Laura Rutledge responds to awkward Steve Sarkisian situation during Texas-Ohio State game
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian had no time to adjust to ESPN’s technical difficulties at halftime of Saturday’s game against the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Sarkisian was supposed to talk to Laura Rutledge after the first half, but he did not have enough time to give the interview while waiting for ESPN to sort out its technical issues. He then rushed toward the locker room for a talk with the Longhorns, who were down by 17 points at the half.
Here is a video of that moment, as Rutledge tried to explain what happened.
"Alright, we actually just lost Sark because he had to go. I'm sorry about that, you guys. He waited for a long time. Credit to him for waiting. We'll try to get him on the way out of the half." – Laura Rutledge on Texas HC Steve Sarkisian pic.twitter.com/pacpABhvZh
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 13, 2026
Later on, Rutledge provided more context on Sarkisian leaving before the interview could even start.
“I do want to make sure we clear something up. [Steve Sarkisian] did decline the interview at the half,” Rutledge said on the broadcast before the start of the game’s second half.
“He had waited a long time, been very patient with some technical issues that we had. He apologized to us. We should be apologizing to him, which we did.”
Sarkisian had a lot to discuss with his team during halftime, with the Longhorns getting embarrassed in front of their home crowd in the first two periods of the contest. He wasn’t going to waste any more time he wouldn’t get back, as ESPN scrambled to fix its issue.
Credit can go to both Rutledge, for how she handled the situation, and to Sarkisian, for the respect he showed in declining the interview.
H/T Awful Announcing
Everyone said the same thing after Arch Manning’s rough first half vs. Ohio State
Arch Manning did not have a first half to remember on Saturday against Ohio State. But fans don’t think it’s entirely his fault.
The Longhorns quarterback went just 7/14 for 60 yards through two quarters as the Buckeyes raced to a 20-3 lead at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Manning’s numbers could have been drastically better had some of his receivers made a few very makable plays that seemed to slip right off their fingertips.
Manning threw a pinpoint deep pass to Cam Coleman in the first five minutes of the game that would have at least gotten Texas to the 15-yard line. Instead, a potential touchdown turned into an interception as the ball squirted out of Coleman’s hands.
ARCH MANNING HAS CAM COLEMAN WIDE OPEN…
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 13, 2026
IT’S PICKED OFF ?! pic.twitter.com/3GVw53zW92
Manning experienced déjà vu in the second quarter when he hit Ryan Wingo in stride in what should have been a walk-in TD to cut into Ohio State’s lead. The Longhorns had to settle for a field goal for their only score of the first half.
ARCH MANNING WITH THE LASER BUT RYAN WINGO DIPPED HIS HANDS IN BRAKE OIL pic.twitter.com/jshwP2RtcL
— wok (@wokdior) September 13, 2026
Fan sentiment online was clear. Several observers felt Texas’ receivers let their QB down, with many stating that Manning should have had a pair of TDs instead of his lone interception.
Arch Manning should have 2 TDs 0 INTs right now. Horrific half from Texas WRs pic.twitter.com/Lb748CgWEQ
— 🌹 1-0 (@ChesneyEra) September 13, 2026
Arch Manning has been dropping DIME after DIME despite mistakes from his star WR’s.
— Rookie Watch (@RookieWatxh) September 13, 2026
Manning should be heading into halftime with 160+ passing yards and 2 TD’s.
Instead, he has 60 passing yards, 0 TD’s, and an INTERCEPTION 😳💔 pic.twitter.com/kF0GzCIICL
Arch Manning can’t do it all himself….2 TD’s just completely dropped.
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) September 13, 2026
Ohio State scored in four of its five drives in the first half to take a commanding three-score lead into the break. Buckeyes QB Julian Sayin went 12/16 for 192 yards and a TD through two quarters.
Video: Broadcast catches Arch Manning’s disgruntled reaction to brutal interception vs. Ohio State
Arch Manning went through it in the first quarter of the massive showdown between the No. 4 Texas Longhorns and the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Perhaps nothing summed up his forgettable opening period better than the wacky interception he threw with under 11 minutes left in the quarter. On 1st-and-10, Manning loaded up and found teammate and wide receiver Cam Coleman wide open deep into Ohio State territory. But Coleman failed to secure the ball, as he lost it when he hit the ground. Buckeyes safety Jaylen McClain then immediately snagged the ball for an interception.
Manning’s reaction to the pick says it all.
Arch was shook by this pick 😦 https://t.co/x9gyf1TqKe pic.twitter.com/WqZCr2lLmH
— ESPN (@espn) September 13, 2026
Manning can bury that first period in memory and never think about it again, as he went just 1/3 for minus-4 yards. He also had minus-10 rushing yards after getting sacked by Ohio State linebacker Riley Pettijohn with under five minutes to go in the first quarter.
After cakewalking through the Texas State Bobcats for a 59-7 win in Week 1, Manning and the Longhorns are finding out why Ohio State entered the 2026 college football season as the top-ranked team in the nation.
Still, there’s time for Manning to redeem himself, with Texas trailing the Buckeyes by 17 points (20-3) at the half.
Kyle Whittingham sets the record straight on his controversial comment about Bryce Underwood
Kyle Whittingham has finally addressed a comment he made about quarterback Bryce Underwood after the Michigan Wolverines’ close Week 1 win over the Western Michigan Broncos.
Underwood’s job as Michigan’s starting quarterback was suddenly in question after Whittingham said it’s a role that isn’t “infinite.”
On Saturday, Whittingham cleared the air on his previous statement on Underwood.
“I was asked if his job was infinitely and etched in stone. Whose job is ever etched in stone?” Whittingham said after Michigan’s 17-10 victory over the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., via Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.
“So that was my answer. … I don’t agree that I opened that can of worms because Bryce is our quarterback, and that’s where we are right now.”
Underwood let a lot of people down and got himself relentlessly ridiculed by fans after an ugly performance in the Wolverines’ 13-12 win over Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium.
Even though he threw the game-winning touchdown, he was largely ineffective in a game Michigan was expected by many to win while barely breaking a sweat.
But Underwood was back under center in Week 2’s matchup against the Sooners, and put up a much cleaner performance against a more dangerous opponent. He rushed 18 times for 87 rushing yards and a touchdown, as the Wolverines relied mostly on their ground attack to thwart Oklahoma.
Michigan improves to 2-0 overall with its takedown of the Sooners, as it now turns its focus on a Sept. 19 game against the UTEP Miners at Michigan Stadium.
Fans flame Norman Powell for his fearless opinion on the Lakers
Norman Powell just made himself a big target for Los Angeles Lakers fans. The veteran Chicago Bulls shooting guard recently appeared on a live stream with N3on, and he did not even think twice when asked what he believes is the most overrated team in the NBA.
“Bro, I’m gonna say the Lakers,” Powell said.
Here is a video of Powell’s bold take on the most popular NBA team.
N3on: “Who is the most overrated team in the NBA?”
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 12, 2026
Norman Powell: “The Lakers” pic.twitter.com/MnFdaLd0oS
It’s not the first time in history someone has thought the Purple & Gold NBA franchise is overrated.
At the same time, it’s not hard to see why Powell holds such a level of contempt for the Lakers, considering he spent multiple seasons in the league playing for the Los Angeles Clippers — widely regarded as the “other” LA team.
And of course, taking shots at the Lakers automatically means a harsh response from the team’s large fanbase, with fans hurling an assortment of insults at the guard.
Didn’t dude take a bag to go get empty stats on the Bulls? 🥱
— Dru (@Dru_Day) September 12, 2026
lol meanwhile he’s the most overrated player in the nba 😭. Cant play defense, he’s undersized, and is not clutch.
— Keeon P. (@Keeonpcomedy) September 12, 2026
Clipper Legend Norman Powell 🙄
— Mario Vera B. (@marioverab) September 12, 2026
luka had 60 last time he played this bum btw 🤡
— ⲛⲉFⲉ (@Sidestepluka) September 12, 2026
Non winning basketball players just be talking
— Prdgy (@YoPr0digy) September 12, 2026
Powell, who spent the 2025-26 NBA season with the Miami Heat, averaging 21.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 58 games, can expect to feel unwelcome when the Bulls visit Los Angeles for a game against the Lakers in the coming 2026-27 campaign.
The former UCLA Bruins star, who won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and was an All-Star last season, signed a 2-year, $44.08 million contract with the Bills in July.
Dan Lanning faced a brutal question about his coaching staff
Oregon coach Dan Lanning faced a brutal question on Saturday after his team’s stunning 39-31 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Oregon faced criticism on both sides of the ball for playing sloppily, particularly when they took two delay-of-game penalties while trying to mount a fourth quarter comeback on Saturday. That led to criticism of new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, while new defensive coordinator Chris Hampton also took heat for giving up 39 points to a team that only scored 10 against Tulsa a week ago.
After the game, Lanning was asked outright if he regretted his new coordinator hires.
“No, I think it’s the easy thing to say if you’re watching, like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s obviously an OC-DC thing.’ No, it’s a combination of the staff, right? The decisions I make, right? The decisions we make as an offensive staff, the decisions we make as a defensive staff, and then execution,” Lanning said, via Lily Crane of SI. “This isn’t a (Chris Hampton), this isn’t a Drew (Mehringer), ‘Oh, that’s the reason.’ Like, no, no. We have to go execute plays. If we were executing plays and they weren’t working, that’d be different.”
The Ducks lost both of their coordinators last year, Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi, to head coaching jobs with Kentucky and Cal, respectively.
The fact that Lanning is getting a question that brutal already certainly underlines the growing pressure on Oregon to turn things around. An underwhelming season could put Lanning himself under fire, though that remains a long way away.
Odell Beckham is bringing back his trademark look with the Giants
Odell Beckham Jr. is running it back this season in more ways than one.
Beckham revealed Friday that he has gone back to his blonde hair. However, he was not ready to debut it yet, and wore a baseball cap while speaking with the media.
“I kind of got a request from a couple of the young guys. ‘We need to see the blonde.’ It’s always fun to switch it up,” Beckham said.
Odell Beckham Jr. on going back to blonde #giants pic.twitter.com/8UfG9pcRzX
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) September 11, 2026
Beckham first showed off his blonde hair in 2015, and it immediately went viral. Whether he liked it or not, it became closely associated with his image, and he wound up maintaining some form of it for a large part of his career.
While Beckham certainly intends to have a role in the Giants’ offense, there is certainly a strong feeling of nostalgia around his return to New York. He is even taking back his old uniform number, too.
Falcons face yet another QB injury scare
The Atlanta Falcons suddenly cannot keep any of their quarterbacks healthy.
Cooper Rush, who is slated to start Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, dealt with back spasms on Saturday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, Rush is still expected to get the start in place of Tua Tagovailoa.
Falcons starting QB Cooper Rush, who was replacing the injured QB Tua Tagovailoa, experienced back spasms Saturday but the team said he still will start Sunday at Pittsburgh.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 12, 2026
Jack Strand, an undrafted rookie out of Minnesota State–Moorhead, will be Rush’s backup and would have to step in if Rush was unable to play.
The Falcons must be wondering what they did to deserve this sort of bad luck. Rush was elevated to No. 1 earlier this week after Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury during practice. Michael Penix Jr., the other quarterback on the team’s roster, is still trying to get into playing shape as he recovers from a torn ACL.
Tagovailoa, who was slated to be the Week 1 starter before the injury, also dealt with back spasms earlier in training camp. At this point, the position might be cursed for Atlanta.
Oklahoma State coach had the best comment after upsetting Oregon
The Oklahoma State Cowboys pulled off the upset of the season on Saturday by beating the Oregon Ducks, and their head coach was having a hard time putting the accomplishment into proportion.
The Cowboys beat Oregon 39-31, ending a 12-game losing streak dating back to last season. Oklahoma State came in as 24-point underdogs, but coach Eric Morris led them to victory in just his second game as coach.
After the game, an emotional Morris admitted he was not sure he would ever top that achievement, and joked that he might as well quit now.
“I don’t know if I can top this. I’m not going to retire, but I might think about it tonight,” Morris said.
"I'd know if I can top this. I'm not gonna retire, but I might think about it today."
— Cayden McFarland (@caydenmc) September 12, 2026
Eric Morris postgame interview after one of the great upsets College Football has seen in some time.
Unbelievable BPS debut for this guy. pic.twitter.com/m6i51Iqlcf
The Cowboys went 1-11 last season, but hired Morris from North Texas in November to try to turn the program around. The initial returns from Week 1 looked bad, as Oklahoma State lost to Tulsa by two touchdowns. The same two teams played at Oregon last season, and the Ducks won that game 69-3.
If this keeps up, Morris is bound to become one of the hotter names in coaching circles. His opposite number on Saturday, however, seems to be going in the other direction when it comes to fan perception.
Everyone said the same thing about Dan Lanning after Oregon’s shocking loss
The Oregon Ducks suffered the most shocking loss of the young college football season on Saturday, and the knives were out for coach Dan Lanning.
Oregon suffered a shocking road loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys 39-31 on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Ok. The Ducks were thoroughly outplayed and made a number of mental mistakes against an Oklahoma State team that came in having lost 12 games in a row dating back to last season.
The social media consensus was clear: Lanning has underachieved at Oregon, and is set to do so again in 2026.
Serious question.
— Gaby Urrutia (@GabyUrrutia247) September 12, 2026
Has anyone in CFB done less with more than Dan Lanning at Oregon?
Inherited a 10-win team, has all the resources, facilities, and recruiting success you could ask for, and just never gets it done.
I've been a pretty staunch defender of Dan Lanning and his decisions during his time at Oregon.
— Zachary Neel (@zacharycneel) September 12, 2026
This loss starts with him. Very questionable decisions. Team simply wasn't prepared. Worst loss of his career, hands down.
Will be interesting how they respond in 2 weeks vs. USC.
This is poor coaching. Delay of game twice on one possession. The little details for Oregon are not there. They are not playing as a prepared team. Dan Lanning said last week he liked their preparation; they just didn't play well. Not sure you can say that a second time.
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) September 12, 2026
Lanning was also harshly criticized for his decision to go for it while trailing 36-31 with 6:50 left in the fourth quarter. At the time, the Ducks were at their own 33 and had three timeouts left, and their failure to convert essentially handed the Cowboys three points.
Dan Lanning goes for it on his own 33 yard line.
— Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) September 12, 2026
Its incomplete Ducks now 0/3 on 4th down.
Game Management pic.twitter.com/8X4E6iAKJU
Oregon nearly suffered a surprising home loss to Boise State last week and looked even worse on Saturday. They could easily be 0-2 despite having one of the most talented teams in the country and the most highly-touted quarterback prospect in the nation.
This is Lanning’s fifth season at Oregon. His overall record is 49-9, but he has only made one real run in the College Football Playoff. He has made the Ducks a contender every year, which was not the case before he arrived. However, expectations are simply higher than that in Eugene.
Texans make major decision about CJ Stroud
The Houston Texans have made a significant decision about the future of quarterback CJ Stroud.
Stroud and the Texans made a late attempt to agree on a long-term contract, but ultimately fell short, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The two sides ultimately agreed to table talks until after the season.
The Houston Texans and quarterback C.J. Stroud made a run at completing a contract extension before the regular season begins, but both sides agreed they now prefer to wait until after this season to work out a long-term deal, per @RapSheet and me. pic.twitter.com/Tj0iuo4MCn
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 12, 2026
Stroud is still playing on his rookie contract, and the Texans have already picked up his option for 2027. He is unsigned beyond then, but his immediate future is not in question.
This has looked like a likely outcome for a while now. While the two sides have been in contact, they never appeared close to reaching some sort of agreement. Stroud thinks he has earned one, but he and the Texans might not be in alignment on the salary numbers.
The Texans may also want to see more from Stroud. He only threw for 3,041 yards last season, and was intercepted four times in Houston’s playoff loss to New England. After his outstanding rookie season in 2023, he has not quite produced another campaign to match it.
NFL executives have surprising pick for top QB prospect
Arch Manning may be the biggest name in the NFL Draft pool next April, but scouts are not necessarily buying him as the top quarterback in the class.
ESPN conducted a poll of 25 scouts and executives and asked them to predict the first quarterback taken in the 2027 NFL Draft. Manning received seven votes, but Oregon quarterback Dante Moore doubled that with 14. The quarterback class is expected to be deep no matter who goes first, but Moore is currently seen as the better pro prospect.
Moore could have been a top-five pick last season, but he opted to return to Oregon for his junior season. His experience and college production has helped him, along with the fact that some scouts may well view him as the more pro-ready quarterback.
Manning started poorly last season, but improved throughout the season. By the end of the year, he did not look NFL-ready either, but expectations are high for him this year, in part because of his famous pedigree.
Manning and Moore could find themselves competing for multiple honors this season. There is a clear expectation, however, that one of them will be the first quarterback off the board in 2027.
Nick Saban has sharp criticism of Big 10
As the Big Ten challenges the SEC for college football supremacy, Nick Saban is doing his part to argue on the SEC’s behalf.
In his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Saban hailed the SEC’s depth and went out of his way to compare it to the Big Ten. His comparison was not favorable to the Big Ten to say the least.
“We already got nine teams in the Top 25. It’s not like the Big Ten where there’s three good teams at the top and then nothing,” Saban said.
"Kamario Taylor is the real deal..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 11, 2026
He's the truth and the light" ~ Coach Saban#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/lFQP6HnPtH
Saban is presumably referring to Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon. That suggests he doesn’t think much of Penn State, Iowa, USC, or Washington, all of which were also ranked this week.
This is hardly the first time Saban has expressed this opinion about the Big Ten. The SEC’s claims of superiority have often hinged on how deep the conference is and how it has multiple potential national champions on an annual basis. The Big Ten, in his mind, just isn’t as good once you get past the top of the league.
On the other hand, Saban is making his argument with the Indiana Hoosiers sitting as the defending national champions. This might not be the best time for him to make the claim.
Eli Drinkwitz had explosive quote about beating Kansas
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz had a pretty loaded quote after beating Kansas in their rivalry game Friday.
Kansas had given the rivalry some extra heat during the week by releasing a hype video that alluded to Kansas’ anti-slavery stance during the Civil War and framed the game as a battle between right and wrong. After the game, Drinkwitz said Kansas’ video was “bullcrap” and played a role in his decision to try to throw to the end zone and run up the score during the final minute of their 38-21 win.
“I was disappointed in the rivalry, the turn that it took today,” Drinkwitz said. “I thought that was uncalled for. … Everybody’s got complicated pasts. To make that an icon was bizarre to me. I’m just glad that this whole right versus wrong bullcrap that was started just got settled on a football field, because it’s a football game.
“I was embarrassed for them, to be honest, and that’s why I tried to embarrass them at the end.”
Some reaction to this from #Mizzou HC Eli Drinkwitz:
— Eli Hoff (@byEliHoff) September 12, 2026
"I'm just glad this right vs. wrong bullcrap that was started just got settled on a football field. … I was embarrassed for them, to be honest, and that's why I tried to embarrass them at the end."
Full quote: https://t.co/oDKQGqQC5f pic.twitter.com/ZOwhBRaWeJ
Drinkwitz also used his X account to brand Kansas as “weird.”
Man! Yall are weird….. Winners WIN!!! I know that’s RIGHT!!!!! #MIZ https://t.co/yeQUs0Dy4V
— Eliah Drinkwitz (@CoachDrinkwitz) September 12, 2026
Drinkwitz is no stranger to trash talk, but there is no question he and his team found the buildup to the game to be a little bit over the top. The two teams are not scheduled to play again until 2031, and the coach might not be terribly sad about that in light of his comments.
Astonishing Raiders stat emerges after Michael Mayer’s contract extension
An incredible stat about the Las Vegas Raiders’ recent draft ineptitude has surfaced after the team signed tight end Michael Mayer to a contract extension.
Mayer, the Raiders’ second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, agreed to a new three-year contract with the Raiders worth up to $45 million. The tight end had previously been on his rookie deal, and was heading into the final season of that pact.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted that Mayer is the first Raiders player to sign a contract extension on a rookie deal since wide receiver Hunter Renfrow did so four years ago.
Unbelievably, Michael Mayer is the first #Raiders player extended on a rookie deal since… Hunter Renfrow in 2022. https://t.co/vEwTrDo2wL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2026
Renfrow was drafted by the Raiders in 2019. That means the organization went an entire three-year stretch without selecting a player who landed a second contract. Of the team’s first-round picks over that stretch, Henry Ruggs III is in prison, Damon Arnette has faced legal trouble and is out of the league, and Alex Leatherwood was an infamous draft bust. These selections were the work of former GM Mike Mayock, who was often criticized for perceived reaches in the draft. Ultimately, those critics were right and Mayock’s confidence in his picks was misplaced.
Mayer is finally breaking the trend. He showed real promise last season playing for the injured Brock Bowers, as he set career highs in receptions (35) and receiving yards (328).
Jalen Brunson had hilarious reaction to Josh Hart at U.S. Open
New York Knicks teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart added another chapter to their long-running comedy act on Friday night at the U.S. Open.
Hart spotted Brunson on the blue carpet at Arthur Ashe Stadium and shouted a greeting that put the reserved point guard on the defensive.
“Hi Jalen!” Hart called out.
Others nearby, including Hart’s wife Shannon and Brunson’s wife Ali, asked for a photo. Brunson’s response was instant: “No, no, no. No, no.”
The clip spread quickly among fans who have watched this dynamic. Hart is the outgoing instigator. Brunson is the straight man who knows what is coming and wants no part of it in public.
That push-and-pull is not new. The two have been close since their Villanova days, when Hart later admitted he first disliked the incoming freshman before realizing Brunson was humble and all business. They won a national title in college and, this past season, helped the Knicks capture their first NBA championship in 53 years.
Their off-court bits have become part of the package. After New York won the NBA Cup in December, a camera caught Hart poking Brunson during the trophy presentation. Months later, after the Knicks clinched the Eastern Conference, Brunson told Hart to get out of the frame during a live interview.
The U.S. Open moment fit the same pattern: Hart trying to pull his friend into the spotlight, Brunson waving him off, and both still ending up together with their partners for a picture anyway.
Brunson was at the men’s semifinal between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, seated near long-time Knicks fan Ben Stiller. The crowd roared when he appeared on the stadium screens, a reminder of how far the quiet Villanova product has come in New York.
Hart being Hart was never going to let the night pass without trying to get a rise out of him.
Titans postpone Chris Johnson’s Ring of Honor induction
The Tennessee Titans have postponed former running back Chris Johnson’s induction into the franchise Ring of Honor after he and his family were unable to travel to Nashville for Sunday’s season opener against the New York Jets.
The official ceremony had been scheduled for halftime at Nissan Stadium.
In a statement Friday, the team said unforeseen circumstances prevented the trip and that Johnson and his family want to be present when he is formally honored. Tennessee will celebrate the induction at a later date and still plans a halftime tribute Sunday dedicated to Johnson’s career and legacy with the club.
Johnson, who turns 41 later this month, was set to become the 20th member of the Ring of Honor. The Titans selected him 24th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft out of East Carolina. Over six seasons in Nashville from 2008 to 2013, he rushed for 7,965 yards and scored 58 total touchdowns. In 2009 he ran for 2,006 yards, earned the nickname CJ2K, set an NFL record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage and was named Offensive Player of the Year.
Johnson announced in June that he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. The progressive disease has limited his mobility and speech. He spent one season with the Jets in 2014, the same team visiting Nissan Stadium this weekend.
The Titans said their thoughts remain with Johnson and his wife, Brittany.
Even President Trump thinks Dallas got dunked on in Luka Doncic trade
President Donald Trump walked into American Airlines Center on Wednesday and treated the building like a returns desk.
Between midterm applause lines at the GOP convention, he paused to review the Dallas Mavericks’ February 2025 decision to send Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. No scouting report was required.
“I must tell you, I don’t understand the trade,” Trump said. “It’s not going to go down as the greatest trade in the history of sports. It might go down as the worst trade in the history of sports.”
Then he delivered the line this city has been rehearsing for 18 months.
“Maybe we could redo that trade. I redo deals all the time,” he joked.
The crowd answered like people who once held a mock funeral for Doncic outside the same doors. A presidential mulligan, it turns out, still sells in Dallas.
Trump did leave one plaque on the wall. The Boston Red Sox selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919, he said, remains the gold standard of regrettable transactions. The Mavericks are merely threatening the record.
The actual swap sent Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris west for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. Architect Nico Harrison was later fired. The Lakers received a 25-year-old superstar. Dallas received an explanation that still has not cleared customs.
“What do I know about basketball?” Trump asked, then graded the deal anyway.
In this market, that is less a gaffe than customer service. The receipt is still on the counter. The president just asked if they take returns.
Yankees, Mets fans unite with ‘USA’ chants amid 9/11 protest
A spectator waving a Palestinian flag interrupted the Yankees-Mets game at Yankee Stadium at 9:11 p.m. on Friday night, the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
The man entered the field from the left-field seats in the top of the seventh inning and sprinted toward center field. At the time, the Yankees led 5-2 with the bases loaded, two outs, and a 3-2 count on Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.
The protestor evaded several security officers and police for a few seconds before being tackled on the outfield grass. The spectator wore a jersey that read “No Kings.”
Security detained him and escorted him off the field beyond the center-field wall. Fans seated above the Mets bullpen threw beer cans and drinks at him. The crowd booed as he was removed and then broke into “USA” chants.
The delay lasted only a few minutes. Reliever Brent Headrick threw warm-up pitches during the stoppage and needed just one pitch to retire Lindor on a line drive back to the mound when play resumed. The Yankees held on for a 6-4 victory before a sold-out crowd of 47,410.
The incident occurred after extensive pregame ceremonies honoring those killed on September 11, 2001. Members of the 2001 Yankees, including Derek Jeter, stood on the field. A husband and wife who each lost a father in the attacks threw the ceremonial first pitches. Country singer Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the USA.”
The Yankees declined to comment on the field intrusion.
The game marked the first meeting of New York’s two teams on the anniversary date in five years.
Isaiah Marshall’s 360-spin pass goes viral as Kansas falls to Missouri
Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall produced a highlight that raced across social media on Friday night, even as No. 23 Missouri defeated the Jayhawks, 38-21, in the Border War at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Midway through the third quarter, Kansas trailed by two scores. On second-and-8 from their own 18-yard line, Marshall was flushed left out of the pocket and met a Missouri defender near the sideline. He completed a full 360-degree spin as he fell toward the boundary and released a high, off-balance pass.
Tight end Carson Bruhn caught the ball for a 16-yard gain and a first down.
Officials first ruled Marshall out of bounds. Replay review reversed the call after confirming the ball left his hand in time.
The improvisation drew immediate attention. Marshall was far less impressed.
“I’m gonna be honest, it was a bad play by me,” Marshall told reporters after the game. “You know, it was great that he caught it and great that we got the first down, but that’s something I can’t do no more.”
The circus throw could not offset a difficult night. Marshall finished 13-of-30 for 168 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He lost a fumble and rushed 20 times for 23 yards. Kansas was outgained 463-255.
Missouri linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr. forced a fumble and intercepted Marshall on consecutive possessions early in the second half, turning both into touchdowns that broke a 14-14 tie.
The Tigers have won five straight meetings. Kansas last beat Missouri in 2008.
