Calls for Mike McDaniels' job are only getting louder.
This time, though, Jim Harbaugh wasn't as strong in his defense of his offensive coordinator.
Harbaugh, after the Los Angeles Chargers fell 22-6 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, said that they are going to "have to address everything, and especially offensively." The loss knocked them to 0-6 on the season, which marks their worst start since 2000. Coincidentally, Harbaugh was on that Chargers team as a player that finished 1-15 that season.
And when asked about McDaniel directly and if he was going to keep calling plays, Harbaugh said they were "going to look at everything."
"The job I'm doing, it starts with me. We'll watch this and get with our offensive coaches," Harbaugh said, via ESPN. "I see the effort, I see the work being put in in the meetings, on the practice field, and to get that to translate to the field is what's necessary. Feel bad for our players, our team, our coaches, our fans. And [offense] needs to be addressed."

#offensive #season

After struggling in the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots offense was hopeful to turn things around in its rematch with the Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 1. While the game as a whole was much more competitive, the end result was still disappointing.
The Patriots finished with just 10 points on the day, turned the ball over three times, and were plagued by some of the same issues that already haunted them back on Super Sunday. The game was there for the taking, but Drake Maye's third interception of the day sealed it in the home team's favor, which came away with a 13-10 victory over the reigning AFC champions.
In the aftermath of the loss and New England's disappointing outing, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels found himself the subject of criticism for what was seen as a fairly conservative game plan. However, head coach Mike Vrabel defended the plan on Monday.
"I don't look at things as conservative. That's what we felt like was best against this defense," Vrabel said during an appearance on WEEI's The Greg Hill Show.
"We didn't hit some things and you have to be able to run the football against split safety defense. That's no secret. You don't play split safety defense to stop the run; they play it to not give up big plays. We tried to hit some shots down the field. We threw it to the running backs a couple times for 12 or 15 yards when they were all off there, and on the interception should have thrown it to the back again for a third time. You just can't get bored doing things right. If it's not there it's not there."

#things #disappointing

Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels Describes Team's 'All-Hands' Approach Without A.J. Brown originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Before the Patriots could get a feel for the impact A.J. Brown will have on their offense, they lost him to injury for weeks to come.
Brown will be out until at least Week 6 after being placed on IR on Friday, dealing with a high ankle sprain from his Week 1 exit vs. Seattle. Rather than bringing in any new receivers, it appears New England will be turning to some of its younger pass catchers to alleviate the offense.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Thursday on a radio show that the team will be taking "an all-hands-on-deck approach" to replacing Brown's production at wide receiver, which likely means more playing time for names like DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III.
"Any injury that you get at this time of the season, you kind of approach it with an all-hands-on-deck approach," McDaniels said Thursday, per ESPN. "We got a lot of different skill guys that can do a lot of different things. There isn't one person on the roster that can replace anybody like A.J. -- in the middle of a game or a stretch of a season. So we'll band together and figure out what we can do well and then try to get guys in positions to play to their strengths."

#Patriots

NBA insider takes shot at T-Wolves Jonathan **** inga for jab at Warriors' Steph Curry, Chris Paul originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are going all in on winning a championship this season after the impressive offseason they had. It is amazing to see the team they have put together, and it was all due to their aggressiveness.
The big summer all started just before the NBA Draft when they traded for Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. The team also just ended their free agency by winning the battle for Jonathan **** inga.
"Jonathan **** inga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, plus a player option, agent Aaron Turner tells ESPN. **** inga will be a starter alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on the West contender," ESPN's Shams Charania wrote.
The 23-year-old NBA champion waited the entire summer for the right opportunity, and he sure got that with the Timberwolves. He joins Anthony Edwards and other talented players in Minnesota.

#jonathan #timberwolves #ball #edwards

Why Patriots' Josh McDaniels, TreVeyon Henderson injury deserve some blame for Drake Maye's putrid night appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots did a lot of things correctly in their season opener against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. They went across the country and played an excellent game for three quarters in front of the crazed and full-throated 12s at Lumen Field in Seattle. However, their 10-3 lead disappeared in the fourth quarter as quarterback Drake Maye was careless with the football and that turned potential victory into a 13-10 defeat. Maye threw two of his three interceptions in the final quarter.
The final interception by Seahawk defensive back Josh Jobe came in the end zone came with 26 seconds remaining. Maye threw up a high-arching balloon to wide out Mack Hollins from the Seattle 16-yard line and Jobe was able to outfight the Patriots receiver for the ball. That play prevented New England from sending out PK Andy Borregales to attempt a 33-yard field goal that would have tied the game.
There is little doubt that Maye's pass was a poor effort and should not have been thrown. However, the play call made by offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was reckless. The Seattle pass defense had come to life in the fourth quarter and had shown the ability to blanket Patriots receivers. The pass into the end zone was a risky proposition when it was called by McDaniels and it put Maye at risk of throwing the costly interception.
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#maye #mcdaniels #clutchpoints #england

Good morning, Chargers fans!
There's likely a number of different players and/or coaches you could name as an X-factor for the Chargers this year. From an interior offensive lineman, to offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, to one of the team's intriguing tight ends, there's almost more than you can count.
However, it was wide receiver Quentin Johnston that was deemed the team's biggest X-factor by ESPN's Ben Solak due to his potential inside McDaniels' offense alongside Ladd McConkey.
Here's everything Solak had to say about why QJ was too good of a choice for this exercise:
"Johnston is once again an enormously high-leverage player in the Chargers' offense. Though much of the fantasy football attention is rightfully on Ladd McConkey, whom I anticipate leading the Chargers in targets, Johnston could benefit most from coordinator Mike McDaniel's offense."

#chargers #johnston #offense

The Minnesota Timberwolves bolstered their frontcourt depth with the surprise addition of Jonathan ***** inga, with whom they agreed a two-year, $13 million deal.
As it turns out, Anthony Edwards played a key role in recruiting ***** inga to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In a recent appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, beat reporter Jon Krawczynski revealed his conversation with ***** inga's agent, Aaron Turner, about Edwards' pitch.
May 10, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dribbles past Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan ***** inga (00) in the third quarter during game three in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
"He said that one of the things that really resonated with Jonathan ***** inga was not just that Anthony Edwards, the face of the franchise, was reaching out directly to him and actively recruiting him and telling him 'Hey, we need you', but it was the message that he was giving Jonathan ***** inga," Krawczynski said.
"He started with defense and saying, 'Hey, if you come here, we're gonna focus on the defensive end; we're gonna be a really tough defensive team to play against with you and me and Rudy and Jaden McDaniels'. Then the second thing he told Jonathan ***** inga was, 'I know that you can cook offensively'. He had a very good playoff series against the Wolves when he was with the Warriors two years ago," he continued. "He said, 'Look, if there's a matchup night where you just have the fourth-best defender on you and you can go at him, I'm gonna say go get him.'"

#kuminga #timberwolves #recruiting

Jonathan ******* inga picked the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that stunned fans expecting a bigger paycheck. The 23-year-old forward signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. This structure lets him test free agency again next summer when more teams will have cash to spend.
His agent, Aaron Turner, told The Athletic that defense was the main reason for the switch. Turner said, "Ant was super active in the recruitment of him," referring to Anthony Edwards' role in the process. Edwards focused his message on the team's defensive identity rather than just offense.
Turner explained that while everyone else looked at the offensive side of the ball, ******* inga and his team looked at the defensive end. "He made this decision because of the defensive versatility of this team," Turner stated. The Lakers offered a sign-and-trade that would have locked ******* inga into a three-year deal worth $12 million a year. Minnesota offered a shorter path to a massive payday later. ******* inga wants to prove he can guard multiple positions before signing a long-term contract in 2027. The Timberwolves need that specific skill set to win now, and ******* inga sees a clear role where he can shine.
This choice follows a pattern of ******* inga turning down safer options to bet on his future value. Before leaving the Golden State Warriors, he declined a three-year, $75 million extension. According to reports, prioritizing finances over the game doesn't sustain the ability to generate increasing revenue. The Warriors didn't offer a clear starting role, so ******* inga felt he couldn't bet on himself there. He took the shortest option available, which eventually led to his trade to the Atlanta Hawks and then to Minnesota.
The Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent. Now, he faces a new challenge in Minnesota alongside stars like Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. This mindset fits a team that prioritizes winning over individual numbers. ******* inga knows he must play well to maximize his next contract, and the Timberwolves provide the right system to show off his two-way potential.

#timberwolves #edwards #team

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to terms with power forward Jonathan **** inga on a two-year, $12.4 million contract on Wednesday, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The person spoke to The **** ociated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not confirmed the agreement. ESPN reported that **** inga's contract includes a player option for the second season, which would give the seventh overall pick from the 2021 draft an opportunity to hit the free agent market in a year.
Kuminga will fill an obvious need in the frontcourt for the Timberwolves, who traded Julius Randle and Naz Reid as part of their offseason acquisition of point guard LaMelo Ball.
Kuminga, who will turn 24 on Oct. 6, averaged a career-best 16.1 points during the 2023-24 season for the Golden State Warriors, who drafted the Congo native but never found the right fit for him before ultimately trading him to the Atlanta Hawks in February. **** inga fell out of favor with Warriors coach Steve Kerr and out of the rotation last season, making his departure an inevitability. He played in only seven of his last 38 games with the Warriors.
He'll have a fresh start with the hungry Timberwolves, who'll have the challenge of finding enough shots for **** inga and fellow forward Jaden McDaniels in a lineup that will revolve around Ball and superstar Anthony Edwards. In 278 NBA games, **** inga has averaged 12.5 points and 22.1 minutes. He's a 50.2% shooter from the floor.

#season #year #contract #person

Patriots Face Fascinating Choose-Your-Own-Adventure At Running Back originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots' final running back spot might come down to one simple question. Would Mike Vrabel prefer a Swiss Army knife or a sledgehammer?
Lan Larison and Hassan Haskins enter Thursday night's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns as two of the leading candidates to become New England's third running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
They offer almost completely different solutions.
Larison is a 5-foot-11, 209-pound runner whose receiving ability and special-teams versatility could give Josh McDaniels another movable piece. Haskins is a 6-foot-2, 228-pound power back built to run between the tackles and absorb the punishment that comes with short-yardage work.

#back

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte sent a message to the team on Wednesday in the aftermath of being traded to the Houston Texans.
Boutte thanked the Patriots and those who meant most to him within the franchise's ranks in a post on social media.
"I want to thank Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick, and everyone behind the scenes who poured into me," Boutte wrote. "I also want to give a special thank you to Coach Vrabel, Todd Downing, and Josh McDaniels. Thank you for believing in me, trusting in my abilities, and helping me grow, not just as a football player, but as a man."
Boutte was selected by the Patriots with the No. 187 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. After spending all three seasons of his career in New England from 2023-25 and reaching the Super Bowl with the team at the end of last season, the 24-year-old had his offseason trade request honored by the Patriots on Monday, as he now joins the Texans with just under three weeks remaining until the start of the 2026 NFL season.
Boutte also included the Patriots' supporters in his message on Instagram.

#thank

In the end, Jonathan ***** inga was willing to take less money per year to get back on the market sooner rather than take a longer contract with more guaranteed money.
After intense recruiting from Anthony Edwards and others, ***** inga has agreed to join the Timberwolves on a two-year, $13 million contract, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. ***** inga stepped into the taxpayer mid-level exception the Timberwolves still had available.
This is a recruiting coup for the Timberwolves, who put on a full-court press in the last month, Charania reported. That included Edwards and other players, as well as team president Tim Connelly, who reportedly had a four-hour meeting with him. ***** inga is expected to step into the starting lineup at the three next to LaMelo Ball, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.
The Lakers had been pursuing ***** inga to become a starter next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and they were trying to work out a sign-and-trade with Atlanta, but that would have required ***** inga to sign at least a three-year contract instead of the two in Minnesota. Plus, the Lakers and Hawks struggled to come close to a trade that worked for both sides for a variety of reasons (such as the Hawks wanting picks but not taking on players).
Kuminga did not find as robust a market for his services as he expected this summer. Atlanta chose not to pick up his $24.3 million team option, and ***** inga initially hoped for a deal in the ballpark, or at least north of $15 million. Eventually, it became about the shorter contract and the opportunity to play on a team with big expectations and to prove his value in that setting that lured him to Minnesota.

#kuminga #timberwolves #Lakers

The Tupelo 49ers started fast, then had to endure a lengthy weather delay, and ultimately held on to beat Lincoln (Neb.) 7-4 at the American Legion World Series on Saturday.
With the win, the Niners clinched the Stripes Division ******* le, which locks them into Monday's semifinals against the second-place team from the Stars Division.
Tupelo (26-5-1) scored four runs in the second inning and two in the third before a lightning delay halted play. Colin Flurry's two-run homer – his third dinger of the weekend – kickstarted Tupelo's second inning. Eli McDaniels then doubled the advantage with his two-run double to right field.
In the third, Brayden Edmiston scored on a fielding error, and Will Moody drove in Flurry for a 6-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, the game entered a weather delay, which lasted about 90 minutes.
Lincoln immediately threatened once play resumed, putting runners on first and second with one out. That ended Tupelo starter Cade Lott's day, but Braedyn Lackie induced a pair of flyouts to avoid damage. Lackie went 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits.

#inning #division #lackie #weather

We are just 24 days away from Penn State football. Today, we profile a new #24 : Ibn McDaniels.
McDaniels was a three-star prospect out of New Jersey in the 2024 recruiting class, who camped at Penn State multiple times but never received an official offer. Instead, he landed at Syracuse, where he spent the last two seasons contributing on special teams while serving as a depth piece in the secondary.
For Penn State, this is really a bet on McDaniels' upside. He's a good athlete with some unique size for a defensive back, checking in at 6-foot-3, 202 pounds with a near 7-foot wingspan. That's a big, athletic kid with the physical tools to potentially develop into a really good corner.
Just 24 more days.

#state #days #jersey

A big first inning carried the Tupelo 49ers to victory in the first round of the American Legion Mid-South Regional on Thursday morning.
The Niners scored four times in the opening frame and went on to beat Columbia (Tenn.) 5-2 at Sims Park in Gastonia, North Carolina. Tupelo's next game will be at noon Central on Friday against an opponent to be determined.
Eli McDaniels scored on a passed ball to open the scoring, and then Colin Flurry stepped up and smashed a two-out, three-run homer to left field to make it 4-0 after one inning. Columbia scored a run in the top of the second, but the 49ers answered in the bottom half on Brody Thompson's sac fly.
"He's been really good for us, and he seems to be really locked in right now," 49ers coach Russell Bunch said of Flurry. "I'm really looking forward to seeing how he plays the rest of the tournament."
Tupelo (21-4-1) managed just four hits on the day and struck out 10 times, but it drew eight walks. Flurry had two of the hits, including a double.

#scored #really #columbia #inning

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.

Former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones opened up more about the shockingly disastrous 2022 season.
The Patriots were initially full of hope coming off a year where they made it to the playoffs and remained competitive in the AFC East division. Jones started as a rookie out of college and was nominated to the Pro Bowl in his first NFL year. He finished the season throwing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Not bad for a rookie.
But then disaster struck on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left the Patriots for a head coaching job with the Las Vegas Raiders, and former Patriots coach Bill Belichick failed to find a suitable replacement.
He considered doing the job himself, according to Jones, but he ultimately decided to hand over the offensive coaching responsibilities to longtime defensive coach Matt Patricia. It ended up being one of the worst decisions in franchise history.

Timberwolves make Anthony Edwards-centered pitch to Lakers' LeBron James, per report originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Timberwolves view the concept of signing Los Angeles Lakers 22-time All-Star LeBron James as much more than an enthralling offseason fantasy.
With James being up for grabs, the Timberwolves felt compelled to make an Anthony Edwards-centered pitch to the future Hall of Famer.
"The Minnesota Timberwolves have ramped up their push for LeBron James, with full belief that they are very much in the hunt to land one of the greatest players in NBA history," The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski wrote Friday.
"The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations, said the Timberwolves have been in contact with James' representatives with a bold pitch: team up with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert to go after the kind of championship that could end any discussion about who is the greatest player of all time."

While Minnesota’s roster moves over the past week improved the Timberwolves’ salary cap situation and solved the team’s point guard conundrum, they also flipped one of the team’s greatest positions of strength – power forward – to a barren wasteland.
As it stands, the Wolves would likely need to start Jaden McDaniels – their slender, premier perimeter defender – at the four spot in a suddenly, significantly smaller lineup than they’ve trotted out in the past.
Perhaps that’s the plan. It certainly could increase pace and ****** ing. Four wings playing around one center proved to be an effective approach for the Spurs last season. But San Antonio’s lack of a viable power forward did also contribute to the team’s eventual demise in the NBA Finals.
If nothing else, it’s nice to have options to counter whatever conundrums arise throughout the 82-game campaign and beyond.
But even if Tim Connelly and Co. want to add size to the roster this week – free agency opens on Tuesday evening – there are few avenues to do so. The most Minnesota can likely offer any player in a signing is $6.5 million annually. And the Wolves are out of future draft picks to trade.

A fan gets Jaden McDaniels' instant reaction to the Julius Randle trade to Brooklyn originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The night before the 2026 NBA Draft was quite eventful because it finally saw the end of the year-long Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga. However, that was not the only trade that happened on Monday night because Julius Randle is now on the Brooklyn Nets.
The Minnesota Timberwolves sent Randle and the #28 overall pick to Brooklyn in a three-team trade that saw Nic Claxton go to the Chicago Bulls. It was a surprising trade for most people because many fans were waiting for the Giannis pin to drop.
Randle was the cornerstone piece of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade with the New York Knicks. Donte DiVincenzo also arrived from that deal, but Randle was often the most discussed player for the Timberwolves.
Now, they have essentially salary dumped him two years later. What makes it hurt even more is that Towns won the championship with the Knicks in 2026, which is what the Timberwolves tried to do with him for nearly a decade.

TEAM TALK
Mic’d Up: Mike Vrabel, Josh McDaniels & Kevin Byard III during 2026 Patriots minicamp. (3 min. video)
From GMFB: LB Chad Muma shares personal ties to advocacy for managing diabetes. (8 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: WR logjam, How the rookies officially completed their developmental program, To-do list, Hoyer’s top QBs, Gillette Stadium shines, Troy Brown’s take; More. /Great read, as always, but… Troy Brown turns 55 next week?!? Wut???

Patriots HOF WR Gushes About Difficulty Of A.J. Brown, Mack Hollins Sharing Field originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots wide receiving room quickly became one of the best in the NFL this offseason with the addition of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. But forgotten in all the ***** er of the two newest pieces is 32-year-old receiver Mack Hollins returning for year two in New England after the second-best season of his career.
Hollins surpassed 500 yards last season for only the second time in his career. The receiver, who has been in the league since 2017, looked reborn in Foxboro.
At the time of his signing, Hollins was expected to be a fringe piece of Josh McDaniels' offense. The veteran soon became one of quarterback Drake Maye's trustiest options on third down, and was instrumental in the success of the Patriots' running game.
He is once again returning to bring the grit to New England's pass game, and Patriots Hall of Famer Troy Brown thinks pairing him up with A.J. Brown will cause a whole bunch of problems for opposing defenses.

Patriots HOF Wide Receiver Shows Love To Forgotten Third-Rounder originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots have seven capable wide receivers to fill five, at most six, open roster slots.
With the way the NFL is trending toward two tight end sets, teams are now carrying more tight ends than ever. The Los Angeles Rams had as many as five suit up in a game last year. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been very open about wanting to be a heavier offense in 2026.
If an extra roster spot is given to the tight end room, it has to come from somewhere.
I say that to say this: there will be a position battle this summer resulting in at least one of your favorite wide receivers being left off of the 53-man roster.

2026 Patriots Offseason Looks Very Similar To 2007 Perfection Season originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots made the second-biggest trade of the offseason on Monday afternoon by acquiring Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champion wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Brown is the second receiver that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has brought in this offseason.
The first pass catcher brought in by New England is former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs.
It feels like the first time in some years that the Patriots have taken a real swing at the wide receiver position. The only comparison I can draw is to a pair of notable offseason acquisitions made in 2007, months before the Patriots would become the first team to finish a season 16-0.