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Manchester United He may not be the frontrunner for Richard Rios just yet, but Benfica are now openly laying the groundwork for a potential sale – and that changes the picture around the Colombian midfielder.

Messages have been coming from Portugal for several weeks remained relatively firm. Benfica did not want to be sold cheaply, the player was happy in Lisbon and the club saw the 2026 World Cup as a prime opportunity to further increase his value.

That stance has not completely ended. However, a recent report to ball Suggests that reality is now catching up to ambition.

Benfica need money – and Rios is one of the obvious candidates

The Portuguese side are preparing for a summer rebuild after a disappointing season. There is a real possibility that they will miss out on Champions League football, which would deal a significant financial blow.

Because of this, Benfica’s board are now considering sales that they would ideally have avoided.

According to A Bola, Richard Rios is one of the main names being discussed internally as a possible major exit. Andreas Schjelderup and Vangelis Pavlidis have also been mentioned, but the Colombian midfielder has been described as the leading candidate in midfield.

This is a notable change in tone compared to earlier reports. Because previously, Benfica had only been described as willing to listen to “unique” proposals. Now the language has become soft. The report states that the club would be willing to analyze offers upwards of €30m (£26m).

Of course, this is still a large fee. But it is also a far cry from the €100m (£87m) release clause in his contract.

Manchester United still remain interested

Keeping an eye on the situation, Manchester United has once again been named among the English clubs.

The report does not go as far as claiming formal negotiations or bids. However, the Premier League team continues to feature in Portuguese reporting about the player.

Napoli are said to be particularly alert, while English clubs are also monitoring developments.

But for United, the interest still makes logical sense. Since the beginning of 2025, Richard Ríos has played 90 matches for club and country. That workload alone speaks volumes about his physical toughness.

Also, his production has also improved this season. The 25-year-old has already registered six goals and six assists, making this the most productive campaign of his career so far.

If Michael Carrick’s side are looking to improve the midfield, he could certainly be one of the strong contenders for a place in the team.

Benfica is balancing evaluation and urgency

The interesting thing here is the paradox that Benfica is now trying to manage.

On the one hand, they still believe that the World Cup can significantly increase the market value of Richard Rios. The Colombian is expected to be part of his national team’s plans in 2026, and Benfica know that a strong tournament could greatly increase his price.

On the other hand, they may not be in a financial position to comfortably wait.

An Bola repeatedly formulated the club’s summer strategy around the need for liquidity before reinvesting in the team. This explains why the tone around Rios has become more lenient.

So while Benfica aren’t actually putting the “for sale” sign on the midfielder, there is now a very clear sense that they are ‘open to offers’ – especially if the Premier League club decide to seriously make a move.

沃特福德 询问了多德雷赫特队后卫扬·普鲁格（Jan Plug）的情况，他是利物浦崇拜英雄德克·库伊特（Dirk Kuyt）的侄子。

记者乔斯特·布劳霍夫报道 这位21岁的球员本赛季在荷兰俱乐部给人留下了深刻的印象，现在已经有了追求者。

沃特福德查询

普拉格本赛季从费耶诺德租借到多德雷赫特，他是费耶诺德青训系统的产物。

他于2016年免费转会加入他们，此后在队伍中稳步上升，在进入一线队之前曾为青年队、U17队、U18队和U21队效力。随后，他于二月份被租借至多德雷赫特继续发展。

他做到了这一点，在所有比赛中出场 25 次，上场时间为 1720 分钟。自加盟以来，他在联盟的每场联赛比赛中都首发出场，并在联盟中 100% 的可用时间里上场。

而且它似乎并没有被忽视。据布劳霍夫称，这位费耶诺德后卫今年赢得了“相当大的兴趣”。

沃特福德、奥胡斯和奥地利维也纳等球队已经对他进行了询问。但是，尽管这位年轻人渴望在最高水平上迈出下一步，但他还不感兴趣。

费耶诺德的突破

相反，德克·库伊特的侄子“决心”在费耶诺德取得突破。也许他想在荷兰俱乐部追随叔叔的脚步。不管怎样，沃特福德和其他球队的兴趣目前似乎已经被推向一边。

不过，转会沃特福德对他来说可能不是一个坏主意。黄蜂队确实在签下年轻球员并培养他们方面有着良好的记录，然后他们才能在未来获得大笔转会费。

理查利森 (​​Richarlison)、若昂·佩德罗 (Joao Pedro)、佩维斯·埃斯图皮南 (Pervis Estupiñán) 等许多人都曾在维卡拉奇路 (Vicarage Road) 踢球，然后再去追求更大、更好的事业。不过，扬·普拉格似乎希望自己有机会首先给费耶诺德留下深刻印象。

简·普拉格 (Jan Plug) 成为众人瞩目的焦点。费耶诺德后卫被租借到多德雷赫特队，现在渴望在最高水平上更进一步。沃特福德、奥胡斯和奥地利维也纳已经通知，但德克·库伊特的侄子坚持闯入 #费耶诺德。所以更多 @VI_nl 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/2xxS0Dq8SV

— Joost Blaauwhof (@joost_blaauwhof) 2026 年 5 月 16 日

沃特福德已經對多德雷赫特後衛揚·普拉格進行了詢問，他是利物浦崇拜英雄德克·庫伊特的侄子。

記者 Joost Blaauwhof 報道稱，這位 21 歲的球員本賽季在荷蘭俱樂部給人留下了深刻的印象，現在已經有了追求者。

沃特福德查詢

普拉格本季從費耶諾德租借到多德雷赫特，他是費耶諾德青訓系統的產物。

他於2016年免費轉會加入他們，此後在隊伍中穩步上升，在進入一線隊之前曾為青年隊、U17隊、U18隊和U21隊效力。隨後，他於二月被租借至多德雷赫特繼續發展。

他做到了這一點，在所有比賽中出場 25 次，上場時間為 1720 分鐘。自加盟以來，他在聯盟的每場聯賽比賽中都首發出場，並在聯盟中 100% 的可用時間內上場。

而且它似乎並沒有被忽視。據布勞霍夫稱，這位費耶諾德後衛今年贏得了「相當大的興趣」。

沃特福德、奧胡斯和奧地利維也納等球隊已經對他進行了詢問。但是，儘管這位年輕人渴望在最高水平上邁出下一步，但他還不感興趣。

費耶諾德的突破

相反，德克·庫伊特的侄子「決心」在費耶諾德取得突破。也許他想在荷蘭俱樂部追隨叔叔的腳步。不管怎樣，沃特福德和其他球隊的興趣目前似乎已經被推向一邊。

不過，轉會沃特福德對他來說可能不是一個壞主意。黃蜂隊確實在簽下年輕球員並培養他們方面有著良好的記錄，然後他們才能在未來獲得大筆轉會費。

理查利森、佩維斯·埃斯圖皮南 (Pervis Estupiñán) 等許多人都曾在維卡拉奇路 (Vicarage Road) 踢球，然後再去追求更大、更好的事業。不過，揚·普拉格似乎希望自己有機會先給費耶諾德留下深刻印象。

Jan Plug staat flink in de belangstelling.費耶諾德隊將在多德雷赫特隊的主場進行比賽。沃特福德、奧胡斯和奧地利 維也納 informeerden al, maar neefje van Dirk Kuyt wil per se Doorbreken bij #費耶諾德。佐梅爾 @VI_nl 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/2xxS0Dq8SV

— Joost Blaauwhof (@joost_blaauwhof) 2026 年 5 月 16 日

chelsea Now part of the growing European battle for Ousmane Diomande, the market for the sporting defender has been on the rise in recent weeks.

Earlier this spring, Crystal Palace were the Premier League club most linked with the 22-year-old player. Palace explore a move worth around €50m (£43m)But Sporting considered the valuation too low and the deal never proceeded.

Since then, the landscape around Diomande has changed significantly.

According to Portuguese transfer insider Flavio CostaSporting has now received approaches from Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

The same report claims Sporting are now only expected to consider a sale for around €60m (£52m), which shows how steeply the defender’s valuation has risen.

Chelsea’s interest is understandable

Chelsea are not being presented as favorites for the defender at this stage. PSG and Bayern Munich are also firmly in the picture.

Nevertheless, Chelsea’s presence in the race is notable given the club’s position. Centre-back issues have repeatedly plagued him this season. Inconsistency, injuries and the lack of a well-organized defensive structure have contributed to difficult moments during the campaign.

As a result, the club is actively looking for high-level defensive additions capable of becoming long-term pillars. Diomande naturally fits that profile.

Standing 190 cm tall, he combines physical strength with mobility and composure. Despite being only 22 years old, he has played over 120 matches for Sporting CP.

Furthermore, he has been on Chelsea’s radar for at least two years now We covered Portuguese reports from 2024 Claiming the centre-back was in his plans. But with a much bigger reputation and European pedigree, Diomande is now a different kind of target.

Preparing for sporting pressure

Sporting renewed Diomande’s contract earlier this year until 2030 and retained his €80m (£69m) release clause.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese club knows that the pressure on the player is increasing rapidly. Diomande is also expected to play for Ivory Coast in the upcoming World Cup, another factor that could increase his value even higher.

A few months ago, crystal Palace It seemed as if the club was pushing most for a defender.

Now the asking price has soared, Europe’s elite are involved, and Chelsea are among the clubs looking to make one of the biggest defensive moves of the summer.

In Friday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kyle Schwarber did something that had only been done once before in Philadelphia Phillies history. The slugger equaled the record set by Cy Williams in 1923 by homering 20 times in the Phils’ first 45 games of the season. He has also hit nine home runs in his last eight games. Schwarber is on pace for a ridiculous 72 home runs.

Age remains a concern for Schwarber, as the former outfielder transitions to full-time designated hitter duties after the 2023 season. But his power has only improved since then, hitting a career-high 56 homers in 2025. He is the definition of a true triple output player, someone who primarily walks, strikes out, or hits home runs. Many are questioning whether his power can continue as he ages, so how has Schwarber maintained his ability to throw for power?

History as a slugger

None of this is new to Schwarber, although it has certainly reached a new level recently. He has always been a power hitter. Since 2017, Schwarber posted only one season with fewer than 30 homers (2018), not including the COVID-shortened 2020 season. This is a level of consistent slugging that is simply head and shoulders above everyone else in the game. And it’s that consistency that has established Schwarber as one of the best in baseball.

The slugger has spent time with four clubs in his career, but most of his service time was split between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia. Interestingly, Schwarber has gotten better with age. His time with the Cubs was early in his career, where he hit 121 homers. But during his most recent stint with Philly, the hitter has 207 dingers. In a league where age almost always means getting worse, Schwarber has managed to turn it around.

only getting better with age

They say wine gets better with age, but so does Kyle Schwarber. In the first seven seasons of his career, he never reached the 40-homer mark. But in the four seasons that followed, Schwarber has surpassed 40 home runs three times. The only time he failed to reach there was in 2024, when he scored 38 runs. And even though he surpassed his career high in points last season with 56, it looks like Schwarber is even better in 2026.

His 165 wRC+ is an all-time high compared to last year’s 152. ISO is a statistic that measures pure power hitting, which is calculated by subtracting batting average from the slugging percentage. Schwarber has a ridiculous .384 ISO mark. That production at the plate has equated to 1.5 WAR for the slugger in just 45 games. This puts him on pace for 5.4 WAR on the season. for a player who Only Contributes with his bat, that’s huge numbers.

statistical anomalies

Statcast has some graphs of Schwarber’s plate production that help explain his profile as a player with three true results. The first two (seen below) show his hot zone as a power hitter, with the red color on the image indicating the part where his home runs are hit.

As you would expect, these zones are fairly similar, with the middle of the zone being the primary spot where Schwarber makes quality contact. An interesting metric is the top right part of each figure. These are pitches that are high and inside, given that Schwarber is a left-hander. He’s doing a tremendous amount of damage on those pitches, with 1,500 ISO and 2,000 SLG. His strikeout rate in that area is also attractive (pictured below left). He has not yet hit a pitch in that area of ​​the zone, demonstrating a distinct ability to wait for that pitch and do damage.

Even more shocking are his on-base percentage stats. The four quadrants outside the zone are a helpful way to measure plate discipline and movement. Schwarber has a combined .559 OBP on pitches out of the zone, which means he’s walking in a ridiculous fashion. He is tied for 11th in MLB with 30 walks, giving him a 14.7 percent walk rate.

Schwarber is an anomaly in that regard. Before him, most sluggers known to get better after age 30 were steroid users. The year Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs, a record that has yet to be broken, he had a .863 SLG and a .535 ISO. Schwarber isn’t nearly as good, but is doing something similar without the help of performance-enhancing drugs.

The Phillies’ 2026 season

The year got off to a rough start for Philadelphia, who fired manager Rob Thomson after a 9–19 start. They have since improved to second place in the National League East with a 22–23 record under interim manager Don Mattingly. Much of that success was due to Schwarber’s bat. In baseball it is impossible for a player to carry a team. But it often feels like the team wouldn’t be where they are without Schwarber; he is He Precious.

If he can keep this up, he will establish himself as not only the greatest slugger in Philadelphia history, but one of the greatest in MLB history. While in Philly, he has averaged 47 home runs a season (2022–25). Given this, he is on pace to reach 574 home runs by the time his contract with the Phillies expires in 2030. Only 28 players have ever reached the 500-homer plateau, and Schwarber is poised to become number one. 29.

For Philadelphia 76ers fans expecting notable roster changes this summer, a new report from ESPN has mostly bad news for you.

There were high expectations for the Sixers’ postseason chances in Philadelphia a few weeks ago. They made a stunning comeback from down 3-1 in the opening round series and eliminated the Boston Celtics. Several sports analysts also suggested that they were the former favorites to reach the NBA Finals. They then ran into the New York Knicks buzzsaw and were eliminated from the playoffs.

Change was clearly coming, and it came Tuesday when they officially fired president of basketball operations Daryl Morey. Head coach Nick Nurse will stay on for at least one more season, but what about his roster? This was clearly not enough to defeat New York. Additionally, busted stars Joel Embiid and Paul George are costly obstacles to improving the roster.

Many have suggested in recent days that the 76ers won’t do much this summer. And it seems that sports officials believe they shouldn’t. A Western executive told ESPN, “Run it back, manage Joel as best you can, be a playoff team and try to stay healthy. I think you can do a lot at the margin.”

Additionally, ESPN NBA insider Tim Bontemps said, “It doesn’t make sense for Philadelphia to pay a heavy price of assets to give up any veteran star.”

Team President’s ‘catchy’ debut thanks to Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe

Yet making a move on the sidelines, as the West executive has suggested, may be difficult, because as NBA insider Brian Windhorst points out in the same report, the 76ers are apparently avoiding moving closer to the second NBA tax apron. This is reportedly why they moved Jared McCann before this year’s trade deadline, and has made similar trades in recent years.

However, the ESPN report offers some hope. Although the Sixers have stuck with George and Embiid, teams all around the game have relied heavily on the backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. An East executive told the outlet that they are “arguably the most exciting backcourt in the entire league.”

Additionally, multiple executives who spoke to NBA insiders claimed that the young and talented duo is a major reason why the chance to become the next team president is “tempting” for potential candidates.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman is having a tumultuous year, struggling on the track and missing time due to concussions. All of this has happened in a contract year, creating more uncertainty about his future in the No. 48 car with Hendrick Motorsports.

Fox Sports’ Bob Pokrass and The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi reported this week that teenager Connor Zylisch is a possible replacement for Hendricks if the decision is made to replace Bowman for the 2027 season.

Read more: NASCAR prospects whose stock is rising

Bowman was already seen on the hot seat entering the season. Things got off to a bad start, with the veteran driver finishing 40th at the Daytona 500, 23rd at Echo Park Speedway, and then had to retire from the car at COTA due to dizziness-like symptoms.

Unfortunately for Bowman, medical issues have been a subject for him in recent years. He had previously missed time due to neck and back problems as well as injury, resulting in long absences. It appears retirement is imminent, creating even more uncertainty over who will drive the No. 48 car next season.

Will Hendrick Motorsports replace Alex Bowman?

One thing that has become clear is that Kyle Busch will not be joining Hendricks next season as a potential Bowman replacement. This realistically leaves HMS with three options, barring anyone else being available.

Hendricks may decide to use 2027 as a development year for top prospect Corey Day. The 20-year-old will become a Cup Series rookie at the age of 21 and can use the entire season to learn to drive the next-gen car.

However, this comes at a cost. As Zilleisch’s rookie season has shown, there is a steep learning curve at the highest series. In reality Day will not have much of a chance of winning the race in 2027 and it will be a place in The Chase that HMS will probably not be able to earn.

Alternatively, Hendrick could buy Zylisch out of his contract with Trackhouse Racing and then put him behind the wheel of the No. 48 car. This would make the team one of the top emerging drivers in NASCAR, but it would also leave an uncertain future for Day.

There is an alternative option that may work for everyone. Bowman could re-sign with Hendricks on a one-year deal, his last chance to prove he belongs in the Cup Series with a top team. If he doesn’t perform up to expectations in 2027, Hendricks could either put a more experienced Day behind the wheel or pursue Zylisch as a free agent.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Minnesota Wild need to improve after the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. After blowing a 3–0 lead in Game 5, the Colorado Avalanche swept Minnesota in five games. This was a disappointing conclusion; However, the Wild should be back on the trade market this summer. In fact, Minnesota has been linked to a surprise NHL superstar.

The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith listed Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews as a player Minnesota should trade this summer. Matthews, who was captain of the United States at the Winter Olympics, could be on the move this offseason.

So, what does Minnesota need to see to make Matthews a realistic trade target?

Auston Matthews should request a trade with the Minnesota Wild as a destination

New Toronto general manager John Chayka will have to prove to Matthews that he can build a roster capable of returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Like Quinn Hughes, Matthews is also scheduled to become a free agent in two seasons prior to the 2025-26 NHL season. Therefore, the 28-year-old center has a significant advantage.

If the Maple Leafs do not convince Matthews that they can be a competitive team, he can request a trade this summer or during the 2026–27 NHL season. In this scenario, Minnesota would be one of the destinations Matthews is willing to play for moving forward.

Matthews has a no-activity clause in his contract, so he must clear a trade out of Toronto. The NHL superstar has ties to Minnesota, as Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber all played with them on the Olympic team and during the Four Nations. It would not be surprising if organization was one of their main priorities.

It’s unclear where Minnesota would have the assets to acquire Matthews after trading for Hughes in December 2025. The best scenario for the Wild would be for Matthews to request “Minnesota and only Minnesota” to play with his Olympic teammates. Either way, a trade could be a real possibility this summer.

If Matthews wants out of Toronto, the Wild should call whenever that happens.

READ MORE: NHL insider makes bold prediction on Quinn Hughes extension with Minnesota Wild

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

According to a recent report from Michael Russo of The Athletic, Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin attempted to acquire Luke Hughes from the New Jersey Devils during the 2025-26 season — a move that would have seen Luke leave one brother, Jack Hughes, to join forces with another in the form of Quinn Hughes.

Of course, rumors and speculation about the future of all three Hughes brothers have been running rampant. Just last week on an episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek, all three brothers’ agent, Pat Brisson, talked about the idea of ​​them all playing together at some point:

“We probably haven’t had any specific discussion about this. These are possibilities, I will not deny the factBut when your three brothers get together during the summer or in the offseason, we have lots of fun conversations about lots of fun things.

Obviously, no deal happened for Luke. Based on the language used by The Athletic, it doesn’t seem like the Devils ever seriously considered parting ways with Luke.

But here’s what we know. All else being equal, there is no reason to believe that Quinn will be someone More He is willing to sign an extension beyond his current deal (which runs through 2026–27), which he would not have done if the team had made a deep run in the playoffs.

“I’m definitely ready to re-sign here,” Quinn said in his exit interview today. He also said that getting a deal in the summer is “more ideal”, but is “so mentally tough” that it is not possible to go into the season without it.

Regardless, the possibility remains that Guerin attempted to acquire Luke to increase his leverage for a Quinn extension. This will prompt a GM who does not have full Confidence in your ability to accomplish it. Quinn’s words confirm that the outlook at this position is far from certain, even if he enjoys playing in Minnesota.

At the end of the day, the Devils have something the Wild don’t: both of Quinn’s brothers. There’s no telling what Devils GM Sunny Mehta’s plan will be – and whether he’s considering a potential pursuit of Quinn in any near-term decisions.

Additionally, Quinn is already 0-for-1 on a contract extension entering the season and there are plenty of rumors surrounding him. Even if he is 100% genuine in his desire to stay in Minnesota, things could change quickly if he doesn’t make a move this offseason.

Mehta, Guerin and everyone involved know that Jack’s contract expires after 2029-30 and Luke’s after 2031-32. If Quinn really wants to play with his brothers, the quickest path is to New Jersey.

While ex-Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has rightfully faced his fair share of scrutiny, some of his late decisions could potentially play a big role in any Devils success in the future:

Her refusal to part with Luke may one day be the reason the Devils finally meet Quinn. And their ability to let Ondrej Palat’s contract out without any salary retention would add some much-needed flexibility for Mehta to work with this offseason.

Time will tell what direction the Quinn saga and the Devils as a whole will take. In the meantime, until proven otherwise, Devils fans should hold their positions full confidence In Mehta.

Daniel is the New Jersey Devils beat reporter for SportsNut. He graduated from Montclair State University in 2025… More about Daniel Amoia

This is another blow to the battered and bruised pitching staff of the Toronto Blue Jays. As they await final word on the next steps for injured pitcher Jose Berrios, manager John Schneider says “surgery is on the table.”

“At this point it is an option,” Schneider said Friday. “We’re just trying to figure out if this is the path we’re going down.”

Although Berrios met with renowned elbow surgeon Dr. Keith Meister earlier this week, the manager says as far as he knows, there is no ligament damage involved. Of course, Schneider is not a doctor, nor does he play doctors on TV (or in Clubhouse).

However, he did mention “loose bodies”, as noted by renowned author Keegan Matheson. It seems like we’re still talking about the stress fracture that Berrios suffered during spring training with no ill effects. But he has had some elbow pain with low velocity in his last two rehab starts.

“He’s trying to make the best decision now and for the long term,” Schneider said, indicating that the 31-year-old pitcher will have the final say on which path to take. “I think he’s been in a little back-and-forth on this, and just wants to get it right.”

Berrios’ surgery decision looming, and contract decision after season

This is an even more important decision for his future because Berrios has opted out after the season. The seven-year, $131 million contract he signed with Toronto in 2021 will pay him $24 million apiece for two more years. Unless he decides to opt out and become a free agent. But as his injuries continue to worsen, it is becoming a controversial issue.

What makes it even more difficult for Berrios is that he has been the picture of health throughout his major league career until this season. He didn’t miss a start for six consecutive years (32 starts per season) until 2025… when he missed just twice. In this era of pitcher injuries and Tommy John surgeries, this is truly a remarkable accomplishment.

But in the ultimate proof that no pitcher can escape injury forever these days, Berrios faces a career-defining moment any day now.

Who won the NASCAR race tonight? Kyle Busch dominated the Truck Series race at Dover Motor Speedway, leading 147 of the 200 laps in the ECOSAVE 200. It was classic dominance from Busch, who went pole-to-pole, and lapped most of the field on Friday night.

Let’s look at the NASCAR Truck Series results from Dover tonight. We’ll start with the overall ECOSAVE 200 results and score totals for the entire region. Ahead you can find the results of the Truck Series stage today.

NASCAR Truck Results at Dover: ECOSAVE 200

NASCAR Stage Results Tonight: Truck Series

Here are the results from today’s NASCAR Truck Series stage at Dover.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Kyle Busch has been the subject of speculation over NASCAR’s silly season for months, with many wondering if the future Hall of Famer will stick with Richard Childress Racing. What seemed like a foregone conclusion is no longer the case.

NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported that it now appears “increasingly likely” that Busch will sign a new contract with RCR. The hope is that both parties will “stick together” and eventually sign a long-term agreement.

RELATED: What’s happened during and since Kyle Busch’s winless streak

Busch has now won 105 races without a Cup Series victory and is currently 24th in points, behind teammate Austin Dillon and slightly ahead of Erik Jones.

The issues resulted in RCR making another crew chief change for the No. 8 team with Jim Pohlman being replaced by Andy Street. It’s a move that appears to be paying off, with Busch finishing in the top-10 twice in the last three races, and would have made it three consecutive top-10s had he not gotten revenge against John Hunter Nemechek on the final lap at Texas.

Another reason Bush could re-sign with RCR. Hendrick, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske and 23XI Racing don’t want him and clearly don’t see the 41-year-old as an upgrade from what they have. This potentially leaves a return to RCR as the best of Bush’s limited options.

RELATED: NASCAR All-Time Cup Series Winners, Including Kyle Busch

Who can replace Kyle Busch at RCR?

While Richard Childress Racing would obviously like to bring Busch back to the No. 8 car for the 2027 season, they have options. If he decides to leave or his contract demands become too high, there are two names to keep in mind as replacements.

Read more: NASCAR prospects whose stock is rising

The most obvious RCR prospect is Jesse Love. In his age-21 season, Love is already a part-time driver for RCR in the No. 33 car and is poised to win the Xfinity Series this season.

Reigning Xfinity Series champion Love was previously looked at as an option for Legacy Motor Club in 2027 before their search focused on Riley Herbst. One reason for this could be the hope that Love is destined to occupy the number 8 car.

If RCR determines that Love is not quite ready for a full-time seat at the Cup Series level, the team could give Austin Hill a chance. He has proven to be far better racing in the lower levels than in the Cup, but he may be a short-term option until Love takes over.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

This weekend, the New York Yankees and New York Mets will resume the No. 1 rivalry in the history of interleague sports, the Subway Series.

The 2026 edition features a pair of teams in very different positions. The team from the Bronx has one of the better records in baseball and is an elite team in the American League, while the club from Queens has been one of the biggest disappointments in MLB this year. Still, the Yanks have lost six of their last eight, and the Mets are feeling pretty good after three straight wins.

The pairing of New York teams is sure to deliver an exciting new installment in the series that began in 1997. Since its inception, many elite players have taken part in the rivalry, while unexpected ones have excelled. The stars of the Subway Series could create an amazing New York baseball dream time. This idea presents a fun idea.

In a time of so much tribalism, what if we created the ultimate team of Subway Series contestants? Scroll down and take a look at our Yankees-Mets Subway Series super team.

Catcher: Mike Piazza, Mets

It was an easy choice. Mike Piazza is the greatest hit catcher of all time and has had some big moments in the Subway Series. The 10-time All-Star and Hall of Famer was also a rock-solid defensive catcher. Sure, he didn’t have a strong arm, but he played well and was always durable. There is no better option than playing catcher for the New York Subway Series team.

First base: Mark Teixeira, Yankees

Three-time All-Star Mark Teixeira played most of his MLB career in pinstripes and made a notable impact during his eight years in the Bronx. He was a threat down the order because of the big power bat he brought to the plate. But what made Teixeira a star throughout his career was his defensive play, which earned him five Gold Gloves. He also hit 11 homers in his Subway Series games.

Teixeira is one of the best players of our super team.

Second base: Jeff McNeil, Mets

Our super team had plenty of options at second base, including Alfonso Soriano and Robinson Cano. But every team needs some patience and versatility. That’s why two-time All-Star Jeff McNeil gets the 2B spot on our Yankees-Mets super team.

He can play multiple positions, brings a little insanity, and, other than Derek Jeter, is one of the greatest performers in Subway Series history. Posting a .336 average and 20 RBI in 34 games.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter, Yankees

Like the piazza, this was a very easy choice. Jeter is an icon of New York sports, having won five World Series titles during his 20 seasons in the Bronx. Still, what makes the 14-time All-Star an absolute must-have for our team is his ability to achieve great success. Furthermore, to the displeasure of Mets fans, the Yankees legend was a Subway Series beast, posting a .364/.419/.536 slash line in 87 games.

Third base: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

Mets legend David Wright certainly received plenty of consideration for the spot, but three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez ultimately got the nod. Hate him or love him, Rodriguez was one of the greatest players of his era, playing strong defense at shortstop and the hot corner and being one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. A-Rod was too good not to be included in our super team.

Outfield: Juan Soto, Mets and Aaron Judge, Yankees and Bernie Williams, Yankees

When it comes to the outfield, Aaron Judge was a no-brainer for our Subway Series super team. He is the most fearsome hitter in MLB today, and will go down as one of the Yankees’ greatest players ever, and one of the few icons the franchise has seen wear pinstripes.

Although he hasn’t played very many games in the Subway Series, Mets superstar Juan Soto was also a must-have for our super team. Especially getting him to hit again against Soto. He is a two-time MVP candidate. One of the best hitters on the planet, and most importantly, as Yankees fans look into 2024, he’s a big-game player.

For our last outfield spot, we went with four-time Gold Glove center fielder Bernie Williams. He was an excellent fielder at a premium position, but he was also another player who excelled in big games.

Starting pitchers: Jacob deGrom, Mets and CC Sabathia, Yankees

For our Subway Series Super Team, we chose to go with two starting pitchers. Although there have been a number of great weapons coming up in this series, the ones we relied on the most were Jacob deGrom and CC Sabathia.

The pair of New York greats combined for 11 All-Star appearances and three Cy Young Awards. In a big game like the Subway Series, there aren’t any other players besides deGrom and Sabathia that you want to give the ball to.

Near: Mariano Rivera, Yankees

Our final position – and another easy option – is to put Sandman, Marino Rivera, closer to our super team. Simply put, there was no better closer in MLB history than the Yankees legend. The 13-time All-Star was a monster in big games. Posted a ridiculous 0.70 ERA in 32 playoff series during his incredible career. When the game was on the line, there was no one better than “Moe”.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The New England Patriots are in need of a star wide receiver, and AJ Brown remains the most logical fit. The Philadelphia Eagles are encouraged to trade Brown after June 1 for cap reasons, while New England will happily wait. So, what is the latest update on Brown’s potential trade with the Patriots?

Brown is still expected to be traded to the Patriots in June, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports on the Get Up. Schefter said that despite ongoing issues with head coach Mike Vrabel, the Eagles’ superstar is still tracking to join New England.

With a trade very likely, what should the Patriots send the Eagles for Brown in June?

What trade should the New England Patriots make for AJ Brown

Brown to New England is one of the NFL’s worst-kept secrets, and a trade should come within the next three weeks. The Eagles have filled out their wide receiver room in anticipation of a deal. Meanwhile, the Patriots haven’t added much other than adding Romeo Doubs in place of Stefon Diggs.

The 28-year-old wide receiver will likely command a 2028 first-round pick and more. Therefore, New England should trade their 2028 first-round pick and wide receiver Kayshon Bout to Philadelphia. If the Eagles don’t want Bouté, the Patriots should include a third- or fourth-round pick instead.

Brown will replace Boute in the New England offense, so Boute will not be able to step up. Even if the Eagles do not trade for the 24-year-old wide receiver, he will likely be on the move before the 2026-27 NFL season. It wouldn’t hurt for Philadelphia to acquire Bout in exchange for Brown, however.

The Eagles had high demands for Brown in March, and although the Patriots likely won’t meet them, the organization should get plenty of value. Losing Brown would be a huge loss for Philadelphia’s offense, but it appears to be the best development for both sides.

As far as the Patriots are concerned, they’ll just have to wait until June to acquire Brown.

READ MORE: New England Patriots’ 2026 NFL Draft criticized by NFL officials

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

Auston Matthews and his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs could be the biggest story of the 2026 NHL offseason. Matthews wants to see if Toronto can get itself back into a playoff contender before committing to a second season. So, could the 28-year-old superstar really request a trade this summer?

The insider told Overdrive that TSN’s Darren Dreger doesn’t believe there’s any chance Matthews will request a trade unless the Maple Leafs complete a full rebuild. Toronto just got the first pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and still has playoff pieces on the roster. Therefore, it would not be very wise to do a complete rebuild right now.

However, would it still be best for Matthews to request a trade this offseason?

Should Auston Matthews request a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Matthews is 28 years old and still one of the biggest superstars in the NHL. Toronto hasn’t gotten very far in the Stanley Cup playoffs with its captain, but it has the potential to do so soon. So, should Matthews remain captain of the Maple Leafs?

Absolutely. Matthews still has William Nylander, Matthew Nease and John Tavares and the No. 1 overall draft pick coming soon. More likely, Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg will join Toronto during the 2026–27 NHL season, giving the organization another future NHL star.

Matthews has plenty of time to win a Stanley Cup in Toronto, and earning the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft is an excellent start. Certainly, the Maple Leafs center wants to see more from the organization this summer, but there is already a solid foundation in place for the future.

Other teams, such as the Minnesota Wild or Utah Mammoth, could give Matthews a good chance to win; However, is it really that much better than Toronto? Maple Leafs fans love Matthews and the team will be much better next season.

More than likely, Matthews will be back in Toronto next season and the future is very bright.

READ MORE: Minnesota Wild linked to Auston Matthews amid trade rumors

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

The Sacramento Kings were one of the biggest losers in the NBA Draft Lottery, falling two spots to seventh in the 2026 NBA Draft. Although this ended their hopes of bringing in a new face to the franchise, one executive thinks there may be another path forward for the team.

An unnamed NBA executive told Jake Fisher that he believes there is a long-term scenario where Sacramento could trade Domantas Sabonis to the Philadelphia 76ers for All-Star center Joel Embiid.

RELATED: Sacramento Kings coach’s salary revealed

Philadelphia has already made its first major change of this offseason by firing president of basketball operations Daryl Morey. While coach Nick Nurse is returning, it appears the franchise is looking to make more changes to the roster after another playoff crash.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Embiid comes up in NBA trade rumors this summer. The 32-year-old is now three years removed from winning NBA MVP and hasn’t earned an All-Star selection since 2024. Given his history of poor performance in the playoffs, it is understandable why Philadelphia would want to move on from him.

Would the Kings be interested in a Joel Embiid trade?

While the 76ers are certainly willing to trade Embiid, it’s fair to question whether the Sacramento Kings would have any interest in acquiring him. The club is already projected to exceed the 2026-27 luxury tax, meaning an even heavier tax bill for owner Vivek Ranadive to pay for a team that isn’t even close to competing.

Swapping Sabonis for Embiid would mean adding an additional $12.4 million to the Kings payroll next season, with the cost increasing even more due to the luxury tax. It also doesn’t mean Sabonis’ contract expires in 2028 while Embiid will make $69.005 million in the 2028-29 season.

This doesn’t even account for the long-term durability risk Embiid poses. There is a real possibility that Sacramento could acquire the former NBA MVP and have his availability and contributions greatly reduced over the next two seasons. Even just two years into the deal, the Kings may be looking at a version of Embiid who is no longer able to play.

Financially, such a deal would make sense for the 76ers. They will commit less money to their starting center and Sabonis has a shorter contract. However, the All-Star center has his own history of shortcomings in the NBA playoffs and is a huge liability defensively. Overall, any trade seems unlikely as no team is interested in it.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Los Angeles Clippers took a big risk ahead of this year’s NBA trade deadline when they traded talented and affordable center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for a first-round pick. The risk was in the fact that the selection was top four safe, and with one of the worst records in the league, Indy had a great chance to reach the first four spots.

But he did not do so. They moved up to No. 5 in the NBA Draft Lottery, meaning the Clippers will now have the No. 5 pick next month. Or maybe not. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, LA has plenty of options, and he suggested trading the pick to get a star to pair with Kawhi Leonard next year isn’t out of the question.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some potential trade ideas if the Clippers considered moving the No. 5 pick for short- and long-term gains.

Atlanta Hawks picks 8th and 23rd

The Clippers could certainly use the No. 5 pick in exchange for a proven star. But what if they took an NFL-style approach and tried to get a higher pick in Round 1? Many believe the class of 2026 is one of the best in a very long time, so if there was ever a year to go down and get more picks, this is it.

The Atlanta Hawks have a pair of eight-and-23. Moving back just three spots and gaining another pick in the top 25 to get two shots at landing potential stars isn’t a bad idea for a team with only one obvious star who is always waiting for an injury to happen.

Donovan Mitchell

On Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers can punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win over the Detroit Pistons. If they don’t do that, and Donovan Mitchell doesn’t sign a max extension he will be eligible for this summer, there is speculation the Cavs could trade the seven-time All-Star.

While the fifth pick won’t be enough to get Mitchell, it’s a great starting point that will certainly tempt Cleveland. They can use the pick to get a cheap replacement for the guard, and the Clippers will have a very interesting one-two, Leonard-Mitchell, punch next season.

paolo banchero

Another route the Clippers could take would be to dangle the No. 5 pick to the Orlando Magic and see if he can be part of a trade package for forward Paolo Banchero. It feels like the Banchero and Magic relationship has hit its stride after blowing a 3-1 lead over the Pistons in the opening round of the playoffs.

A combo with Leonard would be strong, but Banchero would also give them a piece to build around long-term once Leonard is gone for a long time.

Trey Murphy III and Yves Missy

Over the past two seasons, New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III has emerged as one of the rising young stars in the league. While NO is hesitant to trade him, after another poor season, moving him for the No. 5 pick in June would be a return worth pulling the trigger.

While the 25-year-old has plenty of upside and is signed for three more seasons, the Pelicans should also include center Yves Messi in the deal to give the Clippers a good replacement for Zubac next season.

Oklahoma City Thunder picks 12 and 17, plus Isaiah Joe

One last option for the Clippers, if they trade the No. 5 pick, would be for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s selections at picks 12 and 17 in Round 1. OKC doesn’t have many roster spots, so they need to move picks and players. Moving two picks and backup guard Isaiah Joe will open up space and give them another elite prospect to go with their young core.

The trade will give the Clippers two top 20 prospects and a good, young reserve guard in Joe. Those three players could be part of LA’s new core going forward.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Brady Tkachuk’s future with the Ottawa Senators is arguably one of the biggest headlines of the 2026 NHL offseason. Tkachuk has two years left on his contract, but the Senators’ struggles in the Stanley Cup playoffs have fueled trade rumors. So, what’s the latest on the 26-year-old’s future in Ottawa?

Tkachuk’s exit meeting with the Senators did not generate “mass panic” or give Ottawa fans any reason to worry about his departure, as reported by Elliotte Freedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. Tkachuk publicly expressed his disappointment over trade rumors following the 2025–26 NHL season.

However, what if Tkachuk changes his mind after Ottawa’s offseason moves?

The top landing spots for Brady Tkachuk if he requests a trade this summer

No one has really indicated that Tkachuk will be on his way out of Ottawa this summer. The 26-year-old captain remains committed to the team as rumors regarding his future continue to make headlines. However, if Tkachuk requests a trade which team would be his top landing spot?

The Florida Panthers remain the most obvious landing spot. Brady’s brother Matthew Tkachuk was traded from the Calgary Flames to Florida in 2022. Once he joined the Panthers, Tkachuk took his game to the next level, leading the organization to three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals with two wins.

This is one reason why Tkachuk has been involved in trade rumors. Ottawa is better off than Calgary in 2022; However, many people like to compare the two because they are Canadian teams. There is a public perception among NHL fans that Tkachuk would love to join his brother in Florida.

After all, this is the same situation that Quinn Hughes is navigating right now with the Minnesota Wild. There’s no denying that both brothers Hughes and Tkachuk want to play with each other, but this may not be the right time.

For now, Tkachuk is committed to Ottawa, but if anything changes, Florida could be in first place.

READ MORE: NHL Insider gives big update on Auston Matthews’ future with Toronto Maple Leafs

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

The San Francisco Giants have one of the highest payrolls in MLB this season, yet are still well below the .500 line in late May. This led to recent MLB trade rumors that the club would be sold this summer, but it may not be as aggressive as first reported.

Less than a week after USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Giants “would love to unload” Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willie Adams and Jung Hoo Lee, FanSided’s MLB insider Robert Murray has refuted that information.

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 7, see where the Giants land

The Giants front office is reportedly “optimistic” about all four players getting back on track. There are already promising signs of a turnaround from Devers, who entered MLB games today with a 1.078 OPS with 3 home runs in May.

Adams, the club’s only viable option at shortstop for the foreseeable future, has also been performing better recently. He has boasted a .333/.344/.367 triple-slash line in his last 30 at-bats, recording 5 RBI in that span.

RELATED: SF Giants reportedly have bold MLB Draft strategy

That doesn’t mean the Giants aren’t willing to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline. This is an option for the ruling, but it is not possible to completely gut the roster and move players signed to long-term deals by Buster Posey.

Instead, San Francisco will likely do what other vendors do in the summer. Pending free agents, from starting pitchers Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle to second baseman Luis Aráez, will be made available. Such teams are always in need of pitching and infield help, so the Giants will have no shortage of suitors if they decide to move all three.

RELATED: San Francisco Giants player named as Cubs trade target

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

RFK Racing is enjoying a strong start to the 2026 NASCAR season with Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher in the top 13 in points. Unfortunately, one of them may have to run in an unknown race in 2027.

The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi reported this week that RFK Racing is facing an offseason where all three of its drivers become free agents and the team only has two charter for next season.

RFK is leasing a third charter from Rick Ware Racing, but he will no longer be available for 2027. Unfortunately for the team, there are unlikely to be any charters available.

There was some speculation that Hyak Motorsports might sell a charter, but it instead signed a multi-year contract extension with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Meanwhile, Legacy Motor Club is already adding a third charter for next season and none of Kaulig, Wood Brothers Racing or Front Row Motorsports are offering charters.

RFK co-owner Keselowski intends to remain a full-time driver for the next several seasons and appears unlikely to give up his chartered status. For Buescher, his excellent on-track results and history with RFK make receiving a new contract and a second chartered spot a possibility.

What Racing Uncharted would mean for Ryan Preece

As Bianchi mentioned, the good news for Ryan Preece is that he still has support from sponsor Kroger. The supermarket chain is reportedly interested in remaining in partnership with RFK, but having an unnamed third car could have some impact on negotiations.

Racing unknown would mean that Preece would need to qualify for every race. This would not be a problem for most of the season, as fewer than 40 cars would enter the race. However, this may be a bit more of an issue for some of the biggest races of the season when there are over 40 participants.

The more costly impact will affect the entire No. 60 team. Racing uncharted means getting paid less for results in each race, with several NASCAR executives telling Bianchi that it would mean the No. 60 team would lose more than $5 million in earnings the following season.

Unfortunately for Preece and his team, given the exorbitant cost of obtaining the charter ($80-plus million), it may also have been the most cost-effective option for RFK Racing.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

It seems Cooper Flagg loves his alma mater, Duke, so much that he’s finding a new love interest at school.

Over the past few years, Flagg has been winning big in life. Three years ago, he was the most sought-after high school player in the country. He then parlayed his success into a massive void deal with college basketball powerhouse Duke in 2024 and leading them to the national championship game.

Last year, he was taken No. 1 overall in the NBA draft. And while the Dallas Mavericks had a rough season during his NBA debut, the 19-year-old looked like a future superstar. Led the Mavs in points (21.0) and steals (1.2) and earned 2025–26 Rookie of the Year honors.

As a teenage millionaire the world is truly his oyster, and he certainly has countless suitors who would love to know about Dallas and be seen with the new NBA star. However, this week it was confirmed that Flagg has a new girlfriend, and it’s not an actress, supermodel or social media influencer.

Ariana Roberson confirms she’s dating fellow Duke alumnus Cooper Flagg

On Thursday, Ariana Roberson surprisingly confirmed the relationship between herself and Flagg in a new TikTok post, which showed the pair having a little fun over the holidays. What’s interesting about the couple is that Flagg is a Duke alumnus, while Roberson, 20, currently plays for the women’s basketball team.

Flagg posted a separate Instagram Story late last night that took things a little further and showed the pair in a lip lock.

Roberson was a five-star recruit out of Texas who earned McDonald’s All-American honors as she led Clark High School to a state title. Playing just 18 minutes during his first season, the 6-foot-4 player averaged 8.0 points, 5.7 boards and 1.3 blocks per night. She’ll certainly play an even bigger role in her sophomore season.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Florida Panthers are considering making the necessary moves to make the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs. After winning the Stanley Cup Finals the previous two seasons, Florida missed the playoffs due to excessive injuries. Now, the Panthers have time to rest, and they could be a destination for one of the NHL’s best defensemen.

ESPN personality John Buccigross could see John Karlsson join the Panthers for the 2026-27 NHL season on Frankly Hockey. Karlsson joined the Washington Capitals during the 2009–2010 NHL season and spent 17 years with the organization before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks.

Now, Karlsson is set to become a free agent, so what does Florida have to do to get him this summer?

What the Florida Panthers need to do to sign John Carlson

Karlsson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent during the 2026 NHL offseason, and should be in demand. The 36-year-old defenseman is a top-5 free agent this offseason with $8 million in earnings. So, what will Carlson demand from Florida this summer?

Signing Karlsson to a two- or three-year contract worth $8-10 million per season would likely be necessary. According to Spotrac, the Panthers are projected to have approximately $15 million in cap space this offseason. This doesn’t include Florida’s need for two goaltenders, including Sergei Bobrovsky.

Carlson would be an excellent fit with the Panthers, giving the team reliable star power on defense. The 36-year-old defenseman will fuel Florida’s offense in another run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Ultimately, Carlson fits the timeline for Florida, as the organization looks for another championship.

Although a return to Washington may not be a possibility, Karlsson could return to Anaheim if the team gets a chance to acquire him. The Ducks are a young and rising organization, but the Panthers may be a better fit over the next two to three years.

Carlson should make around $10 million, but it remains to be seen if Florida can add him to the payroll.

READ MORE: 5 bold moves that could reshape the Florida Panthers this 2026 offseason

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

A new rumor suggests that the Detroit Pistons are planning on making a move this summer that could ruin their roster for years.

On Friday night, the Pistons will be in Cleveland to avoid elimination for the fourth time in these playoffs and send their series with the Cavaliers to a Game 7. To be in this position again after earning the No. 1 seed in the East and barely avoiding the Orlando Magic in Round 1 is an amazing situation.

Still, that’s not the only surprising thing about this postseason for Detroit. Jalen Duren’s shocking disappearance in the first two series has confounded NBA analysts. After a breakout season that earned him first-ever All-Star honors and possibly an All-NBA berth, the center has been one of the players fans have looked to throughout the regular season.

His playoff numbers this year are worse than last year, when he got his first taste of NBA playoff basketball against the New York Knicks. Duren’s tremendous play has made it a difficult decision for the Pistons this summer when the 2022 first-round pick is a restricted free agent.

Will the Detroit Pistons be forced to give Jalen Duren a max deal?

Should they give him the maximum contract he will be eligible for? Most reports suggest this is not an option for Detroit. Still, according to a new report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, it’s something they’ll likely have to do this summer.

An East executive told Windhorst, “He’s not a Max player, but they probably have to give him a Max.” “because now [cap space] Teams like Chicago or Brooklyn may see him as a guy they can get with a max offer sheet, and Detroit would have to match that.

Letting Duren leave in free agency could be a huge blow to a team that made so much progress last season. In 2024–25, he had one of the best turnarounds in NBA history and gave New York a run in the playoffs. Duren helped in this. Then in 2025-26, the big man played a huge role in helping them earn the top seed in the East and the third-best record in the NBA (60-22).

Max deal risk for Jalen Duren

Losing Duren could mean a significant step back in success. A case can be made that a max deal is worth the risk as he is still only 22, and his development may not be complete. But if he peaks and continues to be a liability in the playoffs, that contract could set the Pistons back years.

“One of the biggest mistakes you can make in the NBA right now is giving a max deal to a non-max player,” a West executive told Windhorst. “In the old system, you could bet on high-level talent. Now losing one big bet can derail your entire roster.”

In today’s salary cap system, if you’re going to have two players with max deals, you have to make sure they are the core of your roster, as this severely limits further roster movement and keeps you around or above the NBA’s tax apron.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

回歸做自己

從歷史上看，康福爾托曾經碾壓過右手投球。從 2015 年在大都會隊首次亮相到 2024 年底，他在對抗右撇子時以 128 wRC+ 的成績削減了 0.257/.359/.479。然後在 2025 年，他加入了道奇隊，這是他職業生涯中第一次真正與他們對抗。

上賽季在洛杉磯，他的擊球率僅為 0.190，三振率接近 25%，對抗右撇子時打出 76 次 wRC+。從表面上看，這種表現看起來相當殘酷，但先進的數據顯示他運氣不好。

雖然預期的統計數據並不能說明全部情況，但其他指標也支持他的表現不幸的情況。

從他的接觸品質開始，他的重擊率達到 45.1%，平均退出速度達到 90.4 英里/小時，兩者都高於聯盟平均水平。對此，你可能會認為他在地上擊球太多了。這個假設是不正確的，因為他對右手球員的滾地球率僅比聯盟平均高出 0.6%。

總而言之，他 2025 年的低迷賽季並不像看起來那麼糟糕。本賽季到目前為止，厄運已經平息。康福爾託一直是小熊隊的關鍵人物，他在對陣右投手的比賽中的表現又回到了過去的狀態。

早期影響

孔福爾託本季不失時機地讓人們感受到他的存在。到目前為止，除了一次以外，他的所有本壘板出場都是對陣右撇子，這對對方球隊來說確實是一場對決噩夢。

在與右撇子比賽至少 50 次的球員中，Conforto 的 198 wRC+ 並列棒球界第四高。總體而言，他在對陣他們的比賽中，以兩支全壘打和八分的成績大幅削減了 0.340/.448/.617。

他以 52.9% 的重擊率和 95.4 英里/小時的平均出球速度撕開了棒球的面紗，在至少擊球 25 個球的棒球運動員中排名第五。

23XI Racing Development driver Corey Heim is a top prospect in NASCAR and is widely viewed as one of the best young talents in the sport. Although he does not have a full-time ride this season, that may soon change.

Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic and Bob Pokrass of Fox Sports wrote this week that there is a real possibility that Heim will get a full-time ride as the third driver of 23XI’s Cup Series team next season.

Read more: NASCAR prospects whose stock is rising

Heim, age 23, has split time with racing at all three levels this season. Although he is not eligible for The Chase in the Truck Series, he has the eighth-most points (204) in trucks this season despite making half as many starts as his teammates.

His performance in the cup series so far has also been impressive. Most recently, Heim led 69 laps at Texas Motor Speedway and just a few weeks ago he finished 15th at Kansas. There is universal agreement that he is ready for a full-time ride in the Cup and it seems the plan is for that to happen in 2027.

What the addition of Corey Haim means to Riley Herbst

Many in the industry agree that Heim is a better driver than Riley Herbst, who had a terrible rookie season in the No. 35 car for 23XI Racing. However, Herbst has brought significant funding resources to 23XI.

The important thing for the 27-year-old is to improve his chances of remaining in the Cup series beyond 2026. Herbst’s average starting position (20.25) and average finishing position (22.67) were significantly improved compared to last season (26.97 and 26.39), placing him 29th in points through 12 races.

Herbst is not only producing better on-track results, but he has also proven to be a great teammate to both Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace this season. Additionally, he has received high praise from 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin for his improvements.

While Hamm is destined to take the No. 35 car next season, Herbst will likely get the ride in 2027. Legacy Motor Club has added a third charter and is in need of funding, Herbst’s improvements and his strong relationship with Monster Energy provide the results and financial resources to make him a potential target for the LMC.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of divorce. Antetokounmpo still has a chance to return to Milwaukee; However, the organization reportedly wants a solution before the 2026 NBA Draft. In a scenario where the NBA wants to trade the superstar from the Bucks, he would likely have a new home for the 2026-27 NBA season

This seems like a real possibility, so what will it really take for Antetokounmpo to land in Miami? Here’s what needs to happen for the Miami Heat.

Giannis Antetokounmpo should request a trade with Miami as a destination

It all starts with Antetokounmpo. If the Heat want to make one of their best moves in the last 16 years, the Bucks forward will have to request a trade this summer. In fact, Antetokounmpo would need to list Miami as one of his preferred trade destinations to do so.

There will be a long list of teams looking to acquire Antetokounmpo during the 2026 NBA offseason, so the Heat need to add him. This doesn’t mean Antetokounmpo has to say it’s “Miami and only Miami,” but an organization will only trade for him with the assurance that it will end well.

For Antetokounmpo to leave Milwaukee, he’ll need a landing spot that makes him happy. The Heat are one of those destinations, while other teams like the New York Knicks also make sense. Either way, Miami needs Antetokounmpo to keep an eye on the organization this summer.

If so, the onus falls on Pat Riley and the Heat front office to ultimately bring another superstar to Miami.

The Miami Heat absolutely need to trade for Antetokounmpo

One of the most popular stories about Miami over the years has been its reluctance to include certain players in potential trades. Several players have been involved in trade rumors since arriving in Miami, but the team has taken them out of the conversation to acquire difference makers. This has to be changed now.

The Heat should absolutely trade for Antetokounmpo this summer. Bam Adebayo should really be the only player over the limit; However, everyone else needs to be at the table. This includes Tyler Herro and Kyle Ware, as both players would be interesting for Milwaukee in the post-Antetokounmpo era.

Miami would also include all of its draft selections in this scenario. Needless to say, the Heat will have to give up most, if not all, of their assets. When a player like Antetokounmpo is on the market, this is the most likely outcome for a team looking to make an NBA Finals appearance.

The Heat will build their team around Adebayo and Antetokounmpo, which should be enough to get them back into contention if everyone stays healthy. The only issue is that many other NBA organizations will feel the same way. Antetokounmpo will put them over the top.

So, if Miami is Antetokounmpo’s preferred destination, it’s time for Riley and the front office to push all of their chips into the middle of the table.

Read more: Miami’s summer is over – why big off-season changes are coming

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

A rival executive sabotaged the new contract the Los Angeles Lakers were supposed to give LeBron James, and it looks like it’s a win-win deal for both parties.

On Monday, the Lakers saw a disappointing end to their 2025-26 campaign as the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a stunning four-game sweep of the NBA Playoffs semifinals. Following their 115–110 loss at home, speculation immediately began regarding James’ future.

Over the next few weeks, the 22-time All-Star will have to decide if he wants to play another season in the NBA. If he returns for a 24th season, while other teams like the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers would be interested, a return to the Lakers makes the most sense.

“It’s hard to fit him anywhere,” a West scout told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on Friday. But James won’t come cheap, and the prospect of them trading a veteran to capture a title doesn’t make business sense for them. An East team strategist also told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, “According to our metrics, he remains a top-25 player in the league, and if it weren’t for his age, we probably would have rated him at the max player level.”

Should the LA Lakers give LeBron James a one-year deal with a no-trade clause?

So what type of deal should the Lakers offer that makes sense for them in the short and long term, but doesn’t offend one of the greatest players of all-time, who is still playing at an All-Star level at age 41? An executive from an Eastern Conference team has an idea.

James earned more than $52 million this season. Still, with the team willing to give Austin Reeves a big pay raise in a new long-term deal this summer, it doesn’t make sense to pay him that amount again. Would the four-time MVP be willing to consider a contract in the $35 to $40 million range? Perhaps.

One-year James deal makes long-term sense for LA Lakers

While he wants to chase championships, James is a smart businessman and won’t waste his value to benefit a billion-dollar NBA club. The Lakers are one of the few competitive teams that can offer him the money he’s worth.

Additionally, LA showed over the final two months of the season that they can be a threat in the West if James, Reaves and Luka Doncic are healthy. If the front office can better complement the roster around him, James has a chance to chase a title in the city he wants to live in, and closer to market value.

For the Lakers, it makes sense to keep James for another season. As mentioned, they will be a very good team again. And if this is his final year, the club could pocket a hefty sum from a pseudo-retirement tour. But at the same time, re-signing him and waiting for the summer of 2027 makes long-term sense.

Big stars like Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyrie Irving could be available next summer.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

很少有球員的擊球比索薩更不美觀。 我們知道這是多倫多交易他時所期望的，但是 如果你看不出來，我承認我不是他在本壘打中的最大粉絲。索薩本季出賽 91 次（其中 58 次為藍鳥隊出賽），0 次保送。零。齊爾奇。沒什麼。

事實上，在 91 場比賽中（包括他在白襪隊的比賽），他只有 5 次投進三球。在其中的三場比賽中，他都被三振出局。這導致 Sosa 本質上成為施耐德的反面，具有非常難以實現的 0.213/.211/.315 系列。

如果你好奇的話，他的追球率在棒球界排名第四，而且顯然是保送率最低的。這一直是困擾索薩整個職業生涯的問題。去年他的追球命中率排名第八，邁克爾哈里斯二世是唯一 BB% 較低的球員。

這意味著施奈德的安打數比索薩少 11 次（上壘次數少 18 次），但上壘率也比索薩高 0.118。索薩還以某種方式設法在他有限的行動中取得-0.6 WAR，在芝加哥和多倫多的時間幾乎平均分配。

與施奈德類似，索薩在球場上的表現也非常不引人注目（儘管他的成績確實更差），並且幾乎僅限於成為平庸的一壘手和薄弱的二壘手。他的衝刺速度比施奈德稍好一些，但由於他的防守很糟糕，這並不能證明他在比賽後期堅持比賽是合理的。

多倫多可能會猶豫是否這麼快就裁掉索薩（特別是因為他們為他交換了一些東西），但這確實不是什麼實質性的事情。芝加哥為索薩引進的球員喬丹·里奇 (Jordan Rich) 是多倫多 2025 年第 17 輪新秀，他的新秀投籃命中率為 0.143，開啟了他的新賽季。

索薩別無選擇，但由於他缺乏生產力，他老實說可以通過豁免。否則，藍鳥隊可能會在 DFA 後找到貿易夥伴，但分配到 3A 的可能性似乎更大。

選項 3：彈射座椅

正如 Triple H 曾經說過的，「總有一個 B 計畫」；或者，我想，從這個意義上說，C計畫。施奈德和索薩都不是引人注目的，那麼是什麼阻止多倫多DFA’ing索薩並送走施奈德呢？約亨德里克·皮南戈（Yohendrick Pinango）已經在名單上贏得了一席之地，未成年人中有多個名字正處於徵召的邊緣，例如查爾斯·麥卡杜（Charles McAdoo）和喬什·卡塞維奇（Josh Kasevich）。

Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild were eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Colorado Avalanche. It was a disappointing end to a season that had high expectations after Hughes was traded to Minnesota. However, could this partnership prove to be one-and-done?

This seems like a possibility, so what exactly would Hughes have to do to land in Detroit? Here’s what needs to happen for the Detroit Red Wings.

Quinn Hughes to decline extension with Minnesota Wild

If Detroit wants any chance of landing Hughes during the 2026 NHL offseason, it starts with the defenseman’s intentions. After being traded to Minnesota, Hughes was not able to sign a contract extension as he is not eligible until July 1, 2026. However, what if the Wild are not able to complete a contract extension?

In a scenario where Hughes declines to sign with Minnesota, the organization would be encouraged to move him this offseason or at the 2027 NHL trade deadline. The Wild gave up a lot of asset to acquire the 26-year-old defenseman, so losing him in 2027 NHL free agency would be detrimental.

Therefore, it makes the most sense to trade Hughes during the offseason to get more value. More likely is Hughes to sign a contract extension with Minnesota, and an NHL insider recently predicted it would be a three-year deal. If not, it will allow Detroit to correct the mistake during the 2026-27 NHL season.

After all, NHL stars are hard to come by, and Detroit had the opportunity to acquire Hughes in December 2025.

Detroit Red Wings must complete an extension with Hughes

The Red Wings had the opportunity to trade for Hughes during the 2026–27 NHL season. The star defenseman is from Michigan and Detroit is one of his favorite places. However, the organization reportedly declined to acquire Hughes without a contract extension.

Allowing Hughes to go to Minnesota was a mistake when Detroit was more likely to be able to complete an extension this summer. If the Wild trade Hughes declines to sign a contract extension, the atmosphere surrounding a potential deal should be similar. The Red Wings would have to complete an extension with Hughes.

In December, the 26-year-old defenseman was not allowed to sign a contract extension, as he could not complete it until July. Now, Hughes will likely have to assure another team that he will re-sign to give up property. After all, a year of Hughes wouldn’t be worth “leaving the farm.”

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman reportedly wanted a verbal extension in December, but this time will be different. If Hughes declines to sign a contract with Minnesota, it means he has his sights set on a specific organization. It could be Detroit or the New Jersey Devils, but Yzerman needs a commitment.

Hughes will likely sign an extension this summer, but if he doesn’t, the Red Wings should be in the mix once again.

READ MORE: Auston Matthews moved to Detroit Red Wings? what will it actually take

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

此外，球棒位置的變化對揮桿的影響在這裡非常明顯。庫爾茨的球棒的位置使得直接移動到棒球比拖著球棒穿過該區域要容易得多。在幾幀中你會更清楚地看到這一點，因為他的動作比以前簡單得多。

進入實際揮桿本身的開始，我們已經指出的變化再次真正閃耀。

在左邊，你可以看到庫爾茨的第一個動作是向下而不是朝著棒球，這足以導致更多的彈出窗口和更多他錯過接住桶的情況。此外，您還可以看到他如何向前移動，因為他的身體非常有力地向投手移動，這是與優化相反的移動。

在右邊，情況完全相反。他的手並沒有垂下來，而是留在插槽中，準備移動到棒球上。這樣，他就可以將槍管直接穿過該區域，從而消除了去年所經歷的任何額外的「槍管阻力」。而且，他並沒有向前漂移那麼多，而是允許使用他透過盤繞產生的能量。

最後一幀是庫爾茨與棒球接觸的那一刻，我們能夠很好地了解為什麼他在這兩幀中比以往任何時候都更好地影響棒球。

在左邊，你可以看到庫爾茲的手臂和軀幹之間的空間要小得多。這種差異是關鍵，也是由於他最初的手部位置不佳而不得不拖著槍管穿過該區域的直接副產品。如果在揮桿的這一部分保持空間，庫爾茨就無法用力擊球。

此外，儘管庫爾茨將球打出界外，但他還是稍微低於棒球，避免了用他真正的潛力撞擊棒球。

在右邊，庫爾茨有更多的揮桿空間，因此他能夠更用力地擊球。他能夠真正地延伸到整個區域並穿過棒球，而不是稍微低於它並到達球場前面。

Barcelona sporting director Deco has flown to London to meet Joao Pedro’s agents ahead of a potential move chelsea star.

Sports report, in a special, The sporting director has flown to London to meet Brazil’s representatives amid difficulties signing Julian Alvarez.

main target is chelsea

The newspaper reports that Barcelona have already identified their main targets for the upcoming transfer window, and right now, Joao Pedro is one of the top targets.

The Chelsea man is the name that has ‘generated the most consensus’ among the club’s sporting management.

The people in charge of Camp Nou respect the Brazilians very much. The feeling is that he possesses many of the qualities Barcelona are looking for in their center forward of the future.

According to information received by Sport from ‘sources close to the player’, Deco has flown to London to meet Joao Pedro’s agents.

He could also take advantage of his stay in England to watch the FA Cup final. Joao Pedro is likely to start the game for Chelsea when they take on Manchester City at Wembley.

Barcelona is planning slowly

Reportedly, the visit has been kept ‘top secret’ within Barcelona. The Catalan giants want to move forward with ‘sufficient time and foresight’.

The economics of the deal will require calm and careful planning. A face-to-face meeting with João Pedro during his visit is ‘not out of the question’.

Barcelona’s management believes that the Brazilian fits perfectly into the current team. He is considered a modern striker, with obvious technical quality and youth. At the moment, he is the clear favorite to become Barcelona’s number nine ahead of Julian Alvarez.

They also know that getting him out of Chelsea will not be an easy task. Work will need to be done to create salary space in their squad and finalize departures before a deal can be done. But Deco’s visit to London is a clear signal of Barcelona’s intentions this summer.

巴塞罗那体育总监德科已前往伦敦与若昂·佩德罗的经纪人会面，准备转会事宜。 切尔西 星星。

独家体育报道， 由于难以签下朱利安·阿尔瓦雷斯，体育总监已前往伦敦与巴西人的代表会面。

切尔西球星是主要目标

据该报报道，巴塞罗那已经确定了即将到来的转会窗口的主要目标，而目前若昂·佩德罗是首要目标之一。

这名切尔西球员的名字在俱乐部体育管理层中“引起了最多的共识”。

诺坎普球场的负责人对巴西人评价很高。感觉他拥有巴塞罗那在未来中锋身上寻找的许多品质。

根据《体育报》从“与球员关系密切的消息来源”获得的信息，德科已前往伦敦与若昂·佩德罗的经纪人会面。

他甚至可以利用留在英格兰的机会观看足总杯决赛。若昂·佩德罗很可能会在切尔西在温布利迎战曼城的比赛中首发。

巴塞罗那计划缓慢

据报道，这次旅行在巴塞罗那境内“非常秘密”。加泰罗尼亚豪门希望以“充足的时间和远见”继续前进。

这笔交易的经济效益需要冷静和仔细的规划。 若昂·佩德罗在旅途中与他进行面对面的会面“并非不可能”。

巴塞罗那管理层认为巴西人非常适合目前的球队。他被认为是一名现代前锋，技术精湛，而且年轻。目前，他显然是领先于朱利安·阿尔瓦雷斯（Julian Álvarez）的巴塞罗那第九号球员。

他们也意识到让他离开切尔西并不是一件容易的事。在完成交易之前，他们必须先在球队中创造薪资空间并完成离职事宜。但德科的伦敦之行清楚地表明了巴塞罗那今年夏天的意图。

UFC icon Georges St-Pierre may have left the door open for Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions to book his next mixed martial arts dream fight after this weekend’s Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight.

For many longtime UFC fans, St-Pierre is the greatest fighter in MMA history. The Canadian player performed brilliantly during his 15 years in the game. He amassed a record of 26–2 and would become the greatest welterweight of all time after successfully defending the title 10 times. He then cemented his place as a true legend when he returned after a four-year retirement to win the UFC middleweight belt in 2017.

It was the perfect way to end his incredible career, and he has never returned to high-level competition since. However, he left the door open in a new interview with MMA Junkie this week. During the conversation, he admitted that “he gets requests once or twice a month to fight in MMA, boxing, grappling or grappling.”

Yet instead of saying he turned them all down because he was already competing in high-level combat sports, he said it just wasn’t the right time to be involved in those opportunities. He is currently prioritizing other projects and has been dealing with a back injury recently. Still, the 44-year-old UFC great isn’t exactly against the eventual matchup in any case.

That information should perk up the MVP and Netflix offices. The fight promotion run by Jake Paul and the streaming giant is promoting a massive MMA card this weekend, headlined by an improbable dream fight between 39-year-old Ronda Rousey and 44-year-old Gina Carano. The card also features Nate Diaz, 41, and Junior dos Santos, 42.

If the event is successful, Netflix will definitely be open to another one as live sports content is a major priority for the streaming service right now. But with the UFC tightening its grip on the top talent in the sport, MVP will again have to turn to some veteran names, and St-Pierre would be a strong choice. Especially if the fight took place in Canada.

But which opponents would the MMA icon actually consider returning to fight? The two names are most meaningful. They are Anderson Silva and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Is Georges St-Pierre vs. Anderson Silva or Khabib Nurmagomedov possible now?

A super-fight between St-Pierre and Silva is something UFC fans wanted badly in 2010 and 2011. Although it seemed like a real possibility at the time, it never happened. The Brazilian turned 51 last month, has the fight with GSP gone well, is this the best buy date? Yes, but if it was on Netflix old school fans would still watch it. Furthermore, we are in a time when their major fighting legends are fighting all the time, and fans are tuning in to them.

St-Pierre vs Nurmagomedov fight that will really intrigue fans. The Russian will turn 38 in September, so the age issue is less ridiculous than the St-Pierre and Silva matchup and more on par with what we’ll see this weekend. The UFC lightweight legend has said in the past that GSP was his late father’s favorite fighter, and he always wanted a confrontation with “Rush”.

The biggest issue in the making is whether Nurmagomedov still has a contractual relationship with the UFC. Plus, there’s also a real possibility that UFC CEO Dana White will try to jump in and steal the fight from MVP.

Either way, there’s just a crack in the door, and MVP-Netflix should be questioning whether Rousey vs. Carano is a success.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

newcastle united They are considering a contract for Werder Bremen goalkeeper Mio Backhaus this summer as his ‘departure is looming.’

Bild Hamburg reports today on the 22-year-old goalkeeper As he nears the end of his first season as Werder Bremen’s number one goalkeeper.

Newcastle United’s interest is well known

The goalkeeper was one of the key players in securing the club’s survival in the Bundesliga this season. But his first season could also be his last.

There are indications that he will leave the German club this summer. Werder Bremen want to generate revenue by June 30^th To improve its financial results for the financial year.

There are two players on their radar for sale: Karim Coulibaly and Mio Backhaus. There will be talks over the defender in the coming weeks. And so, the focus is shifting towards selling the U21 international goalkeeper.

Newcastle United’s interest in him has been confirmed. The belief is that they have the necessary funds to make the transfer. This will certainly be the case if Anthony Gordon is sold to Bayern Munich this summer.

They will potentially face competition from Freiburg following the departure of goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. If they can win the Europa League and offer Champions League football, it will make them more attractive than Newcastle.

€12m asking price

But this is a big deal at this time. Both parties are in the mix regardless, with Backhaus currently valued at around €12m. In modern terms, this is a bargain.

However, it doesn’t look like the Magpies have made their move yet. They’re probably waiting for the season to end and decide on a budget before moving forward.

But there is a perception the Magpies are hovering around a deal. And, crucially, Werder Bremen are ready to shift the conversation as they look to raise money and balance their books.

纽卡斯尔联 随着云达不莱梅门将米奥·巴克豪斯的“离去越来越近”，球队正在等待今年夏天签下他。

汉堡《图片报》今天对这位 22 岁门将进行了报道 当他作为云达不来梅头号门将的第一个赛季即将结束时。

纽卡斯尔联队的兴趣是众所周知的

这名门将是本赛季确保俱乐部在德甲联赛中保级的关键球员之一。但他的第一个赛季也可能是他的最后一个赛季。

越来越多的迹象表明他将在今年夏天离开德国俱乐部。云达不莱梅希望在 6 月 30 日之前实现收入^th 改善本财年的财务业绩。

他们正在考虑出售两名球员：卡里姆·库利巴利和米奥·巴克豪斯。关于这名后卫的谈判将在未来几周内进行。因此，焦点转向出售这名 U21 国脚门将。

纽卡斯尔联队对他的兴趣已经得到证实。人们相信他们拥有转会所需的资金。如果今年夏天安东尼·戈登被卖给拜仁慕尼黑，情况肯定会如此。

如果门将诺阿·阿图博卢离开，他们可能会面临弗莱堡的竞争。如果他们能够通过赢得欧罗巴联赛来提供冠军联赛足球，那将使他们比纽卡斯尔更具吸引力。

要价 1200 万欧元

但在此时此刻，这是一个很大的假设。不管怎样，双方都在考虑之中，巴克豪斯目前的估值约为 1200 万欧元。用现代术语来说，这是一笔划算的签约。

不过，喜鹊似乎还没有采取行动。他们可能正在等待赛季结束并决定预算，然后再继续前进。

但人们相信喜鹊队正在等待这笔交易。而且，至关重要的是，云达不莱梅对转会谈判持开放态度，因为他们希望筹集资金并平衡账目。

In a moment of surprising honesty, Milwaukee Bucks star Myles Turner revealed the chaos delivered by former head coach Doc Rivers during the 2025-26 season. That includes preferential treatment for franchise legend Giannis Antetokounmpo.

To the disappointment of Bucks fans, their favorite NBA team was a mess last season. Despite Damian Lillard rupturing his Achilles tendon last spring and spending a ton of money to cut ties with Turner after signing him in free agency, Milwaukee won just 32 games in 2025-26. It was their first sub-40 win in a decade.

Currently, Rivers is on the receiving end of his poor performance and was fired last month. Some NBA pundits have suggested that Antetokounmpo’s injury problems and the front office are largely to blame. However, new comments from Turner after his first season in Milwaukee suggest that taking Rivers out would make a big difference as he allowed extremely unprofessional conditions last season.

Myles Turner says Bucks teammates were late or missed practices and meetings all the time

During a new edition of their game recognize game Podcast with New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart, Turner’s co-host asked her about the penalty for the Bucks, as she often includes them on her current team.

In response, the 11-year veteran acknowledged that it varies between coaches, but “Doc Rivers never fined anybody.” He then revealed that teammates were late to practice and film sessions all the time and sometimes missed team meetings altogether.

“It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever personally experienced,” Turner said.

Turner also noted how bad his teammates were when it came to showing up for team flights. If the plane was supposed to depart at 2:00 pm, by the time everyone had arrived, it would have departed at least a few hours later. “I’m being very serious, brother. It was crazy,” Turner said.

This became so frequent that Turner deliberately did not appear until an hour after the flight’s departure. When Stewart asked who was the biggest culprit in terms of delays, Turner admitted it was 10-time All-Star Antetokounmpo.

He said, “Giannis will really play whenever he wants. I think it just comes with the territory.”

Obviously, this is a terrible look for the players, their professionalism and respect for their teammates’ time. But if Rivers isn’t holding them accountable, that’s not surprising. It is now up to new head coach Taylor Jenkins to set a new standard of professionalism and lead the Bucks back to competitive play next season.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

在前 49 場比賽中，他的命中率為 0.167，命中率為 26.5 K%，wRC+ 為 -1。眾所周知，100是wRC+的聯盟平均分數。是的，消極的一面準確地描述了他的表現有多糟糕。

就我而言，我無法接受這樣一個事實：在我看來，上一代最好的三壘手之一就這樣從眾所周知的懸崖上掉下來了。值得慶幸的是，他能夠克服這一點，並開始向我們展示過去的諾蘭·阿雷納多。

沙漠中升溫

自 4 月 12 日開始的最初兩週以來，這個季節一直呈上升趨勢。在接下來的 100 場比賽中，阿雷納多以 177 wRC+ 打出 0.333/.400/.598，將三振率降至 17%，將保送率提高至 10%。

最初階段最醜陋的部分是，在那兩週內，他的投籃命中率為 0%，只有 9 次重擊。接下來的一段時間為我們提供了 8 個桶，重擊百分比僅略低於 30%。

正如所有球員在職業生涯中所做的那樣，他們會進行修補。阿雷納多也不例外，儘管他自首秀以來一直保持著高度的穩定性。不過，最後幾季確實很引人注目。我最注意到變化的是他的擊球姿勢。

僅在過去的四個賽季中，您就可以在上面看到他一直難以決定如何簡單地站在禁區內。反過來，這也影響了他如何進攻球，以及他實際上在哪裡最有利的位置。由於 2025 年是他最糟糕的賽季，你可以看到，站得太靠後，雖然有些人認為對擊球手有利，但實際上對他的比賽不利。雖然這給了他更多的時間來追上快球，但給他帶來最大麻煩的是低速投手。

根據 FanGraphs 上發現的 Statcast 數據，阿雷納多在 2025 年在滑桿 (-6.2) 和變速 (-1.8) 上發布了負運行值。 2026 年到目前為止，透過調整他的立場，他已經能夠拉平這些數字。滑桿目前位於 –1.4，而變化幅度為 0.8。傑出的？並不真地。更好的？你打賭。

總體而言，從 5 月 15 日開始比賽，阿雷納多的賽季數據為 0.274/.329/.452，有 6 支全壘打、20 分打點、118 次 wRC+，並在 149 場比賽中累積了 0.8 fWAR。統計數據較低可能是因為他在這一年的大部分時間裡主要是在陣容的倒數三分之一處擊球。

On Saturday night inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix will be shaking up the mixed martial arts game with their Rousey vs. Carano event. The 11-fight card will showcase the past, present and future of the sport and will feature a star-studded main card.

In the night’s headliner, women’s MMA legends and pioneers, Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, will face off in a dream fight that no one ever expected. Additionally, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou will be in action against one-time PFL Champion Phillip Lynn, and fan favorite brawlers Nate Diaz and Mike Perry will face off in a welterweight bout.

Ahead of Saturday’s card, we offer predictions for who will win the evening’s main card bouts.

Junior Dos Santos vs. Robellis Despaigne

Junior dos Santos will go down as one of the greatest heavyweight fighters in MMA history. However, the 42-year-old has a lot of wear and tear on his body. Especially his chin. While he has won back-to-back fights at the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, he faces a tough matchup against bronze medalist Robellis Despaigne of Cuba on Saturday.

The taekwondo master has speed and length – which he uses well. This is demonstrated during the seven-fight winning streak of the new Karate Combat Heavyweight Champion. If this were 2016, the Brazilian would get the W. But he’s nowhere near that fighter and will have a long night against Despaigne.

Francis Ngannou vs. Philip Lins

At Rousey vs. Carano, former UFC heavyweight king Ngannou returns to the cage for the second time after dethroning the MMA world leader four years ago. While the heavyweight division in MMA is quite weak at the moment, MVP found a strong opponent in “The Predator” Lince.

The former PFL star is entering the fight with a lot of confidence after four consecutive wins in the UFC. However, they were all lightweight. Ngannou will have a massive size and strength advantage. If “Monstro” can stay up and running, he could make this interesting. However, he does not possess great strength, and it seems that it will take only a short time for “The Predator” to catch his prey.

Salahdin Parnasse vs. Kenneth Cross

Saturday’s Rousey vs. Carano main card brings an intriguing battle of champions as KSW lightweight king Salahdin Parnasse faces tough-n-uff 155-pound titlist Kenneth Cross. This bout could easily be Fight of the Night as both are talented finishers.

Parnasse has 14 stoppages in 22 wins (7 knockouts and 7 submissions), while Cross has 13 finishes in 17 wins (6 knockouts and 7 submissions). Finally, Parnasse comes from a better promotion where he faces tougher competition. Look for him to approve the decision later this week.

Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry

The fight most fans are waiting for is the welterweight bout between popular brawler Diaz and Perry. The former is one of the most popular fighters in UFC history. However, the age difference in this scrap cannot be ignored.

Diaz turned 41 last month and has 34 fights to his body and chin. Perry has suffered plenty of brain trauma throughout his 22-fight career, but at age 34, he is a far better athlete than he is right now. At the same time, he brings legal power into his hands and is feeling confident having emerged as one of BKFC’s hottest talents.

Diaz is sure to get a lot of stakes, but expect an upset split-decision win for Perry after scoring a few knockdowns during the fight.

Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano

No one expected a fight between Rousey and Carano to ever happen and there were many who did not want it to happen. But we’re getting it on Netflix, and it’s still a dream fight with historical relevance as two of the most important figures in the evolution of women’s MMA.

Both women are motivated and look to be in good shape – especially Carano. But it won’t be a display of elite athleticism as Rousey turned 39 last month and Carano turned 44. The big question is, can Rousey avoid taking some big shots to dominate Carano and throw her around?

Rousey is very durable and is the better athlete of the two at the moment. Furthermore, Carano never came close to facing a wrestler of the silver medalist judoka’s caliber. “Rowdy” should have learned from the knockouts in her previous two fights and been more cautious as she looked for takedowns and forced Carano to tap in Round 2.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

利物浦的 尽管两个月前获得了新合同，但阿利森仍被支持退出。

体育见证人 过去几周广泛报道了意大利对这位守门员的兴趣。尤文图斯似乎最热心，几乎与巴西人达成了个人条款。

预计尤文很快就会与利物浦进行对话，利物浦要求让门将离开的要求很高。

由于米歇尔·迪格雷戈里奥对马蒂亚·佩林的怀疑，都灵俱乐部热衷于在夏天签下一名门将。阿利森被认为是理想的选择，他曾在罗马队的卢西亚诺·斯帕莱蒂手下踢过球。

年龄不是问题

守门员传奇人物埃德温·范德萨接受采访 《米兰体育报》 在详细的采访中。他被问及尤文在守门员方面的挣扎，以及他们如何与这位利物浦老将一起守门。

他形容巴西人是“一流的”，是一个可以在都灵留下痕迹的人。

“阿利森是一名顶级门将，世界上最好的门将之一。近年来我在利物浦很钦佩他。转会传闻对于球员或门将来说从来都不是令人愉快的，但如果尤文图斯正在考虑转会，阿利森可能是一个可靠的选择。

“我们谈论的是一名顶级球员。如果有必要的话，已经在意大利效力过罗马队的球员会对他有所帮助。”

范德萨还被质疑阿利森的年龄是否会阻碍他在老妇人队的表现。

荷兰人拒绝了这个想法，他说：

“是的，这是一个自信和平静的问题。阿利森快34岁了，这不是问题；相反：有很多门将在高龄仍能踢出高水平。”

范德萨也举了自己的例子，他在40岁时离开了曼联。

“布冯45岁退役，我在曼联踢完最后一个赛季是40岁。”

我们的看法：阿利森可能会推动尤文图斯

阿利森在利物浦的地位本赛季有所下降。伤病是造成这种情况的一个原因，但乔治·马马尔达什维利已经证明他有能力成为首选。

在都灵，情况就不一样了，在他熟悉的主帅手下，他可能成为无可争议的主力。

斯帕莱蒂在那不勒斯的表现展示了他带领球队夺得奖杯的能力。尤文图斯需要这一点，而阿利森这样的球员将大有帮助。

但自從抵達巴爾的摩後，沃德就變成了一個完全不同的擊球手。最大的跡像是他的權力下降。上賽季打出 36 支全壘打後，沃德今年第一季只擊出一支全壘打。

不過，這並不是因為沃德跌倒了。他只是改變了自己的方法，成為一名專注於上壘的擊球手。

統計數據於 5 月 14 日比賽前進行。

泰勒·沃德作為擊球手的轉變

比較 2025 年和 2026 年的泰勒沃德，可以發現明顯的差異。沃德本賽季的平均發射角度從 18 度降至 11.7 度。

他將自己的揮桿和擊球方式轉變為一種讓對方投手更加討厭的揮桿方式和擊球方式。上個賽季，沃德的揮桿漏洞較多，投手們也利用了這一點。他的出區搖擺率為 20.6%。

不過，本賽季，沃德在籃板球上表現出了更好的紀律性。他的區域外揮桿率下降了近10個百分點，達到10.9%。事實上，這是所有棒球運動中追逐率最低的，而且差距很大。總體而言，沃德每次擊球的投球次數更多。

上季在天使隊，沃德場均投球 4.19 個。今年，沃德不僅以場均 4.55 次投球領先金鶯隊，而且還領先美國職棒大聯盟的所有球員。

金鶯隊作為一支球隊，每盤投球數為 4.00，是棒球界第二多的球隊。只有克利夫蘭守護者隊以 4.08 排名領先。正因為如此，我們可以公平地相信巴爾的摩在沃德的新方法中發揮了重要作用。

There was something oddly familiar about the Montreal Canadiens’ start to Game 6 on Thursday night.

In most cases, watching a rookie netminder allow three goals on three consecutive shots would generate a fair amount of concern.

But if the Habs have taught us one lesson during their expertly-executed rebuild, it’s that this team needs a certain amount of adversity before it can perform at its best.

Think of it as the hockey version of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, if you want.

They only reveal their strongest form megazordOnce there their backs are against the wall.

A slightly less stupid metaphor would be the Incredible Hulk.

The longer he endures continuous punishment, the stronger he becomes.

Okay, that was just as silly, but you get my point.

It wouldn’t be Canadiens hockey if there wasn’t a point in the first period in which fans questioned whether the past four years were merely a fever dream.

And yet, despite seeing the Habs chase multiple leads in the first period, there was a shared sense of calm among fans Thursday night, which is rare in sports, even more so in Montreal.

It’s a testament to the shared conviction not only between the fans and the team, but also between the skaters and their rookie netminder, who has clearly been the team’s most valuable player through 12 playoff games.

#hubs Nick Suzuki on Jacob Dobbes today: “We never lost confidence in him; everybody was struggling in the first period…”

– Priyantha Amrith (@HabsInHighHeels) 15 May 2026

It’s all part of the learning process, and logic dictates that the Canadian will eventually be able to win a game, or motivate himself, without facing an uphill climb.

But as things stand, Habs has mastered the climb well enough to be considered a favorite in the upcoming Tour de France.

Hyperbole aside, this isn’t necessarily a recipe for success, at least not in the long term, but it has equipped the Canadiens with a very interesting and powerful weapon as they attempt to become the fourth and final team to qualify for the conference finals.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

萨索洛今年夏天正试图出售塔里克·穆哈雷莫维奇 托特纳姆热刺 处于移动的有利位置。

本周早些时候，Neroverdi 首席执行官乔瓦尼·卡尔内瓦利 (Giovanni Carnevali) 飞往伦敦，与英格兰俱乐部就波斯尼亚人进行了交谈。

体育见证人 据报道，该俱乐部可能是托特纳姆热刺，之前曾提到罗伯托·德泽尔比的球队可能是其追求者。

这也是萨索洛试图提高后卫身价的尝试，国际米兰也试图签下他。尤文图斯也有兴趣，但总是远远落后于新加冕的意大利冠军。

今天关于这位中后卫的报道暗示了卡内瓦利最初前往英格兰的原因。

热刺挺身而出

都托运动 报道称，即使国际米兰留住亚历山德罗·巴斯托尼，他们也会尝试签下穆哈雷莫维奇。这是因为弗朗切斯科·阿切尔比和斯特凡·德弗里将离开，迫使克里斯蒂安·齐沃签下两名后卫。

他们已经与萨索洛就中后卫进行了摊牌谈判，现金加掉期交易的想法已经出现。

与此同时，热刺确实在“询价”，并威胁蓝黑军团的追击。

国际米兰曾试图引进马蒂亚·莫斯科尼作为转会的一部分。两家具乐部一直有着非常良好的工作关系，但尽管如此，卡内瓦利还是飞往伦敦，可能会与热刺进行交谈。

这就是为什么奥马尔·索莱是一个替代方案，法国人被认为是一个更全面的选择。

尤文图斯准备撤退

另一份报告由 都托运动 相信萨索洛希望以 3500 万欧元收购这位波斯尼亚国脚。这个要求似乎是固定的，他们不赞成让球员作为交易的一部分。

这份报告还提到托特纳姆热刺作为追求者，并表明尤文很高兴离开他们的前青年球员。

在他目前的萨索洛合同中，他们有一项价值 50% 的出售条款。他们热衷于赚到这笔钱，并可能将其投资于迈克尔·卡约德（Michael Kayode）或乔治·斯卡尔维尼（Giorgio Scalvini）等人。

为英格兰转会扫清道路

萨索洛的估值非常坚定，并且没有偏离 3500 万欧元的价格。

意大利俱乐部通常很难承担这样的金额，除非他们进行重大出售。如果国米留下巴斯托尼，他们可能无法向萨索洛支付全部3500万欧元，这给了热刺一个很大的转会机会。

艾米利亚-罗马涅俱乐部确实利用英国人的兴趣来提高他们最好球员的要价。但在这种情况下，热刺的兴趣似乎是真实的，除非马科斯·塞内西的转会已经完成并在夏天尘埃落定。阿根廷人和23岁的波斯尼亚人是非常相似的球员，签下两人是没有意义的。

Bill Guerin appears to want to accomplish what former New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald couldn’t. He wants to reunite the Hughes brothers, but in Minnesota.

According to a report from Michael Russo via The Athletic, the Wild GM attempted to trade for Luke Hughes — the youngest of the three NHL phenoms — during the 2025-26 season.

Idea? After ambushing the Devils for Quinn Hughes and luring him to Minnesota, get Luke and sign superstar forward Jack Hughes if he becomes a free agent in 2030.

“Everyone knows the Hughes brothers want to play together. Maybe Jack wants to come to Minnesota to join forces with Quinn instead of waiting now or doing it the other way,” Russo wrote in his latest. “That would be complicated, however, because it’s hard to believe that Jack would leave his youngest brother, Luke, behind with the New Jersey Devils. That’s why, according to league sources, the Wild made an offer to former Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald to acquire Luke last season. Still, it seems unlikely that new GM Sunny Mehta’s first move would be to trade Jack Hughes. The same can be said for Hischier, He’s eligible for an extension this offseason, though. And if the Devils get the impression the Skipper won’t move, you can bet they’ll put him on the market.”

Fitzgerald is no longer in the GM chair as he and the Devils parted ways and New Jersey hired Sunny Mehta as its sixth GM in franchise history.

Fitzgerald’s departure stemmed from Ball dropping the ball in the Quinn saga when he was still in Vancouver and preferred to ply his trade in New Jersey.

However, the ex-Devils GM did do one thing right by nabbing the youngest Hughes brother.

Not only is Luke projected to emerge as the Devils’ No. 1 defenseman, but holding on to him gives New Jersey its best chance to keep Jack long-term.

The Devils signed Luke to a long-term, seven-year contract last September, with six years remaining after the 2025–26 season.

This will be an interesting summer for both the Devils and the Wild.

Quinn is eligible to sign an extension on July 1 as he has one year remaining on his contract. It remains to be seen whether he does so or not, but it’s no secret that Quinn has been highly complimentary of the Wild organization—specifically Guerin.

The Devils have decisions to make themselves this summer, namely the pending free agent contracts in Simon Nemec and Arseniy Gritsyuk, as well as Nico Hischier who, like Quinn, is eligible for an extension on July 1 with one year left on his deal.

We know Guerin will continue his aggressive approach to upgrading the Wild while also doing everything he can to keep Quinn in Minny.

However, Mehta’s approach remains to be seen as a first-time GM in the NHL.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

拜仁慕尼黑越来越有信心他们将签下安东尼·戈登 纽卡斯尔联 今年夏天。

慕尼黑晚报报道 这位纽卡斯尔边锋已经牢牢地列入拜仁的计划中，最近的一次董事会会议推动了这一潜在的转会。

拜仁与戈登会面

该报解释称，拜仁慕尼黑的监事会于周一召开了会议。这导致我们就一个重要问题达成了一致：纽卡斯尔的安东尼·戈登应该是夏季转会窗口的“招牌签约”。

在近年来签下哈里·凯恩、迈克尔·奥利斯和路易斯·迪亚兹之后，德国豪门希望再次在英超联赛中取得“政变”，以增强他们的攻击力。其中每一项都取得了很好的效果。

拜仁希望延续这一“成功的传统”。尽管人们承认今年夏天从纽卡斯尔签下戈登将是一项昂贵的冒险。英国报道称他的身价为 9000 万欧元。拜仁不会付那么多钱。

相反，两家具乐部之间关于潜在交易的谈判可能会在未来几周内加强。拜仁慕尼黑认为自己处于领先地位。

戈登倾向于慕尼黑

安东尼·戈登本人也倾向于转会拜仁。根据AZ的消息，一份为期五年的合同正在讨论中。 这笔交易对于拜仁来说被认为是“可以理解的”。

他们在边路需要顶级的替代者，他们认为自己在最近欧冠半决赛输给巴黎圣日耳曼的比赛中非常缺乏。贾马尔·穆西亚拉距离最佳状态还有很长的路要走，而塞尔吉·格纳布里也将缺席很长一段时间。

这位纽卡斯尔前锋是目前的首选人选。拜仁似乎甚至在说服自己今年夏天要在他身上花大钱。但所有迹象都表明他们正在推动今年夏天达成协议。

最大的问题似乎是纽卡斯尔的要价。但如果戈登足够努力，这不太可能成为德国冠军队的主要障碍。

On Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders unveiled their 2026 schedule. All 32 NFL teams announced their 17-game slate simultaneously, which was a media spectacle.

The Raiders will travel 21,099 miles in 2026, the 12th-most in the league. Based on opponents’ 2025 record, they also have the seventh-highest strength of schedule at .529.

For the first time since 2010, the Raiders will not appear in a single primetime game, which is not surprising considering their record over the past several years. Except for late-season flex, Fernando Mendoza and the Silver and Black will not receive any national spotlight on Monday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday nights. Las Vegas is the only NFL team not to play an international game this decade, a streak that now stretches to seven seasons. The Raiders last played internationally in London in 2019.

Let’s break the slate.

Week 1: Las Vegas Raiders open season against Miami

The Raiders opened at Allegiant Stadium, marking the first time the building has hosted a weekend game since 2021. Every Raiders game through 2026 is scheduled for a Sunday. This is likely the film debut of Kirk Cousins ​​or Fernando Mendoza, both Miami natives. Las Vegas last hosted the Dolphins in 2021, winning 31-28.

RELATED: Las Vegas Raiders secondary overhaul: How Jon Spytek’s 4 draft picks fit Clint Kubiak’s defense

Week 2: at Los Angeles Chargers

Las Vegas faces its first AFC West opponent in Week 2 when it travels to SoFi Stadium to face the Los Angeles Chargers. It was last year’s meeting against the Chargers that Brock Bowers recorded a one-handed touchdown grab on his shoelaces. In the first 17 weeks, the Raiders are expected to play 11 games on CBS and six games on Fox.

Week 3: at New Orleans

The road trip continues in New Orleans as the Raiders visit the Saints. This is the first of three consecutive games away from Allegiant Stadium and the third consecutive meeting between the teams at Caesars Superdome. The series is split between those games. The Saints won on Halloween Eve in 2022. Two years later, the Raiders won the game as Aidan O’Connell threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

Also Read: Las Vegas Raiders Draft Recap: Getting to know the picks including Fernando Mendoza

Week 4: vs. Kansas City

October begins with the Kansas City Chiefs at home inside Allegiant Stadium. The Chiefs could work with Patrick Mahomes or backup Justin Fields depending on Mahomes’ recovery from a torn ACL. The injury occurred a few weeks before the Raiders won the 2025 season finale on Daniel Carlson’s 60-yard walk-off field goal.

RELATED: ‘Every ball is a dart’: Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit make brilliant Fernando Mendoza comparisons

Week 5: at New England

The Raiders travel to Gillette Stadium to face the defending AFC champion New England Patriots. Las Vegas defeated New England in Week 1 last year, with then-rookie Ashton Jeanty scoring a touchdown in his NFL debut. A win in Foxborough would even the all-time series at 18-18-1. It is the first of three games scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. PT. The rest come in the 1 pm PT window.

Week 6: vs. Buffalo

The Raiders will host their second consecutive AFC East opponent on October 18, looking for their first win over Buffalo since the franchise moved to Las Vegas. The Silver and Black lost to the Bills in 2020 and 2023. Cousins ​​last faced Buffalo in 2022, leading Minnesota to a 33-30 overtime win capped by a one-handed fourth-and-18 grab from Justin Jefferson.

Also Read: Where is Terron Johnson? The Raiders’ best offseason trade has quietly disappeared

Week 7: vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Raiders also clinched the NFC West this season, and the Los Angeles Rams came to Las Vegas in first. This is the first time that the franchise has hosted Los Angeles since relocating in 2020. The Raiders have lost by a combined six points in the last two meetings at SoFi Stadium (2022, 2024). This match is also Davante Adams’ first game against his former team after the trade.

Week 8: at New York Jets

Las Vegas concludes its AFC East slate against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The Raiders have won four of the last five meetings, including the last two meetings in 2020 and 2023. The 2023 game at Allegiant Stadium was highlighted by O’Connell’s 7-yard touchdown catch of Michael Mayer. In 2020, Darren Waller posted 13 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Derek Carr capped it off with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III with five seconds remaining.

Week 9: at San Francisco

The famous Bay Area rivalry has returned. The Raiders made their first trip to Levi’s Stadium since 2018, also drawing the 49ers in their third preseason game. The Raiders last hosted San Francisco in 2023, when Davante Adams passed for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard score.

Week 10: vs. Seattle

Head coach Clint Kubiak is facing his former team for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in Seattle. Kubiak brought offensive coordinator Andrew Janko and offensive line coach Rick Dennison with him to Las Vegas. The Seahawks will play in Las Vegas for the first time on Nov. 15. The game is capped with the Raiders facing three NFC West teams in four weeks. The last meeting was in 2022, when Josh Jacobs had an 86-yard walk-off touchdown run.

Also read: ‘No excuses’: Clint Kubiak issues clear warning to Raiders coaches and front office

Week 11: at Denver

The annual trip to Mile High takes place the week before Thanksgiving. Denver reached last season’s AFC Championship Game with former Raider Jarrett Stidham under center. The tour is limited to three consecutive weeks on CBS.

Week 12: at Cleveland

Weather could become a factor in back-to-back road games before the bye. The matchup will reveal a lot about where the offense stands. The Browns fielded one of the NFL’s top defenses last year. Cleveland is led by Myles Garrett and Carson Schwesinger, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year, respectively. Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23 in 2025.

ALSO READ: Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver depth chart 2026: No clear No. 1 option heading into training camp

Week 13: Bye

Las Vegas got its long-awaited bye a week before the playoff race. That would set the Giants up for a potential playoff run, whether Mendoza or Cousins ​​is under center.

RELATED: Las Vegas Raiders tipped to pursue All-Pro pass-catcher

Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Las Vegas returns from the bye with three straight home games, starting with the Chargers. It is the first of three December games. The Raiders play each of their three AFC West opponents in the final five weeks of the regular season.

Week 15: vs. Denver

For the second time in four weeks, the Raiders and Broncos completed the season series, this time at Allegiant Stadium. This will either be in the middle of a stretch run or bring valuable minutes to Mendoza. Las Vegas looks for its first home win over the Broncos since Week 18 of the 2023 season. That win made it eight consecutive wins over Denver, a streak that began when the team moved to Las Vegas.

RELATED: Why analysts already consider the Raiders out of the 2026 playoffs

Week 16: vs. Tennessee

The home finale comes a few days after Christmas. The Raiders have won four of the last six meetings with Tennessee, including last year, when Maxx Crosby sacked 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward twice in a 20-10 win at Allegiant Stadium. Week 16 is also the third Raiders home game in the last four meetings since 2019.

Week 17: at Arizona

The Raiders head down Highway 93 to Phoenix to face the Cardinals for the first time since 2022. It is their first trip to Glendale since 2018, a game Carlson won on a 35-yard field goal as time expired during his rookie season. Arizona’s backfield also includes Jeremiah Love, who was selected two spots after Mendoza last month.

Week 18: at Kansas City

The season ends at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, marking the third time since 2022 that the Raiders and Chiefs have finished the regular season against each other. A lot could be on the line. The Raiders can clinch a playoff seed and rest their starters. They may fight for position. Or Mendoza could be playing valuable minutes in the final game of his rookie season.

Braven Honda graduated from San Diego State with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in May 2021. During his time at SDSU, … More about Braven Honda

of liverpool Alisson has been backed for an exit despite getting a new deal two months ago.

sports witness Italian interest in the goalkeeper has been widely covered over the past few weeks. Juventus have appeared most keen to almost agree personal terms with the Brazilian.

Juve are expected to speak to Liverpool soon, who will have a higher demand for the keeper to leave.

The Turin club are keen to sign a goalkeeper in the summer, amid doubts about Mattia Perin over Michele Di Gregorio. Alisson, who plays under Luciano Spalletti at AS Roma, is seen as the ideal choice.

age is not a problem

Talks to goalkeeping legend Edwin van der Sar gazzetta dello sport In a detailed interview. He was asked about Juve’s goalkeeping struggles and how they could fare with the Liverpool veteran in goal.

He described the Brazilian as ‘top-notch’ and someone who can make his mark in Turin.

“Alisson is a top-class goalkeeper, one of the best in the world. I have admired him in recent years at Liverpool. Transfer rumors are never pleasant for any player or goalkeeper, but if Juventus are considering a move, Alisson could be a credible option.

“We are talking about a top player. Playing in Italy with Roma will help him if necessary.”

Van der Sar was also questioned whether Alisson’s age could hold him back at the Old Lady.

Rejecting the idea, the Dutchman said:

“Yes, it is a question of confidence and calmness. The fact that Alisson is almost 34 is not a problem; on the contrary: there are many goalkeepers who play at a high level even at an older age.”

Van der Sar also gave his own example, when he left Manchester United at the age of 40.

“Buffon retired at 45, I played my last season at Manchester United at 40.”

Our opinion: Alisson could press for Juve

Alisson’s prominence at Liverpool has diminished this season. Injuries have been a factor but Giorgi Mamardashvili has shown he is capable of becoming first choice.

That won’t be the case in Turin, where he can become an unquestionable regular under a manager he knows well.

Spalletti’s time at Napoli shows his ability to drag teams to silverware. Juve will need that and a player of Alisson’s caliber would help immensely.

The New Jersey Devils’ ownership was unwilling to compromise for the status quo. That’s why they parted ways with Tom Fitzgerald and brought in Sunny Mehta.

Now, this doesn’t mean that they brought Mehta in with the idea that he would replace Nico Hischier. However, he gave Mehta complete autonomy to do business as he wished.

So if Mehta really wants to differentiate himself from the status quo of the previous regime, he will have to find a way to accomplish what he could not. We will know more about it in the link below.

Elsewhere, a Blueshirts trade target, Philly and Matvey Michkov, and more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: So then, Mehta was brought in to separate. What better way to prove this than with a daring Quinn Hughes trade. Here’s how he might unite the Hughes Triangular force in New Jersey.

📺 devil’s rink report: It has been reported that Auston Matthews’ future in Toronto is uncertain. Well, some people have drawn attention to New Jersey in a potential franchise changing trade. In the latest video on Devils Rink Report, I break down the deal that’s received a lot of backlash online and weigh in on whether it makes sense.

Last week, we went live with immediate reaction after the draft lottery. The full episode can be found here 👇🏼

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Athletic ($): The Vegas Golden Knights say they got their swag back under John Tortorella on the way to eliminating the Anaheim Ducks and advancing to the Western Conference Finals.

Forever Blueshirts: This would also be a name to watch for the Devils if the Vegas Golden Knights can’t shut him down. Pavel Dorofeyev has proven to be a legitimate NHL sniper. Can the New York Rangers free him?

pittsburgh hockey now: Wayne Gretzky may be considered the best of all time in terms of professional hockey players. However, he trails only two Pittsburgh Penguins in CHL history.

Florida hockey now: Chris Knoblauch found out the hard way that being an NHL head coach isn’t a very secure job when the Edmonton Oilers fired him yesterday before the start of his three-year extension.

Philly hockey now: Forget the infamy of Matvei Michkov that Philadelphia Flyers fans believed was reality. GM Daniel Briere supported the young Russian by explaining the process and what would happen next.

Montreal hockey now: We’re heading into Game 6 after the Montreal Canadiens crushed the Buffalo Sabers last night.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Manchester United could still snatch the contract from Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi Tottenham Hotspur.

Report by journalist Cesar Luis Merlo Manchester United are still in the mix for the 29-year-old this summer.

Bournemouth exit confirmed

Marcos Senesi confirmed today that he intends to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season when his contract expires.

“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved over the last four years and I’m grateful for the support the fans have given me,” he told the club’s official channels.

The question is where he goes next. According to Merlo, the Argentinian centre-back has plenty of suitors in the Premier League.

According to the journalist, Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea are all ‘vying’ for his signature. Which, if any, of them the keeper chooses remains to be seen.

Over the past few weeks, Tottenham have looked to be at the forefront. Sport Witness has covered several reports stating that. Actually the last of them made it clear That was their offer, and it was the best one currently on the table.

Manchester United’s interest

But Manchester United has always been on the field. A report from last month He continued to insist that they were one of the clubs pursuing the Bournemouth defender this summer.

And if Merlo is to be believed, he remains in the picture at this point. In fact they have ‘competed’ for the centre-back position with Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham. This shows that Senesi has not yet taken any definite decision regarding his future.

Italy is also interested in considering this. Various reports in Italy have named Juventus and Napoli as suitors due to his free-agent status. Since summer isn’t here yet, they can still make their own moves.

Either way, Marcos Sensei has a decision to make. He clearly has offers, including from the Premier League. Now the question is whom does he accept?

曼联仍有可能从伯恩茅斯手中夺走伯恩茅斯后卫马科斯·塞内西的签约 托特纳姆热刺队。

记者塞萨尔·路易斯·梅洛报道 今年夏天，曼联仍在争夺这名 29 岁的球员。

伯恩茅斯退出确认

马科斯·塞内西今天证实，他打算在赛季末合同到期后离开伯恩茅斯。

“我为我们过去四年取得的一切成就感到自豪，并感谢球迷一直给予我的支持，”他告诉俱乐部的官方渠道。

问题是，他接下来要去哪里。据梅洛透露，这位阿根廷中后卫在英超联赛中有很多追求者。

据记者透露，托特纳姆热刺、曼联、利物浦和切尔西都在“争夺”他的签名。防守者选择哪一个（如果有的话）还有待观察。

托特纳姆热刺在过去几周似乎处于领先地位。 《体育见证》报道了许多报道，指出了这一点。事实上最后一个已经说得很清楚了 他们的报价已经出来了，而且是目前最好的报价。

曼联的兴趣

但曼联也一直在场。 上个月的一份报告 继续坚称他们是今年夏天追逐伯恩茅斯后卫的俱乐部之一。

如果梅洛相信的话，他们此时仍留在画面中。事实上，他让他们与利物浦、切尔西和托特纳姆热刺“争夺”中后卫。这表明塞内西尚未对他的未来做出任何明确的决定。

意大利的兴趣也值得考虑。由于他的自由球员身份，意大利的各种报道都将尤文图斯和那不勒斯列为追求者。他们还可以采取自己的行动，因为夏天还没有到来。

不管怎样，马科斯·森西必须做出决定。他显然有报价，包括英超联赛。现在的问题是他接受哪一个。

薩索洛正試圖在今年夏天出售塔里克·穆哈雷莫維奇，而托特納姆熱刺隊已經做好了轉會的有利條件。

本週早些時候，Neroverdi 首席執行官 Giovanni Carnevali 飛往倫敦，與英格蘭俱樂部就波斯尼亞人進行了交談。

體育見證人 據報道，該俱樂部可能是托特納姆熱刺，之前曾提到羅伯托·德澤爾比的球隊可能是其追求者。

這也是薩索洛試圖提高後衛身價的嘗試，國際米蘭也試圖簽下他。尤文圖斯也有興趣，但總是遠遠落後於新加冕的意大利冠軍。

今天關於這位中後衛的報道暗示了卡內瓦利最初前往英格蘭的原因。

熱刺挺身而出

都托運動 報道稱，即使國米留住亞歷山德羅·巴斯托尼，他們也會嘗試簽下穆哈雷莫維奇。這是因為弗朗切斯科·阿切爾比和斯特凡·德弗里將離開，迫使克里斯蒂安·齊沃簽下兩名後衛。

他們已經與薩索洛就中後衛進行了攤牌談判，現金加掉期交易的想法已經出現。

與此同時，熱刺確實在“詢價”，並威脅藍黑軍團的追擊。

國際米蘭曾試圖引進馬蒂亞·莫斯科尼作為轉會的一部分。兩傢俱樂部一直有著非常良好的工作關係，但儘管如此，卡內瓦利還是飛往倫敦，可能會與熱刺交談。

這就是為什麼奧馬爾·索萊是一個替代方案，法國人被認為是一個更全面的選擇。

尤文圖斯準備撤退

另一份報告由 都托運動 相信薩索洛希望以 3500 萬歐元收購這位波斯尼亞國腳。這個要求似乎是固定的，他們不贊成讓球員作為交易的一部分。

這份報告還提到托特納姆熱刺作為追求者，並表明尤文很高興離開他們的前青年球員。

在他目前的薩索洛合約中，他們有一項價值 50% 的出售條款。他們熱衷於賺到這筆錢，並可能將其投資於邁克爾·卡約德（Michael Kayode）或喬治·斯卡爾維尼（Giorgio Scalvini）等人。

為英格蘭轉會掃清道路

薩索洛的估值非常堅定，並且沒有偏離 3500 萬歐元的價格。

義大利俱樂部通常很難承擔這樣的金額，除非他們進行重大出售。如果國米留下巴斯托尼，他們可能無法向薩索洛支付全部3500萬歐元，這給了熱刺一個很大的轉會機會。

艾米利亞-羅馬涅俱樂部確實利用英國人的興趣來提高他們最好球員的要價。但在這種情況下，熱刺的興趣似乎是真實的，除非馬科斯·塞內西的轉會已經完成並在夏天塵埃落定。阿根廷人和23歲的波斯尼亞人是非常相似的球員，簽下兩人是沒有意義的。

如前所述，有時就像更頻繁地投出最好的投球一樣簡單。今年，他的投球命中率為 45.6%，高於 2025 年職業生涯最高的 27.9%。雖然他的快球表現高於平均水平，但他的變速球是他最出色的投球方式。

就跑步價值而言，他的失速排名位於第 97 個百分點。與他的快球相比，他的跑動值只有 76%，他有兩種武器可以用來攻擊第九局。

救援人員的精細命令

如今，缺少球棒是高槓桿武器的先決條件，但同樣重要的是不要放棄自由基地。

這並不是說傾向於步行的中繼者不能成功。事實上，過去十年中一些最好的終結者都享有「實際上狂野」的聲譽。也就是說，貝克是一名高槓桿的球員，能夠衝擊好球帶。週三比賽開始時，貝克的聯防命中率排名第 89%。

此外，當他錯過禁區時，他仍然會投出好球，因為他是比賽中最擅長引發追擊的球員之一。週三他的追逐率排在第 78%。

在該區域周圍的時間越多，就會產生更多的波動，從而產生更多的安打。然而，貝克在擊中球桶和擊中球棒方面表現出色。進入周四，他的保送率排名第 82%，嗅覺率和重擊率排名第 95%，桶率排名第 93%。

他擊中該區域，導致擊球手擴大，但沒有擊中桶。所有這些結合在一起，就是建立精英投手記錄的絕佳秘訣。

快球取得優異成績

雖然 96.8 英里/小時的速度並不慢，但它並不是精英後備投手中的精英。也就是說，到 2026 年，它將獲得精英級別的成績。

Bayern Munich are increasingly confident they will sign Anthony Gordon newcastle united in this summer.

Evening newspaper Munich report The Newcastle winger is firmly in Bayern’s plans, and a recent board meeting has given the go-ahead to a possible transfer.

bayern meeting on gordon

The newspaper reports that FC Bayern’s supervisory board met on Monday. This led to agreement on an important issue; Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon is set to be the ‘marquee signing’ of the summer transfer window.

The German giants are hoping to pull off another Premier League ‘coup’ to strengthen their attack following the signings of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz in recent years. Each of them have done a great job.

Bayern wants to continue this ‘successful tradition’. This is despite the admission that signing Gordon from Newcastle this summer would be an expensive venture. According to English reports he is worth €90 million. Bayern will not pay that much.

Instead, talks between the two clubs over a potential deal are likely to intensify in the coming weeks. Bayern Munich considers itself a pioneer.

Gordon is leaning towards Munich

Anthony Gordon himself is headed to Bayern. According to AZ information, a five-year contract is being discussed. The deal is being considered ‘understandable’ for Bayern.

They need top-class options, which they sorely lacked in the recent Champions League semi-final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. Jamal Musiala is also far from his best form and Serge Gnabry will be out for a long time.

The Newcastle forward is the preferred candidate at the moment. It seems Bayern are also talking about spending big on him this summer. But all signs point to them pushing for a deal this summer.

It appears the bigger issue is Newcastle’s asking price. But if Gordon tries hard enough, this is unlikely to be a major hurdle for the German champions.

费德里科·加蒂即将离开尤文图斯，这对尤文图斯来说可能是一个积极的消息 埃弗顿 和 阿斯顿维拉。

在过去的几个月里， 体育见证人 密切监视防守者的情况。英国人的兴趣有所增长，特别是卢西亚诺·斯帕莱蒂并不认为他是一名关键球员。

尽管他在去年12月伤愈复出，但今年他只在意甲首发过一次。在过去的三场联赛中，这名中后卫总共只上场四分钟。

现在，加蒂决心获得比赛时间，并对自己的未来做出了重大决定。

玩家对选择深信不疑

《米兰体育报》 看来加蒂确实想离开老妇人。

他是目前球队中最受欢迎的球员之一，但他不想在替补席上浪费自己最好的时光。意大利人觉得他可以提供更多，现在正在寻找新的目的地。

土耳其有兴趣，但这并不被认为是他的偏好。

英格兰俱乐部仍然存在

都托运动 今天提供更多详细信息。阿斯顿维拉和埃弗顿都对他感兴趣，尤文图斯热衷于与这位 27 岁的球员分道扬镳。

他不被视为适合斯帕莱蒂，并被视为可用于签署升级的资本收益。这就是为什么“以 2500 万欧元出售他”会很受欢迎。

加蒂将是一名可靠的球队球员

即使这位中后卫想要正常踢球，他也可能没有能力踢英超的每场比赛。

阿斯顿维拉和埃弗顿都可以使用他作为一名有价值的球员。

加蒂也可以踢任意一侧的中后卫。在伊戈尔·都铎的带领下，他也是边路中卫的常客。

2500 万欧元的转会费对于阿斯顿维拉或埃弗顿来说不太可能成为问题。乌奈·埃梅里和大卫·莫耶斯都是众所周知的实用主义者，这与加蒂的优势相得益彰。

Federico Gatti is close to a Juventus exit and it could be positive for him everton And Aston Villa.

In the last few months, sports witness The defender’s situation has been monitored closely. There has been increased interest from the English side, especially as Luciano Spalletti does not see him as a key player.

Despite returning from injury in December, he has started just once in Serie A this year. In the last three league games, the centre-back has been on the field for just four minutes in total.

Now, Gattis is determined to get game time and has made a big decision about his future.

confident about player selection

gazzetta dello sport It appears that Gatty wants to leave the Old Lady.

He is one of the most loved players in the current team, but the player does not want to waste his best years on the bench. The Italian feels he can offer more and is now looking for a new destination.

Türkiye is interested in this but it does not seem to be its priority.

English clubs remain in the picture

tuttosport Provide more details today. There are mentions of interest from Aston Villa and Everton, with Juventus keen to part ways with the 27-year-old.

They are not considered suitable for spalletti and are viewed as capital gains that can be used to sign upgrades. That’s why it would be better to ‘sell him for €25m’.

Gatti will be a reliable squad player

Even if the centre-back wants regular football, he may not have the technical ability to play every game in the Premier League.

Both Aston Villa and Everton could use him as a valuable team player.

Gatti can also play on either flank at centre-back. Under Igor Tudor, he was also a regular in the wide centre-back role.

A fee of €25m is unlikely to be a problem for Aston Villa or Everton. Unai Emery and David Moyes are both considered pragmatic, who will play to Gatti’s strengths.