Category: Sports

Saturday’s concluding day of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh opened with a surprising selection that caught many analysts off guard.

Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy, who numerous experts predicted would be chosen in the opening round, instead became the Las Vegas Raiders’ pick at 101st overall to start the fourth round.

The Raiders executed a minor trade with Buffalo, giving up a 2027 seventh-round selection to move from 102nd to 101st position and land McCoy.

Scouts Inc. had ranked McCoy as the 16th best available talent, but his dramatic slide resulted from medical red flags. The cornerback suffered an ACL tear that sidelined him for the entire 2025 collegiate campaign, and while that injury has recovered, medical evaluations revealed degenerative cartilage damage in his right knee.

“All of my doctors that did my surgery told me (that) I’m good,” McCoy said, per ESPN. “But if there’s something that (the Raiders) want me to do for the longevity of my career, I’m willing to do that because I feel like they have my best interest.”

During his 2024 season with Tennessee, McCoy recorded four interceptions and nine pass deflections following his transfer from Oregon State.

Las Vegas continued making bold moves after selecting Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza with the draft’s opening pick two days earlier. The organization shipped former top-10 selection Tyree Wilson to New Orleans to jump from 219th overall up to 150th in the fifth round.

Wilson, chosen seventh overall in 2023, recorded 12 quarterback sacks across three seasons rushing the passer for Las Vegas. The Raiders had previously attempted to deal star pass rusher Maxx Crosby to Baltimore this offseason, but the Ravens withdrew from negotiations when Crosby failed his physical while rehabilitating from knee surgery.

With their 150th selection, Las Vegas chose Arizona safety Dalton Johnson.

The quarterback position remained sparse throughout the weekend, with only one passer taken in round four and another in round five.

New York’s Jets moved up through a deal with Cincinnati to grab Clemson’s Cade Klubnik at 110th overall. The trade sent Cincinnati the 128th pick while the Jets received the 199th selection in addition to moving up from 140th.

Klubnik, formerly considered elite college quarterback material, failed to meet expectations during his three-plus seasons leading Clemson’s offense. The 6-foot-2 prospect completed passes for 2,943 yards with 16 touchdowns against six interceptions in 2025 for the Tigers.

New York has once again restructured its quarterback position but waited until round four to gamble on an incoming rookie, having selected pass rusher David Bailey second overall. Klubnik will compete alongside Geno Smith, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for playing time.

“I woke up this morning hoping the Jets were going to pick me,” Klubnik told reporters after the pick.

Philadelphia utilized the 178th overall selection on North Dakota State’s Cole Payton, a former FCS championship winner who will join a depth chart featuring Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee and veteran Andy Dalton.

Although only six quarterbacks were selected through five rounds, tight ends experienced tremendous popularity. Seventeen were chosen in rounds one through five, exceeding the 16 total drafted in 2025.

Mississippi State tight end Seydou Traore, a London native, joined the Miami Dolphins at 180th overall as the fifth round’s second-to-last selection. Despite not being announced among the prospect “green room” attendees, Traore appeared on Pittsburgh’s stage and received recognition from commissioner Roger Goodell, creating an uncommon moment for the draft’s third day.

Cleveland opened round six by selecting Arkansas quarterback Talen Green with the opening pick. Green will enter a crowded Browns quarterback room including Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic have made a habit of taking the difficult path this season.

Their journey to this playoff moment included a seven-game losing streak in March that nearly derailed their postseason hopes, followed by a must-win play-in tournament game that few expected them to survive. Saturday’s contest against the Detroit Pistons continued that theme as Orlando watched a commanding 17-point advantage evaporate in the fourth quarter, leaving them trailing their opponents.

But the Magic responded in characteristic fashion.

“Fight,” said center Wendell Carter Jr. when asked about his team’s approach.

That fighting spirit proved decisive as Orlando dominated the final stretch, outpacing Detroit 9-0 over the last 2:51 to secure a 113-105 victory. The win puts the eighth-seeded Magic ahead 2-1 in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup against the top-seeded Pistons.

“We did a good job of staying poised … not getting rattled,” commented Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who nearly recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. “Very composed from the team, and we got the job done.”

Banchero delivered the crucial dagger shot as well — a three-pointer that struck the rim, bounced high into the air, then fell through the net with roughly 40 seconds remaining on the clock.

“The basketball gods don’t reward hesitation,” Banchero explained. “That one, I didn’t hesitate and they blessed me with that make. A funny shot, but a big shot.”

The dramatic finish came after Detroit mounted an impressive comeback effort.

The Pistons, who had been behind for most of the evening, unleashed a devastating 26-8 surge over approximately six minutes. This rally transformed a 96-79 Orlando lead into a 105-104 Detroit advantage on a free throw by Cade Cunningham, who topped all players with 27 points. During that explosive stretch, Cunningham and Tobias Harris combined for 22 points while Detroit connected on 9-of-11 field goal attempts.

“For parts of the game, we did some good things,” said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “But down the stretch, they made some tough shots that made it hard for us to finish it out.”

His assessment was partially accurate. The complete picture showed Detroit going scoreless after their impressive run concluded.

Once the Pistons’ 26-8 surge ended, Orlando claimed all nine remaining points in the contest. The Magic, who appear to thrive under intense pressure situations, discovered another path to victory.

Orlando’s reward is a 2-1 series advantage heading into Monday’s home game, positioning the eighth seed just two victories away from completing a major upset.

“There’s a lot to clean up as well,” acknowledged Magic coach Jamahl Mosley.

Philadelphia selected North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton during the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, making him the 178th overall choice.

Payton was among six quarterbacks chosen within the draft’s opening five rounds.

The signal-caller proved his versatility as both a passer and runner during his time with the Bison. Following four years primarily serving as a backup, Payton stepped into the starting role this past season and completed passes for 2,719 yards while recording 16 passing touchdowns against just four interceptions. He also contributed significantly on the ground, accumulating 777 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores.

During his tenure as a reserve player, Payton earned two FCS championship rings in 2021 and 2024.

The left-handed quarterback measured 6-foot-3 and demonstrated his athleticism at the NFL combine by recording a 4.56-second time in the 40-yard dash while achieving a 40-inch vertical leap.

The 23-year-old will enter a competitive quarterback position group in Philadelphia that features Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton.

The top contender for this year’s Kentucky Derby faces an uphill battle after being assigned the challenging inside rail position during Saturday’s official post position draw at Churchill Downs.

Renegade, who captured the Arkansas Derby and is owned by American billionaire Mike Repole, enters as the betting favorite at 4-1 odds for the 152nd Run for the Roses scheduled for Saturday, May 2, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, the three-year-old colt has delivered impressive performances in his two starts this season. Renegade staged a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February 7, then dominated the field with a commanding four-length triumph in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on March 28.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will guide Renegade in his quest for Derby glory, though the veteran rider is still seeking his first Kentucky Derby victory after nine previous attempts. However, Ortiz Jr. has found success in the Triple Crown series, capturing two Belmont Stakes titles in 2016 and 2022.

The rail assignment places Renegade in a historically difficult position, as no horse has won the Derby from the first gate since Ferdinand accomplished the feat in 1986. While eight horses total have won from Gate No. 1, most of those victories occurred when Derby fields were considerably smaller.

Sharing co-second choice status at 6-1 odds are Commandment, who will break from the sixth gate, and Further Ado, starting from the outside 18th position. Both horses are trained by Brad Cox.

Legendary trainer Bob Baffert, who returned to Derby competition last May following a three-year suspension, will saddle two contenders: Potente and Litmus Test.

The complete 20-horse field with opening odds includes: Renegade (4-1), Albus (30-1), Intrepido (50-1), Litmus Test (30-1), Right To Party (30-1), Commandment (6-1), Danon Bourbon (20-1), So Happy (15-1), The Puma (10-1), Wonder Dean (30-1), Incredibolt (20-1), Chief Wallabee (8-1), Silent Tactic (20-1), Potente (20-1), Emerging Market (15-1), Pavlovian (30-1), Six Speed (50-1), Further Ado (6-1), Golden Tempo (30-1), and Fulleffort (20-1).

The Los Angeles Kings find themselves in familiar territory, facing elimination after falling behind 3-0 in their NHL playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche.

Los Angeles enters Sunday’s Game 4 trailing three games to none in their opening-round matchup. However, the Kings have experience with this exact scenario – they overcame a similar 3-0 deficit against the San Jose Sharks during the 2014 first round before ultimately winning the Stanley Cup that year.

“You’ve got to be loose now,” said Kings interim head coach D.J. Smith. “You know the end result if you don’t win. Sometimes when that happens you grip it a little less and you make a play maybe you wouldn’t have made early on.”

Smith emphasized the importance of maintaining team unity during this challenging moment. “The No. 1 thing you can’t do is get down on yourself, get down on your team, get down on your teammates. I don’t see any of that in the room. … I don’t feel for one second that anyone in that room doesn’t think we can win our next hockey game.”

For Colorado, this marks the eighth time in franchise history they’ve taken a 3-0 series advantage. In their last three instances with such a lead, the Avalanche completed the sweep, including two occasions during their 2022 championship run.

Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on TNT.

In other playoff action, the Buffalo Sabres hold a 2-1 series edge over the Boston Bruins. Boston will attempt to prevent falling into a 3-1 hole when they return to TD Garden on Sunday. The Bruins posted a 29-11-1 home record this season, tied for the league’s best home performance, and went more than three months without a home loss.

Buffalo’s road success has been equally impressive, with their 24 away victories tied for the Eastern Conference lead.

“We’ve been a good road team. We’ve put together some really good stretches on the road where we’ve played really well,” Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff explained. “I said you’re going to get a different type of atmosphere, but just believe in the way we need to play. And I thought we executed that to a ‘T.’”

The teams received an extra day of rest following Game 3, which Buffalo claimed 3-1 to regain home-ice advantage. This playoff appearance marks Buffalo’s first since 2011, ending the longest postseason drought in NHL history.

Despite the series deficit, Boston remains optimistic after scoring the opening goal in all three contests.

“We’re a confident bunch here, and one game doesn’t change that,” Boston forward Mark Kastelic stated. “We’ll have a good two days here to reset and continue to push forward.”

That matchup continues Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Back to the Avalanche-Kings series, Colorado has demonstrated versatility beyond their reputation for speed and offensive firepower, winning multiple low-scoring defensive battles.

“You’re comfortable winning a 1-0 game. If it’s a little bit more run-and-gun, you can do that, too,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar noted. “If it’s physical, you’re able to do that. It’s well-rounded players that can play a 200-foot game that give you the best chance to win, and we have a team full of them.”

Los Angeles has additional motivation to extend their season, as team captain Anze Kopitar plans to retire after this campaign. Meanwhile, an unnamed Avalanche defenseman has personal incentive to close out the series quickly – he was part of that 2014 San Jose team that surrendered a 3-0 lead to these same Kings.

The decisive Game 4 takes place Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

In Montreal, the Canadiens lead Tampa Bay 2-1 in a series where every game has required overtime. Montreal has captured two of those extra-time contests, improving their season record to 21-6-6 in one-goal games.

The Canadiens’ fourth line contributed a plus-3 rating in Game 3, while Montreal maintains their series advantage despite their top line failing to score at even strength. Juraj Slafkovsky, skating on the first line, netted three power-play goals in the series opener’s 4-3 victory.

Tampa Bay continues to struggle with penalties and defensive breakdowns, including surrendering three breakaway opportunities Friday night. The Lightning face their potential fourth consecutive first-round elimination.

“We’ve held some pretty darn good players to limited chances in this series,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper observed. “We’re just not capitalizing the way we think we can do some things. Our execution has to be (better), we have to elevate now. And it feels like we’ve had bits and pieces of this series where we’ve been pretty darn good, and on the other side of it it’s been a struggle at times.”

That series continues Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks have surprised many by taking a 2-1 series lead over the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. Anaheim has found the net 16 times through three games to seize control.

After four straight years of extended playoff runs, Connor McDavid and the Oilers appear fatigued and error-prone. Star defenseman Evan Bouchard has been particularly guilty of costly mistakes during Edmonton’s 7-4 Game 3 defeat.

“Any time you let in seven, it’s not a goalie problem,” Oilers defenseman Zach Hyman acknowledged. “It’s just (about) defending better. We didn’t give ourselves a chance.”

Anaheim thrives in high-scoring affairs, using their offensive talent to overcome defensive shortcomings. The enthusiastic home crowd, experiencing their first playoff hockey in eight years, provides additional energy as the Ducks attempt to push Edmonton toward their first opening-round exit since 2021.

HOUSTON — Rockets head coach Ime Udoka announced Saturday that superstar Kevin Durant’s condition is improving following his ankle injury, though his availability for Sunday evening’s must-win Game 4 against Los Angeles remains uncertain as Houston attempts to stave off elimination.

The veteran forward was sidelined for Friday’s Game 3 due to a sprained left ankle, during which the Rockets surrendered a six-point advantage in the final 30 seconds of regulation before ultimately falling 112-108 in overtime, putting them down 0-3 in the opening round matchup.

“He’s getting treatment still around the clock,” Udoka explained. “I think there’s some soreness and (he’s) pushed a lot of swelling out, but it’ll be a matter of if he can go. We’ll try it out I’m sure tomorrow morning and before the game, and we’ll know his status then.”

When questioned about the probability of Durant suiting up Sunday as Houston fights to prevent a series sweep in the Western Conference playoffs, Udoka remained cautiously optimistic.

“Every day that goes by, the likelihood goes up,” he stated. “But I thought he might be OK (Friday) based on shootaround and that’s different going half speed and then ramping it up right before a game. And so you really can’t tell, but he’s doing everything he can to get back.”

Durant was absent from the series opener due to a bruised right knee before returning for Game 2, where he contributed 23 points across 41 minutes in the 101-94 defeat. He sustained the ankle injury during the closing moments of that contest.

These playoff injury setbacks follow a season where the 37-year-old veteran logged the second-most minutes in the NBA at 2,840 during regular season play.

The NBA’s fifth all-time leading scorer is completing his inaugural campaign with Houston following an offseason trade from Phoenix.

The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Nathan Lukes on the 10-day injured list Saturday following a hamstring strain, marking another addition to the team’s growing list of injured players.

Lukes sustained the left hamstring injury during Friday evening’s 8-6 defeat against the Cleveland Guardians at home. The outfielder started the game’s opening inning with a double off pitcher Gavin Williams but limped into second base with obvious discomfort. Davis Schneider entered as a pinch runner, advanced to third on a fly ball, and crossed home plate on a ground out by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

After beginning this season with early struggles, going 2-for-31 while dealing with vertigo-related dizziness and vision issues, Lukes had recently found his rhythm with 11 hits over his previous 21 plate appearances. His current season statistics show a .250 batting average with eight RBIs across 52 at-bats.

The 31-year-old spent seven years in minor league baseball before reaching the majors with Toronto in 2023. Following limited appearances in just 51 games during 2023 and 2024, he became a regular starter last season, posting a .255 average along with 12 home runs and 65 RBIs in 135 contests.

Toronto responded to Lukes’ injury by promoting outfielder Yohendrick Pinango from Triple-A Buffalo. The 23-year-old prospect had been performing well in the minors, batting .288 with three homers, 13 RBIs and 10 runs through 92 plate appearances. Pinango is anticipated to serve as depth behind Myles Straw, who will likely handle most outfield duties while Lukes recovers.

The Blue Jays also transferred right-handed pitcher Yimi Garcia from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list due to his elbow condition, creating the necessary roster space.

Lukes joins an extensive group of more than a dozen Toronto players currently on the injured list this season, including designated hitter George Springer with a fractured left big toe, outfielders Addison Barger (sprained left ankle) and Anthony Santander (torn left shoulder labrum), catcher Alejandro Kirk (fractured left thumb), and several pitchers including Bowden Francis (elbow surgery), Jose Berrios (stress fracture in right elbow), Cody Ponce (torn right ACL), Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation), and Trey Yesavage (shoulder).

However, Toronto received encouraging news regarding Yesavage, who is scheduled to return from the injured list and start Tuesday’s matchup against the Boston Red Sox.

Yesavage’s return comes after completing four rehabilitation outings in the minor leagues, though his performance showed room for improvement with a 7.50 ERA and 1.750 WHIP over 12 innings. His latest appearance lasted only 2.1 innings with two strikeouts, suggesting the 22-year-old right-hander will face pitch count restrictions in his season debut.

Toronto manager John Schneider voiced his frustration with the team’s injury situation Saturday, telling Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae, “Feels like anyone who’s playing good is not allowed to play anymore.”

Currently sitting fourth in the AL East division with a 10-15 record, the Blue Jays continued their three-game series against the Guardians on Saturday afternoon in Toronto.

Chicago White Sox management made a roster move Saturday, promoting catcher Drew Romo from their Triple-A Charlotte affiliate while cutting backup catcher Reese McGuire from the team.

The 24-year-old Romo has been performing strongly in the minor leagues this season, posting a .298 batting average across 17 games with Charlotte, including three doubles, four home runs, 11 RBIs and 11 runs scored. Chicago acquired the switch-hitting catcher through waivers from the New York Mets on January 8th.

Romo brings minimal big league experience to the White Sox, having played just 19 games during the previous two seasons with the Colorado Rockies. His major league statistics show a .167 batting average with nine hits in 54 at-bats, zero home runs and six RBIs, though he demonstrated solid defensive skills by throwing out nearly a quarter of base stealers (five out of 21 attempts).

The departing McGuire, age 31, served as a reserve behind Edgar Quero this season, struggling offensively with a .172 batting average, collecting five hits in 29 at-bats with three RBIs across 11 games.

Typically, Kyle Teel would split catching duties with Quero, but he remains sidelined this season due to a hamstring injury sustained during the World Baseball Classic. During his 2025 rookie campaign, Teel posted a .273 batting average with eight home runs and 35 RBIs over 78 games, starting 61 of those contests behind the plate.

Chicago was scheduled to face the Washington Nationals at home on Saturday.

PITTSBURGH — Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy’s extended wait for draft selection ended quickly on Saturday when the Las Vegas Raiders called his name.

The Raiders chose McCoy as their opening pick in the fourth round, betting on the defensive back’s ability to bounce back after sitting out the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL injury.

During his collegiate career spanning 25 games between Oregon State and Tennessee, McCoy recorded six interceptions. He started at Oregon State in 2023 before moving to Tennessee. The knee injury occurred during January 2025 offseason training, shortly after Tennessee’s College Football Playoff elimination.

“I was prepared for whatever happened, but, I mean, I would’ve been excited to go higher, for sure, because, I mean, I had a good pro day, ran some good times and just did good things like that,” McCoy said. “But, I mean, I was prepared for whatever happened. Because, I mean, it’s not in my control.”

Las Vegas desperately needs defensive playmakers after struggling to create turnovers during their disappointing 3-14 campaign in 2025. The Raiders managed only eight interceptions across 17 games last season, ranking 25th among the league’s 32 teams.

The selection creates an interesting reunion between McCoy and top overall draft choice Fernando Mendoza. McCoy’s initial collegiate interception came at Mendoza’s expense when McCoy played for Oregon State against Mendoza’s California team.

“It was probably one of the top moments in my life, my first college pick,” McCoy said. “We talked after that game too, just chopped it up a little bit … We got the best quarterback in college football and now going to be the best in the league.”

McCoy stated that watching three rounds pass without selection will motivate him as he works to recapture the performance level that had him projected as a potential first-round choice before his injury.

“I feel like I learned about myself, it’s just like, I feel like I’m super mentally strong,” he said. “I feel I’ve just been through a lot. I got a story that I’m still trying to tell.”

McCoy wasn’t alone in his comeback narrative.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, whose final season with the Tigers began with championship aspirations but ended in disappointment with a 7-6 record, was selected 110th overall by the New York Jets.

The draft’s concluding day commenced with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announcing to rain-drenched spectators outside Acrisure Stadium that Pittsburgh had established new attendance records for Thursday and Friday, with over 600,000 people gathering at the city’s North Shore and Point State Park.

Detroit holds the overall draft attendance record of 775,000 from 2025, though that milestone appeared threatened despite the morning’s persistent rainfall.

Many attendees came equipped with the iconic yellow Terrible Towels synonymous with the local Steelers franchise.

Pittsburgh’s four second-day selections all appeared on the stage positioned in the stadium’s northeast parking area, including former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, whose third-round selection caught some observers off guard.

“I’m really excited,” Allar said. “Enjoyed my four years at Penn State … But I’m really excited to represent Steeler fans and Steeler nation and really win a lot of games.”

Immediate success may prove challenging for Allar, who enters a quarterback competition featuring veteran Mason Rudolph and former Ohio State standout Will Howard, Pittsburgh’s 2025 sixth-round selection. The situation becomes more complex considering Aaron Rodgers could potentially return to the organization before serious 2026 season preparations begin.

Kentucky native Gabe Dynes, a towering 7-foot-5 basketball center, has announced his decision to return to his home state and play for the University of Louisville during his final collegiate season, as reported by the 247Sports transfer portal database on Saturday.

The massive center attended Simon Kenton High School in Independence, Kentucky, located approximately 90 miles from Louisville’s campus.

This marks the third collegiate program for Dynes during his basketball career. He began playing at Youngstown State in 2023, where he made a significant impact during his sophomore year in the 2024-25 season by recording a nation-leading 104 blocked shots. His defensive prowess earned him recognition on the Horizon League All-Defensive Team.

During his single season with the USC Trojans, Dynes had a more limited role on the court. He participated in 30 games with six starting assignments, posting averages of 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks while playing 11.9 minutes per contest. Despite his reduced playing time, he demonstrated efficiency by shooting an impressive 78.8% from the field.

Louisville finished the previous season with a 24-11 record before falling to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament’s second round.

Philadelphia Flyers netminder Dan Vladar has received clearance to play in Saturday’s Game 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to head coach Rick Tocchet’s announcement.

The 28-year-old goaltender appeared to hurt his right arm during a frantic scramble in front of the goal during the third period of Wednesday night’s 5-2 triumph over the Penguins. Philadelphia currently commands a commanding 3-0 advantage in the seven-game Eastern Conference opening round matchup.

Following the injury concern, Vladar missed Thursday’s practice session and took advantage of Friday’s scheduled team rest day before returning to action during Saturday morning’s pre-game skate.

The goaltender has been between the pipes for the entire series, turning away 70 of 74 shots fired his way. His performance included a perfect 27-save shutout during Philadelphia’s 3-0 Game 2 victory on Monday night.

Weather forecasts calling for rain have forced the postponement of Saturday’s scheduled matchup between the New York Mets and Colorado Rockies at Citi Field.

Officials have rescheduled the contest as part of a Sunday doubleheader beginning at 1:40 p.m. ET, with fans needing only one ticket for both games. The nightcap will start roughly 30 to 45 minutes following the conclusion of the opening contest.

New York has announced its pitching rotation for the twin bill, with right-hander Kodai Senga (0-3, 8.83 ERA) taking the mound for the first matchup. Fellow righty Nolan McLean (1-1, 2.67) will handle duties for the second game.

Colorado had planned to start former Mets southpaw Jose Quintana (0-2, 6.23) in Saturday’s original contest. The Rockies organization has not yet revealed which pitchers will start in Sunday’s doubleheader.

New York City FC has promoted forward Arnau Farnos to a full first-team contract covering the remainder of the current season, the Major League Soccer club revealed on Saturday.

The agreement includes a club option that could extend Farnos’ tenure through the 2027-28 campaign.

The 23-year-old striker had been working under four separate short-term deals with NYCFC before earning this promotion.

“Arnau has taken advantage of his opportunities with both the first team and New York City FC II and has shown that he belongs,” stated NYCFC sporting director Todd Dunivant. “His soccer IQ has earned the trust of his teammates and the staff, and we are looking forward to his continued progression.”

Farnos entered MLS action for the first time on April 11 in a match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He also saw playing time versus FC Cincinnati on April 22, coming off the bench in both appearances.

The forward found the back of the net during NYCFC’s 5-2 victory over Westchester SC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition.

“I’m super thankful for the club and for the staff for giving me the opportunity to be part of this team,” Farnos expressed. “I’m really happy to continue my journey as a professional soccer player and look forward to continuing to develop and help this team achieve its goals this season.”

The Chicago Cubs extended their impressive winning streak to ten games Friday night, mounting a spectacular comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 in the series opener.

Dansby Swanson delivered the decisive blow with a clutch two-run homer in the ninth inning, capping off Chicago’s remarkable rally from a 4-0 deficit. The Cubs managed to score all six of their runs during the final three frames of the contest.

Swanson turned in an outstanding performance, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a triple, the game-winning home run, and four RBIs. Alex Bregman contributed with a 2-for-5 effort that included a solo blast, while Moises Ballesteros added two hits and crossed home plate once.

The winning rally began when Pete Crow-Armstrong opened the ninth with a base hit and came around to score on Swanson’s decisive long ball off reliever Tanner Scott (0-1).

Los Angeles starter Emmet Sheehan dominated Chicago’s lineup for most of the evening, surrendering just one run on four hits across 6 1/3 innings while recording ten strikeouts.

In other Friday action, the New York Yankees extended their own hot streak to seven games with a commanding 12-4 victory over Houston. Jazz Chisholm Jr. powered the offensive attack with four RBIs and a home run, while the Yankees took control early against the struggling Astros.

New York suffered a setback when Giancarlo Stanton left the game in the sixth inning due to tightness in his lower right leg. Will Warren (3-0) earned the victory by allowing two runs on seven hits over six innings. Chisholm recorded his first three-hit performance of the season, while Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice, and Jose Caballero each contributed solo homers.

Houston’s Yainer Diaz homered and added an RBI single, but the Astros dropped their 14th contest in 18 games.

Baltimore overwhelmed visiting Boston 10-3 behind Adley Rutschman’s explosive performance. Rutschman blasted two two-run homers and finished with six RBIs, helping the Orioles launch six home runs total in the rout.

The offensive fireworks began in the first inning when Gunnar Henderson, Rutschman, and Dylan Beavers all went deep. Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo added solo shots later in the game. Rutschman now has three homers in just two games since returning from the injury list earlier this week.

Boston’s Wilyer Abreu connected for a homer in the second inning, and he joined Marcelo Mayer and Trevor Story with two hits each in the losing effort. The Red Sox have now dropped four straight games.

Miami opened a six-game West Coast trip with a 9-4 triumph over San Francisco. Liam Hicks and Connor Norby provided the power with home runs, while Kyle Stowers, Xavier Edwards, and Otto Lopez each collected three hits in the victory.

Sandy Alcantara (3-2) broke a three-game personal winless streak with six solid innings, benefiting from a season-high 16 hits from his teammates. The Marlins have now won four of their last five contests.

Cleveland held on for an 8-6 victory over Toronto, with Angel Martinez launching two two-run homers to lead the offensive charge. Daniel Schneemann added a solo shot for the Guardians in the series opener, while Gavin Williams (4-1) allowed six runs and seven hits over six innings to earn the win.

Colorado defeated New York 4-3 in the Mets series opener, with Michael Lorenzen tossing a season-high seven innings for the victory. Jake McCarthy delivered the go-ahead RBI double in the sixth, and Troy Johnston provided what proved to be the winning two-run single in the seventh.

Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes carried a perfect game into the seventh inning before settling for a dominant one-hit shutout in a 6-0 victory over Milwaukee. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner retired the first 20 batters before Jake Bauers lined a single up the middle with two outs in the seventh for the Brewers’ only hit.

Skenes (4-1) struck out seven without issuing a walk in his 93-pitch masterpiece. Konnor Griffin celebrated his 20th birthday with his first career homer to pace Pittsburgh’s offense.

Tampa Bay defeated visiting Minnesota 6-2 behind Junior Caminero’s pair of tape-measure home runs and three RBIs. Jonathan Aranda also homered twice in the victory, while Drew Rasmussen (2-0) earned the win with six strong innings.

Atlanta rallied for a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia, handing the visiting Phillies their tenth consecutive loss. Michael Harris II delivered a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs and complete the comeback, while Ronald Acuna crushed a two-run homer to tie the game in the fifth.

Seattle snapped an eight-game road losing streak with a 3-2 victory over St. Louis. Josh Naylor’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning proved to be the difference, while George Kirby (4-2) won his third straight start by allowing two runs over six-plus innings.

Chicago defeated Washington 5-4 on Sam Antonacci’s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and Munetaka Murakami’s home run. Kansas City topped Los Angeles 5-3 despite Mike Trout setting a franchise record with his 1,367th appearance in center field.

Oakland opened their series with Texas by winning 8-1, getting solo homers from Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes, and Tyler Soderstrom all in the first inning. Cincinnati completed the night’s action with a thrilling 9-8 walk-off victory over Detroit on Nathaniel Lowe’s two-run homer in the ninth inning.

The Los Angeles Lakers moved within one win of advancing to the next round after defeating the Houston Rockets 112-108 in overtime during Game 3 of their first-round playoff matchup on Friday night.

LeBron James delivered a clutch three-pointer to send the game into overtime, finishing with 29 points and 13 rebounds for his double-double performance. Marcus Smart then took control in the extra period, scoring eight of his 21 total points to help secure the victory and give the Lakers a commanding 3-0 series advantage.

Smart also led all players with 10 assists, while Rui Hachimura contributed 22 points to the Lakers’ cause. Los Angeles now has the opportunity to complete a series sweep when the teams meet again Sunday in Houston.

Houston played without their top scorer Kevin Durant for the second time in the series. Durant, who previously missed the series opener due to a knee injury, was ruled out shortly before tip-off after suffering a left ankle sprain during the fourth quarter of Game 2. Despite the absence of their star player, Alperen Sengun delivered an outstanding performance with 33 points and 16 rebounds, while Amen Thompson added 26 points and 11 assists.

Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108

Stephon Castle exploded for 33 points and rookie Dylan Harper achieved career-high marks with 27 points and 10 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs overcame a 15-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Portland in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series.

The comeback victory gave San Antonio a 2-1 series lead despite playing without star center Victor Wembanyama, who was sidelined due to concussion protocol. De’Aaron Fox contributed 18 points while Luke Kornet posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Portland was led by Jrue Holiday’s 29 points, with Scoot Henderson adding 21 points and Deni Avdija recording 19 points and nine assists in the losing effort.

Celtics 108, 76ers 100

Jayson Tatum scored 11 of his 25 points during the final quarter as the Boston Celtics defeated Philadelphia on the road in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Jaylen Brown also finished with 25 points for Boston, while Payton Pritchard chipped in 15 points. The victory gave the Celtics a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series.

Philadelphia received a game-high 31 points from Tyrese Maxey, though he struggled with his shooting efficiency, making just 12 of 31 attempts. Paul George scored 18 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 17, but VJ Edgecombe had a difficult night, managing only 10 points on 5-of-17 shooting and missing all seven of his three-point attempts.

MONTREAL — Three days can make all the difference in professional hockey, as Kirby Dach discovered this week.

The Montreal Canadiens forward found himself at the center of fan fury following Tuesday’s contest, when his poorly-timed icing call and defensive mistake in overtime set up J.J. Moser’s game-winning score in a 3-2 defeat to Tampa Bay Lightning.

But Friday evening at Bell Centre told a completely different story. With the home crowd roaring their support, Dach transformed his disappointment into triumph, recording one goal and one assist during Montreal’s 3-2 overtime victory that put the Canadiens ahead 2-1 in their best-of-seven series.

“I think you take that night (Tuesday) and you kind of sit on it, dwell on it and understand what you could have done better,” Dach said. “Come Wednesday morning, you’ve got to be able to move on and get ready for tonight’s game.”

The harsh criticism directed at Dach through social media following Tuesday’s defeat became so intense that the 6-foot-4 center was forced to remove his Instagram profile entirely.

Frustrated Canadiens supporters flooded social media platforms and local radio call-in shows, demanding that head coach Martin St. Louis bench Dach in favor of alternatives like Joe Veleno or experienced veteran Brendan Gallagher.

St. Louis rejected those demands completely.

“I’m not going to give up on a player unless he gives up on himself,” St. Louis said. “Kirby Dach is a really good hockey player. Like any good player, they make mistakes sometimes at key moments. It happens to everyone. It happens to a lot of good players. For sure, he was upset but that’s not a reason to give up on a player.”

Montreal supporters in attendance Friday night immediately embraced the 25-year-old player with overwhelming encouragement. During pre-game warm-ups, Dach received enthusiastic applause when featured on the arena’s video board, as spectators began chanting “Kir-by! Kir-by!” both before puck drop and continuously throughout the match.

“I didn’t really expect it, so it was nice,” Dach said. “The fans have been unbelievable for us all year. For me, they’ve stuck by my side through a lot. It definitely meant a lot.”

The supportive chants grew even louder after Dach set up linemate Alexandre Texier’s opening score early in the first period.

Fan enthusiasm reached its peak when officials confirmed Dach’s second-period goal, a shot from within the faceoff circle that deflected off Lightning defender Ryan McDonagh and slipped past netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy to even the score at 2-2.

The recently-assembled forward combination of Dach, Texier and Zachary Bolduc, skating together for their first time this season, contributed to all three Montreal goals, including Lane Hutson’s overtime winner at 2:09 of the extra period. The three players combined for six points and six of the Canadiens’ 29 shots during the evening.

This season has presented significant challenges for the injury-prone Dach, who managed only eight goals and 15 total points through 37 regular-season appearances. Friday’s offensive production represented Dach’s first goal and first point scored at Bell Centre since February 28th. The performance also marked his first multi-point game since January 29th.

“I’ve been through a lot on the injury front,” Dach said. “I’ve gone through the ups and downs of it and the learning lessons of what it takes and maybe what works and what doesn’t work. I’ve kind of found a recipe to be able to stay in game shape and sharp in the mind mentally and physically be ready to go when it’s time to go.”

The series continues Sunday in Montreal for Game 4.

Montreal moved into the driver’s seat of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup Friday night, defeating Tampa Bay 3-2 in overtime at home to claim a 2-1 series advantage in the best-of-seven contest.

Lane Hutson found the back of the net just 2:09 into the extra session to deliver the victory for the Canadiens. Montreal’s depth proved crucial in the win, with their fourth line providing the spark needed to secure the triumph. Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier each contributed one goal and one assist, while Zack Bolduc recorded two assists in the effort.

Goaltender Jakub Dobes turned away 15 shots for Montreal, marking the third consecutive game in this series that required overtime to determine a winner.

Tampa Bay received scoring from Brandon Hagel and Brayden Point, with Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov each picking up assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded 26 saves in the losing effort.

In other playoff action, Utah claimed a 4-2 victory over Vegas in Salt Lake City, taking a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference quarterfinal. Lawson Crouse delivered two goals in the second period to power the Mammoth to victory. MacKenzie Weegar contributed a goal and assist, while Dylan Guenther also found the scoresheet. The win marked a historic moment for Utah, becoming the sixth franchise debuting since the 1990s to capture their first home Stanley Cup playoff victory.

Clayton Keller provided two assists for Utah, and Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves. Vegas received goals from Jack Eichel and Nic Dowd, with Carter Hart making eight stops.

Anaheim staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Edmonton 7-4, seizing a 2-1 series advantage in their Western Conference opening round. Beckett Sennecke and Leo Carlsson scored 42 seconds apart early in the third period to ignite the Ducks’ rally. Mikael Granlund recorded four points including one goal, while Mason McTavish, Alex Killorn, Jeffrey Viel and Jackson Lacombe each added goals. Lukas Dostal made 20 saves for the victory.

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid tallied one goal and one assist, with Vasily Podkolzin, Kasperi Kapanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each scoring once. Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard contributed two assists each, while Connor Ingram stopped 32 shots in the loss.

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton left Friday night’s matchup against the Houston Astros early after experiencing tightness in his right calf, though the organization remains hopeful the issue won’t sideline him long-term.

Following the Yankees’ dominant 12-4 victory over Houston, manager Aaron Boone addressed Stanton’s condition with cautious optimism.

“Just some tightness in his calf,” Boone explained. “Hopefully, we got ahead of it. We’ll just see where he’s at (Saturday).”

The injury occurred during the sixth inning when Stanton was running the bases with no outs. After J.C. Escarra delivered a single that bounced off the left field wall, Stanton advanced from second base toward third but visibly slowed his pace and appeared to favor his leg during the run.

The veteran slugger briefly paused between bases before continuing to third base with a noticeable limp. Randal Grichuk immediately entered the game as his replacement and later scored on Jose Caballero’s single, extending New York’s advantage to 7-2.

Before his early departure, Stanton contributed to the offensive explosion by going 1-for-3 with an RBI single. Through 24 games this season, the power hitter is batting .256 while collecting three home runs and 14 RBIs.

The 36-year-old’s injury concerns come as no surprise given his troublesome medical history over recent years. Last season alone, Stanton missed the opening 70 games due to inflammation affecting both elbow tendons.

Between 2019 and 2023, various injuries limited Stanton to just 391 appearances out of a possible 708 games. His ailments during that span included problems with his right biceps, right knee, left hamstring on two occasions, left quadriceps, right ankle, and left Achilles tendon.

The five-time All-Star earned National League MVP honors while playing for the Miami Marlins in 2017 before the Yankees acquired him via trade the following offseason. Throughout his career spanning 1,750 games, Stanton has posted a .258/.345/.527 slash line with 456 home runs and 1,183 RBIs.

ATLANTA — Despite dealing with a nagging injury, Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II continues his remarkable hot streak at the plate.

The talented outfielder proved that even when sidelined by injury, he can still deliver when his team needs him most.

Originally removed from Friday night’s starting lineup due to left quadriceps tightness, Harris made his impact felt as a substitute batter against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Harris smashed a crucial two-run double off the left-center field wall against pitcher Andrew Painter, propelling the Braves to a 5-3 triumph and extending Philadelphia’s losing skid to 10 consecutive games.

“He’s really feeling it right now,” manager Walt Weiss said. “We’ve seen him like this before, but this might be another level.”

Harris had exited Thursday’s win over Washington during the seventh inning, prompting team officials to exercise caution by keeping him out of the starting nine for the weekend series opener against the slumping Phillies.

However, when Atlanta found themselves down 3-2 with two runners on base and two outs in the sixth inning, Weiss chose to call upon Harris to face the struggling Phillies starter Andrew Painter.

The decision proved wise, considering Harris has been scorching hot for the division-leading Braves, posting a .326 batting average along with six home runs and 18 RBIs.

“If the situation showed itself, I was going to use him,” Weiss said. “That was probably the only time we could guarantee he was gonna face a right-handed pitcher. With a couple of guys on and two outs, we took a shot right there. Mikey was ready. He had been swinging in the cage. He was ready for that moment and got a huge hit for us.”

Harris had previously encountered Painter during last weekend’s series in Philadelphia, where he connected for a home run in a 4-2 victory that capped off a three-game sweep.

“I kind of knew what he had,” Harris said. “I just went up there and tried to put a good swing on it.”

Harris appeared completely healthy as he trotted into second base, showing no signs of discomfort from his quad issue while watching the ball clear the outstretched glove of diving left fielder Brandon Marsh.

“I couldn’t even tell you” if it was hurting, Harris said. “I was worried about the ball getting down.”

Despite his successful at-bat, Harris was quickly substituted by pinch-runner Jorge Mateo, who promptly stole third base and scored an additional insurance run when Painter threw a wild pitch.

This season has been special both professionally and personally for Harris. Two weeks ago, he and his wife Esther celebrated the birth of their first child, a son named Michael Harris III, who goes by the nickname Trip.

“It’s pretty good,” Harris said, flashing a wide grin when questioned about fatherhood.

After earning NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2022, Harris faced significant challenges trying to recapture that initial success. However, he began turning things around during the latter half of 2025, and that positive momentum has continued into the opening month of this season.

When asked about his recent turnaround, Harris responded, “I don’t think I can, and that’s the best thing about it. Just let it happen. I can’t really figure out what’s going right and what’s was going wrong before. I just know what feels good and trying to stay this way.”

The Braves have captured nine of their last 10 contests, giving them the best record in baseball at 19-8. Perhaps most significantly, they’ve already established a commanding 10½-game advantage over the two-time defending NL East champion Phillies, despite the season being less than a month old.

“We can’t take that for granted,” Harris said. “We’ve got to keep our foot on their necks.”

Harris’ availability remains uncertain on a day-to-day basis. While the Braves are optimistic he could return to the lineup Saturday, they’re proceeding with caution.

“We’re gonna be cautious,” Weiss said. “That soft-tissue stuff can be tricky. We want to use good judgment here.”

Regardless, Harris demonstrated he can make a significant impact with just one crucial swing of the bat.

“He’s the GOAT,” said Braves pitcher Grant Holmes, who earned the victory thanks to Harris’ clutch hit. “It’s crazy. It’s like every time he’s up there, he gets a hit. He’s coming through big time for the guys.”

The Philadelphia Eagles made a major splash Friday by acquiring pass rusher Jonathan Greenard from the Minnesota Vikings and immediately securing him with a massive contract extension worth $100 million over four years, according to multiple reports.

Philadelphia sent Minnesota their third-round draft pick this year (98th overall) plus a 2027 third-rounder in return for Greenard and a seventh-round selection in the upcoming draft.

The lucrative new deal reportedly guarantees Greenard $50 million and spans four seasons with the Eagles.

The 28-year-old former University of Florida standout struggled during the most recent campaign, recording only three quarterback takedowns across 12 appearances with 10 starting assignments for Minnesota.

However, Greenard bounced back strongly in 2024, tallying 12 quarterback sacks and forcing four fumbles while starting all 17 contests for the Vikings, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. During his final season with Houston in 2023, he posted a personal-best 12.5 sacks across 15 starts.

The Texans originally drafted Greenard in the third round back in 2020. Throughout his 77-game NFL career spanning 59 starts, he has accumulated 38 sacks, one interception, 14 pass breakups, eight forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Philadelphia’s pass rush ranked in the middle tier of NFL teams last season with 42 total sacks, paced by Jalyx Hunt’s 6.5 and Moro Ojomo’s six quarterback takedowns.

Dallas strengthened its defensive lineup Friday by acquiring linebacker Dee Winters from San Francisco in exchange for a fifth-round draft selection.

The 25-year-old defender appeared in every regular season contest as a starter last year, recording a team-leading 101 tackles along with eight stops behind the line of scrimmage, five pass breakups, and one pick-six that went for 74 yards.

The Brenham, Texas product brings 155 total tackles to Dallas across 47 regular season appearances, including 27 as a starter. His career statistics also include eight tackles for loss, three quarterback pressures, 10 pass deflections, and one interception. He has contributed 10 tackles across four postseason contests with one start.

San Francisco drafted Winters from TCU in the sixth round during 2023.

The trade gives the 49ers Dallas’s 152nd overall selection. The Cowboys focused on defense during Thursday’s opening round, adding Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at 11th overall and UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd pick. Dallas entered the draft without a second-round selection.

This marks the second trade between these franchises recently, as Dallas sent defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco for a third-round pick (92nd overall) on March 11.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Oakland Athletics delivered a stunning opening blow to the Texas Rangers Friday evening, launching three consecutive solo home runs during the game’s first inning.

Within just seven pitches of the contest, Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes, and Tyler Soderstrom — occupying three of the initial four spots in the batting order — each sent balls over the outfield fence.

Kurtz connected on Nathan Eovaldi’s opening delivery, driving it beyond the right-field barrier. Cortes followed with his own blast to right field, while Soderstrom connected on his initial offering, sending it to straightaway center field.

The Athletics hadn’t achieved three first-inning home runs since their July 8 matchup against the Atlanta Braves, when all three came off pitcher Didier Fuentes.

Eovaldi had previously dominated Oakland’s lineup during their April 13 encounter in California, blanking the A’s across seven innings while allowing just three hits in Texas’s 8-1 triumph. Coming into Friday’s game, the veteran right-hander boasted a 2.54 career earned run average against Oakland — his best mark against any team he had faced at least six times.

During his most recent outing, Eovaldi surrendered four runs, with two being earned, across five innings of work in Seattle.

Former Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald experienced an emotional rollercoaster during the NFL Draft weekend in Pittsburgh, watching 15 fellow players selected ahead of him Thursday night before finally hearing his name called by the Houston Texans.

McDonald found himself alone in the green room after all 32 first-round picks were announced Thursday evening, but his wait ended quickly Friday when Houston selected him with the 36th overall selection, fourth in the second round.

The former Buckeye, who earned consensus All-American honors this past season, became visibly emotional during his walk to the stage, pausing to touch the Texans logo on the wall before sharing a lengthy embrace with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

“This is emotional,” McDonald said during the ESPN broadcast. “I know I’m supposed to be here. I’m just so blessed and thankful.”

Houston moved up two spots by trading with Las Vegas to secure McDonald, while the Raiders used the 38th pick on Arizona safety Treydan Stukes during Friday’s second and third round proceedings.

Defense dominated the second round, with 22 defensive players chosen among the 33 selections. McDonald joined six other Ohio State teammates drafted in the first two rounds, following receivers and linebackers taken Thursday.

The evening also featured a significant trade as Minnesota sent veteran linebacker Jonathan Greenard to Philadelphia in exchange for third-round picks in 2025 and 2027, plus a seventh-rounder this year.

San Francisco opened Friday’s festivities by selecting Ole Miss receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, who previously played at Washington State and Oklahoma State during his college career.

Two additional wide receivers went in round two: Washington’s Denzel Boston to Cleveland at 39th overall and Alabama’s Germie Bernard to Pittsburgh with the 47th selection.

Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, another player projected as a possible first-rounder, went 37th to the New York Giants and shared similar sentiments about the wait.

“Of course it was disappointing,” Hood explained. “I know God does everything for a reason. He was probably preventing me from something or he had something better in store for me, and that being the Giants. I’m super excited to go into this next chapter of my life and will just go in there and give my best and give my all and be the best version of myself.”

Hood also spent time at Auburn and Colorado during his collegiate career.

Miami potentially secured one of the round’s top values by selecting Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with the 43rd pick. Rodriguez, the face of the Red Raiders’ remarkable season, won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defender while leading the country with seven forced fumbles and adding four interceptions.

Atlanta created a family reunion at pick 48, selecting Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, younger brother of Falcons veteran starter A.J. Terrell, who enters his seventh season with the franchise.

The New York Jets chose Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds 50th overall. The 5-foot-8 defensive back transferred from James Madison to follow coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana, where he became a key contributor to the Hoosiers’ championship run.

Ohio State’s draft success continued beyond McDonald, with tight end Max Klare going 61st to the Los Angeles Rams and cornerback Davison Igbinosun selected 62nd by Buffalo in back-to-back picks near round’s end.

Super Bowl champion Seattle concluded the second round by taking TCU safety Bud Clark with the 64th and final selection.

Arizona addressed their quarterback needs Friday by selecting Miami signal-caller Carson Beck with the opening selection of the third round in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Beck became the third quarterback chosen in this year’s draft and the first selected on the second day of the event. After the Los Angeles Rams picked Ty Simpson 13th overall, no quarterbacks were taken until Arizona’s selection of Beck at pick number 65.

The 23-year-old quarterback spent one season with Miami after transferring from Georgia, where he played portions of five campaigns. Beck led the Hurricanes all the way to the national title game, where they fell to Indiana and quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was selected first overall Thursday by Las Vegas.

Throughout his collegiate career spanning 55 games, Beck accumulated 11,725 passing yards and 88 touchdown passes against 32 interceptions. His most productive season came in 2025 when he tossed a career-high 30 touchdown passes.

The young quarterback may find himself competing for immediate playing time in Arizona after the organization parted ways with Kyler Murray this past March. Veteran Jacoby Brissett, who managed just one victory in 12 starts for the Cardinals last season, remains in a contract dispute. The team’s current roster also features Gardner Minshew II and backup Kedon Slovis.

Several other quarterbacks remain available as Day 2 continues, including LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State’s Drew Allar, and Arkansas’ Taylen Green.

San Antonio Spurs officials announced that star center Victor Wembanyama will sit out Friday evening’s playoff matchup in Portland as he continues working through the NBA’s concussion protocol following an injury sustained earlier this week.

The 7-foot-4 French sensation, who became the league’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and earned consideration for MVP honors, suffered the injury during the second quarter of Tuesday evening’s contest and was unable to continue playing.

The Trail Blazers capitalized on Wembanyama’s absence to secure a 106-103 victory in San Antonio, evening the first-round playoff series at one game apiece.

“Victor is not playing tonight. Obviously there’s a lot that goes into that, but he’s doing well and progressing,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson told reporters.

Despite being initially listed with questionable status for Friday’s contest, Wembanyama made the trip to Portland with his teammates Thursday afternoon while still completing the required steps outlined in the league’s head injury protocols.

The NBA’s concussion guidelines require players to meet specific criteria before receiving medical clearance to return to action. These assessments are measured against neurological baseline tests administered to all players before each season begins.

Should Wembanyama’s absence extend beyond Friday’s game, it would represent a significant setback for San Antonio, which posted the NBA’s second-best regular season record largely due to the versatile big man’s contributions. The team managed a 12-6 record during regular season games without their franchise cornerstone.

This season, Wembanyama posted impressive numbers across all statistical categories, averaging 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest while adding 3.1 assists and leading the league with 3.1 blocked shots per game. The young star was present Wednesday night when the team celebrated teammate Keldon Johnson’s Sixth Man of the Year award, with players sporting cowboy hats during the surprise announcement.

HENDERSON, Nevada — Heisman Trophy recipient Fernando Mendoza expressed his eagerness Friday to demonstrate that he deserved to be chosen as the first overall selection in this year’s NFL draft.

The former Indiana quarterback had been laying the groundwork to make a positive impact well before his arrival in Nevada for his official introduction as a Las Vegas Raider.

Mendoza collaborated with former NFL quarterback Brian Griese — both are graduates of the same Miami high school — to understand how he might function within a West Coast offensive scheme, providing him an advantage in preparing for the similar system that new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak plans to implement.

“I needed some guidance on how to become the best NFL quarterback,” Mendoza explained. “Not just for a pro day or the combine, for September, October, December. With that, we went over some general under-center concepts and installed basic bread-and-butter concepts that any team would have.”

This commitment and intellectual approach to football, combined with Mendoza’s physical capabilities, convinced Raiders leadership that he represents the signal-caller the organization has been seeking as they attempt to return to their former status as consistent playoff contenders.

Raiders General Manager John Spytek was impressed by Mendoza’s capacity to remember specific plays from throughout his Indiana season. During film sessions, Spytek found that before he could even start the video, Mendoza would identify the play and provide detailed explanations. The quarterback also candidly discussed unsuccessful plays and alternative approaches he could have taken.

“There was an honesty and a self-awareness to it,” Spytek noted. “I’ve been a part of a few other quarterback interviews like that before, but not very many.”

Considerable attention has focused on how swiftly Mendoza can adjust from Indiana’s college system, where he operated primarily from shotgun formation, to a professional offense requiring him to take snaps from under center most of the time.

“His skill-set fits with any offense in professional football,” Kubiak stated. “The No. 1 thing that I love about Fernando is his leadership, the way that he relates to his teammates and his ability to win. We’re looking for a competitor to be our quarterback, and he went 16-0 last year with a heck of a team, and he led that group.”

In Las Vegas, Mendoza’s primary objectives will include studying under veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom the Raiders acquired earlier this month, while working to meet the expectations that come with being drafted first overall. Although Kubiak and Spytek have indicated they prefer not to immediately start a rookie quarterback, they’ve also stated that the most qualified player will earn the position.

Mendoza has also announced another significant initiative. He is establishing the Mendoza Family Fund with a personal contribution of $500,000 to support research for a multiple sclerosis cure. His mother, Elsa, relies on a wheelchair due to MS but traveled across the country with her family to Nevada for her son’s inaugural day with the Raiders.

“I believe one of my pillars and my identities is giving back and helping fight MS, giving to the community,” Mendoza said. “So that was a huge part of my identity, and it’s something that our family really wanted to do.”

He acknowledged his mother’s role in revitalizing his football aspirations.

Mendoza received little attention as a high school prospect and spent three seasons at California, taking a redshirt year in 2022 before starting for most of the subsequent two campaigns. After completing his bachelor’s degree in slightly over three years, he transferred to Indiana and delivered his breakthrough performance while guiding the Hoosiers to a national championship.

“My mom always saw more in me than I saw myself at that time, and she essentially pushed me to take a swing at trying to become a great NFL player,” Mendoza reflected. “That first step was transferring and challenging myself by being in an uncomfortable environment. When you’re uncomfortable, you’re able to grow.

“She said, ‘Hey, if you step to the plate, if you swing and you miss, at least in 20 years you knew you did everything possible to try to accomplish your dream.’ And I stepped to the plate, and luckily enough, I was able to hit a home run last year.”

The Raiders are optimistic that many more successful plays lie ahead.

Kubiak praised watching Mendoza during his Indiana pro day on April 1, where he observed the quarterback directing receivers on their routes before delivering accurate throws.

“Then took him upstairs and talked football with him and just listened to him communicate the game and how quickly he picked things up,” Kubiak said. “We already liked how he played the game on film, but seeing him in person was really helpful, and it allowed us to watch film on a lot of other guys. We knew we had the guy.”

The National Football League revealed Friday that Dallas and Baltimore will clash in the organization’s inaugural game held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

While Dallas had been confirmed for this international matchup back in February, the league waited until now to announce their opponent and the specific timing. The contest is set for Sunday, September 27, with a 4:25 p.m. Eastern kickoff at the famous Maracana Stadium. Fans can watch the action on CBS, Paramount+, and through the NFL+ application.

The historic Maracana venue, which seats 78,000 spectators, previously served as the backdrop for World Cup soccer competitions and both opening and closing ceremonies during the 2016 Olympics. League officials had earlier designated Rio as a key international destination, committing to stage a minimum of three regular-season contests there over the coming five years.

“The international expansion of our great game has been remarkable,” Baltimore owner Steve Bisciotti stated in an official announcement. “South America is home to some of the world’s most passionate sports fans, including our Ravens Flock in Brazil. We look forward to playing in the iconic Maracana Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys, as our league continues to engage with fans across the globe.”

Brazil first welcomed NFL action in 2024, with subsequent Sao Paulo matchups in 2025 and 2026 taking place on Friday during the opening week of the season. Philadelphia defeated Green Bay in Sao Paulo during 2024, while Los Angeles beat Kansas City at Corinthians Arena this past season.

According to Friday’s announcement, Brazil boasts more than 36 million NFL supporters.

“Playing in the legendary Maracana Stadium against the Ravens in front of such a passionate and growing fan base on a global stage will be very special for our team, our entire Cowboys organization and the millions watching back home and around the world,” Dallas owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones commented in the official statement.

The 2026 season will feature a record-breaking nine international contests spanning four continents, seven nations and eight venues. The participating cities include London, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Munich, Paris and Rio de Janeiro.

San Francisco will meet Los Angeles at Melbourne Cricket Ground for the NFL’s Australian debut, though additional pairings remain unannounced. The 49ers are also scheduled to compete in Mexico City at Estadio Banorte.

This fall will see the league’s Paris premiere when New Orleans takes the field at Stade de France Stadium. Atlanta is slated for action in Madrid at Bernabeu Stadium, while Detroit will compete at FC Bayern Munich Stadium in Germany.

Jacksonville will serve as the designated home team for two London contests this season. These games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium will occur during back-to-back October weeks. The Jaguars received a second international game due to ongoing construction work at their home EverBank Stadium.

The league also confirmed that Washington will host a game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Duke University freshman forward Cameron Boozer announced Friday evening that he will enter the 2026 NBA Draft after completing an exceptional first collegiate season.

Boozer shared his decision through social media, posting on Instagram: “Thank you for everything @dukeuniversity. Duke Blue forever.”

The talented forward, whose father Carlos Boozer previously starred for the Blue Devils, earned recognition as the 2025-26 Naismith National Player of the Year following his outstanding freshman campaign. During his 38-game season, Boozer averaged 22.5 points per contest, ranking second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and ninth across the nation. He also dominated the boards with a conference-leading 10.2 rebounds per game while contributing 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals.

Boozer’s impressive performance earned him first-team All American honors and positioned him as an anticipated top-three selection in the upcoming draft. He joins BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, both of whom also announced their draft intentions this week, among the projected early picks.

While Cameron prepares for professional basketball, his twin brother Cayden has chosen to remain at Duke for his sophomore year. Cayden contributed 7.7 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game during his freshman season.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Two NFL hopefuls endured an agonizing three-hour wait in the draft’s green room at Acrisure Stadium Thursday evening, watching in their formal attire as opportunity passed them by.

Kayden McDonald and Colton Hood remained behind the scenes as 15 other draft candidates walked across the stage to embrace NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after hearing their names called in the opening round.

Their moment would arrive Friday, and it wouldn’t take long once the second round began.

Houston selected McDonald, the powerful 6-foot-3, 326-pound Ohio State defensive lineman, as the fourth pick in round two. Hood, a defensive back from Tennessee, followed immediately after when the New York Giants made their choice.

McDonald decided to return to the green room Friday, but this time he swapped Thursday’s formal red carpet attire for something more relaxed. Dressed in a black short-sleeve button-down, white undershirt and chain, McDonald appeared overwhelmed as he walked somewhat hesitantly toward Goodell.

The commissioner and the new Texan shared an extended embrace, with McDonald’s tears clearly visible as emotion overcame him.

“It’s emotional man,” McDonald said. “I knew I’m supposed to be here. I’m just so blessed.”

McDonald expressed gratitude for joining Houston, a team that boasted the league’s top-ranked defense last season and dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers in their playoff opener.

When asked about his potential contribution to an already elite defensive unit, McDonald responded without hesitation.

“Disruptive, making it easier for the (defensive) end,” McDonald said. “We all go to work.”

Unlike McDonald, Hood chose not to return for Friday’s proceedings. When Goodell announced Hood’s selection, with former Giants star pass rusher Osi Umenyiora beside him, only Hood’s photograph in Tennessee uniform appeared on the venue’s video screen.

“Way to go Colton,” Goodell announced before stepping away for the following pick.

NEW YORK — The New York Mets released additional details Friday regarding All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor’s injury status following his placement on the disabled list.

While no specific return date has been established, the five-time All-Star will be required to wear a protective boot on his lower left leg for the coming week. Medical imaging will be conducted again in three weeks, followed by another evaluation of his condition.

The team added Lindor to the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a left calf strain. Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that the switch-hitting infielder would be “going to be down for quite a bit here.”

“We’ve still got a lot of people looking at this,” Mendoza commented prior to Friday evening’s matchup against the Colorado Rockies.

The injury occurred while Lindor was running home from first base on Francisco Alvarez’s double during Wednesday evening’s contest, a 3-2 win over Minnesota that snapped New York’s 12-game losing streak.

The timing proved particularly unfortunate, coming just hours after star outfielder Juan Soto returned from the injured list following a 15-game absence due to his own right calf strain, which was deemed less serious than Lindor’s current injury.

“We’ve got to see where this is in three weeks and see how the healing goes,” stated president of baseball operations David Stearns.

The organization recalled Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, and he took over shortstop duties Friday for his second consecutive start.

Soto has been serving as designated hitter for three straight games since his return, despite originally being scheduled to play left field Thursday evening. Mendoza explained that keeping Soto at DH has enabled him to appear in three consecutive games.

“Finding ways to keep his bat in the lineup while we’re not putting him at risk,” Mendoza explained. “If he needs a day, he needs a day. As much as we need his bat in the lineup, he’s going to get days (off).”

In related roster moves, right-handed pitcher Christian Scott was sent back to Syracuse following a difficult Thursday outing against the Twins in his first major league appearance since Tommy John surgery in 2024. The team promoted veteran right-handed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. from their top minor league affiliate.

Scott struggled with control, walking five batters and lasting just 1 1/3 innings. He also hit a batter and was called for a balk, though the Mets managed a 10-8 victory despite late bullpen confusion.

Left-handed pitcher David Peterson is slated to take the mound Wednesday evening against Washington when that rotation spot comes up again, though it may be in a bulk-relief capacity rather than as a traditional starter.

In another injury update, Stearns characterized Jorge Polanco’s situation as week-to-week rather than day-to-day. The first baseman and designated hitter remains on the 10-day injured list with a bruised right wrist, while also dealing with bursitis in his left heel that has troubled him since early in the season.

Mendoza noted that Polanco is showing improvement and is scheduled for additional testing this weekend.

Left-handed reliever A.J. Minter continues on track for an early May return from left lat surgery that ended his 2025 season prematurely.

“Injuries are part of this, and injuries to good players are part of this,” Stearns observed. “We’re certainly not the only team in baseball that deals with this, and we just have to get through it.”

The 12-game losing streak represented New York’s longest since August 2002. The Mets have won two consecutive games since Soto’s return, though historically, no team has reached the playoffs in the same season after losing 12 straight games.

“I still think we’re a good team. I recognize we had a stretch where we did not play good baseball and it cost us, and cost us repeatedly, but I think we’re a good team and I think we will show that,” Stearns said.

“Yes, it’s a frustrating stretch and we didn’t play well. We’re also not going to wholesale-change our evaluation of our team over a two-week stretch. This is a long season. Going through a 12-game losing streak is difficult and it’s not usual. There’s a reason it doesn’t happen very often. Even with that, I don’t think it should change our overall evaluation of the team — especially this early in the season.”

A historic individual milestone couldn’t prevent a team defeat as the Hawks dropped an 11-6 decision to Wagner, despite Jonthan Gonzalez Perez launching his way into the record books.

Gonzalez Perez connected for his 12th home run of the current campaign, establishing a new modern single-season record for the program. The slugger’s latest long ball came during what ultimately became a disappointing loss for his squad.

While Gonzalez Perez celebrated his personal achievement at the plate, the Hawks were unable to generate enough offense to match Wagner’s 11-run output in the high-scoring affair.

The record-setting blast represents a bright spot in what has been an impressive individual season for Gonzalez Perez, even as the team continues to battle through challenging competition.

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has claimed the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, making the Hawks the first franchise in league history to have players capture the honor in consecutive seasons.

The announcement came Friday, with Alexander-Walker following teammate Dyson Daniels, who earned the distinction last year. This historic back-to-back achievement represents a first since the award was established.

At 27 years old, Alexander-Walker joins an exclusive group as only the third player to earn this recognition during his seventh NBA season or beyond. The previous players to accomplish this feat were Julius Randle in his seventh season during 2020-21 and Hedo Turkoglu in his eighth season in 2007-08.

During his debut campaign with Atlanta, Alexander-Walker posted impressive career numbers across the board. He averaged 20.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per contest while appearing in 78 regular-season games. His shooting percentages also reached new heights at 45.9% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc, and 90.2% from the charity stripe.

According to Elias Sports, Alexander-Walker’s scoring jump of 11.4 points per game from his 9.4 average with Minnesota last season ranks as the third-largest improvement among eligible players over the past 25 seasons.

Hawks head coach Quin Snyder praised his player’s transformation in a statement. “Nickeil’s dedication, continual work on his craft, and the ensuing results this season make him incredibly deserving of this award,” Snyder said. “He has a tireless work ethic and a focus on improving in every aspect of his game. His game continues to evolve, and his commitment and unselfish attitude as a teammate have also positively impacted the success of the team.”

The voting results showed Alexander-Walker’s dominance in the selection process. A 100-member international panel awarded him 396 total points, with 66 first-place votes, 19 second-place selections, and nine third-place nods. Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren finished as the runner-up with 254 points and 23 first-place votes, while Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija placed third with 135 points and seven first-place votes.

The remaining top vote-getters included Boston’s Neemias Queta in fourth place with 41 points, Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins fifth with 33 points and three first-place votes, and Hawks teammate Jalen Johnson sixth with 21 points and one first-place vote.

Zach Johnson secured a narrow one-point advantage following Friday’s opening round of the Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia, after making birdie on the 18th hole.

The tournament marks a significant departure from tradition by implementing a Modified Stableford scoring format designed to promote bold, attacking golf. Instead of counting strokes against par, players earn points for each hole: minus-1 for bogey, zero for par, two points for birdie, five points for eagle, and minus-3 for double bogey.

This represents the first Modified Stableford event on the PGA Tour Champions circuit since 2002, according to tour officials.

Johnson embraced the format change, describing his playing style as that of “a conservatively aggressive guy.” The two-time major winner celebrated his 50th birthday in February and captured his inaugural senior tour victory in March.

“There’s opportunities on certain courses, and this would be one of them, where I’m going to push a little bit more, I’m going to hit the driver instead of what have you,” Johnson explained. “So I think the beauty of this place is the character. You’ve got short, you’ve got long, you’ve got left, you’ve got right, you’ve got up, you’ve got down. You can be aggressive on certain holes, you can hit driver a lot of places, you can lay it back in a lot of places. So you’ve got to be committed, and it gives you options.”

Johnson started strong with six birdies and just one bogey through his opening eight holes. While his scoring pace decreased on the back nine, he climbed from +13 to +15 points by making a two-putt birdie on the final par-5.

His total of 15 points places him one ahead of Ben Crane and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, who are tied for second at +14. Three players share fourth place at +12: Paul Stankowski, South Africa’s Retief Goosen, and South Korea’s K.J. Choi. Defending champion Jerry Kelly, who won last year under traditional stroke play rules, sits tied for seventh with +11 points.

Jaidee produced a flawless round featuring seven birdies and no bogeys.

“You have to make more points because … par (is) nothing,” Jaidee noted. “That’s why we gameplan to attack the hole. When you hit in the fairway, you have a short iron, you try to attack the pin. That’s why we do it today. And good thing to me, I had pretty good iron today. Putting working today.”

Crane, who also turned 50 this year alongside Johnson, finished runner-up at last week’s Senior PGA Championship in his first senior major appearance.

Despite encountering two bogeys during Friday’s round, Crane recovered by making birdie on three of his final four holes.

“Just didn’t play as great as I scored, but that’s the way it works in this format,” Crane said. “Actually, Retief and I both shot 66 and I had 14 points and he had 12. Had some bogeys in there that don’t cost you as much. All in all, just thankful. I really putted well coming down the stretch there, gave myself some opportunities, so just a fun day.”

Former New York Giants linebacker and Hall of Fame player Lawrence Taylor was admitted to a New Jersey medical facility Friday after experiencing stomach-related health problems.

Taylor’s attorney and close friend Arthur Aidala spoke with the Daily News Friday, saying “He’s dealing with some abdominal issues, but he’s going to be fine.”

Earlier Friday, TMZ had reported that the 67-year-old former NFL star was receiving hospital treatment following what they described as “a medical emergency.”

According to reports, Taylor was initially brought to the emergency department before medical staff moved him to another area of the hospital.

Following his NFL retirement, Taylor has openly struggled with addiction and substance abuse problems.

Considered among the greatest defensive players in professional football history, Taylor’s career achievements speak for themselves. During his 13 seasons with New York, he earned three Defensive Player of the Year honors, made eight All-Pro teams, and was selected for 10 Pro Bowls.

His standout 1986 campaign remains legendary, when Taylor recorded 20.5 quarterback sacks and became NFL Most Valuable Player.

The Giants selected Taylor as the second pick in the 1981 NFL Draft from the University of North Carolina, and he helped the team capture two Super Bowl titles during his career.

Formula 1 racing will make its comeback to Turkey’s Istanbul Park circuit starting in 2027, with officials announcing a five-year agreement that runs through the 2031 season.

The formal announcement took place Friday at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace, where Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan joined F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the signing ceremony. A Formula 1 promotional vehicle drove through Istanbul’s streets to mark the occasion.

This agreement represents the successful conclusion of Turkey’s extended efforts to bring Formula 1 racing back to the country. Officials from both F1 and the Turkish government confirmed the multi-year partnership during the palace event.

“We are delighted to be returning to the incredible and vibrant city of Istanbul from 2027 to thrill all our fans in Türkiye and around the world on one of the most exciting and challenging circuits in Formula 1,” Domenicali stated.

President Erdogan characterized F1’s comeback as evidence of the “strong confidence” in Turkey’s organizational abilities. He expressed optimism that the partnership between Turkey and Formula 1 would continue expanding as Istanbul presents five “exciting, high-quality races” through 2031.

FIA’s Ben Sulayem described Turkey’s return as a “powerful reflection” of Formula 1’s worldwide expansion and popularity, noting that it ensures the sport’s long-term presence in Turkey and acknowledging the country’s “special place” in F1 history.

The Istanbul circuit, featuring 14 turns and located on the Asian portion of the city, enjoys popularity among both drivers and racing enthusiasts. Its most recent race occurred in 2021 when it served as a replacement venue during the coronavirus pandemic. The track previously hosted Grand Prix events from 2005 through 2011, and again in 2020 when Lewis Hamilton secured his seventh world championship title there, matching Michael Schumacher’s historic record.

Negotiations to return Formula 1 to Turkey had been ongoing since the 2021 race but faced obstacles starting in 2022, primarily due to the substantial financial requirements needed to secure a hosting agreement. Other nations like Qatar were better positioned to meet these multi-million dollar commitments.

The breakthrough came in 2024 when Can Bilim Egitim Kurumlari A.S., which has partial ownership ties to Lale Cander (chairman of Pirelli’s Turkish operations), acquired the rights to manage Istanbul Park for three decades. The company paid approximately $117.8 million for these rights, with a contractual obligation to restore F1 racing by 2026.

Domenicali had indicated in February that Istanbul Park was nearing a calendar return, while confirming that the total number of seasonal races would remain limited to 24.

The 5.3-kilometer track is renowned for its challenging turn 8, a complex multi-apex corner that tests drivers’ skill and courage as they navigate the extended left-hand curve while maintaining speed and control.

Valtteri Bottas, driving for Mercedes, was the most recent race winner at Istanbul Park in 2021. Among current F1 drivers, only Bottas and Hamilton have achieved victory at this Turkish circuit.

Eight NFL franchises remain on the sidelines waiting to make their inaugural draft selections after Thursday night’s opening round was dominated by an unprecedented number of trades.

Only 16 of the 32 opening-round selections were actually made by the teams that originally possessed those draft positions.

San Francisco and Buffalo both traded away their first-round opportunities, joining Atlanta, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Denver, Jacksonville, and Indianapolis as teams without Day 1 picks.

The 49ers were positioned to begin the second round with the opening selection after executing two separate trades that moved them from the 27th spot to 30th, then finally to 33rd overall. Buffalo completed three different deals, shifting from pick 26 to 28, then to 31, and ultimately landing at 35th overall.

The other six franchises had previously dealt away their first-round positions in earlier transactions.

“It was really not a lot different with the exception the phones weren’t ringing, we weren’t having a lot of conversations with other teams,” said Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst regarding the quiet evening. “A lot more discussions about the players. … I think it was, it went like I thought it would go.”

Following Fernando Mendoza’s selection by Las Vegas as the first overall pick—a move anticipated for months—the evening’s surprises began to emerge.

New York selected edge rusher David Bailey despite having canceled his top 30 visit. Arizona created the first shock of the night by choosing running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall selection.

The most surprising pick of the opening day came when Los Angeles selected quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall. He’s expected to eventually replace 2025 NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

Pittsburgh’s home crowd followed tradition by booing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during his stage entrance. However, many Steelers supporters found themselves frustrated and disappointed when Philadelphia made a strategic move to acquire wide receiver Makai Lemon.

The Eagles executed one of eight draft-night trades, exchanging picks with Dallas to advance from 23rd to 20th position to select Lemon while he was actively speaking with Pittsburgh’s management team.

“I guess it was meant to be. I’m super excited to be in Philly,” Lemon commented.

Following their missed opportunity with Lemon, Pittsburgh selected offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, marking their third first-round offensive line pick in four seasons.

Among the 17 prospects who attended the draft in person, only defensive tackle Kayden McDonald and cornerback Colton Hood remained unselected heading into Friday evening.

Multiple players projected as first-round talents were passed over, including safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, edge rusher Cashius Howell, cornerback Avieon Terrell, and wide receiver Denzel Boston.

The Ottawa Senators will be without defenseman Jake Sanderson for Saturday’s critical playoff matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes after he suffered a concussion from a controversial hit.

Head coach Travis Green provided an update on Sanderson’s condition Friday, stating that the player is “not doing well.” The announcement comes as Ottawa faces elimination, trailing Carolina 3-0 in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

The 23-year-old defenseman was injured during the second period of Thursday’s 2-1 defeat when Carolina’s Taylor Hall delivered a high hit that knocked off Sanderson’s helmet. Officials assessed Hall a two-minute minor penalty for the contact.

Despite the impact, Sanderson managed to complete two additional shifts before leaving the contest.

Green expressed frustration with the officiating following Thursday’s game, questioning the penalty assessment. “I just don’t understand how there’s not a five-minute major called on the hit to the head,” Green said after the game. “It’s a blatant hit to the head, the kind of hits you don’t want to see.”

Sanderson has contributed two assists through the first three games of the playoff series. During the regular season, he posted career-high numbers with 54 points, including 14 goals and 40 assists, along with a plus-16 rating across 67 games.

The young defenseman is in his fourth season with Ottawa after being selected fifth overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Sports Illustrated reports that staff reductions at the PGA Tour have claimed the job of Todd Fleming, who served as tournament director for the Cognizant Classic of the Palm Beaches.

Fleming was among 56 PGA Tour employees who lost their positions during Thursday’s layoffs, according to the publication.

Despite the personnel change, the Cognizant Classic will proceed as scheduled in 2027 under temporary leadership. For the last three years, PGA Tour Events has managed the tournament’s operations, the same organization that oversees major competitions like the Players Championship and Tour Championship using PGA Tour staff members.

This operational structure differs from most PGA Tour events, which typically rely on local organizations working with regional charitable groups for management and ownership.

The tournament has a rich history dating back to 1972, when it debuted as the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic. Over the decades, it has undergone several name changes, including a stint as the Honda Classic before becoming the Cognizant.

PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens has served as the tournament’s venue since 2007. This year’s competition ran from February 26 through March 1, with Colombian golfer Nico Echavarria claiming victory and taking home more than $1.728 million in prize money.

The layoffs come as the PGA Tour announced additional schedule changes earlier this week, including the cancellation of its traditional January season-opening tournaments in Hawaii.

The Columbus Blue Jackets made significant coaching changes Friday, releasing assistant coaches Mike Haviland and Scott Ford along with video coach Aron Augustitus following another disappointing season that ended without a playoff berth.

The franchise terminated the contracts of all three staff members, even though they were signed through the 2025-26 season. Haviland and Ford had been with Columbus since before the 2024-25 season began, while Augustitus had served the organization since 2018.

The coaching shake-up comes after Columbus recorded a 40-30-12 record for 92 points, landing them in fifth place in the Metropolitan Division and extending their playoff drought to six years.

General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Don Waddell worked with Head Coach Rick Bowness to make these personnel decisions following their season-ending evaluations.

“Following our end of season meetings, Rick and I determined that changes to our coaching staff would be in the best interest of our club moving forward,” Waddell said. “We are very appreciative of the time and hard work that Mike, Scott and Aron have done during their time with the Blue Jackets and wish them well in their future endeavors. We will begin the process of reviewing candidates to join our staff in the very near future.”

The Blue Jackets showed improvement under Bowness, posting a 21-11-5 record after he assumed head coaching duties when the team dismissed Dean Evason and assistant Steve McCarthy on January 12.

Following last year’s dramatic slide of Shedeur Sanders from first-round prospect to late selection, Thursday’s NFL Draft opening night featured another quarterback surprise that has everyone talking.

Los Angeles made waves by choosing Alabama’s Ty Simpson with the 13th pick overall, selecting the compact and relatively unproven signal-caller to learn behind MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Simpson’s unexpected selection topped the list of surprises during Thursday’s first round in Pittsburgh, creating additional value for teams entering Friday’s second round, where San Francisco holds the opening selection.

Les Snead, the Rams’ general manager, exercised just his second first-round choice in ten years by taking Simpson, a player most analysts didn’t project as first-round material.

The Alabama quarterback started for just one campaign with the Crimson Tide, throwing for 3,567 yards and guiding the team to a Rose Bowl appearance after spending three years in a backup role.

Additional players chosen earlier than projected included Blake Miller, an offensive lineman from Clemson taken by Detroit at pick 17, Houston’s selection of Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge at 26, and Kansas City’s choice of Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at 29.

Tennessee has two cornerbacks positioned as top second-round candidates: Colton Hood, who also spent time at Auburn and Colorado, and Jermod McCoy, who sat out the 2025 season due to an ACL injury.

Additional prospects likely to be selected early in Friday’s second round include:

McNeil-Warren brings tremendous energy as a defensive back, standing nearly 6-foot-4 and weighing 201 pounds. This lengthy safety specializes in delivering punishing hits, showing equal aggression against ball carriers and receivers. During his four-year Toledo career, he stripped the ball eight times.

Hill combines exceptional speed with his 6-foot-3, 238-pound frame, running the 40-yard dash in the low 4.4-second range. His quickness helps him navigate around blockers, while his elite directional changes and closing speed make him dangerous. Over three seasons in Austin, he recorded 17 sacks and forced eight fumbles.

Last season’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year registered 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Despite being smaller than typical pass rushers, he consistently reaches quarterbacks and completes tackles. His explosive burst allows him to penetrate offensive lines and create backfield chaos.

Terrell offers athleticism at cornerback despite his 5-foot-11, 180-pound build, showcasing excellent quickness and field awareness. He tackles willingly and excels as a blitzer, with his NFL future likely at nickel back where he thrives in short zone coverage.

Boston possesses strength, speed, and outstanding hands for catching passes. At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, he creates a large target whether lined up wide or in the slot. His physical strength and long stride help him shield defenders at every level downfield. He found the end zone 20 times across his final two collegiate seasons.

McDonald was anticipated to join teammates Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles as first-round Buckeyes defenders. He excels at stopping the run and plugging gaps in the middle of defensive lines. His 6-foot-3, 326-pound frame provides ideal size and power for his position.

Throughout NHL history, no Stanley Cup playoff game has ever concluded with a penalty shot goal in overtime, and Carolina’s Jordan Martinook had no desire to break that streak.

During Game 2 of their opening-round matchup with Ottawa, Martinook and his Hurricanes teammates believed they had secured victory when Mark Jankowski found the back of the net. However, a league review determined the play was offside, erasing the goal and resetting the game clock. On the following shift, Senators forward Warren Foegele hooked Martinook during a breakaway, resulting in a penalty shot award.

“I was trying to tell (the referee) we needed the power play, not the penalty shot,” Martinook explained. Linus Ullmark denied his attempt, but Martinook eventually netted the game-winner during double overtime.

Following Thursday evening’s contests, these playoffs have witnessed four penalty shots across 21 games — exceeding the combined total from the past three postseasons, which included none in 2025. Goaltenders have successfully defended against every attempt.

Just two additional penalty shots would match the all-time record for a single playoff run. While no clear explanation exists for officials choosing penalty shots over power plays more frequently, this trend has certainly provided exceptional entertainment during an already captivating first round.

“Everything’s very circumstantial,” Buffalo netminder Alex Lyon commented after stopping Boston’s Viktor Arvidsson during Thursday’s Game 3. Lyon remains uncertain whether he prefers the one-on-one challenge or enduring a two-minute penalty kill.

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

Lyon successfully stopped Arvidsson, Ullmark denied Martinook, Philadelphia’s Owen Tippett shot wide against Pittsburgh’s Stuart Skinner, and Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood delivered such a spectacular save against Los Angeles’ Quinton Byfield that celebrating Denver fans actually shattered the glass behind the Kings’ bench.

“Never really seen the glass shatter behind the bench,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar remarked after repairs delayed the game for over 15 minutes. “That’s a different one. Stuff happens. Fans get excited. Our guys were excited.”

Could increased grabbing during play be occurring? More breakaway opportunities in a league emphasizing offensive production? Both scenarios seem plausible.

NHL rule 24.1 states that “a penalty shot is designed to restore a scoring opportunity which was lost as a result of an infraction being committed by the offending team, based on the parameters set out in these rules.” This language allows officials discretion in determining penalty shot situations when a player faces no impediment with clear access to the goal.

Nevertheless, four penalty shots before the first round concludes represents an anomaly. Only the 2019 playoffs (five) and 2008 playoffs (six) recorded more penalty shot attempts.

These moments carry game-altering potential while intensifying playoff pressure. Martinook compared his situation to being the heavy person on a seesaw, admitting he felt disappointed after missing his opportunity. The 33-year-old veteran redeemed himself with his subsequent goal to avoid becoming the scapegoat.

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

University of Kansas first-year guard Darryn Peterson announced his intention to enter the NBA draft on Friday, a move that had been widely anticipated since he first stepped foot on campus. The talented scorer is expected to be chosen within the top three selections when the draft takes place in June.

Standing 6-foot-6, Peterson displayed moments of exceptional talent during his time with the Jayhawks, though his season was marked by significant challenges. Early in the year, he faced a serious full-body cramping condition that landed him in the hospital, and subsequent injuries and illness forced him to sit out 11 contests, preventing him from developing consistent chemistry with his fellow players.

Despite the missed time, Peterson managed to put up impressive numbers, posting 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while connecting on 38.2% of his three-point attempts across 24 appearances.

His performance peaked during postseason play, where he found his stride by dropping 24 points against TCU and contributing 14 against Houston in Big 12 Tournament action. Peterson then exploded for 28 points in Kansas’ opening-round NCAA tournament victory over Cal Baptist, followed by a 21-point effort in their heartbreaking second-round defeat to St. John’s.

“To my teammates, friends and everyone at the University of Kansas, a heartfelt thank you!” Peterson posted to social media Friday. “Your belief in me, your encouragement and your constant support have been invaluable every step of the way. This journey has been everything to me, and none of it would have been possible without your love, support and sacrifices.”

Draft experts are split between Peterson and BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa for the number one overall selection, with Duke’s Cameron Boozer also being mentioned as a potential top pick.

Basketball analysts have frequently compared Peterson to Phoenix Suns five-time All-Star Devin Booker, who stands 6-foot-5. Both players possess the versatility to score from anywhere on the court and have the athletic ability to play beyond their physical dimensions.

Peterson’s declaration followed Dybantsa’s announcement by just one day, with the BYU star making his draft intentions known in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts.

Dybantsa topped the nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game while also recording 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. His statistical achievement makes him the first player since Larry Bird’s 1978-79 season at Indiana State to post those numbers and earn consensus All-American honors.

Tennessee freshman Nate Ament also entered the draft conversation on Thursday after appearing in all 35 games as a starter and averaging 16.7 points with 6.3 rebounds. His announcement came via Instagram, where he expressed gratitude to the Volunteers program.

“I promise to always represent the Vols with the upmost pride,” Ament wrote. “This University means more to me than just basketball — to me it’s a place I call home. I might’ve only been here a year but I’ll remember this year for the rest of my life.”

Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. made his draft declaration on Wednesday, joining LSU legend Pete Maravich as the only SEC players to lead the conference in both scoring (23.5 points per game) and assists (6.4 per game) in a single season.

Both Ament and Acuff are considered strong candidates to be selected within the draft’s top 10 picks.

TORONTO – City officials in Toronto have backtracked on controversial admission charges for their upcoming World Cup fan festival following strong opposition from council members and residents who argued the fees violated earlier commitments.

The Toronto City Council voted 18-3 this week to approve a modified plan that eliminates entrance fees for most attendees. The decision comes after city staff initially proposed charging $10 for general admission to the festival, which will feature live game screenings, food vendors, and entertainment during the June 11-July 19 tournament.

The proposed charges sparked immediate criticism since city officials had previously marketed the event as a “free and inclusive space” for soccer fans to gather and watch matches together.

Following concerns raised by council members about making the event affordable for all residents, Mayor Olivia Chow directed city staff to reconsider the ticketing structure earlier this week.

Under the revised plan announced Wednesday, 15,600 of the 20,000 available daily general admission spots will be completely free. An additional 500 tickets will be set aside at no charge for community organizations. The city will still offer 3,900 premium tickets each day, priced between $100 and $300.

City staff had defended the original fee proposal as necessary for managing crowds and funding what they called an “enhanced fan experience.”

“Fan Fest should be free for general admission,” Chow stated to reporters before the council vote. “We can offer VIP packages for those who want them, but the gates should be open for everyone.”

Toronto is among 16 host cities across Canada, the United States, and Mexico that will welcome the expanded 48-team World Cup. The city is scheduled to host six tournament matches.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — When Isaiah Hartenstein joined the Oklahoma City Thunder as a free agent two years ago, he never anticipated that a required museum tour would profoundly change his perspective.

Thunder General Manager Sam Presti mandates that all new team members visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, where 168 lives were lost during the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The 7-foot center’s experience there led him to create a 14-minute film titled “The Oklahoma Standard.”

This phrase was created by journalists and emergency responders who witnessed how local residents rallied to support victims and rescue operations following the devastating attack. The community’s response to that tragedy established a mindset of collective strength that has helped Oklahoma City weather major tornado disasters in 1999, 2003, and 2013.

“We know when we put on the jersey what we’re playing for,” Hartenstein said. “I have a lot of respect for that.”

Since the Thunder relocated from Seattle in 2008, Presti has woven this community-first philosophy throughout the organization, from player selection to extensive charitable work. The team has cultivated one of the NBA’s most passionate fan bases, with the arena’s upper sections earning the nickname “Loud City.”

The Thunder’s success has united a sports community typically divided between University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State loyalties. Following last season’s championship victory over Indiana, thousands of fans packed the streets for a celebration parade.

“They work hard, they play hard,” longtime season ticket holder “Thunder Rob” Shahan said of the players. “As an Oklahoman, we’re not afraid to roll up our sleeves. We’re not afraid to help our neighbor when they need help. And that’s what the team embodies.”

The franchise and city have grown together since former Mayor Mick Cornett and businessman Clay Bennett brought professional basketball to Oklahoma City. The city will host canoe slalom and softball events during the 2028 Summer Olympics, and the Thunder will move into a new arena that same year.

Current Mayor David Holt explained the team’s significance beyond sports: “We’re rightfully proud of the way we responded to the bombing. But you can’t really build an identity on an act of terrorism, right? We were grateful that people helped us and we were thankful that people respected the way we responded, but we really ultimately needed a different word to follow Oklahoma City than bombing. And we found that word, and it’s the Thunder.”

The relationship between team and community extends far beyond basketball games. When the Moore tornado struck in 2013, both Kevin Durant and the Thunder Cares Foundation contributed $1 million each for disaster relief efforts. The Thunder Community Foundation has built or renovated 31 basketball courts across 17 Oklahoma counties.

Hartenstein demonstrated this community connection by premiering his documentary at Classen SAS Middle School’s renovated auditorium, with eighth-grade drama students serving as ushers for the April 11 screening downtown.

These efforts have earned recognition, including Russell Westbrook’s NBA Community Assist Award for the 2014-15 season and Hartenstein’s NBA Cares Award during the 2025 offseason.

Fan loyalty has remained strong through challenging periods, including Durant’s 2016 departure to join Golden State and the team’s rebuilding phase after the 2020-2021 season. While Oklahoma has supported minor league teams in baseball and hockey for years, none have matched the Thunder’s impact.

“The very existence of the team has elevated us into a new tier of American city,” Holt said. “And because the reality is in American life, unless you have a team in the NBA, the NFL or the MLB, you don’t really get treated like a real city by lots of things that have nothing to do with sports. It just opens a lot of doors because it just sort of bestows this credibility on you.”

Local entrepreneur Juan Guerra credits the Thunder with enabling his business success. The 36-year-old Oklahoma City native operates Kicklahoma, a sneaker and clothing convention plus retail store, which he launched in 2014 during Durant’s MVP season.

“Kicklahoma doesn’t exist without the Thunder, in my narrative,” Guerra said. “Or maybe not even the Thunder but even breaking down to, without Kevin Durant having that signature line.”

The city’s basketball enthusiasm began when the New Orleans Hornets temporarily relocated following Hurricane Katrina. Fans embraced Chris Paul, who earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2006, proving Oklahoma City could support NBA basketball.

Durant became the franchise’s first superstar, capturing four scoring championships and leading the team to the 2012 NBA Finals. Other notable players have included James Harden, who won Sixth Man of the Year in 2012, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony. Current stars include reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.

Fans have equally embraced role players like Kendrick Perkins, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter, Nick Collison, and currently Jaylin Williams and Alex Caruso.

The organization’s commitment to community service intensified after the devastating 2013 tornado that destroyed Briarwood and Plaza Towers elementary schools. Players provided immediate personal and financial assistance before any formal rebuilding efforts began.

“There were Thunder players who came here and met with people and financially helped people,” recalled Leesa Kniffen, a season ticket holder who has taught at Briarwood for 25 years. “It started way before there was any formal rebuilding going on. It started at a personal level.”

When Briarwood reopened in 2014, the Thunder built a basketball court that they resurfaced again last year. The school’s library features a large Lego-style display of a boy wearing a Thunder jersey.

Hezekiah Darbon, who was 6 during the tornado and is now 19, remembers meeting Durant at a camp and Serge Ibaka when the court was constructed in 2014.

“They don’t say ‘Thunder Cares’ for nothing,” Darbon said. “And after going through that, honestly, it kind of feels more like ‘Thunder Loves.’”

The team reached the 2016 Western Conference Finals, holding a 3-1 lead over Golden State before losing the series in seven games. Durant’s subsequent free agency departure to join the Warriors devastated fans.

“I think that’s what hurt so most when he left us July 4th, is we thought he was one of us, and we still do,” Shahan said. “We felt hurt, we felt betrayed. He could have been the king of Oklahoma.”

Westbrook’s decision to remain provided healing, as he won MVP the following season with a memorable campaign of triple-doubles and spectacular plays. His defiant attitude resonated with Oklahomans who felt historically overlooked. Beyond basketball, Westbrook invested in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, serving needy families each Thanksgiving and participating in local comedy and fashion scenes. Though traded in 2019, he maintains ties to the city, including an ownership stake in the minor-league soccer team that will play in a new 10,000-seat downtown stadium opening in 2028.

The Thunder endured difficult seasons, posting 22-50 and 24-58 records in consecutive years. However, those struggles enabled the team to draft Holmgren second overall and Williams 12th in 2022, with both becoming All-Stars. By 2024, Oklahoma City earned the Western Conference’s top seed for two straight years.

Rob Clay, whose distinctive voice has made him a popular national anthem performer since the team’s arrival, sang before Game 1 of last year’s Finals. The 51-year-old Chicago native moved to Oklahoma City in 2001 and compares the current team to the 1990s Bulls dynasty he grew up watching.

“If you are a true fan of basketball, if you are true analyst of basketball, you cannot deny that Oklahoma City — they are next in line and have the opportunity to be the next dynasty,” he said. “And it happened authentically. We drafted our team and we picked up free agents. It wasn’t something that was just put together to be a superteam.”

The team’s organic development mirrors the city’s own rebuilding process. Last year’s championship parade route passed directly by the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, and this year’s playoff opener coincidentally fell on the bombing’s 31st anniversary.

“For us to represent the city and honor the victims and the families today with a home playoff game was a privilege for us,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We don’t take that lightly.”

In a dominant pitching performance, Tyler Glasnow surrendered only a single hit across eight shutout frames as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-0, preventing a series sweep at Oracle Park.

The Dodgers received offensive contributions from Max Muncy, who crossed home plate twice, while Dalton Rushing and Hyeseong Kim each contributed RBI hits. Los Angeles put their first run on the board during the second frame before extending their lead with two additional runs in the fourth inning.

Glasnow improved to 3-0 on the season, recording nine strikeouts before departing after 105 pitches. Tanner Scott completed the shutout in the ninth inning, earning his first save of the campaign. Kim and Kyle Tucker each collected two hits for the Dodgers, with both Muncy and Tucker adding doubles to their stat lines.

San Francisco managed just one safety against the right-handed starter, courtesy of Luis Arraez’s leadoff single in the fourth frame. Giants starter Logan Webb suffered the loss, falling to 2-3 after working seven innings and surrendering three runs on seven hits.

Cubs 8, Phillies 7 (10 innings)

Dansby Swanson delivered a game-winning hit in extra innings, extending Chicago’s winning streak to nine games while Philadelphia suffered their ninth consecutive defeat.

Seiya Suzuki’s third home run in three contests gave the Cubs a 7-6 advantage in the eighth, but Philadelphia’s Adolis Garcia answered with a pinch-hit homer in the ninth to force extra innings. In the tenth, reliever Tanner Banks (0-2) intentionally walked Suzuki before allowing Carson Kelly’s base hit to load the bags. Following Michael Busch’s strikeout, Swanson’s single to right field ended the marathon contest.

Busch contributed a home run and four RBIs, while Suzuki went deep and matched Kelly with three hits each. Chicago accumulated 18 hits in the victory. Brandon Marsh paced Philadelphia with a 3-for-4 performance that included two home runs.

Mets 10, Twins 8

Bo Bichette’s three-hit performance, highlighted by a tie-breaking three-run double in the eighth inning, powered New York past Minnesota in the decisive third game of their interleague matchup.

Brett Baty launched a three-run blast in the opening frame for the Mets, who surrendered a 7-2 advantage before claiming their second straight victory following a 12-game losing streak. New York plated three runs in the second before Carson Benge added a fourth-inning homer.

Ryan Jeffers knotted the score with a grand slam in the eighth for Minnesota, which has dropped six of their last seven contests. Tristan Gray contributed a sixth-inning homer and added an RBI single in the ninth.

Braves 7, Nationals 2

Rookie pitcher JR Ritchie excelled in his major league debut, tossing seven strong innings while Ozzie Albies recorded three hits and four RBIs in Atlanta’s road victory over Washington.

James Wood greeted Ritchie with a leadoff home run on the very first pitch, but the rookie hurler (1-0) limited the damage to two runs on five hits while striking out seven batters. Albies launched his fifth homer of the year in the ninth inning, while Michael Harris II went 3-for-4 and scored twice.

Cionel Perez (1-3) surrendered three runs on one hit and two walks in just one-third of an inning as Atlanta broke a tie with four runs in the seventh. CJ Abrams added a solo shot for Washington’s other tally, while starter Cade Cavalli recorded a career-best 10 strikeouts.

Tigers 5, Brewers 4

Spencer Torkelson’s walk-off solo homer with one out in the ninth lifted Detroit over Milwaukee in dramatic fashion.

Torkelson, who hit his first long ball of the season Wednesday, crushed a 3-1 sinker from Abner Uribe (1-1) over the left field barrier as Detroit captured two of three games in the series. Riley Greene provided a two-run homer while pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones delivered a game-tying solo shot in the eighth.

Blake Perkins drove home two runs for Milwaukee. Gary Sanchez collected two hits, one run and an RBI while David Hamilton added two hits and one RBI.

Padres 10, Rockies 8

Gavin Sheets’ three-run homer in the ninth inning completed a five-run comeback that lifted San Diego past Colorado in a high-scoring affair.

Sheets’ third home run of the season tagged Victor Vodnik (0-2) with a blown save after the reliever allowed five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Ron Marinaccio (1-0) earned his first MLB victory in two years by working two relief innings.

Colorado’s loss wasted Mickey Moniak’s outstanding performance, as he recorded his second two-homer game of the season against San Diego. Moniak finished 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs, leading a 14-hit offensive attack.

White Sox 4, Diamondbacks 1

Andrew Benintendi’s three-run homer with one out in the ninth inning propelled Chicago past Arizona in Phoenix.

Chase Meidroth drew a leadoff walk against Paul Sewald (0-3) to open the ninth and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before pinch-hitter Edgar Quero also walked, setting the stage for Benintendi. His 410-foot blast landed near the pool area in right-center field.

Chicago belted eight home runs while taking two of three games in the series and has now hit 15 homers over their last five contests. Grant Taylor (1-0) allowed two hits and struck out three after entering in relief of Davis Martin with one out in the seventh.

Yankees 4, Red Sox 2

Cody Bellinger’s pinch-hit two-RBI single helped New York extend their winning streak to six games with a victory over Boston.

Cam Schlittler (3-1) limited Boston to two runs on four hits across eight innings to earn the victory. David Bednar worked a perfect ninth to record his seventh save.

Bellinger came through with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh inning, putting New York ahead 3-2. Aaron Judge followed with an RBI single that scored Jose Caballero, giving the Yankees a 4-2 cushion.

Rangers 6, Pirates 1

Evan Carter’s inside-the-park home run and Jacob deGrom’s stellar pitching performance led Texas past Pittsburgh in the rubber match of their three-game series in Arlington.

deGrom (2-0) recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts across 5⅔ innings while allowing just one run. Corey Seager’s three-run blast off Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler (1-2) broke the contest open, doubling the Rangers’ 3-0 lead with one swing.

Chandler departed after four innings, surrendering six runs and seven hits for Pittsburgh. Oneil Cruz connected for a two-out solo homer to end deGrom’s shutout bid.

Buffalo forward Alex Tuch netted the go-ahead goal just over four minutes into the final period Thursday night, leading the Sabres to a 3-1 road victory against the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff matchup.

The victory marks the second consecutive road team triumph in the best-of-seven series, with Buffalo now holding a 2-1 advantage.

Noah Ostlund and Bowen Byram each contributed a goal and assist for the Sabres, while goaltender Alex Lyon made 24 saves in his playoff debut this season.

Boston’s Tanner Jeannot found the net for the Bruins’ only score, and Jeremy Swayman recorded 25 saves in the losing effort.

In other playoff action, Carolina defeated Ottawa 2-1 in Game 3, with Logan Stankoven extending his scoring streak to three games. The Hurricanes now lead their series 3-0, putting the Senators in a nearly impossible position, as only four NHL teams have ever recovered from such a deficit to win a playoff series. Jackson Blake added Carolina’s other goal, while Taylor Hall recorded two assists and Frederik Andersen stopped 21 shots. Drake Batherson scored for Ottawa, who have trailed throughout all three games, and Linus Ullmark made 25 saves.

Colorado moved to the brink of a sweep with a 4-2 road win over Los Angeles in their Western Conference series. Artturi Lehkonen led the Avalanche with one goal and one assist, while Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar and Brock Nelson also found the net. Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood turned away 24 shots. The Kings got goals from Trevor Moore and Adrian Kempe, managing just four total goals through three games. Los Angeles netminder Anton Forsberg stopped 19 shots, and Alex Laferriere added two assists.

The opening round of the 2026 NFL Draft concluded Friday evening, leaving several talented prospects who were once considered first-round material still waiting to hear their names called. As teams prepare for Saturday’s second round, here are the top players still available:

Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy remains on the draft board after missing all of the 2025 season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Sources indicate his recovery process still requires additional work, which explains his unexpected slide. Despite the injury setback, McCoy’s performance during the 2024 campaign demonstrated elite-level talent that would have likely placed him in the top 10 selections if he had stayed healthy.

Another Tennessee defensive back, cornerback Colton Hood, surprisingly made it through the first round despite being fully healthy. Hood’s explosive speed and physical style of play seemed to make him a natural choice for an early pick. Some analysts wonder if McCoy’s injury situation may be negatively affecting how teams view Hood as well.

Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was passed over even though two safeties were selected in round one, which is uncommon. His Group of 5 conference background and questions about his man-to-man coverage skills may have contributed to his slide. However, McNeil-Warren’s zone coverage instincts and athletic ability should make him an attractive early second-round selection.

Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell likely fell due to concerns about his arm length, which measures between 30 and 31 inches depending on the source. Most edge rushers chosen Thursday had more conventional measurements, except for Rueben Bain Jr., who dropped to the 15th pick. Teams willing to overlook the physical limitation will land one of the draft’s most effective speed rushers who excels at turning quarterback pressure into sacks. Howell also performs well when dropping back into pass coverage.

Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald watched four of his Buckeye teammates get drafted Thursday but remained available heading into day two. Teams may view McDonald as limited to run-stopping duties at nose tackle, which could explain his slide. However, clubs needing a reliable anchor for their defensive line should consider McDonald early in round two, especially since his pass-rushing ability may be undervalued.

Tennessee Titans shock with Ohio State WR Carnell Tate at pick 4

Bettors who wagered on Tate becoming the first Buckeye selected likely cashed in big. Tennessee faced multiple roster holes and had already invested significantly in mid-round wide receivers during last year’s draft, making the position an unlikely priority for the franchise.

Tate brings an excellent fit to Tennessee’s receiving corps, offering a legitimate top-tier option alongside Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, who demonstrated potential but couldn’t quite provide enough support to boost quarterback Cam Ward’s early performance. Connecting their franchise signal-caller with an elite receiving target early in the draft could signal positive developments for Tennessee’s offensive unit.

Kansas City Chiefs surprise with LSU CB Mansoor Delane at selection 6

While teams making moves to climb the draft board wasn’t shocking in a talent class lacking elite prospects, most observers expected Kansas City’s potential trade-up would target pass rush help. The Chiefs did lose several cornerbacks during the offseason, but their aggressive move for Delane caught many off guard.

Nevertheless, head coach Andy Reid should be pleased to add Delane to the roster, considering the team’s limited depth at outside corner positions. The defensive backfield should gain stability through Delane’s versatile coverage skills.

Los Angeles Rams stun with Alabama QB Ty Simpson at number 13

The first-season Alabama quarterback has landed in an ideal developmental situation. Working under Rams head coach Sean McVay’s guidance while learning behind established starter Matthew Stafford for the next year or two, Simpson appears positioned to reach the peak form he displayed during his final college campaign’s opening half. Los Angeles is providing him extensive time to grow, which makes sense for a prospect many analysts believed couldn’t contribute immediately. Nevertheless, this pick stunned observers who view the Rams as legitimate Super Bowl contenders this year.

Minnesota Vikings take risk on Louisville DL Caleb Banks at pick 18

Had Banks not missed most of the 2025 season due to foot problems, this selection wouldn’t have raised eyebrows. However, Banks sustained another foot injury during the NFL Combine, leading many to believe his draft value had plummeted significantly.

Minnesota’s front office apparently focused on the exceptional athletic ability Banks demonstrated at the combine and seized the opportunity to select him. Whether this proves to be a brilliant high-upside gamble or a costly mistake remains to be determined through medical evaluations and time.

Kansas City executed the first trade-up of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday evening, exchanging picks with Cleveland to secure LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the sixth overall selection.

The deal saw Kansas City surrender the ninth overall pick along with third-round (74th) and fifth-round (148th) selections to move up three positions. Cleveland used the acquired ninth pick to draft Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano, marking the first lineman selected in the draft.

The move addresses a critical need for Kansas City, which missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and recently traded two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles.

Delane became the evening’s first cornerback selected after earning unanimous All-American honors in 2025. During his final season at LSU, he recorded two interceptions, broke up 11 passes, and made 45 tackles across 11 games. The Virginia Tech transfer compiled impressive career totals including eight interceptions, 27 pass breakups, 191 tackles, and seven tackles for loss over four college seasons.

Dallas also made moves on draft night, trading up one spot to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11. The Cowboys sent picks 12, 177, and 180 to Miami, which immediately selected Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.

The Cowboys continued their draft-day activity by dealing the 20th pick to division rival Philadelphia in exchange for the 23rd selection and two fourth-round picks (114th and 137th overall).

Philadelphia used their acquired pick to select USC receiver Makai Lemon, who became the third wide receiver drafted despite falling past several teams needing help at the position. Lemon posted 1,156 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 79 catches during his junior season with the Trojans. He joins DeVonta Smith on a Philadelphia roster amid widespread speculation that disgruntled star A.J. Brown will be traded to New England after June 1.

With their original pick at 23, Dallas selected UCF defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence, who recorded 20 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles during his 39-game college career.

BOSTON — When Cam Schlittler took the mound at Fenway Park wearing a New York Yankees uniform, the hometown crowd’s reaction was far more civil than the online harassment he’s endured.

The 25-year-old right-hander delivered a masterful performance against his childhood team, holding the Boston Red Sox to just four hits across eight innings as New York completed a three-game sweep with a 4-2 victory Thursday night, extending their winning streak to six games.

Growing up in Walpole as a Red Sox supporter and later playing college baseball at Northeastern, Schlittler recently revealed to the New York Post that he and his family have been receiving death threats online.

During his pre-game warmup in the bullpen, Yankees digital content producer Cody Charneski accompanied Schlittler with a camera. The pitcher noted that the presence of cameras seemed to keep fan behavior more respectful.

“There was a couple things but, again, Cody is out there with the camera, so I think that’ll limit that,” Schlittler explained. “Not too bad. I think you overestimate how many genuine people are out there compared to online. So it’s a good feeling. I had a lot of buddies out there watching.”

Family members and friends could be seen celebrating enthusiastically when Schlittler struck out Jarren Duran on his 96th and final pitch of the night.

The performance improved Schlittler’s record to 3-1 while surrendering just two runs (one earned) with five strikeouts, one walk, and dropping his ERA to 1.77. The eight-inning effort marked his longest appearance in 20 regular-season starts.

This outing matched his previous dominance over Boston, when he threw eight scoreless innings to eliminate the Red Sox in last year’s American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised his young pitcher’s mental approach. “He’s got a great demeanor about him. He’s very even keeled and very adaptable, but also competitive and very confident. All great traits,” Boone said. “He’s always looking forward to his day out there. He’s a very confident guy and I think it’s meaningful for him to come back to where he grew up.”

Before warming up, Schlittler tossed a baseball to a fan sitting in the front row near right field. During the game, another supporter displayed a yellow sign reading “Walpole Loves Schlittler.”

“For the most part, really respectful,” Schlittler said of the fan treatment.

When the public address announcer introduced Schlittler as New York’s starting pitcher, the crowd responded with a mix of applause and jeers. Cody Bellinger, whose pinch-hit two-run single sparked a three-run seventh inning rally, commended how his teammate has handled the intense scrutiny.

“I think he handled it great,” Bellinger said. “He’s such a young kid, and this rivalry, it is — it’s different when you wear these two uniforms and he’s just done a tremendous job pitching and handling everything that comes with it.”

In that playoff elimination game, Schlittler recorded 12 strikeouts to end Boston’s 2025 season.

“There were plenty of distractions to be had before his playoff start last year, and he obviously handled that really well,” Boone reflected.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora remembered that postseason performance vividly. “He was throwing hard that day,” Cora said before Thursday’s series finale. “From pitch one, we had to be almost perfect. We didn’t put too much pressure on him.”

Fernando Mendoza faces his biggest challenge yet: transforming the struggling Las Vegas Raiders into championship contenders.

Las Vegas selected the Indiana quarterback with Thursday’s first overall pick in the NFL Draft. The 22-year-old becomes the focal point of the franchise’s rebuilding efforts after his remarkable season with the Hoosiers, where he captured the Heisman Trophy and guided the program to its inaugural national championship.

During his final college campaign, Mendoza threw 41 touchdown passes against just six interceptions while completing 72% of his attempts, leading Indiana to a flawless 16-0 season that few predicted. The Hoosiers entered the year holding the FBS record for most losses in history with 715 defeats.

Las Vegas’s choice came as no shock given their dismal 3-14 finish in 2025. The selection had been widely anticipated for months as the Raiders searched for their franchise quarterback. The remaining question centers on whether Mendoza will immediately claim the starting role or learn behind veteran Kirk Cousins initially.

While the Raiders’ selection lacked drama, the remainder of the top 10 delivered plenty of unexpected moves.

New York’s Jets surprised many by choosing Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey second overall. Bailey recorded 14.5 sacks across 14 games last season, leading the Jets to overlook heavily favored edge rusher Arvell Reese.

Arizona made another stunning move at third overall, selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Despite having other pressing needs, the Cardinals couldn’t pass on Love’s explosive ability after he averaged 6.9 yards per rush and scored 18 rushing touchdowns.

Tennessee continued the surprises at fourth overall by choosing Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate over top defensive prospects. Tate hauled in 51 receptions for nine touchdowns during the 2025 season.

Speaking about his new partnership with Titans quarterback Cam Ward, Tate expressed confidence in their future connection.

“I’m a reliable target for him,” Tate stated. “Whenever he needs me, I’m there for him. I’m always open.”

The New York Giants capitalized on Reese’s slide, grabbing him fifth overall to bolster what could become one of the league’s most formidable pass-rushing groups.

“The Giants told me they’re going to get unique with me,” Reese commented. “They said they’re going to use me in a bunch of unique ways. I’m looking forward to that.”

The evening’s first trade materialized when Kansas City moved up three spots from ninth to sixth, sending Cleveland their third-round selection (74th overall) and fifth-round pick (148th overall) to make the jump.

The Chiefs then chose LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with their acquired pick.

Delane revealed that Kansas City had kept their interest quiet throughout the pre-draft process, apparently as a strategic deception.

“They said they just wanted to keep it quiet and make that sneak move,” Delane explained. “And they made the best move in the draft. So I’m excited.”

Washington continued the Ohio State trend at seventh overall by selecting linebacker Sonny Styles, making him the third Buckeye chosen among the top seven picks. New Orleans followed at eighth by drafting Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.

Two offensive linemen completed the top 10 selections.

Cleveland used the ninth pick to select Utah tackle Spencer Fano. The Giants then utilized their second first-round selection to choose Miami Hurricanes tackle Francis Mauigoa tenth overall.

Dallas moved quickly when Ohio State safety Caleb Downs dropped beyond the top 10. The Cowboys traded up one position to 11th overall, sending Miami the 12th pick plus two fifth-round selections (177th and 180th overall) to secure Downs for their secondary.

Miami responded by taking Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor with the 12th pick, making him the third offensive lineman selected.

Los Angeles delivered another shock at 13th overall by choosing Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The Rams saw an opportunity to secure their future signal-caller, who will develop under head coach Sean McVay and veteran starter Matthew Stafford.

“Two of the greatest minds in offense,” Simpson said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Baltimore selected Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane 14th overall, while Tampa Bay chose Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the 15th pick.

Bain Jr. openly expressed his frustration about falling to the 15th selection and spoke passionately about proving the Buccaneers made the correct decision.

“I know I’m the best in the country, and I’m going to show it,” he declared.

The Jets added Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq 16th overall, followed by Detroit selecting Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the 17th pick.

The NBA handed Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker a hefty $35,000 penalty on Thursday for publicly blasting a referee’s work following his team’s playoff defeat, though the league also gave him some vindication in the process.

Officials announced they were overturning a technical foul assessed against Booker during the late stages of the third quarter, stating it had been “improperly assessed.”

The controversy stemmed from Phoenix’s 120-107 defeat to Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, which put the Suns in a 2-0 hole in their Western Conference quarterfinal matchup against the defending champions. Following that loss, Booker didn’t hold back when discussing the game’s officiating.

“It’s definitely something that has to be looked at,” Booker said postgame. “I heard (Oklahoma City’s Alex) Caruso tell them to call the tech, and he ended up doing it. In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name, but James (Williams) was terrible tonight.”

The veteran guard continued his criticism, stating, “Whatever I get fined for, everybody can pull the clips and see where the frustration comes from.”

The financial penalty came from NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations James Jones. The league’s statement also responded to Booker’s accusations of bias, declaring, “Following an investigation including multiple interviews and video review, the league found no basis to any claim of bias or misconduct by game officials.”

Despite defending the officials’ conduct, the NBA acknowledged the technical foul against Booker should never have been called.

In Wednesday’s contest, Booker contributed 22 points and seven rebounds, following up his 23-point, six-rebound performance in the series opener. During the regular season, the guard averaged 26.1 points, 6.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds across 64 starts.

Throughout his 11-year NBA career, all spent in Phoenix, Booker has earned five All-Star selections. His career statistics include 24.6 points, 5.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game over 737 appearances, with 712 as a starter.

Following intense public backlash, University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart announced Thursday he will decline a controversial $1 million position that was set to begin after his retirement.

Both UK President Eli Capilouto and Barnhart released joint statements confirming that Barnhart will not take the executive in residence role with the UK Sports and Workforce Initiative. The position drew sharp criticism from Governor Andy Beshear, who described it on social media Tuesday as “a new $1 million job that has no defined duties.” Major Kentucky athletics donors also voiced opposition to the arrangement.

“Mitch Barnhart came to me earlier this week to share his concern that the discussion surrounding his future role leading our sports workforce initiative has become a distraction from the work of our university,” Capilouto said in a statement. “Mitch and his family care deeply about this institution and our state, and they want the focus to return to the work that matters most for our students and the Commonwealth.”

Capilouto confirmed that the 66-year-old Barnhart will proceed with his planned retirement on June 30 but will “step away” from the university role they had designed for him. They will negotiate his departure terms according to his existing contract. Initial reports indicated Barnhart would have received $950,000 per year through August 2030.

“The compensation associated with his departure will be supported entirely by private funds — not athletic funds, not funds that would go toward NIL opportunities or university funds — that I will raise,” Capilouto said. “Mitch’s impact on this university has been profound, and I am grateful for his decades of leadership and service.”

Barnhart has led the Wildcats’ athletic program since 2002, making him the SEC’s longest-serving athletic director currently in position.

Last August, Barnhart received a contract extension running through 2028. Reports indicate his agreement contained provisions allowing him to transition from his athletic director duties in July 2026 to take on a different university role, such as serving as a special assistant to Capilouto.

In Thursday’s announcement, Barnhart explained his decision to change course.

“With our family previously having made the decision to retire in June from the position of Athletics Director, we were very excited about beginning the Workforce Initiative, developing a new program and pouring into the next generation of leaders in sports,” Barnhart said. “Work has already begun on the Initiative but recently it has become apparent that now is not the right time and we would never stand in the way of what we deem best. The world of sports is dynamic and ever-changing. It is my hope that this initiative will continue in the future.”

Under Barnhart’s leadership, the Wildcats captured six national titles: men’s basketball in 2012, women’s volleyball in 2020, and rifle team championships in 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2022.

The Kentucky football program achieved two 10-win seasons during his tenure in 2018 and 2021, reaching its highest point with a No. 7 Associated Press ranking in 2022.

The Sports Business Journal recognized Barnhart as Division I Athletic Director of the Year in 2019.

However, recent struggles in major sports programs have created challenges. Kentucky’s football team’s decline resulted in the dismissal of head coach Mark Stoops in December following 13 seasons. Despite being the most successful football coach in school history with an 82-80 record, Stoops’ teams struggled to 4-8 in 2024 and 5-7 in 2025.

Kentucky faced a substantial buyout obligation of approximately $37.7 million to Stoops, representing 75% of his remaining contract value.

The men’s basketball program, long considered the crown jewel of Kentucky athletics and among college basketball’s elite programs, experienced upheaval when accomplished coach John Calipari departed in 2024 after 14 seasons, despite winning the 2012 national championship. His successor, Mark Pope, has struggled to meet the high standards expected in Lexington.

“I am losing confidence and growing increasingly concerned with the management and decision-making at the University of Kentucky,” Beshear said in a statement on Tuesday. “My concerns include the creation of a new $1 million job that has no defined duties and the announcement that the new dean of law was the only candidate not recommended by law school faculty.”

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza expressed overwhelming joy Thursday night after the Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, calling the opportunity to join the franchise “ecstatic.”

The selection came as no surprise, as Mendoza captured the Heisman Trophy this past season while guiding the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and their first national championship. Now the 22-year-old signal-caller says he’s ready to advance to professional football.

“College was fantastic and I’m so blessed to have had that career, but now I step into the great game in the NFL,” Mendoza stated. “I look forward to earning it and proving it every day.”

RAIDERS SEEK TURNAROUND

Las Vegas is counting on Mendoza’s precision throwing, smart decision-making, and durability to help resurrect a franchise with a rich history but recent struggles. The organization is coming off a disappointing 3-14 campaign where they managed just 241 points, the fewest in the league, and haven’t secured a postseason victory since before Mendoza was even born.

Raiders General Manager John Spytek emphasized that selecting Mendoza wasn’t simply handing him the starting role, but rather the result of extensive evaluation where the quarterback excelled at every level of assessment.

“He’s a hard-working, driven and extremely smart young man,” Spytek commented.

The rookie quarterback will have the unique opportunity to learn from Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion, while competing with veteran Kirk Cousins and 2023 draft selection Aidan O’Connell in the quarterback competition.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Raiders supporters are hoping Mendoza represents the long-term answer at quarterback that has eluded the organization for years.

“I expect fans to see a guy who comes out and gives his best to Raider Nation,” Spytek explained. “He’s going to compete his tail off with Kirk and with Aidan. As we’ve said, this is a meritocracy in the NFL. The best guy will play. But we expect him to come in ready to roll — that’s the kind of person he is.”

During his final collegiate season, Mendoza posted impressive numbers, completing 71.5% of his throws for 2,980 yards while contributing 39 total touchdowns. When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called his name from the stage in Pittsburgh, Mendoza embraced his mother and displayed a wide grin while donning his new Raiders hat.

“What a great organization, what a great legacy,” Mendoza said about the Raiders, who have reached five Super Bowls and claimed three championships. “There are so many great teammates, coaches and owners I’m looking forward to talking to. I’m ecstatic for the opportunity.”

The New York Jets made Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey their top choice Thursday evening, selecting him with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft at their Florham Park, New Jersey headquarters.

Bailey brings much-needed defensive firepower to head coach Aaron Glenn’s squad, which struggled significantly on defense during the previous season and ranked among the league’s bottom performers.

This selection launches what promises to be an active opening phase for the franchise, as New York holds four picks within the first 44 selections. The organization also controls the 16th overall choice and opens Friday evening’s second round with the 33rd pick.

“I feel like this organization is trending in the right way,” Bailey said. “I’m just ready to work.”

The selection marks the highest defensive player chosen by the franchise since the NFL merger occurred in 1970.

While Las Vegas was widely expected to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the top selection, speculation focused heavily on New York’s intentions at the second spot. Recent weeks saw both Bailey and Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese frequently mentioned as potential targets for the organization, with the main question being which player they would ultimately choose rather than whether they might trade the selection.

General manager Darren Mougey opted to remain at the second position and selected Bailey, who faces expectations to strengthen a pass rush that finished 31st league-wide with just 26 quarterback takedowns. The crosstown Giants subsequently chose Reese fifth overall.

The 22-year-old dominated during his final college campaign at Texas Tech, sharing the national lead with 14.5 quarterback sacks. His impressive statistics also included ranking second nationally with 19.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, along with three forced fumbles and three pass breakups across 14 appearances, including 13 starting assignments.

Bailey’s arrival helps fill the void left by edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, whom the organization traded to Tennessee in February in exchange for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat.

“That feeling, it’s like no other,” Bailey said of getting sacks. “It’s really what I be chasing. I have a lot of motivations for why I play the game. That’s one of them. That feeling when you get a sack and the crowd is on your side, especially during a home game — but regardless, home or away — it’s one of the best feelings. I take a lot of pride in that.”

Following three campaigns at Stanford, Bailey transferred to Texas Tech where he earned Associated Press All-America recognition, Big 12 defensive lineman of the year honors, the conference’s newcomer award, and became a Lombardi Award finalist for the nation’s top lineman.

The franchise canceled Bailey’s scheduled top-30 prospect visit last week, prompting some observers to question their continued interest. However, Mougey clarified during Tuesday’s pre-draft media session that the cancellation didn’t reflect reduced enthusiasm.

“In regards to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him,” Mougey said. “We were just kind of juggling our 30 and how to use them and I wouldn’t look too much into a cancellation because there were other ones we may have changed, as well.”

Bailey will ultimately visit the team’s training facility after all, now as their premier draft selection.

“I had a great interaction with them at the combine,” Bailey said. “Obviously, they canceled the 30 visit, but other than that, man, I had a great FaceTime with Mougey and everybody.”

This represents only the fourth occasion in franchise history that the organization has held the second overall selection, and the first since choosing quarterback Zach Wilson in 2021. Running back Blair Thomas in 1990 and wide receiver Johnny “Lam” Jones in 1980 were the previous second overall picks.

The Chicago Cubs continued their hot streak Thursday afternoon, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 8-7 in extra innings to extend their winning streak to nine games.

Dansby Swanson delivered the decisive blow with a walk-off single in the 10th inning, capping off a dramatic comeback victory at Wrigley Field. The win completed a four-game sweep of Philadelphia and marked Chicago’s longest winning streak since an 11-game run in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Phillies’ struggles continued as they dropped their ninth consecutive game, leaving them with the worst record in the National League at 8-17.

The extra-inning drama began when Cubs pitcher Javier Assad (2-1) retired Philadelphia in order during the top of the 10th. In the bottom half, Phillies reliever Tanner Banks (0-2) intentionally walked Seiya Suzuki before allowing Carson Kelly’s single to load the bases.

Following Michael Busch’s strikeout, Swanson stepped up and drove a single to right field to end the contest.

Chicago’s offense exploded for 18 hits in the victory, led by Busch’s four RBIs and home run performance. Both Suzuki and Kelly contributed three hits each, with Suzuki also going deep.

The game remained tied 6-6 entering the eighth inning when Suzuki broke the deadlock with his third home run in three games, connecting on a fastball from Philadelphia reliever Brad Keller.

Philadelphia responded in the ninth inning as pinch hitter Adolis Garcia launched his third homer of the season off Chicago’s Caleb Thielbar, evening the score at 7-7 and forcing extra innings.

Cubs starter Edward Cabrera pitched seven innings, surrendering five runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out five batters and issuing no walks. For Philadelphia, Cristopher Sanchez lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Brandon Marsh provided offensive highlights for the Phillies despite the loss, going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs.

Philadelphia struck first in the second inning when Marsh connected for his third homer of the season. Chicago answered immediately in the bottom half as Kelly and Busch reached base before Swanson’s sacrifice fly tied the game.

The Cubs seized control in the third inning after singles by Suzuki and Kelly set up Busch’s three-run blast, establishing a 4-1 advantage.

The Phillies cut into the deficit in the fourth when Bryce Harper’s single preceded Marsh’s RBI hit, making it 4-2. Chicago restored its three-run cushion in the bottom of the fourth as Ian Happ launched his seventh home run of the year.

After Happ singled with one out in the sixth, Sanchez was lifted for Chase Shugart. Suzuki followed with a single and Kelly was hit by a pitch before Busch’s RBI groundout extended the lead to 6-2.

Philadelphia mounted a comeback in the seventh inning, starting with Marsh’s second homer of the game. Bryson Stott singled and Alec Bohm doubled before Alex Bregman’s throwing error allowed Stott to score. Garrett Stubbs then delivered a sacrifice fly to pull the Phillies within one run.

The Phillies completed their comeback in the eighth when reliever Hoby Milner walked two batters in 2/3 of an inning. Jacob Webb entered with runners on first and second but allowed Edmundo Sosa’s game-tying single.

The Texas Rangers have given 30-year-old right-handed pitcher Peyton Gray his first shot at the major leagues, promoting him after placing left-handed reliever Robert Garcia on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation on Thursday.

Gray’s path to the big leagues has been anything but conventional, spanning eight years and 278 games across minor league baseball, independent leagues, and four winter seasons playing internationally before finally receiving his major league opportunity.

Garcia hasn’t taken the mound since April 16, though the injured list placement could only be backdated to Monday. The Rangers made space for Gray on their 40-man roster by designating minor league catcher Willie MacIver for assignment.

Following his time in the Rangers’ farm system last year, Gray made a strong impression during spring training as a non-roster invitee. He posted a 2.53 ERA across nine appearances, recording 18 strikeouts against just one walk in 10 2/3 innings pitched.

“Being the 30-year-old non-roster invite that doesn’t have any big league time, I don’t think they expected me to put up as many zeroes and throw as many strikes as I did,” Gray said in the Rangers clubhouse before a series finale against Pittsburgh. “So I think I surprised them. I might have surprised myself a little bit too.”

Gray, who expressed gratitude just to have a pitching job following spring training, started this season with Triple-A Round Rock. He delivered 12 1/3 scoreless innings across seven outings, posting a 1-0 record with two saves, 15 strikeouts, and two walks.

“What a story this is going to be when he gets on the mound. The journey is from minor leagues to independent ball to international, the whole deal. It’s an incredible story and earned,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “I mean, it’s not just because we need a pitcher. Like he’s earned this, and I think that’s what sticks out the most. Dominated in spring training, dominated in Triple-A so far.”

Gray’s professional career began after college at Florida Gulf Coast University with a brief stint in the Colorado Rockies’ Northwest League affiliate in 2018, remaining in their system through 2019.

His baseball odyssey continued in 2021 with the Kansas City Royals’ organization, interspersed with seasons playing for the Milwaukee Milkmen in the independent American Association. He spent this past winter pitching in the Dominican Republic, following three previous winters in Mexico’s Pacific League.

Garcia carries a 0-1 record with a 3.38 ERA through nine appearances for the Rangers this season. While an MRI revealed no structural damage and Garcia received a shoulder injection, he hadn’t pitched in a week before the Rangers made the roster move.

“We were kind of just waiting for it to turn. It just did not. So you can’t be a man short for too much longer,” Schumaker said.

“Now we’re just letting everything set in and let it take its course and give it some time. And then obviously day by day treatment and stuff like that as much as we can do,” Garcia said. “You have to be smart. It is April, and I know how much value I hold in the bullpen. And I don’t want to let this linger for five more months.”

The United States will allow Iran’s national soccer team to participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, but will impose strict limitations on who can accompany the athletes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, Rubio clarified that while Iranian players face no restrictions from American officials, individuals connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will be barred from entering the country with the team.

“Nothing from the U.S. has told them they can’t come,” Rubio stated during the briefing.

President Donald Trump echoed this position during remarks at the White House, saying his administration “would not want to affect the athletes.”

The global soccer tournament is scheduled to kick off June 11 across venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Rubio explained the administration’s concerns center on Iranian officials rather than the sporting competitors themselves.

“The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in but not the athletes themselves,” the Secretary of State said.

He added stronger language regarding potential security risks: “They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers.” The United States has officially classified the IRGC as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

Earlier, Paolo Zampolli, a Trump representative without formal World Cup authority, had proposed replacing Iran with Italy in the tournament.

No current indications suggest Iran plans to withdraw from the competition or faces potential tournament exclusion, despite Italy’s failure to qualify.

Following the outbreak of conflict involving Iran, Iranian officials requested FIFA relocate their three group stage matches from American venues to Mexico, but soccer’s governing body denied this request.

Recent military exchanges began February 28 when the United States and Israel conducted strikes against Iran. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and Gulf nations hosting American military installations. The ongoing conflict involving U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran and Israeli actions in Lebanon has resulted in thousands of casualties and millions of displaced civilians. A tentative ceasefire in the Iran conflict began more than two weeks ago.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves received a status upgrade to questionable for Friday’s Game 3 matchup with the Houston Rockets in their first-round playoff series.

The Lakers announced the change in Reaves’ availability Thursday as the team traveled to Houston. Despite missing their leading scorers, Los Angeles holds an unexpected 2-0 advantage in the series heading into Friday evening’s contest.

Reaves has been sidelined since suffering an oblique muscle strain alongside Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury during their April 2 game against Oklahoma City. However, Reaves has resumed basketball activities on the court in recent days. Prior to departure, head coach JJ Redick offered no timeline updates regarding when his injured starters might return to action.

During the regular season, Reaves posted strong numbers with 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game, though he appeared in just 51 contests due to two extended injury stretches. In his fifth year with the franchise, the former undrafted player established himself as a reliable secondary offensive weapon and playmaker as Los Angeles captured 53 victories and the Pacific Division title.

Both Reaves and league scoring leader Doncic suffered their injuries during the Lakers’ decisive defeat to the Thunder three weeks ago.

While Doncic remains unavailable for Game 3, Redick indicated earlier this week that the Slovenian star should begin preliminary court work in the near future. The Lakers have avoided providing specific return dates for either guard.

Following a three-game losing streak after the injuries occurred, Los Angeles has bounced back with five consecutive wins. The Lakers shocked the basketball world by taking both home games against the Rockets, who entered the series as heavy favorites due to Los Angeles’ injury concerns.

While 41-year-old LeBron James has spearheaded the effort, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart have delivered outstanding performances filling in for the absent backcourt starters. Kennard contributed 27 points in the series opener and 23 in Game 2, while Smart added 25 points with five three-pointers in Game 2 and anchored the defensive effort that limited Kevin Durant to just three second-half points.

Reaves faces a significant contract decision this summer if he opts out of his current deal as anticipated. Both the player and franchise officials have expressed confidence that the guard will remain with Los Angeles, the team he supported growing up.

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens intends to accept the team’s $27.3 million franchise tag offer following the organization’s announcement that it won’t pursue a multi-year agreement this offseason, according to two sources familiar with the situation who spoke Thursday.

While Pickens hasn’t yet put pen to paper on the one-year, fully guaranteed deal, he plans to finalize the matter as Dallas prepares for the upcoming NFL draft, sources told The Associated Press under anonymity since the contract remains unofficial.

This development follows Wednesday’s comments from executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones, who indicated the Cowboys expected Pickens to play under the franchise designation this season. The two parties would have had until July 15 to negotiate a longer-term arrangement.

Accepting the franchise tag means Pickens faces potential fines for missing mandatory minicamp in June or training camp in July. However, signing the deal enables the 25-year-old to take part in the team’s offseason program, which begins Monday.

The receiver, obtained last offseason through a trade with Pittsburgh, posted personal bests with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns while contributing to one of the NFL’s top offensive units last season. Despite the offensive success, Dallas struggled defensively and finished 7-9-1, extending their playoff absence to two consecutive seasons.

The former Georgia standout, selected in the second round of the 2022 draft, flourished playing opposite CeeDee Lamb, who is entering his second season of a four-year, $136 million extension that places him third among NFL receivers with a $34 million annual average.

The franchise tag represents significant financial motivation for Pickens, as the guaranteed sum far exceeds the $6.8 million he earned throughout his entire four-year rookie contract.

Dallas has previously used the franchise tag with quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence over the past eight years before eventually securing long-term commitments. Conversely, tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Tony Pollard both played under the tag before departing via free agency the following season.

Jones cited the “newness” of Pickens’ time with the Cowboys as a contributing factor in the organization’s preference for a one-year arrangement rather than an extended contract.

During his three seasons in Pittsburgh, Pickens displayed exceptional ability but also exhibited enough concerning behavior that former coach Mike Tomlin publicly questioned his maturity level.

First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who spent 25 years as an NFL assistant, avoided publicly criticizing Pickens throughout his inaugural season. However, both Pickens and Lamb were benched for the opening series against Las Vegas after violating curfew during a casino visit the previous evening.

BOSTON — A runner from Northern Ireland who assisted in carrying a collapsed competitor across the Boston Marathon finish line Thursday described his decision as pure instinct, despite battling his own exhaustion during the challenging race.

Aaron Beggs explained in a Thursday interview that he had been pushing through his own physical struggles by thinking about members of his running club who may never have the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious event.

“If I had to go farther, I would have,” Beggs stated. “It’s fight or flight, and I decided to fight and help him get to our destination.”

The dramatic rescue unfolded Monday when Ajay Haridasse, a Massachusetts resident and Northeastern University student, collapsed approximately 1,000 feet before reaching the finish line. Beggs, along with Brazilian runner Robson De Olivera, immediately stepped in to assist.

“Then when I came down and up towards Boylston Street, the crowd started cheering and I just turned the corner and happened to see Ajay fall,” Beggs recalled. “I looked at my watch, and I looked at him again, and the natural instinct was just to go and pick him up.”

The Northern Ireland runner described the marathon experience as fundamentally different from shorter competitive races, emphasizing the collaborative spirit among participants.

“We were shaking hands as we were running, and was like, ‘We’ve got this. Let’s do this together,’” he explained. “It’s not like in shorter races where you’re head-to-head trying to beat people. In the marathon, you’re cheering each other on and encouraging everybody.”

The rescue has captured widespread attention through viral video footage. Beggs reported staying in contact with Haridasse and expressed hope to reconnect with De Olivera as well. Remarkably, their combined finishing time met qualification standards for next year’s marathon.

“Three strangers, three different countries, and we’ll have a story for the rest of our lives,” Beggs reflected. “We all need just a nice story in our lives, just to make us smile, bring a tear to your eye with happiness. And it’s nice to be nice.”

The Texas Rangers have sidelined left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia with shoulder inflammation, placing him on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

The roster move dates back to Monday. To fill the spot, Texas promoted right-handed pitcher Peyton Gray from their Triple-A affiliate Round Rock and removed catcher Willie MacIver from the roster by designating him for assignment.

Garcia, age 29, hasn’t taken the mound since April 16, when he successfully retired one batter during a 9-6 victory over Oakland on the road. This season, he holds an 0-1 record with a 3.38 earned run average, issuing seven walks while recording six strikeouts across eight innings in nine appearances during his second year with the Rangers.

Left-handed hitters have struggled against Garcia this year, going hitless in 13 at-bats while striking out four times.

Throughout his professional career, Garcia has compiled a 9-17 record with nine saves and a 3.57 ERA, walking 57 batters and striking out 182 in 163⅔ innings across 177 relief appearances with Miami (2023), Washington (2023-24), and Texas (2025-26).

Gray, who is 30 years old, has excelled at Round Rock with a 1-0 record, two saves, and a perfect 0.00 ERA while walking two and striking out 15 batters in 12⅔ innings over seven relief outings. Opposing hitters have managed just eight hits in 43 at-bats for a .186 average against him.

Should Gray make his major league debut, he would become the oldest Rangers player to do so since pitcher Hyeon-jong Yang, who was 33 when he debuted on April 26, 2021, according to team records.

MacIver, 29, struggled last season with Oakland, hitting .186 with 19 hits in 102 at-bats across 32 games. Texas claimed him off waivers from the Athletics on November 5, 2025. This season at Round Rock, he has hit .170 with eight hits in 47 at-bats over 14 games.

The roster adjustment was necessary to make space on the major league roster. Texas now has seven days to either trade MacIver, release him, or send him outright to the minor leagues.

MILWAUKEE — Sources close to the situation reveal that the Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of completing an agreement with Taylor Jenkins to become their new head coach following Doc Rivers’ exit, according to information shared with The Associated Press on Thursday.

The source requested anonymity since the organization has not yet made an official announcement. ESPN was first to report the Bucks’ progress toward securing Jenkins for the position.

Jenkins spent six seasons leading the Memphis Grizzlies from 2019 through 2025, compiling a 250-214 coaching record that featured three consecutive postseason appearances between 2021 and 2023. Despite Memphis being playoff-bound, the organization dismissed him with nine contests remaining in the 2024-25 campaign, and the team subsequently suffered a first-round sweep by Oklahoma City, who went on to claim the championship.

The hiring would mark Jenkins’ second tenure in Milwaukee, where he previously served as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer during the 2018-19 campaign. That season saw the Bucks achieve the league’s top record at 60-22 before surrendering a 2-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals to Toronto, who captured the title that year.

Jenkins will inherit a Bucks franchise facing a pivotal offseason after posting a disappointing 32-50 record this past season, snapping their nine-year consecutive playoff streak.

The organization announced Rivers’ coaching departure on April 13, one day following their season’s conclusion. The 64-year-old Rivers had indicated during the campaign’s final weeks his desire to dedicate more time to his grandchildren.

Rivers concluded his Milwaukee tenure with a 97-103 record across 2½ seasons. His overall coaching career spans 1,194 victories against 866 defeats, placing him sixth among all-time NBA coaching wins.

Milwaukee’s primary offseason focus centers on the future of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has played his complete 13-year NBA career with the franchise.

The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo can enter free agency following next season unless he agrees to a four-year, $275 million extension in October. Alternatively, Milwaukee could explore trading him if they doubt his willingness to sign the extension.

When questioned about signing an extension after the team’s final game, Antetokounmpo responded: “It’s something I have to sit down with my family and see what’s best for me, what’s best for my family.”

By season’s end, tension had developed between Antetokounmpo and the organization regarding the nine-time All-NBA forward’s health situation. Antetokounmpo appeared in just 36 games this season, a career low.

Late in the season, Antetokounmpo expressed his readiness and desire to compete, while team officials kept him sidelined due to a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. The NBA launched an investigation into the circumstances.

Jenkins previously collaborated with Antetokounmpo during his initial Milwaukee stint. He had served on Budenholzer’s coaching staff in both Atlanta and Milwaukee before Memphis recruited him in 2019, coinciding with their selection of Ja Morant as the second overall draft pick.

Under Jenkins’ leadership, Memphis advanced to the playoff’s second round in 2022 and suffered first-round eliminations in 2021 and 2023. His 250 career victories with the Grizzlies represent the franchise’s all-time record for coaching wins.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots leadership announced Thursday their backing of head coach Mike Vrabel’s choice to absent himself from Saturday’s draft activities while he pursues professional counseling, following recent publication of images showing him with veteran NFL journalist Dianna Russini at an Arizona vacation destination.

In an official statement issued before Thursday’s opening draft round, the organization declared: “The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.”

The franchise expressed continued confidence in their draft preparation, stating: “We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”

During a press briefing earlier this week, Vrabel acknowledged having “difficult conversations with people I care about,” referencing discussions with family members, coaching personnel, team leadership and players after the photographs became public through New York Post reporting.

According to the Post’s account, the images of Vrabel and Russini were captured in Sedona prior to the annual NFL meetings that commenced in Phoenix on March 29. League officials have indicated no formal investigation into Vrabel’s conduct is underway. Both Vrabel and Russini are married individuals. Russini departed her position at The Athletic last week.

Vrabel announced his intention to step away from Saturday’s draft proceedings in a Wednesday evening statement.

New England enters the draft weekend with 11 total selections available. This includes their lone first-round choice at No. 31 on Thursday night, plus single picks in both the second and third rounds scheduled for Friday.

The majority of their draft activity will occur Saturday during Vrabel’s absence, with the team holding two fourth-round selections, one fifth-round pick, four sixth-round choices and one seventh-round selection.

A rookie pitcher’s major league debut got off to the worst possible start when Washington’s James Wood launched his very first professional pitch for a home run, but JR Ritchie quickly turned things around to secure his first MLB victory.

The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher bounced back from that opening nightmare to guide the Atlanta Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday, marking the team’s eighth victory in their last nine contests.

“One pitch into it I was like, ‘Oh no,’ but after that I bounced back really well,” Ritchie said. “Honestly, probably for the next year I will hate it. Then after that it will be like a funny, ‘Hey, first pitch of my big league career I gave up a nuke.’”

The 2022 draft pick, who was chosen 35th overall, settled in to pitch seven solid innings while surrendering only one additional run. His final line showed five hits allowed with seven strikeouts and two walks, as he threw strikes on 54 of his 89 total pitches. The young hurler showcased his arsenal by averaging 94.4 mph on 24 fastballs while also delivering 25 curveballs, 19 changeups, 10 sliders, seven cutters and four sinkers.

With his victory, Ritchie (1-0) made history as the first Braves pitcher since Matt Wisler in 2015 to surrender two runs or fewer while working seven-plus innings in his major league debut.

“Kids got a lot of weapons man, for right and left handed hitters,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s in total control out there. That’s got to shake you up a little bit, first pitch you throw in the big leagues and it gets hit for a homer. But right back on the mound and attacking with all his stuff.”

The rookie received his promotion call from Triple-A Gwinnett manager Kanekoa Texeira at 8 p.m. Wednesday evening and didn’t arrive in the nation’s capital until approximately 2 a.m.

Wood connected on a 93.5 mph fastball thrown down the middle, while CJ Abrams added a fourth-inning home run on a changeup that missed below the strike zone.

The Nationals managed no hits following Daylen Lile’s two-out single in the fourth inning.

Before Thursday’s contest, Atlanta promoted both Ritchie and veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco from the Triple-A Stripers while sending right-hander Didier Fuentes back to Gwinnett and placing left-hander Dylan Dodd on the 15-day injured list due to left spine inflammation, with the move backdated to Wednesday.

Ritchie had compiled a 3-1 record with an impressive 0.99 ERA across five starts at Triple-A Gwinnett to begin this season.

When questioned about whether Ritchie would receive another starting opportunity with Atlanta, manager Weiss indicated the organization would reach a decision within the next couple of days.

“The kid did a heck of a job and made a great case for himself,” Weiss said with a smile.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach is facing criminal charges after being accused of domestic violence involving his daughter.

Dave Merritt, 54, was hit with a misdemeanor domestic battery charge on Thursday following a complaint filed by Johnson County prosecutors in Kansas. Court documents allege Merritt inflicted bodily harm on his daughter.

The Chiefs organization acknowledged they are aware of Merritt’s arrest but declined to provide any statement. Merritt was scheduled to appear before a judge Thursday.

Before transitioning to coaching, the 54-year-old Merritt had a career as an NFL linebacker. He has since established himself as one of the league’s top defensive backs coaches. Merritt joined the Chiefs coaching staff in 2019, and throughout his coaching career, including his tenure with the New York Giants, he has been part of five Super Bowl championship teams.

Additional photographs have emerged showing New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in what appears to be an intimate encounter with former NFL reporter Diana Russini dating back to 2020.

The New York Post’s Page Six released the images on Thursday, just one day after Vrabel announced he would skip the final day of Saturday’s NFL draft to begin counseling sessions.

This latest development follows the initial controversy that erupted on April 7 when the Post first published images of Vrabel and Russini, who was working as an NFL correspondent for The Athletic at the time, appearing to hold hands and embrace at an upscale resort in Sedona, Arizona.

The most recent photographs were allegedly captured at Tribeca Tavern during the early morning hours of March 11, 2020, and seem to depict the two sitting intimately at the bar and sharing a kiss. “They were kissing and they were all over each other. He had a ring on,” a witness told Page Six.

The March 11, 2020 date is significant as it marks the day the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. At that time, Vrabel was serving as head coach for the Tennessee Titans and was married to his current wife, while Russini was engaged to her now-husband.

The 50-year-old coach provided a statement to the Post regarding Thursday’s revelations.

“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.

“I have always wanted to lead by example and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be,” Vrabel continued. “This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”

Vrabel plans to be present with the Patriots on Thursday evening when they make their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft at the 31st overall selection, and will also participate in the late second and third round selections on Friday. However, he will be absent for the final four rounds taking place on Saturday.

Russini stepped down from her position at The Athletic last week while the New York Times-owned publication conducted an investigation into the nature of her relationship with Vrabel.

When the Arizona photographs first surfaced, Vrabel dismissed them, stating the pictures “show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”

Vrabel took over as Patriots head coach before the 2025 season, returning to one of his former teams as a player, and led New England to Super Bowl LX. The Seattle Seahawks won that championship game 29-13.

Last season, Vrabel received his second AP NFL Coach of the Year award, having previously won the honor in 2021 while leading the Titans. He served as Tennessee’s head coach from 2018 through 2023.

Atlanta Falcons defensive player James Pearce Jr. has reached an agreement to participate in a pretrial diversion program that will address three felony charges connected to a February 7 domestic incident involving his former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson.

Attorney Jacob Nunez announced Thursday that his client will complete a six-month diversion program. “Upon completion of the six months without violation, the state will dismiss all felony and misdemeanor charges,” Nunez told The Associated Press.

In a joint statement, Nunez and co-attorney Yale Sanford said, “James is focused on moving forward, rejoining his teammates and the Atlanta Falcons organization as a whole, performing at the highest level, and continuing to be a team player on and off the field.”

The Falcons organization has not yet responded to questions regarding Pearce’s standing with the team.

This development coincides with NFL draft day, marking one year since Atlanta selected Pearce as the 26th overall pick in the 2025 draft. The rookie defensive end topped the team with 10.5 sacks and established a franchise rookie record with 45 quarterback pressures.

However, the pending legal issues have created uncertainty about his future with the organization. New head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed on April 8 that Pearce was absent from the team facility when voluntary offseason activities began.

When asked about Pearce earlier this week, General Manager Ian Cunningham stated there were no developments to report. “Everything is status quo,” Cunningham said Monday.

The Miami-Dade County Florida State Attorney’s Office filed the charges on March 13, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence. Prosecutors also brought a misdemeanor stalking charge, while dropping an additional count of aggravated battery of an officer.

Police reports indicate Jackson told investigators she tried to escape from Pearce by driving toward the Doral police station for assistance when Pearce “intentionally collided into the rear of her vehicle with his SUV” before officers arrived on scene.

The arrest affidavit states that Pearce initially ignored police commands to “get on the floor.” According to the police narrative, Pearce then attempted to flee in his vehicle and struck an officer’s left knee “intentionally in an attempt to evade arrest.”

CHICAGO — The Philadelphia Phillies made a significant roster move Thursday, cutting ties with veteran pitcher Taijuan Walker while promoting right-hander Nolan Hoffman from their Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley.

Walker departed the team’s clubhouse hours before Thursday’s matchup with the Chicago Cubs. The 33-year-old was completing the fourth and final year of his $72 million deal with Philadelphia.

The roster shuffle came after the Phillies sent pitcher Alan Rangel down to Triple-A following Wednesday’s 7-2 defeat to Chicago, marking their eighth consecutive loss.

Walker, now in his 14th MLB campaign, earned All-Star recognition with the New York Mets in 2021 and delivered his best Philadelphia performance in 2023 with 15 victories and a 4.38 ERA. However, his production has declined significantly since then, posting a combined 9-19 record with a 5.67 ERA across the last three seasons.

This year proved particularly challenging for Walker, who managed just one win against four losses while posting a 9.13 ERA through five appearances. Wednesday’s outing at Wrigley Field saw him surrender five runs on eight hits over four innings in a relief role, earning the loss. His removal from the rotation became inevitable with ace Zack Wheeler scheduled to return Saturday.

Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski revealed the organization attempted to trade Walker’s contract on multiple occasions without success.

“We know and he knows that he gave every effort that he possibly could to try to get people out and it just wasn’t working,” Dombrowski said. “Maybe a change of scenery will help him.”

Manager Rob Thomson emphasized the decision stemmed purely from on-field results.

“It’s just all performance based. I hope that people understand,” Thomson stated.

Despite the disappointing end, Thomson acknowledged Walker’s contributions, particularly his strong 2023 campaign.

“We had a really good year out of him the first year (2023) with the 15 wins,” Thomson noted. “With the injuries we had last year, this guy took down 125 innings and basically helped us get to the playoffs.”

Thomson also praised Walker’s character and professionalism throughout his Philadelphia tenure.

“He’s one of the best teammates and one of the best people I’ve been around,” Thomson said. “This guys a pro, performance aside.

“He tried everything, being the opener and trying to get some velo back, which he did. It didn’t work out, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort on his part.”

BYU basketball star AJ Dybantsa confirmed Thursday that he will enter the NBA draft, where he’s anticipated to be among the top selections.

The forward from Massachusetts dominated college basketball this season, posting the nation’s highest scoring average at 25.5 points per game while also contributing 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest during his single collegiate campaign.

Dybantsa becomes the first player since Larry Bird’s 1978-79 season at Indiana State to achieve those statistical benchmarks while earning consensus All-American recognition.

“Now the work starts again, all over again,” Dybantsa said. “I’ve had a lot of NBA players tell me that it kind of restarts once you get there. I’m just looking forward to that next step, being a rookie and learning from all the vets.”

The announcement took place at the Davis School in Dybantsa’s native Brockton, Massachusetts, a city known for producing boxing legends Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler.

“It’s the city of champions,” Dybantsa said. “I just want to be considered like one of those champions.”

Despite his professional basketball aspirations, Dybantsa plans to continue his education at BYU while pursuing his NBA career. He attended the Davis School through elementary school and credits the institution with teaching him valuable lessons about the importance of academics.

“My mom wanted me to stay in college to graduate,” Dybantsa said. “But I told my mother that I’m going to declare for the draft and also finish and get my degree online. I’ll probably finish within the next four years.”

The draft’s selection order remains undetermined until the lottery scheduled for May 10. Washington, Indiana, and Brooklyn each hold identical 14% chances of securing the first overall pick. When questioned about his preferred destination, Dybantsa’s response was straightforward.

“Whatever team drafts me, bro,” Dybantsa said.

The confident young player already has his sights set on basketball immortality, hoping to one day return to Massachusetts for another significant speech at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

“The next speech — the next big, big speech — I should have is the Hall of Fame speech,” Dybantsa said. “So, we should be good.”

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama will make the trip to Portland with his teammates for this weekend’s playoff games while he works through the NBA’s required concussion protocol procedures.

Head coach Mitch Johnson declined to confirm Thursday whether Wembanyama would be available for Game 3, stating the young star is making progress but his availability against Portland remains up in the air.

“He looks good,” Johnson commented, adding that team officials have not yet begun discussing a timeline for Wembanyama’s return to action.

The French center was present at the team’s training facility Thursday for the second day running, wearing a black hoodie and gray sweatpants. According to teammate Julian Champagnie, Wembanyama managed to take some practice shots.

“He was only around for a little bit this morning,” Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox noted Thursday. “Obviously, we just want him to be healthy.”

The 7-foot-4 center — who became the first player ever to win Defensive Player of the Year unanimously and is among three MVP finalists — sustained his head injury during San Antonio’s Game 2 defeat to Portland Tuesday evening, exiting in the second quarter.

Friday’s Game 3 in Portland will continue the series currently knotted at one game each, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday in the same city. The Spurs were set to depart for Portland Thursday afternoon.

The NBA’s concussion protocol requires players to complete specific stages before receiving medical clearance. The recovery process starts with low-intensity activities including stationary cycling, light jogging, agility exercises and basketball drills without contact, with neurological testing following each phase.

Medical staff will also compare Wembanyama’s current test results against his preseason baseline neurological assessment before allowing him to advance through the return-to-play stages.

“It’s pretty straightforward,” Johnson explained. “Obviously, we hope he’ll be back at some point. But we’ll allow the protocol to play out. And again, there’s nothing more important than his health.”

A prolonged absence for Wembanyama would severely impact San Antonio, which posted the NBA’s second-best regular season record thanks largely to the versatile French big man. The team managed a 12-6 record during games he missed in the regular season.

This season, Wembanyama posted averages of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per contest. He joined his teammates Wednesday night for a celebration where the squad wore cowboy hats to honor Keldon Johnson’s Sixth Man of the Year recognition.

“We know that he’s chomping at the bit to get back on the court and be with his guys,” Johnson said.

Baseball icon Sandy Koufax has been selected to receive Baseball Digest’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the sixth recipient of the prestigious honor.

The Hall of Fame left-hander received the recognition Thursday, an award designed to celebrate “a living individual whose career has been spent in or around Major League Baseball and who has demonstrated outstanding character and has made significant contributions to the game.”

Previous recipients of this distinction include Willie Mays, who received the first award in 2021, broadcaster Vin Scully in 2022, manager Joe Torre in 2023, skipper Dusty Baker in 2024, and announcer Bob Costas in 2025.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized along with the previous award winners,” the 90-year-old Koufax said in a news release. “I thank the distinguished panel.”

The legendary pitcher began his professional career with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955, the same year the franchise captured its first World Series title. Following the team’s relocation to Los Angeles, Koufax established himself as one of the sport’s most formidable hurlers throughout the 1960s.

During his stellar career, the southpaw captured three Cy Young Awards, earned an MVP honor, and claimed five straight National League ERA championships. His achievements include three seasons with 25 or more victories, leading the major leagues in wins each time, plus seven All-Star selections between 1961 and 1966.

Koufax’s pitching mastery included four no-hit performances, one of which was a perfect game. He earned World Series MVP honors on two occasions, guiding the Dodgers to championships in 1963 and 1965, and was also part of their 1959 title team.

Arthritis in his throwing elbow forced Koufax into early retirement following the 1966 campaign at just 30 years old. His exceptional career earned him entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, making him the youngest inductee at that time. The Dodgers honored him by retiring his No. 32 jersey later that year, and he was selected for MLB’s All-Century Team in 1999.

“The name Sandy Koufax has become a synonym for ‘great pitcher,’” Baseball Digest publisher David Fagley said. “It’s hard to believe it has been 60 years since he last pitched so brilliantly for the Dodgers but, since his retirement, Sandy has been a remarkable representative of our national game, a symbol of class and dignity.”

A panel of 21 veteran baseball participants and observers, including journalists, broadcasters, former athletes, and executives, voted to select Koufax for this year’s award.

Formula One officials announced Thursday that drivers will receive an additional 30 minutes of practice time ahead of the Miami Grand Prix scheduled for May 3rd, following a month-long break in racing and recent safety modifications to competition rules.

The fourth round of the championship marks the sport’s return after Middle Eastern races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to the Iran conflict, creating an unusual gap in the racing calendar.

During the racing hiatus, officials implemented technical rule modifications to address safety concerns and competitive issues that emerged during the season’s opening three events.

The International Automobile Federation announced that following discussions with all involved parties, Friday’s practice session will be extended from one hour to 90 minutes, running from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. local time.

Officials cited several factors for the decision: the extended time since the last race, the recent rule adjustments, and Miami’s sprint weekend format. The compressed schedule includes just one practice session before Friday’s sprint qualifying, followed by Saturday’s 100-kilometer sprint race and Sunday’s qualifying for the main event.

Mercedes has dominated the early season, capturing victories in all three completed races, with Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli currently sitting atop the championship standings.

NEW YORK — The New York Mets finally had something to celebrate Wednesday night as superstar Juan Soto returned from injury to help end their devastating 12-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Soto, who had been sidelined since April 3 with a right calf strain, was activated from the injured list and contributed immediately, going 1-for-3 with a single and a walk while serving as the designated hitter.

“He looked really good,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.

But the joy of Soto’s comeback was quickly overshadowed when shortstop Francisco Lindor suffered what appeared to be a similar injury, leaving the game in the fifth inning with left calf tightness. Lindor is scheduled for an MRI Thursday.

“Here we go again,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got to wait and see what we’re dealing with.”

The four-time All-Star received an enthusiastic welcome from fans when he stepped into the batter’s box in the first inning, with portions of the small crowd rising to their feet. Though he flew out to center field, his deep drive allowed Bo Bichette to advance from second to third base, setting up the game’s first run when Bichette came home on Lindor’s two-out infield hit.

Soto’s night included a lineout to right field in the third inning, a walk in the fifth, and a single in the eighth before being caught stealing while attempting to take second base.

“I don’t think it’s going to be any pressure,” Soto said before the game. “I’m just going to be myself and be out there, definitely help as much as I can to get out of this and put the team in the right spot again.”

The slugger has now recorded hits in all nine games he’s appeared in this season. He also made history by becoming the first major league player to draw 900 walks before his 28th birthday.

“It makes a big difference just to add his name in the lineup. But also, I said it yesterday: You can’t put all the pressure on him,” Mendoza said. “It’s going to take all of us to get out of this. It’s not just Juan Soto.”

To make room on the roster, the Mets sent third-string catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse after Tuesday’s 5-3 defeat to Minnesota.

Despite starting the year with baseball’s highest opening-day payroll at $352.2 million, the Mets entered Wednesday with the worst record in the majors at 8-16. During their losing streak, which began April 8 with a 7-2 loss to Arizona, New York was outscored 67-22 while managing just a .194 batting average and .284 slugging percentage. The 12-game skid marked their longest since August 2002.

“I feel like we have a great lineup. We have guys who are going through tough times right now. They can’t get a hit or anything, and it’s part of it. We all go through that stuff,” Soto said. “But it’s tough when kind of like most of the lineup is going through it. It makes it a little hard to win games like that.”

The team plans to ease Soto back into action gradually. He’s expected to play outfield Thursday night, after which the organization will “reassess,” according to Mendoza. The six-time Silver Slugger Award winner will receive complete rest days as needed going forward.

“We need to be flexible and we have to stay on top of things with him,” Mendoza explained. “If we see that there’s a couple of games, two or three games where he does a lot of running on base, going first to third, first to home, second to home, in the outfield, then we’ll have to adjust. And hopefully that’s the case. That means he’s on base and we’re scoring a lot of runs. So, yeah, I think it’s fluid. But at the same time we just have to be smart with him.”

Soto’s injury occurred during a 10-3 victory over San Francisco on April 3, when he hurt himself running from first to third on Bichette’s RBI single. The Mets managed to win their next three contests without him before falling into their lengthy slump.

“It’s a little uncomfortable when you see it from the outside,” Soto said. “It’s just a tough time, but we’re going to get out of it.”

The outfielder is in year two of his record-breaking $765 million, 15-year deal signed as a free agent in December 2024. Before his injury, he was hitting .355 with one home run and five RBIs.

Rather than completing a minor league rehabilitation assignment, Soto prepared for his return through workouts at Citi Field while the team was traveling last week.

“Felt like he got what he needed here,” Mendoza said. “Plenty of at-bats. We brought a lot of pitchers in here. We were able to simulate a lot of the things that you do on a rehab assignment.”

Both Soto and Mendoza emphasized that the player is completely healthy and did not return ahead of schedule. This marked Soto’s first injured list stint since 2021 with Washington, when a strained left shoulder kept him out from April 20 through May 3.

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald acknowledges that Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike technology should theoretically provide equal treatment to hitters and pitchers.

However, in reality, he believes one group is getting the upper hand.

And it’s not the players on the mound.

“It’s what (MLB) wanted — people on base,” Sewald explained. “Tough time to be a pitcher. Balls flying everywhere, you’ve got a smaller strike zone. But you just go out there and do the best you can.”

Is Sewald’s assessment accurate? The statistics suggest the strike zone has indeed gotten tighter, though the data tells a complex story.

Base on balls have surged to levels approaching historical records during the season’s opening month. While there’s no definitive proof that the ABS system caused this increase, Diamondbacks catcher James McCann posed a logical question: “Of course it is. What other rules have changed?”

Through Wednesday’s contests, MLB hitters have walked in 9.8% of their plate appearances this season, potentially marking the highest percentage since 1950. This figure typically decreases as the season advances, since pitchers generally struggle with command during cold weather conditions in northern markets throughout March and April.

However, even accounting for seasonal factors, walks have increased dramatically compared to last year.

The strike zone modification was anticipated. MLB needed to redefine the zone’s parameters to work with automated umpiring. The previous Official Baseball Rules described a zone extending from the batter’s torso midpoint down to the “hollow beneath the kneecap.” The updated zone uses more exact measurements, beginning at 27% of a hitter’s standing height and extending to 53.5%. The ABS zone measures 17 inches across, matching home plate’s width, with all pitches evaluated at the plate’s center point.

The walk increase doesn’t completely reveal who’s gaining advantages in the ABS era. MLB’s overall batting average has dropped slightly to .240 through Wednesday, marginally below last year’s .242 mark during March and April games. This challenges Sewald’s assertion about “balls flying everywhere.”

The contrasting viewpoints are intriguing as MLB players adapt to the new regulations and statistics.

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger isn’t reading too much into the early statistics. He noted that batters and pitchers constantly engage in strategic battles, and balance will eventually emerge.

“I think there’s always an adjustment to something new,” the 2019 National League MVP explained. “It’s also such a short sample size. It’s (20-25) games into the season, so numbers skyrocket both ways early on.”

McCann remains unconvinced. The experienced catcher believes a more restrictive strike zone will naturally result in additional walks.

“I think it’s tighter in general,” McCann stated. “Umpires are getting instant feedback on what’s a strike or a ball and everything’s becoming much more uniform. That’s what the guys who had used it in the minor leagues told me was going to happen before the season started, and they were exactly right.”

Chicago Cubs star infielder Nico Hoerner offered a somewhat different perspective, suggesting that hitters might currently benefit by avoiding pitches at the strike zone’s upper edge, though all adaptations eventually reach their limits.

“Getting on base has been emphasized for a long time,” Hoerner noted. “Walking is incredibly valuable as a hitter. A lot of pitchers — their approach is to avoid slug at all cost. Sometimes that involves throwing less strikes. But I’m sure there will be a back and forth, just like every trend in baseball.”

Recent history indicates MLB rule modifications can create lasting impacts. Stolen bases increased nearly 50% from 2022 to 2023 following a rules package that introduced a pitch clock and restricted pitcher pickoff attempts.

Base stealing has remained elevated in subsequent seasons, even after teams adapted to the new regulations.

When MLB lowered the pitcher’s mound in 1969, walk rates jumped from 7.6% to 9.1%. The rate declined somewhat afterward but didn’t drop below 8% again until 2013.

Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough views the ABS situation differently. He’s monitoring the trends but doesn’t expect the elevated walk rate to persist.

The upcoming five months will provide answers.

“I think that we’ll get to a point where it gets close and stabilizes to what it’s been, where relievers are walking around 10%. Starters are going to be more around 8%,” McCullough predicted. “My hypothesis sitting here now early in the year is that by the time the season ends, (walk rates) will look very much like they have, say the last several seasons.”

PITTSBURGH — The speculation ends tonight as the real NFL Draft gets underway in Pittsburgh.

Over the next three days, 257 college football players will achieve their lifelong goal when their names are announced, marking the end of years filled with dedication and personal sacrifice.

Thursday evening’s opening round begins when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell steps onto the stage at the main theater near Acrisure Stadium to reveal the Las Vegas Raiders’ choice for the top selection. Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy while leading Indiana to their first national championship, is widely expected to be Las Vegas’s pick. It would be shocking if he ends up anywhere else.

The composed and refined Mendoza will have the opportunity to develop under Kirk Cousins while working with part-owner Tom Brady, the legendary seven-time Super Bowl winner who is eager to share his knowledge.

Though 16 other prospects will participate in the celebration and get their moment to embrace Goodell on stage, Mendoza is staying home in Miami with his loved ones. His mother, Elsa Mendoza, battles multiple sclerosis, making travel challenging for her.

“I’ve done so much traveling this year, it’s a lot easier for my mom and her health is at the forefront,” Mendoza said. “We need to hop on a plane the next day for whatever team drafts me and to be there with the village that’s poured into me — friends, family, coaches, mentors — to be there with all of them and to share the start of this NFL journey, it’s going to create the best memory for our family.”

Mendoza joins four other top picks from recent in-person drafts who chose family celebrations over the public ceremony — Travon Walker (2022), Trevor Lawrence (2021), Baker Mayfield (2018) and Myles Garrett (2017). The 2020 draft was conducted remotely due to the pandemic.

The major uncertainty surrounds the New York Jets’ second overall selection. The choice likely comes down to Ohio State’s Arvell Reese or Texas Tech’s David Bailey, both considered elite pass rushers. However, the Jets could surprise everyone with an unexpected pick.

Following Mendoza’s selection, quarterback picks may become scarce. Alabama’s Ty Simpson appears to be the next signal-caller in line. He’s attending the draft festivities but may need to wait until Friday’s second round to hear his name.

“I can’t control how people think,” Simpson said Wednesday. “All I can control is how I play and how much of a player I can be so wherever I go, whoever gets me, I’m gonna make sure that’s what I do wherever that is.”

This year’s opening round should move more quickly than previous years since teams now have eight minutes between selections instead of the previous 10-minute window.