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Muhammad Ali’s grandson calls on Dana White to discuss Ali Act changes

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The grandson of boxing legend and American civil rights icon Muhammad Ali sent a message to UFC founder Dana White, as White leads a controversial revival of a law named after Ali.

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026, a revision of a law that passed in 2000, has drawn attention as White and TKO Group push deeper into boxing through Zuffa Boxing. The bill would allow new “Unified Boxing Organizations,” or UBOs, to sign fighters, promote fights, create rankings and award titles under one system. The Congressional Budget Office says the bill would allow UBOs to contract with boxers, promote matches and run rankings and titles.

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Nico Ali Walsh walking off stage at Pechanga Arena in San Diego

Nico Ali Walsh walks off stage after defeating Reyes Sanchez in their four-round bout at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Calif., on Aug. 20, 2022. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Walsh, as the grandson of the person the bill would be named after, wants to talk to White about it.

“My direct and respectful message to Dana White: We know what my grandfather’s legacy means to this sport, and we both know that as this bill stands, it should not have his name on it. I respect all you’ve done with the UFC,” Walsh said.

“We both live in Vegas, and I’m asking you, let’s have a sit-down, public or private, you choose. Let’s discuss the Ali Act, fighter protections, and what’s truly best for us fighters. Let’s do this for the sport we both love.”

Born to Muhammad’s daughter, Rasheda Ali, Nico has stepped into the ring to carry the Ali family’s boxing legacy. He is also the nephew of undefeated former boxing champion Laila Ali.

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The original Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act became law in 2000, and was co-sponsored by John McCain. It was designed to fight unfair and anticompetitive practices in boxing. It also created a firewall between promoters and managers. Under current law, a promoter cannot have a direct or indirect financial interest in a boxer’s management, and a manager cannot have a financial interest in a boxer’s promotion.

Walsh argues the new bill weakens that firewall. He says it could let one organization act like promoter, matchmaker, ranking body and title system at once.

“That’s what the current Muhammad Ali Act protects from happening in boxing,” Walsh said.

The new bill is bipartisan. It has been co-sponsored by Representatives Brian Jack (R-GA) and Sharice Davids (D-KS), and overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives with cross-party backing from both Republicans and Democrats. It was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee on March 25.

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DANA WHITE’S BOXING OUTFIT MAKES SPLASH CONOR BENN SIGNING IN LAS VEGAS AMID WRESTLEMANIA WEEK

Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston in a boxing ring.

Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali stands over Sonny Liston and taunts him to get up during their title fight at the Central Maine Youth Center in Lewiston, Maine. Ali knocked Liston out in one minute in the first round. (Getty Images)

Another critic of the bill is promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who argues that this new framework undermines the core of the original 2000 Ali Act, and could result in near-monopolies on the sport.

Still, even Walsh believes there are some details in the original law that could be updated now that 26 years has passed.

“There could be plenty of things updated. The bill, the, the original Ali Act was made in the early 2000s. Of course, it’s been 20-plus years, so things can be refreshed, revamped. One of the biggest things is the health benefits. So the Revival Act is pushing some health benefits. That is amazing for, for us fighters That’s great, but the health benefits at the front end doesn’t negate the, the rights that are being stripped from the fighters on the back end.”

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Supporters of the Revival Act say the bill would modernize boxing. The bill includes new safety and business rules for UBOs, and its stated purpose is to “further enhance the well-being of professional boxers.”

As the bill comes under further sports and political debate in coming months, Walsh also wants to send a message to the other fighters about spreading awareness for this issue, and speaking up.

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George Foreman and Muhammad Ali boxing in a ring at Stade du 20 Mai in Kinshasa

George Foreman and Muhammad Ali box at Stade du 20 Mai in Kinshasa, Zaire, during the Rumble in the Jungle on Oct. 30, 1974. (Ken Regan/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

His larger concern is that many fighters and fans do not know what the Ali Act does. He said people often hear both sides of the debate but do not know the stakes.

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“You need to know your rights as a fighter,” Walsh said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the UFC for a response.

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Winning % as Away Favorite in Last 15 Years in the West

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  By SuperWest Sports Staff


Away-game victories as a favorite indicate that a college football program is performing as expected on the road, under pressure.

The tables below show the wins, losses, and win percentages for the region’s top programs as the away team favorite over the last 15 seasons.

San Diego State leads the way, followed by Boise State, Oregon, Colorado, and Stanford.

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Winning % and Records as Away Favorite by Program Since 2011
Win % Team Record
82.9% San Diego State 34-7
80.6% Boise State 54-13
78.4% Oregon 40-11
77.8% Colorado 7-2
77.5% Stanford 31-9
77.1% Utah State 27-8
76.2% Arizona 16-5
75.0% Fresno State 30-10
74.5% USC 35-12
73.3% UCLA 22-8
72.7% San Jose State 16-6
72.7% UTEP 8-3
71.8% Washington 28-11
71.4% New Mexico State 5-2
70.0% BYU 28-12
66.7% Air Force 28-14
66.7% UNLV 12-6
66.7% Wyoming 18-9
65.5% ASU 19-10
65.4% Colorado State 17-9
65.2% Nevada 15-8
65.2% Utah 30-16
63.6% WSU 14-8
57.9% Oregon State 11-8
54.6% Cal 12-10
53.3% New Mexico 8-7
46.2% Hawai’i 6-7

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Franco Baresi: AC Milan and Italy great dies aged 66

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Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, with AC Milan saying their former captain’s “example and integrity will be forever etched into the club’s DNA”.

Baresi spent his entire 20-year playing career with the club from 1977 until he retired in 1997, winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups/Champions Leagues.

Regarded as one of the greatest defenders to play the game, Baresi captained Milan for 15 seasons, making 719 appearances and scoring 33 goals.

He was capped 81 times by Italy and was part of the squad which won the 1982 World Cup. He played in the 1994 final, which Italy lost to Brazil.

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In 2020, Baresi became honorary vice-president of AC Milan, with the club retiring his number six shirt four years later.

Baresi formed part of one of European football’s most celebrated defences alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti.

He also lifted four Supercoppa Italianas, two European Super Cups and the Intercontinental Cup twice.

In the 1994 World Cup, he returned from a knee injury to play in the final and largely nullified the threat of Brazil’s Romario and Bebeto in a 0-0 draw.

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It was the first World Cup final to be decided by a shootout and Baresi missed the first penalty, with Brazil eventually winning it 3-2.

Baresi had surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule, and his last public appearance was at the San Siro Stadium for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in February.

In a statement on X, AC Milan wrote: “Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the club’s DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is.”

In a further post on the club’s website,, external they added: “Announcing the loss of someone who embodied the heart and soul of AC Milan is incredibly difficult. But everyone at the club and all the Milanisti must live up to Franco Baresi’s memory.

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“In memory of Franco, we stand united, knowing he’ll guide and push us throughout our Rossoneri journey. Forever. Because Baresi is forever.”

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Oleksandr Usyk sums up Moses Itauma’s chances of passing Filip Hrgovic ‘test’

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Oleksandr Usyk has downplayed the threat of Filip Hrgovic as he envisions Moses Itauma retaining his status as the “future” of heavyweight boxing.

Indeed, the prodigious talent has been widely hailed as a future world champion, seemingly possessing the mental and physical attributes to reign supreme in years to come.

Such belief in the 21-year-old was only enhanced by his last outing, which resulted in a fifth-round stoppage of fringe contender Jermaine Franklin in March.

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Now, though, Itauma is approaching his toughest test thus far, taking on the seasoned and durable Filip Hrgovic at London’s O2 Arena on August 29.

The Croatian has firmly cemented himself as a top 10 heavyweight, with his only loss arriving when he was stopped on cuts in round eight of his 2024 encounter with Daniel Dubois.

But while many believe that Hrgovic will offer a significant challenge to Itauma, Usyk appears less convinced that the 34-year-old can pose many problems.

Speaking with DAZN, the Ukrainian effectively named Itauma as the heir to his throne and, by extension, the type of fighter who handles pressure with remarkable composure.

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“[Hrgovic is] not a big test, but [he’s] a test. Itauma, for me, is a special guy because he’s very relaxed before fights [and] after fights.

“[He’s the] future.”

While Usyk vacated his WBC, IBF and WBA titles last month, he will remain the lineal heavyweight champion until he either retires or is defeated in the ring.

With just one fight remaining, though, it is most likely that the next heavyweight king – possibly Itauma – will be crowned once the 39-year-old has called time on his Hall of Fame career.

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World Cup boycott latest: Infantino refuses to back down after Uefa say they’ll refuse to play in Fifa tournaments

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‘Nobody is selling football’: Fifa issues response to Uefa’s threat of World Cup boycott

Football’s governing body wants to sell minority stakes in the World Cup to private investors – a move which has drawn criticism from member associations.

Fifa have issued their response to concerns over the proposal and claimed that ‘nobody is selling football’.

Mike Jones31 July 2026 08:05

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Good morning!

In case you might have missed the big news, Fifa is facing criticism from its member associations over its decision to set up a commercial body and sell off stakes in the World Cup.

This proposal has infuriated MAs such as Uefa and Concacaf who have both rejected the idea with the European governing body threatening to boycott Fifa competitions unless the proposal is dropped.

Fifa have, this morning, responded to the threats and concerns from Uefa as well as other federations and have released a statement reaffirming their own position.

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Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, has publically backed the proposal and his leadership is now being called into question as well.

We’ll have all the latest updates from this story throughout the day so stick with us…

Mike Jones31 July 2026 08:00

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Uefa’s World Cup boycott: Which countries are involved – and will it cover 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup?

Here’s everything you need to know about the threatened boycott:

Kieran Jackson31 July 2026 07:15

Fifa hit back at Uefa: ‘Nobody is selling football’

Fifa insists “nobody is selling football” amid criticism of its decision to launch a consultation on selling stakes in a World Cup commercial entity to private investors.

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However, football’s global governing body stopped short of withdrawing the controversial plan and insisted it would press ahead with the consultation period.

Uefa reacted furiously when the plans to create Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) first emerged in media reports in The Times and the Financial Times on Tuesday.

Less than 48 hours later, Uefa’s 55 member associations insisted they would not participate in any Fifa tournament until the plan was withdrawn.

In a statement released on Friday morning, Fifa said: “We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday.

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“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.

⁠”Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”

Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2026 06:45

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Inside Uefa’s extraordinary World Cup boycott plans – and what Fifa might do next

At the start of the emergency meeting that saw Uefa drop “a nuclear bomb” on Gianni Infantino’s plans to privatise the World Cup, federation president Aleksander Ceferin uttered a phrase that would be echoed a few times over the next two hours.

Miguel Delaney31 July 2026 06:30

‘Football is not for sale’: Uefa confirms boycott of World Cup and Fifa competitions

Last night, Uefa confirmed that it was threatening to boycott the World Cup and all Fifa competitions over a plan to sell off stakes in the tournament. Jamie Braidwood has the full story.

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Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2026 06:00

Gianni Infantino defends controversial World Cup sell-off plan in bizarre video

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has described the controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup as a “proposal” and “not an obligation” in a bizarre video released on Wednesday night.

Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2026 04:00

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What would a World Cup look like without European teams?

Would Fifa press on with a 48-team World Cup without European teams? Let’s not forget that Infantino suggested that Fifa would look at expanding the World Cup to 64 teams in 2030. We also don’t know yet whether Uefa’s boycott would be replicated by other federations, such as Asia and North America.

But a 48-team World Cup, ridiculously staged in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Morocco, and comprised by removing European teams from this summer’s tournament and replacing them directing with the next-best teams from the Fifa rankings, could look something like this…

Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2026 03:00

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Infantino wants to sell the World Cup. Can anyone stop him?

Fifa members who vote through Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell the World Cup to investors will get $40m. Vote it down, and it’s just $10m. Here, chief sports writer Lawrence Ostlere dissects the pitch football can’t refuse – and how Uefa are pushing back – in this week’s Inside Football newsletter:

Infantino wants to sell the World Cup. Can anyone stop him?

Fifa members who vote through Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell the World Cup to investors will get $40m. Vote it down, and it’s just $10m. Here, chief sports writer Lawrence Ostlere dissects the pitch football can’t refuse – and how Uefa are pushing back – in this week’s Inside Football newsletter

Harry Latham-Coyle31 July 2026 02:00

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What tournaments would Uefa’s boycott cover?

It will cover all Fifa-sanctioned tournaments covering national teams. As it stands, the boycott will not cover club teams, meaning the planned 2029 Fifa Club World Cup would not be affected.

As such, the first senior tournament would be the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup, taking place between 24 June and 25 July, in Brazil next year.

Europe have 11 guaranteed slots in the 32-team competition. Spain are the defending champions, while England were finalists last time out in Australia.

England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all have scheduled play-off qualifiers in October, which are organised by Uefa. Whether these matches specifically will go ahead, therefore, is yet to be confirmed.

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The next men’s World Cup takes place in 2030 in Spain, Portugal and Morocco – with opening games in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The next Fifa tournament at any age group is the 2026 Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which starts on 5 September in Poland. Six European teams, including England, were set to compete.

The 2026 Fifa Under-17 World Cup, for which England did not qualify, starts on 19 November in Qatar.

Spain could miss the defence of their World Cup crown
Spain could miss the defence of their World Cup crown (Getty)

Kieran Jackson31 July 2026 01:00

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From Bal Sikander to Glasgow: The rise of CWG silver medallist Lovepreet | Other Sports News

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India’s Lovepreet Singh came within touching distance of a Commonwealth Games gold before settling for silver in the men’s +110kg weightlifting event at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

 


The 28-year-old lifted a combined 388kg (176kg in the snatch and 212kg in the clean and jerk), finishing just one kilogram behind New Zealand’s David Andrew Liti, who claimed gold with a total of 389kg (166kg + 223kg). England’s Andrew Griffith took bronze with 356kg.

 

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Lovepreet’s silver upgraded the bronze medal he won at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and also ended India’s run of three medalless weightlifting events.

 
 


His performance capped a successful campaign for the Indian weightlifting contingent, which finished the Games with eight medals.


Who is Lovepreet Singh?


Born on September 6, 1997, in Bal Sikander village in Punjab’s Amritsar district, Lovepreet Singh grew up in a modest household.

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His father worked as a tailor, while his grandfather earned a livelihood by selling vegetables. Rather than following the family profession, Lovepreet was encouraged to pursue sport and took up weightlifting at the age of 13 at the DAV Ground in Amritsar.

 

Years of perseverance transformed the youngster from a village training centre into one of India’s premier heavyweight weightlifters. 


From Bal Sikander to the Commonwealth podium


Lovepreet announced himself on the international stage by winning silver in the men’s 109kg category at the 2021 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.

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A year later, he secured bronze at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, earning India’s first medal in the men’s heavyweight division at those Games.

 


Following the restructuring of international weight categories, Lovepreet moved into the men’s +110kg division, where he continued to establish himself among the world’s top heavyweight lifters.

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His silver medal at Glasgow 2026 marks his second successive Commonwealth Games podium finish and underlines his consistency on the international stage.


An impressive resume


Lovepreet has steadily built an impressive international resume over the past few years.

 

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His medal-winning performances include silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in the men’s +110kg category, bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the men’s 109kg category, and silver at the 2021 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.

 


The Glasgow campaign also saw him rewrite the Commonwealth Games record books after producing a snatch lift of 176kg, setting a new Games record in the discipline.


The road to CWG 2026 silver


Lovepreet looked destined for gold after a sensational performance in the snatch.

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He opened with a comfortable 168kg before successfully clearing 173kg on his second attempt. On his final attempt, the Punjab lifter produced a flawless 176kg lift to set a new Commonwealth Games snatch record and carry a commanding 10kg advantage into the clean and jerk.

 


His chances improved further after Samoa’s Sanele Mao, one of the pre-event favourites, failed all three snatch attempts.

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The clean and jerk, however, belonged to New Zealand’s David Liti.

 


Liti opened with 207kg before Lovepreet successfully matched his personal best of 212kg on his second attempt. With the crowd chanting “Come on, Jatta” and “Come on, Singh”, Lovepreet attempted 217kg on his final lift — a weight that would have broken the Commonwealth Games record and secured gold.

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Although he managed to clean the bar, he could not complete the jerk.

 


That left the door open for Liti, who responded with a Games-record clean-and-jerk lift of 223kg to finish with a total of 389kg and snatch the gold by a single kilogram.

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“I thought I would win gold after snatch but it was up to God. Little disappointed that I couldn’t lift in my final attempt in clean and jerk. I have lifted more in training,” Lovepreet said after the competition.


What’s next for Lovepreet?


Winning silver at Glasgow further strengthens Lovepreet Singh’s position as India’s leading heavyweight weightlifter.

 

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Having now won medals at consecutive Commonwealth Games and established himself as a record-holder at the event, the Punjab lifter will shift his focus to the World Weightlifting Championships, Asian Championships and the qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

 


With his performances continuing to improve in the +110kg category, Lovepreet remains one of India’s strongest medal hopes at major international competitions.

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George Pickens reveals true feelings on Jerry Jones’ comments for Cowboys WR over contract extension talks

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens responded to Jerry Jones’ comments about his future with the franchise.

On Tuesday, Jones had high praise for Pickens. He also highlighted the possibility of him playing for the Cowboys for the rest of his NFL career. Pickens expressed his appreciation for those kind words on Thursday.

“Super excited,” Pickens said. “I’m always super happy when someone thinks highly of me, so shout out to Jerry.”

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The Cowboys acquired George Pickens via a trade with the Steelers in May 2025. In 17 games, he posted an impressive 1,429 yards on 93 receptions and nine touchdowns. There was a lot of chatter about a potential contract extension following his performance.

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However, in February, the Cowboys placed a franchise tag on him. Pickens signed the $27.3 million franchise tag in April. While speaking about the wide receiver, Jerry Jones said that he expects great things from Pickens in 2026.

“He’s a valued part of our aspirations and our potential success,” Jones said. “I hope that he comes out here and is the most prolific, successful receiver in the NFL this year. And how would you like to be a free agent and with his credentials and step out there and have a year like that? I wish all of that because if that happens, that (would be) good for us.

“This can be a very win-win thing that we’ve done here, us and George being on the team. Make no mistake about it, George could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career and that’d be a long time. Make no mistake about it. This (franchise tag) just fit for us and thank goodness it fit for him and we got it done.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Pickens with the No. 52 pick in 2022. In three seasons, he recorded 2,841 yards on 174 receptions and 21 TDs.


ALSO READ: “No deadline drama this time”: NFL fans react as George Pickens officially enters July 15 deadline as a franchised player without long-term deal

ALSO READ: George Pickens faces lofty expectations from former WR after officially going through franchise tag extension deadline

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Dak Prescott “excited” to play alongside George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb in the 2026 season

Dak Prescott has already built a rapport with CeeDee Lamb over the past few years. Last season, he also built chemistry with George Pickens, providing him with more help on offense.

On Thursday, Prescott was questioned about his strategy heading into Year 2 with Lamb and Pickens by his side.

“It’s exciting. They help me be comfortable,” Prescott said. “Those guys are ridiculous in their ability to get one, ability to win in one-on-one. Right now, it’s just about continuing to communicate about the zones and where they need to be in certain timings. … They’re just a complement to this whole offense.”

The Cowboys play the New York Giants on the road in their season-opener on Sept. 13.