Is Chris Paul joining the best Clippers team of his career?

Is Chris Paul joining the best Clippers team of his career?

As he enters his 21st and final NBA season, Chris Paul has decided to spend it in Los Angeles with a team he's all too familiar with. Paul is expected to sign with the Clippers, putting a period on what has been an absolutely tremendous offseason for the organization after acquiring John Collins, Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal as well. Paul, who is now 40, just came off a year in San Antonio in which he started all 82 games, proving he's still very capable of being an impact player. The point guard might have had pedestrian numbers (8.8 points and 7.4 assists per game) compared to his prime, but the stats only tell part of the story. He'll join a Clippers team where the ball will be in the hands of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard a fair bit, meaning he's likely to play a role that supports him being even more opportunistic in regard to establishing himself. With Collins and Derrick Jones Jr. on the roster, Paul will have several lob targets at his disposal, just as he'll have shooters who can fill the wing in the form of Bogdan Bogdanović and Beal, who is likely to play a not insignificant amount of minutes alongside Paul. The addition of Paul, in conjunction with the organization's other moves this summer, has catapulted the Clippers into contender status, at least assuming Leonard is as healthy as he looked in the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. The depth chart of the team is rather ridiculous as well. If we assume a starting lineup of Harden, Beal, Leonard, Collins and Ivica Zubac, the secondary rotation will consist of Paul, Bogdanović, Nicolas Batum, Jones and Lopez, forming one of the most potent 10-man rotations in the NBA. Paul's leadership qualities might allow him to take the starting spot over Beal, but if so, the Clippers will only have an even stronger scoring punch on their second unit. While this won't be at all similar to the Lob City version of the Clippers, with Paul feeding Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, there's a case to be made that this could be the best Clippers team Paul has ever been on.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Is Chris Paul joining the best Clippers team of his career?

Is Chris Paul joining the best Clippers team of his career? As he enters his 21st and final NBA season, Chris Paul has decided to spend it i...

Read More

Emma Meesseman will join the Liberty in her return to the WNBA, AP source says

Emma Meesseman will join the Liberty in her return to the WNBA, AP source says

NEW YORK (AP) — Emma Meesseman, the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP who last played in the league in 2022, is joining the New York Liberty, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday. The timing of the arrival of the 32-year-old from Belgium in the U.S. will be determined by how long it takes to get her visa, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. ESPN first reported Meesseman's decision. The two-time All-Star, who helped the Washington Mystics win the 2019 title, has been focused on leading the Belgium national team since her last season in the WNBA, which she spent with the Chicago Sky. Meesseman played with Natasha Cloud, whom New York acquired in the offseason, in Washington when the Mystics won their championship six years ago. Meesseman helped Belgium win the EuroBasket title last month to qualify for next year's World Cup. She joins a stacked New York team with Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu that won its first championship last year. The 6-foot-4 forward also considered Minnesota and Phoenix. The Liberty currently sit second in the standings, 3 1/2 games behind the Lynx. Meesseman has dominated overseas in her time away from the WNBA. She was named the EuroBasket MVP twice in the past three years. And she helped Belgium reach the medal round at the Paris Olympics before it lost to France in overtime in the semifinals and then Australia in the bronze-medal game. New York signed Australian forward Stephanie Talbot earlier Monday. She was waived by Golden State last week. ___ AP WNBA:https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Emma Meesseman will join the Liberty in her return to the WNBA, AP source says

Emma Meesseman will join the Liberty in her return to the WNBA, AP source says NEW YORK (AP) — Emma Meesseman, the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP who ...

Read More

Christie Brinkley on Peter Cook affair, making of emotional memoir: 'Please don't cry'

Christie Brinkley on Peter Cook affair, making of emotional memoir: 'Please don't cry'

ForChristie Brinkley, owning your truth is no bed of roses. The model and former wife ofBilly Joel, who got candid on her life and career in thenew memoir"Uptown Girl,"reflected on the making of theemotional bookin a July 18 cover story forSocial Life Magazine. The book, which chronicles Brinkley's early modeling days and her tumultuous romances with Joel and ex-husband Peter Cook, is accompanied by anaudiobook narrated by the Sports Illustratedalum herself. "There were parts where I thought, 'Please, don't cry,'" Brinkley, 71, told the magazine. "I tried to keep (my voice) level, but (the publisher) let me be. Let my voice crack. Let it show." Christie Brinkley memoir revelations:Model talks Billy Joel marriage, Peter Cook affair Brinkley was married to Cook, an architect, from 1996 to 2008. The pair's relationship unraveled after Brinkley discovered Cook had cheated on her with an 18-year-old. The former couple shares a daughter, 27-year-old Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook. In"Uptown Girl,"Brinkley writes that she learned about Cook's affair while giving a commencement speech at Southampton High School in 2006. After her speech, a man reportedly approached her and said: "That arrogant husband of yours has been having an affair with my teenage daughter, and he won't knock it off." Brinkley's son Jack, whom she shares with ex-husband and real estate developer Richard Taubman, was in attendance at the graduation ceremony and allegedly observed the tense interaction. "Jack's face was frozen in panic. He felt it instantly," Brinkley told Social Life Magazine. "He knew something was very wrong." Brinkley told her son, then 11, that she needed to go to the police station, where the man who informed her of the affair worked, to assist "a girl who needed her help." It took four years before Brinkley and Cook concluded theirmedia-frenzied court battleover custody of their kids. 10 bingeable memoirs to check out:Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Despite her marital woes, Brinkley remains optimistic about love, tellingFox Newsin an April interview that "love is the strongest thing in the whole world." "I just feel like my life is so full of love," Brinkley told the outlet. "If there's a romantic love that comes along as well, it would be wonderful. But I also feel very content and happy with the life that I have right now, and I consider my life to be very full of love." Contributing: Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY (This story was updated to include video.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Christie Brinkley talks Peter Cook affair, making of emotional memoir

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Christie Brinkley on Peter Cook affair, making of emotional memoir: 'Please don't cry'

Christie Brinkley on Peter Cook affair, making of emotional memoir: 'Please don't cry' ForChristie Brinkley, owning your truth i...

Read More

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Who Played Son Theo on “The Cosby Show”, Dies at 54 After Drowning on Family Trip

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Who Played Son Theo on "The Cosby Show", Dies at 54 After Drowning on Family Trip

Malcolm-Jamal Warner has died at 54, PEOPLE confirms According to a source, the actor was on a family trip and drowned while swimming He was best known for playing Bill Cosby's son Theo Huxtable onThe Cosby Show Malcolm-Jamal Warnerhas died. He was 54. The actor was in Costa Rica on a family vacation and drowned while swimming, a source confirms to PEOPLE. Santiago Felipe/Getty; Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty A rep for Warner did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. The actor played the only son ofBill Cosby's character, Heathcliff Huxtable, in the sitcom from 1984 to 1992. In 2023, Warner told PEOPLE of the show, "I know I can speak for all the cast when I sayThe Cosby Showis something that we are all still very proud of." Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank "We share a unique experience that keeps us lovingly bonded no matter how much time goes between seeing or hearing from each other." Warner did, of course, acknowledge how the show's legacy had changed given the allegations made against Cosby, 88, who wasconvicted of sexual assaultin 2018 but laterhad the charge overturnedin 2021, only forfive more women to accuse him of sexual assault. "Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I'm still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture," Warner said. Derek White/Getty He and Eddie Griffin led the sitcomMalcolm & Eddiefrom 1996 to 2000, and Warner was also well known for his role as Alex Reed onReed Between the Lines, which he starred in alongside Tracee Ellis Ross from 2011 to 2015. More recently, Warner had starred inMajor Crimesas Chuck Cooper, as Julius Rowe inSuitsand as AJ Austin inThe Resident. 9-1-1andAlert:Missing Persons Unitwere his most recent credits. Last June, he launched the podcast with cohosts Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley, and he told PEOPLEit was a space where he could be his "most vulnerable." "It's been an interesting experience for me, because it's a place where I feel safe enough to be able to be as vulnerable as I allow myself to be," he said. Disney/Mike Taing "When we talk about the Black community, we tend to speak of it as a monolith when the reality is there are so many different facets of the Black community, and we wanted to have a space where we can really explore, discuss, and acknowledge all of those different aspects," he said at the time. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Warner is survived by a wife and daughter, whose identities he opted to keep private. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Who Played Son Theo on “The Cosby Show”, Dies at 54 After Drowning on Family Trip

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Who Played Son Theo on "The Cosby Show", Dies at 54 After Drowning on Family Trip Malcolm-Jamal Warner has d...

Read More

Steelers throwback uniforms: Team introduces new jersey that pays homage to inaugural 1933 season

Steelers throwback uniforms: Team introduces new jersey that pays homage to inaugural 1933 season

The Pittsburgh Steelers really understand the meaning of a throwback. The team is taking things all the way back to its inaugural season after announcing new 1933 throwback uniforms Monday. The uniforms are a modernized version of the jerseys the team wore back in 1933. The Steelers introduced the new uniforms in a post on X. Forged in Pittsburgh. Defined by Legacy.📝:https://t.co/9AOP1ZGt7epic.twitter.com/uNyGGGBYTm — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers)July 21, 2025 The stripes on the front of the jersey are a clear callback to 1933, when the team's gold jerseyscontained black stripeson the arms, neck and chest. Football players weren't required to wear helmets in 1933, so the modernized version of the uniform introduced something a little different on that front. The franchise has generally relied on its iconic black helmet in recent years, but that's going to change in the throwbacks. To celebrate the 1933 season, the team will wear a gold helmet with a black stripe, an inverse of their usual helmet. Tight end Pat Freiermuth wasa big fanof that change, per the Steelers' website. "We've worn black helmets since I've been here, and well before that, and just switching it up to a new helmet I love. It gets players excited. It gets the fans excited. It's something cool to showcase. After we wear them, I want to keep that helmet forever. It's super cool." Another new aspect introduced on the throwbacks is the Pittsburgh crest near the left shoulder. That crest, which wasn't present on the 1933 uniforms, pays homage to the city of Pittsburgh. It's a celebration of the connection between the franchise and its city. The throwbacks will debut in Week 8, when the Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers. The team did not announce any additional games in which they will wear the new throwbacks. That game against the Packers should draw plenty of eyes, though. It's not only a prime-time matchup, but it's also the first time Aaron Rodgers will face the Packers since leaving the team after the 2022 NFL season. Whether he wins or loses that matchup, Rodgers will at least do it in style.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Steelers throwback uniforms: Team introduces new jersey that pays homage to inaugural 1933 season

Steelers throwback uniforms: Team introduces new jersey that pays homage to inaugural 1933 season The Pittsburgh Steelers really understand ...

Read More

Keegan Bradley: Bryson DeChambeau already on U.S. Ryder Cup roster

Keegan Bradley: Bryson DeChambeau already on U.S. Ryder Cup roster

Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley committed to Bryson DeChambeau being part of the U.S. roster at Bethpage Black in September. In a text message to Sports Illustrated, Bradley confirmed there was a spot reserved for DeChambeau regardless of whether he remains in the top six in points to earn an automatic qualifying bid. DeChambeau was fifth in points when The Open Championship ended Sunday. "Bryson is going to be a very important piece to us winning the Ryder Cup," SI reported of Bradley's text message Sunday night. "He brings so much. He brings energy, passion but most importantly, he's one of the best players on the planet." DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open winner and currently No. 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking, was fifth in points heading into the Open at Royal Portrush. After the top six automatic qualifiers are settled, Bradley will select the remaining six players to play on his Ryder Cup roster in Farmingdale, N.Y. DeChambeau finished tied for 10th at the Open at 9-under. He left Northern Ireland on Sunday thinking about being part of the U.S. team. "I hope I can bring a lot of energy and a tsunami of a crowd that's going to be rooting for Team USA," he said. DeChambeau, 31, became emotional when asked if he had any communication with Bradley this week. "I talked with him briefly, and then he put something in our lockers that was pretty inspirational," he said. "It's a personal message." Bradley wrote individualized messages to players who are in the top 15 on the current points list. "It meant a lot," DeChambeau said. "This year's no joke. We're tired of it. We're tired of losing." Since 2010, Team Europe has won five of the seven Ryder Cup competitions and is the defending champion. --Field Level Media

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Keegan Bradley: Bryson DeChambeau already on U.S. Ryder Cup roster

Keegan Bradley: Bryson DeChambeau already on U.S. Ryder Cup roster Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley committed to Bryson DeChambeau being par...

Read More

James Gunn Doesn’t Get How ‘Superman’ Is ‘Considered Woke’ and Says ‘Anti-American Sentiment Around the World’ Isn’t ‘Helping Us’ at Global Box Office

James Gunn Doesn't Get How 'Superman' Is 'Considered Woke' and Says 'Anti-American Sentiment Around the World' Isn't 'Helping Us' at Global Box Office

James Gunn said in aninterview with Entertainment Weeklythat he remains somewhat confused over the conservative backlash that erupted before the release of "Superman." Fox News and other right-wing outletsbranded the movie"SuperWoke" after Gunn went viral for telling the Times of London that Superman is an "immigrant" and "the story of America." "I've heard people say it was woke, and then I've heard a lot of people say it's not. I am curious as to what in the movie is considered woke," Gunn told EW amid "Superman's" box office success. "I think people took something I said…The guy for the London newspaper. Originally, he said that [Superman comic creators] Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were the sons of immigrants, and they wrote Superman as an immigrant story. And I said, yeah, it's a story about an immigrant, but mostly it's a story to me about kindness, which it is. That's the center of the movie for me." More from Variety Kevin Feige on Marvel Studios' Future, Focusing on Lower Budgets, Less TV and More Robert Downey Jr.: 'Look at "Superman," It's Clearly Not Superhero Fatigue' Box Office: 'Superman' Surpasses $400 Million Globally, 'Jurassic World Rebirth' Nears $650 Million Milestone 'Superman' Remains No. 1 With $57 Million as 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and 'Smurfs' Underwhelm "That's the thing we can all act upon, is kindness," the director continued. "And so what does that lead to? Well, does that lead to the way you vote? Sure. Does that lead to everything? Yeah. Does it lead to how many people are dying from road rage? Yes. All those things are affected if people just start to value kindness. I mean, peopledidvalue kindness in the past. That was an American value, was kindness, and it doesn't necessarily seem to be that way to me anymore. So that was always the center of the movie for me, and it wasn't about anything other than that." Gunn's initial "immigrant" comment drew detractors like Fox News and Dean Cain, the former Superman actor who predicted Gunn's quote would hurt the film's box office. But Gunn also had his defenders like his brother, Sean Gunn, whotoldVariety: "Yes, Superman is an immigrant, and yes, the people that we support in this country are immigrants and if you don't like that, you're not American. People who say no to immigrants are against the American way." Whatever "SuperWoke" conservative backlash existed before the film's release, it has done nothing to deter U.S. audiences from showing up in force to movie theaters. "Superman" is a bonafide box office hit domestically with a strong $235 million after two weekends of release. The film's international haul, however, is lagging behind at $171 million. Still, "Superman" is at $406 million worldwide so far. "We're definitely performing better domestically than we are internationally, but internationally is also rising and having really good weekday numbers in the same way we are," Gun said ina separate interview with Rolling Stone"So obviously the word of mouth is very positive both here and everywhere else. Which is the thing that we needed to do the most. At the same time, there are certain countries in which it's really performing well. Brazil and the U.K." "Superman is not a known commodity in some places. He is not a big known superhero in some places like Batman is. That affects things," Gunn added. "And it also affects things that we have a certain amount of anti-American sentiment around the world right now. It isn't really helping us. So I think it's just a matter of letting something grow. But again, for us, everything's been a total win. Having the movie come out and be something that has been embraced by people everywhere — this is just the seed of the tree that Peter and I have been watering for the past three years. So to be able to have it start off so positively has been incredibly overwhelming." "Superman" is playing in theaters nationwide from Warner Bros. and DC Studios. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

James Gunn Doesn’t Get How ‘Superman’ Is ‘Considered Woke’ and Says ‘Anti-American Sentiment Around the World’ Isn’t ‘Helping Us’ at Global Box Office

James Gunn Doesn't Get How 'Superman' Is 'Considered Woke' and Says 'Anti-American Sentiment Around the World' I...

Read More

King Charles Faces Backlash After 11 of His 12 Gardeners Quit Over Low Wages and Demands: Report

King Charles Faces Backlash After 11 of His 12 Gardeners Quit Over Low Wages and Demands: Report

Chris Jackson/Getty King Charles has become embroiled in a dispute involving the gardeners at his beloved Highgrove House The King devolved management and ownership of the gardens to the King's Foundation charity shortly before he acceded to the throne The Sunday Timesclaimed that low morale and low pay have fueled the departures of many staff in recent years King Charlesis a passionate green-thumbed enthusiast who has a vision for the secluded and beloved garden at one of his country homes, but those demands and claims of low pay have been blamed for fueling a series of departures of staff in recent years. Since March 2022, 11 out of the 12-strong team of gardeners have departed from the team working on the gardens at the royal residence of Highgrove House,The Sunday Timesclaimed on July 20. Half of them were earning the minimum wage for the U.K., the paper's investigation said. Charles devolved management and ownership of the gardens, which welcome around 40,000 visitors a year, to the King's Foundation in 2021. The King still occupies the mainHighgrove House, which he moved into in 1980 ahead of his wedding to the then-Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Their sons,Prince WilliamandPrince Harry, grew up there and enjoyed the delights of the garden, including the treehouse, now an attraction for William's children. King Charles, 76, finds the gardens to be a refuge, and he has a specially-constructed sanctuary that he heads to for spiritual tranquility and recently held the first Harmony Summit in which he joined indigenous people and environmentalists (and a film crew from an upcoming Amazon Prime documentary) in seeking communion with nature, theBBC reported. Matt Cardy/Getty Workers on the estate have told PEOPLE that King Charles is often seen in the house's gardens by some of the thousands of visitors who take the tour each year. But his keen eye for details and exacting standards have seen him sometimes leaving detailed memos and notes giving his feedback about plants or horticultural matters that some workers are said to have found overwhelming,The Sunday Timessaid. One member of staff is reported to have filed a grievance against management, saying they were "under-resourced and constantly struggling to fulfill the King's request,"The Sunday Timesreported. The complaint said staff "developed physical injuries trying to keep up, and that the team suffered from low morale." When one gardener reportedly failed his probation after "revealing a lack of knowledge about a particular flower," Charles is said to have uttered: "Don't put that man in front of me again,"The Sunday Timessaid. The King's Foundation brought in a specialist human resources consultancy, and it upheld claims about staff shortages, inadequate management practices and low pay, leading to difficulties in retention, it was reported. A King's Foundation spokesperson told PEOPLE in a statement, "At The King's Foundation, we take staff welfare extremely seriously and strive to be an exemplary employer. We are proud to regularly report very high satisfaction rates in our annual staff survey." "Our staff turnover is well below the national average, as is the number of formal grievances raised. For the gardening team at Highgrove specifically, we regularly review guidance from the Professional Gardeners Guild for pay benchmarking." Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty The statement went on, "Highgrove has also seen many positive developments since The King's Foundation became the charitable custodian of the gardens. Since 2022, the operating profit has more than doubled, a new education facility teaching traditional heritage skills to hundreds of students has been established, and visitor numbers continue to reach over 40,000 annually." Those close to King Charles' foundation say that staffers have received pay rises each year since 2022, adding up to between 15% and 19%, in line with national averages. Recognizing that visitors enjoy seeing or sensing that Charles has had a personal and deep influence on the gardens, that he has helped develop over more than four decades. Deemed by those close to him as a visionary, they say Trustees of the foundation welcome his input and believe it is reasonable for him to add his input and suggestions for improvements in presentation or management. When PEOPLE visited in summer 2024, Gráinne Ring, the head gardener who leads a team of 15, including apprentices that the King is encouraging, said, "I see my job as a facilitator of the garden, a facilitator of what His Majesty wants. He has been a gardener longer than me! I can choose the bulbs, but he will choose the color schemes. It's really about working together." Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! In recent years, Highgrove's gardens have broadened to include educational courses in craft skills, including theMetier d'Arts Fellowshipand furniture making. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

King Charles Faces Backlash After 11 of His 12 Gardeners Quit Over Low Wages and Demands: Report

King Charles Faces Backlash After 11 of His 12 Gardeners Quit Over Low Wages and Demands: Report Chris Jackson/Getty King Charles has become...

Read More

Bengals owner Mike Brown optimistic about Trey Hendrickson deal as players report to training camp

Bengals owner Mike Brown optimistic about Trey Hendrickson deal as players report to training camp

Cincinnati Bengals training camp is set to get underway Tuesday, but the team still faces some significant questions about which players will be there. The Bengals remain locked in a contract stalemate with All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson, leading to questions over whether he'll report to camp and take part in drills. Despite that uncertainty, though, Bengals owner Mike Brown expressed optimism that a deal with Hendrickson will get done. Brown told reporters, "I think it'll get done," in regards to a new deal for Hendrickson. Brown doubled down, saying the team was not looking to trade Hendrickson and is "working on getting [a deal] done." Mike Brown on Trey Hendrickson: "We are not going to trade Trey. We are working on getting it done."On negotiating with the All-Pro: "We've been through a few — and he pushes hard, he gets emotional. We never have an easy time of it. And if there's one thing that is… — Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff)July 21, 2025 If that happens, it would end months of posturing from both sides. Hendrickson, who is entering the final year of his contract, is looking for a long-term deal after racking up a league-high 17.5 sacks last season. That performance earned Hendrickson his fourth selection to the Pro Bowl and his first All-Pro selection. After starting his career with the New Orleans Saints, Hendrickson has blossomed into a superstar with the Bengals, making the Pro Bowl in each season with the team. The 30-year-old has been vocal about getting a new deal, saying hewill not play for the teamon his current deal. While he was a surprise show at the team's offseason training, he skipped mandatory minicamp. That decision spurredrenewed contract talksbetween the sides. That contract hasn't come yet, leading to questions about how Hendrickson will handle training camp Tuesday. Team director of player personnel Duke Tobin said he expects everyone "under contract" to report to the team. That would include Hendrickson, who is signed through 2025. Duke Tobin confirms there has been continued dialogue with Trey Hendrickson's camp regarding a new contract."We believe everyone under contact should be here for camp."Remains to be seen how Hendrickson handles this beginning Wednesday. — Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff)July 21, 2025 Tobin also confirmed both sides have continued to talk about a new deal. He later added that he's not sure if they'll be able to reach a deal before the start of the regular season. Bengals exec Duke Tobin said they hope to reach a deal with DE Trey Hendrickson. Unclear if that can be done before the start of the season. — Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby)July 21, 2025 Hendrickson isn't the only prominent player stuck in a contract-related tiff with the team. First-rounder Shemar Stewart is the only player taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft who has yet to sign with his team. Stewart, who has been working out at his alma mater, Texas A&M, has not signed with the team overunusual contract guaranteesthat are not typically included in rookie deals. Brown took a different track on the Stewart negotiations Monday, saying it was "a form of foolishness" that no agreement has been reached.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Bengals owner Mike Brown optimistic about Trey Hendrickson deal as players report to training camp

Bengals owner Mike Brown optimistic about Trey Hendrickson deal as players report to training camp Cincinnati Bengals training camp is set t...

Read More

Denny Hamlin continues climb in NASCAR's career wins list. With 60 in sight, how far can he go?

Denny Hamlin continues climb in NASCAR's career wins list. With 60 in sight, how far can he go?

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Denny Hamlin has stood his ground that wins — enough of them to soon earn his place inside NASCAR's career top-10 list — matter more to his legacy thana championship. Easy to say, of course, with 58 race victories to zero titles. The 44-year-old Hamlin, still driving the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing as he's done since his rookie season in 2006, is motivated to reach the top 10 this season over the final 15 races of the Cup season. Kevin Harvick is 10th on the career list with 60 and Kyle Busch, still active with Richard Childress Racing, is ninth with 63, giving Hamlin realistic numbers to shoot for the rest of the season. Best to take advantage at tracks where he's had success, such as Dover Motor Speedway, where hewon Sundayfor the second straight year and third time overall, compared with a track like this weekend's race on the Indianapolis oval, where Hamlin is 0 for 16. "I don't think I've ever wanted to go back to back so bad," Hamlin said of Dover. "(Indy's) a track that I've just come so fricking close to winning. I just want to cross off all the major racetracks on our schedule." Hamlin is a driver who thrives in the chaos like few others — if any can — in the series. His win at Dover came days after the race team he owns with Michael Jordan suffered a setback in itscourt fight with NASCAR. He insisted ahead of the race that the legal issues never caused a distraction for him in the race car, then proved it on the mile concrete track with a series-best fourth win of the season. Maybe more dark clouds — like the ones that opened up Sunday, causing a rain delay just laps ahead of the scheduled finish — can fuel Hamlin at Indy. "All I can hope is that something happens this week that derails everything and then I'll do better," Hamlin said. Hamlin then turned to a NASCAR employee and cracked, "Maybe it'll come from them." Can Hamlin realistically get to 60 in 2025? He won eight times in 2010, six times in 2019 and seven in 2020, all totals that would get him to 60 this year. "When you get him in a situation where he's got the ball in his hands and it's time to go win the race, he finds a way to do that most times," crew chief Chris Gayle said. It's a fitting analogy for a race team owned by a former NFL coach. At his pace, Hamlin remains a contender to cash in thisNovember at Phoenix Racewayand win his first NASCAR championship — even if he lost out on the $1 million prize in the series' first In-season challenge. $1 million is on the line The idea for the challenge was largely championed by Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner who floated the idea of a midseason tournament on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast. When NASCAR bought into the idea and announced the creation of the tournament last year, Hamlin called the tournament on social media "such a win for our sport and drivers." He jokingly added, "I will collect my 1M royalty next season." Hamlin earned the No. 1 seed — and was promptly eliminated in the first race by Ty Dillon, the No. 32 seed. Dillon faces Ty Gibbs next week at Indianapolis to decide the first winner of the tournament. Was the In-season challenge a success? Hamlin said the five-race, bracket-style tournament overall was a success — but not without a few kinks. Some of the seeding was off, such asShane van Gisbergennot qualifying for the field, then ripping off consecutive wins on the Chicago street race and Sonoma Raceway during the tournament races. And sure, everyone loves a Cinderella in March. But two in July isn't necessarily making the tournament the NASCAR story of the summer. "I think it has been unfortunate, right, you probably had a lot of the top seeds get knocked out pretty early in it, but overall, I thought the implementation of it has been good," Hamlin said. The other side of the argument is this: Would any fan or media outlet really care about a pair of winless drivers such as Gibbs (the sixth seed) or Dillon at this point of the season without $1 million at stake? "For a team like us, at this point in the season, we're not exactly where we want to be yet, but we're trending in a good direction," Dillon said on TNT. "Our story doesn't get told in years past. It's mainly the guys trying to fight for the points position. It's the guys running up front, trying to win the race. But our story and our growth in the year stops getting told. I'm grateful we've been able to show our personality as a team." Unlike the All-Star race where the winner pockets $1 million, the driver with the best finish earns the cash prize, a ring, jackets and a trophy. How they fared Dillon had luck on his side during his run, with his lone top-10 finish coming in the first race in Atlanta. He advanced in that race after Hamlin crashed out and finished 31st. Dillon twice has finished 20th, including at Dover. He has a best finish of 13th in five career races on the Indy oval. Gibbs, the grandson of team owner and football and NASCAR Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, and Dillon have failed to win in a combined 374 Cup races. Dillon has only two career top-five finishes in a career that dates to 2014. The 22-year-old Gibbs has a much better pedigree, winning the 2022 Xfinity Series title, a series in which he was a 12-time winner. He has six top 10s already this season and could make NASCAR's playoffs on points. Gibbs has three straight top 10s in the tournament, including a fifth-place finish at Dover. Gibbs finished 23rd on the Indy oval last season. He's done enough to impress his grandfather. "There's some people there that we got off to a terrible start, it was awful, (but) I had people on that group that came to me encouraging me, ideas for me, after it. I think they care for Ty. It just was a huge deal," the 84-year-old Gibbs said. "This sport will really measure you. But those guys have fought back." ___ AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

byLiam Oneel

in

July 21, 2025

Denny Hamlin continues climb in NASCAR's career wins list. With 60 in sight, how far can he go?

Denny Hamlin continues climb in NASCAR's career wins list. With 60 in sight, how far can he go? DOVER, Del. (AP) — Denny Hamlin has stoo...

Read More