Los Angeles Dodgers president Stan Kasten on Friday firmly shut down speculation that the franchise could be sold amid questions surrounding controlling owner Mark Walter.

“The Dodgers are not being sold. They’re not gonna be sold. They’re not for sale. There’s no process that has been started to sell it, period,” Kasten told reporters on the field at Dodger Stadium before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. “We are planning only to win.”

The comments came roughly 10 days after Walter agreed to sell his controlling stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger in a deal valued at $12.5 billion. Walter had purchased the NBA franchise less than a year earlier.

The sudden move, combined with federal investigations into aspects of Walter’s business empire involving TWG Global, fueled online conjecture about the Dodgers’ future.

Kasten described the Lakers transaction as “sui generis,” a one-of-a-kind situation with no bearing on the baseball club.

“I can’t tell you how important the Dodgers are to Mark,” he said. “The Lakers thing? The Lakers were important to him, too, but it’s kind of an extraordinary opportunity, which he took.”

He added that Walter’s broader sports portfolio, including the Professional Women’s Hockey League and motorsports holdings, is expected to remain intact. Kasten said he knows of nothing involving the Dodgers that is part of any investigation and characterized the organization as “very stable, well-managed and [with] very solid ownership.”

The Dodgers, Kasten emphasized, stand on their own financially and remain focused on competing.

“The Dodgers aren’t going anywhere,” he said. “I feel that very strongly, and Mark feels even stronger than I do.”

Walter has been the club’s controlling owner since Guggenheim Baseball Management acquired the team in 2012.

The post Stan Kasten addresses Dodgers’ future, sale speculation appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Multiple sex toys were thrown onto the court during the third quarter of the Chicago Sky’s 73-70 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Friday night at Wintrust Arena, briefly disrupting play. Arena personnel removed the objects while players remained on the floor.

Sydney Taylor hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer for the Sky.

Veteran point guard Natasha Cloud, who led Chicago with 17 points, addressed the incident afterward and directed her comments primarily at the men she said are responsible for most of these acts.

“Y’all lame as f–k,” Cloud said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “In most of these occasions, it’s men. And I want you to know that the gayest thing you can do is to go to a sex shop, buy a dildo, and come to a women’s game and throw the dildo on the court.

“I’m a firm believer that anyone that has so much of a problem with a marginalized group, just come out and say that you’re a part of our group, because the hate is unwarranted. It says more about the internal struggles of the individual than it ever will say about the collective group.

“The men that are throwing it, shows that you are weak. Like, extremely weak. And it says a lot about how you feel about women.

“But we don’t care. It’s a disruption of the game. Y’all lame to us. Y’all gay to us. We see it. Keep throwing them if you want to keep telling us you’re gay.”

The disruption marked the second consecutive night a WNBA game was interrupted by a sex toy thrown onto the court. A similar incident occurred Thursday in Los Angeles, where the individual involved was arrested and banned from the arena.

The trend first appeared last season in connection with cryptocurrency promotions and has drawn criticism from players who view it as disrespectful and potentially unsafe.

The Sky are reviewing camera footage to identify those responsible for Friday’s incident.

The post WNBA star unleashes NSFW rant after sex toys thrown onto court appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Notre Dame will not pursue players from the 2022 recruiting class who gained potential fifth-year eligibility through recent court rulings, head coach Marcus Freeman said on Friday.

The decision centers on practical and academic realities. With the fall semester beginning on Monday, Freeman cited the university’s graduate admissions process as already complete.

“For us at Notre Dame, it’s just too late [with] the graduate admissions process, and I don’t think it would put a person in a good situation this late — school starts on Monday — to have success in the classroom and on the field, so that’s been our stance on it,” Freeman told reporters. “Our admissions has already done their admissions and cycles. That’s where the university and the athletic program stands right now.”

Freeman was asked specifically about former Irish defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka, who started seven games across four seasons at Notre Dame. Tuihalamaka was among more than a dozen players granted a temporary restraining order in a Louisiana court earlier in the week that allowed them another season of eligibility.

He entered the transfer portal and committed to LSU shortly after Freeman’s comments.

A federal judge’s ruling had opened the door for 2022 signees who played four consecutive seasons to return, though an appeals court later granted the NCAA a stay. Separate state restraining orders still permit some athletes to compete this fall.

Freeman made clear Notre Dame would not bend its process for late arrivals, even as other programs explore options.

“You’re not going to set that person up to have success,” he said.

The No. 4 Fighting Irish open the season against Wisconsin on September 6 with a deep defensive line already in place.

The post Notre Dame stands firm: Too late to add eligible 2022 players appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

TCU has dismissed senior safety Jacob Fields from its football program following a locker room altercation with a teammate.

The Horned Frogs announced on Tuesday that Fields, a transfer from Louisiana Tech, “will not be a member of our football team moving forward” after a violation of team rules. The incident, described as an alleged aggravated assault involving hands, feet, or fists, occurred in the TCU locker room on August 13 and was later logged in the university’s crime and fire report.

Chris Vannini of The Athletic, citing redacted incident paperwork, reports that Fields and an offensive teammate engaged in a physical fight after tensions had escalated earlier in the month.

The incident report also indicated Fields felt targeted through insults, threats and other actions, and that he had contacted members of the coaching staff in an effort to address the issues before the confrontation.

Fields arrived at TCU this offseason as a projected starter in the secondary. At Louisiana Tech in 2025, he earned Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the team with 92 tackles, three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and five passes defensed while starting all 12 regular-season games.

Philip Miller, Fields’ agent, released a statement saying much of the online discussion surrounding the matter has been speculative or inaccurate. He added that Fields respects TCU’s decision, is grateful for the opportunity he received, and wishes the program success moving forward.

TCU opens the season August 29 against North Carolina in Dublin.

The post TCU starting safety dismissed after allegedly assaulting teammate appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Andy Pages is slated for a lengthy stint on the injured list.

The Dodgers shared on Friday that Pages sustained a fracture in his left hand after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the 3rd inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. Pages tried to stay in the game, but eventually exited before the top of the 5th inning.

Replays showed Pages’ hand appearing to take the full impact of the pitch throw by Pirates starter Bubba Chandler.

Andy Pages barely reacts to getting hit by 100 MPH on the hand. pic.twitter.com/bKRNl7h4sX

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 22, 2026

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke to reporters about the severity of Pages’ injury following the Dodgers’ 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in extra innings.

“X-Rays unfortunately came up as a fracture, so he’ll be out for a while,” Roberts said during his postgame press conference.

Roberts assured reporters that the injury was “not season-ending” and pointed to a projected recovery timeline of “four to five weeks.” That puts his target return date right around the start of the playoffs.

Pages is in the midst of a breakout campaign for the Dodgers in his third MLB season. While he has cooled off since starting the year as MLB’s hottest hitter, the fact that Roberts had Pages batting third on Friday behind Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman tells you all you need to know about how much the Dodgers skipper values him.

Pages entered Friday’s contest batting .272 with 21 home runs and a team-best 12 stolen bases. His 80-RBI tally also tied him with Shohei Ohtani for the most on the team through 128 games.

The post Dodgers All-Star fractures hand after getting hit by 100-mph fastball appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The security at American Family Field failed to frisk Ronald Acuna Jr. thoroughly enough, because he was able to sneak his arm cannon into the venue Friday in Milwaukee, Wis.

Milwaukee Brewers batter Luis Lara punished Braves starter Chris Sale for throwing him a middle-middle slider to lead off the bottom of the 5th inning. Lara hit the ball sharply down the right-field line in what should have been an easy double against most right fielders — but not Acuna.

The former NL MVP tracked the ball down, made a quick spin, and threw an absolute laser to second base to prevent his fellow Venezuelan from securing an extra-base hit.

WHAT A THROW!

Ronald Acuña Jr. with an absolute DART to second base 😮 pic.twitter.com/h3yzWWsDHM

— MLB (@MLB) August 21, 2026

The replay from the corner camera gave folks an even better view of the wicked play.

Tuned in to the Braves vs. Brewers game for the pitching matchup, but saw one of the best throws I’ve seen in a long time.

Ronald Acuna Jr. showing of his 98th percentile arm strength w/ this absolute rocket. pic.twitter.com/tO0wPZBwZ7

— Boston (@BallByBoston) August 21, 2026

Acuna had virtually zero margin for error on the play, needing perfect accuracy and timing on his throw to second base, and somehow got the out.

The Braves All-Star’s heroics on defense, however, were overshadowed by his lackluster performance at the plate during Friday’s game.

Acuna went 0-for-4 with a walk over his five plate appearances in the 2-1 loss to the Brewers. Acuna had a man on base in each of his four at-bats but failed to get a big hit for Atlanta in those spots. He also struck out to end the game with the tying run on second base.

The post Ronald Acuna Jr.’s submits his dark horse Play of the Year entry with unreal throw appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

New York Mets pitcher Jefry Yan doubled down with another premature celebration and got burned Friday against the Chicago White Sox.

The Mets tasked Yan with keeping the score tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning at Rate Field in Chicago, Ill. The 30-year-old reliever thought he had gotten a third of the way through against leadoff batter Colson Montgomery.

Yan threw a 1-2 slider outside the zone and immediately jumped into the air for his signature strikeout celebration. The pitch was called a ball, and Yan eventually walked Montgomery.

Jefry Yan did his special celebration after the pitch was called a ball pic.twitter.com/l0slqMuMmb

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 22, 2026

The White Sox designated hitter became the winning run three batters later on Jake Rogers’s walk-off home run. The Mets lost 6-4 on the first home run Yan has surrendered in his young MLB career.

SOUTH SIDE STAND UP 😤

JAKE ROGERS WALK-OFF HOMER pic.twitter.com/uuS3zfYS6g

— MLB (@MLB) August 22, 2026

Yan expressed his regret over the early celebration after the game, vowing to never let it happen again.

“That’s one of those situations where it becomes a learning experience,” Yan said via an interpreter. “You can’t go out there and kind of lose the goal, which is to execute the pitches. … It won’t happen again. … Once the job is done, then you can celebrate the way that you want to.”

The Mets pitcher also celebrated prematurely last Saturday, when he jumped into the air for what he thought was a strikeout of Washington Nationals second baseman Nasim Nuñez. Yan challenged the called ball, which was confirmed to be outside the zone.

The left-hander was able to recover the first time around, striking out Nuñez two pitches later and helping the Mets secure a 5-4 win.

The baseball gods were not as forgiving on Friday, punishing Yan’s hubris with his first career loss.

The post Mets’ Jefry Yan humiliates himself again with celebration before allowing walk-off homer appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Torey Lovullo has done away with any canned responses amid the ongoing Ketel Marte drama.

The Diamondbacks manager spoke candidly on Friday about Marte’s unexcused absence earlier this week, which resulted in the team placing him on the restricted list minutes before Monday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

The All-Star second baseman was later placed on the 10-day IL due to a knee injury. But the sudden disappearance went beyond just a simple injury designation. Marte deserted his team in the middle of a playoff race — a move that left Lovullo emotional following Monday’s 11-1 loss.

Lovullo shared on Friday that he had felt “betrayed” and “extremely frustrated” by Marte’s unexplained insubordination.

“Yeah, it hasn’t been easy,” Lovullo “You guys saw me the other day, right? I was breaking down because I wanted to make sure he was okay. That’s my point of view. I want to make sure of the human being.”

“That’s not just Ketel … I want to make sure that I’ve left the space that I’m in better than it was when I arrived, and that’s just how I live my life.

“I was hurting. I was clearly hurting. And once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated. I felt betrayed, and that’s a whole different type of pain and frustration.”

The Diamondbacks manager’s emotional admission came after Marte and his agent met with Lovullo and GM Mike Hazen on Thursday to clear the air on everything that had transpired.

While the meeting reportedly went well enough for the D-Backs to be optimistic about Marte’s return, Lovullo evidently still had things to get off his chest.

Lovullo spoke out again during Arizona’s pregame show for Friday’s contest against the Cincinnati Reds. He opted to keep the details of his conversation with Marte private, but expressed his “love and respect” for Ketel amidst all the turmoil.

The post Torey Lovullo admits he felt ‘betrayed’ by Ketel Marte appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Miami Heat are taking another longtime Milwaukee Bucks figure away from Wisconsin.

Several reporters confirmed on Friday that veteran assistant coach Vin Baker is leaving the Bucks to join Erik Spoelstra’s staff on the Miami Heat. According to Chris Haynes, Baker had “a close bond” with Giannis Antetokounmpo during their eight years together in Milwaukee.

After spending eight seasons with Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant, Vin Baker is joining Erik Spoelstra’s coaching staff with Miami Heat to reunite with Giannis Antetokounmpo to whom he has a close bond with, sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/boho1Yp7gk

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 21, 2026

The Heat will reportedly keep the team’s current set of assistants intact rather than fire anyone to make room for Baker.

Baker joined the Bucks as an assistant coach in 2018 — a move that turned his life around for the better. The former 6’11” big man had dealt with financial and substance abuse issues that resulted in him working at Starbucks just a few years before joining Milwaukee’s coaching staff.

The retired 4-time All-Star developed a personal relationship with Antetokounmpo, whom Baker viewed like his own son.

The Bucks drafted Baker with the 8th pick in the 1993 draft. He played four seasons in Milwaukee before being traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. He averaged 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds across 791 games in his 13-year NBA career.

The Heat also made another under-the-radar move on Friday, signing a former All-Star sharpshooter who could benefit mightily from Giannis’ offensive gravity.

The post Heat make sneaky move that will please Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Former Cleveland Browns star Nick Chubb had a message for his peers as he celebrated his lengthy NFL career.

The 30-year-old running back announced his retirement on Friday night via an Instagram post. Chubb surprised several fans as he revealed he had “known for some time now” that he was planning to hang up his cleats.

Chubb’s appeared to be staying in game shape despite remaining a free agent as training camps across the league began.

“Today’s the day I’ve been avoiding for a while,” Chubb said in his goodbye message. “Twelve year old me could never imagine this day, and 30 year old me is wondering where all the time has gone. I’ve known for some time now, but I’m finally ready to share that I’m done playing football. I wanted to end my career on a healthy note, along with a winning season, and I was able to do that.

“At the beginning of this journey, I made many promises to myself. The #1 promise I made was that I would always stay true to who I am and never forget the things that made me, me.

“That promise meant always being the hardest working person, no matter where I was or what the circumstances were.”

Chubb credited his mom, dad, and grandma for instilling discipline in him at a young age, and his high school coaches for raising his personal standards when on the football field.

Chubb then spoke about how his mindset on his injuries changed from when he was a teenager, versus his recent injury spell at 28. It’s a difference that shaped his decision to retire, prompting him to address his fellow NFL players directly.

“I will tell you, going through a devastating knee injury at 19 is a lot different than going through one at 28.” Chubb continued. “At UGA, when it first happened, I was young, naive, and didn’t fully understand the extent of the injury. I believe that played a part in me being able to bounce back and eventually return to form.

“At 28, it’s different. You understand that you have the rest of your life to look forward to. And that’s exactly what I started to do.

“I say this to all my brothers still on the field, still in the heat of it: There’s a life waiting for you after football, too. And health is the real wealth. I end my career in a great place.”

Chubb suffered a serious knee injury in 2015 that ended his sophomore season at Georgia early. Nearly a decade later, Chubb tore his MCL and damaged his ACL during a 2023 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While he was able to recover from both injuries, an older Chubb clearly has a different understanding of the physical toll football was placing on his body.

The Browns selected Chubb in the second round of the 2018 draft. The Georgia alum spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Browns, earning four straight Pro Bowl nods from 2019 to 2022.

Chubb’s lone year away from Cleveland ended up being his last one in the NFL. He signed a dirt-cheap one-year contract with the Houston Texans last June and rushed for 506 yards and a team-best 3 rushing touchdowns.

Chubb tallied 7,349 rushing yards and 54 rushing touchdowns over 100 career NFL games.

The post Nick Chubb sends powerful message as he announces his retirement appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Sergio Garcia may have unintentionally hastened the demise of Saudi-backed LIV Golf with his actions at The Masters earlier this year.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which had been funding the breakaway golf league, announced earlier this year that it was pulling out its funding, leaving the league’s future in doubt. One catalyst for this was Garcia’s unsporting behavior at Augusta National.

Garcia, one of the players who left the PGA Tour for LIV, angrily smashed his club against a tee box after a poor shot on the final day of the Masters in April. The incident deeply embarrassed Public Investment Fund head Yasir al-Rumayyan and helped lead to his decision to withdraw funding, according to Sujeet Indap and Samuel Agini of the Financial Times.

The fund had already been contemplating ending the investment before the Masters, so the decision was likely coming either way. It is not out of the question, though, that Garcia’s meltdown accelerated the decision.

It's easy to dunk on Sergio, and I don't doubt Yasir was pissed given his (admittedly hilarious) attempts to become an Augusta member, but talks of PIF pulling out of LIV were already happening before Sergio's incident during final round of the Masters https://t.co/DftrMO4yYe

— Joel Beall (@JoelMBeall) August 21, 2026

LIV announced earlier this month that it had found a new lead investor, though it has yet to announce formal details and it is not known if the golfers themselves are all on board with the plan. As a result, the future of the competition remains murky at best.

H/T CBS Sports

The post Sergio Garcia reportedly sped up the demise of LIV Golf appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The probe into alleged betting activity by a former Arizona Cardinals scout now extends into a multiple states.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is looking into unusual betting patterns relating to Gold, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. Gold is a Massachusetts native and went to school at UMass.

The Arizona Department of Gaming was already looking into the allegations surrounding Gold, and have been doing so since July.

Gold, who served as the Cardinals’ director of college scouting, has been suspended by the NFL amid allegations that he leaked sensitive NFL Draft information to gamblers. The allegations center on whether the Cardinals’ decision to draft Jeremiyah Love No. 3 overall was leaked to gamblers in advance, allowing them to win money on the pick when Arizona ultimately made it.

The allegations against Gold gained further weight after Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort said after the draft that the decision to take Love had been made at the start of the week, meaning it plausibly could have been leaked well in advance of the first round.

Gold has worked for the Cardinals since 2014, first as a scouting assistant and then as a full-time scout. He was promoted to college scouting director in 2025, a role in which he oversaw the organization’s evaluation of prospects prior to the draft. He has denied the allegations and is appealing against the NFL’s suspension next month.

The post Former Cardinals executive faces 2nd gambling investigation appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Houston Texans are still in the hunt for at least one more wide receiver, and are looking at some interesting names to potentially bring in.

The Texans have looked into New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman as trade targets, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC. It is not clear how seriously the Texans are pursuing either option, or the level of availability of each player.

The #Texans have made exploratory trade calls, per league sources.

Among the potential targets: New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

The Texans aren't expected to have a reunion with former All-Pro receiver DeAndre… https://t.co/rsYk9f3eGU

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 21, 2026

Houston is in dire need of receiver help after losing Jayden Higgins to a season-ending injury. Nico Collins is locked in as the team’s No. 1, but it is not clear when Tank Dell will be back as he continues to recover from his knee injury last year.

Bateman had just 19 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns last season for the Ravens. He has expressed unhappiness with the organization previously, but seems to be happier with his situation these days.

Boutte had 33 catches for 551 yards last year for the Patriots. The team has ample wide receiver depth and is thought to be willing to listen to trade offers, though he is having a strong training camp.

The post Texans eyeing trades for 2 notable wide receivers appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Jalen Duren may ultimately be trending towards a divorce from the Detroit Pistons.

The restricted free agent center Duren’s negotiations with the Pistons have turned “awfully nasty,” Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported this week. MacMahon notes that the bitter negotiations could have long-lasting consequences, even if Detroit ends up agreeing to a new deal with Duren.

Duren, 22, is a homegrown Piston who was drafted by the team in 2022 and was a centerpiece of the Detroit squad that won 60 games and secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season. He also had his best career campaign last year, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game en route to All-Star and All-NBA honors.

But Duren’s shoddy 2026 postseason (10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as the Pistons bowed out in the second round) changed the landscape for him going into his free agency. Now Detroit is reluctant to give him an expensive new contract, reportedly in part due to one notable factor.

Interestingly enough, Duren and the Pistons do not seem to be that far off in terms of the pure numbers. Earlier this month, we learned that Detroit had made an offer to Duren that was only moderately below his desired figure.

But it may be about respect at this point for Duren, who has steadily improved in each of his four seasons with the Pistons as the team stunningly went from a 14-win laughingstock to a 60-win powerhouse. That could be what ultimately spurs Duren to potentially pull a drastic move en route to a possible departure from Detroit.

The post Report: Jalen Duren’s negotiations with the Pistons have turned ‘nasty’ appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to go with Kirk Cousins as their Week 1 quarterback, but coach Klint Kubiak is stubbornly refusing to say so.

Kubiak refused to name a quarterback after Thursday’s 22-20 preseason win over the Houston Texans, and once again chose not to on Friday. The reason, according to the first-year head coach, is that he wants those involved in the quarterback competition to have “a little bit of uneasiness.”

Klint Kubiak refused again to name a starting quarterback for Week 1.

"I just don't think it ever benefits a player to know that they have a spot secured, and if there's always a little bit of uneasiness about that, that benefits the whole team, the player and the team."

— Sam Warren (@samwarren83) August 21, 2026

On one hand, Kubiak may be leaving the door open to pulling a surprise and naming rookie Fernando Mendoza his starter. More likely, however, Kubiak is telling the truth and wants to keep everyone on their toes.

Mendoza was behind Cousins on the initial Raiders’ depth chart, and there is no reason to believe that has changed. He also struggled in his first preseason start. He will start for the Raiders eventually, but there is no reason to believe he is there yet.

Cousins got a two-year deal to serve as a bridge quarterback for the team. The expectation remains that he will be named the Week 1 starter at some point in the near future.

The post Raiders coach leaves door open to Fernando Mendoza as starting QB appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

DeMar DeRozan is officially off the board.

The six-time NBA All-Star swingman DeRozan has decided to sign with the Denver Nuggets in free agency, Chris Haynes of NBA TV reported on Friday. DeRozan had been an unrestricted free agent after being waived by the Sacramento Kings earlier this offseason.

Shams Charania of ESPN adds that DeRozan’s deal with the Nuggets is for one year and $3.9 million (representing the veteran’s minimum).

DeRozan, who turned 37 earlier this month, has 17 seasons of NBA experience under his belt. Once a consistent 25-ppg scorer in the prime of his career, DeRozan still managed to produce respectable averages last season of 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on 49.7 percent shooting from the field for Sacramento.

But DeRozan had been unsigned up to this point due to concerns over his age, his ball-stopping style of play, his inability to regularly hit three-pointers, and his (further) declining defense. We learned earlier this week too that DeRozan had a notable demand with his desired free agent contract (that he since appears to have come off).

But the Nuggets, a 54-win team last season, quickly emerged as a surprise new suitor for DeRozan after losing forward Peyton Watson a few days ago in a multi-team sign-and-trade. Now a deal with the former All-NBA selection DeRozan has materialized rather quickly.

DeRozan himself seemed to indicate in recent weeks that a more poetic landing spot was in the works instead. But now DeRozan is headed to Denver to team up with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, possibly as a contender to start at small forward but more likely as a high-octane scorer off the bench.

The post DeMar DeRozan has made his free agent decision appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

LeBron James is having a reunion in The City of Brotherly Love.

Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Phil Handy is leaving the team to become an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers, Marc J. Spears of Andscape reported on Friday. After spending just one season on the Mavericks’ coaching staff, Handy is now officially heading East.

The 54-year-old Handy has plenty of history with the new 76ers superstar James. The two first worked together on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-18 with Handy serving as an assistant coach on the James-led team that won the 2016 NBA championship.

Handy and James then reunited on the Los Angeles Lakers from 2019-24. The former was an assistant under head coach Frank Vogel when the Lakers won the title in the 2020 Orlando bubble, and he also later served as an assistant coach under Vogel’s successor Darvin Ham.

After Ham’s firing by the Lakers in 2024, Handy joined the Mavericks in 2025 to serve under their then-head coach Jason Kidd (who was also an assistant coach on the Lakers’ 2020 championship team). But Dallas fired Kidd earlier this summer, and Handy will not be continuing on the staff of new Mavericks head coach Dusty May.

Now in Philadelphia, Handy will also be reuniting with 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, whom he already served with as an assistant on the Toronto Raptors when Nurse led them to the 2019 NBA title. Known for his strong track record in player development and his emotional style of leadership, Handy figures to be a prominent figure next season on a high-expectations 76ers team.

The post LeBron James’ ex-Lakers coach is following him to the 76ers appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill remains without a team for 2026, and it may stay that way for some time.

Drew Rosenhaus, Hill’s agent, appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” Friday and suggested that Hill is not yet ready to sign with a team as he continues to rehab his serious knee injury. However, Rosenhaus believes Hill will play this season, and envisions him having an impact on the playoff race late in the year.

“I don’t expect Tyreek to sign before the season. He sent me video yesterday of him running hills, and he looked great,” Rosenhaus said. “He said to me, ‘I still have some work to do. I’m not ready yet.’

“It’s not hyperbole for me to predict that he will play this season. When, I’m not sure. I do think when he does sign, he will be a coveted player. He’ll be the kind of guy that will impact the playoff race and will certainly be successful once he signs.”

"I don't expect Tyreek Hill to sign before the season..

He sent me videos of him running hills yesterday & he looked great..

I do think when he does sign he will be the kind of guy that will impact the playoff race & will certainly be successful" ~ @DrewJRosenhaus #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/FOUdOc9cYF

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 21, 2026

Hill, 32, was limited to four games last season before his serious knee injury. As recently as July, he had some concerning things to say about his recovery, so it is not necessarily a big surprise that he is taking things slowly and not rushing to join a new team as quickly as possible.

Since his outstanding 2023 season, Hill has struggled with underperformance in addition to his injuries. In 2024, poor quarterback play held him to 81 catches for 959 yards. That may be part of why some teams sound very skeptical of Hill and his ability to contribute in the NFL going forward.

The post Tyreek Hill’s plan for the 2026 season has been revealed appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Klay Thompson is getting his wish, and will be playing for an unquestioned contender next season.

Thompson has negotiated a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks and plans to sign with the Miami Heat once he clears waivers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

BREAKING: Klay Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat after he clears waivers upon a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/jV40iKTyEz

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 21, 2026

Thompson has been linked to the Heat for virtually the entire offseason, or at least since Miami finalized its move for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat were said to be just as interested as he was. The only real question was whether the Mavericks would be willing to let him go.

The Mavericks had hoped to find a trade partner for Thompson, but the $17.5 million he was owed on the final year of his contract made that virtually impossible. Ultimately, the Mavs opted to eat the money and let Thompson go where he wanted.

The Heat have been in the hunt for shooting help all summer. Thompson is not the player he once was, but he can still knock down deep shots, as he shot 39.3 percent from three last year. That was the worst mark of his career, but still better than the Heat were going to find anywhere else.

The post Klay Thompson has chosen a new team after being bought out by Mavericks appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

A new report suggests quarterback CJ Stroud has made a rather shocking contract demand of the Houston Texans.

Stroud and the Texans are said to be at an impasse on a new contract, which Stroud is eligible for for the first time. Jeremy Branham of ESPN 97.5 in Houston claimed Thursday that the Texans are offering Stroud something in the range of $50 million. Stroud, however, has asked for $70 million.

Texans want him at $50-55m, Stroud wants $70m. https://t.co/0rekIv2aOJ

— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) August 21, 2026

A $70 million deal would make Stroud the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL in terms of average annual value. That makes it almost hard to believe Stroud is really asking for this, as something in the range of what Houston is offering is much more realistic.

Stroud is coming off an unspectacular campaign, passing for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns with 8 interceptions in 14 games during the 2025 season. He also did himself no favors in the playoffs by throwing four interceptions in a Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots.

Some are not even certain that the Texans should commit to Stroud long-term at all. If the price tag really is in the $70 million range, even Stroud’s believers would probably agree with that.

The post CJ Stroud reportedly has shocking contract demand appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Alex Rodriguez has a new role after the Minnesota Timberwolves were sold for the second time in the span of 14 months.

Marc Lore, Rodriguez’s ownership partner, is selling his share of the Timberwolves to businessman Marc Stad for $4.5 billion. Lore will retain a minority share of the team, but is effectively stepping back from ownership.

Rodriguez will retain his stake in ownership. According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Rodriguez plans to remain the more front-facing member of the ownership group while Stad remains behind the scenes. Stad, who already owned a share of the team, is essentially swapping spots with Lore, while Rodriguez remains the No. 2 partner.

Rodriguez will not reportedly be gaining any power in the deal. Stad’s wife Elisa is set to be named governor of the team and represent it at ownership functions.

Lore and Rodriguez had purchased the Timberwolves last June from Glen Taylor after a protracted sale process that saw the deal on the verge of collapse more than once. There had been no indication that Lore was looking to sell his stake, at least publicly.

Incredibly, the Timberwolves are the second NBA team this month to be sold twice in the span of a little over a year. Unlike the Los Angeles Lakers, however, this sale appears to be amicable and handled smoothly.

The post Alex Rodriguez’s new role revealed after stunning Timberwolves sale appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Virginia running back and kick returner Solomon Beebe was arrested Monday on three Class 1 misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, according to court records obtained by 247Sports.

The 5-foot-10, 199-pound junior from Montgomery, Alabama, appeared on Thursday morning in Albemarle County District Court. He was released on unsecured bond. The charges stem from one alleged incident on Aug. 10 and two on Aug. 12 involving his pit bull, Jeb.

A housekeeper at Beebe’s apartment complex, the Maximilian at Stonefield north of Charlottesville, reported seeing him punch the dog on Aug. 12.

According to animal control officer Justin Gibson, the witness observed Beebe hold the dog against a wall and strike it multiple times with a closed fist while the animal yelped in pain. Albemarle County animal control seized the dog on Aug. 13 and placed it in protective custody at the local SPCA.

Beebe transferred to Virginia from UAB in January after two seasons with the Blazers.

In 2025, he rushed for 338 yards and six touchdowns on 56 carries, added 284 receiving yards on 31 catches, and ranked among the national leaders in kick-return yardage. Cavaliers coach Tony Elliott had recently praised his early contributions in the backfield and return game.

Virginia opens its season Aug. 29 against NC State.

The University of Virginia issued a brief statement: “The University does not comment on matters involving ongoing criminal proceedings or student records.”

Beebe’s status with the program has not been clarified.

The post Virginia running back Solomon Beebe charged with animal cruelty appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever has hinted that a leadership change at the top of the WNBA could be coming after this season.

The veteran guard recently suggested commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s position might become available at year’s end. Cunningham said the league needs someone bold and confident who prioritizes the players. She acknowledged Engelbert has done good things but added that the direction the league is heading calls for a different kind of leader.

“So I do feel like, as a whole, that could be a position that’s maybe open at the end of the year, but that’s not my call,” Cunningham told USA TODAY. “With where our league is trying to go, I feel like you just want someone who also wants that.”

Her comments arrive as Engelbert faces mounting scrutiny over the league’s handling of several controversies. On Thursday, the commissioner pushed back against critics, blaming “haters” for using the WNBA to sow divisiveness.

Speaking before the Fever’s game in Dallas, Engelbert said outsiders who have never watched or covered the league are turning it into a political football. She pointed to ongoing protests outside arenas that intensified after Cunningham publicly supported barring transgender athletes from women’s sports.

“There’s always going to be haters out there, and we denounce it,” Engelbert said, via ESPN. “But that’s what happens when you have made it as a legitimate sports media and entertainment product.”

The debate escalated further when former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, identifying as women.

The league’s collective bargaining agreement states only women may play but offers no additional definition of eligibility. Engelbert has indicated the subject remains under discussion with team executives.

The post Sophie Cunningham floats idea of WNBA commissioner shakeup appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Arizona Diamondbacks transferred second baseman Ketel Marte from the restricted list to the 10-day injured list on Thursday with left knee inflammation, ending a strange absence that began earlier in the week.

Marte failed to report for the series opener against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday after traveling with the team. He did not appear for any of the three games in Boston. The club placed him on the restricted list shortly before first pitch and recalled infielder Jose Fernandez from Triple-A Reno to fill the roster spot.

Manager Torey Lovullo grew emotional when addressing the situation, fighting back tears as he emphasized concern for his player.

“I love him, and I care for him,” Lovullo said. “He’ll be okay. He is fine.”

He added that the entire clubhouse shared those feelings and that absences of this nature typically signal something is not right.

Marte returned to Phoenix for medical evaluation. An MRI confirmed left knee inflammation. General manager Mike Hazen said Marte will remain on the injured list until healthy and is expected to rejoin the team before the season ends.

Hazen noted Marte had exited a Friday loss to the Atlanta Braves early with knee soreness, received an injection, and returned to the lineup Sunday.

The three-time All-Star is hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs. The Diamondbacks sit one game behind the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild-card spot.

This marks Marte’s second restricted-list stint in recent seasons following a 2025 absence tied to a home burglary.

The post Diamondbacks make decision on Ketel Marte after vanishing act appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

A green sex toy was thrown onto the court during the third quarter of the Atlanta Dream’s 124-88 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena, briefly stopping play.

With just under three minutes remaining and Sparks forward Jihyun Park at the free-throw line, the object landed on the floor. Dream forward Angel Reese quickly pointed out the perpetrator from the bench.

A man wearing a Luka Doncic jersey was seen hurrying up the steps in Section 111 as the crowd booed. Arena security moved in and removed the fan.

The interruption revived a disruptive pattern that first appeared in the 2025 season. Multiple green sex toys were thrown onto WNBA courts that summer, beginning with a Dream game against the Golden State Valkyries. One of those incidents struck Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.

Los Angeles coach Lynne Roberts described the acts at the time as “ridiculous, dumb, and stupid,” stressing that they endanger players and show a lack of respect for the game.

The initial thrower, identified as Delbert Carver, was arrested and faced charges that included disorderly conduct.

Similar stunts have since appeared at other professional sporting events, including Buffalo Bills games and hockey contests. League officials have repeatedly warned that any fan who intentionally throws an object onto the court faces immediate ejection, a minimum one-year ban, and possible arrest.

The post WNBA game halted after fan revives dildo-throwing trend appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams is busy installing a new scheme and elevating the run game in his second season calling plays. Yet one project currently rolling around in the back of his mind has nothing to do with play-action or protection adjustments.

Adams is campaigning for a hot dog fridge in the team’s break room, and he is not settling for any ordinary setup.

“How can you really have a break room or a snack room if you don’t have a hot dog fridge?” he asked reporters this week. “And if you’re gonna have a hot dog fridge, you have to have high-quality hot dogs in it. And if you’re gonna have high-quality hot dogs, we have to have brioche buns and maybe some pretzel buns.”

The vision expands from there. Adams is also eyeing an industrial-sized 7-Eleven hot dog roller to keep the franks properly rotating. He even dropped free culinary advice learned during a family trip to Disneyland. After struggling to steam or toast buns the conventional way, a vendor set him straight: Put the dog in the bun, wrap it in foil, and let the heat do the work.

“It’s been revolutionary,” Adams declared.

For a franchise valued in the billions, the request carries a lighthearted punch. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has spoken about building the greatest culture in sports. Whether that culture includes perfectly steamed buns and a steady supply of premium dogs now sits with ownership.

Adams, for his part, is simply working the problem one frank at a time.

The post Cowboys OC relishes idea of ‘hot dog fridge’ in break room appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The WNBA’s No. 1 overall pick in 2024 got upset with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025 during Thursday’s game.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever played Thursday against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings. In the closing seconds of the first half at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, Clark was dribbling the ball above the three-point line when Bueckers intentionally fouled her (as Dallas had a foul to give at the time).

Clark took exception to how physical Bueckers got with the intentional foul. Apparently upset with how Bueckers was pulling on her arm (before proceeding to make more even contact with her), Clark shoved Bueckers off her.

The television broadcast then caught Clark appearing to say, “What the f–k?” prompting Bueckers to gesture at her while saying, “Calm down.” Here is the full video of the incident.

Paige and Caitlin pic.twitter.com/0AfdxpDTsX

— Shabazz (@ShowCaseShabazz) August 21, 2026

No technical fouls were handed out for the dust-up. But in the end, it was the Wings who pulled out the 91-85 win over the Fever after getting 32 points from Arike Ogunbowale and 26 points from Jessica Shepard to overcome a 5/16 shooting night by Bueckers for 13 points. Clark, meanwhile, had an off night herself, finishing with just 10 points on 4/15 shooting.

Clark and Bueckers, both 24 years old, sometimes draw comparisons to each other due to their respective styles of play as high-scoring perimeter players. But Bueckers is a bit more of an instigator and also got into it a few weeks ago with Clark’s longtime enemy Angel Reese.

The post Caitlin Clark gets heated with Paige Bueckers during game appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Fernando Mendoza’s first preseason start in the NFL was not exactly too kind to him.

The Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Mendoza drew the start on Thursday against the Houston Texans. But on his team’s first offensive possession at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, Mendoza got picked off in the middle of the field by Texas linebacker Wade Woodaz after throwing a pass behind his intended receiver.

Making matters worse was that Woodaz took the interception all the way to the house for an 80-yard pick-six (as Mendoza tried in vain to run him down before ending up on the ground). Here is the video.

FERNANDO MENDOZA THROWS A PICK SIX

Welcome to the NFL.

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/3kHqZrcGhk

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 21, 2026

In response to Mendoza’s ultimate rookie moment, social media users hit him with the memes. Check out some of the funniest ones.

Fernando Mendoza vs. the Texans defense pic.twitter.com/CkObzyoxmz

— Onyx Odds (@OnyxOdds) August 21, 2026

Bro just threw a Turkey club with extra mayo pic.twitter.com/BKSHRpWyhV

— Carlton Banks’ Burner Account (@cbanksburner) August 21, 2026

a couple more of those and Tom Brady is gonna stop liking his Instagram posts https://t.co/AfzCb9FyjJ

— Sassington, M.C. (@MissSassbox) August 21, 2026

Mendoza just threw an italian grinder with extra Peppers and oil wow https://t.co/5PSxpht8pT

— 𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜 (@BronGotGame) August 21, 2026

The No. 1 overall draft pick Mendoza, 22, made his preseason debut last week against the Arizona Cardinals, coming on in relief of fellow Raiders QB Kirk Cousins to go 10/16 for 97 yards and a touchdown. But Mendoza fared much worse against the Texans this week, finishing his day going 8/15 for 86 yards with zero touchdowns and that one embarrassing pick-six.

Mendoza, who was also the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, did recently admit that there were some changes that he was still getting used to in the NFL. He definitely got another big reminder of that on Thursday, albeit at least in a mere exhibition game.

The post Fernando Mendoza gets the memes after throwing pick-six on first possession appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Michael Kay was acting up a bit in the booth during Thursday’s game.

The Baltimore Orioles hosted the New York Yankees on Thursday at Oriole Park in Baltimore, Md. During the third inning, the Yankees managed to plate three runs off five hits against Orioles starter Kyle Bradish.

As the inning came to an end with a Jazz Chisholm strikeout, the longtime Yankees play-by-play announcer Kay dropped the craziest line on the air. Kay referred to the Yankees’ three-run inning as an “orgy.”

“The Yankees, three runs in an inning?” Kay said. “It’s an offensive orgy.”

Michael Kay on the Yankees 3-run 3rd inning:

"It's an offensive orgy."pic.twitter.com/vr4TcwxYyO

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) August 21, 2026

Kay, 65, was clearly joking about how poorly the Yankees have been offensively as of late. Still nursing injuries to Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger, and others, New York entered play on Thursday with just 14 runs scored over their last six games combined.

But Kay definitely could have found a better way to phrase the point there. Perhaps it is just something about playing divisional opponents that gets Kay riled up (as he once previously was during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays as well).

The post Michael Kay dropped a deranged line during Yankees-Orioles game appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Josh Hart’s post-championship payday may end up being a fairly modest one.

The New York Knicks veteran swingman Hart is expected to receive a contract for three years and in the range of $60-$62 million, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports this week. Edwards adds that a contract in that ballpark is believed to be the “sweet spot” for Hart and the Knicks.

Hart, 31, has been with New York since 2023. He averaged 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game last season as the Knicks went on to clinch their first NBA championship since 1973.

The former first-round pick Hart is currently under contract for $20.9 million next season and also has a $22.4 million team option for 2027-28. But Hart is already eligible for a new extension from the Knicks, and his max figure would be for four years and $132 million.

Hart does pose an interesting case as he is a beloved “dirty work” player who connects all different sorts of lineups with his ability to contribute to a game with scoring, cutting, rebounding, passing, and defense. On the other hand, Hart’s overall offense can be very inconsistent, and he also produced some ugly playoff follies during New York’s championship run.

In the three years and $60 million range, Hart would be making a little over half of his potential max figure. The spend-conscious Knicks have some other delicate contract situations to manage right now too, which may explain why the role player Hart is only expected to command a modest new extension from them.

The post Details emerge on Josh Hart’s expected new contract with the Knicks appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The drama of the 2026 season is continuing for Paul Skenes.

The Pittsburgh Pirates ace pitcher Skenes was unhappy with the team’s decision to give him some extra rest in between his previous two starts, Pittsburgh sportswriter Andrew Fillipponi reports this week. Fillipponi adds though that there are currently no plans for the Pirates to shut down Skenes, who is still expected to make his next start as scheduled on Tuesday against the San Diego Padres.

Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, was curiously scratched from a scheduled start last Sunday against the Boston Red Sox. Instead, Skenes got pushed back to a start the following Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers (and still did not end up doing too swimmingly).

The 24-year-old Skenes has been showing a steady decline in his velocity throughout the year. Skenes looked so unlike himself that, at one point, Pirates manager Don Kelly pulled him from a start after just 65 pitches thrown (with Skenes also later hinting at some unhappiness about that decision).

Overall on the year, Skenes is 9-11 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP through 26 starts. For comparison, Skenes’ Cy Young-winning year last season saw him go 10-10 with a 1.97 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP (both NL-leading marks) through 32 total starts.

At this point, the 63-66 Pirates are 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with 33 games left, so there is still something for them to play for. But the end of the season might be a welcome sight for Pittsburgh fans given the extent of just how much Skenes’ performance has dipped.

The post Paul Skenes is reportedly unhappy with the Pirates over 1 decision appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Los Angeles Lakers may be trying to pull another rabbit out of their hats.

The Lakers are going to be targeting Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic once their ownership situation gets resolved, longtime team beat writer Anthony Irwin reported this week. Irwin notes that, once the ownership drama is in the rearview mirror for the Lakers, “a lot” of the organization’s eyes will be “dead-set” on Denver.

This news comes with the Nuggets going through a bit of turmoil right now. After winning the NBA title in 2023, Denver has not made it past the second round since then and just exited in Round 1 last season after losing in six games to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, Denver also just parted ways with key young forward Peyton Watson in a multi-team sign-and-trade deal earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the three-time league MVP Jokic, 31, is entering his final guaranteed year under contract next season at $59 million. Jokic can test free agency in 2027 by declining a $62.8 million player option for the next year, putting Denver in a position where they might have to consider the unfathomable scenario of trading away the big man.

The Lakers, for their part, are probably feeling confident in their chances because of Jokic’s relationship with his fellow European superstar Luka Doncic. The two players are very close friends, and Jokic himself once even said that he was open to the possibility of teaming up with Doncic.

Of course, this still feels like a total pipe dream for the Lakers given that they have no more future first-round draft picks left to trade after sending their unprotected 2031 and 2033 picks to the Utah Jazz as part of their July sign-and-trade for center Walker Kessler. The Lakers currently only have future pick swaps left to offer (at least until their 2034 first-rounder becomes eligible for trade in summer 2027). But clearly their dream is to somehow pull off a blockbuster move for the triple-double machine Jokic.

The post Report: Lakers are targeting Nikola Jokic appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is not shying away from high expectations this season. In fact, he has a reason for putting them out into the world.

Burrow has been blunt about the Bengals’ championship aspirations in 2026 and has demonstrated an increasing sense of urgency in his pursuit of a title. On Thursday, he said he was trying to “manifest” a Super Bowl and instill a sense of urgency into his teammates that now is the time to do it.

“I’m trying to put it out into the world. I’m trying to manifest it,” Burrow said. “I’m trying to show our guys the urgency that I have and that I want us to have as an organization to go and make it happen. You can keep pushing it down the road or you can talk about it now and say this is the year. I’m tired of saying ‘Next year, next year, next year.’ This is it.”

#Bengals QB Joe Burrow says he's trying to manifest a Super Bowl this season:

"I'm tired of saying next year, next year, next year. This is it. Life is too short to keep pushing things down the road." pic.twitter.com/lxMEB3N3Ze

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 20, 2026

Burrow has also set some extremely ambitious personal goals, though the championship is first and foremost in his mind. One of his teammates also described the quarterback as “pissed” to start the season.

For Burrow, the most important factor will be his health. He was limited to just eight games last season due to a foot injury, and the Bengals’ season went down the drain while he was sidelined. If he can stay healthy, the Bengals have a shot to achieve Burrow’s targets. If not, he will have no choice but to wait until next year once again.

The post Joe Burrow says he is trying to ‘manifest’ a Super Bowl appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Shedeur Sanders was clearly not impressing at least one member of the Buffalo Bills’ defense.

The Bills and Cleveland Browns held a joint practice on Thursday ahead of their preseason meeting on Saturday. Bills safety CJ Gardner-Johnson was not a participant, but he found a way to involve himself by trash-talking.

His best roast was directed at Sanders, whom he referred to as a “check-down king.”

Bills S C.J. Gardner-Johnson not practicing but talking all kinds of smack.
Earlier he was yelling "Check-down King" in the direction of Sanders on the sideline.

— Tom Withers (@twithersCLE) August 20, 2026

Sanders split first-team reps with Deshaun Watson, though by most accounts he did not deserve the trash talk.

Good third-down session for Shedeur Sanders.

First play, he draws the Bills offsides and then Isaiah Bond draws DPI on the free play. Next, he finds Malachi Corley for a big gain over the middle. pic.twitter.com/Y4yLMFbRWm

— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) August 20, 2026

This is what Gardner-Johnson does. If anything, this is pretty tame coming from him. He has said things about other quarterbacks that are much more disrespectful than that.

Sanders and Watson are competing for the No. 1 job in camp. Watson is thought to have the edge, and the fact that Sanders has turned in some ugly plays during preseason so far is probably not great for him.

The post Bills player had brutal trash talk for Shedeur Sanders appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Oklahoma Sooners rewarded coach Brent Venables with a new contract on Thursday, but the move had many observers wondering what the point was.

Venables and the Sooners agreed to a new six-year contract that adds two years onto his current deal, per Pete Thamel of ESPN. The new deal will pay Venables an average of $10.5 million per year.

The contract was met with skepticism on social media. Many questioned why Oklahoma felt the need to give Venables a new deal right now in light of his lack of proven success with the Sooners.

I am an OU believer this season.

I don't understand handing out another extension before seeing if Venables can replicate its 2025 success.

OU was not in danger of losing its head coach. Now it's just on the hook for more $$$ if Venables is not the right guy in 2026 or 2027. https://t.co/M2yukikHu3

— Jesse Simonton (@JesseReSimonton) August 20, 2026

Brent Venables getting a raise + extension before going 8-4 this season is absolute genius work.

— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) August 20, 2026

For what possible reason? Was he going to leave in October? https://t.co/9famRxld47

— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) August 20, 2026

Love BV but this feels a bit premature.. https://t.co/oMHSUTyqvP

— Boomer Beamer (@ImDerBatman) August 20, 2026

Venables was already locked up through 2029 on his previous deal, which he only signed two years ago. He did lead the Sooners to the College Football Playoff last season for the first time, and Oklahoma clearly wanted to reward him for that.

The biggest concern about Venables is his lack of consistent success at Oklahoma. He has a pair of 10-win seasons and a pair of six-win seasons to his name, and while he broke into the top 10 with Oklahoma last season, he has yet to prove he can keep them there for several seasons at a time. He will certainly be paid like the sort of coach who could, though.

Oklahoma was ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP poll that came out earlier this week.

The post Everyone said the same thing about Brent Venables’ new Oklahoma contract appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman took a pretty clear shot at former coach John Harbaugh and his staff on Thursday.

Bateman was asked about the difference between the old regime under Harbaugh and the new coaching staff under Jesse Minter. The wide receiver suggested that the current staff was more detail-oriented, and the previous staff was not.

“Everybody harps on the details,” Bateman said. “That’s not what we’ve had here.”

Rashod Bateman and Ronnie Stanley were both asked about the differences between the current coaching staff and previous one.

"Everybody harps on the details," Bateman said. "That's not what we've had here."

Stanley agreed: "(Minter) just values the finer details."

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 20, 2026

There is no way to read that as anything other than a shot at Harbaugh and his former staff. That said, Bateman has been critical of the Ravens in the past, so he might have some lingering bad feelings that go back a while.

On the other hand, there were reports that Harbaugh was losing the locker room, and this would seem to add some weight to that claim. It is not exactly a good look when a player is willing to publicly say this sort of thing about a coaching staff, even an old one.

Harbaugh landed on his feet with the New York Giants, who are enthusiastically embracing him. He may be precisely the sort of coach they need right now, and his departure from Baltimore is increasingly looking like the best thing for all parties involved.

The post Ravens WR takes a shot at John Harbaugh appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

In a truly bizarre twist, a player who is currently on an NFL roster has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright has become the first player to enter the transfer portal while signed to an NFL roster. Wright, who played for Ole Miss last season, is allowed to enter the portal thanks to a court ruling on Wednesday granting a number of former college players the right to another year of eligibility.

NEWS: A judge in Louisiana has granted a group that includes 16 football player –including several in NFL training camps this summer — a restraining order to allows them to return to college sports this season, per me and @DanMurphyESPN. pic.twitter.com/fUMzBolvbp

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 19, 2026

Wright is the first player to take advantage of this, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, even though he is currently in camp with the Browns.

Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright has entered the college transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned.

The former Ole Miss star is currently on the Browns’ roster. pic.twitter.com/0uvkWI7zk4

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 20, 2026

The NCAA recently changed its eligibility rules to grant players five years of eligibility, but exempted the class of 2022 from that change. They were quickly sued over that stance, and judges are finding in favor of the players. Players in NFL camps are eligible to play in college in 2026 if they are no longer on an NFL roster by September 1.

Wright is an undrafted free agent who spent time in Philadelphia Eagles camp before landing with the Browns. The tight end was a key part of the Ole Miss offense last season, tallying 39 receptions, 635 yards and five touchdowns.

Wright probably will not be the last player on an NFL roster to enter the portal and try to take advantage of that added year of eligibility. The big headache will be finding programs that have space for them. No wonder coaches in all sports are not particularly happy with this development.

The post An NFL player has entered the NCAA transfer portal appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Any lingering tension between Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown certainly seemed to be put off to the side after Thursday’s joint practice between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots.

Hurts and Brown were clearly cordial when they finally crossed paths and caught up following Thursday’s workout. The two could be seen smiling and even shared a hug.

Jalen and A.J. pic.twitter.com/ESghq8MTt1

— PHLY Eagles (@PHLY_Eagles) August 20, 2026

Much has been made of the relationship between Brown and Hurts before Brown was traded by the Eagles to the Patriots, and how it seemed to sour toward the end of last season. Brown only reinforced that perception with his response to whether he had even spoken to Hurts since the trade.

Hurts has largely downplayed any tension between the two, although there is little dispute that the two are not as close as they once were.

The Eagles and Patriots are practicing ahead of their preseason meeting on Saturday. It remains to be seen if either Hurts or Brown even plays in that game.

The post Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown interact after their joint practice appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Pat McAfee’s role at ESPN appears set to get even larger.

ESPN is set to air a McAfee-led alt-cast for “Monday Night Football” pending NFL approval, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. The new role was part of McAfee’s negotiations on a new contract with ESPN.

McAfee’s proposed alt-cast would not impact the “Manningcast” that ESPN also airs. In fact, they would largely be complementary, with the Mannings set to do 12 MNF games and McAfee somewhere around eight. McAfee would likely do games on ESPN2 on nights in which the Mannings are not doing their alt-cast.

McAfee is no stranger to alt-casts. He has done them from the sidelines of College Football Playoff games, though it is unlikely his NFL ones will look exactly the same as those.

ESPN appears happy to serve up as much McAfee as possible to viewers. He is already a regular on “College GameDay” and is also taking up a role on “Monday Night Countdown.” All of that is in addition to his weekday show that is carried by the network. ESPN is set to pay him a lot of money, and they appear determined to get their money’s worth.

The post Pat McAfee is getting another new role at ESPN appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

UConn head coach Dan Hurley is once again taking aim at the fiasco surrounding the NCAA and its new rules regarding student-athletes getting a fifth year of eligibility.

The NCAA changed its rules to allow athletes to receive a fifth year of eligibility across the board while essentially eliminating redshirts. Members of the class of 2022 were originally excluded from the new rules, but a series of lawsuits have challenged that.

Hurley is not terribly interested in the details. He took to his X account on Thursday to call attention to the mess, and how it is impacting college football season as players look to use the transfer portal upon being granted an additional year of eligibility.

“And now it’s hitting college football…Unreal mess…Their season starts in a couple of weeks,” Hurley wrote.

And now it’s hitting college football…Unreal mess…Their season starts in a couple of weeks. 🤯

— Dan Hurley (@dhurley15) August 20, 2026

Hurley has been a longtime critic of the transfer portal in particular, so this is his nightmare. There is obviously not much he can do about this, and college football is not necessarily his concern, but he can certainly see how the issues will translate to basketball.

Hurley is also far from the only coach who has serious concerns about the future of college sports. That may be why he has never closed the door completely on the NBA.

The post Dan Hurley trashes new lawsuits against the NCAA appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Jim Harbaugh further excited Los Angeles Chargers fans about Justin Herbert with one wild quote to describe the quarterback.

During a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, the 62-year-old Harbaugh hyped up Herbert heading into the 2026 NFL season. 

“He’s in a great place in all ways. I mean, you mentioned it; there’s a tremendous balance that he has. He’s locked, cocked, ready to rock, and he’s in a great place,” the Chargers head coach said.

The Chargers’ social media team turned the last part of that quote into a graphic and posted it on their platforms. 

he said what he said pic.twitter.com/o9KvNbdt8g

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 20, 2026

As expected, it elicited downright outrageous takes from fans who saw it.

Justin Herbert hearing this pic.twitter.com/MDjO6uE7Bw

— Onyx Odds (@OnyxOdds) August 20, 2026

pic.twitter.com/WxKSeoPUc6

— Colin McTamany (@Colin_McT) August 20, 2026

pic.twitter.com/cgou7fxXx5

— Laughing Corn (@Laughing_Corn) August 20, 2026

pic.twitter.com/66HZUV3U3K

— Fouts & Furious (@AdobeWanKenobi_) August 20, 2026

pic.twitter.com/hCuoaCbSca

— 🇺🇸 (@IceBurg_Simpson) August 20, 2026

Harbaugh has a way with words, and it’s one of the reasons why he’s been one of the most interesting characters in football. At the same time, that description of Herbert is hardly an original one, and Harbaugh might have even said that in reference to a particular Ted Nugent song.

Whatever the case, expectations remain high for Herbert, who earned his second Pro Bowl nod in 2025. 

Last season, he passed for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns with 13 interceptions on a 66.4% completion rate, but he was also sacked 54 times. 

It would be a whole lot better for the Chargers’ outlook if that quote from Harbaugh could also be applied to the Chargers’ offensive line.

The post Jim Harbaugh breaks out a wild phrase to describe Justin Herbert appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Pedro Martinez channeled his inner Magic Johnson recently by going full Captain Obvious with his take on a struggling American League team, and fans are having the time of their lives reacting to it.

For all the baseball wisdom of the Hall of Famer, Martinez came up with a take on the Blue Jays that perhaps even the most casual fan could make.

“I believe the Blue Jays didn’t come out as they wanted to after the World Series,” the three-time Cy Young Award winner wrote in a post on X.

I believe the Blue Jays didn’t come out as they wanted to after the World Series.

— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) August 19, 2026

That post drew all sorts of memes and hilarious reactions from fans online.

Magic Johnson level analysis right here

— Coach Pero (@coachpero33) August 19, 2026

Pedro, this is a priceless level of analysis. Thank you. 🙏🏻

— AA (@AlexArnold1010) August 19, 2026

pic.twitter.com/kEXRXUW29K

— Dustin (@DustinSaracini) August 19, 2026

Thank you Pedro, what would we do without you

— BlueAndWhiteHQ (@BlueAndWhiteHQ) August 19, 2026

Haha. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/mfHGxVgxpm

— Karam Bassi (@BassiKaram) August 19, 2026

Martinez’s surface-level observation, however, checks out.

After representing the American League in the World Series and coming just a win away from winning the Fall Classic against the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, the Blue Jays have taken quite a plunge in the 2026 MLB season.

Through Wednesday, the Blue Jays are just fourth in the AL East standings with a 62-66 record (15 games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays). 

That said, Toronto is only a game outside of the wild card picture in the AL with 34 games left on its schedule, including the series finale against the Rays Thursday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The post Pedro Martinez gets roasted for his opinion of the Blue Jays appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Paul Skenes can thank an unlikely hero for the Pittsburgh Pirates for saving him from picking up a pitching loss on Wednesday.

Skenes was far from his Cy Young form in the series finale against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pa., as he lasted just 4 1/3 innings after giving up three earned runs on four hits.

He struck out five but struggled with his location, walking four through 81 pitches. He was replaced on the mound after allowing an RBI single to Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres in the fifth inning that gave Detroit a 2-1 lead.

Fortunately for the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, he was able to avoid a loss, thanks in large part to Rafael Flores Jr., who came off the bench and proceeded to make history for Pittsburgh.

According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Flores became just the first player in Pirates history since at least 1900 to hit at least two home runs in a game while coming off the bench.

Rafael Flores Jr. is the first Pirates player since at least 1900 with multiple home runs in a game he did not start https://t.co/s1l7KGPTzN

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 19, 2026

Flores clubbed two solo homers, the first one coming in the seventh inning to cut down Detroit’s lead, 3-2, and the second in the ninth inning to tie the score at 3-3. Brandon Lowe later walked it off with a solo blast of his own to give the Pirates a 4-3 victory.

Still, there remain concerns about Skenes’ form. In 16 starts since May 17, the 24-year-old Skenes has gone 3-9 with a 5.06 ERA. Overall this season, he has a 9-11 record and a 3.95 ERA through 26 starts.

The post Paul Skenes saved by teammate’s historic night against the Tigers appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a massive trade that shook up their roster on Wednesday, acquiring forward Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets via a sign-and-trade transaction that also involved three other teams. 

With Watson secured, the Cavs are said to be finally turning their focus to James Harden’s future with the team.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Cavaliers are expected to ink Harden to a new contract soon.

Reported on Sunday night that, according to one source briefed on the process, James Harden’s long-awaited new deal with the Cavaliers would be signed “soon-ish.”

Cleveland can finally proceed with finalizing Harden’s pact after its Schröder/Strus/Watson five-teamer is official. https://t.co/RFtfN1TuTD

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 20, 2026

Harden declined his $42.3 million player option in June for the 2026-27 NBA season, but the expectation has always been that he would be running it back with Cleveland. 

The only question is how much he would be getting in his new deal, and that picture got a little clearer following the Watson trade.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the sign-and-trade for Watson hard caps Cleveland at the first apron, while NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan says that “Harden is currently looking at a max starting salary just shy of $30 million.”

Harden will be 37 when the new season opens, but he can still bring a lot to the table for a Cleveland team trying to keep up in the Eastern Conference amid the rise of the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, who arguably have the biggest summer among all teams.

Traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cavs before February’s deadline, Harden averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 26 games for Cleveland last season.

The post James Harden’s future with the Cavaliers gets an update after a major twist appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

At 42, Aaron Rodgers has become an easy target for fans looking to make fun of players still battling Father Time in the NFL.

That has been the case when the NFL posted a couple of photos on social media, showing Rodgers in Pittsburgh Steelers gear on Wednesday.

“One last ride for @AaronRodgers12,” the caption on the post read, indicating that the 2026 NFL season will be the four-time Most Valuable Player’s final campaign as a player.

One last ride for @AaronRodgers12 🫡 pic.twitter.com/BAGG4p9M2G

— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2026

Rodgers has come a long way in his NFL journey, and the photos show it. Although he was smiling, the Steelers quarterback looked grizzled and weathered after more than two decades of playing the most important position in arguably the most physically demanding team sport of them all.

Meanwhile, several fans took the opportunity to joke about Rodgers’ appearance as he entered his 22nd year in the league.

He looks like my father who is in his 70s what is going on here 🤣

— Jimmy Foxhound (@JimmyFoxhound) August 19, 2026

This looks like the poster from “come join our local senior flag football team” 😭

— ╰☆☆ ʲẸ𝓷ᑎ𝕚 ☆☆╮ (@JenniFlurry) August 19, 2026

Mister Rodgers last run on TV 🫡🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/NIc68aWwit

— Just A Guy From Michigan (@JustAGuyFromMI) August 19, 2026

I thought this was Michael Scott.

— SAVAGE (@shoresidesavage) August 19, 2026

All I’m seeing pic.twitter.com/YcB1kGJ74q

— ARCRaiderNation🏴‍☠️ (@ArcRaiderNation) August 19, 2026

Rodgers couldn’t care less about what fans say about his age, as he has football games to win for the Steelers, who signed him to a 1-year, $22.5 million contract to run it back for the 2026 season.

The 10-time Pro Bowler is coming off a relatively solid campaign in 2025, posting better numbers and efficiency than many other quarterbacks much younger than him. In his first season with the Steelers, he threw for 3,322 passing yards and 24 touchdowns with only seven interceptions in 16 games.

The post Fans bring out jokes after the NFL posted Aaron Rodgers’ Year 22 photo appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Jesus Sanchez brought the Max Scherzer out of Max Scherzer on Wednesday night.

The Toronto Blue Jays righty Scherzer drew the start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. In the fourth inning at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., the Rays had a 2-1 lead and were threatening for more with the bases loaded and one out.

Scherzer seemingly secured a big second out by inducing an easy pop fly by Richie Palacios to shallow left field. But the Blue Jays left fielder Sanchez completely misplayed the ball, overrunning it and letting the ball bounce away from him.

That allowed two runners to score for Tampa Bay. Scherzer, meanwhile, was absolutely enraged and let out a loud ‘F–k!” after Sanchez flubbed the play. Here is the video.

Jesús Sánchez missed a fly ball and handed the Rays two runs. Max Scherzer was LIVID.pic.twitter.com/WUyzQL5o03

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 19, 2026

Sanchez’s misplay opened the door for the Rays to score three more times in the half-inning to take a 7-1 lead. While the Blue Jays mounted a valiant late comeback, the fourth-inning disaster proved too much for them to overcome, and they lost to the Rays by a final score of 7-6.

If Sanchez had tracked down that ball, there would have two outs and likely no run scored since the ball was not hit deep enough for a tag-up situation. Instead though, Sanchez helped the Rays score five crucial runs in the inning to win an eventual one-run game.

Now 42 years old, the three-time Cy Young winner Scherzer has had plenty of bizarre outbursts on the mound over the years. But Scherzer’s latest one on Wednesday was completely justified after Sanchez hung him out to dry.

The post Max Scherzer was enraged after teammate Jesus Sanchez missed an easy fly ball appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Vita Vea officially won the staring contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The veteran defensive tackle Vea has agreed to a new one-year, $30 million contract extension with the Buccaneers, according to multiple reports Wednesday. More specifically, Vea (who was originally under contract for $18 million in 2026) is getting $6 million in new money this season combined with an additional $24 million for 2027 (all of which is fully guaranteed).

That marks quite the dramatic turn of events for the two-time Pro Bowler Vea, 31. Just a few weeks ago, Vea took the drastic step of requesting a trade from the Buccaneers, whom he has been with for his entire NFL career ever since 2018.

Vea was also holding in from Tampa Bay’s training camp, making it seem like he was legitimately serious about wanting out. Even Vea’s agent Collin Roberts said he did not see the situation ending in anything but a trade.

#Bucs DT Vita Vea's agent told @NFLSTROUD he doesn't see the current situation ending any way other than a trade.

“I just don’t see it ending in anything but a trade at this point.”https://t.co/bkmC6YnbVm pic.twitter.com/9ftsBUj3Bo

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 5, 2026

But in the end, Vea knew that the Buccaneers could not afford to lose him. As a 347-pound run-stopper and magnet for double teams, Vea has in many ways been the heartbeat of the Tampa Bay defense over the years.

Vea, also a former Super Bowl champion with the Bucs who has been used by the team in other wild roles, ended up using his leverage to perfection and getting an extra $30 million just to stay put over the next two seasons. It also marks a major sigh of relief for Tampa Bay fans (though there is still one massive roster question mark that the team needs to resolve).

The post Vita Vea played the perfect game of hardball with the Buccaneers appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Rob Pelinka is apparently smiling through the metaphorical fire going on around him right now.

The Los Angeles Lakers GM Pelinka is “excited” about the team’s incoming new ownership and thinks that the change is a “good thing,” Pete Zayas of The Athletic reported this week on an episode of the “Lakers Collective” podcast. Zayas does add though that Pelinka’s position may be “less safe” than it previously was.

This news comes with the Lakers undergoing a major change up top right now. Majority owner Mark Walter just agreed in principle last week to sell a controlling stake in the team to an ownership group led by Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner.

But then the subsequent bombshell news broke earlier this week that the Buss family (who had originally sold the controlling stake to Walter in 2025) had decided by a 5-1 vote to sell their remaining 17.8 percent minority stake in the team. Jeanie Buss, who is still currently the governor of the Lakers, did not agree to sell and is apparently ready to fight her siblings in court.

As for Pelinka, 56, he has been the GM of the Lakers since 2017. He was a Jeanie Buss hire through and through, currying favor with her as the former agent for the late Lakers icon Kobe Bryant.

Pelinka, who was also later given the additional title of Lakers president of basketball operations, helped lead the team to the 2020 NBA championship and later orchestrated the franchise-altering trade acquisition of Luka Doncic in 2025. But previous reports had already suggested that Pelinka was on thin ice in L.A., which could now easily be the case once again if Iger and Kushner decide that they want to make their own GM hire.

The post Notable update emerges on Rob Pelinka amid Lakers drama appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Julian Reese is finding himself as collateral damage this week.

The Washington Wizards power forward Reese was traded away by the team on Wednesday. Reese was sent to the Denver Nuggets as part of a multi-team sign-and-trade deal headlined by Peyton Watson going to the Cleveland Cavaliers (read the full details here).

But Reese will not ultimately end up with the Nuggets. Shams Charania of ESPN reports that Denver is expected to waive Reese off his two-way deal.

The 23-year-old Reese, younger brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, went undrafted in 2025 but eventually landed a two-way contract with Washington last season. He put up some respectable numbers in a semi-extended run for the tanking Wizards, averaging 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds over 30.9 minutes per game.

But Reese, a University of Maryland product, also displayed some moments of immaturity during his time in the nation’s capital. Most notably, Reese got a flagrant foul during a game in April after elbowing an opponent in the face (see the video here).

Now Reese will have to start all over again after being traded by the Wizards and being (presumably) waived by the Nuggets as well. Undersized for a big man at 6-foot-9 and also lacking a three-point shot and overall offensive polish, Reese may to have rely on his motor and his athleticism as selling points to a potential new team.

The post Bad news emerges for Angel Reese’s brother Julian appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Peyton Watson saga is officially over.

The restricted free agent forward Watson is headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Wednesday. Watson is making the move as part of a sign-and-trade with the Denver Nuggets (his previous team), the LA Clippers, and the Washington Wizards.

As part of the deal, Watson is also agreeing to a new four-year, $88 million contract with the Cavaliers (which also comes with a player option in the fourth year and a trade kicker). Here are the full terms of the deal, per Charania.

-Cavaliers: Receive Watson, Cam Whitmore

-Nuggets: Receive unprotected 2031 first-round draft pick (from Cleveland), 2032 second-round draft pick (via Sacramento), Julian Reese

-Clippers: Receive Max Strus

-Wizards: Receive Tre Mann, 2027 second-round draft pick (from Clippers), cash

Watson, 23, was an NBA champion with the Nuggets in 2023 and came into the league with a pro-ready defensive skillset at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. But Watson then managed to post his best career season offensively as well, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in 2025-26.

Denver had offered Watson a modest contract to return (after Watson notably pulled a weak move on them last postseason). But Watson continued to hold out and was ultimately able to get more money from Cleveland.

As such, Watson (who was originally expected to land with a different team instead) comes out as a big winner as do the Cavaliers, who suddenly get a talented young two-way wing and can now focus on re-signing former MVP James Harden as well. Meanwhile, the Nuggets come away as losers in this deal as they are now officially without one of their most important rotation forwards from last year (though they did manage to avoid losing Watson for nothing).

The post Peyton Watson lands with a surprise team in free agency appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

DeMar DeRozan is hoping to play for a little bit more than the veteran’s minimum next season.

The six-time NBA All-Star forward DeRozan wants exception money from a new team, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reported on Wednesday. Jackson notes that DeRozan has drawn interest from the Miami Heat but adds that the Heat would like to save their exception money for now.

When it comes to DeRozan’s status, that would mean that he is holding out for the midlevel exception, the biannual exception, or the room exception. The non-taxpayer’s midlevel (for teams below the first apron of the luxury tax) is worth roughly $15 million for next season, and the taxpayer’s midlevel (for teams in between the first and second aprons) is worth about $6 million. Teams in the second apron have no access to any of these exceptions.

The biannual exception (worth roughly $5.5 million for next season) is also available for teams over the salary cap but under the first apron. Meanwhile, the room exception is available exclusively for teams operating below the salary cap and is worth an estimated $9.4 million for next season.

As for DeRozan, now 37 years old, his veteran’s minimum for next season would be worth about $3.9 million. But because DeRozan is holding out for than that, it could explain why he is still unsigned in free agency (combined with his mileage, his lack of three-point shooting, and his ball-dominant style of play).

The Heat, who are currently perched in the first apron of the luxury tax, only have access to the taxpayer’s midlevel exception. As such, this fellow veteran All-Star looks like a more realistic option for them instead while DeRozan could ultimately try to find a team under the first apron in order to max out his potential payday for 2026-27.

The post DeMar DeRozan’s contract demands have been revealed appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

12-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Fame inductee Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the most decorated players in the history of the game, and now his son is trying to follow in his footsteps.

Malik Olajuwon is a four-star recruit in the Class of 2027, and he revealed his six finalists, according to Joe Tipton of On3.

• SMU
• Texas Tech
• Kansas State
• Virginia Tech
• Minnesota
• TCU

Malik is originally from Texas, but he is currently playing in Florida for IMG Academy.

His brother, Aziz, is a four-star from the Class of 2026 who signed with Stanford. So, if Malik goes to SMU, it could be an Olajuwon battle with both sons at ACC schools.

Malik, unlike his dad, is a shooting guard and is listed at 6-foot-4, and he turned 18 years old in June as he is set to begin his final high school season.

Malik Olajuwon also had offers from big-name programs including Wake Forest, Auburn and UNLV before narrowing his list down to six schools.

Malik has official visits scheduled for Texas Tech on September 18, SMU on September 25, Minnesota on October 8, Kansas State on October 16, and Virginia Tech on October 23, so a decision is likely to come some time after all of those visits come to an end.

Malik will begin his final season at IMG Academy sometime in November.

The post Hakeem Olajuwon’s son includes Texas Tech, Kansas State as finalists appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Art Briles spent 13 seasons as a college football head coach and put together a respectable 9-65 record during his time at Houston and Baylor.

As it turns out, Briles admitted he almost took the Texas Longhorns job after the 2013 season, but he revealed what made him change his mind.

“I mean I was there,” Briles said, via Brett McMurphy of On3. “If we’d won our bowl game, I would have left Baylor 100%. It was done for me because I’m a (state of) Texas guy and (my son) Kendal played there. So it made sense.”

That 2014 Fiesta Bowl is a memorable one where No. 15 UCF stunned No. 6 Baylor, 52-42. Blake Bortles threw three touchdowns and ran for another for UCF, and Bryce Petty had 356 yards with five total touchdowns for Baylor.

Just a few days after the Fiesta Bowl, Texas decided to name Charlie Strong as the head coach, so the timeline fits with what Art Briles said.

However, as Briles said, that loss made him change his mind, and he stayed another two seasons at Baylor, going 11-2 and 10-3 before being fired in May 2016.

Briles has bounced around since, spending a season in Italy with Guelfi Firenze, then two seasons at Mount Vernon High School in Texas and currently serving as a head coach at Eastern New Mexico University, a Division II program.

The post Art Briles reveals what changed his mind about taking the Texas job appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Dallas Wings selected Azzi Fudd at No. 1 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, pairing her with former UConn Huskies teammate Paige Bueckers.

Through 30 games, Fudd is averaging 13.1 points per game, but her rookie season will come to an end after the Wings announced a tough injury blow on Wednesday.

The Wings announced that Fudd was set to undergo an “arthroscopic procedure to address ongoing right knee soreness,” which will put an end to her season.

Dallas Wings rookie guard Azzi Fudd will undergo an arthroscopic procedure to address ongoing right knee soreness, the team announced today. Fudd will have the procedure done in Connecticut early next week and will begin rehabbing immediately. With less than five weeks remaining…

— Dallas Wings PR (@DallasWingsPR) August 19, 2026

The Wings selected Fudd instead of Notre Dame star Olivia Miles in a bit of a puzzling move. However, reports had surfaced previously that Bueckers and Fudd were dating.

Fudd got off to a bit of a slow start before scoring 24 points against the New York Liberty on May 24, and she followed that up with a 22-point outing four days later against the Las Vegas Aces.

Still, Fudd played heavy minutes for the Wings, averaging 31.7 per contest, which is third on the team. She also won the WNBA 3-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend.

The Wings entered Wednesday with a 20-16 record, which would have them as the 8th seed in the playoff bracket and facing off against Miles and the Minnesota Lynx.

The post Wings announce tough Azzi Fudd injury blow in rookie season appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jack Pyburn is currently in training camp, but he is making a run at trying to return to the NCAA in a surprising twist.

On Wednesday, Pyburn filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in hopes of seeking a preliminary injunction to return to play college football.

This comes after the 2022 recruiting class was 2022 granted another year of college eligibility.

New: Former #LSU Edge Jack Pyburn and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE filed a lawsuit today against the NCAA seeking a preliminary injunction that would give him the option to return to college. Sources tell me, @mzenitz, & @chris_hummer. https://t.co/hSwRHcRBhT pic.twitter.com/xzwwbkbxvH

— AYS Sports (@AYSSPORTS) August 19, 2026

A Louisiana judge granted a temporary restraining order for Pyburn and several other players to be able to return to college.

That means they can enter the transfer portal and search for a new school.

NEWS: A judge in Louisiana has granted a group that includes 16 football player –including several in NFL training camps this summer — a restraining order to allows them to return to college sports this season, per me and @DanMurphyESPN. pic.twitter.com/fUMzBolvbp

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 19, 2026

Pyburn began his college career with the Florida Gators before joining the LSU Tigers for the 2025 season. He went undrafted but was scooped up by the Buccaneers.

However, Pyburn had two tackles and two sacks in the Buccaneers’ preseason opener against the New York Jets.

LSU’s Jack Pyburn had two sacks in his NFL debut 💪🏽🐯🏴‍☠️👀 pic.twitter.com/8Zfni9hXMc

— Carter Bryant (@PowerHourLSU) August 15, 2026

There are other complications for Pyburn, especially because he has a contract with Tampa Bay and they hold his rights.

This Jack Pyburn story is complicated, but the Bucs have his NFL rights from a signed contract. He got a $15,000 signing bonus, but him leaving the Bucs would likely void his $100k in guaranteed salary. Whenever he returned to NFL, Bucs would have his rights. His agents have not…

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 19, 2026

Some others who were granted the TRO include Ole Miss safety Wydett Williams and SMU RB TJ Harden, as well as James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick, who spent time in NFL minicamps with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns.

The post Buccaneers player who had 2 sacks in a preseason game could return to college appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Stefon and Trevon Diggs have played 18 seasons combined in the NFL, yet they have never faced each other in a regular-season game.

On Wednesday, the Seattle Seahawks signed Trevon Diggs to a deal, which comes one day after bringing him in for a visit.

As such, that could set up the first-ever showdown between the Diggs brothers, which would come in Week 3 when the Seahawks face the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. It’s also a homecoming of sorts since the brothers grew up primarily in Montgomery County.

This is pretty cool: the #Seahawks play at the #Commanders Week 3, as Trevon Diggs and Stefon Diggs will battle it out back home in the DMV — full circle where it all started. 🫡🫡 https://t.co/Heh2UGcnq4 pic.twitter.com/XESlJN6eUs

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 19, 2026

The Commanders signed Stefon Diggs at the beginning of August after the four-time Pro Bowl WR drew interest from a handful of NFL teams.

Trevon Diggs also had a tryout with the Detroit Lions earlier in August, but the Seahawks have a need for some secondary help.

The only time the Diggs brothers played against each other was in the 2022 and 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

That should change this season, assuming they are both healthy and active in Week 3 when the Seahawks face the Commanders.

The post Trevon Diggs could finally face Stefon Diggs after Seahawks signing appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

AJ Brown has been a member of the New England Patriots for just over two months after he was traded by the Philadelphia Eagles.

On Wednesday, the Patriots hosted the Eagles for a joint prctice session, and Brown was asked if he had any conversations with quarterback Jalen Hurts since the trade.

Brown had a simple, one-word answer: “No.”

Has A.J. Brown talked to Jalen Hurts since the trade?

Brown: “No.”

— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 19, 2026

The writing had been on the wall for an A.J. Brown trade for the entire offseason, and things finally got done in June due to the salary cap help.

As for Brown’s relationship with Hurts, that was a complicated situation. Brown threw Hurts under the bus in October after a missed deep ball during a game.

Then, a report surfaced in the spring that Hurts was holding back the offense, with other teammates repportedly expressing their frustratuon with the quarterback.

Hurts then had a viral moment when he took a sip after being asked a question about Brown this offseason.

#Eagles QB Jalen Hurts picked up a drink as he was being asked about AJ Brown…

“Picked the right question to sip on, huh?” 😅

Hurts later added: “There’s an ‘if’ — obviously, it’s been a lingering thing. But nothing can replace all the greatness that we achieved together.” pic.twitter.com/9lFrUh26w3

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 27, 2026

There seems to be plenty of drama between these two sides. The Patriots and Eagles face each other in the second preseason game on Saturday, although it remains to be seen how much either star will play.

The post AJ Brown had one word when asked if he’s talked to Jalen Hurts since being traded appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Los Angeles Chargers’ injury curse continues, and the regular season hasn’t even started yet.

Center Tyler Biadasz, who signed a three-year, $30 million deal this summer, left practice early on a cart on Tuesday in a joint session with the San Francisco 49ers.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Biadasz would be “out indefinitely” after suffering an ACL injury, and fans reacted after another brutal injury blow for LA.

Chargers really can’t catch a break at all https://t.co/NTNKs5bon1

— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) August 19, 2026

The Chargers can’t go one offseason without a catastrophic injury https://t.co/5om0sVbyEs

— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) August 19, 2026

This is a big blow to a team that sadly has been through big OL injuries before. Biadasz is not only a really good athlete at the center spot, but is super intelligent. It was a great pick up by L.A. that sadly sounds over before it can be seen on the field. https://t.co/o7sln4fgic

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) August 19, 2026

The Chargers suffering a catastrophic injury to their offensive line is your annual reminder that summer is almost over. https://t.co/SpKbMcNrQ3

— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) August 19, 2026

This O line just cannot catch a break https://t.co/YbUx5H41y2

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) August 19, 2026

Damn bro the Chargers just get snake bitten by injuries every year. Investigate that medical staff or something https://t.co/7NfsI9V2jB

— Shady Individual (@Yrral___) August 19, 2026

Last summer, star offensive lineman Rashawn Slater suffered an injury in training camp that forced him to miss the entire season.

Fellow OL Joe Alt played just six games in 2025 due to a series of injuries, and Najee Harris played just three games due to a season-ending torn Achilles suffered in September.

For now, the obvious replacement is Jake Slaughter, the Chargers’ second-round pick in 2026.

The post Fans are saying the same thing after the latest Chargers injury appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Nneka Ogwumike is finishing up her 15th season in the WNBA, and it turns out that this one will be her last.

During an episode of “Boardroom Talk” with Taylor Rooks, Ogwumike revealed that this will be her final season in the league.

“I feel very fulfilled with the 15 years that I’ve been able to play and compete at such a high level, and I’m prud to say that I’m retiring from the WNBA,” Ogwumike said. “Even though I didn’t know what kind of player that I could be in this league, I never thought that I would play this long. Never thought that would be the type of player that I’d play this long.”

EXCLUSIVE: @nnekaogwumike is calling it a career after this season. pic.twitter.com/wrvFCQpGcK

— Boardroom (@boardroom) August 19, 2026

Ogwumike’s career accolades are very impressive. Here are her accomplishments so far:

• 2016 WNBA champion
• 2016 WNBA MVP
• 2012 Rookie of the Year
• WNBA All-Rookie Team
• 11-time WNBA All-Star
• 8-time All-WNBA
• 7-time WNBA All-Defensive Team
• WNBA 25th Anniversary Team

Ogwumike has also been the WNBPA president since 2016. Colin Salao of Front Office Sports added that she will continue to serve in that role until the next election. She will also be joining Project B’s inaugural season in January.

Her sister, Chiney, also had a message following the retirement announcement.

15 seasons! ✨ With you every step of the way… and it still feels like we’re just getting started! ❤️ Congrats to the best big sister in the world, @nnekaogwumike! 💐 pic.twitter.com/kRtbu2pCuU

— Chiney Ogwumike (@chiney) August 19, 2026

Ogwumike was the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2012 WNBA Draft, and she has spent all but two seasons with LA, with those years coming with the Seattle Storm in 2024 and 2025. She made her fifth straight WNBA All-Star team this season, and she is currently averaging 16.9 points with 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists this season.

The Sparks have a 12-23 record and are not in the playoff hunt, but it has been a spectaculr career for Nneka Ogwumike.

The Sparks’ final regular season game is scheduled for September 24 at home against the Golden State Valkyrie.

The post 15-year WNBA veteran plans to retire after season appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Philadelphia Phillies are bringing in some starting pitching help just in time for the playoff push.

The Phillies and former New York Yankees All-Star Nestor Cortes agreed to a one-year deal on Wednesday, according to Robert Murray of Fansided.

Cortes underwent surgery on his throwing arm, but he has been working hard to get back and had drawn interest from other teams before signing with Philadelphia.

Nestor Cortes Jr. grinding away in pursuit of his next shot 👀 pic.twitter.com/x4FvnCnepB

— Bet105 (@bet_105) August 18, 2026

Cortes’ most notably was with the Yankees from 2021 through 2024, and he was named an All-Star in 2022 after recording a 12-4 record with a 2.44 ERA.

Cortes was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers prior to the 2025 season in the deal that sent reliever Devin Williams to New York. Then, the Brewers traded Cortes to the San Diego Padres at last year’s deadline in exchange for Brandon Lockridge.

Cortes made just two starts with Milwaukee due to injuries, and he started six games in the regular season for San Diego, going 1-3 with a 5.47 ERA before suffering the injury.

The Phillies are currently one game ahead of the Padres for the second National League Wild Card spot, and Murray added that Cortes could make it a six-man rotation in Philadelphia to extend the starters and keep them fresh going into the postseason chase.

The post Phillies signing ex-Yankees All-Star amid playoff race appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee continues to excel in his role with ESPN.

On Wednesday, ESPN announced that McAfee will join the crew on “Monday Night Countdown,” along with  Scott Van Pelt, Jason Kelce, Marcus Spears and Jason McCourty.

McCourty replaces Ryan Clark, who was one of several layoffs by the company earlier in the summer.

ESPN is adding Pat McAfee to Monday Night Countdown as an analyst.

He will join Scott Van Pelt, Jason Kelce, Marcus Spears, and Jason McCourty on the pregame show. pic.twitter.com/q70hS9dH4v

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) August 19, 2026

McAfee has seen quite the rise since retiring from the NFL in February 2017. Two weeks after retiring, McAfee started “Pat McAfee Show podcast.”

McAfee then joined ESPN in 2023, and he is also a part of “College GameDay.” In June, it was reported that the two sides were working towards a contract extension that would pay McAfee $60 million per year, although official has been agreed to as of Wednesday.

After the news came of the new role, McAfee reacted on X.

Man.. I’m hoping that’s not a real photo of me BUT..

‘Tis an honor to be a part of MNF in any capacity. I hope I can be an asset as we start the journey to The Biggest Super Bowl of all time in LA on ESPN and ABC

College GameDay on Saturday.. Monday Night Countdown on Monday..… https://t.co/b1xlVF6XXH

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 19, 2026

ESPN has seen a big number of changes since merging with NFL Network. Some big names, such as Clark, were laid off, as well as Cam Newton and long-time ESPN voice Karl Ravech.

NFL reporter Tom Pelissero was also let go, although he just landed a job with Netflix.

All those changes, along with McAfee’s massive contract extension being in the works, led to the ex-Colts punter getting negative criticism, which was something he acknowledged recently.

Nonetheless, ESPN continues to work with Pat McAfee, and he will be a common voice during “Monday Night Countdown” beginning this season.

The post Pat McAfee lands a new job within ESPN appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Nick Kyrgios made the Wimbledon final in 2022 before losing to Novak Djokovic, but his career has derailed since then.

On Wednesday, Kyrgios shared a lengthy post on Instagram. In the post, he stated that he tested positive for cocaine. He has also been provisionally suspended.

“I wanted you to hear this from me first,” the post began. “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it. I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. Above all, I’m sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself.”

Kyrgios continued with the post. After revealing the positive drug test results, he also had a shocking admission, saying the last few years have been difficult mentally and physically for the tennis star.

“I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been,” he continued. “The last couple of years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally. My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.”

👀🚨 Nick Kyrgios on Instagram:

"I wanted you to hear this from me first.

I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it.

I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close… pic.twitter.com/9i9XndXp8c

— Tennis Masterr (@tennismasterr) August 19, 2026

The 31-year-old has played just 10 singles matches on the ATP Tour since making the final at Wimbledon in 2022.

Kyrgios faces a ban of up to four years due to the positive cocaine test, according to the Associated Press.

The post Nick Kyrgios opens up after positive cocaine test appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

OG Anunoby and the New York Knicks are the team to beat in the 2026-27 NBA season, thanks to their shiny new crown. The Philadelphia 76ers are also considered among the chief contenders for the Larry O’Brien Trophy after a huge offseason by the Knicks’ Atlantic Division rivals, and Anunoby agrees that they will be a team to watch.

“Oh, I think they’ll be good. I think a lot of teams will be good,” the Knicks forward said when asked recently for his thoughts on the new-look Sixers squad.

Q: "How you feel about Philly next year?"

OG: "How I feel about who?"

Q: "Philly"

OG: "Philadelphia? Oh I think they'll be good. I think a lot of teams will be good so…” pic.twitter.com/atMwb2cTrF

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 18, 2026

The 76ers have loaded up this offseason, as they traded for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown before winning the LeBron James sweepstakes. With Brown and James joining Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid, Philadelphia sent a strong message across the league. 

However, judging from the way Anunoby answered the question, he doesn’t seem to be all that perturbed by the massive shift in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Knicks are not having as splashy an offseason as Philadelphia, but they still have their core intact, with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Anunoby in the fold.

The reigning NBA champions will also be the first team to put Philadelphia to the test next season, as they are scheduled to host James and the Sixers at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., on Oct. 20.

The post OG Anunoby had a telling remark about the new-look 76ers appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Patrick Beverley added, yet another one to his portfolio of wild takes.

During a recent episode of The Pat Bev Show, the former Houston Rockets guard laid out his case for choosing Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant over Utah Jazz legend John Stockton.

“I’m going Ja Morant,” Beverley said before imagining how the Jazz would have fared against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s if Stockton was swapped for the high-flying Morant.

“You put Ja Morant on the Utah Jazz, that’s a different series,” Beverley said.

“What Ja Morant gonna do to Steve Kerr and what Ja Morant gonna do to Ron Harper,” Beverley continued. “Steve Kerr ain’t going to be able to get on the court.”

However, Beverley made sure to recognize Stockton’s greatness and even said he’s a big fan of the Basketball Hall of Famer.

John Stockton or Ja Morant?

“Ja Morant is running circles around John Stockton‘s ass… If you put Ja Morant on the Utah Jazz that’s a different series (with the Bulls)” -Pat Bev pic.twitter.com/IMJ4x3eopR

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 18, 2026

Stockton’s lack of athleticism and speed has always been used by observers against him, but those surely did not stop him from retiring as the league’s all-time leader in steals and assists, which continues to be the case over two decades since he last played in an NBA game.

Stockton had outplayed and outsmarted several more athletic players and achieved far more than they did during his time in the league, which Beverley might have forgotten.

The post Patrick Beverley explains why he’d take current NBA point guard over John Stockton appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Quay Walker is making his intensity felt at the Las Vegas Raiders’ joint practice with the Houston Texans, and it’s apparently gone over the top on Tuesday.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston described a wild moment during the joint practice, involving Walker, who is starting a new chapter in his pro career with the AFC West franchise.

After picking off Houston star quarterback CJ Stroud, Walker celebrated the play in a seemingly intense fashion, which later drew boos from fans watching the action.

“Raiders Quay Walker intercepts C.J. Stroud, spikes football near Woody Marks, draws taunting flag and then booed by Texans fans. He responded by flipping them off. Wild play,” Wilson shared via a post on X.

Walker is unlikely to change his ways or approach just because some fans did not like how he carried himself in practice, so the Raiders will have to expect more of the same from the former Georgia Bulldogs star linebacker.

This is hardly the first time that Walker turned heads with his fiery behavior on the field. He was once ejected from a game during his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers after shoving a Buffalo Bills player. In the same season, he was tossed from a contest for shoving a Detroit Lions staff member.

The 26-year-old Walker spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Packers, who opted to let him walk in free agency. The Raiders then scooped him up from the market, signing him to a  3-year, $40.5 million contract.

The post Quay Walker follows up a highlight play in practice with a vulgar gesture appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez did not have the proudest moment of his baseball career on Tuesday, as he committed one of the most embarrassing blunders in recent memory. But for what it’s worth, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy was not able to witness Rodriguez’s brain fart in real time at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis.

During one of the craziest moments of the contest, Rodriguez threw the ball into the stands after making a catch in the outfield in the eighth inning, as he mistakenly thought there were already three outs when there were just two. That blunder led to the Brewers scoring their 20th and 21st runs in the game before finishing with a 22-0 victory.

Apparently, the game was so out of hand that Murphy was doing something else when Rodriguez’s brain froze.

“I was playing catch in hallway here with Jaxon [Murph’s son], so I could be guilty of that too,” the two-time National League Manager of the Year Award winner Murphy said after the game, via Pat Timlin of WISN 12 NEWS.

The good news for Rodriguez and the Mariners is that despite getting buried in an avalanche of runs in that game, it still counts as just one loss. Seattle can rebound from that historically absurd defeat Wednesday, when they give the ball to Bryce Miller.

As for the Brewers, they extended their winning streak to three games and improved their record to 78-48.

The post Pat Murphy reacts to Julio Rodriguez’s all-time blunder appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Patrick Kane is back in Chicago, and he felt the love of Windy City sports fans before Tuesday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.

Kane was in attendance for the second game of the Crosstown Series at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., and threw the ceremonial first pitch. The future Hockey Hall of Famer was met with a heartwarming reception from fans, who gave him an ovation that lasted nearly a minute.

Here is the video of “Showtime’s” first pitch.

Patrick Kane threw out the first pitch at Cubs-White Sox and received almost a minute long standing o 🙌🔥

Kaner back in Chicago just feels right… @BRWalkoff pic.twitter.com/mLW2MdT5rY

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) August 19, 2026

The 37-year-old Kane appreciated the experience and the thunderous welcome from the fans.

“It was fun,” Kane told announcer Alex Faust and analyst Jeff Francoeur of MLB on TBS about his appearance on the mound, via NHL.com. 

“Honestly, walking to the mound and hearing the cheers from the Chicago fans and being up there and having that moment with them, it is so special. Something I will never forget.”

Kane made waves in July, when he decided to bring his talents back to Chicago, signing a 2-year, $16 million contract to reunite with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

The Blackhawks traded Kane to the New York Rangers in 2023 before he joined the Detroit Red Wings and spent three seasons in Hockeytown.

Kane is no longer the player he used to be when he won three Stanley Cup titles with the Blackhawks, but he still has enough gas in the tank to give the Connor Bedard-led squad a lift on offense.

Since his trade to the Rangers, Kane has scored 62 goals and dished out 113 assists through 208 games.

The post Patrick Kane got the most incredible reception at the Cubs-White Sox game appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was not exactly the most popular person north of the border on Tuesday. Cunningham faced harsh treatment from fans inside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, during a game against the Toronto Tempo. 

The former Missouri Tigers star has become a polarizing figure following her comments about transgender women playing in the WNBA, a stance that seemingly did not sit well with many people in the arena.

But Cunningham did not appear to be bothered by the fans’ treatment.

“I will tell you, I want to shout out the Tempo crowd in the city. I think we’ve had so much fun,” Cunningham said after the game, via Sportsnet. “It’s my first time being in Canada. It’s a lot of our first times being in Canada.

“The crowd was absolutely amazing, and I think that’s what sports is all about. You’re going to get boos, you’re going to get cheers.”

Cunningham can shrug the boos off, as the Fever left Toronto with another win, beating the Tempo, 101-95.

The 30-year-old Cunningham came off the bench and contributed 13 points on 3/4 shooting, with all her made field goals coming from behind the arc.

The Fever will be back in Toronto on Sept. 18, so it will be interesting to see whether Tempo fans will give her the same treatment by then.

The post Sophie Cunningham responds to fans’ savage treatment in Toronto appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Mike McDaniel is sounding more like Jim Harbaugh by the day.

In Harbaugh’s two seasons as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, the 62-year-old has propped up quarterback Justin Herbert as if he were the second coming of Joe Montana. McDaniel followed in his boss’ lead while speaking to reporters on Monday.

McDaniel, in his first year as the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator, gushed about the progress Herbert has made in their first training camp together.

“He’s been everything that I’d hoped and more in that regard,” McDaniel said via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. “We’re just finding different things to add to his game each and every day to put the best foot forward in Week 1.”

McDaniel added that he believed he could get “Year 2 results in Year 1” with Herbert.

McDaniel previously coached a Miami Dolphins offense led by Tua Tagovailoa into one of the best units in the NFL. While Justin’s playoff resume is not much better than Tua’s thus far, Herbert’s raw talent has consistently left McDaniel stunned from the sidelines throughout training camp.

This is awesome: Chargers OC Mike McDaniel was left SPEECHLESS watching QB Justin Herbert complete a deep pass at practice.

"Wow! That's f**ked up! What?! What?!"

Daniel was absolutely STUNNED 😭😭pic.twitter.com/UxZsXtFNTp

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 13, 2026

But the comments and viral videos mean next to nothing if the Chargers’ offense doesn’t live up to the hype of McDaniel’s arrival.

The post Mike McDaniel has telling comments about Justin Herbert appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New Orleans Saints have received some positive news on Alvin Kamara following his recent injury scare.

Kamara was forced to leave Tuesday’s joint practice between the Saints and the Dallas Cowboys due to a knee injury. He was seen leaving with a Cowboys trainer and did not return to practice at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, Calif.

According to Saints reporter Nick Underhill, Kamara was able to avoid a major knee injury. Tests reportedly revealed that Kamara did not suffer any tears, with his recovery timeline pegged at “a few weeks.”

Alvin Kamara avoided a major knee injury. Didn’t tear anything. Will be out for a few weeks, per source

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 19, 2026

Kamara is five seasons removed from his last Pro Bowl appearance, but he still figures to be a big part of the Saints’ run game next season.

The 31-year-old was the most productive member of New Orleans’ below-average rushing corps last season. He rushed for 471 yards on 131 carries, both numbers more than double any other Saints player in just 11 games. New Orleans ranked in the bottom five in rushing yards (1,603) and rushing touchdowns (9).

The Saints supplemented their ground game by signing Travis Etienne Jr. in March, which would likely cushion the blow of potentially losing Kamara for a game or two to start the 2026 campaign.

Kamara missing the rest of the Saints’ joint practice may have been for the best, since the rest of the session devolved into a real-life Fight Club.

The post Saints get significant update on Alvin Kamara after his injury scare appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez deservedly got clowned on Tuesday after committing a mental mistake for the ages.

The Mariners trailed the Milwaukee Brewers 19-0 (!!!) in the bottom of the 8th inning at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis. With a position player on the mound, the Mariners had allowed nine of the Brewers’ first 10 batters to reach base safely when Christian Yelich stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out.

Yelich was gifted a belt-high 36-mph eephus pitch that he drove to center field for a sacrifice fly. Rodriguez camped under it for the second out but clearly thought it was the third. Instead of getting the ball back to the infield, Rodriguez threw it into the stands.

Julio Rodriguez forgot how many outs there were and gifted the Brewers their 21st run of the night pic.twitter.com/GiCBX6ABxu

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 19, 2026

Fans piled on Rodriguez for making such a mistake with his team already getting embarrassed on the road.

Throwing the ball into the stands not knowing there’s actually only 2 outs while you’re down 19-0 may the most embarrassing thing to happen on a baseball diamond https://t.co/NY4iAz3fKv

— 🇨🇦Mr Bond (@MrBond___) August 19, 2026

The Mariners were losing 19-0. Somehow the worst play of the game came after that with Julio Rodriguez simply not paying attention.

Unreal. https://t.co/jVNfJOlGLJ #Mariners #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/Vjg6QZuUrQ

— Dusty Baker (@DustyBakerTV) August 19, 2026

It's 22-0 in Milwaukee. Julio Rodriguez threw a live ball into the stands for two of the runs in Milwaukee's nine-run eighth. Sweet sassy molassy.

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 19, 2026

Rodriguez’s throwing error allowed the Brewers to score two runs instead of one. Luis Lara followed with a single to drive in one final run before Milwaukee secured a 22-0 victory.

Rodriguez went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, with his team recording nearly as many errors (4) as hits (5).

The Mariners tied the record for the most lopsided shutout loss in MLB history, which was somehow still worse than the score indicated.

The post Fans roasted Julio Rodriguez after he committed Error of the Year contender appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Becky Hammon showed off her San Antonio Spurs roots on Tuesday night.

The Las Vegas Aces coach Hammon was ejected from her team’s game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday. In the second quarter at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Hammon began berating referee Amy Bonner after a defensive rebound by the Aces.

Bonner quickly called a technical foul on Hammon, but Hammon continued to angrily pursue her. Despite being held back by assistant coaches and by Aces superstar A’ja Wilson, Hammon then picked up a second technical foul and was ejected from the game.

Here is the video of the full sequence.

BECKY HAMMON EJECTED LMAOOOOO LETS GET NEGATIVE pic.twitter.com/YF2sRsOjTK

— Shabazz (@ShowCaseShabazz) August 19, 2026

It appears that Hammon was upset about a no-call on a Wilson drive to the basket during the previous possession.

Becky Hammon gets ejected with a double technical after she crashes out on the refs for not calling the foul for A’ja Wilson. pic.twitter.com/YSawFEeo5G

— Ashwin (@Sudharsan_ak) August 19, 2026

After Hammon was ejected, Aces assistant Charlene Thomas-Swinson took over as acting head coach. In the end though, it was the Dream who earned the 97-82 victory over the Aces.

Hammon, 49, is in her fifth season as head coach of Las Vegas and has led the team to three WNBA championships over that span. But she was already involved in a notable controversy earlier this month and continued on that trend with her ejection from Tuesday’s game against Atlanta.

The post Becky Hammon gets ejected for berating a referee appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Seattle Mariners fans may feel the need to take multiple showers after watching their favorite team get humiliated on live television.

Tuesday’s matchup between the Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers started normally enough. The NL Central leader took a 1-0 edge into the bottom of the 5th inning at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis.

The Brewers then plated five runs in both the 5th and 6th innings, turning a pitcher’s duel into an 11-0 drubbing. At that point, the contest was simply a good, old-fashioned blowout. Milwaukee then scored two more runs in the 7th before an absolutely brutal 8th inning for Seattle.

With the game virtually over already, the Mariners sent out infielder Leo Rivas to pitch. To say it did not go well would be a massive understatement, as Rivas allowed all but one of the first 10 batters to reach base safely.

The Brewers drove in nine more runs to increase their lead to 22-0 before putting the Mariners out of their misery with a scoreless top of the 9th. Seattle tied the record for the largest blowout loss while being shut out in MLB history.

The Brewers 22-0 win over the Mariners tonight is tied for the biggest blowout win in a shutout since 1888

(h/t @SlangsOnSports) pic.twitter.com/xJF8FzlJ3G

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 19, 2026

The Mariners may have angered the baseball gods with the shameful brand of baseball they played from start to finish. The Brewers’ first run was scored after a hilariously botched play at home plate.

Jake Bauers was out at home until he wasn't. 1-0 Brewers on Bauers' dive back to the plate. pic.twitter.com/0eLpP0YIp2

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 18, 2026

Milwaukee’s penultimate run came courtesy of Julio Rodriguez forgetting how to count.

Julio Rodriguez forgot how many outs there were and gifted the Brewers their 21st run of the night pic.twitter.com/GiCBX6ABxu

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 19, 2026

The Mariners can take a little bit of solace in the fact that they were still five runs away from the all-time worst loss in MLB history, which occurred in 2007 when the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 30-3.

On the other hand, losing 22-0 while committing some of the worst errors imaginable arguably earns Seattle a commensurate plaque in baseball’s Hall of Infamy.

The post Mariners suffer one of the most embarrassing losses in MLB history appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Brian Schottenheimer has forgotten the first rule of Fight Club.

The Dallas Cowboys’ joint practice with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday at times looked more like a wrestling meet than a football scrimmage. There were reportedly double-digit skirmishes throughout the session, meaning there was an interruption about every 10 to 15 minutes or so.

The fights were so rampant that Schottenheimer felt the need to update his LinkedIn profile with a new job title.

“Right now, I’m in charge of Fight Club,” Schottenheimer told reporters after the joint practice, via Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News.

“We’re going to play on the edge and we’re not going to take … s— from anybody,” Schottenheimer said. “But at the same time, I don’t think [the Saints] were the only ones stirring up the s—. I think we might’ve been stirring it up as well. It was a sloppy practice all and all and it’s got to be better.”

Schottenheimer clearly was not paying attention to the rules of Fight Club during the franchise orientation conducted by Brad Pitt and/or Edward Norton. But in all fairness to him, some of the fights were so intense that they deserved mentioning.

Check out Saints wide receiver Brock Rechsteiner, son of WWE legend Scott Steiner, lay the smackdown on Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson.

BAH GAWD THAT'S BROCK RECHSTEINER'S MUSIC!#Saints and #Cowboys in another huge fight.

Wait for the slam at 0:17: pic.twitter.com/hDt71jfnbC

— NOF (@nofnetwork) August 18, 2026

The incident was a WWE-style skirmish, complete with Rechsteiner executing his suplex on the wrong man. The Saints wideout had been beefing with cornerback Caelen Carson but ended up grappling with Thompson.

That’s NFL Fight Club, for you.

H/T Pro Football Talk

The post Brian Schottenheimer had great quote after fight-filled Cowboys-Saints practice appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Munetaka Murakami almost has to be seen to be believed at this point.

The Chicago White Sox slugger Murakami crushed a monster opposite-field home run during Tuesday’s game against the rival Chicago Cubs. In the third inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., Murakami took Cubs pitcher Kevin Gausman deep on a 3-2 pitch that ended up clanking off the giant scoreboard in left field.

Munetaka Murakami just went oppo off the scoreboard pic.twitter.com/f6r6RdrmKl

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 19, 2026

Murakami’s blast even caused some damage to the scoreboard. The local television broadcast aired an image of the scoreboard with a small dent in it from where Murakami’s home run had nailed it.

You can see a screenshot at the link here.

The 26-year-old Murakami, a lefty-hitting first baseman, has burst onto the scene during his first year in Major League Baseball. He entered play on Tuesday with 28 home runs and 57 RBIs through just 89 games (with an overall OPS of .911).

Murakami, who even made the MLB All-Star team this year, has already given the fans plenty of other incredible feats of strength. But doing (literal) damage to the scoreboard in the rival team’s ballpark might just be Murakami’s best work yet.

The post Munetaka Murakami damages the Wrigley Field scoreboard with monster HR appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Kelsey Mitchell is having an incident with Marina Mabrey some 14 months after Caitlin Clark had hers.

The Indiana Fever played on Tuesday against the Toronto Tempo. During the third quarter at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ont., the Fever had possession and their star guard Mitchell was trying to get open.

The Tempo guard Mabrey bumped Mitchell in the process, resulting in Mitchell angrily confronting her. Mitchell gave Mabrey a shove and proceeded to point a finger in her face.

Here is the video.

Kelsey Mitchell was tired of Mabrey’s nonsense pic.twitter.com/8Yt6qAvs1C

— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) August 19, 2026

The two players were given double technical fouls for the incident. Mitchell went on to score a game-high 29 points on 11/16 shooting as the Fever beat the Tempo by a final score of 101-95 (with Mabrey scoring a team-high 22 points on 7/21 shooting for Toronto).

Both All-Stars and 20-ppg scorers this season, Mitchell and Mabrey clearly have no love lost for each other. It is also worth noting that Mabrey had an ugly on-court incident with Fever superstar Caitlin Clark last season. While still a member of the Connecticut Sun, Mabrey angrily shoved down Clark during a game (see the video here) and got called for a technical foul as a result.

The post Kelsey Mitchell confronts ex-Caitlin Clark enemy Marina Mabrey appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Bob Iger is (understandably) hoping for a quick resolution to the Buss family’s mess.

The former Disney CEO Iger and his fellow incoming Los Angeles Lakers owner Joshua Kushner would like to move on from the Buss drama as seamlessly as possible by buying out the family’s shares. Arash Markazi of The Sporting Tribune reports that the duo could possibly remove Jeanie Buss as Lakers governor if the sale is blocked but notes that outcome would be “the least desired pathway.”

Iger and Kushner agreed in principle last week to purchase the Lakers from outgoing majority owner Mark Walter for a whopping sum of $12.5 billion. Walter had just bought the franchise from the Buss family last year (for $10 billion) and had a contractual agreement with them in which Jeanie Buss would remain the Lakers governor for at least the remainder of the decade.

Upon the news of the impending sale to Iger and Kushner, it quickly became unclear what the status was of the Buss family (who remained minority owners of the Lakers franchise). Iger said publicly though that he would be willing to honor the agreement between Walter and the Buss family by keeping Jeanie on as the team’s governor.

But earlier this week, the bombshell news broke that the Buss family (comprised of six siblings) had decided by a majority vote to sell off their shares to Iger and Kushner as part of a tag-along clause. Jeanie Buss did not vote in favor of the sale though and subsequently claimed that any such attempt by her siblings to sell was “void,” setting the stage for a potentially messy legal battle.

The plot thickened on Tuesday with the other five Buss siblings notably snubbing Jeanie in a public statement on their decision to sell. As for Iger and Kushner though, they are just hoping for the quickest resolution possible to this Buss family headache so that they can get on with their purchase of the Lakers.

The post Bob Iger’s feelings on the Buss family drama have been revealed appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Joe Tsai is definitely stewing right now over the triumph of his crosstown rivals.

The Brooklyn Nets owner Tsai spoke this week in an interview with NetsDaily. During the interview, Tsai said that the New York Knicks’ 2026 NBA championship victory was “embarrassing” for the Nets.

“Every year, some team is going to win a championship,” said Tsai. “So it happens that this year that team is in the same city. It doesn’t make us feel very good. It irritates our fan base, and it is embarrassing.

“But in business or in competition, in sports, or in anything, you shouldn’t let the embarrassment factor affect how you perform,” Tsai added. “[We] had a plan, and we’re rebuilding, and I think right now we are on a positive trajectory. So it doesn’t change my thinking at all.”

The 62-year-old Tsai, co-founder and chairman of Chinese tech company Alibaba, purchased a majority stake in the Nets from their former owner Mikhail Prokhorov in 2019. Tsai also purchased the Nets’ arena, Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., via a separate deal that year.

But the bigger problem for Tsai right now is not so much what the Knicks are doing but more so what his own team is doing. The Nets saw their Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-James Harden experiment go kaput with just one playoff series victory to show for it, and now Brooklyn has not made it to the playoffs or even had a single winning season since 2023.

Last year was the Nets’ worst season yet under Tsai as they went 20-62, finishing with the third-worst record in the NBA. While Brooklyn has made some interesting acquisitions so far this summer, the success of the rival Knicks (who had not previously win a title since 1973) is clearly not the biggest issue for them at the moment.

The post Nets owner Joe Tsai has salty comments about the Knicks winning title appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

One of Major League Baseball’s most inspiring players is ready to call it quits.

Veteran hitter Trey Mancini announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from MLB. Mancini issued a lengthy post to his Instagram page in which he gave many statements of gratitude and included several pictures from throughout his entire baseball journey.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Trey Mancini (@treymancini)

The 34-year-old Mancini first debuted for the Baltimore Orioles in 2016. After posting three straight seasons of 20 homers or more, Mancini missed the entire 2020 campaign after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer.

But as part of an inspirational comeback, Mancini successfully defeated the disease and returned to the field for Baltimore in 2021. He went on to win AL Comeback Player of the Year that season and then won a World Series title with the Houston Astros in 2022 after being traded there by the Orioles.

After being designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs in 2023, Mancini spent the next several years out of the big leagues. But he had another comeback up his sleeve, signing a minor-league contract with the Los Angeles Angels in Jan. 2026 and then being promoted to their Major League roster in early June.

Mancini hit a very respectable .308 with a .747 OPS over five total games for the Angels but was ultimately DFA’d again in late June and elected free agency. Now Mancini is content with calling it a career, but not before becoming a beloved figure whose courageous return from cancer will not be soon forgotten.

The post Beloved ex-World Series champion is retiring from MLB appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro defensive back Trevon Diggs is looking for another NFL team, and another possibility emerged on Tuesday.

According to the NFL transaction wire, Diggs worked out for the Seattle Seahawks.

Elsewhere CB Trevon Diggs worked out for the #Seahawks.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 18, 2026

Diggs began his career with the Cowboys after they selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He then made the NFC Pro Bowl team in 2021 and 2022, and he was first-team All-Pro in 2021.

However, Diggs played just two games in 2023 due to a torn ACL suffered in practice in September. He played in 11 games in 2024, but played just eight games in 2025 before being released in a surprising move by Dallas.

Prior to his release, Diggs dealt with concussion symptoms following an accident at home. Details emerged about Diggs requesting additional time to spend with his family following a Christmas Day game, although he was released right after that dispute between the two sides.

Diggs wound up being claimed by the Green Bay Packers, and he played in just two games, including the Packers’ Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears.

The Detroit Lions also worked out Diggs in August, and the Seahawks are still working through a deal for cornerback Terrion Arnold, although he is going to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list due to ome legal issues.

The Seahawks face the Cowboys on December 7, so it could make for an interesting storyline if Diggs ends up going to Seattle.

The post Trevon Diggs worked out for 1 NFL team appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell suffered a family tragedy in July.

His mother, Nateal Campbell, passed away after being found unresponsive with cuts on her neck. His brother, Ciarre Campbell, was found inside the residence and was charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a knife.

On Tuesday, Calais Campell addressed the tragedy for the first time publicly while speaking to reporters.

“I just wanted to say these last couple months have been pretty tough for me and my family,” Campbell said. “But [I’ve] been working through it and I really appreciate all the love and support and the prayers that have been coming from all over, really from all the NFL community, all the fan bases. So I appreciate the prayers. Continue praying for us because we need it.”

Speaking for the first time since his family tragedy, Calais Campbell said the past few months have been tough for his family and asks for the prayers to keep coming in pic.twitter.com/JDhucQL7NY

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) August 18, 2026

Ciarre Campbell currently remains in custody at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia after his attorney withdrew his request for bond.

Calais Campbell was with the Ravens previously from 2020 to 2022, and he rejoined the team this offseason on a one-year deal after spending 2025 with the Arizona Cardinals.

Despite the tragedy, Campbell insists he plans to play this season.

“I love the game of football a lot and it is a place [that] brings me joy. This is a very fun place for me to be. And so playing football has been great for me,” Campbell said when asked if he thought about not playing this year.

The Ravens begins the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts on the road on September 13.

The post Calais Campbell opens up about family tragedy appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey missed yet another practice due to “tightness.”

McCaffrey’s absence led to speculation that the star RB is “holding in” with hopes of getting a new deal. However, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shot that down on Tuesday.

“People make a lot of assumptions, and that would be one that they’re wrong on,” Shanahan said, via Matt Barrows of The Athletic.

Shanahan later said that if it were a game week, McCaffrey would’ve practiced, so that’s an indication that the injury isn’t too serious.

The 49ers coach said earlier in August that he wasn’t concerned with McCaffrey’s injury, and holding him out seems like a precaution with the regular season still a few weeks away.

As far as contracts go, McCaffrey signed a two-year, $38 million extension in 2024, which puts him at $19 million a year as he enters the final season of the deal.

At the start of August, Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson became the highest-paid at the position with a three-year, $66.75 million deal, which comes at just north of an average of $22 million per season.

Days later, Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs inked a three-year, $67.5 million extension, putting him at $22.5 million per year, which makes him the top-paid RB.

Still, Shanahan made it clear that there is no hold in by Christian McCaffrey, although things should get some clarity before the Week 1 showdown against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.

The post Kyle Shanahan responds to Christian McCaffrey contract speculation appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz is struggling big time, and now he is dealing with an injury on top of that.

On Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that Diaz is headed to the IL. While the injury is unclear, Woo says it is “believed to be related to his upper-body.”

NEWS: The Dodgers are placing closer Edwin Díaz on the IL. More soon @TheAthleticMLB

— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) August 18, 2026

Diaz spent the past six seasons with the New York Mets, but the Dodgers gave the All-Star closer a three-year, $69 million this offseason.

Diaz then underwent surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow at the end of April, and he was out until making his return on July 29 against the Seattle Mariners.

However, Diaz has struggled big time. The Dodgers closer had blown saves in three of four outings, with the most recent one coming on August 13 against the Milwaukee Brewers in a game the Dodgers lost 5-4.

Still, manager Dave Roberts stuck with Diaz as his closer. On the year, Diaz has a 2-2 record with a whopping 11.85 ERA and seven saves in 16 games along with four blown saves.

Diaz pitched on Monday night with the Dodgers leading 11-2 against the Colorado Rockies, but he allowed three runs on four hits in just one inning before sealing the deal in a non-save situation.

Tanner Scott figures to be the easy choice to replace Diaz for the time being, and he has 16 saves this season.

The post Edwin Diaz dealing with another injury amid rough stretch appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New York Giants hosted veteran running back Najee Harris for a workout on Monday, and one day later, the two sides agreed to a deal.

The Giants agreed to a one-year deal with Harris, and the former first-round pick had a strong message after an injury-riddled 2025 season.

“I have a lot to prove. As somebody who’s coming back from a torn Achilles, really everything that I did in the past is in the past. Everything I do now is really what matters,” Harris said after his first practice with the Giants.

"I have a lot to prove. As somebody who's coming back from a torn Achilles, really everything that I did in the past is in the past. Everything I do now is really what matters."

– Najee Harris pic.twitter.com/hLhUARak7G

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) August 18, 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Harris at No. 24 overall in 2021 after a standout career with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Harris was a Pro Bowler as a rookie, and he had four consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 yards rushing.

Harris then signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2025 offseason. However, he was involved in a 4th of July fireworks accident that forced him to miss time.

Harris wound up playing just three games in the regular season before suffering a torn Achilles on September 21 against the Denver Broncos, which led him to miss the remainder of the season.

Harris now joins the 2025 first-round pick Cam Skattebo in the RB room, and Harris certainly feels like there is a chip on his shoulder entering the 2026 campaign.

The post Najee Harris makes bold statement after signing with Giants appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Amanda Anisimova had people very, very confused about what she was drinking during a changeover at the Cincinnati Open.

The world No. 10 was caught on camera drinking from a clear cup during the second set of her match against Alex Eala in Cincinnati on Monday night. Everyone had the same thought when they saw it: the beverage looked remarkably like a beer.

Commentator Lindsey Davenport was just as baffled as everyone else, stating she had “never seen that.”

Tennis Channel commentators debating what Anisimova is drinking in the 3rd set against Alex Eala in Cincinnati

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/AsCxboIYLa

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 18, 2026

The reality was a lot tamer than what it looked like. Anisimova was simply drinking a Red Bull that had been poured from a can in order to keep her energy levels up. She was not, in fact, trying to pull a Nick Castellanos, and drinking alcohol during a match is strictly prohibited.

The Red Bull certainly worked for Anisimova. After dropping the first set, the 24-year-old American was able to rally back and beat Eala in three sets to advance to the Round of 16.

The post Everyone thought Amanda Anisimova was drinking beer during a match appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Von Miller is trying to get his No. 40 to wear with the Dallas Cowboys, and he appears willing to go to great lengths to get it.

Miller’s number is currently being worn by fourth-year fullback Hunter Luepke. While Luepke is regarded as one of the game’s better fullbacks, he obviously does not compare with Miller, who confirmed Tuesday that he has made a few offers to try and get Luepke to part with the number.

One of those offers, according to Miller, is a lifetime supply of chicken.

Cowboys OLB Von Miller will wear No. 40 in today’s practice, but he still has some negotiating to do to take it from FB Hunter Luepke for the regular season.

He said he’s made a few offers including a lifetime supply of chicken 😂 pic.twitter.com/8KMfLPtBqh

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) August 18, 2026

The usual cost for a jersey number is some money or a high-end gift. Chicken for life might not fall into either of those categories, but Luepke is probably never going to get a more unique offer than that.

Miller agreed to sign with the Cowboys on Monday for a reported max salary of $7.5 million. He should have plenty of money to entice Luepke to give up the number, chicken or no chicken.

The post Von Miller made the wildest offer to teammate for his jersey number appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Jeanie Buss’ five siblings are not giving any ground on their decision to sell the family’s remaining shares in the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss issued a new statement on Tuesday in response to Jeanie attempting to block the sale of the Lakers via legal means. While not mentioning Jeanie directly, the statement makes it very clear that the five siblings have no plans to back away from the proposed sale.

“Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family’s remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision,” the statement reads. “We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process.

“We have tremendous respect for Bob Iger and Josh Kushner and believe they understand what the Lakers represent to Los Angeles and our incredibly loyal fan base. We are confident they will honor everything this franchise stands for while building upon the foundation our father created.”

Statement from Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss after attorney of Jeanie Buss made clear she will battle her family members on selling their remaining 17.8% Lakers ownership stake:

The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the…

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 18, 2026

The Buss family still holds a 17.8 percent share of the Lakers, which has allowed Jeanie to serve as the team’s primary governor despite no longer being a principal owner. Their share of the Lakers is held in a family trust, and the five Buss siblings maintain that the approval of four of the six beneficiaries of the trust would be sufficient for the decision to be taken. Jeanie Buss and her attorney have disputed that, and appear willing to go to court over it.

The schism between the Buss siblings is nothing new, as Jeanie previously had a role in firing three of her brothers from the organization. This dispute is playing out much more publicly, and an intense legal battle appears inevitable at this point.

The post Buss siblings snub Jeanie in new statement on Lakers sale appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Arizona Cardinals are taking a lot of heat for their handling of rookie running back Jeremiyah Love during the team’s first preseason game.

Love played the entire first half of the Cardinals’ preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, an unusual workload for a No. 3 overall pick at a skill position. The Cardinals gave him 23 snaps and 14 touches, only for him to suffer an ankle sprain just before halftime.

While 14 touches is not a huge amount, it is certainly more than other first-round rookie backs have received in previous preseasons.

Jeremiyah Love's 14 touches in this game are third most for a full preseason by a first-round rookie RB in last 10 years (out of 12 RBs who played in preseason)

2017 McCaffrey: 20 in three games
2021 N.Harris: 17 in three games
2026 Love: 14 in one game

No one thinks 14 touches… https://t.co/hOonjJko0G

— Mike Sando (@SandoNFL) August 18, 2026

Cardinals coach Matt LaFleur defended his decision to give Love a significant workload, pointing out that Love has no game experience at the NFL level.

“It’s a rookie that hadn’t played,” LaFleur said. “Knowing that, not to share too many secrets because I haven’t said it with the players yet, but knowing that it was about what it was going to be in terms of how many games these guys were going to play for what we were looking for.”

“It’s a rookie that hadn’t played.”

Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur on why Jeremiyah Love played as much as he did in his preseason debut. pic.twitter.com/Xp3WfkKrwy

— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) August 16, 2026

It is very easy to second-guess the decision after Love got hurt, but there is a reason that teams prefer to shield their best players from preseason action. That is even true of rookies, no matter how much they could use the game experience. The Cardinals took a different approach and are dealing with the consequences of that.

Love is not expected to play again during the preseason. The Cardinals are hopeful he will be good to go in Week 1 of the regular season.

The post Cardinals get ripped for their handling of Jeremiyah Love appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix did not shy away from some confrontation during Tuesday’s practice.

Nix and teammate Nik Bonitto got into it during practice, which started after Nix took a sack and was taken to the ground by Bonitto. Several plays later, Nix intervened in a pileup and pulled Bonitto off it by the leg.

First real fight of training camp.

HUGE pile on the ground.

Bo Nix (angry from getting sacked and taken to the ground earlier) grabbed Nik Bonitto’s leg and pulled him off the pile.

Nik then got very angry and was held back by multiple teammates.

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 18, 2026

After practice, Nix had no regrets.

“I love it. It’s football. It’s getting me ready for the games coming up,” Nix said.

Bo Nix was pushed down on a sack after the pocket collapsed from Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and Malcolm Roach.

He got up and threw the ball in anger.

A few plays later, he yanked Bonitto off a pile of players fighting by his leg then both had to be held back by teammates.

“I… pic.twitter.com/Y1v7gIkJnr

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 18, 2026

Training camp fights are not uncommon, even between teammates. However, the quarterback usually stays out of the way to avoid unnecessary risk. That is even more true of Nix, who is coming off ankle surgery in the offseason.

There is no reason to believe Nix and Bonitto will have any lingering issues as a result of this. The Broncos, however, may want to have a few words with their quarterback about avoiding such physical confrontations given his importance to the team.

The post Bo Nix got in a practice fight with his Broncos teammate appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

New details have emerged regarding Ketel Marte’s mysterious situation with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Marte is returning to Arizona in order to undergo an MRI on his knee, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The infielder has been bothered by a knee injury for some time and left last Friday’s game as a result of knee pain.

Ketel Marte is returning to Arizona to undergo an MRI on his knee, according to a source.

— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) August 18, 2026

A knee issue still does not explain the drama surrounding Marte’s placement on the restricted list on Monday night. Reports suggest the Diamondbacks had expected him to arrive for their game in Boston, but he did not turn up at the ballpark.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo only raised concern about Marte with his emotional response to the second baseman’s absence after the game.

There remains a great deal about the Marte story that does not add up. His absence Monday certainly does not seem to be knee-related, since the Diamondbacks placed him on the restricted list, which is usually used for unexcused absences. Even if there were worries about his knee, he would have either been at the ballpark or placed on the injured list. For now, the team is offering no further explanation, which will only invite more speculation.

The post New details emerge regarding Ketel Marte’s situation with Diamondbacks appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The NFL has made a determination on cornerback Terrion Arnold’s status after he agreed to join the Seattle Seahawks.

Arnold will be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list when he officially signs with Seattle, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That means he will be ineligible to play or practice with the team.

The Seahawks are still working through the details of Arnold’s signing with the NFL, and “it will take a while” to be made official.

The #Seahawks’ are still planning to sign CB Terrion Arnold but are working through the timing and it will take a while, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo.

Arnold will be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list when he signs, meaning he’d be ineligible to play or practice. pic.twitter.com/uH54Hjnd9k

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 18, 2026

The Seahawks were aware of this outcome when they decided to sign Arnold, so they will not be blindsided. This does raise questions as to when and if Arnold will even get to play this season, but Seattle is willing to take the risk on his upside, even with uncertainty looming.

Arnold, selected 24th overall by Detroit in the 2024 NFL Draft, was released by the Lions in late June following his arrest on eight felony charges. The charges, four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery, stem from a February incident in the Tampa, Florida, area.

The post NFL makes decision on Terrion Arnold’s status appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Bill Rasmussen, who is credited with co-founding ESPN in 1979, died Tuesday at the age of 93.

ESPN announced that Rasmussen died Tuesday at age 93 due to effects from Parkinson’s Disease. The network also announced his passing live on “First Take.”

ESPN announces the passing of founder Bill Rasmussen live on First Take. pic.twitter.com/TcHO2f4cXB

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 18, 2026

“Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s – key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.”

Rasmussen and his son Scott had the idea for a 24-hour sports programming network in 1978, and ESPN launched one year later. He also served as the network’s first president before departing in 1980.

ESPN has, of course, grown into something far bigger than anything Rasmussen could have ever dreamt of. It paved the way for other specialized sports networks — including some it now owns — and has massively impacted both sports and culture as a whole.

The post ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93 appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Baker Mayfield will always be a Sooner, which means he doesn’t have a soft spot for the Texas Longhorns.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star quarterback and former Oklahoma signal-caller’s hatred for the Longhorns was on full display when he recently got pranked while signing autographs. After seeing a Texas cap hidden under a Buccaneers hat, Mayfield immediately grabbed the Longhorns article and threw it at the camera.

Rage baiting our players with college rival hats 🧢😂 pic.twitter.com/NLz4gydKsk

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 17, 2026

Although it’s been nearly a decade since Mayfield turned pro after being selected first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, it’s clear that he maintains a strong disdain for the Sooners’ rival, Texas.

Mayfield is widely considered one of the best players in Oklahoma football history, and he’s got a Heisman Trophy to prove that. 

After transferring from the Texas Tech Red Raiders to Oklahoma, Mayfield recorded 12,292 passing yards and 131 touchdowns against only 30 interceptions in 48 games from 2015-2017 with the Sooners.

The 31-year-old Mayfield can’t get too caught up in the Red River Rivalry fever in the NFL, as his main focus is on helping the Buccaneers bounce back after winning just eight games in 2025 and missing the playoffs.

Last season, Mayfield threw for 3,693 passing yards and 26 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 17 games.

The post Baker Mayfield had a hilarious outburst after getting rage-baited appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Monday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., had it all — including fans going full Royal Rumble in the stands.

A video making its rounds on social media shows several fans going at it, with a Cubs fan seemingly getting the worst of it. 

Things appeared to devolve into a wild brawl in the bleachers after a heated exchange of words between fans. It wasn’t clear what exactly caused the commotion, but the situation quickly got out of control, with punches flying from different directions.

A poor fan wearing a No. 23 Ryne Sandberg Cubs jersey got beat up by multiple people but somehow managed to withstand the onslaught, including several left hooks from one determined guy in a gray shirt. You can watch the video here.

As for the game itself, the Cubs emerged victorious in thrilling fashion, with Pete Crow-Armstrong coming through in the clutch with the most telling blow of the contest, a walk-off, two-run home run to secure a 7-5 win in extra innings.

The Cubs and the White Sox have two more games left to play in the series, and based on what transpired in the stands on Monday, Wrigley Field’s security may need to step it up and have stricter measures to control rowdy fans amid the ongoing Crosstown Classic.

The post Video: Fans throw punches in wild brawl during Cubs-White Sox game appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Atlanta Falcons have successfully pried a three-time Pro Bowler away from retirement.

On Tuesday, insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that edge rusher Za’Darius Smith is signing a 1-year contract with the Falcons.

Free agent edge Za’Darius Smith is signing a 1-year deal with the #Falcons, per agent @ErikBurkhardt. pic.twitter.com/R4w9DZnhGB

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 18, 2026

Smith last saw action for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2025 NFL season, playing in only five games (two starts) and recording 1.5 sacks before announcing his midseason retirement from football.

That retirement proved short-lived, as Smith returns to the game to play for the Falcons under a new head coach who is a familiar face to the veteran pass rusher.

The Falcons are now coached by Kevin Stefanski, who also mentored the Cleveland Browns during Smith’s tenure with the AFC North franchise.

Atlanta needed some bodies to shore up their pass-rush unit amid issues in the group, with Jalon Walker suffering an ACL tear in training camp and James Pearce Jr. getting slapped with an eight-game suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Walker and Pearce combined for 16 of the Falcons’ season total of 57 sacks (second-most in the league) in 2025.

The 33-year-old Smith has 70.5 career sacks to his name, along with 176 quarterback hits in 145 games.

The post 3-time Pro Bowler unretires to join the Falcons appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Marvin Harrison Jr. has seen enough of rookie running back Jeremiyah Love’s pass-catching abilities.

While talking about the Arizona Cardinals’ first-year tailback, Harrison went as far as to imply that Love could even pass as a wide receiver for the team.

“He really could come to our room if he ever wanted to,” Harrison said of Love, via Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. “Seeing him on twitch routes killing backers is laughable sometimes.”

Love showed a little bit of his game downfield in last week’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders with 14 receiving yards on two catches and three targets on top of his 58 rushing yards on 11 carries.

The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star’s ability to contribute in the passing game adds another dimension to the Cardinals’ offense, which finished in the lower half of the league with an average of 325.8 total yards per game in 2025. He can also help take some defensive focus off Harrison and others.

Still, it is what he does on the ground that makes Love an important piece of Arizona’s attack.

In his final two years with Notre Dame, Love burned rubber for 2,497 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns on 199 carries.

The post Marvin Harrison Jr. has a huge claim about Jeremiyah Love’s other skill appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Jared Verse is doing a great job of saying the right things about his new team. 

Even Cleveland’s gloomier weather is getting praised by the new Browns star defensive end.

“California doesn’t really rain that much. I was outside yesterday just enjoying the rain, sitting on the back porch just like taking deep little breaths, seeing deer running around and everything like that. It was cool,” Verse told reporters on Monday, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Furthermore, two-time Pro Bowler Verse said his trade from the Los Angeles Rams to the Browns surprised him, but the shock didn’t linger as he immediately accepted his new reality.

“I mean, I like it here. But I wasn’t really distraught at all. After kind of the initial shock, I was like, all right, cool. Like I’m a Brown, let’s work,” added the 25-year-old Verse. 

“I love the organization, especially the first day of the camp. You see all the fans out there. I’m like, damn, like, excuse my French. Like, the fans, it was lit out there. They was lively, and they bleed orange and brown. I love it out here.”

As good as Verse has been so far in his NFL career, he has massive shoes to fill in Cleveland, considering the man the Browns parted ways with in the trade to acquire the former Florida State Seminoles star from Los Angeles. 

Cleveland sent shockwaves across the football world in June when the AFC North franchise traded all-time Browns great Myles Garrett to the Rams in exchange for a package headlined by Verse.

Through two seasons in the NFL, Verse has accumulated totals of 12.0 sacks, 124 passes defended and 45 quarterback hits in 34 games.

The post Jared Verse reveals why he already loves life with the Browns appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo couldn’t hide his emotions after the abrupt absence of star Ketel Marte in Monday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.

Marte did not show up for the game, prompting Arizona to place him on the restricted list. 

Fighting his tears, the 61-year-old Lovullo assured everyone that Marte was safe but did not specify the exact reason behind the three-time All-Star’s absence.

“No, not really. I love him, and I care for him. He’ll be okay. He is fine,” Lovullo told reporters after the Diamondbacks’ 11-1 loss to the Red Sox, via X user @phxlogan. 

“I want you guys to know that I just care about him. So does everybody in that room,” added the clearly emotional Lovullo, who has been managing the Diamondbacks since the 2017 season.

Torey Lovullo appeared to get emotional during the postgame when answering questions about Ketel Marte

He made clear Ketel is ok, but all he knows at this moment is he is dealing with a personal matter pic.twitter.com/nVCFVUgxVG

— Logan🌵 (@phxlogan) August 18, 2026

The news of Marte’s absence raised concerns about his well-being among Diamondbacks fans, so it was reassuring to hear Lovullo say that the 32-year-old Dominican star is fine health-wise.

Still, it is a mystery why Marte didn’t show up when he was expected to be the team’s designated hitter in the Red Sox game.

Marte, who is under contract with the Diamondbacks until at least the 2030 season (he has a player option for the 2031 campaign), is having a relatively down year. Thorugh 118 games, he has hit just 249/.314/.446 with a 107 OPS+ after slashing .283/.376/.517 and posting a 146 OPS+ in 2025.

The post Video: Torey Lovullo fights tears while talking about Ketel Marte’s situation appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Dennis Schroder does not want any pity points for being one of the most traded players in NBA history.

The veteran combo guard was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Charlotte Hornets last week — a deal that resulted in him landing on his 12th team in 14 NBA seasons. One more move to a new NBA team would have him tied with journeyman guard Ish Smith for the most teams played for in NBA history.

Some fans imagine such instability to be difficult for anyone, even an athlete making millions to play basketball. But Schroder doesn’t see it that way, based on his recent comments to the German publication Braunschweiger Zeitung.

“The media make it worse than it is,” Schroder said, translated from his native German.

“The teams pay for everything for us, we continue to live just as we lived before. The children are homeschooling, our family comes to visit two or three times a year – nothing changes.”

While few would want to be pinballed around the United States (or Canada) as Schroder has been throughout the past decade, the man clearly doesn’t feel too frustrated by it.

On the plus side, Schroder has gotten the chance to live in a dozen unique locations, experiencing different cultures and trying various local foods. He’s probably been treated well at every stop, considering his status as an NBA player.

There are much worse fates than that.

The post Dennis Schroder addresses 1 misconception about being traded so much appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

A trending 27-second video of Travis Kelce has some Kansas City Chiefs fans worried about their team’s secondary.

The short clip of Kelce went viral on Monday, showing the veteran tight end completely juking safety Alohi Gilman during a 1-on-1 drill at Chiefs training camp. Gilman bit on Kelce’s fake right and got left in the dust as the 36-year-old burst ran the other way for an uncontested catch.

Travis Kelce ROUTS UP Alohi Gilman in 1-on-1's 👀#ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/TR80q9ynq3

— Mark Poulose (@MarkPoulose) August 17, 2026

The video went viral partly because some fans believed Kelce looked a step slow. Instead of seeing it as a highlight for Kelce, many roasted Gilman for getting schooled by the aging All-Pro.

We need help at Safety

— Marcus T (Miller) (@Str8throwed) August 17, 2026

Gilman is starting to show why he was the backup.

— 71 SOUTH (@KelADolla) August 17, 2026

Ehh that’s not a great look for the defender

— ryan barker (@ryanryanbarker5) August 17, 2026

Getting juked in slow motion is crazy

— NiEKO🏴‍☠️ (@NiekoTheMartian) August 17, 2026

Gilman recorded 90 combined tackles last season playing for the Los Angeles Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens. His box score numbers, however, won’t erase the video of him getting cooked by Kelce from the Chiefs fan base’s memory.

Kelce has never been the shiftiest player on the field. But there’s a reason the man has been named a Pro Bowler for 11 straight seasons. He’s likely to get the better of a few more defenders before he finally calls it a career.

The post Fans all said the same thing after watching Travis Kelce juke a Chiefs defender appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Jeanie Buss is not sitting quietly amid reports indicating that her family was giving up control of the Los Angeles Lakers.

News broke Monday that the Buss family, which has owned the Lakers franchise for nearly 50 years, had reportedly decided to sell the family trust’s remaining 17.8 percent stake in the team. The Buss family released a statement through ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday confirming the sale to new majority owners Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.

The move was interpreted by many as Jeanie officially deciding to relinquish her role as team governor, a post she has held since Dr. Jerry Buss died in 2013. NBA rules require controlling owners/governors to own at least 15 percent of their franchise.

Jeanie contested the report hours later, claiming her siblings had sent Charania the statement without her approval. Through her attorney, Jeanie sent a letter to the law firms representing her five siblings, claiming that Joey and Jessie Buss had leaked erroneous information to Charania as part of an alleged “years-long pattern” of the two leaking “false, defamatory, and pernicious” information to Shams.

You can read the letter obtained by CNBC here with an excerpt below:

“As you know, this afternoon, Shams Charania of ESPN falsely reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell the 17.8% ownership stake in the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, and that my client, Jeanie Buss, is “out” as controlling owner. 

“This is just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious “information” to Mr. Charania for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. Buss’s chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carries out her father’s wishes.”

Jeanie’s attorney, Adam F. Streisand, argued further that such a sale is not legally permissible. Per the letter, the family’s JAB Trust instructs its co-trustees to ensure that Jeanie Buss continues to be elected as the team governor “on an annual basis” throughout her lifetime, barring a court order modifying the trust.

It’s an episode of HBO’s “Succession” unfolding in real time, folks.

The post Jeanie Buss claims her siblings manipulated Shams Charania to ‘falsely report’ on Lakers sale appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Kyle Tucker has found a new rock bottom for himself.

The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Tucker continued his struggles on Monday night against the Colorado Rockies. Tucker went 0/5 on the night at Coors Field in Denver, Colo. and also produced a hideous defensive play in the bottom of the seventh inning.

To lead off the half-inning, Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia induced a routine fly ball off the bat of Rockies first baseman Connor Norby. Tucker got under the ball in right field with plenty of time … but then just seemingly lost it in the stadium lights.

The ball glanced off Tucker’s glove for an E-9, allowing Norby to get into second base. Meanwhile, Tucker could do little more than collapse to the outfield grass in agony for a moment before retrieving the errant baseball and futilely tossing it back into the infield.

I don't even want to pile on at this point, but Kyle Tucker drops a routine flyball for a two-base error. pic.twitter.com/9L1WTNr0sx

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 18, 2026

Fans quickly roasted Tucker over his latest lowlight. Some on social media were even ready to anoint him as the worst signing in Dodgers history.

Kyle Tucker has to be the biggest bust signing in Dodgers history. Just an absolute disaster in every aspect. Just get him off the field at this point. pic.twitter.com/3arVJbYCEa

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 18, 2026

Tucker also had an ugly misplay in right field during Sunday’s loss at home to the Milwaukee Brewers. During that game at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., Tucker flubbed a ball hit to the wall in right and ended up getting booed by the Dodger faithful.

Even more embarrassingly for Tucker, who signed a four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason, is that it is hard to tell what is worse right now between his defense and his offense. After Monday’s disaster, Tucker is now down to a .230 batting average on the year (with a .692 OPS) and is 0 for his last 24 at the plate (with Tucker’s last hit coming on Aug. 9 against the Arizona Diamondbacks).

The Dodgers did still manage to easily take care of business on Monday despite Tucker’s struggles, winning by a comfortable final score of 11-5. But considering that Tucker was also benched during a game over the weekend for a humiliating reason, he may be the single most miserable player in all of Major League Baseball right now.

The post Kyle Tucker gets ripped after flubbing another routine fly ball appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Indianapolis Colts have struck a deal with veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen.

The 34-year-old wideout reportedly agreed to sign a 1-year deal with the Colts worth up to $8.32 million. NFL reporter Jordan Schultz confirmed the news on Monday night.

BREAKING: The #Colts are signing 6x Pro Bowl WR Keenan Allen to a 1-year deal worth up to $8.32M, multiple sources tell me.

A big-time weapon for Daniel Jones, as Allen reunites with HC Shane Steichen from their days together with the Chargers in a deal done by @ZekeSandhu of… pic.twitter.com/wiBZe3wjSf

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 18, 2026

Allen spent his first 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he developed into a perennial 1,000-yard pass catcher. The 2017 Comeback Player of the Year earned himself six Pro Bowl nods from 2017 to 2023, only missing out in 2022 due to a lingering hamstring injury.

The Cal alum was traded to the Chicago Bears in 2024, but returned to the Chargers last season on a 1-year deal. He led Los Angeles in targets (122) and catches (81) and ranked second in receiving yards (777) and third in receiving touchdowns (4).

Allen joins a promising Colts wide receiver room headlined by Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. Indianapolis signed Pierce to a $114 million contract in March, the same month he underwent surgery to repair an ankle issue.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen all but confirmed Sunday that Pierce is expected to miss the entirety of training camp. Steichen is very familiar with Allen, whom he coached during his time as the Chargers’ offense coordinator.

With Pierce’s status for the start of the season in question, Allen could play a big role for Indy right away.

The post Colts signing 6-time Pro Bowl wide receiver appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Dennis Schroder is already gone, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are still looking to do some more selling.

The Cavaliers are making an “active” effort to trade away veteran forward Max Strus, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported this week. Strus is on an expiring contract and is set to make $16.7 million next season.

A career 37.0 percent three-point shooter, Strus has been with Cleveland for the last three NBA seasons. While he was once a go-to starting forward for the Cavaliers, Strus appeared in just 30 total games last year (regular season and playoffs) due to a Jones fracture in his left foot (with stats of 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game overall).

Cleveland did largely fine in Strus’ absence, finishing as a 52-win team and making their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2018. The Cavaliers also saw fellow sharpshooter Sam Merrill emerge as a key rotation piece with his 42.1 percent success rate from three last season.

Strus does have somewhat of a notable resume otherwise though. Prior to signing with the Cavs, Strus was a major contributor for the Miami Heat during his time there from 2020-23. That included posting 12 different playoff games with double-digit scoring when Miami made it to the NBA Finals in 2023.

But Cleveland needs further roster flexibility with James Harden still unsigned and other free agent targets like Peyton Watson and Jonathan Kuminga still lurking. The Cavaliers also recently signed an interesting former top-5 pick to play on the wing, so it sounds like Strus will be their latest odd man out.

The post Cavaliers are actively trying to trade 1 former NBA Finals piece appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Bryan Baker decided to celebrate Monday’s victory by pulling a Roseanne Barr.

The Tampa Bay Rays won on Monday night over the division rival Baltimore Orioles by a final score of 7-6. Baker, the Rays’ closer, was called on during the eighth inning at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. for a five-out save.

After retiring the first four batters that he faced, Baker allowed a two-out single in the ninth inning to Baltimore’s Christian Encarnacion-Strand. But Baker then struck out Orioles outfielder Leody Taveras to end the game and proceeded to do a vulgar celebration.

The television broadcast showed a hyped-up Baker coming off the mound and then grabbing his crotch area while looking in the direction of the Tampa Bay dugout. Here is the video.

Bryan Baker's celebration after his save against the Orioles pic.twitter.com/M2m380Kix1

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) August 18, 2026

Baker, a 31-year-old righty has been very impressive this season for the Rays. He leads Major League Baseball with 35 saves to go along with a microscopic 1.47 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 50 appearances in relief.

Tampa Bay is also looking superb overall this year with an AL-best record of 75-49. Though some Rays relievers have produced some very ugly moments on the mound, Baker is clearly pitching with a different swagger right now.

The post Rays’ Bryan Baker does a vulgar celebration after getting save appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Najee Harris may still have a lifeline before the start of the NFL season.

The former Pro Bowl running back Harris visited on Monday with the New York Giants, according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Giants head coach John Harbaugh confirmed to reporters later in the day that Harris had visited with the team. Harbaugh noted that Harris looked “good” but was “not in football shape yet.”

John Harbaugh talks about Najee Harris visiting the Giants today:

"He looks good in the workout. He's not back 100%, he's not in football shape yet. If we are able to do something, it'll be a process. That would be a guy that has a lot of experience. He's a decorated vet." pic.twitter.com/BeLVIJGzQz

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) August 17, 2026

Harris, 28, was a Pro Bowler with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a rookie in 2021. He also produced four consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards rushing or more to start off his NFL career.

But Harris had a forgettable stint last season with the Los Angeles Chargers. He appeared in just three games and rushed for a mere 61 yards and zero TDs before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear during a game (video here). Harris also had some drama before the 2025 season even began after getting injured in a July 4 fireworks accident.

The former first-round pick Harris is now about 11 months removed from his torn Achilles. While it sounds like he still has some work to do in his rehab, Harris did draw interest from other notable NFL teams several months ago.

As for the Giants, 24-year-old Cam Skattebo is locked in as their starting running back, but he is very much a game of Russian roulette when it comes to injuries. Adding Harris to their RB room might not be the worst decision at this point for New York, especially if they are not confident in their current backup trio of Tyrone Tracy Jr, Devin Singletary, and Eric Gray.

The post Najee Harris is drawing interest from 1 new team in free agency appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Miami Heat are all-in on Operation Floor Spacing.

Miami is “desperate” to land Dallas Mavericks swingman Klay Thompson, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported this week during an appearance on the “DLLS Sports” podcast. Stein added though that the Heat would like to sign Thompson as a free agent while the Mavericks would instead prefer to trade him.

The 36-year-old Thompson has been with Dallas for the last two seasons. But especially after a nightmare 26-56 year for the Mavericks in which Thompson averaged career lows across the board (11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game), the two sides are expected to go their separate ways before long.

Thompson, a five-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA champion, is entering the final year of his contract next season at $17.5 million. While that would make Thompson somewhat easy to potentially buy out, it is still early enough in the year that Dallas has incentive to hold onto him as a potential trade chip.

As for the Heat, they have been heavily rumored as a possible landing spot for Thompson for the last several weeks, particularly with a need to surround their new Giannis Antetokounmpo-Bam Adebayo pairing with shooters. But Miami’s depth was shredded by the addition of Antetokounmpo, meaning that they should hold onto the few young assets they have left (e.g. Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson) instead of trading them for Thompson.

The guard options for the Heat are dwindling a little bit after Bradley Beal signed elsewhere in free agency and Russell Westbrook decided to retire. But if they do want to successfully land Thompson, it appears that Miami will have to win a staring contest of sorts against the Mavericks.

The post Report: Heat are desperate to land 1 player appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Atlanta Hawks are now one (retired) sharpshooter poorer.

Former NBA All-Star Kyle Korver is parting ways with the Hawks, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported on Monday. Stein notes that Korver, Atlanta’s assistant general manager, is leaving the organization on “good terms.”

The 45-year-old Korver played in the NBA from 2003-20. Known for his stellar three-point-shooting ability, the Creighton product posted a career 42.9 percent mark from deep and also made an impressive 2,450 three-pointers overall (eighth all-time in NBA history).

Korver played for six different teams over the course of his pro career, including a stint with the Hawks from 2012-17. He became a beloved figure in Atlanta, making an NBA All-Star team in 2015 and also helping the Hawks produce their only 60-win season in franchise history that year.

After retiring as a player, Korver went into front office work. He returned to Atlanta in 2022 as their director of player affairs and development and was then promoted to the team’s assistant GM job in 2023.

This news comes as a surprise as Korver was working his way up the ranks with the Hawks with no indications that he was planning to leave the job. That said, we did hear a few months ago that one particular rival team was eyeing a potential pursuit of Korver.

The post Former NBA All-Star is surprisingly leaving the Hawks appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Former Baltimore Ravens player OJ Brigance has died.

The Ravens announced the tragic news on Monday, commemorating his life after “his extraordinary and heroic battle with ALS.” He was 56.

“We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. “O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. He was a vibrant person who became one of the first Ravens heroes with his passionate play, including the first tackle in the 2000 Super Bowl.”

With profound sadness, we mourn the passing of our beloved O.J. Brigance following his extraordinary and heroic battle with ALS. pic.twitter.com/5aegvRX2Fy

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 17, 2026

Brigance’s most memorable NFL year came during his lone season with Baltimore in 2000.

Brigance, who played linebacker and served on special teams, led the Ravens with 10 special teams tackles during their memorable Super Bowl run. He even recorded the first tackle in Super Bowl XXXV, which the Ravens won over the New York Giants 34-7.

Brigance was diagnosed with ALS in 2007, just a few years after he retired from the NFL. With the help of his wife, Chanda, the Ravens icon founded the Brigance Brigade Foundation shortly after his diagnosis to raise awareness and help those similarly afflicted by ALS.

Despite being wheelchair-bound and needing a communication device to translate his messages, Brigance continued to serve as a senior adviser for player engagement until his death.

The post Ravens Super Bowl winner OJ Brigance dies at 56 appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New Orleans Saints added a new wide receiver by selecting Jordyn Tyson at No. 8 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Saints were set to have Tyson and Chris Olave together on the offense, but the regular season debut for Tyson will have to wait.

On Monday, it was reported that Tyson will miss at least two months, and maybe more, due to the hamstring injury.

This hamstring injury is different from Jordyn Tyson’s previous and not related. And the silver lining is that there are still several weeks before the season begins.

Tyson has been impressive in camp. https://t.co/pbt2AcQrkw

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2026

Tyson spent his first season with the Colorado Buffaloes before transferring and joining the Arizona State Sun Devils. In 2024, he had a career-high 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns before breaking his collarbone and missing the College Football Playoff.

Tyson then played in 9 games in his final season in college, and he suffered various hamstring issues. Still, he had plenty of buzz entering the draft, and Hines Ward even thought Tyson could’ve been the first WR taken, although that honor went to Carnell Tate.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore said that Tyson slipped and had to leave practice early, and he insisted it had nothing to do with Tyson’s previous injury history.

#Saints HC Kellen Moore on WR Jordyn Tyson leaving practice yesterday:

"This has nothing to do with Jordyn's history […] we'll know more in the next few days." pic.twitter.com/xKYtsSmV5Q

— NOF (@nofnetwork) August 14, 2026

Tyson was listed as a starter on the Saints depth chart, and the ones behind him are Barion Brown and Trey Palmer.

The post Saints WR Jordyn Tyson facing lengthy injury absence appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Questions abounded Monday when the Arizona Diamondbacks put one of their best players on the restricted list.

The Diamondbacks announced shortly before Monday’s tilt against the Boston Red Sox that they were placing Marte on the restricted list. News of the decision came just minutes before the start of the contest at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.

The team made an official announcement via social media, indicating that they were also recalling infielder Jose Fernandez from Triple-A Reno.

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/QyF6cZdrpd

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 17, 2026

MLB teams place players on the restricted list for non-baseball matters such as an unexcused personal absence, legal issues, or a temporary retirement, meaning Marte’s placement on the list was no mere injury designation.

Diamondbacks beat reporter Nick Piecoro revealed Monday that Marte did not show up at Fenway Park despite the team fully expecting him to be there. Marte had reportedly flown to Boston with the team, but failed to appear at the stadium for the opener of Arizona’s three-game road series.

Per the report, the D-Backs held out hope that Marte would arrive up until shortly before the game’s start time. He was expected to serve as the team’s designated hitter. The exact reasons surrounding Marte’s absence remain unclear.

Marte has had a down season thus far after back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2024 and 2025. He has batted .249 with a .760 OPS across 118 games this season with a team-best 21 home runs.

The Diamondbacks’ second-best home run hitter, Nolan Arenado, was also absent from Monday’s contest due to an unusual injury that had fans cracking jokes at his expense.

The post Details emerge on why Diamondbacks placed Ketel Marte on restricted list minutes before game appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The Chicago Cubs entered Monday with a 72-53 record, which has them atop the National League Wild Card race.

However, there are still six weeks left to play, and the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres are both tied with identical 67-58 records entering Monday. As it turns out, the Cubs were dealt a crushing injury blow to shortstop Dansby Swanson, who is expected to miss four weeks due to a strained oblique.

Manager Craig Counsell announced the news, but he added that Swanson will be back before the end of the regular season.

Dansby Swanson is expected to be sidelined four weeks with a strained oblique, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, meaning the Gold Glove shortstop should be able to return before the end of the season: “We’ll get Dansby back.”

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) August 17, 2026

The approximate timeline for a Grade 2 strain is 4-to-6 weeks, and the longer end of that would have Swanson return right around the postseason.

This season, Swanson is hitting .216 with 18 home runs, 66 RBI, and 78 runs scored while playing in 119 games. After he left Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Nico Hoerner slid from second base to shortstop, and James Triantos replaced Swanson in the batting order.

For Monday’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field, Hoerner was listed as the shortstop with Pedro Ramirez playing second base.

The post Cubs get unfortunate injury blow amid playoff race appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Jeanie Buss and the family appeared set to sell the remainder of the stake in the Los Angeles Lakers.

On Monday, it was reported that the Buss family would sell the remaining 17.8 percent Lakers ownership stake to incoming owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, who agreed to purchase the team on August 12 for a whopping $12.5 billion price.

However, Jeanie Buss is fighting back, claiming the sale is “void.” CNBS obtained a letter from Adam Streisand, Jeanie Buss’s lawyer.

“No sale of the JAB Trust’s 17.8% ownership interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. can be effectuated without approval by the current co-trustees, i.e., Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss. Pursuant to the JAB Trust and the attached Court Order, the co-trustees are bound to vote the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. shares to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner,” Streisand says in the letter.

Jeanie Buss was reportedly the only member of the Buss family who voted against selling the remaining stake in the Lakers.

Also: Am told by multiple sources that Lakers governor Jeanie Buss did not vote to sell. The other five siblings did. https://t.co/RpxWef5l6U

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) August 17, 2026

Now, she is bringing her lawyer in, and things could get awfully messy on the Lakers front regarding the sale of the team and the Buss family.

The post Jeanie Buss claims vote to sell Lakers stake is ‘void’ appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

John Beilein has 768 combined victories between his time as an NCAA and NBA head coach, and now he is returning to the NBA.

On Monday, Beilein announced on social media that he will be joining the Orlando Magic staff for this upcoming season.

“I’m excited to be assisting Sean Sweeney and the Orlando Magic as a Senior Coaching Consultant this upcoming NBA season,” Beilein wrote. “Sean has a brilliant future as an NBA head coach, and I’m honored he asked me to serve him and the Magic in this capacity. I look forward to supporting the coaching staff and contributing in anyway I can to the organization’s continued growth and success.”

pic.twitter.com/9dhU75Tl6B

— John Beilein (@JohnBeilein) August 17, 2026

Beilein’s career is most notably tied to his time at Michigan, where he was the head coach from 2007 through 2019, before he left to take the job with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Beilein went 278-150 during his time at Michigan, which included three Elite Eight trups, five Sweet Sixteens and two national title game appearances.

However, Beilein went just 14-40 in his only season with the Cavaliers. He resigned from the job in February of the 2019-20 NBA season, and J.B. Bickerstaff took over.

There is a connection with Beilein and Sean Sweeney, the new head coach for the Magic. The two worked together with the Detroit Pistons. Beilein was a senior advisor from 2021-23, and Sweeney was there from 2018-2021 before leaving, so it was a brief stint for them in Detroit.

The post John Beilein has a new NBA role appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith was expected to sign with the Cleveland Browns.

However, it turns out the Atlanta Falcons are trying to bring him in. On Monday, Atlanta worked out Smith, which comes one day after Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported that Smith was expected to sign with the Browns.

It’s an interesting twist, although Smith plated for Cleveland in 2023 and the start of 2024. Kevin Stefanski is the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, and he was the Browns coach when Smith was there.

Edge rusher Za'Darius Smith tried out for the #Falcons today, per the #NFL wire. #Browns hope to sign him. He played for Kevin Stefanski here in 2023 and 2024.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 17, 2026

The Falcons need another pass rusher. They lost Jalon Walker to a torn ACL at the start of August. James Pearce Jr., the 2025 first-round pick, is suspended for the first eight games due to felony charges for a dispute with his ex-girlfriend, Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson.

Smith is trying to make an NFL comeback. He spent the first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before playing three years with the Green Bay Packers, including Pro Bowl trips in 2019 and 2020.

Smith then played one year with the Minnesota Vikings before spending time with the Browns and Detroit Lions. Last season, he played just five games for the Philadelphia Eagles.

It’s a surprising twist regarding Za’Darius Smith, and the Stefanski connection could make sense for both sides in Atlanta.

The post Za’Darius Smith works out for 1 team despite expected Browns signing appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi revealed something pretty wild about one of his players when assessing how the team is progressing.

Narduzzi singled out redshirt sophomore wide receiver Tyreek Robinson as a player who had a strong camp both on and off the field. In the latter case, Narduzzi suggested that part of that was down to Robinson eliminating an alarming dietary habit.

“We’ve cleaned up some things off the field, little things he drives me nuts with, like eating fish out of the river. That’s not a good thing,” Narduzzi said.

What pic.twitter.com/EzZ4krzp6D

— The Loyal Sons (@TheLoyalSons) August 17, 2026

Narduzzi added that the Shreveport, La. native “does some stuff Louisiana-style.”

It was completely impossible to tell whether Narduzzi was joking or not. If he was, his deadpan was so good that one could be convinced that he did, in fact, have to tell one of his players not to eat raw fish straight from a river.

On the other hand, maybe there is reason to believe it. After Xavier Legette’s confession about his diet, it does not seem quite as out there as it would otherwise. If Robinson has a good year, everyone might start eating fish out of the river.

Pitt is coming off an 8-5 campaign last season. There are at least some expectations for them, as they garnered seven votes in the season’s initial AP poll.

The post Pat Narduzzi made the wildest claim about one of his players’ diets appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Monday brought us a rare instance of a sports league publicly disputing one of its media partners in the form of the NBA and ESPN.

ESPN reported early Monday that the NBA’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers found no evidence that owner Steve Ballmer funneled money to Kawhi Leonard through shady sponsorship deals. That seemingly confirmed that the Clippers, or at the very least Ballmer, would not face significant punishment as part of the investigation.

The NBA took the unusual step of publicly disputing that report. In a statement, league spokesman Mike Bass said the story “contains numerous and significant inaccuracies.”

NBA Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass issued the following statement: pic.twitter.com/iEBGJd51fv

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 17, 2026

ESPN stood by its reporting and noted that the league had refused various requests for comment.

An ESPN spokesman sent this statement to @TheAthletic: “We stand by our reporting, which included numerous attempts by ESPN to get comment from the NBA.” https://t.co/WneRulwdH9

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) August 17, 2026

The league undoubtedly does not want the outcome of the Clippers investigation to leak to the media in bits and pieces. When the initial allegations spread, reports suggested that NBA owners wanted to see the Clippers punished harshly if they proved to be true. The league does not want to give off the impression that the Clippers are getting off lightly, or getting away with it entirely.

There remains no public timetable for when the league will release its findings. Recent reports have indicated that a negotiated settlement between the Clippers and the league is seen as the most likely outcome.

The post NBA and ESPN at odds over Kawhi Leonard report appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Caitlyn Jenner has weighed in after former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom announced his intention to enter the WNBA Draft.

Jenner, who transitioned in 2015, said Kanter is exposing the “hypocrisy” in the WNBA’s handling of transgender issues. Jenner was also critical of WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not having a clearer statement on the issue.

“The WNBA had their meetings on this issue and Cathy [Engelbert], the head, says, ‘We talked about the trans issue, but we just haven’t come up with a conclusion at this point. We will continue the conversation.’ Cathy: XX, you’re in. XY, you’re out. It’s that simple,” Jenner said, via Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports.

After Kanter’s announcement, the league issued a statement denouncing “bad-faith” critics and stating that the WNBA is having “ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online.” The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement states that only women are allowed to play in the league, but does not specify how it determines who qualifies as a woman.

Kanter announced on Aug. 7 that he was declaring himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft after having “carefully examined the WNBA’s eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion.” He has since claimed that the move is not a publicity stunt and that he is not seeking to mock or disrespect anyone.

The post Caitlyn Jenner responds to the Enes Kanter Freedom WNBA controversy appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Jeanie Buss and her siblings are cashing out on the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Buss family will sell their remaining 17.8 percent Lakers ownership stake to incoming owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. Once the transaction is completed, the Buss family will have no stake in the Lakers for the first time since 1979.

In a statement, the family said they would continue to support the Lakers, but chose to “use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”

Statement from the Buss family to ESPN: "We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction. We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this… https://t.co/JIT4cu2z5n

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 17, 2026

The move also means Jeanie Buss will be out as governor of the franchise. NBA rules mandate that controlling owners and governors must own at least 15 percent of a franchise to remain in that role.

Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 and the franchise has remained in the family since then, even after he died in 2013. The family sold its majority stake in the franchise last year, but still retained enough to allow Jeanie to continue as the go-to ownership figure, and she planned to remain in her role for at least five years as part of an agreement with new owner Mark Walter.

Initially, the new owners suggested that they would honor the agreement between Buss and Walter and allow her to remain in her role. Things obviously changed quickly. The Buss family is framing it as their own decision, though the final sentence of their statement would certainly imply that they felt the new owners planned to marginalize them either way.

The Lakers will now be firmly in the hands of Iger and Kushner after their stunning deal to purchase the franchise. That could lead to major changes, and there will be widespread speculation about GM Rob Pelinka’s future considering Buss was the one who hired and retained him.

The post Jeanie Buss makes major decision on her role with Lakers appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Deion Sanders has a headache on his hands with regard to his son Shilo’s bankruptcy trial.

Sanders has been called to testify as a witness in Shilo’s trial, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 31 in Denver. That could prove to be an issue, as Colorado’s opener at Georgia Tech is that same week.

Judge Michael E. Romero, who is presiding over the case, warned involved parties during a pretrial hearing that he would not be surprised if Sanders fights the subpoena.

“I’m also concerned there’s a game: CU’s first game is that same week,” Judge Romero said, via Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today. “So I can see that coming. I am not a CU alum or I have no ties to CU. So I don’t care. But I’m just recognizing that is a potential issue.”

It is unknown if Sanders has actually been served the subpoena or intends to fight it.

Shilo Sanders was sued in 2016 by John Darjean, his former security guard, who alleged that Sanders, then 15, assaulted him and caused permanent injuries in an altercation. Darjean won an $11.89 million default judgment against Sanders in 2022, but Sanders has since filed for bankruptcy to try to get the debt discharged. Sanders has claimed to have acted in self-defense, which could allow him to clear the debt if found to be true.

Sanders’ former law firm also sued him over unpaid legal fees stemming from that case.

Shilo, a cornerback, spent two seasons playing for his father at Colorado. He went undrafted in 2025 and failed to earn a roster spot in training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The post Deion Sanders subpoenaed in his son’s bankruptcy trial appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Tom Brady is old school in a lot of ways, and that is even true about how he prefers to handle the preseason.

An X account posted a highlight of Brady connecting with Randy Moss while both were members of the New England Patriots in 2010. Notably, the throw came in the third quarter of a preseason game. That is a sharp contrast to the current NFL, where starters only briefly take part in preseason games if they play at all.

Preseason 2010 Brady to Moss pic.twitter.com/oK21iPlEZi

— RandomTomBradyHighlights (@TomBradyDaily) August 15, 2026

Brady reposted the video on Instagram and accused modern NFL players of “looking for easy ways out” by not playing in preseason games.

“Preseason… Regular season… I never wanted to be taken off the field,” Brady wrote. “Practice makes perfect… Too many people looking for easy ways out these days. When you’re a football player, and it’s football season, your job is to play football.”

Tom Brady out here ripping today's NFL players for skipping preseason games.

Who knew Tom was old school? 😂 pic.twitter.com/6iUhQTNsf8

— Rusty (@Rusty_Weiss) August 17, 2026

Brady knows as well as anyone that the choice of whether to play or not is not solely down to players. No team wants to risk a significant injury to an important player in a game that has no real meaning or importance. One player has already suffered a season-ending injury during a preseason game this year.

Brady himself was being held out of preseason games toward the end of his time with the New England Patriots. He is not wrong that practice makes perfect, but it’s not as if these players are being held out of training camp entirely.

The post Tom Brady calls out NFL players for skipping preseason games appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Former NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero has a new job not long after losing his old one.

Pelissero is joining Netflix as a sideline reporter and insider for their NFL coverage this season, the streaming service announced Monday. He will also co-host The Ringer’s NFL show and make regular appearances on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”

Tom Pelissero is joining Netflix Gameday as a sideline reporter and NFL insider for the full slate of games this season, starting with 49ers vs. Rams in Week 1 from Melbourne.@TomPelissero will also co-host The Ringer NFL Show and contribute across The Ringer’s NFL podcasts,… pic.twitter.com/H0lkioTqAr

— Netflix (@netflix) August 17, 2026

Netflix has the rights to five games this season, with two of them falling on Christmas. That means Pelissero will mostly appear on The Ringer, though Netflix probably will not mind the publicity if he continues to break NFL news.

Pelissero was let go in ESPN’s most recent round of layoffs. The network inherited him when it purchased NFL Network, but with Adam Schefter already on board and Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo joining him, Pelissero was deemed surplus to requirements.

Pelissero had been at NFL Network since 2017. Many people expected him to land a different job than the one he got, but he has indisputably landed on his feet.

The post NFL insider Tom Pelissero has landed a new job appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has been cleared of the most significant allegation against him as part of an investigation into whether the team circumvented salary cap rules to funnel additional money to Kawhi Leonard.

The NBA has found no evidence to suggest that Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Leonard, according to Don Van Natta Jr., Baxter Holmes, and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. The league is instead investigating whether introducing Leonard to team sponsors is a violation of salary cap rules, and whether the Clippers are guilty of “failure to supervise” their employees.

League and NBPA sources suggested that any attempt to punish the Clippers for introducing a player to sponsors would go over very badly and would likely be challenged.

The report states that the Clippers received the findings of the investigation in July. The team and the NBA have been attempting to negotiate a resolution to the investigation in recent days, though nothing is settled as of yet.

In essence, it sounds like the bulk of the allegations against the Clippers have not been corroborated. The original allegations were that the Clippers used a fake third party to sign an endorsement deal with Leonard that allowed the team to pay him more money without it counting against the salary cap, as well as without Leonard having any additional obligations. That would have warranted serious punishment.

It is unclear what sort of punishment the Clippers might receive even if they are found guilty of lesser violations. The organization consistently denied any wrongdoing and suggested Ballmer himself had been a victim of fraud.

The Clippers have a pending agreement to trade Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, but it is on hold until the investigation is complete. It is in everyone’s best interest to sort this out as quickly as possible, which is why a negotiated settlement is seen as the most likely outcome.

The post Steve Ballmer cleared of major allegation in Clippers investigation appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New York Jets had quite a scare during the team’s practice on Monday, with one of their most important players, running back Breece Hall, going down with an injury.

Rich Cimini of ESPN initially reported that Hall was hurt “untouched” while trying to pick up yards after making a catch. A non-contact injury can suggest a serious and potentially season-ending issue, but that fortunately does not seem to be the case with Hall.

In a follow-up report from Cimini, he shared that Jets head coach Aaron Glenn does not believe Hall suffered anything serious.

 “I don’t think it was a big deal,” Glenn said, while also noting that the former Iowa State Cyclones star running back will still have to be evaluated.

The 25-year-old Hall may still not be completely out of the woods, as the Jets have yet to determine the exact nature of his injury. Hopefully for New York, Hall will still be ready to go in time for the start of the 2026 NFL season, especially after just signing him to a three-year, $43.5 million contract extension in May.

Hall is coming off his best season yet in the league, rushing for a career-high 1,065 yards and four touchdowns on 243 carries through 16 games in 2025.  

The post Jets had a major injury scare with Breece Hall during training camp appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Orlando Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr. showed up to support his girlfriend, Angel Reese, on Sunday, as he sat courtside to watch the Atlanta Dream star play against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga.

With the NBA still in the offseason, Carter had time to watch Reese in person, with ESPN sharing a video of the former Duke Blue Devils star observing the Dream forward warm up before the contest.

Wendell Carter Jr. watching Angel Reese lock in 🍿

Watch Fever-Dream NOW on ESPN and the ESPN App 🏀 pic.twitter.com/OVP2Y8NeRm

— ESPN (@espn) August 16, 2026

Meanwhile, fans took the opportunity to make fun of Reese’s offense, with many joking about her tendency to miss close-range shots.

I don’t think she’s locked into anything 🤷‍♀️

— Jules (@Jules7547) August 16, 2026

Lock in to miss multiple open layups n yet yall push her as a superstar. 😂

— itzMonk (@itzM0NK) August 17, 2026

Locking in to her fantasy world where she can hit a layup

— Saul Beazy (@s_beaz5) August 17, 2026

WHO? Oh the guy who plays in the nba and you still think he’s magic

— HerbDeanLuver (@aherosfuneral) August 17, 2026

She shootin like Wendell today

— DevThaCarter22 (@KeeGlockMurray) August 16, 2026

As it turned out, one of the defining moments of the game between the Fever and the Dream was a missed putback by Reese near the end of regulation. That led to overtime, where Indiana took over to notch a 95-91 win.

Reese had a big statistical night wasted in the loss, as she finished the contest with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists, but also shot just 5/16 from the field and 0/2 from behind the arc in 38 minutes of action.

Reese is averaging a double-double of 15.6 points and 12.1 rebounds so far in the 2026 WNBA season, and while she’s shooting only 41.8% from the floor, she’s undeniably a big reason why Atlanta is in position to make the playoffs despite the loss to the Fever.

The Dream are currently fifth in the standings with a 21-13 record.

The post Fans bring out jokes after seeing Angel Reese’s boyfriend courtside appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

The New Orleans Pelicans are adding a new forward to their fold.

On Monday, NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Western Conference franchise has come to terms with former Philadelphia 76ers forward Trendon Watford.

“Free agent F Trendon Watford has agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN. Watford considered multiple options but for New Orleans serves as a productive two-way get late into the offseason after a year in Philadelphia where he notched a 20-point, 17-rebound, 10-assist triple double in November,” Charania shared on X.

Watford is hardly a name that would register on the radar of most casual NBA fans, but he could be someone who helps move the needle for the Pelicans, who won just 26 games last season.

The former LSU Tigers star who went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Watford most recently saw action for the Philadelphia 76ers, who signed him to a 2-year, $5.26 million contract in 2025. However, the 76ers decided not to pick up their player option on him for the 2026-27 season, paving the way for him to become a free agent.

The 25-year-old Watford spent his first two seasons in the league with the Portland Trail Blazers before playing another two with the Brooklyn Nets. 

In 270 games played, Watford has averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists, while shooting 51.9% from the field (32.5% from deep).

The post Pelicans land new Zion Williamson teammate in former 76ers forward appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

George Kittle is holding on to hope that he will be ready to go by Week 1 of the 2026 NFL regular season.

The San Francisco 49ers tight end is still working his way back to game-ready form several months after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in a wild-card game against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

He sustained that injury in January, and the typical recovery timeline is around 9-12 months. 

Even then, Kittle has enough confidence to believe that he can beat that window and be on the field when the 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in a Week 1 game in Australia on Sept. 10.

“I have a chance,” Kittle said, via Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. “We’re running around a lot, hitting top speeds. Hopefully we’re back in pads practicing sooner than later. Just trying to check the boxes and not be (dumb) is what I would say.”

If Kittle is to appear on the field against the Rams, he believes what happens in practice this week will be telling of his outlook.

“Hopefully I’m in pads sooner than later, because I don’t want my first time to be in pads traveling in Australia,” he added. “Because I just don’t think that’d be a very smart idea. These next couple of weeks that will let me know if I’m ready to play Week 1 or not.”

Kittle is hardly the only notable 49er dealing with health concerns as the season draws closer. Ricky Pearsall, Nick Bosa and Christian McCaffrey are some of the other San Francisco players currently on the mend.

If Kittle gets ultimately sidelined for Week 1, the earliest the 32-year-old star can make his 2026 debut will be in Week 2’s game against the Miami Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

The post New detail emerges on George Kittle’s injury appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.

Jayson Tatum put on a pair of gloves and went to work with his Boston Celtics head coach, Joe Mazzulla, in the gym. However, he took some metaphorical punches from fans online, who had plenty to say about his fighting stance.

Tatum is among the world’s elite in his profession as a basketball player, but he clearly isn’t as natural with gloves on, as the video of his training with Mazzulla showed.

The grind doesn't stop in the summer 🥊

Watch JT & Joe get after it in Celtics All-Access: https://t.co/j8jpoXreFm pic.twitter.com/IwgOIV83dw

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 16, 2026

After seeing Tatum’s form when throwing punches, fans couldn’t help but make fun of the former Duke Blue Devils star, with some also assuming that he’s never been in a fight.

It looks like JT has never been in a fight before. pic.twitter.com/ysunGHpNVq

— Gregory LeClerc (@gregoryleclerc) August 16, 2026

Tatum needs to not get in a fight ever 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

— TheMan (@user1837577) August 16, 2026

LMFAOO nah JT never had a fight a day in his life he look like my cat when he start swinging 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

— E (@Emoneeeeyy) August 16, 2026

Those are some horrible hands lol

— Smitty (@Smittyzola) August 16, 2026

Neither can throw proper punches. Embarrassing.

— Lucha Dad (@Lucha1Dad) August 16, 2026

At the end of the day, what matters most for the Celtics is how effective Tatum can be on the court, especially now that Boston has moved on from Jaylen Brown, who was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason.

Tatum suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon injury in the 2025 NBA Playoffs and missed the first several months of the 2025-26 season before returning to action in March. In 16 games last season, he put up 21.8 points, while averaging 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

Sure, Tatum’s boxing form needs work, but he’s clearly shown that he’s a true fighter after overcoming his devastating injury.

The post Fans mock Jayson Tatum after seeing him train with Joe Mazzulla appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.