Raiders' Ashton Jeanty boldly declares he will take a Year 2 jump after rookie struggles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
All eyes have been on the quarterback battle between Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins for the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason training camps. But there is one player who could be a lethal force that most people are not paying attention to - Ashton Jeanty. The running back made a bold declaration about his Year 2 aspirations that should scare other NFL teams.
Ashton Jeanty did not have the prettiest numbers during his rookie season. He had 266 rushing attempts while only gaining 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns. When these numbers are crunched, the Raiders only got 3.7 yards per attempt out of Jeanty. The fact that he also fumbled twice and only had 1.6 yards per attempt before contact, which is the third-worst in the NFL, does not help his case.
Jeanty acknowledges all of the gaps in his game after his rookie year. He knows that the Raiders have high expectations after drafting him sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. So, the Raiders running back ******* ured the organization and their fans that he will be making a big Year 2 leap in the 2026 NFL season, via The ******* ociated Press.
"When everything is not going well, continuing to go to work and having hope and faith. I think that'll carry into this year. Just taking it one week at a time, whether you win or you lose, you've got to attack the next game and the next week with the same mindset. It's always tough being in the first year trying to figure out so much stuff. But this year, there's a lot of expectations for me, and I think I've got to make a big jump. I think that starts with helping my teammates as well and just being a better teammate," the Raiders running back declared.

#raiders #jeanty #ashton #yards

After sending one of their best relievers to Toronto at last year's trade deadline, the Blue Jays have returned the favor in 2026. Former All-Star closer Jeff Hoffman is heading to the Twins in exchange for prospects Dasan Hill, John Klein, and Dameury Pena according to The Athletic. Hoffman is under contract for next year as well at $12.67 million, a portion of which will be covered by Toronto.
Hoffman, 33, has a high ERA but everything else about him still looks like the elite reliever he was over in Philadelphia. He has a 3.94 ERA that is artificially inflated thankto a .389 BABIP, but a 2.49 FIP provides a better insight into the type of pitcher he's been. His 1.2 fWAR is 13th among relievers in baseball, while his 14.06 K/9 is second to only the Padres' Mason Miller.
Most importantly, Hoffman brings elite strikeout stuff to a bullpen that, while improved, has really needed some swing-and-miss on the backend. His pitch mix is very Griffin Jax-esque, relying heavily on a slider that's among the best pitches in baseball and a fastball with enough velocity to be dangerous. He'll also mix in a splitter, primarily against lefties, that is also quietly pretty strong.
In return, the Blue Jays will receive pitching prospects Dasan Hill and John Klein, along with infielder Dameury Pena. Hill, 20, is the clear headliner of this group. He was the Twins' second round pick in 2024 and had an excellent debut season in 2025, appearing on the back end of some Top 100s. The Twins moved him up to High A to start this season, but has struggled mightily to throw strikes. The stuff is there, but the lanky lefty has a very long way to go before he's ready to face big leaguers. Hill was the Twins' 12th-ranked prospect according to FanGraphs, while Klein slotted in at 35 and Pena at 49.
Manager Derek Shelton has a lot more tools to work with than he did this time last week. Hoffman should slot in as the team's primary closer immediately, but I would still expect Yoendrys Gomez and Andrew Morris to have opportunities down the stretch. Those two have both been heavily used the past two months and, as we saw with both walk-off losses last weekend, have probably been a bit overexposed. Having Minter and now Hoffman solidifies what has quietly become a very solid group of relievers.

#hill #last #toronto #blue

One year into his NFL career, Patriots left tackle Will Campbell no longer feels like a rookie.
After starting 17 games, making a run to Super Bowl 60 and playing through a knee injury late in the season, Campbell entered Year 2 with a much better understanding of what it takes to succeed in the NFL.
"I know what to expect now. I know what it takes to win and play at a high level in this league, and then what stuff can get you hurt," Campbell said. "Just trying to be more consistent, not make rookie mistakes… Try to be a guy up front that they can count on and help lead the team."
Through the first several padded practices of training camp, Campbell has backed up those words.
The offensive tackle has protected Drake Maye's blindside at a high level and added two more wins to his impressive 1-on-1 record Monday. Campbell has also looked fully healthy after last year's knee injury and appears to have expanded his pass-set toolbox.

#knee

On Sunday, the Miami Dolphins opened practice to fans for the first time in 2026, and there were several differences from the last regime. Not as much crowd entertainment, and plenty more business as there was reportedly limited music, no players on microphones and certainly no backflips or hijinks going on. New coach Jeff Hafley seems like he will be changing the tide and culture in South Florida, as the Baptist Health Training Complex stands were filled with hopeful fans.
There were some standout players from Sunday's practice including edge rushers, veteran free agent Josh Uche, and 2022 seventh-round Dolphins' draft pick Cameron Goode as well as rookie cornerback Chris Johnson who recorded an interception. Offensively some wide receivers, free agent Tutu Atwell, rookie Kevin Coleman Jr. and 2025 undrafted free agent A.J. Henning, all performed well. Additionally, 2026 third-round pick Caleb Douglas, continued to impress in his push for possibly the number one wide-out role.
Hafley spoke to South Florida media regarding Douglas saying, "I've been impressed. I think he's still got work to do and within the scheme, but we've moved him around. He's made some contested catches, which I think is very impressive with guys right there.
He continued the praise saying, "I think that's probably the No. 1 thing that I wanted to see from him; when there was people around him and when the catches were hard, could he make them? Because he does have good size and he has a good catch radius. It's a compliment to him in the first three that he's been able to make some of those plays. He's got a ways to go for what we expect of him, but I'm pleased with the way how he's approached stuff right now."
As for another rookie, linebacker Kyle Louis was doing well on special teams' work, per Dolphins writer and podcaster Travis Wingfield. He also noted that Louis was able to get into the backfield while playing defensive snaps and recorded a sack and tackle for loss.

#dolphins

One question still looms over the Washington Commanders one week into training camp. Will they sign a veteran wide receiver, specifically Stefon Diggs?
Through three days of training camp, Washington has yet to have a player take hold of the No. 2 receiver spot opposite Terry McLaurin. While several players have flashed and the depth is improved, the Commanders and quarterback Jayden Daniels need someone to consistently prove they can win against every type of coverage.
In a recent chat with Marshall Kramsky of WUSA Channel 9 in Washington, Daniels specifically named one receiver who has stood out in his eyes.
"Truthfully, I think the whole room, honestly," Daniels said when asked to name one receiver. "I commend Trey, Treylon Burks, for what he's done and the stuff that he's battled throughout his career to get to this point. So, it seems like the guy has a brand new energy about him and stuff."
Daniels then makes sure again to praise the rest of Washington's receivers room.

#daniels #camp #room #stuff

In the wee hours of the morning, the Mets reportedly completed a trade sending right-handed reliever Huascar Brazobán to the Chicago White Sox for a pair of minor league pitchers, Gabe Davis and Zach Franklin.
Brazobán's path to the majors was not a traditional one, as he was drafted in 2011 and toiled in the minor leagues for nine years, with a four year detour to the International League, before finally making the bigs in 2023 as a member of the Miami Marlins. As part of their trade deadline in 2024, the Mets sent Wilfredo Lara to the Fish for Brazobán's services. Although 2024 was not a great season for Brazobán, 2025 and 2026 have both been highly effective. 2026 has been easily his best year in professional baseball thus far, putting up a 162 ERA+, a 2.56 ERA, and a 2.13 K/BB ratio.
The knock on Brazobán, and the likely reason the Mets moved a reliever with three years of team control, is his age. Brazobán is entering his age 37 season in 2027, and with reliever volatility and the general aging curve of baseball, each subsequent season from now on seemed to be more of a roll of a the dice than usual.
The return includes Gabe Davis, Chicago's fifth round draft pick in 2025, currently ranked as the White Sox 18th best prospect via MLB Pipeline and 20th per Baseball America. Davis is a tall (6'9") drink of water who couldn't harness his raw stuff at Oklahoma State. Davis dominated High-A ball in eight starts, but struggled since his Double-A call up. Here is what our friends at South Side Sox had to say about Davis:
…The right-hander's stuff is extremely interesting. His fastball sits 94–97 mph and touches 100, thrown from a massive frame that naturally creates steep plane. The velocity doesn't always overpower hitters the way the number on the scoreboard suggests, but the pitch still flashes plenty of life. Davis' best weapon is a tight, upper-80s power slider. A pitch that can reach 92 mph and serves as a legitimate wipeout offering when he's synced up. He can morph it into a harder cutter and mixes in an occasional mid-80s changeup with promising fade, though the change remains his least reliable pitch.

#brazob #METS #pitch #white

Former West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin refused to offer support for any self-described socialist candidates ahead of the midterm elections on Sunday's broadcast of CBS' "Face the Nation."
"No way," Manchin said when asked if he would ever support a socialist. "My God, no."
"Even if they have some good ideas?" host Margaret Brennan pressed.
"I support the good ideas," he said. "But how could you support some of the crazy stuff they're for?"
Watch: House Dems Dodge Questions On Socialist Agenda That Threatens To Abolish Key Institutions

#face

The Pittsburgh Pirates had been setting themselves up to be buyers at the trade deadline, and well before the cutoff of team-to-team transactions on Monday evening.
On Saturday afternoon, the Pirates acquired Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees in exchange for a pair of prospects.
This is now Doval's second time in as many years being traded to a new team ahead of the deadline. Even though the pitcher has bounced around the league, Doval's focus is just trying to control what he can.
"In this game, things like that are gonna happen; just getting traded, "said Doval through his interpreter on Sunday.
"The way I see it is just to control the stuff, the things that I can control, and that's gonna happen. Some people are going to make decisions, and I just have to do my job, control myself."

#traded

The Los Angeles Rams could not have expected Davante Adams to have the impact he's had on the franchise when they signed him last offseason. Not only did he lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns, but he also became a mentor and the undisputed leader of the wide receiver room.
Puka Nacua has credited Adams for taking charge and being the ultimate example, while Konata Mumpfield has become sort of an apprentice, rapidly growing his role within the offensive scheme. In 2026, it appears that CJ Daniels has become the latest to seek Adams' advice.
During a recent press conference, Adams told reporters that he's developed a rapport with Daniels during OTAs, helping the rookie with elements of his game that need improvement. Daniels sought Adams' advice before the break before camp.
Davante Adams said rookie CJ Daniels approached him before the break between the offseason program and training camp and asked him what he thought Daniels needed to work on.

"We talked about a couple of small things," Adams said. "I had seen a lot of good stuff from him during… https://t.co/KjIFrfdUt9
"We talked about a couple of small things," Adams said. "I had seen a lot of good stuff from him during the offseason program, and he came back and did exactly those things."

#davante #become

Stars are just like us—in that they also love McDonald's. You might think it's all private chef creations and healthy meals for A-listers, but really, they're pulling into the Golden Arches drive-thru just as often as the rest of us.
Mark Ruffalo once ate a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, no onions, every other day for weeks while filming a movie. Adele says her death row meal would be Chicken McNuggets, a Big Mac, and fries—despite the fact that she eats this exact combo "at least once a week." Even Tina Fey once walked down the side of a highway in Italy just to get a McFlurry.
So it's no surprise that WWE icon and actor John Cena is also a fan of a regular McDonald's run. What is surprising, though, is exactly what he orders—and just how much of it.
Take one look at John Cena, and you can probably guess he has a pretty serious appetite. Between his years as a WWE superstar, his action movie career, and his famously intense fitness routine, the guy has to eat. But even knowing all that, his McDonald's order is still more impressive than we expected.
In an interview with Today, Cena revealed that his go-to order is two double cheeseburgers and two six-piece orders of Chicken McNuggets, for a total of 12 nuggets. In an even more recent interview with Delish, that number rose to 18 nuggets. That's enough nuggets to turn both cheeseburgers into "Crunchy Doubles"—the fan-favorite menu hack where you stuff McNuggets into your burger—and still have a six-pack left over.

#once #nuggets #orders #order

Aug. 2—Zvonimir Ivisic is considered the more defensive minded of Illinois' twin centers. For a reason. The 7-foot-2 Croatian averaged a team-high 1.9 blocks last season, and his block percentage ranked fourth nationally, per Bart Torvik, behind only Virginia's Ugonna Onyenso, Seton Hall's Najai Hines and Charleston's Chol Machot.
That's not to say Tomislav Ivisic didn't contribute defensively. The 7-1 center was certainly more of an offensive threat and his defensive rating went down from his first season in Champaign, but he still came out on the positive side of plus/minus at the defensive end of the court for the season.
Ratcheting up his defensive versatility has been an offseason goal for Tomislav Ivisic. It's arguably his primary goal.
"I want to be a better defender," he said. "To be able to hope (defensive coordinator Camryn Crocker) have more variety on the defensive end. If he thinks maybe for one game it would be best to switch, and if I'm not ready to switch, then we can't play switch. I'm trying to be a better defender on that end.
"That all starts with small details like having hip mobility, hamstring and quad stretch, a little bit of balance. Small stuff that we do every day and that we've been working on since the season was over. I definitely feel improvement there. I also gained some weight. Which should slow me down, but that's why we work on extra stuff to not slow me down and improve my mobility and agility."

#ivisic #down #defender

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says the Celtic "pressure cooker" is the ideal environment for him to thrive.
The England international signed a short-term deal with the Parkhead club in February and helped them win a league and Scottish Cup double last season.
The 32-year-old signed a new deal earlier this summer and is hungry for more success, starting with Monday's Scottish Premiership opener against Dundee.
"When the opportunity to come here last year came up, the fact that it was going to be a challenge, I really enjoyed that," he said.
"The idea of just trying to do whatever I could to give some experience or, at times, a few moments of quality that could help the lads go on to achieve what we did. The way it ended up was like dreamland stuff.

#last #year #celtic

The Cincinnati Bengals made one of the biggest splashes of the 2026 offseason when they acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II. Through just a handful of training camp practices, it's already becoming apparent that the veteran's impact extends well beyond what he'll do on Sundays.
No one knows that better than veteran center Ted Karras.
Speaking with reporters following Saturday's practice, Karras offered glowing praise for Lawrence after spending the first week of camp battling him in the trenches.
"Better bring your f-ing stuff when you're going against Dexter Lawrence."
That's about as strong of an endorsement as an offensive lineman can give.

#camp #sundays

The man behind a "lot of ridiculous stuff" has told the BBC he is trying to build a floating pub.
Will Bower, from Angmering in West Sussex, said he wants to create the buoyant boozer for his father's 60th birthday.
"[My dad] loves being on the water. He loves beer. I thought what better idea than to make a floating pub?" Bower said.
Bower plans to float the pub on the River Adur once he has finished building it.
He has purchased materials and building is currently under way.

#floating #loves

Jeff Passan of ESPN announced at 11:31 p.m. ET that the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers were finalizing a trade for two-time AL Cy Young award winner, Tarik Skubal. The Tigers ace is bound for free agency at season's end, and with the Tigers still a few games and numerous teams away from a playoff spot, Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg decided it was time to cash in their ace for prospects. The deal has not been confirmed by either team as of this writing.
In return the Tigers will receive a very good outfield prospect in 21-year-old left-handed hitter Zyhir Hope, triple digit right-handed pitcher River Ryan, and a fairly good right-handed pitching prospect in 21-year-old Brady Smith. Hope is a top 100 prospect who generally draws 55 FV grades, while Ryan was once a top shelf starting pitching prospect with great stuff, but had Tommy John surgery in August 2024, and while his stuff appears fully intact, and it is excellent power stuff, he's dealt with some minor injuries this season.
The Dodgers are acquiring Tarik Skubal from the Tigers in exchange for OF Zyhir Hope (LAD No. 6), RHP River Ryan (LAD No. 9) and RHP Brady Smith (LAD No. 27), per JeffPassan.

Hope ranks No. 55 in our Top 100.

Dodgers Top 30: https://t.co/JdyoYPsd9Y pic.twitter.com/rgqO2CHl1O
The Tigers don't really seem interested in pulling the plug on the 2026 season, and were expected to get a major league ready starter as part of the return for Skubal. That didn't happen exactly, but on June 28, Ryan suffered his second hamstring injury of the season. He's expected to return sometime in August or early September, but those injuries are often tricky, so we'll see.
We'll also have to see if the Tigers have more deals in mind or not. Either way, this is a good return for Tarik Skubal. Hope and Ryan are both very talented, and Smith's stock has been rising rapidly this season. The Tigers farm system gets a pretty major upgrade here after graduating Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark this season.

#tarik

Four years ago, when the Browns, Panthers, Falcons, and Saints entered a four-way competition for quarterback Deshaun Watson, Cleveland was the first team to which Watson said, "No thanks." A five-year, fully-guaranteed contract quickly changed his mind.
Still, there's been a lingering perception that Watson didn't really want to play for the Browns. Before too long, it seemed as if the Browns were counting the days until they could move on from Watson.
Will that change? On Friday, owner Jimmy Haslam kept the door open on Watson returning in 2027. On Saturday, Watson made his feelings for Cleveland clear.
"When I first got here, there was a lot of stuff going on, as the world knows," Watson told reporters. "But I don't have any bad feelings toward Cleveland. I love Cleveland. Me and my wife have our house on the east side, so we're here all the time. We were here this summer. If you ask around, I'm at pretty much all the restaurants, hanging out, so I haven't had a bad experience outside of different times in the stadium. I don't know why that narrative is out there that people think that I don't like Cleveland. My family and I have been enjoying our time here, if the opportunity shows up, we'll see where it goes."
The first step will be winning the starting job. The second step will be playing well enough to return. And the third step will be fending off any other teams that may want Watson, if he re-establishes himself as a high-level NFL starter.

#watson #feelings

CHICAGO — General manager Ryan Poles is going to need to clear some time in his schedule for Jaylon Johnson after the season.
If things go the way the Chicago Bears cornerback envisions, it's going to be time for them to talk about a raise — a big one — for the two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Poles surely loves having players who are supremely motivated and confident in themselves in a very public manner. That's precisely what Johnson did after a wet and soggy practice Saturday morning at Halas Hall.
"This is definitely a contract year," Johnson said in his first media availability since January. "We all know with the cap (has risen) and all that stuff. It's definitely a contract year for me, so at the end of the day, whether that's here or somewhere else, I've got to put it on tape that I am still a top guy in this league."
The next move, of course, belongs to Johnson. Everyone is curious what he looks like after playing in only nine games last season, including the postseason, and dealing with a groin injury that required core muscle surgery.

#johnson

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson has always kept his contract situation top of mind ever since coming into the league. From 2023 when he was the subject of trade talks to the summer of 2025 when he discussed possibly doing a new deal after he signed his four-year extension during the spring of 2024, Johnson has never wavered when talking about his future in the league. Now prior to the 2026 season, Johnson eyes a new payday and understands this could be his last season in Chicago.
On Saturday, Johnson met with the media and was asked about 2026 being a pivotal season with the explosion in deals for cornerbacks in recent years. Johnson didn't hesitate with his answer. "It's definitely a contract year," he said. "We all know with the cap hit and all that stuff. It's definitely a contract year for me, so at the end of the day, whether that's here or somewhere else, I've got to put it on tape that I am still a top guy in this league."
Johnson is set to make $24 million in 2026, which is the second-highest total among cornerbacks for this upcoming season, trailing only Marlon Humphrey of the Baltimore Ravens. But as Johnson alluded to, he has no remaining guaranteed money after this season and can be cut next offseason to save $16 million. If 2026 is a repeat of what happened in 2025, then that decision will be easy for the Bears.
Last year, Johnson dealt with groin injuries that caused him to miss two months of games. When he returned to action in late November, Johnson was a shell of himself and played through pain to help the Bears capture the NFC North and return to the postseason for the first time since his rookie year. Now that he's fully healthy, though, Johnson is eyeing a third big contract.
"I'm not a dummy. I structured my deal a certain way to put myself back at the table at the age of 27," Johnson said. "For me, it was always for this point to get here and then show out and do what I do and be healthy and be out there doing what I do best. That's covering, that's making plays, and being a difference maker. And then from there, wherever that contract talk goes, it goes."

#year #bears #always

The Pittsburgh Pirates are buying at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, as it was announced today from Jeff Passan the Buccos acquired relife pitcher Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees. In return, the Bucs send two Minor Leaguers in catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz. New York has also agreed to pay a portion of Doval's salary.
The 29-year-old right-handed reliever has elite velocity, touching 101 mph and throwing a fastball, cutter, ans slider. He has 3.53 career ERA and 393 strikeouts in 326 innings, but he hasn't been great since coming to New York last season, finishing with a 4.84 ERA last year and holding a 4.54 one this year.
This deal has been described as being one with "high-upside risk" as Doval has loads of arm talent and potential to be a key piece in Pittsburgh's bullpen. In 2023 as a member of the San Francisco Giants, the 29-year-old righty was an All-Star closer before being traded to the Yankees in the Summer of 2025. His stuff which includes a cutter that regularly touches triple digits, a sinker that sits at 98mph and an incredible cutter gives him the tools to be very effective on the mound. His results since arriving in the Bronx is why the Pirates were able to buy low with him, because he's had lots of problems with consistency.
Doval's rough adjustment to New York could be that it just wasn't the right environment for him. Going from San Francisco which is a pitcher friendly ballpark to the Yankees' shallow outfield could be why he struggled. Regardless the Pirates add another arm to what has been a struggling bullpen. Doval fits the mold that a player like Aroldis Chapman provides to the backend of the bullpen. His blazing pitch speed is pure power in late game situations, and could be beneficial in high leverage situations. Although he struggled at Yankee Stadium it's worth nothing that he's been very good on the road with a 1.86 ERA and just one homer allowed in 19 1/3 innings. The change of scenery and a great pitching staff could be exactly what Doval needs to get back to his All-Star ways. If he can find consistency, he could be a key contributor in helping the Pirates reach the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.
Mike Axisa of CBS Sports gave the Pirates an A grade on the trade, citing the low cost as one of the big factors that makes this trade a win for Pittsburgh.

#year #trade #pittsburgh

The Las Vegas Raiders are switching to a 3-4 defense in 2026, which puts them in need of a nose tackle. They have brought in three players to help out in that area, adding Benito Jones and drafting Brandon Cleveland, as well as Gary Smith II as an undrafted free agent.
Since the departure of mainstay Jonathan Hankins, the Silver and Black have been missing that pure run stuffer in the middle. However, news recently broke that Vita Vea has demanded a trade, with contract talks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at a stalemate. He wants to join the Raiders, according to Ted Nguyen of The Athletic, and would be a great option for the team.
In this week's SB Nation Reacts, we ask Raider Nation if they should trade for Vita Vea. The results are in, and Raiders fans are almost split on the decision. Only 54% of Raiders fans believe they should trade for Vita Vea.
Most Raiders fans are realistic about the season, and they see this as the beginning of a rebuild. A trade for Vita Vea is a win-now move that might not fit what the football team is supposed to accomplish right now. While it would upgrade the roster, giving up draft picks might be too steep a price.

#benito

The Rays entered Friday's game with a three-game lead in the AL East, after the Yankees beat the Cubs in an afternoon affair at Wrigley Field, By the end of Friday's game, which saw the division lead cut to 2.5, the last completed trade was AJ Minter to the Twins. There is now less than three days until Monday's 6 pm deadline.
Nick Martinez took the mound for the Rays, and it wasn't a night to remember for the All-Star pitcher. He gave up six runs over six innings, all of them coming on four White Sox home runs. It's a scary thought to think about Martinez, who doesn't have overpowering stuff, facing teams like this in a postseason setting. There's still time to bolster this rotation, Erik.
The one bright spot for the Rays on Friday night was Junior Caminero hitting his 30th home run of the season. He's on pace to reach the 40 mark for a second straight season.
Alex Cook, who replaced Shane McClanahan on the active roster, made his Major League debut, pitching the seventh and eighth innings. Cook walked a pair and didn't record any strikeouts, but kept the White Sox off the board in his two innings of work. He leaned on his fastball, throwing it 76% of the time, occasionally mixing in a slider and changeup.
In Durham this season, Cook has thrown 33.1 innings with a 3.78 ERA.

#rays #martinez

With the MLB trade deadline just around the corner, Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene has been one of the most frequently discussed names in trade speculation. Given his electric stuff and front-of-the-rotation potential, it wasn't surprising that contending teams reportedly reached out to the Reds to gauge his availability.
However, it now appears that one of the deadline's biggest rumored blockbusters is unlikely to happen. MLB insider Ken Rosenthal has cast significant doubt on the possibility of Greene being dealt, suggesting Cincinnati has little interest in moving its ace despite the growing number of inquiries from around the league.
MORE: One player every MLB team will trade at the 2026 trade deadline
For weeks, rumors suggested the Reds could consider moving Greene if presented with the right offer. Those reports fueled speculation that several contenders were preparing blockbuster packages in hopes of landing one of baseball's premier young pitchers.
Rosenthal's latest comments paint a different picture.

#deadline

Early on, most vibes coming out of the Kansas City Chiefs' training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph have been positive through three full-squad workouts.
One unfortunate exception has been the status of rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane, the sixth overall selection in April's draft. Delane suffered a shoulder injury earlier this summer in organized team activities (OTAs). He was reportedly just cleared for practice as rookies arrived to St. Joseph last week.
Delane has participated in every practice dating to the rookie portion last weekend. He has worn a yellow, non-contact jersey each time.
Speaking after Friday's session, head coach Andy Reid described Delane as in an unusual position of practicing while still recovering from injury.
"He's a tough kid," the coach remarked. "He was a state wrestling champ and all that stuff. Tough kid. He wants to be out there. He wants to do everything. We're not allowing him to use that arm. He's out there playing kind of one-handed. Until he's completely clear, we're going to keep an eye on him."

#tough

New Mexico State general manager, ***** istant head coach and running backs coach David Cobb is no longer with the team.
The news was first reported by James Baca through his "Aggregator" blog on Substack.
An NM State athletics spokesman declined to say why Cobb has departed when asked by the Las Cruces Sun-News on Friday, July 31. Aggies coach Tony Sanchez said after Friday's practice that he couldn't comment on the reason, but says an announcement on Cobb's replacement will come next week.
"We're working through that right now. I will have something to announce next week," Sanchez told the Sun-News after Friday's practice. "Administration is going through stuff. I can't really comment on that right now, but fair question... We've got that taken care of. We'll announce that early next week."
I asked NMSU coach Tony Sanchez on who will be coaching RBs this season with David Cobb’s sudden departure from the staff. He says they should have an announcement on that sometime next week.

He couldn’t comment on why Cobb is gone. Said administration is dealing with it. pic.twitter.com/v7UdNuEDz6

#cobb #week #administration

For those teams that don't land Tarik Skubal at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, there's another front-line starting pitcher available: Freddy Peralta, whom the New York Mets landed last offseason, only to see him struggle with a 4.99 ERA this year.
And with the Mets having struggles of their own to go along with Peralta's impending free agency, it's a perfect storm for a trade. Add in the fact that Peralta was scratched from his planned start on Friday night so the Mets can preserve his health and you've got increased trade rumors floating around.
With that in mind, here are some possible landing spots for the veteran starter:
Let's presume that the Cubs don't have the stuff to get Skubal. They could grab Peralta instead for a lower price and add to their rotation, which they desperately need.
Same with them. There are some reports that they could be the Skubal front-runners, but let's say another team swoops in? They could turn to Peralta.

#skubal #METS #front #freddy

The Yankees' offense better wake up, as they've scored just two unearned runs in their last 22 innings. Facing a Cubs team that ranks second in the majors with 5.17 runs scored per game and third with a 111 wRC+, they simply cannot afford to give so many ABs away, New York failing to dent home plate in 28 of their last 32 innings played. Fortunately, they'll face a pitching staff that is seventh-worst with a 4.68 FIP, though it's not like the White Sox were much better in that department and were still largely able to silence the Yankees in the final two games of their just-completed series.
Will Warren is coming off one of his worst starts of the season — six runs on six hits in three innings against the Phillies. It's already the fifth start in which he has given up at least five runs, four of those coming since June 20th, Warren posting a 6.57 ERA over his last eight starts after opening the season at 7-1 with a 3.22 ERA across his first 12 starts. To me, the problems appear to be threefold: he can't get lefties out, he struggles to pitch from the stretch, and he suffers a massive third-time-through penalty. That doesn't bode well against a Cubs lineup that features five batters from the left side and is second in baseball with a .340 OBP. In 20 starts, Warren is 7-5 with a 4.41 ERA (102 ERA+), 4.16 FIP, and 102 strikeouts in 102 innings.
The Cubs declined their three-year team option on Shota Imanaga over the winter after he struggled in 2025, the two sides eventually reuniting on the qualifying offer for 2026. He has rewarded that renewed faith with a rebound performance, gaining a mph back on his fastball which has seen his chase and strikeout rates tick back up to his stellar rookie campaign marks in 2024. The 32-year-old lefty relies on hitters getting themselves out rather than overwhelming you with stuff, the four-seamer acting as a setup pitch for his splitter and sweeper. The Yankees are getting him at an awful time as Imanaga is coming off consecutive scoreless starts of at least six innings. In 21 starts, Imanaga is 7-8 with a 3.72 ERA (109 ERA+), 4.39 FIP, and 113 strikeouts in 121 innings.
The Yankees opt for their usual lineup against lefties, but with a pair of notable changes. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is not in the lineup after exiting yesterday's loss in the 11th with cramps, which allows Spencer Jones a rare start against a lefty in right as José Caballero is forced to man second. Amed Rosario, Anthony Volpe, and Ali Sánchez will be tasked with carrying their weight with the supposed platoon advantage against the soft-tossing lefty.
The Cubs stack their lineup with lefties against Warren. Leading off is the MLB position player leader in fWAR (7.1) in Pete Crow-Armstrong, the All-World center fielder leading baseball with 21 Outs Above Average and sixth in wRC+ (152) as he makes a legitimate push to challenge Shohei Ohtani for the NL MVP. Seiya Suzuki, Pedro Ramírez, Michael Busch, Michael Conforto, and Ian Happ have all been bet

We're still more than a month away from Week 1 of the NFL season, but the trash talk is nearing midseason form.
Coming off a stellar 13-win season, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen feels that his squad has been overlooked. According to the second-year head coach, that is one of the great benefits of coaching his team.
Speaking with 1010 XL in Florida, Coen said all the motivation his team needs comes from the shortage of attention given to them.
"This is the best part about coaching the Jacksonville Jaguars – you don't have to make up telling your players stuff," Coen said. "You don't have to make up the fire, you don't have to make it up. It's given to us everyday. ...
"I just go, pull out my phone, look at the NFL Network website, and just pop up here, and I'm just curious if I see any photos or anything about the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think I'll just scroll right on through, I think I'll see 40 pictures of Caleb Williams, and I won't see a single thing about any of our players on here."

#jacksonville #head #coach

Romelu Lukaku is about to return from his post-World Cup vacations, and the conversations to sort out his Napoli future, involving also Massimiliano Allegri, will ramp up. The parties are distant from finding a solution, Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
The striker has no plans to spend a campaign backing up Rasmus Hojlund, who was recently bought out for over €40M. The new Partenopei gaffer has exclusively rehearsed schemes featuring just one striker so far. The gaffer has frequently utilized 3-5-2 in his career, but they have a few wingers to employ.
Napoli can't give Lukaku the prominent role he aspires to. At the same time, they have no interest in keeping a reserve with a €11M gross salary. The center-forward seemed surely destined to leave after last season's events, but he had changed his tune earlier in the summer.
The Azzurri suggested extending his contract to dilute his wages to make them more manageable, but they were rebuffed. His exit isn't easy to orchestrate, considering his age, demands, injury history, and €10/12M valuation. The side aims to avoid a loss on its balance sheet. The team is hoping his performances across the pond will help in that regard. He wasn't a full-time starter for Belgium, but still made his presence felt with three goals and one ******* ist.
He's proven he can be dangerous in small doses, but the club also has to weigh other stuff, especially the economic side. Everything points toward an exit, with perhaps Saudi Arabia or the MLS coming to the rescue, if the Azzurri aren't too rigid on his price tag. But, as often happens with him, it'll get messy first.

#striker #time #exit #side

MIAMI GARDENS - There are a lot of things you'd rather forget about the Brian Flores era.
Flores was stubborn, uncooperative and callous.
But don't overlook that Flores was a good tactical football coach. And don't overlook that Flores did deliver toughness, accountability and discipline to the Miami Dolphins organization.
Flores was fired for the other stuff.
This is where I tell you that when I listen to Jeff Hafley speak I hear plenty of Flo-isms. And in these cases, that's not a bad thing.

#Miami #don 't #brian #hafley

Cole Palmer says he is hungry to get back to his best after missing out on England's World Cup squad.
The Chelsea forward endured a frustrating last season, partly due to a groin injury, but says he is raring to go after a summer break.
"I didn't really know how to deal with it," Palmer admitted when asked about his injury last season.
"The first few months, with me being injured, I just wanted to go out and play. Which I probably shouldn't have done. Obviously I couldn't play how I wanted to play. It was a bad season personally with injuries and stuff but I feel good now. The seven weeks obviously helped. I'm ready to go again."
Palmer was a surprise absentee from Tuchel's World Cup squad, and says it has given him extra motivation to prove himself.

#squad