When Kawhi Leonard became a Toronto Raptor for the first time in the summer of 2018, he looked shellshocked. "There's just more questions you have to ask me in order for me to tell you about myself," he said, introducing himself to an organization and city he reportedly had no interest in joining.
Leonard had fallen out with his former team, the San Antonio Spurs – one of the most respected franchises in professional sports – due to differences in opinion about an injury that had limited him to just nine games in the 2017-18 season. The Los Angeles native had hoped to end up in southern California, but instead the Raptors risked it all by swapping franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan for one year of an injured, malcontent Leonard. It worked: Leonard led the Raptors to their maiden championship on the back of a historic playoff run, averaging 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 **** ists and 1.7 steals en route. Leonard won his second finals MVP to go alongside the one he had claimed with the Spurs when he helped them to the **** le in 2014.
Related: LeBron James is everything Philadelphia wants. And everything it can't stand | Bryan Armen Graham
"The narrative of not wanting to come to this city is gone," the team's president, Masai Ujiri, said at that 2018 press conference, speaking to insecure Raptors fans who had watched American players like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Chris Bosh leave Toronto since the franchise opened its doors in 1995. "We should move past that. Believe in this city. Believe in yourselves … We are proud of who we are."
But even a historic season wasn't enough to convince Leonard to stay north of the border. After a long and contentious free-agency period managed by his uncle, Dennis Robertson, Leonard spurned the reigning champions in favor of his hometown Los Angeles Clippers. "There wasn't as much anger in 2019 as there was with Vince Carter or some of the other guys who left," says Bruce Arthur, who has covered Leonard since 2018 for the Toronto Star. "I think he was given a little bit of special dispensation because he was going home, because he had delivered a **** le, and because I never felt like there was ever a connection outside of Kawhi the basketball player, with Toronto."

#SPURS #vince #carter #believe

Real Madrid rediscovered their sparkle with an emphatic rout of Sevilla in a match that saw Arda Güler take charge, while Madrid fans celebrated Kylian Mbappé's clinical finishing and Yan Diomandé's emergence. However, the victory was not without controversy, as Sevilla were left furious with the officiating.
Rounding out the football action are a domestic transfer market stirred by Getafe's interest in Sergio Ramos, a struggling ***** nal's resilience in the Premier League, and Nico Paz's unstoppable form under Cesc Fàbregas in Italy.
Real Madrid delivered a commanding performance with a 4-1 victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu, inspired by a stellar display from Arda Güler. José Mourinho's side showed a dramatic improvement in their fluidity to set up a comfortable win, sealed by a brilliant Kylian Mbappé brace and another standout goal from youngster Yan Diomandé, establishing the Turkish midfielder as a cornerstone of Madrid's midfield for the immediate future.
The defeat left the Sevilla camp deeply aggrieved, with outrage spreading from the dressing room to the press room and the club's official channels as they left Madrid's ground. Coach Luis García Plaza and players including Kike Salas and Juan Iglesias openly argued that Güler should have been sent off for a heavy challenge on Peque, directing their criticism squarely at the handling of VAR.
On the transfer front, Getafe once again grabbed the headlines after president Ángel Torres surprisingly confirmed in public that Sergio Ramos is among the club's potential signings. Having already secured Dani Carvajal—who is ready to make his debut immediately—the Coliseum club's board is seeking another historic, headline-grabbing coup in Spanish football by bolstering its defence with the veteran former Real Madrid centre-back.

#kylian

Real Madrid rediscovered their sparkle with an emphatic thrashing of Sevilla in a clash where Arda Güler took charge, as Madrid fans celebrated Kylian Mbappé's clinical finishing and Yan Diomandé's emergence. However, the victory was not without controversy, with Sevilla furious over the officiating.
The football roundup also features a domestic transfer market stirred by Getafe's ambitions to sign Sergio Ramos, a struggling ******* nal's resilience in the Premier League, and Nico Paz's unstoppable form under Cesc Fàbregas in Italy.
Real Madrid delivered an impressive performance with a 4-1 victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu, inspired by a stellar display from Arda Güler. José Mourinho's side showed dramatically improved fluidity to secure a comfortable win, sealed by a brilliant Kylian Mbappé brace and another eye-catching goal from youngster Yan Diomandé, with the Turkish midfielder staking his claim as a cornerstone of Madrid's midfield in the immediate future.
The defeat left the Sevilla camp deeply frustrated as they departed Madrid's home ground, with outrage spreading from the dressing room to the press room and the club's official channels. Coach Luis García Plaza and players including Kike Salas and Juan Iglesias openly argued that Güler should have been sent off for a heavy challenge on Peque, directing their criticism squarely at the handling of VAR.
In transfer news, Getafe once again grabbed the headlines following a surprise admission from president Ángel Torres, who publicly confirmed that Sergio Ramos is on the club's list of potential signings. Having already secured Dani Carvajal—who is ready to make his debut immediately—the Coliseum club's board is seeking another historic, headline-grabbing coup in Spanish football by strengthening its defence with the veteran former Real Madrid centre-back.

#sevilla #arda

Craft stores are generally reserved for browsing yarn aisles on quiet Sunday afternoons and overspending on seasonal holiday decor. But every so often, retail chaos infiltrates their quiet corners in the face of a shoplifter or a drunkard. Or maybe, both.
In a TikTok storytime, creator Madi Max (soft.cuddlebunny) looked back on her days working retail at Joann Fabrics. She specifically recounted an incident of an intoxicated shoplifter trying to play Romeo and criminal mastermind at the same time. The result? The local craft hub turned into an accidental slapstick comedy routine.
The hilarious routine started as an unhinged flirtation attempt. But it ended with dozens of stolen markers across the linoleum floor and the furious perp screaming from the back of a police cruiser.
According to Max, the incident kicked off when a man stumbled through the automatic sliding doors carrying an open, uncovered liquor bottle. He was allegedly actively taking swigs as he roamed the aisles. But rather than laying low, he allegedly zeroed in on Max's coworker.
The man was reportedly nursing an unprompted, aggressive crush and loudly peppering the coworker with wildly inappropriate remarks. At one point, he allegedly started pointing at rolls of material, declaring that she would look stunning in lingerie made out of the textiles.

#craft #shoplifter

The choice between established ****** ans and digital-first challengers defines many modern portfolios. In the financial realm, investors must decide if JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) or SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:SOFI) is the better buy for long-term growth.
JPMorgan Chase operates as a global financial heavyweight, offering everything from wealth management to retail branches. Conversely, SoFi Technologies focuses on an integrated mobile app to help members borrow, save, and invest. While one relies on massive scale, the other bets on fintech innovation to capture a younger, tech-savvy demographic.
JPMorgan Chase functions as a cornerstone of the global economy, managing a vast array of services including ****** et management and investment banking. In its latest annual report, filed for 2025, the firm highlighted its reach through more than 5,000 branches across the 48 contiguous states. It serves a diverse client base ranging from individual consumers and small businesses to large corporations and governments. The firm provides a comprehensive range of financial services, including transaction processing and commercial banking on a global scale.
Financial performance remained robust in FY 2025, with revenue reaching nearly $182.4 billion. This represented a growth rate of approximately 3.3% compared to the previous year, contributing to a net income of close to $57.0 billion. The net margin, which measures the percentage of revenue kept as profit after all expenses, sat at roughly 20.4% for the period. This consistent profitability underscores the scale of its operations across diverse global markets.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the firm reported a debt-to-equity ratio of nearly 2.6x. This ratio measures total debt against shareholder equity, with a higher number indicating more reliance on borrowed funds to finance growth. The current ratio, which compares short-term ****** ets to short-term liabilities, was approximately 0.5x, while free cash flow reached a negative $147.8 billion. Free cash flow is the cash a company generates after accounting for cash outflows to support operations and maintain its capital ****** ets.

#sofi #global #term

Minerals 260 has secured commitments to raise $178.2m (A$250m) before costs via a two-tranche share placement to fund the next stage of development at its Bullabulling Gold Project in Western Australia (WA).
The company said the funds, raised at A$0.88 per share, will allow it to advance construction and exploration activities at the site, which is located 65km west of Kalgoorlie.
The placement, involving the issuance of 284,090,910 fully paid ordinary shares, includes a A$30m cornerstone investment from the Franco-Nevada Corporation.
According to Minerals 260, the issue price matches the company's closing share price on 11 September 2026 and represents a 3.5% premium to the ten-day volume-weighted average price of A$0.85.
Existing institutional shareholders participated in the placement alongside new domestic and international investors.

#western #kalgoorlie

ARAPAHOE, Wyo. (AP) — Every Sunday morning on the Wind River Reservation, congregants gather at Foundations for Nations Church to pray while protesters outside do the same.
The two rituals have unfolded in parallel since the Christian church's pastor, Sarah Lucas, preached a sermon condemning Arapaho ceremonial ways.
The Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes that share the reservation have made clear that Lucas is no longer welcome. Lucas, who is not Native American but owns the land under her church, says she isn't going anywhere. The standoff tests the boundaries of religious freedom and the right of a tribal nation to govern according to its own values and protocols.
The conflict stems from a video that circulated in July as Arapaho people surfaced from their weeklong sundance ceremony. In it, Lucas called that cornerstone of Arapaho spiritual life "idol worship."
"Jesus is the chain breaker. He is the only God that we should be praying to," Lucas said.

#arapaho #church

The latest addition to the Formula 1 calendar had already sparked plenty of discussion in the paddock before the weekend. Most of the conversations centred on safety and whether the track around the IFEMA complex would actually prove to be a 'car killer', as several teams feared after the rather chaotic F3 test.
Another aspect that attracted plenty of interest was La Monumental, Turn 12 of the new circuit. It is the corner with 13.5 degrees of banking, which equates to an incline of around 24%.
This is less than the final corner at Zandvoort – the Arie Luyendyk corner has 18 degrees of banking – but despite that, Pirelli describes La Monumental as the toughest corner on the entire F1 calendar for the tyres.
"Basically the peak of the vertical energy is not higher than in other corners that we have in the calendar, like in Qatar, the banking in Zandvoort, et cetera. It's more about the time you are under load and the continuous load that you have," Pirelli's chief engineer Simone Berra explained.
"So basically instead of two or three seconds, you have 5.5 seconds under those loads. So you have double the duty cycle in that area. That is the main thing to keep in mind and what we are considering in our calculations."

#banking #basically #load

As the Buffalo Bills prepare for the 2026 NFL season, Bills Wire will take a look at the most important contributors on their roster. The team has some cornerstone players who will be returning for another shot at bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo, and they'll have help from some new additions as well.
Leading up to the season, we will be counting down the top-30 most important players on the roster. We'll recap their 2025 season, look ahead to what they'll offer in 2026, and tackle the most pressing questions surrounding them this coming year.
Next on the countdown is Spencer Brown.
Position: Tackle
Age at start of season: 28

#season #tackle #roster #players

MADRID (AP) — Formula 1 drivers enjoyed the high adrenaline produced by the Madring track at the Spanish Grand Prix while complaining about the lack of overtaking opportunities on the new circuit.
They also called for other improvements such as reducing the pit lane length. Madrid has produced a hybrid urban circuit using existing roads and purpose-built sections for its first grand prix in 45 years.
"In terms of track design I think it can be better," Red Bull's Max Verstappen said on Saturday. "Input from drivers in the future on track design can also help a lot. ... If you want to have better racing, overtaking, I think there can be a few corners that can be changed."
Verstappen added, "There's always a way to find an overtaking opportunity around a track."
There were only a few overtaking maneuvers in the first days of action at Madring across F1, F2 and the F3 series. Some commentators called Madring the Spanish Monaco.

#madring #overtaking #spanish

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire following Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Lincoln City.
"It was no surprise in terms of how difficult that game was and the pattern of the game. We are really frustrated that 90 per cent of the time their threats, because we limited the number of corners and set-plays, we did deal with them," he said.
"But it's ultimately their biggest weapon and while we are not getting in front, they are going to have their opportunities with counter-attacks and set-plays.
"The only way to stop that noise (sounds of boos from some fans) at the end of the game is to win games.
"There is no lack of effort, I get that, but we are not the ones forcing the big moments to go our way."

#game #plays #heckingbottom #lincoln

The Chargers will take the field for the first time in 2026 with an opening weekend matchup against the Cardinals on deck.
Here's what Los Angeles needs to do on offense to come away with a win.
One of the biggest appeals of hiring Mike McDaniel this offseason to coordinate the offense is what it might do for Herbert, who is being lauded as a potential MVP candidate with McDaniel's system attached. Chargers fans caught a glimpse of what that could look like in the preseason game against the Rams when Herbert hit Quentin Johnston for a long-range touchdown. A full game of Herbert operating the McDaniel offense should be a thing of beauty, but both men will need to show that this marriage lives up to the hype in order for Sunday to feel like a success.
McDaniel put up wanted posters for fullback Alec Ingold and running back Keaton Mitchell in the Chargers facility before LA was able to sign both players, in addition to adding tight ends Charlie Kolar and David Njoku. Sunday will be LA's first chance to show why those players in particular make this offense hum - what sort of usage does Ingold see as a fullback? Is Kolar going to be a more well-rounded receiving threat? What does the rotation look like between Kolar, Njoku, and second-year player Oronde Gadsden II? How much will Mitchell eat into Omarion Hampton's touches? The Chargers should be looking for proof of concept in Week 1, and that will come by answering at least a few of those questions and introducing fans to some of their new contributors on offense.
An interior offensive line of left guard Kayode Awosika, rookie second-round pick center Jake Slaughter, and right guard Cole Strange isn't anything to write home about, but McDaniel has made do with seemingly substandard trios on the inside before. Nolen looked like a potential game-wrecker in limited action for Arizona last season and now returns as the cornerstone of a defensive line who will look to take advantage of what has to be LA's greatest weakness on offense. If the Chargers can keep Nolen from making a big impact by sending help towards him and getting the ball out quickly to start the game, they should be able to keep things humming on offense.

#mcdaniel #kolar

Former Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden picked Cincinnati to beat Tampa Bay in Week 1, prompting brother Jon Gruden to accuse him of bias.
During a segment posted by Jon Gruden on X, the brothers went back and forth over Sunday's matchup.
Jon highlighted several of Tampa Bay's young defenders, including Josiah Trotter, Keionte Scott and Rueben Bain Jr., before Jay identified a weakness he believes Cincinnati can exploit.
"You got no corners. I'm taking the Bengals," Jay said.
It's Week 1 and we already have a little bias from my brother... give me Tampa to beat the Bengals!!

Presented by chevytrucks #Ad #Chevy #Silverado pic.twitter.com/MVsRsspHC3

#bengals #gruden #tampa

No. 7 Maryland field hockey had a frustrating first half. The Terps had 13 shots, 11 penalty corners and even two disallowed goals, but they remained scoreless against the upset-minded Towson Tigers. Missy Meharg's crew returned to the locker room searching for answers.
"We just had some lack of focus in the first two quarters," Meharg said. "We freed them up, gave them some really disciplined shapes and demanded that the players be in those ***** es so that we gave ourselves more ***** e to get from the front third into the circle."
Fortunately for the Terps, they did just that. A four-goal third quarter – including a hat trick from sophomore Jordyn Hollamon – was all the home team needed to spark its fifth straight win to open up the season, a 6-0 destruction of Towson.
"Jordyn is so versatile," Meharg said. "She understands all the shapes. She's so thorough because she can play anywhere in the front seven."
The Terps used a funky play to catch fire after halftime. Just two minutes into the third period, Hollamon received a long pass on the left wing and slipped the ball towards the center of the shooting circle for Maddie Vasilios. The ball never reached Vasilios, but it did find the back of the net, clanking off the heel of Towson's Else Wismans to open the scoring.

#Third #meharg #hollamon #first

The Tennessee **** ans made the first somewhat surprising pick of the 2026 NFL Draft when they selected former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the number four overall pick. With his first NFL game on the horizon, CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson believes he was worth the fourth overall pick for the **** ans.
Tate was drafted with the expectation that he can become a foundational piece of the offense and a long-term number one target for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. That might be a lot to ask from a rookie, but everything about the situation suggests the **** ans had a plan.
The biggest question surrounding the **** ans' selection was whether Tate's talent will eventually justify taking him fourth overall. Including Tate, only five wide receivers (six if you include Travis Hunter) have been selected in the top five of the NFL Draft since 2015.
Excluding Jacksonville Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter, former **** ans WR Corey Davis had the worst rookie season of those top five selections with 375 yards and 0 touchdowns. So, it made sense why **** ans fans, specifically, may have had concerns about the Tate selection.
However, a strong training camp has many anticipating his NFL regular-season debut. Tate doesn't need to immediately become one of the best receivers in the NFL for the pick to be successful, but Tennessee needs to see enough flashes to believe they have found a long-term offensive cornerstone.

#tate #draft

As Norway continues to follow the ongoing case involving Marius Borg Høiby, with a verdict expected on June 15, concern over Princess Mette-Marit's health has also intensified. The crown princess, who is reportedly on a waiting list for a lung transplant, was notably absent from a milestone event that holds special meaning for both her and her husband, Crown Prince Haakon.
On June 11, Haakon attended the 25th anniversary celebration of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's Fund, a charitable initiative established on the day of their wedding and one that has since become a cornerstone of the couple's public work.
This year's event carried particular emotional significance. For the first time, Princess Mette-Marit was unable to attend the annual celebration of the fund that was created as a direct result of her marriage to Haakon. Her fragile health prevented her from taking part in an occasion they have always hosted together, adding a poignant note to an event that represents a major part of their shared legacy.
Her last public appearance was on Norway's National Day, May 17, when she appeared visibly weakened and was seen relying on supplemental oxygen.
Crown Prince Haakon married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby on August 25, 2001, at Oslo Cathedral in a ceremony attended by royals from across Europe, including Spain's Queen Sofía and the then-Prince Felipe.

#mette #princess #june #Health

Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti didn't expect his team's injury report to fill up so quickly.
The No. 5 Hoosiers lost three starters in the first quarter of a 52-16 win over North Texas, a situation Cignetti has never experienced.
"I've never played, I don't think, a football game where we lost three starters in the first quarter," Cignetti said Thursday night on his weekly radio show. "Let alone the opening game of the year."
Buy IU football tickets!
Indiana played much of the game with starting corners Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris sidelined and were short-handed at running back thanks to a fluke injury to Khobie Martin. Earlier this week, Cignetti labeled IU's corners as "day-to-day" and told reporters Martin would likely be out until midseason.

#cignetti #martin

The Dallas Cowboys are dealing with a significant offensive line issue just days before their 2026 season opener. Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys' three-time Pro Bowl left guard and a cornerstone of their offensive line since being selected 24th overall in the 2022 draft, is headed to injured reserve.
Even though T.J. Bass is a more probable replacement, it has also opened the door for veteran offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson to protect quarterback Dak Prescott and fill the gap.
Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys' three-time Pro Bowl left guard and a cornerstone of their offensive line since being selected 24th overall in the 2022 draft, is headed to injured reserve.
Sep 21, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Houston Texans guard Laken Tomlinson (75) before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Tyler Smith had been dealing with a thumb issue since the offseason. He reported the problem to head coach Brian Schottenheimer but initially tried to play through it. On Monday, Schottenheimer informed the media that Smith would undergo surgery on the thumb and is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks. The team could not pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred. With the season opener against the New York Giants scheduled for September 13 at MetLife Stadium, the Cowboys moved quickly to address the depth issue.

#cowboys #line #since

As the Buffalo Bills prepare for the 2026 NFL season, Bills Wire will take a look at the most important contributors on their roster. The team has some cornerstone players who will be returning for another shot at bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo, and they'll have help from some new additions as well.
Leading up to the season, we will be counting down the top-30 most important players on the roster. We'll recap their 2025 season, look ahead to what they'll offer in 2026, and tackle the most pressing questions surrounding them this coming year.
Next on the countdown is James Cook.
Position: Running back
Age at start of season: 26

#bills #players

The regular season always brings surprises. Training camp stars don't always become September stars, and preseason momentum can disappear quickly once games begin to count. Still, several Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 1 trending in the right direction.
Veterans are settling into larger roles. Newcomers are earning trust. Young players are building on strong offseason performances. Philadelphia has plenty of reasons to be optimistic. They're preparing for their season opener against the Washington Commanders. Here are a handful of cornerstone pieces looking to build on some spring and summertime momentum.
Neither receiver is likely to challenge DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Dallas Goedert, or Saquon Barkley for featured roles in the offensive attack. Both, however, have done enough to earn attention heading into Week 1.
Cooper flashed relatively early. Brown came on later and put together one of his strongest stretches of the offseason, consistently finding ways to get open while producing whenever opportunities came his way.
The Eagles are confident they have reliable depth behind their top receiving options. Targets may be limited, but both receivers appear capable of making meaningful contributions when their numbers are called.

#philadelphia #season #always #offseason

As the Buffalo Bills prepare for the 2026 NFL season, Bills Wire will take a look at the most important contributors on their roster. The team has some cornerstone players who will be returning for another shot at bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo, and they'll have help from some new additions as well.
Leading up to the season, we will be counting down the top-30 most important players on the roster. We'll recap their 2025 season, look ahead to what they'll offer in 2026, and tackle the most pressing questions surrounding them this coming year.
Next on the countdown is Ed Oliver.
Position: Defensive tackle
Age at start of season: 28

#roster #they 'll

Blue Jays 5 A's 6
I wanted to ***** le this 'Bad Pitching, Defense and Hitting Leads to a Loss' but that's too many words.
A bad moment on defense, in the first inning, turned out to be very costly. Dylan Cease was having a rough time in the first. A walk to Henry Bolte, who followed that with a steal. Then a ground rule double to score the first run of the game. A single gave the A's runners on the corners, with two out. Carlos Cortes went to steal second, Alejandro Kirk threw to second, and the runner on third came home. Ernie Clement threw back home in plenty of time to get the runner, but the runner stopped and turned around. Kirk chased him, and the runner seemed to be giving up, but Kirk threw to Kazuma Okamoto, and it wasn't a good throw, went off Okamoto's glove and the runner scored. 2-0 after half an inning. Just a bad play. Just chasing him back to third would have been fine.
Kirk homered in the bottom of the inning, making up for the mistake.
But the A's got two more in the third. Bolte again walked and stole season (maybe next year, Cease could come up with a way to hold runners?). After a popup, Bolte stole third. Next batter, Zack Gelof hit a ground ball to third, Okamoto came home but the throw was too late. Then Gelof steal second and third and a single scored him. 4-1 A's.

#Third #runner #threw #home

Team USA's Caitlin Clark had one of the worst games of her professional career at the FIBA World Cup, but she attracted attention for an entirely different reason.
Clark ended USA's 55-52 win over Italy at the FIBA World Cup with one point, making zero field goals for the first time in her professional career.
The win kept spirits high in the locker room, but the camera-aware Clark made one action after the game that her teammates noticed, and now fans are pointing it out relentlessly.
The broadcast shared a clip from Team USA's locker room where Angel Reese, Jackie Young, and Indiana Fever teammate Aliyah Boston are seen laughing at Clark for hiding her feet under her locker's bench to make sure they aren't visible on camera.
Clark likely made a fantastic decision, as there are corners of the internet where a pixelated screenshot of her feet would go viral.

#team #locker #camera

The Cleveland Browns were nearly dominant on defense last season, finishing fourth in the NFL in total defense. A major part of their success last season was the record-setting performance by Myles Garrett, who set the all-time sack record with 23.0. Garrett has been moved to the Rams, and replacing him is a formidable pass rusher in his own right: Jared Verse.
With the ESPN top 100 recently released, Verse would come in at number 69, somehow dropping down 14 spots from his 55 ranking in 2025:
The Browns traded a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett, but Verse was a cornerstone, not a consolation prize, for Cleveland in the blockbuster deal. The 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year is already one of the league's best power rushers. He has been adding more moves to his repertoire this offseason, and he thinks returning to a three-point stance in the Browns' 4-3 scheme will give him even more sack opportunities. -- Daniel Oyefusi
Fairly criminal work by ESPN to lower Verse's ranking so dramatically, but we press on. What made things even worse was his projected sack total of 8.0, which most Browns fans will be expecting him to eclipse fairly easily, as he should land right around 12.0 sacks or more in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Where did Jared Verse rank in ESPN's Top 100 NFL Players?

#Browns

The battle between No. 13 Maryland field hockey and No. 6 Duke was everything fans could've asked for, as the former ACC foes went toe-to-toe on a neutral site for 70 minutes and into a shootout.
Thanks to a late goal from freshman Ella Beach and three consecutive shootout saves from goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko, the Terps stunned the Blue Devils, 3-2, to move to 4-0 on the season.
Duke had the first major chance just three minutes into the match, as Shae Wozniak received a centering pass just on the doorsteps of the goal. The attempt was denied by Klebasko, who dropped into a split and made a kick save with her left blocker.
Once again, penalty corners were a major theme throughout the game. Maryland had a pair of them right off the bat, but Duke set the tone by blocking a pair of hits from Feliz Kuhne.
On the other side, Duke earned a pair of penalty corners two minutes later and broke through on the second attempt. While the Blue Devils botched the initial insert, they quickly recovered and sent another centering pass towards the middle where Ashley Stockdale tipped the ball past Klebasko to put the Blue Devils ahead.

#goal

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "We planned this match the way we played. We were trying to dominate the match with our positioning, keeping possession of the ball as much as possible, and not conceding transitions, free-kicks or corners was our objective throughout the match.
"During the game, we tried to feel comfortable, create some good individual actions and be clinical. We created around five good chances to score. The next step for us is to continue building the team and try to correct a few things offensively. We are improving, but not enough.
"Overall, I can tell the fans and the players that I understand this is the way. In the last four years, with the success and performances we have had, we have had some days like today."
On new players taking time to gel: "The players who joined us need some adaption. Some our adapting quicker than others. In everything we are building, we must try and add the players who joined us in the direction we want."
Did you know?

#players #building #aston

While Texas Instruments (TXN) doesn't always get the attention it deserves when it comes to relevance for the artificial intelligence boom, the semiconductor specialist — which focuses on ******* og chips and embedded processors — remains a pivotal cornerstone entity. Year-to-date, TXN stock is up nearly 47%. However, a recent downturn may be setting up a mean-reversion play.
To be sure, the print isn't very encouraging at the moment. In the past two months, TXN stock has lost roughly 15% of equity value. At the same time, the fundamental underpinning is vital for AI applications. Because AI servers and data centers consume massive amounts of electricity (and thus run extremely hot), they require specialized ******* og chips — that's where Texas Instruments fills the gap.
Unusually Heavy Volume in Snowflake Call Options Ahead of Earnings Today
Home Depot Bear Put Spread Could Return 181% in 45 Days
After Nvidia's Earnings Pop, Options Traders Set Their Sights on $260. What It Will Take to Get There.

#chips #Stock

Chiefs can take pressure off Patrick Mahomes if this defender steps up originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This is obviously a huge year for the Kansas City Chiefs. They're trying to come back for a season where they didn't even make the playoffs. That's just not like them, but it happens.
The good news is that quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been rehabbing from his ACL and LCL tear, and should be able to help take this team to where it's used to being: on top. But, he can't do it alone. Sure, it's great for a quarterback to have offensive targets around him to toss to in the heat of the moment, but he needs a good defense, too, to hold points from the other team.
On Friday, Ben Solak of ESPN released a feature with the X-factor for each NFL team going into the new season. For the Chiefs, it's cornerback Nohl Williams.
"Williams isn't just tight in coverage, but he also creates on the ball," Solak says of his abilities, adding that 20% of the player's targets "ended in a pass defensed or interception, well above the league average for outside corners" of 14.3%. He says that this is "compelling evidence that Williams isn't just a sufficient corner, but an impactful one."

#sporting #take #good

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon delivered one of the NFL's standout seasons at the position in recent memory last year.
Pro Football Focus touted Witherspoon as having earned the second-highest graded season for a cornerback in the league since 2020.
Jaire Alexander (No. 1) was the only player who was ranked ahead of Witherspoon, having received an overall player grade of 90.7 for his performance from the 2020 NFL season as a member of the Green Bay Packers.
Witherspoon's performance further cemented his status as a cornerstone of Seattle's defense. His ability to excel in coverage while making game-changing plays has made him one of the Seahawks' most impactful defenders.
The young cornerback has continued to develop into a reliable and versatile presence in Seattle's secondary. His physical style, playmaking ability and consistency have allowed him to make an impact in multiple areas of the defense and shine among the best talents in the league at the slot.

#witherspoon #defense #Seattle

As the Buffalo Bills prepare for the 2026 NFL season, Bills Wire will take a look at the most important contributors on their roster. The team has some cornerstone players who will be returning for another shot at bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo, and they'll have help from some new additions as well.
Leading up to the season, we will be counting down the top-30 most important players on the roster. We'll recap their 2025 season, look ahead to what they'll offer in 2026, and tackle the most pressing questions surrounding them this coming year.
Next on the countdown is O'Cyrus Torrence.
Position: Guard
Age at start of season: 26

#lombardi