Report reveals Trae Young’s plan amid rumored discontent with Hawks
Trae Young may want to take a dip in free agency waters once he gets the chance.
Young’s future with the Atlanta Hawks has become a growing topic of discussion this offseason. He is eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million extension this offseason. But despite posting four All-Star seasons in Atlanta thus far, Young has yet to receive an offer from the Hawks.
The 26-year-old is rumored to be “disappointed” with the Hawks over the team’s refusal to commit long-term to their star point guard.
Young will make just shy of $46 million next season and has a $49 million player option for the following year. According to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, Young has been “resigned for some time” to the idea of playing out the final guaranteed year of his Hawks contract and testing free agency in 2026.
The Hawks star is just entering his prime and has posted the gaudy numbers expected of a franchise player. Last season, Young averaged 24.2 points and led the league with his 11.6 assists per game. However, the 6’1″ guard’s defensive limitations have led to questions about his ability to be the centerpiece of a championship team.
Atlanta upgraded its roster this offseason, adding two proven playoff commodities in Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the team’s rotation. With Jalen Johnson returning from injury and Dyson Daniels continuing to emerge as a defensive star, Young and the Hawks have an opportunity to make some noise in what’s shaping up to be a shallow Eastern Conference.
But if the Hawks get far in the postseason, Young’s contract situation could get interesting.
Lakers player spotted training with sumo wrestlers
One Los Angeles Lakers role player is hopping on the trend of trying out some unconventional offseason workouts.
On Monday, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura went live on Instagram to share his real-time experience at what appeared to be a sumo wrestling dojo. The Japanese-born hooper did more than admire the rikishis’ technique and traditional loincloth garb.
One sumo wrestler taught Rui the proper stance. The NBA veteran then tried to mimic a forward-moving exercise while staying low to the ground.
Rui Hachimura training alongside sumo wrestlers in Japan this offseason 😤
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 11, 2025
(via rui_8mura/IG)pic.twitter.com/BclL9NdjT5
It’s possible that Hachimura was only there to soak in the atmosphere and pay his respect to sumo culture. But such training may have some real benefits on an NBA floor.
Hachimura serves as an undersized power forward for the Lakers. The 6’8″ stretch four is often tasked with defending bigger players and helping box out for rebounds. A sumo swim move could prove useful during a free throw line box-out.
The Gonzaga alum played in 59 games (57 starts) for the Lakers last season, averaging 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. Only LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves got more minutes than Rui during the 2024-25 campaign.
Hachimura is far from the first athlete to do a sumo crossover. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons also spent some time at a sumo wrestling dojo last year, and got humbled while trying to keep up.
Micah Parsons makes bold prediction about 1 incoming rookie
One incoming NFL rookie has already gotten the biggest stamp of approval from superstar linebacker Micah Parsons.
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter only played six snaps Saturday during his team’s preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills. But he sure made them count.
Carter generated three quarterback pressures on his three pass rushes. He also held his own against four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins in a couple of one-on-one matchups.
Abdul Carter only played in 6 snaps vs the Bills first team OL. It's probably safe to say this guy is a Top 5-7 player at his position already… Talk about RARE movement. pic.twitter.com/rjCopjJ3Wn
— Sanjit T. (@Sanjit__T) August 10, 2025
The clip above caught the eye of Parsons. The Dallas Cowboys star predicted that Carter could surpass every other pass rusher in the NFL if he reaches his potential.
“They asked me if Abdul could be a [sic] another great ! I told them he could be the best one!” Parsons wrote on X.
They asked me if Abdul could be a another great ! I told them he could be the best one! https://t.co/JonTy78MVu
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 10, 2025
Parsons may be considered biased, given that the Penn State alum shares an alma mater with Carter. However, many NFL scouts and front offices agree that Carter has that superstar gene similar to Parsons.
The Giants picked Carter with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after a standout final season at Penn State. The former Nittany Lion tallied 12.0 sacks and 24 tackles for a loss over 16 games as a junior.
Carter got into some controversy in April after he requested to use Lawrence Taylor’s retired No. 56 as his jersey number. Taylor refused and instead challenged Carter to make his own number famous.
After later asking for another Giants legend’s number, Carter finally settled on a different set of digits.
Eagles Pro Bowler Landon Dickerson carted off field with leg injury
Alarm bells sounded for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday as star offensive lineman Landon Dickerson suffered an injury during practice.
The four-year veteran got hurt late into the Eagles’ open practice held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. The injury occurred in front of a packed stadium as Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts connected with Saquon Barkley on a pass play. The estimated crowd of almost 60,000 went silent as the standout lineman stayed on the ground.
Dickerson was unable to put much weight on his right leg as he was helped off the field. He was later taken into the tunnel on a cart. Brett Toth replaced him in the practice session.
Eagles three-time Pro-Bowl guard Landon Dickerson was carted off the practice field Sunday night with a leg injury, unable to put any weight on it. pic.twitter.com/RIXP2TqipT
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 11, 2025
Landon Dickerson getting carted inside: pic.twitter.com/VQwzfRuf4M
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) August 11, 2025
The 26-year-old was on the Eagles’ injury report with a knee issue during Saturday’s private practice. Dickerson’s name was not on the injury report for Sunday’s practice event.
Dickerson plays a vital role for the Eagles’ offensive line, considered by many to be the best in the NFL. The Alabama alum has been the picture of health over his first four seasons in the NFL. He played and started in all but two games for Philadelphia over the last three seasons — all Pro Bowl campaigns for Dickerson.
Everyone said the same thing about Trey Lance’s latest preseason showing
Through two preseason games, Trey Lance is actually starting to garner some hype for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Just over a week after an impressive showing against the Detroit Lions, Lance was in fine form once again for the Chargers in Sunday’s 27-13 win over the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Ca. Lance went 7/14 for 55 yards and added 48 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
The performance was good enough to cause some to wonder if Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh had unlocked something in Lance. Several noted Harbaugh’s past success with quarterbacks, particularly Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco.
I bet Trey Lance reminds Jim Harbaugh of a QB that took him to a SB. https://t.co/sZH2Yee3pD
— Cory Yates (@CoryRAanalytics) August 10, 2025
Trey Lance is with the right program, right Coach, right QB room. No BS. No agendas. He has a chance to see what he can actually now become. Happy AF for him. #BoltUp
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) August 10, 2025
Watching Trey Lance work with a coach who actually knows how to develop a quarterback. – pic.twitter.com/brkF8JyHXL
— Lamont Anderson (@lamontala7) August 10, 2025
Trey Lance has been awesome thus far in preseason for the #Chargers. Had a veteran offensive coordinator recently tell me there’s not a better person to revitalize a QB than Jim Harbaugh.pic.twitter.com/SiADa499KV
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 10, 2025
Obviously, it will take more than two preseason appearances for Lance to prove that he should get another shot as an NFL starter. He does, however, seem to be making a real push to beat out Taylor Heinicke for the backup quarterback job.
Lance was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the 49ers, and there is a perception among some that he never quite got a fair shot to play due to the injury he suffered that ended his 2022 season two weeks in. He made his way to the Dallas Cowboys last season before landing with the Chargers on a one-year deal.
Lance is still just 25 and likely hopes to revive his career to some extent. The early returns suggest that it is possible Harbaugh might actually unlock something in him.
Rome Odunze was baffled by awkward interview question
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze was left baffled by an interview question during Sunday’s preseason game.
Odunze was interviewed on the Bears’ broadcast during what turned out to be a 24-24 tie against the Miami Dolphins. Bears commentator Stacey Dales asked Odunze a question about rookie wide receiver Luther Burden, but her choice of phrasing completely threw Odunze.
“Somebody on your staff told me if you and DJ (Moore) had a baby, it would be Luther Burden, because of the skillsets that you both bring,” Dales said.
Odunze’s face as the question was put to him was priceless.
Safe to say Rome Odunze was not expecting this from Stacey Dales. pic.twitter.com/8M4vkPZKYC
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) August 10, 2025
Even if Odunze ultimately came around to understanding the question, he definitely was not sure where the interview was going for a little while.
Odunze has some room to grow after a middling rookie season. He did end up with 54 catches for 734 yards and three touchdowns, and the Bears would probably be thrilled if Burden put up numbers similar to that. The rookie would presumably like to make a name for himself rather than be labeled the baby of two of his teammates, though.
Yankees have humiliating play in the field during latest loss
The New York Yankees are down horrific right now.
The Yankees lost again on Sunday, falling to the Houston Astros by a 7-1 final score and also making fools of themselves in the process. During the top of the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium in New York, N.Y., the Astros had runners on second and third with one out.
Houston infielder Ramon Urias came in as a pinch-hitter and proceeded to lift a shallow fly ball into left field. The ball dropped in the middle of three Yankees fielders (Cody Bellinger, Anthony Volpe, and Jazz Chisholm Jr.), allowing Jose Altuve, the runner on third, to score.
The sequence got infinitely more embarrassing when Bellinger picked up the ball and attempted to fire it back into the infield … only for the ball to slip and land about 15 feet to Bellinger’s right (and still on the outfield grass). Here is the ridiculous video.
Ramon Urias hits a rocket single and then Jose Altuve beats out the great throw from Cody Bellinger to score pic.twitter.com/4l5hc5GkMD
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 10, 2025
That was awful communication, awful awareness, and awful execution right there. Congratulations to the Yankees for pulling off the hat trick of ineptitude on just one play.
If there is any silver lining for the Yankees, the game was already out of reach at that point anyway, so the mishap only hurt their ego rather than their chances of actually winning. But nonetheless, that summed up the Yankees’ embarrassing recent downslide all too well.
The Yankees were sitting at 60-49 to begin the month of August and had a comfortable 2.5 game lead as the No. 1 Wild Card spot in the AL. But they have since gone an awful 2-7, knocking them down to Wild Card spot No. 3 (and now just half a game away from falling out of the playoff picture altogether).
Making matters worse is that it appears the Yankees only have themselves to blame for their recent skid. To go along with bullpen woes and inexplicable mental mistakes, the Yankees have now forgotten how to pick up a baseball as well.
Mariners mock Hall of Fame voter who left Ichiro off ballot
The Seattle Mariners are still holding a grudge against the unidentified voter who left Ichiro Suzuki off their Hall of Fame ballot.
The Mariners held a ceremony before Saturday’s game to retire Ichiro’s number following his recent induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. As part of that ceremony, the team went out of its way to take a shot at the still-unnamed voter who prevented Ichiro from being a unanimous selection.
Announcer Rick Rizzs, who was emceeing the ceremony, revealed that a “premium seat” had been reserved for “the one Hall of Fame (voter) who did not vote for Ichiro.” That seat was in the very last row of T-Mobile Park.
Don't worry, we saved a seat for *that* one voter… #IchiroHOF pic.twitter.com/tH994QopHf
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 10, 2025
Naturally, the capacity crowd got a good laugh out of the joke, then took the opportunity to boo the voter.
That voter still has not come forward seven months after the voting results were announced. Ichiro even invited the voter over to dinner, but recently admitted that offer has expired.
One could argue that the Mariners are going a little hard after the anonymous voter. On the other hand, it’s pretty tough to argue against Ichiro’s Hall of Fame credentials, and it is not as if they can call anyone out by name for the snub.
Kevin Durant takes shot at former team Thunder
Kevin Durant clearly isn’t giving his former team too much credit after their NBA championship victory.
The new Houston Rockets star Durant took a notable swipe at the Oklahoma City Thunder in a post to X on Sunday. Durant was in the middle of an argument with some trolls on the platform, and the topic of NBA Opening Night 2025 came up. Houston is set to face Oklahoma City to kick off the new NBA season, meaning that Durant will be in attendance as his former team the Thunder raises their championship banner.
“where will your mental be opening night when you watch the team that gave you everything raise a banner after you left them high and dry,” one troll wrote to Durant.
In response, Durant got petty and said, “Finally. It’s been 10 years, bout time they win one lmaooo.”
Finally. It’s been 10 years, bout time they win one lmaooo
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 10, 2025
Durant began his career with the Thunder (dating back to when they were still the Seattle SuperSonics) but notably left in 2016 to sign with the Golden State Warriors, where he went on to win two NBA titles. As such, Durant was clearly poking fun at Oklahoma City for taking this long after he had left to finally win it all.
Another X user then called out Durant for the swipe at the Thunder, calling it “low.” To that user, Durant defended himself by saying, “My god, talk a little s–t back. It’s not that serious” (profanity edited by LBS).
The former NBA MVP Durant did send his congratulations to the Thunder on the night that they won the championship, but even that sounded a little dismissive. A few years ago, Durant called out Oklahoma City and their fans over the way that they treated him after he left in 2016, and he obviously still doesn’t have much love for them, even now that they are NBA champions.
New angle emerges of Kelsey Plum’s flagrant foul for kicking opponent
Kelsey Plum might have deserved a straight red card during Saturday’s game against the Golden State Valkyries.
The Los Angeles Sparks guard Plum received backlash for her flagrant foul on Valkyries counterpart Veronica Burton. During the fourth quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Plum was defending Burton above the arc when Burton tried to make a move on her.
Plum responded by kicking Burton’s leg, causing Burton to fall hard to the ground. Burton was not at all pleased and popped up to confront Plum (who ultimately received a flagrant 1 foul for the kick).
Here is the video.
Kelsey Plum got a flagrant foul for karate kicking somebodypic.twitter.com/VlO7Z8gBGp
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) August 10, 2025
Another angle later emerged showing the reverse view of Plum’s kick. The angle showed Plum seemingly winding up and kicking Burton directly in the knee/shin area.
Nah Kelsey plum out of pocket for this – she’s frustrated and it’s showing pic.twitter.com/IACMlxN6sk
— Golden State Valkyries Fan Report (@valkyriesreport) August 10, 2025
The Sparks were down by 15 points at the time and went on to lose the game by a 72-59 final. Plum herself also had a nightmare outing, shooting 1/9 from the field for four points (to go along with four rebounds and four assists).
A four-time All-Star as well as a two-time WNBA champion, Plum’s game has largely spoken for itself in previous year. But during this season especially, which is her first with the Sparks, Plum has made headlines multiple times now for dirty and/or disrespectful moves (including during a game against the Indiana Fever last month).
Padres’ attempt at hidden ball trick backfired spectacularly
The San Diego Padres tried to pull the hidden ball trick on the Boston Red Sox during Saturday’s game at Petco Park in San Diego, Ca. Unfortunately for them, they screwed it up by not knowing the rules.
The Padres tried to catch the Red Sox flat-footed while Boston had runners at second and third and just one out in the top of the third inning. Padres third baseman Manny Machado had hoped to catch Jarren Duran off third base for an easy out and kept the ball while Masataka Yoshida was at the plate with a 1-1 count.
Veteran pitcher Wandy Peralta, however, seemingly did not know the rules well enough to execute the play. Pitchers are not allowed to stand on the pitching rubber without the baseball, but Peralta did just that, resulting in a balk and a run scored.
The Padres went for the hidden ball trick and balked 😂 pic.twitter.com/2rrIpdWHOO
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) August 10, 2025
When the hidden ball trick works, it is usually at a lower level of baseball, and often comes down to a baserunner simply not paying attention. We have also seen variants that involve faking out opponents. Generally, however, MLB players just aren’t going to fall for tricks like that.
The Padres would have been better off playing things by the book in this instance. In addition to allowing Duran to score, the balk advanced Trevor Story to third, allowing him to score on an ensuing ground ball.
San Diego did ultimately stage a comeback and won 5-4 in 10 innings. They got away with this one, and we probably won’t see them trying to pull another trick like this anytime soon.
Alex Caruso announces personal news
Alex Caruso is getting double the rings this summer.
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard Caruso announced his marriage to longtime girlfriend Haleigh Broucher over social media this weekend. The newlyweds shared posts to their respective Instagram Stories from their wedding.
Congratulations to newly weds Alex & Haleigh Caruso 💍❤️
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 10, 2025
Two rings in two months 👏
(via @AyoDos_11) pic.twitter.com/t1hCLxKmtY
Several of Caruso’s Thunder teammates were in attendance at the wedding, which occurred just two months after the team won the NBA championship. With training camp for next season set to begin in about a month-and-a-half, the time was ripe for Caruso and Broucher to officially tie the knot this week.
Caruso, 31, and Broucher, 28, reportedly began dating in college at Texas A&M University. The two then went public with their relationship in 2022.
Broucher has made a name for herself in her own regard as a contestant on the television show “Big Brother.” She appeared on Season 20 of the program in 2018.
As for the two-time All-Defensive selection Caruso, he averaged 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game overall last season for the Thunder. He received a four-year, $81.1 million extension from OKC last December and proceeded to win his second career championship with them in June (providing some fantastic viral moments along the way). Now Caruso is a married man as well to cap off an incredible run for himself over the last several months.
Quinn Ewers gets the meme treatment after terrible NFL debut
Quinn Ewers is viewed by many as a player who may have been a steal in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he did not look the part during his preseason debut with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Ewers played a significant portion of the Dolphins’ exhibition game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. It did not go well for the former Texas star, as he finished just 5/18 passing for 91 yards. Ewers also lost two fumbles in the 24-24 tie.
The first fumble came on 3rd-and-10 when the Dolphins had the ball deep in their own territory in the third quarter. Ewers knew pressure was coming and tried to scramble outside the pocket, but he failed to protect the ball. The turnover gave Chicago an instant red-zone possession.
Austin Booker has his 3rd sack which leads to a takeaway!
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2025
Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/eMhWhgaCiX
Ewers coughed the ball up again on 4th-and-15 late in the fourth quarter at around midfield. The Bears came with an all-out blitz, and the turnover gave them the ball near field-goal range.
Bears send the house and get the ball in good field position ‼️
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2025
Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ycrQ4RaXa2
Preseason games do not mean a whole lot, but the reps are important for a rookie quarterback like Ewers. Rather than proving that he should have been drafted earlier than the seventh round, Ewers became the subject of some ruthless memes:
Let's slow down on the Quinn Ewers hype talk. pic.twitter.com/ome18R0W7V
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) August 10, 2025
“Quinn Ewers should be #2”
— John Christo (@WhitePepperESQ) August 10, 2025
Ewers stans two drives later: pic.twitter.com/vDzuaD8P1I
Zach Wilson vs Quinn Ewers QB battle pic.twitter.com/8ZbrI9DvmH
— KG ❄️🏆 (@ShoutoutKG) August 10, 2025
“Zach Wilson sucks! Put in Quinn Ewers” pic.twitter.com/VfPoyxqtBf
— PROvo Hoops Hype (@PROvoHoopsHype) August 10, 2025
So how about that Quinn Ewers @MiamiDolphins fans? pic.twitter.com/uGSYP0i93n
— No Swim Zone (@noswimzone) August 10, 2025
It is difficult to judge a quarterback who is surrounded by second- and third-string players, but the Bears had their backup defensive players in when Ewers played also. The big takeaway for Ewers on Sunday was that he needs to do a better job of protecting the ball.
Ewers was at one point projected to be a first-round pick. He led the SEC with 31 touchdown passes last season, but he still fell all the way down the draft board.
Ewers’ agent blasted NFL teams for passing on the quarterback. The teams that did so probably were not regretting it on Sunday.
Cubs faced flooding issue before Sunday’s game
The Chicago Cubs dealt with some serious flooding in their clubhouse prior to Sunday’s game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.
Slow-moving storms caused heavy rain throughout the St. Louis area on Sunday prior to the St. Louis Cardinals’ scheduled Sunday night home game against Chicago. That rain was heavy enough to cause flooding in some low-lying areas, including the away clubhouse at Busch Stadium.
Cubs radio broadcaster Zach Zaidman shared a photo from the stadium showing water starting to pool at the bottom of the clubhouse steps.
The Cubs clubhouse in St. Louis is flooding because of the heavy rain outside pic.twitter.com/MtQFfC1FvP
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) August 10, 2025
Rain was forecast to clear up in the early evening, giving the Cubs and Cardinals a window to play the series finale just after 7 p.m. Sunday.
This does happen from time to time, even at baseball stadiums, when there is a lot of rain in a short period of time. The Cubs probably aren’t thrilled by the inconvenience, though.
Keith Hernandez roasts Astros with trash can joke
New York Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez is never going to let the Houston Astros live down their 2017 cheating scandal.
Hernandez made a crack about the 2017 Astros during Sunday’s game between the Mets and Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wi. One fan in attendance was dressed up in an Oscar the Grouch costume, complete with a trash can lid on his head.
Hernandez did not miss the opportunity to take a shot at the Astros, who infamously used trash cans to relay pitches to their hitters in 2017.
“Where’s the rest of the trash can? Is he giving signs?” Hernandez joked.
Keith 😭 pic.twitter.com/lUcky0tnjU
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 10, 2025
It has been eight years since the Astros used the trash cans, and roughly five-and-a-half years since it became public knowledge. Very few members of that 2017 team are still part of the Houston roster. Plus, the Astros were not even playing in this game. In spite of all that, the franchise itself will never live the sign-stealing down. That keeps getting proven over and over again.
Hernandez is not exactly one to pull punches. It’s not exactly a shock that he is the one making a comment like this.
Cal Raleigh solidifies MVP case by throwing out Chandler Simpson
Cal Raleigh has been building a very strong case all season to win AL MVP. What he did on Saturday really helped solidify his case.
Raleigh belted a 3-run home run in the third inning of his Seattle Mariners’ 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday. That gave him 44 home runs for the season. Perhaps even more impressive than his home run is what Raleigh did on defense.
The Mariners catcher caught Rays speedster Chandler Simpson trying to steal second base.
Cal Raleigh catches Chandler Simpson trying to swipe second base
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 10, 2025
What doesn't he do? pic.twitter.com/38C9NEQXDB
Simpson is recognized as the fastest man in baseball and has 32 stolen bases this season, though he has been caught nine times.
As if homering on Saturday and throwing out Simpson weren’t enough, Raleigh continued his excellence on Sunday. Raleigh clubbed a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning against the Rays on Sunday to make it 1-0.
No. 45 for Cal Raleigh! 💪 pic.twitter.com/1xXZKiWgNw
— MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2025
That was Raleigh’s 45th home run of the season. That ties him with Johnny Bench (1970) for the second-most home runs in a season by a catcher. Salvador Perez set the record with 48 in 2021, and that record is in jeopardy of being broken by the Mariners slugger.
Pete Carroll reacts to Geno Smith flipping off a fan
Las Vegas Raiders coach Pete Carroll stuck up for quarterback Geno Smith after Smith was photographed flipping off Seattle Seahawks fans during Thursday’s preseason game.
One Seahawks fan confronted Smith while holding a sign that read “Bigger Bust — Geno Or JaMarcus Russell?” during Thursday’s game between the Raiders and Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. Smith paused to flip the fan the double bird as he took the field, and was joined by teammate Maxx Crosby.
On Sunday, Carroll was asked about the incident, and he made it clear that he is on Smith’s side.
“Did you see what the sign said?” Carroll asked. “Next question.”
Pete Carroll has his QB's back 💯 pic.twitter.com/9c75vLbP96
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) August 10, 2025
Comparing a quarterback who has carved out an 11-year NFL career to one of the most notorious draft busts ever is certainly a bit much, and that is why Carroll is taking Smith’s side. That does not change the fact that both Smith and Crosby could face NFL discipline for directing an obscene gesture toward a fan.
Smith threw for 4,320 yards for the Seahawks last season with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He moved to the Raiders during the offseason after essentially forcing his way out of Seattle in a contract dispute.
Adolis Garcia makes Catch of the Year candidate with his bare hand
Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia made one of the best catches of the year during Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, and you may never see anything like it again.
The Rangers were leading 2-0 in the top of the second inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, when Nick Castellanos lifted a shallow fly ball to right field. Garcia came charging in and attempted to make a basket catch, but the ball bounced off his glove, then his leg and ricocheted into the air.
It looked like the ball was going to fall in for a base hit, but Garcia reached out with his bare hand and somehow prevented it from hitting the ground.
Replays showed that the ball miraculously never hit the grass.
HOW DID DOLI STAY WITH IT!? 😱 pic.twitter.com/aaGoyF5bzR
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 10, 2025
The play still would have been impressive even if Garcia had caught the ball with his glove, but the bare-handed element made it truly remarkable.
It seemed unlikely that any catch would top the one that Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar made on Saturday, but Garcia has definitely submitted his “Catch of the Year” entry.
Dak Prescott had 7-word message for Rams owner
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a confident seven-word message for Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke following their preseason meeting on Saturday.
Video emerged of Prescott greeting Kroenke on the field following the Rams’ 31-21 preseason win over Dallas at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Ca. The quarterback was caught predicting an NFC Championship showdown between the Rams and Cowboys.
“We’ll meet y’all in the NFC Championship,” Prescott could be heard saying.
Dak Prescott shook hands with Rams owner Stan Kroenke, and then told him "We'll meet y'all in the NFC Championship." pic.twitter.com/KvDzpd0KAI
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) August 10, 2025
Obviously, Prescott has plenty of faith in his own team to stage a deep playoff run in 2025. The Rams were knocked out in the Divisional round last season by the Philadelphia Eagles, but easily could have reached the NFC Championship themselves. From that perspective, at least, Prescott’s prediction is not totally out of left field.
Most people will think the Cowboys are the weak link in this prediction. They are coming off a 7-10 season, albeit one marred by injuries. However, the start of camp is off to a rocky start that does not bode well for the rest of the year.
These comments have definitely backfired on some others before. Prescott will be hoping this one does not age poorly.
James Cook pulled strange move for Bills’ first preseason game
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook did not play in Saturday night’s preseason contest against the New York Giants, which was expected given that he has been holding out for a new contract. Cook’s approach to the game was a bit unusual, however.
Cook was in full uniform and took part in warmups at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. He even took at least one snap with the first-team offense during 11-on-11 drills, according to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg.
Some wondered if Cook’s decision to dress for the game meant there had been progress in contract talks between the Bills and his representatives. But Cook did not play, and Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that was the running back’s choice.
“We wanted him to play. I wanted him to play, I don’t really want to go into it any further,” McDermott told reporters after Buffalo’s 34-25 loss. “There’s really no change at this point in time from what it was going into this weekend and the game today. He warmed up, like I said. But at this point, due to his situation and the position he’s in, he’s not willing to play.”
Sean McDermott says he had a "good conversation" with James Cook but "We wanted him to play. I wanted him to play."
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) August 9, 2025
He added: "There is really no change to what it was going into this weekend… Due to the position he is in, he wasn't willing to play."
Testy#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/lpHlkm9qKL
Cook’s agent suggested that Cook was in full uniform in order to show his loyalty to the Bills.
“I don’t know what else he can do to show he only wants to play for the Bills,” agent Zac Hiller told Getzenberg. “Hopefully we can figure this out and refocus all energy on bringing a Super Bowl to Buffalo.”
Several Bills starters played in the game, though Josh Allen did not see any action. McDermott could have just as easily said the plan was for Cook to sit, but the coach instead made it clear that was not the case.
Cook is making $5.27 million in the final year of his rookie contract this season. He participated fully in the first full week of training camp but then began sitting out last Sunday. When reporters asked what led to the change, Cook would only repeat the same one-word response.
Cook has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons and made the Pro Bowl both years. He led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns last year and has been the focus of Buffalo’s running game.
There was speculation that negotiations between Cook and the Bills might move in the right direction after another star running back signed an extension this week, but it appears the two sides are still at an impasse.
