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Saints’ QB plan revealed after Derek Carr’s retirement

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A new report shed some light on what the New Orleans Saints might do now that quarterback Derek Carr has announced his retirement.

The Saints are left with a highly inexperienced quarterback room following Carr’s retirement, with rookie Tyler Shough and second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler the two biggest names on the roster. However, that does not mean the Saints are necessarily going to look to add a high-profile veteran.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports said Saturday that he expects the Saints to wait until at least June before they even consider adding a veteran to the mix. In fact, the organizational preference might be to give Shough every chance to win the job.

While there were plenty of jokes about the Saints launching a pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, that certainly does not sound likely. Even if they did, Rodgers seems unlikely to prefer the Saints to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who profile as move of a contender.

The Saints could also make a move for Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins, but it is unclear if the Falcons would be willing to let Cousins go to a division rival.

Rattler started six games for New Orleans last season, but the Saints lost all of them. The other quarterback on the roster, Jake Haener, also lost his only start of 2024.

There is no doubt that the Saints have the resources to pursue a quarterback. Whether the right fit is out there might depend on how Shough and Rattler look in initial minicamps. Shough was viewed by some evaluators as the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft, and that might have been part of the Saints’ thinking when they selected him 40th overall.

Red Sox took major step to address Rafael Devers controversy

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The Boston Red Sox have taken a major step to address Rafael Devers’ unhappiness with the organization.

Red Sox owner John Henry flew to Kansas City in order to meet with Devers and speak to him one-on-one. Top Red Sox executive Craig Breslow confirmed that the two sides had a “productive” meeting on Friday.

“John, Sam (Kennedy, CEO) and I flew out earlier today, it was actually John who spoke directly with Raffy,” Breslow said on NESN, via Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. “We felt like it was important, based on the situation that unfolded yesterday, to come out here and have an honest conversation about what we value as an organization and what we believe is important to the Boston Red Sox and that is being great teammates for each other. And so we think we had a productive conversation. John seems to have had a productive conversation. And that’s where things stand right now.”

Henry apparently had no plans to travel to Kansas City with the team, so the fact that he did so unplanned indicates that the Red Sox view the Devers situation as a potential crisis. Henry and the organization want to keep it from getting out of hand, though only time will tell if they succeeded.

Devers publicly blasted Breslow and the Red Sox on Thursday, accusing the team of going back on their word to him by asking him to play first base after a season-ending injury to Triston Casas. By Devers’ retelling, the team had essentially told him he would be full-time DH after moving him off third base in the offseason.

Boston’s issues may go beyond Devers, as one report indicated that some of his Red Sox teammates were not happy with the DH airing his issues publicly.

Devers went 1-for-5 with an RBI for the Red Sox in Friday’s 10-inning 2-1 defeat to the Royals. He is hitting .253 on the season with six home runs.

The Red Sox signed Devers to a 10-year, $313.5 million extension prior to the 2023 season. The team’s future is tied to him, so it is certainly in the organization’s best interest to try to smooth out any issues.

Shedeur Sanders addresses his Browns jersey number

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Shedeur Sanders addressed questions about his Cleveland Browns jersey number on Saturday.

After wearing No. 2 during his college career at Colorado, Sanders opted for No. 12 after being drafted. His old number went to veteran wide receiver DeAndre Carter, who had signed with the Browns in March as a free agent.

Sanders said Saturday that he has no intention of trying to purchase the number off Carter, because “my signing bonus ain’t that high right now.”

There were indications that some in Sanders’ camp were not happy that he was denied his college number in Cleveland. However, Carter selected the No. 2 when he signed in March. It simply was not announced publicly until recently.

Sanders signed some big NIL deals in college, so presumably he has more than just his signing bonus at his disposal if he wanted to try and purchase the number. More realistically, it’s not a great look for a fifth-round rookie to be preoccupied with a jersey number, and Sanders might be wary of that look after a lot of negative reports about his pre-draft conduct.

For now, Sanders will get to work in rookie minicamp, where he looked solid early on. He has a legitimate chance of competing for the starting quarterback job if he can impress during camp. If he can win that role, then perhaps he will want to have a discussion about his jersey number.

Saints will save so much money from Derek Carr retirement

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Derek Carr’s retirement from the New Orleans Saints will come with huge financial benefits for the organization.

Carr stunningly announced his retirement on Saturday, citing the injury to his right shoulder as the primary reason. The Saints appear to have worked with Carr to settle any outstanding disputes about his contract, and the settlement is very beneficial to the organization financially.

The Saints are allowing Carr to keep the $10 million he received in bonuses for this season. Carr, meanwhile, is giving up his guaranteed money for 2025, which will save the organization $30 million.

In addition, the two sides worked together to allow the cap hit to be split over two seasons.

The Saints had opened up a good amount of cap room in February by renegotiating Carr’s contract. The quarterback’s retirement figures to open things up long-term for the team, as the organization has spent a long time trying to contend and kicking cap obligations down the road. Carr’s retirement gives them a bit of a reset on that front.

With Carr stepping away, the Saints do theoretically have the cap space to get in the market on another veteran quarterback if they choose to.

Everyone said the same thing about Derek Carr’s stunning retirement

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Derek Carr shocked the sports world on Saturday when he announced his retirement, and fans all seem to think the New Orleans Saints are going to pursue a former MVP quarterback now.

Carr has retired after doctors determined he has a shoulder injury that would have required surgery in order for him to play. The 34-year-old likely would have had to sit out the entire 2025, and there was no guarantee he would have returned at full strength after that.

The Saints drafted former Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the 40th overall pick last month, but they are likely to bring in a veteran now that Carr is out of the picture. Many fans and members of the media are predicting that New Orleans will now enter the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still hoping to sign Rodgers, but the 41-year-old has not given them an answer. A report this week claimed Rodgers has not had much communication with the Steelers.

Rodgers said a few weeks ago that he has taken so long to make a decision about playing in 2025 because there are issues in his personal life that require his attention.

The Steelers’ only viable starting quarterback option is Mason Rudolph. They also drafted Will Howard in the sixth round, but there is almost no chance of the former Ohio State star starting in his first NFL season.

Unless they are in love with Shough, the Saints will probably at least place a call to Rodgers. The 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback might prefer the Steelers if contending for a championship is his priority, but New Orleans has a new offensive-minded head coach in Kellen Moore. It would not be a surprise if Rodgers entertained a conversation.

Derek Carr makes shocking career decision

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Derek Carr has been dealing with a shoulder injury that called his availability for the 2025 season into question, but the veteran quarterback is going to sit out for a different reason.

Carr announced his retirement from the NFL on Saturday. The New Orleans Saints issued a statement explaining that Carr experienced pain in his right shoulder while preparing for the season. Doctors determined that the 34-year-old had a labral tear and degenerative issues with rotator cuff.

While Carr could have undergone surgery and sat out all of 2025, the Saints say there was no guarantee he would have returned at full strength.

Carr also issued a statement confirming the news.

“Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr said. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”

A report first surfaced last month that Carr had a shoulder injury that had jeopardized his 2025 season. Some people (such as Dianna Russini of The Athletic) wondered if Carr was unhappy with the Saints and was trying to send a message to the organization.

Carr addressed that narrative last week and called out Russini. He also said his shoulder injury is very real and that he has the MRI to prove it.

Carr was entering the third year of a four-year, $150 million contract he signed with the Saints in 2023. New Orleans drafted former Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the 40th overall pick, but they will likely bring in a veteran now as well.

Carr played 11 total seasons in the NFL. He began his career with the Las Vegas Raiders and made the Pro Bowl four times in nine seasons with them. He then played for the Saints for two years.

In total, Carr threw for 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions in his career. The yardage places the former Fresno State star 22nd all time in NFL history.

Bill Belichick still has a chance to walk away from UNC

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Bill Belichick has had a difficult time keeping the focus on football as he prepares for his first season as the head coach at North Carolina, and some Tar Heels fans might be a bit uneasy about how simple it would be for the 73-year-old to walk away.

Belichick’s contract with UNC is structured in a way that essentially allows him to change his mind with minimal financial penalty — at least relatively speaking. He is making $10 million per year and currently has a $10 million buyout. That buyout figure will decrease to $1 million on June 1.

The buyout was probably structured to protect UNC in the event that Belichick received an unexpected offer to coach an NFL team. With the hiring cycle having passed in the NFL, there is no chance of that happening this season. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes, however, Belichick has an easy out if he were to decide his new gig is not worth the drama, much of which he has created himself.

Belichick has constantly made headlines for his relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson. The latest wave came on Friday, when Pablo Torre reported that Hudson has been banned from UNC’s football facility. UNC officials issued a statement denying the report and said Hudson is welcome at the facility even though she is not a school employee.

The statement from UNC also said that Hudson “will continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichick’s personal brand,” which confirms that Hudson is something of a public relations manager for the six-time Super Bowl champion.

The spotlight on Belichick’s relationship with Hudson became even brighter last month when Belichick sat down for an interview with Tony Dokoupil of “CBS Mornings.” Hudson sat nearby during the interview and was described by CBS’ narrator as a “constant presence.” She awkwardly interrupted at one point when Belichick was asked about how he and Hudson met (video here).

That interview generated so much attention that Belichick felt the need to issue a statement defending Hudson.

Here is the bottom line: If Belichick is in love with Hudson and is unhappy with the way UNC is handling his relationship with the former cheerleader, all he has to do is pay $1 million after June 1 to tear up his contract. For someone who currently has a $10 million salary and was the highest-paid coach in the NFL for years, that amount of money is insignificant.

Belichick has already been recruiting at UNC, so it would be a PR disaster for him if he were to leave the school before his first season began. Should he decide to do that, perhaps his 24-year-old PR manager would be able to help him handle the backlash.

Jasson Dominguez sets Yankees record in 3-homer game against A’s

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The “Martian” launched several baseballs into orbit for the New York Yankees on Friday night.

Yankees rookie Jasson Dominguez hit three home runs to power a 10-2 New York win over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif. He notched several firsts in the most dominant game of his young career.

Friday’s explosive outing was Dominguez’s first multi-homer game, let alone a three-homer game. At 22 years and 91 days old, Dominguez also became the youngest player in Yankees history to hit three home runs in a single game.

After striking out in his first at-bat, Dominguez went back-to-back with Paul Goldschmidt for two solo home runs with two outs in the top of the third inning.

The switch-hitting slugger also recorded his first MLB home run batting from the right side of the plate. He took left-handed reliever Hogan Harris deep for another solo shot in the top of the seventh.

Dominguez completed the trifecta in the top of the 8th with the bases loaded and one out. He put a charge in a middle-middle fastball for a grand slam to put the Yankees up 10-0.

Dominguez went 3-for-4 with a career-high 7 RBIs in the Yankees’ destruction of the A’s.

Yankees fans have long waited for Dominguez to start making his mark in the majors. The Dominican has been touted as a future star ever since New York signed him as a 16-year-old in 2019. He finally showed some of that star power on Friday night.

Through 32 games this season, Dominguez has batted .250 with 5 home runs, 19 RBIs, and an OPS of .802.

Fans all said the same thing about Nikola Jokic after his rough Game 3

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The Denver Nuggets won a critical playoff clash Friday despite Nikola Jokic having one of the worst postseason games of his career. Fans took note.

Jokic tallied 20 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists in the Nuggets’ 113-104 overtime win over the Thunder in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. On paper, Jokic’s numbers looked pretty solid. But his actual performance was not at the level fans have grown accustomed to seeing from the three-time NBA MVP.

Jokic coughed up eight of the Nuggets’ 14 turnovers in the contest. He also shot 8/25 from the field, including a ghastly 0/10 mark from beyond the three-point line.

The Nuggets center’s poor play in a win had several fans trying to dispel the narrative that “Jokic has no help.”

Many Nuggets fans were expecting a huge night from Jokic, especially given the pregame outfit he wore for Game 3. But it was the Joker’s supporting cast of Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon that stepped up in the Serbian star’s stead. The trio combined for 63 points to help give Denver a 2-1 lead in the series.

Not even the greatest players in the history of the NBA have led a team to a title with “no help.” Despite some struggles earlier this season, the Nuggets’ championship core around Jokic from two seasons ago remains largely intact. Jokic needed help on Friday, and those same teammates had his back.

Nuggets fans may even see Game 3 as a positive. The team showed that it is capable of beating a formidable Thunder squad without Jokic playing at his best.

Steve Kerr hints at ‘new formula’ Warriors will use without Steph Curry

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The Golden State Warriors are in survival mode with Steph Curry still sidelined due to injury.

Curry hurt his hamstring in Game 1 of the Warriors’ second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The injury, which prevented him from suiting up in Game 2, is likely to keep him out for at least Games 3 and 4.

With the Warriors desperate to defend home court without their biggest star, head coach Steve Kerr pointed to two players he’s hoping to be part of a winning “formula” for Golden State.

“There’s no Steph. It’s a completely different team,” Kerr told reporters, via The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “Everything has to be about finding a new formula and [Jonathan Kuminga] is absolutely a part of that formula. … Trayce Jackson-Davis showed he can be effective against this team.”

Kuminga has barely touched the floor in the 2025 postseason when the Warriors have dealt with injuries to key players.

The fourth-year pro got playing time in the first round against the Houston Rockets after Jimmy Butler went down with a pelvic injury. Kuminga was called upon once again with Curry out of the lineup for Thursday’s Game 2. He repaid Kerr’s trust by scoring a team-high 18 points on 8/11 shooting.

Jackson-Davis also played sparingly during the Warriors-Rockets series. But he proved useful against the Timberwolves in Game 2, tallying 15 points and 6 rebounds across 19 minutes. Jackson-Davis and Kuminga combined to shoot 14/17 off Golden State’s bench in the contest.

Tyrese Haliburton pulls weak move after Game 3

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Tyrese Haliburton flexed his muscles in the first two games of his Indiana Pacers’ Eastern Conference semifinal against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he ran away in Game 3.

The Pacers lost 126-104 to the Cavs in Game 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on Friday night. Haliburton went 2/8 for 4 points in 30 minutes and had a -20 on the stat sheet. His Pacers fell behind by 21 points at halftime and never recovered.

After the game, Haliburton did not speak with the media and was nowhere to be found. He received some criticism for ducking out on his media responsibilities.

The Pacers’ public relations team planned to make Haliburton available to talk with the media on Saturday.

This was Haliburton’s first time losing a playoff game at home. His four-point dud was also his worst playoff point total in a game by far.

It’s understandable why Haliburton would have been disappointed and upset after his bad game. But part of being the face of a team is answering questions from the media whether your team wins or loses.

Haliburton scored 22 in a Game 1 win over the Cavs and 19 in a Game 2 victory. The Pacers are hoping his 4-point, 5-assist totals were an aberration.

Everyone said the same thing after Brad Marchand’s Game 3 OT goal to beat Maple Leafs

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Brad Marchand clearly still has the Toronto Maple Leafs’ number.

Marchand was traded to the Florida Panthers in March after playing 16 seasons for the Boston Bruins. The trade paid dividends for the Panthers on Friday as the 36-year-old scored the game-winning goal in overtime to win Game 3 of the Panthers’ second-round series against the Maple Leafs. The goal helped the Panthers avoid falling into a 0-3 hole in the series.

Panthers fans are still in the process of getting familiar with Marchand. Friday’s game was just his 18th with Carolina (10 regular season, 8 playoffs). But Maple Leafs fans are well acquainted with the two-time All-Star.

Several fans posted about how Marchand has continued his torment of the Leafs despite no longer wearing a Bruins uniform.

Marchand faced the Maple Leafs in the playoffs four different times as a member of the Bruins. Each series went the distance, with Boston winning all four Game 7s. The first Game 7 that Marchand played against the Maple Leafs in 2013 ended 5-4 in overtime on a goal Marchand assisted on. Friday’s Game 3 also ended 5-4 in overtime, but Marchand was the one who iced the game this time.

Marchand’s game-ending goal was the 33rd of his career against the Maple Leafs, tied with Henri Richard for the third-most against Toronto in NHL history. Only Detroit Red Wings legends Gordie Howe (53) and Alex Delvecchio (35) have more.

ESPN reporter goes off on Draymond Green over his ‘agenda’ claim

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An ESPN reporter has let the world know how “sick” he is of Draymond Green.

On Thursday, Green made some controversial comments after the Golden State Warriors’ loss in their West Semifinal Game 2 matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Warriors star got called for his fifth technical foul of the postseason during the first half of the contest. Green’s technical tally is two shy of an automatic one-game suspension.

Green claimed that referees and the media have an “agenda” against him that has painted him as an “angry black man.” You can read Green’s full comments here.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon called Green out for the latter’s attempt to “play victim.” During Friday’s episode of “The Hoop Collective” podcast, McMahon went on a furious rant directed at the Warriors forward.

“Go away, Draymond,” said MacMahon. “Shut up, dude. Do not play victim here. Stop doing crazy and stupid stuff. We’re sick of you doing stupid, flagrant, c–p on a regular basis. It’s not an agenda, Draymond. You get break after break, after break, after break, after break. And you keep on pushing the line.

“It was not an agenda to make you look angry when you punched your teammate in the face. It was not an agenda to make you look angry when you grabbed Rudy Gobert and put him in a sleeper hold. It was not an agenda to make you look angry when you punched or smacked Jusuf Nurkic upside the head. … Draymond is full of c–p. He’s so full of c–p his breath stinks.”

Reporters were not the only ones who objected to Green’s claims. Some NBA players have spoken up against the polarizing four-time champion.

Leafs star Willam Nylander stuck wearing the same suit 4 games in a row

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Toronto Maple Leafs star William Nylander has boxed himself into a quirky superstition.

Nylander began wearing an olive-colored suit with no tie and tennis shoes to his games. He had immediate success while wearing that outfit, so he kept it up. Prior to Game 3 of the Leafs’ Eastern Conference second-round playoff series with the Florida Panthers on Friday, Nylander was wearing the same outfit. He had scored five goals and added two assists in the three previous games, which explains why he stuck with the clothes.

Toronto got out to a 3-1 lead in Game 3, and Nylander assisted on the second two goals for the Leafs. Unfortunately, his team allowed three straight goals to blow their lead.

Nobody should be questioning Nylander’s choices at this point. He had 14 points through Toronto’s first nine playoff games, matching Doug Gilmour from 1994.

“Just leave him alone,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said of Nylander. “There’s no too big a stage for this guy.”

Nylander is in his 10th NHL season, all spent with the Leafs. He had 84 points during the regular season including a career-high 45 goals.

Details emerge on Pope Leo’s Knicks fandom

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There is little doubt which NBA team Pope Leo is backing in the 2025 playoffs.

The recently concluded papal conclave named Chicago native Robert Prevost the new pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. Sports fans have had some fun trying to figure out the first American pope’s sports allegiances.

There’s already some controversy about which Chicago-based MLB team Pope Leo supports. Fans also unveiled an epic 1990s Chicago Bulls-style introduction in honor of the Illinoisan. But with the Bulls not in the playoff picture this season, Pope Leo is likely keeping tabs on a different Eastern Conference team: the New York Knicks.

The Athletic’s Tess DeMeyer spoke to Pope Leo’s longtime friend and peer, Rev. Robert P. Hagan, who has “kept in touch” with the new pope over the years.

Hagan serves as a senior associate athletic director and team chaplain for Villanova’s football and basketball programs. Pope Leo is an alumnus of Villanova, where several of the Knicks’ key players graduated from. Hagan shared that the two have enjoyed supporting the so-called ‘Nova’ Knicks.

“We’ve had a lot of fun watching the Knicks,” Hagan told DeMeyer. “Because Jalen [Brunson] and Josh [Hart] and Donte [DiVincenzo] was there and now Mikal [Bridges] is there. I think that Pope Leo will still keep an eye on the Nova Knicks. I think he’ll still keep an eye on the Wildcats, and I think he’ll be very proud of not just who they are but the way that they play with a certain spirit and unselfishness.”

Several Knicks have already caught wind of the new pope’s Villanova roots. Many have called it a good omen for a potential Knicks championship run.

If the Knicks make the NBA Finals, the team will have at least one powerful supporter watching from the Vatican.

Cause of death for John Elway’s agent Jeff Sperbeck released

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The official cause of death for John Elway’s late former agent Jeff Sperbeck has been released.

The Riverside County Sheriff shared a news release on Friday regarding the death of Sperbeck, who died at the age of 62.

“The cause of death is ‘blunt head trauma,’ and the manner of death is ‘accident,’ and the mode of death (how the injury occurred) is ‘passenger fell from golf cart,’” the statement said.

That matches everything that was reported at the time of Sperbeck’s death.

Sperbeck fell off a golf cart being driven by Elway at The Madison Club in La Quinta, Calif., on Saturday, April 26. Sperbeck hit his head and suffered traumatic injuries. He was taken to a medical facility afterwards and ended up on life support, where he ultimately died a few days later.

Sperbeck represented Elway during his football career and had over 100 clients as an agent. He and Elway were close and even partnered on a winery in 2013 called 7Cellars.

Elway issued a statement last week regarding Sperbeck’s death.

“I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” Elway wrote in a statement. “There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me. My heart and deepest sympathies go out to Jeff’s wife, Cori; his children Carly, Sam and Jackson; and everyone who knew and loved him. Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others.”

Nikola Jokic arrives in unusual outfit ahead of Game 3

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Nikola Jokic is bringing his alter-ego out ahead of a must-win Game 3.

The Denver Nuggets star Jokic arrived at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. for Friday’s second-round playoff game against the Oklahoma City Thunder wearing a very unusual outfit. Jokic was sporting a light blue jacket-and-pants combo but with a green vest underneath. Coupled with his white dress shirt, Jokic was very clearly rocking a look inspired by The Joker.

Check it out below.

“The Joker” is of course Jokic’s famous nickname. With that color combo too, Jokic looked much more like the Jack Nicholson or the Heath Ledger version rather than the more modern Jared Leto or Joaquin Phoenix versions. Needless to say, Jokic is clearly very well-versed in American culture.

The three-time NBA MVP Jokic had a very frustrating Game 2 against the Thunder, fouling out in the third quarter and managing a modest 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists as the Nuggets lost in a 149-106 laugher. Jokic also lost his cool at one point during the contest, pulling a WWE move on OKC’s Jaylin Williams.

But now that the second-round series has shifted over to Denver, Jokic has obviously gotten his mojo back. The seven-time All-Star center isn’t usually known for his flashy outfits, instead letting one of his star teammates on the Nuggets handle most of the fashion instead. But Jokic can still clean up pretty nicely when the situation calls for it, and he decided to show up for Game 3 ready to hunt down The Batman.

First video: Shedeur Sanders throws passes at Browns’ rookie minicamp

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Shedeur Sanders on Friday gave Cleveland Browns fans their first glimpse of his ability.

Sanders attended workouts at Browns’ rookie minicamp and was captured on video doing his thing. He threw a wobbly duck off his back foot on the first throw that was shared in a video by Camryn Justice. But after that, Sanders did what he does best, which is complete short passes. He showed excellent accuracy on those short passes, which took place mostly without defenders around.

Sanders slipped to the 5th round of the draft, which was a stunning result. Even the Browns seemed to be surprised by Sanders’ slide considering they drafted quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round (No. 94 overall).

We also know that Shedeur is not receiving the attention you would expect for a typical 5th-round pick. There was some belief that he had the talent to be a top-10 pick. His famous father Deion certainly made everyone think Shedeur was going to be a first-round pick. Given all the hype surrounding Shedeur, don’t expect to see a drop in attention paid toward him.

Here is a video that shows Sanders and Gabriel taking turns throwing:

Bears rookie ticked off over his draft snub

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Chicago Bears rookie Luther Burden is still steaming over his perceived draft snub.

Burden was a 5-star recruit out of high school and went to Missouri. He was a first-team All-SEC player in 2023 and 2024, and he peaked with 86 catches for 1,212 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023.

Burden was drafted in the second round by the Bears two weeks ago, going No. 39 overall. He spoke with the media on Friday and expressed anger over his draft position.

“That’s staying with me forever,” Burden said. “Everybody who passed up on me gotta pay.”

If Burden uses that as motivation to become a better player, the Bears should end up happy. The world of sports is littered with stories of players who were motivated by a snub — real or perceived — to become a better player. Maybe this is just the fuel Burden needs to put together a big pro career.

Burden was the fifth wide receiver taken in the draft (not counting two-way player Travis Hunter). He was the Bears’ second pick, as the team selected tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick.

Report: Red Sox players unhappy with Rafael Devers’ comments

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The Rafael Devers situation in Boston appears to be growing more toxic by the day.

Christopher Smith of Mass Live appeared Friday on the “Foul Territory” podcast. During the episode, Smith reported that some veteran players on the Red Sox are not pleased with the three-time All-Star Devers’ recent comments about the team.

“One reporter told me that one of [Devers’ teammates] said [for him to] ‘just stop talking,’” said Smith. “We’ve also at Mass Live learned that a couple players — veteran players, players who have been around the league a long time — were not happy with the situation, with his inflexibility, and also [with] the way that he brought it out publicly.”

The report comes a day after Devers caused a stir by claiming that the Red Sox lied to him over the offseason. Devers alleged that the Red Sox, particularly executive Craig Breslow, told him that he would no longer be playing in the field from here (as the longtime third baseman Devers shifted over to designated hitter this season in order to accommodate new signing Alex Bregman).

However, Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this month, and Breslow then supposedly approached Devers about the possibility of playing first base (a position that Devers has never played before in the bigs). As a result, Devers felt that he was lied to and went public this week to express his unhappiness. You can read the full comments that Devers made here.

Now it appears that there are multiple Red Sox players who feel that Devers, 28, should have kept his complaints in-house. While Devers is the longest-tenured player on the Boston roster and is signed through 2033 as a part of a 10-year, $313.5 million extension he signed with the team before the 2023 campaign, his situation with the Red Sox is threatening to only get messier from here.

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