Rajasthan Royals’ Jofra Archer (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Riyan Parag admitted Rajasthan Royals still have several areas to improve despite sealing the final IPL 2026 playoff spot with a crucial 30-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. RR crossed the 200-run mark thanks to explosive late hitting from Jofra Archer and Ravindra Jadeja before Archer’s brilliant spell with the ball helped knock Mumbai Indians out of the tournament. Speaking after the win, Parag explained the tactical thinking behind promoting Archer to No. 7 and sending Jadeja at No. 9 during RR’s late batting surge. “Obviously it’s good when things go to plan. I know we’ve won the game, we’ve qualified, but a lot of areas that we can do better,” Parag said. “Wanted the set batter to play a little longer (the move to have Jofra at 7, Jaddu at 9). We needed runs. It’s a wicket where you can’t have two players batting in the middle and going at a run a ball. Wanted one guy to take the initiative, take the risk. And the other guy could stay a little bit longer.” The RR captain reserved special praise for Jadeja, whose unbeaten 19 off 11 balls proved crucial in the final overs. “And Jadeja is as reliable as always. I knew back-end he would get us at least 20 off 10 which he did,” he added. Parag also opened up on his aggressive leadership style and insisted the decisions were based more on instinct than statistical match-ups. “Have taken a lot of brave calls actually this season. That’s how I like to lead. That’s how I lead Assam as well. You got to take your chances, it’s not a gamble. Of course you think about it a lot.” One of those calls involved using Archer directly against Hardik Pandya during Mumbai’s chase, a move that proved decisive after the England pacer dismissed the MI skipper in the 16th over. “I thought, Hardik – there’s only one guy who can get him out and that is Jofra. That paid off well.” When asked whether his decisions are driven by data or instinct, Parag gave a straightforward answer: “Instincts always.” The RR skipper also praised uncapped bowlers Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja for stepping up in a pressure game, though he joked about usually avoiding too much praise. “It’s tough but all the credit to them. I don’t usually praise them so they don’t get all bloated and stuff. But after tonight I think they deserve it.” “Brijesh – the way he’s come back after getting a few games here and there, where he’s gone for some runs in the last few overs. How he bowled today and how he’s been bowling.” “And Punja, from a net bowler to his journey right now, being the lead spinner. Remarkable job. I hope they do it for another one game and then another two games.” Parag also revealed he is still not fully fit physically but credited mental toughness for helping him continue through the season. “I’m definitely not fit. All of this was mental toughness.” He also provided updates on Archer and Jadeja ahead of the playoffs. “Jofra’s fine, he’s strong as a rock. Jaddu bhai has some niggles here and there.” Despite securing qualification, Parag admitted RR made life harder for themselves by leaving it too late. “We should’ve qualified way earlier. Left it a little too late. Hopefully we learn from all of our games.”
AEW Men’s World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman recently shared his thoughts on an age-old debate in professional wrestling- whether it makes sense for promotions to build their product around a handful of top stars.
While appearing in an interview recently with the Shut Up and Wrestle podcast, MJF and interviewer Brian Solomon began a discussion at one point regarding certain wrestling legends who never became main event names or World Champions in major promotions like WWE, despite their undeniable in-ring prowess and popularity. Big Hebrew specifically brought up the case of WWE and AEW legend Jake Roberts, alluding to the sports entertainment juggernaut not pushing The Snake despite the reactions he had generated against Hulk Hogan.
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This opened up a broader discussion on promotions like the Stamford-based company pushing and presenting only a select handful of their talent as upper-card, main-event calibre stars, a trend that is arguably followed to this day. Friedman suggested that a product built around one or two top names is less interesting than it could have been otherwise, stating:
“Jake Roberts attacks Hulk Hogan, gets a louder reaction than Hulk Hogan by a fair margin, they’re screaming ‘Jake’, they’re screaming ‘DDT’, nothing happened after. Because there was only time for one guy on top, according to sources, right? So I.. I talked about this in an interview recently with Ariel Helwani, I think the best product is not a product where there’s only one figurehead and person of importance.”
The Salt of The Earth continued:
“Now granted, don’t get me wrong, I am that guy, especially in this modern era, I move the needle for my company more than anybody else- however, if I’m watching a product where that ball can’t be passed, and I can’t have anyone else on top, and there’s no time for anybody else, it’s boring, what am I watching for? I’m only investing in one guy? I’m only investing in the story of one guy on this weekly episodic professional wrestling show? It’s boring! Again, that’s what made the territories so exciting. Yes, you had your 1A guys, but you also had 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, it was crazy,” said Friedman.
MJF says he has respect for everyone in the AEW locker room right now:“This is the most harmonious my locker room’s ever been. Do I think it’s anywhere near as nasty as it used to be? Thank God, not even close. You know, there’s no one on my roster that I don’t respect, unless they give me a reason not to, you know what I mean? But as far as from a talent perspective, I respect every other guy that is in the conversation of being the 1A, 1B, 1C, etc.”(Shut Up And Wrestle podcast)
MJF will be involved in a huge cage match at AEW Forbidden Door
In less than two weeks at AEW Forbidden Door 2026, MJF will team with the Don Callis Family’s Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Kazuchika Okada, Jake Doyle and Andrade El Idolo to take on Mark Briscoe, his Conglomeration partners Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong and Orange Cassidy, International Champion Konosuke Takeshita, and former World Champion Darby Allin, in a multi-person steel cage match. If The Sussex County Chicken’s team wins the bout, he will earn a shot at Friedman’s AEW World Title.
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The Wolf of Wrestling and his DCF allies will head into Forbidden Door with momentum on their side, having defeated the babyface team in a standard tag match this week on Wednesday Night AEW Dynamite.
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Jan 21, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; CBS Sports sideline announcer Mike Florio on field prior to an AFC divisional round game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports.
Whoever loses the passer battle in the Twin Cities is going to be left disappointed. How that disappointment manifests itself remains to be seen, leading to national NFL voice Mike Florio spilling some digital ink on the topic.
At Pro Football Talk, Florio took on the issue, swerving into all kinds of different questions and scenarios within the unfolding drama at TCO Performance Center. Consider the concluding thoughts: “In theory, Murray provides the Vikings with a no-lose proposition. Murray’s presence will either get McCarthy to step up, or it will cause him to step off. The flip side is that someone will lose out on starting, and his disappointment will need to be managed.”
And the final lines: “That’s why O’Connell will need to have an effective plan for how to deal with the guy who comes in second. He seems to be the type who does. The only question is whether it will work.”
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National NFL Voice Digs into Vikings QB Battle
Broadly speaking, the expectation is that Kyler Murray will be the Vikings’ QB1 in 2026. And, to be sure, there’s good reason for that belief.
The 28-year-old passer is among the most gifted quarterbacks in the NFL, largely contributing to him being chosen at No. 1 in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has since proven to be a wonderfully accurate passer who boasts insane quickness. Via the air and the ground, Murray can pick a team apart.
Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) huddles with the offense in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Part of what has made his story odd, though, is that team success hasn’t followed.
In that way, Murray is strikingly similar to Kirk Cousins. Both arrived as borderline franchise passers during free agency. Both offer very promising statistics but without any team success to boast about. In each instance, the failure of terrible football teams — Washington and Arizona — was held up as key contributors for why things would be different as the new QB1 for the Vikings.
A key distinguishing factor for Murray is that he’s being forced to fend off a highly-picked, homegrown talent in J.J. McCarthy. Cousins had to overcome no such hurdle. Moreover, Kyler Murray is costing just $1.3 million, a far cry from the $84 million (guaranteed, of course) that Cousins snagged to lead the Vikings through the wilderness instead of to the promised land.
Seeing Murray win in training camp won’t be surprising. Seeing him then experience true team success is an entirely different issue.
Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) and head coach Kevin O’Connell hug before the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Kick it back to Florio, who writes that “the guy who misses the chance to provide the Vikings with what they need to get to the playoffs and perhaps win their first postseason game since 2019 will be very disappointed. And possibly upset.”
Broader context about Murray’s past: “When Murray signed with the Vikings for a mere $1.3 million in March (the Cardinals owe him another $35.8 million this year), the thinking was that he had the inside track. Sure, the past few seasons haven’t been great. But the Cardinals had a role in that. Beyond the fact that they haven’t had enough talent around him, they threw a wrench into the relationship by trying to jam an ill-advised homework clause into the long-term deal he signed after his first three seasons, which ended with the offensive rookie of the year award in 2019 and Pro Bowl berths in 2020 and 2021.”
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Plus the more recent developments: “The public accounts of the team’s mandatory minicamp created the impression that McCarthy is making strides and Murray is struggling.”
At minicamp last week, J.J. McCarthy wasn’t perfect but he had a better week than Kyler Murray. By no means does that opinion mean that McCarthy is the favorite. Rather, it’s a reminder that there’s still a competition unfolding.
Mike Florio then offers an open-ended observation: “That could (or perhaps should) light a fire under Murray to view the next six weeks not as a break or a vacation but as a challenge. And it will become obvious to the coaching staff if Murray is taking full advantage of the extra time to get himself ready to clearly and conclusively win the job once training camp opens.”
Not to beat a dead horse, but being at TCO helps. I was able to ask Murray about how he plans to spend his time off. His answer? That he doesn’t view the summer as being time off. He told me he plans to grind, continuing to improve ahead of training camp.
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Oct 30, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
The current guess on this end of the internet is that Murray is the starter in Week 1 but doesn’t start the most games in the 2026 season. Either due to injury or poor play, Murray takes a backseat to McCarthy.
Kyler Murray was able to get a no-tag clause into his Vikings deal. He didn’t get a no-trade clause, though. We’ll see how things end up shaking out; what I will say is that a future Vikings QB room consisting of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer shouldn’t be viewed as an impossibility.
1 min read Last Updated : Jun 19 2026 | 9:41 AM IST
The eight teams playing World Cup matches on Thursday are taking part in an International Day for Countering Hate Speech commemoration, with a pre-match exchange of pennants denouncing such language.
Captains involved in the Czechia-South Africa, Mexico-South Korea, Switzerland-Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada-Qatar matches will have pennants reading “We Play Together. We Stand Against Hate” with the wording in English on one side and the teams’ native language on the other.
FIFA says it has deleted more than 30 million abusive posts and comments since its social media protection service was created before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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FIFA says it deleted nearly 400,000 negative or abusive posts in the first few days of this World Cup – more than it did in the entirety of the 2022 event.
Other stadium activations involving that message are planned during Thursday’s matches.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
84′ Cesar Huerta replaces Julian Quinones as Mexico’s final change. The local man comes on for his FIFA World Cup debut. Another fine display from Quinones, who was denied a goal in the first half by Kim.
Meanwhile, Kim makes another stunning save, this time to deny substitute Vargas. Gimenez lofts one towards Huerta, who heads it into the path of Vargas, whose right-footed shot towards the bottom-left corner is parried away by Kim.
Lionel Messi’s record-equalling World Cup hat-trick should have been the biggest talking point from Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, but much of the conversation after the match centred on a controversial challenge that many believe warranted a red card.
The 38-year-old produced another World Cup masterclass, scoring all three goals as Argentina opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing win. The hat-trick moved Messi level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, the joint-highest tally in tournament history.
However, a first-half incident involving Algeria captain Aissa Mandi quickly became one of the most debated moments of the tournament so far.
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With Argentina leading 1-0, Messi appeared to catch Mandi on the back of the leg during a challenge. Referee Szymon Marciniak awarded a free-kick but took no further action, while VAR also chose not to intervene.
The decision immediately sparked outrage across social media, with many fans arguing that the challenge would have resulted in a red card had it been committed by another player.
Former Players And Pundits Weigh In
The debate intensified after several high-profile football figures publicly criticised the decision.
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Former Real Madrid and Brazil defender Marcelo reportedly described the challenge as a red-card offence, suggesting Messi had benefited from his status.
Former Egypt captain Mohamed Aboutrika echoed that sentiment, saying the challenge deserved a sending-off and questioning why stronger punishment was not issued.
ESPN FC analysts Ale Moreno and Nedum Onuoha were also among those who felt the referee got the decision wrong, with both stating during their post-match analysis that the challenge met the threshold for a red card.
Meanwhile, social media was flooded with reactions from supporters, former players and pundits debating whether football’s biggest stars sometimes receive more lenient treatment from officials.
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History Repeating Itself?
The controversy has also revived an old debate surrounding Messi’s career.
Despite being one of football’s greatest-ever players, critics have long argued that the Argentine icon has occasionally benefited from favourable refereeing decisions, particularly on football’s biggest stages.
Supporters of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner strongly disagree, pointing to the countless fouls and rough treatment Messi has endured throughout his career.
Either way, the Algeria incident has once again placed the spotlight on officiating consistency at major tournaments.
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Messi Continues To Rewrite History
Lost amid the controversy was another historic night from the Argentina captain.
Messi’s hat-trick not only secured three points for the defending world champions but also saw him equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals.
The feat adds another remarkable chapter to a World Cup career that already includes:
World Cup winner (2022)
Two World Cup final appearances
World Cup Golden Ball winner
Argentina’s all-time leading scorer
Joint all-time World Cup top scorer
At 38 years old, Messi continues to deliver on football’s biggest stage.
But while Argentina celebrated a perfect start to their World Cup campaign, the debate surrounding his challenge on Aissa Mandi ensured that fans were talking about more than just the goals.
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For many, Messi’s record-equalling hat-trick was the story of the night.
For others, the biggest question remains whether the Argentina captain should have still been on the pitch to complete it.**
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Mexico took advantage of a defensive blunder by South Korea to win 1-0 and become the first team to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup on Thursday.
It marks a major triumph for a team that failed to get out of the group stage in 2022 and now has won twice on home soil in front of jubilant crowds. Mexico players celebrated at midfield and waved to the fans who cheered and sang from the packed stands at Estadio Akron.
Luis Romo scored in the 50th minute after South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu collided with defender Lee Gi-hyuk and dropped the ball inside the area. Romo easily found the open net after picking up the loose ball.
The South Koreans nearly equalized in the 87th minute when Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel stopped a header from close range by Cho Gue-sung, then made an even better save of Yang Hyun-jun’s attempt on the rebound, extending his right arm to keep the ball from crossing the line.
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“We’ve been doing very well,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. “It wasn’t a great match, but I think that our opponent didn’t let us do too much. But we still were able to score, on that mistake, in addition to another two or three opportunities.”
Mexico won Group A with six points in two matches, three more than South Korea and five more than the Czech Republic and South Africa, who drew 1-1 earlier Thursday in Atlanta.
The top two teams from each group move on to the knockout stage, along with the best eight third-place teams. A round of 32 is being played for the first time at the World Cup after the tournament was expanded to 48 teams.
Mexico opened with a 2-0 win over South Africa, while South Korea rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Czechs.
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Mexico closes group play on Wednesday against the Czech Republic in Mexico City, while South Korea takes on South Africa in Monterrey.
Mexico had never won a World Cup game on home soil outside Mexico City. Before 2026, all but one of its nine World Cup matches at home, spanning the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, had been played at Estadio Azteca, with five wins and three draws. When it played in Toluca in 1970, it lost 4-1 to Italy in the quarterfinals.
Thursday’s match got off to a lackluster start, with neither team creating significant scoring opportunities and both squads getting loudly booed after the halftime whistle.
Mexico, ranked 13th, was eliminated in the group stage four years ago in Qatar. That followed seven straight eliminations in the round of the 16.
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South Korea star Son Heung-min had another disappointing game and was substituted out in the 57th.
The 33-year-old Son is looking to become South Korea’s top goal scorer at the World Cup and the Asian player with the most goals in the tournament. The former Tottenham star, currently with Los Angeles FC, entered with three goals over three prior World Cups.
Kim kept Mexico from adding to the lead by coming up with a tough save off a close-range shot by Raúl Jiménez in the 75th.
The South Koreans pressed through the end but could not equalize.
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South Korea, ranked 22nd, is making its 11th straight World Cup appearance and 12th overall, the most of any Asian country. Its best result was a fourth-place finish at the tournament it co-hosted with Japan in 2002. Since then, the South Koreans have never gone beyond the round of 16.
“The mistake that we made was unfortunate,” coach Hong Myung-bo said.
This time there were no empty seats in Guadalajara, contrary to what happened in the earlier match between South Korea and the Czech Republic. FIFA had blamed fans standing in the concourses for the empty seats. Thursday’s crowd was announced at 45,522 for the 45,664-capacity stadium, which was hosting the national team for the first time.
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompson is named Finals MVP after helping Ginebra win the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Scottie Thompson was in disbelief when he heard his name being called as the PBA Press Corps Finals MVP that made him the second recipient of the Ramon Fernandez Trophy.
“Wala talaga sa utak ko (I wasn’t even thinking about it),” Thompson said after his integral role in Barangay Ginebra’s successful run to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown.
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Ginebra annexed its first championship in three years following Wednesday’s 88-76 Game 7 win over TNT, with Thompson putting up 19 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals to answer the challenge of providing ample help for Justin Brownlee.
End of struggles
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings celebrate after beating TNT Tropang 5G and winning the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Thompson was among the locals that struggled prior to Game 7, but his big-time performance in the battle for all the marbles convinced most Press Corps members of his worthiness as Finals MVP for the third time in his career.
“I just really wanted to get this championship,” said Thompson, who also described this PBA crown as the hardest to win of all. “That’s why I was very emotional because I know my struggles in this series.”
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Along with Troy Rosario and even Nards Pinto, Thompson was among those backing up another huge showing from Brownlee during the deciding game witnessed by more than 24,000 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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“We talked as a team as to how we could help Justin, what he has done during the previous two games is not sustainable,” added Thompson, referring to the 54 and 52 points scored by the beloved Ginebra import in Games 5 and 6, respectively.
“We all know that he can carry the team, but as a local, we need to give the needed support, not just in scoring but also the little things.”
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Some Ginebra fans felt that Rosario had a stronger case over Thompson in the Finals MVP discussion for his consistency and hard-nosed play, particularly against TNT’s Chris McCullough.
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Rosario came through again in Game 7, finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds to secure just his second PBA title. Rosario’s first one came five years ago with TNT in the Philippine Cup.
For Rosario, the championship felt even more special.
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“I was able to fulfill my childhood dream,” Rosario said. “I remember when I was 8 years old when I started to become a fan of Ginebra.”
Unsung hero
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Nards Pinto reacts after scoring a big 3 in Game 7 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Then, there’s another unsung hero in Pinto, who apart from his stifling defense pumped in two huge threes during the fourth quarter that doused cold water on TNT’s persistent comeback tries.
Pinto’s second triple, which came from the left corner, made it 80-74 with barely three minutes to go, prompting a huge cheer from the crowd.
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Coach Tim Cone had trusted Pinto to provide some quality minutes dating back from the early goings of the conference. The now-three-time champion was glad to repay his trust.
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“Our morale was really down when we went to the dugout at halftime,” said Pinto after Ginebra trailed 47-40 at the break. “But we kept on fighting and it’s a good feeling that we won because it’s been a while.”
Ismael Kone’s serious-looking injury left Canada manager Jesse Marsch in tears and overshadowed their first-ever World Cup finals win as they thrashed nine-man Qatar 6-0.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander bends down to retrieve his helmet before kickoff against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 29, 2019, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Alexander prepared alongside teammates ahead of the NFC North matchup as Minnesota closed the regular season with a divisional contest against Chicago at home. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports.
Teasley has made a few player moves in adding some young players who are not making headlines but could become good depth players. But is there a splashy move on the horizon after the Vikings soon get Brian O’Neill extended and pick up about $13 million in cap room to bring their total cap space for their Top 51 to around $27 million?
As Teasley and Company — along with Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores representing the coaching staff —analyze the roster, they surely can identify a couple positions where help is needed.
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GM Teasley and The Vikings’ Top Roster Needs
There are no more top centers hanging out there so it’s on Blake Brandel to prove he can be a quality center. The rest of the offense appears to be in good shape with the wide receivers an obvious strength and the quarterback derby between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy certainly the most critical decision ahead for O’Connell this season (and for Teasley and O’Connell in 2027).
Defensively, I believe Flores is excited about his defensive line depth with the possibility of two rookie starters if Caleb Banks is healthy and Domonique Orange develops quickly in the Vikings’ scheme. The corners seem to be OK if free agent signee James Pierre and fifth-round pick Charles Demmings are quality corners behind starters Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers. The inside linebackers are a team strength with Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Ivan Pace, and second-rounder Jake Golday.
Nov 10, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51), linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0), cornerback Byron Murphy (7), and outside linebacker Dallas Turner (15) celebrate after recovering a fumble that was later ruled dead during second-quarter play against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. The defense showed high energy despite the reversal. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.
Which brings us to the two areas I think are the most shaky heading into training camp — depth at edge rusher and starting safeties.
I think the coaches will convince Harrison Smith to return for his 15th season and with Smith, third-rounder Jakobe Thomas, and Josh Metellus, the safety spot should be in good shape (and Theo Jackson and Jay Ward can battle it out for the fourth safety spot but the coaches can’t be excited about the position if Smith decides to retire).
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But if the pass rush is among the best in the league, then the safeties don’t necessarily have to be elite although it would be nice if Thomas quickly emerges and pairs with Smith as Metellus continues to play his hybrid safety/linebacker role.
Unless Golday quickly emerges as a solid edge rusher (as indicated on draft day) in addition to his ability to play inside ‘backer, we’ll have to continue to harp on the ill-advised decision to trade Jonathan Greenard, an elite edge rusher when healthy unless a vet free agent of renown is brought aboard.
As O’Connell, Flores, and GM Teasley and his staff look at the edge rusher group, they have to be concerned about who will be in the rotation to give Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner a break since rushing the passer is one of the most physically demanding jobs in football. And I’ve always believed pass rushers are the second most important position in the NFL after quarterback (I go back to something Bud Grant often said—“give me a great quarterback and a fourth-quarter pass rush”).
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew van Ginkel (43) celebrates recovering a fumble by against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss are all former undrafted players who may develop into decent players but at this point, they’re not going to strike fear in QBs and OCs around the league. Golday seems to be the player of potential promise as the rotational player at the position on the current roster but we’re talking about a rookie who is unproven in the NFL.
Enter Teasley and the Vikings’ new player personnel team.
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Who’s still available? The top two edge rushers still on the free agent market are Joey Bosa (five sacks, five forced fumbles, and 42 pressures for the Bills last season while making $12.6 million but his cap hit was less with voidable years on the deal; Bosa has 77 career sacks over 10 years) and Jadeveon Clowney (8.5 sacks and 32 pressures for the Cowboys who paid him a bargain $3.45 million; 66.5 career sacks over 12 seasons).
Sep 29, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Haason Reddick is another veteran edge rusher of lesser ability at this stage of his career compared to Bosa and Clowney and he was more pricey at $14 million in 2025. Reddick had 2.5 sacks and 23 pressures for the Bucs last season and has 61.5 career sacks over nine seasons.
I have to believe Teasley, O’Connell, and Flores are kicking the tires on these three vets, especially Bosa and Clowney who would certainly upgrade the Vikings edge rusher group. And I think the team can structure a deal that would not be difficult to absorb on their salary cap and could make the Vikings defense more formidable.
Thoughts on Brendan Sorsby entering the NFL
First of all, I’d be extremely surprised if the Vikings put a draft choice bid on the talented but problematic Sorsby in a potential supplemental draft if the NFL indeed schedules one for the former University of Cincinnati quarterback. I think the Vikings are going to stick with their current QB group and let them battle it out for this season and the future.
Sorsby signed with Texas Tech this year only to be implicated in a scandal that involved placing at least 40 bets on his own team while at Indiana and was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for placing more than 9,000 bets for at least $90,000 while a college player. He was granted reinstatement by a Texas judge before the Big 12 raised a ruckus and Sorsby ultimately applied for the NFL supplemental draft.
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He’s a big QB with a strong arm and running ability who most scouts rate as a first, second, or third-round talent. The big questions are if he’s kicked his gambling habit, whether the NFL will suspend him upon entering the league, how long that suspension would be, and if there are teams willing to risk a premium draft pick (that would be then deducted from their 2027 draft choices) if they select him.
Bernie Kosar was a first-round pick in the 1985 supplemental draft by the Browns and had a fine career that included multiple playoff years and a Pro Bowl season in 1987. Hall of Famer Cris Carter entered the NFL as a fourth-round supplemental draftee of the Eagles. But it’s been many years since a top prospect such as Sorsby has been available in this way and the baggage he brings is a huge red flag.
If my team needed a better QB — and I’m thinking of the Jets, Cardinals, and Browns today — I would thoroughly investigate and vet Sorsby as to where his gambling addiction stands as he comes out of treatment.
Gambling is such a no-no in the NFL and all pro sports that I would be extremely cautious about bringing him on my team and I probably would pass, especially for a player at the highest profile position of quarterback and considering the 2027 draft is expected to feature an excellent QB class headed by the likes of Arch Manning and Dante Moore.
But when players with significant off-field baggage such as Deshaun Watson and Tyreek Hill get big contracts from teams such as Cleveland, Kansas City, and Miami, it’s likely there will be several teams who put in a draft choice bid for Sorsby and I expect it to be a third-round pick and possibly as high as a second-rounder. Then Sorsby will be under intense scrutiny from the league, his team, the media and the fans for the next several years and possibly for his entire career.
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Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond
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