ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93
Bill Rasmussen, who is credited with co-founding ESPN in 1979, died Tuesday at the age of 93.
ESPN announced that Rasmussen died Tuesday at age 93 due to effects from Parkinson’s Disease. The network also announced his passing live on “First Take.”
ESPN announces the passing of founder Bill Rasmussen live on First Take. pic.twitter.com/TcHO2f4cXB
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 18, 2026
“Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s – key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.”
Rasmussen and his son Scott had the idea for a 24-hour sports programming network in 1978, and ESPN launched one year later. He also served as the network’s first president before departing in 1980.
ESPN has, of course, grown into something far bigger than anything Rasmussen could have ever dreamt of. It paved the way for other specialized sports networks — including some it now owns — and has massively impacted both sports and culture as a whole.
Baker Mayfield had a hilarious outburst after getting rage-baited
Baker Mayfield will always be a Sooner, which means he doesn’t have a soft spot for the Texas Longhorns.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star quarterback and former Oklahoma signal-caller’s hatred for the Longhorns was on full display when he recently got pranked while signing autographs. After seeing a Texas cap hidden under a Buccaneers hat, Mayfield immediately grabbed the Longhorns article and threw it at the camera.
Rage baiting our players with college rival hats 🧢😂 pic.twitter.com/NLz4gydKsk
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 17, 2026
Although it’s been nearly a decade since Mayfield turned pro after being selected first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, it’s clear that he maintains a strong disdain for the Sooners’ rival, Texas.
Mayfield is widely considered one of the best players in Oklahoma football history, and he’s got a Heisman Trophy to prove that.
After transferring from the Texas Tech Red Raiders to Oklahoma, Mayfield recorded 12,292 passing yards and 131 touchdowns against only 30 interceptions in 48 games from 2015-2017 with the Sooners.
The 31-year-old Mayfield can’t get too caught up in the Red River Rivalry fever in the NFL, as his main focus is on helping the Buccaneers bounce back after winning just eight games in 2025 and missing the playoffs.
Last season, Mayfield threw for 3,693 passing yards and 26 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 17 games.
Video: Fans throw punches in wild brawl during Cubs-White Sox game
Monday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., had it all — including fans going full Royal Rumble in the stands.
A video making its rounds on social media shows several fans going at it, with a Cubs fan seemingly getting the worst of it.
Things appeared to devolve into a wild brawl in the bleachers after a heated exchange of words between fans. It wasn’t clear what exactly caused the commotion, but the situation quickly got out of control, with punches flying from different directions.
A poor fan wearing a No. 23 Ryne Sandberg Cubs jersey got beat up by multiple people but somehow managed to withstand the onslaught, including several left hooks from one determined guy in a gray shirt. You can watch the video here.
As for the game itself, the Cubs emerged victorious in thrilling fashion, with Pete Crow-Armstrong coming through in the clutch with the most telling blow of the contest, a walk-off, two-run home run to secure a 7-5 win in extra innings.
The Cubs and the White Sox have two more games left to play in the series, and based on what transpired in the stands on Monday, Wrigley Field’s security may need to step it up and have stricter measures to control rowdy fans amid the ongoing Crosstown Classic.
3-time Pro Bowler unretires to join the Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have successfully pried a three-time Pro Bowler away from retirement.
On Tuesday, insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that edge rusher Za’Darius Smith is signing a 1-year contract with the Falcons.
Free agent edge Za’Darius Smith is signing a 1-year deal with the #Falcons, per agent @ErikBurkhardt. pic.twitter.com/R4w9DZnhGB
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 18, 2026
Smith last saw action for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2025 NFL season, playing in only five games (two starts) and recording 1.5 sacks before announcing his midseason retirement from football.
That retirement proved short-lived, as Smith returns to the game to play for the Falcons under a new head coach who is a familiar face to the veteran pass rusher.
The Falcons are now coached by Kevin Stefanski, who also mentored the Cleveland Browns during Smith’s tenure with the AFC North franchise.
Atlanta needed some bodies to shore up their pass-rush unit amid issues in the group, with Jalon Walker suffering an ACL tear in training camp and James Pearce Jr. getting slapped with an eight-game suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Walker and Pearce combined for 16 of the Falcons’ season total of 57 sacks (second-most in the league) in 2025.
The 33-year-old Smith has 70.5 career sacks to his name, along with 176 quarterback hits in 145 games.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has a huge claim about Jeremiyah Love’s other skill
Marvin Harrison Jr. has seen enough of rookie running back Jeremiyah Love’s pass-catching abilities.
While talking about the Arizona Cardinals’ first-year tailback, Harrison went as far as to imply that Love could even pass as a wide receiver for the team.
“He really could come to our room if he ever wanted to,” Harrison said of Love, via Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. “Seeing him on twitch routes killing backers is laughable sometimes.”
Love showed a little bit of his game downfield in last week’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders with 14 receiving yards on two catches and three targets on top of his 58 rushing yards on 11 carries.
The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star’s ability to contribute in the passing game adds another dimension to the Cardinals’ offense, which finished in the lower half of the league with an average of 325.8 total yards per game in 2025. He can also help take some defensive focus off Harrison and others.
Still, it is what he does on the ground that makes Love an important piece of Arizona’s attack.
In his final two years with Notre Dame, Love burned rubber for 2,497 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns on 199 carries.
Jared Verse reveals why he already loves life with the Browns
Jared Verse is doing a great job of saying the right things about his new team.
Even Cleveland’s gloomier weather is getting praised by the new Browns star defensive end.
“California doesn’t really rain that much. I was outside yesterday just enjoying the rain, sitting on the back porch just like taking deep little breaths, seeing deer running around and everything like that. It was cool,” Verse told reporters on Monday, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Furthermore, two-time Pro Bowler Verse said his trade from the Los Angeles Rams to the Browns surprised him, but the shock didn’t linger as he immediately accepted his new reality.
“I mean, I like it here. But I wasn’t really distraught at all. After kind of the initial shock, I was like, all right, cool. Like I’m a Brown, let’s work,” added the 25-year-old Verse.
“I love the organization, especially the first day of the camp. You see all the fans out there. I’m like, damn, like, excuse my French. Like, the fans, it was lit out there. They was lively, and they bleed orange and brown. I love it out here.”
As good as Verse has been so far in his NFL career, he has massive shoes to fill in Cleveland, considering the man the Browns parted ways with in the trade to acquire the former Florida State Seminoles star from Los Angeles.
Cleveland sent shockwaves across the football world in June when the AFC North franchise traded all-time Browns great Myles Garrett to the Rams in exchange for a package headlined by Verse.
Through two seasons in the NFL, Verse has accumulated totals of 12.0 sacks, 124 passes defended and 45 quarterback hits in 34 games.
Video: Torey Lovullo fights tears while talking about Ketel Marte’s situation
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo couldn’t hide his emotions after the abrupt absence of star Ketel Marte in Monday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.
Marte did not show up for the game, prompting Arizona to place him on the restricted list.
Fighting his tears, the 61-year-old Lovullo assured everyone that Marte was safe but did not specify the exact reason behind the three-time All-Star’s absence.
“No, not really. I love him, and I care for him. He’ll be okay. He is fine,” Lovullo told reporters after the Diamondbacks’ 11-1 loss to the Red Sox, via X user @phxlogan.
“I want you guys to know that I just care about him. So does everybody in that room,” added the clearly emotional Lovullo, who has been managing the Diamondbacks since the 2017 season.
Torey Lovullo appeared to get emotional during the postgame when answering questions about Ketel Marte
— Logan🌵 (@phxlogan) August 18, 2026
He made clear Ketel is ok, but all he knows at this moment is he is dealing with a personal matter pic.twitter.com/nVCFVUgxVG
The news of Marte’s absence raised concerns about his well-being among Diamondbacks fans, so it was reassuring to hear Lovullo say that the 32-year-old Dominican star is fine health-wise.
Still, it is a mystery why Marte didn’t show up when he was expected to be the team’s designated hitter in the Red Sox game.
Marte, who is under contract with the Diamondbacks until at least the 2030 season (he has a player option for the 2031 campaign), is having a relatively down year. Thorugh 118 games, he has hit just 249/.314/.446 with a 107 OPS+ after slashing .283/.376/.517 and posting a 146 OPS+ in 2025.
Dennis Schroder addresses 1 misconception about being traded so much
Dennis Schroder does not want any pity points for being one of the most traded players in NBA history.
The veteran combo guard was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Charlotte Hornets last week — a deal that resulted in him landing on his 12th team in 14 NBA seasons. One more move to a new NBA team would have him tied with journeyman guard Ish Smith for the most teams played for in NBA history.
Some fans imagine such instability to be difficult for anyone, even an athlete making millions to play basketball. But Schroder doesn’t see it that way, based on his recent comments to the German publication Braunschweiger Zeitung.
“The media make it worse than it is,” Schroder said, translated from his native German.
“The teams pay for everything for us, we continue to live just as we lived before. The children are homeschooling, our family comes to visit two or three times a year – nothing changes.”
While few would want to be pinballed around the United States (or Canada) as Schroder has been throughout the past decade, the man clearly doesn’t feel too frustrated by it.
On the plus side, Schroder has gotten the chance to live in a dozen unique locations, experiencing different cultures and trying various local foods. He’s probably been treated well at every stop, considering his status as an NBA player.
There are much worse fates than that.
Fans all said the same thing after watching Travis Kelce juke a Chiefs defender
A trending 27-second video of Travis Kelce has some Kansas City Chiefs fans worried about their team’s secondary.
The short clip of Kelce went viral on Monday, showing the veteran tight end completely juking safety Alohi Gilman during a 1-on-1 drill at Chiefs training camp. Gilman bit on Kelce’s fake right and got left in the dust as the 36-year-old burst ran the other way for an uncontested catch.
Travis Kelce ROUTS UP Alohi Gilman in 1-on-1's 👀#ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/TR80q9ynq3
— Mark Poulose (@MarkPoulose) August 17, 2026
The video went viral partly because some fans believed Kelce looked a step slow. Instead of seeing it as a highlight for Kelce, many roasted Gilman for getting schooled by the aging All-Pro.
We need help at Safety
— Marcus T (Miller) (@Str8throwed) August 17, 2026
Gilman is starting to show why he was the backup.
— 71 SOUTH (@KelADolla) August 17, 2026
Ehh that’s not a great look for the defender
— ryan barker (@ryanryanbarker5) August 17, 2026
Getting juked in slow motion is crazy
— NiEKO🏴☠️ (@NiekoTheMartian) August 17, 2026
Gilman recorded 90 combined tackles last season playing for the Los Angeles Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens. His box score numbers, however, won’t erase the video of him getting cooked by Kelce from the Chiefs fan base’s memory.
Kelce has never been the shiftiest player on the field. But there’s a reason the man has been named a Pro Bowler for 11 straight seasons. He’s likely to get the better of a few more defenders before he finally calls it a career.
Jeanie Buss claims her siblings manipulated Shams Charania to ‘falsely report’ on Lakers sale
Jeanie Buss is not sitting quietly amid reports indicating that her family was giving up control of the Los Angeles Lakers.
News broke Monday that the Buss family, which has owned the Lakers franchise for nearly 50 years, had reportedly decided to sell the family trust’s remaining 17.8 percent stake in the team. The Buss family released a statement through ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday confirming the sale to new majority owners Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.
The move was interpreted by many as Jeanie officially deciding to relinquish her role as team governor, a post she has held since Dr. Jerry Buss died in 2013. NBA rules require controlling owners/governors to own at least 15 percent of their franchise.
Jeanie contested the report hours later, claiming her siblings had sent Charania the statement without her approval. Through her attorney, Jeanie sent a letter to the law firms representing her five siblings, claiming that Joey and Jessie Buss had leaked erroneous information to Charania as part of an alleged “years-long pattern” of the two leaking “false, defamatory, and pernicious” information to Shams.
You can read the letter obtained by CNBC here with an excerpt below:
“As you know, this afternoon, Shams Charania of ESPN falsely reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell the 17.8% ownership stake in the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, and that my client, Jeanie Buss, is “out” as controlling owner.
“This is just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious “information” to Mr. Charania for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. Buss’s chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carries out her father’s wishes.”
Jeanie’s attorney, Adam F. Streisand, argued further that such a sale is not legally permissible. Per the letter, the family’s JAB Trust instructs its co-trustees to ensure that Jeanie Buss continues to be elected as the team governor “on an annual basis” throughout her lifetime, barring a court order modifying the trust.
It’s an episode of HBO’s “Succession” unfolding in real time, folks.
Kyle Tucker gets ripped after flubbing another routine fly ball
Kyle Tucker has found a new rock bottom for himself.
The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Tucker continued his struggles on Monday night against the Colorado Rockies. Tucker went 0/5 on the night at Coors Field in Denver, Colo. and also produced a hideous defensive play in the bottom of the seventh inning.
To lead off the half-inning, Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia induced a routine fly ball off the bat of Rockies first baseman Connor Norby. Tucker got under the ball in right field with plenty of time … but then just seemingly lost it in the stadium lights.
The ball glanced off Tucker’s glove for an E-9, allowing Norby to get into second base. Meanwhile, Tucker could do little more than collapse to the outfield grass in agony for a moment before retrieving the errant baseball and futilely tossing it back into the infield.
I don't even want to pile on at this point, but Kyle Tucker drops a routine flyball for a two-base error. pic.twitter.com/9L1WTNr0sx
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 18, 2026
Fans quickly roasted Tucker over his latest lowlight. Some on social media were even ready to anoint him as the worst signing in Dodgers history.
Kyle Tucker has to be the biggest bust signing in Dodgers history. Just an absolute disaster in every aspect. Just get him off the field at this point. pic.twitter.com/3arVJbYCEa
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 18, 2026
Tucker also had an ugly misplay in right field during Sunday’s loss at home to the Milwaukee Brewers. During that game at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., Tucker flubbed a ball hit to the wall in right and ended up getting booed by the Dodger faithful.
Even more embarrassingly for Tucker, who signed a four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason, is that it is hard to tell what is worse right now between his defense and his offense. After Monday’s disaster, Tucker is now down to a .230 batting average on the year (with a .692 OPS) and is 0 for his last 24 at the plate (with Tucker’s last hit coming on Aug. 9 against the Arizona Diamondbacks).
The Dodgers did still manage to easily take care of business on Monday despite Tucker’s struggles, winning by a comfortable final score of 11-5. But considering that Tucker was also benched during a game over the weekend for a humiliating reason, he may be the single most miserable player in all of Major League Baseball right now.
Colts signing 6-time Pro Bowl wide receiver
The Indianapolis Colts have struck a deal with veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen.
The 34-year-old wideout reportedly agreed to sign a 1-year deal with the Colts worth up to $8.32 million. NFL reporter Jordan Schultz confirmed the news on Monday night.
BREAKING: The #Colts are signing 6x Pro Bowl WR Keenan Allen to a 1-year deal worth up to $8.32M, multiple sources tell me.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 18, 2026
A big-time weapon for Daniel Jones, as Allen reunites with HC Shane Steichen from their days together with the Chargers in a deal done by @ZekeSandhu of… pic.twitter.com/wiBZe3wjSf
Allen spent his first 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he developed into a perennial 1,000-yard pass catcher. The 2017 Comeback Player of the Year earned himself six Pro Bowl nods from 2017 to 2023, only missing out in 2022 due to a lingering hamstring injury.
The Cal alum was traded to the Chicago Bears in 2024, but returned to the Chargers last season on a 1-year deal. He led Los Angeles in targets (122) and catches (81) and ranked second in receiving yards (777) and third in receiving touchdowns (4).
Allen joins a promising Colts wide receiver room headlined by Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. Indianapolis signed Pierce to a $114 million contract in March, the same month he underwent surgery to repair an ankle issue.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen all but confirmed Sunday that Pierce is expected to miss the entirety of training camp. Steichen is very familiar with Allen, whom he coached during his time as the Chargers’ offense coordinator.
With Pierce’s status for the start of the season in question, Allen could play a big role for Indy right away.
Cavaliers are actively trying to trade 1 former NBA Finals piece
Dennis Schroder is already gone, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are still looking to do some more selling.
The Cavaliers are making an “active” effort to trade away veteran forward Max Strus, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported this week. Strus is on an expiring contract and is set to make $16.7 million next season.
A career 37.0 percent three-point shooter, Strus has been with Cleveland for the last three NBA seasons. While he was once a go-to starting forward for the Cavaliers, Strus appeared in just 30 total games last year (regular season and playoffs) due to a Jones fracture in his left foot (with stats of 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game overall).
Cleveland did largely fine in Strus’ absence, finishing as a 52-win team and making their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2018. The Cavaliers also saw fellow sharpshooter Sam Merrill emerge as a key rotation piece with his 42.1 percent success rate from three last season.
Strus does have somewhat of a notable resume otherwise though. Prior to signing with the Cavs, Strus was a major contributor for the Miami Heat during his time there from 2020-23. That included posting 12 different playoff games with double-digit scoring when Miami made it to the NBA Finals in 2023.
But Cleveland needs further roster flexibility with James Harden still unsigned and other free agent targets like Peyton Watson and Jonathan Kuminga still lurking. The Cavaliers also recently signed an interesting former top-5 pick to play on the wing, so it sounds like Strus will be their latest odd man out.
Rays’ Bryan Baker does a vulgar celebration after getting save
Bryan Baker decided to celebrate Monday’s victory by pulling a Roseanne Barr.
The Tampa Bay Rays won on Monday night over the division rival Baltimore Orioles by a final score of 7-6. Baker, the Rays’ closer, was called on during the eighth inning at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. for a five-out save.
After retiring the first four batters that he faced, Baker allowed a two-out single in the ninth inning to Baltimore’s Christian Encarnacion-Strand. But Baker then struck out Orioles outfielder Leody Taveras to end the game and proceeded to do a vulgar celebration.
The television broadcast showed a hyped-up Baker coming off the mound and then grabbing his crotch area while looking in the direction of the Tampa Bay dugout. Here is the video.
Bryan Baker's celebration after his save against the Orioles pic.twitter.com/M2m380Kix1
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) August 18, 2026
Baker, a 31-year-old righty has been very impressive this season for the Rays. He leads Major League Baseball with 35 saves to go along with a microscopic 1.47 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 50 appearances in relief.
Tampa Bay is also looking superb overall this year with an AL-best record of 75-49. Though some Rays relievers have produced some very ugly moments on the mound, Baker is clearly pitching with a different swagger right now.
Najee Harris is drawing interest from 1 new team in free agency
Najee Harris may still have a lifeline before the start of the NFL season.
The former Pro Bowl running back Harris visited on Monday with the New York Giants, according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Giants head coach John Harbaugh confirmed to reporters later in the day that Harris had visited with the team. Harbaugh noted that Harris looked “good” but was “not in football shape yet.”
John Harbaugh talks about Najee Harris visiting the Giants today:
— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) August 17, 2026
"He looks good in the workout. He's not back 100%, he's not in football shape yet. If we are able to do something, it'll be a process. That would be a guy that has a lot of experience. He's a decorated vet." pic.twitter.com/BeLVIJGzQz
Harris, 28, was a Pro Bowler with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a rookie in 2021. He also produced four consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards rushing or more to start off his NFL career.
But Harris had a forgettable stint last season with the Los Angeles Chargers. He appeared in just three games and rushed for a mere 61 yards and zero TDs before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear during a game (video here). Harris also had some drama before the 2025 season even began after getting injured in a July 4 fireworks accident.
The former first-round pick Harris is now about 11 months removed from his torn Achilles. While it sounds like he still has some work to do in his rehab, Harris did draw interest from other notable NFL teams several months ago.
As for the Giants, 24-year-old Cam Skattebo is locked in as their starting running back, but he is very much a game of Russian roulette when it comes to injuries. Adding Harris to their RB room might not be the worst decision at this point for New York, especially if they are not confident in their current backup trio of Tyrone Tracy Jr, Devin Singletary, and Eric Gray.
Report: Heat are desperate to land 1 player
The Miami Heat are all-in on Operation Floor Spacing.
Miami is “desperate” to land Dallas Mavericks swingman Klay Thompson, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported this week during an appearance on the “DLLS Sports” podcast. Stein added though that the Heat would like to sign Thompson as a free agent while the Mavericks would instead prefer to trade him.
The 36-year-old Thompson has been with Dallas for the last two seasons. But especially after a nightmare 26-56 year for the Mavericks in which Thompson averaged career lows across the board (11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game), the two sides are expected to go their separate ways before long.
Thompson, a five-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA champion, is entering the final year of his contract next season at $17.5 million. While that would make Thompson somewhat easy to potentially buy out, it is still early enough in the year that Dallas has incentive to hold onto him as a potential trade chip.
As for the Heat, they have been heavily rumored as a possible landing spot for Thompson for the last several weeks, particularly with a need to surround their new Giannis Antetokounmpo-Bam Adebayo pairing with shooters. But Miami’s depth was shredded by the addition of Antetokounmpo, meaning that they should hold onto the few young assets they have left (e.g. Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson) instead of trading them for Thompson.
The guard options for the Heat are dwindling a little bit after Bradley Beal signed elsewhere in free agency and Russell Westbrook decided to retire. But if they do want to successfully land Thompson, it appears that Miami will have to win a staring contest of sorts against the Mavericks.
Former NBA All-Star is surprisingly leaving the Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are now one (retired) sharpshooter poorer.
Former NBA All-Star Kyle Korver is parting ways with the Hawks, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported on Monday. Stein notes that Korver, Atlanta’s assistant general manager, is leaving the organization on “good terms.”
The 45-year-old Korver played in the NBA from 2003-20. Known for his stellar three-point-shooting ability, the Creighton product posted a career 42.9 percent mark from deep and also made an impressive 2,450 three-pointers overall (eighth all-time in NBA history).
Korver played for six different teams over the course of his pro career, including a stint with the Hawks from 2012-17. He became a beloved figure in Atlanta, making an NBA All-Star team in 2015 and also helping the Hawks produce their only 60-win season in franchise history that year.
After retiring as a player, Korver went into front office work. He returned to Atlanta in 2022 as their director of player affairs and development and was then promoted to the team’s assistant GM job in 2023.
This news comes as a surprise as Korver was working his way up the ranks with the Hawks with no indications that he was planning to leave the job. That said, we did hear a few months ago that one particular rival team was eyeing a potential pursuit of Korver.
Ravens Super Bowl winner OJ Brigance dies at 56
Former Baltimore Ravens player OJ Brigance has died.
The Ravens announced the tragic news on Monday, commemorating his life after “his extraordinary and heroic battle with ALS.” He was 56.
“We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. “O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. He was a vibrant person who became one of the first Ravens heroes with his passionate play, including the first tackle in the 2000 Super Bowl.”
With profound sadness, we mourn the passing of our beloved O.J. Brigance following his extraordinary and heroic battle with ALS. pic.twitter.com/5aegvRX2Fy
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 17, 2026
Brigance’s most memorable NFL year came during his lone season with Baltimore in 2000.
Brigance, who played linebacker and served on special teams, led the Ravens with 10 special teams tackles during their memorable Super Bowl run. He even recorded the first tackle in Super Bowl XXXV, which the Ravens won over the New York Giants 34-7.
Brigance was diagnosed with ALS in 2007, just a few years after he retired from the NFL. With the help of his wife, Chanda, the Ravens icon founded the Brigance Brigade Foundation shortly after his diagnosis to raise awareness and help those similarly afflicted by ALS.
Despite being wheelchair-bound and needing a communication device to translate his messages, Brigance continued to serve as a senior adviser for player engagement until his death.
Saints WR Jordyn Tyson facing lengthy injury absence
The New Orleans Saints added a new wide receiver by selecting Jordyn Tyson at No. 8 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Saints were set to have Tyson and Chris Olave together on the offense, but the regular season debut for Tyson will have to wait.
On Monday, it was reported that Tyson will miss at least two months, and maybe more, due to the hamstring injury.
This hamstring injury is different from Jordyn Tyson’s previous and not related. And the silver lining is that there are still several weeks before the season begins.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2026
Tyson has been impressive in camp. https://t.co/pbt2AcQrkw
Tyson spent his first season with the Colorado Buffaloes before transferring and joining the Arizona State Sun Devils. In 2024, he had a career-high 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns before breaking his collarbone and missing the College Football Playoff.
Tyson then played in 9 games in his final season in college, and he suffered various hamstring issues. Still, he had plenty of buzz entering the draft, and Hines Ward even thought Tyson could’ve been the first WR taken, although that honor went to Carnell Tate.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore said that Tyson slipped and had to leave practice early, and he insisted it had nothing to do with Tyson’s previous injury history.
#Saints HC Kellen Moore on WR Jordyn Tyson leaving practice yesterday:
— NOF (@nofnetwork) August 14, 2026
"This has nothing to do with Jordyn's history […] we'll know more in the next few days." pic.twitter.com/xKYtsSmV5Q
Tyson was listed as a starter on the Saints depth chart, and the ones behind him are Barion Brown and Trey Palmer.
Details emerge on why Diamondbacks placed Ketel Marte on restricted list minutes before game
Questions abounded Monday when the Arizona Diamondbacks put one of their best players on the restricted list.
The Diamondbacks announced shortly before Monday’s tilt against the Boston Red Sox that they were placing Marte on the restricted list. News of the decision came just minutes before the start of the contest at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.
The team made an official announcement via social media, indicating that they were also recalling infielder Jose Fernandez from Triple-A Reno.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/QyF6cZdrpd
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 17, 2026
MLB teams place players on the restricted list for non-baseball matters such as an unexcused personal absence, legal issues, or a temporary retirement, meaning Marte’s placement on the list was no mere injury designation.
Diamondbacks beat reporter Nick Piecoro revealed Monday that Marte did not show up at Fenway Park despite the team fully expecting him to be there. Marte had reportedly flown to Boston with the team, but failed to appear at the stadium for the opener of Arizona’s three-game road series.
Per the report, the D-Backs held out hope that Marte would arrive up until shortly before the game’s start time. He was expected to serve as the team’s designated hitter. The exact reasons surrounding Marte’s absence remain unclear.
Marte has had a down season thus far after back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2024 and 2025. He has batted .249 with a .760 OPS across 118 games this season with a team-best 21 home runs.
The Diamondbacks’ second-best home run hitter, Nolan Arenado, was also absent from Monday’s contest due to an unusual injury that had fans cracking jokes at his expense.
