Fernando Mendoza was not present during his alma mater’s visit to the White House on Monday, and at least one person was disappointed at it.
While commemorating the Indiana Hoosiers’ undefeated run to the national college football title, Donald Trump said about not seeing the No. 1 pick of the 2026 draft around:
Thanks for the submission!
Advertisement
“I’m not happy, but that’s okay. The reason he didn’t is because he’s at spring training, right? And I actually said, ‘Let him! He’s got to win.’”
•
Advertisement
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
During the Las Vegas Raiders’ rookie minicamp, Mendoza had been candid about missing the visit to focus on training for the first time as a pro:
Advertisement
“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I’ve got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t have the calendar, but as a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look. I want to try to best serve my teammates, and I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
Raiders owner Mark Davis gets candid on Fernando Mendoza leading franchise rebuild
For most of the Raiders’ fanbase, the Fernando Mendoza era is one of optimism. After Derek Carr’s departure and three straight years of floundering veterans, the franchise finally has a young quarterback it could rally around.
Owner Mark Davis is well aware of that notion, as he put it when speaking to Raider Nation Radio’s JT The Brick last Thursday:
Advertisement
“With Fernando Mendoza coming in as potentially the starting quarterback is just so exciting. We’ve got the pieces in place, it’s going to take a while to get all the players and everything, but I believe we’re at the forefront of getting this thing going again.”
He added:
“We continually win the offseason, it’s time to now make it translate to the regular season. I do feel a different vibe around this building right now. Everybody really is working together. Everybody seems to be on the same page. It seems like we’re ready to go for a long-term, sustained growth now.”
The Raiders’ OTAs begin on May 18 and will last until June 4. Mandatory minicamp will be from June 6 to 11.
Donovan Mitchell has long established himself as one of the most electric postseason scorers in NBA history, and he was at it again on Monday with 43 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ 112-103 win over the Detroit Pistons to even their second-round series at two games apiece.
This was Mitchell’s fourth playoff game with at least 40 points with the Cavs, which pushes him ahead of Kyrie Irving for the second-most in franchise history and trails only LeBron James‘ 24.
By the way, he had four points at halftime. Do the math, and that’s 39 second-half points for Mitchell, which makes him co-owner of the record for the most points ever scored in a single playoff half.
CBS Sports Research
You talk about coming up huge. The Cavs were close to being on the ropes, down four at halftime and in real danger of going down 3-1 in the series. I know we had three successful 3-1 comebacks in the first round, but it doesn’t happen often. This was essentially a must-win game for the Cavs, and with Mitchell in the captain’s seat, they took off to the tune of a 23-0 run to begin the second half.
Advertisement
That is the most unanswered points a team has scored to open a playoff half in the last 30 years. Add in the final two points of the first half, and the Cavs’ run of 25 unanswered points is the second-biggest run of its kind in the play-by-play era.
Mitchell personally rattled off eight points inside the first 96 seconds of the third quarter, and from there the “Cavalanche” was on. Mitchell wound up with 21 points in the third, marking the fifth time he has put up at least 20 points in a single playoff quarter.
Only Stephen Curry and Jamal Murray have matched that number during the play-by-play era, which dates back to 1997. Again, Mitchell is no stranger to playoff eruptions. While with the Utah Jazz, his 57 points against the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 playoffs are the third-highest single-game output in playoff history.
Later in that series, Mitchell went for 51, making him one of just four players in history to go for 50-plus twice in the same playoff series (joining Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and Jamal Murray). Additionally, in 2024, he went for 50 against the Orlando Magic in the first round.
Advertisement
Mitchell wasn’t at his best for the bulk of the first round, from which Cleveland barely escaped in seven games vs. the Toronto Raptors, and he’s only 12 for 39 from 3 in this series. But you knew it was only a matter of time before he put on a performance like this. The dude is pure box office. Always has been. He has 109 points over the last three games of this series, which is now down to a best-of-three beginning with Game 5 on Wednesday in Detroit.
RAIPUR: On a Dec evening at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2012, a young Uttar Pradesh pacer announced himself to international cricket with a dream T20I debut against Pakistan. Swinging the new ball with remarkable control, Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned figures of 3/9. More than 13 years later, in a format that has tilted further towards batters, Bhuvneshwar remains not just relevant but among the most effective, as he has shown in the IPL this season. Once a young swing-bowling prospect, he now stands as a study in craft, discipline and constant reinvention.At 36, he has 21 wickets from 11 matches and leads the IPL wicket charts this season, a significant marker in a competition where 200-plus totals no longer feel safe and bowlers are challenged every over. For Bhuvneshwar, survival in modern T20 cricket has come down to one thing: constant evolution.
Watch
All is not well with Suryakumar Yadav’s wrist? | Exclusive visuals
“My skills and the mental aspect of my game have changed a lot. What also changed is accepting situations quickly. The way batters are coming at you now is very different from what it used to be 10 years ago. Accepting things quickly probably helped me,” said the 36-year-old.That adaptability has become essential in a tournament that now barely resembles the IPL’s early years. Batters now attack from ball one, unconventional strokes have become mainstream and even good deliveries regularly disappear into the stands.“Five years ago, if you gave 40 runs, I used to think it was a bad day,” admitted Bhuvneshwar, who returned match-winning figures of 4/23 against MI on Sunday and struck a crucial six in the final over. “Now, if you give 40 runs, I consider it good bowling! Earlier, 200 felt like a winning score. Now, when teams chase 200, it feels like it’s ‘just 200’,” he said.Despite the changing demands, Bhuvneshwar has remained one of the league’s most trusted fast bowlers, operating in both the Powerplay and at the death. Having not played internationally since Nov 2022, the former India pacer insists there is no magic formula behind his longevity. Instead, he credits discipline and consistency for helping him stay ahead.“Motivation is overrated,” he said. “It’s discipline. You are tired, you don’t want to go, but still you have to go. That consistency — doing things day in and day out — makes you consistent on the field as well.” Age, though, has brought physical challenges. “When you are young, recovery takes less time compared to this age,” he said. “Physically, it is tougher but mentally it becomes easier because you are mature and experienced. You understand your game much better.”Even as a younger generation of fearless batters continues to redefine T20 cricket, Bhuvneshwar remains convinced that bowlers will keep finding ways to respond. “Batters do something, then bowlers evolve. That is how cricket has always worked,” he said.Bhuvneshwar’s RCB journey has also come full circle. He was around the franchise’s setup in 2009 and 2010 as a young domestic cricketer before returning in 2025 as one of the country’s most experienced pacer. “Everything changed for me,” he said. “At that time, I was a domestic player. First time into the setup, I was just looking at the glamorous side of it. I was nervous looking at other players, overseas players. But now it’s changed a lot because now a big part of being in the team is being a senior player.”
Former Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton, who was inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame, died on Saturday. He was 83.
Morton was critical in helping the Broncos reach their first-ever playoff appearance, ultimately getting them to Super Bowl XII during the 1977 campaign.
After going 12-2 during the season, and getting wins in the playoffs over the Pittsburgh Steelers and then-Oakland Raiders, Morton was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Year.
Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton stands on the sidelines with both hands on his hips.(GETTY)
“Craig Morton is unbelievable,” fellow Ring of Famer Haven Moses said after the Broncos won the AFC Championship in 1978, per the New York Times. “To me, he’s the most valuable player in the National Football League.”
Morton also won Sporting News Player of the Year, the PFWA Comeback Player of the Year and the NFL UPI MVP in 1977.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of #BroncosROF quarterback Craig Morton, who died on Saturday at the age of 83,” the Broncos posted on social media.
Morton also led the Broncos to two different division titles and three playoff berths during his six seasons with the franchise. He finished his career in Denver with 11,895 passing yards, which marked the most in franchise history at the time.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Quarterback Craig Morton #7 of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during an NFL game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo., circa 1978. Morton played for the Broncos from 1977 to 1982.(Focus On Sport/Getty Images)
Morton also led the Broncos with pass attempts (1,594) and completions (907). But Morton’s time with the Broncos was the latter half of his NFL career.
Advertisement
He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1965, the fifth overall pick out of Cal. Morton spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Cowboys, where he threw for 10,279 yards with 80 touchdowns and 73 interceptions. He went 32-14-1 in his time with Dallas.
Then, during the 1974 season, Morton was moved to the New York Giants, a division rival of the Cowboys. He went 1-6 in his first seven starts that year and wouldn’t find much success in New York across three seasons.
Quarterback Craig Morton #7 of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during an NFL game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo., circa 1978. Morton played for the Broncos from 1977 to 1982.(Focus On Sport/Getty Images)
The Lakers find themselves in ‘no-man’s land’ heading into Game 4. The Thunder‘s average margin of victory in the first three games has been +19.
Advertisement
The bitter truth is that this Lakers team is not built for nor are they as successful when the game goes through Lebron James first. Without Luka Doncic in the mix, the distribution of offense is off balance.
Advertisement
Luka Doncic has been ruled out for Game 4 due to his hamstring injury. That injury has kept him out of the lineup since April 8.
The larger concern for Game 4 comes from the OKC side of this tale of the tape. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has not needed to be in MVP form to beat the Lakes by almost 20 points per game. SGA is only averaging 21/5/3 in this series and none of the three games played thus far have been necessarily ‘close’.
The Lakers can win a game in this series, provided Lebron and Reaves provide volume production. However, unless something significant changes, it doesn’t seem likely Los Angeles will push this to a six or seven game series.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Thunder vs. Lakers live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 4
3rd Quarter- 6:14 Rui Hachimura hits a 3-pointer to cut OKC’s lead 66-58.
3rd Quarter- 7:35: Thunder up 12 after Cason Wallace triple. Lakers timeout.
3rd Quarter- 8:09: Teams trading buckets. OKC up nine, 63-54.
Halftime: Thunder 49, Lakers 45
2nd Quarter- 1:36: Lakers cut the lead to four. 44-40.
Advertisement
2nd Quarter- 4:00: Teams trading buckets with OKC still up by ten. 42-32.
2nd Quarter- 5:29: Lakers first points of the quarter cuts six and a half scoreless drought. 38-28 lead.
2nd Quarter- 6:01: OKC 17-0 run. Lakers scoreless in the quarter. 38-26 lead.
Advertisement
Advertisement
2nd Quarter- 6:12: OKC up by 10. 36-26. A 15-0 run for the Thunder.
2nd Quarter- 7:19: Jared McCain 3-pointer has OKC on 13-0 run. Lakers scoreless in first five minutes of the quarter.
2nd Quarter- 9:50: OKC up by 5 with 10-0 run. 31-26 with timeout on the floor.
2nd Quarter- 10:54: Thunder up 29-26 after 8-0 run to open the quarter. Two 3-pointer from Alex Caruso.
Advertisement
End of 1st Quarter: Lakers 26, Thunder 21
1st Quarter- 18.3: Lakers up by 5 over Thunder, 26-21.
1st Quarter- 1:50: Lakers increase lead 22-19
1st Quarter- 3:25: TV timeout. 17-16 Lakers up.
1st Quarter- 4:53: Lakers on 9-0 run, take 17-14 lead over Thunder.
Advertisement
Advertisement
1st Quarter- 6:29: Austin Reaves nails 3-pointer, cuts lead to 14-11.
1st Quarter- 6:42: TV timeout. OKC up 14-8.
1st Quarter- 7:34: Lakers trading buckets with the Thunder. OKC up 12-8.
Advertisement
1st Quarter- 9:01: Thunder increase the lead to 7-4.
1st Quarter- 10:32: OKC jumps out to a 5-2 lead.
Tip-off from Los Angeles
How to Watch Game 4 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0) vs Los Angeles Lakers (0-3)
The College Sports Commission won its first binding arbitration test Monday, but perhaps the harder fight begins later this month in a California courtroom.
A neutral arbitrator affirmed the CSC’s rejection of NIL deals between Nebraska football players and Playfly Sports, validating the commission’s authority to designate the school’s multimedia rights partner an “associated entity” under the House v. NCAA settlement. Such deals are barred under CSC rules. Those deals under scrutiny are worth more than $1 million combined.
Jeffrey Kessler, lead counsel for the House plaintiffs, made clear the ruling doesn’t settle what he believes is a broader fight over the CSC’s enforcement reach. In a separate case tied to the House settlement scheduled for later this month, Kessler will argue that multimedia rights companies are not associated entities.
Bryan Seeley, the CEO of the CSC, framed Monday’s ruling as proof that the new enforcement system can do what the House settlement intended.
Advertisement
“This case was never about whether these student-athletes can get paid,” Seeley said outside the ACC’s spring meetings Monday. “It was about whether they can get paid in this way, and our determination was they could not get paid in this way, and the arbitrator agreed with us on that.”
The House settlement administrator is scheduled to review the NCAA and the CSC’s interpretations of the House settlement’s language regarding “associated entities” in the Northern District of California on May 27. That motion could unravel a key element of the House settlement, opening the floodgates to more loose interpretations of the settlement’s guidelines, which were put in place by the CSC, the enforcement arm created last July as part of the settlement’s terms.
Advertisement
“This is just one deal decided by one arbitrator,” Kessler told CBS Sports. “That is how the arbitration system works. Broader issues will be decided by the court, where we just filed our reply brief in support of our motion against defendants and the CSC for overreaching in their enforcement in violation of the settlement.”
On Monday, at least, the CSC picked up a much-needed win after months of creative interpretations of the new rules by players and schools.
The decision affirmed three of the CSC’s most consequential interpretations of the settlement rules. The arbitrator ruled that Playfly qualified as an associated entity, found the deals failed the valid business purpose test because they did not involve goods or services offered to the general public for profit, and concluded that the structure amounted to warehousing rather than the direct activation of NIL rights.
The arbitrator declined to rule on whether the compensation was commensurate with that paid to similarly situated individuals, which is yet another debate as to what and how much a player should be paid in a free market.
Advertisement
The decision on Monday is the first of its kind in the post-House era. Of the 1,153 deals the CSC has declined since the NIL Go platform launched in June 2025, only 21 have ended up in arbitration. Those 21 were consolidated into three cases, with Nebraska’s case comprising the majority (18). The Playfly-Nebraska matter is the first to produce a binding ruling.
The CSC cleared 26,556 deals worth $242.35 million in its first 10 months of operation. Those deals represent only about 4% of submissions, but they account for nearly 19% of total dollar value under review.
Seeley repeatedly said Monday that arbitration decisions are not precedential. The system, which he admitted has pushed through growing pains as many schools have so far refused to sign the CSC’s participation agreement, would have survived a loss.
“Even if we were to have lost today’s decision, it would not bring down the whole system,” Seeley said. “Even if it’s not precedential, the fact is it’s influential, and it’s influential in people’s minds about how they think about enforcement. So to me, it was a good day.”
Advertisement
Seeley also sharpened the contrast with the Kessler motion when asked where these fights belong: in the courtroom or before a neutral arbitrator.
“Looking at whether an entity is an associated entity is a fact-based inquiry, and it cannot be divorced from the facts,” Seeley said. “What plaintiff’s counsel is trying to do in the California litigation is divorce this decision from the facts, and that is not how the settlement is supposed to work.”
Nebraska athletics director Troy Dannen said in a statement Monday he was “proud” of the players and “how they represented themselves during this process,” and added that the school continues “to operate within the parameters of the House settlement and the CSC process, while monitoring changes in the collegiate landscape.”
Nebraska’s players are expected to submit new deals to the CSC for review. Seeley said he told the school that the commission will expedite those reviews.
Advertisement
“I believe there are deals in the pipeline for these student-athletes with actual sponsors attached to them that we can approve,” Seeley said.
But the bigger battle looms in the courtroom, as the reach of the CSC’s power will be questioned later this month.
Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel expressed satisfaction after the team registered a three-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Monday at the HPCA Cricket Stadium in Dharamsala. Chasing 211, DC recovered from 74/4 thanks to captain Axar Patel’s 56 off 33 balls and David Miller’s explosive 51 off 28, with the duo adding 64 runs in quick time. Despite late wickets, DC’s lower order stayed calm. Ashutosh Sharma smashed a crucial 24 off 10 balls, while Madhav Tiwari remained unbeaten on 18 off 8 and Auqib Nabi struck 10* off just 2 balls to seal the chase as DC made 216/7 in 19 overs, keeping DC’s playoff hopes alive.
Earlier, PBKS posted 210/5 after a blazing start from Priyansh Arya (56 off 33) and Prabhsimran Singh. Captain Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with an unbeaten 59 off 36, while Suryansh Shedge added a quickfire 21*. In the bowling department, Mukesh Kumar (1/31 in 4 overs) and Madhav (2/40 in 4 overs) shone for DC.
For PBKS, dropped catches, poor bowling, and costly fielding errors hurt them as they suffered their fourth straight defeat.
Advertisement
After the match, DC captain Axar Patel expressed happiness with Delhi Capitals’ all-round performance and hoped the team could carry the momentum into their remaining matches. He praised the bowlers for recovering well after conceding 60 runs in the first few overs and restricting Punjab Kings to 72 in the powerplay, calling it a key turning point.
Axar also highlighted the contributions of Mukesh and Madhav in the middle overs, his crucial partnership with Miller, and the composure shown by the young players in finishing the chase. He particularly praised youngster Sahil Parakh (13 runs off 6 balls), saying he has the potential to become a very good player in the future, and added that having such talented youngsters gives him confidence as captain.
“Very happy with how the team played, and hopefully we can do the same in the next two games. In the bowling, first 3-4 overs, they had 60 runs but to finish with only 72 in the powerplay, that was a winning moment. Then, Mukesh and Madhav bowling in the middle, and after that, my partnership with Miller, with the youngsters then finishing off the game. The cricket we are playing and the players we have, the future is strong. The runs Sahil also made, I had said before as well, he could be a good player in the future. A captain is very happy when he has youngsters like this, and as you said, the Delhi Capitals can do anything,” Axar said at the post-match presentations.
Madhav Tiwari, who won the Player of the Match (POTM) award for his contribution with both bat and ball, thanked the team management for backing him and said he was delighted to contribute to Delhi Capitals’ victory. He revealed that he has worked hard on improving his bowling and range-hitting with his batting coach, and jokingly described himself as both “100 percent bowler and 100 percent batter” when asked about his all-round abilities.
Advertisement
“I would like to thank the management for giving this opportunity. Lucky enough to be on the winning side. I worked on my bowling a lot and my range hitting with my batting coach. It was fun and happy I was able to contribute for the team. (On if he is a batting or bowling all-rounder) I would like to say I am a 100 percent bowler and a 100 percent batter,” Madhav said after the match.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
IPL 2026 News | RCB Outplay CSK For 2nd Win On Trot, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co Suffer 3rd Loss
Placed No. 1 for most of the league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign, Punjab Kings are now fighting to keep hold of the No. 4 spot in the standings. The defeat against the Delhi Capitals on Monday was their fourth consecutive loss of the season, prompting discussions about the team’s strategy, especially after Yuzvendra Chahal remained an unused bowler against DC. PBKS later pulled off another bizarre move as they sent the franchise’s spin bowling coach, Sairaj Bahutule, to the press conference, where he had to justify the no-spinner decision.
After going unbeaten in the first seven games, PBKS have lost four on the trot, with the disastrous run putting their playoff qualification hopes in jeopardy. Chahal, who was named in the team’s XI, didn’t bowl a single over against Delhi, leaving fans and pundits scratching their heads.
When Bahutule was asked about the all-pace strategy in the match, he said: “Definitely there was a thought (about bowling spinners) during the time-out, but I think the ball was seaming and the conditions were suitable for the fast bowlers. So I think the decision was very spontaneous to continue with the fast bowlers and see how we can get those wickets, which we did early on. But I think one partnership just took it away from us.”
Advertisement
When asked if any major changes could be made to the team to revive the remainder of the campaign and finish the league stage on a strong note, Bahutule ruled it out.
“I think the team that has been doing so well, yes, we have lost a few games. We will again reflect on certain areas only. There won’t be any major changes, in the sense that everybody has been performing. But we will definitely look into it and see how we can just turn it around for ourselves,” he asserted.
When asked about the reason behind the defeat, the PBKS spin bowling coach echoed captain Shreyas Iyer‘s words and threw his fielders and bowlers under the bus.
Advertisement
“Definitely we will look into certain phases of our bowling and also the fielding part. Again, today unfortunately we dropped a few catches again at a crucial time, so that was very important. And I think we will reflect, but again, there is no time for us to really brood about it; we must move ahead. At a crucial time, we are dropping catches, which unfortunately is breaking the momentum that we were getting. Because if we had taken two catches, I don’t think they would have reached the target; it would have been very difficult for them and we may have won the game by 20 runs,” he asserted.
Featured Video Of The Day
IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season
Farever servers could currently be down, as players from all regions have reported a patchy experience. As of the writing of this article, no planned server downtimes have been announced from Shiro Games for today (May 11 PDT). However, with a sudden playerbase growth two days into the game’s launch, server issues are rampant. So is it really down, and when could it be back online? The answer is almost always “well, that depends on whether the devs put out a post on it”.
However, there are ways to check the nature of the outage, and whether it’s a problem in your end.
Update: After a sudden outage of ~10 minutes, servers are now back online as of 5:00 pm PDT at May 11, 2026.
How to check Farever server status and downtimes
At the moment, Farever does not have an official downtime webpage. However, you can head over to the game’s official Discord through this link to check an official server status tab on Farever.
Advertisement
In case you cannot join the Discord, that means the invite link has hit its current maximum amount. You should be able to join after server admins look into culling the outstanding invite list, so it will take a few hours at most depending on time of day.
After you’ve joined the Discord, check the server-status channel, which you can also follow to automatically send any announcements to your own Discord server(s).
Advertisement
Alternately, this Metaforge API can also be used to double-check server status on Farever. Simply look for the “online” parameter under realms:
“online”:true means server is online
“online”:false means server is either down or facing instabilities
How long does Farever server downtime last usually?
This dreaded screen might not always mean it’s a full-on outage (Image via Shiro Games)
If there are server downtime announcements, it will likely last for 2-3 hours based on precedence. Farever is ultimately an MMO from an indie studio, so some turbulence in its Early Access days is to be expected. The developers upgraded their server capacities within a week from release, and their blog post says it’s an ongoing process:
“Since launch, we’ve been continuously working on improving stability, fixing bugs, and expanding our server infrastructure across all world regions. (…) We have not yet reached the level of stability that Farever deserves, and we will continue working on improving the servers so we can achieve the best possible performance, alongside fixes and improvements to the game itself.”
However, any major outage should regardless be an announcement on Farever’s discord. If a planned downtime is big enough, you might even see it posted on the game’s X page.
If it’s none of the above, check if there’s talk of a sudden outage on the Discord. Minor fluctuations and issues have been somewhat common in the game’s first week, so if you got kicked out of the game all of a sudden, it might be on the server end, and should be fixed within 30 minutes or so.
Finally, try to change the server region from the top-right corner if you’re consitently facing “Couldn’t connect to server” error screen. It’s possible for it to be a problem on your connectivity, although in such cases you’d have other telltale signs. A good way to spot-check is trying to log in from another server region, and if you still can’t do it from anywhere, it’s likely an outage.
Jake Paul’s controversial and money-spinning boxing career could end after 14 fights.
The YouTuber and businessman turned his hand to boxing professionally back in 2020, though competed against men at a similar level to his. He then made a name for himself by beating former UFC fighters, including Nate Diaz, Ben Askren and Anderson Silva.
Paul suffered his first loss when he faced Tommy Fury, but it was not damaging. That much, however, cannot be said about the second defeat of his campaign, which came in December last year when he stepped up against two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Speaking on the Ariel Helwani show, he has now said that the ‘AJ’ fight – which many rightly said was dangerous when it was announced – could be his last.
“I’m getting some new scans in a couple of days, of the jaw, to get an update on the healing process. We’ll see what the doctors say. I think I’ll be able to get a more accurate timeframe, or can I even fight again? That is definitely in the realm of possibility.
“It does feel a lot better as weeks go by, but I definitely need to get cleared to be able to spar. I’m sort of staying in shape. I’m always in the gym regardless … Yeah [my fighting future is in doubt.] Most definitely. I think it just depends on how the bone heals. And also, there’s a tooth missing here, I’m pretty sure I’m gonna have to get an implant of some sort. I don’t know how much time that adds to things. We’re just going to have to see and figure out what’s the smartest thing for me.”
While Paul, 29, admitted that he has considered that this might be the end, he says that he feels like he still has things to accomplish in the sport and, if cleared to do so, will return.
Advertisement
A broken jaw can be one of the most serious injuries a boxer suffers, not only because of the immediate pain and slow recovery, but because of the long-term physical and psychological effects it can leave behind.
The injury becomes an issue to doctors and governing bodies due to concerns over durability, nerve damage or the jaw’s ability to withstand further heavy impact – particularly if surgery involving plates, screws or other metal fixation to stabilise the fracture is required.
If competing is out of the question for Paul, his time in boxing as a whole is unlikely to come to an end, as MVP has become the standout promotional company for women’s boxing.
Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fans cheer during the second quarter of a wild card game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings acquired nine players as reinforcements in last month’s draft, especially Brian Flores’ defensive unit, which added some much-needed youth on all three levels. All eyes are on big defensive tackles Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange, or on versatile linebacker Jake Golday.
It’s no coincidence that those three were the first three players selected by interim GM Rob Brzezinski. Another guy, however, could make some noise in the upcoming season and that’s third-round safety Jakobe Thomas.
The Miami product was the 98th overall pick in the draft and will forever be connected to Jonathan Greenard. Minnesota landed the pick for him by shipping the 2024 Pro Bowler to the NFC East. Another third-rounder next year, as well as a significant salary cap relief, was part of the deal, too.
Advertisement
Regardless, the Vikings have to nail some draft picks after failing to find enough contributors in recent years.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jakobe Thomas (8) celebrates after the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
ESPN’s Field Yates forecasts Thomas to help the Vikings rather quickly. He named Day 2 and Day 3 picks that will have an immediate impact, including Thomas. Yates wrote this week, “The exact impact Thomas will make on the Vikings’ defense is difficult to forecast, but that’s a testament to defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ creativity. Thomas has excellent size for a safety (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and plays with an ultra-physical mentality.”
Indeed, physicality is one of his prime attributes. A true heat-seeking missile, Thomas is known for hard hits. Perhaps fitting that he could replace Harrison The Hitman Smith in the starting lineup.
Flores uses his safeties in various roles. Some function almost as linebackers, others play a classic free safety role as the last line of defense in the deep passing game. Thomas is more of the former, playing in the box and making plays on the ball rather than anchoring the secondary.
Advertisement
The good news is that Flores has deployed Smith and Joshua Metellus in a way that could be a good fit for the rookie.
Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jakobe Thomas remains on the field after suffering an injury during second-quarter action against the SMU Mustangs at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. On Nov. 1, 2025, Thomas was hurt following a defensive stop as Miami’s defense battled through a physical road matchup in Dallas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.
“His on-ball production last season spoke for itself, as he had five interceptions and 3.5 sacks,” Yates added. “Minnesota is in the process of reshaping its secondary, and Thomas will be a key part of that transition.”
For the first time in years, the cornerback duo remains intact from one season to the next, but the safety rotation could be altered by Smith’s potential retirement. Metellus returns, and so do last year’s third and fourth safeties, Jay Ward and Theo Jackson.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said about the rookie after the draft, “His play style jumps off the tape. He’s a very, very highly intelligent player that we were able to really dive into. Jakobe’s a good blitzer, he’s a good tackler, and I know Flo’ (Brian Flores) is incredibly excited about him as a communicator and his upside football I.Q.”
Thomas will likely compete with Ward and Jackson for the jobs in Flores’ crew. Without Smith, there will be two spots with heavy snaps for the trio; if Smith is back, that number likely drops to one opening.
Advertisement
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jakobe Thomas (8) against the Indiana Hoosiers during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Of course, a rookie is never guaranteed to emerge as a starter early in his career. Thomas is no different. The Vikings could just roll with the more experienced Ward and Jackson, while Thomas develops behind the scenes.
The fact that he was drafted earlier than many expected indicates that the coaching staff has a plan, though. After five college seasons with 53 games, including the final season on an elite Miami defense, he might be ready to compete earlier than some other first-year players.
Thomas and the other safeties will be worth monitoring in training camp.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login