TAMPA, Fla. — City officials on Thursday approved a $2.3 billion deal for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark funded by public and private money.
The 4-3 vote by the Tampa City Council came three months after a tentative agreement was reached for a stadium, which would include $967 million in tax money.
Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby said in a statement that the stadium project will “deliver lasting benefits” for the region.
“The Tampa Bay Rays are grateful for the leadership and support of the City Council members to approve an investment that, when accompanied by the private funding guaranteed by the Rays, will secure the future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay while creating a landmark destination neighborhood that will serve our region for generations,” Babby said Thursday.
Hillsborough County Commissioners will vote on the project Friday morning.
The Rays ownership reached an agreement earlier this year with Hillsborough College to build the stadium and mixed-use entertainment district on the campus and to renovate some of the school’s buildings. The property is located next to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and across a highway from Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Rays have said they hope to have the new stadium built within three years.
Since the team took the field in 1998, the Rays have played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, except for moving home games to the Yankees’ George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2025 following hurricane damage at the Trop. The Rays’ lease runs through at least the 2028 season. The team returned to the Trop last month for the start of this season.
A proposed $1.3 billion redevelopment deal for a new ballpark adjacent to the Trop fell through last year, raising new questions about the future of the team, which was bought last September by Patrick Zalupski’s ownership group.
Aug 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (6) runs the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The biggest stories coming out of the game will be any injuries and how those bubble players perform with the chances that they are given. Some of the evaluation is tougher given the level of talent on the other side of the field, with the Patriots also not playing their top guys. Take everything within that perspective.
A few takeaways from Thursday Night Football off the shores of Lake Erie:
Rocket Sanders looks good
Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson have locked up the top of the depth chart, but Raheim Sanders still has to secure his spot as the third guy. A few carries in the first few series looked like Sanders, nicknamed “Rocket,” is on his way to having that role.
Luke Floriea trying to make Browns roster decision tough
One of Shedeur Sanders’ favorite targets, Floriea just keeps making plays, including this touchdown from Gabriel:
CB D’Angelo Ross is a special teams star and looked totally out of place getting beat for a touchdown throw where he wasn’t anywhere near the receiver while looking into the backfield. Overall, the defense made a couple of big plays, but seemed to benefit from the bad New England offense more than making stops themselves.
Dillon Gabriel shows talent, value
As noted above, level of competition is a key reference point, but Gabriel showed out in the first half. Not only with the stats, but the long-term college starter looked under control, was rarely rattled, and was smooth with his decisions and delivery of passes. As much as Monken values “operation,” Gabriel was pretty clean throughout.
As for the stats, this is Preseason Performance Hall of Fame level:
12 for 15
186 yards
3 touchdowns
4 rushes, 3 yards
157.9 rating
There were some very good throws, as well as his receivers making plays and Patriots defenders not making the plays they needed to. For example, the text of this tweet is… interesting… given the play being made by RB Ahmani Marshall after a simple Gabriel pass, but a touchdown is a touchdown:
Dillon Gabriel is DEALING. That's 3 TDs in the first half 🔥
Both Gabriel and Green ran some zone read and other quarterback run-oriented plays. Green’s QB sweep was really well designed and put defenders in difficult positions.
It is one reason I believe Watson won the starting QB job and think the QB run will be a huge part of this
Al Michaels just saying whatever was funny
Michaels made a number of mistakes, railed on the refs, the virtual measurement, and more. Perhaps too much celebration of his 60th wedding anniversary (seriously, that is amazing). Given that the game didn’t matter, Michaels being a little less professional, and showing a little chest hair, was kind of appropriate.
Taylen Green’s legs a weapon, a few good passes too
As noted above, the QB run game was shown more in this game, but Green’s legs were useful as a scrambler as well. Defenders have to be ready for the run from Green, which can open up lanes for the running backs in option oriented palys and even receivers in some passing concepts.
Green finished with eight rushes for 66 yards.
Not everything was perfect, of course, but Green hit a few passes as well, including a key checkdown to Floreia to keep a drive going.
Social media and our game chat were full of ideas to have a package for Green or to use him on sneaks, the problem there is that Cleveland would have to keep three quarterbacks on their active game-day roster, instead of two and an emergency third QB. Seems unlikely unless injuries require it. Green is only likely to be active if/when he’s the backup QB (or starter).
4 running backs?
Davon Booth and Marshall both made plays in the third preseason game. Will the Browns keep four running backs and rely on a tight end to take the fullback role? Veteran FB Michael Burton hasn’t practiced during training camp, while Rocket Sanders, Booth, and Marshall have all made a case for making the roster as well. Perhaps Monken gets creative with his usage, including Sanders taking some snaps at fullback.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Skyler Bell #13 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball in for a touchdown during the third quarter of a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Preseason Week 3 is a wrap, and the Buffalo Bills close out the exhibition slate with a 26-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium. Thanks for your love in the first article of this series, and glad to be back for another one. Here’s everything I wrote down as it happened.
1st Half
Skyler Bell moves fluidly and is a huge mismatch running routesinside. The way he moves reminds me of Stefon Diggs a lot.
Shane Buechele isn’t close to Kyle Allen as a passer. And Allen isn’t great.
Trent Sherfield is a lock to make this roster IMO.
Joe Andreessen will make the team. They wouldn’t keep him out of this game if he wasn’t part of their roster. They’d give him a chance to put up more on tape for his NFL future elsewhere.
Keonta Jenkins in trouble? Maybe PS bound again.
Mitch Wishnowsky is gone. A 19-yard punt when battling for his life? Oof.
Ray Davis messed up with his punt return case. Better now than in week 1, I guess? It might cost the Bills a roster spot, though. The punt returner job might not be settled. Mecole Hardman hasn’t been good, Khalil Shakir is simply a guy for safety there. Maybe Keon Coleman will get another shot? I’m not very excited about any of those options.
A battle for the CB2 job in week 3 of preseason? Davison Igbinosun is giving Maxwell Hairston a run for his money. I won’t be surprised to see him alongside Christian Benford in week 1.
T.J. Parker reminds me of Shaq Lawson right now. I know Shaq never became what we expected from him, but that’s not a bad comp for T.J. as he starts his career. He has the potential to become better and more complete.
I wouldn’t keep Damar Hamlin or Geno Stone in my 53, going with Jordan Hancock and Jalon Kilgore as my backup safeties. I think the Bills will carry one of them, though. Hamlin’s probably getting the nod with another INT.
Phidarian Mathis looks good, too bad he’s on PEDs.
Kani Walker is an awesome find. Undrafted? This guy looks better than Levi Wallace, who was also undrafted, and Dane Jackson, who was a 7th-round pick. He’s young Benford-like, but Benford was a 6th round pick. Awesome find.
Andre Jones Jr. giving Max Iheanachor, a 1st round pick, some trouble is a good look for somebody who’s fighting for a PS place.
Rough half for the OL.
2nd Half
Nice to see Bell being moved around and getting open no matter where he lined up. It’s against backups at this point or even people who won’t make the team, but we’re talking about a 4th round pick, it’s not like he’s supposed to be a stud out of the gate. His versatility will give him opportunities.
I’ve heard all the talk about the new stadium, but I’ll tell you one thing: it looks gorgeous on TV, especially as the night comes.
It’s just preseason, and with a lot of backups and camp bodies on the field at this point, but I’m really excited for the new defensive schemes. Jim Leonhard’s defense should be fun.
Bad bad look for the Special Teams allowing that punt return for a TD. No discipline, poor angles, and even worse tackling. Teaching tape on what not to do for the guys in the final 53.
That Pittsburgh PR, though. Dude is a real weapon. (Kaden Wetjen, 4th round pick). One of the best punt returners coming out of college recently (Two-time Jet Award winner, 2024-25).
It’s extremely frustrating how Buechele doesn’t risk anything downfield, like, ever. Give his WRs a chance to make some plays. It’s always a check-down or scrambling. (He just gave Max Tomczak a shot as I was typing this, and guess what? It worked).
I wish Ja’Mori Maclin had more chances, but, as said above, Buechele.
Last drive and Buechele starts to let it fly. Gave Dante Pettis two chances and good things happened — a 1st down completion on 3rd and 14, and a long PI call setting the Bills up inside the 10.
Pettis is an NFL receiver. He ate his competition alive late in the game, including on the game-winning 2-point conversion. Can he become the punt returner and make the team? I’d rather have him than Hardman, but I don’t think any of them make the team.
1 min left, 1-point game. The type of situation Sean McDermott’s D failed miserably, again and again. Not Leonhard’s though. 4 and out, game over. What’s that? Is it real life? Love to see it.
Catch up on all this and more with the latest edition of Leading the Charge!
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Will Howard #18 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason is officially behind them, and we are full steam ahead to the 2026 regular season. Before the Steelers take on the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium in week one, the team must cut its roster from 90 men to 53 over the weekend. The deadline for teams to cut their rosters down to 53 men is Sunday, August 30th at 6 p.m.
With the preseason now over, the Steelers will begin their roster cuts to get down to their initial 53-man roster on Sunday. This thread will be updated throughout the weekend to provide the most up-to-date report of who the Steelers decide to cut loose, so be sure to follow along between now and Sunday evening to know exactly when cuts happen as the Steelers’ roster takes shape.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 27: Dillon Gabriel #6 of the Cleveland Browns calls a play during the first quarter of a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Huntington Bank Field on August 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Third preseason games don’t matter, but it’s still fun to watch the Cleveland Browns dominate a game and pile on some stats for guys trying to get plays on tape. It was all Cleveland against the Patriots in a 37-13 victory. Let’s get to the full game recap.
1st Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots
The Browns received the opening kickoff, as QB Dillon Gabriel came on to the field. He orchestrated an opening-drive touchdown, finishing it with a playaction pass to WR Luke Floriea, who stayed in bounds along the boundary for the 6-yard touchdown to put Cleveland up 7-0.
The Patriots gave the start to QB Tommy DeVito, and he found WR Kyle Williams open down the left sideline for a 45-yard touchdown, as CB D’Angelo Ross appeared to lose track of the ball. That tied the game up at 7-7.
The action continued on the next drive. Gabriel hit WR Gage Larvadain over the middle for 21 yards, and later WR Ben Patterson for 19 yards. On 2nd-and-6 from the 14 yard line, Gabriel found Floriea again in stride for 14 yards and another touchdown to make it a 14-7 game.
The Patriots went three-and-out on their next drive, and then Gabriel started the next drive by rolling to his left and finding Patterson, who caught the defensive back flat-footed for a catch-and-run of 52 yards. That helped set up a 35-yard field goal by K Andre Szmyt to put the Browns up 17-7.
QB Behren Morton came on for the Patriots. On his first pass, he tried to hit a tight end who was busy blocking, so it hit the back of his leg and bounced in the air. LB EastonMascarenas-Arnold tipped it in the air and came down with the interception to wrap up the opening quarter.
Gabriel went three-and-out for the first time on the day, but the Browns were still in field goal range. Szmyt hit from 47 yards out to put the Browns up 20-7.
After Morton’s first series lasted one play, his second one lasted 14 plays and 7:13 of clock. DE Khordae Sydnor registered his third sack of the preseason in the red zone, though, which helped force New England into a 26-yard field goal to cut the Browns’ lead to 20-10.
On Gabriel’s next drive, he moved the ball again, and nearly gave Floriea the hat trick for what was initially ruled a 16-yard touchdown pass. However, replay review showed that the throw was low and just barely touched the ground for an incomplete pass. A few plays later, Gabriel still found RB Ahmani Marshall for a 7-yard touchdown for a 27-10 lead.
S Donovan McMillian came up with an interception after the two-minute warning, but the official threw a flag for pass interference on him. Replays showed that it was a bad call and the interception should have counted. The defense still held tight to close out the half, holding New England to a 33-yard field goal to make it a 27-13 game.
3rd Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots
The Patriots began the half, but could only get to midfield before having to punt. That punt was run backward by Larvadain, back to the 2 yard line, for QB Taylen Green’s first drive. Green’s only chance to do anything was on 3rd-and-long, and his scramble fell just short of a first down.
The Browns punted, and then New England punted right back to Cleveland, with the drive starting at the 2 yard line again. Green really got to show off his legs on the drive, including running around in his own end zone and then taking off for 30 yards. Between that, and a mix of short passes, Cleveland finished the third quarter near a goal-to-go situation.
A few plays into the quarter, RB Davon Booth got the handoff and executed a spin move to dodge a defender and walk into the end zone for the 8 yard touchdown and a 34-13 lead.
On Green’s next drive, he got into New England territory again, but had his first incompletion on a third down pass that sailed over the receiver, leading to a punt.
The Patriots went for it on 4th-and-2 in their own territory, and Morton was picked off by LB Justin Jefferson, returned to the 12 yard line.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Will Howard #18 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is sacked by Keonta Jenkins #49 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of a preseason game at Highmark Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially wrapped up exhibition play with a 28-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and will now begin cutting their roster from 90 to 53.
One of the biggest names on the roster bubble is second-year quarterback Will Howard. The Ohio State product finished the preseason with two touchdowns to three interceptions in his first stretch of NFL action. However, he was also sacked three times against the Buffalo Bills, and appeared to be banged up at the end of the first half, which was confirmed after the game.
Per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, Howard went to the medical staff and was being evaluated for an injury. The specifics of the injury are unknown.
It remains to be known whether or not the Steelers will keep four quarterbacks, something that is incredibly rare to see. However, if they deem Howard’s injury to be severe, he could end up on IR to start the season.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
Aug 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) avoids a tackle Buffalo Bills defensive back Maxwell Hairston (31) during the first quarter at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Buffalo Bills 28-27 in their 2026 preseason finale. After jumping out to a 14-3 lead early in the first quarter, Bills quarterback Shane Buechele led a game-winning touchdown drive to give Buffalo the win. More importantly, we got to see pivotal performances from some players who had to make their final impressions before teams cut down to a 53-man roster this Sunday.
Let’s take a look at who improved their stock, and who hurt theirs during the Steelers preseason finale.
Stock up:
WR Germie Bernard
After being held without a catch on his lone target last week, Bernard made the most of his one catch by scoring a first-quarter touchdown in the Steelers preseason finale. Bernard took a screen pass and made a move on former first-round pick Maxwell Hairston on his way to the end zone. Bernard has shown great ability after the catch throughout the preseason and will likely have a role with the starters at some point during his rookie season.
KR Kaden Wetjen
I’ll be completely honest here, when I was drafting this piece up during the second half I had penciled in Kaden Wetjen under the “stock down category.” Not five minutes after I did so, Wetjen made the play of the preseason with a 45-yard punt return touchdown. The rookie fourth-round pick went backwards on two of his punt returns in the first half and had struggled throughout the preseason until that moment. That play all but secures Wetjen a roster spot as the Steelers’ primary return man.
OT Max Iheanachor
The Steelers’ 2026 first-round pick made his long-awaited NFL debut after missing a few weeks with a shoulder/neck injury. Iheanachor was almost immediately blown by and gave up a sack on his first series on the field. Later, the rookie was flagged on a very questionable call for a hold.
In the second half, Iheanachor made a phenomenal downfield block to clear the way for rookie running back Eli Heidenreich to stroll into the end zone. For limited reps in a debut, Iheanachor showed serious promise, and given the struggles by the Steelers’ starting line this preseason, he could become a starter sooner rather than later.
Stock down:
QB Will Howard
Will Howard threw his third interception of the preseason in the first half on what was clearly a miscommunication between Howard and his tight end Lake McRee. Whether Howard or McRee is more at fault is unclear, but Howard’s sloppy handling of the ball will almost certainly cost him the backup job. Pocket presence also seems to be a major area of concern for Howard. Too many times in this game, Howard either did not step up in the pocket and get sacked, or tried to extend the play for too long and got sacked. The second-year quarterback did throw two touchdowns early in the contest after being put in favorable positions due to a muffed punt and a shanked punt by Buffalo. Howard’s future with the Steelers will be dependent on whether or not the team decides to keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
RB Kaleb Johnson
After pacing the team in carries last week touched the ball just five times for 11 yards in this contest. After solid performances by Lew Nichols and Eli Heidenreich, any glimmer of hope for Johnson to make the roster may have dissipated. The 2025 third-round pick will be in danger of being cut when rosters are finalized by Sunday at 6 p.m.
OT Dylan Cook
Read into this how you will, but Dylan Cook started this game at left tackle despite being slated to start at right tackle this season. It was Broderick Jones starting at right tackle. Cook did end up playing some at right tackle, and even played into the second half. It seems like the Steelers are at least considering the idea of not starting Cook to begin the season. Given Cook’s struggles throughout preseason and Iheanachor’s solid debut, it seems to only be a matter of time before Cook loses his starting spot.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
LAS VEGAS — And with that, the Raiders and 49ers go their separate ways.
They will meet again in Week 9, but they leave the preseason headed toward vastly different destinations, burdened by vastly different expectations.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to throw a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on Aug. 27, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The 49ers are pursuing a Super Bowl. The Raiders are searching for the foundation upon which they might eventually build one.
That difference was never more apparent than Thursday night, when the two former Bay Area neighbors met in each team’s preseason finale against the glistening backdrop of the Las Vegas Strip, visible just beyond the lanai doors of Allegiant Stadium.
It was an appropriate setting.
Las Vegas is built on risk, chance and the uncertainty of what comes next. And that provided an especially fitting metaphor for two teams making decidedly different wagers on the season ahead.
While the 49ers protected nearly every player essential to their championship hopes, the Raiders played most of their starters.
It’s why Kirk Cousins opened the game at quarterback, lined up behind the Raiders’ starting offensive line, and why Mac Jones, not Brock Purdy, was under center to start the game alongside the 49ers’ second-string offensive line.
For one team, the risk of playing key players outweighed whatever might have been gained.
For the other, there was still too much work to be done and too many questions to be answered.
The 49ers did not need one more preseason game to determine who they are. The Raiders are still very much trying to figure out their identity.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP Photo/John Locher
The 49ers enter the season carrying the weight of championship expectations while trying to steer through storm clouds that began gathering before the games even counted.
Kyle Shanahan’s car accident and Jed York’s arrest created an unsettling backdrop around the organization. On the field, Nick Bosa had not practiced since Aug. 3, while Christian McCaffrey missed time because of tightness. Injuries have already complicated the journey, creating questions about whether the 49ers can remain intact long enough to reach the destination they have spent years chasing.
Taken individually, each development might be manageable. Together, they have created an unmistakable sense of turbulence around a franchise that entered the season expecting stability and carrying Super Bowl-or-bust expectations.
There will be concern. There will be scrutiny. There may even be moments when the challenges seem greater than the 49ers anticipated.
But there can be no excuses.
Not anymore.
Las Vegas Raiders center Trey Zuhn III (66) prepares to snap the ball against the San Francisco 49ers defense during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on Aug. 27, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The 49ers have been knocking on the door long enough. They have assembled one of the NFL’s most talented rosters, played in two Super Bowls under Shanahan and come painfully close to winning both. They have suffered through enough near-misses to understand how quickly a championship window can begin to close.
At some point, potential has to become achievement. Close has to become complete.
For all the talk about the character, leadership and standard the 49ers represent, those qualities must now lead them through the turbulence. A standard matters most when it is tested. Leadership is most valuable when circumstances threaten to pull a team off course.
This is the moment for the 49ers’ strongest voices — and most established players — to steady the room.
Their season cannot become a daily accounting of who is unavailable or what went wrong. The injuries are real, and their impact cannot be dismissed. But every team eventually encounters adversity. The championship teams are the ones that absorb it without allowing it to alter their destination.
The 49ers’ mission is clear: survive the early storms, remain within striking distance and position themselves to finish the job.
The Raiders’ journey is far less certain.
They are beginning again with a new head coach, a reshaped roster and the uncertainty that accompanies any legitimate rebuild. They are trying to determine which players will still be part of the operation when its most important pieces are finally in place.
More immediately, they must decide when Fernando Mendoza should take control of it.
As the first overall pick in the NFL draft, Mendoza represents more than another young quarterback trying to earn playing time. He is the future face of the franchise and, the Raiders hope, the player capable of finally bringing stability to a position that has lacked it for far too long.
The question is not whether the Raiders will eventually turn the offense over to him.
It is when.
There is value in allowing Mendoza to watch, learn and develop behind Cousins. There is also value in letting him experience the speed, pressure and consequences of the NFL for himself. No amount of sideline observation can completely replicate the education that comes from standing in the pocket with a defense bearing down on you.
That leaves the Raiders facing a delicate balancing act.
They cannot rush Mendoza simply to satisfy the impatience that naturally accompanies the arrival of a No. 1 pick. But they also cannot allow caution to become an excuse for delaying the inevitable. At some point, protecting his development will require letting him play.
The Raiders must be honest about the team surrounding him. Can the offensive line protect him? Are there enough dependable receivers to support him? Is the running game strong enough to keep every third down from becoming his burden?
These are not merely questions about whether Mendoza is ready for the NFL. They are questions about whether the Raiders are ready for Mendoza.
The preseason finale offered a snapshot of where both organizations stand.
The 49ers could afford to hide their most important players away because their identity is established and their objective is unmistakable.
The Raiders needed their starters on the field because evaluation remains part of nearly everything they do. Jobs are being won. Roles are being defined. A depth chart is still being shaped around a long-term vision that remains under construction.
Now they separate.
The 49ers move forward with the urgency of a team whose opportunity is here and may not remain open forever. The Raiders move forward with the patience, and inevitable growing pains, of a team trying to create an opportunity of its own.
Then, in Week 9, their paths will cross again.
The Raiders will return to the Bay Area for the first time since leaving Oakland, bringing an emotional undercurrent that will make the game about more than the standings. By then, the questions surrounding both teams may have very different answers.
Will the 49ers have weathered the storms and emerged as the championship contender they expect to be? Or will injuries and accumulated frustration have pushed another promising season toward the edge?
Will the Raiders still lean on Cousins or will Mendoza have assumed control of the franchise’s future? Will they look like a team making real progress or one still searching for its footing?
Thursday night marked the end of the preseason and the beginning of their separate journeys.
Week 9 will reveal just how far each has traveled.
Klay Thompson believes nobody will replicate his 37-point third-quarter performance against the Sacramento Kings.
It’s been 11 years since Klay Thompson put on a 37-point spectacle against the Sacramento Kings, and since then nobody has come near that kind of dominance. And maybe will never.
Thompson was asked by former NBA player Serge Ibaka about his dominance that night and told him he’s not sure if anybody will be able to replicate his performance.
“That’s a lot of points in the quarter. I don’t know if that’ll be done again, to be honest,” Thompson said. “9-for-9 from three [point range] in nine minutes, that’s hard to do. It’s hard to do for me just in the gym alone.”
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson believes nobody will be able to replicate his 37 point performance. X/@cptdankkk
Thompson went on to say that night, there was a little bit of luck involved that allowed him to put on that kind of clinic, but he hopes to see his record-breaking night for most points scored in a quarter be broken someday.
Ibaka went on to ask Thompson what was going through his mind, to which Thompson revealed that nothing was going through it.
Klay Thompson scored 37 points in a quarter against the Sacramento Kings. Getty Images
“The only thing going through your mind is getting the ball and getting it off your fingertips,” Thompson said. “You’re hot, you’re in that flow state, and you feel like it’s just gliding off your fingers.”
That night, Thompson finished scoring a career high at the time, 52 points, where he sank 11 of 15 shots from the three-point line, while shooting 16-25 from field goal range.
The Post reported that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that while he was lucky enough to play alongside Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson, but he never saw anyone do what Thompson did that night.
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But if you didn’t know any better, you would’ve thought New York was the one playing the back-to-back in Thursday’s 79-60 loss to Golden State.
The Liberty knew they were facing a tall task in the Valkyries’ league-best defense. Sabrina Ionescu even acknowledged at practice Wednesday that the game would be a major stress test for the Liberty’s offense.
And New York failed miserably as the Valkyries held the Liberty to their lowest scoring output of the season.
Rebekah Gardner blocks Veronica Burton’s shot against Veronica Burton during the Liberty’s 79-60 loss to the Valkyries on Aug. 27, 2026 at Barclays Center. Michelle Farsi for NY Post
“I feel disappointed with this one and a little bit embarrassed as well,” Rebecca Allen said after the loss. “I just don’t think that we should ever lose like that on home court.”
Coach Chris DeMarco waved the white flag with 3:13 left and New York down 17, subbing off all the starters except Pauline Astier.
The frustration with the Liberty’s poor play started to bubble to the surface in the fourth, with Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart jawing with officials.
Jones’ foul that sent Veronica Burton to the floor was reviewed for a possible upgrade, though it was upheld as a common foul.
Sabrina Ionescu drives on Gabby Williams the Liberty’s loss to the Valkyries. Michelle Farsi for NY Post
With the loss, the Liberty were swept by the Valkyries in the regular-season series. Not only is Golden State the only team New York hasn’t beaten this season, but the Valkyries are also responsible for the Liberty’s three lowest scoring games of the season.
Allen thought the Liberty played hard and “with intent” but “just didn’t find a way” on this night.
Of course, it doesn’t help that the Liberty shot a season-low 30.2 percent from the field.
Jonquel dribbles up court during the Liberty’s loss to the Valkyries. Michelle Farsi for NY Post
“It was definitely a disappointing one because I feel like today was a bit of a step backwards,” Allen said.
The Liberty moved the ball well in the first quarter and trailed by only two entering the second. Then, the offense got stagnant, and the Valkyries got hot.
Cecelia Zandalasini went 3-for-4 from deep in the second quarter to aid in the Valkyries outscoring the Liberty 21-11. New York trailed 42-30 at halftime.
Gabby Williams drives to the basket during the Liberty’s loss to the Valkyries. NBAE via Getty Images
In order to beat a team like the Valkyries, who thrive on elite defense, physicality and rebounding, a team has to beat them at their own game.
When New York’s shots weren’t falling, the Liberty needed to tighten up their defense, grab rebounds and limit second-chance points. Getting to the free-throw line would help, too.
That didn’t happen enough.
The Valkyries opened the fourth quarter with six unanswered points, building their lead to 18.
The Liberty had no answers and frustration followed.
Stewart said she thought the Liberty overall generated good looks from 3, but the shots didn’t fall. New York went 7-for-31 from deep. Sabrina Ionescu went 1-for-9 from behind the arc and Leonie Fiebich 1-for-6.
“With a team like this with the physicality and just really making it tough, after awhile that can make it really hard,” Stewart said. “And I think that we gave the effort and energy that we wanted but we got to knock down some shots, so we got to find an easier way to score.”
Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty reacts to a lack of a foul call against teammate Rebekah Gardner during a game against the Golden State Valkyries at Barclays Center on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Michelle Farsi for NY Post
With the playoffs around the corner, Thursday’s showing didn’t instill much confidence in the Liberty’s ceiling. After all, there’s a good chance the Liberty might have to go through the Valkyries in order to reach the WNBA Finals.
Right now, it’s clear Golden State has the edge on New York.
“Progress is not a linear line,” Rebekah Gardner said. “It can sometimes go up and down and today was obviously not our best day… We definitely need to sit and watch this film and it’s good that it happened now before the playoffs so we can learn from it. Obviously, the game didn’t go how we would like it to go but if we learn from it, we’ll be better moving forward.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Cecilia Zandalasini scored 14 of her 20 points in the first half, Gabby Williams added 16 points and the Golden State Valkyries beat the New York Liberty 79-60 on Thursday night.
Golden State (28-11) improved to 3-0 against New York this season — the only team the Liberty have not beaten this season. The Valkyries held the Liberty to 70, 67 and 60 points in three games, the three lowest-scoring games of the season for New York.
New York (23-16) had scored 80-plus points in 16 straight games — the longest streak in franchise history.
Veronica Burton had a season-high 13 assists to go with eight points for Golden State, which was coming off an 89-64 victory over Connecticut on Wednesday. Tiffany Hayes had 12 points off the bench.
Jonquel Jones scored 18 points for New York, which had a six-game home winning streak halted. Breanna Stewart added 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting.
Zandalasini made four 3-pointers in the first half to help Golden State build a 42-30 lead. The Valkyries started the third quarter on an 11-6 run to go ahead by 17 points, and scored the opening six points of the fourth to go ahead 65-47.
Fernando Mendoza was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the expectation is he will begin his career as the backup to veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.
As a result, the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason Week 3 game against the San Francisco 49ers represented a key opportunity for Mendoza to get playing time before the start of the 2026 NFL season.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak opted to play Cousins the first two drives of the Thursday, Aug. 27, preseason clash. But after that, Mendoza played until the start of the fourth quarter, when Aidan O'Connell entered.
After a strong preseason debut and a less impressive second effort, Mendoza's outing in the Raiders' preseason finale showed off even more of his limitations at this early stage of his career. If nothing else, it showcased why Las Vegas was wise to bring in a veteran in Cousins to help bridge the gap.
How did Mendoza perform in his all-important final preseason game? Here's a full breakdown of his outing, as well as a grade for it.
Fernando Mendoza grade for Raiders vs. 49ers preseason game
Mendoza didn't have much to write home about in his final preseason outing.
Throughout two quarters – and a bit of a third – the rookie quarterback leaned heavily on checkdown passes, overthrew his targets multiple times, was late on some throws, took a couple of sacks and threw an interception. In other words, Mendoza looked the part of a rookie quarterback still adjusting to NFL game speed.
At times, the Raiders' lack of good depth on their offensive line made it hard to evaluate Mendoza. Was he taking sacks and facing pressure because he couldn't get the ball out fast, or because the line was letting guys go unblocked? Sometimes the answer was the former, sometimes the latter, occasionally both.
The No. 1 overall pick was late on his throws on multiple occasions, which led to some of the overthrows and incompletions. But there were plenty of blown blocking assignments from the line in front of him as well.
After Mendoza's interception, which he threw on his second snap of the game, it also seemed like he lost a bit of confidence in his ability to push the ball. There appeared to be an extra emphasis on progressing through his reads, and he ended up throwing to his final, checkdown option often – but in the third quarter especially. That meant fewer intermediate and deep targets as the game progressed; Mendoza hesitated to pull the trigger on his earlier reads in his progression. By the end of the night, the most net yards the Raiders got on a single Mendoza-led play was a 19-yard pass interference call that was questionable at best.
A full analysis won't be possible until we see some of the all-22 film from the matchup against the 49ers. Perhaps the 49ers were actually just really good in coverage and checkdowns were really the only available option.
For now, the main takeaway from Mendoza's showing in the Raiders' preseason finale is that he still has a ways to go before he's ready to swipe the starting job from Cousins.
Jul 29, 2026; Rochester, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady (right) speaks with general manager Brandon Beane during training camp at St. John Fisher University. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Buffalo Bills have begun releasing players to reduce their 91-man summer roster down to the initial 53-man roster mandated by the NFL for Week 1 of the regular season. The moves Buffalo’s front office needs to make in order to be compliant must be completed by Sunday, August 30 at 6 p.m. EDT.
Every NFL team’s 53-man roster is a constantly moving target, given the nature of the game. So while a player may not make it onto the Bills’ initial 53-man roster for Week 1, a release now doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the end of the road for many of these guys. There’s always potential for a player to return to Buffalo as part of the team’s practice squad.
Add in the unfortunate injury reality, and it’s worth keeping a lot of the names below fresh in your mind as the season goes on. It’s one of the toughest points of the season for front offices and coaches, where it’s less about parting ways due to inability and more about choosing carefully due to roster constraints.
Will Buffalo’s leadership group headed up by president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane make the right moves that take them over the hump? The oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook believe that to be true, currently listing the Bills with the best odds of making the playoffs in the AFC (-330), and the second-best odds (+1000) of winning Super Bowl LXI.
Those are pretty lofty expectations for a team being led by a first-time NFL head coach in Joe Brady and a first-time NFL defensive coordinator in Jim Leonhard. The reason those odds exist is because of quarterback Josh Allen.
Buffalo Bills’ current roster
Quarterback Josh Allen Kyle Allen Shane Buechele
Running Back James Cook III Ray Davis Frank Gore Jr. Ty Johnson Ben VanSumeren (FB) Ian Wheeler
Wide Receiver Skyler Bell (R) Keon Coleman Stephen Gosnell Mecole Hardman Jr. Ja’Mori Maclin (R) DJ Moore Joshua Palmer Dante Pettis Khalil Shakir Tyrell Shavers (Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform) Trent Sherfield Quentin Skinner Max Tomczak (R)
Tight End Jackson Hawes Dalton Kincaid Dawson Knox Keleki Latu Shane Zylstra
Offensive Tackle Spencer Brown Dion Dawkins Chase Lundt Jude Bowry (T/G) Tylan Grable (T/G)
Interior OL Lloyd Cushenberry (C) Sincere Haynesworth (C) Alec Anderson (C/G) Connor McGovern (C/G) Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (C/G) Nick Broeker (G) Bruno Fina (G) (R) Ar’maj Reed-Adams (G) O’Cyrus Torrence (G) Da’Metrius Weatherspoon (G) Austin Corbett (G/C)
Defensive Line DeWayne Carter Travis Clayton (International Pathway Program) Zane Durant (R) Greg Gaines Landon Jackson Zion Logue Phidarian Mathis Ed Oliver T.J. Sanders Deone Walker
Outside Linebacker/Edge Rusher Bradley Chubb Mike Danna Cade Denhoff (R) Michael Hoecht Andre Jones Jr. TJ Parker (R) Greg Rousseau
Inside Linebacker Joe Andreessen Terrel Bernard Jimmy Ciarlo Kaleb Elarms-Orr (R) Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Reserve/Injured) Theron Gaines Keonta Jenkins Otis Reese IV Dorian Williams
Cornerback Dee Alford Christian Benford Te’Cory Couch Jordan Dunbar (R) Sam Franklin Jr. Maxwell Hairston Jordan Hancock Davison Igbinosun (R) Anthony Kendall D.J. Miller Toriano Pride Jr. (R) Dorian Strong (Reserve/Non-Football Injury) Kani Walker (R)
A floppy haired sawed off white boy guard, eh? Intriguing…. | Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Right as the school year is about to start, Marquette men’s basketball has adjusted their roster for the 2026-27 season. On Thursday, Marquette and head coach Shaka Smart announced the signing of fifth year transfer guard Colin Porter. The 5’10”, 170 pound guard spent the last four seasons at Liberty.
“We’re thrilled to be adding the person and player that Colin is,” Smart said. “He’s a strong cultural fit who possesses excellent basketball IQ, poise and maturity. Colin’s shooting, ballhandling and passing will bolster our backcourt immediately.”
Colin Porter started every single game he played for Liberty for the past four seasons, and yes, that is all 135 games that the Flames played in that time period. He averaged at least 27 minutes a game in each of his four seasons, and capped off his time there with 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Porter is a career 38% three-point shooter with his senior year mark of 35.8% going in the books as his worst output. Seeing as that was also his career high in attempts per game, I’m going to guess that if he gets a little bit more choosy, he’ll go back towards the 40% from freshman year or 43% from junior year.
His assist rate trailed off this past year after three straight seasons in the top 400 in the country according to KenPom.com. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about with Porter not even making into the top 500 in 2025-26, as Zach Cleveland was a top 25 assist rate guy for Liberty last season. That’s gonna make a dent in Porter’s ability to be the guy who makes the pass that leads to the bucket, y’know? Elsewhere in Analytics Town, Porter had a slightly questionable turnover rate as a freshman, coming in at 20.4% on KenPom, but he’s been under 18% in each of the last three seasons, including just 13.1% this past year for the Flames.
One thing that’s slightly bothersome? It’s not his shooting in general. As mentioned, his three-point shooting is fine to great. Porter is a career 49.5% shooter on two-point attempts, and he was north of 50% each of the past two seasons as well. It’s his shooting in specific circumstances. In 27 career games against what KenPom.com calls Tier A+B opponents — top 100 teams, adjusted for home/road situations — Porter is shooting 39-for-94 on two-pointers. That’s just 41.5%. Last year, 15 of Marquette’s 20 Big East games were A+B games, and they played five more in non-conference play, and the Big East tournament game against Xavier counted, too. That’s 21, and we can roughly presume that the 2026-27 schedule will land somewhere in that vicinity. 3.5 two-point attempts per game is more than Porter averaged in any of his four seasons at Liberty, so he was shooting more than average in those contests and coming up with more misses than his career or season averages.
If Marquette’s offensive system is still going to be predicated on getting open layups — offensive guru Nevada Smith is the head coach at Siena now, after all — and that’s going to lead to Porter taking more shots near the rim, then maybe this is all okay. It all comes down to how he’s going to be used, and to be very clear: There is zero reason that Shaka Smart is taking a transfer under these circumstances if Porter isn’t going to play some kind of a role on the 2026-27 team.
The circumstances in question? Colin Porter is only technically legally eligible right now. He just finished four years at Liberty, and if this was a year ago, that would be that. However, the NCAA approved five years/five seasons rules over the summer, and Porter is part of a lawsuit in North Carolina that contests the NCAA’s rule that the seniors from 2025-26 don’t get the fifth year. I want to be 100% clear about this: I think Porter should be eligible, because I am shocked that the NCAA was stupid enough to not anticipate the mountain of lawsuits like this that they are facing and thus just grandfather the Class of 2026 in for a fifth year. However, the lawsuits on this topic are far from being completely settled. As such, there remains a chance that Colin Porter will never suit up for Marquette. Early indications from all the courts involved seem to point towards the players seeking a fifth year will end up victorious, but Billable Hours remains undefeated, so who can say for certain?
I can say for certain that we didn’t see Nash Walker at all when Marquette went on their Canadian trip as he continues to rehab from shoulder surgery in the spring. I can also say that Colton Crowdis played a total of 2:34 in the entire three game trip, and that was also the final 2:34 of a 102-65 victory. There’s a need for a point guard option behind Nigel James on this roster. Porter being available means that maybe Nolan Minessale doesn’t have to slide over to point guard duties here and there, and maybe that means that Shaka Smart is 1) making sure he has point guard options and/or 2) sending a message to everyone on the roster that playing time is precious. If he’d rather bring Porter in during August when that could mean Minessale absorbing minutes that maybe we thought would go to Damarius Owens or Michael Porter? You see the message being sent here.
There’s another slightly more interesting message here. Shaka Smart has gone from “nah, we’ll just improve the guys we have here” to “well, this has gone poorly” to “I have added two of the best transfer fits in the country” to “hey, I can make my roster better in November thanks to legal goofiness that has opened a loophole? Cool, let’s do it.” I know what I said about Smart’s future as the Marquette head coach back in mid-March, and I stand by it. The fact of the matter is that Smart has acted like he believes it ever since then. We’ll have to wait to see what the results look like, but the process, the path taken? These are the actions of a coach who is driven to not just win, but put the horrors of last season very far in the rear view mirror.
Let’s get you a brand new scholarship chart and get out of here, eh?
HENDERSON, NEVADA - MAY 02: Keyron Crawford #42 of the Las Vegas Raiders attends a news conference after the team's rookie minicamp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Health Performance Center on May 02, 2026 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The preseason is all about avoiding injuries, and, for the most part, the Las Vegas Raiders had good luck this summer on the medical front.
However, they may have an issue as third-round pick, defensive end Keyron Crawford was injured late in the third quarter of Thursday night’s preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers at home.
The auburn product appeared to get injured while trying to make a play. He went straight to the blue medical tent and then was taken on a cart to the locker room minutes later. He had his left shoe off. He was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak didn’t have an update on Crawford after the game. Time will tell if Crawford will miss any time in the regular season.
Crawford showed a good motor in the preseason and had a sack shortly before being injured. He is projected to be a backup this season. If he is hurt, it could create room for Patrick Johnson or Cian Slone, who both looked good in the preseason.
