Browns' head coach Todd Monken channeled his inner Dan Hurley in today's postgame press conference. After the Browns were thoroughly beaten and flat-out embarrassed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Monken sent out a warning to the rest of the league.
In his opening statement, Monken said, "You better get us now," in reference to the Browns potentially not having much skill on their roster this year. Now, I am usually all for a coach having confidence and, more importantly, being vocal about it, but this may not have been the time or place for this.
The Browns were zero percent competitive on Sunday.
They showed a little bit of life for four plays on offense before they were totally incompetent on that side of the football, only to be coupled with a horrific performance on defense to boot.
If that game today were played 100 times, the Jaguars would win 99 of them, and that's simply thanks to the law of averages. The Browns were horrible today, and frankly, there is not all that much to be optimistic about going forward.

#Browns #coach #much #hurley

Ben Danford shared his honest ******* sment of whether he has a chance of making the Maple Leafs' opening-night roster. Danford aims to build off his experience with the Toronto Marlies last season and take another step toward the NHL.
Toronto selected Danford 31st overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has been among the prospects fans have focused on, particularly due to the Maple Leafs' positional need on defense. However, after the Leafs addressed their defense during the offseason, perhaps Danford's chances of making the roster may have decreased.
Still, Danford is eager to get on the ice and make an impression during the Leafs' Development Camp.
Ben Danford said that he is not focusing on things that he has no control over. Instead, he is taking the Maple Leafs' Development Camp one day at a time and is embracing the challenge.
Danford, 20, revealed that he is using the upcoming rookie tournament as an opportunity to gain more confidence. He also shared his honest thoughts on what it will take for him to make the Leafs' roster.

#leafs #honest

Your daily dose of Everton news and rumours
Today, we remember and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and all those whose lives were forever changed. Never forget.
The Blues continue their training ahead of a road test against Spurs tomorrow. [EFC]
"We've made a decent start and we want to keep that feeling going. We've made some really good signings in midfield, which gives us good, healthy competition. In the short-term I'm just looking to get fully fit. It feels horrible not being up to my 100 per cent. I'm working every day to get there, because I want to show the consistency levels again where I was last season. If I do that, I'll be happy and I know that will put me in good stead to help the team – and also for things like England," says James Garner. [EFC]
The players look great in the new third kit.

#we 've #lives #made #september

Africa has only ever had one Ballon d'Or winner, and the wait for someone to emulate George Weah is likely to be extended further after this year's nominations were revealed.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and Senegal forward Sadio Mane are the continent's two names on the 30-strong list.
Both players have previously recorded top-six Ballon d'Or finishes but, after a year in which Spain lifted the Fifa World Cup and Kylian Mbappe netted 10 goals to become the tournament's all-time top scorer, the chances of the Paris St-Germain right-back or the Al-Nassr winger lifting the coveted trophy appear slim.
And it is not the first time that Africa has failed to make a big impact.
Part of the reason for the historic lack of success is down to the fact the award, which was first handed out by France Football magazine in 1956, was not open to players representing non-European nations until 1995.

#ballon #d 'or #players #george

Sunderland's success in recent years can be attributed to many factors, but I'd argue that one of the main drivers of our success has been the fuel provided by doubt.
Time after time, year after year, game after game, Sunderland are written off. Sometimes by our own supporters, yes, but mostly by people in the media, pundits, journalists and other notable figures in the game.
And perhaps, in some strange way, we should be grateful for it.
Because there is something about being underestimated that seems to bring out the very best in this football club.
We've had plenty of credit for how we've operated in that time too, but following the end of last season – where we managed to achieve the unthinkable with a seventh-place finish in our first year back in the top flight – there's definitely been an undercurrent that Sunderland were a little bit lucky to end up where we did.

#time #year #recent #years

Find out how you can watch City's UEFA Champions League encounter with FC Porto, wherever you are in the world.
We travel to Portugal for the first game of the 2026/27 League Phase on Tuesday 8 September with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 (UK).
The game will be shown live in the UK on Amazon Prime Video. You can also keep across all of the action via the official Man City app, as well as the key moments on X/Twitter: ManCity.
Supporters living around the world can find out how they can tune in via our global TV listings at the bottom of the page, courtesy of liversoccertv.com
Listings correct as of 6 September.

#league #Porto

Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua (groin) is making good progress in his recovery, according to head coach Sean McVay.
SOURCE: Sarah Barshop - ESPN
Why It Matters: Nacua missed a good part of the preseason because of the injury, so fantasy players will need to check on his practice participation leading up to the Week 1 game. He is one of the best receivers in the NFL and will be a starting option in all fantasy leagues if he is cleared to play.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Puka Nacua making progress

#puka #making #progress #fantasy

On the two-month anniversary of Juventus Women hiring Isaac Guerrero as their new head coach, the Spanish tactician got his new-look squad past the final hurdle necessary to see them qualify for the Women's Champions League league phase once again.
For some, that was going to be quite the task with so much turnover this summer and Guerrero having little time to get to work with his new team before the qualification process got underway last month.
But in front of the hometown crowd — and some very notable front office member from both the men's and women's sporting area — in Biella on Wednesday night, Guerrero's Bianconere got the result they needed, a 1-1 draw, against Austrian side St. Pölten to qualify for the UWCL league phase. Portuguese midfielder Tatiana Pinto scored Juventus Women's lone goal of the night five minutes before halftime, but it was the 3-0 victory last week in Austria that allowed the Bianconere to see out the game and claim the 4-1 advantage on aggregate in the final round of the qualification path.
And with it came a ticket into the 16-team league phase — which is in effect for a second season after they made the switch to replicate the men's setup at the beginning of last season's competition.
Juve got through the four-team mini tournament last month. They then got a much less complicated draw against St. Pölten as compared to two years ago when they had to go through a Paris Saint-Germain side that was one of the last teams standing the season prior to make the group stage.

#league #phase #final

The Washington Commanders have been mostly quiet over the past few days, as they finalized their initial 53-man roster and practice squad. After finalizing their roster on Sunday, Washington re-signed 12 players it had just waived or released to the practice squad.
On Tuesday, the Commanders finished filling out their practice squad, signing five players from outside of the organization. Veteran cornerback Isaac Yaidom was the most notable signing, as he could contribute immediately.
While Yiadom and fellow cornerback Terell Smith could prove to be helpful soon, there was one player who could be a steal: offensive tackle Esa Pole.
Pole, a 6-foot-7, 319-pound tackle from Washington State, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025. After being initially waived during last summer's final cuts, the New York Jets claimed Pole off waivers. He was waived in October, and the Chiefs wasted no time bringing him back, signing him to the practice squad.
Pole was signed to the 53-man roster on Dec. 3, and he made his NFL debut at left tackle the following week. Kansas City's starting left tackle was injured on the first play, and Pole replaced him. He would then go on to start the final four games at left tackle.

#pole #practice #waived #Commanders

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti and his staff have the tough task this week of trying to game plan for a North Texas team that welcomed more than 50 transfers and 75 new faces.
One area where IU has a leg up on their homework is at quarterback.
Last week, North Texas announced a familiar face as starter when it named Tayven Jackson to oppose IU. The Center Grove alum from outside Indianapolis made six starts over two seasons in Bloomington and won a game over Washington in 2024 while Kurtis Rourke was sidelined with a thumb injury.
"Tayven played really good football for us in '24, came in at halftime in the Nebraska game, and played a great second half, and started next week against Washington, a game that we won," Cignetti said.
Buy 2026 IU football tickets!

#Football #bloomington #cignetti #played