Coming off a walkthrough on Monday, the New England Patriots turned the tempo and intensity up a notch on Tuesday. The two-hour session behind Gillette Stadium was the most competitive so far this training camp, and quite an eventful one.
To recap the action, please head over to the latest version of our Patriots training camp notebook. For who caught our eye, please keep reading.
WR Kayshon Boutte: Boutte continues to make big plays on a daily basis. On Tuesday, his biggest moment came when he caught a deep touchdown from Drake Maye during 11-on-11s. Lining up in his typical spot as an X-receiver, the fourth-year man was able to get a step on safety Kevin Byard on a go route and showed some tremendous ball tracking and concentration skills to complete the over-the-shoulder catch for a score of 40-plus yards.
It was not Boutte's only reception on the day. He also caught a throw from Maye over the middle during 7-on-7s and added pair of catches when backup Tommy DeVito targeted him on out routes. It was an active day for a player who, through four practices, has been New England's most impactful wide receiver.
QB Drake Maye: The Patriots' quarterback started a bit slowly and his connection with A.J. Brown remains a work in progress, but he overall had a good day — an encouraging development after struggling with accuracy during the last full-speed practice on Sunday. Maye got into a rhythm during 11-on-11s, finding Boutte on his long touchdowns and also connecting with Hunter Henry and Rhamondre Stevenson for long completions.

#maye #Patriots #boutte #please

Caroline Dubois spends some time talking about her disappointment in not being able to secure a ****** le unification fight just yet as she aims to go undisputed, and keeping busy in the meanwhile rather than sitting around and waiting for the big fights to come her way. Dubois would also call out some rivals who she believes to be ducking the smoke.
"It's very disappointing. The goal was to fight either Elif Turhan or Stephanie Han. Unfortunately the Elif Turhan fight fell apart and unfortunately the Stephanie Han fight is something that has to wait, she just fought recently. So, she's resting or recovering and hopefully we can get that fight end of the year, that's the plan. I'm disappointed with Elif. We sent her an offer, she turned it down and, yeah, at the end of the day you can't force someone into the ring."
"There's a few reasons, I'm not going to go into them. At the end of the day, all I can say is the facts. I'm so happy with what we've achieved, I'm so happy for where I'm at, and I'm so excited for the future. And I know another fact is I want to be better…I want to dominate. You have to train to dominate. You have to train, you have to push yourself and I think the definition of insanity is to do the same thing and expect a different result. So if you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done.
"Working with Manny Robles now, I've been with him for three weeks now and it's been really good, really positive, great sparring, the work is good…I'm just happy to be in an exciting, booming gym."
"I think she's a coward. At the end of the day I think she knew I was going to be here, she knew that Mikaela Mayer was going to be here — she probably just thought 'nah, I don't want it'. She doesn't want it and I think it's a lame move. You come all the way out to the UK and you don't turn up? You don't want to be in the mix of some big fights? You got a table full of opponents that could possibly be in [with], you're not about it?! I think it's real disappointing and it shows her character."

#going #don 't

I broke down the 2027 scouting classes in my early summer scouting series, and the room has a ton of potential with a long list of potential standout players. I broke down the offense and defense in articles and I suggest reading those for a broad aspect of the room. Brock Bowers remains an elite tight end, and arguably the best in the NFL, but the Raiders do have some questions behind Bowers after the 2026 season. Former 2nd rounder Michael Mayer is sent to be a free agent, and with a good season he should be looking at a decent contract as a TE2, blocking specialist. Additionally, Ian Thomas is set to be a free agent and Las Vegas also has former UDFA Carter Runyon, who's flashed, but it's likely even with retaining Mayer the Raiders should add another TE.
These rankings are extremely early, and they will evolve over not only the summer but the next 8-10 months throughout the season, and into draft season. Some lists will feature 10, 15, 20, or more ranked prospects but I'll include others on the list below to note.
Jamari Johnson, Oregon – 6'5/260, R-So
Johnson was a key focal point of the Ducks offense last year with 32 receptions, 510 yards, and 3 TD after coming over from Louisville. He's better than Kenyon Sadiq, and in my opinion has a chance to be a better prospect than Bowers. Johnson has absurd movement skills, he's shown exceptional length, fires off the ball, and Johnson also shows a ton of quickness and movement in his route running. Johnson has fluid hips, he makes his cuts well, and Johnson shows an innate ability to adjust to the ball in the air and come down with tough catches. Where he makes a ton of impact is as a run blocker, where Johnson uses his length and athleticism with good technique, and a ton of lower body power to get off the line of scrimmage and into ***** e. Johnson will need to continue his play as the starter at TE, instead of the supplementary piece, but he has the core traits, athleticism, and technique to be a top 10 pick.
Peter Clarke, Temple – 6'6/270, Sr

#johnson #bowers #down

The Red Sox made an initial strike on the trade market this weekend when they made the 1-for-1 deal that sent lefty starter Connelly Early to the Nationals for breakout star Curtis Mead. It appears they aren't done, either. Here's what we're hearing on Boston's plans ahead of the trade deadline, which is Monday (August 3) at 6 p.m. ET.
º The Red Sox are keeping an open mind ahead of Monday, but according to major league officials, they're targeting three main needs. First, the club — like every contender this time of year — is interested in adding pitching depth, not just at the back end of the rotation but also in the bullpen. Secondly, catching upgrades remain on the table. Lastly — and perhaps most surprisingly — the club is in the shortstop market.
The addition of Mead at second base hasn't stopped Breslow from continuing to look for an infield bat and one rival evaluator said the belief is that the Red Sox are looking for a "long-term" option at shortstop. The market is rich with big-name candidates who may or may not move, including the Angels' Zach Neto, Houston's Jeremy Peña, the Mets' Francisco Lindor and Washington's C.J. Abrams. Considering the potential pending lockout — and a very poor position player class in free agency this winter — Boston may be looking at this deadline as an opportunity to settle that position.
That search comes with its complications. Landing a shortstop would signal the Red Sox waving the white flag on Trevor Story, whose Red Sox tenure has been defined by injuries but also a massive amount of respect for the leadership he brings. Adding Mead and a shortstop makes the pathway to regular at-bats much less clear for Marcelo Mayer moving forward. And perhaps most strikingly, it further clogs the pipes ahead of the arrival of top prospect Franklin Arias, who was just promoted to Triple-A.
"Not sure why (they're in that market) with Arias coming," said one rival scout.

#market #mead

After holding a lighter practice on Tuesday, the New England Patriots are expected to ramp back up the intensity for Day 4 of training camp on Tuesday.
The defense got the better of the offense during the last competitive team period, and quarterback Drake Maye threw his first interception of training camp on an intended pass to star wide receiver A.J. Brown. Safety Craig Woodson, who has continued to show significant growth as an NFL defensive back, came up with the takeaway.
All eyes will be on Maye and the offense to see how they bounce back against the stingy Patriots defense. Can the third-year quarterback finally get things clicking with Brown on the field? Will some of the other new faces, like wideout Romeo Doubs and tight end Eli Raridon make more of an impact?
Check back for live updates from practice.
Tuesday, July 28: 10:15-12:15 p.m. ET

#back #brown #practice #training

On this day in 2023, Eliezer Mayenda completed his transfer to Sunderland from Sochaux for a fee believed to be just over €1 million. The French third-tier side retained a 25% sell-on clause. Mayenda had turned 18 in May and signed a five-year contract.
He made his senior debut for Sochaux in a cup game, coming on as a substitute at the age of 16 years, seven months and 10 days – the youngest player ever to do so. Five days later, on 2 February, he became the youngest player ever to sign a professional contract with the club.
Mayenda was loaned by Sunderland to Hibernian in February 2024, where he remained for the rest of the season. Upon his return to Wearside, he was reintegrated into the first-team squad ahead of the start of the 2024 – 25 Championship campaign.
His first Sunderland goals came in the second Championship match of the season, a 4 – 0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, where he netted twice. The big man went on to make 37 appearances during the Championship campaign, as well as featuring in all three play-off matches. Having scored eight goals during the regular season, he then, of course, scored twice in the play-offs, including Sunderland's opening goal in the final. It's not a stretch to say that, without his contributions, Sunderland would not have been promoted to the Premier League in May 2025.
As the Premier League season got underway following promotion, Mayenda scored Sunderland's first goal of the campaign in the 3 – 0 opening-day victory over West Ham. Despite that flying start, opportunities became harder to come by. He made a further 19 league appearances, scoring just one more goal.

#league

Based on the New England Patriots' 2026 offseason moves, the organization made improving quarterback Drake Maye's offensive weapons a priority. In the process, the Patriots added to a previously aging tight end room.
Following an Austin Hooper exit to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, New England signed hybrid tight end Julian Hill. It also selected Notre Dame's Eli Raridon in the third round of the NFL Draft. However, a season-ending injury to Hill during a spring practice left a void in the group that remains unresolved.
In the final edition of our Patriots training camp preview series, we'll take a look at New England's tight end corps in its entirety and discuss the biggest takeaways heading into the summer practices.
*Denotes player on the Pats Pulpit 53-man roster projection
Starters: Hunter Henry (31)*, Eli Raridon (22/R)* | Backups: Tanner Arkin (22/R)*, Jack Westover (27), C.J. Dippre (24), Mitch Van Vooren (25), Jeremiah Franklin (22) | IR: Julian Hill (25)

#hill #tight #drake

Jerod Mayo's one-year stint as New England Patriots head coach was mostly forgettable, but there are a few exceptions. One, of course, is selecting Drake Maye third overall in the draft. And while that decision will shape the franchise for years to come, it is not the only one still impacting the roster to this day.
The Patriots' top interior offensive line backup, for example, was also acquired under Mayo.
Name:Ben Brown
Position: Interior offensive line
Jersey number: 77

#offensive #england #name

The Los Angeles Rams have one of the best front offices in the NFL, and as a result, they have been one of the best drafting teams in the league since general manager Les Snead took control in 2012.
Exemplifying their success is their status in CBS Sports' rankings of the best first-round picks since 2020. Despite only having one first-round pick from 2020 to 2025, their selection of Jared Verse was ranked 11th. Verse, a 2024 selection, won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was the 19th selection in his class and the third-highest member (Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels) of his class in the rankings.
"The Rams' ******* ysis is easily the funniest of any in the NFL," wrote CBS Sports' Mike Renner. "They had only one first-round pick from 2020-25, and it was one of the best picks over that span, with Jared Verse checking in at No. 11 out of 191. In an ironic twist of fate, he's no longer on the Rams after the Myles Garrett trade this offseason. The Rams' attitude toward the draft is truly one of one."
While convention might state that the Rams should keep and use their first-round picks if they have such success, every first-round pick flipped since 2019 has been for a star player, including Jalen Ramsey, Matthew Stafford and Trent McDuffie.
Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr., who the Commanders drafted, was ranked 184th. Forbes had a redemptive 2025 after a struggling start to his career in Washington.

#since

The Boston Red Sox ripped off a 15-game win streak, tying a franchise record, before losing Game 2 of a doubleheader on Wednesday.
Regardless, their 15-1 run has them at 52-49 and in wild-card position. The win streak has saved the season, because if they had waited another week or so to heat up, they may have been sellers at the deadline. Instead, they are now expected to fill their needs at the deadline and set themselves up for a run.
"The Red Sox look to be headed for the buyer’s lane in light of their recent surge, which has been one of the best in team history," wrote MLB.com's Ian Browne on Thursday. "Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow is in the market for a bat. The question is: What position will that bat play? Catcher, middle infield and DH seem to be the best fits lineup-wise."
If Breslow wants a bat like Browne suggests, he could have his pick. Plenty of star hitters could be on the move this year, and the Red Sox have pieces to give up if they need to. Adding a middle infielder like Luis Arraez could be great for the Red Sox considering Marcelo Mayer's injury and woes at the plate.
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!

#browne

NASCAR is gearing up for the 24th race weekend of the 2026 season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the O'Reilly Series is bound to put on a show. In 2025, Connor Zilisch beat Sam Mayer for his fifth win of the year. Now, the sport will head to Indianapolis with a substantial amount of money on the line.
The purse for the O'Reilly Series race at Indianapolis will be $1,661,806 on Saturday afternoon. NASCAR doesn't release the earnings for the winning driver anymore, meaning it's impossible to tell how much of the $1,653,590 will go toward the team in victory lane. Last year, the purse for Indianapolis sat at $1,651,939, which is roughly a $10,000 increase.
It will be fascinating to see which NASCAR driver will earn the most money at Indianapolis this weekend. Mayer is looking to gain one position in the race at Indianapolis, but Taylor Gray and Ryan Sieg had good cars in 2025. Indianapolis always puts on a show, and this weekend should be no different.
More: How to watch NASCAR live at Indianapolis in July 2026, full schedule
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR purse for O'Reilly Series race at Indianapolis in July 2026

#nascar #series #mayer #july

A Secret Service agent on Vice President JD Vance's security detail is under internal review and has been put on administrative leave after being suspected of leaking information for a news story that included details about Vance's travel, a source familiar with the matter said.
A second source confirmed officials had identified a person believed to have been leaking information about Vance.
The review is being conducted by the agency's internal affairs component, the first source said, and it's unclear if any possible administrative punishment or criminal charges could be forthcoming.
The employee is suspected of having been a source for a recent story on MS NOW about agents on Vance's security detail dismayed by the purported burden the vice president's personal travel schedule has placed on his security team. As part of its coverage, MS NOW also described Vance's planned travel, including flying with his son on a Marine Corps helicopter to a golf lesson — plans that were later aborted.
The story caught the attention of Secret Service, FBI and White House officials, who fumed over operational details being described in the press, the first source said.

#security #internal

Rumors about how Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer conduct themselves away from the ballpark have made their rounds on social media.
They only escalated after Anthony’s rehab was moved to Fort Myers and many wondered if it was due to punishment and not a crowded Red Sox clubhouse.
Does Chad Tracy have any concerns about the duo when they’re not at the park?
“Zero,” the Red Sox interim manager said on WEEI. “Not even remotely on my radar. Not something we’ve even talked about in here. I’ve tried to say here publicly the last couple days. I know that gets a lot of attention. Roman in particular is like, I’ve said it publicly: I want Roman healthy and I want Roman back. Roman’s a great baseball player. He’s a ******* of a hitter. And he can help us. But, a ******* of a hitter with two hands. Not with one. So, we have to get him healthy.”
Anthony has been dealing with a tricky hand injury since May. The outfielder tore a ligament at the base of his finger during an at-bat and hasn’t begun swinging yet.

#anthony #even #here #healthy

Chicago's WNBA All-Star festivities are highlighting some of the biggest names in women's basketball, but they are also drawing attention to the coaches shaping the next generation of athletes.
In Chicago, a trauma-informed approach to coaching is changing how young people experience sports, with the goal of helping more children feel supported and stay engaged in athletics.
For Chicago Park District Manager Yesenia Mayén, trauma-informed training provided more than professional development. It also offered insight into the kind of support she said she lacked as a child.
"I became the statistic. I dropped out of sport because I felt like I didn't have the support that I know I needed," Mayén said.
Now, through trauma-informed training with the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport, Mayén said she is better equipped to provide that support to young athletes.

#support #WNBA #star

Baltimore Beatdown is proud to introduce this four-part series on Lamar Jackson from former Ravens running back Femi Ayanbadejo! He is a member of the 2000 Super Bowl championship team and an 11-year NFL veteran. He also holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins, with executive credentials from Harvard and Wharton, and has worked in sports media as an NFL ******* yst since 2013. Ayanbadejo is currently part of the radio team at 105.7 The Fan Baltimore.
Lamar Jackson trades like a meme stock in the marketplace of media and executive opinion. His perceived value surges after an MVP season, crashes after a playoff loss, and resets with almost no institutional memory of the underlying fundamentals. The film, the production, and the total body of work change gradually. The narrative price moves overnight.
Lamar Jackson is judged differently than any quarterback in recent memory. His accolades take the stairs up while his critics put him on the elevator down. Every achievement is earned slowly, scrutinized at every floor, and met at the top with a new reason it was not enough. Every criticism arrives instantly and is amplified before anyone checks whether it is true. Old narratives are zombie-like in their refusal to die. Evidence of underperformance is weighted against his entire body of work, while evidence of growth is often treated as temporary. When the facts change, the framing simply finds a new form.
That narrative volatility is visible right now. In the player-voted NFL Top 100, Jackson fell 67 places—from No. 2 to No. 69—after an injury-disrupted season in which he still finished fourth in passer rating at 103.8. Trevor Lawrence ranked 62nd and Bo Nix 59th, while ESPN's survey of more than 70 executives, coaches, and scouts placed Jackson fifth among quarterbacks. Colin Cowherd's movement was even more revealing: he ranked Jackson seventh in May, then 11th in July, choosing the "ascending" Drake Maye over an "expensive, declining" Jackson and announcing that he was "selling his stock." Skepticism about Jackson in major postseason moments is fair; declaring him a depreciating ******* et after one injury-marred season is not. He is 29. Matthew Stafford just won MVP at 37, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning won at 37 or older, and Tom Brady won at 40. Meanwhile, Baltimore's supporting cast was ranked 22nd. When Jackson produces an MVP-caliber season, critics say he is loaded with talent. When preseason rankings arrive, that same supporting cast is considered below average while Jackson's individual value collapses. This is not consistent evaluation. It is narrative volatility. If every NFL player were available in a franchise draft today and the objective were to win now, I do not believe five players would be selected before Lamar Jackson.
People underestimating Jackson is not an occasional occurrence. It is his norm. The hyperbole surrounding him since before the draft has helped create a man largely impervious to nonsensical commentary. He rarely res

Cam Newton doesn't sound like a man nursing a grudge.
Hours after ESPN cut ties with him in the same round of layoffs that ended Ryan Clark's 11-year run at the network, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback framed his brief run at First Take as something closer to an internship than a second career.
"Working alongside some of the most talented journalists and sports individuals that cover sports was something that got me to realize I have a newfound respect for the skill," Newton said. "You can't make me hate ESPN. What I've learned, it was an internship. I am a former athlete that did not study journalism, so now when you see how production actually works, you'll be a fool not to take your notes."
Newton signed a multi-year deal with ESPN last August to expand his role on First Take, stepping into the seat vacated after Shannon Sharpe's departure amid a ***** ual ***** ault lawsuit and settlement. From there, Newton became a fixture alongside Stephen A. Smith through the football season, a run that included a manufactured feud with New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and widely criticized comments about women's value being tied to how many children they have. Criticism even came from colleagues within ESPN after he had Stephen A. Smith's arch-enemy, Jason Whitlock, on his podcast. In response, Smith stated that there were a number of reasons why Newton's First Take presence could be questioned, but that he was still supportive of his appearances on the program.
And yet, Newton's time with ESPN and First Take is now surprisingly over before the beginning of the 2026 football season, as he was one of several names caught in a wave tied to the network's absorption of NFL Network, a list that also included Karl Ravech, Charles Davis, Tom Pelissero, and Clark, who learned of his firing while on-air.

#espn #newton #first #year

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye arrived for training camp the same day as the rookies on Tuesday.
The All-Pro gunslinger is looking to lead by example as the franchise quarterback, arriving ahead of the mandatory reporting date. It has been a successful two-season run for Maye, who experienced a Year 2 leap the likes of which few expected.
In a snap of a finger, he went from a promising young quarterback to a Super Bowl contender and runner-up for the 2025 NFL MVP award. He'll be heading into his third NFL season looking to prove last season wasn't a fluke and that the Patriots truly belong among the NFL's upper echelon of teams.
Maye and company will need to hit the ground running with one of the hardest schedules in the league awaiting them in 2026.
Along with Maye returning for work, the Patriots' social media team also captured the rookies arriving for their first NFL training camp.

#training #rookies

Prince Harry's recent private reunion with King Charles reportedly proves why Queen Camilla is an integral part of this equation. Camilla was reportedly present during Harry's reunion with his father, the King. According to a royal author, the Queen is a crucial factor in the Duke's reconciliation with Charles. Notably, Harry had previously opened up about his complicated relationship with his stepmother in his memoir, Spare.
According to royal author Catherine Mayer, Queen Camilla could play a pivotal role in Prince Harry's reunion with King Charles. Camilla was reportedly present during the Sussexes' private reunion with the King. The reunion marked the first time in four years that Charles had seen his younger daughter-in-law and his grandchildren. The last time they met was during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
Mayer revealed to PEOPLE: "She is a non-negotiable part of Charles' life. There is no reconciliation with him without her." Royal author Sally Bedell Smith shared that the Sussexes had to follow strict rules during the private reunion. The rules included no photographs, no social media posts, and no advance leaks to the press. Moreover, Harry and his wife were not allowed to share any descriptions of what took place.
This was aside from "a brief confirmation from the King's office that it had occurred" (via Sky News). A source close to the family chimed in: "It is better that people don't know anything about these meetings. They should be allowed to rekindle those family ties."
Previously, Smith also confirmed that Camilla was present as a "witness" during Charles' meeting with the Sussexes. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King and the Queen enjoyed a "private family occasion" with the Sussexes at Highgrove House.

Sunderland have signed Belgium defender Thomas Meunier on a two-year deal following his departure from French side Lille.
The 34-year-old has made more than 550 senior club appearances and previously had spells with Club Brugge, Paris St-Germain, where he won three league ****** les, Borussia Dortmund and Turkish side Trabzonspor.
He also has 83 international caps and played for Belgium at the 2026 World Cup.
Meunier is the Black Cats' first signing of the season after the departures of forward Eliezer Mayenda and midfielder Dan Neil.
"We are delighted to welcome Thomas to Sunderland," said director of football Florent Ghisolfi.

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off an extremely disappointing season that saw them miss out on winning the AFC North and making the playoffs after missing a last-second 44-yard field goal. It appears that one playoff without two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson is all it’s taken for the general public, and even Jackson’s peers, to forget just how dynamic he is when he’s healthy.
A year after he finished second on the NFL’s Top 100 list, in which the players themselves vote on the top 100 players in the league, Jackson came in at the 69th spot for the 2026 offseason. On Tuesday, Colin Cowherd said openly that he doesn’t trust Jackson anymore.
“Now remember, this is voted on by players. Those are his peers. That’s always been his number one support group. Anytime there was criticism about him and I defended him forever. It was always his peers, his teammates,” Cowherd said of Jackson’s 67 spot fall on Tuesday’s episode of The Herd.
“There’s other franchise quarterbacks I like— Drake Maye now, and Caleb Williams, and Bo Nix,” Cowherd added. “And there’s just more good young quarterbacks coming into the league. I mean, about the only quarterback who I think is like declining— and it’s hard to say Matt Stafford is declining, but he’s old— that’s about it. There’s just too many good young quarterbacks. So I mean, Lamar Jackson as a starter used to average 10 rushes a game. Last year it was 5.”
Cowherd was not shy in his **** sment: Jackson has already begun his physical decline.

ESPN surveyed NFL executives, coaches and scouts this offseason to have them rank their top players at each position group across the league.
Leading up to today, ESPN had revealed rankings at running back, cornerback, edge rusher, defensive tackle, tight end, offensive tackle, interior offensive linemen and quarterback (linebacker, wide receiver and safety rankings are coming soon). So far, the Denver Broncos have had five players rank in the top 10 at their respective positions: CB Pat Surtain (No. 1), OLB Nik Bonitto (No. 10), DL Zach Allen (No. 8), OT Garett Bolles (No. 10) and OG Quinn Meinerz (No. 4).
When ESPN surveyed the NFL on top quarterbacks, 20 players received votes. The top 10 were ranked, followed by seven honorable mentions. ESPN then listed three QBs who also received votes: Bo Nix, Daniel Jones and C.J. Stroud.
The list of honorable mentions above Nix included Jalen Hurts, Trevor Lawrence, Baker Mayfield, Jordan Love, Jayden Daniels and Sam Darnold. The list of ranked QBs above Nix included Caleb Williams (No. 10) and Drake Maye (No. 8).
Now entering his third season in the NFL, Nix will look to climb the rankings ahead of 2027.

Well, another silly ranking is out and the outrage is building. According to NFL executives and coaches, who have been asked to rank the best players at every position right now, our best quarterback doesn’t even crack the top half of the league.
Bo Nix, they believe, is the 18th best quarterback in the NFL.
And the best QB is the guy Nix outplayed in the playoffs last season.
The top five were predictable — Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.
The next five were somewhat perplexing choices, picking Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert at No. 6 and 7 seemingly for their names rather than their recent performances while Drake Maye slid in at No. 8 and Jared Goff took the ninth spot. Then it was another QB from Nix’s 2024 draft class that rounded out the top 10 — Caleb Williams.

People love lists. Even if they don't, the safest bet in the world is that the proliferation of list-based content will continue unabated. They drive conversation because, at their core, they are profoundly and proudly imperfect. There is no "correct" way to rank the top 150 high school football players in America or the concession offerings at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums. If there were, the perfect list would drive zero conversation as consumers would nod silently through every paragraph and congratulate the list-maker on a job well done while clicking off the page. Getting it as right as possible is a goal but it's not the ultimate goal.
That's to drive conversation.
Admit it. When you see a list you instinctively take up armor to see what they got wrong and where you disagree with the ordering. This morning I experienced that buzz when I hopped over to see what ESPN had cooked up for its ordering of the top NFL quarterbacks for 2026. It's the latest installment of a series where they asked league executives, coaches and scouts to help in the work of slotting top players at 11 different positions. And since this is the most important one in all of sports, there are obviously going to be different points of view and strong emotions.
To no one's surprise, Josh Allen is No. 1, a spot over Patrick Mahomes. Matthew Stafford sits at No. 3, followed by Joe Burrow. That's where things get a bit strange. Lamar Jackson checks in as the last top-five QB with Dak Prescott at No. 6. Justin Herbert is at No. 7 and Drake Maye, on the heels of a Super Bowl appearance, has climbed to No. 8. Jared Goff edges out Caleb Williams as the NFC North signal-callers make up the rest of the list. Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold is among the honorable mentions that also includes Jayden Daniels, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy, Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence and Jalen Hurts.
Let this be a reminder just how hard it is to be someone one who is universally perceived to be in the top half of NFL starting quarterbacks. Hurts barely makes it and Mayfield isn't entirely comfortable in his spot either.

This week's sports news cycle was full of top rankings in the NFL, reflecting where many feel teams stand going into 2026. Think of it as the ******* ociated Press College Football Weekly rankings, so to speak.
ESPN currently ranks the New England Patriots roster seventh across the board. Some want to debate this; some seem to agree, but that's for another article.
This one, however, has to do with a certain Patriots player who was snubbed from the list for being labeled one of the best at his position.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry was exceptional in 2025. The veteran racked up 60 receptions on 87 targets for 768 yards and 7 touchdowns. It was his second outing in Josh McDaniels' offense, and catching passes from Drake Maye only seems to have added to his success.
Henry did not make ESPN's Top 10 Tight Ends List ahead of the 2026 season. It was a list compiled by the network's very own Jeremy Fowler.

On the eve of the 2026 MLB Draft, Jay Johnson and company got a massive surprise when Aledo, Texas outfielder/left-handed pitcher Lucas Nawrocki announced Friday night on his Instagram that he would be withdrawing from the draft and enrolling at LSU.
Nawrocki really made a name for himself at the MLB Draft Combine and Over the Slot's Joe Doyle projected Nawrocki as a prospect who could command $2 million from an MLB team. Nawrocki can legitimately play both ways, with a fastball that comfortably sits 95 MPH from the left side, a slider that some scouts say is the best among high schoolers, and he showed off some pretty impressive pop in his bat.
The knock on Nawrocki is his physicality. Listed at 5'11", scouts feel like he'll never project to a starter at the Major League level, though he could certainly develop into a high-leverage lefty reliever, and that likely factored into getting Nawrocki to campus.
Nawrocki will get the chance to play both ways at LSU, but his immediate future is in the bullpen. LSU's lineup is more or less set, but the Tigers desperately need some more left-handed pitching coming out of the bullpen. The only lefty relievers LSU has returning are Danny Lachenmayer, Cooper Williams, and Ethan Plogg, and that is Nawrocki's ticket to some immediate playing time in 2027.
Nawrocki is the third marquee recruit from Jay Johnson's class to bypass the draft and stick with their LSU commitment, joining outfielder Nathaneal Davis and Braxton Beaty, another lefty pitcher.

NASCAR is gearing up for the 22nd race weekend of the 2026 season at EchoPark Speedway, and the O'Reilly Series is bound to put on a show. In 2025, Nick Sanchez beat Carson Kvapil for his first win of the year. Now, the sport will head to EchoPark with a substantial amount of money on the line.
The purse for the O'Reilly Series race at EchoPark will be $1,653,590 on Saturday night. NASCAR doesn't release the earnings for the winning driver anymore, meaning it's impossible to tell how much of the $1,653,590 will go toward the team in victory lane. Last year, the purse for EchoPark sat at $1,651,939, which is roughly a $2,000 increase.
It will be fascinating to see which NASCAR driver will earn the most money at EchoPark this weekend. Sanchez is looking to go back-to-back in the race at EchoPark, but Kvapil and Sam Mayer had good cars in 2025. EchoPark always puts on a show, and this weekend should be no different.
More: How to watch NASCAR live at EchoPark in July 2026, full schedule
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR purse for O'Reilly Series race at EchoPark in July 2026

The New England Patriots have ended their offseason program and now break until training camp later this month. While players are out of the facility, plenty remains to break down.
So, let's get into this week's #PostPulpit Mailbag.
What offensive and defensive positional groups is going to be the most fun to watch battle it out in camp? – mathblaster97
The talent and depth at wide receiver and defensive line will make those groups exciting to watch for me. A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs building their chemistry with Drake Maye while Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, and Efton Chism III battle for their roles — as well as their potential futures in New England.
Then Milton Williams and Christian Barmore start year two together while Cory Durden, Leonard Taylor III, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Jeremiah Pharms, David Blay and Travis Shaw will be competing for depth roles.

Ross Stewart, Jack Clarke, Jobe Bellingham and now Eliezer Mayenda. All high profile departures from Sunderland under the ownership of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus — and to a lesser extent, feel free to throw in the additional departures of Charlie Wyke, Alex Pritchard, Lynden Gooch and Danny Batth.
Elton John once said that “Sorry seems to be the hardest word”, but he’s never had to accept not singing chants involving the ‘Loch Ness Drogba’ or the besmirching of Sam Fender.
For that reason, I’d argue goodbyes are far more painful than apologies. You’ll often hear people say there’s no loyalty in football these days and in an age of state-funded sportswashing, orange-faced meddling and ever increasing commercialization, it’s easy to accept that.
You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube and nor is it likely the trends of the game will change. But for every mercenary, there’s a Luke O’Nien; for every Will Grigg panic buy, there’s a Trai Hume.
So why does that matter?

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) manufactures and markets food and beverage products in North America and internationally. The company has a market cap of $30.1 billion and offers condiments, sauces, dressings, and spreads, as well as cheese, frozen potato products, and other products under the Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, and Velveeta brands.
The company is expected to release its Q2 2026 earnings soon. Ahead of the event, ***** ysts expect the company's EPS to be $0.53 on a diluted basis, down 23.2% from $0.69 in the year-ago quarter. The company has exceeded Wall Street's EPS estimates in each of its last four quarters.
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A little more than two weeks remain before the New England Patriots begin training camp on July 25, as The Providence Journal continues its weekly, in-depth look at the most interesting position groups on the roster.
This week is a look at the offensive line:
The 2025 fourth overall pick went into last season with high expectations, not only because of his high draft slot but because he would be starting at the most important position on the offensive line — left tackle.
During his rookie season, Campbell, just 21 years old when drafted, was tasked with protecting the blindside of franchise quarterback Drake Maye. Adding that expectation to the already immense pressure he faced just for being the fourth overall pick might have, in hindsight, been asking for too much.
The Patriots at this time last season were viewed as fringe playoff contenders, so any slip-ups Campbell had during the season would have been viewed as part of the developmental process. Then the Patriots started winning more games, and they were gaining more national attention, which meant more scrutiny for those aforementioned slip-ups.