Rodriguez is reportedly not starting because manager Nestor Lorenzo is managing his fitness and rhythm due to Rodriguez being a free agent, so his physical shape must be treated carefully. James could perfectly play in the second half.

This is a classic tune-up friendly to say goodbye to Colombian fans with a big win. Also, is a morale-lifting result the one that they are seeking. Hence, it should be a party today as Colombia play Costa Rica at a capacity crowd. Follow the play-by-play of Colombia vs Costa Rica LIVE with Bolavip.

Colombia’s official lineup for friendly vs. Costa Rica

Camilo Vargas will start in goal, with Santiago Arias, Davinson Sanchez, Willer Ditta, and Johan Mojica as the back four. Gustavo Puerta and Richard Rios will play as the holding midfielders, while Jorge Carrascal, Luis Diaz, and Carlos Andres Gomez as the attacking midfielders, with Juan Camilo Hernandez up front.

Hence, Carlos Andres Gomez is the one taking what would’ve been James Rodriguez’s spot. While it might not be the best team Colombia could put, it’s still a strong team to put against a Costa Rica team that is not even in the World Cup.

How many international caps does James Rodriguez have for Colombia?

James Rodriguez has 124 international games for Colombia. He is the second-most capped player in Colombia’s history. Only goalkeeper David Ospina has more caps for the country. Colombia are a dark horse contender for the 2026 World Cup.

Rodriguez has accumulated 31 goals and 41 assists over his 124 international appearances, bringing his career total to 72 direct goal contributions for his country, one of the most productive players in Colombia’s history.

After the trade terms of Myles Garrett were undisclosed, the Browns have a lot of new draft capital coming from the Rams. This opened the door on questions over the Browns rumored interest in Brendan Sorsby. HC Todd Monken immediately discarded him.

Monken said the following on that topic, “I don’t think we’re in a position to want to go down that road. That’s my option, not Andrew’s. I like the quarterbacks that we have. I think that’s a slippery slope, when you go down that [path].“

What’s the latest on Brendan Sorsby?

Sorsby’s legal team is seeking an injunction to allow him to play in 2026 while his case proceeds about the bets he placed during his College Football career. Not only that, but he could also declare for the NFL Draft.

Sorsby has stated he is a compulsive gambler and entered a rehab program in April. Now, his legal team is asking for a ruling no later than June 16. However, as Monken said, he already has a lot of quarterbacks who are actually engaged in a QB battle right now.

Browns updated QB depth chart

Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Taylen Green are the ones that the Browns can rely on right now. Out of those, the fact is only two of them are fighting for the starting spot.

Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are the ones that are in the middle of the QB1 battle. Watson is coming off of brutal seasons between offseason shenanigans, heavy injuries, and bad level of play. Shedeur is coming off of a rollercoaster of a rookie deal with more turnovers than touchdowns.

Monken didn’t have a happy demeanor, but he was clear on his words. “I wasn’t assured that [Myles Garrett would stay] when I took the job,” Monken said to 92.3 The Fan. “I was never assured of anything when I took the job, other than once I signed my contract, whatever my contract said — that’s what I was assured.”

The Browns did get a lot as the terms of the blockbuster trade indicate. However, not having Myles Garrett is quite a big blow. The team was trying to base its success around the defense, and Garrett was at the forefront of that.

Jared Verse is a premium replacement

While no one will put Jared Verse on Myles Garrett’s level, the fact is that he is one of the best young edges in the NFL. Garrett is a future Hall of Famer, and Verse is just starting his career with that same goal in sight.

Verse has played two seasons in the NFL. Verse has five forced fumbles and 12 sacks in his career. He’s got plenty of potential at just 25 years old. The Browns can still have a great defense with him instead of Garrett. After all, the Rams did rate Verse very highly.

Monken must not be happy

While he didn’t share much nor did he share much of his emotions, deep inside Monken should be angry. While Verse and the picks are good returns for Myles Garrett, losing a player like that is never a good set of news.

The Eagles addressed the possibility of living without AJ Brown in the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, DeVonta Smith will be upgraded to WR1 status, with rookie Makai Lemon taking the spot as WR2. They also have Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, and Darius Cooper as the main names to fill the WR room.

As for the Patriots, they got a much-needed certified WR1. AJ Brown will be quite stellar, with Romeo Doubs as WR2. Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte are still on the roster, as DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism III round up the roster.

The Patriots are getting an elite weapon in AJ Brown

AJ Brown has been one of the best weapons in the NFL since he arrived in the league. He won a Super Bowl with the Eagles, and the Patriots needed a weapon like this to try and get another title run. The prospect of pairing Brown to MVP runner-up quarterback Drake Maye is just too intriguing to ignore.

Brown also knows Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel very well due to their time at Tennessee. The Patriots are getting an AJ Brown that produced 1,003 yards on 78 receptions with seven touchdowns last season.

The Eagles didn’t exactly get a tit-for-tat replacement of AJ Brown

While the Eagles addressed AJ Brown’s departure by drafting Makai Lemon, he is a very different type of receiver in comparison to Brown. AJ Brown overpowers defenders, excels at winning contested jump balls, and acts as a physically dominant threat on the outside of the field.

Lemon relies on route-running manipulation, elite ball-tracking, and creating yards after the catch through elusiveness rather than sheer power. So, the Eagles might need to adjust their playbook to go from an AJ Brown-friendly scheme to one that plays to Lemon’s strengths.

For Colombia, this is a must-win game. They can’t allow themselves to not look good on home soil against a Costa Rica team that is not even qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Colombia must win, and do it comfortably.

Costa Rica are in arguably their worst time in terms of soccer form since 1990. They failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2010. However, back then it was a 32-team tournament.

Colombia’s lineup vs Costa Rica today

Colombia’s confirmed lineup: Camilo Vargas; Santiago Arias, Dávinson Sánchez, Willer Ditta, Johan Mojica; Gustavo Puerta, Richard Rios, Jorge Carrascal; Luis Diaz, Carlos Andres Gomez, Juan Camilo Hernandez.

James Rodriguez is starting on the bench today, so there’s a chance he comes on for the second half. With the World Cup right around the corner, Colombia are managing his workload carefully.

Costa Rica’s lineup vs Colombia

Fernando Batista has only two games as Costa Rica’s manager and is looking for his first victory. While this is a very tough test, he will have to try and put up a fight without three of the team’s main cast. Midfielder Alejandro Bran, and forwards Kenneth Vargas and Warren Madrigal were sidelined from the team due to disciplinary actions.

Costa Rica’s lineup: Patrick Sequeira; Haxzel Quirós, Jeyland Mitchell, Aaron Salazar, Fernan Faerron, Darril Araya; Carlos Mora, Orlando Galo, Andrey Soto, Josimar Alcócer; Manfred Ugalde.

As reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN, and Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, “The Browns are trading Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Rams for star edge Jared Verse, a 2027 1st-round, a 2028 2nd round, and a 2029 3rd.” A heavy toll but Garrett is a one-of-one player in the NFL.

While not great that they are giving away one of their best young prospects, the Rams know Myles Garrett is a difference-maker in the middle of his prime. The Rams were already seen as a Super Bowl contender, now with Garrett, they are arguably the overwhelming favorites.

Myles Garrett is coming off a historic season

Not only did Garrett win his second Defensive Player of the Year last season, but the 30-year-old just broke the record for the most sacks in a single NFL season with 23 last year. Garrett is a game-wrecker and the Rams know how to win Super Bowls with someone like that. After all, they did it in 2021 with Aaron Donald.

Garrett, just as Donald, are players that produce pressures and sacks at a very high rate. But, they also bring double and triple coverage, allowing teammates to pressure as well. It’s a rare kind of unicorns that appear once every generation.

It’s the second offseason in a row that a star pass-rusher gets traded

Garrett getting traded is surprising but not really shocking. Garrett flirted with the idea of leaving the Browns a couple of times. He stated that he wanted to compete for a Super Bowl. Hence, the Rams took that and went all in for him.

Last season, the Dallas Cowboys did shockingly trade Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. That move that set the Cowboys back years in their rebuild. Still, Parsons is arguably just second to Garrett in terms of the best pass rushers in the NFL, so it was quite a shock to see the trade happen at the time.

• WR1: Malik Nabers
• WR2: Darnell Mooney
• SWR: Calvin Austin III
• Role WRs: Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, Malachi Fields, Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Beuax Collins, Jalin Hyatt, Ryan Miller, Dalen Cambre, Xavier Gipson

OBJ and Berrios are a very different type of receiver. OBJ can lineup everywhere and has easily the best hands out of the two. Berrios is more of a slot player, and can help out on special teams as a very prolific receiver. Smith-Schuster is another veteran who will provide depth and experience, at least in training camp.

Berrios fills much-needed gap in NY

For starters, Berrios is much more similar in style to Gunner Olszewski, who tore his Achilles and will lose the entire 2026 season. Olszewski also played as a punt returner, which Berrios can do. Berrios is a skill-for-skill replacement for Olszewski, while OBJ and Smith-Schuster will bring veteran presence in the WR room.

Also, Berrios is an active player, and Odell Beckham Jr. hasn’t played a snap of NFL football in almost two years. Berrios knows MetLife Stadium and New York very well, as he spent lots of seasons with the New York Jets. But so does OBJ, who is back in New York after spending years elsewhere.

Smith-Schuster arrives in NY with many years of NFL experience under his belt, as his journey included a Super Bowl win with the Chiefs in 2022-23. Needless to say, the Giants now have enough options in their WR room.

The classic Madden curse has been very popular among social media in the latest years. The Madden curse is a popular superstition that claims that the players who appear on the cover of the game suffer immediate misfortune, whether it’s injuries or declines in on-field performances.

But let’s see how the last 10 cover players performed the season they were given the opportunity to be the face of the NFL‘s most-bought videogame:

• 2026: Saquon Barkley – 1.140 rush yds/ 7 rush TDs/ 4.1 YPC – Wild Card Round exit
• 2025: Christian McCaffrey – 348 total yds/ 0 TDs/ 4 games played – Not in playoffs (6-11 Reg. Season)
• 2024: Josh Allen – 4.306 yds/ 29 TDs/ 18 INTs/ 5th MVP voting – Divisional Round exit
• 2023: John Madden homage, no players.
• 2022: Tom Brady (485 completions/ 5.316 yds/ 43 TDs/ 12 INTs/ 2nd MVP voting) and Patrick Mahomes (436 completions/ 4.839 yds/ 37 TDs/ 13 INTs) – Buccaneers: Divisional Round exit / Chiefs: AFC Game exit
• 2021: Lamar Jackson – 376 completions/ 2.757 yds/ 26 TDs/ 9 INTs/ 1.005 rush yds/ 7 rush TDs – Divisional Round exit
• 2020: Patrick Mahomes – 319 completions/ 4.031 yds/ 26 TDs/ 5 INTs – Super Bowl champion
• 2019: Antonio Brown – 104 rec/ 1.297 rec yds/ 15 TDs – Not in playoffs (9-6-1 Reg. Season)
• 2018: Tom Brady – 385 completions/ 4.577 yds/ 32 TDs/ 8 INTs/ MVP – Lost Super Bowl
• 2017: Rob Gronkowski – 25 rec/ 540 rec yds/ 3 TDs/ 8 games played – Super Bowl champion

How did Caleb Williams play in 2025 to get considered the Madden 27 cover?

Caleb Williams’ sophomore year was an upgrade on his rookie season. While still erratic, he was clutch and guided the Bears to their best season in quite some time. Also, his popularity has been big since his College Football days, and that will go a long way on getting to the Madden 27 cover.

Williams guided the Bears to an 11-6 record, completing 330 passes on just 58.1% accuracy for 3.942 yards, 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a league-leading six 4th-quarter comebacks. The Bears went all the way to the Divisional Round and lost by just three against the Rams.

Has there been any Bears player on a Madden cover before?

Caleb Williams would be the first-ever Chicago Bears player to be on a Madden cover, at least in the United States. Back for Madden NFL 09, the international cover outside of the US featured offensive lineman Roberto Garza, who was on the Bears at the time.

Per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, Wilson said that his knee is feeling great during practice. That is absolutely great news for the Jets, as Wilson is the undoubted, undisputed WR1 of the team.

Wilson has four seasons in the NFL, and in the first three of them, he got more than 1,000 yards. This means that, when healthy, he is an unstoppable receiver regardless of who’s throwing the football to him.

NY Jets revamped WR depth chart for 2026 NFL season

Wilson is the WR1 of the team. However, the Jets made it a theme to improve the wide receiver department. The Jets drafted wideout Omar Cooper Jr. and brought Tim Patrick. They also have Adonai Mitchell since last year.

Other wideouts on the roster are Arian Smith, Isaiah Williams, Jamaal Pritchett, Quentin Skinner, and undrafted free agents Malik McClain, Caullin Lacy, and DT Sheffield. The first four wideouts are good ones for the Jets.

Geno Smith has developed good chemistry with Wilson

Wilson also spoke recently on new teammate and starting quarterback of the team, Geno Smith. Wilson said Smith throws a very “friendly ball.“ Chemistry between quarterback and wideout is key for an offense to work.

Hence, having Wilson and Smith creating that chemistry right from the OTAs is spectacular news for a team in desperate need for success. Whether it will all work out for the Jets remains to be seen, but there are good early signs at least.

In Week 4 of last season, Braelon Allen suffered a pretty serious knee injury. It cost him the rest of the season, but now that he is back, the Jets finally have their RB2 of the team in rock-solid status.

In his rookie season in 2024, which his only full season, he racked up 92 rushes for 334 yards and two touchdowns. He stands behind Breece Hall on the Jets RB depth chart, which makes this room a very strong one.

Braelon Allen’s skill set is very useful for the NY Jets

Allen is a big-sized running back. A 6’1″, 240 lbs-back, Allen is great for short-yardage dominance. That is very helpful for third and fourth downs. His physicality helps the team move the chains and gain yards after initial contact.

He also brings a play relief to the team. His big size and ability to absorb contact make possible to rest Breece Hall for a couple of series and still give the Jets a physical, strong running game.

Will the NY Jets have a good running game in 2026?

The fact that the Jets have a great couple of running backs should mean that the Jets are among the best rushing games. However, they are constantly behind on the scoreboard, so they don’t usually run as much.

New offensive coordinator Frank Reich is highly regarded for designing and implementing productive running games. Throughout his coaching career, he has consistently adapted his ground attacks to suit his personnel.

Neymar suffered a grade two strain in his right calf during practice, and is expected to miss two to three weeks. Hence, he won’t be playing this game vs Panama and the next friendly against the Egypt.

The last time Neymar suit up for the ‘Canarinha‘ was in October 17, 2023. It was against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier. He suffered a severe knee injury in that match. It seems that Neymar can’t be healthy during his last experiences

Will Neymar be ready for the 2026 World Cup?

Neymar is racing against the clock, but he is expected to recover in time for the 2026 World Cup. However, it’s the debut that is in jeopardy. It’s likely that he will miss the first game against Morocco, which is the hardest game of the group for Brazil.

He might be back for June 19th’s game against Haiti, and then against Scotland on June 24th. Neymar was one of the last inclusions of Carlo Ancelotti for the 2026 World Cup roster. The Italian manager has also stated that he won’t replace Neymar.

Neymar’s numbers on the World Cup

Neymar has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 13 World Cup matches. He’s played in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups. Despite his great production, Neymar’s World Cup outings have been marked by injuries.

During the 2014 edition, Colombian Juan Camilo Zuñiga did a woeful tackle on Neymar’s back and he ended up missing the semifinals game. In 2022, he missed two group-stage games due to an ankle injury suffered in the first game.

Donald Trump commented on the situation on his own social media, Truth Social. “Thank you Jaxson! I know you’re taking some heat from the Radical Left Lunatics who are jealous of you, me, and everyone who surrounds us but, I also know that your Jersey also went to Number One, and you’re making Millions of Dollars so, YOU ARE A WINNER — THEY ARE ALL LOSERS. I’ll see you in the White House!”

Dart explained why he introduced Trump in the rally, but also hoped to be able to put this episode behind him for the betterment of the team.

Dart is focused on being a better QB for the NY Giants

It’s been reported that Dart, who had a stellar rookie season, is focused on getting even better, especially while scrambling and taking care of himself. In fact, it’s been reported that the Giants are forcing Dart to work on that area, blowing the whistle when he goes out of the pocket.

Dart was great in his first year, but he took way too many damage. He suffered concussions and the Giants are wary of him keep getting hit. Hence, John Harbaugh and the new staff are trying to make him mature a bit.

Dart has another obstacle to avoid

The NY Giants want Dart to take care, but they also want him to avoid a sophomore slump. By changing his style of play, it may be good for him on the long run, but it might actually push him into the slump.

The Giants will have a good core of offensive players. Hence, Dart should be able to still find some relief in the weapons he has. Also, he has a much better coach now, so Harbaugh should guide him into better situations as well.

Some big-time names have been called for Algeria, including goalkeeper Luca Zidane, and midfielders Nabil Bentaleb, Houssem Aouar and forwards Riyad Mahrez and Amine Gouiri.

It won’t be an easy debut for Lionel Messi and Argentina. However, they also lost in their 2022 World Cup debut only to come back and win the whole tournament. While they want to avoid that same scenario, Algeria will pose a real challenge for the defending champions.

Algeria’s style is a beautiful brand of soccer

Algeria’s soccer players have one thing in common: they are very technical and great with the ball on their feet. They are very educated in the buildup and will absolutely punish the defense if given space.

Hence, Argentina will have to be very careful when defending. As the saying goes, “the best defense is a great offense,” and that might be the case here. As long as you keep Algeria defending instead of controlling the tempo of the game, the better the chances of beating them.

Algeria’s goal for 2026 World Cup

Sharing Group J of the 2026 World Cup with Argentina, Austria, and Jordan, it’s not exactly an easy group to go through to the next round. Still, Algeria should see it as an opportunity to qualify. In fact, Austria and Algeria are almost at the same level in the FIFA Rankings.

Austria are ranked 24th before the World Cup, while Algeria are just below at 29. Hence, their level is basically the same. They will fight to get that second spot, or at least qualify as one of the best third places. As for Jordan, they’re ranked 63 in the globe.

Joined by a black and white picture of him with the Champions League trophy behind him, Gabriel wrote, “It’s painful, but I’m proud of this team and everything we achieved together this season. Thank you to our incredible fans for your support every step of the way. You deserve to celebrate this journey with us and enjoy the parade today!”

Despite missing the penalty, the fact is Gabriel played an outstanding match against PSG in the Champions League final. He was rock-solid, and managed to contain the best attack in Europe alongside his defense teammates. Besides, he got support from manager Mikel Arteta, who explained the decision to let Gabriel take the fifth penalty.

Gabriel vs PSG in the Champions League final

Per Sofascore, Magalhaes had 15 defensive contributions, won 100% of his tackles, had 13 clearances, blocked one shot, made three recoveries and won 100% of both his ground and aerial duels. Basically, there was no way to pass him for PSG.

When you take the penalty out of the equation, Magalhaes could’ve arguably been one of the best players of the Champions League final. Soccer is just a cruel sport some times, but Magalhaes will have time to reassess and deliver for Brazil in the 2026 World Cup.

Arsenal couldn’t end the season on a high

Arsenal won their first Premier League in 22 years and getting the UEFA Champions League for the first time would’ve been a fairytale end to a majestic season. However, the Gunners won’t be able to say they won the double.

Now, Arsenal are 0-2 in Champions League finals, both lost in quite devastating fashion. This one vs. PSG, on penalties. In the first one in 2006, their keeper Jens Lehmann was sent off 18 minutes in, but Arsenal still went ahead, only to concede two goals in the last 15 minutes and lose to Barcelona 1-2.

Speaking to the reporters, Coen had nothing but praise for Washington, who was an outstanding player for the Jags in 2025. Still, he mentioned the team could use his talents even further if Washington is able to develop on routes like jet sweeps, and screen plays.

Those should be easy routes to learn as one is set up in motion pre-snap. Jet sweeps rely on speed and WR-QB coordination. As for screens, Washington needs to improve on blocking and then on his acceleration, as screen plays give a small margin for the receiver to explode, but they need to be fast enough to produce yards after catch.

Washington could emerge as the undoubted WR1 of the Jaguars

Washington led the Jaguars in yards (847) even when sharing targets with Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, and Jacoby Meyers. He was also second on receiving touchdowns, just below running back Travis Etienne, who is no longer on the team.

Washington had 265 yards after catch and broke a total of five tackles last season. The one department where he needs to really improve is on drops, as he had seven in 2025. However, his ability to constantly get open earned him plenty of targets.

Liam Coen is one to trust after a stellar rookie season as HC

Liam Coen arrived with a lot of hype to the team. He not only delivered, as the Jags had a 13-4 season, but he revived Trevor Lawrence’s career, and then gave the spotlight to Washington.

Coen is a brilliant offensive mind. Hence, when he gives advice to a player publicly, that player should listen. Coen proved to be a very good playcaller and play designer, and Washington could really establish himself as a must-watch receiver in 2026.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, explained his decision during the postgame press conference. “Gabriel wanted to take the last penalty. We trained for that moment.” Gabriel ended up missing it the penalty and granted PSG the Champions League title.

Arteta also explained that usually, the penalty takers are Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz. All three of them were subbed off by Arteta even before the 90 minutes of regulation against PSG had been played in full.

Arteta blamed the circumstances of the game as cause of Gabriel’s miss

As Arteta recalls, Gabriel didn’t miss a single penalty during training sessions. “Then you have to do these moments, it’s unfortunate not to have the same precision and they (PSG) had, and that’s the reason we haven’t won it (Champions League).”

Basically, the atmosphere, the high-stakes moment, and the tension got the best of Gabriel according to Arteta. However, Arteta himself must be criticized, as even if Gabriel was doing great in training, this was not the scenario or the space to put him in as this was the first penalty Gabriel had ever taken for the team.

Gabriel wasn’t the only one to miss the target during the penalty shootout

While all the blame is going towards Gabriel as it was the decisive penalty, he wasn’t the only one to miss his shot. In fact, there’s an argument to say Eberechi Eze’s missed penalty was even worse.

Eze took a slow, long run-in, then almost paused, made a quick jump and shot. However, PSG’s goalkeeper Matvey Safonov didn’t buy all the shenanigans and stayed focused, without giving away anything. That caused Eze to panic and make his shot almost unbalanced. He missed it wide. While Arteta said Arsenal practiced, missing the goal on two penalties is quite unacceptable.

Immediately after Arsenal lost the penalty shootout that left PSG as back to back Champions League winners, Chelsea posted a photo of plenty of trophies, with the Champions League hardware as the main one and a caption that stated “Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies.“

Chelsea are the only team in London to have Champions League triumphs, and they wasted no time to remember that to Arsenal. Also, they cheekily disguised the post as an ad to visit their stadium, Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea double Arsenal in Champions League success in much less time

While Arsenal have a history of being labeled as a ‘big team‘ in England, the fact is that not having Champions League trophies is quite the blow when compared to other big English teams, Chelsea included. The Blues have two Champions League trophies, and they became relevant and perennial contenders in the mid 2000s.

Before that, Chelsea were a humble club with no major aspirations. That changed when Roman Abramovich bought the club. Since then (2003), Chelsea won two Champions Leagues (2012, 2021), and five Premier League titles. Arsenal, since 2003, have lost two Champions League finals, and won just two Premier League titles.

Chelsea also have bragging rights against PSG

PSG became back to back Champions League winners, but Chelsea could’ve also mocked them if they wanted. Last season, PSG and Chelsea played on the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup final. PSG were at the verge of winning all six major trophies possible in a single season and were regarded as easily the best team in the world.

However, in what was an incredible upset, Chelsea dominated PSG from start to finish and won 3-0. Hence, if the Blues also wanted to take a jab at the Parisians, they could. Having said all of this, the 2025-26 season was dreadful for Chelsea, as they ended 10th in the Premier League and will miss European competitions in the next campaign.

It was a tough game where Dembele was subbed off due to injury. Still, he scored, and winning the UEFA Champions League final while being instrumental during the whole campaign could provide a boost in stock. The Ballon d’Or case for Dembele could get even bigger if his 2026 World Cup output is good. That if the injury allows him to play in it.

France are contenders to win the 2026 World Cup. A good tournament from Dembele is needed if the national team wants to actually lift the trophy formerly known as Jules Rimet. It would be France’s third world title.

Dembele’s importance for France in the 2026 World Cup

Dembele is key for the Bleus. He is one of the three forwards used by Didier Deschamps. His ability to run through spaces, shoot with both his feet and exchangeability up front make him a nightmare to deal with.

Given the recent success of France in the World Cup (2018 winners, 2022 runner-ups), having prime Dembele is more than just a luxury. In fact, it’s quite a need for the squad to keep aspiring for it all. The fact is world class players are not easy to find.

Who’s the last Ballon d’Or winner from France?

The last French player to win the Ballon d’Or is actually Dembele himself, dating back to last season. Hence, a Ballon d’Or win would confirm Dembele as one of the best players of the decade so far.

Dembele favored his right leg and struggled to even balance himself on that leg. The French star had troubles even trying to stabilize his leg. That prompted PSG manager Luis Enrique to sub Dembele off due to injury.

While the actual severity of the injury has not been disclosed, it’s worrisome that the player could not end the match. Alerts go off in France as they could miss a Ballon d’Or winner if the injury lingers all the way through the 2026 World Cup.

Dembele was doubtful before the Champions League final

Dembele was dealing, precisely, with a right calf muscle injury prior to this game. He first felt the discomfort in PSG’s final game of Ligue 1 vs. Paris FC. While it’s not clear if Dembele reinjured himself, the fact that Dembele was nursing the same leg he injured this time around might call for speculation awaiting on the official statement.

Dembele has a long list of muscle injuries in his career. However, this came in the worst moment possible, as it was in a crucial match vs. Arsenal with the Champions League on the line, and also just under 12 days away from the start of the 2026 World Cup.

PSG had to change schemes

While not in the literal sense of the word, as the 4-3-3 remained, the fact that Dembele left the field forced Luis Enrique to change the style of play, as Goncalo Ramos is much more of a traditional nine.

Dembele allows PSG to play freely, with a more dribbling and speedy-oriented style. Ramos is a typical center forward that will have to be nurtured with goalscoring opportunities.

Manchester United, Leeds United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester City have all played for the chance to win a Champions League/European Cup.

The English team’s record in Champions League finals is 15 wins to 12 losses. Liverpool lead the way in both finals won, and finals lost, but here are the records of all English sides:

– Liverpool: 6W/4L
– Manchester United: 3W/2L
– Chelsea: 2W/1L
– Nottingham Forest: 2W/0L
– Manchester City: 1W/1L
– Aston Villa: 1W/0L
– Arsenal: 0W/2L
– Tottenham: 0W/1L
– Leeds United: 0W/1L

How many all-English finals have happened in the UEFA Champions League?

There have been three times in history that two English teams have faced each other during a UEFA Champions League final. In 2008, Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

More than a decade happened until the scenario repeated, with Liverpool beating Tottenham 2-0 in 2019. In 2021, Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0. While the 2008 Final is regarded as a great one, both the 2019 and 2021 finals are usually catalogued as “boring” or “uneventful” finals.

Is there a country with more UEFA Champions League finals than England?

Spain is one of two teams that have provided more Champions League/European Cup finals than England. Spain, driven primarily by Real Madrid (18 final appearances), have 31 finals, also bolstered by Barcelona (8), Atletico Madrid (3), and Valencia (2).

Italy also has more finalists, though English teams have more titles. They’ve placed a finalists 30 times, though they have just won 12 of those, losing a staggering 18 finals.

Mahomes spoke on having Bieniemy back and said, “It’s just a standard that you have to practice with, and you have to play with, and he’s gonna hold you to that standard no matter who you are… he has brought in a lot of concepts and a lot of things that I’ve really liked that we’ve added in now.”

Mahomes also addressed the next step in his recovery, but the fact is he sounds like he is ready to go. Bieniemy could become one of the most underrated moves in the offseason if he can turn this offense around.

Bieniemy has a keen eye for detail

Mahomes stated the fact that Bieniemy came back with new concepts. Bieniemy is relentless and loves to try new things. In fact, he likes to go and spend time with all the units on offense. Mahomes loves that about the OC.

Bieniemy has a catch phrase, even Bears’ head coach Ben Johnson quoted him in February, saying “the standard is the standard.” Newly-arrived Kenneth Walker III also spoke on Bieniemy saying, “He’s got high standards, and that’s good if you wanna be better.”

Mahomes was better when Bieniemy was on the roster

Mahomes is an all-time great quarterback. However, he’s hit a bit of a slump in recent years. When Bieniemy was on the Chiefs during Mahomes early years, he thrived in ways the NFL hasn’t seen before.

Under Bieniemy, Mahomes won two MVPs, led the NFL in touchdowns twice, had two 5,000-yard seasons and led the league in QBR twice. Then, under Matt Nagy, he only got to the 4,000-yard mark once. He never had a full season under 4,000 with Bieniemy.

Speaking to the media, Carter said he would only address this topic once. “Some things are bigger than football, and this is one of those things. Jaxson is one of our leaders, he’s the face of our franchise. He represents himself and what he does, and he represents all of us.”

Carter continued explaining why he reacted to the matter publicly. “If he chooses to align himself with a man like President Trump, it’s my responsibility based on what I believe and what I stand on to not only show my teammates that I’m against that, but to show the world.”

Carter and Dart mend any fences as they look on to the 2026 NFL season with Giants

Carter was adamant that there is no issue between him and Dart. In fact, he said their differences don’t “mean that me and Jaxson hate each other or we have beef. I sit next to Jaxson every day, we’re close, we talk. I just want to move past this.”

Carter is focused on getting better and helping this team’s defense massively. Dart is focused on keeping this offense electric and score points. In the end, the ideologies may differ, but the sporting goals align.

Abdul Carter needs to live up to the hype

Carter is a first-round pick, but so far, his output has not been one of a top selection in the draft. In 2025, Carter had a discreet season with just four sacks and two forced fumbles. However, there is some promise.

The linebacker had 23 QB hits, which means he was almost catching them, still putting pressure on opposing signal-callers. All in all, Carter racked up 34 pressures, which the Giants hope can become sacks and turnovers for them.

Dart released a full statement posted by Jordan Raanan of ESPN, and he explained the situation. “This was a unique opportunity. You know, being asked and given the opportunity to introduce the President of the United States [Donald Trump], you know, my thinking was pretty simple. And the fact of, you know, I’ve always loved this country.”

Dart also explained that he has family ties to the US military. “The president position has always been a position that I have always respected, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of political party, and my intentions were just that.”

Dart preached a unity-filled ideology

The New York Giants had a bit of a clash due to Dart’s appearance. After that, Dart reportedly met with Giants teammates to clear the air. Still, he is doubling down on unity on the roster.

“I can honestly say that I love every single one of my brothers, my teammates on this team regardless of politics, regardless of religious beliefs, regardless of anything that may be different between us. Like, I love them and they know exactly what kind of person that I am,” Dart said.

The Giants are ready to move past this

It’s been a week of plenty of political talk, and according to the overall sentiment of the players, it’s time to move on. Now, the Giants’ message is simple: same goals, move forward. That is a great way to put behind something that could’ve been way more complicated.

South Africa will play in Group A against Mexico, Czechia, and South Korea in the 2026 World Cup. They were the better side throughout the game, but they couldn’t overcome Nicaraguan goalkeeper Adonis Pineda’s massive game. However, besides that, the Bafana Bafana just missed big opportunities.

As for Nicaragua, they didn’t qualify to the 2026 World Cup. However, they showed a solid defense and a very reliable goalkeeper to count on. Offensively, they had little to no chance to create goalscoring opportunities. It still is a historic result for a nation that usually gets trumped in the world stage.

Speaking to Mexican legend Cuauthemoc Blanco, Aguirre said, “When I saw the calendar, I thought ‘it’s right there for the taking, can’t let it slip away.’ That’s what I’m telling my players. England were champions at home and never again. Playing at home is priceless.”

Now, comparing Mexico, whose best result ever in a World Cup is the quarterfinals stage, to England, the nation were soccer was invented, it’s a huge stretch. Not only that, but Mexico have been the hosts before, and they haven’t won it. Still, for the manager, the confidence is sky-high.

Are Mexico good under Javier Aguirre?

Since getting appointed in 2024, Aguirre has managed 27 games, won 15, eight draws, and four losses. That’s an average of 1.96 points per matches. It’s not that inspiring for the host nation to be quite honest.

Mexico haven’t reached the quarterfinals since 1986, but their roof have been the Round of 16. Since the 82′ World Cup, Mexico always make it out of the Group Stage. Luck haven’t been by their side.

Mexico’s Group Stage calendar for 2026 World Cup

Mexico will play at home during the Group Stage of the 2026 World Cup, including the inaugural game of the tournament. Hence, all eyes will be on them from the get-go:

– June 11: vs. South Africa (Estadio Azteca, Mexico City)
– June 18: vs. South Korea (Estadio Akron, Guadalajara)
– June 24: vs. Czechia (Estadio Azteca, Mexico City)

Per head coach Aaron Glenn, Sadiq is expected to be fully fit for training camp, so it’s not like he is in jeopardy to miss any time in his rookie season. Glenn also said the Jets knew Sadiq had to undergo this procedure begore the NFL Draft.

Sadiq was one of three first-round picks the Jets had in 2026. He got picked at 16th overall, while linebacker David Bailey was the second overall pick, and wideout Omar Cooper Jr. was selected at No.30.

Sadiq is expected to play a major role on NY Jets offense

As a first-round pick and a versatile pass-catching threat, Sadiq is expected to get many looks. He will be utilized to stretch the field, create mismatches, and provide a much-needed explosive element.

He is a freak tight end, running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, Sadiq could beat pretty much any linebacker in coverage. New Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich should be lining Sadiq up in the slot, inline, and even out of the backfield if he wants to get really creative. Sadiq is an X-Factor.

NY Jets could use a lot of 12-personnel

The Jets could see 12-personnel formations be a daily thing for them. In fact, it could be a focal point of the offense. Sadiq is the explosive tight end, while second-year Mason Taylor is a safe-handed target.

Also, 12-personnel could open up the running game and the Jets have a great blocking TE in Jeremy Ruckert too. Hence, if Reich is clever, he could make the Jets a tight-end-heavy offense without sacrificing the wideouts or the running game.

Per Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports, Mahomes said, “Next step will be getting with team and getting under center. It’s a process, you’ve got to stay apart of it… You have to stay great everyday, if you do that… you get the opportunity to get out there on the field.”

Hence, Mahomes’ mission right now is to be able to fully practice with the rest of the Chiefs roster. Mahomes has been working separately but is on pace to recover way before the original timeline of late September to early October. In fact, there is confidence that he will be able to play in Week 1 for the Chiefs.

The Chiefs have a primetime game in Week 1

The NFL seems to believe that Mahomes is actually ahead of schedule and that’s why the Chiefs have a primetime game in Week 1 against divisional rivals Broncos. The Broncos swept the Chiefs last season, so Kansas City is ready to take revenge.

Mahomes didn’t play in the second game against the Broncos. Hence, it was not shocking to see the Broncos won 38-0. Kansas City had Carson Wentz under center that time. The Chiefs hope to have Mahomes in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season and not have to use a backup.

The Chiefs offense need more than just Mahomes

Yes, Mahomes is the one guy that can change the season for good or worse depending on his availability. However, even if he is able to play from Week 1, the fact is that Mahomes needs help from his weapons.

Rashee Rice is in jail right now. Xavier Worthy hasn’t been what he was supposed to be. Travis Kelce is in what can be the last year of his NFL career. There is no real depth to the team’s skill positions right now. Mahomes needs help now more than ever.

As Bolavip Argentina was able to gather, Prestianni won’t play in the 2026 World Cup due to the suspension he suffered after an alleged homophobic remark against Vinicius Jr. Prestianni won’t be able to complete the required precautionary measure in time to serve his suspension after the World Cup.

Prestianni was handed a six-match ban by UEFA. Three matches were served conditionally, meaning he effectively faces a two-game worldwide suspension enforced by FIFA. Hence, he would miss the first two games in the 2026 World Cup, and that’s something Scaloni is not willing to compromise.

Prestianni was making his first steps for Argentina

Gianluca Prestianni is just 20 years old and he joined Benfica in 2024. He was a mainstay in Benfica’s starting XI. His output was good, so much so that he made his senior debut with Argentina in November, 2025. However, he will have to watch the 2026 World Cup from the outside.

Prestianni made his debut against Angola, where Argentina won 2-0. However, Prestianni played just four minutes during that game. The fact that the suspension is in place all but confirmed to Scaloni that Prestianni was not going to the World Cup, but it’s not like the Benfica player was an established name on Argentina’s locker room.

Argentina’s right wingers are a stacked position

Prestianni isn’t the only right winger to get discarded. Real Madrid gem Franco Mastantuono was also snubbed by Scaloni for the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Messi, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Gonzalez, and even guys like Nico Paz or Thiago Almada could play in that position.

However, Mastantuono and Prestianni were the younger of the right-wing options. Hence, it’s still noteworthy that Scaloni is going for more experienced players. Though, in Prestianni’s case, the suspension of course played a major part in him not getting the nod.

As stated by TyC Sports, Franco Mastantuono won’t be a part of Argentina‘s 2026 World Cup roster. After all, Lionel Scaloni is the one deciding who to call. It seems like the left-footed winger didn’t do enough at Real Madrid this season to convince the Argentinian manager to include him.

Argentina have plenty of talent, so it wasn’t like Mastantuono was a sure-fire name. In fact, it’s one of the positions where Argentina have players with supreme skills. After a lackluster debut season for Madrid, Mastantuono will have to wait four more years to have the opportunity to play a World Cup.

Were Mastantuono’s numbers enough to consider him for the 2026 World Cup?

In the 2025-2026 season, Mastantuono played 35 games for Real Madrid across all competitions, starting 17 of those matches. However, the production was not great for the Argentinian. Mastantuono only scored three goals and provided zero assists for Madrid.

Given that players like Giuliano Simeone and Nico Gonzalez and the main man Lionel Messi all play right winger, it was an uphill battle for Mastantuono to make the final roster. After all, Simeone and Gonzalez had better seasons playing in LaLiga, facing the same opponents as Mastantuono.

Mastantuono will have plenty of chances in the future

Mastantuono was labeled as a gem from very early on in his career as he took the Argentinian league by storm as a mere teenager at River Plate. However, Mastantuono is just 18 years old. If nothing happens that hampers his career and he makes a comeback, Mastantuono could easily play in three World Cups by the age of 30.

Also, with how technology is evolving, players are taking leaps above expected longevity. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Mastantuono play a World Cup at 34 in 2042. For instance, Messi will play the 2026 World Cup at age 38. Messi is still regarded as one of the best players in soccer.

Per NBC Sports, the Giants converted Thomas’ base salary to a roster bonus. This allowed the Giants to create $6.5 million in cap space. There’s only one rookie not signed so far, but it’s a heavy hitter in Arvell Reese.

Thomas is still under contract through 2029, so he is a sure-fire presence in the offensive line. Those are not the only moves the Giants have done recently. For instance, John Harbaugh reunited with a former Ravens player as the Giants signed nose tackle Josh Tupou recently.

Arvell Reese’s projected contract

As said before, Reese is the one name on the Giants rookie class that hasn’t been signed yet. By getting selected as the fifth overall pick, Reese is projected to sign a fully guaranteed four-year rookie contract. The deal will be worth around $47.8 million and $48.5 million.

The 2026 cap hit is estimated to go around the $8.5 million mark for Reese. The former Ohio State player is poised to be the leader of the New York Giants defense for years to come. The sooner he signs his deal, the better, as it avoids the opportunity of controversy to arise.

NY Giants remaining cap space

Per Fox Sports, the Giants now have just a bit under $12 million in salary cap space. This could serve for them to sign Reese, and leave them a bit of cap space to make any other move if they deem it necessary.

Per James Horncastle of The Athletic, Pochettino met with AC Milan representatives last week during USMNT’s camp in Georgia. AC Milan are going through a complete overhaul after a second-half season collapse that saw them miss the Champions League spots. Now they need someone to take the reins as Massimiliano Allegri was fired by the Italian club.

Pochettino’s contract with the USMNT expires after the World Cup. Hence, the 54-year-old might be seeking pastures new already, signaling that he is not interested in staying.

Mauricio Pochettino is not the only candidate for AC Milan

Horncastle also mentions in his report that Pochettino is not the frontrunner for the Milan job. That spot belongs to Andoni Iraola, who had an excellent tenure with AFC Bournemouth, but decided to leave hoping for a step up. Iraola has also been in contact with AC Milan.

Iraola and Pochettino’s style vary heavily. Andoni Iraola’s philosophy focuses on extreme verticality and aggressive pressing, whereas Mauricio Pochettino prefers a more possession-oriented and positional-play style.

Mauricio Pochettino’s stock has fallen massively

There was a time where Pochettino was looked upon as one of the best managers in world soccer. However, he had failed stints at PSG (France) and Chelsea (UK). After that, he took the job as manager of the United States, where he hasn’t impressed either.

For the USMNT, Pochettino has a record of 13 wins, two draws, and nine losses. That is not good enough for the expectations he brought when hired. Still, it seems like AC Milan are at least intrigued by the prospect of him being their new manager.

Murphy spoke to Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News about the declined fifth-year option, and said “I knew it was a possibility. Duke (Tobin) and everyone upstairs, they’ve been pretty transparent on ‘we spent a lot of money this offseason.’ So, it does make sense… No hard feelings.”

The Bengals would’ve had to pay Murphy $14.475 million if they picked up that fifth-year option. Murphy was a first-round pick for the Bengals in 2023. In 2025, Murphy had arguably the best season of his career, yet the team still decided against keeping him under the current contract after this season.

Murphy could still earn a big bag if 2026 goes well

In 2025, Murphy had career-highs in sacks (5.5), QB hits (10), and tackles for loss (six) while playing all 17 games for the Bengals. Now, 2026 will be a contract year for Murphy, and if his progression keeps going well, he could get a bag from other teams if the Bengals let him leave.

This year, he will share the field with newly-arrived Dexter Lawrence and could bring even more opportunities for him as Lawrence commands too much attention from opposing offensive lines.

The Bengals defense need good play from Murphy

Even if he is not staying after this year, Murphy will have to play greatly as he seeks a contract elsewhere. That goes well for the Bengals, who are praying on this defense to finally step up to the plate.

The Bengals were the 31st-ranked total defense in the NFL last season. That caused them to miss the playoffs for the third-year straight. That’s why the Bengals have spent so much on defense this offseason.

Per The Athletic’s Joseph Person, HC Dave Canales “still seems bullish on Xavier Legette figuring things out” in 2026. As of now, Legette is poised to be the WR3 for the Carolina Panthers behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.

Legette has all the physical tools to be a problem in the NFL. He has a good combination of speed, size, and outside presence, but he hasn’t been able to translate that into dominance. However, his head coach is still backing him.

Legette has competition for WR3 slot on the Panthers

After posting a stat line of 35 catches for 363 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, the Panthers saw fit to draft a new wideout. Selected in the third round out of Tennessee, the Panthers opened their doors for Chris Brazzell. He is the immediate competition of Legette.

Brazzell had 1,017 yards in 62 receptions and led the SEC with nine touchdowns. He was arguably the best player for the 8-5 Volunteers. The reason he fell to the third round was because of Tennessee, that has a run-and-gun scheme which makes it harder for the wideouts to translate to more complex NFL schemes.

Is Legette better than Brazzell?

That remains to be seen, of course, but Legette should have the advantage based solely on the fact that he knows the Panthers’ scheme much better than newly-arrived Brazzell. Both have a similar physical archetype and are treated as big-bodied deep threats.

To answer the question definitely, we’ll have to wait to see how the Panthers season unfolds. The one that gets more snaps, is the better wideout. As for now, head coach Dave Canales is trusting Legette takes a leap in production.

Jalen Brunson made the All-NBA Second Team, something he’s done in the last three seasons now. He will share that recognition with Cavs rival Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant. Elite company for an elite player.

Brunson finished as the last player selected with 49 second-team votes and 50 third-team votes. One voter left him off the ballot entirely. However, that might cause him to have a chip on his shoulder, with the Cavs suffering the consequences in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Brunson has been amazing in the NBA Playoffs

The Knicks have won 10 playoff games in a row. Not only that, Brunson has been at the center of the team’s success. For instance, in the three games of the ‘Knickerbombers‘ against the Cavaliers, Brunson is averaging 29 points and 8.7 assists per game.

The Knicks need Brunson, and Brunson needs the Knicks, that’s why everything has worked so well since he arrived from the Mavs. Now, he is focusing on get the Knicks their first NBA Championship since 1973. That would clearly put him as a team legend and might mean his No.11 jersey gets put in the rafters once he retires.

Who made the All-NBA First-Team over Brunson?

All five players that are in the All-NBA First-Team over Brunson received MVP votes. Hence, it’s understandable that they made the team over the Knicks’ PG. Those players are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), Cade Cunningham (DET), Luka Doncic (LAL), Victor Wembanyama (SAS), and Nikola Jokic (DEN).

It’s worth noting four of the five players play in the Western Conference. Hence, the only player “over” Brunson in the Eastern Conference was Cade Cunningham. The Pistons player had a massive regular season, though he fell to the Cavs in the EC Semifinals in seven games.

Schmitz was a second round pick in 2023, and has not delivered as expected. However, he had an average season in 2025, but now that Harbaugh and Nagy are in the building, he is having to adjust once again.

Per Dan Duggan of The Athletic, “The centers pulled a lot during drills early in practice. It makes sense that’s a featured part of the offense considering Harbaugh had the athletic Tyler Linderbaum at center for the past four seasons. It will be interesting to see whether Schmitz can thrive in this scheme,” noted Duggan.

Harbaugh is looking for one thing only

The Giants want to run the ball. Plain and simple, Harbaugh likes to put a modern twist but in an old school football scheme. He likes running the football, and for that, his offensive line must be agile, mobile but very strong.

In fact, Nagy was not the only hire, as Harbaugh hired Mike Bloomgren to be the offensive line coach. The Giants also drafted Francis Mauigoa to add explosiveness to their offensive line. Things are changing and players must adapt or they will be let go.

The running backs also have to deliver

Cam Skattebo was having a great rookie season, but a season-ending ankle injury is now putting doubts over his sophomore season. He must play great. Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary must do their part too because the Giants want to stay ahead of the chains.

Hence, establishing the run is imperative. That also allows quarterback Jaxson Dart to play more freely and avoid running himself. He can take more care of himself while having plenty of support.

Foote is also a former Steeler coach, so he knows both franchises very well. “Off the film, if you had to bet, [Bain] is going to be a star,” Foote told reporters. “The way he plays the game, he’s explosive, plays with great leverage, and it’s hard to block those type of guys. Back in the my Pittsburgh days, I played with a guy, James Harrison, like that.”

Bain hasn’t even debuted in the NFL and he is already drawing comparisons to a player who has a Defensive Player of the Year, two Super Bowls, five Pro Bowl appearances, and is a two-time first-team All-Pro. It seems like sky is the limit for Bain.

Bain should make an impact straight from the get-go

Rueben Bain was expected to be a top 10 pick, and the Bucs managed to get him at 15th. Bain was one of the best pass rushers in College Football last season, but had a glaring weakness according to NFL scouts: his arm length.

However, Bain has the speed, acceleration, and raw strength to just overcome the obstacles. He also has the ability to go down the tackle’s posture, and then regain level to hit the quarterback. All skills point out at him being a difference maker.

The Bucs need to improve their pass rush

The Buccaneers had just 35 sacks last season, the least in the Todd Bowles era. Hence, getting Bain is just what they needed. Bain needs to establish dominance from early on and get the team some sacks.

If a team doesn’t pose a threat to the quarterback, the field will open up and the secondary gets exposed. Hence, for the pass defense, it’s as important to have a good pass rush as having a good set of cornerbacks.

Adam Schefter appeared on the Pat McAfee show and said, “Rashee Rice is going into the last year of his contract without a new deal on the horizon.. It’s really unfortunate because it’s all there for him.”

Between the off-field incidents and injuries, Rice has turned a hugely promising career into one that could see him test free agency instead of getting a huge paycheck. Rice will miss OTAs due to being in jail and has been suspended previously for violating the NFL‘s personal conduct policy. He could be suspended again.

Rice is the Chiefs best WR, but they might be tired of his shennanigans

No one will deny that Rashee Rice is a very talented player. Whether he belongs in the upper echelon of WRs in the NFL or in a second tier is up for debate but he is an incredible talent. In fact, he is the best WR on the Chiefs, without hesitation. Having said that, even when he’s on the field his attitude is causing problems.

However, Rice missed 13 games in 2024, and nine games in 2025. Whether it’s him nursing injuries or getting suspended, the Chiefs are likely thinking that he is not reliable. Availability is the best ability at the end of the day.

Chiefs don’t have much in the WR department

The leverage Rashee Rice has over the Chiefs is how thin the WR depth chart is. This has happened before, and as soon as Rice is back on the field, he is crucial for the offense. The next best wideouts on the Chiefs are Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton.

They failed to address this need in free agency and in the NFL Draft. The only move they did, besides a lot of UDFAs, was picking Cyrus Allen in the fifth round. Hence, at least for this season, Rice is needed. However, if the Chiefs opt to not give him a new contract, WR will be the No.1 priority for them.

According to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated, “I have Washington at a three-year deal worth $55 million with $25 million in guarantees.” Shipley used Rashad Shaheed and Jayden Reed as reference for the deal Washington could sign.

However, Shipley saw those deals as the floor. “I have Washington getting a bit more than both of them,” he said. While the Jaguars have a deep wideout corp, Washington was one of the brightest spots on the roster. Trevor Lawrence trusted him blindly.

Jaguars updated WR depth chart

The Jaguars don’t have a very defined WR1. It was supposedly Brian Thomas Jr., but he hit a huge sophomore slump. Then they traded for Jakobi Meyers, who was a massive addition, but only played half a season. Hence, Parker Washington was the most consistent wideout. The team also has Travis Hunter, Josh Cameron, CJ Williams, and Tim Jones on the roster.

Names like Chandler Brayboy and Austin Trammell play a minimized role as well, but they got special teams snaps. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars love to spread the ball. Hence, they’ve got depth.

Parker Washington had a stellar season in 2025

This was Washington’s third year in the NFL, but it was surely the breakout season that can provide him with a huge bag. He had 58 receptions for 847 yards and five touchdowns. He led the Jaguars in receiving yards.

The Jaguars are fresh off a 13-4 season and are getting really pumped after Liam Coen’s first season as head coach. He not only restored Trevor Lawrence’s stock, but the team looked like a contender for many weeks.

Per Mike Reiss of ESPN, many within the Patriots building think Drake Maye will make an upgrade. That includes tight end Hunter Henry, who said, “I think the underrated thing he has this year is obviously going into Year 2 in the system is big. This system demands a lot on the quarterback position… to be in the same scheme and really build on what he did last year.”

Former Patriots QB Brian Hoyer also spoke on the matter. “And the wild card with [Maye] is just the athleticism. I thought he did a tremendous job last year knowing when to use it. Now, it will become an even bigger weapon because his mind will be sharper knowing what to do. To me, that’s the natural progression.“

It’s tough for Maye to take a leap due to how good his 2025 season was

Maye had a 14-3 record, guided the Pats all the way to a Super Bowl. Not only that, he was the runner-up in MVP votes because he led the NFL in completion percentage (72%), QBR (77.1), and passer rating (113.5), threw for 4,394 yards, had 31 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

Overcoming that is quite the challenge, but Maye’s talent and maturity could still make him improve. Hence, the sky is the limit for Drake Maye. McDaniels is an offensive guru, and Maye is a highly talented and clever quarterback.

Maye will have quite a roadblock this year

Last season, the Patriots had the easiest schedule in the NFL. In 2026, the Patriots are scheduled to have way more difficulties this time around. If Maye can even keep at the same level than last year but with this schedule, that can be considered an upgrade.

Per Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live, the Steelers restructured Freiermuth’s deal. This will give the Steelers around $6 million in additional cap space for this year. The restructure pushes the cap hit into future years.

In 2027, Freiermuth’s contract is estimated at $12.1 million, while it falls to $10.5 million in 2028 if no more restructuring is done. Freiermuth is beloved by the Steelers fandom and is locked in for years to come.

Aaron Rodgers had great moments with Freiermuth

Last season, Freiermuth had to share snaps with Darnell Washington and Jonnu Smith, but he is the tight end one of this team. His hands are great, his routes are efficient, and his speed is great for a tight end. Aaron Rodgers surely loves that.

In 2025, Freiermuth had 486 yards for four touchdowns in 41 catches. Smith is gone from the team, so he should see more than the mere 51% snaps. That was a career low for Freiermuth, who prior to 2025, had 62% or more snaps played.

Steelers should use more TE plays

Freiermuth is a prolific tight end, Washington is a mountain of a man who is very hard to bring down. As for new head coach Mike McCarthy, he should expand the tight end usage. McCarthy could find mismatches using 12 personnel formations, he could improve the ground game, add protection to Rodgers, and have more red zone efficiency as well.

According to Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated, Brian Parker might play an immediate role for the Bengals. “The Cincinnati Bengals have needed improvements across the interior of their offensive line for years. [Parker] plays the center position with impressive technique and solid grip strength. Parker should make a successful transition from offensive tackle to interior blocker,” Melo said.

The Bengals will return all five starters from last season. This is the first time Joe Burrow will have a known O-line from the get-go. Still, Parker could slide right in as a center or guard. It’s likely that he plays a depth role at the beginning, but with hopes of getting starting reps along the season.

The Bengals O-line is looking good

Sophomore guard Dylan Fairchild was great during his rookie season. Dalton Risner was solid at right guard, and veteran Ted Karras is a rock-solid center. However, Karras might leave next year, so Parker being a good center already could definitely help his stock.

The Bengals must transform one of their most glaring weaknesses into one of their biggest strengths, and it all looks like they are doing it. At least on paper, the O-line should be much improved in the 2026 NFL season.

The Bengals have addressed the other huge weakness on the roster

More than the O-line, the real problem with the Bengals was the defense. They acquired elite DT Dexter Lawrence, also DE Cashius Howell, and DT Jonathan Allen. In terms of free agency, they signed safety Bryan Cook, DE Boye Mafe, safety Kyle Dugger, and cornerback Jalen Taylor.

Al Golden is a highly respected defensive coordinator thanks to his technical knowledge and player development, though his 2025 debut campaign in the NFL was rough. He has been given the benefit of the doubt this season, but things must improve massively with all these new talent.

Cristiano Ronaldo has one Premier League Golden Boot. He won it during the 2007-2008 season with Manchester United. Hence, Haaland already has tripled what Ronaldo did in the Premier League.

Erling Haaland has 112 Premier League goals since joining Manchester City four years ago. Ronaldo played a total of eight Premier League seasons, where he scored 103 goals for Manchester United.

Who has more league top-scoring titles between Haaland and Ronaldo?

Career-wise, Ronaldo has ended as league top-scorer six times. One in the Premier League, three in LaLiga, one in Serie A, and twice in the Saudi Pro League. However, Ronaldo played as a winger for the first half of his career before transitioning into a full-on center forward. While Ronaldo scored to help Al Nassr win the Saudi Pro League, it wasn’t enough for him to win the Golden Boot race this year.

As for Haaland, he only got the three Premier League Golden Boots. He failed to end as top-scorer in the Bundesliga and the Austrian Bundesliga despite being a prolific forward.

How far is Haaland from being the record-holder for most PL Golden Boots?

Thierry Henry and Mohamed Salah have the record for most Premier League Golden Boots with four. Hence, Haaland is just one away from tying the record, and two away from being the sole record holder.

Given that Haaland is just 25 years old and there are no plans of him leaving, he could perfectly get those historic numbers. Also, there aren’t many huge prolific goalscorers right now, so competition is low for a guy like Haaland.

In an exclusive interview that Carlos Delfino gave to Bolavip Argentina, the former small forward spoke deeply about pretty much everything. Of course, he was asked about NBA’s newest sensation, Victor Wembanyama. Given that Delfino played with Kobe, LeBron and was a teammate of Giannis, he was able to compare them.

“Youth gives you that recklessness, but it also gives you physical dominance at a level that, compared to Kobe, LeBron, or Giannis when they were young, they didn’t have that early dominance that they later achieved,” Delfino said. “Wemby is agile, tall, he changes shots, he changes the dynamics and geometry on the court. He’s very impressive.”

Wembanyama is something never seen before in the NBA

The NBA has seen taller players than Wembanyama. The Spurs center comes at 7’5″ tall, which falls shorter to Yao Ming, Tacko Fall, and Shawn Bradley (all 7’6″), Gheorge Muresan, and Manute Bol (7’7″). However, there is a key difference.

Those towering presences were good defenders and able to attack under the rim. Wembanyama can do that and more. He can dribble, he can shoot it from distance, and his agility is unreal for a guy his size. Also, he’s been durable so far in his career. Ming, Bradley, Muresan, and Bol were too injury prone during his NBA days.

The Spurs have a history of elite big men

If there’s a team that can factually say that they’ve been successful time and time again by surrounding top-tier big men with a good, competent core, it’s the Spurs. From solid veterans like Pau Gasol, Dennis Rodman, Artis Gilmore, and LaMarcus Aldridge, to absolute legends like David Robinson and Tim Duncan, the Spurs know how to ride with big men as the first option.

Robinson and Duncan are some of the best big men of all time. Now, they got Wembanyama, and if he delivers a championship, he will etch his name alongside Duncan and Robinson. For now, he is already dominating and made the Spurs a contender.

Brown made a TikTok Live which was captured by Brendan Howe of FanSided. During the livestream, Brown said, “I think DK Metcalf will come back this year motivated, hungry. You know what I’m saying? I think it’d be dope.”

That is something all the Steelers are waiting for. When they brought in DK Metcalf, the hope was he would become the team’s most unstoppable force. While he didn’t have a bad season, it still fell short of the expectations.

DK Metcalf’s debut season with the Steelers was average

Metcalf played 15 games for the Steelers last season. He had 59 catches in 99 targets for 850 yards and six touchdowns. That is a career-low in the receiving yards department for him. It’s also the second-lowest number in receptions and touchdowns.

However, Metcalf still showed glimpses of his talent and physical prowess. He will turn 29 years old this season, so he is still in the middle of his prime. Hence, Brown might be on to something when he says that Metcalf is coming motivated to prove he still belongs to the top of the league.

Metcalf will have to share targets though

The fact is that since Metcalf didn’t produce as he was expected to do, the Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. Now, he has to share targets with Pittman, who is much more of a volume wideout.

Meanwhile, Metcalf could turn into the deep threat he can be, as well as a red-zone threat. Still, as long as he is making key plays for the Steelers, Metcalf will be fine. If not, he could face a dark future where he is relegated further and further.

According to SportsCardInvestor, Rice is the No. 2 rising card-market player in the latest “top five cards” analysis. Hence, Rice’s good play inside the diamond is getting noticed outside of it.

Per the outlet, Rice cards include the 2025 Topps Chrome rookie autograph, the Radiating Rookie card, and the rookie refractor version. If you ball out for the Yankees, you will enjoy all the sweets that come with it.

Why is Rice getting all these hype?

Rice has developed into one of the most prolific hitters in baseball. Throughout the first two months of the season, Rice has a .287 batting average, with 16 home runs, 33 RBIs and a 1.017 OPS, tied for the best in the MLB as of now.

Rice’s rookie season is clearly one that draws a lot of hype. It seems like the Yankees might have found an absolute gem for years to come. The market of collectibles is catching up to it.

The Yankees have had a great start to the season

More than 50 games in, the Yankees have a good record, which puts them in contention to be, at least for the foreseeable future, the AL East leaders. It seems like their biggest rival to accomplish that are the Tampa Bay Rays.

In fact, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN reported that Brissett and the Cardinals are “significantly” far apart in negotiations. A week ago, Mike LaFleur left plenty of doubts over Brissett’s QB1 status due to him missing all OTAs.

Meanwhile, Carson Beck and Gardner Minshew are training, getting to know their teammates and creating a bond with LaFleur. On the other hand, Brissett is coming off as greedy, and not someone that puts the team first. Bear in mind, Brissett is a career-long backup with some patches of starting football, but it’s not like he’s dominated the NFL.

Brissett has no leverage over the Cardinals

Before the Cardinals made moves, Brissett had all the leverage in the world. He was the only QB on the roster as Kyler Murray was going elsewhere, and he knew the players already.

Now, the Cardinals have two other QBs that could perfectly be at Brissett’s level. Not only that, he’s missing time with a new head coach, which means he’s getting behind in learning mannerisms, schemes, and much more. His biggest mistake is thinking he is still the guy to start. Furthermore, Brissett went 1-11 last season.

Minshew and Beck provide something Brissett doesn’t

Minshew was a starter back in the day, but even as a backup, he brings some rebel manners to his game. He is not afraid of anyone and is somewhat mobile. He also has a better career winning percentage, completion percentage, passing yards per game, and passer rating than Brissett. As for touchdowns, Minshew is just eight shy in 63 games compared to Brissett’s 101.

As for Beck, he is the rookie, the new face that could provide stability for years to come. Beck is the upside option, but has a low floor. If he develops correctly though, all things could change.

Bleacher Report marked the Giants as a very good, under the radar landing spot for Aiyuk, who back in the day was poised to become a top-tier wideout in this league. While the Giants brought in Darnell Mooney, the need for another high-upside receiver is still there.

WR1 Malik Nabers is recovering from knee surgery. As the piece on Aiyuk said, “It’s not like Aiyuk would cost a lot in terms of draft capital. His arrival would alleviate some of the pressure on Nabers to rush back onto the field. And once he is back, a Nabers/Aiyuk duo could blossom into one of the better one-two punches at the wide receiver position in the NFL.“

Aiyuk to the NY Giants could discard Odell Beckham Jr.

One thing that has to be clear is that only one can arrive. It’s either Aiyuk on a buy-low trade with the 49ers, or Odell Beckham Jr. Hence, the Giants have a decision to make. Either they go for the upside-yet-unknown move for Aiyuk, or they go the nostalgic route for OBJ.

Both players haven’t played in the NFL for nearly two years, which means both are cheap but risky moves. In the end, the Giants can take the risk and hope for the best, as long as they keep it low-cost.

The Giants are key pieces away from real success

When you look at what the New York Giants have done this offseason, it’s not out of the realm of imagination that if they remain healthy and add a few pieces, the team could really make some noise in the NFC for years to come.

Hence, every single move they do has to be with surgical precision. One mistake could put the Giants in the very situation they want to escape from. On the contrary, one home run and the team could accelerate their path towards success.

Dart appeared at a New York Rally to introduce Donald Trump, which prompted teammate Abdul Carter to get mad at his QB. However, then NFL columnist Pat Leonard reacted to Carter’s post with a smiley face, which made Eluemunor to quote that smiley face with a “relax Pat.”

That basically says to the people that there is no issue inside the Giants locker room, just two players having different political views. The message Eluemunor wants to send is that there is nothing to worry about.

Eluemunor was in the eye of the critics already this offseason

Eluemunor recently signed a three-year, $39 million deal, but some fans have questioned his physical status. However, Eluemunor took it with humor, posting a meme reacting to the concerns.

Eluemunor is a very good, above average NFL offensive lineman. He has exceptional pass-blocking ability, and he is reliable and adaptable. However, he is also prone to flags, drawing 14 flags in recent times.

The Giants need chemistry to win

It seems like the Giants have it all figured out for next season. However, if there is no chemistry, all things could plummet. Hence, a guy like Eluemunor calming the waters is key for the locker room. If all goes well, the Giants could be a problem for other teams.

Carter posted a reaction to Dart’s appearance saying “Thought this s–t was AI. What we doing man.” The Giants reconvene on Wednesday for the next batch of OTA practices, so the tension will be high.

Publicly supporting Donald Trump is a polarizing action, but Dart is likely surprised that Carter took matters into the public eye. For a team that has made good moves all offseason long, the franchise hopes this doesn’t evolve further.

Jaxson Dart is poised for a second-year breakout season

Dart only played 12 games during his rookie season. Still, once he got the nod over Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, Dart was electric and gave incredible hope that the Giants found their franchise quarterback.

Now that John Harbaugh is the head coach, Dart has an even better situation around him to win the Giants plenty of games. He has the tools and the weapons to improve even further.

Abdul Carter must prove his worth

On the other side, Abdul Carter, who is not happy with Dart right now, must prove his first-round status. His rookie year wasn’t all that stellar. He racked up just four sacks, though he did pressure the quarterbacks 34 times last season.

It was reported just before the 2026 NFL Draft that the Giants could part ways with Joe Schoen soon after the draft ended. However, now those rumors have been put to utter silence, ending a possible route for drama against the team.

The extension, reported by Jordan Raanan of ESPN, could possibly come from the good chemistry between Schoen and Harbaugh. This comes despite Harbaugh’s desire to not answer to Schoen. Per Schoen, “We were aligned from Day 1. So, it’s been great. It has been a really good offseason for us.“

NY Giants are making things right

Bringing a certified winner head coach like John Harbaugh was the first step. Giving him a young, talented core to work with was also key. Jaxson Dart as a quarterback, Cam Skattebo as running back, and Malik Nabers as wide receiver are highly-talented and haven’t got to their primes yet.

Then, establish a direct line of work with Harbaugh and Schoen is also a great step. Having stability from the front office down to the roster is key for success. The Giants have done everything right so far.

Schoen’s track record isn’t great, but recent moves might have saved him

It would be a lie to say that Schoen has been hitting home run after home run since being appointed as the Giants GM. He gave an undeserved huge contract to Daniel Jones. Then, as collateral damage, he let star RB Saquon Barkley go to divisional rivals Eagles and have a historic, Super Bowl-winning season.

However, he’s shown a good eye for scouting, drafting good young prospects, especially in the last couple of years. That might have been what saved his job, but he’s got to improve in other areas still.