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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)   Despite their 18-56 record during the 2023-24 NBA season, the future is beyond bright for the San Antonio Spurs because of the rapid development of Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama, the 2023 NBA Draft’s No. 1 overall pick, has quickly become a rising star as he is routinely making an impact on both ends of the floor. While the rest of the Spurs’ roster needs work, Wembanyama has established himself as the franchise’s new face and it’s almost impossible to predict how good he’ll be considering how quickly he’s improved during the regular season. The France native had another impressive game recently as he led San Antonio to a thrilling overtime win against the New York Knicks. Jalen Brunson dropped a career-high 61 points in the matchup, but Wembanyama held his own with 40 points of his own. After the final buzzer sounded, Wembanyama threw the game ball into the stands and the league office fined him for the action via Marc J. Spear...

(Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)   The 2024 NFL Draft is less than a month away and evaluators and analysts are starting to get a better picture of how the draft may play out after the flurry of moves in free agency. Teams were able to address several needs in the past month which makes it easier to see where they might be leaning toward in the draft. For example, the Chicago Bears dealt away Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers which cleared the way for them to take USC’s Caleb Williams first overall. There are a few teams that are in desperate need of a quarterback, but fortunately for them, there are several prospects worth taking outside of Williams. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy is arguably the most interesting player in the group as he’s seemingly boosted his stock after the combine and visits. Robert Griffin III added to the hype when he called McCarthy an underrated prospect via RG3 and The Ones. “He is underrated. He was not asked to do what the rest of the g...

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)   The San Francisco 49ers have a complicated situation on their hands with Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk’s camp all but made a case for him to be traded somewhere else in the offseason, making it clear that he wasn’t satisfied with his current role in the offense. Then, he made the rounds for tweeting at Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, with fans speculating he was trying to force his way off of the team. Now, a report by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reveals that both sides are not even close to a potential contract extension (via 49ers on NBC Sports): “Where are we? Well, we’re not close,” Garafolo said . “They have made a recent run at it from my understanding. It’s not like they haven’t had any discussions, they have had preliminary discussions. You saw John Lynch say that Brandon Aiyuk could play on the fifth-year option, play out his deal. They’re comfortable with that. Then you got Aiyuk doing the little finger thing saying, ‘I could ...

(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)   On Wednesday night, Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks attempted to dunk on San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama. He quickly learned that wasn’t a good idea, as Wembanyama shut down the dunk with ease. Following that game, the Spurs rookie threw some shade at Taylor, according to Hector Ledesma. “Regardless of the challenge it is to sometimes want to dunk on your opponent, it was a bad choice I think,” Wembanyama said. “You’ve got to be smart,” he added. How savage can #Wemby be? Pretty savage off the court too “Regardless of the challenge it is to sometimes want to dunk on your opponent, it was a bad choice I think. You've got to be smart.” – #VictorWembanyama on an attempted dunk on him vs Jazz Story https://t.co/u5ehqLGyiX — Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) March 29, 2024 Anyone who has been watching Wembanyama this season wasn’t surprised to see him block Hendricks at the basket. Even though he’s still a ro...

(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)   Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t played a game with his Minnesota Timberwolves since the start of March due to a knee injury but there has always been hope that he’ll return before the playoffs kick off. Speaking with Darren Wolfson, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said that Towns’ recovery is “coming along really well” and “ahead of schedule.” He isn’t sure of an exact date for Towns’ return but it sounds like he will be ready to play with the T-Wolves during this very pivotal postseason. For those who need good #Timberwolves vibes in this moment, encouraging update from Glen Taylor on KAT's recovery following his knee surgery earlier this month: pic.twitter.com/g5RQRDoCcr — Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) March 28, 2024 As noted by Wolfson, the team has survived quite well without Towns, scoring some big wins in the final weeks of the regular season. This is good news, of course, as it shows that they could still compete without T...

(Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)   It’s the dawn of a new era in the National Football League. The new kick-off rule is one of the most significant rule changes in the history of the league. And while it’s meant to prevent injuries, it’s also expected to make it easier for teams to score on kick-off returns. That’s why former star WR DeSean Jackson isn’t a fan of this modification. Talking to Kay Adams for her Up & Adams Show, he stated that he would have 10 to 20 more kick-off return touchdowns with this rule. “I hate it… I would’ve probably had 15 to 20 more (return) touchdowns now,” Jackson said. 3x Pro-Bowl WR DeSean Jackson on the new 'hybrid' kickoff rule "I hate it… I would've probably had 15 to 20 more (return) touchdowns now." @DeSeanJackson10 @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/UDfQyrxQkm — Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 28, 2024 However, he doesn’t necessarily think that’s a good thing, adding that guys like Devin Hester migh...

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)   LSU’s Pro Day is the main topic of discussion today, with a contingent of coaches, executives, and media members in attendance to not only see Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and projected top-3 pick Jayden Daniels, but also one of the draft’s top wide receiver prospects in Malik Nabers. Nabers didn’t participate in any drills at the NFL Combine and opted to hold off until his Pro Day, and apparently, it was worth the wait. Nabers blew everyone away with his workout, highlighted by a 4.35u time in the 40-yard dash, which has fans everywhere picking their jaws up off the floor. Malik Nabers 40 clocks in at 4.35u @lsufootball | @whyguard13 pic.twitter.com/ayA7uZOcYj — NFL (@NFL) March 27, 2024 Fans quickly took to X to try to come up with the words to describe Nabers’ workout, where he also posted a 42-inch vertical and a 10’9″ broad jump. Wow really good — Shah Meer (@iShah_Meer) March 27, 2024 Malik Nabers YOU ARE...

  The New York Yankees utility situation wasn’t clear just a day before their first game of the season. Their utilityman, Oswaldo Cabrera, is now forced into action as a third baseman because the starter there, DJ LeMahieu, is still recovering from a bone bruise in his right foot and was recently placed on the injured list. The team was forced to go to the trade market, and wound up acquiring a pretty solid player capable of covering multiple positions. “The Marlins are acquiring Yankees No. 28 prospect John Cruz and Rays outfield prospect Shane Sasaki in a three-team trade, with the Yankees acquiring Jon Berti and the Rays getting Ben Rortvedt,” MLB Pipeline tweeted on Wednesday. The Marlins are acquiring Yankees No. 28 prospect John Cruz and Rays outfield prospect Shane Sasaki in a three-team trade, with the Yankees acquiring Jon Berti and the Rays getting Ben Rortvedt. Cruz: https://t.co/3uDIw5C6Zu Sasaki: https://t.co/PSDBXUjY6O pic.twitter.com/31JOZS5W5O — MLB Pipel...

(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)   LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels quickly ascended to the top of all the mock draft boards last season and now appears to be a lock to go in the top 5, perhaps as high as No. 2 overall. All eyes will be on him today during LSU’s Pro Day, but the most important part of the day might be what happens afterwards off the field. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported that Daniels will have meetings with six NFL teams right after his Pro Day, including the Patriots, Commanders, Giants, Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders. Immediately following his Pro Day, #LSU QB and potential Top 3 pick Jayden Daniels is scheduled to meet with the #Patriots , #Commanders , #Giants , #Vikings , #Broncos and #Raiders , per his agent Ron Butler. Daniels has not previously met with any teams. pic.twitter.com/1wM92chLz8 — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2024 The Patriots, Commanders, Raiders, and Giants all have their head coaches in attendance at LSU’s ...

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)   The New York Giants are seeing their name pop up in a lot of mock drafts and many rumors linking them to selecting a quarterback near the top of the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. Daniel Jones succumbed to a torn ACL last season, which felt inevitable while playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in NFL history that gave up 85 sacks, the second-most in NFL history. Head coach Brian Daboll appears to be open to change, as according to Art Stapleton of USA Today, he said “there’s some good ones in a lot of different places” in reference to the loaded QB class. Brian Daboll on evaluating this quarterback group in the Class of 2024: "There’s some good ones in a lot of different places." #NYGiants — Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 26, 2024 The Giants currently have the No. 6 pick in the draft and are surely exploring all options with so many big names projected to go off the board early this year outside of projected No. 1...

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)   The New York Jets have made some big additions in the offseason, but they also suffered a major loss. Losing star pass rusher Bryce Huff was a big blow to Robert Saleh’s defense. Talking about that, GM Joe Douglas admitted that they didn’t want things to go this way. However, he also admitted that this is just how things go in this line of business, and teams cannot keep every player they like (via Jets Videos). “It’s tough to lose a player like Bryce… it’s part of the business. You can’t always keep every player,” Douglas said. "It's tough to lose a player like Bryce… it's part of the business. You can't always keep every player." Joe Douglas on losing Bryce Huff to the Eagles: pic.twitter.com/uyuvqxvmzy — Jets Videos (@snyjets) March 25, 2024 Huff led the team in sacks last season, and he was one of the anchors of one of the most dominant and physical defensive units in the game. Now, he’s about to join Vic Fangio ...

(Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)   The Buffalo Bills went from NFL laughingstock to AFC East rulers once head coach Sean McDermott took over the sidelines. Between McDermott and star quarterback Josh Allen, the Bills have been one of the best teams in the league every season though they have come up short several times now. Buffalo has won their division four times in a row, but have yet to get to the Super Bowl in large part because of the Kansas City Chiefs. Regardless, the Bills remain one of the few legitimate contenders heading into the 2024 NFL campaign because of McDermott, Allen, and the rest of the roster. Despite their previous shortcomings, McDermott and the team remain focused on winning a Super Bowl via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. “But we’re all still with one eye on the world championship, that’s what drives us every morning when we get up.”” McDermott said . “What's left for Josh (Allen) and for all of us is to take that one more step that we nee...

(Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)   For years, the New York Giants failed to do right by their best player. Saquon Barkley repeatedly talked about his desire to stay with the organization for the remainder of his career, but they didn’t seem to feel the same way about him. The Giants placed him under the franchise tag last season and were barely able to meet his demands on a one-year deal. Then, they didn’t even try to retain him in the offseason, so he wound up leaving to join a divisional rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. With that in mind, his former HC Brian Daboll wanted to make it loud and clear that he had nothing but the utmost respect for the talented running back. Talking to NFL insider Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, he stated that he wishes Barkley — as well as all the players who left — all the best, except when they’re playing against the Giants (via Ian Rapoport): “I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Saquon and all the players that went on to other ...

(Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)   After missing out on the playoffs in 2023, the Tennessee Titans revamped the roster both on and off the field this offseason. Tennessee parted ways with head coach Mike Vrabel and brought in former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to replace him. With Callahan on board, the Titans then began to reshape the offense as they allowed Derrick Henry to walk in free agency and signed Calvin Ridley to a massive deal. They also signed Tony Pollard to form a backfield tandem with Tyjae Spears who showed flashes in his rookie season. Defensively, Tennessee needed help in their secondary as they were constantly torched on passing downs last season. The Titans made the shocking move to trade for Kansas City cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and Skip Bayless made a bold declaration via his personal Twitter account. “I cannot believe the Chiefs traded the NFL’s best cornerback to the Titans,” Bayless tweeted. I cannot believe the Chie...

(Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)   Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Chargers decided to hire Jim Harbaugh as the team’s new head coach, and since then, the franchise has dealt with some significant changes. Justin Herbert still remains intact as the Chargers’ starting quarterback, but a number of his offensive weapons, like Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams, have all parted with the team during the last few weeks. Big changes are happening for Los Angeles during their first offseason with Harbaugh leading the way and in addition to notable moves being made on the offensive side of the ball, the team is also making some adjustments to help improve what was a disappointing defense in 2023. On Friday, the Chargers and free-agent cornerback Kristian Fulton reportedly agreed to a one-year contract, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter. The #Chargers are making a key secondary addition, agreeing to terms on a 1-year deal with former #Titans free a...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)   The Denver Broncos made some significant changes to their roster this offseason. We will see them with a new starting quarterback after the release of Russell Wilson. The Wilson tenure in Denver did not go well and they decided it was time to start fresh in 2024. According to one insider, a change at quarterback might not be the only new thing next season. According to Broncos Insider Benjamin Allbright, new uniforms are coming soon to Denver. New uniforms are coming to Denver soon. https://t.co/NeLBjH3oNY — Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 21, 2024 The Broncos have missed the playoffs in eight straight seasons so maybe the new uniforms will bring them better fortune Their current starting quarterback is Jarrett Stidham and he has proven not to be a franchise quarterback throughout his career. It may pay off for them to try and address the quarterback in the upcoming draft as they hold the 12th overall pick. They could h...

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)   The San Francisco 49ers are looking for ways to improve their roster this offseason. Losing in the Super Bowl leaves a terrible taste in anyone’s mouth. Despite having many strong seasons, they haven’t been able to finish the job. One spot the 49ers are looking to improve this offseason is their secondary. According to Jordan Schultz, free agent safety Julian Blackmon is visiting the 49ers today. Free agent safety Julian Blackmon is visiting the #49ers today, sources tell @BleacherReport . Blackmon has several suitors after enjoying a career season with the #Colts , which included 4 INTs. pic.twitter.com/F29UVy2O4A — Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 21, 2024 Blackmon has spent four seasons in the NFL, all as a member of the Colts. He is entering his age-26 season and could provide depth for the 49ers’ secondary. Any free agent still available at this point most likely has question marks, so to expect big things from B...

(Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images)   The NFL Draft is set to take place at the end of April. This class looks full of future stars, especially at quarterback. We could see as many as five quarterbacks selected in the first round. One quarterback that many people are having a hard time analyzing is Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He won the National Championship at Michigan and has seemingly played himself into the first round. While he lacks the upside of other quarterbacks in this draft, he is seen by many as a franchise quarterback. According to Mina Kimes, McCarthy is the perfect “Shanahan quarterback.” JJ McCarthy is what you would get if you typed "Shanahan quarterback" into ChatGPT. Had fun discussing the fit in MIN with @DanOrlovsky7 , who made his triumphant return to the pod! Also talked Fields vs Russ, NYJ + more… : https://t.co/25po4TiBC7 : https://t.co/TxgAsDQq2K pic.twitter.com/U07unetjY6 — Mina Kimes (@minakimes) March 21, 2024 Even t...

(Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images for Stagwell)   Somehow it always hurts so much more to get insulted by a child as opposed to an adult. The brutal, straight-faced honesty and unapologetic audacity just make it sting that much more, especially because you know they’re usually right. New Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has done exactly this, as a video surfaced of Barkley today sharing a story of how he told his daughter they were going to Philly, and she responded “does that mean we’re going to win now?” First thing Saquon Barkley's daughter said when he told her he was going to the Eagles: "Does that mean we're going to win now?" (via @Eagles ) pic.twitter.com/AU03abCpND — Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) March 20, 2024 Just brutal. Jada Barkley might only be five years old, but even she could tell her dad wasn’t going to be able to get it done behind that offensive line the Giants put together in front of him. Barkley signed a 3-year, $37.75 mil...

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)   On Monday night, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green was tasked with guarding Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks. That didn’t go so well and Brunson posted 34 points against the Warriors on the way to a strong road victory. On the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” Green spoke about how hard it is to minimize Brunson. “Guarding him in pick and roll is tough, almost impossible,” Green said, via DJ on Twitter. Draymond Green on Jalen Brunson after last night's game: "Guarding him in pick and roll…is almost impossible" "Playing at an ALL-NBA level" pic.twitter.com/XPQP5fz6q2 — DJ (@DJAceNBA) March 19, 2024 Green said that Brunson is playing at an “All-NBA level” and is able to score for his team in multiple ways. He is capable of getting low into the post and scoring, shooting from the perimeter, and also putting up consequential floaters and mid-range shots. Green said that Brunson is “cr...

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)   The Charlotte Hornets likely won’t be in the playoffs this season, as they are still the 13th seed in the East with just weeks to go before the postseason. Despite that, fans of the team are hopeful for the future because of the deep well of talent on the roster. Speaking to the Hornets Hive Cast, via /r/CharlotteHornets on Twitter, Grant Williams commented on two of his teammates. “Brandon Miller, spitting image of Paul George,” Williams said. He then added: “LaMelo Ball, mix of Luka Doncic and Tyrese Haliburton.” “Bright future ahead as long as they stay committed and focused on the things that matter; keeping basketball first,” Williams stated. Grant Williams on the Hornets Hive Cast: "Brandon Miller, spitting image of Paul George." "LaMelo Ball, mix of Luka Doncic & Tyrese Haliburton." "Bright future ahead as long as they stay committed and focused on the things that matter; keeping basketball first...

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)   The New York Yankees are off to a rough start in the health department, with Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole already shut down for a month or two and former MVP Aaron Judge already dealing with a nagging abdominal injury. Yet another key member of the roster now has a minor issue, as third baseman DJ LeMahieu fouled a ball off his foot yesterday and needed to go for X-rays. Luckily for the team, Erik Boland of Newsday Sports reported that the X-rays came back clean, according to manager Aaron Boone. Boone said LeMahieu had X-rays on his left foot yesterday that came back clean. Fouled a ball off the foot during yesterday’s game — Erik Boland (@eboland11) March 17, 2024 LeMahieu was off to a rough start in spring training before the foul ball, posting a meager .535 OPS in ten games so far. He is coming off the worst season of his career where he hit a career-low .243 with 15 home runs and 44 RBI in 136 games. LeMahieu should see more time at...

(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)   As soon as the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a contract with Russell Wilson, people instantly assumed he would be the starter. Then, it only became more evident when they traded Kenny Pickett away to the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, there’s a bit of a debate again, as the Steelers traded for Justin Fields as well. Considering that, former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum claims that even though Wilson will most likely be the starter, the players’ contract situation sets the table for Fields to showcase his skills as well. With both quarterbacks essentially being on one-year deals, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Steelers giving Fields an opportunity to prove his worth. “What is fascinating about the Steelers quarterback situation is now both Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields are on one year deals. Not all QB depth charts are created equal, while Wilson is is initially QB1, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Justin Fields have a chance to meani...

(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)   Peyton Manning had quite the NFL career as he managed to win a Super Bowl championship with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. Widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in league history, Manning became a legend on the field and was a no-brainer for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, Manning also made a successful leap into broadcast and media where he and his brother Eli Manning have become well-known for their Monday Night Football simulcast called the “ManningCast.” A popular figure both on and off the field, Manning has done well at every stop and is considered one of the most beloved figures in football. His popularity with fans has been fun to watch and now he’s parlayed that success into another job as he is set to be part of the group on NBC that will host the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, via Front Office Sports. “Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson are joining Mike Tirico to host the 2024 Olympics Opening Ce...

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)   The Phoenix Suns were defeated by the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, strongly beaten, 127-112, by the Eastern Conference juggernauts. With a 38-28 record, the Suns are currently the seventh seed in the West and some fans are demanding that they perform better, especially before the playoffs kick off in a few weeks. Does the team have a leadership problem and, if so, who can fix it? On Friday’s “First Take,” Kendrick Perkins spoke about the leadership qualities of Kevin Durant, who remains Phoenix’s biggest star. He said he wants to see Durant act as an extension of head coach Frank Vogel and have frank, difficult conversations with his teammates in order to make them better. “When you’re a leader, at times you have to get uncomfortable,” Perkins claimed. "When you're a leader, at times you have to get uncomfortable." @KendrickPerkins on what he wants to see from KD as a leader pic.twitter.com/9v5sIUjuGX — First Take ...