Draymond Green takes swipe at Heat over Jimmy Butler
Draymond Green is letting the Miami Heat hear it this week over his frontcourt partner.
The Heat made the surprising decision over the weekend to trade away 3-and-D forward Haywood Highsmith. Though Highsmith had some upside as a lengthy shooter and had even gotten some run during their 2023 NBA Finals run, Miami opted to let him go in a pure salary dump move.
That led to a reaction from the Golden State Warriors star Green. In a post to Threads, Green tied the situation into his current Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler, the former Heat star.
“Y’all (internet experts) wanted Jimmy to come off the bench behind dude, and 5 months later, the Heat traded him for a bag of chips,” Green wrote. “That’s wild.”
Draymond Green trolls the Heat after trading Haywood Highsmith pic.twitter.com/YYayNIZfvH
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 18, 2025
Since no one, Internet experts or otherwise, would actually argue in good faith that Highsmith, a 5.4-ppg scorer for his career, deserved to start over Butler, a six-time NBA All-Star, when they were still teammates in Miami, Green’s remark reads as a bit more of a swipe at the Heat. It is true that Miami once wanted Highsmith to start over Butler. But there is some important context there that Green was missing (or chose to overlook).
Before the Heat ultimately traded Butler to the Warriors last February, Butler was causing big problems for Miami in an attempt to force a trade, and he was suspended by the team multiple times for detrimental conduct as a result. After one such suspension, Butler reportedly walked out of shootaround after being informed that the Heat planned to start Highsmith over him for Butler’s first game back (read the details here). That lone game is the only context where Butler coming off the bench behind Highsmith ever came up.
So while Green’s remarks there were somewhat intellectually dishonest, we at least know that he has his teammate Butler’s back. This not even the first time that Green has stood up for Butler without doing proper research first.
Former NBA Three Point champion announces his retirement
One veteran NBA guard has pulled up for his last triple.
Marco Belinelli announced in a post to his Instagram page on Monday that he is retiring as a player. Belinelli is hanging them up after 13 total seasons played in the NBA and another nine seasons played overseas.
“I gave it my heart,” he wrote in his caption. “Every piece of me. Every single day. Basketball gave me everything… and I gave it everything I had. Saying goodbye isn’t easy. But it’s time. I carry with me every emotion, every sacrifice, every cheer. Thank you to those who always believed. To the next generation—I leave a dream. Make it count.”
Now 39 years old, Belinelli began his professional career in 2002 playing in his native Italy at just 16 years old. He was then drafted by the Golden State Warriors with a first-round pick in 2007 (No. 18 overall) and carved out a nice NBA career for himself as a sharpshooter.
Belinelli was a 37.6 percent overall three-point shooter in the NBA and played for Golden State, Toronto, New Orleans, Chicago, San Antonio, Sacramento, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. He won the NBA’s Three Point Contest at All-Star Weekend in 2014 as a member of the San Antonio Spurs and was also on the Spurs team that won the NBA championship later that very same year.
Though he last played in the league for the Spurs during the 2020 Orlando bubble, Belinelli had spent the last five seasons back at Virtus Bologna, his boyhood club in Italy. He won two league championships as well as a EuroCup title with Virtus Bologna over the last half-decade and was even named Lega Serie A MVP in 2024. Now Belinelli is ready to call it a day after a very fruitful multi-country career (during which he earned the respect of some surprising NBA names as well).
Cam Ward has altercation with Pro Bowl teammate after trash talking him
Tennessee Titans practice got heated Monday as things escalated between the team’s rookie quarterback and one of its veteran defenders.
No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward showed off his red zone prowess on the practice field with a corner touchdown pass to Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley. With the offense fired up by the play, Ward went up to Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and gave him a shove from behind.
Ward then reportedly taunted him further, which pushed Simmons to shove him back. The Titans’ offense took issue with the retaliation, which led to a scrum between both sides.
Most notable thing from Titans practice today: Cam Ward and Jeff Simmons getting physical
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) August 18, 2025
Redzone drill. Ward hit Ridley for a really nice corner TD. Offense was all hype. Ward went up and gave Simmons a shove in the back, then hit him with the 🫢🫳 celebration.
Simmons gave…
Given the known bond between Ward and Simmons, the altercation at practice was likely nothing to worry about for Titans fans. Simmons, who has been a team captain since 2021, has taken Ward under his wing in what feels like a big-brother-little-brother relationship.
If anything, the altercation showed the level of intensity that play can reach during practice.
The training has so far paid off for Ward. The Titans QB has been turning heads during the preseason with some wicked passes.
Justin Herbert spotted out with famous singer
Justin Herbert may be trying to pull a Josh Allen.
The Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback Herbert drew attention online this week after being spotted out with famous singer Madison Beer. The Daily Mail reports that Herbert was on the set of Beer’s new music video, which was being filmed in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles, Calif.
Herbert and Beer were seen having a conversation with each other in several viral photos. You can see those photos at the link here.
Beer, 26, is a singer and songwriter who first rose to prominence after Justin Bieber posted a link to one of her cover videos on YouTube. She has since gone on to become a Grammy-nominated artist with over 40 million followers on Instagram and nearly 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Beer is known for such hits as “Reckless” and “Make You Mine” and is set to release her third studio album later this year.
As for the former Pro Bowler Herbert, 27, he is about to enter his sixth season in the NFL but has yet to put it all together as a truly elite quarterback. Though Herbert led the Chargers to an 11-6 finish last year, they once again failed to win a playoff game and will still be looking to get over the hump in the 2025 campaign.
But when it comes to Herbert’s off-the-field life, he may now be able to rival the Buffalo Bills reigning MVP quarterback Allen, who recently married a very famous woman of his own.
Ketel Marte apologizes for taking time off
Ketel Marte is issuing his mea culpa this week.
The Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Marte spoke with reporters on Monday before a home game against the Cleveland Guardians. During his remarks, Marte apologized for taking time away from the team to begin the second half of the season.
“Initially, the plan was to come back on the first day and be with [the] team and practice,” said Marte through a translator. “[I] want to publicly apologize for not backing that up. [I] obviously knew the circumstance, knew the situation. [I] got frustrated, [I] was in a bad spot. But [I] truly want to apologize for [my] teammates and everybody else that is supporting the team. [My] goal is to always be a Dback and support for the organization for as long as [I] stay here.”
Marte also stressed his belief that he is a good teammate and added that the maintenance days that he has taken off otherwise have been part of an injury management plan with the team. You can see his full remarks here.
Diamondbacks All-Star Ketel Marte addressed the media prior to today’s game at Chase Field. He is in the lineup today. pic.twitter.com/xFF9D7brDc
— José M. Romero (@RomeroJoseM) August 18, 2025
The 31-year-old Marte is the longest-tenured Dbacks player and is having a nice season with a .297 batting average to go along with 23 home runs and 56 RBIs (which was good enough to make his third career All-Star team). But Marte has appeared in just 92 of 125 games thus far for Arizona this season, having dealt with both hamstring and groin injuries in recent months.
Marte also drew scrutiny by taking unpaid time off to return to the Dominican Republic after the All-Star break. He missed the first three games of the second half, apparently to get right mentally after his house in Scottsdale, Ariz. got burglarized while Marte played in July’s MLB All-Star Game. Marte also dealt with an incident in June during which an opposing fan taunted him over his late mother in the middle of a game.
A report emerged last week claiming that Dbacks teammates were getting frustrated with Marte’s missed time, even supposedly blaming him for the team’s post-All-Star skid that led to a trade deadline sell-off (full details here). Now Marte is issuing a public apology, which is probably the right move given that he is still under contract with Arizona through at least 2030.
Matthew Judon signs with AFC team in free agency
Four-time Pro Bowl selection Matthew Judon has landed with one of his former team’s division rivals in free agency.
Judon has agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Judon will have the chance to earn up to $6 million as part of the deal.
Judon had gone unsigned all summer after spending the 2024 season with the Atlanta Falcons. He did not quite deliver the numbers he did in his prime, though he still tallied 5.5 sacks while playing in all 17 games for Atlanta.
Notably, this means Judon will get the chance to face the New England Patriots twice a year. The veteran pass rusher had three of the best seasons of his career with New England, but the Patriots traded him last offseason amid a contract dispute. There were also some suggestions that many associated with the Patriots were not exactly sad to see Judon go.
In total, Judon has 72 career sacks over the course of his nine-year NFL career.
The Dolphins are pretty deep at edge, with Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson, and Jaelan Phillips already on their roster. Judon may face some serious competition for snaps, but the Dolphins are certainly paying him as if they’ll make significant use of him.
Cubs make drastic move with struggling Kyle Tucker
The Chicago Cubs are desperate to get outfielder Kyle Tucker right at the plate, and are taking a major step with the struggling star.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after the first game of Monday’s doubleheader that Tucker will effectively be benched for a while amid his struggles at the plate. Counsell said the team’s hope is that giving Tucker some time off will hopefully “reset” him.
Craig Counsell on Kyle Tucker getting booed: “The fans are frustrated and Kyle is frustrated. When you make outs, it doesn’t look good. He’s trying. It's just not clicking. We’re going to have to take a step back here, just give him some days off to reset him, hopefully.”
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 18, 2025
The Cubs parted with a huge haul during the offseason to bring Tucker in from the Houston Astros. The move paid off initially, but the four-time All-Star has been trapped in a huge slump since the start of July. Entering play Monday, he was hitting just .195 with one home run in his last 37 games. He showed no sign of turning things around during the first game of Monday’s doubleheader, as he went 0-for-4 in a 7-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
The last straw for many Cubs fans came Sunday, when Tucker failed to run out a ground ball and got heavily booed by the Wrigley Field faithful.
Tucker put up superstar numbers in each of his last two seasons with Houston, so he is capable of much better. The fact that he is struggling so badly in a contract year is bad for him and for the Cubs, who went all-in on him for 2025 despite having no guarantee they will be able to keep him long-term.
Luka Doncic’s fitness gains attention during fan encounter
Evidence continues to pile up suggesting that Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has been taking his offseason fitness work very seriously.
Italian basketball blog La Giornata Tipo relayed a story from an Italian fan who had a chance encounter with Doncic in Slovenia. The fan wrote that he did not initially recognize Doncic due to the Lakers star’s significant weight loss, and that Doncic was “super fit.”
This is becoming a common refrain. Doncic has dedicated himself to a serious fitness regimen this offseason, and the results appear to be paying off in a big way. Other recent reports have suggested that Doncic shed a massive amount of weight since the NBA season ended.
Doncic was previously listed at 230 pounds, but his fitness has been a recurring concern dating back to his time with the Dallas Mavericks. There were times even after being traded to the Lakers that he did not appear to be in peak physical shape.
Doncic is currently overseas for Eurobasket, where he recently avoided a serious injury after giving everyone a big scare. That might be the only thing that could stop Doncic ahead of the upcoming season.
Ian Rapoport names notable NFC team as Micah Parsons trade suitor
The Dallas Cowboys have been adamant that they will not trade Micah Parsons, but longtime NFL reporter Ian Rapoport thinks there is a notable team that will enter the mix if that changes.
Rapoport was asked during “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday about the rumors that the Green Bay Packers have interest in acquiring Parsons. He said he thinks the Packers would be “really interested” if the Cowboys decided to shop Parsons on the trade market.
“I would expect that the Packers would be among the teams interested, and I would say I would expect the Packers would be among the teams really interested,” Rapoport said. “They have paid Jordan Love. They have a bunch of really good young players. There’s some guys like Quay Walker they have not paid. They have money to spend and they are really good.
“So, that’s the kind of team that I would say, if Micah was gonna be traded, that he’d be going to. Because it’s like, ‘We need one final piece. This guy is an absolute dog. He’s worth all the money, so pay him all the money.’”
🧀 “I would expect that the Packers would be among the teams interested.”
— CheeseheadTV 🧀 (@cheeseheadtv) August 18, 2025
“That’s the kind of team that I would say, if Micah was going to be traded, that he’d be going to.”
–@RapSheet on the Micah Parsons rumors via @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/gllXYTPUUp
Parsons is set to make just over $24 million this season under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. He is seeking a new deal ahead of Week 1, and he publicly requested a trade on Aug. 1.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones immediately downplayed the trade request and suggested the two sides will reach a resolution. Jones has also been critical of Parsons over what the 82-year-old claims was a handshake agreement between the two sides earlier in the offseason.
The Packers went 11-6 last year and lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the opening round of the playoffs. They have more than $30 million in salary cap space, so they would have plenty of money to sign Parsons to a contract extension if they were to acquire him.
Parsons, 26, has been one of the best pass rushers in the NFL since Dallas drafted him in 2021. The 25-year-old has 52.5 sacks through his first 63 NFL games, including 12 in 13 games in 2024.
Ryan Day has telling response to Michigan punishment
Ohio State coach Ryan Day essentially went out of his way to avoid having to discuss the NCAA’s punishment over the Michigan sign-stealing scandal.
Day held a press conference on Monday, but before any reporters even had the chance to ask, the Buckeyes coach went out of his way to shut down questions about the topic. He opened his media availability by telling reporters he would not offer any comment on the Michigan punishment.
Ryan Day begins his press conference saying he's not going to comment on Friday's Michigan announcement.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) August 18, 2025
Obviously, Day is entitled to stay out of the discourse, since it doesn’t directly impact Ohio State. However, the Buckeyes are Michigan’s chief rivals, and there was speculation when the sign-stealing scandal broke that Day’s family might have had a part to play in revealing it.
There were also claims that Ohio State played a role in sharing Michigan’s signals with other Big Ten schools, but Day firmly denied that.
The overwhelming feeling among many is that Michigan got off pretty easy with the NCAA by avoiding a postseason ban. Perhaps Day feels the same way, but he is not going to say so publicly.
Sophie Cunningham’s sister calls out WNBA officials
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has not been shy about criticizing WNBA officials, and that trait seems to run in the family.
Cunningham’s sister Lindsey had a critical message for the WNBA after Sophie was injured during the second quarter of the Fever’s game against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. Lindsey Cunningham wrote on X that the league was “pathetic” for “fining players for commenting on your poor officiating” instead of “hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes.”
.@WNBA maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating & more about hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic. Praying for you .@sophaller 🙏🏼❤️
— Lindsey Cunningham (@Lbreezzyy) August 17, 2025
Sophie Cunningham suffered a knee injury when Connecticut’s Bria Hartley drove into her knee while trying to get to the basket. Critics felt that Hartley dove into Cunningham’s knee instead of making a basketball play.
this is the play where sophie got injured https://t.co/hLjcNxn4Q0 pic.twitter.com/Btbq6PkLPu
— cc akgae (@clrkszn) August 17, 2025
Cunningham was in significant pain and had to be helped off the court.
Cunningham is frequently critical of WNBA officiating and has already received multiple fines this season for it. Presumably, her sister’s commentary will not cost her any money, but one has to be wonder if Sophie’s thoughts are the same.
The Fever came from behind to beat Connecticut 99-93 in overtime on Sunday. The win moved them to 19-16 on the year and back into sixth place in the standings.
Little Leaguer had savage comment about meeting Juan Soto
A Canadian Little League player had a savage comment about the prospect of meeting New York Mets star Juan Soto.
Soto and the Mets were participants in Sunday’s Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., which gives Little League World Series participants a chance to get up close with MLB players. As such, Little Leaguers were often asked about players they particularly wanted to meet, and Soto was a frequent answer.
Misha Lee, a pitcher and first baseman for the Canadian team representing Vancouver’s Little Mountain, felt differently. After his Australian counterpart named Soto, Lee was not nearly as excited.
“Eh, he’s kind of overrated,” Lee said of Soto. “He’s alright.”
“Eh he’s kind of overrated.”
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 18, 2025
This Little Leaguer had no interest in meeting Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/ttW60qYBZm
Lee eventually said he would prefer Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. That makes sense considering Vancouver’s geographic proximity to Seattle.
Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets during the offseason, a number that would raise expectations for anybody. The criticism started to mount after he got off to a relatively slow start, which did not help matters. The Mets’ recent struggles have not helped either.
Soto is still hitting .251 with 30 home runs, and we’re guessing most Little Leaguers would not turn down the chance to meet him. Still, he is clearly not everybody’s favorite.
Andrew Luck shares regret about his early retirement
Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck made an honest admission about his infamous decision to retire from the NFL at age 29.
In a new interview, Luck said he did not regret the decision to retire early in 2019. He did, however, harbor regrets over the way he made the decision.
“I’ll always have guilt about how it ended,” Luck told Zak Keefer of The Athletic. “I let my teammates down.”
Luck infamously retired after the Colts’ third preseason game in 2019, and only told his teammates of his decision right before that game. His decision to retire at that point in the offseason left the Colts in a bind without a quarterback, and even drew backlash from some Colts fans.
Luck reaffirmed that a series of injuries sapped his passion for the game, as had been reported at the time. In the same interview, he added that when he was younger, he had initially intended to play “until I was 40 or 45” before injuries got in the way.
Now that six years have passed, Luck has been largely forgiven for the manner of his retirement. He is also starting to get involved in football again, this time off the field.
Report: Ex-CMU head coach Jim McElwain may have lied about Connor Stalions
The NCAA has finally confirmed that Connor Stalions snuck onto the Central Michigan sideline in order to help Michigan scout a future opponent, and there are now questions about whether former CMU head coach Jim McElwain let it happen.
In an announcement on Friday of its findings from the Michigan sign-stealing scandal, the NCAA acknowledged that Stalions engaged in in-person scouting from the CMU sideline early on in the 2023 season by disguising himself in Chippewas-issued coaching gear. Investigators claim, however, that Stalions snuck onto the sideline “in part to decipher Michigan State’s signals, but also to help a Central Michigan staff member with play calling.”
That means Stalions had a connection at CMU, which was already quite obvious because of the gear the former Michigan staffer was seen wearing. At the time, McElwain said CMU was “totally unaware of” the possibility of Stalions having been on the Chippewas’ sideline. He also said he would not condone the spying “in any way shape or form.” You can listen to McElwain’s full comments here.
According to a new report from Gino Vicci of CBS News Detroit, a CMU football staffer made a “direct request” to Stalions for help during the team’s season opener on Sept. 1, 2023. The report claims the CMU staffer is the one who initiated contact with Stalions and that McElwain “was likely aware of and approved of the arrangement to secure Stalions a sideline credential and outfit him in CMU-issued gear.”
All of that would help explain why Central Michigan is also facing the possibility of NCAA sanctions.
McElwain retired as the head coach at CMU after last season but remains with the program as a special assistant to the director of athletics. He went 33-36 in six seasons with the Chippewas. McElwain was the head coach at Florida and Colorado State prior to that.
Quinshon Judkins may not join Browns anytime soon
Despite being in the clear legally, running back Quinshon Judkins does not appear close to joining the Cleveland Browns.
Judkins remains officially unsigned and the Browns have not yet been able to reach a deal with him. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that the two sides may not agree on a contract until the NFL investigation into Judkins is concluded.
Judkins had been arrested in July for an alleged incident with his girlfriend, but prosecutors declined to press charges. Despite that, there still appears to be some haggling between Judkins and the Browns. The fact that Judkins could still face a six-game suspension from the NFL could certainly be a complicating factor in those talks.
With the new season looming, Judkins is the only 2025 draft pick in the league who remains unsigned. The Browns had previously told him to deal with his legal issues before trying to sort out a contract.
Judkins played for Ohio State last year and was a part of the team’s national title win. He rushed for 3,785 yards and 45 touchdowns during his college career, including a career-high 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman with Ole Miss in 2022.
Report: Bengals turned down notable trade offer for Trey Hendrickson
The Cincinnati Bengals are open to trading Trey Hendrickson, but it sounds like they have attached a high asking price to the star pass rusher.
Hendrickson is set to earn roughly $16 million this season in the final year of his contract, and he has been seeking an extension. With the two sides at an impasse, the Bengals have reportedly been engaging in trade talks centered around Hendrickson.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Bengals are seeking a young defensive player and a 2026 first-round pick in exchange for Hendrickson.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network said on Monday that Cincinnati has already received at least one offer that included a first-round pick. That was before the NFL Draft, and the Bengals were not looking to trade Hendrickson at the time. Pelissero suggested the asking price might be slightly lower now.
“Back before the draft the Bengals had an offer that was a second-round pick and change. At that time, they weren’t willing to engage with that. They wanted a first-rounder,” Pelissero said. “My understanding is that the price has softened or at least changed a little bit. At this point, the Bengals would want a player — somebody who could maybe even replace some of the production they got from Trey Hendrickson — as well as a pick in the 2026 draft.”
The latest on Trey Hendrickson, the #Bengals and a potential trade from @gmfb @nflnetwork: pic.twitter.com/ALeJBzqHk0
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 18, 2025
Those reports are a bit contradictory, as Russini says the Bengals are still seeking a first-round pick while Pelissero claims “the price has softened.”
Hendrickson has said he is willing to take less money in some ways on a new deal, but he accused the Bengals of low-balling him. There have been reports that the issue is Cincinnati does not want to offer any guaranteed money beyond the 2025 season.
Hendrickson was a First-team All-Pro last season and finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. He has 35 sacks over the past two seasons, which was the most in the NFL during that span. Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks each season.
Browns officially name Week 1 starting quarterback
The Cleveland Browns have officially called off their quarterback competition.
As expected, Joe Flacco has been named the starting quarterback of the Browns. The team announced on Monday that Flacco will start in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Joe Cool leading the way 🫡
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 18, 2025
We've named Joe Flacco our starting quarterback.
Flacco had been the heavy favorite to win the starting job all offseason. The Browns claimed they were holding an open competition between Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Flacco is the only one of the group who has not missed time with an injury, which likely made head coach Kevin Stefanski’s decision even easier.
Flacco previously spent time with the Browns in 2023, so he already knows Stefanski’s offense. The former Super Bowl MVP was surprisingly good that season, going 5-1 during the regular season and leading Cleveland to the playoffs.
The 40-year-old Flacco played in eight games for the Indianapolis Colts last season and finished with 1,761 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
While Sanders was extremely impressive in his preseason debut with the Browns, there was never much of a chance the fifth-round pick was going to enter the season as the starter. It did not help that he has dealt with multiple injuries.
The Browns are looking to turn things around after going 3-14 last season. Stefanski is in his sixth season as Cleveland’s head coach and could easily be fired if the team does not show significant improvement. He clearly feels that Flacco gives the Browns their best chance of winning.
Patriots linked to 2 star players after GM talks potential trade
The New England Patriots are armed with the salary cap space needed to acquire a star player ahead of Week 1, and general manager Eliot Wolf has left that possibility open.
Wolf was asked at training camp on Monday if he would be willing to trade either a first- or second-round draft pick to improve New England’s roster this year. He, without hesitation, responded that he would.
“It’s just doing what’s best for the team. If there’s a player out there that we feel like can help us and it would cost that, then we would consider doing that,” Wolf said.
Eliot Wolf says the Patriots would be willing to give up a 1st or 2nd round pick to make their team better this season:
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) August 18, 2025
“Sure – just doing what’s best for the team. If there’s a player out there that we feel like can help us and it costs that, then we would consider doing that.”… pic.twitter.com/CHmnkUKjXy
There are a few star players who are still seeking contract extensions from their respective teams. Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was the first who came for many fans after Wolf made his comments.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe noted that Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson might make more sense for the Patriots.
Eliot Wolf said he’s prepared to make a big trade if need be, and even part with a first-round pick. While many will probably think of Terry McLaurin, IMO the Patriots could use another pass rusher like the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson pic.twitter.com/VCsvJXEbz2
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) August 18, 2025
McLaurin formally requested a trade from the Commanders last week. The Bengals have reportedly been entertaining trade offers for Hendrickson. Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons has also requested a trade, though it seems like there is very little chance of him being dealt. The same can be said for longtime Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward, who is also openly unhappy with his contract situation.
The Patriots have nearly $60 million in salary cap space, according to Spotrac. That is the most in the NFL. They also have some questions surrounding their current No. 1 receiver, which is why many view them as a fit for McLaurin.
It is possible that none of the aforementioned players will be moved ahead of Week 1. At the very least, Wolf seems like he wants rivals to keep New England in mind.
All-Pro CB Xavien Howard signs with new team
Xavien Howard has found a new home with the 2025 NFL season quickly approaching.
Howard has signed a deal with the Indianapolis Colts, his agent announced on Monday.
Reunited and it feels so good. Congratulations to @aurasportsgroup client @Iamxavienhoward on signing with @Colts pic.twitter.com/xDg9wAPaGE
— David Canter (@davidcanter) August 18, 2025
Howard spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Miami Dolphins before being released in March. The 30-year-old has 29 interceptions in his career and led the NFL in picks twice. His 29 interceptions since 2017 are the most in the league during that span.
Howard has been named to the Pro Bowl four times and was a First-team All-Pro in 2020. He signed a 5-year, $90 million extension in April 2022 and was going to count for $25.9 million against the cap in 2025, which is one of the reasons the Dolphins decided to move on.
There have also been some off-field issues for Howard in recent years. Howard was sued in 2023 by a woman who claims he made secret sex tapes of her and then distributed them to at least one person without the woman’s permission. Howard was later accused of sending a minor sexually explicit content of the child’s mother because Howard was angry that the woman refused to get an abortion.
Howard was sued in October 2022 by a woman who claimed the cornerback knowingly gave her an STD. That lawsuit was later dropped. In late 2022, Howard was sued by his former fiancée and mother of his three children. The second lawsuit stemmed from a domestic violence incident that led to Howard’s arrest in 2019.
The Colts have had issues with their secondary that they tried to address by signing cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Camryn Bynum in free agency. They also drafted former Minnesota cornerback Justin Walley in the third round. If Howard is healthy and in shape, he should have a chance to play a significant role.
Details emerge about Isaiah Bond’s contract with Browns
Former Texas star wide receiver Isaiah Bond may have gone undrafted earlier this year, but his first NFL contract does not reflect that.
Bond has officially signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported on Monday that the Browns have given Bond a three-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $3.018 million.
Other teams also wanted to sign Bond after news emerged last week that he would not face charges stemming from the assault allegations that were made against him. The Browns had kept tabs on Bond all along and were aggressive in pursuing him, according to Cabot.
As Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes, the deal that Bond signed is consistent with what a draft pick would get toward the end of the second or start of the third round.
At just over $3 million guaranteed, #Browns undrafted free agent Isaiah Bond gets a guarantee that fits in between the final pick of the second round ($4.2 million) and the first pick of the third round ($1.6 million). pic.twitter.com/dwXPGlJddM
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 18, 2025
Browns general manager Andrew Berry issued a statement on Monday addressing the team’s decision to sign Bond. Berry said the Browns did “extensive research” into the allegations against Bond that included a polygraph test.
“We’ve spent much of the last calendar year getting to know Isaiah as a player and professional and much of the last four months gaining a full understanding of his legal situation,” Berry said.
“On the legal side, we have done extensive research that includes but is not limited to hearing from both sides of the case and receiving the results of an independently administered polygraph test.
“Before the allegations, we also spent a great deal of time with Isaiah during the draft process on campus, at the Combine and at our facilities. His time at Alabama with Tommy Rees also weighed heavily on our assessment of his ability to operate successfully in a professional environment if brought into our organization.
“It is these touchpoints and more that gave us the necessary insights to make this decision. With his legal matter resolved through a no bill by a grand jury, Isaiah is focused on learning from this experience while moving forward with his life and career.”
Browns EVP of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry on the team’s decision to sign Isaiah Bond: pic.twitter.com/t8DeCFgzeb
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 18, 2025
Bond consistently denied the allegations against him and even attempted to counter-sue his accuser for defamation. He had originally been projected as a potential Day 2 draft pick, but he ultimately went undrafted. He had already generated some negative publicity when he disappointed by his own standards at the NFL Combine.
A highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, Bond committed to Alabama before transferring to Texas for the 2024 season. He had 34 catches for 540 yards and 5 touchdowns with the Longhorns last season.
