Remember Patrick Peterson? The cornerback who stopped by the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons? He’s a former teammate of Kyler Murray, and for the most part, Peterson believes Murray will work out in Minnesota.

The Vikings signed Murray in March after the Arizona Cardinals kicked him out. Peterson thinks that’ll work out for Murray and the Vikings.

Peterson Sees a Clean Setup for Murray

Peterson on Murray

Peterson recently chatted with D.J. Siddiqi and opened up about Murray: “I am happy for Kyler Murray for the situation that he’s in right now, how he’s going to be able to play with a top-five defense, how he’s going to be able to play with a consistent No. 1 receiver, how he’s going to have a balanced offense.”

“Everything is not really going to be upon his shoulders. I think he’s in a great, phenomenal situation now. I believe Murray will win the starting job just because he’s a proven quarterback. He’s a guy who’s a Pro Bowler in this league, a former first pick in this league, and we know those guys can hold on to that car for a long, long time.”

Peterson and Murray crossed paths in the desert for two seasons.

“J.J. McCarthy is a first-round pick as well, but the number one pick carries a little bit more weight, and I just feel like Kyler Murray is more proven,” Peterson added.

Best Situation to Date in His Career

Murray may also benefit from his best team setup to date. He’s never quite had a defense like Brian Flores’s; in addition, his new playmakers, including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason, should make his job easy.

Peterson commented on that, too: “This is the best situation that he’s going to be in thus far throughout his career. In Arizona, we had solid teams, but we didn’t have teams that can win right now, and Minnesota has a team that can win right now. What they were missing last year was a quarterback. J.J. wasn’t healthy; they had to go through two other quarterbacks. Carson Wentz ended up getting hurt, and the other quarterback threw four interceptions in one game.”

“The defense was pretty much keeping them afloat. Now they just feel like they need a quarterback that’s going to be able to manage them, manage the game, put them in the best position possible, and Kyler Murray, in my opinion, picked the right team for that. Now it’s going to be upon him to be the best player that he can be to revitalize his career.”

If there’s a place for Murray to rekindle his career, it’s Minnesota. The situation is fantastic.

Just Follow the Blueprint of Sam Darnold?

Meanwhile, if Murray wants to find success, all he has to do is turn on some tape of the 2024 Vikings, led by Darnold.

Minnesota finished 14-3 that season, with Darnold under center almost 100% of the time. Darnold fed his playmakers, let the defense do its thing, and closed out games in the 4th Quarter. Life was good — until Darnold vaporized in the season’s two most vital games: at Detroit in Week 18 and in the playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams.

Murray blasting off in Minnesota won’t be unprecedented, but if he does, the Vikings will have the opportunity to keep him, unlike letting Darnold walk in 2025.

Must Win the Battle First

Projecting Murray’s stats and success might be premature. Peterson appears to have already crowned him, but Murray must win the summer competition against McCarthy, who won’t go quietly into the night. Last offseason, the Vikings handed McCarthy the job without serious compeition, and a playoff-less season ensued. This time, they signed Murray, and he’s in town to battle McCarthy at training camp and in the preseason.

The odds suggest Murray will win handily — he’s a -770 monelyine favorite — but Minnesota has a vested interest in McCarthy succeeding, drafting him in 2024 as their sole solution at quarterback for the future. When training camp kicks off in three weeks, Murray must earn the QB1 job, and that process will likely take longer than a day or two.

Then, Murray must remain upright and healthy. Sadly, he’s missed about a quarter of all games in his career due to injury. He’s played a full season twice. If Murray gets hurt, McCarthy will be salivating to fill in and never relinquish the job.

Yet, if Murray plays all 17 games, Peterson believes he’ll stick in Minnesota.

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

Arsenal make Morgan Rogers their main target, Liverpool interested in Mexico teenager and Everton eye England defender Spence.

Arsenal have made 23-year-old midfielder Morgan Rogers their top target and want to sign the England international from Aston Villa (The Athletic, external).

Liverpool have enquired about the possibility of signing 17-year-old Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora from Club Tijuana (El Universal, external).

Everton want to sign 25-year-old England defender Djed Spence from Tottenham (The Athletic, external).

Tottenham are lining up an £85 million bid to sign 19-year-old France forward Junior Kroupi from Bournemouth (TalkSport, external).

Inter Miami want to sign 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha after he was released by Portuguese second-division side Chaves. (Marca, external).

Chelsea are preparing to offer 18-year-old English midfielder Jesse Derry a new contract to fend off interest from Bayern Munich (Football Insider), external.

Newly-promoted Ipswich Town want to seal a club-record signing of 21-year-old Brazil forward Emersonn from Toulouse. (Give Me Sport), external.

Paris St-Germain have started talks to sign 24-year-old France midfielder Maghnes Akliouche from AS Monaco (RMC Sport, external).

The USA-Belgium game made history.

The USA’s 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday night in Seattle set a viewership record, drawing 30 million viewers and becoming the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history.

The peak audience was 36.895 million, from 9:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET.

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Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku (9) kicks the ball past the United States’ Chris Richards (3) to score his team’s fourth goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

The USMNT unfortunately did not deliver for the massive audience, as their run came to a close in disheartening fashion. Despite Folarin Balogun’s suspension being overturned, the USMNT could not muster enough offense.

Belgium took advantage of the USMNT defensive mistakes, as Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring just nine minutes into the match after a defensive breakdown gave Belgium an early lead.

Malik Tillman, who scored on a free kick against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, worked his magic again on another free kick to tie the score at 1-1 in the 31st minute. Tillman’s shot deflected off a defender and found its way into the back of the net, sending the vociferous Seattle crowd into a frenzy.

The raucous cheers were short-lived, however, as De Ketelaere scored his second goal shortly after in the 33rd minute to put Belgium back on top, 2-1.

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Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere (17) celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)

The USMNT came out after halftime applying pressure to Belgium, but goalie Matt Freese made a critical mistake that dashed any hopes of a comeback. In the 57th minute, Freese came out of his net to challenge De Ketelaere on a through ball.

While Freese arrived first, he could not clear the ball as his foot got caught in the turf. Hans Vanaken seized the opportunity and booted the ball past Freese and a sprawling Tim Ream to give Belgium a 3-1 lead.

The USMNT had a couple of opportunities to add another tally and cut the deficit to one, but could not get on the board as they were stifled by Belgium’s defense.

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The United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) walks off the pitch after losing to Belgium during their World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)

Belgium substituted in superstar striker, Romelu Lukaku, and he put the exclamation point on the victory with a goal in stoppage time.

Despite the loss, the USMNT’s captured America’s heart and attention over the past few weeks, with the country’s support reflected in the historic ratings.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy hasn’t even fully begun his competition with Kyler Murray, and the world has already lined up new employers for him, including trade ideas to the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets, among others. Now, one podcast host believes McCarthy would fit well in Denver.

The Broncos clearly have a QB1 in Bo Nix, but David Marshall’s theory suggests McCarthy could play QB2 in Denver rather than in Minnesota.

Minnesota Has No Reason to Rush a McCarthy Trade to DEN or Anywhere

Marshall: McCarthy to DEN Makes Sense

Marshall advanced the idea on the David Talks Broncos show last week: “McCarthy was kind of a disaster last year after his time at Michigan. You could see here at Michigan, National Champion, he’s got all the traits and tools you’re looking for, and you saw here during his time in the NFL.”

“He tore his ACL in 2024, so he didn’t get a lot of time to actually improve his game. He played in a pro-style offense under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and I think he’s got the brains to operate this offense with Sean Payton and Davis Webb.”

Denver’s QB2 at the moment is Jarrett Stidham, who started in the AFC Championship in January.

Marshall added, “He needs to fine-tune his mechanics, his footwork, and that’s where the Broncos do some of their best work. I think J.J. McCarthy in terms of not looking at him as a franchise quarterback because we’ve got that in Bo Nix, but as that franchise backup. That next guy that can be here for a few years.”

Why … Would McCarthy Leave QB2 Job in MIN for QB2 Job in DEN?

The idea from Marshall is predicated on McCarthy leaving the friendly confines of Minnesota — presumably as Murray’s backup — for Denver to presumably become Nix’s backup.

Immediately, the question becomes: Why on earth would he want that? McCarthy departing the Vikings in 2026 would probably have to come from his trade request, and it would be strange for him to sign off on a deal that shipped him to the Broncos. If McCarthy wants a real shot at QB1 action, he should either remain in Minnesota to see if Murray shows progress or force his way to a team like the Cardinals or Jets that realistically need a QB1 for the future.

Preferring Denver to Minnesota — swapping QB2 assignments for QB2 assignments — just doesn’t make sense for the 23-year-old.

Too Early for a Trade

Kevin O’Connell said in 2024 that organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations. Well, here we are.

If the Vikings were to trade McCarthy now, especially after selecting him as their franchise quarterback just two years ago, it would directly contradict their head coach’s previous warnings. The move would be particularly puzzling given the widespread enthusiasm for McCarthy as the team’s future in April 2024.

Discarding him before he has had a fair chance to develop seems premature. McCarthy’s professional career has faced significant hurdles. His early entry into the league, a rookie-year injury that led to benching, and a rocky 2025 performance all contributed to his inconsistent start.

Even if the Vikings believe Murray offers a better immediate solution for the 2026 season, it doesn’t necessitate McCarthy’s immediate departure.

Quarterback development is a lengthy process, and teams that rush it often regret their decisions. The Jets with Sam Darnold and the Cleveland Browns with Baker Mayfield serve as cautionary tales; both teams moved on too quickly, only to see those players succeed elsewhere. Minnesota risks falling into a similar trap.

The Vikings aren’t obligated to declare McCarthy a superstar today; their priority should be avoiding a shortsighted decision.

Trading him now would essentially invite another franchise to “fix McCarthy.” Should another coach successfully develop him into a star, the Vikings would spend the next decade justifying how a 23-year-old former 1st-Round pick was let go without a development plan. You might recall the Vikings casting Darnold off last offseason and him winning a Super Bowl 11 months later.

Trade Price?

Pretend for a moment that McCarthy indeed requests a trade later this summer, possibly after losing the competition to Murray. Now might be the best time to sell, as the Vikings could realistically grab a mid-round pick. At worst, McCarthy would fetch a 5th-Rounder.

On the whole, the likelihood of McCarthy leaving the Vikings is low. The team needs all the quarterback depth it can find after injuries to its quarterbacks killed the 2023 and 2025 campaigns.

But there’s always a chance that McCarthy personally asks for a change of scenery, and per Marshall, the Broncos shouldn’t be ruled out.

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

Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue blew India away with pace at Trent Bridge as England condemned the world champions to a record 125-run T20 defeat.

The hosts posted 201 for seven on the back of 70 from Phil Salt, with the entire India team only just besting the opener’s score as they were rounded up for 76.

Archer and Tongue were too hot to handle, both seamers pushing the speed gun past 90mph to scatter the power-packed Indian top order in a match-winning new-ball burst.

Tongue claimed career-best figures of four for 28 and Archer took three for 29, with the innings wrapped up 8.2 overs ahead of time.

It was an emphatic result in Nottingham – eclipsing India’s previous worst result in T20s by a massive 45-run margin – and handing the hosts a 2-0 lead with two to play in the Vitality Series.

Manchester United have been busy in the summer transfer window as Michael Carrick aims to bolster his squad ahead of the upcoming Premier League season

Marcel Desailly has given the thumbs up to Manchester United as their pursuit for Aurelien Tchouameni continues to accelerate. The latest updates from Spain indicate that club officials are planning to travel to Madrid to explore a potential deal with the midfielder.

Diario AS claims that any sale Real Madrid agrees to this summer must exceed £85million, meaning United will have to drop a hefty sum to secure his signature. It is understood that the France international is keen to stay in Spain but recent transfer activity between United and Madrid could help push the deal forward.

Former Chelsea defender Desailly has pointed to the move of Raphael Varane as he gave the green light to Tchouameni’s potential move to United. Speaking to sportscasting.com, the ex-France international said: “I’m sure Aurelien Tchouaméni would move to the Premier League, and Manchester United is still a massive club; a massive name.

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“He had a difficult season, but at least he shows leadership. That’s why when you talk about Konaté or Tchouaméni, I’ll always choose Tchouaméni because of his desire. And he also wears my number 8 on his back, so I love him for this!

“I believe that he has that little bit of leadership and the desire to bring the team all together. So it could be a good move for him, just like when Raphaël Varane swapped Madrid for Manchester back in the day.

“So why not? I would encourage him to go for it and try the Premier League.”

Varane is a prime example of a success story from La Liga to the Premier League, joining United in 2021 for a fee of around £41m. He won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his time at Old Trafford, making 95 appearances and becoming a defensive stalwart.

Casemiro also made the same move a year later and became a fan favourite at Old Trafford. The defensive midfielder racked up 160 appearances for United, making 40 goal contributions and securing two domestic cups along the way.

His departure from the club this summer kick-started United’s pursuit of Tchouameni, and the 26-year-old could look to his old Madrid colleagues for inspiration in heading to the Premier League.

Michael Carrick has already secured the £35m signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson this summer and will be keen to add more firepower to his squad as his first season in permanent charge edges closer.

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Jannik Sinner believes the work he and his team put in after the French Open has already paid off following his straight-sets victory over Jan-Lennard Struff at Wimbledon.

The world No. 1 defeated Struff 7-5, 7-6(5), 6- 3 to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the second consecutive year.

Playing in hot conditions, Sinner admitted he was pleased to get through the match in three sets.

When asked whether the heat made the victory even more satisfying, the Italian laughed before saying:

“Yeah, thanks for reminding me.”

He then explained how the French Open disappointment led to the important changes behind the scenes.

“We worked a lot, especially after Paris, trying to understand what went wrong there. We prepared ourselves in the best possible way.”

Sinner said he was especially encouraged by how he felt physically throughout the match.

“It was a huge test today. I felt really, really comfortable on the physical side today. A good step forward.”

Although he hopes not to experience another setback like the one in Paris, Sinner believes his team is now better prepared.

“If it would happen again like in Paris, I hope not, but if it happens again, we know we need to change some things again.”

The defending Wimbledon champion also praised Struff, describing the German as one of the toughest opponents on tour.

“Very, very tough player to play against. He deserves everything he’s done and achieved in his career.”

Sinner will now head into the Wimbledon semi-finals looking to continue his title defence after another composed performance on grass.