George Pickens makes final decision on franchise tag
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens put pen to paper on Thursday.
Just hours before the 2026 NFL Draft, Pickens signed his franchise tag, meaning he will make $27.3 million guaranteed in the 2026 season and hit free agency next year.
#Cowboys WR George Pickens is now under contract for one year and $27.3M fully guaranteed. He'll play it out with the chance to cash in during the 2027 offseason. https://t.co/Czb4r9wTvz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 23, 2026
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier on Thursday that Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones reached out to Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, to discuss the future of the wide receiver.
It was reported on Wednesday that the Cowboys would give Pickens the franchise tag without negotiating a long-term extension this season, although questions remained whether Pickens would be open to it or not.
However, it seems Pickens is on board as he put pen to paper for the tag and is now under contract for the 2026 season.
The caveat to this is that now Pickens technically could be traded at any time since he signed the tag, although it remains to be seen if there are any suitors for the wide receiver during the NFL Draft.
It was reported in February that Pickens wouldn’t play on the franchise tag, so things have certainly changed a bit in the past couple of months.
For now, George Pickens is a member of the Cowboys, and he could sign a long-term deal with the franchise at the end of the 2026 campaign if he wants to stay.
Thunder get Jalen Williams injury update after Game 2
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the NBA Playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and with hopes of a second straight NBA title.
However, the Thunder will have to play without Jalen Williams for some time after he suffered an injury in Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns.
Williams scored 19 points in Game 2, but he exited early after suffering a hamstring injury, and it was revealed on Thursday that he will be out indefinitely due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain.
Thunder's Jalen Williams has sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 23, 2026
Williams averaged 17.1 points with 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds this season as a key piece for the Thunder’s starting rotation, so this will be a key injury to monitor going forward.
On the other hand, the Thunder defeated the Suns by 35 in Game 1 and then 13 in Game 2 to take a 2-0 lead to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4.
Here is the play where Williams suffered the injury.
Jalen Williams left Game 2 vs. the Suns with an apparent hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/P47wjF0c9T
— ESPN (@espn) April 23, 2026
Williams played just 33 games this regular season due to various injuries. He missed the first 19 games due to offseason right wrist surgery, then missed three weeks due to a right hamstring strain and later missed another month-plus after re-aggravating the hamstring strain.
The previous hamstring issue was on the right side and this new one is on the left, but it’s still a concern for the Thunder.
The Thunder and Suns face off in Game 3 on Saturday afternoon at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
Patriots release statement on Mike Vrabel
The New England Patriots have released a statement on the situation involving head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
The New York Post’s Page Six originally published photos of Vrabel and Russini at a hotel in Arizona, and on Thursday, new photos were released of the two together at a bar from 2020. Shortly after, the Patriots released a statement, making it clear that the team is supporting Vrabel amid the controversy.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
Russini, who most recently worked for The Athletic, resigned from her position on April 14 amid the fallout.
It was then revealed that Vrabel will not be there for Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday as he heads to counseling.
Now, the Patriots have released a statement saying they “fully support” Vrabel’s decision to head for counseling and missed the final day of the draft.
New photos of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini emerge
Some new photos of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini together were published on Thursday, adding further credence to the suspicion that the two are having an extramarital affair.
The New York Post’s Page Six, which initially published photos of Russini and Vrabel together at hotel in Arizona, published a follow-up story on Thursday. The follow-up story included never-previously-published photos of Vrabel and Russini together at a bar in New York City in March 2020. Vrabel was still married to his longtime wife at the time, while Russini was six months away from marrying her current husband Kevin Goldschmidt.
Page Six says Vrabel and Russini were said to have been “all over each other” at the bar in 2020.
EXCLUSIVE: Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini were “all over each other” at a secluded bar in New York City — six years before they were caught holding hands and hugging at an Arizona resort. More pics: https://t.co/kIdr6RlQUB pic.twitter.com/DCgbDEZ8PB
— Page Six (@PageSix) April 23, 2026
Coupling the 2020 bar photos with the 2026 hotel photos isn’t good for Russini and Vrabel.
The fallout from the photos
Russini was under a probe from her employer, The New York Times, which owns The Athletic — a sports brand for which she was a reporter. She resigned from her position on April 14.
Vrabel, who is the head coach of the New England Patriots, has said he will begin counseling this weekend. Vrabel was a three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker as a player with the Patriots. He led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his first season as their head coach. That followed a six-season stint as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018-2023.
Support from the Patriots
While Russini has lost her job, Vrabel’s seems secure. He received support from the team in a statement issued on Thursday.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
Braves pitcher gives up home run on first pitch of his MLB career
The Atlanta Braves called up No. 2 prospect JR Ritchie, and the starting pitcher made his first-ever MLB start on Thursday against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
However, Ritchie’s first pitch is one to forget as James Wood slugged a home run to right field before fans could even settle into their seats.
There should be a rule against hitting someone's 1st MLB pitch for a home run. 🧑⚖️ pic.twitter.com/9bhZmwZkPq
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 23, 2026
While there isn’t an exact statistic as of yet, it is rare to allow a home run on the first pitch, but that is exactly what Ritchie did here.
The good news is that Ritchie settled down after that. He finished the game going seven innings, allowing five hits, two runs and two walks while striking out seven in an impressive debut.
Ritchie also did something no Braves pitcher had done in this situation since 2015.
Ritchie is the first Braves pitcher to allow 2 runs or fewer over 7+ innings in his MLB debut since Matt Wisler in 2015. Only others to do this since 1990 are Horacio Ramirez (2003), David Nied (1992) and Paul Marak (1990).
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) April 23, 2026
The Braves ended up winning the game 7-2 on Thursday, and even though Ritchie’s first pitch will be one to forget, he gets the victory in his first-ever start.
Bucks have hired a new head coach
The Milwaukee Bucks moved on from Doc Rivers following the 2025-26 season, and now they have found their new head coach.
After a quick process, the Bucks are finalizing a deal to hire former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne.
The Bucks moved on from Rivers after the season, and Jenkins quickly emerged as a leading candidate for the job.
Rivers took over for Adrian Griffin during the 2023-24 season, and the Bucks went 97-103 during Rivers’ tenure with the franchise.
Jenkins was an assistant with Milwaukee during the 2018-19 season before being hired by the Grizzlies. He then went 250-214 in Memphis with three playoff trips.
However, the Grizzlies shockingly fired Jenkins right before the playoffs last season.
The Bucks also face questions about the future of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was in trade rumors this past season, so it will be an interesting couple of months for Milwaukee going into free agency.
Nonetheless, Jenkins comes to town as the new coach for the Bucks in a quick process by the franchise.
Dave Roberts reveals Dodgers’ lineup plan amid Kyle Tucker slump
Kyle Tucker, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ prized free agent signing, has not gotten off to a strong start to begin the 2026 MLB season.
As of April 23, Tucker is batting just .233 with three home runs and 13 RBIs, and much more is to be expected after the Dodgers gave him a whopping four-year, $240 million deal.
Tucker has been batting second this season, but Roberts changed things up for Thursday’s game and put Tucker in the cleanup spot. And, for now, Roberts plans to keep Tucker there for some time.
Also, Roberts said he will keep Freddie Freeman hitting second and Kyle Tucker hitting fourth for the foreseeable future.
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) April 23, 2026
“I do feel (Tucker) is trying to do too much,” Roberts said. “I definitely expect him to come out of it.” #Dodgers
At the start of April, Tucker had a five-game stretch with at least one RBI, but he has had just two RBIs in five games entering Thursday.
The Dodgers’ offense, as a whole, has struggled during the series against the San Francisco Giants. LA scored just one run combined in the first two games, so it isn’t just Tucker.
After Wednesday’s game, Roberts said Tucker is “clearly not comfortable” and “frustrated,” so maybe the lineup switch will turn things around for the star outfielder.
Hines Ward sends strong message about Jordyn Tyson before NFL Draft
Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson could be the first pass-catcher selected in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
Tyson and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate have spent the entire pre-draft process in the WR1 conversation, and both should be taken early in the first round. On the morning of the draft, former Pittsburgh Steelers star and current Arizona State WRs coach Hines Ward had a strong message for Tyson on social media.
“When they listen, learn, and apply… this is what it looks like. Proud of you JT,” Ward wrote with a video of Tyson’s highlights.
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham also posted the video with a few handshake emojis.
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) April 23, 2026
Tyson, who began his career at Colorado, had 1,101 yards with 10 scores in 2024 at Arizona State and another 711 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025 despite battling injuries.
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, Tyson’s former Arizona State teammate, also made a plea previously, hoping that the Giants select Tyson.
Tyson has gained a lot of steam as the potential WR1 recently, and CBS Sports’ insider Jonathan Jones echoed that sentiment on the morning of the first round.
“The more I talk to folks and the closer it gets to the draft, the more it seems Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson will be the first receiver selected tonight. Sources at multiple teams have told me he’s the most talented receiver in the draft,” Jones wrote.
Even if Tyson isn’t the first WR taken, it would be a massive surprise if he isn’t selected in the first round on Thursday night.
Louisville football announces new contract for Jeff Brohm
The Louisville football program is investing in head coach Jeff Brohm in a big way.
After back-to-back seasons with bowl game victories and 28 wins in his first three seasons, Brohm has a new contract extension that will keep him around through 2033.
Our guy 🤝@JeffBrohm has agreed to a contract extension through 2033.
— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) April 23, 2026
Details: https://t.co/sm6z3vGLTT#GoCards pic.twitter.com/khZMxoERS0
Brohm will make $6.3 million in 2026, and his base salary bumps up each year, with the Louisville coach earning $7.5 million in 2030.
Here’s a look at Brohm’s new term sheet, which goes through 2033. He’ll make $6.3 million this year but can make $6.55 million with retention. pic.twitter.com/NrFWwg5vlm
— Alexis Cubit (@Alexis_Cubit) April 23, 2026
Brohm’s head coaching career began at Western Kentucky in 2014, and he went 30-10 with three bowl wins in three seasons.
Brohm then spent six seasons at Purdue, going 36-34 in an up-and-down stretch, albeit in a difficult Big Ten Conference.
Brohm even drew interest for the Tennessee Volunteers job in 2017, and reports even stated at the time that Tennessee was closing in on a deal. However, nothing materialized, and Jeremy Pruitt ended up as the hire by the Volunteers.
This past cycle, Brohm’s name emerged as a potential candidate for the Michigan Wolverines job, although ex-Utah coach Kyle Whittingham ended up being the hire.
Nonetheless, Brohm is staying put at Louisville for the foreseeable future after a new contract.
Brewers caught in rare piece of MLB history involving Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes
The Milwaukee Brewers are finishing a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers with an afternoon clash on Thursday at Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich.
Tarik Skubal, the 2025 American League Cy Young winner, takes the mound for the Tigers. And, timing is very unlucky for the Brewers as they face 2025 National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes on Friday night in a rare piece of MLB history.
This will mark only the second time a MLB team has faced the reigning Cy Young winners in back-to-back games.
Brewers are facing Tarik Skubal today in Detroit and Paul Skenes tomorrow at home, just the second time in MLB history that a team has faced reigning Cy Young Award winners in consecutive games.
— Sophia Minnaert (@SophiaMinnaert) April 23, 2026
The only other occurrence came in 2025 when the Boston Red Sox faced Skubal and Chris Sale on back-to-back days.
In another wonky twist, Brewers infielder David Hamilton was a member of last year’s Red Sox team, and he will now face back-to-back Cy Young winners for the second year in a row.
The balanced Interleague Play schedule beginning in 2023 made this scenario far more likely, although this is still going to be only the second time it has happened since then.
The Brewers face Skenes and the Pirates on Friday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisc.
Phillies release former All-Star pitcher after another rough outing
The Philadelphia Phillies have gotten off to a disastrous 8-16 start, and the losing streak extended to eight games with a 7-2 defeat against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
Veteran pitcher Taijuan Walker threw four innings after “opener” Kyle Backhus started the game. But, Walker was tagged with his fourth loss of the season after giving up four earned runs on eight hits. On Thursday, the Phillies decided to release Walker.
Prior to today’s game against the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies recalled RHP Nolan Hoffman from triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 26-man roster, RHP Alan Rangel was optioned to Lehigh Valley following last night’s game. Additionally, RHP Taijuan Walker was released.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 23, 2026
Walker signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Phillies before the 2023 season. However, he was demoted to the bullpen during the 2024 campaign.
Walker has also spent time with the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets, and he was named an All-Star in 2021.
The past few seasons have not gone well for Walker since coming to Philadelphia.
- 2023: 15-6 record, 4.38 ERA
- 2024: 3-7 record, 7.10 ERA
- 2025: 5-8 record, 4.08 ERA
It has been back and forth for Walker, and he went 1-4 with a whopping 9.13 ERA to begin the 2026 campaign, giving up four or more runs in all but one start.
Walker, who turns 34 in August, could draw interest on the market even with his disappointing play.
BYU star AJ Dybantsa makes final NBA Draft decision
The 2026 NBA Draft will begin on June 23 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
And, it could very well begin with BYU star AJ Dybantsa. On Thursday, Dybantsa made it official as he declared for the NBA Draft during an Instagram live segment.
BYU's AJ Dybantsa — the potential No. 1 pick — has declared for the 2026 NBA draft. pic.twitter.com/ugIoWDVUp0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 23, 2026
Dybantsa declaring for the NBA Draft was widely expected.
However, the BYU star raised eyebrows with some comments previously, saying his mom wanted him to stay and finish school.
“My mom wants me to graduate,” Dybantsa said. “So I might not leave. But I might leave.”
In Dybantsa’s lone season at BYU, he averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while leading the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament.
BYU lost to Texas in the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament, but Dybantsa dropped 35 points with 10 rebounds.
Kansas Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson was discussed as the No. 1 pick going into the 2025-26 season, but his availability issues and injury concerns, along with Dybantsa’s strong play, have begun to shift the BYU star into the top pick projection.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo had a new big board in April, and AJ Dybantsa was at the top spot.
The team selecting No. 1 overall will be decided during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, and the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers all have the highest odds (14%) to land the top choice.
Kendrick Perkins makes bold Victor Wembanyama prediction
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was recently named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in a unanimous decision.
Wembanyama is only in his third season in the NBA, and the future looks very bright for the Spurs’ big man. Kendrick Perkins recently spoke about Wembanyama’s defensive play, and he even predicted that Wembanyama would win the next five DPOY awards during an episode of “The Road Trippin’ Show.”
Perkins also called Wembanyama the best defensive player in his lifetime, which is quite a statement.
“To be honest, he’s the best defense I’ve seen with my own eyes in my lifetime,” Perkins said. “I grew up watching Hakeem, I played with Kevin Garnett. I’ve never seen nothing like this…. He’s going to win the next 5 DPOY awards, hands down.”
Kendrick Perkins predicts Victor Wembanyama will win the next 5 DPOY awards:
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 23, 2026
“To be honest, he’s the best defense I’ve seen with my own eyes in my lifetime. I grew up watching Hakeem, I played with Kevin Garnett, I’ve witnessed some hell of defenders. I’ve never seen nothing… pic.twitter.com/FC9seN9tWb
Since the DPOY award began in 1982-83, there has never been a player to win the award five straight times.
Ben Wallace won four times in five seasons, and Dwight Howard won threee straight. In recent years, there has been even more winners, and only Rudy Gobert and Kawhi Leonard have won the award twice in a row since 2011.
Victor Wembanyama became the first-ever unanimous winner of the DPOY award, and Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren was the only other player to have more than 100 total points, so it wasn’t a close race.
Flyers mascot causes a scene with a bizarre stunt
Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty is having himself quite a postseason.
Introduced in 2018, Gritty is loving the playoff atmosphere, which he hasn’t experienced in several years, as the Flyers missed the NHL playoffs for the previous five seasons.
During Wednesday’s Game 3 of the first-round series between the Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., Gritty took his shenanigans to the next level.
The beloved mascot mauled his Penguins counterpart as everyone in the building cheered. After whacking the lights out of his counterpart, Gritty picked up a stuffed penguin and hurled it off the second deck. It’s something you’d expect to see from “The Sopranos,” but Gritty somehow pulled it off in an NHL playoff game. You can watch a video of that here.
There was also some harsh beating down on the ice, as the Flyers dominated Pittsburgh once again.
Philadelphia stormed to a 3-0 series lead, pushing the Penguins to the brink of elimination after a 5-2 victory in Game 3.
Evgeni Malkin put the Penguins on the board first with a power-play goal in the opening period before the Flyers responded with three consecutive goals in the second frame from Trevor Zegras, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler. Erik Karlsson trimmed the Pens’ deficit to one with a goal in the third period, but Philadelphia answered right back with a goal from Noah Cates before Owen Tippett added an insurance with an empty-netter.
Connor McDavid had a confident message after Game 2 heartbreaker
Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers failed to build a 2-0 series lead in the first round of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs after splitting two games at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, against the Anaheim Ducks.
But the three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner knows better than to panic after Edmonton’s 6-4 loss to the Ducks on Wednesday.
But the three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner knows better than to panic.
“We’ve been in this situation a lot, 1-1 going on the road, McDavid told reporters after the game, via the Oilers’ official X account. “We’d like a better outcome tonight but we’re comfortable going on the road.”
McDavid is still in pursuit of a Stanley Cup title, 11 seasons into his NHL career, but he can definitely act like he’s been in the playoffs several times before. For one, Edmonton is the two-time defending Western Conference champion. If not for the Florida Panthers, the Oilers could have won two Stanley Cup titles already with McDavid.
Playing in a new environment may also give McDavid the spark he needs. He has zero points through two games in the Ducks series after finishing the 2025-26 NHL regular season leading the league in assists (90) and points (138) while also netting 48 goals.
Game 3 will be on Friday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Travis Kelce reveals what he’s looking for in a Chiefs’ draft pick
Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are on a mission to reclaim their lost glory after missing the playoffs in the 2025 NFL season.
The 2026 NFL Draft that begins Thursday presents a great opportunity for the Chiefs to add fresh talent they hope will aid their turnaround.
During a recent episode of the “New Heights” podcast, Kelce laid out a particular quality he’s hoping to see from the player Kansas City will take off the draft board.
Interestingly, it doesn’t relate to any actual football ability.
“I’m just hoping for a guy that loves ball, man,” Kelce said, as transcribed by Pete Grathoff of The Wichita Eagle. “You know, I think one of the things that you just want to have when you get back into the building after a season like last year, you just want guys that love what they’re … doing. And I think it’s one of the things that I look for in these young guys when they come in: … How infectious is your energy? I need that out of these young guys, man.”
Under head coach Andy Reid and with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have built a winning culture in Kansas City. Regardless of their recent struggles, the Chiefs remain a franchise others aspire to become, and that’s a standard Kelce wants to sustain.
Kelce isn’t the player he used to be, but he still wants to be inspired on the field, and he’s looking to get some of that from the incoming players Kansas City will add through the draft.
The Chiefs will pick twice in the first round, as they have the No. 9 and No. 29 (via the Los Angeles Rams) No. 29 picks overall.
Jeremiyah Love responds to draft interest from 3 teams
The guessing game on Jeremiyah Love’s landing spot in the NFL will most likely end on Thursday, as he’s expected to go early in the first round of the 2026 draft.
Unless the Las Vegas Raiders pull off an all-time shocker and veer away from Fernando Mendoza, Love should hear his name called not long after the first-overall pick is made. The New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and New York Giants round out the top five of the draft order in the first round, and any of those teams seems like a good bet to select Love, either out of position need or a desire to select the best player available.
Love acknowledged the rumored interest of three of those teams on Wednesday, but made it clear that he’s fine with whichever club takes him.
“I have no idea where I’m going, but there’s a lot of talk of me going to the Titans, Cardinals, Giants,” Love said, per Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com (via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk). “Honestly, I’d be blessed to go anywhere.”
It is no surprise to hear a ton of interest in Love, considering the exploits he had during his time with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, especially in his final two seasons in South Bend. From 2024 to 2025, Love amassed 2,497 rushing yards to go with 35 touchdowns on 362 carries, which comes out to 6.9 yards per carry. Love finished third in Heisman Trophy voting last season and was an All-American selection. He had 1,652 yards and 21 touchdowns from scrimmage last season.
Dillon Brooks calls out flopping in the playoffs after Game 2
Dillon Brooks couldn’t stand the quality of the officiating in Game 2 of the first-round series between the Phoenix Suns and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Following the Suns’ 120-107 loss on Wednesday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Brooks voiced his frustration, saying he felt the officials didn’t give Phoenix a fair shake, as Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew several fouls and went 9/9 from the free-throw line.
“[Gilgeous-Alexander is] a little frail, and that’s what the refs are going to call,” said Brooks, via Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “I got to be smarter about it, but this is the playoffs. It’s a man’s game.”
Brooks, who led the Suns in Game 2 with 30 points on 12-of-23 shooting, did not stop there. The former Oregon Ducks star ripped the state of playoff basketball, which he believes has been too accommodating to flopping, perhaps also an indirect shot at Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Like, I used to watch this back when Michael Jordan was playing or whoever else, when LeBron was younger. This is physical basketball. I don’t get why all the dropping and the falling and the flopping and the flailing and all this stuff is allowed when we get to the playoffs. Leave that for the [regular] season for the fans. This is about who’s the better team, who’s a more with-it team. Don’t decide the games on no free throws,” added Brooks.
Oklahoma City has been the best team in the NBA this season, but they have also faced constant criticism, especially for Gilgeous-Alexander, for his tendency to draw fouls and get easy opportunities at the foul line. Conversely, refs have also been accused of having a friendly whistle when it comes to calling fouls, favoring the Thunder guard.
The Suns will have to overcome those as they look to avoid the dreaded 3-0 playoff hole in Game 3 on Saturday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
Mike Vrabel is taking the next step amid fallout from Dianna Russini photos
Mike Vrabel has helped rejuvenate the New England Patriots franchise, but he’s now focused on rebuilding himself in the wake of the leaked photos of him and former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini.
On Wednesday, the Patriots head coach said that he will not be around for the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft, as he starts counseling. Day 3 of the draft will be held on Saturday.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” Vrabel said, via Mike Reiss of ESPN. “This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.
The 50-year-old Vrabel has found himself right in the middle of a controversy that has seemingly affected his personal life.
“I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be,” Vrabel continued. “This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
Vrabel did not share specific details about his planned counseling, but it remains a significant undertaking for the two-time NFL Coach of the Year.
However, Vrabel will still be in contact with New England during the final day of the draft, which covers Rounds 4-7. Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden will run the show for the Patriots on Day 3, with the reigning AFC champions holding eight picks in those rounds.
Mets had the best post after their 12-game losing streak finally ended
New York Mets fans can finally come out of hiding.
The Mets officially broke their nightmarish 12-game losing streak with a win on Wednesday over the Minnesota Twins. They prevailed by a 3-2 final score at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. after a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning by first baseman Mark Vientos.
Mark Vientos plates the go-ahead run in the eighth inning! pic.twitter.com/3O6V0yFv1O
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 23, 2026
In the wake of the Mets’ victory, their official page on X had the best post. They simply posted one letter — “W.”
W
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 23, 2026
That says it all for the Mets after their very first victory in over two full weeks. They last won on Apr. 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks to improve to 7-4 on the season. But after their 12 straight clunkers, the Mets are now an NL-worst 8-16, even with Wednesday’s “breakthrough” win.
The Mets lead Major League Baseball this season with a total payroll of $334 million. Even after a 2025 season in which the Mets completely collapsed and missed the playoffs altogether after having the best record in baseball in mid-June, their fortunes have not gotten any better this year.
During their miserable 12-game losing streak, the Mets had $765 million man Juan Soto acting up and had their downtrodden fans giving sarcastic chants in the stands. While the Mets will still be facing a major uphill climb for the rest of the season, their fanbase finally has something to celebrate about for at least one night.
