The Las Vegas Raiders picked Fernando Mendoza as their new quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, head coach Klint Kubiak announced that veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will start the season as the team's primary quarterback.
Key Facts
Fernando Mendoza was selected first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Raiders.
Kirk Cousins, age 38, was named the starting quarterback for the Raiders at the start of training camp.
Cousins is on a five-year contract worth $172 million, signed in April.
Cousins played most of the reps with the first team during the offseason program.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said Cousins "deserves" the starting role for playing well recently.
Mendoza expressed support for the team’s decision and said his main focus is winning.
Tom Brady, a Raiders minority owner and football operations advisor, reportedly influenced the decision to start Cousins.
The starting role could change if Mendoza performs better than Cousins during training camp.
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New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart spoke positively about wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who recently rejoined the Giants. Beckham, a former star with the team, has not played much recently but is now serving as a leader for the younger players during training.
Key Facts
Odell Beckham Jr. was originally drafted by the Giants in 2014 and played with them until 2018.
Beckham has three Pro Bowl appearances, two second-team All-Pro honors, and a Super Bowl ring.
He has nearly 8,000 career receiving yards and 60 touchdowns.
Beckham has not reached 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2019.
He has not played in any NFL games since 2024 with the Miami Dolphins.
Currently, Beckham is third on the Giants' depth chart at wide receiver.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart praised Beckham’s leadership and experience during training camp.
Beckham’s return is expected to help the team more with mentoring than big plays on the field.
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UCLA head coach Bob Chesney discussed the possibility of expanding the College Football Playoff (CFP) beyond the current 12 teams. He compared college football’s playoff size to other sports and suggested more teams could have a chance to compete for the title.
Key Facts
The College Football Playoff currently includes 12 teams.
Coach Chesney’s 2025 team at James Madison was one of those 12 teams.
He noted that other sports let about 45%-70% of teams into their playoffs.
Only about 8% of college football teams make it into the CFP.
Chesney wants more college football teams to have a chance in the playoffs.
He recognized football is different because players have fewer games and more physical strain.
Chesney mentioned the impact of adding more playoff games on bowl games and local economies.
He plans to help UCLA reach the postseason under the current rules.
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Geno Smith, a veteran quarterback, has returned to the New York Jets, the team that originally drafted him in 2013. He aims to help improve the Jets' offense under new coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich.
Key Facts
Geno Smith was drafted by the Jets in 2013 as a second-round pick.
Smith has played for the Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders since then.
The Jets have not had a winning season since 2015.
Aaron Rodgers was the Jets' quarterback in 2023 and 2024.
Aaron Glenn is the Jets’ head coach, with a 3-14 record last season.
Frank Reich is the new offensive coordinator for the Jets.
Smith wants to make the most of offensive players like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall.
Smith focuses on daily effort and team work to improve performance.
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Draymond Green responded to comments suggesting his teammate Stephen Curry is "tired of star chasing," saying the remark was taken out of context. Green emphasized that Curry speaks openly about what he feels and denied that Curry is tired of pursuing top players to join the Golden State Warriors.
Key Facts
NBA reporter Marcus Thompson II said Curry is "probably tired of star chasing," referring to the Warriors’ efforts to recruit LeBron James.
Green pointed out that "probably" means it is uncertain, and the full context of the comment matters.
Green believes Curry would openly say if he were tired of pursuing stars because Curry likes tough conversations.
The Warriors tried to recruit LeBron James, with some players, including Green, talking to him during a golf trip.
LeBron James ultimately joined the Philadelphia 76ers, not the Warriors.
The Warriors also considered pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown, but neither joined them.
The Warriors gained a new player, Yaxel Lendeborg, who won the NBA Summer League MVP award.
Golden State will continue with Curry, Green, and coach Steve Kerr, who are the core of their championship team.
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The Philadelphia Eagles traded A.J. Brown and now DeVonta Smith is their main wide receiver. Dontayvion Wicks is gaining attention as the likely second option for quarterback Jalen Hurts, showing strong performance in practice and building good chemistry with the team.
Key Facts
A.J. Brown was traded from the Eagles to the New England Patriots in June.
DeVonta Smith is the Eagles’ top wide receiver (WR1) for 2026.
Makai Lemon is a rookie wide receiver drafted 20th overall by the Eagles in 2026.
Dontayvion Wicks was traded to the Eagles in April from the Green Bay Packers and signed a one-year, $12.5 million extension.
Wicks performed well in practice, including catching difficult deep passes despite being covered by defenders.
In 2024, Wicks had a high drop rate but improved significantly in 2025.
Wicks and the new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion have a connection from Green Bay, helping Wicks adapt quickly.
Along with Smith, Lemon, and Brown, the Eagles have a strong group of receivers and tight ends for the 2026 season.
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis said he is focused on playing well this season and does not believe the team plans to lose on purpose to get better players in the future. Willis aims to succeed with new wide receivers, even though the team lost star players Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. He said hard work and dedication are his main focus.
Key Facts
Malik Willis is the Miami Dolphins’ new starting quarterback.
Willis practiced with Dolphins receivers before training camp.
The Dolphins lost key wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Willis will work with wide receivers Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, and Tutu Atwell as his main targets.
None of these receivers have reached 1,000 yards in a season yet but have shown potential.
The Dolphins are expected to win 2-4 games this season while rebuilding.
Willis spent the last two seasons as a backup quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.
Willis said he is ignoring outside opinions and focusing on improving his game.
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Baker Mayfield, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, feels "disrespected" after not reaching a new contract deal with the team. He plans to finish the last year of his current three-year, $100 million contract and stay focused on playing well.
Key Facts
Baker Mayfield wanted a contract extension before training camp but did not get one.
Mayfield feels undervalued despite his contributions to the Buccaneers.
He has made the Pro Bowl twice since joining Tampa Bay in 2023.
Mayfield replaced Tom Brady as the Buccaneers' quarterback.
He led the team to back-to-back NFC South division titles.
Mayfield was optimistic about his career and believes he is a "franchise quarterback."
He told teammates the contract situation will not be a distraction.
Mayfield says money is not his motivation and focuses on helping the team win.
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The Detroit Tigers are expected to trade pitcher Tarik Skubal before the MLB trade deadline on August 3. While some experts predict the trade will happen quickly, a former general manager suggests the team may wait until closer to the deadline to get the best deal.
Key Facts
Tarik Skubal is a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan said the Tigers would trade Skubal around July 30 or 31.
Former GM Jim Bowden believes the Tigers should wait until the last days before the deadline to trade Skubal.
Skubal’s 2024 season stats include a 7-5 win-loss record and a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts.
Skubal will become a free agent after this season and is unlikely to sign a long-term contract with Detroit.
The Tigers have a 51-58 record through July 29, making their playoff chances uncertain.
Skubal and teammate Casey Mize are considered the best pitchers available for trade on the market.
The trade deadline for MLB teams to make deals is August 3, 2024.
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Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward had a challenging first NFL season with 3,169 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. With new coach Robert Saleh and new teammates, Ward says he has improved and feels ready to perform better this year.
Key Facts
Cam Ward was the No. 1 overall pick in the last NFL draft.
Last season, he completed about 60% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
The Titans finished with a 3-14 record last year.
Tennessee selected wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 pick this year.
The Titans hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach.
Ward has played college football at Incarnate Word, Washington State, and Miami.
Ward says he is the same person but has become a better football player.
He feels confident in the new coaching staff and expects to play faster and smarter.
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Indiana Hoosiers football team, coached by Curt Cignetti, is preparing for the upcoming season after winning a national championship. The team now faces higher expectations and has increased its player budget and recruitment efforts.
Key Facts
Indiana Hoosiers won a national championship last season with an undefeated record.
Head coach Curt Cignetti said the team is now a target because of their success.
The team's new player budget is $32.4 million, much higher than last season.
They recruited Monshun Sales, a highly rated wide receiver, over big programs like Texas and Alabama.
Cignetti focuses on daily player development and maintaining high standards.
Several key players were not present during spring training, and the coach looks forward to building the team.
The team’s recent wins happened in major games like the Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl.
Cignetti views the championship season as a foundation but emphasizes looking ahead.
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The Philadelphia Phillies are interested in trading for Daulton Varsho, an outfielder from the Toronto Blue Jays, ahead of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. Varsho has shown strong hitting ability and could help the Phillies improve their team as they compete for a playoff spot.
Key Facts
The Phillies are in a close wild card race in the National League this season.
They want to strengthen their team before the trade deadline.
Daulton Varsho plays for the Toronto Blue Jays as an outfielder.
Varsho has played 96 games this season with 7 home runs and 26 runs batted in (RBI).
Last season, Varsho hit 20 home runs in only 71 games.
Varsho has consistently hit at least 18 home runs each season since 2022.
Adding Varsho could improve the Phillies’ batting lineup, especially the lower part.
The trade would aim to help the Phillies have a stronger chance in the postseason.
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Deion Sanders visited the Cleveland Browns' training camp to watch his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, compete for the team's starting job. Head coach Todd Monken said Deion gave him helpful insight about Shedeur's personality and competitive nature, which matched what Monken has already seen.
Key Facts
The Browns’ quarterback competition is between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
Watson started as the early favorite and had the first-team reps on the first day of camp.
Shedeur Sanders took first-team reps on the second day of training camp.
Deion Sanders, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Shedeur’s father, attended the camp.
Deion coached Shedeur in high school and college at Colorado.
Todd Monken is the Browns’ new head coach, hired this offseason.
Monken previously worked as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator and was briefly the Browns’ offensive coordinator in 2019.
The Browns traded away star defensive player Myles Garrett recently, and the team is in a rebuilding phase.
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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs missed training camp practice two days in a row. Head coach Dan Campbell said he supports Gibbs but is focused on coaching the players who are present and expects the contract issues to be resolved soon.
Key Facts
Jahmyr Gibbs did not attend Lions training camp practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
Gibbs is a key offensive player for the Detroit Lions.
Coach Dan Campbell expressed support for Gibbs but emphasized coaching the current team.
Gibbs was the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
He has gained 3,580 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns in his first three seasons.
Gibbs has also caught 1,449 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.
He has been selected to the Pro Bowl three years in a row.
The Lions’ first regular season game in 2026 is against the New Orleans Saints on September 13.
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During the Cincinnati Bengals’ first day of training camp, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase got into a heated moment with teammates, which led to a brief scuffle. Chase said the incident was just competitive spirit meant to push the team to improve and that the players have talked it through.
Key Facts
Ja'Marr Chase tore off teammate DJ Turner II’s helmet and threw it about 20 yards during a practice play.
This action sparked a confrontation between Chase and another defensive back, Jalen Davis.
Coaches and teammates quickly stopped the scuffle on the field.
Chase described the fight as part of normal football competition aimed at making the team better.
Chase likes the competitiveness and said he was trying to set an energetic tone for practice.
The Bengals finished last season with a 6-11 record, partly due to quarterback Joe Burrow’s injury.
The team’s defense ranked near the bottom of the NFL, allowing 380.9 yards per game last season.
Bengals have made moves to improve defense, including trading for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II.
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A St. Louis Cardinals fan named Quinn Mortimore regularly sends flowers to the team’s front office to show appreciation. When the team signed rookie shortstop J.J. Wetherholt to a big contract extension, new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom sent Mortimore a handwritten thank-you note.
Key Facts
Quinn Mortimore is a Cardinals fan from Springfield, Missouri who often sends flowers to team executives.
Mortimore previously sent flowers to former president John Mozeliak after the Cardinals acquired Nolan Arenado.
The Cardinals recently signed rookie J.J. Wetherholt to an eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension.
Chaim Bloom became the new president of baseball operations at the start of the 2026 season.
Bloom responded to Mortimore’s flowers with a personal handwritten note thanking him.
Wetherholt is a promising young player and a candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.
Through July 29, Wetherholt has a .251 batting average, .348 on-base percentage, .388 slugging percentage, and 11 stolen bases.
The Cardinals have not made the playoffs since 2022 and are currently 54-54, but fans are hopeful about the future.
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Two young Carolina Panthers players have suffered serious knee injuries. Linebacker Nic Scourton tore his ACL and will miss the 2026 season, and rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II will also miss the entire season after knee surgery.
Key Facts
Nic Scourton, a second-year linebacker, tore his ACL on the first day of practice and will miss the 2026 season.
Scourton had a strong rookie year with 47 tackles and 5 sacks in just 8 starts.
Rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II injured his knee and initially planned to avoid surgery.
After a second medical opinion, Brazzell had surgery, ending his rookie season early.
Brazzell was a third-round pick (83rd overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Brazzell had a standout college season with over 1,000 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns.
His injury means other receivers on the team, like Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, may get more opportunities.
Xavier Legette is also expected to get more playing time due to these injuries.
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John Stones, an English defender, has joined Italian club Inter Milan on a free transfer after his contract with Manchester City ended. Stones signed a two-year deal with Inter Milan, the current champions of Italy’s Serie A league.
Key Facts
John Stones is 32 years old and played for Manchester City for 10 years.
He left Manchester City at the end of June after his contract expired.
Stones won six Premier League titles and the Champions League with Manchester City.
He signed a two-year contract with Inter Milan without a transfer fee (free transfer).
Inter Milan won the Italian Serie A league for the 21st time last season.
Stones has played 93 times for England and participated in the recent World Cup.
Before joining Manchester City in 2016, Stones played for Everton and Barnsley.
Stones has scored 19 goals in 295 appearances for Manchester City.
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The University of North Carolina is investigating Michael Lombardi, the general manager of their football team, after a complaint was filed by a former employee. Lombardi has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
Key Facts
Michael Lombardi is the general manager of the North Carolina Tar Heels football team.
He is currently under investigation by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The investigation began after a human resources complaint from a former front-office employee.
Lombardi has been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
The university has not shared details about the nature of the complaint because it involves confidential personnel matters.
Lombardi previously worked as a general manager for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
The length of the investigation is unknown, and Lombardi may return to the team if cleared of wrongdoing.
The Tar Heels have had other recent controversies, including issues involving head coach Bill Belichick.
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LeBron James and ESPN were reported to be close to making a documentary series like Michael Jordan’s "The Last Dance" about James' time with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, James' business partner Maverick Carter denied this, saying James does not know when he will retire and they are not making such a documentary.
Key Facts
ESPN and LeBron James were reported to be planning a behind-the-scenes documentary series.
The series would focus on James' time with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Maverick Carter, James' longtime business partner, denied the report on social media.
Carter said LeBron James does not know when his last season will be.
James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
At 41 years old, James is starting his 24th season in the NBA.
His agent said James might play two to four more seasons.
Last season, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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