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Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders loves everything about taking his Colorado Buffaloes 113 miles south of Folsom Field to Fountain Fort Carson High School for a week of workouts, tune-ups and team bonding that featured a stay at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs campus and a visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

One thing would make it even better: scrimmaging with or against the Falcons, something Sanders is hoping the NCAA will soon allow teams to do in the offseason as he first suggested a couple of years ago when Syracuse wanted to visit Boulder for a spring scrimmage.

“That’s something I’ve been suggesting for quite some time,” Sanders said after Thursday’s practice. “And the NCAA felt compelled to allow FCS schools to do what we thought of quite some time ago. So, we’re not involved; they won’t allow that. But even if we could just practice at the same location would do it justice. We don’t have to compete against one another.

“But I wish one day we could have a spring game against one another. It would be wonderful for the state. It would be wonderful for the cities if we did home and away. It would be a great look, I think for college football and Colorado football. I would love that.”

This is the first time in Sanders’ four seasons with the Buffaloes that he took his team out of town on an NFL-style training camp trip away from the distractions and responsibilities in Boulder.

“We wanted to go somewhere away that was significant, not around the corner like 30 minutes, 45 minutes,” Sanders said. “We wanted to get away so they couldn’t have really the contacts or urge to drive back home — even though we’re on buses, they’re not doing that — no visitations or anything like that, no outside foot coming in. They’re doing a great job of feeding us.

“They’re off the phone. We monitor that and they’re really getting to know each other and really getting a bond. Like, I sat at a table with a group of guys yesterday and they they were telling me stories about some of them were sleep-walking and walking out of the room and one of the coaches fell out of bed … there’s been some wonderful stories that have transpired.”

Sanders even has his story to tell, about “coming face to face with a deer” and quickly turning around on his morning walk.

“So, we love it,” Sanders said. “We’re bonding. We’re getting closer. We’re getting to know each other a lot more because we are one unit night and day. It’s been phenomenal.”

Sanders reminisced about some of his NFL training camp days, although, being a two-sport star, he missed some of them altogether.

“Well, I was thankful not to go through many because of this game called baseball,” Sanders said. “But, we bonded. man, and we had a good time. It was hot, extremely hot with the Cowboys in Texas. But it was a bond that you can’t replace by anything because you’re just there thinking, ‘Football, football, football. You’re waking up together, you’re going to sleep at the same locations. It’s a beautiful thing.

“It really is a beautiful thing and I’m glad we’re able to come here and do it.”

The Buffaloes are coming off a trying 3-9 season that began with Sanders undergoing surgery to remove his cancerous bladder. He’s now cancer-free, has his energy back and is leading a staff that features new offensive (Brennan Marion) and defensive (Chris Marve) coordinators.

“This is not to demean any of the former coaches, but this is the best staff I’ve had ever in my coaching career, from youth football all the way up,” Sanders said. “These guys are good, fundamentally sound, creative, innovative. They’re born leaders. They’re head coaches who are coaching the offense and defense.

“The young men are responding to them. Even special teams, we’re doing that in a collaborative effort. We’re unified on that. … It’s been great. I love the energy that these coaches are providing and a new group of kids helps out tremendously.”

The Buffs feature 45 players who transferred into the program this season.

Sanders bristled when asked if he feels pressure to bounce back in 2026: “I apply pressure, I don’t feel pressure.” He said pressure is being a single mom trying to make ends meet. “This is football; I’m really good at this. I can play this. I can coach this. I can do this.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Layne Riggs hasn’t been shy talking about his hopes for an eventual NASCAR Cup Series ride.

It likely won’t happen full-time in 2027, but he hopes that, if he keeps winning truck races, a team will look at him and say he’s ready for Cup. That could very well be his current team, Front Row Motorsports. 

But like most young drivers, time is of the essence.

And that’s because a young driver must strike when they’re hot but also make sure they remain positioned for success no matter the level.

“All I can do is impress the right people and from everybody I talk to, all I can do is just keep doing what I’m doing — getting poles and winning races and trying to impress everybody,” Riggs said after winning the pole at North Wilkesboro last month.

“That’s all I’ve got to worry about, in a nutshell. If I just keep doing what I’m doing right here, hopefully the right opportunity will come to me.”

So which drivers will be the ones who have the best chance to make it in Cup and be a regular Chase contender at NASCAR’s top level?

Here is my mid-season prospect list. It is based on performance and it also factors in drivers’ ability to obtain and keep funding.

Some parameters: no driver who has had a season in Cup — or is about to have a full season in Cup — is on this list. 

For example, Corey Heim, who earned two Cup victories this season, dropped off of eligibility on my list with his two Cup victories. Also, all drivers must be younger than 28 to be included.

20.

Meza has six TransAm TA2 victories this year and sits second in the point standings. He was the top rookie in the Mazda MX-5 Cup last year. 

19.

Retzlaff sits ninth in the O’Reilly Series standings as he has shown to be consistently top 10 in driving for Viking Motorsports. He is expected to be back there next year and if he continues to run well, it wouldn’t be a surprise for him to get a look from one of the top teams in that series or a Cup team.

18.

Caruth is 14th in the O’Reilly Series points as a rookie, where he has run the majority of races at JR Motorsports. Having online racing as his roots, Caruth looks like he needs a little more time to get comfortable as he moves from series to series. Assuming he gets another season at JRM next year, that is one where he will need to start challenging for wins.

17.

Eckes is fourth in the truck standings and has had the best results from the Chevrolet truck stable. For the most part, he’s doing the most with what he has, but he really could use some wins.

16.

Mayer has had a disappointing season when it comes to results, as he sits 10th in the O’Reilly Series standings. Where he races next year is yet to be announced, although he will most likely remain in the O’Reilly Series. He needs more consistency to get a good look from a Cup team.

15.

Lewis has shown promise in his six truck starts and if he runs the full season next year as expected, that will be pivotal in his quest for a Cup seat in the upcoming years. Lewis also has a CARS Tour late model stock win this year.

14.

Avedisian has three top 10s in her four ARCA starts this year as she continues the transition from sprint cars. One of the Toyota Racing Development drivers, she will continue to get opportunities as she is showing a lot of promise.

13.

Buice has finished in the top five (including one second-place finish) in all four of her ARCA Series starts this year. She is part of the Chevrolet program and is proving she’s deserving of more opportunities.

12.

Brown has finished in the top three — including one win — in all six of his ARCA starts this year. A Richard Childress Racing development driver, he very well could end up in an O’Reilly Series car for RCR next year. He makes his series debut with Jordan Anderson Racing this weekend at Iowa.

11.

Ruggiero has shown steady progression this year, as he sits fifth in the truck standings while also having won four ARCA wins this season.

10.

McKee has an ARCA win and a runner-up among his five starts in the series, as well as three ARCA East triumphs this season. He sits second in the standings. A Spire Motorsports driver, he will make select truck starts later this year.

9.

Harvick has two top fives in three CARS Tour pro late model starts and sits second in the CARS Tour West standings. He won two CARS Tour West pro late model races this year. For such a young driver, his race craft is impressive, which shouldn’t shock anyone considering he has his father (former Cup champion Kevin Harvick) to guide him.

8.

Gray has one victory in the O’Reilly Series but is battling to make the Chase field. He’s already signed to race for JGR in the series again next year, and as long as he shows improvement, he will likely have a ride and an eventual move to Cup is quite possible. 

7.

Smith is third in the truck standings with two victories this year. He is expected to make his return to the O’Reilly Series next year at Richard Childress Racing. If he can perform well there, he could have a Cup ride in a few years.

6.

Kvapil, who earned his first O’Reilly win at Indianapolis, sits second in the series standings. His path forward to Cup still seems a little unclear, as JR Motorsports has had to piece together sponsorship for him (and even have him run a handful of races for another team) just to get him a full season.

5.

Honeycutt sits a spot behind Riggs in the truck standings, where he earned his first career victory earlier this year. He will likely get another year of trucks at Tricon. Here’s a question: As long as he wins races, is a year of O’Reilly in his future or will he jump straight to Cup? If he sticks with Toyota, Legacy Motor Club would be the most likely option in 2028.

4.

Day is fifth in the O’Reilly Series standings. He has two wins as he continues the transition from full-time sprint cars to stock cars. He is doing almost everything Hendrick Motorsports could ask of him. A little inconsistency should be expected considering his lack of stock-car experience. He should have eyes on a Cup ride in 2028, but whether that is at Hendrick or another Chevy team (Spire?) is still to be determined.

3.

Layne Riggs has five victories in the trucks this year and has all but clinched the regular-season title. His path to Cup is most likely through Front Row. But as mentioned earlier, it appears that 2028 will be the first full season and not 2027.

2.

Love, the defending O’Reilly Series champion, is third in the series standings. He’s still looking for his first win this year, but he already knows what he’s doing next year; he’ll replace Josh Berry in the Wood Brothers No. 21 Cup car.

1.

Crews is battling for a Chase spot in the O’Reilly Series, despite missing four races this year. He still seeks his first win in the series but has been impressive. He appears to be a candidate for the No. 11 Cup car in 2028, although that will likely be contingent on his performance over the final portion of this season and the start of 2027. Even if he isn’t in the JGR Cup car in 2028, as long as he does perform, there should be a path for him to Cup.

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Finally, we have a real taste of football.

The first preseason game of the 2026 season took place on Thursday, with the Carolina Panthers taking down the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game. Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck was the storyline from Thursday’s game, impressing in his unofficial NFL debut.

While we finally had game action on Thursday, though, more contract matters dominated the news in the NFL. We saw a pair of star running backs agree to pricey extensions, including a record-setting deal. Meanwhile, in Tampa Bay, the news down there is about a pair of stars who haven’t received pricey extensions.

Here are the headlines to know from Thursday around the NFL. 

There typically aren’t too many highlights or takeaways from the Hall of Fame Game, but this year’s edition brought us one. 

Beck completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in Thursday’s game. The rookie made all sorts of throws in Arizona’s loss, completing deep balls as he helped the Cardinals put up 17 points. Kedon Slovis played the second half for the Cardinals.

Beck’s showing adds some intrigue to a Cardinals team widely viewed to be one of the worst in the NFL entering the season. It could also add some heat on veteran Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, who didn’t play in Thursday’s game.

Undrafted rookie free agent Haynes King had the best outing of any quarterback on Thursday, though. After replacing Kenny Pickett, King completed 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. But he made the play of the game with his feet, rushing for a 5-yard score as time expired to give the Panthers a 33-30 victory. 

Running Backs Keep Getting Paid

Shortly after the Atlanta Falcons made Bijan Robinson the NFL’s highest-paid running back, the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions secured their own star halfbacks to massive deals.

Jahmyr Gibbs agreed to a deal that made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The two sides agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $75.75 million with $51.5 million fully guaranteed, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, ESPN reported.

Gibbs had a massive year for the Lions in 2025. He racked up 1,223 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, while making a huge impact in the passing game with 77 catches for 616 yards and five receiving touchdowns.

Hours before news of Gibbs’ deal broke, the Colts and star running back Jonathan Taylor agreed to a two-year, $44 million extension, per ESPN. The deal is worth up to $47 million and also includes $39 million in guaranteed money for Taylor as he enters his age-27 season. 

Taylor is coming off one of his best seasons since entering the league in 2020. He ranked third in the league last season with 1,585 rushing yards and a league-leading 18 touchdowns, while adding 46 receptions for 378 yards and two receiving scores.

No running back appears to be an imminent threat to break Gibbs’ record. No running back taken in the 2024 or 2025 drafts has been as productive as him. Of course, that could change in the coming years.  

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht addressed the status of two key veterans on Thursday, stating the team has no plans to trade Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea amid ongoing contract discussions. 

“We love Vita,” Licht told reporters. “We’ve been engaged with his agent recently. I don’t know how it’s gonna end, but we’ve been engaged and that’s at least some progress.”

Licht also discussed quarterback Baker Mayfield, noting that while placing the franchise tag on Mayfield in 2027 remains an available tool if necessary, it is not the team’s primary plan. He emphasized that the franchise’s main objective remains securing a long-term contract extension with Mayfield.

“I’m not going to get into specifics about the contract and all that stuff, but yeah — we do think he is [a franchise quarterback],” Licht told reporters. “We love Baker. … Baker’s in a great place right now. We’re in a very good place.”

Mayfield is entering the final season of a three-year contract. 

 

Tensions flared on the practice field between New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and wide receiver A.J. Brown on Thursday. 

Gonzalez and Brown have repeatedly sought out head-to-head matchups and exchanged words throughout training camp practices, according to reports at practice. 

Following lockdown coverage by Gonzalez, competitive back-and-forth trash talk between the two players escalated, nearly requiring the pair to be separated as the team transitioned to a new drill. 

“It’s good on good,” Gonzalez told reporters following Thursday’s practice. “He’s a No. 1 receiver in this league going up against a No. 1 corner. That’s how it’s going to go. It’s football at the end of the day. There’s never no disrespect or anything. We’re just battling and getting each other better. He’s going to face corners like that, that are going to yap at him and going to try to get in his head, and I’m going to face receivers like that who are strong and come right back at me. It’s great work for the both of us.”

The Houston Texans and head coach DeMeco Ryans are doing whatever it takes to keep the young nucleus of their defense intact. The Texans and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o have agreed to a two-year, $16 million extension, first reported by NFL Network.

Entering his age-25 season, To’oTo’o can earn up to $1 million more in incentives in the deal.

To’oTo’o is coming off his first full 17-game season with Houston, establishing himself as a big contributor for one of the league’s premier defenses. He recorded 95 total tackles, with 42 of them being solo, along with 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

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For years, the NFL backfield felt like a high-risk, low-reward market.

The running back devaluation era has officially reached its breaking point. Powered by historic, market-shattering extensions for Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson and Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs, the NFL backfield is officially back in the big-money business.

Gibbs became the NFL’s highest-paid running back on Thursday, landing a three-year, $67.5 million extension. His deal follows a three-year, $66.75 million payday for Robinson earlier in the week, locking in a combined $102.5 million in guaranteed money between the two stars.

We’ve seen the evolution of running back pay play out all offseason, not just over the last few days.

Plenty of running backs have secured massive paydays recently. Just this offseason, the Chiefs’ Kenneth Walker, Dolphins’ De’Von Achane, Jets’ Breece Hall, Saints’ Travis Etienne and Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor all signed major multi-year deals.

The value is officially back for NFL running backs. The Arizona Cardinals made that clear in this year’s draft, taking Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love No. 3 overall and handing him a contract with $53 million guaranteed.

Love hasn’t played one snap yet in the league, and he has the most guaranteed money in the league at the position. Not only does it show how much of a talent he truly was coming out of South Bend, but how valuable teams are willing to go to bring in a game-changing playmaker.

As of Thursday, Aug. 6, here are the highest annual salaries among NFL running backs, (data courtesy of Spotrac):

Highest Annual Salaries Among Running Backs:

10. Jeremiyah Love – $13.25 Million

After being selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals, Jeremiyah Love earned quite the payday before even taking a snap with the league. Love earned a four-year, $53 million rookie deal with the contract being fully guaranteed.

9. Kenneth Walker – $14.35 Million

Walker left the Seattle Seahawks in free agency after helping them win the Super Bowl last season and earning MVP honors in the game. This offseason, Walker signed a three-year, $43 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency with $28.7 million guaranteed.

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8. Breece Hall – $14.50 Million

With plenty of speculation about the New York Jets either trading or franchise tagging running back Breece Hall, both sides came to an agreement earlier in the offseason on a long-term deal. Instead of using the franchise or transition tag, the Jets and Hall agreed on a three-year, $43.5 million deal with $29 million guaranteed.

7. Derrick Henry – $15 Million

Not only has Derrick Henry established himself as one of the league’s most dominant and consistent running backs, but his contract status places him as one of the most valued. He earned himself a two-year, $30 million extension with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason with $25 million guaranteed.

6. De’Von Achane – $16 Million

After entering the league as a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, De’Von Achane has established himself as one of the league’s most explosive playmakers. Even with a rebuilding Miami Dolphins team, the two sides agreed on a four-year, $64 million deal with $32 million guaranteed.

5. Christian McCaffrey – $19 Million

Christian McCaffrey revived the market value of elite running backs. In 2019, he became just the third player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He signed a two-year, $38 million extension with $24 million guaranteed in the 2024 offseason.

4. Saquon Barkley – $20.60 Million

Once Saquon Barkley left the New York Giants in free agency to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, the market truly once again found its value for the position. Barkley was one of the biggest factors in the team winning Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs.

After winning the Super Bowl, Barkley received a two-year, $41.2 million extension with the Eagles, with $36 million guaranteed.

3. Jonathan Taylor – $22 Million

After establishing himself as one of the league’s most consistent running backs, the Colts once again gave Jonathan Taylor another massive extension. On Thursday morning, Taylor signed a two-year, $44 million deal with $39 million guaranteed.

2. Bijan Robinson – $22.25 Million

The Atlanta Falcons and star running back Bijan Robinson reset the market earlier this week after he signed a historic three-year, $66.75 million extension. He also received $51 million guaranteed, which is now ranked as the third-most guaranteed money in league history for a running back.

1. Jahmyr Gibbs – $22.50 Million

The king of all running backs is officially Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs. 

After securing a massive three-year, $67.5 million extension with $51.5 million guaranteed, Gibbs completely reset the market and established himself as the most valuable back in the sport. His game-changing versatility and elite playmaking make him worth every single penny.

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The New York Giants concluded the 2025 season with a 4-13 record and lost their head coach along the way, but a second-year Jaxson Dart could turn things around for the Giants this season.

Dart was drafted No. 25 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and was named the starting quarterback in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, the pressure is on for Dart to perform under new head coach John Harbaugh and an elite and healthy roster. 

For FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd, he’s impressed with the little things Dart brings to the table as a quarterback, rather than the Giant’s overall record. 

“But it’s interesting because Jaxson Dart, with a new coach, has been pretty uneven… Whenever a young quarterback comes into the league, and he’s in a bad situation like Dart was, all I look for are ‘Wow’ moments. I do not care about records,” Cowherd said on Thursday’s edition of ‘The Herd. 

Following the Giants 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 10, the Giants fired former head coach Brian Daboll. The firing of Daboll also came at a time when wide receiver Malik Nabers had torn his ACL, and running back Cam Skattebo was sidelined with a broken ankle. However, Dart still produced impressive numbers.

In his 12 total starts for the Giants, Dart threw for 2,272 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.  He added nine rushing touchdowns, which is the most in a single season by a Giants quarterback and the third-most rushing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback. 

Heading into his second season, Dart can build on top of his rookie performance with a talented supporting cast. Despite Dart having his ‘Wow’ moments and the added components, that is what makes him a star quarterback entering his second season. 

“You’ve got some ‘WOW’ stuff. Super athletic, fearless running the ball… you can see the athleticism, the confidence, the leadership. The kid had more rushing touchdowns as a rookie than Saquon Barkley or Bijan Robinson,” Herd said. “[Malik] Nabers is healthy, [Cam] Skattebo is back, legitimate coaching… Jaxson Dart gives you ‘Wow’ and eight of his starts he completed over 65% of his throws. So I got a guy that can hit the layups, (and) I got a little wow.”

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The Arizona Cardinals were already a team to watch under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, but a sudden quarterback competition might be on the horizon. 

Rookie quarterback Carson Beck finally made his preseason debut on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. He put together a strong debut, potentially forcing the coaching staff to rethink their plans under center before Week 1 even arrives.

Expected starter Jacoby Brissett recently reworked his deal to move on from contract talks this season, but the future could be with Beck. Depending on how slow of a start the Cardinals get off too, he could see regular season action sooner rather than later.

Playing with the backups, Beck put together a performance to remember. He played until the middle of the third quarter and completed 15-of-19 passes for 188 yards and a passing touchdown.

Beck led the Cardinals offense on four scoring drives before Kedon Slovis took over for the rest of the second half. If Beck wants to get noticed and create a true competition against Brissett, he’ll need to keep up his strong preseason play over the next few weeks.

Not only did Beck show out in his debut, but so did former Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King. The electric play style that made him a star with the Yellow Jackets was on full display Thursday night. 

King walked it off for the Panthers, scrambling into the end zone as time expired to steal a dramatic 33–30 victory over the Cardinals. 

He ended the night filling the stat sheets after taking over for backup quarterback Kenny Pickett. King finished his debut completing 21-of-34 passes for 180 yards and two passing touchdowns, while adding 39 rushing yards and touchdown on the ground.

All signs point toward Bryce Young being the future in Carolina, but if King keeps this play up, he could force his way onto the 53-man roster. Coach Dave Canales has a proven track record of developing young quarterbacks and King could be his next project.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Beck and King, but both rookie quarterbacks gave fans a Hall of Fame Game performance they won’t forget.

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The 2021 Cy Young winner has found a new team.

The San Francisco Giants have reportedly traded starting pitcher Robbie Ray within the NL West, to the San Diego Padres, per ESPN. The deal is still being finalized, but the New York Post reports that Miguel Mendez and Joniel Hernandez are the expected return.

Ray had long been linked with a move from the Giants ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. This year, he’s been arguably the Giants’ best starter, notching a 10-6, with a 3.08 ERA and 107 strikeouts. He made the 2025 All-Star team, his first since 2017 when he broke through with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

 (Photo by Vincent Mizzoni/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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In 2021 while with the Blue Jays, Ray had a dominant season and ended up winning the AL Cy Young Award. That year, he the league in ERA (2.84), strikeouts (248), innings pitched (193 1⁄3), and WHIP (1.04). He signed a five-year contract worth $115 million in 2022 with the Mariners, but struggled in Seattle as he underwent Tommy John Surgery. He was traded to the Giants in 2024, where he has produced five wins above replacement in his last two seasons and 305 innings.

Ray is an immediate boost for the Padres’s rotation. He’s 6-0 with a 1.03 ERA over his last eight starts since June 16. He joins Michael King as the only Padres’ starter with an above-average ERA in 2026. San Diego is 11 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West, but just one back of a wild-card spot.

The 34-year-old left-hander is still owed the remainder of his $25 million salary for 2026, which is the final year of the deal he signed with the Mariners before the 2022 season. Ray has a career 3.43 ERA in 11 starts and 60 ⅓ innings at Petco Park.

Mendez is a 23-year-old starting pitcher who has made 11 starts in Double-A in 2026, posting a 4.93 ERA with just under 10 strikeouts per nine but 4.4 walks per. He was the fourth-ranked prospect in the Padres’ organization, per MLB Pipeline, while Joniel Hernandez is a 17-year-old Cuban shortstop playing in the Dominican Summer League, who is batting .303/.424/.503 through 41 games as a pro.

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The vast majority of NFL teams won’t begin padded practices until Monday, but that isn’t stopping us from noticing things around the league in the opening week of training camp. 

As we get settled in at training camps around the country, there are a handful of items that have stood out to us in the first week of practices. How have the New England Patriots handled their unusual offseason? Which injured players look to be in good shape? Who has impressed among the rookies?

Here are our seven takeaways from the first week of training camp: 

1. Mike Vrabel And The Patriots Are Operating Business As Usual

While Mike Vrabel was at the center of drama this offseason, the Patriots have seemed to move on from it. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Henry McKenna: The Seattle Seahawks might have won the Super Bowl, but it felt like the New England Patriots dominated the offseason storylines — for better and for worse. 

It’s already a big story if a New England-based team doesn’t win a championship. The region is accustomed to winning the big game — in every major sports league. But New England has steeped itself in drama. There may have been no bigger offseason NFL storyline than Vrabel’s scandal. The Patriots also acquired A.J. Brown from the Eagles, a transaction that took months for both sides to complete. That became a top three offseason storyline in the NFL. So there was a lot to discuss in New England.

Inwardly, Vrabel addressed the scandal with his players. Outwardly, the Patriots are operating business as usual. 

Certainly, the coach hasn’t changed the way he operates. He welcomed Brown to the team by making an example of the star wide receiver when he made a mistake on the first day of training camp.

“First team meeting, he ripped me for not bringing in a catch,” Brown said last week. “Early on, as a rookie, I didn’t really like that too much. Now I know it comes from a great place. He expects me to make that play, and so do I.”

When it comes to offseason storylines — whether it’s right or wrong — Brown could play a big part in making Vrabel’s scandal go away. If the Patriots win games and start the season strong, that’ll be the focus. If they lose … well, the focus might fall on the scandal again.

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2. Giants Encouraged By Malik Nabers’ Early Performance

Malik Nabers had 1,204 receiving yards as a rookie in 2024 before an ACL tear cut his rookie season short in 2025. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Ralph Vacchiano: The Giants are still very cautiously refusing to say whether receiver Malik Nabers will be ready for Week 1. But his performance in the first two days of training camp (with a scheduled off day on Day 3) sure was a very encouraging sign. 

Just nine months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL that ruined most of his second NFL season, New York’s No. 1 receiver not only practiced fully early in camp, he also earned rave reviews. 

“He definitely has a presence about him,” quarterback Jaxson Dart said. “There’s an aura that he has on the field that is exhilarating. It makes me happy. Everybody’s happy to see him out on the field. And I think for him, he’s had a lot of positives.”

New coach John Harbaugh was a bit more cautious, but added, “He looked good. It was encouraging.”

The Giants plan is to see how Nabers responds to the early workload and gauge how much, and how quickly, they can increase it. One team source told me they are hopeful he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season, but aren’t afraid to delay his return a few weeks if it helps him get to full strength. 

Nabers’ importance can’t be overstated, though. Dart has never played a full regular-season game with Nabers, who suffered his knee injury in Week 4 last year, when Dart made his first start. Dart had an impressive rookie season anyway, but Nabers would be the best and most talented receiver he’s played with, by far. 

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3. Rodgers-Metcalf Connection Clicking Early

DK Metcalf (right) had a career-low 850 receiving yards in his first season with Aaron Rodgers. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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Vacchiano: There’s been obvious chemistry between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf early in training camp, as there should be. But that’s a big change from last season when the Steelers never seemed to get enough out of that connection.

Metcalf had just 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games last season — far from the elite numbers Pittsburgh expected after trading a second-round pick to get him and signing him to a five-year, $150 million deal. Metcalf had just two 100-yard games and nine games with fewer than 50 yards — including a disappointing two-catch, 42-yard performance in the Steelers’ first-round playoff loss.

“[Last season] we were kind of like trying to get used to the dynamic of everything,” Metcalf said. “He was in a new place. I was in a new place. I think right now our communication is far beyond where it was last year when we first got to camp. We’re just leaps ahead of the communication aspect. And I think it’s only going to continue to grow.”

It helped, Metcalf said, that Rodgers — his training camp roommate — was more present in the offseason. He attended several OTA practices and took his receivers on a “bonding” trip out West. It also helped that the Steelers acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman in the offseason to give Metcalf another receiver that can take some of the pressure off. 

Now it’s up to new coach Mike McCarthy to use all that and find a way to make the connection really work.

“He’s a matchup problem,” McCarthy said. “You’d better get some help (covering) him. We want to move him around a little more. But I was impressed with their timing together in the spring. We just want to continue to grow off of that because DK can change a game.”

4. Can Bucs’ WR Corps Be Better Without Mike Evans?

Chris Godwin headlines the Buccaneers’ wide receiver room, but they’ve shown plenty of talent at the position. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Greg Auman: The biggest transaction of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offseason was the surprising departure of Mike Evans to the San Francisco 49ers after 12 seasons in Tampa. And somehow, a week into their first training camp without the future Hall of Famer, it’s possible the Bucs’ depth can make up for such a significant loss.

Chris Godwin, 30, has spent his whole career in Evans’ shadow, and now fully recovered from a 2024 ankle injury, has a chance to show what he can do leading the room. The real excitement is in the next four receivers — all age 24 or younger — who will each take on part of the challenge of replacing Evans.

That starts with Emeka Egbuka, 23, last year’s first-round pick who had five touchdowns in his first five NFL games, then hit a wall with only one score the rest of the way. He could be the next in a pipeline of former Ohio State receivers dominating the NFL. Jalen McMillan, 24, missed most of last year recovering from a neck injury, but looks like he did at the end of his rookie season, when he led the NFL with seven touchdown catches in the final five weeks of 2024.

Tez Johnson, 24, caught five touchdowns last year as a sixth-round rookie, stepping up amid multiple injuries, and there’s excitement surrounding rookie Ted Hurst, 22, a third-round pick from Georgia State whose 6-foot-4 frame could help give the Bucs a red-zone lob threat that Evans was for so long.

New Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson – their fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons – is close friends with former offensive coordinator Liam Coen, and the hope is that Tampa Bay’s offense and passing game can get back to its peak as a top-five unit under Coen in 2024.

Evans was limited by injuries to eight games and three touchdown catches in his final year in Tampa, so the Bucs already had a taste of life without him, and the hope is that five receivers, collectively, can help offset one major offseason loss.

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5. Carnell Tate Not The Only Young Titans WR To Keep An Eye On 

Second-year wide receiver Elic Ayomanor has been a standout so far at Titans camp. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

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Ben Arthur: Second-year wide receiver Elic Ayomanor has been the biggest standout at Titans training camp through the first week, making several plays. 

The 2025 fourth-round pick made a beautiful leaping grab by the sideline over cornerback Joshua Williams in team drills on Saturday, drawing plenty of cheers from the fans in attendance. Earlier in the day, he had a similarly impressive catch in a 7-on-7 period. 

Just two days prior, Ayomanor made what’s arguably been the biggest highlight of training camp so far — with starting cornerback Cor’Dale Flott draped over him, the former Stanford standout jumped and snagged a Cam Ward pass over Flott’s head. 

No. 4 overall pick Carnell Tate is expected to be Tennessee’s WR1 at some point, and free-agent acquisition Wan’Dale Robinson will be a primary target for Ward, too. But Ayomanor should be a significant factor in the offense as well. 

Ayomanor led Titans receivers last season with 515 receiving yards. The second-year pro focused on his posture this offseason and trained some with Robinson, work that hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates. 

“To me, Elic is a star,” veteran Calvin Ridley said.

Overall, the Titans boast one of their most talented wide receiver rooms in years, a group that can further Ward’s development as a franchise quarterback. 

In addition to young talents like Tate and Ayomanor, they have a 1,000-yard receiver from each of the last two seasons (Robinson in ‘25, Ridley in ‘24). Second-year pro Chim Dike, an All-Pro returner, ranked third on the Titans with 423 receiving yards as a rookie. 

“This is one of the deepest rooms I’ve been in,” Ridley said of Tennessee’s wide receivers. “If we do what we gotta do, get on the same page with our quarterback, we can push [this season].” 

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6. Cade Klubnik May Have A Shot To Cut Geno Smith’s Jets Reunion Short

Cade Klubnik was selected by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

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Vacchiano: Geno Smith’s second Jets tenure got off to a rocky start during an offseason that featured several run-ins with police, including a domestic incident that became a viral video. And then he was a bit shaky during the first two light practices of training camp, though he got better as the early days went along.

Make no mistake: Smith is entrenched as the Jets’ starter for as long as he can keep them somewhat relevant this season. But it’s still worth keeping one eye over his shoulder, because the most interesting quarterback in camp is rookie Cade Klubnik, their fourth-round pick. 

Jets general manager Darren Mougey said he’s “excited” to see what the rookie can do, and a team source said they’ve been “thrilled” with what they’ve seen so far. He looked mostly sharp in his first two days, though those were really light practices. If that continues, he’s got a “real good chance” to emerge as Smith’s primary backup. It’s also not crazy to suggest they might give him a shot as a starter later in the season, especially if the season goes awry again. 

The Jets are a near-lock to draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2027 draft, and not much can change that plan. But late in the season, especially if they’re not miraculously in playoff contention, they still might want to see what they’ve got in Klubnik, just in case.

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7. Jeremiyah Love Getting Comfortable In Cardinals’ Scheme

Jeremiyah Love rushed for 1,372 yards at Notre Dame last season, leading the Cardinals to make him the third overall pick in the 2026 draft. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Eric D. Williams: Because of positional value and Arizona clearly not considered to be a player away from contending as a rebuilding roster, NFL observers criticized the Cardinals for taking Love at No. 3 overall. But in training camp practices, the Notre Dame product has looked as good as advertised, showing explosive playmaking ability as a runner and pass catcher out of the backfield.

However, the Cardinals have a crowded running back room, including free agent pickup Tyler Allgeier and veteran incumbent James Conner. That means Love will have a shared workload as he learns the offense and transitions to a more complex NFL game. Allgeier was listed as the starter in Arizona’s unofficial depth chart released for this week’s Hall of Fame game, while Love was No. 2 on the depth chart.

“There’s a lot of guys in there,” Cardinals new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett told me. “Any time you’ve got a great room like that, they’re going to be able to root for each other. We want to use them all, give them all the ball and watch them all grow together.”

Hackett said to expect diversity in the running game, including outside zone and a downhill running attack.

 

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New users on Kalshi can use promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock up to $500 in bonuses while trading on one of the busiest days of the MLB season—the 2026 trade deadline.

Moves have already been made, like the blockbuster trade between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers acquired reigning two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. 

Skubal is expected to make his debut in this series against the Chicago Cubs.

The Philadelphia Phillies added three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and veteran reliever Brooks Raley. The Phillies take on NL East foe the Washington Nationals with Aaron Nola on the bump. 

The New York Yankees send breakout starter Cam Schlittler to the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Use the Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock up to $500 in bonuses and trade on today’s MLB Trade Deadline, tonight’s games, and the biggest storylines shaping the postseason race.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page.

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1. Click this ‘Claim Now’ link to visit Kalshi and start the signup process.
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Dodgers vs. Cubs

*Probability is subject to change*

Los Angeles Dodgers	54%	54¢	47¢
Chicago Cubs	46%	47¢	54¢

More markets are available on Kalshi.

Today’s MLB Schedule

Toronto Blue Jays @ Houston Astros (8:10 PM ET)

• The Houston Astros enter tonight as the hottest team in baseball, carrying a season-high six-game winning streak after a dominant sweep of the Rangers.
• Pitchers: Both teams’ starters are listed as TBD as they navigate final deadline moves.

Washington Nationals @ Philadelphia Phillies (6:40 PM ET)

• The Phillies made some aggressive trades this morning. They host a Nationals team that just traded away infielder Luis García Jr. to the Yankees and got swept in a four-game series against the Braves.
• Pitchers: Nationals TBD vs. Aaron Nola (3-9, 5.61 ERA) for Philadelphia.

St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Yankees (7:05 PM ET)

• The Yankees look to snap a cold offensive stretch and integrate their new acquisition, Luis García Jr.
• Pitchers: Michael McGreevy (4-9, 3.57 ERA) vs. Yankees Cy Young candidate Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2.04 ERA).

San Francisco Giants @ Texas Rangers (8:05 PM ET — ESPN)

• Pitchers: Logan Webb (6-7, 3.93 ERA) vs. Rangers TBD.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs (8:05 PM ET)

• The Cubs start this series after acquiring Kevin Gausman. Skubal is scheduled to debut tomorrow for LA, meaning the Dodgers’ bullpen handles tonight.
• Pitchers: Dodgers TBD vs. Matthew Boyd (6-1, 3.41 ERA).

San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks (9:40 PM ET)

• The Headline: A fierce NL West battle unfolds in the desert.
• Pitchers: Michael King (6-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. Brandon Pfaadt (5-0, 1.85 ERA).

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Milwaukee Brewers (7:40 PM ET)

• Pitchers: Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.56 ERA) vs. Brandon Sproat (3-6, 5.05 ERA).

Tampa Bay Rays @ Colorado Rockies (8:40 PM ET)

• Pitchers: Both teams are TBD following the Rays’ acquisition of Freddy Peralta and Colorado trading away Brenton Doyle.

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Coaching arguably has the biggest impact on whether NFL teams win or lose and plays a major role in determining the landscape of the league.

However, the Coach of the Year award does not always go to the league’s best coach or the coach of the team with the best record. It typically rewards the coach who exceeds preseason expectations, engineers a major turnaround or takes a franchise to the next level.

So with that, let’s check out the odds to win the 2026 NFL Coach of the Year at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 3. 

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

John Harbaugh is the +600 favorite to win the NFL Coach of the Year in 2026 (Justin Casterline/Getty Images).

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2026 NFL COACH OF THE YEAR ODDS

John Harbaugh: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Jesse Minter: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Robert Saleh: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Kellen Moore: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Brian Schottenheimer: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Todd Monken: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Joe Brady: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Ben Johnson: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Mike McCarthy: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Klint Kubiak: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Kevin Stefanski: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)

Mike Vrabel won the AP Coach of the Year Award in 2025 (Michael Owens/Getty Images).

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Here’s what to know about this oddsboard.

PAST WINNERS: In 2025, Mike Vrabel won the award in his first season as the Patriots head coach, transforming the Pats from a 4-13 record in 2024 to a 13-4 record in 2025, an AFC East title and a Super Bowl appearance. Vrabel has now won COTY twice (last season and in 2021 with the Titans). In 2024, Kevin O’Connell won the award, and in 2023, Kevin Stefanski won it for the second time in his career (2020 and 2023). 

NEW HEAD COACHES: Over the last decade, 60% of the Coach of the Year awards went to coaches in their very first season with their team. In 2026, there are 10 new NFL head coach changes, tying the record for the most head coaching moves in a single offseason. John Harbaugh, Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh, the top three names on the oddsboard, are all in their first year with their new team. Harbaugh is the favorite as he looks to transform a young Giants core that features Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers. New York won four games a season ago, and are presumed to take a step forward under Harbaugh, who has a .609 winning percentage in his career. Meanwhile, Minter will replace Harbaugh in Baltimore and looks to take a Ravens team that missed the playoffs last year to new heights. Baltimore is currently tied for the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl (+1000). And lastly, Saleh looks to improve a Titans team that won just three games in 2025. 

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