NHL Playoff Picture 2026, Updated Bracket, Standings After Sidney Crosby, Penguins Clinch Spot
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins ended a three-season playoff drought on Thursday by clinching a spot in the 2026 postseason after beating the New Jersey Devils, 5-2. Here’s a look at the NHL standings now that the Penguins have secured
Boomer Esiason comments on Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini photos
The NFL offseason continues to move along as the draft quickly approaches (April 23-25 in Pittsburgh), but that is not the only thing making headlines right now. On Tuesday, The New York Post published photos of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and The Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini
Bucs agree to terms with CBs Kemon Hall, Chase Lucas
The Buccaneers have agreed to terms with a pair of cornerbacks on one-year deals. Kemon Hall is signing with the Buccaneers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports, and Chase Lucas is also joining the team, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports. Hall, 28, spent last season with the Titans. After being
Bucs To Add CBs Chase Lucas, Kemon Hall
The Buccaneers lost several members of their secondary in free agency, including starting cornerback Jamel Dean. They are now set to sign former Lions and 49ers defensive back Chase Lucas, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Lucas has primarily operated as a backup during his career. The Bucs are also adding
WR KC Concepcion visiting with Dolphins on Thursday
It’s a busy time for receiver KC Concepcion, who is expected to be one of the top wideouts to come off the board in this year’s draft. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Concepcion is taking a pre-draft visit with the Dolphins on Thursday. Miami currently holds the No. 11
Jalen Hurts might be to blame for A.J. Brown’s social media antics
For most of last season, A.J. Brown’s social media activity and frustration were the primary talking points around the then-defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. Brown was labeled difficult and criticized for not enjoying his team’s success when he wasn’t involved in the passing game. However, his not-so-cryptic messages may not have
Bijan Robinson feels better than ever, credits workouts with Christian McCaffrey
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson says he feels like he’s entering his physical prime, and he says offseason workouts with 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey are a big part of that. “Now going on my fourth year, I want to be a leader of these guys,” Robinson said at the
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Receives Medical Clearance; Shedeur Sanders Likely Favorite To Start
A year ago, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam admitted that acquiring quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Texans in 2022 was a “big swing and miss” for his franchise. Despite on- and off-field issues, the Browns have not been able to escape Watson’s onerous contract. With Watson guaranteed to return for a
How did the New York Post get the Mike Vrabel photos?
Tuesday’s report from Page Six of the New York Post regarding the photos of Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and New York Times reporter Dianna Russini raises plenty of fair questions moving forward. There’s one important question moving backward. How did the Post get the photos? Vrabel and Russini have separately
Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini speak out on viral hotel photos
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and The Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini have responded to a report that showed them holding hands and hugging during a visit to the Ambiente, a hotel in Sedona, Arizona, in late March. The New York Post published the photos of Russini and Vrabel
Jeff Hafley to Malik Willis: “Don’t change who you are”
The new regime in Miami, which came from Green Bay, made a beeline for Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis in free agency. Now that the Dolphins have opened their offseason program, new coach (and former Packers defensive coordinator) Jeff Hafley had a message for Willis. “I had a great conversation
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/8/26
By Ely Allen | at April 8, 2026 6:39 pm Here are today’s midweek minor transactions: New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers Going undrafted out of Indiana in 2022, McCrary-Ball will be back for his fourth year in New York. After serving solely on special teams in his first two years,
Falcons’ Kaleb McGary Announces NFL Retirement After Significant Leg Injury
Atlanta Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary is retiring from the NFL after six seasons, his agent Collin Roberts told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. McGary, 31, last played during the 2024 season. He missed the 2025 campaign after suffering a season-ending left leg injury during training camp last August. The Falcons initially
Arm length concerns surrounding Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr. may work in Cowboys’ favor during 2026 NFL Draft
Perhaps the Dallas Cowboys won’t have to trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft (scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh) to land a top pass-rusher. The stock of Miami Hurricanes defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. (6-foot-2, 263 pounds) may be dipping before the draft because of lingering concerns over his arm length.
CB Brandon Cisse visited Cowboys, set to visit Seahawks
Cornerback Brandon Cisse is among the prospects making the rounds with the draft a little over two weeks away. Jordan Reid of ESPN.com reports that Cisse recently visited with the Cowboys. He’s also set to meet with the Seahawks. Cisse played two seasons at North Carolina State before transferring to
Giants Not Eyeing Dexter Lawrence Raise
The 2023 offseason established a new salary bracket among interior defensive linemen, bridging the sizable gap between Aaron Donald and the field at the time. Dexter Lawrence was among the ascending D-tackles who did so, joining Quinnen Williams, Jeffery Simmons and Daron Payne in being given top-five DT deals that
Mike Vrabel calls characterization of photos with reporter “laughable”
The entire NFL is abuzz regarding a new report from Page Six of the New York Post regarding Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, who covers the NFL for The Athletic. Before going any farther, I’ll say this: Coaches and reporters are entitled to lead their own private lives.
Fernando Mendoza makes an emotional decision about NFL Draft
Barring a shocking turn of events, the Las Vegas Raiders will use the No. 1 pick to get Indiana Hoosiers star quarterback Fernando Mendoza. They’ve already hosted him for a visit and have done extensive research on him, and not even signing Kirk Cousins will change that. However, as much as
Tom Brady makes appearance on first day of Raiders’ offseason program
At a time when minority owner Tom Brady’s role with the Raiders isn’t clear, he gave a clear indication as to his current level of involvement. Via Ryan McFadden of ESPN, Brady was in the building for the first day of the 2026 offseason program. It comes a week after
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia To Visit Panthers
This year’s crop of quarterback prospects has failed to impress evaluators with only Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza seen as a clear first-round talent. He is expected to be taken by the Raiders with the first overall pick, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson could sneak into Round 1, too. Beyond that, no NFL-bound
Kirk Cousins sees his time in Vegas as a chance to “finish strong”
Kirk Cousins realizes exactly where he is in his career. He is 37 and entering Year 15 in the NFL. He has not started all 17 games in a season since 2022, which was the last of his four Pro Bowl seasons, and the Raiders are his fourth team. But
The ‘Rookie receiving-leaders by NFL team’ quiz
The Atlanta Falcons are going to look a little different with new head coach Kevin Stefanki on the sidelines, but quarterback Michael Penix Jr. should have another receiver returning to the team for 2026. Tight end Kyle Pitts officially signed his franchise-tag for the season and reported to the team’s voluntary
Rory McIlroy Shades Irish Food, Explains His Masters Champions Dinner Menu in New Video
The Masters Champions dinner will be held on Tuesday evening, and it will be served in honor of defending champion Rory McIlroy. On Tuesday, McIlroy spoke with reporters and discussed the process that led to the creation of the menu, and he offered a sly dig at his homeland’s cuisine
HC Robert Saleh Praises Titans’ RB Group
The Titans have frequently been mentioned as a landing spot for Jeremiyah Love in the upcoming draft. Tennessee holds the fourth overall pick, so the team will likely have the opportunity to select the consensus top running back prospect. Love is indeed among the players who have conducted a pre-draft
QB Diego Pavia to visit Panthers Tuesday
The Panthers are set to meet with a potential addition to their quarterback room. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia will visit with the team on Tuesday. Pavia played at New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico before spending the last two seasons with
The ‘Most 1K-rushing-yard NFL seasons’ quiz
Happy 72nd birthday to four-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro, 1977 Offensive Rookie of the Year and Super Bowl XII champion, Tony Dorsett! Dorsett was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the second-overall pick in the 1977 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy at Pittsburgh in 1976. He was an
Dan Hurley Answers Question About Refs After UConn’s National Championship Game Loss to Michigan
Dan Hurley has quite the reputation when it comes to his relationship with officials, so it was inevitable he would be asked about the whistle during Monday’s national championship game loss to Michigan. In fact, he even broke out in laughter when asked how much the officiating impacted his team’s
Giants’ Dexter Lawrence Requests Trade
Dexter Lawrence remains under contract with the Giants, but that may not be the case for much longer. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle has requested a trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Lawrence will not attend New York’s offseason program, per Schefter. Since the Giants are among the teams which made a
Buccaneers to work out free agent OL Kenyon Green
Free agent offensive lineman Kenyon Green will work out for the Buccaneers on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC reports. The Texans made Green a first-round pick in 2022. Green, 25, started 14 games at left guard as a rookie but missed the 2023 season with a torn labrum in his
The ’40-passing-TD NFL seasons’ quiz
The start of the 2026 NFL season is still months away, but some teams are beginning voluntary workouts this week. One notable name making an appearance at these offseason workouts is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Entering his ninth campaign and his first without John Harbaugh as his head coach
Vikings won’t begin G.M. search until after the draft
The Vikings have not started their search for a permanent General Manager to replace Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The team fired Adofo-Mensah on Jan. 30, naming Rob Brzezinski as the interim G.M. During the NFL’s spring meetings last week, Vikings owner Mark Wilf laid out the structure of the search. He said,
Browns Sign DB Myles Bryant
The Browns have added a veteran piece to their secondary. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reports that Cleveland has agreed to a deal with defensive back Myles Bryant. The 2020 undrafted free agent out of Washington spent the first four seasons of his career in New England. His role
Bills want to open new stadium in prime time
With or without a new stadium, the Buffalo Bills are always ready for prime time. With a new home to be officially christened in September, the Bills want it to happen under the lights. Via Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News, team COO Pete Guelli said the Bills have informed
The ‘NFL Defensive Players of the Year’ quiz
After a decorated 13-year NFL career, cornerback Stephon Gilmore is officially calling it a career. The 35 year old out of South Carolina was drafted 10th-overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2012, spending the first five years of his career in Western New York before joining division-rival New England in
New A.J. Brown Trade Rumors Emerge as NFL Execs Predict Landing Spot amid Patriots, Rams Buzz
Some around the NFL won’t close the door on the Philadelphia Eagles trading wide receiver A.J. Brown, according to The Athletic’s Zach Berman. Berman reported Monday that “few are convinced that Brown will return,” with the New England Patriots considered to be in pole position if a trade happens: “My
Latest On Vikings’ General Manager Search
It’s been just over two months since the Vikings parted ways with former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, yet Minnesota still hasn’t begun the process of replacing him, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. At the NFL’s annual league meeting, though, Vikings president/co-owner Mark Wilf gave the media an overview of the planned
Cam Ward “progressing really well” after Week 18 shoulder injury
Titans quarterback Cam Ward’s rookie season ended a little earlier than expected, but there doesn’t seem to be much worry about his right shoulder impacting his readiness for Year Two. Ward did not have surgery after spraining his AC joint in the first half of Tennessee’s final regular season game
Troy Aikman’s comments about Dolphins role may cause controversy
Troy Aikman made a very honest admission about his new role with the Miami Dolphins that will likely spark some controversy. Aikman suggested that his role as a broadcaster probably factored into Miami’s decision to hire him to an undefined front office advisory role this offseason. However, he thinks the
Lavonte David: When playing the Eagles, we tried to make Jalen Hurts beat us
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has a record of 57-25 in the regular season, and 6-4 in the playoffs. Against the Buccaneers, however, Hurts has gone 2-4. Former Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David, appearing recently on The Arena, explained the Buccaneers’ approach to playing defense against the Eagles with Hurts at
Prospect Profile: Ty Simpson
Last year, we ended our Prospect Profile series with the 2025 NFL Draft’s most controversial quarterback. This year, we’ll start with one, and no quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft is driving more controversy right now than Alabama’s Ty Simpson. While recent highly drafted quarterbacks have been benefactors of
Grading the Booking of Every WWE WrestleMania 42 Feud Thus Far
Penta winning the IC title from Dirty Dom was a great moment for him, but WrestleMania will be even better if he successfully retains his title in a multi-man Ladder match. While this could easily steal the whole weekend, it’s not exactly a feud or storyline. WWE had nothing for
Could this sleeper team make a run at Brandon Aiyuk?
The San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk are still at a stalemate. The former All-Pro wideout has burned all bridges with the organization, but they have no incentive to let him go right now, knowing that they can get something in return for his services. That’s why it wouldn’t be
Troy Aikman addresses his new (but still undefined) role with the Dolphins
Once upon a time, the Cowboys beat the Dolphins in the Super Bowl. If the two teams somehow cross paths in the championship game in the not-too-distant future, Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman will definitely have a dog in the fight. In an interview with Clarence E. Hill
Jets Favor Arvell Reese At No. 2 Overall?
With the Raiders all but guaranteed to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall, there is more intrigue surrounding the Jets at No. 2. A pair of Ohio State linebackers, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, as well as Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey are candidates for New York’s top
Potential Offseason Landing Spots for Brock Boeser Amid NHL Trade Rumors
Scoring was an issue for the New Jersey Devils this season. Frequently injured center Jack Hughes missed 18 games following surgery for a cut finger. Meanwhile, team captain Nico Hischier and wingers Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier saw their production drop this season. Before the March trade deadline, TSN’s Pierre
Five teams that should consider NFL Draft trades
A possible solution to that conundrum is for Arizona to trade down, which would also allow it to add more draft capital to a roster with plenty of holes. The Cardinals own No. 3 overall, which could be a prime spot for edge-rusher David Bailey, considered by many the top
With NHL’s Sabres ending long playoff drought, the Jets stand alone
The Jets stand alone. With the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres ending a 14-year playoff drought by clinching a postseason berth on Saturday, the NFL’s Jets have the current longest non-playoff streak in North American pro sports at 15 seasons. Credit to Rich Cimini of ESPN for flagging the fact that the
NFL Players Expected To Participate In 2028 Olympics
Last May, owners voted to allow NFL players to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. That has been followed by interest shown on the part of several notable players, leading to the expectation they will indeed be taking part in the Games. Particulars have yet to worked out regarding
Tatum Paxley Beats Blake Monroe to Retain NXT Title at 2026 Stand & Deliver
Tatum Paxley defeated Blake Monroe at NXT Stand & Deliver on Saturday to retain the Women’s North American Championship. Paxley and Monroe began their rivalry on the March 17 episode of NXT after Paxley beat Izzi Dame in a steel cage match to retain the women’s North American title, just
Patriots Could Pursue Maxx Crosby Trade
Since the Raiders-Ravens Maxx Crosby trade fell through, expectations have turned to Crosby remaining in Las Vegas. Interest from other suitors could of course emerge, however. One team to watch in that regard could be the Patriots. New England is open to making notable trades deep into the 2026 offseason, Ben Volin
















































