the field.
“I feel like everything just felt nice and natural,” Vandeventer said. “It was a good day.”
The Hornets upped their lead when sophomore Rose Hensley drove in freshman Hannah Tribbey, who had reached on an error to start the fifth inning.
Edgewood senior leader Madison Ferrell singled in freshman pinch-runner Brooklynn Clemmons to pull the Cougars' deficit to 2-1 in the bottom half of the fifth.
But the Hornets tacked on one more run for good measure in the top of the seventh, on Vandeventer's single, which scored Tribbey on an Edgewood throwing error.
Despite powering through injuries, Monroe pieced together its most complete league performance of the season.
“Aubrey’s a warrior,” Kellis said. “We’ve got kids playing out of position, we’ve got injuries, and she just stepped up and gave us a chance.”
Edgewood (8-8, 2-3) stayed within striking distance behind a solid performance in the circle by junior left-hander Jaycie Broshear, who allowed three runs — only one earned — and struck out four.
The Cougars were led at the plate by freshman right fielder Kendall Wingert, who collected two hits.
Edgewood first-year coach Valerie Hudepohl said her team continues to show growth despite the loss.
“We’re still working through some things,” Hudepohl said. “The girls are coachable, they’re willing — it’s just those little details that get us sometimes.”
Monroe’s victory reflects a team beginning to find its footing after a challenging start. The Hornets have played a road-heavy schedule and leaned on a young roster still developing chemistry.
“We told them early, you can’t worry about losses — you’ve got to keep getting better,” Kellis said. “Right now, the focus is building confidence and getting ready for the tournament.”
“I feel like our confidence was pretty low at the beginning,” Vandeventer added. “But wins like this help boost it a lot.”
Monroe and Edgewood face off again — this time at Monroe — on Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. first-pitch start.
Apr. 23—Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he has no doubt the organization made the right call in trading their No. 10 overall draft pick to the New York Giants for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence.
A top-10 selection isn't easy to part with, but the Bengals know exactly what they get in Lawrence, and that's not always the case with even an elite draft prospect.
The Bengals might have gotten a foundational piece to build around for years to come with that first-round pick but Taylor believes Lawrence is a known commodity that can help the team win now. And that key addition to the defense sets Cincinnati up well for the rest of the draft.
The NFL Draft begins Thursday night with the first round, continues with the second and third rounds Friday evening and concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday afternoon.
"With any first-round pick, there's always going to be questions," Taylor said. "You think you know the value, but until they're integrated in an NFL locker room and go play against other NFL players, there's a little bit of an unknown there. (Lawrence) is a known quantity for us, and I know he's going to be an immediate presence that lifts our team up and causes concern for other teams. I don't have any questions about that, and so it's pretty clear for me that that's the right decision."
Defensive coordinator Al Golden said it's hard to compare a draft prospect to a veteran anyway, but Lawrence's elite skill set isn't something you expect to find in a player just coming out of college and certainly not as refined.
The Bengals likely weren't completely sold on the players that would have been available to them at No. 10 regardless of position, but now the Giants have two top-10 picks. Asked whether Cincinnati's draft position in the second round limits the possibility of moving back into the first round, Taylor said he wasn't going to try to guess on that one.
There are good players that will be available and fit the Bengals' needs on Days 2 and 3, though.
"I hate to speak position by position, but we go through all the exercises that Duke (Tobin) puts us through, and you're going to find players that help you, and it's impossible to predict what position that's going to be because if you say it's going to be this position, usually that one dries up because you want it," Taylor said. "I just think we're open to a lot of different possibilities there. ..."
Since making the trade official Sunday, the Bengals draft prep has changed from the norm.
Coaches, executives and the scouting department have been taking a deeper dive already into who might be available in the second round. That doesn't mean they rule out the possibility of trading up, but it does seem unlikely.
"You can never take anything off the table about what can happen later, but certainly, we don't have to do all the top 10 exercises that we were going to need to be doing all week," Taylor said.
"And you can take that part off the table and now really focus on what's to come at 41 and beyond, and things that happen around there. It does help you shore up that way where you don't have to spend hours over these next three days with Duke and his staff ironing out the exact order of how it's going to play back, or even if you were to have traded down a couple of spots, because that's always a scenario."
All the starters return on offense but depth at the interior offensive line and a swing tackle are positions of high priority, along with future running back options.
Cincinnati addressed the defensive line and secondary in free agency but still need a cornerback and linebacker depth. Asked about the linebackers in this draft class, Golden said the Bengals have a good idea what they are looking for and where the value is, but the trick is finding the right traits for the system.
Traits, production and potential all factor into that value."I think sometimes traits could be the tiebreaker ... FBI (football intelligence) is the tiebreaker; sometimes, one guy's 26 (years old) and one guy's 21, and that could be a tiebreaker," Golden said. "... For me ... look at the age, I look at the number of starts, I look at their reps, and then from that, deduce what their upside may be. So those are all the things that we're looking at ... and we'll go from there."
Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has withdrawn his legal case against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), bringing an end to a high-profile dispute over his participation in IPL 2026.
Thushara had earlier moved the Colombo District Court after SLC refused to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), a mandatory requirement for Sri Lankan players to feature in overseas leagues like the IPL. The board had denied the clearance citing his failure to meet newly introduced fitness standards.
Why Thushara went to court
SLC refused to issue Thushara an NOC for IPL 2026 after he failed to meet the board's mandatory fitness standards, specifically falling short of the required score in the 2-km run test. The pacer, who has represented Sri Lanka in around 30 T20Is since his debut in 2022, challenged the decision, arguing that the denial was unfair and significantly impacted his professional opportunities. He was set to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, having previously featured in earlier seasons of IPL 2024 and 2025.
However, during the latest hearing, Thushara’s legal team informed the court that the player wished to withdraw the petition. With a major portion of the IPL season already completed, continuing the case no longer held practical value. The court subsequently dismissed the case following his request.
Apology and Reconciliation
In a significant development, Thushara also apologised to SLC and expressed his willingness to move on from the dispute. The move signals an attempt to repair his relationship with the national board after weeks of tension.
Nuwan Thushara was retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026 for ₹1.60 crore. Earlier, he was part of the Mumbai Indians, who had signed him for Rs 4.80 crore, and he impressed in his debut season by picking up eight wickets.
He was initially bought for Rs 1.60 crore in the 2025 mega auction, where he featured in one match and returned figures of 1/26.
There's been speculation in recent weeks about the Panthers using their first-round pick on a wide receiver and they'd be hoping for the same kind of results they got when they added a wideout at the top of the draft in 2025.
Tetairoa McMillan was named the offensive rookie of the year after catching 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns. A repeat of that production would be welcome in Carolina, but the wideout believes there's room for more.
McMillan said this week that he lost weight over the course of his rookie season, but has added about 10-15 pounds this offseason to get closer to his college weight.
"I wasn't used to playing that small, I felt pretty weak," McMillan said, via the team's website. "I didn't have my power back, so that was pretty much the main focus this offseason for me."
McMillan said he believes that change "allows me to be faster, stronger" than he was last season and that prospect should be a pleasant one for the Panthers regardless of what they do on Thursday night.
In the NBA playoffs, all it takes are a few extra foul calls to determine the outcome of a game. When games are close and everything is on the line, players bristle when a bad call or bad decision by a referee potentially affects a contest.
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, however, took things to a whole other level following the team’s 120-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Booker called out NBA official James Williams by name after the contest, saying the ref had a “terrible” performance that would lead to fans questioning the “integrity of the sport.”
"In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James [Williams] was terrible tonight through and through. It's bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as a WWE if they're not held responsible.
"It just feels disrespectful. I know I haven't won a championship in this league, but I have been in it for 11 years now. So to get to this point to be treated like that, for me to even be saying something out loud, it's bad."
Booker went so far as to invoke WWE, where outcomes are predetermined before wrestlers take the ring, in his criticism. All of that should earn Booker quite the fine once the NBA reviews his comments. The league is unlikely to respond kindly to a player implying — even lightly — that game outcomes are predetermined.
Booker, in particular, took issue with receiving a technical foul in the third quarter of the contest. The foul occurred after Booker was bumped by Thunder defender Jaylin Williams near the edge of the court. As Booker was going out of bounds, he flipped the ball behind him, trying to save it from leaving the court. The ball, however, hit Williams, leading to referee J.B. DeRosa calling Booker for a technical foul.
In real time, it didn’t look like a nefarious action by Booker.
Devin Booker receives a technical foul trying to save the ball from going out of bounds. 😳🤔
Booker claimed he never received an explanation for that foul. He also claimed that Thunder guard Alex Caruso told officials to call a technical foul on Booker, which was then granted. After the contest, Booker said, “It's definitely something that has to be looked into.”
Booker wasn’t the only member of the Suns to call out the officiating following the loss. Dillon Brooks called out the officials for not allowing the teams to engage in a physical game. He also criticized Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for flopping to get calls, a common complaint of Thunder opponents during the regular season.
“[Gilgeous-Alexander is] a little frail, and that's what the refs are going to call,” Booker said. “I used to watch this back when Michael Jordan was playing or whoever else, when LeBron was younger. This is physical basketball. I don’t get why all of the dropping, the falling, the flopping and the flailing, all this stuff, is allowed when we get to the playoffs. For the fans, this is about who is the better team, who is the more winning team. Don’t decide the games on no free throws.”
Gilgeous-Alexander shrugged off those comments after the contest, saying he can’t control what opponents say about games. He added that Brooks’ role is to bring energy and “rile up the game.” Gilgeous-Alexander said Brooks did exactly that Wednesday.
Gilgeous-Alexander got to the free-throw line 17 times in the Thunder’s 119-84 blowout win in Game 1 of the series. Things weren’t as extreme Wednesday, as Gilgeous-Alexander attempted nine free throws in the win. Booker actually attempted one more free throw during the contest.
With the Suns now down 2-0 in the series, there’s pressure on the team to get things turned around immediately. Calling out the refs could be the team’s way of trying to change how games are officiated in the series moving forward, though it’s also going to lead to Booker — and maybe Brooks — taking a significant financial hit for their comments.
Francesco Bagnaia believes Ducati has a new solution lined up for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez this weekend that could help resolve his ongoing tyre wear issues with the 2026 setup.
Bagnaia had a difficult start to the season across the opening three rounds in Thailand, Brazil and America. While he felt good about his pace during practice and qualifying, it was only during the Grands Prix that the full scope of his problems became apparent.
The 29-year-old heads into Jerez, coming off a month-long break due to the Qatar Grand Prix postponement, sitting ninth in the standings with just 25 points. He’s also only the fourth-highest-ranked Ducati rider and currently ranks last among those using the GP26.
Mick Doohan has expressed confusion over Bagnaia’s struggles this season, as he hasn’t finished higher than P9 so far. He crashed out of P11 in Brazil and followed that up with a P10 finish in America.
Francesco Bagnaia feels Ducati’s GP26 reacts unpredictably on worn tyres
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images
Tyre wear has been the main factor behind Bagnaia’s struggles this season. In Brazil, he admitted to having a tough time stopping his bike due to a lack of rear grip. It was a similar story in Texas, where he said he was just focused on finishing after ruining his tyre early on.
The break since the United States Grand Prix has given Ducati and Bagnaia time to analyse the data and work on fixes ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. He believes it’s now clear there is an issue and feels they are beginning to make sense of it.
He told Motorsport.com: “What’s clear from the data is that the bike behaves unexpectedly. The loss of grip on the rear tyre is quite significant during Sunday’s race.
“It’s strange because during the weekend, from Friday onwards, you do many laps on used tyres and can maintain a very consistent pace. And then, in the race, after eight laps, I destroy the rear tyre.
“So, it’s something that we need to understand, and I think they’ve started thinking about something different for this weekend.”
Ducati GP26 says Pirelli rubber could be behind tyre wear issues but isn’t only factor
The Italian rider also mentioned that rubber laid down by Moto2 and Moto3 riders using Pirelli tyres might contribute to Ducati’s unusual tyre wear issues becoming more noticeable during Grands Prix. This season will be MotoGP’s last year using Michelin tyres.
Bagnaia explained: “For me, the only problem is Sunday’s race because everything works in a way; you can work, you can adapt, and everything seems to be going well.
Whitwell: Ratcliffe accepts defeat, he now wants to sell player signed under INEOS’ ownership ASAP
Keen not to drag out the player’s tenure any longer than it needs to be, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is of the belief that Manuel Ugarte should be sold this summer.
That’s according to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, who has revealed that Ratcliffe came to the conclusion after watching the Uruguayan’s shoddy display from the directors’ box for Manchester United’s defeat to Leeds United earlier this month.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
With no other midfielders available on the night, the 25-year-old played the full 90 minutes as United slumped to a 2-1 loss against their arch-rivals.
Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Unsurprisingly, when Mainoo returned for the clash with Chelsea in the subsequent fixture, Ugarte was an unused substitute, and the Reds won 1-0 away from home.
Ugarte’s Premier League record since Carrick was appointed
The Montevideo native signed for United back in August 2024 – INEOS’ first summer transfer window as part-owners – in a £50.5 million switch from Paris Saint-Germain.
United shelled out £42m upfront to get the deal over the line, after which Ugarte put pen to paper on a five-year deal in M16.
However, it now looks as though his terms will be cut short after only two years, with the club adamant about parting ways in the coming months.
Who’s likely to be interested in Ugarte this summer?
It remains to be seen how much the board will demand for his signature, especially given it’s now public knowledge that they want to wash their hands of him as swiftly as possible.
Even away from the Octagon, the UFC star isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Now, he’s gearing up for a grappling match under the UFC banner.
Since stepping away from his last fight in the UFC, ‘Ahalkalakets’ has already taken part in seven matches outside the organisation, with his profile continuing to rise.
At RAF08, he went up against Urijah Faber in a match that was moved to main event status after Henry Cejudo pulled out of his bout with Merab Dvalishvili at the last minute.
Tsarukyan ended up taking control of the contest, winning by technical fall after forcing Faber off the mat and into the crowd in an unusual turn of events.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Tsarukyan confirms UFC BJJ matchup against Mikey Musumeci
Tsarukyan is still waiting to be booked for his next UFC appearance, even though he’s the clear top contender in the division.
While he waits, he’s staying active outside the Octagon and not slowing down his pace.
Earlier this year, UFC BJJ champion Mikey Musumeci called him out, and matchmaker Claudia Gadelha showed interest in putting the bout together.
The 29-year-old has since confirmed that the fight will take place later this year, either in August or September.
“Yeah, it’s a real thing, it’s probably gonna be in August or September. I wanna do that. I gotta do one grappling before him because it’s new rules. I’ve gotta see how it works,” Tsarukyan told Ariel Helwani.
Under UFC BJJ rules, Tsarukyan will need to compete in one preliminary match before facing Musumeci for the title shot.
The event will be headlined by newly signed UFC heavyweight Gable Steveson taking on former Octagon fighter Alexandr Romanov.
There are ongoing rumours of a potential rematch with Charles Oliveira for the BMF title as fans wait to see when Tsarukyan will return to action under MMA rules.
The NFL Draft is drawing closer, and the Bills have important decisions to make.
Buffalo currently has 7 picks this year to work with, including two picks in the 5th round and selections in every round except for the second, which was sent out in the trade for receiver DJ Moore. Might more trades be in store?
The team sits at 26th overall in the 1st Round, with picks in Round 3 (No. 91) (via a previous trade), Round 4 (No. 126), Round 5 (No. 165 via CHI and No. 168), Round 6 (No. 182 via LV), and Round 7 (No. 220 via the Jets).
Beane has been willing to move down the board on occasion to add picks. He may do so again this year, as he looks to add the pieces for a playoff run. He sounds ready to do so again, acknowledging that the top of the draft is where the first round talent is in 2026.
With that, here are teams that could provide 2026 NFL Draft trade-down scenarios for the Buffalo Bills:
Super Bowl Champs at No. 32 overall
The Super Bowl Champion Seahawks are picking last at 32nd overall and just paid their star WR1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba a hefty contract. Cap-friendly starting talent to fill voids left by roster departures at key positions could compel them to jump ahead of some teams with similar needs for a player they like.
In 2024, Beane traded the No. 28 pick to the Kansas City Chiefs and moved down to No. 32, picking up a pick swap from Round 4 to Round 3 and another between the clubs in Round 7 in the deal.
The Bills gave up their second-round pick this year in the DJ Moore trade, and with a shortage of blue-chip prospects after the top of the draft, they may look to move back to add another selection and address a position need if they are not able to secure a player they like in the first.
Gang Green at No. 33 and No. 44 overall
The Jets kick off the second round with the first selection, then have another pick at the 12th spot in the second. For a team looking to improve, that could use some talent to replace the key contributors shipped out in trades, jumping back up into the first round might be a move Buffalo's willing to listen to.
For context, in 2024, after trading the No. 28 selection to the Kansas City Chiefs and moving down to the No. 32, they then flipped that pick to the Carolina Panthers for the first selection in Round 2 and a pick swap from Round 6 to Round 5. Buffalo needs talent that can contribute sooner rather than later, and any opportunity for them to move up from later rounds of the draft may be enticing. As might choosing not to help a division opponent improve.
Titan Up at No. 35 overall
The Titans could potentially trade down from No. 4 overall in the first round and use some of their assets to move back up into the first round from the third spot in the second.
The team has four picks around the top 100 and pairs of selections in rounds 5 and 7 to work with. They could bundle some to make the move worth Buffalo's while.
Raider Nation at No. 36th overall
The Raiders figure to select QB Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall in the draft, and might want to get aggressive, adding some help now and in years to come while their quarterback of the future develops. They also have the No. 91 overall pick in the third round and multiple fourth-round picks to work with in a deal.
Buffalo could allow them to leapfrog teams with similar positional needs, in which case the Bills would move back into the fourth selection in the second round.
Cincy at No. 41 overall
The Bengals are making moves to improve, swapping the 10th overall pick for defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence ahead of the draft.
That leaves them without a first-rounder, meaning they could look to upgrade and make the jump back into the first round from the
For The Shoe at No. 47 overall
It's unclear whether Buffalo would want to trade this far down or whether Indy would want to pony up to make such a big swap, but GM Chris Ballard and the Colts ownership don't shy away from trades to try to make the team better. They also don't have a first-round pick, so it may be worth moving up to help make the selection an impactful one.
Dirty Birds at No. 48 overall
The Falcons also don't have a first-round pick and are trying to make improvements after some organizational and roster personnel changes. A move up into the first would certainly be a statement.
For Buffalo, trading this far down would need to be worth their while, but it's not impossible. It may not be as likely due to how few picks the Falcons have, but they may see a player who can be a difference-maker; they want to go up and get to make a splash.
Cheese Heads at No. 52nd overall
Following a playoff exit, Green Bay may be looking for talent to take them to the next level while competing with the Bears, Lions, and Vikings for their division.
They don't currently have a first-round pick, but they have two selections in the fifth and seventh rounds, as well as their own third and fourth round picks to use.
The Monsters of the Midway No. 57 and No. 60 overall
Would the Bears and Bills, two established trade partners, strike up another deal?
If Buffalo doesn't see a player they like fall their way in the first, maybe they could get a second-rounder back from a Chicago team looking to make a similar leap in the NFC, while throwing in a fourth-round pick and one of their two seventh-rounders in the process.
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Sunday April 19, 2026. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images
Gameweek 34 is shaping up to be a crucial point in the Fantasy Premier League season, where every decision can make a real difference in overall rank.
With the title race heating up and teams still fighting for European spots or survival, every game now carries extra importance.
That makes the captaincy call even more important, with players like Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes, and Ollie Watkins emerging as leading options thanks to their strong home fixtures.
This gameweek also comes with an added twist, as FPL moves straight from a double gameweek into a blank. Several popular assets are unavailable, with Manchester City, AFC Bournemouth, and Chelsea all not in action.
That removes several highly owned options and forces managers to rethink their plans heading into the round. Because of this, many managers are expected to use the Free Hit chip and target teams with favourable fixtures.
Manchester United and Liverpool stand out in particular, with home matches against Brentford and Crystal Palace respectively. These fixtures are likely to play a big role in captaincy decisions.
With only four gameweeks remaining after this, the margin for error is now very small, so getting the captaincy right could be the difference between a strong finish and a missed opportunity.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United vs Brentford)
Bruno Fernandes has been one of the most consistent FPL assets for Manchester United this season, regularly delivering returns even when results don’t go their way.
His influence on the team’s attacking play, combined with set-pieces and penalties, keeps his ceiling high every week.
Facing Brentford at home, Fernandes looks well placed to deliver again. The fixture suits United’s attacking players, and his involvement in almost everything going forward makes him a very safe captain option.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa vs Fulham)
Ollie Watkins remains a key attacking threat for Aston Villa and continues to deliver strong performances. His recent form has been impressive, with consistent goal involvement and a growing influence in the final third.
Against Fulham, he has another favourable opportunity to return. With confidence high and Villa’s attack in good rhythm, Watkins stands out as a strong captaincy pick this week.
Mohammed Salah (Liverpool vs Crystal Palace)
Mohamed Salah is a bold but appealing captain option for Liverpool this week. With speculation around his future, this could be one of the final chances to trust him as captain, adding extra motivation for FPL managers.
The fixture against Crystal Palace looks decent, especially if Palace are distracted by other commitments. Salah has also scored in his last three starts and remains on penalties, keeping his floor and ceiling high.
Even if he doesn’t produce a huge haul, he is still capable of delivering two returns, which is exactly what you want from a captain in a crucial gameweek like this.
Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolverhampton Wanderers)
This is more of a high-risk, high-reward captain punt, but that’s exactly the kind of move that can pay off at this stage of the season. Dominic Solanke has established himself as a key attacking option for Tottenham, often leading the line and getting into strong scoring positions.
The fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers also makes him an interesting differential. Wolves have struggled defensively in recent weeks, conceding heavily, which opens the door for attacking returns if Spurs can take advantage.
With Spurs still needing strong performances and Solanke playing a central role in their attack, he has the kind of potential that can surprise managers. He’s a pure differential captaincy call.
What do you think about these captain picks for Gameweek 34? Are you backing one of the big names like Salah or Fernandes, or taking a punt on a differential? Drop your thoughts and captain choices in the comments below
Mikel Oyarzabal visits Getafe dressing room after Juan Iglesias partner accusations
Real Sociedad and Getafe went to battle on Wednesday night for a European spot at Anoeta, but it allegedly crossed the line. Gefafe full-back Juan Iglesias has accused Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal of insulting his partner during the game, which resulted in a scuffle between the two.
Iglesias forced Jon Gorrotxategi’s decisive own goal in a 1-0 win, and celebrated by dedicating the goal to Maria Caamano, a 13-year-old girl who passed away from cancer this week with a shirt and the message ‘for your smile’. After the match, it was Iglesias who spoke to DAZN, but it was his comments about Oyarzabal that made headlines.
“I’m glad you asked me about that. The captain of their team (Oyarzabal), who we then go around holding up as an example, puts his hand over his mouth to insult my wife. He didn’t have the balls to say it to me. These are the values that they have here,” he continued, before saying “that’s for me know,” when pushed on what exactly he had said.
Oyarzabal visited Getafe dressing room after match
According to Cadena Cope, Oyarzabal denies doing any such thing. The captain of the Txuri-Urdin visited the Getafe dressing room with several teammates and Real Sociedad Sporting Director Erik Bretos, to clear up the incident and deny them again. His camp assert that it could have been a misunderstanding, but that Oyarzabal is shellshocked at what happened, and there is a certain malcontent with Iglesias for taking the incident into the public domain.
Iglesias’ partner complains of sexist abuse
After the incidents, Iglesias’ partner Estela Grande and mother of his twins, complained of sexist abuse and online harassment on her social media.
Image via IG / Estela Grande. Estela Grande complains of sexist abuse online.
Grande posted on her story some responses to the Instagram story she had up at the time, with the caption ‘In football, there’s no misogyny, no. Now I can’t set foot in a city that I love deeply like San Sebastian because I have a lot of messages like this.’
In the screenshot, Grande has been sent comments reading ‘Shut up wh*re’, ‘How bad hahaha, playing for Getafe wow, don’t let us see you in San Sebastian’, and ‘A wh*re’s look’.
RB Leipzig will be without captain David Raum when they face 1. FC Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Raum came on from the bench in last week’s 3–1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt after being left out of the starting eleven due to groin problems, which will rule him out of the upcoming fixture.
“David Raum will be unavailable; he is still dealing with groin problems,” RB Leipzig coach Ole Werner revealed at his pre-match press conference.
“It’s not a proper injury, but it is irritated. Anyone who has had it knows how much it can prevent you from playing football. So we don’t want to take any risks there, and we also can’t.”
Castello Lukeba, who returned to the bench against Eintracht Frankfurt after a spell on the sidelines, will also miss out.
“Castello won’t be available. He is still dealing with adductor problems, which have not improved. He also hasn’t been in training this week,” Werner added.
Meanwhile, Leo Zingerle, Ezechiel Banzuzi and Suleman Sani remain sidelined for Die Roten Bullen.
Vandevoordt to continue in goal
Werner also confirmed that although Peter Gulácsi is fit again, Maarten Vandevoordt will remain between the sticks after impressive lately.
“Pete has trained with the team again this week and, after his break, completed three full sessions. I also spoke with him – he assesses the situation similarly: Maarten is in rhythm and has delivered strong performances, while Pete has been out for a long time," Werner said.
"Just as you wouldn’t immediately change a centre-back or full-back if someone else is doing well, we see it the same way in the goalkeeper position. Pete is of course ambitious, but also realistic and experienced enough. That’s why Maarten will remain in goal for now.”
Leading two of the IPL’s most successful franchises, Hardik Pandya and Ruturaj Gaikwad are finding the pressure of captaincy challenging as they step into the shoes of legends Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni.
Ahead of the Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings clash at Wankhede, both teams are struggling for momentum, with their captains also battling poor form. Pandya has had a particularly difficult season, managing just 96 runs in five matches and picking up only three wickets at an expensive economy rate, raising concerns about his effectiveness. Gaikwad, despite strong performances prior to the IPL, has also struggled to translate his individual success into leadership impact.
Meanwhile, the availability of Rohit and Dhoni remains uncertain due to fitness concerns, although both were seen batting in the nets ahead of the match.
In the current IPL 2026 standings, the Mumbai Indians are ranked 7th, while the Chennai Super Kings sit just below them in 8th place. Both teams have secured four points from their first six matches, but MI hold a better Net Run Rate (+0.067) compared to CSK (-0.780).
Here are the 5 key player battle that could light today's contest in Wankhede:
Jasprit Bumrah vs Sanju Samson
In their IPL rivalry, Bumrah has held a clear edge over Sanju Samson. The MI pacer has kept the aggressive batter in check with disciplined bowling. Samson has faced 61 balls against Bumrah without hitting a single six, scoring nine fours, and has been dismissed twice.
Noor Ahmad vs Tilak Varma
Noor Ahmad has dismissed Tilak Varma once in their IPL encounters. Across four innings, Tilak has scored 24 runs off Noor at a strike rate of 133.33. Their most notable clash came in IPL 2025, when Noor dismissed Tilak with a well-disguised googly. Tilak, however, comes into this match in top form after scoring a blistering 101* off 45 balls against Gujarat Titans, While, Noor Ahmad is expected to be CSK's primary weapon in the middle overs to counter Tilak's left-handed aggression.
Hardik Pandya vs Dewald Brevis
The battle between Hardik Pandya and Dewald Brevis is one of the most intriguing matchups in today's MI vs CSK clash. This contest adds an interesting twist, as former teammates now face off as rivals. Historically, Pandya has had the upper hand, dismissing Brevis twice while conceding just 31 runs in 17 balls.
Quinton de Kock vs Spencer Johnson
This will be their first IPL face-off, making it an exciting new contest. De Kock has a solid record against CSK, scoring 138 runs at an average of 34.5 with a strike rate of 130, including two half-centuries. Johnson’s pace and ability to generate swing could make this Powerplay battle crucial on a batting-friendly Wankhede pitch.
Shivam Dube vs Mitchell Santner
In their recent encounters, Dube has dominated Santner, including smashing massive sixes during the January 2026 T20I series. In IPL meetings, Dube has scored 28 runs in four innings while being dismissed once. With both players now on opposing sides, this matchup could prove decisive in the middle overs.
The 2026 NFL Draft is just hours away. Finally! The New York Giants, with two picks in the top 10 after trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, are hoping for a draft haul that will jump start the John Harbaugh era and catapult them toward contention in the NFC East.
Let’s review everything you need to know to be ready for the next three days.
What picks do the Giants have?
The Giants have eight selections in the draft after the Lawrence trade:
Round 1 (No.5)
Round 1 (No. 10 … from Cincinnati)
Round 2 (No. 37)
Round 4 (No. 105)
Round 5 (No. 145)
Round 6 (No. 186)
Round 6 (No. 192 … from the Miami Dolphins)
Round 6 (No. 193 … from the Dallas Cowboys)
Team needs
Whenever I get asked what the Giants need most in the draft, my answer is that they need more difference-making players, regardless of position. That remains true.
While head coach John Harbaugh said the Giants don’t want to go to the draft buffet hungry, he also acknowledged that the Giants have needs and those will impact what they do over the next three days. Let’s look at those needs.
Defensive tackle
After the trade of Lawrence, this is the biggest need on the roster. The Giants also watched defensive tackles Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson leave in free agency. They have had free agent vists recently from D.J. Reader, Bonito Jones, and Shelby Harris. The only signing, though, has been journeyman Sam Roberts.
Unfortunately, there are no defensive tackles considered worthy of being top 10 picks, and few considered to be all-around impact players. Still, at some point you have to expect the Giants to add one or more defensive tackles in the draft.
Below, links to Chris Pflum’s Prospect Profiles on several of the top defensive tackles:
McDonald is likely the best defensive tackle in the class, but he is considered a late-first to early-second round pick. Without a trade down with one of their first-round picks, likely No. 10, the Giants probably won’t be in position to draft him. He would be a major reach at No. 10.
Wide receiver
The need here is probably bigger than the Giants want to admit, especially after all of the high draft capital GM Joe Schoen has invested into the position.
Malik Nabers, the 2024 first-round pick, is coming off a serious knee injury. His availability for the start of the 2025 season is in question.
Wan’Dale Robinson, the leading receiver in Nabers’ absence, signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency.
The Giants added Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin on one-year contracts, and still have Darius Slayton. All three of those players, though, may not be Giants after 2026. There is a need for high-level reinforcements, especially with a second-year quarterback the team is trying to build around.
There are, of course, also rumors that the Giants might sign Odell Beckham Jr. He, though, is a 33-year-old receiver with a long injury history who did not play last season. Expectations for what the Giants might be able to get from Beckham if he signs need to be tempered. He is not the answer to the team’s wide receiver need.
The Giants have been connected to wide receivers Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson at the top of the draft, with attention focusing heavily on Tyson as the draft approaches.
If the Giants don’t land Tate or Tyson there should be some options available on Day 2.
The offensive line has been an almost constant issue for the Giants dating back to their last Super Bowl victory in the 2011 season. The 2025 line was better than most have been during that time, but Giants should understand by now that keeping a quality offensive line is always a moving target.
The Giants re-signed veteran right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, who had the best year of his career in 2025. They have yet to re-sign Greg Van Roten, who started at right guard the past two seasons. Left guard Jon Runyan Jr. and center John Michael Schmitz are in the final years of their contracts.
The Giants did sign Daniel Faalele, Lucas Patrick, Aaron Stinnie, Evan Neal, and Josh Ezeudu. All have started NFL games, with Faalele starting at right guard for Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens the past two seasons. Even though the Giants might be able to get by with they currently have for 2026, long-range planning demands that the Giants add some young talent to the interior of the offensive line to join Marcus Mbow and perhaps Jake Kubas.
Nominal No. 1 cornerback Paulson Adebo did not play up the level in 2025 that earned him a three-year, $54 million contract in free agency last offseason. The Giants lost cornerback Cor’Dale Flott in free agency after the 2022 third-round pick had a breakout season.
The Giants signed former first-round pick Greg Newsome II, who has struggled the past couple of seasons, to a one-year prove-it deal to fill Flott’s spot. Theoretically, Newsome and former Giants first-round pick Deonte Banks, who lost his job to Flott last season, will compete for a role.
So, yes, if the plan at the second outside cornerback spot is Newsome/Banks the Giants could use an upgrade at cornerback.
Mansoor Delane of LSU is the top cornerback in the class, and could be in play at No. 10. Should any of them fall to No. 37, Chris Johnson of San Diego State, Colton Hodd of Tennessee, Aveion Terrell of Clemson, and Brandon Cisse of South Carolina are among Day 2 options. On Day 3, Devin Moore, Julian Neal, and Thaddeus Dixon are possibilities.
We can, and sometimes still do, argue about how Schoen managed to let two good safeties — Julian Love and Xavier McKinney — leave the Giants in free agency. The real problem is that Schoen and the Giants have spun their wheels trying to fill the holes left by their departures.
2024 second-round pick Tyler Nubin has yet to play up to his draft slot. Jevon Holland did not come close last season to justifying the three-year, $45.3 million contract the Giants handed him in free agency.
The Giants collected veteran safeties in free agency. They brought back ex-Giant Jason Pinnock, who had his best year under Wink Martindale in 2023, and also signed Ar’Darius Washington and Elijah Campbell.
None of the players on the current Giants roster have proven to be the kind of game-changing chess piece Harbaugh has usually had on his defenses.
Caleb Downs of Ohio State might be, and the Giants have been connected to him at both picks 5 and 10. Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could also be selected in Round 1.
This is another position where the Giants can get by with what they have, but where they don’t have the type of game-changing, impact player in the middle of the defense Harbaugh is used to. Tremaine Edmunds and Micah McFadden are fine, but not special.
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles might be special.
There are also several good options later in the draft at a position where the Giants really should, at least, add some depth.
A wildcard could be whether or not the Giants choose to fill their need for more offensive playmakers by selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 5 if he is available.
There are a number of scenarios in which Love, considered by many analysts the best player in the 2026 draft class, could be on the board for the Giants with their first selection. Would the Giants take him? Pass and pick someone else? Trade down to a team that wants Love? Many draft insiders believe the Giants, with Harbaugh’s emphasis on the running game and team’s need for playmakers, won’t be able to say no to Love’s talent.
That will, of course, open up comparisons to the Giants’ 2018 decision to draft running back Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall. Despite Barkley’s greatness, injuries and the team’s inability to build around him made his time with the Giants less than satisfying. He was eventually allowed to leave in free agency.
If they do take Love at No. 5, would they double down on offensive playmakers and take the best wide receiver on the board at No. 10?
Done dealing?
The Giants made a major splash with the Lawrence trade. There is a strong possibility they are not done making moves. Schoen has admitted the Giants have taken calls about moving down from No. 5. If a team wants to move up to No. 5 it won’t be a surprise if the Giants move down a few spots, especially if they believe they can still get one of the players at the top of their draft board. As for the 10th pick the Giants got from the Bengals, moving down and turning that into multiple selections might be a strong strategy.
Something to remember is that during Harbaugh’s 18 seasons with Baltimore, the Ravens were noted for always finding ways to collect extra draft picks. During Schoen’s four-year tenure as GM, the Giants have drafted 31 players. The only year they had extra picks was 2022, his first season, when they accumulated 11. In that same time period, the Ravens drafted 37 players.
Trying to acquire additional draft assets is a strategy the Giants will likely try to implement as long as Harbaugh is the head coach.
Big Blue View draft resources
We have been covering the draft for months. Check out our New York Giants Draft Hub Page for all the Giants draft news, rumors, analysis, mock drafts, prospect profiles, and much more!
Here are a few things you will definitely want to check out before Round 1 begins:
Pittsburgh suffered a 5-2 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday to go down 3-0 in its first-round playoff series. It’s a disappointing result so far for the Penguins, who entered the series with home ice and plenty of confidence.
Although the Penguins haven’t played well in the series, Pittsburgh won’t roll over. Instead, the team has confidence they can win four straight games, as the group believes they have what it takes to pull off an epic comeback.
“You know it's possible,” goalie Stuart Skinner said postgame on Wednesday. “You know, statistics are fun to look at. But doesn't mean they're always right. What really helped me in my experience was it kind of just frees you up. You don't really have anything to lose.
“We got the bodies in here. We got a resilient group. I can say that over and over and over again, but we've proven it, we've shown it. This is the group that can definitely come back from this deficit. I certainly believe that.”
The Penguins were led by Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson, who scored in the 5-2 loss. Despite being down 3-0, Karlsson said all the team can do is take it one game at a time.
“We're going to have to embrace and understand that being in this situation, even though we're down 3-0, is still a lot of fun, and we would have paid a lot of money to stand here today back in October and say this is where we were going to be,” Karlsson said. “We've just got to realize that an understand that we're a good hockey team here. We've got a great opportunity.”
Game 4 between the Penguins and Flyers is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Premier League clean sheet odds play a huge role in shaping how Fantasy Premier League managers evaluate defenders each gameweek. Outside of securing three points, there is arguably nothing more valuable in the Premier League than a clean sheet.
For FPL managers, the impact is even more direct. A clean sheet is worth 4 points for defenders and 1 point for midfielders, making defensive returns a key part of overall weekly hauls.
Looking at Gameweek 34, teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur stand out with some of the highest chances of keeping a clean sheet.
Their defensive setups, combined with relatively favourable fixtures, make them key sides for managers targeting reliable returns at the back this week.
Keep an eye on our team news article to see how injuries, rotation, and late fitness updates could influence these clean sheet chances closer to the deadline.
Below are the clean sheet odds for Gameweek 34, highlighting the teams most likely to deliver defensive returns.
Gameweek 34 clean sheet odds
Liverpool – 42% vs Crystal Palace (H)
Arsenal – 40% vs Newcastle (H)
Tottenham Hotspur – 38% vs Wolves (A)
Nottingham Forest – 31% vs Sunderland (A)
Sunderland – 31% vs Nottingham Forest (H)
West Ham United – 31% vs Everton (H)
Manchester United – 30% vs Brentford (H)
Aston Villa – 26% vs Fulham (A)
Everton – 26% vs West Ham (A)
Fulham – 26% vs Aston Villa (H)
Brentford – 17% vs Manchester United (A)
Wolverhampton Wanderers – 17% vs Tottenham Hotspur (H)
RB Leipzig stages new event in Brazil, closer to local fans
RB Leipzig continues to strengthen the club’s ties with Brazilian fans.
In addition to its preseason tour in Brazil, the German team has been holding events and activities in the country in recent weeks, in Bragança Paulista and São Paulo.
Last Saturday, Leipzig fans, content creators, and members of the local community took part in the Red Bull Tamo Junto Watch Party in the capital of São Paulo and watched the team’s 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
There were around 300 guests, who took part in brand activations, an EA FC tournament, a one-on-one showdown, and live music.
A few weeks ago, a similar event was held in Bragança Paulista, home of Red Bull Bragantino. The expectation is that RB Leipzig will hold more activities like this in Brazil.
The win over Frankfurt solidified Leipzig in third place in the Bundesliga and brought the team closer to securing a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Taking three points off Chelsea was not the only reward for the Brighton players and staff as they have also been given five days off.
Addressing his team in the dressing room on Tuesday, Fabian Hurzeler announced they do not need to return to training until Monday when they will start preparing for their trip to Newcastle on Saturday, 2 May.
"I don't normally do it, but you give me a lot and 100% know you will also go all in for the final part of the season," he said. "Four games left and I know you will give everything for this badge and for everyone here.
"So I want you to refresh yourself physically, mentally, and we'll see you guys on Monday.
"There's trust from my side towards you, so make sure you do your individual programme and recovery.
Day 1 of the 2026 NFL draft has arrived, and although the Jacksonville Jaguars are not scheduled to be on the clock on Thursday, let's make a few predictions for the upcoming days.
With 11 selections in total, GM James Gladstone has quite a bit of flexibility. He can move up and down the draft board as needed, and can truly take the best player available over prioritizing a specific positional need at a certain point in the draft.
That makes predicting what the Jaguars are going to do, which is already a difficult task, all the more challenging. But let's take a swing and make three predictions for the Jaguars over the next three days.
Jaguars pick an OL and TE in the top 100
Neither of these positions is classified as a pressing need for the Jaguars, but the recipe for Gladstone to make an early round pick at each does seem to exist.
At tight end, the Jaguars have only four players under contract currently, with Brenton Strange, Quintin Morris, and Hunter Long all being free agents in 2027 -- although Strange is expected to return. Also, ESPN's Jordan Reid wrote that tight end is one of the positions that the Jaguars are "expected to target right away on Day 2."
Along the offensive line, the Jaguars didn't experience any roster turnover this offseason. However, this is another position where several starters and role players could end up elsewhere in 2027. We also saw last summer that the Jaguars really want to embrace competition up front, and there is no reason to think that won't happen again.
With four picks between Rounds 2 and 3, the Jaguars can go in several different directions with those selections.
Jaguars don't take a running back until Round 6 or after
Running back has been a popular pick for the Jaguars in mock drafts, and understandably so with Travis Etienne in New Orleans. That said, the Jaguars do still have Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen, both of whom were just drafted last April, and the team signed Chris Rodriguez. With Ja'Quinden Jackson and DeeJay Dallas, the Jaguars also have five running backs on the roster already.
While an addition could still be justified, the top three spots on the depth chart seem to be locked in, so I just do not see running back being a priority. For a team that wants to draft and develop, at some point, you have to see what your young backs -- Tuten and Allen -- can do.
Jaguars pick four defensive linemen
Between the defensive end and the defensive tackle positions, the Jaguars need more depth -- between the two position groups, there are only nine players under contract right now -- more competition for rotational roles, and an additional pass rush presence. Jacksonville ranked 18th in pressure rate and 27th in sacks.
With 11 picks, the Jaguars have the ability to address this unit heavily.
Jim Harbaugh turned around the Los Angeles Chargers in his first two seasons as head coach with back-to-back finishes of 11-6. But the team’s failure to win a playoff game has created some anxiety and urgency.
Part of the solution might be found this week in Pittsburgh, site of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Chargers lost several players in free agency. The three-day, seven-round draft will be a chance to make up for it. They’ll arrive armed with five draft picks, including their first rounder – No. 22 overall.
Justin Herbert, the team’s starting quarterback, will be only as good as his offensive line, and that line needs help. The defensive line could use an infusion of young talent, too.
When is the 2026 NFL Draft?
Dates: April 23-25
The 2026 NFL Draft takes place over a three-day span making up the final weekend of April. The draft begins on Thursday, April 23 and ends on Saturday, April 25.
What time is the 2026 NFL Draft?
Time:
Thursday, April 23: 8 p.m. ET
Friday, April 24: 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 25: Noon ET
Each night of the NFL draft begins at a different time. The first night of the draft begins at 8 p.m. ET, the second night begins at 7 p.m. ET and the final day – which features the most picks – begins at noon ET.
Fans have several options to choose from to watch the 2026 NFL Draft. NFL Network and ESPN will have separate broadcasts, each providing a different analysis of each pick as it happens on draft night.
Cord-cutters can stream the different broadcasts on NFL+, the NFL's proprietary streaming service; ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited, ESPN's streaming services; or cable alternative Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Where is the 2026 NFL Draft?
Location: Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's North Shore will host the 2026 NFL Draft. The show's main stage will be right outside of Acrisure Stadium, home of the Steelers, while the fan experience will be located around Point State Park.
There are seven rounds in the NFL draft.
The first round will take up the entirety of Day 1 on Thursday, April 23. Rounds 2 and 3 make up Day 2 of the draft, and the final day is constituted of the last four rounds.
How long does each pick take in the NFL draft?
The pick timer changes by round in the annual NFL draft. The first round allows the longest time to make a decision, the second round timer decreases slightly, and so on.
Here's the breakdown of pick timers by round:
Round 1: Eight minutes (Reduced from previous 10-minute timer that had been around since 2008)
Round 2: Seven minutes
Round 3-6: Five minutes
Round 7: Four minutes
2026 NFL Draft top prospects
Ohio State prospects dominate the top of Ayrton Ostly's big board. Here's who ranks in the top 10 heading into draft night:
LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
OT Spencer Fano, Utah
2026 NFL Draft Order
The 2026 NFL Draft order was set when the Super Bowl concluded. Since then, there have been a few changes as the Bengals, Broncos and Rams traded away first-round picks for key players.
Here's how the first-round order shakes out entering the draft:
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
Marco Silva's Fulham are involved in a huge scrap to finish in seventh, with just four points separating seven teams. The Cottagers drew 0-0 at Brentford last weekend and they've won just won of their last five games as their creative spark has disappeared. Silva's future is still up in the air as his contract is up at the end of the season and it seems likely he will move on.
Villa surged back to secure a dramatic 4-3 win against Sunderland last weekend, as Unai Emery's side led 3-1 but then coughed up two late goals before Tammy Abraham won it in stoppage time. That victory all but secures a top five finish and Champions League qualification for next season. Villa will perhaps rest a few players as they have one eye on their Europa League semifinal first leg at Nottingham Forest on Thursday.
For live updates and highlights throughout Fulham vs Aston Villa, check out PST's live blog coverage below.
How to watch Fulham vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time:7:30am ET Saturday (April 25) Venue:Craven Cottage — West London TV Channel: USA Streaming: Watch on USA
Fulham team news, focus
Raul Jimenez, Oscar Bobb, Antonee Robinson, Josh King, Sander Berge and Samuel Chukwueze could all come in to the starting lineup as Silva continues to try and find the right combinations of players, especially in attack, to finish the season strongly. Fulham can still qualify for Europe and that is perhaps the only way Silva will stick around. Kevin and Kenny Tete are out, while Alex Iwobi is a huge doubt after coming off injured at Brentford last weekend.
Aston Villa team news, focus
Villa will likely rotate and with Champions League qualification all but secured, and a huge Europa League semifinal at Forest coming up, that is fair enough. Abraham, Sancho, Lindelof, Buendia, Luiz and Bailey could all start. Boubacar Kamara remains out injured.
Fulham vs Aston Villa prediction
This could be a fun one as both teams will just go for it and have nothing to lose. Go for a draw. Fulham 2-2 Aston Villa.
With 293 matches in the Blaugrana shirt, the midfielder has now gone past several iconic names, but for him, the achievement is only part of a much bigger journey.
In a revealing interview, De Jong reflected on his time at Barcelona, addressing both the highs and the challenges he has faced since arriving from Ajax.
Despite periods of uncertainty in the past, especially surrounding his contract and future, the Dutchman made one thing absolutely clear that his heart remains at the club.
“There is no better club for me than Barça. I’ve wanted to be here since I was a child, and family life is perfect. There’s no reason to go anywhere else,” he said.
Revisiting the past
Notably, De Jong revisited one of the most difficult moments of his Barcelona career – the period in early 2024 when rumours about his contract situation began to affect both him and the fans.
“It was starting to affect the Barça fans. People on the street were mentioning it to me. It started to have a huge impact.
Frenkie de Jong made history at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
“I’m convinced that what journalists write about you has a massive influence on how others perceive you.
“And that’s why I decided to speak out against it so forcefully.”
While proud of his longevity, De Jong admitted that team success remains his biggest motivation.
Individual milestones, he insists, come second to collective achievements.
“I’m proud to have become the Dutch player with the most appearances for Barcelona. I still don’t think it’s a particularly important statistic.
“I would have preferred to have won three Champions League titles, but even so, when you’re able to stay at such a big club for so long, it’s because you’re doing something right.”
Looking back, he identified last season as his most enjoyable period in a Barcelona shirt, both personally and collectively.
“The 2024/25 season. That’s the one I’ll take. We won all three trophies in Spain playing incredible football,” he said.
Influential figures
De Jong also paid tribute to Ronald Koeman, describing him as a key figure in his development and someone who has played a major role beyond football.
“Ronald Koeman has been fundamental to my career; I have enormous admiration for him.
“Our relationship goes beyond that of coach and player. I see him outside of football; I know his wife and son.”
Away from football, the midfielder shared a personal insight into his life, explaining the meaning behind his shirt number.
“It’s true that both my sons were born on the 21st. My shirt number is crazy! It’s quite funny!
“Being a father has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Focus on the World Cup
De Jong is quite practical about the Netherlands’ World Cup chance. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
On international ambitions, De Jong struck a balanced tone regarding the Netherlands’ chances at the World Cup.
“I don’t see the Netherlands as one of the main contenders to win the World Cup. But I consider us to be just below those countries. We can win the World Cup.
“It would be fantastic if we could face Argentina again.
“The last match was very special. But I’m not going to say much about it; I don’t want to give them any motivation.”
Admiration for Lamine Yamal
Finally, the Barcelona star spoke with admiration about Lionel Messi, while also backing the potential of Lamine Yamal.
“He’s always been my favourite player. As a child, I watched all his matches because he’s the best. I have no doubts. He’s a fantastic footballer.
“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think I’ll ever see anyone else reach Lionel Messi’s level again.
“Lamine Yamal has incredible talent; he could become the best player in the world, and he could achieve that several times over the course of his career.
“But I’ve watched Messi play since I was a child, and he is the greatest footballer of all time; no other player even comes close to his level.
“Hopefully Lamine Yamal can become the best player in the world.”
He also moved to defend the young winger from criticism.
“There are moments, sometimes. Some people think he’s undisciplined, but I can tell you that, above all, he’s an extremely cheerful lad.
“He trains normally, always turns up on time and everything goes as it should.
“People must remember that he attracts much more attention because he’s extremely good, so every little detail will stand out more when he’s playing.”
Patrick Dorgu injury update will delight United fans
Manchester United are set to receive a welcome boost ahead of their crucial Premier League encounter against Liverpool on May 3.
The Red Devils have missed an out-and-out left winger this season, with Matheus Cunha forced to play there in the absence of senior options.
When Michael Carrick was appointed as caretaker head coach, he opted to play Patrick Dorgu in that position.
Former boss Ruben Amorim saw the Dane more as a wingback than a winger, but the move to play the 21-year-old in an advanced role worked wonders.
Patrick Dorgu: impressive form under Carrick
He scored in consecutive games, against league leaders Manchester City and second-placed Arsenal, as the 20-time English league champions won both contests.
However, the former Lecce star suffered a hamstring injury during the game at the Emirates, which has kept him sidelined for 10 games.
Reputed source Sully has now claimed that the Denmark international is eyeing a comeback in time for the Liverpool game.
He is close to full fitness and will rejoin team training very soon. The Brentford game on Monday is expected to come too soon for Patrick Dorgu.
Injury update
“Patrick Dorgu was in fine form during Michael Carrick’s first two games, impressing off the left and scoring a stunning goal in a 3-2 win over Arsenal, which was on the back of the net in the Manchester derby.
“However, the outing at the Emirates Stadium ended on a sour note as he pulled his hamstring while chasing after a ball over the top and was ruled out for at least ten weeks and has missed every game since.
“Roundtable understands that Patrick Dorgu is targeting a return for the Liverpool game on Sunday, 3 May. Further, the Danish international is expected to resume group training soon as he nears a return from injury.
“Manchester United face a tough Brentford side on Monday, 27 April. While it’s not impossible for Dorgu to return for this game, it’s considered less likely by those familiar with the situation.”
Transfer situation revealed
The impressive form shown by Patrick Dorgu has also changed United’s minds when it comes to recruiting a left winger in the summer.
His return will be a huge boost for Carrick, as he looks to guide United back into the Champions League while finishing as high up the Premier League table as possible.
After receiving the necessary clearances from Cricket Australia, fast bowler Mitchell Starc is set to join the Delhi Capitals on Friday morning. The 36-year-old, sidelined with elbow and shoulder injuries, is now expected to return to action for DC's May 1 fixture against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026.
As first reported by TimesofIndia.com, the DC think-tank was in regular contact with the left-armer and knew he was unlikely to join the squad until at least April 20. The Axar Patel-led unit has won three and lost as many out of the six games they have played in the league so far. While Starc's development is a big boost, the team must perform its best in two more games - against Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru - without the experienced Aussie to keep their IPL 2026 playoff qualification chances strong.
It is understood that the men who matter could tweak their combination in the coming games, given the Starc situation, as they would have to manage the four overseas slots smartly. Pathum Nissanka, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, and Lungi Ngidi have been playing, but when Starc returns to the XI, the management will face a happy headache.
They have multiple options to explore, and it remains to be seen how long Sahil Parakh will remain on the bench in IPL 2026. The 18-year-old left-hander has been very impressive in the pre-season camp and the full-strength intra-squad fixtures which followed, and could soon find himself in the top-order very soon.
Even the senior players in the team are very impressed with his fearless strokeplay which allowed him to comfortably take down bowlers like Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan comfortably in stiff match-simulations.
130462341
Starc will join the squad tomorrow morning but won't rush back to competitive cricket; he will gradually build his workload this coming week before the away fixture against RR. The left-armer played 11 games for the franchise last season and took 14 wickets in those outings. If he remains on track to play the May 1 fixture, the experienced quick will play at least six games for the franchise and would hope to make an immediate impact towards the business end of the tournament.
The franchise has not been known for making a first-round pick in recent years. The Rams have traded away nine of their last 10 first-round picks, including their 2026 pick, but the team is still expected to participate on Thursday; the Rams acquired the 13th overall pick from the Atlanta Falcons as part of a 2025 draft-day deal.
The Rams traded away their original 2026 first-round pick (No. 29 overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire cornerback Trent McDuffie. The Rams' fifth (169th overall) and sixth round (210th overall) picks were also sent to the Chiefs as part of the trade.
Los Angeles finished the 2025 season with a 12-5 overall record and reached the NFC title game.
The team will also be without a fourth-round selection this year, but will have three picks in the final round of the draft to search for depth pieces.
The Rams traded their fourth-round pick in 2026 and their 195th overall pick in 2025 last year to the Chicago Bears to move up in last year's draft for the 148th overall pick. The pick was used on defensive tackle Ty Hamilton.
Here’s how the rest of the Rams’ draft is expected to shape up leading into the weekend.
The Rams will have seven total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to NFL.com. Los Angeles’ first pick will come in the middle of the first round at No. 13.
Here's a full breakdown of the Rams' draft positioning.
Round 1: No. 13 overall (from Falcons)
Round 2: No. 61 overall
Round 3: No. 93 overall
Round 6: No. 207 overall (from Texans through Rams and Titans)
Round 7: No. 232 overall (from Ravens)
Round 7: No. 251 overall (compensatory)
Round 7: No. 252 overall (compensatory)
Rams picks by day
The 2026 NFL Draft will feature 257 total picks across the seven rounds of the draft over the next three days. The Las Vegas Raiders will have the first overall pick and are expected to draft quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The Rams rank No. 24th in draft pick capital, according to Tankathon.
Day 1 (Thursday night): No. 13 overall
Day 2 (Friday night): No. 61 overall, No. 93 overall
Makai Lemon of USC gains a lot of attention and draft buzz due to how much of an elite playmaker he is. However, Ja'Kobi Lane is not that far away from Lemon in terms of what he can do to defenses. He can be an elite weapon, too.
Ja'Kobi Lane may have been the second-best receiver on his team, but I believe Lane was one of the best receivers in the country last season, and should be viewed at least as a top-ten receiver in this draft class. Experts are still wary of their projections of Ja'Kobi Lane.
In a recent analysis, expert Jordan Reid projects Ja'Kobi Lane as the 13th-best receiver in this NFL draft class. He gives Lane a 3rd round draft grade and lists him as the #81st overall prospect in the class.
Ja'Kobi Lane remains a sleeper in this NFL draft and an under-the-radar prospect. His production is really solid for a receiver who shared targets with the Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon. Lane has the size and speed, showing that with a great combined performance. He can be a matchup nightmare in the NFL. Zero character flaws and nothing but good reports coming out about him.
Looking back at this draft class a year later, when experts want to do redrafts, Ja'Kobi Lane will be looked at as a prospect that had no business falling out of the first round, let alone getting selected in round 3. Christmas will come early for whichever team is able to stumble upon Lane.
Nottingham Forest head coach Ange Postecoglou was sacked after just 44 days in charge [Getty Images]
Liam Rosenior's sacking by Chelsea this week took the number of top-flight managerial departures this season to 10.
It's at the higher end of the scale in terms of Premier League history, but still well short of the record, set in 2022-23, when there were 14 exits during the campaign.
What is notable, however, is the condensed number of clubs involved, and the lack of time given to those managers who didn't leave of their own accord.
In 2022-23, 11 different teams – more than half of the top flight – changed their manager; this season there have been just six clubs involved, with half of those doing so more than once.
Tottenham and Chelsea have both changed managers twice, while Nottingham Forest are on their fourth of the season. It's just the second time – after 2022-23 – that three different Premier League clubs have made at least two managerial changes in a season.
[BBC]
In 2022-23, the managers leaving their jobs had been in position for almost twice as long as those who have left this season.
While not all departures that season were a one-way thing – for example, Graham Potter chose to leave Brighton for Chelsea – it's generally still noticeable how much more time managers were given before clubs took action.
Javier Gracia's reign at Leeds was the most short-lived in 2022-23. Brought in with the task of saving the Whites from relegation, he was sacked after 10 weeks and Sam Allardyce, who had history of saving clubs from relegation brought in for the final four games.
Meanwhile, Nathan Jones lasted just three months at Southampton but all the others who left their job in that campaign had been there for at least six months.
This season, almost half of those going have gone before the six-month mark, including Ange Postecoglou, who was axed after a record 39 days and Igor Tudor, who was despatched after 44 days. Only three had been in their role more than a year. The average time served was 9.1 months, compared to 17.5 months in 2022-23.
In 2022-23, multiple chopping and changing work didn't pay off for those clubs involved. Leeds and Southampton were both relegated, while Chelsea finished 12th.
In terms of this season's serial changers, Forest look safe but Chelsea look set to miss out on the Champions League while Tottenham could be relegated for the first time for almost half a century.
Arman Tsarukyan stepped onto the mat last Saturday with something to prove.
The top-ranked lightweight contender has stayed busy outside the UFC, and on April 18, he headlined the eighth Real American Freestyle event in Philadelphia.
After already picking up wins over Lance Palmer and Georgio Poullas within the promotion, Tsarukyan faced Urijah Faber at RAF08 and came away with another win.
But it wasn’t his performance that had people talking. Instead, it was yet another moment of controversy added to his growing list.
Arman Tsarukyan says he meant to ‘hurt’ Urijah Faber when he threw him off the RAF stage
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Tsarukyan secured a tech fall over Faber, who once held the WEC featherweight belt and challenged for UFC titles multiple times. During their bout at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, the Armenian fighter tossed his opponent clear off the mat.
The 46-year-old was driven through the commentary desk and onto the floor below, narrowly missing commentator Chael Sonnen in the process.
Nobody was hurt in the exchange, and Faber even joked that it helped fix an old injury. But Tsarukyan caught plenty of criticism for what many saw as an unnecessary risk.
Tsarukyan didn’t back away from that criticism, saying he had every intention of hurting Faber after all of his pre-fight talk.
“I forgot this was mat. I thought we were still in the cage,” Tsarukyan said during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“It was good nothing happened… I wanted to hurt him, to be honest. Because he was talking too much.”
When Brentford host Manchester United on Monday, something needs to give as a water-tight home side take on visitors who know where the net is.
The Bees are on a five-game run of league draws and you have to go back to 2009 and the seven straight draws achieved by Manchester City to find a side with a longer run of draws.
Keith Andrews' side don't look in the mood to give much away and fans have not seen their side trail for a single minute of the six matches that have followed their February defeat against Brighton. There's a doggedness on offer.
So how do Manchester United pierce this resistance?
Buoyed by a fine win at Stamford Bridge, Michael Carrick's side can draw on confidence.
They also know they have scored in 21 Premier League games in a row since defeat to Everton in November. That's their longest scoring run since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Bruno Fernandes will be keener than most to break the Brentford resistance as he looks to move on from 18 Premier League assists this season and nearer to the three men who have bettered that figure in the past - Thierry Henry in 2002-03 for Arsenal (20), Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20 for Manchester City (20), and Mesut Ozil in 2015-16 for Arsenal (19).
A home side that hasn't trailed in a while meets an away side with plenty of zest.
Tennessee coach Josh Elander in the dugout during a college baseball game between Tennessee and LSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee., on April 3, 2026. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Tennessee remains in Knoxville this weekend, set to host No. 13 Alabama for another critical three-game series. The Volunteers, who had clawed back to the right side of the bubble following a sweep on the road of Mississippi State, dropped two of three to Ole Miss last weekend.
According to Baseball America, Tennessee is now clinging to one of the last at-large spots in the field. A series win against a team like Alabama would go a long way towards some insurance there.
It’ll be Tennessee’s first Thursday-Saturday series of the season this weekend. The Volunteers now sit 27-14 overall with an 8-10 mark in conference play. Alabama is 28-14 on the year with a 9-9 record in SEC play. It’s a series that matters quite a bit to Tennessee in terms of NCAA Tournament standing, but also one that could shift the SEC standings as we creep closer to Hoover.
Alabama has dropped its last two series, coming against Texas and Arkansas. They’re also coming off of a midweek loss to UAB, 11-2. Tennessee won their midweek game against Lipscomb, 14-4.
“It’s just always a good club,” Josh Elander said of Alabama. “We told the team, the nine or 10 years we played these guys, it’s always a battle, regardless of who’s on the roster, home or road. It’s just a good, competitive SEC weekend. I think Rob Vaughn is a phenomenal coach.”
Influencer Matt Kiatipis, widely known as MK, has built a growing profile through basketball content and events.
His reputation has been shaped by viral clips and his outspoken personality which draw attention on social media. That exposure has brought him into contact with established players and helped him build a large online following.
However, MK sparked backlash this week after targeting former NBA guard Isaiah Thomas on a podcast. Speaking on Impaulsive, he mocked Thomas’ height and questioned his willingness to play at one of his events.
“NBA guys like Isaiah Thomas. He pulled up to one of my events in Greece. I’m like, ‘Play for the culture,’ and he said ‘I don’t got my shoes.’ I said ‘Well, I’ve been to Costa Rica and I played barefeet. So take my shoes if they fit because you’re like five seven, right?’ Whatever five eight pipsqueak b—— didn’t want to play me for the culture. You know what I mean?” he said.
Isaiah Thomas responds after MK’s comments go viral
Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
Thomas did not take long to respond publicly after the remarks circulated online. The veteran guard addressed the situation directly on X with a strongly worded message.
The two-time NBA All-Star claimed that Kiatipis asked for a picture when they met and that the influencer is now using his name to draw attention.
“This gotta stop!!! Why would I be scared to play him? This wasn’t his energy in person. He’s a CLOWN! Tryna use me to get clicks. Ima b—— now tho? After in person I was one of your favorite players ever! ‘Let’s take a pic bro’ haha. Hell no, I ain’t taking a pic wit yo b— a—” he said.
Richard Jefferson also criticises MK’s stance
The debate did not end with Thomas’ reply. Former NBA player Richard Jefferson also weighed in after seeing the viral clip.
Jefferson, who won an NBA title in 2016, shared the video and dismissed MK’s position.
Johnny Kenny’s weirdest season – Why Celtic sent him on loan
Johnny Kenny’s been re-writing history a little as he puts his Celtic exit in January down to a few games in which he underperformed…
Johnny Kenny of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
That night at Tannadice Johnny was probably enough for the Celtic support in the crowd as we watched with astonishment the different ways you could conceive to go about missing the target. Poor old Wilfried Nancy was needing a break and that game should have been out of sight by the interval but all we had to show for it was a Daizen Maeda goal and at least a hat-trick of terrible misses from yourself.
Johnny Kenny celebrates. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)
Martin O’Neill would have been watching at to be fair to him he certainly did give you your chances in his first spell as interim manager. But Celtic needed a reliable goalscorer upfront and his conclusion was that it wasn’t going to be you for the rest of the season as he looked at bringing in re-enforcements in January and allowing you to go out on loan to Bolton Wanderers League One to re-build your confidence.
I’d say that was a pretty sensible outcome that works out well for all parties. Celtic brought in replacements, admittedly none have set the heather on fire, you have made nan impact out on loan and are talking up making the play-offs and hoping to get promotion to the Championship.
Johnny Kenny scores. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Bolton are aware that Celtic will require a £1m fee to sign you on a permanent basis and your goals and performances are making that a more probably outcome which will suit all parties this coming summer, especially if Bolton do get promoted.
Here’s the latest from the on-loan Celtic striker who seems to feel a little hard-done by due to Martin O’Neill sanctioning a loan move in January.
“It’s been a whirlwind, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” Johnny Kenny told Bolton News. “It’s probably one of the weirdest seasons of my career, but probably, I would say, one of the best for the learnings and the experiences.
Johnny Kenny celebrates. Celtic v Falkirk. 29 October 2025. Scottish Premiership, photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO
“At the end of August, when we signed a striker on deadline day, I thought I was going to struggle for minutes, but I got opportunities, and I’ve done pretty well. I’ve score goals for Celtic, I’ve scored in a Glasgow derby.
“I played a lot, started a lot of games, and then just two or three games of not being clinical, ruthless in front of goals, it changed, and I came down here to Bolton, and I think I started life pretty well,” Kenny said.
He added: “I’m thoroughly enjoying the challenge, and it’s time to step up. We need to put the work in so we get to the opportunity of the play-offs and then, in a play-off, I’d fancy ourselves against anyone.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Johnny Kenny. Dundee v Celtic. 19 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
“That was my desire. I wasn’t coming down here just to relax. I just wanted to come here to work and to apply my trade the best way possible because I know if I do that, we can get the results we want.”
Best of luck to Bolton Wanderers as they eye promotion, with Johnny Kenny playing a major role in helping to achieve that. A £1m deal in the summer will probably suit all parties.
Four games left: Which Bundesliga club has the highest risk of relegation?
Starting from 18th place upwards, Bulinews will look at who is the biggest relegation candidate.
18. Heidenheim - 19 pts
Bottom of the league, Heidenheim have not managed to capitalise on the form that saw them get Union Berlin manager Steffen Baumgart sacked by beating him 3-1 two weeks ago at home.
Last weekend, it was a disappointing point dropped away at Freiburg that might have been one of the last straws for Frank Schmidt's men.
However, this weekend against St. Pauli it is an all or nothing game as it could see them either save their season or go down into the 2. Bundesliga.
A loss against St. Pauli sees Heidenheim confirmed down as the first Bundesliga relegated side this season. A draw, however, puts their chances of relegation extremely slim seeing as they play Bayern Munich on matchday 32.
Bundesliga relegation threat: 95%
17. VfL Wolfsburg - 24 pts
For Wolfsburg, they are setting all cards on trying to get the 16th place in the Bundesliga this campaign.
Two points off St. Pauli in 16th, the Wolves (Die Wölfe) are hoping to do what they did two years in a row in 2017 and 2018 in winning a Bundesliga relegation play off tie against a 2. Bundesliga side.
Their form has been improving slightly, with a narrow defeat to Frankfurt two weeks ago and some luck in grabbing a 2-1 win against Union Berlin last weekend despite their lack of chances created.
Due to personnel, they may feel like they have the upper hand in the relegation battle but they still play some tough fixtures like against Bayern Munich, Freiburg and at home to fellow relegation-battler Borussia Mönchengladbach.
With a view to the final matchday, a lot may rest on their away tie against 16th St. Pauli with this match at the moment promising to be a real scrap for Bundesliga survival.
Bundesliga relegation threat: 60%
16. St. Pauli - 26 pts
St. Pauli will feel disheartened that they weren't able to hold onto all three points at home.
With a 1-1 draw against Köln, it is clear to see that this result favoured the away side in their bid for survival in the Bundesliga.
Elswhere, Wolfsburg's win against Union Berlin has piled more pressure on the Hamburg city side with a lack of goals still being a large problem.
With 26 goals this season, St. Pauli are the Bundesliga's lowest scoring side and this showed against Köln as they left plenty of chances missing to win the game against score more.
However, their remaining fixtures include a neat trip to bottom side Heidenheim this weekend and a home match against Mainz next week.
Alongside this, a game against another relegation rival VfL Wolfsburg on the last matchday may play into their hands.
Overall, their fixtures look pretty favourable but they will continue to struggle so long as they fail to take chances in front of goal with 16th place looking more likely than direct safety.
With five points still separating them from direct safety and avoidance of the playoffs, St. Pauli look like they will be up against it to try and cluster enough points to avoid the post-season relegation playoff.
Bundesliga relegation threat: 45%
Other teams: 31 pts (Köln, HSV, Werder Bremen, Borussia Mönchengladbach)
FC Köln
Four teams sit on 31 points with each being five points off 16th: 1. FC Köln in 12th, Borussia Mönchengladbach in 13th, Hamburg in 14th and Werder Bremen in 16th.
In terms of goal difference, Köln is clearly the safest should it come to this point as the Rhine side has scored plenty of goals this season.
The loss of Ragnar Ache, Köln's starting striker for the rest of the season with injury will cause some issues but goals still shouldn't be an issue with players like Jakub Kaminski and 19-year-old Saïd El Mala making up some numbers.
Due to sheer attacking power alone Köln may stay up thanks to a high attacking output.
The front two of Jakub Kaminski and Said El Mala for Köln, have a combined total of 27 goal contributions in the Bundesliga alone this season.
FC Köln relegation threat: 10%
Hamburger SV
The team with the biggest threat of relegation within this grouping is either Hamburg or Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Hamburg do not play a single bottom six side in their remaining four games and all of their four remaining opponents currently sit in the top eight.
Hamburger SV relegation threat: 25%
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach, however, sit on the exact same points with a larger leak than Hamburg in the defence which has caused them to concede 50 goals this season.
For them, it's about picking up all three points against Wolfsburg away this weekend to avoid trouble in the final three tough games: Dortmund, Augsburg and Hoffenheim.
Borussia Mönchengladbach relegation threat: 15%
Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen still play some really tough fixtures, but have the bonus of form off the back of a huge win against Hamburg in the Nordderby.
The most realistic win still to come in the Bundesliga for them in the final four games is against Augsburg at home next week. However, tough games against Stuttgart, Hoffenheim and then Dortmund surround this neat home fixture to cause some potential issues.
Bremen are still a bit off being comfortably safe but should they get even a point against Augsburg and one other team, they will be looking comfortable for yet another Bundesliga season.
Arne Slot has got one man to thank for keeping his Liverpool job
It looks like FSG will be sticking with Arne Slot - for another season at least.
The Liverpool head coach got off to the best possible start to life on Merseyside - winning the 2025/25 Premier League title. The situation is far more difficult this time around - despite £450m worth of spending last summer.
Far from embarking on a successful title defence the Anfield side are merely just trying to qualify for the Champions League via their league position.
And finishing in the top five is set to have a big impact on Liverpool as a whole as well as deciding Slot’s fate. Without Champions League football for next season the Reds could have been facing potential jeopardy.
It would also have had an impact on which players could be targetted in the summer transfer market. As it stands Slot’s end-of-season review with Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards is likely to show he’s fulfilled that objective.
And the Dutchman will then be overseeing his third campaign in charge - which takes him towards 2027 when his current contract expires.
Arne Slot should thank Rosenior
If Slot is in charge next season then he will owe one man a great deal of thanks. Due to Chelsea losing their last five Premier League matches in a row Liverpool’s task of finishing in the top five has become a hell of a lot easier.
Liam Rosenior - sacked on Tuesday - was appointed Chelsea head coach back in January and initially got off to a great start results-wise.
Four Premier League wins in a row - and a dramatic victory over Napoli in the Champions League - all helped to steady the ship post-Enzo Maresca.
But Chelsea have taken only FIVE points from their subsequent nine top-flight games - tumbling out of Champions League contention and into eighth place.
Five Things Learned: Burnley 0-1 Manchester City (Premier League)
Manchester City won narrowly at Turf Moor on Wednesday night to move top of the Premier League and relegate Burnley to the EFL Championship.
The match kicked off with chances for both sides as Jaidon Anthony saw his curled effort saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma and Rayan Cherki‘s quick response hit the post after a wonderful Martin Dubravka stop.
At the fifth-minute mark, Burnley decided to press high and were caught off guard – Marc Guehi launched the ball upfield, Jeremy Doku controlled it and set up Erling Haaland with space to run. The Norwegian dinked Dubravka and went on to celebrate his 24th Premier League goal of the season.
The first-half maintained this rhythm until the end as the visitors were dominant in possession and tried to break a congested defence, while the hosts tried to punish the high line on the counter.
It’s all about winning no matter how, says Erling Haaland on Premier League title race
In the second 45 minutes, however, Burnley did not pose any threat to Donnarumma’s goal. Manchester City, on the other hand, kept struggling to finish plays with efforts from Antoine Semenyo, Haaland, Savinho, Nico Gonzalez and Nico O’Reilly – but the ball simply would not hit the back of the net.
Despite not shooting on target during the second-half, the Clarets tried until the very end, when they had a corner – their last and failed chance to avoid the drop. As for the Blues, they now jump to the top of the table, level on points and goal difference with Arsenal, taking advantage of the head-to-head record.
City now shift their focus to the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley this Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:15 UK and only 15 minutes later, Arsenal will host Newcastle United in Premier League action.
Here are five things we learned from a successful visit to Turf Moor!
1. We’re top of the league!
City now lead the race for the Premier League title after a win that might seem disappointing given the context. However, as Haaland said in his post-match interview with Sky Sports – “it’s all about winning, no matter how.” The Blues needed the victory on the road and grabbed it, leaving all the pressure on Arsenal’s shoulders once again.
The result against the Clarets should boost confidence further ahead of the final sprint of the 2025-26 season. With two pieces of silverware still to play for, captain Bernardo Silva should be more than proud of the dedication his teammates are putting in.
Now more than ever, the squad needs to focus on their “every game is a final” mentality – and if every match is indeed decisive, Wednesday’s result grows in stature. Even though it is crucial to claim top spot right now, it isn’t, or shouldn’t be, the highlight: the most important thing is to end matchday 38 with the trophy in hand.
Match Report & Player Ratings: Burnley 0-1 Manchester City (Premier League)
2. Shooting boots were off
Just as it was at this same Turf Moor in the 2018-19 season, when City beat Burnley by a single goal thanks to a millimetrical Sergio Aguero strike confirmed by goal-line technology, the Blues struggled to finish chances and kill the game.
This time around, the post denied two celebrations, Dubravka stopped a few others and many went just wide. Thankfully, Premier League top scorer Haaland proved exactly why he is the favourite to win the Golden Boot.
Of 27 shots, only eight were on target. What could have been a comfortable win was instead a performance that made Pep Guardiola furious on the touchline at the missed opportunities. Against an opposition sitting in the relegation zone – and now confirmed to be going down – the title contenders could and should have used the occasion to boost their goal difference.
Even though what truly matters, in the end, are the three points, City cannot afford to sleep on tight leads, especially when every goal scored or conceded could yet prove decisive.
3. The CDM O’Reilly experiment
Without Rodri, who picked up a calf injury against Arsenal, the expected starter as a pivot was Gonzalez. However, it was another Nico who kicked off the match in that position: O’Reilly, with Rayan Ait-Nouri deployed at left-back.
Although it is a genuine asset that the academy graduate can perform in multiple roles, the central defensive midfielder position did not appear his most natural – despite having played there before.
The number 33 feels far more comfortable in a function further upfield, closer to the opposing goal, whether inverting from full-back or operating as an advanced creator – his natural role coming through the ranks.
After Gonzalez was introduced and O’Reilly shifted to the left, City’s play felt more controlled: despite not scoring, Guardiola’s side had greater command of the game, which explains why Burnley could not muster a shot on target in the final 45.
Following the change, the contender for Young Premier League Player of the Season missed the simplest of chances – but he was in the position where he is at his most effective, contributing to the attacking play.
Pep Guardiola hands Rodri injury update after Burnley absence following Arsenal calf injury
4. It’s Khusanov’s world
Abdukodir Khusanov makes every match look better than the one before. Against Burnley, the Uzbekistan international was rapid to nullify first-half counter-attacks and clinical in winning aerial duels from long balls.
Khusanov also served as a surprise weapon when carrying the ball forward, with runs that created space for City to exploit. His reading of the game only makes him more and more reliable for this final run-in – and for many years to come.
Not once dribbled past, unafraid to throw himself in front of a shot, composed and clever in his decision-making in possession – the first ever Uzbek player in the Premier League makes the toughest domestic league in the world look straightforward – and Manchester City are fortunate to have him in sky blue.
5. What comes next?
Many treated the clash against Arsenal as a title-decider. However, the outcome against Burnley shows it is rarely that simple. When a theoretically straightforward fixture becomes a challenge, it is fair to say that City’s path to the title will require more than was perhaps imagined.
Still, Pep Guardiola’s men rely only on themselves to be crowned English champions. With Everton, Brentford, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa still to face, the Blues need the balance they have been searching for throughout this campaign.
With Southampton on the horizon, the Catalan manager now has the chance to reach another cup final. The Saints have already knocked out Arsenal so underestimating them is not an option. In order to achieve success this year, the players have to do it the City way – talking and winning on the pitch.
Aberdeen have won their first game after the Scottish Premiership split in five of the past seven seasons (L2), with two of those wins coming against Kilmarnock in 2017-18 (2-0) and 2018-19 (1-0).
Kilmarnock have only won their first game after the split in three of their past 18 top-flight campaigns (D2 L13), although one of those was last season, beating Ross County 2-0.
Aberdeen have won eight of their past nine Scottish Premiership home games against Kilmarnock, losing the other 1-0 in December 2023.
None of Aberdeen and Kilmarnock's past 15 league meetings have been drawn, with the Dons winning nine and Killie winning six since a 2-2 stalemate in March 2020.
Kevin Nisbet has scored in his past five home games in the Premiership (eight goals), the first player to do so for Aberdeen since Adam Rooney in December 2015. The last player to score in six successive home appearances for any side in the competition was Kevin van Veen in May 2023, while the last Scottish player to do so was Kris Doolan in May 2017.
Boston, MA - April 8: Boston Red Sox infielders bundle up against the cold during a pitching change on a night when the wind chill was 23 degrees. (Photo by Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Before Tuesday’s game against the Yankees, Sam Kennedy joined Tom Caron on the NESN pregame show and gave us the following answer when asked about the team’s lack of power:
“We gotta start hitting the ball out of the ballpark. I think a lot of guys are gonna start to heat up. I was actually talking to folks from the other side, and they said after this cold weather you’re gonna see a lot more home runs. They hit a lot of home runs last week when it was 80 degrees in New York City. So let’s get a little home cooking, a little warm weather, and hopefully we get going.”
Moments later, the game began with a first pitch temperature of 47 degrees, and in the top of the second inning, Giancarlo Stanton did this:
It’s a good thing it wasn’t 80 degrees, right Sam? Otherwise that ball might have gone 500 feet. Really dodged a bullet on that one!
See, the problem isn’t just that the Red Sox don’t hit the ball out of the park when it’s cold, it’s that they don’t do anything well when it’s cold! If it’s so hard to hit for power when the mercury is low, why is Garrett Crochet giving up bombs to the Tigers? Or going back to the previous homestand, why was the defense throwing the ball all over the place against the Padres in the cold? This isn’t a reflection on the bad weather. It’s a reflection of how the Red Sox play in bad weather.
Here’s the reality: Is it harder to hit home runs in cold weather? Yes. But it’s also harder to pitch, field, grip the ball, maintain focus and get warmed up. The only way it becomes easier to do these things is if your opponent is soft and bothered by these conditions. And guess what? The Red Sox are that opponent.
Over the last three seasons, Boston is now 7-17 in the 24 games they’ve played with a first pitch temperature at 50 degrees or below (with one exception, which we’ll get to in a moment). That’s an abysmal .292 wining percentage, and would extrapolate out to a 47-115 record over a 162 game season.
But the play in cooler conditions isn’t just bad overall, it’s specifically getting worse by the year. So far in 2026, the Sox are sporting a vile 2-8 record in these circumstances. Here’s how it breaks down in detail over the last three seasons:
(Eagle eyed readers might notice I’m actually missing a game from the 2026 sample, and that’s the exception I mentioned above. Technically, the Marathon Monday match up belongs on this list with a first pitch temperature of 47 degrees, but I removed it because with the 11am start time, temperatures were actually rising through the 50s as the game progressed. In other words, it’s not comparable to your 1:30pm afternoon starts where the first pitch temperature will be close to the high for the day; and it’s the exact opposite of your evening April starts where it will keep getting colder as the game goes on. So for the spirit of this exercise, I dropped it from the analysis.)
There are two schools of thought you can take from the tables above: One is it doesn’t really matter as once you get beyond April, you just don’t see many more of these games. (Even October averages a full six degrees warmer than April in Boston.)
The other perspective? The cold weather data provides an early window into the team’s “give a damn” meter. In a sport where everything has to be at least partially tailored to surviving the grueling season, it would be so, so easy for any player to get in these conditions, conclude “yeah, this sucks!” and let go of the rope mentally for the evening knowing they’ve got 150 more games to iron things out.
This is where I’d like to bring everybody’s attention to the April 7th through April 10th games in the 2025 table above. That was a four game series at frigid Fenway against Toronto. And despite coming in as a dome team, the Blue Jays nearly swept the Sox. This is even more impressive when you consider that the Red Sox were really solid at Fenway in 2025, going an imposing 48-33. But it was Toronto who proved better at dealing with adversity from Mother Nature in Boston — and this is of course noteworthy because the Blue Jays ended up going all the way to Game 7 of the World Series. Perhaps that series in Fenway was just a little glimpse into their DNA, and a harbinger of what was to come.
Meanwhile, here was Alex Cora’s quote from the middle of that series explaining why his pitchers didn’t throw well in the first two games.
“I went out to the mound twice and I felt it. It was windy too. In the dugout it was OK, but then you go out there and it’s tough,”
Need more evidence about the barometer that is Fenway Park in April and its relationship to the season as a whole? Let’s look at the Red Sox record through 30 games in their four most recent World Series championship seasons:
2004: 19-11
2007: 20-10
2013: 20-10
2018: 22-8
I won’t overwhelm you with more tables about specific games, but the pattern here is overwhelmingly clear. When the Red Sox win the World Series, they come storming out of the gate despite dealing with the Fenway’s early chill. All four of these teams posted a higher winning percentage in their first 30 games than they did over the 162 game season, and I think that’s at least in part due to the fact that they were just more ready to go than their opponents. So when that hideous east wind kicked up off the Gulf of Maine and made conditions miserable at Fenway, they were more adept to deal with it, and it turned into an advantage.
Lastly, I think it’s worth discussing what makes Fenway’s early season cold unique and why it may provide a better litmus test of which teams have the most moxie compared to pretty much any other location. Sure, it’s a northern city, which is probably the first direction that comes to mind when thinking about cold air, but what really separates Fenway in this conversation from all the other ballparks is that it’s so far to the east. This means it both sticks out into the ocean, and is on the front lines when the wind has any inkling of blowing off it. Just take a look at the temperatures yesterday when the wind was out of the south and notice how New England is the only area in the northeast and Great Lakes that didn’t benefit from that.
But the connections between Fenway, April, and cold ocean water run much deeper than you might ever imagine. The park opened in April of 1912, the same week the Titanic sank in icebergf waters — But perhaps even more amazing; the Titanic wreck site is on a latitude line located slightly SOUTH of Boston (41°43 N compared to Fenway’s 42°34 N).
As it turns out, that same Labrador Current that comes down from the Arctic and sends icebergs down the east side of Canada’s waters ends up turning west before flowing in the Gulf of Maine, where it waits for the chance to blow into Fenway Park before things warm up later in spring.
Even to this day you can look at a sea surface temperature map and see how this plays out:
The is all a long way of saying that the uniqueness of this phenomenon should be an advantage for the Red Sox! Sam Kennedy spoke about how it was already 80 degrees in New York for the Yankees for a few games this season, and that’s just not going to happen very often for the Red Sox in April. Instead, this period should be used each year as an opportunity for the guys to get close, learn to play for each other, and tough it out for the betterment of the group. It’s not going to be pleasant, but that’s the point. If done successfully, it means you have a little something extra inside the walls of the clubhouse for when those warmer and brighter days inevitably do show up and you’re tested in other ways.
Unfortunately, the 2026 Red Sox completely failed this experiment. Now, they’re going to have to buck a 9-15 start, and the weight of history is working against them. Unless they’re made of much sterner stuff than they appear, that’s going to be a much more difficult task to play through than the cold air they just endured.
Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of the club soccer season but should be healthy for the World Cup.
Barcelona announced Thursday that the 18-year-old wouldn’t feature again for the club this spring after suffering a left hamstring injury in the team’s LaLiga win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
The tests carried out have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury in his left leg (biceps femoris muscle).
The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season, and he is expected to be available… pic.twitter.com/8UU4Bg9bDh
Yamal, one of the best players in the world, scored a penalty late in the first half. However, he fell to the ground not long after kicking the ball and went straight to the locker room after receiving treatment on the field.
The nature of the injury immediately raised questions about Yamal’s availability for the World Cup given that the tournament starts in less than two months. But the winger should be available for Spain when the reigning European champions start their World Cup campaign on June 15 against Cape Verde.
Yamal’s star turn began in Euro 2024 as he was a massive part of Spain’s title run. He led all players with four assists in the tournament as Spain beat England in the final.
Across 36 LaLiga and Champions League games this season, Yamal has scored 22 goals and added 15 assists. Barcelona was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Champions League a week ago by LaLiga rival Atletico Madrid.
However, Barcelona is cruising to the LaLiga title. Though Yamal will miss a May 10 home game against Real Madrid, it’s a game that shouldn’t have much impact on the title race. Barcelona has a nine-point lead on Real Madrid and is up 21 points on third-place Villareal with six games remaining in the regular season.
Pittsburgh is buzzing with excitement as fans gather to witness football’s next generation take center stage at the 2026 NFL Draft.
The time allotted for each first-round pick has been reduced by two minutes this year – from 10 to eight. The shortened window is likely to speed up the first round and force teams to move swiftly. This marks the first adjustment to the selection clock since 2008, when it was reduced from 15 to 10 minutes.
The timing for the later rounds remains unchanged. Teams will have seven minutes per pick in the second round and five minutes per selection in rounds three through seven. This continuity allows teams some breathing room as the draft progresses, but the pressure will still be on to make strategic decisions quickly.
Here is the first round 2026 NFL Draft order, and we went one step further by giving the estimated time teams will be on the clock for their first-round pick on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
The 2026 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 23, with the first round starting at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can view it on NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, with streaming options available on ESPN+ and NFL+.
Date: April 23
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network
Stream: NFL+, ESPN+
Location: Pittsburgh
2026 NFL Draft order and estimated pick time
The 2026 NFL Draft coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, with the draft itself starting at the same time. This year, each first-round team will have just eight minutes to make its selection.
The broadcast is expected to last approximately 3-4 hours. The following times are rough pre-draft estimates, based on the eight-minute limit per pick. For example, the Las Vegas Raiders are the first team on the clock and must submit their selection by 8:08 p.m. ET, with subsequent picks following in similar intervals. These estimates provide fans with an idea of when their favorite teams may be on the clock, though actual times may vary as the draft unfolds.
The Colts are not scheduled to be on the clock at all in the first round of the draft on Thursday night because of a trade they made during the 2025 season.
Indianapolis sent their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the Jets in order to acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner in a move that signaled the Colts felt they were in position to make a run at the Super Bowl. Injuries to Gardner and quarterback Daniel Jones contributed to a season-ending seven-game losing streak that kept the Colts from even making the playoffs and led to some criticism of how much they gave up in order to add Gardner to the roster.
Jones is progressing in his Achilles rehab and Gardner said this week that he's fully healthy ahead of a season that some will view as a further referendum on the wisdom of the trade. Gardner said he does not feel any added burden because of the circumstances that brought him to the team.
“I’m the first-round pick — I’m the first-round pick two times,” Gardner said, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “We’re gonna get our money. We’re gonna do our thing on defense, especially, but the whole team is gonna do our thing. There’s no pressure. We think about what we do have, and that’s me. If I’ve gotta be the first-round pick the next two years, then I’m gonna work regardless. There’s already a lot on my plate, me being me, but it ain’t nothin’ I can’t handle, and I feel like we’ve got the guys to get where we wanna go, and bare minimum, that’s getting to the playoffs. I’m very confident in this team, in general, and the coaches and players and everything."
The Colts have not been to the playoffs since 2020 and falling short again would not do much to support the rationale for the Gardner move. It also wouldn't do much to ensure continuity on the coaching staff and personnel department heading into the 2027 season, so the corner might be on an island when it comes to feeling no pressure at this point.
The NBA draft will be held June 23-24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. A deadline for early entries to enter the NBA draft is Friday at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Ahead of the early entry deadline, Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports released an updated NBA mock draft. He projects Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament as the No. 18 overall pick in the first round to Charlotte.
"Tennessee fans are waiting for Ament to choose whether to return to college or head to the NBA," O'Connor said. "League front office executives tell me that his agency, LIFT Sports Management, is split on the decision because they believe that Ament could be the No. 1 pick in 2027. If Ament falls outside of the lottery, he’d be playing for less money this year and potentially hurting his future earnings. For financial reasons it may make sense to return, and more importantly, for his own development to get one more year to improve physically and progress his skills."
Ament appeared in 35 games, including 35 starts, for the Vols during the 2025-26 season. He averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
The New York Giants are the most interesting team heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. They’re the only team that has two of the top 10 picks, and nobody seems certain what they intend to do with those picks.
That’s just how the Giants brass wants it as they head into their first draft under new head coach John Harbaugh. Although we’re over four months from the regular season, New York is always competing against 31 other teams, and you never want your opponents to know your plans.
For months, speculation has run wild over what the team will do with the fifth overall pick. With the draft just hours away, opinions and mock drafts still vary on who will be the newest Giant.
The players who have generated the most buzz are Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State Buckeyes Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate, and Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. But there have also been speculations that the team is not as high on them as some people believe.
Harbaugh, general manager Joe Schoen, and senior Vice President of Football operations Dawn Aponte have done an excellent job of disguising which direction the team might go with their first pick. This is a stark contrast to the past two drafts, where it was clear New York was eyeing Malik Nabers in 2024 and Abdul Carter last year.
After acquiring the 10th overall pick from the Cincinnati Bengals in the Dexter Lawrence trade, nobody is certain who the Giants might take with their second pick. If Downs and Mauigoa are still available, some feel the team won’t pass on both players a second time. In addition, there’s a thought that they could take LSU corner Mansoor Delane. But over the last few days, there’s been buzz that the team is high on Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
Of the receivers in this draft class, the 6’2 203-pound Tyson is viewed as the player with the highest ceiling as he has the speed and size to be a dynamic player. However, he has a history of knee, collarbone, and hamstring injuries, and there are concerns about how his body will hold up playing on the MetLife Stadium turf.
There are reports that the team would consider trading down from 10 to the middle or late first round and acquire more picks since the team is without a third-round pick. The belief is they would use the mid or late round one pick and take a defensive tackle to replace Lawrence.
The bottom line is, nobody outside the Giants organization knows for certain how they’ll approach the first round of the draft, and you have to give credit to everyone involved for putting up smoke screens. In the previous build-ups to the draft, the team operated like they were playing checkers; this year, they’re playing chess and have everyone guessing which move they’ll make.
The Kansas City Chiefs are set to make two picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft this evening.
With their No. 9 and 29 selections, the Chiefs will have an excellent opportunity to add young prospects who can help sustain their fledgling dynasty, which saw its reputation tarnished after a disappointing regular-season campaign last year.
Set to kick off at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the 2026 NFL Draft, or Annual Player Selection Meeting, as it has been formally named by the league, represents Kansas City's last best chance to add top talent in the offseason.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach will have his hands full picking from the elite crop of collegiate stars who will be available when Kansas City makes its No. 9 and 29 picks in Round 1.
Stay tuned to find out who the Chiefs will pick, and how Kansas City's trajectory might change based on Veach's draft-day decisions.
Over the past five seasons, Major League Baseball’s champions have demonstrated the importance of roster depth, pitching versatility, and timely hitting in October. From the consistent excellence of the Los Angeles Dodgers to the breakthrough moment of the Texas Rangers, this era reflects a league where multiple team-building philosophies can lead to a championship. The Dodgers’ back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025 underscore the value of sustained investment in elite talent and organizational depth, while the Rangers’ 2023 victory highlighted resilience and opportunistic offense.
The Houston Astros continued their run of contention with a 2022 championship built on experience and disciplined execution, while the Atlanta Braves showcased a balanced approach in 2021, combining power hitting with strong pitching performances. Across all five champions, a common thread emerges: the ability to perform under pressure in a postseason defined by small margins and momentum swings.
In today’s MLB, success is no longer solely about star power — it requires depth across the lineup, a reliable pitching staff, and the composure to execute in critical moments. These champions collectively represent the evolving blueprint of October baseball.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) celebrates on the podium during the post game celebration after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Dodgers captured back-to-back titles with a deep, star-powered roster that delivered in clutch moments. Players like Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani played pivotal roles, combining power hitting with postseason consistency. Their ability to outlast opponents in high-pressure games—including a dramatic Game 7—highlighted their resilience and depth. The championship reinforced Los Angeles as the standard for sustained excellence in modern baseball.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers — 2024
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) celebrates with the Commissioner’s Trophy after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in game four to win the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Los Angeles’ 2024 title showcased one of the most complete rosters in baseball, blending elite offense with strong pitching. Freeman continued to anchor the lineup, while contributions across the roster created constant pressure on opposing pitchers. Their postseason run was marked by efficiency and composure, particularly in closing out tight games. This victory set the stage for their repeat championship the following year.
3. Texas Rangers — 2023
Texas Rangers owner Ray Davis (right) and COO Neil Leibman (center) and general manager Chris Young celebrate with the World Series trophy after winning the 2023 World Series in five game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Rangers secured their first-ever World Series title behind the leadership of Corey Seager and a resilient roster that thrived under pressure. Seager’s MVP performance and timely hitting powered Texas through a surprising postseason run. Their pitching staff delivered in key moments, shutting down opponents when it mattered most. The championship marked a historic milestone for the franchise.
Houston Astros hoist the World Series trophy after the Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in game six winning the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston’s 2022 championship highlighted a balanced roster built on both elite pitching and timely offense. Stars like José Altuve and Yordan Álvarez provided consistent production throughout the postseason. The Astros’ disciplined approach and experience allowed them to control games and minimize mistakes. Their victory further solidified their place as one of the era’s most successful franchises.
5. Atlanta Braves — 2021
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker hoists the Commissioner’s Trophy after defeating the Houston Astros in game six of the 2021 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta’s 2021 World Series win was fueled by a balanced lineup and dominant pitching performances. Freddie Freeman led the offense, while contributions from Jorge Soler—the World Series MVP—proved decisive. The Braves’ ability to adapt and capitalize on opportunities carried them through the postseason. Their championship marked a return to prominence for one of baseball’s historic franchises.
Conclusion
Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (right) and pitcher Aroldis Chapman celebrate with the trophy after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks to win the 2023 World Series at Chase Field. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The last five World Series champions highlight a league defined by balance, depth, and postseason execution. Whether through star-driven rosters or well-rounded lineups, each team found its own path to success. In the end, October baseball continues to reward those who can perform when every pitch matters most.
The 2026 NFL draft is finally here, and as has become commonplace over the past few years, the Oregon Ducks are expected to be part of the conversation over the next few days.
Over a half-dozen former Ducks are expecting to hear their names called at the draft this weekend, with a couple of them holding a good chance to continue Oregon's streak of first-round draft picks, making it six years in a row that a member of the Ducks went among the top 32 picks.
In total, Oregon has had 25 first-round picks, dating back to quarterback George Shaw in 1955. There's a chance that number could reach 26, or even 27, this year if both TE Kenyon Sadiq and S Dillon Thieneman are selected, which many projects will happen in the first round.
Should that happen, those two would join an elite list of former Ducks to go in the first round. Here's a look at who came before them.
QB George Shaw (1955)
Overall Pick: 1
Team: Baltimore Colts
DB Jim Smith (1968)
Overall Pick: 12
Team: Washington Redskins
WR Ahmad Rashad (1972)
Overall Pick: 4
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
OT Tom Drougas (1972)
Overall Pick: 22
Team: Baltimore Colts
TE Russ Francis (1975)
Overall Pick: 16
Team: New England Patriots
DB Mario Clark (1976)
Overall Pick: 18
Team: Buffalo Bills
OG Gary Zimmerman (1984)
Overall Pick: 3
Team: New York Giants
QB Chris Miller (1987)
Overall Pick: 13
Team: Atlanta Falcons
DB Alex Molden (1996)
Overall Pick: 11
Team: New Orleans Saints
QB Akili Smith (1999)
Overall Pick: 3
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
QB Joey Harrington (2002)
Overall Pick: 3
Team: Detroit Lions
DL Haloti Ngata (2006)
Overall Pick: 12
Team: Baltimore Ravens
RB Jonathan Stewart (2008)
Overall Pick: 13
Team: Carolina Panthers
DE Dion Jordan (2013)
Overall Pick: 3
Team: Miami Dolphins
OL Kyle Long (2013)
Overall Pick: 20
Team: Chicago Bears
QB Marcus Mariota (2015)
Overall Pick: 2
Team: Tennessee Titans
DE Arik Armstead (2015)
Overall Pick: 17
Team: San Francisco 49ers
DE DeForest Buckner (2016)
Overall Pick: 7
Team: San Francisco 49ers
QB Justin Herbert (2020)
Overall Pick: 6
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
LT Penei Sewell (2021)
Overall Pick: 7
Team: Detroit Lions
DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (2022)
Overall Pick: 5
Team: New York Giants
CB Christian Gonzalez (2023)
Overall Pick: 17
Team: New England Patriots
QB Bo Nix (2024)
Overall Pick: 12
Team: Denver Broncos
DT Derrick Harmon (2025)
Overall Pick: 21
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
OT Josh Conerly Jr. (2025)
Overall Pick: 29
Team: Washington Commanders
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Lamine Yamal is set to be sidelined for the remainder of the season but should be fit for this summer’s World Cup, according to his club side Barcelona.
The 18-year-old had scored the only goal of the game by confidently dispatching a 40th-minute penalty into the bottom right-hand corner but pulled up just as he went to wheel away in celebration, immediately signalling something to the bench before collapsing to the ground and holding the back of his left leg.
He was swiftly replaced by Roony Bardghji and the worst was feared with rumours of severe hamstring injury, as he quickly underwent scans to confirm the severity of the issue.
On Thursday afternoon, Barcelona posted an update on his condition, suggesting returning in time for the World Cup was very much still on the cards – even if his club season is over.
“The tests carried out have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury in his left leg (biceps femoris muscle),” read the Barca statement.
“The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season, and he is expected to be available for the World Cup.”
Lamine Yamal had scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot (AP)But then was carted off the pitch in a great deal of pain (AP)
Barcelona currently have a nine-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga as they look to defend the title they won last year, although their Champions League dream is over after being beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.
It is a little over seven weeks until Spain begin their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on 15 June, which would be enough time for a minor hamstring tear to heal, with a prognosis of around five weeks the norm in that situation.
La Roja will be desperate to have their teenage talisman available after he helped them to glory at Euro 2024 as a 16-year-old – and was named the young player of the tournament in the process. Spain have won the World Cup just once in their history – back in 2010.
He last featured for the Springboks against Argentina in August 2023 and was part of the South Africa squad that faced the British and Irish Lions in 2021, although he did not play against the tourists.
"It's definitely still a desire for me to play for them," said Dweba.
He has played 18 times in all competitions for Exeter this season, helping the Chiefs reach the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup and occupy a play-off place in the Prem.
"As a player you just need to perform," he added. "So the moment you perform on the field you're definitely going to get your shot.
"I'm basically just focusing on just performing for my club and if our club does well then the rest will take care of itself."
Dweba has vast experience, having played in Super Rugby for Cheetahs, the United Rugby Championship for Stormers and the French Top 14 with Bordeaux.
He says when he got the chance to work with Exeter boss Rob Baxter it was one he could not turn down.
He feels he has "grown as a player" while at Sandy Park, having become one of the experienced heads in the squad.
"As a young player you're always looking at leaders that are older than you that have been in the system for such a long time," he said.
"Now that role is reversed, now you are the bit of the old one, the guy with experience and stuff like that.
"It's just how you channel your experience and how you actually speak to younger players. How can you help them help you?
Coming here he's [Rob Baxter] actually helped me with that situation, saying, 'listen, you are older, yes, you've got experience, but how can you take that experience, give it to a youngster to help him that it's going to help you in the field,'.
"So that has helped me off the field and on the field."
Dobbins is yet to play through a full season in his career, and Denver's rushing attack suffered after Dobbins went down with a foot injury last fall. RJ Harvey was a dynamic complement to Dobbins in coach Sean Payton's offense, but Harvey has not proved to be a reliable workhorse back when Dobbins is not available.
So, expect the Broncos to add another running back during this week's NFL draft. Today, we're taking a quick look at five running backs who could be available at one of Denver's first three picks (Nos. 62, 108 and 111).
Running backs for Broncos in NFL draft
1. Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price (5-10, 203 pounds): Price probably won't be on the board when Denver picks at No. 62, but a few recent mock drafts have predicted he will be. Price is a dynamic player who offers value as a runner, receiver and returner.
2. Arkansas RB Mike Washington (6-1, 223 pounds): Washington impressed at the NFL combine, running a 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds. He rushed for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns in the SEC last fall.
3. Washington RB Jonah Coleman (5-8, 220 pounds): Coleman might be an ideal upgrade over Tyler Badie as RB3 because he's a skilled pass blocker who offers more than Badie as a runner and as a receiver out of the backfield. Coleman scored 17 touchdowns in 2025.
4. Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson (5-10, 202 pounds): Johnson had a productive senior season, rushing for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 370 receiving yards and three more scores as a receiver out of the backfield last fall.
5. Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton (6-0, 219 pounds): Singleton can get it done as a runner, receiver and returner, setting a Nittany Lions record with 5,586 all-purpose yards and 55 total touchdowns in four seasons.
The NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh this week, with Round 1 set for Thursday evening, Rounds 2-3 scheduled for Friday and Rounds 4-7 set for Saturday. We'll have coverage of Denver's picks on Broncos Wire.
The Kansas City Chiefs lack both star power and depth at defensive end. The team needs to invest multiple selections over the next few years into rebuilding the defensive front. Wide receiver is the only position group with more top 100-caliber talent in the 2026 NFL Draft than edge rusher. That opens the door for the Chiefs to make selections at both long-term positions of need.
Auburn Tigers defensive end Keyron Crawford is a developmental prospect who is still learning the position. He only began playing football in 2021 and spent the first half of his college career at Arkansas State before transferring to Auburn. Crawford needs a longer runway to reach his potential than most edge prospects in this class, but Ashton Gillotte’s presence on the roster gives the Chiefs flexibility with his timeline.
Crawford is an explosive pass rusher with the burst off the line to generate quick pressures. Even when he doesn’t time his first step well, Crawford possesses the acceleration to reach his top speed and beat offensive tackles around their outside shoulders. He relies heavily on his speed because his 6'4", 253 lb. frame lacks the power to win through the offensive tackle’s frame.
Keyron Crawford is the other half of Auburn’s EDGE duo, and is the better pass rusher at the moment 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ct57ODtU9P
Crawford needs to perfect his pass rush plan and add more counters and secondary rush moves. He currently relies heavily on club-swims, rips, spins, stab-chops, swims and two-handed swipes. Crawford attacks the B-gap with a speed rush and uses his smooth change of direction to exchange gaps post-snap.
Crawford’s arms are only 32 inches, which puts him in the eighth percentile among edge rushers. He struggles to recover when the offensive tackle lands the first punch, and his lack of power prevents him from mitigating his limited length in the same way as players like Rueben Bain Jr. and Gabe Jacas. His bend at the top of the rush is also inconsistent, which sometimes confines him to being a one-trick speed rusher.
Crawford is a high motor defender who shows flashes of overcoming his length limitations in the run game. He doesn’t apply consistent force at the point of attack to stack and shed blocks, but he posted some flashes in 2025 that suggest he will develop the technique.
Crawford also offers unique value in coverage. His speed and change of direction help him succeed dropping into shallow zones and taking away the flat.
Crawford is a mid-Day 3 talent that some NFL team will bet on in the third round.
This week is about as good as it gets for the Tyson brothers.
Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson is expected to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. Jaylon Tyson, meanwhile, plays for a Cleveland Cavaliers team that's gotten off to a 2-0 series lead over the Toronto Raptors in the NBA playoffs.
The Cavs can take a decisive 3-0 lead tonight, around the same time Jordyn will be learning where he'll call his NFL home.
Born 20 months apart, Jordyn and Jaylon are lifelong best friends who competed against each other constantly during childhood. Iron clearly sharpened iron, as Cleveland selected Jaylon in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft while Jordyn is arguably the top wide receiver prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
"It's going to be a surreal moment. It's going to be an emotional moment for me for sure."
Jaylon made a huge leap in Year 2, upping his regular-season averages to 13.2 points and 5.1 rebounds after hardly seeing the floor as a rookie. He also shot a blistering 44.6% from 3-point range. While he hasn't played much in the playoffs yet, that could change on a dime.
Jordyn has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but when he's on the field, he's unguardable. His best season came in 2024, when he led the Sun Devils with 75 catches, 1,1101 yards and 10 touchdowns.
With the Cleveland Browns owning the 24th pick in the draft, all eyes will be on whether they reunite the Tyson brothers and give Shedeur Sanders a new offensive weapon under first-year coach Todd Monken.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a new era, as Mike Tomlin will not be the head coach of the team for the first time wince 2006.
Instead, the Steelers hired veteran head coach and Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy to take over, a sign that the organization believes it can still compete next year. This will be McCarthy's third stint as an NFL head coach, and he had success at the previous two stops with both the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.
Still, Pittsburgh hasn't advanced past the first round of the playoffs since the 2016 season. The Steelers have also not found a longterm answer at quarterback, although the team could use an influx of young talent across the entire roster.
The good news for the Steelers is that they enter the draft with a dozen picks, giving them plenty of ammo to improve the roster. The Sporting News is tracking every Steelers pick in the 2026 draft.
The Steelers enter the draft with 12 picks, among the most in the league.
Round 1, Pick 21:
Round 2, Pick 53:
Round 3, Pick 76:
Round 3, Pick 85:
Round 3, Pick 99:
Round 4, Pick 121:
Round 4, Pick 135:
Round 5, Pick 161:
Round 6, Pick 216:
Round 7, Pick 224:
Round 7, Pick 230:
Round 7, Pick 237:
Steelers NFL Draft needs
Quarterback: As the Steelers wait to see if Aaron Rodgers will return for another year, Pittsburgh's quarterback room is currently among the weakest in the NFL. Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are the only two quarterbacks currently on the team, so one way or another Pittsburgh needs to add a third player to the quarterback room. While this is considered a weak quarterback class behind Fernando Mendoza, the Steelers could take a flier on a young quarterback with one of their four day-two picks.
Offensive line: The Steelers have needs across the offensive line, both on the interior and at offensive tackle. Pittsburgh lost starting guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency and didn't replace him externally, so drafting a guard high is very much in play. Additionally, starting left tackle Broderick had season-ending neck surgery last year, and has since had a setback in his recovery, so the Steelers may need to add tackle insurance during the draft.
Wide receiver: While Pittsburgh traded for Michael Pittman Jr. to pair with DK Metcalf, the team still has depth issues at wide receiver. The Steelers' current No 3 and 4 wide receivers are Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek, and neither have been more than depth options in their careers. Therefore, Pittsburgh should draft a wide receiver with one of their five picks in the first three rounds.
Chelsea going for manager who “has a pedigree of success at a high level”
Chelsea are reportedly now going to go for a new manager who “has a pedigree of success at a high level”.
Chelsea announced that Liam Rosenior has been sacked yesterday afternoon, and now the search for a new manager has begun. It doesn’t look like there is going to be any rush though, and they are going to take the time until the end of the season to make the right pick.
EXCLUSIVE!! New names to replace Liam Rosenior and inside story on why he was sacked!
If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as apreferred source on Googleto make us a favourite and see more of ourcontent.
I don’t think that Chelsea fans will have any faith that they will get a good name and also, which good name is going to want to come to this club under these owners?
Pedigree of manager coming in
Kaveh Solhekol on Sky Sports.
In words picked up by SPTC today, Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol said:
“Much has been said and written about what’s gone wrong at Chelsea. Much of the criticism is justified, but it should not be forgotten that nine of the players who played in the abject defeat at Brighton also played in the 3-0 victory over Barcelona five months ago. Sometimes the manager really is the problem – as well as everything else.
“When it comes to making a permanent appointment, Chelsea are going to take their time. There is no shortlist and there is no No 1 candidate at the moment.
“In order to not make the mistakes of the past, they are likely to target a manager with proven Premier League experience and/or who has a pedigree of success at a high level.
“It is easy to say a manager has lost the dressing room when results are bad, but it was obvious from watching how Chelsea performed on Tuesday that some of the players no longer believed in what Rosenior was trying to get them to do.”
In other news today…
There are expected to be between five to ten candidates to become Chelsea’s next manager with there admiration for Cesc Fabregas according to reports that came out yesterday.
Liam Rosenior’s fallout with certain groups in the Chelsea dressing room was apparently key to his downfall, and it was apparently the Spanish speaking players who disliked him the most.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONTHE APP STORE
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (81) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
After falling into a rut in the middle of April, the Yankees starting rotation has righted the ship in its last turn. Since the start of the series against the Royals, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, Luis Gil, and Max Fried all authored some of the best starts of their Yankees careers. After Fried’s gem against the Red Sox on Wednesday, their starting staff stood atop the MLB heap in both ERA and fWAR. However, it’s Gil’s start the evening before that we’re going to focus on for this week’s installation in Sequence of the Week.
Gil entered the series opener on Tuesday coming off a pair of mediocre performances against the Rays and Angels. He had given up seven runs in nine innings (7.00 ERA) including an unsightly four home runs. With the returns of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón from their elbow surgery rehabs looming on the horizon, you felt that Gil’s days in the rotation, and indeed on the major league roster, were numbered.
We join Gil with two outs in the second, the Yankees out to an early 1-0 lead courtesy of a Giancarlo Stanton moonshot over the Green Monster. Marcelo Mayer stands on second following a two out double, so Gil has to lock in here to prevent the Red Sox from immediately answering.
Gil had been spraying his four-seamer wildly through the first seven batters he faced. This fact combined with the need for a damage-mitigating pitch is likely behind Austin Wells’ decision to call for a first pitch sinker here.
Really good execution of the sinker here from Gil. It’s just an inch or two off the corner low and away — a call that could have gone either way but is given as ball one. He may have missed the zone with the previous pitch, but it was executed the way he wanted so there is no reason to get scared off the sinker.
This time the sinker lands squarely in the zone for a called strike one. Durbin must be hunting something inside, because he’s not even interested in offering at this heater that catches a lot of the plate. Perhaps Gil and Wells pick up on this, because they go right back to the well looking to execute a third straight sinker to the outer half.
Some excellent framing from Wells earns a generous strike two call. I’m surprised Durbin doesn’t challenge this pitch given the situation — you can see he isn’t impressed with the call but hesitates after Boston burned one of their ABS challenges earlier.
After three straight sinkers away, Gil has the situation perfectly set up for a changeup below the zone hunting the inning-ending strikeout.
What a great pitch for the strikeout! Gil perfectly executes this changeup over the plate but below the zone to induce the chase and whiff. This pitch looks like a strike for so long before diving downward at the last moment. It’s not just Gil’s command of the pitch to that spot that is impressive but his ability to tunnel it with the sinker he threw right before.
Out of the hand and for about half of it’s path toward home, the changeup looks a lot like the sinker that immediately preceded it for a called strike. In Durbin’s mind, he cannot take this pitch out of fear that he will get punched out on exactly the same pitch that put him in the two-strike hole.
Though still not close to his AL Rookie of the Year form in 2024, Gil demonstrated several encouraging signs in this start. I support the increased sinker usage. Gil dropped his arm slot last season to compensate for the lat injury he suffered preseason — this robs his four-seamer of its riding life and is better suited for throwing a sinker (plus he generally exhibits better command of sinker vs. four-seamer). I also loved a handful of the changeups he threw in this game. As Joe Girardi mentioned on the broadcast, the changeup seems to be Gil’s go-to pitch to reset his mechanics, allowing him to find the right release point when he starts getting wild with the fastball and slider.
That being said, Gil’s name is likely the first on the chopping block once Rodón returns in the coming weeks. His floor is just so much lower than the other starters who are candidates to be displaced from the rotation. The main issues for Gil are command and a limited repertoire. His walk rate of 12.3-percent is almost double the next-worst starter in the rotation. His ERA is a run higher than anyone else and his 7.32 FIP more than double the next-worst mark. His primary competition — Will Warren and Ryan Weathers — both possess deeper arsenals with at least five pitches each that they trust. Gil on the other hand rarely has all three of his pitches in fastball, slider, and changeup working for him when he starts, reducing him to a two-pitch and even sometimes a one-pitch pitcher. The wayward command particularly of his secondaries is a major driver of his plummeting strikeout rate — at 13.8-percent it’s less than half that of Warren and Weathers. All of this combines to result in Gil being the starter who inspires the least confidence when he takes the mound, and the Yankees have just too many good pitchers to justify keeping him in the rotation long term.
As Mumbai Indians gear up to face Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23, 2026, uncertainty surrounds the availability of Rohit Sharma, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.
A decision on Rohit’s participation will be taken just before the toss, with the team management closely monitoring his fitness ahead of the high-profile clash. There are encouraging signs from the Mumbai Indians camp. Rohit was seen batting in the nets on Wednesday, undergoing a controlled training session. However, ESPNcricinfo suggest he mostly faced throwdowns and avoided big shots during his 25-minute stint, indicating a cautious approach in his recovery.
— mipaltan (@mipaltan)
The injury, sustained earlier this month on April 12, has already ruled him out of MI’s last two matches against Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. If Rohit is deemed fit to bat but not field, MI could use him as an Impact Player to manage his workload. This would allow the team to utilize his batting strength without risking further strain on his hamstring.
In case Rohit is unavailable, Danish Malewar is likely to continue as an opener alongside Quinton de Kock, having filled in during his absence.
A Key Figure Against CSK
Rohit Sharma is the leading run-scorer in the history of the Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings rivalry, with 913 runs across 31 matches. He holds a significant advantage at today's venue, having surpassed 500 IPL runs against CSK alone at the Wankhede Stadium.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) currently lead the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) 21–18 in their 39 overall head-to-head encounters in the IPL as of April 2026 . When including their matches from the defunct Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20), the record stands at 22-19 across 41 meetings. These teams have met in a record four IPL finals (2010, 2013, 2015, and 2019). MI has won three of those four championship clashes (2013, 2015 and 2019). Although MI leads historically, CSK has been more successful recently, winning 5 of their last 6 meetings between 2022 and early 2025. MI won the most recent encounter on 20 April 2025 by 9 wickets.
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles (0) reacts in the first half at the Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
They say deadlines spur action, so here we are on the day of the 2026 NFL Draft presenting you with the most important story of the NFL calendar. Just in time, baby.
Thanks to Fran Duffy’s Diehard Draft Guide and Dane Brugler’s Beast for the essential treasure trove of names, beautiful names. All 344 names highlighted below are real prospects in this year’s draft.
Most likely to have a nose where his mouth should be
1. CJ Picazo, G, Concordia, St. Paul
Weirdest theme park
1. Isaiah World, T, Oregon
Most likely to get chased by a dog
1. Riley Mahlman, T, Wisconsin
Best compliment to a spider
1. Sterling Webb, DT, Missouri
Most likely to put raisins in the chicken salad
1. Ryan Whitely, C, Saginaw Valley State
Most likely to open an auto dealership
2. Josh Celiscar, Edge, South Florida
1. Jackson Carsello, C, Northwestern
Worst pop-up ad
1. Kam Olds, Edge, Kentucky
Most likely to have been conceived at a bar
5. Evan Beerntsen, G, Northwestern
4. Monkell Goodwine, DT, South Carolina
3. Jager Burton, C, Kentucky
2. Dacari Collins, WR, Louisville
1. Makylan Pounders, T, Louisville
Rudest response to the opening line of Moby Dick
1. Ismail Mahdi, RB, Arizona
Best chance to win a Royal Rumble
18. Trent Battle, RB, TCU
17. Jax Harrington, G, Louisiana
16. Rodeo Graham Jr., RB, Southeastern Louisiana
15. Scooby Williams, LB, Texas A&M
14. Justice James, CB, Kansas State
13. Octavian Smith Jr., WR, Maryland
12. Marlon Gunn Jr., RB, East Carolina
11. Karate Brenson, WR, Wake Forest
10. Trey Smack, K, Florida
9. Rasheed Reason, CB, East Carolina
8. Danarius Hollywood, CB, Prairie View A&M
7. Matthew McDoom, CB, Cincinnati
6. Cameron Threatt, CB, Delta State
5. Justus Johnson, CB, SE Missouri State
4. VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
3. Marcellus Marshall, G, Minnesota
2. Cash Jones, RB, Georgia
1. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Best news about you and Dupree
1. Ja’Naylon Dupree, WR, Jackson State
Most interesting low-level bad guy in a sci-fi trilogy
43. Michael Mokofisi, G, Utah
42. Jez Janvier, T, Southern Miss.
41. Shiyazh Pete, T, Kentucky
40. Tamarion Crumpley, CB, UAB
39. Botros Alisandro, CB, Old Dominion
38. Weylin Lapuaho, G, BYU
37. Inumidun Ayo-Durojaiye, LB, Yale
36. Zhen Sotelo, G, Hawaii
35. Ckelby Givens, Edge, Southern
34. Bayo Kannike, G, San Diego State
33. E. Jai Mason, WR, Charlotte
32. Zion Nason, DT, Louisiana Tech
31. Kolbe Katsis, WR, Northern Arizona
30. Trond Grizzell, WR, California
29. Jernias Tafia, DT, Colorado State
28. Nahree Biggins, RB, Central Michigan
27. Dekel Crowdus, WR, Wisconsin
26. Zelmar Vedder, CB, Houston
25. Keanu Koht, Edge, Vanderbilt
24. Mahamane Moussa, G, Louisville
23. Slade Shufelt, Edge, Portland State
22. Omar Aigbedion, G, Baylor
21. Zukudo Igwenagu, Edge, UMass
20. Alani Makihele, G, UNLV
19. Aghogho Eyafe, WR, Jacksonville State
18. Junior Tuihalamaka, Edge, Notre Dame
17. Ky’ron Craggette, RB, Seton Hill
16. Dodji Dahoue, T, Eastern Michigan
15. Nyzier Fourqurean, CB, Wisconsin
14. Jimto Obidegwu, T, North Texas
13. Jimeto Obigbo, G, Arizona State
12. Qian Magwood, WR, Ball State
11. Nuer Gatkuoth, Edge, Wake Forest
10. Mackavelli Malotumau, DT, Western Kentucky
9. Tsion Nunnally, WR, Idaho State
8. Kyndrich Breedlove, CB, Arizona State
7. Chubba Maae, G, Arizona
6. Pius Odjugo, DT, Ohio
5. Zy Crisler, G, Colorado
4. Shakespeare Louis, S, Southeastern Louisiana
3. Gafa Faga, DT, San Jose State
2. Elvin Fofanah, TE, Gardner-Webb
1. Laith Marjan, K, Kansas
Biggest fan of Outback Steakhouse
1. Noe Ruelas, K, UCF
Oct 4, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights kicker Noe Ruelas (16) kicks the extra point during the first quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Best full sentence
11. Jordan Favors, S, Appalachian State
10. Jake Burns, G, Bowling Green
9. Walker Parks, G, Clemson
8. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
7. Latrelle Smith-Leaks,
6. Kyron Drones, QB, Virginia Tech
5. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
4. Race Stewart, DT, Western Michigan
3. Kendric Rhymes, RB, Tennessee State
2. Diego Pounds, T, Ole Miss
1. Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma
Best name for a wayward drive
1. KJ Shankle, RB, East Texas A&M
Most obviously a fake name created by a kid
4. Victory David, WR, Western Colorado
3. Dan Dishman, TE, Texas-San Antonio
2. TJ Guy, Edge, Michigan
1. Jett Coolman, WR, Florida Atlantic
Most recently rejected Crayola color
1. Sincere Brown, WR, Colorado
Most likely transcription error you catch for the word “cameras” while scrolling Instagram
1. Cam Ross, WR, Virginia
Most handsome
2. Dash Luke, WR, Missouri State
1. Connor Finer, WR, Rhode Island
Worst sequel
1. Michael Jackson III, WR, Purdue
Juiciest rumor after the 8th grade dance
1. Bryan Felter, G, Rutgers
Most offputting way for Hank to describe the seasoning of his dish
1. Hank Pepper, LS, USC
Best nominative determinism
9. Noah Short, WR, Army
8. Aidan Meek, T, San Diego State
7. Sabastian Harsh, Edge, NC State
6. Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland
5. Jay Sharp, RB, West Florida
4. Jordan Smart, WR, Arkansa State
3. Jay Fair, WR, USC
2. Rashad Luckey, RB, Concord
1. Hayden Large, TE, Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Hayden Large (88) rushes the ball during the second half of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday October 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin.
Most surprising skirmish
1. Chance Battle, T, Indiana (Pa.)
Most disappointing answer when you find out what Kimo’s bringing to the potluck
1. Kimo Makane’ole, G, West Virginia
Most likely father of Pollard
1. Mysonne Pollard, S, Delaware
Most likely to trick you into calling you Stephen
1. Stephen Saywahn, S, Louisiana-Monroe
Best news about Cory’s effort to crack the safe
1. Cory Godinet, G, Texas-San Antonio
Nicest thing to say to Xavier
1. Xavier Ugorji, RB, Benedictine (Kan.)
Sexiest characters in the romance novel the woman next to you on the plane is reading
Most likely to be overheard during George of the Jungle’s job interview
1. George Sell, G, Wake Forest
Most likely to have twins
1. Reuben Fatheree II, T, Texas A&M
Happiest Dalton
1. Dalton Merryman, T, Houston
Most likely to have a happy-go-lucky son named Pierre
6. Jaxson Moi, DT, Tennessee
5. Martavius French, LB, Colorado
4. Yves Bosmans, WR, Charleston
3. David Chapeau, P, Louisville
2. Jaiden Francois, S, Duke
1. Jamel Fils-Aime, DT, Troy
Worst news for Mitchell the snowman
1. Mitchell Melton, Edge, Virginia
Most likely to be complimented for not even showing yet
1. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon, center, takes the field before the game against Oklahoma State at Autzen. He carries it so well!
Most embarrassing day for Cannon
1. Cannon Panfiloff, T, Montana
Most likely to declare bankruptcy
1. Sione Nomani, G, San Jose State
Least likely to declare bankruptcy
1. Al’Zillion Hamilton, CB, Fresno State
Most likely to run for local office
1. D’Andre Townes-Blue, G, Jackson State
Least serious Isaiah
1. Isaiah Sillemon, G, New Mexico
Best substitute when you can’t remember the phrase “French Canadian”
1. Montriel Lee, G, Central Oklahoma
Funniest spoonerism
22. Gage Summers, LB, Akron
21. Sam Benjamin, DT, San Diego State
20. Cam Miller, CB, Rutgers
19. Hunter Peck, Edge, Montana
18. Brock Fox, G, Augustana
17. Kam Dewberry, G, Alabama
16. Tawee Walker, RB, Cincinnati
15. Jay Hardy, DT, Auburn
14. Mason Jones, T, New Mexico
13. Paul Rubelt, T, UCF
12. Trent Battle, RB, TCU
11. Sam Howard, LB, Tulane
10. Pat Coogan, C, Indiana
9. Jake Timm, C, Buffalo
8. Ben Mann, LS, Boston College
7. Cory Hall, Edge, UNLV
6. Luke Petitbon, C, Florida State
5. Tommy Rittenhouse, QB, Illinois State
4. Dan Hicks, Edge, Mercer
3. Finn Lappin, P, Kansas
2. Nick Dawkins, C, Penn State
1. Jaren Kump, C, Utah
Worst out of office message
1. Jacob Bizy, G, Florida State
Most painful injury
1. Torrie Cox Jr., CB, Illinois
Best feet
1. Boogie Trotter, CB, Marshall
Most supportive thing to yell to Willis during the whittling competition
1. Carver Willis, G, Washington
Most likely to get you mistakenly kicked out of class
4. Sidney Fugar, T, Baylor
3. Febechi Nwaiwu, G, Oklahoma
2. Blake Bustard, T, Southern Miss.
1. Jaylen Fuksa, CB, Pittsburg State
Best name for a calf
1. Myles Mooyoung, CB, Coastal Carolina
Most stubborn
1. D’yoni Hill, CB, Wisconsin
Most single-minded polar bear predator
1. Chase Whitebear, CB, Oklahoma Baptist
Most likely product of an inter-sentience marriage
1. Andrew Wilson-Lamp, CB, Toledo
Most likely to be smoked by Aaron Rodgers
1. Justin Payoute, CB, Ferris State
Most paradoxical
1. Gentle Hunt, DT, Illinois
Most likely to be Greg Bovino’s screenname
1. Chief Borders, Edge, UNLV
Oddest recap of art class
1. Drew Stevens, K, Iowa
Most likely to make a knockoff guitar
1. Wes Pahl, P, Oklahoma State
Creepiest co-worker
2. Nate Glantz, QB, Lindenwood
1. Landon Ogles, P, Eastern Washington
Most lyrical
13. Bryson Eason, Edge, Tennessee
12. Quentin Moten, CB, Northern Arizona
11. Braylon Braxton, QB, Southern Miss.
10. Xavier Tolliver, S, Houston Christian
9. Ahmari Harvey, CB, Georgia Tech
8. Cody Hardy, TE, NC State
7. Isaiah Jatta, T, BYU
6. Markel Bell, T, Miami
5. Makai McCall, Edge, NC Central
4. Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa
3. Amorie Morrison, Edge, UAB
2. Jonjon Vaughns, LB, UCLA
1. Mo Olowo, S, Northern Iowa
Dec 31, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Kaden Wetjen (21) escapes a tackle from Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Bryan Longwell (11) in the third quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Least precocious
1. Isheem Young, S, Memphis
Most likely to be heard during a french broadcast of the 2000 World Series
1. Derik Lecaptain, LB, Minnesota
Most likely to have been your high school history teacher
1. Mister Williams, LB, San Diego State
Worst superhero
3. Jorel Liverpool, Edge, Charlotte
2. Noah Avinger, S, Utah State
1. Latrell Couchman, LB, Maine
Most likely nickname for Kevin to give himself when he’s tired of working in his dad’s office
1. Kevin Jobity Jr., DT, Syracuse
Most likely to call themselves a straight shooter
1. Frank Lee IV, Edge, Eastern Kentucky
Most likely to have the nickname “Hanson”
1. Jeffrey M’ba, DT, SMU
Worst babysitter
1. Christopher Eaton Jr., Edge, Sam Houston State
Biggest Frasier fan
1. Niles King, Edge, San Diego State
Most specific battlefield job
1. Cannon Butler, Edge, Iowa State
Most direct answer as to who these eels belong to
1. Ken Seals, QB, TCU
Coolest
1. Miles Davis, RB, Utah State
Best mode of transportation
1. Soloman Vanhorse, RB, Indiana
Weirdest way to describe time spent in the bathroom
1. Deuce Spann, WR, Pittsburgh
Busiest Friday night
3. Billy Pullen, Edge, Louisiana-Monroe
2. Maximus Pulley, S, Wofford
1. Joseph Manjack IV, WR, TCU
Most obviously created by faulty A.I.
20. Patrick Gurd, TE, Cincinnati
19. Colton Peoples, LS, Washington State
18. John Ferlmann, LS, Ohio State
17. Trenton Alan Yowe, CB, Arkansas State
16. Ty’metrius Patterson, LB, Benedict
15. Payton Zdroik, DT, Air Force
14. Caleb Junko, P, Pittsburgh
13. Benjamin Tolble, WR, Youngstown State
12. Wendol Philord, CB, Florida Atlantic
11. Var’Keyes Gumms, TE, UNLV
10. Nolan Ulm, WR, Eastern Washington
9. Xyre Wilson, WR, Valdosta State
8. Ty Pezza, WR, Brown
7. Az Williams, S, Troy
6. Jy Gilmore, CB, Georgia Tech
5. O’Mega Blake, WR, Arkansas
4. Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss
3. Andrew McIlquham, LS, UNLV
2. KK Reno, LB, Southeastern Louisiana
1. Qwyn Williams, DT, Hawaii
Best name for a late-night host’s dog
1. Jimmy Kibble, WR, Georgetown
Best shorthand when looking for the password to The Beast
1. Dane Key, WR, Nebraska
Most concise instructions to the painter
1. Tanner Wall, S, BYU
Best potential Chris Bermanisms
8. Lawrence “Mad” Hattar, G, Michigan
7. Monroe Free”Fal”ling, T, Georgia
6. Bryce “You” Boettcher “Butt I did,” LB, Oregon
5. Dillon Thieneman “Square,” S, Oregon
4. Max Iheanachor “Gesundheit,” T, Arizona State
3. KC “Immaculate” Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
2. Dariel “Haywood” Djabome, LB, Rutgers
1. Chy “Me a” Rivers, RB, Kentucky
Most likely to have a strong opinion about the best guard of all-time
7. Kobe Baynes, G, Kansas
6. Kobe Singleton, CB, Oregon State
5. Jordan Lovett, S, Kentucky
4. Kobe Paysour, WR, North Carolina
3. Kobe Stewart, Edge, Buffalo
2. Kobe Prentice, WR, Baylor
1. Michael Jordan Jr., DT, Fresno State
Rudest way to describe the congregation
2. Christian Hilborn, T, Washington State
1. Christian Hicks, Edge, Mercer
Deepest inner turmoil
1. Shakur Smalls, S, Arkansas
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) fights off Maine Black Bears defensive back Shakur Smalls (3) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Maine Black Bears at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.
Strongest sense of self
1. Tommy Thomas, WR, Chadron State
Oddest new playground game
1. Chase Belcher, RB, Kennesaw State
Most quicklyrejected Disney characters
5. Antavious Fish, LB, Sam Houston State
4. Coleby Hamm, RB, McNeese State
3. Anwar Sparrow, LB, Syracuse
2. Squirrel White, WR, Florida State
1. Mickey Rewolinski, G, Eastern Michigan
Best way to describe your recent stretch of happiness
1. Ben Smiley III, Edge, UConn
Most Canadian
2. Channing Canada, CB, TCU
1. Xavian Sorey Jr., LB, Arkansas
Clearest sign it’s been 23.5 years since “Hey Ma” was released
2. Cam’Ron Ransom, QB, Bethune-Cookman
1. Cam’Ron Stewart, Edge, Temple
Most fun to say
25. Jack Dingle, LB, Cincinnati
24. Scarlee Jean, T, Florida Atlantic
23. Kaufusi Pakofe, DT, BYU
22. Atticus Sappington, K, Oregon
21. Ephysians Prysock, CB, Washington
20. Gunner Maldonado, S, Kansas State
19. Fa’alili Fa’amoe, T, Wake Forest
18. Edward Bobino III, DT, Stephen F. Austin
17. Ryan Mosesso, T, UMass
16. Quindarius Dunnigan, Edge, Michigan State
15. Aneesh Vyas, DT, Washington
14. Tacario Davis, WR, Washington
13. Mana Taimani, DT, Colorado
12. Oluwaseyi Omotosho, LB, West Virginia
11. Kajiya Hollawayne, WR, Temple
10. Que McBroom, T, Louisiana-Monroe
9. Kapena Gushiken, S, Ole Miss
8. Tahj Ra-El, S, Purdue
7. David Tuihalangingie, LB, San Jose State
6. Alajujuan Sparks Jr., DT, Prairie View A&M
5. Toluwalope Ayedegbe, RB, British Columbia
4. Peseti Lapuaho, T, San Jose State
3. Kuao Peihopa, G, Hawaii
2. Pooda Walker, DT, Memphis
1. Chibuike Madu, Edge, Nigeria (IPP)
Most likely to become a lawyer
3. Council Allen, WR, Valdosta State
2. Logan Loya, WR, UCLA
1. J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, Florida
Worst drink
1. Jake Tarwater, TE, Fresno State
Most likely to be in heaven
3. Bishop Fitzgerald, S, USC
2. Brock Dieu, C, Washington State
1. Angel King, S, Weber State
Best characters in a crime novel you picked up at the airport
11. Dontay Corleone, WR, Cincinnati
10. Frankie Dunn Jr., CB, Jackson State
9. Jordan Crook, LB, Arizona State
8. Tommy Dunn Jr., DT, Kansas
7. Rocco Underwood, LS, Florida
6. Deno Wardlow, S, Charleston
5. Vito Tisdale Jr., CB, Eastern Kentucky
4. Mordecai McDaniel, S, Oklahoma State
3. Myles Slusher, S, Purdue
2. Guz Zilinskas, C, Rutgers
1. Sullivan Moon, K, Colorado Mesa
Best advice to diversify when you type “ha” too often
Borussia Dortmund youngster snubs Frankfurt move to sign new contract
18-year-old Elias Benkara has decided to extend his contract with Borussia Dortmund beyond the summer, according to Bild.
Benkara has reportedly held talks with Eintracht Frankfurt, while Feyenoord and RSC Anderlecht have also been linked with a move for the young defender.
However, it now appears he has now opted to stay at BVB, with a contract until 2029 expected to be signed soon.
The report claims the young centre-back believes he can break into the first team.
Benkara has already been included in the squad several times for Dortmund, but is still waiting for his senior debut.
The 2026 NFL Draft is nearly upon us. We know who'll be the first overall pick. After that, a crop of good-not-great prospects at most positions mean this year's draft is incredibly difficult to predict.
Fortunately, we know enough about what every franchise needs and which players have shined the brightest to make some educated guesses.
Fernando Mendoza will almost certainly be the first man drafted Thursday night. Behind him will be a cache of solid pass rushers, long-limbed cornerbacks, shifty wideouts and two studs at positions that aren't as valuable as the three I just mentioned. While Jeremiyah Love (running back) and Caleb Downs (safety) may have to wait to hear their names called, it's not too difficult to envision a draft board that pushes one, or both, into the top five.
That's not the case in FTW's final mock for 2026. In fact, a Love slide compels a surprising suitor to move up and select the Notre Dame star. So where will everyone else land? Let's take a look at the first two rounds, and check out our Big Board as the first round approaches.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Needs: QB, WR, OT, CB, EDGE
Mendoza's elite downfield accuracy means he'll dazzle when it comes to advanced stats like completion percentage over expected (CPOE). He balances pinpoint throws with strong, quick decision making and enough athleticism to keep defenses wary of his run game. He needs wideouts who can turn his sideline throws into first downs, but the Raiders have a boatload to spend this offseason in hopes of putting him in position to thrive.
While he lacks elite physical traits, you can't argue with his outcomes. Las Vegas needs a winner -- ideally immediately given how quickly it's cycled through head coaches. Mendoza has been wrecking shop at INDIANA.
2. New York Jets: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
Needs: QB, WR, CB, LB, EDGE
Bailey's stock has soared in the pre-draft process as evaluators realize, yep, he's got the chops to bring his double-digit sack production to Sundays. He led the FBS with 14.5 sacks last fall, earning every bit of his NIL payday at Texas Tech and helping transform the Red Raiders into a College Football Playoff winner.
Now he gets to be the guy who saves Aaron Glenn's job or, more realistically, helps convince the Jets' next head coach to come to New York. The Jets will be a mess in 2026 as they line up chess pieces for 2027 and beyond with a war chest of draft picks. Bailey gets to be the face of that youth movement.
3. Arizona Cardinals: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Needs: QB, OT, WR, LB, EDGE
Reese's versatility can help him plug holes in a few places along the defense but most notably as a pass rusher. He had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in his All-American 2025. But his work against the run will make him a three-down presence for a team in search of new stars around which it can build.
Arizona has taken the slow road back to respectability. Winning in 2026 will require a massive defensive effort. Thus, one of 2026's most athletic and versatile defenders gets his chance to be a superstar in the desert.
4. Tennessee Titans: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Needs: EDGE, WR, LB, IOL, TE
There's been some traction for Jeremiyah Love to breach the top five here. It's reasonable, but helping Cam Ward will take more than just a do-it-all running back -- Christian McCaffrey couldn't make flawed quarterbacks better in Carolina, for example. Instead, Tennessee makes a minor reach for the surest thing at wideout in this year's draft; the latest link in an Ohio State chain of receivers.
Tate isn't a burner, but his ability to create separation makes him a viable WR1. It would also make Calvin Ridley's waning influence and the uneven play of second-year wideouts Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor easier to handle. His precise routes and timing give Ward a trustworthy "throw it before he's open" target who can help massage away his growing pains.
5. New York Giants: WR Makai Lemon, USC
Needs: DT, LB, IOL, WR, CB
Beef up John Harbaugh's defense with a Swiss Army Knife linebacker, or bolster Jaxson Dart in his efforts to prove he's a franchise quarterback? Sonny Styles may be an All-Pro in waiting, but off-ball linebacker is a less valuable position than wideout, so New York opts to give Malik Nabers a skilled running mate. If the Giants think Styles be available with their newly-acquired pick at No. 10, Lemon could be the call.
Lemon was a bit of an enigma at the combine, but his ability to shake cornerbacks and and plant-and-go acceleration makes him a weapon. He reads defenses with preternatural accuracy, leaving man coverage behind and finding soft spots in zone to move the chains with strong hands and top notch body control. His separation and ability to win at every level makes Dart's job juuuuust a bit easier -- and gives him another reason to stop running face-first into trouble.
6. Cleveland Browns: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
Needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, S, LB, EDGE
Yep, there's a lot of smoke that Dallas will use its two first round picks to trade up here and select Sonny Styles. Given Jerry Jones' love of do-it-all linebackers and perpetual desire to cash in his chips, it's reasonable. But the Cowboys need more help than a single first round pick can provide; as un-Cowboys as it may be, a trade back may be the best option (especially given the, uh, fluid nature of Reuben Bain's draft stock).
Thus, Cleveland keeps its pick and takes the top offensive lineman off my board. Fano combines absurd power and athleticism at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds. That agility boosts his recovery when beaten, which will be an asset when squaring up with rookie mistakes and elite edge rushers. He's been a starter at left tackle since arriving at Utah and can have a similarly uplifting presence in Ohio.
7. Washington Commanders: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Needs: WR, TE, IOL, RB, CB, S
Twist! With the top two wideouts off the board, Washington instead opts to flank Jayden Daniels with 2026's top tight end. It's a move that allows the team to work in two tight end sets with dynamic movers in Sadiq and the recently signed Chig Okonkwo while also leaving the door open for Zach Ertz to return in a veteran depth role.
Sadiq is a ludicrous athlete who brings in-line blocking chops. He can seal off running lanes or get out in space to deflect defensive backs. More importantly, he's got excellent speed up the seam and quick change-of-direction skills to snap off linebackers and slot corners. Pair that with solid hands and, baby, you've got a stew going.
8. New Orleans Saints: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Needs: CB, EDGE, DL, WR
Tate and Lemon are off the board. Travis Etienne's presence makes Jeremiyah Love a no-go. Bolstering Tyler Shough's playmaking corps will have to wait until Day 2.
Instead, New Orleans boosts a top 10 defense by adding one of 2026's most impactful and dynamic players. Downs can play deep or near the line of scrimmage and line up tracking slot receivers with ease. His NFL ceiling is "Brian Branch, but better." He's a fixer, plain and simple, who can help be the difference between good and great for the Saints.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, LB, S
Kansas City lost both Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie to the Rams (via free agency and trade), leaving the team in dire need of secondary help. Fortunately, last year's crash-out leaves the Chiefs in position to take the 2026 draft's first cornerback.
Delane led the SEC with 11 pass breakups and hauled in a pair of interceptions in 11 games. He can be trusted in single coverage on the sideline, with fluid hips and turn-and-go speed to keep up with NFL deep threats. He's so remarkably smooth, giving defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo a player he can trust from the moment Delane enters the facility.
10. New York Giants (via Cincinnati Bengals): LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Needs: EDGE, DL, LB, S, CB
The Giants traded away a defensive centerpiece to land this pick. Enter Dexter Lawrence's replacement; a different kind of athletic marvel who can star in the middle of the defense.
Styles is a former safety who plays like it (complimentary), using elite athleticism to create problems at every level. He has the speed to turn and run with slot receivers and the physicality to meet a running back at the line of scrimmage and leave him with nothing but regret. Now he gets to be a hole-filler and, importantly, dynamic blitzing presence behind the edge-rushing prowess of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter (and, if he sticks around, Kayvon Thibodeaux).
The Vikings, in dire need of support for J.J. McCarthy, cannot abide by Love's draft slide. Thus, a deal; Minnesota sends the 18th and 49th overall picks, as well as a 2027 fourth-rounder, to a needy Miami team in exchange for the 11th and 94th selections. It's a slight overpay for a relatively inexpensive position, but Love's immense skill set makes it worthwhile.
Love brings value as a runner (nearly seven yards per carry the last two seasons) and receiver (280 yards, three touchdowns in 12 games last fall). He could provide peak Le'Veon Bell reps for a team with an average run game around McCarthy in 2026. He's a bit of a luxury pick from a team with needs elsewhere, but aggression is a big part of the Vikings' philosophy. Now they get another player who can make this offense hum even with a subpar quarterback, maximizing playmakers around an iffy QB situation.
12. Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami
Needs: EDGE, DL, LB, S, CB
Dallas held tight and still managed to fill a major need at No. 12. Bain's arm length makes him a bit of a mystery in a draft low on superstars, but there's no arguing his production. Now he'll be tasked with boosting Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and what was one of 2025's worst defenses.
Bain's arms delivered 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in an All-American 2025. He's tremendously powerful and violently quick at the point of attack, making tackles wary with his punches and then, once they've braced for impact, wheeling around or cutting inside them to generate chaos.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Needs: LB, DL, S, EDGE… QB?
Les Snead did a very un-Les Snead thing last season, trading away a first round pick… to get another first round pick. Maximizing the Falcons' frustrations has led him to gold. Waiting at No. 13 is a player who could be 2026's top blocker.
Mauigoa is a rampart in pass protection, but he's truly devastating in space where his 315-pound frame flies upfield to demolish poor, poor linebackers. Now he gets to be Rob Havenstein's replacement -- and if he misses time due to a lingering back injury, Los Angeles has the personnel to thrive even as he rehabs this fall.
14. Baltimore Ravens: IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Needs: IOL, EDGE, DL, WR, CB
Baltimore needs help on a rebuilt interior of its offensive line. The top interior lineman of the draft is available at No. 14. So while the Detroit Lions may offer up a hefty reward to jump three spots in the pecking order, general manager Eric DeCosta sits tight and gets a player who'll be an immediate floor-raiser up front.
The massive Nittany Lion is a brick wall at 330 pounds and has the quickness and aggression to create space at the second level. He can get out in front of Derrick Henry and create the space needed for one of the NFL's most prolific backs to bolt to green grass. His strength makes him a brick wall in pass protection and gives him the leverage to toss defensive linemen out of running lanes.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Needs: EDGE, LB, CB, WR
Tampa's stagnation clears a path to take an experienced, win-now competitor. That's Mesidor, who'll bring six years of college experience to his age-25 rookie season. While he lacks the upside of Bain, he's available without a trade up that could cost a needy team valuable draft assets.
The beefy defender can play multiple roles, kicking inside to use his strength as a disruption or moving outside to bring pressure from the edge. That culminated in 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in his Miami finale. Injuries are a concern, but his ability to add value against the pass and run give him the chance to make an immediate impact for a playoff team.
16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): WR Kevin Concepcion, Texas A&M
Needs: QB, WR, CB, LB, EDGE
Garrett Wilson split wide. Concepcion in the slot. Suddenly, Geno Smith -- or whomever is slinging passes for the Jets -- has some electricity to harness.
Concepcion is a playmaker the Jets badly need, capable of scoring from anywhere on the gridiron. That includes one rushing touchdown, two punt return scores and nine receiving touchdowns for the Aggies last fall. His acceleration and shiftiness create separation at the line of scrimmage against press coverage or well into routes in man. While he's not the big-bodied downfield threat New York needs (that'll come later), his ability to turn short passes into big gains would be an immediate cheat code for a team that keeps dying on the opening level.
17. Detroit Lions: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Needs: OL, EDGE, LB, CB
Freeling has perhaps the highest potential of any lineman in the draft. He's also raw, having spent only a single season as a full-time starter in college. Granted, he was excellent for Georgia before lighting the combine on fire. Now he joins a roster that needs immediate help at tackle after Taylor Decker opted off the roster this offseason.
The Bulldog star was an absolute stud at the combine, posting some of the best all-around numbers in offensive line history. He's got long arms, quick countering and smooth lateral movement. While he's still got tools to add to his box, he lands with a franchise capable of taking him down every aisle of Home Depot.
18. Miami Dolphins (via proposed trade with Minnesota Vikings): WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Needs: CB, S, WR, TE, EDGE
Someone's gotta catch passes from Malik Willis. While the 11th overall pick might have been a little steep for Cooper, a spot at No. 18 makes more sense -- even if the trade back saw two need-filling edge rushers come off the board who could have otherwise been Dolphin targets.
Cooper's hands and body control are his headlines, as he has supreme focus and the ability to contort his way into almost impossible catches. But he can play inside and out, be an asset in gadget plays and has the fight-through-traffic traits capable of boosting Willis, even if his WR2 is either Malik Washington, Tutu Atwell or Jalen Tolbert.
19. Carolina Panthers: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Needs: CB, S, OT, TE, WR
Could this be a place to add another receiving arrow to Bryce Young's quiver? Both the young quarterback and head coach Dave Canales are facing a prove-it year, even after last season's division title. But with four wideouts and a tight end already off the board, Carolina instead opts to bolster the league's 24th-ranked passing defense.
McCoy missed all of 2025 due to a torn ACL. Then he rolled up at Tennessee's pro day and ran a 4.38-second 40 with a 38-inch vertical leap, assuaging recovery concerns. He's got fluid hips and the route and ball recognition to be trusted on a island, giving Jaycee Horn a trustworthy sideline companion.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Needs: EDGE, DL, LB, S, CB
After landing Bain, pass rush isn't the priority it once was. But bolstering a defense with the league's seventh-worst sack rate isn't a one-man job. Fortunately, there's an in-state product with a dense resume of production -- 33 tackles for loss and 25 sacks over his last three seasons. While he may be a bit of a reach compared to most draft boards, Jerry Jones knows those accomplished college players can pay off (see: Travis Frederick in 2013).
The Texas A&M star handled the jump from Bowling Green with aplomb, racking up 11.5 sacks in 2025 to help push the Aggies to the College Football Playoff. While he doesn't have an enormous frame at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, his versatile pass rushing attack makes him an asset from the second level. He has elite closing speed and lateral quickness, which could make him a menace even to the most mobile quarterbacks.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Needs: QB, WR, CB, S, G
Ty Simpson and a handful of solid wideout prospects remain on the board. But the Alabama quarterback is no sure thing. Instead, the Steelers opt to bolster, uh, whomever is throwing passes in 2026 and beyond by adding Tyson to a receiving corps already dotted with big bodied playmakers in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman.
The 6-foot-2, 200 pound Tyson is a versatile player who can line up anywhere from the slot to the X, creating a headache for opposing defensive coordinators and limiting the double teams that hamstrung a shallow wideout group last fall. He is an explosive route runner who creates separation well, though he can suffer from a lack of discipline that brings some sloppiness to his game. In the right system, he can be 2026's top rookie wideout.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: S Dillon Theineman, Oregon
Needs: OG, LB, DL, EDGE, DB
Eljiah Molden cooled off after a hot start in LA. Tony Jefferson is 34 years old. There's room for upgrades across the Chargers' secondary. In comes a player no stranger to toiling after thriving at Purdue for two seasons, then playing a key role for a College Football Playoff Ducks team.
Thieneman is an uber-athletic safety who can fill multiple roles out of the secondary. He's got the closing speed to work as an over-the-top help defender and the lateral quickness to break on slot receivers and snuff out completions near the line of scrimmage. Now he gets to do a little bit of everything as part of Jim Harbaugh's last line of defense.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Needs: OT, EDGE, S, TE… WR?
Howie Roseman's last first round pick from Toledo was Quinyon Mitchell. Here, he returns to the MAC's DBU to reunite a pair of Rockets in his secondary.
McNeil-Warren is a big, rangy safety at 6-foot-4 with solid closing speed (a low 4.5-second 40) and the length to be a disruptor downfield. What shines brightest about him cannot be taught. McNeil-Warren has an innate nose for the ball. He forced eight fumbles his last three seasons and knocked down 10 passes over the last two years. Factor in steady downhill tackling and you've got a safety who can thrive in every aspect of the game.
Cleveland's second Day 1 selection provides an opportunity to gamble on a high ceiling player with injury and consistency concerns. Banks is a nearly 330 pound monster whose gap-shooting ability and power in the middle would cut off quarterbacks' egress once Myles Garrett comes crashing into the pocket.
He's also got the anchor to prevent running lanes from opening up or can slice inside for big stops (seven tackles for loss in 2024). He and Mason Graham would keep Cleveland's defensive line operating with All-Pro potential, though he's still got plenty to learn to be a truly dynamic interior threat.
25. Chicago Bears: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Needs: EDGE, DL, C, CB
Faulk's 6-foot-6, 275-pound frame gives him the bulk to line up at end across from Montez Sweat. Though he was more of a rising tide than a water spout in 2025, his ability to generate pressure and send blockers backward creates space for teammates to make plays, which could make the team's previous pass rushing splurges (Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo) look a little better in 2026. Any pocket-crashing contributions he can make would be a balm for a burned defense that ranked just 27th in pressure rate last fall.
He's complete enough to be a three-down presence, working on the edge on passing plays and using his size and strength to hold his ground on handoffs. Though questions remain about his explosiveness, he's a player who can be a positive force even with modest counting stats.
26. Buffalo Bills: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Needs: WR, EDGE, CB, LB, S
The board has turned out poorly for the Bills, as Denzel Boston has some Keon Coleman similarities and the edge rushing supply isn't ideal. Fortunately, they can bolster their secondary with a handful of great-not-elite cornerback prospects at No. 26.
That leads us to Terrell, who is capable of playing outside or in the slot, allowing the young duo of Maxwell Hairston and Christian Benford to keep their place in the prospective starting lineup. A.J.'s younger brother is on the smaller side at 5-foot-10, but makes up for this with a tenacious punch at the line of scrimmage and ability to turn and run in press coverage. He's got a higher floor than any other available corner, giving him the chance to compete immediately for a Bills team that suddenly has competition atop the AFC East.
27. San Francisco 49ers: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Needs: OL, S, WR, TE, RB
With Trent Williams' contract resolved, the 49ers have their tackle spots locked down for the immediate future. But Proctor could fill a role on the inside while biding his time, playing guard but kicking out to the edge should Williams get hurt or suffer an age related decline. At nearly 38 years old and without having played a full season since 2013, there's value there -- even if it's putting a lot on the rookie's plate.
Proctor is a misplaced fairy tale villain, slimming down to 350 pounds at the combine packed onto a 6-foot-7 frame. He's massive and powerful, and while his technique needs refinement his ceiling is as high as anyone in the draft. He can be a mauler inside or out, which gives him a slight edge over a more polished blocker like Blake Miller at No. 27.
28. Houston Texans: OT Blake Miller, Clemson
Needs: OL, DT, RB, TE
The Texans' offensive line is in a near-perpetual state of flux. Enter one of college football's most consistent and battle-tested blockers.
The three-time All-ACC right tackle has a strong anchor to repel power rushes and the lateral quickness to stay in front of speed rushes. He doesn't recover as cleanly as the guys in the top tier of tackles, but he's got an NFL build and high floor to allow him to contribute immediately. He's a solid run blocker and a true team player, suggesting he could kick inside if needed as an early detour to his pro potential. He's got the ability to usurp Aireontae Ersery at tackle or serve as insurance should Ed Ingram or Wyatt Teller backslide at guard.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Los Angeles Rams): LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, LB, S
Kansas City already bolstered its defense by landing Delane in the top 10. Now they add another key reinforcement in one of 2025's most productive players. Rodriguez is a menace, a sideline-to-sideline goblin with the burst to fill gaps and closing speed to meet tailbacks right as they turn the corner.
He's a havoc engine who creates chaos at every level. He can get to the backfield (11 tackles for loss in 2025). He can stand up in coverage (four interceptions, six passes defensed). He identifies and gets to the ball with scary awareness, proven by last year's FBS-leading seven forced fumbles.
Oh, and the former Virginia quarterback (!) had a pair of rushing touchdowns last season, too.
30. Miami Dolphins (via Denver Broncos): CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Needs: CB, S, WR, TE, EDGE
Johnson is balm to the burned and beleaguered Dolphins cornerback rotation (with all due respect to Storm Duck). He's proven capable of thriving across any scheme the Aztecs could throw at him, holding up in man, zone, press and whatever San Diego State cooked up to frustrate Mountain West foes.
He was uber productive as a senior, knocking down 13 passes and intercepting four more, albeit against fairly average competition. With a 6-foot frame and 4.4-flat 40 speed, he should be able to handle a higher level of play on Sundays.
31. New England Patriots: EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson
Needs: OT, LB, EDGE, WR, DT
There's a wide array of good-not-elite pass rushing prospects available for the Patriots late in the first round. Parker's profile as a beefy, but quick, edge defender with long arms and a 260-plus pound anchor may put him at the top of Mike Vrabel's wish list.
Parker's production waned from his 2024 11-sack campaign, but he remains a problem on the edge. He uses leverage well to stay low and use his prodigious power to uproot blockers or hold his ground against the run. While he isn't the twitchiest athlete available, he should provide quality reps right away at an expensive position of need.
32. Tennessee Titans (via proposed trade with Seattle Seahawks): EDGE Gabe Jacas, Illinois
Needs: EDGE, WR, LB, IOL, TE
Tennessee jumps back into the first round, taking advantage of a Seattle team that hoped a high level edge rusher or defensive back might drop to the final pick of Day 1. The price? The 35th and 144th picks of the draft.
That allows the Titans to skip the line to add an edge rusher who can handle the rigors of the team's four-man front. Jacas is an experienced pocket-crumpler who improved consistently across his Illinois career. He's got a fast first step and a great understanding of leverage, which helps him dislodge tackles when he can't win with speed. Like Tate, he'd be an immediate boost for a roster in dire need of talent.
33. New York Jets: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
Needs: QB, WR, CB, LB, EDGE
Ty Simpson remains on the board, but with Geno Smith in place to take the fall for 2026 the impetus to gamble on a flawed young prospect is lessened. The Jets have plenty of holes to fill, and double-dipping with two playmaking, but very different, wideouts would be a boon for whomever is throwing passes in 2027. Here, they get the best high long post runner in his class.
34. Arizona Cardinals: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
Needs: QB, OT, WR, LB, EDGE
35. Seattle Seahawks (via proposed trade with Tennessee Titans): EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, OL
36. Las Vegas Raiders: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Needs: QB, WR, OT, CB, EDGE
37. New York Giants: DL Peter Woods, Clemson
Needs: DT, LB, IOL, WR, CB
38. Houston Texans (via Washington Commanders): DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Needs: OL, DT, RB, TE
39. Cleveland Browns: WR Chris Brazzell, Tennessee
Needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, S, LB, EDGE
40. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, LB, S
Fearing a potential run on wideouts, the Chiefs take a player who, like Patrick Mahomes, is rehabbing a torn ACL. Bell's physical play and straight-line speed make him an intriguing downfield threat for Kansas City.
41. Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
Needs: EDGE, CB, OL, TE, LB
42. New Orleans Saints: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Needs: CB, EDGE, DL, WR
43. Miami Dolphins: TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Needs: CB, S, WR, TE, EDGE
44. New York Jets (via Dallas Cowboys): LB C.J. Allen, Georgia
Needs: QB, WR, CB, LB, EDGE
45. Baltimore Ravens: CB Keionte Scott, Miami
Needs: IOL, EDGE, DL, WR, CB
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Needs: EDGE, LB, CB, WR
47. Indianapolis Colts: CB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Needs: OT, WR, EDGE, LB, S
48. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Dunker may not be as steady a pick as Chase Bisontis in the middle of the Lions' line. Do you really think Dan Campbell would pass up a meaty Iowa tackle with a glorious ginger mullet and a reputation for butt-whippings, though?
51. Carolina Panthers: DL Domonique Orange, Iowa State
60. Arizona Cardinals (via proposed trade with Chicago Bears, via Buffalo Bills): QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Needs: QB, OT, WR, LB, EDGE
Arizona sends the first pick of the third round and the 143rd pick in exchange for No. 60 and the 239th selection. That's a reasonable price for a young quarterback who can bide his time behind the two journeymen atop the Cardinals' depth chart, Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew.
61. Los Angeles Rams: LB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
Needs: LB, DL, S, EDGE… QB?
62. Denver Broncos: LB Josiah Trotter, Missouri
Needs: TE, LB, EDGE, DL
63. New England Patriots: TE Max Klare, Ohio State
Needs: OT, LB, EDGE, WR, DT
64. Seattle Seahawks: RB Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
Texas A&M basketball coach Bucky McMillan is slowly but surely building a roster that rivals any recent Aggie depth chart purely from a talent perspective after landing Kansas State transfer guard PJ Haggerty earlier this month, combined with former Radford guard Lukas Walls, and Tennessee transfer forward Cade Phillips last week.
However, after the transfer portal officially closed on Tuesday night, McMillan and his veteran staff pulled off one of the best 24 hours in program history, landing a commitment from NBA G-League guard Bryson Warren, who was once a five-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, and is in line to receive a waiver to play next season, mainly due to having never played college basketball.
Combined with junior forward Mackenzie Mgbako announcing his return, paired with the addition of LSU transfer guard Jalen Reece, Texas A&M's 2026-2027 roster is slowly coming together, and based on the tape, Bryson Warren looks like a perfect fit in Bucky McMillan's fast-paced system that relies on shooting a high percentage from the field and beyond the arc.
During his final season with the Westminster Knicks, 19.9 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.0 RPG, and 1.1 STL in 33 minutes a night, while shooting 37% from three, and, thanks to TexAgs basketball insider Luke Evangelist who dropped the news, for providing a quick cut up of Warren's G-league performances, looks more than ready to match his scoring average with the Maroon & White next season.
A spot up shooter, Warren has shown the confidence pull up from deep at any given time, his elite range and equally impressive ability to drive the paint and sink the defense inside to open up outside options is the exact skillset McMillan is looking for. Combined with what PJ Haggerty brings on offense, Texas A&M might roll out one of the most elite guard rotations in the SEC next fall.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Colorado was sent back to the drawing board following a 17-16 rebound season as numerous of the team's young stars found new homes in the transfer portal, but it appears Tad Boyle and his staff are hard at work bringing in next year's team.
The Buffs landed another key piece on Wednesday in UNC Greensboro transfer forward Justin Neely, a first-team All-SoCon selection last season. The Spartans' standout averaged 17.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, shooting 54% from the field and 78% from the free throw line in 2025.
Neely dropped a career high 35 points in a loss against Western Carolina and brought home another career high 24 rebounds against Samford, en route to becoming a true two-way player for UNC Greensboro.
UNC Greensboro transfer forward Justin Neely has committed to Colorado, source told @On3.
Before his one season at UNC Greensboro, Neely played four years at UAlbany, where he earned the America East Sixth Man of the Year award in 2024. The 6-foot-6 forward should prove to be a key piece for the Buffaloes, who struggled on the glass last year and lost their top rebounder in Bangot Dak to the transfer portal.
Neely should serve as the secondary option offensively as well, giving the Buffs another non-guard scoring option for guard Barrington Hargress to rely on.
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page onFacebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
A mourning dove walks the grounds at Evergreen Park, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Sheboygan, Wis. | Gary C. Klein/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Spurs could be in some trouble in the first round, as Victor Wembanyama is out for an unknown period of time dealing with a significant concussion
Question of the Day
What states do you consider to be in the “midwest?” Is the midwest separate from the great plains? What about “great lakes states” or the rust belt? Mostly the broad definition people have of the midwest drives me nuts, and I want this matter to be fully settled in today’s comment section
SHAWNEE — Aditya Singh understands the odds of hearing his name called during the NFL Draft.
“Yeah,” he said, “it’s a long shot.”
Ditto for getting signed as an undrafted free agent, going to camp or making a roster
But none of that is stopping the Oklahoma Baptist defensive tackle from forging ahead with the biggest of football dreams. Being a long shot never deterred him before. Why would it now?
Especially when he has a chance to make history — Singh would be the first full-blooded Indian American in the NFL.
When the NFL Draft starts Thursday evening in Pittsburgh, players such as Fernando Mendoza and David Bailey, Caleb Downs and Jeremiyah Love will be front and center. But among the 5 million or so Indian Americans in the United States, not to mention the 1.47 billion people in India, the most populous nation in the world, no player will be more watched than Singh.
“This NFL journey, this road that I’m on is far bigger than myself,” he said. “It gives me a burning passion. … At the end of the day, this opportunity, any NFL opportunity, would create a huge opening for my community.”
Both of Singh’s parents were born in India before moving to the United States.
His father often jokes about how he arrived.
“He had $20 in his pocket,” Singh said. “That’s about it.”
But both of his parents had a dream and a work ethic to turn it into a reality.
Every day growing up in New Jersey, Singh watched his mom and dad tirelessly toil. His father, for instance, worked in information technology, and he was always on conference calls or taking online courses.
Singh adopted a similar attitude when he realized his passion for football.
When a scholarship to an FBS program didn’t come, he opted to take a preferred walk-on spot at UMass. When the coaches wanted him to play offensive line even though he felt better suited for defensive line, he had to try.
But after a couple of seasons not seeing the field, he decided to bet on himself and ask to be moved to defensive line.
“I just love the fact that you know the odds are stacked against you,” he said of playing defensive line. “You’re gonna have to deal with someone every play, most of the time two people, trying to attack you.
“I just fell in love with the violence and the process that it took to be a good defensive lineman.”
Eventually, Singh left UMass — he took a bachelor’s degree with him — and transferred to Division II Southern Connecticut State. After a season there, he transferred again, this time to Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee.
Last fall, he played 710 of the Division II Bison’s 793 defensive snaps.
“That’s unheard of for an interior defensive tackle,” he said.
It’s certainly rare.
According to Pro Football Focus, only two interior defensive linemen at the FBS level played 700 or more snaps last season. OU defensive tackle David Stone had the most of any in the state with 454 snaps.
Playing that many snaps while finishing the season with 47 tackles was huge for Singh.
“Being able to deal with that, I knew I could play at the professional level,” he said. “Being able to stand in there, be strong and still make plays, I was able to prove what I’ve been trying to prove for the past X amount of years.”
Singh set about training at TEST Football Academy, back home in New Jersey, then played in a couple of senior showcases, The FCS Bowl and The Dream Bowl. Then at UMass’s pro day, where he met with reps from several teams, including the Patriots and 49ers, he posted some impressive numbers.
His three-cone drill time of 7.82 seconds, for instance, was better than former OU standout Gracen Halton’s 8.09 at the NFL Combine.
Halton is widely considered one of the top 10 defensive tackles in the draft.
Test numbers do not an NFL player make, but Singh, who’s listed at 6-foot-1, 280 pounds, said having numbers similar to players who had been invited to the combine was a confidence builder.
“It proves to me that I belong,” he said, then clarified. “Not only belong, I can thrive.”
If an NFL team agrees, Singh would become a pioneer.
Sanjay Beach and Brandon Chillar, both of whom had Indian heritage, played in the NFL. But as far as anyone knows, there’s never been a player born to two Indian parents who made the league.
“Obviously, I know how many people are following this journey, how many people are connected to it,” Singh said, “and it absolutely creates a sense of pressure. Because at the end of the day, it’s bigger than me.
“It’s for my family. It’s for my community. And that’s what creates the pressure. But pressure creates purpose, too.”
He’s faced pressure before. Long odds, too.
None of it stopped Aditya Singh.
It isn’t stopping him now, either.
“If I didn’t deal with very tough times in the beginning, I probably wouldn’t be as prepared for this,” he said. “I think the preparation through adversity is what helped me be in this situation today.
“I’m ready to attack it head on, like I have everything else in this football journey.”
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
NFL Draft
WHAT TO KNOW: 7 p.m. Thursday, Round 1; 6 p.m. Friday, Rounds 2 and 3; 11 a.m. Saturday, Rounds 4-7 in Pittsburgh (ESPN, NFL Network)
The Rams reached the NFC Championship Game last season, head into this season as the betting favorites to win the Super Bowl, and should draft another good player tonight, when they own the 13th pick in the first round, thanks to a forward-thinking trade with the Falcons last year.
A year ago, the Rams traded their own first- and third-round picks to the Falcons for Atlanta's second- and seventh-round picks, plus their 2026 first-round pick. The Falcons badly wanted pass rusher James Pearce, and they were willing to give up their 2026 first-round pick to go up and get him.
Rams General Manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay have earned the job security that makes it easy for them to think ahead when making trades. They didn't need the instant gratification of adding a player in the first round in 2025, when they anticipated that with the Falcons' first-round pick they'd have a chance to add an even better player in 2026.
While the Rams played the long game, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris knew they were on the hot seat. Knowing their 2025 job status was "win now or get fired," they didn't have time to worry about their 2026 first-round pick. Sure enough, Fontenot and Morris were both fired at the end of last season. The new regime in Atlanta has to rebuild without a first-round pick, while Pearce is not currently with the team as he faces legal charges stemming from alleged abuse of his ex-girlfriend.
The Rams are in much better shape. They traded away their own first-round pick for cornerback Trent McDuffie, but the Falcons' first-round pick means they still have the ammunition to bolster their roster tonight. Maybe they'll add a good player with the 13th pick, or maybe Snead will trade it for more picks or another player, but either way, the Super Bowl favorites should get better tonight.
The long-term thinking the Rams showed during last year's draft is one of the reasons they've been able to consistently stay near the top of a league that is structured to promote parity.
IOWA CITY — After his time as a graduate assistant with Iowa football from 2012 to 2014, Chris Polizzi’s path took him to a handful of places.
He worked on staff at Western Carolina, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin and Tulsa, spending time as defensive coordinator at both UT Martin and Tulsa. He was also UT Martin’s co-special teams coordinator for kickoff and kickoff return.
But there was a common thread between all the stops he made after leaving the Hawkeyes: it didn’t feel like it did at Iowa.
“I guess I use the term, you can’t enjoy the sweet until you’ve tasted the bitter,” Polizzi said. “Everywhere I went (after Iowa), there was something off or just didn’t feel right about where it was. And believe me, I had tremendous experiences there. But it just wasn’t Iowa. And I think it all stems from the head coach.”
He rejoined the program as an analyst and spent last season assisting defensive coordinator Phil Parker with the secondary. Polizzi provided a helping hand to special teams coordinator LeVar Woods, but it was on a much more limited basis.
“When my hand hits the door handle here in this building, I absolutely love it,” Polizzi said. “And I can’t say that that’s the same in a lot of other places. I can’t wait to be here. I can’t wait to work with these players. I can’t wait to be in this building. It’s just a great feeling.”
After the conclusion of last season, Woods left Iowa to become the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for Big Ten foe Michigan State.
Polizzi earned a promotion.
He enters his first season as the Hawkeyes’ special teams coordinator, taking over a group that looks vastly different than it did in 2025.
This change is a big deal. Iowa's special teams are rich in tradition. That's part of how the Hawkeyes gain an edge and win in the margins. Iowa’s ability to continue to thrive in what almost feels like a new era of special teams is an important storyline ahead of the 2026 campaign and beyond.
“I want to highlight some of the things that are the same as far as special teams go,” Polizzi said. “The structure — it's been very productive over a number of years. The techniques that produce the results are the same, and the expectations, frankly, from within the building and outside the building are the same.”
But there are also differences.
“The communication style,” Polizzi said. “I love LeVar. He's a friend of mine. We're different people, different coaches. And the standard — the standard of what was special teams when coach Woods took over is completely different now than what the standard is of today… The standard is what the players and the previous coaches have set, and we cannot go backwards from that standard.”
The Hawkeyes' special teams unit has endured a major overhaul. Woods, who had great success leading that unit, is gone. So is Kaden Wetjen, the program’s all-time leader in combined return touchdowns, and Drew Stevens, the program’s all-time leading in made field goals. On top of that, punter Rhys Dakin followed Woods to Michigan State.
None of those departures will be easy to fill, particularly Woods, Wetjen and Stevens.
“Event, response, outcome,” Polizzi said. “You're going to control about 10% of the world around you, 90% of it is going to be your response to the events. Again, leading back with coach (Kirk) Ferentz, you see how he handles responsibility and opportunities and change and flux, and it's always with a steady hand at the wheel. It's never with a knee-jerk reaction.”
So where does Iowa go from here?
Polizzi threw out a handful of names for who could replace Wetjen in the return game: Zach Lutmer, KJ Parker, Jaylen Watson, Brevin Doll, and Reece Vander Zee. Lutmer, who had a breakout 2025 campaign at defensive back, has shown that he can be dynamic with the ball, which he flashed during his pick-six against Minnesota last season.
“I'd say there's nobody out of the competition at this point,” Polizzi said. “You should see the line for the Jugs machine. (It's like) when the Dairy Queen down on Riverside opens up. That line is down around the corner. It's a long and distinguished line of guys that are working towards it.”
Iowa has a pair of newcomers competing for the punting job. Transfer Tanner Philpott, a Waukee Northwest grad, was an AFCA Division III Coaches’ second-team All-American at Simpson College last season. Meanwhile, Boston Everitt comes from a far different background as a native of Australia, who has never played in a game of American football before.
“I'd say it's been a very healthy competition," Polizzi said. "Both of the guys are working hard, and they both bring a lot of different elements to the table. One's right-footed. One's left-footed. One's kicked on a collegiate level. One, this was the first time he's ever put on a helmet. They both have tremendous leg talent. They both work well with one another."
At kicker, Iowa brings back Caden Buhr, who appeared sparingly last season behind Stevens. The Hawkeyes also added someone much more experienced in North Dakota State transfer Eli Ozick, who has converted on 19-of-23 field goals in his college career.
“Again, that's one I don't foresee us saying or naming any starter until we run out of that tunnel (for the 2026 season-opener) versus Northern Illinois, just because I think you allow it as much time as it can to play out and see who has the hot hand,” Polizzi said. “But you enjoy having the experience of two guys that you know can go out there and kick with confidence.”
There is plenty of work to be done, but Polizzi has also been able to reflect on what the opportunity of leading Iowa’s special teams unit means to him.
“It's a dream come true,” Polizzi said. “I hope I don't get emotional here, but there were some times in there where I didn't know if I'd ever be standing here. I didn't know if I'd ever make it back to Iowa. I didn't know if I would ever have the opportunity to coach with this caliber of player and with this caliber of staff ever again.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
The day is here for former Notre Dame stars like running back Jeremiyah Love to find out where they’ll play their next snaps in football.
The NFL draft will start tonight, as the first round will start off the festivities and we’ll most likely see at least one Irish player getting their name called. There is a possibility that a second is taken, but it remains to be seen if that actually is the case.
Regardless of what happens later tonight, we know that Love will go extremely early, the biggest question is which team will take him. His backfield mate, Jadarian Price has seen some rumors that he could go near the end of the first, and wide receiver Malachi Fields also had some buzz to get taken as well, but that has died down.
Find out below all of the NFL draft information as we’ll find out which team will take the talented Notre Dame stars.
What channel is the NFL draft on today?
TV Channel: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes
Livestream: NFL+, ESPN+, Disney+ and ESPN Deportes APP
Radio: SiriusXM (Channel 88), Westwood One Sports and ESPN Radio
The NFL draft will broadcast nationally on multiple stations, giving fans plenty of options to watch the picks. With so many networks broadcasting the action, it will be difficult to miss which Notre Dame players get selected
NFL draft time today
Date: Thursday, April 23rd
Start time: 8 p.m. EDT
The NFL draft will begin on Thursday from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and will continue on Friday and Saturday. The start time for the second round and third rounds is 7 p.m. EDT and the draft concluded on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. EDT.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
It's the lone team event on the PGA Tour. It's also in a tough spot on the schedule: two weeks after a major, one week after a signature event and right before back-to-back sigs.
The 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans will be played at TPC Louisiana as teams of two pros compete in a mixed format consisting of alternate shot for the first and third rounds, and fourball (better ball) for the second and final rounds.
The team of Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry is the headliner. Why did Lowry and Koepka team up? Turns out they've been friends for years. Other notables include the brothers Fitzpatrick (Matt and Alex), a duo of youngsters, Blades Brown and Luke Clanton, and the defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak. The complete field features 74 teams.
Two years ago, Lowry teamed up with Rory McIlroy to win the title. Billy Horschel, who is paired with Tom Hoge in 2026, is the only golfer to win the event when it was individual stroke-play competition and as a member of a twosome after it becamse a team event.
Zurich Classic payout, purse: How much does each team get?
The total purse for the 2026 Zurich Classic is $9.5 million. The winners of the Zurich Classic each receives $1,372,750 million.
2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans format
The PGA Tour stop uses the Ryder Cup-style formats of four-balls and foursomes. Four-ball, also known as best ball, is in play for the first and third rounds. Foursomes, also known as alternate shot, will be used for the second and final rounds. The tournament is April 23-26.
Where is the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans played?
The Zurich is held at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana, just southwest of the city of New Orleans. The golf course ranks No. 2 on the Golfweek's Best: Top public-access golf courses in Louisiana list. The tournament started in 1938 and has been held at TPC Louisiana since 2005. It became a team event during the 2016-17 PGA Tour season.
Every NFL Draft inevitably produces a handful of prospects who slip past their projected range, only to emerge as impactful contributors far earlier than expected. Day 2, in particular, and as evaluated based on insights from NFL.com specifically their feature on 2026 draft sleepers, it has long been fertile ground for uncovering these hidden values—players who may lack elite hype but possess the production, traits, and football intelligence to outperform their draft position. In today’s evaluation landscape, where measurable athleticism is weighed alongside on-field consistency and versatility, certain prospects can be miscast or overlooked due to scheme fit, positional value, or simple overanalysis. That’s where true draft inefficiencies emerge.
The 2026 class presents a compelling group of Day 2 talents who check critical boxes across scouting models and tape evaluation alike. These are players who have demonstrated high-level production against strong competition, backed by athletic profiles that translate to the modern NFL. More importantly, they bring functional skills—instincts, adaptability, and situational awareness—that often separate long-term starters from rotational depth.
What makes this group particularly intriguing is how well-rounded many of these prospects are. Rather than one-dimensional specialists, they project as players capable of filling multiple roles within evolving offensive and defensive systems. For front offices willing to trust the total profile instead of chasing positional trends or consensus rankings, these prospects represent clear opportunities to gain value. Inevitably, some teams will pass—and history suggests they’ll spend years wishing they hadn’t.
1. Anthony Hill Jr.
Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) celebrates during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Anthony Hill Jr. embodies the modern linebacker prototype—rangy, disruptive, and scheme-versatile. His production at Texas, highlighted by impact plays behind the line of scrimmage and turnover creation, underscores a defender who consistently influences games in multiple phases. What separates Hill is the blend of high-end athleticism with proven on-field instincts, allowing him to diagnose quickly and close space with authority. For teams seeking a Day 2 defender with legitimate three-down upside, passing on Hill could prove costly given his trajectory toward becoming a defensive centerpiece.
2. D’Angelo Ponds
Indiana defensive back D’Angelo Ponds (DB25) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
D’Angelo Ponds profiles as one of the more intriguing value cornerbacks in the class due to his combination of ball production and fluid athletic traits. His ability to consistently find the football—paired with strong coverage instincts—suggests a defender who can translate quickly to NFL passing schemes. Ponds’ athletic profile supports his playmaking résumé, giving him the tools to mirror receivers and contest throws at all levels of the field. Teams that overlook him on Day 2 risk missing out on a corner who could outperform his draft slot through sheer consistency and football intelligence.
3. Jake Golday
Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday (11) attempts to tackle UCF Knights quarterback Cam Fancher (14) in the second half at Nippert Stadium. Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Jake Golday fits the analytical model of a Day 2 steal almost perfectly: productive, experienced, and more athletic than his public perception suggests. After transferring to Cincinnati, he elevated his game significantly, culminating in a highly productive final season and conference recognition. His size-speed profile—backed by strong testing numbers—indicates a linebacker capable of holding up physically while still offering range in pursuit. Golday may lack headline buzz, but his combination of reliability and measurable traits makes him the type of player teams regret letting slide.
Louisiana State Tigers defensive back A.J. Haulcy (13) returns an interception against Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
A.J. Haulcy stands out as one of the safest projections among Day 2 defensive backs, thanks to a résumé built on consistency, versatility, and high-level production. Across multiple programs, he demonstrated the ability to contribute in a variety of roles, from deep safety alignments to hybrid nickel responsibilities. His combination of size and speed, along with a track record of tackling and ball production, makes him an easy fit in modern defensive schemes. Haulcy may not carry elite hype, but his well-rounded profile suggests a plug-and-play contributor with long-term starter potential.
5. Eli Stowers
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (TE25) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Eli Stowers enters the draft as one of the most complete tight end prospects outside the first round, blending elite production with strong athletic testing. His decorated college career—including major national awards—reflects both his reliability as a pass catcher and his ability to perform in high-pressure situations. Stowers’ dual-threat profile, combining receiving polish with athletic upside, makes him particularly valuable in today’s offense-driven NFL. Given how difficult it is to find tight ends with both production and measurables, teams that pass on him in the middle rounds could be leaving a high-impact offensive weapon on the board.
Conclusion
Indiana defensive back D’Angelo Ponds (DB25) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Day 2 is where smart teams build the backbone of their roster, and this group exemplifies that principle. Each of these prospects carries the profile of a future contributor who can quickly outperform expectations. The margin between a solid draft and a great one often lies here—and overlooking these players could prove to be a costly mistake.
Editor's note: The writer is a 60-year-old Lake Worth Beach resident who flies his own airplane and ran the Tokyo Marathon before heading to Boston for this week's race.
BOSTON — On race morning of the Boston Marathon, the quiet town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts was transformed into the epicenter of the running world.
Over 30,000 runners from every corner of the earth converged on the Athletes' Village, turning this tiny town into a sea of neon jerseys and nervous energy for its 130th running.
The air was thick with anticipation. Most of us have worked for years to make it to this point. The cool bite of the Massachusetts spring, our school bus ride to the start, the long lines for the porta potty added to the anticipation.
The music over the PA was interrupted by the announcement that it was my time to head to the start. The excitement at this moment was palpable and mirrored the racing pulses of the crowd.
The excitement reached its peak at the starting line, where the iconic blue and yellow paint marked the beginning of the 26.2-mile pilgrimage through Greater Boston. Under the gaze of the "It All Starts Here" sign, the starter’s gun triggered an immediate, adrenaline-fueled plunge.
Runners were catapulted down a dramatic 200-foot drop in the first half-mile, a steep downhill rush flanked by cheering locals who pushed us out of the village and toward the distant Boston skyline.
The Palm Beach Roadrunners, my partners in training for the last two years, brought 21 members to Beantown.
The Hopkinton roar feels a world away from where it all began: 16 weeks ago, whether standing on the humid, pitch-black asphalt of either Bradley Park or the Dunkin Donuts on Donald Ross Road at 6:30 a.m. While the rest of the world slept, we were out there chasing headlamps. This wasn’t the crisp New England air but a thick blanket of tropical heat that made every mile feel earned.
The cycle started "easy" at 25 miles a week, but soon the mileage grew like weeds in my Lake Worth Beach garden, peaking at grueling stretches of more than 60 miles.
My life became a repetitive blur of 4 a.m. alarms, sweat-soaked singlets, and the relentless pounding of the Lake Trail, of crossing the Lake Worth Bridge, running past the under-renovation Gulfstream Hotel. All to build the grit I’d need for a finish line I couldn't yet see.
Earning a bib for Boston is a ruthless numbers game. Meeting the qualifying time for my age (60) and gender only qualifies me to register for the big event. Because the field is capped, the B.A.A. ranks every applicant by how much they "beat the clock," meaning my official qualifying time must be significantly faster than the baseline just to survive the cut-off.
For the 2026 race, the standards were tightened by a grueling five minutes across the board, forcing me to chase a mark that was more ambitious than I had imagined.
Even after I hit my mark, the anxiety didn't end until the "cut-off" time was announced. In recent years, thousands of runners who technically qualified were still rejected because they didn't have a large enough "buffer" (sometimes six minutes faster than their required time).
It’s a system that demands you don't just run fast, but that you outrun the collective speed of the entire global field. It makes that final acceptance email feel like winning the lottery or an Olympic medal.
Dave Masterson ran his 7th Boston Marathon
Dave Masterson, president of the Palm Beach Roadrunners who lives in Palm Beach Gardens, ran his seventh Boston Marathon. He has completed over 70 marathons and wrote a book being released this summer: "Marathon 101."
“I enjoy the sport because it brings together the things I value highly,” Masterson said. “Those being friendship, fitness, travel, laughter and personal accomplishments. It’s a most fulfilling lifestyle to chase!”.
Masterson ran a time of 3:20:51 - 123rd in his age group of males 60-to-64.
Hannah Anderson, is a hairdresser and mother of three. The Lake Worth Beach resident started running with “PBRR” in 2020 after her first marathon. To date, she has run eight marathons and two ultramarathons (50 milers).
“Running has been my therapy since I was 13,” Anderson explained. “It’s a great way to clear my head and, at times, just escape from the daily chaos of life. Along with karate, it’s my main form of exercise. It sets an example for my children that it’s important to care for yourself, and no matter what stage in life we are at, we can continue to chase and accomplish goals.”
Hannah posted a 3:24:34 in Boston -289th in her age group.
Kevin Lanning, who lives in Jupiter, is a professor of Psychology and Data Science at Florida Atlantic University and he shows no sign of slowing down at 69.
“I began running after the pandemic and joined the Palm Beach Road Runners in 2022,” Lanning recalled. “At one level, I run because running evokes changes in brain chemistry that bathe me in positive feelings ranging from satisfaction to ecstasy, all accompanied by a sense of gratitude for loved ones and for the thousands of strangers who cheer as I run by. And I run because I can. At my age, this is not to be taken for granted.”
Lanning has now run eight marathons, including the New York Marathon for each of the last three years and the Boston Marathon for the last two years.
Lanning clocked in at 3:46:49 - 177th in his age group.
The fastest runner with the Palm Beach Roadrunners was Niki Desjardin from Juno Beach. An environmental consultant, she ran a 3:07:44 and was 52nd in her age group - female 45-49.
The PBRR women's masters team placed fifth out of 31 teams. Besides Desjardin, other runners in that group were Christina Rooney, Kelly Bruno, Rachel Bachmann, Kerry Houlette, Kim Dahlmeier, Nicole Foster, Hannah Anderson, Jennifer Pressley and Sandra Holahan.
The Boston course was a net downhill, but most of the that is in the first four miles. Then it leveled out for the next eight miles, through the towns of Ashland, Farmingham and Natick.
By Mile 12, I can hear a low hum that grows into a deafening wall of sound. This is the Scream Tunnel at Wellesley College.
It was the loudest part of the race, where students lined the barricades for nearly a mile waving hand-drawn signs, giving high-fives, and commencing the legendary tradition of offering kisses to the runners as they passed.
The real test began at Mile 16 in Newton’s Lower Falls. After turning right at the Newton Fire Station, I faced four rolling hills. The final, and most infamous, is Heartbreak Hill at Mile 20, a half-mile incline that tested my resolve just as I was "hitting the wall.”
Descending into Brookline, I hit Coolidge Corner, where the crowds swelled and the historic architecture felt like a tunnel toward the city.
Seeing CITGO sign welcome sight for runners
At Mile 25 sits the massive CITGO Sign towered over Kenmore Square, near Fenway Park. Seeing that yellow and blue diamond was the ultimate welcome sight, signaling there was just over a mile to the finish.
The final sequence was a rite of passage: right on Hereford, left on Boylston Street. Turning onto Boylston for the last four blocks was a sensory overload. The Boston Marathon finish line in Copley Square, flanked by the ancient Boston Public Library and the Old South Church, was where the journey ended and the celebration began.
Running a marathon was a true test of grit and endurance. I did get swallowed up by heartbreak hill and struggled the last six miles. My time of 4:04:56 was not my best but that is what makes this whole adventure so compelling.
Afterward, I always assess what I can do to improve the next time out; in this case, it will be Chicago on October 10. It will be my fourth major marathon that included a recent one I did in Tokyo.
Though crossing the finish line may have seemed like an individual accomplishment, it’s the passion, persistence, and camaraderie of my fellow Palm Beach Roadrunners that made my two-year journey a rousing success.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos have 73 players under contract for the 2026 NFL season.
The NFL's offseason roster limit is 90 players, so Denver still has room to make 17 additions. The Broncos currently hold seven draft picks. If they use exactly seven picks (which is not guaranteed with the possibility of trades), Denver would have room to sign 10 undrafted free agents following the draft.
It's not uncommon, though, for the Broncos to sign more UDFAs than they have spots for, cutting bottom-of-the-roster players to make room for new rookies after the draft. So the team could end up making more than 17 additions in the coming days. While we wait for the draft to begin, here's a quick look at the current roster.
Broncos 90-man offseason roster
QB Bo Nix
QB Jarrett Stidham
QB Sam Ehlinger
FB Adam Prentice
RB J.K. Dobbins
RB RJ Harvey
RB Tyler Badie
RB Jaleel McLaughlin
RB Cody Schrader
RB Deuce Vaughn
WR Courtland Sutton
WR Jaylen Waddle
WR Pat Bryant
WR Marvin Mims
WR Troy Franklin
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey
WR Michael Bandy
TE Evan Engram
TE Adam Trautman
TE/FB Nate Adkins
TE Lucas Krull
TE Caleb Lohner
OT Mike McGlinchey
OT Garett Bolles
G Quinn Meinerz
G Ben Powers
C Luke Wattenberg
C Alex Forsyth
OL Alex Palczewski
OT Frank Crum
OL Calvin Throckmorton
OL Matt Peart
OL Nick Gargiulo
OT Marques Cox
OL Michael Deiter
OL Nash Jones
DE Zach Allen
DT D.J. Jones
DT Malcolm Roach
DE Sai'vion Jones
DL Eyioma Uwazurike
DL Matt Henningsen
DL Jordan Jackson
DL Jordan Miller
DL Kristian Williams
OLB Jonathon Cooper
OLB Nik Bonitto
OLB Jonah Elliss
OLB Dondrea Tillman
OLB Que Robinson
OLB Johnny Walker
OLB Garrett Nelson
LB Alex Singleton
LB Justin Strnad
LB Drew Sanders
LB Karene Reid
LB Lavelle Bailey
LB Jordan Turner
CB Pat Surtain
CB Riley Moss
CB Ja’Quan McMillian
CB Jahdae Barron
CB Kris Abrams-Draine
CB Reese Taylor
CB Jaden Robinson
S Brandon Jones
S Talanoa Hufunga
S Devon Key
S Tycen Anderson
S JL Skinner
P Jeremy Crawshaw
LS Mitchell Fraboni
K Wil Lutz
The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh from April 23-25. After that, veterans will report for the start of Denver's offseason program on May 4 (view the Broncos' offseason schedule here).
The show also will announce the winners of our premier awards, which include boys athlete of the year, girls athlete of the year, boys team of the year, girls team of the year, coach of the year and our Courage Award recipient.
The show also will announce the winners of our premier awards, which include boys athlete of the year, girls athlete of the year, boys team of the year, girls team of the year, coach of the year and our Courage Award recipient.
BOSTON -- As the Philadelphia 76ers move forward with their Round 1 series with the Boston Celtics, they will have to continue to fight without Joel Embiid. The big fella underwent an appendectomy on April 9 and has been sidelined since as he recovers from the major surgery.
The Sixers did announce on Monday that he has begun a strength and conditioning program, but one should not expect Embiid to return any time soon. He still has to overcome so many obstacles to be able to return to play for Philadelphia. One doesn't have something as serious as an appendectomy and return to play in two weeks.
When looking at NBA players who had the surgery in the past, Embiid is likely weeks away still as he continues his recovery. However, if he were to return at some point? It would, obviously, give the team a big boost.
"At the end of the day, it'll be the biggest lift that we could ask for right now," said Kelly Oubre Jr. after Tuesday's Game 2 win over the Celtics. "He’s such a talent, and he's our guy, so, you know, praying for his recovery, and I hope everything is going well back at home. We're gonna go home and check on him. Everybody's gonna huddle around him and say a prayer so that he can come back, but, you know, I think he's doing everything that he possibly can, so I think it'll be the biggest lift that we could ask for."
Until the Sixers can get an idea of an Embiid return, they will look to Oubre and others to continue stepping up and producing at a high level. Game 3 against the Celtics is set for Friday night at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The NFL Draft is taking place in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1947, when the steel industry was still going strong in the Steel City.
A lot has changed in nearly 80 years, as the 1948 Draft (which took place in December 1947) took place in a hotel behind closed doors and without much fanfare.
Now, the NFL Draft is arguably the second-biggest day on football fans' calendars. And to those whose teams are perennial disappointments, the hope it symbolizes makes it No. 1.
Here's what you need to know about the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh:
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the Las Vegas Raiders' pick at No. 1 overall.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have 12 picks in the draft, beginning with the 21st selection.
Entry into the NFL Draft festivities is completely free.
The draft will take place over three days, with Round 1 on Thursday, Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and the remaining rounds on Saturday.
The Draft Theater and Main Stage are set up across the North Shore of the Allegheny River, with the area outside Acrisure Stadium serving as an amphitheater.
The NFL Draft Experience, a fan festival, is taking place at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Zak Brown has been fighting the same fight for years. The McLaren CEO wants eleven independent teams on the Formula 1 grid, full stop, and he has never been subtle about the fact that the Red Bull and Racing Bulls arrangement offends him on principle. Now Mercedes is circling a minority stake in Alpine, and Brown has picked his moment to make the point again.
Mercedes, which already supplies Alpine with engines and gearboxes for the 2026 season, is in discussions to buy the 24 percent of the Enstone team currently owned by American investment consortium Otro Capital.
Otro bought in for around €200 million in 2023. Three years on, the stake is reportedly worth north of €500 million, putting Alpine’s total valuation somewhere between €1.7 and €2 billion. Christian Horner and a separate investor group are believed to be circling the same shares.
Brown hasn’t hidden his thoughts on this. Any move that deepens the technical or ownership link between two teams is bad for the sport.
Why Brown Says It’s a Competitive Problem, Not a Paranoid One
Brown’s case rests on examples.
He points to Daniel Ricciardo’s fastest lap in Singapore in 2024, when the Australian, then driving for Racing Bulls, took the bonus point off McLaren and handed it to Max Verstappen in the middle of a title fight. He cites the Ferrari and Haas staff swaps, where engineers move between the two outfits without the financial friction an independent team would face to poach the same people. He brings up the 2020 “pink Mercedes” controversy, when Racing Point arrived at Silverstone with a car that looked suspiciously like the previous year’s championship-winning Mercedes.
SUZUKA, JAPAN – MARCH 29: Arvid Lindblad of Great Britain driving the (41) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 03 RB Ford leads Isack Hadjar of France driving the (6) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on March 29, 2026 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202603290534 // Usage for editorial use only //
And he reaches for a football analogy that cuts closer than the F1 version: imagine two Premier League clubs owned by the same group, playing each other on the final day, with one facing relegation if it loses. Everyone watching knows how that match ends.
“We’ve seen employees move overnight between affiliated teams, creating unfair advantages,” Brown argues, per reporting this week. “We often have to wait a long time or make financial deals, which in turn affects our budget. That is not fair and gives others a financial and sporting advantage.”
The Mercedes Factor Makes This Awkward
Brown has to navigate this claim carefully, however. Mercedes is McLaren’s engine supplier. Has been for years. Any criticism of the Silver Arrows’ investment plans is, by definition, criticism of a company Brown depends on to bolt power units into his cars every other weekend.
Brown insists the objection is structural, not personal.
“It applies to anybody and everybody. A/B teams and co-ownership are detrimental to the sport.” He says the same standard applies to Horner’s Alpine bid as to Toto Wolff’s. He has also, perhaps pointedly, welcomed the idea of Horner returning to the paddock and praised current Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies for running a cleaner separation between Red Bull and Racing Bulls than previous regimes managed.
This comes as Concorde Agreement discussions are reportedly touching on whether Red Bull should eventually divest one of its teams over time, and the FIA is expected to tighten its cross-ownership rules. Brown’s public lobbying lands in the middle of that negotiation window, and McLaren’s CEO is betting that fan appetite for eleven genuine competitors will carry the argument in his favor.
Brown also confirmed the pickup of Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long-time Red Bull race engineer, who joins McLaren after 2027.
“With his experience and age, Lambiase can stay with McLaren for a very long time and continue to grow,” Brown said. Stability, in other words, is what McLaren is building toward. Competitive-balance stability on the grid, as Brown tells it, requires the rest of F1 to stop building in the opposite direction.
Whether the FIA agrees in time to stop the Mercedes-Alpine deal is the question the next twelve months will answer.
After months of waiting, the 2026 NFL draft is finally here.
Wisconsin Badgers fans know their team has been trending in the wrong direction these past two seasons, but there are still a few players who should hear their name called in this year's draft.
The 2025 NFL draft was memorable for plenty of reasons, as it took place in Green Bay, WI. One year later, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the honor of hosting the draft.
Close to 300 collegiate athletes will hear their names called over the next three days as they look to take their careers to the next level.
As always, Day 1 of the NFL draft is exclusively for the first round. Sadly for Badgers fans, there aren't any players on this team who are among the top 32 players.
Day 2 will feature the second and third rounds, while the fourth through seventh rounds commence on Day 3. All three days will be available to watch on TV and can also be listened to on the radio.
How to watch all three days of the 2026 NFL draft
Thursday, April 23 - Day 1: 8 p.m. EDT
Friday, April 24 - Day 2: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, April 25 - Day 3: Noon EDT
NOTE: Fans can watch all three days of the NFL draft on ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, and ESPN Deportes.
How to listen to all three days of the 2026 NFL draft
Coverage of the 2026 NFL draft begins at the same time on the radio, which fans can listen to via SiriusXM (Channel 88), Westwood One Sports, and ESPN Radio.
How to watch all three days of the 2026 NFL draft on livestream
Numerous streaming options are available, including: NFL+, ESPN+, Disney+, the ESPN Deportes app, Hulu+Live TV, YouTube TV, and Fubo TV.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.
Sep 19, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) scores a 3rd quarter touchdown in front of New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | Robert Deutsch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Good morning Gang Green Nation! We finally made it to draft day 2026. By the end of tonight the New York Jets will, barring blockbuster trades, select two new hopes for a better tomorrow. Many Jets fans will be outraged, as is tradition. What a great day for Jets fans, and therefore, the world.
Here are your links to your New York Jets this glorious Thursday in April:
NewYorkJets.com – Final Tally | Which Players Were Mocked to the Jets Most in the Last 3 Months?
NewYorkJets.com – Jets Mock Draft Roundup 15.0 | The League’s Draft Experts Present their Final First Round Projections
MADRID (AP) — A new international group representing soccer players launched on Thursday as a rival to long established global union FIFPRO, which has been in dispute with FIFA.
The Association of International Footballers (AIF) was founded in Madrid by David Aganzo, president of the new group that claims it will represent nearly 30,000 players. Aganzo also leads the players' association in Spain (AFE) and was ousted as FIFPRO president in 2024.
Aganzo and other officials twice last year met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in what was widely seen as a challenge by the world soccer body to Netherlands-based FIFPRO's mandate to represent players worldwide.
FIFA is the subject of a formal complaint made 18 months ago to the European Commission in Brussels by FIFPRO's European division and the European Leagues group. The filing challenges the quality of FIFA's governance and consultation with stakeholders.
FIFA said on Thursday it was made aware of the creation of AIF and remained "committed to open and constructive engagement with football stakeholders that uphold core principles, including representativeness.”
FIFPRO criticized the new group.
“FIFPRO recognises the strong work over several decades of AFE for men’s football players in Spain,” it said in a statement. “However, the concept announced in Madrid by its current president appears nothing more than a speculative attempt to boost his own standing through a group which lacks the fundamental legitimacy to represent professional footballers globally.”
FIFPRO said the new concept was “driven by personal motives rather than a mandate from players around the world.”
Aganzo said the new model for a players' union was needed in part because players' voices were not being heard through FIFPRO. The new group said women's players also needed stronger representation.
“Soccer players need a stronger voice,” Aganzo said. “They don't have the possibility to make decisions. AIF has been created to fight for them.”
FIFPRO said Aganzo "has engaged with groups that fail to meet basic standards of player representation," which it said must “be responsible and sustainable, built from the players up, through collective structures that ensure independence, legitimacy and accountability.”
“Such an approach to player representation is not in the best interests of professional footballers.”
FIFPRO claims its role is based on a mandate from 70 national player associations representing more than 60,000 footballers and is formally recognised by the European Union and international football governing bodies and stakeholders.
AIF will be governed by members from unions in Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland.
It has only been a few months since Super Bowl 60 concluded and it seems like a lifetime ago that the Seattle Seahawks were hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Football-starved fans are left with a seven-month break between meaningful games, even though free agency and the draft are supposed to fill that void.
All hope isn't lost though.
The 2026 NFL Draft is here, and it will be followed by a new schedule release in May before the summer kicks into high gear.
Then it's the home stretch, when training camps begin and preseason action kicks off again. Week 1 will be here before you know it, so enjoy those free weekend schedules while you can. And don't forget to carve out more than a few weeknights, as the 2026 regular season schedule brings more than a few quirks.
Here's what to know about when the regular season starts and when you can expect the schedule to be released in 2026.
The 2026 NFL regular season will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Continuing tradition, the Super Bowl champions will kick off the season as the Seahawks get one last moment in the spotlight before turning the page to 2026.
While the kickoff game is typically set for the Thursday night after Labor Day, this season's was moved to Wednesday to accommodate a new international game. The Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 10 in the league's first-ever Australia game.
That means that fans can expect games to take place on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday in Week 1.
When is the NFL schedule release 2026?
The NFL schedule is typically released in the spring. They haven't announced an exact date yet, but it is typically announced in May after the draft, and free agency gives some clarity on what the 32 rosters will look like.
It's often a trap teams and fans can fall into when their draft class doesn't pan out as hoped. Quarterbacks can fade from franchise saviors to Day 2 developmental picks after underperforming in their final NCAA season.
All signs point to that not happening in 2027.
Teams have made quarterback decisions for 2026 with the 2027 NFL Draft class in mind. Potential top-five selections in this year's draft opted instead to return to school for another year before joining the professional ranks.
It's a close battle for the top spot between a trio of passers: Oregon's Dante Moore, Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Texas' Arch Manning. All three are likely first-round passers in 2027 if they decide to declare.
They're worth knowing more about but they're also not the only intriguing passers hitting the NFL next spring. Here's a look at our top 10 quarterbacks for the next draft class:
2027 NFL Draft QB rankings
1. Dante Moore, Oregon
Moore would’ve been justifiably in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick had he decided to come out after one season as a starter with the Ducks. His 2025 tape wasn’t flawless by any means but he showed more than enough to warrant top quarterback consideration. He returns to Eugene in 2026 with a new-look offense around him. Jeremiah McClellan and Dakorien Moore return as his top wideouts, but he’ll be without top 2025 targets, Malik Benson and Kenyon Sadiq.
Strengths: Moore is a mobile pocket passer with a fast release who took steps as an intermediate passer in 2025. His deep ball touch is among the best in the class. He’s not a true dual-threat quarterback, but his mobility can extend plays and he’s comfortable throwing on the run.
Areas for improvement: Moore struggled against Indiana in 2025. The Hoosiers’ defense is as close to a pro system as he has seen in the college ranks with their use of pre-snap disguises. If Moore can improve on his post-snap play recognition, he’ll be a lock top-three pick. His leaner frame (206 pounds at 6-foot-3) is a slight concern as well.
2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Sayin burst onto the scene in 2025, his first season as a starter in Columbus. The redshirt freshman led the country in completion percentage (77.0%) in 2025 and threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns. Another offseason with the Buckeyes should help him further develop his game. Though Carnell Tate is gone to the NFL, he’ll get his top target and likely top-five draft pick Jeremiah Smith back in 2026 to throw to.
Strengths: Sayin has a quick, consistent release which he maintains even when pressured. His processing post-snap was advanced for a redshirt freshman in 2025. His ball placement, especially deep, is among the best in the class. He’s aggressive without taking too many risks and can extend plays with good mobility.
Areas for improvement: Like Moore, he struggled most against Indiana’s defense. He also had a tougher time against Miami in the College Football Playoff when facing a talented defensive line. He has frame questions as well at 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds so adding a few pounds would address some durability concerns.
3. Arch Manning, Texas
Twelve months ago, it was Manning whom everyone had penciled in as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. What a difference six months made.
Manning struggled out of the gate in his first season as the Longhorns’ starter. New starters on the offensive line and wide receiver room took some time to sort out. He looked like a much better player in December than he did in September. If he can build on that finish, he’s a threat for the No. 1 spot.
Strengths: Prototypical size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) with plus athleticism that makes him a natural fit for bootlegs, play-action and designed runs. Good accuracy on deep passing with a repeatable release. Took on more pre-snap responsibilities over the course of the season.
Areas for improvement: Manning sprayed throws early on in 2025 as his confidence took a hit with five interceptions in the first five games as a starter. Footwork can break down under pressure. Can hold onto the ball too long and needs to speed up his progressions.
4. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Sellers was another underperformer in 2025 who opted to return to school rather than declare for the NFL draft. He’s a rare athlete for his size (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) and made highlight-level plays throughout the year for South Carolina. He regressed in 2025 after a strong start to his career in 2024 as a true dual-threat quarterback.
His top receivers return in 2026, including his younger brother, Trey Sellers. Former Georgia and Purdue wideout Nitro Tuggle also transferred to South Carolina for 2026 to add to a wide receiver room with Sellers and big-bodied speedster Nyck Harbor.
Strengths: Elite athleticism that will draw (fairly or unfairly) comparisons to Cam Newton. Very strong arm with solid accuracy deep. Lower body power to break tackles as an open-field runner with good footwork, thanks to his soccer background. Eye manipulation took a step forward.
Areas for improvement: Accuracy took a step back in 2025 as his completion percentage dropped from 64.8% to 59.8%. Fumbles are a concern (17 in 24 starts). He’s a big body but doesn’t do enough to avoid contact; he’s been sacked 71 times in those 24 starts. Average release and can get locked onto his first read.
5. Jayden Maiava, USC
Maiava played well enough down the stretch for the Trojans to warrant consideration as a draft pick for 2026. He opted to return to USC in 2026 and continue to build his draft stock with a second season as a starter.
He’ll be without top targets Makai Lemon, Ja’Kobi Lane, and Lake McRee as the trio has moved on to the NFL. He should get a boost at that position from N.C. State transfer Terrell Anderson, in addition to returning starter Tanook Hines.
Strengths: Great size (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) with decent scrambling ability in a powerful frame. Took on a bigger pre-snap role in 2025 and made significant improvements in ball security and accuracy (59.8% in 2024 to 65.3% in 2025). Good timing which thrives on quick game slants and hitches. Excellent deep ball placement.
Areas for improvement: Footwork can drop off against pressure. Intermediate throws over the middle can be spotty accuracy-wise. Can lock onto primary receivers for too long which leaves him vulnerable to batted passes.
6. C.J. Carr, Notre Dame
Carr is a pocket passer who played very well in his first season as a starter in 2025. He’s got good size with a repeatable, clean release. He can reset in the pocket and excels when he establishes a rhythm backed by his good accuracy. He’ll need to show strides as a passer without the threat of Jeremiyah Love in the backfield for opposing defenses.
7. Brendan Soresby, Texas Tech
Soresby was a sleeper for the 2026 NFL Draft before opting to transfer to Texas Tech instead of declaring for the draft. He’s got prototypical size at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds with good mobility and a strong arm. Ball security and eye manipulation are two of his stronger suits. He’ll need to improve his accuracy down-to-down, maintain his footwork under pressure and stand tall in the pocket more to move up these rankings.
8. John Mateer, Oklahoma
Mateer’s 2025 campaign was derailed by a hand injury that he never seemed to fully recover from. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who eludes defenders and delivers the ball out of multiple arm slots. His processing is very good for this stage of his development and he can throw with anticipation. He needs to get better about holding on to the ball too long and throwing into windows that won’t be there at the NFL level.
9. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
After an off-field legal battle, Chambliss will be back at Ole Miss in 2026. He’s a dynamic dual-threat runner with a strong arm to challenge defenses deep. He showed growth in the Ole Miss offense throughout the season. For a running quarterback, he takes care of the ball. His slight frame (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) is a concern because of how much contact he takes. His accuracy on non-deep passes also needs improvement
10. Sam Leavitt, LSU
Leavitt transferred from Arizona State to LSU for 2026 and could benefit from a season under new Tigers coach Lane Kiffin. He’s a dual-threat quarterback at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds who doesn’t turn the ball over thanks to his good decision-making. He handles pressure well and throws with anticipation with an NFL-caliber arm. He needs to speed up his mechanics and release, and show he can handle an upgrade in competition in 2026.
On the National Hockey League's annual draft day in 1984, 18-year-old Luc Robitaille waited excitedly to hear his name. It was a long wait.
The draft began at 11 a.m. at the Montreal Forum as the 21 teams announced their first-round picks. Eight hours later — in the ninth round — the Los Angeles Kings chose Robitaille as the 171st overall pick.
"There were only around a dozen kids left in the stands waiting to hear their name," he recalled. "When I heard mine, I was the happiest person alive."
He raced down to the floor but it was nearly deserted at that late hour. When he finally found a member of the Kings, a manager named John Wolf, he introduced himself.
Wolf congratulated the teen and reached for a box under the table to give him a Kings hat as a welcome gift.
"But he was out of hats," Robitaille said. "So he pulled a tiny pin off his jacket and gave it to me." When Robitaille's father died a few years ago, the hockey great found the pin among his dad's keepsakes.
Temper Your Emotions Like Luc Robitaille
Robitaille wasn't bitter at getting drafted so late. Because he wasn't ranked as a hot prospect, he was thrilled that a team took a chance on him.
"My name was on the list," he said. "I knew it was up to me. People said, 'You're a ninth round pick, it'll never happen, the odds are .0001% that I'd make it (as a pro).'"
Determined to excel, he debuted in 1986 and was named the NHL's top rookie. It was an auspicious start to a legendary 19-year career.
He became the NHL's all-time leading scorer among left wingers, a Stanley Cup champion and a Hall of Famer.
In 2007, he joined the Kings' front office and has served as its president since 2017. The Kings have won two Stanley Cups since Robitaille joined its management ranks.
Robitaille: Commit To Constant Improvement
Like many star athletes, Robitaille credits his mindset for much of his success. Throughout his career, he sought continual improvement.
He played in 1,432 regular season games and 159 playoff games.
"There were games where I didn't play good," he said. "But I prepared for every single game like it was the most important game of my life."
In his first few years in the NHL, Robitaille followed the advice of experts and more experienced high achievers.
"At 20, I was eating wheat pasta with tomato sauce, at bed at 10 p.m.," he said with a laugh. "Whatever I needed to do, I did it."
If he was displeased with his performance, he learned to move on. Staying positive helped him maintain a competitive edge.
"One of the great things about being a professional athlete is all that matters is your next game," he said. "I never thought 10 games ahead. It was just keep pushing to be a little bit better each game. Even after I scored, I thought, 'I've got to do better next game.'"
Find Your Strengths
A Montreal native, Robitaille loved hockey from a young age. His skating skills weren't great, but he showed high in-game intelligence and playmaking ability during his teen years playing junior hockey in Canada.
His desire to keep improving never waned. An established star at 39, he didn't stop putting in the effort on the ice. Instead, he devoted the summer before his last season to improving his power skating.
His humility won over players and fans alike. As a rookie, he often cited a Quebec reporter who once called his skating style "slower than the Zamboni." A Zamboni is the lumbering machine that's used to resurface the ice at hockey rinks.
Robitaille: Blend Toughness With Problem-Solving Savvy
Robitaille understood early on how to rebound from disappointment. He sought to extract lessons from each game.
"If you shoot 250 times and get 40 goals, you're a superstar," he said. "You're constantly failing. That's life. I never dwell on what bad things can happen. I'm all about solutions, not stewing in the problem."
Darren Abbott, the Kings' chief revenue officer, admires Robitaille's approach to problem-solving.
"He always wants to find a solution," Abbott said. "He will say, 'We can figure this out'" — and that motivates everyone to work together and resolve the issue.
Stand Up For Yourself
During Robitaille's playing career (1986-2006), fights erupted much more than in today's game. He didn't flinch when fists were flying.
"The Kings wore purple and gold uniforms in Robitaille's early years," wrote longtime hockey journalist Eric Duhatschek in "The Athletic." "Most of that time, the predominant colors on Robitaille's body were black and blue."
Midway through his career, Robitaille joined the New York Rangers. He played alongside hockey legend Mark Messier for two years.
Upon joining the Rangers, Robitaille was aware of Messier's reputation as a mean, intimidating guy. That perception soon faded.
"I was floored and surprised," Robitaille said. "Mark Messier, one of the great leaders in the game, treated everybody good and fairly. If you did your part, he trusted you."
Plan To Win: Develop And Execute What Matters Most
As a Kings executive, Robitaille's success reflects the lessons he learned playing with top leaders such as Messier. By prioritizing team results and giving honest, supportive feedback, Robitaille brings out the best in his colleagues.
"The way you treat people has got to be real," he said. "No slogans. And you've got to have a plan."
As president of the Kings, Robitaille works with his leadership team to develop plans and execute them effectively.
"Every decision we make, (team owner Philip Anschutz) will ask, 'Is this part of the plan?' and 'Is everybody in agreement with it?' You better answer and be truthful about it," Robitaille said.
Part of the plan, of course, involves winning. Robitaille sets a high bar every year: winning the Stanley Cup.
"Everybody should understand that's the goal," he said. "Not just the players but the people selling tickets, doing our social media, everybody. It's all to elevate the franchise" and seek the championship.
Yet Robitaille balances the importance of winning with an ability to connect with staffers on a human level.
"He's a leader but he's also a friend," said Abbott, who has known Robitaille since 2012. "He will take the time to talk to anybody. He has an infectious passion for the Kings and a tenacity about him, but he also understands we all have families" and lives outside of work.
Make Bold Calls Like Robitaille
When Robitaille and Abbott strategize to tackle high-stakes negotiations with third parties, they don't hold back.
"There were times we disagreed on an approach to a task," Abbott said. "We argued and argued. But by the time the (executive) team comes together to negotiate, there's no doubt we're all on the same page."
During those internal debates, Robitaille listens to input. Rather than impose his will, he's receptive to his colleagues' suggestions.
"There's no, 'I'm the boss.'" Abbott said. "He learns with every conversation."
"He's able to identify what the other party wants," Abbott said. "He asks probing questions to get what they're truly after. He's very good at picking up" their underlying concerns and producing win-win outcomes.
Luc Robitaille's Keys:
All-time leading scorer among left wingers, a Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Famer in a 19-year NHL career. Now an L.A. Kings executive.
Overcame: Making the pros as an underdog chosen in the ninth round and 171st pick of the 1984 draft.
Lesson: "The greats push themselves to get better every day. It's a way of living."
LA28 Olympic organizers said more than four million tickets were sold in the initial phase earlier this month.
"The response to our initial on-sale was nothing short of historic," LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover said in a press release. "Fans from near and far have spoken: the world wants to be part of the LA28 Games. The success of Drop 1 is about more than momentum — it reflects LA28's commitment to delivering a fiscally responsible Games that create a lasting legacy for Los Angeles and its communities.”
Over an April 2-6 presale for locals in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City (which hosts canoe slalom and softball), 95% of all tickets under $100 were sold with about half a million $28 tickets going to locals.
When also including the first overall ticket drop from April 9-19, women's Olympic event sessions outsold men's sessions 93% to 88%. Artistic gymnastics was the quickest seller of available drop one tickets. Tickets were sold to 85 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
Registration is open through July 22 at tickets.la28.org for the next ticket drop in August.
Those randomly selected for time slots will get emails with specific details about date, time and duration of their time slot.
Those who registered for the Los Angeles and Oklahoma City presale and the first drop and who were not randomly selected or did not purchase a maximum amount of tickets are automatically entered for any future ticket drops and do not need to re-register.
The ticket maximums are 12 total for Olympic events with a limit of four each for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Separately, up to 12 tickets can be purchased for soccer matches — that will be held across the country — that do not count toward the maximum of 12 for the rest of the Olympic events.
There will be 351 medal events at the 2028 Games, the most in Olympic history.
The Games return to the U.S. for the first time since Salt Lake City 2002 (Winter) and Atlanta 1996 (Summer).
Pittsburgh will be the center of the football universe when the 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday night.
The Raiders will kick off the annual event with the No. 1 overall pick. They are widely expected to select Fernando Mendoza, but after the Indiana quarterback is taken off the board, it's unclear how the rest of the first round will play out.
This year, the Steelers will have 12 total picks. How will the hometown crowd react to Pittsburgh's selections?
Here is everything that you need to know about the 2026 NFL Draft, including TV and streaming options for the event.
How to watch NFL Draft 2026: TV channel, live stream
The 2026 NFL Draft will air live on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Viewers looking to stream the NFL Draft can watch every round on fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
NFL Draft 2026 dates, start times
Date: Thursday, April 23 | Friday, April 24 | Saturday, April 25
Time: 8 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. ET | Noon ET
The 2026 NFL Draft will begin with Round 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 23. The event will continue with Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, April 24, and conclude with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25.
Michigan Hockey remains one of the premier blue blood programs in the nation. Whether it be the Wolverines’ continual standing near or atop the Big Ten, deep postseason runs or a flood of NHL talent, Ann Arbor is still a top destination.
However, Michigan has not won a national championship since 1998, and until it does, the when question will linger. This is not to say the Wolverines have underwhelmed. Since 2022, they have reached the Frozen Four four times (minus a 2025 campaign in which they did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament) and three of those semifinal losses (2022 Denver, 2023 Quinnipiac, 2026 Denver) came to eventual champions.
Perhaps the most recent loss stung the most, as this 2025-26 team felt different from years past. It defended at a high level and had a deep blue line, Jack Ivankovic was the best goalie head coach Brandon Naurato has had at Michigan, and the likes of T.J. Hughes, Michael Hage, Will Horcoff and Jayden Perron maintained a seemingly perpetually strong forwards group.
Was this team good enough to win it all? Certainly. But the Pioneers’ Johnny Hicks made 49 saves, and Denver once again found a way to eliminate the Wolverines. We now enter the offseason with the same question: Why not Michigan?
The Denver problem
Regardless of who head coach David Carle has in his lineup, regardless of who graduated or departed to the pros or sustained injury, the Pioneers have been right in the mix all decade.
No, they are not the sole reason behind the Wolverines’ playoff letdowns. But we have seen the same story over and over when they face in a do-or-die situation, with Denver coming out victorious in all of the recent meetings.
Michigan is never going to be like Denver. The Wolverines’ outrageous NIL money and proximity to the USNTDP create different boundaries than the Colorado school, which relies on recruiting student-athletes that are committed to the full experience and buy into Carle’s message.
This is not to say Naurato does not have a grip on the culture — far from it. Yet, the Pioneers are the standard in college hockey in large part because of their culture. Every team should want to emulate them, but what can the Wolverines steal from their counterparts?
Too much talent?
What is Michigan’s relationship with the NHL like? Take the 2022 draft for example. Owen Power went No. 1, Matty Beniers was No. 2, Luke Hughes was No. 4 and Kent Johnson was No. 5. None of them made it past their sophomore years in Ann Arbor.
While few programs would deny such tantalizing and productive players, it is difficult to sustain success with so much turnover. In the last couple years alone, the Wolverines have sent those four, along with players like Adam Fantilli, Frank Nazar III, Gavin Brindley, Seamus Casey, Rutger McGroarty, Cam York and more to the NHL.
Sure, other schools face this problem, too, but while they are not quite on the 2010s Kentucky or modern Duke Basketball stage of one-and-dones, they are probably the closest thing in college hockey. Would Naurato be better-suited looking for players that fit a heavier, older style better designed to win a title?
Yes. However, a complete overhaul in evaluating talent is easier said than done.
Winning ugly
Playoff hockey is all about dominating below the goal line, stymying your opponent in the neutral zone and great goaltending. Michigan has had some or all at times during this Naurato run, just not quite to Denver or Western Michigan or Quinnipiac’s abilities during their championship seasons.
Again, that is what made this most recent demise so frustrating is that it finally felt like the Wolverines could win in all three categories. Maybe this is a turning point season where Naurato and company better understand the demands of the NCAA Tournament and can use that experience to avoid a similar fate next spring. But until it happens, Naurato and the program will always have that trophy dangling above their heads.
The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.
The opening match of the World Cup is always a big deal. The host country kicks off the tournament hoping to get off to a strong start in front of its own fans.
In 2010, South Africa played host for the first time, allowing Bafana Bafana the chance to participate in the competition for only the third time. Grouped with Mexico, Uruguay and France, it was not going to be an easy tournament for South Africa, but they made a big first impression.
The opening match in Johannesburg was loud and boisterous. Vuvuzelas, which became part of the 2010 World Cup story, were non-stop. The noise inside Soccer City went up a level in the 55th minute when Siphiwe Tshabalala opened the scoring for the hosts.
Tshabalala said years later that he contemplated chipping it over Mexico goalkeeper Óscar Pérez after spotting how far he was off his line. He chose power and benefitted from a small bounce the ball took before he made contact.
"That helped, I think, and the connection was so good that as soon as the ball left my foot I knew it was going in,” Tshabalala told FIFA.com.
The goal set off wild celebrations inside the stadium and Tshabalala and several teammates joined in on a dance they had rehearsed believing that they would need to break it out.
The match would end in a 1-1 draw and South Africa's happy mood would take a hit in its second match, a 3-0 defeat to Uruguay. But there would still be a chance to advance to the knockout round entering their final group game. Uruguay clinched first place with a win over Mexico, which meant South Africa needed a high-scoring win over France.
It didn't happen, unfortunately, but South Africa did achieve a memorable 2-1 win over France, but it wasn’t enough to advance due to goal difference. Regardless, it was a memorable finish to the tournament — one that began with a goal that’s never been forgotten.
“That was always going to be the biggest goal in my career, no matter what came after, because it touched so many lives and brought joy to so many people,” Tshabalala said. “I’ll always love it – it’s beautiful – but the goal is bigger than me as an individual.”
Sixteen years later and Bafana Bafana will be back at the World Cup after finishing first in its qualifying group, earning an automatic place. There will sure to be many mentions of Tshabalala’s famous goal with South Africa and Mexico featuring in the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Apr 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft theater stage at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Happy NFL Draft day! The first-round kicks off at 8 p.m. EST tonight — in the heart of Steelers country: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
We’ll have specific open threads and plenty of draft content coming out throughout the weekend. It’s a busy few days that will only get even busier for Steelers fans as Pittsburgh has 12 scheduled picks.
While you wait around today for that first “the pick is in” chime on the TV ticker, feel free to hang out here at BTSC to discuss the latest rumors, your favorite mock draft scenarios, or what to do in Pittsburgh if you’re in the area.
And if you want a discussion starter, check out the great draft content we’ve already published this cycle:
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 0-2 vs. Rochester Red Wings
SS Anthony Volpe 0-3, 1 K, fielding error SS Jonathan Ornelas 0-1 CF Jasson Domínguez 1-4, 2 K 2B Max Schuemann 0-3, 1 K DH Spencer Jones 0-4, 3 K RF Yanquiel Fernández 0-3 LF Oswaldo Cabrera 1-3, 1 K 3B Paul DeJong 0-2, 1 BB, 1 K, throwing error 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 0-3, 1 K C Payton Henry 0-2, 1 BB
Elmer Rodríguez 5.2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K (loss) Kervin Castro 1.1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 K, 1 HR Danny Watson 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 K Harrison Cohen 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Double-A Somerset Patriots:W, 9-8 at Richmond Flying Squirrels
SS George Lombard Jr. 0-5, 1 K RF Garrett Martin 1-5, 1 R, 2 K CF Jace Avina 1-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K 2B Marco Luciano 2-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, throwing error 1B Tyler Hardman 1-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K LF DJ Gladney 2-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 3 K DH Kenedy Corona 2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 K — homers in the eighth and ninth inning put them on top C Miguel Palma 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K, throwing error PH Coby Morales 0-1, 1 K C Manuel Palencia 0-0 3B Owen Cobb 1-4, 1 R
Trent Sellers 4 IP, 6 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HR Wilmy Sanchez 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB Will Brian 2 IP, 0 R, 2 K Geoffrey Gilbert 2 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (win)
CORONA FOR THE LEAD! 🔥
Down to Somerset's final strike, Kenedy Corona mashes his second HR of the night to give Somerset a ninth inning lead! pic.twitter.com/Wiqh24R1U9
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:W, 4-3 vs. Brooklyn Cyclones
2B Kaeden Kent 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB SS Core Jackson 0-4, 1 K 1B Kyle West 3-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R — walk-off bomb to lead off the ninth C Eric Genther 0-2, 2 BB 3B Roderick Arias 1-4, 1 K, 1 SB RF Wilson Rodriguez 0-2, 1 R, 1 SB DH Tyler Wilson 0-2, 2 BB, 1 K LF Josh Moylan 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K CF Camden Troyer 1-4, 1 R, 1 K
Luis Serna 5.1 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K Yerry Rodriguez 1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 K (blown save) Andrew Landry 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K Brady Kirtner 1 IP, 0 R (win)
Kyle West said IT'S MY TURN!! RENEGADES WALK IT OFF WITH A HOMER FOR THE 2ND NIGHT IN A ROW!😱 pic.twitter.com/GCYoGUqepF
Apr 21, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A 2026 NFL Draft stage activation at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
It’s officially NFL Draft day!
The 2026 NFL Draft will kick off in Pittsburgh on Thursday night, ushering in a new era of hope for all 32 teams. It’s a wild night full of surprises, huge moves, and emotions aplenty. While the pre-draft process has felt tiresome and frustrating at times, NFL Draft night is undeniably electric. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
So if you’re interested in catching all of the drama of NFL Draft weekend, this post serves as a guide on how to consume it. You have TV, streaming, and radio options all laid out before you—and announcer details, so you don’t miss your favorite draft analyst.
BUT ALSO: If you’re looking for a Detroit Lions-specific draft show, we’re going to be broadcasting our own draft show for all of Day 1 over on our YouTube and Twitch pages. You can find them below:
And here’s how you can catch the 2026 NFL Draft on other media:
NFL Draft: Day 1 (Round 1)
When: Thursday, April 23 — 8 p.m. ET Where: Pittsburgh, PA TV: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC Announcers:
NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Joel Klatt, Ian Rapoport, and Kurt Warner
ESPN: Mike Greenberg will anchor ESPN’s coverage and will be joined by Mel Kiper Jr., Booger McFarland, Louis Riddick, Laura Rutledge, and Adam Schefter
ABC: Rece Davis will anchor and be joined by Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Molly McGrath, Field Yates, and Pete Thamel
Online streaming: NFL Plus, ESPN App, ABC, Hulu, Disney+ Radio: Westwood One, Sirius XM, ESPN Radio
NFL Draft: Day 2 (Rounds 2-3)
When: Friday, April 24 — 7 p.m. ET Where: Pittsburgh, PA TV: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC
Announcers:
NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Joel Klatt, Ian Rapoport
ESPN: Mike Greenberg will anchor ESPN’s coverage and will be joined by Mel Kiper Jr., Booger McFarland, Louis Riddick, Laura Rutledge, and Adam Schefter
ABC: Rece Davis will anchor and be joined by Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Molly McGrath, Field Yates, and Pete Thamel
Online streaming: NFL Plus, ESPN App, ABC, Hulu, Disney+ Radio: Westwood One, Sirius XM, ESPN Radio
NFL Draft: Day 3 (Rounds 4-7)
When: Saturday, April 25 — Noon ET Where: Pittsburgh, PA TV: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC Announcers:
NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Ian Rapoport
ESPN: Rece Davis will anchor along with Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Louis Riddick, Field Yates, and Peter Schrager
ABC: (Simulcasting ESPN’s broadcast)
Online streaming: NFL Plus, ESPN App, ABC, Hulu, Disney+ Radio: Westwood One, Sirius XM, ESPN Radio
We are almost there… | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The New York Giants are set to take center stage at the 2026 NFL Draft this week, holding two top-10 selections and plenty of intrigue surrounding the future of the franchise.
Round 1 kicks off Thursday night in Pittsburgh, where the Giants are expected to be aggressive as they look to reshape the roster under a new era. With picks No. 5 and No. 10 overall, all eyes will be on what direction the front office takes—whether it’s targeting a cornerstone defender, a new wide receiver, or making a splash trade.
This year’s draft runs three days, with multiple viewing and listening options for fans who want to follow every pick, rumor, and reaction.
ESPN and ABC provide separate primetime coverage and analysis
Streaming:
NFL+ (subscription required)
ESPN App
Disney+ and Hulu (live TV packages required)
Giants-specific coverage
Fans looking for a more team-centered experience can follow along with official Giants platforms throughout the draft:
Live reaction show: Giants.com
YouTube: New York Giants official channel
Mobile app: Giants app (live updates, clips, analysis)
These platforms will provide instant breakdowns of each pick, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content from the team’s war room.
How to listen
Radio: WFAN 660 AM | 101.9 FM
Coverage includes live draft reaction, expert analysis, and call-ins
National radio:
SiriusXM NFL Radio
ESPN Radio
What to watch for
The Giants’ draft strategy is one of the biggest storylines of the week. Holding two premium picks gives them flexibility to:
Target elite prospects on both sides of the ball
Package picks in a trade-up or trade-back scenario
Address key roster needs immediately
League buzz has connected New York to several top prospects, and with uncertainty across the top of the board, the Giants could ultimately shape how the entire first round unfolds.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 13: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on April 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 13-7. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phillies have been bad and unlucky to start the season. Now they can officially add “injured” to that list of grievances, as J.T. Realmuto was placed on the injured list with back spasms, joining the likes of Jhoan Duran, Jonathan Bowlan, and Zach Pop who were already on the IL. Get ready for a whole lot more Rafael Marchán and some Garrett Stubbs.
Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi speaks to members of the media during a pre NFL draft press conference held at the Titans practice facility Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The 2026 NFL Draft has finally arrived! The Tennessee Titans are slated to make the No. 4 overall selection on Thursday evening. We can end months of speculation as general manager Mike Borgonzi will deliver his decision. The Titans are expected to choose between running back Jeremiyah Love, linebacker Sonny Styles, or pass rushers David Bailey, and Arvell Reese.
The Titans are entering the NFL Draft with sizable roster needs. Borgonzi is attempting to rebuild a team around Cam Ward that went 3-14 for a second consecutive season. Before the Titans officially make their choice, we’ve identified their biggest roster holes.
EDGE rusher
The Titans have two excellent defensive linemen in Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers, but they do not have a dynamic EDGE rusher. They acquired Jermaine Johnson II via trade, who is on a one-year prove-it deal. Right now, the Titans may be overly reliant on contributions from Jacob Martin, Jaylen Harrell, and Femi Oladejo at the position. It’s a huge need, and precisely why Reese or Bailey would be strongly considered at No. 4.
Interior offensive line
The Titans have created holes at right guard and center this offseason. Kevin Zeitler, a solid 2025 starter, has not been re-signed and is still available in free agency. Lloyd Cushenberry was released due to a failed physical designation. Brian Daboll currently has Austin Schlottmann, Jackson Slater, and Cordell Volson at right guard/center. Not great! Unless the Titans re-sign Zeitler after the draft, they need to draft at least one starting-caliber linemen.
Wide receiver
There are split opinions here. The Titans have five roster-worthy wide receivers in Wan’Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Bryce Oliver. Robinson was signed to a big contract and Ridley’s deal was restructured to keep him around. However, the Titans lack a clear-cut No. 1 option and Ridley won’t be here in 2027. Investing in Cam Ward means finding him a dynamic wideout to grow with.
Running back
Though Jeremiyah Love is among the favorites at No. 4 overall, running back isn’t a big-time need. The Titans are in an adequate position with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears on the roster. The backfield lacks dynamic ability and both Spears and Pollard are entering contract years, and both were acquired by Ran Carthon.
Linebacker
Robert Saleh is a defensive minded head coach with a rich history of coaching and developing linebackers. Despite that, the Titans didn’t do anything notable at linebacker this offseason. Coach Saleh is surely excited about inheriting Cedric Gray after his breakout season, but Cody Barton, James Williams, and Mohamoud Diabate are less inspiring.
Apr 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Colton Cowser (17) and center fielder Leody Taveras (30) and right fielder Dylan Beavers (12) celebrate in the outfield after the win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Hello, friends.
The Orioles have escaped Kansas City with a series win after pulling off a comeback to get an 8-6 victory in yesterday’s game, bringing themselves back within a game of .500. The Royals broke a long losing streak with their win on Tuesday but remain in the basement of the American League. You could maybe say that it would have been better if the O’s really embarrassed the worst team, which they didn’t do. Still, they won two of three, and they showed some resilience in doing it, so that’s something. Check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals.
One thing I think that we can hope for coming out of that series is that the signs of life from Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo at the plate continue. Mayo, in particular, had a pair of three-run homers over the course of the series. Struggling outfielders Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser had two hits apiece in Wednesday’s game as well. The problems that the team has had so far will seem a lot easier to overcome if these guys are able to start hitting at least decently.
Less positive is the continuing struggle of this year’s edition of the veteran starting pitcher signing, Chris Bassitt. The team spotted him a five-run lead yesterday after scoring six runs in the top of the sixth inning and Bassitt still couldn’t get through the bottom of the inning without making things way more interesting. He gave up a home run to the first batter he saw after the big O’s offensive outburst. In all, Bassitt gave up five runs in 5.1 innings to raise his season ERA to 6.75 after five starts.
It’s not quite Charlie Morton territory. Morton had a 10.89 ERA after the same number of games, after which he got dumped from the rotation. With each of Cade Povich and Brandon Young starting off well for Triple-A Norfolk, I understand the impulse to do the same for Bassitt. I doubt that the Orioles will, at least not unless this drags out for a longer at this level of bad results. Maybe another five starts. At least we don’t have to worry about him for a few more days.
There’s a little Orioles injury news that will probably hang in limbo over the off day today. Jackson Holliday was sent back to Baltimore yesterday for an MRI on his hand after his latest rehab stint was shut down following an uncomfortable swing in Norfolk. There was no news about it after yesterday’s game and there probably won’t be in the off day either. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out if there are any updates to be had there – or with any of the other injured O’s who might be back any day now or might just keep on lingering.
The Orioles will next be in action on Friday night at home against the Red Sox starting at 7:05. As of this writing, there is not a scheduled starter for the Orioles. If they don’t use the off day to skip Dean Kremer’s turn, then it will be Kremer who would be on turn to make the start. The Red Sox will send out Brayan Bello, who’s struggled to begin the 2026 season. This does not necessarily mean anything where the enigmatic Orioles offense is concerned.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Orioles place Helsley on family leave/bereavement list, recall Espada (Baltimore Baseball) There was a roster move ahead of yesterday’s game, with the closer leaving for a few days for the family medical or bereavement leave list. The team did not announce the specific circumstances. If it is a medical situation, I wish the best for it turning out well. If it’s bereavement, condolences to the family.
Jeremiah Jackson is getting his hacks in (FanGraphs) The folks at FanGraphs have taken notice of the strong start by an unlikely Oriole. Now that Jackson’s BABIP luck has reached a more stable place, what might he do the rest of the way?
Today in 1994, future Hall of Famer Lee Smith picked up his ninth save of the season in the 16th game played by the Orioles. This was a new MLB record for fastest to nine saves. The Orioles beat the Mariners, 4-3, as Smith got his save. He did not allow a run over 12 April appearances that year.
In their 25th game one year ago, the Orioles lost to the Tigers, 4-3, in the first game of a doubleheader, to fall to 10-15 on the season. Jordan Westburg, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramón Urías all had three hits in the losing effort for the O’s. For the time being, the 2026 edition of the team is doing two games better than those guys.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2022 pitcher Louis Head, 2009 pitcher Sean Henn, and 1957 infielder Buddy Peterson.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: playwright William Shakespeare (1564), 15th president James Buchanan (1791), physicist Max Planck (1858), baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn (1921), actress Shirley Temple (1928), musician Roy Orbison (1936), wrestler/actor John Cena (1977), comedian/host John Oliver (1977), baseball Hall of Famer Andruw Jones (1977), and gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim (2000).
On this day in history…
In 1014, the Irish, led by High King Brian Boru, repelled a Viking invasion in the Battle of Clontarf, though Brian Boru himself was killed in the battle.
In 1635, the Boston Latin School was founded. Still in operation continuously on through today, this school is recognized as the first public school in what is now the United States.
In 1985, Coca-Cola released New Coke, a change to its formula. Within three months, they brought back the previous Coca-Cola formula. New Coke survived as Coke II through 2002.
In 2005, the first YouTube video was posted. One of its co-founders released a video titled “Me at the zoo”.
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on April 23. Have a safe Thursday.
Yildiz & Juventus duo doubtful for Milan clash – Expected lineup revealed
Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is currently training separately, as his availability against Milan remains in doubt.
The 20-year-old was relegated to the bench during Sunday’s win over Bologna, only making a late cameo appearance.
The Turkish international has been struggling with a physical discomfort that has been impeding him in recent weeks.
According to Tuttosport, Yildiz underwent personalised training on Wednesday, alongside Khephren Thuram and Emil Holm.
Yildiz, Thuram & Holm training still training separately
The source still expects the Turkish attacker and the French midfielder to earn call-ups, but the Swedish wing-back’s condition is a bit more complicated, having hurt his calf against his parent club, Bologna.
On the other hand, Dusan Vlahovic is unlikely to be fit enough for the clash against Milan. A return against Hellas Verona would be a more plausible target.
Mattia Perin, Juan Cabal, Vasilije Adzic, and Arkadiusz Milik are certainly unavailable for the San Siro trip.
With so many absences and uncertainties, it remains to be seen who Luciano Spalletti will decide to field in what will be a crucial contest, not only for Champions League qualification, but also in the battle for the podium spots.
Expected Juventus starting XI against Milan
Jonathan David has followed up on his goal against Bolognaby scoring a sensational strike in training that earned him the applause and admiration of his teammates.
Therefore, Spalletti is expected to entrust the Canadian with a starting role for the second week in a row.
The 26-year-old will be supported by Francisco Conceicao, who will start on the right wing. As for the opposite flank, Yildiz would be the favourite should he return to full fitness, while Jeremie Boga is the alternative.
In the middle of the park, Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram should link up once more, while Teun Koopmeiners and Fabio Miretti will be ready to step up should the Frenchman fold.
Andrea Cambiaso and Weston McKennie are the obvious choices for the wing-back slots, while the backline should also remain intact, with Gleison Bremer operating between Pierre Kalulu and Lloyd Kelly.
Juventus Probable XI (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz (Boga); David.
Arsenal officials set to travel because of one of their younsgters
Lucas Nygaard moved to Arsenal in 2024 after the Gunners judged him to be a strong addition for their youth system, and he has continued to make progress since arriving at the club.
He is not yet close to first-team involvement, and the most likely next step in his development appears to be further senior experience away from the Emirates. That pathway has already begun through a temporary move designed to give him regular minutes.
Loan Spell In Denmark
Nygaard joined Brabrand IF on a three-month loan, but the Danish side is now keen to keep him until the end of the season. They believe continued game time would benefit both the player and the club during the remainder of the campaign.
Arsenal are also understood to recognise the value of consistent competitive football for the 19-year-old and are prepared to sanction another temporary arrangement in the coming weeks if conditions are suitable.
Brabrand IF currently appear to be the club showing the strongest interest in retaining him for the rest of the term, which would provide continuity in his development and a stable environment.
For Arsenal, ensuring young players receive the right loan experience remains an important part of the progression process.
Arsenal Monitoring Situation Closely
Arsenal are now prepared to send officials to the Danish club to assess the environment and determine whether it is the right place for their youngster to remain for a longer period.
This information was confirmed by the sporting director of the club, Andreas Rasch-Christensen, who said to Tipsbladet:
“The plan is for them to visit very soon. They are following him and have a regular dialogue with our goalkeeping coach and staff in relation to, I suppose, finding out what their plans with him should be.”
Those comments suggest Arsenal are maintaining close oversight of Nygaard’s development while carefully considering the next phase of his career. If the visit is positive, an extended stay with Brabrand IF could become the preferred option before the season concludes.
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 8: Luis Garcia #57 of the Philadelphia Phillies kisses his glove as he walks off the field after pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 8, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies have been shuffling the bullpen as they look to correct virtually every facet of the team after a brutal start to the season.
The team has cycled through fringe roster options like Seth Johnson, Chase Shugart and Kyle Backhus as star closer Jhoan Duran recovers from an oblique injury. And Tuesday’s loss to the Chicago Cubs marked a low point for the pitching staff so far.
“Phillies pitchers walked an obscene 10 batters (and hit two more) in a 7-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs,” Jim Salisbury noted for NBC Sports Philadelphia. “They’ve only gotten 13 innings from their starting pitchers the last three games with a bullpen game (Kyle Backhus will start) on tap Wednesday night. Taijuan Walker is expected to get the bulk of the work in relief.”
The range of relief options employed by the team so far and the extent of their poor performances has been one of the harsher surprises for the Phillies this season. After trading away Matt Strahm and bringing in Brad Keller, it seemed like the team had assembled its most clearly defined bullpen in some time.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Former Pitcher Cut By New York Mets, Joins Minnesota Twins Organization
Instead, the bullpen shuffle will continue for the foreseeable future. And in the meantime, the Phillies got an update on one long-time reliever who was recently cut by their division rival.
Luis Garcia, who pitched for the Phillies from 2013 to 2018, racking up 223 strikeouts across 251 games in the process, joined the Minnesota Twins on a minor league contract this week, according to Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The news came shortly after the New York Mets released him.
“Garcia, 39, opened the season with the same Mets team against whom the Twins will open a road series tonight,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams reported on Tuesday. “He signed a one-year, $1.75MM contract in the offseason but was cut loose after only six appearances. In that time, Garcia was knocked around for six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and a pair of walks with four strikeouts.”
Former Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Luis Garcia, Cut By New York Mets, Could Return To Big Leagues
Garcia appeared to have something left in the tank last year, as he posted a 3.42 ERA in 58 total games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels. But his short Mets stint suggested he had lost some velocity on several pitches in his repertoire.
The Twins could use some relief corp reinforcement and a minor-league deal for a veteran like Garcia appears to be a relatively risk free way to take a shot at some remaining upside.
“Garcia’s velocity is down this year, but there’s little harm in taking a nearly free look at a veteran reliever who, in addition to that 3.86 ERA over the past five seasons, has punched out a solid 22.3% of his opponents against a sharp 7.8% walk rate and a huge 53% ground-ball rate,” Adams added.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 27: James Peoples #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rushes as Xe'ree Alexander #10 of the Washington Huskies defends during the third quarter at Husky Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Blake Dahlin/ISI Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Warmer weather, cherry blossoms in the Quad, and post-8:00pm sunsets all indicate Spring returning to Seattle, but for you fine readers of UW Dawg Pound, it means it’s time for Spring Football. (If this sounds like a familiar intro, I did kind of copy it from my OL position breakdown. In Gabey Lucas fashion, I too dislike writing intros and will try to avoid them as possible).
On to the linebackers & EDGEs.
2025 Season Refresher
We’re grouping the linebackers with the EDGEs this Spring because there’s some positional fluidity between those groups under defensive coordinator Ryan Walters. However, if we’re looking back at the 2025 season, these two groups had very different seasons.
At the outset of the 2025 season, linebacker seemed like a promising group with some short term questions. The top three LBs from the 2024 season, Carson Bruener, Alphonzo Tuputala, and Khmori House, had all departed, but Jacob Manu and Taariq “Buddah” al-Uqdah were incoming veteran transfers from Arizona and WSU respectively. Manu and Buddah weren’t just veterans, they were proven highly productive starters from Power 4 (or recently Power 4) programs. In addition to those two, we also had a promising in-house option in Deven Bryant, a highly-touted HS recruit in Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, and a multi-stop transfer in Xe’ree Alexander to round out the depth chart. The questions though revolved around how the rotation would shake out over the course of the season. Manu was coming off of a torn ACL and likely wouldn’t be available until mid-season, and with an available redshirt, it wasn’t a certainty that he would even play more than four games if healthy. ZRS was also coming off of a knee injury sustained during his HS senior season, so he was also largely written off as a redshirt candidate. That left Buddah and Bryant as the likeliest week 1 starters with Alexander providing depth. Not a terrible situation, but not as immediately promising as the on-paper additions would suggest.
On the flip side, EDGE seemed far more promising at the outset of the season. Zach Durfee, the long-hyped yet snake-bitten EDGE, finally seemed healthy enough to be a #1 pass rushing option. Opposite of Durfee, it appeared like the staff had a deep rotation to rotate through. Deshawn Lynch had been a decent part-time starter in 2024, Russell Davis II had blown up against UCLA in ‘24 with 3 sacks before getting injured, Isaiah Ward had shown flashes as a rotational player, and Jacob Lane had been a quietly productive role player for a couple seasons.
For both groups, the preseason outlooked got flipped upside down, and not in a necessarily negative way. At LB, Buddah and Bryant did start the season as the primary LBs, but Buddah suffered a season ending injury in September, and Bryant started to get picked on by opposing offenses. Fortunately, Alexander was a revelation as his he progressively gained traction over the course of the season as a stout run stuffer and blitzer, eventually earning a bowl game MVP nod. Additionally, Manu and ZRS were able to get healthy by midseason, and both lived up to their billing once on the field. At EDGE, Durfee did have his best season as a Husky, but he was hampered by nagging injuries throughout. Davis never actually recovered enough from his ‘24 injury to see the field, and Ward missed almost half the season to an injury as well. Unexpectedly though, Lynch had a breakout season in his final year, at one point leading the conference in pass breakups, as well as snagging a near pick-6 in the bowl game.
By the end of the ‘25 season, the general fan sentiment was that the LB room outperformed expectations by season end, and the EDGE group probably underachieved expectations while posting a comparatively average performance.
Roster Situation
Departures:
Deven Bryant (LB, Transfer – USC)
Jonathan Epperson Jr. (LB, Transfer – Portland State)
Anthony Ward (LB, Exhausted Eligibility)
Zach Durfee (EDGE, Exhausted Eligibility/NFL)
Deshawn Lynch (EDGE, Exhausted Eligibility/NFL)
Milton Hopkins Jr. (EDGE, Exhausted Eligibility)
Looking towards 2026 and Spring Practices, the departures somewhat align with the season ending sentiment for the respective positions. The LBs lose Deven Bryant and Jonathan Epperson Jr. to the Transfer Portal. Bryant likely didn’t figure into long term plans after being surpassed by Alexander and ZRS in ‘25, and Epperson likely saw himself buried on the depth chart for at least another year and decided to look elsewhere for playing time. Neither of them were projected to be in the 2-deep in ‘26 and likely represent more than a hit to the positional depth.
On the other hand, EDGE lost two of their top producers from ‘25 with both Durfee and Lynch running out of eligibility. These were anticipated losses, but with limited proven production behind them on the depth chart, they leave behind more questions than long-term answers.
Returning Linebackers: Taariq Al-Uqdah, Jacob Manu, Xe’ree Alexander, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, Donovan Robinson Jr.
Returning EDGEs: Jacob Lane, Isaiah Ward, Russell Davis II, Devin Hyde, Victor Sanchez Hernandez, Hayden Moore
Moving on to the returners from the respective positions, it’s clear why the outlook for the two positions are heading in opposite directions. With basically every significant contributor returning from the ‘25 LB group, the only unproven returner that hasn’t seen extended playing time is RS freshman Donovan Robinson Jr., who coming out of HS was an extremely talented, multi-positional prospect who had played everywhere from safety to LB to WR and returner. His upside elevates the overall talent in the room, but as a relatively raw prospect at the LB position, he represents talented depth at this point as the hypothetical 5th option in a nominally 2-LB system. That’s a great spot to be in.
By comparison, EDGE is lacking returning star power and reliable depth. Jacob Lane probably figures to be a key member of the rotation as the steadiest and most durable upperclassman option from the returners. Devin Hyde, a rising sophomore, seems to be a player the staff also has high hopes for in his second year. He played in every game of his true freshman season, and even broke into the back end of a relatively deep EDGE rotation that liked to keep players fresh. Hyde may not get the “starter” nod, but I expect his role to grow in year 2. A big 2nd year leap would go a long way to settle down concerns with this group’s upside.
In my opinion, Davis and Ward slot in right behind Lane and Hyde in the EDGE rotation. When healthy, the two former Arizona transfers bring edge rushing juice that’s been lacking in the room for a few years, but much like Durfee, neither have been able to capitalize on their talents due to injuries. If both can stay healthy, I could see them playing a large role in sub packages.
Finally, Victor Sanchez Hernandez and Hayden Moore figure into the EDGE pictures as depth and developmental pieces. Sanchez Hernandez was an intriguing local developmental prospect that always figured to need some time growing into the role. As a former elite martial artist with limited football experience, there’s definitely some athletic upside but a very limited sample size to project his future production and role at this point. Moore on the other hand is likely no more than a depth player at this point in his career. The former Michigan transfer is heading into his 3rd year with UW and has seen sporadic playing time. I would not be surprised if his role is again limited to depth and special teams.
Spring Practice Arrivals (Position, Arrival From, Rating, Height, Weight):
Ezaya Tokio (LB, HS, 3-star, 6-4, 230)
Logan George (EDGE, Ohio State, 3-star, 6-4, 264)
Ramzak Fruean (EDGE, HS, 4-star, 6-4, 226)
With Coach Walters’ most common personnel packages last year comprising 2 LBs and 2 EDGEs, the Huskies were in a pretty safe spot numbers and depth wise prior to any offseason additions. Most teams aim to stay three deep or better at every position, so with 5 returning LBs and 6 returning EDGEs, the additions can be viewed as a mix of upgrading talent and solidifying a long-term pipeline of talent.
Tokio is the sole LB addition, and as a HS recruit, he represents the staff’s long term plans to replace soon to be out-going seniors Manu and Alexander. Obviously we’re well stocked with ZRS already figuring to be a starter in his sophomore year, plus Buddah has eligibility through 2027, but Tokio is a talent that should keep the rotation stable after this season.
George on the other hand should be viewed more as a shot in the arm addition. Formerly of Utah State, Idaho State, and Ohio State, he seems to be the staff’s latest attempt at solving the pass rush (or lack of pass rush) problem. George’s circuitous journey is an interesting one. After walking on at Utah State all the way back in 2021, George took an LDS mission and ended up at Idaho State after he returned in 2023. In 2024 he was one of the top edge rushers in the Big Sky Conference at the FCS level, which landed him an opportunity to transfer to Ohio State. Injuries limited his availability in Columbus, which landed him back in the portal, and he eventually made his way to Montlake. Somehow through all of these moves, George will only be a junior this season despite being in his 6th year post-high school. We’ve done well picking up productive former Big Sky linemen under this staff, so the hope is that George can at least elevate the floor of the position.
Fruean, the final addition to these groups, is a ceiling raising addition. The late-rising blue chip local prospect was a priority recruit for the staff. At Bethel HS, Fruean played everywhere on defense (and even some offense), playing EDGE, LB, and safety at various times. He primarily played LB and safety, but his frame and projectable athleticism may make EDGE his highest upside position long term. I won’t be surprised if we saw him play some off-ball LB in certain packages though. Coach Walters even mentioned that possibility recently. Fruean’s an exciting one to keep an eye on.
Things to Keep an Eye On – Spring Practice
Does an EDGE Make the Leap?
One of the biggest questions the Huskies have on defense is how we’ll be generating a pass rush. A lot of UW fans expected incoming freshman Derek Colman-Brusa, a highly-touted local recruit, to come in and provide the instant impact jolt on the EDGE like ZRS and John Mills did last year. However, now that we’re into Spring Practices, it’s become clear that DCB has physically developed beyond his HS EDGE position and will likely be a day 1 starter at DT. If true, that’s a win for the defense as a whole, but that still leaves EDGE looking for a path towards improvement.
We’ve already gone through the returnees and additions, so folks should have a pretty good sense of the group that we’re working with. Crossing our fingers for health and durability is unfortunately not a good plan, so I’m hesitant to pin my hopes on a leap in production from Ward and Davis, and in my opinion, Lane is a solid player who’s production could grow with larger volume, but after multiple years of growing responsibilities, I’m not expecting a huge leap in production. Devin Hyde and Ramzak Fruean are the two players who I could reasonably expect to make a significant added contribution to the group. My hope for Hyde to make the leap is based on his consistent, albeit small presence on the field last year indicating faith from the staff that he’s a talent that could develop rapidly with playing time and experience. Similarly, while Fruean is a new addition, practice reports indicate similar opportunities for his early development working with the #1 and #2 defenses this Spring. Pair Lane, Hyde, and Fruean with George, yet another player coming off of injury who we won’t get a good read on until Summer, and it’d be reasonable to expect moderate improvement this season. If we are fortunate to get Ward and Davis healthy, then the ceiling does get a bit higher. Time will tell if that’ll be enough to elevate this defense to meet our playoff-caliber expectations.
Leveraging Strengths at Linebacker
We’re going to see a lot of personnel packages mixing and matching individual players’ strengths on defense this season, but I fully expect there to be a typical rotation that largely gets settled this Spring. Why this is important to keep an eye on is because it’ll be an indication of our defensive game plan next season. Walters is one of the best defensive minds in college these days, and it is in large part due to his ability and willingness to tailor the schemes and game plan to the personnel he has. Last season, we ran 4-2-5 personnel and Even fronts (4 on the line, usually 2 EDGEs & 2 DTs) at a higher clip than what many of us expected given his prominent use of 3-4 personnel and 5-man fronts at Illinois. This was because the roster that he inherited was better suited for Even fronts.
Even with this unexpected shift towards 4-2-5 personnel groupings, Walters still found ways to incorporate 5-man front looks and concepts. Similar to Tuputala’s multi-positional role at LB in 2024, Alexander proved in 2025 that he had the ability to be a playmaker as a hybrid LB/EDGE. While his role was primarily as an off-ball linebacker, where he was an above average run stuffer and capable coverage player, by also being able to rotate down to the EDGE spot in certain fronts Walters was able to play 4 and 5-man fronts without having to substitute personnel. In today’s world of tempo offenses that can trap the defense with mismatched personnel on the field, that schematic versatility is valuable, even if Alexander probably isn’t our best option at EDGE when he’s filling the role. It also gives the staff more options to sort out our EDGE rotation.
Knowing that we have at least three starting caliber LBs (TBD on Buddah’s recovery), the staff is working through different packages this Spring to figure out how to get Alexander, Manu, and ZRS on the field at the same time without having to completely restructure the defense. Alexander periodically playing at EDGE is definitely one option that’s getting repped. ZRS and Fruean are two other options at the LB/EDGE role who are getting some run. According to practice reports, ZRS is even getting looks at the slot nickel position (or to older folks, the old-school SAM position before nickel DBs were ubiquitous).
Regardless of what role the LBs end up playing in these packages, it’s clear that the staff would prefer to play at least three of them as often as possible. That means that some other position is getting subbed out. Total speculation, but knowing that Alexander is LB/EDGE versatile, ZRS may be LB/nickel versatile, we have questions at EDGE, and a solid DB rotation, here are some interesting base personnel groupings that we could see down the line:
4-3 Personnel
DT: Elinneus Davis, Darin Conley
EDGE: Jacob Lane, Derek Colman-Brusa
LB: Jacob Manu, Xe’ree Alexander, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
This hypothetical grouping keeps the 3 LBs on the field and puts DCB in the Lynch role as a jumbo EDGE who can kick inside in 5-man fronts with Alexander rolling down to EDGE. It assumes that someone like Darin Conley is a better overall option than whoever would be the EDGE2 and assumes that DCB is versatile enough to play inside and outside on the line. The pros are that it maintains the basic defensive structures while getting the 3 LBs on the field while finding ways of keeping our best DL/EDGE options on the field as well. If ZRS can actually play in space well enough to take the slot nickel off the field (a huge IF), then this grouping could actually get run as a down-to-down look and not just a situational sub package.
3-3-5 Personnel
DT: Elinneus Davis, Derek Colman-Brusa
EDGE: Jacob Lane
LB: Jacob Manu, Xe’ree Alexander, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
If ZRS can’t play in the slot well enough to warrant subbing out the slot nickel, then the next best option might be going to 3-3-5 personnel. Now, I’m talking about just the personnel grouping and not the 3-3-5 stack front defensive architecture which would be a major departure from what we typically run. I’m thinking more along the lines of 3-3-5 personnel arranged in a 4-man Even front where Alexander or ZRS rotates down to the EDGE spot opposite from Lane. You get almost all of the pros that you’d get from my hypothetical 4-3 personnel lineup, but now you have a slot nickel so the LBs can now focus more on the box instead of chasing slot receivers around the field. The downside with this grouping though is that I’m not sure if you’d be able to play as much 5-man looks. Lane is quite a bit smaller than your conventional DT, or a jumbo EDGE like Lynch was, so you may not want him playing inside all that much. If the staff trusts Lane there though, both Alexander and ZRS could both roll down to the EDGE spots and give a pretty stacked front 5.
4-2-5 Nickel Personnel
DT: Elinneus Davis, Derek Colman-Brusa
EDGE: Jacob Lane, Devin Hyde
LB: Xe’ree Alexander, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
Tacking this one on at the end just to show what we might see if we go with similar position-by-position numbers in our defensive front as last year. I’m picking Alexander and ZRS as the 2 LBs that stay on the field just because they seem to be the most scheme versatile and are the incumbents from the end of last season. I’m also picking Hyde as the second EDGE based on his size being comparable to Lane and the general buzz surrounding his name from players and the staff. You could also slot Logan George or even Victor Sanchez Hernandez here as they are all in the 6-4+ and 250+ lb range where you might feel a bit better about them kicking inside the tackles on certain 5-man front calls. Now the obvious downside to this look is that you only have the 2 LBs instead of 3 in the other scenarios. The other downside is that, like the 3-3-5 option, one of the 3 potential inside DL in a 5-man front is going to be well under 300 lbs. Again, that was less of an issue last year when we used this grouping because Deshawn Lynch was a jumbo EDGE. You could sub Hyde out for another DT while sliding DCB to the jumbo EDGE role, but I still think I’d prefer a scenario that gets at least 3 LBs on the field.
I need to emphasize that this is totally speculative and more of a thought experiment than anything else, but I do think that it’ll be important to keep an eye on how the staff leverages the strength at LB since it’ll likely have ripple effects on how the rest of the defense’s 2-deeps shape up.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets infielder Jacob Reimer (98) throws the ball during the New York Mets spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Starter Brandon Waddell had a slow start to the game, allowing three first inning runs. He would settle down in his next two frames, handing off a 3-0 deficit to the bullpen. The score stayed 3-0 until the fifth, when Ji Hwan Bae doubled home two to make it 3-2. Jackson Cluff hit a three run home run in the sixth to make it 5-3 Mets. Both clubs traded runs in the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eight, giving Syracuse a 6-4 lead heading into the eighth inning.
The eighth inning saw the bullpen start to fall apart, as they surrendered a run in the eighth. Eventually, they would blow the game completely, getting walked off in the bottom of the ninth.
Will Watson, the 2024 seventh round pick who burst onto the scene with a 2.60 ERA across three levels last year, continued his slow start to the 2026 campaign. He surrendered a three run home run in the second, another run in the third, and it was academic from there for Erie.
The two bright spots on the day for the Rumble Ponies are Eli Serrano, who pushed his season OPS to .942 and drove in their only run with a double, and Jacob Reimer, who has struggled mightily this year, but went 4-4 on the day.
CF A.J. Ewing: 0-4, K
SS Marco Vargas: 0-4, 2 K
3B Jacob Reimer: 4-4, R, 2B
C Chris Suero: 1-4, K
LF Eli Serrano III: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
RF Jose Ramos: 0-4, K
DH Kevin Parada: 1-3, BB
1B Nick Lorusso: 0-4, 3 K
2B Wyatt Young: 0-3, 2 K
RHP Will Watson: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, L (0-3)
LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP
Brooklyn continued to struggle in 2026, dropping their 12 game over their first 16. They actually led this game 2-0 after one, with Corey Collins and Ronald Hernandez driving in the runs with a sacrifice fly and double respectively. Hudson Valley slowly but surely chipped away at the small lead, and eventually led the game themselves by a score of 3-2 after four. A John Bay single would tie it in the sixth, and that score would hold until the ninth inning, when Bryce Jenkins would surrender a walk off home run.
A win! The only win in the organization besides THE METS WHO SNAPPED THEIR 12 GAME LOSING STREAK(!!!).
St. Lucie actually trailed 2-0 after a two run home run in the second inning, but starter Frank Camarillo settled down from there to deliver five innings of two run ball. The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with RBI singles by JT Benson and Branny De Oleo. Julio Zayas gave tgem the lead with a double in the seventh, AJ Salgado added a run with a sacrifice fly, and Sam Biller added another insurance run with a double of his own. The St. Lucie pen was nearly perfect surrendering just two hits and a walk.
SS Elian Peña: 1-3, R, 2 BB, K
2B Sam Robertson: 0-4, R, 2 K
1B Randy Guzman: 0-3, BB, 2 K
DH Julio Zayas: 2-4, 2B, RBI, K
RF AJ Salgado: 0-3, R, RBI, 2 K, SB (2)
CF JT Benson: 1-4, R, RBI, SB (3)
C Chase Meggers: 0-1, R, 3 BB, K
LF Sam Biller: 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, K, SB (5)
3B Branny De Oleo: 1-4, RBI, 2 K, E (2)
RHP Frank Camarillo: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
LHP Nate Lavender: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Elwis Mijares: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W (2-0)
RHP Tyler McLoughlin: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, WP (1), S (1)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: WR De'Zhaun Stribling #1 of the Ole Miss Rebels runs up the field during the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday January 1, 2026 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tonight, the 2026 NFL Draft lurches into motion in the city that gave us Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Sudden Death, which is a masterpiece of American cinema.
No matter what happens over the next three days on the banks of the Allegheny, Ohio, and Monongahela, we will be spared from hearing the words “mock draft” until maybe late Sunday night when a deranged person fires off their 2027 mock draft. Related, in a proper society, this person would be thrown in prison.
Per the usual draft schedule, the first round will be tonight, Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday evening, and Rounds 4-7 will run the length of Saturday. You know those draft war rooms smell crazy by noon-ish on Saturday.
Unlike the 2025 draft, which had 8 Ole Miss players drafted, this year’s version will not feature as many, which is kinda wild considering Ole Miss was a few plays away from the national title game. It’s also unlikely any Ole Miss players will be drafted on Thursday, but several names should be called Friday and Saturday.
So let’s take a quick look at those names, plus those who will get free agent opportunities.
De’Zhaun Stribling
Depending on your mock draft dealer, Stribling could go anywhere from late Round 2 to Round 3-ish. You may recall the large, speedy wide receiver had a great combine in addition to closing the last 5 games of the 2025 season (2 regular/3 playoff) with 25 receptions for 420 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Speaking of, remember when Georgia thought they were going to come back and win the Sugar Bowl?
Lol, nope.
Zxavian Harris
Our super-sized adult son is expected to go in the Rounds 2-4 range, depending on how things play out into Saturday. My advice to the team that drafts him is make sure you have enough depth so you don’t have to play him a quarter of a million snaps.
That’s not a knock against Harris, as no one his size is built to play that many plays, but it’s more of a reminder that he was forced to play a quarter of a million plays against Miami, which was wildly unfair to him.
Diego Pounds and Dae’Quan Wright
Ole Miss’ 2025 starting left tackle and tight end, respectively, are likely Saturday names, though it’s possible they find themselves in an NFL camp via the undrafted free agent process. But as the old saying goes, IT ONLY TAKES ONE TEAM, BOB.
Of the two, Pounds is more likely to be drafted. He can play both tackle spots, and large left tackles who are good in pass protection are valuable.
In fact, someone should write a book about that. Maybe call it The Blinder Side. Or Blind Spot. Or Blind Left.
Just workshopping a few names. We can circle back to this.
Wydett Williams Jr.
If Williams gets drafted, it’s most likely going to be in Rounds 6-7 (SIX SEVEN, HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS). I lean toward him not being drafted but, again, IT JUST TAKES ONE, BOB.
Undrafted Free Agents
These guys will be featured in the flurry of tweets following the end of the draft. Their chances of even making a practice squad will be slim, but as the philosopher Lloyd Christmas once said, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance.”
Harrison Wallace III
Jayden Williams
Kapena Gushiken
Logan Diggs
Andrew Jones
There is a timeline where a team drafts Wallace, Williams, or Gushiken late, though that would be a surprise. Gushiken may seem like an odd inclusion, but he had an absurd Ole Miss pro day, which created INTRIGUE in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
Good luck to those drafted and undrafted. We will be rooting for you and hope to see you on a roster (53-man or practice squad) in the fall.
Apr 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft theater stage at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The 2026 NFL Draft officially begins for the Cleveland Browns and the rest of the teams in the NFL tonight at 8:00 pm ET. For Browns fans, Cleveland could be on the clock somewhere between 8:40 pm ET to 9:00 pm ET, as they hold the No. 6 overall pick. Later in the evening, closer to 11:00 pm ET, they are scheduled to be on the clock to make the No. 24 overall pick. It feels good to be heavily involved in the first round of an NFL Draft again, doesn’t it?
We will have all of your Browns-related coverage on the draft here at Dawgs By Nature throughout the weekend. This thread will act as a “live blog,” with updates about the latest small rumors, picks, or trades involving Cleveland or other NFL teams. You should also use the comments section as your NFL Draft open thread! (Newest updates will be at the top of the live blog below)
Browns NFL Draft Live Blog
7:00 AM: Good morning, Browns fans, and welcome to our annual NFL Draft live blog! Each year, I like to begin the live blog by taking a look at how the host city has set-up for the draft, including the draft stage. Let’s see how the layout looks for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
A couple of notes about this year’s site:
Pittsburgh has split their draft festivities among two locations: the North Shore area (where the Steelers play) and Point State Park across the river. Fans will have to enter threw security at each location. To get from one part to the other, they’ll have to walk to the Roberto Clemente Bridge, passing by PNC Park. On Friday and Saturday, a ferry will be available to transport fans across the river.
The city is projecting 500,000 to 700,000 fans over the three-day span, potentially making it one of the busiest events in Pittsburgh’s history. The school system has gne to remove learning from Wednesday through Friday to prepare for traffic.
Here is a shot of some giant Super Bowl trophies located in the green room:
See the giant Super Bowl Trophies inside the Green room? Yes, the green room is inside the Great Hall at Acrisure Stadium. pic.twitter.com/2dkB1c7EmJ
The Wyndham Grand will also have a light projection on it during the evening of the NFL Draft, showing teams that are on the clock, as well as prospects who are being selected. Here’s a shot of how it looks in the day and at night:
We’ll try to have more NFL Draft Fan Experience notes during the afternoon on Thursday, when fans actually attend the festivities. That should include me (Chris Pokorny), as I will be trying to make the drive to Pittsburgh to soak in some of the fan experience.
Stephen Jones says George Pickens will play on the franchise tag this upcoming season.
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys will not hold contract talks regarding a long-term deal with their franchise-tagged wide receiver George Pickens, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones.
The Cowboys informed Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, of their decision last week, hoping to put to rest the questions of an extension that would need to be completed by July 15.
Dallas placed the nonexclusive $27.3 million franchise tag on Pickens in March. The last time the Cowboys signed a player tagged for the first time to an extension was wide receiver Dez Bryant in 2015.
Since then, the Cowboys have seen quarterback Dak Prescott, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Tony Pollard play a season on the tag. The Cowboys reached long-term deals with Prescott and Lawrence after they used the tag for a second time. Schultz and Pollard left via free agency after their one season under the tag.
Did the Cowboys make a wise decision regarding George Pickens?
FRISCO — One of the best moves the Cowboys made this offseason occurred last week. The front office informed George Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, the wide receiver isn’t getting a long-term deal.
For now.
The Cowboys want to avoid any more contract mess when it comes to their star players. Pickens is scheduled to play under the $27.2 million franchise tag for the 2026 season.
Cowboys officials indicated Wednesday the conversations were cordial with Pickens and Mulugheta. Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones conducted the phone call with Mulugheta and everyone involved, at least from the team side, is good with how things turned out.
Considering how things went with Micah Parsons last year, when an verbal agreement between the sides turned sideways and ended with the Cowboys trading their best player before the season, this seems to be the best possible outcome with Pickens.
What could create a storm in the 2026 NFL Draft is trades, and the Cowboys have not shied away from that being a possibility in the hours leading up to the draft, while it’s going on, or after the dust settles.
“You could imagine getting a call right now and making a trade,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “Picks or players, you can imagine that. That hasn’t usually been our experience, it has to happen when a team gets the urgency of having a player within striking range with where their pick’s going to be, we all understand that. But certainly the nature of having extra picks in that first round gives more credence to some options here, and one of them would be [trading] up or down.”
Jones followed up by saying that the Cowboys had already been receiving trade calls from other teams ahead of the first round of the draft, which begins Thursday night. However, it doesn’t appear that Dallas is necessarily in a push to pick up the phone and explore a trade up scenario.
“I don’t know that,” Jones said when asked if the Cowboys would make calls to move up in the draft. “They’re usually, candidly, better coming in than going out. The results are better for us.”
That being said, Jones didn’t shy away from the possibility that Dallas could be aggressive in making some sort of move in order to get a player they feel like is a difference maker.
“We’re in a position that we can do some things, flexibility, that allow us if that opportunity were there and we could do a now thing regarding the financial of it, we’ve probably had more flexibility than we’ve had in years past.” Jones said.
There’s several possibilities when it comes to what the Cowboys will do on Thursday night.
Dallas Cowboys’ Stephen Jones hints at possibly trading back in the 2026 NFL Draft
Dallas mostly did what all decision makers do, speaking in a way to make it clear that all options are open. But Stephen Jones noted that moving up and back could both make sense for the franchise. Jones emphasized that it’s not a set thing that Dallas will pick twice in the first round on Thursday.
He said that scenarios exist where the Cowboys could pick up additional selections, and still have the privilege of choosing twice in the first round. But it’s also possible that the team could be motivated to move up and get a special player in their eyes, sacrificing Dallas’ second pick.
It’s also important to note that the two picks aren’t necessarily a package. Each pick is its own entity, so the franchise essentially has two different trade opportunities. The Cowboys could stay put at 12 and trade up or back with the 20th pick, or vice versa.
The only thing that’s clear at this point is that Dallas is open to exploring all paths. While the Cowboys are seemingly entertaining everything, their eventual decisions will ultimately be influenced by everything else that happens around them.
Daily Discussion Question: What do you want to see happen today?
The NFL Red Carpet is coming together at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Seventeen NFL Draft propsects will walk the carpet night one of the draft. | Ethan Morrison / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The day has finally arrive and the 2026 NFL Draft will soon be over. It goes by quicker than you always expect it to. The first round is tonight for Day 1, then Day 2 will cover both the second and third rounds, before Day 3 speed runs through the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds.
For the Denver Broncos, it is highly unlikely we’ll see them trade up into the first round, so just sit back, watch some Jaylen Waddle highlights and root for the AFC West to draft all the first round busts possible. Or just enjoy the process. It is a fun and unique event that many of us look forward to every year — even during the Elway years when he was drafting not so great players every April.
Here are the details for the 2026 NFL Draft and other odds and ends. Enjoy Day 1 of the draft tonight!
2026 NFL Draft Schedule
When: Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 6 p.m. MT Where: Acrisure Stadium, the North Short, and Point Start Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania How to watch: ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network Streaming: NFL+, ESPN App, Disney+, and Hulu
Draft Schedule
Round 1 on Thursday, April 23rd
Rounds 2-3 on Friday, April 24th
Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25th
In the first round, teams will have eight minutes per pick. In the second round, the clock will shrink to seven minutes. Then from rounds four to six it is reduced even further to five minutes per pick and, finally, in round seven it drops to just four minutes per pick.
2026 NFL Draft Order – First Round
Pick 1: Las Vegas Raiders
Pick 2: New York Jets
Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals
Pick 4: Tennessee Titans
Pick 5: New York Giants
Pick 6: Cleveland Browns
Pick 7: Washington Commanders
Pick 8: New Orleans Saints
Pick 9: Kansas City Chiefs
Pick 10: New York Giants (via CIN)
Pick 11: Miami Dolphins
Pick 12: Dallas Cowboys
Pick 13: Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)
Pick 14: Baltimore Ravens
Pick 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick 16: New York Jets (via IND)
Pick 17: Detroit Lions
Pick 18: Minnesota Vikings
Pick 19: Carolina Panthers
Pick 20: Dallas Cowboys (via GB)
Pick 21: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick 22: Los Angeles Chargers
Pick 23: Philadelphia Eagles
Pick 24: Cleveland Browns (via JAX)
Pick 25: Chicago Bears
Pick 26: Buffalo Bills
Pick 27: San Francisco 49ers
Pick 28: Houston Texans
Pick 29: Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR)
Pick 30: Miami Dolphins (via DEN)
Pick 31: New England Patriots
Pick 32: Seattle Seahawks
NFL Draft Prospect Profiles
We covered 55 prospects this draft season. The list has a heavy-Broncos focus on it, but there might be a few guys here who go in the first round.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 24: A general view of a Trade Alert on screen during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For his entire time as the Chicago Bears’ general manager, Ryan Poles has shown a willingness to move around in the draft in order to get the players he wants. While he’s not averse to taking deals, the fact of the matter is that most of his trades, like most of the trades throughout the league, still fall within the constraints of the famed Jimmy Johnson chart. Additionally, it is completely consistent that future picks are devalued by one round when that math is performed.
Last year, there was a belief that a weak-ish top of the draft might soften the trade market and drive costs down. It didn’t. The best way to get ahead remains leveraging assets like DJ Moore to gain additional picks, preferably in the first two days of the draft.
With that out of the way, the chart below is an attempt to summarize the range of moves available to Chicago in the first few days.
In simple terms, thanks to the DJ Moore trade, the Bears have significantly more power to move around than might be expected from a playoff team, with the ability to get into the Top 10 if desired and the capacity to find a number of “just right size” trades depending on who might be left on the board.
Liverpool top Premier League injury table with 9 players out ahead of Palace clash
The scale of Liverpool’s current injury problems has been laid bare ahead of our clash with Crystal Palace, with new Premier League data confirming we are the worst-affected squad in the division.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
According to figures released by the Premier League, Liverpool have the most injuries with nine players out, highlighting just how stretched Arne Slot’s options are heading into a crucial stage of the season.
Liverpool injury crisis laid bare by Premier League data
The dataset shows a clear gap between us and the rest of the league, with even Chelsea, the next worst hit, still two players better off in terms of availability.
That context matters because it underlines that this isn’t just a difficult spell, it’s the toughest injury situation in the entire Premier League right now.
When you look at the names currently sidelined, it becomes even more concerning, with Hugo Ekitike ruled out long-term after surgery, while both Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili are unavailable, leaving us short in goal.
Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Stefan Bajcetic are also among those missing, meaning the spine and depth of the squad have both taken significant hits.
Palace boost adds to Liverpool challenge
What makes the situation more difficult heading into the weekend is that Crystal Palace appear to be heading in the opposite direction in terms of availability.
Oliver Glasner has already suggested that Adam Wharton should be back in time to face us, giving the visitors a timely boost just as we are dealing with our worst injury period of the season.
At the same time, the long-term nature of some of our absentees cannot be ignored, with Paul Joyce confirming: “Hugo Ekitike has undergone successful surgery on the achilles injury… No timescale is being placed on the striker’s return.”
That means this isn’t a short-term issue we can quickly recover from, but something that will continue to impact us as we push for a top-five finish.
Despite that, we’ve already shown resilience, most notably in the late derby win over Everton, but there’s no doubt the current injury situation is making that task far more difficult than it should be.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Coen Carr #55 of the Michigan State Spartans is introduced before the game against the UConn Huskies during the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Yesterday, the Michigan State Men’s Basketball Team announced that Divine Ugochukwu was leaving the team and entering the transfer portal. At TOC, we were getting ready to write an article comparing the amount of portal defections among all the Big Ten schools as we expected to have a big zero next to our name. So much for that. Divine’s 11th hour departure scrapped the need for that article (though we still may do it).
As much as we were marveling at the fact that no one had left for the portal, we were also getting frustrated at the fact that no one was coming to E.L. from the portal. Later Wednesday, that also changed with the announcement that MSU was getting Anton Bonke from Charlotte. Now we present to you our revised projection for next season’s rotation. For this article, we are assuming that PG Jeremy Fears Jr. will come back; he has until May 27th to remove his name from the NBA Draft.
In our original piece, we had projected Ugochukwu to be the starting shooting guard in 2026-27. We believed he would come out on top of a three-man race between himself, Kur Teng, and Josiah Jervis to be Jeremy Fears Jr.’s backcourt running mate. Our original starting 5 was:
PG: Jeremy Fears Jr.
SG: Divine Ugochukwu
SF: Jordan Scott
PF: Coen Carr
C: Ethan Taylor
With the Divine departure and the Anton arrival (how you like those adjacent alliterations?), we had a few options to consider in our new projection. In the front court, the question was if we were ready to hand Bonke the starting center spot over incoming top-40 freshman, Ethan Taylor. In the back court, there were a few possibilities for how to handle the opening at SG. We could have simply taken Teng or Jervis and plugged them into Ugo’s spot. We could have slid Scott and Carr to the 2 and 3 roles, like they were last year, and put Cam Ward at the 4. Or we could have moved 2025 portal transfer Kaleb Glenn into the 3-spot between Scott and Carr. Like last time, we trusted the democratic process.
Our new projected starting lineup for 2026-27 is:
PG: Jeremy Fears Jr.
SG: Jordan Scott
SF: Kaleb Glenn
PF: Coen Carr
C: Anton Bonke
In this event, we would then have the following depth:
PG: Carlos Medlock Jr.
SG: Kur Teng
SF: Jasiah Jervis
PF: Cam Ward, Jesse McCulloch
C: Ethan Taylor, Jesse McCulloch
In our 2nd projection, we are still predicting a small-ball starting 5 with Coen Carr at the PF spot. When he goes to the bench, either Ward or McCulloch would allow Izzo to role with a more traditional lineup with 2 bigs on the court, though those two admittedly have very different skill sets. We also believe this version of the starters offers ample shooting and the ability to spread the floor. Jeremy Fears’ three-point shooting improved greatly toward the end of last season. Jordan Scott regressed a little at the end but still finished at 37%; hopefully some more consistency has him above 40% next year. Kaleb Glenn shot 41% from deep in his last season of action at Florida Atlantic. Even Bonke shot 34% from beyond the arc for Charlotte, though he only took about one per game. Among the reserves, we know that Teng and McCulloch are reliable shooters, and we will see what we get from the freshmen.
As in our initial projection, this leaves Julius Avent, the 4th incoming freshman, and the Walton Twins, Colin and Brennan, at the end of the bench. There are now 14 players signed for next year’s roster, leaving one open spot. Could we still see the implementation of the 5th year of eligibility rule and get one of Carson Cooper or Jaxon Kohler back? Will Coach Izzo get a depth point guard to play with the third string (or to take minutes from Medlock in order to infuriate TOC Nation)?
Let’s hear from you. Do you agree with this version of the starting lineup? What will the minutes look like? Will we fill that 15th spot?
Report: Calhanoglu to stay at Inter for another year
Hakan Calhanoglu’s future at Inter Milan has been resolved, at least for the immediate term, with the club deciding to retain the Turkish midfielder for the 2026/27 season despite failing to agree a contract extension beyond his current deal, which expires in 2027.
The outcome represents something of a compromise, as per FCInter1908.
Calhanoglu had hoped to extend his stay on terms equal to or better than his current €6.5 million per season salary, but Oaktree’s well-documented preference for younger profiles and strict restrictions on renewals for players over 30 made that impossible.
Rather than allowing the situation to drift into open conflict, both parties have settled on continuing as they are, with Calhanoglu seeing out his existing deal and the possibility of a longer-term arrangement remaining open should circumstances change, including the midfielder’s potential willingness to accept a reduced salary.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 21: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, celebrates with Hakan Calhanoglu after during the Coppa Italia Semi-Final match between FC Internazionale and Como at San Siro on April 21, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Chivu leads Inter push to keep Calhanoglu
Cristian Chivu has been central to the resolution. The Inter head coach considers Calhanoglu indispensable to his project and made his feelings clear to the club’s hierarchy, who acted accordingly.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Chivu also played a role in mediating the high-profile fallout between Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez during the summer, a detail that speaks to the trust the Romanian coach has built within the dressing room.
Despite some physical fragility this season, 13 matches missed through injury plus a couple of precautionary absences, Calhanoglu has still contributed 12 goals and seven assists, underscoring why letting him leave would have been a risk Inter were not prepared to take. The Galatasaray sirens, for now, will have to wait.
The SRH opener’s 135* against DC was an innings built on a subtle shift in geometry, balance & intent
Till Tuesday night at Uppal, Abhishek Sharma had begun to look a touch too readable. The talent was never in doubt and neither was the intent, but bowlers had started to guide him into a familiar pattern. Deep midwicket and deep cover were two coordinates of concern in recent times, fields set not just to contain him but to expose a familiar pattern.
They dragged Abhishek wider, lured him into the square and waited with protection in place. For Abhishek, the violence was still there but the options seemed to be shrinking. For a batter who thrives on instinct, that narrowing of the map had begun to matter.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Against Delhi Capitals, Sharma did not merely snap a lean stretch. He redrew the field. His 135 not out off 68 balls, with 10 fours and 10 sixes, powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to 242/2 and set up a 47-run win. It was also the ninth T20 hundred of his career. But the significance of the innings lay beyond volume — it was a smart adjustment.
Sharma looked less rushed, less eager to manufacture and more willing to let the ball arrive on his terms. Beneath the flourish lay fine recalibrations.
That change was most visible in his scoring arc. The arc that once stretched across the horizontal now narrowed and surged straight. Seventy-one runs flowed down the ground through long-on and long-off. A corridor he had long neglected was now reclaimed with authority.
The old temptation was to keep forcing the game square, especially through cover and point. Here, the bat path looked cleaner and the intent straighter. The off drive fetched him 34 runs.
His footwork, still instinctive and balletic, found a new grammar. Previously, he stepped away recklessly to manufacture width and force the square hit. Sharma now moved into the ball, momentum forward, closing angles, and meeting it on his terms.
“On a flat track, he (Sharma) is almost like Chris Gayle,” former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said. The SRH opener exhibited a stable base, clean extension and a mind remapping the field in real time. In doing so, the 25-year-old dismantled Delhi’s plans with disarming ease.
Bad news for Real Madrid ahead of the match against Real Betis scheduled for this Friday.
Thursday’s training session has left two names causing serious concern for the coaching staff: Arda Güler and Éder Militao, who could both miss out on the squad.
The Turkish midfielder was unable to take to the Valdebebas pitch due to muscle discomfort.
A situation that leaves Álvaro Arbeloa facing a complicated scenario, as Güler has become a key part of his setup.
Waiting on Eder Militao
Meanwhile, the situation surrounding Éder Militao has Madrid fans on edge. The Brazilian centre-back went off in pain midway through the last match against Alavés and is undergoing medical tests to determine the exact extent of his knee problem.
On 16 May, Rousey will fight for the first time since her December 2016 loss to Nunes, which came 13 months after her defeat by Holm. Both losses occurred via knockout, with Holm stopping Rousey early in round two and Nunes doing so inside 48 seconds.
The results and their nature led Rousey to leave the UFC and focus on acting and professional wrestling, but now she is preparing to face fellow MMA trailblazer Gina Carano live on Netflix, headlining a card organised by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions.
Ahead of that bout, 39-year-old Rousey spoke to The Independent about her title loss to Holm and failed title challenge against Nunes.
Ronda Rousey’s KO loss to Holly Holm felt like a moment in time – the end of her peak (Getty)
“I was having neurological issues, and I was getting hit and basically losing chunks of my vision, depth perception, ability to track moving objects, to think clearly,” Rousey said.
“I thought these were concussion symptoms, because the more concussions I got, the easier it was for me to get these symptoms. So, after my first loss, I was like: ‘F***, it’s finally caught up to me. I’m never gonna be able to compete at the highest level again.’
“But there were a lot of other factors. I had a bad mouthguard, stuff like that. My teeth got knocked loose, the very first punch of the [Holm] fight, so I convinced myself: ‘Maybe it was just that.’
“I came back again, and again I had to drag myself through it, because I felt like I was expected to come back – and I was coming back for everybody else and not for me. But then the same thing: the first time I got hit, I couldn’t see.
“I just felt like I was forced to retire; there was no way I could safely compete at the highest level anymore.
“But it was also the toxicity of my training camp. The process wasn’t fun anymore, and I was just so over it. Everything was so result-oriented, and I wanted to enjoy the everyday and not just the possible results.
“That’s kind of what led me to pro wrestling, but I didn’t wanna go public about it, because I didn’t want WWE to be like, ‘We don’t wanna work with you,’ because of the baggage – they’ve had bad press from concussions in the past. So, I had to keep it to myself, but that’s kind of what forced my hand.”
Rousey’s final UFC fight saw her stopped by Amanda Nunes in 48 seconds (Getty)
Ahead of her return against Carano, 44, Rousey added that she has seemingly found the cause of her neurological issues.
“Fortunately, because Dana [White, UFC president] sent me to the Cleveland Clinic, we got a diagnosis for what was actually going on with me,” she explained.
“They think it’s actually migraines, and they got me on preventative migraine medication, and we’ve been able to test with sparring and see that it works. It’s been absolutely life-changing for me.”
No one has won more on the PGA Tour this season than Matt Fitzpatrick.
After just losing out at The Players to Cameron Young on the final hole, the Englishman bounced back emphatically with a win at the Valspar Championship, and beat Scottie Scheffler in a playoff duel at the RBC Heritage.
His play in 2026 has seen Fitzpatrick rise to number three in the Official World Golf Rankings, behind only Scheffler and McIlroy, which is the highest ranking of the 31-year-old’s career.
Fitzpatrick is now a four-time winner on the PGA Tour and a US Open winner, yet entering The Masters, he wasn’t among the top favorites to win the Green Jacket. But his brother, Alex Fitzpatrick, who is playing with him at the Zurich Classic this week, isn’t surprised by that.
Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Why Alex Fitzpatrick isn’t surprised that Matt Fitzpatrick isn’t a favorite at majors
Before the Zurich Classic, where Alex Fitzpatrick hopes to earn a PGA Tour exemption with a win alongside his brother, the DP World Tour member was asked if it surprises him that Matt Fitzpatrick isn’t favored to win more majors.
Alex explained why he isn’t: “Not really, no. You know, your Rorys and Scotties of the world, they’re always going to be the favorites going into the majors and stuff. Unbelievable players.
“With all the hard work that I’ve seen him do and all the behind-the-scenes stuff that I’ve seen, it’s hard to say I didn’t expect it. I did expect it. Sorry.
“Golf is a hard enough game. To see him from last year where he wasn’t playing the golf he wanted to to now winning multiple events in the year, I think, yeah, he’ll contend at all the majors he wants to this year. Hopefully I didn’t jinx it, but it wouldn’t surprise me if I see him pick one off. That would be pretty cool.”
Following up on that, Matt Fitzpatrick said if he feels overlooked, “I think all relative. You are always going to have guys in and around form, in and around the majors. You know, realistically, I haven’t — since winning the U.S. Open, I haven’t really shown that.
“Last year I did at The Open and even at the PGA I had a chance, but that was still early on in some of the changes I was making.
“Yeah, like I say, I do feel it’s all relative. If you’re in form going into the majors, you’re always going to be someone that’s going to be looked at. Obviously, I would assume, which I hate doing, I hate assuming, all of a sudden I’m going to be one of the favorites of the PGA. Two months ago, that was probably never the case.
“So it all comes to, I guess, the form you’re in and people’s talking points and history. It doesn’t really bother me either way. It’s, like, you know, it’s great to have the recognition, but also, happy to fly under the radar too.”
Matt Fitzpatrick says why he’s a different player now that he’s world number three
With two wins in 2026 and three in the space of five months, Fitzpatrick said that he’s a different player now to the one he was when he won the US Open in 2023.
The Sheffield-born star said, “I’ve always believed in myself that I could achieve some of the things I have already achieved. I feel like my game probably wasn’t — didn’t necessarily match my own expectations or beliefs, maybe a few years ago.
“I feel like now I’m a different player. My game is very much different to where it was in the past, and obviously, the results so far this season have kind of matched up more to the beliefs that I’ve had in myself and my own ability to contend.
“I think because of that, it’s obviously nice to have that confidence going into the season and going into the rest of the events. Like I say, I’m also always happy to be flying under the radar. It doesn’t bother me at all.”
The Fitzpatrick brothers are favorites to win the Zurich this week, and if Matt can claim his third win of the month, surely he’ll be considered among the very favourites to win the PGA Championship at Aronimink.
Texas A&M’s offense has carried much of the spotlight this season, but the most consistent force on the roster has come from the bullpen. While the Aggies continue searching for stability on the mound, one reliever has delivered every time his number has been called and now, he’s earning national recognition for it.
On Tuesday, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced its 2026 Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List, and junior right‑hander Clayton Freshcorn was among the 61 relievers selected. The award honors the top relief pitcher in Division I baseball.
Freshcorn has been nothing short of dominant. Through 17 appearances, he owns a 2–1 record, seven saves, and a 2.00 ERA across 27 innings. He’s struck out 33 while issuing only four walks, holding opponents to a .228 average and stringing together 13 scoreless innings along the way.
In a season where A&M’s pitching depth has been tested, Freshcorn has been the Aggies’ most reliable late‑game weapon, consistently shutting the door in tight SEC matchups and giving the staff a stabilizing presence at the back end of the bullpen.
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 Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
The NFL draft has finally arrived. After a long wait, the action in Pittsburgh will kick off Thursday night. Of course, Cincinnati Bengals fans will likely have to wait one more day before seeing their team jump in the action, unless Duke Tobin makes a big splash and jumps back into the first round on Thursday. The Bengals traded the No. 10 pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
The Bengals still have seven picks entering the draft. They have one pick in the second, third and fourth rounds plus two picks each in the sixth and seventh rounds.
With that, here is our final seven-round mock draft for the Bengals, with a Day 2 trade mixed in.
No. 41 - Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Trading back was tempting, but the Bengals would be hard-pressed to pass up one of the top inside linebackers in this class. The former quarterback could soon become the quarterback of the defense for Al Golden and immediately upgrade the linebacking group after both Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter struggled as rookies.
No. 86 - Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan
Bengals acquire Nos. 86 and 123 from Chargers for No. 72
The Bengals move back in round three, picking up an extra fourth-round pick and landing a very intriguing hybrid player in Jaishawn Barham. He played both outside and edge defender at Michigan, displaying excellent explosiveness and physicality. He had ten tackles for a loss last season. He also brings plenty of game experience, having started 47 games across four seasons (two at Michigan, two at Maryland).
No. 110 - Trey Zuhn III, OL, Texas A&M
Zuhn played almost his entire career at left tackle, but projects to center in the NFL, which fits what the Bengals need down the line, with Ted Karras likely entering his final season in Cincinnati. Zuhn started 50 games over the last four seasons. He did start one game at center, which will help with his transition to the position at the next level.
No. 123 - Jalon Kilgore, DB, South Carolina
With the extra pick acquired from the Chargers, the Bengals add a potential option at nickel in Jalon Kilgore. Kilgore has played both the slot and deep safety, but is more of a fit in the box. The bet is on his athleticism carrying him through and he does bring good production against the pass to the table (29 passes defended, eight interceptions).
No. 189 - Eric Rivers, WR, Georgia Tech
A smaller receiver (5-10, 178) but one with plenty of speed (4.35 40). Rivers has the potential to stretch the field for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and operate in the slot. He can also compete to be the primary punt returner.
No. 199 - Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech
Back-to-back Yellow Jackets in this mock. The Bengals continue to add depth on the interior defensive line, especially with TJ Slaton among those now as a potential cut candidate. van den Berg would be the first player from South Africa to be drafted to the NFL.
No. 221 - Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State
Kacmarek is one of the better blocking tight ends in this class and the Bengals can use all the protection they can get. The Bengals do still like the potential of Erick All Jr., but Kacmarek could be viewed as potential protege for Drew Sample, as Paul Dehner of The Athletic noted.
No. 226 - Nolan Rucci, OT, Penn State
A developmental offensive tackle option for the Bengals, Rucci started 18 games in two seasons for Penn State after transferring from Wisconsin, including 12 starts in 2025. His father, Todd, was a second-round pick (No. 51 overall) of the New England Patriots in 1993 and his grandfather, Thomas Gilburg, was a second-round pick (No. 21 overall) by the Baltimore Colts in 1961. His mother, Stacy, also played field hockey at Penn State.
The Atlanta Braves got back on track on Wednesday after losing on Tuesday (11-4), with an 8-6 win over the Washington Nationals. The offense showcased its power by hitting four runs, with centerfielder Michael Harris II hitting two of them.
The pitching was okay.
Right-hander Didier Fuentes — four earned runs and seven strikeouts in three innings — provided a shaky performance. Left-hander Martin Perez — two earned runs and struck out four in three innings — on the other hand, did well. Since both Fuentes and Perez will be unavailable to pitch on Thursday, the Braves made another roster move.
The Atlanta Braves are calling up top prospect JR Ritchie to start Thursday
Since Fuentes won’t be available for the next few days, the Braves have optioned him back to Triple-A Gwinnett and are calling up right-hander JR Ritchie, per Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game. Ritchie, 22, is the Braves' No. 2 prospect in the organization and the 79th prospect in baseball, and will make his MLB debut on Thursday against the Nationals.
J.R. Ritchie, 22, is set to make his MLB debut on Thursday vs. the Nats.#Braves No. 2 prospect is 3-1 with a 0.99 ERA and 13BB/28 K, .167 BAA in 5 GS (27.1 IP) for Triple-A Gwinnett @GoStripers to open 2026. https://t.co/eHJve8SX3B
In five starts, Ritchie is 3-1 with a 0.99 ERA, 13 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 27.1 IP for Triple-A Gwinnett.
To add to the moves being made, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that right-hander Carlos Carrasco will be called up to provide long relief. To clear a spot for Carrasco, the Braves placed left-hander Dylan Dodd on the injured list with a back or oblique strain.
This could be Ritchie’s only start before he is sent down. However, the Braves will need a starter for their game on April 29 against the Detroit Tigers, and Ritchie could be an option to get another start.
Every year, the NFL draft features big trades that impact the league for years to come. Within the past year, teams have been willing to part with their first-round picks in order to land superstar players like Micah Parsons, Sauce Gardner, and Trent McDuffie. That should set the table for the first two nights of the draft, as teams survey the market to assess whether it's worth it to trade up in the first few rounds.
This year's prospect class is considered weaker than usual, which means the trades may not come until the middle of the first round. However, trade rumors will surely swirl all night for teams that want to jockey their position as players fall.
Additionally, the back end of the first round is certainly of interest for teams who may be interested in trading back into the first round to secure a quarterback. Last year, the New York Giants got Jaxson Dart at pick No. 26 with a trade, and a similar deal could happen for quarterback Ty Simpson this year.
The Sporting News is tracking every trade in the first three rounds of the NFL draft. Follow along for full updates.
Report – Turkey Superstar To Stay At Inter Milan Next Season
Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu looks set to stay at San Siro for at least one more season despite his contractual wobble.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, the 32-year-old’s decisive impact has convinced the club to fend off Galatasaray’s interest.
Hakan Calhanoglu seemed on the verge of leaving Serie A last summer, with the Rams Park giants trying to lure him to Istanbul.
However, manager Cristian Chivu persuaded the former AC Milan midfielder to turn down the Lions’ advances.
Furthermore, Chivu has helped Calhanoglu patch things up with Lautaro Martinez and re-establish himself as one of the most influential figures at the club.
Hakan Calhanoglu Set to Stay at Inter Milan Next Season
Despite several injury setbacks, Calhanoglu has been one of Inter’s standout performers this term.
Indeed, he has scored nine goals and added four assists across 22 Serie A appearances.
Furthermore, his match-winning performance against Como on Tuesday catapulted Inter into their 16th Coppa Italia final.
Still, Calhanoglu’s contract runs until 2027, with the Nerazzurri yet to offer him a new deal.
Nevertheless, the runaway Serie A leaders are keen to hold onto their midfield cornerstone.
Moreover, the player looks equally enthusiastic about staying at San Siro for one more year.
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
NFL scouts are not down on the 2026 quarterback class because it lacks names, they are down on it because too many of the names still require projection instead of belief.
That is why Fernando Mendoza has separated himself this late in the cycle. He is not viewed as flawless, but he is viewed as the only passer who consistently checks the trust box.
That distinction matters more than raw talent when teams start weighing first-round risk at the league’s most expensive position.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Fernando Mendoza is the only QB teams trust
The split becomes obvious when Touchdown Wire report outlines how teams see traits across the class but struggle to fully trust anyone beyond Mendoza.
That aligns with the broader scouting view. Mendoza’s 2025 production stands out with 41 touchdown passes, six interceptions and a 72 percent completion rate, while his processing and accuracy give teams a clearer projection into NFL structure.
He is not just productive. He is predictable in the right way, which is why evaluators are more comfortable tying a franchise decision to him than anyone else in the group.
Why the 2026 QB class falls apart after QB1
The concern with the rest of the class is not talent, it is reliability. Too many prospects show flashes without sustaining them over a full season or under pressure.
Ty Simpson still carries intrigue, but limited starting experience and an uneven finish leave questions about how quickly he can translate. Drew Allar has size and arm strength, yet accuracy and decision-making remain inconsistent when games tighten.
Carson Beck offers experience and physical tools, but questions around decision speed and whether he can elevate an offense continue to follow him into the draft cycle.
This is why the drop-off feels sharp. Mendoza gives teams a clear starting point. Everyone else still asks them to make a leap.
Shedeur Sanders, quarterback, watches as Coach Todd Monken speaks on the radio during a 7 on 7 training session at the Browns mini camp in Berea on April 21, 2026. | Lisa Scalfaro / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Exclusive Interview with Mason Graham (clevelandbrowns.com) “Nathan Zegura talks with Mason Graham about lessons learned from rookie season, first day of voluntary minicamp, as well as getting familiar with new…”
Cleveland Browns Mock Draft – Mike Keefe Edition (OBR) “With one day before the start of the NFL Draft, Mike Keefe offers a projection of how the Cleveland Browns could utilize their selections.”
NEW YORK — Sean Marks has asked a lot of Brooklyn. He’s asked it to live with the losses, to stare at the standings without flinching and to trust that all the patience, all the picks and all the flexibility were building toward something better.
That’s an easier sell when the losing still feels like part of the setup. It gets harder when the general manager starts handing out extensions that say the setup is over and the next phase is supposed to begin.
That’s why the Nets’ decision to sign Jordi Fernández and his entire coaching staff to multi-year extensions says as much about Marks as it does about the coach. This wasn’t just a reward for surviving two ugly seasons. It was Marks telling everyone that, as far as he’s concerned, the coaching question is settled. The staff is settled. The developmental structure is settled. From here, the scrutiny shifts back where it belongs.
That makes this both a sensible move and a risky one. The sensible part isn’t hard to see. Fernández didn’t walk into a normal NBA job in April 2024. He walked into a teardown. Soon after he arrived, Brooklyn traded Mikal Bridges, regained control of its 2025 and 2026 first-round picks from the Houston Rockets and committed itself to an organizational reset that was always going to be painful.
Over the next two seasons, Fernández went 46-118 while coaching through injuries, constant lineup changes and, this past year, the NBA’s youngest roster, half of it under 24 and featuring a league-record five first-round rookies. The record is ugly. The circumstances were, too.
Marks clearly believes Fernández and his staff handled the hard part of the job well. In the team’s announcement, he praised Fernández for building a foundation rooted in player development, competitiveness and honest communication. Teams talk about culture all the time. They don’t usually extend an entire staff after seasons of 26 and 20 wins unless they truly believe in the people doing the work.
That belief also changes the pressure on Marks. The first two years of the rebuild gave him some cover. The roster was young. The focus was development. The losses came with the territory. Brooklyn could point to growth, culture and long-term planning and have a fair reason for doing it.
Now the future Marks kept pointing to is starting to arrive. The Nets head into the May 10 lottery with a 40% chance to pick in the top three for the first time since 2010. They’re projected to have more than $30 million in cap space again this offseason. They also control 13 first-round picks and 19 second-round picks over the next seven drafts, with nine of those firsts tradable. Marks has spent years building optionality. At some point, optionality has to start resembling a contender.
Marks himself framed the next phase that way when he addressed the rebuild timeline. He said the Nets have put themselves in position to be “opportunistic,” but only if whatever becomes available fits Brooklyn’s timeline, its young players and the broader approach he, Joe Tsai, Fernández and the rest of the organization want to take. That’s a fair answer. It’s also the answer of a general manager who now owns the pace of this rebuild more fully than before. He can’t point to uncertainty on the bench. He just erased that qualifier himself.
And there’s another reason this move puts extra heat on him: the last coach extension under his watch didn’t hold for long. Brooklyn gave Jacque Vaughn a multi-year extension in February 2023 and fired him less than a year later after a 21-33 start. That doesn’t make the Fernández extension wrong. It does mean Marks doesn’t get to make another coaching bet without carrying that recent history into the room with him.
To be fair, Marks has earned praise and criticism over the course of his tenure. He deserves credit for helping build the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era and for salvaging a huge pile of assets once that star experiment collapsed. He also owns the fact that the star era ended without a title and that the Vaughn extension aged poorly almost immediately. That’s why this move changes the feel of the conversation. Marks has already shown he can tear down, recoup and reposition. What he has to show now is that he can turn all that patience into a championship contender in Brooklyn.
That’s what this move says, whether Marks intended to say it so bluntly or not. He didn’t just reward Fernández. He told everyone the Nets are done treating the coaching side of this rebuild like unfinished business. From here, if Brooklyn still looks stuck, if the asset pile still feels more impressive than the roster, if the climb never starts looking like a climb, that won’t land first on the coach.
Di Marzio: Bayern & Milan preparing onslaughts for Juventus striker
Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic are still trying to reach an agreement on a new contract, but if the negotiations go awry, Bayern Munich and Milan will be ready to pounce.
The 26-year-old’s current deal will expire at the end of the season, leaving his future up in the air. The Juventus management had only recently relaunched contract talkswith the Serbian’s entourage following a long hiatus.
Nevertheless, the two parties have yet to strike a deal. Some sources believe that the player’s recent injury setback prompted the management to postpone the negotiations.
Juventus facing Bayern & Milan competition for Dusan Vlahovic
Vlahovic had only just returned from a serious knee injury that kept him on the sidelines for four months, only to pick up a fresh knock while warming up against Genoa. He had only made one brief cameo following his return.
According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus still intend to renew the striker’s contract, but they’re facing competition from Bayern Munich and Milan, who are ready to offer the player an alternative destination.
Vlahovic would find himself an ally at Milanello in the shape of Max Allegri, who coached at Juventus for two and a half years, at least if the head coach is confirmed for next season.
The pair’s relationship had its highs and lows, but they share mutual respect and admiration towards one another.
Why Bayern Munich are interested in Vlahovic
Di Marzio also reveals that Bayern are in the market for a new striker, even though Harry Kane isn’t expected to go anywhere this summer.
The Bavarian giants are unlikely to keep Nicolas Jackson beyond his current loan spell, so the Senegalese is expected to return to Chelsea in the summer, creating an opening up front.
Vincent Kompany is said to be seeking a centre-forward capable of replacing Kane, and playing alongside the free-scoring Englishman on certain occasions.
While these two tracks represent interesting possibilities, the current priority for Vlahovic and his entourage is to close a deal with Juventus.
Wes Morgan said he is "sad and hurt" to see Leicester City drop into League One just a decade after he captained the club to the Premier League title.
The 42-year-old former defender retired as a player after helping the Foxes claim the FA Cup in 2021.
Just five years later, the club has tumbled into the third tier for just the second time in its 142-year history after suffering successive relegations.
Leicester's fate was sealed just 12 days before the 10-year anniversary of the 5,000-1 title success of 2016.
"I'm sad to see where we were as a club when I left, to where it is now," Morgan told BBC East Midlands Today.
"I just don't want to see the team in that position and I can understand the fans and how they feel angry about the position they are in.
"It hurts to see where the club is, but at the same time I know football, know that things change and it goes full-circle sometimes. I know the club will be back."
Former Jamaica international Morgan made 324 appearances in his near decade-long stay with the club, having joined the Foxes from East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest in 2012.
He was part of the team that won promotion as Championship title-winners in 2014, led them in the 'great escape' as they narrowly avoided relegation a year later and then went on to skipper them to the famous Premier League title win.
In his time at the club, he featured for the Foxes in the Champions League quarter-finals and played in the Europa League before finally calling it quits after they claimed the FA Cup for the first time.
Morgan says he treasures those years of success and feels they "need to be enjoyed" - even now, when the club is at one of the lowest points in its existence.
"I'm sure the memories of our successes are still quite fresh in the minds of fans, so it is difficult," he said.
"For me, the time we had 10 years ago, the special moment, needs to be celebrated and talked about."
When Morgan left, the Premier League title-winning side had largely been broken up already.
However, the final member of that side, striker Jamie Vardy, only moved on after last season's relegation from the top flight.
The reasons Leicester has tumbled to the depths they have in recent years will be many, with a torrent of criticism being aimed at the club's hierarchy and ownership, and people repeatedly questioning the influence of a succession of managers and woeful performances of a highly-paid squad of players.
Morgan was not exacting in levelling blame when asked about Leicester's struggles but said his generation of players achieved something few could expect to emulate.
"It's hard to repeat what that group did, to have that same sort of mentality and sustain that high level," he said.
"Trying to manage the standards and trying to manage the group and keep the levels is difficult. If you don't quite get it right, it can easily fall by the wayside."
A spell on the sidelines that would mean the end of the season for Lamine Yamal and a race against time with the 2026 World Cup now just seven weeks away.
This Thursday morning, more worrying news is coming out of Barcelona. Still awaiting the official verdict, Cadena SER reports that the player may have suffered a hamstring rupture and that he has been deeply affected by the news.
OneFootball will update you as soon as the official verdict comes in!
Chelsea sacked manager Liam Rosenior on Wednesday following a catastrophic run of form that has left the London club's Champions League hopes hanging by a thread while they also endured their worst goalscoring drought in over a century.
Rosenior lasted less than four months in the role after his January appointment following Enzo Maresca's departure, becoming the latest casualty of Chelsea's turbulent season after seven defeats in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Rosenior's dismissal came a day after a humiliating 3-0 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion, which saw the south-coast club leapfrog Chelsea into sixth place in the table. Chelsea are now seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Here are five potential candidates to replace him – and one who surely won’t.
Felipe Luis
Felipe Luis was sacked by Flamengo last month, despite winning several trophies during his 100-game stint in charge of the Brazilian club. The former Chelsea defender would be a gamble, however, given his lack of experience coaching in European football.
Felipe Luis managed Flamengo for 18 months (Getty)
Andoni Iraola
The Bournemouth manager, who will leave the south coast club this summer, has proven he can earn results in the Premier League while playing an attractive brand of football. He has also done it while improving young players and increasing their value, something that is clearly part of the current Chelsea project. But Iraola is reported to be considering a move back to his home club, Athletic Bilbao, for family reasons as much as football ones.
Cesc Fabregas
Like Felipe Luis, Fabregas would be something of a gamble given his lack of experience, having managed only one club, the Italian side Como. But Fabregas has worked wonders with the Serie A minnows and has them on the brink of European football next season. The 38-year-old is widely considered one of the brightest young coaches in the game.
Cesc Fabregas has built an impressive reputation at Como (Reuters)
Marco Silva
The Fulham manager has regularly been tipped to move on from Craven Cottage during his impressive five-year spell. He has a notable track record, winning trophies in Portugal and Greece in years gone by, and may feel he is ready for a new challenge at a Champions League club when his contract expires this summer.
Xabi Alonso
The former Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager is still out of work after his time at the Santiago Bernabeu was cut short earlier this season. He may be holding out for the Liverpool job, giving his links to Anfield, but Alonso will no doubt be considered by the Chelsea hierarchy and remains one of the most sought-after coaches in Europe.
Frank Lampard
Lampard would be a popular pick among fans at a time when the club is drifting and supporter sentiment is at a deep low. But surely the Coventry manager will not be tempted by a risky jump to Stamford Bridge – again – having just steered his team to the Championship title and a return to the premier League after 25 years away.
Frank Lampard has guided Coventry to the Championship title (PA)
The Boston Red Sox can’t figure out how to put together a winning streak, as they haven’t won three consecutive games this season. The Red Sox have two losing streaks of three or more games (March 28 to April 1 and April 4-6) and have lost two straight to the New York Yankees.
Unable to fully put things together as a team, Red Sox manager Alex Cora voiced his frustrations that his players aren’t producing when they need to.
Alex Cora says that the Boston Red Sox “need to be better”
“We have to be better,” Cora said postgame. “Second and third with no outs, we've got to score. We've got to find a way to put the ball in play and score and where we’re at right now, it's been tough. The whole home stand, right? We had some situations with [Tarik] Skubal when he pitched, bases loaded no outs. We score one, first and third, no outs, we didn’t score. So we got to be better. Everybody here believes that we have a good team. Good teams have to find a way to score runs against good pitching.”
The Red Sox's lone run came on a two-out single to centerfield by outfielder Jarren Duran, which scored infielder Trevor Story. The game would end a batter later when infielder Caleb Durbin grounded out to shortstop.
The best chance the Red Sox had to cut in and possibly overtake the Yankees was in the bottom of the second like Cora said. With runners on second base and third base and no outs, three straight Red Sox hitters: Durbin, catcher Connor Wong and infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa struck out.
As a team, the Red Sox are hitting .223 (23rd) and 20th in ERA for the pitching staff (4.39). If the Red Sox are to turn things around they will need their two star players, outfielder Roman Anthony and left-hander Garrett Crochet, to turn their seasons around.
Anthony is hitting .225 with a .686 OPS in 22 games, while Crochet is 2-3 with a 7.88 ERA in five starts.
MUMBAI: Captaining five-time champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings is never a straightforward task. The challenge becomes even more daunting when the men in charge are asked to fill the towering shoes of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, figures who enjoy near-mythical status at their respective franchises. MI skipper Hardik Pandya and CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad are discovering firsthand how heavy that burden can be.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
As the IPL heavyweights prepare to lock horns at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, the spotlight will not only be on two sides desperate to resurrect faltering campaigns but also on captains struggling to find form while navigating the pressures of leadership.
Both Pandya and Gaikwad entered the 19th edition of the IPL with impressive credentials. Pandya had a stellar 2025, scoring 217 runs and claiming nine wickets, playing a pivotal role in India’s triumph at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Gaikwad, meanwhile, enjoyed a solid domestic season for Maharashtra before marking his return to the Indian ODI side with a century against South Africa in Dec 2025. However, the transition from individual success to leading high-profile IPL franchises has been anything but smooth.
Pandya’s struggles have been particularly stark. The 32-year-old has managed just 96 runs in five matches this season, with his declining effectiveness in the death overs becoming increasingly evident. His last two innings, a laboured 14 off 12 balls against Punjab Kings and a scratchy 15 off 16 deliveries versus Gujarat Titans, have underlined his inability to dominate opposition bowling attacks when it matters most.
With the ball too, Pandya has not been potent. He has taken only three wickets while conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.69, a worrying spike from his career average of 9.29.
Rohit and Dhoni have a hit
The availability of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni for Thursday’s clash remains uncertain, with both players subject to fitness assessments by their respective medical teams.
“MS, we will know today. That decision will be made once the medical staff is completely satisfied that he is ready to go,” CSK bowling consultant Eric Simons said on Wednesday. Both, though, had a hit in the nets on match eve.
2 - hundreds have been recorded in matches between MI vs CSK — 114* off 48 balls by Sanath Jayasuriya on May 14, 2008 and 105* off 63 balls by Rohit Sharma on April 14, 2024, both at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
88 - Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten knock off 58 balls in Dubai on Sept 19, 2021, the highest individual innings for CSK against MI in the IPL.
It’s not looking good... update on Lamine Yamal’s injury, says SER
FC Barcelona is holding its breath after the latest reports on the physical condition of its young star, Lamine Yamal. His injury-enforced exit in the win at Celta de Vigo has put all of Barça and Spanish football on alert.
As journalist Santi Ovalle reported on Cadena SER, the signs are far from positive. Initial examinations indicate that the academy product has suffered a muscle tear, a diagnosis that would drastically change the recovery timetable initially expected by the club’s medical staff.
"It doesn’t look good because he has a tear, and now we need to see how severe it is," Ovalle explained, also stressing that the player is "really shaken" emotionally.
FC Barcelona is expected to issue an official statement later this morning after the player undergoes more extensive tests at the Joan Gamper training ground. These tests will determine the size of the tear and, therefore, the exact amount of time Lamine will have to stay off the pitch.
With the end of the season and the World Cup on the horizon
This injury comes at a time of maximum pressure in the schedule. The Mataró-born player’s participation in El Clásico is completely ruled out, and his presence at the World Cup is more in doubt than ever.
Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has landed in the middle of a developing anti-doping controversy, with the possibility of facing anything from a warning to a six-month suspension following a reported positive test for a banned recreational substance during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to conduct a detailed investigation, aiming to ensure due process while speeding up proceedings. The final outcome will depend on factors such as the quantity of the substance found and the circumstances surrounding its use.
According to the report by The News, Dr Waqar Ahmad, founder chairman of the Anti-Doping Organisation of Pakistan, clarified the framework governing such cases. “There is no punishment for the use of recreational substances outside competition,” he explained. “However, if such substances are detected during competition, the athlete may face consequences ranging from a simple reprimand to a suspension of up to six months.”
He added that “Each case is judged on its merits. Education, intent, and rehabilitation all play a role in determining the outcome.”
With Nawaz currently in Pakistan, the ICC has delegated the probe to the PCB for logistical and practical reasons. The PCB’s medical panel has already completed its investigation and submitted a report to the ICC, which will make the final decision since the alleged violation occurred during an ICC event.
“It is a time-consuming and resource-intensive exercise for ICC committee members to travel and conduct inquiries locally,” Dr Waqar noted. “Therefore, the subordinate body is entrusted to carry out a thorough probe and submit its findings to the game’s governing body for final adjudication.”
Recreational substances commonly flagged in such cases include cannabis, cocaine, and MDMA. Nawaz is expected to clarify how the substance entered his system, whether through inadvertent use, medication, or other means. There is also a possibility that prescribed medication during a rehabilitation phase could play a role in his defense which he used ahead of T20 World Cup 2026.
Nawaz was set to join Surrey County Cricket Club for the upcoming T20 Blast after receiving a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the PCB. However, the deal has now reportedly fallen through, and he will no longer feature for the club this summer. Despite the ongoing investigation, Nawaz has continued to play in the Pakistan Super League, representing Multan Sultans. He recently bowled three wicketless overs in their six-wicket win over Rawalpindi in Karachi. The outcome of the investigation will be crucial in determining Nawaz’s future in international cricket. If found guilty of violating anti-doping regulations, he could face suspension or further disciplinary action.
Dorothy Wall has been drafted into the starting line-up [Getty Images]
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has made one change to his starting XV for Saturday's Women's Six Nations trip to France.
Dorothy Wall replaces Ruth Campbell in the second row in the only alteration from the line-up that started last week's resounding 57-20 win over Italy in Galway.
On the bench, Eilis Cahill is named as the back-up tight-head prop as Sadhbh McGrath drops out of the squad.
Ireland are aiming for a first away Women's Six Nations win over France and are also hoping to avenge last year's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Les Bleues.
Bemand has stuck with the same backline after a free-flowing attacking performance that yielded nine tries in Galway.
Stacey Flood continues at full-back with right wing Beibhinn Parsons hoping to build on her hat-trick against the Italians. On the opposite wing, Robyn O'Connor is retained after her try-scoring debut in Galway.
Aoife Dalton and Nancy McGillivray continue in midfield with Dannah O'Brien and Emily Lane - who has three try assists in this year's tournament - remaining in the half-backs.
Ellena Perry, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang form an unchanged front row, with Wall recalled to partner Fiona Tuite in the second row after dropping to the bench for the Italy game.
The in-form back row includes Aoife Wafer, who recaptured her best form against Italy, captain Erin King and Brittany Hogan.
Eli Stowers is no stranger to a position change with his versatile skillset. In high school, he was a four-star recruit at quarterback while also winning a Texas state championship in the high jump.
He alternated between quarterback and tight end in his first two years at Texas A&M, hardly seeing the field. After transferring to New Mexico State, he completed four passes at QB, but largely played tight end.
In his two years at Vanderbilt, he was almost exclusively a tight end, with the exception of one completed pass in 2024. This went for a touchdown, meaning that Stowers has 5 completed passes at the collegiate level, with two going for touchdowns.
Now, Stowers may be undergoing another position change to wide receiver. Here's everything to know about the tight end's transition.
It remains to be seen where exactly Stowers will play, as different NFL scouts appear to be projecting him at different positions.
Some see him as a tight end, the position he played for the back half of his collegiate career. Other scouts see his 40-yard dash time, as well as his athleticism and vertical jump as the perfect build for an NFL wide receiver.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah scouted for three NFL teams and compared Stowers' number most closely to WR DK Metcalf. This occurred during a telecast of the NFL Scouting Combine prior to Stowers' 40-yard dash time. But his pace only furthered the WR comparisons.
Eli Stowers 40 time
Stowers ran a 4.51 in the 40-yard dash, which lands him in third among tight ends, with Kenyon Sadiq running a 4.39 and RJ Maryland also running a 4.51.
Compare this number to wide receivers and Stowers would rank No. 27 out of 35 wide receivers.
The Chicago Bears took a big step forward last season. Now, they're eyeing title contention.
Caleb Williams' growth, one of the NFL's best run games and strong fourth-quarter play all contributed to the Bears winning the NFC North under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
Heading into 2026, Chicago has added safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush, prioritizing its defense in free agency. But with the No. 25 pick in the draft and plenty more, the team will be continuing to address its needs, from pass rusher to the offensive line.
The Sporting News is tracking the Bears' selections at the 2026 NFL Draft, along with a breakdown of Chicago's positional needs and predictions. Here's the latest on the Bears' picks.
Safety: The Bears had one of the NFL's better safety rooms in 2025, with Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Owens and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all contributing. None of those players are returning. Chicago partially addressed safety by signing former Seahawk Coby Bryant, but Ben Johnson still needs another playmaker alongside him.
EDGE: The Bears could use some help for Montez Sweat, who posted 10.0 sacks in 2025 to lead the team. Only one other EDGE had more than 1.5, which was Austin Booker with 4.5 sacks. Adding another pass rusher opposite of Sweat could help elevate a Chicago defense that put up just 35 as a team last year.
Offensive Tackle: The Bears' offensive line saw some changes this offseason, with Drew Dalman's retirement being the most surprising. However, with Ozzy Trapilo recovering from an injury, the Bears are currently set to have a LT competition including Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet. They could certainly pursue a rookie to lead that competition — or finding a longer-term center option than Garrett Bradbury would also be wise.
‘My main objective shouldn’t be to motivate a Real Madrid player’ – Alvaro Arbeloa
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has told the media that his job is not to motivate his players, which is part of the demands they should make of themselves. He also gave an update on the fitness of Eder Militao, after he went off on Tuesday with an injury.
One of the criticisms of Real Madrid this season is that their players seem to have upped the ante in the Champions League, but have struggled to show the same vivaciousness in La Liga. Arbeloa was asked about how he intends to fire his side up for the final stages of the season.
“My main objective shouldn’t be to motivate a Real Madrid player; they have very high standards for themselves. My objective is to prepare them for what awaits them on the pitch.”
‘Others things to blame for defeats’ – Arbeloa
Nevertheless, it was put to him that at times this season, it seemed Los Blancos were clearly lacking in that regard.
“Other things must have happened, there are many things to do well beyond that. There will be other reasons that we haven’t won games, and I can’t remove responsibility from myself for that. You have to be very well prepared, tactically, football-wise, at every level and do a lot of things.”
Real Madrid’s academy involvement
One of the positives of Arbeloa’s tenure so far has been the progress of several academy players, most notably Thiago Pitarch, who started both legs of their Champions League Round of 16 tie with Manchester City. Yet their involvement has declined somewhat with the return of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham from injury.
“The lads have helped, they’ve shown they can do it in the first team. It’s one of the most positive things about this season. We’ve seen they do very well, the other day with the Youth League, also with Castilla… My confidence in them will always remain intact.”
Kylian Mbappe likes Mourinho and Eder Militao fitness
“He’s going to have a scan now, but it doesn’t seem serious. We’ll see what the results of this test show.”
Los Blancos travel to La Cartuja on Friday night to face Real Betis in La Liga, when they will try to reduce the gap to Barcelona down to six points before their clash with Getafe.
Club Brugge back in the title race after Gent deny Union St Gilloise
They say a week is a long time in football, and for Club Brugge and Union St Gilloise, this week has already seen the title race pendulum swing both ways. After Union beat Club Brugge on Sunday, it looked like the title was destined for Brussels. Both sides had been imperious against the other sides in the play-offs.
Yet, just three days later, Club Brugge had closed the gap from four points to just two. On Wednesday, Club Brugge welcomed KV Mechelen to the Jan Breydel. By half-time, it looked like Club Brugge were about to drop more points with the game balanced at 1-1. 45 minutes later, Club Brugge had scored another five goals to ensure they picked up three vital points with an emphatic victory. It got even better for the side when the full time whistle blew in Brussels.
Gent had held Union to a 0-0 draw, a result that massively benefits Club Brugge. Now the side will need to ensure they do not drop anymore points to Union before the two sides meet in Brugge in a few weeks time. Ivan Leko was confident following the defeat on Sunday that his side were not out of the title race. On the other side, David Hubert was also keen to point out that his side had not won anything yet. Both men were right, but one is certainly far happier than the other.
Club Brugge will travel the short distance to Gent on Sunday hoping to avoid dropping any points, while Union will remain in Brussels to face city rivals Anderlecht.
2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button has reflected on his "emotional" reunion with his title-winning Brawn GP car at the 83rd Goodwood Members' Meeting.
Over the Members' Meeting weekend, the Briton drove a Jaguar E-type and his Chevrolet Camaro Z28, as well as the Brawn GP F1 car. Having previously driven the BGP 001 at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, in 2019, Button was driving the car again for the first time in seven years.
"I always do [have a smile on my face] at Goodwood anyway, but yeah, Goodwood and my Brawn championship-winning car - very emotional," he explained after completing a run at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
"It was pretty awesome going out. I've only ever driven historics around here, so getting out in an F1 car was a little bit of a shock initially, but it feels so natural. It does. It feels so much more natural than anything I drive here.
"But it's insane how quick these things are. You forget. I'm arriving at corners thinking, 'Oh, I'll just brake where I did in theE-type.' It was so much further, and sometimes you're not even braking.
After an emotional reunion with his title-winning #Brawn BGP 001 at #83MM, Jenson Button couldn't wipe the smile off his face! Did you catch the 2009 #F1 World Champion in action? pic.twitter.com/kAF4zVcr7G
"I don't know what speed we are on the back straight, but it's quick, so a wonderful opportunity for me. You know, this is... this is my life, you know? Having Ross be that kind to let me drive his car again is pretty amazing. Amazing year, 2009. I drove the car in 2019, at Silverstone, but lovely to drive it here.
"I think people forget how special these cars were in terms of the size, the weight, the sound. Pretty spectacular. No better place to drive it and show off than here at Goodwood."
Button retired from full-time racing at the end of 2025 after completing his final season in the World Endurance Championship.
Apr 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft theater stage at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
We have finally arrived at the NFL Draft after the incredibly long process, and we get to see where the Notre Dame football players land in the league.
The 2026 NFL Draft Round 1 begins Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) in Pittsburgh, PA, broadcast on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network. Rounds 2–3 follow on Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. ET, and Rounds 4–7 on Saturday, April 25, at noon ET. NFL.com +3
Round 1: Thursday, April 23, 8 p.m. ET
Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. ET
Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 25, 12 p.m. ET NFL.com +2
You can stream the draft on Fubo, NFL+, or the ESPN App. The first pick is expected to be announced around 8 p.m. ET.
There are seven Notre Dame players that have been projected to possibly be drafted over the next three days:
RB Jeremiyah Love
RB Jadarian Price
WR Malachi Fields
TE Eli Raridon
OL Billy Schrauth
OL Aamil Wagner
WR Will Pauling
Six Irish players were selected in the 2024 draft and 7 Irish players were selected in the 2025 draft, so this year seems like it will be in the same neighborhood. During the three year span in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 NFL Drafts, 21 Notre Dame players were selected.
PLAYER
ROUND
OVERALL PICK
NFL TEAM
Jeremiyah Love
–
–
–
Jadarian Price
–
–
–
Malachi Fields
–
–
–
Eli Raridon
–
–
–
Billy Schrauth
–
–
–
Aamil Wagner
–
–
–
Will Pauling
–
–
–
Junior Tuihalamaka
–
–
–
Jordan Botelho
–
–
–
Jared Dawson
–
–
–
James Rendell
–
–
–
Noah Burnette
–
–
–
Gabe Rubio
–
–
–
DeVonta Smith
–
–
–
Jalen Stroman
–
–
–
Jake Tafelski
–
–
–
OPEN THREAD
The open thread is OPEN below for NFL Draft discussion AL DAY. I know many of us are on Twitter or Bluesky for most of the event, but I encourage you to vent and do other things that require more than 280 characters here. Be sure to check The Feed for important updates and highlights during the Draft.
With the start of the 2026 NFL Draft just hours away, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah issued his final mock draft, which had the Detroit Lions standing firm at their No. 17 spot and selecting a potential immediate starter to a position of need with their first-round pick.
Per Jeremiah, the Lions are projected to draft Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, who will instantly fill the void at left tackle created by the recent release of Taylor Decker. He also mentioned that the Lions would avoid the temptation of trading up in the draft to secure an offensive tackle, as he believes the Lions will have plenty of options to choose from at No. 17.
There’s a widespread expectation that the Lions will draft an offensive tackle in Round 1. They could be tempted to trade up for one, but I expect them to have options even if they stand pat. Freeling is ultra athletic and could give the Lions the opportunity to keep Penei Sewell at right tackle, if they so choose.
With the offensive line being a top priority for the Honolulu Blue, Freeling falling to them at No. 17 would certainly be quite an exciting way to kick off a potentially fruitful weekend from the Steel City.
The Madrid Open and the Canadian Open are two of the six biggest mixed events in tennis outside the Grand Slams, known as ATP Masters 1000s and WTA 1000s. The BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., the Miami Open, the Italian Open and the Cincinnati Open are the others.
These events award the most prize money and the most rankings points, other than the season-ending ATP and WTA Tour Finals, for which only the top eight singles players of the season qualify. They also receive the most money for sponsorships and media rights.
Licenses for these events are valued at roughly $500 million. Tennis isn’t making more of them at the moment. The Grand Slams aren’t for sale. A 1,000-level license is the most valuable commodity in the sport.
Fans also travel from all manner of time zones and cross plenty of borders to attend — and to see their favorite players. To be at one of these events is supposed to be akin to being at the center of the tennis universe, where it’s all happening, because by rule, during a combined ATP and WTA 1000 event, nothing can happen at the tour level anywhere else. They run 12 days, which is why ATP Challenger Tour and WTA 125 events — the second rungs of professional tennis — see their entry lists get stacked during the second week of the headline show, in case top players lose early.
But over the past 18 to 24 months, the biggest stars in the sport have been getting more outspoken about the relentlessness of the 11-month season, and more choosy about the events that they skip in order to play as much and as effectively as they can for as long as possible. At this year’s Madrid Open, the event has run into a bit of bad luck with one of the brightest lights in the entire sport.
The rest of its laundry list of withdrawals — 23 across the men’s and women’s draws, from and up down the rankings — is connected to its place in the tennis calendar, and its outlier status in the clay-court swing that defines the middle part of the year.
Alcaraz, a two-time winner of the event who last year missed it with a forearm injury, made it two straight misses last week. He withdrew from the Barcelona Open with a wrist injury after winning his first match, then withdrew from the Madrid Open too in short order.
“I’m trying to be very patient these days, but we’re doing OK, we’re here, waiting for some tests in the coming days, and from there we’ll see how the injury is and what the next steps will be,” Alcaraz said during a news conference at the Laureus event.
“For now, I’m just trying to stay positive and keep my spirits up, even though these days feel long.”
On the same day Alcaraz pulled out, Djokovic announced he would skip Madrid for the third time in four years. Djokovic, who will turn 39 next month, is a kind of part-time tennis player at the moment, though he remains the world No. 4 because he has proven that when he shows up for big events and feels motivated, there are only two players in the world who can consistently beat him — Alcaraz and Sinner.
“Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete this year,” Djokovic wrote on social media. He lost in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, then pulled out of the Miami Open with a right-arm injury. He has not played since.
“I’m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!”
Djokovic’s announcement didn’t come as a shock, even though he is a three-time winner in Madrid and has a home in Spain. Tournament organizers, who were distressed but not panicked by the rising tide of withdrawals, met this announcement with regrets.
“We hope to see you back here as soon as possible so we can enjoy your tennis as we have done so many times in the Caja Mágica,” the tournament wrote on social media.
Other notable withdrawals include Jack Draper, last year’s finalist and a former world No. 4, who is nursing a knee injury, and a slew of Americans: Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Sebastian Korda. On the women’s side, two-time major finalist Amanda Anisimova, the in-form Karolína Muchová, Emma Raducanu, Emma Navarro and Barbora Krejčíková are all out, but the top five players in the world are all present and correct.
Feliciano Lopez, the former player who serves as the tournament co-director with two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza, said in a statement Tuesday that the Madrid Open remains one of the key stops on the clay calendar.
“We deliver an event and experience players value,” Lopez said. “Withdrawals are part of the sport and reflect individual circumstances in that moment. Players want to perform at their best and don’t want to miss Madrid unless they have to.”
For an event as big as the Madrid Open, most of the revenues, including media rights fees, sponsorships and the bulk of tickets, especially for the more expensive late-round matches, are locked in before players take the court for the first matches. The biggest impact of withdrawals is likely on last-minute ticket buyers — or on disappointed fans who were hoping to see a star or two and end up missing out at the one tournament they can attend per year.
That said, if the Madrid Open got a reputation for not being able to attract all the best players consistently, selling high-price sponsorships and hospitality packages could become more difficult. And if players are getting choosier about the events they play, the event is the biggest on the European clay-court swing with the most possible reasons to give it a miss, outside of sudden, acute injuries like the one Alcaraz suffered during his Barcelona Open win over Otto Virtanen of Finland.
On the ATP Tour, most of the best non-American men are loath to miss the Monte Carlo Masters. Many of them live in Monaco, and the event takes place at the Monte Carlo Country Club, where many of them train. The Americans often play the U.S. Clay Court Championships in Houston on the men’s side, and the Charleston Open on the women’s side. They are both the week before the Monte Carlo Masters.
During that week, men’s and women’s players alike mostly rest, train and then fly across the Atlantic, ahead of what for many of them ends up being a three-month trip to Europe that doesn’t end until after Wimbledon. Given the lack of success on the surface on the men’s side, any U.S. ATP Tour player with a longer-term injury concern (like Taylor Fritz, who is managing knee tendonitis) is likely to pick the terre battue as their layoff period. Ben Shelton’s triumph at the Munich Open this past Sunday was the biggest win for an American man on clay since Andre Agassi won the Italian Open — in 2002.
The Madrid Open also has some baked-in challenges from the sport’s calendar. Like the Canadian Open, it’s an ATP Masters and WTA 1000 event ahead of a Grand Slam on the same surface. The Canadian Open, a hard-court event played in Toronto and Montreal because neither city has a venue big enough to house both tours at once, starts four weeks before the U.S. Open. The Madrid Open starts four weeks before the French Open.
But both tournaments have another 1,000-level event between them and the Grand Slam for which they are a preparation. The Cincinnati Open follows the Canadian Open; the Italian Open follows the Italian Open.
Given how physical the sport has become, players who can afford to skip a tournament without the loss of money and rankings points that comes with it can be wary of playing two events of this size back to back right before a Grand Slam. The back-to-back-to-back lineup carries an increased risk of injury. According to two people briefed on discussions, who were not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing internal plans, the tours plan to look at the timing of the events as part of an ongoing effort to streamline and optimize the prize money, rankings and schedule ahead of the 2028 season. The WTA Tour announced a council devoted to optimizing its calendar in February.
Then there are the conditions. Madrid sits more than 2,000 feet above sea level, and the weather can be plenty hot and dry, though cooler at night. Tennis balls fly faster through the air the thinner and drier it gets, and the Madrid Open has historically been more favorable to big-serving players than its clay-court cousins.
“It’s a different sort of clay court,” said Brian Garber, the coach of Ethan Quinn, the rising American.
If preparation for the French Open is the primary goal, a player choosing between Madrid and Rome would have an easy decision, and Madrid would not come out on top. The Italian Open is a much closer facsimile in terms of elevation and weather, and it comes without a potential three-week gap of no serious match practice in helpful conditions.
In addition, the Madrid Open has a reputation among players and coaches as being a tough place to get extended time for practice courts. Organizers have scrambled in recent years to add additional courts to accommodate the tournament’s shift to a two-week event with 96 players in each of the main draws, 48 in each of the qualifying draws, and 32 teams in each doubles event.
Real Madrid’s famous soccer stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu, will install a court for the biggest stars to get acclimatized away from prying eyes, thanks to a quirk in the La Liga team’s fixture schedule. This is in keeping with the event’s experimental streak: It is one of the most creative from a media perspective, offering live streams on Twitch and more complete highlights than most tournaments in its class.
Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 who has won four consecutive ATP Masters 1000 tournaments going back to last season, generally doesn’t have much trouble finding a practice court. He’s never been past the quarterfinals in Madrid, so he has something of a personal mission that he spoke of in an interview on the tournament’s website.
“I have to try to figure out how to play on this surface and in Madrid,” he said. For the tournament, just being there might be enough.
After losing 12 straight games, the New York Mets have won a game. A single by infielder Mark Vientos to drive in infielder Brett Baty in the eighth inning would prove to be the game-winning run.
Right-hander Luke Weaver would come in to save the game for the Mets in the ninth inning, which he did with ease. Weaver faced the heart of the Minnesota Twins order and allowed one hit to infielder Brooks Lee and the rest were strikeouts.
Luke Weaver had “no fear” when facing Byron Buxton and the Minnesota Twins
“Look, this wasn't about attitude,” Weaver said post-game to Steve Gelbs of SNY. “This wasn't about work ethic. This wasn't about a bad demeanor. There was none of that. It's about just showing up every day, giving you something to cheer about. And thankfully, today, we freaking did that.”
Weaver added about his demeanor on the mound when facing Twins outfielder Byron Buxton he is not afraid of anybody. Weaver would get Buxton out swinging on an 87-mile-per-hour changeup.
“Look, people smell fear. I'm not the biggest guy in the room, but I ain't scared of nobody, and that's the attitude I try to take, and if I screw up, it's on me. But at the end of the day, I'm gonna sleep at night and I'm gonna feel good about the effort I put in, and I ain't fearing nobody you remember that.”
Weaver has gotten off to a rough start this season after signing a two-year ($22 million) contract, but has pitched three straight scoreless innings. Overall the 32-year-old is 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 games.
Now that the Mets have ended their skids, the only place for them to go is up, as right-hander Devin Williams said once they “get that one win…everything else will take care of itself.”
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "ON THE CLOCK" for the New England Patriots during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 NFL Draft has arrived, and things will look different this time around for the New England Patriots.
After back-to-back years picking quickly inside the top-5, the Patriots are back near the end of the first round with the 31st overall selection.
The timing of the first round will look different as well, with the NFL reducing the time per pick in Round 1 from 10 minutes to eight. If every team uses their full amount of time, that would put the Patriots on the clock just after midnight — around 12:08 a.m. ET.
That timeline will likely move up, however, as teams typically don’t use their full eight minutes for each pick. If that trend holds, New England is projected to make its selection closer to 10:30 p.m. ET, barring a trade up or down the board.
Patriots draft picks
Round 1 • Pick 31 — 8 minutes per pick
Round 2 • Pick 63 — 7 minutes per pick
Round 3 • Pick 95 — 5 minutes per pick
Round 4 • Pick 125 and 131 — 5 minutes per pick
Round 6 • Pick 191, 198, 202, and 212— 5 minutes per pick
Round 7 • Pick 247 — 4 minutes per pick
Unlike recent drafts, predicting New England’s first-round selection is more difficult. Addressing needs at edge rusher and offensive tackle remain among the most likely options depending on how the board shakes out. The hope is that whoever is selected can help get the Patriots back to the Super Bowl, as they currently hold the fourth-best odds to win the AFC on FanDuel Sportsbook.
It's draft day, and unlike the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants, Philadelphia will pick at the back end of the first round. Their initial pick will come at No. 23 overall on night one.
The Eagles have nine selections in the 2026 NFL draft: Picks: Nos. 23, 54, 68, 98, 114, 137, 153, 178, 197, and could land more if Howie Roseman starts wheeling and dealing. For fans who aren't focused on where Fernando Mendoza, David Bailey, Arvell Reese, or Jeremiah Love may land, Philadelphia fans could have a lengthy first-round wait unless Howie Roseman moves up for a player he covets.
Philadelphia is on the clock at No. 23 overall as we enter Thursday, leaving fans and experts with a 23-pick wait thanks to another playoff berth and winning back-to-back NFC East crowns.
For fans and experts who are curious, we're examining the exact time each NFL team made the 23rd selection over the past five years:
New for 2026
The time between first-round selections has been shortened from 10 minutes to eight minutes. It’s the first timing adjustment since 2008, when the allotment dropped from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. The timing for Rounds 2-7 remains unchanged from last year.
HALL OF FAME PRESENTED BY EMIRATES: ANCELOTTI, GULLIT AND KAKÁ VOTED BEST MIDFIELDERS
Carlo Ancelotti, Ruud Gullit, and Ricardo Kaká officially enter the Hall of Fame presented by Emirates as the greatest midfielders in the history of AC Milan.
It is a prestigious prize, awarded by the Rossoneri's supporters in a worldwide vote, that celebrates their ability to embody the passion and values of the Club, as well as the success they achieved during their AC Milan careers. While at the Club, Gullit and Kaká thrilled generations of fans and won the Ballon d'Or in 1987 and 2007, respectively, while Ancelotti - before his success in the dugout - was a technical leader on the pitch under the guidance of Arrigo Sacchi.
Their names will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame alongside Honorary Member Franco Baresi and Elected Members Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko and Marco van Basten, winners in the forwards category, together forming the "Class of 2026". In the coming years, goalkeepers and defenders who have left an indelible mark on the Club's history will also be added.
The award ceremonies will begin on Sunday, 26 April, ahead of the meeting between AC Milan and Juventus at San Siro. Before kick-off, in front of the Rossoneri crowd in the stands, Ruud Gullit will be the first midfielder to receive the trophy crafted by Tiffany & Co., the Official Trophy Maker of the Hall of Fame. The trophy is a symbol of excellence and timeless elegance, which perfectly reflects the stature of the names engraved on it. The recognition will also be presented to the other two Legends at a later date.
Launched as part of the celebrations for the Club's 125th Anniversary, the Hall of Fame presented by Emirates aims to honour the century-long legacy of AC Milan while inspiring future generations of Rossoneri fans to continue writing new chapters in its history.
Racing fans can expect a high-octane start to the season at Muskingum County Speedway with the return of Essential Ohio Energy Opening Night, according to a community announcement.
The dirt track, located at 7985 Frazeysburg Road, has long been intertwined with Ohio’s oil and gas industry. Longtime owner and promoter Ronnie Moran was a self-employed oil well driller and industry supporter. After his passing, his grandson Tristin Moran took over as track promoter.
Celebrating tradition and industry
“We are excited to get the 2026 season underway,” Tristin Moran said in the announcement. “Our opening night celebrates an industry that has helped drive our community’s growth, and the Muskingum County Speedway is thankful for ONEi’s continued partnership.”
Bruce Tague, executive director of ONEi, said the institute is honored to help kick off another year of dirt track racing in Zanesville.
“The Muskingum County Speedway is a cornerstone of this community, and we are proud to support an event that celebrates the tradition and community strength that define our essential industry," Tague said.
More races planned
Essential Ohio Energy Opening Night is the first of three races sponsored by ONEi and its foundation this season. Other races include the Ronnie Moran Memorial and the Shale Crescent Dirt Cup.
Gates will open at 4 p.m., with hot laps starting at 5 p.m. and races beginning at 6 p.m.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
Horner is eyeing a route back into the sport after his sacking from Red Bull last summer, following two decades of success leading the outfit as team principal. He won 14 F1 world championships in total.
Brown enjoyed a fractious and fierce relationship with Horner over the last few years, with the pair clashing over Red Bull’s cost-cap breach, incidents between star drivers Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, and even Red Bull’s internal investigation over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” levelled at Horner, for which he was cleared twice in 2024.
Yet, speaking at a McLaren media event on Wednesday, Brown has backed his long-term adversary to return to the paddock soon. “Christian was a great personality for the sport,” said the American.
“They come and go. It’d be great to have Christian back in the sport. He’s a great operator.
“I’d rather have 10 weak team principals, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon! It’d be great to have him back.
“I’m sure given his passion… I’d be shocked if he wasn’t back in the sport.”
Brown also spoke passionately about the concept of “A/B teams” in Formula 1, given Mercedes’s interest in Alpine and Red Bull’s two-team structure with Racing Bulls acting as a junior outfit for the main Red Bull team.
Zak Brown and Christian Horner were fierce rivals in the F1 paddock (Getty)
"In today's day and age, if that's permitted, I think it runs a real high risk of compromising the integrity of sporting fairness,” said Brown, who has long voiced his disapproval of one company owning two teams.
"And what would turn fans off is if they don't feel like there's 11 independent racing teams. I've been vocal about it from day one. We've seen it play out on track in a sporting way, with Daniel Ricciardo taking the fastest lap point away [Singapore GP, 2024] from us to help the other team.
"We've seen IP [intellectual property] violations on the Aston Martin/Racing Point brake ducts. We've seen employees move overnight, where we either have to wait and sometimes make financial deals, which then impact us in the cost cap.
"So when you see other teams that move from one to the other and then also without financial compensation, that's an unfair financial advantage. That's an unfair sporting advantage. We've seen Ferrari and Haas move people back and forth, and we know with IP, there's a lot in your head with that.
Brown has criticised the concept of “A and B teams’ in the sport (Getty)
"Can you imagine a Premier League game where you've got two teams owned by the same group - one's going to get relegated if they lose, and the other can afford to lose? That's what we run the risk of.
“So I think having engine power units as suppliers is as far as it should go and then in my view, all 11 teams should be absolutely as independent as possible because I think it has a high risk, and we have seen it, to compromise the integrity of the sport."
”It applies to anybody and everybody. So A and B teams, co-ownership, regardless of who it is, I frown upon it. I don't think it's healthy for the sport.”
F1 returns with the Miami Grand Prix, round four of the 2026 season, on 1-3 May.
Michigan football has produced at least one first-round pick each year since 2019.
But that streak is expected to end Thursday night, when the 2026 NFL Draft begins. None of the Wolverines’ top prospects are projected to come off the board Day 1.
No player from any of the other college programs in the state of Michigan is expected to be one of the top 32 choices, either. But eventually, a Wolverine will be selected. A couple of Spartans, a Bronco and a Chippewa may also be among the 257 draft hopefuls taken before the weekend ends.
Here’s a list of players from Michigan colleges and universities who could hear their names called over the next three days in the NFL draft:
Buzz: A talented pass rusher and team captain, Moore was one of the leaders of the Wolverines’ defense last season. He collected a team-high 10 sacks and forced two fumbles in 2025.
Jaishawn Barham, EDGE
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-3, 240.
Projection: Round 3.
Buzz: Barham earned a reputation as a hard hitter who routinely made bone-rattling tackles as he floated between an off-ball linebacker position and the edge of the defensive line. Flashing speed, power and explosiveness, he produced 10 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2025.
Marlin Klein, TE
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-6, 248.
Projection: Rounds 4-5.
Buzz: Klein had big shoes to fill after Mackey Award finalist Colston Loveland moved on to the NFL last April. But he didn't measure up to his esteemed predecessor. Last season, the German-born player contributed only 24 catches, 248 receiving yards and one touchdown. Still, Klein is an intriguing prospect because of his tantalizing physical traits and perceived untapped potential.
Rayshaun Benny, DT
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-3, 298.
Projection: Rounds 4-5.
Buzz: The Oak Park alum helped anchor Michigan’s defensive line last season, logging 458 snaps – more than any other player in his position group. Although he was not seen as a disruptive force, Benny was productive. In 2025, he amassed 35 tackles and 1½ sacks.
Jimmy Rolder, LB
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-2, 238.
Projection: Rounds 4-7.
Buzz: Rolder didn’t become a full-time starter until last season, his fourth with the Wolverines. As soon as he became a fixture in the middle, he distinguished himself as a strong run defender and sure tackler, producing a team-high 73 stops. Considered an average athlete, Rolder makes up for his physical limitations with excellent technique.
Matt Gulbin, C
School: Michigan State.
Vitals: 6-3, 305.
Projection: Rounds 5-6.
Buzz: Gulbin was in East Lansing for one season after transferring from Wake Forest. In his short time at MSU, he distinguished himself as the best performer on a deficient offensive line. In 2025, he thrived as a run blocker and was also solid in pass protection, allowing just five pressures in 11 starts.
Nadame Tucker, EDGE
School: Western Michigan.
Vitals: 6-1, 247.
Projection: Rounds 5-7.
Buzz: Tucker played at two junior colleges and one Power Four school – Houston – before coming to Western Michigan for his final college season. In Kalamazoo, Tucker raised his profile, topping the Football Bowl Subdivision in sacks (14½) and tackles for loss (21). Tucker eventually earned recognition as the MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Ryan Eckley, P
School: Michigan State.
Vitals: 6-0, 200.
Projection: Rounds 6-7.
Buzz: Eckley was a special teams ace throughout his college career at MSU. Last season, the three-time All-Big Ten selection led the FBS with an average of 48.5 yards per punt. If there is one knock on Eckley, it's that his right leg is so strong he sometimes outkicks his coverage.
Dominic Zvada, K
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-3, 178.
Projection: Round 7.
Buzz: In 2024, Zvada was one of the top kickers in the FBS. But his performance dipped last season as he missed eight of 25 field goal attempts. Zvada has historically been accurate from long distances, but has an inconsistent track record converting kicks inside 40 yards.
Michael Heldman, EDGE
School: Central Michigan.
Vitals: 6-3, 268.
Projection: Round 7.
Buzz: After failing to deliver much impact during his first four years at CMU, Heldman made his presence felt throughout the 2025 season. He led the Chippewas with 16½ tackles for loss and 10½ sacks, demonstrating he could be a disruptive pass rusher on a consistent basis.
Max Bredeson, FB/TE
School: Michigan.
Vitals: 6-2, 252.
Projection: Round 7.
Buzz: Bredeson, a prototypical H-Back, is happy to play the role of lead blocker. Although he doesn’t have outstanding physical traits, he is tough and dedicated to his craft. At the next level, he could be an asset on special teams.
Thoroughbred owners spent countless dollars in the hopes one of their horses might make it to the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
As this year's race approaches, 27 owners — spread across the 20 competing racehorses — are in line to be represented. There's a possibility for at least one change, though: Iron Honor might withdraw, moving Chip Honcho into the field. Iron Honor's trainer, Chad Brown, said it is likely they will focus on the Preakness Stakes; Iron Honor still will be part of the Derby provided he's at Churchill Downs by 11 a.m. Saturday. Chip Honcho has four owners: Leland Ackerley Racing (Lee Ackerley), James Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia.
Here's a look at the rest of the owners lineup in the Run for the Roses, listed in alphabetical order by horse's name (sole owners with multiple Derby entrants are grouped together):
What to know: Bernhard is one of two owners with multiple starters in this year's Derby; Vincent Viola of St. Elias stable has three horses in the race (Fulleffort, Golden Tempo and Iron Honor).
This is the first Derby for Bernhard.
Josephine Abercrombie founded Pin Oak Stud in 1952; she owned it until her death in 2022 at the age of 96. Later that year, Bernhard and her husband, Jim, bought Pin Oak. They owned it together until Jim's death Nov. 16. Since then, horses have been a source of comfort for Dana. Especially Albus and Incredibolt. "Losing Jim so suddenly ... was a profound, horrible experience," she told the Thoroughbred Daily News earlier this month. "I still have extreme waves of grief. I'm trying to get through it for everybody and to kind of take charge of a lot of our businesses again. But the two horses that have qualified for the Derby are such a great achievement for Pin Oak and our whole team. I see Jim in that every single day." That both her starters likely will be longshots come Derby Day doesn't bother Dana in the slightest. "I always think our horses will win. ... So when we don't win, it's a little bit surprising to me," she told TDN. "Maybe not to everyone else, but it is to me. So I absolutely have full confidence in Incredibolt and Albus."
Owner: Wathnan Racing (Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani)
What to know: Wathnan Racing's owner is Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar. Per the stable's website, "Wathnan Racing is named after a desert Arabian, a beloved stallion of Al Thani family folklore. He, in turn, was named for his kind and eager disposition — 'wathnan' can be translated as a 'crown of ears,' referring to his pricked ears, the surest sign that a horse truly is your friend." The stable was founded in October 2022, first racing in Qatar before beginning to run in the United Kingdom. Wathnan has not yet made North America a priority — since 2023, it has just 152 starts on the continent, per Equibase. This also doubles as Wathnan's Derby debut. It's a strong hand: Commandment enters atop the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 150. He's won four of his five starts, with victories in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes (both run at Gulfstream Park) this year.
What to know: Noda, one of Japan's richest men, owns Danox Co. (and by extension, Derby starter Danon Bourbon). According to Forbes, Noda has a net worth of more than $3.4 billion. He is the chairman and CEO of Obic, which Forbes notes is a "publicly traded computer-system integrator and custom software maker." Forbes reports that through the fiscal year that ended in March 2025, Obic "posted $452 million in net profit on $848 million in revenue." Noda founded the business in 1968 using money from his wife's savings. Though this will be Noda's first Derby appearance, he's a longtime race-winning owner in Japan.
What to know: Klarman, the owner of Klaravich Stables, gives it a go for the fifth time in the Run for the Roses. In his first two appearances, in 2004 (with Read the Footnotes, which placed seventh) and 2017 (Practical Joke, which finished fifth), Klarman was in a partnership. But in his two most recent Derby starts — a ninth in 2021 with Highly Motivated and a 13th in 2024 with Domestic Product — he's been the sole owner. He founded Klaravich Stables more than three decades ago with his friend, Jeff Ravich. The stable took its name by combining the first three letters of Klarman's last name with Ravich. After nearly a decade together, Ravich left the partnership "to start his own stable on the West Coast," according to America's Best Racing. While Derby glory has eluded Klarman to this point, he has a pair of Preakness Stakes wins to his name: 2017 (courtesy of Cloud Computing, which he owned in partnership with William Lawrence) and again in 2022 (via Early Voting). Klaravich Stables has finished in the top three in earnings among North American owners six straight years (2020-25). Klarman made his money in investments, running The Baupost Group. Forbes reports he's worth $1.5 billion. An ardent fan of the Boston Red Sox, Klarman is one of the team's minority owners.
Owners: St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola); Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf)
What to know: Both St. Elias and Starlight have already had a taste of Derby success. St. Elias won in 2017 with Always Dreaming. Starlight is a two-time winner, first with Justify (2018) and then Authentic (2020). Justify went on to capture the Triple Crown.
Viola is one of the world's richest people. Forbes put his net worth at $7.1 billion, as of April 21. But he wasn't born with a silver spoon. Forbes points out Viola was the "son of a truck driver from Brooklyn" before founding Virtu Financial, an electronic-trading firm, in 2008. He took the company public seven years later. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. In 2003, he created the Combating Terrorism Center at his alma mater. Viola also owns an NHL team, the Florida Panthers.
A native of Louisville, Wolf founded Starlight Racing in 2000 along with his wife, Laurie Wolf. A onetime professor, Wolf later started an Atlanta-based hedge fund, Columbus Partners. He stayed with the hedge fund until his retirement. If Fulleffort reaches the line first May 2, Wolf will become only the fourth owner with at least three wins in the Run for the Roses, joining Calumet Farm (eight) Col. E.R. Bradley (four) and Belair Stud (three).
Gustavson is seeking his second Derby win, as he was part of the ownership group for 2020 champion Authentic. According to Spendthrift Farm's official website, Gustavson joined "with the 2004 purchase of the farm by owner B. Wayne Hughes." Prior to becoming the owner, Gustavson was the farm's marketing director and president. Spendthrift originally was bought by Leslie Combs II in 1937. He died in 1990, and the farm went into bankruptcy amid a downturn in the thoroughbred industry. Prior to Combs' death, Triple Crown winners Affirmed and Seattle Slew lived on the farm after they retired from racing. Per America's Best Racing, "Ted Taylor purchased the main 496-acre tract of Spendthrift at a court-ordered bankruptcy auction in 1994" before Bruce Kline and a group of partners bought it in 2000. Once Hughes took over in 2004, he began returning Spendthrift to the status it had enjoyed during Combs' long reign.
Owners: Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito); St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)
What to know: Viola owns two other Derby entrants, Fulleffort and Iron Honor.
Phipps Pulito has one prior Derby start: She was 17th in 2021 with Dynamic One. While it's the only start she's credited with, Phipps Stable has a long history in the sport. Ogden Mills Phipps, who went by "Dinny," led Phipps Stable until his death in 2016. His daughter, Phipps Pulito, now campaigns horses with her family's name alongside her brother, Ogden. "When my grandfather and my dad had it, Phipps Stable was one of the biggest stables," Phipps Pulito told Daily Racing Form in February. "There wasn't all of these partnerships, and trainers didn't have that many horses either. When we had 35, 40 horses in training, we were one of the bigger stables, and this game is a bit of a numbers game, too." Prior to Dinny's death, he saw one of his thoroughbreds win the Run for the Roses, as Orb was the 2013 champion. Dinny's grandmother was Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps, who started Wheatley Stable in 1926. Though she never won the Derby, she made seven appearances in the race. Her most famous horse was Bold Ruler — Secretariat's father. And there's more: As America's Best Racing writes, Dinny's "great-grandfather, Henry Phipps, was a childhood friend and business partner of Andrew Carnegie, and they made their fortunes together in the iron and steel business in the 19th century."
Owners: St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola); William Lawrence; Glassman Racing
Viola owns two other Derby entrants, Fulleffort and Golden Tempo.
Lawrence is CEO and chief investment officer of Meridian Capital Partners, a hedge fund. Per America's Best Racing, "Lawrence, who grew up outside Albany, New York, and started attending the races at Saratoga at the age of 12, was introduced to frequent partner Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables by a mutual friend."
Glassman Racing is owned by the husband-and-wife team of Karl and Cathi Glassman. They launched their stable in 1995. Their most successful horse to this point is Arthur's Ride, the winner of the 2024 Whitney Stakes, a Grade 1 event at Saratoga. Beyond any on-track glory, Arthur's Ride always would have held a special place in the couple's heart: He was named after Karl's father, who died in 2022 at the age of 91, having lived through the Great Depression. "He was so poor when he was little," Karl told BloodHorse in 2024. "Heck, he spent the first 2 1/2 years of his life being raised in a chicken coop in Nebraska. That's how tough the Depression was."
What to know:Reddam Racing and its eponymous owner, Paul Reddam, hope the stars align for the third time on Derby day. Reddam has won the Run for the Roses twice, first in 2012 with I'll Have Another, then again in 2016 with Nyquist. Doug O'Neill was the trainer for both of those victories; he also trains Pavlovian. The lone difference between this year and Reddam's two prior wins? It won't be the same jockey. Mario Gutierrez was the winner in 2012 and 2016. But Pavlovian's jockey will be Edwin Maldonado, making his Derby debut. A Canadian who hails from Windsor, Ontario, Reddam once was a philosophy professor at California State University-Los Angeles. He then left higher education to found DiTech, a mortgage loan company. Per a 2016 Courier Journal article, the company "was the first of its kind to advertise its current rates on television and billboards." Reddam later sold DiTech to General Motors. As of April 19, Reddam Racing is 15th in winnings among North American owners in 2026. Like Wolf, a victory in this year's Derby would be the third for Reddam, making him only the fourth owner to accomplish that feat.
What to know: This will be Speedway Stables' second Derby start. It hopes the encore is better than the debut. In 2019, Roadster started wide and never got in the mix, taking 15th in a 19-horse field. Speedway isn't a stable that revs up too much in terms of starts: Since 2015, it's logged barely 300 total starts. And that's including races in which Speedway was in a partnership. Speedway doesn't yet have a Triple Crown win to its name, but it notched a Breeders' Cup victory in 2021, as Corniche captured the Juvenile. Speedway has 15 other graded-stakes wins — more than half of those in Grade 1 events. Speedway is a legacy ownership, in a sense. As America's Best Racing recounted, "Fluor and Weiner’s fathers were partners in racehorse ownership together, so the pair decided to pick up the torch." Fluor had been on the board of directors for the company of the same name, founded by his great-grandfather; Fluor retired from that position in 2021. He also once had been the chairman and CEO of Texas Crude Energy, an oil and gas exploration company. Weiner also worked at Texas Crude Energy as the company president.
Owners: Robert & Lawana Low; Repole Stable (Mike Repole)
What to know: Neither the Lows nor Repole are new to the Derby. This will be the third showing for the Lows; their best finish was third, with Steppenwolfer, in 2006. It'll be Derby Try No. 9 for Repole, who took third with Mo Donegal in 2022.
The Lows have 14 graded-stakes wins, four of the Grade 1 variety. Robert Low founded the Prime Inc. trucking company. He and his wife own the Primatara Horse Farm, located in Springfield, Missouri. On the property is one of the largest homes in the U.S. measuring more than 70,000 square feet.
Repole needs little introduction. Year in and year out, Repole Stable is among the successful in the industry. It's finished in the top 45 in winnings every year since 2008. That includes seven top-10 finishes (2010-13, 2023-25). According to Forbes, Repole's net worth is $2.5 billion. He made his big bucks in the beverage industry. He founded Glaceau, which makes Vitaminwater, and then sold the brand to Coca-Cola for $4.1 billion. Repole then created Bodyarmor; he again sold to Coca-Cola, this time for $5.6 billion.
What to know: The Derby is old hat for Oxley. Silent Tactic will be the ninth thoroughbred he's owned to run in the historic race. Oxley has one victory in the Run for the Roses: Monarchos won in 2001 with a time of 1:59.97. That was the second-best time in the history of the Derby behind the immortal Secretariat. Since Monarchos' triumph, the best an Oxley-owned horse has finished on Derby Day is fifth (Danzig Moon, 2015). Along with the 2001 Derby triumph, Oxley also has two Breeders' Cup wins: the 2016 Juvenile (with Classic Empire) and the 1999 Distaff (with Beautiful Pleasure). Oxley acquired his wealth via the oil industry, founding Oxley Petroleum — an oil and gas exploration firm based in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, per America's Best Racing — in 1962. He then sold Oxley Petroleum in 2003 to start another company: Oxley Resources LLC, which American's Best Racing wrote is "a smaller-scale oil and gas exploration and production venture." Oxley has athletic bloodlines, as his father is John T. Oxley, a Hall of Fame polo player and former chairman of the U.S. Polo Association.
Owners: Brunetti Dugan Stables; Black Type Thoroughbreds (Jake Ballis); Steve Adkisson; Swinbank Stables (Reagan Swinbank)
What to know: Every member of this ownership group is competing in the Run for the Roses for the first time ... except for Swinbank. In 2009, Swinbank was one of five owners of Join in the Dance, which finished seventh in the Derby. (One of Join in the Dance's other owners: then-NBA player Rashard Lewis.) A Texan, Swinbank had a heavy heart last year. His daughter was at Camp Mystic when it flooded in July 2025, killing 28 people, including 25 campers. Though Swinbank's daughter is among the survivors, it took a toll. "The funerals are brutal, but they do provide some closure. And as a community, we are getting through it," Swinbank told the Thoroughbred Daily News last year. "They're just kids. And they saw life-and-death situations that no one should ever have to see, let alone children."
Ballis co-founded Black Type Thoroughbreds. He and Swinbank are longtime friends. "I've known Jake since we were 10 years old, and I've kind of followed along with what Jake and his wife Maddie dictate,” Swinbank told TDN. "They say we should buy the horse, we buy it. I don't provide that much input, other than if the price gets too high."
Adkisson is a co-founder of Adkisson Group, a real estate development and investment firm based in Houston. "I've always loved the sport and the racing, and I finally got with the right group of people with Black Type Thoroughbreds," Adkisson told Past The Wire TV last year.
Brunetti Dugan Stables has been around less than a year. Little is known about it, other than it is a limited-liability company (LLC) registered in Texas.
Owners: Norman Stables (Robbie Norman); Saints or Sinners (Hans & Ana Maron)
What to know: Norman had one of the most inspiring stories of last year's Derby. He was the sole owner of Coal Battle, which finished 11th. Unlike so many thoroughbred owners with astounding wealth, Norman owned a small chain of grocery stores in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. He entered the industry more than a decade ago, which coincided with one of the most trying times of his life: Norman had recently gotten divorced. Watching a documentary on 2012 Belmont Stakes champion Union Rags inspired him. "I didn’t like to hunt, I didn’t like to fish, I tried golf and I didn’t like golf," Norman told the Call News last year. "I chose the perfect hobby for me." One can't argue with the results now that he owns Derby starters in consecutive years.
The other member of the ownership group, Saints or Sinners, is run by the husband-and-wife team of Hans and Ana Maron. Originally from Switzerland, Hans made his money via the beverage brand fairlife. Per Saints or Sinners' website, his "love affair with competition began with a passion for basketball (which he coached eventually) and quickly extended to horse racing at nearby Golden Gate Fields. Never afraid to take risks worth the experience, he bought his first race horse at the tender age of 25." He met Ana in college. Though she initially didn't have much interest in the sport, that's changed. "When we attend live racing, in the wee hours of the morning, you’ll find me at the barns in boots and jeans greeting the athletes and thanking the workers!" she said on the stable's website. Per Equibase, Saints or Sinners has a win-place-show rate of 53% (21-20-20 in 116 starts) in 2026, as of April 19.
What to know: John Amerman served as the CEO of the Mattel toy company for 11 years. John and his wife, Jerry, originally got into thoroughbred ownership via partnerships. In 1995, John and Jerry founded their own stable: Amerman Racing. As years went on, the pair decided to focus their finances into breeding as opposed to buying yearlings. It's paid off, as this is Amerman's second homebred Derby entrant: Endlessly placed ninth in the 2024 Run for the Roses. "It's a different way of handling the industry," John Amerman told BloodHorse in 2017. "For many years we went to the sales and finally we decided to take things into our own hands. But it takes a few years to develop a good group of broodmares. We believe we're there now." Though the Amermans don't yet own a Triple Crown victory, they have two wins in the Breeders' Cup: the 2016 Juvenile Turf (with Oscar Performance) and the 2003 Distaff (with Adoration).
Owners: OGMA Investments (Gustavo Delgado); JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo); High Step Racing (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira, Todd Perry)
What to know: This is the second Derby for Delgado and Restrepo. They were part of the winning ownership team in 2023 with that year's Derby champion, Mage. It will be the Derby debut for the five members of High Step Racing.
Delgado, as he was for Mage, is also The Puma's trainer.
Restrepo owns Marquee Bloodstock, which he launched in 2014. And he has deep roots in the sport. "Restrepo is the fifth generation of his family to participate in the Thoroughbred industry, reaching back to his great-great grandfather, who owned racehorses in Colombia in the 1800s," the Paulick Report wrote in a feature on Restrepo in 2019. "He could recall each branch of the family tree's contribution to its racing legacy with ease, from a grandfather who owned racetracks in Colombia to uncles who emigrated to New York and became trainers."
The quintet that comprises High Step Racing is a fairly new outfit. The stable was founded in 2023. Per its official website, "The group is based in Milton, (Georgia), focusing on collaborative ownership and racing of high-quality thoroughbred horses.
What to know: In addition to being Wonder Dean's owner, Yamamoto is also its breeder. Additionally, Yamamoto owns the dam, Wonder Siang Praw, who had win-place-show percentage of 50% (3-3-5) in 22 starts. Nearly every horse bred by Yamamoto's family carries the "Wonder" prefix. This will be Yamamoto's Derby debut. Wonder Dean has two wins in six career races, with a pair of runners-up as well. In his most recent start, Wonder Dean captured the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse, topping fellow Derby entrant Six Speed by 2½ lengths.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
The event enlisted a panel that included Churchill Downs reporter Kaitlin Benson, Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone and Horse Racing Nation’s Ed DeRosa with Courier Journal horse racing reporter Jason Frakes to provide insight on the best and worst in the field. The group broke down several races and discussed the horses and jockeys expected to hit the track in the 152nd Run for the Roses.
Here are five takeaways from the Better Derby Betting event:
If you go to Churchill Downs this week, don’t expect to see Renegade because he’s not there. He’s still in Florida with the plan being to wait until the very last minute to bring him into town.
Despite Renegade being expected to be the Derby’s morning-line favorite, the panel wasn’t sold on the colt, with DeRosa’s preference being Further Ado. Benson believes Renegade will be too far back during the race and called jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.’s Derby record “terrible.” Ortiz is 0 for 9 in the Derby, with his best finish being fourth while riding Improbable in 2019. He was scheduled to ride Forte, the favorite, in 2023, before the horse scratched. But Stone countered by calling Ortiz a generational talent and saying he believes Ortiz will win a Kentucky Derby soon.
Benson liked Albus, a Riley Mott-trained horse, for the bottom of a superfecta, but the panel raised some concerns about the colt’s pedigree and maturity. There’s potential there, but because of some immaturity, Albus isn’t a favored horse in the race. DeRosa has Albus in the bottom 10% of the horses in the field.
But what sets Albus back even more is that he’s the only horse in the field that has raced at Churchill Downs but hasn’t won there. Since 1992, Kentucky Derby horses that had raced at Churchill Downs but didn’t win coming into the Run for the Roses are 0 for 46, according to DeRosa.
Chad Brown has been known to be a conservative trainer. He’s not opposed to pulling one of his horses if he doesn’t believe they’re ready. That’s what has created some interest in Emerging Market. Although the 3-year-old colt has only two previous starts, he won both, the most recent being the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. There’s a belief that he can still be competitive in the field despite his inexperience.
"This is an extremely difficult task,” Stone said. “... Perhaps the Derby is one race too soon, but perhaps not.”
The Puma shipped late and didn’t arrive until Tuesday. And his only work was walking around shed row despite initial reports that he would get some track work in. While interviewing trainer Gustavo Delgado, Benson picked up on some reluctance in the horse, saying that the level of confidence “wasn’t what I was looking for.” Stone echoed the sentiments.
“The interview they did the day before, they were beaming with confidence. They were really excited to be here,” Stone said. “... Then the interview today was now, we’re to the point where we have to get lucky, make sure everything goes well. Reading between the lines here, playing psychologist, if you will. But it was enough for us to mention it here. Put it that way.”
DeRosa named Further Ado and Fulleffort as his favorites to win the Kentucky Derby. He noted that Further Ado has the highest combined margin of victory at Keeneland since 1991 after winning the Bluegrass Stakes six months after breaking his maiden at the Lexington track. Stone, too, is intrigued by Further Ado, who he said reminded him of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro because of his upside. He picked Further Ado and Fulleffort as his favorites.
Benson named Chief Wallabee as her Derby winner, while Frakes stuck with The Puma as his pick.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
Matt Fitzpatrick climbed to the top of the PGA Tour money list with his playoff victory over Scottie Scheffler at the RBC Heritage on April 19 at the Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C., and surpassed a personal milestone in terms of his bank account.
Fitzpatrick has slightly more than $9.1 million in earnings this season, topping his previous career best of $8.1 million in 2022-23, the season in which he won the first of his two RBC titles and also posted a tie for 10th in the Masters, a tie for ninth at The Memorial, and a tie for second at the BMW Championship.
The native of England has a knack for finishing strong in big-money events. The RBC is a signature event for which he pulled in $3.6 million. Fitzpatrick earned $2.725 million for a solo second in The Players (more than the $1.638 million for winning the Valspar Championship a week later) and cashed six-figure checks at the Masters, Pebble Beach, the Genesis Invitational and the WM Phoenix Open.
Scheffler moved to second with a $2.16 million check. Cameron Young, who led the money list for one week after his tie for third in the Masters, tied for 25th at Harbour Town and dropped to third.
Matt Fitzpatrick playing with his brother at Zurich
Fitzpatrick will have a chance to add to his lead this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He's playing with his brother Alex and has two top-20 finishes at the TPC Louisiana. Scheffler isn't playing in New Orleans, and the next-highest players on the money list in the Zurich field are No. 24 Ryan Gerard, No. 28 Sahith Theegala, No. 40 Shane Lowry, No. 42 Sam Stevens, and No. 44 Austin Smotherman.
None of them can catch Fitzpatrick with a victory in New Orleans.
How many millionaires are on the PGA Tour this season?
There are 58 players who have earned $1 million or more in on-course earnings this season, 29 with $2 million or more, 15 with $3 million or more and nine with $4 million or more.
Last season where were 67 millionaires through the RBC Heritage, 32 with $2 million or more, 19 with $3 million or more and 13 with $4 million or more. Rory McIlroy led the money list with more than $13.2 million but there was one less tournament on the Western Swing with the cancellation of The Sentry.
Ty Pezza didn’t really consider this a possibility until the week before his last college football game at Brown.
Dartmouth was about to visit for Senior Day and Pezza was in the process of capping the best of his four seasons with the Bears. The wide receiver and North Kingstown native was focused to that point on graduating this spring and putting his dual major in computer science and economics to work instead of ever suiting up again.
A lot can change in a few months, and the coming days could illustrate just how much. Pezza should have a real opportunity to sign a professional contract and take part in a rookie minicamp after the NFL Draft is complete.
“I talked to some coaches and had some interest from some scouts, and I decided to go for it,” Pezza said Wednesday afternoon. “Started training, getting to workouts when I could, hopping on calls with scouts and teams — that's pretty much it.”
Pezza totaled 46 catches for 599 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, leading Brown in all three categories. He played in all 10 games and took a major jump from a junior year that saw him become a more consistent factor with the offense. Pezza blended size with athleticism on the perimeter at a listed 6 feet 4 inches and 225 pounds.
“It’s surreal that I have a chance to be in any professional sports league,” Pezza said. “[Major League Baseball] when I was 8 years old was always the dream, but now I’d much rather be in the NFL.”
Pezza grew up a Boston Red Sox fan and a catcher, hoping to be the next Jason Varitek or David Ortiz. He prepped at Phillips Exeter in New Hampshire before committing to the Bears and steadily developed over the course of his career. Pezza totaled six catches for 93 yards and a score in a Governor’s Cup win over Rhode Island and enjoyed a huge game against Cornell, racking up nine catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
That baseline ability turned some heads and Pezza has been able to market himself during the predraft process through a Brown connection. His agent is Joe Linta, father of former Bears quarterback TJ Linta and a veteran in the business who represents clients such as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco, San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie and New England Patriots defensive back Dell Pettus.
“It was great that I got a guy like him,” Pezza said. “He has the experience of having a bunch of big guys who have done really well in the NFL — huge contracts. He’s also done a lot of stuff with guys like me — Ivy League, FCS — who have made it.”
Pezza has gained 10 pounds since the close of the season for an anticipated move to tight end or H-back. He’s been able to use former teammate Mark Mahoney as a resource, a bigger receiver in college who made the same transition as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs. Pezza also collected 10 tackles on special teams this season — that's a role he’d likely need to embrace at the next level.
“If I have a chance early on to play, it’s most likely going to be special teams,” Pezza said. “I think that’s kind of boosted my stock. Pairing that with having pass-catching ability and some experience in the blocking game — tailoring my game now more toward that.”
Pezza has spoken with or worked out for multiple NFL teams to date — the 49ers, Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and others have been in touch. He took part in an open workout on campus with fellow receiver Solomon Miller and defensive back Elias Archie before going to a regional pro day at Bryant in late March. Pezza doesn’t expect to hear his name called during a three-day draft that starts with Thursday night's first round, but there’s more than one route to landing on an NFL roster.
“There’s going to be a lot more than I’m going to have to learn, especially in the blocking game,” Pezza said. “But, again, I did some of that stuff, too. Hopefully, I won’t be going in too blind.”
Will other players with RI ties be drafted by NFL teams?
Pezza should have some company from the state in taking the next step. AJ Peña and Ayinde Johnson are among those worth monitoring from the Rams while Michael Otty and Elijah Elliott could be among the Bulldogs who receive some interest.
Peña left URI as the program’s all-time leader in multiple defensive categories. He profiles as an edge rusher or outside linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme, collecting 72 tackles, 21 tackles for loss at 11 sacks in 2025. Johnson totaled 70 tackles, 13 pass breakups and two interceptions as a disruptive defensive back.
Otty moved past an injury-riddled 2024 season with an impressive 2025 campaign, dominating along the defensive line. He finished with 17 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles while lining up inside. Elliott finished with nearly 1,200 scrimmage yards, 14 total touchdowns and 44 catches as a potential three-down running back.
Celtic have won their first game after the Scottish Premiership split in each of the past five seasons, doing so by an aggregate score of 17-1. They last failed to win on matchday 34 in 2018-19 (0-0 v Hibs), and last lost in 2017-18 (2-1 v Hibs).
No side has had more high turnovers (256), shot-ending high turnovers (49), pressed sequences (442), or a lower PPDA (opposition passes allowed per defensive action – 9.6) in the Premiership this season than Celtic.
Celtic have won their past eight meetings with Falkirk in all competitions; only once before have they enjoyed a longer winning run over the Bairns, winning 10 in a row from March 1950 to August 1954.
Falkirk have lost 16 of their past 18 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D2) since a 2-0 league win in October 1994 under Jim Jefferies.
Falkirk are yet to play out the same result twice in a row away from home in the Premiership in 2025-26. They won last time out on the road 3-2 at Motherwell, but on the six previous occasions they have won away they followed it up by losing their next away league match five times (D1 – v Rangers in November).
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin today, though no one from the Louisville football team is expected to hear their name just yet. Wide receiver Chris Bell had been a projected first-round pick, but an ACL injury caused a drop in his draft stock.
Still, Louisville has had a strong history of sending players to the league. Since 2010, the Cardinals have had at least one draft pick in 12 drafts. Last year, three players were drafted: quarterback Tyler Shough and cornerback Quincy Riley went to the New Orleans Saints in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, while the Kansas City Chiefs took defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte in the third round.
Bell’s selection will make him the first UofL receiver to be drafted since Jamari Thrash, who went to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
A handful of Kentucky players are also hoping to hear their names called this weekend. The Wildcats have had at least two players selected in seven straight drafts, the program's longest such streak since 1984-91. Six UK players were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
Here’s a look at the latest mock drafts and how to watch the 2026 NFL Draft:
The first round of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. today. The second and third rounds will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, with the final four rounds starting at noon Saturday.
The former Oregon offensive lineman cited persistent injuries as the primary reason for stepping away after six NFL seasons. Lemieux underwent five surgeries and spent more time in rehabilitation than on the field, ultimately choosing to protect his long-term health.
Selected 150th overall, Lemieux appeared in 25 games and made 16 starts during his career. He began with the Giants, where he started a career-high nine contests as a rookie, before brief stints with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks. He earned a Super Bowl ring as a practice-squad member with the Seahawks earlier this year.
In his announcement, Lemieux reflected on his journey.
"After graduating from the University of Oregon and being drafted by the New York Giants, I had dreams of a 10+ year, All-Pro career. I believed I could get there. But after (five) surgeries and more time in the training room than on the field, the game started to look different to me. That is why I am deciding to step away with the health that I have," he wrote."While I didn't achieve that goal, the lessons I learned through the injuries, the releases, and finally getting back on the field mean more to me going forward than any accolade ever could have. And the relationships built along the way have been the most impactful of all."I am thankful for the game. I've dedicated my life to football, and it has rewarded me immensely. But I've always seen myself as more than a football player, and I'm ready to show the world just that."
Lemieux closed with, "Stay tuned for what's next."
The Pittsburgh Steelers overhauled their running back room this offseason, forming one of the most fearsome duos in the league — and that isn't lost on NFL legend Jerome Bettis.
Speaking with Penn Live's Nick Farabaugh, Bettis said the Steelers have "two hammers" in running backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, and referenced the duo as "Thunder and Lightning," a nickname that fits the pair well.
Jerome Bettis told me he 'loves' the physicality the Steelers have in the backfield with Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren.
"They have two hammers."
Bettis referred to them as 'thunder and lightning' but still thinks they need another 3rd down RB who can catch out of the backfield.
Football has seen some terrific running back duos dominate out of the backfield and earn some amazing nicknames in the process, such as the Detroit Lions from 2023–2025 with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, AKA Sonic and Knuckles.
Warren and Dowdle should more than live up to the Thunder and Lightning title this upcoming season, given both undrafted running backs have far exceeded expectations in their individual careers and are each coming off 1,000-yard performances in 2025.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Within eight minutes, the tension hanging in the air at Little Caesars Arena gave way to euphoria.
A dominant 30-3 Detroit Pistons run in the third quarter saved the night – if not the series – in turning a game tied at 46 into a 27-point rout. Over 8:05 of game time, the Pistons held the Orlando Magic to just one made field goal.
A team coming off of its most disappointing loss of the season in Game 1 remembered who it was, and raised the defensive intensity to a level only the Pistons can sustain. The Pistons roared back to life in Game 2, winning 98-83 to tie the series against the Magic 1-1 on Wednesday, April 22.
The win – their first in a home playoff game since May 26, 2008, snapping an NBA-record 11-game skid – was a return to form for a team coming off its best regular season in nearly 20 years, with the most suffocating defense in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons won 60 games because of efforts like Wednesday's.
“When we play defense at the level we’re capable of, it triggers everything for us,’ coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We can be an elite defensive team, a disruptive defensive team that pushes and gets us transition easy baskets. And that’s what we did.”
They held the Magic to 1-for-9 shooting and forced six turnovers during the 30-3 run, which expanded their lead to 76-49 with 4:34 left in the third. Cade Cunningham, who led the Pistons with 27 points and 11 assists, led an 11-0 run to open the half. Orlando answered with a 3-pointer from Bane with 8:54 left. Then the onslaught resumed, with the Pistons going on a 19-0 run before the next Magic score –a a free throw from Goga Bitadze – with 4:20 left .
The Pistons won the third quarter, 38-16, shooting 60.9% (14-for-23) while holding Orlando to 29.4% (5-for-17) with six turnovers.
“We just embraced the environment and, truthfully, just took advantage of the moment,” said Tobias Harris, who had a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double with two blocks and two steals. “We knew that first half wasn’t to our standard of playing. We had to figure out defensively how we were going to impact the game. I thought we came out with the type of energy and the type of effort that we needed on the defensive end and I thought offensively we were able to find the gaps in the defense we needed to make the right plays.”
In Sunday’s 112-101 loss, the Pistons looked unready. They struggled to match Orlando’s physicality and will early, falling behind 18-3 and never taking the lead. The Magic were fired up after defeating the Charlotte Hornets in the play-in tournament finale. Detroit, coming off of a week of practice and no games, looked rusty.
Their first half on Wednesday was better, but only marginally. Defensively, they were sharp from the jump, holding the Magic to 26.9% shooting, thanks to seven blocked shots. The effort both individually and collectively, compared to Game 1, ranked among their best of the season.
Yet, they couldn't sustain a lead. The Pistons committed 11 turnovers, gave up 11 offensive rebounds and missed five of eight first-half free throws. A foul disparity favored the Magic, who had 21 free throws (though they made only 14).
A halftime speech from Bickerstaff helped the team refocus after halftime.
“He really got on us in the locker room,” Harris said. “There’s no more ‘My bads.’ They’re out there hustling, getting offensive boards on us and there’s too many of them. For us as a group, we know that’s not our standard, so he was on us. But we obviously felt it as a group, we needed to be better for each other.”
The Pistons still turned the ball over too much in the second half, with 10. But their best defensive quarter of the night more than made up for it. They also cleaned up other areas, grabbing six offensive rebounds to Orlando’s two and attempting more free throws, 16-11.
Their performance revealed nothing new. Rather, it reaffirmed what they showed through 82 games – an ability to bounce back and to physically overwhelm opposing teams.
After six rough quarters to open the series, the margin for error is tight moving forward. Game 3 will be in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday (1 p.m., Peacock). To prevail, the Pistons will have to lean on the lessons learned and habits formed during their regular season.
“There’s nothing to get flustered about,” Cunningham said. “We knew it was going to be a tough series coming in. We dropped Game 1. Obviously we wanted to play better. But it was a lot to learn from and a lot to get better at and I think today was a good step forward in the right direction for us. We feel good, man. It’s the same. It’s going to be a long series, this one doesn't change anything. We’ve got to keep going.”
Despite being the NFL's biggest brand, the Cowboys haven't made much of a dent on the league standings in recent years.
Dallas missed the postseason for the second straight year in 2025, seeing its playoff hopes crumble as injuries, poor performance and a husk-like defense reared their ugly heads.
The Cowboys found some answers at some key positions during head coach Brian Schottenheimer's first season in charge. Dak Prescott re-established himself as one of the league's best passers after an injury-plagued 2024 season, while George Pickens made himself indispensable, tallying more than 1,400 receiving yards.
Still, that defense was dire, taking the ignominious title of football's worst. Reinforcements could be on the way -- the Cowboys hold two first-round selections in the 2026 draft. Only time will tell if they'll stop the rot, however.
The Sporting News is tracking every Cowboys selection in the 2026 NFL draft, from the first round to the seventh. Follow along below as Dallas makes its picks.
Defensive back: The Cowboys were football's worst defense in 2025, conceding more points, yards and third down conversions than any other side in the land. Dallas has a lot of holes across its defense. Few loom as large as in the secondary, however -- the Cowboys routinely gave up big plays at untimely moments.
EDGE: Despite posting an above-average pressure rate, Dallas' pass rush proved fairly toothless after trading Micah Parsons, recording just 35 sacks in 2025 -- the joint-seventh-worst mark in football. The Cowboys will seek a remedy for its impotence in the pocket.
Linebacker: Dallas' defense was lackluster in all aspects. Adding a quality reinforcement in the linebacker spot could go a long way in pushing the front seven forward under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
There are multiple ways to conjure up a winner in the NFL.
Some franchises build through the draft, wading through the ferns with savvy scouting departments and gleaming selections.
Others attempt to skip the queue entirely, relying on blockbuster signings to round out their rosters. These franchises look to turn their brand strength to attract the gridiron's biggest luminaries to their shores.
For all of their flourishes -- and gleaming contracts -- the Chiefs have primarily employed the former technique to create one of football's greatest-ever dynasties. Kansas City has lived in the draft in the past decade or so, turning prized pieces like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones into gemstones.
It hasn't always worked out for the Chiefs. In 2009, Kansas City selected Eric Fisher with the No. 5 pick in the draft, hoping to cement its pass rush for years to come. The LSU product proceeded to record nine sacks across five seasons with the Chiefs, failing to impress.
Still, Kansas City's hit rate is better than most, especially in the first round of the NFL draft. Here's a look back at their first-round draft history.
The last time Kansas City held a first-round pick was in 2024. Despite hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, the Chiefs actually selected No. 28 in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Kansas City moved up four spots to secure the Texas alum, sending its first-round pick (No. 32 overall), third-round pick (No. 95 overall) and seventh-round pick (No. 221 overall) to land the speedy wideout.
Worthy has been a solid presence in the Chiefs' aerial attack in the years since his selection. He was Kansas City's second- and fourth-leading pass-catcher during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, respectively, combining to record 1,170 receiving yards and seven scores across the campaigns.
The Chiefs have bypassed the first round of the NFL draft more often than most franchises in recent years, using their selections to beef up trade proposals.
Still, Kansas City has collected a few notable players over the past decade, none more valuable to its setup than Mahomes.
Here's a look at the Chiefs' first-round selections since 2017.
2017: QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
Fresh off of a 12-4 record and divisional round appearance, Kansas City looked on the up-and-up heading into the 2017 NFL draft. With Alex Smith under center, the Chiefs had a reliable -- if somewhat underwhelming -- signal-caller to push them towards success.
Andy Reid's side didn't need another quarterback. Mahomes was too good to pass up, however, blessed with an arm made from titan and dancing feet. Mahomes was college football's most effective hurler during his time at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' subpar record belied his impact, even as he turned records into rubble.
Kansas City was entranced, leaping inside the top-10 to select him. In hindsight, it was an inspired choice. Mahomes replaced Smith as starter in 2018. That same year, he picked up his first MVP award. Another one followed in 2022, as did three Lombardi Trophies and Super Bowl MVP awards. Mahomes is on pace to break every major statistical record in NFL history. And at just 30 years old, he still has plenty more to offer.
The No. 32 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Edwards-Helaire was expected to take command of Kansas City's backfield. The diminutive running back drew comparisons to Pro Bowl-level running backs across his time with the Tigers, dazzling with inch-perfect footwork and an assortment of feints and jinks to displace defenders.
Edwards-Helaire started his NFL career with a flourish, tallying 1,100 yards of total offense for the Super Bowl-bound Chiefs. His production tumbled as years went on, however, prompting Kansas City to release him partway through the 2024 season.
2022: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
McDuffie starred with the Huskies, twice capturing All-Pac-12 honors. Considered one of the top defensive back prospects in the 2022 draft, McDuffie's body control, aggression and twitchiness made him a favorite of fans and scouts alike.
Like they did with Mahomes, the Chiefs orchestrated a deal to move up in the first round and take McDuffie, selecting him No. 21 overall.
McDuffie emerged a starter from his opening moments in Kansas City's practice facility. By his second season, he was a first-team All-Pro.
All told, McDuffie captured two Super Bowl titles during his time with the Chiefs. He was dealt to the Rams during the 2026 offseason, immediately securing the largest defensive back contract in league history upon his arrival.
2022: DE George Karlaftis, Purdue
The second of Kansas City's two first-round picks in 2022, Karlaftis was expected to be the next in an impressive lineage of Chiefs pass-rushers. A first-team All-American during his final year at Purdue, the Greek-born Karlaftis expected to hear his name called a little earlier than it did during the 2022 draft.
Ultimately, though, he landed with the Chiefs. He has gone from strength-to-strength in the years since his arrival, taking charge of Kansas City's pass rush alongside Chris Jones. Karlaftis ranks second in sacks (30.5), tackles for loss (34) and quarterback hits (79) on the Chiefs since 2022, only bested by Jones. In July 2025, he landed a four-year, $88 million contract extension. Of that total, $62 million is guaranteed. He is the 14th-highest-paid edge rusher in the league by average annual value (AAV).
One year after drafting Karlaftis, the Chiefs attempted to add another building block to their defensive line in the form of Anudike-Uzomah, a Kansas State alum.
Anudike-Uzomah emerged as one of the nation's top pass-rushers across his three years in Manhattan, earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors after tallying 11.0 sacks as a junior.
Kansas City selected Anudike-Uzomah with the second-to-last pick in the first round of the 2023 draft. His assortment of swim and rip-through move and harrowing length made him an enticing addition into Steve Spagnuolo's ranks.
Anudike-Uzomah has played sparingly in the years since his selection, failing to establish himself as a consistent threat in the pass rush. He tallied three sacks across his first two seasons. Anudike-Uzomah was ruled out of the 2025 campaign after suffering a severe hamstring injury in preseason.
2024, WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
Worthy was a polarizing talent during his draft cycle. On one hand, he possessed scorching speed, posting the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history in 2024.
On the other, he was gaunt and inconsistent -- traits that rarely find a home on NFL rosters.
Ultimately, Worthy's speed and agility won out. The Chiefs moved up to select him, taking Worthy with the No. 28 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
The jury is still out on the former Longhorns star. Worthy's blazing speed can at times make him a nightmare assignment, particularly for lead-footed defenders. Still, his production has left a lot to be desired, with Worthy failing to eclipse 650 yards in either of his first two seasons.
Still in his early 20s, time is certainly on Worthy's side. But the Chiefs will be hoping for improved performances in the years to come.
La Liga icon drops bombshell on Carvajal-Arbeloa conflict: ‘This is all about bad blood’
The internal situation at Real Madrid continues to attract attention, with growing focus on the strained relationship between Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Arbeloa.
What initially appeared to be a sporting decision has now evolved into a deeper issue, and former goalkeeper Santiago Canizares has offered a strong and direct explanation.
Tensions between the experienced defender and the current manager have reportedly been present since the early days of Arbeloa’s tenure.
Carvajal feels mistreated
Carvajal, now one of the senior figures in the squad, is believed to feel sidelined and unfairly treated, particularly at a stage in his career where every appearance matters.
The situation carries even greater weight due to its potential impact on international ambitions.
With the FIFA World Cup approaching, the 34-year-old is eager to remain in contention for the Spain squad.
However, limited opportunities at club level could seriously damage his chances of selection.
Canizares’s take on the matter
Speaking on the radio programme El Partidazo de COPE, Canizares shared his perspective on what might be driving the conflict.
Carvajal is not happy with Arbeloa’s treatment. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
He pointed towards unresolved history between the two as a key factor behind the ongoing tension.
“This is all about bad blood. Carvajal was the one who forced Arbeloa out, and there’s jealousy.
“When someone is taken off a team where they have performed well and won titles, and another player comes in – the one who replaces them – the player who’s been replaced always sees it as unfair and doesn’t like the situation.
“And they hold onto that. ‘Who replaced me? Carvajal.’ That’s my theory, and that’s how I explain it,” he said.
He further expanded on his view, arguing that Carvajal’s status at the club should have earned him more trust and opportunities under Arbeloa.
“This is what is happening at Real Madrid. Carvajal, given his stature, deserved the chance to show what he was capable of, and Arbeloa didn’t let him.
“He didn’t let him and speaks about him like that because he was the one who benched him.
‘For me, there is absolutely no doubt. It’s as plain as day,” he concluded.
Today’s Papers: Calhanoglu stays at Inter, Reaction to Lazio Coppa Italia win & Motta heroics
Corriere dello Sport
The page leads with Lazio’s Coppa Italia heroics, “Lazio, è Maramotta,” celebrating their penalty shootout victory over Atalanta, with young goalkeeper Edoardo Motta saving four spot kicks.
Goals from Isaksen and Taylor proved decisive in a shootout win after a 1-1 draw at 120 minutes, courtesy of strikes from Romagnoli and Pasalic. The Coppa Italia final will be played at the Stadio Olimpico on 13 May, Lazio vs Inter.
The main splash is dedicated to Juventus’ pursuit of Alisson, “Alisson Scontato”, with the paper reporting that Liverpool are irritated by the Brazilian’s desire to leave Anfield a year early, and that Juventus are pressing ahead with negotiations. Milan’s interest in Goretzka is also flagged.
Elsewhere, a brief on Napoli’s vote of confidence in Conte as manager.
Tuttosport
Leads with an exclusive from Strahinja Pavlovic, “Il mio amico Vlahovic è il numero 1”, the Milan defender enthusing about his Serbia teammate and Milan target, calling him one of the best strikers in the world. Juventus’ interest in Atalanta’s Bernasconi is also flagged, described as a priority should Cambiaso depart.
Smaller headlines cover Chivu’s happiness at Inter and Calhanoglu’s expected renewal, plus D’Aversa calling on Torino’s pride ahead of their next fixture.
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Gazzetta leads on Calhanoglu’s imminent Inter renewal, “Inter Resto”, with the headline declaring Hakan wants to stay, describing him as “incredible” and Chivu’s pressing as decisive in convincing him to extend.
Two transfer scoops flank the masthead: Juventus sprinting for Alisson (“Sprint Alisson”) and Milan moving for Goretzka (“Mossa Goretzka”), with the paper reporting a three-year deal is being discussed for the German.
Lazio’s Coppa Italia final berth is also prominently featured, with Motta’s four penalty saves celebrated and Atalanta’s frustration at the Ederson goal controversy noted.
DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Pioneering coach Marie-Louise Eta has a chance to influence the battle for Champions League spots in the Bundesliga as her Union Berlin team takes on third-place Leipzig on Friday.
After Bayern Munich wrapped up the title last week, the focus shifts to a host of teams behind in a vibrant and often surprising fight for the top four places.
Runner-up Borussia Dortmund can seal a Champions League spot this weekend, while it could be a nervous few weeks for teams like Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen.
That's especially true because Germany could yet land an extra Champions League spot for the fifth-place team by overhauling Spain on UEFA's “European performance spot” ranking. That would depend on strong showings by Bayern in the Champions League and Freiburg in the Europa League.
Key matchups
Eta stayed upbeat after a 2-1 loss to Wolfsburg in her historic first game as head coach, and there were positives. Union created plenty of chances but just didn't convert them. Leipzig will be a tougher challenge Friday. Ole Werner's team is on a four-game winning run and looking to return to the Champions League after missing out this season.
The Rhine derby between Leverkusen and Cologne is always a standout game. This time it could play a big role in determining whether Leverkusen gets a Champions League spot, and potentially whether Kasper Hjulmand gets another season as Leverkusen coach.
A win for Dortmund against Freiburg on Sunday will make sure of a Champions League spot for next season, regardless of whether there are four or five places for German teams.
Players to watch
Harry Kane's charge for the single-season Bundesliga scoring record may be over, with Vincent Kompany increasingly minded to rest him for Champions League and German Cup runs, Nicolas Jackson has stepped up with goals in Bayern's last two Bundesliga games.
Hoffenheim forward Fisnik Asllani is having a breakout season with nine goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga. More goal contributions against Hamburger SV on Saturday could strengthen his team's Champions League push.
Young striker Dzenan Pejcinovic has found form when it matters to revive Wolfsburg, scoring in its last two games as the relegation-threatened team prepares to face Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. It makes a chance from scoring at the wrong time. His first goals of the season were a hat trick in a losing cause, then the consolation goal in an 8-1 loss.
Out of action
Bayern and Germany forward Serge Gnabry ruled himself out of the rest of the season, World Cup included, in a social media post Wednesday after a muscle tear in training.
Manchester United want Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven
Manchester United are considering signing Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven this summer, according to The Athletic. Man United want to strengthen at the back ahead of their return to Europe next season and after watching Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez struggle with injuries this season. The Red Devils want a left-footed defender and have identified Van de Ven as a key target. The Netherlands international is likely to leave Spurs even if they end up surviving relegation at the end of the season.
Van de Ven will be perfect for Man United but the Old Trafford club will still need to raise funds through sales and Manuel Ugarte is being considered. The Red Devils co-owner Jim Ratcliffe is of the view the 25-year-old Uruguayan should be sold. Ugarte started in the defeat against Leeds United last Monday with Kobbie Mainoo injured, and Ratcliffe would not have been impressed with his performances while watching from the Old Trafford directors’ box. He joined the Red Devils in a £50.5 million deal from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 but has largely struggled and is set to be made available for transfer.
Ipswich Town full-back Darnell Furlong highlighted the work behind the scenes of the physios and medical staff after scoring his first goal for the club in their victory at Charlton Athletic.
The game at The Valley was the first of three in a row away from home and Town will be certain of automatic promotion back to the Premier League if they can win two of them.
Ipswich have been affected by a number of injuries of late and left-back Leif Davis was missing against Charlton with a hamstring problem.
"It's a very tough schedule with a lot of games (having been) cancelled and having to be replayed but the squad is doing everything possible to prepare for it," Furlong told BBC Radio Suffolk.
"We're going to need the whole squad as we've shown already. We've got a great team behind us and they do everything they can to get us in the best shape possible and we're very thankful for that as players."
When asked about the importance of the victory, Furlong described the 2-1 comeback win at Charlton as "massive".
"The emotion on the pitch and the stress we're going through, but [we have] the resilience to keep going and do what we believe in and we get there in the end.
"There's always pressure whenever you step onto a football pitch, you are demanding from yourself, you want to go and get three points obviously - the games are bigger and mean more at the moment with the stage of the season we're at but we've all been there before, it is what it is and we keep going."
Furlong's goal came in his 37th appearance for Ipswich this season - and was his first since March 2025 when he scored for his previous club West Brom against Leeds.
"It was a nice time to do it, I've been wanting to get that goal for the club so I'm thankful it happened.
"There were a lot of bodies in the way so I couldn't kind of see it but managed to catch it at the end just as it went in so it was a great feeling, but just a case of business as usual after the game," he said.
Ipswich's next game is against West Brom at The Hawthorns in a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.
Furlong still has friends at the West Midlands club, where he spent six years, and is pleased they have avoided relegation.
"It'll be nice to see some people there. It'll be strange going there as the away team, but I've done it before when I was at West Brom and went to QPR," he added, refering to another of his former clubs.
"We'll be going for the three points but it's nice to see them safe - I knew they'd get out, I knew they had the quality it was just a case of a bit of confidence - I'm happy for them but focused on us."
Japanese Muay Thai phenom Shimon Yoshinari has arrived on the biggest stage of his young career, and the 21-year-old has no intention of letting the moment pass without leaving a lasting mark.
The WBC Muay Thai World Champion takes on Johan “Jojo” Ghazali in a flyweight Muay Thai clash at ONE SAMURAI 1 on Wednesday, April 29, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, streaming on pay-per-view via live.onefc.com.
Shimon enters with a 25-1 career record and a perfect 4-0 promotional slate since his ONE debut in 2024. His resume already includes victories over Dedduanglek Torfunfarm and four-time Muay Thai World Champion Yodlekpet Or Atchariya.
When the call came to compete at ONE SAMURAI 1 against one of the promotion’s most recognizable young stars, he did not hesitate.
He said:
“It was an offer from such a huge event, so honestly I was just happy. Johan is a well-known and popular fighter, so I felt like it was a real challenge worth taking on. I never really imagined I’d be fighting him — I had only seen him fight on TV.”
As the excitement settled, preparation took over. Shimon and his team at EIWA Sports Gym have built a game plan designed specifically around the threat Ghazali presents, and he arrives in peak condition with every detail locked in.
He said:
“Both my mind and body are in perfect shape. My gym president and trainer put the strategy together, and my job is to execute it. On top of my own training, I’ve been studying my opponent, and that includes preparing specifically for Ghazali.”
Ariake Arena, in front of a Tokyo crowd, provides the backdrop for the most important performance of Shimon’s career. A dominant showing against a globally known opponent can accelerate both his reputation and his ONE World Title ambitions.
He said:
“ONE SAMURAI 1 only has elite fighters, so I want to have a fight that leaves an impression. I want to finish it in a dramatic way. Ghazali is a globally recognized fighter, so I want to shock people around the world.”
Shimon Looks To Manage Distance Against Aggressive Ghazali
Shimon Yoshinari has done his homework on Johan Ghazali, and what he has found is a fighter unlike any he has encountered before.
The 19-year-old, who trains out of Rentap Muaythai Gym and Superbon Training Camp, brings a 27-9 professional record and an 8-3 promotional slate into this contest. Six of those promotional victories have come by finish. His relentless forward pressure and all-out attacking style have made him one of the most exciting and dangerous fighters on the roster.
Shimon recognizes the challenge Ghazali presents, drawing a partial comparison to a familiar face while acknowledging the differences:
“He strikes me as a mentally tough, aggressive fighter who suits the ONE style. In the way he closes the distance and pressures forward, he reminds me a bit of Yodlekpet, but his build and striking are different, so I can’t say it’s the same type of fight I’ve experienced before.”
That unpredictability makes distance management the central pillar of Shimon’s strategy. Known for his thunderous left hook and punishing calf kicks, he has identified where the danger lies and how he plans to neutralize it.
He said:
“[He favors] close-range punching exchanges, and I think he’ll use his elbows a lot, so I need to be careful there. But if I can manage the distance my way, I think it works in my favor.”
Chris: Once again we dominated a match, had numerous chances, got no luck from the officials and threw away two points! We should have won by three or four goals. We just cannot kill off teams, it is so frustrating. We should be comfortably in the European places this season but now it will be a scrap. A new striker has to be a priority for us this summer.
Terry: Positives were a great performance again and good goals. Jimenez is awesome, he's like a Duracell bunny and just keeps going. Hill was so unlucky after another solid game. We'll miss Senesi. I'm proud to be a Cherry. Negatives were VAR and officials.
John: I cannot believe that Evanilson's goal was not given, his hand was offside but you can't score with your hand! Also how does that Leeds goal count as the striker is offside and blocking Petrovic? It's madness! Overall another good display from the team.
Scott: The 2-2 draw still doesn't make sense, Bournemouth should've won 3-1 and would've been moved up to sixth place and chance for a European boost.
Andy: VAR again tried hard to ruin the game - ref was third rate at best. Cherries were the best team and result was injustice
Leeds fans
David: The great thing about this Leeds team is they never give up. Maybe we were lucky with the offside at the end, but it was an amazing strike by Sean Longstaff. Bournemouth definitely shaded it, but we showed true Yorkshire grit and resilience.
Jim: A well fought out game between two competitive teams. Leeds battled to the last minute. Delighted for Sean Longstaff, he's fighting hard to get back in the team, and what a great team spirit!
Chris: Leeds keep on improving and it's down to Daniel Farke who's found the way to get the best out of the team - not just with motivation but starting line-ups and earlier substitutions when needed. It's all part of the steep learning curve Leeds have been on in the Premier League. I have no doubt whatsoever Leeds are staying up this year as they'll take more points from the remaining games. The third-from-bottom position will go to the wire I think and Leeds might have a say against West Ham.
The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods you’d totally do a sushi night with: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, Kung_Fu_Zizou (AKA KFZ), Juninho, Ezek and, of course… yours truly.
Franco Taking the Endrick Route?
🚨 BREAKING: Real Madrid are seriously considering letting Franco Mastantuono go – as happened with Endrick.
No one at the club doubts Mastantuono's talent, but the idea that he needs an intermediate step is beginning to take shape.
🚨💣| BREAKING: Real Madrid believe Inter Milan midfielder Nicolò Barella is the best value-for-money target available and are prepared to pursue a deal worth around €50 million.
Gavi, Joan Garcia react after Barcelona 1-0 Celta Vigo: ‘We want to win the title as quickly as possible’
Barcelona’s narrow 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo may not have been their most convincing performance, but it could prove decisive in the La Liga title race.
While the spotlight has largely been on injuries and late drama, Gavi offered an honest insight into the tactical challenges faced during the match, particularly regarding his unusual role on the pitch.
Deployed as a false winger on the left, the young midfielder admitted that adapting to the position was not straightforward, especially against a compact defensive setup.
He explained how the team had to adjust to Celta’s structure and why the role felt demanding on the night.
“I do what the manager asks of me. I’m a player who can play in various positions, and I believe that’s very important for a footballer in the team.
“Perhaps it was more difficult today, because Celta were also defending with a back five, but ultimately I’m at the disposal of the team and the manager.
“Sometimes there will be easier games, and others more difficult, but the most important thing is to win, and that’s exactly what we did,” he said.
Crucial win in the title race
Despite the tactical discomfort, the result keeps Barcelona firmly in control of the title race, holding a significant advantage over Real Madrid with only a handful of matches remaining.
Gavi made it clear that the squad’s focus is now on finishing the job as quickly as possible.
“What we want is to win the title as quickly as possible. Whether it’s against Real Madrid or before that. I hope it’s soon.
“This victory was extremely important. It was crucial for winning the title because the league isn’t decided yet.
“We must win all the remaining matches, and today we did what we had to do, which was to win the match, and that’s all.”
On Lamine’s injury
The victory, however, was overshadowed by concerns over Lamine Yamal, whose injury has raised alarm within the squad.
Joan Garcia was heavily involved in the game. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Gavi did not hide the importance of the youngster, admitting the dressing room felt the impact immediately.
“He’s the best, and of course, it’s a big blow for us because he’s a very important player and we need him.
“He was gutted in the dressing room because he understands how important he is to us. I don’t know how long he’ll be out for, but I hope it’s as short as possible because we need him.”
Joan Garcia takes the stage
At the other end of the pitch, Joan Garcia played a decisive role in securing all three points.
The goalkeeper produced key saves, including an early intervention that set the tone for the match. Reflecting on that moment, said,
“It’s been happening all season that they create chances in the opening minutes; we need to improve, but luckily I managed to save it.”
Garcia also stressed the importance of grinding out results at this stage of the campaign, especially in tight matches like this one.
“It was extremely important to win, especially at home; we know we have to pick up three points in every game.”
Summing up the performance, the goalkeeper acknowledged the quality of the opposition and the adjustments made after the break that helped Barcelona secure the win.
“Today’s match was very tough against a team like Celta, who play very well, but I think we competed well and managed to get the three points.
“They’re a top-class side who find the man in space, and if you don’t press them well, you end up chasing them.
“In the second half, we tweaked a couple of things and were better,” he concluded.
Ona Batlle: Former Man United Women star set for return to England
Former Manchester United Women star, Ona Batlle, is set for a return to England.
Man United career
The Spaniard joined Manchester United from Levante in 2020.
Batlle played 77 times for the Red Devils, scoring three goals.
The full-back joined FC Barcelona that summer and has played three seasons in Catalonia.
She has won three league titles, two Copa de la Reinas and three Supercopas de España.
Batlle also won the Champions League with the Catalans in 2024 during her first season back in Spain.
Return to England
The BBC report that the 26-year-old is close to sealing a return to the Women’s Super League.
The report states that, “Spain defender Ona Batlle is close to agreeing a move to Arsenal as a free agent in the summer.”
It is also stated that, “the 26-year-old Spaniard has been a priority target for the Gunners, with Republic of Ireland full-back Katie McCabe set to exit.”
What’s more, they have been in talks with the defender since January, trying to arrange a pre-contract agreement.
The BBC assert that “Batlle’s arrival would be one of the biggest moves in recent years as Arsenal have revamped their approach to recruitment, targeting top players early.”
Ian Willcock
Another former Manchester United Women staff member, Ian Willcock, is also on the move.
Journalist Conner Roberts reports that, “Tottenham Hotspur confirm the appointment of former Manchester United goal-keeper coach Ian Willcock to their Women’s First Team coaching staff.”
Willcock worked as part of Manchester United’s backroom staff and will be working alongside Head Coach Martin Ho and Assistant Coach Lawrence Shamieh at Tottenham Hotspur.
Real Madrid want to finalise superstar’s renewal before the World Cup
Real Madrid are stepping up efforts to resolve one of the most important contract situations at the club.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish giants are aiming to finalise Vinicius Jr.’s renewal before the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Despite being one of the club’s most influential players, Vinicius’ long-term future remains uncertain.
His current deal runs until 2027, yet there has been little concrete progress in negotiations so far.
This delay has raised concerns within the club, especially given his importance both on and off the pitch.
Financial disagreements
At the heart of the issue lies a disagreement over wages, as the Brazilian forward is reportedly seeking parity with Kylian Mbappe, who sits at the top of Real Madrid’s salary structure.
However, while Real Madrid are willing to offer Vinicius an improved deal, they are not prepared to match Mbappe’s earnings.
Interestingly, the report suggests that the player had previously accepted similar terms before later rejecting them, which is why Real Madrid are unwilling to make changes to their offer.
Real Madrid are pushing to secure Vinicius’ renewal. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Furthermore, there was even a stage where the possibility of a summer exit was considered if no agreement could be reached.
As such, that scenario now appears highly unlikely, as club president Florentino Perez is said to have taken personal control of the situation, viewing Vinicius’ renewal as a top priority.
Internally, the Brazilian is seen as irreplaceable not just for his performances, but for his unique profile in the current transfer market.
Real Madrid reportedly believe there is no comparable player available, which is another reason why they want to renew his deal.
The club’s objective is to resolve the situation before the World Cup to avoid unnecessary distractions and uncertainty.
From the player’s side, the situation remains somewhat unclear, as Vinicius has consistently expressed his desire to continue at Real Madrid, but there has been no urgency in putting pen to paper.
We asked for your thoughts after Manchester City moved top of the Premier League on goals scored with a 1-0 victory over Burnley.
Here are some of your comments:
John: The energy and emotion expended beating Arsenal three days beforehand surely told. Nico Gonzalez should've started in place of the injured Rodri and Nico O'Reilly is more effective further forward, even if playing at left-back. While goal difference may become key, if you cannot win well then this is the time to win ugly.
Anthony: After scoring so early, it was disappointing to only score one goal - but it's job done. Three weeks ago, if I was told we would be top with five games to go, I would've snapped your hand off. Over to Arsenal now, can they cope? The Emirates will be twitching.
Ben: A frustrating watch, but that's understandable after such an emotional win on Sunday. Nobody thought we would be here four weeks ago. Well done, boys!
Roy: Only beating Burnley 1-0? It was a pathetic performance. We are not worthy.
Harry: It wasn't good, but it was good enough. The players will know the decision-making and finishing wasn't good enough. Antoine Semenyo has been fantastic but he looked gassed and he needs to remember to pass. I could wax lyrical about how poor we were in front of goal, but credit has to go to Martin Dubravka. The few times we were clinical, he stopped it.
Brian: Manchester City had to win this game, and with a 1-0 lead from the sixth minute the focus was clearly on not losing. A few chances were squandered, but a result is a result. They are in the driving seat now and they are being chased. For both Arsenal and City, losing is not an option now and every game is a cup final. Burnley were tough opposition and it was a nervy experience, but the pride of winning and being on top is worth the pain.
Kelly Pannek became the first PWHL player to earn 30 points in a season, and was quickly joined by teammate Taylor Heise, but the Minnesota Frost lost their penultimate regular-season game to Seattle, 5-4, in front of 11,882 fans at Climate Pledge Arena late Wednesday.
The Frost, who have won the PWHL’s only two championships, already were locked into the third of four postseason spots when the playoffs begin next week.
Pannek, a wing from Plymouth, had a goal and assist to give her a league-leading 32 points. Heise, a center from Lake City, Minn., scored a pair of goals, the second a game-tying shot that gave her 30 points this season, and 65 for her career — one point away from Montréal captain Marie-Philip Poulin’s league-high benchmark.
Goaltender Nicole Hensley stopped 23 shots for Minnesota, while Seattle rookie Hannah Murphy stopped 38 of 42 shots to earn the victory.
“For us, we’re all just about building right now, about trying to do little things well, and obviously we got a little bit loose with our game,” Frost coach Ken Klee said. “I thought we had a good push. It was a good hockey game. Obviously, they’re pushing to try to score goals and trying to do well, also.”
Minnesota is scheduled to close the regular season on Saturday at Vancouver.
“Going into playoffs, it’s the confidence, it’s having your teammates’ backs, and just going there and relentlessly playing,” said Heise, a key player on both of Minnesota’s Walter Cup championships. “Playoffs is amazing. It is phenomenal in the PWHL, and we’re just really excited, especially to have at least one home game and getting our fans in.”
Frost Head Coach Ken Klee on the team’s overall performance and game result: “It gave us the opportunity to work on our six-on-five a little bit and had two groups get a few shifts out of it.
“For us, we’re all just about building right now – about trying to do little things well – and obviously we got a little bit loose with our game, and I thought we had a good push. It was a good hockey game. Obviously, they’re pushing to try to score goals and trying to do well also.”
NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to be one of the most fascinating stories of IPL 2026 — a 15-year-old who watches cartoons before matches and then goes out to break records on the big stage.
A subdued outing with the bat could not stop the teenage sensation from scripting history as Rajasthan Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs in Lucknow on Wednesday. Sooryavanshi managed just 8 off 11 balls, but his brief stay was enough to etch his name into the record books.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Despite the lean outing, Sooryavanshi remains Rajasthan Royals’ top-scorer this season with 254 runs. Remarkably, he has already smashed two half-centuries, both coming off just 15 balls — making them the joint third-fastest fifties in IPL history.
Cartoon talks, cricket dominance
However, it was his light-hearted post-match interaction that truly captured fans’ imagination. Asked about his mindset at an age when most kids are glued to cartoons, Sooryavanshi responded with disarming honesty.
“Dimaag me kuch nahi chalta hai. Aaj bhi har din match se pahle hum bhi cartoon dekhte hain, aadat hai dekhne ka (smile). Abhi bhi hum cartoon dekh rahe hain, par focus game par bhi hai (Even today I watch cartoons before every match, but focus is on game too),” he said with a grin.
The innocence of the response quickly went viral, perfectly capturing the duality of a teenager balancing childhood habits with elite-level cricket.
And despite the quiet knock in Lucknow, the youngster is already looking ahead with confidence.
“Accha karenge agla match me. Jeet ke 2 points liye, aage badi playoffs ki taraf,” he added.
WATCH:
— i (@i)
Ravindra Jadeja leads RR’s charge
Ravindra Jadeja anchored the win for Rajasthan Royals with a fine all-round performance. His unbeaten 43 and a crucial wicket earned him the Player of the Match award.
RR captain Riyan Parag admitted his side could have pushed closer to 180, but the bowlers, led by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, ensured the total was more than enough.
The win lifted Rajasthan Royals to second in the standings, but once again, it was their cartoon-loving teenage prodigy who stole the show.
ROME (AP) — Best known in Europe for memorable defeats in recent seasons, Inter Milan remains a force at home in Italy.
In Cristian Chivu’s first season coaching the club, Inter is closing in on the Serie A title and could still raise two trophies after also reaching the Italian Cup final.
If Inter wins at Torino and Napoli and AC Milan don’t win this weekend, Inter can clinch the Italian league title with four rounds remaining.
The domestic success has come in sharp contrast to Inter’s ouster from this season’s Champions League by tiny Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt; and a 5-0 rout by Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s final.
Not since José Mourinho led Inter to a treble in 2010 has Inter won the league and Cup in the same season.
Chivu played on the 2010 team and is quickly making a name for himself in the coaching ranks after helping Parma avoid relegation last season.
“I’m just Cristian. My only responsibility is to these players,” Chivu said when asked about being compared to Mourinho. “I’m just trying to do my job in the best manner possible for those who believed in me, for these wonderful players, and I hope to achieve some of our objectives.”
Chivu was asked about the possibility of winning both trophies after Inter came back from two goals down to beat Como 3-2 in the Italian Cup semifinals on Tuesday. Inter will face Lazio in the May 13 final.
Key matchups
A matchup between second-place Milan and fourth-place Juventus on Sunday isn’t just about securing Champions League places.
It’s also a meeting between the two top United States internationals in Italy.
Milan forward Christian Pulisic has not scored since December for club or country, while McKennie has become an indispensable player for Juventus since Luciano Spalletti was named coach in October.
After this meeting, Pulisic and McKennie won’t see each other again until they unite for national team training camp at a home World Cup.
Players to watch
Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez made several spectacular saves against Como in the Italian Cup using a butterfly position borrowed from hockey goaltenders.
By dropping to his knees and raising his arms to cover more space, Martínez was able to make reflex saves seem easy.
Still, Martínez remains Inter’s second choice ’keeper after Yann Sommer, who is expected to start at Torino on Sunday.
Out of action
Inter captain and Serie A scoring leader Lautaro Martinez remains out with a muscle issue.
Off the field
Authorities in Milan are investigating an alleged prostitution ring that reportedly has involved more than 70 soccer players. Four people have been arrested for allegedly arranging the escort service, although no players have been placed under formal investigation.
“The losing streak is over. The Mets win their first game since April 7, snapping their skid after 12 games in Juan Soto's return from the injured list. The bad news for the Mets: Francisco Lindor exited the game with left calf tightness,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.
With the Mets finally winning, attention shifted to the Philadelphia Phillies, who are also mired in a lengthy losing streak. Despite their slow start, there remains confidence in manager Rob Thomson.
“Dave Dombrowski is concerned about what is going on with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he said manager Rob Thomson is not on the hot seat despite the team's seven-game losing streak. Dombrowski, the Phillies' president of baseball operations, instead is focused on the team's overall play during an 8-15 start this season,” ESPN wrote.
The Phillies lost again on Wednesday night, extending their skid and further cementing their struggles as one of the worst stretches in baseball. Their run production issues have also become a major concern.
“The longest losing streak in baseball now belongs to the Philadelphia Phillies, who dropped their eighth straight and are tied with the Mets for the worst record in the National League at 8-16. At -50, the Phillies also have the worst run differential in baseball by 15 runs,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.
The Phillies and Mets are typically competing for control of the NL East, but at the moment, both are fighting to avoid being among the worst teams in baseball. Philadelphia’s inability to score runs has been especially uncharacteristic.
While no division is won in April, seasons can certainly be lost early if trends continue. The Phillies understand that something must change quickly, and now the entire league is watching. If the offense does not improve, this troubling stretch could continue for quite some time.
Makai Lemon's time at USC bolstered his place one of the premier prospects for this year's NFL Draft.
With a crowd full of questions back on February 27, several of Lemon's answers have now been circling the internet and garnering criticism from some.
The criticisms are not about his answers to the questions, per se, but about his body language throughout the press conference. Lemon had a tendency to shift around, move side-to-side and keep strong eye contact with reporters.
Here's more about Lemon's combine process and how his draft stock could be affected.
This clip specifically is one of two that has gone viral on social media over a month after the initial press conference.
Criticism has come both from his inability to stand still for much of the press conference, as well as a perceived "intensity" in his eye contact and overall body language.
Lemon was asked about the combine press conference Wednesday. He told PennLive's Nick Farabaugh, "It was a learning experience, definitely, just how to carry myself more professionally. I definitely didn't expect it to look like that, but I'll learn from it."
Makai Lemon talked about his viral NFL Combine podium session as a learning experience.
“It was a learning experience. It’s about how to carry myself more professionally. I definitely didn’t expect it to look like that, but I’ll learn from it moving forward.” pic.twitter.com/u1jy563m4s
Rams general manager Les Snead told Farmer, "At the combine you're usually getting some version of a personality. A lot of times it's 'This is my interview personality,' and that's not necessarily who they are 365 days a year."
Snead attended a workout of 17 USC players, including Lemon. An anonymous executive took Lemon's press conference from a different angle.
"We don't want a guy who's phony and coached up," the executive said. "We want a guy to be his authentic self. As long as he's not a jerk, we love it."
The larger concern for another scout was Lemon's individual team interview, with former NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko taking to social media.
"I talked to a scout just now who said he didn’t know what Makai Lemon’s motive was behind his combine interviews but whoever advised the kid needs to be fired. 'Absolutely bombed it' word for word." Fehoko said.
I talked to a scout just now who said he didn’t know what Makai Lemon’s motive was behind his combine interviews but whoever advised the kid needs to be fired. “Absolutely bombed it” word for word.
Lemon appears to be a slam dunk first-round pick for many, believed to go in the middle of the first round.
Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer has Lemon at No. 16 to the New York Jets in his latest mock draft. Any team looking to bolster their offensive unit could benefit from someone like Lemon, who could slot in at WR1 for many programs.
If anything, it seems that NFL execs may have qualms with Lemon's individual interviews with teams and concerns about executing plays on the gridiron.
The Seahawks mounted football's highest plateau in 2025, hoisting their second Lombardi Trophy in memorable fashion. They largely have the NFL draft to thank for their successes.
While pieces like Sam Darnold, Rashid Shaheed, Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence were acquired via trade or free agency signing, Seattle's infrastructure was constructed in the draft. From Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist Nick Emmanwori, young, drafted talent made the difference for the Seahawks during their trek to a title. They'll hope to keep that tradition alive in the 2026 NFL draft -- although they'll have to be more judicious with their selections to do so.
The 2026 offseason hasn't been the easiest for Seattle brass to navigate. Riq Woolen and Kenneth Walker II are gone, wooed by big-money deals in Philadelphia and Kansas City, respectively. Perhaps the Seahawks can find ready-made replacements in the seven-round spectacle set to take over Pittsburgh over the next few days.
The Sporting News is tracking every Seahawks selection in the 2026 NFL draft. Follow along below as Seattle makes its picks.
The Seahawks have four selections in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Round 1, Pick No. 32:
Round 2, Pick No. 64:
Round 3, Pick No. 96:
Round 6, Pick No. 188:
Seahawks NFL Draft needs
Cornerback: Riq Woolen's departure leaves a gaping hole in Seattle's secondary. Devon Witherspoon is an All-Pro-caliber cornerback who should continue to strike fear in opposition hurlers from his post. But don't be surprised to see the Seahawks attempt to beef up the supporting cast around him in light of Woolen's absence.
Running back: Walker is gone, jet-setting for Kansas City after capturing Super Bowl MVP honors. Zach Charbonnet, meanwhile, is in recovery, having sustained a torn ACL during the playoffs. Seattle needs a tailback who can take on the lion's share of carries as Charbonnet works his way back to full-health. Notre Dame's Jadarian Prince and Arkansas' Mike Washington Jr. are leading candidates to land in the Emerald City come the end of the second round.
A cloud hung over the Oklahoma City Thunder in their 120-107 Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns. Even though they opened up their 2026 NBA playoffs Round 1 series with a 2-0 lead, an injury development has caused most folks to hover their hand above the panic button.
Being OKC's best player through six quarters of the NBA playoffs, Williams' worst nightmare materialized. He sustained a hamstring injury in the third quarter. He eventually left the Thunder bench and exited the game. Uh oh. Not good.
It is Williams' third hamstring injury. He had two right hamstring strains. The first happened on Jan. 17. The second happened on Feb. 11. This third one is on his left leg. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed it after the game.
"We think he aggravated his left hamstring," Daigneault said. "We’ll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we’ll update you guys when appropriate.”
Just brutal. Williams had 19 points and four assists before he sustained the injury. He did so on a fastbreak layup that he missed. Afterward, he played a couple of possessions before he fouled Devin Booker to check out. After being checked by the OKC staff on the bench, he eventually walked through a tunnel.
We'll see how much time Williams has to miss — if any. Think it's fair to say any extended absence will affect OKC's odds to win back-to-back titles. He only played in 33 games in the regular season as he dealt with an injury-plagued year with his wrist and hamstring.
“Iglesias slept on his shoulder wrong last night. That's why he was unavailable tonight. He may be available if needed tomorrow night,” Braves beat writer Mark Bowman wrote.
By Tuesday, Iglesias was placed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. The Braves made roster moves to ensure their pitching staff wouldn’t be overworked during this stretch.
“The Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation this morning, per a team announcement. Lefty Dylan Dodd was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Iglesias’ spot on the active roster,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams wrote.
With Iglesias sidelined due to an unusual injury, there is uncertainty surrounding how much time he will miss. As a result, the Braves could explore adding another left-handed arm to the bullpen. The St. Louis Cardinals have a potential option in JoJo Romero.
“However, the Braves' bullpen, while strong, still could use some reinforcements. It's unclear how long Iglesias will be out, and while Robert Suarez can fill in as the closer temporarily, it would be wise for Atlanta to be looking into making bullpen upgrades. Rental pitching has come in high demand in recent years at the trade deadline. Someone like Romero could bring back a good haul,” SI’s Curt Bishop wrote.
Romero features an aggressive arsenal from the left side and could provide a boost to Atlanta’s bullpen depth. Currently, the Braves rely on Dylan Lee and José Suárez as their primary left-handed options. Adding Romero could pay major dividends for the bullpen.
Atlanta does not expect Iglesias to be out long, but reinforcing an already strong bullpen is never a bad idea. Romero is owed just $4.2 million this season and still has multiple years of team control remaining.
Three players that can transform Chelsea to title challengers next season
Chelsea look set to miss out on UEFA Champions League football for the third time in four seasons under the BlueCo regime.
The Blues have realised that their youth-centric project is going down the drain and want to add some experience (preferably Premier League) to their ranks this summer.
Chelsea are poised to target players that can provide the winning calm and know-how that have been missing at Stamford Bridge for a few years now.
Without further ado, read on as we analyse three experienced players who can transform Chelsea next season.
Bernardo Silva
Manchester City’s maestro Bernardo Silva has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, and Chelsea should be at the front of the queue to snap him up.
Chelsea could use his invaluable experience in the ranks. He can provide significant value in midfield, playing alongside Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez.
The 31-year-old’s ability to provide solutions in difficult situations and perform under pressure can rub off on the current Chelsea players.
Chelsea are reportedly trying to spend big money to sign Valentin Barco, but they can afford to hold off on signing the Argentine for a more assured addition in Silva.
Barco is at Strasbourg and won’t escape their grasp for a season or two. They should pursue the ‘exceptional’ Silva in the meantime for his leadership qualities.
Robin Roefs
One area where Chelsea have been particularly susceptible is between the sticks. Filip Jorgensen and Robert Sanchez have failed to cover themselves in glory.
If Chelsea want to reestablish themselves in the upper echelon of the Premier League, they need a reliable goalkeeper, and Sunderland’s Robin Roefs fits the bill.
Roefs has taken the Premier League by storm in his first season, and even though there is room for improvement, he will be a massive upgrade on what the Blues have.
He can provide competition for Mike Penders next season. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris lauded the 23-year-old’s shot-stopping ability.
He said, “He is quick, very mobile when he manages crosses, and he is really well connected with his backline, so when there are balls in behind, he is always well aware and mobile in these situations, and he is good with his feet.”
Antonio Rudiger
Antonio Rudiger is leaving Real Madrid this summer as a free agent, and he is another name Chelsea should have on their shortlist.
While injuries and age have chipped away at his ability, Rudiger is still a high-level defender.
His aggression, winning mentality, and leadership qualities can prove influential for this group.
Chelsea need to sell Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Benoit Badiashile, while Mamadou Sarr needs another loan to improve drastically in the air.
Rudiger can be a short-term solution while the Blues reshuffle the deck at the back. He knows the Premier League and the club.
The Blues need at least two new centre-halves if all those players leave, and Rudiger should be one of the additions.
Round 9 in K League 2 delivers a defining moment in the early promotion race, headlined by a heavyweight clash between the top two. With Busan IPark setting the pace and Suwon Samsung Bluewings close behind, the battle for first place takes centre stage, while elsewhere teams look to build momentum or keep themselves within touching distance. As the table begins to take clearer shape, this round could prove a significant marker in the push for promotion.
Match of the Round
Top-of-the-table clash: Suwon Bluewings vs. Busan IPark
After the early feel-out phase, the K League 2 season is beginning to heat up, with the shape of the title race starting to emerge. Busan IPark lead the way with an impressive record of seven wins and one draw, while Suwon Bluewings sit just three points behind in second. These two promotion contenders now go head-to-head in Round 9.
Suwon were widely tipped as title favourites following the appointment of head coach Lee Jung-hyo ahead of the season. However, a draw against Chungbuk Cheongju in Round 6 and a defeat to Gimpo FC in Round 7 slowed their momentum, as opponents found ways to disrupt their build-up play and limit their attacking output. A similar pattern emerged in Round 8 against Gyeongnam FC, but Suwon managed to grind out a 1-0 win with a second-half goal. While their attack is still finding full rhythm, their defensive record remains outstanding, conceding just two goals in eight matches - the best in the league.
Busan, meanwhile, are in relentless form with seven consecutive wins. They have scored a league-high 18 goals in eight matches, with a variety of contributors highlighting their attacking depth. Cristian Renato and Baek Ga-on have each scored four goals, while Kim Chan and Gabriel Honorio have added two apiece, alongside six other players who have chipped in with one goal each. In their most recent match against Suwon FC, midfielder Xavier stepped in as a makeshift forward and found the net, helping to cover for the injured Kim Chan.
With top spot and the early-season driving seat up for grabs, the clash between Suwon and Busan takes place on Saturday, April 25th at 2 PM at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Team of the Round
Five-unbeaten Cheonan City
Cheonan extended their unbeaten run to five matches (two wins, three draws) with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory away to Daegu FC in Round 8.
They struggled in the first half, conceding possession and coming under sustained pressure from Daegu. Goalkeeper Park Dae-han made several key saves to keep them in the game, but they still fell behind. The turning point came early in the second half when Daegu were reduced to ten men, allowing Cheonan to seize control. Increasing the tempo down the flanks, they pushed forward aggressively, and in stoppage time, substitutes Lee Joon-ho and Sarjani struck in quick succession to complete the turnaround. Head coach Park Jin-sub’s bold tactical adjustments and use of substitutions proved decisive, with the match later selected as the round’s best.
Cheonan now return home looking to extend their run to six matches unbeaten as they face Seongnam FC, who have lost their last two games. With just one point separating the sides, another closely contested match is expected. Kickoff is set for Saturday, April 25th at 4:30 PM at Cheonan Sports Complex.
Player of the Round
Seoul E-Land super sub Byun Kyung-jun
Seoul E-Land are one of the league's form teams, climbing to third place on the back of four consecutive wins. Within a well-balanced squad, Byun Kyung-jun has recently stood out with his impact off the bench.
After missing time due to injury during winter training, Byun made his first appearance of the season in Round 7 against Paju Frontier and immediately made an impression with two goals. He followed that up in Round 8 against Ansan Greeners, scoring his side’s second goal in a 2-0 win.
What makes his performances particularly notable is his efficiency. Against Paju, he came on in the 70th minute and scored twice, while against Ansan, he entered in the 57th minute and added another goal. Across those two appearances, he has scored three times despite limited minutes. In addition to his finishing, his ability to make penetrating runs in behind the defence has added a new dimension to Seoul E-Land’s attack.
Seoul E-Land will look to extend their winning streak to five matches as they take on Hwaseong FC. Their first meeting of the season takes place on Sunday, April 26th at 2 PM at Mokdong Stadium.
Drafting with only six draft choices is difficult.
The Washington Commanders only have six choices in the 2026 NFL Draft, and only two of those are in the top 100 (No. 7 and No. 71). It would be great if the Commanders could trade down a few spots, pick up an extra selection, and still get an impact player.
I attempted to draft via the 2026 Mock Draft Simulator from Pro Football Network. The Commanders' selections this year going into the draft are at No. 7, No. 71, No. 147, No. 187, No. 209, and No. 223. Note: I will reject all trades offered, sticking with the six current Commanders draft positions.
Okay, this was much more difficult than you might imagine without draft picks in the second and fourth rounds. I really wanted to obtain a quality corner, center and wide receiver. But my second choice was not until 71, and my third not until 147.
We conduct two different seven-round mock drafts using the PFSN mock draft simulator.
First mock draft
7. Rueben Bain Jr, DE Miami (Florida)
71. Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
147. Kaleon Black, RB, Indiana
187. Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M
209. Carver Willis, OT, Washington
223. Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami (Florida)
That was much harder than it looks when you have to take the players available on the board at that time. Here is a second mock draft attempt, in which I sought to see what the Commanders' 2026 draft could perhaps produce.
Despite playing sparingly for much of his collegiate career, Jordyn Tyson has emerged as a favorite of fans and scouts alike.
The 6-2, 205-pound wideout is bursting with potential, with some calling him the best pass-catcher in his class when healthy. That final bit has been elusive thus far; across four seasons at Colorado and Arizona State, Tyson played in just 33 games -- good for an average of less than nine games a year.
Still, there is reason to be excited about Tyson's tools. At his best, he's a pass-catching savant, using precise footwork and an acrobat-like leaps to surge to establish himself as one of football's more prominent wideouts.
Jordyn and Jaylon Tyson are, indeed, related. The draft hopeful and Cavaliers guard are brothers, bonded by blood -- and athletic prowess.
Jordyn Tyson brother: Jaylon Tyson
Tyson's brother is Jaylon Tyson. If that name sounds familiar, that's because it is. Jaylon is a budding basketball talent who has shined off the bench in Cleveland. He came to prominence during the 2025-26 season, seeing his minutes triple and his scoring averages quadruple in his second year.
Prior to his time in the NBA, Jaylon spent time at Texas, Texas Tech and California. He left the Red Raiders in a haste following the 2022-23 season, citing racially insensitive comments made by Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams as the reason for his departure.
“Last year, I was racially discriminated against on multiple occasions. I was called a slave, and that Mark Adams was my master,” Jaylon told Sports Illustrated. “When he said that I kind of froze and went down a dark path in my life that I had never [experienced] before. It was very embarrassing for me and my family to have to go through this process.”
Adams was suspended for the comments. He eventually resigned from his post.
As far as Jordyn and Jaylon's relationship is concerned, the two are close as can be. Jaylon was Jordyn's confidant as the wide receiver dealt with injury struggles throughout his time in college.
“He was very important to my rehab because he was consistently in my ear,” Jordyn told Andscape. “He helped instill confidence, especially following that first injury. He helped take my mind off [the injury] by just talking me through it. He was there every step of the way. I can’t thank him enough.”
When asked about Jordyn's NFL prospects, Jaylon was confident he'd find his footing regardless of situation. He's a Tyson, after all.
“He’ll be a difference maker wherever he goes,” Jaylon said. “He’s a dog on the field. He’s a Tyson. We always want to run towards the smoke. That’s how we were raised. We don’t shy from nobody. His talent speaks for itself, but his mental approach to the game is what separates him from everyone else.”
When was Jaylon Tyson drafted?
The Cavaliers selected Jaylon with the No. 20 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. A 6-6 guard with a smooth shooting stroke and strong on-ball skills, Jaylon was an alluring proposition for a Cleveland roster seeking secondary ball-handlers behind Donovan Mitchell. He has made himself an indispensable part of Kenny Atkinson's operation as of late -- a far cry from a rookie campaign that saw him make just three starts.
How old is Jaylon Tyson?
Jaylon is 23 years old. He will turn 24 on Dec. 2.
All told, Jordyn Tyson has two siblings: older brothers Jaylon and Berron.
Like Jordyn and Jaylon, Berron also flocked to athletics as a child, emerging as a top-tier athlete of his own. His sport of choice is the same as Jordyn's: football.
Jordyn Tyson brother: Berron Tyson
Tyson's brother is Berron Tyson. He, too, spent some time on the gridiron, turning out for Division I side South Alabama from 2014-17.
Berron was a running back and cornerback for the Jaguars, tallying 11 carries for 56 yards and two touchdowns and four tackles across his collegiate career. He also ran track at South Alabama, garnering praise as a decathlete.
Berron now serves as the Associate Director of Sports Performance (Men's Basketball, Dance) and Austin Peay. He filled a similar role at his alma mater as well as Alabama State, where he was the schools' Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning.
Jordyn Tyson's parents are John Tyson and Sandra Tyson. They have played vital roles in his development on- and off-the-gridiron -- albeit in different ways.
Jordyn Tyson dad: John Tyson
Jordyn Tyson's dad is John Tyson. Jordyn takes after his father in one distinctive way: he, too, was a gridiron fiend.
John is a software engineer. Before he started his professional career, though, he was a college football player. John turned out for Florida A&M from 1989-91.
According to Arizona Central, Jordyn credits John -- in addition to Jaylon -- with helping facilitate his football development. He didn't tolerate any half-stepping on the road to athletic success, Jordyn says.
“I feel like my dad was very hard on us, but it was a good thing," Jordyn told Sun Devil Athletics in 2026. "I thank him every day for it, to be honest, because it made us pay attention to the things that are necessary to be in the position we are in now,”
Jordyn Tyson mom: Sandra Tyson
Jordyn Tyson's mom is Sandra Tyson. He described her as one of his "best friends", fostering the environment for him, Jaylon and Berron to pursue their athletic dreams.
“This family would not be going if it weren’t for her," Jordyn said. "She takes care of all the little small details and all the work that we need done. We wouldn’t be able to do it without her.”
Born in Germany to American parents, Sandra joined the Air Force, where she met John. The couple moved to Texas to begin their life together. For a while, it was just John, Sandra and Berron -- John's son from a previous relationship.
Soon, Jaylon and Jordyn came along, setting the family on a course for athletic stardom. While John expected a lot from his sons, Sandra was a calming presence -- at least as long as the boys were behaving well.
“Growing up with Jaylon as his older brother, there was always, always, always competition. They fought a lot, I’m not going to lie,” Sandra said. “When they were young, I could still discipline them and pull them off of each other at that age.
“Then once they got a little bigger in stature, they hated me filming them. I would just grab my camera and start videotaping and say, ‘Oh, I got it on camera! That’s the only way I could get them to stop, because sometimes it was so hard to get the two off of each other.”
Her efforts look to have worked a treat -- not only have Jordyn and Jaylon established themselves as budding stars in their respective pursuits. They've done so while maintaining a close relationship.
Where is Jordyn Tyson from?
Jordyn Tyson hails from Allen, Texas, a suburb located in the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. He starred at nearby Allen and Independence High Schools. He was listed as a three-star prospect, according to 247 Sports and ESPN.
Players hoping to make it to the NFL can't just perform well on the field and try to stay out of trouble off the field. They also have to measure well.
With all the data available to NFL teams today, there are metrics they want ideal players to fit. Players who come up short of that window are often scrutinized and sometimes written off before their careers even get underway. Quarterback Kenny Pickett was a prime example of this, with his hand size the talk of the 2022 NFL Draft. It didn't stop the Pittsburgh Steelers from selecting him with the 20th pick, but five years later, he will join his fifth franchise.
The 2026 NFL Draft class is riddled with talent on both sides of the ball. One of the players expected to be drafted early in the first round is Miami EDGE rusher Rueben Bain. He spent three years with the Hurricanes and tallied 20.5 sacks over his collegiate career. Bain's biggest knock against his profile at the next level is that his arm length fell short of the typical window for pass rushers.
Here is more on why Bain has been scrutinized for his arm length.
Here is how Bain measured at the 2026 NFL Combine.
6-2
263 lbs.
9 1/8" hand
30 7/8" arm
The arm length may not seem like an issue based on the number alone, but it is a historically low figure. Bain has the third-shortest arms for a defensive end that have ever been measured at the NFL Combine. The only two EDGE rushers with shorter arms are Cashius Howell (30 1/4") and Nate Williams (30 5/8").
Howell spent his collegiate career split between Bowling Green and Texas A&M. He is not projected to get selected in the first round like Bain is, and doesn't have the same explosiveness.
If you are unfamiliar with Williams' name, that would likely be why teams are iffy on Bain. He didn't have the same collegiate production as Bain, but he still never translated his game to the NFL.
The vibe coming out of Bain's Pro Day at Miami was that there wasn't a lot of concern about his arm length. At the time, there was chatter that he could even be in contention to go No. 2 behind Fernando Mendoza, though he is now more consistently being mocked in the back-half of the top-ten.
One of the analysts on hand had this to say about Bain: "Multiple evaluators (NFL insider Jason) La Canfora communicated with thought Bain stood as good a chance as any of the other top few picks at landing in the No. 2 overall slot. They pointed to Bain’s maturity while at the same time valuing how much younger he is than other top pass rushers who utilized the transfer portal in college. There appears to be a growing sense that the people making Draft Day decisions prize Bain more than those who specialize in mock drafts, as La Canfora puts it.”
Another evaluator brushed off the prospect's arm length. They said, "Go check his wingspan differential. His arms are not going to be a problem. This kid did nothing but produce. I think he’s definitely in play at 2.”
Suspension setback for Barcelona as utility man ruled out of Getafe test
Barcelona’s narrow win over Celta Vigo may have strengthened their position in the La Liga title race, but the match has left Hansi Flick with fresh selection concerns ahead of a crucial away trip to Getafe.
While much of the attention has been on the injury scares involving Lamine Yamal and Joao Cancelo, another setback has emerged, this time in the form of a suspension.
Who is suspended?
Simply put, versatile defender Eric Garcia will miss Barcelona’s next La Liga fixture after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign.
The booking came deep into stoppage time against Celta Vigo, when the defender was penalised for a late challenge on Ilaix Moriba near the edge of the penalty area.
As a result, he is now automatically suspended for one match under league regulations.
This absence could prove significant for Flick, who has come to rely heavily on Garcia’s versatility.
Whether deployed in defence or stepping into midfield when required, the Spaniard has become a key figure in maintaining balance within the team.
The timing of the suspension is far from ideal because Barcelona are entering a decisive phase in their title push.
Eric Garcia will be unavailable against Getafe. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
This means every match carries added weight, and squad availability becomes even more critical.
Facing Getafe away is rarely straightforward, and missing an important rotational player only adds to the challenge.
There are some positives
There is, however, some relief for Barcelona, as both Jules Kounde and Frenkie de Jong managed to avoid bookings in the same match, ensuring they remain available for selection.
Elsewhere, Barcelona are also monitoring the disciplinary situation of other players.
Raphinha and Marc Bernal are both one booking away from suspension, although neither featured in the recent match, which means they avoided immediate risk.
Raphinha is not expected to return in time for the Getafe clash due to injury concerns, but Bernal could still be in contention for a place in the squad.
All things considered, Barcelona head into the next fixture with mixed news – relief in some areas, but a clear defensive gap to address.
A playoff series has turned into a full-on identity battle in Salt Lake City—and Utah is making its pitch loud and visible.
When the Utah Mammoth dropped the puck on their inaugural season in 2024, the Vegas Golden Knights already had a foothold in the region, having spent years cultivating a fanbase across Utah. Now, with the two clubs meeting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time, Utah isn’t just trying to win games—it’s trying to win people over.
On Friday, the Mammoth will stage their first-ever jersey exchange outside Delta Center, inviting fans to trade in Golden Knights sweaters for a clean, logo-only Mammoth home jersey. The offer is simple: first come, first served, no cost attached—just a symbolic reset of allegiance, while supplies last.
“It’s been incredible to see the way Utah has embraced this team from day one,” owners Ryan Smith and Ashley Smith said in a joint statement.
The timing isn’t accidental. The exchange begins at noon local time, just hours before Utah hosts its first-ever home playoff game. The series itself is already simmering, tied 1–1 after the Mammoth stole Game 2 in Vegas with a 3–2 win Tuesday night.
Utah Makes Its Move for the Market
Long before Utah had a franchise to call its own, Salt Lake City existed in a kind of hockey gray area—one the Golden Knights were quick to claim.
From their inception in 2017, Vegas—backed by owner Bill Foley—aggressively pursued a broader regional identity, branding themselves as a team not just for Nevada, but for the entire Mountain West. Broadcast reach through AT&T Sports Network helped extend that footprint, and Utah became a natural extension of their audience.
That strategy paid off. For years, Golden Knights jerseys dotted crowds in Salt Lake City, a visual reminder of a market without its own team.
A Subtle Shift in Allegiance
That dynamic began to change in 2024, when Smith Entertainment Group secured an NHL franchise in the wake of the Arizona Coyotes relocation. Suddenly, Utah wasn’t a secondary market—it was center stage.
Foley, for his part, downplayed the shift at the time.
“We give up Salt Lake City as a secondary territory, but we get Arizona, so we’re OK,” he told KLAS-TV. “We still have our sphere of influence. But we love Salt Lake. We have a lot of fans there.”
That may still be true—but the Mammoth are clearly intent on shrinking that number, one jersey at a time.
Friday’s exchange won’t officially change anyone’s loyalty. But visually, at least, it’s a bold attempt to redraw the map—and in the middle of a playoff series, it adds another layer to an already charged matchup.
🗞️ Front pages, Lamine sparks fears six weeks before the World Cup
He is, without any doubt, the star of Thursday’s front pages. Lamine Yamal’s injury has an entire country holding its breath after he finished the match against Celta de Vigo in pain.
The Mataró native had to go off injured, and today he will undergo tests to determine the extent of the problem. In the meantime, Spanish fans are on edge waiting to find out whether or not he will make the World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Blaugrana side continues to dominate the headlines. Barça Femení have once again been crowned Liga F champions. That is how Thursday begins on the newsstands.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 22: Ildemaro Vargas #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks high-fives teammate Jose Fernandez #11 after hitting a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Chase Field on April 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This season, outside of a couple hiccups, has gotten off to an excellent start for the D-Backs. After a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers to open season, the team has reeled off a 13-7 record and lost consecutive games just once to the major league leading Atlanta Braves. But these last two games have been pretty ugly – particularly on the pitching side as they allowed 21 runs and the starters pitched less than five innings total while allowing 16 runs. Even for an offense that has shown an ability to score runs in bunches with a joyful dynamism, that kind of run differential is difficult to overcome. It’s also forced the team’s bullpen to cover an absurd number of innings as a result. So the D-Backs were hoping to reverse both of those trends against a (nominally) weaker opponent in the White Sox, but instead the pitching continued to struggle to contain a surprisingly feisty Chicago offense and instead had to be bailed out by an excellent offensive output.
Eduardo Rodriguez has been a particular bright spot in a pitching staff that has been surprisingly resilient so far. Of course, the bar to clear for the veteran is essentially underground given his combined 5.02 ERA and 1.534 WHIP since signing as a free agent before the 2024 season. But ever since his excellent World Baseball Classic run with Team Venezuela, Rodriguez has been on another level, working to a 1.96 ERA and 1.217 WHIP through his first four starts. There were definitely some worrying signs underneath those surface numbers – including a 4.22 FIP and 4.19 expected ERA – but I was willing to overlook them as long as he limited the baserunners and home runs. Unfortunately, neither of those results were meant to be on Wednesday evening as he walked three batters and gave up two home runs, limiting his outing to just five innings and looking much more like the pitcher who struggled through the last two seasons than the one who dominated in the WBC.
In fairness, it was not a banner day for any of the pitchers on the field today. The two offenses combined to score 18 runs on 28 hits, secured 11 walks, and struck out just 13 times for the game. In the entire game, there was exactly one half inning (the visiting half of the second) that didn’t feature at least one baserunner. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that tonight’s matchup was the team’s second game of the season to stretch over three hours in duration and it felt like it. Every time one of the fanbases might have internally asked for a clean inning, they were quickly thwarted with any of the extra base hits that seemed to be falling for everyone in both lineups. There were just three starters on each team respectively that failed to secure at least one hit in the game.
Thankfully for Rodriguez and the pitching staff, the Arizona bats did not come to play around today. After Rodriguez’s rough first inning, the D-Backs quickly built a rally off a leadoff walk to Jose Fernandez, a Nolan Arenado single, and Ildemaro Vargas’ second three-run homer in as many nights. It was the first of three straight innings when the home team would score, eventually building a lead out to 8-4 going into the sixth inning. Those RBIs included another Vargas home run for two runs and a run-scoring single for Nolan Arenado – part of an incredible four-hit day with three RBIs.
Even after Rodriguez left the game, the White Sox consistently showed an impressive level of working counts and find ways to take good pitches either into the stands or for soft contact that extended the innings. There was little relaxation to be had as both Taylor Clarke and Ryan Thompson failed to keep the South Siders off the board and keep the game from becoming a laugher. Michael Soroka has been the (nearly) undisputed ace of the staff so far this year and should have an excellent opportunity to pick up his fifth victory on the young season.
It’s the sort of story that always comes out when a manager goes, but actually tends to indicate doom long before then. Even weeks before Liam Rosenior left Chelsea – a decision eventually confirmed on Wednesday evening – some players couldn’t help indulging in some of the unfair commentary.
Sources say some comments surrounded Rosenior’s decision not to wear his glasses at the training ground. One or two even joked about whether it was to look tougher.
This fed into a huge reason why the 41-year-old has now gone, and why Chelsea now face up to an FA Cup semi-final with Calum McFarlane again a stand-in. Rosenior never had full authority over that dressing room, in a development that was all too predictable. A promising young coach just wasn’t ready for this job, at this time, as anyone could have told the hierarchy.
Even the considerable number of players who were sympathetic to Rosenior sensed a change in him around the same time. They felt he wasn’t as sure of himself as in January, that he became too forced, even with the tactical insights that he does display a talent for. The increasing penchant for “manager speak” became worse.
It didn’t help that some insiders were openly talking about how his instructions weren’t being followed, and that people were joking about the "LinkedIn" language. “Marking assignments” has probably entered the football vernacular for the wrong reasons. Chelsea sources have been keen to insist that this decision wasn’t down to any rupture in relationships, and it is true that he had the backing of many people at the club. People like him. He is seen as a good and honest guy, who can obviously succeed in the right setting.
That’s partly why there was a sensitivity to an otherwise brutally abrupt sacking. Some leading figures still wanted to persist with him. The situation essentially became untenable, however, once it was apparent that some of the dressing room was “close to mutiny”.
A core of players – to use classic football parlance – just “weren’t having him”. While that had already been a primary factor in just how bad performances got, producing the club’s worst run of league results since 1912, a final straw was the post-match interview after the 3-0 defeat to Brighton.
As if sick of constantly having to explain defeats, Rosenior pointed to players in the most striking language, describing it as “unacceptable”. Multiple sources insist some of the players felt the same about the interview, that there was “anger”.
That response is itself seen as a bit rich given certain individual performances, but it points to something that never changes in football – and that this club knows better than most. Ultimately, it’s much more difficult to change the players than the manager. That’s especially when so many of them are on lengthy contracts, as has become a trend at Stamford Bridge under BlueCo. Rosenior himself had a six-year contract, but many sources state that the terms will only mean a one-year payout. The description within Chelsea is that it as “favourable” to both parties.
Rosenior appeared to have lost the dressing room (PA)
A sourness might persist in how it’s not like many of the players currently look like they are worth keeping, either. Aside from the obvious questions about the strategy in how the squad has been put together, one description has been of a “spoiled” group. Figures at teams who recently beat them were scathing, the atmosphere around the Chelsea group reminding them of the worst moments around their own clubs.
It’s not like Rosenior really did anything to justify such a premature appointment, however. His perceptive tactical insights were a bit pointless if he couldn't get enough players to fully follow them. The final interview played into another doubt that had been playing on the minds of those at the club, that Rosenior’s very profile was increasingly “becoming a distraction every week”.
Rosenior faced chants calling for his sacking during the loss to Brighton in midweek (PA)
That was most emphasised with the Enzo Fernandez controversy. It came full circle with the Argentine ultimately offering a defining image of Rosenior’s departure, standing there and shrugging his shoulders to the away crowd, while also reflecting the circularity of Chelsea problems beyond the manager. Rosenior obviously had to deal with Fernandez in some way, and club sources both backed him and initially felt it was impressive management. The midfielder is a strong character who had the support of some key players; however, it just ended up creating more noise; another distraction and more controversy. It all came back around.
Ultimately, nothing was actually resolved. More problems festered. Not all of those problems were down to Rosenior’s inexperience, or personality, mind. One argument that has repeatedly been made within Chelsea over the past few weeks is that it’s always difficult for a new coach to come in mid-season anyway, but especially when there are tactical differences to their predecessor. Rosenior was attempting to introduce his own ideology.
There’s even a belief from some sources that spoke to TheIndependent that a shift away from Enzo Maresca’s more possession-based approach – especially after the Club World Cup – may have contributed to an injury crisis, which only made Rosenior’s job harder, with his best players frequently absent.
All of which only emphasises what a mess the club has become. Something was going wrong at almost every level. Certain fan dissent still sees the departure of Maresca as utterly needless, but that decision tends to be defended within Chelsea. There is now a widespread belief in football that the Italian will take over from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City whenever the Catalan leaves. Whatever the truth of that, it was not a future Chelsea could countenance.
Liam Rosenior and Chelsea co-owner owner Behdad Eghbali (PA)
But it’s not like the present is what they want, either. Fingers can be pointed at everywhere, but all of that is a consequence of the thinking at the top. The talk within Stamford Bridge has been of “full accountability at the highest levels”, but so much ultimately comes back to the ownership. Behdad Eghbali is the key voice. They’d love Andoni Iraola but would he even like this job? It was written in The Independent on Tuesday evening that these failures almost represent a morality play for a private equity group fundamentally seeking to exploit football; that this is a project that just doesn't have the right priorities.
Rosenior's lamentable fate, and a career that may have been set back by an ill-advised appointment he couldn't say no to, is just another act in that play. It never looked like a long-term plan. It came together chaotically and ended chaotically. That’s the story of Chelsea right now.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with an efficient 37 points and nine assists. Chet Holmgren had 19 points and eight rebounds. Jalen Williams tallied 19 points and four assists before he exited with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker had 22 points and seven assists. Dillon Brooks went off for 30 points and six rebounds. Jalen Green had 21 points and five rebounds.
Let's look at some of the best photos from the Thunder's 13-point Game 2 win over the Suns:
Club now considering whether to extend player’s contract after learning of fresh Man Utd interest
Real Madrid would reportedly consider extending Aurelien Tchouameni’s contract amid growing interest from Manchester United.
Should the European giants open the door for him to depart this summer, it’s expected they will demand in the region of £70 million, according to Ben Jacobs.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
As for United, they’ve set their sights on the Frenchman ahead of a major midfield overhaul at Old Trafford. Los Blancos will also be doing the same, hence the recent links.
He put pen to paper on a six-year deal to run until June 2028, meaning both he and Madrid will now be considering where his future lies as he approaches the latter stages of his contract.
If not Tchouameni, who else are United monitoring?
Of course, should a deal for Tchouameni prove unfeasible, United have plenty of alternatives on the shortlist.
It’s common knowledge now that Elliot Anderson is their first-choice, but the same can also be said for Manchester City, who do have the edge over their cross-city rivals in pursuit of the Nottingham Forest talisman.
Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, Joao Gomes and Sandro Tonali are all being considered by INEOS chiefs.
‘Alisson likes the idea…’ – Fabrizio Romano shares transfer update Liverpool fans won’t enjoy
Fabrizio Romano has posted a transfer update regarding how Alisson Becker purportedly feels about a rumoured return to Serie A.
There were reports from Italy on Wednesday that the Liverpool goalkeeper has given his approval to a prospective move to Juventus, who are said to be keen on bringing the former Roma stopper back to the Italian top flight.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
The Brazil international has been an undisputed first choice at Anfield ever since joining the Reds in 2018, although he’s been plagued by injuries throughout that time and has been sidelined once again over the past few weeks.
Romano issues Alisson update amid Juventus interest
Taking to X on Wednesday, Romano claimed that Alisson could be tempted by the prospect of returning to Serie A, but would only leave Liverpool in the right manner given his respect for the club.
The Italian transfer reporter posted:‘Juventus want to sign a top GK this summer and Alisson is seen as dream target. Liverpool extended his contract until 2027 but talks with Alisson and Mamardashvili’s camp will take place in the next weeks.
‘Alisson likes the idea of returning to Italy but respects LFC and wants to assess his future with the club.’
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as apreferred source on Googleto your favourites list for news you can trust
Losing Alisson this summer would be a frightening prospect
Whilst Alisson has more than earned the right to depart Liverpool on his own terms, the thought of him leaving in a summer in which we’re already losing Mo Salah and Andy Robertson would be frightening.
Virgil van Dijk spoke this week about the loss of several experienced leaders from the Anfield dressing room, and our long-serving goalkeeper is now one of the most senior voices in the squad, along with being a crucial presence on the pitch.
After an outstanding performance against Marseille in January, Arne Slot lauded the 33-year-old as ‘the best goalkeeper in the world’, an assessment with which many Reds fans would agree on the evidence of his eight years on Merseyside.
Alisson’s recurring injury troubles and the presence of Giorgi Mamardashvili as his long-term successor might nudge FSG towards a pragmatic decision to let our number 1 depart if he wishes to join Juventus this year, in which case Liverpool would bank a transfer fee for him.
However, given his ongoing importance at Anfield and the leadership void which’ll be created by the exits of Salah and Robertson, losing our first-choice goalkeeper in the coming months would be very difficult to take for Kopites, and hopefully he’ll feel that his LFC story isn’t done for another while yet.
‘Top five in Europe’ – Owen’s verdict will excite Liverpool fans
Liverpool’s season has been defined by big moments at both ends of the pitch, but the injury to Hugo Ekitike remains one of the most significant setbacks we’ve faced heading into the run-in.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
The French forward’s absence will be felt not just in the coming weeks, but far into next season as well, and it’s something that has drawn a strong reaction from Michael Owen.
Owen delivers strong verdict on Ekitike injury
Speaking via the Liverpool ECHO, the former Liverpool striker made it clear just how highly he rates the 23-year-old following his difficult setback.
He said: “How gutted am I for Hugo Ekitike? Very much so,” before continuing with a glowing assessment of the forward’s impact.
“I’m hugely upset for him and gutted for him and everyone at Liverpool.
“I believe this season he was one of the top five strikers in Europe with the way he was playing. He is elite and was showing strong signs of this throughout the season.
“He can make things happen and his speed, quick thinking and awareness were clear to see, so it’s a huge shame Liverpool will miss him now and also for his World Cup ambitions too.
“I hope he can be ready for the start of next season as from what he has shown, he has a bright future at Liverpool.”
Why Ekitike still matters for Liverpool
For us, that backing matters, because it reinforces the idea that this isn’t just a promising player, it’s someone who was already delivering at a very high level before his injury.
Paul Joyce has already confirmed that the striker has undergone successful surgery and is now beginning his rehabilitation, although no firm timeline has been placed on his return.
That uncertainty only adds to the frustration, especially when you consider the impact he was having, with 17 goals and six assists in 45 appearances across all competitions since his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The France international has also shown his mentality in the aftermath of the setback, telling supporters that their strength and love will be his driving force as he works towards returning to Anfield.
There’s no denying this is a huge blow for Liverpool in the short term, but Owen’s comments underline the bigger picture, which is that Ekitike still has everything needed to become a key figure for us once he’s back on the pitch.
Micah Richards claims “nonsense” from Liam Rosenior played role in his sacking
Micah Richards doesn’t believe Liam Rosenior helped himself with his comments in the media which put more pressure on himself and the players.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONTHE APP STORE
Chelsea sacked Rosenior on Wednesday, less than four months after signing a six and a half year contract at Stamford Bridge.
His final game in charge was a dismal 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Tuesday, which was Chelsea’s fifth in a row in the league without scoring.
Micah Richards on Liam Rosenior sacking
Calum McFarlane has been placed in charge for the remainder of the season, and he’ll lead the team out for Sunday’s FA Cup semi final against Leeds at Wembley.
“In his interviews, he started playing up to the media which has not helped him,” Richards told Sky Sports.
“Respecting the ball? That’s nonsense. For everyone, we know what social media is like these days.
“Every little detail, everything is scrutinised. I don’t think he helped himself in that aspect which brought more pressure to him, and then the players as well.”
Attention nows turns to appointing a replacement, and it’s understood the Blues are going to take their time before announcing a successor.
If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as apreferred source on Googleto make us a favourite and see more of our content.
In other news…
Andoni Iraola is believed to be the early front runner for the job, but it’s been reported he’d need convincing to take the job.
Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton was the final straw, which represented the Blues fifth consecutive defeat in the league without scoring.
Fabrizio Romano speaks on Liam Rosenior sacking
Chelsea now sit eighth in the league, and are in serious danger of playing no European football next season, which would be nothing short of a disaster.
The appointment of Rosenior is yet another failure for the club’s sporting hierarchy, who are coming under increased pressure, with supporters wondering why they are still in their roles.
Despite a good start, the wheels came of quickly for Rosenior, with his position becoming untenable, and Chelsea never really recovered from the 5-2 defeat against PSG in Paris.
It’s clear the players lost belief in him that night, and Romano has provided an update on one of the key reasons for his sacking.
“The connection was complicated, and that was a crucial factor because when Chelsea saw some of the players were unhappy with Liam Rosenior, that was a crucial point to sack him,” he told his YouTube channel.
If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as apreferred source on Googleto make us a favourite and see more of our content.
In other news…
Chelsea have placed Calum McFarlane in interim charge for the remainder of the season, and he’ll lead the Blues out in Sunday’s FA Cup semi final against Leeds.
Arsenal must respond now or risk losing another title race
Arsenal look as if they are about to lose the title again, and it is extremely painful for the Arsenal community.
Winning our first Premier League title in over 20 years, since the unforgettable 2003/04 Invincibles season under Arsene Wenger, would feel like heaven for all of us Gooners. I am sure everyone would agree with that.
We have come close again this season. For long periods, Arsenal have looked like the most convincing side at the top of the table. This has been one of our strongest campaigns in years, which makes the current situation even harder to take.
Title hopes slipping away again
The recent defeat to Bournemouth, a game many would have expected us to win, has completely shifted the momentum. Performances like that raise serious questions, especially at this stage of the season.
Then came the clash with Manchester City. It was always going to be a difficult game against Pep Guardiola’s side, but Arsenal needed to show resilience. Even a draw could have been enough to keep control of the title race.
Instead, the gap has narrowed, and once again we find ourselves looking over our shoulder. City have the experience, the squad depth, and the belief that comes from winning titles. That is exactly what makes this situation so worrying for Arsenal fans.
Time to show character
This is not the first time Arsenal have been in a strong position and allowed it to slip. That is what makes this moment feel so familiar, and so frustrating.
Mikel Arteta’s side cannot afford for this to become a pattern. The players need to show character, composure, and belief if they are going to take the final step and win the title.
There is still time, but there is no margin for error now. Every remaining game has to be treated like a final. Arsenal must respond immediately and hope that Manchester City drop points along the way.
As difficult as it is to admit, many fans are starting to feel that sense of doubt creeping in again. But this team still has the chance to prove everyone wrong.
Can Arsenal hold their nerve and finally get over the line, or are we about to see another title slip away?
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…
Sunderland could sack Regis Le Bris if they miss out on Europe
Regis Le Bris has done an impressive job at Sunderland since being appointed as head coach in June 2024.
The French boss guided the Black Cats back to the Premier League after an eight year absence, beating Sheffield United 2-1 in the play-off final last year.
Sunderland have exceeded expectations in the English top-flight this campaign under Le Bris.
But despite his brilliant work at the Stadium of Light, Le Bris’ job is by no means safe.
According to journalist Alex Crook, the 50-year-old could be sacked if the club miss out on Europe.
Sunderland’s ambitious owners Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and partner Juan Sartori have not ruled out a change in the dugout this summer.
European football within reach
The Black Cats made a strong start to the 2025-26 campaign, picking up 17 points from their opening nine league games.
They hadn’t lost at home until mid February when Liverpool prevailed 1-0 following a 61st-minute goal from Virgil van Dijk.
Sunderland have collected 10 points from their previous six league fixtures.
Although they came out on the losing side of a seven-goal thriller with Aston Villa last weekend, Le Bris’ side are still very much in the race for European football next season.
They are currently four points behind Brighton & Hove Albion in sixth.
One of them put my way asked would selling a key player or multiple key players like Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento or Lewis Hall show the Public Investment Fund (PIF) are not committed to this project?
My answer is not necessarily.
It has always been made clear behind the scenes at Newcastle United that the club had the backing from the very top to spend to the maximum within the financial rules.
However, to generate the sorts of revenues needed to truly compete, Newcastle cannot just rely on owner funding like clubs did in a previous era given the regulations now in place.
In order to boost income streams, they therefore need to be regularly competing in the Champions League, find ways to turbocharge commercial revenue and trade more strategically.
That means departures are inevitable this summer as Newcastle are going to need to sell to rebuild, particularly if Eddie Howe's side miss out on the top five and any European football whatsoever, which is looking increasingly likely.
Personally, I think the biggest judge of the owners' commitment will be what happens with the club's infrastructure projects which, obviously, fall outside the Premier League and Uefa's financial regulations.
An announcement regarding a major capital investment is in the pipeline as we continue to wait for updates on the possible site for a new state-of-the-art training base and a decision on the future of St James' Park.
A PIF delegation are due on Tyneside next week for a series of summits and I would expect their commitment to the club to be underlined then after the fund scaled back a number of other investments elsewhere.
Newcastle's hierarchy speak to the PIF every day and maintain the owners remain deeply supportive.
Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.
We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.
Brian McDermott will lead England's men into this autumn's Rugby League World Cup as their new head coach.
The 56-year-old, who won four Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, the World Club Challenge and the League Leaders' Shield in eight years as head coach of Leeds Rhinos, takes over from Shaun Wane, who stepped down in January.
McDermott, currently working as an assistant coach at NRL club Gold Coast Titans, will take the England role on a part-time basis, in contrast to his full-time predecessor Wane.
The Yorkshireman was selected by the Rugby Football League from a five-man shortlist, which also included current Leeds head coach Brad Arthur, Warrington's Sam Burgess, St Helens' Paul Rowley and former England head coach Steve McNamara.
McDermott said: "I'm incredibly proud to take on the role of England head coach ahead of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
"My focus now is on creating an environment where players can perform with confidence, represent the shirt with pride, and give themselves the best chance of going deep into the tournament.
"I've always been hands-on and close to the detail, and that will be important in this role. My job now is to get the standards right, build belief in the group, and make sure we're ready when it matters."
McDermott began his career as a head coach in 2006 with Harlequins RL - now London Broncos - before taking charge of Leeds in 2010, enjoying a trophy-laden eight-year stint, during which he also coached the United States national team.
He subsequently had spells with Toronto Wolfpack and Featherstone, before becoming an assistant coach at Newcastle Knights in 2022, and then the Titans last September.
England's World Cup campaign in Australia begins against Tonga in Perth on 17 October, with games against France and Papua New Guinea to follow.
Hull KR's treble-winning head coach Willie Peters had told the BBC in February that he was keen to have discussions over the role, but ruled himself out of the running by accepting an offer to join new NRL side Papua New Guinea Chiefs at the end of this season.
A world-beating ex-marine who quotes Alan Partridge - analysis
When a rugby league great in Kevin Sinfield says Brian McDermott is the best coach he ever played under, it is a clear sign his appointment as England head coach for the forthcoming World Cup cannot be taken lightly.
There is no denying the 56-year-old's roll of honour - four Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge, all achieved with Leeds.
He has also expanded on his head coaching experience at London, the Rhinos, Toronto and Featherstone with stints as an assistant in the NRL with Newcastle and Gold Coast.
The former marine, who also boxed during his time in the services before a distinguished playing career as an aggressive front-rower, has an intimidating aura and could be described as a complex character.
To his inner sanctum, his players in particular, he can be a jovial character - quoting Alan Partridge and enjoying typical training ground banter in between his demanding push for high standards.
That's not to say he's universally liked by his personnel, and his manner of dealing with the dropping of players such as Rob Burrow caused genuine friction, as outlined in the late England star's book - although in fairness McDermott also contributed to said publication.
An area where McDermott's more playful side was far less evident was in his dealings with the media. If England want a smooth diplomat who will charm the media pack, then McDermott is probably the wrong guy for the job.
However, Australian 'supercoach' Wayne Bennett was similarly awkward in his approach to the media, and his appointment did England little harm - almost taking them to World Cup glory in 2017, when they lost the final narrowly to Australia.
McDermott will have little chance to work with the players before taking his selected squad to the World Cup this October.
His task will be to bring the players together and give them the best chance of challenging the Australian dominance of the competition.
He will certainly have seen plenty of the opposition in his recent and current roles down under.
Who joins his coaching staff could also be interesting - as he assesses the mix of dynamics and personalities needed to get the best out of England's elite.
LAFC midfielder Mark Delgado (8) chips the ball away to safety during an MLS game between LAFC and Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at BMO Stadium In Los Angeles Calif at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles Calif
LOS ANGELES -- LAFC played to a 0-0 draw against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night, a result that stabilized the defensive side of the equation but left the same attacking questions lingering. It was cleaner. It was more controlled. But it never quite threatened.
And that was the story.
The opening minutes made it clear what this match would demand. Colorado didn’t wait to settle in, pressing early and forcing LAFC into uncomfortable moments in their own half. A loose sequence between Aaron Long and Ryan Porteous in the 16th minute nearly turned costly, a reminder of the defensive lapses that plagued Sunday’s loss.
This time, though, there was a difference behind them.
Hugo Lloris was sharp from the start, reacting quickly to the deflection and then stepping in repeatedly as Colorado found space. By the 22nd minute, poor positioning out of the back allowed Rafael Navarro a clean look, only for Lloris to dive and push it away. Four minutes later, he was called into action again, denying Dante Sealy from distance to preserve the clean sheet.
Quick reaction from Hugo Lloris to keep the clean sheet 🧤
That sequence shaped the first takeaway of the night: the defensive reset started with Lloris, but it required far more from the structure in front of him.
“We’re happy to not give up goals,” defender Eddie Segura said. “At the same time, there's a little bit of a sour taste in our mouths not being able to get the win.”
For long stretches of the first half, LAFC didn’t look like a team dictating play. They looked like one absorbing it.
On the ball, the issues were familiar. The buildup was slow. The spacing between attackers stretched too far. Promising moments, like a 14th-minute counter where Son Heung-min found Jacob Shaffelburg in stride, ended without danger. Final passes missed. Runs went unrewarded.
By halftime, the numbers told the story: no shots, no rhythm, and a goalkeeper doing more work than anyone in black and gold would have preferred.
Head coach Marc Dos Santos didn’t point to fatigue as an excuse, but he didn’t ignore it either.
“We’re in this gray area now that you know we're evaluating a little bit of fatigue,” he said. “Offensively, we have to find a way that we’re confident and comfortable again, and now we got a little bit out of track.”
That tension — between fatigue and execution — has started to define this stretch.
Since opening their season in the Champions Cup, LAFC has played 15 matches in 64 days. The schedule hasn’t slowed, and neither has the toll it’s taken on training, cohesion, and sharpness in the final third.
The second half offered a shift, but not a breakthrough. Mathieu Choinière came closest early on, curling a right-footed effort that struck both the crossbar and the post — a sequence that summed up the night as much as any stat line. Inches from a moment, but never quite there.
Ten minutes later, Shaffelburg — LAFC’s most active attacker all night — found himself through on goal after a Timothy Tillman pass. His finish slid just wide. That lack of connection showed up again in the 73rd minute, when Son and David Martínez tangled at the edge of the box with only the goalkeeper to beat. A moment that should have produced a shot instead dissolved into hesitation.
Just one of those nights.
“Sometimes I feel that they’re far from each other,” he said. “We have to grow with the ball.”
That growth is hard to find right now. LAFC is in the middle of its most congested stretch of the season, playing every few days with little time to actually train.
“There’s always one group recovering and another training,” Dos Santos said. “That part to balance, it's the most difficult part right now for us.”
Within that context, there were still a few positives — just not in the areas LAFC needed most.
Aaron Long’s return was one of them. In his first appearance since last July’s Achilles injury, he gave LAFC 45 steady minutes. He was aggressive, organized, and helped stabilize a back line that had been stretched in recent matches.
“What we saw from the first 45 minutes, we have a lot of positive things,” Dos Santos said. “He was connected.”
Stephen Eustáquio’s return in the second half added another layer in midfield. Not a solution on its own, but another option to help link play. Those are steps forward, but the main issue didn’t change.
LAFC controlled more of the second half and pushed Colorado back, but never finished a sequence. For all that territory, Zack Steffen was rarely forced into a defining save. That contrast summed up the night.
Defensively, it was a response. After conceding six goals in their previous two matches, LAFC stayed compact and protected the box against one of the league’s higher-scoring teams. But going forward, the same questions remain.
The answers will have to come soon, as the Black & Gold head back on the road this weekend for a matchup against Minnesota United. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 1:45 p.m.
On Thursday, the 2026 NFL Draft will begin in Pittsburgh. Roger Goodell and his league have looked to improve how long the first round takes after changing the time limit for the first time since 2008.
This year, the maximum time per first round selection is eight minutes, which is two minutes shorter than in previous years. A first draft night that often ended after 11:30 p.m. ET will look to end prior to 11 p.m. to the delight of viewers.
However, it remains to be seen if teams will take the full duration of their pick limit in this rule's inception, due to not being used to a shortened maximum. There may be some adjustments needed to be made, but it is acceptable to predict that each pick this year will take around five minutes.
Here is the rundown on when to hear your team's selection, and a quick recap of the first-round draft order.
The NFL Draft will begin on Thursday night at around 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Las Vegas Raiders will almost certainly take 2025 Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, followed by the New York Jets taking either David Bailey or Arvell Reese. This year, six teams will have two first-round draft selections (Jets, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys).
Here is who will be drafting from the first 32 spots in this year's opening round of the NFL Draft.
For the first time since 2008, the NFL announced that it was shortening the first round selection time. This year marks the first time in NFL history that the maximum time per first-round pick will be eight minutes. From 2008-2025, the draft's first round had 10 minutes allocated to each team's first-round draft decision.
Last year's draft ended at around 11:43 p.m. ET, so with this new change, the end time has the potential to move up even further. Teams don't usually take the full time designated for their draft selection, but that remains to be seen with a shorter time to make a decision or field calls about trading picks.
Just off of maximum time alone, the league has saved a ceiling of 64 minutes (two minutes per 32 picks). The other rounds of the draft have not seen changes to the maximum time allocated per pick.
When last year's first-round pick maximum was set to 10 minutes, the draft ended at 11:43 p.m. ET. The new changes, which stipulate just eight minutes between selections, should save the league a maximum of 64 minutes (two minutes less per pick across 32 picks). This year, it can be predicted that the first round will end around 10:40 p.m. ET, meaning the opening round will take about 160 total minutes to conclude.
This projected duration, divided among the NFL's 32 teams, comes out to about five minutes per team. With each pick taking a projected five of the eight minutes, here is a projection of when each team's selection will be announced (all times Eastern).
Pick No. 1 (Las Vegas Raiders): 8:05 p.m.
Pick No. 2 (New York Jets): 8:10 p.m.
Pick No. 3 (Arizona Cardinals): 8:15 p.m.
Pick No. 4 (Tennessee Titans): 8:20 p.m.
Pick No. 5 (New York Giants): 8:25 p.m.
Pick No. 6 (Cleveland Browns): 8:30 p.m.
Pick No. 7 (Washington Commanders): 8:35 p.m.
Pick No. 8 (New Orleans Saints): 8:40 p.m.
Pick No. 9 (Kansas City Chiefs): 8:45 p.m.
Pick No. 10 (New York Giants, from CIN): 8:50 p.m.
Pick No. 11 (Miami Dolphins): 8:55 p.m.
Pick No. 12 (Dallas Cowboys): 9:00 p.m.
Pick No. 13 (Los Angeles Rams, from ATL): 9:05 p.m.
Pick No. 14 (Baltimore Ravens): 9:10 p.m.
Pick No. 15 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 9:15 p.m.
Pick No. 16 (New York Jets, from IND): 9:20 p.m.
Pick No. 17 (Detroit Lions): 9:25 p.m.
Pick No. 18 (Minnesota Vikings): 9:30 p.m.
Pick No. 19 (Carolina Panthers): 9:35 p.m.
Pick No. 20 (Dallas Cowboys): 9:40 p.m.
Pick No. 21 (Pittsburgh Steelers): 9:45 p.m.
Pick No. 22 (Los Angeles Chargers): 9:50 p.m.
Pick No. 23 (Philadelphia Eagles): 9:55 p.m.
Pick No. 24 (Cleveland Browns, from JAX): 10:00 p.m.
Pick No. 25 (Chicago Bears): 10:05 p.m.
Pick No. 26 (Buffalo Bills): 10:10 p.m.
Pick No. 27 (San Francisco 49ers): 10:15 p.m.
Pick No. 28 (Houston Texans): 10:20 p.m.
Pick No. 29 (Kansas City Chiefs, from LAR): 10:25 p.m.
Draft nights can be stressful for any team in any sport. For team personnel, a lot rides on banking on teams ahead of yours not to pick the player you covet. In 2003, this was seen firsthand.
The Minnesota Vikings were jumped by two teams after being under the notion that they had traded their pick away. However, the Baltimore Ravens had never sent their card into the league, meaning the trade was not valid. While it was Baltimore who cost Minnesota a bit of respect around the league, it was the Vikings' front office that got the blunt end of the sword in the media.
This year, the NFL announced it would be shortening the first-round pick timer from 10 minutes to eight in order to speed up the draft that frequently ends around 11:30 p.m. ET. Teams will have to be more on the ball in their decision-making than ever before at this new rule's inception.
Here is what happens if time runs out for a team making their pick, along with a recap of Minnesota's mishap.
What happens if time runs out for NFL Draft picks?
If a team were to not get their pick in before their allocated time frame, the team after them can make their selection immediately. Once the team that was jumped gets their card into the league, their pick will go live.
In 2003, the Vikings were a victim of confusion that resulted in being jumped in the draft. They had thought their trade with the Ravens went through, since Minnesota submitted the trade to the league. However, Baltimore did not, which meant the Jacksonville Jaguars (and later the Carolina Panthers) had moved up and were on the clock.
This year, with time between picks being shortened from 10 minutes to eight minutes, it will be interesting to see if a team fails to get its draft picks in on time.
At the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, teams will have eight minutes to make their first-round selection. This marks the first time that the pick time has been changed since 2008, when it shifted from 15 minutes to 10.
The second through seventh round time limits will remain the same, according to the NFL. In the second round, teams have seven minutes to get their pick in. For rounds three through six, this number shrinks to five minutes, while the seventh round is four minutes per pick.
In 2003, Minnesota was a part of an unfortunate event in NFL history. The team was working to trade out of the No. 7 spot with the Ravens in exchange for their No. 10 pick and the Ravens' fourth and sixth-round draft selections. While the Vikings submitted their trade request to the league, Baltimore did not.
"We had called in the trade, and we thought it was done," Rob Brzezinski, Minnesota's vice president of football operations, said, according to ESPN. "We're all sitting there in the draft room, just watching on TV, and all hell broke loose."
The Vikings reported the deal by phone to Joel Bussert, the NFL's vice president of player personnel, and thought the Ravens were doing the same. However, Baltimore never did. According to the Ravens, their call to Bussert was never picked up.
"The deal was not consummated," general manager Ozzie Newsome said at the time. "A deal is not a deal until I talk to Joel Bussert, and I never talked to Joel Bussert."
After the Vikings' pick was absent at No. 8, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers quickly made their selections before Minnesota could. Minnesota would eventually select defensive tackle Kevin Williams at the No. 9 spot, Carolina's original drafting slot. According to Minnesota, they had always wanted to draft Williams at No. 7 prior to landing a trade. Unfortunately for Williams, his signing bonus was roughly $3 million less at No. 9 than it would have been at No. 7. The defensive tackle ended up being the right selection, as he finished his career with six Pro Bowl appearances and five All-Pro awards.
The Mauigoa name carries increased weight in the world of football. Francisco Mauigoa emerged as one of college football's finest defenders during his time at Washington State and Miami (Fla.).
A few years later, his younger brother, Francis, came down the pipeline. There are a fair few differences between the elder Mauigoa brother and his hulking younger brother — chief among them, Francisco plays linebacker, while Francis opens up lanes on the offensive line.
Nevertheless, both players are making their impacts felt at the next level. All the while, they're continuing in the tradition of countless Samoan players young and old who have become gridiron eternals, imprinting themselves into the billowing tapestry that is the sport's history.
With that, here's what you need to know about Francis and Francisco Mauigoa's relationship.
Francis Mauigoa, indeed, is related to Francisco Mauigoa. The two are brothers, bonded by blood — and a passion for the gridiron.
Francis Mauigoa brother: Francisco Mauigoa
Francis Mauigoa's older brother is Francisco Mauigoa. The Jets linebacker flocked to the gridiron from a young age, coming to prominence on the lush plains that lined the American Samoa landscape.
The Mauigoas took their talents to the mainland United States, arriving in California ahead of Francisco's junior season. He shined during two years at Aquinas High School, earning three-star billing as a linebacker while producing more than 1,000 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior. Francisco committed to Washington State, where he spent two seasons. Ahead of the 2023 season, Francisco entered the transfer portal. He subsequently landed in Miami (Fla.), taking hold of the linebacker corps behind vaunted pass rusher Rueben Bain. Francisco made an inspired choice transferring to the Hurricanes. He got there just in time to greet his younger brother, Francis, who earned coveted five-star billing and committed to Miami after talks with his family.
The Jets selected Francisco Mauigoa in the fifth round (162nd overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. He quietly emerged as a steady performer in New York's defense in his maiden year as a pro, amassing 45 tackles (16 solo) in eight starts.
Why is Francisco Mauigoa called Kiko?
Francisco Mauigoa's nickname is Kiko. It's unclear quite where the moniker came from, although it is likely that it emerged at some point during his childhood. Oftentimes, people named Francisco are instead called "Paco", an apparent reference to Saint Francis of Assisi — the pater communitatis (father of the community) of the Franciscan order. Kiko doesn't share the same origins. However, it could reference something specific to his Samoan background.
The eldest of the Mauigoa's NFL-bound brothers, Francisco is 23 years old.
How many siblings does Francis Mauigoa have?
All told, Francis Mauigoa has six siblings: elder brothers Frederick and Francisco, younger brothers Fidelis and Frank and sisters Frantacia and Fedelma, per Samoa News.
Francis Mauigoa brother: Frederick Mauigoa
Francis Mauioga's eldest brother is Fredrick Mauigoa. He, too, played high-level college football, enjoying a splendid spell at Washington State. Like his youngest brother, Frederick found joy on the offensive line, garnering award consideration as a center.
Frederick spent the entirety of his childhood in American Samoa, turning out for powerhouse program Tafuna High School.
His gridiron journey took him to Pullman, Wash. then Charlotte. Frederick signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He failed to make the final roster, seeing his contract waived prior to the start of the 2020 preseason. He landed in Cincinnati, although his contract was voided before the end of the season.
Francis Mauigoa brothers
Francis Mauigoa has four brothers in total: Frederick, Francisco, Fidelis and Frank. Not much is known about Fidelis and Frank — at least not at present.
Francis Mauigoa has two sisters: Frantacia and Fedelma. They, too, have evaded the spotlight, with little information made public regarding their personal histories and career aspirations.
Who are Francis Mauigoa's parents?
Francis Mauigoa's parents are Fa'alialia Mauigoa and Telesia Mauigoa.
Francis Mauigoa dad: Fa'alialia Mauigoa
Francis Mauigoa's father is Fa'alialia Mauigoa. He and his wife played a pivotal role in helping Francis settle at Miami. In fact, Francis brought the topic of his recruitment to his family on the eve of signing day, holding talks in the family's surrogate situation room in Hawai'i.
It was "a family decision", Francis told NCAA.com in May 2025.
"Because it affected everyone."
Francis opted to join Francisco on the Hurricanes. Fa'alialia and Telesia followed suit, moving minutes from their sons.
Francis Mauigoa's mother is Telesia Mauigoa. Like her husband, Fa'alialia, Telesia sacrificed a lot to help Francis reach his NFL dreams. Francis' parents sent him across the country, allowing him to receive first class training.
Francis said he was forever indebted to his family for their contributions to his playing career.
"They sacrificed a lot for me to be at where I was," Francis said at the NFL Combine, per YardBarker. "Sending me all the way to IMG Academy at a very early age, I didn't even know no English, but they took a chance on me to go by myself. ... They sent me out there for a reason, and I'm making sure that I'm not letting them down."
Francis and Francisco made sure to repay their parents for their efforts, using their NIL money to retire them and allow them to set up shop in Vice City.
Francis Mauigoa is Samoan. His roots have helped shape the person he has become — even if he was one of the few Samoans to was ashore in Miami during his time with the Hurricanes.
"Being someone who grew up in a Samoan household, I was taught to respect everyone, from the elders all the way to the youngest, no matter what age or what ethnicity. I was taught to be humble," Francis told the NCAA. "So being Samoan, it built who I am, and it formed me to be this type of person that I am today."
Francis and Francisco are the latest in a long line of Samoan flagbearers to find NFL success. From Domata Peko and Mike Iupati to contemporary standouts like Penei Sewell and Frankie Luvu, American Samoa — a tiny island of 50,000 located in the South Pacific — has played an outsized impact on the gridiron.
Francis Mauigoa hails from Ili'ili, American Samoa, a town of a little more than 3,000 located in the southwest of Tutuila, the largest and most populous of American Samoa.
Football journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Ronaldo could be about to live out another dream in the very near future.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said, “for Cristiano Ronaldo fans, this could be a big day. Reports from Saudi and I can confirm this information about Cristiano Ronaldo Junior, who is about to turn 16-years-old in June.”
He continued, “Al-Nassr board of directors and technical staff are considering to include Ronaldo Junior as part of the first team next season.”
The Italian suggested that he will be part of the training group, but it is unknown at this stage whether this would result in significant minutes in the first team matches.
He explained, “Cristiano Ronaldo always had this dream to play at least a few games together with his son and this now becomes a serious possibility. Al-Nassr have not made an official decision on this but it remains a real possibility.”
If they were to play together next season, they would follow in the footsteps of Rivaldo and Rivaldinho. They both scored in the same match for Brazilian side Mogi Mirim in 2015.
Former Manchester United loan star Henrik Larsson also played with his son Jordan Larsson for Högaborgs BK in Sweden’s third tier.
In a recent interview, Topuria was critical of Tsarukyan's headline-making antics outside of the cage. The 29-year-old has struck a fan on his walk to the octagon, head butted an opponent during face-offs, engaged in a post-fight brawl at RAF 6, got thrown off an airplane and tackled MMA icon Urijah Faber off the stage during their RAF 8 match last weekend.
Topuria called Tsarukyan 'dumb' and 'a f*cking kid' that flaunts his father's wealth. On Wednesday, Tsarukyan responded to Topuria's comments during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
"He's jealous," Tsarukyan said. "He wants to say like I'm nothing and if you see like offer me him, he's not going to take it because he wants to tell everybody in this world that I'm not in his level. He was saying like [Charles] Oliveira is good fighter, [Justin] Gaethje is good fighter, Max Holloway is good fighter, but he didn't say anything about me. How can it be like, it's just a joke."
"I mean, in my culture, where I come from, if you say about someone, you've got to explain why, right? You ask him why and he doesn't know like answer why am I dumb or I'm like ret*rded or whatever," Tsarukyan explained.
"If you say something, you've got to answer why, right? You ask him why, he says I don't know, so he's the stupid guy, not me because he doesn't know even like why I'm ret*ard or dumb and f*ck."
Topuria headlines the UFC White House event on June 14 against two-time interim titleholder Justin Gaethje. He predicted that he'd break Tsarukyan's jaw in the first round if the two fought. Tsarukyan wants Topuria to prove it and sign to fight him following the UFC Freedom 250 unification bout with Gaethje.
"Good luck to him. We'll see when the fight happens, and we'll see how I'm not going to take him down. I can takedown anybody. So, about that, he's going to break my jaw. Whatever he wants to do, just accept the fight. Why you ducking if you're super confident that you can beat me so easy in the first round? Just sign the contract after this fight and don't move up and stay there and beat (me) because I'm an easy fight. Why move up," Tsarukyan said.
"He has his own fanbase, but like he behaves like untouchable and like he's superstar. But he's not, and I'm going to bring him back on the Earth."
Topuria accused Tsarukyan of being a 'Twitter gangster,' but when the two see each other it's a different story.
"I'm not a gangster. I'm the man," said Tsarukyan. "But he's not. He shaves his ass. He shaves his arms, legs. At least I'm a man. I don't do that."
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards [5] with forward Julius Randle against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Jan. 29, 2025.
Thursday's slate brings another day of exciting NBA playoff hoops after the Detroit Pistons went on an electric 30-3 run against the Orlando Magic, tying the series and re-asserting their status as the No. 1 squad in the Eastern Conference. Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder handled business against the Phoenix Suns once again, increasing their series lead to 2-0. In the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings sit at a 2-0 deficit against Colorado while the Anaheim Ducks tied their series against the Edmonton Oilers after a 6-4 victory on Wednesday. With that, here are tonight's best bets brought to you by BetOnline.org. Click here to join. All new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.
First Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves +2.5
Rundown: Following a 30-point masterclass by Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves return to Minneapolis for Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets, tied 1-1.
Down by 19 points, Minnesota refused to give in on Monday as Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo complemented Edwards' firepower, scoring 24 and 16 points respectively. After being outscored by Denver by 14 in the first quarter, the Timberwolves went on to outshoot Denver both from the field and beyond the arc. Minnesota also overwhelmed their opponent defensively with six steals and two blocks.
As for the Nuggets, Jamaal Murray scored 30 points of his own, backed by star Nikola Jokić's 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Nonetheless, their efforts were not enough as a late missed Christian Braun free throw swung the momentum in favor of Minnesota. With both teams having excellent rosters, the decisive factor in either of them winning is who can make their buckets when it comes down to the wire.
With Minnesota having the howls of the Target Center-faithful by their side, bettors can expect them to sustain their energy.
Second Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -2.5
Rundown: The Cleveland Cavaliers head on the road for Game 3 against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.
Cleveland enters Thursday looking to build on what it started, a 2-0 series lead fueled by dominance on both ends of the court. On Monday, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden logged a respective 30 and 28 points. Harden also had himself a night on defense, collecting five steals. Meanwhile, Evan Mobley scored 25 points and contributed on the glass with eight rebounds.
For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett commanded the offense with 26 and 22 points apiece. However, Toronto lost the turnover battle, coughing up the ball a season-high 22 times. On the contrary, Cleveland only had 12 turnovers, proving to be the difference maker in Game 2. For Toronto to turn this series around, not only do they have to work on taking care of the ball, but also hitting on their 3-pointers after shooting 27%.
With the Cavaliers' postseason track record against Toronto of 12 consecutive wins, count on them to keep executing.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: CJ Fodrey #19 of the Austin FC gets kicked in the shoulder by Reid Roberts #18 of the San Jose Earthquakes during the match at PayPal Park on April 22, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Playing a lineup of mostly backups due to a plethora of injuries — midfielder Jorge Alastuey, who was called up Monday from the second team, started, if that tells one anything — the Verde & Black still had thoughts midway through the second half of possibly leaving San Jose with a result.
But the Earthquakes, who are MLS’ hottest and best team through the season’s first two months, quickly demolished those hopes.
San Jose (8-1-0, 24 points) scored four times in an eight-minute span to turn the game into a rout and take a 5-1 win at PayPal Park.
Joseph Rosales gave Austin FC (1-4-4, 7 points) a lead in the ninth minute after he took advantage of an awful pass by Ronaldo Vieira deep in Earthquakes territory.
Jack Jasinski scored on a header in the 58th minute for San Jose to tie the match, then Timo Werner’s penalty conversion started the Earthquakes’ run of late goals. Preston Judd scored twice and Ousseni Bouda found the net to reach the game’s final tally.
Here are some key takeaways from the match as Austin FC plays its third game in eight days Saturday when it hosts Houston.
Austin FC entered the match in a bad spot
There’s a reason Austin FC entered the contest a massive 5-1 underdog.
And the final result showed the oddsmakers know what they’re doing.
An Austin FC team playing without Owen Wolff, Dani Pereira, Myrto Uzuni, Jayden Nelson and Oleksandr Svatok in the starting lineup isn’t going to win many games. (Svatok, who played 90 minutes Saturday at Toronto, is the only one of the five not injured.)
And the club’s health situation got worse when starting left back Guilherme Biro left the game in the first half. (Reserve winger Robert Taylor was also out with an injury.)
Austin FC coach Nico Estévez lamented his team losing its “mindset” and “shape” in the game’s final 20 minutes, but any club that has to start Alastuey, CJ Fodrey and Besard Sabovic is already in a losing position.
Goalie Brad Stuver almost single-handedly kept the Verde & Black in the contest the first 80 minutes. And he certainly saved Austin FC from an embarrassing scoreline the likes of 8-1 or 9-1 with some highlight-reel saves.
“We didn’t adjust well to what they were doing in the second half,” Stuver said.
He’s right. But with its current available roster, a near-miracle was Austin FC’s biggest chance to get a result. Tactics weren’t going to save it.
Bottom line
Estévez is currently bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Until it gets at least half of the players back it was missing Wednesday, Austin FC is going to be hoping for draws.
The good news is Estévez made it sound like none of the team's injuries are serious.
The bad news is things might get worse before they get better if he has to field a similar lineup Saturday.
Estévez made the right call in not bringing Svatok and Ilie Sánchez off the bench once San Jose scored its second goal. Not only because the game was lost at that point, but because the club will need those two players for significant minutes against Houston.
Austin FC also needs to hope that Joseph Rosales, Facundo Torres and Jon Gallagher hold up physically after playing a lot of minutes this season. An injury to any of those three, especially Rosales or Torres, under the current situation would be disastrous.
As noted previously in this space, Austin FC needs to go into the World Cup break in a position where it has a chance to run up the standings in the second half of the season.
Producing four points in its next two matches at home against clubs in the bottom half of the Western Conference would go a long way toward that.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Beau Leroux #34 of the San Jose Earthquakes competes for a header against Facundo Torres #11 of the Austin FC during the match at PayPal Park on April 22, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Liverpool must act fast: Man United ready to steal most-wanted star
Liverpool are going to have to be quick here. Manchester United are looking to steal a long-term target.
It was reported on Tuesday by the Telegraph that Manchester United were looking to sign Aurelien Tchouameni. Wednesday has seen more reporting on that, with BBC Sport claiming he’s wanted by the club.
Speculation is growing that Tchouameni could leave Real Madrid this summer, especially as they hope to sign Rodri from Manchester City. Their UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich has brought about calls for a bit of an overhaul, particularly in midfield.
And so it sounds as though Tchouameni may end up being available here. United seem to think so, moving him up their shortlist.
Tchouameni confirmed those talks himself, in fact, and Liverpool have continued to be linked ever since. They’ve viewed him as the ideal defensive midfielder.
However, they haven’t really used a sitting midfielder under Arne Slot. It seems the timing is off for a deal in 2026 as Liverpool don’t quite have the same need for such a player.
And so they’ve got to make a decision quickly. Do they want that kind of player? Can they adapt their team for Tchouameni?
Honestly, it feels like the team is crying out for a new defensive midfielder as they sorely lack an ability to win the ball back through the middle. Tchouameni would fix that.
But consider this one for too long and the opportunity will disappear. Even worse, he’ll head to United.
Aurelien Tchouameni: Situation Summary
Real Madrid Consistency and Performance
As of 22 April 2026, Aurélien Tchouaméni remains a cornerstone of the Real Madrid midfield. The 26-year-old has been arguably Los Blancos' most consistent performer this season, recording one goal and maintaining a 91.4% pass completion rate across 2,314 minutes of La Liga action. Statistically, he ranks in the 91st percentile for aerial duels won and 83rd for defensive contributions among European midfielders. Most recently, he was declared fit for the upcoming clash with Elche after recovering from a heavy blow to his ankle sustained during a Champions League fixture against Manchester City in March.
Transfer Shortlist and Manchester United Interest
Despite his integral role at the Bernabéu, Tchouaméni’s future is subject to growing speculation as he enters the final two years of his contract. Reports on 21 April 2026 confirm that Manchester United have placed him on their "shortlist of candidates" to replace the outgoing Casemiro this summer. While Real Madrid have shown no official intention to sell, United co-owners INEOS believe that Madrid’s pursuit of Manchester City’s Rodri could "open the door" for a deal. Valued at approximately €68.4 million, Tchouaméni is also being monitored by Liverpool and Arsenal as part of a projected midfield reshuffle in the Spanish capital.
Yamal's lamine: Trump's wish… 5 things to start Thursday
Thursday begins on a bittersweet note, with news ranging from the euphoria of new titles to maximum concern over the health of star players.
As the schedule tightens, clubs and national teams are starting to play their most decisive matches in the boardrooms and the treatment rooms.
The latest in football is moving between the uncertainty of injuries and geopolitical moves that could change the makeup of the next World Cup. Below, we review the five key points shaping Thursday’s football agenda.
National alarm over Lamine Yamal
All of Spain is anxiously awaiting the results of Lamine Yamal’s medical tests. The young FC Barcelona star had to come off injured after scoring the winning goal against Celta, leaving a worrying image as he left the pitch. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the risk that the national team’s brightest gem could miss the tournament has set off all the alarm bells in Las Rozas.
Italy dreams of Trump’s World Cup
World-shaking news is rattling FIFA headquarters. According to the Financial Times, the Trump Administration has formally suggested to Gianni Infantino the possibility of excluding Iran from the World Cup and giving its place to Italy. This political maneuver, justified by the Azzurra’s footballing "pedigree," seeks to rebuild diplomatic relations with the Italian government, sparking a storm of opinion across international football.
Uncertainty over Militao at Madrid
In the capital, Real Madrid are preparing for their clash with Real Betis with one main doubt: Éder Militao. The Brazilian center-back finished the last match against Alavés with physical discomfort. Álvaro Arbeloa will wait until the very last minute to find out whether he can count on his defensive leader or if he will have to reshuffle the back line for Betis’ demanding visit.
Barça Femení extends its dominance
The good news of the day comes from FC Barcelona Femení, who have been crowned Liga F champions after thrashing Espanyol 1-4 in the Catalan derby. With this win, the Blaugrana claim their seventh consecutive league title, confirming an unquestionable hegemony in Spanish football. Pere Romeu’s team keeps breaking records and is already focused on the Copa de la Reina final and the Champions League.
Earthquake on the Chelsea bench
Patience has run out at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have officially sacked Liam Rosenior after just four months in the job. A run of five straight defeats and a worrying lack of goals were the triggers for a decision that leaves the London club in deep institutional crisis. Calum McFarlane will take charge on an interim basis while the board looks for direction for a project that seems to be drifting.
Hansi Flick talks Lamine, Cancelo, VAR after Barcelona 1-0 Celta Vigo
Barcelona took another decisive step towards the La Liga title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo at the Spotify Camp Nou, but it was far from a comfortable night for Hansi Flick and his players.
The German coach was visibly animated at full-time, celebrating passionately with his staff, fully aware of the importance of the three points at this stage of the season.
However, beneath that relief was a clear sense that the performance left room for improvement.
Reflecting on the match, Flick admitted that his side had to dig deep against a well-organised opponent.
“We’re happy. We really struggled today—Celta plays very well—but we managed to get the three points,” he began saying.
Flick’s analysis
Tactically, Flick acknowledged that the game did not unfold as expected, particularly in the opening 45 minutes.
Flick was not happy with the VAR decision. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
He pointed to disruption caused by early setbacks as a major factor.
“The first half was very difficult—different from what we expected.”
Expanding on that, he explained how injuries impacted the rhythm of the team and forced adjustments mid-game.
“We had two injuries in the first half, and that affected the team.
“We fought together, but we gave away easy balls; we have to do much better because we have the quality,” he said.
Barcelona also struggled to assert control, something Flick made clear needs immediate improvement as the title race intensifies.
“We have to control the game. They usually press us high up the field with intensity, but they can also sit deep defensively.
“It’s not easy to create chances. We gave away easy balls,” he insisted.
The disallowed goal
The match could have been more comfortable for Barcelona had Ferran Torres’ second-half strike not been ruled out for offside, a decision that clearly frustrated Flick.
He revealed that, based on what he saw, the goal should have stood and would have eased late pressure on his side.
“My feeling is that it’s a goal. I’d like an explanation as to why it’s offside,” he noted.
Adding to the controversial VAR decision, Flick made it clear that he remains unconvinced, even if he accepts the outcome.
“I don’t understand why VAR decided it wasn’t a goal. These things worry me. The referee and the fourth official would see it the same way I do.
“They’ve made a decision, but we have to accept it. I don’t want to make excuses. In the final minutes, we had to play with more intelligence.”
On injuries
Cancelo and Lamine were forced off. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
There was also concern surrounding Lamine Yamal, who picked up an injury during the match. Flick chose to remain cautious rather than speculate on the severity.
“We’ll have to see him tomorrow to see what’s going on. We’ll have a clear diagnosis.
“It’s not easy; we have to take care of him. It’s a shame for us, just like with Joao Cancelo.
“Cancelo’s injury doesn’t seem to be serious, but we’ll have to wait and see,” he acknowledged.
When pressed further on Yamal’s condition, Flick reiterated the uncertainty while highlighting the broader challenges his squad is facing.
“I think I’ve already answered that. I think he has an injury, but we’ll have to wait and see how long he’ll be out. I can’t say anything else. We have to wait.
“As a coach, you have to manage these things. It’s a shame that Lamine got injured now, but I’m also thinking about Raphinha, Bernal, and Christensen.
“Now we have to focus on Getafe. I wouldn’t say I’m upset; I’m thinking about a lot of things. We fought hard,” he concluded.
Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference)
Houston; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Rockets -9.5; over/under is 205.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers lead series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference first round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Lakers won the last matchup 101-94 on Wednesday, led by 28 points from LeBron James. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 23.
The Rockets have gone 29-23 against Western Conference opponents. Houston is 23-8 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 14.4 turnovers per game.
The Lakers are 33-19 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is 8-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Rockets are shooting 47.9% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points lower than the 48.3% the Lakers allow to opponents. The Lakers are shooting 50.2% from the field, 4.2% higher than the 46.0% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Durant is scoring 26.0 points per game with 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Rockets. Amen Thompson is averaging 18.9 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 59.5% over the past 10 games.
James is averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 7-3, averaging 117.5 points, 46.1 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 8.0 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.1 points per game.
Lakers: 7-3, averaging 111.7 points, 39.9 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
Lakers: Austin Reaves: out (oblique), Jake LaRavia: day to day (leg), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Boston Celtics (56-26, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Celtics -7.5; over/under is 215.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 1-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics are in a 1-1 series tie in the Eastern Conference first round. The 76ers defeated the Celtics 111-97 in the last matchup on Tuesday. VJ Edgecombe led the 76ers with 30 points, and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 36.
The 76ers are 9-7 against the rest of their division. Philadelphia ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 50.1 points per game in the paint led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 14.0.
The Celtics are 10-6 against the rest of the division. Boston ranks third in the league averaging 15.5 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 36.7% from deep. Derrick White leads the team averaging 2.7 makes while shooting 32.7% from 3-point range.
The 76ers make 46.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.0 percentage points higher than the Celtics have allowed to their opponents (44.2%). The Celtics are shooting 46.7% from the field, which equals what the 76ers' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Maxey is scoring 28.3 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists for the 76ers. Paul George is averaging 19.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 47.5% over the past 10 games.
Brown is averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Celtics. Sam Hauser is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 5-5, averaging 110.7 points, 44.9 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.7 points per game.
Celtics: 7-3, averaging 119.3 points, 45.8 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Joel Embiid: day to day (abdomen).
Celtics: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Arizona Cardinals have a number of needs they will try to address in the 2026 NFL draft. They really could go with any position during the draft.
Over the next few articles, we will go over players who could be targets in each round.
Let's have a look at linebackers.
Round 1: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Styles is fast. He is fierce. He looks like a star.
Round 2: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
He was the nation's top linebacker in 2025, leading the dominant Texas Tech defense. He had 63 solo tackles, led the nation with seven forced fumbles, 11 tackles for loss and four interceptions. He is fast and athletic.
Round 3: Kyle Louis, Pitt
He is six feet tall and 220 pounds with speed. He had 85 total tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss.
Round 4: Deontae Lawson, Alabama
He was a three-year starter for Alabama and two-year captain. He is 6-3 and 226 pounds with twitchy athleticism.
Round 5: Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
Elliott is 6-2 and 231 pounds and showed explosiveness with his jumps. He was productive with 98 tackles 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Round 6: Jack Kelly, BYU
Kelly has pass-rushing juice and might be able to play some off the edge, as he had 10 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. He ran the 40 in 4.57 seconds at almost 6-2 and 240 pounds.
Round 7: Eric Gentry, USC
He is very tall at almost 6-7, weighing 221 pounds. He had 76 tackles, three sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
How do you follow up a nine-win improvement and Super Bowl appearance? History shows it isn't easy to get back to the Super Bowl and win it, but the foundation to sustained success starts at the draft.
The New England Patriots are in a much more luxurious spot than they were a year ago, without as many obvious needs, but there are still areas of the roster that could use an upgrade or simply just more depth.
The wide receiver position is chief among them, but the potential addition of Eagles WR A.J. Brown in the months ahead could make it less of a concern in this draft. The Patriots brought in Dre'Mont Jones to upgrade their pass-rush this offseason, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Mike Vrabel bring in a young, moldable pass-rusher after he spent the playoffs watching elite edge defenders get after his quarterback.
The Sporting News is tracking every Patriots selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, from the first round to the seventh. Follow along below as New England makes its picks.
The Patriots have 11 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Round 1, Pick No. 31:
Round 2, Pick No. 63:
Round 3, Pick No. 95:
Round 4, Pick No. 125:
Round 4, Pick No. 131:
Round 5, Pick No. 171:
Round 6, Pick No. 191:
Round 6, Pick No. 198:
Round 6, Pick No. 202:
Round 6, Pick No. 212:
Round 7, Pick No. 247:
Patriots NFL Draft needs
Edge rusher: The Patriots lost K'Lavon Chaisson to free agency after his surprisingly strong season and are relying on veterans Harold Landry III and Dre'Mont Jones in 2026. There are worse duos, but if New England wants to round its defense into one of the NFL's truly elite units, a long-term upgrade is needed. Fortunately, there will be plenty of options in the late first and second rounds.
Wide receiver: The potential acquisition of Brown would make wide receiver less of a need for the Patriots, particularly after signing Romeo Doubs, but it wouldn't hurt to add fresh young talent to the unit with Kayshon Boutte a trade candidate. If the Patriots aren't completely confident they can get Brown, wide receiver is a must.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are rolling in their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavaliers easily handled the Raptors 115-105 in Game 2 at Rocket Arena to go up 2-0.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland in scoring Tuesday with 30 points, while James Harden dropped 28 points and Evan Mobley added 25 points.
Now the series heads to Toronto for Game 3, giving the Raptors plenty of opportunities to get back into it with a win at home in Scotiabank Arena. Scottie Barnes was the leading scorer for Toronto in their last game, dropping 26 points in Game 2, while RJ Barrett was the top contributor in Game 1 with 24 points. The Raptors will need a full team effort to get a win on Thursday night.
One key matchup that might significantly impact Toronto's trajectory is Brandon Ingram vs. Dean Wade. At 6-foot-8, Ingram is usually used to rising above his defenders for clean mid-range shots. Much like Kevin Durant, Ingram is a skilled assassin in that area of the court, often making shots regardless of his defenders' contesting. However, Wade's physical and aggressive strategy to deny Ingram the ball has challenged the star forward. Ingram scored 17 points in Game 1 but had only seven points in Game 2. If he is able to bounce back in Game 3, Ingram might be able to contribute enough to get Toronto a win at home.
Here's what you need to know about Wednesday's matchup between the Cavaliers and Raptors, including broadcast information and start time.
The Trotter family is well-known among NFL fans, and another member is trying to carve his own path in the league. Josiah Trotter is set to join the NFL after three years in college, two at West Virginia and one in Missouri, following in the footsteps of a few family members.
"Just growing up, my dad coming through this, my brother, watching him. It's just fun to be able to carry that legacy, carry that last name, and just continue going. I enjoy that process of it." Trotter said, via the Carolina Panthers.
Trotter has big shoes to fill, as both his dad and brother had big accomplishments in the NFL, but Josiah hopes he can join their company. Here's a breakdown of the Trotter family.
Josiah is the youngest son of former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. After his third season in college, Josiah relied a lot on his dad's advice to determine whether he should enter the NFL Draft.
"It was really a big decision for me and my dad," Trotter said. "We really wanted to pray about it first, do our due diligence, homework. My dad, just being a big factor in that, doing his homework, whether people reached out to him or he reached out to people, trying to figure out what was the best decision for me, and the opportunity."
Where did Jeremiah Trotter go to college?
Jeremiah Trotter played three seasons at Stephen F. Austin from 1995 to 1997. At the time, the Lumberjacks were part of the Southland Conference as the program has been a Division I FCS football program for its entire existence.
When was Jeremiah Trotter drafted?
The Eagles drafted Trotter with the 72nd pick in the third round of the 1998 draft and would go on to give Philadelphia incredible value with that pick.
Jeremiah Trotter NFL career
Trotter had a long NFL career, playing 11 seasons in the league, mostly with the Eagles. In that span, Trotter had six seasons with at least 100 tackles and six seasons with at least one sack as a middle linebacker.
Year
Team
Games
Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Forced Fumbles
Passes Defended
1998
Eagles
8
3
0.0
0
0
0
1999
Eagles
16
123
2.5
2
3
7
2000
Eagles
16
120
3.0
1
1
4
2001
Eagles
16
115
3.5
2
2
10
2002
Washington
12
91
0.0
1
0
4
2003
Washington
16
114
1.5
1
1
11
2004
Eagles
16
69
1.0
0
0
1
2005
Eagles
15
121
1.0
1
2
10
2006
Eagles
16
113
0.0
1
1
4
2007
Buccaneers
3
13
0.0
0
0
0
2009
Eagles
13
32
0.0
0
0
0
In 2016, Trotter was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame for his productions with the organization.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is Josiah Trotter's older brother. Growing up, Josiah looked up to Jeremiah Jr., especially considering the two were both pursuing careers in the NFL.
"It was definitely an experience with him. Being the younger brother, sometimes you get beat up. Sometimes you win games, you lose games with him," Trotter said, via the Carolina Panthers. "But it was fun. I love having him as an older brother. He's the reason I love playing football. Just watching him, he just means a lot to me. He's a big factor why I'm the player I am today."
Where did Jeremiah Trotter Jr. go to college?
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. spent three seasons at Clemson before entering the draft in 2024. From 2021 to 2023, Trotter Jr. played in 39 games for the Tigers and totaled 192 tackles, 29.5 tackles-for-loss, 13 sacks four interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Great to see Jeremiah Trotter Junior with big Pick 6 for Clemson against Notre Dame during the week that his dad was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. It’s been a tough year for their family losing Tammi Trotter, Jeremiah Senior‘s wife
The Eagles drafted Trotter was drafted with pick No. 155 in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft, bringing another member of the Trotter family to Philadelphia.
Trotter Jr. has been in the NFL since 2024, playing in every game for the Eagles in that span. As a rookie, Trotter Jr. was a part of the Eagles Super Bowl championship team, doing what his dad never did.
The Trotter matriarch was Tammi Trotter, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 46 after a fight with breast cancer. Tammi was an associate broker realtor for 18 years while her husband played in the NFL.
I’m stunned and heartbroken to learn of the passing of a true bright light in this world. Tammi Trotter - a go-getter, who loved her family fiercely and raised good humans. I had no idea she was sick. Join me in keeping @JTrotter_54 and his kids in your thoughts. Cancer is evil pic.twitter.com/rmE2iRSoZo
When Jeremiah Jr. made the Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2024, the Trotter patriarch explained what that would've meant for Tammi.
"Man, it's emotional," he told TMZ. "Just knowing how proud I know she would be of him and excited for the team. Her memory lives on through us, and through Jeremiah, especially Jeremiah because he looks just like her."
Jeremiah said that of his three kids, Jeremiah Jr. is the one who is most like his late wife.
"Out of all of my kids, he looks the most like her," Trotter said. "So every time I look at him, I see her. I know she would be extremely proud of him, of all our kids, TreMil, Josiah, and we just try to be the best people and carry on her memory the best way we can."
"Once he has his mind set up, he's going to go do something, he's going to do it to its full potential and really try," he said. "And that's the same way my mom was."
Josiah Trotter sister: TreMil Trotter
The eldest of the Trotter siblings is TreMil, who is the only sister of the three. She was a high school athlete in New Jersey and attended Thomas Edison State University. Currently, TreMil lives in Texas and works for the Tom James Company.
Former NFL running back Terrance Ganaway is Jeremiah's nephew and the cousin of TreMil, Jeremiah Jr. and Josiah. Ganaway was played college at Houston in 2007 and Baylor from 2008 to 2011, and was drafted by the New York Jets in 2012.
Ganaway played just one year in the NFL, playing just three games for the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012 after the Jets cut him.
Where is Josiah Trotter from?
Josiah grew up in the Philadelphia area, attending high school at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Pennsylvania.
It is as he recalls a gesture from Martin Johnson that the emotions hit Lewis Moody. With a warm smile and his trademark courage, the former England captain has confronted probing questions on his diagnosis with motor neurone disease (MND) as he unveils a new charitable challenge to support others like him and is happy to detail his symptoms and the uncertain road ahead. But the memory of Johnson’s recent supportive words during the Race to the Slater Cup, an endeavour to support another MND-afflicted former rugby player, stops Moody in his tracks.
“Johnno was fantastic when we did the Ed Slater ride about being really aware and seeing the level of fatigue that hit me as we were going along, and being able to say, ‘mate, it’s ok, take a rest’…” Moody begins before the words trail off. “Just him saying, ‘don’t worry, we’ve got it from here’.” It is put to Moody that it is probably the only time in his life that Johnson, that titan and captain of the 2003 World Cup-winning side, has ever told him to ease off. “It was,” he admits, recalling an old training ground punch from his former skipper on one of the rare occasions where Moody was not at full tilt with a chuckle.
Martin Johnson (centre) has thrown his support behind former Leicester and England teammate Lewis Moody (left) (Getty)
Recognising that he can, or may need to, take his foot off at times is one of the adjustments that the 71-cap England international has had to get used to since his diagnosis in September. It says plenty about Moody that his mind turned to how he could help a community of which he is now a part almost immediately.
Within a matter of months, he and Kenny Logan, the great friend of the late Doddie Weir who is now a key figure within the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation (MNDF), had begun strategising over how best to raise awareness and funds to continue to fight MND.
The rugby community has rallied around Lewis Moody since his diagnosis (Getty)
Over seven days in June in the lead-up to the Gallagher Prem final, Moody will be joined by his teenage sons Dylan and Ethan and a collection of rugby icons to take on a 500-mile cycle ride from Newcastle to Twickenham. It is a circuitous journey that will take in the grounds that made Moody great – from Bracknell RFC, where he began his rugby life as a five-year-old, to Oakham School, with emotional stops at Leicester Tigers and Bath. Along for the ride, literally, will be Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson and Mike Tindall and a whole host of others beside.
It is a mark of the man just how many of his former teammates and rivals have committed their time; so, too, that this is far from his first fundraising endeavour. In the past, these have been to support children battling brain tumours; with his own situation in mind, there is a new cause.
“There's a weird sort of satisfaction that comes from discomfort,” Moody explains. “I have to be more mindful of that stuff now. With MND, the specialists were cautious: be wary of extreme exertion, you will fatigue quickly, you'll be more tired, look after yourself, all that type of stuff. There are different boundaries in place for me now but 100 per cent there's nothing like having the opportunity to get together and feel a bit of discomfort together. Taking the race element out of it which is really nice, it's just about getting from A to B. There'll be plenty of complaining along the way I'm sure.
“I suppose from a personal point of view, there is something about wanting to show that I can still do things like this. However progression occurs, and whilst having to slightly temper my mindset a little bit from where it would have been in the past, it is not about winning the race or anything, it’s about getting to an end.”
Lewis Moody will lead a host of former teammates in a charitable challenge (PA)
The haste with which this has been arranged is not a coincidence. Moody, never one to sit on the sidelines, had wished to be an active participant, and does not know how the degenerative disease with which he has been diagnosed will progress. “Being in a privileged position of having a platform to use, I want to have the biggest impact possible,” he makes clear. “I have done a challenge every year since retiring. Some years I have done more than one. I really wanted to make sure that I got another one in. I don’t know how many I have got left to do, so the reason for it being so soon is to make sure that physically I feel like I can contribute and get through it.”
For now, his symptoms are reasonably stable. “I’m good at the moment. The only sort of significant noticeable change is still in my hand. The shoulder strength is diminished as it was, but not significantly reduced since diagnosis. Without a shadow of a doubt, the hardest thing is noticing little things every day. The other day I noticed a slight difference in my finger strength. Whether it was opening a bottle top, holding a fork, cutting your food – those little things mentally are a challenge when they present themselves, but I think within a day you can move past it and just focus on functional things I can do, rather than things that I’m less able to. But at the minute, touch wood, everything still remains slow, so hopefully it will continue.”
The late Doddie Weir set up the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to fund research into MND (PA Wire)
Moody speaks with admiration for the work done by Weir and Kevin Sinfield, among others, in already raising many millions to fight MND. He speaks of “picking up the baton” and taking the drive that took him to the top of the rugby world into this venture. “In some ways I have found it a privilege. It is a remarkable space you enter, this MND world, the individuals that have worked so hard and so long and the uncertainty that surrounds it.
“Weirdly, that news gives you certainty because it allows you to focus on the things that are important in life. Life is uncertain for all of us and I have been given the opportunity to have a really clear vision of what I want to do with my time now. And that is to spend it with the people I love and that is doing the things I love and doing it with purpose. Being a part of this campaign, part of this wonderful foundation, gives me purpose.
Lewis Moody feels hope for the future after his diagnosis (Getty)
“I think the space I’ve arrived in is vastly different to the one that Doddie and Rob [Burrow] arrived in, in that I feel a sense of hope. When I speak to specialists, they speak about hope. I don’t know if that would have been the case when those guys were diagnosed.
“Since that moment you become slightly more aware of the realities, the science and research that is going on but there is genuine hope a cure will be found. When we say cure, whether that is like AIDS and it is about symptom repression, less so a complete cure and it will probably be a combination of things that gradually diminish it. We have already found something for the genetic form of MND which is almost a means of reversing the symptoms for the three per cent of people that have the genetic form so now it is about the 97 per cent.
“The old competitive, fighting spirit that has languished away from the spotlight for a while, this little platform has given my teeth a little bit more sharpness and readiness to get stuck into this. That hope comes from that space. There is so much being done, there are so many people applying for grants for various different things. But hope is one thing – we need to turn hope into genuine actions that lead to outcomes and that is what people living with it want to see.”
The Lewis Moody & Friends Cycle Challenge is a 500-mile, seven-day cycling challenge from Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle, to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, taking place from 14-20 June 2026. For more information or to support the challenge, please visit: https://uk.emma-live.com/LewisMoodyCycle.
Real Madrid forward walking disciplinary tightrope with suspension threat looming ahead of El Clasico
Real Madrid’s preparation for the upcoming El Clasico has taken a tense turn, with Kylian Mbappe now walking a disciplinary tightrope that could have massive implications for the La Liga title race.
The French superstar has been nothing short of sensational this season, leading the scoring charts in La Liga with 24.
His dominance in front of goal has put him firmly in control of the Pichichi race, ahead of Vedat Muriqi.
However, despite his brilliance, a looming suspension threat could derail Real Madrid at the worst possible moment.
What’s the story?
As things stand, Mbappe has already accumulated four yellow cards in the league, meaning he is now just one caution away from a one-match suspension.
That reality places immediate pressure on the forward ahead of Real Madrid’s upcoming fixture against Real Betis.
The clash at the Benito Villamarín is no ordinary game.
Not only is it another key step in Madrid’s pursuit of Barcelona at the top, but it also represents a potential turning point in Mbappe’s availability for the biggest match of the season.
Kylian Mbappe is running at risk. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
If he receives a yellow card in this fixture, he will be suspended for the following game.
Even if he avoids a booking against Betis, the danger does not disappear, as Real Madrid will then face Espanyol, where Mbappe would once again have to tread carefully.
Another yellow in that match would rule him out of the highly anticipated El Clasico against Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou.
That potential absence could prove decisive, as the upcoming Clasico is expected to play a major role in determining the fate of the La Liga title.
Barcelona could either secure the championship around that time or be on the verge of doing so, while Real Madrid will be desperate to delay celebrations and keep their hopes alive.
So from a tactical standpoint, one can expect Mbappe to receive a booking against Betis, so that the Frenchman arrives at the Camp Nou with a clean slate.
However, that would also mean he would miss the Espanyol clash, something that could give Muriqi a chance to close down the gap on the scoring charts.
Jofra Archer etched his name into Rajasthan Royals history with a match-winning spell that also made him the franchise’s leading wicket-taker in the IPL.
Archer’s figures of 3/20 against Lucknow Super Giants not only sealed a dominant 40-run win but also took his tally to 68 wickets for Rajasthan, moving him past Yuzvendra Chahal (66) and into the top spot. He now leads a list that includes the likes of Siddharth Trivedi (65), Shane Watson (61) and Shane Warne (57).
It was a landmark performance on a night where Rajasthan’s bowlers once again carried the side. Defending just 159, the Royals produced a clinical effort to bowl LSG out for 119 in 18 overs, registering the lowest total successfully defended in IPL 2026 in a full, uninterrupted game.
While Mohammed Shami and Mohsin Khan had earlier combined to dismantle Rajasthan’s top order, it was Archer who ensured there would be no comeback in the chase. His pace and bounce proved too much for the LSG middle order, including a key wicket of Aiden Markram with a rising delivery.
LSG’s chase never gained momentum. Mitchell Marsh fought a lone battle with 55, but poor shot selection and regular wickets derailed the innings after Rishabh Pant’s early dismissal. Contributions from Nicholas Pooran and others never materialised, as Rajasthan kept striking at regular intervals.
Earlier, Rajasthan had struggled with the bat after being put in, with their top order collapsing once again. It was Ravindra Jadeja who rescued the innings with a composed unbeaten 43 off 29 balls, ensuring they had something to defend.
In the end, though, the night belonged to Archer. Not just for his spell, but for a milestone that underlines his impact in Royals colours — now officially their most successful wicket-taker in IPL history.
Chelsea publicly brief that they still back those behind hiring Liam Rosenior
Despite sacking him after just less that four months being here, Chelsea still back those who hired Liam Rosenior.
Isn’t that absolute madness? They are going through managers like there is no tomorrow, yet they are not holding those accountable who are actually hiring these managers – the sporting directors.
EXCLUSIVE!! Chelsea now tracking Premier League winger – his name will universally excite Chelsea fans!! 👀
If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as apreferred source on Googleto make us a favourite and see more of ourcontent.
They never seem to get any blame from the ownership through their media briefings, it always goes back to the many managers they have turfed through in their fours years in charge at this club.
But Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, the ones who pick the managers and have built this weak squad, get let off scot free.
It makes absolutely zero sense to me.
Chelsea backing the directors yet again
Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
According to a report from The Guardian yesterday, there is still backing for the club’s five sporting directors, Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Sam Jewell, Joe Shields and Dave Fallows.
Can you imagine being SO bad at your job yet your manager says nothing at all and just keeps backing you? Would never happen, right? It’s pure madness and delusion.
In other news today…
There are expected to be between five to ten candidates to become Chelsea’s next manager with there admiration for Cesc Fabregas according to reports that came out yesterday.
Liam Rosenior’s fallout with certain groups in the Chelsea dressing room was apparently key to his downfall, and it was apparently the Spanish speaking players who disliked him the most.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONTHE APP STORE
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Everton confirm that Jarrad Branthwaite will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring issue.
“Everton can confirm Jarrad Branthwaite sustained a hamstring injury during Sunday’s Merseyside derby. The injury is unrelated to the hamstring area which required surgery in October, with a scan confirming no procedure is needed this time around. Branthwaite will now undergo rehabilitation at Finch Farm with Everton’s medical team and is unlikely to feature again this season.” [Everton FC]
Branthwaite is injured again. Where does that leave him and Everton? [The Athletic]
Everton want to sign a new striker in the summer transfer window, and the Friedkin group are now lining up a move for AZ Alkmaar star Troy Parrott. [Football Fancast]
Mixed feelings for Everton supporters as Leicester City are relegated from the Championship and fall to League One three years after sliding doors moment. [Liverpool Echo]
The 165th submission from “My Everton” deals with cancellations & memories of a lifetime. [Everton FC]
#OTD 22 April 1961, Harry Catterick took charge of his first @Everton game as manager. He arrived from @swfc who were also his first opponents, back at his former club, with #Everton winning 1-2. The Owls featured @winghalf6 who would sign for the Toffees on 27 Dec 1962. pic.twitter.com/4YMu98sjud
— Everton FC Heritage Society (@EvertonHeritage) April 22, 2026
Everton can now go after Jackson Tchatchoua for a bargain fee this summer, and the Toffees really do need him. [4th Official]
West Ham predicted XI vs Everton – Callum Wilson gets rare start as Nuno switches up. [West Ham Zone]
On this day, 37 years ago, Leasowe Pacific won the Women’s FA Cup, defeating Friends of Fulham 3-2 in a thriller at Old Trafford. Cup winner Mo Mallon (later Marley) would enjoy further success as player & manager after the club rebranded as Everton Ladies in 1995.@EvertonWomenpic.twitter.com/XCsDEKHjWe
— Everton FC Heritage Society (@EvertonHeritage) April 22, 2026
Everton Women are delighted to announce their participation in World Sevens Football’s first-ever London edition. [Everton FC]
Here are four reasons for Evertonians to stay optimistic as they begin to show signs of progress. [Football 365]
What to Watch
Salford v Bromley in League 2 action with several matches on the continent. So……not much!
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks off the field during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Andy Pages might be the secret sauce in the potent Los Angeles Dodgers lineup.
The Dodgers right-handed hitting centerfielder, Pages is off to a fine start for the 2026 season.
After the Dodgers April 22 game in San Francisco, Pages is hitting .353/.404/.576/.980, with 13 runs scored, four doubles, five home runs, and 21 RBIs in 85 at-bats.
At the conclusion of play April 22, Pages led MLB in batting average.
Here is what Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, told dodgersbeat.com, “Oh gosh, man, you just can’t say enough about what Andy’s done.”
For this old scout, Pages is a future All Star.
A complete player, the success Pages is having is not surprising.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Last season, Pages smoked 27 home runs and drove in 87 runs for the World Champion Dodgers.
Despite his outstanding production, Pages might be getting lost in a Super Star lineup that includes Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, and more.
Pages won’t be 26 until December 8.
Pages was signed by the Dodgers out of Cuba in the 2017-2018 Major League Baseball international signing period.
Pages never played professional baseball in Cuba.
Pages played youth baseball, including under 15, and under 18 Cuban Youth Leagues.
Pages was scouted by Dodgers personnel in a Dominican Republic international showcase.
The Dodgers gave Pages a $300,000 signing bonus, which is now paying dividends on a club that spotrac.com lists as having a $415,21`2,461 Luxury Tax Payroll.
spotrac.com lists Pages’ 2026 contract value to be $800,000.
Pages has four years of salary arbitration ahead. He can’t become a free agent until following the 2030 season.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages (44) at bat during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
The Progress of Andy Pages:
Pages became a notable Dodgers prospect in 2020, when mlbpipeline.com ranked him the Dodgers No. 14 prospect.
At the time, mlbpipeline.comgave him an overall scouting grade of 50, which equates to an everyday Major League player with at least solid tool that can carry the player’s game.
In his case, Pages’ Grade 65 arm strength was well above average.
He was believed to have only average hitting ability, with emerging, better than average power.
By 2024, Pages was ranked No. 3 among Dodgers prospects by mlbpipeline.com
His overall grade remained a 55, but his power grade climbed to 60, and his arm strength to Grade 70.
Pages made his major league debut with the Dodgers on April 16, 2024, at the age of 23.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 2: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Getty Images
What Makes Pages Special?
Dodgers games are made more exciting with the presence of Andy Pages.
Pages is still making up for lost time in 2023, when he suffered a torn labrum injury.
Pages has a 6-1, 212 frame, with plenty of strength in both his upper and lower body.
Pages has “plus” power, which can’t be ignored.
Pages has a refined upper-cut type swing, with quick bat speed that provides topspin on balls he drives to the gaps, or over the fence.
Pages has excellent hand-eye coordination, which helps with a fluid swing path.
A solid contact hitter, Pages doesn’t get cheated at the plate.
While Pages doesn’t strike out much, he doesn’t walk that much, either. His role is to drive in the Dodgers hitters who are on base when he hits.
A good defensive outfielder, Pages has that strong arm from right field that runners are wise not to test.
As MLB.com stated, Pages’ incredible catch in the 2025 World Series saved the Dodgers.
Rutgers has added a trio of games to its future schedules, including a home-and-home series with a former Big East rival.
The Scarlet Knights completed their 2027 slate with a home game against FCS opponent Long Island and its 2028 slate with a road meeting with UConn, according to a report from the Bergen Record.
The game against the Huskies is the first half of a home-and-home series, with the return leg being played in Piscataway during the 2029 season.
Rutgers last faced UConn during the 2013 season, suffering a 28-17 loss on the road. The Scarlet Knights have faced the Huskies 33 times, holding a 22-11 lead in the series.
Rutgers went 5-5 against UConn during head coach Greg Schiano’s first stint with the program, winning five of their final seven meetings before he left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After achieving recent success under Jim Mora Jr., UConn is currently lead by first-year head coach Jason Candle, who joined the program from Toledo this offseason after Mora left for Colorado State. Candle’s offensive coordinator is Nunzio Campanile, who previously served as an assistant coach at Rutgers.
The meeting with LIU will be the first time the programs face off. The Sharks are led by Ron Cooper, who was an assistant coach under Schiano with the Buccaneers during the 2012 season.
Here are Rutgers football’s future schedules:
2026
vs. UMass (Sept. 5)
at Boston College (Sept. 12)
vs. Howard (Sept. 19)
Big Ten home games: Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, USC
Big Ten away games: Maryland, Northwestern, Penn State, Wisconsin
2027
vs. Akron (Sept. 4)
vs. Boston College (Sept. 11)
vs. Long Island (Sept. 18)
Big Ten home games: Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, Washington
Big Ten away games: Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, UCLA
2028
vs. Norfolk State (Sept. 2)
vs. Kent State (Sept. 16)
@ UConn (Sept. 9)
Big Ten home games: Illinois, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA.
Big Ten away games: Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Oregon.
An anonymous NFL general manager says the Los Angeles Rams could prioritize defense with their first-round pick in the draft.
The general manager told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that the Rams will go away from the wide receiver expectations and will look for a pass rusher early in the draft.
"But one GM believes the Rams will look at pass rusher somewhere early in the draft because of rising contract costs for veteran rushers," Fowler wrote. "( Byron Young is a 2027 free agent and Jared Verse enters his third season.)"
Fowler also added that the Rams have been linked to USC star wide receiver Makai Lemon. Lemon is still very much a possibility for the Rams; however, there is a chance they go another route given their unpredictability.
Edge Rusher Could Elevate Rams Defense
A pass rusher is not at the top of Los Angeles' position needs to be addressed. At the top of that list are a wide receiver, an offensive lineman and a linebacker.
Those are by far the Rams' biggest needs; however, adding a pass rusher wouldn't hurt either. Potentially selecting a pass rusher is far from an urgent need; still, it is a premier position in the sport. Even with the current group, which is a solid one, getting an elite pass rusher could take the Rams' defense to another level.
On top of that, rotational depth matters, which is something the Rams didn't have last season. Chris Shula's defense works best when the front stays fresh and the pressure comes in waves. If an edge rusher is there for the taking, the Rams may take a bite, depending on how things play out.
A wide receiver or offensive lineman is at the top of the list, but a pass rusher may not be so far off.
ONE Championship will make history when the inaugural edition of ONE SAMURAI, the promotion’s new monthly event series, makes its big premiere this coming Wednesday, April 29.
The world’s largest martial arts organization will broadcast ONE SAMURAI 1 live to over 195 countries around the globe.
To find out where you can watch ONE SAMURAI 1 anywhere in the world, check below.
It was another losing season for the New York Giants, who finished 4-13, missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons.
Last season, the Giants were able to get a new franchise quarterback in the first round, selecting Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. They also had the No. 3 overall pick, which was used on Abdul Carter, who finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, despite facing consequences for violating team policies.
This season, the Giants have the chance to build on last year's draft class with the No. 5 and No. 10 picks. As the only team with two top ten picks, the Giants can take a serious leap forward Thursday.
The Sporting News is tracking each of the Giants' 2026 NFL Draft selections, from the first through the seventh round.
Defensive line additions: The most glaring issue for the Giants in 2025 was their inability to prevent the run game, allowing opponents to average 145.3 rushing yards. Multiple additions may be in order for the Giants in this case, primarily in the form of defensive tackles. There's certainly a chance that the Giants will take a DT on both Thursday and Friday.
Find a secondary star: Caleb Downs is a common mock draft pairing for the New York Giants, who are seeking a star player in their secondary. The Giants defense is in need of versatility, which aligns well with the athleticism that Downs can bring, especially to a team ranked 28th in the NFL last season in defensive yards.
Give Dart another target: The later rounds of the Giants' 2026 draft are likely to include a receiver. Jaxson Dart is still developing as a quarterback but showed promise in his rookie season, finishing fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. Having an additional target could help to gradually improve this Giants offense.
Manchester United Eye Richard Rios as Transfer Market Heats Up
Midfield priorities take shape
As the summer window begins to stir into life, Manchester United appear to be navigating a familiar tension, ambition set against pragmatism. According to a report by Caught Offside, Benfica midfielder Richard Rios has emerged as a credible option, though not yet the headline act.
Rios, currently plying his trade with Benfica, is described as “highly unlikely to stay at Benfica” beyond the end of this season, with offers in the region of €45m likely to be accepted. That figure, however, exists within a shifting marketplace. Some clubs reportedly value him closer to €30m, highlighting a gap that could define the pace and direction of negotiations.
This is the modern transfer ecosystem in microcosm, uncertain, reactive, and shaped by events yet to unfold.
Competing interest across Europe
United are not alone in their admiration. Fulham have already made contact, while Napoli are said to have held internal discussions over a possible bid. The interest is described as concrete, even if the commitment levels vary.
There is also a broader narrative at play. Rios is 25, entering what should be the peak years of his career, and possesses the kind of versatility modern midfields demand. Clubs are not merely buying players, they are investing in systems, in adaptability, in the ability to respond to tactical evolution.
United’s recruitment puzzle
For United, the situation is layered. Scouts have reportedly watched Rios closely, with “all the feedback being very positive so far.” Yet he remains one name among several. Links to Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Carlos Baleba underline a recruitment strategy still taking shape.
Photo IMAGO
One source noted in the report that “it’s shaping up for United to make one ‘statement’ signing in midfield, ideally Anderson, whilst also shoring up their squad depth with one more player who’d likely be a bit cheaper.”
Rios fits that second category neatly, assuming his price remains within reach. If Benfica hold firm at €45m, or attempt to push higher after the World Cup, the calculus changes.
Timing could prove decisive
International tournaments have long acted as accelerants in the transfer market. A strong showing on a global stage can elevate a player’s profile overnight, and with it, their valuation. Benfica may well be tempted to wait.
For interested clubs, the decision becomes strategic. Move early and secure value, or wait and risk inflation. In Rios, they see a player of promise. In the market, they see volatility.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Manchester United perspective, this feels like a familiar crossroads. The mention that “it’s shaping up for United to make one ‘statement’ signing in midfield” will resonate strongly with supporters who have seen recruitment drift between marquee names and short term fixes in recent seasons.
Rios looks like a sensible addition on paper. At €30m, he represents value, depth, and potential upside. At €45m, questions begin to emerge. Is he transformative, or simply another squad option? United’s midfield has lacked balance, energy, and control, and fans will rightly wonder whether this is the profile that solves those issues.
There is also the wider concern about timing. If Fulham have already made contact and Napoli are progressing internally, United risk repeating a pattern of hesitation. Waiting for clarity can often lead to missed opportunities.
A curious supporter might ask, why not act decisively now? If the scouting feedback is as positive as reported, then this is the moment to move. Allowing a World Cup to inflate the price feels like unnecessary risk.
Ultimately, Rios could be a smart piece of business, but only if he forms part of a coherent plan. United need structure in recruitment, not just names on a list.
Jess Warner Judd began her career as an 800m runner before progressing up through the distances [Getty Images]
Jess Warner Judd does not remember much about that night in Rome.
It has been a long and difficult journey since, but the 31-year-old speaks with admirable ease about the traumatic events which have led her to a London Marathon debut in 2026.
"I'm very lucky to have had sort of a second chance at running. It's a second chance I just didn't think I'd probably have," Warner Judd tells BBC Sport.
"I remember having really horrible discussions after trying to restart my track season and it quickly not happening. The doctors, who were brilliant, saying that I would probably have to retire if I kept trying before I had therapy, because my body wasn't going to cope."
The distressing details of what unfolded at Stadio Olimpico are recalled vividly by her husband Rob, who witnessed it all from the stands alongside Warner Judd's father and coach, Mike, in June 2024.
Less than 10 months had passed since Warner Judd celebrated one of her proudest achievements, placing eighth in the world over 10,000m, but it became evident early in the European Championship final that something was amiss.
The noticeable lack of co-ordination. The veering out into lanes two and three. The distress increasingly visible across her face.
"It got to the point around five or six kilometres in when Mike and I had got as close as we could to the track and were shouting at her to stop," says Rob.
Warner Judd struggled on until, with 600m to go, she collapsed.
Jess Warner Judd could not be cleared medically to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games [Getty Images]
It was not until late into the night that Rob and Mike were finally able to visit Warner Judd. In hospital but unaware of the seriousness of what had occurred, she apologised for not being able to finish the race.
She had suffered a seizure, caused by undiagnosed epilepsy. Another had followed once she had been taken off the track on a stretcher, this time so severe that she had to be sedated.
"That really hit home that it was a very, very serious scenario," says Rob.
"It also hit home that there are more important things to life than running. At that point, I was like, I don't care if she never races ever again, as long as she's OK."
The first indication had arrived a few months earlier when, at a low-key 10,000m race in California, Warner Judd failed to cross a finish line for the first in her career.
She had suffered a similar mid-race seizure there but, because epilepsy is difficult to diagnose and seizures are often the only symptom, subsequent medical tests were unable to identify the cause.
This time, Warner Judd got an answer when she was diagnosed with focal epilepsy, meaning her seizures typically start in one side of the brain and cause unusual feelings, sensations or movements.
Unsure then what the future might hold, her journey back has proven far from straightforward.
With an Olympic Games on the horizon, Warner Judd attempted an immediate return to running but soon discovered that her body was not up to the task.
For an athlete with an 800m personal best below two minutes, it took her a demoralising 12 minutes to run her first mile.
But even once she was physically able to resume normal training, her epilepsy under control with the help of medication, it became clear that she had not moved on mentally.
Warner Judd recalls feeling like she was "having a panic attack" upon returning to the track, and required a year of therapy to fully process her trauma.
"It was really difficult to love running again," says Warner Judd.
"Going for a run used to be my safe space, to clear my head and feel better. Then to have that association between racing and having a seizure... I was so scared of that happening again.
"It realigns your aims and perspective on life. Coming back to running, I just wanted to do it for me.
"If I run well and achieve good things, great. But that's very much a secondary goal. You never know when it will get taken away, so I want to enjoy it the best I can."
Jess Warner Judd placed eighth in the 10,000m at the World Championships in 2023, seven seconds off the podium [Getty Images]
Warner Judd has settled in to her new home in Rob's home town of Clitheroe. The couple moved to Lancashire last year, accompanied by cocker spaniels Bruce and Bernie, and rabbits Bea and Bailey, after Warner Judd completed her PhD in regenerative medicine at Loughborough.
The pair train together on the surrounding hills and country lanes - Rob is also running this year's London Marathon - while Warner Judd has quickly grown fond of her part-time job at a local supermarket.
For Rob, the difficulty is often striking a balance between concern for his partner's wellbeing while, he says, "also acknowledging she has to push herself at times".
While Warner Judd's return to elite-level athletics is itself remarkable, her marathon debut in New York in November suggests much more is to come.
Although it may have taken her family time to accept the idea of targeting the 26.2-mile distance, she exceeded all expectations by clocking two hours 24 minutes and 45 seconds on the challenging course.
Placing seventh, Warner Judd, who maintains her only goal was to finish, crossed the line two seconds behind Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and within five minutes of winner Hellen Obiri.
It took just 24 hours for Warner Judd to reverse her claim that she would never do another - and she could not turn down the opportunity to race in London.
And so on Sunday, little over a marathon away from her home town of Canvey Island, in Essex, Warner Judd will complete a full-circle moment when she lines up in Greenwich Park, 14 years after winning her fourth Mini London Marathon.
As for a return to the track? While that once felt impossible, Warner Judd is leaving the door open.
But, following a rollercoaster two years during which she feared her time in the sport might be over, it will only happen on her terms, when she is ready.
"I really want to go back to it," Warner Judd says.
"But before, I wanted to go back to prove that I could do it. I think that part has gone now.
"Now, I want to go back if I'm going to enjoy it and I feel I can run well.
"I do feel like there's unfinished business there. It's not goodbye forever - just for now."
The Phoenix Suns lost Game 2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which makes the series between the two teams 2-0 in favor of the defending champions. Unfortunately, it appears to be a convincing result because the Suns continue to struggle.
While the Suns are struggling, the players have some gripes with what is happening. Superstar guard Devin Booker believes that the referees are not doing a good job of calling the game down the middle.
Devin Booker is unhappy with the referees after Game 2
In the third quarter of Game 2, people saw when Alex Caruso asked the referees to call a technical foul on Booker. That set Booker off because the referees caved in and assessed a technical on the Suns' superstar.
Evidently, Booker was unhappy with the referees because that was not something he had seen in his 11 years in the league. That is why he made sure to make some callouts during his fiery post-game press conference alongside Jalen Green.
He even name-checked one particular referee, James Williams, who is also a multi-year veteran of the NBA officiating crew. Unfortunately, Williams drew Booker's ire because of what happened with that technical foul fiasco.
"It's definitely something that has to be looked into. I heard Caruso tell them to call the tech, and he ended up doing it. In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James was terrible tonight, through and through," Booker said after Game 2.
"It's bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as the WWE if they're not held responsible."
Aside from that, Booker also made sure to point out that people should watch the clips to see what happened. He is valid with his concerns about the technical foul because most people online agree that it was not a good call.
Moving forward, this should be something that must be dealt with because a star player like this puts a spotlight on a bad part of the league. While Booker will not automatically get favorable calls, he will likely experience a fairer officiating crew.
BYU players celebrate during their MPSF tournament win over Stanford on April 22, 2026.
|
Abby Shelton/BYU
No. 5 seed BYU was the only lower seed to advance in the first round of the MPSF tournament Wednesday evening, toppling No. 4 seed Stanford in four sets at the Smith Fieldhouse.
The Cougars made the most of being this year’s designated host for the league’s postseason play, getting some revenge on the Cardinal from a pair of road losses last month and earning the victory on set scores of 25-18, 25-14, 23-25, 25-21.
“(Tonight was) an opportunity to make up for earlier in the season,” BYU head coach Shawn Olmstead said. “That was just a really funky weekend. … I’m not making excuses, but I knew that when this was coming, … that’s what (my team) wanted more than anything because when we played them there, it just wasn’t us.”
The Cougars got the last laugh Wednesday, playing much better than their first two contests against the Cardinal right from the get-go.
“(Our) hot start was months incoming,” BYU freshman middle blocker AJ Cottle said following a night that saw him tally nine blocks and 10 kills while hitting .769.
“After (losing to) Stanford, that left a sour taste in our mouth. … We were more excited to play this game, I think, than any other game this season.”
It was all BYU early on Wednesday evening. The Cougars ran away with the first set, taking a lead by as many as eight points and never trailing en route to a comfortable 7-point win.
BYU gained control midway through the set on a 5-0 run that included three straight blocks for a 13-7 advantage.
The Cougars grew their lead from there until Stanford fought back, cutting things to 21-18 before four straight BYU points ended the set.
In the second set things got even more lopsided as the Cougars coasted to another win. This time it was a 6-0 run that gave them a 12-5 lead and all the momentum for a victory.
The Cardinal had no answer for BYU, as the Cougars hit a whopping .600 and cruised with ease past Stanford.
Olmstead credited Cottle for powering his team’s impressive second set.
“We finally really got AJ rolling,” he said. “We (said), ‘Ride AJ’ … because what that’s going to do is just make them start paying a ton of attention (to him) and then we can go from there and open things up and have one on ones at the pins. And that’s what we got, and that’s why we were so good.”
Things did not go as well for the Cougars in the third as the Cardinal gave BYU a much more competitive set, ultimately eking out a two point victory to keep their season alive.
Stanford, which entered the set with 15 total kills in the match, pushed the right buttons and more than doubled its tally by picking up 16 kills. A late Cardinal surge saw the school score four in a row to take a 21-23 lead and ultimately hang on for the win.
BYU took care of business in the fourth set, holding Stanford at bay to take the match.
The Cougars went ahead early, holding an edge for most of the set and keeping the Cardinal from ever finding the momentum they had in the third.
The win sends BYU to the tournament’s semifinal round Thursday night, where the Cougars will face No. 1 seed UCLA. The Cougars lost twice to the Bruins last week in Los Angeles, both in four sets.
“We got to … come out the way we came out tonight,” Olmstead said when asked about playing UCLA again. “Then we’ll go toe to toe with them and see if we can make a few adjustments and get them a little rattled here in Provo.”
BYU players celebrate following their MPSF tournament win over Stanford on April 22, 2026.
|
Abby Shelton/BYU
Mark Vientos saw the stop sign. He admitted as much later, though, to hear him discuss the sixth-inning play on which he was thrown out at home by several feet in a tie game, the fact that he saw third base coach Tim Leiper hold his hands up did not strike Vientos as an admission at all.
“I was just following my instincts. Once I saw [Marcus Semien’s double] was hit off the wall, I was like, I’m gonna go score on that,” Vientos said. “Leip gave me the stop sign, but I followed my instincts and went home.”
As it happened, Vientos’ instincts did not doom the Mets, in large part because with runners on first and second and two out in the eighth, he wrestled an inside pitch into short right field to score Brett Baty with the eventual winning run.
“I’m glad he got that hit and redeemed himself,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said with a chuckle that felt appropriately nervous, given that Vientos made clear he would probably make the same choice again.
“Obviously, depending on the situation, we want to make the right play. But I’m always going to be aggressive. I’m not going to play passive on the baseball field,” Vientos said. “I’d rather make a mistake aggressive than passive.”
In some ways, the 2026 New York Mets are an example of that same philosophy: If the 2025 team sputtered out with the same old names, David Stearns was determined not to replicate last year’s failures this year. What the Mets must discern – now that their shoulders are free of that unfathomable losing streak -- is what parts of their current roster might eventually look like aggressive mistakes.
Wednesday night’s win did not happen because the Mets made drastic changes. Juan Soto’s return certainly helped, though it was quickly undermined by the departure of Francisco Lindor, who appeared to suffer nearly the same injury that sidelined Soto while scoring in the fourth.
It happened because the Mets, led by their manager, emphasized the need to trust track records as the present spiraled.
“You feel like you’re doing the right things. You evaluate things. You look around. People are doing what you should be doing,” Clay Holmes said after throwing seven strong innings. “You kind of really want to reach for something to do, but you’re already doing those things. Sometimes, that can be a little harder. You have to double down on the belief in yourself.”
Holmes, for example, tripled down on his sinker Wednesday, using it 73 percent of the time – almost as he might have in his days as a reliever. The righty is pitching to a 2.10 ERA in five starts this season.
But no one has been more stubborn than the Mets lineup, which has changed in terms of personnel even as it has committed to being aggressive through its slump. Mendoza said Wednesday that even though his lineup compiled the lowest on-base percentage in baseball, he was not clamoring for patience.
“It’s hard to get behind in counts here,” Mendoza said. “You have to be able to stay on the attack with good pitches in the strike zone.”
Quite obviously, little has changed because the Mets won Wednesday’s game 3-2. They still have the worst on-base percentage in baseball. Only two teams are swinging more frequently than they are. Only three are swinging at a higher percentage of pitches out of the zone. But last year’s team was baseball’s fifth-most patient and look where that got them. This year’s team will not make the same mistake.
Exactly what mistakes it will make now, after the baseball gods finally permitted them a win, remains to be seen. If Lindor is out for a significant period – and it is important to remember that Soto received what was considered a best-case diagnosis for a calf-related injury and still missed nearly three weeks – the Mets will have to wait even longer to see what the intended version of their lineup can produce.
But in the meantime, they will cross their fingers that Bichette can swing his way into a hot streak, that Vientos can turn a bloop into an offensive blaze, that two walks from Baty on Wednesday mean he is seeing the ball better…that everyone keeps doing what they would normally be doing in the hopes that better results must somehow follow.
“You have to stay positive. You can’t come to the ballpark expecting the worst, even if you’re going through a very rough stretch,” Mendoza said. “You come to the ballpark expecting good things to happen. And yes, it doesn’t matter how hard it is and how things are unfolding. Your mindset has to be expect something good to happen for us.”
No one should expect anything less than good things from the Mets, in whom Steve Cohen invested roughly $380 million this year. But when he chatted with reporters this week, he was careful to describe himself as “calm but concerned” in the only on-the-record comments he would offer, wary not to seem too worried nor too relaxed.
His roster is set. This team is in place. If a 12-game losing streak in April would be interpreted by some as a stop sign for championship dreams, the Mets seem resigned to ignore it. They are trusting their instincts, and those instincts are telling veteran members of their clubhouse that they are better than they have shown -- or at least, that if they are not as good as some believed, their best chance is to run past the red flags anyway.
Duane Rankin: "Ya'll should be interviewing the officials." Dillon Brooks after Game 2 loss to OKC as he fouled out with 30 points. "That should be a new thing in the NBA. Officials got to explain themselves because it's getting ridiculous when you can see it. It starts getting fiery. No control out there. Now they're just whistling on one side." On friendship/competition w/Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: I'm on the court. I don't care who it is. It can be anybody on the court. I'm going right at you." #Suns #ThunderUp
Dillon Brooks after Game 2 loss to OKC as he fouled out with 30 points.
"That should be a new thing in the NBA. Officials got to explain themselves because it's getting ridiculous when you can see it. It starts getting fiery. No… pic.twitter.com/Lgvdi3B8af
"I know I haven't won a championship in this league but I have been in it for 11 years now, so to get to this point to be treated like that, for me to even be saying something out loud it's bad. It's my first time in 11 years but it's needed.… https://t.co/04JkmCdX3Tpic.twitter.com/mOx5QpdJxM
"Caruso is moving forward on that and if that's an unnatural shooting motion compared to what guys are doing to get fouls nowadays, like you can play them side by side and I'll let you guys be the judge. Pull the clips, run it back. I'm… pic.twitter.com/F5zzbCMsRV
Thunder star forward Jalen Williams left Wednesday night's 120-107 Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns after suffering an apparent injury to his left hamstring in the third quarter and did not return. "We think he aggravated his left hamstring," head coach Mark Daigneault said. "We'll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we'll update you guys appropriately." Williams grabbed his left leg and motioned toward the bench after missing a contested layup on a fast break with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter. Williams appeared to mouth the words, "Left hammy." He intentionally took a foul a couple of possessions later so he could exit the game and immediately headed to the locker room for further evaluation.
Shams Charania: Reporting for Inside the NBA -- Spurs' Victor Wembanyama conducts cardio work Wednesday as he works through concussion protocol: “I’m told Victor Wembanyama was able to participate in cardio work here late Wednesday, because his symptoms didn't worsen. He wasn't feeling worse than he did when he suffered that concussion, and as of right now, my understanding is he is hopeful that he'll be able to travel with the team to Portland on Thursday, but whether he's able to clear concussion protocol in time to play in game 3 on Friday in Portland is an obvious question in jeopardy for the Spurs, because there are guidelines and protocols when it comes to the concussion policy. 48 hours after solving the concussion is when Victor would be able to, without restrictions, participate in activities. Within 24 hours you're able to have at least light activity, which is what he was able to do today because his symptoms didn't worsen. So that is the one good piece of news for the spurs that he was able to come in and do that. But overall, this is a process that's going to be seen by not only the Spurs medical staff but the League concussion protocol director. And he has to check boxes every single day, he has to clear neurological exams every single day. And what we know about the Spurs is they're going to always err on the side of caution, especially with someone like Victor Wembanyama. And what we also know with concussions, it's not always a straight line. So the Spurs are taking this day by day. We'll know more on Thursday about whether he'll be able to play on Friday.”
Reporting for Inside the NBA -- Spurs' Victor Wembanyama conducts cardio work Wednesday as he works through concussion protocol: pic.twitter.com/v5akihX2j9
Hermoso believes: “Champions League still a possibility.”
Mario Hermoso, who left this summer, has surprisingly become a pillar of Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma side.
The Grugliasco-born coach placed his faith in him, and the Spanish defender has repaid his faith with performances brimming with leadership.
The former Atlético Madrid player, who arrived last season on a free transfer, has played 30 games, scoring three goals and one assist. These numbers reflect the consistency he failed to find a year ago between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen.
Mario Hermoso, on the sidelines of the Elvis Lives event at La Rinascente, spoke about the final days of the championship with a hint of bitterness regarding the current sixth-place finish: “We’re in the final sprint, we’d like to achieve a better position like the one we’ve enjoyed for much of the season.”
The Roma defender, however, doesn’t want to surrender to fate and hopes to return to fourth place: “As long as there are games and points to be had, we’ll try until the end.”
BBC Sport: 48-year-old set to be candidate for Chelsea job, crucial factor could help him
Fulham manager Marco Silva is set to be a candidate for the vacant Chelsea job this summer according to reports.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONTHE APP STORE
Liam Rosenior was sacked by Chelsea on Wednesday evening less than four months after signing a six and a half year contract.
The final straw was a 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Tuesday night, which was Chelsea’s fifth consecutive league defeat without scoring.
Marco Silva a candidate for Chelsea job
Callum McFarlane has been put in interim charge for the remainder of the season, whilst Chelsea take their time to conduct their search for a new head coach.
Apr 22, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Anaheim Ducks celebrate a goal scored by forward Alex Killorn (17) during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place.
EDMONTON, AB – For the first time in nine long arduous years, the Anaheim Ducks have won a Stanley Cup Playoff game.
After the Edmonton Oilers erased a two-goal Ducks lead with just over six minutes remaining, Cutter Gauthier netted his second goal of the game with just under five minutes to play, and Ryan Poehling locked down the game with an empty-net strike to capture Game 2, 6-4, on Wednesday at Rogers Place.
With the series tied 1-1, Anaheim returns home on Friday for Game 3 for the first playoff game at Honda Center since 2018.
“It's a huge honor,” Gauthier said of being the man to snap the drought. “It's been a long, long time that the Ducks made it to the playoffs. So being in this position, we're super happy and grateful, but we're not gonna take it for granted either. So, every single night we go in and we have a game against these guys, we're gonna give it our all. And you're going to see that Friday night as well.”
Gauthier–Anaheim’s leading scorer from the regular season and a 40-goal man–got his first strike of the series on the power play, part of a three-point game. Alex Killorn responded to a personally subpar Game 1 with a three-point night, including a power play goal and shorthanded assist.
The Ducks went 2-for-3 on the power play with Killorn and Gauthier’s tallies, and Anaheim also shut down all four Edmonton power plays, including a shorthanded marker from Ryan Poehling.
Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl netted a goal and an assist for four points in the first two games of this series. Zach Hyman and Connor Murphy scored their first goals of the playoffs. Connor McDavid–the NHL’s regular-season points leader–was held scoreless for the second straight game.
Lukas Dostal made 33 saves in his first career playoff win, and the Ducks first playoff victory since the 2017 Western Conference Final. Connor Ingram made 22 saves in the loss.
“It's huge,” Dostal said. “Obviously, it's been a long time coming for this organization, so I'm also very glad that we can get a first win, but obviously it's a long series. They have a good team, but we show some resilience today. Guys played unbelievable.”
For the second time in two games–and as it was in 49 of 82 regular season games for the Ducks–Anaheim trailed on the opening goal, as Leon Draisaitl got the benefit of a bounce in front nine minutes in.
Draistaitl threw the puck in front, and as Dostál had overcommitted a bit, the cross-zone feed deflected off Drew Helleson’s skate and by the Ducks netminder, 1-0.
Unlike Game 1, however, Anaheim kept up their early pace and struck back nearly four minutes later, as Gauthier hit the scoresheet for the first time in the series.
Gauthier–who was second in the league in shots per 60 minutes in the regular season but registered just one on net in Game 1–came out firing and wired a wrister around a Beckett Sennecke screen to level the game on the power play, 1-1.
Dating back to the regular season, Anaheim has now scored power play goals in six straight games.
Dostál was sharp late in the period negating several Connor McDavid opportunities.
The second period was fast and furious, but the Ducks set the pace with goals in all three man-power situations.
Following two dominant possession shifts by Anaheim’s fourth and first lines, Jacob Trouba roped a shot to the far corner of the Edmonton net to put the Ducks in front, 2-1, less than three minutes into the period.
Three minutes later, Alex Killorn scored on the power play. Gauthier battled the puck down the right wall to Killorn, whose centering pass deflected off an Edmonton stick, off Ingram’s pad and right back to Killorn for the rebound goal, 3-1.
Edmonton got one back six minutes later, as Kasperi Kapanen held in a Trouba clear attempt at the blue line. Draisaitl found Connor Murphy, who blasted a shot around layers of traffic in the slot, 3-2.
The Oilers had a chance to tie on the power play with five minutes left in the period, but that’s where the Ducks completed the man-power trifecta.
McDavid made a spinning backhand pass attempt in his own zone that went nowhere near an Edmonton player, and Killorn jumped on it at the blue line. The 36-year-old fed a frame-perfect pass to Ryan Poehling in front, who deflected in the Ducks fourth goal, 4-2.
Edmonton responded once more with the fifth total goal of the period, as the Oilers worked the puck around and Zach Hyman tipped home a Mattias Ekholm point shot, 4-3.
Despite the late strike, Anaheim took a one-goal lead into the third period for the second time in two games this series.
Unlike in Game 1 where the Ducks sat back and attempted to simply defend the one-goal lead, the Ducks had a controlled push, still getting opportunities but not getting too far out of position.
Anaheim couldn’t capitalize, and eventually, it was a push too far that Edmonton sprung the other way.
The Ducks second line had a controlling shift with extra effort from Beckett Sennecke, and Pavel Mintyukov intercepted a clear from Edmonton at center ice. Mintyukov then tried to thread a breakout, but McDavid knocked it down and sent the Oilers the other way.
In the Ducks zone, Killorn couldn’t clear the ensuing play, and Matt Savoie won the battle. Josh Samanski, a rookie in his playoff debut, nailed the far corner to tie the game, 4-4, with 6:09 remaining.
However, Anaheim did not let up, as Gauthier hit the go-ahead goal and eventual game winner with less than five minutes remaining.
You might look at the league table and think Sunderland are a shoo-in to beat Nottingham Forest given they’re fighting it out near the bottom, but they’re in decent form and seem to be turning a corner – so, to give us the lowdown on Friday’s opponents, we’re joined by Matt from top Podcast and YouTube channel Forest Focus to hear more about what we can expect! On today’s show…
Are their European exploits an unnecessary distraction?
Is their new manager the catalyst for their recent form?
Who are the big players that we’ll face on Friday?
Does Matt think Forest will beat Sunderland?
All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show.
Want to get in touch with us? You can drop us an email at HawayThePodcastSAFC@Gmail.com, or you can contact us via social media – we’re @RokerReport on almost every platform. For your daily SAFC fan-written content, head over toRokerReport.SBNation.com
If you’re interested in trying NORD VPN, we’ve negotiated a great deal. Simply go to https://nordvpn.com/haway, and you’ll not only get an exclusive discount, but you’ll also get an extra 4 months absolutely free. And, don’t forget, NORDVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee too, so there’s absolutely no risk!
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Patrick Bailey #14 of the San Francisco Giants lets go of his bat after he hit a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning at Oracle Park on April 22, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Tuesday, we talked about Cainings. The San Francisco Giants introduced Los Angeles Dodgers ace and international superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the concept, with the most common type of Caining in existence. Call it the Standard Caining. In the Standard Caining, a pitcher has a very good game, but their offense doesn’t do enough. Because they had merely a very good game, rather than a great one, they’re rudely handed a loss when their incompetent offense fails to do their job.
Matt Cain, to pick a random name to use as an example, received a losing decision on 26 different occasions in which he pitched at least six innings while allowing two or fewer earned runs. Yamamoto’s impersonation was quite admirable, as the reigning World Series MVP pitched seven mostly-dominant innings but, thanks to a three-run first and a lifeless offense, received a notch in the L column.
Today, we talk about a less common variant of the Caining, one that the Giants introduced to Dodgers ace and international superstar Shohei Ohtani. Let’s call it an Advanced Caining. In the Advanced Caining, a pitcher goes above and beyond with not just a good game, but a great one. But the offense is, once again, inept. And eventually, the pitcher is forced to leave the game, leaving a bullpen to wear the blame when the magic runs out.
Matt Cain, to once again pick a random and arbitrary name to use as an example, had 17 different instances in which he pitched six or more innings, gave up zero or one runs, handed the bullpen a tie or a lead, and then watched, arms dangled over the railing, as the bullpen lost the game, and the offense did nothing to keep that outcome from occurring.
Ohtani now is intimately acquainted with an Advanced Caining which, admittedly, has an added flair to it when the pitcher getting Advanced Cained is also the designated hitter anchoring the offense doing the Advanced Caining. It’s a vicious cycle being both the Cainer and the Cainee. You’re not sure whether to feel victimized or guilty.
The two-way sensation had a game that, Giants fans will be loathe to admit, lived up to the hype. He struck out the side in the first inning, albeit working around two singles. He set down the side in order in the second, and then again in the third, and then once more for old time’s sake in the fourth. He cruised through the fifth.
It wasn’t until the sixth inning that Ohtani appeared to be in any sort of danger, and even then he dismissed of it easily. The Giants waited until there were two outs to try any sort of shenanigans, with Matt Chapman reaching on an infield single, and Rafael Devers smacking a double, his second hit of the day.
But Ohtani, still hitting triple digits even as his night neared an end, overpowered Casey Schmitt and ended the inning with emphasis.
It was his seventh strikeout of the game, which paired well with his zero walks. He’d thrown 23 pitches in excess of 99 mph. He’d given up just five hits. He hadn’t allowed a runner to score, earned or otherwise.
And none of it mattered. Because the Dodgers bullpen couldn’t maintain what he had accomplished. Because the Dodgers offense couldn’t match what he had thrown.
Because Tyler Mahle pitched better than Shohei Ohtani.
Because Patrick Bailey hit better than Shohei Ohtani.
A Caining requires a worthy adversary on the mound, and the Giants — despite what you would think entering the series — have provided that worthy adversary, first in the form of Landen Roupp, and next in the form of Mahle.
Mahle was excellent on Wednesday. He was beyond excellent. He was so good that someone in the comment section will be mad at me for mentioning Ohtani’s name five times before ever getting to Mahle’s, and that person will be right.
The veteran, whose debut season with the Giants had been a debacle prior to this game, not only matched Ohtani, but surpassed him. He threw the same number of pitches (91) as his opponent, but made it through seven innings, instead of six. He gave up the same number of baserunners (five), but none of them were extra-base hits. He faced a runner in scoring position in just two innings, and one was because Drew Gilbert took a truly atrocious route to a routine fly ball and instead let it fall for a single.
He had his help, mind you: Devers, Willy Adames, and Luis Arráez in particular had some standout defensive plays to keep the outs coming. But all great performances require a supporting cast, and Mahle’s showing was exactly that: greatness, with a fantastic supporting cast. And when you do that against the Dodgers, you earn some fans.
And so, as Mahle walked off the mound for the final time, as fans stretched and sang, we had been treated to two of the three components of the Advanced Caining: a great performance by a pitcher (Ohtani), and a great performance by an opposing pitcher (Mahle) in response.
All that was left was the third and final component: an offense eager to face anyone other than the star pitcher, and a bullpen prepared to waste a great start. And if it wasn’t clear to you until now, that offense was the Giants’, and that bullpen was the Dodgers’.
Southpaw Jack Dreyer replaced Ohtani, taking the mound for the bottom of the seventh inning in a scoreless game.
After two pitches, Jung Hoo Lee — who is not just heating up, but quietly starting to look a lot better against lefties — had started a rally with a leadoff single.
After two more pitches, Heliot Ramos — who, it seems, is fully back — knocked his second single of the day, putting runners at first and second with no outs.
Gilbert came to bat, and Bailey came onto the on-deck circle. As the camera cut to Bailey in-between pitches, you could see him look back at the dugout. You imagined he was wondering if his game would continue or not.
With Daniel Susac on the Injured List, pinch-hitting for Bailey is less straightforward, but I assumed the situation was simple: should Gilbert advance the runners, Bailey — who, despite being mired in the slump of all slumps, is reliably putting the ball in play and not striking out — would hit. Should Gilbert leave the runners where they are, Jerar Encarnación, with his high power but higher strikeouts, would enter the game.
Thankfully for Bailey, Gilbert did his part, laying down a smooth bunt that easily advanced Ramos to second and Lee to third. And with that, Bailey stepped to the plate, needing to just put the ball relatively halfway deep into the outfield to give the Giants the lead.
He took a first pitch slider for a strike, then watched as Dreyer spiked one in the dirt. A slider found the plate, and Bailey fouled it off. A second slider found the plate, and Bailey again fouled it off.
A third slider found the plate, and Bailey launched it into the bleachers.
It was a healing swing of the bat for someone who entered the game with zero extra-base hits, one run batted in, and three million calls to KNBR complaining about his lack of offense. A swing of the bat that reminded himself, his teammates, and his fans that he’s a better hitter than what we’ve seen over the first month of the season.
With a lead secured, the only thing left to do to complete the Advance Caining was to have the winning bullpen learn from the losing bullpen’s failures. And so Caleb Kilian took the mound for the eighth inning and worked around a leadoff single, retiring Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, and Will Smith. And Ryan Walker jogged out for the ninth, looking for his second dramatic save in as many days.
Walker got Freddie Freeman to fly the ball lazily to left for the first out. He got Teoscar Hernández to lift one to center, where it fell into Gilbert’s glove for the second out. He walked Max Muncy on four pitches, because why not.
And then, always with a love of theatrics and style points, Walker induced a weak chopper from Andy Pages, and played his own defensive hero for the third — and 27th — out.
Despite what the media may lead you to believe, Shohei Ohtani is not the only baseball player on the planet. There are other players, you know. Numerous others, if you can believe it. Players like Tyler Mahle. Players like Patrick Bailey. Players like Ryan Walker.
The Los Angeles Lakers have surprised just about everyone by jumping out to a 2-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets, even without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Doncic and Reaves continue to be sidelined with hamstring and oblique strains, respectively, and the Lakers have been missing lots of offense without them for roughly the last three weeks.
But without them, Los Angeles has played gritty and smart defense that has held Houston to under 100 points in both of the first two games. Offensively, L.A. has been patient on offense, looking to fast-break off its defense and moving the ball around in its halfcourt offense. It has been hot from 3-point range, and several players have stepped things up in terms of scoring.
Fox Sports 1 personality Skip Bayless has been a vocal critic of both Doncic and LeBron James. He made an appearance on "The Arena" and made a bold statement by saying that he feels the Lakers are better without Doncic (h/t Heavy Sports).
“I just think they’re a little better basketball team on both ends of the floor without Luka,” Bayless said.
“... Last night and obviously in Game 1, I saw a team with LeBron orchestrating. LeBron has far less ego than Luka does. Luka has to be the whole show, and obviously, he can be a defensive liability.”
It is true that Doncic can control the ball a lot and slow down the pace of the game, but that can also be said of other ball-dominant superstars, including James. When someone like that is out of action, it forces everyone to step things up in multiple categories, and in the short-term, it can result in better, quicker ball movement and better defense. Without Doncic, who won his second scoring title this season, his teammates know they cannot rely on their offense to defeat a quality team such as the Rockets.
Bayless took things a step further and threw some significant shade at Doncic.
“Luka is the most inefficient player in the league,” Bayless continued. “He is obviously an offensive scoring genius, but he led the league in shots attempted per game. He led the league in three-point attempts per game. He led the league in free-throw attempts per game, and he led the league in turnovers.
“He also led the league in scoring, but he’s the Showtime Laker singular where the whole show, the whole world revolves around Luka. [In Game 2], especially on defense, I saw connection. I saw trust, positivity, and momentum on defense that fed the offense.”
Make no mistake: If the Lakers are going to do more than get past a flawed Rockets team in the first round of the playoffs, they will need Doncic and Reaves to safely return from their injuries, even if Doncic is as inefficient as Bayless claims.
Neither has a firm timetable for a return to game action. But according to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers feel Reaves is further along in his recovery than Doncic is. Both recently returned to practice, albeit in a very limited capacity, and both were given a rough, estimated timetable of four to six weeks after they suffered their injuries on April 2.
The Eagles are just one year removed from a Super Bowl victory, and after failing to go back-to-back, the Eagles are hungry to turn around their playoff fate.
With the NFL Draft in full swing, the Eagles now have a chance to secure the players who could bring the banners back to Philadelphia. Their first pick doesn't come until No. 23, but the team does have eight total picks to make across the seven rounds.
There are a handful of gaps that the Eagles will look to fill in this draft cycle, beginning on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.
The Sporting News is tracking each of the Eagles' 2026 NFL Draft selections, from the first through the seventh round.
Wide receiver implications: A.J. Brown is the big name on the trade market once again, with the Eagles considering moving on from the WR. If the Eagles draft a wide receiver, there could be major implications for the outlook of Jalen Hurts' passing targets in 2026. There's also a chance that the Eagles try to use A.J. Brown as a chip for a better draft pick to potentially fill in at wide receiver.
Breaking up passes: The Eagles have been linked to Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the first round as a way to bolster their defensive unit. While the Eagles did finish eighth in defensive passing yards, a player like McNeil-Warren could take the Eagles passing defense to an elite caliber.
Defensive line: When it came to defending the rush in 2025, the Eagles struggled. They ranked 22nd in the NFL, allowing 124.4 rushing yards/game. As the Eagles try to fix up their 2025 weaknesses, a more effective defensive line is a major part of the equation
As the NFL salary cap continues to skyrocket, so will the contracts for its rookies.
Since 2011, the league has used a rookie wage scale for the contracts of every player selected in the draft — depending on the slot a player is taken at, there are already specific salary parameters in place over a four-year deal. The higher a player is drafted, the more they will make over their rookie deal in total.
In 2026, a rookie deal is expected to top $50 million in total value for the first time as the salary cap has continued climbing. Plenty of money is on the table for each 2026 rookie, with estimates available for how much each pick will be making.
Here's a breakdown of how much the rookies from the 2026 NFL Draft class are expected to make on their first deals.
There are 32 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft, and each slot carries a specific value for how much the drafted player's contract will be worth over four years — every drafted player receives a four-year deal. For players taken in the first round, they also get a team fifth-year option in their contract.
Throughout the draft, every pick will carry a slightly smaller overall contract value than the previous one. The figures are determined by the NFL's salary cap, which moved up to $301.2 million in 2026.
In 2026, the No. 1 overall pick is set to earn a total of $54,565,500 over four years, according to Spotrac, with an estimated $9,921,000 in their first season and $17,361,750 by the final season of the deal.
In contrast, the No. 32 overall pick, which ends the first round, is estimated to receive $16,168,614 over their four-year rookie deal, per Spotrac, with an estimated $2,939,748 in Year 1 and $5,144,559 by Year 4.
NFL salary by draft pick
Here's a look at the expected total contract value and Year 1 salary for the first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Spotrac.
Based on the NFL's rookie wage scale, there is a significant drop off from Round 1 to Round 2. Not only do Round 2 players, and any remaining draftees, not receive a team fifth-year option, but their expected total contract value drops by a few million dollars, and only first-round picks have their contracts fully guaranteed. Later-round picks typically have partially-guaranteed deals.
In 2026, the drop off in financial value from Pick No. 32 ($16,168,614) to Pick No. 33 ($12,937,488) is around $3.23 million over the life of the four-year deal, per Spotrac. Then, from Round 2 on, the pay scale steadily decreases until reaching $4,359,258 over the four-year deal, which is given to Picks No. 248 through No. 257 to close the draft.
Here's a look at how the four-year contract value and 2026 rookie salary varies for the first and last pick of each round in Rounds 2-7, per Spotrac:
Round 2, Pick 33: $12,937,488 total value, $2,352,270 in 2026
Round 2, Pick 64: $7,722,792 total value, $1,404,144 in 2026
Round 3, Pick 65: $7,274,960 total value, $1,322,720 in 2026
Round 3, Pick 100: $6,599,626 total value, $1,199,932 in 2026
Round 4, Pick 101: $5,482,354 total value, $1,194,339 in 2026
Round 4, Pick 140: $4,993,306 total value, $1,072,076 in 2026
Round 5, Pick 141: $4,781,518 total value, $1,019,130 in 2026
Round 5, Pick 181: $4,604,883 total value, $974,971 in 2026
Round 6, Pick 182: $4,565,698 total value, $965,175 in 2026
Round 6, Pick 216: $4,440,874 total value, $933,969 in 2026
Round 7, Pick 217: $4,417,085 total value, $928,021 in 2026
Round 7, Pick 257: $4,359,258 total value, $913,565 in 2026
NFL rookie minimum salary
The minimum base salary for an NFL rookie in 2026 is $885,000. That is an increase from $840,000 in 2025, per Spotrac.
It was another disappointing season in Cleveland for a fanbase that has had a rough experience since the turn of the century.
The difference now is that Cleveland broke the playoff drought in 2020 and secured its first win since 1994. It made the playoffs again in 2023 before the team took a turn for the worse.
Now with the draft at hand and two first round picks in tow, the Cleveland Browns have a chance to rewrite the script in 2026. The Browns will get the No. 6, No. 24 and No. 39 picks in the draft, a prime opportunity to develop a young core.
The Sporting News is tracking each of the Browns' 2026 NFL Draft selections, from the first through the seventh round.
Find Shedeur some targets: Wide receiver is the position of need for the Browns in this draft class and they have the pick number to potentially get the best on the market in Carnell Tate. If the Browns choose to trade down or wait until their second pick, they could still end up with some elite receivers, including USC's Makai Lemon or Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr.
Offensive tackle: The Browns have a clear need to rehaul parts of their offensive structure. In 2025, the Browns' offense was 30th in the NFL in total yards and 27th in rushing yards. Most of this falls on the offensive line, with OT being a point of emphasis in Cleveland. With two first round picks, a receiver and a tackle could be a likely combination
More offensive line additions: The issues don't end at OT for Cleveland, who is likely to seek out a guard as well. While Cleveland's offensive line could benefit from multiple new additions, it's unclear what order they will be targeted. Don't be surprised, however, if Cleveland drafts a guard on Thursday.
Chelsea and Man United to go head-to-head for new head coach
Manchester United have a huge decision to make in the next few weeks. After sacking Ruben Amorim in January, the club hired Darren Fletcher as an interim for two matches and then Michael Carrick.
The Englishman has done a stellar job, with United beating teams such as Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea during his tenure. As a result, the Red Devils find themselves in a great position to secure Champions League football, needing just six points from the remaining five games to consolidate a spot amongst Europe’s elite next season.
Decision
Owing to the success the team has had with Carrick at the helm, it is thought that the permanent job is his to lose at this point.
Nonetheless, sources suggest that United are still scouring the market for a replacement coach, and they have been linked to a plethora of names. Names such as AFC Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann and Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique have been linked to the Old Trafford hotseat.
Chelsea effect
After United defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, the Blues lost their fifth consecutive game on Tuesday when they were beaten 0-3 by Brighton & Hove Albion.
This led to the sacking of manager Liam Rosenior yesterday, and now Chelsea will provide stiff competition in United’s search for a permanent manager.
Journalist Ben Jacobs reports that, “Chelsea have not yet formally spoken to any candidates to replace Liam Rosenior. However, Andoni Iraola is expected to be one of the leading names approached.”
Julian Nagelsmann seems less likely as he was not “sold on the model” of the club when he was last interviewed for a job.
Luis Enrique is also seen as unlikely for Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, as he seems certain to extend his trophy-laden stay in Paris.
What’s more, “Eddie Howe, Francesco Fariola, Filipe Luís and Edin Terzic (also a candidate for Athletic Club) all have admirers within the club and have come up in discussion for previous vacancies.”
The Newcastle boss, Howe, is also said to have admirers at United.
Whoever United or Chelsea appoint or do not appoint in the summer, the two clubs will once again be fishing in similar waters.
Michael Carrick's record as Man United boss in 2026
he Arizona Cardinals have a number of needs they will try to address in the 2026 NFL draft. They really could go with any position during the draft.
Over the next few articles, we will go over players who could be targets in each round.
Let's have a look at edge defenders.
Round 1: David Bailey, Texas Tech
Bailey led the nation with 14.5 sacks for Texas Tech. He has the size and athleticism. He improved every season. He will be a top-10 pick and is the favorite to be drafted second overall.
Round 2: Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
He had 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in the SEC. He is a little short and has short arms, but he has athleticism and plays ferociously.
Round 3: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
He is 6-5 and 256 pounds with 33-inch arms. He had 8.5 sacks in 2024 and 2025.
Round 4: LT Overton, Alabama
He is strong but not a super twitchy pass rusher. He is 6-3 and 274 pounds. He had seven career sacks.
Round 5: Max Llewellyn, Iowa
He is long and was productive. He is 6-5 and 258 pounds with over 32-inch arms. He improved every year and finished last season with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.
Round 6: Tyreak Sapp, Florida
He had seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2024 but his production dropped to one and 3.5 last year. He is a bit of a tweener, perhaps suited better for the defensive interior but only 273 pounds.
Round 7: Logan Fano, Utah
He is 6-5 and 257 pounds, and he has motor. He had 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss last season.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
SEATTLE (AP) — Alex Carpenter and Gabrielle David scored nine seconds apart, Anna Wilgren added a goal for her third in two games, and the Seattle Torrent beat the Minnesota Frost 5-4 on Wednesday night for their first victory in the series.
Seattle (8-1-4-16) secured three draft-order points to take the top spot in the Gold Plan standings for a chance at the first overall pick in the PWHL entry draft.
Minnesota (13-3-4-9), which had already clinched third place, had won the previous three games against the Torrent in regulation by a total of 13-3.
Carpenter, who entered with at least one point against every PWHL team this season except for Minnesota, knocked in a loose puck to tie it at 2-all in the second and David sent a shot over goaltender Nicole Hensley.
Captain Hilary Knight gave Seattle the lead for good by finishing off Theresa Schafzahl's nice pass 2:29 into the third.
Minnesota forward Kelly Pannek capped the scoring with 12.5 seconds left and she became the first player in PWHL history to reach 30 points in a season.
Taylor Heise scored two goals for Minnesota and Grace Zumwinkle added another as each player reached 13 goals this season.
Up next
Minnesota plays at Vancouver on Saturday in a regular-season finale.
Seattle plays its final game of the season on Saturday when it hosts Montreal.
Liverpool have two new options to replace Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool was something that most people thought would happen over the next year or so.
In fact, some fans even believed that he'd choose to follow when his contract expired.
However, that wasn't what happened with Liverpool choosing to spend on an obscene amount of money on new players to try and reaffirm their place as England's best team.
Again, this isn't exactly what's happened as the club are currently battling for the Champions League places and find themselves in fifth position.
This lack of form has almost forced the Reds' hand into entering the transfer market for new players with two intriguing options now emerging as potential replacements for the Egyptian King.
Jarrod Bowen or Dario Osorio could join Liverpool as Mohamed Salah's replacements
Replacing Salah is clearly not going to be an easy task for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes to accomplish.
Even though the attacker hasn't been in the best run of form this season, it's still going to be hard for Liverpool to find a player as good as him.
However, over the last couple of days more links have started to emerge and now, Jarrod Bowen and Dario Osorio are actually being looked at as potential options for the Anfield outfit.
A report from DaveOCKOP has detailed that Bowen is now a name that Liverpool are 'looking at' this summer.
The online outlet details that even if West Ham United don't end up being relegated then the 29-year-old could still be an option for the club.
The Reds need somebody who can hit the ground running as soon as they arrive which is exactly what Bowen gives them.
In Osorio's case, the links have emerged from talkSPORT with the player himself admitting that Liverpool are interested in signing him.
"My agent tells me when there’s genuine interest, and to be honest, I don’t really follow social media on those topics," he said.
"As I said before, I always dream of playing in the best stadiums in the world against the best teams."
Comparing Jarrod Bowen and Dario Osorio and deciding who would be the better option
Osorio is a good option for a long-term replacement but, since the Reds will need someone to come in and help ease the pressure from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz's shoulders, Bowen is the player Liverpool should sign.
He already has years of Premier League experience under his belt and, even though the Hammers are 17th in the league, he's still contributed to 19 goals across all competitions.
He's been played all across the front three this term but his favoured position is on the right-wing which is exactly where they'll have a gap that needs to be filled.
And, if the Reds' injury crisis follows them through into the 2026-27 season, the Englishman could fill in for Isak if needed.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 25: A general view of the video board on stage with The Pick Is In for the Minnesota Vikings during the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 25, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NFL Draft begins Thursday in Pittsburgh rumors have been swirling about which prospect teams will pick. The Minnesota Vikings have been linked to safety Dillon Thieneman and more recently to tight end Kenyon Sadiq, although not as strongly as Thieneman has been.
However, there is no guarantee either prospect will be available when the Vikings are on the clock at #18. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some likely scenarios for the Vikings for the first night of the draft.
The Likely First Prospects Drafted
For the Vikings, it doesn’t really matter much which team picks the top ten prospects. It’s highly unlikely the Vikings are going to trade up into the top ten so if Caleb Downs is picked at #5 or #9 isn’t relevant. What is relevant are which of the top prospects are picked ahead of the Vikings. With that in mind, here are the top prospects that are highly likely to be picked in the top ten and effectively out of reach for the Vikings:
QB Fernando Mendoza
ED Arvell Reese
ED David Bailey
RB Jeremiyah Love
LB Sonny Styles
WR Carnell Tate
CB Mansoor Delane
S Caleb Downs
WR Jordyn Tyson
ED Rueban Bain Jr.
Beyond these ten prospects, I would also add the two top offensive line prospects as very likely to be taken ahead of the Vikings. They are:
OT Francis Mauigoa
OT Spencer Fano
All of the above names are -130 (56.5% implied probability) of being selected in the top ten and even higher therefore that they’d be selected in the top 15.
#12: Where the First Round Gets Interesting
Dallas owns the twelfth pick in the draft and there has been rumors that they could trade this pick either up or down. Stephen Jones said its not possible for them to trade up into the top five, presumably ruling that out. But if the Cowboys don’t trade this pick, there is a chance that their preferred prospects for this pick are gone. If that were the case, they might look to trade down or if that didn’t work out, pick the top player on their board, even if its not a great value at #12.
There really isn’t a good read on who the Cowboys may pick here if they don’t trade the pick. DraftKings has Mansoor Delane at the most likely pick at +600, which is a lot lower probability for the favorite compared to just about any other draft slot in the top 15-20. And Delane is likely to be gone by twelve. The Cowboys reportedly have first-round grades on just twelve players this year
One of the more likely options if all the above names are off the board is Dillon Thieneman, who has been linked heavily to the Vikings. Jermod McCoy had been linked to the Cowboys, but apparently there are significant medical concerns with McCoy that he may need an additional knee surgery to correct a problem and his knee issue may be a degenerative condition. Given those concerns, McCoy is now expected to be drafted in the late first round or possibly second round.
This is also where multiple trades could happen
There is also considerable speculation that there could be multiple trades in this range of the first round as teams looking for an offensive lineman may look to trade up. Some teams picking in this range may also be willing to trade down a bit and select an edge rusher.
As it stands currently, the Rams picking at #13 are thought to be looking at a pass catcher, most likely Makai Lemon, but possibly Kenyon Sadiq.
The Ravens at #14 have been strongly linked to the top guard in the draft Olaivavega Ioane, which is also a big need. They have also been rumored to be willing to trade down a bit too.
Tampa Bay picks next at #15 but is rumored to be looking to trade down a bit and pick an edge rusher, most likely Akheem Mesidor. However, if they don’t trade down there is a significant chance that they take Kenyon Sadiq here, who has been linked to the Vikings recently. The rumor that the Bucs are looking to trade down may indicate that the Bucs prefer to draft an edge rusher first, but they have met with every tight end expected to be drafted in the first three or four rounds.
The Jets pick at #16 and are rumored to be targeting a receiver here, possibly Omar Cooper Jr.
The Lions pick next and are widely thought to prefer tackle Kadyn Proctor. In fact, they may be a candidate to trade up a few spots to get their guy.
And Then the Vikings Are On the Clock
I expect one way or another Kadyn Proctor will be off the board by the time the Vikings are on the clock, which would leave the following prospects available (most likely) ranked by the consensus board with prospects the Vikings have met with during the pre-draft process in bold:
#14 OT Monroe Freeling
#15 CB Jermod McCoy
#17 TE Kenyon Sadiq
#18 S Dillon Thieneman
#20 ED Keldric Faulk
#23 WR KC Concepcion
#24 S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
#25 WR Denzel Boston
#26 OT Caleb Lomu
#27 OT Blake Miller
#28 DT Peter Woods
#29 Kayden McDonald
I’m guessing if these are the prospects available when the Vikings are on the clock at #18 the Vikings will pick Kenyon Sadiq.
It’s unclear who is the highest player available on the Vikings’ board, but the Vikings have met with a couple safety prospects expected to be drafted on Day Two (Treydan Stukes and Jalon Kilgore) and just one tight end (Oscar Delp). But more than that, drafting Sadiq here could accomplish a few things. First, given Sadiq’s skillset, it sharply reduces the need to draft for another wide receiver. Maybe a late Day Three pick instead of a potential Day Two pick. Secondly, it could make T.J. Hockenson expendable via trade, saving $10 million in cap space this year, although not sure if the Vikings will actually do so. Sadiq also has the skillset that fits very well with existing personnel and the direction the Vikings want to go offensively. Sadiq isn’t a traditional tight end- he’s an H-back that can be WR3, block, motion, and run jet sweeps. And he allows the Vikings to blur 11 and 12 personnel.
The Vikings have a lot more needs on defense, and there is a good chance the next three picks would be defensive players if the Vikings took Sadiq here.
If Sadiq is not available, I expect the Vikings will consider trading down, even if Thieneman is available. They’ll take Thieneman if no trade deal can be done and he’s available. If they trade down, Kayden McDonald could be in play.
Liam Rosenior actually deserves a measure of sympathy after what has been a harrowing few months before being put out of his misery.
The end result is another BlueCo-created crisis that has resulted in a revolving door of managers, a toxic relationship between the owners and Chelsea's fanbase, as well as the biggest pre-tax losses in Premier League history, announced as £262m at the start of April.
When the group took control of Chelsea in a £4.25bn deal in succession to Roman Abramovich in May 2022, Chelsea had just finished third in the Premier League under current England head coach Thomas Tuchel and had not been outside the top five in seven years. They had won the Champions League one year previously.
Now, they face a fight to secure any kind of European football next season, with the heavy financial hit that would bring.
Rosenior's dismissal may solve one problem, but those in Chelsea's boardroom must take the major share of the blame for a club that looks increasingly out of control.
Chelsea's recent losses eclipsed Manchester City's £197.5m deficit in 2011, despite bringing in £490.9m in revenue, which the club says is the second highest total in its history.
Since the current ownership took control in 2022, Chelsea have spent around £1.5bn on players, focusing on securing a raft of younger players on long-term contracts.
Calum McFarlane returns in the role of safety net between now and the end of the season, the former Under-21 coach having bridged the gap between Maresca and Rosenior earlier this season.
He must navigate an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday before trying to make sure Chelsea at least earn a place in Europe.
And then, after that period of "self-reflection", Chelsea will start work - in their words - "to bring stability to the head coach position."
Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) celebrates his run against Corner Canyon at home plate during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan kept pace with the leaders in Region 3 baseball on Wednesday afternoon with another come-from behind victory.
Despite falling behind by four runs after just two innings, the Beetdiggers didn’t get deterred, rallying to force extra innings and then prevailing it in the bottom of the 10th for the 8-7 victory.
With its second-straight one-run win over corner Canyon, Jordan finds itself in a three-way tie for first place in Region with a 5-3 record along with American Fork and Lone Peak.
On Tuesday, Jordan rallied for the 3-2 win at Corner Canyon after trailing 2-0 after three innings.
Twenty-four hours later, Jordan found itself in an even bigger hole as Corner Canyon scored three runs in the first and four more in the second to open up a 7-3 lead.
Over the next eight innings, however, Jordan relievers Caden Capener and Kade Carter kept Corner Canyon’s hitters in check, which allowed their own hitters to chip away at the deficit.
Jordan pitcher Caden Capener (13) delivers a pitch to a Corner Canyon batter during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Zach Sorenson (37) delivers a pitch against Jordan during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Levi Hines (14) celebrates his double during a baseball game against Jordan held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Will Baik (16) delivers a pitch during a baseball game against Jordan held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Maddux Florence (8) delivers a pitch to Jordan catcher Easton Wartman (9) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan infielder Isaac Salazar (14) connects with the ball during a baseball game against Corner Canyon held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon infielder Zach Sorenson (37) connects with the ball during a baseball game against Jordan held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan outfielder Dallon Molder (8) celebrates his double that allowed a teammate to score to bring the Beetdiggers within one run of tying Corner Canyon as Corner Canyon second baseman Tanner MacKay (27) looks on during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon players celebrate around infielder Zach Sorenson (37) after he and a teammate scored runs off a wild throw to first base by Jordan during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon outfielder Truman Munier (3) fields a ground ball off a Jordan hit during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) slides past Corner Canyon catcher Krew Thorn (11) and onto home plate to score a run during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon pitcher Levi Hines (14) delivers a pitch to Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan infielder Kody Kemp (3) looks to field the ball off a Corner Canyon hit during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan pitcher Daniel Strope (6) delivers a pitch to Corner Canyon infielder Zach Sorenson (37) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) celebrates his double against Corner Canyon at second base during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan pitcher Kade Carter (24) celebrates his run against Corner Canyon at home plate during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan outfielder Joseph Peak (19) cheers after making a catch for an out against Corner Canyon and to end the inning during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon catcher Krew Thorn (11) and second baseman Tanner MacKay (27) celebrate after Thorn hit a two-run home run against Jordan during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon shortstop Lincoln Eure (1) beats the tag at home plate by Jordan catcher Easton Wartman (9) to score a run off a double by infielder Zach Sorenson (37) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan players watch as a hit from Corner Canyon catcher Krew Thorn goes over the fence for a two-run home run during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan players celebrate after a bunt from outfielder Joseph Peak (19) allowed a teammate to score and defeat Corner Canyon 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan infielder Kody Kemp (3) beats the tag by Corner Canyon shortstop Lincoln Eure (1) at second base during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jordan outfielder Joseph Peak (19) bunts the ball for a single, allowing a teammate to score and defeat Corner Canyon 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Corner Canyon shortstop Lincoln Eure (1) throws to first base after a force-out on Jordan outfielder Beckham Livingston (27) during a baseball game held at Jordan High School in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The resulting catch completed a double play to end the inning.
|
Isaac Hale, Deseret News
The Beetdiggers cut the lead to 7-6 with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and then scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game inning extras.
Carter pitched all three of the extra innings for Jordan, only allowing one hit and recording three strikeouts. He had a big day at the plate as well going 3 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. He leads the team with 19 RBIs on the season.
Dallon Molder went 2 for 3 with two walks and two RBI as well for the ‘Diggers.
Jordan travels to Corner Canyon for the third game of the series on Friday as it looks to complete the sweep and stay at the top of the league standings.
Going into the final quarter and the Phoenix Suns rapidly catching up to the 10-point gap, the last thing the defending champions want is to lose their core stars. But Game 2 showed signs of a rollercoaster and anxiety from the first quarter. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 120–107 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night provided a commanding 2–0 series lead, but the celebration inside the Paycom Center was muted by a growing list of medical concerns. While the Thunder’s depth and elite shot-making carried them to a double-digit win, the availability of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams for the upcoming trip to Arizona is now the biggest concern after this game.
The most immediate concern centers on Jalen Williams after a non-contact sequence. After an injury-cursed year, J-Dub was hit with another setback in the third quarter. He seemingly landed too hard while going for a layup that Suns’ defenders swatted away. When he tried to move to the other end where the play continued, he was in visible pain and staggering. He intentionally committed a foul at the 5:53 mark just to sub himself out of the game.
As Cason Wallace subbed in his place, OKC ruled out J-Dub for the rest of the game with a left hamstring injury. Williams, whose had only 33 regular season appearances due to the same injury in his right hamstring, was torching the Suns with 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting in 23 minutes when he exited the game.
Head coach Mark Daigneault confirmed the severity of the situation in the post-game presser. “We think he aggravated his left hamstring. We’ll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we’ll update you guys when appropriate.”
The timing is particularly cruel for the All-Star wing. It appears to be a classic case of ‘contralateral injury’ wherein players returning from a hamstring strain on one side are at high risk of injuring the other, healthy side that’s overcompensating for the weakened leg. If very severe, it could sideline him for an extended period once more.
While OKC has found a way to play without Williams, they were under the threat of getting more shorthanded.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s in-game injury presents trouble for OKC
Compounding the anxiety for the OKC faithful was a first-quarter scare involving the newly crowned Clutch Player of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After an awkward fall during a physical drive, Gilgeous-Alexander appeared to tweak his left hand. He was clutching his hand in pain and needed several moments on the bench.
Fans noticed a tense moment where trainers were seen working on his fingers at the bench. One spectator claimed that the trainer ‘popped’ his fingers back into place. However, unlike Williams, Shai remained in the game to make several plays. The very next play after the injury, he hit a step-back jumper over Devin Booker.
Fans picking up several clips of rampant ‘flopping’ and the lack of whistles for the Suns couldn’t overshadow SGA playing through visible pain. Every time he made a shot, he had to hunch over, holding his hand and willing the pain away.
Daigneault was quick to praise his star’s poise under the physical pressure, remarking, “Shai made the right play all night.. His floor game was outstanding.. He got us really good shots.”
While Gilgeous-Alexander’s 37-point explosion, including 13-of-25 from the field and a perfect 9-9 from the charity stripe proved he could manage the discomfort, the trouble for Thunder is far from over. Williams’ absence leaves a significant gap that Phoenix will liklely look to exploit as Game 3 moves to their home on Friday.
As of Thursday morning, Williams is still questionable for Game 3. The medical staff is expected to monitor both his hamstring and Shai’s hand closely over the next 48 hours before a conclusive injury report.
Apr 22, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; San Diego FC forward Amahl Pellegrino (90) reacts as a referee displays a red card during the second half against the Houston Dynamo FC at Shell Energy Stadium.
SDFC’s two-match road trip ends in back-to-back league losses, falling 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday night, stretching to a four-game losing streak.
Coming off a 4-2 loss on the weekend in Sandy, Utah, against Real Salt Lake, San Diego's third consecutive loss, SDFC’s winless period grew to six matches in all competitions.
It was the road teams that saw success in this matchup last season, splitting the two-match series, as both clubs ended their road visits with four-goal scored victories in 2025.
After a calm offensive start into the game, it was Houston that got onto the scoresheet first off a lethal long ball attack in the 35-minute with forwards Ondřej Lingr and Ibrahim Aliyu connecting for the 1-0 score.
Starting from an overhead pass falling for Ondřej Lingr between two SDFC defenders, the Czech forward held the ball up at the top of the penalty box and laid off a through ball pass into the area for Ibrahim Aliyu, whose first timed shot blasted into the net, giving the Dynamo the advantage.
Although taking a dominant 65%-35% ball possession lead into the halftime break, SDFC still trailed with their offense unable to create chances off those possession spells, ending the period with zero shots on target.
Dynamo’s Lingr had a chance to ice the match in the 74-minute, being played through on goal and rounding SDFC goalkeeping Duran Ferree, only for his shot to be double denied by both goal posts, keeping the match at 1-0 with 15-minutes of regular time remaining.
SDFC’s period of bad luck continued to grow with a 79-minute red card given to forward Amahl Pellegrino after catching the head of Dynamo’s Felipe Andrade with a high kick, as the seemingly unintentional but dangerous play confirmed the red card decision, leaving San Diego a player down while chasing a result.
Even after putting an end to a four-match sending-off streak last matchday, SDFC’s 2026 red card nightmares continued, as Pellegrino's first career MLS red card brought the club's season total to six in all competitions.
In the 84-minute, San Diego looked to have leveled the match at 1-1 with substitute Marcus Ingvartsen’s shot hitting the back of the net, but immediately, referee Rubiel Vazquez called the potential equalizer back with fellow substitute David Vazquez being offside on the setup pass.
Despite the nine minutes of added stoppage time and a Dynamo red card for Ondřej Lingr’s kickout foul on SDFC’s Ian Pilcher in the 90+7-minute, the Chrome & Azul were unable to find the tying score as they ultimately fell 1-0.
SDFC’s losing streak totals grew after their slim 1-0 loss at Shell Energy Stadium, now on a four-match MLS losing streak, having gone their last seven matches in all competitions winless.
Following the 1-0 defeat on Wednesday night to the Houston Dynamo, San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas reflected on his side's performance at the postgame press conference, focusing on the squad’s progress despite the result.
“We dominated a lot of the game, played away from home on two days' rest and put them very deep. We didn't concede very many chances. They took the chance that they got. This is football.”
“We're going to take that, and we're going to make sure that we don't take any steps back, because we need to keep taking steps in the right direction. Because ultimately, we're here to win games.”
“The team is starting to play better, starting to not give up the big chances that we were giving up, and we're headed in the right direction. And what I would say is we're going to be there when it counts.”
“I would say the silver lining is that we're starting to play better. We're getting more players back and the group is very, very hungry to get back to our best.”
San Diego FC are back at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night following their two-match road trip, hosting the Portland Timbers on April 25 at 6:30 p.m. with eyes on snapping the losing and winless period at the club.
A more than familiar foe for SDFC, having faced the Timbers five times in 2025, with three victories, including an MLS Cup Playoff Round One series win for the Chrome & Azul.
The Red Sox did have a major bright spot on the mound, however, as pitching prospect Eduardo Rivera made his Major League debut.
The tall, 22-year-old lefty entered the game with two outs in the top of the sixth. He struck out the first batter he faced, Jazz Chisholm, to end the inning.
Rivera proceeded to finish the game, yielding just one hit -- a single. He didn't walk anyone, notched three strikeouts and showed good control, throwing 26 of his 41 pitches for strikes -- eight of which were swinging strikes.
Eduardo Rivera absolutely shoved in his big league debut.
3.1 IP - 41 Pitches/26 Strikes 1 Hit 0 ER/R 3 K 0 BB 8 Whiffs
Averaged 17 inches of IVB on his 4SFB. Never pitched above from AA. Didn’t matter one bit. pic.twitter.com/dmpkEdVLaO
It was a remarkable first impression for Rivera, who had never pitched above Double-A before. That didn't stop him from stifling the Yankees' potent lineup. But unfortunately for Boston, his performance came too late to save the game.
After his strong debut, Rivera will likely remain in the bullpen as a long reliever for the time being. The Red Sox need pitching depth given their recent injuries, and it looks like Rivera might be able to provide some.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will miss Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft and plans to seek counseling amid the Dianni Russini scandal, according to a statement acquired by ESPN.
He reportedly plans to be with his family this weekend, outside of Massachusetts. The statement:
"As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," Vrabel said Wednesday night. "This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.
"I have always wanted to lead by example and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result."
This article will be updated with more information.
This week marks a very special 130th edition of the annual Penn Relays, which are bringing the competition back to Philadelphia for another year.
Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania since 1895, the Penn Relays feature more than 15,000 athletes and 100 events at historic Franklin Field every year. Teams and runners at the middle school, high school and collegiate level set records at this meet each April.
Previously referred to as the "Penn Relay Carnival", this event has brought a fun environment and intense competitions for more than a century. This weekend is just another opportunity for athletes to make their mark in a historical setting.
Be sure to tune in for all the festivities in Philly.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 Penn Relays, including TV channel and streaming options for the annual track meet.
Where to watch Penn Relays 2026: TV channel, live stream
The 2026 Penn Relays will not be broadcast on television. Instead, fans can stream the action exclusively on FloTrack all weekend.
Penn Relays 2026 start time
Date: Thursday, April 23 – Saturday, April 25
Time: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. ET
The 2026 Penn Relays will get started on Thursday, April 23, and conclude on Saturday, April 25. Competition will take place from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The entire meet will be held at Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania's campus in Philadelphia, PA.
Penn Relays schedule 2026
Major high school and college championship races are listed below. For a look at the schedule for the entire weekend, click here.
It was Jalen Williams, who went up for a layup midway through the third quarter Wednesday and immediately grabbed at his left hamstring area. He then asked to be subbed out and went into the locker room, where he remained for the rest of the contest.
An official injury description has not yet been announced by OKC, although Williams has dealt with hamstring issues throughout this season. He missed an extended period of time on two separate occasions due to a right hamstring strain.
It's another unfortunate setback for Williams, who looked to be in postseason form before his departure. He racked up 19 points, four assists and one steal in 23 minutes.
The best-of-seven series continues with Game 3 at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Phoenix (NBC and Peacock).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shook off early injury scare
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander clutched his left hand as he hunched over early in the first quarter.
When he did stand up straight, a look of agony could be seen on the superstar guard's face. He was clearly hurting after hitting the deck on a layup and landing on his left hand, folding his fingers forward in the process.
But Gilgeous-Alexander didn't make a motion toward the bench to call for a sub. He made one to call for the ball just a few seconds later instead.
Isaiah Hartenstein snagged a defensive board and fed Gilgeous-Alexander, who took it all the way to the rim before sinking a left-handed layup. That marked two of the 11 points he scored during the first quarter, which he played every second of despite the injury scare.
Gilgeous-Alexander continued to hold the game in the palm of his shaken-up hand. He poured in 35 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes.
The Thunder guard intercepted a pass from Collin Gillespie that was intended for Booker. And that sparked a fastbreak, which resulted in a layup on the other end by Alex Caruso.
After committing 19 turnovers that led to 34 Thunder points during Game 1, the Suns added another ball handler in Gillespie to its starting lineup. But even that wasn't enough to prevent history from repeating itself.
OKC still dominated the turnover battle on Wednesday, 21-10. And it scored 22 points off turnovers compared to Phoenix's nine points.
Phoenix tried to follow suit Wednesday by throwing a better punch at OKC. One where its lead trio of Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks combined for 73 points. One where it won the offensive rebounding battle, 15-12, despite being undersized. One where it trimmed the deficit to 10 points with 3:46 remaining.
And yet OKC still took it on the chin to claim a 2-0 series lead.
∎ OKC was without Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery). Phoenix was without Jordan Goodwin (left calf soreness) and Mark Williams (left foot soreness).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Thunder at Suns
TIPOFF: 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix (NBC and Peacock)
It wasn’t a statement win, to be sure. It wasn’t a win that said the 12-game losing streak had been some weird, early-season fluke.
But on this night, any win was going to feel practically life-changing for the Mets, lifting the weight of the world off their shoulders.
“It’s a sigh of relief,” was the way Luke Weaver put it, after getting the last four outs of the 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night at Citi Field.
“It doesn’t mean we’re going to go on and win 50 straight games, but it allows us to just go out and play and not worry about trying to end the streak. It was going to take a win like this to get us going.”
By that, he meant a nail-biter, a game that saw the Mets lose leads of 1-0 and 2-1, as everyone in the ballpark seemed to brace for another cruel ending. All the more so when Mark Vientos, one of the slowest runners in baseball, purposefully ran through a stop sign trying to force the action with the game tied 2-2, only to be thrown out by 10 feet.
Yep, they were going to lose again. Why would this night be any different? The Mets hadn’t won since April 7, for crying out loud.
So when they didn’t lose, when they finally did find a way to win, with Weaver getting a huge out in the eighth with the bases loaded and then closing out the ninth, and Vientos redeeming himself with a bloop go-ahead single, you could feel a certain lightness in the clubhouse.
Not celebratory to be sure. But the relief was palpable. Players were quick to smile and exchange a bit of humor.
“I warmed them up for you,” Weaver said with a laugh to Clay Holmes, speaking of the media group waiting for the starting pitcher.
Yet it was all very self-contained, perhaps because the Mets really do believe they are much better than all of this, scratching and clawing to score runs and find a way to win just one ballgame.
If that represents symmetry for the 2026 Mets, this season might just be as doomed as it felt while the 12-game losing streak dragged on into historic territory.
In any case, this new reality seemed to weigh especially heavily on Carlos Mendoza. It’s clear he fears Lindor could be out at least as long as Soto, and perhaps longer, depending on what an MRI on Thursday reveals.
“We got relatively good news with Soto and it was still three weeks,” Mendoza said after the game. “It’s what we’re dealing with right now. We lost Soto and we had a hard time. We’re going to have to find a way.”
Mendoza said he knew it was bad as soon as he saw Lindor slow up going around third, as he scored from first on Francisco Alvarez’s double to right-center, injuring the calf along the way.
“Then I could see the look on his face, walking to the dugout,” Mendoza said. “Then he had to come out of the game.”
Lindor, of course, rather famously wants to play every day through anything, whether it’s a broken toe, a broken finger, or the birth of a child, none of which has kept him from his shortstop position.
The worst news for the Mets, of course, is that Lindor was finally starting to heat up at the plate after one of his notoriously cold starts to a season.
He had the three-run home run on Tuesday, two hits on Wednesday, and nine hits in his last seven games.
Even more to the point, there’s no getting around the fact that as Lindor goes, so go the Mets. It has been that way year after year: they win when he hits, they lose when he doesn’t.
He’s always had that impact, going back to his days in Cleveland. For his career, spanning 10 seasons for the Guardians and Mets, Lindor has put up a .950 OPS in games his team has won, as opposed to .638 in losses. In wins, he’s hit .316, in losses, .216.
Those numbers have been even more dramatic with the Mets. Last season, he had a .999 OPS in games the Mets won, compared to .610 in losses. In wins, he hit .333, in losses, .196.
And in 2024, the season in which Lindor carried the Mets to the postseason, making a run at the MVP Award, his OPS in wins was 1.084, compared to .543 in losses.
Mendoza knows all of that. He knows that even with Soto back, the Mets are going to feel the loss of Lindor at a time when they need to make a run to have any hope of getting back into contention in the coming weeks and months.
As it was, he could only smile wryly when asked after the game if he expected to come back with the same new-look lineup he used on Wednesday, with Bo Bichette leading off the Lindor in the clean-up spot.
“Well, we probably won’t have Lindor,” he said. “So I’m probably going to have to get creative.”
It’s been that kind of season for the Mets. The losing streak was over. And yet you knew the manager wasn’t going to sleep well. Again.
After missing Game 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant was cleared to return for Game 2. He had been dealing with a knee contusion, and it was expected that his return would allow the Rockets to even up the series after losing in Game 1.
He did enough of his job in the first half of Tuesday's Game 2 with 20 points on some hot shooting. But the Lakers suffocated him in the second half, holding him to three points on 1-of-5 shooting. For the game, they forced him into nine turnovers and consistently swarmed and flooded him defensively on the perimeter, and it was a big factor in their 101-94 victory.
LeBron James, who had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists on Tuesday, was asked how much gratification there was about the outstanding defensive job L.A. did on Durant after halftime. He responded by issuing a warning about the future Hall of Famer.
“None,” James said. “That just makes him even madder going into Game 3. No satisfaction. You know, we did our job. We did that. But the guy’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer and he’s going to make way more great plays than not. So, we don’t have no satisfaction. That game is over and done with, but it’s still a tall challenge — seven-foot tall, too… He hates that. He might be mad at me if he sees that. He wants to be 6-10 or 6-9 so bad, but he’s seven-foot for sure.”
One has to expect Rockets coach Ime Udoka to make some offensive adjustments after his team mustered a total of 189 points and shot poorly in the first two games of this series. Could he look to position Durant closer to the basket when he catches the ball so that L.A.'s rotations after sending help will be harder to make? Houston's 3-point shooting has left a lot to be desired.
Meanwhile, the Lakers have been as hot as a summer afternoon in Palm Springs from long range. They shot 52.6% from 3-point range in Game 1, and in Game 2, they made 46.4% of their attempts from that distance. Luke Kennard scored a total of 50 points and went 8-of-11 from downtown in the first two games, and the Rockets will have to find a way to stop him.
But job one for the Rockets has to be to fix their diseased offense right away. If they don't, they could face elimination very soon, perhaps as soon as Game 4 on Sunday.
Apr 22, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
OKLAHOMA CITY — In a very similar way to Game 1, the Phoenix Suns’ Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder can be summed up in one word: turnovers.
Apr 22, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) celebrates with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) after a basket against the Phoenix Suns in the first half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The first playoff matchup between the two teams wasn’t pretty, with the Thunder forcing 17 turnovers and converting them into 34 points in a 35-point win to open the series. Wednesday started differently, but eventually gave way to the Suns’ kryptonite so far in the playoffs.
After keeping things tight in the first half, the Suns unraveled in a turnover-heavy third quarter and fell to the Thunder, dropping to 0-2 in the series. The Suns gave up 20 turnovers in the second game, where the Thunder cashed in for 22 points.
Apr 22, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) defends in the first half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Phoenix entered the second half within striking distance, but a string of careless possessions quickly shifted momentum in Oklahoma City’s favor for the rest of the game. Sloppy passes, miscommunication and forced looks fueled the Thunder’s transition attack, turning an eight-point halftime game into a double-digit deficit in one quarter.
Despite brief offensive surges from the Suns, it wasn’t enough to cut into the gap they found themselves in.
Apr 22, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale (00) drives down the court as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) defends in the first half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The loss puts the club in a difficult position heading back home. Falling behind 0-2 in a playoff matchup raises the stakes and also raises questions about what the team needs to adjust to avoid the recurring issues from the first two games.
Ball security must improve, and their stars will need to set the tone offensively from the start. Through two games, Phoenix has struggled to generate consistent half-court offense while also giving away extra possessions — a combination that’s difficult to overcome in the postseason.
Apr 19, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reaches for a loose ball between Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the second half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
As the series now shifts to Phoenix, the Suns will look to reset and respond in Game 3. Avoiding a 0-3 deficit is critical, as no team has ever come back from that hole in a best-of-seven series.
The late-season struggles with fourth-quarter collapses have carried into the playoffs, with turnovers now defining the Suns’ campaign so far. If they want to turn things around, they’ll need a more composed effort in the moments that defined Game 2.
The Suns and Thunder face off in Game 3 on Saturday, April 25, at 12:30 p.m.
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
PHOENIX (AP) — Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami tied a Major League Baseball rookie record by homering in his fifth straight game, crushing a 451-foot shot to right-center field against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his 10th homer of the season.
He is the 13th rookie in big-league history to go deep in five straight, according to MLB.com. The Japanese first baseman also tied the team's franchise record, a mark shared by A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Ron Kittle (1983) and Greg Luzinski (1983).
Murakami's two-run homer came off Diamondbacks reliever Ryan Thompson in the seventh, cutting Arizona's lead to 10-7. His 10 homers are second in the big leagues behind Houston's Yordan Alvarez, who has 11.
Murakami’s 10 homers, eight coming on the road, are the most in MLB history by a Japanese-born player in his first 24 career games.
“I’m like, ‘Whoa.’ I tried to act shy, like I didn’t see him,” Sanders said.
It didn’t work.
“I’m waiting on you,” Davis told him. “Listen, everybody knows that you’re coming, and excited that you’re here. But I want you to know before you get into that clubhouse that I’ve got your back.”
Davis was on the disabled list with issues lingering from the severe kidney injury suffered on a diving play during the World Series 10 months earlier. Ongoing friction with the organization would lead to the departure after that season of the best player on the team and fan favorite.
In fact, the new kid – a top-10 prospect in the sport – was viewed by many as the Reds future, if not the heir apparent.
“I said, ‘Don’t ever worry about me. You do you,’ “ Davis said, describing that conversation in the summer of 1991. “ ‘And try not to let people involve you with what I do.’
“And he created his own angle. He created his own narrative.”
Said Sanders: “That set the foundation and the stage. That meant a lot.”
Sanders and his elite combination of power and speed couldn’t avoid the inevitable comparisons to Davis that came from the media, fans, others in the game and even the team’s owner.
But he carved out his own legacy in a 17-year career, the first eight with a Reds team that rode the wave of his 1995 All-Star season into the playoffs, where they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round – still the last postseason series victory for the franchise.
“The moment is not about me. It’s all about the people that have paved the way for me to get there,” Sanders said, mentioning teammates, coaches and working-class parents, including a father who taught him the discipline of martial arts and a mother who inspired strength through the care of a brother with special needs that “continues to drive me.”
On the field, Sanders’ rare skillset was the stuff of scouts’ dreams, a shortstop with 30-30 ability that rose to No. 8 on Baseball America’s top 100 list on the eve of his debut season as he shifted to the outfield and began drawing the natural, unfair comparisons to Davis.
“We had a lot of similarities,” Davis said. “He was a shortstop. I was a shortstop. He went to centerfield. I went to centerfield. Power, speed, athleticism.
"He could do everything.”
Probably a lot better than many remember – whether because of the shadow of Davis in the aftermath of the 1990 championship, the shadows of bigger-market sports towns that Cincinnati occupies, his struggles in the 1995 playoffs or something else.
If Davis is in the conversation for greatest player who’s not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Sanders might be in the conversation for most underrated of his generation – one of only eight in history to hit 300 home runs and steal 300 bases.
“I don’t really vibe with the underrated stuff, in any sport. Because who rates them?” Davis said. “Reggie was a phenomenal talent.
“When you looked around the league, there wasn’t anybody more talented than Reggie.”
He hit 20 or more home runs eight times, 30 or more twice, and also stole 20 or more bases eight times, including 36 twice, and missed a 30-30 season in that big 1995 season by the margin of two home runs — and again in 1999 with the Padres by the margin of four homers.
He also turned himself into a reliable outfielder, especially right field and was a strong clubhouse presence.
“That was par for the course,” Reds legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin said. “Unless Deion (Sanders) or Junior was here, they didn’t really talk about Cincinnati that much nationally.
“I know he was appreciated in our clubhouse.”
Sanders laughs a little when he recalls meeting the owner – and her dog – that first day in the big leagues 35 years ago.
“Marge Schott came on the field and said, ‘You’re gonna be my next Eric Davis,’ “ Sanders said. Then she called her constant-companion Saint Bernard to her side. “She ripped a piece of hair off of Schottzie and then she put it in my back pocket for good luck.
“That’s a memory I’ll never forget.”
He never became her next Eric Davis – or anybody else’s. But he became his own multitalented, All-Star success story with 17 big-league seasons to prove it.
Whether or not the national media or fans around the world ever appreciated just how good he was.
“I think there’s probably some scenarios that played into that equation,” Sanders said. “But we can erase that right now.”
Reggie Sanders highlights
One of only eight players in major league history with 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases.
Hit the first home run in Great American Ball Park (March 31, 2003) − as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1992.
Earned lone All-Star selection and finished sixth in MVP voting in 1995, leading the Reds in bWAR (6.6), on-base percentage (.397), slugging percentage (.579), RBI (99) and missing a 30-30 season by two home runs.
Three years after his last season with the Reds, won the World Series as a regular with the Arizona Diamondbacks, hitting .263 with a career-high 33 home runs.
“I’m like, ‘Whoa.’ I tried to act shy, like I didn’t see him,” Sanders said.
It didn’t work.
“I’m waiting on you,” Davis told him. “Listen, everybody knows that you’re coming, and excited that you’re here. But I want you to know before you get into that clubhouse that I’ve got your back.”
Davis was on the disabled list with issues lingering from the severe kidney injury suffered on a diving play during the World Series 10 months earlier. Ongoing friction with the organization would lead to the departure after that season of the best player on the team and fan favorite.
In fact, the new kid – a top-10 prospect in the sport – was viewed by many as the Reds future, if not the heir apparent.
“I said, ‘Don’t ever worry about me. You do you,’ “ Davis said, describing that conversation in the summer of 1991. “ ‘And try not to let people involve you with what I do.’
“And he created his own angle. He created his own narrative.”
Said Sanders: “That set the foundation and the stage. That meant a lot.”
Sanders and his elite combination of power and speed couldn’t avoid the inevitable comparisons to Davis that came from the media, fans, others in the game and even the team’s owner.
But he carved out his own legacy in a 17-year career, the first eight with a Reds team that rode the wave of his 1995 All-Star season into the playoffs, where they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round – still the last postseason series victory for the franchise.
“The moment is not about me. It’s all about the people that have paved the way for me to get there,” Sanders said, mentioning teammates, coaches and working-class parents, including a father who taught him the discipline of martial arts and a mother who inspired strength through the care of a brother with special needs that “continues to drive me.”
On the field, Sanders’ rare skillset was the stuff of scouts’ dreams, a shortstop with 30-30 ability that rose to No. 8 on Baseball America’s top 100 list on the eve of his debut season as he shifted to the outfield and began drawing the natural, unfair comparisons to Davis.
“We had a lot of similarities,” Davis said. “He was a shortstop. I was a shortstop. He went to centerfield. I went to centerfield. Power, speed, athleticism.
"He could do everything.”
Probably a lot better than many remember – whether because of the shadow of Davis in the aftermath of the 1990 championship, the shadows of bigger-market sports towns that Cincinnati occupies, his struggles in the 1995 playoffs or something else.
If Davis is in the conversation for greatest player who’s not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Sanders might be in the conversation for most underrated of his generation – one of only eight in history to hit 300 home runs and steal 300 bases.
“I don’t really vibe with the underrated stuff, in any sport. Because who rates them?” Davis said. “Reggie was a phenomenal talent.
“When you looked around the league, there wasn’t anybody more talented than Reggie.”
He hit 20 or more home runs eight times, 30 or more twice, and also stole 20 or more bases eight times, including 36 twice, and missed a 30-30 season in that big 1995 season by the margin of two home runs — and again in 1999 with the Padres by the margin of four homers.
He also turned himself into a reliable outfielder, especially right field and was a strong clubhouse presence.
“That was par for the course,” Reds legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin said. “Unless Deion (Sanders) or Junior was here, they didn’t really talk about Cincinnati that much nationally.
“I know he was appreciated in our clubhouse.”
Sanders laughs a little when he recalls meeting the owner – and her dog – that first day in the big leagues 35 years ago.
“Marge Schott came on the field and said, ‘You’re gonna be my next Eric Davis,’ “ Sanders said. Then she called her constant-companion Saint Bernard to her side. “She ripped a piece of hair off of Schottzie and then she put it in my back pocket for good luck.
“That’s a memory I’ll never forget.”
He never became her next Eric Davis – or anybody else’s. But he became his own multitalented, All-Star success story with 17 big-league seasons to prove it.
Whether or not the national media or fans around the world ever appreciated just how good he was.
“I think there’s probably some scenarios that played into that equation,” Sanders said. “But we can erase that right now.”
Reggie Sanders highlights
One of only eight players in major league history with 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases.
Hit the first home run in Great American Ball Park (March 31, 2003) − as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1992.
Earned lone All-Star selection and finished sixth in MVP voting in 1995, leading the Reds in bWAR (6.6), on-base percentage (.397), slugging percentage (.579), RBI (99) and missing a 30-30 season by two home runs.
Three years after his last season with the Reds, won the World Series as a regular with the Arizona Diamondbacks, hitting .263 with a career-high 33 home runs.
The Chevron Championship marks the start of major season for the women. Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston will host the major for the first time this season from April 23-26.
We will not only see a major champion crowned on Sunday, but also a bigger purse awarded, a controversial jump into a pool, and a potential debate about whether a player achieved the career Grand Slam.
Here are 10 storylines to watch as The Chevron Championship unfolds this week.
First major of the season
Unlike men's golf, which has four majors, women's golf currently has five. The Chevron Championship is the first major of the season. Following it are the U.S. Women's Open (June), the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (June), The Amundi Evian Championship (July), and the AIG Women's Open (July).
The Chevron Championship has been around, albeit with different names, since 1983. Before Chevron became the title sponsor, it held the names of Nabisco Dinah Shore (1983-99), Nabisco Championship (2000-01), Kraft Nabisco Championship (2002-14), and ANA Inspiration (2015-21).
Welcome [back] to Memorial Park
Memorial Park is playing host to The Chevron Championship for the first time this season.
It was announced in January that the tournament would move from The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas – where it was hosted the past three years – to Houston's Memorial Park. The course also hosts the PGA Tour's Texas Children's Houston Open, which took place less than a month ago. This gets the major closer to title sponsor Chevron’s corporate headquarters while reaffirming the LPGA's commitment to the Houston area.
Memorial Park is set up approximately 660 yards shorter than it was for the men a month ago, but it will still play long, especially after being soaked by rain earlier in the week. With the men on the PGA Tour playing here regularly, some players may get advice from their counterparts. World No. 5Hannah Green even has David Buhai on her bag this week, who looped for Karl Vilips last month at Memorial Park. Minjee Lee, meanwhile, is able to get some pointers from her brother, Min Woo, who finished T-3 at this year's Houston Open.
A major purse increase
Tournament officials announced Tuesday a $1 million increase to The Chevron Championship purse over last year. It will now be $9 million, with this year's winner receiving $1,350,000. The purse at the Chevron has increased by $6 million since title sponsor Chevron came on in 2022.
In addition to the purse increase, players will be offered a few other perks at Memorial Park, including a missed-cut stipend of $10,000 to all players who fail to make it to the weekend. Additionally, all players will be provided with their own courtesy car. Most players will receive a Cadillac, but past champions will get the option to drive a Bentley. Past champions also get access to a private champions locker room and are invited to stay for free at the Post Oak Hotel – a five-star hotel and spa in the area.
Poppie’s Pond becomes a pool
In 1988, while the Chevron was still being hosted at Mission Hills, a tradition was establish by that year's champion, Amy Alcott, when she jumped into the pond surrounding the 18th green to celebrate her win. The tradition didn't pick up steam for a few years, but the pond was endearingly named "Poppie's Pond" in 2006, in honor of then-tournament director Terry Wilcox's nickname. When the tournament moved to The Woodlands, the lake between the ninth and 18th holes was made suitable for swimming — including installing netting to protect against alligators — so the tradition could continue. The safety of the water feature at The Club at Carlton Woods was called into question throughout the tournament's tenure there.
Yet another move has made the topic of "the jump" a headline once again. This year, a temporary, concrete-lined pool has been installed to encourage the continuation of the celebration. Memorial Park plans to install a man-made pond at the 18th green in time for the 2027 tournament, but the temporary pool has been a hot topic in the lead-up to the tournament. Questions have centered around the look of the pool, as well as the depth (4.5 feet) and whether the tradition is being unnecessarily forced since the move from Mission Hills.
And if you're wondering, 'What happens if a player hits their ball into the pool?' Yes, they get free relief — another thing to debate.
The Chevron Championship, the LPGA's first major of the year, is being held at a new venue this year, one that doesn't have water on the closing hole. So to keep the traditional champion's leap alive, organizers put in a temporary plunge pool near the 18th. Next year, Tom Doak… pic.twitter.com/xuUSpDHmbB
The LPGA considers the women's career Grand Slam as winning four of the five different majors during her career. If an athlete were to win all five majors, they would be considered to have completed the Super Career Grand Slam. Many news outlets don't consider winning four of the five majors the career Grand Slam, remaining adamant that a player must win all five majors to achieve the feat.
Still, in the LPGA's eyes, In Gee Chun, Minjee Lee and Anna Nordqvist could each complete the career Grand Slam with a win this weekend.
Top amateurs in the world descend on Houston
Eight amateurs will tee it up alongside the pros at Memorial Park, including the top four in the World Amateur Golf Ranking: No. 1 Kiara Romero, No. 2 Paula Martin Sampedro, No. 3 Andrea Revuelta and No. 4 Farah O'Keefe. Also playing in the top 10 are No. 7 Asterisk Talley, who suffered a devastating loss at the Augusta National Women's Amateur earlier this month, and No. 8 Megha Ganne.
Can Korda win her third?
World No. 2 Nelly Korda has the opportunity to win the third major of her career and second at the Chevron this week. One would think with the way she has been playing, she's got a good chance at it too.
Korda has played four times on tour this season and finished no lower than second. She won her first outing in January at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and has since finished solo second at the Fortinet Founders Cup and Ford Championship before finishing T-2 a couple weeks ago at the Aramco Championship.
Nelly Korda started her 2026 LPGA season with 4 straight top-2 finishes.
Per @EliasSports she's the 3rd player since 1980 to begin a season with 4+ finishes of either 1st or 2nd.
The other two - Karrie Webb in 2000 & Annika Sorenstam in 2001 - won the first major of the year.
Stacy Lewis takes a final bow at four months pregnant
Stacy Lewis is expected to play in her final LPGA event ever this week, saying farewell to the sport while four months pregnant with her second child.
The 41-year-old joined the LPGA Tour in 2009 and has 13 career wins, racking up 118 career top 10s, 184 career top 25s and $14.7 million in official career earnings. Lewis hasn't played on tour since October of last year, when she finished T-32 at the Lotte Championship. In all, she made 16 starts and eight cuts in 2025 — what was supposed to be her farewell season.
Lewis says being pregnant has helped her golf swing and pregnancy hormones have eased typical aches and pains, but she was planning to retire even before a surprise positive pregnancy test after struggling with infertility and going through IVF for three years.
A two-time major winner, including the 2011 edition of this tournament — then the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Lewis' legacy extends beyond her resume. She has been a key advocate for paid maternity leave and protections for fertility treatments on tour.
Lewis' husband, Gerrod Chadwell, is the head coach for Texas A&M's women's golf team. He will be on her bag this week.
Hannah Green is on a tear
Australia's Hannah Green is looking for her second major win this week, and she is arguably the hottest player in the field. She has won four times since March 1: the HSBC Women's World Championship, the Women's Australian Open, the Australian WPGA Championship and last weekend's JM Eagle LA Championship.
As mentioned earlier, she'll have a seasoned Memorial Park caddie on her bag in David Buhai, and with a crazy amount of momentum on her side, it could very well be Green vs. Korda in the final stretch on Sunday afternoon.
Playoff on the horizon?
Speaking of Sunday afternoon, will we see another playoff this year? Since 2015, The Chevron Championship has produced the most playoffs of the five women's majors. Six editions have gone to extra holes to decide the champion.
If you’ve ever been to a Notre Dame game—or even watched one on TV—you’ve likely seen it.
The crowd, arm in arm, gently swaying. Voices rising together in a moment that feels both powerful and deeply personal. The alma mater.
It’s one of my favorite Notre Dame traditions. There’s just something about it—the unity, the pride, the emotion—that never gets old. But it also got me wondering… what’s the story behind it? Where did it come from? And what does it really mean?
So, I did a little digging.
Did you know that alma mater means “nourishing mother”?
It comes from Latin:
Alma = nourishing, kind, fostering
Mater = mother
In ancient Rome, the phrase was used to describe mother goddesses like Ceres or Cybele—figures seen as protectors and nurturers of life. Later, in the Middle Ages, it became associated with the Virgin Mary, a spiritual mother guiding and caring for her people.
Over time, the meaning evolved. Universities began to adopt the term to describe themselves—places that nourish not the body, but the mind and spirit.
And that’s why today, your alma mater isn’t just where you went to school… It’s the place that helped shape who you became.
Why Schools Have an “Alma Mater” Song
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, American universities began adopting traditions inspired by European institutions. Many of those schools already referred to themselves as alma mater—a nurturing mother to generations of students.
To honor that idea, schools began composing official hymns—songs of gratitude, loyalty, and connection—often titled simply Alma Mater.
These songs are more than melodies. They are moments.
They are sung at graduations, after victories, and during quiet, reflective ceremonies. They bring together students, alumni, and fans—uniting them in shared memory and affection for the place that helped form them.
Notre Dame, Our Mother
At the University of Notre Dame, the connection to this meaning is beautifully direct.
The alma mater is titled “Notre Dame, Our Mother.”
And within it lives one of the most beloved lines in all of Notre Dame tradition:
“Love thee, Notre Dame.”
Those words trace back to March 15, 1930, when Rev. Charles L. O’Donnell, C.S.C.—a Holy Cross priest, Notre Dame graduate, and then-president of the University—wrote a simple ten-line poem.
Father O’Donnell was no stranger to storytelling. As a student, he had edited the very first edition of The Dome yearbook. Later, he served as a World War I chaplain, and eventually returned to Notre Dame to lead the University he loved.
Sometime in 1931, that poem found its voice.
Professor Joseph J. Casasanta, a member of the Notre Dame music faculty and director of both the Band and Glee Club, set O’Donnell’s words to music—transforming poetry into something that could be sung, shared, and felt.
And then came a moment that could only happen at Notre Dame.
On October 7, 1931, at the Palace Theatre in South Bend (known today as the Morris Performing Arts Center), the alma mater was performed publicly for the very first time.
It wasn’t a small debut.
A combined force of 85 band members and 110 voices from the Glee Club came together on stage—united in sound and spirit—to introduce “Notre Dame, Our Mother” to the world.
The occasion? The premiere of The Spirit of Notre Dame, a Hollywood film celebrating Notre Dame football and the legendary era of Knute Rockne.
It was the perfect stage for a song that would become timeless.
A Song That Lives On
The film may be hard to find today. The years have passed. The players, the crowds, the moment itself—all part of history now.
But the song remains.
And every time it is sung—whether after a victory in Notre Dame Stadium or during a quiet closing moment—it carries with it nearly a century of meaning.
Because when you sing an alma mater, you’re not just singing a song.
You’re expressing gratitude. You’re honoring where you came from. You’re remembering the people, the lessons, the moments that shaped you.
You’re saying thank you to your nourishing mother.
And at Notre Dame, you’re saying it in the simplest, most powerful way possible:
DENVER (AP) — Hunter Goodman had two doubles and a homer, TJ Rumfield knocked in two runs and Tomoyuki Sugano struck out four in 5 2/3 innings as the Colorado Rockies defeated the San Diego Padres 8-3 on Wednesday night.
Sugano (2-1) allowed five hits, one run, and one walk. The 36-year-old righty bounced back from an eight-hit, five-run loss against the Dodgers in his last outing.
Goodman tied his season-high with eight total bases, finishing 3 for 4 with a walk.
Rumfield, Mickey Moniak, Willi Castro, and Jake McCarthy had two hits apiece and the Rockies finished with 15 hits.
Castro's RBI single started a four-run third inning in which the Colorado took the lead. Edouard Julien, Moniak, and Tyler Freeman each drove in runs in the inning.
Rumfield drove in two more runs with a single and a double, and McCarthy added an RBI single in the seventh inning. Goodman added his sixth homer of the season in the eighth inning, a 427-foot solo shot.
Antonio Senzatela allowed a hit and an unearned run in two innings to close out the game.
For the Padres, Walker Buehler (1-2) gave up eight hits, four runs, and two walks while striking out two.
Luis Campusano had two doubles and a solo homer, and Xander Bogaerts added two singles for San Diego.
Colorado rebounded from a 1-0 loss to the Padres on Tuesday in the team’s fourth such setback in Coors Field’s 26-year history. Teams have combined to score 11.2 runs per game in 12 total games following a 1-0 result.
Up next
Padres RHP Matt Waldron (0-1, 14.73) starts opposite Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-1, 6.00) in the final game of the series. ___
Guro Reiten is sitting inside her apartment in Norway, in between spending time with her 5-month-old son and packing her life away. As if being a new mom and professional soccer player weren’t hectic enough, she just added “moving across the world” to her to-do list.
Two weeks earlier, the 31-year-old signed a three-year contract with NWSL club Gotham FC, after seven trophy-laden years with Women’s Super League champions Chelsea.
The Norway international, considered one of the best left-footed wingers in the world, will join the team on loan through July, before signing a multi-year deal to 2029.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Reiten tells The Athletic on a video call. “I got some incredible memories (at Chelsea), but I felt like it was now or never, because I want to go somewhere where I can play at my best level.
“I normally go to different clubs and spend a lot of time there, so, hopefully, I’ve got a few more good years in me.”
Moving to New Jersey is Reiten’s way of stepping out of her comfort zone. Her signing with the 2025 league winners came as a shock when announced on March 12, but it was a calculated move by Gotham, whose motto remains “always building, never finished.”
The team knew Reiten’s contract expired in the summer. They took advantage of their trip to London in January for the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup to meet her — or “the moment we were allowed to, by the rules,” as Yael Averbuch West, Gotham’s general manager and head of soccer operations, told The Athletic.
“We’re always looking for players at Gotham who can fit into our style, in terms of a very intelligent player with a really high football IQ and technical ability,” Averbuch West says.
“We talked to her a number of times to try to convince her why she should consider moving her family across the world. … (She) is at a stage of her career where she is experienced, but also still looking to improve her game, which is the most important thing to us at the end of the day — that players are still hungry for more, and she very much is.”
Reiten, a native of Sunndalsøra, around 300 miles north of the capital Oslo, began her professional career as a teenager in Norway, playing across multiple clubs before signing with Chelsea in 2019.
Growing up, everyone around her played soccer, including her mother, Iren Olsen, who played professionally in Norway. Reiten tried lots of sports — like skiing and handball — but always found her way back to football.
In her first year with Chelsea, she appeared in 23 of their 25 matches, scoring seven goals and earning a nomination for WSL Player of the Year. She won a WSL title every year since, scoring 59 goals and recording 44 assists across 207 appearances. She won four Women’s FA Cups and three Women’s League Cups, bringing her trophy count to 13.
“I played with my heart for Chelsea, and I’m gonna play with my heart for Gotham,” Reiten says. “Hopefully I can help the team create chances and score goals and (we can) create great memories together.”
Reiten has been recognized by publications such as The Guardian as being among the top 100 players in the world, qualifying her as a High Impact Player. That means Gotham can tap into an additional $1 million in funds above the salary cap to pay her when the rule comes into effect on July 1. Averbuch West on Wednesday declined to specify with reporters any details of Reiten’s contract, but said she is among several Gotham players who qualify for HIP.
When Reiten first met with Gotham, the winger was impressed by their professionalism. They came prepared with PowerPoints and a clear vision for how she fit into their system.
“From then on,” she said, “I knew that this was the place that I wanted to go to.”
Reiten’s arrival was slowed by the visa process, which meant returning to Norway upon leaving London before relocating to New Jersey. She is now with Gotham, joining the team following her international window with Norway, in time for Gotham’s next match on Saturday with Bay FC. Reiten recently featured for her national team in UEFA World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia, entering both games as a second-half substitute. Norway won both games (5-0, then 3-2).
On Wednesday, Reiten had her first Gotham press conference, appearing all smiles and seeming at ease. Reiten has been in New Jersey for “a couple of days” and is adjusting to the time difference. Whether she will debut this weekend is unclear. Averbuch West said Gotham wants her on the pitch “as soon as possible,” but the club is easing her into their system. She added, Reiten will have to earn her spot like everyone else.
Her arrival could not come at a better time, with Gotham suffering a sluggish start. When she signed, Gotham were days from opening their 2026 campaign against Boston Legacy at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
It remains their only win of the season. Across five matches, the team has only scored two goals. With one win, two losses and two scoreless draws, the champions sit 13th in the 16-team league.
At first, the plan was for Reiten to join the NWSL team over the summer. But as Gotham’s needs changed, so did the team’s urgency to have her in the U.S.
Defenders such as Brazil international Bruninha and long-serving Mandy Freeman suffered injuries to their hamstring and lower leg, respectively, which have limited the team’s ability to stretch the width of the pitch. Neither has featured this season.
Gotham had the shortest offseason of any NWSL club. Their 2025 ended on the last possible day of the year — during the championship match on November 22, when they beat Washington Spirit 1-0. There was an international window two days later that ran through December 5, for which 10 Gotham players were called up. By January 5, the team was back in Spain preparing for the Champions Cup in London, which ended on February 1. Preseason started a few weeks later.
Head coach Juan Carlos Amoros has leaned heavily on younger players to start the season, such as rookies Jordynn Dudley and Andrea Kitahata.
Kayla Duran, in her second year with the club, filled a much-needed role on the wing in players’ absences. She exited their match against Kansas City Current with an injury in the 18th minute. A week later, she was ruled out for the remainder of the year after suffering an ACL injury in her right knee.
Reiten’s arrival signals a reunion with her former Chelsea teammates, defender Jess Carter and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. The pair signed with Gotham in 2024 and quickly worked their way into the team’s starting rotation.
“We’re really lucky to be able to get a player like her to come and join us,” Carter told The Athletic. “She’s a very versatile player who can play multiple different positions, and she’s going to be a great addition.
“This was probably one of the nicest playing groups of women that I’ve ever had the opportunity to play with, so she’ll be really welcomed.”
Reiten may also be in store for a reunion with her former Chelsea coach, Emma Hayes, who like Carter and Berger, left the club two years ago and is now head coach of USWNT. Hayes shared a message on social media after Reiten’s move was announced. “One of the best,” Hayes wrote. “A delight to coach. A wand of a left boot and an amazing person.”
Though Reiten will be moving to New Jersey as the same left-footed winger that dazzled in Europe, she will be starting this chapter of her career with a new perspective. In November, Reiten and her partner announced the birth of their son, Felix.
“It’s changed everything,” Reiten said. “One of my reasons why I want to play for the national team is that I want to leave the shirt in a better place for the next one. And with a kid, it gives that perspective, like ‘Oh, my God, he’s here.’
“Whenever I go (to) leave for football, I might be happy, I might be angry, upset, whatever mindset — then I walk in the door, and he’s there with his big smile, and I forget everything.”
Moving to Gotham is another leap of faith for Reiten, like moving to Chelsea once was.
“I went there seven years ago with no expectations at all, and I’m leaving with 200 games and a couple of trophies,” Reiten says. “I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved with the club and with the people that I’ve spent a lot of time with, but it’s time for something new.”
When Arsenal signed Mariona Caldentey from Barcelona in the summer of 2024, they knew they were getting one of the most acclaimed players in women’s football: a serial Champions League winner, a World Cup winner the previous year. There were high expectations.
In her first season, she surpassed those expectations: being voted the Women’s Super League (WSL) Player of the Season, and inspiring Arsenal to Champions League success.
Before this weekend’s Champions League semi-final against Lyon, Caldentey sat down with The Athletic to look through some of her most famous goals and assists, and discuss her journey from Mallorca to north London.
Assisting Olga Carmona in the World Cup final, Spain 1-0 England, 2023
The biggest game in football. I’m interested in how this move works out, because you know you’re up against Lucy Bronze, who moves into midfield and loses the ball.
Yeah, I think the idea of playing me as a winger is a bit like being the fourth midfielder, and that’s why normally, when I have the ball I just dribble inside and then the full-back — here Olga — would just run up and down the whole game, like it’s playing with no winger. We have played together a lot, and she just ran, and screamed to me when she’s ready to receive the ball. It was a great finish.
Presumably you know she’s coming at quite an early stage here. And so what’s your thought process? Are you trying to occupy the defender and create space?
Yeah, I’m trying to give her time to arrive, and try to keep her (points at Jess Carter) engaged to me. Then Olga comes with higher speed, and the defender needed to stop because I was slowing down the ball. So I think that gives the advantage to Olga in that moment.
Tell me about the emotion of this moment.
It’s early in the game. You are so excited, but you don’t want to be too excited because there’s still a long way to go. In the World Cup… you don’t know if you’re going to be there again in the final, it’s like, ‘It’s not done, there still a job to do’.
A scrappy assist for Fridolina Rolfo to hammer home the winner in the Champions League final, Barcelona 3-2 Wolfsburg, 2023
There was another final that year you got an assist in. Maybe an ugly goal, but a beautiful moment.
It’s weird. I tried to finish twice. The first one, I didn’t really hit the ball, or hit it wrong. Two or three times, I couldn’t find the goal, so then, well, yeah, then someone else needs to do it, because I couldn’t do it! I’m losing balance, so just giving it to that player who is coming and can finish clearly, and better than what I did.
And the interesting thing about this final, I think I’m right in saying you were playing as the No 9.
I was playing as a No 9… I’m not sure because it’s the 70th minute here. So in that moment, I think I was a winger already, but I started as a striker.
And how does that suit you, because I’ve seen Barcelona and Spain do that a few times. Is it similar to playing on the left, in that you’re the extra midfielder as much as the No 9?
Yeah, even if I start from the wing or from the 9, the idea is basically to try to overload the midfield. And with three up top, two of them need to be ‘running’ players, and then the other one can be the extra midfielder. But it’s basically the same role. I think in the past, we struggled a bit to get the balance – always, everyone goes to the feet. I think when we had those two (running) players, it was when we became really dangerous.
And it feels like the teams you play for, Spain and Barcelona before, you often do that with substitutes, whether it was Salma Paralluelo coming on in the World Cup or Athenea del Castillo, it feels like you can inject something different and maybe when the opponents are tired, that is often what brings the breakthrough.
Yeah, with Salma or Athenea, if I’m a defender, running for 70 or 80 minutes, you’re already quite tired and players with pace coming on must be so hard. I think it’s something we learned and improved for Barca and Spain — it’s not enough just to have the ball. You need to have a purpose with the ball, and play with players who can run… like here, Frido, she was a left-back in that moment. Then it’s more unpredictable and hard to defend.
Obviously, the first two goals this day were scored by Patri Guijarro, who you played with from a very young age.
I remember when I was in Mallorca and playing with boys’ teams, I had a game away from my town, and before our match I was watching another game and there was one girl. She was the best on the team. And it was Patri, and that was the first time I saw her. Then, we played in the Balearic ‘national team’, and then the Spanish youth team, then we played together in Collerense, then we played together in La Masia (Barcelona’s academy).
We lived together for five years, maybe. We were helping each other a lot because when we shared a flat, the two of us were at uni. So the one who was a bit more free was cooking for the two of us, the other one went for the food shop. We became really close, and then our families, of course, are good with each other as well because my mum and her mum sometimes fly together. So, yeah, it’s special.
And with Cata Coll as well, Mallorca seems a good place for developing footballers?
It was like a big generation because it was Virginia Torrecilla. I don’t know if you remember her because she had to retire because she was ill with cancer. She was a No 6 as well. She was on the top level. She played for Barca, for Montpellier, for Spain. It’s a small island and that generation was really good. And then Cata is a bit younger.
A reverse pass for Jenni Hermoso, Spain 3-1 Czech Republic, 2024
This isn’t such a big game, but I wanted to include it because it’s a very nice assist. It’s what I think of as a Sergio Busquets pass — when I think he’s going to pass it to the right and then he cuts it back. That must feel a really nice pass to play.
Yeah, I think that’s a pass I actually use a lot normally with Aitana (Bonmati) because she plays on the other side, and makes the run diagonally. I like it when I have the ball at my feet and my head up and then I see all the movements — and that’s a beautiful finish, by the way, as well from Jenni — but yeah, I think that’s a pass I use quite a lot, pretending we are changing the point of attack, but we don’t, and we know we are going to do that.
If I just stop the tape: your body position, is that to trick the opposition or is that for balance for yourself to play the pass?
No, I think it’s a bit trying to fake the pass or to hide what I’m going to do… oh, that’s Bara (Votikova, currently on loan at Arsenal), the goalkeeper!
Jenni is very keen to thank you for the pass when you come over.
The mentality in Spain is: we have a lot of good individual players, but we know we make each other better, and I think that’s the strength of the team. We all are good individual players — that’s a really good movement, but then it’s a good pass — we know we need each other, of course, it’s a collective sport.
Heading home the opener in the European Championship final, Spain 1-1 England, 2025
This is maybe a day you don’t have fond memories of, but a really good moment and a nice goal when you went ahead.
Yeah, it’s funny because I’m not a good header. I’m not tall. It’s not my strength at all. Scoring a goal like that in a final, it’s weird for me. But I have to say we actually spoke about that cross before that game. And they were actually being a bit harsh on me before. Because they showed some clips where the space was there, the cross was there, and me as an opposite winger, I wasn’t there, and they were a bit like, ‘Mariona, you need to be there. That’s your space’.
And I was a bit like, ‘OK’, I took it a bit personal. I said, ‘OK, no worries, I will be there’. And then it actually worked out well. Good cross from Ona (Batlle). Sometimes you speak about the game and then things don’t happen how you expect, but this action, we actually spoke about it. So then it feels even better. I think it gives credit as well to the staff, that they show us that can be an option for us.
It felt to me like the overall level in this tournament was probably higher than the World Cup.
Yeah, I just think it’s that women’s football is growing, growing, growing, and it’s getting better. Players are physically, mentally, technically, tactically better, and I think every tournament will be a higher level, for sure. I think we had a good final. We dominated England, but I think England feel OK with that.
You’re in a good position to judge because you play with England players. What’s the stylistic difference between the way the two teams play?
Both teams are used to dominating games and having possession, to attack. But I think England, they look more comfortable when they then have to defend and they don’t have the ball that much — as Spanish players, we feel a bit more stressed or nervous when we feel we are not dominating the game, and, for example, England, they can maybe not play the best game, but in some way they’re gonna make it, and they did it during that Euros. They are just ruthless and they have a winning mentality and I think we care more for how we do it. They are more: we score, we win. We win like that, fine. I think that’s maybe the difference with the teams.
A powerful shot for a consolation goal, Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 Arsenal, 2025
First, what was the adaptation like from playing in Spain your whole life and then coming to England?
It was a natural transition. It felt… not easy, but it just felt good from the start and I knew it was gonna take time and it’s a new club, new connection with new team-mates, everything is different. I think the Arsenal way is the most similar way that we play in Spain or in Barca. We want to dominate the games, we want to attack, we want to have the ball. The counter-pressure is high as well. So, in a way, it was not that a big a difference. It feels I have been here for a long time.
We spoke before about you playing on the left and playing up front. It felt like you were always being played in different roles for Barcelona and Spain. Was part of the attraction with Arsenal that you would have more of a central role?
I think it (a deep midfield role) was a bit unplanned and just happened because we had a lot of injuries and we didn’t have a lot of players there and they thought I can be an option there. It worked and then I stayed there, But again, my role is a bit the same. It’s just, I’m not the extra player coming in, I’m already in. But it’s the same role to get on the ball as much as possible and to try to give advantage to my team-mates.
Is this shot just about power?
During my career, my coaches and team-mates have always said I need to shoot more. In this context, I was mad or annoyed with the game because we were losing. So it was kind of… putting everything in the shot.
A Marta Award-nominated strike, Lyon 1-4 Arsenal, 2025
It’s interesting you say that about being told to shoot more, because you’ve scored lots at Arsenal from similar positions to this. So it’s clearly something you’ve added to your game and, well, this is against your opponents this weekend.
Yeah, I watched it actually the other day. I think being in a central area and playing deeper, closer to our defence — the chances I have to score are more around that area, not actually in the box because I don’t arrive that high. So I think that encouraged me to shoot more, and from Renee (Slegers, Arsenal manager)… my areas now are more on the edge of the box than before, when I played more as a winger or as No 9.
And obviously this is a great goal, but also a great performance. I always feel like away in Europe is when teams prove they can compete with the best.
Yeah, and I remember personally, I was thinking I’ve never won in that stadium. Every time I play there with Barca and then we played in the Olympics as well with Spain, and I have never won there. So I remember arriving at the stadium and then someone told me: ‘You have never lost against Real Madrid until this season, right? And now you have never won here, but you will do it today’. And it was true.
And then there was the final — obviously a great moment for the club, for everyone in the team, but for you especially, having made a move that surprised people to leave Barcelona, then winning the final against them. Did that feel like a justification for you taking that step?
During the season when people asked me, ‘Oh, would you like to play Barca?’, I was always saying just in the final, not before, but I was like… it’s better if it doesn’t happen, but then of course it happened. It was weird and it was a lot of emotions for me and even for my family — of course, 100 per cent they supported Arsenal — but it was weird for them because they have been supporting Barca always, knowing all the players, the families of the players, so it was a lot. And yeah, I was nervous that day.
Obviously, Barcelona players were disappointed in the aftermath, but they must have been happy for you personally?
I’m not sure. I think they are waiting for the revenge.
I wanted to include something with your left foot because I wanted to ask you how comfortable you are with your left.
Yeah, I’m clearly a right-footer, but I feel comfortable to play with my left as well, even for passing or for some finishing. Yeah, that’s a good finish.
And most of your goals are quite accurate, aside from the Brighton one, which was power. You quite like a curler into the top corner.
Yeah, I’m more going for the precision and not for the power. Sometimes I even think it’s just a pass to the net. Like, you don’t need to smash it. If you put it in the right place, it’s hard for the goalkeeper and, yeah, I’m more technique in that way, not like for example, Chloe (Kelly) or Less (Alessia Russo), they sometimes smash the ball so hard!
I’ve noticed you use your studs quite a lot.
Yeah!
Is that conscious?
I think it’s because when I started playing, I played five-a-side and in that game you use that part of the foot a lot. And I think because I played a lot like that, I still have some habits in me. The coaches are like, ‘You don’t need to step on the ball’, but I just do it unconsciously, because of my background in five-a-side. It’s better controlled.
A blast inside the near post, Manchester City 3-2 Arsenal, 2025
In this one, you’re coming onto the ball, and I want to ask about the timing of your runs.
Actually, we spoke with Foxy (Emily Fox) that this cut-back might be on. I wanted to take an extra touch, but then the ball was quite close and I just changed my mind… it’s a weird shot because I changed my mind last minute.
Beforehand, you’re pointing where you want the pass. And you seem to do that quite a lot.
Yeah, I don’t really like to scream on the pitch — I don’t really like it when I have the ball and have players screaming around me. I think the player who has the ball needs to make their own decision. I normally don’t scream to receive the ball, I’m more pointing with my hands. I think that’s another habit I learned when I was a kid and I still do it a lot — if the player who has the ball puts their head up and looks, they can still see me. I don’t need to scream to them. I use my body language more than my voice.
I believe that, when you first came to England, you were confused that we say ‘pocket of space’ for situations like this.
(Bursts out laughing) I remember the first time. I was in training and Jonas (Eidevall, former manager) and Aaron (D’Antino, assistant coach) and Renee said, ‘Mariona, in the pocket!’ and I was like, ‘What’s the pocket?’ I know pocket is that (points to her shorts) but what do you mean?
I’d never considered it was a weird word, but it is.
Because sometimes you just translate from Spanish to English and then it’s the same word, but in Spain… what’s cuadrado in English? Square? So we call it square. Cuadrado. And it’s pocket? I was like, ‘What’s the pocket?’
A composed finish, Chelsea 0-2 Arsenal, 2026
This was a great performance from Arsenal. It felt like you went there, really dominated, you had a clear game plan and it was a convincing victory.
I think that was a really good game, a team performance. That was one of my favourite games of this season so far. I remember with Beth (Mead)… in the first half, we had one similar action and she didn’t play that ball. She said, ‘I saw you, sorry. The next one I will play it to you’. And then the second half, she did.
And again, you’ve got your arms up for quite a long time here. No Chelsea player really notices.
I was like, ‘Perfect’. Yeah, when there are a lot of people (in the crowd), you can scream, but you might not hear it because there’s a lot of noise around. So it’s easy to see, you just put up your arms.
Tell me about the finish.
Sometimes when we do finishing in training and the staff say, ‘You need to finish quick’, and then the goalkeepers are annoyed because you take too many touches, but then I always say: I would actually do that in the game. I don’t want to rush to finish. You need to be calm as well and you actually have more time than you think. I’d rather take a touch, and extra seconds, to have a better angle to finish.
A through ball for Olivia Smith, Arsenal, 1-0 Manchester City, 2026
This is a really nice goal.
Yeah, that’s a nice build-up. I have been playing a lot with Kim (Little) and then you naturally create that connection and you know what each other wants. We just play a small one-two which… maybe it’s a bit in a dangerous area or whatever… but then, we have the advantage because all the space is open and then when you have the pace with Liv — or sometimes it’s Stina (Blackstenius) or Caitlin (Foord) with all that space — you know they’re gonna kill it. So you just need to put the ball there and they will do the job.
Obviously, this would often be Stina rather than Olivia, but Alessia likes receiving the ball to feet and you’ve always got the striker going in behind. For you on the ball, it must feel like you’ve always got a lot of forward options.
Yeah. I love it when we can play forward and, as Arsenal, we want to have the ball and play longer attacks, but sometimes with the pace we have — like what we were speaking about before — when you have both options then you are unpredictable. If we always play to Less in the feet, then they (the defence) will always step (up). So then we can take advantage of the run… it’s hard, because probably Liv runs 10 times and only receives the ball once, but then it works.
And you mentioned your partnership with Kim in possession. I think of you both… she wears No 10, she’s a very creative player… when you first started playing together I was like…
…(pretends to look scared) yes, it’s so offensive…
…this is two No 10s! So how does it work defensively?
Kim is naturally a better defender than me. She has a really strong body and she’s really hard to dribble past. But yeah, it is an offensive midfield, but individually I’ve been working a lot more on how to defend the box, because I’m normally not in that situation. So I made some mistakes during this season and fortunately we weren’t punished. We review that and try to improve — I needed to be better to play in that position.
In other situations, I’m a player who reacts quick for the counter-pressure and I like to jump, I like to press, but then in our box, that was my weakness. Now I’m getting better and more comfortable in that situation, but Kim gives us more balance — she will always be there and do the dirty work and the tackles. I think she’s a more balanced player than me.
Well, it’s interesting you say that because I looked at the statistics from last year and, in the WSL you were right up there in terms of goals and assists, but you also had the second-highest number of tackles, which is maybe not something you expected when you came.
I think I’m just an aggressive player and I don’t like it when we don’t have the ball, so I just want the ball back as soon as possible. So this counter-pressure… I do lose the ball quite a lot as well because I’m trying to risk passes and play forward and it doesn’t always work. I was a centre-back, actually, until I was 14, which is a bit surprising. I think in open play I’m OK, I can defend, but it was more in that specific situation where it’s in the box and crosses and long balls, where I had to work on it.
I said earlier that Jenni Hermoso thanked you for the pass and Olivia Smith is very pleased to see you in the celebration.
She’s scored a few goals where I assisted her, so it’s nice. She looks happy!
You’re very modest when you talk about your game, but you seem like a player that your team-mates really enjoy playing with, particularly the attackers. It feels like you know their runs, you know what kind of passes they want.
When I can face forward and have the ball, and then the team-mates do the movements, it’s easy to find them. I love to have players who run in front of me. I’d rather not be the one who runs, I’d rather have the ball! You need to know each other and Liv was new this year, so I think it took a bit of time to get to know each other, but I already knew what she can do and what she’s good at, and she knows that I can play those passes. It’s just about taking advantage of each other.
Loughborough University researchers have published what they consider to be a seminal paper on the neurological impacts of heading in football.
The key results of the study, funded by the FA and conducted independently, were the identification of “distinctive pressure waves” in the frontal brain region when the head meets the ball. The researchers say this was “previously unreported” and provides some explanation for the mechanics — and potential neurological consequences — of performing headers.
“We’ve measured for the first time a feature of the collision, which has always been there, but we’ve not been using the right sensors to record it,” explains Professor Andy Harland to The Athletic from an office at the university campus near Leicester in the English Midlands.
“Something very consistent, very repeatable, is happening every time a ball collides with something. That generates this pressure wave, which, if you’ve made a header, progresses into the head,” he says.
Dr Ieuan Phillips, lead researcher on the paper and a PhD graduate at Loughborough, says that they have “described the nature of the energy going into the brain”.
He adds that the pressure wave is a “really distinctive form of energy transfer” which has been “well-established” as a cause of brain injuries in other contexts, such as low-level military blasts. Harland, who has a background in medical ultrasound, knows that pressure waves are used to remove kidney stones.
Because none of the Loughborough researchers have applied medical backgrounds — “We’re not neuroscientists,” Harland says — they stop short of drawing definitive, causal links between these pressure waves and neurodegenerative diseases. That is not because they think there is no link, but because it needs experts in neuroscience to prove one exists.
A study published in 2023, led by the University of Nottingham and commissioned by the FA and the Professional Footballers’ Association, showed that medically diagnosed dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases were three times more prevalent among retired professional footballers than in the general population.
“We can’t say exactly what the damage is or how it’s working, but we know from the laws of physics it’s something we should be aware of; it’s an energy which is being put into the head,” Harland adds.
Another standout point from the paper, published in The Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, was that leather-style footballs from the 20th century produced “peak pressures” impact forces four times higher when wet — a result they called “substantial”.
Balls with more modern designs — specifically the kind that are synthetic machine-stitched and have been used at elite levels of the game since 2016 — returned the least severe impact forces and were more water-resistant.
Ninety per cent of the energy transfer was found to occur within the first 500 microseconds (0.0005 seconds) of contact with the head.
“The thing that is governing that energy right at that point in the collision is those material constructions within the shell of the balls,” Phillips says.
“We tested different balls from throughout the last century, including leather ones, hand-stitched synthetic and the modern stitchless balls. We see rather large differences between: up to 55 times in terms of the energy transfer (between older and newer balls) purely based on shell materials and construction — which is obviously quite a big finding.”
Across the 20 footballs tested, 90 per cent of the energy transfer to the head was found to happen within the first 500 microseconds (0.0005 seconds) of contact.
Seven subcategories of ball were considered, based on their design, manufacturing and the era in which they were/are used. A total of 430 “collisions” were recorded across three different trials, to mimic speeds from corner kicks, aerial passes and shots, in both wet and dry conditions.
They created a half-skull based on measurements provided by MRI data from the Institute of Science Tokyo, which had been designed to represent the average (50th percentile) male player. An embedded sensor measured the pressure waves, and no meaningful changes were identified when they made adjustments to the skull geometry.
“We developed a pretty bespoke set of apparatus in the lab to do it in a very controlled, realistic sense,” says Phillips. Loughborough is widely considered the leading sports university in the UK and has particular long-standing expertise in ball testing — Phillips’ PhD focused on potential subconcussive brain injuries from heading.
Harland cites Professor Paul Lepper, his PhD supervisor from the 1990s and an underwater acoustician, as instrumental in the four-strong multidisciplinary research team. Dr Sean Mitchell, also involved, provided important mathematical and theoretical insight. “I can’t imagine another combination of people that would have been able to put these jigsaw pieces together,” Harland says proudly.
He and Phillips are also grateful to the FA, not just for providing a grant to fund the research but also for its trust and interest. They met FA staff twice yearly while the study was ongoing to provide updates. “It’s fair to say we’ve taken them on a journey,” Harland adds.
“They must have thought we were crazy, because nobody else was talking about this,” he says of the early phase of research. “Once you have evidence, it’s really difficult to deny what that evidence is saying. They’ve been good partners.”
The FA has been a leading association in terms of rethinking convention around heading and providing guidance for the youth game — it is up to its officials, Harland says, if and how Loughborough’s research changes its stance in these areas.
After testing in 2020, the FA first introduced guidance around heading, and two years later it implemented the International Football Association Board (the sport’s lawmakers) trial, banning headers within grassroots matches for the under-12s age group and below. In a press release, an FA spokesperson said it has shared the results of the Loughborough study with European football’s governing body UEFA and FIFA, its global equivalent, and that it supports further research.
These findings come at a poignant time within the Premier League too, as a shift back towards direct attacking and a set-piece emphasis has increased heading demands. Aerial duels are at a five-year high, while headed clearances and the share of attempts on goal which are headers in 2025-26 have both eclipsed the past seven seasons.
Phillips and Harland are interested in how footballs may be manufactured and tested in the future, specifically for ensuring a design (and selection) focus on those which produce the lowest pressure waves. “Very subtle changes to materials and construction, without changing the game,” is what Phillips hopes for.
“We already work with some ball partners, we’re reaching out to others,” Harland says. “We think we can make some progress here in reducing the energy which is transferred through pressure waves — regardless of whether we know how dangerous those are.
“There are some very smart people in materials development, ball construction and so on. We’re pretty confident that they will be able to develop recipes that will reduce this further.”
The Loughborough team consider this only the start of the journey of understanding the mechanics and neurological impact(s) of heading.
“That may take a number of years. Our feeling is that the clock is ticking — it’s been ticking for some time already,” Harland says.
Jalen Williams missed extended time in the regular season with a separate hamstring injury, too. (Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS
The Oklahoma City Thunder may be without Jalen Williams due to a hamstring injury once again.
Williams went down early in the second half on Wednesday night during their 120-107 win over the Phoenix Suns. That victory at the Paycom Center gave the Thunder a 2-0 lead in their opening-round playoff series as it shifts to Phoenix later this week for the first time.
Williams missed a layup midway through the third quarter and pulled up awkwardly under the basket as play started moving the other way, immediately looking bothered. He didn’t leave the game right away, but Williams was clearly shaken up and in a significant amount of pain.
After trying to play through a few possessions, Williams eventually subbed himself out and motioned to his left hamstring as he did so.
Williams eventually limped back to the locker room, and did not return. Further specifics of his injury are not yet known.
“We think he aggravated his left hamstring,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “We’ll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we’ll update you guys when appropriate.”
Though Williams has missed extensive time this season, his fourth in the league, with a hamstring injury, his injury on Wednesday night is a new one. Williams missed 49 games largely due to a hamstring strain in his right leg earlier this season. Williams underwent surgery on his wrist in July after helping the Thunder to their NBA Finals win last season, and missed the start of the regular season this campaign because of it.
But despite his limited action, Williams averaged 17.1 points and 5.5 assists per game this season and helped the Thunder to the top seed in the Western Conference. He had 22 points and seven rebounds in the Thunder’s 119-84 win in Game 1 of the series.
Williams had 19 points and shot 7-of-11 from the field when he went down on Wednesday. Despite his early departure, the Thunder carried a 23-point lead into the final period and then held on late and survived one final Phoenix push to grab the 13-point win.
Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 30 points in the loss after he went 5-of-9 from the 3-point line. Devin Booker finished with 22 points and seven rebounds, and Jalen Green had 21 points. The Suns had 21 turnovers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 37 points and nine assists. Chet Holmgren finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, and Ajay Mitchell added 14 points off the bench.
While the Thunder have not had any real issues so far in the playoffs, losing Williams for a significant amount of time would undoubtedly change the series and open the door a bit for the Suns as they hit their home court for the first time on Saturday. And, based on Williams’ injury history in recent months, it’s hard to imagine the Thunder would be in a hurry to get him back on the floor.
There are a handful of realistic scenarios that could play out where the San Francisco 49ers wind up with a no-brainer option when they're on the clock at No. 27 overall in the 2026 NFL draft. One of those scenarios played out in the final mock draft of 2026 for ESPN's Matt Miller.
In Miller's projections, the 49ers walk away from Round 1 with Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Such a selection would be a pretty significant win for San Francisco as it aims to find a long-term answer in the back end of their secondary.
McNeil-Warren hasn't been a popular mock draft selection for the 49ers because he's often projected to go much earlier than No. 27 overall. NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah has McNeil-Warren as his No. 15 overall prospect. He's 23rd overall in a big board by the Athletic's Dane Brugler. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. is lower on the speedy safety, ranking him 33rd overall on his big board.
Still, mock drafts rarely have McNeil-Warren in range for the 49ers to strike at a position they've not typically prioritized during the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era. Their selection of cornerback Renardo Green in 2024 at No. 64 overall was the earliest this regime has drafted a defensive back.
However, this could be an instance where "best player available" overrules the team's top needs.
McNeil-Warren checked in at 6-3, 213 pounds at his Pro Day. At the NFL combine he ripped off a 4.52 40-yard dash and showed off enough athleticism on tape to suggest he could play multiple roles in the 49ers' secondary right away. He brings a different element than Ji'Ayir Brown, Malik Mustapha and Marques Sigle, which opens the door for him to make an impact in a safety room that struggled badly a season ago.
There are a handful of question marks about what the 49ers should do at the No. 27 overall pick when a slew of unfavorable options are projected to land there at positions like defensive end, wide receiver and offensive tackle. If a prospect like McNeil-Warren drops to them -- their decision could become much easier.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates star Oneil Cruz told Marcell Ozuna in the on-deck circle in the fifth inning Tuesday night that he would hit a home run, only to watch Texas center fielder Evan Carter make a spectacular, leaping catch over the fence in front of the visitors’ bullpen to rob him of a three-run blast.
Cruz had a similar exchange with Ozuna in the ninth inning Wednesday night before heading to the plate with two runners on, the Pirates having just pushed across a tie-breaking run. Cruz had struck out in three of his four previous at-bats.
No one could rob Cruz of this homer.
Cruz rocketed a cut fastball from Jalen Beeks left over the middle of the plate off the top of the right-field foul pole measured at 432 feet. The exit velocity of 116.9 mph made it the hardest-hit ball in the major leagues this season and second hardest ever at Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020. Houston’s Yordan Alvarez launched one 117 mph off José Ureña in August 2024.
Cruz has the record for the hardest-hit ball in the Statcast era, 122.9 mph off Milwaukee's Logan Henderson on May 25, 2025.
He stood motionless in the batter’s box for a bit and followed the ball's path, like a golfer watching his drive off the tee. He flapped his arms as he rounded the bases.
“I told him I was having a rough day, but that was the at-bat that I needed to do something,” Cruz said through an interpreter following the Pirates’ 8-4 win over the Rangers. “I said to him that I was going to hit a home run and he pulled me to the side and him me in the head really hard. And then I was on my way to hit.”
“That ball was killed,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a – Ozuna may have hit one like that back in Miami in ’15, But, like, to hit a ball like that off the top of the foul pole, that was unbelievable.
“He’s staying in the moment regardless of what happens prior in that game, what happened in the previous games.”
Asked if he’d seen a replay of the blast, Cruz said he had not.
Jonny Clayton is a two-time World Cup of Darts winner [Getty Images]
For many darts players, a key question needs to be answered at a crunch period of their careers. Job or full-time arrows?
Jonny Clayton was no different.
The Welshman spent many years switching between competing against the darting elite and working as a plasterer for Carmarthenshire County Council.
It was a work-life balance like no other but one that laid the foundations for his incredible rise to the pinnacle of the sport.
A wildcard for this year's Premier League of Darts, the 51-year-old was expected by many to finish bottom, let alone qualify for the finals at the 02 Arena on 28 May.
However, with four nightly wins - including back-to-back successes in the past two weeks - Clayton leads the way after 11 of the 16 pre-finals rounds.
Having previously won the event five years ago, BBC Sport considers how he got here - and whether the former decorator can be decorated again.
Premier League love the catalyst for change
Clayton regularly cited his concerns over putting too much pressure on his darts if he was to permanently ditch the trowel for his arrows.
"I find when you're working, your mind is completely off darts so then you've got a work-balance of, you think of work and then you think of darts when you play darts," he said in 2022.
But his debut showing in the 2021 Premier League was arguably the biggest catalyst for change in his career.
It's easy to see why the former council worker has such an affection for the competition.
Having won the Masters in January 2021, his maiden individual televised Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) title, Clayton earned selection for the Premier League.
He won the tournament on debut, taking home a career-best sum of £250,000 in doing so, before returning to his day job of plastering.
He went on to win the World Grand Prix and World Series of Darts finals to cap off the greatest year of his career to date.
In 2022, Clayton topped the pile in the Premier League before going on to lose to Joe Cullen on finals night, although his continued success was sufficient to at long last justify a full-time switch to darts.
In the official 2026 tournament programme, Clayton was the only player in this year's eight-man field to name the Premier League as his favourite part of the darting calendar.
"I love it. It's 16 weeks of the best players in darts," he said.
Clayton is appearing in the Premier League for a fourth time, but for the first time since 2023.
The Welshman is firmly on course to extend his unblemished record of reaching finals night in each of his appearances in the showpiece event.
His 29 points, 17 match victories, four nightly wins and 125 legs won so far are all more than any other player in this year's Premier League.
Crucially, his current points tally, even with five weeks still to play before finals night in London, should see him comfortably through to the O2 next month.
Since the league format was restructured in 2022, players finishing fourth - the final qualifying position for finals night - end the regular season with an average of 25 points.
The scratch coat has been applied in rapid fashion. The goal will swiftly turn to applying a smooth finish in May.
Jonny Clayton beat Jose de Sousa 11-5 to win the 2021 Premier League final on debut [Alex Burstow/Getty Images]
Proving the doubters wrong
Clayton was a significant outsider with bookmakers to win this year's tournament. He wasn't even fancied to make finals night.
Given his record, it was something that clearly rankled with the former plasterer.
Speaking at the Premier League media launch in early February, Clayton said: "It motivates me alright because people don't rate me, obviously they rate the others more. Let's see on finals night."
A 6-4 victory against Luke Littler in the Rotterdam final last time out earned Clayton back-to-back night wins for the first time this season.
He now holds a 16-point buffer over defending champion Luke Humphries who is fifth going into night 12 in Liverpool on Thursday.
"He has sewn up a place at the O2 in London," Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle said of Clayton after his triumph in Rotterdam.
"Jonny Clayton will be there, that is certain. He is so far clear of the rest."
After his victory against reigning world champion Littler in Rotterdam, Clayton revealed he re-watched his win against van Gerwen from a week earlier.
"I don't watch many games back, but I watched last week's game against Michael and it hurt a little bit when somebody said I was favourite to finish bottom. That really hurt," he said.
"That really annoyed me to be honest. It's going well for myself and I've got a massive smile on my face.
"I've been here three times before and I've done finals night on each one."
At 51 Clayton is comfortably the oldest player in this year's field, although he is consistently proving to be a thorn in the side of the game's younger talents.
And with the £350,000 Premier League winner's prize still well within his sights, Clayton can have no doubts that his long-delayed full-time move into darts was entirely justified. And then some.
Nathan Trott joined Cardiff on a season-long loan from Danish side Copenhagen [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy says he is prepared to wait until the end of the season before addressing the future of goalkeeper Nathan Trott.
Trott, 27, has made 41 appearances for the Bluebirds as they sealed promotion back to the Championship having joined on loan from Copenhagen in August.
There is an option for a permanent deal but there are suggestions Cardiff could face competition for the former West Ham United keeper.
Barry-Murphy, though, says his focus remains on his side's final fixtures, despite having already secured a return to second-tier football at the first attempt.
The situations around out-of-contract trio Joel Bagan, Perry Ng and Ryan Wintle will also be on hold until Cardiff complete their last remaining games against Northampton at home on Saturday and the trip to Mansfield next weekend.
"I think he's done great over the course of the season and we're very grateful to have him," Barry-Murphy said of Trott, after his save helped Cardiff to a clean sheet and victory over Port Vale on Tuesday night.
"Like with the other players, there's so many different moving parts to these things speculation is a waste of time.
"If something happens, then it happens and if not, it's all good."
Cardiff have overseen new deals for a string of players but are yet to confirm whether midfielder Wintle, defender Ng or full-back Bagan – who was last weekend named in the EFL League One team of the year – will be part of next season's plans.
Asked whether a decision will be made before Saturday's final home game, the manager said: "All those players have had incredible seasons and they'll be under consideration for Saturday.
"It's been a really busy period and the focus has always been on these remaining games. Once they're finished then all those different situations contractually between players and clubs would be dealt with."
Cardiff's early promotion does allow the club to make a head start on plans for life back in the Championship having had to deal with third-tier football for the first time in two decades.
But Barry-Murphy said there would be no "knee jerk" responses to promotion, saying work has remained consistent with the club's recruitment team.
"I think our idea is always to move the club forward really quickly, try and improve the squad, try and improve all aspects of the club and if that remains the theme of what we're trying to do, then it means we'll be fine," he added.
Barry-Murphy said he was still savouring the club's promotion – sealed in dramatic fashion at Reading last weekend – and paid tribute to his players' efforts to follow that up with a home win, a result that relegated Port Vale.
"There's a great sense of pride in what we've done," he said.
"It's difficult to predict what level of performance we could reach based on the euphoria that we felt on Saturday, so I'm very pleased with the players that we managed to create a chance in the second half and play well enough to win."
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dan Vladar skated away behind the net, hunched over as he gripped his right arm in pain after the Penguins crashed into him in the crease.
For a few frightful moments, nothing else mattered for the Flyers.
Not the 2-0 first-round series lead. Not the 3-1 Game 3 lead in the third period in front of 19,937 full-throated and orange-coated Flyers fans.
Because without Vladar, voted the Bobby Clarke team MVP and journeyman turned Olympian, the Flyers would be in a world of hurt.
They still could be in trouble yet this NHL playoffs.
Buoyed by cheers of “Vladdy! Vladdy!” he shook off his injury Wednesday night much in the same way Vladar has turned away the Penguins with relative ease through the first three game of this Eastern Conference series.
Vladar can get a few extra days off to rest whatever ails him if the Flyers build off their 5-2 win in Game 3 and complete the sweep Saturday in Philadelphia. He did not talk to the media after the game because he was receiving treatment.
“He’s been our best player all year,” defenseman Nick Seeler said. “And he was great tonight.”
Vladar followed his first shutout of the season (with 27 saves) in Game 2 with another stellar outing and 28 saves in Game 3.
Yet, the potential of injury looms ahead of a possible sweep.
Vladar didn't use his right arm in the celebration line — and the Flyers had plenty of celebrate in their first home playoff win since 2016 — leaving his Game 4 status in doubt.
“He’s banged up," Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. "We’ll see how he is tomorrow. I don’t know at this moment how bad it is.”
That could be a glimmer of good news for the Penguins. A two-time NHL MVP and three-time Stanley Cup champion, Sidney Crosby has yet to score a goal in the series.
The Flyers could turn to backup Samuel Ersson, who had a solid finish to an otherwise injury-plagued and inconsistent season. The Flyers have the luxury of a 3-0 lead and two full days off before they have to make a decision on playing Vladar, who won 29 games with a 2.42 goals-against-average this season.
Vladar was one of three goalies chosen to play for Czechia at the Milan Cortina Olympics. In his first season with the Flyers, he settled one of the more unsettled positions for the franchise since Hall of Famer Bernie Parent backstopped consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975.
It sure seemed like the old days of the Broad Street Bullies for the Flyers.
Flyers fans dressed in orange and started the party long before faceoff and sparked the energy ahead of their first home playoff game in eight years. The Flyers steamrolled through the first three games against their long-time nemesis in Crosby and the Penguins.
Oh, and they scrapped a bit like those old Flyers, throwing down with the Penguins that led to the comical sight of 11 players crammed into the penalty box.
Gritty, the googly-eyed mascot making his postseason debut, at one point launched a stuffed penguin from the upper level down to the pricey seats. Flyers fans stomped on the animal and nearly destroyed it before security scurried the souvenir away from the rambunctious crowd.
The poor toy seemingly got off easier than the real Penguins.
Stuart Skinner, who played a crucial role in consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances with Edmonton, has been the anti-Vladar with a 3.08 goals-against average and a .873 save percentage through three games.
Could the Penguins turn to Arturs Silovs in Game 4?
Probably not. Yet, Skinner — who heard derisive “Skinner! Skinner” chants that echoed long after Rasmus Ristolainen made it 2-1 — said he believed the Penguins could still rally to win the series.
Skinner was on the Oilers team down 3-0 that forced a Game 7 in 2024 against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
"I feel like when you go down 3-0, what really helped me in my experience was it kind of just frees you up," Skinner said. "You don’t really have anything to lose. And we’re in a spot where we don’t have anything to lose, and they do. If we catch them a couple times, just talking about momentum, you can change momentum and when that happens, things can go in your favor.”
Should the Flyers play without Vladar, that could be the break the Penguins need to get back into the series.
Trevor Zegras, Ristolainen and Nick Seeler scored three goals against Skinner on four shots in the second period — proof the Flyers have the offensive arsenal to win without Vladar, if needed.
“The hardest one is the next one,” Tocchet said. "Back to business tomorrow.”
Grand fashion: Caden Connor (5) hit the second of two Knights grand slams during Charlotte’s victory. | Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights 9, Nashville Sounds 4 The Knights (10-12) wasted no time getting started on offense, scoring nine runs in the first two innings to even the series against Nashville (12-10).
The Knights took full advantage of some subpar control from Sounds starter Quinn Priester. Rikuu Nishida led off the bottom of the first with walk on a close 3-2 pitch that Nashville unsuccessfully challenged. Caden Connor and Jarred Kelenic struck out, but the Knights were very much alive. Oliver Dunn was hit by a pitch, and Jacob Gonzalez and Drew Romo drew back-to-back walks.
Romo’s walk forced in the first run of the game, and it kept the inning alive for LaMonte Wade Jr. That walk also prompted a pitching change, as Peter Strzelecki replaced Priester. Strzelecki fared no better, as Wade crushed a grand slam to break the game open early on.
Incredibly, the Knights were not done hitting grand slams. Mario Camilletti, Nishida, and Connor hit three consecutive singles to open the bottom of the second. That set the stage for Kelenic, who went deep. Just like that, the Knights had hit two grand slams in as many innings. I do not recall the last time I saw that happen at any level.
Given how many runs the Knights scored, the pitching staff had a large margin for error. Hagen Smith did not have his finest stuff, but he did not need it. Smith pitched 2 1/3 innings, he only allowed one run, and he struck out four. However, Smith needed 62 pitches to make it that far, and he issued five walks. Smith’s ERA sits at 1.76, but he will need to reduce the walk rate.
As for the bullpen, Chase Plymell, Tyler Gilbert, and Riley Gowens combined to pitch 6 2/3 innings, and they allowed three runs (one earned), which was easily enough to protect the lead.
Birmingham Barons 11, Columbus Clingstones 0 The Barons (8-9) were not messing around, as they demolished Columbus (9-8) on Wednesday, and the Barons hold a 2-0 lead in this series.
Barons starter Connor McCullough, 26, got the job done, delivering four shutout innings to put the Barons in a great position. McCullough only allowed one hit, and his ERA has dropped to 1.38 in the young season.
In the bottom of the third, Jorge Corona led off with a single, and Jordan Sprinkle opened the scoring with a two-run blast. That was the first homer of the season for Sprinkle, who had a big game. Later in the inning, Wilfred Veras singled to extend Birmingham’s lead to three.
In the fourth, Sprinkle drove in another run with a two-out single that allowed Corona to score. Samuel Zavala kept the inning alive with a single, and elite prospect Braden Montgomery lined a single to make the score 5-0.
The Barons blew the game wide open in the fifth. Jeral Perez walked, Andy Weber was hit by a pitch, and Adam Fogel walked to load the bases. From there, Corona went deep for the farm system’s third grand slam of the day. That was Corona’s first homer of the season, and it put the game completely out of reach.
In the sixth, Fogel drove in Veras to extend Birmingham’s lead to 10. Down the stretch, in the seventh, Zavala hit his fifth homer of the season for the 11th and final run for Birmingham.
Dash starter Dylan Cumming, 26, managed to miss a lot of bats, tallying eight strikeouts in five innings. Unfortunately, when Cumming was not striking batters out, the contact was loud. Cumming allowed a two-run homer in the first and another in the third, and at the end of the third, Hub City had a 4-0 lead.
However, the Dash rallied in a big way in the fourth. Caleb Bonemer led off the frame with his sixth homer of the season. From there, the Dash followed Bonemer’s lead. After Bonemer’s homer, the Dash added six runs on five hits and two walks. One of the biggest hits was a two-run single by Ely Brown that put the Dash ahead, 5-4. Boston Smith, the next batter, launched his fourth homer of the year to extend Winston-Salem’s lead to three and cap off a seven-run inning.
In the sixth, the Dash scored the final run of the game for either team. Smith hit a one-out single, and Anthony DePino drove him in with a two-out double. Meanwhile, the Dash bullpen was terrific, allowing zero runs on two hits in four innings.
Kannapolis starter Truman Pauley, 22, had a smooth first inning, but it was a tough road after that. In the second, Bariler Guerrero took Pauley deep for a solo homer to put Charleston on the board. In the next inning, Derek Datil launched a two-run blast to give the RiverDogs a 3-0 lead. Pauley proceeded to walk four batters that inning before being removed with two outs. By the end of the top of the third, Charleston had a 5-0 lead.
Kannapolis did have an answer in the bottom of the third, when they put four consecutive hits together to open the frame. James Taussig and Arxy Hernández doubled, Nathan Archer tripled, and Abraham Núñez singled to bring home the Cannon Ballers’ third run.
In the fourth, the Cannon Ballers got within one run. Javier Mogollón kicked the inning off with a bang by launching a triple. Stiven Flores followed with an RBI single to make the score 5-4.
That was as close as the Cannon Ballers got for the rest of the game. Charleston added two insurance runs in the sixth and one more in the eighth to solidify this one.
The Dallas Cowboys go into the 2026 NFL draft armed with picks No. 12 and 20 in the first round. This collection of early draft capital gives them a level of dexterity most teams can only dream of. With just five, possibly six, defensive targets in mind for pick No. 12, they may have to cash in that capital to move up and get the defender of their desires.
The 2026 draft is rumored to be chock-full of teams trying to trade back. This could present a buyer’s market and allow the Cowboys to move up for lower-than-normal prices. But with so many important needs to fill on defense, it’s important they exit Day 1 with two plug-and-play prospects to build around. Therefore, moving up will be conditional, with all the chips needing to fall just right to get a deal done.
In this 2026 final mock draft, the Cowboys test the market with offers at multiple points of the top 10, but ultimately wait until No. 11 to pull the trigger on a trade. With Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs already gone, it's Mansoor Delane or bust for Dallas.
Round 1, Pick 11: Mansoor Delane, CB
The Cowboys flirt with the idea of moving up to nine to ensure they can secure one of two remaining defensive targets but cooler heads prevail and they let it ride until 11. With cornerback one of the Miami Dolphins’ many needs, and Miami fielding offers, Dallas can’t risk waiting to see what happens and pulls off one of those rare one-move-up draft trades.
According to the Rich Hill trade value chart, No. 11 is worth 358 points while No. 12 is worth 347 points, giving it a difference of 11 points. Dallas sends Miami back 12 points with pick 152 in round five to bridge the gap and ensure Christian Parker can get the last remaining defensive player with a first round grade.
Mansoor Delane is CB1 on the consensus draft board because he brings a mix of athletic dominance, tenacity and technical soundness. Just under 6-foot and weighing in at 187-pounds with 30-inch arms, Delane’s smaller than ideal but you wouldn’t know it from the film. Even if Dallas might have moved up unnecessarily, he’s too good of a grab to pass up.
LSU CB Mansoor Delane in Man Coverage Last Season:
The Cowboys again look to wheel and deal themselves out of their natural position of 20 and find a taker with the San Francisco 49ers. Looking to pit the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and 49ers against each other, the Cowboys are able to secure the best deal on the table and drop back seven spots.
Based on the Rich Hill trade value chart, No. 20 is worth 269 points and No. 27 is valued at 216 points, offering a difference of 53 points. To make this work the 49ers send pick No. 58 which is worth 93 points, while Dallas sends picks 112 and 180 which are worth 29 points and seven points respectively.
With the move the Cowboys draft who they would have picked all along in Malachi Lawrence. Lawrence, 6-foot-4, 253-pounds is one of the most explosive pass rushers in the class. As a developmental prospect he has a ceiling as high as anyone outside of the top two edges. Able to pass rush from the wide-nine spot and drop back into coverage when asked, Lawrence is just what Parker needs on the edge.
Mike Renner gives his take on Malachi Lawrence and his place in the edge class 😳
“I think he does [go in the first round] because you can’t coach what he has. Ridiculously explosive. I think he can bend better than a lot of the other traits guys… just super developmental.” https://t.co/AYWmQnzn8cpic.twitter.com/JMsxpY0P3e
— Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson (@CTM_Show) April 16, 2026
Round 2, Pick 58: Treydan Stukes, DB
One might think the Cowboys are good in their secondary after investing most of the free agent resources on defensive backs and then drafting a top defensive back at 11, but the Cowboys scouted defensive backs heavily for a reason and are looking to remake their secondary in the image of Parker, their new coordinator.
Stukes is an older prospect but he’s ready-made and the most versatile defensive back this side of Caleb Downs. Stukes can man the nickel on obvious passing downs, he can play both safety spots and even play outside as a cornerback. He’s the smartest man on the field and someone the Cowboys can use against any offensive personnel package.
Louis Riddick on DB Treydan Stukes
“He is smart, instinctive, and an alpha competitor who loves to hit. Additionally, he is a good blogger. He is equally skilled as a man or zone defender, and he has exceptional range and ball skills as a deep-field safety.”#NFLDraft2026pic.twitter.com/rvZzYjA24u
Kyle Louis out of Pittsburgh might just be the Nakobe Dean of the draft class. Dean, Parker’s former player and Dallas’ recent free agent target, is undersized but explosive and versatile. Louis is much of the same. At just shy of 6-foot, Louis isn’t tall and at just 220-pounds, he isn’t necessarily stout either. He’s a tweener of linebacker and safety, able to play man coverage like a safety but willing to fill a run fit like a linebacker.
Waiting until now to address linebacker, and picking an undersized one at that when they do, Dallas all but commits to adding a veteran on the secondary market. Whether that’s trading a 2027 third rounder for Jordyn Brooks in Miami or adding the ageless Bobby Wagner in free agency – or both – Dallas is likely to work the secondary market to upgrade interior linebacker in the very near future.
Kyle Louis is a unique LB prospect who actually profiles best as a big nickel pic.twitter.com/cQKMExe30S
Beau Stephens, a Cowboys’ official 30-visit, could be the Cowboys next great interior depth lineman. The Iowa lineman stands 6-foot-5, 315-pounds but has abnormally short arms that will no-doubt impact his NFL projection.
Stephens was a team leader who was only flagged for penalty once in 2025 and hasn’t allowed a sack in three years. With T.J. Bass possibly playing his last year in Dallas, Stephens could easily be his replacement as top interior alternate in 2027.
Iowa guard Beau Stephens is one of the most underrated IOL in the 2026 class imo. One of my favorite players in a stacked Day-Two guard group
- + movement skills in a 6'5 315 frame - tracks well in space - bulldozer in the run game; powerful block finisher and a people mover at… pic.twitter.com/KvhwnehRHb
Jack Kelly, a BYU product, is known as a high character special teams ace. He plays smart, fast and aggressive and should, at the very least, fortify the Cowboys’ depth in 2026. The two-time team captain has been a durable fixture on the BYU defense and could become a rotational piece at inside linebacker for the Cowboys in the near future.
Cole Wisniewski, an official 30-visit for the Cowboys, is a linebacker-turned-safety and plays like it. The hard-hitting safety from Texas Tech stands 6-foot-3, 219-pounds. Best played in the box, he can play both phases of the game. Fits a similar role as current depth safety Markquese Bell and should be an immediate contributor on special teams. Like those picked before him, high character and maturity make him a good fit for the Dallas locker room.
Cole Wisniewski is a BIG hitter, and a big safety at 6’3, 214lbs
Has the instincts and range to play 2-high but definitely belongs near the LOS with his length, athleticism, and tackling ability pic.twitter.com/AlOgxPlgK7
It would have been nice to add another edge player to the mix but the Cowboys still have options in free agency to round that area of their roster out. As mentioned above, Dallas will likely be actively looking for veteran linebackers to plug holes in 2026 and could use both free agency and the trade market to accomplish the task.
With such a deep tight end class, undrafted prospects like Wisconsin’s Lance Mason, SMU’s RJ Maryland or Tennessee’s Miles Kitselman are options after the draft.
When Matt Boyd needed to go on the 15-day injured list with a left biceps strain, it was just a day after the Cubs had lost Cade Horton to what would eventually be a season-ending elbow injury. Things looked dire on the pitching front.
And yet, Cubs starting pitchers held their own, posting a collective ERA of 3.54 between April 6 and the 21st, the day before Boyd returned from the injured list. They are a big part of the reason why the Cubs have gone from two games below .500 the day Boyd went down to riding an eight-game winning streak that’s brought them to six games above .500. Boyd tossed 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball in Wednesday’s 7-2 win over the Phillies.
“It’s been the key to this run we’ve had,” Craig Counsell said of his rotation. “The length [of starts], the quality, those are really meaningful.”
Having Boyd back is big for the rotation, and if not for the depth in the pitching staff, Counsell and the Cubs training staff might have felt a little less comfortable putting him on the injured list two weeks ago. Counsell said that Boyd started feeling mostly healthy as many as 12 days ago, but the decision to place Boyd on the IL was one they felt good about for the sake of Boyd’s long-term health and because of the arms ready to step up in his absence.
Namely, Colin Rea and Javier Assad. Rea has been tasked more or less with taking Horton’s spot in the rotation, and Assad was called up from Triple-A Iowa to do the same for Boyd. In his last three outings, Rea has thrown a quality start in two of them. Assad came up from Des Moines and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Rays the day after Boyd went on the IL. Over the weekend, Assad helped finish off the sweep against the Mets with 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
“What they did isn’t easy,” Boyd said. “Just getting the ball flipped to you and say, ‘Hey, you’re starting tomorrow or the next day. You have to hop on a plane and come do that, in [Assad’s] case. And [Rea], he’s getting ready every day and then he’s told, ‘Hey, okay, now you’re going to start this game.
“It’s a hard thing to do, and it takes a ton of maturity. It takes understanding what you expect of yourself when the ball’s in your hand, and both those guys did that.”
Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Because of their understated personalities, it might be easy for fans to overlook or even take for granted the yeoman’s work Rea and Assad have done. Neither pitcher is going to attract a lot of attention, but both will take the ball whenever and however called upon and get the job done.
Doing that put them both on hitters’ radars years ago, and Rea and Assad have earned the respect of opposing batters. Enough so that when Rea joined the Cubs, it was cause for relief among them.
“Since the day that [Rea] got signed over here, I was probably the happiest man,” Michael Busch said. “Facing him in Milwaukee in 2024, it was a tough at-bat. Five pitches, really good stuff, command, everything. So when he became a Cubbie I had a little of my own celebration.”
The other side of the Cubs’ eight-game winning streak is an offense that has picked up considerably from the first couple of weeks. Busch is one of a few guys who got off to slow starts, but he, like the others, is showing signs of heating up. Busch homered in Wednesday’s win, and he’s boosted his batting average by 70 points in the last 11 days.
With him, Pete Crow-Armstrong is also coming to life at the plate. He had three hits on Wednesday, including a second-inning RBI double. Crow-Armstrong is hitting .320 in his last seven games, some of which he credits to having Seiya Suzuki back from his early season stint on the injured list.
“Adding Seiya back in the lineup adds a lot of ease to how I approach an at-bat,” Crow-Armstrong said.
That ease has helped Crow-Armstrong take some of the effort out of his swings, which in turn helps with his timing, Crow-Armstrong said. That’s a big part of why he is trending in the right direction.
Those are the kinds of things that come together to put a team on an eight-game winning streak. The Cubs are consistently reliable when it comes to stuff like defense and baserunning, and as the pitching staff gets healthy and the offense comes fully to life, they make their way toward the top of the division.
When the Cubs lost the second game of their weekend series against the Pirates on April 11, both Counsell and Bregman were confident that things would turn for the positive.
“It’ll turn […] We’re all every single day getting after it, trying to turn it. And I feel like over the course of 162 the cream will rise to the top, and we’ll play good baseball,” Bregman said then.
Since that game, the Cubs have gone 9-1. It’s probably safe to say they were right. And going forward, things like getting Boyd back in the rotation will help the Cubs keep moving in this direction. The National League Central is shaping up to be a very tough division, but the Cubs have the the best run differential by 17 runs and only the Pirates have a lower team ERA.
“It speaks to the professional approach that we have,” Boyd said of the team’s success of late. “The experience of the guys in that clubhouse; it’s in those moments of those kind of valleys […] whether it’s a losing streak or a tough streak at the plate or a tough streak on the mound, the experience of that you lean on and say, ‘Stay the course, make some small adjustments. Keep defining success in the right way.
“The experience of those guys is what buoys that in those tough times.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dániel Gazdag and Diego Rossi each scored to help the Columbus Crew beat the LA Galaxy 2-1 on Wednesday night in a game delayed for over two hours due to weather.
Columbus (2-4-3) has allowed just three goals in its first four home matches of the season.
Gazdag scored in the 41st minute when he redirected Hugo Picard’s cross with the outside of his foot.
Rossi, who entered third for most regular-season goals amongst active players, doubled the lead in the 47th. Rossi started the sequence at midfield and he got it back from Max Arfsten at the penalty spot for a calm finish.
Gabriel Pec put the Galaxy (2-4-3) on the board in the 86th by finishing a pass from Joseph Paintsil.
For the first time since 2023, the University of Cincinnati college football team could have multiple NFL draft picks.
The last two seasons, the Bearcats have just had one (defensive lineman Jowon Briggs in 2024 and offensive lineman John Williams in 2025). The 2023 NFL Draft saw receivers Tre Tucker and Tyler Scott selected, along with tight end Josh Whyle.
The 2023 NFL Draft featured a school record eight picks, beginning with first-rounder Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner to the New York Jets; Alec Pierce to the Indianapolis Colts and Bryan Cook to the Kansas City Chiefs in the second; Desmond Ridder to the Atlanta Falcons and Myjai Sanders to the Arizona Cardinals in the third; Coby Bryant to the Seattle Seahawks in round four; Jerome Ford to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth; and Darrian Beavers to the New York Giants and Curtis Brooks to the Colts in round seven.
Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield thinks three to five UC players could be selected April 23-25 from the festivities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with several others having free agent opportunities.
Linebacker Jake Golday should be first UC Bearcat picked in NFL draft
The UC linebacker is rated a 6.33 on the NFL.com site, which means they feel he'll eventually be a starter. Golday measured 6-foot-4.5 at the NFL Combine and weighed in at 239 pounds. He ran a 4.62 40-yard dash, had a 39-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 10 feet, 5 inches.
Golday came to UC in 2024 and produced 58.5 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Last season, he was first-team Big 12, leading UC with 105.5 tackles with six tackles for loss 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein has Golday as a second-round pick, and NFL Mock Draft Database also sees him going in Round 2. In mock drafts, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated have him as the 20th pick overall in the first round to the Dallas Cowboys, The Draft Network has him 26th overall to the Buffalo Bills, while USA Today and Pro Football Focus mocks list him 31st overall to the Tennessee Titans.
"I wasn't just setting this dream just to dream about it, I was setting it as a goal," Golday said at UC's Pro Day on March 24.
UC linebackers coach Cort Braswell has watched Golday the past two seasons.
"The first time I met him, I thought he had a chance to be special," Braswell said. "You get him here and he was better than advertised. A better person, a better player, a tremendous human being."
Have NFL scouts seen enough of Joe Royer to make him latest UC Bearcats tight end in pros?
Royer's NFL.com rating is 6.12, where it's believed he would be a good backup with the potential to start. Royer measured slightly over 6-foot-5 at the NFL Combine and weighed 247 pounds.
After transferring from Ohio State University, the former Elder High School standout broke Travis Kelce's single-season receptions record for tight ends with 50 in 2024, making first-team Big 12. In 2025, he was double-teamed and held to 29 catches.
UC tight ends coach Josh Stepp plans to be with him during the NFL draft, where NFL.com's Zierlein has him being chosen in either the fifth or sixth round. NFL Mock Draft Database has him going in Round 5. Elsewhere, USA Today has Royer going in the third round to the Philadelphia Eagles, NFL Spine Zone says fourth round to Dallas, and Clutch Points has Royer in the fifth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Royer hopes to be the latest Bearcats tight end to get drafted, joining future Hall of Famer and Super Bowl winner Kelce, Super Bowl winner Brent Celek, Whyle and Josiah Deguara, among others.
How high has UC Bearcats receiver Cyrus Allen climbed among NFL scouts?
Cyrus Allen grades out at 6.18 on the NFL.com site as he's listed as a good backup and potential starter.
At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Allen has moved up the charts despite not getting invited to the NFL Combine. At UC's Pro Day, he ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, had a vertical leap of 36 inches and a broad jump of 11 feet. Running the best routes on the day didn't hurt either.
Allen had 46 catches at Louisiana Tech in 2023 before transferring to Texas A&M, where he caught 18 balls in 2024. Transferring to the Bearcats stepped up his production as he led the team with 51 receptions and 13 touchdowns, tying a school record for receivers.
NFL.com's Zierlein sees Allen going in the fourth round, while NFL Mock Draft Database has him pegged for Round 6. In other mock drafts, Sports Illustrated has Allen going in the sixth round to the New England Patriots, CBS says seventh round to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clutch Points has him going in the fifth round to the Browns.
"He's the most competitive guy I've ever been around," UC wide receivers coach Vijay Stingley said. "He wants it so, so bad and he's going to put everything in it. It doesn't matter what he's asked to do; he's going to do it at a high level. He's definitely going to have a role on special teams in the league; I know a bunch of teams have been talking to him about that."
Where will UC Bearcats receiver Jeff Caldwell's NFL Combine numbers land him?
The Ringer's Todd McShay (formerly of ESPN) said Caldwell "won the Combine."
That's after the former FCS receiver from Lindenwood was measured at over 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds. His 40-yard dash time was 4.31, he had a vertical leap of 42 inches and a broad jump of 11 feet, 2 inches.
NFL.com grades him at 6, which translates to having the ability to be an above-average backup, but many will say Caldwell's best football has yet to take place.
After catching 53 passes for 11 touchdowns at Lindenwood to become a Walter Payton Award finalist for Best FCS Offensive Player, Caldwell transferred to UC and had 32 catches and six touchdowns.
NFL.com's Zierlein projects Caldwell as a fourth-round pick with NFL Mock Draft Database placing him in the fifth round.
"He had big ground to cover coming from Lindenwood to us and he had a tremendous year," UC's Stingley said. "I'm excited about him taking the next step and taking advantage of that opportunity."
Have NFL scouts seen enough of UC's Dontay Corleone to draft him?
"The Godfather" was at the NFL Combine and the UC Pro Day but hasn't worked out yet for scouts other than what's been put on tape. He did do interviews at the NFL Combine and was measured at 6-foot-0.5 and 340 pounds. His NFL.com grading is currently 5.89, which is what an average backup would grade.
Because of nagging injuries, Corleone may have to work his way up. His freshman year at UC, he was first-team American Athletic Conference and a Freshman All-American with 45.5 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. In 2023, he was second-team Big 12 with 39 tackles, 6.5 TFL and three sacks. He made first-team Big 12 in 2024, though his production was 26 tackles, five TFL and 3.5 sacks. Limited to 13 tackles last year, some due to being double-teamed, he was second-team Big 12.
NFL.com's Zierlien lists Corleone as a seventh-round pick or an undrafted free agent. NFL Mock Draft Database is more bullish with a fourth-round projection. Pro Football Focus sees Corleone going as early as the third round to the Jaguars, while USA Today says fourth round to the Giants.
UC Bearcats late-round picks or free agents
Jack Dingle – Dingle worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals and has had other visits. He's 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds coming off of a 60-tackle season with three sacks. At UC's Pro Day, he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, had a vertical leap of 35.5 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches. He did 23 bench press reps at 225 pounds.
"Jack played a lot of football here," UC linebackers coach Braswell said. "He started more games than any linebacker in UC history. He's a guy that elevates the room."
Patrick Gurd – Guard will get looks at tight end or fullback (H-back). He's over 6-foot-3 and weighs 244 pounds with a 4.8 40, a 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.
Gavin Gerhardt – The center and captain has had several visits and calls. He's over 6-foot-4 and weights 309 pounds. He did 27 reps on bench press.
Deondre Buford – Like Gerhardt, Buford was an offensive line starter who is over 6-foot-4 and weighs 323 pounds.
Logan Wilson – Wilson is just over 5-foot-9 and 172 pounds, but has wheeled out a 4.42 40 and has a 35-inch vertical leap and 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.
Matthew McDoom – McDoom is of similar build to Wilson and has a 4.46 40 time, a vertical of 33 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 6 inches.
Xavier Williams – The safety is over 6-foot-2 and weighs 217 pounds. Williams ran a 4.56 40 at UC's Pro Day, had a 38.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump.
Jalen Hunt – Hunt has had visits with the Bengals and Detroit Lions and is over 6-foot-2 and 310 pounds as a defensive lineman. He did 25 bench press reps.
Isaiah Rogers – Rogers is 6-foot-1 and 290 pounds and played defensive line with Hunt.
CJ McCray – McCray is over 6-foot-3 and weighs 244 pounds as an edge. He ran a 4.66 40, had a 36.5-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump.
For the first time since 2023, the University of Cincinnati college football team could have multiple NFL draft picks.
The last two seasons, the Bearcats have just had one (defensive lineman Jowon Briggs in 2024 and offensive lineman John Williams in 2025). The 2023 NFL Draft saw receivers Tre Tucker and Tyler Scott selected, along with tight end Josh Whyle.
The 2023 NFL Draft featured a school record eight picks, beginning with first-rounder Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner to the New York Jets; Alec Pierce to the Indianapolis Colts and Bryan Cook to the Kansas City Chiefs in the second; Desmond Ridder to the Atlanta Falcons and Myjai Sanders to the Arizona Cardinals in the third; Coby Bryant to the Seattle Seahawks in round four; Jerome Ford to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth; and Darrian Beavers to the New York Giants and Curtis Brooks to the Colts in round seven.
Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield thinks three to five UC players could be selected April 23-25 from the festivities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with several others having free agent opportunities.
Linebacker Jake Golday should be first UC Bearcat picked in NFL draft
The UC linebacker is rated a 6.33 on the NFL.com site, which means they feel he'll eventually be a starter. Golday measured 6-foot-4.5 at the NFL Combine and weighed in at 239 pounds. He ran a 4.62 40-yard dash, had a 39-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 10 feet, 5 inches.
Golday came to UC in 2024 and produced 58.5 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Last season, he was first-team Big 12, leading UC with 105.5 tackles with six tackles for loss 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein has Golday as a second-round pick, and NFL Mock Draft Database also sees him going in Round 2. In mock drafts, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated have him as the 20th pick overall in the first round to the Dallas Cowboys, The Draft Network has him 26th overall to the Buffalo Bills, while USA Today and Pro Football Focus mocks list him 31st overall to the Tennessee Titans.
"I wasn't just setting this dream just to dream about it, I was setting it as a goal," Golday said at UC's Pro Day on March 24.
UC linebackers coach Cort Braswell has watched Golday the past two seasons.
"The first time I met him, I thought he had a chance to be special," Braswell said. "You get him here and he was better than advertised. A better person, a better player, a tremendous human being."
Have NFL scouts seen enough of Joe Royer to make him latest UC Bearcats tight end in pros?
Royer's NFL.com rating is 6.12, where it's believed he would be a good backup with the potential to start. Royer measured slightly over 6-foot-5 at the NFL Combine and weighed 247 pounds.
After transferring from Ohio State University, the former Elder High School standout broke Travis Kelce's single-season receptions record for tight ends with 50 in 2024, making first-team Big 12. In 2025, he was double-teamed and held to 29 catches.
UC tight ends coach Josh Stepp plans to be with him during the NFL draft, where NFL.com's Zierlein has him being chosen in either the fifth or sixth round. NFL Mock Draft Database has him going in Round 5. Elsewhere, USA Today has Royer going in the third round to the Philadelphia Eagles, NFL Spine Zone says fourth round to Dallas, and Clutch Points has Royer in the fifth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Royer hopes to be the latest Bearcats tight end to get drafted, joining future Hall of Famer and Super Bowl winner Kelce, Super Bowl winner Brent Celek, Whyle and Josiah Deguara, among others.
How high has UC Bearcats receiver Cyrus Allen climbed among NFL scouts?
Cyrus Allen grades out at 6.18 on the NFL.com site as he's listed as a good backup and potential starter.
At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Allen has moved up the charts despite not getting invited to the NFL Combine. At UC's Pro Day, he ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, had a vertical leap of 36 inches and a broad jump of 11 feet. Running the best routes on the day didn't hurt either.
Allen had 46 catches at Louisiana Tech in 2023 before transferring to Texas A&M, where he caught 18 balls in 2024. Transferring to the Bearcats stepped up his production as he led the team with 51 receptions and 13 touchdowns, tying a school record for receivers.
NFL.com's Zierlein sees Allen going in the fourth round, while NFL Mock Draft Database has him pegged for Round 6. In other mock drafts, Sports Illustrated has Allen going in the sixth round to the New England Patriots, CBS says seventh round to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clutch Points has him going in the fifth round to the Browns.
"He's the most competitive guy I've ever been around," UC wide receivers coach Vijay Stingley said. "He wants it so, so bad and he's going to put everything in it. It doesn't matter what he's asked to do; he's going to do it at a high level. He's definitely going to have a role on special teams in the league; I know a bunch of teams have been talking to him about that."
Where will UC Bearcats receiver Jeff Caldwell's NFL Combine numbers land him?
The Ringer's Todd McShay (formerly of ESPN) said Caldwell "won the Combine."
That's after the former FCS receiver from Lindenwood was measured at over 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds. His 40-yard dash time was 4.31, he had a vertical leap of 42 inches and a broad jump of 11 feet, 2 inches.
NFL.com grades him at 6, which translates to having the ability to be an above-average backup, but many will say Caldwell's best football has yet to take place.
After catching 53 passes for 11 touchdowns at Lindenwood to become a Walter Payton Award finalist for Best FCS Offensive Player, Caldwell transferred to UC and had 32 catches and six touchdowns.
NFL.com's Zierlein projects Caldwell as a fourth-round pick with NFL Mock Draft Database placing him in the fifth round.
"He had big ground to cover coming from Lindenwood to us and he had a tremendous year," UC's Stingley said. "I'm excited about him taking the next step and taking advantage of that opportunity."
Have NFL scouts seen enough of UC's Dontay Corleone to draft him?
"The Godfather" was at the NFL Combine and the UC Pro Day but hasn't worked out yet for scouts other than what's been put on tape. He did do interviews at the NFL Combine and was measured at 6-foot-0.5 and 340 pounds. His NFL.com grading is currently 5.89, which is what an average backup would grade.
Because of nagging injuries, Corleone may have to work his way up. His freshman year at UC, he was first-team American Athletic Conference and a Freshman All-American with 45.5 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. In 2023, he was second-team Big 12 with 39 tackles, 6.5 TFL and three sacks. He made first-team Big 12 in 2024, though his production was 26 tackles, five TFL and 3.5 sacks. Limited to 13 tackles last year, some due to being double-teamed, he was second-team Big 12.
NFL.com's Zierlien lists Corleone as a seventh-round pick or an undrafted free agent. NFL Mock Draft Database is more bullish with a fourth-round projection. Pro Football Focus sees Corleone going as early as the third round to the Jaguars, while USA Today says fourth round to the Giants.
UC Bearcats late-round picks or free agents
Jack Dingle – Dingle worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals and has had other visits. He's 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds coming off of a 60-tackle season with three sacks. At UC's Pro Day, he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, had a vertical leap of 35.5 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches. He did 23 bench press reps at 225 pounds.
"Jack played a lot of football here," UC linebackers coach Braswell said. "He started more games than any linebacker in UC history. He's a guy that elevates the room."
Patrick Gurd – Guard will get looks at tight end or fullback (H-back). He's over 6-foot-3 and weighs 244 pounds with a 4.8 40, a 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.
Gavin Gerhardt – The center and captain has had several visits and calls. He's over 6-foot-4 and weights 309 pounds. He did 27 reps on bench press.
Deondre Buford – Like Gerhardt, Buford was an offensive line starter who is over 6-foot-4 and weighs 323 pounds.
Logan Wilson – Wilson is just over 5-foot-9 and 172 pounds, but has wheeled out a 4.42 40 and has a 35-inch vertical leap and 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.
Matthew McDoom – McDoom is of similar build to Wilson and has a 4.46 40 time, a vertical of 33 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 6 inches.
Xavier Williams – The safety is over 6-foot-2 and weighs 217 pounds. Williams ran a 4.56 40 at UC's Pro Day, had a 38.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump.
Jalen Hunt – Hunt has had visits with the Bengals and Detroit Lions and is over 6-foot-2 and 310 pounds as a defensive lineman. He did 25 bench press reps.
Isaiah Rogers – Rogers is 6-foot-1 and 290 pounds and played defensive line with Hunt.
CJ McCray – McCray is over 6-foot-3 and weighs 244 pounds as an edge. He ran a 4.66 40, had a 36.5-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump.
The NFL Draft kicks off Thursday in Pittsburgh with a new wrinkle for 2026, as the picks should come faster than ever.
Teams will now have just eight minutes on the clock to make their first-round selections, down from 10 minutes in recent years and 15 before that. The latest TV-friendly adjustment to the annual event will keep the pace high and help discourage wandering away or changing channels between picks.
Also helping in that regard: This first round feels as unpredictable as any in recent memory. After the Raiders' expected selection of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, there doesn't seem to be much consensus about where other prospects will land.
That's a formula for reaches, slides and trades, so the 2026 draft should be a must-watch for football fans.
Here's all you need to know about when and where to tune in for the festivities.
What time does NFL Draft 2026 start today?
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin shortly after 8 p.m. ET on Thursday. This year's draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The NFL Draft will be available to watch on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
Thursday's ESPN broadcast will feature Mike Greenberg as the host alongside analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Booger McFarland and Louis Riddick.
Turn to ABC for a more college-themed feel with Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Nick Saban and Desmond Howard.
The NFL Network broadcast is led by Rich Eisen with analysis from Kurt Warner, Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis and Joel Klatt.
Viewers hoping to stream the NFL Draft can stream live coverage from all of those networks with fubo, which offers a free trial so you can try before you buy.
Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
SAN FRANCISCO –– For six innings Wednesday night, Shohei Ohtani tortured the San Francisco Giants’ offense.
The minute he left the mound, everything changed.
In the Dodgers’ 3-0 loss at Oracle Park, Ohtani’s pitching was the only bright spot in what was the club’s fourth loss in its last five games.
Ohtanit dazzled on the mound against the Giants despite the Dodgers loss. AP
While he spun six scoreless frames, neither the lineup nor the bullpen could provide any support, setting the stage for a back-breaking sequence in the bottom of the seventh.
With Ohtani’s night over after 91 pitches, left-handed reliever Jack Dreyer took the mound and immediately gave the game away. The first two batters he faced both singled. Then, after a sacrifice bunt, he hung a slider to Patrick Bailey that the Giants catcher –– and previously .145-hitting No. 9 batter –– clobbered for a no-doubt three-run homer.
The Dodgers’ offense mustered no such magic. For the first time this season, they were shut out, finishing the night with just four hits.
San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey, right celebrates with Heliot Ramos (17) after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. AP
Giants starter Tyler Mahle frustrated them over seven scoreless innings. And after the fourth, they never even put a runner in scoring position.
Ohtani, as a hitter, wasn’t immune to such struggles, losing his 53-game on-base streak with a 0-for-4 performance.
What it means
The defeat clinches a losing road trip for the Dodgers, who have gone 2-4 this week against the Giants and Colorado Rockies.
Now, they are in danger of suffering their first series sweep of the season, too.
Not what they were expecting from a trip in which they faced two sub-.500 teams.
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after striking out Casey Schmitt of the San Francisco Giants to end the sixth inning with runners on second and third base at Oracle Park. Getty Images
Who’s hot
Ohtani, the pitcher.
In his six scoreless innings, the right-hander continued his electric start to the season. He struck out seven batters. He gave up just five hits. He didn’t walk anyone. And he had some of his best raw stuff in a Dodgers uniform.
His fastball averaged a season-high 98.8 mph, and eclipsed the 100 mph mark seven times. His sweeper was almost unhittable, generating a whiff 9 of the 15 times the Giants swung at it.
And he even flashed some rare emotion at the end of his night, stranding runners at second and third in the sixth with a strikeout of Casey Schmitt that had him fist-pumping as he spun off the mound.
In four starts overall this season, Ohtani has now allowed just one earned run in 24 innings, good for a 0.38 ERA to go along with 25 strikeouts.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman gets tagged out by San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey at Oracle Park. Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Who’s not
The Dodgers’ offense –– including Ohtani, the hitter, who failed to set a new record-long on-base streak in the franchise’s Los Angeles history after tying Shawn Green at 53 games.
Ohtani, of course, was far from the only disappointment on Wednesday.
Kyle Tucker also failed to reach base in a 0-for-4 clunker. Teoscar Hernández and Hyeseong Kim were hitless, as well, while squandering the team’s two best chances of the night –– Hernández by grounding out with two aboard in the first, and Kim by doing the same in the fourth.
Outside of Freddie Freeman, who was 2-for-4, the rest of the team was 2-for-27.
Up next
The Dodgers will try to avoid their first sweep this season in Thursday afternoon’s series finale. Tyler Glasnow (2-0, 3.24 ERA) will face Logan Webb (2-2, 5.40 ERA) in the 12:45 p.m. start.
Apr 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) after a double during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
A seven-game losing streak to the San Diego Padres was finally snapped as the Colorado Rockies delivered on all fronts to secure an 8-3 victory at Coors Field. Solid starting pitching and an offensive outburst for the lineup have now tied the series 1-1.
With the win, the Rockies have secured their 10th win of the season, a stark contrast to the fact that Colorado lost 50 games in 2025 before winning their 10th game at the start of June.
Pour Some Sugano On Me
The Rockies were hoping for a bounce-back start for Tomoyuki Sugano after a rough outing against Los Angeles, and “Tommy Sugar” delivered. Sugano ended up working 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits with four strikeouts against one walk.
The lone walk came in the first inning after Ramón Laureano drew a walk to lead off the game and came in to score via a Jackson Merrill single. After the first inning, Sugano allowed just three more base runners, two of which came via singles in the sixth inning that drove him out of the game with two outs.
As he has done each time out, Sugano pounded the zone, throwing 64 of his 101 pitches for strikes. His slider and splitter were especially effective in inducing nine groundouts and two flyouts. It was also the first outing this season where he didn’t allow a home run.
With two men on in the sixth and left-handed hitting Gavin Sheets coming up to the plate, the Rockies turned to Jaden Hill out of the bullpen to bail out Sugano. Sporting a .176/.263/.176 slashline against left-handed hitters, Hill successfully retired Sheets on a groundout.
Hill then pitched the seventh and managed to strike out of the side, although Luis Campusano belted a home run to left field for the Padres’ second run of the game, and he issued a free pass. Still, it was another fantastic outing for the right-hander as he sports a shiny 1.80 ERA.
Bye Bye Buehler
The last time Walker Buehler pitched at Coors Field in 2024, he allowed seven runs on seven hits in just four innings of work. While he didn’t surrender that many runs this time around, the Rockies still got after him and chased him from the game after 2.2 innings.
The damage against Buehler came in the second inning after Troy Johnston kicked things off with a one-out single to right field. After Kyle Karros moved him up ninety feet on a groundout, the Rockies managed to construct a massive two-out rally. Willi Castro, Jake McCarthy (with an assist from the second base bag), and Edouard Julien delivered three-straight singles to give the Rockies a 2-1 advantage. Mickey Moniak then delivered an RBI double to score McCarthy and put two runners in scoring position. Hunter Goodman drew a walk to load the bases for Tyler Freeman, who managed to drive in a run after smoking a ball to Xander Bogaerts who then bobbled the ball trying to rush a throw from a diving stop.
The Rockies threatened Buehler again in the third inning with a Karros double and walks issued to Castro and Julien to drive him from the game with two outs and the bases loaded. Unfortunately, Moniak couldn’t deliver against the left-handed reliever Kyle Hart to put a bigger blemish on Buehler’s start. In the end, he allowed four runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts on 82 pitches.
Hit Parade
After managing just three singles on Tuesday, the Rockies deployed the offense with authority in tonight’s game. They collected 15 total hits, including seven extra-base hits, while every starter collected a hit by the fifth inning. They scored the four runs in the second and added a run in the fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth.
Goodman led the offense with three hits, collecting a pair of doubles and a towering solo home run. Moniak had two doubles while TJ Rumfield collected a pair of hits and two RBI. In total, five Rockies had multi-hit games with the bottom third of the order going 5-for-10 on the night. Additionally, the Rockies struck out just six times while drawing four walks.
Perhaps more importantly, five of the Rockies’ eight runs came with two outs as they went 7-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
The Rockies look to win the series on Thursday before heading to New York. Ryan Feltner (1-1, 6.00 ERA) is slated to take the hill for Colorado while the knuckleballer Matt Waldron (0-1, 14.73 ERA) is slated for San Diego.
For the San Francisco Giants, Tyler Mahle delivered one of his most effective outings of the season, going toe-to-toe with Shohei Ohtani in a tightly contested matchup.
The right-hander tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out four. That helped the Giants come away with a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The performance stood out even more considering Mahle’s recent struggles, including a difficult start against the Cincinnati Reds in which he surrendered eight runs. This time, however, he showed improved command and composure.
While he issued a pair of walks, they did not translate into damage, as he consistently worked out of trouble and kept the Dodgers' lineup off balance.
Ohtani Silences Giants Bats
On the other side, Ohtani was equally dominant through the first six innings. He held the Giants scoreless, allowing five hits while striking out seven. Mixing velocity with sharp secondary pitches, Ohtani neutralized San Francisco’s lineup and prevented any sustained offensive momentum.
For much of the night, it appeared the game could come down to a single swing as both starters controlled the pace and limited opportunities.
Bailey Delivers the Breakthrough
That defining moment came in the seventh inning. With Ohtani out of the game, Patrick Bailey capitalized on the opportunity, launching a three-run home run off Jack Dreyer to give the Giants a 3-0 lead.
The swing carried added significance. Bailey had been struggling offensively entering the game, ranking among the least productive hitters in the lineup.
With Daniel Susac recently placed on the Injured List, the Giants have needed increased production from the catcher position. Bailey’s timely hit not only broke the scoreless tie but also offered a potential turning point for his season.
Bullpen Holds the Line
Following Mahle’s dominant outing, the Giants turned to Caleb Kilian in the eighth inning. Kilian continued his run as one of the more reliable arms in the bullpen, navigating through a dangerous Dodgers lineup without allowing a run.
His consistency has been a welcome development for a bullpen that has experienced inconsistency at times this season.
In the ninth, Ryan Walker took over and secured the victory, earning his third save of the year. Walker has increasingly emerged as a dependable option in high-leverage situations, and with the closer role still evolving, he has begun to establish himself as a trusted finisher.
A Complete Team Effort
The win highlighted a well-rounded performance from the Giants. Strong starting pitching, a timely offensive breakthrough, and effective bullpen execution combined to shut down one of baseball’s most dangerous lineups.
Just as importantly, it showcased signs of progress from key contributors, offering encouragement as the season continues.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
As the NFL draft kicks off on Thursday, BucsRoundtable takes a look in the rearview at key contributors the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have previously drafted in the second round who made big impacts for the team during their tenures.
The Buccaneers have made over 50 picks in the second round since 1976. Some players did not have productive years in a Buccaneers jersey, while others flourished and earned multiple career honors in Tampa Bay.
BucsRoundtable will take a look at five of the best second-round picks in Buccaneers history -- players who have either left their mark in the franchise's history or are still writing their story.
No. 5: Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield Jr. is the only active player on this list, as he was the 45th pick in 2020. In six seasons with Tampa Bay, he has made the PFWA All-Rookie Team, was the NFL co-leader in forced fumbles in 2023, became a two-time Pro Bowler, made first-team All-Pro and is a Super Bowl LV champion.
The 5-foot-9 safety is still writing his story as a Buccaneer. Winfield Jr. is heading into his seventh season and is under contract through the 2027 season.
No. 4: G Ali Marpet
Marpet was the 61st pick for Tampa Bay in 2015, becoming the highest drafted Division Ill player ever (Hobart College). Although he retired after seven seasons in the NFL, he made an impact as one of the most consistent offensive linemen in Buccaneers history. He made the PFWA All-Rookie Team, made the Pro Bowl in the following year, and became a Super Bowl LV champion.
Marpet's consistency earned him a five-year, $55.25 million contract extension in 2018, as Tampa Bay quarterbacks were sacked 4.5 percent of the time when he was on the field in 2017.
No. 3: James Wilder Sr.
Wilder was the 34th pick in the 1981 draft for Tampa Bay, back when the draft was 12 rounds. He is the franchise's leading rusher with 5,957 yards.
Coming out of Northeastern Oklahoma, Wilder became a Pro Bowler and was named second-team All-Pro in 1984. He rushed for 1,544 yards that season, which became the franchise's single-season record.
No. 2: Mike Alstott
Alstott played for Tampa Bay from 1996-2007, spending his entire career with the franchise after being selected with the 35th pick. The Buccaneers' bruising fullback, a fan favorite throughout his career, earned multiple accolades in his 12 seasons.
He was a six-time Pro Bowler, a second-team All-Pro, three-time first-team All-Pro and a Super Bowl XXXVII champion.
Alstott finished his career with 5,088 yards and 58 touchdowns on 1,359 carries. Barring the 2003 season, when he played four games, the 6-foot-1 fullback consistently played over 13 games.
No. 1: Lavonte David
David is a franchise legend for the Buccaneers, who recently retired after 14 seasons. The 12-time captain earned many accolades in a Tampa Bay jersey: PFWA All-Rookie Team, Pro Bowl, two-time second-team All-Pro, first-team All-Pro and the Super Bowl LV champion.
David was the 58th pick back in 2012, and he's etched his name in the record books. A stalwart at linebacker and sure-fire Buccaneers Ring of Honor laureate has the most forced fumbles (33), most tackles for a loss (176), most fumble recoveries (21) and tied Derrick Brooks for the most tackles in franchise history (1,714).
David's career was the embodiment of what it meant to be a Buccaneer, and he has kick-started his waiting period to become a potential first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Things were looking pretty sweet for a Texas Rangers comeback victory as they set themselves up for a ninth-inning rally.
But the Rangers' bullpen surrendered four runs in the top of the ninth, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates earn an 8-4 win at Globe Life Field.
Jake Burger's two-run single in the bottom of the eighth tied the game at 4-4. It looked like the Rangers were going to get a chance to potentially walk it off in the bottom of the ninth.
Well, that didn't happen.
Let's break down the ninth-inning meltdown.
Nick Gonzales led off with a single to left. Spencer Horwitz followed with another single, moving Gonzales to third base. After Konnor Griffin was called out on strikes, Rangers reliever Cole Winn got Jake Mangum to ground into a fielder's choice. Gonzales scored and pinch-runner Billy Cook went to second base.
That put Pittsburgh up 5-4 at the time. Mangum reached base on the fielder's choice.
With one out, Oneil Cruz slammed a three-run home run to right field off of Winn. Cook and Mangum scored ahead of Cruz, giving the Pirates an 8-4 lead.
Winn worked just one-third of an inning, giving up two hits, three runs (all earned), didn't walk anyone, and struck out one. Winn's record falls to 1-1 on the season.
It was a tough loss for the Rangers to take. They battled back from being down two runs and positioned themselves for a rally in front of the home crowd.
Back in the first inning, the Pirates' Marcell Ozuna singled to left and Ryan Reynolds scored for a 1-0 Pittsburgh lead. In the bottom of the second inning, Josh Jung hit a two-run homer, his third home run this season, and the Rangers went up 2-1.
In the Pirates' half of the fifth inning, Brandon Lowe connected for an RBI single to tie things up at 2-2. Reynolds followed with a two-out, two-run single and Pittsburgh took a 4-2 lead.
That's how things stood until Texas came up with its two eighth-inning runs.
Pirates pitcher Gregory Soto suffered his first blown save this season, but ended up getting the victory. He's now 1-1 on the season.
A tip of the hat, though, needs to go to both starting pitchers. Pittsburgh's Braxton Ashcraft worked seven innings, giving up four hits, two runs (both earned), walking two, and striking out five. Texas' Jack Leiter went five innings, giving up five hits, four runs (three earned), walking two, and striking out five.
The Rangers fall to 12-12 on the season and are now in second place in the American League West Division. As for the Buckos, they go to 14-10 this season and reside in third place in the National League East Division.
The Pirates and Rangers will wrap up their series on Thursday night at Globe Life Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. CT (8:05 p.m. ET).
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams may have hit another speed bump in what has been an injury-plagued year.
The 2025 All-Star exited during the third quarter of the defending champions' April 22 game against the Phoenix Suns with an apparent hamstring injury. He grabbed at his left hamstring immediately following a layup attempt with 6:28 to go and was subbed out a short time later, at 5:53, for Cason Wallace.
Williams, who played just 33 games this season, had scored 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting in 23 minutes when he exited the game. The Thunder lead the series 2-0 now after defeating the Suns 120-107 at Paycom Center.
In the second season since the Kentucky High School Athletic Association sanctioned boys volleyball, Simon Kenton was one of the schools to add the sport to its athletic program, a decision that quickly paid off.
Simon Kenton's first season has seen the Pioneers start with an 8-2 record, including a 7-0 start where the team dropped just a single set.
Head coach Lacey Maley, a 2018 Simon Kenton grad and the junior varsity coach in the girls program, has led the Pioneers in their first season.
Maley's team has just 12 players, with three having prior volleyball experience. As of games played on April 21, they're the No. 14 team in the KHSAA by RPI.
"Hard work," Maley said when asked how her team has adapted to a new sport so quickly. "A real big want to win and compete and a want to get better. I've had several players make drastic improvements already over the season.
"I think having the three club players helps us. They're able to spread their knowledge and wisdom with the boys while on the court playing and in practice."
Senior Nehemiah Kaai, junior Henry Alo and freshman Nicholas Nartker are the three with volleyball experience.
Nartker has led the team in digs while cousins Kaai and Alo run the offense.
Alo, the setter, has had over 150 assists this season, mostly to Kaai who has over 120 kills.
"They've grown up with each other and they're a volleyball family," Maley said. "I think they've been able to build that connection over time and experience. I think that's how any team is able to run those quick, fastbreak plays and volleyball is just timing and connection with your setter.
"They know each other front and back. In the middle of a play, they know how to get it to each other."
Since Simon Kenton's 7-0 start, the Pioneers were swept by North Oldham, swept Scott for the second time this season and lost to defending regional champion Ryle in four sets on April 21.
Ryle improved to 11-3 with the win and is the top team in Region 6. Ryle's program has existed for several years and predates the KHSAA sanctioning of the sport. Ryle beat Simon Kenton 23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-23, but taking a set from the Raiders and being competitive throughout the match was a welcome ending.
"I'm very, very proud of my team for taking a set," Maley said. "There's many programs who have been around a lot longer than us and haven't even come that far, so I think it speaks volumes to my boys and how much effort and hustle they're willing to put in.
"Didn't get the result I wanted, but beyond proud of the result I got."
In the second season since the Kentucky High School Athletic Association sanctioned boys volleyball, Simon Kenton was one of the schools to add the sport to its athletic program, a decision that quickly paid off.
Simon Kenton's first season has seen the Pioneers start with an 8-2 record, including a 7-0 start where the team dropped just a single set.
Head coach Lacey Maley, a 2018 Simon Kenton grad and the junior varsity coach in the girls program, has led the Pioneers in their first season.
Maley's team has just 12 players, with three having prior volleyball experience. As of games played on April 21, they're the No. 14 team in the KHSAA by RPI.
"Hard work," Maley said when asked how her team has adapted to a new sport so quickly. "A real big want to win and compete and a want to get better. I've had several players make drastic improvements already over the season.
"I think having the three club players helps us. They're able to spread their knowledge and wisdom with the boys while on the court playing and in practice."
Senior Nehemiah Kaai, junior Henry Alo and freshman Nicholas Nartker are the three with volleyball experience.
Nartker has led the team in digs while cousins Kaai and Alo run the offense.
Alo, the setter, has had over 150 assists this season, mostly to Kaai who has over 120 kills.
"They've grown up with each other and they're a volleyball family," Maley said. "I think they've been able to build that connection over time and experience. I think that's how any team is able to run those quick, fastbreak plays and volleyball is just timing and connection with your setter.
"They know each other front and back. In the middle of a play, they know how to get it to each other."
Since Simon Kenton's 7-0 start, the Pioneers were swept by North Oldham, swept Scott for the second time this season and lost to defending regional champion Ryle in four sets on April 21.
Ryle improved to 11-3 with the win and is the top team in Region 6. Ryle's program has existed for several years and predates the KHSAA sanctioning of the sport. Ryle beat Simon Kenton 23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-23, but taking a set from the Raiders and being competitive throughout the match was a welcome ending.
"I'm very, very proud of my team for taking a set," Maley said. "There's many programs who have been around a lot longer than us and haven't even come that far, so I think it speaks volumes to my boys and how much effort and hustle they're willing to put in.
"Didn't get the result I wanted, but beyond proud of the result I got."
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Patrick Bailey broke up a scoreless game with a three-run homer in the sixth inning after Shohei Ohtani left the mound, and the San Francisco Giants sent the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to their fourth loss in five games with a 3-0 win Wednesday night.
Bailey connected against Jack Dreyer (1-1) after Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos each singled to start the inning and Drew Gilbert's sacrifice bunt moved them over.
Ohtani struck out seven in six scoreless innings but left with the game 0-0 and saw his career-best on-base streak end at 53 games.
He dueled with San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle (1-3), who struck out five over seven impressive innings to earn his first victory since joining the club in January. Ryan Walker closed it out for his second save in as many nights.
Ohtani allowed a pair of singles in the first inning but escaped unscathed and still struck out the side. The Giants had runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth after singles by Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers but after a meeting with catcher Will Smith, Ohtani struck out Casey Schmitt — pumping his arm in celebration as he charged off the mound, and his day was done.
Manager Dave Roberts had yet to decide whether the two-way star would play the series finale Thursday afternoon. Roberts said beforehand he had no qualms about giving Ohtani five at-bats on a day he's pitching but could consider a different spot in the order down the road if that makes sense.
Ohtani's on-base streak tied for second in Dodgers history with Shawn Green. Duke Snider owns the team record at 58 games from May 13-July 11, 1954. Ohtani’s streak also was the longest in the majors since Orlando Cabrera reached base in 63 straight from April 25-July 6, 2006.
He has allowed just one earned run over his first 24 innings of 2026 for an ERA of 0.38 and a 2-0 record, surrendering 15 hits with 25 strikeouts and six walks.
Up next
RHP Tyler Glasnow (2-0, 3.24 ERA) takes the mound for the Dodgers in the series finale Thursday afternoon opposite Giants RHP Logan Webb (2-2, 5.40).
NORTH PORT, FL- FEBRUARY 22: JR Ritchie #92 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on February 22, 2026 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well it has rapidly turned into prospect week for the Braves’ rotation, as a 1.0 inning Reynaldo Lopez start on Tuesday in the middle of a stretch of 10 games straight sent the Braves’ pitching into a scramble to cover innings. An up and down 3.0 inning start from Didier Fuentes resulted in Thursday’s scheduled starter Martin Perez being burnt to cover another 3.0 innings. Fuentes was probably better than his line would indicate, as he got a bit unlucky with some BABIP, while striking out 7 batters across 3.0 innings and generated 15 whiffs on 74 pitches. That said, he was not as his best, particularly in the first inning. So that leaves us with JR Ritchie making his MLB debut on Thursday as a consensus top 100 prospect and top 2 prospect in the organization. Ritchie made a real push for a rotation spot in Spring Training and has been largely effective in AAA so far. Ritchie has a deep pitch mix and will be fun to watch on Thursday, as he can hopefully can provide some depth for a Braves team that desperately needs it.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: A "Welcome to Dodger Stadium" sign is displayed before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are the results and details of every Los Angeles Dodgers game for 2026, from the beginning of the regular season through however long they last in the postseason.
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - APRIL 22: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the DFB Cup semifinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on April 22, 2026 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich hit the road to face off with Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal semifinals and the Bavarians picked up right where they left off over the weekend.
Bayern Munich was dominant in controlling Die Werkself during a 2-0 victory, where the home side just never really posed a major threat to the Bavarians. Now, Bayern Munich will head back to the DFB-Pokal final for the first time since the 2019/2020 campaign under Hansi Flick, where the Bavarians picked up a 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Let’s get into it, here are some quick hitters on the match:
As always, let’s begin with a look at the starting XI:
This was pretty much as expected with the only real debate was between Alphonso Davies and Josip Stanišić at outside-back. You have to give head coach Vincent Kompany credit; he is resisting his urge to just roll Davies out there and let him go. The coach loves the Canadian, but is playing it safe and taking it slow. Bayern Munich would likely be doing the same with Jamal Musiala if it were not for the injuries to Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl.
Luis Díaz almost put Bayern Munich ahead 1-0 in the 16th minute, but Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken made a big stop in diving to his left. A minute later, Flekken stopped Kane, too. The Dutch goalkeeper was very sharp throughout the game.
Later Flekken would make a play to stop Laimer, too. What a first 20 minutes for the Dutchman.
The run of Dutch luck would hit some turbulence in the form of Harry Kane, though. In the 22nd minute, Musiala drove down the right side and slid a pass to Diaz, who just bent his body to let it run through and get to Kane who roofed it for a 1-0 lead.
What a season Kane is having. The Englishman has been the best player in the world during this campaign and lived up to everything he was billed to be.
Olise had a great look in the 18th minute, but hit a laser directly at Flekken.
Kane whipped a half-volley toward the net in the 40th minute, but it sailed wide of the net.
In the 49th minute, Olise played a great ball into Musiala, who hit an incredible off-angle shot, which was cleared by Robert Andrich before crossing the goal line.
Manuel Neuer made an outstanding save on Nathan Tella in the 52nd minute.
Flekken would make another big stop in the 56th minute, this time on Stanišić. Flekken also made a great save on Kane in the 62nd minute. The guy was everywhere.
In the 3rd minute of added time, Kim Min-jae sent a ball into Leon Goretzka, who slid a pass to Díaz for an easy goal (after a review).
Díaz continued his excellent season. What a great pickup he has proven to be. Max Eberl deserves a feather in his cap for that one.
Bayer Leverkusen was much better in the second half, but still really could not find a way around Bayern Munich. The home side did limit the Bavarians to just two goals so that is something.
Bayern Munich played conservatively in the final 30 minutes, but Bayer Leverkusen did not quit. Despite the loss, Leverkusen did not quit.
Overall, it was a bit of a ho-hum performance for Bayern Munich, but it got the job done and in this case, that is all that matters. Bayern Munich is back where it belongs — in the DFB-Pokal finale.
Dušan Vlahović has been linked to Bayern Munich off-and-on for roughly four years. Now, Sky Sports journalist Gianluca DiMarzio is saying the Bavarians could be in the running for the Serbian striker if he does not extend his contract with Juventus:
If he didn’t extend his contract at Juventus, Dušan Vlahović would be an option for Bayern as a Harry Kane backup and a replacement for Nicolas Jackson. The Serbian striker is out of contract in the summer. Milan are also interested.
Liverpool FC is reportedly making RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande its focus for the summer transfer window:
🚨💣 EXCL | Yan #Diomande is now Liverpool’s top target to replace Mo Salah, with the move approved by all #LFC decision-makers.
Concrete talks are ongoing with his new representatives at Roc Nation Sports, although no agreement has been reached yet and the clubs have not entered negotiations.
RB Leipzig are keen to adjust his salary and extend his contract. PSG, led by Luis Campos, are also in the race and have already held a meeting with his agents. @SkySportDE
Alphonso Davies might not be entirely unsellable for Bayern Munich, but it does not mean the club is looking to sell him, either…especially to Manchester United:
❌ It is NOT TRUE: Manchester United have held talks over signing Alphonso Davies this summer. This hasn’t been confirmed as of yet. I know Bayern Munich would be open to discussing a deal, on the condition that it was a good deal for the club. That’s because Davies has a really good salary (around €20m) and he’s often injured. But I also know that Vincent Kompany loves this player! Before the season, when they were in contract talks with the Canadian, the head coach made it absolutely clear that he needed Davies (specifically his speed to support his coaching philosophy). So, it’s hard to give the left-back away. If he’s again on the pitch and doing his job, then it’s getting hard for any club to sign him. But at the moment, there is a door open.
Bayern Munich is reportedly taking a look at Red Bull New York central midfielder Adri Mehmeti:
Source: Red Bull New York’s Adri Mehmeti has strong interest from RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich. There’s also been a recommendation to Real Madrid to scout him in person pre-World Cup.
Mehmeti previously trained with Red Bull Salzburg in ‘24 and RB Leipzig in ‘25. pic.twitter.com/hckXMjvd1c
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Losers of 12 straight, the Mets entered Wednesday's game against the visiting Minnesota Twinsranked No. 30 in runs scored (75) and wins (seven).
With the news of Juan Soto returning -- and presumably speaking to his teammates -- the Mets responded with a 3-2 victory at Citi Field.
Soto admitted he did not reach out to any of his teammates while he was sidelined with a calf injury. Throughout Soto's injured reserve stint, the Mets' losses compounded. The four-time All-Star remained silent since April 3.
"They've been on the road most of the time, so I haven't talked to them," he told reporters before his return.
Talkative or not, the Mets received the help they needed Wednesday.
Healed Juan Soto assists Mets
Listed as a designated hitter, Soto batted second against Twins starter Connor Prielipp, who made his MLB debut. Soto went 1-for-3 with a walk as the Mets earned their first win since April 7.
With the 27-year-old slugger back in the lineup, the Mets expect to make some noise. During his first at-bat Wednesday, Soto flew out to center field and lined out to right field in the third inning. He walked in the fifth and singled to right in the eighth.
Soto ended up getting picked off. Wonder what he said to his teammates after getting back to the dugout?
There's a bigger question as the Mets close out the season's first full month.
Can Soto continue to provide enough help to turn their season around?
HOUSTON (AP) — Ibrahim Aliyu scored his first goal of the season to help the Houston Dynamo beat San Diego FC 1-0 in a chippy and physical contest Wednesday night.
Jonathan Bond stopped one shot and had his first shutout this season.
The Dynamo (4-4-0), who beat Orlando 1-0 on Saturday, have won back-to-back games following a three-game losing streak.
San Diego (3-4-2) has lost four straight and is winless in its last six following a three-game win streak to open the season.
Aliyu, on the counter-attack, put away a first-touch shot, off a feed from Ondrej Lingr, that gave Houston a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute.
Amahl Pellegrino was shown a straight red card in the 79th minute and San Diego play a man down the rest of the way. Lingr was shown a straight red card in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Houston's Franco Negri and San Diego's Ian Pilcher were shown injury-time yellow cards.
San Diego finished with 65% possession but was outshot 11-10, 2-1 on target.
The Dynamo traded Aliyu to Columbus in exchange for $450,000 in general allocation money (GAM) in April of 2025 and then acquired him from the Crew in March for $250,000 GAM. Columbus could get $500,000 more based on performance.
The Ohio State men's lacrosse team may have only been awarded the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Men's Lacrosse Tournament, but that's because four teams tied for the Big Ten regular-season crown, with the Buckeyesjoining the fray with a last-second win over Michigan last weekend.
There are only six teams in the Big Ten, so with four of them matching wits to grab a share of the crown, you have to believe the conference tournament will be the tiebreaker. If you are interested in watching the Buckeyes make a run, they'll get things started on Saturday when they have a rematch with No. 5 seed Michigan at Noon ET out on the campus of Rutgers.
If Ohio State wins that matchup, it'll head to the semifinals against No. 1 seed Johns Hopkins for a matchup to make it to the conference championship game. Here's how the entire Big Ten Men's Lacrosse Tournament bracket looks heading into play this weekend.
We'll be following Ohio State's path in the tournament, as well as all of the other OSU spring teams vying for postseason glory, so be sure to check back and follow what's happening here on Buckeyes Wire.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
“It’s interesting,” Barkley said. “I was just chillin’ at the house last week, and one of my good friends is Vince Coleman, the great baseball player. When we answer the phone, we (jokingly) say some unkind words to each other … he says, ‘Yo, I’m down here at The Grove. I’m sick of you and MJ’s BS. He’s right here. Y’all need to talk.’ And we had a conversation, but Vince Coleman’s the person who’s responsible. We (Barkley and Jordan) talked for a couple minutes. He said, ‘Man, let’s get together and play golf. And as soon as I get a break, we’re gonna fly down there and spend a couple days playing golf.’” The Grove XXIII is Jordan’s private golf course in Jupiter, Florida.
Patrick Ewing on playing against Michael Jordan: You know he was good. You know he was athletic. You know he was talented. So we played in the McDonald's games together. I also visited North Carolina when he was at North Carolina. He had already committed but I think they brought him back just to talk me into coming to North Carolina. There were other guys that I thought might have been better than him at that time but the thing that that separated him from a lot of people is that belief. He had a belief in himself. He had a drive and I think also the athleticism. I think all that separated him from everybody else. — 4/22/2026 YouTube
Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan may be mending their friendship. The former NBA stars, both 63, ended their friendship years ago after Jordan took issue with a comment Barkley made about Jordan's ownership of the Charlotte Hornets. But now, Barkley has said the former friends may put their feud to rest. "We had a conversation," Barkley said during an appearance on Sirius XM's Mad Dog Unleashed on Friday, April 17. "We're going to get together and play golf as soon as basketball is over." — 4/20/2026 People
Bam Adebayo broke the internet on Tuesday when he dropped 83 points on the Wizards in a 150-129 Miami Heat win. Some who witnessed the feat weren’t fans of how it played out. The game was lopsided enough for the Heat to have sat Adebayo under normal circumstances. But the team left the All-Star center in the game and continued to feed him despite the win already being in hand. Barkley was upset for a different reason. The Hall of Fame power forward appeared on Saturday’s ESPN Tip-off show and lambasted the Wizards for showing “no pride whatsoever.” “I’m disgusted by the Wizards,” Barkley said. “As a competitor, you’ve got to go dirty. … When you’re down 20, and the game is over, and now a team is like, ‘just go for the record,’ you’re disrespecting me. I thought the Wizards, who’ve got no pride whatsoever, obviously they’re tanking, but you’ve still got to have pride. If a guy’s doing that, you’ve got to knock him on his a–.” — 3/15/2026 Larry Brown Sports
The main takeaway from todays game was that Cooper Ingle was removed from the game with a foot injury after starting 2-2. Ingle has been unbelievable to start the season with a .394 average and an OPS of 1.418. Lets hope this injury is nothing serious. Travis Bazzana went 1-3 with two walks and continues to find ways to succeed at the plate despite not hitting the ball hard as consistently as we would like. He’s up to a .286 average with an OPS of .882.
Ryan Webb had a rocky start, allowing two earned runs in four innings pitched while striking out four and walking three. His ERA is up to 7.50 on the season. Daniel Espino’s stat line looks pretty rough, but he only allowed one hard hit ball in his outing.
It was a big day for the RubberDucks offense! Angel Genao went 1-3 with two walks and two RBIs. He’s up to a .296 average with an OPS of .902. Ralphy Velazquez went 0-2 with three walks. Jacob Cozart went 2-5 with an RBI, Nick Mitchell went 2-4 with two walks and an RBI. Guy Lipscomb went 3-5 with an RBI double, he has had a great start to the season with an average of .368 and an OPS of .929.
It was an ok start for Josh Hartle, he tossed five innings and allowed three runs while striking out three and walking two. His ERA is at 3.20 on the season.
Dean Curley continues his hot start to the season going 1-2 with a double and two walks. He is now hitting .277 with an .891 OPS. Nolan Schubart and Ryan Cesarini both went 1-3 with a walk.
Jackson Humphries had a bit of a rough outing. He struck out five but he allowed four runs in just 2.1 innings pitched. His ERA is now up to 4.41 on the season. Despite the rough outing, he is someone who has looked very much improved this season and is someone to keep an eye on this season.
Even in a loss, this Hill City team can really hit. The top three hitting prospects on the team in Caceres, Arias, and Fernandez combined to go 2-13 and they still scored five runs on eleven hits. Anthony Martinez has had an awesome start to the season, he went 2-4 his fourth HR this season and now has an OPS of 1.040. Yeiferth Castillo and Jonathan Martinez also went 2-4 and are having nice seasons as 19 year olds in Single A.
Nelson Keljo had another awesome start, with 3.2 scoreless innings and five strikeouts to zero walks. His ERA is down to 1.59 on the season. Miguel Flores finally showed some signs of being human after previously not allowing a single earned run this season. He allowed four runs in two innings pitched and had his ERA skyrocket up to 2.40 on the season. I would not be too worried about him.
Apr 21, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) reacts after scoring during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
It’s Wednesday evening here at BCB After Dark: the hippest hot spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. We can always find room for another friendly face. There’s no cover charge tonight. We still have a few tables available. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
The Cubs won their eighth-straight game tonight, 7-2 over the Phillies. First Cubs game to ever end on an ABS challenge as well. I think this team might be good.
Here’s the part where we listen to jazz and talk movies. You can skip ahead if you want.
We’re continuing our look at Chicago jazz in anticipation of International Jazz Day, hosted in the Second City on April 30. We’ve got a young (-ish) Chicagoan in vibraphonist Joel Ross. (Thirty is practically a baby in jazz.) This is from his brand-new album Gospel Music and is titled “Wisdom is Eternal (For Barry Harris).”
Ross is joined here by saxophonists Josh Johnson (alto) and Maria Grand (tenor), Jeremy Corren on piano, Kanoa Mendenhall is the bassist and Jeremy Dutton plays the drums.
I don’t have a movie to write about tonight, but some of you in the comments yesterday wanted to talk about Oklahoma!, so I thought I’d give you the chance to tell us about your favorite musicals.
I’ll say off the bat that Oklahoma! is not one of my favorites. I don’t begrudge those who like it and I certainly don’t think it’s a poorly-made film or musical. It’s just not to my tastes. If it’s something that appeals to you, great. It’s very good at whatever it is that it does and you’ll never hear a bad word about Shirley Jones out of my lips.
I’ve said before that my favorite musicals are the works of Jacques Demy with music by Michel Legrand: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort. I’m also a big fan of the Busby Berkeley trio from the early-thirties: 42nd Street, Gold Diggers of 1933 and Footlight Parade. Maybe they are not traditional musicals in that none of the songs are non-diegetic—that is, everyone who is signing is singing because they’re on a stage.
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for My Fair Lady. The Judy Garland/James Mason version of A Star is Born is terrific too.
I am also a huge fan of the television show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which may be the only musical television program that actually worked. That they were able to get two songs a week (and make them good) into a 47-minute show 13 times a year was incredible. It’s probably the best show you’ve never watched and yes, I admit the title scared some people off. They address that in the first season theme song.
So tell us which musicals get you tapping your toes.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and the movies.
There’s no doubt that second baseman Nico Hoerner has been the most valuable Cub so far this season. In fact, according to both Baseball Reference and Fangraphs, Nico Hoerner has been the most valuable player in the National League so far this young season.
We all know about Hoerner’s skills. He’s a Gold Glove defender at second base. He makes a lot of hard contact and rarely swings and misses. He hits for a high batting average and draws an average number of walks, which gives him an above-average on-base percentage. He’s also an elite baserunner who can steal around 30 to 40 bases a year.
What’s different this year is that Hoerner is hitting for power. It’s a small sample size to be sure, but Hoerner has four home runs over just 23 games. It’s always dangerous to extrapolate out from a small sample, but that’s a 28 home run pace. What makes that more impressive is that it’s all been done in April, where Wrigley Field usually plays like a pitcher’s park.
Hoerner has never hit more than ten home runs in a season, but this power surge isn’t just isolated to this year. As you probably know, Hoerner had no home runs last year through the Cubs’ first 78 games. Then he hit seven over the final 84. So you can really trace this increase in power to mid-season of last year.
So what is Hoerner doing differently? He’s really not hitting the ball any harder or making any more contact. His swing rate is down a bit, which is leading to more walks and more strikeouts, but the increase strikeouts are all looking. His swinging strikeout rate is as low as ever.
What Hoerner is doing is hitting the ball more in the air and pulling the ball more. Maybe that’s a result of him being more selective at what pitches he swings at. Maybe it’s just random. But Hoerner’s ground ball rate last year was 45.3 percent and this year it’s down to 33.7. His fly ball rate has increased from 34.3 percent to 41 and his line drive rate is up to 25.3 percent from 20 percent. His pull rate has gone from 37.9 percent to 42.2 and his opposite field rate has dropped from 25.5 percent to 20.5 percent.
So that would explain some of the increase in home runs. On the other hand, it could just be statistical noise. Hoerner’s career home-run-to-fly-ball ratio is 5.1%. This year, that’s jumped up to 11.8 percent. That’s greater than Ian Happ’s career numbers and only slightly below Seiya Suzuki’s. Statcast gives Hoerner’s “expected” home run total at 2.5, which is a bit less than the four he has now.
So do you buy into Hoerner’s power surge? I don’t think anyone thinks he’s turning into Aaron Judge and his April stats certainly aren’t at slugger levels. But they are numbers that could easily lead to 20 home runs a year and maybe more. On the other hand, they could just be a hot streak and Hoerner reverts to the 7 to 10 home runs a year that he normally hits.
Thanks for stopping by tonight and all week. A special thanks goes out to everyone who votes and comments. Please get home safely. Tell us if you need us to call a ride for you. Tell your friends about us. Recycle any cans and bottles. And join us again next week for more BCB After Dark.
"That's who I am. I don't gotta fake it. I'm cut from that cloth. I don't feel that weight because it's just who I am and I enjoy carrying the identity for this team because that's why I was drafted here for" pic.twitter.com/uNvHbQJ1fy
“It’s interesting,” Barkley said. “I was just chillin’ at the house last week, and one of my good friends is Vince Coleman, the great baseball player. When we answer the phone, we (jokingly) say some unkind words to each other … he says, ‘Yo, I’m down here at The Grove. I’m sick of you and MJ’s BS. He’s right here. Y’all need to talk.’ And we had a conversation, but Vince Coleman’s the person who’s responsible. We (Barkley and Jordan) talked for a couple minutes. He said, ‘Man, let’s get together and play golf. And as soon as I get a break, we’re gonna fly down there and spend a couple days playing golf.’” The Grove XXIII is Jordan’s private golf course in Jupiter, Florida.
“I think we’ll be fine,” Barkley said when asked if the relationship may still be chilly. “I tell people it’s not like we’re Prince Harry and Prince William, who hate each other. Honestly, I think we both missed each other, because we’ve had this conversation with other friends, and we’re both too stubborn to pick up the phone, to be honest with you. But I think both parties missed each other a great deal. “Listen, man, I’m not one of those guys. I ain’t trying to prove no point, or I ain’t got no animosity, one thing we both said: I got a lot of love for you, and you got a lot of love for me. Like Vince said, ‘This thing has been silly and stupid, but both of y’all are too damn stubborn to pick up the phone, and y’all need to get y’all asses together and play golf and bury this thing.’”
The New Orleans Saints entered the 2025 season with one of the worst cap situations in the NFL, but Mickey Loomis and second-year head coach Kellen Moore are approaching the 2026 campaign believing they can compete for a spot in the NFC playoffs.
Due to the hole the Saints created with past contracts from players like Derek Carr, Demario Davis, Marshon Lattimore and others, it was nearly impossible to add new talent to last year’s roster. And with two quarterbacks starting in the NFL for the first time, it’s no surprise New Orleans finished with a (6-11) record.
Surprisingly, as the 2025 Saints offense tried to find its identity, eventually making the move to start rookie QB Tyler Shough over Spencer Rattler in early Nov, their defense was a top 10 unit, finishing No. 9 overall allowing 299 yards per game finishing one spot behind the Patriots.
Carl Granderson emerged as the Saints top pass rusher in 2025 finishing the year with 8.5 sacks while Brian Breese and Chase Young — who seems revitalized in New Orleans — both finished with 5.5 sacks each.
Cameron Jordan finished 2025 with six sacks but isn’t under contract as New Orleans prepares for the draft, while Demario Davis (4.5 sacks) is now a member of the New York Jets.
Daniel Jeremiah predicts Saints trade into top 3 for projected game wrecker
With the Saints making an effort to bolster the offense this offseason with the addition of RB Travis Etienne Jr., TE Noah Fant and a pair of offensive linemen, there’s been speculation the direction the Saints will decide to go with the No. 8 overall pick on Thursday. They have been linked heavily to Carnell Tate to give Chris Olave help on the other side. Caleb Downs is another name that has been linked to the Saints.
“If the Cardinals stay put at No. 3, I think Jeremiyah Love is the pick. If they are offered a 2027 first-round pick to trade down, that’s going to be a tough deal for them to pass on. So, they take it in this scenario. The Saints have made 25 draft trades since 2008. They traded up in all 25 instances. Assistant GM Jeff Ireland was with the Cowboys when they drafted Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware, so he’s aware of the difference an elite pass rusher can make. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley might be reminded of a player he’s coached at multiple spots in his career, 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd.”
This would give the Saints one of the more formidable pass rushing units in the NFC. Let’s see if Loomis wants to shake things up for a possible game wrecker.
James Harden is enjoying himself with the Cleveland Cavaliers now as they hope to compete for a championship in the 2026 Playoffs. Harden is not a stranger to this, as he was regularly contending during his days with the Houston Rockets.
It was one of the most impressive runs for any player during that era. However, what made it even more amazing was the circumstances. His former teammate, Robert Covington, gave a lowdown on why he was constantly amazed by Harden.
Robert Covington gets honest about what amazed him about James Harden
Through the years, Harden has been known to be a top-tier player on the court. He is always an offensive engine who can change the game with his passing and scoring. Harden has proven to be an awesome teammate no matter where he goes.
At the same time, Harden loves to have fun off the court. He likes to party, so his schedule often had late nights, mostly during his Rockets days. Now, he is a bit more reserved since he is an older player.
However, during those Rockets days, his teammates were impressed with how much fun he was having. At the same time, he was still doing well in practice because he remained committed.
Former teammate Robert Covington was always impressed with what he was seeing in Houston.
That is further proof that Harden was and is still a special player. No matter what happens, he finds ways to be productive with his basketball development, and he has not dropped off since.
How many Indiana Fever games will be broadcast nationwide? All 44 of them.
The WNBA revealed its broadcast schedule for the 2026 season, and the Caitlin Clark effect shined through as her team got each of their regular season contests slotted in for broadcast television.
That means Fever fans with access to cable can watch every single game this season. That's a lot of Fever games!
The team with the second-most nationally televised games this year is the Dallas Wings with 36, likely because of the UConn star power of Paige Bueckers and 2026 WNBA Draft top selection Azzi Fudd.
The Fever have all 44 of their regular season games on national TV this year.
If you had any doubt how broadcast companies feel about Clark's continued draw in the WNBA, it's apparent they want as many Fever games as they can get.
Trevor Zegras, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler scored three goals on four shots in the second period in Philadelphia’s first home playoff game in eight years, pushing the Flyers to the brink of a sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 5-2 Game 3 win on Wednesday night in their best-of-seven first-round series.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Philadelphia.
The Flyers’ trio of goal scorers gave their raucous fans more reason to celebrate than just a first home playoff game since April 22, 2018, and first home playoff win since April 20, 2016, they can clinch their first playoff series win since the 2020 bubble season — and they can do it against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.
Dan Vladar, shaken up a bit in the third with an apparent right hand or wrist injury, stopped 28 shots and again outplayed embattled Stuart Skinner in net.
Not long after Vladar was hit, Erik Karlsson scored on the power play to cut it to 3-2.
Forget the rally. Noah Cates put the finishing touches on one of the biggest Flyers’ wins in the last 16 years with a power-play goal for a 4-2 lead. Owen Tippett added an empty-netter in the waning minutes.
The Flyers wasted all the pregame energy in a hurry when Evgeni Malkin scored a power-play goal only 4:18 into the game. The Penguins were doomed by an 0 for 5 effort on the power play in Game 2 and Crosby went scoreless in Pittsburgh. Crosby’s assist helped the Penguins, who had the seventh-ranked power play in the regular season, score their first power-play goal in eight attempts in the series.
Malkin’s 29th career postseason power play goal tied him with Mario Lemieux for most in Penguins history.
The game erupted in the second period into a scene straight out of the day when the old school enforcer of the Broad Street Bullies era roamed the ice.
Penguins forward Bryan Rust slammed Travis Konecny to the ice and smothered the Flyers forward and all the lines joined the fray until they were separated by officials. Konecny ripped off his helmet and dropped his gloves and beckoned Rust to fight him. No dice. They instead traded verbal barbs from the penalty box.
The Flyers and Penguins could have held team photo day inside their respective penalty boxes.
Rust got four minutes while four of his teammates joined him and Konecny and four of his teammates tagged along inside a jammed box.
Public address announcer Lou Nolan had just started to rattle off the list of names — “the penalties, we think ... ” — when Zegras ripped one past Skinner for the power-play goal that evened the score 1-1. The Flyers mobbed Zegras and pinned him in celebration against the penalty box.
Ristolainen — whose 820 regular season games before making the playoffs were the most of any active player — made it 2-1 and Flyers started fans started derisive “Skinner! Skinner” chants that echoed long after the go-ahead goal. Seeler scored 2:12 later on a shot from the point for the 3-1 lead against — and made it 3 of 4 on Skinner after he stopped the first 18 shots.
Even some of the greatest in Philadelphia Eagles history would probably understand if the team decided to move on from AJ Brown. Brown, as we've said many times, is one of the most talented players in the NFL. Not a single person in the game questions whether he has the skill set to remain one of the top wide receivers in the NFL.
Frankly, it's all but guaranteed that if the Eagles move on from him, Brown will continue to be one of the best players in this league. There's a reason he's so highly regarded, but there are other factors that suggest he may need to be traded.
Recently, Eagles legend Jason Kelce had a lot to say about the situation. Kelce understands this organization just as well as anybody, and also understands what Brown is as a teammate, playing with him for multiple years before his retirement.
"I know AJ personally. I played with him, he's an awesome teammate. He's an incredibly talented player. At the same time, you've seen the frustrations over the last couple years. I don't know where he's at or where the teams is. Everything gets to a point where it's gonna come to an end and maybe it's at the point," Kelce said, per ABC Philly.
"AJ has clearly been frustrated and sometimes that frustrates the fans, but one thing I do find unique is that the players really haven't manifested in a negative way towards AJ, which lends me to think that a lot of people understand AJ's frustrations. I think AJ is a great player where if he is moved, the Eagles will miss him. He's not the reason the offense wasn't good last year," Kelce added.
The interesting part here is that Kelce makes it seem like he can understand where Brown is coming from, in a sense.
He's constantly stuck up for Jalen Hurts, so this isn't a shot at Hurts, but it's possible that it could be a direct shot at somebody like Kevin Patullo, who the Eagles decided to move on from during the offseason. Regardless, Kelce put it best, as some of the frustrations that Brown had throughout the year were warranted.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 31: Carlos Carrasco #59 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 31, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, this has certainly been a busy night! It makes sense given the short turnaround between tonight’s 8-6 win for the Braves over the Nationals and Thursday afternoon’s Getaway Day game to end the series. We already got the huge news that consensus Top 100 prospect JR Ritchie would be called up to start Thursday’s game and now we’ve got a little more news to coincide with the big move.
Sadly, Dylan Dodd’s latest stint is coming to a close as he’ll be heading to the IL. In his place, the Braves will be bringing back Carlos Carrasco. Mark Bowman of MLB.com was the one who reported this news initially.
Cookie Carrasco will come up to provide a long relief option in the pen tomorrow. Dylan Dodd is going on the IL with a back or oblique strain. And in case you missed it earlier, Fuentes is going down to make room for Ritchie to start tomorrow.
Dodd ended up making two appearances for the Braves in his latest stint, where he pitched four innings and only gave up a run. He looked fine against the Nationals on Tuesday night so I’m guessing that this probably started acting up on him overnight or right after he got done pitching on Tuesday. Either way, the Braves will have to do without him for the time being.
This current Braves squad has put a premium on long relief and the hope is that Carlos Carrasco can provide any type of value once called upon. The good news is that he pitched six scoreless innings in his most recent start for Triple-A Gwinnett and he’s looked decent at that level so far. With that being said, we all know that there’s a pretty big difference between what you see at that level and what you see in the bigs and for Carrasco, he’s had a rough go of it in the bigs for the past three seasons. As long as Carrasco can eat innings when called upon, that’ll probably be all the Braves ask of him in this coming stint. We’ll see what happens!
NEW YORK — Just when the Mets thought they were out of the woods with Juan Soto‘s calf injury, down went Francisco Lindor with one. Yet somehow, despite losing a key leader and some poor plays on the bases, the Mets managed to snap their 12-game losing streak.
In the bottom of the eighth, Mark Vientos made up for an earlier miscue with the go-ahead RBI single. The Mets edged the Minnesota Twins, 3-2, to put an end to the franchise’s worst losing streak since 2002.
With two out and runners on first and second, Vientos dropped a single into shallow right field to score Brett Baty from second base, breaking a 2-2 tie. Justin Topa’s sinker flared off the end of the bat, landing right in between converging defenders.
Luke Weaver earned the win (2-0) with 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Producers wouldn’t even script a month as ridiculous as this one. They would reject it, saying it’s not even remotely realistic. It’s not, but when it comes to the Mets (8-16), the truth is always stranger than fiction.
A sparse crowd showed up on yet another unseasonably cold April night to watch the Mets go up 1-0, then 2-1. The Twins tied the game twice. If it weren’t Bark in the Park, the crowd would have been even more sparse, but in this instance, the dogs counted as patrons. The Mets heard boos and barks alike.
They deserved the boos in the bottom of the sixth. After Byron Buxton homered off Clay Holmes in the top of the inning to tie the game, the Mets sent four hitters up to face left-hander Kendrys Rojas, with three reaching base. There were two walks and a double, yet still, the Mets were unable to score.
Baty, hitting for Lindor after he left the game with left calf tightness, led off with a walk, only his second in 71 plate appearances this season, and Francisco Alvarez promptly hit into a double play. Vientos then walked and made an ill-advised decision to try to score from first base on a double to left field by Marcus Semien.
Credit Vientos for trying to make something happen, but Swaggy V has never exactly been fleet of foot. He was not stopping, despite third base coach Tim Leiper throwing up his arms to try to stop him. Vientos threw his helmet off as he rounded third, but the Twins were well ahead of him. The throw from left field came into the cutoff man in plenty of time. Shortstop Brooks Lee connected with catcher Victor Caratini while Vientos was still a few feet away from home plate.
He was out by a mile.
Lindor left the game after the fourth inning. Unlike Vientos, he did score from first base on a double, this one by Alvarez, but appeared to lose steam rounding the bases, and stayed down for a few extra seconds after sliding into home. He walked gingerly off the field and into the tunnel.
Lindor was responsible for the Mets’ first run, driving in leadoff hitter Bo Bichette in the first inning with an RBI single off left-hander Connor Prielipp, who was called up Wednesday to make his MLB debut for the Twins (12-12).
Minnesota’s top pitching prospect, Prielipp went four innings, striking out six and holding the Mets to two earned runs.
Holmes had yet another solid start. The Twins took two runs off the right-hander on five hits over seven innings, walking once and striking out three times. Holmes has yet to allow more than two earned runs in a start this season.
Apr. 22—DULUTH — The Bemidji State softball team had a doubleheader that it'd like to forget Wednesday afternoon against Minnesota Duluth.
The Bulldogs put up 20 runs on the Beavers' pitching staff, taking Game 1 10-1 before shutting out the Beavers 10-0 in Game 2. Both were five-inning games.
The lone run for Bemidji State (10-35, 4-18 NSIC) came in the fourth inning of Game 1. Third baseman Lauren Beissel hit a double that scored Alayna DeGraef from second.
"Some veteran names could be moved over the next couple of days, and one to watch is Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who’s shown promise through three years, with 76 catches for 1,140 yards and nine touchdowns in 29 games over the past two years," Breer writes. "New England’s looking for a Day 3 pick for the 23-year-old, who is entering a contract year."
A "day 3 pick" means anywhere from the fourth round to the seventh round.
Boutte has been good enough for the Patriots that even in his contract year he should be able to garner something valuable in return.
Boutte is still young, turning 24 in May. The former sixth-round pick is coming off a career-high six touchdowns that came as part of 33 catches and 551 yards.
The playmaking Boutte had a remarkable regular season feat -- of his 33 catches, they all went for either a first down (27) or a touchdown (6).
Drake Maye clearly liked throwing to Boutte, so trading him would probably be a let-down for Maye.
The Patriots would have to land a solid enough pick in return to make it feel a bit worth it.
Apr. 22—SAUK CENTRE — Taylor Schulke is becoming a fixture at the top of the Lumberjacks' steam standings.
The Bemidji High School girls golfer carded a team-high 92, good for ninth place individually. She paced the Jacks third overall as a team with a score of 375 at GreyStone Golf Club in Sauk Centre.
Olivia Wangberg finished one stroke behind Schulke in 10th place with a 93, while Kyla Frank finished with a 94, good for 11th.
No Lumberjack shot over 100 — Bergen Bakke shot a 96 (16th place), Abigail Jenkins shot a 98 (19th) and Mali McLean shot a 99 (20th).
Willmar's Kennedy Mara took first with a 77, five strokes ahead of Albany's Katelyn Hoff, who helped the Huskies get a first-place team finish.
Team Scores
1-Albany 356; 2-Willmar 370; 3-Bemidji 375; 4-Paynesville Area 399; 5-Benson 401; 6-Morris Area-Chokio Alberta 445; 7-Sauk Centre 464; 8-Osakis 506.
The Ohio State women's tennis team tried to match what the men always do, and gave it a pretty good effort. In fact, the Buckeye women won a share of the Big Ten regular season and were awarded the No. 1 seed (thanks to tiebreakers over co-champions Michigan and USC) in the upcoming Big Ten Women's Tennis Tournament that gets underway this week.
The men got started on Wednesday in California, and the women get things going on Thursday with Ohio State hosting the event in Columbus. OSU will await the winner of No. 8 seed Illinois and No. 9 seed Nebraska, with the Buckeyes playing either the Illini or Cornhuskers on Friday at 9:00 a.m. ET.
We will have the results of what we hope is a run to the title for Ohio State, but if you are interested in OSU's path, we have the complete bracket below, thanks to the Ohio State Women's Tennis social media sites.
The Buckeyes are the No. 1 seed in this week's Big Ten Tournament in Columbus!
— Ohio State Women’s Tennis (@OhioStateWTEN) April 19, 2026
Join us in cheering on the women's tennis team in this very busy spring championship season in college athletics.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
MLB Network pulled out all the stops in a very funny Cincinnati Reds segment about the National League Central's first-place team operating as if a new Italian restaurant called Tito's run by manager Terry Francona, on Francona's birthday of all days.
"MLB Central" co-host Mark DeRosa introduced it as follows: "Cincinnati's known for Skyline Chili, but word on the street is Francona opened up Tito's, and it's getting rave reviews. And by the way, there is only one cook in his kitchen. Okay?"
DeRosa says rookie Sal Stewart is serving as the maître d' at Tito's, adding that Stewart "has changed the landscape of the (Reds') lineup."
DeRosa continues by saying Eugenio Suárez is the accordion player, "keeping good vibes," adding that infielder Elly De La Cruz is "over in the corner in the private booth … sinking his teeth into (something) spicy." Dane Myers and TJ Friedl are, of course, "setting the tables," with Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft and the Reds' bullpen serving tiramisu for dessert to complement Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder bartending. (DeRosa points out Burns was born in Naples, Italy.)
Video from MLB Network via Twitter/X:
Did you know Terry Francona opened a new Italian restaurant in Cincinnati called Tito's?! 🤣🍝
Flamengo start with win over Vitória, take lead in Copa do Brasil
At the Maracanã, Flamengo defeated Vitória 2-1 this Wednesday (22) in the first leg of the fifth round of the 2026 Copa do Brasil.
The road toward a sixth title in the tournament began with a stunning goal from young defensive midfielder Evertton Araújo, who unleashed a rocket from outside the box before the 10-minute mark and lobbed the opposing goalkeeper.
But Leão da Barra responded just twenty seconds later, also with a brilliant goal.
Erick met the rebound from a left-footed cross first time and fired it into Rossi’s top corner.
Despite dominating possession, the Rio rubro-negro side only threatened again in stoppage time, when Cebolinha went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Lucas Arcanjo made a spectacular save with his feet.
After the break, however, Flamengo turned their control of the match into chances and a lead on the scoreboard.
The breathing room came through Pedro, who headed in Bruno Henrique’s cross.
Arrascaeta hit the crossbar and also wasted a chance from almost inside the six-yard box, shooting over the goal.
Vitória even found Rossi’s net once more, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
🚦 How things stand
With the win, Flamengo can advance to the round of 16 with a draw in the second leg on May 14 at Barradão.
Vitória, meanwhile, need to win by two goals to qualify. A one-goal win for the hosts would send the tie to penalties.
Leão da Barra return to action next Sunday (26), when they visit Athletico-PR at Arena da Baixada in the Brasileirão.
As for the Rio rubro-negro side, they visit Atlético-MG at Arena MRV on the same day for the conclusion of the 13th round.
There are opinions… and then there are Nick Saban's opinion.
And when Nick Saban speaks on a quarterback, especially one who came through Alabama Crimson Tide football, people should probably listen a little closer.
That’s exactly what happened when Saban joined The Pat McAfee Show and talked about Ty Simpson, and if you read between the lines, it wasn’t criticism. It was a roadmap.
"He needs to go someplace where has a chance to develop, and not play right away."
Nick Saban gives his thoughts on Ty Simpson ahead of the NFL draft 🏈
“Ty Simpson is a guy that didn’t play as much in college as a lot of these quarterbacks as they develop,” Saban said. “I think maturity would be the word… I think he can throw it well enough, I think he’s athletic enough.”
Let’s stop right there.
The greatest college football coach of all time just told you Simpson has the arm and the athleticism. That alone puts him ahead of a lot of prospects. You don’t survive in Tuscaloosa, let alone thrive, without elite traits.
Simpson has those. Period.
But Saban didn’t sugarcoat the rest, and that’s what makes his evaluation so valuable.
He pointed to decision-making, processing, pocket awareness… the things that don’t always show up on a stat sheet but absolutely define whether a quarterback becomes good—or great. And more importantly, he tied it all back to one word: maturity.
Not age. Not hype. Not NIL deals. Maturity.
“Maturity is nothing more than making the right decision at the right time and that comes with experience and repetition,” Saban said.
That’s not a knock on Simpson. That’s reality for every quarterback who hasn’t had years of starting reps.
Simpson didn’t have the luxury of learning through constant in-game mistakes.
Instead, he developed behind the scenes, in practice, in film rooms, and in moments where patience mattered more than playing time.
And if you’ve followed Simpson’s journey, you already know, that patience is part of what makes him dangerous.
Because here’s the part some people are missing: Saban didn’t say Simpson can’t be great. He said he needs time to become great.
“He will get [that experience] and I think be a very good player,” Saban added.
That’s the takeaway.
Not doubt. Not hesitation. Confidence with a timeline.
Saban even made it clear what Simpson needs next: the right situation.
A place where he can develop, grow, and sharpen those decision-making skills without being thrown into the fire too early.
And honestly? That might be the best thing that could happen to him.
Because quarterbacks who are rushed often break. Quarterbacks who develop? They build something that lasts.
Simpson has already shown flashes of leadership, toughness, and resilience. He’s handled expectations at Alabama, fought through competition, and still came out the other side with belief in himself.
Now, it’s about refinement.
It’s about reps.
It’s about turning raw ability into consistency.
Nick Saban sees it.
That should be enough for everyone else to at least pay attention.
Ty Simpson doesn’t need to be rushed. He just needs the opportunity to grow.
And when he does?
Don’t be surprised when the same people questioning him now are the ones wondering how they ever doubted him in the first place.
Dec 10, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Trey Parker (5) shoes during the first half of the game against Coppin State Eagles at Reynolds Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
If you haven’t been to Reynolds Coliseum in the last, oh, how long has it been now? Ten years, it’s been ten years. Anyway, if you haven’t been back to Reynolds Coliseum in the last, oh, ten years, well, there’s a big part of it that’s a museum now. They blew up the entire first third of the building and turned it into a museum, which I have to say, was a very nice idea. Looks great.
A casual walk around that part of Reynolds gives the patron a decent education in NC State basketball history. It’s all very well done. The renovations are impressive: they got rid of the asbestos, and the dead rats, and you would never guess that 4000 guys smoked cigars in there from 1947-1992.
So I guess it’s not surprising that this is now valuable turf:
NC State plans to sell naming rights to 27 display cases around Reynolds Coliseum. Would raise $1.75M for a restricted fund to provide support for Reynolds capital projects. Trustees will consider tomorrow.
The Dr. Jean and Simone Wilkerson Sweaty Socks Closet. The Bob and Samantha Smith David Thompson Jersey Dust-Collection Spot. The Jennifer Says TAKE THIS BOB I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY AND I KNOW YOU HAD YOUR EYES ON THIS CASE case. The LISTEN HERE, JENNIFER, I DON’T FIND THIS CONSTRUCTIVE case. The YOU TELL SAMANTHA I HOPE SHE DROWNS AT YOUR LAKE HOUSE, BOB case.
Hmm.
Well the important thing is the basketball team got better.
"When we play defense at the level we're capable of, it triggers everything for us," said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
In the third quarter, the Pistons put it all together and looked like a No. 1 seed. Detroit went on a 30-3 run to blow open what had been a tie game at the half. It wasn't just one guy taking over, it was a full team effort: Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Stewart each had six points during the run, while Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson had five apiece. Those six players combined to shoot 13-of-18 during that stretch.
From there, the Pistons went on to get the 98-83 win, tying their first-round series with the Magic at 1-1. Game 3 takes place Saturday in Orlando.
This home win for the Pistons snapped their record 11-game home playoff losing streak, dating back to 2008.
Cunningham was in peak form with 27 points, 11 assists and six rebounds to lead Detroit, and he showed off some nasty moves.
Harris added 16 points and 11 rebounds for Detroit.
However, what was most important for Detroit was that its elite defense showed up, holding the Magic to just 32.5% shooting. Franz Wagner was 4-of-11 shooting, Desmond Bane 2-of-11, Wendell Carter Jr. and Anthony Black were both 1-of-6.
Jalen Suggs led the Magic with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting, and Paolo Banchero added 18.
Mar 17, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Pedro Ramirez against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
There was not a lot of good pitching today in Des Moines and the wind was steady out to left field. Starter Charlie Barnes pitched solidly anyways, giving up three runs on five hits over five innings. Two of those five hits were solo home runs. Barnes struck out five and walked two.
Tyler Santana got clobbered for five runs over just two innings, giving up two more solo home runs. Collin Snider allowed one run on two hits in the eighth inning, but he got the win when Iowa scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning. Snider walked one, hit one batter and struck out no one in his one inning of work.
Ryan Jensen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with a strikeout in a non-save situation.
Second baseman Pedro Ramírez had two home runs and eight RBI today. Ramírez hit his first home run with a man on in the fifth inning. His second home run was a grand slam in the eighth. He also tied the game 8-8 with a two-run single in the seventh.
Ramírez went 3 for 5. The two home runs give him seven already this year. His career-high for a season is eight. The eight RBI ties a franchise record set several times, the last time by Ian Stewart in 2013.
Right fielder Dylan Carlson hit a solo home run in the fourth Raminning. He went 1 for 5.
Center fielder Brett Bateman was a perfect 3 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored four times.
Third baseman BJ Murray doubled twice in a 3 for 4 game. He also walked one time, drove in three and scored three times.
Starter Yenrri Rojas went four innings and allowed three runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out six.
Luis Martinez-Gomez retired the side in order in the seventh, but then he came out for the eighth and got into a lot of trouble. Martinez-Gomez took the loss after giving up five runs on three hits and a walk over 1.1 innings. he also hit one batter. Martinez-Gomez did not strike anyone out.
DH Owen Ayers had his first Double-A hit in the first inning and it was an RBI single. Ayers went 1 for 4.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu was 1 for 2 with two walks. He scored one run.
Right fielder Andy Garriola had a two-run single in the fifth that temporarily gave Knoxville the lead. He was 1 for 4.
Nazier Mulé only threw the first inning, but he took the loss after he surrendered two runs on one hit and two walks. One of the two runs was unearned. Mulé struck out one.
First baseman Cole Mathis hit a pair of doubles in a 2 for 3 night. He also walked twice and stole a base. His double in the ninth inning scored a run. Mathis scored two times himself. In just two games in High-A, Mathis already has three doubles.
Center fielder Kane Kepley was 1 for 4 with a walk and two steals. He scored twice.
Noah Edders got hammered for two runs in the first inning, two more in the second and three more in the third. He took the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits over three innings. Two of those seven hits were two-run home runs. Edders struck out one, walked no one and hit one batter.
Catcher Logan Poteet went 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored two runs.
Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy went 2 for 5 and also scored twice. He drove in a run with a single in the fifth inning
First baseman Josiah Hartshorn was 2 for 5 with one run scored.
Apr 22, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) celebrates his goal with right wing Porter Martone (94) against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA — Trevor Zegras, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler scored three goals on four shots in the second period in Philadelphia’s first home playoff game in eight years, pushing the Flyers to the brink of a sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 5-2 Game 3 win on Wednesday night in their best-of-seven first-round series.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Philadelphia.
The Flyers’ trio of goal scorers gave their raucous fans more reason to celebrate than just a first home playoff game since April 22, 2018, and first home playoff win since April 20, 2016, they can clinch their first playoff series win since the 2020 bubble season — and they can do it against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.
Dan Vladar, shaken up a bit in the third with an apparent right hand or wrist injury, stopped 28 shots and again outplayed embattled Stuart Skinner in net.
Not long after Vladar was hit, Erik Karlsson scored on the power play to cut it to 3-2.
Forget the rally. Noah Cates put the finishing touches on one of the biggest Flyers’ wins in the last 16 years with a power-play goal for a 4-2 lead. Owen Tippett added an empty-netter in the waning minutes.
The Flyers wasted all the pregame energy in a hurry when Evgeni Malkin scored a power-play goal only 4:18 into the game. The Penguins were doomed by an 0 for 5 effort on the power play in Game 2 and Crosby went scoreless in Pittsburgh. Crosby’s assist helped the Penguins, who had the seventh-ranked power play in the regular season, score their first power-play goal in eight attempts in the series.
Malkin’s 29th career postseason power play goal tied him with Mario Lemieux for most in Penguins history.
The game erupted in the second period into a scene straight out of the day when the old school enforcer of the Broad Street Bullies era roamed the ice.
Penguins forward Bryan Rust slammed Travis Konecny to the ice and smothered the Flyers forward and all the lines joined the fray until they were separated by officials. Konecny ripped off his helmet and dropped his gloves and beckoned Rust to fight him. No dice. They instead traded verbal barbs from the penalty box.
The Flyers and Penguins could have held team photo day inside their respective penalty boxes.
Rust got four minutes while four of his teammates joined him and Konecny and four of his teammates tagged along inside a jammed box.
Public address announcer Lou Nolan had just started to rattle off the list of names — “the penalties, we think ... ” — when Zegras ripped one past Skinner for the power-play goal that evened the score 1-1. The Flyers mobbed Zegras and pinned him in celebration against the penalty box.
Ristolainen — whose 820 regular season games before making the playoffs were the most of any active player — made it 2-1 and Flyers started fans started derisive “Skinner! Skinner” chants that echoed long after the go-ahead goal. Seeler scored 2:12 later on a shot from the point for the 3-1 lead against — and made it 3 of 4 on Skinner after he stopped the first 18 shots.
Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic drives around Tobias Harris of the Detroit Pistons in Pistons' win over the Magic in game two of their NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series (Gregory Shamus)
The Detroit Pistons used dominant defense and a third-quarter scoring spree to beat the Orlando Magic 98-83 on Wednesday and level their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series at one game apiece.
Cade Cunningham scored 27 points and handed out 11 assists and Tobias Harris added 16 points and 11 rebounds for Eastern Conference top seeds Detroit, who were stunned in game one of the best-of-seven series on Sunday.
Clearly stung by that upset on their home floor, the Pistons set an early defensive tone with seven of their 11 blocks in the first quarter, but it was tied 46-46 at halftime.
The Pistons opened the third quarter on an 11-0 scoring run to finally gain some separation and by the time they polished off a 38-16 third period they were in total control.
"We just played defense," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "It's that simple. When we play defense at the level we're capable of, it triggers everything for us."
The Pistons, who had six players score in double figures, snapped an 11-game home losing streak in the playoffs that dated back to May 2008.
Now the series shifts to Orlando for game three on Saturday and game four on Monday.
Jalen Suggs scored 19 points and Paolo Banchero added 18 for Orlando, but the Magic were held to their lowest points total all season, lower than an 87-point total in a loss to Toronto in March.
Fernando Mendoza would've likely gone with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft no matter who was picking in that spot, either for a QB-needy team or a trade up into that place to get the quarterback.
It's not just a pick by default for the Las Vegas Raiders to go with the Indiana superstar, though.
Mendoza also makes perfect sense for the Raiders. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer makes the case in multiple ways in a new article on Wednesday, the day before the first round.
"The more I’ve dug into Fernando Mendoza with coaches and scouts, the more the fit with the Raiders really makes sense," Breer writes. "You have the work ethic and maniacal drive and all that stuff, which will appeal to minority owner Tom Brady."
It's about more than that, though. A team also wants to see its new QB succeed within the offense, and there's reason to believe Mendoza will do that, too.
"More specifically, his discipline with his footwork and his three-level accuracy should make him ideal for Klint Kubiak’s offense, which puts a premium on timing and rhythm," Breer writes.
Add in a quality veteran backup QB for good measure.
"Also, beyond just what Kubiak and his staff bring to the table, Kirk Cousins should be a pretty good teacher for Mendoza as he adjusts to the NFL," Breer writes.
The reality is that it would've been tough for the Raiders to be convinced to go in any other direction here. There's clearly only one player they could take.
And that player, Mendoza, actually fits the Raiders incredibly well, too.
In this latest edition of The Detroit News' Gritiron Gang podcast, Nolan Bianchi and Richard Silva take one last look at the Lions' needs and possible draft picks in Thursday's first round of the NFL Draft.
With the surprise finish to last week’s episode, the April 22 edition of AEW Dynamite looked to follow up on the chaos.
Darby Allin defeated MJF in about a minute at AEW Dynasty to become the new AEW World Champion. It marked a years-long journey to this moment, going from one of the company’s pillars to capturing the top prize in Washington, where he trained to become a professional wrestler.
Allin looked to follow that up immediately on the ensuing episode of Dynamite, facing Tommaso Ciampa in his first world title defense. Additionally, Samoa Joe returned to the ring for the first time since suffering an injury earlier this year.
So, what went down on Wednesday night? Let’s take a look:
A video package airs highlighting Darby Allin winning the AEW World Championship.
MJF marches to the ring and calls last week “the Seattle Screwjob.” He boasts about defeating Kenny Omega at Dynasty but says he came out bruised and battered, then starts making excuses for losing to Allin. MJF asks if anyone really thinks Allin could beat him if he were fully prepared. He calls himself the most complete professional wrestler in history and continues putting himself over. MJF demands Allin give back the world title, but Kevin Knight interrupts.
Knight calls out MJF’s whining and asks if he looks clean with the TNT Championship around his waist. He says that since he pinned MJF a few weeks ago, he should be champion. MJF fires back, saying he already defeated Knight easily and that Knight has a ceiling and will never be world champion. Knight responds that it’s no coincidence MJF has never held the TNT title and challenges him.
MJF says he’d love nothing more than to take the TNT title from him. Knight accepts and pushes for the match to happen immediately, but as it’s about to begin, MJF backs out and says it will happen next week.
Backstage, Ricochet says no one will team up with Jericho tonight. Jericho shows off a new shirt with a trademarked catchphrase. Ricochet doubles down, but Jericho says he just needs to find someone who doesn’t like Ricochet.
Brody King def. Lio Rush by pinfall. After the match, King says he has his eye on the AEW World Championship and that while he’s proud of Allin, he’s not proud enough to hold back the violence.
Backstage, Tommaso Ciampa says he’s been told his entire career what he isn’t. He says he’s a husband, a father, a son, and a brother, and that he has an insane work ethic. He says tonight is about passion and breaking through the glass ceiling, adding that no one has been more prepared for their moment than he is.
Backstage, Adam Copeland says he and Christian Cage deserve another tag team title match. He proposes a New York Street Fight at Double or Nothing and adds that if they lose to FTR, they will retire as a team.
Hikaru Shida def. Mina Shirakawa by pinfall.
A video package hypes Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita at Double or Nothing.
Mark Davis def. Will Ospreay by medical stoppage. After the match, Davis tries to continue the attack, but the Death Riders intervene. The group does not attack Ospreay and instead carries him out of the arena.
Backstage, Alex Windsor says she’s not done with Thekla and vows to rip off her legs. Persephone says she’d love to take on the Triangle of Madness, and Windsor suggests they team up against any two members of the group at Collision.
Samoa Joe def. Cody Chhun by pinfall.
A vignette highlighting Darby Allin’s top AEW moments airs.
Jericho announces he will team with Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley on Collision.
Tony Schiavone welcomes Darby Allin to the ring. Allin says he had his first-ever match in Portland and dedicates this moment to his parents, his fiancée, the people who helped him on Mt. Everest, and the fans. He says when this ride is over, he wants to know who he’s looking at.
MJF interrupts and says Allin doesn’t deserve the title and demands it back. Allin refuses, and MJF pushes for a rematch, only to be turned down again. Allin says he won’t grant a rematch unless MJF puts something on the line and tells him to get out of his ring.
AEW World Championship Match: Darby Allin (c) def. Tommaso Ciampa by submission to retain the title. After the match, Brody King comes out and says he spoke to Tony Khan about getting an AEW World Championship match next week on Dynamite.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Obviously a big question for you guys is Steve’s future. What has he meant for you with your time here?” Gui Santos: “Man, Steve is a special guy for me. He was the coach that gave me my first opportunity to play in the NBA, so that’s a guy who realized a dream for me. He was a big part of it. And the way that he coaches—you can see, one thing that I always like about guys who were players and now are coaches is that they understand the players very, very well. The fact that he was a player and played a long time in the NBA, being in the NBA for a long time, he really understands everything that players go through. So yeah, I love that. And like I said, Steve is a really, really special dude for me. I want to be coached by him my whole career if I can.” — 4/21/2026 YouTube
The 2026 Chevron Championship is set for April 23-26 at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston.
Here's how you can watch the first women's major of the year, including round-by-round coverage.
2026 Chevron Championship TV schedule
All times ET.
Thursday, April 23
All coverage on Golf Channel.
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
6-8 p.m.
Friday, April 24
All coverage on Golf Channel.
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
6-8 p.m.
Saturday, April 25
Coverage split between NBC, Peacock, and Golf Channel.
Peacock: 1-6 p.m.
NBC: 1-3 p.m.
Golf Channel: 3-6 p.m.
Sunday, April 26
Coverage split between NBC and Peacock.
Peacock: 1:30-5:30 p.m.
NBC: 2-5:30 p.m.
2026 Chevron Championship tee times
Here are the tee times for the first two rounds of the Chevron. Bold groups are featured groups to watch. *Asterisk indicates group is teeing off from No. 10.
TIME (ET) - R1
Player 1
Player 2
Player 3
TIME (ET) - R2
8:15 AM
Ingrid Lindblad
Yuna Nishimura
Gemma Dryburgh
1:15 PM*
8:27 AM
Carla Tejedo Mulet
Akie Iwai
Alexa Pano
1:27 PM*
8:39 AM
Benedetta Moresco
Paula Martin Sampedro (a)
Yan Liu
1:39 PM*
8:51 AM
Amy Yang
Jin Hee Im
Auston Kim
1:51 PM*
9:03 AM
Brittany Lincicome
Jin Young Ko
Jennifer Kupcho
2:03 PM*
9:15 AM
Hannah Green
Hyo Joo Kim
Charley Hull
2:15 PM*
9:27 AM
Maja Stark
Minjee Lee
Miyu Yamashita
2:27 PM*
9:39 AM
Lexi Thompson
Patty Tavatanakit
Lydia Ko
2:39 PM*
9:51 AM
Megha Ganne (a)
Shannon Tan
Yana Wilson
2:51 PM*
10:03 AM
Kiara Romero (a)
Mimi Rhodes
Karis Anne Davidson
3:03 PM*
10:15 AM
Wei-Ling Hsu
Gaby Lopez
Alison Lee
3:15 PM*
8:15 AM*
Moriya Jutanugarn
Shuri Sakuma
Jungmin Hong
1:15 PM
8:27 AM*
Celine Boutier
Sophia Schubert
Manon De Roey
1:27 PM
8:39 AM*
Dewi Weber
Mary Liu
Frida Kinhult
1:39 PM
8:51 AM*
Lindy Duncan
Carlota Ciganda
Aditi Ashok
1:51 PM
9:03 AM*
Somi Lee
Rio Takeda
Ariya Jutanugarn
2:03 PM
9:15 AM*
Linn Grant
Yu Liu
Haeran Ryu
2:15 PM
9:27 AM*
Ina Yoon
Nasa Hataoka
Jing Yan
2:27 PM
9:39 AM*
Hye-Jin Choi
Sei Young Kim
Andrea Lee
2:39 PM
9:51 AM*
Narin An
Erika Hara
Pornanong Phatlum
2:51 PM
10:03 AM*
Jasmine Suwannapura
Sora Kamiya
Stephanie Kyriacou
3:03 PM
10:15 AM*
Andrea Revuelta (a)
Ruixin Liu
Brooke Matthews
3:15 PM
1:15 PM
Linnea Strom
Chanettee Wannasaen
Yuri Yoshida
8:15 AM*
1:27 PM
Perrine Delacour
Yuka Saso
Gurleen Kaur
8:27 AM*
1:39 PM
Jenny Shin
Jodi Ewart Shadoff
Erica Shepherd
8:39 AM*
1:51 PM
Allisen Corpuz
Miranda Wang
Weiwei Zhang
8:51 AM*
2:03 PM
Cassie Porter
Pauline Roussin-Bouchard
Minami Katsu
9:03 AM*
2:15 PM
Madelene Sagstrom
Ayaka Furue
Leona Maguire
9:15 AM*
2:27 PM
A Lim Kim
Jenny Bae
Esther Henseleit
9:27 AM*
2:39 PM
Mi Hyang Lee
Angel Yin
Yealimi Noh
9:39 AM*
2:51 PM
Laney Frye
Peiyun Chien
Nataliya Guseva
9:51 AM*
3:03 PM
Rose Zhang
Melanie Green
Ashleigh Buhai
10:03 AM*
3:15 PM
Yunseo Yang (a)
Megan Khang
Julia Lopez Ramirez
10:15 AM*
1:15 PM*
Albane Valenzuela
Suvichaya Vinijchaitham
Jessica Porvasnik
8:15 AM
1:27 PM*
In Gee Chun
Austin Ernst
Youmin Hwang
8:27 AM
1:39 PM*
Nastasia Nadaud
Ihee Lee
Chiara Tamburlini
8:39 AM
1:51 PM*
Lucy Li
Anna Nordqvist
Nanna Koerstz Madsen
8:51 AM
2:03 PM*
Stacy Lewis
Yani Tseng
Grace Kim
9:03 AM
2:15 PM*
Lauren Coughlin
Lottie Woad
Chizzy Iwai
9:15 AM
2:27 PM*
Brooke M. Henderson
Jeeno Thitikul
Ruoning Yin
9:27 AM
2:39 PM*
Mao Saigo
Nelly Korda
Lilia Vu
9:39 AM
2:51 PM*
Asterisk Talley (a)
Ryann O'Toole
Robyn Choi
9:51 AM
3:03 PM*
Farah O'Keefe (a)
Paula Reto
Gabriela Ruffels
10:03 AM
3:15 PM*
Pajaree Anannarukarn
Saki Baba
Shauna Liu (a)
10:15 AM
Where is The Chevron Championship played?
The Chevron Championship will be hosted at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas for the first time in 2026. Memorial Park also hosts the Texas Children's Houston Open on the PGA Tour. The course was redesigned in 2020 by Tom Doak with Brooks Koepka acting as player consultant.
Charlotte Checkers/Florida Panthers forward Noah Gregor (18) moves the puck against the Seattle Kraken during their game at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. (Source: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The Charlotte Checkers had a field day, stomping the Springfield Thunderbirds 8-1 in the First Round Series of the Atlantic Division in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.
The home team outshot the Thunderbirds 15-2 in the first period and converted four of those shots into goals, with two from Panthers regular cast member Noah Gregor and one each from 2019 first-rounder Nolan Foote and 2022 third-rounder Marek Alscher.
In the second period, the onslaught continued with Charlotte outshooting Springfield again 13-8 with four of the T-Birds shots coming from the 17:30 to the 18:35 mark. Springfield had three power play opportunities but could not put up any shots on goal. The Checkers meanwhile scored three more goals to go up 7-0 coming via the sticks of 2017 Bruins second-rounder Jack Studnicka, 2026 Olympian for Latvia men's hockey team Sandis Vilmanis and 2019 Kings first-rounder Tobias Bjornfot.
Springfield kept the shots differential competitive in the third period at 10-9 including getting a goal back, but the game was long gone by then.
Checkers goalie made 18 saves off 19 shots to register a save percentage of 0.947.
The Detroit Pistons stepped up with a haymaker in their biggest game of the season, on Wednesday, April 22, for a 98-83 victory.
The Pistons, facing a 1-0 NBA playoff series deficit on their home floor, used a wild 30-3 run to turn a a 46-all slugfest at halftime that looked like a "Bad Boys"/"Goin' to Work" throwback into a 76-49 party against the Orlando Magic in Game 2 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The Pistons dominated what they do best offensively, points in the paint, 54-34, after getting bruised by that same margin in the pivotal statistic in a stunning Game 1 loss here Sunday night.
Here's the winners and losers from the Pistons' blowout win.
Cunningham was the lone Piston to show up offensively in Game 1 with 39 points, and it was the same story in the first half of Game 2.
He was the only Piston in double figures at the half with 15 points, calmly getting to his spots and making shots despite no free throw attempts.
Then in the third quarter, the team’s defensive stops allowed Cunningham to direct a suddenly potent offense. He picked up seven assists in the quarter as Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson all got going.
Cunningham finished with a team-best 27 points on 11-for-19 shooting, including going 1-for-6 from 3, and just 4-for-8 at the free-throw line. More importantly, he dished 11 assists after producing four in Game 1. He averaged 9.9 during the regular season, second in the league only to Nikola Jokić's 10.7.
Ausar Thompson, Pistons F
A big storyline in Game 1 was Thompson’s lack of minutes – specifically just three in the fourth quarter as coach J.B. Bickerstaff tried to inject more spacing with Daniss Jenkins.
Thompson was his own enemy early in Game 2, picking up his third foul early in the second quarter on a moving screen.
When he returned to start the third quarter and the game tied, his defense helped spark a total shutdown of Orlando, leading to the deciding 30-3 run. He had two steals as part of the Magic's six giveaways, and Thompson second’s dunk of the quarter off a strip for a 69-49 lead only furthered hyped a crowd foaming for more.
He finished with 11 points (5-for-9 shooting), eight rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes.
Javonte Green, Pistons G/F
Green didn't make a basket in Game 2. But it didn't matter.
He played in Europe for his first five professional seasons from 2015-19 and made his NBA debut at age 26 with the Boston Celtics in the 2019-20 season. He parlayed that into an afterthought signing in mid-August on a one-year, $2.9 million contract.
Green, 32, epitomizes hard work as an overachiever, the kind of story Detroiters love in their basketball team.
Now on his fifth NBA team, Green has been consistent all season with the Pistons and has played in all 84 games.
He entered as the third wing off the bench after Caris LeVert and Kevin Huerter in the first quarter, and immediately brought the defensive hustle, just as he did during a Game 1 second-quarter run. He collected two blocks and a steal in his first stint of Game 2 in the first quarter.
His consistent defense leading to transition play and 3-point shooting (career-best 38.1%) won the trust of Bickerstaff early in the season, and he rewarded that once again with a stellar showing as arguably the Pistons’ best two-way wing option off the bench.
Green finished with two points (on 0-for-1 shooting), five rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes, easily the most of any Pistons reserve.
Pistons vs Magic losers in Game 2
Orlando Magic "Big 3"
The Magic’s three best players – Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane – stunk it up on offense.
Banchero, who wrecked the Pistons in the first half of Game 1 with 17 points and started solidly in the first half of Game 2 with 11 points, was 0-for-5 in the pivotal third quarter. He finished with 18 points on 7-for-17 shooting with eight assists to four turnovers. Orlando committed 17 giveaways.
Wagner, the Michigan alumnus, played just 34 games this season due to a persistent ankle injury. He came up large in the fourth quarter of Game 1, but had little impact offensively in Game 2 as Orlando's chances slipped away. He finished 4-for-11 for 12 points.
Bane followed up a poor Game 1 with another poor shooting display in Game 2 despite several good looks from 3-point range, a handful off offensive rebounds. He was just 2-for-11 shooting and had two turnovers in the third quarter.
Bane is an efficient scorer, but he has had three straight poor offensive games since pouring in 34 points against the Philadelphia 76ers a week ago in the Magic's first play-in game. He's 13-for-45 combined in the play-in final vs. Charlotte and these first two playoff games. The Pistons must key in on him in Game 3 in Orlando.
The lone team event on the PGA Tour calendar is ahead, with a watered-down field heading to TPC Louisiana for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans this week.
Because of the unique format, my top sleepers and longshot Zurich Classic picks don’t drift down the odds board as far as they would in a typical event.
Zurich Classic sleeper picks
Team
Austin Eckroat/Davis Thompson
+2500
Alex Smalley/Hayden Springer
+3300
Blades Brown/Luke Clanton
+6600
Picks were made on 4-21 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Zurich Classic sleeper predictions
Sleeper pick to win: Austin Eckroat/Davis Thompson +2500 at BetMGM
While it’s been a bit of a slow start to the 2026 season for Austin Eckroat and Davis Thompson, the duo just respectively finished T10 and T14 on the heels of both ranking Top 10 in true strokes gained tee-to-green in the Valero.
Of course, Eckroat is a two-time PGA Tour winner, and Thompson won in 2024.
Sleeper pick to win: Alex Smalley/Hayden Springer +3300 at BetMGM
Alex Smalley is playing excellent golf with four Top 25s across his past eight events while playing the weekend in each and ranking eighth in true strokes gained tee-to-green in this field.
It’s a bit of a different story with Hayden Springer playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, but Springer can go low and put circles on the card. As a result, this is a sneaky duo.
Sleeper pick to win: Blades Brown/Luke Clanton +6600 at BetMGM
Blades Brown and Luke Clanton are two of the most talented young players on the planet, and this format could be the perfect setup for them to feed off one another and put a pile of circles on the card.
They both finished Top 5 in Puerto Rico in a similar watered-down field, and they both can overpower this track.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki homered to help the Chicago Cubs beat the slumping Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Wednesday night for their eighth consecutive win.
Pete Crow-Armstrong had three hits and two RBIs for Chicago, and Alex Bregman also collected three hits. Matthew Boyd made a successful return from a biceps injury, pitching 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball in his first big league start since April 1.
The Cubs have outscored their opponents 58-20 during the franchise's longest win streak since it also won eight in a row from July 21-29, 2023. It's the longest such streak for the club within the month of April since an 11-game run in 1970.
The Phillies dropped their eighth straight game in their longest skid since they lost nine in a row in September 2018. They played without J.T. Realmuto after the catcher was placed on the 10-day injured list because of back spasms.
Taijuan Walker surrendered four earned runs and eight hits in four innings in his second straight loss. Kyle Backhus worked the first as an opener before Walker (1-4) came in.
The Cubs scored two runs in the third to take a 4-2 lead. Bregman led off with his first triple since June 14, 2024, for Houston against Detroit. He trotted home on Ian Happ's single to left.
After Suzuki bounced into a double play, Busch hit a 375-foot drive to left-center for his first homer of the season. The 28-year-old Busch hit a career-high 34 homers last year.
Suzuki connected for a two-run shot in the fifth. It was his second homer since he missed the start of the season with a knee injury.
Ben Brown (1-0) replaced Boyd and pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. He allowed three hits, struck out five and walked none.
Up next
Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez (2-2, 1.59 ERA) and Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-0, 2.38 ERA) take the mound for the finale of the four-game series on Thursday.
The Detroit Tigers' first baseman blasted his first home run of the 2026 season, in the 25th game.
The powerful swing connecting with right-hander Chad Patrick's sinker that ran directly into Torkelson's bat path ignited the Tigers in a 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, April 22, in the second of three games in the series at Comerica Park.
Aside from that, Mize shut down the Brewers despite runners on base in five of his seven innings.
Mize departed after a leadoff walk to Garrett Mitchell in the seventh. Right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan cleaned up by retiring the next three batters in a row.
The Tigers supported Mize with two runs in the fourth inning and two runs in the fifth inning.
In the fourth, Torkelson launched a two-run home run (after Riley Greene's double) for a 2-1 lead.
Patrick threw a fourth-pitch 95.1 mph sinker to Torkelson.
The pitch ran middle-in and Torkelson didn't miss it, driving the ball 400 feet to left-center field with a 106.4 mph exit velocity.
In the fifth, the Tigers extended their lead to 4-1 with Kevin McGonigle's RBI double and Colt Keith's RBI single, both against Patrick.
The inning began with a leadoff single from Javier Báez.
But the big moment belonged to McGonigle, who battled for 10 pitches – including five foul balls, with four of them in a row – before hitting a down-and-in 93.1 mph fastball that ricocheted off the wall in right field for an RBI double.
It was an epic plate appearance.
To complete the play, Báez scored from first base with a head-first slide.
With two outs, Keith ripped Patrick's sixth-pitch cutter in a full count for an RBI single. For that one, McGonigle scored standing up from third base.
To get to the finish line, the Tigers relied on three right-handed relievers for the final three innings: Finnegan in the seventh, Will Vest in the eighth and Kenley Jansen in the ninth.
Vest surrendered one run in the eighth on Jake Bauers' RBI single with two outs.
That cut the Tigers' lead to 4-2.
The other two relievers tossed scoreless innings, including Jansen stranding the bases loaded in the ninth to secure the 482nd save of his 17-year MLB career. He has a 1.35 ERA over 6⅔ innings in eight games, all while inching closer to the 500 saves milestone.
Torkelson finished 1-for-4 in four plate appearances.
He is hitting .189 with a .603 OPS in 24 games.
In the eighth, Kerry Carpenter pushed the Tigers' lead back to three runs, at 5-2. He pulled a seventh-pitch changeup at the bottom of the strike zone from right-handed reliever Carlos Rodriguez for a solo home run with two outs.
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 25: New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel looks on before kickoff against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Championship game at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In his first two years after taking over as head of the New England Patriots’ personnel department, Eliot Wolf had a fairly simple job in the first round of the NFL Draft. All he had to do was make the obvious choice, a task made even easier by his team’s position: the Patriots were third on the clock in 2024 and fourth in 2025.
Fast forward to 2026, and Wolf and company enter the draft under completely different circumstances. As the reigning AFC champions and Super Bowl runner-ups, they are now set to select 31st overall on Thursday night.
Naturally, most subsequent picks also come fairly late in their rounds compared to the last couple of years. In all, the Patriots’ 2026 draft portfolio looks like this:
Round 1: No. 31
Round 2: No. 63
Round 3: No. 95
Round 4: No. 125 (from Bears, via Chiefs)
Round 4: No. 131
Round 5: No. 171
Round 6: No. 191 (from Chiefs)
Round 6: No. 198 (from Vikings, via Texans, Vikings and 49ers)
Round 6: No. 202 (from Steelers)
Round 6: No. 212
Round 7: No. 224
Owners of 11 total picks, the Patriots have strength in numbers. In fact, only the Pittsburgh Steelers (12) own more selections heading into Thursday, with New England sharing second place with the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, there a distinction between quantity and quality when it comes to the value of a team’s draft capital has to be made. A first-round selection, which allows for the opportunity to select some of the top talent in the class, is a far more important asset than a later-round pick.
The Patriots have a lot of those late-rounders, including four in the sixth round alone. As a consequence of that and being slated to draft toward the tail end of every single round, the overall value of New England’s portfolio is relatively small: after ranking near the top of the league in 2024 and 2025, the team is now below average in all five of the major value charts.
Team
Johnson
Hill
Stuart
OTC
PFF
Rank Avg
New York Jets
4784
1395.06
79.7
7817
3.183
1.0
Las Vegas Raiders
4036
1334.69
71.0
7258
2.685
3.0
Miami Dolphins
3047
922.59
74.0
7632
2.998
3.4
New York Giants
3694
1058.58
67.2
6673
2.810
3.8
Cleveland Browns
3244
967.29
67.5
6787
2.790
4.0
Kansas City Chiefs
2870
862.40
63.8
6518
2.629
6.2
Tennessee Titans
2807
812.33
59.4
6163
2.465
7.4
Arizona Cardinals
3169
822.34
57.4
5731
2.308
7.4
New Orleans Saints
2252
670.81
52.0
5407
2.149
10.0
Dallas Cowboys
2327
712.80
50.7
5305
2.085
10.6
Pittsburgh Steelers
1774
572.47
53.3
6057
2.262
10.8
Baltimore Ravens
1912
577.73
48.0
5396
2.082
11.8
Houston Texans
1878
584.44
51.0
5302
2.069
12.0
Philadelphia Eagles
1615
511.80
47.2
5016
1.879
15.2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1799
545.00
42.3
4474
1.733
15.4
Minnesota Vikings
1641
515.10
41.2
4595
1.790
16.0
Carolina Panthers
1563
489.39
41.7
4409
1.675
18.6
Detroit Lions
1518
479.25
39.5
4509
1.706
19.0
Chicago Bears
1538
482.14
41.2
4325
1.691
19.4
Washington Commanders
1795
517.17
34.6
3687
1.516
19.6
New England Patriots
1152
375.34
39.3
4726
1.739
19.8
Los Angeles Rams
1579
471.73
33.0
3599
1.460
22.2
San Francisco 49ers
1159
376.73
36.0
3806
1.430
22.6
Jacksonville Jaguars
884
282.74
35.8
4415
1.582
23.2
Los Angeles Chargers
1349
427.84
34.9
3581
1.381
23.4
Buffalo Bills
953
311.62
29.5
3395
1.259
25.8
Seattle Seahawks
992
305.45
27.4
2823
1.092
27.4
Cincinnati Bengals
825
254.83
25.4
3073
1.140
28.2
Green Bay Packers
672
211.09
25.6
3155
1.149
28.4
Indianapolis Colts
733
225.64
24.3
2883
1.084
29.4
Atlanta Falcons
670
205.29
21.1
2436
0.903
31.2
Denver Broncos
457
153.58
19.6
2435
0.908
31.8
If we combine the five separate rankings, we can see that the Patriots’ draft capital is on average ranked 20th in the league. There are some minor differences depending on the value chart used, however.
The classic Jimmy Johnson chart as well as the modified version by Pats Pulpit’s own Rich Hill both have New England ranked 24th in the NFL. The other three, meanwhile, think higher of the club’s collection of picks: the Chase Stuart chart has the Patriots 20th, with Over the Cap and Pro Football Focus ranking them 15th and 16th, respectively.
Through all of this, it becomes clear that Eliot Wolf and the Patriots are in a more challenging position capital-wise than they were in 2024 and 2025. Nonetheless, they do have the means of moving up and down the board; owning a lot of picks is still not a bad thing regardless of where they are positioned.
At the end of the day, it’s about how they are used.
Mendham, Morristown and Morris Knolls fill out the top four, all of which received byes and await second-round opponents.
The first round must be played by April 25, followed by the second round by April 29, all hosted by the better seed. The quarterfinals will be on May 2.
Drew University will host the semifinal doubleheader on May 6. The MCT final will be at 11 a.m. on May 9 back at Drew.
This file will be updated all tournament long with scores and future schedules. All schedules are subject to change.
Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez (28) pours water on his face in the dugout after going from first to home on a double by teammate Kevin McGonigle (not pictured) against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
After a brutal outing against the Brewers on Tuesday, the Tigers were hoping to come back stronger in tonight’s game. They had Casey Mize on the mound, who has looked good this season, and the Brewers were opting to go the Opener route, something that would either mess with the Tigers completely, or work in their favor.
Mize got off to a good start, getting the Brewers out in order to open the game. In the home half, Kevin McGonigle walked, and Gleyber Torres walked right behind him. Jahmai Jones then came up and hit into a double play to eliminate Torres, and a Riley Greene strikeout ended the inning with two batters stranded and no runs scored.
With two outs in the second, Brandon Lockridge singled on a perfectly placed and unplayable bunt to third. The baserunner didn’t end up mattering as they finished off the side on the next batter. It was awfully quiet for the Tigers’ bats in the home half as they went 1-2-3.
In the third, Mize once again got through two before the Brewers got a man on base, with Brice Turang getting a walk. Turang then stole second. William Contreras singled into center, which was enough to get Turang home and put the Brewers on the board twice. The home half of the third saw the Brewers dip into their bullpen, replacing DL Hall with Chad Patrick. Jake Rogers got a one-out walk. The Tigers didn’t manage to convert the runner, though.
Mize was having a great game, getting through the fourth with a three-up, three-down inning. With one out in the home half, Riley Greene laced a double into center, finding the gap perfectly. Then, after a sluggish start to the season, Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run bomb over the outfield bullpens in left center, his first home run of the year. They’d have to settle for those two runs, but they managed to get the lead and end Tork’s slump all in one go.
In the fifth, Sal Frelick singled to start things off. Hamilton attempted a bunt, but fouled it off for an out. A lineout, and then a tagout on an attempted steal by Frelick ended the inning. Love to see Jake Rogers use his relief pitching arm to pick off runners. Heading into the bottom of the inning, Javier Baez got a leadoff single. Then, with one out and about a hundred attempts to advance on second for Baez, McGonigle doubled and Baez just hauled it from first to home. I got tired just watching him.
Riley Greene singled, sending Keith to third, but a Torkelson flyout ended the inning. They did get two more runs added to their lead, though, a nice buffer for Mize to work with.
Brice Turang continues to be a pest, getting on in the sixth with a leadoff walk. Three outs followed, but I’m going to be glad when the Brewers leave town, and we don’t need to see Turang for a good, long while. The Tigers went 1-2-3 so quickly in the bottom of the sixth that if you went to grab a drink, you would have missed the whole thing.
Garrett Mitchell got a leadoff walk in the seventh, something the Brewers seem to do well. That was the end of the day for Mize, who went 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K on 88 pitches. Man, I love healthy Casey Mize, you guys. Kyle Finnegan came on to replace him, and while Mitchell did steal second, Finnegan got three outs in a row to end the threat. Carlos Rodriguez was the new Brewers pitcher in the home half. Torres got a two-out single, then Colt Keith singled, getting Torres over to third. Unfortunately, a Riley Greene strikeout left them stranded.
Will Vest came out of the Tigers’ pen in the eighth. He gave up a leadoff single to Luis Rengifo, but he got Turang to fly out, so that was a positive. With two outs, Jake Bauers singled, and Rengifo, who had advanced to second on a groundout, was able to get all the way home and score another run for the Brewers. It was all they’d get, though, as Vest collected the final out. In the bottom of the inning with two outs, Kerry Carpenter hit a solo home run.
Kenley Jansen came on for the Tigers in the top of the ninth. With one out, Lockridge singled. Then Jansen had quite a fight with Frelick before finally getting the out nine pitches later. Lockridge took second on defensive indifference. Hamilton took a walk, which offered Jason Benetti the perfect opportunity to drop, “It’s Quiet Uptown,” and I hope I’m not the only Broadway nerd who appreciated that reference. Rengifo drew a walk after working a full count, and suddenly this game wasn’t quite as fun anymore. The bases were loaded and Kenley was still hunting for his third out. In the end it was Turang to end our collective misery, grounding out to first to end the inning and the game. Phew.
The New Orleans Saints, as it stands, will head into the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 8 overall pick. However, as the long-awaited first round approaches and the picks start to unfold, trades may emerge, leading to unexpected developments.
The Saints, a team rumored to be interested in several pass rushers projected to be drafted in the top ten of the first round, may be looking to trade up for an earlier pick. In Daniel Jeremiah's final mock draft for the NFL Network, the NFL draft analyst suggested that general manager Mickey Loomis and the Saints could trade up to the No. 3 spot, currently held by the Arizona Cardinals, in order to select Ohio State's Arvell Reese.
"If the Cardinals stay put at No. 3, I think Jeremiyah Love is the pick," Jeremiah wrote. "If they are offered a 2027 first-round pick to trade down, that’s going to be a tough deal for them to pass on. So, they take it in this scenario. The Saints have made 25 draft trades since 2008. They traded up in all 25 instances."
The Saints should be plenty interested in a versatile player like Reese, who excelled as both a pass rusher and a linebacker in college. He is likely to transition to an edge defender at the professional level, and is projected to be considered alongside Texas Tech's David Bailey for the New York Jets' second overall pick. However, in this scenario, he is selected third overall.
Reese finished the 2025 season with eight total sacks and 23 pressures on just 104 pass-rushing snaps. He impressed scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis by running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds. The 20-year-old is ranked No. 1 on the big board in "The Beast" by Dane Brugler of The Athletic. While his talent and athleticism are clearly evident, if he ends up with the Saints, the focus will be on refining his technique and utilizing him effectively.
The Los Angeles Chargers, for me at least, enter the NFL Draft with one piece of yellow paper, similar to the movie Draft Day.
And it reads "get Justin Herbert help no matter what."
What that looks like for most is up for debate, with the Chargers in several mock drafts taking edge rushers and receivers, and the odd one taking an offensive lineman.
For me, it has to be a lineman for L.A. (without reaching, of course).
And NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, in his final mock draft, has one of the best linemen falling to the Chargers in Penn State's Olaivavega Ioane.
"This is a dream scenario for the Chargers, with Ioane falling to them," Jeremiah wrote. "He would fill their biggest roster need and immediately thrive in Mike McDaniel’s offense."
Having been sacked 54 times last season, getting Herbert better protection and even offensive line depth has to be near the top of the to-do list.
Yes, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater will be back, but can we expect the pair to play a full 17-game slate plus playoffs? That might be a tough thing to do after such long layoffs.
So, fortifying the offensive line, to me at least, feels like the smart move. Of course, drafting the best player available should be the approach, but Herbert needs help.
And in this draft, the Chargers can ensure he gets it.
If there are two narratives that have lingered for a while when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals and the 2026 NFL draft, one was that they wanted to trade back from the third overall pick and draft a tackle, and the other was that they like quarterback Ty Simpson and want to add him.
So if those things are what the Cardinals truly want to do, Daniel Jeremiah's final mock draft for NFL.com is a perfectly executed game plan.
With Ohio State pass rusher Arvell Reese on the board and available for the Cardinals to take at No. 3, but instead the New Orleans Saints want him. They trade up to the third overall pick and the Cardinals move back to the eighth pick. He doesn't specify the exact trade, but a trade with the Saints could be No. 3 and No. 104 for No. 8 and No. 42.
At pick No. 8, the Cardinals land Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa, accomplishing goal No. 1.
Mauigoa slides in at right tackle opposite Paris Johnson Jr. on the left side, giving the Cardinals bookends on the offensive line and setting up their next selection.
As for goal No. 2, Jeremiah has them accomplishing it, too.
They move up from the second round, where they have pick No. 34 overall, to No. 26, dealing with the Buffalo Bills, and then they get Simpson.
If the Cardinals want to move up from No. 34 for Simpson, I think they’ll find some very willing trade partners late in Round 1. With no second-round pick right now (traded it in the DJ Moore deal), Buffalo could be motivated to get something done for extra draft capital. Arizona makes a move for its QB of the future after bolstering the offensive line earlier in Round 1.
Now, what picks do they end up giving up to move up, and how do they address the defensive edge after the first round?
If they pull that off, then mission accomplished!
We will see what happens on Thursday. It should be a wild ride.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Suites at the TD Garden will soon have a new look.
Over the next three years, TD Garden says it will commit $100 million to rebuilding the building’s 83 Boston Garden Society Suites.
The new suites will feature a “bold design and premium furnishings” for Bruins and Celtics games, the Garden says.
A third of the suites will be rebuilt this summer, with the others following suit in the next two years.
“Today marks a defining moment for TD Garden– a $100 million transformation of our premium experience and a bold statement of our commitment to delivering something truly extraordinary for our guests, our partners and the City of Boston,” said Glen Thornborough, President of TD Garden and EVP & COO of Boston Bruins. “We took a unique, methodical approach gathering feedback from our clients and service teams, touring premier arenas across the country, and letting those insights shape every decision.This is the kind of long-term, ambitious thinking that has always defined the Jacobs family and Delaware North’s investment in this arena and this city — and this summer, we break ground on something truly special."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
The 2026 NFL Draft is nearly here. The countdown is on and we are less than 24 hours away from teams starting to make their picks in this year's annual event, which kicks off on Thursday night from Pittsburgh.
For the Denver Broncos, patience is going to be key this year as the team has only seven picks in total and won't make a selection until late in the second round, barring a trade. However, several key players could still be added with some of these choices, as the Broncos are just looking for a little extra on what they feel is one of the best rosters in the league.
As a result, the team has the ability to take some risks in this draft. Finding help at inside linebacker and running back would be beneficial for their championship hopes, but Sean Payton and George Paton often like to take the path that is least expected of them. It's completely unpredictable as to how things will go for the Broncos in this year's draft, but using the mock draft simulator provided by Pro Football Network, I stepped into the role of general manager and came up with this on the eve of the draft.
Denver Broncos' final 2026 7-round mock draft
Round 2, Pick No. 62: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Caleb Banks continues to be a trendy pick for the Broncos because of the thought that he will slide down the board due to his injury history. The Broncos can stop his free fall by taking a player with first-round talent at the end of the second round. It would be their first risk in this draft, but if Banks can fulfill his potential, he can replace John Franklin-Myers and then some.
With inside linebackers Jacob Rodriguez, Josiah Trotter and Anthony Hill, Jr. all of the board by this point, this was an easy choice.
TRADE: The Broncos send their fourth-round pick (No. 108) and a fifth-round choice in 2027 to the Philadelphia Eagles for their third-round pick (No. 98) in this draft.
Round 3, Pick No. 98: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
The Broncos see a tight end who is high on their list dropping to the end of the third round and decide to pounce, moving up 10 spots and sending a fifth-round pick to the Eagles to do it.
Max Klare would be a tremendous addition for a Broncos team looking for more talent at the tight end spot. Klare, who can help as a blocker in addition to being a great pass-catching tight end, could combine with Evan Engram to give the Broncos a much more potent combination than anything they currently have.
Round 4, Pick No. 111: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
The Broncos still need a linebacker and see that Indiana's Aiden Fisher is still on the board, but this spot is too high to take him. The team decides to see if Fisher falls to its pick in the fifth round and snags Oregon's Isaiah World as a possible replacement down the road for either Garett Bolles or Mike McGlinchey.
World stands 6-foot-8 and has a ton of playing experience in college at both Nevada and Oregon. He has issues with his overall technique, but a strong coaching staff could work with his intangibles to unlock a future star.
The Broncos will have two difficult waits in this draft. The distance between their second-round and fourth-round picks will be tough, as many strong prospects will be selected, but the space between picks 111 and 170 could be just as bad.
Fisher was not still on the board by this point, so the team settled for Kendal Daniels out of Oklahoma. Daniels began his college career at safety but was converted into a hybrid linebacker-safety. Daniels will need to work on his ability as a tackler, but he has the ability in coverage to win at the professional level. This would be a project pick for the Broncos, but they need to find help at inside linebacker.
Round 7, Pick No. 246: Jaydn Ott, RB, Oklahoma
Jaydn Ott once seemed like a top prospect for the NFL at the running back position, but he faded away as his college career progressed. Still, his ability to run north and south with no hesitation could be enough to give the Broncos the piece they need in the running back room.
Round 7, Pick No. 256: Aaron Hall, DT, Duke
Aaron Hall would need to work on shedding blocks to become better at defending the run, but his size (6-foot-4) makes him the kind of athlete teams want to take a look at and see what he can become.
Round 7, Pick No. 257: Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois
The Broncos cap the draft off by taking a quarterback and despite that not being a team need, the Broncos could look at moving Jarrett Stidham if a guy like Luke Altmyer shows that he could be a solid No. 3 to begin his career. Altmyer completed 63.7 percent of his passes and threw for nearly 8,000 yards in his college career.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 04: (L-R) Michael Pittman Jr. visits with Janine Rubenstein at SiriusXM on Radio Row at Super Bowl LX on February 04, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM) | Getty Images for SiriusXM
It didn’t take long for Michael Pittman Jr. to get involved in the community.
Just over a month after being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the veteran wide receiver was on hand with Toyota to promote women’s flag football by acting as a guest coach for a training camp at The Ellis School for high school girls interested in the sport. Along with Pittman were Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. When speaking with the media, Pittman was asked about Tyson and what he brings to the table.
“We definitely could use him,“ Pittman said. ”Just his talent, his jump ball stuff that he does. I think he would fit in great here.“
Steelers WR Michael Pittman on Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson.
And while Pittman would welcome Tyson with open arms, there is another receiver that he is hoping to see come to Pittsburgh – his fellow USC alum Makai Lemon.
“I’m hoping that if we do draft one, it’s gonna be him,” Pittman said. “Just because of the USC ties and I think he is a great player, he works hard, and he’s gonna come in and be an impact player.”
The Steelers currently hold the No. 21 pick in the NFL Draft, and have been connected to both Tyson and Lemon. We’ll find out soon enough if either will be donning Steelers colors this fall.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
CINCINNATI, OH - APRIL 15: Tyler Mahle #54 of the San Francisco Giants (wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson) pitches during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants continue this three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight from Oracle Park.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Tyler Mahle, who enters tonight’s game with a 7.23 ERA, 7.00 FIP, with 21 strikeouts to 12 walks in 18.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 8-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds last Wednesday, in which he allowed eight runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and five walks in four innings.
He’ll be facing off against Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani, who enters tonight’s game with a 0.50 ERA, 2.30 FIP, with 18 strikeouts to six walks in 18 innings pitched. His last start was in the Dodgers’ 8-2 win over the New York Mets last Wednesday, in which he allowed one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks in six innings.
All information shown is current as of 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.
Current space: $7.0 million
This includes the estimated salary cap impacts of all known signings and releases. More information about our cap space calculation is available below the tables.
Please note: All NFL teams must remain below the salary cap between the beginning of the new league year in mid-March and the end of each season. If our estimate of the team’s cap space is a negative number, it’s because contracts for some reported roster moves have not been officially submitted to the league office, or there is a difference between publicly available salary information and the official figures.
Most recent transactions
Older transactions are at the bottom of the page.
Current roster number: 66
Signed (4/2) cornerback Kaiir Elam
Re-signed (3/23) tight end Travis Kelce
Re-signed (3/20) linebacker Jack Cochrane
Acquired via trade (3/16) quarterback Justin Fields
Re-signed (3/14) offensive lineman Mike Caliendo
Signed (3/12) running back Emari Demercado and safety Alohi Gilman
N.Bolton, D.Tranquill, J.Bassa, J. Cochrane, C.McDonald, B.George, C. Christiansen, K.Arnold
Defensive Backs
11
K.Fulton, C.Conner, N.Williams, A. Gilman, K. Kohou, J.Hicks, C.Roland-Wallace, K.Knowles, M.Smith, T. McCalister, K. Elam
Specialists
3
M Araiza, H.Butker, J. Winchester
Total
66
–
Please note: The number of players listed in each position group may include players who are under contract, but are not counted on the active roster because of a roster exemption. Those players are indicated in the second table. The Total shown here is the number of players counted on the active roster; adding up the numbers for each position group may give a different result.
Roster by category
Active Roster
Pos No.
Hgt Wgt
Exp Thru
Hit Dead Svgs
Anudike-Uzomah, Felix 2023:1/31:KAN Kansas St.
DE 91
6-3 255
3 2026
$3.8M $1.4M $2.4M
Armstrong, Andrew 2025:UDFA:DET
WR
6-4 210
0 2026
$885K $0K $885K
Arnold, Kam 2025:UDFA:WAS Boston College
LB 53
6-1 229
0 2026
$885K $0K $885K
Bassa, Jeffrey 2025:5/156:KAN Oregon
LB 31
6-2 235
0 2028
$1.1M $310K $798K
Bolton, Nick 2021:2/58:KAN Missouri
LB 32
5-11 237
4 2027
$19.3M $23.5M -$4.3M
Briningstool, Jake 2025:UDFA:KAN Clemson
TE 88
6-6 230
0 2027
$1.0M $20K $995K
Brownlee, Jason 2023: UDFA NYJ S Mississippi
WR 89
6-2 202
3 2026
$1.1M $0K $1.1M
Butker, Harrison 2017:7/233:CAR Georgia Tech
K 7
6-4 199
8 2028
$7.3M $10.0M -$2.7M
Caliendo, Mike 2022:UDFA:KAN W. Michigan
G 66
6-4 301
3 2026
$1.4M $650K $750K
Christiansen, Cole 2020:UDFA:LAC Army
LB 48
6-2 225
5 2025
$1.2M $0K $1.2M
Cochrane, Jack 2022:UDFA:KAN S. Dakota
LB 43
6-3 236
4 2026
$1.4K $650K $750K
Conner, Chamarri 2023:4/119:KAN Virginia Tech
S 27
6-0 205
2 2026
$3.9M $188K $3.7M
Dercardo, Emari 2023: UDFA: ARI TCU
RB
5-9 215
3 2026
$1.2M $550K $650K
Downs, Ethan 2025:UDFA:JAX Oklahoma
DE 68
6-4 263
0 2026
$1.0M $0K $1.0M
Driskell, Ethan 2024:UDFA:KAN Marshall
OL 75
6-9 329
1 2026
$1.1M $13K $1.1M
Elam, Kaiir 2022: 1/23: BUF Florida
CB
6-1 191
4 2026
$1.8M $500K $1.3M
Fields, Justin 2021: 1/11:CHI Ohio State
QB
6-3 227
5 2026
$3M $3M $0K
Fulton, Kristian 2020:2/61:TEN LSU
CB 8
5-11 197
5 2026
$13.0M $8.0M $5.0M
George, Brandon 2025:UDFA:KAN Pittsburgh
LB 50
6-3 240
0 2027
$1.0M $10K $1.0M
Gillotte, Ashton 2025:3/66:KAN Louisville
DE 97
6-3 275
0 2028
$1.5M $1.2M $374K
Gilman, Alohi 2020: 6/186: LAC Notre Dame
S 17
5-10 201
6 2028
$3.5M $15M -$12M
Godrick, Chukwuebuka 2023:UDFA:KAN None
T 72
6-5 295
2 2026
$1.0M $0K $1.0M
Gray, Noah 2021:5/162:KAN Duke
TE 83
6-3 240
4 2027
$7.0M $3.0M $4.0M
Haener, Jake 2023: 4/127:NO Fresno State
QB
6-1 200
2 2026
$1.1M $0K $1.1M
Hanson, C.J. 2024:7/248:KAN Holy Cross
OL 61
6-5 300
1 2027
$1.1M $0K $1.1M
Harris, Marcus 2024:7/247:HOU Auburn
DT 68
6-3 295
1 2026
$885K $0K $885K
Hicks, Jaden 2024:4/133:KAN Washngton St.
S 21
6-2 211
1 2027
$1.2M $264K $943K
Holiday, Jimmy 2025:UDFA:KAN Louisiana Tech
WR 82
6-0 199
0 2027
$885K $0K $885K
Humphrey, Creed 2021:2/63:KAN Oklahoma
C 52
6-4 302
4 2028
$18.1M $25.1M -$7.0M
Jones, Chris 2016:2/37:KAN Mississippi St.
DT 95
6-6 310
9 2028
$44.9M $64.3M -$19.4M
Karlaftis, George 2022:1/30:KAN Purdue
DE 56
6-4 263
3 2025
$15.2M $26.9M -$11.8M
Kelce, Travis 2013:3/63:KAN Cincinnati
TE 87
6-5 250
13 2028
$4.9M $12M -$7.1M
Knowles, Kevin 2025:UDFA:KAN Florida St.
CB 38
5-11 183
0 2026
$1.0M $0K $1.0M
Kohou, Kader 2022:UDFA:MIA Texas A&M Comm
CB 26
5-10 196
4 2026
$1.8M $1.8M $0K
Mahomes, Patrick 2017:1/10:KAN Texas Tech
QB 15
6-2 225
8 2031
$78.2M $77.8M $388K
McDonald, Cooper 2025:UDFA:KAN TCU
LB 59
6-1 235
0 2027
$1.0M $0K $1.0M
Moore, Jaylon 2021:5/155:SFO W. Michigan
T 77
6-4 211
4 2026
$18.7M $10.7M $8.0M
Morris, Wanya 2023:3/92:KAN Oklahoma
T 64
6-5 307
2 2026
$1.7M $226K $1.5M
Norman-Lott, Omarr 2025:2/63:KAN Tennessee
DT 55
6-3 315
0 2028
$1.6M $3.0M -$1.4M
Nourzad, Hunter 2024:5/19:KAN Penn St.
G 60
6-3 317
1 2027
$1.2M $160K $995K
Oladokun, Chris 2022:7/241:PIT S. Florida
QB 19
6-2 195
3 2026
$1.0M $0K $1.0M
Pickens, Zacch 2023:3/64:CHI S. Carolina
DT 79
6-4 303
2 2025
$1.1M $0K $1.1M
Pole, Esa 2025:UDFA:KAN Washington St.
T 79
6-7 319
0 2027
$1.0M $0K $1.0M
Powell, ShunDerrick 2025:UDFA:KAN C. Arkansas
RB
5-7 183
0 2026
$885K $0K $885K
Remigio, Nikko 2023:UDFA:KAN Fresno St.
WR 81
5-9 187
2 2026
$1.1K $0K $1.1K
Rice, Rashee 2023:2/55:KAN SMU
WR 4
6-1 204
2 2026
$2.1M $431K $1.6M
Roland-Wallace, Christian 2024:UDFA:KAN USC
S 30
6-0 201
1 2026
$1.1M $2K $1.1M
Royals, Jalen 2025:4/133:KAN Utah St.
WR 11
6-0 205
0 2028
$1.2M $650K $571K
Simmons, Josh 2025:1/21:KAN Ohio State
T 71
6-5 310
0 2028
$3.3M $12.0M -$8.7M
Smith, Brashard 2025:7/228:KAN SMU
RB 24
5-10 196
0 2028
$1.0M $100K $938K
Smith, Trey 2021:6/226:KAN Tennessee
G 65
6-6 321
4 2025
$24.5M $33.2M -$8.7M
Smith, Tyreke 2022:5/158:SEA Ohio St.
DE 57
6-3 255
3 2026
$1.1M $0K $1.1M
Smith Jr., Melvin 2025:UDFA:KAN S. Arkansas
CB 39
5-10 185
0 2026
$1.0M $0K $1.0M
Suamataia, Kingsley 2024:2/63:KAN BYU
G 76
6-5 326
1 2027
$1.8M $745K $1.0M
Thornton, Tyquan 2022:2/50:NWE Baylor
WR 80
6-2 185
4 2026
$3.5M $7.4M -$3.9M
Tonga, Khyiris 2021:7/250:CHI BYU
DT 92
6-2 335
5 2028
$3.3M $14.0M -$10.7M
Tranquill, Drue 2019:4/130:LAC Notre Dame
LB 23
6-2 234
6 2026
$5M $4.5M $500K
Waletzko, Matt 2022:5/155:DAL N. Dakota
T 73
6-8 305
3 2026
$1.1M $0K $1.1M
Walker, Kenneth 2022:2/41:SEA Michigan State
RB 9
5-9 211
4 2028
$5.7M $28.7M -$23M
Watson, Tre 2025:UDFA:KAN Texas A&M
TE 49
6-2 236
0 2026
$0K $0K $0K
Wiley, Jared 2024:4/131:KAN TCU
TE 12
6-6 249
1 2027
$1.2M $344K $903K
Williams, Nohl 2025:3/85:KAN California
CB 20
6-1 200
0 2028
$1.4M $936K $504K
Winchester, James 2013:UDFA:PHI Oklahoma
LS 41
6-3 209
12 2025
$1.7M $1.7M $0K
Worthy, Xavier 2024:1/28:KAN Texas
WR 1
5-11 165
1 2027
$3.8M $8.1M -$4.4M
Excl Rights FA
Pos No.
Hgt Wgt
Exp Thru
Hit Dead Svgs
Araiza, Matt 2022:6/180:BUF San Diego St.
P 14
6-2 200
3 2025
$1.1M $0K $1.1M
Unrestricted FA
Pos No.
Hgt Wgt
Exp Thru
Hit Dead Svgs
Bush, Deon 2016:4/124:CHI Miami (FL)
S 26
6-0 200
9 2025
$0K $0K $0K
Edwards, Mike 2019:3/99:TAM Kentucky
S 34
5-10 205
6 2025
$0K $0K $0K
Hunt, Kareem 2017:3/86:KAN Toledo
RB 29
5-11 216
8 2025
$0K $0K $0K
Ingram, Keaontay 2022:6/201:ARI USC
RB 38
6-0 221
3 2025
$0K $0K $0K
Johnson, Nazeeh 2022:7/259:KAN Marshall
CB 13
5-10 199
3 2025
$0K $0K $0K
Pennel, Mike 2014:UDFA:GNB Arizona St.
DT 69
6-4 330
11 2025
$0K $0K $0K
Robinson, Janarius 2021:4/134:MIN Florida St.
DE 98
6-5 260
4 2025
$0K $0K $0K
Smith-Schuster, JuJu 2017:2/62:PIT USC
WR 9
6-1 215
8 2025
$0K $0K $0K
Tonyan, Robert Ton 2018:UDFA:GNB Indiana State
TE 85
6-5 240
7 2025
$0K $0K $0K
Cap space calculation
Salary data shown in the table is from Spotrac.com, which estimates the team’s salary cap space to be $7.7 million.
This cap figure is based on a total team salary cap of $294.4 million, plus $336,000 in 2025 rollover and $9.8 million in dead cap from previously released players.
But Spotrac’s figure does not include the salary cap impacts of the following recently-signed free agent, drafted rookie or otherwise missing contracts. The amounts shown in parentheses are estimated cap space decreases for each contract. These could change when actual figures are available.
None at this time.
With these adjustments (if any) included, the team’s cap space should be $7.0 million.
Remember: salary cap figures are estimates based on publicly available contract iormation, which can be misunderstood, rounded or inaccurately reported. Only the NFL, the involved teams and players know the precise figures. Therefore, any salary cap calculation must be taken with a grain of salt.
Older transactions
Re-signed (3/7) long snapper James Winchester
Traded (3/4) cornerback Trent McDuffie
Released (3/2) offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor
Released (2/23) defensive end Michael Danna
Signed to a Reserve/Future deal (2/2) quarterback Jake Haener
Signed to Reserve/Future deal (1/27) wide receiver Jason Brownlee
Signed to Reserve/Future contract (1/12) tight end Tre Watson
Changed to ERFA (1/12) punter Matt Araiza, wide receiver Nikko Remigio and cornerback Eric Scott Jr.
Changed to RFA (1/12) guard Mike Caliendo
Changed to UFA (1/12) wide receiver Marquise Brown, safety Deon Bush, linebacker Leo Chenal linebacker Cole Christiansen, linebacker Jack Cochrane, safety Bryan Cook, safety Mike Edwards running back Kareem Hunt, running back Keaontay Ingram, cornerback Nazeeh Johnson, tight end Travis Kelce, quarterback Gardner Minshew, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, defensive end Charles Omenihu running back Isiah Pacheco, defensive tackle Mike Pennel, running back Dameon Pierce, defensive end Janarius Robinson, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, tight end Robert Tonyan Jr., cornerback Jaylen Watson, cornerback Joshua Williams and long snapper James Winchester
Practice squad contracts expired (1/12) guard Matt Broeker, wide receiver Jason Brownlee, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, defensive end Malik Herring, running back Carson Steele, defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, tight end Tre Watson (PS roster to zero)
Released from practice squad (1/10) defensive back Tanner McCalister (PS roster to 7)
Signed to Reserve/Futurecontracts (1/6) wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, running back ShunDerrick Powell
Signed to Reserve/Futurecontracts (1/5) linebacker Kam Arnold, defensive tackle Marcus Harris, wide receiver Jimmy Holiday, tackle Matt Waletzko
Waived (1/5) quarterback Shane Buechele (roster to 52)
2025
Elevated from practice squad (1/3 – Raiders) wide receiver Jason Brownlee, wide receiver Jimmy Holiday (roster unchanged)
Signed to practice squad (12/30) linebacker Kam Arnold and defensive tackle Marcus Harris (PS roster to 12)
Elevated from practice squad (12/25 – Broncos) wide receiver Jason Brownlee, tackle Matt Waletzko (roster unchanged)
Activated from practice squad (12/25) linebacker Cole Christiansen (roster to 53, PS roster to 10)
Reserve/Injured (12/25) wide receiver Nikko Remigio (roster to 52)
Activated from Reserve/Injured (12/24) cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (roster to 53)
Activated from practice squad (12/24) defensive end Ethan Downs, cornerback Melvin Smith and defensive end Tyreke Smith (roster to 52, PS roster to 11)
Reserve/Injured (12/24) cornerback Trent McDuffie, cornerback Jaylen Watson, wide receiver Rashee Rice and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (roster to 49)
Signed from Bills’ practice squad (12/22) quarterback Shane Buechele (roster to 53)
Reserve/Injured (12/22) quarterback Gardner Minshew (roster to 52)
Elevated from practice squad (12/20 – Titans) linebacker Cole Christiansen, tackle Matt Waletzko (roster unchanged)
Activated from practice squad (12/20) tackle Chu Godrick, quarterback Chris Oladokun, running back Dameon Pierce (roster to 53, PS roster to 14)
Waived (12/20) running back Elijah Mitchell (roster to 50)
Reserve/Injured (12/20) linebacker Leo Chenal, tackle Jawaan Taylor (roster to 51)
Designated to return from Reserve/Injured (12/17) tight end Jake Briningstool, cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (roster unchanged)
Signed to practice squad(12/17) wide receiver Jimmy Holiday (PS roster to 17)
Activated from practice squad (12/17) defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (roster to 53, PS roster to 16)
Reserve/Injured (12/17) quarterback Patrick Mahomes (roster to 52)
Signed to practice squad (12/16) guard Nick Broeker and safety Tanner McCalister (PS roster to 17)
Elevated from practice squad (12/13 – Chargers) tackle Chu Godrick, defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (roster unchanged)
Activated from practice squad (12/13) guard C.J. Hanson (roster to 53, PS roster to 15)
Reserve/Injured (12/13) tackle Wanya Morris (roster to 52)
Elevated from practice squad (12/6 – Texans) tackle C.J. Hanson (roster unchanged)
Activated from practice squad (12/6) safety Mike Edwards (roster to 53, PS roster to 16)
Reserve/Injured (12/6) safety Christian Roland-Wallace (roster to 52)
Signed to practice squad (12/3) tackle Matt Waletzko (PS roster to 17)
Activated from practice squad (12/3) tackle Esa Pole (roster to 53, PS roster to 16)
Reserve/Injured (12/3) tackle Josh Simmons (roster to 52)
Elevated from practice squad (11/26 – Cowboys) safety Mike Edwards and tackle Esa Pole (roster unchanged)
Signed to practice squad (11/24) running back Dameon Pierce (PS roster to 17)
Released from practice squad (11/24) wide receiver Jimmy Holiday (PS roster to 16)
Elevated from practice squad (11/22 – Colts) running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (roster unchanged)
Signed to practice squad (11/12) wide receiver Jimmy Holiday (PS roster to 17)
Poached from practice squad by Steelers (11/5) defensive tackle Brodric Martin (PS roster to 16)
Signed to practice squad (11/4) defensive end Malik Herring (PS roster to 17)
Released from practice squad (11/4) wide receiver Jimmy Holiday (PS roster to 16)
Elevated from practice squad (11/1 – Bills) tackle C.J. Hanson, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (roster unchanged)
Signed (10/29) defensive tackle Mike Pennel (roster to 53)
Waived (10/29) defensive end Malik Herring (roster to 52)
Elevated from practice squad (10/27 – Commanders) tackle C.J. Hanson, defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu (roster unchanged)
Signed to practice squad (10/25) tackle Esa Pole (PS roster to 17)
Activated to roster (10/21) defensive back Kevin Knowles (roster to 53, PS roster to 16)
Reserve/Injured (10/21) defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (roster to 52)
Activated to roster (10/18) wide receiver Rashee Rice (roster to 53)
Signed to practice squad (10/15) wide receiver Jason Brownlee (PS roster to 17)
Poached from practice squad by Lions (10/15) defensive back Jammie Robinson (PS roster to 16)
Waived (10/13) wide receiver Jason Brownlee (roster to 52)
Elevated from practice squad (10/6 – Jaguars) defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu (roster unchanged)
Elevated from practice squad (9/28 – Ravens) defensive back Kevin Knowles, defensive tackle Brodric Martin (roster unchanged)
Elevated from PS (9/20 – Giants) defensive back Kevin Knowles (roster unchanged)
Signed (PS) (9/16) linebacker Cole Christiansen (PS roster to 17)
Released from PS (9/16) wide receiver Hal Presley (PS roster to 16)
Elevated from PS (9/13 – Eagles) defensive back Kevin Knowles (roster unchanged)
Released from Reserve/NFI with injury settlement (9/12) defensive end B.J. Thompson (roster unchanged)
Signed (PS) (9/10) wide receiver Hal Presley (PS roster to 17)
Released from PS (9/10) linebacker Cole Christiansen (PS roster to 16)
Elevated from PS (9/4) (Chargers) defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu
Signed (PS) (8/28) defensive end Ethan Downs, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, defensive tackle Brodric Martin, defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, defensive back Jammie Robinson and linebacker Tyreke Smith (PS roster to 17)
Activated to roster (8/28) tight end Robert Tonyan (PS roster to 11, roster to 53)
Released (8/28) defensive tackle Coziah Izzard and wide receiver Hal Presley (PS roster to 12)
Signed (PS) (8/27) safety Mike Edwards, tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, quarterback Chris Oladokun, fullback Carson Steele, defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, cornerback Kevin Knowles II, wide receiver Hal Presley, tight end Robert Tonyan, linebacker Cole Christiansen, cornerback Melvin Smith, defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, wide receiver Jimmy Holiday, tight end Tre Watson and guard C.J. Hanson (PS roster to 14)
Suspended (8/27) wide receiver Rashee Rice (roster to 52)
Reserve/Injured (8/26) tight end Jake Briningstool, linebacker Brandon George and cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (roster to 53)
Reserve/NFI (8/26) tackle Ethan Driskell (roster to 56)
Waived (8/26) wide receiver Elijhah Badger, defensive end Owen Carney, cornerback Ajani Carter, tackle Dalton Cooper, safety Jacobe Covington, wide receiver Mac Dalena, guard C.J. Hanson, cornerback Azizi Hearn, wide receiver Jimmy Holiday, defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, linebacker Cam Jones, cornerback Kevin Knowles, center Joey Lombard, defensive tackle Fabien Lovett, defensive end Nate Matlack, safety Glendon Miller, linebacker Xander Mueller, quarterback Chris Oladokun, tackle Esa Pole, wide receiver Hal Presley, wide receiver Key’Shawn Smith, cornerback Melvin Smith, tight end Geor’Quarius Spivey, running back Carson Steele, tight end Tre Watson, running back Michael Wiley, safety Major Williams and quarterback Bailey Zappe (roster to 57)
Released (8/26) linebacker Cole Christiansen, safety Mike Edwards, defensive tackle Mike Pennel, tight end Robert Tonyan and defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu (roster to 85)
Traded from Jets (8/24) defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (roster to 90)
Traded to 49ers (8/20) wide receiver Skyy Moore (roster to 89)
Signed (8/18) defensive end Owen Carney and linebacker Xander Mueller (roster to 90)
Waived (8/18) running back Elijah Young (roster to 88)
Reserve/Injured (8/18) defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah (roster to 89)
Signed (8/12) running back Michael Wiley (roster to 90)
Signed (8/11) defensive end Nate Matlack (roster to 89)
Reserve/Injured (8/11) safety Deon Bush, defensive end Janarius Robinson (roster to 88)
Released with injury settlement (8/8) cornerback Darius Rush (roster unchanged)
Passed physical (8/7) cornerback Kristian Fulton (roster unchanged)
Reserve/Injured (8/3) cornerback Eric Scott Jr. and cornerback Darius Rush (roster unchanged)
Signed (8/2) cornerback Ajani Carter, cornerback Azizi Hearn and wide receiver Key’ShawnSmith (roster to 90)
Waived-Injured (8/1) cornerback Eric Scott Jr. and cornerback Darius Rush (roster to 87)
Waived (7/30) punter Eddie Czaplicki (roster to 89)
Passed physical (7/27) right tackle Jawaan Taylor and tight end Tre Watson (roster unchanged)
Active/PUP (7/21) right tackle Jawaan Taylor, cornerback Kristian Fulton and tight end Tre Watson (roster unchanged)
Signed (7/21) wide receiver Hal Presley (roster to 90)
Rookie contract signed (7/21) defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (roster unchanged)
Contract extension signed 7/20 defensive end George Karlaftis (roster unchanged)
Waived (7/16) wide receiver Justyn Ross (roster to 89)
New contract signed (7/15) right guard Trey Smith (roster unchanged)
Signed (6/23) tight end Geor’quarius Spivey (roster to 90)
Signed (6/20) center Joey Lombard (roster to 89)
Waived (6/20) tight end Kevin Foelsch (roster to 88)
Released (6/20) guard Tremayne Anchrum (roster to 89)
Signed (6/11) tight end Kevin Foelsch (roster to 90)
Waived (6/11) defensive tackle Siaki Ika (roster to 89)
Rookie contract signed (5/20) cornerback Nohl Williams (roster unchanged)
Signed (5/16) guard Tremayne Anchrum (roster to 90)
Released from Reserve Injured (5/15) wide receiver Justin Lockhart (roster unchanged)
Waived (5/15) running back Keontay Ingram (roster to 89)
Rookie contract signed (5/13) defensive end Ashton Gillotte, wide receiver Jalen Royals (roster unchanged)
Signed (5/6) wide receiver Jimmy Holiday, linebacker Cooper McDonald and defensive back Major Williams (roster to 90)
Released (5/6) cornerback Robert Rochell (roster to 87)
Reserve/NFI (from waivers): (5/6) defensive end BJ Thompson (roster unchanged)
Waived (5/6) safety Will Brooks and wide receiver Justin Lockhart (roster to 88)
Rookie contract signed (5/4) tackle Josh Simmons (roster unchanged)
Signed (5/3) tight end Jake Briningstool, wide receiver Elijhah Badger, tackle Dalton Cooper, safety Glendon Miller, tackle Esa Pole, linebacker Brandon George, defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, cornerback Melvin Smith Jr., wide receiver Mac Dalena, punter Eddie Czaplicki, tight end Tre Watson, cornerback Jacobe Covington, running back Elijah Young, safety Will Brooks, defensive back Kevin Knowles II and wide receiver Justin Lockhart (roster to 90)
Released (5/3) linebacker Blake Lynch (roster to 74)
Waived (5/3) defensive end BJ Thompson (roster to 75)
Rookie contract signed (5/3) linebacker Jeff Bassa and running back Brashard Smith (roster unchanged)
Released (4/30) tight end Anthony Firkser and linebacker Shaun Bradley (roster to 77)
Waived (4/30) Tight end Baylor Cupp, guard McKade Mettauer and defensive back Jason Taylor (roster to 79)
Drafted at 7/228 (4/26) running back Brashard Smith (roster to 82)
Drafted at 5/156 (4/26) linebacker Jeff Bassa (roster to 81)
Drafted at 4/133 (4/26) wide receiver Jalen Royals (roster to 80)
Drafted at 3/85 (4/25) cornerback Nohl Williams (roster to 79)
Drafted at 3/66 (4/25) defensive end Ashton Gillotte (roster to 78)
Drafted at 2/63 (4/25) defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (roster to 77)
Drafted at 1/32 (4/24) tackle Josh Simmons (roster to 76)
Signed RFA tender (4/11) linebacker Jack Cochrane
Signed (4/4) defensive end Janarius Robinson (roster to 75)
Signed (4/3) safety Mike Williams (roster to 74)
Signed (3/24) defensive tackle Mike Pennel (roster to 73)
Signed (3/21) cornerback Robert Rochell (roster to 72)
Signed (3/20) defensive end Charles Omenihu (roster to 71)
Signed (3/19) defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu (roster to 70)
Signed (3/15) wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (roster to 69)
Signed (3/14) quarterback Bailey Zappe, running back Kareem Hunt, defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (roster to 68)
Signed (3/13) quarterback Gardner Minshew (roster to 65)
RFA contract tender (3/12) linebacker Jack Cochrane and cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (roster to 64)
Signed (3/12) tackle Jaylon Moore, running back Elijah Mitchell, long snapper James Winchester, linebacker Cole Christiansen,cornerback Kristian Fulton, tight end Robert Tonyan and defensive end Malik Herring (roster to 62)
Traded to Bears (3/12) left guard Joe Thuney (roster to 55)
Signed (3/9) linebacker Nick Bolton (roster to 56)
Signed (3/8) wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (roster to 55)
ERFA contract tender (3/7) placekicker Matt Araiza and offensive lineman Mike Caliendo (roster to 54)
Signed (3/3) linebacker Blake Lynch
Franchise-tagged (2/27) right guard Trey Smith
Signed to 2025 Reserve/Future contract (2/13) RB Keaontay Ingram
Signed to 2025 Reserve/Future contract (2/12) TE Anthony Firkser
Signed to 2025 Reserve/Future contracts (2/11) WR Jason Brownlee, S Deon Bush, TE Baylor Cupp, TE Anthony Firkser, T Chukwuebuka Godrick, DT Siaki Ika, DT Fabien Lovett, QB Chris Oladokun, WR Justyn Ross, CB Darius Rush, DB Eric Scott and WR Tyquan Thornton
Returning for 2025 (2/10) DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, PK Harrison Butker, LB Leo Chenal, S Chamarri Conner, S Bryan Cook, DE Michael Danna, T Ethan Driskell, TE Noah Gray, OL C.J. Hanson, S Jaden Hicks, C Creed Humphrey, LB Cam Jones, DT Chris Jones, DE George Karlaftis, TE Travis Kelce, QB Patrick Mahomes, CB Trent McDuffie, OL McKade Mettauer, WR Skyy Moore, T Wanya Morris, OL Hunter Nourzad, RB Isiah Pacheco, WR Nikko Remigio, WR Rashee Rice, CB Christian Roland-Wallace, RB Carson Steele, T Kingsley Suamataia, T Jawaan Taylor, DE BJ Thompson, G Joe Thuney, LB Drue Tranquill, CB Jaylen Watson, TE Jared Wiley, CB Joshua Williams and WR Xavier Worthy
Exclusive rights free agents (ERFA) for 2025 (2/10) P Matt Araiza and OL Mike Caliendo
Restricted rights free agents (RFA) for 2025 (2/10) LB Jack Cochrane, TE Peyton Hendershot, DE Malik Herring, CB Nazeeh Johnson and CB Keith Taylor
Unrestricted free agents (UFA) for 2025 (2/10) LB Nick Bolton, WR Marquise Brown, TE Jody Fortson, WR Mecole Hardman, WR DeAndre Hopkins, T D.J. Humphries, RB Kareem Hunt, DT Derrick Nnadi, DE Charles Omenihu, DT Mike Pennel, RB Samaje Perine, S Justin Reid, G Trey Smith, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, DT Marlon Tuipulotu, DE Joshua Uche, WR Justin Watson, QB Carson Wentz, DT Tershawn Wharton and LS James Winchester
Signed to 2025 Reserve/Future contracts (1/9) linebacker Shaun Bradley, defensive back Jason Taylor
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off live from Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23 and the latest crop of rookies will be hearing their names called all weekend long. For the New York Giants, the biggest need is an obvious one: Cornerback.
The Giants' biggest position of need will change if the team acquiesces to defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence's trade request. The Giants and Lawrence are at a contract impasse, a person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. In the secondary, Greg Newsome II and Paulson Adebo are the team's top two corners. Newsome allowed a 107.5 passer rating and Adebo gave up a 98.2 passer rating when targeted last season.
Here's everything you need to know about the New York Giants for this year's draft, including a round-by-round look at picks and a potential trade candidate already on the roster.
New York Giants NFL Draft best prospect fit: IOL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
Per USA TODAY's Ayrton Ostly:
The Giants are building around quarterback Jaxson Dart in Year 2 as a starter with a new coaching staff led by John Harbaugh. Another top wide receiver from this class would be great in Round 1 which leaves the Giants open to getting help protecting Dart in Round 2. Bisontis should be available there with a great background at tackle before moving inside to guard for the Aggies.
New York Giants NFL Draft trade candidate: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux
Per USA TODAY's Jack McKessy:
Thibodeaux is entering a contract year in 2026. The Giants likely won't extend him given the other talented pass-rushers, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, on the roster. Dexter Lawrence's trade request could end in an extension, leaving less capital for a future Thibodeaux deal. New York could either recoup draft capital by trading Thibodeaux now or wait until he walks in free agency and get nothing in return.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 16: Alexander Hernandez prepares to face Chase Hooper in a lightweight fight during the UFC 319 event at the United Center on August 16, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
“The Great” has spoken.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Alexander Hernandez finally returns to action against Rafa Garcia at UFC Vegas 116 this weekend (Sat., April 25, 2026) inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hernandez was originally scheduled to face Michael Johnson at UFC 324 earlier this year, but the bout was abruptly scrapped on fight day amid reported betting irregularities. The situation sparked widespread speculation — including reports of potential federal involvement — and left Hernandez sidelined and silent in the months that followed.
Now, ahead of his return, “The Great” is finally addressing the controversy.
“I mean, that was a headache and a half,” Hernandez said during UFC Vegas 116 media day (watch here). “That was a stressful five weeks. It’s good to just be on the right side of it now and praying no f—kery takes place this week. Obviously, a little bit of tension in the air over that in the back of my mind, but yeah, I’m happy to be back.”
Hernandez even compared the situation to overcoming false accusations, emphasizing how difficult the ordeal was mentally.
“We’re making jokes, I’ve felt the oppression of the people of the past here,” he continued. “Like, ‘Bomaye, Alex Ali’ or [Nelson] Mandela this week coming back from false accusations and get a chance to rise again. I’m just stoked. I’m stoked to be back doing what I was decent at.”
“I’m not talking to any authorities,” Hernandez said. “I don’t think the FBI comes out and issues any apologies, so it’s hard for me to speculate on where anything’s at, but I’m in the grace of the UFC, and we’re fighting. I have no fears or qualms with any bureau.”
More broadly, Hernandez believes the situation exposed a gap in how fighters are protected when allegations surface.
“I say this is uncharted territory,” Hernandez said. “It’s the first time someone’s been falsely accused of fixing a fight or doing anything like that, so it’s new waters for everyone to figure out how to tread. I think there needs to be some kind of a protection over the combatants themselves. Who’s looking out for me in that case or whoever it happens to next?
“Because yeah, you’ve got uninformed prop bet profiles, unregulated bookings, and an uneducated bureau pressing on you, and no one’s protecting the individual and looking out for him,” Hernandez added. Everyone’s covering their own ass and you’re hoping to not get f—cked in yours, so yeah, it’s a bit of, again, just uncertain territory for sure, and there needs to be someone looking out for the fighter.”
The controversy marked one of several betting-related incidents in recent years, though Hernandez’s situation now appears to be resolved enough for him to move forward with his career.
And from a competitive standpoint, he’s in a strong position.
Hernandez enters UFC Vegas 116 riding a four-fight win streak — the longest of his UFC tenure — and is inching closer to a return to the Top 15. His recent run includes back-to-back stoppage wins over Carlos Diego Ferreira and Chase Hooper (watch highlights), showing a more dangerous and confident version of the once-streaky contender.
Now, with the controversy (seemingly) behind him, Hernandez gets a chance to remind everyone why he was once considered one of the division’s most promising talents — and perhaps prove that his biggest fight this year wasn’t inside the Octagon, but outside of it.
For the rest of the UFC Vegas 116 fight card and Paramount+ lineup click here.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor suffered an injury that forced him from the game in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field.
He appeared to grimace in pain after rounding third base on Francisco Alvarez's RBI double. Lindor was also seen wincing after he slid into home plate to score. The Mets announced that Lindor was dealing with left calf tightness and would not return.
It was not made entirely clear if the injury occurred during his trip around the bases.
Francisco Lindor has been pulled from tonight's game after grimacing rounding third on Francisco Alvarez's RBI double pic.twitter.com/wi7PGalANx
The attendant outside of the suites at Little Caesars Arena was determined to guess who Tom Hur was.
After all, a steady stream of people were approaching the 33-year-old to shake his hand and ask for pictures before Game 2 of the Detroit Pistons' first round of the playoffs. She was sure he was someone famous.
"I'm thinking a show or something," she guessed, figuring him for a Hollywood star.
No, Hur confirmed. "I'm just a regular person."
That may be true in Hur's hometown of Seoul, South Korea, where Hur works a 10-6 job at a bank. But in Detroit, Hur is famous just for loving Detroit.
Hur, now known to Detroit Pistons fans as "Korean Tom" or his Instagram handle, "koreapistonsfan," accidentally made a name for himself in Detroit by adopting the city's sports teams, especially the Pistons, from afar.
What started as a childhood admiration has, in the last two years, turned Hur into an unlikely Detroit ambassador. Along the way, he's shown Detroit natives their city has plenty for outsiders to love.
A video game leads to lifelong love of the Detroit Pistons
It started, as many childhood obsessions do, with a video game.
Hur's friend wanted to be the Lakers every time they played "NBA Live." Hur says his friend "made" him be the Pistons.
As a kid growing up in Seoul, Hur said he had little exposure to the NBA. But the video game planted the seed, and soon he started following the sport, and the Pistons. When the team signed Hur's favorite player, Tracy McGrady, in 2010, that sealed the deal for Hur.
But Hur didn't make his first trip to Detroit until 2023. A friend wanted to go to the United States, and asked Hur to go with him. Hur had one condition.
"He only wants to stay in New York," Hur said. "I was like, 'I'll go to America with you. If you go to Detroit with me.'"
His friend obliged, and they spent three days in the Motor City. Hur said he loved it instantly, certainly better than the Big Apple.
He came back last year, and started documenting his stay on Instagram. He quickly built a following by highlighting his favorite restaurants and sites. He's watched a guy pull a large fish out of the Detroit River. He declared Sweetwater Tavern has "The Best Wings in Detroit!!!" Every post starts with "Whatupdoe!" (Cue the "One-of-us!" chants.)
This year, he wanted to be here for the first round of the playoffs. The plane ticket cost him about $2,500, he said, to spend about five days here. He's been honored with a jersey at the Tigers' game, and a chance to meet the Pistons' Cade Cunningham. A photo from that encounter is now the background on his phone.
He stops to take pictures with anyone who asks. He's grateful for the way the city embraced him, he said.
"I don't take anything for granted," Hur said. "They're loving me back, and it's an amazing feeling."
Meanwhile, his Instagram following has grown to over 20,000.
It's not a side gig, he noted. He doesn't earn any money from it. He did, however, score a spot in the Pistons' "Influencer Suite" at Wednesday's game.
"I can never get used to that word," Hur said of the "influencer" label. "I guess, I am."
So if he is, what is he influencing?
"I think what I'm doing is, like, just showing people how good Detroit really is, and reminding people of Detroit how good you have it here," he said. "So, I guess that's what I'm influencing."
Cities like Detroit overlooked, Hur says
So what does a guy from South Korea love so much about Detroit, anyway?
"First of all, it's the Pistons," he said.
Fair.
The first time he came here, Hur said he was apprehensive, not knowing what to expect. The second time, when he started to share his time here with the world, he opened up a bit more. In true Midwest fashion, the city opened right back up to him.
"I started just going to, like, random places recommended by some friends that I know," Hur said. "And that's when I started falling in love with the city, the food, the people, the culture, and I started sharing it, and people started appreciating it. And that's how it all started."
Just like his friend who only wanted to go to New York, Hur said he thinks cities like Detroit get overlooked.
"The thing is, like, people beat up these cities without being here," he said. "...They just see their social media and stuff. 'All right, this place is a s--thole,' or whatever. But they haven't been here. So they don't know."
His Korean friends, who, he notes, don't treat him any differently now that he has fans, ask him if Detroit is dangerous. He tells them he's never felt danger in the places he's gone.
"Yeah, people say that about Detroit, but they have never been here, and they could judge all they want," he said. "But I disagree."
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off live from Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23 and the latest crop of rookies will be hearing their names called all weekend long. For the Indianapolis Colts, the biggest need is an obvious one: Edge rusher.
Indianapolis lost Kwity Paye, who was the team's second-best edge rusher, in free agency. Laiatu Latu is the only Colts' edge rusher opposing teams have to gameplan for. Wide receiver is also a notable need after the club traded Michael Pittman Jr. to Pittsburgh.
Here's everything you need to know about the Indianapolis Colts for this year's draft, including a round-by-round look at picks and a potential trade candidate already on the roster.
Indianapolis Colts NFL Draft best prospect fit: LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Per USA TODAY's Ayrton Ostly:
The Colts spent in free agency to stock up in the secondary and the defensive line but the linebacking corps is lagging behind. Golday brings prototypical size to the position with great athleticism and fluidity to improve as a coverage guy. His hand strength makes him a solid run defender and help the Colts' defense in both phases.
Indianapolis Colts NFL Draft trade candidate: QB Anthony Richardson
Per USA TODAY's Jack McKessy:
The writing is on the wall for Richardson's time in Indianapolis. After Daniel Jones' extension, it's just a matter of time before the young gunslinger ends up somewhere else. The good news for the Colts is Richardson is a very enticing prospect with an intriguing skill set mix of cannon arm and excellent running ability. He's also a former first-round pick, allowing prospective trade partners to have a young project quarterback like Richardson for an extra year on a fifth-year option if things work out. All of those factors could net the Colts a nice return of picks, which they could use after trading away two first-rounders for Sauce Gardner last year.
Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard reacts during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
The Wisconsin Badgers had a busy week in the transfer portal last week, landing George Washington guard Trey Autry, Miami (OH) wing Eian Elmer, and Hofstra center Victory Onuetu.
On Wednesday, they made the latest addition to their 2026-27 season, landing and signing in-state freshman Josh Manchester, the school announced.
Manchester, a native of Mt. Horeb, finished his high school career with 2,534 points, the 10th-most in Wisconsin state history. That included averaging 30.1 points per game as a senior while leading Mt. Horeb to a conference crown. As a junior, Manchester did one better, averaging 31.1 points a game while taking Mt. Horeb to another conference championship.
The 6’3 guard is the third true freshman to join Wisconsin’s roster for the 2026-27 season alongside fellow in-state recruit LaTrevion Fenderson and Australian guard Jackson Ball.
“We’re excited to have Josh join our program,” Badgers head coach Greg Gard said. “As we continue to intentionally build out our roster, it’s vital to have players in a variety of roles. Josh appreciates and understands the work and development that his role will require. He’s got a competitor’s mindset paired with a knack for scoring as witnessed by him being amongst the top 10 scorers in Wisconsin high school history.”
“He comes from an excellently coached high school program and a basketball family. I recruited Josh’s dad, Paul, to UW-Platteville from La Crosse Logan High School where Paul played for his father, Tom, in 1995. It’s truly amazing how this profession and game can bring people full circle more than 30 years later! Josh is really fired up to be a Badger. We can’t wait for him to arrive on campus this summer and get to work preparing for the coming season. We’re looking forward to helping Josh launch his college career!”
NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton was one of the few veterans on the team that had to understand the purpose of this season as it pertains to the rebuild. Brooklyn asked Claxton to not only be productive on the court, but to be a mentor no matter how much losing occurred and he explained how he maintained his positive mindset during a 20-62 campaign.
"You can’t let it affect your preparation and your mindset going into the games. Even this year, I struggled with that some. Going into games, you have to go in with the mindset [that] we’re going to win this game," Claxton said during his exit interview prior to the end of the season. Since Claxton's first season with the team in 2019-20, this past season was the worst campaign for Brooklyn, illustrating how much mental fortitude was needed.
"But, as far as wins and losses, I get what Jordi’s saying. It doesn’t always come with the scoreboard," Claxton continued. "It can be seeing our rookies, seeing them go out and spread their wings and gain confidence out there on the court, which we’ve seen throughout the season. It can [also] be me maturing and finding that peace within myself no matter what’s going on out there on the court and helping guys out, telling them what I see."
Claxton, 27, ended the 2025-26 season with averages of 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 57.1% from the field and 61.6% from the free-throw line. While Claxton's averages were around what he has put up for his career, it became clear early on that his passing and ball-handling had gotten to the point that he could be one of the primary playmakers for head coach Jordi Fernandez.
While the Nets were trying to develop as many of the young players as possible, including the five rookies from the 2025 NBA Draft, Brooklyn still needed veterans like Claxton and forward Michael Porter Jr. to show the way through their play. Claxton had to do his job during a season where wins and losses weren't the main factor and he took the time to explain how he shifted his mindset along the way.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Flyers and Penguins put a squeeze on the penalty box in Game 3 of the playoff series — try, 11 total players cramped inside their designated punishment areas.
Penguins forward Bryan Rust slammed Travis Konecny to the ice behind the net and smothered the Flyers forward in a hit that sparked all the lines to join the fray. Konecny ripped off his helmet and dropped his gloves and beckoned Rust to fight him.
Rust and Pittsburgh teammates Erik Karlsson, Samuel Girard, Connor Dewar and Ryan Shea went to the visiting box. Rust got an extra penalty that put the Flyers on the power play.
Konecny was joined by Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Matvei Michkov and Christian Dvorak in the home box. Nick Seeler joined them to make it six in there 61 seconds later when he was whistled for cross-checking, but that was after Trevor Zegras scored on the power play to tie it.
When Zegras scored, he went over to the penalty box to celebrate with his five teammates trapped inside.
Flyers fans went wild in celebration of the franchise's first home playoff game since 2018 and they tried for their first home playoff win since 2016.
It’s the second consecutive crowded penalty box night in the playoffs. Montreal and Tampa Bay each had all five skaters on the ice sent off at once following a similar postwhistle scrum in Canadiens-Lightning Game 2 on Tuesday.
NEW YORK (AP) — No sooner did the struggling New York Mets get a star player back than another one went down with a similar injury.
Francisco Lindor was removed Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins with left calf tightness, just hours after teammate Juan Soto came off the injured list.
Lindor labored around the bases while scoring from first on Francisco Alvarez's one-out double up the right-center alley in the fourth inning. The switch-hitting shortstop grimaced as he rounded third and paused for a bit from the seat of his pants after beating the relay throw with a feetfirst slide.
Lindor headed down the dugout tunnel with an athletic trainer and was replaced in the lineup by Brett Baty, who entered at third base in the top of the fifth. Bo Bichette slid over from third base to shortstop.
Batting cleanup, Lindor knocked in a run when he legged out an infield single with two outs in the first. Moments earlier, he made an outstanding leaping grab at shortstop for the second out of the game.
With the Mets on a 12-game losing streak, Soto was reinstated from the 10-day IL earlier in the day. The slugging outfielder had been sidelined since straining his right calf while running from first to third on April 3 in San Francisco.
LEBANON — Kimar Morris saw progress taking hold at Hamilton. He also saw an opportunity he believed could accelerate the next step in his coaching journey.
That combination ultimately led Morris to Lebanon, where he has been selected as the Lady Warriors’ next head varsity girls basketball coach.
Lebanon officials announced the hire as the start of a new chapter for the program, citing Morris’ reputation in the Cincinnati basketball community and a holistic approach centered on skill development, unity, character and academic excellence. The Warriors are coming off a 5-18 season.
Morris arrives after two seasons at Hamilton, where he helped stabilize a struggling program and began rebuilding it from the inside out. During his tenure, Hamilton matched its previous five-year win total, reflecting measurable progress despite ongoing growing pains.
“When building a program, I wanted to get in there at Hamilton and reestablish the culture,” Morris said. “I thought we were heading in the right direction. In two years, we were able to change things and get it moving.”
The opening at Lebanon, though, presented a situation Morris felt offered a stronger foundation for continued growth.
“I just felt Lebanon was a little bit farther along,” Morris said. “Looking at the numbers, the support, the youth programs — there’s a foundation already in place. That was intriguing to me.”
Morris pointed to Lebanon’s participation numbers and structure across freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels as a key factor.
“Having numbers matters,” Morris said. “That allows you to build and sustain a program. That was something that really stood out.”
He also noted the shift from the Greater Miami Conference to the Eastern Cincinnati Conference as an opportunity for growth.
“In the GMC, night in and night out, you’re playing top-level teams,” Morris said. “You’re asking your kids to go against programs making deep tournament runs every single game. In this league, I think we can compete and grow.”
Morris has already met with Lebanon’s players and came away encouraged by the roster, which includes several multi-sport athletes.
“I love multi-sport kids, and we’ve got a lot of those,” Morris said. “A lot of them are playing soccer, lacrosse, AAU basketball. That’s huge. It shows they’re active, competitive and committed.”
He acknowledged the challenges ahead with a young team but emphasized energy and culture as immediate priorities.
“We’re going to take some lumps because we’re really young,” Morris said. “But the goal is to re-energize the community and the program. When you haven’t had the success you want, people get down. We’re going to change that.”
Morris said his approach will center on identity and consistency, with a program philosophy built around “PRIDE” — Passion, Relentless Effort, Innovation, Discipline and Excellence.
“These aren’t just words,” Morris said. “They will define how we train, how we compete and how we represent Lebanon every day. We want to develop young women who lead with confidence and represent Lebanon the right way on and off the court.”
Lebanon boys basketball coach Nathan Chivington said Morris brings both experience and credibility to the program.
“Kimar is a coach that is passionate about developing his players on and off the court,” Chivington said. “He understands the game and the challenges that come with working with today’s youth. He will represent the school and community well.”
La Salle boys basketball coach Kevin Higgins echoed that sentiment. Morris was a former assistant on Higgins’ staff.
“Coach Morris has incredible experience being part of successful programs and will bring great energy and passion,” Higgins said. “He will help these young ladies grow not just as players, but in every aspect of their lives.”
Morris’ coaching background includes stops as head boys coach at Finneytown from 2014–2017, an assistant role at Hamilton under Higgins, and the start of his career as a junior varsity coach at Aiken in 2002. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Cincinnati, where he was a walk-on football player, and a master’s degree in education from the University of Dayton.
Beyond basketball, Morris serves as an intervention specialist for Hamilton City Schools and is active as a motivational speaker focusing on mental health, leadership and character development. He lives in Liberty Township with his wife, Dalonda, and their three children.
“I loved my time at Hamilton,” Morris said. “But this felt like the right next step. I’m excited to get to work.”
No. 13 Florida State took game one of its in-season series against No. 8 Florida on Wednesday night, beating the Gators 3-1 in front of 1,738 fans at JoAnne Graf Field behind a pair of Isa Torres home runs and a fourth-inning RBI single from Shelby McKenzie.
Per FSU Sports Info, the crowd was the ninth-largest regular-season crowd in JoAnne Graf Field history.
The victory moved the Seminoles to 40-7 (15-3 ACC) and dropped Florida to 43-7 (16-5 SEC). FSU also closed its home schedule with a 31-2 record at JoAnne Graf Field — 42-3 over its last 45 regular-season home games — and has now won eight of the last nine meetings against the Gators.
Junior Ashtyn Danley (9-1, 41-9 career) earned the win after four innings of relief work, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out two on 61 pitches. Jazzy Francik started for FSU, giving up one run on five hits with two walks and no strikeouts in three innings on 55 pitches.
Florida grabbed the lead immediately when center fielder Taylor Shumaker took the second pitch of the game over the right field wall for her 15th home run of the season, but the Gators failed to capitalize further, stranding two runners to end the frame.
Florida State answered immediately in the bottom of the first as shortstop Isa Torres worked a full count and deposited a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for a leadoff home run to tie the game at 1-1. FSU went quietly from there, with Jaysoni Beachum fouling out and Ashtyn Danley and Anna Hinde both grounding out to short.
OH IT'S ON😤😤😤
Isa goes yard, and we're all tied up just like that🍢🍢
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) April 22, 2026
The second inning was scoreless for both sides. Francik stranded a Florida threat, walking Cassidy McLellan to open the top half before inducing two groundouts and a flyout to strand McLellan at third. FSU had a similar opportunity in the bottom half, with Marin Heller drawing a walk and McKenzie singling to left-center, but Hayley Griggs hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning with two left on base.
Florida threatened again in the third, with Erickson singling up the middle and stealing second before Cahalan walked to put two on with one out. Francik limited the damage, getting Thomas Townsen on a bunt single that loaded the bases before Brown grounded into an inning-ending double play.
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) April 22, 2026
In the bottom half, Torres struck again, this time launching one to deep center field to give FSU a 2-1 lead it would not relinquish. The solo shot was her 13th of the season — a new career high — and her third career multi-home run game. Torres finished 2-for-4 on the night and still leads the country with a .586 batting average. Hinde singled up the middle with two outs but was stranded when Bella Ruggiero grounded out to second.
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) April 22, 2026
Danley entered in relief to start the fourth, and with her came a reshuffling of the FSU lineup — Ruggiero shifted from right to left field, McKenzie moved to right from the designated player spot, and Francik’s place in the batting order was absorbed by Danley. Florida put two runners on via a Walker single and a Comia single through the right side but could not score, as Danley worked out of the jam with back-to-back outs to end the inning.
FSU pushed the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth on designated player Shelby McKenzie’s RBI single, her 25th of the season. Kennedy Harp opened the inning with a single to shallow left field, and Heller drew a walk to put runners on first and second. McKenzie then singled through the right side to score Harp from second base, though Heller was thrown out trying to advance. Jaysoni Beachum was also hit by a pitch during the inning — her 35th consecutive game reaching base safely, the fifth-longest streak in program history.
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) April 22, 2026
Danley navigated trouble in the fifth, hitting Grover and Townsen with pitches to put two runners on with one out, but Brown grounded into a double play to end the inning.
FSU managed just one hit in the bottom of the fifth against Miller — a Ruggiero single up the middle — but could not score. Florida did the same in the top of the sixth on three straight lineouts. In the bottom of the sixth, Griggs doubled to left-center with one out and Beachum drew a walk — both advanced on a wild pitch but were left stranded when Danley grounded out.
Danley closed it out with a clean seventh, striking out Shumaker looking, getting Erickson on a groundout to short and retiring Grover on a popup to second to secure the victory — making FSU just the third team this season to hold Florida to one run or fewer.
The good times keep on rolling for the Oregon Ducks in the recruiting world. Dan Lanning and the Ducks scored a massive commitment from five-star quarterback Will Mencl out of Chandler, Arizona.
Oregon had been rumored to be leading the race for Mencl's services for months, but the No. 1 quarterback in the country, per Rivals, cleared the air and committed to the Ducks on Wednesday evening. Mencl chose the Ducks over Auburn and Penn State, both of which battled hard for him down the stretch.
However, Mencl has been connected to Oregon for a long time. While he was offered last fall before breaking out in his junior season, Mencl has been a fan of the program long before he popped up on the Ducks' recruiting radar. In a post shared by Rivals recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong, Mencl was announced as a quarterback for the Ducks when he was a kid at the 2019 NFL Draft fan experience in 2019.
Now, Mencl is ready to don the green and yellow for real and make his childhood dreams come true. The Ducks have made a point to get Mencl on campus as often as possible and as recently as last week. The continued connection between both sides is ultimately what made the decision easy for the nation's top passer. Mencl said he told Lanning and the Oregon staff about his decision on Sunday.
"The biggest thing was the relationship with the staff," Mencl said after committing. "I feel like that continued to grow over time, especially when I first got there last spring. Being able to sit down with Coach Koa, really being an underlooked guy at that time, and kind of blowing up my junior season. And then, the path to the NFL. You can't deny what they do with quarterbacks and the type of scheme they run. I felt like that was the best fit for me and my family to get to the next level."
Koa Ka'ai, Oregon's new quarterback coach, made waves earlier in the offseason after his recruiting test about ice cream flavors went viral, but that doesn't appear to have scared Mencl off. In fact, the two have a close connection that Oregon hopes will translate to success on the field in the near future.
“My relationship with Coach Koa, I feel like that is super, super strong,” Mencl told Rivals. “I’ve had a lot of discussions with Coach Lanning about the culture there and how they’re going to continue to sustain greatness throughout the program.”
Mencl exploded onto the national recruiting scene with a massive junior season for Chandler. He completed more than 70% of his passes for 3,815 yards and 33 touchdowns against five interceptions in his junior season, leading Chandler to a state title berth. He also rushed for 741 yards and an additional 17 touchdowns.
The Ducks expect to have some competition for Mencl to compete with when he joins the team for the 2027 season, with Dylan Raiola and Akili Smith Jr. already on the roster and competing for a role as the backup. Oregon has gone to the transfer portal as well in recent seasons, finding success with Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, and now Dante Moore.
Oregon has recruited well at quarterback in the past, establishing an NFL pedigree that attracted Mencl. Maybe he will be the one to buck the trend and give the Ducks a true, homegrown product under center.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
The verdict is up in the air whether Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard will be traded during this week’s draft. And according to The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis, if a team wants Greenard, it will take a middle- to high-end 2nd-Round pick to get the deal across the finish line.
A Day 2 pick could force the issue.
The Vikings could also just keep Greenard rather than create an OLB roster need, but that depends on his contractual asking price.
Greenard’s Next Contract Shapes the Entire Discussion
Would you enjoy a 2nd-Rounder for Greenard?
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) celebrates after bringing down the quarterback during a strong second-half defensive stand at U.S. Bank Stadium, energizing the home crowd and teammates alike on Sep 14, 2025, as Minnesota pulled away from the Atlanta Falcons with relentless pressure. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Lewis: Expect a Pick around No. 49 if Greenard Is Traded
Lewis mentioned Greenard’s trade value on his podcast this week, just days before the draft. He said, “If a team were to try to call and get a Jonathan Greenard deal done, at some point, I would expect the pick to come, like, around that 49 range.”
“That would be a range where it would start to make sense to me. Anything worse than that, I’d say worse than, like 60, you start to have a lot of questions about whether the Vikings would even listen to that as an idea.”
And for curious minds, unrelated to Greenard, Lewis expects the Vikings to draft Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in Round 1 on Thursday, a curveball theory that has gained steam in the last 72 hours.
The Trade Partners if That Intel Is Correct
Pretend for a moment that Lewis is onto something, and Minnesota executes a deal in the Pick No. 49 range. That would implicate these likely trade partners:
Kansas City Chiefs (Pick 40)
New Orleans Saints (Pick 42)
Miami Dolphins (Pick 43)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Pick 46)
Indianapolis Colts (Pick 47)
Atlanta Falcons (Pick 48)
Carolina Panthers (Pick 51)
Philadelphia Eagles (Pick 54)
Los Angeles Chargers (Pick 55)
If the goal is to trade Greenard — no one is too sure whether the Vikings actually want to do that — Lewis’s theory aligns with the proper suitors. The Eagles and Colts have been linked to Greenard ad nauseam in the trade rumor mill. The Chiefs, Dolphins, and Panthers really, really need pass-rushing help.
Suppose the mission is to trade to Greenard to a team in this Round 2 range. It shouldn’t be too difficult, considering the teams in the bunch.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) sets his stance before the snap during a high-stakes NFC Wild Card playoff clash against the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium, focusing on timing and leverage as Minnesota’s defense prepared for a critical postseason series. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Daily Norseman‘s Christopher Gates noted on a Greenard trade, “Greenard’s cap number for the coming season, according to Over the Cap, is $22.15 million. If the Vikings did agree to a Draft Weekend deal, they would save $12.25 million against the cap while having to eat a dead money hit of $9.9 million.”
“If they did trade him away, they would almost certainly have to use one of their picks in the first two days on a player to try to replace him, one would think.”
The Draft Pick Options
So, what would the Vikings do with the 49th pick? They’d go shopping. The rookie list at that spot might look like this:
C.J. Allen (LB, Georgia)
Caleb Banks (DL, Florida)
Chris Bell (WR, Louisville)
Germie Bernard (WR, Alabama)
Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina)
Anthony Hill Jr. (LB, Texas)
Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M)
Lee Hunter (DL, Texas Tech)
Gabe Jacas (EDGE, Illinois)
Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)
Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, LSU)
Christen Miller (DL, Georgia)
D’Angelo Ponds (CB, Indiana)
Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame)
Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech)
Eli Stowers (TE, Vanderbilt)
Treydan Stukes (CB, Arizona)
Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson)
R Mason Thomas (EDGE, Oklahoma)
Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)
It’s worth noting that if Minnesota trades Greenard, it may turn around and need an EDGE rusher — like Howell, Jacas, Thomas, or Young.
Greenard’s Soon-to-Be New Deal
Greenard is due for a significant contract — one way or another. The $19 million figure for 2026 is clearly outdated, making it highly improbable he will play under that contract. The market is positioning him for a new deal, likely in the $30-35 million range annually, with the Vikings, Eagles, or another team. The trajectory underscores his perceived value.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) closes in to sack Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) during a dominant defensive sequence in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sep 22, 2024, showcasing speed and technique as Minnesota disrupted Houston’s passing attack. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Should such a deal materialize, the pressure will be on Greenard to justify it, beginning with significantly increased sack production, well beyond his 3-sack total in 2025. Approaching 29 in five weeks, he remains well-positioned for another lucrative contract, even if this next agreement proves to be the final massive one of his career.
Most Vikings fans understandably wish to retain him. Elite pass rushers of Greenard’s caliber are rare. However, a sufficiently compelling trade offer could swiftly alter those sentiments.
The Vikings’ defense ranks third leaguewide in 2025 per EPA/Play and DVOA.
McLaren duo Lando Norris (C) and Oscar Piastri (R) feel F1 would be worse off if Max Verstappen were to walk away from the spot (Andrej ISAKOVIC)
If four-time world champion Max Verstappen were to quit Formula One, as he has hinted on numerous occasions, it would be a "big loss" for the sport, his McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri said on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Dutchman, who won four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024 and narrowly missed a fifth last season, has struggled at the start of this campaign with Red Bull against Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.
Verstappen has repeatedly voiced his frustration at the sport's sweeping 2026 rules overhaul, which places greater emphasis on electric energy management in qualifying and races, as well as limiting car speeds.
"I think it would be a big loss for the sport as a whole. I think for us as drivers we want to race against the best and try and prove ourselves against the best," said Piastri.
The 25-year-old Australian said Verstappen had "shown his calibre in the last 10 years" and added that the Dutchman had been the benchmark "for the last five or six".
Norris, the 2025 world champion, believes Verstappen's exit would leave F1 a poorer place.
"It would be a shame for the sport, it would be a miss for the sport if that does happen, because he probably is one of the best drivers you'll see in Formula One ever," said Norris.
"He's always been very open to say what he thinks, whether you agree or not."
Verstappen has openly criticised his Red Bull car and likened the direction of F1 to "Formula E on steroids" or the video game "Mario Kart".
At last month's Japanese Grand Prix, he spoke of wanting to spend more time with his family and has increasingly turned his attention to endurance racing.
We still don't know if Aaron Rodgers will return in 2026 to be the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback, and the NFL Draft is nearly upon us.
With Mike McCarthy heading into his first draft in the black-and-yellow chair, how the franchise approaches it makes for interesting viewing.
I've seen the offensive line, quarterback, and receiver mentioned as needs for the Steelers, but it isn't clear which way the franchise is leaning.
But ESPN's Peter Schrager thinks he has an idea, and in his latest mock draft, Pittsburgh takes Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling.
"The expectation is Aaron Rodgers will be back," Schrager wrote. "Pittsburgh has to make sure the protection is right with a 42-year-old quarterback, even if Rodgers gets the ball out quickly again. Freeling started for only a season and a half in college, but he's athletic and has a lot of starter-level traits."
As we saw last season, Rodgers doesn't want to be running for his life to avoid the pass rush. At 42 years old, that is only going to end one way...No. 8 getting hunted down.
So it makes sense for the Steelers to fortify his protection, because, despite his age, giving Rodgers a clean pocket is nightmare fuel for a defense.
Yes, receiver could also be a need, but with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. on the roster, that might be seen as a later round sort of pick.
If Rodgers does return, which Schrager thinks is now the expectation, having him protected feels like the smart move here.
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off live from Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23 and the latest crop of rookies will be hearing their names called all weekend long. For the New York Jets, the biggest need is an obvious one: Quarterback.
The Jets brought back Geno Smith for a reunion in the Big Apple, but the 35-year-old Smith is a bridge quarterback at this juncture of his career. Still, he's an upgrade from what the Jets endured last year, despite the fact that he led the league with 17 interceptions last season with the Raiders. The Jets could join a list of multiple teams that could wait on a QB until next year's draft.
Here's everything you need to know about the New York Jets for this year's draft, including a round-by-round look at picks and a potential trade candidate already on the roster.
New York Jets NFL Draft best prospect fit: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
Per USA TODAY's Ayrton Ostly:
New York spent a lot on defense in free agency to lift the floor of the unit as a whole, but still needs productive edge rushers. Bailey is as good as it gets in this class as far as getting to the quarterback goes and would instantly help a turnaround for the Jets' pass rush.
New York Jets NFL Draft trade candidate: RB Breece Hall
Per USA TODAY's Jack McKessy:
The Jets placed the franchise tag on Hall this offseason, but if progress stalls on extension talks, Hall could find his way out of New York. The young running back will be 25 in May and was the subject of trade rumors at last year's deadline. He's made clear his frustrations with the Jets over the years, including a recent cheeky comment that Gang Green was spending a lot of money in free agency as he still waited for his long-term extension.
The Golden State Warriors have put together their teams through a variety of ways over the years, yet few approaches have proven as successful as the NBA draft. More than anything else, the most talented players to represent the Warriors have arrived in Golden State either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades executed on that same night.
The Golden State Warriors have taken many of their top stars through the draft, but have also landed a number of notable players over the years as well. From tiny colleges to blue blood programs, these alumni have contributed significantly to the team's roster over the years. So, we chose to take a closer look at which Dubs came from which schools over the years.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Warriors out of Cal State Long Beach.
Nate Stephens - center
Draft year and position: fifth round (11th pick, 80th overall), 1973 NBA Draft
Seasons at Cal State Long Beach: two
Seasons played with Warriors: did not make the team
Michael Zeno - center
Draft year and position: 10th round (seventh pick, 212th overall), 1983 NBA Draft
Seasons at Cal State Long Beach: two
Seasons played with Warriors: did not make the team
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the "New Jersey Americans".
Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA, with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.
To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise's jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.
And for today's article, we will continue with the seventh of eight people to wear the No. 55 jersey, forward alum Mitch Creek. After starting his pro career abroad, Creek went unselected in the 2014 NBA Draft, playing in other leagues until he signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.
The Horsham, Victoria native played parts of the sole season of his NBA career with Brooklyn, coming to an end when he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019.
During his time suiting up for the Nets, Creek wore only jersey No. 55 and put up 3.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.
To honor all of the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.
With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.
And for today's article, we will continue with the 10th of 16 who wore the No. 12, guard alum Patrick Beverley. After ending his college career at Arkansas, Beverley was picked up with the 42nd overall selection of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Chicago, Illinois native played the first five seasons of his NBA career with the Houston Rockets instead, however, coming to an end when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017.
During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Beverley wore only jersey Nos. 12 and 2 and put up 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
This aerial view taken on January 7, 2026 shows downtown Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
WHITE SOX
DIAMONDBACKS
Chase Meidroth – 2B
Ketel Marte – 2B
Miguel Vargas – 3B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Munetaka Murakami – 1B
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Everson Pereira – DH
Lourdes Gurriel – LF
Edgar Quero – C
Jose Fernandez – DH
Colson Montgomery – SS
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Tanner Murray – LF
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Derek Hill – RF
James McCann – C
Luisangel Acuna – CF
Jorge Barrosa – CF
Anthony Kay – LHP
E. Rodriguez – LHP
Key to the game: avoid having a starting pitcher give up eight earned runs for a third game in a row. As mentioned in the GDT last night, the last – indeed the only – time consecutive 8 ER starts happened for Arizona was back in August 2005. This came during a six-game spell which was the most brutally bad for pitching in franchise history. From August 19-24, the D-backs allowed 68 earned runs over just 52 innings, an 11.77 ERA. That included eighteen home-runs. No other six games outside that have led to more than 58 earned runs. Somehow, the team won one of those: 6-2 in Cincinnati. But the rest? Hoo-boy.
Russ Ortiz was responsible for two of those games. The streak started with a 17-3 loss to the Reds, who enjoyed a six-run third – chasing Ortiz – followed by a ten-run fourth off Brian Bruney and Lance Cormier. After leveling the series, the D-backs dropped the rubber game 13-6, starter Brad Halsey being tagged for seven runs in the fourth inning. The series then moved to New York, beginning with a restrained 4-1 loss to the Mets. But the next night, Claudio Vargas allowed eight earned runs in a 14-1 defeat, though did at least get through five innings. That saved the ‘pen for the 18-4 walloping the next night – Ortiz also gave up eight ER, this time in only four frames.
Naturally, we will be hoping Eduardo Rodrigez breaks the chain which now sees our rotation ERA (4.49) surpass that of the much-maligned bullpen (4.40). By fWAR, the gap is bigger still: Arizona’s starters are ranked 26th, while our relievers are 18th. Right now, Mike Hazen has a rotation problem, it would appear. Kelly in particular is concerning to me. He only came off the injured list eight days ago, but is already just two off the team lead for walks, despite having thrown less than ten innings. Is he still hurt? At 91.8 mph, his fastball velo is only a couple of tenths down on last year. But he’s getting hit hard. At least we won’t have to worry about him pitching in Mexico City.
Apr 20, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (98) battle for the puck in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs during the third period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Edmonton enters Game 2 with a 1–0 series lead after a dramatic 4–3 comeback win in Game 1, capped by a late goal in the final minutes.
The Oilers finished the regular season at 41–30–11, while the Ducks posted a slightly better 43–33–6 record, showing how competitive this matchup is on paper despite Edmonton’s early edge. Anaheim proved in the opener that it can generate offense, scoring three goals in a single period, but consistency remains an issue, especially after allowing multiple late chances in Game 1.
Statistically, Edmonton holds several key advantages that could shape this matchup. The Oilers averaged 3.41 goals per game and boast an elite power play around 30%, compared to Anaheim’s 3.21 goals per game and sub-20% power play, giving them a major edge in special teams. Led by stars like Connor McDavid, who finished the regular season as the league’s top scorer, and Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton’s offensive firepower remains the biggest difference-maker. Meanwhile, Anaheim’s young core, including Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson, has shown flashes of explosiveness but must tighten defensively after allowing four or more goals in multiple recent games.
With momentum and home ice, the Oilers enter as favorites, while the Ducks face pressure to respond and avoid falling into a 2–0 series hole.
This is a great NHL matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
With DIRECTV, you can catch all of the NHL Playoffs without cable on your phone, TV, or tablet. They offer a wide array of sports and entertainment channels, including local sports packages and top national channels such as ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, FS1, MTV, Comedy Central, and more. The best part is you can try it out today for free.
Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Feb 19, 2026; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) poses for media day. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia Phillies are eager to get back their ace, Zack Wheeler. While it could be argued that Wheeler is no longer their ace, he remains a premier pitcher, and the team needs him back. Why? The Phillies enter Thursday night on a seven-game losing streak. According to manager Rob Thompson, Wheeler is "basically at the end of spring training." The hope is that Wheeler can return to fantasy baseball excellence for those who have invested in him.
The unfortunate news comes from the Phillies manager. He states Wheeler lacks his fastball velocity from states old, perhaps expecting us to see a dip from his 96 MPH average to the 93-95 MPH range. Per Thompson, "I'm expecting on a normal day, weather-wise, that he's gonna have his command." Wheeler will make his season debut this upcoming Saturday, April 24, against the Braves in Atlanta.
Fantasy Baseball Impact
Wheeler is absolutely a pitcher that must be owned in fantasy baseball. In his last two seasons, Wheeler fielded a sub-2.80 ERA. While he anticipates a downturn from his normal self, he is still who he is- a former Cy Young contender.
In preseason ADP, Wheeler was drafted in a solid position as the SP42. He remains volatile in Rest-of-Season Rankings, but generally at or above that ADP ranking. The case is unique and perhaps risky, which makes him a player worth asking - what is his ceiling?
Wheeler is expected to be a step below his form over the past few years. We explain the medical details of his procedure below, so be sure to scroll down.
As for Wheeler's ceiling, it probably lies at a low-3.00 ERA, but with a risk of being abysmal over 4.50 ERA. If Wheeler cannot maintain his control and his velocity drops by more than 1-2 MPH, that will be a massive problem. Over the years, we have seen pitchers fall flat post-surgery. The most recent case is that of Sean Manaea with the Mets, who has lost tremendous velocity and entered the team's bullpen.
Zack Wheeler ultimately is a player that is must-own, but can be started or sat on a week-by-week basis. The key will be to see his first 2-3 starts and go from there. Wheeler is widely owned in about 93% of fantasy baseball leagues. If available, grab him. If mulling a trade, do not buy him. If someone comes calling, go ahead and negotiate a sale at the right price, given that you're a top-50 pitcher.
Injury Update
Wheeler has rehabbed back and expects no immediate risk in his return. Rob Thompson is ready for Wheeler's return, and by doing so on the mound, not in the bullpen, it signals confidence in Wheeler.
The surgery done on Wheeler was a thoracic outlet decompression surgery. In layman's terms, Wheeler had more space created between his collarbone and ribs. The goal is to make Wheeler's arm range easier and less tight. Basically, Wheeler will get more blood flow and thus, get better at baseball (ideally).
The injury can flare up again, but much remains unknown on the reporting end. Wheeler makes his return this Saturday, and all eyes will be on his arm and how he shall look visually, rather than on statistics.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing is under fire from MLB over a play during Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Jung Hoo Lee was sprinting home, hoping to score a run against the Dodgers in a game that was tightly contested.
Rushing, who was the starting catcher against the National League West rival, caught the relay throw and placed a tag on Lee, who ended up a bit shaken up due to the tag.
The catcher ended up looking back and muttering some words, which some MLB fans on social media thought were the words “F*** em.”
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Dalton Rushing (68) rounds the bases on a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
As a result, baseball fans attacked Rushing for his apparent dismissal of a potentially injured player. The video went viral, marking the second such event for Rushing over the past week.
However, Rushing, before Wednesday’s game against the Giants, quelled the uproar by denying that he said what fans think that he said.
Rushing denied saying “what was said” in the media, and stated that he checked on Lee via Hyeseong Kim.
“Hopefully he didn’t take it the way it was put out,” Rushing said. “I’ll be sure to say something to him face-to-face tomorrow, making sure he’s OK. There was nothing really directed at him. He’s a great guy.
“I used a word, but it was not what [people thought] was said. I’ll just leave it at that.”
As a young player and one of the faces of the Dodgers’ early success, Rushing is bound to be a target for fans of teams who are actively rooting for LA to fail.
This time tomorrow, the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will be underway. That means all the outlets are releasing their final mock drafts. USA Today Wire sites were among them. One of the more notable being The Athletic's network mock draft.
Network mock drafts would seem to be more useful because it isn't just one person's opinion. It puts in charge of each pick someone who is presumably more in tune with the needs, wants, and tendencies of the team they cover exclusively.
Since the Raiders top pick has been settled and unchanged throughout the offseason -- surprise! it's Fernando Mendoza -- the question then becomes who they will take with their pick at 36 overall in the second round. And part of the answer to that lies in who is still on the board.
For that reason these mock drafts can still be interesting as it doesn't just predict who will get selected, but who will NOT be selected and thus be on available on day two.
Once all of their picks were made, there were a few prospects who were not selected, but who, by many evaluator's judgment are worthy of being selected in the top 32.
Using Arif Hassan's Consensus Big Board, there were five players who were ranked in the top 32 who were still available for Day two. And, oddly, the top four were all Clemson players.
The next five are fringe first round picks, some of which I've seen going in the first round in some mock draft. Others being hot picks atop the second round.
34. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego St35. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia37. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida39. Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri40. D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
The New England Patriots will be on the clock Thursday night, holding the 31st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they might not wait around for long.
NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Insider Phil Perry published a mock draft on Wednesday, which had New England trading the 31st pick to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 34 pick (second round) and a 2027 third-round pick.
At the 34th pick, Perry has the Patriots selecting Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers.
"Stowers has a fascinating story as a former Texas A&M quarterback who suffered enough in the way of shoulder injuries that he had to shift positions. He then turned himself into a player who is widely considered the second-best tight end in this class," Perry wrote. There are clear deficiencies to his game, but that's the nature of this year's draft and the types of prospects available in the 30s. Stowers is a tight end in name only, essentially. He's not an unwilling blocker, but -- at the moment -- he struggles in that area despite his 6-foot-3, 242-pound frame.
"He's not creating much for you in the running game whatsoever. What he is, though, is a matchup weapon the Patriots don't have at the moment. His quarterback background and football IQ shows up as a route-runner, and his athleticism (4.51-second 40, 45.5-inch vertical, 11-foot-3 broad) is readily apparent on tape."
Stowers played five seasons of college football, starting his career at Texas A&M before moving on to New Mexico State for one season. He completed his last two years at Vanderbilt, where he continued to develop his skills on the field.
In 45 games, Stowers recorded 1,773 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, making him a valuable red zone target for Drake Maye.
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off live from Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23 and the latest crop of rookies will be hearing their names called all weekend long. For the Philadelphia Eagles, the biggest need is an obvious one: Edge rusher.
The Eagles lost Jaelan Phillips to the Panthers in free agency after he quickly became the team's best edge rusher. Nolan Smith Jr., Jalyx Hunt and Arnold Ebiketie are currently Philly's top edge players. The Eagles currently have eight picks in this year's draft, including four in the top 100, and edge rusher is one of the draft's deepest position groups.
Here's everything you need to know about the Philadelphia Eagles for this year's draft, including a round-by-round look at picks and a potential trade candidate already on the roster.
Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft best prospect fit: WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Per USA TODAY's Ayrton Ostly:
Trade rumors around A.J. Brown likely won't die down leading up to the NFL Draft or even into the regular season. Bell will fall in the draft due to his late-season ACL injury, but at 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds, he offers dynamic after-catch abilities in addition to physicality against defenders. That's not too unlike Brown and Bell could make for an eventual successor.
Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft trade candidate: WR A.J. Brown
Per USA TODAY's Jack McKessy:
Could lightning strike twice? Brown was involved in a draft-night trade in 2022 and is once again among the likely candidates to be on the move on draft night here in 2026. The Eagles' star receiver is coming off a 2025 season that featured both his worst production in Philadelphia and his most outspoken grievances with his team. As a result, he's been one of the biggest subjects of trade rumors this offseason. Perhaps the Eagles will take the draft as an opportunity to move Brown for more picks. They will just have to hope whoever replaces him fares better than former Titans first-rounder Treylon Burks.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 04: Ric Flair attends the 2023 Music City Walk of Fame Induction ceremony at Music City Walk of Fame on October 04, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
Getty Images
HIGHLIGHTS
A WWE Hall of Famer just publicly endorsed the head of AEW as a future owner of WWE.
The AEW boss already made a multi-billion-dollar bid for WWE once before.
The Khan family's net worth could fund the deal without breaking a sweat.
Ric Flair was a guest on the Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday and he had a lot to say. Flair dropped a bold take about the future of WWE and AEW's head man ultimately purchasing the promotion. According to Flair, "I wouldn't be surprised, because he has the money to do it, if he doesn't buy WWE one day."
What Did Flair Say About Tony Khan?
Flair didn't just acknowledge Khan's wealth. He had a lot to say about Khan's character. Flair doesn't appear to be thrilled with WWE at the moment and he'll seemingly take any opportunity to shortchange the world's No. 1 wrestling promotion.
He called Tony Khan "one of the greatest people I've ever met in my life" and praised the AEW president for paying talent well and giving opportunities to wrestlers WWE wouldn't sign. Flair also referenced the "$9 billion price on the WWE" as "nothing to Shad Khan," whose estimated net worth sits around $14.9 billion.
Could Tony Khan Actually Buy WWE?
Perhaps. There's always estimated worth floating around about celebrities and wealthy people, but that's not the entire story when it comes to viability for this kind of takeover. WWE is now part of TKO Group Holdings, a publicly traded company, which means any sale would require board approval and shareholder action — not a single conversation between Khan and a willing seller.
Khan did make a real run at WWE in 2023 with a multi-billion-dollar bid before the company landed with Endeavor. He has since said the offer was "reasonable at that price." If TKO ever decided to spin WWE off again, Khan would almost certainly be in the conversation.
Why Is Flair Praising Khan So Heavily Right Now?
Khan and AEW have treated Flair well, so his praise only makes sense. I'd probably do the same thing if I were in his position. AEW signed Flair in September 2025 and has used him sparingly but respectfully, while Flair's relationship with WWE has gone in the opposite direction.
Earlier this month, Flair revealed WWE blocked his Roots of Fight apparel deal, which led to an all-caps social media response accusing the company of trying to "destroy" and "kill" his legacy. He also said WWE banned him from WrestleMania 42 after he allegedly threatened to beat up Ludwig Kaiser during Tiffany Stratton’s feud with Charlotte Flair.
What's Next for Flair, AEW, and WWE?
While many WWE fans likely wish the promotion and Flair could reconcile, it doesn't appear to be in the works any time soon. That's a shame as it would be great to see all wrestling promotions give the Nature Boy his due. Flair will continue with AEW, where Khan has built a roster of wrestlers WWE either let go or never signed.
WWE, meanwhile, just wrapped a record-setting WrestleMania 42 weekend featuring Brock Lesnar’s retirement match and Paige's surprise return. The company has bigger priorities than reconciling with Flair, and Tony Khan buying it remains exactly what Flair called it — speculation, not news.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
“I think he’s got about one or two more years left in his body,” said Payton of James. “I don’t think he wants to move anywhere. People talking about where he’s going to end up. That’s not what LeBron is about right now. I think it’s about comfortability, about how his daughter — which is the only one still left in the house — and how his wife wants to be. I don’t think they want to be in the cold. I think they think they’re very comfortable in Los Angeles and that’s where they’re going to be. I think he’s going to stay here and try to work something out with the Lakers.” — 4/22/2026 R.Org Sports
The Marc Montoya protégé faces perhaps his most difficult test to
date and tries to move one step closer to contention in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight division when he
toes the line against Aljamain
Sterling in the
UFC Fight Night 274 main event on Saturday at the UFC Apex in
Las Vegas. Zalal, 29, steps into the spotlight on the strength of a
career-best eight-fight winning streak that now spans more than
1,200 days. He last saw action at UFC 320, where he put away
Team Alpha Male’s Josh Emmett
with an armbar a mere 98 seconds into their Oct. 4 encounter. It
was Zalal’s fastest finish as a pro and propelled him into the Top
10 rankings at 145 pounds.
A 13-fight lineup at UFC Fight Night 274 features several fighters
on the rise, with Zalal at the front of the line. Four others to
monitor:
Violent predispositions have made Edwards impossible to ignore. The
Panamanian hunts her latest potential victim when she zeroes in on
Norma
Dumont in a three-round women’s bantamweight co-main event that
provides a platform for two would-be contenders at 135 pounds.
After a rather non-descript start to her UFC tenure, Edwards has
hit the accelerator and pieced together a run of four straight
victories. All four have resulted in finishes, highlighted by
first-round knockouts of Chelsea
Chandler and Priscila
Cachoeira. Edwards, 30, last suited up on Feb. 21, when she
dispatched Nora
Cornolle with a rear-naked choke midway through the second
round of their UFC Fight Night 267 pairing. The
Kings MMA rep held titles in the King of
the Cage and Panama Fight League promotions prior to her arrive
in the UFC.
Montague may carry the late-bloomer tag, but she certainly appears
ready, willing and able to make up for lost time. The undefeated
American Top Team-trained Kiwi draws her second assignment
inside the Octagon when she takes on Mayra
Bueno Silva in a three-round women’s bantamweight prelim.
Montague, 32, moves back into view with a perfect 7-0 record in
tow. The
Professional Fighters League alum last strapped on the gloves
at UFC Fight Night 260, where she outpointed Luana
Carolina to a unanimous decision across three rounds on Sept.
27. Montague, the first woman from New Zealand to compete in the
UFC, did not start her formal training until she was 20 years
old.
Martinetti was a relative unknown until he appeared on
Dana White’s Contender Series and emerged as the last man
standing in a remarkable 15-minute firefight with Mark
Vologdin on Oct. 7. The 30-year-old Entram
Gym product makes his anticipated promotional debut opposite
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 18 finalist Davey Grant
in a three-round bantamweight attraction. Martinetti, a star on the
regional circuit in his native Mexico, enters the Octagon armed
with an impressive 17-1 record and the wind of a 15-fight winning
streak at his back. The ex-Ultimate Warrior Challenge champion has
secured more than half (10) of his 17 career victories by knockout,
technical knockout or submission.
Though he has yet to fully take off in the 125-pound weight class,
Filho continues to show signs of development. The
Nova Uniao rep seeks his second win in as many outings when he
locks horns with Cody
Durden—a late-notice replacement for Lucas
Rocha—in a three-round flyweight battle on the undercard.
Filho, 32, last competed on Oct. 11, when he dismissed Clayton
Carpenter with a kimura in the first round of their UFC Fight
Night 261 confrontation. The former Shooto
Brazil champion now boasts 16 finishes among his 17
professional victories, nine of the first-round variety. Filho
punched his ticket to the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series in
2022.
Even though the Chicago Bears selected Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, it was unknown what the rookie would do in Year 1.
A shoulder injury kept him out of the offseason program, and he had a slow start to his rookie season. But then the 6-foot-6, 241-pound playmaker found his rhythm in head coach Ben Johnson's offense and emerged as a legitimate target in the passing game.
After catching 11 passes for 116 yards through his first six games played, Loveland exploded against the Cincinnati Bengals for six receptions, 118 yards and touchdowns, including a 58-yard game-deciding score to help the Bears win 47-42 on the road.
That performance put the young tight end on the map, and he went on to lead the Bears with 713 receiving yards on 58 receptions. Opposing defenses will have to circle where No. 84 is lined up, and Loveland is ready for that challenge.
“I wouldn't want it any other way, obviously," Loveland said. "It means I'm doing something right. I have to continue to do that. But like I said, we’ve got weapons, so whether you want to focus in on one dude or not, there are weapons all over.”
With DJ Moore no longer a part of the Bears' roster, that means Loveland, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Kalif Raymond will have to step up for quarterback Caleb Williams. Depending on the game and the situation, will determine who becomes the primary target.
"So the best thing to do is to always be ready," Loveland said. "Always be ready to take a (share of the work) load if you need to and do what you're told and do what you're asked.”
Going into Year 2, Loveland has a better understanding of Johnson's offense and what is role will be for the 2026 season. Although he achieved individual success, the Bears' tight end has raised the expectations for himself.
"Having a pretty good year last year and it being not a rookie anymore, you can't make the little mistakes, you can't slack at all," Loveland said. "A new standard is set. Just have to burst through that and just keep growing it. But I feel really good and obviously got a great group, great group of guys around me, great coaches, great staff to put us in the best position. So, just have to go out there and work.”
Loveland didn't share any statistical goals he wanted to reach in Year 2, but he's a believer that with team success comes individual success. Winning is everything to the Bears' tight end, and if he raises his game to another level, he can become a huge reason the team achieves more success in 2026.
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off live from Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23 and the latest crop of rookies will be hearing their names called all weekend long. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the biggest need is an obvious one: Quarterback.
All signs indicate 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers will return to Pittsburgh for his 22nd NFL season. The Steelers haven't had a long-term solution at QB since Ben Roethlisberger. However, Pittsburgh might not fill its quarterback need until next year's draft. Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are in line to back up Rodgers again.
Here's everything you need to know about the Pittsburgh Steelers for this year's draft, including a round-by-round look at picks and a potential trade candidate already on the roster.
Ponds is undersized but tested as one of the most athletic cornerbacks at the NFL combine. At 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, he could be a force in the slot for the Steelers' defense. Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean look set on the outside. Ponds could thrive at the nickel alongside those two in an improved secondary.
Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Draft trade candidate: LB Patrick Queen
Per USA TODAY's Jack McKessy:
Queen's 2025 follow-up to a 2024 Pro Bowl season was disappointing. The veteran linebacker set a career high in missed tackles while seeing his performance in pass coverage decline as well. As Queen enters his walk year in 2026, Pittsburgh could seek out a team looking to improve its linebacker corps and give the veteran a change of scenery before hitting free agency. The Steelers could use the extra draft capital to keep improving their offense after a shaky 2025 season.
As the Golden State Warriors look to get back into playoff contention next season, they'll be looking for impact players at the NBA Draft in June.
In a recent mock draft by NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor, the Warriors landed Flory Bidunga (Kansas) in the second round with the No. 54 overall selection.
Bidunga played two years for the Jayhawks, winning the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Award last season.
In 35 games for Kansas last year, the 6'9" Congolese forward posted 13.3 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 assists. He also led the conference in blocks (2.6) and field goal percentage (64%).
For these reasons, Bidunga would be a high-upside selection that would fit right in on the defensive end.
However, there's a high chance Bidunga returns to school, having committed to Lousiville as a transfer.
NORMAN — Texas A&M transfer Pop Isaacs committed to Oklahoma, per multiple reports on Wednesday.
Isaacs is a 6-foot-2 sharpshooting guard who has scored nearly 1,300 career points and averaged 9.8 points while shooting almost 40% from 3 this past season.
The Las Vegas native posted roughly 16 points per game over the previous two seasons at Creighton and Texas Tech. Isaacs started the first eight games of the 2024-25 season with the Bluejays before suffering a season-ending injury.
He only averaged 22 minutes per game with the Aggies, but averaged 15.8 points in his second season with the Red Raiders.
Isaacs will slot immediately into OU's starting backcourt next season. Isaacs is the third transfer portal addition for the Sooners, joining former Utah Valley guard Tyler Hendricks and former Louisville forward Khani Rooths.
He's a familiar name as OU has faced him when he was with Texas Tech and Texas A&M.
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 16: A detail view of a New England Patriots helmet during the third quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming off a Super Bowl berth, the New England Patriots have a clear plan in mind for the 2026 offseason: it’s about remodeling, not rebuilding, as head coach Mike Vrabel said after the season.
The NFL Draft naturally is a major part of this process. Until the event in late April, the Patriots — led by Vrabel and EVP of player personnel Eliot Wolf — will be conducting interviews, working out prospects, inviting them for a finite number of pre-draft visits, and in general try to get as complete a picture as possible. It remains to be seen what this process eventually leads to, but there will be plenty of news to report.
In order to find out who the Patriots have already spoken to or worked out thus far, please make sure to bookmark this regularly-updated pre-draft tracker. We will have all contact listed to the best of our knowledge.
(Note: Please scroll down for a meeting-by-meeting breakdown)
Quarterback
Jalon Daniels (Kansas): 30 visit
Joe Fagnano (UConn): Local visit
Athan Kaliakmanis (Rutgers): Private meeting
Haynes King (Georgia Tech): Pro Day
Behren Morton (Texas Tech): 30 visit
Brady Olson (Central Connecticut State): Local Pro Day
Cole Payton (North Dakota State): Pro Day
Sawyer Robertson (Baylor): Virtual meeting
Running back
Kaelon Black (Indiana): 30 visit
Greg Desrosiers (Memphis): Local Pro Day
Cash Jones (Georgia): Pro Day
Jordan McDonald (Boston College): Local Pro Day
Kejon Owens (Florida International): Senior Bowl
Adam Randall (Clemson): 30 visit
Jordon Vaughn (Abilene Christian): College Gridiron Showcase
Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas): Combine + Pro Day
Wide receiver
Cyrus Allen (Cincinnati): 30 visit
Lewis Bond (Boston College): Senior Bowl + Local visit
J. Michael Sturdivant (Florida): East-West Shrine Bowl
Max Tomczak (Youngstown State): American Bowl
Tight end
Nate Boerkircher (Texas A&M): Combine
Jed Castles (Abilene Christian): Pro Day
Oscar Delp (Georgia): 30 visit
Enyi Falayi (Wake Forest): Local Pro Day
Ademola Faleye (Washington State): Local Pro Day
Jeremiah Franklin (Boston College): Local Pro Day
John Michael Gyllenborg (Wyoming): Senior Bowl
Louis Hansen (UConn): Local Pro Day
Eli Raridon (Notre Dame): Shrine Bowl + Senior Bowl
D.J. Rogers (TCU): Senior Bowl
Dan Villari (Syracuse): Hula Bowl + Senior Bowl
Offensive tackle
Chris Adams (Memphis): Pro Day
Markel Bell (Miami): Virtual meeting
Jude Bowry (Boston College): Pro Day + Local visit
Travis Burke (Memphis): Pro Day + 30 visit
Kevin Cline (Boston College): Local Pro Day
Max Iheanachor (Arizona State): Combine + 30 visit
Kamar Missouri (UTSA): College Gridiron Showcase
Ryan Mosesso (UMass): Pro Day + Local Pro Day
Jake Pope (Illinois State): Pro Day
Jayden Williams (Mississippi): Pro Day
Interior offensive line
Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M): 30 visit
Kage Casey (Boise State): Senior Bowl
Greg Crippen (Michigan): Pro Day + Local Pro Day
Desmond Daniels (Alabama State): FCS Showcase
Nick Dawkins (Penn State): American Bowl
Jalen Farmer (Kentucky): Combine
Ashton Grable (Florida A&M): HBCU Legacy Bowl
Delby Lemieux (Dartmouth): Senior Bowl + Local Pro Day
Peter Nygra (Louisville): East-West Shrine Bowl
Brian Parker II (Duke): East-West Shrine Bowl
Walker Parks (Clemson): Pro Day
Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon): 30 visit
Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech): Senior Bowl
Logan Taylor (Boston College): Pro Day + Local Pro Day
Connor Tollison (Missouri): American Bowl
Jeremiah Wright (Auburn): Pro Day + 30 visit
Interior defensive line
Nick Barrett (South Carolina): Combine
Rayshaun Benny (Michigan): Senior Bowl
Gracen Halton (Oklahoma): Pro Day
Kody Huisman (Virginia Tech): American Bowl
Kevin Jobity Jr. (Syracuse): Pro Day
Rene Konga (Louisville): Virtual meeting
Sedarius McConnell (Boston College): Local Pro Day
Kayden McDonald (Ohio State): 30 visit
Noah Miles (Howard): HBCU Legacy Bow
Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M): Combine + Pro Day
Michael Otty (Bryant): Local Pro Day
Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana): Combine
Landon Robinson (Navy): East-West Shrine Bowl + Pro Day
Jernias Tafia (Colorado State): Pro Day
Defensive edge
Noah Barrett (St. Olaf): Pro Day
Keyron Crawford (Auburn): Combine + 30 visit
Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State): Senior Bowl
George Gumbs Jr. (Florida): 30 visit
T.J. Guy (Michigan): Local Pro Day
Dayon Hayes (Texas A&M): American Bowl
Michael Heldman (Central Michigan): Hula Bowl
Romello Height (Texas A&M): 30 visit
Cashius Howell (Texas A&M): Combine
Quintayvious Hutchins (Boston College): Combine + Local Pro Day
Gabe Jacas (Illinois): 30 visit
Malachi Lawrence (UCF): 30 visit
Michael Lunz II (South Carolina State): HBCU Legacy Bowl
Akheem Mesidor (Miami): Combine
T.J. Parker (Clemson): Senior Bowl
Kaghen Roach (Abilene Christian): Pro Day
Tyreak Sapp (Florida): Pro Day
Bryan Thomas (South Carolina): Pro Day
R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma): 30 visit
Dion Wilson Jr. (Syracuse): Pro Day
Chris Wright (Abilene Christian): Pro Day
Zion Young (Missouri): Combine + 30 visit
Linebacker
Shad Banks Jr. (UTSA): Hula Bowl
Ernest Hausmann (Michigan): Pro Day
Khalil Jacobs (Missouri): Pro Day + Virtual meeting + 30 visit
Namdi Obiazor (TCU): Virtual meeting
Bryun Parham (UConn): Local Pro Day
Jimmy Rolder (Michigan): Pro Day
Steven Ward (Pittsburgh State): Pro Day
Wade Woodaz (Clemson): Pro Day
Javin Wright (Nebraska): American Bowl
Cornerback
Keith Abney (Arizona State): Virtual meeting
Caleb Anderson (Michigan): College Gridiron Showcase
Elias Archie (Brown): Local Pro Day
Shahid Barros (Iowa): Local Pro Day
Rashad Battle (Pittsburgh): American Bowl
Nasir Bowers (Toledo): Pro Day
Jadon Canady (Oregon): East-West Shrine Bowl
Elijah Culp (James Madison): American Bowl
Michael Dansby (Arizona): American Bowl
Andre Fuller (Toledo): East-West Shrine Bowl + Pro Day
Malcolm Greene (UMass): Local Pro Day
Al’Zillion Hamilton (Fresno State): American Bowl
Devon Marshall (N.C. State): Virtual meeting + Local Pro Day
Karon Prunty (Wake Forest): Pro Day + 30 visit
Jaden Rios (Texas State): Hula Bowl
Keionte Scott (Miami): Combine
Avery Smith (Toledo): Combine + Pro Day
Safety
Bud Clark (TCU): Virtual meeting
Dathan Hickey (Youngstown State): College Gridiron Showcase
Jalen Huskey (Maryland): Private meeting
Cam Smith (Marshall): Hula Bowl
Gavin Gibson (North Carolina): Hula Bowl
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo): 30 visit
Kamari Ramsey (USC): Combine
Robert Spears-Jennings (Oklahoma): Pro Day
Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame): Senior Bowl
Zakee Wheatley (Penn State): 30 visit
Sean Williams (Dartmouth): Pro Day
Malik Spencer (Michigan State): 30 visit
Specialists
Garrison Grimes (LS | BYU): East-West Shrine Bowl
Ben Mann (LS | Boston College): Local Pro Day
Laith Merjan (K | Kansas): Hula Bowl
Whereas the list above gives an overview over the prospects the Patriots have been in contact with before the draft, the following overview is a breakdown by meeting opportunity plus the source of each report.
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off live from Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23 and the latest crop of rookies will be hearing their names called all weekend long. For the Houston Texans, the biggest need is an obvious one: Interior offensive line.
Solidifying the trenches must continue to be a priority for the Texans. Houston has guards Ed Ingram and Wyatt Teller along with Jake Andrews in the interior, but they need more depth at the position after they ranked in the bottom three in both pass block win rate and run block win rate, via ESPN. Additionally, the Texans could continue to bolster their defensive tackle position to complement their outstanding edge rush duo in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
Here's everything you need to know about the Houston Texans for this year's draft, including a round-by-round look at picks and a potential trade candidate already on the roster.
Houston needs a big body in the middle of the defensive line to free up Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to wreak havoc on opposing offensive linemen. Banks brings size with impressive explosiveness for a player measuring in at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds. A foot injury at the combine could cause him to fall and the Texans may be able to sweep him up late in Round 1.
Houston Texans NFL Draft trade candidate: QB Davis Mills
Per USA TODAY's Jack McKessy:
The Texans should not touch their defense given the dominance the unit has displayed in recent years. Texans GM Nick Caserio has made it clear that he and the team have no intentions of trading quarterback C.J. Stroud this offseason, but what about Mills? Houston's backup quarterback has a solid resume: two years of starting experience, plus a 3-0 record filling in for Stroud in 2025. The Texans likely wouldn't recoup overly valuable draft picks in return for Mills, but there would be a few teams interested in trading for a more competent backup quarterback. Houston could go on to draft a quarterback this year to replace Mills, simultaneously preparing a contingency plan for a post-Stroud era in future years. The Texans' starter has regressed since his strong rookie season, and his playoff meltdowns are still fresh. If the Texans aren't convinced he'll bounce back, they should start planning ahead. Trading Mills gives them some of the leeway needed to do so.
SEATTLE (AP) — Josh Naylor hit a game-ending single, Cal Raleigh homered for the third time in as many games and the Seattle Mariners beat the Athletics 5-4 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.
The Athletics' seven-game road winning streak was snapped, while the Mariners won for just the third time in nine games.
With two outs in the ninth, Naylor lined a first-pitch cutter from Joel Kuhnel (0-1) the opposite way into left field to score Raleigh from second. Naylor finished 3 for 5 to raise his batting average to .194.
Raleigh, also off to a slow start, hit a solo shot to right in the third for his fifth homer. He also went 3 for 5 — his first three-hit game this season — and is batting .198.
Nick Kurtz tied it in the top of the ninth when he sent a hanging slider from Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz (3-2) 438 feet to center for his fourth homer.
Julio Rodríguez had a pair of singles to extend his on-base streak to 19 games. His RBI groundout in the seventh put the Mariners ahead 4-3.
Athletics starter Aaron Civale gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Tyler Soderstrom, Jeff McNeil and Jacob Wilson drove in runs for the Athletics.
Up next
Mariners RHP George Kirby (3-2, 2.97 ERA) will oppose Cardinals RHP Andre Pallante (2-1, 4.05) on Friday at St. Louis. Athletics RHP Luis Severino (0-2, 6.20) will take the mound on Friday against the visiting Texas Rangers.
A look at football players to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference coming out of spring practices and heading into preseason camp:
Boston College
Running back Evan Dickens could boost the ground game for the Eagles as they come off a 2-10 season. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound back ran for 1,339 yards and 16 touchdowns last season at Liberty and set a tone with a 40-yard TD run in the team's third spring practice in March.
California
Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele will garner national attention in returning from a strong freshman season with the Golden Bears. He committed in December to staying on to play under new coach Tosh Lupoi, coming after he threw for 3,117 yards and 17 TDs while being named the ACC rookie of the week four times.
Clemson
The plan has been for redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina to take over the offense after the departure of Cade Klubnik. Vizzina has appeared in 14 games through three seasons, and he had a big output in his lone college start against SMU (29 of 42 passing, 317 yards, three TDs) last year. He's set to helm an offense being directed by Chad Morris in his second stint as the Tigers' offensive coordinator.
Duke
Duke added graduate transfer Nick Del Grande from Coastal Carolina to help bolster its offensive line. The Blue Devils lost starting tackles Brian Parker II and Bruno Fina from last year's ACC title run, so there's an opportunity for the 6-4, 302-pound Del Grande with 35 career starts to jump right in up front.
Florida State
The Seminoles announced Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels as the starting quarterback on Tuesday after the completion of spring drills. Coach Mike Norvell had praised Daniels' leadership and deep-ball passing touch.
Georgia Tech
Quarterback Alberto Mendoza spent the spring seemingly positioning himself to take over for departed multi-year starter Haynes King. The Indiana transfer and younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was the offensive captain for the team's recent spring game, with coach Brent Key saying over the weekend: “Alberto is the guy.”
Louisville
The Cardinals brought in QB Lincoln Kienholz after three seasons at Ohio State, where he backed up Julian Sayin last year for a team that reached the College Football Playoff. Kienholz has thrown 36 career passes and could lead an offense that returns Isaac Brown as a career 2,000-yard rusher.
Miami
Darian Mensah has moved on from Duke to be the QB for a Miami team that made the College Football Playoff and pushed all the way to the championship game. Mensah finished second last year in the Bowl Subdivision ranks in both passing yardage (3,973) and touchdown throws (34). He had three TD throws during scrimmage work at last weekend's spring game.
N.C. State
Linebacker Harvey Dyson offers transfer help for a unit that ranked 12th in the ACC in scoring defense (27.2) and 14th in total defense (411.9). Dyson started his career at Texas Tech before playing last year at Tulane, starting all 14 games for a CFP team. He finished as the team leader there with 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
North Carolina
Tight end Jordan Washington arrives as a transfer from Texas as the Tar Heels adapt to new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino's scheme. The 6-foot-4, 264-pound redshirt sophomore had seven catches for 109 yards and a score last year. Petrino described Washington as a “take charge, no-nonsense type of guy — and then has shown up on video playing that way."
Pittsburgh
Receiver Bryce Yates had 11 catches for 202 yards while playing 11 games as a true freshman. Notably, that included a 60-yard touchdown against Duquesne and a 68-yard catch against West Virginia, showing his big-play potential. Yates told reporters earlier this month he had gained a better understanding of coverages and his receiver routes.
SMU
Running back Dramekco Green is poised to take a key role in the backfield after the departure of TJ. Harden, who ran for a team-high 812 yards. The redshirt freshman is a hard-running back with a strong frame (6-foot, 203 pounds), running for 90 yards in five games last year.
Stanford
Tight end Benji Blackburn could have a bigger role under new coach Tavita Pritchard. That comes with Sam Roush headed to the NFL after tallying 89 catches with four TD grabs the past two seasons. The 6-6, 260-pound Blackburn made five starts last year, finishing with nine catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Syracuse
Quarterback Steve Angeli helped Syracuse start 3-1 last year, including a win at Clemson, before going down to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. His recovery ahead of preseason camp and next season will prove critical, though he said he “could go right now if I wanted to” when speaking to reporters during spring drills. "When it's time to play real ball and everything matters, our first game, I'll be good to go,” Angeli said.
Virginia
Receiver Rico Flores Jr. has gone from Notre Dame to UCLA and now Virginia, which is coming off an 11-win season. Offensive coordinator Des Kitchings said the 6-2, 205-pound graduate student has worked to “build a rapport” on deep throws with QBs but is also willing to block in the run game — saying Flores is ”sold out" to do whatever it takes to win.
Virginia Tech
Duke transfer receiver Que'Sean Brown is positioned to bolster the Hokies' receiving corps. The redshirt junior had 64 catches for 846 yards and five touchdowns for last year's ACC champs, starting 12 games. He had a 14-yard touchdown grab in the Hokies' spring game last weekend.
Wake Forest
Defensive back Davaughn Patterson could be a key piece of a defense that might have to lead the way for Jake Dickert's second season with the Demon Deacons. He's been a two-year starter with 154 tackles the past two seasons, showing the ability to help in coverage or close to the line of scrimmage.
The Oregon Ducks landed their biggest commit of the 2027 cycle thus far on Wednesday afternoon, getting a verbal commitment from 5-star quarterback Will Mencl, the No. 1-ranked passer and No. 13-ranked overall player in the 2027 class, according to On3.
With the addition of Mencl, the Ducks jumped into the top five of the 2027 recruiting rankings, continuing a streak of big-time commitments over the past couple of weeks.
While the Ducks have been an elite recruiting team over the last several years under Dan Lanning, Mencl is the first major quarterback that Oregon has landed during that time. While the Ducks have enjoyed the success of players like Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, they came to Eugene through the transfer portal. Even Dante Moore, who was once committed to Oregon out of high school, started his career with the UCLA Bruins before transferring to Oregon.
So, where does Mencl rank among the top QB commits in program history? That's a bit tricky to decipher, since we are looking at rankings from both 247Sports and On3, which differ a bit in how highly he is rated. According to On3, Mencl is the No. 1 passer in the class, and No. 13 player overall, but 247Sports is a bit lower on him, ranking him as the No. 6 passer and No. 76 player overall.
Here's a look at some of the top-ranked QBs in Oregon history, according to 247Sports:
Dante Moore (5-star, 0.9977) — No. 3 QB
Bo Nix (5-star, 0.9856) — No. 1 Dual Threat QB
Ty Thompson (4-star, 0.9809) — No. 7 QB
Kellen Clemens (4-star, 0.9769) — No. 5 QB
Dennis Dixon (4-star, 0.9757) — No. 2 Dual Threat QB
Of course, there is reason to believe that 247Sports may bump up their rankings to match On3's in the coming months once they get more of a scout on Mencl, but for now, it's clear that even if he doesn't rise in 247Sports' ratings, he is among the top passers that Oregon has landed, particularly in the Dan Lanning era.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Since taking over the Oregon Ducks in 2022, Dan Lanning's routine has been to recruit quality talent at the quarterback position but to give way to elite transfer portal passers to lead the offense. That could continue, but the Ducks' latest commitment might buck the trend.
Five-star quarterback Will Mencl announced his commitment to the Ducks live on the Rivals YouTube channel on Wednesday. He picked the Ducks over Auburn and Penn State. Mencl is the top-ranked quarterback in the country and the No. 13 overall recruit in the 2027 cycle, per Rivals.
Oregon has been all over the signal caller from Chandler, Arizona, on the recruiting trail after extending an offer in the fall. Auburn made a late push, but a recent visit to Eugene sealed the deal for Mencl and the Ducks. He is now the highest-ranked recruit in Oregon's class, and the highest-rated quarterback commit for the Ducks since Ty Thompson in 2021.
Mencl is a prolific dual-threat quarterback, completing more than 70% of his passes for 3,815 yards and 33 touchdowns against five interceptions in his junior season, leading Chandler to a state title berth. He also rushed for 741 yards and an additional 17 touchdowns.
Although the Ducks already have Dylan Raiola and former four-star Akili Smith Jr. preparing to replace Dante Moore in 2027, there can never be too much talent in the quarterback room, and Mencl could push both of them right away.
The 6-foot-3 passer provided a much-needed boost to Oregon's recruiting class, which now ranks among the best in the nation, per Rivals. The Ducks have recruited Arizona well under Lanning, and are still in contention for a couple more recruits in the desert.
Securing Mencl's commitment before the summer begins is a huge advantage, but the Ducks will have to find a way to hold on to the talented quarterback moving into the fall for his senior season at Chandler. Mencl has been a rising prospect, and one the Ducks can't afford to lose in this class. The Ducks have already had three players shut down their recruitments this spring, and the next step for Oregon is to have Mencl do the same.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Don't look now, but Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks are starting to dominate on the recruiting trail once again.
Over the past several weeks, Oregon has added a handful of blue-chip players to the 2027 class, and on Wednesday afternoon, they picked up their biggest win yet, adding 5-star quarterback Will Mencl, the No. 1-ranked QB in the cycle, per On3.
Mencl stands at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, and plays high school football in Chandler, Arizona. He chose the Ducks over the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Auburn Tigers. He now comes to Oregon as one of the highest-rated quarterbacks in program history, coming out of high school.
While it was a bit of a slow burn to start the recruiting cycle for the Ducks, they have picked up some real steam late, and with the addition of Mencl, they jumped into the top five of the national rankings. Here's a look at where they currently stand.
The fun might not be over for the Ducks, either. In the coming days, there is an expectation that they will also add additional commitments, one of which could come from 4-star safety Semaj Stanford, who is scheduled to announce his commitment on Thursday afternoon. If the Ducks land Stanford, their class would rise to No. 4 in the nation, leaping in front of the Buckeyes.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
📋 Flamengo and Vitória named for 1st Copa do Brasil clash
This Wednesday (22), Flamengo and Vitória face off at the Maracanã at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) in the 2026 Copa do Brasil.
Both teams are making their debut in the tournament, starting in the fifth round.
The second leg will be played on May 14 at Barradão.
Five-time champions (1990, 2006, 2013, 2022, and 2024), Flamengo — who also have five runner-up finishes (1997, 2003, 2004, 2017, and 2023) — are looking to draw level with Cruzeiro as the competition’s most successful club.
After coming close in 2010, Leão da Barra dreams of winning its first national cup title.
Leonardo Jardim is still without Pulgar. He also saw Paquetá join the medical department. Meanwhile, Carrascal is suspended.
Jorginho has been called up again. He will start on the bench.
Royal, Ayrton Lucas, De La Cruz, Bruno Henrique, and Cebolinha are the new additions.
Jair Ventura, meanwhile, has lost Renato Kayzer and Baralhas — both through injury.
On the other hand, Marinho has returned after a left thigh injury.
Rajasthan Royals’ 40-run win over Lucknow Super Giants has significantly reshaped the IPL 2026 points table, especially in the top half. Here’s a clear breakdown of where each team stands, along with what their numbers mean.
Punjab Kings are the table-toppers and remain unbeaten with five wins and one no result. Their strong net run rate +1.420 reflects dominant performances, making them early favourites for a top-two finish.
Rajasthan Royals climb to second place. Five wins in seven matches keep RR firmly in the top two. Their positive NRR +0.790 shows balance, and this latest win strengthens their playoff push.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are third. RCB have been impressive with four wins from six matches. Their high NRR +1.171 suggests convincing victories, keeping them well in the race for the top two.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are in fourth place. SRH are level on points with RCB but slightly behind on NRR (+0.820). A strong batting season has helped them stay competitive.
Delhi Capitals are in fifth place. A balanced record of three wins and three losses. Their slightly negative NRR -0.130 means they need more convincing wins to climb higher.
Gujarat Titans are in sixth place. They have the same points as DC but a much poorer NRR -0.821. Their losses have been heavy, which is hurting their position.
Mumbai Indians are in seventh place. Despite four losses, MI have a positive NRR +0.067, indicating close defeats and one big win. They are still very much in the race.
Chennai Super Kings are in eighth place. CSK have struggled for consistency. Their negative NRR -0.780 shows they’ve been outplayed in losses and need a turnaround quickly.
Lucknow Super Giants are in ninth place. Two wins in seven matches and the worst NRR -1.277 in the league. Their losses have been heavy, making their playoff chances difficult.
Kolkata Knight Riders continue to be at the bottom of the table with just one win and NRR of -0.879. One no result has given them an extra point, but they need a dramatic turnaround.
Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Nelly Korda will be setting her sights on a third career major championship win this week at The Chevron Championship.
Korda won The Chevron Championship in 2024, three years after claiming her maiden title at the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship.
Her form puts her among the favorites for success at Memorial Park, which plays host to the opening major of the 2026 season.
And Korda has boosted her chances further by skipping last week’s JM Eagle LA Championship, despite the clear rewards on offer.
Nelly Korda will be well rested for The Chevron Championship
When asked what she’s done well in the early stages of the LPGA Tour season, Korda said: “What have I done well?
“I would say the work that I’ve put in on my body, making sure that my schedule is planned out well.
“So instead of let’s say going to JM Eagle because I know let’s say it’s a higher purse, instead I just took that week off, made sure that I rested my body.
“I made sure that after those three weeks that I played in a row I gave the first couple days at home my body a complete break.
“I didn’t touch a club for about four days. I was in the gym and I made sure that my mind was refreshed.”
Such an approach should pay off for the American, who has been one of the standout players of the season so far.
She boasts one win from her four starts, and has finished either second or tied-second in her other three appearances.
Smart scheduling has been crucial to her fantastic results, which she now looks like she will be able to continue in Houston.
Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
How Nelly Korda spent a practice day at The Chevron Championship
Korda arrived for the tournament on Sunday night, and has been busy finding her feet at Memorial Park since then.
As detailed by TaylorMade, she started a practice day with putting practice at 6.32am, followed by a warm-up on the practice range with wedges at 7.20am.
Irons, fairway woods and driver practice followed at 7.30am, 7.40am and 7.55am, with her practice round then beginning at 8.15am.
It’s a busy but necessary schedule, with such discipline having helped her clinch 16 career titles and once reach number one in the world rankings.
Premier League Cup Final: Crystal Palace U18s 1-1(6-5 Pens) Man United U18s
Manchester United Under-18s took on Crystal Palace Under-18s at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night in the Premier League Cup final. United came into the match with a perfect record in 2026, and it was the first chance for Darren Fletcher to win silverware this season ahead of a potential treble.
The two sides faced off just last Friday in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals, which saw United come away the victors in extra time.
First half
The match started off as an even contest, with both sides threatening with half chances. Chido Obi impressed early on with his hold-up play, while Palace’s Dean Benamar caused United trouble with his pace and power down the left wing.
But it was the young Red Devils who opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Noah Ajayi. JJ Gabriel did his defensive duties well to win possession before charging forward and releasing Chido Obi, who then fed Ajayi inside the box to finish low past the keeper.
Obi looked to play provider once again shortly after when he fed Gabriel, this time into the left side of the box, but was denied by the 15-year-old keeper Luca Benneton. The home side looked at their best on quick counters, one of which ended with Ben Casey smacking the ball off the crossbar.
Gabriel had another chance late on but could only find the side netting, as the score remained 0-1 at the break.
Second half
Early in the second half, Jim Thwaites’ wide free-kick delivery was palmed up by the keeper and bounced off the top of the crossbar before he could claim and clear the danger. United were dealt an early blow, though, as their key danger man in the first half, Ajayi, was forced off with an injury and replaced by former Eagle Samuel Lusale.
Junior Brown had a few chances to double United’s lead, but the closest he came was striking the woodwork before having another effort denied by the keeper. Amir Ibragimov returned from injury, having last appeared in November, and almost made an immediate impact, laying it on a plate for Lusale to come on to, but a lack of communication saw Obi stretch in and take it off his teammate’s toe.
Moments later, Obi hit the crossbar, but for all of the chances that went United’s way, they could not find the back of the net. Into stoppage time, the match was turned on its head: Albert Mills was penalised for a pullback, receiving a red card and conceding a penalty, despite the foul appearing to have occurred outside the box.
Casey stepped up and dispatched from the spot to send the match to extra time, just as the two sides’ encounter on Friday did.
Extra time and penalties
Down a man, extra time was a tough task for United, with Palace gaining control for the first time in the match. Cameron Byrne-Hughes made a big save to keep United in the match early in extra time, before Palace struck the crossbar again.
Despite the home side’s man advantage, United did have a chance to steal the win when Jay McEvoy skipped between two defenders in the box, but then skied his left-footed shot into the stands.
The match was ultimately decided on penalties. Fletcher introduced Fred Heath just before the final whistle to go in goal for United, but the gamble did not pay off and Palace won 6-5 on penalties to lift the Premier League Cup for the first time.
United now turn their attention back to the league, where they continue to battle with Manchester City at the top of the table.
The Boston Red Sox outfield logjam has been a talking point all season, and Alex Cora was asked about potentially moving Ceddanne Rafaela to the infield.
Rafaela has played in 23 of the Red Sox's 24 games and has been great in center field. Roman Anthony and Wilyer Abreu have also played regularly, starting nearly every game. Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida seem to be getting hit hardest by the excess of outfielders in terms of playing time.
Duran is struggling right now, but he is very talented, and getting him in the lineup is justified. Given Marcelo Mayer and Caleb Durbin's offensive woes, Cora was asked if playing Rafaela at second base was an option.
Rafaela has experience in the infield. He has played shortstop, second base and third base in the big leagues. However, he is a Gold Glover in centerfield, and has a case to be the best defensive outfielder in all of baseball. However, if Cora feels Duran or Yoshida would be a better option than Durbin or Mayer on any given night, the Red Sox could benefit from having Rafaela in the infield.
Right now, the Red Sox have been using the designated hitter spot to get four of their five outfielders in the lineup. Rafaela is capable of playing in the infield, but Cora does not seem inclined to make that change just yet. However, if the offense does not improve, he might change his mind.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 07: Myles Garrett #95 and Denzel Ward #21 of the Cleveland Browns celebrate in the fourth quarter during the NFL 2025 game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field on September 7, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At the same time, it seems almost as likely that Cleveland will look to continue their roster reset, which started in full this offseason with the departures of Wyatt Teller, David Njoku(likely), and Joel Bitonio (also likely).
If Garrett goes, CB Denzel Ward could follow right behind him. Besides QB Deshaun Watson, the two star defenders are the only players on the roster that count $11 million or more against the team’s salary cap.
The Garrett rumors died down just as rumors of Cleveland wanting to trade down in this year’s draft started to heat up. The Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Rams have all been noted as possible trade partners for the Browns. The Arizona Cardinals have also been mentioned heavily in a desire to trade up from the second round to get QB Ty Simpson.
If the trio of owner Jimmy Haslam, GM Andrew Berry, and HC Todd Monken are all on the same page about fully resetting Cleveland’s roster and future, instead of this “win-now” mock draft, four trades could get that done, and quickly, starting with Thursday night.
Browns-Cowboys Draft Trade
CLE gets picks 12 & 20 DAL gets picks 6 & 107
Versions of this trade have been discussed throughout the NFL draft process. Simple, easy. The Cowboys get one of the defenders they covet and one of the few premium prospects in this year’s draft, while the Browns get a third first-round pick.
In a normal draft class, this type of trade just wouldn’t happen. The Browns would take pick #33 and a 2nd round pick in 2027 instead. Given what picks Cleveland has and the desire for more draft capital in 2027, Berry gets creative here and adds early picks in the third and fourth rounds, but the key is next year’s first-rounder.
Arizona makes sure they get their quarterback in Simpson while keeping the third and 33rd pick in this year’s draft to help support the young QB.
Denzel Ward trade, after June 1st
CLE receives a ‘27 1st round pick
Like Garrett, trading Ward only makes sense after June 1st, when the Browns can save $17 million against the cap this year. A number of teams that feel they are in a position to compete for the Super Bowl are likely willing to pony up a second-round pick, potentially with an additional asset (whether pick or young player) for Ward. A team that strikes out in the draft or has a major injury during offseason programming will have Berry on speed dial for Ward.
Myles Garrett traded to the Eagles, after June 1st
CLE receives PHI’s ‘27 1st round pick, New England’s ‘27 1st round pick (after the AJ Brown trade), PHI’s ‘28 1st round pick
The biggest move of them all, as shared in The Feed earlier on Wednesday, would see the Browns add three first-round picks, and possibly more, in exchange for Garrett. While the Eagles and Patriots are both expected to be good, Berry would be hedging his bets that one of them has an off year, for whatever reason. You can never replace Garrett, but that isn’t the only question to be asked. Can Cleveland be better in the next few seasons after trading Garrett is a key question.
Philadelphia, with the assumed Brown trade and their constant push for another Super Bowl, is a team that can both satisfy the Browns big trade demand and get Garrett to waive his no-trade clause.
Browns Reset Results
Outgoing
DE Myles Garrett
CB Denzel Ward
2026 draft picks: 6, 20, 107, 149
Incoming
2026 draft picks: 12, 65, 104
2027 draft picks: 1st round picks from the Cardinals, Eagles, Patriots
2028 draft pick: 1st round pick from the Eagles
Cleveland’s 2026 NFL draft picks would be as follows:
12
24
39
65
70
104
146
206
248
Should the Browns do a full reset that only involves trading their two best players and moving around in this year’s draft? That would be for history to decide. Are each of these trades realistic? Anything can be realistic in the NFL; these moves are based on some logic. Would Cleveland for sure be better starting in 2027? Unfortunately, history tells us that almost nothing (including having the best defensive player and a great cornerback) is certain to work.
Will all of this happen? Probably not. In fact, the draft day trades are probably less likely than a Garrett and/or Ward trade.
Would some Browns fans hate another rest? For sure. Would some Cleveland fans be excited about what the future could hold after all these moves? Possibly.
A note from me before asking for comments. I love thought exercises. The “what ifs” of sports are the second-best thing, besides the actual play on the field, for me. I really have no clue whether trading Garrett and/or Ward is a good idea. No one can be certain that the 2027 NFL draft class will be much better than this one. In the end, whether it is a win-now mock draft, an all-offense mock draft, or these big trades, the thing I want most for the Browns is a strong direction in place.
In the end, we all want the same thing: Our beloved Cleveland Browns to be holding a Lombardi Trophy and competing for the AFC North championship on a year-in, year-out basis. Just remember that in the comment section, DBN’s Feed, and on social media. How we get there, I don’t think any of us actually care (within reason), as long as we get there.
With all that said….
Thoughts?
Join the conversation in the comment section below
The last time Oregon State and Oregon met on the baseball diamond, the Ducks were rolling only to watch the Beavers come into PK Park and hand them a 10-6 loss.
Oregon will be determined to return the favor on Wednesday night as the Ducks come into Goss Stadium for the first and only time in 2026.
Facing the Beavers wasn't a problem last season for the Ducks. They managed to sweep Oregon State in a three-game set in Eugene and then took a single game in Corvallis.
But that changed this season.
In the first game between the two teams back on March 3, the Beavers blew the game open in the middle innings after holding a slim 2-1 lead. The Ducks tried to rally late, but it just wasn't enough.
After that contest, both teams went on a roll with Oregon State now ranked as high as No. 6 in some polls with a 30-8 record, and they just garnered a series win over Cal-State Fullerton. The Ducks are no slouches themselves, however. They are coming off a series win at Illinois and hold a 28-11 overall mark with a conference record of 12-6.
Follow along for our live blog and analysis of one of the biggest non-conference games of the season for the Ducks.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Hansi Flick blasts Barcelona disallowed goal decision, reacts to Lamine Yamal injury – “It’s a shame”
Barcelona took another step closer to retaining the La Liga title after a narrow 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Wednesday. The Catalans were made to work for the three points, which were secured by a first half penalty from Lamine Yamal.
As per Marca, head coach Hansi Flick was pleased with how his side managed to secure the win at the Spotify Camp Nou, although he also recognised that they were far from their best.
“We’re happy, we’ve suffered a lot because Celta play very well. The first half was complicated, it was different from what we expected, but the important thing was the three points. In addition, we have had two injuries. We fought together as a team. We can do better because we have quality.”
Flick: Torres goal should have stood
Flick was frustrated at the decision to disallow Ferran Torres’ strike in the second half, which would have made it a more comfortable evening for Barcelona. The forward volleyed home a Pedri cross, but a VAR check found that he was marginally ahead of the last Celta defender.
“I think Ferran’s goal is a goal, it’s not offside and I’d like to have an explanation. In the end, it’s 1-0 and it’s time to focus on the next game.”
Flick addresses Cancelo, Lamine Yamal injuries
The big takeaway from the match was not the result itself, but rather the injuries to Joao Cancelo and Lamine Yamal. The former took a blow to his thigh, while the latter went down holding his hamstring after scoring the only goal of the match. Flick confirmed that more will be known on the issues when tests are done on Thursday.
“We have to see tomorrow, to see what happens. We will see. We have to accept it. It’s not easy, it’s a shame for us. Just like Joao (Cancelo).”
The Washington Commanders, for most, should be focused on one area of the roster in the NFL Draft, and that's offense.
With Jayden Daniels needing all the help he can get to push the franchise back into playoff contention, he needs weapons around him to do that.
We have seen Jeremiyah Love be mocked to Washington, so too Jordyn Tyson and Carnell Tate, which shows you how most are thinking the Commanders will approach the draft.
And NFL.com's Lance Zierlein has followed that path in his latest mock draft, with Tate coming to the nation's capital.
“The Jayden Daniels hype has cooled down after an injury-riddled sophomore campaign, but giving the quarterback a premium running mate for Terry McLaurin (another Buckeye!) could heat the offense back up again,” Zierlein wrote.
That would be the hope, and in truth, last season was ruined due to injuries to Daniels. So, if he can avoid the injury bug, Washington could be in business.
Still, one way to make sure Daniels is healthy is to allow others to take the offensive load off his shoulders. He can't do it all himself.
Adding another weapon on the outside, like Tate, or fortifying the offensive line later in the draft, would be ideal for Daniels.
His slender frame was a talking point before he was drafted, and those concerns were again raised last season. But getting him help so he's not put in danger in 2026 should be top of Washington's priority list.
West Ham's Jarrod Bowen, Tottenham's Xavi Simons and Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest have all scored key goals for their teams in recent matches [Getty Images]
Two down, one to go.
Burnley's loss to Manchester City meant they joined Wolves in having their relegation from the Premier League confirmed.
For the past couple of weeks, it has looked like being four teams - Leeds, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Tottenham - scrapping it out to avoid the remaining spot in the drop zone.
But, following Sean Longstaff's dramatic late equaliser at Bournemouth, Leeds have taken seven points from three games to reach the magical 40-point mark, and many will be starting to exclude them from any relegation conversations.
"I am experienced long enough in this world, we will celebrate when it's mathematically done. It's too early," Leeds boss Daniel Farke told BBC Match of the Day.
"We are on 40 points, seven games unbeaten in all competitions, so I am confident. Why should we lose the last four games?"
Victory over Championship-bound Burnley at Elland Road might be enough to make Leeds mathematically safe.
Until then, there is still work to do before Farke will let himself celebrate and - certainly for the other three sides in the mix - it could go down to the wire...
Big celebrations after a 97th-minute equaliser are usually to be expected but, for the Leeds players at the Vitality Stadium, it was about more than just the point.
That draw takes them nine points clear of Tottenham in 18th and, with so few games remaining, that gap will almost certainly be enough to keep them in the top flight.
According the Opta Supercomputer, the chances of Farke's side being relegated from this position are a mere 0.21%.
Still mathematically possible, as the Leeds manager said, but barring the most remarkable turn of events the Whites have done enough.
It is good news, too, for Forest. Following their win over Burnley at the weekend, Opta gives them just a 4.27% chance of being relegated.
As far as the supercomputer is concerned then, it is between West Ham and Tottenham for that unwanted 18th place.
The Hammers are given a 38.58% of ending the season in the bottom three, while it is seen as more likely than not that Spurs will go down for the first time since 1977.
Roberto de Zerbi's side are the 56.93% favourites to be relegated from here.
What does the form suggest?
Tottenham boss De Zerbi was bullish about his side's chances of staying up after Saturday's draw with Brighton, claiming they are "able to win five games in a row" to end the season.
But for all De Zerbi's faith in his players' capabilities, the evidence of this season does not suggest a team capable of such a feat.
Spurs have not won any of their past 15 league games, meaning they are without a top-flight victory in 2026 and have managed only two since 26 October.
They must beat bottom side Wolves on Saturday to avoid equalling the club's worst winless league run - set some 91 years ago, between 1934 and 1935.
By contrast, the form of Spurs' relegation rivals has been picking up.
Nottingham Forest have two wins in their past three games and are unbeaten in five, and West Ham have won two of their past five.
Zoom out a little further and the Hammers have taken 19 pointsfrom their past 12 games, Forest have 18 from their past 13 and for Leeds it is 19 from 15.
Since beating Crystal Palace on 28 December, Spurs have taken six points from 15 matches.
The run-in
Every year when the fixtures are announced you hear the familiar refrain that "it doesn't matter, you play everyone twice".
But there is no doubt that when you face a certain team can make a big difference across a 10-month campaign.
With five games remaining Spurs will definitely think their run-in, at least on paper, gives them every chance of staying up.
Next up is a trip to Wolves, whose relegation to the Championship was confirmed on Monday.
A home match against Leeds on 11 May is another Tottenham will view as an opportunity, especially if Farke's side have ensured their safety by then.
Even a tricky-looking match at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa on 3 May comes at a good time for Spurs, as it falls between the two legs of the Europa League semi-final for Unai Emery's men.
A visit to rivals Chelsea before hosting Everton on the final day is not a straightforward way to finish, given both teams seem likely to be fighting for European places.
But, given how tight things are, that is something all the relegation candidates will have to deal with.
West Ham host Everton on Saturday before an away game at Brentford - and it only gets tougher with title-chasing Arsenal the visitors to London Stadium on 10 May.
Even with Newcastle enduring a disappointing season, an away game at St James' Park on the penultimate weekend is far from simple and there could be plenty riding on the home match against Leeds on the last day.
Forest arguably face the toughest last five with away games at Chelsea and Manchester United in May - the former coming just three days before the second leg of the Reds' Europa League semi-final against Villa.
Home games against Newcastle and Bournemouth, on the last day, could be crucial but getting a result at Sunderland on Friday would help alleviate a lot of stress for Vitor Pereira's side before the remainder of the run-in.
It is 49 years since Spurs found themselves in the relegation zone after 33 league games and, in that 1976-77 season, they were unable to save themselves.
Given only Sheffield Wednesday, already relegated from the Championship, have a worse home record than Spurs' two wins in England's top four tiers this term, significant improvements will be required.
The numbers don't get any more encouraging for De Zerbi's side with only Derby (18) in 2007-08 and Sunderland (17) in 2002-03 having longer winless runs to start a calendar year than Spurs' current streak of 15 - and both were relegated in those years.
Forest can take some comfort from the fact 36 points has been enough to survive in every Premier League season since 2015-16.
Even more encouragingly for the Whites, only six teams have been relegated with 39 points or more in a 38-game season and not in the past 14 seasons - since Birmingham and Blackpool both went down on 39 points.
This year might be one in which the traditional claim of 40 points being required for safety proves true, but West Ham know that sometimes even that is not enough.
The Hammers hold the unwanted record of the most points achieved by a relegated side - the 42 they mustered in 2002-03 was not enough to spare them from the drop.
No wonder Farke and Leeds are taken nothing for granted just yet.
Munetaka Murakami looks to stay scorching at the plate tonight, aiming to homer in a fifth straight game as the Sox ride a rare offensive surge. | (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The White Sox are back at it tonight, looking to build on yesterday’s 11-5 win after consistently showing some life at the plate. Winners of three of their last four, the South Siders will try to string together another strong performance against the Diamondbacks. Last night was the first time they scored more than nine tallies over their first 23 games.
In every sense, Tuesday’s contest was a blast. Four home runs left the yard, including the chaos-filled, blink-and-you-miss-it inside-the-park homer from Sam Antonacci and Munetaka Murakami’s ninth bomb. For the fourth straight game, Chicago’s lineup actually resembled something functional.
Tonight’s cautious optimism starts with Anthony Kay. The southpaw (1-0, 2.60 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) has been solid through his first four appearances, even if he hasn’t quite provided length. His longest outing so far has been 5 2/3 innings, which means the bullpen has had to do plenty of heavy lifting. Still, he’s kept the Sox competitive, and at this point, that’s not nothing. If Kay can push a little deeper into the game while maintaining that effectiveness, the South Siders’ chances look a lot better.
On the other side, the Diamondbacks hand the ball to Eduardo Rodríguez, who has been exactly what you don’t want to see if you’re hoping for another offensive breakout. The lefty (1-0, 1.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) has been excellent through four outings, including a pair of quality starts. He’s limited damage, worked efficiently, and generally made life difficult for opposing hitters, holding opponents to a .218 BA. In other words, this isn’t exactly shaping up as another obvious “get-right” spot for the Sox offense, even if last night suggested they might be trending in that direction.
So the key question seems all too familiar. Is the 33-run offensive explosion over the last four games the start of something, or are we experiencing just a fun but brief detour? The good news is it took until May 2 for the club to win their ninth game last season, so we’re at least ahead of the curve there.
The Good Guys will once again try to piece together enough offense to support a starter who’s giving them a fighting chance.
Here’s how skipper Will Venable sends them out to face Rodríguez.
Yes, Philadelphia should absolutely use some of its draft capital on adding another receiver. It seems Howie Roseman may have bought his team a few rounds by adding Marquise Brown, among others. Still, no one should be shocked if a receiver is added earlier than expected, and no one should complain if that receiver is Omar Cooper Jr of the College Football Playoff National Championship-winning Indiana Hoosiers.
Omar Cooper compliments the Eagles organization and DeVonta Smith.
In the days leading up to another NFL draft, Cooper recently spoke with Josina Anderson. He didn't hold back when discussing the idea of landing in Philadelphia:
“I mean just the history, especially over the past like three to four years with the Eagles. That’d be an amazing opportunity…really great team. It would be a big role to fill, especially with AJ Brown, really great player. Like I said about Deebo (Samuel) earlier, just has really done good things in the league; but, that’d be something I would be looking forward to. Also, being able to learn from Devonta Smith. Watching him when he was at Alabama, and then obviously what he’s done now in the league, again that would be just amazing to be next to him and also learn from him. So, I would be really excited for that.”
That kind of perspective matters. He also earned himself a few brownie points by complimenting a legend, Jason Kelce. He says the future Hall of Famer is who comes to mind when he thinks of the organization.
"I would definitely say Jason Kelce…Him being a former player, being there for years. He was just a really great player for their team; really good leader as well. Just everything he does; I mean he really loves football. He loves his family, really good character. So, that would be why I would choose him.”
Indiana WR Omar Cooper on the #Eagles and potentially helping to fill the AJ Brown gap: “I mean just the history, especially over the past like three to four years with the Eagles, that’d be an amazing opportunity…really great team. It would be a big role to fill, especially… https://t.co/JrINBo2p8L
Cooper isn't just acknowledging the opportunity. He's embracing the challenge and the culture. He understands what it would mean to step into a room alongside DeVonta Smith and potentially help offset any transition involving Brown. That level of awareness, combined with his on-field ability, makes the connection feel even more natural. That's where the conversation shifts. The Eagles don't draft based solely on need. They draft based on value, vision, and timing.
If they believe Cooper checks those boxes, they won't hesitate to act, even if it comes earlier than many expect. The reasons why are obvious. In Philadelphia, it's not just about filling holes. It's about staying ahead of the curve, and Omar Cooper Jr. feels like the kind of move that does exactly that.
PISCATAWAY, NJ - OCTOBER 08: Jeremy Deering #18 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights runs for a first-quarter touchdown past Gary Wilburn #21 of the Connecticut Huskies at Rutgers Stadium on October 8, 2010 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rutgers football has added a few new opponents to its future schedule, as it has added UConn as a home and home opponent for the 2028 and 2029 seasons, while adding LIU as a home opponent for the 2027 season, per Chris Iseman of the Asbury Park Press.
The home and home with UConn will be a brief continuation of the rivalry once played between the two former Big East foes. Rutgers currently has an 11-game advantage in the series, being 22-11 all-time against the Huskies. However, that doesn’t mean UConn hasn’t had any big wins in the series, with one of the most notable being their upset win over Rutgers in 2011, when they knocked the Scarlet Knights out of contention for a share of the Big East title.
On the other hand, Rutgers has never played LIU in football. The two schools have squared off on the hardwood once, with Rutgers winning that contest, but never on the football field.
Adding these two games to the schedule continues the trend where Rutgers tries to add a bit of Northeast flair to its out-of-conference schedule. This season, the Knights are scheduled to host UMass in the first game of the season and have a road game against Boston College the week after.
Here is a list of the confirmed opponents for the 2027 and 2028 schedules.
2027 Home Games
Akron, Boston College, Long Island, Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, Washington
2027 Away Games
Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, UCLA
2028 Home Games
Norfolk State, UConn, Kent State Illinois, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue
SEATTLE (AP) — Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke gave an update to a proposed internal audit on Wednesday, saying the Kraken have talked with a number of individuals and firms about using their services in the near future.
The team is looking for ways Seattle can improve as a franchise after failing to make the postseason for a third consecutive year.
“He’s not threatened by it, he’s encouraging it,” Leiweke said of Botterill. “The report will land on the owner’s desk. And, it’s really not going to look just at the near term."
Leiweke said the report will look back over the team's five year history and offer suggestions for improvement. The Kraken have only been in the playoffs once since joining the league.
One area that could have used improvement this season was offense.
The Kraken scored the fifth-fewest goals and no player finished with more than 55 points. Captain Jordan Eberle led Seattle with 26 goals.
“If you look at anything where we could have a big, incremental improvement,” Botterill said, “it would be just our offense. And, creating more offense. And, a big part of that’s not just things in the offensive zone. But, it’s being sharper from a defensive standpoint.”
Seattle goalie Joey Daccord took a step back after a couple solid seasons, though Botterill was adamant netminding was not the issue in the Emerald City. Backup Philipp Grubauer was strong between the pipes whenever he was called upon after a couple of down years.
Botterill and coach Lane Lambert both agreed that Seattle’s power play also needs to improve. Though the Kraken were tied for 19th at converting on the power play (19.5%), they scored just six power-play goals in 26 games after the Olympic break. Seattle won only seven of those games.
“The power play, from my standpoint, we’ve got to move the puck quicker and we’ve got to put more pucks towards the net,” Lambert said last week. “Penalty killing was (also) a problem all year.”
To Lambert’s point, only the Vancouver Canucks had a less effective penalty kill. After his first season leading the Kraken, Lambert took issue with more than just Seattle’s play on the ice.
Whenever Seattle faced adversity during the regular season, the defensive-minded coach felt the team struggled to bounce back.
“I thought our team was a little fragile at times,” Lambert said. “We run on confidence, as do most teams, but this team here really runs high on confidence. And, when you lack it, struggles happen.”
The Kraken were eliminated from playoff contention on April 11, just three days after Francis said he would be stepping down. And now, Leiweke is turning to an internal audit just as he has with other professional sports franchises.
“I’ve yet to get hired somewhere where everything was running perfectly,” Leiweke said. “And, this situation for the last eight years has (been) as great a challenge as I’ve ever had in my career. But, there were challenges with the (Seattle) Seahawks. There were certainly challenges with the Tampa Bay Lightning. And, occasionally, periodically, getting fresh perspectives is super helpful, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
The Kraken are optimistic about their future in spite of their on-ice issues.
Botterill said Seattle will look to the free-agent market for reinforcements. The Kraken are projected to have more than $29 million in cap space this summer. Four first-round picks over the next two drafts doesn’t hurt, either.
BOSTON — Left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rivera arrived at Fenway Park on Wednesday hours before the time that the Red Sox told him to report.
“I was super early here,” Rivera said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez. “They told me to be here around noon and I got here around 9:30.”
The staff joked with him about his punctuality.
“Like they say, I opened the ballpark,” Rivera said.
Rivera, a 22-year-old native of Puerto Rico, is a candidate to start Thursday’s game against the Yankees, manager Alex Cora said. The Red Sox promoted him from Triple-A Worcester and optioned Jack Anderson.
The southpaw stands at 6-foot-7, 275 pounds. His fastball has reached 98 mph this season.
“Hard thrower. He’s been under the radar the last few years,” Cora said. “He’s a kid from back home that he loves the game.”
He began the year at Double-A Portland where he allowed just one run, six hits and three walks while striking out 16 in 10 innings over two starts. Boston promoted him to Worcester on Sunday. Less than 48 hours later, around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, he learned he was headed to the majors.
“I was there only to throw like a bullpen and then I was here,” Rivera said.
Rivera has held opponents to a .175 batting average in 28 outings (21 starts) at Low-A, High-A and Double-A since Boston signed him in June 2024 after the Athletics surprisingly released him.
“Obviously it was a very emotional journey for me,” Rivera said. “At the end of the day, it was very unexpected for me to be here and that’s why I’m so happy, so appreciative of this moment for me and for my family as well.”
And that’s why he arrived here so early this morning.
“The emotions,” Rivera said. “That’s a dream come true and something that I was dreaming of since I was a little kid. So thank God I’m here, and I couldn’t wait to be here in this clubhouse.”
He said his dad, Eduardo, was the first person he called when he was promoted to Worcester and again when he was promoted to Boston. His dad — who had a big impact on his baseball career and took him to his games as a kid — is flying in from Puerto Rico for Wednesday night’s game.
“I can’t wait to see him in a couple hours,” Rivera said. “He’s going to be here. So I’m very excited to share this moment with him.”
His wife and brother will also be in attendance. Rivera also has some unexpected guests coming to support him.
“There is also a family that I met in Puerto Rico because of a dog so they’re also coming here,” Rivera said.
Rivera elaborated.
“He’s a bat dog back (with) the team where I play in Winter League in Puerto Rico,” Rivera said. “We got close to the hosting family and every time I’m very stressed or whatnot, the dog ... will calm me down. So for them to be here is very nice.”
Rivera relies heavily on his four-seam fastball.
“I’m always attacking the hitter. I also let the catcher dictate what we’re gonna throw,” he said. “If we see that the batter is behind, we just go ahead and attack him with a fastball. If we see that he’s swinging a lot, we just try to attack him with the splitter or any other breaking pitch.”
He watched Red Sox-Yankees games growing up. Now he might have a chance to start against them Thursday.
“It’s very exciting,” he said. “Since I was a little kid, I used to watch their games, the Red Sox and the Yankees. My favorite position player is David Ortiz and then the other side you have players like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez. So for me to be here is very exciting.”
Rivera is available as a long reliever out of the bullpen Wednesday.
“Where we have right now, pitching wise, he can give his innings in the bullpen or we can use him as a situational lefty so we’ll see how it plays out,” Cora said.
Florida State basketball's portal additions may not be finished just yet. Wake Forest transfer forward Cooper Schwieger will visit FSU on Thursday, according to Warchant's Matt LaSerre.
Schwieger, a 6-foot-10 junior from Olathe, Kansas, entered the NCAA transfer portal on March 31 after one season at Wake Forest, becoming the third Demon Deacon to do so this offseason. He will have one year of eligibility remaining at his next destination. His visit signals that Florida State is not just filling roster spots, it is strategically targeting size, versatility, and depth as the program continues to reshape its identity heading into next season.
Before arriving in Winston-Salem, Schwieger was one of the Missouri Valley Conference's most productive players. At Valparaiso, the big man averaged 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore, earning second-team All-MVC honors and Most Improved Player recognition after being named the conference's Freshman of the Year in 2024.
His lone season with the Demon Deacons did not go as planned. Schwieger averaged just 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 22 minutes per contest, all career lows, after being expected to fill the void left by the graduating Efton Reid as Wake Forest's primary interior presence.
His defensive rebounding rate plummeted from 20.6 percent at Valparaiso to 8.0 percent at Wake Forest, the second lowest on the team. The production collapse was stark, and both Schwieger and the program ultimately moved on.
For Florida State, the visit represents an opportunity to add another frontcourt piece with ACC experience to a roster that has already landed Sebastian Rancik and Shon Abaev in the paint this cycle. Adding Schwieger would be giving Loucks' staff yet another large-bodied depth piece to evaluate before the portal window closes.
Whether Thursday's visit translates into a commitment remains to be seen, but the fact that FSU is in the conversation for a player of Schwieger's physical profile speaks to the continued momentum of the program's portal operation this offseason.
Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.
CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd returned Wednesday after being sidelined by a strained left biceps.
Boyd was activated from the 15-day injured list and reliever Luke Little was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. The 35-year-old Boyd was slated to take the mound against Philadelphia for his third start of the season.
“I feel like he's in really good shape,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I mean he's been feeling really good for the last 12 probably days where we're in a great shape.”
The Cubs had won a season-high seven in a row going into the matchup with the Phillies. They entered with a 2.25 ERA during the win streak.
Boyd started on opening day against Washington, allowing six runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings in a 10-4 loss. But he rebounded with a strong performance against the Los Angeles Angels on April 1, striking out 10 in 5 2/3 innings in a 6-2 victory.
Boyd went on the IL on April 6. He made one rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, allowing three runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Boyd agreed to a $29 million, two-year contract with Chicago in December 2024. He went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, making the NL All-Star team and helping the Cubs reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
That’s why the 40-year-old father of two had no trouble describing what it has been like to finally get his degree from BYU some 16 years after leaving the school for a two-year stint in the NFL and a subsequent battle with substance abuse and addiction. Hall was scheduled to address fellow graduating student-athletes Wednesday night at the annual banquet hosted by the athletic department.
“Can you believe it, after all these years?” Hall told the Deseret News on Tuesday. “After all these years, I am finally getting this done. Finally.”
Hall made the trip back to Provo from his home in the Mesa, Arizona, area on Wednesday morning. As of Wednesday afternoon, he was not planning to attend commencement exercises Thursday morning at the Marriott Center, or walk in any of the college convocations Thursday or Friday.
“The athletic department graduation is a little more of an intimate setting with people I know and love,” he said. “I don’t think I am going to do the big one on Thursday.”
Still, Hall graduating is big news for the department, which has pushed former star athletes who played professionally to return and get their degrees. For instance, one of Hall’s favorite targets from his sensational career at BYU (2006-09) was tight end Dennis Pitta, who graduated in 2022. Hall and Pitta married sisters, Matya (Hall) and McKinzi (Pitta).
Hall listed a variety of people who were instrumental in helping him finish the two classes he needed to get his degree in property facility management, most notably Pitta and Pitta’s mother, Linda. Other helpers he credited included Jim “Hambone” Hamblin of the Student Athlete Academic Center staff, former BYU offensive coordinator and quarterback Brandon Doman, Dave McCann of the Deseret News and BYUtv, and former BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe.
“The running joke with me and Dennis is the person who has always been adamant that I finish my degree was Dennis’ mom, Linda,” Hall said. “Now that I think about it, I probably need to send here a picture of it and say that I finally did it.”
“I am like, shoot, if Dennis can do it, I better do it,” he said. “I can’t be the non-scholar in the family. … So definitely Dennis, and Sister Pitta, Dennis’ mom, were inspirations. But it was also just for me. It was time.”
Although Hall doesn’t plan to walk across a stage and get his diploma handed to him, he said his wife secretly bought a cap and gown and will bring them along on the trip to Utah this week.
“I will probably have to pose for some pictures,” he acknowledged.
Why it took as long as it did
Hall won 32 games as a starter for BYU from 2007-09, a record that still stands. He went undrafted in 2010, and left BYU needing about 24 credit hours to graduate.
After playing for the Arizona Cardinals for two seasons before suffering a string of season- and career-ending injuries, he returned to BYU as a student coach under Doman and planned to finish his degree then.
However, he returned to Arizona to become an offensive coordinator at ALA Queen Creek needing two more classes to graduate.
“In the last 12 years or so, I have always had it in my head that I wanted to finish, but didn’t really have a need to do that,” he said. “Just recently, in this last year, I said to myself, ‘Hey Max, you need to finish that degree.’ So I got it done.”
Hall said he started the process in January 2025, and completed those last two classes last November and actually received the diploma in the mail a few months ago.
“Bro, when that diploma came, that was really sweet,” he said. “That was a really, really rewarding experience.”
One of the classes was an online physical science class, which Hall said he had attempted to pass two previous times, but wasn’t able to due to other circumstances. The other one was an organizational behavior class, which he loved.
“It was basically managerial leadership, and that class was awesome, man,” he said. “I killed that class. That was a great class.”
Is Hall a future Hall of Famer at BYU?
Hall freely acknowledges that there was another compelling reason to get his degree. To be inducted into the BYU Athletics Hall of Fame, inductees need to achieve All-America status, have notable professional accomplishments, a record of community service, and a college degree.
“This kind of makes me eligible for other things that may happen for me at BYU,” he said. “I could get something in that Student Athlete Building, or something in, I hate to say, the BYU Hall of Fame. That would be very important to me.”
Hall paid special attention when Holmoe and others helped former BYU and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jim McMahon get his degree, and used that as inspiration. “I don’t know if I am in that category or not, but at least I am eligible,” he said. “Guys such as Jim (Hamblin) and Dave (McCann) and Tom (Home) kept on me and encouraged me. I have so much love for those guys and what they’ve done for me. It’s special, man.
“My time at BYU was so awesome, and we did some great things, and I even appreciated the people who covered us, media guys, who were there through the whole thing,” he continued. “It is time, and it just feels right. Dude, I am just super excited.”
What’s next for BYU grad Max Hall?
Hall and ALA Queen Creek parted ways last October after the football team got off to an 0-5 start. His son, Rex, who is a freshman quarterback, transferred to Mountain View High in Mesa, which is the alma mater of Hall and former BYU QB John Beck.
Hall has been asked to be the quarterbacks coach at Mountain View this fall, and he will be joined on that staff by former NFL tight end Todd Heap, who has a son the same age as Rex Hall.
Yes, Max’s son Rex is a quarterback
“I did everything I could to try to get him not to play quarterback,” Hall said. “I told him how about running back, receiver, DB, or something else, man? Because if you’re going to play quarterback, that means I have to coach. Now we are over here at Mountain View. Everything just kind of worked itself out.”
Hall said after he left ALA Queen Creek he considered taking a leap into the college ranks, and talked to some people at BYU, Utah State — where his former coach, Bronco Mendenhall, is the boss in Logan — and even Utah (gasp!) but “things just didn’t quite work out” and he decided to take the offer from Mountain View.
“I don’t know what the future holds. I do know that the next couple years I’m going to stay local. I want to be a present father for my kids. I also have an eighth-grade daughter,” he said. “After that, maybe I find something to do with my degree. Or maybe I get an opportunity to go coach somewhere else. But having the degree gives me more options and more opprortunities, so I’m super grateful for that and the people who helped me get it.”
BYU quarterback Max Hall will play his final game as a Cougar in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas when he faces the Oregon State Beavers.
|
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News
The 2026 NFL Draft starts on Thursday, April 23, but so does the future of the Minnesota Vikings. It could be argued that this is the most consequential draft for the team in the past decade or two, but then they are all fairly consequential, particularly if you miss on your picks. The Vikings come into this draft having done their share of pick-missing during the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era, so the pressure is on hit on all nine of the Purple Picks in this draft.
Of course, 100 percent hits in the draft is a high bar to reach (the highest, actually), so, given the past few drafts, anywhere north of .750 will be good for acting GM Rob Brzezinski. Brzezinski, along with his head coach Kevin O’Connell and face-of-the-franchise Justin Jefferson spoke to the media in the run-up to the draft, and the trio had plenty to say. From KO’s updates on Jordan Addison and Jonathan Greeenard to Brzezinski’s indicating that he enjoys the consensus building of the job and has experience in the process to Juston Jefferson talking about working out with quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray, there is plenty to digest before the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock.
And that is just what the fellas at Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast—Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com—intend to do. We have you covered for the draft as the clock ticks down. In fact, we will peak at Mark Craig’s first-round mock draft (the last of them for this season, we hope) and see what he envisions happening on Thursday night. Tune in and check it out. Skol!
Listen to Vikings Territory Breakdown here or on your favorite podcast network.
Juan Soto did little to dispel the notion that the Mets are lacking clubhouse chemistry. The club activated the star slugger from the injured list on Wednesday, hoping he can provide the offensive spark the team desperately needs after 12 straight losses. But the Mets can’t look at Soto — or any one player, for that matter — as the savior.
To snap this streak and rewrite the narrative of the season, the Mets will have to save themselves.
“I can’t put all the pressure on him,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday at Citi Field. Especially with this stretch that we’re in right now.”
While Soto might be the focal point of the offense, there are eight other guys in the lineup. None of them can produce offensively right now. A dire lack of offense has completely hamstrung the Mets over the last two weeks, forcing them to shake up the lineup almost daily and placing enormous pressure on the pitching staff. Soto offered very little in terms of any analysis or observations of what he’s seen from the team in his 15-game absence.
“We haven’t won any games,” he said.
No kidding.
Soto said he has not been in touch with the team much since he strained his calf in San Francisco on April 3. The Mets went on to win after he left the game against the Giants in the first inning, and then won their next three without him. They haven’t won since.
“They’ve been on the road most of the time, so I haven’t talked to them,” Soto said.
That’s not entirely accurate. While Soto skipped the last road trip through Los Angeles and Chicago to stay in New York and rehab his calf, he remained with the team in San Francisco and was with the team when the losing streak started. The Mets had a seven-game homestand after the Giants series, which Soto was present for, and he was in the dugout with the team Tuesday night when they lost to the Minnesota Twins at home.
He was engaged with the team when they were home. When he was away, he was rehabbing. This isn’t uncommon, but the optics of the situation didn’t help.
The Mets don’t appear to be playing any cohesive baseball right now. They look like 26 acquaintances on the field playing without any element of fun or even familiarity. The team has denied any chemistry issues and said they bonded plenty during spring training, but it’s obvious there is a disconnect. Maybe even several disconnects.
Whatever the case may be, winning can cure teams of a lot of issues. Adding Soto’s bat back into the lineup gives the Mets a better chance to end this dismal stretch of play and start winning again.
“One of the best players in the game,” Mendoza said. “When I was making out a lineup last night, just to be able to put his name in there, he just gives you a different look. But again, it’s going to take all of us to get out of this. It’s not just Juan Soto.”
Soto was hitting .355 with a .928 OPS at the time of his injury, with one home run, five RBI and three walks. The No. 2 hitter, he hit behind Bo Bichette instead of Francisco Lindor on Wednesday with the Mets shuffling the lineup to try to bring life to a moribund offense. Soto was used as a DH, with the plan for him to play left field Thursday against the Twins. The training staff will then reassess with him heading into the weekend series against the Colorado Rockies.
While he says his calf is 100% healthy, the Mets don’t sound quite as sure. The club is being cautious with its $765 million outfielder. Instead of rehabbing in minor league games, the Mets brought minor league pitchers over from Brooklyn to throw to him. Without testing his calf in rehab games, the Mets feel they need to be extra careful.
“We need to be flexible and we have to stay on top of things with him,” Mendoza said. “If we see that there’s couple of games, 2-3 games where there’s a lot of running, [where he’s getting] on base, going first to third, first to home, second to home, or in the outfield, then we will have to adjust.
“Hopefully, that’s the case that he’s on base, and we’re scoring a lot of runs.”
In 2019, Soto was on a Washington Nationals team that went from 12 games below .500 to 24 games above .500. The Nats never spent a day in first place in the NL East, yet still made the postseason as a Wild Card team, eventually defeating the Houston Astros to win the franchise’s first World Series. Soto was only 19 for most of the season, turning 20 just five days before the clinching game. He says he learned a lot from a group of veteran players that year.
“Things [were] things that we can do here,” Soto said. “Things I can bring to the table and see if the guys like it.”
A legal victory meant to salvage his career has instead become a liability for former Alabama DC Jeremy Pruitt. He is now taking the bizarre step of asking a court to reverse his win against the NCAA.
As per Mike Rodak of Bama247, Pruitt has asked a court to dissolve the preliminary injury he won against the NCAA in December. Over the last four months, the injunction “has not had the desired effect.” To make matters worse, it is causing more confusion around “Coach Pruitt’s employability and the possibility of NCAA retribution if and when the injunction is ultimately lifted.”
Two years into his six-year show-cause ban by the NCAA, Pruitt returned to a college football team in October 2025, after the Jackson State Gamecocks and coach Charles Kelly, his former colleague, wrote to the NCAA expressing their intent to hire the Alabama native.
The Gamecocks stated the financial rationale behind the experienced 51-year-old joining them as a lifetime opportunity, since “the best football programs in the country, and indeed most schools in the Southeastern Conference, would have already hired Mr. Pruitt as their defensive coordinator.”
In response, the NCAA approved his joining the Gamecocks as an analyst but restricted him from joining any other college football team under its rules.
Alongside other restrictions, such as his disqualification from recruiting, Pruitt was prohibited from attending games in person for the remainder of the 2025 season. The Gamecocks were also ordered to implement a robust monitoring program involving compliance staff, the head coach, the athletic director, and the university president.
Believing the ban was the product of a conspiracy between the Vols and the NCAA, Pruitt filed a $100 million lawsuit to clear his name and get back into coaching. As a result, in December, a DeKalb County judge granted him a temporary injunction against the NCAA until the case was ultimately settled, citing that the ban would have caused him so much unfair loss in the event the court proceeding eventually favored him.
However, if the NCAA wins the case, he would be made to immediately resign from whatever role he occupies in any college football team.
“The hardship—if any—imposed on the NCAA by the injunction does not unreasonably outweigh the benefit to Pruitt by the granting of the injunction,” Judge Andrew J. Hairston wrote in his order.
“The NCAA will continue its business as usual, suffering no immediate harm. Alternatively, Pruitt, if he were successful on the merits of his case, would suffer substantial harm during the pendency of the case. This balancing of the hardships favors Pruitt.”
The NCAA responded with an appeal that “had been awaiting a hearing in front of the Alabama Supreme Court on the NCAA’s appeal of the injunction.”
In a shocking turn of events, Pruitt himself is now requesting that the injunction be dissolved, as it has changed nothing about his employment status since it was granted.
It did not give football teams the assurance they needed to hire him, as there is a significant possibility that he would lose the case at any point and would have to step down from any role he is occupying at the time.
Jeremy Pruitt’s recruitment scandal
While he was the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, Pruitt was the subject of an internal investigation that found him guilty of recruiting violations. What followed was his firing from his role at Tennessee in 2021.
A year later, the NCAA dug deep into the matter and discovered that he, his wife, and some members of the football staff provided about $60,000 in “impermissible benefits and recruiting inducements to more than two dozen recruits and their families.” As a result, he received a six-year show-cause ban from 2023 to 2029 as his punishment.
Following his exit from Tennessee, he had stints as the New York Giants’ defensive assistant in 2021 and as a physical education teacher and junior high boys’ basketball coach at his alma mater, Plainview High School, in 2023.
Oscar De La Hoya, former professional boxer and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, testifies during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing to "examine federal boxing laws" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya couldn’t hide his dismay with how today’s Senate hearing on the Ali Act went, with certain interested parties lobbying to do away with it. Following the hearing today De La Hoya shared these thoughts on what took place.
“It felt like that there was already a decision made beforehand, and it felt like an uphill battle” De La Hoya said of the senate hearing. “But I really am optimistic that the Senate will take a look at the bill, dissect it, and maybe put some of our inputs into the new bill and hopefully clean it up and make it a better bill, enhance the bill for the betterment of the sport and the betterment of the fighter.
“That’s why we’re here today, to make sure the protection stays. With the current Ali Act, the Ali Act protects the fighter 100% and there’s a reason why we haven’t changed that bill in the last 26 years. Nobody has complained about it, nobody has said anything about it until Zuffa Boxing comes into the circle and tries to change everything, for a reason. Obviously, we know what those reasons are but it was very frustrating today but hopefully we can enhance the bill for the betterment of the fighter.
“How safer can you make the sport where we have everything in place already. They keep on talking about ambulances and they keep talking about life insurance. Well, if you read the fine print — because we got hold of a Zuffa contract — if you read the fine print they do have life insurance in place, but guess who is the beneficiary? Zuffa. How crazy is that?!”
De La Hoya vowed to continue fighting the good fight on behalf of fighters everywhere and also said he would continue to educate boxers who might sign with Zuffa on what they’re actually opting into.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 26:Ilia Topuria of Spain prepares to face Max Holloway in the UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The tension is real.
No. 2-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has responded to champion Ilia Topuria after the Georgian-Spanish superstar ripped him earlier this week — calling him “dumb” and vowing to break his jaw if they ever fight.
Tsarukyan isn’t buying it.
“You know why [he’s talking about me]? He’s jealous,” Tsarukyan told Ariel Helwani today. “He wants to say I’m nothing and that if the UFC offers the fight, he won’t take it. He wants to tell everyone in this world that I’m not on his level — He said [Charles] Oliveira is a good fighter, [Justin] Gaethje and [Max] Holloway are good fighters but he didn’t say anything about me, it’s just a joke.”
Then came the pushback.
“In my culture, if you say something about someone, you explain why,” Tsarukyan continued. “He couldn’t explain why I’m ‘dumb.’ We’ll see when the fight happens. We’ll see how I won’t take him down — I can take down anybody.”
And if Topuria is so confident?
“Just accept the fight,” Tsarukyan said. “Why are you ducking if you’re super confident that you can beat me in the first round. Sign the contract after this fight and don’t move up.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper war of words without a few extra jabs.
“I’m the man, but he’s not — he shaves his ass. He shaves his arms and legs. At least I’m a man. I don’t do that,” Tsarukyan said. “He has no hair on his legs. You think he’s going to have a hair on his ass? He should go to Georgia instead of Miami; he’s had bad experiences in Miami. Go to Georgia and walk around with men.”
Alrighty then.
Tsarukyan hasn’t competed in the Octagon since demolishing Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar (watch highlights), but has remained active with grappling and wrestling appearances — something Topuria has also mocked.
As for the champion, Topuria is set to headline the highly anticipated UFC White House card in two months.
After that?
If things go according to plan, this feud might finally turn into a fight.
For the latest UFC White House news and notes click here.
As we approach the final stretch of the 2026 Premier League Darts season, the play-off race will continue to heat up in the final few weeks.
A couple of players have already nearly booked their ticket to The O2 Arena, while others have made it very hard for themselves to make play-off night.
We have a good idea of a handful of players who will make or miss out on play-off night, but the race for the last 1-2 spots could go to anyone in the mix.
2026 Premier League Darts play-off race scenarios
Let's take a look at what four players have the best chance of making Night 17 in London.
Price has been explosive at times in the PL this year and has been in form at Pro Tour events and majors.
Points-wise, he's six ahead of fifth place, so he still has some work to do before cruising to the finish line.
Michael van Gerwen
Play-off probability: 54%
MVG would be in the clear if the season ended today, but it doesn't, and he has a lot of work to do to book his ticket.
He had a rare absence from play-off night last year, and will have players like Humphries, van Veen and Bunting fighting with him for presumably the last play-off spot up for grabs.
Some quarterfinal consistency from MVG over the next month could be enough, but he might need to find around 10 points over the next five weeks to ensure he gets into the play-offs.
Van Veen hasn't been consistent since returning from his mid-season procedure, and will have to fight tooth and nail to make his first PL play-off night.
He's still within reach of a play-off spot, but he'll need some deep nightly runs to make up the four-point deficit he faces entering Night 12.
Josh Rock
Play-off probability: 15%
Rock's PL debut hasn't gone to plan.
He's found some wins in recent weeks, but it might be too little too late.
He's eight points behind MVG for 4th place, so it will take a couple of runs to night finals for Rock to have any shot at making it to London.
HOUSTON —Memorial Park Golf Course is the new home of the Chevron Championship and while it’s fresh to the LPGA Tour, it’s not new to professional golf.
The public course has been home to the PGA Tour’s Texas Children’s Open since 2020, and Gary Woodland scored an emotional victory here last month. But there will certainly be differences to how it plays for the women compared to the men, and the rainy weather that drenched the course early in the week will be a contributing factor, too.
World No. 5 Hannah Green, who has won four worldwide tournaments this season and won captured last week’s JM Eagle LA Championship, is getting some valuable help on her bag this week from from her caddie, David Buhai, who looped for Karl Vilips during the PGA Tour event.
Moriya Jutanugarn plays a shot from the bunker on the 10th hole during the practice round of the Chevron Championship.
Kenneth Richmond
“It's playing tough. It's playing quite long. Obviously, this rain is not really helping either, making things a little bit more difficult for us,” Green said. “I think it definitely feels like a major championship course. I hope fairways can at least firm up. I don't know if that will happen, but it will be interesting to see how they put the tee positions because some of the holes, depending on pin locations, could be quite tough.”
The LPGA lists the course yardage for the week at 6,811 yards—or more than 660 yards shorter than it was maxed out for the men. But in neither case do they usually play the full yardage of the layout in any one round, and the LPGA also has the par set at 72, rather than the 70 for the PGA Tour. Two holes have been changed from par 4 to par 5—the 533-yard first and 529-yard 14th.
Minjee Lee is another player figuring to have some inside knowledge, considering that her brother, Min Woo Lee, won in Houston last year and tied for third last month.
Some players, such as World No. 2 Nelly Korda, like to go with their own assessment of the course.
“No, I did not talk to any PGA Tour players. I didn't watch too much of the (PGA Tour] event. We were playing that week, so it was quite hard to watch and also compete,” Korda said. “But I know that my caddie, Jason [McDede], did. I like to suss out a golf course myself and make my decision myself than relying on someone else's input. Then I have too much information in my mind and I feel like then if I have their information versus what I scope out on the golf course, I start to doubt my information and then I'm not 100% confident in what I'm doing.”
She added, “That’s why I tend to not always ask for too much information about another golf course, especially from a male to a female, because they have different clubs coming in, the apex of the ball flight is a lot higher than ours. Just from what I was told though is that it is kind of like a bomber's paradise. You're trying to hit driver on every hole pretty much, get it as close to the green, because it is very sectional and it's crucial to have probably shorter clubs into these greens when it is firm.”
Weather-wise, there’s good and bad news for the field when the tournament begins on Thursday. The current potential for rain is low, but temperatures are supposed to climb into the mid-80s, with Houston’s usual accompaniment of stifling humidity.
“I grew up in Texas, so I feel like April showers, we just get them. It happens,” said amateur Farah O’Keefe, who is from Austin. “But I think like the weather and everything has kind of softened up the course a lot. We had a lot of mud balls [Wednesday], so I think that will probably be something to be expected for the tournament.”
O’Keefe is one of eight amateurs playing in the major and it’s her first start in the Chevron Championship. But because this is a new course for the LPGA, it’s a level playing field for everyone.
“It's a very interesting course,” said Lindy Duncan, who was in the five-woman playoff at The Club at Carlton Woods last year, losing to eventual winner Mao Saigo. “There is a lot to the green complexes and if you hit your approach shots good you can have some good chances. But it's going to be playing super long, so it'll be tough.”
Columbus has been confirmed as the home of the 18th NWSL franchise -Credit:Kirk Irwin/NWSL via Getty Images
With the Boston Legacy and Denver Summit having joined the NWSL as the 15th and 16th franchises in 2026, and Atlanta confirmed as the 17th as of 2028 back in November, the premier women’s soccer league in the U.S. has revealed that it will add yet another team in two years' time.
In an announcement on Tuesday, Columbus, Ohio, was confirmed as the home of the NWSL’s 18th franchise. Haslam Sports Group, Nationwide, and Drs. Christine and Pete Edwards will serve as owners of the as-yet-unnamed team.
The franchise, which will receive and announce its name, colors, and crest at a later date, is set to play at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field - a soccer-specific stadium opened in 2021, which also serves as the home to the MLS’s Columbus Crew.
ScottsMiracle-Gro Field will be the home of Columbus' NWSL team -Credit:Kirk Irwin/NWSL via Getty Images
“Our family is thrilled to help bring an NWSL team to Columbus and further invest in Ohio, with the honor of bringing the 18th team into the league,” HSG managing partner Whitney Haslam Johnson said.
“We believe in the power of women’s sports and are humbled to be part of the number one women’s soccer league in the world. Sports are one of today’s greatest unifiers and are incredible for their communities. The NWSL will have a significant impact on Columbus within and beyond sports, now and for future generations.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Christine Edwards also released a statement, saying, “Columbus is very important to our family. For over 30 years, we’ve supported the Columbus Crew and MLS.
“We’ve seen how a men’s professional soccer team has brought people together and created a positive impact in our community. It's truly special to now welcome an NWSL club and the incredible women athletes who will also uplift our city on and off the pitch.
“We're very excited to partner with Haslam Sports Group and Nationwide for NWSL Columbus 2028, and we can’t wait to share even more memorable moments with fans, especially during the Club’s first game at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.”
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman attended an unveiling ceremony at the soon-to-be home of Columbus’ latest major franchise, where she said the league was “setting a new standard for what's possible in women's soccer, with a powerful signal of where women's sports is headed. Columbus is that next chapter in the story.
“This is a city that has long been at the heart of American soccer, a community that understands the power of sport and the power of community.”
The NWSL’s continued growth was evident in late March when the Summit played its first-ever home game at Empower Field at Mile High, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos. A one-off appearance at the storied venue, 63,004 fans turned out in support of their newest team, setting a league record.
Denver is set to hit the headlines this summer yet again upon the arrival of U.S. Women’s National Team captain Lindsey Heaps, who will be joining her home state team upon the expiration of her deal with French giants OL Lyonnes.
Two months from now, an NBA champion will be crowned. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder are +155 favorites to retain the title, but the other 15 teams in this playoff field should take solace in the fact that there hasn’t been a back-to-back NBA title winner since the Golden State Warriors repeated in 2018. Parity seems to be the name of the game in today’s league, as there are currently seven teams at Fanatics Sportsbook with +2000 odds or lower to win the championship.
The long playoff road begins now, with eight first round series on tap. Below, we will dish out a betting preview for each first round matchup.
Eastern Conference 1 Detroit Pistons vs. 8. Charlotte Hornets/Orlando Magic The Pistons have been living easy this week, watching the NBA Play-In Tournament from home. Their first round opponent will be decided Friday night, as the Hornets face the Magic in Orlando.
Game 1 of Detroit versus either Charlotte or Orlando is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday in Detroit.
If regular season results are any indicator, the Pistons would probably rather see the Hornets in Round 1. JB Bickerstaff’s squad swept the season series against the Hornets, 3-0, and won those games by an average of 16.6 points. Detroit split its season series with the Magic, 2-2.
The Pistons were 44-39-0 against the spread this season. Charlotte was an NBA-best 50-33-0 ATS, while the Magic was 38-45-0 ATS.
Detroit games have gone Over the total 38 times this season, and have gone Under 43 times. One Pistons game in the regular season hit the total on the nose.
2 Boston Celtics vs. 7 Philadelphia 76ers Celtics vs. Sixers. It’s a great rivalry in the same sense that the hammer and the nail are great adversaries. Joel Embiid even said himself a few years back, “This is not a rivalry. They always kick our ass.”Indeed, Boston has beaten the 76ers in six straight playoff series. Philly has not beaten Boston in a playoff series since 1982.
The teams split their 2025-26 regular season series, 2-2. In a strange scheduling quirk, the two teams met three times between Opening Night on Oct. 22, 2025 and Nov. 11, 2025, with Philly taking two-out-of-three of the early-season meetings.
Their only meeting in the second half of the 2025-26 regular season came on March 1, when Boston’s Neemias Queta went off for 27 points and 17 rebounds in a 114-98 Celtics win. It should be noted that the Sixers were without Embiid and Paul George that night, and Jayson Tatum had not yet returned for the Celtics.
Boston has the second-best against the spread record in the NBA, owning a 49-33-0 mark. Philly is not too shabby itself with a 44-39-0 record.
Joe Mazzulla’s C’s were not kind to Over bettors this season, though, as they went Over the number a league-worst 30 times. They went Under 52 times.
Philly games, meanwhile, went Over 40 times and Under 43 times.
The Celtics are -12.5 favorites for Game 1, which will take place at TD Garden in Boston at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Boston is a -900 favorite to win the series.
3 New York Knicks vs. 6. Atlanta Hawks Trae Young isn’t walking through that door—and neither the Knicks or Hawks should care anymore. The Knicks are an entirely different team than the one that fell to Young’s Hawks in a memorable first round series in 2021. And Atlanta, which traded Young to the Wizards this past January, has thrived since moving on from the ball-dominant guard.
Atlanta is now led by young stars Jalen Johnson (22.5 ppg) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.8 ppg) with Dyson Daniels emerging as one of the top defenders in the NBA.
Atlanta has been one of the hottest teams in the league in the past month-and-a-half, having gone 16-5 since March 1. One of those five losses came at the hands of the Knicks, which downed Atlanta 108-105 at State Farm Arena on April 6. Jalen Brunson was spectacular, tallying 30 points and 13 assists.
The Knicks won the season series, 2-1. The away team won all three games in matchups between these two teams this season.
Atlanta went 44-38-0 against the spread in the 2025-26 regular season, while the Knicks went 44-39-0 ATS.
Betting the total on Hawks games this season was difficult as Atlanta’s Over/Under record was an even 41-41-0. Knicks games went Over the total 38 times, and went Under the number 44 times.
Game 1 of Hawks vs. Knicks is set for 6 p.m. ET Saturday at Madison Square Garden. New York is a -5.5 favorite.
The Knicks are -275 to win the series at Fanatics Sportsbook.
4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Toronto Raptors The Cavs and Raptors played three times this season, with the Raptors winning all three games. You can pretty much ignore all three of those Toronto wins, however, as each of them came before Thanksgiving, and each of them came before the Cavs completely shook up their roster mid-season. Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter were sent packing in separate trades. In return, the Cavs wound up with James Harden, Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder.
Cleveland was sharp down the stretch of the regular season as it compiled a record of 15-6 since March 1.
Toronto was quite mediocre in the final month-and-a-half, as it owns an 11-11 mark since March 1. The Raptors are led by Brandon Ingram (21.5 ppg), RJ Barrett (19.3 ppg), and Scottie Barnes (18.1 ppg).
The Cavs are tied with the Wizards for having the worst against the spread record in the NBA, with a 33-49-0 mark. Toronto, meanwhile, is 42-40-0 ATS.
Raptors Under bettors have cashed more often than not as 50 Toronto games have gone Under the number so far this season, with 32 going Over. Forty Cavs games have gone Over this season, with 42 going Under.
The Raptors and Cavs will kick off the NBA postseason slate, as they will square off in Game 1 on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET in Toronto. The Cavs are -555 to win the series.
Western Conference 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns/Golden State Warriors The defending champion Thunder have their feet up at the moment as they await the winner of Suns vs. Warriors, which takes place Friday night in Phoenix.
Whichever team wins on Friday, will have to travel to OKC for a 3:30 ET Game 1 on Sunday against the Thunder.
OKC went 3-1 against the Suns this season, and 4-0 against the Warriors this season.
OKC is 39-43-0 against the spread this season. The Suns are 47-36-0 ATS, while the Warriors are 36-47-0 ATS.
SGA and crew are the favorites to win the title as the 2026 Playoffs begin, with a +115 price at Fanatics Sportsbook.
2 San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Portland Trail Blazers The Blazers enter this series fresh off a 114-110 Play-In Tournament win over the Suns. Portland climbed out of an 11-point fourth quarter hole to get the win in Phoenix and advance to the true postseason. Deni Avdija was phenomenal in the game against the Suns, as he pumped in 41 points.
Unfortunately for Avdija, the strength of his game (getting to the rim) could be completely wiped out by Victor Wembanyama in this series. Wemby is averaging an NBA-best 3.1 blocks per game this season. Chet Holmgren is second on that leaders list and averages 1.9 blocks per game to give you an idea of just how dominant Wemby has been on the defensive end of the floor.
It’s not just Wemby either. As a team, the Spurs rank third in the NBA in defensive efficiency (107.9).
Working in Portland’s favor is that they will have Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant available against the Spurs. Both players have been banged up during the second half of the season.
Mitch Johnson’s Spurs are 46-35-2 against the spread, which is the third-best mark in the NBA. Portland also has a strong ATS record, checking in at 45-38-0. As far as totals go, Portland games have gone Over 43 times this season, and Under 40 times.
San Antonio games have gone Over 37 times, and Under 46 times.
The Spurs are a whopping -2000 favorite to win the series. Game 1 is set for 9 p.m. ET Sunday in San Antonio.
3 Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Minnesota Timberwolves When the Nuggets take the court for Game 1 of their series against the Timberwolves on Saturday, it will have been exactly one month since their last loss. Denver is on a burner, having won 12 games in a row. Their last loss came on March 18, a 125-118 defeat to the Grizzlies in Memphis. Things have not been as rosy for the Wolves of late, as they are just 12-10 since March 1.
Nikola Jokic is operating at an historic level at the moment, as he finished the regular season as the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both assists and rebounds.
Minnesota and Denver staged an absolute classic in the playoffs two years ago, as Anthony Edwards and Co. edged the Nuggets in 7 games in the conference semi-finals.
The Wolves then beat the Nuggets all four times in the regular season in 2024-25. This season, Denver has exacted some form of revenge as it won the regular season series, 3-1. Minnesota won the last meeting, on March 1, as the Wolves got a 20-point performance out of Jaden McDaniels en route to a 117-108 victory.
David Adelman’s Nuggets are 44-38-0 against the spread this season, while the T’Wolves are 36-46-0 ATS.
Over bettors adore the Nuggets as they are the best in the NBA at going Over the number. Denver has gone Over 52 times this season, and Under 30 times.
Wolves games have gone Over 37 times this season, and Under 45 times.
Game 1 of Wolves vs. Nuggets is set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Denver. The Nuggets are -6.5 favorites.
Denver is a -350 series favorite.
4 LA Lakers vs. 5. Houston Rockets The Rockets drew the short end of the stick in last year’s playoffs, as they had to deal with Steph Curry and Warriors in Round 1. Houston was a 2 seed at the time, and Golden State was an over-qualified 7 seed. Curry and the Dubs wound up winning the series in 7 games.
This year, the Rockets are a 5 seed, but drew the Lakers, a team that is missing its top two scorers in Luka Doncic (33.5 ppg) and Austin Reaves (23.3 ppg). Doncic is dealing with a hamstring strain, and Reaves is dealing with an oblique strain. Neither will play early in the series, but there is a sliver of hope for the Lakers that one or both could return if the series goes 6 or 7 games.
The Lakers have an against the spread record of 46-36-0 this season. Houston is 36-46-0 ATS.
The Lakers Over/Under record is an even 41-41-0. Houston games, meanwhile, have gone Over the total 39 times and Under the total 42 times. On one occasion, it hit the O/U on the nose.
The Rockets are a heavy -600 to win this series over the Lakers at Fanatics Sportsbook. The most likely outcome is Rockets in 6 (+240).
Game 1 of this series is set for 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Much has been made of the New York Jets canceling the 30 visit of Texas Tech star David Bailey.
Most took that as the AFC East franchise isn't interested in drafting Bailey at No. 2, leading to Arvell Reese being taken by the franchise.
Others think that the Jets simply got all the information they needed and decided to use that visit on another prospect. Still, it has left many wondering exactly why the franchise chose not to host Bailey.
But the man himself isn't too bothered by it.
"I've been good, man," Bailey said via SNY. "They canceled my 30 visit, so I wasn't able to get around the facility and kind of have an in-depth conversation with all the staff and everything, but I had a great interaction with them at the combine and FaceTime calls we've been having."
Absolutely, they could, and just because they didn't meet with Bailey for a 30 visit, doesn't rule them out of drafting him.
Granted, the general opinion is that New York is going with Reese, but in truth, we don't know what the franchise is thinking. It's all a guessing game.
The Jets need defensive help, and either Reese or Bailey would be a superb addition to Aaron Glenn's unit, but don't throw away the idea of Bailey being a Jet to begin his NFL career.
San Diego, California - November 22: Chris Johnson #1 of San Diego State celebrates after the Aztecs defeated San Jose State during their game at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Mock draft season is almost over. Well, 2026 mock draft season is almost over, because 2027 mock drafts will be starting the minute this weekend’s NFL Draft is finished. One thing we like to do is see how the national media views what the Seattle Seahawks will do, usually because the end result is they’re way off-base. Last year might have been that rare exception given how widely expected Grey Zabel to Seattle was viewed, but the Super Bowl champs are at No. 32 and there’s no great feel for what they’ll do on this occasion.
I’ve sampled 10 reputable mock drafts from national outlets to see the results. Many mock drafts don’t have trades, or if there are one-round mocks with trades then I’ll discount any involving the Seahawks not making a pick. You didn’t come here to read a hypothetical trade down if it means you don’t know who they ended up picking!
Let’s start with ESPN’s Matt Miller, who has has great intel in the past about the Seahawks regarding Byron Murphy II and Devon Witherspoon, had Seattle chasing edges… or, chasing an edge. Selecting an edge. I just wanted to make an edge pun, dammit!
Another hot name over the past month has been Lawrence. Many rival teams thought this pick could be a trade-out point for the Seahawks, who have a draft-low four selections, to pick up additional draft capital. “I think Seattle moves out … maybe they’re the team Arizona swaps with, but it’s hard to imagine an inner-division trade,” said a rival GM. If Seattle doesn’t find a desirable trade partner, adding Lawrence’s speed would be a dream fit for Mike MacDonald’s defense.
Brady Henderson’s pick: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
With a league-low four selections, the Seahawks probably will look to trade back. But in this scenario, they go with a replacement for Riq Woolen by taking Johnson. Jadarian Price was also a consideration given Kenneth Walker III‘s departure. But Seattle’s offseason has been defined by disciplined decisions; GM John Schneider sticking to his board to take Johnson would be another one.
We’re still at ESPN, but this time flipping to Jordan Reid. Remember when Seattle took Germain Ifedi out of Texas A&M with the last pick of the first round in 2016? In this instance, Reid has Seattle taking guard Chase Bisontis from the same school.
After drafting Grey Zabel last year, the Seahawks can continue to add to their interior offensive line. Bisontis would provide immediate competition at right guard for Anthony Bradford, who is entering a contract year next season. Bisontis is a dependable blocker with a lot of upside.
Seattle has to make every pick count, with four total selections (fewest in the league) and picking at the end of each round. I originally considered projecting Arizona to trade up into this spot simply because the Seahawks would welcome any additional draft capital, but I wasn’t convinced we’d actually get an in-division trade like that involving a quarterback pick. Instead, Seattle stays home and closes out Round 1 with our second running back off the board.
John Schneider told the media he hopes to move back — no surprise, with Seattle holding a league-low four picks — but Price makes sense at No. 32, whether the selection is made by the RB-hungry ‘Hawks or another team looking to add a talented runner.
The Seahawks won the Super Bowl behind one of the league’s best defensive fronts. Even though they’re bringing everyone back, there’s no harm in making a strong position group even stronger. Because Seattle doesn’t have an urgent need at the position, McDonald, a stout run defender with pass-rush upside, would be able to learn from veterans like Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed before stepping into a bigger role down the line. — Michael-Shawn Dugar
A trade back is most likely—they’d prefer to take Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price at a better value spot and pick up an extra selection in the process. But if Seattle can’t move, Chris Johnson would make sense, as they need a playmaker at corner alongside Devon Witherspoon and recently extended Josh Jobe after losing Riq Woolen.
A jaunt over to CBS Sports and there’s a shout for Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from columnist Ryan Wilson.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
I would have loved to target Chase Bisontis here and pencil him in at right guard. And while I like Keylan Rutledge, I don’t like him in Round 1. Instead, after losing Coby Bryant to free agency, McNeil-Warren is the pick. Ty Okada was a pleasant surprise last season, and he has one more year left on his contract, but McNeil-Warren is a ball-hawking center fielder who can also be a thumper in downhill run support.
Flipping over to Yahoo Sports, they’ve got the Seahawks bringing in Clemson corner Avieon Terrell, younger brother of current Falcons star A.J. Terrell.
The Seahawks close out the final mock draft of the year by adding another tough defensive back to their defense. Tariq Woolen is off to Philadelphia and while they re-signed Josh Jobe to a small extension, adding another premium resource to that room is never a bad idea. Like his brother A.J. who plays for the Falcons, Avieon isn’t the most explosive athlete, but he’s physical with clean movement skills. He’s a great add for a secondary that already has someone like Devon Witherspoon and would be a clean fit in Mike Macdonald’s defense.
Seattle gets a throwback player who would have fit well in the Legion of Boom. Hood is a physical corner who disrupts at the line.
Two shouts for Jadarian Price, two shouts for Chris Johnson, one for Colton Hood, one for Avieon Terrell, one Kayden McDonald, one for Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, one for Malachi Lawrence, and one for Chase Bisontis. A nice mix of predictions and beliefs that mostly seem plausible, although I’d be surprised at this point if they chose Price at 32 (or even early in round two after a trade).
Stay tuned for Field Gulls’ staff predictions for pick 32 on Thursday morning!
The races in NASCAR have seen tragedies in the past. So whenever a driver has a hairy moment, a car into the wall, a car airborne, everyone holds their breath and prays for the best. Carson Kvapil had one such moment at Kansas during the O’Reilly race as his #1 Chevy flipped and went airborne early in the race. Fortunately, the driver escaped unharmed, but the aftermath of his flip saw some fingers pointed at the governing body with one question: Could the flip have been prevented? This is what insiders Freddie Kraft and Tommy Baldwin feel, as they recently addressed the issue.
Insiders wonder if Carson Kvapil’s flip could’ve been prevented
During the latest episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, co-hosts Baldwin and Kraft shared their takes on NASCAR’s role in the Kvapil flip. Baldwin claimed that ‘a lot of stuff’ happened in Turn 1, which mainly included Justin Allgaier’s spin, which didn’t bring out a caution. Mere seconds after that, Kvapil was in the air after making contact with William Byron, hitting the wall, and getting hit from an oncoming Parker Retzlaff.
“I know we’ve been harping on throwing cautions and stuff. There was guys up in the wall. If they did throw that caution, none of that would have happened,” Baldwin said.
Freddie Kraft revealed that he was caught off guard by Kvapil’s flip because he was hoping NASCAR would throw a caution for the Allgaier spin. “I’ve got one eye on Dean, one eye kind of peeking down at the yellow lights waiting for them to change, and I’m like nothing’s happening. And I look up, and there is a f**king car flipping down the back straight away. To your (Baldwin’s) point, it should have been thrown,” he mentioned.
Kraft clarified that the flip was not directly the result of NASCAR not throwing the yellow. But had a yellow been thrown, the situation with Kvapil could very well have been prevented.
Baldwin later summed up their takes on the subject as he said, “I think that was not a good call.”
This callout from the insiders could potentially lead to NASCAR being more mindful or potentially being overly mindful about pressing the caution button. This was what Denny Hamlin suggested last season after the lack of caution towards the end of the Daytona 500.
“They’ll react. When they feel like they get trashed socially on a call, then they’ll go the other way on the next one,” Hamlin said.
It’s worth mentioning that NASCAR’s history of throwing and not throwing cautions at the right time or for the right reason goes long back, and has seen many additions in the last few years.
NASCAR and the growing list of ill-timed cautions
In 2016, a caution that was thrown for some minor debris in the penultimate race of the season at Homestead famously cost Carl Edwards his first and only Cup championship.
A late race caution in the Xfinity Series race at the ROVAL in 2024 cost Parker Kligerman a spot in the playoffs just as he was inches away from the start/finish line. But the controversial part was that NASCAR threw the caution much later after Leland Honeyman’s crash into the tire barriers.
Another controversial caution came last season at Atlanta. A sensational three-wide finish between Kyle Larson, Carson Hocevar, and Christopher Bell was shown a yellow after a late race spin, which confused many, considering NASCAR allowed racing in the final moments of a race even when there were incidents on the track.
Another instance of caution controversy from last season was the 2025 Daytona 500. During the last lap, five cars crashed, but it wasn’t enough for NASCAR to throw the caution flag as racing continued through the wreckage.
These few instances are enough evidence to suggest that NASCAR’s caution-throwing capabilities are a hit or a miss. Perhaps, they have cost drivers, championships, race wins, and a playoff spot. But they’ve also potentially put drivers in dangerous situations, as was the case with Carson Kvapil at Kansas.
Let’s just hope NASCAR finds a solution to this issue before something major happens.
Elche's Portuguese forward #09 Andre Silva is kissed by Elche's Spanish forward #10 Rafa Mir after scoring his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match between Elche CF and Club Atletico Madrid at Martinez Valero Stadium in Elche on April 22, 2026. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
It was another league game where Diego Simeone rotated almost his entire Atlético Madrid squad ahead of another massive cup match in a week’s time. Julián Alvarez, Ademola Lookman, Marcos Llorente, Matteo Ruggeri, Alexander Sørloth and captain Koke all received well-earned rest ahead of next Wednesday’s all-important Champions League semifinal first leg against Arsenal.
For Atleti, the result in Wednesday’s match — a 3-2 defeat at relegation-imperiled Elche is more than fair. But there are positives coming out of Elx. Pablo Barrios made his first appearance since March 10, and Nico Gonzalez scored a brace. Additionally, Obed Vargas and the academy products Julio Díaz and Javier Boñar all put in impressive outings.
But the fact is, Atlético have lost four in a row in LALIGA, and this is the Colchoneros’ seventh loss in their last eight matches across all competitions. Other reserves, like Thiago Almada and Álex Baena, played poorly; after half an hour, Almada was sent off for fouling Elche’s David Affengruber in the box after he lost the ball, which also gave the home team a penalty that André Silva duly dispatched.
In the second half, Atleti were not able to do much, and poor defending plagued Simeone’s men again. Silva was denied once but Jan Oblak would not keep him from netting the winner in the 75th minute as Atleti mustered only one shot on target after halftime.
Here are Into the Calderón’s takeaways for this evening’s loss against Elche.
Nico Gonzalez legacy game
For the second time this season, Nico Gonzalez has scored a brace in a match. What do those two matches have in common? He played on the right flank, rather than on the left, where he has been slotted for most of the season.
🫤 𝐍𝐎 𝐏𝐔𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐑
El gran partido de Nico González no tuvo premio
🥇 en remates (3) 🥇 en acciones con balón (48) 🥇 en regates (2/2) 1º en duelos ganados (11/19) 🥇 en recuperaciones (3) 🥇 en faltas provocadas
On his 10th-minute opener, Nico started the attack, driving the ball forward from his own half before playing a one-two Rodri Mendoza, who delivered a marvelous back-heeled pass to assist. Then, down to ten men and down a goal on the scoreboard, Nico embarked on a powerful run down the right and scored a fantastic solo goal.
Chaos in the first half between Elche and Atletico Madrid 🍿
Giuliano Simeone is in a bit of a form slump, and maybe a bit of competition would be good for El Cholo’s son. And seeing how much more comfortable he appears as a left-footed right winger, maybe it makes more sense to keep Nico next season at a reduced price. If Mateu Alemany can negotiate down with Juventus into the €15 million range, I think that is something the club should consider.
Are Almada and Baena running out of chances?
Perhaps if Almada does not pick up a red card leading directly to Elche’s second, this match ends differently. But this match aside, the Argentine just doesn’t look comfortable with the speed and tactical rigor of European football, and these factors are not helping him play his best.
Almada has shown he has the ability, but he’s lacking confidence. The former Atlanta United star is too mistake-prone for Cholo Simeone to count on him consistently, and Wednesday was another unfortunate example.
Thiago Almada is heading straight out of Atleti this summer. He has talent you can’t teach but he stands out now for his mistakes and hardly got his virtues. https://t.co/QTme1sqSwZ
As for Baena, the noise is starting to get quite loud around the Spain international as he now has gone two months without a goal contribution.
When Atlético purchased Baena for €42million from Villarreal, high expectations and the #10 shirt accompanied the talented playmaker, who had created chances for fun in the previous three seasons playing his football at La Cerámica. Baena has not recorded a goal contribution in any of his past 12 appearances, and he last scored a goal in December.
🥵 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎
Otro partido de Álex Baena en el que pasa desapercibido.
Sus 12 últimos partidos con el Atleti: ❌vs Brujas ❌vs Oviedo ❌vs Barça ❌vs Getafe ❌vs Tottenham ❌vs Madrid ❌vs Barça ❌vs Barça ❌vs Sevilla ❌vs Barça ❌vs Real Sociedad ❌vs Elche
Another potential problem with Baena can be seen in his body language. You can tell the player is visibly frustrated by his lack of success. Shortly after he was subbed on against Barcelona in the Camp Nou earlier this month, Baena picked up a yellow card and came dangerously close to picking up a second. Today, the Spaniard almost let his frustration get the best of him following a flying challenge on Buba Sangaré.
Maybe a revised role following Griezmann’s departure will be good for Baena. But patience already is starting to run thin within the fanbase, and Baena will need to turn it around quickly if he’d like to remain in the Spanish capital.
Who starts in goal vs. Arsenal?
Wednesday was not a great outing for Jan Oblak, the longtime star goalkeeper making his return after nearly six weeks out. However, Saturday’s Copa del Rey final was not a great outing for cup hero Juan Musso, either.
The debate has gone back and forth. After Saturday, many believed the debate was over, and Oblak would return following two mistakes from Musso in the Copa del Rey final, which ended with the Argentine failing to stop four of five penalties.
But now, the pendulum appears to have swung back in the other direction after Oblak looked very shaky and shipped three goals to a side that began the day in 18th. This gives Musso at least a slight chance at making a return in the Champions League semifinals.
🧤𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐎
El rendimiento de Musso en UCL y la vuelta de Oblak abre un gran debate de cara al martes:
⁉️¿Jerarquía o rendimiento actual? ⁉️¿La decisión más difícil de la era Simeone? ⁉️¿Qué supondría dejar a Jan sano en el banquillo?
The concerning part if you’re an Atlético supporter is for so long you have been able to depend on a keeper in big moments. And the question, up until recently, has been “who can best deliver that between Musso and Oblak?”
But it feels now more like a question of “who can make the fewest mistakes to carry Atleti across the finish line?”
Perhaps it’s an overreaction and it is just a bit of rust for Oblak, who should get one more shot at a “tryout” to keep his place in Saturday’s match against Athletic Club. And perhaps it’s an overreaction from the Copa del Rey final to assume Musso is no longer fit for purpose after a heroic month-plus between the sticks. That’s exactly what losses are for: overreactions! Feel free to give yours in the comments below.
BOSTON – If the Yankees added an alternate road jersey, Giancarlo Stanton is certain that the world wouldn’t spin off its axis.
“Yes, I would be a fan,’’ Stanton said of that change.
In discussing the possibility of a third Yankee uniform top with certain of his teammates, Stanton said, “a lot of people would be OK with it for sure.’’
The subject of adopting an alternate road jersey, thus joining the rest of modern MLB, is something Yankees players have talked about frequently in recent years, said Stanton.
“There’s a lot of tradition here - the most iconic jersey there is in sports,’’ said Stanton. “But that doesn’t mean that every once in the while you can’t change something up.
“Especially on the road.’’
"Why not'' add a navy-blue road jersey?
On Wednesday, a report in The Athletic stated that “Yankees players had pitched’’ to upper management the idea of wearing their solid navy-blue batting practice jerseys – with New York on the front – during an occasional road series.
“It’s always in our locker but we don’t wear them (in games). But why not?’’ said Stanton.
“It’s not like we sat in a room and designed it ourselves. It’s here,’’ Stanton said of the BP jerseys, worn regularly during spring training exhibition games.
But with very few exceptions, the Yankees have stuck to their classic pinstriped uniforms at home and versions of gray road jerseys with “New York’’ in block lettering.
“I think we’ll always wear the pinstripes at home. I don’t think that’ll change,’’ said Yankees captain Aaron Judge.
But, “we changed our road jersey’’ in 2024, eliminating the white outline around “New York’’ for an old-style look, similar to those worn during the 2021 “Field of Dreams’’ game.
After that, Judge and some influential teammates suggested that it ought to be the look of their primary road uniform.
“If it happens, it happens,’’ Judge said of wearing an alternate road jersey.
Well, last year, a 50-year-old Yankees facial hair policy was rescinded by managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, citing the need to adjust to players' preferences.
“I’m all about tradition. But we’ve got a patch on our sleeves,’’ said Judge, referencing the Starr Insurance advertising patch worn on all Yankees jerseys since July 2023.
The Nike swoosh was added to MLB uniforms in 2020.
“I don’t know if anything on that is imminent anyway,’’ Yanks manager Aaron Boone said of an alternate road jersey, though “it’s something we’ve kind of talked about loosely for the last couple of years.’’
And what about City Connects?
Naturally, the Yankees are the only team – other than the soon-to-be-Las Vegas Athletics – that do not wear City Connect uniforms.
“That one’s touchy because I don’t like a lot of those City Connects,’’ Stanton said of designs that can be, well, unique to say the least.
Since it’s the Yankees, “We can’t do one that doesn’t hit, that’s for sure,’’ but the alternate road top would be “the same jersey, different color,’’ and inherently less controversial.
Could it really happen?
“Whatever you guys write and we get a positive enough reaction,’’ Stanton said with a wry smile.
“I’m sure if we were to do it and we play well, then it’s OK. If we don’t play well, it’s because of the jerseys,’’ said Stanton, humorously foretelling the immediate public reaction.
“We’ve got to play well, regardless of what we’re wearing.’’
This is the year to need a safety. There are a couple of blue-chip prospects within this class, and a ton of variety mixed with starting experience in the later rounds. There’s a real chance we see three safeties taken on Thursday night, which isn’t something we really ever see in the first round. It’s been a fun safety class to dive into and find the players who deserve to be on this list.
Without further ado, here’s my top 10 safeties in the 2026 NFL draft.
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Downs won’t wow anybody with his size or speed, being 6 feet and 206 pounds (he didn’t run a 40), but that shouldn’t knock him at all. His superpower is his eyes and his overall IQ of the game. He has the versatility to be a true deep-half safety, but also play within the box. He burst onto the scene as a freshman, being a main contributor on a Nick Saban defense, which isn’t easy to do for any college player.
December 6, 2025: Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs 2 before the NCAA, College League, USA Big Ten Championship football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. /CSM. Indianapolis United States of America – ZUMAc04_ 20251206_zma_c04_558 Copyright: xDarrenxLeex
Some consider him the safest pick of the draft, and I’d agree. He’s a culture-changing pick, and no team can go wrong picking him on draft night.
2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Thieneman is the same size as Downs, being 6 feet and 205 pounds, but Thieneman impressed with his testing numbers. He ran a 4.35 40 and jumped a 41-inch vertical at the NFL combine. On the on-field portion of the workout, Thieneman moved differently from everyone else, showcasing his natural movement in coverage.
January 9, 2026: Oregon s Dillon Thieneman in action during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl – a College Football Playoff CFP Semifinal – featuring the 5 Oregon Ducks and the 1 Indiana Hoosiers, played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Indiana rolls over Oregon, 56-22. /CSM Atlanta United States of America – ZUMAc04_ 20260109_faf_c04_163 Copyright: xCecilxCopelandx
He played a more free-safety-type role in his freshman season at Purdue and showed off his elite ball skills, recording 6 interceptions. He transferred to Oregon for 2025 and didn’t play as much in a true free safety role, but showed more versatility, lining up anywhere. He still had seven passes defended and two interceptions. He’s elite at playing the run as well, can just trigger downhill and use that speed to meet running backs in the open field.
3. AJ Haulcy, LSU
The versatility of Haulcy stood out to me quickly. He’s a bulkier build at 6 feet and 218 pounds, so going into the film, I expected him to be a good tackler and not scared to hit, which he is, but the ball skills are elite, and he has a knack for being around the ball every single play.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 26: LSU defensive back A.J. Haulcy answers questions from the media during the NFL, American Football Herren, USA Scouting Combine on February 26, 2026 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire NFL: FEB 26 Scouting Combine EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602262876
His interception against Florida, jumping a crossing route in the middle of the field, stood out to me while watching him. The natural ability to read the quarterback’s eyes and act on it quickly isn’t easy, but Haulcy makes it look easy. He ran a 4.52 40 at the combine, which was a good time for him. He had 88 tackles, four passes defended, and three interceptions this season for LSU.
4. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
A ton of people have Warren as a first-round pick, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he falls. I still think he goes earlier than Haulcy, but I’m not as high on Warren as everybody else is. I see the size at 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds with an arm length of 32 1/8. Those are rare numbers for a safety, and he has the speed, running a 4.52 40 at the combine.
December 23, 2025, Boca Raton, Fl, U.S: Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren 7 celebrates after a defensive play during the Boca Bowl game between the Toledo Rockets and the Louisville Cardinals, Tuesday, Dec 23, 2025 at Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton, FL. Boca Raton U.S – ZUMAj102 20251223_fap_j102_030 Copyright: xPeterxJoneleitx
I’m just worried about consistency: while Warren isn’t scared to fill the run and make a hard hit on a back, he’s very inconsistent at properly filling the run. I felt like he took poor angles at times and didn’t fill the right gaps, allowing opposing running backs to find space to operate.
I didn’t love his coverage ability. When things are in front of him, it looks natural. He can trigger on any route, but if he’s asked to open up his hips and trail a deeper route, I didn’t feel he was elite in that regard. I still love his upside, and given the right system, he can shine in this league. I just think he needs a little more time to develop.
5. Treydan Stukes, Arizona
Stukes has been getting a ton of love over the past week, and his name has been rising up draft boards for good reason. He played in the slot for Arizona this past season, but I see him as a free safety at the NFL level. The versatility to play in the slot helps. He’s 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds and ran a blazing 4.33 40 at the combine, showing off his elite long speed. You can see that speed in his tape, mixed with his fluid hips and change of direction; he can cover ground quickly.
His interception against Arizona State is just jaw-dropping. The ability to go up and high point the ball is rare stuff, and the fact that he was even able to get himself in that position is a good sign. He fills the run with purpose and gives great effort, tackles too low at times, but can improve in that sense. He’s an older prospect and will be 25 in his rookie season of the NFL.
6. Keionte Scott, Miami
Scott played more as a nickel/overhang defender while at Miami this past season, but I view him as a strong safety at the NFL level. Contact doesn’t faze him at all, even with his smaller frame of 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds. He and Rueben Bain Jr. were a two-man wrecking crew in the run game for the Hurricanes this season – Scott knows how to set an edge and avoid blocks. Provides a lot as a blitzer and shows effort in pursuit.
NCAA, College League, USA Football: Cotton Bowl-Miami at Ohio State Dec 31, 2025 Arlington, TX, USA Miami Hurricanes defensive back Keionte Scott 0 runs the ball for a touchdown after an interception against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second quarter during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Arlington AT&T Stadium TX USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJeromexMironx 20251231_kdn_an4_073
When everything is in front of him, Scott is elite (Ohio State pick-six), but when it comes to playing zone and anticipating things behind him, he struggles. I do worry about his ability to play man coverage when asked to in the NFL, but he can easily carve out a role as an early-down defender with his elite run defense.
7. Kamari Ramsey, USC
Ramsey wore the green dot for the USC defense this past season, showing the type of leader and IQ he has in the back-end. He has the versatility to play in the slot, box, and in the back-half as a free safety. He played more of a free safety role in 2024 and looked great. He has elite footwork while in pass coverage and a fluid backpedal, but struggles to fully open up his hips. It all flashes while he can roam freely. USC asked him to be more of a slot defender for 2025, and he just didn’t look like the same player.
NCAA, College League, USA Football: Vegas Kickoff Classic-Southern California at Louisiana State Sep 1, 2024 Paradise, Nevada, USA LSU Tigers wide receiver Aaron Anderson 1 is tackled by Southern California Trojans safety Kamari Ramsey 7 in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Paradise Allegiant Stadium Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20240901_djc_al2_163
It’s a major reason why people are lower on him than they were going into the season, but if he finds the right scheme in the NFL, we may see the 2024 version of Ramsey, which would be a steal for any team that picks him.
8. Bud Clark, TCU
Clark is a turnover waiting to happen. He’s had 15 interceptions over the past four years of his college career and is just a ballhawk in the back end. His eyes orchestrated it all, allowing him to jump routes, especially down the seams. The confidence is there, and it’s clear when you’re watching him. He’s not as strong as a man-coverage defender and is just a tad late on a ton of plays. But he knows how to play the ball: a couple of good plays on his tape where he kept that hand on the back of the hip and used his other hand to swat at the ball.
NCAA, College League, USA Football 2024: TCU vs Baylor NOV 2 November 2 2024: TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark 21 tackles Baylor Bears running back Bryson Washington 30 during the 1st half the NCAA Football game between the TCU Horned Frogs and Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. Matthew Lynch/CSM Credit Image: Matthew Lynch/Cal Media Waco Tx US EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20241102_zma_c04_165.jpg MatthewxLynchx csmphotothree313443
When he’s asked to play more square and closer to the line of scrimmage, you can see the stifling and inability to fully match receivers. He can fill the run and will attack screens, but tackling is overall inconsistent. He isn’t the biggest hitter either.
9. Genesis Smith, Arizona
The coverage of Smith stands out. He played free safety for Arizona and thrived in that role. Elite eyes and hips allow him to roam around in the back-end freely and put himself in good positions to make plays on the ball. The big negative surrounding Smith is his tackling. It’s not the best, and at times doesn’t even seem like he’s giving effort while filling the run. He puts himself into good positions, but has to get lower and keep his chest up when tackling. It’ll be hard for NFL teams to put him on an NFL field due to his tackling. The coverage skills though are the reason why a team would take a chance; they’re elite.
NCAA, College League, USA Football 2023: Valero Alamo Bowl Arizona vs Oklahoma DEC 28 December 28, 2023: Arizona Wildcats safety Genesis Smith 12 celebrates his interception with teammates during the Valero Alamo Bowl NCAA football game between the Arizona Wildcats and the Oklahoma Sooners in San Antonio, TX. ..Trask Smith/CSM Credit Image: Trask Smith/Cal Media California USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20231228_zma_c04_145.jpg TraskxSmithx csmphotothree215430
10. Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
Wheatley is 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds and ran a 4.62 40 at his pro day. The frame allows him to be versatile, playing around the line of scrimmage or in the back end. He’s another downhill safety who thrives when he can hit somebody off a screen or in the run game. His backpedal is fluid, and you see the ranginess when he’s allowed to use his eyes to read the quarterback.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 26: Penn State defensive back Zakee Wheatley answers questions from the media during the NFL, American Football Herren, USA Scouting Combine on February 26, 2026 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire NFL: FEB 26 Scouting Combine EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602263378
He gets a little handsy on routes when he’s asked to cover closer to the line of scrimmage. He missed 11 tackles this season and just has to improve on settling down before making a hit. Overall, Wheatley proved to be another versatile option for any secondary and can contribute in the run game early in his career while he improves on understanding routes at a higher level.
Players outside looking in
11. VJ Payne, Kansas State
There’s a ton of rangy safeties in this class, and Payne is another one. He’s 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds and ran a 4.4 40 at the NFL combine. He knows how to make plays at the line of scrimmage and how to cover receivers down the field. The size allows him to match up with bigger tight ends, and he knows how to get aggressive at the catch point.
Credits: Via X @thecgriffy
Payne didn’t have the knack for always being around the ball or looking comfortable. He’s started the past three seasons for Kansas State, but I expected to see a more confident player on tape, and I just didn’t. Still, the mere fact that he has starting experience is a good reason for any team to take him in the later rounds.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 22: Bryan Reynolds #10 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts during an MLB game against the Texas Rangers on June 22, 2025 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Pitching Matchup: Braxton Ashcraft (1-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. TBA
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today in the Lone Star State against the Texas Rangers looking to grab a win.
Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Bucs Dugout is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
The commenting system was updated during the summer. They’re still working on optimizing it for Game Day Threads like ours. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.
BD community, this is your thread for today’s game against the Rangers. Enjoy!
Apr 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) celebrates after he hits a double and drives in a run during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
22 April 2026, North Rhine-Westphalia, Leverkusen: Soccer, Men: DFB Cup, Bayer Leverkusen - Bayern Munich, semi-final, BayArena, Coach Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich) and Coach Kasper Hjulmand (Bayer Leverkusen) greet each other before the match. IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL German Football League and the DFB German Football Association, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or of the match in the form of sequential images and/or video-like photo series. Photo: Federico Gambarini/dpa (Photo by Federico Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Bayern Munich put up a strong performance to win 2-0 against Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinal of the DFB-Pokal. The Bavarians, who haven’t been in the final since 2020, have gone all in this year, in their attempt to win as many trophies as possible. Needless to say, they have not faltered anywhere in their pursuits. It is evident that this particular set of Bayern is extremely special and a top-class side. No one understands this better than the teams who play against them and their coaches.
One such manager is Kasper Hjulmand, the manager of Bayer Leverkusen. “They’re a top side,” he said, per the club’s official website.
“They put us under pressure from the start, and we didn’t find the right way to play against Bayern. That makes it very difficult because they keep coming forward,” he said, explaining the difficulties in playing against Bayern’s high-octane style of football. He also mentioned their skill in 1-v-1 — “a lot is decided in the one-v-one situations in particular, and they were better there.”
“We turned the ball over a few times – there were five or six situations where we didn’t handle the ball well,” he said, admitting to his side’s errors that contributed. “The pressure from Bayern was slightly lower in the second half and we were more in the game. (Goalkeeper) Mark Flekken kept us in it. The last 20 minutes were a bit better and closer, but we only had two really good attempts.”
“Of course we want to be play bravely, proactively, but there’s also another team – and today they were very, very strong,” he declared.
Certainly, this is also the same Hjulmand who said he would support Bayern in the UCL. Good going, my man.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
AVONDALE, La. (AP) — Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick are hoping to take advantage of a rare opportunity to win a PGA Tour event together.
The English brothers have played some of their best golf lately, and the field at this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans is down on star power because of the tour's jam-packed schedule.
“It’s been a nice start to the year for both of us,” said Matt Fitzpatrick, now ranked third in the world after a victory last weekend in the RBC Heritage. “I feel like this year, our expectations are higher given the form that we had shown. ... We feel like we have as good a chance as anyone.”
The PGA Tour's only team event falls this season in the midst of a six-week span that includes two major championships (the Masters and the PGA Championship) and three signature events at Harbour Town, Doral and Quail Hollow.
That meant if top players elected to come to the Big Easy, they'd either have to play six straight weeks or skip one of the big-money, limited-field events.
Still, there are some high-profile names among the 74 two-man teams on the tee sheet for Thursday's opening round.
“We’re going to have a good bit of fun out there,” Lowry said, praising Koepka's iron play. “My job is to try and hit it in the fairway and let him do his thing.”
Each player will play his own ball during the first and third rounds, with the team recording the better score on each hole. The second and final rounds use the more difficult alternate-shot format.
Last year's champions — Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak — are back to defend; former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark is paired with Taylor Moore; Billy Horschel, the only player to win the Zurich in both a single-player and team format, has joined forces with Tom Hoge; Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai comprise a team of PGA Tour winners; and six-time tour winner Tony Finau joins Max Greyserman.
The field also includes some players who don't have the status to get regular starts on tour.
“Everyone that’s on the PGA Tour or has a conditional PGA Tour card, they’re still incredibly talented golfers,” Griffin said. “Maybe they just haven’t broken through yet.”
Griffin's first victory came at the Zurich — a breakthrough that preceded two more titles and a spot on last year's U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Matt Fitzpatrick arrived in New Orleans after edging world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at Hilton Head on Sunday, giving the 2022 U.S. Open champion his second victory this season. The 31-year-old won the Valspar Championship in March.
In between those Fitzpatrick family triumphs came 27-year-old Alex's first European tour title at the Indian Open in March.
The Zurich offers the brothers their one chance to play together, as they've done the previous three years. Their best finish was 11th in 2024. A year ago, they missed the cut.
“Last year, I felt like both of us weren’t kind of playing the best of our ability,” Alex Fitzpatrick said. “Coming into the event was a little stressful.
“Obviously, this year with the form we’ve both been in, the expectations are high,” he continued. “But at the same time, it takes the pressure a little off because it feels more like we can enjoy this week.”
The only downer during Wednesday's pro-am came when Matt Fitzpatrick looked at his phone to see how the brothers' favorite soccer team, Sheffield United, was doing (Sheffield lost 3-1 to Blackburn).
“Hopefully, we don't play like them,” Alex said.
While players on the winning team do not get a spot in the Masters, each gets credit for a PGA Tour victory and a two-year exemption. Alex is not a full-time PGA Tour player.
“That would be something I might be thinking about if we’re coming down the stretch on Sunday and we’re in contention,” Alex said.
A good week for Koepka could move him high enough to earn a spot in the upcoming signature events. He was an alternate at Harbour Town.
Griffin and Novak enjoyed the novelty of seeing images of themselves as the defending champions on signs at the par-72 TPC Louisiana.
“We’re familiar with the golf course. We like the vibe. We play well in partner golf together,” Griffin said. “It will be fun to defend for the first time for both of us.”
Added Novak: “I don’t show up to many tournaments usually where I’m kind of the betting favorite.”
UConn’s women’s basketball’s non-conference schedule is filling up with marquee matchups for next season.
It was previously announced the Huskies — coming off their 25th trip to the Final Four — will face South Carolina at Mohegan Sun Arena on Nov. 25, Duke in Boston on Nov. 28 and Maryland at Brooklyn, New York’s Barclays Center on Dec. 5. UConn is also set to face LSU in a neutral-site game in Nashville, Tennessee in the 2026-27 season, though a date has not been finalized.
On Wednesday, the Huskies announced another big-time game for the upcoming season. UConn will face Michigan on Thursday, Nov. 5, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It will mark the first time Geno Auriemma’s team has played in the state of Michigan.
It’s the first of two games in a home-and-home series, as Michigan will visit UConn during the 2027-28 season.
UConn is 1-0 all-time against Michigan, facing the Wolverines for the first time in program history last season. Before the Huskies fell to South Carolina in the Final Four — snapping a 54-game winning streak — Michigan was the team that had played UConn the closest, losing by three points at Mohegan Sun Arena in November. Wolverines guard Syla Swords filled up the stat sheet in the loss, tallying 29 points and nine rebounds. No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick Azzi Fudd countered with 31 points for the Huskies.
Michigan is coming off a season where it went to the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history. The Wolverines lost in the Fort Worth 3 regional finals to Texas, 77-41.
Michigan is widely viewed as a continued contender, as their core of soon-to-be juniors — Swords, Olivia Olson, Mila Holloway and Te'Yala Delfosse — are all returning. Ashley Sofilkanich, a rising senior, will also be back. The Wolverines are also adding two ESPN-ranked top 100 recruits.
Additionally, Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico signed Stanford forward Courtney Ogden out of the transfer portal.
With National Player of the Year Sarah Strong returning — along with the likes of Blanca Quiñonez, KK Arnold, Ashlynn Shade, Allie Ziebell and Kayleigh Heckel — UConn will be contend for another Final Four trip.
Kiowa softball defeated Wilburton 5-0 in the final game of the regular season Monday.
The Cowgirls (24-12) out hit the Lady Diggers (11-16) 8-4 on their way to the win.
It was an Izabella Conner ground out which helped Ella Roberts score Kiowa’s first run in the bottom of the first. That made their only score until the bottom of the third.
Conner singled on a ground ball and Haley Toby scored to go up 2-0. On the next at-bat, Ady Bradford also singled which saw Roberts and Conner score to go up 4-0.
The Cowgirls scored for the final time in the fourth inning when Kacee Rose batted in Kinley Jenson. The final score was 5-0.
Maccie Bain pitched all seven innings and struck out one and hit four. Paige Igou led Kiowa in hitting, recording two.
The Cowgirls finish the season ranked fourth in class-A. They will host the regional tournament April 23 and face Ft. Towson (7-9).
Wilburton athletic director Jeff Marshall and Pittsburg superintendent Chad Graham were named to a new rules committee for the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association.
The initiative kicks off a comprehensive review of the organization’s 24 rules governing sports and other activities. The committee is composed of public and private school coaches and administrators from all sections of the state.
Committee members are required to complete pre-meeting preparation consisting of independent study of the upcoming rules being reviewed, with noted suggestions for the group to consider. This includes soliciting and taking into account feedback from the committee members’ school leadership and classification groups.
“We received nominations for more than 150 qualified candidates, and we selected 15 who bring a wide range of ideas and perspectives from across the state,” OSSAA executive director David Jackson said. “To expand reach even further, we are encouraging the committee members to speak with their classification peers prior to the meetings to best represent and advocate for them.”
The group will meet monthly to review each rule and propose changes to the board of directors. If elevated by the board, the changes will be put to a vote among all 482 member schools, which can pass with majority approval.
The rules vary significantly in complexity and will be reviewed in numerical order. The first meeting in May will review rules 1, 2 and 3.
Rule one dictates the eligible ages for student-athletes, physical assessments and parents certificates of consent, rule two involves daily attendance standards and rule three outlines scholastic eligibility.
“OSSAA has consistently reviewed the rules for clarity and general updates, but this will be a more in-depth review that gives stakeholders the opportunity to examine each rule, taking into account lessons learned and today’s broader sports landscape,” Norman Public Schools athletic director T.D. O’Hara said. “Ultimately, our goal is to recommend changes that foster fairness, protect student safety and preserve the fun of the game.”
Those interested in viewing the rules committee and board of director meeting review schedules are encouraged to visit ossaaillustrated.com.
The news rules committee members are:
– Mike Nunley, Athletic Director, Edmond Public Schools, 6A
– T.D. O’Hara, Athletic Director, Norman Public Schools, 6A
– Steve Dunn, Assistant Superintendent, Broken Arrow Schools, 6A
– Andy Collier, Athletic Director, Mid-Del Public Schools, 5A
McAlester baseball achieved a goal over its final district games this week.
Going into the season the Buffaloes (Class-5A-4 20-15, 8-4) wanted to win 20 games and make the second seed in the district to host a regional tournament. After splitting a pair of games against Coweta (Class-5A-4 18-11, 9-3) this week, they accomplished one of those goals.
Now that all district games have been played, the district standings are set for the 2026 season. Bishop Kelley (Class-5A-4 22-6, 11-0) ran away with the district, taking first place. Coweta finished in second.
McAlester ends the year as the third seed and will travel in the regional tournament but despite that, they feel battle tested. The Buffaloes have played tough competition from around Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Arizona this year.
They’ve seen championship level matchups from the Best of the West tournament in Arizona, played against top-10 ranked teams in Oklahoma and battled with district rivals. Though they didn’t accomplish all they set out to do, they feel proud, coach Justin Mullins said.
“You want to set goals that are achievable but you also want to set goals you have to work, you don’t want them to be easy,” Mullins said. “A 20 win season for us, especially with the competition we played, kudos to our kids to win 20 games with our schedule.”
On Monday, McAlester took care of business against the Tigers at home, winning 5-0. Denver Durant had another impressive pitching performance.
Durant had 11 strikeouts in seven innings pitched. He’s been a steady presence when McAlester has needed a big performance.
“Denver was phenomenal,” Mullins said. “He set the tone with everything that he does on the mound and makes it easy the rest of the way.”
But when the Buffaloes needed one more district win, they came up just short. Despite out hitting Coweta 13-5, McAlester lost 7-5.
The Buffaloes did what they needed to on offense but the Tigers scored all seven runs on just two hits. Mullins said allowing that to happen hurts the chances to win any game.
“Kudos to them (Coweta), I’ll tip my hat, we didn’t make quality pitches when we needed to,” Mullins said. “They earned everything they got, but when they score seven runs on two hits it’s not good, you’re not going to win very many games like that.”
McAlester plays next against Latta 5 p.m. Thursday at home.
McAlester boys golf will compete in Ada in the regional tournament next week.
The regional tournament will take place at Oak Hills Golf and Country Club in Ada. On Thursday the Buffaloes will compete in one final tournament before regionals begin.
McAlester will participate in the Pryor tournament where they will play 36 holes instead of 27 in preparation for regionals, coach Justin Bond said.
“This will be the first 36 hole round that we play this year so we’ll see how we adjust to the extra round and see if we need to make any changes or modifications to our last lineup that we set for regionals,” Bond said.
The Buffaloes can take just five golfers into the postseason and competition for the last spot is ongoing. Finalists for the group of five are Seth Gilliam, Colby Wheat, Kennedy Young, Jackson Miller, Kingston Young and Crew Allen.
Bond said the final spot will go to either one of Kingston Young or Allen, depending most likely on the results from the Pryor tournament. Once they have their five set in stone, Bond plans to take the team to Ada over the weekend to get practice rounds in before regionals Monday.
“All these tournaments leading up to regionals and state are just practice rounds, to get you ready for those competitions so that’s how I look at it,” Bond said. “We like that, we build our confidence off of those things and build experience from those tournaments but we also need to understand, whenever it comes down to next Monday, that’s going to be what decides whether we move on or not.”
The regional tournament will take place Monday at Oak Hills Golf and Country Club in Ada.
Audrey Rampey’s performance at the regional tournament propelled her to the state tournament.
Rampey, who was part of the state qualifying team last season, will return to the tournament in her senior season where she will compete individually. On Monday, the girls golf team traveled to Ada where they scored 445 and placed ninth.
Rampey made the state tournament cut with her 106 score, which put her in 26th place overall. Junior Sophie Eaton was two strokes short of qualifying for state, finishing with a 108 in 32nd place.
Freshman Parker Cochran placed 41st after scoring 114, junior Jaycie Williams scored 117 for 44th place and freshman Sydney Fassino scored 120 for 47th place.
Coach Justin Bond said his squad did well despite the course’s difficulties.
“Ada’s golf course is a beautiful golf course, it’s a very tough and challenging golf course, the greens are super fast and our girls did a good job trying to battle that,” coach Justin Bond said. “Yeah we did fall short as a team but we had Audrey qualify as an individual, we would have liked to get one more who missed it by two strokes with Sophie Eaton.”
The girls state tournament will take place May 4-5 at Shangri-La Golf Club in Afton.
A recent mock draft from Peter Schrager of ESPN illustrates this point quite well.
In the mock, these notables fall into the second round:
LB Jacob Rodriguez
LB Jake Golday
LB Anthony Hill
CB D’Angelo Ponds
CB Avieon Terrell
Will the Bengals trade up in the second round to grab one of these guys? Maybe not, but it illustrates just how many quality prospects should still be available to them in the top 50.
And for what it’s worth, the following names came off the board before the 10th pick in this mock draft:
LB Sonny Styles
S Caleb Downs
CB Mansooer Delane
Once again, all signs point to that No. 10 spot being a wasteland for a Bengals team that wanted to grab an immediate defender who can help.
Hence, the trade for Dexter Lawrence, which is made sweeter by the fact the Round 2 board projects to keep shaping up nicely.
BAXTER SPRINGS, KS — Baxter Springs baseball is fresh off a huge walk-off victory over previously undefeated Girard, led by an incredible performance on the mound from junior pitcher Logan Abbott.
"We can compete with anybody."@Baxter_Lions junior pitcher Logan Abbott speaks on his team's postseason push after a nine strikeout performance in a walk-off win versus Girard this week.
It’s been a back-and-forth start to the season for the Lions in 2026. The team dropped five of its first six games, but recently pieced together four straight wins. Two of those victories came from a series sweep versus the formerly undefeated Girard Trojans.
“We played some tough teams at the start of the year, but we’re trending up right now,” Abbott explains. “That was a huge sweep to get us going for this last stretch of games. I think we’re playing our best ball and we’re getting hot at the right time.”
In the first game of the series versus Girard, Abbott dished nine strikeouts along with allowing zero runs throughout the course of the contest. The Lions went on to win in walk-off fashion courtesy of an RBI from Isaiah Main.
“That’s what this team is known for. They’re ability to fight through games in tough situations,” head coach Cordaro Baldwin adds. [Abbott] has been pitching the best games of his career all year long.”
Aside from having a career year, Abbott’s mindset is dialed in on the postseason.
“I always have confidence in myself and my team,” Abbott says. “We may be ranked low because of the tough start to the year, but we can beat anyone.”
The Lions will return to action Thursday, April 23 to host Cherryvale.
“He’s our number one [pitcher] for a reason. As long as he keeps working, the sky is the limit for him,” Coach Baldwin adds.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
It was another disappointing outing for Rishabh Pant as the Lucknow Super Giants captain failed yet again in the chase against Rajasthan Royals.
Pant was dismissed for a three-ball duck, falling early in the innings to Nandre Burger in just the second over. The dismissal reflected the pressure situation LSG found themselves in after an early setback.
Burger delivered a length ball just outside off at 142.7 kph. Pant, after initially stepping down the track in previous deliveries, attempted a wild slog across the line while going down on one knee. All he managed was a faint edge behind, with Dhruv Jurel completing a simple catch. It was an ill-judged shot from the LSG skipper at a time when composure was needed.
Pant’s early exit came right after another blow. In the final ball of the first over, Ayush Badoni was run out for a duck in a mix-up with Mitchell Marsh. Attempting a non-existent single, Badoni was sent back too late, and substitute fielder Ravi Singh hit the stumps directly at the keeper’s end to catch him well short.
Chasing a modest target of 159, LSG were rocked inside the first two overs, losing two key batters without scoring. The early collapse only added pressure on the middle order.
Earlier in the match, LSG’s all-Indian bowling unit had done an excellent job to restrict Rajasthan to 159 for 6. Mohammed Shami led the charge with 2 for 30, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jurel in successive deliveries, while Mohsin Khan was equally effective with 2 for 17, including the key wicket of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Prince Yadav also chipped in with two wickets, as LSG bowlers dominated proceedings with disciplined lines and a high number of dot balls.
Despite that strong bowling effort, Pant’s failure at the top of the chase has once again put the spotlight on his form, especially as LSG look to arrest a losing streak and turn their campaign around.
For more than 20 years now, WrestleMania weekend hasn’t just meant the big show. Dozens of smaller shows have joined in WWE’s wake, creating a week-long celebration of the endlessly different colors across the pro-wrestling palate.
Here are seven of the best non-WWE matches from this year’s WrestleMania 42 festivities in Las Vegas.
1. Bandido vs. Amazing Red
House of Glory: Las Vegas Culture Clash, April 16
Very fun battle of generations here. Amazing Red was one of the forefathers of high-flying innovative pro-wrestling — his matches with Low-Ki still have never been matched — and Bandido is the one of the inheritors of that legacy.
Red, 43, never got the WWE or AEW run he deserved, but built House of Glory into a successful promotion and wrestling school, and still went move-for-move and hold-for-hold with Bandido in this one, including maybe the dive of the weekend, and wild Topé con Hilo where he landed in the second row. I’d love to see this matchup run back on a Ring of Honor pay-per-view, to give Red the one last big moment he deserves.
Hero was a surprise opponent, after Dani Luna was forced to cancel. Hero, an all-time indie wrestling icon and current west coast booker (and AEW producer) came out of retirement, wrestling his first match in two years and only his seventh match since leaving the WWE in 2020. Senka has a tremendous connection to the crowd, reminiscent of her trainer and mentor Chigusa Nagayo, and while this crowd was also very into Hero returning, Hero quickly turned them against him by leaning into his bullying indie persona.
Great stuff here, with both wrestlers wringing high drama out of simple things.
3. Blue Panther vs. Ultimo Guerrerro
CMLL: Slam Fest, April 18
This one featured a pair of eternal rivals demonstrating the beauty of lucha libre on the first U.S.-based CMLL show in decades.
The 65-year-old Panther is one of pro-wrestlings all-time greats, and he’s somehow added to his legacy tremendously in his sixth decade in the business, having multiple classic matches at an age when most of his peers are mastering bridge and crossword puzzles. Guerrerro, 54, is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and is also known as a professor of lucha libre. Both men are known for their mastery of llave — lucha libre mat work — but this match had a lot more fireworks, with Panther doing multiple dives to the floor and taking a superplex and top-rope powerbomb.
Before Panther won with a top-rope arm-drag, the crowd showered the ring with cash to show their appreciation. Just an incredible throwback performance by both men — and an incredible leg on Blue Panther’s endless lucha journey.
4. Hate Club (Matt Tremont & Nick Gage) vs. El Desperado & Jun Kasai vs. Rina Yamashita & Masashi Takeda
New Japan Pro Wrestling: Death in Vegas, April 18
New Japan junior heavyweight El Desperado leaned into his bloodletting side in a rare NJPW deathmatch show.
This was the main event and a maximalist gore-fest. With hundreds of light tubes tied to the ropes, the match also featured pizza-cutters, scissors, barbed wire and a Jackson Pollock canvas spattered with blood instead of paint.
Kasai and Gage have been doing this gruesome dance for two decades. Gage had recently been in rehab, and it was strangely cathartic to see him back where he belongs — swinging a light tube in front of a crowd who’s living and dying with every crash of glass. A wild spectacle here, with some real emotional heft among the carnage.
6 wrestlers, deathmatch destruction, without a doubt MOTN, Jun Kasai, El Desperado, Rina Yamashita and Masahi Takeda went all out war but the victory was taken by Matt Tremont who was the standout of the match and Nick Gage #njpw#deathvegasinvipic.twitter.com/eROUKgvlu3
ACTION Pro Wrestling: We Gambled the Graphics Budget, April 19
This was a BattlArts rules match featuring Karl Greco Malenko, a BattlArts and Pride Fighting Championship veteran in the second match of his comeback. (Disclaimer: I booked the first match of Malenko’s return at the Death Valley Days show in February.)
Here he took on Mad Dog Connelly, a ferocious indie attraction who’s better known for his dog-collar matches than his shoot-style prowess. Connelly attacked the gap in skill with pure aggression, overwhelming Malenko with live rounds, while the veteran looked for openings. Maybe the stiffest match of the entire weekend, living up to the BattlArts legacy it promised.
To see the full Karl Greco Malenko vs. Mad Dog Connelly match, watch on IWTV here.
6. Eric Stevens vs. Fuminari Abe
GCW: Bloodsport, April 19
This was the best match on Josh Barnett’s final shoot-style Bloodsport show.
Stevens is a Ring of Honor veteran on a comeback tour, while Abe is one-half of the Astronauts, the current stewards of the shoot-style mantle. Stevens has a strong jiu-jitsu background, and while the early parts of this match focused on both guys countering positions on the mat and hunting for submissions, things got amped up when Abe cut Stevens forehead with a head-butt, and got even nastier when Abe started spraying blood from his mouth from a cross-face. That egged on both fighters, as the shots got harder and holds got tighter, leading to a wild scramble of a finish.
Bloodsport has hosted some of the coolest matches of WrestleMania weekend for the past several years, and if this was the final show, they went out on a good one.
Erick Stevens vs. Fuminori Abe This is what im looking for in bloodsport matwork is smooth and good also has brutality with some wild strike exchanges u have steven gushing blood from his forehead and abe from is mouth its sincerely goated ****1/2 pic.twitter.com/gsYfONO06O
This was the final match of The Sandman’s career — and also a pretty impressive one-man performance for a guy with a ton of miles on his odometer.
These kind of run-in heavy comedy matches, much like a “Naked Gun” or “Scary Movie” film, really depend on the gags hitting — and while there was some misses here (not sure we needed Zombies and Vampiro), the big spots definitely hit: A series of 20 referees coming in and getting bumped, leading to a 20-ref near-count; Missy Hyatt coming in and starting a fight with Kendra Lust (don’t google her); and Mick Foley appearing to stick Mr. Socko down the throats of both Invisible Man and Invisible Stan.
Sandman went through some tables, chugged some beers, and went out on his back , putting over a younger star like you are supposed to.
Coppa Italia | Atalanta 1-1 Lazio (3-3 agg): Motta heroic to book special Final
Edoardo Motta was the hero for Lazio, saving four penalties in a row during the shoot-out to eliminate Atalanta and book their Coppa Italia Final ticket to face Inter on May 13.
The first leg ended 2-2 in Rome on March 4, so it was all to play for in Bergamo with the potential for extra time and penalties. La Dea missed Isak Hien, while the Biancocelesti were without Nicolò Rovella, Ivan Provedel, Samuel Gigot and Alessio Furlanetto, but welcomed back Adam Marusic after a surprise 2-0 Serie A win over Napoli at the weekend.
Mario Gila sprinted back for a decisive sliding tackle on Nikola Krstovic, while Nicola Zalewski only grazed his head to a Charles De Ketelaere cross from six yards.
Gila was also decisive when throwing himself in the way to deflect the Zalewski volley wide of the near post from six yards, but after a strong start, Atalanta’s domination petered out towards the end of the first half.
After the restart, Edoardo Motta’s gloves were stung by Krstovic, who had completed a give and go with De Ketelaere, but Lorenzo Bernasconi went off with a knee injury after a Patric sliding tackle.
Tijjani Noslin’s effort from the edge of the area was charged down, but Atalanta had the ball in the net at the end of a truly chaotic move.
BERGAMO, ITALY – APRIL 22: Mario Gila of SS Lazio kicks the ball during the Coppa Italia semi-final match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at New Balance Arena on April 22, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Gila seemed to charge down the De Ketelaere cross with his hand, but as the move continued, Krstovic poked the ball out from under Motta’s glove, and Ederson fired in the rebound. VAR took a long time to evaluate all the incidents, the referee viewed them all, and decided Gila had kicked the ball onto his own arm, but that Krstovic had fouled the goalkeeper, disallowing the goal.
Lazio had appeals too when Scalvini kicked a ball onto his own arm under pressure from Noslin, but it was a similar situation to Gila, so the striker kept going and fired wide from a promising position.
BERGAMO, ITALY – APRIL 22: Giorgio Scalcini of Atalanta BC during the Coppa Italia semi-final match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at New Balance Arena on April 22, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Mario Gila went off with an ankle sprain, while De Ketelaere’s hard and low effort was smothered, while Mario Pasalic made a decisive block on Noslin.
BERGAMO, ITALY – APRIL 22: Alessio Romagnoli of SS Lazio scores a opening goal during the Coppa Italia semi-final match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at New Balance Arena on April 22, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Lazio took the lead from the resulting Zaccagni corner, Alessio Romagnoli holding off Berat Djimsiti to volley in from four yards at the back post with the inside of the left foot.
Just like in the first leg, Atalanta gave an immediate response, and within two minutes had equalised. Krstovic with his back to goal laid it off for Pasalic from the edge of the area, his wayward shot deflected into the far bottom corner by Kenneth Taylor to wrong-foot Motta.
It remained wide open, Ederson flashing a cross-shot past everyone, and deep into stoppages Motta made a sensational fingertip save to push the Gianluca Scamacca header onto the top of the upright from close range.
They could not be divided, so at 3-3 on aggregate, the tie went to extra time.
Atalanta thought they had taken the lead for the first time in the whole tie on 96 minutes when De Ketelaere floated a cross to the far post and Zappacosta nodded it back for Giacomo Raspadori’s header from close range. However, VAR showed Zappacosta was offside on the assist.
BERGAMO, ITALY – APRIL 22: Giacomo Raspadori of Atalanta is challenged by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Lazio during the Coppa Italia semifinal match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at New Balance Arena on April 22, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Both teams were allowed a sixth substitution during extra time, Pasalic wasted a promising situation with a shot deflected off teammate Raspadori, and Scamacca nodded wide as Atalanta pinned Lazio back into their own half.
When the Aquile did go forward, they threatened, as Romagnoli was millimetres away from getting his head to the taut Nuno Tavares free kick.
They went to a penalty shoot-out and Nuno Tavares had the first Lazio attempt parried by Marco Carnesecchi, but Edoardo Motta did the same to Scamacca.
Danilo Cataldi fired his onto the upright and Motta saved from Zappacosta, so Gustav Isaksen was able to finally equalise.
Motta incredibly saved four penalties in a row to become the absolute hero of this fixture.
JB talks about approaching tonight with a game-by-game approach and the team being “off” on Sunday: “We’ve consistently been a way better team than that.” pic.twitter.com/WWf9t309rA
Login
![Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards [5] with forward Julius Randle against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Jan. 29, 2025.](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_sporting_tribune_articles_423/06f48155b328cd87b3a149ca8121a658)
Guro Reiten is sitting inside her apartment in Norway, in between spending time with her 5-month-old son and packing her life away. As if being a new mom and professional soccer player weren’t hectic enough, she just added “moving across the world” to her to-do list.
Loughborough University researchers have published what they consider to be a seminal paper on the neurological impacts of heading in football.
