Geno Auriemma reveals why he was irked with Dawn Staley
Geno Auriemma was upset with Dawn Staley after his UConn Huskies lost to Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks 62-48 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Friday night. He explained after the game what his primary issue was.
Auriemma told reporters that he was upset that Staley had left him hanging prior to the game. The two had shaken hands prior to the start of the game. However, after the big pregame introductions were conducted by the public address announcer, Auriemma went to the middle of the court and waited for Staley. The two coaches typically meet in the middle of the court after introductions, but Staley never came.
Auriemma was annoyed that Staley missed that moment.
“The protocol is, before the game, you meet at halfcourt,” Auriemma said after the game. “I waited there for like three minutes.”
Staley never came. In a video that was published on social media, Auriemma could be seen complaining to Staley about that moment. Staley had a profane response.
Though that’s the issue Auriemma publicly complained about, his frustration may have had to do more with the game’s outcome than anything else. The veteran UConn coach also was upset about how the game was called by the officials. He complained about his players getting beat up by the physical South Carolina players, and he felt Staley was working the officials in her favor.
UConn had been unbeaten prior to the loss, and won last year’s NCAA championship. South Carolina won the year before and will face UCLA on Sunday with the chance to win their second title in three years.
Dawn Staley had vicious message for Geno Auriemma during confrontation
Dawn Staley had a vicious message for Geno Auriemma during their confrontation on Friday night.
Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks beat Auriemma’s UConn Huskies 62-48 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., to advance to the championship game of the NCAA Tournament. Things got heated after the game when Auriemma confronted Staley. Apparently Staley was not holding back either.
A video has circulated that shows the interaction between the coaches, as well as Staley’s reaction. The South Carolina coach was heard repeating, “I will beat Geno’s a–” after the confrontation.
Crazy moment between Geno and Dawn. pic.twitter.com/CspinsnxDz
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) April 4, 2026
What was the confrontation about? Auriemma, who was probably more annoyed about losing than anything else, vented about Staley not coming to shake his hand prior to the game as is custom at the Final Four. The two had already done so once, but Auriemma was expecting Staley to do so again after the pregame introductions were conducted, as is tradition. Staley didn’t follow, and that apparently irked Auriemma — as did the result.
UConn suffered its first loss of the season and ends the campaign 38-1. South Carolina, which is now 36-3, moves on to face 36-1 UCLA in the championship on Sunday.
Giants rookie Daniel Susac’s nephew goes viral after epic meltdown
San Francisco Giants rookie catcher Daniel Susac delivered an outstanding performance in his first major league start on Thursday night against the New York Mets at Oracle Park.
The 24-year-old went 3-for-3 with a walk, reaching base in all four plate appearances as the Giants secured a 7-2 victory.
Susac, the younger brother of former Giants catcher Andrew Susac and the organization’s No. 21 prospect, made a strong impression both offensively and defensively in his long-awaited debut.
Yet it was a family moment in the stands that captured widespread attention.
As the Susac clan celebrated Daniel’s first career hit, cameras panned to the crowd and spotlighted his young nephew, Chuck. Held by his mother, the emotional child broke into tears and loud screams amid the enthusiastic jumping and excitement.
“Yeah, so last night we were dealing with the Terrible Twos,” Susac’s father, Matt, told MLB.com. “We were three hours past bedtime, his grandfather had been feeding him Dip ‘n Dots all day, and Paw Patrol kept getting interrupted on my phone. It was just like the perfect storm of chaos.”
Chuck’s overwhelmed reaction, complete with visible distress as he was moved during the celebration, quickly spread across social media, drawing amused and sympathetic responses from fans.
The Susac family, with deep roots in the Giants organization, shared in the joy of the milestone. Relatives later joked that Chuck might need an agent for his unintended viral fame.
Daniel acknowledged the clip with good humor, noting the full-circle nature of the evening for his family.
While Susac’s on-field success marked a promising beginning to his big-league career, his nephew’s memorable meltdown added a heartfelt, human touch to the night that resonated far beyond the ballpark.
Ex-Colts TE claims Chris Ballard pushed Andrew Luck into retirement
Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron claimed on the On My Soul podcast that Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard issued quarterback Andrew Luck a wild ultimatum in 2019.
“[Luck] don’t tell nobody this. This is the backstory,” Ebron said. “He’s so tired of injury that he just doesn’t want to do surgery. You know who the man is around there that gets on everyone’s nerves. Big draws over there behind that desk.
“He tells Andrew, ‘You’re either playing this year or we’re moving on.’ Who the f–k would tell Andrew Luck that? Right? Andrew Luck now says, ‘I’m not going to be ready, I’m tired of playing with pain. I’m going to retire.’”
Ebron alleged the remark came as Luck, battling persistent injuries including a calf strain that became a high-ankle issue, declined further surgery and expressed fatigue from playing through pain.
Ebron said Ballard’s statement prompted Luck to retire abruptly on August 24, 2019, days before the regular season, ending a promising career marked by elite talent but frequent health setbacks.
Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in 2012, had signed a six-year, $140 million extension in 2016. The team did not seek repayment of roughly $24.8 million in signing bonus money after his departure.
Ebron, who played one season with Luck in 2018 and posted career-best numbers, described Ballard as the individual who “gets on everyone’s nerves.” However, Ebron has a documented history of tension with Ballard from his Colts tenure, including public friction over playing time and roster decisions.
The claim has sparked debate among fans and analysts. Some view it as damning if accurate, while others question Ebron’s credibility given the timing—nearly seven years later—and his past grievances.
Ballard has not publicly addressed the allegation. The controversy resurfaces questions about the franchise’s quarterback situation since Luck’s exit.
Jason Kidd makes bold claim about Cooper Flagg after his 51-point game
Jason Kidd is basically the conductor of the Cooper Flagg hype train at this point.
The Dallas Mavericks got heated with officials during Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic for arguing for Flagg’s sake and eventually got ejected from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Flagg was upset over a no-call on a drive that led to the rookie getting a technical foul. Kidd picked it up from there.
FULL MOMENT: Cooper Flagg gets a tech for arguing a no call and then Jason Kidd & Naji Marshall ejected pic.twitter.com/WytlDESjWm
— NBAbzy (@nbabzyy) April 4, 2026
Flagg couldn’t power the Mavericks to victory in honor of their coach, but he did manage to record the very first 50-point game by a teenager in NBA history. The Mavs wunderkind scored 51 points on just 30 shots in a 138-127 loss.
Kidd, who was definitely watching Flagg achieve the feat from the locker room, made a bold claim as he spoke to reporters during his postgame press conference. Kidd not only touted Flagg as the clear Rookie of the Year, but he put him in the GOAT trajectory alongside Michael Jordan.
“He should be Rookie of the Year. It’s unbelievable,” Kidd said, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “The country is not watching the same thing that we get to watch on a daily basis. The things that he’s done, he’s in rare air. He’s with the GOAT when you talk about MJ and what he did in his rookie year — and as a teenager.”
Flagg has had one of the best rookie campaigns in recent memory, averaging 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 46.7% shooting as the focal point of a rebuilding Mavs team. But Jordan was on a different stratosphere as a rookie, putting up 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.4 steals on a 51.5% clip in his first season with the Chicago Bulls.
MJ never scored 50 as a rookie, but did breach the 45-point mark four times — something Flagg has only done twice, including Friday’s 51-point effort.
In all fairness to Flagg, he’s doing all this just months after turning 19. Jordan turned 22 by the end of his rookie campaign. The improvement Flagg has shown since his disastrous first game has been immense. One can only imagine how good he’ll be once he gets a few seasons under his belt.
Texas coach made classy move after losing to UCLA in Final Four
Texas women’s basketball head coach Vic Schaefer showed some heart for his players in the dying seconds of Friday’s Final Four game against UCLA.
Graduating Texas senior Rori Harmon checked out of the heavyweight NCAA Tournament clash as her team trailed 51-44 with 3.1 seconds left at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Harmon was understandably emotional as she walked off the floor in her Longhorns uniform for the final time.
Schaefer sensed his lead guard needed a shoulder to cry on. The veteran coach took Harmon aside and shared an emotional moment with her just before the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Whew. Incredible career for Rori Harmon. Consoled by her head coach Vic Schaefer as the Longhorns lose to UCLA.
— Noah Gross (@noah_gross27) April 4, 2026
It ends for #Texas in the Final Four.
Special relationship between these two.#HookEm | 📹: ESPN pic.twitter.com/w3pMKakGoY
Harmon finished with eight points and five assists on 4/11 shooting in what was a rough offensive night for Texas. Longhorns first option Madison Booker made just three of her 23 shot attempts for six points, as UCLA kept her in check the entire night.
Schaefer, who is in his sixth season as Texas’ head coach, has had Harmon as his starting point guard in each of the last five seasons. After losing in the Elite 8 in two of their first three seasons together, the Longhorns made it to the Final Four in back-to-back seasons, falling one game short of the national title game both times.
Schaefer handled his Final Four loss much differently than Geno Auriemma did hours earlier. The UConn head coach confronted Dawn Staley after losing to her South Carolina squad hours earlier.
Cooper Flagg pulls off NBA feat no other teenager has ever done
Cooper Flagg cannot legally buy a beer just yet, but he can at least satiate himself with a 50-burger as he counts down the days.
The Dallas Mavericks rookie went off for 51 points in a losing effort Friday against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. While the present-day scoreboard showed a 138-127 loss for the home team, Flagg gave the crowd more reasons to be excited about the future of the team.
Flagg notched his 50-piece in hyper-efficient fashion, shooting 19/30 from the field and sinking all seven of his free-throw attempts. He became the first-ever teenager to score 50 points in NBA history, doing so on an And-1 bucket in the closing minutes.
COOPER FLAGG 50 PIECE
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 4, 2026
The first teenager to ever do it pic.twitter.com/1qwua6sbnv
Flagg doesn’t turn 20 until late December, meaning he’ll also have plenty of chances to double down on his NBA milestone at the start of his second season.
Cooper Flagg (19 years, 103 days old) is the first teenager in NBA history with a 50-point game 😳pic.twitter.com/WllqERdLB5
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) April 4, 2026
Wet blankets could argue that Flagg just plays in an era of inflated scoring numbers and point to Bam Adebayo’s 83-point night from a few weeks back. But scoring 50 on grown men NBA players when he’s the same age as most college freshmen is impressive, no matter how you slice it.
Flagg entered Friday’s game in a tight Rookie of the Year race against his Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel. The Mavericks star’s 51-point night could ultimately sway a few voters once it’s time to cast ballots.
Bucks under investigation from NBA
The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo are once again at odds, with the NBA having to play the role of arbiter.
The league is reportedly investigating the Bucks for potentially circumventing the player participation policy and for allegedly making “inconsistent statements’ about the health of Antetokounmpo.
The NBA is investigating the Milwaukee Bucks for their handling of the player participating policy and potential inconsistent statements regarding the health of Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources tell ESPN. The league has interviewed Antetokounmpo's side, the Bucks and team doctors.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 4, 2026
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks and Giannis have provided “different stories” about the 2-time MVP’s readiness to play. The team supposedly “doesn’t believe” that Antetokounmpo is actually fit and willing to play, while the Greek Freak claims the team refuses to medically clear him.
“You know who you are dealing with,” Antetokounmpo told reporters Friday before the Bucks’ game against the Boston Celtics, via The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. “So for somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.
“I’ve never seen a case of a player saying, my caliber of player, that’s like — I’m saying it publicly — I want to f–-ing play. You know what I’m saying? I don’t think I’ve seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great. There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we figure something out.”
Antetokounmpo called anyone believing that he doesn’t actually want to play “an idiot.” He was particularly pointing to him missing out on a chance to play alongside his younger brother, Alex, who has gotten to play his first NBA minutes during the Bucks’ last two games.
The ongoing tension between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks has lingered throughout the year. With the rift continuing to grow between the two sides, Milwaukee is headed for a contentious offseason in the coming months.
Geno Auriemma goes at Dawn Staley in heated postgame confrontation
Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley exchanged words that weren’t of the friendly variety Friday after UConn and South Carolina clashed in the Final Four.
Staley’s Gamecocks dealt Auriemma’s Huskies their first loss of the season in a 62-48 contest that saw UConn shoot 31.1% from the field. Auriemma wanted more than just a handshake after the final buzzer sounded as the two crossed paths on the sidelines at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
Rather than wish Staley well as South Carolina heads to the national championship game, Auriemma lost his temper as he confronted his longtime peer.
Geno lost twice tonight. pic.twitter.com/SXqrQhmsYk
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) April 4, 2026
Auriemma wasn’t happy about a huge disparity in fouls called between the two teams, with UConn getting whistled for 17 of the 25 fouls in the contest. After a third quarter where the Gamecocks didn’t get called for a single foul despite Huskies sophomore Sarah Strong having her jersey partially torn, which prompted Auriemma to call out Staley and the referees midgame.
“There were six fouls called that quarter, all of them against us,” Auriemma said before the start of the fourth quarter. “And they’ve been beating the s–t out of our guys down there the entire game. And I’m not making excuses cause we haven’t been able to make a shot, but this is ridiculous.
“Their coach rants and raves on the sideline, and calls the referees some names you don’t want to hear. And now we get Sarah [Strong] with a ripped jersey, and they go, ‘I didn’t see it.’ Come on, man. This is for the national championship.”
"I'm not making excuses because we can't make a shot. But this is ridiculous."
— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2026
Geno Auriemma had this to say on the officiating in the Final Four. pic.twitter.com/47cefDEj2O
It was a bitter end to UConn’s pursuit of back-to-back national titles.
UConn and South Carolina have faced off 15 times with Auriemma and Staley, respectively, on the sidelines. The Huskies have won nine of those contests, with Staley getting her sixth victory over Auriemma on Friday.
Knicks announcer had his unhinged diss against Bulls get completely vindicated
New York Knicks announcer Walt “Clyde” Frazier dialed up the creativity to insult the Chicago Bulls on Friday, and got proven right almost immediately.
As the game tipped off at Madison Square Garden, Frazier stunningly compared the wreckage from some of the Bulls’ recent losses to war-torn Iran. His partner in the booth, Mike Breen, could only laugh at what was such a deranged call before the game even began.
Frazier: “Mike, I was talking to my friends, man. And I was talking about eradicated, obliterated, devastated. They thought I was talking about Iran, but I was talking about the Bulls. Their last game to the Pacers, they gave up 145. Against the Sixers, they gave up 157. …”
Breen: “That’s how you start a telecast!?”
no context clyde pic.twitter.com/w4SvcNG7ld
— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) April 3, 2026
It’s the type of comment only a beloved announcer like Frazier can make without getting a huge amount of backlash. The Knicks Hall of Famer is also known for his quirky calls, so this one doesn’t feel as out of place versus someone else making it.
Somehow, Frazier may have even undersold how poor Chicago’s form has been of late, because the Bulls rolled over instantly on Friday night. New York outscored Chicago 20-1 over the game’s first six minutes and trailed 78-41 at the half.
Knicks role players OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson combined for 34 points to skewer the Bulls over the game’s first two quarters. The Bulls franchise seems to be a mess on and off the court, with Chicago having to cut a recent acquisition for making some controversial comments of his own.
Notable update emerges about Shedeur Sanders’ status with Browns
Shedeur Sanders seems to be solidifying his status in Cleveland.
The Cleveland Browns quarterback Sanders appears to be the “favorite” to win the team’s QB1 job for next season, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reported on Friday. Sanders is expected to be in a competition with fellow Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during training camp this year.
Jackson further adds that Sanders may only need to offer “at least league-average quarterback play” in order for Cleveland to finally pull the plug on the Watson era. You can read Jackson’s full report on the situation here.
Sanders, 24, was the Browns’ fifth-round pick (No. 144 overall) last year. While Joe Flacco was Cleveland’s QB1 to begin the 2025 season, Sanders ended up taking the starting job after Flacco was traded and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel got injured.
Overall in 2025, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions (and also adding another touchdown on the ground). Though his numbers were obviously unimpressive, Sanders actually earned a Pro Bowl selection after a number of quarterbacks around the NFL were unable to participate in the event.
That said, the wild card is Watson, the controversial former NFL passing yards leader. Watson is set to be healthy again after missing all of 2025 due to a re-rupture of his Achilles tendon and has recently been getting hyped up by Browns ownership too.
Other than Sanders and Watson, the only other QB currently on the Cleveland roster is Gabriel (though they could add another signal-caller in this month’s NFL Draft). That said, the expectation appears to be that the ex-Colorado star Sanders will win the starting job to begin the 2026 campaign.
Lakers linked to a former 20-ppg scorer
The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be going for one half of “Bobi and Tobi.”
Veteran NBA forward Tobias Harris of the Detroit Pistons will be an early free-agent target for the Lakers, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported on Friday. Siegel also notes that Peyton Watson and Tari Eason are targets for the Lakers as well but adds that both players are restricted free agents (meaning that their incumbent teams can match any offer sheet that the Lakers put forth).
Harris, 33, was originally a first-round pick in 2011 and is now in his 15th NBA season. He was a 20-point-per-game scorer in 2018-19 and hovered in that range for a few seasons after that as well.
This season, Harris has had a lower-usage role with the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons. Harris has still been efficient with his looks though, averaging 13.1 points per game on 46/35/87 shooting splits.
What also helps the Lakers’ cause is that Harris will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. While it is unlikely that Harris would settle for the veteran’s minimum, he could still be had for a very reasonable price.
The 50-27 Lakers are expected to prioritize complementary cost-effective pieces this offseason to prop up their core duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. It may also be wise for the Lakers to start thinking about their summer plans now given the dreadful news that they just received this week.
Mick Cronin reacts to Tommy Lloyd’s decision to stay at Arizona
It’s official: Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd is not going to be the next coach at North Carolina.
On Friday, Lloyd announced he is staying, and reports surfaced that Arizona gave the head coach a new five-year contract.
Lloyd’s name had been linked to the North Carolina job ever since Hubert Davis was fired, but the Tar Heels will go back to the drawing board with another candidate off the board.
After the news came, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin was asked about Lloyd staying, and Cronin admitted he was not surprised one bit.
Cronin said he’s “not shocked” that Lloyd is staying at Arizona while mentioning the difference in the sport due to NIL.
Great catching up with @CoachMickCronin today! Mick weighed in on Tommy Lloyd staying @ArizonaMBB & the impact of NIL. pic.twitter.com/WxYNRHmnF3
— Chris Mad Dog Russo (@MadDogUnleashed) April 3, 2026
As Cronin points out, the North Carolina brand isn’t as powerful as it once was in recruiting due to players wanting large NIL packages, and rightfully so.
Lloyd, meanwhile, has Arizona in the Final Four for the first time since 2001, so things are trending in the right direction in Tucson.
North Carolina’s rumored top targets as of late were Lloyd, Michigan’s Dusty May and Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan. However, Jon Rothstein reported on Friday that Michigan is prepared to do what it takes to keep May around, so options appear to be dwindling for the Tar Heels’ job.
Report: Bucks players have lost confidence in Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers is apparently look like a quack to some of his team’s players.
Several Milwaukee Bucks players have lost confidence in Rivers’ coaching style, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported on Friday. Siegel adds that Rivers’ status in Milwaukee will be worth watching in the NBA offseason.
The former NBA Coach of the Year Rivers, 64, is in his third season coaching the Bucks. But things have not gone according to plan for Rivers in Milwaukee as he has now posted an overall losing record of 95-99 (.490) since taking over. Rivers has also failed to win a single playoff series during his time in charge of the Bucks.
This season has been particularly rotten for the Bucks too. With Giannis Antetokounmpo playing in just 36 total games due to various injuries, Milwaukee is at a brutal 30-46 this year and will not be qualified for the postseason.
Rivers has always been more of a win-now coach rather than one who specializes in development of young players. But with the Bucks’ season suddenly having to pivot to the latter, Rivers’ deficiencies have been on full display.
A major report emerged last month casting doubt on the Milwaukee future of Rivers, who is only under contract for one more season after this. Now it sounds like Rivers’ departure from the Bucks may soon be coming one way or the other.
Lakers announce bad news about Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury
The 2025-26 Los Angeles Lakers season has officially entered the danger zone.
Lakers superstar Luka Doncic will be out indefinitely due to his left hamstring injury, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Friday. Doncic is set to miss at least the remainder of the regular season, and his status is uncertain beyond that, Charania adds.
Chris Haynes of NBA TV also reports that Doncic has formally been diagnosed with a grade 2 hamstring strain.
Doncic, the six-time All-Star, was injured during the Lakers’ humiliating loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. While attempting to drive on OKC’s Jalen Williams in the third quarter, Doncic came up hobbled after making a move. He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the contest by the Lakers and was visibly distraught about the injury (see the video here).
For Doncic individually, his regular season comes to an end at 64 games played. On paper, that would disqualify Doncic for this season’s NBA award eligibility (which comes with a minimum of 65 games played). However, we learned earlier in the day on Friday that there is still a chance Doncic may qualify based on a rarely-used exception for eligibility.
But the bigger concern right now is for the Lakers as a team. Grade 2 hamstring injuries typically come with an estimated 3-8 week recovery time, which is very bad news with the NBA playoffs set to begin in about two weeks.
The Lakers are currently No. 3 in the West with five games left to play but are only separated from the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves by 3.5 games. Thus, a number of unsavory possibilities are now on the table for the team, including a short-term drop in seeding, having to play a playoff series or two without Doncic, and/or Doncic not looking like the same player whenever he is able to return.
Steelers’ QB plans revealed if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return
The Pittsburgh Steelers are patiently waiting to see whether or not quarterback Aaron Rodgers will return for the 2026 season.
The clock is ticking for a Rodgers decision, especially with the NFL Draft just a few weeks away. On Friday, Steelers insider Brooke Pryor revealed the team’s plans if Rodgers does not return.
“I think it’s a very real possibility that they could draft a quarterback, maybe not in the first round,” Pryor said.
Pryor said Carson Beck and Drew Allar fit with what the new head coach, Mike McCarthy, could be looking for in his next quarterback.
What happens if Aaron Rodgers doesn't return next season? 👀@bepryor breaks down the Steelers' contingency plans ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rVOyCxr26L
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 3, 2026
Kirk Cousins had been linked to the Steelers, but he signed a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, which changes things up from Pittsburgh’s perspective.
Steelers owner Art Rooney II said during the NFL Annual League Meeting that the estimated timeline for a Rodgers decision was before the NFL Draft, so it should be coming soon.
But, the Steelers need a backup plan, and while McCarthy has raved about former Ohio State QB Will Howard, the draft has some options to add talent to the room.
McCarthy did say he has been talking to Rodgers “regularly” and the conversations have been “very positive,” but nobody knows what the decision will be from the veteran signal-caller.
If Rodgers doesn’t return and decides to retire, the Steelers make sense for a QB in Day 2 or Day 3 of the upcoming NFL Draft.
NFL hands down its verdict in Rashee Rice investigation
Rashee Rice can go to bed a happy man tonight.
The NFL has officially concluded that the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rice did not engage in conduct that violated the league’s personal conduct policy, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Friday. Schefter notes that the NFL’s investigation into Rice is now closed and that there will be no discipline for him at this time.
“Mr. Rice wants to thank the NFL for their thorough investigation, and looks forward to the start of the 2026-27 NFL season,” Rice’s attorney Sean Lindsey was also quoted as saying in a statement.
Rice, 25, was under investigation by the NFL after Dacoda Jones, his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his children, made disturbing allegations of domestic violence against Rice (read the full details here). Jones would also later file a lawsuit against Rice in district court, providing further details of the alleged abuse.
The former second-round pick Rice just completed his third season with the Chiefs, catching 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns in eight games. But off-the-field troubles continue to hound Rice, who was suspended for six games by the NFL last season due to separate issues of misconduct. Rice was infamously involved in a 2024 hit-and-run crash (resulting five years of probation and 30 days in jail) and also allegedly assaulted a photographer outside of a nightclub in a separate incident later in 2024.
But at least for the time being, there will be no more NFL discipline coming for Rice. The Chiefs added some notable offensive weapons over the offseason, and now Rice can fully focus on his production on the field in 2026.
Report: 1 key Denver Nuggets player could be traded
One key Denver Nuggets player could be getting rerouted after just one season with the team.
Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson may potentially be a trade candidate this offseason, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Friday during an appearance on YES Network. Scotto notes that fellow Denver forward Peyton Watson will be a restricted free agent this offseason and that the Nuggets would like to keep Watson.
Johnson, 30, is a former first-round draft pick who is in his seventh career NBA season. Denver acquired him last summer in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, sending out Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round draft pick in order to do so.
But Johnson has underwhelmed during his first season as a Nugget. Despite starting for the team, Johnson is averaging just 11.9 points (his lowest since 2020-21) to go along with 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Johnson has also missed time due to knee and back issues, limiting him to 51 total games played thus far.
On the year overall, Denver has underwhelmed slightly. While they are 49-28 and on an active seven-game winning streak, the Nuggets still rank fourth in the Western Conference (after getting the No. 1 seed in 2022-23 and the No. 2 seed in 2023-24).
In addition to Watson’s impending free agency, Denver already has Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray making over $50 million per year and Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun making over $25 million per year. If they would like to avoid the second apron of the luxury tax, Johnson may be a necessary cap casualty (especially if the Nuggets want to pursue some recently-rumored surprise offseason plans too).
Jaguars star lands $110 million contract
Jacksonville Jaguars star pass rusher Travon Walker is getting a massive paycheck.
Walker, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and the Jaguars have agreed to a four-year deal worth $110 million with $77 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Details: 4 Years.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2026
$110M Contract.
$77M Total Guarantees.
&50M Fully Guaranteed At Signing — all per @eliteloyaltysp. https://t.co/qyE3nPw939
The Jaguars are investing in Walker, who was the top pick in 2022 with Michigan star Aidan Hutchinson going No. 2 overall to the Detroit Lions.
Walker had 10 sacks in 2023 and 10.5 sacks in 2024, but he recorded just 3.5 sacks in 2025 in 14 regular-season games.
Still, this is a nice value for Walker, with the average coming in at $27.5 million per season. The Baltimore Ravens gave Trey Hendrickson a four-year, $112 million deal in free agency, and Hutchinson inked a four-year, $180 million deal with the Lions in 2025.
Rapoport added that Walker and the Jaguars had been in contract discussions “for weeks” before finally getting things ironed out on Friday, and it’s a smart move for both sides of the equation.
The Jaguars won the AFC South in Liam Coen’s first season as head coach, but they lost to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round. Still, there is plenty of hope in Jacksonville, and the former No. 1 pick is sticking around with a handsome new contract.
Luka Doncic may still qualify for NBA awards under rare exception
The 65-game rule for NBA players to receive an award now could impact Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic.
Doncic exited Thursday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a hamstring injury, and concern has circulated regarding how long Doncic will be out.
Doncic has played in 64 games this season, and he is one game shy of meeting the 65-game minimum requirement. However, there is one exception Doncic could apply for that would make him eligible for an award, as Tim Bontemps reported on Friday.
“There is at least a path where [Luka Doncic] could be eligible to be on MVP ballots,” Bontemps said on SportsCenter. “There is one way he could potentially be eligible, and that is by filing an extraordinary circumstances grievance on the fact that he missed two games back in December for the birth of his child.”
"There is at least a path where [Luka Doncic] could be eligible to be on MVP ballots."@TimBontemps says Luka Doncic can still be eligible for MVP by filing an extraordinary circumstances grievance, regardless of the NBA's 65-game rule. pic.twitter.com/JWU7VJlXNB
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 3, 2026
The 65-game rule has been a hot topic of discussion. Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who has played 61 games this season, is likely out for the rest of the regular season due to a collapsed lung.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is close to playing in 59 games with six remaining, so he could also miss out due to the rule.
Despite the criticism, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver insisted the rule is working, although it could be something they try to change in the offseason.
Doncic is averaging 33.5 points (NBA-high), with 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds, and he has been flying up the NBA MVP ladder with his recent play.
For Doncic, at least, there seems to be a path he could take if he wants to, assuming he does sit out the remainder of the regular season due to the hamstring injury.
