Sports
How the Vikings’ Front Office Turned Quick Jabs into an Uppercut Punch
All along, the discussion had been between opting for the best player available versus filling a need. Think of these details as the quick jabs or maybe the body blows.
What wasn’t expected was the uppercut punch.
The Vikings’ front office opted for DT Caleb Banks at No. 18 in the 2026 NFL Draft. Doing so happens to fulfill both criteria above — best player available and filling a roster need — and yet there’s a tangible sense of shock (and disappointment, depending on who gets asked). Why is that the case?
The Vikings’ Front Office Rolls in with a Slobberknocker
Understanding the Banks selection requires reframing the discussion.
Indeed, a single axis isn’t sufficient to capture the rationale behind Minnesota’s decision. As mentioned, the selection looks like a terrific decision if the sole criteria rests in exploring best player available, sinking the pick into a need, or finding a balance of both. Fully fulfilling each end of the spectrum means people should be elated by the Caleb Banks decision.
Rob Brzezinski, the long-time executive tasked with filling the GM position after the firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, was quite adamant that Banks was Minnesota’s highest-ranked player. Filling a glaring roster need was basically a happy accident.
“So, as we’re analyzing Caleb and we’re stacking our board,” Brzezinski explained, “we just stack the board based on the way we see the talent. You’re analyzing everything and including everything, and we just felt really comfortable where he was on our board. The board fell, and he was the best player on the board and we took him, and it was pretty easy.”
Later on, Brzezinski doubled down with an adamant declaration, “he was the best player there when we selected him, and we feel outstanding about [the] selection.”
The executive says things were easy. Others see things differently. The reason is due to the risk of the pick. Mr. Banks has had a pair of foot injuries, creating questions about his ability to contribute in 2026 and onward from there.
Check out the benefit of adding another axis within the explanatory criteria. Look at this somewhat clunky chart:
Reward
Best Player
↑ <—> ↓
Need
Risk
In the all-too-simple schema above, the BPA v. Need debate has been brought into harmony. Taking Brzezinski at his word means seeing that Banks was the BPA; just a basic understanding of the roster means realizing that he fills a need. Success?
Not so fast. There’s the risk/reward proposition that’s taking place.
To be sure, the risk/reward dynamic was worked into the mix in Brzezinski’s presser. He knows that there were medical issues. Likewise, he knows that there is massive potential. Many words were said covering these realities.
What appears to be catching many people off guard is that Minnesota followed a restrained, patient free agency with a huge swing in the draft. Playing it safe was assumed, but the reality that arrived was one that is welcoming huge risk. Onlookers are therefore wobbling a bit after getting clobbered with the surprise development.
As of Friday, April 24th, nobody knows with complete certainty whether choosing Caleb Banks was the correct decision. Only the future can offer that kind of knowledge. What isn’t up for the debate is that the BPA/need binary was insufficient within the pre-draft prognosticating since it didn’t adequately corral the possibility of a risk/reward decision.
The 2026 NFL Draft continues later on tonight. The Vikings are sitting atop picks No. 49, No. 82, and No. 97.
We’ll see if the Vikings’ front office keeps hitting onlookers with unexpected decisions.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Todd Fleming, Executive Director of Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches with the 17th green in the distance on February 9, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The tournament director of the Cognizant Classic of the Palm Beaches has been laid off as part of a staff reduction by the PGA Tour, Sports Illustrated reported Friday.
On Thursday, the PGA Tour laid off 56 employees, per the report. Todd Fleming, the Cognizant director, was among them.
The Cognizant is expected to go on in 2027 with an interim director in charge. The tournament has been operated by PGA Tour Events for the past three years. That group also is in charge of events that include the Players Championship and the Tour Championship and uses PGA Tour employees.
Most tournaments on the PGA Tour are operated and owned by local groups that work on behalf of area non-profits. The Cognizant first was held in 1972 and known then as the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic. It later was called the Honda Classic and then the Cognizant.
Since 2007, PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens has been the home course of the event. It was played this season from Feb. 26-March 1 and won by Nico Echavarria, who earned just over $1.728 million.
Earlier this week, the PGA Tour said it is dropping the January season-opening events in Hawaii.
–Field Level Media
HOUSTON — LeBron James scored 29 points, including a tying three-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of a Houston Rockets team missing Kevin Durant for a 112-108 win Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit with under 30 seconds remaining and can sweep the series Sunday night in Houston.
Los Angeles opened overtime with a 6-2 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Smart to take a 107-103 lead. Alperen Sengun made a basket for Houston before Smart made two free throws to push the lead to 109-105 with 52 seconds left.
Smart made two free throws with 35.5 seconds to go to make it 111-105. Reed Sheppard made a 3-pointer to get Houston within three with less than 30 seconds left in overtime but Smart made 1 of 2 free throws to push the lead to 112-108.
Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, and Rui Hachimura added 22 points for the Lakers.
Even with Durant out for a second game in this series — this time with a sprained ankle after missing Game 1 with a knee injury — the Rockets were in position to close out the game after James had consecutive turnovers that Houston turned into a 101-95 lead.
Sengun led the Rockets with 33 points and 16 rebounds. Amen Thompson added 26 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lakers led by as many as 15 early, but were down six in the fourth before Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25.4 seconds to go after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws to get the Lakers within three.
James, who had 13 rebounds, then stole the ball from Sheppard and his three-pointer tied it at 101-all with 13.1 seconds to go in the fourth.
The Rockets had a chance to take the lead after that, but Sengun’s seven-footer was off. James grabbed the rebound and called a timeout. He grabbed the inbounds pass and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his 3-point attempt bounced off the rim to send it to OT.
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Nelly Korda made some changes. Now, she’s running away with a major
O’Keefe recalled her caddie in Scotland, who preached positivity and its power on the golf course. “He just kept saying, happy days. Every time we end up in a bunker, happy days. We’re good. I think that positivity, if you beat down on yourself, really if you’re negative in any way, it hurts you.”
That has been her guide this week.
The amateur will arrive at Memorial Park on Saturday facing a big deficit but believing Nelly Korda can be reeled in — that if she refuses not to blink, and smiles along the way, she’ll be right there with the LPGA’s marquee star come Sunday.
“I think it’s a dream,” O’Keefe said. “You know, it’s something that you think about every once in a while and hope for, but I wouldn’t — I feel like I’m trying to stay composed. There is a lot more golf left to be played. The job is not done and I’m just going to keep doing what I have been doing because it just happens to be working.
“I’m not going to force anything. Try not to get too flustered. Just keep playing my game.”
And see if the golf gods open the door for her on the weekend.
Sports
Mitchell Starc joins Delhi Capitals camp: Will he play against Punjab Kings today? | Cricket News
Delhi Capitals have received a major boost as their star overseas pacer, Mitchell Starc, has officially joined the camp ahead of their clash against Punjab Kings.Starc’s arrival was delayed in IPL 2026 due to ongoing shoulder and elbow injuries. These issues stemmed from a high workload during the Ashes series (where he bowled over 153 overs) and were compounded by a heavy fall while diving for a catch during the Big Bash League (BBL) in late January. Starc experienced persistent soreness when he attempted to return to bowling in February, necessitating a longer rehabilitation period in Sydney.Following his recovery, Cricket Australia officially cleared him to join Delhi Capitals on 23 April 2026. In his absence, Delhi Capital’s pace attack was led by Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, and Lungi Ngidi.In IPL 2025, Starc represented Delhi Capitals after being bought for Rs 11.75 crore in the mega auction. He was one of the franchise’s standout performers, finishing with 14 wickets in 11 matches. He also claimed his maiden IPL five-wicket haul (5/35) against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Visakhapatnam, becoming the first overseas pacer in DC’s history to achieve the feat. However, he did not complete the season, opting to return to Australia to prepare for the World Test Championship Final.
Will he play against Punjab Kings today?
Starc is unlikely to feature in the immediate home game against Punjab Kings on 25 April. Instead, he is expected to play his 1st match of IPL 2026 for Delhi Capitals on 1 May against Rajasthan Royals. Before returning to match action, he will undergo a brief training and acclimatisation phase with the DC support staff to gradually build up his bowling intensity after a three-month injury layoff.Barring any setbacks, Starc is expected to be available for the remainder of the season, including the final league matches and the playoffs. In the meantime, Delhi Capitals’ pace attack will continue to be led by Ngidi, who has taken seven wickets in the first six matches.
Shubman Gill did not shy away from pinpointing where the game slipped for the Gujarat Titans after their five-wicket defeat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 34th match of the Indian Premier League (2026) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. “Definitely. From the 16th to the 19th, those three overs, we couldn’t get any boundaries. Those overs were crucial for us. At the end of the Powerplay, we were in a good situation. We needed to take wickets,” he said. “I mean, when a batsman gets dropped on nought, it’s always tough on the fielder. But it’s about how you come back in the game. We had our moments. But we weren’t able to hit the right lengths consistently, which was important. But they batted very well in the middle overs.”
The dropped chance he referred to allowed Virat Kohli to flourish, and the veteran made GT pay with a commanding 81 off 44 balls.
Alongside him, Devdutt Padikkal produced a stunning 55 off 27, dismantling the attack through the middle overs. Their partnership ensured RCB stayed ahead of the asking rate, even as GT’s bowlers searched for control. Gill admitted there was some assistance in the pitch, particularly from Krunal Pandya’s bowling: “When we were batting, the balls that Krunal bowled, it was gripping a bit. I thought if we could get a few wickets, we would come back in the game.”
Earlier, the Gujarat Titans had posted a formidable 205/3, powered by a superb century from Sai Sudharsan, who struck 100 off 58 balls and became the fastest to 2000 IPL runs. Contributions from Gill and Jos Buttler added heft, but the total ultimately proved insufficient.
Despite a brief wobble when Rashid Khan and Manav Suthar removed Jitesh Sharma and Rajat Patidar in quick succession, Krunal’s late flourish sealed the outcome. His unbeaten 23 off 12 balls, including a decisive 18th over assault, shut the door on GT.
Gill also hinted at expectations from his top order moving forward: “He was quite upset with the way he got out in the previous game. But in the upcoming games, hopefully, he gives me some more strike in the Power-play.” It was a telling note from a captain whose side had their chances, but were ultimately outplayed in the moments that mattered most.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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While Nottingham Forest struck the first blow of the weekend on Friday, Tottenham and West Ham – unusually – both play at the same time on Saturday.
The Hammers host Everton and former manager David Moyes, with Spurs visiting already relegated Wolves.
Tottenham boss De Zerbi, whose side conceded a last-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 with Brighton in their previous fixture, said “a win can change this part of the season”.
“We are suffering, they are suffering because it is not easy to play in Tottenham in this condition of the table, but I said they have to be stronger,” he added.
“We have to live every part of the day waiting for a win and preparing for a win.”
Tottenham and West Ham have to contend with similar run-ins, with Spurs arguably facing the slightly easier of the two. The average position of the teams they still have to play is 11th, while for the Hammers it is 10th.
What West Ham do have which Tottenham do not, however, is some semblance of form.
Nuno’s team have won two and lost just one of their past five matches. Spurs have not won since last year.
“The players are improving their levels and the standards,” said Nuno. “We have been solid in defence, good in attack… sometimes not so good. Finding that balance in the remaining matches is going to be crucial for us.”
LUCKNOW: Former Ranji player from Lucknow, Tanmay Srivastava, is set to make his debut as an on-field umpire in the IPL during the Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match at Mullanpur on April 28.Srivastava, who made his IPL debut as a player for Punjab Kings in 2008, will return in a new role after 18 years in a match of the same team.He became the first umpire from Uttar Pradesh to officiate an IPL match as an on-field umpire. Last year, he made his IPL debut as a fourth umpire.
He has been assigned four matches as an on-field umpire this season: Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (April 28), Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings (May 5), Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians (May 10), and Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 18). He will also serve in several matches as a fourth umpire and TV umpire.A member of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning team, Srivastava began his cricket journey in the lanes of Lucknow. He initially played at Chowk and KD Singh Babu Stadium before moving to Green Park Hostel, where he progressed from Under-14 cricket to first-class cricket while representing Kanpur.Srivastava also worked as a scout with RCB and later moved into coaching and cleared the Level 2 coaching examination. He also served as fielding coach of the Jammu & Kashmir Ranji team and was part of the National Cricket Academy set up as batting coach of the Under-16 side.He then turned to umpiring and has been involved in officiating over the past three years. Srivastava, a former India Under-19 captain, played 90 first-class matches and scored 4,918 runs.
The Jonathan Greenard era in Minneapolis lasted two seasons, and the rumors since early March were accurate. The Minnesota Vikings did business with the Philadelphia Eagles, extracting a pair of 3rd-Rounders for the Pro Bowl outside linebacker.
Minnesota wanted more, but the final deal still gives interim general manager Rob Brzezinski some ammunition.
The Vikings allegedly wanted nothing less than a 2nd-Rounder for Greenard, but that stance did not work out.
Minnesota’s EDGE Depth Takes the Spotlight after the Deal
The Vikings will probably need another depth OLB.
Eagles Nab Greenard from Vikings in Trade
It’s a done deal. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert and Tim McManus wrote Friday night, “The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired Jonathan Greenard in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings and agreed to a lucrative new deal with the star linebacker. The Eagles sent two third-round draft picks — the No. 98 pick in this year’s draft and a third-rounder next year — to the Vikings for Greenard, who then agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension with Philadelphia, his agents told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.”
“The new deal also includes $50 million in guaranteed money, according to his agents. Philadelphia also received a 2026 seventh-rounder in the trade, which was announced Friday. Greenard had been one of the Vikings’ top defensive players over the past two seasons. He spent the first four years of his career with the Texans before signing a four-year, $72 million contract with the Vikings in 2024.”
Greenard was scheduled to earn $19 million in Minnesota next season. Instead, he gets a ticket to Philadelphia and $50 million in guaranteed cheddar.
The Eagles’ & Vikings’ New-Look Defensive Lines
While the Vikings’ draft is still unfolding, and they could land mid- or late-round EDGE as a Greenard replacement, here’s a look at the current defensive line:
OLB: Andrew Van Ginkel
DT: Jalen Redmond
DT: Caleb Banks
NT: Levi Drake Rodriguez
OLB: Dallas Turner
OLB: Bo Richter
It’s unclear if Richter is ready to handle an OLB3 workload in Greenard’s absence. Perhaps, perhaps not.
In Philadelphia, the defensive line has these names:
OLB: Jonathan Greenard
DT: Jalen Clark
DT: Moro Ojomo
NT: Jordan Davis
OLB: Jalyx Hunt
OLB: Nolan Smith
Adding Greenard solves the Eagles’ problem — they need one more dependable EDGE. That’s Greenard.
USA Today‘s Tyler Nettuno opined on the swap, “Greenard may be coming off a down season, but if he can stay healthy, he could be due for a major bounce-back campaign as he becomes the latest addition to a talented Eagles defense.”
“Now, he could give that unit, which had just one player with more than five sacks last season, a true pass-rushing threat. Two third-rounders isn’t an awful price to pay, but there is some added risk involved with the extension. Still, Greenard will be just 29 by the start of the season, and if he can get back to playing at a high level, this move will pay immediate dividends.”
Value = Mid-3rd-Rounder
While Minnesota maintained a posture that suggested a 2nd-Rounder in return, it settled on a puny package, at least compared to trades involving Maxx Crosby (nullified) and Dexter Lawrence in the last couple of months.
On most trade charts, the sum of the Vikings’ trade haul is the equivalent of the 73rd pick in the draft. Brzezinski basically got a solid 3rd-Rounder for Greenard.
Go Birds Go host Eliot Shorr-Parks tweeted from an Eagles perspective, “Wow. This is a major, major investment in Greenard. More than usual for Howie when it comes to an EDGE, who prioritizes the position but also doesn’t usually pay this kind of money. They clearly love him as a player.”
On the other hand, Vikings fans were led to believe Minnesota would land a 2nd-Rounder for Greenard and were hence disappointed that it didn’t pan out.
Free-Agent OLBs to Replace Him?
Looking for solace? Well, the Vikings can rather easily sign a pass rusher or two from free agency, especially after freeing up cap space from the Greenard trade.
These men are available on the open market:
- Denico Autry
- Derek Barnett
- Joey Bosa
- Jadeveon Clowney
- Michael Danna
- A.J. Epenesa
- Dante Fowler Jr.
- Leonard Floyd
- Anfernee Jennings
- Cameron Jordan
- Von Miller
- Haason Reddick
- Kyle Van Noy
Clowney especially makes sense as a reliable veteran.
Greenard tallied 3 sacks in 12 games last season. Minnesota signed him instead of Danielle Hunter, who joined the Houston Texans in 2024 free agency. In hindsight, keeping Hunter probably would’ve been the wiser move.
The Vikings’ end of the bargain all depends on the fruits of the 3rd-Round picks. If they draft duds, the trade will look silly. And vice versa.
PXG Lightning Tour Custom Driver
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Other ‘stiff profile’ shafts on the LPGA
Another surprising option on the LPGA Tour getting a ton of use is the Diamana WB. Compared to the Ventus Black, it’s a bit of a softer profile, but it’s still created as the low-launch, low-spin part for the slightly stronger player. Something that’s been in the hands of guys on the PGA Tour like Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland, and Justin Rose.
You might guess a profile like the Diamana BB would be a more popular part for the women’s game, but with athletes of all genders getting stronger and faster, the need for profiles to keep up with the more athletic fields is more apparent.
For those of you reading at home, this leads into a discussion about how important it is to find the right profile golf shaft for your game, and then match the weight and flex of that profile to your swing’s needs.
Making sure you’re in a profile that activates at the right time in your swing is critical. Weight and flex are then there to make sure that you’re squeezing every bit of performance out of it that you can.
In Auston Kim’s case, they decided to stick with a lighter-weight, stiff flex shaft that they tipped one inch. This tipping stabilized the tip a tad while also making the handle a bit softer, which is very helpful for a wider, more aggressive swing that stays very connected. Again, think Auston, Rory, Cam Young, or Xander.
They don’t yank down on the golf shaft in transition; they keep it wide and long with their wrists relatively stable, and they create separation until impact.
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Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game.
Shortly after the Wolverines captured the program’s first title since 1989, Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. announced he would enter the NBA Draft.
Despite declaring for the NBA Draft, Johnson has maintained his NCAA eligibility throughout the process. However, he has until May 27 to withdraw if he plans to return for his junior season.
Johnson played for Illinois during the 2024-25 season before transferring to Michigan last offseason.
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Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. walks on the court against UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated)
After joining Michigan, Johnson quickly emerged as a key contributor, averaging the second-most points on the team. He also led the Wolverines in rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game.
Michigan head coach Dusty May eventually dubbed Johnson “The Enforcer” and “Junkyard Dog,” a nod to his tenacity on the defensive end. Johnson was named to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team.
RANKING THE TOP 20 PLAYERS IN THE MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TRANSFER PORTAL
But Johnson’s offensive prowess didn’t take a back seat to his defensive strengths. His shooting from beyond the 3-point line showed improvement as the season progressed.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines cuts down the net after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the 2026 NCAA national championship game in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Many early NBA projections gave Johnson a first-round grade. It’s unclear how much name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation he would command if he returns to Michigan or transfers elsewhere.
Johnson has been active on social media, interacting with teammates as they consider returning to Michigan for another championship push.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after scoring in the second half against the UConn Huskies during the 2026 NCAA national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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Michigan added a key piece this week, with Jalen Reed transferring from LSU, On3 reported. Reed was limited during the 2025-26 season by an Achilles injury.
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