Modern fans don't tend to lend his name the same weight that Jerry Rice and Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson are afforded, but when ranking the all-time greatest receivers in football history, the list simply isn't valid without Raymond Berry.

Berry, who went to six Pro Bowls, led the league in receptions three times, and won two championships, passed away last week at the age of 93. And while the Hall of Famer is best remembered for his 13-year playing career with the Baltimore Colts and another six seasons as head coach of the New England Patriots, the Corpus Christi native and SMU alum had a handful of Cowboys connections, too, that helped mark an extraordinary football life.

Berry, a 20th-round draft pick by the Colts in 1954, was considered an extreme long shot to even make the team's roster. But the 1956 arrival of quarterback Johnny Unitas gave birth to one of the best QB-WR tandems the sport has ever seen. By 1958, Berry had been named a first-team All-Pro and was among the game's top receivers.

But it was his performance in 1958's NFL Championship Game that launched him into another stratosphere. Catching a then-record 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, Berry was instrumental in the Colts' dramatic 23-17 overtime win over the New York Giants.

Unitas and Berry hooked up on three straight pass plays for 62 yards in a game-tying drive in regulation, and then connected on two more plays for another 33 yards in overtime to set up the winning touchdown run and secure the Colts franchise's first-ever championship.

The contest, the first sudden-death game in NFL history, was watched by an estimated 45 million television viewers across the country and is credited with not only kickstarting America's love affair with the NFL but also inspiring the creation of an entire second league, the AFL.

With a whopping 17 players, coaches, and execs on the field that day who ended up in the Hall of Fame, the 1958 championship is still referred to as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." And it gave Berry a key connection that helped him embark on his post-player career.

Berry retired following the 1967 season as the NFL's career leader in both receptions and receiving yards. But 1968 saw him wearing Cowboys blue, as the team's new wide receiver coach. How did that happen? Cowboys head coach Tom Landry had been the Giants' defensive coordinator during Berry's rise as a player and remembered well the damage he had done to his unit during that 1958 title game.

In this first year on Landry's staff in Dallas, Berry helped Lance Rentzel surpass 1,000 yards and Bob Hayes top 900 yards as the high-octane Cowboys, with the top-ranked passing offense in the league, finished with a division crown and a 12-2 record. An 11-2-1 mark and a second straight division title followed the next season.

Berry left the Cowboys in 1970 to go back to the college ranks, but he would return to the NFL in 1973. In 1984, Berry was named head coach of the Patriots, and the next year, his club appeared in Super Bowl XX to face the legendary Chicago Bears. The coach on the opposite sideline that day? Mike Ditka, who had been a Cowboys tight end in 1969, Berry's second season in Dallas.

Despite earning a Super Bowl berth, Berry's head coaching tenure did not bring him the same success he had enjoyed as a player. After six years and a 48-39 record, he was out in New England.

Berry's final coaching gig found him in Denver in 1992, under yet another one of his Cowboys connections. Dan Reeves had played running back during Berry's two seasons on staff in Dallas; over 20 years later, Reeves hired Berry to be his quarterbacks coach for what turned out to be his final year as Broncos head coach and Berry's last season working in the NFL.

Berry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973, shortly after leaving the Cowboys staff; it would still be another 10 years before he led the Patriots to their first-ever Super Bowl. He remains in the NFL's top 70 all-time receiving leaders and was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019.

Berry passed away May 25 at his home in Tennessee at the age of 93.

Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys connections punctuated career of Hall of Famer Raymond Berry

A familiar name is returning to one of the NFL's most recognizable divisions.

According to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, the New York Giants are signing veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., bringing the former Pro Bowler back to the franchise that drafted him and returning him to the NFC East.

For Philadelphia, the move adds another intriguing storyline to a division already loaded with star power and familiar faces. The Giants are also signing WR Braxton Berrios to a one-year deal, his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

New York also looked at veteran Juju Smith-Schuster and Anthony Miller in that tryout. The signings come just days after wide receiver and kick returner Gunner Olszewski tore his Achilles tendon during an OTA practice. Wide receivers Malik Nabers (knee) and Darius Slayton (core muscle) are also currently sidelined as they rehab injuries.

Beckham was one of the league's most dynamic players during his first stint with the Giants, producing three consecutive 1,300-yard seasons and becoming one of the NFL's biggest attractions. His spectacular one-handed catch against Dallas remains one of the most iconic plays in league history.

Reunion: The #Giants are bringing back WR Odell Beckham Jr, as their former standout returns, per me and @MikeGarafolo.

Beckham, 33, recently worked out again for the team that drafted him, paid him, then traded him. Now, he’s back with NYG and John Harbaugh. pic.twitter.com/iaDJNCF5JZ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 1, 2026

The player returning to New York, however, is much different from the one who left.

Now 33, Beckham has battled injuries and inconsistency throughout the latter stages of his career. Last spring, he accepted a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. He also struggled during his most recent NFL action, appearing in nine games with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before the two sides mutually agreed to part ways in December.

Beckham finished that season with nine receptions for 55 yards on 18 targets.

Since 2020, Beckham has recorded only one season with more than 500 receiving yards, highlighting the challenges he has faced in recapturing his earlier form.

Still, the Giants clearly see value in adding a veteran presence to their receiving room. Beckham's experience, leadership, and familiarity with the organization could make him a valuable contributor, even if he is no longer a featured offensive weapon.

For the Eagles, Beckham's return adds another recognizable name to a division already rife with intense rivalries and high expectations. Whether he becomes a significant on-field factor remains to be seen, but one of the NFC East's most memorable players is officially back where it all started.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles will see familiar face as Beckham rejoins Giants

As Longhorns football continues to look for elite talent, they have been busy when it comes to the 2028 class. On Sunday, they added another target to the mix in CB/WR Major Armstrong. The Texas native has drawn interest from over 10 schools and has seen his stock rise over the last few months. 

Although Texas would get a boost with Armstrong in the mix, they have a few schools to beat out. That list includes Baylor, Houston, UTEP, UNLV, Missouri State, UCF, Syracuse, ECU, and Lamar. With Armstrong's recruitment just getting underway, more schools will continue to join the mix. 

Congrats to 2028 CB/WR @Majorcuttinup1 on recently reeling in his 11th offer from @TexasFootball 🤘🏾#HookEm#TTSRecruitingpic.twitter.com/d5CTjafjaT

— Touchdown Talent Solutions (@tts_recruiting) May 31, 2026

Over the next few years, it will be interesting to see what position Armstrong sticks to. Part of the reason he is in high demand is because the Marvel High star can play on both sides of the ball. That is an important trait for a team like the Longhorns that has national title aspirations. 

With Armstrong officially on the Longhorns radar, he joins a list of impressive athletes who could end up in the burnt orange. Steve Sarkisian and his staff have also made offers to four-star recruits in the 2028 class, such as Neimann Lawrence, Micah Rhodes, Braylon Clark, Braxton Rein, Jamarios Canton, Kameron McGee, and Keaton Fields. Adding any of those players would be a major win for Sarkisian. 

pic.twitter.com/SugGnH1KDf

— Major Armstrong (@Majorcuttinup1) May 31, 2026

For Texas, the next step is to get Armstrong to campus for a visit. He will then be able to see what a future at the Forty Acres would look like. Until then, the Longhorns will look to continue building their relationship with a talent who has game-changing ability. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas football enters recruiting battle for 2028 WR/DB Major Armstrong

LSU football lost a four-star wide receiver to Ole Miss on Sunday. St. Augustine's Miguel Whitley committed to the Rebels, picking Ole Miss over LSU and a handful of big-time offers.

Per Rivals Industry Rankings, Whitley is the No. 205-overall ranked recruit in the country. He's No. 30 at his position and No. 7 in the state of Louisiana. Rivals is the highest on Whitley, ranking him No. 11 at his position. However, opinions differ. 247Sports has yet to give Whitley a fourth star, while ESPN sits in the middle.

At the moment, Whitley is not a major loss for the Tigers. LSU already has two wide receivers pledged in the 2027 class, Ahmari Stevens and Braylon Calais. Both are four stars. And the Tigers remain in pursuit of five-star wide receiver Easton Royal, who Lane Kiffin and Co. hope to flip from Texas. Still, it stings to see an SEC rival walk into Louisiana and take a blue-chip recruit.

LSU football's 2027 class currently ranks No. 11 nationally. Ole Miss sits at No. 15 after the addition of Whitley.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Four-star New Orleans recruit picks Ole Miss over LSU football

Odell Beckham Jr. is a New York Giant once again.

Beckham Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal with the Giants, returning to New York for his second stint with the team.

Reunion time in East Rutherford: The #Giants are signing WR Odell Beckham Jr. after this morning’s workout, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

Beckham’s second audition for Big Blue results in a signing and his return to the organization almost 8 years after he was traded away. pic.twitter.com/obRlBQrl5i

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 1, 2026

The reunion was highly anticipated throughout the offseason. The 33-year-old turned heads at the Fanatics Football Classic on March 21 and met with Giants coach John Harbaugh at the annual league meeting this spring, sparking rumors of a potential return.

The former Super Bowl champion worked out for the Giants on April 20 as a potential outside receiver to complement Malik Nabers next season. He worked out again on Monday following the loss of Gunner Olszewski (Achilles).

Beckham Jr. recorded 55 receiving yards in nine games with the Miami Dolphins in 2024. In 2023, he posted 565 receiving yards with an average of 16.1 yards per reception as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Still regarded as an exciting talent, Beckham Jr. will compete for a meaningful role throughout the summer.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants make reunion official, sign Odell Beckham Jr.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has launched the Hounds Pass, offering fans standing-room access to 12 home matches for $60.

This new ticket option is part of a fan affordability initiative, with the first eligible match on June 13.

The limited-time and limited-quantity Hounds Pass provides access to Riverhounds matches through the remainder of the 2026 regular season at F.N.B. Stadium. The club stated the pass creates additional opportunities for fans to experience the match day atmosphere through popular social viewing areas, including the Surfside CrossBar and the Goal Line Alley behind the net on the West End, amid continued demand for reserved seating and general admission sections.

Riverhounds President Jeff Garner said the club aims to make match days as accessible as possible. He noted the team’s pride in offering an affordable sports and entertainment experience.

“At a time when many families and fans are feeling the impact of rising everyday costs, we want to continue finding ways to make Riverhounds match days as accessible as possible,” Garner said. “We’ve always taken pride in offering an affordable sports and entertainment experience and the Hounds Pass is another way for us to proactively support our fans while welcoming even more people into the atmosphere that has made F.N.B. Stadium such a special place.”

Pass holders will be able to claim their tickets starting two days before each eligible match, offering a flexible option for fans to enjoy Riverhounds soccer. With 12 tickets included, the Hounds Pass averages $5 per match. The new pass complements existing ticket options, such as season memberships.

The club also introduced a new value concessions option for all fans. This includes a discounted meal combo with a hot dog, chips and a soda or water, available for $9.99 at Center Back Bites behind Section 102.

The affordability initiative will continue with the launch of new value merchandise offerings in the coming weeks. These will include a $15 T-shirt and a $15 hat, providing supporters additional ways to represent the club at an accessible price point.

Garner emphasized the club’s goal to ensure coming to a match feels easy, fun and within reach.

“F.N.B. Stadium is one of the best summer environments in the city,” Garner said. “Whether someone joins us once a year or all season long, we want coming to a Riverhounds match to feel easy, fun and within reach. This initiative is about continuing to serve our fans with great value while creating even more ways for people to experience a night with us.”

The Hounds Pass is available now for a limited time at www.riverhounds.com/houndspass.

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CBS Sports has a new quarterback.

Russell Wilson is finalizing a deal to become an analyst for CBS Sports, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's a move that will see the Super Bowl champion and 10-time Pro Bowl signal-caller exchange his helmet and jersey for a microphone and a suit.

Wilson will join a cast that includes James Brown, Nate Burleson and Bill Cowher on "The NFL Today" pregame show on the network.

There had been questions about the state of Wilson's playing career after he started only three games for the New York Giants in 2025.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russell Wilson joining CBS as NFL analyst, but not retiring

Former New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson is set to join CBS Sports as an analyst on "The NFL Today," the network's flagship Sunday pregame show.

The agreement represents a new chapter for the 37-year-old veteran, who is transitioning from the field following a 14-year NFL career.

Sources: Ten-time Pro-Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson is finalizing a deal to become a CBS Sports analyst. Wilson won a Super Bowl, the Walter Payton Man of the Year award and now leaves the NFL to become an analyst on the network’s pregame show that includes James Brown, Nate… pic.twitter.com/YEsi3OyDRv

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 1, 2026

Wilson, a Super Bowl champion and 10-time Pro Bowl selection, spent the 2025 season with the Giants. He appeared in six games, starting the first three of the season before ceding the starting position to rookie Jaxson Dart.

A combination of limited production and injuries led to conversations about retirement or possibly continuing his playing career as a backup, including interest from the New York Jets.

Instead, Wilson will step into the studio role vacated by Matt Ryan, who left to become president of football operations for the Atlanta Falcons. He will join the established panel featuring James Brown, Nate Burleson, and Bill Cowher, contributing quarterback insights and postseason experience to the broadcast.

The move aligns with Wilson's previous media appearances on CBS and his growing interest in broadcasting opportunities.

Known for his leadership and community work as a Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient, Wilson is expected to bring thoughtful analysis to the show ahead of the upcoming NFL season.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Ex-Giants QB Russell Wilson replacing Matt Ryan on CBS' NFL Today

CARLSBAD, Calif. — LSU coach Jake Amos had booked his team's plane tickets home.

The Tigers sat T-27 out of 30 teams with seemingly 18 holes remaining in their season Sunday. They were 17 shots outside of the projected 15-team cut line at Omni La Costa, and the second-year coach was just hoping to have a safe trip back to Baton Rouge.

"I need to make sure I’m on good flights, and that was kind of the only thing I was thinking about," Amos admitted.

LSU didn't make it on the plane.

The Tigers, ranked seventh in the country, shot 18-under 270 in the third round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Golf Championship. That was the lowest round of the day by nine shots and the third-lowest 18-hole score in relation to par ever at NCAAs, one shot behind UNLV (1998) and Arizona (2000). The largest comeback to make the 54-hole cut at NCAAs before Sunday was seven shots. Now it's 17.

"Tigers don’t quit and we didn’t," Amos said.

LSU begins the final round T-12 at 2 over but only three shots behind Duke, the final team inside the top 8 with 18 holes to play.

Freshman Dan Hayes shot 8-under 64, a round that featured nine birdies and set a tournament scoring record at Omni La Costa. He also bested former LSU individual national champion John Peterson's program record of 65 at NCAAs in 2011.

"I just knew we needed to make birdies," Hayes said. "We were terrible the first round. I think everyone will say it, and we just knew we had to go low, and I think today there was no holding back. Like we had nothing to lose, and we know how good we are. Every single one of us can shoot seven, eight under, so when it all clicks, it clicks."

Jay Mendell (68), Matthew Dodd-Berry (69) and Arni Sveinsson (69) all contributed to the record round from LSU, which last year went home after failing to advance from NCAA Regionals as a No. 1 seed.

Instead of another disappointing finish to the season, the Tigers have a chance to make match play for the first time in 10 years.

"It is just kind of the proudest I’ve ever been of any team," Amos said. "We finally showed the firepower this teamhas.”

Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor for Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LSU had a near-record round to stay alive at NCAA Golf Championship

After a four-year layoff, Serena Williams will be the center of attention in her return to competitive tennis at the Queen's Club in London.

Williams, 44, received a wild-card entry to play doubles at the HSBC Championships, which begin this weekend and serve as a grass-court tuneup for Wimbledon later this month.

Her doubles partner has not yet been announced.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion hasn't played a competitive event since losing to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open. However, she is eligible to compete again after rejoining the sport's drug testing pool and reaching the mandatory six-month mark back in February.

When is the Queen's Club tournament?

The Queen's Club tournament, officially the HSBC Championships, is contested at the Queen's Club in West Kensington, London.

The grass-court tournament for men and women begins on June 8 and runs through June 14.

How to watch Serena Williams in HSBC Championships

Serena Williams will be playing in the women's doubles draw at the HSBC Championships.

The draw and official schedule have not yet been announced.

• Date: June 8-14
• TV: Tennis Channel

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Serena Williams returns to tennis at Queen's Club: Dates, TV info

David Watson will join Bolton Wanderers from Kilmarnock, the Scottish Premiership club have confirmed as they thanked him "for his commitment to the club".

The midfielder, 21, is in the final weeks of his contract at Killie and will join Bolton for their first season back in England's Championship. A compensation package has been agreed between the clubs.

This season, Watson made 42 appearances, scoring three goals, as Kilmarnock finished 10th in the Premiership.

"David has been with the club since the age of seven and went on to make 140 senior appearances for the club, becoming Scotland Under-21 captain in that time too," the Rugby Park club said.

"He scored 13 goals and contributed six assists during his time at Killie, playing a major role in the first team set-up over the last three seasons since his breakthrough.

"Everyone at Kilmarnock sincerely thanks David for his commitment to the club, having worked his way through the age groups of our academy, and he departs with our best wishes for his career."

After 14 seasons in the NFL, 37-year-old quarterback Russell Wilson has made a decision on his next career move.

Wilson will join CBS Sports as an analyst, according to a report from Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports. Last month, The Athletic's Andrew Marchand previously reported that Wilson was a candidate to replace Matt Ryan on "The NFL Today." Ryan left the show to join the Atlanta Falcons' front office earlier this year.

Wilson apparently had an offer to join an NFL team as a backup, but he has opted to join CBS.

Wilson's decision to transition to television presumably means his NFL career is over, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted that Wilson "may not be retiring." At the very least, Wilson is putting "a pause" on his playing career, according to Rapoport. ESPN's Adam Schefter is tweeting as if Wilson's career is now over.

Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion, spent the majority of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, where he went 104-53-1 as a starter before being traded to the Denver Broncos. Wilson went 11-19 as a starter with the Broncos before being benched by coach Sean Payton, who drafted Bo Nix after cutting Wilson in 2024.

Wilson threw for 46,966 passing yards and 353 passing touchdowns while adding 5,568 rushing yards and 31 scores on the ground while playing with four NFL teams from 2012-2025.

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

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL news: Russell Wilson makes career decision after 14th season

Glamorgan all-rounder Zain Ul Hassan has signed a contract extension at the club until the end of the 2027 season.

Born in Pakistan, the 25-year-old grew up in the West Midlands and made one appearance for Worcestershire before spending time with the South Asian Cricket Academy.

He earned a Glamorgan contract in 2023 and played in all 14 Championship games in the promotion winning side in 2025.

Ul Hassan features as an opening batter and seam bowler, and he made his career best score of 143 against Hampshire at Southampton in May.

"I'm very grateful to extend my contract," Ul Hassan told the club website.

"I've loved my time in Cardiff and being part of such a great group of players and coaches. We're playing some really good cricket across all formats, and I'm proud to be contributing to that.

"Hopefully I can play my part in even more success for Glamorgan."

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The Georgia Bulldogs have landed a commitment from three-star edge rusher recruit Olayiwola Taiwo. The elite pass rusher committed to coach Kirby Smart and Georgia over Kansas, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Rutgers.

Taiwo is part of a recent Georgia recruiting hot streak. The Bulldogs have landed recent commitments from three-star offensive tackle D.J. Dotson and three-star wide receiver Taurean Rawlins.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound pass rusher plays high school football for Lovejoy High School in Hampton, Georgia. The talented edge rusher is ranked as the No. 1,356 recruit in the nation and the No. 103 player at his position. Taiwo is the No. 146 recruit in Georgia and is a member 2027 recruiting cycle.

Georgia has been on a recent run of adding three-star recruits, which is very different from what the Bulldogs have done in the past. The Bulldogs appear to be using a different recruiting strategy than normal for the 2027 recruits.

The Bulldogs have just thee commitments from four- and five-star recruits in the class of 2027. The Bulldogs have 11 total commitments including eight from three-stars. Georgia has the No. 26 recruiting class in the country.

Taiwo took an official visit to Georgia from May 29-31. In his highlights, Taiwo flashes explosiveness and strength. The pass rusher is good at defeating offensive linemen with his hands.

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: 3-star edge rusher Olayiwola Taiwo announces commitment

The Arizona Cardinals' quarterback situation isn't exactly ideal. They have a presumed starter in Jacoby Brissett embroiled in a contract dispute. They have a backup with a 17-30 career record as a starter. Perhaps the most intriguing part of their quarterback room is having third-round pick Carson Beck.

Beck started 43 games in college at Georgia and Miami, taking Miami to the national championship game last year.

So while some of the focus is on Brissett's absence, there is a lingering question — will Beck get a chance to start as a rookie, and could he end up being the Week 1 starter?

SI.com's Albert Breer gave some insight in his most recent mailbag.

From Kyle (@KyleH10201988): What are the chances Carson Beck is QB1 and starts the season?

Kyle, I don’t think that’ll happen. I think it’ll be either Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew II to begin the year. But I think we will see Beck make starts, plural, this season, as Mike LaFleur and his Cardinals coaching staff assess the position ahead of what could be a pivotal draft next April.

Head coach Mike LaFleur has said during the offseason that Beck getting to sit a while would be ideal. He will delay Beck starting as long as he can, unless he simply is better than Minshew while Brissett is out.

Personally, I give him almost no shot at starting in Week 1. Brissett and Minshew are too experienced and are certainly good enough to start for a bad team. But as bad as the Cardinals are projected to be, it would be foolish not to get Beck out there for a few games, and the schedule at the end of the year lines up perfectly for them to do so with a late bye week followed by lesser quality opponents.

How many starts will Beck get? The lowest total will probably be four.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL insider weighs in on Cardinals QB Carson Beck starting in Week 1

When the New York Jetsacquired cornerback Jarvis Brownlee from the Tennessee Titans midseason last year, he immediately played a versatile inside-outside role as needed. Brownlee played exclusively outside for the Titans despite being undersized. The Jets got him and occasionally made him a nickel corner.

Heading into the 2026 season, Brownlee's first full campaign with the Jets, he's expected to play nickel almost on an exclusive basis. After an offseason of change, the Jets now have Nahshon Wright at outside cornerback in addition to Brandon Stephens and Azareye'h Thomas.

That doesn't mean Brownlee can sleepwalk into the every-down nickel role. The Jets also drafted D'Angelo Ponds in the second round. Head coach Aaron Glenn recently confirmed at OTAs that Ponds will initially play nickel, despite being versatile.

"We'll start him [Ponds] out at nickel, see how he operates and then we'll put him outside and see how he operates there," Glenn responded to a question about Ponds' primary position at OTAs.

Ponds is a highly instinctual cornerback who plays the position with high football IQ. That makes him an excellent fit to thrive as a nickel NFL defender. The role currently belongs to Brownlee, but expect Ponds to apply pressure throughout OTAs and training camp.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets rookie D'Angelo Ponds should put fast pressure on Jarvis Brownlee

John McGlynn says Falkirk have added a "wealth of experience" to their squad by signing Scott Tanser after the left-back's five-year spell at St Mirren came to an end.

The 31-year-old defender has penned a two-year deal with the Bairns, who marked their return to the top flight with a top-six finish last term.

Manager McGlynn says the former St Johnstone man's Scottish Premiership experience will be valuable to his side.

"He's an attacking left-back who loves to get forward," the Falkirk boss added.

"He has good quality in the final third to deliver good crosses for our attacking players in the box.

"He has a good delivery from set-pieces, as he displayed in our last game against St Mirren at the Falkirk Stadium, when the Saints scored from a corner.

"He is more than capable of moving into a left centre-back position if required, so he is a definite advantage to us."

Meanwhile, the departure of Calvin Miller is expected to follow the arrival of Tanser, with Hearts hopeful of concluding the signing of the winger in the next 48 hours.

Liverpool famously did it once and it even brought silverware to Coventry City - but the managerial double act remains a footballing curiosity.

At Lincoln City, it is now the way of the future.

When League One title-winning head coach Michael Skubala was recruited by Bristol City last week, Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw were promptly promoted from their roles as assistant coaches and named as the pair to replace the 43-year-old.

Joint-bosses are a rarity - one history would suggest rarely works – examples being the few fractious months Gerard Houllier and Roy Evans shared the dugout at Liverpool in 1998 or the underwhelming campaign for which Doug Livermore and Ray Clemence were in charge of Tottenham earlier that decade.

However, John Sillett and George Curtis did work wonders at Coventry when together they guided the Sky Blues to to FA Cup glory in 1987.

As a club with a modest League One budget who had not played in England's second tier for more than six decades, Lincoln's promotion under Skubala last season was a tale of how daring to be different and willing to be innovative could deliver success.

But the appointment of Cohen and Shaw, however bold the move might seem, is an attempt to be groundbreaking, according to Imps' chief executive Liam Scully.

"We acknowledge that there will be questions about this structure and that it isn't football convention," he told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

"We certainly didn't start this process saying 'how do we break football convention?' - that wasn't the intention.

"Equally, what we weren't going to do is not let what we thought was the right and best solution be the one we put in place just because of football convention."

• Cohen and Shaw to take joint charge at Lincoln
• Bristol City appoint Lincoln boss Skubala
• Listen to BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Red Imps Club podcast

Shaw and Cohen, both 39, played a major part in Lincoln's promotion in 2025-26 as assistant coaches who regularly oversaw training sessions and would lead in meetings.

Scully said the pair, alongside Skubala, "developed a real collegial way of working" - sharing responsibilities and collaborating on what was a milestone season that ended with the Imps topping the table with 103 points.

The hierarchy at Lincoln knew what was achieved under Skubala would make the former England futsal head coach a boss in high demand this summer.

And for that reason, the club's management succession committee had plans in motion to find a successor.

While Lincoln offered Skubala an improved deal to try to keep him after Bristol City triggered a release clause, there was already a low-key search under way to find his replacement playing out in the background.

"In this scenario, when you put over 100 points on the board and take the club to a Championship level after 65 years, it wouldn't take a crystal ball to foresee that there was going to be a lot of interest in Michael," Scully said.

"As soon as the last ball was kicked in the season, that process speeded up.

"While the speed of this decision looks relatively quick from the outside, it's because of the preparation that has been going on. And I want to be really clear in saying that Chris and Tom have beaten external candidates to this as well."

Not a 'romantic' appointment

While Shaw has previous experience as a first-team boss, having had a spell as manager of non-league side Gainsborough Trinity, Cohen has spent his senior coaching career to date as an assistant at Luton Town, Southampton and Stoke City.

Before that, Cohen's coaching career started with a stint as the under-23s manager at Nottingham Forest, the club where he retired as a player in 2018.

It is the years of work the duo did under Skubala at the LNER Stadium and the part each played in getting the Imps up, that convinced club officials the pair would be the best ones to take the club into the Championship next term.

"The thing we continually asked ourselves through this process was 'what is best for Lincoln City?' This is above any individual, this is above the people and this isn't romantic," Scully said.

"This has been done seriously considering how we put together the strongest possible campaign we can in what will be the club's first season in the Championship for over 65 years."

He added they thought this was the "least risky option" given it is "enabling us to deliver continuity".

It is the working relationship that Cohen and Shaw already have with each other and their intimate understanding of how Lincoln operate that may hold the key to this coaching partnership flourishing where others have failed.

"It's very seldom now in football that a decision is made on the pitch that is just one person's gut feeling or intuition. It's often data-led and often scenario-planned," Scully said.

"Looking at our structure over the past 12-15 months, I think a large strength of what Michael did was that he empowered Chris and Tom to do what they were very good at. This is a very close continuation of that.

"We didn't start from a place of trying to do something different - it was just the fact that when we worked this through and talked about this, we felt that retaining a lot of the structure of what we did in the past is the best thing we can do going forward."

Jun. 1—Moser, a senior, won a Class 2A state title in the shot put with a toss of 40 feet, 10 1/4 inches on May 23. Moser became the first Clinton athlete to win a state title in a field event, and only the second ever to win a state title after Payne Turney won the 800-meter run in 2019.

"It meant a lot to get Athlete of the Week to represent the small town that will always have a spot in my heart. Getting stronger in the offseason and putting in work in the weight room really helped out this season. I had a lot of fun with my team at the state meet, and I'm really sad that it's over, but it was my goal this year to be a state champion, so meeting that goal showed my hard work paid off."

"The Proposal."

I like pretty much like anything but country.

Faith Jackson.

rugby.

to fly so you can get places faster.

I like to put braids in my hair, and I like energy drinks. Mainly Alani.

becoming a state champion.

riding in a hot air balloon. I think it would be pretty at sunset, and I love being in the air.

Samantha Brown and Jamia Esther, Danville track and field; Addison Lucht, Milford/Cissna Park track and field; Madalyn Marx, Mahomet-Seymour track and field.

Fan, a senior, and LaFave, a sophomore, advanced to the Class 1A state tournament after winning the doubles title at the 1A Centennial Sectional on May 23. Fan and LaFave did not drop a set en route to the sectional title. At the IHSA state meet from last Thursday through Saturday in the Chicago suburbs, Fan and LaFave reached the final day of the three-day tournament, compiling a 4-2 record and advancing to the consolation semifinals.

"I was really happy to win Athlete of the Week. It just meant that family and friends from home locked in for us to get the votes. On the court, it was just having a big presence and applying as much as pressure on the opponent as we could. I was really happy to win sectionals last week. The biggest reward was it got us a seed at state, which was helpful. At state, it was a lot more rewarding because I wasn't fully expecting it to make as far as we did."

"The Godfather."

is Frank Ocean, and I like R&B.

Jameson LaFave

cross-country.

teleportation. It seems convenient.

I usually go in and listen to some music, stretch and get a full warmup in. In between matches, I try to put on my headphones and do a 10-minute NSDR.

winning the three matches that we did on Friday at the state tournament this year. I didn't expect it to happen, and we had to play through three match tiebreaks to get it done.

to eat omakase, a fancy form of sushi, in Japan.

"Winning Athlete of the Week feels like it's a good representation of the amount and work Kyle and I have put in. We worked the best together by staying aggressive and staying focused on the task at hand and not thinking ahead too much. The goal for everyone is to try to make it to the last few matches of the season, and it feels amazing to come through with wins in three grueling matches like we did on Friday at state."

"Space Jam."

Metro Boomin.

Kyle Fan.

basketball.

the ability to never get tired.

I try to quiet my mind and focus on the task at hand by taking deep breaths.

qualifying for the final day of the state tournament like we did this year. It's a dream, and it's why you compete.

to attend all four of the tennis Grand Slam tournaments.

Kamden Flenner, Tuscola track and field; Hunter Madigan, St. Thomas More tennis; Mason Makaya, Centennial track and field.

Britain's leading female golfer, Lottie Woad, is doing everything she can to capitalise on LPGA-winning form before this week's Women's US Open near Los Angeles.

The 22-year-old Englishwoman competes at the famed Riviera Country Club fresh from last month's victory at the Kroger Queen City event in Cincinnati, which lifted her to fifth in the world rankings.

It was her first professional win in the United States and was arguably the biggest step Woad has taken since joining the paid ranks last summer, when she won the Scottish Open on her pro debut.

But she has not been sitting back to bask in the glory of this latest triumph, instead flying coach Luke Bone from his base in Farnham, Surrey, to Florida to intensify preparation for this week's event, traditionally the biggest on the women's golf calendar.

Woad decided to swap last week's Shoprite LPGA tournament in New Jersey for time on the range with Bone, with whom she has worked since her junior days at Farnham Golf Club.

"We were just doing some work here in Tallahassee," Woad told BBC Sport. "It was good, just kind of a little reset.

"The last time I saw him was Chevron [the year's first major in April] and he was at an event before that. But it was kind of nice to do some work away from the tournament.

"He usually comes to the majors, but I decided I wanted to try him coming a week before. I'm still kind of working out what I like best.

"You know, I'm still very new to pro life. The US Open is a very hectic week and I feel like that you're limited to what you can actually get done on that week. So it's nice to go into it having done a lot of the work."

She has flown early to the west coast of the US to be fully acclimatised for this week's major, imbued with the confidence of her Ohio triumph.

And the key to that victory on 17 May was worked out by the player herself. She had been bemused by an uncharacteristically erratic performance on the greens while missing the cut at the Mizuho Americas Open earlier in the month.

"My putting was pretty poor and I'd been putting pretty good this year," Woad said. "OK, it could be me, it is probably is me, but, I thought I'll check the putter.

"The grip was just a tiny bit off, but obviously as golfers, we're pretty specific. So it was bugging me a little bit. I got it regripped and then, yeah, all good."

Woad beat a quality field, holding off South Korea's Haeran Ryu to win by two shots, with major winners Miyu Yamashita and Ruoning Yin trailing in her wake.

The spectacularly in-form Nelly Korda and former world number one Lydia Ko shared eighth place.

"I think it was probably a more important win for me than the first one," Woad said. "The first one [in Scotland last July] was obviously amazing, but it all happened so quickly.

"I had just turned pro right before that one and then went off and played loads of events. I didn't really get time to reflect on it.

"I don't know how many events I've played now, but a lot more events, playing each week, travelling each week. Seeing the competition, seeing how good everyone is.

"I think to win again, to get the second one was more important for me."

Remarkably for someone ranked so highly, Woad will compete in the US Open as a professional for the first time. She does so having posted high finishes in the past three majors.

As an amateur, she shared third place at the Evian Championship last July, narrowly missing out on the play-off, won by Grace Kim.

She backed that up by finishing joint-eighth at the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl and was tied for seventh at the Chevron.

On current form, Woad is Britain's best hope to emulate Dame Laura Davies (1987) and Alison Nicholas (1997), the only other UK winners of America's national championship.

Professional life has been such a whirlwind that Woad does not readily recognise her encouraging form in the five biggest events on the women's calendar. "I kind of forgot," she smiled.

"They're so spread out, it's kind of hard to remember where you finished in the majors. But yeah, I've been playing pretty nicely in them.

"US Open, I'm assuming, is going to be set up tough like it always is. So Riviera, I've heard great things. I'm just really excited to go see that course and, yeah, ready for the challenge that is US Open."

Always as much a test of tenacity as technique, Woad is bidding to keep the Harton S Semple Trophy in European hands after Maja Stark's victory at Erin Hills last year. Kettering's Charley Hull is the other big British hope but missed the cut in New Jersey last week.

Woad appears to be revelling in tour life. The hardest question for her to answer concerns the worst bits of being pro golfer. "I don't know, I mean, I love it," she said.

"It's pretty cool for me to play golf and it'd be my job, but obviously there's a lot of travel involved. I think it's probably the worst bit.

"You know, we play a pretty rigorous schedule in the LPGA. I've already been to Asia twice this year and I've been to the West Coast to do two different swings.

"I live in Florida. So a lot of travel that maybe doesn't quite flow as well as it as it should, but I know they're working on that."

Nevertheless, Woad describes her mood as "relaxed and pretty confident" and she is buoyed by the way her beloved Leeds United comfortably preserved their Premier League status.

In women's golf, she is one of the in-form players heading into the sport's biggest week. Woad is comfortable, though, that Chevron champion Korda will command most attention in the build-up to the Pacific Palisades event.

"She's obviously going to be one of the favourites and always is at most events she plays," Woad said.

"I will try and go under the radar a little bit. I'm not sure if I'll be able to or not, but I think for this year, I have been able to kind of quietly get on with things a little bit more than I could do last summer."

Given Woad's explosive start to her pro career, it is perhaps prudent to question how much longer that will remain the case.

Raymond Berry, the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver whose telepathic connection with quarterback Johnny Unitas forged one of American football’s most formidable passing duos, has died at the age of 93.

Berry, a pivotal figure in the Baltimore Colts’ historic 1958 championship victory over the New York Giants, passed away on 25 May, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced on Monday.

His family confirmed in a statement that Berry died peacefully at his home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, surrounded by loved ones, including Sally, his wife of 65 years.

A 20th-round draft pick from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 1954, the Texas native embodied the virtues of relentless hard work and unwavering determination. Despite possessing average speed, legs of differing lengths, a troublesome back, imperfect eyesight, and oversized feet that earned him the high school nickname "Skis," Berry transformed himself into a superstar. His ascent was fuelled by exhaustive preparation, from strengthening his fingers with Silly Putty to meticulously simulating entire games during practice.

He was renowned as one of the most reliable receivers in league history, rarely dropping a pass and fumbling only twice throughout his career, according to Pro Football Reference.

Berry himself claimed to have developed 88 distinct routes to get open, a level of discipline so intense that even his coach, Weeb Ewbank, once tried to intervene.

"One of his drills was to throw nothing but bad balls to him," Ewbank told the Los Angeles Times in 1986. "I used to have to run John (Unitas) off — ‘John, you’ve had enough throwing today’ — and he’d say, ‘Yeah, talk to that guy out there.’"

Over 13 seasons, Berry amassed a then-record 631 receptions (a mark since surpassed by Jerry Rice), scoring 68 touchdowns. He led the NFL in receptions three times and earned six Pro Bowl selections.

A cornerstone of one of the league’s premier offences, alongside Unitas, running back Lenny Moore, and offensive lineman Jim Parker, Berry played on championship-winning teams in 1958 and 1959, and was a runner-up in 1964.

He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1973 and was named to the league’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams. The Colts retired his uniform number, 82, while SMU retired his college number, 87.

Berry’s performance in the 1958 championship finale against the Giants at Yankee Stadium remains legendary. This overtime classic, nationally televised, is often cited as one of the sport’s greatest games and a catalyst for the NFL’s subsequent rise. Against the NFL’s toughest defence, Berry caught 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, including three consecutive receptions during the 86-yard drive that tied the game 17-17 in regulation. He then made two crucial grabs during the 80-yard drive that secured the Colts’ 23-17 victory, the league’s first championship to conclude in overtime.

"We worked and got to know each other and developed timing you just can’t get any other way," Berry later told the radio programme Sports & Torts. "He (Unitas) knew I was going to be there when I was supposed to be there and he knew I was going to catch it."

After retiring as a player in 1967, Berry transitioned to coaching, serving as a wide receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and New England Patriots.

He took the helm as head coach of the Patriots from 1984-89, achieving a 48-39 record, including an 11-5 season in 1985 that led to an appearance in Super Bowl XX. However, the Patriots suffered a crushing 46-10 defeat to the Chicago Bears.

Following this, the Boston Globe revealed that several New England players had drug problems, with Berry acting as a source for the story. His subsequent push for the team to implement drug testing was met with strong opposition from the NFL players’ union.

A deeply religious man who abstained from alcohol and tobacco, Berry’s advocacy for drug treatment stemmed from personal experience. His former Colts teammate, All-Pro defensive tackle Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb, had struggled with addiction.

"They didn’t help him, they just cut him," Berry told The Patriot Ledger in 1986. "Three years later, he was dead."

Born in Corpus Christi in 1933, Berry married fellow Texan Sally Crook in 1960, and they had three children.

He credited some of his success to his high school coach, his father Mark Raymond Berry, who taught him the fundamentals of football despite not playing him extensively. After a year at Schreiner College, he transferred to SMU, where two fumbles in a crucial game spurred a vow never to repeat such mistakes in the professional ranks.

His rookie season with the Colts saw him catch only 13 passes, but the following year, the team signed a free agent quarterback cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers – Unitas. The two soon began their practice sessions.

"I didn’t know my butt from first base about how to run pass routes," Berry recalled to Sports & Torts. "If you saw both of us in training camp in 1956, you may have gone away sobbing. We were two pitiful football players, good grief."

Cincinnati Bengals OTAs getting underway means a brief batch of football for fans to watch before the summer break. 

And in Cincinnati, it means droves of new storylines, especially this offseason. The Bengals went all-in with the Dexter Lawrence trade and big spending, signaling a critical hot-seat year for Zac Taylor and staff. 

Right out of the gates in OTAs, a few big things to watch stick out.

The LB fallout

Fans know the drill by now. The Bengals elected to not address linebacker this offseason, going all-in on Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter. The hope is that a much-improved line in front of them, paired with natural development, is the key. But they also can’t repeat the mistake of last year in only signing Oren Burks as veteran depth, so if things don’t look good, it ups the chance of a free-agent signing. 

The hyped edge rushers

Former first-rounder Myles Murphy flashed at the end of last year. Will it continue? How’s Shemar Stewart, last year’s first-rounder, starting to come along in his first normal offseason? Don’t forget Boye Mafe, the big free-agent signing and guy they hope can take a leap in a new system? We’ll see some flashes from all in this early summer work. Plus, we’ll see if rookie Cashius Howell sees a nice chunk of coverage snaps as they figure out ways to get him on the field.

A revamped secondary

Bryan Cook is in Cincinnati as the latest attempt to fix the Jessie Bates mistake. He’ll line up next to Jordan Battle, but don’t forget the other new arrival, Kyle Dugger. At corner, Dax Hill wants to stay on the boundary, as he should. But we’ll get a first look at whether the Bengals make that happen, or ask him to kick inside to the unaddressed slot position. 

Bonus: The WR room

There’s an interesting battle or spot going on behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Andrei Iosivas had a down year as the third wideout last year and they drafted Colbie Young. Charlie Jones is pretty strictly special teams, while names like Mitch Tinsley, Kendric Pryor and others will fight for roster spots too.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: 4 quick Bengals OTAs storylines to watch

Jun. 1—is reportedly down to her final three schools. And the consensus four-star power forward/center in the 2027 class has narrowed her list down to a final top three of Illinois, Ohio State and Virginia Tech, according to of 247Sports.

The 6-foot-2 Mobley — who is from Sunbury, Ohio, just outside of Columbus —averaged 20.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a junior last season for Big Walnut, which finished with a 23-5 record after losing to Mount Notre Dame in a OHSAA Division II state semifinal game. For her high school career — which has included one season at Lewis Center Olentangy and two years at Big Walnut — Mobley has produced a total of 1,508 points, 835 rebounds, 228 assists, 186 steals and 145 blocks.

Mobley, who is ranked as high as No. 22 in the 2027 class by ESPN, made an official visit on April 25 to Virginia Tech and is also set to go on official visits this summer to Illinois (June 22) and Ohio State (June 27).

If the Illini were to land Mobley, it would be a major recruiting win for considering Mobley has grown up right in the Buckeyes' backyard.

Illinois signed just one freshman in the 2026 class so far. It made perfect sense that the Illini would turn mostly to the transfer portal after Green and Co. signed a top-10 recruiting class in 2026, with Illinois' haul led by five freshmen in five-star guard , four-star guard and four-star forwards , and .

Jackson and Parchment made an immediate impact on an Illini team that finished with a 22-12 record during the this past 2025-26 season and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, while Alves sat out the season with a knee injury and Finney (Loyola Marymount) and Benson (Cincinnati) have transferred elsewhere this offseason. Finney also missed last season with a knee injury, and Benson played sparingly as a freshman at Illinois.

The Illini have since added LSU transfer guard , a former five-star recruit who will be a sophomore during the 2026-27 season, plus junior-college guard and freshman center from from ŽKK Mega Superbet in Belgrade, Serbia. Brenjo, who is from Nevesinje, Bosnia, is the lone true freshman in the 2026 class for Illinois, although Green said last week she expects to add one more player to bring the Illini roster to the full 15-player allotment for the 2026-27 season.

Serena Williams, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, will make her return to competitive action after an absence of almost four years in the women's doubles at Queen's Club later this month.

She has been granted a wildcard for the tournament which begins on 8 June and, although her partner has not yet been officially confirmed, it has been widely reported that she will play alongside Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko.

The 44-year-old American "evolved away" from tennis in 2022 after winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles in her 27-year career.

Rumours of a return began last year when her name appeared on the list of players registered for the drug-testing pool.

Williams denied she was returning, but the whispers got louder when her name was included on the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reinstatements list in February.

On Monday, she shared a video on social media of her walking on to a tennis court containing the caption: "Guess everybody heard the news", alongside a post which said: "Good news travels fast."

Williams said: "Queen's Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter.

"Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career and I'm excited to be back competing on one of the sport's most iconic stages."

Williams will take the court in London at the WTA 500 event 196 weeks after her final appearance at the 2022 US Open.

Mboko, 19, is one of the most exciting prospects in the women's game and is ranked ninth in the world in singles.

Speaking after her second-round match at the French Open last week, Mboko described Williams as her "idol".

Mboko lost in the third round at Roland Garros on Saturday to former Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

Wimbledon, where Williams has won seven singles and seven doubles titles, begins three weeks after Queen's.

She would need a wildcard to compete but the prospect of Williams playing on the SW19 grass once again is a tantalising one for organisers.

• Williams expected to make comeback at Queen's

Williams' 23 Grand Slam singles titles are the most by a woman in the Open era and second-highest of all-time in the women's game, behind Margaret Court's tally of 24.

She spent 319 weeks at the top of the world rankings and won 73 singles titles on the WTA Tour.

She also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with sister Venus Williams, with the pair going undefeated in major finals together, and won three Olympic doubles gold medals to go with her individual gold from London 2012.

She completed a career 'Golden Slam' in singles and doubles - winning all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold - and won every singles major at least three times.

Williams reached four major finals after returning from maternity leave with her first daughter in 2018 and also returned to the world's top 10.

The highest-earning female athlete of all-time, Williams drew huge crowds throughout her career and is a figure who has truly transcended her sport.

Equipped with arguably the best serve ever seen in the women's game, Williams was known for her big groundstrokes, strong return of serve and superb movement.

After retiring, Williams largely kept away from the sport and gave birth to her second daughter in 2023.

Last year, she told the Today Show in the US about losing 31lb (14kg) over the previous eight months.

She said she had to look at her extra weight as "an opponent". Despite "training five hours a day" and "running, walking, biking, stair climbing", she told the show she had no other choice but to "try something different".

Williams would not say which weight loss drug she was taking, although she had just become a spokesperson for Ro, a company which sells GLP-1 brands like Wegovy and Zepbound (known as Mounjaro in the UK) through its weight-loss programme. Her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, is also an investor.

Williams said she was seeing the benefit of her hard work at the gym, was training for a half-marathon and "running farther than I ever had".

Analysis: Motivation for Williams' return not yet clear

The motivation for Serena Williams' return is not yet clear.

Is she playing so in future she can share a doubles court one last time with her sister Venus - who turns 46 on 17 June?

Or is that competitive flame far from extinguished, and does she believe - like the odd former player I have shared a commentary box with - that she still has the beating of many of the new generation?

Wimbledon starts at the end of the month, and assuming Serena plays, there is not yet any clear intelligence to suggest it would definitely be as a singles player.

But the US Open does not begin for another two months after that and, by late August, Williams may find a singles return too hard to resist.

• Live scores, results and order of play
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Jun. 1—***

Before we point fingers, assess blame and lament the demise of our culture, can we all agree on one things when it comes to the Brendan Sorsby case: It is sad.

An athlete with a bright future and all the talent in the world put his career in jeopardy by placing bets on sports. Lots and lots of bets on sports.

To his credit, the fifth-year senior at Texas Tech sought help for his addiction. We are all rooting that it takes and understand that it might not.

The NCAA — like you knew it would — said to Sorsby "You can't play here." Didn't ask "What can we do to help?" or "How can we make sure this doesn't happen again?" the organization chose to boot him per its rules.

I've got some news for the folks at the NCAA: I am 99.9 percent sure that Sorsby isn't the first athlete to violate the gambling rules. Might be some coaches who did the same.

You can pin part of the blame on the NCAA itself. It seems to offer soft approval of the wagering industry by working with media companies that make a fortune in ad revenue off of it. Watch a game on most networks and you will see commercials for gambling companies. Like a little hypocrisy with your three-team parlay?

What looks clear in the Sorsby case is that the player and his school are going to be spending some time in court to keep him eligible. It is a test for the judge in Texas, where fans bases are extremely loyal. But we trust the judge will do the right thing.

My sense is fans are split on what should happen to the player. Some will say he needs to punished. Other recognize he has a sickness and should be allowed a second chance.

Most of us can't put ourselves in his shoes. We haven't bet hundreds or thousands on the outcome of a game. Can't imagine doing it.

There likely isn't an explanation that we all buy or a punishment that will meet everyone's standards.

The guy is 22. Should his future be ruined because of a string of bad decisions? If the idea is that his outcome will provide a deterrent for future cases, I disagree. The illness didn't come up suddenly. It took time to get there and can't be wiped away with one swift kick. And before you get too critical, imagine is this was your dad, sister or cousin.

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has agreed personal terms to join London City Lionesses this summer.

It is understood the Women's Super League club also have a verbal agreement in place to sign Spain defender Mapi Leon, who left Barcelona last month after nine years there.

Both players are expected to sign contracts this month, according to sources, as London City Lionesses set about demonstrating their summer ambition in the WSL transfer window.

Earps' expected return to England would be a high-profile move, having earned numerous individual accolades during a successful international career.

The 33-year-old is set to join from Paris St-Germain at the end of her contract following two years in France.

She made 22 appearances in the Premiere Ligue this season, keeping 12 clean sheets as PSG finished third - 13 points behind champions Lyon.

The two-time Fifa Best Goalkeeper of the Year award winner played a crucial role in England's victory at Euro 2022 and their route to the 2023 World Cup final.

She spent five years at Manchester United, making more than 100 appearances, and helped them win their first major trophy in 2024 as they lifted the Women's FA Cup.

Spain international Leon has recently left Barcelona, where she won 27 trophies as part of one of Europe's most successful teams.

The 30-year-old won four Champions League titles at Barcelona, including this season's edition. She started in their 4-0 win over Lyon in the final.

Leon has made 54 appearances for Spain but boycotted the national team for almost three years alongside several team-mates because of disagreements over working conditions and a falling-out with the Spanish Football Federation, which began in 2022.

She withdrew from selection for the 2023 Women's World Cup as Spain went on to beat England in the final.

The centre-back returned in October 2025 and started the Nations League final a month later as Spain beat Germany 3-0.

London City Lionesses, who are backed by American businesswoman Michele Kang, finished sixth in their first season in the WSL.

They could have an extraordinary summer as they are also continuing to pursue two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas.

Last week, Putellas, 32, announced she is to leave Barcelona after 14 years.

Putellas' decision on her future promises to be the biggest news of the summer transfer window, while a number of high-profile players are switching clubs.

Australia captain Sam Kerr is available on a free deal following her exit from Chelsea, while the Blues are set to sign Arsenal's versatile defender Katie McCabe.

Manchester City are favourites to bring in England forward Beth Mead following her Arsenal exit and have also been linked with a move for Chelsea's Niamh Charles.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to sign England midfielder Georgia Stanway from Bayern Munich and Spain defender Ona Batlle from Barcelona.

• Why Putellas to London City would be biggest signing in WSL history

Listen to Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie on the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed

• Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page

June 2 is an important day for the NFL, even if it's stuck in the doldrums of the offseason. That's when teams can spread out the salary cap hits of released or traded players over two seasons, lessening the blow of losing them and creating the spending room to fill the void they've left.

The biggest example for 2026 is Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. The three-time All-Pro seems destined to be dealt, especially after Philly used its first round draft pick on USC wideout Makai Lemon a month earlier. The New England Patriots, who notably did not select a Day 2 wideout destined to be released after two seasons (as is tradition), appear to be his most likely destination. However, he's not the only big name who's more likely to clear out his locker now than he was a week prior.

Who else could join Brown as an offseason headline generator via trade?

EDGE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

Garrett showcased his loyalty by signing a four-year, $160 million contract extension with nearly $89 million guaranteed last year. Then he showcased his frustration as the Browns remained very much the Browns last fall. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year remains in his prime, but his clock is ticking as his age-31 season approaches.

Dealing Garrett would bring a rebuilding Browns team an epic haul of draft considerations. Trading him before June 2 would have incurred a $41 million dead salary cap charge for Cleveland. Moving him after the cutoff date reduces that to a more manageable $15.5 million, per Over the Cap. Garrett has more than $72 million in guaranteed money coming over the next two seasons, which will scare some suitors away. Even so, the future Hall of Famer would generate interest from the majority of the league if the Browns put him on the trading block.

EDGE Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals

Anyone missing out on a potential Garrett sweepstakes could instead turn their attention to the southwest. Sweat had his most productive season in his Arizona debut, racking a career high 12 sacks alongside a 13.6 percent pressure rate despite playing less than half the team's defensive snaps. But the 29-year-old may not be the right man for another year of rebuilding -- the Cardinals quarterback rotation at the moment is Carson Beck, an injured Gardner Minshew II and a holding-out Jacoby Brissett.

Thus, Arizona may opt to deal away one of its most accomplished players for inexpensive draft picks to set the table for a 2027 reload. Sweat's dead money drops from $22 million to $5.5 million after June 1. With less than $10 million in guaranteed money left on his contract -- all due in 2026 -- an acquiring team may have to hammer out an extension, but he should remain a commodity as training camps approach.

LB Jordyn Brooks, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have a handful of veterans who could be new links in a chain of 2026 departures. Offensive line stalwarts Austin Jackson and Aaron Brewer fit the bill, but the addition of Malik Willis, extension of De'Von Achane and utter lack of reliable wideouts following the release of Tyreek Hill and trade of Jaylen Waddle suggest blocking will be a priority. Defensive lineman Zach Sieler's production dropped sharply in his age 30 season as his pressure rate was cut roughly in half from his 2023-2024 peak.

Brooks, however, is 28 years old and coming off a breakthrough, All-Pro season in the middle of the defense.

The cost of dealing the reliable inside linebacker drops from about $8.3 million to $2.5 after June 1. That's money the Dolphins could have absorbed before the draft if they were truly keen on selling high. But Brooks will likely remain part of trade discussions for a team looking to move on from the Mike McDaniel era and build the franchise's first playoff winner since Dave Wannstedt was head coach.

QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

Richardson's dead cap won't be affected by the calendar flipping to June 2. He's currently staring down the opportunity to rebuild his value as a potential starting quarterback in Daniel Jones' absence. And Jones, despite signing a two-year, $88 million extension this offseason, can be released after the 2026 campaign while accelerating less than $9 million onto the Colts' salary cap for 2027.

This all boosts the value of the former fourth overall pick in Indianapolis. It also may not be enough to keep him with the franchise that's backed him through three tumultuous seasons. Richardson's talent is massive but his inconsistency -- ranging from his passing accuracy to his ability to stay healthy -- may have told the Colts everything they need to know about his future. Indianapolis will be content to keep a player it gets limited financial relief from decoupling from, but the right deal could make the former Florida star someone else's lottery ticket.

EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants

New York has drafted an edge rusher with a top five selection three of the past five seasons. With Abdul Carter and now Arvell Reese in the fold, Thibodeaux could be the odd man out in a rotation that also includes All-Pro Brian Burns.

Thibodeaux's breakthrough 11-sack 2023 was a bit of a mirage -- it came on a 9.2 percent pressure rate, his lowest in four seasons as a pro. He played only 10 games in 2025 due to injury and tallied only 3.5 sacks. His 11.2 percent pressure rate last year didn't crack the top 50 when it came to full-time edge rushers. Still, he maintains the potential that made him the fifth overall pick of 2022. Dealing him would clear nearly $15 million from the Giants' 2026 salary sheet.

RB James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

Unlike Sweat, there's minimal financial benefit in moving on from Conner. But like the dynamic edge rusher, Conner is a veteran presence on a team in the midst of a youth movement. This was made abundantly clear when the Cardinals selected Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, weeks after signing Tyler Allgeier to a free agent contract.

Conner is 31 years old, which is ancient for a running back. He played only three games last season due to injury and averaged a woeful 3.0 yards per carry and a career-worst -0.6 rush yards over expected (RYOE) per touch. But he slapped together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024 and remains a pile-moving monster between the tackles. A modest Day 3 pick could deliver him to a new backfield platoon in need of steady veteran leadership.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL trades: 7 players who could still be dealt, including Myles Garrett

The Eagles continued reshaping their wide receiver room on Monday, signing former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Samori Toure, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. Toure becomes the latest addition to a revamped receiving corps and will reunite with Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who previously worked with the young receiver while serving as an offensive assistant coach in Green Bay.

The move marks the second time this offseason that Philadelphia has added a former Packers wide receiver, joining Dontayvion Wicks as another player with Green Bay ties entering the Eagles' locker room. A seventh-round draft pick by the Packers in 2022, Toure spent parts of two seasons in Green Bay before appearing briefly with the New Orleans Saints during the 2025 campaign. He appeared in one game for New Orleans and recorded one catch for three yards.

Former Packers WR Samori Toure is signing with the Eagles today, per sources. He now will be reunited with new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who was an offensive assistant coach in Green Bay with Toure.

Eagles now have added two former Packers WRs, Toure and… pic.twitter.com/IvdChWFUfO

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 1, 2026

While Toure has yet to establish himself as a consistent contributor at the NFL level, the 27-year-old brings familiarity with offensive concepts and personnel connections that could help him compete for a depth role during training camp.

In 22 career games with Green Bay across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Toure totaled 14 receptions on 31 targets for 163 yards and one touchdown. Combined with his stint in New Orleans, he has appeared in 23 career games and recorded 15 catches for 166 yards and one score. The Eagles have aggressively overhauled the receiver position following a busy offseason that has featured several additions and increased competition behind the team's top playmakers. Toure will now have an opportunity to earn a spot on the 53-man roster or practice squad as Philadelphia prepares for training camp.

With Mannion helping direct the offense, the Eagles are adding another player familiar with his coaching background while continuing to build depth and competition throughout the roster ahead of the 2026 season.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Sean Mannion reunites with former Packers WR Samori Toure

The Oklahoma Sooners earned a second commitment in the 2027 recruiting class in as many days. On Sunday, running back Jacoby Dixon pledged to the Sooners. On Monday, the Sooners earned the long-awaited commitment from elite cornerback and in-state star Gabriel Osborne.

Osborne is the No. 29 player in the 2027 cycle, according to Rivals, and the No. 25 overall player in the class, according to 247Sports. He's a top-three cornerback in the class and has an elite set of programs trying to pull him out of state. Osborne chose the Sooners over offers from Ohio State, Miami, Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Michigan, and a number of other Power Four programs.

The Mustang native has great size at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. He'll be disruptive on the boundary in Brent Venables' defense, using his length to make it difficult for quarterbacks to throw over the top. Osborne is physical in run support, displaying great recognition and explosiveness to get downhill and attack in run defense. He plays fast and is a good athlete. Osborne displays excellent ball skills to disrupt the catch point or make a play on the football.

Osborne's commitment is another huge feather in the cap of Venables and general manager Jim Nagy. Oklahoma has earned pledges from the top three players in the state, with Cooper Hackett, Kaeden Penny, and now Osborne committed. Osborne is one of six top 100 players the Sooners have added in the 2027 recruiting class, which is No. 2 in the nation with seven months to go until the early signing period.

Gabriel Osborne Recruiting Profile

Vitals

Ratings

Offers

Per 247Sports

• Oklahoma
• Alabama
• Miami
• Ohio State
• Michigan
• Arizona State
• Baylor
• Florida State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• LSU
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma State
• Ole Miss
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Texas A&M
• Texas Tech
• Boston College
• Tulane
• Tulsa

Social Media

Im home babyy!! BOOMER SOONER!! https://t.co/gNmoXvMFix

— Gabriel Osborne Jr (@Osbornegabe5) June 1, 2026

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Elite 2027 CB Gabriel Osborne commits to Oklahoma Sooners

If you thought Ferrari was just going to quietly suffer through their brutal straight-line speed deficit this season, think again. Maranello is officially pulling the emergency ripcord, and it is going to completely shake up the grid.

As reported by @formularacers_and sourced from Italian outlet Motorsport_IT, Ferrari’s internal combustion engine is now understood to be over 4% slower than the class-leading Mercedes power unit.

While being that far off the pace sounds like a total disaster for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, hitting that specific 4% number actually unlocks a highly controversial FIA loophole.

The Two-Engine Lifeline

Under the new 2026 regulations, the FIA introduced the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) system. It was designed as a safety net to prevent any single manufacturer from running away with the championship.

By officially falling more than 4% behind Mercedes in total ICE output, Ferrari has triggered the highest tier of emergency assistance.

According to the report (via autoracer), this massive deficit means Ferrari is now legally eligible for two mid-season power unit upgrades. This is a massive, game-changing advantage considering standard engine development is strictly locked down for the rest of the grid.

Ferrari’s Rushed Rebuild for Austria

This isn’t just a theoretical future fix. The report explicitly notes that the first of these two emergency engine upgrades could arrive as early as the Austrian Grand Prix.

But rushing a completely revised power unit to the track by Austria is a monumental engineering gamble. It forces Maranello to rapidly accelerate their dynamic test bench validations, risking severe reliability issues just to close the horsepower gap.

Ferrari is now being forced to overhaul their power unit mid-season while the rest of the grid watches to see if the FIA’s controversial upgrade system actually works, or if the red cars will just start going up in smoke.

Serena Williams’ evolution is bringing her back to the tennis court.

Williams will play doubles at the HSBC Championships, a warmup tournament for Wimbledon, the tournament confirmed Monday, June 1. It will be her first match in almost four years. She has not played since the 2022 U.S. Open, saying in August of that year that she was “evolving” away from tennis.

The HSBC Championships, also known as Queen's, begins June 8 in London.

THE QUEEN RETURNS 👑

Serena Williams is BACK & set for doubles at the #HSBCChampionships!@WTA | @serenawilliamspic.twitter.com/lohvVo7cEy

— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 1, 2026

All tournaments, the majors included, reserve a few spots in the draw for wild cards, which can be given to up-and-comers, local players or, in Williams’ case, a returning star. When Williams returned in the summer of 2022 after a yearlong absence following a leg injury, she was given a wild card into Wimbledon.

More: Calling Serena Williams the GOAT doesn't reflect her impact on sports and society | Opinion

Williams, 44, raised eyebrows last fall when she rejoined the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s drug-testing pool, a requirement to play again. She had revealed in August that she’d lost 31 pounds after going on a GLP-1 drug, and credited the medication with finally helping relieve the joint pain she'd had since having her first daughter, Olympia, in September 2017.

But Williams shot down the idea of a comeback, calling it “wildfire.”

“Omg yall I'm NOT coming back. this wildfire is crazy-" Williams wrote on X on Dec. 2.

Williams had to be in the pool for six months to be eligible again. According to the ITIA’s website, she was reinstated Feb. 22 of this year.

Rumors of her return gained new steam last month, when Alycia Parks posted video of her practicing with Williams. Parks then told the Tennis Channel that they were hitting together about three times a week.

“She's hitting good," Parks told the Tennis Channel in a March 19 interview. “She's definitely fit. She looks great and she's hitting the ball amazing.”

Serena Williams, 23-time Grand Slam winner and cultural icon

Williams is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, male or female, with 23 Grand Slam titles won over three different decades. But her influence has stretched far beyond the game.

Williams shattered the idea that female tennis players needed to be dainty, white women, embracing her muscles and curves. She played into her 40s, winning the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant with her first child and returning to the tour after having Olympia.

She shined a spotlight on the crisis in maternal health care for Black women. She started her own investment company, Serena Ventures, to address the imbalance in venture capital. She is a part-owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, the NWSL’s Angel City and the WNBA’s expansion franchise Toronto Tempo.

“I kind of understood … that someone who looks like me needs to start writing the big checks,” Williams wrote in an August 2022 essay for Vogue. “Sometimes like attracts like. Men are writing those big checks to one another, and in order for us to change that, more people who look like me need to be in that position, giving money back to themselves.”

When Williams stepped away after the U.S. Open in 2022, it was in part because she and husband, Alexis Ohanian, wanted more children.

"Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair," Williams wrote in an Aug. 9, 2022, essay in Vogue. "But I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give."

Williams had her second daughter, Adira, in August 2023.

In an interview with Porter published Dec. 1, 2025, Williams said not playing tennis was still “difficult,” but she missed it less than she once had.

“Not as much as this time last year,” she told the magazine. “No matter how prepared you are to retire, and particularly from doing something every day at such a high level, it’s hard. I really prepped myself the best way I could, but it’s something that’s still a little difficult.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Serena Williams returning to tennis after almost four-year break

MIAMI — When it comes to sizing up the potential choices for the Heat’s No. 13 draft slot, the question could come down to measuring up.

It was back in February, at the trading deadline, when NBA sources familiar with the Heat approach downplayed the team’s interest in Ja Morant because of the lithe build the the Memphis Grizzlies guard.

As in his listed 174-point frame perhaps not up to the defensive rigors required by a Heat approach that can include plenty of switching defense.

And yet when the top of this year’s draft is scoured, it is one loaded with backcourt talent, but also plenty of backcourt talent on the lithe side.

That includes prospects at or near the Heat’s range at No. 13 that include (with NBA.com listed weight) Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. (176), Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson (180), Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. (180), Houston guard Kingston Flemings (183) and Baylor guard Cameron Carr (184).

The only players on the Heat’s final 2025-26 roster who were listed at lower than the 210 pounds of Tyler Herro or Kasparas Jakucionis were seldom-used Jahmir Young (185) and mainstay Dru Smith (200).

To their credit, the Heat have bulked up numerous draft picks over the years, including a recent social-media post of the physical gains made since Jakucionis was drafted in last year’s first round out of Illinois.

Which brings it back to – if the Heat retain their No. 13 pick in the June 23 first round – of whether size matters now as it did when the Heat deliberated Morant in February (perhaps to deliberate him again).

“I always remind our scouts,” Heat Assistant General Manager Adam Simon said, “we always talk about we have our principles of what we like, what we look for. There’s things that we always try to like. Who doesn’t like length? Who doesn’t like athleticism? Who doesn’t like positional size?

“But, as you know, there’s heart and there’s IQ and there’s ability to outplay deficiencies that you might have based on size. And if you look in the history of the game, if you basically overlook something based on one aspect of the evaluation, that player can outplay it.”

That, Simon said, brings it back to scouting the positives.

“There are players that aren’t athletic that make it,” he said. “There’s players that are in that size range that become Hall of Famers.”

With now, Jalen Brunson, at 6-2, 190, leading the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, who have benefited by the 185-pound presence of De’Aaron Fox.

“There’s great talent that comes in all shapes and sizes,” Simon continued. “You’re watching it right now, you know, in the playoffs.”

For years, Heat President Pat Riley has stressed size and length on the wing, which is why there continue to be question of any potential Heat interest in Morant. But when it comes to the draft, the best-player-available approach could lead the Heat to something on the smaller side.

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“Hopefully that your speed and your quickness and shooting can get to the size and their slowness or whatever it is before they can get to you,” Riley said of going in the direction of undersized talent. “And so that’s playing small.

“And that’s playing real small. And that’s like four guards and one great player and putting Bam (Adebayo) in the middle. And that’s the way this league is today.”

Considering the emphasis the Heat placed on their league-leading pace this past season, small might yet find a way on draft night at 601 Biscayne . . . if it’s not replaced in a trade by the size and length of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“For the most part with this pace and space game,” Riley said, “you run it up in four or five seconds. You’re trying to get a shot in the first eight seconds of the shot clock.”

So a good thing in a small package at No. 13 for the Heat on draft night?

“I think,” Simon said, “you have to just keep an open mind that players that might not fit exactly what you’re looking for can be exceptions.”

The stars of the 2027 recruiting class under center were out in Los Angeles for the weekend at the Elite 11 Finals, and the Oregon Ducks had one of the best passers in the country out there representing them.

Five-star quarterback Will Mencl put together a string of solid performances across the three-day event and wound up as the No. 5 overall performer in the annual showcase, per Rivals. Mencl, the star quarterback from Chandler, Arizona, committed to Oregon in April and has been recruiting hard for the Ducks to add some impressive teammates.

On the field, Mencl proved why he is the top-ranked quarterback in the class, according to Rivals. Although he did not come away with the MVP award, Mencl had another great day on Sunday. The Oregon commit completed 20-of-23 passes with three touchdowns and one interception in 7-on-7 competition. His accuracy stood out amongst the rest of the class, and his legs will be a difference-maker on the field in the fall.

Will Mencl has been extremely accurate today once again. Love the touch and velocity he throws with as well, especially on his TD passes. pic.twitter.com/Tr98R5IiKG

— Brandyn Pokrass (@BPok24) May 31, 2026

"Will Mencl put together three good days of work at the Elite 11 Finals," Rivals' Charles Power wrote. "The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder was excellent in the rail shot challenge at the end of day one, showing the ability to make one of the more difficult throws on the route tree with near automatic precision. Mencl followed that up with quality showings during his pro day workout and 7-on-7 session. His ability to layer downfield throws with proper timing stood out. The five-star signal caller is a high-level processor who plays with advanced timing. Mencl hit the top of his drop, drove off his back foot, and fired seamlessly. The level of skill in this pass-only setting is supplemented by the fact that he’s one of the more productive run threats in the 2027 cycle on Friday nights."

Mencl finished one spot ahead of four-star Jake Nawrot, who committed to Kentucky over the Ducks earlier in the spring. Nebraska commit Trae Taylor took home MVP honors for the weekend.

The Ducks are busy hosting official visits this weekend, but Mencl's showing only strengthens Oregon's class. Mencl will take his official visit to Eugene in late June, and the Ducks will hope to earn commitments from some of Mencl's favorite wideouts in the class.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 5-star Oregon QB commit Will Mencl impresses at Elite 11 Finals

The connection between Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, and Andoni Iraola is well documented - with Hughes in post as technical director at Bournemouth when the Spaniard got his first break in English football in 2023.

Iraola finished the job this season with an 18-game unbeaten run that saw the Cherries finish sixth and achieve European football for the first time.

The 43-year-old's managerial path has taken him from AEK Larnaca in Cyprus to Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano in Spain, then to Bournemouth, so it is little surprise his is a career light on silverware - the Cypriot Super Cup in 2018 remains the only trophy he has won as a manager.

But he has often overachieved, with Bournemouth securing a club-record finish in each of his three campaigns.

Now Hughes and Michael Edwards, chief executive of Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), believe Iraola is the man to re-establish the Reds as one of Europe's top clubs.

• Slot sacking completes a remarkable fall from grace
• Liverpool sack head coach Slot and approach Iraola

Bringing a 'high risk' style of football

One of the key reasons Liverpool parted ways with Slot was his style of play, with lacklustre performances stirring boos from the Anfield crowd in his final term.

Hughes saw first-hand how toxic the home atmosphere was when he attended Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Chelsea in May.

"Intensity is our identity" was the phrase coined by Pep Lijnders, Jurgen Klopp's assistant, during their time at Anfield. But this campaign Liverpool stumbled their way into the Champions League.

"The last 10 games of last season, and for the majority of this season, we haven't looked like Liverpool. The style has been difficult to watch at times," Steven Gerrard told TNT Sports. "I think his [Iraola's] style would suit Liverpool," he added.

Liverpool need someone who commands his team to play with energy to bring the joy back to Anfield.

Iraola's style is based on high pressing and rapid and direct play. In 2023, Iraola told The Sunday Times that he prefers "chaos over organisation" and loves "gegenpressing" [counter-pressing].

"It's a matter of how much do you want to risk the ball. I tell players whenever you recover it, your first look has to be not even to the No 9, but the keeper. Can you score?" he said at the time.

The question is not only whether Iraola can implement that style at Liverpool but whether it can be done every few days, with the challenges of European football.

Those close to Iraola say he is meticulous with routine, so it will be interesting to see how things change when he no longer has a whole week to prepare for a game.

• Football on the beach with Arteta and a love of reading - Iraola in his own words

The man to extract the best out of the squad

By the end of Slot's tenure, there was a collective sense of frustration, particularly among academy prospects who felt they had been overlooked.

Liverpool are encouraged by Iraola's ability at Bournemouth to get the best out of new signings and youngsters, with Alex Scott, Rayan, Junior Kroupi and Adrian Truffert brought on under his tutelage.

There was a perception that Liverpool had too many days off - a complaint the club deemed unfair. Club data suggests there is little difference between the amount of days off players had across each of Slot's two seasons (50 in 2024-25 and 45 in 2025-26) and their last campaign under Klopp (47 in 2023-24).

Questions were also asked about the effectiveness of training sessions because of the poor performances. Under Iraola, sessions will certainly be intense.

"Andoni likes to take all of the sessions and be in the thick of it as opposed to leaving it to others," said a Bournemouth source. "He was always at the training ground before me and left after me, and I feel like I'm here all the time!"

Bringing back the fear factor to Anfield

Liverpool need to make Anfield an intimidating place for visiting teams again.

Though club sources insist fan discontent wasn't a major factor in the decision to part ways with Slot, ultimately he had lost vast sections of the fanbase.

Unlike Slot, whose family remained in the Netherlands, Iraola's wife and two children are expected to move north with him. These things may not matter to the men in suits, but it will to supporters.

For Hughes, whose contract expires next summer, Iraola's appointment could define his tenure at Liverpool.

It took until late October for the Spaniard to lead Bournemouth to a Premier League win in his first season in charge. At Anfield, the pressure will be on from the outset.

"The first seven or eight games didn't go to plan but as soon as he got the team going, it was unbelievable," said a Bournemouth source. "Of course, Bournemouth is nothing like the scale of the task at Liverpool but Andoni is so driven and that's why he's so successful and why I think it will all work out at Anfield."

Iraola started last season in the Anfield dugout when his Bournemouth side lost 4-2 to the Reds. Come August, the man from Spain is expected to be there again.

• Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

The State of Illinois tried taking a page out of the 2025 Chicago Bears playbook over the weekend with a furious effort to pass a new stadium bill, but the clock ran out with no resolution. The state legislative session ended early Monday morning, and the Bears' stadium remains in limbo as the organization continues to weigh their options in Arlington Heights, IL, and Hammond, IN, for their new home. And just like the Bears, there was plenty of drama.

Late Saturday night, the Megaprojects bill that would have allowed the Bears to obtain property tax certainty died in the Illinois Senate after previously passing the House of Representatives. With that setback, State Senators Bill Cunningham and Napoleon Harris, a former NFL player, spearheaded a new bill that would allow municipalities with a population threshold of at least 70,000 in Cook County to create a sports stadium authority, similar to what Indiana created for the Bears earlier this year. Chicago and Arlington Heights both meet that population criteria, among a few other municipalities.

In short, the municipality would own the stadium and the Bears would be responsible for construction costs, but it would eliminate any property taxes the team would pay. And the team likely would still keep the revenue brought in, according to Illinois politics reporter Brenden Moore. The bill dropped at 11 p.m. Sunday evening, just one hour before the session was set to end.

The session went into overtime, and in the wee hours of the morning, the State Senate voted to approve the bill, and it went to the House of Representatives. That's where things ended, however. The House adjourned without a vote on the bill, once again providing uncertainty for the Bears. House Speaker Chris Welch seems confident this will pass but wanted time to review the bill. "We'll get it right, we'll get it done," he said via political reporter Ben Szalinski. But Welch also shot down calling a special session to get it done. "No, that's for sure," he said when asked about the possibility. Barring a change, the next time the House will be back in session will be in November.

The Bears have previously stated they intend to make a decision regarding their future home in the late spring/early summer and remain committed to that timeline. "We will finalize our evaluation of both Arlington Heights and Hammond and remain on the late spring/early summer timeline that we have previously communicated. We will provide an update when we have a decision to share," the Bears said via a statement early Monday morning.

While things are trending in the right direction for the Bears to remain in Illinois, the organization may decide enough is enough and commit to Hammond, which was resolved months ago by the Indiana government. For now, though, the waiting game continues.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears stadium bill falls short as Illinois legislative session ends

It's elimination Monday in the 2026 NCAA baseball tournament. There are six winner-take-all games today. Who will join the 10 teams already safe in Super Regionals?

Of the top 16 seeds, only seven have booked their place in Super Regionals so far.

No. 1 overall seed UCLA was dumped out of the tournament by Saint Mary's, who then lost to Cal Poly.

No. 2 Georgia Tech has its back against the wall today against Oklahoma.

SEC contenders No. 4 Auburn and No. 8 Florida still have work to do.

It should be a nervy day. Follow USA TODAY Sports with our live scoreboard for updates all day long.

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

NCAA baseball regional elimination games today

• Tallahassee: No. 10 Florida State vs. St. John's, Noon (ESPNU)
• Atlanta: No. 2 Georgia Tech vs. Oklahoma, 3 p.m. (ESPNU)
• Gainesville: No. 8 Florida vs. Troy, 6 p.m. (SEC Network)
• Morgantown: No. 16 West Virginia vs Kentucky, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
• Auburn: No. 4 Auburn vs. Milwaukee, 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
• College Station: USC vs. No. 12 Texas A&M, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

NCAA baseball regional winners: Who advanced to Super Regionals?

• Los Angeles: Cal Poly
• Hattiesburg: Arkansas-Little Rock
• Chapel Hill: No. 5 North Carolina
• Lincoln:Ole Miss
• Lawrence: No. 15 Kansas
• Tuscaloosa: No. 7 Alabama
• Austin: No. 6 Texas
• Eugene: No. 11 Oregon
• Starkville: No. 14 Mississippi State
• Athens: No. 3 Georgia

When do NCAA baseball Super Regionals start?

Friday, June 5 to Monday, June 8.

NCAA baseball Super Regional schedule

• Cal Poly vs. West Virginia/Kentucky winner
• Arkansas-Little Rock vs. Florida/Troy winner
• North Carolina vs. Texas A&M/USC winner
• Ole Miss vs. Auburn/Milwaukee winner
• Kansas vs. Georgia Tech/Oklahoma winner
• Alabama vs. Florida State/St. John's winner
• Texas vs. Oregon
• Mississippi State vs. Georgia

When is 2026 CWS? College World Series Schedule

• Game 1: 2 p.m., June 12 (ESPN)
• Game 2: 7 p.m., June 12 (ESPN)
• Game 3: 3 p.m., June 13 (ESPN)
• Game 4: 8 p.m., June 13 (ESPN)
• Game 5: 2 p.m., June 14 (ESPN)
• Game 6: 7 p.m., June 14 (ESPN)
• Game 7: 2 p.m., June 15 (ESPN)
• Game 8: 7 p.m., June 15 (ESPN)
• Game 9: 2 p.m., June 16 (ESPN)
• Game 10: 8 p.m., June 16 (ESPN)
• Game 11: 2 p.m., June 17 (ESPN)
• Game 12: 7 p.m., June 17 (ESPN)
• Bracket 1: TBD, June 18 (ESPN)*
• Bracket 2: TBD, June 18 (ESPN)*
• Championship Series Game 1: TBD, June 20 (ESPN)
• Championship Series Game 2: 2:30 p.m., June 21 (ABC)
• Championship Series Game 3: 7 p.m., June 22*

* if necessary

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA baseball bracket live updates, scores, schedule 2026 regionals

Round six of the 2026 Formula 1 season heads to the glamour of Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix, from 5-7 June.

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli secured his fourth win in a row in Canada two weeks ago to lead team-mate George Russell, who retired from the race in Montreal, by 43 points in the drivers' championship.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished second, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen claiming his first podium of the campaign in third.

Lights out for Sunday's 78-lap race in the Principality is at 14:00 BST.

• Classic Monaco Grand Prix images through the years
• Andrew Benson Q&A: Send us your questions

Session start times and BBC coverage

Commentary of the race will be available across BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.

You can also listen by asking most smart speakers to "play BBC Radio 5 Live" or "play BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra".

Make sure to listen to every episode of the Chequered Flag podcast. For the first time this year, the post-race show for every grand prix is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.

All times BST

Friday, 5 June

First practice: 12:30-13:30 (Sports Extra 3 via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Second practice: 16:00-17:00 (Sports Extra 3 via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Saturday, 6 June

Third practice: 11:30-12:30 (Sports Extra 2 via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Qualifying: 15:00-16:00 (Sports Extra 2 via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Sunday, 7 June

Race: 14:00 (BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

What is the Monaco weather forecast?

The early forecast predicts a mostly dry weekend of racing in Monte Carlo, with only a very small risk of rain across the three days.

Friday's practice sessions and Saturday's qualifying are set to have sunny intervals with a gentle breeze, with temperatures reaching highs of between 25C and 26C.

For Sunday's grand prix, which starts at 15:00 local time, the weather will be pleasant once again, with light winds, a top temperature of 27C and a 16% chance of rain.

European leg of F1 season begins

With five flyaway races completed in three months - Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled in April as a result of the war in the Middle East - the season gets into a rhythm from June with the beginning of the European leg of the campaign.

Monaco starts a run of four races in five weeks with Barcelona, Austria and the British Grand Prix.

Following Silverstone, Belgium and Hungary are back-to-back events, before everyone packs up for the summer break.

When the season returns in August, the final three European races conclude with the Dutch and Italian grands prix, plus Madrid's debut on the calendar in September.

Monaco - 5-7 June

Barcelona - 12-14 June

Austria - 26-28 June

Silverstone - 3-5 July

Belgium - 17-19 July

Hungary - 24-26 July

Zandvoort - 21-23 August

Monza - 4-6 September

Madrid - 11-13 September

The culmination of Mikel Arteta's 'process', which has now been well and truly 'trusted', may have reached a climax with the Premier League trophy and subsequent parade this weekend just gone.

But, as Arteta alluded to himself already post-Champions League final defeat, the club always needs to move forward.

He will 100% be doing that now - I bet he doesn't even have a proper holiday - and he will be thinking about next season already! It is part of his DNA and I think it is right.

We have a great squad, a deep squad, but you can't stand still and neither should you in football because this is just a point in time.

You cannot keep all of your players happy and so, inevitably, there needs to be churn at the club. It is healthy, but Arteta needs to know who the key pillars are in his team.

Two years ago, I would have said Martin Odegaard but I'm not so sure now. I would have also said Gabriel Martinelli but, again, I don't think that is the case.

There are not many sacred cows in this Arsenal squad, and I don't think there should be. Change is risky for sure, but nothing lasts forever.

Fresh ideas don't just come from the manager or his coaching staff; they come from the players too, so I back Arteta to be looking at his squad and making some difficult decisions about players who we all really love but need to move on to make space, possibly for those new ideas and new ways of playing.

The great thing about the way Arteta and the club have gone about their player acquisition in the last three or four transfer windows is that they haven't just recruited for talent, but for mentality and personality too.

They do their due diligence and, for me, that's why I don't see change as a bad thing in terms of players leaving and new ones coming in to replace them.

Find more from Chris Howard at Suburban Gooners and the Same Old Arsenal Podcast

The marquee matchup on the French Open stage Monday, June 1, will be when top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka takes on No. 16 Naomi Osaka in a clash of four-time Grand Slam champions.

And for the first time since 2023, the women will be playing under the lights at Roland Garros.

The prime-time showdown comes partially as a result of so many big names being eliminated early from this year's tournament. However, a match between the world's No. 1 women's player in Sabalenka and another in Osaka who has previously been ranked No. 1 should more than fit the bill.

Here's a look at the results and upcoming matches in Paris for Monday, June 1.

French Open results, Day 9

Women's singles

(22) Anna Kalinskaya, Russia, def. (28) Anastasia Potapova, Austria, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(10-7).

Maja Chwalinska, Poland vs. Diane Parry, France

(1) Aryna Sabalenka, Belarus vs. (16) Naomi Osaka, Japan

(19) Madison Keys, U.S. vs. (25) Diana Shnaider, Russia

Men's singles

(10) Flavio Cobolli, Italy def. Zachary Svajda, U.S., 6-2, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5).

(4) Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada, vs Alejandro Tabilo, Chile

Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Argentina vs Matteo Berrettini, Italy

(19) Frances Tiafoe, U.S. vs. Matteo Arnaldi, Italy

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: French Open results: No. 1 Sabalenka takes on No. 16 Osaka in Paris

But Presti rarely settles. The Thunder are sitting on a mountain of future picks and approaching a major financial crossroads. Some consolidation is going to be necessary. League sources widely expect the Clippers to listen to trade-down offers for the fifth pick. So maybe there’s a deal to put together with 12, 17, and a player to get there. And then from the fifth pick, can OKC build an overwhelming offer to get up into the top three? Could that deal include a 24-year-old All-NBA player?

Yahoo! Sports

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Clippers open to trading down in the draft?

The Thunder also hold the 12th and 17th picks in a loaded draft, and there have been rumblings for weeks that they want to package them and move up — some have reported Oklahoma City is targeting Duke power forward Cam Boozer. But Boozer projects to go in the top three, which means leaping from 12 to the front of the lottery. A more realistic target might be 7-foot-3 Michigan center Aday Mara. Or maybe they keep one pick and flip the other for a future first to keep the assets coming.

Yahoo! Sports

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Thunder also hold the 12th and 17th picks in a …

NBA Courtside: Rich Paul says he always viewed LeBron as the ‘People’s champ’ like Muhammad Ali: “If you win 1 time in Cleveland, there’s nothing else to be done… The idea of going back home and winning one. I always looked at LeBron to be more of what I would say the Peoples champ like Muhammad Ali was. Even when he lost I feel like people really embraced him.”

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Rich Paul says he always viewed LeBron as the …

A stadium full of Seattle sports fans at the Mariners game cheering on and celebrating watching the Thunder lose

reddit

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: A stadium full of Seattle sports fans at the Mariners …

WORCESTER, Mass — June has finally arrived, and that means the New England Patriots could very well soon know the fate of the A.J. Brown trade rumors.

And with that, it includes the players, who, along with the public, have not been able to hide from the rumors circulating for weeks now. That includes wide receiver DeMario Douglas and running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who were both asked about it at Drake and Ann Michael Maye's first annual MayeDay Foundation Celebrity Softball game.

“If he comes, that would be amazing,” Douglas said. “Good guy. I follow him on Instagram to see what he does. He’s a ballplayer.”

Stevenson agreed, adding what they would do to help improve the offense.

“I think he’d do a lot. He’s a great player, obviously. One of the best receivers in the league,” Stevenson said. “That’s above what we do. I just leave it up to the front office. I know they’re going to get people here that will help us win.”

The expectation has been that Brown will be a member of the Patriots before the season begins, with the trade happening after the Eagles could have a lesser salary-cap penalty. And with that, most believe that New England will have to give Philadelphia a first-round pick to acquire the Super Bowl champion.

It's clear the players would welcome him to the room as he brings a lot of talent and experience. So now that the day has finally come, we'll have to see if the deal goes through.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots players offer honest take on A.J. Brown rumors

Ligue 1 club Lille have appointed Davide Ancelotti as their new head coach on a two-year deal.

The 36-year-old Italian will take up the role after serving as an assistant to his father, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, at this summer's World Cup.

Lille did not say whether he will continue his role with Brazil once he takes charge at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

"I'm very proud and happy," said Ancelotti. "It's an honour to represent Lille.

"They are a serious, ambitious, competitive club who are regularly playing European football."

This will be Ancelotti's second managerial role having been in charge of Brazilian club Botafogo from July to December last year.

He was sacked after Botafogo finished sixth in Brazil's top flight and were knocked out of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 by Ecuador's LDU Quito.

The former AC Milan youth player began his coaching career in 2016 and has worked alongside his father at Napoli, Bayern Munich, Everton and Real Madrid.

He will succeed Bruno Genesio at Lille after he and the club "decided not to continue their collaboration" at the end of his two-year contract.

Genesio led Lille to fifth place in 2024-25 before they finished third in 2025-26 to secure Champions League qualification.

• Davide Ancelotti: My dad, my tactics and Brazil's World Cup prospects
• Euro Leagues: Davide Ancelotti Special

• Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

Adolfo Daniel Vallejo has been fined $65,000 (£48,300) for making "unacceptable" comments about a female umpire following his exit from the French Open.

The 22-year-old from Paraguay criticised Brazil's Ana Carvalho in an interview with Clay magazine, saying she was not strong enough to handle the crowd in his second-round defeat by French teenager Moise Kouame and that it was the sort of the match that should have been officiated by a man.

Following those comments, French Open organisers said the comments were "unacceptable" and "strongly condemn all sexist remarks".

Vallejo has been sanctioned with one of the biggest fines in Grand Slam history.

"A fine of $65,000 has been imposed, roughly half of his prize money," tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said.

"This is clearly something that is unacceptable to us, to the tournament and to the Federation even beyond the tournament. This kind of language has no place here."

• Sabalenka v Osaka in French Open night session
• No previous French Open champions left - who will seize chance?
• Fonseca, 19, shows title credentials by backing up Djokovic win

Players eliminated in the second round of the men's singles receive 130,000 euros ($151,000 or £112,000) in prize money.

After organisers said they would fine Vallejo on Friday, the world number 71 apologised on Instagram.

"I have respect for the umpires and for the job they do, after a five-hour battle I was very heated and felt a lot of emotions, I apologise," Vallejo posted on Instagram.

According to the Grand Slam rulebook, Vallejo could have received a fine of up to $100,000 (£74,200) for unsportsmanlike conduct.

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

James Milner was just 16 and earning £70 a week as a YTS player when he broke into the first team at Leeds, six months after taking his GCSE exams.

On 10 November 2002, his dad Peter was in the away end at Upton Park when boss Terry Venables sent the youngster on for Jason Wilcox, now director of football at Manchester United, in the final minutes of a 4-3 win against West Ham.

It was a dream come true for Milner, who had grown up supporting the club and wore shirts with the names of Tony Yeboah and Tony Dorigo on the back.

Six weeks after the West Ham game, Milner - aged 16 years and 356 days - became the youngest Premier League goalscorer at that time when he scored in a 2-1 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

It was not enough to get the former Leeds season ticket-holder out of his post-match duties, however.

Back then YTS players were expected to clean the dressing room after first-team games.

"Even when I was playing and scoring goals, after games I was helping the kit man pick dirty shirts off the dressing room floor," Milner told the High Performance podcast, external in 2023.

"I carried on cleaning the under-18 captain's boots. I was playing in the first team but he was still older than me."

It was not long, however, before Milner was sent on loan to the third tier of English football to continue his football education.

By the time he arrived at Swindon Town, Milner had made 18 Premier League appearances, scored a couple of goals and, despite his tender years, was already revered by Leeds fans.

Read more about James Milner here

Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric is to leave Ipswich Town and join Serie A side Sassuolo.

The 27-year-old spent last season on loan with the Italian club, making 32 appearances and keeping six clean sheets as Sassuolo finished in 11th place.

Muric, who is a Kosovo international, joined Ipswich from Burnley for an initial fee of £10m in July 2024 but only featured in 18 league games as the Suffolk side were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

He started his career with Manchester City, making five appearances in the League Cup, before spending time on loan at clubs including NAC Breda, Nottingham Forest and Girona.

Sassuolo have exercised the option to make Muric's move permanent for an undisclosed fee.

The Lions' free agency signings are mostly complete at this point. The crown jewel was clearly new center, Cade Mays, who received a 3-year deal.

I did medical reports on 26 free agent Lions additions and here is a recap. As you can see, the Lions did a good job staying on the younger, healthier side of the free agent spectrum.

Detroit Lions 2026 Free Agency medical concern level chart

• Average concern level = 3.7/10
• Median concern level = 3/10
• Average age = 27.9

Detroit Lions Free Agency Medical Concern graph
⚕️Average concern level = 3.7/10
⚕️Median concern level = 3/10
⚕️Average age = 27.9

Full recap...https://t.co/GtKyHQymZ3pic.twitter.com/JlJJ1655hP

— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) May 27, 2026

Quick Takeaways of Lions 2026 Free Agency

• The Lions generally stayed on the lower end of the medical concern spectrum. Only six of 26 players were a level 6/10 or higher.
• Only rarely did they dip into the high concern pool with players coming off season-ending injuries.
• The average age of 27.9 is comfortably below 30, and a good spot to be for the free agent pool. Only seven of 26 players were age 30 or over.
• The Lions minimized risk by giving only 1-year deals to every player except Cade Mays.

LOW CONCERN

🟢Thomas Gordon, TE (26)

• Medical concern level: 0/10 - Clean
• Contract: 1 year, $885,000 with $0 guaranteed

🟢Cade Mays, C (27)

• Medical concern level: 1/10 - Ankle, shoulder
• Contract: 3 years, up to $25 million with $14 million guaranteed

🟢Trevor Nowaske, LB (27)

• Medical concern level: 1/10 - Elbow, concussion
• Contract: 1 year, $1.35M with $550,000 guaranteed

🟢Myles Adams, DT (28)

• Medical concern level: 1/10 - Clean
• Contract: 1 year, $1.145M with $0 guaranteed

🟢Tom Kennedy, WR (30)

• Medical concern level: 1/10 - Clean
• Contract: 1 year, $1.234 million with $20K guaranteed

For the rest of the list of free agent signings, visit Detroit Lions 2026 Free Agency Recap: medical concerns, contract details.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions 2026 free agency recap: Age, medical concern levels

Suspended Dublin manager Ger Brennan should have "taken a stand" in the All-Ireland defeat by Louth, believes Oisin McConville.

Brennan was issued a 12-week ban in March for an altercation with Galway strength and conditioning coach Cian Breathnach McGinn - who was banned for eight weeks - during Dublin's relegation-confirming Division One defeat by the Tribesmen.

The severity of Brennan's suspension came back into focus in the build-up to the game after Donegal manager Jim McGuinness avoided a suspension for an incident with Kerry's Diarmuid O'Connor as tempers flared in a melee between the sides in the All-Ireland round one game on 23 May.

Dublin's players did not conduct media duties after the loss to Louth in protest but, speaking on the GAA Social podcast on BBC Sounds, McConville says Brennan should have taken things a step further.

"If I was Ger Brennan at the weekend, I would have arrived at Croke Park and stood at the sidelines, with the blessing of the County Board," said current Wicklow manager McConville.

"I would have went to the County Board during the week and said it was time to make a stand.

"Dublin made a stand after the game because they didn't talk to any press or any media duties.

"But I feel strongly enough that I think Ger Brennan should have went and put himself on the line."

• The GAA Social - Should Ger Brennan have taken a stand?
• McGuinness and Clifford to avoid bans after Kerry-Donegal melee

The GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) said that all incidents in the Donegal-Kerry game had been dealt with at the time by match referee Sean Hurson, while Brennan was sent off in the Galway game.

McConville admitted "I'm pretty sure there would have been massive consequences as a result" if Brennan had appeared on the sideline, but Dublin's County Board and players "obviously feel very strongly about how he has been treated".

"Why not? What have they got to lose?," 2002 All-Ireland winner McConville added.

"They obviously feel strongly about it, but I feel it was the day to make a bigger stand than refusing media duties.

"I feel that strongly about it - that was the thing that was ringing in my head all week.

"Does not talking to the media hurt? You make a point but they are under no obligation to do media duties anyway."

With Dean Rock on the touchline throughout Brennan's suspension to date, McConville did say that he didn't know if it would have made a difference in the result as Louth defeated Dublin in Championship football for the first time since 1973.

"I don't know the absence of Ger Brennan on the sideline would be the winning or losing of that game.

"At the end of the day players win matches."

McConville added that Louth "ground it out" after there was little to separate the sides at Croke Park.

"I thought we would be having the conversation about Louth tapering off, because Dublin had all of the momentum.

"Louth deserved it, because they were big in the big moments."

Many NFL analysts are not fond of the Jacksonville Jaguars' 2026 offseason.

The Jaguars were very quiet in free agency, with running back Chris Rodriguez being the team's only outside addition, while Devin Lloyd and Travis Etienne signed elsewhere.

Then the Jaguars' 2026 draft class has also been heavily criticized.

The latest critique of the Jaguars' offseason comes from ESPN's Aaron Schatz, who listed Jacksonville among his five "least improved teams" heading into the 2026 season.

"The Jaguars aren't going to collapse and be one of the league's worst teams, but expect to see some regression," Schatz wrote. "How much pass rush is there beyond Josh Hines-Allen? Will the WR/CB Travis Hunter experiment work better in 2026? Is Cole Van Lanen ready to be a full-time left tackle, and can linebacker Ventrell Miller somehow replace Devin Lloyd without being a big step down? There are a lot of roster questions."

To Schatz's point, there are questions lingering on this roster, mainly at pass rusher behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. That said, every team has some unknowns at this stage of the offseason.

A difficult start to the 2026 schedule could also contribute to the Jaguars not reaching the 13-win mark this season.

However, one important aspect that the Jaguars have on their side, and it can't be quantified, is continuity. Rather than learning brand new offensive and defensive schemes, which was the case last offseason, strong foundations in Liam Coen and Anthony Campanile's systems have been established, providing a jumping-off point this offseason.

Lastly, just because there are questions in May, it doesn't mean that the Jaguars haven't addressed those needs. The team is clearly bullish on both Van Lanen and Miller, while GM James Gladstone added Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee at defensive end, along with Chris Rodriguez at running back and Ruke Orhorhoro at defensive tackle.

Coen's overarching message to his team this offseason has been to continue to feel a sense of urgency, so that last year's results become the norm for the Jaguars and not an outlier. The veterans taking a proactive role in helping the rookies along fits into that high urgency bucket.

"When it comes to our edge," Coen said earlier this offseason, "we are constantly trying to find our edge. And as we go into Year 2 -- Year 1 extremely important, right guys? For setting the tone and establishing the way that we want to operate, the way that we want to play, and going through that. I think we did that.

"There is no year more important than year two. There is no year because man, let's be honest, there has been a lot of one-hit wonders. That's the reality. And so, what are we doing to separate ourselves to make sure that never happens? So that we take the next step as a team."

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Why analyst believes Jaguars take step back in 2026 NFL season

Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Brad Young has signed a new four-year deal with the club.

Young made the move from Leicester City at the start of last season and played 27 games in all competitions for the Pirates, including the last 21 matches of their League Two campaign.

In all, Young kept nine clean sheets and was part of a side that won eight straight matches in the fourth tier before the final day of the season.

"I'm buzzing to sign this new contract," Young, 24, told the club website.

"I've had a year here now already and I've loved every minute of it. Once I broke into the team in late January it felt like things really took off for me and I've really loved it.

"I've been really grateful for the opportunity. We've got a brilliant group here and there's a real togetherness in the team. In the run at the end of the season, we developed a winning culture as well."

He added: "The length of the deal shows a lot of faith in me. I want to repay that now and take things game by game, keep working hard and hopefully bring some successful times to Bristol Rovers."

Young joins striker Ellis Harrison in penning a new deal with the club, who finished 14th in the table last term.

Umar Nurmagomedov continues to prove he'll take an all comers.

Nurmagomedov (20-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) meets No. 9 ranked bantamweight David Martinez (14-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 282 co-headliner on July 25 from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, promotion officials announced Monday morning.

Your #UFCAbuDhabi main and co-main event are official 🤩 🇦🇪

Tickets on sale WEDNESDAY 🗓️ Register your interest ➡️ https://t.co/n8Lk8a1KFK@VisitAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi | #VisitAbuDhabipic.twitter.com/EP6FAzF3Bc

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) June 1, 2026

Since losing to Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title at UFC 311, Nurmagomedov has rebounded with back-to-back unanimous decision wins over Mario Bautista, and most recently Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324.

Martinez, a Dana White's Contender Series graduate, is on a 10-fight winning streak. He earned his spot in the UFC's 135-pound rankings by defeating former title challenger Marlon Vera in the UFC Fight Night 268 co-main event in February.

The current UFC Fight Night 282 lineup includes:

• Magomed Ankalaev vs. Khalil Rountree
• David Martinez vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
• Thomas Petersen vs. Valter Walker
• Tyrell Fortune vs. Rizvan Kuniev
• Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola
• Magomed Tuchalov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
• Gokhan Saricam vs. Louie Sutherland
• Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov
• Dustin Jacoby vs. Uran Satybaldiev
• Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Umar Nurmagomedov draws No. 9 bantamweight at UFC Fight Night 282

It’s was a good and bad day for Notre Dame baseball, as they found out the 2027 fate for four of its major players.

Starting off with the bad news, Matt Freeman reported that outfielder Bino Watters will move on from the program after being named All-ACC as a sophomore. This is a huge hit to the program as he is viewed as a high draft pick when eligible next season. He was fantastic this season hitting 10 homers with 51 RBI while batting .362.

The second defection was pitcher Oisin Lee as reported by Andrew Riedell, who pitched 20.1 innings with three win but did have a 5.31 ERA. He was a big part out of the bullpen, but did have issues with giving up walks.

Now onto the good news as Freeman also reported that starting pitcher Caden Crowell will be returning for his sophomore season. He made 9 starts over the course of the year, and while his ERA was fairly high at 7.55, he showed plenty of promise striking out over a batter-per-inning.

One of Notre Dame’s top hitters will return, as outfielder Jayce Lee also told Freeman that he will be coming back for his junior season after a big second year in South Bend. He hit 12 homers and drove in 46 while batting .327 on the year.

The Irish seem to have a solid core of players that will return, and the hope is that they’ll have a better season and make a run for a bid in the NCAA Tournament.

OF Jayce Lee will stay at Notre Dame for his junior season.

Lee had a breakout sophomore season in 2026, hitting .327 with 12 doubles, 13 home runs, 46 RBI, .526 SLG% and a 1.039 OPS. He's set to be one of the premier bats in the ACC in 2027. pic.twitter.com/YMrE0jIUS8

— Matt Freeman (@mattfreeman05_) June 1, 2026

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame baseball saw 4 players made decisions on heir 2027 future

Dallas Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs continues to receive praise from inside the team facility, this time from quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott spoke about how impressed he with by the confidence Downs has displayed, and how he has carried himself since joining the team. With high praise from the top Cowboy on the roster, now Downs will need to show it on the field.

While Downs and other Cowboys rookies begins their first OTA practice on Monday, there are still several players around the NFL looking for a new team. The Cowboys could take a look at some of them, and playing the waiting game may not give them the best shot at landing a famed June 1 cap casualty. The front office in Dallas may need to be a bit more aggressive and make a trade to land the player. It's either that or enter into a bidding war with other teams.

Here's a rundown of the latest news, notes and headlines for the Cowboys as the summer months take control of the calendar.

Dallas Cowboys Top Headlines

• How Caleb Downs has already impressed Dak Prescott speaks volumes :: Dallas News (Link)
• ‘Wait, see’ may be Cowboys approach as June 1 arrives, but is it wise? :: Cowboys Wire (Link)
• Cowboys promote two within their analytics department :: Blogging The Boys (Link)
• Cowboys Tight Ends: Who Should Make the 53? :: Inside the Star (Link)
• Cowboys keep getting validation for their $24 million investment :: The Landry Hat (Link)
• Cowboys Predicted to Part Ways With George Pickens After Season :: Heavy.com (Link)
• Could Caleb Downs be an All-Pro in his Rookie Season? :: Inside the Star (Link)
• Cowboys OTAs give 1 veteran a chance to prove he still belongs :: The Landry Hat (Link)
• 6 Dallas Cowboys Players Under Most Pressure As OTAs Begin :: Sports Illustrated (Link)
• Cowboys top 2025 UDFA could disrupt plans in Parker's secondary :: Cowboys Wire (Link)

Headlines Around the NFL

• Another NFL Insider Makes Major Carson Beck Prediction for Cardinals in 2026 :: Sports Illustrated (Link)
• 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Called ‘Untradeable' as June 1 Deadline Looms :: The Bellingham Herald (Link)
• Chiefs rumors: Albert Breer drops hints on A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill options :: Clutch Points (Link)
• Vikings Positioned to Sign Pro Bowler After $11 Million Move :: Heavy.com (Link)

News & Headlines from Around the NFC East

• Journalist Pressed Jaxson Dart On Trump Support, Giants QB Was Either Unable Or Unwilling To Elaborate: ‘Respectfully, Do You Understand?’ :: BroBible.com (Link)
• Insider Reveals Price Patriots Are Expected to Pay in A.J. Brown Trade :: Heavy.com (Link)
• Insider Shares Patriots Mock Trade To Acquire Kayvon Thibodeaux :: NESN.com (Link)
• The Cleanse: Only 14 Players Remain From the Pre-Adam Peters Era :: Sports Illustrated (Link)

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys Headlines: Downs impressing Prescott, Hunting June 1st cuts?

Pink balls will be used to limit play lost to bad light in Test matches in a trial introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The pink ball has been used in day-night Test matches since 2015, but has not before been interchangeable with the traditional red ball.

The ICC announced the introduction of the trial on Monday and BBC Sport has sought clarification on if the pink ball could be used during the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's beginning on Thursday.

Both teams involved in a Test have to give prior agreement that a pink ball can be used in instances of bad light.

Halting play in Test cricket for poor light has become an increasing frustration for players, supporters and broadcasters in an age when most venues have floodlights.

In 2024, more than half of the first day of England's third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval was lost to bad light.

Speaking at the time, former England captain Michael Vaughan said: "You go to a pink ball and carry on. Teams will have to accept they get unlucky. All these ideas, you're not going to appease everyone. I just want to see them carry on."

The ICC has not specified the length of the trial, but the governing body has said it will work with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to research lighting technology for match officials and venues.

There have been 25 day-night men's Tests since the first between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide 11 years ago. Only one has taken place in England, when the home side beat West Indies at Edgbaston in 2017.

Day-night cricket has become a fixture in Australia, with the home side becoming an almost unbeatable force with the pink ball – Australia have won 14 of their 15 Tests under lights.

There have been day-night Tests in every Ashes series in Australia since 2017-18, with the home side winning all four.

England are considering rejecting a day-night Test for their next Ashes tour in 2029-30, but the 150th anniversary Test between Australia and England in Melbourne next March will be a day-nighter.

The ICC board meeting in Ahmedabad also approved the allowance of head coaches to enter the field of play during drinks breaks in T20 internationals, mirroring a trend from franchise leagues.

The governing body also "expressed concern regarding the growing expanse of franchise cricket". The ICC said it would form a committee with the aim of harmonising the international and franchise calendars.

In addition, Cricket Canada has had its ICC membership suspended with immediate effect over "serious breaches of its membership obligations".

• England set to reject future pink-ball Ashes Tests
• Why is a pink ball used in the Ashes?
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This weekend, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko and his staff hosted a bevy of blue-chip 2027 prospects, including several of the program's 14 commitments, and while the return of five-star cornerback John Meredith continues to stand out, four-star edge Frederick Ards III remains one of the program's top priority prospects and made his way to College Station this weekend.

Already securing commitments from five-star edge Zyron Forstall and four-star edge Kaden McCarty, the Aggies are in great shape concerning their future pass rush rotation, knowing that both players possess high NFL upside. While Forstall is the better overall prospect, McCarty's litany of pass rush moves, length, and smooth athleticism makes him one of the more intriguing commits in the cycle.

This offseason, McCarty has become one of the Aggies' most vocal supporters, hoping to help the staff land several defensive line prospects, including Frederick Ards, and after speaking with On3 (subscription required) recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong this weekend, it looks like Texas A&M has made significant progress with the blue-chip edge.

”The environment was great, they always make everyone feel at home especially your family members!” McCarty stated to Wiltfong. “My favorite things were spending time with some of the recruits and commits! I got to spend time with the whole d-line room as well which was great!”

Texas A&M has also secured commitments from 2027 4-star DL Myles Smith, who reportedly shut down his recruitment after his OV this weekend, paired with Eljiah Patmon, who is quickly becoming one of the top defensive line prospects in the country ahead of his senior season.

During his 2025 junior season, Ards recorded an impressive 73 tackles, 11 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss.

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

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M chances of landing 2027 Edge Frederick Ards rise after OV

Tyler Fletcher's surprise call-up to Scotland's World Cup squad has "split opinion" but has "dispelled the myth" that head coach Steve Clarke is unwilling to give youth a chance, according to former striker Rory Loy.

The Manchester United 19-year-old was chosen to replace the injured Billy Gilmour instead of Udinese's Lennon Miller, Rangers' Connor Barron, or Sparta Prague's Andy Irving.

Fletcher, who has played twice for his club, earned his first cap as a substitute in Saturday's 4-1 friendly win over Curacao having initially been among a group of under-21 players invited to train with the senior squad.

"I think young Tyler Fletcher being right under Steve Clark's nose this week has definitely helped," former Falkirk and Dundee forward Loy suggested on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "And, credit to him, because he's obviously stepped up in training.

"From the things I'm reading, he's done very, very well and made a good impression. He was given 45 minutes at Hampden. I thought he was excellent, really good.

"So Andy Irving, Connor Barron, Lennon Miller, they'll be disappointed, but ultimately Tyler Fletcher was there, run right under the manager's nose and was so good that they couldn't ignore him obviously in training and in the game at the weekend.

"Steve Clarke's been criticised quite a lot about not bringing in fresh face faces and not having younger players in the squad.

"I think there's enough now that have been exposed to it and bloodied in and that are part of the squad to really point to the fact that I think that myth's got to be dispelled a little bit now."

Former Scotland midfielder Kevin Thomson suggested: "If he's half as good as his dad [former Manchester United midfielder Darren], we're on to a right winner."

As for those who missed out, Thomson backed them to respond, adding: "You don't get to this level and down tools and spit the dummy out."

The Denver Broncos will make roster cuts earlier than usual this year.

The NFL used to have a 53-man roster deadline on the Tuesday following the final preseason games of the summer. Had that trend continued in 2026, Denver's cuts would have been due by Tuesday, Sept. 1, following their preseason finale on Friday, Aug. 28.

This year, the NFL's deadline will be Sunday, Aug. 30, at 4:00 p.m. MT (6:00 p.m. ET). That will be two days after the Broncos' final preseason game. Waiver claims for players cut by other teams will be due on Monday, Aug. 31.

Broncos offseason dates

• OTAs: June 2-4; June 9-11
• Mandatory minicamp: June 16-18
• Training camp: Expected to begin late July
• Preseason games: Aug. 14, Aug. 21, Aug. 28

Denver currently has 91 players on the roster, so the club will have to make at least 38 moves between now and Aug. 30. After setting the initial 53-man roster and making waiver claims, the Broncos will build a 16-player practice squad (or a 17-player practice squad if they include an international player).

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

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL news: Deadline moved up for 53-man roster cuts this summer

In order for the Jacksonville Jaguars to build upon what was a strong first season under Liam Coen, which players on defense are going to have to play important roles for that to happen?

We recently asked that question about the offense, highlighting three key players on that side of the ball.

Just like on offense, how the Jaguars' best players on defense perform will be a strong indicator of how successful this team can be in 2026. Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Travis Hunter, Foye Oluokun, and others must all play at high levels.

Every team needs its star players to perform well.

But looking beyond that group of players, which others can help elevate the ceiling of the Jaguars' defense in 2026?

Any one of the DEs behind Hines-Allen and Walker

Whether it be Wesley Williams, Danny Striggow, BJ Green, or Zach Durfee, the Jaguars need at least one of these players to leave their mark on this season.

At a heavily rotated position like defensive end, four or even five players can see regular snaps on a weekly basis, and last season, the pass rush behind Hines-Allen and Walker was inconsistent. More steady pass rush juice is needed from the depth of this position group.

DT Ruke Orhorhoro

If Orhorhoro can have a strong season, that could do wonders for the Jacksonville defense. He has been at his best getting after the quarterback, which the Jaguars need more of from the defensive tackle position.

Generating pressure is the name of the game, not to mention that a strong interior push is one of the best ways to wreck an offensive play. Beyond filling his own column on the state sheet, a steady interior pass rush presence can benefit the other defenders on the field.

LB Ventrell Miller

Miller has big shoes to fill, taking over Devin Lloyd's role within the defense, but if he can do so effectively, he'll bring added stability and playmaking to the second level of the Jaguars' defense.

The Jaguars have been very bullish about Miller stepping into this role all offseason, hence the lack of major moves at the linebacker position. Also, helping Miller step into a much more significant role will be Anthony Campanile and his defensive scheme. Not only with Lloyd, but going back to Campanile's time in Green Bay and Miami, linebackers have often thrived under his coaching.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Why these 3 Jaguars players on defense will be vital to team success

Norwich City striker Mohamed Toure has been called up by Australia for this summer's World Cup.

The 22-year-old has been named in head coach Tony Popovic's 26-man squad as the Socceroos kick-off their campaign against Turkey on 14 June before facing tournament co-hosts USA and a final group game against Paraguay.

Toure played 80 minutes in Australia's 1-0 friendly defeat by Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena at the weekend.

After arriving from Danish club Randers in the winter transfer window, Toure scored 10 goals in 12 appearances in his first season for the Canaries.

His selection follows the news that Toure's Norwich team-mate, Ali Ahmed, was announced in the Canada squad for this summer's tournament on Saturday.

Bournemouth assistant manager Tommy Elphick's decision to turn down the opportunity to become Bristol City boss was "bold and brave", says former Cherries forward Matt Tubbs.

The 38-year-old, who played for Bournemouth between 2012 and 2016, rejected what would have been his first role in senior management to assess his long-term options following the departure of Andoni Iraola.

"I can see both sides of it," former team-mate Tubbs told BBC Radio Solent. "If he has aspirations of going into management, then Bristol City would have been an ideal first club.

"For him to turn that down is a bold and brave decision, but he is in a very strong position because his options are unbelievable.

"Turning down Bristol City is a big statement, but if he goes wherever Iraola goes then you can see why, and if he stays at Bournemouth it is a win-win for him.

"I'm sure he loves the club as much as anyone. He was captain of the club, so I'm sure all of the players are very fond of him as well. He would also get the guarantee of European football next season.

"If you are Tommy Elphick right now, you have one of the strongest hands going.

"We all looked up to him as players all them years ago, and I'm sure the current players - the older heads as well as the younger heads - look up to him because of what he has done at the football club [as a player and as a coach]."

Hit play above to hear the full conversation or listen on BBC Sounds here

Subscribe to Bournemouth's BBC Sounds feed

The New York Giants are holding a wide receiver workout on Monday as they address significant injuries that have depleted their depth at the position.

The workout follows a torn Achilles suffered by Gunner Olszewski, which will sideline the return specialist for the season. Star wideout Malik Nabers remains in recovery from a torn ACL with uncertainty surrounding his availability for Week 1, while Darius Slayton continues to rehab from sports hernia surgery.

Free agent Odell Beckham Jr. is expected to participate among the group of receivers auditioning for the team.

Free agent WR Odell Beckham Jr. will workout for the #Giants on Monday, per league source.

Both sides have remained in contact for months, and there remains mutual interest in a reunion. pic.twitter.com/fR6C8FAxUJ

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 1, 2026

The 33-year-old veteran previously worked out for the Giants in April. Based on reports, the recent injuries have improved the chances of a reunion to roughly 50/50, potentially on a one-year veteran minimum deal with no guarantees of making the final roster.

Linebacker Brian Burns, speaking at his charity softball event, welcomed the idea of adding the veteran, stating it would be great to have him in the locker room as a teammate. Head coach John Harbaugh, who coached Beckham in Baltimore, and general manager Joe Schoen have maintained contact with the receiver's camp.

The Giants aim to bolster their receiving corps and special teams contributions as organized team activities progress.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Odell Beckham Jr. among receivers working out for New York Giants

Texas A&M’s postseason took a brutal turn Saturday night, suffering an embarrassing blowout loss to USC that now forces a decisive winner‑take‑all Game 7 on Monday.

Nothing clicked for the Aggies from the opening pitch. USC jumped out to a 4–1 lead after the first inning and stretched it to 9–1 by the midway point, putting A&M in a hole they never climbed out of. Offensively, the Aggies produced nine hits and put seven runners on base, but couldn’t deliver the timely swings needed to stay competitive.

The pitching staff, already stretched thin, endured its worst outing of the season. A&M surrendered 17 hits, including four doubles and two home runs, allowing USC to pile up 14 runs while the Aggies managed only three of their own.

Now the biggest question of the postseason looms. Who starts Monday night? With Aiden Sims out for the season and Justin Lyons burned early in Saturday’s loss, Texas A&M’s starting options are nearly exhausted. Head coach Michael Earley will have to get creative and maybe unconventional to piece together nine innings with the season on the line.

It’s been a long, uneven season filled with growth, setbacks, and flashes of real potential. But failing to advance out of their own regional, after everything they’ve battled through, would still be viewed as a major disappointment. Monday night will determine whether this group’s resilience carries them forward or ends their run in College Station.

GAME SCHEDULE

College Station Regional Final - June 1at 8 p.m. CT

Channel: ESPN2

Streaming: ESPN+

WAYS TO FOLLOW THE GAME

TV/Streaming: ESPN2 / ESPN App

Radio: Locally Sports Radio 1150/93.7 The Zone

Social: Follow the @AggiesBaseball on X for updates

Internet: 12thMan.com / 12th Man Mobile app for live play-by-play

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Where to watch: Texas A&M vs. USC in College Station Regional Final

The Tennessee Titans took a bit of a risk when they picked Penn State running back Nick Singleton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The star running back suffered a Jones Fracture in his foot during Senior Bowl week and was unable to participate in any of the pre-draft workouts.

While head coach Robert Saleh and the Titans' medical staff have taken a cautious approach to his recovery, it appears that Singleton should be ready to go by training camp and is finally working his way into team activities.

When asked about Singleton and his recovery on Friday ahead of practice, he announced that Singleton would be slowly working his way into team drills during the session.

"Yeah, he's progressing into team reps today, just a couple of them, but he's progressing really well," Saleh said.

Singleton’s return will add another back to what has become a crowded backfield this offseason. The Titans have Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Kalel Mullings, and Julius Chestnut returning, and added Singleton and veteran Michael Carter during the offseason in hopes of improving their dismal 30th-ranked rushing attack in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans' Robert Saleh gives positive injury update on Nick Singleton

The Atlanta Falcons have a long way to go before they name their starting quarterback for the 2026 NFL season. Will head coach Kevin Stefanski go with Tua Tagovailoa, or will third-year QB Michael Penix Jr. get the nod to start the season?

Since Penix is still recovering from an ACL injury, and Tagovailoa has significantly more experience, many assume the veteran will win the job out of training camp. While both quarterbacks are under immense pressure, one has more to gain financially this season.

Eric Edholm of NFL.com named Tagovailoa among the players with the most money at stake in 2026.

"At 28, Tagovailoa still is relatively young, but he's had a long, troublesome injury history that includes a fractured hip and several concussions," wrote Edholm. "He also has no experience with new head coach Kevin Stefanski and must beat out the incumbent Penix in this fascinating, all-lefty battle."

The fact that Stefanski has no prior ties to Tagovailoa is an interesting point. On paper, he is a good fit for the scheme, but the advantage isn't as clear as some have made it out to be. One of the reasons so many have been willing to write off Penix is due to the team's coaching and front office changes.

The current regime did not draft Penix, and therefore, likely won't feel as much pressure to play him. This situation sets up nicely for an intense competition between two very different styles of quarterbacks. Both are pocket passers, but Penix's strength is ripping deep balls to the outside, and Tagovailoa is more of a touch thrower with excellent timing and accuracy.

NFL.com highlights this fact as another reason that Tagovailoa may have the advantage. If he can put things together this season, the former top-five pick could cash in like Sam Darnold did with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.

"In a perfect world for Tua, he's a strong fit as a rhythm-and-timing quarterback in Stefanski's wide-zone, play-action-heavy system," Edholm added. "Atlanta has a potent run game, a true WR1 in Drake London, an excellent middle-field option in Kyle Pitts and the makings of a solid offensive line. There's no doubt Tagovailoa is at a career crossroads, and his history could work against him, but worse quarterbacks have overcome more to find second lives in the NFL."

Tagovailoa's accuracy and his ability to complete a high percentage of his passes may ultimately be what separates him in this competition. If Tua just turns the ball over less than he did in 2025, he will be in great shape. The Falcons have enough weapons that they just need a competent distributor of the football.

On the flip side, Penix's ability to push the ball down the field gives the team more big-play potential. The deep threat created by Penix's arm will back safeties up and create more room for Bijan Robinson to operate. However, Penix is still learning to take what the defense gives him and knowing when to let it rip.

Keep your eyes on these two quarterbacks as the Falcons work through their third round of OTAs this week in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa among players with most money at stake

The Wisconsin Badgers have been named the favorite to flip four-star safety Mekhi Williams from Florida State.

Williams took to social media on Sunday, May 31, to announce he'd be decommitting from Florida State, a school he previously committed to back on March 26, 2025.

"This decision wasn't easy, but God has a plan for me and I know this is the best decision for myself," he wrote. "Thank you God for the opportunity and I just wanna thank you in advance!"

Williams continued, "I just wanna thank all the coaches for the opportunity to be a part of your program. After careful consideration, and a long talk with my family, I have decided to decommit and will not be attending Florida State."

"I truly appreciate the time, effort, and support you have shown me throughout the process. I wish the program success. Thanks again to the coaches for everything! Thank you Nole nation!" Williams added.

Thank you for the opportunity again. pic.twitter.com/aQEM5BXhC5

— Mekhi Williams 4⭐️ Defensive back (@Mekhiwilliams__) May 31, 2026

Now that he's officially decommitted, all eyes are on the Badgers. Williams, a top-200 recruit, is fresh off a visit to Madison, and three experts on 247Sports have logged a prediction he'll become Luke Fickell's next recruit in his stellar class of 2027.

Should Williams, the No. 17 safety, commit to Wisconsin, he would immediately become the team's highest-ranked recruit. The Florida native would join DJ Davis and Dustin Roach as the team's safety commits.

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

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin named favorite to flip Florida State safety Mekhi Williams

The first signs of the 2026 football season arrived at the Forty Acres on Thursday. Texas revealed the times for the season opener against Texas State on September fifth and their matchup against UTSA on September 19th. Both games will be held at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and fans will have to contend with the heat. 

Texas will open its season at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN against its fellow Lone Star State-based team on the fifth. While it is a game many have circled on their calendars, fans will have to deal with the Texas humidity in early September. That could make the viewing experience unique as fans will have to get creative to stay cool. 

The countdown is on 🤘 pic.twitter.com/qUTOUUsU8X

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) May 28, 2026

Heading into the 2026 campaign, the Longhorns are 1-0 all-time against the Bobcats. The Longhorns won that game 35-0 nearly a 100 years ago in 1930. Although a few things have changed since then, Steve Sarkisian and his team will be heavy favorites. 

Two weeks later, Texas will return home to face UTSA at 7 p.m. CT. That game will be aired on  SEC Network+, unlike the season opener, which will just be on ESPN. The Longhorns are 2-0 all-time against UTSA and have outscored the Roadrunners 97-27 in those games. As the Roadrunners look to stun the college football world, they will be looking to avenge their 56-7 loss to the Longhorns in 2024. 

🚨 Game time announcements 🚨

Texas vs. Texas State
Sat Sept. 5 • 2:30 PM CT on ESPN

Texas vs. UTSA
Sat Sept. 19 • 7:00 PM CT on SECN+ pic.twitter.com/6blqF343BK

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) May 27, 2026

When the 2026 campaign officially gets underway, it will mark the third season of the Steve Sarkisian era. With him leading the way, Texas has posted a 35-8 record with three-straight 10-win campaigns. They also have two college football playoff appearances in that span. With a loaded roster, that total will likely increase. 

While fans will have to be patient for the first whistle to blow, they can start planning their pregame festivities, as times for the first two home games have finally been set. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns football releases kickoff times for Texas State and UTSA

Will this be the year you get your name called? The annual application and selection process opens on Monday, June 1, for tickets to the Masters Tournament and you just might be one of the lucky ones getting called.

Cross your fingers and good luck. Here's how it works.

First, ticket hopefuls need to create an account at Masters.com. It's free. Then, when the application window opens on June 1, you can request up to four tickets for the Monday and Tuesday practice rounds, the Wednesday Par 3 Contest or any of the tournament rounds, Thursday through Sunday. You can select up to four for all seven days but if you get picked, you'll only be selected for one of the days. In other words, as it states on the website: "Applicants may apply for any and all days, however, are eligible to win only one day."

Before we go any further, an important reminder from Augusta National Golf Club:

As a reminder, Augusta National, Inc. is the only authorized source/seller of Masters® Tickets. The resale of any Masters Ticket is strictly prohibited. Holders of Tickets acquired from third parties, by whatever means, may be excluded from attendance to the Tournament.

How much do Masters tickets cost?

The 2027 prices haven't been posted yet but in 2026, Monday and Tuesday were $125 each, Wednesday was $150 each and the daily tournament tickets (Thursday through Sunday) were $160. From the official Masters website:

Daily Tournament tickets will be awarded first. Anyone not selected for Daily tickets, who also applied for Practice Rounds, will then be included in the selection for Practice Rounds tickets. All applicants will be notified in late July via email when the random selection process is completed.

Your best bet is to clear your calendar next April and apply for all seven days.

Augusta National makes it clear this isn't a sweepstakes or a giveaway but simply the selection process. If you do get picked, be prepared to pay in full when you get word that you've been chosen.

For more information on tickets, call the Masters Tournament Ticket Office at 706-667-6700.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 2027 Masters Tournament ticket application process opens June 1

Q: Ira, are the Thunder now going to jump in to grab Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Heat? – Sal.

A: First, no one is grabbing anyone from the Heat, because at this point it’s all just speculation until the Bucks take a stance. And the Thunder hardly are in a position of desperation after a highly contested Western Conference finals against the Spurs. But, yes, with their trove of draft picks and quality roster components, the Thunder would be well positioned when it comes to a potential offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo. But there remain several overriding factors. First, assuming Giannis watched the West playoffs, he would be aware of the level of challenge just to make it out of the conference. Second, does he want to play second fiddle to MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander? Third, would he commit to spend the balance of his career in Oklahoma? Yes, the Thunder likely could trump other offers, but Giannis will also have a say because of his ability to hit free agency as soon as the 2027 offseason.

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• Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!

Q: I just hope as a Heat fan, they have a Plan B and C if this Giannis Antetokounmpo deal doesn’t happen.  – Douglas.

A: That will come down to what other elite talent might potentially hit the market. But it also would not be surprising to hear plenty of, “We like our young talent.” The pivot could be more in the messaging than the roster construction.

Q: In 2010 we were on top of the world. Since 2014 we have been stuck in purgatory aside from a few irrelevant blips. My question would be has the “Heat Culture” thing been to our own detriment? We are a premiere destination, the whole world wants to come to Miami, but NBA players not so much. We all know our training program is as intensive as any in the league, does it really serve a city like us? Wouldn’t it be better suited for a smaller-market team to run their practices like boot camp with the whole underdog mentality? All we are doing is chasing players away. I think we are better off toning it down and letting South Beach do the talking for us. We can bank on the city’s natural appeal. This generation does not respond to our old-school tactics, it just deters them. – Glen.

A: Nah. For all the talk by some talking-head former players about the Heat way being a detriment to recruiting, actual examples are few and far between. Players want to go where (after, of course, getting paid) they are positioned to succeed. The Heat have been doing that for years and for decades. And for their part, the Heat have little need for those looking for the easy way out. And this is about far more than LeBron’s cookies. In the end, he has been consistent in his praise for the Heat way.

Former England international James Milner has announced his retirement after a 24-year Premier League career.

The versatile 40-year-old was out of contract after spending the past three seasons with Brighton.

Milner played for six teams in England's top flight and broke the record for most Premier League appearances in February.

He started his career with Leeds and went on to win three Premier League titles - two with Manchester City and one with Liverpool - and also helped the Reds win the Champions League in 2019.

"I've been fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable moments, from fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe, and representing my country at two European Championships and two World Cups," read a statement by Milner on social media.

"But more than anything, it's the people and friendships I've made throughout the game that I'll cherish forever."

More to follow.

• From £70 a week to Premier League record 24 years later

• Latest Brighton news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Brighton - what do you want to know?

Former rugby league player and coach John Kear has died at the age of 71.

Kear, one of the sport's most respected figures, passed away on Sunday while travelling back from the Challenge Cup final.

He had been part of the BBC Sport commentary team for the match between Wigan and Hull KR at Wembley Stadium.

Castleford-born Kerr made 133 appearances for his hometown club between 1978 and 1988 before he subsequently moved into coaching.

Kear earned widespread acclaim for guiding Sheffield Eagles to a shock Challenge Cup final victory over Wigan in 1998.

He later coached a number of clubs including Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls

He was coach of the England team in the 2000 World Cup and led them to the semi-finals.

More to follow.

Captain leads by example

Kyle Steyn has been playing wondrous rugby all season, but he seemed to go up another level on Friday, on both sides of the ball; two tries, a brilliant 50-22, a magnificent try-saving tackle on Josh Ioane - he was by a mile the game's most influential man.

This was a battle for Glasgow and Steyn stood up every time things looked like getting a bit ropey, not just in his marquee moments, but in his overall work-rate, his defensive excellence and his leadership. He's one of the great Glasgow players.

Cool under pressure

It was far from foot-perfect from Glasgow, but it was a strong win against a team that exploded into this quarter-final on the back of terrific form.

There was no mistaking Glasgow's ability to strike back rapidly after getting hit by a Connacht score. That capacity to deny Connacht real momentum was a big factor in the winning of this game.

When Cian Prendergast scored the game's opening try, Patrick Schickerling scored four minutes later.

When Dave Heffernan made it a seven-point game just after the hour, Jare Oguntibeju replied four minutes after that.

That quick response was evident again in the wake of Finlay Bealham's try on 72 minutes. Glasgow snuffed out Connacht's chances when Steyn struck within minutes.

That resilience and class in attack saw them over the line.

The mojo is returning

Glasgow weren't at their scintillating best, but they look like they're getting there.

The demons of Toulon in the Champions Cup and back-to-back hidings in South Africa are probably exorcised now.

This was a third win in a row and another step in the right direction to getting their all-court game back on track.

They play the Bulls in the semi-final at Murrayfield. Friends reunited. What a rivalry there is between these two teams.

Another belter is in store. Glasgow will relish this semi-final.

Von Miller says he is not finished.

At age 36, Miller played the 2025 season for the Washington Commanders. Miller had been signed just before training camp with the plan that he would be used in passing situations to provide pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Miller managed to get playing time in all 17 regular-season games, but apparently will not be re-signed by the Commanders.

Early in the offseason, Peters and head coach Dan Quinn showed focus by re-signing or extending veterans such as P Tress Way, OT Andrew Wylie, C Nick Allegretti, DE Deatrich Wise, OT Laremy Tunsil, and QB Marcus Mariota. Next, Peters turned to signing free agents from other teams who could rush the passer, such as Odafe Oweh, Charles Omenihu, and K'Lavon Chaisson.

When the draft came in April, Peters selected Tennessee edge pass rusher Joshua Josephs with the No. 147 draft pick in the fifth round. Miller has not been re-signed by the Commanders, and with Peters declaring in his post-season press conference in January that he knew the Commanders needed to get younger and faster, the handwriting was on the wall for the older Commanders' free agents, such as Miller.

Miller is to be commended on his play during the 2025 season. He did provide pass rush, accomplishing nine QB Sacks, 26 tackles (16 Solo, 10 Assisted), 6 tackles for a loss and 15 QB hits. Miller says he will play again in 2026.

Von Miller picks up a sack - Washington with 5 on the afternoon pic.twitter.com/GyiXEmkymX

— Mark Tyler (Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) October 5, 2025

The Super Bowl 50 MVP announced this week that he wants to re-sign with his former team, the Denver Broncos. When asked about approaching the Broncos, Miller quickly asserted, "I lobbied, I do lobby, I lobbied publicly, privately, so I lobbied.''

Having turned 37 in March, Miller firmly believes he is not yet finished and that he can still contribute to an NFL defense and team. "I had nine sacks last year... I'm not on my last flame, this year, hopefully I'm not in my last year, but if it is, I want to go out showing guys what I got.''

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Von Miller says he is not finished

The Tennessee Titans open the 2026 season on Sunday, September 3, at 12:00 p.m. CST. They'll host the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium, where head coach Robert Saleh faces off against his former team.

Both the Titans and the Jets are coming off a difficult 2025 season. The Jets had the second overall pick in the draft, indicating that they were the second-worst team in the NFL. The Titans weren't much better, with the No. 4 overall pick. Both teams made offseason moves that changed the look of their respective rosters, and both have reason to be somewhat hopeful for the upcoming season.

Given the similarities between the two teams and the adjustments each made, there is plenty of intrigue around this game. Not everyone agrees, though, and a recent CBS Sports article lists this Week 1 matchup as among the worst.

Neither the New York Jets nor the Tennessee Titans should be expected to compete at the top of their divisions. Both have reasons to believe they will climb their respective ladders, however. A host of defensive moves in New York and the signing of Geno Smith raised the floor for Aaron Glenn as he navigates the hot seat. A new coaching staff, revamped defense and another year of development for Cam Ward give the Titans some optimism. The side that loses this one will be feeling down on themselves, as both should view this as one of the handful of truly winnable games on their schedules.

Absolutely, both of these teams should view this as a winnable game, which is why it's going to be an interesting game to watch. T'Vondre Sweat faces his former team. Jermaine Johnson and Robert Saleh face their former team. Both teams have high hopes for the 2026 season, and both will come out swinging.

When two teams with something to prove face each other, you typically end up with a knock-down, drag-out brawl that is exciting and keeps you engaged. There are times when that isn't the case, but this is a Week 1 matchup. Neither team has a reason to be disgruntled yet. Neither team has a reason not to believe in themselves yet.

Just because teams are considered "bottom feeders" doesn't mean the game is less exciting. It actually adds more meaning to the game, and this particular game could set the tone for both teams' entire season. It's definitely worth watching.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans-Jets ranked among NFL's worst Week 1 games

We've reached the latest date on the NFL's offseason calendar: June 1. What's so special about June 1? For NFL teams looking to unload veteran players and save some cap space, June 1 is important because it allows teams to split a player's dead cap hit over two seasons.

What does this mean for the Washington Commanders in 2026?

Well, maybe nothing. There is the Brandon Aiyuk matter that never seems to end. Aiyuk, who suffered a knee injury and hasn't played since October 2024, will not play for the 49ers again. He wants out, and San Francisco has publicly said he's played his last down for the 49ers. Could this saga end soon? Aiyuk reportedly wants to play for the Commanders with Jayden Daniels. However, San Francisco has indicated it is in no hurry to give Aiyuk what he wants, so this situation could drag on through the summer.

As for current Commanders, there's no one on the roster in danger of being released due to salary-cap concerns. Washington remains in excellent salary cap shape, with around $43 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap.

However, that hasn't stopped one writer from naming Commanders' edge rusher Dorance Armstrong Jr. as a potential cap casualty.

Randy Gurzi of Cowboys on SI named four potential cap casualties who could help Dallas in 2026. He included Armstrong, who spent his first six NFL seasons with the Cowboys, before signing with the Commanders in 2024.

A name Cowboys fans will remember, Dorance Armstrong developed into a trusted rotational pass rusher during his four seasons in Dallas. His final season with the Cowboys was in 2023, when he had 7.5 sacks. Armstrong then followed Dan Quinn to Washington, signing a three-year deal worth $33 million.

In two years, he has 10.5 sacks for the Commanders and has been a solid run defender. That said, he's coming off a knee injury and Washington could free up more than $9 million in cap space. They're not desperate for space by any means, but his salary could make him expendable.

Armstrong, who turns 29 this month, is entering the final season of a three-year, $45 million deal he signed in 2024. Armstrong played in 16 games for the Commanders in 2024, recording five sacks and two forced fumbles. In 2025, Armstrong was off to the best season of his eight-year career, recording 5.5 sacks and 7 tackles for loss in seven games before tearing his ACL against his former team. He was on pace for his best career season.

The Commanders invested heavily in edge rushers this offseason, signing Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu. Washington loves Armstrong, as head coach Dan Quinn spent three seasons with him in Dallas and brought him to the Commanders. He's played well for Washington. Sure, he's coming off an injury, but all signs point to him being ready for Week 1.

The Commanders do not need the cap space and will keep Armstrong, who remains a quality player, something Washington needs. Not only will Armstrong remain with the Commanders, but don't expect GM Adam Peters to release any players to save cap space.

But you can be sure the Commanders will be watching to see which players become available from other teams.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Any potential post-June 1 cap casualties?

Heart of Midlothian are reportedly close to signing Falkirk's Calvin Miller as Celtic are linked with a couple of multi-million pound deals.

Hearts hope to complete the signing of 28-year-old Falkirk winger Calvin Miller this week. (Scottish Sun)

Celtic, Feyenoord, Bodo-Glimt and Jens Berthel Askou's Toulouse are showing an interest in Sandefjord centre-back Zinedin Smajlovic, for whom the Norwegian club would want a record fee of at least £2.6m. (TV2 - in Norwegian)

Celtic and Wolverhampton Wanderers are showing interest in Alfie Devine despite Preston North End triggering an option to enter signing talks with the Tottenham Hotspur 21-year-old pending a £6m transfer following the midfielder's loan spell. (Football London)

Aberdeen are closing in on a summer transfer window deal to sign 28-year-old former St Mirren midfielder Connor Ronan, whose contract with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids runs out at the end of the calendar year. (Press & Journal)

Western Sydney Wanderers are keen on re-signing out-of-favour Nicolas Milanovic from Aberdeen, to whom they sold the 24-year-old winger for £400,000 last summer. (Daily Record)

• Monday's English & European transfer rumours
• Sunday's Scottish Gossip

Centre-back Charlie Dewar is desperate to pursue regular first-team football next season – whether at Dundee United or on loan elsewhere – after his spell with Alloa Athletic and with manager Jim Goodwin suggesting the 19-year-old is still not ready for regular first-team starts at Tannadice. (The Courier)

Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and several English Championship clubs have been closely monitoring Calum Adamson's progress as the 18-year-old midfielder moves into the final year of his Rangers contract, while St Mirren and Kilmarnock are keen to take him for next season's campaign. (TeamTalk)

Technical manager David Longwell explains that it will be a team effort again by the Dundee backroom staff this summer in the transfer market. (The Courier)

Former Rangers head coach Russell Martin and former Hibernian manager Tony Mowbray are in the running to be Blackburn Rovers' new boss should negotiations with Slaven Bilic continue to stall over a financial package. (Alan Nixon via Glasgow Times)

Arne Slot says he is leaving Liverpool "exactly where it belongs: among Europe's elite" after he was sacked as head coach on Saturday.

The Dutchman, 47, won the Premier League title in his first campaign but was dismissed by the club's hierarchy after the Reds finished fifth in the league this season, 25 points behind champions Arsenal.

Liverpool will open formal talks with former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola this week over becoming their new head coach.

In an emotional open letter published in the Liverpool Echo, Slot said fans made him feel welcome from the start and helped him on his path. "That is something I cherish," he added.

"I leave with complete confidence in what lies ahead.

"The players who have given so much to this club, who have upheld its values and helped create so many unforgettable moments, have built foundations that will endure."

Despite suffering 20 defeats in all competitions, Slot secured Liverpool's place in next season's Champions League.

"Securing Champions League football was an important responsibility and one that ensures Liverpool can continue competing at the highest level next season and beyond," he added.

"Change is part of football, but I know that this club will continue to make its people proud.

"When I first stood beneath that sign in the Anfield tunnel, I knew what this club demanded. I leave knowing we never stopped striving for it."

• Liverpool sack head coach Slot and approach Iraola
• Slot sacking completes a remarkable fall from grace

Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss in 2024 after the German stepped down after nine years as manager.

He made a dream start to his tenure as coach when he delivered the club's 20th league title in front of the home supporters at Anfield with four games to spare.

"It was made even more meaningful because you got to enjoy it with us, said Slot. "Singing our songs, cheering the goals. And on the day we lifted the trophy, you were there - lining the streets outside the stadium, filling Anfield in anticipation.

"Having had much of that taken from you in 2020, it was never lost on me how much it mattered that you were part of it all.

"Seeing you come together in your hundreds of thousands on the streets of Liverpool for the title celebrations only reinforced that idea.

"Liverpool's 20th league title belongs to all of us and it will remain an important chapter in its history. For that we should all be proud.

"This club will always judge itself by the biggest honours. That is how it should be."

'Connection we share goes beyond football'

In his letter, Slot paid tribute to the late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash alongside his brother Andre Silva as the players were preparing to return for pre-season training last summer.

The Dutchman said Jota's passing was "indescribable", but added "the love, compassion and support shown by the Liverpool family was extraordinary".

Slot said: "As I leave this club, it would be remiss of me not to say that the way you honoured Diogo and stood together in his memory will stay with me forever.

"The connection we share goes beyond football, beyond European nights under the Anfield lights or the sound of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' being sung from The Kop."

Slot also told fans he was "privileged to witness first-hand your spirit of compassion and unity" during the club's trophy parade in May 2025, when Paul Doyle drove his car through the crowds on Water Street in the city centre.

Doyle was jailed for 21 years and six months in December for charges including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

"It is a spirit that has carried this city through difficult moments before, and one that I hope will help bring the justice and accountability so many have campaigned for over many years," he added.

• Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

Vivianne Miedema said it was "really emotional" to return to the Manchester City squad as she helped them defeat Brighton 4-0 in the Women's FA Cup final and complete a historic double.

In her first appearance since the end of March, the Dutch forward came off the bench to seal the victory in the 87th minute as Andree Jeglertz's side added to their first Women's Super League title in a decade.

Miedema had missed their WSL run-in for personal reasons and later revealed in an Instagram post that her mother was "fighting for her life" after experiencing "serious complications" while undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

"I spoke to Andree two weeks ago and said that we were going to try and aim for the final, so I'm really glad I made it," Miedema said after the FA Cup triumph.

"I FaceTimed my mum after the game. She watched the game. She understood that we won. She cried on the phone, so it was really emotional for me."

Miedema said on her social media post that her mother was "fighting hard through the small steps of recovery although there are still many big hurdles ahead".

On securing the club's first-ever double, the 29-year-old said: "Really special and unbelievable. I've never done it myself before.

"Within the club, we were always honest about it. I'm just happy that we won it.

"I will not be leading [the celebrations] but I might actually have to take over at some point. It's really nice to have a little distraction."

The Chargers opened their 2026 OTAs on a high note, with new coordinators Mike McDaniel and Chris O'Leary installing their scheme and key players returning from injury.

Here are some of the top highlights from the first week of sessions:

absolute cinema pic.twitter.com/RGxYhZidON

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 27, 2026

the rookie + his vets pic.twitter.com/rRysQrP6zg

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 28, 2026

work don’t stop pic.twitter.com/HLSi6s0PaB

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 29, 2026

heeb was alllll over that pic.twitter.com/QCtOF4tRf7

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 29, 2026

joe + rashawn clockin' in pic.twitter.com/0yz7GEhTNc

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 28, 2026

always in focus pic.twitter.com/TdkriPhS1S

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 28, 2026

Chargers RBs pic.twitter.com/gTmrWlTMCZ

— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) May 27, 2026

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Watch: Chargers Week 1 OTAs highlights

Carlo Ancelotti was entering unknown territory.

Despite having previously worked with 43 Brazilian players throughout his coaching career, the Italian manager had been in the South American country just once before - back in the early 2000s on a scouting mission as Juventus boss.

So when, after much back and forth, he reached an agreement in May 2025 to lead Brazil as their first ever foreign coach at a World Cup, he knew he had to hit the ground running.

And so he did.

At one of his initial meetings in Rio de Janeiro, Ancelotti noticed plenty of the local staff at the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) trying to speak Spanish and even Italian to him.

"No, no," he reacted with a smile on his face.

"I'm the one who has to make the effort to speak Portuguese here."

The 66-year-old was aware that if he were to win over a fanbase that takes a lot of pride in the Selecao and has always considered itself to be self-sufficient in football, he needed to do that.

Such was his focus that he hired a Portuguese teacher and committed to four lessons a week.

"I was surprised by his commitment," Roberto Piantino, who has been working with him on his Portuguese, told BBC Sport.

"I remember once we finished a lesson on a Friday and, as usual, I asked him when he wanted to do the next one. He said: 'Tomorrow.' But that was a Saturday. I said: 'Of course, no problem.' That meant 9am in Vancouver [where Ancelotti lives with his wife].

"It happened more than once. That showed me how serious he really was about learning."

Sunday's 6-2 drubbing of Panama in their penultimate match before the World Cup kicks off was encouraging.

Bournemouth’s Rayan scored his first goal for his country, Brentford's Igor Thiago was on target, while Vinicius Jr, Casemiro and Lucas Paqueta and Danilo also hit the net.

Ancelotti will need every tool available to him though - Portuguese included - for the size of the challenge ahead this summer: preventing Brazil from setting an unwanted record.

The five-time champions last won the World Cup in 2002 and have never gone six editions without lifting the trophy.

There's a strong case, however, that the former Real Madrid and Chelsea coach is the right man for the job.

"One of the things Brazil needed the most was a manager bigger than the players," former international Walter Casagrande, now a respected football pundit, argued.

Ancelotti ticks that box: a record five Champions League titles and trophies in all five of Europe's major leagues carry real weight, even in a dressing room featuring Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Raphinha and co.

• Injured Neymar could miss Brazil's World Cup opener
• World Cup: Every squad as they are announced

The 'world champion' at adapting

In appointing Ancelotti, Brazil confronted one of the biggest taboos in their football history: the national team being led by a foreign coach.

Even with the Italian's CV, there was initial resistance.

"We are the only country to have won the World Cup five times. It's not that a foreigner should never coach the national team, but I would have gone for a Brazilian coach," said Cafu, a two-time World Cup winner in 1994 and 2002.

At an event for Brazilian coaches in November, the tension around the subject became impossible to ignore.

As Ancelotti went on stage to be honoured, he found himself listening to speeches from local colleagues criticising the presence of foreign managers in Brazil. "I have always said I don't like foreign coaches in my country. We, as coaches, are to blame for this invasion," said Emerson Leao, a 1970 World Cup winner.

Such was the awkwardness that Ancelotti's son and assistant coach, David, left the event shortly afterwards.

But that proved to be a largely isolated episode in Ancelotti's first year in charge.

Despite inconsistent results - six wins, two draws and three defeats in his initial 11 matches - recent research from Quaest, a leading polling institute, found most Brazilians trust him.

According to the survey, 41% approve of his work, compared with 29% who disapprove.

With that support, the CBF moved quickly, renewing his deal until 2030 before he had even led Brazil at the World Cup.

However, that was also a reflection of arguably Ancelotti's biggest strength: his ability to get people behind him.

Sources have told BBC Sport that although he received the first draft of the contract in early April, he held off signing it for about a month. The reason was that he wanted three other CBF staff members - whom he credited with helping him to adapt in Brazil - to have their contracts extended until 2030, too.

"He is a chameleon," said 1994 World Cup winner Leonardo, who worked with Ancelotti at AC Milan and Paris St-Germain both as a player and as an executive.

"Wherever he goes, he adapts to the people, the team, the players. He is a world champion at that. If I ever bought a team, my coach would be Carlo. There is no other choice.

"He enters into symbiosis with the environment, and that has already happened here [in Brazil]. People like him."

• Ancelotti extends Brazil contract until 2030

'We have two of the best five players in the world'

Despite a chaotic four-year cycle - among other things, Brazil had their confederation president removed from office by court order, went through four different coaches and ended the qualifiers with their worst-ever campaign - Ancelotti still believes he can deliver their sixth World Cup title.

"We have two of the five best players in the world," he repeated in the corridors of the CBF headquarters.

He's referring to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Barcelona's Raphinha.

But then comes the hardest part: making them perform for the Selecao the same way they do for their clubs. In Ancelotti's bold 4-2-4 tactical system, that hasn't been the case yet.

Sunday’s win was just the third time the Italian has had the two on the pitch together, the previous times being in a 1-0 win over Paraguay in June 2025 and in a 2-1 defeat by France in March this year. On the latter occasion, however, Raphinha came off at half-time. With Rodrygo and Estevao Willian out injured, making that partnership work will be even more important.

If that is still a work in progress, the dressing room is not. Ancelotti has already got the players listening.

"In the game against Paraguay [in June 2025], we needed to win to qualify for the World Cup. At half-time, a lot of people were talking, talking, talking. Then he said: 'Guys, wait. I'm going to smoke a cigarette, I'll be back in five minutes and then you can talk,'" Manchester United midfielder Casemiro said in an interview with former England defender Rio Ferdinand.

"After that, he came back, spoke, and everyone was like: 'OK. This guy is different.'"

It was a classic Ancelotti moment: calm, simple and human. Even his Portuguese lessons seem to reflect that.

"I had prepared a lesson on imperative verbs," Piantino, who also works as a teacher with other players and coaches from Brazil and abroad, recalled.

"The material was ready, with a presentation explaining how imperatives work in Portuguese. But as soon as I started, he pointed it out: 'No, no, no, I don't communicate like that. I don't use imperatives. It's not my style to give orders like that.'"

Ancelotti was on Italy's bench as assistant coach when Brazil won the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Now, he returns with them, hoping to take the Selecao back to the top in his own way.

• World Cup fixtures and group standings
• How to watch the World Cup on the BBC
• Everything you need to know about the World Cup

All week, the big question facing the USC baseball team was how it would align its pitching rotation for a showdown against Texas A&M.

Rather than go with ace Mason Edwards in the opener of the College Station Regional of the NCAA Tournament, the Trojans turned to Grant Govel while preserving Edwards in anticipation of facing the Aggies the next day.

But after USC was upset in that opener, so was its pitching plan.

By the time the Trojans faced top-seeded Texas A&M in an elimination game on Sunday night, neither Edwards nor Govel was available.

It turned out that maybe Andrew Johnson was the guy they wanted all along.

In the most momentous start of his career, the sophomore right-hander baffled the Aggies during USC’s 14-3 rout that featured a continuation of the Trojans’ offensive onslaught.

After piling up 14 hits during a 15-4 drubbing of Texas State earlier in the day, USC (46-16) amassed 17 hits against the Aggies, including home runs from Augie Lopez and Andrew Lamb.

After scoring four runs in the first inning and three more in the third, the Trojans held a 7-1 lead. Johnson (8-2) took it from there, allowing nine hits and three runs in 7⅓ superb innings before reliever Rohan Kasanagottu went the rest of the way.

What it means

After being upset by Texas State in its Regional opener, USC has reeled off three consecutive victories to put itself on the verge of advancing to its first Super Regional since 2005.

Turning point

USC’s four-run first inning silenced a crowd of 6,934 that had expected a party but instead experienced the equivalent of a baseball wake.

MVP: Andrew Johnson

Looking more like an ace than a No. 3 starter, Johnson struck out four and walked only one.

Up next

The Trojans face the Aggies again on Monday, with a chance to complete a rare comeback from losing a Regional opener to making a Super Regional.

Some say you can measure a life by World Cups. Four-year notches on a timeline from wide-eyed kid to tuned-in teen and beyond. A showreel of footballing memories - teams you loved, heroes you worshipped, the iconic shirts they wore.

It is those shirts we're looking at today. The jerseys that tell a story. Timeless masterpieces. But what is it that makes a kit's legacy so enduring?

Matthew Wolff is best known for designing the hugely popular Nigeria outfits at the 2018 World Cup, as well as those for winners France.

The American's portfolio includes Paris St-Germain, a host of Major League Soccer and National Women's Soccer League teams, and even the United Soccer League club he co-founded, Vermont Green. So he knows his way around a kit.

"Most of my favourite football kits are from my childhood in the '90s and early 2000s," explains Wolff. "That's the phase of life when the players really feel like superheroes and their kits feel so magical.

"Mexico 1998, USA 1994, Germany 1990 and 1994, Japan 1998, Nike's set from 2002, even Cameroon's sleeveless top in 2002. These are special kits in my mind because of how big and magnificent they felt to me as a young boy.

"A shirt becomes iconic partly because of what happened while someone was wearing it. The passage of time also changes how we perceive and appreciate a football kit."

Wolff, though, believes it is harder to achieve real "iconic" status these days.

"The landscape has changed and the global market is saturated," adds Wolff.

"There are so many teams and so many new kits now - for both clubs and countries - that it's genuinely difficult for any single shirt to break through.

"While it's inspiring to see nations' aesthetics and culture represented through uniform design, it does raise questions about consumerism, about how much is genuine cultural expression versus product cycles, and about the pace at which we're churning through these garments."

• Pick your favourite World Cup kits

Ranking the top 10 iconic World Cup kits

With that in mind, we're going to be looking back. And there is always a healthy dollop of nostalgia when reminiscing about kits - those hazy childhood memories relived through a golden filter.

It would be tempting to go all in on a smorgasbord of '90s and early '00s bold prints and baggy jerseys, or late '80s designs that have reappeared as lifestyle staples.

So to avoid a splurge of festival fashion/dad on school run at the first sign of summer, this is the criteria: no more than one shirt per World Cup, and one per country.

As always, we'd love for you to share your favourites in the comments below.

10. Cameroon home, 2002

Now, this is slightly contentious as this kit never actually made it to a World Cup. But that's what makes it memorable.

Cameroon adopted a sleeveless shirt for the Africa Cup of Nations but Fifa had other ideas by the time the 2002 tournament rolled around.

"Everybody in Africa wanted to wear that shirt," former midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba told BBC Sport Africa.

Even Serena Williams got in on the act, sporting an outfit inspired by the banned kit at the French Open that summer - though a request to have her lucky number 26 on the back was turned down by organisers.

Instead, for the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, Puma was told to add sleeves to the design - as you can see below.

It wouldn't be the last time Cameroon's kit designers riled Fifa chiefs, though - two years later, the release of a 'onesie' kit - with shirt and shorts stitched together to make a single garment - was also banned by football's governing body.

9. England away, 1966

Instantly recognisable and certain to be spotted at barbecues and in beer gardens up and down England this summer.

The Three Lions red jersey is iconic because of what it represents - the nation's only World Cup triumph, a seismic victory on the hallowed Wembley turf, Geoff Hurst's hat-trick and the ball that (perhaps) crossed the line.

It immediately conjures images of Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy on his team-mates' shoulders.

The 1982 and 1990 numbers were also in contention - shown below - but if there can only be one England jersey on the list, then this has to be it.

8. France home, 1982

"That was my most beautiful game. No film or play could ever recapture so many contradictions and emotions. It was complete. It was fabulous," said France captain Michel Platini, reflecting on Les Bleus' semi-final defeat by West Germany in 1982.

Goalkeeper Harald Schumacher's shocking challenge on Patrick Battiston, a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time, the first penalty shootout in World Cup history.

France looked effortlessly cool throughout in the sweltering Seville heat - the piece de resistance of that all-timer of a home kit.

7. Netherlands home, 1974

Rebellious, stubborn, seamlessly cool. Johan Cruyff was the face of the Netherlands' Total Football revolution.

Cruyff had already won three European Cups with Ajax and had twice been awarded the Ballon d'Or by the time he arrived at the 1974 World Cup, the scene of his most famous moment.

The Cruyff turn was born when the Netherlands took on Sweden at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion, though the shaggy-haired playmaker was sporting a different kit to his team-mates, who had Adidas' three stripes along their sleeves.

Cruyff, however, was contracted to Puma and already refused to wear Adidas boots - following a standoff between the brands, players and Dutch football bosses, it was also decided his kit would have a stripe removed.

"The KNVB had signed a contract with Adidas without telling the players," Cruyff wrote in his autobiography. "They thought they didn't need to because the shirt was theirs. 'But the head sticking out of it is mine,' I told them."

6. Croatia home, 1998

Davor Suker, France 1998, red and white checks splashed across his shoulder. Majestic. The pattern becomes Croatia's national coat of arms, and makes them immediately identifiable on the football pitch.

Croatia impressed at Euro 96, and sported a belter of a kit there too, but this was a poignant sporting moment for the country, competing at their first World Cup since declaring independence seven years earlier.

Suker - along with Robert Jarni, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and co - took them to the semi-finals, where the Real Madrid striker put his side 1-0 up against the hosts, before a Lilian Thuram-inspired France fought back.

Croatia, donning an equally iconic blue away number, then beat the Netherlands in a play-off to finish third.

5. Nigeria home, 2018

Nigeria's 2018 kit was a phenomenon, a rare example of a shirt that became instantly iconic not because of who wore it on the pitch, but because of how it resonated culturally and in fashion circles.

Three million people pre-ordered the shirt and shoppers queued outside Nike's flagship store in London upon its release.

"We drew directly from Nigeria's own kit history," explains designer Wolff. "The 2002 kit was a reference - that brilliant shade of green was something I wanted to bring back. And we obviously drew inspiration from the 1994-95 kit as well.

"The goal wasn't to invent something out of thin air, it was to pull on threads already there in the country's footballing identity.

"The timing was perfect in a lot of ways. Nigeria was having a global cultural moment in fashion, music, poetry, art, film etc. The kit landed in the middle of that wave, and I think it resonated because the wave was swelling.

"Credit to the entire team at Nike who brought it together. A kit doesn't become a phenomenon because of one designer. It becomes a phenomenon because a lot of people are doing a lot of thoughtful, thorough work."

4. Brazil home, 1970

There is, arguably, no other country in world football more synonymous with one colour than Brazil.

Even through grainy, reclaimed footage, their 1970 canary-yellow shirts look vibrant and striking, fitting for the world-beating players donning them in the Mexican sunshine.

Pele, Carlos Alberto, Rivellino, Jairzinho. The archive clips rolled out every World Cup make it feel like you were at the Azteca watching the brilliant Brazilians dispatch Italy - their beautifully simple yellow shirts a masterpiece of footballing folklore.

3. USA away, 1994

"Outside of our borders, there was a lot of scepticism from the majority of football followers in the world who were scratching their heads saying: 'How could this non-soccer-nation put this on?'" remembers former US Soccer president Alan Rothenberg, after the States landed the 1994 World Cup.

What the players - most on US central contracts rather than representing professional clubs - did not want was to become a laughing stock.

But when Adidas unveiled the kits for the tournament, swashbuckling centre back Alexi Lalas and his team-mates thought they had been pranked.

Oversized stars stretched across stone-washed denim might be quintessentially American, but it was bold and brash in a footballing sense and the squad feared they would be ridiculed. At least a proposed tie-dye number didn't get off the ground.

It would, however, become iconic and adored by both those players who wore it and the fans who idolised them - no doubt helped by the USA's performance at that tournament, exiting to eventual champions Brazil in the last 16.

This shirt making the top three is perhaps influenced by the World Cup returning to the States this summer - but 1994 was a tournament of memorable kits, as you can see below.

2. Argentina away, 1986

Argentina's World Cup quarter-final win over England in 1986 witnessed two of the most famous goals in history - Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' and the mesmerising, unstoppable dribble from his own half.

But the story behind the shirts Argentina wore that day is equally remarkable.

Fifa told Argentina they would need to don their dark blue second kit in order to not clash with England's white jerseys. But in a previous win over Uruguay, the players found that shirt heavy and stifling in the sweltering Mexican heat.

Kit makers Le Coq Sportif didn't have an alternative, so the story goes that boss Carlos Bilardo sent staff out to the Mexico City neighbourhood of Tepito - renowned for knock-off goods - to find new ones.

Maradona, it is said, made the final call on the designs that were brought back, delivering the immortal line: "What a nice shirt this is, Carlos. With this one we will beat the English."

Kit men spent the 24 hours before Argentina faced England embroidering those shirts with numbers and the national crest.

Thirty-six years later, England midfielder Steve Hodge put the jersey he swapped with Maradona that day up for auction. It sold for £7.1m.

1. West Germany home, 1990

At number one is a design classic, a jersey sought by collectors and regularly held up as a pioneer for a new generation of shirts - the iconic West Germany kit of World Cup 1990.

"You have to view it from the context of what went before, and shirts were fairly plain and simplistic in design," John Blair, author of A Culture of Kits, told BBC World Service's Sporting Witness. "It is a combination of a real standout of its era, a winning team and then the first real kind of expressive design coming to the fore."

The shirt, though, was almost abandoned before the World Cup, having first been worn at Euro 88, when the hosts lost in the semi-finals.

Designer Ina Franzmann was already working on a new one, until head coach Franz Beckenbauer intervened and said he wanted to keep the original design.

Franzmann, who also designed tennis outfits for Adidas and wasn't a football fan, was tasked with bringing "a little revolution" to the national team's shirt.

"It was Horst Dassler (son of founder Adolf) himself who came up with the idea to use a bit of colour, so it was obvious to use the German colours," she said.

Dassler died in 1987, so did not get to see West Germany lift the World Cup and catch the eye at Italia 90. It was momentous for Franzmann, though the real acclaim came decades later.

"The shirt became a masterpiece years later," she added. "I'm really proud of how much interest there is, everyone wants to know the story behind it."

• World Cup fixtures and group standings
• How to watch the World Cup on the BBC
• Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Veteran Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is headed to a sixth World Cup, and he'll certainly be the old man in the room.

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre announced his World Cup squad on Sunday, May 31 with Ochoa on the roster for a sixth time, matching Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the most all-time and passing Mexican trio Antonio Carbajal, Andrés Guardado and Rafa Márquez who were named to five teams. If Ochoa sees time, it will be the fourth World Cup in which he has played.

The legendary goalkeeper, now 40, has stolen the show at multiple World Cup tournaments, keeping a clean sheet against Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, averaging more saves per match than any goalkeeper in the 2018 tournament and becoming the first Mexican goalkeeper to save a penalty at the World Cup in 2022.

He goes into 2026 not as the starter, with Chivas shot-stopper Raul "Tala" Rangel expected to be the No. 1. He could see time, especially if El Tri has clinched passage to the knockout stage ahead of its third group match, a date with Czechia at the Estadio Azteca.

While Ochoa's presence will be familiar to fans, Mexico hopes this tournament is the start of a youth movement, with legendary ex-midfielder and former Ochoa teammate Rafa Marquez waiting in the wings as Aguirre's assistant before taking over the head coaching duties after the tournament.

Teenage sensation Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old who plays for Club Tijuana, is on the roster, as are four other players who are 23 or younger. Two of those players, Atletico Madrid midfielder Obed Vargas and Chivas midfielder Brian Gutierrez, were born in the U.S.

They're the first Mexican-Americans to play for El Tri at a World Cup since 2014 when California-born Isaac Brizuela and Miguel Ángel Ponce made Miguel Herrera's squad. However, neither earned minutes in any World Cup matches. Vargas, who came through the Seattle Sounders system, and Gutierrez, who developed with the Chicago Fire, would be the first MLS products to play for Mexico at a World Cup.

Other naturalized players include Julián Quiñones, who was born in Colombia and came through the Tigres system before winning Liga MX titles with Atlas and Club América, and Alvaro Fidalgo, a Spain native who teamed with Quiñones at América and acquired his Mexican citizenship before leaving this winter for Real Betis in his native country.

Other World Cup veterans will be more critical for El Tri than Ochoa, with Fulham forward Raul Jimenez, Fenerbache midfielder Edson Alvarez and center-back pair Johan Vasquez and Cesar Montes expected to form the spine of the team and start the most important matches.

Mexico opens the World Cup against South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City, then travels to Jalisco to face South Korea before returning to the capital to meet Czechia.

Full Mexico national team World Cup roster

Goalkeepers: Raul Rangel (Chivas), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol)Defenders: Israel Reyes (Club América), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Jorge Sánchez (PAOK), César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Johan Vásquez (Genoa), Mateo Chávez (PSV)

Midfielders: Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Luis Romo (Chivas), Obed Vargas (Atlético Madrid), Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens), Edson Álvarez (Fenerbahçe), Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana), César Huerta (Anderlecht), Álvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis), Luis Chávez (Dynamo Moscow)Forwards: Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah), Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Armando González (Chivas), Raúl Jiménez (Fulham)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mexico World Cup roster has Guillermo Ochoa, Mexican-American pair

After a long and busy offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers are set to kick off their first mandatory workouts on Tuesday. A new era has begun with head coach Mike McCarthy coming in and bringing an entirely new philosophy and approach to practice and workouts. Here are the storylines we will be watching.

The continued evolution of the offensive line

Pittsburgh is making a radical change on the offensive line by moving last year's starting right tackle and right guard to the left and starting over on the right. We really want to see where rookie offensive linemen Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker fit in the rotation.

Allar vs Howard round 2

Round 1 of Drew Allar versus Will Howard at OTAs went to Howard and we want to see if Allar can bounce back and show growth as the team searches for their next franchise quarterback.

Backup wide receiver battle

DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. are locked in but the battle between veteran Roman Wilson and rookie Germie Bernard is going to be must-watch TV.

Hold ins for defensive stars

The Steelers have two star defenders, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and edge Nick Herbig, waiting patiently for massive new contracts. Porter has already hinted at a hold in but we want to see if he and Herbig join each other on the sidelines next week.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers storylines at the start of mandatory OTAs

Campaigners fear young women footballers could be lost if Wales does not bridge the "unacceptable" gap between youth and senior international level.

The mother of Wales squad goalkeeper Soffia Kelly is calling for the creation of an under-21 or under-23 squad - or both - as part of a "sustainable pathway" for young players.

England and Scotland both have teams at under-23 level while some young players in Wales simply "drop out" of the development system.

"There's no pathway [in Wales] but Scotland and England have. The boys have got it. European countries have got it. Why have we not got it?" asked Soraya Kelly.

"It's not rocket science. We just want to have equal opportunities as our boys in Wales. With everything that's going on with women's football, this should be a given."

The campaign - Equality For Our Women And Girls - follows a petition that Soraya Kelly presented to the previous Welsh Government asking for funding to enable the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to:

• create women's under-21 and under-23 national teams
• expand access through regional talent identification and outreach
• guarantee equal media promotion

The Senedd's petitions committee noted the good work already being done by the FAW to promote women's and girl's football and agreed to forward the petition's request.

The FAW has been approached for comment.

Until recently there had been little need for those age-grade teams due to the absence of any official tournaments run by Uefa, European football's governing body.

Uefa has told the BBC there are no current plans to introduce such competitions, though a new independent under-23 European League was created in July 2024.

England won the 2026 edition of that tournament, while Scotland fielded a team during the group stage, leaving Wales and Northern Ireland as the only UK associations without recognised sides.

Some Welsh players have successfully made the move straight from Wales under-19's to the senior squad, including Manchester United forward Mared Griffiths and Aston Villa goalkeeper Kelly.

"It [under-23s] is a bridge to the seniors. So [without it] you go to the 19's and if you're not involved in the seniors, you haven't got much of a chance then of going anywhere," said Soraya Kelly.

Despite concerns, Kelly is delighted by the FAW's work at under-19 level. The current team, under coach Nia Davies, have won three of their last four matches - including an impressive victory over England.

There is also excitement over Wales hosting the men's under-19 European Championship this summer, but Kelly says her proposal is for the long-term.

"Soffia is lucky, she's involved with the seniors, as well as Mared and players like Phoebe Poole who is amazing and scoring all these goals.

“But other girls are so talented and there's nowhere for them to go. So many talented girls are dropping off, or even before dropping off, are thinking, 'Well, we've only got till we're 19, so what's the point?’"

"There's only four or five [of the current squad] going to be eligible to play with the under-19's now and that's a squad of 20. These talented girls, where can they go? It's not acceptable. It's really not."

One of those who did 'drop off' is former Cardiff City player Shanelle Edwards.

A promising Welsh international with the under 17s and 19s, Edwards was invited to train with the senior Wales squad but subsequently left football without the cap she coveted.

Now 32, and working in property finance, Edwards feels her chances would have been enhanced at senior level with an under-21 or under-23 side in place.

"I've spoken to other past players who agree," she said.

"We are all in alliance with the fact that there isn't that pathway. The gap between being an 18 or 19-year-old footballer to competing with senior level players - who could be 25 upwards - is a big jump both physically and mentally.

"Without these gaps bridged, we are very unable to compete with other nations that have got those in place.

"The proof is in the pudding. When you look at the men's team, stats don't lie. You're not often getting 18 or 19 year-olds playing in the first team.

"The average men's team player will make his debut between the ages of 21 and 23. It's huge to have that gap bridged."

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A previous argument against the idea has been the limited talent pool in Wales.

But opinions on that appear to be changing.

Legendary striker Helen Ward, who won 105 Wales senior caps and scored a then-record 44 goals, believes the growth of participation in women’s football in Wales is bound to increase the pool.

"Now more than ever, there is starting to become a real need for it and we don't want to see the drop off," said Ward.

"In the past, I always thought there wasn't really a need with the talent pool that we have in Wales being quite small.

"Players like Carrie Jones stepped up to the senior team at 15. Don't get me wrong, she's an anomaly - an outrageous generational talent that was able to do that - but you felt that players that were coming out of the 17s would often skip the 19s.

"Where it's different now, is that there are many more opportunities for girls to play football in and around Wales, so players are developing earlier and faster.

"So, there is now a bigger pool where not everybody is going to be able to jump from the 17s and 19s straight into senior football."

Unlike Edwards, Ward did get her chance to play for the Wales senior team, but it took time.

Now in the role of head of women's football at Watford, Ward also believes some players are late developers.

"I didn't make my senior debut until I was 22 and I don't know if I'd have been ready to do that sooner," she added.

"Not everybody's going to be ready and raring to go at the age of 19 straight for senior football."

Funding is key

Soraya Kelly knows none of this comes for free and acknowledges funding could be a stumbling block. This is where she feels that the Welsh Government could come in.

Currently the FAW's main source of income is from commercial revenue and from international governing bodies such as Fifa and Uefa. However that situation has not been aided by the men's team failing to qualify for this summer's World Cup.

The Welsh Government supports the FAW at grassroots level with projects relating to matters such as stadia development and new infrastructure.

For example, to mark the historic appearance of Wales' women at Euro 2025, the ‘Partner Support Fund‘ supported 16 grassroots, cultural, and educational organisations to boost sports participation and promote equality.

Sport Wales - the body responsible for developing and promoting sport in Wales - also provides public and lottery money to the FAW through grants, in partnership with the Welsh Government.

Any proposal for Welsh Government help to fund a new elite pathway would likely require sensitive negotiation with the FAW.

In a statement, the Welsh Government said: "Ensuring women and girls have the opportunity to take part in sport is essential to building a confident, ambitious Wales where talent is nurtured at every level. This Welsh Government is committed to working closely with governing bodies to expand opportunities and remove barriers. Women's sport has the power to transform lives, strengthen communities and elevate Wales on the international stage.”

It added: “The Football Association of Wales leads on the governance and development of the game, including ongoing discussions on strengthening pathways such as a Wales women's under 21 or under 23 team. Through Sport Wales, we are investing in the future of women's sport, supporting national bodies to grow participation, develop elite talent and inspire the next generation."

Kelly plans to launch the campaign in August and already has the backing of Race Council Cymru, Black Police Association, Her Game Too and Vale of Glamorgan MP Kanishka Narayan. She is also soon to meet UEFA vice president and former Wales captain Laura McAllister.

"I get it is down to funding. The FAW has only got a certain amount of money. So the Welsh Government needs to step in here so that there's equality for our girls, as well as our boys, in Wales," said Kelly.

"The boys have got it and have always had it. There's been funding there for the boys, but not for the girls and that needs to change.

"We've got lots and lots of people who are really passionate about this and trying to help this pathway to develop.

"The women's game has come on so much and how are we ever going to be able to compete against the likes of England going forward, if we don't have that middle buffer?"