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Charles Barkley has request for Adam Silver

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Charles Barkley made a request of Adam Silver while talking on TV Wednesday night.

TNT televised Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. The Pacers pulled off an epic comeback and won despite being down by 14 points with under three minutes to play.

The fervor surrounding the Pacers’ big win led Barkley to speak his message to the NBA commissioner while talking on TNT after the game. Barkley pleaded for Silver to allow Tyrese Haliburton’s father John to attend Games 3 and 4 of the series, which are scheduled to be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

“I want to reach out to Adam Silver tomorrow. It’s time to let Mr. Haliburton back in the building,” Barkley said. “Adam, I’m asking you, hey, my man paid his dues. He did something really, really stupid. But he’s been punished. And I’m asking you and the Indiana Pacers to let Mr. Haliburton back in the building for Game 3 and 4.

“Listen, he paid his dues. It shouldn’t be indefinite. He’s been punished enough. He would never do anything that stupid again. So, Adam, you know how much I love you … you all let Mr. Haliburton back in the building for Game 3.”

John Haliburton was banned from attending the Pacers’ playoff games following a highly publicized incident that took place between him and Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the postseason. Haliburton taunted Antetokounmpo after Tyrese made a shot to eliminate the Greek Freak’s Bucks in the first round.

Two days after the confrontation, a report had said that John Haliburton had been asked not to attend the team’s playoff games to avoid being a distraction. Barkley feels that John has served his time and should be allowed back to watch his son play in person. The Pacers and NBA probably could make that happen, so long as Haliburton doesn’t sit courtside, and they keep things quiet.

Brutal stat shows just how bad the Knicks choked in Game 1

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The New York Knicks choked away Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., on Wednesday night. One brutal statistic illustrates just how big of a collapse it was.

The Knicks were leading 119-105 with 2:51 left in the game, so it seemed like they had it in hand. In fact, teams had gone 0-970 when down by 14 points or more in the final 2:50 of regulation in the playoffs over the last 27 postseasons.

But the Knicks stopped defending Aaron Nesmith, who got hot and proceeded to make five three-pointers plus two free throws. Tyrese Haliburton made a shot to tie things and send it to overtime, where the Pacers went on to win 138-135.

So if that felt like a historic choke job by the Knicks, it’s because it was. That’s right up there with the Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead to the Patriots. Playoff teams don’t blow 14-point leads with under three minutes to go at home … yet the Knicks did it.

Indiana now improbably leads the series 1-0. This sort of victory has become their thing this postseason, as they’ve come back from trailing against opponents multiple times.

Tyrese Haliburton does Reggie Miller choke sign after epic shot in Game 1 win

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Tyrese Haliburton certainly knows his basketball heritage.

The Indiana Pacers star Haliburton was the hero in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. During the contest at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., Indiana erased a 113-98 lead by New York with under five minutes left, closing the quarter on an improbable 27-12 run to force overtime.

It was Haliburton who hit the biggest shot of the night, splashing an absurd stepback two-pointer to tie the game as time expired in regulation. Haliburton’s shot came out of a scramble situation after Knicks forward Mikal Bridges poked the ball away, and the ball ended up taking a dramatic bounce off the rim and before finally falling down through the net.

After hitting the shot, Haliburton did the iconic Reggie Miller choke sign to celebrate (with Miller in the building calling the game for TNT to boot). Here is the video.

Haliburton and the Pacers both thought that the shot was a three-pointer and thus began to celebrate as if they had won the game. But replay review showed that Haliburton had a foot on the line, so the game went into OT instead.

Fortunately, the Pacers were able to take care of business in the extra period, earning the 138-135 win. Haliburton ultimately finished with a team-high 31 points to go along with four rebounds and 11 assists as Indiana stole the Game 1 victory from New York on the road.

After the game, Haliburton explained his decision to hit the choke sign, popularized by the Pacers icon Miller during the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals (also against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden).

“Everyone’s been wanting me to do it,” Haliburton told TNT’s Allie LaForce. “I was gonna hold it for the right time that felt appropriate. And then it went into overtime. So we’re gonna have to save it for later.”

The two-time All-Star Haliburton luckily did not have to eat crow with the early celebration as the Pacers still pulled out the victory in the end. Indiana teammate Aaron Nesmith also deserved a whole lot of credit for helping the team even get to Haliburton’s shot in the first place — Nesmith unbelievably hit six straight three-pointers in the final five minutes to claw the Pacers from 15 down to within just one possession of the Knicks.

Ultimately, that epic Game 1 victory by Indiana will go down as just the latest exhilarating miracle win that they have managed to produce just this postseason alone.

Actor Jon Hamm helps Knicks on live-ball play in Game 1 vs. Pacers

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A very Madison Square Garden thing happened at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

During the first half of Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, famous actor Jon Hamm offered an unexpected helping hand to the Knicks. In the second quarter, the Knicks were on offense and forward OG Anunoby had the ball poked away by Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.

The loose ball went straight for the sideline, and it looked like Haliburton had an opportunity to save the ball and ignite a fast break. But Hamm prevented that from happening by grabbing the loose ball with two hands. As a result, the Knicks were able to retain possession.

Take a look at the video.

Knicks games at Madison Square Garden, particularly during the NBA playoffs, are known for the large amount of celebrities who are always in attendance. There is even a dedicated section known informally as “Celebrity Row” spanning the closest first few rows in the arena.

As for Hamm, the award-winning actor best known for his starring role in the AMC television series “Mad Men,” he is a well-known Knicks fan (though he is originally from St. Louis, Mo.). It is unclear how exactly Hamm, 54, became a fan of the Knicks. But we do know that he has a strong dislike of sports teams from Boston, which may explain his affinity for New York teams.

Peyton Manning issues statement reacting to Jim Irsay’s death

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Peyton Manning is reacting to the death of the man who gave him his very first opportunity in the NFL.

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Wednesday that their longtime owner Jim Irsay had died at the age of 65. As a result, social media was immediately flooded with tributes to Irsay.

One such tribute came from the retired Hall of Fame quarterback Manning. In a post to his Instagram page on Wednesday, Manning said that he was “heartbroken” by Irsay’s death and called Irsay “an incredibly generous and passionate owner.”

“I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay’s passing,” wrote Manning. “He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched.

“His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten,” Manning continued of Irsay. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community. He will be missed. Jim, rest in peace my friend, #18.”

Irsay, who took over as principal owner, CEO, and chairman of the Colts in 1997, made Manning the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. The two enjoyed a very successful partnership with each other during Manning’s time in Indianapolis from 1998-2011. That included eight division titles, 11 playoff berths, and two trips to the Super Bowl (including a win in Super Bowl XLI during the 2006 NFL season).

Manning would also blossom individually under Irsay’s tutelage. During his time as a Colt, Manning won four NFL MVP Awards, made eight All-Pro teams, earned 11 Pro Bowl nods, and set an all-time record with 49 touchdown passes in the 2004 season (which would later be broken by Tom Brady with 50 for the New England Patriots in 2007 before being reclaimed by Manning with 55 in 2013 as a member of the Denver Broncos).

Now 49 years old, Manning did have a bitter split with the Colts after openly criticizing various moves that Irsay and the Indianapolis front office had made at the time. Irsay was also later accused of taking cheap shots at Manning in the media.

But the two men were ultimately able to patch up their differences, and Manning was inducted into the Colts’ Ring of Honor in 2017 (also getting his No. 18 jersey retired by the team). Now that Irsay has died, Manning has nothing but fond memories about the time that they spent with one another.

Breakdown shows how close Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic MVP vote was

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is officially the 2024-25 MVP, and he appears to have won the award fairly comfortably as well.

The NBA announced on Wednesday (after a lengthy wait) that the Thunder guard Gilgeous-Alexander had won this season’s Most Valuable Player Award. Gilgeous-Alexander beat out Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who finished second, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished third.

Shortly after the news broke, the NBA also shared the voting breakdown of the MVP race. Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic received all votes for first and second place (with the former earning 71 first-place votes and the latter earning the other 29).

You can see the full voting breakdown below.

Gilgeous-Alexander, a first-time winner, averaged a league-leading 32.7 points per game this season to go along with 5.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Jokic had a slightly more well-rounded line with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. But Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder were much more successful this season with 68 wins compared to 50 wins by Jokic’s Nuggets.

Those who voted for Gilgeous-Alexander are also likely feeling vindicated with the Thunder now coming off a second-round playoff series victory over the Nuggets. But Gilgeous-Alexander himself, even now that he is an official NBA MVP, has not been winning any new fans lately with his increasingly controversial style of play.

Jim Irsay had notable final social media post before his death

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Jim Irsay had the state of Indiana on his mind all the way up until the end.

The longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Irsay died Wednesday at the age of 65. In a statement announcing his death, the Colts said that Irsay died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon.

Irsay shared his final social media post earlier in the day on Wednesday as well. On Wednesday morning, Irsay took to his X page to post a good-luck message to the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and their owner Herb Simon.

“Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!” Irsay wrote.

The Pacers are currently in the Eastern Conference Finals (for the second straight year). They are facing the New York Knicks, a historic rival, and tipped off Game 1 of the series at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. on Wednesday evening.

Simon and the Pacers later released a statement about the death of Irsay.

Irsay had a deep connection with the local community in Indiana, especially their many sports teams (professional and otherwise). That was particularly so with the Pacers, who play in the same city as the Colts (with their two home stadiums located less than a mile away from each other).

The former Super Bowl champion Irsay also had a highly-regarded reputation for his generosity in the Indianapolis area, which many noted in various online tributes to Irsay after his death on Wednesday.

Sports world reacts to death of Jim Irsay

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Jim Irsay is receiving tributes from all throughout the sports world after his death at age 65.

The sad news broke on Wednesday evening that the longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Irsay had died. The Colts announced the news in a statement to social media, calling Irsay a “caring and unique spirit” who served as “a steward of the game throughout his 50-plus years in the league.”

Social media was immediately flooded with tributes to Irsay from several prominent sports figures. That included a number of current and former NFL stars as well as former Colts players.

Ex-Colts star wide receivers Reggie Wayne and TY Hilton also had particularly emotional reactions to the news of Irsay’s death.

Colts legend Peyton Manning reacted to the news as well, saying over Instagram that he was “heartbroken.”

Others on social media proceeded to share their favorite moments and stories about Irsay.

Irsay originally served as vice president and general manager of the Colts from 1984-96. He then took over as the principal owner, chairman, and CEO of the team after his father Robert Irsay’s death in 1997. During Irsay’s time in charge, the Colts won 10 division titles, earned 16 playoff berths, and made it to two Super Bowls (with a victory in Super Bowl XLI during the 2006 season).

While Irsay’s personal demons were a part of his story as well, he will more so be remembered for his track record of success and incredible generosity over his many decades in the public eye.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has great reaction after losing out on MVP award

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Giannis Antetokounmpo had a great reaction after losing out on winning the NBA MVP award.

The NBA on Wednesday announced that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had won the league MVP award. They included the results of the voting, which showed the Oklahoma City Thunder guard won easily, as he captured 71 out of 100 possible first-place votes. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic received the other 29 first-place votes and finished second.

Antetokounmpo finished solidly in third place. He received 88 votes for third, while Jayson Tatum captured 11 third-place votes and finished in fourth.

In response to a post from NBA reporter Shams Charania announcing Gilgeous-Alexander as the winner, Antetokounmpo shared some sarcasm.

“What??!!!! Did shams got (sic) hacked no way this is true??!!” Antetokounmpo humorously wrote on X.

Some wrongly took the post to believe Antetokounmpo was upset over the voting results. Those people likely though Antetokounmpo felt either he or Jokic should have won. The truth is it was well known for a while that Gilgeous-Alexander was going to win the award, so the announcement came as no surprise to Antetokounmpo or anyone else.

Antetokounmpo is a two-time NBA MVP winner. This is the fifth year in a row that Antetokounmpo has finished either third or fourth in voting. This is Gilgeous-Alexander’s first time winning the coveted honor.

Jim Irsay has died at age 65

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Longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has died at the age of 65, the team announced on Wednesday.

The Colts shared a statement via social media on Wednesday that left the sports world shocked. The team said that Irsay “passed away peacefully in his sleep” on Wednesday afternoon.

“We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. Jim’s dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed,” the team said in its statement.

Irsay’s X account was active prior to his death. Earlier in the day Wednesday, he had sent a note of encouragement wishing the Indiana Pacers well in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks.

“Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!” Irsay had written.

Irsay inherited the Colts from his father Robert, who had acquired the franchise in 1972. Robert moved the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis, and put son Jim in charge as general manager in 1984. He became the team’s owner in 1997 following the death of his father.

Beyond his career in football, Irsay was known for his philanthropy. He also was known for having developed a large collection of sports and entertainment memorabilia that he would often put on display through shows.

Irsay was absent from the public in late 2023 amid a health issue. He denied that he had been hospitalized for an overdose, and the team said then that he was dealing with a severe respiratory illness.

Great photo shows Nicolas Cage as John Madden for upcoming movie

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A movie about the life of John Madden is in the works, and we are getting a glimpse of how it will look on screen.

Last week, Amazon MGM Studios released a promotional photo for the movie. The photo shows actor Christian Bale in character as late former Raiders owner Al Davis, and actor Nicolas Cage in character as late former Raiders coach Madden. Both men have their hands out and are flashing Super Bowl rings.

Bale wearing that sweater, those glasses and with that hairstyle really conjurs up images of Davis. What about Cage though? How does he look as Madden?

Here is another photo that’s even better as it has a side-by-side of Cage with the real Madden.

What do you think of Cage dressed as Madden? Did they get it right? Was Frank Caliendo not available? If you ask me, Cage dressed as Madden looks a lot like when Ryan Reynolds wore a fat suit for the overweight high school version of Chris from “Just Friends.” Still, the film is being directed by David O’Russell, who knocked it out of the park with “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle.” It probably will be a film sports fans won’t want to miss.

NBC reportedly bids for major MLB TV package

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NBC is reportedly trying to diversify its sports offerings by getting involved in Major League Baseball.

NBCUniversal has entered the bidding for the package of Sunday night and playoff games previously held by ESPN, according to Joe Flint and Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal. NBC also has interest in the rights to the Home Run Derby, which were previously held by ESPN.

NBC’s plan would be to air the games on their network, plus streaming service Peacock. It would give the network year-round sports programming to go with “Sunday Night Football” and its new NBA package, which will begin airing next season.

The report states that NBC is offering much less money than the $550 million ESPN previously paid annually for the package. That is partly because the network is not seeking the radio and international broadcast rights that ESPN also held.

ESPN has held the rights to “Sunday Night Baseball” since 1990, but 2025 will be the final year of their coverage. The two sides were at odds over the value of the rights package, and ESPN decided to walk away by exercising an opt-out clause.

It is not clear who else might bid for ESPN’s old package. MLB might prefer NBC no matter what, as it gives them a highly-visible partner that has invested in sports on a large scale. It would also be a nod to the sport’s past, as NBC was one of the league’s top broadcast partners from 1947 to 1989 and has been the home of 37 different World Series.

Timberwolves player thinks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘gets calls’

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At least one Minnesota Timberwolves player appears to be buying into the narrative that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets a favorable whistle from officials.

Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels made the comment Wednesday, one day after his team lost 114-88 to the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at Paycor Center in Oklahoma City, Ok. McDaniels said the Timberwolves had been prepared for Gilgeous-Alexander to draw plenty of fouls, and that there was little the team could do about it.

“We expected it. Myself knowing coming in, he gets calls,” McDaniels said. “Not everything is going to go our way. Nothing we can do about it. Just got to keep playing.”

McDaniels added that the Timberwolves need to find a way to be less physical, and that the team has no choice but to “switch our gameplan of how the refs are calling the game.”

McDaniels does not necessarily sound angry about Gilgeous-Alexander drawing fouls, but is simply treating it as a reality of facing the star guard. At times, Gilgeous-Alexander has faced criticism for leaning too hard on free throws to score, and it seemed to annoy one of McDaniels’ teammates in Game 1.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points in the Thunder’s Game 1 win, with 11 of them coming at the line. McDaniels was limited to 24 minutes and fouled out with 5:21 to go in the fourth, with five of his six fouls drawn by Gilgeous-Alexander. He and the Timberwolves will have to figure out a new approach going forward.

Former North Carolina coach claims school made big change for Bill Belichick

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Former North Carolina coach Mack Brown is claiming the Tar Heels made a significant change to accommodate his successor, Bill Belichick.

In an appearance on SiriusXM College Sports on Tuesday, Brown predicted that Belichick will be a success at North Carolina. He noted that the program is giving Belichick ample support, and indicated that the school even lowered its academic standards to enable Belichick to land better recruits.

“He’s arguably the best coach over. They’ve committed money to it. They’ve helped him with academics. They’ve lowered those standards some. There’s absolutely no reason that they shouldn’t be successful,” Brown said of Belichick.

Based on Brown’s statement, North Carolina made some significant changes to lure Belichick to the school. Those changes have continued as the school looks to help him navigate some of the new problems he has encountered.

North Carolina probably did not expect the recent drama that Belichick has gotten involved in to be a factor when he signed on. It makes sense that they would be concerned about that given how much effort they went to in order to land him. Talent acquisition, at the very least, still should not be a problem.

Reporter addresses Paul Skenes trade rumors

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to such a bad start this season that questions about the future of Paul Skenes have circulated.

The Pirates won on Wednesday to improve to 17-33, which has them as the fourth-worst team in the league. They seem to be so far away from contention that people have wondered whether it would make more sense for the team to trade Skenes in order to bring in a haul of prospects.

On Wednesday, New York Post reporter Jon Heyman posted on X to address the matter. He said that he communicated with a Pirates source who said a trade of Skenes was not happening.

“No chance, no way, no how,” a source reportedly told Heyman about a possible Skenes trade.

Trading Skenes this early in his career would be the ultimate bad message to send to Pirates fans. Skenes has already proven to be among the best pitchers in MLB, and he is a big attraction when he pitches. If the team were to trade him, there would likely be a fan revolt, as it would call into question the team’s goals and long-term plans. The team’s owner already has taken plenty of heat from the fans as is.

Skenes went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA last season. He won NL Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star team despite not being with the Pirates for the full season.

This year, Skenes has gone 3-5 with a 2.44 ERA over 10 starts with 62 strikeouts in 62.2 innings. He has additional appeal thanks to his popular girlfriend, which is another deterrent to trading him.

The Pirates still have several years with Skenes under team control to turn things around before they would need to seriously consider trading him. Skenes is not scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2029 season.

Quinnen Williams explains his negative post about Aaron Rodgers’ release

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New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams sought to clear up a social media post he made in the wake of the team’s decision to move on from QB Aaron Rodgers.

On. Feb. 9, amid initial reports about the Jets informing Rodgers of their decision to move on, Williams sent a pair of posts on X that signified displeasure with the move.

“Another rebuild year for me I guess,” Williams wrote in the since-deleted post.

On Wednesday, Williams admitted he had been “immature” to send the post, but that it was simply down to how tired he is of losing. He added that conversations with coach Aaron Glenn have given him great confidence that the franchise is heading in the right direction.

“I think it was an immature thing for me to do in the moment,” Williams said. “I’m just trying to grow as a leader, as a player, as an adult. Talking to (Glenn) just gave me super confidence that we’re going in the right direction to win football games.”

The Jets drafted Williams in 2019, but he has never been on a winning team. One can hardly blame him for being fed up with how things are going within the organization, and the lack of a quarterback solution was never going to help matters.

Ultimately, the Jets did land a quarterback, much to the delight of a few of their players. It remains to be seen if the optimism will hold once the new season gets underway.

Ryan Clark addresses accusation from ex-teammate

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ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark fired back at critics on Wednesday, but confirmed a claim about his family in doing so.

Clark shared photos of his oldest daughter Jaden on social media Wednesday. He confirmed that she is biracial, and questioned why that matters.

“I didn’t know this was news, but since other people want to talk about her… This is my first born Jaden. My God she’s beautiful. All of her!” Clark wrote on social media. “I fell in love with her the first time I ever saw her, & I’ve loved her every day since. We grew up together. We cried together, laughed, fought… She is all mine and I’ve always been so proud to be her father.

“Maybe, the news in light of this week is that she’s biracial. So? She is a perfect part of my God given experience, & the sum of those experiences make me who I am!”

Clark’s critics would say it matters because of his criticism of Robert Griffin III. After Griffin opined that Angel Reese “hates” Caitlin Clark following Saturday’s Sky-Fever game, Clark argued that Griffin is unqualified to say that about Reese because Griffin is married to a white woman and therefore does not understand black women like Reese.

Clark having a child with a white woman could undermine his criticism. That was the point his former teammate Le’Veon Bell was making when he called Clark out for the comments Clark made about Griffin.

Clark has been open about the fact that his oldest daughter is biracial. During the protests following George Floyd’s death in June 2020, he discussed on ESPN how he had a child with a white woman when he was 19.

“Raising this child in the house with my African-American wife, my other two children, they’re all the same to me,” Clark said at the time. “I treat them all the exact same way. My daughter being half of something that I’m not doesn’t keep me from loving her.”

Some of Clark’s ESPN colleagues reportedly want him disciplined for his comments about Griffin. This just adds another angle to the controversy.

Stan Verrett will be let go by ESPN

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Stan Verrett’s time at ESPN is coming to a close.

Verrett’s contract will not be renewed by ESPN when it expires this year, Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspiegel reported on Wednesday. Verrett plans to remain with the network until his deal runs out later this summer.

The longtime ESPN anchor confirmed the news via his X profile and teased some upcoming projects.

“My life is in Los Angeles is now. Nothing but gratitude for 25 years of living a dream at ESPN. I’m not retiring. Really excited about the future and some incredible opportunities. Stay tuned,” Verrett wrote on X in response to the news being reported.

The news of Verrett’s run at ESPN ending after 25 years comes amid the network’s decision to move production of all “SportsCenter” shows back to Bristol, Conn., which is where the network’s headquarters are located. Verrett had moved out to Los Angeles, Calif., along with co-host Neil Everett, to anchor the 10:00 p.m. PT “SportsCenter” from the network’s Los Angeles studios in 2009. Verrett made it clear in his X post that he wants to remain in Los Angeles.

In addition to hosting “SportsCenter,” Verrett has hosted ABC’s college football studio coverage.

On Monday, ESPN released a tribute video amid the final Los Angeles edition of “SportsCenter.”

Ben Johnson had perfect response to controversial Caleb Williams story

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A recent story suggested quarterback Caleb Williams tried hard not to go to the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft, but coach Ben Johnson is determined to turn that into a positive.

Johnson was asked Wednesday about the revelation that Williams and his father sought ways to avoid landing with Chicago in the lead-up to that draft. Most notably, Williams’ father Carl described the Bears as “the place quarterbacks go to die,” but Johnson was not resentful of the characterization.

“I love it. I love it,” Johnson said of Carl Williams’ comment. “I love the opportunity to come on in and change that narrative. That’s where great stories are written.”

Johnson obviously will not be throwing his quarterback under the bus, especially when he is a new head coach who has had nothing to do with what has gone on in Chicago previously. It also helps that he is a credible offensive coach with a huge track record of success with the Detroit Lions. That resume indicates that Williams’ fate might differ from previous Bears quarterbacks.

The Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passer in a single season in franchise history, a stat that has dogged them. Jared Goff did it three times under Johnson in Detroit. Perhaps the narrative is about to change. If it does not, the criticism toward Williams, which has escalated in light of the recent revelations, will start to intensify.

Report: Jason Kelce played key role in saving tush push

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Jason Kelce may not be a member of the Philadelphia Eagles anymore, but he reportedly played a key role in preserving their signature play on Wednesday.

Several individuals associated with the Eagles, including owner Jeffrey Lurie, made arguments against banning the tush push during Wednesday’s owners meeting, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Also involved was Kelce, a former Eagles center, who made a passionate argument against banning the play.

A tush push ban was supported by a majority of the league, with 22 owners voting to outlaw the play. However, 24 votes were needed for the ban to pass, and the interventions of Kelce and his fellow presenters may have saved those last two votes from going against them.

One reason Kelce made his presentation is that there have been claims that injuries he suffered as a result of the play factored into his decision to retire. He made clear recently that those claims were not true, and he wanted to set them straight.

The Eagles took quite the victory lap after the play’s survival was confirmed. Kelce certainly deserves some plaudits for his role in that, it would appear.

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