Jakob Butturff, an eight-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion who called Arizona home, died unexpectedly Friday at age 32. The PBA announced his death that day, and no cause has been released.

Butturff was born and raised in Las Vegas but also lived in the Phoenix area and in Binghamton, New York; his Team USA bio listed Tempe as his hometown, and he attended Arizona State University. Throughout his career, he was affectionately known as “Butters” and widely considered one of the most distinctive players in PBA history.

>SPORTS LEGENDS WHO DIED IN 2026 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW!

PBA Commissioner Tom Clark said fans marveled at Butturff’s delivery as he rode waves of strikes into becoming a player capable of winning any event, adding that he was kind, respectful, and a champion who would never be forgotten.

The Mesa Metro USBC Association echoed that sentiment in a social media post, remembering him as not only one of the most talented bowlers in the world but also a beloved friend, teammate, and inspiration throughout the bowling community.

Butturff’s career took off in 2016, when he won his first two PBA Tour titles and set a PBA Regional Tour record with nine titles in a single year, earning both West Region and Northwest Region Player of the Year honors. He would go on to collect 27 Regional Tour titles in total, adding further Northwest Region Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018.

His career-defining moment came in 2019, when he won the USBC Masters, one of bowling’s most prestigious majors. That same year, he finished runner-up to Jason Belmonte at the PBA World Championship and ranked second to Belmonte in both points and earnings, ultimately finishing as runner-up in Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year voting. In 2020, he bowled the 28th televised 300 game in PBA Tour Finals history.

Internationally, Butturff represented Team USA seven times and helped the squad win multiple gold and silver medals, including a title at the 2017 QubicaAMF World Cup.

Tributes poured in from across the bowling world following news of his death. Fellow PBA pro EJ Tackett called the loss soul-crushing and said Butturff was someone who would give the shirt off his back for anyone in need. AJ Johnson remembered him as someone with one of the biggest hearts who made everyone laugh. Jason Belmonte, widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers ever, offered a brief but powerful tribute, saying the PBA had lost one of its kindest.

Butturff is remembered by those who knew him as both a singular talent on the lanes and a deeply loved figure off them.

The San Francisco 49ers have confirmed that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will undergo season-ending surgery to address the PCL injury that lingered throughout last season, wiping out what was supposed to be his breakout third year in the league.

The procedure is expected to sideline Pearsall for at least nine months, pushing his return well into the 2027 offseason. While the injury’s persistence made surgery the necessary call for his long-term health, the timing could hardly be worse for a player who entered training camp with real expectations of stepping into a featured role in San Francisco’s offense.

The setback now leaves the 49ers holding significant leverage over Pearsall’s future in the organization. Next offseason, the team must decide whether to exercise his fifth-year option — a call they’ll now have to make based on a two-season body of work interrupted twice by serious misfortune.

Pearsall’s tenure with the 49ers has been defined almost as much by adversity as by talent. His rookie season got off to a harrowing start when he was shot in the chest for his Rolex before the 2024 regular season began; simply returning to the field that year stood as a testament to his resilience. Last season brought further trouble, as a preseason hamstring strain gave way to the PCL injury that ultimately derailed his year and now requires surgery.

Despite the disrupted timeline, evaluators have pointed to flashes of the talent that made Pearsall a first-round pick, suggesting a productive player is still there once he’s able to stay on the field. But the NFL remains a results-oriented business, and with an entire third season now wiped out, the 49ers face a genuinely difficult evaluation heading into next offseason — one complicated by just how little healthy tape they have to work with.

San Francisco’s decision to re-sign veteran Deebo Samuel this offseason looks, in hindsight, like a shrewd hedge against exactly this kind of uncertainty at the position. With Pearsall now sidelined for the year, Samuel’s presence gives the 49ers a proven, experienced option to lean on in the passing game while Pearsall focuses on rehabbing his knee.

For now, the priority for both player and organization is straightforward: get Pearsall through surgery and recovery in the healthiest way possible. The bigger question — whether San Francisco ultimately commits to him beyond his rookie contract — won’t be answered until far closer to next offseason, once there’s more clarity on how he responds to treatment.

Dillon Brooks has never been shy about the rivals he’s made around the NBA, but one apparently still sits above the rest. Appearing on streamer N3on’s Kick stream this week, the Phoenix Suns wing was asked a simple hypothetical: if he could box any player in the league right now, who would it be? His answer came almost instantly.

“Jimmy Butler,” Brooks said, naming the Golden State Warriors forward without much hesitation. “It’s all about basketball for sure. But I feel like some things went too far. I always feel the animosity.”

Pressed further, Brooks made clear the tension isn’t rooted in any deep personal feud, pointing instead to comments Butler has made publicly since their last meeting. He said he’d seen things Butler posted on social media and heard remarks made in interviews, and that the two hadn’t crossed paths face to face since their last real clash on the court.

That clash traces back to last year’s first-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, when Brooks and Butler repeatedly went at each other throughout a physical, chippy matchup. The most memorable moment came during Game 4, when television cameras caught Butler telling Brooks he was “a bum and a b—” during a stoppage in play — a message Brooks appeared to laugh off in real time. Butler, playing through a pelvic contusion, went on to score 27 points that night, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to help the Warriors seize control of the series.

Butler didn’t soften his stance when reporters asked him about the exchange afterward. He said flatly that he and Brooks were “never having fun” when they got into it, calling himself a fierce competitor going up against another fierce competitor, and made clear there was nothing playful about their exchanges on the floor.

Since that series, the paths of the two players have shifted. Brooks was traded and is now suiting up for the Suns, while Butler has spent much of the past year working his way back from injury for Golden State. Butler has yet to publicly respond to Brooks’ boxing callout or signal any interest in actually stepping into a ring with him.

Were it to happen, Brooks and Butler would join a growing list of NBA figures who’ve taken part in celebrity boxing matches in recent years, including Deron Williams, Michael Carter-Williams and former Warriors guard Nate Robinson.

Billy Ray Smith Jr., the College Football Hall of Fame linebacker who became one of the most beloved figures in San Diego Chargers history, has died at 64. His family announced his passing in a statement released Wednesday, saying he died peacefully, surrounded by family, after a long struggle with dementia caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

>SPORTS LEGENDS WHO DIED IN 2026 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW!

The family’s statement described Smith as having faced his journey with the degenerative brain disease with bravery, dignity and strength, and remembered him as a devoted father, husband, son and friend who brought joy and laughter into the lives of everyone around him. CTE, a condition linked to repetitive head trauma common in contact sports, can cause cognitive decline, mood swings and depression, and can only be definitively diagnosed after death.

Smith was the fifth overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft out of Arkansas, where he was a two-time unanimous All-American under coach Lou Holtz and led Plano Senior High School in Texas to a state championship before that. He spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Chargers, from 1983 to 1992, racking up 26.5 sacks, 15 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries over 137 games. His best individual season came in 1989, when he earned second-team All-Pro honors. He was later named to the franchise’s 50th-anniversary team and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Chargers owner Dean Spanos praised Smith as far more than a great player, calling him larger than life, someone who lit up every room and was the kind of friend everyone deserves. After retiring, Smith transitioned into broadcasting, becoming sports director at San Diego’s ABC affiliate and co-hosting a long-running, widely popular local sports radio show alongside Scott Kaplan, while also covering college and pro football nationally.

Off the air, Smith was known for extensive charitable work throughout San Diego. He helped start “Bates Street,” an after-school program for local kids, and co-founded the Great Friends Foundation, which raised millions of dollars for military families. It was through a United Cerebral Palsy telethon that he met his future wife, ABC 10News anchor Kimberly Hunt; the two were named Nice Guys of the Year earlier this month, with a gala honoring them planned for October. He is survived by Hunt and their daughter, Savannah.

Smith’s father, Billy Ray Smith Sr., also played college football at Arkansas and spent 14 seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Colts.

Taysom Hill‘s nine-year run in the New Orleans Saints is over. The versatile utility man confirmed in a social media statement Wednesday night that he will not return to the Saints for a 10th season, closing out one of the most unusual and productive careers in franchise history.

Hill, who turns 36 next month, stopped short of announcing retirement, leaving open the possibility of playing elsewhere in 2026. In his post, he thanked the Saints organization and its fans, explaining that he’d spent the offseason trying to determine what comes next. He acknowledged he still doesn’t have a clear answer about his future, but said one thing was certain: a return to New Orleans wasn’t happening. He added that with training camp opening, he didn’t want his silence to be misread, and wanted to express his gratitude despite how hard it was to put into words.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Tuesday he’d recently spoken with Hill but declined to detail the conversation. In a statement Wednesday, Loomis called Hill a great teammate, an excellent leader and a mentor, and said the Saints were confident a day would come to properly celebrate everything he accomplished in New Orleans.

Hill’s résumé is unlike that of almost anyone else in modern NFL history. After joining the Saints in 2017 off waivers from the Green Bay Packers, he became the only player in the Super Bowl era to top 1,000 yards passing, rushing and receiving. When he caught his 10th career touchdown reception in 2023 — giving him double digits as a passer, rusher and receiver — he became just the second player since 1957 to do it, joining Hall of Famer Frank Gifford. Across his nine seasons, Hill rushed for 2,551 yards on 489 carries and scored 34 total touchdowns while lining up at quarterback, tight end, running back, wide receiver and on special teams.

The departure caps a difficult stretch for Hill, who tore his ACL in December 2024 and struggled to regain his previous form throughout an injury-affected 2025 season. The Saints ultimately did not offer him a new contract this offseason, and his No. 7 jersey has already been reassigned. New Orleans did find a way to retain fellow longtime standout Alvin Kamara this offseason, but couldn’t reach the same outcome with Hill.

For now, Hill’s next step — another NFL stop or the end of his playing career — remains unresolved.

The WNBA found itself in an awkward spot Wednesday night after posting — and then swiftly deleting — a social media video that showed two of its biggest stars discussing a personal wager on the outcome of their own game.

The clip featured Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers and Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, who had agreed during All-Star Weekend in Chicago to a friendly $400 bet over which of their teams would win Wednesday’s matchup.

The league’s own social media team filmed the moment for what was meant to be a fun, lighthearted post: footage of the WNBA’s social media manager reminding Bueckers about the bet, spliced with clips of Reese and Bueckers making the deal, cash visibly in hand. The caption read simply, “We did?” with a laughing emoji, framing it as a cute behind-the-scenes moment between two stars.

The problem: player wagering of any kind is explicitly prohibited under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. The CBA’s player conduct and discipline provisions state that any player found guilty of wagering, directly or indirectly, on the outcome of a WNBA game may face discipline at the commissioner’s discretion, ranging from a fine to suspension to outright disqualification from the league.

In effect, the WNBA had filmed, captioned and published proof of its own players violating league rules — and seemingly didn’t realize it until the post was already live.

The league deleted the video shortly after posting it, but not before it had been screenshotted and widely recirculated across social media. The gaffe drew swift mockery online, with fans questioning how a post touting a rules violation ever made it past internal review and joking that no one on the WNBA’s communications staff appeared to know the league’s own CBA. Commentary largely treated it as an unforced, self-inflicted error rather than a genuine gambling scandal, given the modest, informal nature of the bet between two competitors.

Whether the league pursues any formal discipline against Bueckers or Reese remains to be seen, though observers widely expect any consequences, if they come at all, to be minimal. The larger fallout may simply be another headache for a league office already facing scrutiny over its social media judgment and public messaging.

On the court, Wednesday’s game lived up to the hype regardless of the bet: the Dream edged the Wings 82-81 on a game-winning shot from Allisha Gray, with Reese finishing with 22 points in the win.

Aaron Rodgers erased any lingering ambiguity about his football future this week, telling reporters at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp that his 22nd NFL season will unquestionably be his last.

Asked directly whether there was any chance he’d reconsider and return for 2027, the 42-year-old quarterback didn’t hedge. “No. Zero debate,” he said Tuesday. The blunt answer puts to rest months of speculation that has trailed Rodgers since he first floated retirement a year ago, only to change course once Pittsburgh made a coaching change over the offseason.

That coaching change, Rodgers explained, was the deciding factor in coming back at all. He’d been leaning toward walking away, he said, until the Steelers brought in Mike McCarthy — his former head coach in Green Bay — to run the sideline.

“I thought last year might be it, and then Mike got hired, and I talked to my wife, and she said you can do one more year, see if it works out, and then it kind of all came together,” Rodgers said. The reunion gives him a coach with whom he won a Super Bowl and shared nearly a decade of Packers history, a familiarity Rodgers has cited as part of what made an extra year appealing. Completing this season will make him just the eighth player in league history to log at least 22 years in the NFL.

Not everyone in the locker room is convinced the door is fully closed. Receiver D.K. Metcalf, entering his second season alongside Rodgers in Pittsburgh, offered a more skeptical read on the finality of it all. “People just say things, end of the year, not knowing how the year could go,” Metcalf said. “He may not even get hit or touched this year, and he may say, ‘Hey, let’s go out there and do another one.'”

Metcalf added that shedding the uncertainty seems to have freed Rodgers up mentally, letting him “play free” alongside teammates he’s grown close to over the past two years.

Health permitting, Rodgers is looking to close out his career on a stronger note than last season provided. He started all but one game in 2025 despite playing through a fractured left wrist suffered in Week 11, guiding Pittsburgh to an AFC North title before a Wild Card-round loss to Houston. The Steelers open preseason play Aug. 13 against Green Bay, with the regular-season opener set for Sept. 13 at home against Atlanta.

Patrick Mahomes opened the Kansas City Chiefs‘ training camp this weekend with a blunt self-assessment, telling reporters he’d fallen short of his own standard in the weeks before a torn ACL ended his 2025 season.

“I feel like I wasn’t playing my best football at the end of last year before I got hurt,” the 30-year-old quarterback said. He pointed to specific fixes rather than vague resolutions, naming better pocket navigation, sharper offensive management and quicker decisions to release the ball so teammates can make plays downfield. Mahomes framed the injury layoff as an unexpected opportunity to isolate those habits, saying the enforced pause “helped me focus on those little things” as he works to return to form.

The three-time Super Bowl winner suffered the knee injury during a Week 15 matchup last December, a blow that knocked Kansas City out of playoff contention and sidelined its franchise quarterback for months of rehabilitation. Since then, Mahomes has leaned on a support network of players who’ve walked the same recovery path, including Tom Brady, former Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu and tight end Zach Ertz, who tore his own ACL just a week before Mahomes did.

Photos and video from the offseason chronicled the milestones along the way — first, a leg brace during light workouts in March, then full-practice reps two months later.

Coach Andy Reid, who has repeatedly urged caution against rushing the recovery, indicated camp will run at full intensity regardless of Mahomes’ rehab timeline. “I don’t think he’s going to take it light on anybody, including me,” Mahomes said of his coach’s approach. Reid struck a similarly measured tone about the season opener, telling reporters the team has “a pretty good feel that he’s in a good place” but stopping short of guaranteeing Mahomes suits up in Week 1.

Even with camp underway, Mahomes has been candid that the injury may not be something he simply leaves behind. He’s said the toll from the torn ACL could linger for years, a reality he’s approaching with a mix of confidence and realism. Multiple outlets covering the team’s arrival in St. Joseph, Missouri, for camp reported Mahomes has completed early workouts wearing a protective brace without setbacks, a signal his rehab remains on track heading into the preseason. Still, both player and coach have avoided declaring the comeback complete, describing it instead as a process that continues week to week.

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith was arrested Monday night in Sarpy County, Nebraska, on three felony charges, according to county arrest records.

Smith, who turned 38 the day before his arrest, was booked into the Sarpy County Correctional Center on charges of attempted first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats and first-degree false imprisonment.

>SLIDESHOW: 50 MOST-INFAMOUS ATHLETE MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

Chief Deputy Sarpy County Attorney John W. Reisz confirmed the charges, noting the domestic assault count alone is a Class II felony punishable by up to 50 years in prison, while the terroristic threats and false imprisonment charges carry lesser but still significant potential sentences, including fines and post-release supervision.

Smith remained in custody as of Wednesday morning, held on a $500,000 bond, with a bond hearing scheduled that morning at the correctional center. Court records show he was ordered to have no contact with his wife. Specifics of the incident that led to the arrest have not been made public, and Smith had not yet appeared before a judge as of the latest reporting.

The arrest is a jarring development for a fighter widely respected across the MMA community both for his in-cage résumé and his post-fighting career as a broadcaster. Nicknamed “Lionheart,” Smith spent 17 years competing professionally and challenged for the UFC light heavyweight championship in 2019, falling to Jon Jones by unanimous decision.

He announced his retirement from active competition following a knockout loss to Zhang Mingyang at a UFC Fight Night card in 2025, though he returned to combat sports this past April, submitting an opponent in the first round of a Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA bout for Jorge Masvidal‘s promotion.

Even in retirement from the UFC roster, Smith remained a visible presence in the sport, working as an analyst on UFC broadcasts — a role he has continued to hold.

Vita Vea, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, has asked the team to trade him after months of stalled negotiations over a new contract, agent Collin Roberts confirmed Monday.

The move caps a tense offseason for Vea, 31, who is entering the final year of the four-year, $71 million extension he signed in 2022. He is due roughly $17-18 million this season, none of it guaranteed. Frustration had been building for weeks: Vea skipped Tampa Bay’s voluntary spring program and then “held in” at mandatory minicamp in June, showing up but not practicing as a show of discontent. At the time, head coach Todd Bowles downplayed the standoff, calling it simply part of the business of pro football.

According to Roberts, Vea hasn’t targeted a specific destination — he only asked out if the Buccaneers weren’t prepared to offer him a deal beyond this season. Other reporting suggests Vea would prefer to land with a California team or the Las Vegas Raiders, closer to his home state.

The trade request lands atop an already crowded list of financial headaches for general manager Jason Licht. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, entering the last year of his own three-year, $100 million deal, has likewise been pushing for an extension without success. Mayfield has said he won’t negotiate once training camp — which opened Tuesday — gets underway.

Vea remains one of the league’s most disruptive interior defenders. Selected 12th overall out of Washington in 2018, he has racked up 35 sacks across eight seasons and started for Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV championship team.

Last season he played all 17 games, adding 4.5 sacks and 34 tackles. Analysts note that at his age and price point — he currently ranks among the higher-paid defensive tackles in the league — moving on could make long-term sense for a rebuilding front office, even as it would leave an immediate hole against the run.

Vea is expected to report to Buccaneers training camp regardless of the trade request, though whether he participates is unclear. League insiders caution that trade requests at this stage of the calendar are often as much a leverage tactic as a genuine exit demand — meaning a new deal in Tampa Bay, not a trade, could still be the ultimate outcome.

A comment from ESPN analyst Monica McNutt about Caitlin Clark‘s place in the WNBA has ignited a fresh round of controversy, with fans accusing the network of once again making Clark’s story about something other than basketball.

The dust-up followed the league’s 2026 All-Star Weekend in Chicago, where Team Spoon beat Team Coop 129-122 at the United Center. Clark, a starter for Team Coop, used the weekend to open up about the pressure of nonstop coverage, saying she still feels genuine joy in the game but has built thick skin over time, and reminding herself — and by extension her critics — that social media isn’t an accurate reflection of reality.

That vulnerability set the stage for what came next. On the Sunday edition of Women’s Sports Sundays, McNutt acknowledged that everything swirling around Clark can weigh on her emotionally, but said she wanted to see something more from the 24-year-old star: a bit more accountability and self-awareness about her role in what McNutt called the league’s larger “sisterhood,” if Clark chooses to see it that way.

The remark landed poorly online. Critics argued McNutt was effectively holding Clark responsible for the actions of others, including players and commentators who have been openly critical of her, and questioned why loyalty should be expected toward people who haven’t shown her the same. The backlash intensified given the timing — McNutt’s comments came roughly a week after a USA Today column drew widespread condemnation for invoking Emmett Till in a piece criticizing Clark’s on-court conduct. To many fans, the two moments fit a pattern of sports media treating Clark’s every move as a referendum on her character rather than her performance, and some openly called for McNutt to be included in ESPN’s recent round of layoffs.

The episode is the latest example of a now-familiar dynamic surrounding Clark: her ascension has coincided with a media environment that frequently fixates on her relationships with other players and the league’s internal politics rather than her production on the floor. For a star who has repeatedly said she just wants to play basketball, the reaction to McNutt’s comments suggests fans have grown increasingly weary of that framing — and increasingly vocal about pushing back against it whenever it resurfaces.

Deshaun Watson has a real shot at winning the Cleveland Browns‘ starting quarterback job this summer — but according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, that almost certainly won’t be enough to keep him in Cleveland beyond this season.

Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, Graziano argued that first-year head coach Todd Monken, who has waited years for this opportunity, isn’t going to bench whichever quarterback gives the Browns the best chance to win now, even if that isn’t the right long-term call for the franchise. Asked what it would take for Watson to earn a new contract, Graziano set an almost impossible bar: essentially a perfect season and a Super Bowl run before Cleveland would even entertain the conversation. The Browns, he said, need to find out what they truly have in Shedeur Sanders.

Watson is entering the fifth and final year of the five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million deal he signed after arriving in a blockbuster trade in 2022 — an investment that has not come close to paying off. He has made just 19 starts since, going 9-10, and his tenure has been derailed by injuries: season-ending shoulder surgery in 2023, a ruptured Achilles in 2024, and another setback that wiped out his entire 2025 season.

Now healthy, the nine-year veteran split first-team reps with Sanders throughout the spring and is trying to recapture the form that once made him a three-time Pro Bowler.

Sanders, for his part, is coming off an uneven rookie year — 1,400 yards passing, seven touchdowns and ten interceptions across eight appearances, though he closed the season on a stronger note, going 3-4 as a starter for a team that finished 4-12 overall. He has continued building on that progress this offseason, and both quarterbacks have made a point of training together, saying the competition won’t be allowed to divide the locker room.

Monken has so far refused to name a frontrunner, saying both passers have earned the right to keep competing once the pads come on. The Browns’ rookies and quarterbacks reported to camp on July 23, with the rest of the roster arriving Tuesday and the first full-team practice set for Wednesday.

The subtext around the entire competition, though, is hard to miss: Cleveland appears to view 2026 as a bridge year, with Sanders — not Watson — positioned as the long-term answer at the position no matter who opens the season under center.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma waded into the ongoing dispute over New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani‘s calls to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, firing off a pointed social media post that many read as a direct shot at the mayor’s credibility rather than his politics.

The exchange started after Mamdani posted a two-minute video renewing his description of Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and pressing the federal government to act on the outstanding International Criminal Court warrant against him, since the city itself lacks legal authority to make an arrest. “Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City,” Mamdani said in the clip. “Nor is any other war criminal at large.” The video quickly circulated widely online.

Kuzma responded on X with a broader critique of public figures he described as performing roles beyond their actual standing. “People cosplaying as things they don’t have the authority, the talent, or the track record to actually be. Just for content,” he wrote, before listing examples that included “a mayor playing president” alongside references to a “founder playing operator” and “a content creator playing one-on-one thinking he’s a pro.”

He closed by warning against mistaking image for substance: “The clip is the career. The pose is the product. The soundbite is the substitute for a life’s work.”

The post drew a mixed reaction, with some observers questioning whether the polished phrasing even matched Kuzma’s usual voice online, while others treated it as a clear rebuke of Mamdani specifically. It also highlighted a split among NBA players on the underlying issue — Kyrie Irving and Victor Wembanyama have both previously voiced support for Mamdani’s stance on Netanyahu, putting Kuzma at odds with peers who’ve weighed in on the same controversy.

Mamdani, for his part, addressed the broader backlash at an unrelated press conference, saying he’s been consistent about wanting the warrant enforced while acknowledging the city would operate within the bounds of the law. Other critics have taken aim at him more directly over the practicality of his position: City Council member Inna Vernikov mocked him for not vetting the legal feasibility of the idea before campaigning on it, while commentator Stephen Miller dismissed it as a broken promise to his base.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to the U.S. next week and again in September for the UN General Assembly, keeping the standoff very much alive.

Tony Romo has withdrawn from the M&P Group Texas State Open, set to begin Tuesday, marking the first visible consequence stemming from his arrest on drunken-driving charges earlier this week.

The CBS broadcaster and former Cowboys quarterback had been a regular fixture at the Texas event, but according to local station KETK, Romo won’t be teeing it up this year following his arrest in Milwaukee County.

The 46-year-old was taken into custody Thursday evening in his home state of Wisconsin, booked on a first-offense charge of operating while intoxicated after being pulled over heading south on Interstate 43. Authorities say he performed poorly on field sobriety tests at the scene.

>SLIDESHOW: 50 MOST-INFAMOUS ATHLETE MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

The timing lines up with a rough finish at the Wisconsin Amateur Championship, held July 20-23 in West Bend. Romo shot 12-over in his final round on the day of his arrest, closing out the tournament at 35-over par overall and taking home just $60 in prize money — one of the tougher outings of his post-NFL golf career, which has included appearances on both amateur and celebrity circuits since he retired from football.

Romo’s legal situation is now moving through the courts, with a first appearance scheduled for September 21. What remains unclear is how his primary employer will respond. CBS has not indicated whether Romo, who joined the network as a broadcaster in April 2017 and has become one of its top NFL analysts, will face any internal discipline. He remains under a 10-year, $180 million contract signed with the network in 2020.

Before moving into broadcasting, Romo built a notable NFL career entirely with Dallas after going undrafted in 2004, eventually claiming the starting job in 2006 and holding it through 2015. He earned four Pro Bowl selections, threw for more than 34,000 yards and 248 touchdowns, and led the Cowboys to four playoff appearances, though the team never advanced past the divisional round during his tenure.

North Carolina has placed football general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave effective immediately, the university announced, following a human resources complaint filed by a former member of the program’s front office.

Vice Chancellor Dean Stoyer confirmed the move in a statement, saying the university had opened a pending investigation into the matter. “As is standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership, staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from addressing this topic further, and it has no reflection on the merits,” the statement read.

The complaint prompting the leave came from a former employee within the program’s front office, though further details of the allegations haven’t been made public.

Lombardi’s arrival in Chapel Hill came as head coach Bill Belichick‘s very first hire after taking over the program in December 2024, reuniting a partnership forged across stops with the Browns and Patriots, where Lombardi had served in an advisory role to the coaching staff. At the time of his hiring, Lombardi called the reunion “a dream come true,” while Belichick praised his ability to “build a champion” and said the program would lean heavily on his experience “evaluating and acquiring talent.”

That experience runs deep. Lombardi’s front-office résumé spans more than three decades across the 49ers, Eagles, Raiders and Broncos, including stints with three Super Bowl-winning organizations, though his only previous college experience came decades earlier as a recruiting coordinator at UNLV in the early 1980s.

His current arrangement with UNC, a three-year deal running through mid-January 2028 that pays him $1.5 million annually, makes him the highest-paid general manager anywhere in college football.

The timing adds uncertainty to a program still finding its footing under Belichick, who is entering his second season after the Tar Heels stumbled to a 4-8 record in his 2025 debut. With Lombardi now sidelined during a pending inquiry, the university has offered no timeline for when — or whether — he might return to his role overseeing personnel decisions for the team.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is headed to the 76ers after negotiating a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies, giving Philadelphia another proven wing just one day after the franchise’s headline-grabbing signing of LeBron James.

The Grizzlies and Caldwell-Pope’s representation, Klutch Sports founder Rich Paul, finalized the buyout Saturday, clearing the way for the veteran guard to clear waivers and sign a new one-year deal worth $3.9 million with Philadelphia. The move unwinds the three-year, $66 million contract Memphis had handed him, a deal negotiated by the same Klutch Sports agency now steering both his and James’s moves this offseason.

Caldwell-Pope’s fit in Philadelphia carries obvious familiarity. The two-time NBA champion won his first title alongside James during the Lakers’ 2020 bubble run before adding a second ring with Denver in 2023, making him a known quantity as a three-and-D wing capable of spacing the floor around a ball-dominant star. His production dipped in Memphis compared with his best seasons — he averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and just 21.3 minutes across 51 games, his lowest scoring and playing-time figures since his rookie year — but he still knocked down 45 three-pointers at a 37.8% clip from beyond the arc, numbers that made him an appealing target for a Sixers team looking to surround its new core with reliable shooting.

Landing him won’t be entirely simple from a roster-management standpoint. Philadelphia is already operating under the league’s first luxury-tax apron restrictions following its earlier signing of forward Dean Wade, meaning the team will likely need to shed at least two other roster spots to formally accommodate Caldwell-Pope once his deal becomes official.

If he does stick, Caldwell-Pope figures to compete for bench minutes alongside players like Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon and Justin Edwards, adding depth to a roster that’s undergone rapid transformation in a matter of days — first landing Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster trade, then signing James, and now bringing back one of his most trusted championship teammates to round out the wing rotation.

Jordan Devey, a former NFL offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots, has died at age 38, with his family confirming he died by suicide earlier this week. He leaves behind his wife, Linsey, and four children.

Devey spent seven seasons in the league across five franchises, appearing in 44 career games. After being selected out of the University of Memphis, he broke into the NFL with New England, where he captured a championship in Super Bowl XLIX during his second season. His career later took him to the San Francisco 49ers, where he started nine of 15 games in 2015, followed by three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2016 through 2018, and finally brief stints with the Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills before he retired.

>SPORTS LEGENDS WHO DIED IN 2026 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW!

A native of American Fork, Utah, Devey’s path to professional football was unconventional — he played in his high school marching band rather than suit up for the football team, later serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Costa Rica before attending Snow College and eventually transferring to Memphis.

In the wake of his death, Devey’s parents, Kerry and Leslie, chose to speak publicly about the private struggles their son carried. Leslie Devey said the family is “only beginning to understand that he was fighting a battle that he very well kept hidden from everyone,” describing a long, quiet fight with depression and anxiety that stayed largely invisible even to those closest to him.

The family has also raised the possibility that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma in contact sports, may have played a role, though they’ve said the nature of his death will prevent them from having his brain tested for the disease.

Rather than keep the details private, Devey’s parents said they wanted his story to open a wider conversation about mental health. “We want people to understand that it’s okay to reach out,” Leslie said. “That help is there, and there’s nothing wrong with you for reaching out. You’re not fighting the battle alone.”

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan will begin training camp in a reduced capacity after a car accident earlier this month left him with a string of significant injuries, the team announced Saturday as players reported for the start of camp.

The crash occurred July 14 near Shanahan’s home in Northern California, where he collided with an SUV.

The 46-year-old coach suffered three broken ribs, a broken hand, a broken nose, more than 40 stitches, and what’s been described as a “severe” concussion. Paramedics transported him to a hospital, where he remained for much of that day before being released. The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured, and authorities determined neither drugs nor alcohol were factors, with no citations issued.

In a statement, the team characterized the injuries as “non-life-threatening” and said Shanahan would take part in team activities on a limited basis while he continues recovering.

Assistant head coach Chris Foerster, a member of Shanahan’s staff since 2019, will handle head coaching responsibilities alongside the team’s coordinators in the meantime. The organization thanked the first responders who assisted at the scene.

No firm date has been set for Shanahan’s return to full duty, and he remains barred from certain activities because of the concussion. Still, general manager John Lynch struck an optimistic tone when addressing reporters Saturday, saying he isn’t anticipating Shanahan will miss the season opener. “That’s not what I’ve heard from the doctors, but just like we talk about with players, the timeline kind of takes care of itself,” Lynch said, adding that Shanahan will need to clear certain medical benchmarks before returning fully.

The timing adds a layer of uncertainty to a 49ers team already facing an unusual travel schedule, with San Francisco set to open its season overseas in Australia before hosting the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2 on September 10. Shanahan enters his tenth season at the helm with an 82-67 record, three NFC West titles and two Super Bowl trips, giving the organization plenty of reason to manage his recovery carefully rather than rush him back before he’s ready.

The Ohio State Buckeyes entered the 2025 season as the defending national champions after defeating Notre Dame 34–23 in the previous season’s College Football Playoff National Championship. A repeat appeared well within reach as the Buckeyes completed a perfect 12–0 regular season, highlighted by victories over Texas and Michigan. The win over Michigan snapped Ohio State’s four-game losing streak in “The Game.” However, the Buckeyes’ championship hopes unraveled after a 13–10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game, followed by a defeat to Miami in the Cotton Bowl.

Head coach Ryan Day hired Arthur Smith to oversee the offense after emphasizing his desire to add a veteran play-caller capable of coordinating the unit and managing play-calling in big games. Smith previously served as the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ offensive coordinator, where he helped establish one of the NFL’s most physical rushing attacks. The Steelers ranked 11th in the league with 127.4 rushing yards per game and fourth with 533 rushing attempts. Pittsburgh also scored 42 offensive touchdowns and averaged 23.4 points per game last season, with both figures representing the team’s highest marks since 2020. Smith’s offensive philosophy could place greater physical demands on Ohio State’s offensive line while creating more opportunities for wide receiver Jeremiah Smith to work in space through pre-snap motion and crossing routes.

Cortez Hankton left LSU to become Ohio State’s newest wide receivers coach, while Robby Discher was hired as the special teams coordinator. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia became the highest-paid coordinator in college football after signing a three-year, $11.45 million contract in February 2026. Patricia’s defense led the nation in scoring defense (9.3 points per game), total defense (219.1 yards per game) and passing defense (129.7 yards per game) last season.

Ohio State had nine players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Four players were selected in the first round, all within the first 11 picks. Wide receiver Carnell Tate was selected fourth overall by the Tennessee Titans, giving quarterback Cam Ward an elite playmaker to aid his development. Tate did not drop a pass last season and recorded an 85.7% contested-catch rate. The New York Giants selected edge rusher Arvell Reese fifth overall, giving head coach John Harbaugh a versatile defensive weapon who can provide an immediate boost to the pass rush.

Reese can line up as a weak-side linebacker, drop into coverage or be deployed in various defensive schemes. Linebacker Sonny Styles was selected seventh overall by the Washington Commanders, who did not renew Bobby Wagner’s contract and needed to improve their run defense. Styles’ athleticism allows him to line up as an off-ball linebacker or blitzer, while his coverage ability gives Washington a defender capable of matching up with tight ends and slot receivers. Safety Caleb Downs rounded out the first round after being selected 11th overall by the Dallas Cowboys. Downs will provide a needed upgrade to Dallas’ secondary because of his versatility in coverage, allowing just 6.7 yards per reception and a 46.5 passer rating when targeted.

The Houston Texans selected defensive tackle Kayden McDonald early in the second round, while fellow Buckeye Max Klare was selected by the Los Angeles Rams later in the round. Lorenzo Styles Jr., Caden Curry and Ethan Onianwa were selected later in the draft.

Quarterback Julian Sayin finished fourth in Heisman voting last season after throwing for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 77% of his passes. Running backs Bo Jackson and CJ Donaldson combined for 1,451 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns to lead Ohio State‘s ground game. Smith and Tate powered Ohio State’s receiving corps, combining for 2,118 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. Smith finished sixth in Heisman voting last season and was named a Consensus All-American, while Tate’s departure leaves Ohio State with significant production to replace at wide receiver. Curry led the pass rush with 11 sacks, while Kenyatta Jackson Jr. added 6.5 sacks. Cornerbacks Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Matthews Jr. both recorded two interceptions and combined for eight pass deflections.

247Sports ranked Ohio State’s 2026 transfer class seventh in the nation. The Buckeyes added reinforcements to the pass rush after defensive linemen James Smith and Qua Russaw transferred from Alabama. Smith was the top defensive tackle in the transfer portal and totaled 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season. He is expected to play either the three-technique or nose tackle this season.

Russaw’s versatility gives defensive coordinator Matt Patricia several options, as he can line up as a defensive end, stand-up pass rusher or outside linebacker. Despite missing the 2025 season with a torn ACL, safety Terry Moore transferred from Duke to provide a boost to the secondary after Downs and Igbinosun departed. Moore earned Second-Team All-ACC honors after recording 71 tackles, four interceptions and a sack in 2024. The former Blue Devil is expected to contribute to the secondary alongside Jaylen McClain and Florida State transfer Earl Little Jr. Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro will be tasked with helping replace the production left by Reese and Styles Jr. after recording four sacks and 53 total tackles last season.

Ohio State’s 2026 schedule is ranked eighth in the nation according to ESPN’s College Football Power Index. Notable matchups include a visit to Texas, road games against Iowa and Indiana, a home matchup with Oregon and the annual rivalry game against Michigan. The game at Texas could have College Football Playoff implications for the Buckeyes, as a primetime win in Austin would boost their résumé, while a loss could leave them with little margin for error for the remainder of the season. Playing in front of roughly 100,000 fans, Ohio State will also have an opportunity to impress top high school recruits in one of the sport’s biggest environments.

Ohio State’s visit to Iowa could be a trap game, as Kinnick Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in the country. The stands sit just seven yards from the visiting bench, which could create major communication problems and contribute to false starts. This will mark Ohio State’s first game in Iowa City since 2017, when the Buckeyes lost to an unranked Hawkeyes squad in a shocking 55–24 blowout. The home matchup against Oregon could be another important test for Ohio State’s playoff résumé. The Ducks reached the College Football Playoff in 2025 and will provide the Buckeyes with an opportunity to earn a quality win against a fellow Big Ten contender.

Ohio State has the talent to compete for another national championship, but the margin for error will be smaller than it was in 2025. If Sayin takes another step forward, the transfer additions help fill the holes left by the NFL departures and Patricia’s defense remains elite, the Buckeyes should be among the nation’s top teams once again. The Buckeyes’ preseason over/under win total is set at 9.5, while some analysts project Ohio State to finish with 11 wins. FanDuel Sportsbook lists Ohio State at +180 to win the Big Ten Championship and +550 to win the National Championship, reflecting the high expectations surrounding the Buckeyes despite their significant offseason losses.

Ohio State Buckeyes 2026-2027 Schedule & Tickets:

LeBron James‘s decision to leave Los Angeles for Philadelphia settles one lingering NBA offseason question while opening another: what happens now to his son, Bronny James, who remains under contract with the Lakers even as his father heads elsewhere.

The younger James enters his second pro season with a $2.48 million team option for 2026-27 still on the books in Los Angeles. With his father no longer part of the roster, speculation initially centered on whether the Lakers might look to move on from Bronny entirely or whether a reunion in Philadelphia made sense.

Neither scenario appears especially likely. The 76ers already have a crowded backcourt and little incentive to pursue a trade, while the Lakers, for their part, would want real value in any deal rather than simply cutting Bronny loose — making a straightforward retention on his existing, cost-controlled deal the more probable outcome.

Complicating any hypothetical move to Philadelphia is a wrinkle involving one of LeBron’s new teammates. Jaylen Brown, whom the 76ers acquired earlier this summer in a blockbuster trade, drew attention in 2024 for dismissive comments about Bronny’s NBA readiness, telling WNBA star Angel Reese during Bronny’s Summer League debut that he didn’t think the younger James “is a pro.”

LeBron referenced the remark publicly himself in February, saying his relationship with Brown had otherwise been “pretty respectful, besides the [expletive] he said about Bronny at summer league.”

Despite that history, Brown reacted warmly to the news of LeBron’s signing, posting his now-familiar “throw the ball up” catchphrase on social media once the move became official — a sign, at least publicly, that any tension has cooled.

For now, the more mundane outcome looks likeliest: Bronny stays with the Lakers on his existing option, continuing to develop apart from his father for the first time in his young career, while LeBron begins a new chapter in Philadelphia alongside Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Whether the awkward history between Brown and Bronny ever becomes relevant again may simply depend on whether the father-son reunion scenario resurfaces down the road.