The draft is behind us, and we’re about to hit a long stretch of quiet in the NFL world. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to talk about.
Sports news
#NFL #draft #pick #stood">Which NFL draft pick stood out to you the most?
The draft is behind us, and we’re about to hit a long stretch of quiet in the NFL world. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to talk about.
Which draft pick was a statement about their new team’s future?
One of the biggest stories of the NFL offseason has been that the Philadelphia Eagles are going to trade AJ Brown. It has reached the point where several outlets refer to it as inevitable and discuss it in that manner.
As inevitable as it may be, to date there has been no hard or concrete proof of this becoming a potential reality. This certainly changed during the first round when Philly moved up to draft USC wideout Makai Lemon.
It seems like the dawn of a new future for the Eagles offense has officially begun. You can argue that nobody signaled more about their future than the Eagles did in this respect. Maybe the Rams with Ty Simpson, but that’s about it.
The Rams using a first-round pick on Ty Simpson was certainly a surprise to me. He may have been the second-best quarterback in this class but it was also a very weak quarterback class altogether. I mean, they needed to go all-in for one more season if 2026 really is Matthew Stafford’s last ride before retiring. Instead, they drafted his replacement and used the rest of the picks on players I do not see making much of an impact this coming season.
It was a really weird year for the Rams when they’re normally pretty savvy about their selections year-in and year-out.
Who took your favorite player?
The Chargers needed to address their offensive guard spots in this draft and there was a lot of hope that they’d be able to land one of several impact guards either on Day 1 or 2. Instead, the Cardinals took my favorite guard prospect in Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis very early on Day 2 before the Chargers ever got close to picking.
The Bolts traded back and took Florida center Jake Slaughter, who never spent a snap at guard in college. I don’t know how that solves the big issue for LA but it was very tough to see Bisontis go so early when I had convinced myself he could have been in play at No. 55.
THE DALLAS COWBOYS DRAFTED CALEB DOWNS AND I AM STILL LEVITATING.
Everything about the Cowboys drafting Caleb Downs is going to have me soaring until further notice. He is a defensive superstar, a perfect prospect in every sense, and he has all the makings of being the ambassador for the team that Dak Prescott is. That is high-level company.
What’s more is that Downs is a defensive back and the Cowboys just hired someone who is wizard in that space to run their defense in Christian Parker. This is like in Harry Potter when the wizards would go into Olivander’s and get a wand that was perfectly suited to who they were, what made them unique, so on and so forth.
This is magical in every way.
Did a team seriously change their fortunes?
It feels strange to not have a new crop of franchise quarterbacks hanging out around the league following the draft. Only the Las Vegas Raiders fit the bill with Fernando Mendoza.
This feels like new life for the Raiders, one that they sorely needed. I can very much believe that they are no longer fully in the cellar, even if it is going to take some time to get up to the penthouse.
One team that may finally surprise and perform better over their expectations thanks to their 2026 draft class is the New York Jets. They grabbed four starters with their first four draft picks (three in the first round) and they’re all at important positions on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
If Geno Smith truly becomes a blunder again, it all won’t matter, but the Jets did what they needed to make the team around him as talented as possible with what resources they had.
Which team would you want to take over on Madden?
My cousin and I share a Madden franchise where we each run a different team. We have certain rules because of how we are with one another, but this is the general premise that matters for this discussion.
Often time my cousin and I will start over following the actual NFL Draft and we will use rosters that awesome people on the internet have outfitted with the new rookies. It is always fun for him and I to discuss which teams are best to take over following the draft for Madden purposes.
The answer to this question depends on how someone likes to play Madden. If you are someone who wants an awesome team that got its final piece, then maybe you feel like the Eagles make sense. Perhaps you want to be the Rams and trade away Matthew Stafford. You can argue that the Texans roster picked up some dudes.
For me, I like the idea of taking over the Titans. I have all of these young pieces on offense and a chance to really make the team in my own image. Carnell Tate will be a ton of fun, I imagine a popular pick in dynasty leagues as well, and as I’m thinking this out loud the New Orleans Saints with Jordyn Tyson make sense, too.
I like the idea of taking over a team with young and exciting players at several important positions to use in Madden. If the quarterback is ho-hum, you need elite weapons – or at least elite in certain stats like Speed – to make up for it with your own schemes and play designs.
If I were to start a new Madden franchise, I’d probably go with the New York Jets because they just drafted uber-athletic tight end Kenyon Sadiq and pass rusher David Bailey. Those are two players you could utilize from the start to help make your team great. Sadiq provides a very fast option at a position that’s easy to scheme open on offense and Bailey gives your defense a notable pass rush monster who can go to work while you “user” linebacker Demario Davis behind him.
Seems like a very solid foundation to start with that should only get better with each year.
The draft is behind us, and we’re about to hit a long stretch of quiet in the NFL world. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to talk about.
Which draft pick was a statement about their new team’s future?
One of the biggest stories of the NFL offseason has been that the Philadelphia Eagles are going to trade AJ Brown. It has reached the point where several outlets refer to it as inevitable and discuss it in that manner.
As inevitable as it may be, to date there has been no hard or concrete proof of this becoming a potential reality. This certainly changed during the first round when Philly moved up to draft USC wideout Makai Lemon.
It seems like the dawn of a new future for the Eagles offense has officially begun. You can argue that nobody signaled more about their future than the Eagles did in this respect. Maybe the Rams with Ty Simpson, but that’s about it.
The Rams using a first-round pick on Ty Simpson was certainly a surprise to me. He may have been the second-best quarterback in this class but it was also a very weak quarterback class altogether. I mean, they needed to go all-in for one more season if 2026 really is Matthew Stafford’s last ride before retiring. Instead, they drafted his replacement and used the rest of the picks on players I do not see making much of an impact this coming season.
It was a really weird year for the Rams when they’re normally pretty savvy about their selections year-in and year-out.
Who took your favorite player?
The Chargers needed to address their offensive guard spots in this draft and there was a lot of hope that they’d be able to land one of several impact guards either on Day 1 or 2. Instead, the Cardinals took my favorite guard prospect in Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis very early on Day 2 before the Chargers ever got close to picking.
The Bolts traded back and took Florida center Jake Slaughter, who never spent a snap at guard in college. I don’t know how that solves the big issue for LA but it was very tough to see Bisontis go so early when I had convinced myself he could have been in play at No. 55.
THE DALLAS COWBOYS DRAFTED CALEB DOWNS AND I AM STILL LEVITATING.
Everything about the Cowboys drafting Caleb Downs is going to have me soaring until further notice. He is a defensive superstar, a perfect prospect in every sense, and he has all the makings of being the ambassador for the team that Dak Prescott is. That is high-level company.
What’s more is that Downs is a defensive back and the Cowboys just hired someone who is wizard in that space to run their defense in Christian Parker. This is like in Harry Potter when the wizards would go into Olivander’s and get a wand that was perfectly suited to who they were, what made them unique, so on and so forth.
This is magical in every way.
Did a team seriously change their fortunes?
It feels strange to not have a new crop of franchise quarterbacks hanging out around the league following the draft. Only the Las Vegas Raiders fit the bill with Fernando Mendoza.
This feels like new life for the Raiders, one that they sorely needed. I can very much believe that they are no longer fully in the cellar, even if it is going to take some time to get up to the penthouse.
One team that may finally surprise and perform better over their expectations thanks to their 2026 draft class is the New York Jets. They grabbed four starters with their first four draft picks (three in the first round) and they’re all at important positions on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
If Geno Smith truly becomes a blunder again, it all won’t matter, but the Jets did what they needed to make the team around him as talented as possible with what resources they had.
Which team would you want to take over on Madden?
My cousin and I share a Madden franchise where we each run a different team. We have certain rules because of how we are with one another, but this is the general premise that matters for this discussion.
Often time my cousin and I will start over following the actual NFL Draft and we will use rosters that awesome people on the internet have outfitted with the new rookies. It is always fun for him and I to discuss which teams are best to take over following the draft for Madden purposes.
The answer to this question depends on how someone likes to play Madden. If you are someone who wants an awesome team that got its final piece, then maybe you feel like the Eagles make sense. Perhaps you want to be the Rams and trade away Matthew Stafford. You can argue that the Texans roster picked up some dudes.
For me, I like the idea of taking over the Titans. I have all of these young pieces on offense and a chance to really make the team in my own image. Carnell Tate will be a ton of fun, I imagine a popular pick in dynasty leagues as well, and as I’m thinking this out loud the New Orleans Saints with Jordyn Tyson make sense, too.
I like the idea of taking over a team with young and exciting players at several important positions to use in Madden. If the quarterback is ho-hum, you need elite weapons – or at least elite in certain stats like Speed – to make up for it with your own schemes and play designs.
If I were to start a new Madden franchise, I’d probably go with the New York Jets because they just drafted uber-athletic tight end Kenyon Sadiq and pass rusher David Bailey. Those are two players you could utilize from the start to help make your team great. Sadiq provides a very fast option at a position that’s easy to scheme open on offense and Bailey gives your defense a notable pass rush monster who can go to work while you “user” linebacker Demario Davis behind him.
Seems like a very solid foundation to start with that should only get better with each year.
The draft is behind us, and we’re about to hit a long stretch of quiet in the NFL world. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to talk about.
Which draft pick was a statement about their new team’s future?
One of the biggest stories of the NFL offseason has been that the Philadelphia Eagles are going to trade AJ Brown. It has reached the point where several outlets refer to it as inevitable and discuss it in that manner.
As inevitable as it may be, to date there has been no hard or concrete proof of this becoming a potential reality. This certainly changed during the first round when Philly moved up to draft USC wideout Makai Lemon.
It seems like the dawn of a new future for the Eagles offense has officially begun. You can argue that nobody signaled more about their future than the Eagles did in this respect. Maybe the Rams with Ty Simpson, but that’s about it.
The Rams using a first-round pick on Ty Simpson was certainly a surprise to me. He may have been the second-best quarterback in this class but it was also a very weak quarterback class altogether. I mean, they needed to go all-in for one more season if 2026 really is Matthew Stafford’s last ride before retiring. Instead, they drafted his replacement and used the rest of the picks on players I do not see making much of an impact this coming season.
It was a really weird year for the Rams when they’re normally pretty savvy about their selections year-in and year-out.
Who took your favorite player?
The Chargers needed to address their offensive guard spots in this draft and there was a lot of hope that they’d be able to land one of several impact guards either on Day 1 or 2. Instead, the Cardinals took my favorite guard prospect in Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis very early on Day 2 before the Chargers ever got close to picking.
The Bolts traded back and took Florida center Jake Slaughter, who never spent a snap at guard in college. I don’t know how that solves the big issue for LA but it was very tough to see Bisontis go so early when I had convinced myself he could have been in play at No. 55.
THE DALLAS COWBOYS DRAFTED CALEB DOWNS AND I AM STILL LEVITATING.
Everything about the Cowboys drafting Caleb Downs is going to have me soaring until further notice. He is a defensive superstar, a perfect prospect in every sense, and he has all the makings of being the ambassador for the team that Dak Prescott is. That is high-level company.
What’s more is that Downs is a defensive back and the Cowboys just hired someone who is wizard in that space to run their defense in Christian Parker. This is like in Harry Potter when the wizards would go into Olivander’s and get a wand that was perfectly suited to who they were, what made them unique, so on and so forth.
This is magical in every way.
Did a team seriously change their fortunes?
It feels strange to not have a new crop of franchise quarterbacks hanging out around the league following the draft. Only the Las Vegas Raiders fit the bill with Fernando Mendoza.
This feels like new life for the Raiders, one that they sorely needed. I can very much believe that they are no longer fully in the cellar, even if it is going to take some time to get up to the penthouse.
One team that may finally surprise and perform better over their expectations thanks to their 2026 draft class is the New York Jets. They grabbed four starters with their first four draft picks (three in the first round) and they’re all at important positions on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
If Geno Smith truly becomes a blunder again, it all won’t matter, but the Jets did what they needed to make the team around him as talented as possible with what resources they had.
Which team would you want to take over on Madden?
My cousin and I share a Madden franchise where we each run a different team. We have certain rules because of how we are with one another, but this is the general premise that matters for this discussion.
Often time my cousin and I will start over following the actual NFL Draft and we will use rosters that awesome people on the internet have outfitted with the new rookies. It is always fun for him and I to discuss which teams are best to take over following the draft for Madden purposes.
The answer to this question depends on how someone likes to play Madden. If you are someone who wants an awesome team that got its final piece, then maybe you feel like the Eagles make sense. Perhaps you want to be the Rams and trade away Matthew Stafford. You can argue that the Texans roster picked up some dudes.
For me, I like the idea of taking over the Titans. I have all of these young pieces on offense and a chance to really make the team in my own image. Carnell Tate will be a ton of fun, I imagine a popular pick in dynasty leagues as well, and as I’m thinking this out loud the New Orleans Saints with Jordyn Tyson make sense, too.
I like the idea of taking over a team with young and exciting players at several important positions to use in Madden. If the quarterback is ho-hum, you need elite weapons – or at least elite in certain stats like Speed – to make up for it with your own schemes and play designs.
If I were to start a new Madden franchise, I’d probably go with the New York Jets because they just drafted uber-athletic tight end Kenyon Sadiq and pass rusher David Bailey. Those are two players you could utilize from the start to help make your team great. Sadiq provides a very fast option at a position that’s easy to scheme open on offense and Bailey gives your defense a notable pass rush monster who can go to work while you “user” linebacker Demario Davis behind him.
Seems like a very solid foundation to start with that should only get better with each year.
The draft is behind us, and we’re about to hit a long stretch of quiet…
Sports news
#Forty #boxers #left #SAI #sanction #list #uncertainty #clouds #CWG #Asian #Games #selection #process">Forty boxers left out of SAI sanction list, uncertainty clouds CWG and Asian Games selection process
As many as 40 boxers face uncertainty after being omitted from the sanction letter issued by the Sports Authority of India for the national camp, casting doubt on their participation in the selection assessment process for this year’s Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
According to the Boxing Federation of India’s selection policy, the top two finishers across 20 weight categories — 10 each in the men’s and women’s sections — at the Chief of Army Staff Cup, held from March 30 to April 5, were to be included in the national camp, which was scheduled to begin on April 25.
The policy, released in December last year, stated that these 40 boxers would be eligible for the assessment trials to determine India’s squads for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the World Boxing Cup 2.
However, the sanction letter received by the BFI on April 29 did not include the names of these boxers.
“The sanction was received on April 29, 2026, and 40 names are currently missing from the list,” the federation said in a notification on Friday.
It is understood that the BFI has been in constant communication with SAI to resolve the issue but is yet to receive a response.
ALSO READ | Kuldeep Kumar sets new national pole vault record in Bhubaneswar
The assessment process, originally scheduled to begin on May 5, has been pushed back by a day and will now start on May 6 due to the uncertainty.
“We were told winning the COAS Cup would get us into the camp. It is the same policy as last year, so I don’t know what the issue is. This is the only way of getting into the camp and vying for the CWG and Asian Games, as I missed the Nationals due to injury.
“I am just hoping the sanction letter arrives over the weekend so that I can reach the camp on time and take part in the assessment,” one of the 40 boxers told PTI.
Under the revised schedule, the assessment will be conducted in two phases. Strength and conditioning tests will be held on May 6 and 7, followed by sparring bouts from May 11 to 15 in a knockout format to determine final standings across weight categories.
The evaluation will carry a total of 200 marks, combining technical and non-technical parameters. Non-technical components, including attendance, weight management, health management, international potential, and strength and conditioning, will contribute alongside technical assessments conducted by a panel of evaluators.
Rankings within each weight category will be determined through a structured knockout format.
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, while the Asian Games is scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi and Nagoya.
Published on May 02, 2026
As many as 40 boxers face uncertainty after being omitted from the sanction letter issued by the Sports Authority of India for the national camp, casting doubt on their participation in the selection assessment process for this year’s Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
According to the Boxing Federation of India’s selection policy, the top two finishers across 20 weight categories — 10 each in the men’s and women’s sections — at the Chief of Army Staff Cup, held from March 30 to April 5, were to be included in the national camp, which was scheduled to begin on April 25.
The policy, released in December last year, stated that these 40 boxers would be eligible for the assessment trials to determine India’s squads for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the World Boxing Cup 2.
However, the sanction letter received by the BFI on April 29 did not include the names of these boxers.
“The sanction was received on April 29, 2026, and 40 names are currently missing from the list,” the federation said in a notification on Friday.
It is understood that the BFI has been in constant communication with SAI to resolve the issue but is yet to receive a response.
ALSO READ | Kuldeep Kumar sets new national pole vault record in Bhubaneswar
The assessment process, originally scheduled to begin on May 5, has been pushed back by a day and will now start on May 6 due to the uncertainty.
“We were told winning the COAS Cup would get us into the camp. It is the same policy as last year, so I don’t know what the issue is. This is the only way of getting into the camp and vying for the CWG and Asian Games, as I missed the Nationals due to injury.
“I am just hoping the sanction letter arrives over the weekend so that I can reach the camp on time and take part in the assessment,” one of the 40 boxers told PTI.
Under the revised schedule, the assessment will be conducted in two phases. Strength and conditioning tests will be held on May 6 and 7, followed by sparring bouts from May 11 to 15 in a knockout format to determine final standings across weight categories.
The evaluation will carry a total of 200 marks, combining technical and non-technical parameters. Non-technical components, including attendance, weight management, health management, international potential, and strength and conditioning, will contribute alongside technical assessments conducted by a panel of evaluators.
Rankings within each weight category will be determined through a structured knockout format.
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, while the Asian Games is scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi and Nagoya.
Published on May 02, 2026
As many as 40 boxers face uncertainty after being omitted from the sanction letter issued…
Sports news
#Deadspin #Jarren #Duran #Jake #Bennett #Red #Sox #knock #Astros">Deadspin | Jarren Duran, Jake Bennett help Red Sox knock off Astros
May 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Jarren Duran hit a three-run home run and Jake Bennett pitched well in his major league debut to propel the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Houston Astros in the opener of their three-games series Friday night.
Bennett, who was called up from Triple-A Worcester on Friday to start in place of Garrett Crochet, allowed one run on five hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out three. Crochet was placed on the injured list Wednesday with shoulder inflammation.
Boston received four scoreless innings from four relievers after Bennett (1-0) was pulled. Carlos Correa doubled against Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth, but Chapman got Yordan Alvarez to ground out to second to end the game. Chapman earned his sixth save.
The victory ended Boston’s two-game losing streak, and its three-game home losing streak.
Correa had three hits, including his third home run of the season. Isaac Paredes and Yainer Diaz each had two hits for the Astros.
Houston starter Mike Burrows (1-4) took the loss. He surrendered three runs on eight hits in six innings.
Roman Anthony collected three of Boston’s 10 hits. Anthony hit a double and singled twice. Trevor Story was 2-for-4, and Marcelo Mayer collected a single to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
The Astros grabbed a 1-0 lead on Correa’s solo home run in the top of the third.
Boston took a 3-1 lead in the bottom half of the third. After Carlos Narvaez walked and Caleb Durbin singled, Duran drove in both runners when he hit his second home run of the season.
Houston had runners on second and third with two outs in the eighth, but Garrett Whitlock retired Cam Smith on a pop-up to first base.
The loss dropped Houston’s road record to 4-13.
–Field Level Media
May 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Jarren Duran hit a three-run home run and Jake Bennett pitched well in his major league debut to propel the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Houston Astros in the opener of their three-games series Friday night.
Bennett, who was called up from Triple-A Worcester on Friday to start in place of Garrett Crochet, allowed one run on five hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out three. Crochet was placed on the injured list Wednesday with shoulder inflammation.
Boston received four scoreless innings from four relievers after Bennett (1-0) was pulled. Carlos Correa doubled against Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth, but Chapman got Yordan Alvarez to ground out to second to end the game. Chapman earned his sixth save.
The victory ended Boston’s two-game losing streak, and its three-game home losing streak.
Correa had three hits, including his third home run of the season. Isaac Paredes and Yainer Diaz each had two hits for the Astros.
Houston starter Mike Burrows (1-4) took the loss. He surrendered three runs on eight hits in six innings.
Roman Anthony collected three of Boston’s 10 hits. Anthony hit a double and singled twice. Trevor Story was 2-for-4, and Marcelo Mayer collected a single to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
The Astros grabbed a 1-0 lead on Correa’s solo home run in the top of the third.
Boston took a 3-1 lead in the bottom half of the third. After Carlos Narvaez walked and Caleb Durbin singled, Duran drove in both runners when he hit his second home run of the season.
Houston had runners on second and third with two outs in the eighth, but Garrett Whitlock retired Cam Smith on a pop-up to first base.
The loss dropped Houston’s road record to 4-13.
–Field Level Media
May 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Jarren Duran hit a three-run home run and Jake Bennett pitched well in his major league debut to propel the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Houston Astros in the opener of their three-games series Friday night.
Bennett, who was called up from Triple-A Worcester on Friday to start in place of Garrett Crochet, allowed one run on five hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out three. Crochet was placed on the injured list Wednesday with shoulder inflammation.
Boston received four scoreless innings from four relievers after Bennett (1-0) was pulled. Carlos Correa doubled against Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth, but Chapman got Yordan Alvarez to ground out to second to end the game. Chapman earned his sixth save.
The victory ended Boston’s two-game losing streak, and its three-game home losing streak.
Correa had three hits, including his third home run of the season. Isaac Paredes and Yainer Diaz each had two hits for the Astros.
Houston starter Mike Burrows (1-4) took the loss. He surrendered three runs on eight hits in six innings.
Roman Anthony collected three of Boston’s 10 hits. Anthony hit a double and singled twice. Trevor Story was 2-for-4, and Marcelo Mayer collected a single to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
The Astros grabbed a 1-0 lead on Correa’s solo home run in the top of the third.
Boston took a 3-1 lead in the bottom half of the third. After Carlos Narvaez walked and Caleb Durbin singled, Duran drove in both runners when he hit his second home run of the season.
Houston had runners on second and third with two outs in the eighth, but Garrett Whitlock retired Cam Smith on a pop-up to first base.
The loss dropped Houston’s road record to 4-13.
–Field Level Media
May 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) runs…
