President Trump acknowledges effort to overturn Flo Balogun’s suspension
Yes, the Commander-in-Chief got directly involved in the effort to overturn the suspension of U.S. striker Flo Balogun. On Monday, President Trump admitted that he contacted FIFA in an effort to get Balogun back on the pitch for tonight’s Round of 16 game against Belgium. Obviously, it’s not known what
Bengals’ BJ Hill sends message to Dexter Lawrence II ‘haters’
Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II endured the worst statistical season of his career while with the New York Giants before the Giants sent him to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft this past spring. For a piece published on Monday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic shared what fellow Bengals defensive
Who Was Snubbed from Top 10 in New NFL RB Rankings by Coaches, Execs?
NFL coaches and executives voted on the top 10 running backs entering the 2026 season, and some interesting names were left off the list. In the latest poll conducted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the running backs listed in the “Honorable Mention” section included Josh Jacobs of the Green Bay Packers,
Extension Candidate: Zay Flowers
The idea of an extension for Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has been in the air for over a year now. The team’s leading receiver for each of the past three seasons changed his representation in May last year, and both sides have expressed interest in continuing to work together.
Report: FIFA rescinds U.S. striker Flo Balogun’s one-game suspension
The United States got a belated 250th birthday gift from FIFA. And it’s way better than some phony-baloney peace prize. According to The Athletic, FIFA has rescinded the one-game suspension that attached to the red card U.S. striker Folarin Balogun received on Wednesday night in a win over Bosnia and
John Harbaugh gets positive grade for what he’s doing with Giants
It’s time for John Harbaugh to show that all the hype and buzz were worth it. There are just over two months until the start of the New York Giants‘ regular season, and it’s crunch time. Harbaugh is already a Super Bowl-winning coach from his lengthy time with the Baltimore
Rule 27 of FIFA Disciplinary Code was used to overturn the Flo Balogun suspension
The suspension of the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun has prompted an unprecedented uptick in online searches for the relevant provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The key language comes from Article. 27, which gives FIFA wide discretion to “fully or partially suspend” any disciplinary measure. Here’s the full
10 bold predictions for the 2026 NFL season: Is the Chiefs dynasty over?
With training camps set to begin in a couple of weeks and the Seattle Seahawks riding high as defending Super Bowl champions, the 2026 NFL season is already generating buzz. Free agency, the draft, and blockbuster trades, including A.J. Brown heading to the New England Patriots and Myles Garrett joining the
Wedding presence of Amazon, Fox TV personalities may hint at Travis Kelce’s next move
I wasn’t going to say anything more about the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding, but an item from Drew Lerner of Awful Announcing got the addled gears of my brain turning. Lerner notes that both FOX and Amazon had a very strong presence at the ceremony, with even rules analyst Dean
5 Key Stories: 6/28/26 – 7/5/26
With the calendar having flipped to July, training camps around the NFL are not far away. This past week fell within the relatively quiet period of the year but still saw a number of important developments. In case you missed any of the league’s top stories over the last few
Folarin Balogun’s Status for USMNT vs. Belgium Revealed After Ruling on Red-Card Ban in World Cup
The United States Men’s National Team reportedly will have star striker Folarin Balogun available for Monday’s round of 16 World Cup showdown against Belgium after all. While Balogun was set to be suspended after he was issued a straight red card for a foul during the Americans’ round of 32
Maxx Crosby has high praise for NFC West QB
Trade speculation surrounding Maxx Crosby has picked up once again this offseason, with the star pass-rusher frequently mentioned as a potential target for teams looking to make a blockbuster move. While Crosby has continued to dismiss the rumors and reaffirm his commitment to the Las Vegas Raiders, he recently turned heads
Ronaldo, Portugal vs. Spain Top Storylines, Odds, Live Stream for World Cup 2026
Each of the last seven meetings between Spain and Portugal have either ended in draws, or by a winning margin of one goal. Portugal tied Spain 3-3 in their last World Cup meeting during the 2018 group stage. The three UEFA Nations League meetings in the last three years featured
Offseason In Review: Tennessee Titans
It is safe to say this is the worst period the Titans have experienced since relocating to Tennessee. The franchise’s Houston years produced a comparable three-year run in the early 1980s. The Oilers’ Warren Moon free agency addition helped pull them out of the NFL basement in the mid-’80s; the
Caleb Williams Gifts Pope Leo XIV Autographed Bears Jersey for July 4th in Photo
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams sent Pope Leo XIV an autographed jersey for the Fourth of July. Williams’ foundation posted a photo of Pope Leo XIV holding the jersey on X. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, is a Chicago native. He’s a noted sports fan with an affinity for
Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza gets confidence boost amid Kirk Cousins competition
Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza, that’s the question the Las Vegas Raiders face going into the 2026 season. The Cousins and Mendoza competition is one of the hottest in the NFL right now, and even though it’s obvious that Mendoza is the quarterback of the future for the team, it’s
It’s been 17 years since Steve McNair’s murder
The Fourth of July is one of the slowest NFL news days of the year. Every year, I remember the shocking news that emerged in the early afternoon of July 4, 2009. Former Titans and Ravens quarterback Steve McNair had been murdered. The details were confusing. It was quickly ruled
Dolphins Not Eyeing Defensive Additions
With over $11MM in cap space, the Dolphins could afford to make one or more low-cost additions late in free agency. At least three positions on defense are likely to remain unchanged heading into training camp, though. As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes, agents representing some of the
Max Holloway Teases Conor McGregor Trilogy Fight at NFL Stadium Ahead of UFC 329
Max Holloway hinted at a third fight with Conor McGregor taking place at Allegiant Stadium following their upcoming clash at UFC 329. “He was talking about some contract stuff, how he doesn’t want to wait a year [to fight again],” Holloway said, per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. “I told him, ‘Don’t
Raiders’ Mendoza sends message to fans about earning their support
Ever since the Las Vegas Raiders made Fernando Mendoza the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, expectations have climbed with every passing week. Some fans are already calling for him to be the team’s Week 1 starter, while others have gone as far as labeling him the future face of
Aaron Donald fuels speculation he’ll return to the Rams
After the Rams traded for defensive end Myles Garrett, a wave of chatter emerged that the move could lure Aaron Donald out of a two-year retirement. Since then, the talk has largely subsided. It’s heating up again. Here’s something we found this morning, thanks to an item published earlier today
Each NFC Team’s Largest 2026 Cap Hit
With training camp a few weeks away and the NFL in the midst of a rare quiet period, this is a good time to examine each team’s largest 2026 cap hit. This exercise will take a look at players who are still on their teams’ rosters. That disqualifies massive dead
Scot McCloughan dubs Ty Simpson a “career backup”
Rams quarterback Ty Simpson didn’t slide far enough in the first round to make that into a legitimate source of motivation. If he’s looking for it elsewhere, he’s in luck. Former two-time NFL General Manager Scot McCloughan recently directed sharp criticism at the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL
Criticisms of Brady’s relationships with Fox, Raiders resurface
Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady generated headlines when he recently said that “it’s everybody’s fault” that the 2025 Raiders “underperformed in every area” en route to finishing the season with a record of 3-14. “And it starts with me,” Brady continued, “and it filters down to the rest of the players
Get the Big Shield ebook free for Fourth of July weekend
It’s Fourth of July weekend. It’s slow. The staff has the weekend off. I’ll be posting some stuff throughout the weekend. And you stopped by to check it out. For that, you get a free copy of the Big Shield ebook. If you want it. To get it, click here.
Is Dallas A Playoff Team?
This is Fourth of July Weekend, a fitting time to discuss America’s Team. The Cowboys missed the postseason in each of the past two years, but a couple of their key figures have expressed optimism they will return to contention in 2026. Quarterback Dak Prescott said in June that making
WWE SmackDown Winners, Grades and Reaction After Night of Champions 2026
SmackDown returned to a two-hour format this week, but more importantly, Sami Zayn returned to the blue brand as the new WWE champion following his win at Night of Champions. The new champ defeated Cody Rhodes and Gunther to claim his first world title in WWE, but now, he has
Falcons second-year safety viewed as ready to make another leap
The Atlanta Falcons did not get where they wanted to go last season, falling short of the playoffs for the eighth straight season, but one of their biggest roster wins came from the 2025 NFL Draft. In Terry Fontenot’s final draft as the team’s general manager, the Falcons found a
Leo Carlsson Signs $90M Flyers Offer Sheet, Set to Become NHL’s Highest-Paid Player
The Philadelphia Flyers signed restricted free-agent forward Leo Carlsson to a massive offer sheet on Friday, meaning the Anaheim Ducks must now decide whether they want to match it. The Flyers announced that the offer sheet is a five-year, $90 million contract. If the Ducks do not match it, they
Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II Competing To Start
Despite losing starting safety Reed Blankenship to the Texans in free agency, the Eagles did not make any major moves to replace him in the offseason. That will leave Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II to compete for a starting spot in training camp, per Zach Berman of The Athletic.
James Dolan’s Son Quentin Takes over as President, COO of NHL’s Rangers
James Dolan is ceding control of the NHL’s New York Rangers to his 32-year-old son Quentin Dolan. According to Mollie Walker of the New York Post, the 71-year-old Dolan is stepping aside and handing over the positions of president, chief operating officer and alternate governor to Quentin. Quentin confirmed the
How Chargers’ Mike McDaniel is trying to get Justin Herbert to reach major goal
Not long after the Los Angeles Chargers hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator, he made it known that he wanted quarterback Justin Herbert “to master and be elite at everything” he does and also be “able to own the position in a new way.” It turns out McDaniel’s
U.S. win in Round of 32 draws 33.5 million total viewers, on average
As the stakes increase, so will the ratings. Wednesday night’s 2-0 win by the U.S. men’s team over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 World Cup’s Round of 32 generated a record American audience of 33.5 million for the English and Spanish broadcasts. On Fox and related properties, 24.4 million
CB Terrion Arnold Drawing NFL Interest?
Terrion Arnold initially seemed to be on track to remain with the Lions through training camp as his criminal case proceeded. On Monday, however, the former first-round cornerback was waived by Detroit. Arnold’s Detroit tenure officially came to an end yesterday. He will remain on the waiver wire through to Monday,
Acrisure Stadium has gotten its new grass surface
Not all grass field are the same. While NFL players overwhelmingly prefer grass to artificial turf, they want high-quality grass. At Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, the grass has not been high-quality. While it’s come a long way from the Punt That Didn’t Bounce Of 2007, last year’s surface was an
Why these three first-round quarterbacks still haven’t found a home
The NFL Draft rewards teams that get the quarterback position right and punishes teams that don’t for years afterwards. Over the past five draft classes a handful of highly picked passers have failed to become the answer that teams expected them to be. Here’s a look at three of them
Former Saints LB Keith Mitchell dies at 51
Former NFL linebacker Keith Mitchell has died, Texas A&M athletics announced on Thursday. Mitchell was 51. His cause of death is unknown. The Saints signed Mitchell as an undrafted free agent in 1997, and he played five seasons in New Orleans. In 2000, Mitchell earned Pro Bowl honors. He played
Cowboys’ DaRon Bland On Track For Camp
After undergoing left foot surgery in January, Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland was limited during spring workouts. Now, four weeks from training camp, Bland says his foot has healed, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. He is expected to be a full participant when the Cowboys begin camp on July 29.
Rams Legend LeRoy Irvin Dies at Age 68
Los Angeles Rams legend LeRoy Irvin died at the age of 68, the team announced Thursday. Irvin operated as a defensive back and return specialist across his 11 seasons in the NFL from 1980 through 1990, with 10 occurring as a member of the Rams. Hall of Fame running back
The ‘Seven-sack NFL victors’ quiz
Happy 41st birthday to former second-round NFL Draft pick, 13-year journeyman and Super Bowl LVII champion (backup) quarterback, Chad Henne! Henne was selected out of Michigan by the Miami Dolphins in the 2008 NFL Draft, and after attempting 12 passes as a rookie got a chance to be the starter
Texans waive DB Ajani Carter, LB Xavier Thomas off of IR
The Texans made a pair of moves involving players on their injured reserve list on Wednesday. The NFL’s transaction report for July 1 shows that they waived defensive back Ajani Carter and linebacker Xavier Thomas. Both players were waived with injury designations earlier in the offseason and will be free
Former Lions CB Terrion Arnold Confined To Residence
The legal situation for former Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold continues to develop as things are looking tougher each day since his release. Because some favorable conditions of his release were based on his employment in the National Football League, the state has pushed for a reconsideration of those conditions in
NBC could try to get both English and Spanish rights to 2030 World Cup
The World Cup rights for both the English- and Spanish-language broadcasts in the U.S. will be available in 2030 to the highest bidder. NBC, which currently has the Spanish version of the World Cup via Telemundo and Peacock, may try to get both. Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal reports
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby shares major update amid 49ers, trade rumors
Resurfaced rumors linking Las Vegas Raiders star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby with the San Francisco 49ers have sparked new questions about where he will both begin and end the 2026 NFL season. One thing that has been forgotten by some is that the Baltimore Ravens backed out of trading for Crosby in March due
John Carlson, Lightning Reportedly Agree to Contract in NHL Free Agency After Ducks Stint
Veteran defenseman John Carlson is on the move again after helping the Anaheim Ducks reach the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carlson and the Tampa Bay Lightning agreed to an two-year, $17 million contract, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday. The Carolina Hurricanes previously acquired Carlson’s rights as a pending unrestricted free
Jaguars, Browns, Bengals, Buccaneers, Packers
Yesterday, the Jaguars announced new titles for two assistant coaches. Pass game coordinator Shane Waldron and special teams coordinator Heath Farwell both received promotions that will add “assistant head coach” and “associate head coach” to their respective titles. Waldron joined the team last year, following the end of his second
Lions officially waive Terrion Arnold
The Lions announced on Monday that they’d released cornerback Terrion Arnold. The official move appears on Wednesday’s report of NFL transactions. The report includes a note that the claiming deadline is Monday, July 6, at 4:00 p.m. ET. It’s highly unlikely that any team will make a claim for the
Steelers called out for making a ‘mistake’ that could haunt them
The Pittsburgh Steelers did plenty of positive things during the offseason. For one, they secured MVP-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers for one more season. That was an immediate need and will buffer things over until they figure out a long-term plan for the quarterback. They also signed cornerback Jamel Dean to
U.S. returns to World Cup action tonight at Levi’s Stadium, with get-in price of $1,369
The boys in red, white, and blue will be back in action tonight. And if you want to see the match in person, it won’t be cheap. Via Sports Business Journal, the get-in price for the World Cup knockout round game between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina was,
The NFL’s Longest-Tenured GMs
Only three general manager vacancies emerged this offseason. One of them came from the removal of longtime Dolphins GM Chris Grier, whom the team dismissed last October. Grier had been in Miami’s GM chair since 2016 and held final personnel say beginning in 2019. The Dolphins now have Jon-Eric Sullivan,
















































