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Vikings Suddenly Linked to Dexter Lawrence

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Giants DT Dexter Lawrence in 2025 against the Chargers
Sep 28, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings released two of their starting defensive tackles last month and may need a replacement or two in the NFL Draft, and it just so happens that Dexter Lawrence, who plays the same position, requested a trade from the New York Giants on Monday.

The cost would be steep, though a player of Lawrence’s caliber rarely becomes available in the first place.

Acquiring Lawrence won’t be cheap, but his next team won’t regret it.

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Lawrence Would Change the Entire Equation Up Front

The Lawrence trade rumor mill is officially open for business.

Close-up of Dexter Lawrence’s Giants helmet before a game at MetLife Stadium. Dexter Lawrence Vikings
A close-up view highlights the helmet worn by Dexter Lawrence before kickoff, capturing the New York Giants’ branding and game-day preparation details on the field. The scene occurred on Sep 14, 2020; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; ahead of a matchup with the Steelers at MetLife Stadium, offering a focused look at equipment before action began. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Lawrence Requests Trade

The Lawrence era in New York is probably over. ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote Monday, “New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II has requested a trade, and he will not be participating in the team’s offseason workout program that begins Tuesday, league sources told ESPN. Lawrence and the Giants have been through two offseasons attempting to negotiate a contract reflecting his value to the team over the past three years, but there has not been any progress, per sources.”

“Lawrence has two years remaining on his deal and is scheduled to make $20 million this upcoming season. Initially there had been optimism that, with changes in the organization, discussions could move forward. But now that they haven’t, new Giants head coach John Harbaugh will open his team’s offseason program this week without one of his best players.”

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It’s not outlandish to proclaim that Lawrence will have 31 NFL suitors, at least exploratorily.

New Giants head coach John Harbaugh said about Lawrence in February, “How important is he? Really important. He’s super, super important. He’s a cornerstone football player — not really a cornerstone, more like the middle stone. He’s right in the middle. He’s a very big stone, and he’s a very active, athletic one.”

“Yeah, again, we have a lot of those conversations as we continue to build or, to your point, open up money Like, where can we do it? Could we do an extension with other players? What does that look like? So we’re always having those conversations, not only with Dexter but on other players. And that’s part of our mapping out the offseason and planning.”

It seems Lawrence will not be around to see the Harbaugh era get off the ground in New York.

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SI.com on the Vikings Would-Be Proposal

Then came the theoretical trade packages. SI.com‘s Will Ragatz scribed, “Vikings get: DT Dexter Lawrence. Giants get: 2026 second-round pick (No. 49), 2027 fifth-round pick. The biggest barrier for the Vikings is the financial side. They’d have to do some serious cap maneuvering to add Lawrence’s contract and give him a raise to top-of-the-market DT money.”

“The only way it really works is if they end up trading Greenard in a separate deal, which would free up some cap space and also presumably get them a new second-round pick. Lawrence may be a better fit within the Vikings’ current roster construction, but the easier move would be to simply pay Greenard instead of executing two different major trades.”

VikingsTerritory proposed this on Twitter (X), which was immediately mocked and rebuked by Giants fans:

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Giants Get —
No. 18
No. 82

Vikings Get —
Dexter Lawrence
No. 37

Regardless, the idea is out there.

Lawrence’s Career Output

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Lawrence is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. He’s widely accepted as the best nose tackle in the NFL and might even be the best overall defensive tackle. When he requested the trade Monday, it was a big damn deal, as his placement with a new team has the capability of shifting the balance of power leaguewide.

Dexter Lawrence runs out of the tunnel before a Giants game against the Commanders. Dexter Lawrence Vikings
Dexter Lawrence runs out of the tunnel as the Giants take the field, energizing the home crowd before a divisional contest at MetLife Stadium. The moment came on Nov. 3, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; ahead of a matchup with the Commanders, capturing Lawrence’s presence during pregame introductions in a high-energy setting. Mandatory Credit: Julian Leshay Guadalupe-Imagn Images

The 28-year-old has banked 30.5 sacks in 109 career games, with 103 quarterback hits, 40 tackles for loss, and 15 forced fumbles.

Here’s his Pro Football Focus resume since 2019:

  • 2025: 75.6
  • 2024: 89.9
  • 2023: 92.9
  • 2022: 91.6
  • 2021: 68.6
  • 2020: 79.7
  • 2019: 76.2

MIN Finances

As mentioned by Ragatz, money is the tricky part: the Vikings just used the last month to spend frugally in free agency, combating a cap-space crunch. Usually, teams that operate that way don’t turn around and trade for Dexter Lawrences.

Still, there’s a chance that Minnesota planned for this — keeping the budget nimble so that, if a player became available in the spring or summer, it could pounce.

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Dexter Lawrence warms up on the field before a Giants game at MetLife Stadium. Dexter Lawrence Vikings
Dexter Lawrence goes through warmups on the field, preparing for game action as the Giants finalize pregame routines at MetLife Stadium. The sequence took place on Sep 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; before kickoff, showing Lawrence getting loose ahead of a regular-season contest in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Julian Leshay Guadalupe-Imagn Images

Lawrence’s contract extension, after the eventual trade, will likely pay him around $30 million per season. In theory, Minnesota could accommodate that by firing up a three-year deal worth $90 million, making the cap hits sunset heavily in 2028 and 2029, and possibly trading outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard to a new team for a 2nd-Round pick.

The 2026 DL would look like this:

  • Dallas Turner
  • Dexter Lawrence
  • Jalen Redmond
  • Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
  • Andrew Van Ginkel

Not bad.


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Michigan Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau completes completes redemption arc

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INDIANAPOLIS — Less than an hour after the 2026 national title game ended, Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau was feeling himself. He had every reason to after having one of the best performances of his lengthy and turbulent career.

Just over a year after a split with North Carolina, Cadeau was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four after finishing with 19 points in his team’s 69-63 win over UConn on Monday, concluding one of the best redemption stories of the transfer portal era.

So, when it was time to send a message to his doubters amid all the criticism he had faced since he arrived at North Carolina during his freshman season in 2023, he was ready to clap back.

“They said I couldn’t do it, they tried telling me I was ass, man,” Cadeau said on Instagram live. “The f— are they talking about. They tried to tell me I was ass. Stupid.”

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Cadeau had every reason to celebrate. Michigan won its first national title since 1989 and completed one of the most dominant NCAA Tournament runs this century. And to get over the hump to win the program’s second national title and the first by a Big Ten program since 2000, Michigan had to take out a UConn team eyeing a dynasty and its third title in four years.

“America learned that stats is one thing but you see he’s the best point guard in the country because of his decision making,” Michigan guard Nimari Burnett said. 

“I can tell that he put in the work and that he was ready to make a huge shooting jump. He was ready for the big-time moments throughout the course of the year.”

The turning point 

Two years ago, Alabama’s defensive game plan for its Sweet 16 matchup against North Carolina was simple: Dare Cadeau to shoot.

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Could you blame Alabama? The then-freshman was shooting 18.9% from 3-point range on low volume that season. With one of the highest-scoring offenses in college basketball, Alabama used that approach to its advantage. By baiting Cadeau into early shots, the Crimson Tide created extra possessions and ultimately pulled off the upset.

For the most part, the plan worked. Cadeau finished 2 of 5 from beyond the arc, and North Carolina fell as the No. 1 seed in the West Region. It was a bitter end to a season that began with high expectations for the Tar Heels.

In UNC’s loss to Alabama in the 2024 Sweet 16, Cadeau was left open at times from beyond the arc
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During his first two seasons at UNC, Elliot Cadeau shot 39 of 142 (27.4%) from 3-point range. Cadeau led UNC in assists as a freshman. Teams didn’t respect Cadeau as a shooter. Opponents routinely left him open from 3-point range, building scouting reports around the idea that it wouldn’t come back to hurt them.

That ultimately led to a split from the Tar Heels — and Cadeau’s reinvention. 

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“I feel like I’ve been a shooter my whole life,” Cadeau said outside his locker. 

“Coach believing in me and letting me shoot whenever I wanted played into my confidence.”

The turning point 

For a moment, the title game felt like déjà vu for Cadeau.

With UConn pushing to climb back into the game against Michigan, Cadeau was left open again from beyond the arc in a key moment. This time, he didn’t hesitate. He knocked down a wide-open 3-pointer that snapped through the net.

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The moment may have seemed innocuous at the time, but it proved to be the turning point. Cadeau’s 3-pointer with 12:56 remaining was Michigan’s first of the night, pushed the lead into double digits and halted UConn’s momentum.

A year ago, that moment might have gone differently. On Monday night, it marked the culmination of one of the more compelling redemption arcs in college basketball’s transfer portal era.

“We had seen him in prep ranks and in high school and felt like we needed a quarterback, a pass-first guy on the floor at all times,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “I thought we could win with him because it was there on film. He’s a savant. He’s brilliant. He’s made us better coaches, and hopefully we’ve helped him become a better player.”

In return, Cadeau leaned into that trust. He was given the freedom to shoot, to struggle and ultimately to succeed on the biggest stage.

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“Letting me do it in practice, letting me work on it and trusting me to bring it into games,” Cadeau said. “Him trusting me the whole time. I think Dusty is the best coach I’ve ever played for. He’s so smart. He knows a lot about basketball. He had a plan with this really talented roster.”

Cadeau may not have known it when he committed to Michigan just over a year ago, but May did. It’s why the Wolverines are the last team standing — and why Cadeau’s journey will be remembered as one of the defining transfer portal success stories of this era.

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J.J. Spaun’s Titleist driver has been clutch in his last two wins

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Harry Maguire signs Man Utd contract extension

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Former captain Harry Maguire has signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United, with the option for a further year.

The 33-year-old central defender’s current deal was due to expire at the end of this season.

Maguire joined Manchester United from Leicester City for £80m in 2019.

He has made 266 appearances for United, winning the League Cup in 2022-23 and the FA Cup the following season.

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Maguire has enjoyed a revival under interim boss Michael Carrick, starting all 10 matches since his appointment in mid-January after previously struggling for game time under Ruben Amorim, and also missing eight games with a thigh injury.

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‘It was good fun’: Tim David rediscovers his finishing touch

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BENGALURU: The scoring sequence — 6, 2, 4, 6, 6, 6 — was enough to seal CSK’s fate. This was what RCB’s Tim David unleashed on pacer Jamie Overton in the 19th over. Off the 19 sixes struck by five RCB batters on Sunday night, the towering Australian accounted for eight.

The 30-year-old finisher shrugged off a testing few months to light up the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and start off his IPL season in style.

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Playing for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, David had been ruled out on Dec 26 last year with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. He returned for the T20 World Cup but made little impact as Australia made a hasty exit. David only had scores of 0 and 6 against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka to show.

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After a modest, unbeaten 16 off 10 balls in the season opener against SRH, he exploded against CSK, raising both tempo and temperature on a muggy night. The unbeaten 70 off 25 balls powered the defending champions to a 43-run win but more than the result, it was a masterclass in clean, calculated power-hitting.

Walking in with 35 balls remaining, David was kept quiet for six deliveries before he decided to launch the onslaught. RCB skipper Rajat Patidar, who had been striking fluently, stepped back and watched the assault unfold, later calling David “one of the best finishers I have seen”.

A lifeline came when David, on 28, was bowled off a no-ball by Anshul Kamboj, a moment CSK would come to rue. Head coach Stephen Fleming admitted the margin for error against a hitter like David was minimal.

“Against a hitter like Tim David, who is very destructive, you’ve got to be absolutely spot on. Once we fell behind, he got his rhythm. There’s really small margins and with a good hitter like David, we’ve got to be more exact than that. So we missed where we needed to be and we got hurt in hardest fashion,” Fleming said.

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David, who has been routinely targeting the stands during nets, sent one 106 metres into the roof and later joked, “I’ve been getting into trouble during training with the boys. We have competitions to try and hit them on the roof and we’re obviously on the side pitches. So, to get one during a match out of the middle, help it up on the roof, it was good fun.”

He credited his preparation and batting coach Dinesh Karthik for the clarity in approach. “We do a lot of preparation. It’s nice to work with DK. He is an experienced player in these conditions and has been in the IPL for many years. With that prep, you don’t put pressure on yourself to perform,” David said.

At the other end of the spectrum, Devdutt Padikkal admitted there was much to learn from David’s approach. “I wish I could hit anywhere close to what he hits like. Just looking at the technique that he has, you can try and pick up things,” he said.

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2027 national championship odds: Duke, Michigan among early NCAA Tournament favorites

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NCAA Basketball: Duke at Stanford
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The confetti may still be falling in Indianapolis from Michigan’s second national championship, but oddsmakers have already turned their attention to next season, releasing early title odds for 2027. Even as college basketball becomes more transient with the transfer portal — which opened Tuesday — the expectation remains that the sport’s top programs will again contend for a title.

It’s no surprise, then, that just two teams opened with better than 10/1 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook: Duke (7/1), this year’s No. 1 overall seed, and Michigan (8/1), the reigning national champion. After that, the board begins to spread out, starting with Arizona at 12/1, followed by Florida, Houston and Michigan State. UConn and Kansas — which recently secured a recommitment from coach Bill Self — are both listed at 16/1. Outside of Florida and Kansas, every team in that group reached at least the Sweet 16, with three advancing to the Final Four.

Further down the board, things get more intriguing. Arkansas and Illinois are tied for ninth at 20/1, while North Carolina — set to hire former NBA coach Michael Malone — sits just behind at 22-1. Both Arkansas and Illinois are likely to retool after losing All-America freshman point guards, but the roster-building track records of coaches John Calipari and Brad Underwood remain a factor when projecting next season’s contenders.

Among the longer shots, Purdue opens at 50/1 after losing Braden Smith and a senior core that helped make the Boilermakers one of the most successful programs of the past five years. LSU has also climbed the board following the hiring of Will Wade, with the Tigers holding the same odds as SEC rivals Missouri and Texas

Check out the odds to win the 2027 title below, via FanDuel Sportsbook: 

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Betfred Grand National Betting | Bet £10 Get £50 Betting Offer

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The Betfred Grand National betting offer is one of the biggest promotions available in the run up to this year’s race at Aintree, with punters able to claim £50 in free bets from a £10 wager.

The welcome offer is one of the biggest available on UK betting sites, and the £50 bonus can be used entirely to bet on the Grand National meeting.

Betfred have a selection of other Grand National betting offers available for the meeting too, including enhanced odds, money back specials, extra places and winnings boosts.

Here’s how to claim Grand National free bets from Betfred, as well as more information on all their promotions for the Aintree spectacular.

What is the Betfred Grand National offer?

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The Betfred Grand National offer is a ‘bet and get’ promo, with customers receiving £50 in free bets once they deposit £10 and place a £10 bet online. New customers must use either a debit card, bank transfer or Apple Pay to make their first deposit.

The Betfred welcome bonus has a low odds threshold, requiring a bet on a market with evens or greater to unlock the welcome bonus.

There are few stipulations regarding the Grand National bonus, with punters free to bet on whatever sport they wish when qualifying.

Free bets are available to use on all sports and are paid within 10 hours of settlement of your qualifying wager.

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Grand National free bets are paid out as 5x £10 tokens and are available to use on horse racing. Three £10 tokens are for straight sports bets, while the other two are reserved for acca bets (minimum four selections). All can be used on the 2026 Grand National meeting.

Free bets expire within seven days, which is standard across most UK bookmakers and betting apps.

Is there a Betfred bonus code for Grand National betting?

No. There’s no Betfred promo code required to unlock this offer. By clicking here – or any other Betfred links within this article – bettors will be taken straight to the sign-up page for the bet £10, get £50 offer.

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Betfred Grand National betting offers and promotions

Like a lot of the top horse racing betting sites, Betfred have a range of Grand National betting offers that cover all three days of the meeting, not just Saturday’s big race.

BOGBest odds guaranteed dictates that if your selection wins or places and the SP is greater Betfred will pay you out at bigger odds for bets made after 8am on the day of the race.

Extra places – Get extra places on Aintree races, offering greater chances for each-way payouts.

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Multiply Your Odds – Betfred customers that place a Lucky 15/Lucky 31/Lucky 63 can get five times the odds even if they only get one winner on their Aintree multiples.

Lucky Bonus – Place a Lucky 15/31/63, Yankee, Canadian, or Heinz bet, and if all selections win, you’ll receive a 25 per cent winnings boost.

Rewards4Racing – Collect 1 Rewards4Racing point for every £1 staked on sports when you link your Rewards4Racing account to your Betfred account. Points can be used to purchase tickets for the big meetings, including Cheltenham, Royal Ascot and the Grand National.

10% Winning Tricast Bonus – Place a Tricast on any race and if all your selections run and win, Betfred pay you a bonus in cash of up to 10% on your total winnings.

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Racing live streaming – All Cheltenham races will be streamed live on Betfred’s website and app.

Please gamble responsibly

Always remain within a budget and never exceed it. No matter what the circumstances, never chase your losses.

Anyone can lose a bet, even if they know a lot about horse racing. It is easy to get carried away when events such as the Grand National are taking place, so make sure to remain in control of your time and betting.

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Whether you’re using betting sites, online casinos, slot sites or poker sites, bettors can use responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, loss limits and self-exclusion among others.

In the UK there are a number of gambling addiction charities ready and prepared to help you with counselling, support groups and practical advice on how to help you recover if you do lose control:

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

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Martin Bakole ‘pulls out of fight’ on Usyk card at ‘last minute’: “Find your courage”

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Martin Bakole has been out of the ring since drawing with Efe Ajagba in May 2025. It now appears he will remain inactive beyond the one-year mark.

Once considered the bogeyman of the heavyweight division, buoyed by claims of punishing the top dogs in sparring, Bakole announced himself on the big stage when he halted Carlos Takam and then top prospect Jared Anderson on Riyadh Season shows.

A last minute decision to step in and face Joseph Parker on a few days’ notice when Daniel Dubois pulled out the fight with injury did not pay off, as the towering heavyweight from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was stopped inside two rounds. Since then, attention has turned to how he will bounce back, and against whom.

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That opportunity looked set to come against top contender Guido Vianello, but the Italian heavyweight, who has trained alongside Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker, took to Instagram to announce that Bakole has pulled out.

“My team had agreed all terms for me to fight Martin Bakole on May 23 in Giza, Egypt. I even signed the contract. It would have been an honour to fight for Turki [Alalshikh and] Ring Magazine.

“For some reason, [Martin] decided to pull out of the fight without any explanation at the very last hour. Not even an excuse from Martin Bakole, BOXXER [or] Billy Nelson.

“I’m still in the gym this morning, doing my part. July sounds like a good time to find your courage again unless you have finished with boxing now.”

Vianello fought twice last year, losing to rising US star Richard Torrez Jr before bouncing back with a win over Alexis Barriere. He also boasts a win over Fury’s upcoming opponent, Arslanbek Makhmudov.

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It seems a well-matched fight for both men, with the winner then deserving a step up in levels. However, with the May 23 Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven card now announced in full, it appears the opportunity has now been missed. Bakole, his promoter or trainer are yet to comment on the matter.

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Dallas Stars ban fan over group’s Nazi salute during NHL home game

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The Dallas Stars on Monday banned a fan from attending games at the American Airlines Center after they bought tickets for a group of spectators who were seen celebrating a goal with a Nazi salute.

Courtney Ripley told WFAA-TV that she was the one who took a video at a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in December, showing the group of four fans extending their right arms with a straightened right hand facing downward.

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Fans lining up outside American Airlines Center before an NHL hockey game in Dallas

Fans line up outside American Airlines Center before the start of an NHL hockey game in Dallas on Oct. 28, 2025. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

The team conducted an investigation that identified the person who bought the group their tickets and subsequently banned them.

“Any type of discriminatory or hateful behavior will not be tolerated and has no place in our arena,” the team said in a statement. “Creating and sustaining environments that are inclusive, safe and respectful is a non-negotiable for the Dallas Stars.”

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Dallas Stars players Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, Esa Lindell, Jake Oettinger, and Miro Heiskanen celebrating on ice.

Dallas Stars players Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, Esa Lindell, Jake Oettinger, and Miro Heiskanen celebrate their win over the Winnipeg Jets at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 2, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

“Additionally, we are increasing in-arena messaging regarding the Fan Code of Conduct and how our fans can report violations, along with prioritizing staff training to identify and handle situations that arise,” the team added.

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The American Airlines Center told ESPN last week that it has “zero tolerance for any acts of hate and/or discrimination.”

The NHL has a multipoint fan code of conduct. It states that “the best hockey experiences happen in environments that are inclusive, safe and respectful.” Each team has a scripted segment that is shared on their video board, through their public address system or both.

Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque celebrating with teammates on ice at PPG Paints Arena

Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque celebrates his empty net goal with teammates against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa., on March 28, 2026. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

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The script reminds fans about their respective codes of conduct.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFL Players from Campbell County H.S. (Gillette, WY)

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NFL Players from Campbell County H.S. (Gillette, WY) | SuperWest Sports





















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Here’s an up-to-date list of all NFL Players from Campbell County High School, Gillette, Wyoming.

The list includes only those players who have played in a regular-season NFL game. Consequently, players taken in the upcoming draft will not be included until they have seen the field.

The League does not officially recognize players who appeared only in preseason exhibition games.

Campbell County High School is ranked as the No. 4 pro football player-producing high school in the state.

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Wyoming has produced a total of 31 NFL players from 21 schools, with 4 pros currently active.

See where all the other schools in the Cowboy state rank here, with links to their respective players.

NFL Players from Campbell County HS
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Manchester United’s £60m star needs to prove he has a future at the club

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Manchester United are approaching the Premier League run-in and Mason Mount has more to prove than most of his teammates.

“Having competed against them, I know just how strong a squad it is that I’m joining, and I can’t wait to be part of this group’s drive to win major trophies,” Mason Mount said after agreeing to join Manchester United in 2023. The attacking midfielder was a gamble when Erik ten Hag signed off the £55m transfer.

He ended the 2022/23 season dealing with a pelvic injury and after scoring just three goals in his final campaign at Stamford Bridge, Mount needed to hit the ground running at the Theatre of Dreams. Unfortunately for him, he failed to do so.

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The former Chelsea man picked up an injury after just two Premier League appearances and did not score his first goal in the top-flight until March 2024. Since then, his United career has been plagued by injuries as he’s struggled to gain any momentum.

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That was until this season. Mount became a Ruben Amorim favourite. The Portuguese head coach’s two No.10s system was perfect for the attacking midfielder and between October and December he scored three goals in seven Premier League appearances.

“He can defend, he can attack, the quality when he touches the ball is really good, so it’s not a surprise for me,” Amorim said after Mount’s third goal of his purple patch. “He’s a different type of leader. It’s not like Licha [Lisandro Martinez], for example. It’s a guy that leads by the example.

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“It doesn’t matter the situation, Mason Mount is always the same thing – training, talking, dealing with people around Carrington. That is not easy, so he’s a very, very good player.”

Things had been looking good for Mount individually but collectively United were struggling. By January, Amorim had been sacked after his extraordinary outburst following the draw at Leeds.

Mount missed that game due to a knock but returned for a half hour cameo at Burnley under Darren Fletcher. That was the last time the midfielder played meaningful minutes for the Reds.

Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim head coach saw United return to a 4-2-3-1 and Bruno Fernandes was pushed into the No.10 role. Mount soon discovered, like Kobbie Mainoo before him, that Fernandes is undroppable.

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The midfielder has been fit for just four games of the Carrick era. In two of them he was an unused substitute. In the others he was brought on in the final minutes.

United are in the midst of a 24-day break thanks to a lack of European or domestic cup football. They will spend some of this week in Ireland at a training camp but once they return, Mount needs to prove there is a place for him at United.

In Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad, Benjamin Sesko and, of course, Fernandes, United have a wealth of attacking options at their disposal. Three of those can also play Mount’s preferred position, leaving him well down the pecking order.

Fernandes will consider his options after the World Cup but it is understood United want to commit him to a new deal. If he agrees to stay long-term, Mount will definitely be a back-up next season at best.

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Between now and the end of the campaign, Mount has to prove his fitness and his quality to the Reds. If he doesn’t, United will need to consider his future.

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