Lawrence Shankland says being named Rangers captain has exceeded the dream he had of playing for his boyhood team.
The 30-year-old striker only joined the club two months ago from Hearts, where he also wore the armband and scored 88 goals in 171 games.
The Scotland forward succeeds previous long-serving captain James Tavernier, who led the Ibrox side to a Europa League final and won the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup during his 11 years in Govan.
The news comes two days before Derek McInnes' side starts their league campaign at Dundee United on Friday (20:00 BST).
"As a lifelong supporter, it was a dream to be here in the first place, but to get the opportunity to captain the club is a huge honour," Shankland said.

#dream #lawrence

The defensive line is often plentiful with blue-chip prospects. The 2027 recruiting cycle features 44 four and five-stars at the position, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies.
That's the most blue-chip DLs in a class since the 2023 cycle. Of those 44 D-linemen, all are committed, as of July 28, and they've dispersed among 29 schools.
$19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage
Headlined by the nation's No. 1 overall prospect, Rivals breaks down where the top defensive linemen in the 2027 cycle are currently committed ahead of football season:
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 1 NATL.
School:Cedar Hill (Texas)
Committed Since: Oct. 4, 2025

#industry #blue #chip #recruiting

From the autumn of 2024 until January 2026, Rúben Amorim was Manchester United's Head Coach. Fittingly, AC Milan's pre-season schedule now includes a meeting with the English side, with the two teams set to face each other on 15 August at the Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław, Poland. There is another intriguing reunion to come, too. Between 1999 and 2019, aside from several loan spells between 2004 and 2009, Ignazio Abate's footballing home was AC Milan. After hanging up his boots, he returned to the Club as Head Coach of the U16 side in 2021/22 before taking charge of the Primavera over the following two seasons. Now, as Torino's Head Coach, he will face his former club when the Rossoneri begin their Serie A campaign away to the Granata on23 August at 20:45 CEST. Both fixtures carry special significance. For Amorim, it will be a reunion with his most recent club. For Abate, it will be a meeting with the Club that shaped both his playing and coaching career. His father, Beniamino, also spent many years working within AC Milan's coaching structure before later joining Torino.
At his first press conference as AC Milan Head Coach, Amorim did not shy away when asked what he had learned from his spell at Manchester United. "It's difficult to explain the mistakes I made because I'd have to do so within the context of my last experience," he said. "The only thing I can say is that I learned a great deal from those mistakes. I didn't have the opportunity – which I regret – to say anything to the Manchester United supporters at the time, but I'm truly proud to have been their coach for a year. Now, at AC Milan, it will be a different story." Two days later, Abate also reflected on the opening-day meeting after taking charge of Torino. "AC Milan was my life; the Club gave me the opportunity to play at the highest level. When I saw the fixture list and noticed Torino against AC Milan, it gave me another reason to hope that I would become Torino's new Head Coach. It will be a pleasure to begin the season against them."
Match kits, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit AC Milan online Store!

#Milan #club #manchester #august

The Yankees overcame Max Fried's season-low-tying start of three innings with four-run frames in the fourth and eighth to take Monday's series-opening game at the American League East-leading Chicago White Sox, a 9-4 win, rebounding from Sunday's 11-4 loss at the Philadelphia Phillies.
Fried's second start back from injury mirrored his season-worst outing May 13 at the Baltimore Orioles, a 7-0 loss, in which he allowed three runs on five hits in three innings. This time, Fried -- after returning from a two-month absence due to a left elbow bone bruise with one hit in five innings during last Wednesday's 5-3 10-inning loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates -- also allowed three runs on five hits and exited following three frames. Pulled after 39 strikes on 66 pitches while fanning four and walking two, Fried (4-3, 3.23 ERA) fell victim to a three-run first inning in which he started slow, allowing four of his five hits. Fortunately for Fried, the Yankees' bullpen and offense picked him up, but this was a step back from how he looked in his debut last week.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was chief among New York's reinforcements, tying the game with a two-run double in the fourth inning that scored Paul Goldschmidt and Jasson Domínguez. Chisholm subsequently stole third base and scored when Spencer Jones grounded out to second with one out. When the Yankees led the White Sox (55-50) by a run in the eight inning, Chisholm's RBI single to score Domínguez padded the 6-4 lead and eventually break the game open. Chisholm's 2-for-4, two-RBI effort from the sixth spot in the order was the type of performance that New York needed to avoid a series-opening dud as he brought his slash line to .226/.299/.414 with 45 RBI and 29 steals through 99 games this season.
Between Chisholm's highlights, Ben Rice's go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning with two outs to score Amed Rosario gave the Yankees the much-needed push after the White Sox tied the game at 4-4 with one out in the fifth. Rice, whose 2-for-4 evening included a leadoff walk that sparked New York's fourth inning, need to be the guy in this lineup without Aaron Judge and met the moment as the second-batting designated hitter Monday. Through 101 games, Rice is slashing .275/.363/.585 with 73 RBI.
With Cody Bellinger out for the next month and change due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Max Schuemann's second start in left field saw him also lead off but underwhelm. Schuemann's two-game glimpse is an 0-for-7 sample size after Monday's 0-for-5 result out of the No. 1 spot in the order, which only adds to questions for Aaron Boone and the Yankees with the MLB trade deadline around the corner.

#game

The 2026 MLB draft has concluded!
Here we will be keeping track of each draftee taken by the Tampa Bay Rays over the course of the draft, their projected signing amount, and how much they actually signed for.
The Rays have a bonus pool of $19,09,300 that they are alloted to spend on the selections they made over the first 10 rounds of the draft; for every pick after the 10th round, any amount over $150,000 will be counted towards a team's pool. If a team overspends, they would face the following consequences:
0-5%: 75% tax
5-10%: 75% tax and lose future 1st round pick

#rays #pick #here #tampa

Michigan football writer Tony Garcia ranks the five most important players on the Wolverines' defense in 2026.
Michigan had to replace a pair of starters in the secondary last season when Will Johnson and Makari Paige left for the 2025 NFL Draft and while it brought in veterans like TJ Metcalf and Wesley Walker to fill in as experienced pieces, the DBs clearly missed their leader.
Shortly after former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale arrived in 2024, he compared Rod Moore to NFL All-Pro Eric Weddle in terms of his cognitive ability. While he doesn't wear the "green dot" with the headset to the defensive coordinator, Moore is the quarterback of the back end and ensures his running mates are on the same page and in the right positions.
THE OFFENSE: Ranking Michigan football's 5 most important offensive players in 2026
It was sorely missed the past two seasons, but he's said to be on track for a full return this year. While it remains to be seen where he is athletically after he comes back from multiple knee procedures, Moore's impact on the defense will be felt if he's even able to return to 80% of what he was when he was an All-Big Ten secondary piece in 2023.

#coordinator

Five-star running back David Gabriel Georges has something to say after his high-profile recruitment that ultimately resulted in him choosing Tennessee over Ohio State. To say that it was a hotly debated and fiery recruiting process is probably not doing it justice, and Gabriel Georges would like things to be better for others in the same position in the future, it appears.
There were some premature reports, rumors being reported as fact, and some pretty nasty comments made by fan bases throughout the process, and whether you like it or not, the words Gabriel Georges posted on his X account Thursday might be worth considering. Here's what he had to say in his post on social media:
"First and foremost, I give all glory to God for His countless blessings and for faithfully guiding me throughout this journey. Without Him, I wouldn't be where I am today, wrote Gabriel Georges.
"I also want to express my sincere gratitude to my family, friends, coaches, teammates, mentors, and everyone who has supported and encouraged me along the way. Your belief in me, your guidance, and your unwavering support have meant more than words can express, and I will always be grateful.
"I also feel it is important to address something. What should have been one of the most meaningful and joyful moment of my life has, at times, been overshadowed by negative media coverage, false narratives, and unfair ***** umptions about both my character and my family. I understand the passion, excitement, and pride that college football inspires, and I have great respect for every fan base and every program involved in this process. However, any form of harassment, and the spread of misinformation is simply unnecessary and uncalled for.

#georges #process #express #family

India fast bowler Mayank Yadav said improving mentally and understanding his body better during rehabilitation helped him make a successful return after a 21-month injury layoff.

Back in India's colours after nearly two years, Mayank returned figures of 2/18 in four overs as India restricted Zimbabwe to 125/7 in the opening T20I of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

The pacer, who underwent surgery for a stress fracture in his back in Christchurch, New Zealand, in July 2025, made an immediate impact by dismissing Brian Bennett with the very first ball of the innings. Bowling consistently above 140 kmph, he extracted seam movement and bounce to trouble Zimbabwe's batters throughout his spell.

"It's always a great feeling when you come back and play for your country and especially bowl like this, this type of spell. It's a fantastic feeling, and I don't think I can describe it well through my words.

"Obviously it was there because I was coming after two years and there is always pressure when you come to play for your country. So, I was a little bit nervous. But my thinking and my plan was very simple to just execute my strength and just keep bowling," Mayank said during a mid-innings interview with the broadcasters.

He added that the early wicket helped him settle quickly.

"Definitely after the first ball wicket I calmed down a lot. I got confidence. I'm playing after a while, but still I can deliver with the skills I have, that strength I have; it will help me a lot on these types of wickets, especially."

Reflecting on his recovery, Mayank said the biggest change came mentally rather than physically.

"There are a lot of things: physical training, mentally. When you're injured and, in that phase, mental strength makes a huge difference for any player.

"So, I think more than physically, for me, mentally I got much better, and I knew my body a lot after the surgery and after the rehab. So, it makes a huge difference for me," he concluded.

India completed a comfortable seven-wicket victory, thanks largely to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive half-century. The teenager raced to a fifty in just 18 **** , his first substantial innings in international cricket, scoring 50 off 19 deliveries with four fours and four sixes.

After Mayank and the bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 125/7, India chased down the target in 13.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

#India #back

Nationals trading 2.68 ERA left-hander called 'inevitable' by MLB execs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Washington Nationals are currently 51-51 on the regular season, 8.0 games back in the NL East, and only 1.5 games out of the NL Wild Card.
But, this team is not expected to be all-in buyers, nor all-out sellers. Instead, they're more likely to sell a few pieces who are on expiring deals, but keep CJ Abrams-type players under control. With that in mind, one trade candidate comes to mind as likely to move.
Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that rival MLB executives believe that the Nationals trading away 2.68 ERA left-hander Foster Griffin is "inevitable" this summer.
"Some rival executives believe a Foster Griffin trade is inevitable," Rosenthal and Sammon write. "The Washington Nationals, however, are still ****** sing whether to deal, extend or keep the starting pitcher through the end of the season, according to people familiar with the club's thinking who were granted anonymity to speak freely."

#nationals #washington #sammon #left

England great Alastair Cook has revived the debate over Jacob Bethell's IPL stint, saying international cricket should always come before franchise leagues.

His comments have resurfaced after Bethell was ruled out of this year's The Hundred with a knee injury, denying him valuable match practice ahead of England's Test series against Pakistan.

Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast alongside Mo Bobat and Dinesh Karthik, Cook doubled down on his earlier criticism of Bethell staying in the IPL despite limited opportunities.

"What I'm saying, I think this is where it's really important. I'm here for the Test match in a week's time, and one of our No. 3 players (is sitting on the bench)... I think it's really important that English cricket is more important than an IPL or a franchise. That's what I think, and apparently, I'm not allowed to think it, because the IPL is the best tournament in the world," the former skipper said.
— StickToCricket (StickToCricket)
Cook also questioned the value of Bethell spending another IPL season on the bench, adding: "So I'm taking it from Jacob Bethel, who sat on the bench the year before and learnt from all those players, who then also sitting on the bench is not playing. I'm sitting here going, my No. 3 to the side I actually really want to win, which is England, no disrespect to RCB and all those franchises, I want England to be the most successful side."

Cook's comments have gained fresh attention after Bethell suffered a knee injury during England's ODI series against India, forcing him to withdraw from The Hundred, where he was due to captain Birmingham Phoenix.

The setback has also raised doubts over his availability for England's upcoming Test series against Pakistan.
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Earlier this year, Bethell defended his decision to remain at Royal Challengers Bengaluru despite limited game time, saying there is "no right or wrong way" and insisting training in the IPL had helped his development even when he wasn't part of the playing XI.

#england #think

The most outspoken member of the Buffalo Bills has made the NFL's Top 100 player list.
Not only is Dion Dawkins the second-most visible Bills player behind Josh Allen, he's long been one of the steadiest left tackles in football.
The former second round pick — in Sean McDermott's first year as head coach — began his career at guard before kicking outside to tackle, an unusual career arc for an NFL blocker.
He's been Buffalo's starting left tackle since 2018, and has logged over 1,000 snaps (including the postseason) in eight-consecutive seasons.
Here's the NFL's video on Dawkins inclusion in the Top 100 list at No. 57:

#bills #list #buffalo

Wrote about the best of us, and wrote about … the rest of us.
The best of us? Indiana's state championship basketball team from Special Olympics Boone County, who went to Minnesota last month and won bronze at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
The rest of us? Those of us arguing about politics, if our goal is to hurt – not help. Those of us who are part of this wall of sound where everyone's shouting and ***** ody's listening, and using all that noise as cover for cruelty.
Now then, my job is to have opinions and share them, so I'll keep at it, hoping to make a small difference for good even knowing some people see me as something entirely different. My goal is to help, not hurt – not to insult folks who disagree, but to invite them to see things another way. I fall short, at times. I'm sure of it.
Columns about Special Olympics, the culture wars around Fever star Caitlin Clark, and President Trump's phone to call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino? All in the same week? Makes for an interesting Mailbagg™.

Diego Maradona 'Hand of God' goal, explained: Revisiting Argentina's 1986 World Cup controversy that still haunts England originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Diego Maradona is a legend of Argentine soccer and the sport in general, but his most iconic World Cup moment should never have happened, according to the rules.
Maradona's "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup lives in soccer lore in part because it was explicitly illegal, though he would score another goal in the match to set the stage for Argentina's run to the ******* le.
Forty years later, as Argentina and England face off on the world stage again, the English squad is hoping fortune swings back their way.
Here's a complete look back at Maradona's iconic "Hand of God" goal.

The sixth edition of The Hundred starts on Tuesday, 21 July as the tournament returns with some different team names and new kits, players and coaches.
Since last year's competition, stakes in the eight sides have been sold to investors, raising more than £500m to be shared between cricket's 18 counties and at least £50m of investment in grassroots participation.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 edition, including the schedule and how to watch and follow on the BBC.
Full Hundred 2026 squads
Who owns the teams competing in The Hundred?

Sunderland look set to announce the signing of former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund right-back Thomas Meunier on a free transfer following his release from Lille at the end of his contract this summer.
The 34-year-old, who made three appearances for Belgium at the World Cup and bagged two **** ists, has a proven track record of playing at the very highest level, and joins Sunderland at probably the most exciting time in our history.
Fans of Lutsharel Geertruida may not want to hear this, but bringing in someone of Meunier’s ability to add extra strength in depth to our defence seems a more sensible option, particularly when resources will be needed in other areas of the pitch to ensure we can bring in genuine top-class players. Signing a player of Meunier’s calibre on a free seems a sensible and logical move on paper.
I see very few downsides when it comes to this transfer, to be honest.
One of the most interesting aspects of this transfer to me is that it’s a great example of how having the lure of European football will help us to pip other clubs to good players this summer.

Aston Villa ***** s Pervis Estupinan, Bruno Guimaraes is not far sale, Inter Milan give up on signing Trevoh Chalobah.
AC Milan's Ecuador left-back Pervis Estupinan, 28, is one of the targets being ***** sed by Aston Villa. (Mail)
Bruno Guimaraes is viewed as not being for sale by Newcastle, despite rumours of ***** nal thinking they could get the 28-year-old Brazil midfielder for £50m. (Newcastle Chronicle)
Inter Milan have given up on signing England defender Trevoh Chalobah as they cannot afford Chelsea's asking price of £30m, but Como are still interested in the 27-year-old. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)
Chelsea are set make an offer which could reach £21m for Rayo Vallecano's Spanish left-back Pep Chavarria, 28. (Marca - in Spanish)

Spain defender Mapi Leon has joined London City Lionesses on a three-year deal following her exit from Barcelona.
The 31-year-old spent nine years at Barcelona and started their 4-0 win over Lyon in this year's Women's Champions League final - their fourth European **** le.
She won 27 trophies in total, as part of one of Europe's most successful teams, and joins former Barcelona team-mate Alexia Putellas in London.
Leon has more than 50 caps for Spain and helped them win a second Nations League **** le in 2025.
"I'm excited and happy to be here. It's an interesting and attractive project. I have seen what is being built and what is taking shape," said Leon.

Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro aren't the only ones throwing punches this weekend. Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green and Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem are also trading haymakers, only this altercation is taking place on social media.
On Sunday's episode of The Draymond Green Show, Green discussed the recent altercation between Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, sharing his own experience getting into it with a teammate and revealing what bothered him most about the incident.
"I remember when I got into it with Poole… I remember one person, when the Jordan Poole incident happened with me, who was really, really outspoken about it, and it really bothered me, was Udonis Haslem," Green said.
"I saw Haslem get into it with guys on teams that was younger than him before. Ala Jimmy Butler. Then he came out like, 'That's ridiculous! You get into it with your young guy I would never. I can't believe you did that…'"
"So when I first saw this, I was like, **** . This is two young guys Udonis Haslem raised. If you raised this young guy in the light of what you was saying about me, and now he punches this other young guy, that y'all kind of co-raised, are you going to have that same energy?"

The 2026 Major Legue Baseball Draft is now in our rearview mirror. While it wasn't a 2024 or 2025-esque firestorm of Tennessee Volunteers flying off the board, Tennessee still had a solid six players selected over the two-day event.
Let's take a closer look at who went where.
CB-A, No. 32: Tegan Kuhns, St. Louis Cardinals
The headliner was, of course, Tennessee ace Tegan Kuhns. He had been projected from anywhere as high as 24 to Seattle down to below where he was taken, which was at No. 32 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Yes, the Cardinals. For the second straight year, St. Louis tabbed the top of Tennessee's pitching rotation early in the draft. Last year, St. Louis took Liam Doyle with the No. 5 overall pick.

MIAMI GARDENS — England star Jude Bellingham has brought the "Three Lions" level against Norway in the World Cup quarterfinal at Hard Rock Stadium.
Bellingham scored a superb goal in the second minute of first-half stoppage time on Saturday, July 11 to make the score 1-1.
Watch the World Cup live on Fubo (free trial)
This is Norway's first appearance in the World Cup quarterfinals, while England is here for the third straight tournament, eyeing a return to its semifinal form from 2018.
Today's winner will wait around to learn their semifinal opponent: Lionel Messi and Argentina, or Granit Xhaka and Switzerland.

The Seattle Seahawks underwent significant changes at running back this offseason. They lost Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III to free agency and replaced him by drafting Jadarian Price. The NFC West has some very competitive backfields throughout the division. Heading into the 2026 NFL season, we've ranked all four backfields in the division from best to worst.
A healthy Christian McCaffrey is still arguably the best running back in the league. The dual-threat playmaker has been a cheat code for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. When available, McCaffrey is an annual Offensive Player of the Year candidate.
The rebuilding Arizona Cardinals wouldn't rank highly on most division-based lists, but their running back room is undeniably in good shape. Veteran James Conner is still impactful. The Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall. Love was arguably the best overall prospect in the 2026 NFL draft. Before drafting him, they also signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency. This backfield has three-headed monster potential.
Kyren Williams has firmly established himself as a top-10 back in the NFL. The former Notre Dame standout has rushed for 1,000+ yards in three straight seasons. Blake Corum rushed for 746 yards and six touchdowns last year, proving he's one of the better handcuffs in the NFL.
The unknown factor surrounding the Seahawks' backfield has them currently ranking last in the division. Will Jadarian Price be an effective rookie? When will Zach Charbonnet be healthy and available? How involved will George Holani be? The Seahawks have questions at running back heading into camp.

Transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri reports that Milan star Rafael Leao has decided to drop his agent and rely on a group of lawyers for his future, while a local agency will represent him for a potential transfer in the Saudi Pro League.
Milan star Leao has decided to 'stop using a dedicated agent' and has started working with 'several lawyers', according to transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 23: Rafael Leao #17 of Portugal celebrates scoring his team's fifth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match between Portugal and Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium on June 23, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
Leao has a €175m release clause at Milan, but the Rossoneri are reportedly looking to sell for at least €60m.
Earlier this summer, Leao admitted that he'd seek a new challenge during the summer transfer window, but no formal offer has yet arrived from any club in Europe's top-five leagues.

The Knicks played their 2026 NBA Summer League opener against the Nets on Friday night in Las Vegas, but aside from Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Nickel, many of New York's players did not play up to snuff.
Dadiet, who is entering his third year in the league, finished the night with 20 points on 6 of 16 shooting, seven rebounds and one steal in 21 minutes on the floor. But it was his first half performance that kept the score close. The Frenchman scored nine of his points on 3 of 7 shooting through the first two quarters.
As for Nickel, the forward scored nine points on 3 of 6 shooting in 12 minutes on the floor. He also came down with four rebounds in the first half. Nickel finished with 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting, including 6-for-10 from three.
Mohamed Diawara, the other notable Knick participating in this year's summer league, and entering his second season with the Knicks, scored just five points on 1 of 7 shooting in his 13 minutes on the floor. He was a minus-19 at halftime, and it didn't get much better.
For the game, Diawara scored just seven points on 1 of 9 shooting with six rebounds. He was a minus-39 on the floor in his 23 minutes.

Jorge Jesus was announced as the new Portugal coach on Friday, which could have implications for Cristiano Ronaldo's international future.
The 41-year-old said he would take time to mull whether he will continue to play for Portugal after the World Cup last-16 exit to Spain on Monday. Jesus was his coach at Al-Nassr when the pair won the Saudi League last season.
"Today a new journey begins. Welcome to the national team, Mr Jorge Jesus," the Portuguese football **** ociation wrote on social media.
Portuguese media had long reported that Jesus would succeed Roberto Martinez, who left following the Spain defeat.
According to the reports, the 71-year-old is signing a contract until 2030 when Portugal co-hosts the next World Cup.

LAS VEGAS — Seated just a few inches from the Thomas & Mack Center’s baseline, arguably the best seat in the house for AJ Dybantsa’s Summer League debut, Paul Pierce’s inquiry was a mixture of bewilderment and excitement.
“He already got his own shoe?” the Hall of Famer asked, referencing the pair of metallic silver Nike GTs Dybantsa was wearing. “God****!”
A few minutes later, as the No. 1 pick dribbled from the logo Thursday, plowing through four defenders like prime Clinton Portis en route to a thunderous slam — with the entire building erupting in awe — Pierce’s questions had been answered.
The hype, real. The wait, warranted.
“That looked like [No.] 1 to me! That looked like 1 to me!” Pierce screamed, leaping from his seat like the thousands of other onlookers. It took just 12 minutes for the 48-year-old to get his money’s worth, heading for the exits while repeatedly stating he had seen enough from the highly anticipated showdown.

Few around the NFL have fallen in love with the Atlanta Falcons' offseason moves thus far, but general manager Ian Cunningham knows his job is to play chess not checkers. The team's latest moves to extend tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London will help this franchise in both the short and long term.
The Falcons freed up nearly $20 million in cap **** e by retaining these two offensive playmakers. However, Cunningham would be wise to use some of that money to extend other key players, including Bijan Robinson and Matthew Bergeron.
In today's Falcons Wire Recap, Atlanta's offensive line receives some love, Bleacher Report calls out A.J. Terrell's recent ESPN snub, we look at updated salary cap numbers and one concerning stat for Tua Tagovailoa.
ESPN's recent poll of NFL personnel did not include A.J. Terrell among the top 10 cornerbacks in the league, however, Terrell was included in the honorable mentions section. Bleacher Report took exception with a few of the players left off of ESPN's poll, highlighting Terrell among biggest snubs.
"There's some fantastic cornerback talent in the honorable mention section," wrote B/R's Paul Kasabian. "Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. has been one of the better players at his position since arriving in the league in 2020. The knock on him here appeared to be a lack of interceptions (six over his six years)."

Aki Iwai changed her name a couple of months ago on the LPGA to help make it easier for American fans (and starters) to **** ounce. After an opening 8-under 63 at the Amundi Evian Championship, it's a good time for golf fans to get to know the more aggressive half of the Iwai sister set.
Iwai's given name is Akie, **** ounced ah-kee-ay, and her nickname is Aki (ah-kee). She told LPGA officials in May that she wanted to go by her nickname going forward. Twin sister Chisato started going by her nickname, Chizzy, on LPGA leaderboards and rankings at the start of the 2026 season. The LPGA's first twins were both rookies — and winners — on the LPGA last year. They have 14 **** les between them on the JLPGA and turned age 24 on July 5. Aki, who was born one minute before her sister, is ranked 24th in the world and Chizzy is 25th.
Aki's bogey-free 63 is the lowest opening round at the Evian since Ayaka Furue in 2022. **** an has three players currently in the top 7, with fellow major winner Mao Saigo carding a 66 and Erika Hara a 67.
"I was able to focus on my golf, and then stay committed," said Iwai of her day, noting that the mountainous Evian Resort reminds her of courses in **** an.
Joining Saigo at 66 is recent KPMG Women's PGA winner Haeran Ryu and Jin Hee Im.

England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway will pit two of the planet's deadliest strikers head to head.
Here, the Press ****** ociation compares England skipper Harry Kane and Norway hot-shot Erling Haaland.
Golden Boot chase
Both players feature in an illustrious list of names battling for the top scorer honour this summer.
With Argentina's Lionel Messi leading the way on eight goals as the tournament reaches the quarter-final stage, Haaland shares second place on seven with France star Kylian Mbappe – with Kane just a goal further behind on six.

DETROIT (AP) — Jake Rogers and Spencer Torkelson homered and the Detroit Tigers won their fourth straight game, beating the Athletics 6-1 on Wednesday night.
Troy Melton (5-1) allowed one unearned run on four hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out nine as the Tigers won for the seventh time in eight games.
Jeffrey Springs (3-9) took the loss for the Athletics, who have lost five straight and nine of 10. He gave up six runs in 4 1/3 innings to fall to 0-9 in his last 15 starts.
Each team lost an All-Star in the second inning. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz left due to an illness, and Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler came out after being hit on his throwing hand by a foul tip.
The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the first and Riley Greene gave them the lead with an RBI single before Springs retired the next two batters.

As Arthur Fery has raced around the baseline at Wimbledon this week, coming up with the sort of backs-to-the-wall points that have defined his remarkable run to the semi-finals, he has often celebrated with a defiant shout of “allez!”
Wimbledon may have a homegrown hope in the 23-year-old British wildcard, but from growing up just five minutes down the road from the All England Club, Fery’s journey has also been developed elsewhere: the son of French parents, educated at an American college, now playing under a Dutch coach. But not everyone is surprised by his sudden emergence onto the big stage.
Born in Sevres, a Parisian suburb in the southwest of the city that lies a 20-minute drive away from Roland Garros, Fery speaks French as fluently as English. His mother, Olivia Fery (née Gravereaux), was a former professional tennis player who played in the 1991 French Open and represented France in the team tournament that is now known as the Billie Jean King Cup.
His father, Loic Fery, is one of the wealthiest men in France, making his fortune as a private investor and hedge fund manager. In 2009, Fery also moved into sport as he bought second-division French football team FC Lorient. He remains the Ligue 1’s team’s president after their takeover by the Bournemouth owner Bill Foley.
Drawing inspiration from his mother and the annual Championships, Fery was drawn to tennis after his parents moved to Wimbledon when he was young. He attended King’s College in Wimbledon, a public school that currently charges tuition fees of up to £11,940 per term, and briefly represented France in tennis at under-12 level, with his mother travelling with him to tournaments.