Khosla has bristled at the criticism of the relevant comments from his first press conference after the sale of the team was approved.
"Reporters will make every molehill into a mountain just to get column inches to write or video minutes," Khosla said on Twitter. "What’s wrong with admitting my 1976-78 period in Pittsburgh (CMU) got me excited about the NFL? I still watch their games doesn’t mean I won't unconditionally ALWAYS as owner, want the [Seahawks] to win and have every edge up, EVERY TIME over every other team!!!! Zero questions!!! At the other end is a set of teams I always want to lose every advantage. But happy to have the sports writer getting more column inches and fill their pages. You are welcome. Apologies in advance for my very transparent style."
Khosla's message appears over a reposting of a tweet from Barstool Sports with this observation: "What not to do during your opening press conference as the new Seahawks owner? Reveal you've been a Steelers fan your whole life and still watch all of their games."
The reaction to Khosla's comments was widespread. He chose to share the "little-known fact" while demonstrating his longstanding passion for football.
Of course he's now fully aligned with the Seahawks. The point isn't that he was a Steelers fan. It's that he decided, without prompting, to tell the world that he was and still is a Steelers fan, and that he still watches all of their games.
“So, actually, I was originally, and still am, a big Steelers fan also — a little-known fact — but I still watch all the Steelers games, too."
That's what he said. No one put words in his mouth. No one was grilling him over the legitimacy of his commitment to the Seahawks, and no one is. The reaction came from the basic reality that it probably wasn't the best thing to wear on his sleeve in the first press conference as the owner of the Seahawks.
And it wasn't just, you know, the rest of the world that came to that conclusion. Watch the video. Khosla's son, Neal, had just enough of a crack in his poker face to reveal that he was thinking something like, "Dad. Don't."
The strong reaction to the criticism now becomes the second chapter in the Book of Khosla. And the chapters will come one after another — especially since Khosla seems to be very active on social media.
At least he didn't close with, "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 22: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (5) lines up behind guard Jovaughn Gwyn (54) during the NFL preseason game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Minnesota Vikings on August 22nd, 2026, at U.S. Bank in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Baltimore Ravens are just one more game away from the 2026 regular season. Jesse Minter has won his first two preseason games as head coach; tonight, he’ll go for three in a row against the visiting Washington Commanders. Most of the 53-man roster is already set, but the Ravens still have to settle on their Week 1 starting center and fill a few key depth spots on both sides of the ball.
The Ravens’ preseason final kicks off at 6 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium. Follow along with all of the action on this page and join the discussion in the comments section!
Ja'Kobi Lane is not on the field with the rest of the Ravens' wide receivers in warmups. Seems like the third-round rookie is getting the starter treatment tonight 👀
Woodland Hills, - June 08:Rams Puka Nacua (12) at Rams practice on Monday, June 8, 2026. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) g | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
69% of fans are simply not worried about Nacua or Garrett missing any time, so far.
19% of the fans surveyed claimed to be worried about both players, while 12% are split between worrying about Nacua and Garrett respectively. So, if you add up all the worriers, you could make the argument that about 30% of the fan base is concerned about either or both players leading in to September.
If either one of these absences bleed into the regular season, panic may set in among the fan base and the organization, but that hasn’t happened, yet, as most expect the Rams and their stars to be good to go for Week 1.
If Nacua is suspended for Week 1, or misses time due to injury, that should impact all of L.A.’s offense. Whether you think that means Matthew Stafford has a bad day without Nacua, or that Terrance Ferguson goes off in Nacua’s place, you can make those bets and more on FanDuel!
If you can think of it, you can likely bet it. Bet responsibly and have fun with it. You never know, the next big winner could be you!
And keep an eye on who will be suiting up for Week 1, nothing is decided until it’s official, and until an official roster is shown, nothing is decided, but as it stands, Rams fans expect their starters to be good to go in Australia.
BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 10: Michael Burton #34 of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass during the Cleveland Browns Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now for the difficult part of being an NFL head coach: cutting players.
Training camp involves 90 players. On August 30, that roster has to be pared down to 53 guys.
It used to be in increments. On the first cut, the roster was down to 75. The cut to 62, and then finally to 53. It made for a lot of drama. But now? That’s a lot of athletes calling their agent to see if some other team put in a waiver claim for them.
Who to release, and who to retain?
There are rumors that the Browns coaching staff wants to keep all four of their quarterbacks. That is highly unusual because only one plays in every game. After the starter, Deshaun Watson, the remainder in the room are all developmental first-and second-year guys. Yikes. No wily, seasoned veteran to lean on, like when Baker Mayfield had Casey Keenum, or when Deshaun Watson was on suspension, the roster had Jacoby Brissett.
By keeping four QBs, this means the roster will release a tight end, a cornerback, or a defensive line player instead. A larger yikes.
Every Browns media outlet will give their list of what the final 53 will look like, as DBN did. Today, we are just going to predict who the final four guys the coaching staff will keep, and the four last bubble guys they bumped off.
Last four in
FB Michael Burton
Burton was used in the preseason more as another tight end/H-back than a traditional fullback, although he did line up occasionally in the backfield. He is strictly a blocker, but was thrown to a few times in the Patriots preseason game. Head coach Todd Monken likes having a fullback. The team was expected to draft one but didn’t, so Burton signed. By keeping him, the tight end room can become three players instead of four.
WR Luke Floriea
This one was tight. Floriea had a great preseason. So did Malachi Corley and Greg Larvadain. Maybe the coaching staff sees Floriea as their very own Wes Welker who will take some slot reps. Hard to tell, but the short white receiver played well when his number was called, and is a good blocker downfield.
S Donovan McMillon
McMillon is a missile on special teams on kickoff and punt coverage teams. And he does get defensive snaps as well. He is a willing tackler. His special teams play was commendable, which is enough to earn a roster spot in that role with potential upside defensively.
CB Michael Coats, Jr.
He was signed with a $100,000 guarantee and showed he can ball out as an undrafted rookie. Runs a 4.41. He has had an ankle injury during the first preseason game, and now a second leg injury has arisen. But he has shown quite a bit in training camp. If he can remain healthy, the coaching staff could believe that Coats can provide good depth plus value on special teams. He may not play right away, but once he heals, he should become an asset.
Last four out
TE Joe Royer
Yeah, the coaching staff had high hopes for Royer. He hasn’t been placed on any list – yet. He could end up on the final roster, and then be added to some sort of list, and then get back one guy they wanted to keep. It has happened before. Nobody but the front office seems to know what personal issues Royer is dealing with.
WR Malachi Corley
Just a numbers game, and Floriea had three to none. That is three touchdown catches to zero for Corley. If he clears waivers, the Browns will get him back to the practice squad and perhaps bring him up as a returner. The coaching staff really likes this guy. Plus, Greg Larvadain has offered more as a returner.
S Daniel Thomas
The question concerning the fourth safety was: is it going to be Chris Edmonds or Donovan McMillon? Edmonds is already gone, and there is no competition for Thomas to beat out McMillon. Too many players in the room, which most likely sends him to the practice squad. If the coaching staff retains five safeties, then Thomas would become that choice.
DE Sam Kamara
The Browns keep going back to Kamara like a security blanket since 2022, in that he can play outside or slide into the middle. He has been on the practice squad six times, released five times, and promoted to the roster on six different stints. This will even out all numbers to six with his release once again.
Who do you think are the last 4 in/out on the Browns initial 53-man roster?
Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza might start his rookie season as a third-stringer.
Coach Klint Kubiak has not said who his starting quarterback is, but it's widely expected to be Kirk Cousins. Kubiak was asked today whether, if Cousins is the starter, Mendoza or Aidan O'Connell will be the backup. And Kubiak said that decision has not yet been made.
"We've got three guys that are ready to play. It's going to be some hard decisions on who's 1, who's 2. That's not a decision we have to make today, but those are discussions that are ongoing," Kubiak said.
It's not often that the first overall pick in the draft starts his career on the third team, but Kubiak seems to be in no rush to get Mendoza on the field. It appears likely that Cousins is going to start the season with Mendoza on the sideline, and Mendoza may not get on the field early in the season even if Cousins goes down.
Gabriel started in this matchup and put up a solid performance. He completed 12 of his 15 passes for 186 yards with three touchdowns. Green took over at quarterback in the second half and completed five passes for 27 yards. Additionally, he had eight rushes for 66 yards. Both quarterbacks impressed in different ways and made an argument for why they deserve a spot on this roster.
Although Gabriel is clearly the more impressive quarterback of the two, it is more likely that the rookie Green will end up getting a roster spot. Gabriel has the higher floor of the two quarterbacks, but Green is younger and possesses the physical tools that could make him an intriguing player for the team to develop. When looking at the third quarterback on the roster, it is better to look at who has higher upside and could develop into something really valuable for the team in the future.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Did Dillon Gabriel or Taylen Green do enough to prove they deserve a roster spot?
The Sens Nation Podcast with Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy
If the Senators go with a defenseman as their next captain, who should it be, Jake Sanderson or Thomas Chabot?
In this episode of Sens Nation, the official Ottawa Senators Podcast of The Hockey News, THN Ottawa Site Editor Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy examine the case for both players, including leadership, loyalty, contracts, stability and safeguarding against another captain eventually wanting out.
They also discuss Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request, whether players should lose some no-trade protection after asking to leave, and how Steve Staios handled Ottawa’s difficult Brady Tkachuk trade.
Plus:
• Could Fabian Zetterlund complete a line with William Eklund and Tim Stützle?
• Is Warren Foegele a dark-horse top-six option?
• The five greatest Ottawa-born and raised players in Senators history
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 21: Que Robinson #51 of the Denver Broncos tackles Pierre Strong Jr. #22 of the Green Bay Packers during a preseason game at Empower Field At Mile High on August 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Strong was traded to the Browns after his first season, and his his workload slightly increased from 10 carries as a rookie to 63. During his Cleveland stint, Strong mostly served as a passing downs specialist while averaging a respectable 4.5 yards per carry and 8 yards per reception, and there’s definitely some big play ability and elite agility in his repertoire. This was on display in last week’s preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos; while wearing green and gold, Strong averaged 4.6 yards per carry on eight carries and ripped off a 68-yard kickoff return.
I actually like Strong better than Marshawn Lloyd as both represent the potential “lightning” to Josh Jacobs’ thunder, and while Lloyd is quite a bit larger, Strong is the better athlete, and despite his small size, he’s been more durable.
The Josh Jacobs problem
Matt LaFleur may be a very successful offensive football coach, but I still think he runs the ball too much. I don’t mind running the ball, and in 2024 when Josh Jacobs was ripping off 4.4 yards per carry and scoring 15 touchdowns, it was mostly fine. Unfortunately, since that time the Packers’ offensive line has declined as a run-blocking unit, and it’s possible that seven years of physical punishment has started to wear on Jacobs. And now, with Jacobs charged with assault and a pretty nasty video tape of the incident allegedly out there, there is an opportunity for the team to move on from Jacobs before he falls off a cliff (and also to get an alleged abuser off the team).
Back in 2022 Josh Jacobs led the league in rushing yards with 1653, and was also elite in exceeding his expected rushing total. The NFL’s NextGenStats page has a series of metrics which tracks how many more yards a back gains than expected based on the blocking on the play, the quality of the opponent, and several other factors. (This advanced metric was born out of the NFL’s Big Data Bowl contest in 2020)
Jacobs gained 0.47 yards over expected per attempt that year, which ranked 11th among qualifiers. That may not sound overly impressive, but maintaining that level of production of his robust total of 340 carries is impressive. Of the ten backs that ranked higher, only Cleveland’s Nick Chubb was even in the ballpark with 302 carries.
It’s possible that this is just a matter of health, and that after an offseason of rest and recovery he would be back to his old self again. But, running back is a young man’s game, Jacobs is expensive for a running back, and Jacobs turned 28 in February. He also uses a punishing running style and he has exceeded 200 carries in every season of his career (and 300 twice). He is not a great bet to age gracefully, and weird, bad offseasons don’t help.
Committee Time
While I’m not a huge fan of Marshawn Lloyd, a committee of Strong, Lloyd, and Chris Brooks would probably be fine. Brooks is an outstanding blocking back and a good enough receiver. He’s very useful and he’s capable of rattling off 5 yards a carry against light boxes while keeping your QB upright. I love Chris Brooks as a player, just not at 200 carries.
In the unlikely event the Packers did move on from Jacobs, I could see the case for bringing in another power back, but even if they didn’t, they could probably get by with Lloyd/Strong/Brooks just fine, and with one additional hidden benefit. Matt LaFleur would be somewhat likely to run less without a proven workhorse, and so the number of passes the team throws would likely increase. Given that Jacobs isn’t what he once was anyway, this could actually provide a massive benefit to the team.
Jacobs is one of Matt’s favorite toys, but it’s not working so well anymore. The remaining running backs have enough combined skills to make up for most of what Jacobs does at this point in his career. I don’t think they will move on, but if there really is a video out there, they’re playing with fire for no good reason. Use tonight’s game to check out the backups.
The bad news for Carolina? They got absolutely steamrolled by the Texans in Wednesday’s joint practice, looking like a total trainwreck on both sides of the ball in a performance coach Dave Canales rightfully dubbed “lopsided.”
The glorious news for Panthers bettors? Not a single one of those starters will touch the turf in Friday’s preseason finale.
That massive roster flip is exactly why our best Texans vs. Panthers predictions is backing Carolina to take care of business.
Check out our latest NFL picks for more preseason betting analysis.
Texans vs Panthers prediction
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Who will win Texans vs Panthers: Panthers moneyline
Kalshi probability: 49%
Both coaches plan to rest their starters in the final preseason game, allowing the second- and third-string units to resolve any remaining depth-chart or roster-spot battles. That’s bad news for a Houston Texans team whose starters have won the first quarters of their two preseason games by a combined 20-3 margin. Houston has lost the second halves of its games by a 36-0 margin this preseason and has been outscored 44-3 after the first quarter.
The Carolina Panthers have been just the opposite. The starting unit has managed just one first-quarter touchdown in three games while the starting defense has allowed 13 points. Carolina’s reserves have then scored 74 points after the first quarter ends and 37 in the second halves.
TOP PICK Texans vs Panthers Over/Under pick: Over 36.5
Kalshi probability: 49%
As good as the Panthers’ offense has been after the starters depart, the Carolina defense has made opposing reserves look just as good. The Panthers have given up as many second-half points as they’ve scored — 37 — and have surrendered 63 after the first quarter. The Houston defense is also shaky, blowing a 17-0 lead against Oakland.
While Houston won’t have any starters in the game, there will be plenty of star power catching passes from the backup quarterbacks. The team has added Zay Jones and Sterling Shepard, then traded for Kayshon Boutte. The trio have combined for 22 NFL seasons, 381 games, 823 catches, and 52 touchdowns, and all will be making their preseason debut with Houston.
COVERS INTEL: Brett Rypien—forced into duty after Graham Mertz's season-ending injury—has been an absolute disaster, turning the ball over twice without leading a single scoring drive. Playing for his job as Houston weighs carrying just two QBs, fading Rypien and backing the Panthers is pure cash.
Texans vs Panthers trend to know
The Panthers have gone Over in all three of their preseason games. Combined, the Over is 4-1 in the two teams’ five preseason games.
Temperatures will be in the 80s with a chance of a heavy thunderstorm, which could create wet conditions and potentially impact the passing and kicking games.
How to watch Texans vs Panthers
Location
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Date
Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
Kickoff
7 p.m. ET
TV
KTRK, WSOC
Texans vs Panthers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
One of the most popular topics amongst Sens Nation since the Brady Tkachuk trade has been who will replace him as captain.
Cases have been made for all four of the current alternate captains: Thomas Chabot, Claude Giroux, Jake Sanderson and Tim Stutzle.
With Drake Batherson’s camp in heavy negotiations and the September 15th deadline for an eight-year extension fast approaching, his name has even been thrown in the hat, with the captaincy possibly being part of the offer.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss whether Travis Green is facing extra pressure in the upcoming season, his third year as Sens head coach.
One option that's rarely been talked about is starting the 2026-27 season with no captain.
Let’s discuss.
In order to settle that debate, a few questions need answering.
Does a team need a captain to be a playoff team or win a championship?
Only two teams have won the Stanley Cup with no captain in NHL history, and it was the Boston Bruins in 1970 and again in 1972. They ran a captain by committee, and they also had Johnny Bucyk and Phil Esposito. Both are in the Hall of Fame.
They also had some guy named Bobby Orr.
Several teams in NHL history have made the playoffs with a captain by committee approach, but it is an anomaly.
It would not be the first time the Senators have gone into a season without a captain. After Erik Karlsson departed, the team was without a captain for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons before Tkachuk signed his extension and assumed the role.
Of course, the Senators were not the Boston Bruins of ’70 & ’72. The Sens were rebuilding with very low expectations, and their 77-109-23 record during that time supports that.
It is also worth noting that, regardless of how his tenure came to end in Ottawa, Tkachuk was the obvious choice, and no one was shocked when the announcement came.
Going into the season without a captain does not mean doom for the Senators. However, it won’t inspire fan confidence if they have the whole summer to fill that hole and can’t decide from within who should fill it.
Is there an obvious choice to succeed Tkachuk?
The fact that there has been debate all summer and that five names have been bandied about as possible replacements shows there is no clear-cut choice. At least outside the dressing room.
Is there a clear-cut choice inside the dressing room? Right now, Steve Staios and Travis Green have been tight-lipped.
It’s quite possible that they know who the next captain will be. Maybe they're just using the “American Idol Ryan Seacrest dramatic pause” for effect.
Perhaps they know there won’t be one and are using the same tactic.
The soundness of that strategy can be debated. However, let’s hope it’s one of those two options, because if the organization doesn’t know the character of its own people by now, when will they?
Not having a captain was the right choice from 2018-2021. There was one clear choice, but he wasn’t ready yet. From the moment he joined the organization, Tkachuk was the presumptive captain, but by waiting, they spared him years of tough media scrums where the captain has to answer for all the losing.
Teams may have qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs and even won the Cup in the past without a captain. However, there is no stat showing how many teams have done the same with the wrong captain.
My guess is that the answer is none.
Having no captain and using a committee approach amongst the alternates may or may not be the right course of action but the wrong course of action is to choose a captain believing you have to.
The only thing worse than choosing the wrong captain is having to either trade him or remove the C while he is still playing for your team.
Being right is absolutely, fundamentally critical.
Being wrong could set the team back immeasurably.
Jason Spezza’s tenure as captain was one season. They missed the playoffs, and he asked to be traded. He was filling huge shoes in the departure of Daniel Alfredsson. Was he the right choice or did he get chosen to avoid having no captain?
Erik Karlsson’s name seemed like the obvious choice to replace him having led the team in scoring. He had a Norris Trophy on his resume, and being Daniel Alfredsson’s protégé didn’t hurt either.
In his four years as captain, he had a heroic role in the 2017 run to the conference final. He was also a central figure in the controversy that ultimately led to former GM Pierre Dorion declaring that the dressing room was “broken”.
Mark Stone was part of the team from 2014 to 2019 and is now the captain of the Vegas Golden Knights and has his name on the Stanley Cup.
Did the team rush Karlsson to ensure there was a captain, or could they have let that situation evolve organically, where Stone might have emerged as the guy?
What are the expectations for the 2026-27 Ottawa Senators?
Since Tkachuk’s trade announcement on Father’s Day, a lot has happened to the Senators' roster. One thing they have not done is replace Tkachuk as a power forward.
Steve Staois insisted at the Season Ticket Holders event earlier this month that the Senators may not have a lot of players who fight, but they are not easy to play against.
Though that may be true, Tkachuk’s absence has left a hole, whether anyone wants to admit it or not. Time will tell if the Senators can forge ahead without that tangible physical element and be successful.
The Senators are not entering the season as Cup contenders. Playoff contenders, maybe. Cup contenders, they are not. Though they are free to prove everyone wrong.
If the Senators were earmarked for greatness this season, it would have behooved them to address the captaincy sooner rather than later, as teams with a murky leadership structure generally don’t win the Cup.
Perhaps this takes the pressure off naming a captain and allows the selection to be identified organically.
Perhaps the right person will emerge during the season. No rules exist preventing teams from naming mid-season captains. Alexander Ovechkin and Eric Staal are just a couple of players who have.
The only thing that is clear about the Senators' captaincy situation is that there is no clear-cut choice. There are many attractive candidates, but no one has taken the reins yet.
The Senators can’t be wrong about who gets the next captaincy.
If they aren’t 100% sure who should get it, then no one should.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 4: Running back Isaac Redman #33 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs for a one yard touchdown against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter during an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on November 4, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Steelers defeated the Giants 24-20. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) | Getty Images
The time has finally come for Behind the Steel Curtain’s most prestigious tradition: The Isaac Redman Award.
Now over a decade old (and with its own section on Wikipedia), the award, in the words of former BTSC editor Neal Coolong, is to be given to “the unheralded Steelers player who came from the furthest reaches of obscurity to reach general heightened fame and appeal among Steelers fans.”
As originally stated in that 2014 article, the basic rules are as follows:
Eligibility
Player must not be a draft pick higher than the sixth round
Player can only have participated in two other training camps prior to this one
Player demonstrated frequent references in comments regarding the likelihood of significant playing time in the coming year
Weight of general fan sentiment leans towards the player being a “diamond in the rough”
Player does not have to make the team in the year of his nomination to qualify (this isn’t meant to be included in 53-man roster discussion)
Staff nominations
Ryan Parish: This year, it was between two rookies for me: Gabe Rubio and Robert Spears-Jennings. Both impressed, but I’m going to give the nod to Rubio. In three games, the young nose tackle racked up six solo tackles and assisted on six others. He recorded five “Stops” which are plays PFF chart as tackles that produce a negative outcome for the offense. Rubio even managed two pressures the final preseason game against the Bills. There’s an argument that outside of Germie Bernard, he was the rookie with the most impressive preseason performance, which makes him the clear Redman winner on my ballot.
Mike Nicastro: I’ll go off the grid a bit and give my nomination to Lew Nichols, who is a similar player to Isaac Redman in stature — he even won the award last year.
Nichols just keeps on trucking. He led the team in rushing with 87 yards on 20 attempts – good for a 4.35 average.
He also scored a touchdown and probably should have had another if he kept his balance on a great run in their first contest against the Packers.
He isn’t going to necessarily be the belle of any ball, but he deserves some recognition, and possibly a roster spot, for his consistency and relentless approach.
Jarrett Bailey: I’ll give mine to Robert Spears-Jennings. With the depth at safety (or lack thereof) being a big question, the seventh-round pick had a very strong summer in camp and in preseason play. He should get a spot on the 53-man roster.
Joey Bray: It would be a shame if the Pittsburgh kid Eli Heidenreich didn’t get a nomination for the Redman Award.
Steelers fans rejoiced when the Mt. Lebanon high school alumni was selected 240th overall back in April. Heidenreich’s middle name is versatility, playing wide receiver and running back in college. His awareness and ability in the open field makes him a serious big play threat and giving Mike McCarthy no shortage of ways to use him.
The Steelers primarily used Heidenreich as a running back throughout the summer. After missing a few weeks in camp with a leg injury, his spot on the 53-man roster doesn’t seem to be a lock. Heidenreich played well in the Steelers preseason finale, scoring a touchdown and getting some run as a return man on special teams. “The Swiss Navy Knife” deserves a spot on the 53-man roster, and potentially a Redman Award victory.
Ryland Bickley: While my vote will almost certainly go to one of Rubio or Spears-Jennings (please convince me which one), I’d be remiss if I didn’t get Will Howard onto this ballot as a former sixth-rounder who dominated preseason talking points even when his on-field performance didn’t always live up to the hype.
Sure, Howard didn’t come from the depths of obscurity as a former National Championship-winning Ohio State quarterback, but he’s built up a fanbase worthy of Redman Award consideration, leading to discussion of the Steelers keeping a whopping four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster just to keep Howard from potentially being poached by another team. The point of this award is to recognize August storylines with a bit too much hype, and while Howard still has plenty of time to develop, I’m not sure if another player better encapsulates that sense of preseason overreaction than him.
Other notable eligibles
DB Devan Boykin
DL Kevin Jobity Jr.
TE Lake McRee
WR Max Hurleman
DB Doneiko Slaughter
WR Brandon Smith
OLB Julius Welschof
LB Carson Bruener
Vote!
But enough of what the staff wants to say — this is your decision! Vote below in the poll, and if you want to write in an eligible candidate, recs on a comment stating a player’s candidacy will count as votes.
The ballot will stay open through Saturday, with the winner announced before the cutdown deadline on Sunday.
May the best Isaac Redman Award candidate win, joining a storied fraternity that includes the likes of Mike Hilton, Roosevelt Nix, and Tyler Matakevich. And make sure to fill the comment section with civil discourse election propaganda below.
The 2026 NFL preseason is winding down, and so two is the period during which NFL teams are allowed to carry 90 players on their active rosters.
The NFL's 53-man roster deadline will take place at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30. That means a total of 1,184 NFL roster spots will evaporate overnight as part of the annual culling of the league's work force.
Of course, many of the players cut will soon find jobs on practice squads. NFL teams are allowed to sign as many as 17 individuals to their practice squads, provided at least one player is part of the league's International Player Pathway.
Nonetheless, the decision-makers across the NFL's 32 clubs will be facing tough roster decisions in the lead-up to Sunday's deadline. And they will have less time than usual to make them, as the league moved up the 53-man roster deadline by two days from its usual Tuesday date.
Here's a look at the players released to date as the NFL's teams slowly but surely begin to trim their rosters.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 16: Braelon Allen #0 of the New York Jets in action during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between New York Jets and New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 16, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won 31-12. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tonight’s preseason finale between the Jets and the Giants kicks off at 7:30 pm Eastern from MetLife Stadium. Although both teams call MetLife Stadium, this is technically considered a Jets home game.
In the past, only the home team has put on a broadcast. That has changed. Both teams will conduct broadcasts of this game.
The Jets feed will be on WCBS 2. Ian Eagle and Anthony Becht will call the game.
The Giants feed will be on WNBC 4. Bob Papa, Carl Banks, and Phil Simms will be in the broadcast booth. Unlike the Jets, the Giants have an expansive television network broadcasting their preseason contests. The Giants broadcast will also be shown on WNYT 13 in Albany, WSTM 3 in Syracuse, WPNY 11 in Utica, WETM 18 in Elmira, WWTI 50 in Watertown, and WTIC 61 in Hartford. (Jets, can we expand our preseason broadcast map a bit?)
The game can also be streamed. Fans in the New York area can watch the Jets feed of this game online on the official Jets app or newyorkjets.com and the Giants feed on the Giants app and giants.com.
If you are outside the local area, you can stream the game live on NFL+. A separate subscription is required.
Fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland can also stream the game live on newyorkjets.com.
If you cannot catch the game live using any of these methods, NFL Network will reair Jets vs. Giants on Sunday August 30 at 3:00 pm Eastern.
While on his official visit to Xavier, four-star small forward Markus Kerr has decided to commit to Richard Pitino and the Musketeers, his agent Nate Conley told Rivals.
The 6-foot-6 rising senior out of Wellington Sports Academy (FL) considered Baylor, Maryland, NC State, and Tennessee as his other finalists.
Kerr is ranked as the No. 62 overall recruit in the 2027 class and the No. 16 ranked small forward, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an average of all three major recruiting media companies (Rivals, ESPN, 247Sports).
This summer on the Nike EYBL Circuit, Kerr averaged 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while playing with Team United.
More on Markus Kerr
Rivals National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw has evaluated Kerr for a significant period of time. Here is what he recently had to say about his game:
You really have to lock in on Markus Kerr to understand his value. Over the past 18-plus months, he has never been the top option on his team; however, his ability to consistently find his role within the team construct and thrive has been so intriguing to watch. At Brewster (NH) Academy last season, he played more of an energetic four-man role, not having much run for him, but still able to average 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting around 48-percent from the field. This summer, with the Team United program on Nike’s EYBL Circuit, Kerr played more of a hybrid-forward role, alongside two top-five ranked players, and worked his way into 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 47-percent shooting from the field.
Then you find him with Garner Road in the Adidas 3SSB Championships, and you see Kerr in more of an on-the-ball role. His 3.0 assists per game were second on the team, and given his new spot on the roster, he came off the bench to also average 10.1 points. No matter the situation or the role, Kerr has always found a way to produce and make winning-type plays. A two-way player who is 6-foot-6, with explosive burst and ball skills; there is a lot of intrigue still left in the tank.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Todd Golden’s third raise in as many years will make him the second-highest paid basketball coach in the Southeastern Conference.
The 40-year-old Florida coach signed a one-year extension earlier this month that increased the total value of his deal to $49.5 million. It averages $8.25 million annually and keeps him under contract through the 2031-32 season.
Golden’s salary for next season jumps from $6 million to $7.5 million. He’s due a $300,000 raise annually, with the contract culminating at $9 million in its final year. Only Kansas’ Bill Self, UConn’s Dan Hurley and Arkansas’ John Calipari are slated to make more than Golden next season. New North Carolina coach Michael Malone also will make $7.5 million this season.
Golden’s deal is nearly fully guaranteed. Florida would owe him 85% of the remaining value if the school fired him without cause at any point.
Golden’s buyout to leave Gainesville starts at $16 million next season and drops annually: $13 million in 2027-28; $5 million in 2028-29; $3 million in 2029-30; $2 million in 2030-31; and $1 million in 2031-32.
However, Golden can leave for the NBA at a much lower price. His NBA buyout begins at $3 million next season and drops to $2 million (2027-29) and then $1 million in 2029-30.
Included in Golden’s annual compensation is a $500,000 annual longevity incentive and a $100,000 annual expense account. In addition to that, he gets 30 hours of free use of the university athletic association’s jet and other fringe benefits (cars, tickets, travel, etc.) valued at $62,000.
He would earn a $100,000 bonus for winning the SEC regular-season championship, a $50,000 bonus for winning the SEC Tournament, a $100,000 bonus for making the NCAA Tournament and a $50,000 bonus for every NCAA Tournament victory.
He also would get an additional $100,000 if his team’s academic progress rate reaches 965.
The Gators made it clear in May that they wanted to get another deal done with their brightest coaching star, and the sides had most of the details worked out months ago. The finishing touches were finalized this month, weeks before the start of fall practice.
Golden’s raise also makes him the highest-paid coach on Florida’s campus; first-year Florida football coach Jon Sumrall’s six-year contract averages $7.45 million annually.
Golden has done plenty to earn his latest payday. He is 103-41 (.715) in four seasons in Gainesville, including a 36-4 mark in 2024-25 while leading the Gators to the program’s third national title.
And Florida is the betting favorite to win it all again this season. Golden returns nearly 82% of his team’s scoring from last season, most notably front-line stars Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh.
Golden joined Florida in 2022 after three seasons at San Francisco. He got his first contract extension after Year 2, signing a deal that bumped his annual salary to $4.1 million. He signed another one last year that raised his salary to $6 million.
COVERS INTEL: Brett Rypien—forced into duty after Graham Mertz's season-ending injury—has been an absolute disaster, turning the ball over twice without leading a single scoring drive. Playing for his job as Houston weighs carrying just two QBs, fading Rypien and backing the Panthers is pure cash.
