“When a new coach comes, there’s a preconceived notion that everything has to change. But he has kept telling us that things are going to be different in future, but right now, it’s just some adjustments so that boys don’t feel overwhelmed.
“And I’ve told him that we are adaptable and we do exactly what the coach wants. If I do it, everyone will do it,” Chettri added.
For Westwood though, a lot has to change. The 49-year-old, who built his coaching career on the back of the three golden years at BFC from 2013 to 2016, was impressed with his team’s performance in the second half of the 0-2 reverse against Sporting Delhi last Sunday, and hoped to further that improvement.
“It is always difficult coming into a team midway through the season,” Westwood told Sportstar. “Most times, you come in because the manager before you has had poor results. But you have to instil some confidence and put some ideas in without overloading.”
The methodologies of the coaches differ too. After Westwood’s departure, BFC broke away from the Englishman’s template and appointed Albert Roca, who was schooled in the possession-heavy tactics of Barcelona. Munoz has the same lineage.
“Football is a game for the fans and my team should be able to create chances because that’s how supporters have fun,” Munoz said. “I come from Barca, and I like to manage the game with ball possession. I understand that that’s the only way to be closer to a win.”
“When a new coach comes, there’s a preconceived notion that everything has to change. But he has kept telling us that things are going to be different in future, but right now, it’s just some adjustments so that boys don’t feel overwhelmed.
“And I’ve told him that we are adaptable and we do exactly what the coach wants. If I do it, everyone will do it,” Chettri added.
For Westwood though, a lot has to change. The 49-year-old, who built his coaching career on the back of the three golden years at BFC from 2013 to 2016, was impressed with his team’s performance in the second half of the 0-2 reverse against Sporting Delhi last Sunday, and hoped to further that improvement.
“It is always difficult coming into a team midway through the season,” Westwood told Sportstar. “Most times, you come in because the manager before you has had poor results. But you have to instil some confidence and put some ideas in without overloading.”
The methodologies of the coaches differ too. After Westwood’s departure, BFC broke away from the Englishman’s template and appointed Albert Roca, who was schooled in the possession-heavy tactics of Barcelona. Munoz has the same lineage.
“Football is a game for the fans and my team should be able to create chances because that’s how supporters have fun,” Munoz said. “I come from Barca, and I like to manage the game with ball possession. I understand that that’s the only way to be closer to a win.”
Published on Apr 10, 2026
#ISL #managers #centrestage #BengaluruBlasters #clash">ISL 2025-26: New managers take centrestage in Bengaluru-Blasters clash
These are new tidings at both Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC, who will meet in a high-profile Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday.
Both have new managers in place. BFC will welcome Spaniard Pep Munoz to the dugout for the first time this season while Blasters will be marshalled by BFC old hand Ashley Westwood for only the second time.
But the fortunes of the respective teams couldn’t be more divergent. After seven games, BFC sits fourth in the table (14 points) while Blasters are languishing in 13th place (one) in the 14-team league. It’s a no-brainer which of the two camps is happier.
“I am always intrigued when some fresh ideas come in,” said BFC talisman Sunil Chhetri, while welcoming Munoz, on match-eve. “Especially when I’m 42, I need that!
“When a new coach comes, there’s a preconceived notion that everything has to change. But he has kept telling us that things are going to be different in future, but right now, it’s just some adjustments so that boys don’t feel overwhelmed.
“And I’ve told him that we are adaptable and we do exactly what the coach wants. If I do it, everyone will do it,” Chettri added.
For Westwood though, a lot has to change. The 49-year-old, who built his coaching career on the back of the three golden years at BFC from 2013 to 2016, was impressed with his team’s performance in the second half of the 0-2 reverse against Sporting Delhi last Sunday, and hoped to further that improvement.
“It is always difficult coming into a team midway through the season,” Westwood told Sportstar. “Most times, you come in because the manager before you has had poor results. But you have to instil some confidence and put some ideas in without overloading.”
The methodologies of the coaches differ too. After Westwood’s departure, BFC broke away from the Englishman’s template and appointed Albert Roca, who was schooled in the possession-heavy tactics of Barcelona. Munoz has the same lineage.
“Football is a game for the fans and my team should be able to create chances because that’s how supporters have fun,” Munoz said. “I come from Barca, and I like to manage the game with ball possession. I understand that that’s the only way to be closer to a win.”
#Deadspin #White #Sox #break #long #losing #streak #K.C #pursue #repeat #win #Royals">Deadspin | White Sox break long losing streak in K.C., pursue repeat win vs. Royals
Apr 9, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) slides headfirst to score a run in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
It’s been nearly four years since the Chicago White Sox won back-to-back games in Kansas City.
After ending their lengthy road skid to the Royals on Thursday, the White Sox will get the chance to accomplish that feat again on Friday night.
Chicago entered Thursday’s opener of a four-game set with the Royals as a loser of 22 of the previous 24 games at Kansas City, where the White Sox were mired in a 14-game losing streak that dated to a victory there on Sept. 6, 2023.
However, Anthony Kay threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings and Colson Montgomery delivered an RBI double during a 2-0 White Sox victory Thursday.
The last time Chicago won consecutive games at Kansas City was May 16-17, 2022. And White Sox players appear to have heard it from Kansas City’s lineup in the opener.
“(The Royals) like to chirp a little bit, it seems like. I don’t think we’re going to take that anymore,” Kay told the White Sox’s official website. “We are going to go right at them.”
Montgomery is just 9-for-45 on the young season but is tied for the team lead with seven RBIs.
Friday’s scheduled Chicago starter, Davis Martin (2-0, 2.45 ERA), has a 2.67 ERA while going 1-2 in five career starts against the Royals. In his most recent start at Kauffman Stadium on Aug. 17 of last season, the right-hander allowed one hit and three walks over six scoreless innings, but the White Sox bullpen couldn’t hold a 2-0 lead in a 6-2 defeat.
Martin yielded four hits and two walks Sunday against Toronto over six solid innings of Chicago’s 3-0 victory.
“Just relaxing,” Martin said. “Just always me to go out there and compete to the best of my ability.”
Martin will face a Kansas City club that’s totaled only three runs and gone 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position during a three-game losing streak. The Royals managed just five hits and stranded 11 runners on Thursday.
Kansas City star Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits Thursday and is batting .472 during a 22-game hitting streak against the White Sox. However, he struck out with a man on base for the final out of the game in the series opener.
Fellow All-Star Maikel Garcia also had two hits Thursday and is batting .320 for the Royals, but he, too, struck in the ninth against closer Seranthony Dominguez.
Scheduled Kansas City starter Kris Bubic (1-1, 4.09 ERA) is 1-4 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 career games (eight starts) vs. the White Sox. During Kansas City’s 10-0 victory over them on May 8 last season, the left-hander yielded six hits and a walk while striking out seven over seven innings.
Bubic opened this season by yielding a solo homer and one other hit over six innings in a 3-1 win over Minnesota on March 30. However, he was charged with four runs while walking three in his five innings of an 8-5 loss to Milwaukee on Sunday.
“It wasn’t necessarily a loss of focus, it was just a lack of execution getting ahead in the count, because the stuff felt normal (against the Brewers),” he said.
Fleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.
“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.
The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.
Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.
Fleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.
“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.
The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.
Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.
Published on Apr 10, 2026
#CSK #IPL #Criticism #fair #youre #Chennai #Super #Kings #coach #Fleming">CSK vs DC, IPL 2026: ‘Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well,’ says Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the criticism directed towards him following the side’s dismal start to the IPL 2026 season was ‘fair’.
CSK has been winless in its last three encounters and is currently rooted to the bottom of the table, the same position where the side finished last term. It is not a situation fans of the five-time champion have been familiar with. A section of them have questioned if the Kiwi coach, who has been in charge since 2009, deserves to continue in the hot seat.
The coach, however, was quick to respond to suggestions that he hadn’t been up to speed with the exponential changes in the shortest format over the last half-decade.
“Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well; that’s part of the position, and the results dictate that. I’m coaching through the year in two other competitions, so it’s not that I just turn off and then come to the IPL without an idea of where the game is going. I have probably not spent more time studying T20 cricket and players around the world [as much as now],” the head coach said on the eve of the encounter against the Delhi Capitals.
“Yes, we were off the pace last year. [Mine will be] the first hand up. We pivoted quickly. Now, we’ve got some younger players, and I’m very confident about this group. We haven’t shown that as yet [this season]. One of the challenges is the number of players we have changed [from last year]. That means there is a bit of a settling-in process which we are trying to accelerate,” he added.
Fleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.
“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.
The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.
Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.
You can look it up, only legendary Bill Self ($8.8M) has a higher average salary than Malone ($8.3M). Even John Calipari ($8.0M) earns less.
That’s quite a financial commitment for North Carolina’s first outside-the-program hire since 1952.
Malone, 54, was fired by the Denver Nuggets with three games left in the 2024-25 regular season despite leading the franchise to the NBA title just two campaigns earlier.
There was reportedly a lot of tension in the organization, particularly between Malone and then-general manager Calvin Booth, who was fired at the same time.
Malone’s meticulous nature apparently rubbed some players the wrong way. And you could see why it became an issue.
It’s easy to accept hard coaching methods when you’re trying to win a title. After everyone gets a ring, they want to relax a little.
Malone isn’t much for relaxing.
So he wasn’t on an NBA bench this season and perhaps he needed a break. Good for him. He deserved a little time away from coaching basketball.
Malone was surely sizing up what jobs would come open after this season. And he could see there were no winners to be had.
No reason to take a bad job in which you might lose 50 or 60 games. And, well, the Sacramento Kings aren’t a possibility since that franchise infamously fired Malone after just 106 games in 2014.
No matter how you slice it, coaching the Tar Heels is superior to coaching the Kings.
So Malone takes his 11-plus seasons as an NBA head coach and 12 as an NBA assistant back to college. He last was on a college staff at Manhattan in 2001 and the landscape is entirely different.
Just picture all those trees all around Chapel Hill disappearing overnight – that’s how much different.
The coaching part ought to be the easiest segment of the job for Malone. The egos will be largely reduced and a guy with 510 wins on the resume and an NBA title ring on his finger ought to be able to get teenagers and 20-year-olds to listen.
The NIL equation — the compensation is being upgraded by North Carolina — shouldn’t be a problem. Malone is used to being around players who are getting paid. Plus, college basketball is often an entire-staff effort so others can handle the things Malone isn’t initially up to speed on.
He surely knows the talent is a drop-off from having guys like three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic or sharpshooter Jamal Murray. But North Carolina is supposed to be in the hunt for all the blue-chippers.
Perhaps former coach Hubert Davis wasn’t landing as many as Duke the past few years. So part of Malone’s success rate may rely on beefing up those scores against the Blue Devils and other national powers.
Malone will come under early season scrutiny – as he should – but I suspect by January that everything will be about game-planning and competing hard and winning games.
The hard thing to analyze is just how long will Malone want to hang out on the campus not far from bustling Franklin Street? Is this something he wants to do the rest of his career?
Obviously, he wants to restore North Carolina back among the top programs in the nation, but will he see an NBA opening three or four years down the road and want to take another spin? There are no academic advisors and other college red-tape annoyances in the NBA.
One thing we do now – this is not a Bill Belichick hire. Malone is not about to retire on the job, no matter how many Brink’s trucks are needed to drop off his money.
You can look it up, only legendary Bill Self ($8.8M) has a higher average salary than Malone ($8.3M). Even John Calipari ($8.0M) earns less.
That’s quite a financial commitment for North Carolina’s first outside-the-program hire since 1952.
Malone, 54, was fired by the Denver Nuggets with three games left in the 2024-25 regular season despite leading the franchise to the NBA title just two campaigns earlier.
There was reportedly a lot of tension in the organization, particularly between Malone and then-general manager Calvin Booth, who was fired at the same time.
Malone’s meticulous nature apparently rubbed some players the wrong way. And you could see why it became an issue.
It’s easy to accept hard coaching methods when you’re trying to win a title. After everyone gets a ring, they want to relax a little.
Malone isn’t much for relaxing.
So he wasn’t on an NBA bench this season and perhaps he needed a break. Good for him. He deserved a little time away from coaching basketball.
Malone was surely sizing up what jobs would come open after this season. And he could see there were no winners to be had.
No reason to take a bad job in which you might lose 50 or 60 games. And, well, the Sacramento Kings aren’t a possibility since that franchise infamously fired Malone after just 106 games in 2014.
No matter how you slice it, coaching the Tar Heels is superior to coaching the Kings.
So Malone takes his 11-plus seasons as an NBA head coach and 12 as an NBA assistant back to college. He last was on a college staff at Manhattan in 2001 and the landscape is entirely different.
Just picture all those trees all around Chapel Hill disappearing overnight – that’s how much different.
The coaching part ought to be the easiest segment of the job for Malone. The egos will be largely reduced and a guy with 510 wins on the resume and an NBA title ring on his finger ought to be able to get teenagers and 20-year-olds to listen.
The NIL equation — the compensation is being upgraded by North Carolina — shouldn’t be a problem. Malone is used to being around players who are getting paid. Plus, college basketball is often an entire-staff effort so others can handle the things Malone isn’t initially up to speed on.
He surely knows the talent is a drop-off from having guys like three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic or sharpshooter Jamal Murray. But North Carolina is supposed to be in the hunt for all the blue-chippers.
Perhaps former coach Hubert Davis wasn’t landing as many as Duke the past few years. So part of Malone’s success rate may rely on beefing up those scores against the Blue Devils and other national powers.
Malone will come under early season scrutiny – as he should – but I suspect by January that everything will be about game-planning and competing hard and winning games.
The hard thing to analyze is just how long will Malone want to hang out on the campus not far from bustling Franklin Street? Is this something he wants to do the rest of his career?
Obviously, he wants to restore North Carolina back among the top programs in the nation, but will he see an NBA opening three or four years down the road and want to take another spin? There are no academic advisors and other college red-tape annoyances in the NBA.
One thing we do now – this is not a Bill Belichick hire. Malone is not about to retire on the job, no matter how many Brink’s trucks are needed to drop off his money.
#Tar #Heels #50M #Gamble #Michael #Malone #Deadspin.com">Why the Tar Heels Made a $50M Gamble on Michael Malone | Deadspin.com
The biggest reason why Michael Malone is the new head coach at North Carolina is that he knew he wasn’t getting the type of NBA coaching job he’d want this offseason.
The other big reason is that guys named Tommy Lloyd (Arizona) and Dusty May (Michigan) feel they have better jobs than the one in Chapel Hill, N.C.
So the big Malone experiment is a full-go at North Carolina. And, oh yeah, that other huge reason is the six-year, $50-million contract plus incentives he’s getting without even one day of college head-coaching experience.
You can look it up, only legendary Bill Self ($8.8M) has a higher average salary than Malone ($8.3M). Even John Calipari ($8.0M) earns less.
That’s quite a financial commitment for North Carolina’s first outside-the-program hire since 1952.
Malone, 54, was fired by the Denver Nuggets with three games left in the 2024-25 regular season despite leading the franchise to the NBA title just two campaigns earlier.
There was reportedly a lot of tension in the organization, particularly between Malone and then-general manager Calvin Booth, who was fired at the same time.
Malone’s meticulous nature apparently rubbed some players the wrong way. And you could see why it became an issue.
It’s easy to accept hard coaching methods when you’re trying to win a title. After everyone gets a ring, they want to relax a little.
Malone isn’t much for relaxing.
So he wasn’t on an NBA bench this season and perhaps he needed a break. Good for him. He deserved a little time away from coaching basketball.
Malone was surely sizing up what jobs would come open after this season. And he could see there were no winners to be had.
No reason to take a bad job in which you might lose 50 or 60 games. And, well, the Sacramento Kings aren’t a possibility since that franchise infamously fired Malone after just 106 games in 2014.
No matter how you slice it, coaching the Tar Heels is superior to coaching the Kings.
So Malone takes his 11-plus seasons as an NBA head coach and 12 as an NBA assistant back to college. He last was on a college staff at Manhattan in 2001 and the landscape is entirely different.
Just picture all those trees all around Chapel Hill disappearing overnight – that’s how much different.
The coaching part ought to be the easiest segment of the job for Malone. The egos will be largely reduced and a guy with 510 wins on the resume and an NBA title ring on his finger ought to be able to get teenagers and 20-year-olds to listen.
The NIL equation — the compensation is being upgraded by North Carolina — shouldn’t be a problem. Malone is used to being around players who are getting paid. Plus, college basketball is often an entire-staff effort so others can handle the things Malone isn’t initially up to speed on.
He surely knows the talent is a drop-off from having guys like three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic or sharpshooter Jamal Murray. But North Carolina is supposed to be in the hunt for all the blue-chippers.
Perhaps former coach Hubert Davis wasn’t landing as many as Duke the past few years. So part of Malone’s success rate may rely on beefing up those scores against the Blue Devils and other national powers.
Malone will come under early season scrutiny – as he should – but I suspect by January that everything will be about game-planning and competing hard and winning games.
The hard thing to analyze is just how long will Malone want to hang out on the campus not far from bustling Franklin Street? Is this something he wants to do the rest of his career?
Obviously, he wants to restore North Carolina back among the top programs in the nation, but will he see an NBA opening three or four years down the road and want to take another spin? There are no academic advisors and other college red-tape annoyances in the NBA.
One thing we do now – this is not a Bill Belichick hire. Malone is not about to retire on the job, no matter how many Brink’s trucks are needed to drop off his money.
On the jump to the IPL level, he pointed to the unforgiving nature of elite cricket. “The margin is very small. There you can get away with making mistakes, here you cannot.”
His grounding lies in the ecosystem at Rajasthan’s Aravali Cricket Club, where a culture of shared learning has helped produce emerging talent. Founded by the late Rajasthan cricketer Vivek Yadav, the academy has nurtured some of the young IPL talent, including Akash Singh (LSG), Kartik Sharma (CSK), and Mukul Choudhary (LSG).
“Akash Singh was the first one who played IPL. Seeing him, everyone felt their brother was playing and started following him.” Ashok added that he “practices together” with peers Mukul and Kartik, exchanging ideas and learning through constant conversation. “We spoke with Akash bhaiyya about how it was there in the IPL, and tried practicing accordingly.”
On the jump to the IPL level, he pointed to the unforgiving nature of elite cricket. “The margin is very small. There you can get away with making mistakes, here you cannot.”
His grounding lies in the ecosystem at Rajasthan’s Aravali Cricket Club, where a culture of shared learning has helped produce emerging talent. Founded by the late Rajasthan cricketer Vivek Yadav, the academy has nurtured some of the young IPL talent, including Akash Singh (LSG), Kartik Sharma (CSK), and Mukul Choudhary (LSG).
“Akash Singh was the first one who played IPL. Seeing him, everyone felt their brother was playing and started following him.” Ashok added that he “practices together” with peers Mukul and Kartik, exchanging ideas and learning through constant conversation. “We spoke with Akash bhaiyya about how it was there in the IPL, and tried practicing accordingly.”
Published on Apr 10, 2026
#IPL #Ashok #Sharma #eyes #India #making #fast #start #Gujarat #Titans">IPL 2026: Ashok Sharma eyes India after making a fast start for Gujarat Titans
Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma has packed a remarkable rise into a short span – from his maiden T20 season for his State side to finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and now making his IPL debut with Gujarat Titans (GT) and having delivered the fastest ball of the ongoing season (154.2 kph).
With his trajectory sharply on the upswing, Ashok said his ultimate goal is clear: to represent India.
Under GT head coach Ashish Nehra, the focus has been less on outright speed and more on execution. “He knows I bowl fast. His thing is just to bowl in the right areas and focus on what improvements you can make. Pace, I can bowl anytime,” Ashok said over an online interview with journalists on Friday.
Interactions within the setup, particularly with senior pacer Ishant Sharma, have also shaped his development. “I had a long talk with him about what and how to do, and the things I can work on. He also worked on my bowling,” Ashok said.
“I believe more in my back-of-the-hand slower one and yorker,” he said of his go-to options at the death.
On the jump to the IPL level, he pointed to the unforgiving nature of elite cricket. “The margin is very small. There you can get away with making mistakes, here you cannot.”
His grounding lies in the ecosystem at Rajasthan’s Aravali Cricket Club, where a culture of shared learning has helped produce emerging talent. Founded by the late Rajasthan cricketer Vivek Yadav, the academy has nurtured some of the young IPL talent, including Akash Singh (LSG), Kartik Sharma (CSK), and Mukul Choudhary (LSG).
“Akash Singh was the first one who played IPL. Seeing him, everyone felt their brother was playing and started following him.” Ashok added that he “practices together” with peers Mukul and Kartik, exchanging ideas and learning through constant conversation. “We spoke with Akash bhaiyya about how it was there in the IPL, and tried practicing accordingly.”
A costly trade put the Jaguars in this spot instead of the Browns. Jacksonville swung from the fences and Heisman winner Travis Hunter served up an incomplete grade as a rookie. He ended the season on IR and never fully settled at wide receiver or cornerback. The Jaguars succeeded despite an offensive line that would’ve been far better with Membou in front of Trevor Lawrence, who found plenty of capable hands to throw to sans Hunter.
3. New York Giants: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second half during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Abdul Carter’s undeniable ceiling is greatness. His maturity, physically and emotionally, was a negative last season. Bringing in McMillan would mean Jaxson Dart would get another trusted wide receiver. A pairing with Malik Nabers would be dynamic given their skills in contested-catch situations.
New England Patriots: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
Will Campbell didn’t end the season on a high note. Banks was comparable most of the year but by the end of the season, Banks was clearly closer to being a foundational pass blocker.
Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Graham was hell on wheels for interior linemen to account for as Myles Garrett stormed the pocket off the edge. He can create interior pressure and wasn’t easy to block one-on-one as a rookie.
Las Vegas Raiders: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Oct 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) reacts after a play against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Ashton Jeanty was a non-factor because the Raiders were always playing catchup and trying to do so with a suspect offensive line and shaky quarterback. Carter would have filled a traditional foundational need and provided some help in pass rush to benefit Maxx Crosby and a shaky secondary.
New York Jets: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Membou was a big hit, but he’s off the board in this exercise. Campbell was solid before tapering off near the end of the season but might’ve been better on the right side for the Jets.
Carolina Panthers: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
The Defensive Rookie of the Year talent at the LB position would have been a big hit with GM Dan Morgan, who was a similar type of player in his prime with Carolina.
9. New Orleans Saints: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Throughly thrilled with Banks as a rookie, if he was gone, the Saints might’ve looked at skill position talent. Or someone like Emmanwori to deploy in a defensive chess piece role. He lived in the box for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
What’s not to love? Loveland over Tyler Warren was one of the draft’s surprises in the top half of the first round. Warren did just fine with the Colts but Loveland was better.
A costly trade put the Jaguars in this spot instead of the Browns. Jacksonville swung from the fences and Heisman winner Travis Hunter served up an incomplete grade as a rookie. He ended the season on IR and never fully settled at wide receiver or cornerback. The Jaguars succeeded despite an offensive line that would’ve been far better with Membou in front of Trevor Lawrence, who found plenty of capable hands to throw to sans Hunter.
3. New York Giants: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second half during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Abdul Carter’s undeniable ceiling is greatness. His maturity, physically and emotionally, was a negative last season. Bringing in McMillan would mean Jaxson Dart would get another trusted wide receiver. A pairing with Malik Nabers would be dynamic given their skills in contested-catch situations.
New England Patriots: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
Will Campbell didn’t end the season on a high note. Banks was comparable most of the year but by the end of the season, Banks was clearly closer to being a foundational pass blocker.
Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Graham was hell on wheels for interior linemen to account for as Myles Garrett stormed the pocket off the edge. He can create interior pressure and wasn’t easy to block one-on-one as a rookie.
Las Vegas Raiders: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Oct 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) reacts after a play against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Ashton Jeanty was a non-factor because the Raiders were always playing catchup and trying to do so with a suspect offensive line and shaky quarterback. Carter would have filled a traditional foundational need and provided some help in pass rush to benefit Maxx Crosby and a shaky secondary.
New York Jets: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Membou was a big hit, but he’s off the board in this exercise. Campbell was solid before tapering off near the end of the season but might’ve been better on the right side for the Jets.
Carolina Panthers: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
The Defensive Rookie of the Year talent at the LB position would have been a big hit with GM Dan Morgan, who was a similar type of player in his prime with Carolina.
9. New Orleans Saints: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Throughly thrilled with Banks as a rookie, if he was gone, the Saints might’ve looked at skill position talent. Or someone like Emmanwori to deploy in a defensive chess piece role. He lived in the box for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
What’s not to love? Loveland over Tyler Warren was one of the draft’s surprises in the top half of the first round. Warren did just fine with the Colts but Loveland was better.
#NFL #Redraft #Top #Picks #Change #Year #Deadspin.com">2025 NFL Redraft: How the Top 10 Picks Would Change One Year Later | Deadspin.com
Jan 4, 2026; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) stands on the sidelines with his right arm in a sling during the third quarter after a shoulder injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
First-time GM Mike Borgonzi confessed last spring that his mind was made up months before the Tennessee Titans turned in a card with Cam Ward’s name on it as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But how many teams behind him feel the same way about the pick they made in the top 10 last April?
Let’s investigate how 11 and a half months might have impacted hindsight in the ’25 draft. Here’s what the top 10 might look like if a re-do was possible.
Tennessee Titans Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Ward learned — and felt — about the pressure of being the true center of a long-term rebuild. He has the most upside of any of the quarterbacks from his draft class due to a flexible arm and great athleticism.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
A costly trade put the Jaguars in this spot instead of the Browns. Jacksonville swung from the fences and Heisman winner Travis Hunter served up an incomplete grade as a rookie. He ended the season on IR and never fully settled at wide receiver or cornerback. The Jaguars succeeded despite an offensive line that would’ve been far better with Membou in front of Trevor Lawrence, who found plenty of capable hands to throw to sans Hunter.
3. New York Giants: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second half during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Abdul Carter’s undeniable ceiling is greatness. His maturity, physically and emotionally, was a negative last season. Bringing in McMillan would mean Jaxson Dart would get another trusted wide receiver. A pairing with Malik Nabers would be dynamic given their skills in contested-catch situations.
New England Patriots: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
Will Campbell didn’t end the season on a high note. Banks was comparable most of the year but by the end of the season, Banks was clearly closer to being a foundational pass blocker.
Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Graham was hell on wheels for interior linemen to account for as Myles Garrett stormed the pocket off the edge. He can create interior pressure and wasn’t easy to block one-on-one as a rookie.
Las Vegas Raiders: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Oct 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) reacts after a play against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Ashton Jeanty was a non-factor because the Raiders were always playing catchup and trying to do so with a suspect offensive line and shaky quarterback. Carter would have filled a traditional foundational need and provided some help in pass rush to benefit Maxx Crosby and a shaky secondary.
New York Jets: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Membou was a big hit, but he’s off the board in this exercise. Campbell was solid before tapering off near the end of the season but might’ve been better on the right side for the Jets.
Carolina Panthers: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
The Defensive Rookie of the Year talent at the LB position would have been a big hit with GM Dan Morgan, who was a similar type of player in his prime with Carolina.
9. New Orleans Saints: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Throughly thrilled with Banks as a rookie, if he was gone, the Saints might’ve looked at skill position talent. Or someone like Emmanwori to deploy in a defensive chess piece role. He lived in the box for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
What’s not to love? Loveland over Tyler Warren was one of the draft’s surprises in the top half of the first round. Warren did just fine with the Colts but Loveland was better.
We only got an extremely small sample size of Hunter at corner last season before he suffered a season-ending LCL tear in October, and he was … fine. Targeted 18 times in 101 snaps at cornerback, he allowed nine catches for 106 yards with 29 yards of YAC. Hunter looked much more comfortable playing corner than receiver when it came to the eye test, but the Jaguars tapered off his number of defensive snaps as the season went on, choosing to use him more as a receiver than a defensive back.
The lingering question for the Jaguars coaching staff is whether this focus on Hunter as a receiver was simply due to a sophomore slump from Brian Thomas Jr, or if they didn’t like what they were seeing from the rookie at DB?
There’s no question we need to recalibrate the expectations for Hunter moving forward. The idea of him being a starting corner and slot receiver are gone, now replaced with offensive usage on “obvious passing downs,” which could still see him put up numbers — but more likely means he’ll only see 5-to-7 offensive snaps per game. It also remains to be seen if Hunter can be an offensive asset in this role, or more of a liability — especially if opposing defenses can learn cues about the Jaguars’ passing attack simply by seeing Hunter enter the game.
If the reality is that Hunter is simply the highest-drafted cornerback in NFL history, then there will be a mountain to climb to justify both the No. 2 overall pick, as well as the cost to trade up to get him. While far from a perfect analytic method, Pro Football Focus graded Hunter 73.2 on defense last year, which would have made him the 22nd-ranked cornerback in the league last year. That’s simply not good enough moving forward, and Hunter will need to show Top-10 ability as a DB to make the pick worth it.
The whole conversation around Travis Hunter has now pivoted. Instead of being a generational, Deion Sanders-esque two-way player, we’re now needing to ratchet back in expectations and wonder if he’s trending closer to being a jack of all trades, master of none in the NFL. Offensively last season we saw a receiver who didn’t have the polish to take the top off NFL defenses, and at corner there was a mixed bag of success and failure.
Jacksonville figures to be a very good team in 2026 regardless of what happens with Travis Hunter. It remains to be seen though whether he can be an additive piece, or whether this could result in a massive misstep. There is a simple reality here that the Jaguars spent two picks to get a WR and CB in one player, when they could have sat at No. 5 last year, taken Tetairoa McMillan or Emeka Egbuka at WR, and then used this year’s pick to get a corner — potentially even make the trade for Trent McDuffie that the Rams did, offering better draft picks in the process.
Through that lens it’s impossible to see how the Travis Hunter move was worth it.
We only got an extremely small sample size of Hunter at corner last season before he suffered a season-ending LCL tear in October, and he was … fine. Targeted 18 times in 101 snaps at cornerback, he allowed nine catches for 106 yards with 29 yards of YAC. Hunter looked much more comfortable playing corner than receiver when it came to the eye test, but the Jaguars tapered off his number of defensive snaps as the season went on, choosing to use him more as a receiver than a defensive back.
The lingering question for the Jaguars coaching staff is whether this focus on Hunter as a receiver was simply due to a sophomore slump from Brian Thomas Jr, or if they didn’t like what they were seeing from the rookie at DB?
There’s no question we need to recalibrate the expectations for Hunter moving forward. The idea of him being a starting corner and slot receiver are gone, now replaced with offensive usage on “obvious passing downs,” which could still see him put up numbers — but more likely means he’ll only see 5-to-7 offensive snaps per game. It also remains to be seen if Hunter can be an offensive asset in this role, or more of a liability — especially if opposing defenses can learn cues about the Jaguars’ passing attack simply by seeing Hunter enter the game.
If the reality is that Hunter is simply the highest-drafted cornerback in NFL history, then there will be a mountain to climb to justify both the No. 2 overall pick, as well as the cost to trade up to get him. While far from a perfect analytic method, Pro Football Focus graded Hunter 73.2 on defense last year, which would have made him the 22nd-ranked cornerback in the league last year. That’s simply not good enough moving forward, and Hunter will need to show Top-10 ability as a DB to make the pick worth it.
The whole conversation around Travis Hunter has now pivoted. Instead of being a generational, Deion Sanders-esque two-way player, we’re now needing to ratchet back in expectations and wonder if he’s trending closer to being a jack of all trades, master of none in the NFL. Offensively last season we saw a receiver who didn’t have the polish to take the top off NFL defenses, and at corner there was a mixed bag of success and failure.
Jacksonville figures to be a very good team in 2026 regardless of what happens with Travis Hunter. It remains to be seen though whether he can be an additive piece, or whether this could result in a massive misstep. There is a simple reality here that the Jaguars spent two picks to get a WR and CB in one player, when they could have sat at No. 5 last year, taken Tetairoa McMillan or Emeka Egbuka at WR, and then used this year’s pick to get a corner — potentially even make the trade for Trent McDuffie that the Rams did, offering better draft picks in the process.
Through that lens it’s impossible to see how the Travis Hunter move was worth it.
#Travis #Hunter #wont #NFLs #Shohei #Ohtani #Jaguars #position #change">Travis Hunter won’t be the NFL’s Shohei Ohtani after Jaguars’ position change
The position switch is understandable, but doesn’t change the fundamental reality facing the Jaguars: Travis Hunter could very well be a bust, and at best they grossly overpaid for a cornerback.
We only got an extremely small sample size of Hunter at corner last season before he suffered a season-ending LCL tear in October, and he was … fine. Targeted 18 times in 101 snaps at cornerback, he allowed nine catches for 106 yards with 29 yards of YAC. Hunter looked much more comfortable playing corner than receiver when it came to the eye test, but the Jaguars tapered off his number of defensive snaps as the season went on, choosing to use him more as a receiver than a defensive back.
The lingering question for the Jaguars coaching staff is whether this focus on Hunter as a receiver was simply due to a sophomore slump from Brian Thomas Jr, or if they didn’t like what they were seeing from the rookie at DB?
There’s no question we need to recalibrate the expectations for Hunter moving forward. The idea of him being a starting corner and slot receiver are gone, now replaced with offensive usage on “obvious passing downs,” which could still see him put up numbers — but more likely means he’ll only see 5-to-7 offensive snaps per game. It also remains to be seen if Hunter can be an offensive asset in this role, or more of a liability — especially if opposing defenses can learn cues about the Jaguars’ passing attack simply by seeing Hunter enter the game.
If the reality is that Hunter is simply the highest-drafted cornerback in NFL history, then there will be a mountain to climb to justify both the No. 2 overall pick, as well as the cost to trade up to get him. While far from a perfect analytic method, Pro Football Focus graded Hunter 73.2 on defense last year, which would have made him the 22nd-ranked cornerback in the league last year. That’s simply not good enough moving forward, and Hunter will need to show Top-10 ability as a DB to make the pick worth it.
The whole conversation around Travis Hunter has now pivoted. Instead of being a generational, Deion Sanders-esque two-way player, we’re now needing to ratchet back in expectations and wonder if he’s trending closer to being a jack of all trades, master of none in the NFL. Offensively last season we saw a receiver who didn’t have the polish to take the top off NFL defenses, and at corner there was a mixed bag of success and failure.
Jacksonville figures to be a very good team in 2026 regardless of what happens with Travis Hunter. It remains to be seen though whether he can be an additive piece, or whether this could result in a massive misstep. There is a simple reality here that the Jaguars spent two picks to get a WR and CB in one player, when they could have sat at No. 5 last year, taken Tetairoa McMillan or Emeka Egbuka at WR, and then used this year’s pick to get a corner — potentially even make the trade for Trent McDuffie that the Rams did, offering better draft picks in the process.
Through that lens it’s impossible to see how the Travis Hunter move was worth it.
#RCB #IPL #cutoff #time #fiveover #match">RR vs RCB, IPL 2026: What is the cut-off time for a five-over match?
The IPL 2026 match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Friday was delayed due to rain.
The weather had cleared roughly two hours before the scheduled start of the match at 7:30PM but the rain returned shortly before the toss and forced the covers to be brought back onto the field.
In case the rain relents, the umpires will try to complete the match on Friday, if there is enough time left.
As per IPL playing conditions, a fixture starting at 7:30PM IST is expected to conclude by 10:50 PM IST. An additional 60 minutes is allotted to accommodate any delays, making the cut-off time for a five-over match approximately 10:56 PM IST.
This is the second consecutive match in Guwahati that has been shortened due to rain. The previous match between the Royals and Mumbai Indians was also reduced to a five-over shootout.
Published on Apr 10, 2026
#RCB #IPL #cutoff #time #fiveover #match
The IPL 2026 match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Barsapara Stadium…
![CSK vs DC, IPL 2026: ‘Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well,’ says Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the criticism directed towards him following the side’s dismal start to the IPL 2026 season was ‘fair’.CSK has been winless in its last three encounters and is currently rooted to the bottom of the table, the same position where the side finished last term. It is not a situation fans of the five-time champion have been familiar with. A section of them have questioned if the Kiwi coach, who has been in charge since 2009, deserves to continue in the hot seat.The coach, however, was quick to respond to suggestions that he hadn’t been up to speed with the exponential changes in the shortest format over the last half-decade.“Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well; that’s part of the position, and the results dictate that. I’m coaching through the year in two other competitions, so it’s not that I just turn off and then come to the IPL without an idea of where the game is going. I have probably not spent more time studying T20 cricket and players around the world [as much as now],” the head coach said on the eve of the encounter against the Delhi Capitals.“Yes, we were off the pace last year. [Mine will be] the first hand up. We pivoted quickly. Now, we’ve got some younger players, and I’m very confident about this group. We haven’t shown that as yet [this season]. One of the challenges is the number of players we have changed [from last year]. That means there is a bit of a settling-in process which we are trying to accelerate,” he added.MATCH PREVIEW | Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentumFleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.Published on Apr 10, 2026 #CSK #IPL #Criticism #fair #youre #Chennai #Super #Kings #coach #Fleming](https://i2.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/3y76q5/article70848039.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/STEPHEN%20FLEMING%20CSK%20VS%20RCB%20IPL%20MATCH_01.jpg?ssl=1 "CSK vs DC, IPL 2026: ‘Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well,’ says Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the criticism directed towards him following the side’s dismal start to the IPL 2026 season was ‘fair’.CSK has been winless in its last three encounters and is currently rooted to the bottom of the table, the same position where the side finished last term. It is not a situation fans of the five-time champion have been familiar with. A section of them have questioned if the Kiwi coach, who has been in charge since 2009, deserves to continue in the hot seat.The coach, however, was quick to respond to suggestions that he hadn’t been up to speed with the exponential changes in the shortest format over the last half-decade.“Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well; that’s part of the position, and the results dictate that. I’m coaching through the year in two other competitions, so it’s not that I just turn off and then come to the IPL without an idea of where the game is going. I have probably not spent more time studying T20 cricket and players around the world [as much as now],” the head coach said on the eve of the encounter against the Delhi Capitals.“Yes, we were off the pace last year. [Mine will be] the first hand up. We pivoted quickly. Now, we’ve got some younger players, and I’m very confident about this group. We haven’t shown that as yet [this season]. One of the challenges is the number of players we have changed [from last year]. That means there is a bit of a settling-in process which we are trying to accelerate,” he added.MATCH PREVIEW | Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentumFleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.Published on Apr 10, 2026 #CSK #IPL #Criticism #fair #youre #Chennai #Super #Kings #coach #Fleming")
