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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)   The Las Vegas Raiders have a true star in Maxx Crosby. It’s not just his production on the field that makes him a special player but also his determination to stay on the field regardless of the situation. Not many guys are every-down guys. That’s why former head coach Jon Gruden wanted to give him flowers and tip his hat to him. He took to X to share a graphic of Crosby’s snaps, pointing out that he’s played 100% of the defensive snaps this season. With that in mind, Crosby responded to his former coach, thanking him for the shoutout and showing him some love. Love You Coach. More Is Required. https://t.co/Opu5U6GaN3 — Maxx Crosby (@CrosbyMaxx) November 30, 2024 Crosby’s story is inspiring and motivational. He overcame his own demons to become a professional athlete, constantly bettering himself and staying focused on what really matters. He’s a natural leader on and off the field, and even though the Raiders haven’t fared ...

(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)   Anytime a big-name player names his Mt. Rushmore of NBA players, it will undoubtedly grab headlines. Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball recently named his list of Mt. Rushmore NBA players on Unapologetically Angel with WNBA star Angel Reese. “Bron, Jordan, I’m going Shaq just because he’s the most dominant ever…It’s looking like (Steph) Curry might have to find his way in there,” Ball said Friday. Lonzo Ball on his NBA Mt. Rushmore Steph Curry Michael Jordan LeBron James Shaq Thoughts? (via @angelreeseshow ) pic.twitter.com/rwfly3HR0t — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 29, 2024 Ball also mentioned considering including Lakers legends Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant on the list, but he decided against it. It is very hard to argue with this list. LeBron James is the greatest player today because of his career portfolio, longevity, and overall ability. He is the league’s all-time leading scorer and has been bot...

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)   The Detroit Lions are adding some more help to their defense after their Thanksgiving Day win over the arch-rival Chicago Bears. According to ESPN senior insider Adam Schefter, the team is signing former Pro Bowl linebacker Kwon Alexander from the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. Alexander will now join the seventh different team of his career (including practice squads) and his fifth in the last four years. Lions are signing former Pro-Bowl linebacker Kwon Alexander from the Broncos’ practice squad, per his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. pic.twitter.com/3YvBgjl1e8 — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 29, 2024 The 2017 Pro Bowler led the league in solo tackles back in 2016 as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That 2016 season was the best year of his career as he recorded 145 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and the only pick-six of his career. He also started all 16 games that season...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)   The Chicago Bears decided Friday to fire head coach Matt Eberflus after the team completely botched the end of their Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions. With an opportunity to get into field goal range and tie the game in the final minute, the Bears’ offense let the entire clock go all the way down even though they still had a timeout. Now, they have a record of 4-8, and Matt Eberflus is looking for a new gig. Fox Sports’s Colin Cowherd spoke about the firing of Eberflus via social media on Friday. “What we witnessed in the Bears’ loss was such an indictment on the entire coaching staff…You have no choice,” Cowherd said. “That’s a coach’s responsibility to manage the clock.” @colincowherd reacts to Bears firing HC Matt Eberflus pic.twitter.com/k6qjQNf5Yq — Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 29, 2024 In parts of three seasons in the Windy City, Eberflus went 14-32 as the head coach. Chicago had finished last in the ...

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)   Through 18 games, the Charlotte Hornets are just 6-12. However, LaMelo Ball is playing exceptionally well and deserves to be an All-Star starter. In fact, Brandon Jennings and Gilbert Arenas believe he’s the best point guard in the NBA. LaMelo Ball is the best guard in the NBA right now pic.twitter.com/1eaoikFH5g — Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) November 27, 2024 In the latest edition of “Gil’s Arena,” Arenas talked about Ball being a hybrid player. He explained that he has the tools you want from a point guard in the sense that he can put up really big numbers, but he’s still a pass-first kind of guy. Arenas stated that if Ball had a better supporting cast, he would be able to make plays for others. Since that’s not the case, he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands and score. That makes sense, and Ball might be the most exciting player to watch in the league right now, or at least one of them. On the one...

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)   In Week 12, the Green Bay Packers made a statement on their home field at Lambeau Field by crushing the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, who beat them in the second round of the NFL playoffs last year at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers may have been shorthanded, as star quarterback Brock Purdy was unable to play due to injury, but the Packers proved that they are ready for the postseason and whomever they might face as they destroyed the visiting 49ers by 28 points. Unfortunately for Green Bay, the team wasn’t able to enjoy the blowout win against San Francisco for long because they’ll have to get right back to work on a short week on Thanksgiving Day against Tua Tagovailoa and the visiting Miami Dolphins. Along with playing on a short week, the Packers will have to take on the Dolphins without a few notable players, with wide receiver Romeo Doubs, cornerback Jaire Alexander and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper ruled out for Thursday’s g...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)   Coming into the 2024 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders had high hopes of turning things around under new head coach Antonio Pierce, who seemed to win over the locker room in the final stretch of last season as the interim head coach in the aftermath of the firing of Josh McDaniels. Unfortunately, Pierce hasn’t been able to get things figured out in Las Vegas, as it could be argued the team has taken two steps back rather than the expected step forward as the Raiders head into Week 13’s battle with the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs with only two wins on the season. Along with limping to the finish line this year, where the team will be looking toward the 2025 NFL Draft rather than competing for a playoff spot in the AFC, the team will be without veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew for the rest of the 2024 campaign. Ahead of the divisional showdown with the defending Super Bowl champions, Pierce spoke to the media on Wednesday and a...

(Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)   The AL Central was a unique division in the American League this season as three out of its five teams made the postseason. While the Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers made the playoffs, the Minnesota Twins were left out, along with the abysmal Chicago White Sox. The Twins held a playoff position for most of the season before falling off and missing out after winning the division in 2023. With that in mind, insider Ken Rosenthal recently revealed what he believes the Twins will do this offseason. “It seems to me that they’re not too eager to spend, that they’re going to do piecemeal things,” Rosenthal said, via Foul Territory. What do the Twins need to do to give their fans some hope? @Ken_Rosenthal says it doesn't seem like they're too eager to spend, so they'll likely only make smaller moves — but they've also got a talented team in place right now. pic.twitter.com/z4DFhZTXwH — Foul Terri...

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)   The Tennessee Titans don’t have much of a chance to make the playoffs this season. However, it hasn’t been a complete waste of a year for them. Will Levis has looked much better since returning from his shoulder injury. And while things haven’t been perfect, and some still have legitimate concerns about him and his proneness to turn the ball over, Ross Tucker has really liked what he’s seen from him lately. Talking on his podcast, he claimed that Levis has shown that he might be the guy for this team’s future. “That's three straight games where Will Levis has looked like he could be the guy in 2025 for the Titans.” The Titans are @RossTuckerNFL 's biggest upgrade of the week for @WestShoreHome pic.twitter.com/7kWx4TUrtr — Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) November 26, 2024 While his pick-six vs. the Houston Texans was disappointing, he still believes Levis made some big plays and completed huge throws down the stretch. L...

(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)   With most teams already playing 12 games, the NFL picture is starting to take better shape. Of course, things can change drastically in this league, and overreactions aren’t unusual in this sport. That’s because a string of bad games can end a team’s hopes in such a short season. With that in mind, ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith shared his thoughts on the current state of the league. As usual, he took some time from Tuesday’s edition of “First Take” to share his updated list of the top five teams in the league. . @stephenasmith 's top 5⃣ NFL teams list after Week 12: 1. @Lions 2. @Eagles 3. @BuffaloBills 4. @Chiefs 5. @Ravens What do you think? pic.twitter.com/tAub47yo4r — First Take (@FirstTake) November 26, 2024 Following their primetime win over the Los Angeles Chargers, he has the Baltimore Ravens at No. 5. The Ravens might be the best team in the league when they’re at their best, but inconsistency has plagued th...

(Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for ESPN)   The New York Giants have now dropped six games in a row. The G-Men’s season looks over already, and their decision to move on from Daniel Jones with seven games left in the schedule makes it seem like they’ve already given up. That’s why Rex Ryan wasn’t surprised to see them struggle so much vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On Monday’s edition of ESPN’s “Get Up,” the former head coach blasted the Giants, stating that the players didn’t even put up a strong effort because they knew their coach and team had given up on them already. Rex Ryan didn't hold back on the New York Giants pic.twitter.com/ZeEiOl4w1b — Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 25, 2024 He questioned their decision to cut ties with Jones because of the timing. The Giants look like one of the worst teams in the league right now, not only because of their performances on the field but also because of their lack of direction. GM Joe Schoen has made a string of ...

(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)   The New England Patriots haven’t won many games this season, and they likely won’t win many more for the remainder of the campaign. Nevertheless, this is far from a wasted campaign for Jerod Mayo’s team. At least they know they’ve found their quarterback. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Patriots are very high on their rookie quarterback. Talking ahead of Sunday’s slate, Rapoport revealed that people within the organization have been in awe of how he’s broken down coverages and everything in front of him. The Insiders on @NFLGameDay with @TomPelissero : Why the #Patriots are confident Drake Maye is the guy moving forward; The #Raiders have an offensive rookie of the year dark horse in Brock Bowers. pic.twitter.com/CvcAvVhFG5 — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 24, 2024 He adds that the team doesn’t give him the answers when facing the scout team, yet he finds out what to do and where to go more often than not...

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)   The New York Giants tried to make things work with Daniel Jones. They chose him over Saquon Barkley multiple times, and, in hindsight, that wasn’t a good decision. Everybody in the league – except for Joe Schoen – seemed to be aware of that, yet they doubled down on him. HC Brian Daboll never seemed to be too high on him, and the team has finally ended this failed experiment. Nonetheless, as bad as he’s been for most of his career, he can still have a place in the league. That’s why it’s not surprising that multiple teams are interested in his services. As Bovada Sportsbook (via The 33rd Team) points out, the Carolina Panthers are currently the odds-on favorites to pursue him, followed by the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, and Indianapolis Colts. The favorites to add Daniel Jones, via @BovadaOfficial https://t.co/AFQc0woBv8 pic.twitter.com/EPdtm8u3Wa — The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 24, 2024 ...

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)   Malcolm Brogdon did many things for the Boston Celtics during his singular year with them, and he even won Sixth Man of the Year while playing for the team. But they didn’t want him for more than a season, and they sent him to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023-24. Brogdon, now playing for the Washington Wizards, spoke about the move that caused him to leave the Celtics. Speaking with Bobby Manning, Brogdon made it clear that he has moved on and was in a better place about things, but he said front offices sometimes lose sight of the fact that trades cause players to change their entire lives. They have to uproot their families, travel across the country, and transform their lives just because a team wants to alter the roster. Malcolm Brogdon said he doesn’t talk about the #Celtics trade anymore, calling it a good deal for Boston. Was his first time playing against the C’s tonight, 418 days after the trade: pic.twitter.com/3T6kHArc2...

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)   The world recently lost NBA great Dikembe Mutombo after a long battle with cancer. The basketball legend was so much more than a talented star; he also quite literally changed the lives of millions of people. Speaking on “The Big Podcast” via Fanly, Alonzo Mourning shared his thoughts about Mutombo and the way he saw everyone and everything. Mourning said that Mutombo was about “nothing but bettering the world” and was never content to sit on the sidelines and not help others. Dikembe Mutombo was a legend of the game and an even better human ( https://t.co/NvjwICpVge @BigPodWithShaq ) pic.twitter.com/ONvncxA3EV — Fanly (@fanly) November 23, 2024 For 18 years, he was one of the best big men in the league and averaged 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He was a Hall of Famer, an eight-time All-Star, a two-time rebounding champion, and a three-time block champion. But his impact on the world went far beyond what he did on ...

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)   When the Orlando Magic recently lost their biggest star, Paolo Banchero, many people thought they’d enter a tough chapter of the season. Instead, they have continued to win big games, and that’s partly thanks to Franz Wagner. Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Frank Isola said that Wagner has taken his game to a different level lately. He said the Magic are doing far better than expected, and Wagner is a central reason why. "It seems like Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs have really been two of the guys that have carried the Orlando Magic." @TheFrankIsola is impressed with Orlando pic.twitter.com/RxbZT3Lwpk — SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) November 22, 2024 The 23-year-old forward is averaging 23.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in 2024-25, a step up from what he produced last year. But beyond the numbers, Wagner is playing like a confident and proven team leader. That’s because the Magic don’t have Banchero...

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)   The career of NBA big man Robert Williams has been filled with a lot of injuries and absences from the court, but he still holds value on the trade market. In fact, according to Brett Siegel, via NBACentral, three teams are looking to sign Williams. Siegel wrote: “…Out of the three big men, Williams is expected to hold the biggest market. The Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Sacramento Kings have held interest in the Portland Trail Blazers’ big man dating back to the offseason.” The Lakers, Pelicans, and Kings have shown interest in Robert Williams III, per @BrettSiegelNBA “…Out of the three big men, Williams is expected to hold the biggest market. The Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Sacramento Kings have held interest in the Portland… pic.twitter.com/9SY7Dj8TK2 — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 22, 2024 So the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, or Sacramento Kings might take a run at ...

(Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)   The Oklahoma City Thunder have been missing Chet Holmgren for nearly two weeks now. But the team hasn’t fallen apart without their young star, and that is because other players have been willing and eager to step up. Clementa Almanza reported that Jalen Williams has averaged 25.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks on 55.9 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from the three-point line since Holmgren got injured. The Thunder have gone 4-2 during this time. Jalen Williams since Chet Holmgren's injury: 25.3 PPG on 55.9% shooting, 6.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, 37.8% 3-point shooting on 5.3 attempts All-Star type numbers. The Thunder needed him & SGA to resemble KD & Russ. That's been the case so far — Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) November 21, 2024 The loss of Holmgren definitely hurt the Thunder because he was averaging 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. But t...

(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)   John Elway has a strong case for being the greatest player in Denver Broncos history. That’s a lot to say, considering the myriad of stars that have played for the franchise in the past. Even so, after his departure from the organization, he has had little, if any, say within the franchise. That’s why, as surprising as it may sound, he hasn’t even met Bo Nix yet. Talking to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the legendary quarterback admitted that he hadn’t met the Broncos’ star rookie. Legendary Broncos QB John Elway never has met nor spoken with Bo Nix – but he does admire all he’s doing during his rookie season in Denver. https://t.co/eYx4GQeE3E pic.twitter.com/OM7uRgjirf — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 19, 2024 Even so, he said that he was looking forward to doing it. Elway praised Nix, stating that his mobility gives him a big edge. He even volunteered to offer him his advice or insight if he so decides. Nix is c...

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)   The Brooklyn Nets were never expected to be very good this season. They’ve been relatively competitive under Jordi Fernandez, and it’s not like their opponents have blown them off of the court. Even so, their record isn’t good, and chances are that will not change going forward. Multiple players, such as Cam Johnson, Dennis Schroder, and Dorian Finney-Smith, are expected to draw strong interest in the trade market as the deadline gets closer. Nonetheless, it now seems like they could also look to move on from Cam Thomas. Should that be the case, the Milwaukee Bucks have emerged as the likeliest destination for the former LSU standout, according to NBA Central (via Bovada Official). The Milwaukee Bucks are the favorites to land Cam Thomas in a potential trade, per @BovadaOfficial Milwaukee Bucks +125 Los Angeles Lakers +275 Denver Nuggets +325 Golden State Warriors +1400 Oklahoma City Thunder +1400 Houston Rockets +1500 Minnesot...

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)   It hasn’t been a great season for Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets. Aside from some injuries, Simmons’ output on the court has been lackluster again. But there is a prediction about which team he will score 20+ points against. According to Bovada, per NBACentral, the odds say the first team that will allow Simmons to score 20+ points against them will be the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have +900 odds, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers with +1400, the New York Knicks with +1600, and the Boston Celtics with +1800. The Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks also make the list. Odds for the first team to allow Ben Simmons to score 20+ points against them, per @BovadaOfficial : Raptors +900 76ers +1400 Knicks +1600 Celtics +1800 Hornets +2000 Wizards +2000 Bulls +2200 Hawks +2500 Pacers +2800 Pistons +2800 Bucks +3300 Magic +4000 Cavaliers +4000 Jazz… pic.twitter.com/gKv4PwEvvp — NBACentra...

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)   During his 19 years in the NBA, Andre Iguodala claimed a number of prizes and accomplishments, including the Finals MVP trophy in 2014-15. But looking back on that now, Iguodala feels that was undeserved. Speaking with Kai Cenat, via Legion Hoops, Iguodala opened up about being named Finals MVP in 2015, saying: “I don’t know why they gave it to me. They were supposed to give it to Steph.” Andre Iguodala on winning 2015 Finals MVP: “I don’t know why they gave it to me. They were supposed to give it to Steph.” (via @KaiCenat ) pic.twitter.com/Si995SWAzr — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 18, 2024 That is quite the claim from Iguodala, who averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists during that Finals run against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Indeed, many people were surprised to see Iguodala get the trophy considering Stephen Curry was the team’s biggest star and most fans thought he would earn his first Finals MVP. It would a...

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)   The Denver Nuggets are looking to rebound from a disappointing second-round exit in last year’s NBA playoffs. They have started the season with a solid 7-4 record, boosted by a recent five-game winning streak that helped recover from an initial 0-2 start. The team will aim to bounce back from a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday when they head to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon, but the team will have to go into battle without its biggest star. Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto shared that 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic is out against the Grizzlies for personal reasons. Nikola Jokic is out (personal reasons) for tonight’s Denver Nuggets game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Jokic, a leading MVP candidate, has averaged 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 11.7 assists this season. pic.twitter.com/Vk9IURTBVu — Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 17, 2024 Jokic is off to a ridiculous start. He is averaging 29.7...

(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)   The Minnesota Vikings are coming off two complicated games, but they still found a way to win. That’s easier when a superstar like Justin Jefferson is running routes and deviating the defense’s attention for you. That happened again on Sunday before their road game against the Tennessee Titans, even though he hadn’t padded up yet. Jefferson made the rounds for his new outfit before the game. As the NFL on X showed, he donned a custom-made varsity-style jacket to honor Jesus Christ before the contest. . @JJettas2 's fit of the week : #MINvsTEN — 1pm ET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/L4hws2kBVF — NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024 Jefferson could make history in the game vs. the Titans. He’s 55 yards shy of logging the most receiving yards by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history, passing Torry Holt (6,784). That’s even more impressive, considering he missed almost half of the season last y...

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)   Ever since future Hall of Famer Tom Brady decided to leave the New England Patriots in NFL free agency to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the storied franchise hasn’t been able to recover, as legendary head coach Bill Belichick was unable to right the ship and was ultimately fired after the 2023 season. Fortunately for the Patriots, young quarterback Drake Maye, who showed some promise during his rookie campaign in New England, might have a bright future as their starter under center for the foreseeable future. Outside the Patriots seemingly having an answer at the quarterback position with Maye, New England hasn’t had much luck in the NFL Draft. The team recently parted ways with former second-round pick Tyquan Thornton, another draft pick that didn’t pan out. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated believes the Patriots’ inability to draft well over the years is one of the main reasons for the team’s decline. Why have the Patriots f...

(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)   Last offseason, two of the biggest names in the NFL’s head coaching position became available, with the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans parting ways with Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel. The consensus was that Vrabel and Belichick wouldn’t be unemployed for long, but that didn’t turn out to be the case, even though there were plenty of coaching vacancies around the league. While waiting for another opportunity to be head coach in the NFL, Vrabel has been a consultant for the Cleveland Browns, while Belichick has been staying busy with several appearances on football shows. No one saw this coming, considering his disdain for the media over the years while with the Patriots. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Vrabel is expected to be a hot commodity on the open market when coaching jobs become available after the 2024 campaign. “For now, the former player-turned-coach getting the most hype around the league is for...