Christian Gonzalez, a cornerback for the New England Patriots, is expected to sign a contract worth about $35 million per year, making him the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL. This would surpass the current record set by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who signed a four-year deal worth $132 million.
Key Facts
Devon Witherspoon signed a four-year contract extension worth $132 million with the Seattle Seahawks.
Witherspoon's deal includes $101 million in guaranteed money, the most ever for an NFL cornerback.
Christian Gonzalez is expected to sign a contract exceeding $33 million per year, possibly around $35 million annually.
Gonzalez’s contract would need more than $101 million guaranteed to surpass Witherspoon’s deal in total guaranteed money.
Gonzalez shares an agent with Witherspoon, which may help negotiations.
Gonzalez has not participated in practice for nearly a week amid ongoing contract talks.
If Gonzalez had signed earlier, he would have become the highest-paid player in Patriots history.
The Patriots have offered Gonzalez a contract to be the highest-paid cornerback, but negotiations have been slow.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, criticized Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream after she missed a key shot in a game against the Indiana Fever. The Fever won the game in overtime, with notable performances from both Reese and Caitlin Clark.
Key Facts
Dave Portnoy has been openly critical of Angel Reese throughout her WNBA career.
Portnoy supports Caitlin Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever and is Riley Reese’s rival.
During a recent game, Reese missed a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Portnoy shared a video of the missed shot on social media and mocked Reese's performance.
Many fans commented agreeing with Portnoy’s criticism, focusing on Reese’s missed layup.
The game went into overtime after Reese missed the shot, and the Fever won 95-91.
Angel Reese finished the game with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.
Caitlin Clark scored 26 points and had nine assists in the same game.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Atlanta Braves' Triple-A team will release veteran first baseman Carlos Santana, making him a free agent. Santana played well in the minor leagues recently but has struggled at the major league level since 2020 and is looking to join another team.
Key Facts
Carlos Santana is a 40-year-old veteran baseball player.
He was released by the Braves' Triple-A team after about a month.
Santana hit .292 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in 27 minor league games for Gwinnett.
He started the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks but was released after limited play and injury.
Santana was a strong hitter from 2016 to 2019, earning an All-Star selection and Silver Slugger award in 2019.
Since 2020, he has played for eight teams and has not performed as well.
Santana hopes to find another team and return to Major League Baseball.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Baltimore Ravens have signed veteran running back Jonathan Ward to add depth to their running back group. Ward has played for several NFL teams but mainly contributed on special teams and is considered a long shot to make the final roster.
Key Facts
Jonathan Ward is a 28-year-old running back signed by the Baltimore Ravens.
He has been with seven NFL teams over six years, starting as an undrafted player with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.
Ward played 32 games for the Cardinals, mostly on special teams, with minimal offensive stats.
The Ravens' running back group currently includes Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali, and Adam Randall.
Ward provides experience and adds size to an otherwise young and thin running back lineup.
Ward spent the 2025 season on practice squads for the New York Giants and New England Patriots.
He is unlikely to secure a spot on the Ravens' 53-man roster but adds valuable depth during team camp.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh shared his thoughts on wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. after the team's first preseason game, noting that Beckham showed effort and some good plays. Beckham, who is trying to make a comeback with the Giants after a year off, caught two passes during the game while competing for a spot on the team's depth chart.
Key Facts
Odell Beckham Jr. caught 2 out of 3 passes for 6 yards in the Giants' first preseason game, a 13-10 loss to the Vikings.
Backup quarterback Jameis Winston threw the passes to Beckham during the game.
Coach Harbaugh said Beckham looked solid but acknowledged he could improve in some areas.
Beckham is motivated by personal reasons, including his son, according to Harbaugh.
The Giants’ wide receiver group includes players like Darius Slayton, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and rookie Malachi Fields, creating competition for playing spots.
Beckham previously played for the Giants for five seasons, earning Rookie of the Year in 2014 and making three Pro Bowls.
Beckham missed last season, serving a six-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, and is now making a comeback with the Giants.
Young receiver Malik Nabers is recovering from a knee injury but is expected to return by the regular season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is releasing a book next spring titled "Relentless Positivity." The book will focus on leadership and positive thinking rather than his behind-the-scenes Dodgers experiences.
Key Facts
The book is called "Relentless Positivity."
It is not a memoir and contains no Dodgers secrets.
Roberts wants the book to inspire people in leadership roles and everyday life.
This is Roberts' first book.
Roberts is under contract with the Dodgers through 2029 for $32.4 million.
He originally planned to retire after his current contract but now wants to continue managing.
Roberts wants to leave a lasting impact beyond winning championships.
The Dodgers are aiming for their third straight World Series title this season and currently lead the NL West.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado left a game against the Atlanta Braves because of pain on the left side of his body near his ribs. He will get an MRI to see how serious the injury is, which worries the team since they are competing for a playoff spot.
Key Facts
Nolan Arenado felt pain in his left rib area during a game and left in the fourth inning.
He first noticed discomfort while bending over to bat and it increased when he swung.
Arenado said this kind of pain is new to him.
The Diamondbacks are tied for the last two wild-card playoff spots in their league.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Arenado usually wants to play every inning but had to leave this game.
Arenado is 35 years old, an eight-time All-Star, and has won the Gold Glove award 10 times.
This is his first season with the Diamondbacks after being traded from St. Louis.
An MRI scan will be done to check the injury’s severity before their next games.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Iga Swiatek won her first match at the Cincinnati Open after recently winning in Toronto. Other top players like Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Felix Auger-Aliassime also won their early matches at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament.
Key Facts
Iga Swiatek beat Emiliana Arango 6-3, 6-0 in her opening Cincinnati match.
Swiatek had just won the Toronto tournament two days earlier and took time to rest before Cincinnati.
Aryna Sabalenka, world No. 1 for 95 weeks, won her match against Talia Gibson.
Elena Rybakina, ranked No. 2, defeated American Taylor Townsend in straight sets.
Felix Auger-Aliassime won his first hard-court match in months after injury, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas.
American Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys also advanced in the tournament.
Young Brazilian Joao Fonseca made it to the third round, joining a list of teenage players reaching this stage in Cincinnati history.
Daniil Medvedev won his match against qualifier Marco Trungelliti.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Rory McIlroy struggled at the St Jude Championship, finishing 66th and 25 strokes behind winner Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler won with a score of 17 under par, marking his first victory since January, while McIlroy is working to improve ahead of upcoming FedEx Cup events.
Key Facts
Scottie Scheffler won the St Jude Championship with a score of 17 under par.
Scheffler’s last win before this was in January at the American Express Open.
Rory McIlroy finished 66th, 25 strokes behind Scheffler, with a score of eight over par.
McIlroy had not competed since the Open Championship in July.
McIlroy struggled particularly on his swing and from tee to green, ranking 62nd out of 68 players in that aspect.
Scheffler scored a four-under 66 in the final round, leading comfortably throughout the day.
Sam Burns tied for third place along with Alex Noren; Wyndham Clark and Im Sung-jae were close behind them.
The top 50 players from the FedEx Cup rankings now move to the BMW Championship, with the top 30 after that advancing to the final Tour Championship.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are counting on running back Rico Dowdle to be a key player in their offense for the 2025 season. Dowdle, a veteran familiar with the team's new coach, could replace Kenneth Gainwell, who left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Key Facts
Jaylen Warren was the Steelers' main running back in 2025, rushing for 958 yards and scoring 8 touchdowns.
Kenneth Gainwell contributed both as a runner and receiver but signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in free agency.
Rico Dowdle signed a two-year, $12.25 million deal to join the Steelers.
Dowdle has been consistent in past seasons, rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2024 and 2025 with the Cowboys and Panthers.
He has experience playing under Steelers' new head coach Mike McCarthy from 2020 to 2024.
Dowdle’s ability to run and catch passes makes him a strong candidate for the Steelers’ starting running back role.
The Steelers hope Dowdle’s role will help improve the offense and open opportunities for other players.
Defensive offseason additions to the Steelers include cornerback Jamel Dean, defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, and safety Jaquan Brisker.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb predicted that he and teammate George Pickens could become the best wide receiver duo in NFL history in 2026. Both players had strong performances last season and could have a very productive year if they stay healthy.
Key Facts
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are wide receivers for the Dallas Cowboys.
Lamb said they might become the best wide receiver duo ever in 2026.
Pickens had 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns last season.
Lamb had 75 catches, 1,077 yards, and three touchdowns in 14 games last season.
Duo receiving yards record is 3,174 yards, set by Herman Moore and Brett Perriman in 1995.
Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle came close with 3,066 yards in 2022 but did not break the record.
The Cowboys' offense is expected to be exciting this season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Scottie Scheffler won the FedEx St. Jude Championship by eight shots, the largest margin ever at this event. He finished strong with a 4-under 66 and claimed his 21st PGA Tour victory after nearly seven months without a win.
Key Facts
Scheffler won the tournament at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
His final score was 17-under 263, eight shots ahead of runner-up Si Woo Kim.
This margin of victory broke the previous record of seven shots set in 1996.
Scheffler’s last win before this was at The American Express earlier in the season.
He played the final round in hot and windy conditions.
Scheffler earned $3.6 million from this win and secured a $23 million FedEx Cup bonus.
He has 21 career PGA Tour wins, with 10 victories by four or more shots.
Sam Burns, who is a close friend of Scheffler, tied for third place.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tommy John, a famous baseball pitcher who won 288 games and had a long career, recently passed away. He was well known for a special elbow surgery that helped him return to playing, and many players and baseball figures praised his achievements and legacy.
Key Facts
Tommy John pitched in Major League Baseball for 26 years and won 288 games.
He was the first pitcher to come back successfully after a new elbow surgery, which was later named "Tommy John surgery."
John’s surgery and recovery paved the way for many injured players to return to baseball.
Many players, managers, and baseball officials expressed respect and gratitude after his death.
Some people said he should be honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
John was described as a humble and kind man with a lasting impact on the game.
Dr. Frank Jobe was the doctor behind the groundbreaking surgery with Tommy John.
The surgery changed sports medicine and helped many injured athletes beyond baseball.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tommy John, a famous Major League Baseball pitcher, has died at age 83 after battling bladder cancer. He was known for a groundbreaking elbow surgery that extended his career and helped many other pitchers, and the New York Yankees released a statement mourning his death.
Key Facts
Tommy John died at age 83 in Bradenton, Florida, in hospice care due to bladder cancer.
He is known for "Tommy John surgery," an elbow operation that prolonged his baseball career by 14 years.
John was a three-time American League All-Star and pitched for several teams, including the New York Yankees.
The Yankees honored him as a key player and medical pioneer who helped many pitchers continue their careers.
Earlier in June, John sent a farewell message thanking the Yankees, fans, and his surgeon, Dr. Frank Jobe.
He played for the Yankees from 1979-82 and again from 1986-89.
John also played for the Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, and Oakland Athletics.
The Yankees expressed condolences to his family, including his wife Cheryl and their children.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Damian Lillard is preparing to return to playing for the Portland Trail Blazers after missing a season because of a torn Achilles tendon. He signed with Portland in July 2025 after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, and his first game back is scheduled for October 21, 2025. Fans and experts are watching closely to see how well he recovers and how far he can help the team go this season.
Key Facts
Damian Lillard tore his Achilles tendon in the 2025 NBA Playoffs while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks waived Lillard in July 2025 after his injury.
Two weeks later, Lillard signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, his original NBA team.
He did not play during the 2024-25 season as he recovered and healed from the injury.
Lillard’s first official game back with Portland is set for October 21, 2025, against the Phoenix Suns.
The Trail Blazers added Ja Morant, a former NBA All-Star, to team up with Lillard.
Sports experts predict the Trail Blazers will reach the NBA Play-In Tournament but may win no more than 43 games.
Lillard aims to prove he can still play at a high level and hopes to lead the Blazers to a championship.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
John Niland, a former Dallas Cowboys guard and six-time Pro Bowler, died at age 82 in McKinney, Texas. He played an important role in the Cowboys’ success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including their first Super Bowl win.
Key Facts
John Niland died on August 15, 2026, at his home in McKinney, Texas.
He was 82 years old.
Niland played college football at the University of Iowa and was an All-American guard.
The Dallas Cowboys drafted him fifth overall in 1966, the first offensive lineman they picked in the first round.
He made six straight Pro Bowls from 1968 to 1973 and was named All-Pro three times.
Niland helped the Cowboys win two NFC championships and Super Bowl VI, their first Super Bowl title.
He ended his NFL career after a knee injury while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976.
His brain will be donated to the Boston University CTE Center for research after his death.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Australian swimmer Lani Pallister ended Olympic champion Katie Ledecky's 14-year winning streak in the 800-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships by winning the race. Pallister finished first with a time of 8:06.10, while Ledecky came second at 8:07.26.
Key Facts
Katie Ledecky had not lost an international 800-meter freestyle race in 14 years before this event.
Lani Pallister won the 800-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships with a time of 8:06.10.
Ledecky finished second in the race, timing 8:07.26.
Pallister also beat Ledecky in the 400-meter race the day before.
Ledecky won the 1,500-meter freestyle against Pallister three days earlier.
Last summer, Ledecky narrowly beat Pallister in the 800-meter freestyle by 0.36 seconds.
Pallister aims to break Ledecky’s world record of 8:04.12 within the next two years.
Pallister’s mother, Janelle Pallister, was an Olympic swimmer in 1988.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
English golfer Jack Whaley won the US Amateur Championship by defeating American Jay Leng Jr. His victory gives him a spot in major golf tournaments including the Masters, US Open, and The Open at St Andrews in 2027.
Key Facts
Jack Whaley is the second Englishman to win the US Amateur since 1911.
He defeated Jay Leng Jr with a score of 4&3 at Merion Golf Club.
Whaley is 22 years old and studies at Florida State University.
Jay Leng Jr was ranked 23rd in the world amateur golf rankings, while Whaley was ranked 90th.
Whaley came back from being two holes behind to win four holes in a row during the match.
The US Amateur winner earns places in major golf tournaments the following year.
Previous famous winners of the US Amateur include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
The last English winner before Whaley was Matt Fitzpatrick in 2013.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Mackenzie Dern successfully defended her UFC Women's Strawweight Championship at UFC 330 by winning a five-round fight against Gillian Robertson. After the fight, Dern said she wants to keep fighting and be ready for new challengers soon.
Key Facts
Dern won by unanimous decision with judges scoring 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47.
She had multiple takedowns and tried to submit her opponent during the fight.
Dern defended her title nearly 10 months after winning the vacant championship in October 2023.
She defeated Virna Jandiroba to win her first UFC title at UFC 321.
Dern plans to stay active and fight again soon, not taking long breaks.
Potential future challengers include Weili Zhang and Tatiana Suarez.
Dern controlled more fight time and landed more significant strikes than Robertson.
Robertson survived all five rounds without being submitted despite Dern’s attempts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Boston Red Sox placed two key players, designated hitter Masataka Yoshida and pitcher Justin Slaten, on the injured list due to injuries. The team is calling up catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper and pitcher Raymond Burgos to fill in while a few other players begin rehab assignments.
Key Facts
Masataka Yoshida, 33, injured his hamstring running to second base.
Justin Slaten, 28, joined Garrett Whitlock on the injured list with elbow soreness.
Slaten was expected to be the main reliever for the eighth inning but now Tyron Guerrero and Erik Miller will take that role.
Mickey Gasper and Raymond Burgos are recalled from the minors to replace Yoshida and Slaten.
Gasper has improved his stats after being sent to Triple-A Worcester.
Burgos recently pitched six innings in two appearances to help the bullpen.
Trevor Story, Roman Anthony, and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa started rehab assignments this week.
The Red Sox hope their starting pitchers can pitch longer to help with bullpen injuries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
