If you’ve been craving the city of Minneapolis to host the NFL Draft at some point, your wish has been granted.

The Twin Cities will soon join the league’s rotating list of draft host cities.

Credible reporting emerged Monday, explaining that the 2028 NFL Draft will indeed be held in the Twin Cities after Minneapolis submitted a bid earlier in the offseason. It’s happening.

Minneapolis Moves Toward a Major NFL Showcase

Clear your late April calendar in 2028.

Sources: 2028 Draft Coming to Minny

It’s damn near official. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Monday, “ESPN sources: The 2028 NFL Draft is expected to be awarded to Minneapolis at this week’s league meeting. The NFL’s fan engagement and major events committees have been working with the city and the Vikings on plans for the 2028 Draft.”

Kevin Seifert from the same network added, “Local organizers spoke in March about the broad strokes of this bid, saying U.S. Bank Stadium will be a “foundational piece” of the draft footprint. But we’re awaiting more details on exactly what that would look like.”

In 2023, the draft occurred in Kansas City. The year after that? Detroit. In 2025, Green Bay got the nod. And last month, Pittsburgh hosted the event. The NFL has apparently decided that America’s breadbasket is the best spot to grow the business when rookies enter the league.

The Case for Minneapolis

In April, Minnesota Sports and Events (MNSE) Executive Vice President of Business Development & Tourism Matt Meunier explained why Minneapolis wanted the event: “In terms of the location of the draft, the red carpet and all the ancillary events that go with hosting the draft, all those things are under evaluation by the league right now, so it’s to be determined, but what we can say is TCO Performance Center is a really viable option.

“Flag football, youth football is going to continue to be more prominent as it relates to the NFL and leaning into 2028 and the L.A. Olympic Games, so there’s potential to stage some youth football and community legacy events out at TCO Performance Center, but in addition to that, every event Minnesota Sports and Events hosts, we’re really intentional about staging events throughout the region and not just downtown Minneapolis. We want to unite everybody with this event.”

Vikings Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Lester Bagley added, “The Vikings are vested and invested, and we will provide financial support, staff support and organizational energy.”

Rallying cries from Meunier and Bagley worked.

The State of the Team by Then?

The event is two regular seasons and another full offseason from now. The Vikings could look markedly different in 2028, believe it or not.

By that draft, Minnesota will know if J.J. McCarthy is its long-term solution at quarterback. Kyler Murray is in the mix this season to compete with McCarthy for the gig — may the best man win later this summer. The evaluator of that battle? Head coach Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings’ skipper enters Year No. 5 with the franchise without a playoff win, and most head coaches don’t get that grace from their ownership or general manager.

The Vikings, on the other hand, fired O’Connell’s boss, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, in January while retaining O’Connell. Before too long, O’Connell probably has to win a postseason game or two to stay off the hot seat.

Meanwhile, Brian Flores runs the Vikings’ defense, but his relationship feels like a year-to-year arrangement, as he deserves another head coaching job soon. Minnesota is also searching for a new general manager; the eventual candidate will likely be in charge of the team during the 2028 NFL Draft, barring a strange mishap.

Get Ready for a Ginormous Party

That’s all the football stuff — who will be in charge and why the Vikings wanted the event in the first place. Now: the fun part.

The draft in the Twin Cities will be an epic three-day experience. Virtually every city that hosts it tells wonderful tales about its success thereafter. VikingsWire‘s Glenn Erby on the event: “The NFL Draft has evolved into a three-day football festival featuring nonstop television coverage, celebrity appearances, concerts, and millions of fans attending in person and online.”

“From 1965 through 2014, the draft remained in New York City before the NFL shifted toward rotating host cities in 2015, beginning with Chicago. Since then, the event has traveled throughout the country, including stops in cities such as Philadelphia, Kansas City, Detroit, Las Vegas, and Green Bay.”

If you need a quick way to think of it — it’s just a giant party for three days, celebrating the influx of youth into the sport.

“Minneapolis would become the latest city to capitalize on the draft’s economic impact, tourism boost, and national spotlight,” Erby added.

League owners will vote on Minneapolis as the host city this week and are widely expected to green-light it. Start planning your 2028 draft weekend.

The draft will physically take place at a spot adjacent to U.S. Bank Stadium, per sources.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Lakers predicted to pair Luka Doncic with struggling $19 million Pistons All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It’s safe to assume the Los Angeles Lakers closely monitored the Detroit Pistons’ second-round playoff series vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Why? Because the Pistons’ struggling All-Star center has been on the Lakers’ radar for the past few months, and the consensus was that the Memphis Product’s uninspiring play in the series could bolster Los Angeles’ odds of prying him from Detroit this summer.

Considering that’s exactly what occurred, Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts believes the Lakers could pull off a beneficial free agency move.

“Jalen Duren’s playoff struggles increased Lakers’ chances of stealing All-Star big man,” Watts wrote Monday.

“Luka wants a lob threat center to be his pick-and-roll partner. Duren scored 1.45 points per possession in those situations during the regular season, which is better than 91.8 percent of NBA players. Now imagine what he could do playing with the best pick-and-roll creator in the world?”

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“The 22-year-old big man must be put in positions to succeed. He shouldn’t be creating off the dribble or having to do too much. The Lakers are the perfect spot. Luka will feed him lobs and easy buckets at the rim. Duren can focus on protecting the rim and anchoring the defense.”

As Watts alluded to, Duren’s performance in the playoffs wasn’t an accurate representation of who he is as a player. In addition to being a low-post bruiser capable of bullying weaker opponents in the paint, Duren is an explosive vertical athlete who can track down just about any pass and finish above the rim emphatically.

Don’t sleep on the former lottery pick’s rim protection, either, as he’s fully capable of severely altering shots with his length and impressive hang time.

Of course, the Lakers’ chances of landing Duren will hinge on the Pistons’ stance on their 19.5 points-per-game center.

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The Edmonton Oilers keep looking for a new head coach, but it seems like their whole plan is maybe moving a little fast. As TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports, Edmonton is expected to move toward a formal interview with former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, after some early talk with general manager Stan Bowman. 

Meanwhile, the Oilers are still trying to figure out if they’ll get the green light to speak with former Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy, and that whole situation is still hanging in the air. 

Ryan Rishaug said that talks between Berube and the Oilers have already happened, and that a formal interview is expected soon. If that really comes together it could put the former Stanley Cup-winning coach right up there as one of the top options in Edmonton’s search.

Berube comes with a lot of NHL experience that might really appeal to an Oilers team that is still hunting for consistency even after years of playoff appearances. He put up an 84-62-18 record in Toronto, before being dismissed after a pretty disappointing season under the new general manager John Chayka.  

Before Toronto, he coached both the Philadelphia Flyers, and the St. Louis Blues too. His main highlight was in 2019 when he helped the Blues win their first Stanley Cup title.

Could Bruce Cassidy Still Enter the Edmonton Oilers Coaching Search?

Even though Berube looks like the frontrunner, the Oilers are still keeping an eye on Bruce Cassidy’s situation closely too. TSN insider Pierre LeBrun mentioned that Vegas still hasn’t given any NHL team permission to talk with Cassidy, because he’s stuck under contract for another season.

Cassidy became available after Vegas let him go in April, even though he still had a competitive season to back it up. His solid defensive framework and that championship experience, are reportedly what make him a pretty attractive option for Edmonton’s front office.

The Oilers ended up firing Knoblauch after that disappointing first-round playoff exit, against the Anaheim Ducks. Even though Edmonton made the playoffs in each of its three seasons, and even pushed all the way to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, management seemed to feel that big changes were necessary moving forward.

General manager Stan Bowman later admitted the whole organization really needed a bit of improvement, after that inconsistent season where the captain Connor McDavid publicly said the Oilers were “an average team”.

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has filed an injunction against the NCAA seeking immediate eligibility for the 2026 college football season.

Sorsby has retained Jeffrey Kessler, the attorney who won an historic victory in House v. NCAA, to fight the governing body’s gambling investigation into his recent betting activity. The legal team is seeking a resolution to the case by June 15, a week ahead of the June 22 declaration deadline for the NFL Supplemental Draft.

The NCAA opened an investigation into Sorsby after he allegedly placed various bets on sporting events during his career at Indiana. Sorsby is on an indefinite leave of absence from the football program to seek treatment for gambling addiction. The NCAA has yet to rule on the case, but in a Monday statement, Texas Tech announced that Sorsby has been ruled ineligible based on an “agreed-upon stipulation of facts between Texas Tech University, the NCAA and Brendan Sorsby.” Texas Tech added that it “intends to quickly initiate the reinstatement process.”

The filing argues that Sorsby suffers from a “mental health condition” and has been “clinically diagnosed” with a gambling addiction.

“The NCAA has weaponized his condition to shore up a facade of competitive integrity, while simultaneously profiting from the very gambling ecosystem it polices,” the injunction reads. 

The NCAA responded to the injunction with a statement to ESPN.

“The NCAA has not received a reinstatement request for this case,” the statement reads. “The NCAA generally doesn’t comment on pending reinstatement requests, but the Association’s sports betting rules are clear, as are the reinstatement conditions. When it comes to betting on one’s own team, these rules must be enforced in every case for the simple reason that the integrity of the game is at risk with a statement.

“Every sports league has these protections in place, and the NCAA will continue to apply them equally because every student-athlete competing deserves to know they’re playing a fair game.”

Far-reaching impact

One of the top-rated players in the transfer portal this cycle, the former Cincinnati quarterback was ranked as the No. 2 overall player after throwing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Bearcats last season.

“We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said in a statement after Sorsby announced he was stepping away from the program to get help this spring. “Taking this step requires courage, and our primary focus is on him as a person. Our program is behind Brendan as he prioritizes his health.”

Texas Tech made an aggressive push this offseason to position itself as a legitimate conference contender, and Sorsby’s signing was a major part of that effort. He brings experience, toughness and the kind of live-game seasoning coaches covet in the expanded playoff era, especially when programs are spending more than $5 million in the portal market. If Sorsby earns an injunction, the Red Raiders immediately stabilize the most important position on the field with a quarterback capable of operating an uptempo offense and handling pressure moments.

Without him, however, the equation changes considerably.

The timing of the decision matters almost as much as the outcome. Summer chemistry work, player-led practices and preseason installation are all affected when a staff doesn’t know who its QB1 will be. With the NFL evaluation window also in mind entering mid-June, that helps explain the urgency from Sorsby’s representation. Texas Tech’s investment in roster construction suggests the program believes its championship window is open immediately if Sorsby is eligible.

Backup plan 

McGuire revealed Monday that Sorsby’s projected backup, Will Hammond, is expected to be cleared for all football activities on August. 21 and would ideally be ready to go for the Red Raiders’ Week 3 Big 12 opener against Houston. 

Hammond was an integral part of last year’s conference title-winning team as the first player off the bench behind Behren Morton. He threw for 680 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions last season as a redshirt freshman over eight appearances, including a pair of starts. He also rushed for 299 yards and five scores.

NCAA needs a win

The NCAA has spent the last several years navigating transfer waivers, junior college seasons, COVID-19 exemptions and evolving eligibility interpretations with inconsistent results. An injunction win for Sorsby would only reinforce the growing perception that eligibility rules remain fluid in the modern era.

Suncorp Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 11 NRL game between Wests Tigers and
Manly Sea Eagles. The game kicks off at 3:00 pm with Manly Sea Eagles heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Wests Tigers vs.
Manly Sea Eagles
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday May 16, 2026 at 3:00 pm

Where: Suncorp Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles Odds

Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles Preview

Manly arrives at Magic Round full of confidence as Anthony Seibold’s evolving system continues to produce results. The Sea Eagles have found an ideal balance between direct middle play and expansive edge attack, with their speed men consistently punishing retreating defensive lines. Their attack has looked fluid and connected in recent weeks, highlighted by strong support play and relentless second-phase pressure.

The Tigers deserve credit for the resilience they showed against Melbourne last week, particularly after falling behind early. Injuries have forced Benji Marshall to reshuffle repeatedly, yet effort and defensive commitment have remained consistent. The concern for Wests is whether they can maintain that intensity against a Manly side currently playing with greater rhythm and confidence. If the Sea Eagles dominate field position early, their attacking weapons may prove too difficult to contain over 80 minutes.

Suncorp Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 11 NRL game between Sydney Roosters and
North Queensland Cowboys. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with Sydney Roosters heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Sydney Roosters vs.
North Queensland Cowboys
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday May 16, 2026 at 5:30 pm

Where: Suncorp Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys Odds

Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview

Tom Dearden’s ankle injury looms as a major storyline for North Queensland, with the Cowboys now forced to adjust without the player who best straightens their attack. His combination with Scott Drinkwater has been crucial this season, allowing the Cowboys to create width and isolate defenders on the edges. Without him, more responsibility falls to Jake Clifford and the North Queensland forward pack to generate momentum.

The Roosters, meanwhile, are beginning to build nicely into the representative period. James Tedesco, Sam Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans all enter this clash with Origin selection talk intensifying, and the Roosters’ attack is showing signs of clicking into gear at the right time. Their ability to control possession and pressure tiring middles could expose a Cowboys side still adjusting to life without Dearden. If Easts starts fast, they may be difficult to reel back in.

Manchester City are preparing for Pep Guardiola’s exit after Sunday’s Premier League match against Aston Villa.

Sources have told BBC Sport that the managerial great is expected to leave Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

City maintain Guardiola has a contract for next season and are hopeful he will remain as manager.

However, work towards his anticipated exit is under way at the club, with members of staff of the understanding he will leave.

It is understood members of the squad are also anticipating his departure after the final game of the season against Villa, while the club have turned their attentions towards how best to mark the tenure of their iconic boss.

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who worked under Guardiola at City, is the front-runner to replace the 55-year-old.

Guardiola has led City to 17 major trophies – and 20 in all – including six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups and five EFL Cups during his 10 years at City.

The club’s greatest boss is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time, and could yet still cap his stellar spell at Etihad Stadium with a seventh Premier League title, having already won the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup this season.

Speculation about the manager’s future has been rife for months, with the question about his tenure at Manchester City often coming up in news conferences.

He was asked on Friday whether the following day’s trip to Wembley for the FA Cup final would be his last visit there. “No way,” he said, reminding reporters he had “one more year” on his contract.

And in a interview with BBC Sport before Saturday’s FA Cup final, when asked if he will still be at the club next season, he replied: “Yeah.”

The ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss added: “I am here, I have a contract.”

The same question came earlier on Monday at a news conference to preview Tuesday’s trip to Bournemouth.

Guardiola was asked about Andoni Iraola’s departure from the Cherries and whether he had thought about his own farewell.

He sighed and said: “Next. So many times – I have one more year.”

Robert Garcia has questioned whether Errol Spence Jr can rediscover the qualities that made him one of the sport’s “best fighters” between 2019 and 2022.

‘The Truth’ was once considered a top 10 pound-for-pound operator, back when he dethroned Shawn Porter and Yordenis Ugas to unify the WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles

Around that time, many even predicted that he would defeat Terence Crawford, only for him to lose their undisputed clash via a one-sided ninth-round stoppage in 2023.

Since then, Spence has remained out of the ring but now looks to reignite his career against Tim Tszyu, a fellow former world champion, on July 25.

The pair will square off at a catchweight of 158lbs in Australia, with Tszyu claiming a home advantage as he, too, looks to restore his place on the world stage.

His last outing at world level resulted in a seventh-round stoppage defeat to Sebastian Fundora, who edged their first encounter by split decision in 2024.

That same year, Tszyu found himself on the receiving end of a devastating third-round finish against Bakhram Murtazaliev, but now comes off back-to-back victories following his rematch with Fundora last July.

Spence, on the other hand, appears to be taking a sizable risk by jumping straight into a perceived 50/50 clash, with top trainer Garcia telling ESNEWS that the 36-year-old would have been forgiven for taking a “tune-up fight”.

“Errol Spence was a f***ing badass – pound-for-pound one of the best fighters.

“When he fought Crawford, you can tell that was not the Errol Spence we were used to seeing. He didn’t look good at all.

“Three years later, he wants to come back to boxing – and he’s not going to start off [with] a tune-up fight. I think he doesn’t know what he’s got left and, if he does a tune-up, he might get his ass kicked.

“That’s probably why he [made] the decision to go straight into the Tim Tszyu fight. If he’s fresh and he’s good, then he can win.”

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As Garcia highlights, there is no way of knowing how much Spence has left due to the inactivity, which is largely what makes this such an intriguing contest against Tszyu.

Henry Onyekuru and Oghenekaro Etebo are facing uncertain futures at Gençlerbirliği despite the club’s dramatic escape from relegation in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Gençlerbirliği secured survival on the final day of the season after beating Trabzonspor 3-0 away from home.

While the club celebrated staying in the top division, both Nigerian players endured difficult seasons for different reasons.

Onyekuru struggled throughout the campaign after joining the club on a free transfer following his spell in Saudi Arabia. The former Super Eagles winger failed to score or provide an assist in 17 league appearances.

The 28-year-old played only 301 minutes all season and started just three matches. Most of his appearances came from the bench, while he was left out of the squad for the important final-day victory over Trabzonspor.

Despite having a contract until 2027, reports suggest Gençlerbirliği could allow Onyekuru leave this summer through a reduced transfer fee or mutual contract termination.

Etebo also had a frustrating season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during training. The injury ruled the midfielder out for almost the entire campaign.

The former Watford and Stoke City player made just one appearance for the club this season, playing only 42 minutes.

However, Gençlerbirliği still value Etebo highly because of his important role in helping the club gain promotion last season.

The Nigerian midfielder has now returned to light training and is expected to recover fully before the start of next season. The club will assess his fitness during pre-season before making a final decision on his future.

Both Nigerian stars will now hope for a better campaign next season as they look to rebuild their careers.

Suncorp Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 11 NRL game between Parramatta Eels and
Melbourne Storm. The game kicks off at 7:45 pm with Melbourne Storm heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Parramatta Eels vs.
Melbourne Storm
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday May 16, 2026 at 7:45 pm

Where: Suncorp Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm Odds

Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm Preview

Melbourne snapped its losing run last week but Craig Bellamy will still see areas requiring improvement, particularly through the middle once fatigue began to creep in. The Storm’s defensive structure around the ruck and short side has looked vulnerable at times this season, an issue dangerous against a playmaker like Mitch Moses.

Parramatta enters this clash riding the emotional high of a golden-point victory, though backing up physically and mentally will be the challenge. Moses remains the key, especially with his ability to identify compressed defensive lines and attack narrow edges. If the Eels can hold firm through the middle and avoid gifting Melbourne momentum, they have the attacking weapons to stay within striking distance throughout. The Storm still possesses the class and experience to control key moments, but this shapes as a far tighter contest than the ladder might suggest.