For weeks, Minnesota Vikings fans and NFL media have speculated that Kevin O’Connell’s team would be interested if Kyler Murray became available — and that theory was correct. The Arizona Cardinals formally released Murray on Wednesday, putting the Vikings in hot pursuit.

Minnesota’s quarterback chase may now have a clear frontrunner.

It may be just a matter of time before Murray signs on the Vikings’ dotted line.

Kyler Murray’s Path to Minnesota Looks More Real Than Ever

It’s time to consider No. 1 in purple and gold a real thing.

Cardinals Drop Murray

Arizona drafted Murray with the first overall pick in 2019 — after it cast 1st-Rounder from 2018, Josh Rosen, to the side to make room — and that relationship has netted one playoff berth. In the 2026 offseason, the Cardinals hired new head coach Mike LaFleur, who evidently has a different vision for the new-look Cardinals than Murray back for Year No. 8.

Following weeks of rumors, the Cardinals, alas, dropped Murray on Wednesday, as soon as the NFL calendar officially rolled to 2026.

Darren Urban, from the Cardinals’ team website, announced, “In the move known for more than a week, the Cardinals officially released quarterback Kyler Murray on Wednesday as the new league year began in the NFL. In the move known for more than a week, the Cardinals officially released quarterback Kyler Murray on Wednesday as the new league year began in the NFL. Murray is expected to quickly find a new team, with the Vikings the speculative favorite.”

“It won’t be Atlanta, who already signed Tua Tagovailoa with Michael Penix Jr. coming back from a knee injury, or the Jets, who traded for Geno Smith. Murray is already owed $36 million from the Cardinals this season, which will allow him to sign where he wants for the minimum $1.3M if he chooses. The NFL’s QB carousel has been spinning since Monday.”

Even the Cardinals’ own reporters know that Murray is probably heading to the Vikings.

Vikings in the Hunt

Then, Minnesota, as the presumptive frontrunner, became a reality.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted, “The Vikings plan to make a push for Kyler Murray and are the favorite to land the former No. 1 overall pick, sources tell me and Ian Rapoport. Finally released today by Arizona, Murray will take his time and wants to speak with interested teams. But Minnesota is the team to beat.”

“The Cardinals owe Kyler Murray $36.8M fully guaranteed this season, so the expectation is he’ll sign a one-year minimum deal. If it is indeed in Minnesota, he would compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job.”

The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini added, “Now that Kyler Murray’s release from the Cardinals is official, the Minnesota Vikings are expected to target him as a veteran addition to their QB room, sources tell The Athletic. He will be taking a visit to Minnesota and getting a physical.”

Murray to the Vikings is no longer theoretical. It is in motion.

Batting Away the Steelers?

Ironically, Minnesota may not face much resistance to Murray’s incredibly affordable services. The Miami Dolphins chose Malik Willis. The New York Jets traded for Geno Smith. Tua Tagovailoa landed with the Atlanta Falcons. Daniel Jones re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts for $50 million per season. Aaron Rodgers may end up back in Pittsburgh.

Aside from the Cleveland Browns, who have Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel under contract, the Steelers are the only real competition for Murray. The Vikings basically have to make themselves more attractive than the Steelers, which isn’t difficult with quarterback-whispering head coach Kevin O’Connell, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Brian Flores’s defense.

It also helps that Murray cheered for the Vikings as a kid. He’s solicited that information a few times over the years.

Kirk Cousins as a Fallback?

In the same swoop of Murray’s release, the Atlanta Falcons also dropped Cousins, a former Vikings quarterback, on Wednesday afternoon. Cousins’s options are narrow, too, though he could chat with the Browns and Steelers.

The aforementioned Russini tweeted, “Expect the Las Vegas Raiders to show interest in Kirk Cousins as they look for a veteran QB addition to help develop presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.”

Some credible hints have suggested that the Raiders may not start Mendoza in Week 1, instead leaning on a patchover passer, which would have Cousins written all over it.

Regardless, in the Vikings’ doomsday scenario — Murray signs in Pittsburgh, Rodgers retires, and Mac Jones isn’t available via trade at a reasonable cost — they could call Cousins to gauge his interest in a battle with McCarthy this summer.

But generally speaking, Murray to Minnesota feels inevitable.

Murray will turn 29 this summer.

Dmitry Bivol has had a number of potential opponents outlined ahead of making his long-awaited return to the ring.

The Russian is set to face mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on May 23 on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven, defending his IBF, WBO and WBA world titles at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.

This represents Bivol’s first outing since February 2025, back when he exacted his revenge over Artur Beterviev to become the undisputed light-heavyweight king.

Since his majority decision victory, though, the accomplished technician has been forced to undergo and recover from back surgery, preventing him from facing David Benavidez last year.

As a result, the then-WBC mandatory challenger was elevated from ‘interim’ to full champion after Bivol had no choice but to relinquish his green and gold strap.

With Benavidez now gearing up to face unified world cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez on May 2, Bivol will instead defend his titles against Eifert, the IBF’s leading contender, later that month.

After that, Bivol should be in pole position for a far more meaningful opportunity, with his manager Vadim Kornilov revealing several options to boxing journalist Dan Rafael.

“Per Bivol manager [Kornilov] to me as it relates to what Dmitry would like: IBF mandatory Michael [Eifert] this spring (agreed to, ticketed for Usyk card May 23) then Beterbiev 3 [and] then either Canelo 2, Benavidez or a cruiserweight champion.”

A rubber match with Beterbiev seems a logical next step, given the close nature of their first two encounters.

As for a Canelo Alvarez rematch, it is difficult to see the Mexican exacting his revenge over Bivol, who scored a dominant unanimous decision victory in 2022.

Benavidez, meanwhile, could present the Russian with the opportunity to either become a two-time undisputed king or a two-division world champion, depending on how he fares against Ramirez.

In a late Wednesday night series of court filings, Chris Gabehart and his retained attorneys responded to or otherwise addressed the continued legal claims made against him and Spire Motorsports by Joe Gibbs Racing.

The first document filed to the docket was a second first-person declaration in which the former engineer, crew chief and competition director made the case that his role as Chief Motorsports Officer has no overlap with his previous position at JGR.

Advertisement

In this letter, Gabehart detailed in line-item fashion all the things he did last year as Joe Gibbs Racing competition director and his nine-race stint as crew chief for Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 team, which was one of reasons he became dissatisfied with his employment.

Gabehart said Spire already has three crew chiefs and a competition director in Matt McCall. He wrote that Spire has a technical director and head of vehicle optimization and also does not serve in those capacities either.

Instead, the 44-year-old cited how much more expansive the Spire Motorsports umbrella is compared to Joe Gibbs Racing with teams that compete in Cup, Dirt Sprint Car, Dirt Late Models and Pavement Late Models. This is in addition to parent company TWG Motorsports owning Andretti Global and the General Motors Formula 1 team.

Advertisement

His words are italicized below:

“The breadth of Spire’s racing program is central to my role as Spire’s Chief Motorsports Officer. Whereas my position at JGR was confined to NASCAR Cup Series competition, my responsibilities at Spire focus on strategic initiatives and operational oversight across Spire’s entire multi-series motorsports enterprise. My job also involves interfacing regularly with TWG Motorsports teams to discuss and develop common best practices amongst the teams. This is currently done through periodic meetings and event visitation by team principals from each discipline that encourage communication and observation of all of the forms of racing in the TWG Motorsports platform.

“My current role at Spire sits at the executive level and encompasses strategic oversight across all of Spire’s racing programs, not just the NASCAR Cup Series. This structural difference is significant. At JGR, I reported within the NASCAR Cup Series hierarchy. At Spire, I operate at the executive leadership level with responsibility spanning multiple racing series and organizational functions. The scope and seniority of my position at Spire involves duties of an entirely different character than those I performed at JGR.”

Advertisement

To wit, Gabehart says the role of ‘competition director’ was ‘organizationally parallel’ to positions like Production Director, Aero Director and Technical Director.

At Spire, Gabehart says he is working towards big picture initiatives that go beyond NASCAR like targeting disciplines to expand into, maintaining Spire branding and competition standards across all the various teams under the corporate umbrella, working with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports to acquire resources and become an asset with both.

His salary has been redacted as part of the public facing version of the declaration.

Advertisement

Gabehart also continued to assert that he made clear in writing the reasons he was leaving Joe Gibbs Racing, something JGR said was not made clear enough or in its own individual memo to senior leadership. He maintains the fact that Joe Gibbs Racing even briefly began to work out the details with him on a separation agreement is proof of that understanding.

In other words, Gabehart asserts that JGR was in violation of its contract with him rather than the other way around as they stopped paying him. Gabehart was a free agent as far as he was concerned, legally.

“Mr. Carmichael (Tim, JGR Chief Financial Officer) notes that I have not signed a complete mutual release agreement with JGR. That is accurate only in the limited sense that the parties did not ultimately finalize a separation agreement. After November 10, 2025, I remained engaged in good-faith discussions and then, in December, responded to JGR’s demand letter by agreeing to a comprehensive forensic review designed and directed by JGR. The parties’ failure to finalize a release was the result of JGR’s unilateral decision to change course, not because I failed to proceed under the Section 6, Paragraph 2 pathway we had been following in November.”

Advertisement

That forensic analysis did not show any evidence that Gabehart shared any proprietary trade information with Spire Motorsports but the suspicion that he may have is what prompted this legal action. For their part, the Gabehart and Spire camps maintain this is punitive action ‘for daring to leave.’

Read Also:

Gibbs seeks proof that Spire, Chris Gabehart conspired to steal trade secrets

In fact, Joe Gibbs Racing has also motioned the court to allow for expedited discovery, a more immediate version of the process that allows both parties of a lawsuit to obtain private documents and communications pertinent to the legal complaint.

Advertisement

More on that below.

Gabehart also refuted the declaration from longtime Joe Gibbs Racing competition employee Todd Berrier stating a conversation between them indicating that Gabehart had first met Spire co-owner Dan Towriss about a job last October.

“It asserts that on or about October 21, 2025, I told him that I had a meeting with Spire co-owner Dan Towriss about a potential job and that I later texted him confirming that I had that meeting. Mr. Berrier is mistaken. The first time I met Mr. Towriss was on February 28, 2026, at an IndyCar race in St. Petersburg, Florida. Any contrary statement is incorrect.”

Advertisement

Towriss also submitted a declaration in support of that statement on Wednesday night.

“To the best of my recollection, I did not meet with Mr. Gabehart, either in person or virtually, at any point in time in 2025. And, specifically, I did not meet with Mr. Gabehart in person or virtually on or around October 21, 2025. The first time I ever met Mr. Gabehart in person was on February 28, 2026 at the IndyCar race in St. Petersburg, Florida. The first time I ever spoke with Mr. Gabehart was during a brief phone call on January 9, 2026. During that call, Jeff Dickerson briefly introduced me to Mr. Gabehart.We did not discuss Mr. Gabehart’s employment with Spire during that Call.”

Gabehart also addressed the declarations by two Joe Gibbs Racing sponsors that Spire had reached out to essentially poach them. Gabehart says he has never met those two sponsor representatives nor shared information about their JGR partnerships with Spire.

Advertisement

As for the revelation that Joe Gibbs Racing had spied on him as he met with Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson over the winter …

“I have also reviewed the declaration submitted by Ryan Simpson. Mr. Simpson is apparently a private investigator who was retained by JGR to conduct surveillance on me. I was unaware that JGR was spying on me. I do not know why JGR was spying on me or for how long. The meeting with Jeff Dickerson referenced in Mr. Simpson’s declaration was held in public at a restaurant in Mooresville, North Carolina. I was not trying to conceal that meeting.”

Dickerson also addressed that revelation in his own declaration on Wednesday night. He said that he and Gabehart have been friends for nearly two decades and have met for dinner regularly over that period. He says he brokered Gabehart’s first NASCAR job while launching Kyle Busch Motorsports. At the time, Dickerson was an agent and spotter for Busch.

Advertisement

“On December 2, 2025, Mr. Gabehart and I met again, this time for lunch at Barcelona Burger and Beer Garden in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is adjacent to the Toyota Gazoo Racing Garage. We sat down at the table I am known to sit at, at a restaurant that I frequent.

“The Toyota GR Garage is a high performance motorsports testing garage used by Toyota, which is in a technical alliance with JGR. Workers from the Toyota GR Garage routinely eat lunch at Barcelona Burger and Beer Garden. I had absolutely no concerns about any of those workers seeing me eating lunch with Mr. Gabehart because I understood that there was no applicable non-compete in place at the time I met with Mr. Gabehart. And, even if a non-compete had been in place, there is nothing that prevents me from eating lunch with a friend.

Unbeknownst to me, JGR had hired a private investigator to follow Mr. Gabehart around. The private investigator apparently took photographs of me eating lunch with Mr. Gabehart. I was surprised and, quite frankly, disturbed to learn that a competitor in our industry had hired someone to follow its former employee around. I cannot stress this enough: It is extraordinary for an organization in our business to hire a private investigator to follow around any employee, let alone a former employee. In my twenty-five years of experience in this industry, I have never once heard of a team doing so.

Advertisement

“Despite JGR being well aware that Spire was recruiting Mr. Gabehart as early as December 2, 2025, no one at JGR ever contacted me to claim that Mr. Gabehart was subject to an applicable non-compete (until JGR filed this lawsuit). Even during the forensic examination process described below, no one at JGR ever contacted me to claim that Mr. Gabehart was subject to an applicable non-compete.”

Gabehart’s full declaration letter can be read below.

Chris Gaebhart second declaration by mattweavermedia

Advertisement

Read Also:

Joe Gibbs Racing had Chris Gabehart followed by a private investigator before lawsuit

Expedited discovery responses

Typically, the discovery process begins after both parties participate in a Rule 26(f) conference, where all parties involved in litigation meet to discuss settlement options and negotiate the terms of which documents and communications are subject to the process.

To be granted expedited discovery, a party must show ‘good cause’ or ‘reasonableness’ in the interest of justice and the potential for immediate harm in the absence of the process taking place.

Advertisement

Effectively, Joe Gibbs Racing says it has reasons to believe Gabehart may have shared the competitive proprietary information he stored on his devices to Spire Motorsports as part of the change of employment.

The legal team representing Gabehart disagreed with that conclusion in a Wednesday night filing. The separate legal team representing Spire also disagreed. Their reasons were practically the same.

From the Gabehart legal team’s filing:

“The Motion is unnecessary, premature, and seeks to circumvent the orderly discovery process that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are designed to ensure. JGR has already received the very information it claims to need: a comprehensive forensic examination of Mr. Gabehart’s personal devices, conducted by JGR’s own chosen forensic examiner, pursuant to a protocol drafted by JGR’s own counsel. That examination established that Mr. Gabehart did not transmit, distribute, or share any JGR Confidential Information (as defined in the Employment Agreement, ECF 8-2). At this time, there is no justification for departing from the traditional discovery timeline.”

Advertisement

From the Spire legal team’s filing:

“JGR misunderstands the legal standard applicable to expedited discovery requests and wholly fails to demonstrate ‘good cause’ or the broad, expedited discovery it seeks in this case. Indeed, although expedited discovery is only appropriate when a movant would be irreparably harmed by abiding by Rule 26’s typical discovery schedule, JGR has utterly failed to articulate how it would be irreparably harmed in the absence of expedited discovery, as required. In fact, JGR affirmatively represents that expedited discovery is not necessary here because its pending Motion for a Preliminary Injunction provides sufficient evidence for this Court to conclude that JGR is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims, even without ‘having any access to expedited discovery.’ Dkt. That concession alone is a sufficient reason to deny JGR’s motion.”

Furthermore, both defendants have asked Judge Susan D Rodriguez, that if she does decide to grant JGR expedited discovery, that they both be eligible for the same on Joe Gibbs Racing over when it understood its agreement with Gabehart to have concluded.

Advertisement

Because, again, both Spire and Gabehart say they acted under the conviction that there was no applicable non-compete clause.

The Gabehart response lists three reasons for reciprocal discovery:

“First, Defendants are entitled to discovery concerning Mr. Gabehart’s compliance with Section 6, Paragraph 2 of the Employment Agreement. JGR has taken the position that Mr. Gabehart did not validly exercise his rights under Section 6, and that his termination was ‘for cause.’ Defendants are entitled to explore JGR’s communications and documents relating to Mr. Gabehart’s written notice under Section 6, JGR’s evaluation of that notice, negotiation of a separation agreement with Mr. Gabehart, JGR’s decision to place Mr. Gabehart on ‘garden leave,’ JGR’s withholding of wages, and records concerning Mr. Gabehart’s employment status. These documents are exclusively in JGR’s possession and are directly relevant to whether any noncompete obligation applies.

Advertisement

“Second, Defendants are entitled to discovery concerning JGR’s internal communications about Mr. Gabehart’s exercise of his contractual rights. The text messages between Mr. Gabehart and Tim Carmichael demonstrate that JGR leadership understood Mr. Gabehart was exercising his rights under Section 6 and did not blame him for doing so. Defendants are entitled to discover what other JGR personnel communicated about this subject, and whether JGR’s after-the-fact ‘termination for cause’ was a pretext designed to avoid the consequences of Section 6.

Third, Defendants are entitled to discovery concerning JGR’s decision to terminate Mr. Gabehart for cause after the forensic examination confirmed no misappropriation occurred. The alleged termination notice was not issued until February 9, 2026—three months after Mr. Gabehart exercised his rights under Section 6, nearly three months after JGR began withholding his wages, and after the forensic examination confirmed no misappropriation. Defendants are entitled to explore the circumstances of this belated termination decision, including what JGR knew and when.”

Gabehart’s legal team writes that if JGR is entitled to expedited discovery from Gabehart, than the inverse is also true.

Advertisement

Spire’s legal team made a similar argument in their own filing:

“If, however, this Court concludes that ‘good cause’ exists to warrant expedited discovery in this case, Defendant respectfully requests discovery be reciprocal in nature and limited to non-privileged documents that bear on the narrow, central issue related to JGR’s pending preliminary injunction motion: whether the 18-Month Non-Compete Provision in Gabehart’s employment contract was applicable at the time Spire hired Gabehart. Instead of the broad discovery JGR seeks, the Court should order limited, targeted discovery concerning the circumstances under which Mr. Gabehart’s employment with JGR ended in November 2025, including internal JGR communications reflecting how JGR interpreted and responded to the November 6 notice and how it decided to stop paying Mr. Gabehart.”

Chris Gabehart response to JGR motion for expedited discovery by mattweavermedia

Advertisement

3 11 Spire Response to JGR Expedited Discovery motion by mattweavermedia

What next?

The two sides will once again meet in court, before Judge Rodriguez, in Charlotte, North Carolina on Monday morning to expound on the arguments made in their legal filings over the past week. 

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson (ANI Photo)

No side had ever defended the T20 World Cup title. Suryakumar Yadav’s boys did it first. At home, no less. Here is TOI’s report card of the 15 men who made it happen.GAUTAM GAMBHIR (COACH) – 9/10Two consecutive ICC trophies. The only man in history to win a T20 World Cup as player and coach. His biggest contribution was framing the team’s ideology to “not playing for milestones”. He backed Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy through their lean phase.JASPRIT BUMRAH – 10/10There is a reason Suryakumar Yadav called him a “national treasure”. India’s cheat code! Named Player of the Match in the final for figures of 4/15. Finished joint top wickettaker with 14 scalps and economy of 6.21 — remarkable on surfaces where everyone else bled runs. In the semifinal, he gave away just 14 runs across two overs in the death when England needed 69 off the last five overs.M: 8 | W: 14 | ER: 6.21 | Ave: 12.42 | SR: 12.00

SANJU SAMSON – 10/10When he got his chance, he dismantled the opposition bowling, narratives against him, and years of heartbreak. He kicked off his scoring spree with an unbeaten 97 against West Indies in a virtual quarterfinal, then 89 against England in the semifinal, and another 89 in the final — becoming only the second batter to score three consecutive 80-plus scores at a T20 World Cup. His 89 was the highest individual score in a men’s T20 World Cup final. Was fittingly named Player of the Tournament.M: 5 | R: 321 | SR: 199.37 | Ave: 80.25 | 50s: 3ISHAN KISHAN – 9/10The comeback stories at this World Cup had a recurring theme. People who had been written off, coming back with a bang. His redemption arc was complete after smashing 54 off 25 in the final. His best performance came against Pakistan, leading the Indian charge with 77 off 40. He finished as the fourth-highest runscorer in the tournament.M: 9 | R: 317 | SR: 193.29 | Ave: 35.22 | 50s: 3HARDIK PANDYA – 8.5/10A reliable, clutch professional who showed up in the moments that mattered. Scored a halfcentury each against Namibia and Zimbabwe, but his best came in the semifinal against England, where he scored a rapid 27 off 12 that powered India to a 250-plus total. With the ball, his best came against Pakistan (2/16). In the semifinal, he bowled the 19th over for just nine runs, claiming 2/38 to halt England.M: 9 | R: 217 | SR: 160.74 | Ave: 27.12 | 50s: 2 Wkts: 9 | ER: 8.81 | BB: 2/16SHIVAM DUBE – 8/10Bailed India out of tough situations while batting down the order. His 31-ball 65 against the Netherlands helped India to 193 after struggling initially. In the final, he scored 24 runs in the final over, taking India to 255. Even in the semis against England, he played a clutch knock, hitting 43 off 25 and taking down the wily Adil Rashid.M: 9 | R: 235 | SR: 169.06 | Ave: 39.16 | 50s: 1 Wkts: 5 | ER: 14.12 | BB: 2/35AXAR PATEL – 8/10While he was not required with the bat, he came to the fore with the ball taking 11 wickets, often bowling clutch overs. In the final, he took 3/27. In the semis, two stunning catches from him changed the game entirely.M: 7 | R: 16 | SR: 106.66 | Ave: 5.33 | 50s: 0

India head coach Gautam Gambhir with captain Suryakumar Yadav. (Pic credit: BCCI)

SURYAKUMAR YADAV (CAPTAIN) – 7.5/10He led with clarity, instinct and energy. He read the game well and wasn’t afraid to back his bowlers or shuffle the batting order under pressure. But with the bat, he looked a shadow of his peak self. Scored a solitary half-century—an unbeaten 84 off 49 against USA—that saved India the early blushes.M: 9 | R: 242 | SR: 136.72 | Ave: 30.25 | 50s: 1TILAK VARMA – 7.5/10He started at No.3 but it didn’t work. Dropped down to the middle-order and suddenly he looked a different batter. A 16-ball unbeaten 44 against Zimbabwe stood out, a 15-ball 27 against Windies, and a 7-ball 21 against England in the semis, where he smashed three sixes off Jofra Archer, underscored his importance.Inns: 9 | Runs: 207 | SR: 154.47 | Ave: 29.57 | 50s: 0ARSHDEEP SINGH – 7.5/10On the high-scoring surfaces, he couldn’t quite replicate his 2024 heroics but still managed crucial performances in the semifinal against England and in the Super Eight game against Zimbabwe. The side trusted him throughout, and more often than not, he repaid that trust.M: 8 | W: 9 | ER: 8.46 | Ave: 28.22 | SR: 20 | BB: 2/24VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY – 7/10I t was a tournament of two halves. He took nine wickets in the group stage and bowled economically, but across the next five matches, he leaked runs at 11.84, picking up just five more wickets. But 14 wickets at a World Cup is not bad.M: 9 | W: 14 | ER: 9.25 | Ave: 20.50 | SR: 13.20 | BB: 3/7KULDEEP YADAV – 7/10Played just one match. Against Pakistan in Colombo, he delivered a tight three-over spell, taking 1/14. He watched the rest of the tournament from the dugout.M: 1 | W: 1 | ER: 4.66 | Ave: 14 | SR: 18 | BB: 1/14MOHAMMED SIRAJ – 7/10Called into the squad as a last-minute replacement for Harshit Rana, he played only the opening match against the USA and walked away with figures of 3/29, stepping in for Bumrah who was ill.M: 1 | W: 3 | ER: 7.25 | Ave: 9.66 | SR: 8 | BB: 3/29ABHISHEK SHARMA – 6/10This was supposed to be his World Cup but lived on the edge of a cliff for seven matches, collecting three ducks in his first three innings. Opposition off-spinners tied him in knots. There was noise about dropping him for the final. He silenced it most decisively, scoring the fastest half-century of the tournament off just 18 balls.M: 8 | R: 141 | SR: 158.42 | Ave: 17.62 | 50s: 2RINKU SINGH – 5/10His tournament was truncated and difficult. Batting in cameo roles that didn’t suit him, he lost his place in the XI by the business end. But every Indian fielding highlight featured him; he contributed as a substitute fielder and remained a warm presence in what was clearly a painful month, having lost his father midway through the tournament.M: 5 | R: 24 | SR: 82.75 | Ave: 8.00 | 50s: 0WASHINGTON SUNDAR – 5/10He featured in just two games, registering 0/36 against the Netherlands and 0/17 against South Africa with the ball. In the one innings he batted against the Proteas, he scored just 11 runs. He was the squad’s depth, used as cover.M: 2 | R: 11 | SR: 100.00 | Ave: 11.00 | 50s: 0 Wkts: 0 | ER: 8.83

Ryan Garcia believes it is clear who accomplished more between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather and Pacquiao are both legends of the sport, each achieving incredible things that some boxers could only dream of ever managing.

The pair famously met back in May 2015, though the bout didn’t live up to the pre-fight hype as Mayweather ran out a fairly comfortable unanimous decision winner.

Over a decade on, they are set to meet again, as they will square off for the second time in the first ever boxing event to take place at The Sphere in Las Vegas on September 19, with the event broadcast live on Netflix.

Mayweather will be competing professionally for the first time since 2017, while Pacquiao has fought just once since 2021, a majority decision draw with the then-reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios last July.

The man who has since beaten Barrios is Garcia, who won the title with a dominant points victory in February, and he has weighed in on the debate that often presents itself regarding Mayweather and Pacquiao.

Boxing fans regularly go back and forth over who between the two men had the better career, but ‘King Ry’ was certain when revealing his answer.

“I feel like Manny has got the best career. Out of Floyd and that generation that they grew up on, I feel like I would rather have Pacquiao’s career.”

While Mayweather may have retired with a perfect 50-0 record, Pacquiao is the only eight-division world champion in boxing history, and will be looking to gain revenge when he goes up against his long-term rival once again later this year.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes the Reds can still reach the Champions League quarter-finals despite losing the first leg of their round-of-16 tie against Galatasaray.

However, Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is confident the Turkish champions have what it takes to complete the task when both teams meet again in the second leg at Anfield.

Galatasaray secured a narrow but important 1-0 victory in the first leg played in Istanbul. Midfielder Mario Lemina scored the only goal early in the match after a clever assist from Osimhen, giving the home side a slight advantage ahead of the return leg in England.

Despite Liverpool’s defeat, Carragher still believes the Premier League club has the quality to turn things around at Anfield.

The former defender admitted Liverpool did not perform well in Istanbul but said he still expects them to progress to the next round.

Carragher explained that Liverpool struggled during the match and were especially poor in the second half, but he still feels the English side should be strong enough to beat Galatasaray over two legs.

He also expressed concern about Liverpool’s overall performances this season, saying the team has not played at the level many expected.

According to Carragher, the club invested heavily last summer with the aim of competing strongly in Europe and possibly winning the Champions League. Because of that investment, he expected Liverpool to perform at a much higher level this season.

He added that even if Liverpool manage to overturn the deficit and advance to the quarter-finals, he is unsure they can go much further in the competition.

Carragher also questioned the balance of the squad, saying the team has struggled to find a consistent style of play this season.

While Carragher believes Liverpool will still qualify, Victor Osimhen is confident Galatasaray can cause more problems in the second leg.

The Nigerian striker played an important role in the first-leg victory by assisting Lemina’s goal and leading the attack with great energy.

Speaking after the match, Osimhen said he is very happy at Galatasaray and proud to wear the club’s shirt. He also praised the strong connection between the players and the supporters.

Osimhen added that the team showed they can compete with one of Europe’s biggest clubs and believes they can still hurt Liverpool in the return match.

Galatasaray will travel to Anfield hoping to protect their lead and reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in many years, while Liverpool will rely on their home support as they try to overturn the deficit.

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s yard got a taste of Buggsy’s ability before his purchase from the Ready To Run sale the previous year.

The son of Harry Angel justified the faith of his handlers and backers by taking out the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m) on his debut at Sandown last Wednesday.

Sandown Hillside Race 1 | Buggsy

The market support was spot on for the @MickPriceRacing debutant 👌🏻 @CWilliamsJockey

📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app

Advertisement

REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/qwL8EF2McG

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 11, 2026

Last October’s $300,000 Inglis Ready To Run Sale purchase was given time off without delay.

Kent Jnr explained how the respite helped the two-year-old immensely, culminating in a Caulfield Heath trial conquest last month that readied him for the track.

Ridden by Craig Williams into the $2.20 favourite spot, Buggsy scored by 1-¼ lengths from Money Honey ($11), seeing off Macedon Mission ($71) by a neck for third.

“He was very well prepared by Hanover Lodge, but you can tell he lacks that race experience,” Kent Jnr said.

“He was off the bridle quite early but then had to dig deep and his best work was late.”

The colt will sharpen up with experience, but Kent Jnr was impressed by his adaptation to conditions at Sandown.

“He’s quite a busy brained horse at home,” Kent Jnr said.

“I think it’s testament to our system. He’s been to the Rosehill stable, transferred to the Cranbourne stable and that’s really brought him on, and he had a Caulfield trial as well.

“Craig’s so good with young horses. He gives them a good experience, gives invaluable feedback to us and the owners.

“I would say that would be the shortest he wants to go. He came off the bridle early and was strong past the post and you would imagine 1100 (metres) or 1200 would suit him better.”

Buggsy’s campaign direction will follow assessment of his recovery when walking out Thursday.

“That was a nice introduction, and I see no reason why he would train off,” Kent Jnr said.

“He’s a vibrant colt that eats very well and is full of energy, but tomorrow may tell a different story.

“Whatever the case he’s going to keep improving.”

Discover competitive racing betting markets for events like the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap at trusted betting sites.

He may still return to the Minnesota Vikings in 2026, but for the first time ever, safety Harrison Smith has been released. As a procedural matter on Wednesday, Minnesota cut Smith, who has yet to decide whether to return or retire.

Smith could still return, but the Vikings finally opened the door to a real transition plan.

Had Smith informed the team he planned to return for Year No. 15 before Wednesday, the Vikings could’ve merely reworked his contract. But Smith still needs time to lock in his choice.

Harrison Smith Release Isn’t the Final Word

Fans await Smith’s official “yes or no” on 2026.

On Paper, Vikings Release Smith

At this precise moment, Smith is no longer a Viking.

Vikings.com’s Craig Peters broke the news on Wednesday, “The Vikings on Wednesday announced a post-June 1 release of safety Harrison Smith. The procedural move, which spreads a cap hit over two seasons, does not indicate where Smith is at in his decision of whether to return for a 15th season in Minnesota.”

“The 37-year-old passed the 200-game threshold in 2025 and has started 203 of 207 regular-season games since joining the Vikings as a first-round pick in 2012. Smith has 39 career interceptions, the most among 2025 active NFL players, and 21.5 sacks.”

Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling added via tweet, “The Vikings will release Harrison Smith with a post-June 1 designation today, per source. It’s a procedural move, since Smith had a $25 million base salary guarantee for 2027 that was set to trigger later this week, but the Vikings would still welcome his return and they’ve talked with him about the move.”

“Smith has not made his decision about whether he’ll play a 15th season; this move will give him time to consider the choice while freeing a roster spot.”

Think of it this way: if Smith opts for retirement, March 11th will be the day that Minnesota formally cuts ties; if he returns, March 11th will mean nothing.

Smith Is “50/50”

Smith sure sounded like a man on the verge of retirement in early January. Vikings fans actually had a farewell party for Smith in Week 18 when his team toppled the suddenly lowly Detroit Lions. He said after the game that he was “leaning one way” on retirement or a return, but left the door open — somewhat cryptically.

Fast forward to March, and Smith is still undecided. One source told VikingsTerritory last week that Smith was “50/50” about returning and that he “has a hard time walking away.”

Kevin O’Connell said in December that he wanted Smith back: “I’ve been nudge-nudging and kind of catching him, picking my spots to keep on saying, ‘I know you’re having a lot of fun doing it. One of the best to ever do it in this uniform, man. He’s remarkable. He’s one of my absolute, all-time favorites.”

In fact, Smith seemed to get better as the 2025 campaign wore on. He battled a mysterious ailment to start the season but finished the year on a high note with a couple of interceptions.

Waiting on the QB Outcome?

On the other hand, perhaps Smith cannot stomach the idea of Minnesota winning a Super Bowl without him the moment he retires. In that vein, he may be watching the team’s quarterback decision — just like you — weighing the realism of hoisting a Lombardi next season with J.J. McCarthy at the helm versus somebody else.

Meanwhile, on the same day that Minnesota “released” Smith, the Arizona Cardinals cut Kyler Murray after seven seasons, and he’s now tentatively expected to sign a one-year deal with the Vikings, so long as the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have a trick up their sleeve.

There’s a small chance that Smith sees the eventual Murray signing — the writing is on the wall for it — and presses the go-button on his final season in 2026. Minnesota won nine games last year with the league’s fifth-worst quarterback production. Murray could be the main elixir.

The Safety Need Question as a Matter of Roster Planning

The 2026 NFL Draft is expected to offer a strong class of safeties, making it a good opportunity for teams seeking talent at the position. With several proven veterans also potentially available, teams will have options. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman would make sense in Round 1 as a direct Smith replacement.

Keep an eye on younger vets like Jaquan Brisker, too, from free agency, who remains available at the time of this article’s publication.

For the Vikings, planning for the future beyond Smith is a pressing concern. While Smith could return for a 15th season, perhaps in a limited role, the Vikings must prioritize their long-term strategy in the coming weeks. Their past decisions, such as allowing Camryn Bynum to leave last offseason, should serve as a cautionary example.

If Minnesota decides to secure its future at the safety position, the time is now. It’s an offseason priority whether Smith stays or goes.

Should Smith return and play at least five games, he will pass Carl Eller and Fred Cox on the Vikings’ all-time games played list, leaving the franchise for good with the third-most behind Jim Marshall and Mick Tingelhoff.

Just weeks after joining the U.S Men’s Olympic hockey team in the locker room to celebrate their Gold Medal victory in Italy, FBI director Kash Patel is celebrating what he sees as another athletic milestone.

“I’m thrilled to announce this historic seminar between the FBI and the UFC at Quantico,” said Patel in a statement released today by the UFC. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with some of the greatest athletes on earth — helping the world’s premier law enforcement agency be even better prepared to protect the American people.”

Advertisement

More from Deadline

The training will provide insight into UFC fighters’ training methods as well as fighting techniques and tactics. It will take place at the FBI Special Agent Academy in Quantico on March 15 and 16 and is for “academy students as well as senior FBI staff from around the world.”

Patel first floated the idea in a teleconference with the heads of the FBI’s 55 field offices just after he took charge at the Bureau last year.

UFC CEO Dana White is a longtime supporter of President Trump, having spoken at the RNC in 2024 and at Trump’s victory rally in 2025. The duo have also announced a UFC fight at the White House on Trump’s birthday.

Advertisement

Patel was effusive in his praise for White and his organization.

“Dana White has changed the game in the mixed martial arts industry and we’re extremely honored to be partnered with him, the professionals, and the UFC,” said the FBI director. “We are grateful for their shared love of our nation, so that we can better defend her.”

Per a UFC press release, the effort is “part of an overall initiative by the FBI to provide its agents with exciting, innovative training options and to constantly look for opportunities to revamp and improve their preparation.”

Among the fighters involved are current interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethe, the first UFC BMF champion Jorge Masvidal, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, former UFC strawweight title challenger Claudia Gadelha, former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler, top UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape and mixed martial arts legend Renzo Gracie.

Advertisement

“I have tremendous respect for the FBI and the work they do every day to protect this country,” said White. “It’s an incredible opportunity for our athletes…and we’re proud to support the FBI in strengthening their defense techniques.”

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.