A word of warning to all broadcasters: If you’re wearing a microphone, don’t risk saying anything that you wouldn’t repeat in front of millions. You never know when that microphone is still on.

Former Alabama coach-turned-analyst Nick Saban learned that the hard way during the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday. As ABC returned from a commercial break, Saban was caught on a hot mic trashing the Dallas Cowboys’ upcoming selection in the draft.

Just before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Cowboys’ selection of edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 overall pick, Saban could be heard saying, “Wow, this is a reach” on the broadcast.

The comment came at an awkward time. The broadcast had just come back from a commercial break, but had not officially welcomed back viewers yet. Saban almost certainly believed his mic was muted or that the program had not come back from break yet when he made that comment. After a few beats of silence, Rece Davis re-introduced the program to viewers.

To Saban’s credit, he didn’t completely walk back that criticism when breaking down the pick on the broadcast, per Awful Announcing.

“Actually, this guy was one of my sleepers for tomorrow,” Saban admitted, which garnered some laughter from the rest of the panel. “But he is a good player … this guy is a good player. I thought he was someone that was getting overlooked in the draft, but obviously the Cowboys didn’t overlook him.”

There’s a difference between bluntly calling a pick a “reach” and saying a team drafted a player you liked in the second round, but at least Saban didn’t lie about his true feelings. Instead, he found a way to make them sound less severe while still getting across the point that he believed Lawrence should have been selected later.

Saban’s critique of the Cowboys on Thursday was only limited to the Lawrence pick. He, like many others, was a big fan of the team trading up to select safety Caleb Downs with the No. 11 overall pick. Some considered Downs to be the best player in the entire draft. Yahoo Sports gave the Downs pick an “A+,” citing his ability to develop into an All-Pro safety moving forward.

The Lawrence pick, on the other hand, received a “C-” grade from Yahoo Sports analyst Charles McDonald. While Lawrence has clear ability as a pass rusher, he could have a lower floor than most first-round picks, leading to his “C-” grade.

Even if the Lawrence move wasn’t celebrated by every analyst, the Cowboys look to have done a solid job overall Thursday. In addition to grabbing Downs, the team traded down for more draft picks before selecting Lawrence.

All of those moves put together make the Cowboys one of the winners from Thursday. It also sets the team up to continue to make big moves Friday and Saturday, especially now that they have some extra picks.

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters

Tyler Reddick is currently No. 1 in the NASCAR Cup Series standings as we head into the Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Reddick managed to outmaneuver Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson, who took early leads at last weekend's AdventHealth 400 at the Kansas Speedway, but Reddick ultimately took the W, the fifth of the season for his 23XI Racing team. Will he be able to take home another consecutive win this weekend? We'll find out Sunday; the race begins at 3 p.m. ET on Fox. 

Here's everything you need to know about the Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway and how to watch every other 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race this season.

How to watch the Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway:

Date: April 26, 2026

Time: 3 p.m. ET

Location: Talladega Superspeedway

Channel: Fox, qualifying race on Prime Video

Streaming:DirecTV, Fox One, HBO Max (Driver-cam), and more

When is the Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway?

The Jack Link's 500 will be held this Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m. ET. 

What channel is NASCAR Jack Link's 500 on?

The Jack Link's 500 will be available live on Fox. You can also watch qualifying races on Saturday on Prime Video, and an alternate driver-cam will also be available to stream live on Sunday on HBO Max.

NASCAR Jack Link's 500 TV schedule:

Saturday, April 25

• Qualifying, 10:30 am. (Prime Video)

Sunday, April 26

• NASCAR Jack Link's 500, 3 p.m. (Fox, HBO Max)

How to watch NASCAR in 2026 without cable:

To watch every single race of the 2026 NASCAR season, you'll need a couple of different streaming services. You can stream NBC, USA, Fox, FS1, TNT, and truTV on streaming platforms like DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV, which will get you access to the majority of this year's races, but you'll also need a Prime Video subscription if you want to catch the Coca Cola 600, the Cracker Barrel 400, FireKeepers Casino 400, NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono and the Anduril 250. Races airing on NBC and USA will also be available to stream on Peacock, and races airing on Fox and FS1 will be streaming on Fox One. And once again, HBO Max will also be showing alternate driver-cam angles at every race this season.

2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule:

Here are the races that make up the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series. (All times Eastern)

• Feb. 1, 2026: Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Fox, HBO Max)

• Feb. 15, 2026: Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway (Fox, HBO Max)

• Feb. 22, 2026: Autotrader 400, EchoPark Speedway (Fox, HBO Max)

• March 1, 2026: DuraMax Grand Prix, Circuit of the Americas (Fox, HBO Max)

• March 8, 2026: Straight Talk Wireless 500, Phoenix Raceway (FS1, HBO Max)

• March 15, 2026: Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)

• March 22, 2026: Goodyear 400, Darlington Raceway (FS1, HBO Max)

• March 29, 2026: Cook Out 400, Martinsville Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)

• April 12, 2026: Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)

• April 19, 2026: AdventHealth 400, Kansas Speedway (Fox, HBO Max)

• April 26, 2026: Jack Link's 500, Talladega Superspeedway (Fox, HBO Max)

• May 3, 2026: Wurth 400 presented by Liqui Moly, Texas Motor Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)

• May 10, 2026: Go Bowling at the Glen, Watkins Glen International (FS1, HBO Max)

• May 17, 2026: NASCAR All-Star Race, Dover Motor Speedway (FS1, HBO Max)

• May 24, 2026: Coca Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway (Prime Video, HBO Max)

• May 31, 2026: Cracker Barrel 400, Nashville Superspeedway (Prime Video, HBO Max)

• June 7, 2026: Firekeepers Casino 400, Michigan International Speedway (Prime Video, HBO Max)

• June 14, 2026: NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono, Pocono Raceway (Prime Video, HBO Max)

• June 21, 2026: Anduril 250, Naval Base Coronado (Prime Video, HBO Max)

• June 28, 2026: Toyota/Save Mart 350, Sonoma Raceway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)

• July 5, 2026: NASCAR Cup Series Race at Chicagoland, Chicagoland Speedway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)

• July 12, 2026: Quaker State 400 Available At Walmart, EchoPark Speedway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)

• July 19, 2026: Window World 400, North Wilkesboro Speedway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)

• July 26, 2026: Brickyard 400, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (TNT Sports, HBO Max)

• Aug. 9, 2026: Iowa Corn 350 Powered By Ethanol, Iowa Speedway (USA, HBO Max)

• Aug. 15, 2026: Cook Out 400, Richmond Raceway (USA, HBO Max)

• Aug. 23, 2026: NASCAR Cup Series Race at New Hampshire, New Hampshire Motor Speedway (USA, HBO Max)

• Aug. 29, 2026: Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway (NBC, HBO Max)

• Sept. 6, 2026: Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington Raceway (USA, HBO Max)

• Sept. 13, 2026: Enjoy Illinois 300, World Wide Technology Raceway (USA, HBO Max)

• Sept. 19, 2026: Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway (USA, HBO Max)

• Sept. 27, 2026: Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas Speedway (USA, HBO Max)

• Oct. 4, 2026: South Point 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (USA, HBO Max)

• Oct. 11, 2026: Bank of America ROVAL 400, Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (USA, HBO Max)

• Oct. 19, 2026: Freeway Insurance 500, Phoenix Raceway (USA, HBO Max)

• Oct. 25, 2026: YellaWood 500, Talladega Superspeedway (NBC, HBO Max)

• Nov. 1, 2026: Xfinity 500, Martinsville Speedway (NBC, HBO Max)

• Nov. 8, 2026: NASCAR Cup Series Championship, Homestead-Miami Speedway (NBC, HBO Max)

More ways to watch the NASCAR season without cable this season: 

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz says he will miss next month's French Open because of an ongoing wrist injury.

The world number two withdrew from last week's Barcelona Open after sustaining an injury to his right wrist in his first-round victory.

Alcaraz, 22, had tests to determine the severity of the issue and has subsequently pulled out of the Italian Open and French Open - both played on clay courts.

"After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland Garros, while we assess the situation to determine when we can return to the court," Alcaraz posted on Instagram.

"This is a difficult time for me, but I am sure we will come out of this stronger."

Alcaraz began the year by winning his first Australian Open title - becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam - and would have been looking to kick on further, as he often does when the clay season gets under way.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion won clay-court titles in Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros last season, and reached the final in Barcelona.

He lost the world number one ranking to long-term rival Jannik Sinner this month, after losing to him in the Monte Carlo final, and could lose significant ground to the Italian in the rankings while sidelined.

It also opens up the opportunity for Sinner to secure his own career Grand Slam - winning each of the major tournaments at least once - with the French Open the only one missing from his collection.

Since qualifying for his first Slam in 2021, Spain's Alcaraz has only missed one - when he had to withdraw from the 2023 Australian Open with a hamstring injury.

• Tennis immortality at 22 - Alcaraz's historic win

• Live scores, results and order of play
• Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

Why Luka Doncic isn't playing for Lakers tonight vs. Rockets with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers weren’t expected to possess a 2-0 lead to begin their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

After all, Los Angeles has been forced to navigate life without their top two scorers, Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), which many believed was a recipe for disaster for the short-handed No. 4 seed. However, thanks to back-to-back stellar performances from sharpshooter Luke Kennard and age-defying contributions from LeBron James, the Lakers are just two wins away from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals. 

Unfortunately for the Lakers, though, they’ll still be without Doncic on Friday night when they face the Rockets for Game 3, as he’s already been ruled out for the upcoming postseason clash. 

If Los Angeles had lost either of the first two playoff contests against the Rockets, the stress level entering Friday would be far higher. However, with the Lakers having complete control of the series and realistically only needing one road win to feel confident about closing it out, not having Doncic in the lineup isn’t the end of the world.

The ultimate goal for the Lakers is to cruise to a round 1 win over the Rockets and give Doncic ample time to rest before eventually returning to the hardwood. So far, the Lakers are sticking to the script, and it’s already paying dividends for them.

More NBA news: 

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

No game in the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs has ever ended with a goal on a penalty shot in overtime and Carolina's Jordan Martinook was not eager to make history.

He and the Hurricanes thought they'd won Game 2 of their first-round series against Ottawa when teammate Mark Jankowski scored, but a league-initiated challenge ruled the play to be offside, took the goal off the board and rewound the clock. The very next shift, Martinook was hooked by Senators forward Warren Foegele on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot.

“I was trying to tell (the referee) we needed the power play, not the penalty shot,” Martinook said. He got turned aside by Linus Ullmark, then scored the winner in double overtime.

Through Thursday night's games, there have been four penalty shots already in these playoffs — more through 21 games than the previous three years' worth combined, including zero in 2025 — and the goaltenders have saved all four.

Two more penalty shots would tie the record for the most in a single postseason. There doesn't seem to be a reason for the uptick in refs calling for penalty shots over power plays, but there is no doubt it has added rare and must-see entertainment to a compelling first round.

“Everything’s very circumstantial,” Buffalo goalie Alex Lyon said after denying Boston's Viktor Arvidsson in Game 3 on Thursday night. He's not sure if he'd rather face the 1-on-1 matchup or endure a 2-minute penalty kill.

“To be honest with you, every player in this league has the ability to score on penalty shots,” Lyon said. “So yeah, I guess it’s just more circumstantial, but I don’t really have a definitive answer one way or the other.”

Lyon stopped Arvidsson, Ullmark stopped Martinook, Philadelphia's Owen Tippett missed the net against Pittsburgh's Stuart Skinner, and Colorado's Scott Wedgewood made such a highlight-reel save on Los Angeles' Quinton Byfield that jubilant fans in Denver broke the glass behind the Kings' bench.

“Never really seen the glass shatter behind the bench,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said following a repair process that delayed the game more than 15 minutes. “That’s a different one. Stuff happens. Fans get excited. Our guys were excited.”

Is more grabbing going on during play? More breakaways in a league that has increased the emphasis on offense in recent years? Both could be true.

The NHL's rule 24.1 says "a penalty shot is designed to restore a scoring opportunity which was lost as a result of an infraction being committed by the offending team, based on the parameters set out in these rules.” That does provide some latitude for officials to determine what constitutes a penalty shot if a player is unimpeded by an opponent with no one between him and the net.

Still, four penalty shots before the end of the first round is unusual. The only playoffs with more penalty shots 2019 (five) and 2008 (six).

These are potentially game-changing moments and add even more pressure to a playoff game. Martinook described his experience as being the big guy on one end of a teeter-totter, acknowledging he didn't feel good about himself after not scoring on his opportunity. The 33-year-old grinder made good on his next one to keep from being perceived as the goat.

“It was going to be a long night if that penalty shot came back to bite me,” Martinook said. “Hockey's crazy, sports are crazy and being able to score after that, I'll tell my grandkids about that one, that's for sure.”

___

AP Sports Writers Jimmy Golen in Boston; Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina and Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report.

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Lakers' Deandre Ayton reveals LeBron James, JJ Redick's stern playoff message vs. Rockets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a strong position in their opening series against the Houston Rockets. The series currently sits at 2-0 in the Lakers’ favor. LeBron James has been on a tear through the first two games, which aligns with the mindset he expressed about the playoffs before they began.

“It’s going to be litty. It’s going to be crazy. I’m looking forward to it. I mean me personally like I don’t know how many more postseasons I got left in my career. And we talked about this a while ago, like getting ready for the postseason, like that moment, like it doesn’t matter what you did in the regular season. That sh*t is out the window now. Like it. Doesn’t matter. Like it starts again. This is it. So, I’m excited, man. I can’t wait,” James said.

Before the season started, James’ agent made it clear that he wants to remain on a legitimate contender as he approaches the end of his career.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”

The Lakers are on a roll right now, and the series could be in an even better position on Friday night if they win Game 3. Lakers center Deandre Ayton revealed the message that head coach JJ Redick and James continue to emphasize.

“LeBron is making it very known not to get comfortable, and JJ as well. So, don’t get too complacent. This is the playoffs,” Ayton told the media.

The Lakers certainly like where they stand in the series, but there is no room for complacency. James has experienced everything the playoffs have to offer, which is why he knows a series is not won until the fourth victory is secured.

LA is in control right now and appears to have the right mindset heading into the next two games on the road. James is determined to do whatever it takes to make a deep playoff run, both physically and mentally.

More NBA news:

• Lakers predicted to trade for $90M All-Star rim protector as perfect Luka Doncic lob partner

• Lakers' LeBron James gives ultimate nod of approval for re-signing $10.5M former DPOY

• Lakers' $30M diamond in the rough expected to re-sign after committing to summer with Luka Doncic

• Warriors predicted to replace Steve Kerr with fiery NCAA champion, SEC Coach of the Year

Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson is entering the 2026 NBA draft, where he is expected to be one of the top picks in June. Peterson announced his decision in an Instagram post Friday in which he thanked his teammates, friends and family, among others. "After much reflection and prayer, I am proud to announce my decision to declare for the NBA draft," he wrote. "This has been my lifelong dream, and I am excited for the future. Rock chalk forever!"

ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Darryn Peterson entering 2026 NBA draft

Matt Norlander: NEWS—Henri Veesaar is leaving UNC and intends to stay in the NBA Draft, source told @CBSSports. Avgd 17.0 pts, 8.7 rebs, shot ~42% from 3. Big domino on this NCAA draft declaration deadline day. Veesaar a potential 1st-rounder but will leave a big NIL💰 on the table as a result

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NEWS—Henri Veesaar is leaving UNC and intends to stay …

Antonio Daniels: It can't be a situation where you're allowing Lu Dort and you're allowing Cason Wallace and you're allowing Alex Caruso and some of these other guys to get extremely physical with the stars of the opposing team. But the moment that that physicality is put back toward the Oklahoma City Thunder when they're on the offensive end, now you get a softer whistle. 

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Antonio Daniels: Refs allow Thunder more physicality than opponents

Richard Jefferson: Who is the guard that when you get the opportunity, is it Luka? Is it a Steph? Is it Cade? Who is it? Evan Mobley: Definitely Kevin Durant. I like the challenge of that. I mean cuz he's Kevin Durant.

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Who is the guard that when you get the opportunity, is …

Q. What do you think is the golden era of basketball? Robert Horry: The golden era is to me I think when Magic and Bird had that confrontation, then you had when Jordan took over, then you had Shaq and Kobe, and once the bigs left the league, that's when to me the golden era ends because you think about the great battles that you had against other bigs and then once the big kind of left the game it became the shooting era. I just think the golden era was a bunch of bigs and you had guards, you had bigs and everybody else can play. Well, don't get me wrong, I love I still love the NBA. I get frustrated with the NBA, but I still love it. And I just think because you love to see guys talented, the way they can move their bodies, where they can shoot, the things that they can do is amazing. One of my favorite guys is Ant-Man.

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Robert Horry defines NBA's golden era as Magic-Bird through Shaq-Kobe

A 1997 Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green card has been purchased by alternative trading platform Alt for $3.15 million, the most ever paid for a solo Bryant card. The hefty price tag can be attributed to the lore of green PMGs. Though the serial number on the Bryant card's back reads "009/100," numbers 11-100 of each player's PMGs were red, while 1-10 were green. Of those 10 Bryant green PMGs from the first set, only three have been graded by Professional Sports Authenticator, typically the most desirable grading company. This Bryant card is a PSA 5, with only one graded higher by PSA.

ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kobe Bryant card purchased for record $3.15 million

Vince Carter: That was an angry summer, at the Olympics. I tend to dunk the basketball hard as you know, but like I was trying to pull screws loose every time and a little testier than normal, like we back and forth. I got into it with Shane Heal, he played for Australia. Like he was just back and forth who had just gotten into it the Olympics before with Charles Barkley.

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Vince Carter on 2000 Olympics: I was playing angry, every dunk was personal

Heat Central: Michael Beasley says things were never the same after Pat Riley took LeBrons cookies. “Spo and Riley tried to swing their d*cks. I seen it. I’m just watching. Spo and Riley tried to take his cookies and didn’t tell him. I’m pretty sure if they would’ve went to him like a man, it maybe would’ve been a different story. But he personally brings those cookies himself. That’s the part of the story they not telling…. That boy stood up like Thanos… He stood up and yelled… That’s the first time I seen the whole organization get scared. From that point on they tip toed around him. They knew he was out” (Via @ClubShayShay)

Twitter

Michael Beasley says things were never the same after Pat Riley took LeBrons cookies 😳

“Spo and Riley tried to swing their D*cks. I seen it. I’m just watching. Spo and Riley tried to take his cookies and didn’t tell him. I’m pretty sure if they would’ve went to him like a man,… https://t.co/LOuIuxR7N7pic.twitter.com/64ESMl5OXD

— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) April 22, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Michael Beasley says things were never the same after …

Alex B.: Such a sad & F’d up story about Michael Beasley’s time on the Lakers. Multiple deaths in his family at once & nobody was there for him. They laughed at him when he did dumb stuff while grieving (including LeBron). Only guy that tried to help was Josh Hart. “LeBron James and Magic Johnson were laughing, too.” - Michael Beasley

Twitter

Such a sad & F’d up story about Michael Beasley’s time on the Lakers

Multiple deaths in his family at once & nobody was there for him

They laughed at him when he did dumb stuff while grieving (including LeBron)

Only guy that tried to help was Josh Hart pic.twitter.com/LW9jAudOVP

— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) April 23, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “LeBron James and Magic Johnson were laughing, too.” - …

The Baltimore Ravens didn't need to say it outright. Their first-round pick said it for them. By selecting Olaivavega Ioane 14th overall, they made it clear what kind of offense they want to be. This is a team committed to physicality, control, and dominance at the line of scrimmage. General manager Eric DeCosta reinforced that idea when discussing the selection during a post-Round 1 press conference. Baltimore's goal is clear. Build a strong, imposing unit capable of taking over games, particularly in critical moments.

"We want to be a strong imposing team, and we probably haven't invested as many resources in the offensive line, recently... So, I think this guy just really checked off every single box for us as a player: mentality, personality, ability, skill level, athletic ability, physicality, all those different things at a very high level. We love when we can get the best player at his position in the draft, which we've done a lot and kind of take pride in that. So, we think he's a great fit for us and certainly going to help the players around him on the offensive line."

That philosophy also extends to the players behind the line. With Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in the backfield, the importance of a reliable interior offensive line becomes obvious. Jackson's mobility creates opportunities, while Henry's power demands consistent lanes. Both require stability up front. Ioane helps provide that. He's built to handle the physical demands of the position, and his versatility allows Baltimore to deploy him in multiple ways. Whether it's protecting the quarterback or opening running lanes, his presence strengthens the offense's foundation.

This pick also reflects a deeper understanding of how Baltimore wants to win. It's not just about adding weapons or chasing explosive plays. It's about controlling tempo, wearing down opponents, and finishing games on their terms.

The reason for the vision is easy to understand. The Ravens didn't just add a lineman. They reinforced the engine that drives everything else they want to do offensively.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens' picking Vega Ioane sends a clear message about identity

Championship club West Bromwich Albion have been docked two points by the English Football League for breaking profit and sustainability rules.

The Baggies had been charged for exceeding the £39m loss limit for the three seasons to 2024-25, allegations which the club denied.

But during a two-day hearing, an independent club financial review panel found Albion's losses "did exceed the upper loss threshold" and recommended a two-point penalty.

That leaves Albion in 20th place in the table, six points above the relegation zone with two games to play.

West Brom have two weeks to appeal against the deduction and should they do so, a decision on said appeal will then not be made for up to 28 days.

More to follow.

• Latest West Bromwich Albion news, analysis and fan views
• Listen to West Bromwich Albion content on BBC Sounds

Browns fleeced Chiefs with draft night trade that earned highest grade from ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Browns came into the 2026 NFL Draft's first-round with two picks, at Nos. 6 and 24 overall. They also had two clear needs: offensive tackle and wide receiver.

When their turn came at No. 6 overall, the Browns had the chance to take Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson or a top offensive lineman. Instead, they traded down three picks with the Kansas City Chiefs.

ESPN's Seth Walder gave Andrew Berry and Todd Monken the highest grade of any move on draft night with an "A-" grade for this trade. The Browns fleeced the Chiefs with this trade, as they picked up two picks and still got their preferred player.

Browns fleeced Chiefs with an A-graded top-10 trade

"This is an easy win for the Browns," Walder writes. "... Cleveland walks away with extra draft capital and still got Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano - a highly ranked player at a position of need -with the No. 9 pick."

The Browns traded the No. 6 pick to the Chiefs in exchange for the No. 9 pick, along with the 74th selection in Round 3 and the 148th selection in Round 5.

Cleveland's front office got an "A-" grade for this trade, while the Chiefs got a "D+" grade for this deal. It was a clear fleece for the Browns.

More: Why Shedeur Sanders is changing Browns jersey to No. 2 after wearing 12

What makes this such a great move for the Browns isn't just that they picked up the extra third and fifth rounders; it's that they got the player they might've taken with the No. 6 pick anyway.

The Chiefs took LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6, the Washington Commanders took Ohio State's Sonny Styles with the seventh pick, and the New Orleans Saints took Jordyn Tyson with the eighth pick.

Berry and Monken come out of the first round with their preferred OL in Fano, a top wide receiver in KC Concepcion down the board, and also pick up the 74th and 148th picks on top of that. It was a great Round 1, and this A- grade is well deserved.

More Browns news:

• Todd Monken missed NFL head coach photo thanks to getting a haircut for said photo
• Todd Monken reveals QB plan for Browns thats good news for Shedeur Sanders
• Browns back out of A.J. Epenesa's free agent contract
• Deshaun Watson is obviously the Browns' most overpaid player

I’m fighting a losing battle with jet lag. When I was younger it never bothered me but now, I’m a zombie for days. I played tennis yesterday afternoon, badly, in a fog. I don’t get jet lag going to places (or at least not near as bad), I think the fun of being somewhere new gets me through, but coming home….

So instead of trying to come up with a post about the Jays, I’m going to put up this OpenThread and likely go back to bed.

But then, after a little sleep, I’m going to the Calgary Comic Expo. I used to be a big comic book fan, I’d buy comic weekly, but the prices were going up and the nearest comic book store moved much further away and I decided that was a message that I should stop. The last several years I’ve gone to the Expo though and it has been enough to scratch that particular itch.

Anyway, use the thread to talk about anything you would like. Comics if you would like. Or anything else. Seen a good movie lately? Have some thoughts about sumo wrestlers and how they should wear move clothing.

Or maybe you want to talk about Bill Singer’s birthday. Singer started the first Blue Jays game, in the cold, and made 11 other starts (and one relief appearance) that year, his last in the majors. Singer is 82 today. He was 32 when he made that start on opening day. He had a good career, winning 20 games twice, making two all-star teams, and picking up 118 wins in total (127 losses), with a 3.39 ERA.

With the surprise selection of Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling in the first round, most of the Panthers needs remain to be filled. The currently team has two picks today, 51 and 83. General manager Dan Morgan has proven in the past that he is absolutely willing to move around on the second day of the draft to maximize the value of his position while still obtaining the players that he covets.

That brings us to three polls today, one is a straight rehash of yesterday’s and the others will be a little more day 2 specific:

• What position do you think the Carolina Panthers will target first tonight?
• What position do you think they will target second?
• Do you think the Panthers will make any trades tonight?

Remember, as with yesterday’s poll, this is not asking what you want them to do. We’re asking what you think they are going to do tonight. As we saw with the Freeling vs Dillon Thieneman debate last night, there can be a world of difference between our desires and the team’s actions.

Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic headline Lakers injury report for Game 3 vs. Rockets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers are on the road on Friday night as they travel to take on the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

For the Lakers, they enter Friday’s game with a 2-0 series lead after defeating the Rockets at home on Tuesday night behind big performances from LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard.

Now Los Angeles will try to grab another victory on the road over the Rockets on Friday as they look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

While the Lakers are looking to pick up a victory in Game 3 on Friday, they may be without two of their star players due to injuries.

Lakers list Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic on injury report for Game 3

For the Lakers, they have two players listed on their injury report for Game 3 on Friday in Houston.

Los Angeles has upgraded Austin Reaves to questionable due to a left oblique strain and there is a chance he could return from a seven-game absence on Friday night.

More: Kevin Durant headlines Rockets injury report for Game 3 vs. Lakers

If Reaves is able to return for Game 3, it would be a massive boost for the Lakers, especially on the offensive end, though they may elect to limit his minutes.

The Lakers have ruled out Luka Doncic due to a left hamstring strain as he will miss his eighth consecutive contest and it was reported earlier in the week that Los Angeles does not expect him to return in the first round.

The good news for the Lakers is that Jake LaRavia is off their injury report after exiting Tuesday’s victory due to an ankle sprain.

Fans can catch Game 3 of the first-round series between the Lakers and Rockets from Houston on Friday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video.

More NBA news:

• Victor Wembanyama headlines Spurs injury report for Game 3 vs. Trail Blazers

• Joel Embiid headlines 76ers injury report for Game 3 vs. Celtics

• What channel is Rockets vs. Lakers on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 3 of NBA Playoffs series

Dodgers' $72M All-Star gets perfect chance to redeem career-worst season after Edwin Diaz injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Tanner Scott during the 2025 offseason in hopes that he would lock down the closer role. However, he ended up having one of the worst seasons of his career. Following that lackluster year, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear he expected more.

“I think if you’re talking about a place where we can improve, I still feel last year was an outlier year for Tanner Scott,” Roberts said. “I just think there were some things he kept under wraps about his body. I think the transition to L.A. and anything that could go wrong, went wrong. I just feel he works his tail off, he’s too talented, and his track record was nothing like last year. So I just think it was an outlier of a season.”

While Scott has worked in late-inning situations this season, he was not serving as the closer with Edwin Díaz in that role. Now, Díaz is dealing with an elbow injury that will sideline him.

“Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, the team announced. The expectation is that the reliever could sit out around three months, a source told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez on Monday. Los Angeles put Diaz, 32, on the 15-day injured list before the team's series finale with the Colorado Rockies on Monday,” ESPN wrote.

With Díaz expected to miss significant time, this presents a major opportunity for Scott to prove he still has what it takes.

“This is where Tanner Scott can prove that the Dodgers did not make a mistake, and moreover that the Dodgers are right in having confidence in him to take the ball in the 9th inning,” Foul Territory’s Alanna Rizzo said.

Scott was one of the most sought-after relievers during the 2025 free agency window. However, his first season with the Dodgers didn’t reflect that level of demand.

Now in the second year of his $72 million contract, Scott has a prime opportunity to seize control of the closer role while Díaz is sidelined—and potentially hold onto it even after he returns.

More MLB news:

• Phillies' Bryce Harper delivers blunt message as frustration boils during MLB's worst losing streak

• Dodgers' Dave Roberts says Kyle Tucker, Freddie Freeman decision is permanent moving forward

• Braves reportedly release $10M veteran World Series champion amid strong start to season

• Braves reportedly face tough $140M Drake Baldwin contract decision following sizzling start

Personally, my favorite part of the NFL draft for the Seattle Seahawks (and, quite frankly, every other team in the league) is watching the videos that come out of the players getting the call. You know, the call that quite literally changes their lives forever. The phone call from the team to let them know they are officially getting drafted into the NFL.

On Thursday night, Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price got that call from the Seahawks. And you can tell just from the sound of his voice how emotional he got. Price was called by general manager John Schneider, and spoke with head coach Mike Macdonald, offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, as well as newly-hired running backs coach Thomas Hammock.

The call of a lifetime. @Jadarian15pic.twitter.com/TaTZw2OaJn

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 24, 2026

Of course, we didn't just get to see the excitement from the Seahawks' side of things. Price decided to spend draft night at home, surrounded by his friends and family, at his own personal draft party. When he got the call, the cameras were rolling!

The life-changing call 📞🥹#GoIrish☘️ | @Jadarian15 | #NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/IAqiY96ZQL

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 24, 2026

A moment he’ll remember forever.#GoIrish☘️ | @Jadarian15 | #NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/wGow9ngKzN

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 24, 2026

Price ended his memorable night with a message directed towards the 12th Man.

Ready to go. @Jadarian15pic.twitter.com/W8MuiOJM32

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 24, 2026

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: 2026 NFL draft: the moment Jadarian Price got the call from Seahawks

Pedro Acosta pointed to tyre grip and braking issues at Jerez after missing out on a direct place in Q2 for the first time in the 2026 MotoGP season.

Acosta was unusually off the pace during Practice for the Spanish Grand Prix, finishing a distant 15th aboard the factory KTM.

After bolting on a fresh soft rear tyre late in the session, the Spaniard lit up the timesheets on two separate occasions but failed to complete a clean lap each time. He also nearly-suffered a highside at Turn 6, the tricky right-hand hairpin which marks the heaviest braking zone at Jerez.

While Acosta managed to deliver a late improvement, it wasn’t enough for a Q2 berth, missing out by a tenth of a second to fellow KTM rider Enea Bastianini.

Explaining what went wrong on Friday, the 21-year-old suggested his struggles at Jerez could be track-specific.

“It’s hard to understand, because I only get these ‘normal’ feelings here [and not elsewhere],” he said. “Hopefully, this will be the worst grand prix of the year and then we can carry on in the vein we were in. 

“I think with that tyre [that gave me the scare], for some reason, I would have made it into Q2, because I was going much faster than with the second one [the one he fitted afterwards]. 

“For some reason, I had more grip than on the second attempt. We need to understand what’s going on, why we’re struggling so much to brake; it seems to be our weak point on this circuit.”

😱 @37_pedroacosta ALMOST highsides into the corner #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/axkzMI9Ct5

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 24, 2026

Five out of six Ducatis safely progressed into Q2 on Friday, while all four full-season Aprilias were also classified inside the top 10.

That left just one spot for a non-Italian bike on the grid, which eventually went to Bastianini on the Tech3-entered RC16.

While last year’s winner Alex Marquez enjoyed a three-tenth advantage at the front aboard the Gresini Ducatis, the rest of the field was separated by fine margins.

“The fact that everything is so close makes [missing out on Q2] seem even worse, because in the end, with a two tenths of a second improvement, you could end up third,” he admitted. “But anyway, there’s work to be done for tomorrow."

Acosta will face the entire Honda and Yamaha contingents in Q1 on Saturday, along with his team-mate Brad Binder and VR46 Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli.

He acknowledged the importance of qualifying at Jerez, particularly with tyre pressure regulations expected to make overtaking difficult in the race.

“Q1 will be everything, provided it doesn’t rain on Sunday,” he said. “The thing is, quite often, getting through to Q2 via Q1 is much harder than qualifying directly. Let’s see if we can make a step forward, but it’s true that it’s going to be a tight battle, because I’ve seen that Joan Mir, Brad Binder, Franco Morbidelli - who always springs a surprise - and Fabio Quartararo are all there.

“The race pace hasn’t been bad, especially in practice, but if we start 15th, having a good pace won’t be of much use. We’ll have to make the best of it tomorrow."

“You don’t want to try your best” - Fabio Quartararo’s latest take on Yamaha’s struggles

Davide Brivio: 'It's time for Trackhouse to get an experienced MotoGP rider'

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Cincinnati Reds lefty Andrew Abbott went toe to toe with Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet on Opening Day in Great American Ball Park, and did so admirably. Abbott fired 6.0 IP of scoreless ball for the Reds, scattering 7 hits and a walk while striking out 4 in an 83 pitch effort that kept the Reds otherwise inept offense within striking distance of a comeback (even though that didn’t pan out).

In the four starts since then, however, Abbott has looked a shell of his All-Star self. He’s only managed to clear 18.2 IP in that span, and has been tagged with 17 runs (16 earned) with a near equal 11/10 K/BB.

Next up for Abbott is the lineup of the Detroit Tigers, as that’s who is in town this weekend as the Reds celebrate their newest inductees into their team Hall of Fame. Detroit, to date, owns a .308 wOBA and 93 wRC+ against left-handed pitching so far in the early going of 2026, marks that both rank 18th in the league in their respective categories. They have, however, swatted only 3 dingers off southpaws this season, and only two teams can claim fewer homers in said category (the Marlins with 2 and Padres with 0, somehow).

The Reds, for the record, rank 4th in Major League Baseball with 12 homers off LHP – thanks, Elly!

Cincinnati will be up against an All-Star lefty themselves in the series opener on Friday as veteran Framber Valdez gets the start. He was mauled by the Minnesota Twins for 8 ER in 5.0 IP in his start against them on April 8th, yet in his other four starts combined he’s yielded 1 ER or fewer in each (3 ER total in 25.0 IP), so odds are the Reds are going to be up against it a bit.

Fortunately for the Reds, all-world ace Tarik Skubal pitched yesterday in the series finale between the Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. So, he won’t feature in this particular series.

First pitch on Friday is set for 6:40 PM ET. Brady Singer will toe the rubber on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET (after the team’s big HoF induction ceremony), while Rhett Lowder will start on Sunday in the series finale at 1:40 PM ET.

It could be the weekend when Livingston are finally put out of their misery at the foot of the Scottish Premiership, but there are four other sides in a dog-eat-dog scrap to avoid the relegation play-off place.

We still have five fixtures to go as the top flight splits into two sections of six, but if Kilmarnock gather more points in Aberdeen than Livingston do away to St Mirren on Saturday, the bottom club's fate will be sealed.

It will not be the earliest any side have been confirmed as relegated in the Premiership era - that badge of dishonour remains with current leaders Heart of Midlothian, who suffered the same fate a game before the split in 2014 after a 15-point deduction following insolvency.

However, somewhat amazingly, Livingston would become only the second newly promoted side - after Dundee in 2022 - to go straight back down since the top flight was rebranded as the Premiership 13 years ago.

Assuming that 12-point gap proves unbridgeable, where does that leave the teams above who are looking to avoid a two-leg decider against the Championship side that reaches the Premiership play-off final?

• Hearts, Rangers, Celtic - who will lead Premiership by end of Sunday?
• Murray and Taylor want Hearts title win - but what do other Hibs fans think?

Saturday eyes on Pittodrie and Paisley

Livingston's hosts, St Mirren, had a hand in relegating Hearts, despite the Edinburgh side beating Partick Thistle, with a victory over Motherwell 12 years ago.

The Paisley side were also the executioners when Gretna suffered the earliest relegation this century.

The Borders minnows were consigned to their fate, which was also followed by liquidation, after losing 2-0 in Paisley on 29 March 2008 - with seven games still left of the season, having suffered a 10-point deduction.

St Mirren would go on to finish 10th, one place above Kilmarnock at a time when no play-off faced the second-bottom side.

This time, however, there is much more at stake as Neil McCann leads his side to Aberdeen sitting two points behind the Buddies and five adrift of their hosts and Dundee.

The Dons stretched their lead over the Ayrshire side after beating Hibernian at home last time out to end a run of eight games without a win while Kilmarnock were being held to a 2-2 draw by visitors Dundee.

Head coach Stephen Robinson will be hoping a first win in four games since he switched from St Mirren will ease some of the pressure that mounts on Aberdeen whenever they are in danger of suffering the first-ever relegation in their history.

Kilmarnock's results have improved since McCann took charge in January, but they still have a fight on their hands to avoid a repeat of 2021, when their 28-year stay in the top flight was ended after a play-off defeat by Dundee.

Indeed, the odds appear stacked against them at Pittodrie considering they have not won in 13 trips away from Rugby Park since September and have lost on their latest four visits to Aberdeen.

As they seek to extend their own eight-year stay in the top flight, St Mirren will fancy their chances of bouncing back from Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final disappointment considering Livingston arrive having still not won in 33 games since August.

A 6-2 defeat would take the wind out of many a side's sails, but interim manager Craig McLeish will be stressing how well they did to come back from 2-0 down to Celtic to take the tie into extra-time before they were flattened by an amazing spell of four goals in six minutes.

St Mirren will also be wary of a side who have only lost two of their latest seven outings under new head coach Marvin Bartley and came close to ending their long wait for a win before Dundee United came from behind to win 3-2 at Tannadice last time out.

Livingston have not won away from home since beating third-tier East Fife in the League Cup on the opening day of the season and have failed to record a victory at SMiSA Stadium in 10 visits, losing the latest four, including 1-0 in December.

However, their latest three meetings with St Mirren have all finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, albeit all at home, with Livingston only losing the first after a penalty shoot-out in the Scottish Cup before two league stalemates.

Sunday serves up Dundee derby

Dundee begin their post-split fixtures with a city derby that could set the tone for their remaining four.

With United 12 points clear of Kilmarnock, Jim Goodwin's side are now free of relegation fears of their own, but that will not stop them wanting to deepen the woes of foes who will make the famous walk from the other end of Tannadice Street on Sunday.

Especially so considering the Dark Blues won 1-0 there in their last visit in January before denying United revenge at Dens Park last month after two stoppage-time goals salvaged a point for the hosts.

That started a run of four games without a win for Steven Pressley's side.

However, just as United showed battling qualities in coming from behind to beat Livingston last time out, so did Dundee as they drew 2-2 at Rugby Park despite Kilmarnock being twice ahead.

United are unbeaten in six games, winning their latest three - and securing a fourth in a row in the top flight since November 2014 would be a further sign that United are, indeed, the best of the rest outside the top six.

However, Dundee are now unbeaten in four visits to Tannadice since September 2021, winning the latest two.

Another win would do wonders to their chances of extending their three-year stay in the Premiership.

It's been an eventful 2026 NFL Draft for the New Orleans Saints, who added a starter on the first day of the selection event before gearing up for Days 2 and 3. New Orleans went into the draft with eight picks in the first six rounds, including two picks in both Rounds 4 and 5. That's coming from a 2025 midseason trade with the Seattle Seahawks that brought back two picks in exchange for wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, as well as a compensatory pick for losing cornerback Paulson Adebo in free agency last year.

Check this space often for pick-by-pick analysis on each Saints selection:

Round 1, No. 8: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

• Height: 6-foot-2
• Weight: 203 pounds
• 40-yard dash: N/A

There was a lot of speculation about the Saints trading up in Round 1, but New Orleans stood pat and selected Tyson. He's a bigger, more physical compliment to Chris Olave who can get open with ease and make plays at every level of the field. The question is whether he can stay healthy. Tyson missed multiple games in each of his four years of college due to knee, collarbone, and hamstring injuries. While the Saints did a great job cutting down on soft tissue injuries last season, proving they can keep Tyson on the field would go a long way to building confidence in their training staff.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft results: Analysis of every New Orleans Saints pick

Per Spotrac, the San Francisco 49ers converted $14.5 million of Osa Odighizuwa’s salary into a signing bonus. This move helps create $11.6 million in cap space.

Per Over the Cap, the number is $2.9 million annually stretched out through 2030, with the final two years being void years.

Over the Cap now has the 49ers with $42.3 million in cap space. Only three teams have more cap space than the Niners this season. The initial thought by many fans, especially doing this on the first day of the NFL Draft, would be that the team is looking to trade for a player. Coincidentally, Steelers pass rusher Alex Highsmith’s cap number in 2026 is $14.5 million on the dot.

This move is likely the 49ers being proactive for next year, when they’ll be -$14 million in cap space. Having the cap roll over will put them back in the black and in good standing.

Every little bit counts, and the team will likely end up eating around $8 million in dead money over the next three seasons if they wind up releasing Brandon Aiyuk post-June 1.

The 49ers might need to spend next offseason in free agency as well. Kyle Juszczyk, Mac Jones, Christian Kirk, Jake Brendel, and Dre Greenlaw’s contracts are all void.

So this could be a move to add a player this weekend, but it sets the 49ers up for the future if they need to dig deep to spend.

Day One of the 2026 NFL Draft was filled with drama and intrigue, with the Pittsburgh Steelers smack dab in the middle of it. After the dust settled on everything, the Steelers ended up taking Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with the No. 21 overall pick.

Regardless of what you think of the Iheanachor pick or the drama surrounding it, the Steelers must regroup and get back on track on Friday, when the Steelers have four picks.

Second round - Pick No. 53

We expect the Steelers to target a wide receiver here after losing out on Makai Lemon. This could also be a pick that gets packaged in a trade-up if the team covets a player like Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston and doesn't want to get caught watching the draft a second time on a receiver.

Third round - Pick No. 76

This is the pick the Steelers got in the trade that sent wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys.

Third round - Pick No. 85

The Steelers original third-round pick, this is one pick we could see being paired with pick No. 53 to move way up in the second round.

Third round - Pick No. 99

The Steelers third-round compensatory pick. This is a spot we've targeted a quarterback like Garrett Nussmeier or Cole Payton for Pittsburgh.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: What picks do the Steelers have on Day Two of the 2026 NFL Draft?

Who’s the Pack playing?

Opponent: Virginia Tech

Mascot: Thanksgiving Dinner | School Location: Metallica, VA | Conference: ACC

2026 Record: 20-19 (9-12, 9th) | 2026 RPI Rank: 41

2025 Record: 31-25 (12-18, 12th) | 2025 RPI Rank: 56

2024 Record: 32-22 (14-16, 5th Coastal) | 2024 RPI Rank: 68

When? Where? How do I watch?

Location: English Field (Blacksburg, VA)

Game Time(s): Fri, Apr 24 @ 6:00pm | Sat, Apr 25 @ 3:00pm | Sun, Apr 26 @ 1:00pm

TV: Friday (ACCNX) | Saturday (ACCNX) | Sunday (ACCNX)

Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (Friday | Saturday | Sunday)

Tell me about this team

John Szefc is a hell of a good coach, but this Virginia Tech job may be getting the better of him. Szefc led Marist to four Regional appearances in seven years during his first go as a head coach from 1996-2002. The Red Foxes have been to just three Regionals since. After a four-year detour to the middle of the country for assistant gigs at both Kansas and Kansas State, he took over as the head man at Maryland and led the Terrapins to three Regionals – advancing to the Super Regionals in two of those – during a five year run there. Prior to Szefc’s arrival in College Park, Maryland hadn’t been to the NCAA postseason since 1971. They’ve made three Regionals in the eight postseasons since Szfec left.

That leads us to Szfec’s current gig, entering his 9th season as the Hokies head man. It started out slow, as you’d expect for a program rebuilding from Pat Mason’s four-year ditch driving run. Year five, though, saw Virginia Tech go 45-14 with a 19-9 ACC mark, hosting a Regional and Super Regional in Blacksburg with a team that had an RPI ranking of 5th in the country. It really looked like Szefc might turn the Hokies into a power, but since then it’s been a program stuck on average. Three winning seasons since, but no winning conference marks, with RPI’s between 49 and 68.

This year’s squad doesn’t look like they’re going to break that trend. The Hokies started off the year 7-1, but that included a 4-0 mark in one-run games. They went 1-8 in their next nine games, although that run included games against Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, and Virginia, all potential NCAA Regional hosts this year. Things got a little better, winning the last game of the Virginia series, topping VCU in a midweek game, and then winning their series over Duke.

Unfortunately, a 4-8 run followed, including midweek losses to East Tennessee State and Liberty, as well as a series loss at home to Stanford. That series with the Cardinal was one the Hokies had to win, but dropped it in an extra-innings loss in the rubber match. NC State will catch the Hokies back on a bit of a heater, winning four of their last five after topping Pittsburgh last weekend.

That early season luck in close games has evened back out, with Virginia Tech going 3-3 in games either decided by a single run or that went extra innings. It’s not hard to find the culprit for the Hokies woes this year: the pitching staff.

Hokies hurlers are sporting a combined 7.21 ERA over 336.0 innings this year, with a walk rate of 12.6% and a strikeout rate of 23.1%. They do have two solid starters in JR RHP Brett Renfrow and rJR RHP Griffin Stieg and that group strikeout rate will play, but once you get past Renfrow and Stieg, only one of the next nine pitchers who have tossed more than 10.0 IP this year have a sub-10.0 walk rate. That’s an issue, and will obviously lead to giving up more runs.

The lineup hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t been bad with a collective .267/.379/.440, 78 2B, 44 HR, 12.6 BB%, 22.6 K%, 43-56 SB. The issue is there’s not a player who does any one thing exceptionally well, so it’s hard to construct an offensive identity. It is a strong defensive team, though, although the lack of errors combined with the high ERA of the pitching staff does make you wonder what kind of range the team has in the field, and some of the advanced metrics tell that story. Only four VT position players have a DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) total over 1.00 this year. Compare that to NC State that has 11 players over that mark.

Barring the Hokies going 6-3 or better down the stretch in ACC play and then making some noise at the ACC Tournament, it’ll be four straight missed Regionals for Virginia Tech.

Pitching Matchups

Friday: TBD vs TBD

Saturday: TBD vs TBD

Sunday: TBD vs TBD

Key Players:

Offense

C Henry Cooke (SR) – .252/.369/.409, 7 2B, 3 HR, 13.4 BB%, 28.2 K%, 3-3 SB. Hitting .361/.467/.623, 5 2B, 3 HR, 17. BB%, 26.7 K%, 1-1 SB in ACC play. Has also thrown out 23.7% of base stealers, with an almost identical 23.1% mark in ACC play. Multiple hits in 4 of his last 7 games.

1B Hudson Lutterman (SO) – .291/.357/.545, 6 2B, 8 HR, 7.0 BB%, 17.1 K%, 0-0 SB. Undersized first baseman (5’10, 180 lbs) is having a big sophomore jump after hitting just .208/.291/.392 over 34 starts in 2025. Hit 2 HR last weekend at Pitt, including a walk-off in the series finale.

SS Ethan Gibson (JR) – .319/.385/.511, 6 2B, 4 HR, 10.9 BB%, 20.9 K%, 1-1 SB. Mostly used as a defensive sub over his first two years with the program, making 28 starts over 73 games across 2024-2025 with just a .193 batting average over that time. Has been fantastic with the glove, committing just 3 errors on the year with a .979 fielding percentage. Current 10-game hitting streak.

2B Ethan Ball (FR) – .299/.387/.565, 13 2B, 8 HR, 7.7 BB%, 33.3 K%, 3-3 SB. Started off his college career with a 10-game hitting streak before being more spotty over the last month. Only has four hits over his last six games, but they’ve all been doubles, including two in VT’s win over VCU on Tuesday.

Pitching

RHP Brett Renfrow (JR) – 2-4, 6.41 ERA, 46.1 IP, 7.8 BB%, 30.1 K%. Two-time 3rd Team All-ACC selection, he was listed by some as a Top 100 prospect entering this year, but has had a rough go of it. The 6’3, 220 lbs righty has some nice tools, with a mid-90’s fastball that will touch 97, a upper-80’s cutter, mid-80’s slider, low-80’s curve, and mid-80’s changeup. It’s a nice arsenal of pitches, and the peripherals show what he’s capable of with them. Got beaten up by GT, UVA, Miami, and BC, but shut down Duke, Stanford, and Pitt, so it’s been a mixed bag.

RHP Griffin Stieg (rJR) – 2-2, 5.87 ERA, 46.0 IP, 8.8 BB%, 17.6 K%. Started 13 games for the Hokies in 2024 (3-2, 4.70 ERA, 51.2 IP, 5.7 BB%, 21.1 K%), but then needed elbow surgery at the end of that year that wiped out his 2025 season. Despite that, was drafted in the 18th round by the Mariners last year, but turned down the Mariners – as well as his transfer portal commitment to Alabama – to return to the Hokies. He’s a low-90’s arm who will touch the mid-90s, adding in a slider and changeup.

RHP Preston Crowl (JR) – 1-2, 4 SV, 6.42 ERA, 33.2 IP, 12.0 BB%, 22.7 K%. Has 55 career appearances with the Hokies. Hasn’t had the success he did last year (2-0, 1 SV, 3.90 ERA, 32.1 IP, 16.3 BB%, 26.9 K%) in terms of ERA or strikeout rate, but his control has been better and he’s been counted on in bigger spots. He’s heavily relied upon, making multiple appearances in a single ACC series three times this year and has topped 30 pitches in each of his last 7 appearances, including a 74-pitch relief outing at Boston College two weekends ago.

LHP Brendan Yagesh (SR) – 2-2, 1 SV, 7.47 ERA, 31.1 IP, 12.7 BB%, 20.4 K%. Former transfer from Mount St. Mary’s, originally hailing from Urbana, Virginia. Started 16 games over two seasons for the Mountaineers, but has mostly been a reliever for the Hokies, although he did start three ACC games earlier this year, including tossing 7.0 shutout innings against Duke (he then gave up 13 ER over 7.0 IP in his next two starts). Outside of those two negative starts and one bad turn at Virginia, he’s been solid.

LHP ChaseSwift (SO) – 1-1, 4.00 ERA, 18.0 IP, 9.7 BB%, 45.8 K%. The mustachioed redhead is aptly named for a guy who ranks 12th in the country in whiff rate. Those peripherals say the guy needs more innings. He won’t blow the ball by anybody with a heater that only tops in the low-90’s, but he has a four-pitch mix (cutter, slider, changeup) that generate a lot of swings and misses.

Quick! Fun Facts!

The Hokies have four alums in the MLB this year: 1B T.J. Rumfield (Rockies), LHP Ian Seymour (Rays), OF Kerry Carpenter (Tigers), and LHP Joe Mantiply (Blue Jays). They had three other alums appear at the MLB level in 2025: RHP Nic Enright (Guardians; will miss 2025 with TJS), RHP Zach Brzykcy (Nationals; now with Marlins), RHP Jesse Hahn (Mariners; now with Blue Jays).

The seven former Hokies at the MLB level over the last two years is impressive for the program, given that there were only 11 former Virginia Tech players to make it to that level over the previous 25 seasons.

Virginia Tech doesn’t have a single player from the state of North Carolina. That’s wild.

The Hokies roster isn’t very deep on All-Name Team candidates, but FR INF Willie Hurt (.407/.619/.444, 1 2B, 0 HR, 27.9 BB%, 14.0 K%, 1-3 SB) is a no-doubt 1st Teamer. The lefty swinging DH currently has a 7-game hitting streak.

The Key To A Series Win For State

With Ryan Marohn unavailable for a second straight weekend, the Wolfpack bats are going to have to come alive against this Hokies pitching staff. The Hokies have been one of the best defensive teams in the conference, so State will need to also play clean to support the pitching staff and not supply any extra help to VTs lineup.

Prediction

There’s not a lot of confidence to be had for the Wolfpack after last weekend’s showing in Winston-Salem. With another road trip starting – and doing so without Jacob Dudan and Ryan Marohn – it’s hard to predict an NC State series win. Couple that with the Hokies coming off a series win of their own, it’s easy to see Virginia Tech coming out on top here in what should be a close, high-scoring three-game series.

Outcome: Hokies take two of three

Wolves have confirmed that all season-ticket holders will receive "a minimum 25% reduction" in their packages ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, which will see the club drop down to the Championship after an eight-year stint in the Premier League.

There will be greater reductions available across concession categories. For example, younger supporters could see their season ticket prices fall "by as much as 53%" compared to this campaign.

In addition, the under-21 concessionary category has been increased to under-23, while the under-17 band has been upped to under-18.

Fixed prices have also been introduced for younger supporters, with under-18s paying a £175 flat-rate across all four stands and under-14s paying just £75.

The football club committed to season ticket reductions last month, as well as a review of its general admission ticket pricing.

Wolves' interim executive chairman Nathan Shi confirmed the wholesale changes to the club's pricing structure in a club statement.

"These changes reflect a clear reset in how we approach ticketing at Wolves, with a focus on accessibility and long-term growth" he said.

"We want to ensure more supporters, especially young fans and families, can experience Molineux and feel part of the club.

"A full and vibrant Molineux remains crucial to our goals - one we believe can drive the team to a successful 2026-27 season."

The decision confirms the club's mission to improve accessibility, encourage long-term growth and build their next generation of supporters.

Meanwhile, senior supporters will also continue to benefit from the 65+ concessionary category, despite changes to the national retirement age.

The club believes the move "represents a reset in approach, aimed at strengthening the connection between the club and its supporters for the long term".

How do you the announcement? Will you be renewing your season ticket for the Championship?

Let us know your thoughts here

• Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are reportedly preparing a fresh swoop for Omar Marmoush this summer.
• Villa officials view the Egyptian as an ideal profile to bolster their frontline.
• Marmoush has struggled to displace Jeremy Doku in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI.

Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush remains of interest to Aston Villa after the Birmingham club tried to sign the Egyptian in January, as per a new report.

The 27-year-old has found consistent starts hard to come by at the Etihad Stadium during the 2025/26 campaign, despite hugely encouraging performances, albeit sporadically and largely in cup competitions.

Despite a prolific record for Egypt – most recently netting twice during the Africa Cup of Nations and a run to the semi-finals – Omar Marmoush has largely been utilised as a rotation option by Pep Guardiola, appearing in 17 Premier League matches but starting seven.

His technical profile and deadly reputation in front of goal, however, has made him a primary target for several high-flying Premier League sides, and Aston Villa – who are currently battling for a top-four finish – have long admired the forward’s ability.

Aston Villa maintain Omar Marmoush pursuit

As reported by Gary Jacob of The Times newspaper, Aston Villa remain interested in Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush after attempting to sign the Egypt international in January prior to securing Tammy Abraham’s services.

The Midlands club were eager to bring in Marmoush during the mid-season window to provide competition for Ollie Watkins, and while a deal failed to materialise at the time, it appears Unai Emery remains unconvinced that his attacking options are complete.

What is next for Omar Marmoush?

With Manchester City currently in the hunt for a domestic Treble – further bolstered by their midweek 1-0 win at Burnley to send them to the top of the table – Etihad Stadium officials are unlikely to entertain exit talks until the season concludes.

However, the Egyptian’s desire for a guaranteed starting role could be the catalyst for a move, and scouts may look towards City’s remain domestic cup action starting with an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Southampton as opportunity to watch Marmoush closely.

If Aston Villa are to land their man, they will likely have to meet a valuation far in excess of £50 million – a figure City would demand for a player contracted until June 2029, and a star they invested heavily in just over one year ago.

If the Portland Trail Blazers can somehow upset the San Antonio Spurs in the quarterfinals of the NBA Playoffs, a new report suggests they could get a boost from one of the greatest players in franchise history.

The Trail Blazers entered their first playoff series in several years against the Spurs as sizable underdogs. And it is understandable why. San Antonio looks like a real threat to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder because of 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama.

However, in Game 2, the French phenom had a nasty spill that saw him fall on his face and incur a concussion. While he is traveling with the team, he is unlikely to suit up in Game 3, and a return in Game 4 is up in the air. After winning Tuesday’s game, and Wembayama’s return date unclear, all of a sudden, this series looks a lot more winnable for the Trail Blazers.

Door opens to Damian Lillard return during 2026 NBA Playoffs

Well, if they can somehow pull off the unthinkable and advance to the next round, there seems to be an outside chance they could get the addition of a certain Trail Blazers legend.

“However implausible it may seem, the franchise has not completely ruled out the possibility that Damian Lillard could make a surprise appearance in the postseason this year,” multiple sources told The Oregonian. “‘I wouldn’t rule anything out,’ a source said.”

Obviously, Lillard won’t jump in and be the player he was before he tore his ACL a year ago. However, in a potential series against the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves, he can serve as a decoy at the very least. But chances are he could be a rock-solid scorer and three-point threat off the bench. The nine-time All-Star won this year’s NBA Three-Point competition.

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Draft night rarely unfolds without a few tense moments and surprises. Few teams hold their cards closer to their vests than the Baltimore Ravens. Then came the selection of Olaivavega Ioane. As exciting as it was, though probably unsurprising, it was preceded by a moment that could have changed everything. Eric DeCosta and Jesse Minter spoke with the media after Round 1. Per DeCosta, Baltimore received a call before turning in their draft card. They considered trading back. It was a real possibility, one that could have added more draft capital and reshaped the board. In the end, it didn't materialize.

That decision speaks volumes. The Ravens didn't outright reject the idea of moving back. They considered it carefully. They weighed whether they could still land one of their targeted players. When that assurance wasn't there, they stayed put. That's discipline.

The moment the Ravens chose certainty over curiosity.

It’s easy to get caught up in the allure of extra picks, especially in a deep draft class. Baltimore resisted that temptation. They prioritized the certainty of a can't-miss prospect over adding more draft capital. They chose the player they believed fit their culture best rather than gambling on what might still be available later.

Ioane wasn't just a fallback option. He was one of their preferred targets all along, and once the trade scenario dissolved, the decision became clear. He had to be the 14th overall selection. He had to be a Raven.

This moment also highlights an important aspect of how the Ravens operate. They don't chase moves for the sake of activity. Every decision is tied to value, fit, and long-term impact. In this case, the value wasn't in moving back. It was in staying exactly where they were.

If faith is rewarded, this won't just be remembered as a solid pick. It will be remembered as the moment Baltimore doubled down on its identity, and if Vega Ioane becomes even a fraction of what that comparison suggests, the Ravens didn't just add a guard. They added another standard-bearer.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens nearly traded back before selecting Vega Ioane

The BBC’s long-running Saturday lunchtime staple, Football Focus, is set to conclude after this season, a decision the corporation attributes to "changing audience behaviours".

The announcement, marking the end of a programme that first aired in 1974, has sparked debate, with former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys declaring it a “sign of the times” and warning that Match of the Day could be next.

Presenter Alex Scott, who fronts the show, expressed fears of a “toxic” social media backlash following the news, and indeed, sexist remarks were directed at her in comments under an Instagram message she posted on Thursday.

Keys, who anchored Sky’s Premier League coverage for nearly two decades, shared his views on X, stating: “It’s not Alex Scott’s fault Football Focus has folded – it’s a sign of the times. MOTD will be next.

“Viewing habits have changed. That’s why Grandstand & World of Sport ended. And Sportsnight. Pre-show & post-show wrapped around live games will go soon as well.”

While the BBC has not officially commented on Keys’ remarks, sources close to the corporation have insisted that Match of the Day has seen an increase in its reach this season.

Digital accounts accessing MOTD content are understood to be up 21 per cent year on year, with overall digital consumption rising sharply – total digital requests are up 36 per cent compared with last season and 87 per cent compared with the 2022-23 season.

Despite a slight decline in viewing figures for the flagship Saturday night highlights programme, consistent with wider industry trends in live television, its overall reach has grown.

A new rights deal with the Premier League has also enabled the show to air highlights digitally at 8pm, expanding access for viewers.

Reflecting on Football Focus, Scott said it had been “incredibly special” to be part of the programme.

However, she acknowledged the evolving media landscape: “Sometimes things change, but when this show began all those years ago, social media wasn’t a driving force, podcasts didn’t exist, and there was no instant access to information in the way there is today.

“Now, by the time that we go on air, the reality is that you have already seen it, debated it, and lived it across so many platforms. That shift has changed the whole industry.”

Suddenly, the Vegas Golden Knights have themselves the competitive first round series they were promised.

On Friday, the first round action shifts over to Salt Lake City as the Golden Knights hope to break the deadlock in their favor over the Utah Mammoth.

Venue: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Date: Friday, April 24

Time: 6:30 pm PST

How To Watch: SCRIPPS, TBS

Radio: 1340 AM, 94.7 FM

With the series now tied at a game apiece, the Golden Knights find themselves in something of an uphill battle. They will now have to win at least one game in Salt Lake City to take back home ice advantage, which will be easier said than done. Utah is going all out for their playoff hockey debut, and the arena is going to be one of the loudest experiences they have ever gone through.

If the Golden Knights are going to weather the storm, this is what they must do.

Cool the crowd

The Golden Knights have to be aware that they are in for a difficult task, so they have to find a way to nullify Utah’s crowd noise quickly.

Mark Stone has had a strong series so far with goals in each of the first two games, but this is the ideal time for the rest of Vegas’ top scorers to produce. Jack Eichel, Pavel Dorofeyev and Mitch Marner have so far been held off the scoresheet, but they all have the offensive talent to change that at any given moment. It will take a hot start to keep the decibel levels in Salt Lake City down, and the Golden Knights especially do not want to volume to increase.

Slow the kids down

While the Golden Knights have done a good job keeping most of Utah’s weapons at bay, the line of Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther and Kailer Yamamoto have been the best line in the series so far.

Cooley and Guenther have proven the moment is not too big for them, scoring three of Utah’s five goals, including Cooley’s game-winner in Game Two. The Golden Knights have yet to find a combination that works against them, and home ice shifting means Utah can now search for a matchup that makes the line’s impact stronger. John Tortorella will have to find a way to outfox Utah bench boss Andre Tourigny in this regard to give his team the tactical advantage.

Prove your worth

For the first time in the Tortorella era, the Golden Knights find themselves with their backs against the wall.

Typically this season, the Golden Knights have found themselves running in streaks, with wins and losses usually piling up in bunches. That has to be a point of concern right now, as one loss snowballing into negative momentum could be what completely turns the tide of the series away from Vegas. With new adversity in their path, this game is where the hockey world is going to learn a lot about this rendition of the Golden Knights.

Carlos Alcaraz will miss out on the opportunity to defend his Roland Garros crown after confirming he will skip the French Open due to injury.

The seven-time grand slam champion picked up a wrist injury in the first round of the Barcelona Open earlier this ⁠month before withdrawing from ​the ⁠tournament.

Scans showed the issue was more serious than initially thought, leading him to ⁠then skip the Madrid Open, with further tests confirming that he will be unable to compete in Paris, nor will he feature at the Italian Open beforehand.

"After the ‌results of the tests carried out ‌today, we have ‌decided that the most prudent thing ⁠is to be cautious and not participate in Rome and Roland Garros, while we wait to ‌assess the evolution ​to decide ‌when we ⁠will return to ⁠the court," Alcaraz ‌said on his Instagram.

“This is a difficult time for me, but I am sure we will come out of it stronger.”

The Spaniard was due to enter the tournament as the holder after coming from two sets down to beat rival Jannik Sinner 4-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 7-6 in a five-and-a-half-hour final epic.

Alcaraz, who was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year earlier this week, was vying for his third title at Roland Garros, having dispatched Alexander Zverev to win his first crown in 2024.

However, he has surrendered the world number one ‌ranking to Sinner after losing to the Italian ⁠in the Monte Carlo Masters final days before his ‌Barcelona opener, a win over Otto Virtanen.

Injury means he will likely fall further off the pace with Sinner, competing in Madrid, taking a firm grip at the top of the rankings.

The 22-year-old had previously told reporters that the injury “is more serious than any of us expected” and said he would “need to listen to my body” to avoid further damage.

The ​French Open will start ‌from 24 May in Paris.

What did Becky Hammon say about Jalen Brunson? Why WNBA legend's comment has resurfaced originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In December 2023, Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon made waves when she declared on ESPN that the New York Knicks could not win an NBA championship with Jalen Brunson.

Why? Because he's too small.

"If your best player is small, you're not winning," Hammon said, before clarifying that Stephen Curry was the sole exception to this axiom.

MORE: Karl-Anthony Towns still believes the Knicks have the "fight" required to beat the Hawks

Hammon was ridiculed for that take at the time. But Knicks and NBA fans are starting to see the wisdom in it as Brunson struggles in New York's first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks.

Brunson is averaging 27.7 points and 6.0 assists against the Hawks, but he's shooting only 42 percent from the floor and has been heavily criticized for his defense when matched up against Atlanta's CJ McCollum.

In the series' first two games, McCollum scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting when Brunson was his primary defender. He then hit the game-winning shot in Game 3 as the Hawks defeated the Knicks, 109-108, to go up 2-1 in the series.

That has led to a reappraisal of Hammon's comments, with many observers recognizing that the three-time WNBA champion.

"The apology to Becky Hammon should be as loud as the disrespect was on her when she said this about Jalen Brunson," wrote @iam_johnw on X after Game 3.

"Becky Hammon was right about that point guard in New York btw," wrote @W_B_Rick on X after Game 2.

"She’s one of the best coaches in the WNBA. She was one of (Gregg Popovich's) disciples as an assistant in San Antonio," wrote @HiladoSanti. "She knows ball."

"I’m a Knicks fan and she was 1,000 percent right," @fredyvmusic said. "No shade on him. He just needs the right team around him and a go-to wing during crunch time."

After Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart combined for only two points on 1-of-12 shooting in Game 3, time is starting to run out on the Knicks to find a capable complement for Brunson -- whose talent is universally recognized, but whose limitations could haunt New York for a while.

More NBA news:

• "Sloppy": Mike Brown calls out Knicks weakness after Game 3 loss to Hawks

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• Is Joel Embiid playing in Game 3 tonight vs. Celtics? Game status for 76ers star

Some recent clues have made it pretty clear who Paddy Pimblett is set to face next.

Pimblett is planning his next move after falling short in his first title shot back in January.

He was defeated by Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 324, a fight for the interim lightweight belt. With Gaethje now moving on to face Ilia Topuria, Pimblett needs to regroup and get back on track against another top contender. And it’s become quite clear who that opponent will be.

Fans convinced Paddy Pimblett is facing Benoit Saint-Denis after ‘southpaw’ clue

Pimblett requested a slot on the card at International Fight Week in July, and Dana White agreed. The Scouser later confirmed that his return date had been locked in.

While names like Dan Hooker and Renato Moicano have come up after their recent back-and-forths, Pimblett’s latest Instagram activity seems to rule both of them out.

Pimblett shared a photo with former fighter ‘Stun Gun’ Dong Hyun Kim and current UFC welterweight Seok Hyeon Ko, who had stopped by Next Generation MMA gym in Liverpool.

The caption hinted at his next move, suggesting training with southpaws was no coincidence. “Great to have @stungunkim and @ko.seokhyeon in the gym today some perfect rounds for me with some southpaws 👀,” he wrote.

Plenty of fans pointed out that Benoit Saint-Denis would make sense given that clue.

“Yeah it’s BSD then. Dan Hooker and Moicano are orthodox.”

“BSD or Gamrot. More evidence towards it being BSD.”

“It has to be Saint-Denis.”

“The two can just stop hinting at it now. We know it’s BSD and Paddy.”

“Obviously BSD.”

“No need to hint anything, we know it’s BSD.”

Paddy Pimblett’s UFC 329 comeback could fall on Conor McGregor card

Should Pimblett’s next fight get booked for July 11, it might be the first time he shares a card with Conor McGregor.

The Irishman hasn’t fought since 2021 and had been aiming for a return at the White House event in June of this year.

That didn’t end up happening, as the UFC seemed to prefer his comeback headline an arena event to maximise revenue. McGregor remains one of combat sports’ biggest draws despite his long layoff and back-to-back losses before stepping away.

Now, talks have shifted towards International Fight Week, where Max Holloway is reportedly being lined up as McGregor’s opponent.

Read more:

Carlos Alcaraz won’t be defending his Roland Garros title this spring.

The world No. 2 has withdrawn from the clay court Grand Slam due to a wrist injury. He also won’t play in Rome and is missing Barcelona. He reportedly has a “full splint around his right wrist.”

The French Open runs May 24-June 7.

“After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing is to be cautious and not participate in Rome and Roland Garros, while we wait to assess the evolution to decide when we will return to the court,” he announced on social media. “It's a complicated moment for me, but I'm sure we'll come out stronger from here”

Alcaraz has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including the last two French Open titles in 2024 and '25. He and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner have won the last nine straight major titles.

Last year, Alcaraz roared back from two sets down to defeat Sinner in five sets.

Sinner was up 5-3, 0-40 on Alcaraz’s serve in the fourth set and the Spaniard saved three championship points.

Spanish TV show El Partido de COPE reported Alcaraz has an inflamed tendon sheath in his wrist.

“In the sheath of the tendon, which is inflamed,” Angel Ga Muñiz said. “His wrist has been immobilised for four days, since last Friday. And that test, that decisive test, that key test that Carlos Alcaraz talks about is a follow-up ultrasound.

“The first one was done right after the injury in Barcelona. At that very moment, the decision was already made that Madrid was impossible and it was already suspected that Rome would also be very difficult, and they were dreaming about Roland Garros. Now that dream seems a bit further away.

“Everything depends on what comes out in that follow-up ultrasound, on whether the inflammation has gone down, on whether that sheath that protects the tendon is better. But obviously Rome now seems absolutely impossible, and Roland Garros looks bad."

After Roland Garros, Wimbledon follows shortly between June 29-July 12.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Tarps off in New Orleans 😳 pic.twitter.com/qtk9wxgyib

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 23, 2026

bro just wanted to flex the physique lets be real

— PrizePicks (@PrizePicks) April 23, 2026

Mikey is jacked, lol. That Beacon Hill strength!

— CF/LSBG/WSS (@lytchdaddy) April 23, 2026

I’ve seen less skin at a South Beach pool party. Someone get this man a sponsorship with SPF 50.

— Essentially Golf (@esg_2025) April 23, 2026

This is golf! Not a rock concert! @ShooterMcGavin

— Free Bird 🇺🇸 🦅 (@RealDrewAdkins) April 23, 2026

Notice how it's always the in shape guys who are so eager to whip off their shirts for the dumbest reasons xD

— Derek S (@DerekS730133339) April 23, 2026

Let's be honest here - if any of us old fat twitter golf guys were a "young" pro-golfer, w/a 6-pack, guns, and 15yr old high school ***** perm hairdo - we'd be looking for any reason possible to pop the shirt off on National TV. Who are we kidding - he's been waiting a while for…

— Martin McSports (@MartinMcSports) April 23, 2026

Read the original on HuffPost

The Baltimore Ravens, more often than not, have always built their reputation in the trenches. They've done so on both sides of the ball. Names like Jonathan Ogden, Haloti Ngata, Matt Birk, Tony Siragusa, and Marshal Yanda come to mind, among others.

That’s what made general manager Eric DeCosta’s post-draft admission so notable. Following the selection of Olaivavega Ioane, he and head coach Jesse Minter spoke with the media. DeCosta acknowledged something rarely said so plainly: Baltimore hasn’t invested as heavily in the offensive line in recent years as it should have. That kind of honesty matters.

The Ravens are off to a good start by adding Vega Ioane, but there's more work to do.

For a franchise that prides itself on physicality and dominance at the line of scrimmage, that gap had become increasingly difficult to ignore. The interior of the Ravens' offensive line left much to be desired as of late. The decision to take Ioane at No. 14 wasn’t just about adding talent. It was about charting a new course and direction.

Thankfully, the mission may have been accomplished, but it's only beginning. Ioane represents exactly what the Ravens have been missing. He’s physical, versatile, and built to impose his will in both the run and pass game. More importantly, he brings a mentality that aligns with what Baltimore wants to be moving forward.

This move also signals a broader philosophical reset. With Lamar Jackson leading the offense and Derrick Henry now part of the equation, reinforcing the offensive line becomes essential. Protecting the quarterback and establishing a consistent run game aren’t luxuries. They're necessities. The good news is that this organization has its blueprints.

Baltimore has long thrived when it controls the game up front. This pick suggests they’re fully committed to returning to that formula. DeCosta didn’t just draft a guard. He sent a message. The Ravens understand what made them successful in the past, and they’re making sure they don’t drift too far from it again.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Eric DeCosta admits Ravens haven’t invested enough in offensive line

Rams' connection to Ty Simpson’s dad might explain the most shocking reach in 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With a roster bursting with talent — and Super Bowl aspirations — the Rams seemed likely to attempt to add win-now talent when they stepped to the stage with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Instead, they took a flyer on a high-potential hurler with serious question marks. Los Angeles drafted Ty Simpson with its first-round pick, giving him a far higher draft grade than had been accepted by the consensus of scouts and draft experts.

The logic behind Simpson's selection is clear, even if some might think it's flawed. Matthew Stafford is nearing the end of his glittering career. In Simpson, the Rams think they landed an understudy who can learn all the tricks of the trade from his opposite number before taking over.

Furthermore, Simpson shares a curious relationship with Los Angeles' front office — namely, its general manager, Les Snead.

With that, here's what you need to know about Simpson and Snead's relationship, a connection that could help explain the Rams' decision to pick him.

2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available

Ty Simpson's dad's connection to Les Snead

Simpson's selection begins to make more sense when held next to his father's connection to the man tasked with selecting him, Snead. According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Simpson's father and Snead go way back, striking up a "very strong relationship" over the years. Towards the end of Simpson's senior season, his father consulted a number of football talking heads to get insight on what his next steps should be.

A $6.5 million offer from Miami (FL) lay in wait for Simpson, who took to Tinseltown ahead of the Crimson Tide's Rose Bowl tilt against Indiana. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Rams hosted Simpson's parents at their facility. Conversations between Simpson's family and Snead took place, with Los Angeles' general manager effectively guaranteeing that the Rams would take Simpson with their first-round pick.

Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport suggested that Los Angeles could trade back to land Simpson closer to the end of the first round. In the end, the Rams held pat, choosing Simpson as Stafford's heir apparent with the No. 13 pick.

Snead's relationship with Simpson's father appeared to prove paramount on draft day. Simpson told reporters that he hadn't met McVay prior to his selection, although The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue noted that McVay hasn't met with a prospect before drafting them since 2020.

Nevertheless, McVay looked tenser than one would expect during his post-first-round press conference with Snead.

#Ramshouse GM Les Snead & HC Sean McVay spoke w/ me about what they saw that intrigued them to draft QB Ty Simpson w/ the 13th pick

🎥: @NitecastMedia 🏈 #NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/b06rjPwtqF

— Nick Hamilton (@NickHamilton213) April 24, 2026

Only time will tell how the configuration of Snead, McVay and Simpson will work out in Hollywood. Snead's relationship with the latter is certain to draw some scrutiny in the weeks and months to come, however.

MORE: Why Rams made stunning decision to draft Ty Simpson

Who is Ty Simpson's dad?

Simpson's father is John Simpson. He, too, is a football man, having played briefly at Mississippi State before transferring to Southern Miss to play baseball in the early 1990s.

Following his collegiate career, Simpson embarked on a coaching journey, earning position coaching gigs at Jacksonville State and Texas State and an offensive coordinator role at Chattanooga. In 2006, Simpson was hired as the head coach at FCS side UT-Martin. He has coached there ever since, leading the Skyhawks to five conference titles. 

MORE: What Ty Simpson pick means for Mathew Stafford's future with Rams

Why did Rams draft Ty Simpson?

By selecting Simpson, the Rams secured their heir apparent to Stafford, an aging gunslinger who is in the twilight of his career.

Stafford's exploits during the 2025 season were spell-binding. He led the league in yards (4,707) and touchdowns (45) en route to capturing his first MVP at the tender age of 37. The likely future Hall of Famer also brought Los Angeles one game short of the Super Bowl.

Naturally, some might have wanted the Rams to strike while their elder sidewinder was hot, adding youthful talent to a roster that looks well-equipped to compete for a title once more in 2026. Snead and Co. had other plans, investing into the roster's post-Stafford future.

Simpson will not be Los Angeles' Day 1 starter. Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported that McVay informed Stafford of the Rams' decision to draft Simpson on Thursday, making "it clear it's for whenever Stafford decides to move on."

It seems Los Angeles is attempting to have Simpson watch on from the sidelines and soak up as much information from Stafford as possible before taking the reins of McVay's offense. There's a belief that Simpson's skillset -- marked by smooth mechanics, quick processing and touch -- could flash in McVay's system, even if his lackluster height and build leaves something to be desired.

MORE NFL DRAFT NEWS:

• 7 safest picks in 2026 NFL Draft
• Riskiest picks in 2026 NFL Draft
• 11 potential steals in the 2026 class
• Meet these small-school sleepers

Kentucky football continues its strong early push in the Class of 2027, landing a commitment from Lexington Christian Academy tight end Conrad Hart on Friday.

Hart, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound in-state prospect, becomes the latest addition to a rapidly growing recruiting class under head coach Will Stein. The three-star tight end chose the Wildcats shortly after receiving his first Power 4 offer from Kentucky.

The Lexington native visited campus less than two weeks ago to watch practice and meet with Stein and staff. Once Kentucky extended an official offer on Thursday, momentum carried, leading to Hart’s commitment just one day later.

Hart also held offers from Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Toledo, Ohio, Miami (OH), and others. He had official visits scheduled with Toledo and Ohio in late May and June, but don’t expect those to happen now after his commitment.

This past year, Hart played a key role in Lexington Christian Academy’s 2025 Class 2A state championship run under head coach Oakley Watkins. In the title game at Kroger Field, Hart caught three passes for 15 yards and a touchdown in a 33-28 victory over Owensboro Catholic.

While playing in his junior year, he totaled 16 receptions for 190 yards and four touchdowns, adding two rushing scores. Defensively, he also recorded 47 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery.

Hart is the second tight end in Kentucky’s 2027 class, joining Tank Proctor, as the Wildcats move to 12 commitments.

At the UFC Vegas 116 weigh-ins, all 26 fighters on Saturday’s UFC fight card step on the scale Friday morning. Watch a live stream of the official morning weigh-ins above, courtesy of Ag. Fight.

In the main event, Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal have to weigh no more than 146 pounds for the featherweight non-title fight.

Norma Dumont and Joselyne Edwards have to weigh no more than 136 pounds for the bantamweight non-title bout in the co-main event.

Watch weigh-in video of the top 2 fights below.

The UFC Vegas 116 official weigh-ins will be at 12 p.m. ET.

Check out UFC Vegas 116 weigh-in results below.

Main Card (Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET)

Aljamain Sterling (146) vs. Youssef Zalal (145.5)

Norma Dumont (135.5) vs. Joselyne Edwards (135.5)

Rafa Garcia (155) vs. Alexander Hernandez (155.5)

Davey Grant (135.5) vs. Adrian Luna Martinetti (135.5)

Montel Jackson (135.5) vs. Raoni Barcelos (136)

Marcus Buchecha vs. Ryan Spann

Preliminary Card (Paramount+ at 5 p.m. ET)

Rodolfo Vieira (185.5) vs. Eric McConico

Sedriques Dumas (184) vs. Jackson McVey (185)

Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Michelle Montague (135.5)

Jafel Filho (135.5) vs. Cody Durden (135.5)

Francis Marshall (155.5) vs. Lucas Brennan (155.5)

Max Griffin (170.5) vs. Victor Valenzuela (170)

Talita Alencar vs. Julia Polastri

FC Schalke 04 head coach Miron Muslic has revealed that Edin Džeko should be fit and available for selection after this weekend. 

Muslic revealed at the press conference before the match with SC Paderborn when the 40-year-old is expected to make his comeback:

"He has invested everything to return [from injury] as quickly as possible. We are very pleased with his recovery process.

"He will be gradually integrated into training in the next few days. The plan is for him to return to the squad against Düsseldorf," he said.

The Bosnian has been in rehabbing since his shoulder injury on international duty in March and just completed his first running session. 

Tomorrow's match against second-placed SC Paderborn comes too soon, but Džeko will likely play a role against Düsseldorf next Saturday.

An artist is planning to take legal action against Sunderland after the Premier League club printed what he claims is an image of one of his sculptures on its away kit without his permission.

Andrew Small, from Liverpool, was commissioned by Sunderland City Council in 2008 to create a sculpture, named 'C', to mark the end of the Sea to Sea cycle path.

Cyclists completing the Whitehaven to Sunderland route are greeted with a view of Roker Lighthouse through an aperture, carved into a six-and-a-half-tonne slab of black granite.

Sunderland has denied breaching copyright legislation in letters to Small's legal team, which is seeking a percentage of commercial sales of the kit or damages.

The 2025-26 away kit, manufactured by sportswear firm Hummel, features a repeating geometric pattern showing the lighthouse, viewed through a circular design resembling the sculpture's aperture.

At the time, the club said the shirt was inspired by its away kit worn between 1989 and 1991, when the club was still at its previous ground, Roker Park, which is just a short walk from the lighthouse.

"[The sculpture is] highly mirrored, polished granite, and it reflects the environments and the light," Small told the BBC.

"It looks like a bit of 3D generated artwork in the landscape sometimes, depending on how the light hits it.

"It's faceted, like a camera shutter. So carved into this six-and-a-half-tonne piece of ground are these curved shapes, which make it quite distinctive.

"It's not just a square with a hole in it, it's quite a specific form."

As part of the agreement with the council, Small retained copyright for the sculpture - with any reproduction of it for commercial reasons requiring a separate agreement.

Small, who has also produced works for Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Halewood Station on Merseyside and Lancashire Police, said he was in a local pub when he was told the image of 'C' had been used on the kit.

"I bumped into my son's old headmaster, and as an avid Sunderland fan, he would travel up for games," he said.

"He came running over and said, 'Andy, Andy, have you seen Sunderland's away kit?'

"And I said no, and he just pulled his phone out and showed me, and instantly it was absolutely evident that it's my work."

Small said the significance did not sink in for a couple of days.

"I started thinking actually maybe they should have asked my permission before they did this," he said.

"There's a big conceptualising plaque next to the sculpture which explains all the things I was just talking about before and it's got my name quite big on it so it's pretty obvious it's attached to a specific artist."

Small is represented by barrister Francis McEntegart, who sent a cease and desist letter to the club with a demand for compensation.

Sunderland did not respond to a request for comment from the BBC, but the club has declined Mr Small's request stating there is "no copyright in ideas and concepts".

However Small said: "They've actually put the curves of the aperture on it and the proportions of it. It's not pure square, it's slightly rectangle.

"Anyone I've shown it to straight away just looks at me and laughs because it's ridiculous really."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

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WASHINGTON, April 24 (UPI) -- Hall of Fame boxer Oscar De La Hoya told U.S. senators during a hearing this week that a House of Representatives-generated boxing reform bill would exploit fighters by create boxing leagues.

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which passed the House on March 24, creates major structural changes to existing law, especially in creating Unified Boxing Organizations that did not exist under the original 2000 Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. In fact, they were prohibited by it.

Under the 2000 law, managers, promoters, sanctioning organizations and ranking agencies had to stay separate to prevent conflicts of interest. The proposed law authorizes Unified Boxing Organizations to combine functions the original law kept apart -- promotion, rankings and championship administration -- into a single regulated entity.

Critics argue this could enable a de‑facto monopoly, but the bill does not explicitly grant one to Saudi Arabia. Rather, it creates a framework that many believe TKO Group (UFC/WWE/Zuffa Boxing), which is Saudi‑funded, is positioned to dominate.

The bill, H.R. 4624, was sponsored by Rep. Brian Jack, R-Ga. , with 13 bipartisan cosponsors.

De La Hoya, a boxing promoter who won 11 world titles across six weight classes, said the new bill would empower Zuffa Boxing, co-founded by Saudi Arabian official Turki Alalshikh and UFC CEO Dana White, to exploit fighters like they were before the 2000 law.

"Zuffa boxing is fully funded by the Saudis," De La Hoya testified aa a key witness at a Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's hearing called "Return to Your Corners: Have Federal Boxing Laws Gone Gone the Distance or Slipped the Jab?"

Sen. Ted Crus, R-Texas, the committee chairman said reforms are needed to restore boxing's place in American culture, and he believes that the House bill is a good start.

"I do think there's a need for Congress to act here, and I think if there is a possibility to generate significantly more revenue for the sport, that will benefit, in my judgment, the boxers and everyone participating," he said.

"You think back to when we were kids and boxing enjoyed a much more prominent place in American culture and society. The champions of the world dominated the news and entertainment in a way that they don't today."

But De La Hoya remained skeptical about greater Saudi involvement in boxing.

"We've already seen how that kind of funding reshaped another sport through LIV Golf, so we should be honest about what is happening here," the boxing champion said.

LIV Golf, a professional league named for the Roman numeral 54 and created to compete with the PGA Tour, launched with 54‑hole events but is switching to a 72‑hole format this season.

"That was sports washing, a clear effort to use sports to reshape reputation, De La Hoya said. "Now, players who were drawn in by the money are trying to come back to the PGA tour since the league will lose $5 billion in funding."

LIV Golf is losing its Saudi funding because the Public Investment Fund is under financial pressure from the Iran‑related events, decreased oil exports and a new strategy that focused on domestic ventures.

The General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, of which Alalshikh is chairman, invested a great deal of money in golf and boxing since 2021.

On the other side of the ring, Nick Khan, a board member for Zuffa parent company TKO and president of WWE, testified Wednesday that the House's reform bill would improve competition and preserve existing federal boxing laws.

"The Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act is built on a simple premise. Give boxers the freedom to choose a better system," he said. "The act as it currently stands would remain in place. The system as it currently stands would remain in place."

Stakeholders from all corners of the boxing industry have expressed mixed opinions on the bill.

Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank and a former promoter for Muhammad Ali, called the new House bill "a disgrace" in an interview Tuesday with Medill News Service. He said it "eviscerates" the Ali Act and was designed to benefit Zuffa due to White's close relationship with President Donald Trump.

"We are all used to the protections the [Ali] Act sets forth for the fighters, and, we live with it with no real problem," Arum said, referring to promoters like himself.

"But now there's new legislation that takes away all the protections from the fighters, and is designed really to benefit one company, which is obviously very influential with the administration."

Nico Ali Walsh, a professional boxer and Muhammad Ali's grandson, echoed Arum's sentiments during his testimony Wednesday.

"If this bill passes in its current form, it should not have my grandfather's name on it," Ali Walsh said.

Despite criticisms from promoters and fighters, boxing state regulators throughout the country largely favor the proposed legislation.

In October, the California State Athletic Commission unanimously voted to support the House bill.

Andy Foster, executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission, told Medill News Service that the commission chose to support the bill because it would force the rest of the country to raise its fighter safety and pay standards to meet those California has already put in place.

"This does more to help entry level boxers and low income boxers that don't have management, that don't have promoters, that don't have anybody to protect them," he said. "This bill does more to protect them than anything we've ever put forward."

At the conclusion of Wednesday's hearing, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, asked witnesses to help the Senate draft its own version of a boxing reform bill.

After the hearing, De La Hoya told Medill News Service that he hopes the Senate's upcoming boxing reform bill would close "loopholes" the House bill that would force fighters to pay deductibles on medical insurance.

However, he added that he was "open" to working on the Senate bill.

"I'm open to any suggestions, especially on medicals," he said. "The safety of the fighters is the most important part."

David Pastrnak Believes Bruins Power Play Has To 'Be Better' After Game 3 Loss originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak believes the team’s power play has to be better, and it starts with him.

The Bruins suffered a 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at home on Thursday, and in the loss, Boston went 0-for-4 on the power play. It was a disappointing result for Boston’s power play, and Pastrnak believes it has to be better if Boston is going to win the series.

“Just got to bear down,” Pastrnak said postgame. “We had big opportunities on power plays; we got two power plays in the last six, seven minutes. We have to bury one of those. It’s on us guys on the power play to be better. 

“Their goalie played well, but we have to make it a little harder on him as well. It was a good opportunity for us, but it’s playoffs. Every game has been tight-checking, and today they came on top of it.”

In the series, Boston’s power play is just 2-for-12, which is just 16.6%, well below the Bruins’ regular-season rate of 23.4 percent, which was ninth-best in the NHL.

So, if the Bruins are going to even up the series in Game 4, Pastrnak believes the power play and the offense have to be better.

Game 4 is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston.

More NHL: Marco Sturm Explains Why Bruins Are Still In 'Good Spot' Despite Losing Game 3

The Green Bay Packers will go into Day 2 of the 2026 NFL draft with a pair of picks and a chance to finally make a mark after sitting out the first round on Thursday night. Day 2 of the draft is scheduled to open at 6:00 p.m. CT with the start of the second round and run through the end of the third round, spanning picks No. 33 through No. 100. The Packers have a pick in each round.

Packers Day 2 picks

• Second round, No. 52 overall
• Third round, No. 84 overall

Trading up from No. 52 to target a player, staying put at No. 52 and picking a player, and trading down from No. 52 to add picks are all viable options for Brian Gutekunst. The Packers general manager did say he would prefer to use 2026 picks in the event he trades up on Friday. Could the right cornerback or defensive lineman fall into range of a trade up scenario? Or could the Packers add a Day 3 pick or two with a trade down?

Day 2 draft order

The 49ers will get things started in the second round on Friday night. Barring a trade up, the Packers will need to watch 19 players get picked before they come on the clock in the second round. Expect a fast-moving Day 2 -- teams get seven minutes on the clock in Round 2 and five minutes on the clock in Round 3.

1. San Francisco 49ers (from Jets)
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Las Vegas Raiders
5. New York Giants
6. Houston Texans (from Commanders)
7. Cleveland Browns
8. Kansas City Chiefs
9. Cincinnati Bengals
10. New Orleans Saints
11. Miami Dolphins
12. New York Jets (from Cowboys)
13. Baltimore Ravens
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. Indianapolis Colts
16. Atlanta Falcons
17. Minnesota Vikings
18. Detroit Lions
19. Carolina Panthers
20. Green Bay Packers
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
22. Philadelphia Eagles
23. Los Angeles Chargers
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
25. Chicago Bears
26. San Francisco 49ers
27. Houston Texans
28. Chicago Bears (from Bills)
29. Los Angeles Rams
30. Denver Broncos
31. New England Patriots
32. Seattle Seahawks
33. Arizona Cardinals
34. Buffalo Bills (from Titans)
35. Las Vegas Raiders
36. Philadelphia Eagles (from Jets)
37. Tennessee Titans (from Texans via Giants)
38. Cleveland Browns
39. Washington Commanders
40. Cincinnati Bengals
41. New Orleans Saints
42. Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs)
43. Miami Dolphins
44. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Cowboys)
45. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
46. Indianapolis Colts
47. Atlanta Falcons
48. Baltimore Ravens
49. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Lions)
50. Minnesota Vikings
51. Carolina Panthers
52. Green Bay Packers
53. Pittsburgh Steelers
54. Los Angeles Chargers
55. Miami Dolphins (from Eagles)
56. Jacksonville Jaguars
57. Chicago Bears
58. San Francisco 49ers (from Dolphins via Texans)
59. Houston Texans (from Bills)
60. Dallas Cowboys (from 49ers)
61. Los Angeles Rams
62. Miami Dolphins (from Broncos)
63. New England Patriots
64. Seattle Seahawks
65. Minnesota Vikings (compensatory)
66. Philadelphia Eagles (compensatory)
67. Pittsburgh Steelers (compensatory)
68. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Lions; special compensatory)

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers entering Day 2 of 2026 draft with pair of picks

Everton striker Beto will miss Saturday’s Premier League game against West Ham due to concussion protocols.

The 28-year-old was taken off in the defeat to Liverpool in the second half and will not play a part against boss David Moyes’ former club.

Jarrad Branthwaite has been ruled out for the season, meanwhile, with the injury he suffered during that game.

“Beto has concussion and will miss this week’s game,” Moyes said.

“Jarrad will be out for the season, then we’ve got quite a long close-season, so there should be plenty of time to get himself fit and ready to start next season, but he won’t be fit again for this season.

“Jarrad is much better [than he was when he was taken off on a stretcher on Sunday] because he’s realised that it isn’t an injury to the same area that he had the hamstring operation. It’s a different spot and it’s a hamstring injury any player could get.

“We feel for him because he played really well in the game [against Liverpool] as well.

“I hope it’s not [going to keep being a risk going forward]. I hope it’s a wee bit of an age where it’s… not growing pains because it’s far from that and he’s a grown man now, but he’s still learning a bit more about himself and what he does.”

Liverpool Face Crucial Decision Over Alexis Mac Allister Contract Situation

Midfield Future Under Spotlight

There is a quiet tension building around Alexis Mac Allister at Liverpool, one that feels familiar in the modern game. Contracts are rarely just paperwork, they are signals of intent, reflections of trust, and sometimes warnings. With his deal running until 2028, the Argentine should appear secure. Instead, uncertainty lingers.

As reported by Paul Joyce of The Times, “Talks have not taken place with Alexis Mac Allister on a new contract.” That single line carries weight, particularly at a club recalibrating under Arne Slot.

Liverpool have historically been proactive in contract management. Allowing a key asset to edge towards the final two years of a deal without movement raises questions, not panic, but certainly intrigue.

Performance Dip Raises Questions

Football rarely separates form from future. Mac Allister’s importance in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign remains fresh in memory, yet this season has introduced doubt. His defensive metrics have slipped, creativity has waned, and his overall influence feels diluted.

This is not uncommon. Players ebb and flow, systems evolve, and roles shift. Still, at elite clubs, even minor regression is scrutinised. A midfielder once central to control now appears slightly peripheral, a subtle but significant shift.

“Last summer’s £450million reconfiguration did not address some gaps in the squad and Liverpool must go into next season with a better balanced group,” Joyce noted. It hints at a broader structural concern, one that extends beyond an individual.

Transfer Interest Complicates Picture

External interest adds another layer. Real Madrid have tracked Mac Allister for some time. When clubs of that stature circle, decisions accelerate.

Liverpool face a familiar dilemma, renew, retain, or risk depreciation. Allowing a player of his calibre to drift closer to contract expiry would echo past missteps, costly both financially and competitively.

There is also the broader context of squad evolution. With uncertainty around multiple contracts, the midfield could soon look very different. Stability, once a hallmark, feels less assured.

Strategic Timing for Liverpool

Timing, in football, is everything. Act too early and you commit prematurely. Wait too long and leverage disappears. Liverpool now sit in that delicate middle ground.

“Similarly, Ibrahima Konate’s confidence that he is close to signing a new contract has not yet resulted in him putting pen to paper, while Curtis Jones has a year left on his deal. Talks have not taken place with Alexis Mac Allister on a new contract.”

Photo: IMAGO

The repetition of unresolved situations suggests a club navigating transition rather than executing a clear plan. Mac Allister’s case may soon become the defining test of that approach.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this situation feels less about one player and more about direction. Mac Allister remains a technically gifted midfielder, one capable of dictating tempo when used correctly. The concern lies in how he has been deployed this season under Slot.

There is a growing sense that Liverpool’s midfield lacks cohesion. Mac Allister’s drop in output may reflect tactical imbalance rather than individual decline. Fans will rightly question whether the system is maximising his strengths.

The absence of contract talks is puzzling. Even if the club harbour doubts, clarity is essential. Letting uncertainty linger invites external interest and undermines squad stability. Supporters have seen this pattern before and know how it can end.

Equally, there is recognition that evolution is necessary. If Liverpool are reshaping their midfield, decisions must be decisive. Keeping Mac Allister should come with a clear role and renewed confidence. Moving him on should be strategic, not reactive.

Right now, it feels like Liverpool are waiting. In football, waiting rarely brings control.

With the 18th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings dropped a bit of a shocker when they selected Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks. The Gator defender missed most of the season but saved his draft stock with arguably the best practice of any player, regardless of position, at the Senior Bowl.

Despite him saving his draft stock, he remains a pick that will be controversial until he steps on the field and proves himself. All we have to go on is what the film has shown us, and here on Vikings Wire, we have some notes from Garrett Burroughs' scouting report to share.

Burroughs wrote, "For someone of his frame (6'6, 325 lbs), he is surprisingly quick and nimble on his feet. This quickness, paired with his raw power, often gets interior offensive linemen off balance from the jump. His athleticism also allows him to line up outside, which is sure to give defensive coordinators nightmares. His motor runs hot, which isn't always the case for nose tackles. His hands landed firmly, and his placement got better as the year went on."

He also adds, "Banks gets a second-round grade from me, with the understanding that he would likely benefit from sitting early to learn the nuances of pass rush and form tackling."

Banks will have the benefit of playing beside Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner, and Jalen Redmond. Having them around him, and Brian Flores using him in the best spots for success, is going to help him make an impact sooner rather than later if he is meant to be the guy for them.

Was it a reach? Yes, but if he plays well, no one will remember that part of his story.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: NFL Draft: Scouting notes on Vikings new DL Caleb Banks

In a move that again highlights the shrewd ability of GM Howie Roseman, the Eagles traded picks No. 23, 114 & 137 to Dallas for pick No. 20 and a 7th-round pick. The Birds then selected USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. With the move, Philadelphia currently has Brown, DeVonta Smith, Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Dontayvion Wicks, Johnny Wilson, and others among a deep, wide receiver corps.

The expectation is that A.J. Brown will be traded after June 1, when his dead cap hit drops significantly.

His 90.8 PFF grade led all wideouts in college football. The USC junior wide receiver was dominant for the Trojans this season, while serving as Jayden Maiava's favorite target in the team's high-powered passing attack. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the most outstanding wide receiver in college football after he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lemon had just three touchdown catches in his first two college seasons combined.

New Eagles WR Makai Lemon is tough to tackle. 👀 pic.twitter.com/g7C5Dzwc9l

— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) April 24, 2026

Makai Lemon has said he models his game after Amon-Ra St. Brown pic.twitter.com/MA0iGwmyBJ

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 24, 2026

.@Eagles@USC_Athletics@getabagkai is an Eagle. #GoBirds#BaldysBreakdownspic.twitter.com/iu5D5Sht8C

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) April 24, 2026

161 seconds of Makai Lemon being tough to tackle pic.twitter.com/z9yE926QAt

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) March 17, 2026

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Highlights of Eagles first-round pick Makai Lemon at USC

Roberto De Zerbi has warned his "suffering" Tottenham stars to show a stronger mentality in the fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

De Zerbi's side are two points from safety with just five games left to stave off the humiliation of playing in the second tier for the first time since 1977-78.

The north London club conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Brighton last weekend, leaving them third-from-bottom of the table and extending their winless run in the league to 15 matches.

They head to Molineux on Saturday knowing that a victory over the division's bottom club, combined with a defeat or draw for fourth-from-bottom West Ham against Everton, would lift them back out of the relegation zone.

De Zerbi believes that Tottenham will only avoid the drop if they are able to cope with the mounting pressure of the tense struggle for survival.

"We are suffering, they are suffering because it is not easy to play in Tottenham in this condition of the table, but I said they have to be stronger," De Zerbi told reporters on Friday.

"We have to live every part of the day waiting for a win and preparing for a win because I think with a win we can change this part of the season."

Injury-plagued Tottenham haven't won a league game in 2026 and their fitness problems show no sign of improving.

De Zerbi this week lost left-back Destiny Udogie to a muscle problem and Guglielmo Vicario is still not available after hernia surgery, which means Antonin Kinsky will deputise in goal again.

James Maddison, who has not played this season, was an unused substitute against Brighton and even though he is set to travel to Wolverhampton, the playmaker does not appear ready to feature.

De Zerbi, who is Tottenham's third manager this season after the sackings of Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, acknowledged the danger of facing a Wolves team uninhibited by battling against relegation.

But he believes that Tottenham's players remain determined to beat the drop despite criticism of their limp performances for much of the season.

"It's a tough game because they (Wolves) have nothing to lose. It's an important game for us, for sure, but we have to be able to play with not too much pressure," the Italian said.

"Sometimes when one team is losing too many games, the rumours are not nice," he said, adding that some people question the seriousness of the players.

"It is not like this in this case.

"I found good players, good guys, serious players and they follow me. They believe in my words because I am able to recognise the eyes of the players."

smg/bc

With Alvaro Arbeloa’s fate pretty much sealed at Real Madrid, the club are already working on securing a replacement to take over as manager in the summer.

And, former boss Jose Mourinho, currently in charge of SL Benfica, has emerged as a strong candidate to return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Indeed, reports suggest that the Portuguese tactician is keen on a return, with his agent, Jorge Mendes, already offering him to the Merengues.

Furthermore, it has been claimed that there is a clause in his contract at Benfica, which would allow him to leave for free.

Deadline for the clause

Building on that, AS now reports that the clause allowing Mourinho to leave Benfica at no cost expires ten days after the Lisbon club play their final match of the season, scheduled for 16 or 17 May.

Therefore, Mourinho could join another club without a transfer fee before June begins. Even if Real Madrid decided to sign him later, the cost of the operation would be merely symbolic.

Will Jose return to RealMadrid? (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

For now, Mourinho is already preparing for the next season in Lisbon, but a call from Real Madrid would change everything.

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe fueled speculations further by liking a social media post linking the ‘Special One’ with the a return to the club.

Mourinho remains a popular figure at the Santiago Bernabeu and has a good relationship with Florentino Perez. However, his reaction to the incident involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr., has complicated perceptions of him.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss, however, is currently focused on his work at Benfica and is somewhat annoyed that his name continues to be linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu without any official negotiations.

However, he is understood to be open to the move and a call from Real Madrid would change everything.

Match Preview: Arsenal vs Newcastle United

Arsenal return to Premier League action with pressure building and little margin for error as Newcastle United arrive in north London. This fixture carries weight at both ends of the table ambitions, with Arsenal chasing the title and Newcastle United attempting to steady a season that has drifted.

Match Details and Broadcast Information

Arsenal host Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with kick off scheduled for 5.30pm BST. Supporters across the UK can watch the match live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning at 5pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Subscribers can also follow the action via the Sky Go app.

Team News and Key Updates

Fitness concerns continue to shape Arsenal’s preparation. Jurrien Timber has been absent since the 2-0 win over Everton in early March, while Bukayo Saka has not featured since the Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City. Mikel Arteta is expected to provide clarity on both players, along with Riccardo Calafiori, during his pre match press conference.

Newcastle United have their own issues. Tino Livramento is ruled out with a thigh problem, which limits options in defence. There is some encouragement with Lewis Hall expected to be available, despite being withdrawn at half time in the recent loss to Bournemouth.

Photo IMAGO

Form Guide and Tactical Outlook

Newcastle United arrive in difficult form, having lost their last four matches in all competitions. Despite that run, their push for European qualification remains alive, and a result against Arsenal could change the tone of their campaign.

Arsenal’s recent record against Newcastle United offers mixed reading. While the Gunners have won the last two meetings, they previously suffered three consecutive defeats, including two in last season’s Carabao Cup semi finals. That inconsistency adds a layer of uncertainty to this encounter.

With Manchester City not in Premier League action this weekend, Arsenal have a clear opportunity to apply pressure in the title race. Dropping points here would complicate their pursuit and raise further questions about their ability to deliver in key moments.

Prediction and Head to Head Record

Matches between Arsenal and Newcastle United have often been tight, and this one may follow a similar script. If Arsenal fail to establish control early, tension could build both on the pitch and in the stands.

The expectation is for Arsenal to edge the contest, though not comfortably. A narrow 2-0 victory looks the most likely outcome, reflecting both the stakes and the recent patterns between these sides.

Historically, Arsenal hold the advantage in this fixture. They have recorded 87 wins compared to Newcastle United’s 72, with 39 draws. Newcastle United’s recent success has been more evident at St James’ Park, while victories at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League have proved elusive since November 2010.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United

Few would have predicted at the start of the season that Brentford’s Igor Thiago would be just one goal behind Erling Haaland heading into the business end of the season. The Brazilian has played 32 matches, scoring 21 goals, which gives him an impressive goal-per-90-minute ratio of 0.69.

Thiago had never really been an out-and-out goalscorer when he first started out in Brazil. For example, before he headed to Europe to play for Ludogorets, he had scored just 10 goals in 64 appearances in Brazil. However, he was still a youngster growing into the team and was also playing second-tier football with Cruzeiro at the time.

He then moved to Ludogorets, where he enjoyed his first real stint as a regular in Europe during his second season, after spending much of his first campaign with the second team. As he developed further, his first full season as a starter in the first team was very impressive.

In 52 matches, he scored 20 goals, demonstrating that his goal-scoring form had improved since his time in Brazil and putting him regularly in goal-scoring predictions on apps like bizbet and Sky Sports for those immersed in the lower leagues around Europe.

After two seasons in Bulgaria, he moved to Club Brugge in Belgium, where he once again impressed. In the 2023–2024 season, he played 55 matches, scoring 29 goals, with seven of those coming in European competition.

This prompted Brentford to make him a club record signing for a fee of around £30 million.

His start to life in England didn’t go to plan after he picked up an injury in the pre-season of 2024. Thiago had to wait a while to return to action. He played eight matches in his first season for Brentford, missing the majority of the campaign.

The club record signing then had a full pre-season behind him in 2025 and has seemed to hit the ground running from the very start.

After scoring single-digit goals against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Sunderland, he scored his first brace for the club in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United. He then added further braces against Newcastle and Burnley, before scoring a hat-trick against Everton at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

In Brentford’s next match, things got even better for the Brazilian as he scored another brace against Sunderland. He had to wait a little longer for his next brace, but it came against West Ham in the FA Cup in a 3-2 defeat.

He was at it again at the weekend against Everton, scoring twice as the Bees drew 2-2 at home to the Merseyside club.

Thiago’s 21 goals this year make him the highest-scoring Brazilian in a single Premier League season.

He has a strong frame that allows him to compete with centre-backs, winning both aerial and ground duels. He’s perfect if Brentford want to go direct, something that is becoming more common in the modern game, with set-pieces and corners a key asset.

Off the ball, his high-intensity work rate allows him to press from the front and keep Brentford working hard. He’s more dynamic than a traditional target man, able to run, stretch defences, and get in behind the back four due to his physical presence. Rather than just being a static focal point, his ability to occupy defenders allows Brentford to create space for wide players and midfielders, meaning he doesn’t always need the ball to influence a game.

His finishing consistency was slightly weak at the start of his career, but he’s slowly improved that and has become a key figure for Brentford. Not many thought Brentford could replace Ivan Toney with such presence, but they’ve managed to do so.

He’s adapted to the Premier League perfectly, stepping up from the boy in Brazil to the player who developed in Bulgaria and Belgium, and now into one of the top strikers in the league this season. Still just 24, there’s plenty more to come from Thiago.

He made his Brazil debut in the recent internationals and even managed to get on the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory over Croatia in Orlando. He looks like he could be a real asset for Carlo Ancelotti and Brazil heading into the World Cup

Former Duke Blue Devil Jalen Johnson had a tremendous season for the Atlanta Hawks, averaging a career-high 22.5 points and earning his first career All-Star selection.

Johnson also averaged career highs in rebounds (10.9) and assists (7.9) proving himself to a be a franchise player.

He showcased that skill again Thursday night as his impressive two-way performance led the Hawks to a 2-1 series lead over the New York Knicks.

Johnson was impactful on both sides of the floor, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block as the Hawks held one for a one-point victory.

Johnson and the Hawks will have a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead at home Saturday before returning to New York for Game 5.

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Former Duke star Jalen Johnson shines in Hawks playoff win over Knicks

Cesc Fabregas’ Como have been the most surprising team in Serie A this season, and even if the Spanish tactician has already attracted interest from Italian giants, he’s unlikely to stay on the Peninsula if he leaves his spot in the Lake.

Como have been fighting for a European spot this season and are well-placed to qualify for the Europa League in 2026-27, possibly marking their first appearance in a UEFA competition since 1980-81.

Their attractive and courageous playing football under Fabregas has amazed fans and pundits alike, making many wonder whether the ex-Spanish midfielder will move on after his second consecutive spell in Serie A.

The Italian league has become increasingly attractive to fans abroad, especially those in the USA and Canada, where Serie A matches are getting increasing coverage, even on national TV.

Serie A fans know that intensity is everything, and that same energy can be found away from the stadium. WS casino Canada provides an elite gaming experience for Canadian players, offering a variety of immersive casino classics that deliver just as much excitement as a last-minute goal from Como.

COMO, ITALY – APRIL 12: Nico Paz of Como 1907 celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Nico Paz’s quality in the final third, but even Como’s defensive solidity have allowed the Azzurri to break into the top six in the current campaign, even fighting for a Champions League placement for a long part of the season.

Their coach, Fabregas, is also one of the club’s shareholders, which is why seeing him join another Serie A club after Como sounds a bit unnatural.

Inter already approached Fabregas in the summer of 2025 following a 5-0 Champions League Final loss to PSG, which marked the end of Simone Inzaghi’s era.

Both Como and Fabregas, however, rejected Inter’s approach, prompting the Serie A giants to hire one of their legends, Cristian Chivu.

UDINE, ITALY – APRIL 06: Como manager Cesc Fabregas looks on during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Como 1907 at Stadio Friuli on April 06, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

Several top clubs around Europe are also said to be interested in Fabregas, and his ex-Chelsea teammate Eden Hazard has even hinted that Cesc should return to Stamford Bridge as a coach.

“We have already talked several times. Right now, we are in a sweet spot. There is total alignment between what he wants to do and Como,” the Azzurri director Carlalberto Ludi said in March.

UDINE, ITALY – APRIL 06: Como manager Cesc Fabregas reacts during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Como 1907 at Stadio Friuli on April 06, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

“We want to continue growing, and we make resources available to him without limits. Until something extraordinary happens on the market concerning him, we will move forward together. We can talk about what we offer him, not what others might offer. At this moment, we have no fear that he might leave us.”

A former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona star, Fabregas is one of the most successful players of his generation, having won the World Cup once and the Euros twice with Spain nazional team, as well as one La Liga title with Barcelona and two Premier League titles with Chelsea.

Cesc Fabregas is free to join Chelsea and become their next head coach “if he wishes” according to Como President Mirwan Suwarso.

The Blues sacked Liam Rosenior on Wednesday less than four months into the six and a half year contract he signed in January.

Rosenior is now the second head coach to depart Chelsea this season following the January exit of Enzo Maresca.

Cesc Fabregas free to join Chelsea if wishes

Calum McFarlane has been placed in interim charge for the remainder of the season, whilst the Blues conduct yet another search for a new head coach.

There’s understood to be seven or eight names in the frame currently, with Andoni Iraola believed to be one of them.

Chelsea will reportedly take their time over the next appointment, and they really can’t afford to make the wrong appointment again.

Fabregas is said to be admired by the Blues, and Como president Suwarso has said he’s free to join Chelsea if he wishes. 

“If that makes him happy, that’s him,” he told City AM.

“You want your employees to stay with you for as long as possible but at the end of the day we don’t own him and he’s free to go to Chelsea if he wishes.”

Fabregas has done a brilliant job, with Como currently sat fifth in Serie A and on course to qualify for some form of European football next season.

If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.

In other news…

Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer are back in training and should be fit to feature in Sunday’s FA Cup semi final against Leeds.

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McFarlane confirmed Estevao would miss the rest of the season, whilst there wasn’t an update on Reece James, but he seems unlikely to feature at Wembley.

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

Liverpool are reportedly ‘not as active’ in the race for Morgan Rogers’ signature this summer.

Ben Jacobs’ report now claims that Premier League rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are considered ‘the most genuine suitors’.

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The Merseysiders are understood to be prioritising the signing of wingers this summer, but could yet be forced into the market for a central midfielder.

Meanwhile, Rogers is said to be open to the prospect of a move to another Premier League club or abroad.

Liverpool are not in the race for Morgan Rogers

PSG are also understood to be more serious suitors for the highly-rated 23-year-old, according to a tweet from Jacobs.

While the Aston Villa man would have looked a particularly appealing option for Liverpool at the start of the campaign, given his positional versatility across midfield and the wing, the climate has changed.

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The Reds need a bare minimum of two new wingers this summer, and, ideally, a third, versatile forward capable of playing across the central striker spot and the wings.

Rogers, expected to cost an interested party in excess of £100m, would simply take up too much resource without fixing some problem areas for us.

What do Liverpool need in midfield?

Assuming that Dominik Szoboszlai joins Ryan Gravenberch in extending his Anfield stay, it would appear increasingly likely that Alexis Mac Allister will be the man to make way this summer.

In that event, Liverpool have some important thinking to do regarding the makeup and balance of their midfield three.

First things first, we need to figure out what the long-term plan is for our Dutch signing from Bayern Munich.

Since Slot tweaked things with a player who was, arguably, the globe’s leading No.6 last term, we’ve seen Gravenberch regress into the same identity struggle we witnessed in his first Anfield campaign.

“This season, we have more freedom in the midfield. Last season, I was only on the six, like deep, deep. Now I can go more forward, which you saw today. My strength is also there,” the 23-year-old told TNT Sports.

We’re not too sure this has benefited our No.38 – and it’s certainly harmed Liverpool’s ability to control games.

* Ryan Gravenberch’s stats in 2024/25 & 2025/26 in the Premier League (Fotmob)

It’s incredibly frustrating, given that this just wasn’t an issue that needed fixing.

Now Liverpool find themselves in the, quite frankly, ridiculous position of potentially needing to bed in a new No.6 when they already had one of the leading options in world football.

Unfortunately, that isn’t Anfield-linked Morgan Rogers. And a good thing too, given the exorbitant asking price Aston Villa will be perfectly entitled to set this summer.

The scenarioWith four matches remaining, BVB sit second in the table, five points ahead of Leipzig in third. Despite their two recent defeats (0-1 against Leverkusen, 1-2 against Hoffenheim), their lead over fifth, which is outside the qualification places for the UEFA Champions League, remains comfortable as there are still ten points between Dortmund and TSG Hoffenheim. A win on Sunday would see BVB be guaranteed of finishing at least fourth, so that would secure Champions League qualification. Qualification could even be secured on Saturday if Hoffenheim lose in Hamburg and Leverkusen fail to win in Cologne.

“We want to play the last four games the way we’ve played for most of the season. We want to pick up wins. To do that, we need to perform better than we have in the last two games,” demands BVB manager Niko Kovac for the final push. “The lads know what’s at stake and we need finish a good Bundesliga season in a fitting manner. We have a duty to our club and our fans to pick up more points in the next few games than we did in the last two.”

BVB have been successful in their most recent home matches against Freiburg, with their only home defeat to date coming in 2001, when BVB lost 0-2. Since then, there have been 16 wins and one draw in front of their home crowd.

Personnel mattersKarim Adeyemi has not yet resumed training with the team and remains sidelined. “It’s always difficult to give a clear prognosis when it comes to muscle injuries. He needs to feel confident. If he doesn’t feel good, we won’t rush him back into action because that could make things a bit worse,” said Kovac. “I’m convinced that he’ll definitely be back for the Freiburg game, and perhaps also for the Gladbach match.”

Serhou Guirassy, who suffered a mild concussion in the match against Hoffenheim, returned to team training on Friday. Felix Nmecha has resumed running training. “We are confident that he will be back in action before the end of the season,” said Kovac. Niklas Süle had to be substituted due to injury at the weekend and could be available again for the last two games of the season. Captain Emre Can remains sidelined.

Filippo Mane was back in the squad against Hoffenheim and made his comeback in Wednesday’s U23 match in Velbert after several months out with injury. U23 coach Daniel Rios was pleased afterwards: “Filippo was involved in the challenges and wanted to take responsibility.”

The opponentFreiburg have won their last two Bundesliga matches in a row (away at Mainz and at home against Hoffenheim) and have climbed to seventh following their latest victory. Until Thursday, the Sport-Club were still in three competitions, but lost the DFB Pokal semi-final 2-1 a.e.t. to VfB Stuttgart. In the UEFA Europa League, the team have reached the semi-finals after two wins over Celta Vigo and will now face Sporting Braga.

“You’ve seen all season that Freiburg are a very experienced, very seasoned side who know how they need to play to win,” says Kovac of the opposition. “I expect a team that will go full throttle for 90 minutes again. We’ll have to give it our all. The statistics from recent years mean nothing. We need to be on our toes right from the start, and I hope and expect my lads to do just that from the very first minute.”

The scenarioFollowing the draw in the top-of-the-table clash against Arminia Bielefeld, the Borussia women were left feeling frustrated and disappointed: “That’s completely understandable – I felt exactly the same,” said Markus Högner a few days after. “We may concede an early goal from time to time, but we can’t afford to make such simple mistakes as the first half progresses.” In the second half, Högner noted an improvement in his team’s performance, but would have liked to see more clinical finishing in front of the opposition’s goal. As their rivals from Cologne played their matchday 21 fixture back in early March, BVB can close the gap on the league leaders to just two points on Sunday.

Personnel mattersAccording to the manager, the aim is now to gradually increase the intensity week by week for captain Paula Reimann, who came on as a substitute in the second half against Bielefeld: “We don’t want to push her too much just yet following her recovery from Achilles tendon problems because we don't want the inflammation to flare up again.”

The opponentThe BVB women secured a 5-0 home victory in the reverse fixture against Mecklenbeck last October. However, the visitors repeatedly disrupted the Black & Yellows’ build-up play early on and, despite the ultimately clear result, maintained a well-organised defence for long periods – three of the five goals conceded came in the final third of the match. Markus Högner: “Mecklenbeck are in mid-table, but in the first half of the season their 2-1 win against 1. FC Köln’s U21s showed that they are capable of beating even the top sides.  So we’re expecting another test of patience on Sunday, and we need to stay mentally strong at all times and be ready when it counts.”

“That’s the big challenge”These are two qualities that are particularly important in a goalkeeper, and Dortmund’s number one, Laura van der Laan, has demonstrated both of these this season. She has rarely had to pick the ball out of the net so far this Regionalliga season, but in some matches where her side were thoroughly dominant, such as the recent 6-0 win against GSV Moers, she has had few opportunities to distinguish herself. “That’s the big challenge as a goalkeeper for a top team,” says Markus Högner. “Even if you aren’t called into action for a long stretch of the game, you have to stay alert at all times.” The coach is all the more pleased that his goalkeeper brings the necessary stability and composure to the team.

The 2025-26 Chicago Blackhawks finished as the 31st-ranked team in the league for the third year in a row, while also becoming the first club since the 1998-2001 Tampa Bay Lightning to finish in the bottom three of the NHL standings in three consecutive seasons.

As a group, the Blackhawks perhaps didn’t make the strides the organization was hoping for, especially considering the 10-5-4 start through the first 19 games. Finishing with a 29-39-14 record did result in the first 70-plus point campaign since 2019-20, but it still wasn’t enough to get Chicago out of the basement.

Expectations weren’t through the roof entering the season by any means, but there was a belief that this Blackhawks squad featured much more talent, with a slew of GM Kyle Davidson’s first-round picks on the roster. A couple of those first-rounders were on the blue line, which was among the youngest in the entire NHL this year.

Because of all the youth and inexperience on the back end, there was sure to be peaks and valleys throughout the course of an 82-game schedule. That was to be expected, and it’s precisely how it played out. But with the belief that defensive struggles would be inevitable, it does make grading each player and their respective seasons a little challenging.

Here’s Part 1 of Chicago Hockey Now’s report card grades for the 2025-26 Blackhawks, starting with eight defensemen and two goaltenders. Preseason expectations were considered for each player.

Defensemen

Alex Vlasic

Following the departures of Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson at the trade deadline, Alex Vlasic, still only 24 years old, is now the longest-tenured member of the Blackhawks. The 2025-26 season was just his third as a full-time NHLer, where he officially eclipsed the 200-game plateau.

Vlasic’s rookie campaign in 2023-24 saw him blossom into one of the league’s best even-strength defenders at just 22 years of age. However, he hasn’t been quite as crisp defensively over the last two seasons, although the lack of team success surely hasn’t helped his cause. Still, there’s no denying that Vlasic hasn’t developed into the bona fide top-pairing guy he showed flashes of becoming not too long ago.

After missing the season-opener against the Florida Panthers, Vlasic suited up in each of the final 81 games of the year. Among all Blackhawks defensemen, he finished third with 21 points (2G, 19A). Diving into his analytics, Vlasic had the worst Corsi percentage among the eight blue-liners, while only Ethan Del Mastro had a worse expected-goals percentage.

Averaging a team-high 21:08 of ice time and playing predominantly in defensive situations certainly impacted those numbers, but it’s not like Vlasic’s role was much different back in 2023-24. He just hasn’t found the same success these last two seasons, and it seems more likely that he becomes a No. 3 or No. 4 defenseman in the rebuild, as opposed to a top-pairing player.

Grade: C+

Wyatt Kaiser

Wyatt Kaiser had appeared in 98 NHL contests for the Blackhawks from 2022-2025, but this past season was his first as a full-time big-leaguer. The 2020 third-round pick suited up for 77 of the team’s 82 games in 2025-26 and recorded career-highs across the board, with six goals, 11 assists, and 17 points.

Personally, with Kaiser’s skating ability and offensive instincts, his production from this season was a little underwhelming. He’s absolutely capable of being a consistent 20 or 25-point producer in this league, given how well he reads plays, his willingness to join the rush, and his passing skills. Regardless of the stats, though, the 23-year-old was arguably the most impactful defenseman for the Blackhawks this year, as his well-rounded nature was on full display often.

There were some lackluster stretches from Kaiser throughout the season, but that’s to be expected for a player of his age. But when he was firing on all cylinders, he was an exceptional jack-of-all-trades blue-liner who showed no glaring weakness in his game. Even as a somewhat undersized player, Kaiser can play a scrappy style and will fool his opponent with a big body check now and then.

However, the best parts of Kaiser’s game are his wheels and his hockey IQ. He can skate the puck out of harm’s way in the defensive zone and efficiently recognizes what’s developing on the ice around him. As he continues to gain experience, the Blackhawks hope those traits help him further develop into a unique, all-around defenseman who can be trusted in all situations.

Like Vlasic, Kaiser probably fits into the rebuild as a second-pairing defenseman, although there’s still plenty of room for him to grow.

Grade: B+

Artyom Levshunov

After getting a taste of the NHL level at the end of the 2024-25 season, Artyom Levshunov played exclusively for the Blackhawks in 2025-26. Even amidst a disastrous stretch before the Olympics in late January/early February, the organization never sent him down to Rockford in the AHL this year.

Levshunov, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, had a roller-coaster ride of a rookie season, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. When evaluating his season as a whole, few defensemen in the league were as poor as he was defensively. However, there were stretches of play where Levshunov was much improved in his own end. Sadly, those moments were a little too few and far between.

Offensively, Levshunov fared about the same. At times, he flashed a combination of size, skill, and skating that few NHL defensemen possess, but he couldn’t do it consistently throughout an 82-game season. His production on the team’s top power-play unit also dropped off a cliff as the year wore on.

Being only 20 years old, Levshunov isn’t the first defenseman his age to deal with inconsistencies and bone-headed mistakes. However, for a player as highly regarded as he was heading into the 2024 NHL Draft, it’s undeniably concerning how far Levshunov still has to go to become a trusted NHL blue-liner. There were way too many instances of “what the heck was he doing there?” or “what was he thinking?” during his rookie campaign.

Altogether, Levshunov finished second among all Blackhawks defensemen with 24 points (2G, 22A) in 68 games and was tied for second among NHL rookie defensemen with 22 assists. After his reset leading into the Olympic break, he cleaned up some of the mistakes that were plaguing him earlier in the year. Still, it wasn’t the rookie year that he or Chicago had hoped for.

It’s still too early to say what Levshunov will develop into, but it’s clear he doesn’t have the same luster as he did a few years ago. Offensively, the top-pairing skills are apparent, but there’s a long way to go defensively.

Grade: C-

Sam Rinzel

Looking back, the expectations for Sam Rinzel going into his rookie season with the Blackhawks were simply too high. But to be fair, the reason he had those expectations was because of how well he fared in his first nine NHL games at the end of 2024-25. Rinzel tallied five assists while averaging 23:22 of ice time per game, and he already looked capable of being a top-four defenseman immediately after departing the NCAA level.

Unfortunately, Rinzel couldn’t carry over that momentum into the early parts of this season, where he started as a top-pairing player who also quarterbacked the top power-play unit. Because of that role, Rinzel was getting plenty of love as a Calder Trophy candidate going into the year, but he couldn’t ever get comfortable. Eventually, he was demoted from those two spots and assigned to the Rockford IceHogs for a 23-game minor-league stint.

Offensively, Rinzel didn’t make the impact he was expected to provide, as he finished fifth among all Blackhawks defenseman with 14 points (4G, 10A) in 54 games. Defensively, the stats and analytics weren’t too poor, as he was on the ice for 35 goals for to 39 against this season. However, he was mostly utilized in offensive situations, and he certainly must get stronger to fare better in his own end.

There are still plenty of reasons to believe in Rinzel’s upside as a top-pairing defenseman, but like Levshunov, strides need to be made this summer.

Grade: C

Louis Crevier

While two young right-handed defensemen in Levshunov and Rinzel had lackluster seasons, the same cannot be said for former seventh-round pick Louis Crevier. Believe it or not, Crevier led all Blackhawks defensemen in goals (7) and points (25) this year while also showing off his abilities as an effective penalty killer.

With Crevier’s 6-foot-8 frame, he not only possesses the long reach and size to be a disruptor in the defensive zone, but also the power to blast slap shots from the point and chip in offensively. Few other players in the NHL can wire the puck like Crevier, and that’s proven to be a huge asset for the Blackhawks.

Considering Crevier opened the season as the No. 7 defenseman on the roster, the fact that he became arguably the second-best blueliner on the team is nothing short of remarkable. Especially with two high-end prospects in Levshunov and Rinzel also playing the right side, who were handed more of the opportunities earlier in the year.

Altogether, Crevier was the most productive defenseman on the team and finished with a minus-7 rating in 78 games, which shouldn’t be forgotten in a season where the Blackhawks were the second-worst team in hockey. Crevier proved that he shouldn’t be a forgotten man in the rebuild, and that’s quite impressive considering his expectations going into the year.

Grade: A-

Matt Grzelcyk

After entering training camp on a PTO, Matt Grzelcyk performed well enough to earn a one-year contract and suited up in 69 of the team’s 82 games in 2025-26. Analytically, he was the team’s best defenseman this season, leading all Blackhawks’ blueliners in Corsi percentage (46.86) and goals for percentage (49.45).

Now, Grzelcyk played a sheltered role and averaged just 16:58 seconds of ice time, but he made the most of his opportunity. Despite defensive issues throughout his career, he did well to stay out of trouble in his own end and finished with a respectable minus-9 rating.

Offensively, Grzelcyk didn’t offer much, with only nine assists and no goals on the year. After recording 40 points in 82 games the season prior with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the lack of production was somewhat disappointing.

Still, the expectations weren’t too high for Grzlecyk going into the season, and he fared about as well as he could have, given the situation. With the lack of veteran depth on the blue line in 2026-27, there’s a chance that Grzlecyk returns on a cheap, team-friendly deal this offseason.

Grade: C

Ethan Del Mastro

After appearing in 24 games in 2024-25, Ethan Del Mastro played in only 19 games for the Blackhawks this past season. Del Mastro had a chance to crack the opening-night NHL roster but had a woeful preseason, which forced him to begin 2025-26 down in the AHL with Rockford.

The 2021 fourth-round pick was on the ice for only three goals for to 14 against with the Blackhawks this season, giving him a team-low 17.65 goals-for percentage. Neither the analytics nor the eye test was ideal for EDM, who needs a new contract this summer to return to the team.

Set to turn 24 years old next January, Del Mastro has yet to prove capable of being a full-time NHLer, and he requires waivers to be sent to the AHL level next season. With all the bodies on a crowded blue line, there’s a chance that Del Mastro’s time with the organization has come to an end.

Truthfully, he didn’t do himself any favors with how much he struggled when given a chance to play for the Blackhawks this year. We’ll see what the future holds for EDM.

Grade: D

Kevin Korchinski

The No. 7 overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Kevin Korchinski has played in only 29 games for the Blackhawks combined over the last two seasons. He made 13 NHL appearances in 2025-26, tallying two assists while averaging a measly 13:38 of ice time.

Korchinski’s development plan hasn’t gone as swiftly as the Blackhawks had hoped, but he at least wrapped up this past season on a positive note, playing arguably the best hockey of his career. The 21-year-old stood his ground effectively in the defensive zone and was also impactful on the offensive side of the game. Those were statements that could not be said about Korchinski, in the NHL, at least, until his late-season stint.

Like Del Mastro, Korchinski needs a new contract as a restricted free agent this summer. Between the two, Korchinski is undoubtedly more likely to be re-signed, as there’s a decent chance the Blackhawks don’t bring both back in the offseason. Korchinski also would require waivers to be assigned to Rockford, so GM Kyle Davidson will likely have him on his opening-night roster in 2026-27.

The upside of becoming a top-pairing defenseman might not be there anymore for Korchinski, but that doesn’t mean he cannot turn into a pivotal piece in the rebuild. It’s just more likely to happen on the second or third pairing now.

Grade: C+

Goaltenders

Spencer Knight

Spencer Knight has played in the NHL since 2021-22, but this past season was his first as a legitimate No. 1 netminder. The 24-year-old made a career-high 55 starts and handled the workload incredible well, particularly in the first half. Knight was among the best goaltenders in the league for the first few months of the season before things went awry for the Blackhawks down the home stretch.

Knight ended up losing 14 of his last 17 starts, and while he wasn’t as sharp as he was earlier in the year, most of those defeats weren’t because of his poor play in net. The remarkably young defense in front of him certainly played a part in his numbers dipping in the second half, as he finished the season with a .902 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average. For most of the year, Knight’s save percentage floated around .910, while his goals-against average was closer to 2.50-2.60.

The former first-round pick’s stellar play early in the season showed what he’s capable of in this league, and when he’s performing at that level, the Blackhawks have a chance to beat anyone. He was a pivotal reason why the Hawks were postseason contenders early on. If he can be on top of his game more times than not in 2026-27, there’s a chance the long postseason drought finally gets snapped.

Grade: B

Arvid Soderblom

Set to turn 27 in August, Arvid Soderblom has now served as the Blackhawks’ backup goaltender for the last three and a half seasons and still hasn’t proven capable of handling the position. He’s made 101 career NHL starts and has been one of the worst goaltenders in the league over that stretch, with a 25-65-14 record, a 3.61 goals-against average, .887 save percentage, and just one shutout.

Sure, Soderblom hasn’t been in an ideal spot on a bottom-feeder Blackhawks team since arriving to the big leagues, but the lack of consistency in his play once again this season was concerning. Across his 24 starts, there were a handful of dandies, but a few too many duds. He surrendered five goals or more seven times. There were only six games where he finished with a save percentage better than .910.

Compared to the last two years, Soderblom did make some strides in 2025-26. However, with the Blackhawks ready to make strides of their own in the rebuild next season, with a goal of at least being postseason contenders, the question is whether the franchise trusts Soderblom as Knight’s backup when it matters?

From what we’ve seen out of Soderblom so far in his career, it’s hard to believe that they do. But with one more year left on his current deal, the Blackhawks are in somewhat of a tricky situation. Drew Commesso has been waiting patiently in Rockford over the last few years to get a full-time NHL opportunity, and if he performs well in training camp/preseason in the fall, he could finally get his chance. However, he’s still unproven at the highest level, and it would be somewhat risky to have him as Knight’s backup in a meaningful season.

Soderblom’s future in Chicago is unknown, but it’s more likely than not that he’s back in 2026-27. For any hopes of being here beyond that, he’ll need to play the best hockey of his career next season.

Grade: C-

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For the most part, round one of the NFL Draft went as you might have expected. You knew the top tier of talent, a grouping of players that is about 10-15 in number, and they all basically went somewhere in that range.

And then you had a dropoff in talent and value, in the late teens and beyond. And this is where things really got interesting. This is the point where your NFL mock draft got absolutely shredded, and predicting the correct selection became a very difficult enterprise. 

Most Shocking Pick- #13 L.A. Rams, Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

There had been some chatter about this, sure, but for the most part, we thought Simpson was going to the Pittsburgh Steelers at #21. Or he was going to have to wait until Friday night. Simpson is a smart selection as it's clear Matthew Stafford is nearing the end of the road. While he's still clearly "got it," as he's the reigning league MVP, this pick signals that 2026 should be his last season. As for Simpson, your valuation of this pick is probably directly related to how much stock you put in his only being a one year starter vs. what advantages he brings to the table being a coach's son. 

Biggest Reach- #18 Minnesota Vikings, Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Not a lot of people had a first round grade on Banks, so his slipping into the teens was quite surprising. While it is a bit of reach, we must remember that earlier on in the process, he was considered a middle-of-the-first round level prospect. The Vikings obviously saw and fully embraced that initial perception. This pick could be remembered as one of the riskiest of the entire draft. When he's healthy, which is unfortunately no enough, Banks has incredible movement skills and tremendous power in his 6'6," 327 pound frame.

However, his concerning injury history is a major red flag.  

Favorite Pick- #20 Philadelphia Eagles, Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Perhaps I'm biased towards prospects who I actually saw perform in a real live game during the season, but his lemon is not sour, only sweet. 2025 was a major breakout season for him. Illinois safety Miles Scott discussed the challenges of defending Lemon, who absolutely lit them up on Homecoming, albeit in a Trojans road loss. Lemon is exactly what the Eagles need, as he'll open up the vertical passing game in Philly. 

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has come under a lot of scrutiny from Eagles supporters (never change Philadelphia sports fans) for being too conservative with the offense. Well, now he's got a new weapon to take the top off an opposing defense. We labeled this pick "surprising" because it was just so perfect.

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Three of the most interesting picks from NFL Draft night one

NEED TO KNOW

• An X account belonging to Dianna Russini was no longer active as of Thursday, April 23
• Earlier that day, photos of Russini and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a bar in 2020 emerged
• The former Athletic reporter has been at the center of a media firestorm in recent weeks after a batch of photos published April 7 showed her hugging and holding hands with Vrabel at a luxury resort in Arizona

The X account belonging to Dianna Russini has been scrubbed as of Thursday, April 23, the same day a new series of photos featuring the former Athletic reporter with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel dating back to 2020 emerged.

The images, published earlier in the day Thursday by Page Six, showed Russini and Vrabel hanging out together at a New York City bar in March 2020, when they were seen "kissing," according to the report — six years before photos of the two holding hands and hugging at a luxury Arizona resort, published by the outlet on April 7, ignited a scandal.

Russini and Vrabel, who are separately married, denied any wrongdoing to Page Six following the April 7 release of the images.

"The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues," said Russini, who married husband Kevin Goldschmidt, a Shake Shack executive, in September 2020.

Russini, 43, and Goldschmidt have two sons together.

In the wake of the first batch of photos being released, The New York Times reported April 11 that The Athletic, a Times-owned outlet, was launching an investigation. Russini resigned from her position days later on April 14.

Vrabel, who is entering his second season as the Patriots' head coach, took "accountability" for his behavior after the release of Thursday's photos, which came hours before the start of the 2026 NFL Draft.

"I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about," Vrabel, 50, told reporters. "My family, this football team, the organization and the fans."

The former NFL linerbacker-turned-coach will miss the third and final day of this year's draft on Saturday, April 25 as he seeks counseling — a move the Patriots "fully support."

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"The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment," the team told PEOPLE in a statement Thursday.

"We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and [Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel] Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend."

Vrabel has been married to wife Jen Vrabel since 1999. They have two sons together.

Read the original article on People

The Minnesota Vikings made a somewhat controversial pick in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, picking defensive tackle Caleb Banks at No. 18. The selection turned heads because Banks’s recent injury history had shoved his draft stock into Round 2 on most draft big boards, and few expected a team to pick him in Round 1. But the Vikings die precisely that — and the naysayers are already panning the choice.

National voices wasted no time picking apart the selection and questioning Minnesota’s approach.

The powers that be of NFL media lined up to trash the pick, not even 12 hours removed.

Banks Faces Instant Pressure in Minnesota

Banks will have to prove people wrong.

Mel Kiper Jr. Unhappy about Banks to MIN

Kiper Jr. didn’t mince words, claiming he flat-out didn’t understand the Vikings’ thinking.

He wrote late Thursday night, “Big-time reach for me. Banks was No. 62 on my board, the biggest stretch of the night. Sure, there’s reason to believe this could work out for the Vikings. Banks can stop running backs in their tracks, and he gets enough interior push to be a factor in the pass rush.”

“He moves well for a 6-foot-6, 327-pounder. But he has been dealing with a foot injury for a while now, and he just had surgery on it after the Combine. A lot of risk here, even if Banks healthy and at his best can shore up the interior. This was made worse by the fact that safety Dillon Thieneman was still on the board.”

Banks lived at No. 44 on the Consensus Big Board, meaning Minnesota could have, in theory, traded down near that spot to get Banks and stockpiled a 2nd-Round pick, according to trade chart value. Instead, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski drafted Banks at No. 18.

Kiper Jr. continued, “Everyone thought that pairing made sense. Harrison Smith is still uncertain to return for 2026, and even if he comes back, he’s 37 years old. Thieneman would have been perfect in Brian Flores’ defense. Not sure I understand this one.”

Thieneman ended up in Chicago and will play against the Vikings at least twice annually.

CBS Sports Assigns’ D’ Grade

Kiper Jr. wasn’t alone with disdain. CBS Sports‘ Mike Renner assigned a ‘D’ mark to the draft pick and noted, “Banks is the most prodigious physical talent in this defensive tackle class. At 6-foot-6, 327 pounds with an over 7-foot wingspan, when he fires off low into contact, he’s nearly impossible to block.”

“The worry is that we never saw it consistently before his 2025 season was cut short with a foot injury that required surgery. He then had another foot surgery after an injury suffered during the combine week. That’s a big swing for the Vikings to take at 18.”

The grade represented the single-lowest grade handed out by Renner all evening. In short, he claims the Vikings’ draft pick was horrid.

USA Today Unimpressed

Ready for more? USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz followed suit, grading Minnesota’s selection of Banks as a ‘C.’

“It’s easy to see the appeal of Banks, a 6-6, 327-pound interior force with unparalleled explosion off the ball. Yet Banks has been waylaid by multiple foot injuries in the last year, and staying healthy could be a considerable concern,” he opined.

“Banks also struggles to finish plays as a tackler once he gets in range of a ball carrier. There’s massive upside here for him to thrive in Brian Flores’ scheme, but this could also go awry if Banks can’t become a consistent performer.”

Middlehurst-Schwartz rendered four C-or-lower grade, and the Vikings grabbed one.

Why Folks Are Low on Banks

When the draft cycle began in December and January, Banks was envisioned by the draft community as a 1st-Round pick. He has a boom-or-bust trajectory in the pros. Banks even cooked at the Senior Bowl, and right after that event, mock drafts placed him in the back half of Round 1. Life was good.

Fast forward to the NFL Combine, and Banks broke a bone in his foot, sending his draft profile to Round 2, and he never left that spot. In fact, his stock fell each week, as no one knew whether the guy who played through injuries in 2025 would be trustworthy after a broken foot at the Combine.

Banks then became a possible Vikings’ draft target in Round 2, not Round 1. For example, Minnesota will pick 49th on Friday night. One week ago, Banks graced Vikings mock drafts at that spot. Minnesota picked him in Round 1 instead.

So, Banks has a familiar mission ahead of him: play well, stay healthy, and no one will care in two years where he was drafted.

Thursday night was a comedy of errors for the Pittsburgh Steelers and it was all caught on video. As the host city of the 2026 NFL Draft, the NFL world expected big things from the Steelers but we don't think this is what they meant. The Steelers got out maneuvered by the Philadelphia Eagles so Philly could land USC wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round and they did it while Lemon was on the phone with Steelers General Manager Omar Khan.

But wait, it gets worse. A new video going around takes it a step further as we see Lemon talking to Khan from the green room and you see him look at his phone during the conversation, and literally asking Khan why Philly is calling him. When Lemon didn't answer, the Eagles called another number, a member of Lemon's group ran over and told him the Eagles were trading up for him and picking him now and he hangs up on Khan.

Here is the moment Makai Lemon thought he was getting drafted by #Steelers and realizing in real time that the #Eagles traded up, via @gmfb this morning.

He asked Omar Khan "Why is Philly calling [me]?" pic.twitter.com/AbXDJONYye

— Ross McCorkle (@Ross_McCorkle) April 24, 2026

At this point, the Steelers were forced to swallow their pride, pivot and quickly make another pick after thinking they had their guy. The Steelers ended up settling for Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. A player they would have never considered if Lemon had been there but suddenly became the guy they wanted all along to save face.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: New video further exposes Steelers' NFL Draft embarrassment

With the 18th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings dropped a bit of a shocker when they selected Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks. The Gator defender missed most of the season but saved his draft stock with arguably the best practice of any player, regardless of position, at the Senior Bowl.

Despite all the smoke screens, the Vikings chose to add defensive line help rather than to draft a safety as we all expected. As a result, we wanted to share some of the social media reactions to the pick as it was a mixed bag and then some.

Folks were aware of and understood the need for help on the defensive line, but going for someone with a significant injury history elicited some interesting reactions. Here are just a few of the thoughts shared about the pick.

The Minnesota Vikings select Caleb Banks..

"I did not have him going in the first round"@PSchrags#PMSDraftSpectacularpic.twitter.com/qLC7BpcNAK

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 24, 2026

Vikings select Florida DT Caleb Banks with the No. 18 pick

Minnesota just got a MONSTER in the trenches 💪 pic.twitter.com/0mLXq2uxe7

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 24, 2026

"Caleb Banks is one of these guys that's tailor made for the NFL game...

Good in college, but could be really, really good, maybe bordering on great in the NFL."@KevinCarter_93 on @GatorsFB DL Caleb Banks pic.twitter.com/ZMuleufs8x

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) April 22, 2026

Being the more physical team and actually being able to win games in the trenches is a prerequisite for success in January so if Caleb Banks works out he’s going to be an incredibly fun player and pivotal part to the Vikings success over the next few years

Having said that, I…

— Football Analysis (@FBallAnalysisYT) April 24, 2026

“Big-time reach for me. Banks was No. 62 on my board, the biggest stretch of the night.”

- Mel Kiper Jr on the #Vikings selection of Caleb Banks last night pic.twitter.com/KI0xEVMMtV

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) April 24, 2026

"You don't find guys like this, he's got all the ability in the world." -Rob Brzezinski on Banks' potential pic.twitter.com/KlkZREAkae

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 24, 2026

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: NFL Draft: Social Media reacts to the Vikings selection of Caleb Banks

It’s so close, they can almost taste it.

Despite a cataclysmic start to the campaign under Rúben Amorim, Manchester United have managed to get their act together under Michael Carrick and string together an impressive run of form. Whilst they haven’t yet managed the five-game winning streak needed to put an end to Frank Ilett’s self-imposed haircut boycott, they have put themselves in the driver’s seat for UEFA Champions League football, having missed out on the competition in each of the last two seasons. It hasn’t always been pretty, but United’s consistently positive form has prompted the likes of Sebastian Salazar to tip Carrick for the permanent position. If Carrick can mastermind a top-three finish, they may have no other choice but to give him the full-time job.

United sit third in the Premier League table, 12 points behind Manchester City and Arsenal, level on 48 points with Aston Villa, and three points above defending champions Liverpool. Moreover, they sit eight points clear of Brighton, nine above Bournemouth, and 10 above Chelsea and Brentford, all of which have played one additional game, with the exception of Brentford. With England guaranteed at least one extra Champions League spot, United find themselves in a promising position with just five games remaining. After defeating Chelsea and securing their first away victory in two months, the Red Devils will host Brentford and Liverpool before traveling to Sunderland, followed by a visit from Nottingham Forest and a trip to Brighton. Whilst Liverpool might be their toughest out on paper, history shows that Brentford will pose the most difficult task.

Brentford and United met on six occasions between 1937 and 1947, with the Bees winning the first two before losing three in a row, followed by a stalemate. It would be 28 years before they faced off again, with the hosts prevailing 2-1 in a League Cup fixture. By the time they crossed paths 47 years later, Brentford were the plucky new kids on the block, while United were still struggling to rekindle a dynasty in tatters. It was smooth sailing for the visitors, who prevailed 3-1 in West London courtesy of goals from Anthony Elanga, Mason Greenwood, and Marcus Rashford. Ralf Rangnick’s side took care of business in the following match-up, with Bruno Fernandes opening the scoring within nine minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphaël Varane sealing the deal in the second half.

But with Erik ten Hag taking the reins in the summer of 2022, United started to find some difficulties against Brentford. Somewhere along the way, they became one of their bogey teams, with the Bees kicking off the 2022/23 campaign with a 4-0 walloping of United courtesy of goals from Joshua Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee, and future United winger Bryan Mbuemo. United bounced back with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Rashford’s goal, but they found themselves in a quagmire as Jensen broke the deadlock within 26 minutes at Old Trafford. United looked headed for a defeat until the 93rd minute as Scott McTominay levelled proceedings immediately after coming off the bench, before scoring a last-second winner for the Red Devils.

There was plenty more late excitement in their following encounter, as Mason Mount broke the deadlock in the 96th minute for United, only for Kristoffer Ajer to pull the hosts level in the 99th minute and secure a 1-1 draw. United went into halftime down a goal as Ethan Pinnock opened the scoring for the visitors, but Alejandro Garnacho would equalize after the interval, whilst Rasmus Højlund completed the comeback shortly after. Their next match-up was sandwiched in between United’s Europa League semifinals vs. Athletic Club, with Mount putting United in front, but Luke Shaw would squander their lead with an unfortunate own goal. Kevin Schade would score twice, followed by a goal from Yoane Wissa, whilst Alejandro Garnacho added a consolation goal for United in the 82nd minute. By the time Amad Diallo scored in extra time to make it 4-3, it was too little too late.

Despite losing longtime manager Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford have continued to punch above their weight and steer clear of relegation, and they have continued to be a nuisance to United under Keith Andrews. They faced off back in September, with Igor Thiago scoring an early brace and Benjamin Šeško halving the deficit, but United were unable to find a way back into the contest. Instead, Jensen sealed the deal immediately after replacing Thiago to secure a 3-1 win for Brentford. Thiago has been a revelation this season with 21 Premier League goals, second only to Erling Haaland (24), and it’s why the likes of Shawn McIntosh are backing him for a Brazil call-up for this summer’s World Cup. He’s scored each of Brentford’s last three goals, and he’ll be looking to build on that form as he pushes for the Golden Boot. If United are to make it eight home wins on the bounce vs. Brentford, they’ll need to find a way to limit Thiago’s impact.

Donald Trump kept his thoughts guarded when questioned about Italy potentially stepping in for Iran at this summer's FIFA World Cup. The President of the United States has previously stated that the nation will be "welcome" at the tournament, which will take place across North America, despite continuing war in the Middle East.

Nevertheless, an envoy to Trump this week urged FIFA to substitute Iran with Italy, who missed out on qualification for this year's competition following a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this month. Paolo Zampoli said: "I can confirm that I have suggested to Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino that Italy take Iran's place at the World Cup.

"As an Italian native, it would be a dream to see the Azzurri competing in a tournament hosted by the United States. With four titles, they have the history and stature to warrant inclusion."

• Tottenham Hotspur slapped with fine and warning by UEFA after Champions League game
• Italian officials slam ‘shameful’ proposal from Trump envoy for Azzuri to replace Iran at World Cup

Trump seemed to be taken aback when pressed on such a scenario materializing, insisting he required time to consider before offering his verdict. Addressing journalists at the Oval Office, the 79-year-old said, via The Mirror: "That's an interesting question. You know what, let me give that a little thought. Is that what they're doing? They're thinking about replacing them?"

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was subsequently invited to respond and confirmed that Iran would be welcome despite persistent rumours about their involvement and their unsuccessful bid to have their fixtures relocated from the USA to Mexico.

Rubio said: "Nothing from the US has told them they can't come. The problem with Iran would not be with their athletes, it would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps).

"We may not be able to let them in, but not the athletes themselves. I don't know where that's coming from, other than speculation that Iran may decide not to come and that Italy would fill their spot. But if they decide not to come on their own, that's because they decide not to come."

FIFA have confirmed they have no intention of replacing Iran with Italy at this summer's tournament. Nevertheless, Iran's involvement remains in doubt owing to the ongoing war between the nation and the United States.

Infantino has also previously stressed that there will be no changes regarding Iran's place at the World Cup, stating: "We want Iran to play, and Iran will play at the World Cup.

"There is no plan B, C or D – there is only plan A. Iran represent their people – both those living in Iran and those living abroad. Iran will be at the FIFA World Cup, and we're excited because they're a very, very strong team, in my opinion, right now.

"So, I'm very happy. I've seen the team, I've spoken to the players and the coach. So, everything's fine. We're delighted because they are a very, very strong team. I'm very happy."

Meanwhile, Italy have similarly rejected the notion of participating in the World Cup on fairness grounds, having failed to qualify through the proper channels. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi told Sky News: "Italy's possible re-qualification for the 2026 World Cup...is firstly, not possible and secondly, not appropriate. I don't know what comes first. Qualification is on the pitch."

Additionally, Luciano Buonfiglio, president of the Italian Olympic Committee, stated: "I would feel offended. You need to deserve to go to the World Cup." Italy's Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti went even further, branding the proposal as "shameful."

Night one of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. The Jets were the most active team of the first round, adding three players.

We won’t be able to properly grade the results for at least two years. That doesn’t stop experts from weighing in immediately, though. Let’s take a look at instant Draft grades for the first round.

As always, remember that Draft grades are stupid…unless they praise the Jets.

Mark Schofield (SB Nation)

New York Jets – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

This is a solid pick

Others are much lower on David Bailey than we are, because you see flashes where it clicks for him. While the majority of his 14 sacks this season came from a wide alignment where he was just able to win on pure athleticism and explosiveness, which will get tougher in the NFL, there were moments where you saw a true pass-rushing plan, where he won on a spin to the inside or used a counter move to get home.

The upside with Arvell Reese is hard to ignore, and might have been a better fit for a team that needs more than a year to truly turn things around, but this is a solid pick for a team that truly needed help on the EDGE

Grade: B

New York Jets — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregono

This is a fascinating pick.

Many believed the Jets would go wide receiver with their second pick here in the first round, with Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. a popular selection for them in mock drafts. Instead they go with the athletic tight end in Sadiq, who has the potential to be a mismatch nightmare for NFL defenses. Adjusting to life in the NFL is often tough for young tight ends, but his athleticism will serve him well, and you can find moments where he handles the in-line blocking responsibilities fairly well.

Watch him on the right side here against Indiana in the run game:

While the Jets added Mason Taylor last year, you can start thinking of a 12 personnel package with him and Sadiq on the field. This could work nicely for New York.

Grade: A

New York Jets — Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

And we have another trade, with the 49ers moving out of No. 30 — which they acquired in an earlier trade with the Miami Dolphins — and sliding back to No. 33 while the Jets come up.

Now, before I dive into the analysis, scroll up to No. 16 when the Jets drafted tight end Kenyon Sadiq and see what name was mentioned there.

Omar Cooper Jr.

The Jets work their board, come back into the first round when they need to, and draft a receiver many thought they would take at 16. He will be a perfect compliment to Garrett Wilson, and between Wilson, Sadiq, and now Cooper, suddenly this Jets passing game looks much better.

And again, I love how New York worked their board here.

Grade: A

Chad Reuter (NFL.com)

New York Jets: A-

Draft picks:

• Round 1 (No. 2): Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
• Round 1 (No. 16): TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
• Round 1 (No. 30): WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

Analysis:

• The March trade of edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II to Tennessee for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat portended an edge rusher being selected No. 2 overall. Bailey’s first step and closing speed will be a thorn in the sides of offensive tackles and quarterbacks around the league.
• The Jets received the 16th overall pick in this year’s draft, along with a 2027 first-rounder, from the Colts for Sauce Gardner. The Jets took Sadiq at that spot because of his explosive athleticism and toughness after the catch. If he limits his drops and continues to give effort as a blocker, the Gardner trade could be a franchise-changing deal.  
• Trading a fifth-round pick to move back into the first round for Cooper was a smart move. He could very well end up a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver due to his strength, agility and footwork on the sideline. Finding him at 30 is excellent value.

Mel Kiper, Jr. (ESPN)

Picks I Liked:

The Jets made three picks Thursday, starting with edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2. I personally would have preferred Arvell Reese there, but I can’t argue with Bailey’s bend, burst and production. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq was an interesting selection in the middle of the round — he’s an after-the-catch maverick with explosive traits — and landing receiver Omar Cooper Jr. back at No. 30 after trading back into the first will absolutely boost this lackluster receivers room behind Garrett Wilson. Three good players for New York.

Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman (The Athletic)

New York Jets: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech

The best pure pass rusher in the draft, Bailey (6-3, 251, with 34-inch arms) has a deep array of pass-rush moves that is better than any other edge in this class. Long, lean and explosive, Bailey got better during every season of his college career and should be an immediate force rushing the QB.

I do wonder if New York might’ve gotten more value here from Ohio State edge/LB Arvell Reese — I had Reese higher on my board and believe he has a better long-term ceiling. But it’s very hard to argue with Bailey, as he’ll be a big-time factor quickly.

Grade: A-minus

New York Jets (from IND): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

I love this pick. The Jets needed a pass catcher, and Sadiq was the best one left on the board. So what if he’s a tight end? He can also line up as a gigantic X receiver, or maybe even as a Z. An outstanding blocker at the line of scrimmage and out in space, Sadiq runs a 4.39 at 250 pounds.

He is a freakish athlete — arguably the best in this class — and the type of weapon who can always keep the math in the offense’s favor. Sadiq is built for the modern game. I like this better than the Jets’ selection of Bailey at No. 2, if I’m honest.

Grade: A

Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

The Jets clearly had guys they wanted in Round 1 — and it looks like they’ve got them all. After adding a pass rusher (Bailey) and a unicorn playmaker (Sadiq), the Jets selected one of the draft’s most QB-friendly receivers. Cooper was Fernando Mendoza’s favorite target at Indiana and should make life easier on whoever winds up being the Jets’ QB of the future.

New York also holds so many picks over the next two years that I don’t mind the aggressiveness here at all. Cooper is a first-round player in this class, and New York didn’t want to wait until Round 2 to grab him. This franchise added three foundational pieces Thursday night.

Grade: A

Carter Bahns (CBS Sports)

New York Jets: B

Jets fans ought to have mixed feelings about how the first round unfolded. It started with a couple of iffy picks and closed with a bang.

Renner noted the Jets already have an edge defender with inconsistent run-stopping skills in Will McDonald IV, so adding another in David Bailey might not raise the defense’s ceiling as much as some think. Kenyon Sadiq is also the second tight end the Jets have selected in as many years after taking Mason Taylor in the second round in 2025.

Trading up for a third first-round pick arguably saved the day. That Omar Cooper Jr. was still available at No. 30 was a blessing for the Jets in their search to stack offensive playmakers. Cooper was widely mocked in the upper half of the first round but instead found a home just before the end of Day 1 in New York, where he will be an immediate starter opposite Garrett Wilson.

What is your grade?

Alex Eala knocked out of Madrid Open amid scheduling complaints

Alex Eala lost in straight sets to Elise Mertens, 2-6, 1-6, in the second round of the Madrid Open.

The scoreline reflected a one-sided affair, with Eala unable to trouble her opponent in either set. It wasn’t just the result that left a bad taste, though. She was handed a late-night timeslot for her first-round match – an unusual slot compared to the rest of the draw.

She wrapped up her opening win over Sara Sorribes Tormo after midnight local time and was back on court against Mertens less than 24 hours later.

Alex Eala wasn’t put on a big enough stage for her second-round match

Eala’s following goes far beyond the rankings. She’s yet to win a major title or break into the top 20, but her matches are always well attended, and fans turn out in big numbers wherever she plays.

Filipino supporters, in particular, travel far and wide to back her at events around the world.

And that loyal backing hasn’t gone unnoticed. In most tournaments, Eala is regularly scheduled on bigger courts than her ranking might suggest.

The Madrid Open took a different approach for her match against Mertens.

She opened the tournament on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium but was moved to Court 5 for round two, which noticeably limited the crowd size she’s used to drawing.

It wasn’t just about atmosphere; smaller courts mean less energy from fans and fewer voices backing every point. While there’s no way of knowing if it would have changed the result, being in front of a larger crowd might have helped her stay more competitive during tough spells against Mertens.

The court assignment wasn’t the only issue either. Late in the second set, Eala was warned by the umpire for slow play with five seconds left on the shot clock. She pushed back, asking why there hadn’t been an initial warning before the penalty was issued:

The warning seemed harsh given how rarely it gets enforced so strictly early in matches and added another layer of frustration to an already difficult day.

Alex Eala still has doubles action ahead before her return to the WTA Challenger Tour

Eala will still have more action this weekend, pairing up with Sonmez against the second-seeded duo of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend.

They’ll be clear underdogs in that matchup, so it would take something special for them to advance.

Should they bow out early, Eala’s next stop will be La Bisbal for the 2026 Catalonia Open.

She’s set to enter as the sixth seed in a WTA 125 Challenger field that includes several familiar faces.

The step down in level gives her a good opportunity to build some form by facing lower-ranked competition.

Even a couple of wins could provide a much-needed boost as she moves deeper into the clay-court season, though she won’t be among the top picks to win the event.

After her time in Spain, Eala heads to Italy for two more stops on her calendar. First up is the Italian Open, where she’ll look to improve on last year’s first-round exit.

Following that, she’ll compete in another Challenger event in Parma, where she holds the third seed spot.

The busy stretch wraps up with her second appearance in the main draw at Roland-Garros, starting on May 24th.

Read more:

Gian Piero Gasperini has given his verdict on the recent departure of  Roma’s senior advisor Claudio Ranieri, who officially left his role on Friday after a public falling-out with the head coach: ‘Roma comes before everything’.

Gasperini has his say on Ranieri’s Roma departure

Roma officially confirmed on Friday that Ranieri has left his position as the club’s senior advisor after a turbulent few weeks in the Giallorossi camp.

Two weeks ago, Ranieri gave a particularly critical pre-match interview, claiming that Gasperini was not among the club’s top three candidates to come in as head coach last summer, and also hit back at the coach’s previous comments on player recruitment and the club’s medical department.

That led to a major rift in the Roma camp, with reports that Ranieri and Gasperini had been avoiding and ignoring each other for the best part of the last two weeks. The situation swiftly became untenable and the club has now taken the decision to part company with Ranieri rather than Gasperini.

New Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini with Claudio Raneri and Florent Ghisolfi

“The press release highlights two things: The trust, which since day one has never been lacking, and that Roma comes before everything,” said Gasperini during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s Serie A match against Bologna.

Gasperini was asked what he regrets most about the comments that Ranieri made about him, to which he replied: “That I never had the feeling of what he said, it surprised me a lot.”

Gasperini was later asked how the situation came to this, when the relationship between him and Ranieri looked so promising less than a year ago.

“I don’t know, you’ve seen all the events. I don’t know how to comment on it, I’ve been out of it. I don’t participate in this mud machine that goes on every day. I continue to work on the team, and we’re trying to do well tomorrow.”

Liverpool head into this weekend knowing that Oliver Glasner has already set the tone for what his Crystal Palace side want to achieve at Anfield, and from our perspective, it’s a reminder of just how important this game now is.

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The Austrian has openly admitted that his players are targeting something historic against us, having already beaten Liverpool three times this season across different competitions.

Glasner outlines Palace ambition vs Liverpool

Speaking via CPFC.co.uk ahead of the clash, the 51-year-old didn’t hide his ambition.

Glasner said: “And now we have the opportunity to win four times against Liverpool in one season. I think that’s something unique. First of all, you don’t play a team like Liverpool four times a year very often.

“And on the other side, then having already three wins, that’s massive for us, and that’s why we’re really highly motivated, because maybe this will never happen again, and it’s a massive chance.”

That alone tells us everything about the mindset heading into this one, because for Palace this isn’t just another fixture, it’s an opportunity to make a statement against the reigning Premier League champions.

The Eagles boss also made it clear that their approach won’t change despite the occasion.

“If we don’t go to Liverpool and have the ambition to win there, I would say… we could stay in London… because it makes no sense going to Liverpool… and saying ‘if we lose, it’s fine’.”

Liverpool must respond at Anfield

That makes this match even bigger, because we simply can’t allow that narrative to continue, especially at Anfield where our standards have to be set.

Glasner did acknowledge the scale of the challenge his team faces, praising the atmosphere and quality within Arne Slot’s squad, but that hasn’t dented Palace’s belief.

“Anfield is such an amazing stadium… it’s playing still the reigning Premier League champion… but this is exactly what we want.”

With Champions League qualification still the priority for us, and Palace juggling a UEFA Conference League semi-final, there’s an expectation that we should take control of this fixture.

Paul Merson has already predicted a comfortable Liverpool win, pointing to Palace’s European distractions, but Glasner’s comments suggest they’ll arrive fully focused and determined to prove a point – especially with their injury boost.

That means this isn’t just about three points anymore, it’s about stopping a trend that, quite frankly, we shouldn’t have allowed to develop in the first place.

Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane says that he is “gutted” that things did not work out at the club for Liam Rosenior. 

Rosenior was dismissed following a 3-0 defeat to Brighton – their fifth consecutive league loss without scoring.

“Yeah, I spoke to him,” McFarlane revealed. “I am not sure how he has done that [communicated with players] or how that has been done.

“I’ve spoken to him on the phone on Wednesday. He was good, it was a good conversation. I have a lot of respect for Liam, I didn’t know him before he came to the club, he welcomed me in brilliantly. 

“I have a great relationship with him and I am gutted it didn’t work out.”

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Following Enzo Maresca’s departure in January, McFarlane previously took charge for a 1-1 draw with Manchester City and 2-1 loss to Fulham. 

However, there has been little time for reflection ahead of their semi-final clash with Leeds United on Sunday afternoon. 

“We haven’t had a clear-the-air meeting, we have got the group focused for Sunday,” he said.

“We have spoken about the game plan and how we are going to approach the game both in and out of possession. It’s important we have a real focus for the game on Sunday. 

“We can’t be thinking about anything else, what’s gone on in the past doesn’t need to be spoken about. It’s just everything geared towards Sunday.”

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Stadio Diego Armando Maradona sets the stage for a ‘David vs Goliath’ Serie A clash between Napoli and Cremonese. Friday’s fixture could officially extinguish the home side’s title hopes, while the visitors cannot afford a slip-up if they’re to keep their heads above water.

Antonio Conte’s hopes of leading Napoli to back-to-back Serie A titles for the first time in the club’s history are all but gone. Indeed, the reigning champions trail runaway leaders Inter by a whopping 12 points, with only five games left until the end of the season.

Anything other than a victory here would allow the Nerazzurri to lift the trophy on Sunday. Nevertheless, it’s likely to only postpone the inevitable. Napoli will still look to return to winning ways after going winless in two consecutive league outings, including a frustrating 2-0 home defeat to mid-table strugglers Lazio last weekend.

On the other hand, Cremonese sit narrowly clear of the bottom three despite picking up just a single point from their last three league games, courtesy of a scoreless home draw against Torino. Marco Giamapolo’s charges head into proceedings level on points with 18th-placed Lecce but are ahead by virtue of a superior head-to-head record.

Needless to say, a defeat in Naples would enable the Giallorossi to overtake them in the standings, especially considering they face relegation-bound Hellas Verona tomorrow. With that in mind, the visitors will be keen to defy the odds tonight and keep their faltering pursuit of Serie A survival alive.

Match Preview

Napoli

In addition to shattering Napoli’s unbeaten home league record this season (W11, D4), Lazio have exposed the Partenopei to the risk of losing back-to-back Serie A matches for the first time since December 2023. However, Conte’s men have recently reigned supreme in this fixture.

December’s comfortable 2-0 triumph at Stadio Giovanni Zini extended their winning streak against Cremonese to four matches in all competitions. Furthermore, Napoli emerged victorious from the last three league meetings between the sides, with each victory coming by multi-goal margins.

It’s also worth noting that Napoli had won three successive home league games before losing to Lazio. Still, with all three wins yielding a single-goal margin, it’s fair to say that they’ve been far from their dominant best at the Maradona Stadium.

Nonetheless, another win would all but seal Napoli’s top-four finish, as they already boast a handsome eight-point lead over fifth-placed Como.

Cremonese

Eager to avoid an immediate return to Serie B, Cremonese must find a way to overcome a full-blown crisis. Indeed, they have won just one of their last 19 matches (D5, L13), though that solitary triumph came under new manager Giampaolo (W1, D1, L2).

With Lecce keen to pounce on their potential slip-up, La Cremo must defy their unimpressive away record against sides starting this round in the top seven. They’ve claimed just four points from six such fixtures this season (W1, D1, L4), highlighting the size of the task awaiting Giampaolo’s lads today.

Adding to this sentiment, Cremonese’s last top-flight win over Napoli came all the way back in September 1994. Moreover, they’ve failed to beat the Partenopei away from home in all 12 previous encounters across either Serie A or Serie B (D2, L10).

It’s virtually impossible to imagine Cremonese turning their fortunes around now, given that they’ve lost seven of their eight away league games since the start of the calendar year (W1).

Team News

Napoli welcomed starting center-back Amir Rrahmani back to the bench last weekend after a seven-game absence. However, Conte is still unable to call upon his captain, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and star striker Romelu Lukaku. Quicksilver forward David Neres and emerging talent Antonio Vergara are also unavailable for selection, with Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay expected to start behind Rasmus Hojlund.

As for Cremonese, veteran goal-getter Jamie Vardy remains on the sidelines with a muscle injury. Antonio Sanabria is likely to lead the line alongside Federico Bonazzoli in the Englishman’s absence. Meanwhile, Michele Collocolo won’t return before the start of next month, with Faris Moumbagna and Morten Thorsby facing minor fitness problems.

Napoli vs Cremonese Potential Starting Lineups

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Politano, Anguissa, Lobotka, Spinazzola; De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund.

Cremonese (4-4-2): Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Luperto, Pezzella; Zerbin, Grassi, Maleh, Vandeputte; Bonazzoli, Sanabria.

Napoli vs Cremonese Prediction

Despite being on the verge of surrendering the Scudetto to Inter, Napoli should still bow out in style. Conte’s charges boast far superior quality and a dominant recent record in this fixture, which should see them claim a routine victory and keep their top-four push firmly on track.

Pep Guardiola says he will not risk playing Rodri in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton.

The midfielder was forced off injured against Arsenal last Sunday and missed the win over Burnley.

Guardiola does not expect him to be sidelined for too much longer but says he will not take a risk this weekend.

“He’s better,” the City boss said.

Asked if he would be available, he replied: “No, we don’t want to take a risk.

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On whether he could be available for the following game against Everton, Guardiola said: “I don’t know yet, hopefully, but we don’t want to take risks because if he’s injured for the next five games in a row, he’s so important.

“Apart from Ruben, Rodri and Josko, the rest are fit.”

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Italy’s Minister for Sport, Andrea Abodi, reacts to Claudio Ranieri’s Roma exit: ‘Respectfully, I’ll just say that he is part of Italian football’s heritage.’

Minister for Sport reacts to Ranieri’s Roma exit

Roma confirmed Ranieri’s exit with an official statement on Friday.

The former Senior Advisor had a public falling-out with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, leading the club owners to stick with the Italian tactician and show Ranieri the exit door.

Minister for Sport Abodi reacted to Ranieri’s departure after an event held in Rome on Friday: “The club can make the decisions it wants, but I’m sorry about the circumstances,” he said via Gazzetta.

ROME, ITALY – APRIL 13: Claudio Ranieri, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on April 13, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“Evidently, something didn’t quite work. Respectfully, I’ll say that Ranieri is part of Italian football’s heritage.”

Ranieri was hired as Roma’s Senior Advisor last summer after spending the previous six months as the first team’s head coach.

During his third stint as Roma’s boss, Ranieri nearly brought the team back to the Champions League, finishing just one point below fourth-placed Juventus.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Ranieri and Gasperini’s results combined made Roma the Serie A team with the most points in the 2025 calendar year.

Ranieri’s departure from Roma will likely lead to Frederic Massara’s exit as well, while club legend Francesco Totti could return to the Stadio Olimpico.

Liverpool supporters are still processing the blow of losing Hugo Ekitike to a serious Achilles injury, but there are now signs that the long-term outlook for the striker may not be as bleak as first feared.

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While the immediate impact is clear, with the French forward expected to miss the rest of the campaign and the upcoming World Cup, insight from a medical perspective suggests there’s genuine reason for optimism over his eventual return.

Expert explains Ekitike recovery process

According to BBC Sport, sports physiotherapist Ben Warburton has outlined what lies ahead for the Liverpool forward following his surgery.

Warburton explained: “It is a very unfortunate injury and one which will always take time to be ‘fit to play’ medically, then ‘fit to play well’ from a conditioning and match sharpness perspective.”

That distinction is important for us, because it highlights that returning to the pitch is only part of the battle, with full sharpness likely to take even longer.

However, there was a key line that will offer encouragement to everyone connected with the club.

“Luckily, Ekitike is young and healthy so it’s more likely than not he’ll heal well.”

That alone suggests that, despite the severity of the injury, the 23-year-old has the physical profile to recover strongly if everything goes to plan.

Ekitike faces mental and physical battle

The expert also pointed to the psychological side of recovery, which is often overlooked but can be just as important as the physical work.

“The first thing with any long-term injury is overcoming the mental side of things.”

That’s where the environment at Liverpool could prove crucial, especially given the support Ekitike has already received from teammates and fans alike.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt forward has already shown his mindset publicly, thanking supporters and embracing the challenge ahead, while Paul Joyce confirmed his surgery has been successful and rehab is now underway.

There’s no getting away from the fact that this is a long road, and one that will stretch well into next season, but the early indications suggest that if the work is put in, the outcome should be positive.

It’s going to take time, patience and resilience, but the belief now is that Ekitike’s return isn’t just possible, it’s something we can realistically look forward to.

Part 4 of an extract from David Potter’s wonderful bestseller The Celtic Rising. The Celtic Rising got underway on this day in 1965 when Celtic won the Scottish Cup Final, against Dunfermline our first trophy of the decade. It would not be the last…

But there were still nine minutes to go. If I have no distinct recollections of the actual goal, I can recall with vivid clarity the last nine minutes. Flags waving all around the ground, a growing swell of noise, smiles, cheers but with myself holding on to the gangway 25’s post and unashamedly praying to God, whether he was a Catholic or a Protestant, to let us win today. Surely, we could not be denied now! But 10 years ago, Celtic had been 1-0 up in a Scottish Cup final against Clyde and had lost a last-minute equaliser from a corner kick.

This kept going through my mind, as no doubt it did through the thoughts of so many people – possibly even Jock Stein who played in that game. They were perhaps better at hiding their emotions than I was but were undergoing all the agony just the same. Those who tried to tell me after the event “Ah knew we were OK when Billy scored” are, frankly, liars. Still more hideously wrong was the fatuous statement “It’s just a fitba match!” We still had these minutes to see out.

Bertie Auld did not seem to be worried though. He took his time, pretending to trip over a pile of police coats placed too close to the pitch, and generally clowning. In truth, Dunfermline seldom got over the halfway line in those last desperate minutes. I kept watching the linesmen. I knew that linesman signalled to the referee about how long to go, usually with their fingers against their black uniform and I kept looking for that.

Eventually, I decided that there was no point in looking at anyone other than referee Hugh Phillips, and so I watched him obsessively as Celtic retained possession. Eventually he turned and pointed to the pavilion, and the immediate impression was of everything going up – players arms in triumph, flags, scarves and people – youngsters lifted up by their parents, arms in the air – and everything was green and white. And everything rose metaphorically as well. There was the glint of silver in the South Stand. This was what it had all been about – the Scottish Cup, and we had won something at last!

Tears welled up unashamedly, as the green and white figures appeared to collect the trophy, and out they came to get their photographs taken. Oddly enough, my feelings were for Dunfermline Athletic as much as anything else – a good team and their supporters were a decent bunch, and we knew what they were going through – and I joined in the polite applause for the Pars. But everything around me was going crazy, and I was particularly careful not to fall down the terracing stairs as the triumphant Celtic crowd swept out. There was no point in getting killed NOW!

The images remain – the seller of “The Shamrock” magazine “the long downtrodden man” as we called him, with a grin on his face instead of the hunted, persecuted look of before, and then the sight of a middle-aged, middle-class man, well-dressed with a tie and a soft hat and possibly a banker or a teacher during the week. He had collapsed over a hedge. He was not in any way under the influence of alcohol, nor did he wear any club colour.

Nor did he use any foul language as he looked at me and a few other bystanders and said with all sincerity and in measured tones, “I couldn’t have taken it if we’d lost the day!” And the two young teenage girls clad in green and white and singing – not The Celtic Song, nor Sean South of Garryowen but the Beatles “She Loves You! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” Incongruous, but there is nothing logical about ecstasy!

A few Pars fans were about, clearly disappointed but nothing nasty about them. Handshakes were exchanged and smiles and “We will see you on Wednesday,” a reference to the League game scheduled for that night, and one of them with a transistor radio told me that Kilmarnock had won 2-0 at Tynecastle. The implications of that one didn’t sink in until later, such was the all-consuming rapture of the moment.

The train from Mount Florida to Glasgow Central was noisy and overcrowded, dangerously so in fact but no-one cared. It was then, however, that real fear took over me that this might all be some sort of a dream and that I was going to wake up! Various thoughts of existentialist philosophy coursed through my mind, but they were soon driven out by the words of “the dreary New Year’s Eve” and “sworn to be free.” If I was going to wake up, so too would thousands of others!

But I didn’t waken up, and we got home by about 10.00pm after an idyllic and triumphant journey. The green and whites had returned. Parkhead was Paradise once more. Sunday was spent talking about nothing else, and the whole world had changed. Rangers and Hearts supporters avoided me – Hearts in particular, for that day was the start of untold miseries for them, but Rangers supporters as well knew that the game was up. Jim Baxter, their hero of the past few years, was beginning to play up and cause trouble again. Celtic’s success was one of those things that did not apparently have any direct connection with Baxter – but we all knew that it did. It was almost as if a switch had been pressed and for the next decade, with a very occasional exception, everything would run in favour of Celtic. The world had indeed changed.

It was like what Churchill said. “Before Alamein, we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat.” It was apparently based on something that Pitt the Elder had said of the Seven Years War, and it wasn’t 100% literally true – but it was close enough.

We felt similarly about Saturday, 24 April 1965. For the next ten years our defeats would be rare, and our successes would be repeated and indeed expected.

David Potter

An extract from The Celtic Rising by the late, great David Potter. Read the three earlier instalments on The Celtic Star earlier today.

David’s bestseller The Celtic Rising ~ 1965: The Year Jock Stein Changed Everything is completely sold out in print on but is available on Amazon kindle, with all the photographs of the hardback edition, for HALF PRICEat just £3.49…

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The Celtic Rising: David Potter on The Day Everything Changed – Part 4

Apr 24 2026, 15:33

The Celtic Rising: David Potter on The Day Everything Changed – Part 3

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The Celtic Rising: David Potter on The Day Everything Changed – Part 2

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Sheffield United end their home campaign on Saturday afternoon when they host Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston North End.

The Blades will be feeling extremely disappointed heading into this game after suffering a shocking 3-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday evening where they looked extremely lethargic and loose in possession. United have struggled with inconsistency all season and the midweek defeat further highlights this point.

Preston North End travel to South Yorkshire off the back of two defeats, most recently a 2-1 loss away at Birmingham City. After flirting with the idea of a play-off pushing season, the Lancashire outfit have firmly dropped off in the back end of the season, and they now sit 13 points off the top six.

Team News

United are hoping to get Kalvin Phillips back in some capacity before the end of the season, but nothing will be rushed. Femi Seriki dropped to the bench in midweek, he could come back into the starting eleven.

Former Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom could be without Jamal Lewis and Ali McCann for the trip to Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United’s Impact Player For This Game

One player who could be crucial for the Blades in this fixture is Gustavo Hamer. The Dutchman is often the driving force behind Sheffield United’s attacking play and will likely be key to how they attempt to break down Preston’s compact defensive setup.

Hamer thrives when he is able to operate in the left-hand side half-space and dictate the tempo. His ability to carry the ball forward with power and commit defenders is huge, particularly against a side that prefers to sit deep and remain organised. If he can draw players out of position, it will create space for Sheffield United’s forwards to exploit, and possibly set up overlapping scenarios for Harrison Burrows.

His passing range is another key weapon. Whether it’s threading balls through tight spaces or switching play to wide areas, Hamer has the vision and technique to unlock defences. He is also a threat from distance and from set pieces, which could be especially important in a game where clear-cut chances may be limited.

Preston North End’s Impact Player For This Game

For Preston, a player who could have a major impact on this contest is Lewis Dobbin. With already eight goals and eight assists to his name, the Aston Villa man has proven his potential on his loan spell with the Lancashire side.

The young forward offers pace and directness, which could be crucial to Preston’s approach, particularly in transition. Dobbin is at his most dangerous when he has space to run into. His acceleration and willingness to drive at defenders make him a real threat on the counter-attack, especially against a Sheffield United side that may commit bodies forward. If Preston can win the ball back and release him quickly, he has the ability to carry them up the pitch and turn defence into attack in an instant.

He is also comfortable operating in wide areas, where he can isolate full-backs and look to take them on, he averages over 1.1 successful dribblers per game which is high for Championship forwards. That direct style can stretch defences and create openings, either for himself or for teammates arriving in the box.

Another key aspect of his game is his energy and work rate. Dobbin presses well from the front and is always looking to close down defenders, averaging 3.5 ball recoveries per game, which fits perfectly with Preston’s setup off the ball.

My Prediction

Contrasting styles is likely to make for an intriguing contest. Sheffield United are expected to see more of the ball and will look to break Preston down with their combinations, while Preston will aim to stay compact and frustrate their opponents before hitting them on the break.

The key challenge for Sheffield United will be patience. Breaking down a well-organised defensive side like Preston is never easy, and they will need to move the ball quickly and intelligently to create openings, which is something they completely failed to do against Blackburn Rovers in midweek.

It’s been a terrible season for the Blades in truth, and I think Sheffield United will only manage a 1-1 draw in this one.

Stats taken from Fotmob and Opta.

Arsenal will play two matches before Manchester City are next in Premier League action, giving Mikel Arteta’s side an immediate opportunity to respond in the title race. With City not involved in league action this weekend, Arsenal know victories in those fixtures could place the pressure firmly back on their rivals.

City moved above Arsenal at the top of the table after a 1-0 win over Burnley. However, both clubs remain level on points and goal difference, showing just how finely balanced the contest for the championship has become at this stage of the season.

Arsenal Must Respond Quickly

Recent weeks have been difficult for Arsenal in the league, and they have not led the standings for several days, the first time that has happened in more than 200 days this season. That shift highlights how quickly momentum can change during a demanding run-in.

Their next assignment comes against Newcastle United, a fixture widely viewed as one of their toughest remaining matches. Arsenal must then face Fulham, another encounter that could prove challenging if they are not fully focused and prepared.

Pressure Builds in Title Race

Although City are considered to have the harder schedule in the closing weeks, Arsenal cannot afford to rely on any slip-ups from the defending champions. Any failure to collect maximum points would damage their own chances and hand the initiative back to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Speaking via Football365, Paul Merson said: “Arsenal’s performance was good at the Etihad, but they lost a game they couldn’t afford to lose. You don’t need to be playing well and losing football matches. From absolutely nowhere, Manchester City are top of the league. It’s scary.

“But Arsenal play twice before City do and could go six points clear again, and they’ve got to make that count. They have to win those two games against Newcastle and Fulham to put the pressure back on City. It’s a must.”

Arsenal will understand the significance of the coming days. Two positive results would restore confidence, strengthen their position, and ensure City remain under real pressure in what is shaping up to be another dramatic finish to the Premier League campaign.

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Leon Goretzka is open to continuing his career at Juventus as the German midfielder prepares to leave Bayern Munich as a free agent at the end of this season.

The Bavarians have benefited from his talents for almost a decade and now appear ready for his departure, with Juve keen to position themselves strongly in the race for his signature. His availability without a transfer fee has naturally attracted significant attention across Europe.

Several leading clubs on the continent are interested in signing Goretzka, and the German is currently considering several offers ahead of next season. With experience at the highest level, he remains an appealing option for sides seeking quality and leadership in midfield.

Juventus Make Their Interest Clear

Goretzka is expected to want to continue competing at the top level, as he remains fit and effective. He could prove to be an excellent addition for Luciano Spalletti, who would be aiming to guide Juventus towards the Serie A title next term.

Juve have reportedly already made contact with his entourage regarding a potential move. The club are understood to be gathering details over the financial package he would expect should he decide to change teams this summer.

Such early discussions suggest Juventus are serious about strengthening its squad with proven talent. A player of Goretzka’s calibre would bring experience, physical presence, and technical quality to the midfield department.

Salary Demands Could Shape Negotiations

According to Tuttojuve, the German has informed Juventus that he would require 7m euros net per season to move to the Allianz Stadium. That figure is said to be slightly above the highest amount Juve are currently willing to pay their top earner.

While the request may initially exceed Juventus’ preferred structure, it does not necessarily place the deal out of reach. Negotiations often involve compromise, and both parties may yet find common ground in the coming weeks.

This means the Bianconeri could still arrive at a figure that suits their wage model while satisfying the player’s expectations. That has made the proposed transfer a realistic and increasingly positive possibility.

If an agreement can be reached, Juventus would secure an experienced international on a free transfer, a move that could represent excellent value and provide a significant boost ahead of the new campaign.

Destiny Udogie will miss Spurs’ crucial clash with Wolves on Saturday, boss Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed.

The left-back has suffered a muscle problem but it is not expected to keep him sidelined for too long.

“Destiny has a problem,” De Zerbi said. “I think he can’t play tomorrow, but I’m sorry because he played a great first half, the second half as well, but the first one was great.

“But we have Spence, Souza is available to come with us, it’s not a big problem. I hope Destiny can be available in the next week in Villa Park.”

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James Maddison is still not ready to play, meanwhile, having returned to the bench for the first time this season against Brighton.

“No, he’s not available yet,” De Zerbi said. “Especially this week, he felt pain, but it’s not such an important problem.

“Tomorrow he’ll come with us on the match, because it’s important if he plays or not. It doesn’t matter. It’s better if he plays, for sure, but also as a guy, as a leader, as a positive guy.

“Inside my dressing room I want to see nice people and positive people, and it’s important also for his teammates.”

Pape Sarr will not be in the squad altogether, however, because of a shoulder issue.

“He felt pain in the shoulder and this week he didn’t work. He has not worked with the group. He’s not available to play.”

And goalkeeper Vicario remains sidelined after undergoing hernia surgery.

“Vicario is not available for tomorrow,” De Zerbi said. “I think and I hope he can start with me from Monday, next Monday.

“Antonin is playing very well and from Monday we go to work with him (Vicario). I hope Vicario can come back in the best physical condition because he’s another very important player for us.”

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Manchester United are reportedly gathering information on AC Milan star Rafael Leao before launching a summer onslaught.

The 26-year-old is a Sporting CP youth product who was sold to LOSC Lille in the summer of 2018. After an impressive year in France, Milan poached his services in 2019, and he went on to establish himself as the club’s ultimate star in the current era.

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The Portuguese attacker helped the Rossoneri end an 11-year drought by clinching the Italian league title in the 2021/22 season. He was rewarded for his heroics with the Serie A MVP of the Season Award.

Rafael Leao destined to leave AC Milan this summer?

Thanks to explosive talent, the 26-year-old has been on the radar for some of the biggest clubs in Europe over the years, including Man Utd.

The Red Devils had reportedly scouted Leao three years ago. Nevertheless, there were never truly any concrete developments on this track in the past, with the player seemingly happy to play his football at San Siro.

Nevertheless, the relationship between the Portugal international and the Milan fanbase has been on a steep decline. On Saturday, he was jeered off the pitch during the shocking 0-3 defeat to Udinese after squandering promising opportunities with clumsy touches.

There had also been a few tensions between him and his teammates, particularly Christian Pulisic, even though his manager, Max Allegri, downplayed the whole episode, as he continues to defend his ‘genius’ star.

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According to Calciomercato, this could be the summer where we finally witness Leao’s departure from Milan, as his relationship with the club has almost reached a breaking point.

The source claims that super agent Jorge Mendes has been hoping to orchestrate a move to Barcelona. The Blaugrana look increasingly likely to waive their option to buy Marcus Rashford from Man Utd. However, they remain uninterested in Leao.

On the other hand, the Italian portal reveals that MUFC continue to follow the Portuguese’s situation closely. INEOS are currently making their evaluations, but contacts between the parties could intensify in the coming weeks.

How much would Leao cost Man United?

Transfermarkt estimates Leao’s value at €65 million (£56m). Nevertheless, Calciomercato believes Milan are willing to entertain offers starting from €50 million (£43m), given that the attacker’s contract will expire in June 2028, and he’s coming off a relatively underwhelming campaign.

For their part, Man Utd are reportedly planning to recruit a new right-footed left-winger, which is where Leao excels.

The 26-year-old has been mostly playing as a centre-forward this season in Allegri’s 3-5-2 system, which has arguably hampered his momentum.

The Red Devils have also been linked with other left wingers, including the likes of Yan Diomande, Ilman Ndiaye, and Morgan Rogers.

However, Leao could represent a cost-efficient alternative, although his challenging campaign at Milan has raised a few red flags.

There are 2 major questions with Seahawks' 1st-round pick Jadarian Price originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Everyone knew the first running back taken in the 2026 NFL Draft would be from Notre Dame, and Jeremiyah Love indeed went to the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 3 overall pick on Thursday night.

But the second back being from Notre Dame, too? That was a possibility, but not for certain.

The Seattle Seahawks made it happen with the final pick of the first round. They chose Jadarian Price, who was Love's backup with the Fighting Irish, at No. 32 overall.

Price will be crucial to the defending Super Bowl champ's plans for the season ahead. He'll also have some questions to answer.

2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available

The first is simply whether Price can adjust to a bigger role even as he moves up the ladder to the NFL ranks.

"Price was a backup in college -- albeit behind the No. 3 pick in this year's draft -- and will now be asked to fill a pseudo starting role, with Walker gone and Zach Charbonnet probably out for much of the season after knee surgery," ESPN's Brady Henderson wrote on Thursday night. "Seattle also signed Emanuel Wilson to be a power runner and has George Holani in the mix."

BEST DRAFT NAMES: Ephesians Prysock | R Mason Thomas | DeVonta Smith | Zxavian Harris

Then there's a matter of whether Price has the skillset to be on the field that often in the first place.

"Another question about Price pertains to his ability to contribute in the passing game," Henderson writes. "He caught only 15 passes over three seasons, though that was in part a function of Love's versatility."

Love was simply a star in the receiving game, so that might explain most of that.

Still, it's an area in which Price isn't proven. He'll have a lot of doubters to overcome to make it work in Seattle.

More NFL Draft news:

• Chiefs make a shocking draft trade
• Commanders get Sonny Styles after historic NFL Draft Combine
• Steelers' 1st-round pick didn't play football until college
• Eagles and Cowboys have made a trade like this before
• Browns' pick is really about Shedeur Sanders' replacement

There was sky blue smoke coming from the Darwen End. After 25 years, Coventry City’s exile was over. There have been times in the past quarter of a century when it has felt never-ending, points when they trailed at Ewood Park when it looked like it would be extended for a little longer.

Then Bobby Thomas headed in Victor Torp’s free kick, his name echoed around Blackburn – the town, it seemed, and not merely the football club – and confirmation came that Coventry’s stay in the EFL will end. They needed a point and got precisely that. The messages on the scarves and banners the enterprising traders were hawking outside Ewood Park – reading “we are Premier League” – will become fact. Frank Lampard has a feat that brooks no dissent, which cannot be caveated with asterisks. “It's right up there for what I've achieved,” he said. “I will never talk down the [2012] Champions League. It is probably the best night of my life. This comes very, very close. It very much dawned on me the achievement of what this is. I am very excited but more emotional.”

He was not alone in that. There was an invasion from the Midlanders, 7,000 fans in the stand behind the goal where Thomas scored, a few more who had bought tickets among the Blackburn supporters. No wonder. Coventry may have stumbled over the line, their performance been largely mediocre but there is a case for calling this their greatest day since the 1987 FA Cup final.

Go back a decade and it could be argued the Coventry fanbase were starved of joy more than any other. While it did span their 1987 glory, they went 47 years without finishing in the top six in any division. Once Premier League ever-presents, they were tumbling into League Two. Once the constants in the top flight, the club with the uncanny ability to avoid relegation, Coventry then became the strangers from it. Some 44 other clubs have played Premier League football during Coventry’s long absence.

Now a comeback is complete. This has been the fall and rise of Coventry; perhaps the fall and rise of Lampard, too, given that it was easy to assume his ignominious second spell at Chelsea might have finished him off as a manager. Lampard had successes at Coventry, Chelsea – the first time around – and Everton, but none as seismic as this. He is a history-maker, in unlikely company with Jimmy Hill, who clinched Coventry’s only previous promotion to the top flight, back in 1967.

Now Lampard has emulated him. Coventry were 17th in the Championship when he took over. Their next target may be 17th in the Premier League. As it is, two managers have been transformative for a club who reached the lowest ebbs in the lowest division. They bottomed out when 10th in the fourth tier. “A club that has suffered for 25 years and that journey going down to League Two,” reflected Lampard.

He was quick to praise a predecessor who was the architect of a rise, taking Coventry up two divisions and to a Championship play-off final. Lampard said: “Mark Robins did an incredible job.” His sacking seemed harsh; the subsequent choice of Lampard was met with scepticism. A mocked appointment has proved a masterstroke. “Super Frank,” a chant familiar from Stamford Bridge for many a year, has earned the nickname in Coventry. “I’m very proud to be their manager,” he said.

A man whose medals justify descriptions of him as a success as a player can now say he is as a manager. A commanding promotion was secured without parachute payments, even if with a supportive owner, in Doug King. Few envisaged a season of dominating the Championship, but Lampard oversaw one.

There are men who stand out. Matt Grimes, signed in Lampard’s first transfer window, was a catalyst as captain. Two astute loan recruits in Carl Rushworth, the best goalkeeper in the division, and Frank Onyeka, a mid-season injection of excellence. It has been a collective effort, with seven players scoring at least seven goals. That strength in depth was shown when Torp came off the bench to turn provider for Thomas’ goal. It was Coventry’s first in three games.

They can testify the last step can be the hardest, even for a club who have taken giant strides. They could have gone up last week but could not score against a Sheffield Wednesday team whose points tally begins with a minus sign. They trailed to Blackburn, who are at risk of relegation to League One, though their eventual point should help Michael O’Neill complete his admirable rescue job. Rovers were the better side and merited a lead given them by Ryoyo Morishita, who deflected shot on the turn; Lampard, often unfairly accused of scoring deflected goals, could rue this.

But Coventry summoned a response. Lampard turned to his bench and Torp allowed Thomas to take his place in City folklore.

It won’t be Coventry’s most famous header – Keith Houchen will forever have that distinction – but it allowed them to complete a belated return. It may have been apt that Blackburn’s PA selected Pulp’s Disco 2000 to soundtrack the celebrations. In a way, they have transported everyone back to a bygone era.

They were relegated by a David Ginola-inspired comeback from Aston Villa in 2001, a Coventry team including future international managers Craig Bellamy and Lee Carsley, plus John Hartson, Mustapha Hadji and Chris Kirkland. There may be fewer big names in the side that has come back up. But that only emphasises the achievement, Lampard’s greatest in a dugout.

Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and a draft in which there were thought to be plenty of potential surprises in the top 10 certainly delivered.

We knew that Indiana QB and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza (-10000 at BetMGM) was going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, but after that we didn’t know much.

The betting market for the No. 2 pick had shifted almost daily leading up Thursday night between Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. But in the hours before the draft began, Reese pulled away at BetMGM and other sportsbooks to become a sizable favorite to go No. 2.

Many mock drafts had Bailey going No. 2, while some bettors clearly had information that Reese was going to be the pick.

Instead, the Jets took Bailey at No. 2 and the Arizona Cardinals took Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, setting off a chain reaction that resulted in some long-shots cashing for bettors.

Carnell Tate was a surprise going No. 4 to the Tennessee Titans as well, as Tate closed with 50-1 odds to go No. 4 overall.

The Los Angeles Rams taking Alabama QB Ty Simpson at No. 13 was also a shocker, both cashing the over 1.5 QBs in Round 1 wager, but also cashing the under on Simpson’s draft position which had been bet up from 24.5 all the way to 29.5.

“Jets going with Bailey set off a chain reaction that gave us some losers,” Christian Cipollini, BetMGM NFL trader, told Yahoo Sports on Friday morning. “Arvell Reese at No. 5 was one of our worst markets, and Love at No. 3 was also not good. Simpson going early wasn’t ideal either. Still a few markets to settle, but looking like a small loser [on the draft] right now.”

The biggest long-shot in the top 10, however, happened when the Kansas City Chiefs traded up from No. 9 with the Cleveland Browns to take LSU CB Mansoor Delane at No. 6. Delane closed as a 100-1 long-shot to go No. 6, as there had been very little indication that the Cleveland Browns — slated to pick at No. 6 — had any interest. Such is the difficulty of betting the NFL Draft.

The 2026 NFL Draft is also a strong one for wide receiver, and the over/under in Round 1 was set at 5.5, with juice to the over. The Jets traded back into Round 1 to take Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30, but he was the fifth — and final — wideout taken in the first round. The under ended up cashing for total Round 1 wide receivers, as Washington WR Denzel Boston is still on the board.

Here are the closing odds for every pick in the top 10 at BetMGM:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QBFernando Mendoza (-10000)

2. New York Jets: EdgeDavid Bailey (+175)

3. Arizona Cardinals: RB Jeremiyah Love (-110)

4. Tennessee Titans: WR Carnell Tate (50-1)

5. New York Giants: Edge Arvell Reese (20-1)

6. Kansas City Chiefs (via CLE): CB Mansoor Delane (100-1)

7. Washington Commanders: LB Sonny Styles (+500)

8. New Orleans Saints: WR Jordyn Tyson (+220)

9. Cleveland Browns (via KC): OT Spencer Fano (+700)

10. New York Giants: OT Francis Mauigoa (+750)

It's Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft and the Green Bay Packers own the 52nd overall pick and the 84th overall pick. Let's take a look at who they selected in my Day 2 mock draft:

52nd overall pick: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

Another Georgia defender. Miller is a rugged run defender. He is going to control his gap and he won't get pushed off his spot. He has good quickness of the snap and the power in his hands to work off contact to be an active force against the run. With his initial burst and power, Miller can collapse the pocket. At 6-3, 321 pounds with a nice blend of power and quickness, Miller is exactly what the Packers need in the middle of their defense.

Also considered, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State, Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon, Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan, Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee and Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State.

84th overall pick: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia

Are you having flashbacks to the 2022 NFL Draft? Just like the 2022 NFL Draft, Gutekunst opens up the 2026 NFL Draft with a pair of Georgia Bulldogs.

At 6-1, 196 pounds and with nearly 32-inch arms, Everette is well put together. He runs with long strides and plays with 'easy' speed. He can hit his top gear quickly. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Everette clocked a 4.38 40-yard dash. Over the past two seasons, he recorded 14 pass deflections and four interceptions.

Also considered: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M, Sam Roush, TE, Stanford, Darrell Jackson Jr, DT, FSU and Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas.

This would be an ideal start to the draft for the Packers. They address the two biggest roster needs and it would not be shocking if they added another cornerback and another defensive tackle on Day 3 of the draft. With six picks at his disposal, he could get aggressive and try to move up to start Day 3 to get a guy at the top of their Day 3 board.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers Day 2 Mock Draft: Addressing roster needs with Georgia pair

Reports in Italy indicate that Giovanni Malagò is currently leading the race for the FIGC presidency and that Italy could look to bring in either Gianfranco Zola or Paolo Maldini once a new leader of the football association has been appointed.

Malagò leads FIG Presidential race, could appoint Zola or Maldini for Italy

Malagò and Giancarlo Abete are the two leading candidates to replace Gabriele Gravina as President of the FIGC. Gravina stepped down from his position shortly after Italy lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final at the end of March.

The FIGC Presidential election will take place on June 22, and the two candidates have been busy presenting their cases to the various bodies within the Italian football set-up over the last two weeks.

On Thursday, Malagò and Abete both met with representatives from the players’ and coaches’ associations, who will have a combined 30% of the votes at the election in June (20% for the players’ association, 10% for the coaches’).

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 05: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, looks on during the Paralympic Games Opening Press Conference ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at on March 05, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

According to reports from Tuttosport on Friday, both bodies are leaning slightly in favour of selecting Malagò as the replacement for Gravina.

According to Friday’s report, Malagò will seek to include a ‘big name’ in the FIGC set-up if he is appointed, likely a former star of the national team.

Tuttosport suggests that Zola, currently serving as vice-President of the Lega Pro, is an ideal candidate, one that knows the set-up well and one that is looked upon favourably by those already involved with the FIGC. Maldini is also an enticing option for various reasons and has plenty of experience in a directorship role from his post-playing career with Milan.

Bayern are confident that Vincent Kompany will not leave the club, even if they complete a historic treble.

This comes amid some growing fears that Manchester City could swoop for their former player if Pep Guardiola departs in the summer.

The ex-Barcelona manager has been a little coy about his future at the Etihad, with his contract set to run until 2027.

Manchester City could try and poach Vincent Kompany

With yet another Bundesliga title under his belt – and the prospect of a treble to boot – we’d be far from surprised to see clubs test the waters for the young coach this summer.

“Now, he’s doing such a brilliant job, so it’s no surprise that the Belgian’s old club, Manchester City, still have him on the list for when Pep Guardiola heads off,” Falk exclusively informed CF Bayern Insider.

“There’s still a bit of fear in the club that if he’s winning everything, Man City will try to persuade him to trade Munich for Manchester.

“However, I was talking with the CEO of Bayern Munich, Jan-Christian Dreesen, and he said there was no chance of Kompany leaving this summer. He’s 100% certain that the former Burnley boss will stay for the foreseeable future.

“If Vincent Kompany signs a contract, it means he’s thought about his future long and hard, so Bayern Munich won’t sanction his exit. In the meantime, they hope Kompany doesn’t have any plans to leave the club, as if he ends up winning everything, there’s an argument to be made that he’s the best coach in Europe.”

That said, it remains to be seen whether or not Guardiola will seek pastures new at the end of what could be a Premier League-winning campaign for the legendary head coach.

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Even assuming that the Sky Blues were to be on the hunt for new management this summer, who’s to say Kompany would be in any great hurry to leave?

He’s building a phenomenal side over at Säbener Straße. One blessed with the best forward line in Europe and with incredible young talent (like Lennart Karl and Tom Bischof) feeding through.

Winning the treble would be the start of something at Bayern

City, of course, may argue that their former protege may have achieved it all over in Munich were he to lift both the DFB Pokal and Champions League this season.

But why shouldn’t the Belgian wish to climb further up the ranks in Bayern’s illustrious history?

Two further trophies this season would see Vincent Kompany go level with Felix Magath (5) for silverware won.

* Vincent Kompany ranks behind Pál Csernai, Dettmar Cramer, Felix Magath and Hansi Flick for trophies won

Only two more would be required to match Pep Guardiola and Hansi Flick’s legacy (exceeding the former’s if a treble is achieved this term).

There’s an opportunity here, if the 40-year-old wants it, to carve out a legacy at one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs.

The City job can surely wait.

The Tennessee Titans surprised everyone when they traded up to gain a second pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

The Buffalo Bills traded the 31st pick, a third-round pick, and a fifth-round pick to the Titans in exchange for second, third, and fourth-round picks. Tennessee then used that pick on Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk, whose name wasn't frequently mentioned as a Day 1 prospect.

After the selection, Faulk spoke to the media about being drafted by the Titans, and he was as surprised as everyone else.

Keldrick Faulk says he doesn’t know much about the Titans or the NFL in general. Also said he did not have much interaction with Tennessee pre-draft pic.twitter.com/FZ543zztHV

— Buck Reising (@BuckReising) April 24, 2026

"I really didn't know they had any interest in me, but I'm glad they did," Faulk says.

Then he's asked what he knew about the Titans and what the call with them was like.

"To be honest, I don't really know too much about the NFL in general. I really just started watching players in the NFL as soon as I got into college, probably two or three years ago. So, the NFL is brand new to me. I'm trying to pick up knowledge about the NFL as I go," he said.

"As far as the phone call with the front office and everyone in the building, it was great. I really couldn't hear a whole lot because I was crying, like everybody else was crying around me. But I could tell they were excited for me, so I'm excited to be here, for sure."

Faulk stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 285 pounds. Combine him with John Franklin-Myers (6-foot-4, 288 lbs.), Jeffery Simmons (6-foot-4, 305 lbs.), Jermaine Johnson (6-foot-5, 254 lbs.), and Jordan Elliott (6-foot-4, 303 lbs.), and the Titans' defensive front just got a whole lot bigger.

Despite being a Day 2 prospect and having little interaction between the two sides, the Titans (namely, Robert Saleh) must have seen something in him or his film that indicated he was worth jumping back into the first round for. We'll see if they got it right when they hit the field this fall.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans pick Keldric Faulk: 'NFL is brand new to me'

The Cleveland Browns took care of business during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

After starting the night by trading with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Browns selected Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano with the ninth overall pick, bringing another new offensive line starter into the fold for a team that was already to projected to have four new starters up front this season. Then, later in the night, the Browns stuck at pick No. 24 and bolstered their receiving corps with the selection of Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion.

Attacking those two needs early opens up numerous possibilities for the Browns when the second night of the draft gets underway on Friday. Thanks to their trade with Kansas City, they’ll have an additional third-round selection at No. 74 overall, giving them three more top 100 picks to work with.

The Browns’ first pick of the night on Friday will be relatively early, sitting at No. 39 overall, and there is plenty of talent left on the board for them to pick from. Using the rankings from Cory Kinnan of Daft on Draft, here are the top 50 players left on the board entering night two of the 2026 NFL Draft (Kinnan’s initial big board rankings are in parentheses.)

Best Available Players for Browns to target on Day 2 of NFL Draft

1. Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy (No. 5)
2. Tennessee CB Colton Hood (No. 21)
3. Louisville WR Chris Bell (No. 27)
4. Washington WR Denzel Boston (No. 28)
5. Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald (No. 29)
6. Missouri LB Josiah Trotter (No. 30)
7. Clemson CB Avieon Terrell (No. 31)
8. Texas A&M G Chase Bisontis (No. 32)
9. Georgia LB C.J. Allen (No. 33)
10. Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (No. 34)
11. Alabama WR Germie Bernard (No. 37)
12. Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas (No. 38)
13. Georgia DT Christen Miller (No. 39)
14. Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas (No. 42)
15. Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds (No. 43)
16. Arizona DB Treydan Stukes (No. 44)
17. Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell (No. 45)
18. Auburn C Connor Lew (No. 46)
19. Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker (No. 47)
20. Arizona S Genesis Smith (No. 48)
21. Oklahoma WR Deion Burks (No. 49)
22. South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse (No. 50)
23. Georgia TE Oscar Delp (No. 51)
24. Oregon G Emmanuel Pregnon (No. 52)
25. Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez (No. 53)
26. Ohio State TE Max Klare (No. 54)
27. Georgia State WR Ted Hurst (No. 55)
28. Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. (No. 56)
29. Arizona State CB Keith Abney II (No. 58)
30. Kansas State S VJ Payne (No. 59)
31. Iowa State DT Domonique Orange (No. 60)
32. Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter (No. 61)
33. Missouri EDGE Zion Young (No. 62)
34. Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling (No. 63)
35. Florida CB Devin Moore (No. 65)
36. Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott (No. 66)
37. Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder (No. 67)
38. Mississippi State WR Brenen Thompson (No. 68)
39. Memphis OT Travis Burke (No. 69)
40. Tennessee EDGE Joshua Josephs (No. 70)
41. Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton (No. 71)
42. Texas Tech EDGE Romello Height (No. 72)
43. Pitt LB Kyle Louis (No. 73)
44. Iowa G Beau Stephens (No. 74)
45. Connecticut WR Skyler Bell (No. 75)
46. Duke CB Chandler Rivers (No. 76)
47. USC S Kamari Ramsey (No. 77)
48. Northwestern OT Caleb Tiernan (No. 78)
49. Auburn EDGE Keyron Crawford (No. 79)
50. Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields (No. 80)

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns NFL Draft: Best players available after Round 1 of the NFL Draft

The No. 9 Auburn Tigers return to Plainsman Park on Friday to open a three-game series with the No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners. If you are wondering where to watch the action live, you have come to the right place.

Auburn baseball kicks off the last stretch of its SEC schedule on Friday, which features 12 games against top-15 teams. The No. 13 Sooners enter this weekend's series as winners of two straight SEC series, most recently sweeping Missouri at home. Auburn head coach Butch Thompson says that Oklahoma reminds him of his own team and understands that his team will have to fight to earn every run they score.

“Continue to the finish and head down and not much to say and just fight, fight, fight regardless of if we have success this day or come up short, you just have to stay in the fight for this run,” Thompson said. “We’re happy to get (Oklahoma) in here and play a good series against another team that looks just like us, feels just like us.”

More: Auburn baseball sets pitching rotation for Oklahoma series

Below, you will find key information for the SEC series opener between the Auburn Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners, including a broadcast guide, starting pitchers, and a projected starting lineup.

Auburn baseball vs Oklahoma time today

• Date: Friday, April 24
• Start time: 6 p.m. CT

Friday's game between Auburn and Oklahoma is set for 6 p.m. CT on Friday, April 24.

What channel is Auburn vs Oklahoma on today?

• TV Channel: None
• Livestream: SEC Network+

Auburn vs. Oklahoma will stream exclusively on SEC Network+ from Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama, on Friday.

Watch Auburn vs. Oklahoma on SEC Network+

Auburn vs. Oklahoma on the radio

The broadcast of Friday's SEC game between the Auburn Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners will be available on the Auburn Athletics app, as well as the Auburn Sports Network. Find your local Auburn Sports Network affiliate below.

Auburn vs Oklahoma pitching matchup

• Auburn: SO RHP Andreas Alvarez (6-2, 1.96) 
• Oklahoma: JR RHP LJ Mercurius (6-4, 4.93)

Auburn's projected lineup

• C Chase Fralick (.324 | 6 HR | 29 RBI)
• 1B Ethin Madrigal (.303 | 5 HR | 22 RBI)
• 2B Chris Rembert (.346 | 3 HR | 31 RBI)
• 3B Eric Guevara (.363 | 8 HR | 31 RBI)
• SS Brandon McCraine (.362 | 0 HR | 17 RBI)
• LF Bub Terrell (.288 | 9 HR | 27 RBI)
• CF Bristol Carter (.336 | 2 HR | 23 RBI)
• RF Mason McCraine (.302 | 4 HR | 32 RBI)
• DH Eddie Madrigal (.319 | 1 HR | 4 RBI)

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn baseball vs Oklahoma: Time, TV, stream details for Friday

Day One of the 2026 NFL Draft didn't go the way many Pittsburgh Steelers fans thought it would. Hosting the draft, many were excited about the idea of the team making a huge splashy pick in the first round, announced by Steelers legend Jerome Bettis.

And it almost worked.

Just minutes before the Steelers were set to take USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, they lost him when they were outsmarted by the Philadelphia Eagles. This forced the Steelers to pivot quickly and the team went from an elite receiver to a project offensive lineman in Max Iheanachor.

As we move forward, not just this season but down the road, we want to be sure we are on the record with four prospects the Steelers should have taken instead of Iheanachor and we will let their careers play out to see what happens.

S Dillon Thieneman - Oregon

Speed, athleticism, explosion and versatility. This is why the Bears took Thieneman and why he was such a smart pick.

G Keylan Rutledge - Georgia Tech

The best run-blocking lineman in the draft, bar none. He's a powerful mauler in the mold of Mason McCormick and an immediate starter for the Texans.

OT Caleb Lomu - Utah

Another lineman good enough to trade up for, Lomu is the forgotten guy on the Utah offensive lineman but he's a technician with plenty of power and could replace Will Campbell in the starting lineup.

WR Omar Cooper Jr. - Indiana

If you miss on Lemon, why not immediately take the next-best receiver? The quarterback situation could limit Cooper with the Jets but make no mistake, he's a starting-caliber NFL receiver.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 4 prospects the Steelers should have taken instead of Max Iheanachor

Wolves boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Tottenham at Molineux (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Edwards provided an update on goalkeeper Jose Sa, who picked up an injury before the Leeds game: "He trained today [Friday] so we'll give him as much time as possible but he felt comfortable today so that's pleasing."
• He added Matt Doherty trained all week so he is available, but Ladislav Krejci "will be struggling".
• On relegation being confirmed: "Tough to take but we knew where we were. We were marooned at the bottom of the league. We don't like it. It wasn't easy, I don't think it was ever going to be. There has been mistakes made here for a number of years and the trend that the club has been on for a while has been leading up to this so there is a lot for us to learn.
• He continued: "If you make mistakes, you can be punished and we have seen that with a number of clubs. We have been able to make some improvements and we want to take positive momentum into the new season so we want to do that [from] tomorrow."
• When asked how he personally processed relegation, Edwards said: "We acknowledged it and I felt I needed to show some strong leadership with the staff and the players and what we want to do moving forward. We know this has been a challenging season but it's about what we do next. It's been difficult for the supporters and I know it is challenging. Let's react in the right way. Nobody would want us to feel sorry for ourselves. We have to respond in a professional way and do a good job."
• On recruitment for next season: "Players [are the ones who] go over the line and do it so it is important that we get that bit right. The process was started in January and a lot of hard work has gone on to make sure we are in a good position in the summer. We want to act as early as possible to give us the best chance to work with the group."
• Edwards spoke about an altercation between team-mates Tolu Arokodare and Mateus Mane: "That was a couple of weeks ago. Not uncommon. We dealt with it and we have moved on from it. There is a lot of passion and sometimes things can get physical. We have a group that care. They are a tight group and sometimes things can spill over. I've got no problem with any of the individuals."
• On facing Tottenham: "Roberto [de Zerbi] is in for a reason, because they have had some difficulties as well. Momentum is hard to change. It's a really good game and it's an interesting game so it shouldn't be one that is difficult for us to respond. I hope we can show the best side of us and I know it will be a difficult game. We want to try and finish as strongly as possible. We haven't done that as a football club so that is the message we are driving. We have got to guarantee our performance levels are high."

Listen to full match commentary of Wolves v Tottenham on BBC Radio 5 Live at 15:00 BST on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Hot on the heels of both James Forrest and Liam Scales signing new deals with Celtic, midfielder Luke McCowan has also put pen to paper on a new deal until 2028, with the club having an option to extend for a further year.

Looking over the past two years from when he signed as a late transfer-day deadline signing in August 2024, the 28-year-old said: “I’m just so happy that we got the deal over the line and now I’m able to help the boys for the coming years and be a part of this amazing squad.

“I think I’ve become a lot more mature in terms of winning and losing, and I’m dealing with a lot of press and media now.

‘It’s just been great to learn from these guys who have been around this place for so long, and to push their message that they pushed to me, push that to the new players coming in and be part of that.’

“To be a part of the team as well through winning and losing has been a massive part because nobody likes to lose, but when you do you because closer as a team sometimes.

“We’ve been able to do that, but the highs have been absolutely amazing and hopefully there’s more to come with that.”

And when asked on his aims for the coming seasons, he said: “Just winning as many games and trophies as we can, put on good performances for the fans. For myself to contribute to that with goals and assists as much as I can, and try to grow as a player even more, learn more of the game.

“I’m really looking forward to the next coming years and hopefully it’s all about progression within each year, as each year needs to get better and better.”

Celtic manager, Martin O’Neill said: “Luke’s had a major contribution in my time here.

"He’s a solid midfield player with a good eye for a pass, too, and close to goal you feel as if he’s going to put the ball on target. I’ve enjoyed his company and his time here, and he is genuinely a terrific lad.”

NFL Draft picks by college 2026: Updated totals for Ohio State, others as Big Ten opens early lead originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Ohio State led all schools with four players selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft -- though the order was a little different than expected.

The Tennessee Titans drafted receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 pick. Edge rusher Arvell Reese went with the next pick to the New York Giants, and linebacker Sonny Styles went two picks later at No. 7 to the Washington Commanders. The Dallas Cowboys selected Caleb Downs with the No. 11 pick.

Miami had three players selected in the first round. The Giants took tackle Francis Mauigoa (No. 10), Tampa Bay drafted edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (No. 15), and the Los Angeles Chargers took Akheem Mesidor (No. 22).

The Big Ten led all conferences with 10 players selected in the first round. The SEC and ACC had seven players apiece drafted.

Here’s a closer look at the NFL Draft by college and by conference.

2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available

NFL Draft picks by college 2026                  

Sporting News will track the NFL Draft selections by college here for the 2026 NFL Draft: 

NFL Draft picks by conference 2026

Sporting News will track the NFL Draft by conference here. The SEC led all conferences with 80 players drafted in 2025. 

MORE NFL DRAFT NEWS:

• 7 safest picks in 2026 NFL Draft
• Riskiest picks in 2026 NFL Draft
• 11 potential steals in the 2026 class
• Meet these small-school sleepers

Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has been given a six-game ban by Uefa for homophobic conduct during their Champions League knockout play-off match with Real Madrid in February.

The match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon was halted for 10 minutes after Real's Vinicius Jr accused Prestianni of racially abusing him.

Prestianni, 20, denied making a racist comment and said Vinicius misheard him. Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said that Prestianni told him he had in fact directed a homophobic comment towards the Brazil forward.

Argentina's Prestianni will be banned for two further games, having already served a provisional one-match ban, with the other three suspended for two years.

More to follow.

• Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

No team pulled off a bigger surprise than the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, picking Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall. Though the Rams had been linked to Simpson during the pre-draft process, no one thought they would take him that early. He was viewed as more of a late-first-round or second-round prospect.

And yet, the Rams still took the Alabama quarterback, hoping he will be their successor to Matthew Stafford.

Fans are almost unanimously against the selection, but experts are more split on it. Overall, though, more than half of the grades handed out have been C+ or worse.

Here's a roundup of expert grades for the Rams drafting Simpson.

USA TODAY: C

There was widespread pre-draft skepticism that Simpson would crack Day 1 at all. Instead, he makes it into the top half of the order. Los Angeles is likely the ideal landing spot for the signal-caller, who's short on experience but can be brought along slowly behind Matthew Stafford. But the Rams really must have seen something in Simpson to pivot from their plan to go all in for the reigning NFL MVP. Les Snead and Sean McVay deserve the benefit of the doubt here, as they've been one of the best teams at identifying talent in the draft in recent years. And maybe it gives the franchise the smooth transition behind center that once seemed like it would be hard to enact. But Simpson has displayed some fairly significant shortcomings and limitations as an undersized and inexperienced passer, and this certainly feels like a sizable stretch.

NFL.com: B+

Coming into Thursday night, it seemed Simpson was likely to be picked in the middle or late part of the first round, so the Rams decided to beat the rush to their future starting quarterback. Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford is 38 years old, and the franchise might not get many opportunities to make such an early pick. A long-term investment in the QB position made a lot of sense.

CBS Sports: A

Simpson showed high-end ability last season before injuries started piling up. He understands how to attack tight windows and play with the anticipation necessary to translate to the NFL. I also think he gets underrated physically as he's got very light feet in the pocket and an NFL-caliber arm. The Rams don't plan on picking this high until Matthew Stafford retires, and now they have their transition plan.

The Athletic: C

This is the draft’s most enigmatic selection, and it’s not close. If a team drafted Simpson to start right away, the grade, at best, would have been a C-minus — he’s not ready for the NFL in that capacity. But as a backup behind potential Hall of Famer Matthew Stafford? That’s interesting. Can Simpson become a Jordan Love-style success story or will he go down the Jake Locker path? Check the magic eight-ball in three or four years.

PFF: Poor

In a spot where many assumed the Rams would look to bolster their short-term Super Bowl window with Matthew Stafford at quarterback with an early first-round pick, they instead opted to take a swing on the future at the position in a post-Stafford world. There was growing momentum that Simpson would be selected toward the end of the first round — he ranked 38th on the Consensus Big Board — but few expected him to come off the board this early. Simpson has just one year of starting experience, and Los Angeles is betting that the time spent behind Stafford and with Sean McVay will help clean up some of the timing and ball placement inconsistencies in his game.

The Ringer: C-

In a vacuum, I really don’t get this pick. This feels like a massive reach for an undersized, lightly experienced quarterback who was injured (and played poorly) for half of his only season as a starter. And maybe more importantly, the Rams are in a position to compete for the Super Bowl right now, and this pick doesn’t give them a better chance to do that. But all that being said: Of all the potential landing spots for Simpson, this is, by light-years, the best he could’ve hoped for. He can sit behind Matthew Stafford for a year or two and learn from him and Sean McVay. I just think the Rams are paying way too much to find out what he can be down the line.

SB Nation: C+

Now, perhaps Les Snead and company believe they have everything they need to make yet another run with Stafford in place. But with concerns about Puka Nacua arising over the past few months, Davante Adams getting another year older, and still needing some other pieces, the Rams could have added another premium talent at this spot. Instead, they’re drafting a QB that they hope will not see the field for a year or two, in a down year for quarterbacks, and ahead of what might be a better QB class next year. Perhaps the thinking is that the Rams might not be picking this high again anytime soon, but even still …

Again, I liked the idea of Simpson to the Rams at 29, I just do not like it as much at 13 given the talent still on the board.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL draft grades: Experts split on Rams' selection of Ty Simpson

Series Preview

#20 Nebraska Cornhuskers (31-10, 15-3 B1G) at Illinois Fighting Illini (20-19, 8-10 B1G)

Location: Illinois Field, Champaign, IL

Dates: April 24-26th

Times (all CDT): Friday @ 6pm , Saturday @ 3pm, Sunday @ 1pm

Coaches: Will Bolt (7th season, 201-136-1) & Dan Hartleb (21st season, 617-462-1)

TV/Stream: All games on B1G+

Radio: All Nebraska games on Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

“You broke their hearts, now go and take their souls!” That was the final phase of the Huskers’ team meeting Friday night after a big comeback win, exclaimed by pitching coach Rob Childress. And that really epitomized the approach the team took the remainder of the biggest weekend in at least 11 years at Hawks Field. That propelled the Huskers up the RPI ladder, where they now sit at 13. That puts them right in the thick of the battle to host a regional, one of the major goals for Will Bolt each year. Taking care of business with nothing like the 2021 Rutgers sweeping them at home, should mean we see June baseball in Lincoln.

Coach Dan Hartleb (somehow in his 21st season) and Illinois are stuck in the middle of the slog of the Big Ten. They sit at 8th with an 8-10 record, with 6 teams either tied in wins or within a game of them in the standings. They’ve basically won the series against the teams they should have (Minnesota, Rutgers, and Penn State) and have lost to the teams you’d expect them to (USC, Purdue, and Oregon).

The major thing the Illini have going for them is that they are finishing up a 3 week home stand, and Nebraska has been living on a bus since the USC series ended. But they are only 5-4 in the home stand against some “meh” teams, other than Oregon. They are going to be striving to not drop close to the 12 spot and be in danger of missing the Big Ten Tournament field.

Pitching Preview

Game 1: RHP Cooper Katskee (5-0, 4.02 ERA) vs. LHP Regan Hall (5-4, 5.37 ERA)

Game 2: RHP Carson Jasa (7-1, 3.93 ERA) vs. RHP Mitch Dye (1-0, 5.35 ERA)

Game 3: RHP Gavin Blachowicz (3-1, 3.02 ERA) vs. TBD

It’s safe to say Cooper Katskee’s first Friday night start didn’t go as planned. 5 earned runs on 6 hits and 5 walks in 3 innings against an average USC offense put Nebraska in a hole against the best pitcher in the conference. Katskee admitted he may have been a little too excited to start his first Friday night game in scarlet and cream, and may have overdone his preparation, which was also on a shorter week with the move from Sundays. Let’s see how a normal week lets him rebound.

From the first inning, Carson Jasa was in control against USC. He was hitting 97 mph on his fastball with ease, and had his big 12-6 curve working maybe the best it has all season to mix with his slider and cutter. He struck out 7 and didn’t give up a run until the 7th and final inning. He gave up both of his runs and 3 of his 5 hits on the day in that inning. He’d obviously run out of gas, but with some big arms doing lots of work Friday night, powering through for a complete game was a huge help to the bullpen.

In his return to the Sunday slot, Gavin Blachowicz also had a rough start, walking the bases loaded, tossing a wild pitch, and giving up back to back home runs in the 2nd inning. With the bullpen fully rested, the coaches wasted no time in going to new long reliever Ty Horn to steady the ship. Sweeping a ranked team despite 2 starters only tossing a couple innings each is beyond difficult and just shows the resolve of this team.

Regan Hall has been the Friday night ace for the Illini all season and has pulled off some big victories, including against Coastal Carolina. However, his last outing against Oregon makes Katskee and Blachowicz USC lines look like they were Roger Clemons and Pedro Martinez. Hall gave up eleven (ELEVEN!!!) runs on 11 hits with 2 doubles, a triple and 3 home runs by the Ducks in only 3.2 innings. His ERA jumped from 3.83 to 5.37. Woof. Hall has struck out 49 and only walked 11 in 55 innings. So he is coming right at you.

After being a lights out reliever for the first month and a half of the season, Mitch Dye was inserted into the starting rotation. He had gone 4 straight appearances without allowing a run, and in his first start against Minnesota, only gave up a single run in 4.3 innings. Since then his ERA has gone from 2.31 to 5.35. But injuries and ineffectiveness of other starters force him to remain in the weekend starting role. The Sunday slot is not yet declared, as the team weighs going with

Scouting Report

The Illini offense is nothing like it was in 2024 when they won the Big Ten regular season crown by just mashing the ball all over, and out of, the yard. They are in the bottom half of nearly every offensive statistic. One thing they do is take a ton of pitches, trying to both draw walks and get a team to its bullpen. They are only 13th in the B1G in batting average at .269, but tied for 3rd in walks. You have to attack them.

The player that has been the most steady performer on offense has been a freshman first baseman, AJ Putty. Putty has worked himself into being the team’s cleanup batter, leading the team with a .338 batting average. He also leads the team in extra base hits with 20 (11 doubles, a triple and 8 home runs), and RBIs with 43. He really looks to be the guy they can build around in years to come, if they can hang on to him. He is an home grown Illinois kid, so its not out of the question.

Leadoff batter and outfielder Nick Groves is one of the harder outs to get on the team. He is batting .320, but adds a team leading 30 walks to push his OBP to .451. The Senior outfielder loves to show off his speed. He is a team best 11 for 15 on stolen bases and also leads the team with 3 triples on the year. He currently has an on-base streak of 42, good for 4th in Illinois history. The team’s Director of Player Development Cam McDonald is the program record holder at 63.

The best power bat in the Illinois lineup is outfielder Collin Jennings. At 6’5” 215 lbs, he is an imposing centerfielder. He led the team in home runs and slugging last year, and is leading in home runs again this year. He currently has 10 home runs, and is second on the team with 31 RBIs.

The Illinois bullpen is fairly average. They have decent numbers that that are around the middle of the Big Ten teams, except for their walks. The staff as a whole only averages 3.5 walks per 9 innings, which is 3rd in the Big Ten behind UCLA and Michigan State at 3.2 and 3.4.

Reed Gannon is the top option in the bullpen. He leads the team with 16 appearances, and 3 saves. He can go multiple innings, having gone 5 innings against Penn State earlier in the season. He has 25 strikeouts and 6 walks in 32.1 innings of work on the year. Expect him to get a lot of work if one of the games still seems in the mix.

Sam Reed is another oft used left handed reliever. His ERA is only 3.27, but his other numbers suggest that should be higher. He only has 13 strikeouts to go with 8 walks in 22 innings of work. Batters are hitting .253 against him, which is very high for someone with that ERA. He makes up for that with only having allowed 6 extra base hits. He is quite the enigma with all of his numbers.

The young arm that seems to have the most upside is sophomore Sam Mommer. He is a transfer from Wisconsin-Parkside a D-II school where he won the conference freshman of the year last year before transferring to Illinois for this year. He has made 12 appearances, including 3 starts, with a bullpen best 2.45 ERA. He has 23 strikeouts and 11 walks in 25.2 innings on the year.

Illinois has a very good defense, fielding the ball at 97.8%.

Series History

Illinois owns a 16-15 all time record against Nebraska (Illinois claims it is 18-15). Nebraska won the last series in 2023. The last time the teams met in Champaign, you might remember the 5 hours worth of weather delays during the series finale. Nebraska was making a late season push to try and make the Big Ten Tournament, so was willing to stay as late as possible to try for a win, but gave up a run in the bottom of the 9th to lose 5-4. Then they would get tarp-ed the next week by Purdue. #NeverForget

On Deck

• Drew Grego, current Big Ten co-Player of the Week and Freshman of the week, has 33 RBIs on the season. Thats 6th most by a freshman this century. He is 1 behind Brice Matthews (2021), and 4 behind Pat Kelly (2012).
• Dylan Carey and Mac Moyer are tied for 2nd in the Big Ten with 65 hits, and Nebraska is the only team in the country with 2 players over 65 hits.
• The 36 runs Nebraska scored in the USC series, is its second highest total in a Big Ten series. Against the team that led the conference in ERA.
• Carson Jasa has 77 strikeouts on the year, 5th most in Nebraska’s Big Ten era, and 3 behind Emmett Olson (2023).

If you haven’t been a watcher of the cinematic recaps that the athletic department puts out, check out one of the best ones, the recap of the USC series.

• Manchester City turn their attention to FA Cup semi-final vs Southampton on Saturday. 

• The Blues advanced to top of the Premier League after a 1-0 win vs Burnley on Wednesday. 

• This will be Pep Guardiola’s ninth FA Cup semi-final out of a possible 10 as Man City manager

Manchester City travel to London this weekend to face Southampton at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup final against Chelsea or Leeds United. 

City moved back to top of the pile in the Premier League on Wednesday, beating Burnley 0-1 away at Turf Moor – a result which subsequently relegated the Clarets to the EFL Championship.

Erling Haaland’s goal in the fifth minute proved to be enough for City to take all three points in what wasn’t the most spectacular performance from the Blues. 

It was Burnley who had the first opportunity of the game, Jaidon Anthony’s curled effort towards the far corner was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Manchester City vs Southampton (FA Cup Semi-Final): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch

City then powered forward from there and Haaland took his chance when it came, Jeremy Doku burst past Bashir Humphreys and played a perfectly weighted ball through to Haaland in space, who took a couple of touches in his stride and chipped the ball over Martin Dubravka to give City the lead with just under five minutes played.  

From there it was pure domination from City but no more goals to show for it. The Blues had 28 shots on goal, with nine of them being on target.  

The one goal lead proved to be nervy at points in the game, with Burnley moving the ball with purpose at times but City held on to ensure they moved to top spot.  

But now they will play in the FA Cup final four once again with the target being to reach a fourth consecutive final in the competition.

The seven-time champions of the FA Cup defeated Liverpool 4-0 in the quarter-final of the competition three weeks ago to reach this stage, having won their last five games in all competitions.

As for Championship side Southampton, they shocked City’s title rivals Arsenal with a 2-1 win over in the quarter-final to set up a challenging battle with Pep Guardiola‘s domestic treble hopefuls. 

The Saints do pose a threat to City, currently unbeaten their last 20 matches across all competitions, winning eight out of the last nine of those games. 

City themselves are on an unbeaten run of their own, not losing a domestic match for 16 games since a 2-0 loss versus crosstown rivals Manchester United.

Match Officials: Craig Pawson to referee Manchester City vs Southampton

With that said, here’s how we think Pep Guardiola’s side will set up at Wembley Stadium. 

Predicted XI

James Trafford has played in every domestic cup match Manchester City have played this season, and that run is expected to continue. City won the Carabao Cup last month with the 23-year-old impressing between the sticks. He has kept a clean sheet in seven out of the 14 appearances he has made this season.  

Matheus Nunes has been City’s first-choice right-back this season and has proved to be a vital player in this campaign. The Portugal international will be looking to continue his brilliant form to secure a starting spot at the FIFA World Cup in the coming months. 

City’s centre-back partnership as of late has been established to be Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov, however Guardiola could slightly rotate with this being City’s third game in six days. Nathan Ake could return to the starting lineup ahead of Guehi on Saturday.

Rayan Ait-Nouri has been in good form in the last couple of months and he could well earn his spot at left-back against the Saints.  

Nico Gonzalez’s game time has been limited in the last few months since Rodri‘s return from injury but the latter picking up a calf injury against Arsenal last week, the former is expected to be called upon at Wembley.

It’s likely he will be partnered with a second Nico, Nico O’Reilly, who scored a brace at Wembley versus Arsenal last month. The 21-year-old can be played at left-back, where he has spent most of his game time this season, but Guardiola could see this as a chance to rest Bernardo Silva in midfield.  

Similarly to Nico, Tijjani Reijnders has seen his game time limited in the last few months but tomorrow could be the perfect opportunity for the Dutchman to get back into form as he adapts to English Football. The midfielder has been quite underwhelming since his debut goal and assist versus Wolves in August but there is no doubting his attacking quality.

Antoine Semenyo hasn’t exactly been in the electric form that he showed when he joined the club and for the whole of this season, contributing a goal in just one of his last nine appearances for the club in all competitions. However, he did get a goal and assist in City’s last FA Cup match against Liverpool and is expected to retain his place on the right-wing.  

Jeremy Doku has nailed down a starting spot on the left-wing this season and the Belgian never fails to entertain.

His explosive burst of pace is unstoppable for defenders and he has added physicality to go with it, making him one of the most difficult players for players to come up against. His assist for Erling Haaland was his 10th in all competitions this campaign and it doesn’t look like he will be stopping any time soon.  

Finally, it’s looking as though Haaland is getting back into form and will lead the line for City as usual. The Norwegian has scored five goals in his last four matches and will look to add to that at Wembley.

Starting XI: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri; O’Reilly, Nico, Reijnders; Semenyo, Haaland, Doku

Substitutes: Donnarumma, Stones, Guehi, Kovacic, Bernardo, Foden, Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush

Hey all, here’s your open thread for Friday.

MMA ADJACENT

That’s a good resume.

TOTALLY OFF TOPIC

I have complicated feelings about Midsommar and Aster’s work, in general. I’m not a big horror fan, so a lot of his stuff just isn’t for me. I still find this interesting, though.

I don’t think Cena gets enough credit for his acting chops.

GAME TIME

Not my era, but could guess most of them.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Beef: Masvidal vs. Sonnen — FULL STORY
• Monster: Khamzat training footage — FULL STORY
• Burn: Aljo talking some smack — FULL STORY

Enjoy!

Isack Hadjar is the seventh driver to line up alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull since 2016, and the young Frenchman has admitted he had his concerns about taking on that role.

The seat next to Verstappen has developed a reputation over the years, with several drivers struggling to meet expectations. After Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2019, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda all found it difficult to keep pace.

Hadjar stepped into the role after a strong rookie season with Racing Bulls. Although the team hoped new regulations would signal a fresh start, there was still plenty of talk about past issues surrounding that second seat.

Hadjar admits Verstappen’s track record was a concern before his Red Bull move

Damon Hill had warned that Verstappen could overwhelm Hadjar mentally, given how others had struggled before him. It was a warning that clearly wasn’t lost on the young Frenchman.

Speaking to F1’s official YouTube channel, Hadjar admitted the past struggles of Verstappen’s teammates weighed on his mind. However, he was confident in his ability to prove himself.

“Of course I did in a way because, you look at the gaps between Max’s teammates and you’re like, ‘Wow, this is weird,” he said about joining Red Bull.

“But at the same time I’m realistic. I’m like, it’s a new regulation, we have the same car. If I believe I’m good, I’m good. And that’s end of the story.”

Isack Hadjar has closed the gap to Max Verstappen in 2026

And he wasn’t wrong. Hadjar has looked much closer to Verstappen so far this season, even holding a 2-1 lead in qualifying after outpacing him in Australia and Japan.

His performance in Melbourne was particularly strong, lining up third on the grid before retiring with a mechanical issue, while Verstappen crashed during qualifying. Marc Priestley said after that Red Bull ‘desperately’ needed Hadjar.

While Verstappen has 12 points compared to Hadjar’s four, the pace difference is smaller than it’s been for years. James Hinchcliffe went as far as to say Hadjar had ended Red Bull’s ‘second car blues’, and the young Frenchman feels he’s right there.

“Yeah, like you say, it’s a small sample,” Hadjar added. “The car is what it is right now, very hard to drive, but all the time I’m not too far.”

“And I’m happy with how I delivered in those first three races with the car I have underneath me, gave the most of it. All in all, it’s pretty good.”

Read more:

Jim Furyk is set to return as captain of the US Ryder Cup team for the 2027 matches in Ireland, as the Americans aim to reverse three decades of European dominance, The Associated Press understands.

Furyk would become only the fourth US captain since the modern era of the Ryder Cup began in 1979, when continental Europe joined, to lead the team again.

Sources close to the selection process, speaking anonymously as the PGA of America is yet to announce it, indicate the Ryder Cup committee chose Furyk after Tiger Woods removed himself from contention for the role following his 27 March arrest on suspicion of DUI.

Furyk previously captained the side in 2018 in Paris, where Europe secured a dominant 17.5-10.5 victory. His four captain's picks notably achieved a 2-10-0 record at Le Golf National.

Europe continued its winning streak last year at Bethpage Black, establishing a record seven-point lead after two days.

They secured a second consecutive triumph under captain Luke Donald, who is also returning for a third stint in Ireland.

Donald was confirmed as Team Europe captain in early March, with the Englishman seeking a three-peat after previous wins in 2023 and 2025.

However, the US are yet to officially announce who will lead them in Europe next year.

Europe have won nine of the 12 editions of the Ryder Cup in the 21st century, although they were pushed hard by the US team at Bethpage Black in 2025.

The US team, which was led by Keegan Bradley, fought back from a seven-point deficit to take the competition right to the wire before Europe eventually triumphed 15-13.

Last year’s Ryder Cup, which Donald Trump attended, was marred by crowd abuse, with Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica, targeted throughout the three days of competition.

Each year, the Fred Biletnikoff Award is presented to the best wide receiver in college football. Alabama WR DeVonta Smith took home the award in 2021 after breaking multiple school and conference records on his way to a Heisman Trophy. He was then drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 10 overall in the NFL Draft.

Five years later, the Eagles have added another Biletnikoff Award winner in USC WR Makai Lemon.

With the No. 20 overall pick in the 2026 @NFLDraft, the @Eagles select Makai Lemon. @NewEraCap

NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/lWU7c2EoCc

— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026

Lemon, selected with the No. 20 overall pick after Philadelphia traded up with the Dallas Cowboys, was the engine of USC's offense last season. He recorded career-highs across the board, catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. While Lemon may not boast prototypical size (5-foot-11, 192 pounds), his competitive edge and tenacity on the field more than make up for it.

"There's a lot to like about him," Howie Roseman said. "Competitor. Has the ability to separate in man coverage, out of the slot, he can play outside. Physical player. Really good with the ball in his hands. Really good hands. Good in zone coverage, has really good instincts."

Lemon's arrival likely signals the end of A.J. Brown's tenure in Philadelphia. With all signs pointing to an eventual deal with New England, Lemon may step into a significant role early alongside Smith and Dontayvion Wicks.

161 seconds of Makai Lemon being tough to tackle pic.twitter.com/z9yE926QAt

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) March 17, 2026

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles have two Biletnikoff Award winners on the roster after drafting Makai Lemon

Arsenal will welcome back Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori from injury against Newcastle in a major boost to their Premier League title hopes.

After suffering a huge blow in defeat to leaders Man City last weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side took top spot midweek with victory over Burnley.

But the Gunners can reclaim first with a result against Newcastle this weekend, while City take on Southampton in the FA Cup, and Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Saka and Calafiori will be options.

Saka has been nursing an Achilles problem after withdrawing from the England squad last month, while the Italian picked up a knock before the Bournemouth clash earlier this month.

"Bukayo [Saka] is probably going to be in the squad, so good news,” Arteta said. "Riccardo [Calafiori] is in the squad.”

"He [Saka] was in great spirits today in the sun; you could see that today.”

Arsenal will still be without Jurrien Timber, with the Dutch defender dealing with an ankle injury since facing Everton last month.

Hansi Flick spoke to the press on Friday to preview the upcoming La Liga match against Getafe, but many of the questions were about another matter: Lamine Yamal.

The teenager is out for the season after suffering a hamstring injury against Celta Vigo in midweek, and Barça will have to cope with the absence of their best player for the final six games of the season as they try to clinch the La Liga title.

Flick explained when and how the injury happened, how the team can adapt to Yamal’s absence, and was confident Lamine will be back in time for the World Cup and will be even better after overcoming the first major injury setback of his career.

“It’s not easy for him or for us. We have to manage it. He’ll learn from his first muscle injury. He’ll surely be ready for the World Cup and will come back stronger.

“He felt something after the penalty, but nothing serious, so we decided he’d take it. It was his first muscle injury, and it’s not easy to interpret the signs. He’ll learn because he’s very young. He’s already missed games this season, and it wasn’t too bad for us.

“We need him, yes, but we’re a team and if a player is missing, we have to stick together and give 100% or more for our teammates. There are six games left and the goal is always to win. We have the quality to play a great game.

“At 18, he’s doing very well, considering the pressure he’s under. I think this is the fourth question about him, which speaks to his importance. He’s more mature, he’s intelligent, and he’s demonstrating that every week. It’s normal that he’s feeling down right now. I wish him a good World Cup, at his best, and for that, the important thing is that he has a good recovery.”

Are you as confident as Flick that Barça can still clinch the league title without Lamine, Barça fans?

Stevensville boys 4, Bigfork 3

SINGLES — Jeremy Madruga, Stevensville def. Dane Carlsen 6-1, 6-1; Drake Tully, Stevensville def. Jimmy Schlicht 6-1, 6-0; Tony Brown, Stevensville def. Rye Peterson 6-4, 6-0; Curtis Scherfenberg, Bigfork def. RJ Chmeka 6-0, 6-1.

DOUBLES — Louis Eberhardt and J St. Germain, Stevensville def. Rye Peterson and Graham Munson 6-1, 6-4; Jimmy Schlicht and Rhett Feiker, Bigfork def. Chemka and Lance Morris 6-1, 6-0; Parker Bach and Conner Riska, Bigfork def. Ross Cochran and Braiden Ketron 6-1, 6-2.

Bigfork girls 6, Stevensville 2

SINGLES — Amanda Leonard, Bigfork def. Bridget Madruga 4-6, 7-5, 10-2; Grace Holtmeyer, Bigfork def. Jackie Reed 6-0, 6-2; Tatum Holman, Bigfork def. Gracie Godrey 6-2, 6-3; Bella Hickey, Bigfork def. Lia Werschmoller 6-2, 6-1; Cassie Schlicht, Bigfork def. Lily Hayes 8-0.

DOUBLES — Payten DeSpain and Gwenna Lustig, Bigfork def. Neveah and Avery 6-2, 6-0; Gracie and Riley, Stevensville def. Rivera Person and Jocelun Holton 7-5, 6-1; Riley and Bridget, Stevensville def. Iro Hickey and Bristol Wallin 6-4, 6-0.

Head to the comments section to share your thoughts and join the conversation. You can sign up for a commenting account below and we have full-time moderators to enforce the Community Guidelines.

MISSOULA — The Columbia Falls Wildcats don’t mind playing at Ogren Park-Allegiant, and neither do the Polson Pirates.

The Wildcats beat Florence 8-3 and Polson downed Corvallis 8-2 Thursday at the Missoula PaddleHeads High School Showcase, hosted by Frenchtown High.

Whitefish and Frenchtown were set to play Thursday’s 7 p.m. game, but it was rained out. Same with the game between Missoula Sentinel and Hamilton.

The tournament continues Friday and Saturday.

C-Falls 8, Florence 3

Nico Young scatted four hits and a walk in six innings of work for Columbia Falls, and helped his own cause with three hits and an RBI.

An RBI double by Chase Wagner sparked a three-run third inning by the Falcons (4-3), but the Wildcats (6-3) answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame to lead 6-3. Lincoln Fisher’s RBI single put them ahead for good, 4-3; Jaxson Cadwell added an RBI double and later scored on a double steal.

Jory Hill doubled to lead off the fourth for the Cats, and Young drove him in with a single. Young struck out nine Falcons; the game ended after six innings under the time limit.

Polson 8, Corvallis 2

Cole Wadsworth had three hits and scored three times and Clay Wadsworth threw three innings of hitless relief for the Pirates.

Cole Wadsworth singled and scored to spark a three-run first inning for Polson (5-4); Paxson DuMont had the big hit, a two-run single. Wadsworth singled again in the second and came in on Holden Emerson’s single. Cody Haggard hit a double to drive in Emerson for a 5-2 Pirate lead.

Haggard had two doubles and three RBIs. Clay Wadsworth, who took over for Hunter Luedtke in the fifth, also hit a double. Luedtke allowed three hits, a walk and two unearned runs in his four innings of work. He fanned two.

Corvallis fell to 3-7.

Bigfork 13, Ronan 3

BIGFORK — “Free” passes made a difference in this one, with Bigfork collecting three walks and three hit by pitches during a six-run second inning.

A hit batter, a single and back-to-back errors led to three Ronan (1-7) runs in the top of the second, but the Chiefs’ 3-2 lead didn’t last long.

Cavin Weist was hit to lead off Bigfork’s half of the inning; he came around on two stolen bases and a throwing error. A bases-loaded error let Holland Jantzen score the run that put the Vikings (7-2) up 4-3; Max Schara soon walked to reload the bases and Hayden Mayer and Mason Lewis were hit by pitches to drive in two more runs.

Wiest came up again and capped the uprising with a two-run single, making it 8-3.

Jantzen had two of Bigfork’s eight hits, including a double. Ryder Hamilton also hit a double. Mayer ended up with three RBIs; it was his sacrifice fly that brought in Bigfork’s 13th run, ending the game under the mercy rule.

Lewis also pitched five innings, allowing one hit — a single by Ben Mitchell — along with four walks and no earned runs. He struck out four.

TROY — Addyson Fisher went 3-for-4 with three RBIs as Troy pushed past Eureka 9-7 in a Western B softball showdown Thursday.

Eureka (4-7) started the scoring with a Maren Lytle single to left field that scored a pair.

Troy (7-4) had a quick answer as Allie Borgmann tied the game in the bottom of the first with an RBI single to center.

Each team added another run in the second before Troy took control in the third.

Ainsley Huitron doubled to give the Trojans a 5-3 lead. Then after an RBI fielder’s choice, Fisher drove in a pair with a double to center.

The Lions fought back with a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth as Lytle hit a sacrifice fly to make it 9-7.

Eureka loaded the bases in the seventh thanks to three walks, but Fisher got Leah Tkachyk to strike out and end the game.

Claira Folkerts threw five innings in the circle for Troy, allowing seven runs on three hits. Fisher added two no-hit innings in relief.

Autumn Thomas went 3 2-3 innings for the Lions, allowing one run on four hits and fanning five.

Rain forces postponements

Inclement weather forced the postponement of two scheduled softball games in the area Thursday.

Polson and Columbia Falls’ matchup along with Ronan and Corvallis’ battle were called off due to the weather with no immediate make-up day announced.

Over the years, RB Leipzig have become well known for their work with youngsters and their ability to help talents take the next step on their path towards becoming world-class players.

For new RB Leipzig CEO Tatjana Haenni, staying at the forefront of youth development remains a key objective – and she believes there is still room for improvement. 

During a media call this week, the 59-year-old identified talent development as a core area of focus four months into her tenure, noting that the club must adapt to stay ahead of the competition.

“Our ID is to use young talented players, and we’ve been doing great in that aspect, but the global landscape has changed. We’re not the only ones looking for young players. Many other clubs are doing the same. So we have to get even better at it,” Haenni told Bulinews.com.

Taking advantage of the club's infrastructure and reputation for nurturing talent are among the keys to winning that race, according to Haenni.

“We have an amazing facility here, great infrastructure, a wonderful academy, and all the potential to be best in class when it comes to developing young players. As a young player, you know that if you come to RB Leipzig, this can be the next step in your career towards becoming world-class player – as we now see with [Yan] Diomande, who is probably one of the greatest players in the Bundesliga.”

Besides youth development, Haenni is focused on maximising the club’s commercial potential across partnerships, ticketing and hospitality, while also strengthening the bond with the local community in Saxony.

“There is a lot of potential to motivate people, to really set things on fire and create a great atmosphere in the stadium. We have an amazing crowd, but we’re not sold out at every single game. That’s the next key step for us," she said.

“It shouldn't be about gender”

Haenni’s appointment as RB Leipzig CEO made headlines when it was announced, with the 59-year-old becoming the first female CEO of a Bundesliga club.

Yet, for her, the focus remains strictly on bringing the right qualities to the management board.

“It shouldn’t be about gender. It should be about quality. As a CEO, you bring expertise in leadership, management skills, strategic experience and an international background," Haenni said, adding:

"Generally speaking, I’m a big believer in diverse leadership teams, because I think it’s all about growth, innovation and staying ahead of others. And to do that, you need different opinions and discussions. 

“If you’re biased towards one side and keep being one-sided, you lose touch with what’s happening in the game and in the world. Diverse opinions are always helpful to grow together and become the best club or organisation you can be,” she concluded.

In today’s college basketball landscape, decisions to move on to the next level are no longer just about draft stock, but value. For Thomas Haugh, his value in the sport could be historic.

According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Haugh’s NIL earnings at Florida could exceed $10 million for the 2026-27 season, with the majority of that money coming through third-party deals rather than the university itself.

“Haugh will make huge money off of his Actual name/image/likeness (what a concept!) due to his stature: 4-yr [Gator] + nat’l champ + All [American] + preseason POY. Sources added he might clear $10 million b/c of how big he is in Gainesville. Majority of NIL [money] will come via 3rd-party deals, not UF,” Norlander reported.

As you can tell, that number isn’t just eye-popping, but program-defining. Haugh’s return to Florida was already one of the biggest offseason wins in college basketball. A projected first-round pick, he had every reason to leave for the NBA. Instead, he chose one more run in Gainesville, citing not just NIL, but loyalty and unfinished business.

“Most guys in my position in the draft, it would be a no-brainer to go to the NBA,” Haugh told ESPN. “It’s not just the NIL. It’s a chance to play with my boys. To play for coach [Todd] Golden. To go to the school I love to play for. It was definitely a tougher decision than last year, but it was best for my career and future.”

Alas, the financial landscape matters. Haugh is uniquely positioned to capitalize. A four-year player, national champion, All-American and preseason Player of the Year candidate, Haugh checks every box for marketability. 

At 6-foot-9 with a versatile game, he’s not just productive, but visible. In a college town like Gainesville, that visibility translates directly into opportunity. On the court, his production backs it up.

Haugh averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds last season, earning All-SEC First-Team honors while continuing his steady rise from role player to centerpiece. His growth was instrumental in Florida’s national title run, and his return immediately vaults the Gators into championship contention once again.

With Todd Golden bringing back an awesome core, expectations are sky-high: “Getting this group of guys back together for one last run, they’re going to have a lot of attention and notoriety, a lot of it deserved,” Golden said. “We’re going to have a ton of pressure, a ton of eyeballs on us this year. But it’s a privilege. 

“Use it to fuel us the right way. Can’t allow it to splinter us. But we’d much rather be the hunted than the hunters. We just have to accept there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that.”

That pressure comes with a spotlight. That spotlight is now worth millions for Haugh, as players no longer have to rush to the NBA to maximize their earning potential. In some cases, like Haugh’s, staying in college can be just as lucrative, if not more, while offering another year of development and exposure.

If you’re a Florida fan, it’s a win on every level. And for Haugh, it’s a bet on himself, and one that’s going to be paying off before the season even tips.

Thursday night was a big one for the New York Giants. They held two of the top 10 selections in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft and scored big with Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5 and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10.

The Giants' war room had a different look to it this year. New faces replaced old faces as the John Harbaugh era began for real.

Co-owner John Mara was not seen in the room. It's unknown whether he was present or not, as he is undergoing cancer treatments. His brother, Chris, was apparently carrying the flag for the Mara family, standing alongside general manager Joe Schoen.

One face few thought they would see Thursday night was that of chairman Steve Tisch, who recently filed paperwork along with his siblings to relinquish their stake in the team to a trust in the name of their children.

Steve Tisch positioned next to John Harbaugh in the Giants' draft room. Chris Mara next to Joe Schoen.

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) April 24, 2026

That came on the heels of the news that Tisch had a relationship with the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The prevailing thought was that Tisch would no longer be involved with the team or be seen in public at events such as the one on Thursday night.

But since NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the annual league meeting in March that the league saw nothing in Tisch's behavior that warranted any disciplinary action, there he was, front and center, trying to buddy up to Harbaugh.

Former Giants owner Steve Tisch seen in draft room on draft night. pic.twitter.com/B20FIgdCos

— Jamie McCarty (@JamieMcCarty) April 24, 2026

For an organization perpetually worried about optics, they apparently didn't think this one through.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants' war room: No John Mara sighting, but a Steve Tisch one

Perhaps it wasn't as sharp as the Tetairoa McMillan pick in 2025, but the Carolina Panthers threw us another first-round curveball for the second straight year.

On Thursday night, the reigning NFC South champs took Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the 19th overall selection of the 2026 NFL Draft. Even with a heavy favorite in Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman still on the board, the Panthers opted to build on their trench with the promising 6-foot-7, 315-pound hog molly.

Now, we move on to Friday—with the second and third rounds on deck. Will this next stage of the process, however, be any easier to predict?

Well, we can try.

Here's our quick Day 2 mock for the Panthers . . .

Second round (No. 43, via MIA): Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Projected trade: Carolina receives No. 43, No. 94; Miami receives No. 51, No. 83, No. 158

General manager Dan Morgan hasn't been shy about going up to get his guy on Day 2. In fact, he's done it three times over his first two drafts at the helm.

He makes a leap here for Rodriguez, who created 11 turnovers in a highly-decorated and highly-productive 2025 campaign. The unanimous All-American can slot right into the starting lineup next to free-agent signee Devin Lloyd.

Third round (No. 94, via MIA): Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia

After missing out on a chance to even consider taking Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq at No. 19, the Panthers nab another kind of potent playmaker at the tight end position here.

Delp's production doesn't warrant much excitement, as he amassed just 854 yards and nine touchdowns over four years at Georgia. But his athleticism, explosiveness and 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame may give Morgan and the Panthers a yards-after-catch weapon they desperately need.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers 2026 Day 2 mock draft: Predictions for Rounds 2 and 3

The Chicago Bears got an absolute steal when they selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick. He's an incredibly fast and smart player who will make Chicago's secondary better upon his arrival.

Opposite new free-agent addition Coby Bryant, Chicago could very well have a dominant, versatile safety duo that elevates the secondary and Dennis Allen's defense as a whole.

Despite general manager Ryan Poles and his staff making a great pick on Thursday night, there's still an elephant in the room. The Bears have yet to address their defensive line with any consequential players. They desperately need another edge rusher to line up opposite Montez Sweat, and they need a disruptive interior defensive lineman who can get after the quarterback and play a role in stopping the run better.

Following Round 1, Poles was asked about the defensive line, and he gave a somewhat disturbing answer regarding his plans to fix it.

"The [defensive] line helps the back end more often than not," Poles said. "In this situation, we have good corners and good safeties. We can be in a position where we can have the [opposing] quarterback hold the ball a little longer."

This is incorrect and a disturbing thought process by Poles. The Bears led the NFL in takeaways (33) and interceptions (23) last season, despite having one of the worst pass rushes in the league. That's almost certainly not going to happen again. They'd be lucky to finish in the top 10 of takeaways with that level of pass rush.

Without creating constant pressure on the opposing quarterback, he is less likely to make a mistake that will lead to a turnover. Chicago's defense made a lot of plays in 2025, but that must be expected to regress to the mean a year later. Poles' response makes it seem like he doesn't see last year's defensive results as fool's gold.

This group is okay and far from the worst defense in the NFL, but they are not good enough to match what Ben Johnson's offense may be able to do. Poles and his staff can't let that stand in the way of them taking a step as an organization. Regardless of his comments, Poles has a chance to add impact players to the defensive line on Days 2 and 3 of the draft.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears GM Ryan Poles gives disturbing answer about defensive line

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft concluded on Thursday night, and it ended with the reigning Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks selecting Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price. Now, Day 2 of the draft is on the docket. On Friday night, teams will participate in the second and third rounds.

As always, we at Seahawks Wire have you covered when it comes to figuring out how to watch this colossal event. Here's how to watch rounds two and three of the 2026 NFL Draft tonight, including time, TV schedule, streaming information and the top 10 odds for the No. 33 overall pick when the draft resumes:

What channel is 2026 NFL Draft on today?

• TV Channels: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
• Livestream: Fubo (free trial)

The 2026 NFL Draft will broadcast on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Streaming options for the draft include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

2026 NFL Draft time today

• Date: Friday, April 24th, 2026
• Start time: 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 pm Pacific

The second round of the 2026 NFL Draft starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This of course means the fun will start at 4:00 pm Pacific Time for those of us on the west coast.

Where to watch 2026 NFL Draft on livestream

Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

2026 NFL Draft odds for the No. 33 overall pick

Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of Thursday night, April 23

• TJ Parker +475
• Denzel Boston +550
• Chase Bisontis +600
• Zion Young +700
• Colton Hood +800
• Kayden McDonald +1000
• Emmanuel McNeil-Warren +1100
• Eli Stowers +1300
• Cashius Howell +1300
• Emmanuel Pregnon +1500

Second round draft order

• No. 33 - San Francisco 49ers
• No. 34 - Arizona Cardinals
• No. 35 - Buffalo Bills
• No. 36 - Las Vegas Raiders
• No. 37 - New York Giants
• No. 38 - Houston Texans
• No. 39 - Cleveland Browns
• No. 40 - Kansas City Chiefs
• No. 41 - Cincinnati Bengals
• No. 42 - New Orleans Saints
• No. 43 - Miami Dolphins
• No. 44 - New York Jets
• No. 45 - Baltimore Ravens
• No. 46 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• No. 47 - Indianapolis Colts
• No. 48 - Atlanta Falcons
• No. 49 - Minnesota Vikings
• No. 50 - Detroit Lions
• No. 51 - Carolina Panthers
• No. 52 - Green Bay Packers
• No. 53 - Pittsburgh Steelers
• No. 54 - Philadelphia Eagles
• No. 55 - Los Angeles Chargers
• No. 56 - Jacksonville Jaguars
• No. 57 - Chicago Bears
• No. 58 - San Francisco 49ers
• No. 59 - Houston Texans
• No. 60 - Chicago Bears
• No. 61 - Los Angeles Rams
• No. 62 - Denver Broncos
• No. 63 - New England Patriots
• No. 64 - Seattle Seahawks

Third round draft order

• No. 65 - Arizona Cardinals
• No. 66 - Tennessee Titans
• No. 67 - Las Vegas Raiders
• No. 68 - Philadelphia Eagles
• No. 69 - Houston Texans
• No. 70 - Cleveland Browns
• No. 71 - Washington Commanders
• No. 72 - Cincinnati Bengals
• No. 73 - New Orleans Saints
• No. 74 - Kansas City Chiefs
• No. 75 - Miami Dolphins
• No. 76 - Pittsburgh Steelers
• No. 77 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• No. 78 - Indianapolis Colts
• No. 79 - Atlanta Falcons
• No. 80 - Baltimore Ravens
• No. 81 - Jacksonville Jaguars
• No. 82 - Minnesota Vikings
• No. 83 - Carolina Panthers
• No. 84 - Green Bay Packers
• No. 85 - Pittsburgh Steelers
• No. 86 - Los Angeles Chargers
• No. 87 - Miami Dolphins
• No. 88 - Jacksonville Jaguars
• No. 89 - Chicago Bears
• No. 90 - Miami Dolphins
• No. 91 - Buffalo Bills
• No. 92 - Dallas Cowboys
• No. 93 - Los Angeles Rams
• No. 94 - Miami Dolhpins
• No. 95 - New England Patriots
• No. 96 - Seattle Seahawks
• No. 97 - Minnesota Vikings
• No. 98 - Philadelphia Eagles
• No. 99 - Pittsburgh Steelers
• No. 100 - Jacksonville Jaguars

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: 2026 NFL draft: how to watch, stream rounds 2-3 of the draft

The San Francisco 49ers traded twice, but that doesn’t mean they’re done making deals. General manager John Lynch said, “I think the cool thing about the 33rd pick, it puts you in a really nice, we can kind of reconvene, reset our board, reset our thoughts, and I think it’s also a coveted pick as a lot of teams are doing that themselves.”

Reading that sentence took me down a rabbit hole. How often has the 33rd overall pick been traded in the previous decade? It feels like it happens often. In reality, the pick has been traded three times since 2016. If it feels like the pick has been traded more than that, it’s because of recency bias. Three of the trades happened in successive years. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, No. 33 was moved.

What happened in 2022 with pick No. 33?

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded out of pick No. 27 to the 33rd slot. Jacksonville gave Tampa the No. 106 pick in the fourth round and the No. 180 pick, which is the second-to-last pick in the fifth round. who recently signed a two-year deal during free agency that guarantees him $9 million.

Here are the players Tampa Bay passed on:

LB Devin Lloyd
DT Devonte Wyatt
G Cole Strange
EDGE George Karlaftis
S Daxton Hill
S Lewis Cine

Karlaftis and Waytt have objectively been better pros than Hall. But the Bucs got two more swings, thanks to the trade down. Cade Otton was picked No. 106. He’s been the Bucs tight end for four years and a productive one at that.

Tampa Bay ended up packaging No. 180 to move up three spots in the second round to select Luke Goedeke, who has started 49 games in his career, including 11 in 2025.

That’s the value of having extra Day 3 picks. They allow you to maneuver throughout the draft.

What happened in 2023 with pick No. 33?

The opening pick of the second round in 2023 was the most traveled No. 33 selection in recent memory. DeMeco Ryans traded the pick to the Arizona Cardinals in a deal that involved six picks overall to help Houston land Will Anderson.

Arizona flipped No. 33 and No. 81 to No. 41, No. 72, and a third-rounder in 2024. The Titans used that pick on Will Levis. Here are the players the Cardinals missed out on before ultimately selecting BJ Ojulari:

TE Sam LaPorta
TE Michael Mayer
OG Steve Avila
EDGE Derick Hall
OG Matthew Bergeron
WR Jonathan Mingo
EDGE Isaiah Foskey

Brian Branch was selected four picks later.

What happened with pick No. 33 in 2024?

The Bills pulled a similar move to the 49ers in 2024. They were initially on the clock at pick No. 28. They moved back with the Kansas City Chiefs to pick No. 32(we won’t discuss how the Chiefs got that pick). Buffalo gave Kansas City 28, 133, and 248 in exchange for 32, 95, and 221.

From there, Buffalo moved back one pick with Carolina and out of the first round. The Panthers received 32 and 200 in exchange for 33 and 141. The Bills had their eyes on receivers and landed on Keon Coleman. We know how that turned out for them. Here are the players who went in between both trades:

WR Xavier Worthy
OT Tyler Guyton
CB Nate Wiggins
WR Ricky Pearsall
WR Xavier Legette

Pearsall has 928 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 13 games compared to Worthy’s 1,170 yards in 26 games. Pearsall is far more productive than Worthy, but his availability makes it seem like the Bills weren’t going to come out ahead, regardless of which wideout they selected.

Will the 49ers regret passing on any of the players selected after pick No. 27?

I thought it was telling that Robert Saleh traded back into the first round to get a fifth-year option on Keldric Faulk. The 21-year-old’s floor is Arik Armstead. We’ve seen the ceiling for that player turn out to be relatively low. There’s a chance he turns into a plus pass rusher, but history says he’ll be stout against the run and won’t turn into much more than that.

John Lynch was asked how valuable the fifth-year option was in the team’s decision to trade back: “Yeah, you weigh it all. I think again, we’ve got a number of players that are there. We like the situation to be able to grab a fifth, and it gives you flexibility to stay there and pick or move forward.”

I feel strongly about the 49ers passing on Caleb Lomu and Omar Cooper Jr., as those players left me with more questions than answers. That’s not what you want in a first-round pick. While there’s always a chance they blossom into productive players, the value simply isn’t there in the first round.

Whether it be at Indianapolis Motor Speedway or the dozens of high school basketball gyms that can’t be found anywhere else, sports culture runs deep in Indiana. 

Along with that distinction, plenty of legends have come out of the state—like Judy Warren, John Wooden, Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson, to name a few—with Indiana high schools setting the stage for epic moments on fields, courts, pools, and more.

The trend continues today, with high school athletics achieving national recognition.

More: Which Alabama high schools are best for athletes?

Which schools in the Hoosier State are considered the best for athletes in 2026? 

According to one study conducted by Niche, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for "reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school"—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.

25. St. Theodore Guerin High School (Noblesville)

• Total number of sports: 24

24. Brownsburg High School

• Total number of sports: 20

23. Warren Central High School (Indianapolis)

• Total number of sports: 20

22. Barr-Reeve Middle/High School

• Total number of sports: 12

21. West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School

• Total number of sports: 18

20. Saint Joseph High School (South Bend)

• Total number of sports: 22

19. Penn High School (Mishawaka)

• Total number of sports: 22

18. Crown Point High School

• Total number of sports: 24

17. East Central High School (St. Leon)

• Total number of sports: 21

16. Ben Davis High School (Indianapolis)

• Total number of sports: 22

15. Mater Dei High School (Evansville)

• Total number of sports: 19

14. Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis)

• Total number of sports: 29

13. Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School (Lafayette)

• Total number of sports: 20

12. Carmel High School

• Total number of sports: 21

11. Bishop Dwenger High School (Fort Wayne)

• Total number of sports: 24

10. Hamilton Southeastern High School (Fishers)

• Total number of sports: 23

9. Blackhawk Christian School (Fort Wayne)

• Total number of sports: 16

8. Lutheran High School of Indianapolis

• Total number of sports: 19

7. Andrean High School (Merrillville)

• Total number of sports: 19

6. Center Grove High School (Greenwood)

• Total number of sports: 23

5. Roncalli High School (Indianapolis)

• Total number of sports: 24

4. Culver Academies

• Total number of sports: 33

3. Bishop Chatard High School (Indianapolis)

• Total number of sports: 28

2. Reitz Memorial High School (Evansville)

• Total number of sports: 23

1. Cathedral High School (Indianapolis)

• Total number of sports: 27

Data via Niche survey statistics

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Indiana's best high schools for athletes revealed for 2026

Nose tackles are becoming harder to find in the NFL, as teams are increasingly valuing defensive linemen with more down-to-down versatility than traditional gap-cloggers. Nicknames are also going extinct, save for some gems like Tommy "Cutlets" DeVito.

Well, Iowa State's Domonique Orange is a refreshing return to both trends. The 322-pound nose tackle is a projected mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, plus he has quite an epic nickname: "Big Citrus."

The nickname originated on social media, and a nutritionist is responsible for putting it on Orange's radar.

"One day, I had a meeting with my nutritionist, and she called me 'Big Citrus,'" Orange told the Des Moines Register last August. "I was like, 'Where you get that from?' She said she saw it on social media, so from that point on, for whatever reason, 'Big Citrus' has been a thing. At first, I didn't like it, but now I'm rolling with it. I like 'Big Citrus.'"

While his stats don't jump off the page, which is normal for a nose tackle, Orange made a big impact for the Cyclones. His best season came in 2024, when he tallied 24 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He proceeded to earn third-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025.

"Big Citrus" will learn where he'll call his NFL home this weekend.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Domonique 'Big Citrus' Orange's nickname, explained

Stoke City boss Mark Robins says the second half of the season has been "100% difficult" but is adamant the club will continue to build on the "incremental improvements" they have achieved after last term's battle against relegation.

After only securing their Championship status on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign, the Potters started this season superbly and were disputing the early lead of the division with Coventry City after eight wins in their first 14 games.

But an injury crisis, that has lasted most of the season, hampered their progress and form fell away - as, ultimately, did their promotion challenge.

"I think it has been 100% difficult, second half of the season," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I was saying this could be a really exciting season and that's been the disappointment because it turns into something different that I don't think anybody envisaged really with the level of injury, players missing and the fact you can't gain any momentum because of the amount of changes you've got to make on a game-by-game basis.

"It's been tough because it promised so much more than that."

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Robins, who is in his first full season in charge having taken over in January 2025, said it was important the Potters "take stock, move forward and improve" next season.

He added lessons will be learned from their transfer business after several players were brought in from across Europe and took time to find their feet.

"I said in January, bring players in and they've got to get up to speed, they've got to know what they're coming up against on a weekly basis, whether that's a three-game week, different opponents, different tactics, different strengths, weaknesses," Robins said.

"Until you get to grips with that and make the best of your ability where you can compete properly and show off your attributes, then it can be a difficult and lonely place for individuals.

"That has been sort of borne out. But that isn't a surprise. If you get players in from different leagues, they have a totally different way of playing. So it just takes a little bit of time.

"We've got a stronger group together, but it's a work in progress. People don't want to hear it because they want instant success. It just doesn't happen unless you've got the wherewithal to go and spend millions putting your squad together that's ready-made."

Robins 'determined' to take Stoke forward

In contrast to last season, Stoke are 11 points above the relegation zone heading into the final two games - at home to Portsmouth on Saturday and at Bristol City on 2 May.

Although the wait to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2018 goes on, two wins would at least give the 17th-placed Potters a good chance to finish better than 14th - the highest they have managed since dropping out of the top flight.

And Robins said achieving that - and being well clear of the bottom three - has to be seen as a positive.

"If incremental improvement is not being involved anywhere near the situation we were in last year, then that's incremental improvement," he added.

"We all want more than that. We started off really brightly, that changes people's perception, but also the expectation levels go up and you've got to manage that especially when things fall away a little bit.

"I'm always learning about the squad and the team. I think we've got a lot of work to do and [I'm] determined to take it forward.

"We've got to make sure we are better than we've been this year - I don't mean in terms of performance, because some have been really good."

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The Boston Celtics have built their teams in a number of ways over the decades, but few if any methods have born more fruit than through the NBA draft. The best players to suit up for the Celtics have, by and large, come to Boston either through being taken directly in the annual event, or via trades made that night.

And it is not just the top stars who have been picked up by the Celtics via the draft. Countless members of the storied ball club's alumni have been taken by the team, and some schools are better represented than others. We can see blue blood programs and some very small schools both delivering top talent to Boston's rosters over the years, so we decided to take a look at which players came from which schools overall.

So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Celtics out of Fairfield.

Phil Rogers - forward

Draft year and position: 10th round (17th pick, 177th overall), 1974 NBA Draft

Seasons at Fairfield: one

Seasons played with Celtics: did not make the team

Kim Fisher - guard

Draft year and position: eighth round (fourth pick, 156th overall), 1978 NBA Draft

Seasons at Fairfield: two

Seasons played with Celtics: did not make the team

Steve Balkun - forward

Draft year and position: seventh round (sixth pick, 137th overall), 1978 NBA Draft

Seasons at Fairfield: four

Seasons played with Celtics: did not make the team

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Every Fairfield player drafted by the Celtics

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has told the media that they will analyse their injury issues at the end of the season, following a campaign that has seen their star players dogged by injury issues. He also admitted that Getafe manager Jose Bordalas was right in telling him to focus on his own team, after a war of words two seasons ago.

Getafe represent a major challenge for the Blaugrana, having lost just once at home in three months, at a ground where Barcelona have not won since 2019. Los Azulones have also won seven of their ten games.

“They are defending really good, and over the last ten games, they are second in the table. They have their own philosophy, and what is important is that it is successful. For us it’s important to have the rhythm. If we have the rhythm that is necessary.”

Hansi Flick on Barcelona injury issues

The big talking point in Spain this week has been the injury to Lamine Yamal, which has ruled him out until the end of the season.

“It’s not easy this situation for us, but also for him. I think he’s very focused now. It’s his first muscle injury. He’s motivated. He’s out for us, but for the World Cup, he will be there, and he will come back stronger than he has until now.”

In general, Barcelona have suffered more from injuries this season, and in the past, Flick has hinted that the medical staff and coaching staff needed to find the cause for it.

“We have to analyse everything. We will do that after the season, when we will have time. Where we have to improve. The coaching staff also, what we can do better. And it’s worse than it was. But we have six games left, I’m focused on Getafe, and it will not be easy. We want to win, and we will give everything. We know it’s going to be different to the last game.”

Flick on Bordalas comments – ‘He’s right’

Bordalas gave his press conference before Flick, and commented that the German coach should focus on talking about his own team, and not others as in the past.

“He’s right. Focusing on your own team is the key, he’s right. But sometimes at the end of the game there is a lot of emotions for us too. For the coaches, we are fighting with the players to win the games. I have no problems.”

Barcelona kick off in the Coliseum at 16:15 CEST against Getafe, and will seek to maintain their nine-point advantage over Real Madrid at the top of the table. Los Blancos face Real Betis on Friday night.

It’s hard to pinpoint the biggest problem with the Phillies right now. They haven’t done anything right in any facet of the game for any consistent stretch of time so far this season and they’ve lost nine games in a row. In fact, they’re tied with the Kansas City Royals for the worst record in baseball.

Sometimes it’s the starting pitching that implodes. Sometimes it’s the defense that lets them down. Others it’s the bullpen that turns a winnable game into a blowout. Most of the time it’s a historically poor offense that struggles to scratch across any runs. 

You can count on one hand the players that have performed, and even they still have their problems. Cristopher Sánchez has pitched well overall but got rocked yesterday, surrendering 6 runs on 12 hits, both tying his career worsts. Kyle Schwarber has 8 home runs and Bryce Harper has an .856 OPS, but Schwarber has so far regressed against left-handed pitching, hitting .163 with 18 strikeouts, and Harper has struggled with runners in scoring position, hitting .227 with a .625 OPS.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Alec Bohm has looked lost, Jesús Luzardo hasn’t been able to pitch deep into games and has a 6.91 ERA, José Alvarado has looked ineffective, Adolis Garcia hasn’t made much of a difference, and Bryson Stott not only hasn’t carried over his strong second half but has gotten worse. Those are just some of the biggest underperformers on a roster full of them. Some will turn it around, but it’s fair at this point to really consider just what “turn it around” means in this case. Does it mean just going from bad to below average or a full rebound to good? 

This team’s strength has always been its pitching, but they haven’t performed. Their expensive offense has continually failed to produce. The revamped bullpen has already suffered a rash of injuries, including to star closer Jhoan Duran, and is being overworked thanks to the starters’ ineffectiveness. Any one of these things would be cause for concern. But here we are with all three and trying to rank the concern level. 

So, what is your biggest concern with the Phillies right now? Is it the rotation’s underperformance? Is it the general ineptitude of the offense? Or is it the bullpen already hanging by a thread before the end of April?

For the second year in a row, the New York Giants managed to get a pair of impact starters in the first round of the NFL Draft.

The Giants came away from the first round with Ohio State EDGE/LB Arvell Reese at NO. 5 overall and Miami OL Francis Mauigoa at No. 10 overall. This was, according to GM Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh, a scenario they simply didn’t anticipate happening.

The Giants had Reese as the highest graded non-quarterback on their board and Mauigoa was fourth on their board.

Harbaugh said in the press conference after making their selections that the Giants simulated a “zillion scenarios” (in Harbaugh’s words), but “this one didn’t come up”, and that “reality is stranger than fiction”. But while the Giants are obviously riding high after a dream first round, they still have pressing needs to address.

Notably, the Giants need a long-term piece at defensive tackle, as well as an other wide receiver to continue to build around Jaxson Dart.

…But the Giants only have the 37th overall pick after trading their third-round pick to go get Jaxson Dart last year.

But could the Giants spend the time between the first and second rounds working the phones to turn the 37th pick into two players? Let’s take a look at three scenarios that could allow the Giants to fill both defensive tackle and wide receiver needs on the second day.

Scenario 1 – The straight up trade

We’ll start nice and simple with a straight pick-for-pick trade. In this scenario the Giants call up their AFC cousins the Pittsburgh Steelers, hoping that they and John Harbaugh can let bygones be bygones, and hammer out a deal.

The Giants send 37th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 53rd and 76th overall picks. The value is approximately equal, and the Steelers could look to move up for the third quarterback on their board, or perhaps a guard with both Vega Ioane and Keylan Rutledge already off the board.

The Giants could potentially land a defensive tackle like Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter at 53rd and a receiver like Ja’Kobi Lane or Bryce Lance at 76th overall.

Scenario 2 – Packaging picks

For this one we’ll turn to the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have four (4) third-round picks, and they’ll want to take as many picks as they can to add talent to (arguably) the most depleted roster in the NFL. However, they could be enticed to move up six spots from 43rd to 37th if there’s a player they like available.

In this scenario the Dolphins could send the Giants one of their third-round picks — we won’t be greedy and ask for 86th overall — though the Giants might have to add 145th to sweeten the pot.

Moving down six spots might allow the Giants to still get one of the players that slipped out of the first. They might still be in the range to get the big defensive tackle Kayden McDonald out of Ohio State, a big, sure-handed, contested-catch winner in Denzel Boston, or a dynamic vertical threat like Chris Brazzell II.

Or perhaps even a player like Eli Stowers, who some think might be a Power Slot, and not a tight end, in the NFL. They could pair that player with a prospect like Ted Hurst (WR, Georgia State), Bryce Lance (WR, North Dakota State), Chris McClellan (iDL, Missouri) or Darrell Jackson Jr. (Florida State) in the 3rd round.

Scenario 3 – Moving Kayvon Thibodeaux

Finally we come to the scenario many have been waiting for since the Giants drafted Abdul Carter No. 3 overall in 2025. You can never have enough pass rushers, but the Giants have an embarrassment of riches between Brian Burns, Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and now Arvell Reese.

The Giants said that they don’t intend to trade Thibodeaux and they don’t want to give away talent after trading Dexter Lawrence. However, what if the edge-needy Chicago Bears approach the Giants for Thibodeaux?

It’s very unlikely that the Bears would be able to find an edge defender with Thibodeaux’s ability at 57th overall. This is a deep class of edge defenders, however neither TJ Parker nor Zion Young measure up to what Thibodeaux is at his best.

Given how the pass rusher class has thinned out, it’s possible that the Giants could exchange 37th overall for 57th and 60th overall.

This year’s draft has already been wild, however the Giants could (possibly) get a player like Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst and Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange.

Will that happen? We’ll see. There are could players with “first round” grades available at both positions when the Giants are on the clock at 37th overall. Both McDonald and Boston fell out of the first round. Either could make the decision to trade out difficult, but it’s useful to look at scenarios the with which Giants could be faced.

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Mountain West Teams By Number of Draft Picks

Former Air Force Player Joins New Mexico

Mountain West Power Rankings

Chris Murray gives his post-spring rankings for the new look Mountain West.

The Pointsettia Bowl is Back!

Our team has you covered on the new bow game that will feature the PAC 12 and the Mountain West.

Stay tuned for all the coverage you need to get you through the weekend.

The Avalanche won again, and the Los Angeles Kings are suddenly one loss away from being eliminated. The same goes for the Ottawa Senators, who also couldn’t win at home. The Sabres bounced back on the road to allow all three road teams to win on Thursday. Also, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman spoke about the season that was.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — April 24.

Colorado Hockey Now

The Avalanche have the Los Angeles Kings on the brink of elimination, and they could end the series as early as this Sunday afternoon.

Through the first three games, Colorado hasn’t gotten a goal from Nathan MacKinnon or Martin Necas. You’d like to see those guys produce, but there’s something special about winning three games without their goal-scoring.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Recap

Game 3 Recap — Sabres 3 at Bruins 1— (BUF leads 2-1)

The Buffalo Sabres reclaimed home-ice advantage after recording an impressive 3-1 victory on the road in Boston. The Bruins scored first, but Bowen Byram tied it up, and Alex Tuch got the go-ahead goal in the third. They later added an empty netter.

Game 3 Recap — Hurricanes 2 at Senators 1 — (CAR leads 3-0)

Shifting the series to Ottawa didn’t help. Neither did Brady Tkachuk’s goofy sunglasses (what was up with that?). The Hurricanes kept the scoring low and won 2-1 on the road to be one of three teams to lead their first-round series 3-0 in these playoffs.

Tonight’s Schedule

• Game 3: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens (5 pm MT on TNT)
• Game 3: Vegas Golden Knights at Utah Mammoth (7:30 pm MT on TBS)
• Game 3: Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks (8 pm MT on TNT)

Around The NHL

Detroit Hockey Now: General manager Steve Yzerman met with media to discuss the disappointing end to Detroit’s season. Surprisingly, he said a lot more than we’re used to with a GM who usually keeps things close to the vest.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: How the Penguins are feeling, with their backs already suddenly against the wall.

Philly Hockey Now: An update on Dan Vladar, who has been a key piece of the Flyers’ playoff berth and even more so in their early 3-0 series lead.

New Jersey Hockey Now: 8 major questions facing the Devils as they head into a crucial offseason with a new GM.

The post Deen’s Daily: Avs Are Road Warriors; Sabres Bounce Back; Yzerman Speaks appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

Draft grades. It’s a yearly ritual that comes along with the actual draft. We are going to survey the internet to see how the Dallas Cowboys’ round one went in the eyes of others. Before we move to the media grades for the individual picks, here are a few draft summaries placing the Cowboys among the winners of Day 1.

Frank Schwab of Yahoo writes that Dallas played the first night of the draft better than anyone.

Dallas played the first night of the draft better than anyone. It helped to have two first-round picks, as a result of the debatable decision to trade Micah Parsons, but the Cowboys maximized those selections. It included taking a prospect who might end up being the best player in the draft.

With Downs, the Cowboys got a player some analysts (including Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald) thought was the best prospect in the draft. To get Downs without having to give up any valuable draft capital was an absolute steal. We could look back on that as the best pick of this draft, especially in terms of value.

And if that’s all the Cowboys did, it would have been a good night. Dallas wasn’t done. The Cowboys traded down three spots with the Eagles from No. 20 to No. 23, collecting picks 114 and 137 while shipping off a seventh-rounder (218th overall). The Cowboys moved up to No. 11 in the first round and somehow, by the end of the round, ended up with better draft capital than they started with. That’s how you work a draft. With the 23rd pick, the Cowboys drafted UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence, a big and explosive edge rusher who can help right away.

Dallas hasn’t had ultimate success in a long, long time. Cowboys haters will remind you often that the 1995 season was the last time they reached the conference championship round. But they usually do pretty well in the draft, and they nailed it Thursday night.

Foxsports declares the Cowboys an early draft winner.

The Cowboys may have gotten the best player in this year’s draft. Downs should immediately be one of the best players on a Cowboys’ defense that ranked last in points allowed in 2025. 

And Downs wasn’t the only win for the Cowboys Thursday night. They traded back with the Eagles three spots to No. 23, which was used to select UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, and picked up two fourth-round picks in the process. So essentially, Dallas gave up two Day 3 picks in the Downs trade but was later able to replace them, one round up. 

To sum up, the Cowboys got two players who should immediately impact their defense. They moved up and down the draft order with prudence. Plus, star wide receiver George Pickens is signing his franchise tender. All in all, Friday night should be viewed as a success at The Star. 

ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks the Cowboys among the biggest winners from Round 1.

Dallas traded two fifth-round picks to move up one spot, but it was worth it. The Cowboys got my No. 6 prospect and a culture-changer for a defense that needed one.

It turns out those traded picks were coming right back, too. Putting aside the fact that it was an in-division move, how about the Cowboys trading back three spots from No. 20 to No. 23 with the Eagles and getting a pair of fourth-rounders in return? The Cowboys turned the No. 23 pick into Lawrence, who has risen very fast over the past few months. As we saw both on tape and at the combine, he can fly off the edge. Lawrence had seven sacks last season and helps a defense that tied for 22nd in that area in its first year without Micah Parsons (35).

Right after the Malachi Lawrence pick, John Breech of CBS Sports speculated that the Cowboys might have already won the draft.

The first round isn’t even over the Cowboys might have already won the draft. This team had a horrible defense last season and they needed to fix that in the first round and they’ve now done that twice over. 

NFL.com’s Eric Edholm ranks the Cowboys among the winners of the night.

Dallas was in a great position to add two impact players to its defense, and I think Thursday was a good day for that beleaguered unit.

Caleb Downs at No. 11 is a home-run pick — no other way to say it. You can argue positional value until you’re royal blue in the face for all I care, but I love it. This is the kind of player — think Darren Woodson — whose impact can’t be measured strictly in statistics. He’s instantly going to have a captain-like influence on the secondary.

The Cowboys don’t need Lawrence to become a respectable NFL run defender tomorrow. They do need him to rush the quarterback, and he has the potential to become a more complete defender over time. Even with some overlap with what Donovan Ezeiruaku does, he, Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary can help Dallas do a better job heating up the edges next season.

CBS Sports ranks Cowboys DC Christian Parker among the happiest NFL players, coaches and GMs.

All eyes will be on Christian Parker, brought in from the Eagles, this season. His task? Fixing the defense of “America’s Team,” a team that very much has a win-now offense, win-now expectations from Jerry Jones and the longest championship game drought in the NFC.

So what did the Cowboys do? They got studs. Caleb Downs has been among college football’s best players since he arrived at Alabama as a freshman, and he helped run an NFL-like defense under Matt Patricia at Ohio State the last two years. He is versatile and extremely smart, and he’ll patch up a leaky Cowboys secondary. Parker had great success with Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell in Philadelphia; Downs should be next. Then add in Malachi Lawrence, an athletic, tireless pass rusher with burst and moves. Will McClay has long done strong work leading Dallas’ drafts. Parker will appreciate his investments here.

Pick 11. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Bleacher Report believes the Cowboys got the steal of the draft with Caleb Downs. Grade: A++

The Dallas Cowboys got the steal of the draft. It doesn’t matter that they flipped two fifth-round picks to the Miami Dolphins to move up one spot, because Caleb Downs was easily the best player in this year’s class regardless of position.

Downs will immediately make everyone on the unit better and give Dallas the highest IQ defender among the rookie crop and an all-around playmaker that can be used in a variety of manner. 

Downs went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 overall prospect on the B/R Scouting Department’s draft board. He’s a complete defender who’s capable of not just contributing at a high level but leading a unit from the back line. His intelligence and understanding of everything that goes on in front of him border on uncanny. 

He may not be a Sean Taylor or Brian Dawkins along the back line. However, Downs is more than capable of playing at all three levels and making a massive impact, changing the entire complexion of a defense.

The Athletic calls the Downs pick a win-win-win.Grade A+

Pound for pound, Downs is the best player in the draft. Now, he’s also the 2026 draft’s best value in the draft. For Dallas, Downs marries need with best player available — it’s not just a win-win, but a win-win-win. He can cover most receivers, he’s a sure tackler, and he returns punts when needed (see his 92-yard touchdown return against Indiana in 2024).

Downs (5-11 3/4, 206) was a two-time unanimous first-team All-American as one of the top college safeties over the last decade. Downs did everything for the Buckeyes’ defense, which was college football’s top-ranked unit each of the past two seasons. Considering how much attrition the Buckeyes had after the 2024 season, the primary common element on those units was Downs.

USA Today: “Awesome.” Grade A+

The Cowboys didn’t make the leap into the top 10 many expected. They still wound up with one of 2026’s best prospects. Downs is a banshee, screaming his way upfield to make stops near the line of scrimmage or floating into coverage to be a deep ball deterrent. He does everything else, serving as the key to unlock new pages of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s playbook. 

Dallas got a star Jerry Jones will love and the deal to move up one spot and grab him was only two late-fifth round picks. Awesome.

Yahoosports thinks Cowboys got the best defensive player in the draft. Grade A+

Dallas trades up here to get arguably the best defensive player in the draft in Downs. One spot to secure a potential All-Pro level safety makes a lot of sense for the Cowboys and this is great value for someone who was seen as an elite prospect coming into the draft. This couldn’t have played out better for Dallas, which wins due to traditional positional value knocking Downs down the board a bit.

Athlonsports:Grade A+

When you get the best player in the entire draft outside of the top 10 picks, you’re doing pretty well. I’ve spent plenty of time criticizing Jerry Jones’ moves as the Cowboys’ general manager, but I’ve got nothing but praise for this. Giving up a pair of fifth-round picks to move up one spot was well worth it to land the No. 1 overall player on my board. Downs is a three-level defender who can line up all over the place and make huge plays in every phase of the game. He’s smart, athletic, and versatile, with the intangibles to make an instant impact as a leader, as well as on the field as a playmaker. This is the kind of pick that can immediately transform an entire defense, and that’s exactly what Dallas needed.

SB Nation: Grade A+

The Dallas Cowboys moved up one spot to get Caleb Downs, one of the most versatile players in this class. The price to do so? Picks at No. 12, No. 177, and No. 180.

In Downs, the Cowboys are getting an experienced defender who was a starter at Alabama under none other than Nick Saban, which is a massive bit of evidence to show you the kind of player he is. His awareness is off the charts, particularly in zone coverage, and he is a force against the run and as a blitzer. But Ohio State used him all over the field, and he’ll bring some much needed versatility and athleticism to this Dallas defense.

And even though Dallas had to make a trade to get him, it is worth it.

Sporting News: Best-in-class player. Grade A

The Cowboys saw two of their favorite defensive prospects go earlier with Styles and Delane, but that didn’t want to risk missing out on getting at least one of the top Ohio State playmakers. Safety is rather weak with Malik Hooker and Jalen Thompson and Downs provides a big upgrade with rare upfield traits vs. the run on top of great coverage instincts. Dallas lands the player who was at one time seen as the best in this class until some unwarranted concerns about his size in relation to playmaking.

FoxSports: Rob Rang says there’s a new sheriff in town. Grade A

The Cowboys allowed an NFC-worst 35 passing touchdowns a year ago, and Downs is the player in this draft best equipped to fix that issue. His remarkable instincts and speed were obvious since his true freshman season, and they’re why I had him as the best player in this draft. Critics will argue that Downs didn’t generate enough big plays, but smart quarterbacks simply stopped throwing the ball anywhere near him. The Cowboys needed a new sheriff in the secondary and they just got him.

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks offers no specific grade but likes the pick.

Downs is an outstanding football player with a high IQ. Something that’s not talked about enough: the fact that Downs was given the keys to Nick Saban’s defense at Alabama as a freshman and Matt Patricia’s defense at Ohio State later on. He’s a versatile playmaker who can patrol the middle of the field and drop down into the box as a run stopper. Downs is going to be special at the next level.

CBSSports: Mike Renner points out the infusion of talent and leadership: Grade A

The much-maligned Cowboys secondary got a much-needed infusion of both talent and leadership. Downs is a true do-it-all safety with no true holes in his game. Downs will be able to do anything that new defensive coordinator Christian Parker asks him to do on the back end.

The Ringer believes this is a match made in heaven. Grade A

This feels like a match made in heaven. Downs is a super-versatile defender who brings the potential to line up all over the secondary, where his instincts and ball skills really shine. He’s the type of player the Cowboys can build the back end of their defense around. It was a bit of an expensive one-pick trade-up, with Dallas giving up two fifth-round picks to get its guy. But Downs gives new defensive coordinator Christian Parker a player who can impact matchups and take the ball away on day one. 

PFF: Very Good

As is often the case with safety prospects, Downs slid further than he appeared on most big boards. Dallas traded up one spot to ensure it got its guy. It’s hard to find much fault with Downs’ college career, as he earned 85.0-plus PFF grades in three consecutive seasons — one at Alabama and two at Ohio State. He should be a stabilizing force on the back end for a Dallas secondary that ranked last in PFF coverage grade as a unit in 2025.

Pick 23. Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

Bleacher Report: Adding Malachi Lawrence helped the Cowboys “crush this year’s first round”. Grade A

The Dallas Cowboys crushed this year’s first round. Dallas success is based on value, upside and manipulating the draft to its advantage. The Cowboys traded up to get Downs, who is the class’s top-rated prospect. Jones and company then moved off the 20th overall pick to recoup part of what they lost and still added a talent in Malachi Lawrence, who brings huge upside at a premium position.

Every NFL team is looking for pass-rushers, even if one or two are already on the roster. The ability to harass opposing quarterbacks brings an added premium. In Lawrence’s case, he produced 19.5 sacks over the last three seasons and became a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2025. Even though he never managed more than seven sacks in a single campaign, his traits signal significant growth potential.

At 6’4″ and 253 pounds with nearly 34-inch arms, Lawrence brings a 9.95 relative athletic score along with him, according to Kent Lee Platte. Danielle Hunter and Odafe Oweh shared similar profiles before bursting onto the professional scene. Lawrence could do the same.

SBNation: Grade A-

Credit where it is due.

The Dallas Cowboys trade down three spots and add Malachi Lawrence, the UCF pass rusher who was viewed by some as the top EDGE in the class. This is after moving up just one spot and getting Caleb Downs, the safety viewed as perhaps one of the best overall prospects in the class. Run defense might be a question Lawrence will have to answer eventually, but as a pure pass rusher the burst, athleticism, and even hand technique are there.

NFL.com

Lawrence possesses a variety of pass-rush moves that should impact new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s defense from Day 1. In addition, Lawrence plays with immense energy and effort — traits the Cowboys need to quickly improve the unit.

Athlon Sports: Grade B+

After stealing a dynamic playmaker for the secondary, the Cowboys address their massive need for a high-end edge rusher with one of the most underrated players in the draft. Lawrence might be a surprise name to some fans, but he earned the No. 21 overall spot on my board, ranked behind only Rueben Bain Jr. (who went to the Bucs at No. 15) and David Bailey (who went to the Jets at No. 2). He’s an impressive athlete who put up big numbers throughout his career, and brings a ton of explosiveness and potential to the table. He still needs to get stronger and improve as a run defender, but his pass-rushing upside is through the roof.

Sporting News: Grade B

Lawrence, much like Iheanachor, made a late surge into the first round based on comparing his intriguing athleticism to others at the position. He is a straight up devastating pass rush who can have situational impact until he grows into being more reliable vs. the run.

FoxSports (Rob Rang): Grade B

Among the most explosive edge rushers of this class, Lawrence gets upfield in a hurry — as his 40-yard dash time (4.52) and vertical jump (40 inches) suggest. He isn’t as bendy off the edge as some of the top rushers of this class, but given the presence of recent acquisitions Quinnen Williams and Rashan Gary, I think Lawrence could be a great fit who reinforces the investment Dallas made earlier Thursday in Caleb Downs.

The Ringer: Grade B-

The Cowboys double up on defense in the first round, as expected, complementing safety Caleb Downs with a fearsome pass rusher. Lawrence is a souped-up athlete with explosive burst off the line and an array of pass rush moves at his disposal. His lack of strength in the run game means he’ll likely be utilized as a situational rusher early in his career, but he can bring heat off the edge. This is a bit of a reach on my board (Lawrence was my 41st overall player), but Lawrence should contribute right away in the pass rush rotation. 

PFF: Grade: Average

Lawrence joins 2025 first-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary as notable additions on the edge over the past year after the team traded away Micah Parsons. Lawrence profiles as a rotational pass rusher who could make an early impact in that role, coming off an 89.5 PFF pass-rush grade last season at UCF. This pick profiles as a reach to address a need, with Lawrence coming in around No. 50 on the Consensus Big Board.

The Athletic: Grade C+

The Cowboys gave up the most passing yards in the NFL last year, so it makes sense they would allocate resources in the draft to make improvements. And there’s no problem in taking an edge rusher — Dallas had only 35 sacks in 2025. But is Lawrence the right pick or a reach?

Brugler rated Lawrence as the No. 37 prospect in this class, so it does seem like a bit of a reach right now, but Lawrence (6-4 1/2, 253) has every physical quality required to become a high-level pass rusher. He boasts long arms (81 5/8 inches) and produced a 4.52 40 time and 40-inch vertical at the combine. As a first-team All-Big 12 performer, Lawrence had seven sacks last year and finished with 20 career sacks.

USA Today: Grade C+

The Cowboys couldn’t leave the first round without addressing their pass rushing needs. They landed on an athletic defensive end who can be the answer — but who’ll need to clean up his game to get there. He’s fast as hell with a violent punch, but he also plays a bit upright, creating room for savvy tackles to get underneath him and take him out of the play.

Factor in modest production against the run and you can see why he fell to the second level of pass rushing talent. But he’s got the potential to be a difference maker for a team that can maximize his prodigious talent. The Cowboys had room to take a big swing after landing Downs. Lawrence is an acceptable risk, even if guys like Keldric Faulk or Cashius Howell would have been more of a sure thing.

CBSSports: Grade C

Lawrence has the highest-end tools in this edge class after the players who went top 5. His explosiveness is all over his tape. He’s undoubtedly a project, though, who flashed more on reps than he did for long stretches of time. What worries me about this pick was his lack of awareness in the run game, which was already an issue for the Cowboys’ edges last year.

Yahoosports: Grade C-

Lawrence is a good, linear athlete who has some juice as a pass rusher, but he wasn’t so good that it covers up the lack of impact in the other areas of his game where he’s not great. He doesn’t turn the corner against tackles consistently, so he might need to adjust his game to have a consistent impact as a pass rusher in the NFL. There’s upside here, but the floor is very low.

The first round of the 2025 NFL draft is in the books, and the Washington Commanders selected Ohio State LB Sonny Styles with the 7th overall pick. There are still a plenty of good players that will be available tonight in Rounds 2 & 3. Washington has a lot of areas they would probably like to address early, but the right players have to be there.

Washington started the draft with six picks, and they only have one on Day 2. Washington’s 2nd-round pick was traded to the Houston Texans as part of the deal to acquire LT Laremy Tunsil. The Commanders will be on the clock tonight with the 71st overall pick.

Who do you want Washington to draft tonight?

Washington Commanders 2026 NFL Draft Picks

Round 1 – #7 – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Round 3 – #71

Round 5 – #147

Round 6 – #187fwalt

Round 6 (via SF) – #209

Round 7 – #223

The Athletic(Baumgardner)

Round 3: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss

Athlon Sports (Easterling)

Round 3: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State

A to Z Sports (Forness)

Round 3: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Bleacher Report

Round 3: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson

CBS Sports(Edwards)

Round 3: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State

ESPN(Miller)

Round 2: Skyler Bell, WR, UConn