Diretório

CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates with fans after a second quarter touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images) | Getty Images Week 1 of the preseason is finally here. NFL fans get a taste of actual football (kind of). The Cincinnati Bengals will continue their trend of giving their starters live reps in the preseason, which they started last year, to hopefully have a better start to the season.It will be fun to see a little bit of the big names get their sea legs under them, but the vast majority of the game will be spent watching the second-string players, as well as roster bubble players trying to earn their spots on a roster.Can training camp rookie phenoms wide receiver Colbie Young and edge rusher Cashius Howell translate what they’ve done on the practice field into a real game scenario? Can some crowded positional rooms sort themselves out? I am looking at the defensive tackle room.We also will get a look at Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter at linebacker in their second season after facing a ton of criticism the entire Offseason. Will the Bengals front office look like geniuses for betting on their improvement, or will it be a preview of a train wreck?Here is how to watch the Bengals host the Lions in Week 1 of the preseason:Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit LionsDate/Time: Aug. 13th, 2026 at 7:00 pm ETLocation: Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.Series Leader: The Bengals lead the preseason series, 19-18. The Lions are the team the Bengals have played the most in the preseason.TV Channel: The Bengals Preseason TV Network is led by flagship WXIX-TV (FOX Channel 19) in Cincinnati. Also on the network are WKEF-TV (Ch. 22) in Dayton, Ohio; WSYX-TV (Ch. 6) in Columbus, Ohio; WLIO-TV (Ch. 8.2) in Lima, Ohio; WLEX-TV (Ch. 18) in Lexington, Ky.; and WDRB-TV (Ch. 41) in Louisville, Ky.Online Stream: Bengals.com or the Bengals app (in market) and NFL+ (out of market)Broadcasters: Mike Watts (play-by-play) and Anthony Munoz (analyst)Replay: NFL+ and NFL Network (check local listings)Radio Broadcast: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship radio stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).SB Nation Lions’ site: Pride of DetroitRosters: CIN | DETStats to Know: CIN | DETWeather: According to NFL Weather, the game will be in the low-80s with cloudy skies and a chance of showers.What will you be watching for? Let us know in the comments section!

2026-08-11T01:07:20Z COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — USA Swimming placed its chief financial officer, Cory Hilliard, on leave Monday after learning of his arrest on charges of theft and embezzlement at his previous job as an administrator in the University of Colorado athletic department.The district attorney’s office in Boulder said Hilliard is accused of misappropriating funds from the school’s Nike Elite program for personal use. The DA said the school lost $9,510 due to Hilliard’s actions. Hilliard, 54, was hired last December as CFO of USA Swimming, which oversees the sport from the grassroots to the Olympic level in the U.S. The organization said it learned of his arrest Monday and “immediately placed Cory on leave and terminated all access to any company data and financial controls.”It said it was conducting its own investigation.As the administrator for Colorado’s Nike Elite program, Hilliard was “responsible for managing employee product benefit allocations,” the DA’s office said. Hilliard did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press sent to his USA Swimming email. He was one of the first big hires made by CEO Kevin Ring after Ring took over last September.“Cory brings extraordinary financial discipline, operational expertise, and a strong track record of transparent leadership,” Ring said at the time. Ring’s own hiring came six months after Delaware athletic director Chrissi Rawak quit less than 10 days after getting the CEO role when USA Swimming learned she was the subject of a complaint at the U.S. Center for SafeSport.___AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall speaks during a Senate Armed Services budget hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)2026-08-11T01:35:24Z Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on Monday said he’ll sue to force the Trump administration to restore his security clearance, which it revoked Friday after claiming he had disclosed sensitive information about the Qatari-gifted jet now serving as Air Force One.Kendall, a West Point graduate who served as President Joe Biden’s head of the Air Force, said on CNN Monday that he’ll sue the administration, noting it has a history of retaliating against critics by stripping their clearances. “As my mother taught me years ago, you stand up to bullies,” said Kendall, who has denied disclosing classified information.Mark Zaid, a prominent national security attorney who sued the administration after his own clearance was revoked by the Trump administration, confirmed in a post on X that Kendall had hired him. “More to come,"" Zaid wrote. Zaid specializes in helping a variety of military and civilian clients maintain security clearances in the face of investigations. Last year he became a target of the Trump administration’s efforts to strip security clearances from people they perceived to be enemies when he was named among 14 other people in an executive order signed by Trump. In a March 2025 executive order, Trump named former President Joe Biden and members of his family, Biden-era Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and New York state Attorney General Letitia James as being unsuitable to retain their clearances because it was “no longer in the national interest.”In August 2025, Trump revoked the security clearances of 37 more current and former national security officials, some of whom worked on matters that have long infuriated Trump, like the intelligence community assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election on his behalf. Read More Trump has tried to squelch reports of problems with the jet that Qatar gifted him last year, which he intends to use as Air Force One for the remainder of his term. His Justice Department last month subpoenaed New York Times reporters who wrote about security concerns with the jet, which lacks the advanced anti-missile technology of its predecessor. After being criticized by a federal judge for sloppy legal work, the government grudgingly withdrew the subpoenas.

Aug. 10—Eugene starting pitcher Hunter Dryden had a lot of folks out to the game last week at Avista Stadium for his Spokane homecoming. They cheered so loudly when he struck out one of the hometown Indians batters that it drew looks from others in the crowd."I didn't get an official tally," the Deer Park High School and Whitworth University alum said. "But I think it ended up being just over 60 people, which is incredible that everybody came in and did that. That was , like , insane for them to all do that, and I'm very appreciative."After the game, in which Dryden tossed six innings of one-run ball in an eventual 13-1 win for the Emeralds, all his visitors came down onto the field to share the moment with the 24-year-old right-hander."I got to give them all hugs and talked to them for a while," he said. "My little cousins wanted autographs. And then there's a few people who had left before the game ended, so I got some texts from them and talked to them and, you know, thanked them for coming."Dryden is in the midst of his second season of professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization. The Giants drafted him in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB draft after his four-year career at Whitworth.He was happy and appreciative to see everyone last Tuesday but still had a job to do and tried not to put too much pressure on himself to have a good game."My wife asked me (about the pressure), and I mean, maybe there was a little, you know," Dryden said. "You obviously don't want to play bad in front of a bunch of people. But at the same time, I just had to treat it as if they weren't here, you know, as if everything was the same."Dryden apologized to some of his family who were trying to wave at him and get his attention during the game."I tried to treat it like a regular game, but it was hard to when they were cheering as hard as (they) were," he said.The self-proclaimed "Spokane kid" had Tuesday's date circled on his calendar since he was assigned to Eugene at the start of the season. He knew he'd get a chance to pitch professionally in a stadium where he spent so much time as a kid and high schooler."It's crazy that it got all the way to August before we came here. That's just how the scheduling worked out this year," he said. "But basically, since I found out I was coming (to Eugene), I was like, 'When are we going to Spokane?' I told my buddies, 'I can't wait for us all to go to Spokane.' So yeah, I tried to treat it like a normal one, but it definitely was a different one in that regard."Dryden recounted attending Indians games as a kid, usually sitting out in the bleachers — or running around in the "Kids Zone" or at the speed pitch. He even played here with Deer Park in a district playoff game his junior year."Walking out here, the first thing I did when we got here on Monday after traveling, I walked out on the field, and it was just surreal," he said. "Just to be in the dugout of the field that I've grown up coming to and watching games at all the time."It's kind of unexplainable. Like during the game, after the game, all of it. When I went out to stretch before the game, you know, I'm out there stretching, and I'm like, 'Am I really stretching at this field right now?' "Dryden's path to the pros hasn't always been a straight line. A member of the class of 2020, he missed his senior baseball season due to the pandemic. He spent that time playing games in Idaho where the rules were less restrictive, and was fortunate that Whitworth honored its offer to him based upon his junior season."Luckily, I was committed to Whitworth prior to everything shutting down. Who knows what would have happened if that weren't the case?" Dryden said. "I played on a Spokane travel team and ended up talking to some of my first colleges during that summer and had a couple opportunities but ended up going with Whitworth, and I was so happy that I did. I really, really enjoyed my time at Whitworth."He said it's "hard to say" how much the COVID year set back his development as a player, but relished being able to play both ways at Whitworth — and stay close to home for his college experience."I tried doing as much as I could throughout that time," he said. "I feel like it really affected everybody who couldn't play in games, and that's really what helps you out the most. Coming out of COVID, that first year at Whitworth, getting at-bats was incredibly important to kind of just get back in the flow of baseball games, like as crazy as that sounds."During his senior year, Dryden — who is listed at 5-foot-9, 183 pounds — switched to pitching full time in an effort to get drafted.There wasn't a big conversation about it, but he went from playing shortstop in the first two games of a series and pitching in the third, to pitching the series opener only."I think the coaching staff was looking out for me and thought, you know, maybe, 'Take him out of the lineup on the hitting side and make sure that he's ready to go on the pitching side every week,' " he said. "Being able to go to that Game 1 start really helped to improve my pitching and my readiness for the weekend."As a shorter pitcher, Dryden must take advantage of technique more than overpowering batters."Being smaller, if I wanted to throw hard I had to make everything work to its fullest of capability," he said. "I kind of had to figure out how to make my body do that. As I got taller a little bit, as I got stronger, then the velocity ended up coming along with it, and my mechanics were in a spot where I allowed that to happen."Dryden went 5-3 his senior year at Whitworth with a 2.10 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 12 starts and 682/3 innings. That led to a call from the Giants on draft day."I found out when everybody else did, just when my name came across the screen," he said. "I talked with the Giants after I saw that, and I was surrounded by family, and was just an unbelievable feeling. It's something you dream about — every little kid's dream."Dryden started 21 games for Low-A Fresno last year, going 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA, and so far this year he's pitched in 20 games with 16 starts for High-A Eugene with a 4.98 ERA."As you climb, you're gonna see better competition," he said. "So you have to figure out a way to not only beat talent but beat a better approach, and it's definitely a part of the game that takes time to learn. It's been really fun to experience that the last couple of years. There's a solid difference between Low-A baseball and High-A baseball and it takes some adjustments."Part of that adjustment is "learning to be a pro" and the day-to-day grind of professional baseball. But Dryden still doesn't see it as "a job.""I don't know if I could call it a job. It doesn't feel like a job still. So I mean, I guess that's a win. If you don't feel like you're working, then that's a perfect job, I guess. But no, I mean, having baseball as my job is the most fun I could ever have."Even if that means facing big leaguer Cal Raleigh while he was on a rehab assignment for the Everett AquaSox."That was kind of a crazy experience," Dryden said."Me growing up in Washington, being a Mariners fan all my life growing up, watching them all the time, and then him being all of my buddies' favorite player? You know, it was crazy to see that I was going to be facing him."Raleigh went 1-for-3 against Dryden, with an infield single and a strikeout."I kind of kept it level-headed (after the strikeout) — until I got in the dugout, of course. Then all my buddies were poking fun at me for it and everything like that. I mean, that's what buddies are and teammates are for. But then I had to crack a smile after that for sure."

Aug. 10—PULLMAN — Jeremiah Bernard left his feet and dove like he was Superman about to snuff out a local crime. The ball had just left the hands of Owen Eshelman, one of three Washington State quarterbacks vying for starting duties, and it was headed for a receiver toward the sideline of Rogers Practice Field.It never made it there. Bernard made sure of that, roving over from the safety position and laying out to break up the pass, a feat of athleticism and football savvy. He leapt to his feet in a second, in a heartbeat, the moment's adrenaline propping him back up as quickly as he had soared through the air."The guys that we brought in, we're hoping they're gonna be what they are," WSU safeties coach Greg Burns said, "and they're working their butts off."A transfer from FCS Cal Poly, Bernard certainly fits that bill, a junior safety who is well on his way to earning a starting role in the Cougs' secondary this fall. Bernard, 6-foot and 196 pounds, doesn't just look the part. He plays like it too, making plays like that seem routine, like they're just in his bag.How does Bernard fit into WSU's defense? For one, he's a face in a crowded WSU safety room, which also includes San Jose State transfer Jaylen Thomas, Arizona transfer Jshawn Frausto-Ramos and Arizona State transfer Jack Bal. That's without mention ing returners like Kyle Peterson and Kayo Patu, both of whom could also secure roles on this year's defense.In that sense, Bernard can get lost in the shuffle, just like the others in the department. In others, he stands out like a skyscraper in a Palouse wheat field, gliding through the air to make a head-turning play during Monday's fall camp practice, the Cougars' fourth of the slate. From the opposite sidelines, his fellow defenders made a ruckus, making sure Bernard knew his pass breakup hardly went unnoticed.That sequence fit in nicely with the theme of Monday's WSU practice, which in large part belonged to the team's defenders. In one 7-on-7 play, cornerback Kai Rapolla broke up a pass from quarterback Julian Dugger. In another full team period, returner Ben Beatty used his athleticism to break up a pass from the defensive end position.And in so many other plays, WSU's defensive line crushed the opposing offensive line, no matter which unit happened to be in. Dugger took a simulated sack on one play, as he has on a couple other occasions earlier in fall camp. He didn't have much time to make a read on that play, and neither did Eshelman or Caden Pinnick, the latter of whom used his speed to scramble from the pocket and pick up nice gains on a couple plays.The Cougars' offense mostly lagged a bit behind its counterparts. Some of that is to be expected — that unit is still installing its playbook, and after one practice last week, running back Kirby Vorhees said he's still learning the new system head coach Kirby Moore and offensive coordinator Matt Miller are setting up — and it's possible some is not. After all, it's been something of a theme across these four practices, with an exception in the third.Keep this in mind, too: Coaches are still rotating players with different groups, so much so that clear first- and second-teams have yet to materialize. Still, we should note that right tackle Jaylin Caldwell played with Pinnick's group, the first to take the field for team periods on Monday. That offensive line featured Kyle Martin at left guard and Noah Dunham at center, position changes for each of those players, plus Jonny Lester at right guard, a shift from his usual spot at left guard.It's starting to become clear that Martin and Dunham will be asked to make those position changes a permanent fixture. Throughout their first few years at WSU, Martin played center and Dunham played right guard, but they've been at left guard and center respectively during fall camp. In the spring, Dunham played a bit of center, indicating that's likely a longer-term move for the fourth-year Cougar."That's just something we've seen and evaluated," WSU offensive line coach Jack Abercrombie said at last week's media day, "and that'll be his first spot."Even so, the individual highlight of Monday's practice went to Bernard, who could well end up starring on defense with coordinator Trent Bray this fall. Bernard has fashioned himself as the kind of playmaker that draws eyeballs by making stunning plays seem ordinary. In that sense, he may not be Superman, but he still might have superpowers.Other notes from Monday's practice:—Right tackle Max McCree, who missed the previous two practices, was available and practicing.—Tight end Beau Baker and offensive lineman Sone Falealo missed their first practices, while linebacker Lance McGee missed his second.—Wide receiver Branden Ganashamoorthy hauled in a long touchdown pass, backing up his practice on Saturday, perhaps the best individual showing of WSU fall camp.—Running back Leo Pulalasi hauled in a play-action touchdown pass from Eshelman in one 11-on-11 sequence.

Aug 10 (Reuters) - Charl Schwartzel found an unusual hazard in ‌the final round at ‌LIV Golf Bedminster on Sunday when a ​fish appeared to swallow his ball after it rolled into the water beside the seventh ‌green. The South African's ⁠tee shot at the 134-yard, par-three hole rolled ⁠off the putting surface and settled in the pond, where ​TV footage ​showed the ​ball being snatched ‌from beneath the water. "Have you ever seen anything like this?" LIV Golf wrote in a social media post accompanying video ‌of the incident. The former ​Masters champion had ​to ​take a one-stroke penalty ‌and settled for a ​bogey on ​the hole. He finished two-over par at the tournament, ​which was ‌won by Chilean Joaquin Niemann. (Reporting ​by Rory Carroll; Editing ​by Peter Rutherford)

The Arizona Diamondbacks don’t know who their closer will be for the stretch run of an air-tight NL wild-card race. But it won’t be Paul Sewald.The Cardinals designated Sewald for assignment Monday, ending the veteran closer’s second stint with the franchise at a critical juncture of the playoff race.The transaction removes Sewald from the 40-man roster. Arizona now has seven days to either trade Sewald, release him, send him to the minors or place him on waivers. His time with the big-league club is done.‘Brutal decision’Manager Torey Lovullo spoke about the decision with reporters Monday evening.“It was a brutal decision, Lovullo said. “He’s meant so much to this organization. He’s closed out 24 games. He solidified things for our ‘23 run. He had a number of saves in ‘24, where he got banged up.“You learn to appreciate the human being at a certain point. He’s just such a great competitor who was having so much success. On top of that, he’s a friend of all of us.”“To say goodbye to him was not easy. It was agonizing. … I just feel like the role he was in, we need a little bit more length.”Torey Lovullo on the DFA of Paul Sewald: pic.twitter.com/ObAlIA650f— Diamondbacks On SI (@DbacksOnSI) August 10, 2026Sewald, 36, re-joined the Diamondbacks in the offseason on a one-year, $1.5 million contract. He previously joined the franchise via a trade-deadline deal with the Seattle Mariners in 2023 and remained Arizona’s closer when healthy through the 2024 season. He recorded six postseason saves during Arizona’s run to the 2023 World Series.This season has been the worst of Sewald’s career. He’s recorded 24 saves. But he has a career-worst 6.23 ERA alongside a 1.103 WHIP in 39 innings. He’s surrendered a career-high 2.8 home runs per nine innings and is on the hook for five Diamondbacks losses.Diamondbacks scramble at closer amid tight NL raceThe decision leaves the Diamondbacks in a tough spot during a competitive playoff race. Arizona entered Monday’s game against the Rockies at 63-56, tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the final two NL wild-card spots. The Padres stood a game behind them in the standings, and the Marlins, Cardinals and Nationals were all within 4.5 games. With margins so thin, the Diamondbacks decided that Sewald’s performance wasn’t good enough to remain with the club. Relievers Brandyn Garcia, Juan Morillo, Jonathan Loáisiga and Kevin Ginkel could handle the closer’s role as a committee moving forward.The move made room on the roster for newly signed veteran pitcher Zack Littell. Littell cleared waivers after being DFA’d by the Washington Nationals last week. A nine-season veteran, Littell has worked as a starter and reliever. He posted a 4.97 ERA as as a starter in Washington this season, but expects to start his time in Arizona as a low-leverage reliever.

Jun 11, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive lineman Logan Jones (54) runs on the field during Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bears fans and fans across the country.The Chicago Bears play a game this Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, and while we’re still waiting to hear exactly who the Bears will play in the game, I think it’s safe to assume most of their healthy younger players will get some playing time.So, who are you most excited to see play this Saturday?While I only put rookies in the poll, this isn’t just for the draft class. Of the rookies below, I can’t wait to see center Logan Jones, with my number two most excited for being defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. I also can’t wait to see how the left tackle situation is shaping up. Braxton Jones might not go due to the injury, but there’s no reason we shouldn’t get some Jedrick Wills Jr. and Kiran Amegadjie. I also want to see how Theo Benedet has improved over 2025, and Luke Newman is another offensive lineman I’m excited to watch. UDFA Caden Bennett, aka the Vanilla Gorilla, should be running with the threes and will likely close out the gameBesides the offensive linemen, can Daniel Hardy provide anything off the edge? Right now, he’s DE4, so he’d better show something. UDFA defensive tackle Jayden Loving is nearly as athletic as van den Berg, so I’ll have my eye on him too.Vote in the poll and share a few thoughts in the comment section!Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys:

HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 6: Luis Diaz of FC Bayern Munich reacts during the Bayern Munchen Training Session in the Kai Tak Stadium on August 6, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Joseph Dinesh Daniel/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images Despite a potential financial windfall, there is a very strong argument to be made that Bayern Munich needs to keep Luis Díaz — and should not even consider a sale of the Colombian.While there have been some rumors reporting Al-Hilal to have interest in the winger, Bayern Munich absolutely needs to keep Díaz for the next two seasons and capitalize on the insane chemistry that the attacker has with Harry Kane and Michael Olise.The Colombian winger has already shown why he can be such an important piece of Vincent Kompany’s team. Bayern Munich needs players who can create something out of nothing, stretch defenses, attack space and provide another source of goals and assists. Díaz brings all of those qualities.In addition, Díaz brings insane production to the table as well. The 29-year-old had 26 goals and 23 assists in 51 games across all competitions last season. His value goes beyond the numbers, too. Bayern Munich have several talented attacking players, but Díaz offers a different profile. His directness and willingness to take defenders on can change the dynamic of a match. When Bayern Munich are facing a compact defense and struggling to create space through the middle, having a player capable of driving into the box from the wing becomes extremely important.There is also the matter of squad depth. Bayern Munich are competing on multiple fronts, and relying on the same small group of attackers throughout a long season is not realistic. Injuries, rotation and fatigue will inevitably play a role. Keeping Díaz gives Kompany another proven option who can start important matches or change a game from the bench.Perhaps most importantly, Bayern Munich should be thinking about continuity. Díaz is already familiar with the club, his teammates and Kompany’s expectations. Moving him on would create another hole that would eventually have to be filled.Bayern Munich should always listen to reasonable offers for its players, but Díaz is not someone the club should be eager to lose. If the goal is to remain competitive at the highest level in Germany and Europe, keeping Díaz should be a priority.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- This year, the Northland Catholic Warriors are sporting new gear at games and here at practice.The Guardian Cap is a soft-shell helmet cover designed to reduce the impact of hits. Eric Bieniemy returns to Chiefs training camp two weeks after wife shot “Anything you can do to reduce the risk of injury is a benefit,” Jason Maki said. “I do know they reduce the risk so much so the NFL mandates them for certain positions. A lot of positions it's not an option, it's a requirement.”The fifth grade football coach said adding Guardian Caps to the uniform is a no brainer.Maki heard concerns from parents about moving from flag football to tackle. So, he thought getting Guardian Caps in the game was a good idea.There are about 120 athletes in the youth program. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Maki said each guardian cap cost $75.They raised more than $7,800. He said that's enough to purchase a Guardian Cap for each 5th – 8th grade player who wanted one.“I think it's great. It gives the parents confidence in keeping them safe, and I think it gives the kids confidence, especially as they transition from flag to tackle football,” Dad David Barth said. “Keeping their heads safe and hoping to prevent concussions is what we're after.”Barth believes this equipment gives parents confidence in kids' safety. It's also a hit with the athletes.“I felt safer,” 10-year-old Harrison Barth, “So I wouldn't get concussions.”“I feel it’s great for the team,” 10-year-old Finnegan Maki said, “and number one for the players, but great for the team.”Maki said these the Guardian Caps also lower the temperature of the helmet by 20 degrees.Barth encourages other teams to jump at securing this equipment for their athletes. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV “It's a small cost to protect your child for the long term,” Barth said, “and if they're going to continue to play, giving them a safe environment is what we're after.”Maki said they exceeded their fundraising goal. So, the program will use the remaining funds to refresh other safety equipment for the program.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.

Rookie Enes Kanter as the Utah Jazz defeats the Portland Trailblazers 92-89 in pre-season NBA basketball Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tom Smart, Deseret News | Tom Smart, Deseret News Enes Kanter Freedom is a man who says he should be eligible to play in the WNBA.WNBA rules state simply that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” They do not clarify if transgender women are eligible, but the league’s commissioner stated in a memo that leaders will discuss the topic this week.Freedom, a retired NBA player, declared his intent to enter the 2027 WNBA draft in two social media videos posted on Friday. Another former NBA player, Royce White, followed Freedom’s lead.White is on Tuesday’s Republican primary ballot for one of Minnesota’s seats in the U.S. Senate. He failed to win a nomination in 2022 for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2024, he earned the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, but lost to Amy Klobuchar in the general election, 56.2% to 40.5%.“I’m transgender,” White told Fox News. “I identify, sometimes, as a woman, for purposes of basketball. I think I’d be unstoppable.Freedom is a multifaceted human rights advocate who believes his NBA career ended early because of his activism.What is Enes Kanter Freedom’s background?Freedom was born Enes Kanter in Zürich, Switzerland, on May 20, 1992. His parents were Kurdish immigrants from Türkiye, and they returned to that country when he was small.He moved to the United States in high school. The NCAA ruled him ineligible for college basketball because a Turkish professional team gave him about $33,000 in benefits when he played nine games for it as a teenager. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Freedom’s NBA careerThe Utah Jazz selected him with the third pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft. He played three seasons for the team before Utah traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the middle of his fourth year.He played parts of seven more seasons with Oklahoma City, New York, Portland and Boston. He was known as an outstanding rebounder.He was exiled from his home country for much of his playing career for his political opposition.Freedom was 29 when Boston traded him to Houston, which waived him, ending his NBA career. He has characterized what he believes is a premature end to his playing years as a personal sacrifice.He believes his positions cost him $50 million in future NBA salary.Player-activistFreedom condemned human rights abuses in Turkey while a player. The country’s leaders responded by canceling his passport and issued warrants for his arrest. When Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrested Freedom’s father for alleged terrorism, Freedom called Erdogan the “Hitler of our century.” Freedom hasn’t been back to Turkey since 2015.Freedom claimed the NBA eventually blackballed him for speaking out against alleged abuses of the Uyghurs in China, according to a New York Times profile.He also wore what came to be known as Freedom shoes during games. He wrote activist messages on the shoes.He also criticized Michael Jordan and LeBron James for doing business with Nike, which has deep ties to China, the New York Times reported.Freedom was nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize by a member of Norway’s parliament. The nomination recognized his global humanitarian work and outspoken activism against human rights abuses in Turkey and China.Freedom became a U.S. citizen in 2021. Former NBA star Enes Kanter speaks at IRF Summit 2026 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. | Matt Ryb Pictures Religious freedom championFreedom has been honored many times for his activism.He has received the:Geneva Summit Courage Award (2022) from a coalition of 25 nongovernmental organizations for risking his career to protest global oppression.Lantos Human Rights Prize (2022) from the Lantos Foundation for defending “fundamental human rights” regardless of personal cost.Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent (2022) from the Oslo Freedom Forum for utilizing unique and creative peaceful protest methods.Magnitsky Outstanding Human Rights Activist Award (2022) for exposing systemic corruption and corporate complicity in human rights violations.SAR Gold Good Citizenship Medal (2024) from the Sons of the American Revolution for speaking out on behalf of oppressed minorities.The International Religious Freedom Summit honored him in 2022 with its Civil Society Advocacy Leader Impact Award, also know as the IRF Impact Award. Summit leaders said he was honored for confronting tyranny and advocating for religious freedom and human rights globally.Freedom and the transgender issueHe spoke out about women’s sports in 2023.“Men don’t belong in women’s spaces, restrooms, locker rooms, or sports,” Freedom said in an X post then, according to Sports Illustrated. “Since I’m blackballed from the NBA should I put on a wig, identify as a woman and start dominating the WNBA? Is that when the outrage will begin? Is that fair to all the women who spent their whole life chasing their goals? Where are all the Women Rights Activists and Feminists?!”Freedom deleted that post, but he returned to the issue on Friday.Talk about transgender women in women’s sports exploded in late July after WNBA player Sophie Cunningham said, “I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”Her comments sparked rallies and protests.Kanter’s new posts are callbacks to the one he deleted in 2023.Officially official, @WNBAI have officially declared for the 2027 #WNBA Draft.Rules are rules!#LetFreedomPlaypic.twitter.com/d1iXjPxqSY— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) August 10, 2026

A little more than a week after Kelsey Plum was traded from the Los Angeles Sparks to the Phoenix Mercury, the five-time WNBA All-Star guard was set to return to Los Angeles to face-off against her former team on Tuesday, Aug 11.However, Plum won't be in the lineup. Plum has been ruled out of the Mercury's matchup against the Sparks on Tuesday with left lower leg tightness that limited her to 14 minutes in the Mercury's 95-75 loss to the Washington Mystics on Sunday, Aug. 9.With 9:19 remaining in the second quarter, Plum went down near half court after Mystics guard Georgia Amoore pushed Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb into Plum, resulting in a foul on Amoore. Plum got up under her own power and returned to the game before being shut down in the second half with left calf tightness."We wanted to be safe," Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said. "We'll just see the next couple days how it looks."EXCLUSIVE: Kelsey Plum’s ‘open book’ begins with a bang in PhoenixThe veteran guard finished with five points against the Mystics, shooting 2-of-7 from the field and 1-of-5 from the 3-point line in 14 minutes of action. She rounded out her night with three rebounds and two assists.Plum got off to a blistering start this season, but a string of injuries had limited her to 12 games in her second season with the Sparks. She missed three games with an ankle sprain suffered on May 26, and eight games after her return, she sustained a left leg injury on June 21 that sidelined her six weeks.Her next game played was in a purple and orange jersey. Plum was traded to the Mercury on Aug. 1, and her debut came days later on Aug. 3, marking her first game since late June. Plum scored 20 points in 21 minutes in her first game with the Mercury, shooting 60% from the floor and adding four assists in the 106-101 win against the Chicago Sky.Plum is averaging 17.3 points on 53.5% shooting from the field in her first four games for the Mercury. Phoenix (12-22) is currently out of playoff contention in 12th place in the WNBA standings, one year removed from the team's 2025 WNBA Finals run. The Mercury are 7.5 games out of eighth place – the final postseason berth – with only 10 games remaining in the regular season.It remains to be seen if Plum's injury will affect her participation in the upcoming 2026 FIBA World Cup. Plum was named to the U.S. women's national basketball team for the tournament in Berlin next month.Team USA begins group stage play at the World Cup on Sept. 4, opening with a game against China. The Americans will then play Italy on Sept. 6 and Czechia on Sept. 7 before the knockout round begins. Team USA is 8-0 all-time against China, 1-1 against Italy and 2-0 against Czechia.The WNBA season will take a pause while the World Cup is played. The gold medal game is set for Sept. 13, and WNBA games will resume on Sept. 17.Contributing: Mitchell Northam Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelsey Plum injury update: Mercury star out vs. Sparks, won't face former team

Sean Payton said the Broncos will play some starters against the Falcons on Friday night. He has not decided whether Bo Nix will be one of those to see action in the team's preseason opener."We haven’t gone through the role yet,” Payton said, via Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. “I’ll let you know when we go through the roles."The game is on the artificial turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which could keep Nix out until the second week of the preseason. Nix is ready, though.He has not played since the Broncos' divisional-round playoff victory over the Bills when he fractured his right ankle. The AFC Championship Game was the first game Nix has missed for injury in his career.“I’m excited,” Nix said of playing in the preseason. “I think preseason’s always a great time to get back out there and get your feet wet a little bit and see defenses in a live situation before the first [regular-season] game.”Nix said he has "no idea" whether he will play Friday.Regardless, the Broncos are expected to use both Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger against the Falcons as they compete for the backup job.

A season ago, Kalani Sitake and BYU were on the precipice of making the College Football Playoff. The Cougars made it to the Big 12 Championship, where they fell to Texas Tech to just miss out on the 12-team bracket.After an offseason that saw Penn State notably pursue Sitake for its head coach vacancy, the Cougars are now looking to keep the momentum with their headman returning to Provo. But as he looked ahead during a recent interview, he gave a lengthy response about the resources at the program’s disposal.$19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverageIn the NIL era, Kalani Sitake made clear he’s not striving to be the team offering athletes the most money. However, he said the ability to be in that position could help keep BYU toward the top of the Big 12 and also play a role in a national title push. Given the program’s momentum, he called for more investment in the football program.“I said before, I don’t want to be the highest bidder,” Sitake told CougarSports’ Ben Criddle. “But I’d like to have access to stuff like that, and that’s a reminder to the administration of that you can count on us to do things right and be responsible with the finances to get the right program in place. Sometimes, you kind of go through these things. You’re like, ‘Okay, this is going well.’ And I’ve always just been appreciative of everything. But then, when I look back at it and my agent tells me, ‘Hey, this is the stuff that everybody else has.’ … It just gives me a whole different appreciation for them.“I’m not trying to like get sympathy from everyone. I’m just trying to tell you guys how real it is. And the fact that we’re this close to making the playoffs, it’s like, come on. Let’s not make the same mistakes that we’ve made in the past overall. Let’s keep investing in BYU football. And it doesn’t take much. It doesn’t have to be in the form of just one thing, which is what everybody thinks: paying players. It’s just a lot of different factors that go into it.”As he heard from other programs interested in hiring him, Sitake said he learned more about how they’re navigating the new-look landscape. He added his asks at BYU aren’t too extreme. He just wants to see the school take another step.“That’s kind of where I’m at,” Sitake said. “And I know it’s real because Penn State, the other schools that were talking to me, they kind of revealed it for me. And I’m not even asking for that stuff. It’s very simple stuff that’s very attainable.”Kalani Sitake: BYU has ‘challenge of doing most with least’Kalani Sitake also said BYU’s culture has been a driving force in the program’s success under his watch. He has a career 84-45 since taking over at his alma mater in 2016 and won Big 12 Coach of the Year last year. But in the ever-changing world of college football, he stressed the need to keep pace with other programs, particularly BYU’s conference counterparts.SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business Newsletter“We’ve been given the challenge of doing the most with the least,” Sitake said. “So you lean heavily on culture to help you win. But I think there’s a way that you can actually increase your chances on both. I think there’s a way that you can get in deep culture and be really strong as a football team. There’s an opportunity that you can get to players that you normally wouldn’t have access to, so we’re trying to develop them. Sometimes, it happens in development with the right resources that you have … and then, all the resources that we would have available to them. That’s key. So it’s a bunch of factors that go into it.“But I still want more more resources for these guys. And for me the frustrating part is like, yeah, we’ve been able to do so much and everyone’s like, ‘Okay, keep doing it.’ But we can do way more at a faster rate. When I sit in a certain situation and I actually see that, yeah, I’m not going to be the one that’s making high demands. This is very simple demands of people that our opponents have in the conference – and not even Texas Tech. The others, right? So if we can get an even playing field with that stuff, then I should be able to do more. Whether that means more NIL, rev-share, stuff like that – that’s one thing.”

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 10: Alec Burleson #41 of the St. Louis Cardinals turns a double play after tagging out Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Busch Stadium on August 10, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images If obtaining a high pitch count early in the game was the goal, Hunter Dobbins succeeded spectacularly. To his credit, the St. Louis Cardinals starter battled through a less than ideal start to keep Monday night’s game with the Phillies close while the Philadelphia starter Andrew Painter showed no signs of the hamstring trouble he had recently. A tight game early would turn into a wild game late, but a furious Cardinals rally would fall short. By the top of the 2nd inning, Hunter Dobbins pitch count was in the 50’s. That’s also the inning that his troubles cost the Cardinals a couple of runs. Brandon Marsh led off the Phillies 2nd with a single, but it was the next play that would be costly. Derek Hill chopped a ball up high to Hunter Dobbins who caught the ball and then sailed a show over Alec Burleson at first base into right field which allowed Marsh to score all the way from first base for a 1-0 Phillies lead. Edmundo Sosa followed that with a RBI single doubling the Philadelphia lead to 2-0. The Phillies would add to their lead in the top of the 5th inning when Kyle Schwarber led off with a single that Jordan Walker turned into a double by mishandling the ball in left field that the official scorer correctly changed to a single and an E9. Stott then singled to right which moved Schwarber to third with no one out. Hunter Dobbins got Bryce Harper to ground into a double play, but that scored Schwarber giving the Phillies a commanding 3-0 lead. I would not normally call a 3-0 lead “commanding”, but the St. Louis Cardinals absence of offense made it feel that way. Andrew Painter, who has been recovering from hamstring issues, looked like Cy Young for the first 5 innings of the game as he held the Cardinals hitless and hadn’t allowed a runner until he walked José Fermín in the bottom of the 5th. The Cardinals would FINALLY break up the no-hit bid in the bottom of the 6th inning when Iván Herrera ripped a double into the left field corner after JJ Wetherholt walked to give St. Louis runners at 2nd and 3rd with just one out. Alec Burleson then came through with a clutch single up the middle scoring both Wetherholt and Herrera and suddenly we had a baseball game as the Phillies lead was just 3-2. With Jordan Walker up next, the Phillies decided Andrew Painter had been in the game long enough and went to their bullpen to bring in Alan Rangel. Walker unfortunately time traveled back to the Jordan of last year as he struck out on an 85 mph slider for the second out. Nathan Church managed to swat a single into right-center to keep the Cardinals rally alive with runners on first and second, but Masyn Winn was unable to come through as he struck out, but St. Louis was back in the game. While the Cardinals bats were waking up, Luis Gastelum was keeping the Phillies quiet as he pitched an uneventful 6th inning and stayed in the game until there was one out in the top of the 7th when the numerous Philadelphia lefties came up in the lineup. Manager Oli Marmol decided to bring in lefty Caleb Ferguson who promptly walked Stubbs and then grooved a 91 mph sinker to Kyle Schwarber who ripped it to the right-centerfield wall for a double scoring Stubbs and increasing the Phillies lead to 4-2. After Ferguson walked Bryce Harper to load the bases, Marmol hit the eject button on him in favor of Gordon Graceffo who was tasked with bailing the Cardinals out of a bases-loaded with one out jam. He came through like a champ getting Arraez to hit into an inning-ending double play keeping St. Louis within striking distance. That “striking distance” would get extended in the top of the 8th inning when Graceffo walked Marsh to start the inning. Two batters later, Crawford would connect on an 84 mph Graceffo curve for a double giving Philadelphia runners at second and third with just one out. Former Cardinal Edmundo Sosa would convert that scoring opportunity when he ripped an 85 mph slider into the left-centerfield gap scoring both Phillies runners and giving Philadelphia a 6-2 lead. St. Louis did not go quietly into that good night as the red hot Iván Herrera led off the bottom of the 8th inning with a double into the left field corner. Alec Burleson said “ditto” and clobbered his own double into the right field corner scoring Herrera and getting the Cardinals a little closer at 6-3. Jordan Walker, who had been 0-3 on the night, connected on a two-strike 93 mph fastball and drilled it up the middle advancing Burleson to third giving the Cardinals runners at the corner with no one out. After Nathan Church popped out to short, it was Masyn Winn’s turn. He rocketed a ball off of the pitcher into right field which scored Burleson bringing St. Louis closer at 6-4. Winn got a break as he was hustling into second where it appeared the throw would beat him, but the ball got away from Sosa leaving Masyn safe at second. Jose Fermin kept the rally going as he singled into center scoring Walker and advancing Winn to third cutting the Phillies lead to just 1 at 6-5. Jimmy Crooks was unable to lift a sacrifice fly to tie the game as he struck out, but pinch-hitter Bryan Torres still had a chance to come through. Unfortunately, Torres would fly out to center to end the Cardinals 8th, but they had pulled close enough to hang onto at least a little hope. Justin Bruihl entered the game in the top of the 9th with one singular mission. Keep the game a 1-run affair to give St. Louis a fighting chance in the bottom of the 9th with the top of the Cardinals lineup waiting. Stott tried to foil that plan as he led off with a single. Bruihl was able to nurse a weak pop fly out of Bryce Harper for the first out. The Phillies started the runner which saved them from a double play when Arraez grounded out for the second out. Justin Bruihl then struck out Marsh to give the Cardinals one more shot at the Phillies. St. Louis had the right guys coming up in the bottom of the 9th, but would they get the right result? JJ Wetherholt was first up against Philadelphia Phillies reliever Jonathan Bowlan. JJ failed on an ABS challenge and then struck out on a changeup for the first out in the Cardinals 9th. Iván Herrera was next up and all he could manage was a weak fly to centerfield. Alec Burleson hit a ball right on the screws, but it was directly at the Phillies right fielder Hill for the final out of the game. Bummer. The St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies will tangle again Tuesday night as Andre Pallante will try to earn his 13th victory for the Cardinals while the Phillies will send LHP Cristopher Sánchez to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45pm central time at Busch Stadium and the game TV broadcast will be available through Cardinals.tv.

The Commanders have reportedly signed defensive tackle Byron Cowart, adding depth to a position group thinned by D.J. Davidson’s retirement. Washington beat reporter Ben Standig, citing a source, first broke the news on Monday evening. The Commanders are expected to sign DT Byron Cowart, per source.4-year vet (51 games) and ex-Terp. Was one of 8 players to work out for Washington today. IDL depth after DJ Davidson retired.He spent most of last season on IR (ankle).— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 11, 2026Standig did not report a corresponding move, which will likely be announced by head coach Dan Quinn before Tuesday morning’s practice. Cowart was one of eight players to try out for the Commanders on Monday. The Commanders tried out 8 defensive players:DE Carlos WatkinsDT Byron CowartDT Fabien LovettDT Justin RogersLB Amari BurneyLB Power EcholsLB Devin HarperLB Curtis Jacobs— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 11, 2026Cowart has been in the NFL since 2019, when the New England Patriots drafted him in the fifth round of the NFL draft. The University of Maryland product has played regular-season games for the Patriots, Colts and Bears. He also spent time on Miami’s practice squad. He was with the Jets in 2025, placed on injured reserve on Aug. 26 and released later that year. He has played in 51 games and started 21, with 67 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a pass defensed to his credit.

Former Utah head coach Urban Meyer paid the Utes' fall camp a visit late last week, where he spent time talking to the 2026 Utes. | Anna Fuder, Utah Athletics In a fast-moving photo montage posted by the Utah football social media account, one photo stood out — former Utah football coach Urban Meyer embracing current Utah coach Morgan Scalley. See ya back tomorrow for more 📸#GoUtes | #RSNBpic.twitter.com/Hm83VwF0Su— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 7, 2026Meyer was around the program at least once a year when Kyle Whittingham was running the show, and now that Scalley is in charge, he continued the tradition by inviting his former coach to a practice last week.Meyer transformed Utah’s football program, picking up from where Ron McBride left off and taking the Utes to new heights.After arriving in Salt Lake City from Bowling Green, Meyer engineered the team’s first 10-win season since 1994, defeating an Aaron Rodgers-led Cal team in front of what was then the largest crowd in Rice-Eccles Stadium history, beating then-No. 19 Oregon and capping off the regular season with a 3-0 victory over BYU to clinch the Utes’ first outright conference championship since 1957. Utah defeated Southern Miss in the Liberty Bowl to reach 10 wins.In 2004, the Utes began the season ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press poll, marking the first time Utah had opened a season with a number next to its name. The success from last season, combined with returning experience all over the field, created a buzz in the facility and among Utah fans that it would be a special season.Meyer’s spread option offense — then a fairly novel concept, now run by the vast majority of college teams — was a perfect fit for junior quarterback Alex Smith, who put up 2,952 yards and 32 touchdowns through the air and 631 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground in a season that landed him in New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist.Utah steamrolled through each and every opponent in a dominant 2004 season, including a 41-21 blowout of Texas A&M to open the regular season and a 52-21 drubbing of BYU to close it.While the Utes’ offense got all the headlines — it was near-unstoppable, averaging 45.3 points per game (third in the nation) — the Whittingham-coached defense was pretty good, too, allowing just 19.5 points per game (23rd in the country). Linemen prepare to hit blocking sleds during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Byrd Ficklin (15) passes the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Steve Chavez-Soto (25) runs with the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Kana'i Lopes (33) runs with the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Tobias Merriweather (18) runs with the ball after catching it during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Nate Johnson (3) runs back after finishing a play during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Byrd Ficklin (15) passes the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Braden Pegan (7) catches the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Devon Dampier (4) passes the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Michael Johnson (13) smiles as he watches the ball he threw during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Davis Lish (19) throws the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Devon Dampier (4) passes the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Kyri Shoels (0) runs with the ball after catching it during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Devon Dampier (4) grabs the football and prepares to throw during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Devon Dampier (4) passes the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Ricky Johnson (11) catches the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Will Monney (86) runs after catching the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Kyri Shoels (0) runs with the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Kyri Shoels (0) catches the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Devon Dampier (4) practices handoffs during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Dylan Waters (19) passes the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Linemen get into their stances for a drill during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Michael Johnson (13) throws the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Byrd Ficklin (15) watches his teammate Devon Dampier (4) throw the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Byrd Ficklin (15) passes the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Utah’s Kane Archer (9) passes the ball during a University of Utah football practice held at the Eccles Football Center practice fields in Salt Lake City on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News One of the leaders on that defense was none other than Scalley, a senior who had a team-high six interceptions on the season and a memorable 88-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Colorado State.Utah closed out the season by becoming the first team from a non-automatic qualifying conference to crash the BCS party, defeating Pittsburgh 35-7 in the Fiesta Bowl.After that, Meyer was on to Florida, while Utah promoted Whittingham, who had a 21-year run that ended with him becoming the Utes’ winningest head coach and leading the team to a Sugar Bowl win and two Pac-12 titles.Twenty-two years after that undefeated 2004 season, Scalley is now Utah’s head coach in a full-circle moment.“He’s a competitive maniac. He understands the game. He was a coach on the field,” Meyer said of Scalley ahead of his introductory press conference. “Incredible leadership, he elevated those around him. Utah’s in a great position for years to come.” Former Utah head coach Urban Meyer paid the Utes' fall camp a visit Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026,, where he spent time talking to the 2026 Utes. | Anna Fuder, Utah Athletics Scalley invited Meyer to check out practice and had him speak to the team last week. “Coach Meyer obviously knows how to win football games, knows how to motivate football teams and nothing but love for him and what he did for this university, did for me, and was great to have him back,” Scalley said.Scalley said Meyer’s message to the team centered around being “elite at the hard things.”“If you want to be elite, you have to focus on becoming elite at the hard things. If you’re a wide receiver, the No. 1 thing they wake up to is not, ‘I can’t wait to go block.’ They want to score a touchdown,” Scalley recounted. “So it’s understanding what are the hard things in my position that I’m asked to do and focus on that every single day. Because if I can master the hard, right, then I’m much more of a complete player.”Offensive lineman Zereoue Williams expanded on Meyer’s message.“He said the hard is now. The hard is now. So we want to do the hard drills and do the hard practices now so that when game day comes, it’s just natural stuff,” Williams said.While Meyer is busy during the season with Fox’s traveling “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show, he’ll always be there as a mentor to Scalley. University of Utah football coach Urban Meyer (L) has some fun with player Morgan Scalley Dec. 5, 2004 at a bowl party at the Utes in Salt Lake City. | Jeffrey D. Allred,

Photo by: Mark J. RebilasTim Anderson’s Major League Baseball career has come to an end.On Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, the former Chicago White Sox shortstop announced his retirement after 10 seasons in the major leagues, bringing the curtain down on a career that included an American League batting title, two All-Star selections, a Silver Slugger Award and some of the most memorable moments in recent White Sox history.Anderson’s career was far more than the numbers on the back of his baseball card. It was a career filled with electrifying moments, personality, confidence, adversity and, ultimately, a difficult decision to walk away from the game.At 33 years old, Anderson leaves baseball with a career .276 batting average, 98 home runs and 350 RBIs across 991 games. He finishes his career as one of the more recognizable players of his generation, particularly among White Sox fans who watched him develop from a first round draft pick into one of the American League’s most exciting young stars.From First Round Pick to Chicago StarThe White Sox selected Anderson with the 17th overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, believing they had found their future shortstop.It did not take long for Anderson to prove them right.After developing through Chicago’s minor-league system, Anderson made his major league debut in 2016. He quickly established himself as the White Sox’s everyday shortstop and became known for his aggressive approach, speed and ability to make things happen at the plate.His early years in Chicago showed plenty of promise, but it was beginning in 2019 that Anderson truly announced himself as a star.That season, Anderson hit .335, winning the American League batting title.He also hit 18 home runs, stole 17 bases and became one of the most entertaining players in baseball. His combination of contact hitting, speed and personality helped make him one of the faces of the White Sox franchise.Anderson’s 2019 season remains the statistical peak of his career and established him as much more than simply a promising shortstop.He had become a star.The 2020 Silver Slugger and a New Level of RecognitionAnderson followed his batting championship with another impressive offensive season in 2020.Despite the shortened 60-game schedule, he continued to hit at a high level and earned a Silver Slugger Award at shortstop. The award recognized Anderson as the best offensive shortstop in the American League that season.His performance helped the White Sox emerge as one of the most exciting young teams in baseball.Anderson’s style became part of his identity.He played with emotion and confidence, and he was never afraid to show his personality on the field. For a franchise that had been searching for a new identity, Anderson became one of the players who represented the changing White Sox.The Field of Dreams MomentIf there is one moment that will forever be connected to Tim Anderson, it is the Field of Dreams.On Aug. 12, 2021, the White Sox faced the New York Yankees in the first MLB game played at the Field of Dreams site in Dyersville, Iowa.With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, Anderson stepped to the plate.He sent a ball over the right field fence for a walk off home run.Anderson rounded the bases before being mobbed by his teammates, creating one of the defining images of the event and one of the most memorable moments of his career.For many fans, that home run became the perfect representation of Anderson at his best: confident, aggressive and capable of producing something unforgettable when the spotlight was brightest.Back-to-Back All-Star SeasonsAnderson’s success continued into 2021.He was selected to his first All-Star Game that season, further establishing himself as one of the American League’s premier shortstops.He followed it up with another All-Star selection in 2022, making him a two-time All-Star.From 2019 through 2022, Anderson hit above .300 in four consecutive seasons, an impressive stretch that demonstrated just how consistently dangerous he could be at the plate.During those seasons, he was more than a good hitter.He was one of the players who made baseball feel different when he was playing.The Final ChaptersAnderson signed with the Miami Marlins for the 2024 season, hoping that a change of scenery could help him rediscover the form that had made him an All Star and batting champion.He later spent time with the Los Angeles Angels, making his final MLB appearance on May 25, 2025. His opportunities became increasingly limited as he attempted to regain the physical condition and production he had shown earlier in his career.Eventually, Anderson was forced to confront a difficult reality.Baseball had given him some of the greatest moments of his life, but it had also taken a physical and emotional toll.During his retirement announcement, Anderson spoke openly about the pain that had accompanied the final stages of his career and his inability to get his body back to where he wanted it to be.After a decade in the majors, he decided it was time to move on.The Numbers Tell Only Part of the StoryAnderson’s final career numbers are solid:10 MLB seasons.991 games..276 batting average.98 home runs.350 RBIs.1 American League batting title.1 Silver Slugger Award.2 All-Star selections.But statistics cannot fully capture what Anderson meant to the White Sox.He arrived as a highly regarded draft pick and became the face of a rebuilding franchise. He helped lead Chicago back toward relevance and became one of the most recognizable players in the organization. baseball careers rarely fit neatly into categories of success or failure.Anderson’s career was complicated because Anderson himself was never afraid to be authentic.A White Sox LegacyThe White Sox have not forgotten what Anderson meant to the franchise.The organization is scheduled to honor him at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sept. 17, giving fans an opportunity to celebrate his decade in professional baseball and his contributions to the organization.For White Sox fans, the memories will likely center on the best version of Tim Anderson.The batting title.The All-Star selections.The Silver Slugger.The swagger.The energy.And, of course, that home run at the Field of Dreams.Those moments will outlast the struggles that came later.The End of an Unforgettable CareerTim Anderson’s career did not end the way he or many White Sox fans probably imagined when he was one of the brightest young stars in baseball.There was no final All-Star appearance.No farewell season in Chicago.No dramatic postseason moment.Instead, his career ended with Anderson making the difficult decision that his body and mind were ready for something different.And perhaps that is what makes his career worth remembering.Tim Anderson was never simply a shortstop.He was a player who brought personality to the field, gave fans unforgettable moments and helped change the identity of the Chicago White Sox during one of the most exciting periods in the franchise’s recent history.His career may have ended earlier than many expected, but the best moments will remain.From winning a batting championship to becoming an All-Star, from the Silver Slugger to the unforgettable Field of Dreams home run, Anderson gave baseball a decade of memories.Now, after 10 seasons and nearly 1,000 games, Tim Anderson is officially walking away from baseball leaving behind a career that was as memorable, emotional and complicated as the player himself.

As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth watches at left, President Donald Trump gestures as he switches planes at U.S. Air Force Base, RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk Eastern England, on his way back to Washington from the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2026-08-11T02:40:45Z President Donald Trump secretly flew out of last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on an alternate military aircraft while the White House made it appear that the Republican president was flying on Air Force One, according to a report published by The Washington Post on Monday.The Post said the operation was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat against Trump. The ruse was carried out as journalists and some White House staff members were led to believe they were on the same plane as the president as he began his journey back to Washington from the annual gathering of NATO country leaders.The Post cited material reviewed by the newspaper, a U.S. official familiar with the operation and another person with knowledge of the president’s travel. The Associated Press has not independently confirmed the report. Trump had flown to the summit in a new Qatari-gifted and retrofitted red, white and navy blue jet. But ahead of departing Turkey, he said he would fly partway home on an older-model baby blue Air Force One plane instead. The president at the time said the new luxury jet was being flown out ahead of his departure from Ankara to give some U.S. troops based in Eastern England a chance to check out the new Air Force One.In Ankara, Trump boarded the old Air Force One jumbo jet in view of television cameras ahead of the plane flying to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. However, according to the Post report, after boarding the legacy Air Force One jet, he was secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane — an Air Force C-32A — via an airport catering truck typically used to load meals and other supplies. Trump flew to Mildenhall on that smaller jet. Read More The White House did not respond directly to questions about the Post report of the secret operation to whisk Trump out of the country on a third aircraft, or the reported elaborate ruse to make it appear he was on the baby blue Air Force One jet flying to Mildenhall.“As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.The U.S. Secret Service declined to comment. The Air Force, which maintains the fleet of executive travel aircraft, referred questions to the White House. There have been questions about the safety of the new Qatari-gifted planeWhile Trump was in Turkey, the U.S. military conducted a series of large strikes in Iran in retaliation for its attacks on merchant shipping in the region.The New York Times and CBS News reported last month that intelligence officials had raised concerns about a potential attack on the president or his jet, triggering additional precautions and the decision not to use the newly inaugurated aircraft gifted to Trump by Qatar for the first leg of Trump’s trip home from Ankara.The swap had spurred questions about the security of the Qatar-provided aircraft, and Trump said last month after the trip that it would undergo additional upgrades.Cheung on Monday maintained that the new, Qatari-gifted plane was “a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff.” The new Post report on clandestinely putting Trump on a third aircraft and quietly whisking him out of the country adds a fresh layer to just how seriously concerned U.S. security officials were about the threat against Trump during the ongoing war with Iran.Paul Eckloff, a former special agent with the Secret Service, said such an unusual move could either reflect actionable intelligence or an abundance of caution given volatility in the region with the wars in Iran and Ukraine.“I would not say unprecedented, but it is an unusual occurrence,” said Eckloff.The Post reported that to exit that plane without being seen by those uninvolved in the operation, Trump and several aides stepped aboard an airport catering truck, which was elevated planeside using hydraulics and positioned at a door on the opposite side of Air Force One’s entrance. The small group of reporters who thought they were traveling with Trump were advised to lower their window shades ahead of takeoff. After arriving at Mildenhall, news photographers captured images of Trump getting off the presidential plane — suggesting he reboarded Air Force One out of sight of the pack of journalists who thought they were traveling with him.Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal called for a congressional investigation.“It is unprecedented and it is surreal,” he said Monday on CNN, calling the incident “downright scary.”After the brief visit to the base at Mildenhall, Trump boarded the new Air Force One aircraft to fly the rest of the way to Washington.During a gaggle with reporters aboard the aircraft, Trump was asked directly if there was any credible threats on Air Force One by Iran.“Well, I have a threat all the time. I’m number one on their list before you,” Trump said. He added to the traveling reporters, “But if I go, you go.” ___AP writers Josh Boak, Aamer Madhani and Konstantin Toropin contributed reporting.

Andrew Tate, left, watches his brother Tristan speak, outside a police station in Voluntari, Romania, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)2026-08-11T02:38:16Z MIAMI (AP) — Prosecutors want social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate to remain in federal custody, arguing Monday that the brothers are a flight risk and a danger to the community, as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom, where the brothers are accused of rape and sex trafficking. Three days after defense attorneys filed a motion for release, prosecutors filed their response in Miami federal court, where a hearing on Thursday will determine if the brothers should stay in jail or be released during what could be a monthslong extradition process.The brothers have repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The detention hearing is likely to be the first time the Tates leave the Federal Detention Center in Miami since making a brief court appearance two days after their July 18 arrest. The Tates have become among the world’s most polarizing internet personalities with their promotion of wealth, male dominance and misogyny through their social media empire. The new allegations are the latest in the Tates’ long-running international legal saga spanning the U.S., Britain and Romania. Prosecutors claim a ‘heightened risk of flight’According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office filing, the Tates should be detained pending their extradition hearing because they cannot overcome the strong presumption against bail in international extradition cases. The serious pending U.K. charges involving human trafficking and violent rapes and assaults against multiple victims, along with allegations in Romania that the Tates attempted to intimidate witnesses, present a clear public safety concern, prosecutors say. “That the Tates also claim to maintain multiple passports and identities, have access to excessive wealth and influence in numerous countries, and are stridently unwilling to voluntarily return to face prosecution in the United Kingdom, collectively demonstrate a heightened risk of flight that no amount of bond could overcome,” the filing says. The defense motion filed Friday acknowledges there is a presumption against bond in extradition proceedings but argues that release can be granted in special circumstances. It says the Tates’ high profile makes it nearly impossible for them to flee, and that they regularly post updates about their locations on social media. Read More While prosecutors call the brothers a flight risk, their attorneys said they have proved they are not by complying with all pretrial restrictions in Romania, where they are accused of luring women for sexual exploitation. The U.K. has until mid-September to provide evidence to the State Department to support extradition, meaning the brothers could spend months in FDC Miami before the proceedings are resolved, the defense motion says. No date has been set for an extradition hearing. They are being held in a special unit for their own protection. Legal troubles follow the Tate brothersThe brothers have long claimed that their violent and misogynistic statements have been taken out of context or were intended as jokes.The former professional kickboxers, who have dual U.S. and U.K. citizenship, have millions of social media followers and are vocal supporters of President Donald Trump. The White House has said the brothers shouldn’t expect any help from the president. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. British prosecutors said the new charges relate to four new accusers and were brought after authorities received evidence from police in Bedfordshire, in southeastern England. The allegations, which span from 2010 to 2017, include rape, assault, trafficking and offenses relating to “indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.”The brothers are already charged with rape, bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain relating to three other accusers in the U.K. between 2012 and 2015. The brothers moved to Romania in 2016 and were arrested there in 2022, accused of participating in schemes to lure women for sexual exploitation. They denied those allegations, and the Romanian case hasn’t moved forward due to legal and procedural problems.The Tates’ attorneys have said the Romanian court has granted a U.K. request for extradition that will take effect after Romanian proceedings conclude.Andrew Tate, 39, became famous a decade ago when he was a contestant on the U.K. reality television show “Big Brother.” He was ejected from the show when a video appeared to show him assaulting a woman. He has amassed over 10 million followers on X but has been banned from other platforms, including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, for violating hate speech guidelines. He has made widely condemned comments, such as saying women who are sexually assaulted should bear some responsibility for the attacks and sharing graphic descriptions of how he might attack women.Tristan Tate, 38, has worked with his brother on multiple businesses, including the production of online webcam pornography. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Angel Reese closes in on major WNBA record after historic Dream performance originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Angel Reese has not needed much time to leave her mark on the Atlanta Dream’s record book. Now, one of the biggest single-season records in WNBA history is within her reach.Reese recorded 20 points and 14 rebounds in Atlanta’s 107-95 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Monday night. The three-time All-Star shot 7-of-14 from the field, made five of her six free throws and connected on one of her three attempts from beyond the arc.The performance delivered more than another productive night for Atlanta’s star forward. It gave Reese her 22nd double-double of the season, establishing a new Dream single-season franchise record. With 12 games remaining on Atlanta’s schedule, Reese has a realistic opportunity to catch Alyssa Thomas’ WNBA record of 28 double-doubles in one season.Angel Reese breaks Atlanta Dream recordReese arrived in Atlanta with an established reputation as one of the most relentless rebounders in basketball. She has only strengthened it during her first season with the Dream.ANGEL REESE MAKES ATL HISTORY 🔥She now has the MOST double-doubles in a season in Dream franchise history (22) ‼️ pic.twitter.com/YcmGvBzhzR— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 11, 2026The 24-year-old is averaging 15.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists through 31 appearances. Her 369 total rebounds rank second in the WNBA. Reese’s production has also translated into winning. Monday’s victory improved the Dream to 20-12, keeping Atlanta among the league’s strongest teams as the regular season enters its final stretch.Her record-setting double-double against Toronto showcased the versatility she has continued to add to her game. Reese scored efficiently around the basket, reached the free-throw line and even knocked down a 3-pointer.The outside shot remains a developing part of her offensive arsenal, but Reese does not need to become an elite perimeter scorer to control games. Her rebounding, physicality and consistent ability to generate second-chance opportunities already make her one of the league’s most impactful forwards.WNBA double-double record is within reachThomas established the WNBA single-season record by producing 28 double-doubles for the Connecticut Sun in 2023. Reese needs six more over Atlanta’s final 12 games to tie Thomas. Seven would give her the record outright.That means Reese must record a double-double in slightly more than half of the Dream’s remaining games to make history. Considering she already has 22 in 31 appearances, that pace is hardly unrealistic.Reese has been piling up double-doubles since she entered the WNBA. She recorded 26 during her rookie season, the second-highest single-season total in league history, while setting a rookie record with 13.1 rebounds per game. She also owns the WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles after producing 15 straight during her first season.Reese later became the fastest player in league history to reach 1,000 career rebounds, accomplishing the feat in 79 games. She also reached 50 career double-doubles in just 64 games, another WNBA record.MORE: Sophie Cunningham shares four-word message before Fever-Liberty showdownReese trade continues paying off for DreamAtlanta’s decision to bring in Reese after she spent her first two seasons with the Chicago Sky has delivered immediate results. The Dream did not simply acquire an elite rebounder. They added a player capable of producing every night while attracting significant attention to a franchise attempting to contend for a championship.Reese has responded by posting the most double-doubles in a single season in Atlanta history before the team even reached its final 10 games. The larger league record remains the next target.Reese has already shown that she can maintain an extraordinary rebounding pace across an entire season. If she produces seven more double-doubles over Atlanta’s final 12 games, she will officially move past Thomas and claim another place in WNBA history.Even if she falls short, her first season with the Dream has already been historic. Reese has a franchise record, Atlanta has 20 victories and one of the league’s most notable milestones is suddenly close enough to chase.More WNBA news:Old DiJonai Carrington-Caitlin Clark video resurfaces after Sophie Cunningham foulA'ja Wilson vs. Olivia Miles debate is on with Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers lurkingChiney Ogwumike reacts to WNBA’s Caitlin Clark suspension decisionWhy Indiana lieutenant governor is calling for Stephanie White's firing

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Edmundo Sosa drove in three runs and Kyle Schwarber reached base four times as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 on Monday night.Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter took a no-hitter into the sixth before running out of steam. Iván Herrera’s one-out double broke up the no-hit bid and Alec Burleson followed with a two-run single that chased Painter after 93 pitches.Painter (2-8) allowed two runs on two hits, walked three and struck out six in 5 1/3 innings as the Phillies won their second straight and for the seventh time in 10 games. Jonathan Bowland earned his first save in four chances.Brandon Marsh singled and scored on a Hunter Dobbins throwing error, and Sosa followed with an RBI single to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the second inning.Schwarber, who leads the National League with 35 homers, singled and scored in the fifth, and doubled home Garrett Stubbs in the seventh to add to the lead. Schwarber also walked twice.A two-run double by Sosa in the eighth made it 6-2. The three-RBI night was the most for Sosa since driving in five runs against the Washington Nationals on June 23.Burleson’s RBI double sparked a three-run rally for the Cardinals in the eighth. Masyn Winn and José Fermín followed with run-scoring hits to cut their deficit to one.Jordan Walker extended his hitting streak to 10 games, the fourth streak of 10 of more games for him this season.Dobbins (2-3) allowed three runs, with just one earned, in five innings. He gave up four hits, walked three and struck out six as the Cardinals lost for the second time in three games.Up nextPhillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (15-4, 2.65 ERA) will face Cardinals RHP Andre Pallante (12-6, 3.63 ERA) on Tuesday.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The San Francisco 49ers may have a problem on their hands as they search for a starting left guard, but the return of a rookie offensive linemen provides a new potential solution. Rookie fifth-round pick Carver Willis was back in practice Monday after working through the NFL's concussion protocol. He was lining up with the second-team offensive line at left guard according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. That's a significant inclusion to the mix at left guard for the 49ers and offensive line coach Chris Foerster. Second-year seventh-round pick Connor Colby started training camp as the first-team LG, but he gave way to veteran Robert Jones who hasn't had a ton of success according to reports from the team facility. Willis, an offensive tackle at the University of Washington, was supposed to start factoring in for the 49ers a week ago when he went down with a concussion. Now he's back and while he isn't up with the starters yet, his immediate insertion with the second group could portend a move up the training camp depth chart if he acquits himself well as a reserve. It doesn't sound like the bar is high for someone to assert themselves as the starter. Willis has the learning curve of a position change to deal with while also making the leap from college to the NFL. It's a difficult move, but not an impossible one, and it appears the 49ers are hoping he may be able to do it in Year 1. More 49ers: Ex-49ers DB blasts team, says they 'failed' injured WR Ricky PearsallThis article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers key position battle gets shakeup as rookie returns from injury

Former New England Patriots captain Matthew Slater spoke for the first time to Boston 25 on Monday since Boston College High School announced he’d step in as the Eagles’ assistant head coach of leadership and development.The three-time Super Bowl champion and retired all-pro briefly coached for the Patriots in 2024. BC High’s head coach Paul Zukauskas said he reached out to Slater after his first season at the helm for the Eagles in 2024. “I texted him cold,” Zukauskas said. “I said, ‘I’m... a big fan of your career and what you represent in football. So, if you’re ever interested in coaching this level, I’d love to talk to you.” After a year of communicating and sharing ideas about the program, Slater agreed to join Zukauskas’ staff for the 2026 campaign.“I always felt like my story in football was never about me,” he told Boston 25 Monday. “You make plans, and sometimes God has something better in store, and that certainly feels like the case here.”Slater played for the Patriots for 16 seasons from 2008 to 2023. He is most well-known for his stellar special teams play.He grew up in California and attended UCLA before entering the NFL. He’s called New England home for nearly two decades.Slater added, “I’m just very grateful this community calls me their own now.”He told Boston 25 Monday that BC High’s mission, football program, and the chance to form young men spoke to him. “It’s about what you can do for other people, how you can serve,” he said.Slater plans to bring a championship mentality and the Patriot way to the Eagles this season.He finished, “Accountability, teamwork, hard work, discipline, doing it for the man next to you... I’m pumped. It’s like going back to my first day of high school all over again.”BC High opens the season September 11th against Central Catholic.Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

Michigan State football has opened fall camp and are gearing up for the season opener against Toledo in just over three weeks' time. With the start of camp, Spartan fans are getting to know all of the new faces that will take the field in 2026.One of those new faces is Tre Bell, a transfer from Iowa State. The cornerback was one of the best additions for MSU in the transfer portal, and should slot in as the Spartans No. 1 cornerback in this upcoming season.After practice on Monday, Bell was one of the defenders that spoke to the media following DC Joe Rossi and edge rusher Kenny Soares Jr. In his interview, Bell talked about his early experiences in East Lansing and how he is helping set the tone for the season with his new team.Watch the full interview with Bell via Spartan Mag on YouTube:Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_LinzyThis article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Iowa State transfer Tre Bell talks Michigan State training camp