Browns' $62.2M extension for five-time Pro Bowl CB called 'unforced error' by ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns traded away Myles Garrett this offseason in a blockbuster move, and after such a stunning deal, a few of their other veterans could've been on the move.
But, just as the Browns signed Grant Delpit to a contract extension, five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward also got a massive new contract extension.
However, ESPN's Seth Walder was clearly not a fan, calling this $62.2 million extension for the five-time Pro Bowler an "unforced error," as he believes the Browns should not have made such a massive deal for Ward.
"The Browns handed Ward, one of their defensive pillars, a two-year extension worth $31.1 million per year to keep him in Cleveland through 2029. But it's not a deal I would have made," Walder writes. "... But even if 2024 was a blip, Ward's age and the team's contractual control make this deal an unforced error."

#unforced

Second seed Elena Rybakina, third seed Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto on Wednesday.
Australian Open champion Rybakina of Kazakhstan began her hardcourt run ahead of the US Open by outlasting Australian Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 after two hours and 33 minutes.
World number two Rybakina began the match by hitting six consecutive winners and finished with 58 winners, 15 of them acers, and 58 unforced errors, 16 of them double faults.
Rybakina hit back-to-back double faults to drop the second set and three double faults while serving for the match before advancing to next face 28th-seeded American Ann Li, who eliminated Canadian wildcard Kayla Cross 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
Pegula, who lost Monday in a rain-hit Washington final, was also extended to three sets before advancing with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Poland's Magdalena Frech in two hours and three minutes.

#open

The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly re-signed veteran big man DeAndre Jordan to a two-year, guaranteed $7.9 million deal. Jordan returns for two more years after spending this past season with the team.
Right after the deal was announced, an NBA ******* yst questioned the decision, which cost the Pelicans $3 million more.
The Pelicans' decision to give the former All-Star center a two-year guaranteed deal was met with sharp criticism from Austin Robert, who tweeted:
"I was informed by someone in the league that the NBA prorate of vet min. Deals only applies to 1-year deals. So the Pelicans will be paying the entire $7.9M. 'His comment was, 'I don't think they understood the rule,' referring to Joe Dumars.'"
Robert continued: "All they had to do was sign DJ to two separate 1-year deals. This is an entirely unforced error. I'm pretty baffled how this happened."

Coco Gauff's best-ever run at Wimbledon is over. Gauff fought valiantly, recovering from a tough first set, but couldn't outlast Karolina Muchova in the tiebreak.
With the win, Muchova heads to the Wimbledon final for the first time in her career.
Gauff appeared off her game early. While she took the first game, Gauff dropped the second and was broken by Muchova in the third. Gauff looked to be in a better spot in the fourth game, but lost fourth straight points to give Muchova an early 3-1 lead in the set. Missed shots affected Gauff in the next game, which Muchova won quickly.
The sixth game of the first set looked like it could be the start of a turnaround for Gauff, who scored the first three points to go up 40-0. But Gauff couldn't close it out. Muchova won the next five points, winning the game take a commanding 5-1 lead in the first set. Gauff once again had trouble closing out the next game. Despite reaching game point first, Gauff again allowed Muchova to claw her way back. This time around, though, Gauff showed resilience, finally holding off a Muchova comeback to make it 5-2 in the set.
But Gauff's rally couldn't last. Muchova was able to close out the set in the next game, winning the set 6-2. Gauff's 12 unforced errors played a decent role in her giving up the set. But if there was reason for hope, Muchova struggled in the set to get her first serve in. If Gauff could play a cleaner match going forward, it was possible she could turn things around.

Taylor Fritz entered Wednesday with an edge. Though he was the lower seeded player coming in, Fritz held a 10-5 record over Zverev in 15 singles meetings. Not only that, but Fritz entered Wednesday on a seven-match winning streak against Zverev.
But that streak came to an end, as Zverev turned in a dominant performance against Fritz, beating the American in straight sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-2).
Zverev was in control early, especially with his serve. He notched eight aces in the first set against Fritz, many of which came on his first serve attempt. He managed to get 82 percent of his first serves in play during the set, which proved to be the difference in his 6-4 win.
While it was a strong start from Zverev, most of the other stats from the first set were even, suggesting Fritz would put up a fight going forward.
In many ways, Fritz did up his game in the second set. He notched six aces and was excellent scoring points on his first serves. Zverev was simply better. He made just five unforced errors in the set, once again winning 6-4. With those wins under his belt, Zverev sat a set away from advancing to the semifinals.

We asked for your views on which free agents Newcastle could target this summer and whether there is one player the Magpies are linked with but you hope they never sign.
Here are some of your comments:
Elliot: Darwin Nunez he has been linked to Newcastle for at least a year and he cannot shoot to save his life. If Newcastle sign him it is basically over.
Tom: After the years of Mike Ashley signing 'free' transfers that were rarely useful, always on high wages and generally had to be paid off, I wouldn't sign anyone on a free. A signing we're always linked with but I don't want... Bart Verbruggen. Yes, we need a new first-choice goalkeeper but this guy seems to make a lot of unforced errors.
Paul: We are crying out for a proper number nine so I would take Dusan Vlahovic on a free as he is exactly that and still young enough with his best years ahead. The player we have been constantly linked who I would not want us to sign is Manuel Ugarte - he can't get a game at Manchester United so why would he get a game with us?

Alexandra Eala made more history for the Philippines as the 21-year-old rising star stunned defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek to extend her record run to the fourth round.
Eala, the 29th seed, won 7-6 6-2 in two hours and 14 minutes for the biggest win of her blossoming career as well as the most significant upset of this year’s Championships.
Eala won a **** anic 85-minute first set on Centre Court, saving set points as she won the tiebreak 11-9, before breaking an increasingly erratic Swiatek twice in quick succession to seize control.
Despite getting one of the breaks back and saving the first two match points, Swiatek was unable to stop the slide, making more than 40 unforced errors across the match as the Polish star exited Wimbledon in the third round for the third time in five years.
It is the second time in Eala’s young career that she has beaten the third seed Swiatek, who won her sixth grand **** le by thrashing Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 in last year’s Wimbledon final. Eala had previously made her big breakthrough when she defeated Swiatek when ranked 140th in the world and as a 19-year-old wildcard at last season’’s Miami Open.

Belgium’s Elise Mertens knocked out Wimbledon No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina in straight sets on Saturday, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.
The win puts the No. 25 Mertens into the fourth round for the second straight year and third time since 2022. It’s the second straight Wimbledon that Rybakina, the 2022 singles champion, has been unable to get out of the third round.
Heading into Saturday's matchup, Rybakina held a 7-1 lifetime advantage over Mertens in singles play. They last met in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January, with Rybakina winning in straight sets, which was her sixth straight win over Mertens.
After needing a first-set tiebreak, Mertens did not let her opponent have a chance to steal the second set. The Belgian, who has not advance past the fourth round in her Wimbledon singles career, won the break points and serve points battle as Rybakina struggled with unforced errors throughout the match.
Mertens will face No. 21 Marie Bouzková on Monday.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Giants fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This season has been an unmitigated disaster for the San Francisco Giants. The bulk of their offseason transactions haven’t paid off. The biggest moves from last year — signing Willy Adames and trading for Rafael Devers — are currently backfiring. And to this point, the splash move of the winter — hiring Tony Vitello straight from the college ranks — hasn’t really panned out.
On the one hand, it’s early. Buster Posey has only been President of Baseball Operations for a season and a half, and he’s approaching trade deadline season, which he aced a year ago. On the other hand, the Giants have been one of baseball worst teams this year, while also committing numerous unforced errors on and off the field. Things just aren’t right.
So we wanted to poll the community on the man at the top: Posey. How are you feeling about him halfway through his second season at the helm?

International friendly, 04/06/26
France got the final part of their World Cup preparations underway by hosting Ivory Coast in Nantes. Didier Deschamps, who was serenaded for his return to his former La Beaujoire ground, opted to give PSG’s Champions League winners at his disposal a breather.
With Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé all benched, Rayan Cherki was handed the playmaker role, between left-winger Marcus Thuram and Michael Olise on the other side. Les Bleus captain Kylian Mbappé leads the line.
France dominated possession, but they were far from clinical in the final third. Kylian Mbappé and Rayan Cherki missed big chances in the first half, whereas Ivory Coast’s best chances stemmed from Les Bleus’ unforced errors. Mike Maignan proved alert to save Aurélien Tchouaméni’s blushes after the Real Madrid midfielder was too easily dispossessed by Simon Adingra.
Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana was called into action more often than not, but there was nothing he could do to prevent Cherki from opening the scoring. The Manchester City playmaker recovered the ball from Ibrahima Konaté, breezed past Seko Fofana and Yan Diomandé before finding the bottom right corner.

Marco Rubio, once a Trump rival, has scrapped his old foreign policy playbook and courted MAGA leaders while avoiding the unforced errors of other Cabinet members.