Tom Brady reportedly had major say in Raiders’ QB decision
The Las Vegas Raiders have decided to have veteran Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback for the preseason instead of Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza.
As it turns out, Raiders minority owner and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady had a big say in that decision, according to a report from Adam Schefter.
Schefter also mentioned that it “looks like” Cousins will start in Week 1 of the regular season in September.
“Tom Brady knew that he wanted a veteran to start the season to take the pressure off Fernando Mendoza,” Schefter said. “Kirk Cousins will be the starter. It will be him, it looks like, on Opening Day.”
"Tom Brady knew that he wanted a veteran to start the season to take the pressure off Fernando Mendoza."@AdamSchefter explains why Kirk Cousins will open training camp as the Raiders starting QB ✍️ pic.twitter.com/bD6NDlvP9W
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 28, 2026
The Raiders gave Cousins a fully guaranteed deal after he was released from the Atlanta Falcons, and the expectation all along was that he would start as the QB1 while Mendoza learns the ropes of the NFL.
The Raiders have a new head coach in place with Klint Kubiak, and they are trying to be patient instead of throwing Mendoza into a brand-new system.
Las Vegas begins the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals on August 13. The first game of the regular season for the Raiders is on September 13 against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium.
LeBron James and Jaylen Brown’s social media activity has fans excited
Concerns about the Philadelphia 76ers’ team chemistry are probably overblown based on the social media activity of two of their stars.
Fans noted Tuesday that both Jaylen Brown and LeBron James shared the same image to their Instagram stories. The image shows a message on a wall that reads “Someone pushing you to be better is not an attack, it’s an act of love.”
Jaylen Brown and LeBron’s IG Stories https://t.co/aeMMsHp2Fs pic.twitter.com/FupuQwTzck
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 28, 2026
There was some notion that Brown, in particular, wanted to be the focal point of any offense he wound up in. James might hamper that a little, but by all accounts, Brown actively recruited his new teammate. The two will need to get on the court together to make sure their new partnership works properly, but the early returns are very good.
It certainly will not hurt that the 76ers seem intent on using James in a role that might actually bolster Brown’s ability to score.
There are definitely some worries about whether there will be enough touches to keep James, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid satisfied next season. Even some NBA legends have voiced that concern. Though everyone is in the honeymoon phase for the moment, there appears to be a mutual desire to make things work.
Micah Parsons’ best-case return date has been revealed
The Green Bay Packers will likely have to play a significant chunk of the regular season without the services of Micah Parsons.
Matt Schneiderman of The Athletic said Tuesday that he views Week 6 as the best-case scenario for Parsons to return from his ACL tear. The expectation is that Parsons will need at least a few weeks to ramp up once he is able to fully practice again, making an earlier return unlikely.
I think Parsons returning Week 6 is best-case scenario. Nine months no football gives him a practice return of Week 4 prep at best. Assuming he needs a couple weeks to ramp up. Never doubt a guy with his physical gifts, but we also don’t know how the rest of his rehab will go. https://t.co/EECUMlcJAX
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) July 28, 2026
Parsons has indicated that ACL recovery is essentially a nine-month period. He went down in mid-December, so the recovery time combined with getting back in game shape makes mid-October a reasonable estimate.
Parsons will want to get back as soon as possible, but he might have some added incentive to try and play in Week 6. The Packers will be hosting his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, that week, a game he would surely have circled on his calendar.
The Packers traded for Parsons a year ago to bolster their defense and he did just that. He collected 12.5 sacks in 14 games before suffering the season-ending injury.
Kyle Shanahan takes blame for his serious car accident
San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that he is responsible for the serious car accident that left him severely injured.
Shanahan spoke to reporters privately on Tuesday to clarify some of the details about the accident. The Niners coach denied rumors that he was on his cell phone at the time of the crash, but said he reached down to grab his phone after it got stuck in his seat.
“I was driving. I was going 20 mph. I was not on my phone but I dropped my phone and it was stuck in my seat. I took my eyes off the road looking for my phone and my car veered into someone,” Shanahan said. “It’s one of those roads where there’s no forgiveness. It’s one of those roads where I’ll teach my kids, you don’t drive in the left lane for no reason. You’re only allowed a foot. When I hit her, I’ll never forget how violent the impact was.”
Kyle Shanahan took fault for the car accident on Alma St. near downtown Palo Alto, which is a 4-lane way without a median (only a double yellow line):
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 28, 2026
"I was driving. I was going 20 mph. I was not on my phone but I dropped my phone and it was stuck in my seat. I took my eyes…
Some speculation had spread online that Shanahan was actively using his phone at the time of the crash. A California Highway Patrol report had also inaccurately faulted the other driver, a 21-year-old female.
The accident occurred in Palo Alto, Calif. on July 14, but was only publicly revealed on Sunday. One of Shanahan’s friends suggested that the 49ers coach nearly lost an eye because of the injuries he sustained in the crash.
Luke Kuechly lands a new NFL media job
Luke Keuchly is taking some more steps into NFL broadcasting work.
Kuechly will serve as the lead game analyst for Netflix’s NFL broadcasts next season, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. The Hall-of-Fame linebacker is set to work four of the five Netflix NFL broadcasts in 2026 alongside Noah Eagle, starting with the Week 1 game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
Kuechly and Eagle took part in a tryout earlier this month, and Marchand says the two had immediate chemistry. That was enough to make Netflix comfortable with putting Kuechly on its No. 1 team.
Kuechly does have some previous broadcasting experience, having worked Carolina Panthers game on the radio before. There is obviously a significant difference between that role and the job of a No. 1 television analyst, but it does mean the former linebacker is coming into the gig with at least some experience under his belt.
Netflix has moved into live sports in recent years and already had the rights to broadcast Christmas Day NFL games. They have suggested they would like a bigger package of games in the future, so Kuechly could be in line for a rather significant role if that happens and he acquits himself well.
Draymond Green’s future with the Warriors is decided
Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors have finally put to rest any speculation about his future.
Green and the Warriors agreed to a new 1-year, $27.7 million deal for the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. That is the exact same contract Green would have received had he opted into the final year of his contract.
Draymond Green has agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors on a one-year, $27.7 million deal, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. The contract is the same Green opted out of to give the Warriors flexibility to pursue LeBron James, but the sides land his return Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/Hyf1xruzrx
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 28, 2026
Green essentially opted out solely to give the Warriors the cap flexibility needed to pursue the likes of LeBron James. Once James opted to sign elsewhere, Green’s return was inevitable, and the contract value was expected to be precisely what it turned out to be.
Though he has been on the market for nearly a month, Green never showed any interest in going elsewhere. From the moment he opted out, the expectation was that he would return to Golden State. The only question was what kind of contract he would get, as he presumably would have been willing to make some adjustments had James signed with the team.
The deal comes with the Warriors in an awkward spot. They have not really been able to upgrade around their aging core of Green and Steph Curry. Both players are extremely loyal to the organization, however, and the team will get chances to stage one more playoff run.
Everyone made the same joke about Justin Herbert’s engagement
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert announced some significant personal news on Thursday, but it also sparked a whole lot of jokes on social media.
Herbert and his girlfriend, singer Madison Beer, are engaged. Beer shared a series of photos from the proposal on her Instagram with the caption “meet my fiancé.”
Most of social media was congratulatory toward the couple. That did not stop a few people from getting a few jokes in about how Herbert is getting a ring before many of his quarterback contemporaries.
well, at least justin herbert has 1 ring now pic.twitter.com/ukWIMkEuGY
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) July 28, 2026
Justin Herbert ring before Dak Prescott https://t.co/CdJs3N9EMZ pic.twitter.com/2OEZD6pieU
— Ky (@_k_pn) July 28, 2026
JUSTIN HERBERT HAS MORE RINGS THAN LAMAR JACKSON >>> pic.twitter.com/D1PQL7ZTcV
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) July 28, 2026
Everyone can quit complaining that Herbert can’t get a ring now https://t.co/3jgCnr7Kih
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) July 28, 2026
Herbert, of course, has yet to win an NFL playoff game, and has turned in some extremely underwhelming performances on the occasions that he gets there. Fairly or not, it has saddled him with a reputation of a quarterback who cannot come up big in playoff games, which is why people were so eager to make ring jokes.
Presumably, Herbert will not be paying the jokes any mind. He and Beer were first linked together last August. Less than a year later, they are engaged, making this something of a whirlwind romance for the two of them.
Eagles sign star defender to $160 million contract extension
The Philadelphia Eagles are breaking the bank to keep one of their crucial defensive players.
The Eagles confirmed Tuesday that they have signed defensive tackle Jalen Carter to a contract extension. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the four-year deal could be worth as much as $160 million, with $106 million of that guaranteed. That is the largest contract for a defensive tackle in NFL history.
Breaking: Eagles are signing two-time Pro-Bowl selection Jalen Carter to a four-year, $152 million extension worth up to $160 million, including $106 million guaranteed that now makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, per his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus.… pic.twitter.com/R8VZfbsKTy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2026
The Eagles took a bit of time to get the Carter extension done, and there were even some rumors that it might not happen. A report last month suggested that the Eagles had some hesitance about giving Carter a big-money extension, but you would not know it from the deal that he ultimately agreed to.
Carter has certainly shown moments of immaturity, particularly in one incident with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. However, he has also established himself as an All-Pro with 13.5 sacks in the first three seasons of his career.
The Eagles selected Carter ninth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. He becomes the third first-rounder from that draft to earn a huge second contract after Houston’s Will Anderson and Detroit’s Jack Campbell.
Baker Mayfield’s contract situation has been decided
Baker Mayfield will be playing out the final year of his contract without a new agreement.
Mayfield is reporting to training camp on Tuesday without a new deal, according to Jenna Laine and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made little progress on a new contract, and while there is still a remote possibility they could come to an agreement, that is still not expected to happen before Mayfield’s self-imposed training camp deadline.
Sources say quarterback Baker Mayfield is reporting to training camp today without a new deal. He and his agent have not made significant progress and a new deal is not expected before the team’s first practice tomorrow (with @JFowlerESPN) https://t.co/eJSQ3CfgCf
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) July 28, 2026
Mayfield has said since June that contract talks with the Bucs were not progressing as he had hoped. He is entering the final season of his three-year, $100 million deal, a contract that has left him underpaid relative to many of his peers at the quarterback position. He has said he will no longer negotiate with the Buccaneers once training camp begins in order to keep his focus solely on football.
The lack of a contract leaves Mayfield with an uncertain future. There is some reason to believe that he might wind up playing in 2027 on the franchise tag, which is an outcome he is supposedly okay with.
Mayfield, 31, threw for 3,693 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. He was, however, playing through some fairly significant injuries for much of the year.
Fans have the same reaction after seeing Anthony Edwards’ post-wedding appearance
Anthony Edwards is back in the lab with a new look after getting married.
On Monday, the Minnesota Timberwolves shared some photos of the four-time NBA All-Star shooting guard working out, and several fans couldn’t help but joke about the noticeable change in his hairstyle. Showing up on the court with a buzz cut, Edwards looked like he was making a statement with a new look, as he prepares for his seventh season in the NBA.
fresh cut. pic.twitter.com/o1H7qZ1Gv1
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 27, 2026
Several fans, meanwhile, used the opportunity to fuel the long-running internet conspiracy about Edwards being Michael Jordan’s son.
Looking like his pops pic.twitter.com/cBYgWcYlNM
— rhj (@robertohjr4) July 28, 2026
Looks like him pic.twitter.com/mAzoUrqvLT
— Sealakers (@TheSeaLakers) July 27, 2026
I SEE THE VISION ANT pic.twitter.com/C3yTMFAA0E
— Trace (@TGierisch) July 27, 2026
Lowkey lol pic.twitter.com/khmKsUfhmo
— Ish (@Fancy_Ish) July 28, 2026
One step closer bruh omg we’re getting MVP this season pic.twitter.com/DUId21zEwB
— Mailiam (@mailiam45) July 27, 2026
The Timberwolves couldn’t care less what kind of hairstyle Edwards shows up with on the court. What matters to Minnesota is having him in the fold as the leader of a team that remains one of the top contenders in the Western Conference.
Last season, Edwards and the Timberwolves got booted out of the NBA Playoffs after losing in their second-round series against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
With the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder viewed as the top two teams in the Western Conference, Edwards has his work cut out for him. However, he will have plenty of support, especially after the Timberwolves acquired LaMelo Ball in a blockbuster trade with the Charlotte Hornets.
Looking a little more like MJ might help Edwards, too.
Magic Johnson raises concerns for the 76ers after landing LeBron James
The Philadelphia 76ers are widely considered one of the biggest winners of the NBA offseason, but Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson isn’t fully buying into the hype just yet.
On Sunday, Johnson shared his thoughts on the 76ers after the team landed four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, a move that came after Philadelphia’s blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown.
“LeBron makes the Sixers one of the best teams in the NBA and the biggest threat to the World Champion Knicks in the Eastern Conference. Philly’s starting lineup will have four All Stars, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, and offensively they will be great. But all four are used to having the ball in their hands, so I’m interested to see what type of offense Coach Nurse draws up,” Johnson wrote in a post on X.
The five-time NBA champion then laid out the two major concerns he has about the new-look 76ers.
“I have two big questions for Philly: one is on the defensive end, and two is their team chemistry. If they answer those two… watch out!” added Johnson.
The Basketball Hall of Famer didn’t mention it, but the onus will be on head coach Nick Nurse, who has never managed quite a collection of talent like this before.
The 76ers still have months to prepare and get everyone on the same page before what should be an extremely intriguing season, with James implying that Philadelphia will be the final stop of his legendary career.
Mike Vrabel wasted no time calling out AJ Brown at training camp
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown got an early reminder during training camp of what it’s like to play for head coach Mike Vrabel.
Brown had experience before on a team coached by Vrabel, as the two used to be together with the Tennessee Titans. But that shared history did not seem to matter to Vrabel when he chewed on Brown after the wideout failed to secure a catch during the first day of New England’s training camp on Saturday.
“First team meeting [Vrabel] ripped me for almost bringing in a catch; he expected me to make that play,” Brown told reporters on Monday, via Patriots Press Conferences.
“Early on, as a rookie, I didn’t really like that too much. But now I know it comes from a great place and he expects me to make that play, and so do I,” added Brown, who should enjoy plenty more looks from quarterback Drake Maye, as they continue to build on their chemistry.
Brown gives New England’s passing attack a huge shot in the arm after four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won a Super Bowl during the 2024 season. With Stefon Diggs gone, the 29-year-old Brown essentially becomes Drake Maye’s top downfield target, someone who is capable of drawing plenty of attention from opposing defenses and opening things up for the Patriots’ other receivers.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Brown has posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in six of his seven seasons in the NFL. Last year, he racked up 1,0003 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns on 78 receptions with the Eagles.
Sean McVay addresses media’s opinion of the Rams with a profane message
Sean McVay is not buying the Super Bowl hype of his own team.
Although the Los Angeles Rams have been generating a ton of buzz in the offseason, with many considering them among the top teams to beat in the 2026 NFL campaign, McVay would rather mute the noise than revel in it.
“I respectfully say that your guys opinions don’t mean s–t to me,” the former NFL Coach of the Year winner said, addressing the media’s excitement for the Rams’ potential to win the Super Bowl, via Andrew Siciliano.
McVay has been coaching the Rams since 2017, and after nearly 10 years on the job, he knows better than to openly embrace the hype before the season even begins. He wants his players to focus on the grind and avoid getting influenced by the outside noise.
But there is also a reason why Los Angeles is the betting favorite to win Super Bowl LXI, which will be taking place at the Rams’ home, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
The Rams are stacked with great talent on both sides of the field, especially after adding superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett via a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns. That’s not to mention the rumors of Aaron Donald potentially unretiring to give it another go with LA.
The Rams have won at least 10 games in each of the past three seasons, including a 12-5 finish in 2025.
Jaylen Brown’s stance on the 76ers’ pursuit of LeBron James has been revealed
Jaylen Brown got exactly what he wanted with LeBron James.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, the 76ers had all of Jaylen Brown’s support during their pursuit of then-free agent James. Charania noted that while the two players never spoke during the process, Brown made his stance clear to James’ agent, Rich Paul.
“Jaylen Brown was 100% supportive of this move of getting LeBron James. To my knowledge, those two guys didn’t speak during the process, but Jaylen Brown did have communication with Rich Paul during the process to let Rich Paul know that, ‘Hey, I want LeBron here. This is someone I want to play with,’” Charania told Stephen A. Smith on the latter’s eponymous show.
Charania continued: “And so, those guys will eventually have their own conversation, LeBron and Jaylen will, and get on the same page. There will be plenty of opportunity for them to do so. But I think the big thing that I hear around the Sixers organization right now is sacrifice.
When you think about scoring, you look at Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, on any given night, 1A, 1B. Joel Embiid is right up there as well, 1A, 1B, 1C. Either of those guys can lead this team in scoring on any given night. VJ Edgecombe can be a breakout on any given night. And then you look at LeBron James, and in a lot of ways, he’s setting the table for everyone.”
Getting both Brown and James in the same summer is one thing. Making a star-studded roster work is another. Still, the 76ers appear to be in a better position now to win, given the heavyweight additions they have made. James may be turning 42 in December, but he brings a wealth of winning experience. He also remains a very capable playmaker even at his age.
Brown and James used to play on opposite sides of the NBA’s greatest rivalry. This time, they are on the same team with a common goal to bring Philadelphia its first NBA title since 1983.
H/T HoopsHype
Deshaun Watson sends a confident message about 2026 season
It has been a while since the last time Deshaun Watson was competitively relevant, but the Cleveland Browns quarterback seems confident that he’ll finally get it together in the 2026 season.
In a nearly two-minute hype video, Watson offered an optimistic outlook as he looks to recapture the form that once made him one of the NFL’s brightest stars.
“I’m in a good space. I’m in a great place,” Watson said. “This is year five, so this is that time. Just like everybody else, I’ve been waiting too.
Entering his fifth year with the Browns, the three-time Pro Bowler appears to be expecting a season that will remind people why he used to be among the best QBs in the NFL.
“Things have got to line up right. I feel like this is the year that it can all come together,” added the former Clemson Tigers star.
"I feel like this the year that it can all come together," – Browns QB Deshaun Watson shares a look at his training and journey to training camp 2026. pic.twitter.com/WQtGYQT2nM
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 27, 2026
Injuries and off-the-field issues have greatly diminished Watson’s ability to contribute to the Browns, who took a chance on the quarterback by acquiring him in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans in 2022 before signing him to a five-year, $230 million contract.
Watson, however, will have to earn the QB1 role, as he is expected to continue his battle for the job in training camp with second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
In 19 appearances with the Browns so far, Watson has passed for just 557 yards and 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
Red Sox get huge scare as Curtis Mead leaves debut game with injury
The Boston Red Sox watched the their worst-case scenario unfold Monday with recently acquired Curtis Mead.
The Red Sox made the bold move of acquiring Mead from the Washington Nationals in a trade that sent promising young pitcher Connelly Early. The move irked a handful of Red Sox fans who felt the team had overpaid for the 25-year-old third baseman.
Mead wasn’t able to prove his worth in his debut Monday against the Athletics. Mead, who struck out looking in his first at-bat, got hit in the wrist in the top of the 4th inning and later had to leave the game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif.
Absolute nightmare scenario. Curtis Mead is out of the game after getting hit on the wrist earlier. pic.twitter.com/FAmMjp0fUu
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) July 28, 2026
Mead was immediately seen wincing as he took his spot at first base. He powered through the pain and even went back onto the field for the bottom of the 4th inning but was taken out of the game the very next inning.
The Australian slugger got through just two plate appearances in the 4-2 Red Sox victory. Boston scored another minor win when X-rays came out negative on Mead’s left wrist.
“I felt OK. Squeezing my hand feels OK. Just a little bit of pain rotating,” Mead told reporters after the game, via ESPN. “We were able to get an X-ray, and everything looked OK. So, I’m hopeful that I will feel better tomorrow morning and that it won’t be a problem.”
Manager Chad Tracy added that the team seemed to have “dodged a bullet” with Mead’s wrist injury, but added that the newest Red Sox infielder will undergo further testing.
Shaq makes bold prediction about 76ers
Shaquille O’Neal is betting big on Joel Embiid next season.
The Big Diesel expressed on Monday that he believes the Philadelphia 76ers star is due for a resurgence. Shaq appeared on “The Stephen A. Smith” show and spoke about the Sixers, who recently added a certain player named LeBron James.
Shaq stated that the arrival of James and Jaylen Brown meant it’s time for Embiid “to step up.” The 4-time champion then went on to predict that Embiid will squash the injury bug and “dominate” the league next season.
“He better take some Tylenol, take some shots. … I’ll tell you what. I’ll call it right now,” Shaq told Smith. “He’s going to be healthy this year.”
Shaq took things a step further by claiming the 76ers center will be the best player in the league at his position.
“Joel Embiid is going to dominate this year,” Shaq continued. “You heard it here first. Joel Embiid will be touted as the best big man in the league. He’s passing up the Joker this year. He’s going to work this year.”
Do you agree with Shaq on Joel Embiid this season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/nOzWDsblYk
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 28, 2026
While Shaq knows more about the NBA game than virtually all armchair experts out there, it’s hard to take his claim seriously when it has to do with Embiid’s health.
Few have ever doubted Embiid’s talent. But the longtime 76ers franchise pillar has missed a total of 150 games over the last three seasons and has never played in 70+ games in any season throughout his career.
Shaq may have a doctorate, but the man is no medical doctor.
Top MLB reporter believes Dodgers are set to land Tarik Skubal
The Los Angeles Dodgers may become even greater villains in a few days time as the defending champions get linked to Tarik Skubal.
The Detroit Tigers pitcher has arguably been the biggest name in trade rumors ahead of the August 3 deadline. Despite Skubal wanting to stay in Detroit for the rest of the season, the Tigers’ recent slide could potentially be what pushes the team to deal the 2-time Cy Young winner.
MLB reporter Jeff Passan believes Skubal is set to become the next Hollywood attraction in Chavez Ravine. The ESPN veteran replied to a fan on social media Monday who asked if he believed the Dodgers would end up trading for Skubal.
“That’s my guess, yes,” Passan replied on Threads.
Passan on threads pic.twitter.com/6YTs8BmgQo
— Michael (@Wittman7) July 27, 2026
The Dodgers are already swimming in an embarrassment of riches when it comes to pitching. While injuries have ravaged the team’s rotation this season, the staff is still headlined by the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. Starters Justin Wrobleski, Eric Lauer, and Roki Sasaki also deserve to be mentioned.
Snell and Glasnow have barely pitched this season, but are both working their way back in the near future. Potentially adding Snell, Glasnow, and, supposedly, Skubal in the coming weeks would be borderline unfair for the rest of the league.
The Dodgers are far from the only NL contender linked to Skubal, which could make for a spicy trade deadline ahead.
Orioles-Tigers game interrupted by the wildest squirrel chase ever
The best action from Monday’s game between the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers came courtesy of one very elusive squirrel.
The squirrel spiced up the 7th-inning stretch by invading the field and forcing the grounds crew into panic mode at Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich. With the Orioles leading the Tigers 8-5, more than a dozen stadium staffers were needed to contain the feisty rodent.
The animal invader raced toward the right-field corner as if it were a double coming off the bat of Miguel Cabrera. Several crew members were able to get their hands on the squirrel and even threw towels at it to slow it down, but largely to no avail.
What a run from the squirrel pic.twitter.com/Auu3Co7yle
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) July 28, 2026
Tigers announcer Jason Bennetti gave his best Kevin Harlan impression with a terrific call throughout the ordeal.
Orioles outfielder Leody Taveras, on the other hand, tried to channel his inner Manu Ginobili but failed to contain the creature as well as the San Antonio Spurs legend did with a bat back in the day.
Leody Taveras really tried to catch the squirrel with his glove 😭 pic.twitter.com/6FgJFgCNQd
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 28, 2026
The squirrel was eventually contained, prompting home plate umpire Bill Miller to ask the stadium to give the grounds crew a round of applause. The crowd, clearly on the squirrel’s side, showered the field with boos instead.
The Looney Tunes-esque chase turned out to be all the action fans would get the rest of the way, as the Orioles held on for the 8-5 win.
Ex-Lakers champion gets arrested again for violating a court order
A former Los Angeles Lakers champion is having another run-in with the law.
Retired ex-NBA forward Isaiah Rider was arrested in Maricopa County, Ariz. last week for failure to comply with a court order, TMZ Sports reported on Monday. Rider got arrested on the misdemeanor charge and was expected to remain in county jail through Tuesday.
The court order stems from proceedings by Rider’s estranged wife Vanessa. TMZ adds that Vanessa initially filed for a protective order from Rider in July 2025, accusing the former NBA player of being aggressive and making threats against both her and their 15-year-old son on multiple occasions.
As part of the court order, Rider was required to not have any contact with his wife or son and also to stay away from their residence and his son’s school. But Rider was already arrested once this past December for violating the protective order, ultimately being charged with interfering with judicial proceedings. Rider was then arrested again days later after missing a hearing on whether the order should remain in place (it was indeed ultimately extended).
Now Rider, who claimed that Vanessa had filed for the protective order because he was moving forward with their divorce, has been arrested a third time in relation to the order. You can read TMZ’s full report on the situation here.
Nicknamed “JR,” Rider (who is now 55 years old) played in the NBA from 1993-2001, spanning stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Denver Nuggets. Most notably, Rider won the 1994 NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie with the Timberwolves and was then a member of the Lakers’ NBA championship team in 2001.
But Rider has also battled substance issues for much of his adult life, once being suspended by the NBA in 2001 for violating the league’s anti-drug policy and even serving time in jail in 2007 after pleading guilty to both cocaine and battery charges. Now Rider is in trouble with the law once again, mirroring the recent legal issues of another former Dunk Contest champion.
