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Carlos Mendoza in his Mets uniform

Carlos Mendoza withdrew his name from 1 MLB manager job before joining Phillies

October 19, 2026 by Matt Wadleigh
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Former New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is now with the Philadelphia Phillies after being hired as the team’s third base coach.

However, Mendoza was a candidate for the Seattle Mariners managerial opening, according to Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Castillo added that Mendoza withdrew his name from the job and then landed with the Phillies.

Carlos Mendoza was a candidate for the Mariners’ managerial job before withdrawing his name to become the Phillies’ third base and infield coach, sources told ESPN. The Mariners and Astros are currently the two teams looking for a manager.

— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) October 17, 2026

Mendoza was in his third year as the Mets manager before being fired at the end of June. The Phillies also had a decision to make after Don Mattingly was the interim manager following the firing of Rob Thomson during the season.

The Phillies then stuck with Mattingly after Alex Cora decided not to coach in 2027, and the former Boston Red Sox manager was expected to be the top target for Philadelphia.

The Mariners had an opening after Dan Wilson was fired following the final regular-season game. Seattle had Torey Lovullo on their list, but he stuck around with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Mendoza decided not to go further in the Mariners’ process and instead went to Philadelphia, and he could be next in line if the Phillies move on from Mattingly at some point in the next year or two.

Baseball, Carlos Mendoza, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners
Ben Simmons with a shirt on

Kawhi Leonard has heartfelt reaction after learning of Ben Simmons’ Achilles tear

October 19, 2026 by Matt Wadleigh
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Ben Simmons is out for the season after suffering an Achilles tear, and Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard had a strong message of support.

Leonard was asked about it on Monday, and while the Raptors star said he didn’t know about Simmons’ injury, he said it was “sad” and told him to “keep grinding.”

‘Oh, damn man, that’s sad!’ 😔 Kawhi Leonard reacts to the news of Ben Simmons tearing his Achilles tendon and being ruled out of his coveted NBA comeback. #NBA https://t.co/Hlc67aIFrG

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) October 19, 2026

Simmons hadn’t played in the NBA since the 2024-25 season, but he was working hard to make a comeback.

The Sacramento Kings gave Simmons a one-year deal, and reports surfaced that he was expected to be in the starting lineup on opening day.

Then, Simmons suffered an injury at practice over the weekend, and he has been ruled out for the entire season, a crushing blow.

Simmons was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, and he also played for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers before sitting out the entire 2025-26 NBA campaign.

While Leonard hasn’t suffered a torn Achilles before in his career, he has dealt with plenty of injuries, especially in recent years.

Simmons will now try to recover in hopes of making his official NBA comeback in the 2027-28 NBA season.

Basketball, Ben Simmons, Kawhi Leonard
The logo of the Charlotte Hornets

Hornets make major commitment with $209 million extension

October 19, 2026 by Matt Wadleigh
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The Charlotte Hornets underwent a lot of changes this offseason, but young forward Brandon Miller isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

With the rookie-scale extension on Tuesday evening, the Hornets and Miller agreed to a massive five-year deal worth $209 million.

BREAKING: Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller has agreed on a five-year, $209 million rookie-scale contract extension, representatives AJ Vaynerchuk and Joey Middleton of VaynerSports tell ESPN. https://t.co/6enF8nrHOB

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2026

The Hornets selected Miller at No. 2 overall in 2023, and the expectation was that the two sides would agree on a deal. NBA insider Jake Fischer even predicted a five-year, $208 million deal, so it was almost exactly what the Hornets ended up giving Miller.

Miller played in 65 games last season, averaging 20.2 points per game with 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists, and the Hornets wanted to keep him around for the foreseeable future.

Charlotte traded away star guard LaMelo Ball this offseason, so the roster looks quite different, but Miller should take over as the star in town, especially after this new deal.

Scoot Henderson, who was the No. 3 pick in 2023, did not agree to an extension with the Portland Trail Blazers prior to the deadline, and he was taken one pick after Miller.

The Hornets and Miller will begin the 2026-27 NBA season on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets on the road.

Basketball, Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets
The Houston Astros logo

Report: Astros could trade 3 notable players this offseason

October 19, 2026 by Darryn Albert
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The Houston Astros could be doing some major housekeeping in the coming months.

Astros infielders Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker are expected to be discussed as potential trade pieces this offseason, according to a report by Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Rome further adds that Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña will also be an “ideal trade candidate” as he is set to be a free agent after the 2027 campaign.

The Astros are coming off an underwhelming season in which they went 81-81 but managed to sneak into the playoffs. Still, Houston ended up getting swept in the AL Wild Card series by the Chicago White Sox.

Now the Astros are facing the dilemma of how to trim payroll heading into 2027. With Carlos Correa (ankle) set to return by then, the infield is the area that makes most sense for Houston to pursue a consolidation trade or two.

Paredes, 27, hit .262 with 25 home runs and 94 RBIs this season. Walker, 35, had a far lower batting average at .226 but was in the same ballpark power-wise with 29 home runs and 87 RBIs.

Peña, 29, also had a standout season himself, batting .277 with 22 home runs and 56 RBIs. All three players are righty-hitting infielders entering their final years under contract in 2027, so it seems highly unlikely that they will all survive the winter on a Houston team that has already been making some big changes since their season came to an end.

Baseball, Featured Stories, Christian Walker, Houston Astros, Isaac Paredes, Jeremy Peña
Aaron Boone glares ahead

Yankees make a major decision on manager Aaron Boone

October 19, 2026 by Darryn Albert
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The New York Yankees are officially riding things out with Booney.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone will be returning for the 2027 MLB season, Pete Caldera of USA Today reported on Monday. It will be the final guaranteed year of Boone’s contract, and the Yankees are giving him the opportunity to coach it out.

Boone, 53, has served as the manager of the Yankees ever since 2018. Over that span, Boone has posted an overall record of 790-565 (.583).

The Yankees have also produced seven 90-win seasons, won four division titles, and made three ALCS appearances during Boone’s time in charge. Most notably, Boone even led New York to the 2024 World Series, marking their first AL pennant since their 2009 championship season.

But over the last couple of seasons, the Yankees have seemingly stagnated under Boone’s leadership. 2026 marked the second straight year that New York was eliminated in the ALDS as cultural issues and simple mistakes with fundamentals have continued to plague them.

Nevertheless, the Yankees are set to give Boone one more ride in 2027. This was the expected outcome all along, albeit with Boone potentially coaching as a lame duck if the team’s fortunes do not improve dramatically.

Baseball, Featured Stories, Aaron Boone, New York Yankees
The logo of the Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers release former first-round pick ahead of opening night

October 19, 2026 by Matt Wadleigh
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The Los Angeles Lakers had a decision to make to finalize the roster, and it came on Monday.

Dalton Knecht, who was the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2024, has been released, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The Los Angeles Lakers are waiving 2024 No. 17 pick Dalton Knecht, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/SaeDxdSBUo

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2026

The Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies, along with LA, were the three teams left that had to get to the 15-player mark before Monday’s 5 p.m. ET deadline.

Knecht was one of a couple of players that was identified as a trade candidate, and he was then named as the “odd man out” in October, so it’s not a huge surprise to see him finally be released.

At the 2025 deadline, Knecht was set to go to the Charlotte Hornets in a trade that would’ve brought center Mark Williams to LA. However, the trade didn’t end up going through due to medicals, and Knecht never found a rhythm after that.

Knecht was selected at No. 17 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft after he played for the Tennessee Volunteers, and he will now be eligible to sign with another team once he clears waivers.

The Lakers begin the 2026-27 NBA season on Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif.

Basketball, Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers
Davante Adams in Rams uniform

Rams get brutal injury news on Davante Adams

October 19, 2026 by Darryn Albert
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The plunge into hell continues for the Los Angeles Rams.

Rams star wide receiver Davante Adams is expected to miss 6-to-10 weeks with a hamstring injury that he sustained during the team’s Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Monday. Rapoport adds that Adams is expected to undergo surgery on his hamstring tendon in order to clean it out.

Adams suffered a non-contact injury in the second half of the Rams’ 18-16 defeat to the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Here is the video of the play.

Non-contact injury for #Rams WR Davante Adams. Came out of the game https://t.co/wSh2CYsLuD

— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) October 18, 2026

The 33-year-old Adams had caught 30 passes for 480 yards and four touchdowns over the first six games of the season. He had looked resurgent at times (especially during fellow receiver Puka Nacua’s earlier injury absence) and was even getting some of his vintage swagger back.

But now the six-time Pro Bowler Adams will likely miss roughly the next two months of the season because of his hamstring ailment. The Rams have their bye week coming up in Week 11, but Adams’ absence will almost certainly stretch into December with the given timeline.

After the loss to Arizona, the Rams now sit at a disappointing 2-4 this season. Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Kobie Turner are among the other Rams who are currently hurt, and even their kicker just suffered a fluke injury during a tackle attempt on Sunday.

Football, Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
Duke player Kimari Robinson on the field

Duke player issues statement about swatting away female staff member

October 19, 2026 by Grey Papke
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The Duke Blue Devils football player who drew criticism for swatting at a female staff member has issued a statement about the incident.

Cornerback Kimari Robinson issued the statement on social media and offered an apology for his actions. He wrote that he was emotional because of his concern for injured teammate DaShawn Stone, and that he had privately apologized to the staffer after the game.

“Immediately after the game, I apologized to her personally and checked to make sure she was okay,” Robinson wrote. “The injured player on the ground, DeShawn Stone, is like family to me, and I was scared he might be seriously hurt. But being worried about him does not excuse how I treated her. I should have controlled my emotions, and I didn’t.”

https://t.co/wHbfy4zhKP

— Kimari Robinson (@krobinson7__) October 19, 2026

Robinson drew widespread criticism for the viral video, in which he forcefully pushed the staff member after she brushed him aside to tend to Stone (video here). While most understood his concern for an injured teammate, they also felt that Robinson was out of line to react the way he did.

As for the game, Duke suffered a 24-20 loss to their ACC rivals Tar Heels, 24-20. The Blue Devils are now on a two-game losing streak and drop to 4-2 overall and 1-2 against ACC teams.

College Football, Kimari Robinson
Nick Sirianni walking to the bench

Nick Sirianni has tense exchange with reporter

October 19, 2026 by Grey Papke
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Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni faced questions Monday about the team’s handling of Jalen Hurts’ blood clot issue, and things got a bit testy.

Sirianni fielded several questions about the timeline of Hurts’ injury, which consists of multiple blood clots in the lung. The coach was specifically questioned about why Hurts was allowed to fly home with the team from London even though the team knew he had a blood clot.

Initially, Sirianni offered a standard statement about how he is not a medical expert and the team always prioritizes the safety of its players. Things got a bit confrontational, however, when the line of questioning persisted.

“Guys, I’ve addressed this. I’ve talked to you guys about this,” Sirianni said. “The medical experts are there, and I think I’ve answered this question multiple times and put out multiple statements for you guys to hear. I told you guys last week that I was going to leave it at that, because we put out a detailed statement for you guys to hear and understand.”

#Eagles HC Nick Sirianni got into a back-and-forth with a reporter over why Jalen Hurts was allowed to fly back from London after being diagnosed with a blood clot: https://t.co/QqlEpCXhAc

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 19, 2026

The Eagles are facing significant criticism for allowing Hurts to play despite what was thought to be a superficial blood clot, then to have him fly home from London with the rest of the team. The organization has not clearly addressed any of this, so it was only logical that Sirianni was going to be questioned about it. The statements he cites from the team are, at best, outdated.

Sirianni and the Eagles had a very tough week in London in Week 5. In addition to the questions about Hurts, Sirianni was a key factor in the Eagles’ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Football, Headlines, Nick Sirianni
Bills cornerback CJ Gardner-Johnson spitting at Raiders tight end Brock Bowers

CJ Gardner-Johnson has been suspended by the NFL

October 19, 2026 by Grey Papke
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CJ Gardner-Johnson’s attempt to spit at an opponent will cost him some time on the field.

The NFL announced Monday that the Buffalo Bills defensive back will be suspended for one game during the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The league statement referred to the incident as “an act of unsportsmanlike conduct.”

New from @nfl345 https://t.co/Ndppcm1P0p

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) October 19, 2026

Gardner-Johnson got into it with Brock Bowers, and the exchange culminated in the veteran trying to spit at the Raider tight end (video here). It was spotted by officials and Gardner-Johnson was subsequently ejected, so the suspension comes on top of that.

A one-game suspension is the usual punishment for this sort of incident, including when there is a technicality. Perhaps Gardner-Johnson’s biggest mistake was not making the move earlier in the game.

Football, C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Kyren Williams on the field in warmups

Rams RB takes shot at team after their latest loss

October 19, 2026 by Grey Papke
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All is not well with the Los Angeles Rams, and that is clear from both their play and from some of the comments from their locker room.

The Rams lost 18-16 to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday to drop their record to 2-4 on the season. A surprising part of the problem has been the offense, which managed just 286 total yards in the defeat.

The question about the offense’s struggles was put to running back Kyren Williams, who used the opportunity to call out his lack of playing time.

“I can’t tell you, bro,” Williams said, via Adam Grosbard of the Orange County Register. “Probably because I’m not out there.”

The Rams have used Williams in a rotation with Blake Corum this season, though he remains the team’s feature back. In the loss to Arizona, he only ran the ball 10 times for 50 yards, which constitutes his lowest number of rushing attempts of the season so far. By comparison, Corum got nine carries, so it’s not as if he was heavily used in lieu of Williams.

Williams was given a fairly significant contract extension before the 2025 season, so it is understandable if he thought he was going to be the unquestioned No. 1 running back. The Rams’ struggles go deeper than one player, though, and making that comment in this context makes him sound self-centered.

Football, Kyren Williams
Travis Hunter at a press conference

Travis Hunter’s wife calls out Shannon Sharpe

October 19, 2026 by Grey Papke
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Travis Hunter’s wife had some words for Shannon Sharpe after Hunter’s big day for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Hunter had a breakout game in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans by showing off his two-way ability. He had both an interception and a touchdown catch, validating those who believe he can still succeed in the NFL on both offense and defense.

Hunter’s wife Leanna posted a series of photos after the game, and one of them included a message for Sharpe, who has cast doubt on Hunter’s ability to play both ways.

“When you speak about my husband make sure you put “TWO WAY” player in front,” Leanna wrote on social media.

Sharpe took note of the post on his “Night Cap” podcast and responded by saying Hunter’s wife was misinterpreting his comments. In Sharpe’s eyes, Hunter should be a full-time cornerback who is used sparingly on offense, which is what the Jaguars largely did on Sunday.

“We’ve been abundantly clear that the likelihood of him playing every snap, every down on both sides of the ball is not going to happen,” Sharpe said. “Play him on the defensive side of the football and put him in packages. That’s what they did with him today. If what I read was correct, they had 68 total plays (on offense), and he played nine.

“All I ever said is that he’s not playing every snap of every down on both sides of the ball. I believe he’s an every-down corner, and then you sprinkle in packages.”

Shannon Sharpe responds to Travis Hunter’s wife, after she called him out for saying Travis Hunter couldn’t play both positions full time as an NFL player. https://t.co/hyL24tHdtK

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) October 19, 2026

Sharpe’s position largely echoes much of the league’s. The Jaguars themselves have even indicated that Hunter will get more snaps on defense than he is getting on offense.

Hunter has bristled at any suggestion of no longer allowing him to play on both offense and defense. Whether he is or not seems to largely come down to one’s definition of what a two-way player is.

Football, Leanna Lenee, Shannon Sharpe, Travis Hunter
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in pads

Fans had 1 big question for Eagles after latest Jalen Hurts news emerges

October 19, 2026 by Grey Papke
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NFL fans had major questions for the Philadelphia Eagles after the latest update on the health of quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Hurts’ agent Nicole Lynn shared a statement Monday stating that Hurts is suffering from a deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. In short, new tests found multiple blood clots within his lungs, and the Eagles quarterback is almost certainly done for the season.

An even more troubling report emerged from Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Pelissero reported that after Hurts was initially diagnosed with a superficial blood clot, the quarterback was told by doctors not to sleep as a precaution. Subsequently, Hurts had been awake for 36 hours when he played against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

The overwhelming sentiment among fans and media alike was to question why Hurts had ever been allowed to play in the first place, even if it was not known at the time that the quarterback was dealing with multiple clots.

@TomPelissero a lot of people in the eagles organization should be fired for how this hurts situation was handled

— 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙮 ✰ (@teepeefive) October 19, 2026

So they knew he had a blood clot in his calf, allowed him to play anyway after being awake for a day and a half, flew him back to the US from London and then found more clots in his lungs? The main story here isn’t his commitment to football lol

— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) October 19, 2026

Yeah…this isn’t a”how much he loves football “ story. It’s a “ everyone in the Eagles organization needs to answer some really hard questions “story

— trey wingo (@wingoz) October 19, 2026

Committed? Committed? The Eagles’ front office should be committed. And the players’ union should be committed to player safety. This is not a feel good story. It’s an outrage.

— David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) October 19, 2026

Up until Sunday, the Eagles were not even planning to place Hurts on injured reserve before ultimately changing their minds. That arguably raises even more questions about what the medical staff’s thought process was when it came to Hurts’ situation.

Hurts threw for 933 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions in what will prove to be an abbreviated 2026 season.

Featured Stories, Football, Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Arch Manning ready to throw

Texas puts Arch Manning on notice with latest move

October 19, 2026 by Grey Papke
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The Texas Longhorns appear to be putting Arch Manning on notice with a move they are making at practice this week.

Backup quarterback KJ Lacey Jr. is likely to get more first-team reps during practice this week, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. This does not necessarily indicate that Manning will be benched for Saturday’s home game against Ole Miss, but certainly indicates that his position is under scrutiny.

Sources: Texas is expected to give an up-tick in first-team quarterback reps to redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr. this week in practice. Arch Manning still projects as the Texas starter. The uptick in Lacey’s reps is a signal that Texas could replace Manning if he continues to struggle.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 19, 2026

Lacey, a redshirt freshman, is a former Mr. Football in the state of Alabama and is regarded as an excellent pocket passer. However, he only has nine pass attempts at the college level, so he is very raw and untested.

On the other hand, Manning is not playing well enough to silence the critics. He threw two crucial interceptions in the loss to Oklahoma two weeks ago, and threw for just 173 yards while committing a costly fumble in last week’s defeat at the hands of Florida. Even when the Longhorns were winning, his performances were not quite what Texas had been hoping for.

A preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy, Manning has thrown 11 touchdown passes, but also has five interceptions in six games.

College Football, Featured Stories, Arch Manning
Peyton Manning smiling

Peyton Manning reportedly being targeted for 1 NFL GM job

October 19, 2026 by Grey Papke
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The rumors of Peyton Manning returning to the NFL in a formal role are gaining steam once again, but this time there may be reason to believe there could be something to it.

The Indianapolis Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday, one day after the team’s Week 6 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Dan Patrick said on his radio show, citing an unnamed source, that the team’s “first call” would be to Manning to gauge his interest in the job.

“The Colts’ first call will be — has been — to Peyton Manning,” Patrick relayed. “The call will not only get names and suggestions, but the call will explore whether or not Peyton would be interested in being a general manager for the Colts as an entry point. That would include ownership interest in the Colts.”

"The Colts’ first call will be/has been to Peyton Manning." — DP shares what his source has told him. https://t.co/MgTbuJIxhW

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) October 19, 2026

The big question, assuming this is true, is whether or not Manning is interested. In the past, he has not ruled out the possibility of running a front office, though he has never committed to it before. He is often linked to front office gigs, but has never come particularly close to taking one.

On the other hand, this is the Colts, a team that Manning won a Super Bowl with and is closely associated with. He might be tempted to take on the opportunity with a franchise close to his heart, but fundamentally, he does have to want to run a front office first.

The Colts are off to a disappointing 2-4 start, culminating in Sunday’s loss to the lowly Titans.

Football, Headlines, Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning
Chandler Simpson looks at a fan

Fan’s profane insult toward Rays’ Chandler Simpson caught on hot mic

October 19, 2026 by Rex Villas
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Chandler Simpson was a target of some nasty words from a fan during Sunday’s Game 5 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Simpson made a great catch on a ball hit by Guardians star Steven Kwan, but his momentum carried him toward the stands near left field. After the catch, a fan was heard telling Simpson, “You f–kin’ suck!” on the game’s broadcast audio. 

Others were also heard booing Simpson, who turned around to see where the insults came from before wisely running back to his spot in the outfield.

Here is a video of that moment.

"You f*ckin suck" Hot mic catches Guardians fans being less than welcoming to the Rays’ Chandler Simpson https://t.co/TW3kfZTw7D

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 18, 2026

Simpson’s best response to everyone in Cleveland who hates him and the Rays came in the form of his play.

The second-year big leaguer went 2-for-3 with a run scored in the third inning, as Tampa Bay came away with a crucial 3-1 win. The Rays are now just a win away from advancing to the World Series and joining the Milwaukee Brewers in the Fall Classic.

Whatever happens the rest of the way in the ALCS, Simpson and the Rays will not have to deal with Guardians fans in Cleveland this season, with Game 6 and a potential Game 7 both scheduled at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Baseball, Chandler Simpson, Cleveland Guardians, MLB Playoffs 2026, Tampa Bay Rays
Andy Dalton at the Pro Bowl

Andy Dalton lands with another NFC team after Eagles release

October 19, 2026 by Rex Villas
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Andy Dalton didn’t stay unemployed for long. After getting released by the Philadelphia Eagles, the veteran quarterback has found his way to another NFC team, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

“Veteran free-agent QB Andy Dalton is signing with the Atlanta Falcons, per sources,” Schefter shared via a post on X on Monday.

Dalton had a cup of coffee with Philadelphia, which released him just after four weeks into the 2026 NFL season. His interception while Jalen Hurts was being checked for a concussion in a Week 3 game against the Chicago Bears proved detrimental to his job, as Philadelphia later demoted him. 

On Oct. 9, the Eagles released the three-time Pro Bowler.

Now, Dalton will continue his NFL career as part of Atlanta’s quarterback room. The Falcons have Michael Penix Jr. as their starter with Tua Tagovailoa as a backup. In a corresponding move, the Falcons released Cooper Rush, Schefter reported.

The Falcons have lost their last two games and are 2-4 after a 31-23 loss to the Bears on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

Dalton, who will turn 39 years old later this month, could be in Falcons uniform already when Atlanta hosts the San Francisco 49ers for a Week 7 game.

Football, Andy Dalton
Baker Mayfield interacts with Jalon Daniels

Baker Mayfield’s interaction with Jalon Daniels on the sidelines draws mixed reactions

October 19, 2026 by Rex Villas
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A moment on the sidelines of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers between quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Jalon Daniels got fans buzzing on Sunday.

After Daniels connected with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., the rookie quarterback went over to Mayfield, who was talking to offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs.

Mayfield, ruled out for the third straight game because of a thumb injury, turned around to dap up Daniels before walking away with a smile.

Here is a video of that interaction:

Jalon Daniels celebrating his touchdown pass with Baker Mayfield 🥹 https://t.co/j4S3YIfroR

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 18, 2026

Daniels looked genuinely happy there, but his moment with Mayfield drew mixed reactions from fans online. Others thought Mayfield should’ve been the one to approach Daniels instead of the other way around, while some fans viewed the interaction in a much more positive light.

This is actually sad. Baker being a little bitch. Jalon goes out of his way to try to find Baker instead of the other way around #Bucs

— King Contrarian (@King_Contrarian) October 18, 2026

You can tell he’s seething

— ay (@spoonlocks) October 18, 2026

nice leadership Bake the rook has to find you

— #HollandFC (@JoeMama158710) October 18, 2026

Jalon Daniels looks for Baker Mayfield after a TD pass today; gotta love it! Bucs QB room vibes are high https://t.co/eQkn6fPwJT

— Christopher Mathis 🎙 (@thechrismathis) October 18, 2026

Baker not fooling me https://t.co/cFA05Djgz0

— ⚜️ (@luffyenjoyer) October 18, 2026

Daniels looked genuinely happy there, but his moment with Mayfield drew mixed reactions from fans online. 

Others thought Mayfield should’ve been the one to approach Daniels instead of the other way around, while some fans viewed the interaction in a much more positive light.

There seems to be no quarterback drama for the Buccaneers, though. 

Daniels hasn’t done much to build a case for a potential permanent takeover of the QB1 role. 

In three starts in place of Mayfield, the former Kansas Jayhawks QB has thrown for 501 passing yards and three touchdowns against five interceptions. He went just 22/43 for 164 passing yards with a touchdown and two picks in Tampa Bay’s 26-19 overtime loss to the Steelers.

Mayfield is expected to get the keys to Tampa Bay’s offense back once he gets the green light to play, and that could come just in time for the Bucs’ Week 7 game against one of his former teams, the Carolina Panthers, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

Football, Baker Mayfield, Jalon Daniels, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston looks on

Jameis Winston had a great message for JJ McCarthy after getting benched

October 19, 2026 by Rex Villas
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When it comes to New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston, the good usually comes with the bad. After a solid performance in Week 5’s tie with the Washington Commanders, Winston had an awful start in the Giants’ 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Following his second interception of the game and with New York behind by 24 points, Winston was benched for JJ McCarthy, who gave the Giants a huge spark. 

Despite his benching, Winston had nothing but great things to say about McCarthy.

“What I saw out of him? Man, he was able to rally us up, and he did a great job. I was proud of him, proud of what he did,” Winston said of McCarthy, per SNY Giants.

Jameis Winston on what he saw from J.J. McCarthy: "He was able to rally us up, he did a great job, proud of him" https://t.co/r4TrfqoBo1

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) October 18, 2026

McCarthy was intercepted on his first drive but later led the Giants to three scoring drives, cutting the deficit to seven points. He failed to connect on a 4th-and-1 pass to tight end Isaiah Likely near the end of regulation, but the former Michigan Wolverines star quarterback made a strong statement with his play.

McCarthy finished the game with 243 passing yards and a touchdown and interception on 11/21 pass completions, while Winston went 14/26 for 152 yards, a score and two picks.

New York hasn’t made a decision yet on its starter for Week 7’s game against the Houston Texans, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the team goes with McCarthy, who was traded by the Minnesota Vikings to the Giants in September.

Football, Jameis Winston, JJ McCarthy, New York Giants
Derrick Henry looks on

Derrick Henry’s costly fumble draws an honest response from Jesse Minter

October 19, 2026 by Rex Villas
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If not for Derrick Henry’s work ethic, Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter could have sung a different tune following his team’s 13-10 loss on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Henry’s fumble in the fourth quarter at the Ravens’ 35-yard line got the Browns a golden opportunity to level the score, and they did, as running back Audric Estime found the end zone several plays later to tie it all up, 10-10.

Baltimore punted on its next possession, and the Browns missed a field-goal attempt. The Ravens punted again, and Cleveland kicked a go-ahead field goal to secure a 13-10 win.

Henry’s blunder was a major turning point in the contest, but Minter wasn’t going to pin the loss on the running back.

“Nobody works harder at ball security [than Henry],” Ravens coach Jesse Minter said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “It happened, [and] it was a good play by them. I’d like for us to be able to rise up and get a stop right there and have each other’s backs, [and] we weren’t able to do that. It becomes an even bigger play when you’re not able to kind of back it up with the defense. So, it is what it is.”

Aside from his fumble, Henry didn’t have a great day either, rushing for just 58 yards on 17 carries. The turnover further highlighted his rough afternoon against Cleveland’s defense.

Still, Baltimore remains in good shape overall, with a 4-2 record after six weeks, tied with the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers for the best in the AFC North standings.

The Ravens will meet Cleveland again in Week 16, a game Henry has probably circled already.

Football, Baltimoer Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Derrick Henry, Jesse Minter

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