×
4 NFL Draft bold predictions for 2026 class on QBs, sleepers, and more The 2026 NFL Draft is just over one week away.Let’s start getting spicy.Mark Schofield and James Dator sat down to make their bold predictions for the 2026 NFL Draft, and as you will see, they are not exactly on the same page when it comes to one position in particular.And where they land might surprise you.KC Concepcion is the second WR off the board – JamesThis flies in the face of every draft projection, but the more tape I watch the more I’m convinced that Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion is going to be an absolute stud in the NFL – and I think teams will come to the same conclusion.Carnell Tate will be the No. 1 receiver off the board without question, but when you hit that second bracket of Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon neither of them are locks to be great pros. Neither has the ideal route fluidity you really want from a future X receiver, nor do they have size that mitigates those shortcomings.It’s here where Concepcion enters the picture. He doesn’t have X receiver size either, but he is DRIPPING with everything you want from a Y/Z hybrid player. Concepcion has quick feet, amazing ability to shake press defenders, and a knack for finding open space on the field. A team who takes him in the draft will need to understand he slots in best as a secondary option – but that is fine if it means you’re getting an elite second receiver talent, which I think Concepcion can be.This slots nicely into the draft. The Saints at No. 8 are a team who need a complimentary piece to Chris Olave, Kansas City at No. 9 is a place where he could land too, taking pressure off Rashee Rice – while the Rams at No. 13 could be looking for someone to add to their room (potentially even replace Puka Nacua down the road).Three offensive-minded coaches run these teams, all need receiving help to varying degrees, and with Tate off the board I think there’s a lot more upside with someone like Concepcion to come in and help immediately, rather than hoping Tyson or Lemon could become primary threats.Three quarterbacks will be drafted in the first round – JamesThere’s a pattern that keeps emerging in the NFL Draft: Take the number of QBs you expect to go in the first round, then add one.In 2025 Jaxson Dart snuck into the first round. In 2024 it was Bo Nix. This year we know Fernando Mendoza is going to go No. 1 overall, and that Ty Simpson could likely be drafted in the 20s – but I think one more guy is going to sneak into the round, and I think it’s going to be Arkansas’ Taylen Green. Hear me out.Green is undoubtedly a project, but one that isn’t dissimilar in size and athleticism to Anthony Richardson who went No. 5 overall in 2023. That might not be a glowing endorsement, but someone is going to fall in love with the dual-threat upside he brings to the table. If you’re looking at a QB who needs some seasoning before being ready to play then it’s absolutely imperative you get the guy in the first round to secure the 5th year option.This is why I think either the Jets or Cardinals could get froggy and move up from the top of the 2nd round to the end of the 1st and take someone like Green. There’s also a possibility they like someone like Carson Beck for the same reasons the Saints like Tyler Shough a year ago, in that they think he can help them win immediately. At this point though I see the upside of Green as as 6’6 QB with a 4.36 in the forty.Want a wild card? Todd Monken is the new coach of the Browns and his entire offense in Baltimore was predicated around a dual threat QB. I don’t care that they took Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders a year ago, they can’t do what Green does.There’s just this nagging feeling in the back of my head that the athleticism is going to make someone fall in love.Jacob Rodriguez goes in the first round – MarkBefore diving into my two bold predictions, I want to start with this little tidbit:Food for thought, indeed.I think there are three factors at play here. First, the lack of elite talent in this quarterback class. James is right in that we might still see some quarterbacks move up boards, but I’m still not sure that we see that many come off the board in the first round. We might see players slide up to Day 2 from Day 3, or to Day 3 from being priority UDFA-type players, but I’m not sure we see a ton of movement into the first round. Maybe I’m wronte.Second, the expectations around the 2027 QB class are starting to take hold. Albert Breer wrote this earlier this week:The 2027 class affects that, too. The list is long: Oregon’s Dante Moore, Texas’s Arch Manning, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, USC’s Jayden Maiava, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby, Ole Miss’s Trinidad Chambliss, Oklahoma’s John Mateer, Miami’s Darian Mensah and UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava.You get the picture. Throw in dark-horse transfers such as DJ Lagway at Baylor and Drew Mestemaker at Oklahoma State, and you have 14 quarterbacks who at least have a chance of being taken high in 2027.I really think teams are going to kick the QB decision to next spring.The final factor? The strength in this class comes from positions like safety, offensive and defensive lines and yes, linebacker.That leads me to Jacob Rodriguez.The NFL does seem to be coming back around to the running game. Maybe not to a massive extent, but look at the Seattle Seahawks last season, and look at this from Yahoo analyst Nate Tice:Defending the run might matter again.That leads us to Rodriguez, who parlayed a stunning season into Heisman Trophy buzz a year ago, where he ultimately finished fifth in voting, one of the highest finishes from a pure defensive player in history.His draft stock has slowly increased even since the end of the season, thanks to a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. If positional value is truly out the window this year, his production at the college level will push him into the first round.More safeties than quarterback go in the first — MarkAs a card-carrying member of the quarterback union, I might get kicked out after this one.While my dear friend James thinks three quarterbacks go into the first round, I remain unconvinced. I think at most we see Fernando Mendoza at 1, and Ty Simpson at some point late on Thursday night, perhapse to the Arizona Cardinals via a trade back into the first round.Assuming two quarterbacks go in the first round, I think we see three safeties come off the board.First is Caleb Downs, who was one of my favorite players to study this entire cycle. His profile fits as more of a box safety in the NFL — which is the only reason stopping me from having him at the top of our soon-to-be-released big board — but I think he comes off the board inside the top five.I think Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman comes off the board next, either to Minnesota at 18 or Carolina at 19.Then there are the New England Patriots, who could be a landing spot for Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, as could be the Chicago Bears.In all, I think we see two quarterbacks in the first, and three safeties. #NFL #Draft #bold #predictions #class #QBs #sleepers

4 NFL Draft bold predictions for 2026 class on QBs, sleepers, and more

The 2026 NFL Draft is just over one week away.

Let’s start getting spicy.

Mark Schofield and James Dator sat down to make their bold predictions for the 2026 NFL Draft, and as you will see, they are not exactly on the same page when it comes to one position in particular.

And where they land might surprise you.

KC Concepcion is the second WR off the board – James

This flies in the face of every draft projection, but the more tape I watch the more I’m convinced that Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion is going to be an absolute stud in the NFL – and I think teams will come to the same conclusion.

Carnell Tate will be the No. 1 receiver off the board without question, but when you hit that second bracket of Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon neither of them are locks to be great pros. Neither has the ideal route fluidity you really want from a future X receiver, nor do they have size that mitigates those shortcomings.

It’s here where Concepcion enters the picture. He doesn’t have X receiver size either, but he is DRIPPING with everything you want from a Y/Z hybrid player. Concepcion has quick feet, amazing ability to shake press defenders, and a knack for finding open space on the field. A team who takes him in the draft will need to understand he slots in best as a secondary option – but that is fine if it means you’re getting an elite second receiver talent, which I think Concepcion can be.

This slots nicely into the draft. The Saints at No. 8 are a team who need a complimentary piece to Chris Olave, Kansas City at No. 9 is a place where he could land too, taking pressure off Rashee Rice – while the Rams at No. 13 could be looking for someone to add to their room (potentially even replace Puka Nacua down the road).

Three offensive-minded coaches run these teams, all need receiving help to varying degrees, and with Tate off the board I think there’s a lot more upside with someone like Concepcion to come in and help immediately, rather than hoping Tyson or Lemon could become primary threats.

Three quarterbacks will be drafted in the first round – James

There’s a pattern that keeps emerging in the NFL Draft: Take the number of QBs you expect to go in the first round, then add one.

In 2025 Jaxson Dart snuck into the first round. In 2024 it was Bo Nix. This year we know Fernando Mendoza is going to go No. 1 overall, and that Ty Simpson could likely be drafted in the 20s – but I think one more guy is going to sneak into the round, and I think it’s going to be Arkansas’ Taylen Green. Hear me out.

Green is undoubtedly a project, but one that isn’t dissimilar in size and athleticism to Anthony Richardson who went No. 5 overall in 2023. That might not be a glowing endorsement, but someone is going to fall in love with the dual-threat upside he brings to the table. If you’re looking at a QB who needs some seasoning before being ready to play then it’s absolutely imperative you get the guy in the first round to secure the 5th year option.

This is why I think either the Jets or Cardinals could get froggy and move up from the top of the 2nd round to the end of the 1st and take someone like Green. There’s also a possibility they like someone like Carson Beck for the same reasons the Saints like Tyler Shough a year ago, in that they think he can help them win immediately. At this point though I see the upside of Green as as 6’6 QB with a 4.36 in the forty.

Want a wild card? Todd Monken is the new coach of the Browns and his entire offense in Baltimore was predicated around a dual threat QB. I don’t care that they took Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders a year ago, they can’t do what Green does.

There’s just this nagging feeling in the back of my head that the athleticism is going to make someone fall in love.

Jacob Rodriguez goes in the first round – Mark

Before diving into my two bold predictions, I want to start with this little tidbit:

Food for thought, indeed.

I think there are three factors at play here. First, the lack of elite talent in this quarterback class. James is right in that we might still see some quarterbacks move up boards, but I’m still not sure that we see that many come off the board in the first round. We might see players slide up to Day 2 from Day 3, or to Day 3 from being priority UDFA-type players, but I’m not sure we see a ton of movement into the first round. Maybe I’m wronte.

Second, the expectations around the 2027 QB class are starting to take hold. Albert Breer wrote this earlier this week:

The 2027 class affects that, too. The list is long: Oregon’s Dante Moore, Texas’s Arch Manning, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, USC’s Jayden Maiava, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby, Ole Miss’s Trinidad Chambliss, Oklahoma’s John Mateer, Miami’s Darian Mensah and UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava.

You get the picture. Throw in dark-horse transfers such as DJ Lagway at Baylor and Drew Mestemaker at Oklahoma State, and you have 14 quarterbacks who at least have a chance of being taken high in 2027.

I really think teams are going to kick the QB decision to next spring.

The final factor? The strength in this class comes from positions like safety, offensive and defensive lines and yes, linebacker.

That leads me to Jacob Rodriguez.

The NFL does seem to be coming back around to the running game. Maybe not to a massive extent, but look at the Seattle Seahawks last season, and look at this from Yahoo analyst Nate Tice:

Defending the run might matter again.

That leads us to Rodriguez, who parlayed a stunning season into Heisman Trophy buzz a year ago, where he ultimately finished fifth in voting, one of the highest finishes from a pure defensive player in history.

His draft stock has slowly increased even since the end of the season, thanks to a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. If positional value is truly out the window this year, his production at the college level will push him into the first round.

More safeties than quarterback go in the first — Mark

As a card-carrying member of the quarterback union, I might get kicked out after this one.

While my dear friend James thinks three quarterbacks go into the first round, I remain unconvinced. I think at most we see Fernando Mendoza at 1, and Ty Simpson at some point late on Thursday night, perhapse to the Arizona Cardinals via a trade back into the first round.

Assuming two quarterbacks go in the first round, I think we see three safeties come off the board.

First is Caleb Downs, who was one of my favorite players to study this entire cycle. His profile fits as more of a box safety in the NFL — which is the only reason stopping me from having him at the top of our soon-to-be-released big board — but I think he comes off the board inside the top five.

I think Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman comes off the board next, either to Minnesota at 18 or Carolina at 19.

Then there are the New England Patriots, who could be a landing spot for Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, as could be the Chicago Bears.

In all, I think we see two quarterbacks in the first, and three safeties.

#NFL #Draft #bold #predictions #class #QBs #sleepers

Sports news

The 2026 NFL Draft is just over one week away.

Let’s start getting spicy.

Mark Schofield and James Dator sat down to make their bold predictions for the 2026 NFL Draft, and as you will see, they are not exactly on the same page when it comes to one position in particular.

And where they land might surprise you.

KC Concepcion is the second WR off the board – James

This flies in the face of every draft projection, but the more tape I watch the more I’m convinced that Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion is going to be an absolute stud in the NFL – and I think teams will come to the same conclusion.

Carnell Tate will be the No. 1 receiver off the board without question, but when you hit that second bracket of Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon neither of them are locks to be great pros. Neither has the ideal route fluidity you really want from a future X receiver, nor do they have size that mitigates those shortcomings.

It’s here where Concepcion enters the picture. He doesn’t have X receiver size either, but he is DRIPPING with everything you want from a Y/Z hybrid player. Concepcion has quick feet, amazing ability to shake press defenders, and a knack for finding open space on the field. A team who takes him in the draft will need to understand he slots in best as a secondary option – but that is fine if it means you’re getting an elite second receiver talent, which I think Concepcion can be.

This slots nicely into the draft. The Saints at No. 8 are a team who need a complimentary piece to Chris Olave, Kansas City at No. 9 is a place where he could land too, taking pressure off Rashee Rice – while the Rams at No. 13 could be looking for someone to add to their room (potentially even replace Puka Nacua down the road).

Three offensive-minded coaches run these teams, all need receiving help to varying degrees, and with Tate off the board I think there’s a lot more upside with someone like Concepcion to come in and help immediately, rather than hoping Tyson or Lemon could become primary threats.

Three quarterbacks will be drafted in the first round – James

There’s a pattern that keeps emerging in the NFL Draft: Take the number of QBs you expect to go in the first round, then add one.

In 2025 Jaxson Dart snuck into the first round. In 2024 it was Bo Nix. This year we know Fernando Mendoza is going to go No. 1 overall, and that Ty Simpson could likely be drafted in the 20s – but I think one more guy is going to sneak into the round, and I think it’s going to be Arkansas’ Taylen Green. Hear me out.

Green is undoubtedly a project, but one that isn’t dissimilar in size and athleticism to Anthony Richardson who went No. 5 overall in 2023. That might not be a glowing endorsement, but someone is going to fall in love with the dual-threat upside he brings to the table. If you’re looking at a QB who needs some seasoning before being ready to play then it’s absolutely imperative you get the guy in the first round to secure the 5th year option.

This is why I think either the Jets or Cardinals could get froggy and move up from the top of the 2nd round to the end of the 1st and take someone like Green. There’s also a possibility they like someone like Carson Beck for the same reasons the Saints like Tyler Shough a year ago, in that they think he can help them win immediately. At this point though I see the upside of Green as as 6’6 QB with a 4.36 in the forty.

Want a wild card? Todd Monken is the new coach of the Browns and his entire offense in Baltimore was predicated around a dual threat QB. I don’t care that they took Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders a year ago, they can’t do what Green does.

There’s just this nagging feeling in the back of my head that the athleticism is going to make someone fall in love.

Jacob Rodriguez goes in the first round – Mark

Before diving into my two bold predictions, I want to start with this little tidbit:

Food for thought, indeed.

I think there are three factors at play here. First, the lack of elite talent in this quarterback class. James is right in that we might still see some quarterbacks move up boards, but I’m still not sure that we see that many come off the board in the first round. We might see players slide up to Day 2 from Day 3, or to Day 3 from being priority UDFA-type players, but I’m not sure we see a ton of movement into the first round. Maybe I’m wronte.

Second, the expectations around the 2027 QB class are starting to take hold. Albert Breer wrote this earlier this week:

The 2027 class affects that, too. The list is long: Oregon’s Dante Moore, Texas’s Arch Manning, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, USC’s Jayden Maiava, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby, Ole Miss’s Trinidad Chambliss, Oklahoma’s John Mateer, Miami’s Darian Mensah and UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava.

You get the picture. Throw in dark-horse transfers such as DJ Lagway at Baylor and Drew Mestemaker at Oklahoma State, and you have 14 quarterbacks who at least have a chance of being taken high in 2027.

I really think teams are going to kick the QB decision to next spring.

The final factor? The strength in this class comes from positions like safety, offensive and defensive lines and yes, linebacker.

That leads me to Jacob Rodriguez.

The NFL does seem to be coming back around to the running game. Maybe not to a massive extent, but look at the Seattle Seahawks last season, and look at this from Yahoo analyst Nate Tice:

Defending the run might matter again.

That leads us to Rodriguez, who parlayed a stunning season into Heisman Trophy buzz a year ago, where he ultimately finished fifth in voting, one of the highest finishes from a pure defensive player in history.

His draft stock has slowly increased even since the end of the season, thanks to a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. If positional value is truly out the window this year, his production at the college level will push him into the first round.

More safeties than quarterback go in the first — Mark

As a card-carrying member of the quarterback union, I might get kicked out after this one.

While my dear friend James thinks three quarterbacks go into the first round, I remain unconvinced. I think at most we see Fernando Mendoza at 1, and Ty Simpson at some point late on Thursday night, perhapse to the Arizona Cardinals via a trade back into the first round.

Assuming two quarterbacks go in the first round, I think we see three safeties come off the board.

First is Caleb Downs, who was one of my favorite players to study this entire cycle. His profile fits as more of a box safety in the NFL — which is the only reason stopping me from having him at the top of our soon-to-be-released big board — but I think he comes off the board inside the top five.

I think Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman comes off the board next, either to Minnesota at 18 or Carolina at 19.

Then there are the New England Patriots, who could be a landing spot for Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, as could be the Chicago Bears.

In all, I think we see two quarterbacks in the first, and three safeties.

Source link
#NFL #Draft #bold #predictions #class #QBs #sleepers

Tag
Previous post

WADA admits to doping concerns in India, indicates close monitoring of process <div id="content-body-70869167" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) on Thursday declared that doping was a big problem in India and that it would be working closely and monitoring the country’s anti-doping process and systems in the coming months.</p><p>WADA president Witold Banka and director of intelligence and investigations Günter Younger, addressing select media in New Delhi, admitted as much after the final conference of the expansion phase of its Global Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network (GAIIN) in Asia and Oceania.</p><p>The one-day meeting brought together representatives of law enforcement agencies and National Anti-Doping Organisations from 23 countries in Europe and 45 countries across the Asia/Oceania region besides INTERPOL and EUROPOL.</p><p>“Operation Upstream is a global operation across continents but there is no doubt that the biggest producer of illegal and performance enhancing drugs, illegal steroids is in India. Of course, there’s no doubt that we have a problem with doping in India. This is an ongoing, confidential operation but there are no doubts that there is a big problem here,” Banka said.</p><p>While appreciating the support from various Indian agencies, Banka nevertheless made it clear that compliance with WADA rules and cleaning up the house was non-negotiable to India’s hopes of hosting major sporting events.</p><p>“There is understanding of the problem here, no one is blind on the problem. I was very honest and very clear that we, as WADA, expect stronger engagement and commitment. Our expectation is to see how NADA applies the rules, how strong is the system, how the investigation looks like, to assess the educational actions and programmes. India is very ambitious when it comes to organising sporting events, it will not be possible without strong anti-doping policy,” he added.</p><p>He also agreed that there was a need to revise the code to make coaches and doctors more accountable and punishable without putting the onus completely on the athlete, something sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya hinted at during his address in the morning.</p><p>“The government is working towards introducing criminal provisions against those involved in administering or trafficking prohibited substances. While earlier efforts were largely confined to laboratory testing protocols and athlete compliance, doping today is an organised multinational enterprise, underscoring the need for coordinated global response,” Mandaviya said.</p><p>Banka also revealed that he had visited the National Dope Testing laboratory – with NADA Director General Anant Kumar saying there were plans to set up more labs — and that there would be a virtual audit regarding the results and management of the decision results and management process in the coming weeks. “There’s room for improvement and we see the need to accelerate in many areas like testing, I&I and verification. We will monitor the efforts as well,” Banka said.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 16, 2026</p></div> #WADA #admits #doping #concerns #India #close #monitoring #process

Next post

Deadspin | NHL roundup: Knights rally past Kraken to clinch Pacific Division <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28739776.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28739776.jpg" alt="NHL: Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 15, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) celebrates with right wing Reilly Smith (19) and defenseman Shea Theodore (27) after the Golden Knights defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-1 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Reilly Smith scored twice during Vegas’ three-goal third period and also had an assist as the Golden Knights rallied for a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken to clinch the Pacific Division title on Wednesday in Las Vegas.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>It was the 31st multi-goal game of Smith’s career and his second of the season. Jack Eichel had two assists and Shea Theodore and Mitch Marner added goals for Vegas (39-26-17, 95 points), which will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Carter Hart finished with 22 saves for the Golden Knights, who extended their point streak to a season-high 10 games (7-0-3). It is the third Pacific Division title in four years and sixth in nine seasons for Vegas, which improved to 7-0-1 since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Shane Wright scored a goal for Seattle (34-36-11, 79 points), which is 2-7-1 over its past 10 games. Nikke Kokko made 22 saves for the Kraken, who play their final game of the season on Thursday at Colorado.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Stars 4, Sabres 3 (SO)</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Wyatt Johnston scored the shootout winner for Dallas in a victory at Buffalo.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Esa Lindell and Justin Hryckowian finished with a goal and an assist each for the Stars, who ended the regular season on a five-game winning streak. Mavrik Bourque added his 20th goal of the season, and Jake Oettinger made 21 saves.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Zach Benson had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, whose four-game winning streak ended. Buffalo also got regulation goals from Josh Norris and Alex Tuch. Owen Power logged two assists, and Colten Ellis stopped 25 shots.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Senators 3, Maple Leafs 1</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Drake Batherson and Warren Foegele scored power-play goals and Ottawa defeated visiting Toronto in the regular-season finale for both teams.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Dylan Cozens added an empty-net goal for the Senators, and Claude Giroux contributed two assists. Former Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer stopped 19 shots for the Senators, who won the season series with Toronto 3-1-0.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>William Nylander scored for Toronto in a game that lacked much of the bite that usually is associated with a Battle of Ontario clash. Dennis Hildeby made 35 saves.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-13"> <p>Panthers 8, Red Wings 1</p> </section> <section id="section-14"> <p>Mike Benning scored his first two NHL goals, Wilmer Skoog tallied his first two assists in his third game and Mikulas Hovorka got his first point in his fourth contest as Florida dominated Detroit in Sunrise, Fla.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>Luke Kunin had two goals and an assist, Cole Reinhardt added a goal and an assist, Matthew Tkachuk and Marek Alscher each had two assists and Daniil Tarasov made 24 saves for the Panthers.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>Justin Faulk scored the lone goal for the Red Wings, who went 2-6-2 in their last 10 games of the season. Cam Talbot made eight saves in relief of John Gibson, who allowed four goals on 11 shots and exited in the second period after getting hit in the face with the puck.</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>Rangers 4, Lightning 2</p> </section><section id="section-18"> <p>Tye Kartye scored the game’s first two goals in a three-point showing and visiting New York ended its season on a high note with a win over playoff-bound Tampa Bay.</p> </section><section id="section-19"> <p>Mika Zibanejad notched a power-play goal and an assist, Gabe Perreault netted a goal and J.T. Miller dished out two assists. Goaltender Dylan Garand made 29 saves and moved to 2-0-1.</p> </section><section id="section-20"> <p>Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry scored goals for the Lightning. In his second appearance this season, Brandon Halverson stopped 17 shots.</p> </section><section id="section-21"> <p>Blackhawks 5, Sharks 2</p> </section><section id="section-22"> <p>Louis Crevier scored two third-period goals and Chicago scored five straight to rally for a season-ending win against visiting San Jose.</p> </section><section id="section-23"> <p>Sam Rinzel, Ryan Greene and Nick Lardis also scored, Connor Bedard had two assists and Spencer Knight made 15 saves for the Blackhawks, who had lost four in a row and nine of 10 (1-8-1).</p> </section><section id="section-24"> <p>Mario Ferraro and Michael Misa scored, Kiefer Sherwood had two assists and Yaroslav Askarov made 19 saves and turned away a penalty shot for the Sharks, who have lost four of five (1-3-1) entering their finale on Thursday at Winnipeg.</p> </section><section id="section-25"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Knights #rally #Kraken #clinch #Pacific #Division

Related Posts

Deadspin | Reports: Jorge Soler’s suspension reduced from 7 to 4 games Apr 14, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler (12) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler’s suspension was reduced from seven to four games by Major League Baseball following his appeal, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday. Soler, 34, reportedly will begin serving his ban on Wednesday as Los Angeles plays the third contest of its four-game series against the host New York Yankees. He will remain out until Sunday when the Angels conclude a three-game set versus the visiting San Diego Padres. Soler was suspended following a benches-clearing incident involving multiple players from the Atlanta Braves and Angels during their game on April 7. Soler belted a two-run homer off Reynaldo Lopez in his first at-bat before the latter hit him with a pitch on his left hand in his next trip to the plate. Soler then took exception to a high and inside fifth-inning fastball that glanced off the glove of catcher Jonah Heim and bounced to the backstop. Soler stared at Lopez for several seconds before jogging to the mound. Both players then squared up and began throwing punches, none of which appeared to land squarely, as players from both teams rushed in. Lopez fended Soler off with his glove and threw punches with his right hand, which still held the baseball. Braves manager Walt Weiss ended up tackling Soler on the first base line to help break up the fracas. Soler was the 2021 World Series MVP for the Braves and is now on his third different team since that brief stint, plus a return to Atlanta in 2024. Lopez reached a settlement with MLB, reducing his suspension to five games. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Reports #Jorge #Solers #suspension #reduced #gamesApr 14, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler (12) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler’s suspension was reduced from seven to four games by Major League Baseball following his appeal, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday.

Soler, 34, reportedly will begin serving his ban on Wednesday as Los Angeles plays the third contest of its four-game series against the host New York Yankees. He will remain out until Sunday when the Angels conclude a three-game set versus the visiting San Diego Padres.

Soler was suspended following a benches-clearing incident involving multiple players from the Atlanta Braves and Angels during their game on April 7.

Soler belted a two-run homer off Reynaldo Lopez in his first at-bat before the latter hit him with a pitch on his left hand in his next trip to the plate. Soler then took exception to a high and inside fifth-inning fastball that glanced off the glove of catcher Jonah Heim and bounced to the backstop.


Soler stared at Lopez for several seconds before jogging to the mound. Both players then squared up and began throwing punches, none of which appeared to land squarely, as players from both teams rushed in. Lopez fended Soler off with his glove and threw punches with his right hand, which still held the baseball.

Braves manager Walt Weiss ended up tackling Soler on the first base line to help break up the fracas.

Soler was the 2021 World Series MVP for the Braves and is now on his third different team since that brief stint, plus a return to Atlanta in 2024.

Lopez reached a settlement with MLB, reducing his suspension to five games.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reports #Jorge #Solers #suspension #reduced #games">Deadspin | Reports: Jorge Soler’s suspension reduced from 7 to 4 games Apr 14, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler (12) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler’s suspension was reduced from seven to four games by Major League Baseball following his appeal, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday. Soler, 34, reportedly will begin serving his ban on Wednesday as Los Angeles plays the third contest of its four-game series against the host New York Yankees. He will remain out until Sunday when the Angels conclude a three-game set versus the visiting San Diego Padres. Soler was suspended following a benches-clearing incident involving multiple players from the Atlanta Braves and Angels during their game on April 7. Soler belted a two-run homer off Reynaldo Lopez in his first at-bat before the latter hit him with a pitch on his left hand in his next trip to the plate. Soler then took exception to a high and inside fifth-inning fastball that glanced off the glove of catcher Jonah Heim and bounced to the backstop. Soler stared at Lopez for several seconds before jogging to the mound. Both players then squared up and began throwing punches, none of which appeared to land squarely, as players from both teams rushed in. Lopez fended Soler off with his glove and threw punches with his right hand, which still held the baseball. Braves manager Walt Weiss ended up tackling Soler on the first base line to help break up the fracas. Soler was the 2021 World Series MVP for the Braves and is now on his third different team since that brief stint, plus a return to Atlanta in 2024. Lopez reached a settlement with MLB, reducing his suspension to five games. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Reports #Jorge #Solers #suspension #reduced #games

They say age comes for everyone eventually, and the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League is proving that to be ruthlessly true. Rohit Sharma will miss Mumbai Indians’ clash against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, marking a rare occasion that the 38-year-old will be absent from the five-time champion’s top-order.

Rohit is not the only one facing time on the sidelines. The seemingly untiring Virat Kohli was forced to play as an Impact Player in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match against Lucknow Super Giants, while M.S. Dhoni – the famed lynchpin of Chennai Super Kings’ middle-order – has missed the side’s first five matches of the season.

The stalwarts of a generation of the IPL are now being confronted with the realities of playing the tournament while not riding the conveyor belt of international cricket year-round.

According to Ramji Srinivasan, former India and Mumbai Indians strength and conditioning coach, the physical challenge of the IPL is primarily about rest and recovery. “The challenge is more on recovery than the fitness aspect,” he told  Sportstar. “The fitness aspect is more about tiring and traveling from one place to another.

Train smarter, not harder — Ramji Srinivasan decodes how IPL’s OG superstars can stave off injuries They say age comes for everyone eventually, and the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League is proving that to be ruthlessly true. Rohit Sharma will miss Mumbai Indians’ clash against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, marking a rare occasion that the 38-year-old will be absent from the five-time champion’s top-order.Rohit is not the only one facing time on the sidelines. The seemingly untiring Virat Kohli was forced to play as an Impact Player in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match against Lucknow Super Giants, while M.S. Dhoni – the famed lynchpin of Chennai Super Kings’ middle-order – has missed the side’s first five matches of the season.The stalwarts of a generation of the IPL are now being confronted with the realities of playing the tournament while not riding the conveyor belt of international cricket year-round.According to Ramji Srinivasan, former India and Mumbai Indians strength and conditioning coach, the physical challenge of the IPL is primarily about rest and recovery. “The challenge is more on recovery than the fitness aspect,” he told  Sportstar. “The fitness aspect is more about tiring and traveling from one place to another. Virat Kohli played as an Impact Player due to a kneeinjury during RCB’s match against LSG. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar Virat Kohli played as an Impact Player due to a kneeinjury during RCB’s match against LSG. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar “The matches finish by 11:00-11:30PM, by the time they start from the ground, it will be around 12.30-1:00AM. The next morning, if they have to travel again, everything changes again. It’s about how you manage your body with proper recovery and nutrition,” Srinivasan said.The challenge of dealing with a hectic schedule is one that becomes tougher with age. “After 30 and beyond, the body starts to slow down physiologically. It is natural. So, what they need to do is train smart rather than train hard,” Srinivasan said.According to Srinivasan, age does have some benefit to doing so. “By this time you know your body better, when you need to push, when you need to pull yourself back, when you need to recover, what type of recovery you need to adhere to.“What you are adhering to when you are in your 20s and early 30s may not be as pertinent now, you know. Your body is changing every year, and you need to adapt to a particular stimulus,” he explained. “You need to be very specialised according to the individual. What suits Virat will not suit Rohit or MS. So, it has to be highly bespoke, just because it is successful with one player need not be successful with any other players.”Ramji SrinivasanSrinivasan suggested a focus on cognitive and neuromuscular training, an approach he likens to that of a Formula One driver, which focuses on training the cognitive skills of the player.“It’s all about the neural training pathway because cognition is what your eye perceives, and how your body reacts. For example, you see a ball trajectory coming in, how your body reacts to that particular impulse. It can be reactive or it can be proactive.“You focus on how you train those muscle groups, the smaller and the finer muscle rather than the gross muscles. That is how you get precision, and they are the thing which loses the neural response in the long run if you don’t train them.”An inevitable part of aging as a player is the arrival of injuries, as the likes of Rohit and Kohli are experiencing now. While niggles are unavoidable for top-level athletes, the focus, Srinivasan said, should be on being proactive about identifying the underlying causes and treating them quickly.“The idea is that preventive medicine is better than curative, and if you cannot prevent it, your curative measure has to be quicker,” he said.“Any sportsperson will have niggles, but you have to identify the contributing factors. When you are doing.your assessment and screening you will know there are probabilities, especially as you get older. So if it is a hamstring injury, why has it happened, is it because of dehydration, or because of lack of fitness, or because of overstretching?”He also emphasised that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The training methodology for players like Kohli or Rohit, who have recently stepped off the Test and T20I bandwagons but still play a single format, will have a different approach to a player like Dhoni, for whom IPL is the only remaining form of professional cricket. Rohit Sharma suffered an injury to his left hamstring that ruled him out of the match against PBKS. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Rohit Sharma suffered an injury to his left hamstring that ruled him out of the match against PBKS. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini “When you are young and robust, if you eat iron you will be able to digest it. In the thirties even if you eat food it won’t digest,” he explained with a laugh. “So you need to be very specialised according to the individual. What suits Virat will not suit Rohit or MS. So, it has to be highly bespoke, just because it is successful with one player need not be successful with any other players.“There has to be progression in anything. Suddenly coming and sprinting it’s not going to help you however fit you are. When you are in a competition your body and mind responds differently to when you are training.“The essence is that the professional needs to understand when you are in a competition there are a lot of things happening which are not happening during your training. So, the idea is to prepare yourself through the training, it’s a simulation.“You cannot do that because there are so many variables. But being very close to the reality in your training module really helps. For example, when you are in your 20s, you may take two weeks to get into the groove. When you are in your 30s, it may take three weeks. When you are in your 40s, it may take a month and a half.”Published on Apr 16, 2026 #Train #smarter #harder #Ramji #Srinivasan #decodes #IPLs #superstars #stave #injuries

Virat Kohli played as an Impact Player due to a kneeinjury during RCB’s match against LSG. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

lightbox-info

Virat Kohli played as an Impact Player due to a kneeinjury during RCB’s match against LSG. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

“The matches finish by 11:00-11:30PM, by the time they start from the ground, it will be around 12.30-1:00AM. The next morning, if they have to travel again, everything changes again. It’s about how you manage your body with proper recovery and nutrition,” Srinivasan said.

The challenge of dealing with a hectic schedule is one that becomes tougher with age. “After 30 and beyond, the body starts to slow down physiologically. It is natural. So, what they need to do is train smart rather than train hard,” Srinivasan said.

According to Srinivasan, age does have some benefit to doing so. “By this time you know your body better, when you need to push, when you need to pull yourself back, when you need to recover, what type of recovery you need to adhere to.

“What you are adhering to when you are in your 20s and early 30s may not be as pertinent now, you know. Your body is changing every year, and you need to adapt to a particular stimulus,” he explained.

“You need to be very specialised according to the individual. What suits Virat will not suit Rohit or MS. So, it has to be highly bespoke, just because it is successful with one player need not be successful with any other players.”Ramji Srinivasan

Srinivasan suggested a focus on cognitive and neuromuscular training, an approach he likens to that of a Formula One driver, which focuses on training the cognitive skills of the player.

“It’s all about the neural training pathway because cognition is what your eye perceives, and how your body reacts. For example, you see a ball trajectory coming in, how your body reacts to that particular impulse. It can be reactive or it can be proactive.

“You focus on how you train those muscle groups, the smaller and the finer muscle rather than the gross muscles. That is how you get precision, and they are the thing which loses the neural response in the long run if you don’t train them.”

An inevitable part of aging as a player is the arrival of injuries, as the likes of Rohit and Kohli are experiencing now. While niggles are unavoidable for top-level athletes, the focus, Srinivasan said, should be on being proactive about identifying the underlying causes and treating them quickly.

“The idea is that preventive medicine is better than curative, and if you cannot prevent it, your curative measure has to be quicker,” he said.

“Any sportsperson will have niggles, but you have to identify the contributing factors. When you are doing.your assessment and screening you will know there are probabilities, especially as you get older. So if it is a hamstring injury, why has it happened, is it because of dehydration, or because of lack of fitness, or because of overstretching?”

He also emphasised that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The training methodology for players like Kohli or Rohit, who have recently stepped off the Test and T20I bandwagons but still play a single format, will have a different approach to a player like Dhoni, for whom IPL is the only remaining form of professional cricket.

Rohit Sharma suffered an injury to his left hamstring that ruled him out of the match against PBKS.

Rohit Sharma suffered an injury to his left hamstring that ruled him out of the match against PBKS. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

lightbox-info

Rohit Sharma suffered an injury to his left hamstring that ruled him out of the match against PBKS. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

“When you are young and robust, if you eat iron you will be able to digest it. In the thirties even if you eat food it won’t digest,” he explained with a laugh. “So you need to be very specialised according to the individual. What suits Virat will not suit Rohit or MS. So, it has to be highly bespoke, just because it is successful with one player need not be successful with any other players.

“There has to be progression in anything. Suddenly coming and sprinting it’s not going to help you however fit you are. When you are in a competition your body and mind responds differently to when you are training.

“The essence is that the professional needs to understand when you are in a competition there are a lot of things happening which are not happening during your training. So, the idea is to prepare yourself through the training, it’s a simulation.

“You cannot do that because there are so many variables. But being very close to the reality in your training module really helps. For example, when you are in your 20s, you may take two weeks to get into the groove. When you are in your 30s, it may take three weeks. When you are in your 40s, it may take a month and a half.”

Published on Apr 16, 2026

#Train #smarter #harder #Ramji #Srinivasan #decodes #IPLs #superstars #stave #injuries">Train smarter, not harder — Ramji Srinivasan decodes how IPL’s OG superstars can stave off injuries They say age comes for everyone eventually, and the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League is proving that to be ruthlessly true. Rohit Sharma will miss Mumbai Indians’ clash against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, marking a rare occasion that the 38-year-old will be absent from the five-time champion’s top-order.Rohit is not the only one facing time on the sidelines. The seemingly untiring Virat Kohli was forced to play as an Impact Player in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match against Lucknow Super Giants, while M.S. Dhoni – the famed lynchpin of Chennai Super Kings’ middle-order – has missed the side’s first five matches of the season.The stalwarts of a generation of the IPL are now being confronted with the realities of playing the tournament while not riding the conveyor belt of international cricket year-round.According to Ramji Srinivasan, former India and Mumbai Indians strength and conditioning coach, the physical challenge of the IPL is primarily about rest and recovery. “The challenge is more on recovery than the fitness aspect,” he told  Sportstar. “The fitness aspect is more about tiring and traveling from one place to another. Virat Kohli played as an Impact Player due to a kneeinjury during RCB’s match against LSG. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar Virat Kohli played as an Impact Player due to a kneeinjury during RCB’s match against LSG. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar “The matches finish by 11:00-11:30PM, by the time they start from the ground, it will be around 12.30-1:00AM. The next morning, if they have to travel again, everything changes again. It’s about how you manage your body with proper recovery and nutrition,” Srinivasan said.The challenge of dealing with a hectic schedule is one that becomes tougher with age. “After 30 and beyond, the body starts to slow down physiologically. It is natural. So, what they need to do is train smart rather than train hard,” Srinivasan said.According to Srinivasan, age does have some benefit to doing so. “By this time you know your body better, when you need to push, when you need to pull yourself back, when you need to recover, what type of recovery you need to adhere to.“What you are adhering to when you are in your 20s and early 30s may not be as pertinent now, you know. Your body is changing every year, and you need to adapt to a particular stimulus,” he explained. “You need to be very specialised according to the individual. What suits Virat will not suit Rohit or MS. So, it has to be highly bespoke, just because it is successful with one player need not be successful with any other players.”Ramji SrinivasanSrinivasan suggested a focus on cognitive and neuromuscular training, an approach he likens to that of a Formula One driver, which focuses on training the cognitive skills of the player.“It’s all about the neural training pathway because cognition is what your eye perceives, and how your body reacts. For example, you see a ball trajectory coming in, how your body reacts to that particular impulse. It can be reactive or it can be proactive.“You focus on how you train those muscle groups, the smaller and the finer muscle rather than the gross muscles. That is how you get precision, and they are the thing which loses the neural response in the long run if you don’t train them.”An inevitable part of aging as a player is the arrival of injuries, as the likes of Rohit and Kohli are experiencing now. While niggles are unavoidable for top-level athletes, the focus, Srinivasan said, should be on being proactive about identifying the underlying causes and treating them quickly.“The idea is that preventive medicine is better than curative, and if you cannot prevent it, your curative measure has to be quicker,” he said.“Any sportsperson will have niggles, but you have to identify the contributing factors. When you are doing.your assessment and screening you will know there are probabilities, especially as you get older. So if it is a hamstring injury, why has it happened, is it because of dehydration, or because of lack of fitness, or because of overstretching?”He also emphasised that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The training methodology for players like Kohli or Rohit, who have recently stepped off the Test and T20I bandwagons but still play a single format, will have a different approach to a player like Dhoni, for whom IPL is the only remaining form of professional cricket. Rohit Sharma suffered an injury to his left hamstring that ruled him out of the match against PBKS. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Rohit Sharma suffered an injury to his left hamstring that ruled him out of the match against PBKS. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini “When you are young and robust, if you eat iron you will be able to digest it. In the thirties even if you eat food it won’t digest,” he explained with a laugh. “So you need to be very specialised according to the individual. What suits Virat will not suit Rohit or MS. So, it has to be highly bespoke, just because it is successful with one player need not be successful with any other players.“There has to be progression in anything. Suddenly coming and sprinting it’s not going to help you however fit you are. When you are in a competition your body and mind responds differently to when you are training.“The essence is that the professional needs to understand when you are in a competition there are a lot of things happening which are not happening during your training. So, the idea is to prepare yourself through the training, it’s a simulation.“You cannot do that because there are so many variables. But being very close to the reality in your training module really helps. For example, when you are in your 20s, you may take two weeks to get into the groove. When you are in your 30s, it may take three weeks. When you are in your 40s, it may take a month and a half.”Published on Apr 16, 2026 #Train #smarter #harder #Ramji #Srinivasan #decodes #IPLs #superstars #stave #injuries

Deadspin | Luther Davis to plead guilty in M fraud case for impersonating NFL players Dec 5, 2009; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Luther Davis (96) celebrates after defeating the Florida Gators 32-13 in the 2009 SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Luther Davis, a member of Alabama’s 2009 national championship team, is expected to plead guilty in a million case in which he is facing multiple fraud charges for reportedly impersonating NFL players, per The Guardian and court documents acquired by AL.com. Charges were filed in federal court against Davis on March 19 in Atlanta, but had not come to light until The Guardian’s report on Wednesday. Among the charges against Davis are two felonies for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Per the court documents, Davis worked with a partner, CJ Evins, to obtain 13 loans in the names of current and former NFL players, including Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku and Xavier McKinney, the latter who was part of then-Alabama coach Nick Saban’s 2017 signing class. The fraudulent loans obtained totaled more than ,845,000, according to the documents. Davis and Evins, according to the documents, “executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans from multiple lenders … by impersonating football players and falsely claiming those players were seeking multi-million dollar loans.” Davis is alleged to have worn a “durag-style head covering” to impersonate Penix and used online photos of players to carry out the impersonations. He and Evins also used wigs, makeup and fake IDs to disguise themselves during “virtual loan closings” in the names of players who had not consented. According to federal prosecutors involved in the case, “Beginning no later than in or around May 2023 and continuing through in or about October 2024, the defendant, Luther Davis, and CJ Evins, executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans from multiple lenders, including, but not limited to, Aliya Sports and All Pro Capital Funding, by impersonating professional football players and falsely claiming those players were seeking multi-million dollar Loans.” Davis, who owns a sports management company in Georgia, was part of Saban’s first signing class at Alabama in 2007. The West Monroe, La., native is a former U.S. Army All-American who played 45 games on the defensive line over four seasons with the Crimson Tide. A few years after leaving the school, Davis was viewed as a “runner” for advisers and agents looking to pay SEC recruits, Yahoo Sports reported in 2013. Former Alabama five-star offensive lineman D.J. Fluker was among those recruits. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Luther #Davis #plead #guilty #20M #fraud #case #impersonating #NFL #playersDec 5, 2009; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Luther Davis (96) celebrates after defeating the Florida Gators 32-13 in the 2009 SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Luther Davis, a member of Alabama’s 2009 national championship team, is expected to plead guilty in a $20 million case in which he is facing multiple fraud charges for reportedly impersonating NFL players, per The Guardian and court documents acquired by AL.com.

Charges were filed in federal court against Davis on March 19 in Atlanta, but had not come to light until The Guardian’s report on Wednesday. Among the charges against Davis are two felonies for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Per the court documents, Davis worked with a partner, CJ Evins, to obtain 13 loans in the names of current and former NFL players, including Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku and Xavier McKinney, the latter who was part of then-Alabama coach Nick Saban’s 2017 signing class. The fraudulent loans obtained totaled more than $19,845,000, according to the documents.

Davis and Evins, according to the documents, “executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans from multiple lenders … by impersonating football players and falsely claiming those players were seeking multi-million dollar loans.”


Davis is alleged to have worn a “durag-style head covering” to impersonate Penix and used online photos of players to carry out the impersonations. He and Evins also used wigs, makeup and fake IDs to disguise themselves during “virtual loan closings” in the names of players who had not consented.

According to federal prosecutors involved in the case, “Beginning no later than in or around May 2023 and continuing through in or about October 2024, the defendant, Luther Davis, and CJ Evins, executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans from multiple lenders, including, but not limited to, Aliya Sports and All Pro Capital Funding, by impersonating professional football players and falsely claiming those players were seeking multi-million dollar Loans.”

Davis, who owns a sports management company in Georgia, was part of Saban’s first signing class at Alabama in 2007. The West Monroe, La., native is a former U.S. Army All-American who played 45 games on the defensive line over four seasons with the Crimson Tide.

A few years after leaving the school, Davis was viewed as a “runner” for advisers and agents looking to pay SEC recruits, Yahoo Sports reported in 2013. Former Alabama five-star offensive lineman D.J. Fluker was among those recruits.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Luther #Davis #plead #guilty #20M #fraud #case #impersonating #NFL #players">Deadspin | Luther Davis to plead guilty in M fraud case for impersonating NFL players Dec 5, 2009; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Luther Davis (96) celebrates after defeating the Florida Gators 32-13 in the 2009 SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Luther Davis, a member of Alabama’s 2009 national championship team, is expected to plead guilty in a million case in which he is facing multiple fraud charges for reportedly impersonating NFL players, per The Guardian and court documents acquired by AL.com. Charges were filed in federal court against Davis on March 19 in Atlanta, but had not come to light until The Guardian’s report on Wednesday. Among the charges against Davis are two felonies for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Per the court documents, Davis worked with a partner, CJ Evins, to obtain 13 loans in the names of current and former NFL players, including Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku and Xavier McKinney, the latter who was part of then-Alabama coach Nick Saban’s 2017 signing class. The fraudulent loans obtained totaled more than ,845,000, according to the documents. Davis and Evins, according to the documents, “executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans from multiple lenders … by impersonating football players and falsely claiming those players were seeking multi-million dollar loans.” Davis is alleged to have worn a “durag-style head covering” to impersonate Penix and used online photos of players to carry out the impersonations. He and Evins also used wigs, makeup and fake IDs to disguise themselves during “virtual loan closings” in the names of players who had not consented. According to federal prosecutors involved in the case, “Beginning no later than in or around May 2023 and continuing through in or about October 2024, the defendant, Luther Davis, and CJ Evins, executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans from multiple lenders, including, but not limited to, Aliya Sports and All Pro Capital Funding, by impersonating professional football players and falsely claiming those players were seeking multi-million dollar Loans.” Davis, who owns a sports management company in Georgia, was part of Saban’s first signing class at Alabama in 2007. The West Monroe, La., native is a former U.S. Army All-American who played 45 games on the defensive line over four seasons with the Crimson Tide. A few years after leaving the school, Davis was viewed as a “runner” for advisers and agents looking to pay SEC recruits, Yahoo Sports reported in 2013. Former Alabama five-star offensive lineman D.J. Fluker was among those recruits. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Luther #Davis #plead #guilty #20M #fraud #case #impersonating #NFL #players

Post Comment