Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores surveys the field before kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium, on Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Flores prepared his defense for a pivotal NFC North showdown against the Green Bay Packers, continuing to shape one of the league’s most aggressive and disciplined units. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Getty Images.
If you believe Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is one of the top defensive coaches in football, you are not alone. NFL writer Daniel Rios ranked all playcallers on defense this week, and unsurprisingly, Flores got his flowers.
Rankings for defensive coaches are rare, but this go-around, Flores checked in at No. 4.
Vikings Defense Keeps Its Loudest Advantage
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores addresses reporters at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota, on Oct. 16, 2024, discussing defensive adjustments, accountability, and the continued growth of Minnesota’s scheme as the Vikings navigated the middle portion of their regular-season schedule under Kevin O’Connell’s staff with postseason goals still clearly in view. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Flores grabbed No. 4 on Rios’s list, and he explained the placement: “Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has completely transformed the team’s defensive identity since arriving. His aggressive approach forces offenses to play on his terms, using pressure packages and constantly changing looks to keep quarterbacks uncomfortable.”
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“Few coordinators disguise pressure as effectively as Flores. His defenses often show six or seven potential rushers before dropping multiple defenders into coverage, creating hesitation and forcing quarterbacks into rushed decisions.”
Flores basically has a 100% approval rating among fans.
“Flores deserves credit for maximizing his personnel. Minnesota doesn’t always feature the league’s most talented defense, but its scheme consistently elevates players by putting them in a position to succeed,” Rios continued.
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“The aggressiveness occasionally leaves his defenders vulnerable to explosive plays, but the overall results speak for themselves. Week after week, Flores creates game plans that completely alter how opposing offenses operate, cementing himself among the league’s elite playcallers.”
Deservedly So
The ranking won’t get any shade from any reasonable people, and if anything, it could be too low.
Since Flores took over the Vikings’ defense, it has fundamentally changed for the better. Here’s the money stat to know:
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Vikings Defense, per EPA/Play, NFL Ranking:
The 3 Years before Brian Flores: 20th The 3 Years with Brian Flores: 2nd
Only the Cleveland Browns have a better defense since 2023, mainly because former Brown Myles Garrett is such a tyrant. Minnesota’s 2022 campaign was undone by a strangely poor defense, marshaled by Ed Donatell, but it put its foot down during the 2023 offseason and onboarded Flores. Since then, defense has become the team’s calling card, a sweet perk for a team with an offense-first head coach in Kevin O’Connell.
He’ll Have an Offense Next to Him in 2026
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Suddenly, the Vikings can be a serious team again. The offense might be back. In 2025, Minnesota finished with a 9-8 record despite showcasing the NFL’s fifth-least-efficient quarterback play, courtesy of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski signed Kyler Murray in March for $1.3 million, and he has the chance and the physical tools to unlock an offense that floundered last season and prevented a playoff berth. The Vikings were also a win away from taking the NFC North. That’s in play again with Murray in the house.
New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sep. 11, 2016, as New England’s defense worked through a narrow road matchup that ended with the Patriots defeating Arizona 23-21 under prime-time conditions in the 2016 opener. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Minnesota will also showcase these weapons, an upgrade from last year due to the Jennings free-agent addition:
Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
Jauan Jennings
T.J. Hockenson
Aaron Jones
Jordan Mason
Demond Claiborne
That revised group of playmakers could feast in 2026 if Murray lives up to his first overall draft stock in 2019. Flores’s defense won’t be asked to do it all — like last year.
Who’s the Best?
The league’s best defensive mind? Rios capitalized on Seattle Seahawks’ skipper Mike Macdonald’s Super Bowl triumph, naming him the top dog.
He wrote, “It’s hard not to have Mike Macdonald in the top spot after what he did last season with the Seattle Seahawks. He’s quickly become the NFL’s premier defensive playcaller after leading dominant defenses in Baltimore and Seattle.”
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“He’s established himself as the coach every franchise hopes to find when building a championship defense. Macdonald’s greatest strength is unpredictability. His defense rarely shows quarterbacks the same picture before and after the snap, using disguised coverages, simulated pressures and changing personnel groupings to create confusion. Unlike aggressive coordinators, Macdonald generates pressure without relying on a ton of blitzes.”
Former Vikings Sam Darnold received much of the credit for the Seahawks’ unforeseen Super Bowl sprint, but the defense really did most of the heavy lifting.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sideline during NFC wild card action at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 13, 2025, studying coverages, personnel groupings, and situational tendencies while managing defensive calls in a high-pressure postseason road environment against the Los Angeles Rams that night. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Rios added, “He uses creative fronts and pressure packages to create one-on-one opportunities for pass rushers while keeping seven defenders available in coverage. What may be even more impressive is his adaptability.”
“Whether facing a run-heavy offense or an elite passing attack, Macdonald consistently adjusts his scheme to eliminate the opponent’s biggest strength. Combined with elite player development and good in-game adjustments, he enters the 2026 season as the NFL’s best defensive playcaller.”
Vic Fangio of the Philadelphia Eagles and Steve Spagnuolo from the Kansas City Chiefs checked in at No. 2 and 3, respectively.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Major League Baseball has suspended four players involved in a benches-clearing fracas between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox. On Thursday, the league announced that pitcher Cade Cavalli of the Nationals and first baseman Willson Contreras of the Red Sox have been suspended for seven games apiece. Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas has been suspended for five games, and Boston outfielder Nate Eaton received a three-game suspension. All four players have also been fined an undisclosed amount. The suspensions are pending appeal.
Tempers flared and benches cleared in Boston on Tuesday evening during an 8-1 Nationals win over the Red Sox. It was the bottom of the fourth inning when Cavalli dropped in a nice breaking ball for a called strike three. Cavalli, who would later apologize for his words, could be heard yelling, “Sit down, boy!” The strikeout victim, Contreras, was none too pleased with it. He could be seen saying, “Are you talking to me?”
Contreras approached the mound, and then the benches cleared for a minor scuffle in which Contreras appeared to try to throw his helmet in Cavalli’s direction.
Contreras was ejected for the second straight game. Eaton and Chad Tracy, Boston’s interim manager, were also given the heave-ho. On the Nationals’ end, Mikolas, a starting pitcher on an off day, was the only player ejected.
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Contreras has publicly spoken about how much the devastating earthquakes in his home country of Venezuela have affected his psyche in recent days. He was involved in a benches-clearing incident last Friday and was tossed on consecutive nights. He also hit a home run and yelled “Venezuela!” and was seen crying in the dugout.
In the other dugout on Tuesday, Cavalli ended up having quite a night. In seven innings, he gave up just one run on one hit with 13 strikeouts.
On Wednesday, Cavalli met with Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni about the incident and also apologized for his choice of words. Via The Athletic, Cavalli said:
“Extremely torn up about the way that things were perceived. Obviously, there was no ill intention behind that. My teammates know me, my family knows me, this organization knows me. I couldn’t sleep because of it. It hurt my heart, knowing that, if there’s a 13 year old black kid in DC that sees that, that looked up to me, thinks that he perceived it in a way that wasn’t intended in the way that it came out, that he’s not looking up to me anymore. That hurts my heart. It’s really tough. I’ve learned a lot. … The intention was perceived different than what my heart is and who I am as a person, my character.
“There’s a history behind that word, and that’s just something that, like, as a competitor, like in football or basketball, playing whiffle ball with my brother, like, just, you don’t understand it, and then it gets perceived in a way that was not my intention. You learn from that, and it’ll never happen again.”
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Toboni also spoke to reporters and said that Cavalli had something of a sleepless night after the game on account of “the feedback that he was receiving regarding his choice of words last night.”
This ranking is based on the Gators returning six of the top seven scorers — specifically Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Reuben Chinyelu, Urban Klavsar and Isaiah Brown — from a team that finished 27-8 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Kentucky transfer Denzel Aberdeen and 7-foot center Jones Lay.
This ranking is based on the Blue Devils returning four of the top six scorers — specifically Patrick Ngongba II, Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr — from a team that finished 35-3 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski, Loyola Maryland transfer Jacob Theodosiou, five-star prospects Cameron Williams, Deron Rippey Jr., Bryson Howard and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje.
This ranking is based on the Illini returning six of the top nine scorers — specifically Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovich, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Jake Davis and Brandon Lee — from a team that finished 28-9 and advanced to the 2026 Final Four. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks, four-star prospects Quintin Coleman and Lucas Morillo and three-star prospects Ethan Brown and Landon Davis.
This ranking is based on the Huskies returning three of the top seven scorers — specifically Braylon Mullins, Silas Demary and Jayden Ross — from a team that finished 34-6 and advanced to the championship game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Duke transfer Nikolas Khamenia, Seton Hall transfer Najai Hines, Stanford transfer Oskar Giltay, Wofford transfer Nils Machowski, Jacksonville State transfer Jaye Nash, Northern Arizona transfer Isaiah Shaw, Arkansas transfer Elmir Dzafic and four-star prospects Colben Landrew and Junior County.
This ranking is based on the Spartans returning five of the top eight scorers — specifically Jeremy Fears Jr., Coen Carr, Kur Teng, Jordan Scott and Cam Ward — from a team that finished 27-8 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke and four-star prospects Ethan Taylor, Carlos Medlock Jr., Julius Avent and Jasiah Jervis.
This ranking is based on the Longhorns returning one of the top two scorers — specifically Matas Vokietaitis — from a team that finished 21-15 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by TCU transfer David Punch, Colorado transfer Isaiah Johnson, Tennessee transfer Amari Evans, Auburn transfer Elyjah Freeman, Saint Mary’s transfer Mikey Lewis, international prospect Mantas Laurencikas and four-star prospects Austin Goosby, Bo Ogden and Joe Sterling.
This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning two of the top five scorers — specifically Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov — from a team that finished 36-3 and advanced to the 2026 Final Four. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon, Washington transfer JJ Mandaquit, five-star prospect Caleb Holt and four-star prospect Cameron Holmes and international prospect Endurance Aiyamenkhue.
This ranking is based on the Wolverines returning two of the top five scorers — specifically Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney — from a team that finished 37-3 and won the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Tennessee transfer J.P. Estrella, Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam, LSU transfer Jalen Reed, five-star prospect Brandon McCoy Jr., and four-star prospects Lincoln Cosby, Quinn Costello and Joseph Hartman.
This ranking is based on the Zags returning three of the top five scorers — specifically Braden Huff, Davis Fogle and Mario Saint-Supery — from a team that finished 31-4 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Houston transfer Isiah Harwell, Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop and four-star prospects Luca Foster, Sam Funches and Jack Kayil.
This ranking is based on the Cavaliers returning five of the top 10 scorers — specifically Thijs De Ridder, Sam Lewis, Chance Mallory, Johann Gunloh and Elijah Gertrude — from a team that finished 30-6 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by UC Irvine transfer Jurian Dixon, Saint Louis transfer Kalu Anya and four-star prospect Favour Ibe.
This ranking is based on the Razorbacks returning one of the top four scorers — specifically Billy Richmond III — from a team that finished 28-9 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospects Jordan Smith Jr., JJ Andrews and Miikka Muurinen, Furman transfer Cooper Bowser, Georgia transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson, four-star prospect Abdou Toure and international prospect Illia Frolov.
This ranking is based on the Cyclones returning three of the top six scorers — specifically Killyan Toure, Blake Buchanan and Jamarion Bateman — from a team that finished 29-8 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Robert Morris transfer Ryan Prather Jr., Northwestern transfer Tre Singleton, Bradley transfer JaQuan Johnson, Kansas State transfer Taj Manning, Northern Iowa transfer Leon Bond III, four-star prospects Dorian Rinaldo-Komian, Jackson Kiss, Christian Wiggins and Donovan Davis, and three-star prospect Yusef Gray Jr.
This ranking is based on the Cougars returning three of the top seven scorers — specifically Joseph Tugler, Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty — from a team that finished 30-7 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by LSU transfer Dedan Thomas Jr., Kent State transfer Delrecco Gillespie and four-star prospects Arafan Diane and Ikenna Alozie and
This ranking is based on the Cardinals returning one of the top five scorers — specifically Adrian Wooley — from a team that finished 24-11 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Kansas transfer Flory Bidunga, Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad, Arkansas transfer Karter Knox, Iowa transfer Alvaro Folgueiras, Dayton transfer De’Shayne Montgomery, USC transfer Gabe Dynes, former G League player London Johnson, five-star prospect Obinna Ekezie Jr., four-star prospect Boyuan Zhang and three-star prospect Isaac Ellis.
This ranking is based on the Vols returning two of the top 10 scorers — specifically Dewayne Brown II and Ethan Burg — from a team that finished 25-12 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris, Notre Dame transfer Jalen Haralson, Cal transfer Dai Dai Ames, Belmont transfer Tyler Lundblade, VCU transfers Terrence Hill Jr. and Christian Fermin, Loyola Chicago transfer Miles Rubin, Kennesaw State transfer Braedan Lue, four-star prospects Christopher Washington Jr., Ralph Scott and Manny Green, and three-star prospect Marquis Clark.
This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning one of the top six scorers — specifically Malachi Moreno — from a team that finished 22-14 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, Washington transfers Zoom Diallo and Franck Kepnang, Washington State transfer Jerone Morton, James Madison transfer Justin McBride, Providence transfer Alex Wilkins, four-star prospect Mason Williams and international prospect Ousmane N’Diaye.
This ranking is based on the Red Storm returning two of the top eight scorers — specifically Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey — from a team that finished 30-7 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou, Columbia transfer Avery Brown, Mercer transfer Kyle Cuffe Jr., international prospects Quinn Ellis, Djordije Jovanovic and Lazar Stojkovic, and four-star prospect Theo Edema.
This ranking is based on the Trojans returning three of the top five scorers — specifically Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas and Jacob Cofie — from a team that finished 18-14 and missed the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospect Christian Collins, four-star prospects Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff, Georgetown transfer KJ Lewis, UConn transfer Eric Reibe, Colgate transfer Jalen Cox, Lindenwood transfer Jadis Jones and South Dakota transfer Isaac Bruns.
This ranking is based on the Crimson Tide returning four of the top 10 scorers — specifically Aden Holloway, Amari Allen, London Jemison and Keitenn Bristow — from a team that finished 25-10 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Boise State transfer Drew Fielder, Kentucky transfer Brandon Garrison, NC State transfer Cole Cloer, Mississippi State transfer Jamarion Davis-Fleming and four-star prospects Qayden Samuels, Jaxon Richardson and Tarris Bouie.
This ranking is based on the Boilermakers returning five of the top nine scorers — specifically C.J. Cox, Daniel Jacobsen, Omer Mayer, Gicarri Harris and Jack Benter — from a team that finished 30-9 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year Caden Pierce, and four-star prospects Luke Ertel, Jacob Webber and Sinan Huan.
This ranking is based on the Hurricanes returning three of the top seven scorers — specifically Shelton Henderson, Dante Allen and Marcus Allen — from a team that finished 26-9 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis, Robert Morris transfer DeSean Goode, Georgia transfer Somto Cyril, Indiana transfer Nick Dorn, Saint Peter’s transfer Brent Bland and four-star prospect Caleb Gaskins.
This ranking is based on the Hoosiers returning one of the top eight scorers — specifically Trent Sisley — from a team that finished 18-14 and missed the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Notre Dame transfer Markus Burton, Villanova transfer Bryce Lindsay, Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell, SMU transfer Samet Yigitoglu, Duke transfer Darren Harris, Georgia Tech transfer Jaeden Mustaf, Maryland Eastern Shore transfer Justin Monden, and four-star prospects Vaugn Karvala, Prince-Alexander Moody and Trevor Manhertz.
This ranking is based on the Cougars returning two of the top eight scorers — specifically Robert Wright III and Khadim Mboup — from a team that finished 23-12 and advanced to the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospect Bruce Branch III, four-star prospect Dean Rueckert, Kentucky transfer Collin Chandler, Clemson transfer Jake Wahlin, Syracuse transfer Tyler Betsey and UC Riverside transfer Nate Pickens, the last of whom committed to BYU last May but missed the season with an ankle injury.
This ranking is based on the Buckeyes returning two of the top five scorers — specifically John Mobley Jr. and Amare Bynum — from a team that finished 21-13 and advanced to the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Duquesne transfer Jimmie Williams, Kentucky transfer Andrija Jelavic, Cal transfer Justin Pippen, Memphis transfer Curtis Givens III, five-star prospects Anthony Thompson and LJ Smith, four-star prospect Alex Smith and international prospect Vuk Lazarevic.
This ranking is based on the Tar Heels returning three of the top 11 scorers — specifically Jarin Stevenson, Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young — from a team that finished 24-9 and advanced to the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas, Utah transfer Terrence Brown, NC State transfer Matt Able, international prospects Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov, and four-star prospect Kevin Thomas.
This ranking is based on the Commodores returning two of the top nine scorers — specifically Tyler Tanner and Chandler Bing — from a team that finished 27-9 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Nebraska transfer Berke Buyuktuncel, Washington State transfer Ace Glass, Auburn transfer Sebastian Williams-Adams, Colorado transfer Bangot Dak, Missouri transfer T.O. Barrett and four-star prospects Ethan Mgbako, Anthony Brown and Jackson Sheffield.
MCG will play host to Saturday’s
Round 17 AFL game between Richmond Tigers and
Carlton Blues. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Carlton Blues heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Richmond Tigers vs.
Carlton Blues
game and give you our free tips and bets.
Carlton will look to continue its remarkable resurgence when it meets Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night. The Blues have won all six matches since Michael Voss departed as coach and are rapidly climbing back into finals contention after another convincing victory over West Coast. Sam Walsh and George Hewett continue to drive Carlton’s midfield, while Harry McKay has provided a consistent target inside 50. Richmond remains anchored near the foot of the ladder despite another spirited display from Tim Taranto in last week’s loss to Collingwood. Their Round 1 meeting was decided by just four points, suggesting the Tigers are capable of making life difficult despite the contrasting trajectories.
Grigor Dimitrov has once again found himself at the center of controversy at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships during his second-round clash against Jakub Mensik. The debate began after officials decided to close the Centre Court roof mid-match, a decision that reminded Dimitrov and many fans of a similar incident from last year.
Dimitrov began his Wimbledon campaign with a 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-5 win over Dane Sweeny before taking on Mensik in the second round. The Bulgarian eventually came through 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, but not before play was halted after he had taken a two-sets-to-one lead, as officials closed the roof and delayed the match.
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The interruption visibly frustrated Grigor Dimitrov, who was reminded of his fourth-round meeting with Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon last year. That match was also paused for the roof to be closed before ending in heartbreaking fashion, as Dimitrov was forced to retire while leading after suffering a serious right pectoral muscle injury.
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“It’s like Deja vu,” an angry Dimitrov told the umpire. “From last year it was the same thing. When I was on Centre, we knew it was not gonna finish, and we kept on having the court open.”
Fans were quick to take to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration over the decision, with many fuming that Grigor Dimitrov had once again been affected by a mid-match roof closure. One user wrote:
“They scammed Dimitrov again wow.”
“And they close the f**king roof to f**k Dimitrov momentum seriously f**k the Wimbledon,” another wrote.
“Grigor Dimitrov just got absolutely hosed. They knew they were going to keep playing and didn’t start to creep the roof in. Instead he gets cold, they wait for 15 minutes and comes out in the fourth and gets broken immediately. Just a joke from Wimbledon officials there,” one account posted.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Argentina has the World Cup titles, arguably the best player of all-time in Lionel Messi, the rich history and a roster filled with stars.
Cape Verde has none of that.
Soccer’s version of David vs. Goliath happens Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium, where defending World Cup champion Argentina faces a Cape Verde squad with absolutely no burden of expectations going into the Round of 32 match.
“I believe we can do a great thing here,” Cape Verde backup defender Ianique dos Santos Tavares, who goes by the name Stopira, said through a translator on Thursday. “And this is no exception. This match is no exception.”
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A win by Cape Verde would be one of the most stunning upsets in soccer history, maybe even sports history. Think of it on a “Miracle on Ice” scale from 1980, when the youthful U.S. hockey team stunned the supposedly unbeatable Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Olympics and went on to win the gold medal.
This would be a Miracle on Grass, without question.
The Argentines mean no disrespect when they say this, but when the draw for the tournament came out, they thought Spain or Uruguay would be waiting for them in this round. It was going to be the Group J winner — three-time champion Argentina — against the Group H runner-up, and most people would have picked Spain or Uruguay for that spot.
Enter Cape Verde, the tiny island nation with a 40-year-old goalkeeper, the tale of how his mother needed help to get to the U.S. to watch some of the group stage and how one of the longest long shots in the tournament grabbed everyone’s attention by playing Spain to a draw in its opening match.
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“The truth is that when the draw was decided, the group that we would (have) to face … there were two world champions there,” Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul said.
Spain, the 2010 champion, got through the group stage. Uruguay, a two-time World Cup winner, did not. Cape Verde did, and a showdown with Messi — the five-foot-seven Goliath, so to speak — awaits.
“The most important match in our history,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said. “So, we are being responsible and also trying to enjoy the match. We did not reach this stage by chance. It was on our own merits and we want to show the world our qualities, our values and that there’s a lot of quality in Cape Verdean football.”
Cape Verde hasn’t yet won a match at this year’s World Cup, making it the only team to reach the Round of 32 without a victory. It had three draws in the group stage; Argentina won all three of its matches, with Messi starring in each of them.
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They’re even now. It’s win or go home. And it’s no fluke that Cape Verde is here, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.
“We are not surprised, to be honest,” Scaloni said. “They are a good team. And they are not here by chance. We must respect them. And that’s what we will do.”
Cape Verde insists it has a plan for Friday night. It wants to be aggressive on set pieces. It wants to try to control possession as much as possible. It will rely on a defence that yielded only two goals in three group matches and kept Spain scoreless.
And it’ll try to be ready for Messi, though no team in the world ever really seems to be ready for Messi.
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“We have our own strategy, not only against Messi, but the whole team,” Bubista said. “We know they are the current world champions, one of the best teams in the tournament. And we will play against the whole team, not just Messi.”
The Thursday MLB schedule features nine games, with the evening National League games including Cardinals vs. Braves and Padres vs. Dodgers. In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays will be looking to cushion their AL East lead over the Yankees as they seek an eighth consecutive victory and a three-game sweep of the Royals in Kansas City at 7:40 p.m. ET.
Fans who want to bet on MLB have a lot of options, and home run prop bets are always fun to follow. SportsLine expert Adam Thompson has been analyzing the matchups and MLB odds for Thursday, and he has revealed his best bets to hit a home run today.
Thompson was one of the earliest SportsLine experts from 2016-19 and rejoined the company in 2026 following a stint as the primary betting analyst for the Gambling.com Group. An analytics-driven exploiter of matchups, Thompson specializes in the NFL, MLB and the NBA. He also has delivered consistent winners in college basketball, horse racing and golf. Over the past two seasons, he’s up over 70 units in MLB and more than 60 units in the NBA at sports betting apps.
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Here’s who Thompson likes to go deep on Thursday, July 2.
Best home run picks for Thursday, July 2
Kerry Carpenter, Tigers (+427)
Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi has been sharp in his past two outings, not allowing a home run in either. Prior to that, though, he’d allowed at least one home run in five straight games, two dingers in two of those. He’s allowed up to four homers in a game this season. Eovaldi has allowed more homers to left-handed hitters, and nearly all of them allowed have been to hitters in the Nos. 1-4 spots in the order. Three Tigers — Kevin McGonigle, Carpenter and Riley Greene — check both boxes.
Carpenter gets the nod here. Of his 16 home runs, 15 came against right-handed pitching. Over the past week, he’s drilled three over the fence, tops among his teammates.
Riley is in an epic slump at the moment. Over his past seven games, the third baseman is just 2-for-25 (.080) with no homers and nine strikeouts. On the season, he’s batting just .207, way below his career .265 average. He also has just eight home runs in 84 games, well off the pace for the 33-plus dingers he hit each year from 2021-23.
It’s a risk to back Riley to do anything with the bat lately, but this is a good spot to buy low. Riley is a lifetime 2-for-5 against Cardinals starter Dustin May. Both hits are home runs. Six of the seven home runs May has allowed this season have been on the road. May gave up two homers in his last start, on the road at Kansas City, in only two innings of work.
Parameters are pretty simple: two sentences for all contracts signed on July 1st that were worth a million dollars in AAV or more. Let’s get to it!
When the Ducks lost Gudas, Trouba, and Carlson, they were gonna need a few reliable adults back there. Not sure it moves the needle much, but Jensen can at least plug some leaks.
Seems like goalies who’ve played NHL games cost at least a million. Here’s some cheap/credible insurance for the Dobes and Fowler.
At first glance, it seems like an absolutely mental number for a guy who’s been a fringe sixth- or seventh-man in the league. Like, how many teams were all over Desharnais? But at second glance … OK, it’s still high, but he’s got all the desirables, from size to handedness to age to underlying numbers.
Bjorkstrand is one of those guys who, with favourable deployment, can get some numbers. He can shoot it. Don’t think he moves the needle much without help, though.
Marchment has made more money than I’d bet even he ever thought he’d make in the league as a former ECHL guy. But it’s a cool story (his Dad’s former team, same number), and he’s got both skill and toughness, which show in flashes before periods of dormancy.
Has played good minutes with Dakota Joshua in the past, kills penalties and knows his role. Nothing special or flashy for the Leafs, but a good bet on a short deal to improve a formerly putrid bottom-six.
His goaltending brain is elite, so it’ll be up to what his body — something he takes good care of — can do over the next few years. A bounce-back after a write-off year in Florida isn’t out of the question, but there’s risk here for the Leafs (as there is with about 50 of the 64 goalies in the league).
At some point, the Canucks need NHL bodies in their lineup, and Cotter can skate and has put up a little offence in New Jersey in the past. He’s young enough that if he finds his game there, the Canucks can use him past this contract.
Goalies with NHL experience, signed to provide insurance, cost a million as the floor. As noted with Kaapo Kahkonen, that’s all this is here.
Schwartz, surrounded by some talented Avalanche forwards, has the skills and brains to make the most out of his roster spot. He’s a Cup champ to go with many in that room, so I like this as a depth add for the Avs.
Hey, they traded for the guy; it only makes sense to pay him to stay. He’s young and has upside, and should fit in perfectly with the Kraken (take that however you like).
This is one of those contracts that everyone knows isn’t serious — that the player has no intention of playing through — so it keeps the AAV down. But Gudas has struggled to defend as he’s gotten older, and I can’t believe there’s going to be much value pulled from the deal anyway.
Good pro, respected, valuable contributor. You can see the way numbers are going for top-end guys, so this falls in line comfortably.
The value of anybody with an ounce of snarl to their game has gone through the roof. Douglas has more than an ounce.
Truly cannot believe Bogosian is just 35, it’s felt like he’s been 35 for five straight years. A good competitor who defends his butt off, but a seventh D who’s starting to struggle with the pace.
Boone Jenner feels like a born Washington Capital, out of the Lars Eller mould. A solid depth guy and good pro, you worry about how his game will look as he keeps getting older, but you can see what the Caps like.
Feels like Dubas’ thing is to bet on high upside guys while their stock is low, and you’re bound to hit on a few winners that way. But they won’t all pan out, and when they don’t, you want the term to look like this: one single year.
Truly one of the NHL’s most fascinating, respectable, purely mid players. This will make it nine straight NHL seasons where Kerfoot has earned either three or three-point-five million, as he can do a little bit of everything and do it decently well.
Ah, the ol’ “teacher in the room while we’re bad” job. No better pro to choose for that role, but it could be a long year.
I have about as many Joe Veleno takes as you’d expect. Not yet had a 30-point season, but has enough NHL experience that he should be fine.
Arvidsson is one of those guys who, when he’s healthy, is easy to love. Small but lays it all on the line, goes to the net, but his availability will be a question mark.
As I said about toughness, it’s at a premium these days, as evidenced by the 32-year-old Johnston getting three years. He’s tough as nails, though, so if you’re going tough, you could do worse.
Mikheyev is fast, PKs and creates pucks to the net. I can see the Lightning thinking they’re getting “faster Nick Paul,” which is true in theory, but not sure he’s got the sense for the game that Paul does.
Toughness has value, and the fans in Columbus will love the Lomberg show. He works for everything he gets.
If you’re Connor Bedard, I’m sure you’re just dying for the team to turn the corner. Cole has done his share of winning and should help the Blackhawks get moving in the right direction.
Ersson is funny, because the numbers don’t like him any more than the next goalie, but the people who’ve watched him see potential. I’m not sure why he got the dollars he got, exactly, but it sounds like he’s got upside.
One of the several older UFAs the Kings signed, Haula was a player who made a difference for years. The bet that that’s going to continue to happen is getting harder to see.
Luostarinen is essentially the league’s most perfect third-line winger, alongside Anton Lundell. Assuming he’s good for another few years, the contract should age fine.
Anaheim lost Jeffrey Viel and wanted some toughness. Congratulations are in order, as they found some.
It’s a little funny how every team that signed a sorta-back-up, sorta-third-string guy just gave them about a million and called it a day. I like Comrie as a back-up.
See the above. Journeyman back-up banks another well-earned million.
You can’t just build a team out of the same player, and Sissons is your quintessential quality depth centre. Reliable guy who can PK, win draws and take some D-zone starts off Matthews’ plate.
Pretty unremarkable here, I like Clifton fine, pretty versatile D. Low-to-no-risk deal.
I’m seeing this deal get killed by just about everyone, and yeah — not pretty in terms of cost-to-value ratio. But he’s a better D-man than the Sharks’ past depth, so the team gets better in the short-term, which appears to be their goal.
I think the Isles lost Max Shabanov and just said, “let’s replace him with another smaller skill guy,” at least that’s the most sense I can make out of this. Maccelli is an NHLer, but if he’s playing meaningful minutes for your group, you’re probably not a great team.
This seems to be the going rate for reliable depth. Pens are trying to hodgepodge things together at the fringes again, and TVR is at least a good pro.
Actually quite like this bet. He’s a good age, he’s competitive, and they got him for a couple years at a nice price.
It’s crazy that Stu Skinner is only 27 — it feels like he’s been in NHL headlines for a decade already. Not many guys with his size/experience available out there. If he’s your backup, you’re doing pretty well.
I like Viel on a fourth line fine enough, and the Lightning have to deal with the Panthers, I get all that. But five years is crazy talk.
This rules for the Flyers. Good player locked up long-term for cheap.
I just cannot make sense of why a guy would sign up for eight years, given his talent and the direction of the cap. I think there’s a chance that in the last few years of this deal, he’s left five million on the table per season (which rules for Montreal).
Stenlund is an excellent depth forward, which is why I’m surprised he couldn’t get two years. Utah is loaded up front, as evidenced by Stenlund being a clear fourth-liner for the side.
Big, young, and actually had better numbers than Bobrovsky in Florida last year. The goalie market is a crapshoot, though, so who knows.
I really should’ve taken these backup goalie contracts out of this “analysis.” Daws, a million per year… Sure. Fits what the rest of the league is doing.
Not many players in the league are more solid than Acciari; players react to running into him like he’s pure granite. But he’s slowing down, and he already wasn’t fast, so I’m not sure what this will look like in year two.
The Leafs signed a bunch of grinders, so it’s tough to blame them for chasing some speed to go with the ability to transport the puck. But I’m not sure he fits in the top-six, or in the bottom-six exactly either, so I’m curious to see if he finds a steady home in the lineup.
If you’ve got talent for days, it’s good to have the odd thumper out there. Juulsen plays heavy and likely will occupy a sixth- or seventh-man role for Colorado.
If you played meaningful minutes for Vegas, aren’t a star, and are owed any additional money, you’re almost definitely gone. Smith was that, and should provide some steadiness to a Blackhawks team trying to go forward.
He had a great year, but it’s tough to love giving any goalie in the NHL five years who isn’t one of about five guys in the Hellebuyck/Shesterkin class. Still, they locked up a prime-aged good goalie for a low AAV, so here’s to hoping he’s the real deal.
This is top pair D UFA money. Checks out. Andersson probably leaves a few bucks on the table because he wants to be in Vegas, so it seems like everyone gets what they want.
A truly bonkers number, but he’s undeniably a help to their struggling roster, so they did what they had to do to keep him. It feels like he’s been one of those “never satisfied” guys so far. Now that he’s got the money and the top-pair role, I’d say the pressure is squarely on him.
Fascinating signing, in that Freddy just played 16 of 19 games for the Canes en route to a Cup win, and he only got a year and under three million. But it just shows that people aren’t sold on what he is at this point in his career, which might be a tandem goalie who struggles to stay healthy.
Love this for the Oilers, Shea was rock solid for the Penguins last year. With minimal responsibility, he should be a reliable guy.
The kinda signing that makes you take Utah more seriously. No asset cost but the money, and he’s a big, heavy guy who’s been a captain in the league. A great addition.
If you chase stars like Vegas, someone has to play cheap and hopefully contribute. “Vegas Vic” is back, and they’re hoping he shoots a few in the net yet again.
When I see all these signings, it blows my mind that Kapanen can’t get more than a year of term. As good as depth scoring gets in the NHL, and can be effective without getting points.
It’s quite a bit of money, but what should the Canucks care? You need some real players to keep from being a laughingstock, and Oleksiak is a big, mean defender.
Love this by the Devils, and what a concept, right? The idea that you’d take competitive action to get a player from another team, even though they won’t like it? Hayton would help down the lineup, is prime-aged, and will be the type of depth the Devils could use.
I like his skating for Edmonton in their bottom-six. Cheap, no-risk deal.
Laughton is a good dude and solid player, smart, versatile, and with more skill than you’d expect. The Kings are kinda old, but Laughton can still skate.
As noted, the Kings are old, but Zuccarello can still make plays. The Kings are creating the weirdest team, without much of a long-term forecast, but they should threaten the playoffs again next year.
Great deal for the Jets for a good, prime-aged competitor. Surprised he didn’t cost more, quite honestly.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has allayed concerns that midfielder Declan Rice could miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash with co-hosts Mexico on Sunday (July 5) in Mexico City due to injury.
Rice, 27, played the Three Lions’ opening two group games, delivering an assist in the 4-2 campaign-opening victory over 2018 finalists Croatia. He played the full 90 minutes of the goalless draw with Ghana, where he sustained a calf issue that sidelined him for the 2-0 win over Panama.
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The Arsenal man returned for the 2-1 come-from-behind Round of 32 win over DR Congo earlier this week, coming off deep in stoppage time after complaining of pain.
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Providing an update on the midfielder’s potential availability against Mexico this weekend, Tuchel said that Rice should be good to play (as per Irish Times);
“I asked him very late, and he said ‘I can do it for the team, but I am in terrible pain’.
“When Declan tells you that he is in terrible pain, then you know he cannot take it anymore, so he was grateful that we took him off. He just said after the game it’s not an issue, he will recover, so there is no injury. He was just in pain, so I hope he is right. It’s more nerval pain.”
In eight games at the FIFA World Cup, Rice has an assist, having gone without a goal contribution at Qatar 2022, where the Three Lions lost 2-1 to eventual finalists France in the quarter-finals.
“They’re getting close” – England boss provides update on injured duo before 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16
England vs Congo DR: Round Of 32 – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Source: Getty
England boss Thomas Tuchel said that the injured right-back duo of Reece James and Jarrel Quansah are progressing well in terms of their recovery, but the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 game against DR Congo came a bit too soon.
James suffered a hamstirng injury during the goalless draw with Ghana and hasn’t featured for the Three Lions since then. Meanwhile, Quansah, injured his ankle against Panama after twisting his ankle.
“They are getting close,” Tuchel said (as per Irish Times). “They are getting closer and closer. I saw them on the pitch.
“In the nature of their injury, Jarell is a little bit ahead of Reecey. But the race was close even to make it into the match squad this time, so we need to make sure that we have more matches. “That is the main focus, and then they will be available very soon.”
England started Djed Spence at right-back against Congo before he came off in the 70th minute for Eberechi Eze, with Declan Rice playing the remainder of the game at Spence’s position.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates winning the second round women’s singles match against Maya Joint of Australia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
The journey continues for Alex Eala—and it will go through a familiar foe on an unfamiliar surface hosting their duel.
The 21-year-old Filipino star heads into Wimbledon’s third round, where she will meet defending champion Iga Swiatek, hoping to add more days to what has already been a historic stretch for Eala at All-England Club.
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The popular left-hander surrendered just two games in the final two sets and took down Maya Joint, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, late Thursday evening (Manila time) in the second round of the grass court Grand Slam.
But things are about to get harder for Eala, already making history as the first seeded female player from the Philippines to win two games at Wimbledon.
Eala and Swiatek have met twice in the past, with both splitting those matches.
Eala stunned Swiatek on the hardcourts of the Miami Open last year, one of the huge upsets the Filipino carved in the tournament to trigger her rise to tennis superstardom.
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Swiatek got payback a month later on clay at the Madrid Open, rallying from a set down to beat Eala in the second round.
Their third-round duel on Saturday (Manila time) at Wimbledon will be their first on grass.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic produced a Wimbledon masterclass as the history-chasing star raced into the third round on Wednesday, while defending champion Jannik Sinner battled through before French Open champion Mirra Andreeva suffered a shock exit.
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Djokovic demolished Stefanos Tsitsipas in a 98-minute rout that served as a statement of intent to Sinner and the rest of his Wimbledon title rivals.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion won, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, hitting 33 winners and making just seven unforced errors.
Djokovic’s latest attempt to make history by winning a record 25th Grand Slam singles title got off to a rocky start as he laboured against unheralded Wu Yibing in the first round on Monday.
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He plays French 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech in the last 32.
“I’m feeling great. I like the terminology ‘vintage’, it brings back the best days and you feel very satisfied and joyful on the court when you’re playing this way,” said Djokovic after being asked if it was a vintage performance.
Bidding to become the oldest man to win a major title in the Open era, Djokovic—who won the most recent of his Wimbledon crowns in 2022—has increasingly looked his age over the last two Grand Slams.
The 39-year-old Serb crashed out in the French Open third round, blowing a two-set lead against Joao Fonseca.
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But Djokovic underlined his enduring class with his latest win against Greek world No. 87 Tsitsipas, who has now lost their last 12 meetings.
Djokovic’s 104th match win at Wimbledon leaves him just one behind Roger Federer’s Open era record in the men’s singles.
Sinner wasn’t at his best again, but the world number one did just enough to beat Portugual’s Nuno Borges, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4.
The 24-year-old Italian had narrowly avoided an embarrassing first-round exit when he fought back from two sets to one down to beat Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.
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The four-time Grand Slam champion ended Carlos Alcaraz’s two-year reign as Wimbledon champion with a brilliant final victory over the Spaniard last year.
Andreeva arrived at the All England Club hailed as one of the sport’s rising stars after winning her maiden Grand Slam crown in Paris in June.
But the Russian teenager was unable to maintain the momentum from Roland Garros as Barbora Krejcikova recaptured the magic that inspired her unexpected Wimbledon title triumph two years ago.
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The 30-year-old Czech, who also won the French Open in 2021, fought back for a dramatic 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory.—REPORTS FROM INQUIRER SPORTS DESK AND AFP
Rockstar Games has been monitoring toxicity and abuse in GTA Online voice chat (VoIP) using a voice analytics AI model throughout 2025. This is a fascinating research project that the American gaming giants have been doing with the help of Modulate’s Velma model. The tool basically monitors how and when players get angry and start abusing each other.
Modulate even released a full case study, which was shared by the game studio. Here is a more in-depth look at the case study for GTA Online toxicity in voice chats in 2025.
In-depth look into GTA Online voice chat toxicity monitoring done by Rockstar Games and Modulate AI
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On July 2, 2026, Rockstar Games posted a newswire for GTA Online weekly updates before the Summer DLC. The developers basically crammed two weeks’ worth of content into it so that the new weekly update starts with the DLC.
At the end of this newswire, the company mentioned its partnership with Modulate, an AI voice analytics company, to moderate in-game voice chat in a better way. This partnership was first formed in 2023, when Modulate’s pilot model moderated GTA Online VoIPs. The AI company has now released a massive case study of the project.
How did Rockstar and Modulate monitor GTA Online voice chat?
Rockstar monitored over 20,000 players using Modulate to moderate VoIP abuse (Image via Rockstar Games || GTA Wiki)
This case study is done on GTA Online’s voice chat from January to December, 2025. The game is basically monitored by a moderation technology called ToxMod, which is powered by Velma, Modulate’s AI voice analytics system. This entire system identifies violations of Rockstar Games’ Community Guidelines.
Basically, if ToxMod detects someone violating community guidelines in VoIP by abusing or speaking harshly, it will take the necessary actions against them.
The case study firstly reported a reduction in community guidelines violations in 2025 by 35% and claimed that ToxMod operated at almost 98% accuracy.
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Here are more details about how exactly Modulate and Rockstar Games monitored GTA Online voice chat and learnt about player behavior:
ToxMod data is grabbed from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
The data is recorded from a sample of 20,000 players across all platforms.
Anger scores are aggregated across three-minute time intervals and GTA Online gameplay session data.
In-game gameplay factors such as mission failure and repeated deaths are also studied to confirm sources of frustration before logoff.
All player data is aggregated and analyzed collectively, not individually.
ToxMod’s findings after monitoring GTA Online voice chat
Modulate Velma’s ToxMod system has a unique way of detecting anger in a player’s voice and gives it a probability score. It is basically a measurement of anger identified by a vocal sentiment model. Basically, if someone is speaking harshly on the voice chat, the artificial intelligencewill understand the tone.
Through this unique model, ToxMod found that abuse on VoIP angers a player a lot more than challenging gameplay mechanics. This is somewhat obvious since players will get a lot angrier at another person abusing them, rather than failing a mission or dying in the game on their own.
ToxMod found that players exposed to abuse in the previous five minutes show up to 50% higher anger scores compared to failing a mission or dying. This anger also increases the chances of them logging off the game by 50%.Players got a lot angrier with verbal abuse rather than failing missions or dying (Image via Rockstar Games || GTA Wiki)
All the data during angry moments was combined with existing gameplay session data to determine what usually gets people riled up.
Modulate basically studied the link between VoIP abuse and rage quitting, which is a popular term used for when a player gets so angry that they log off the game.
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Hence, any form of voice chat abuse increased the likelihood of rage quitting by up to 50%. In simple terms: voice chat abuse drives anger, and anger in turn drives players to log off.
Rockstar plans to bring several QoL changes with Summer DLC (Image via Rockstar Games || GTA Wiki)
Note: This part is entirely subjective and reflects the writer’s opinion.
In Rockstar Games’ newswire, the company mentioned that it will introduce various quality-of-life improvements with the Kortz Center Heist. In the same section, they added the link to this case study.
Hence, an argument can be made that the developers might add new ways to moderate voice chat moving forward. The research with Modulate last year must have given them enough data to create new kinds of moderation to ensure a safe virtual environment for everyone.
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This is even more important for Rockstar Games since they will soon release GTA 6, and potentially a multiplayer title tied with it, even though they have not announced anything related to it.
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