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Kevin Durant not ruling out playing for Team USA in ’28 Games

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Olympics: Basketball-Women Semifinal - USA-SRBAug 6, 2021; Saitama, Japan; USA men’s team player Kevin Durant looks on as the United States play Serbia in the women’s basketball semifinal during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images

If Team USA calls Kevin Durant for a shot at his fifth Gold medal in the 2028 Olympics, he plans to be ready.

Durant will be 39 in 2028 when Los Angeles hosts the Summer Games. Only women’s stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, with six and five gold medals respectively for Team USA, have won more golds in basketball than Durant.

“Hell yeah, I want to play,” Durant said. “I would love to, but I’ve got to stay on top of my game. I’m not expecting, I want to produce on the floor and make (USA Basketball president) Grant (Hill) and whoever is making the decisions, want to put me on the team. I don’t want — not just for seniority. I want to still prove I can help the team win. Today, yeah I feel like I’ll put my name in that hat.”

The self-described gym junkie said if he remains effective on the court as age 40 approaches, there is no reason he wouldn’t be open to another run in the Olympics despite a working narrative that LeBron James, Steph Curry and Durant were all unlikely to be back with Team USA. Curry turns 38 next month. James is 41.

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“You guys, the media, have projected that. I didn’t say I wasn’t playing. LeBron said he wasn’t,” Durant told ESPN. “You didn’t hear that from me or Steph.”

Durant told ESPN he views the criticism of American basketball being “ruined” by Curry or the AAU style of play as a racial critique.

“I just don’t like the talk around the USA versus European style of how you approach the game,” Durant told ESPN. “All I hear is, ‘AAU is destroying the game, the Euros do it right while the Americans do it wrong.’ It’s a lot of bulls– with that. I can read between the lines on that. It’s a shot at Black Americans. We’re controlling the sport. They’re tired of us controlling the sport. ‘France is coming for you.’ Really? We smacked them boys.”

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–Field Level Media

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UFC 327 weigh-ins: Prochazka, Ulberg on target with pounds to spare

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Jiri Prochazka can become a two-time UFC titleholder this weekend if he can snap Carlos Ulberg’s nine-fight winning streak.

The light-heavyweight contenders are set to meet in the main event of UFC 327 with the winner going home as the organization’s new 205-pound champion.

Alex “Poatan” Pereira vacated the title earlier this year after deciding to move up to the heavyweight division, so the UFC paired No. 2 contender Prochazka and No. 3 contender Ulberg.

Before they step into the cage at Miami’s Kaseya Center on Saturday night, Prochazka and Ulberg needed to weigh no more than 205 pounds on the scale Friday morning during the official weigh-in.

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All non-title competitors are afforded a one-pound allowance, so any other light-heavyweight fighter on the card could weigh up to 206 pounds. Prochazka stepped on the scale with two pounds to spare and Ulberg came in one pound under the limit to make the championship bout official.

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UFC 327’s co-main event is another pivotal matchup at 205 pounds with undefeated Azamat Murzakanov welcoming former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa to a new division. Fan favourites and frequent finishers Dominick Reyes and Johnny Walker are set to clash in another light-heavyweight contest.

Trash-talking heavyweight prospect Josh Hokit is looking to shake up the rankings when he faces the biggest test of his young career in No. 5 contender Curtis Blaydes.

The main card kicks off with Cub Swanson’s farewell fight. The 42-year-old featherweight stalwart has announced his scrap with Nate Landwehr will be the final fight of his two-decade career.

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A meeting of former Bellator MMA stars Patricio Pitbull and Aaron Pico headlines a preliminary card that also features strawweight contenders Tatiana Suarez and Loopy Godinez, plus standout lightweights Mateusz Gamrot and Esteban Ribovics.

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Only one of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete on the card missed weight Friday morning.

Chris Padilla initially weighed two pounds above the non-title lightweight limit. Padilla was 158, while his opponent MarQuel Mederos was an even 155. Padilla, who accepted the matchup on short notice, was given an extra hour to shed the additional pounds but he did not cut any additional weight and as a result forfeits 20 per cent of his purse to Mederos. The fight will proceed as scheduled.

Below are the official UFC 327 weigh-in results and projected bout order (subject to change):

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— Jiri Prochazka (203) vs. Carlos Ulberg (204)

— Azamat Murzakanov (205) vs. Paulo Costa (205)

— Curtis Blaydes (261) vs. Josh Hokit (233)

— Dominick Reyes (205) vs. Johnny Walker (205)

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— Cub Swanson (146) vs. Nate Landwehr (145)

— Patricio Pitbull (145) vs. Aaron Pico (145)

— Mateusz Gamrot (156) vs. Esteban Ribovics (155)

— Kevin Holland (171) vs. Randy Brown (171)

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— Tatiana Suarez (116) vs. Loopy Godinez (116)

— MarQuel Mederos (155) vs. Chris Padilla (158)*

— Kelvin Gastelum (185) vs. Vicente Luque (185)

— Charles Radtke (170) vs. Francisco Prado (170)

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*Fighter missed weight, fined 20 per cent of purse, fight proceeds as scheduled

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Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows carted off after collision with teammate

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Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows spent the night in a hospital following a frightening collision with teammate Riley Greene on Thursday.

Meadows was left bloodied in the outfield and had to be helped off the field in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins after appearing to hit his head during the collision with Greene.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows colliding with left fielder Riley Greene at Target Field

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows collided with left fielder Riley Greene on a fly ball hit by Minnesota Twins designated hitter Josh Bell in the eighth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 9, 2026. Meadows left the game after the collision. (Bruce Kluckhohn/Imagn Images)

“It’s a terrible feeling. I still feel terrible,” Greene said after the game.  “He hit my head. I don’t know where I hit him, to be honest, but I just really hope he’s OK.”

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The two collided when Twins first baseman Josh Bell, who already had one home run and two singles, hit a shallow fly to left-center field. Greene and Meadows collided hard enough that their caps flew off. 

Greene made the catch as Meadows lay on the ground. The broadcast caught blood coming from Meadows’ mouth.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows being helped off the field after collision

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows is helped off the field after colliding with left fielder Riley Greene during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis on April 9, 2026. (Matt Krohn/AP)

CARDINALS PITCHER ATTEMPTING MLB COMEBACK SUSTAINS CRUSHING ARM INJURY JUST 3 PITCHES INTO HIS OUTING 

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Tigers manager A.J. Hinch joined medical personnel on the field as Meadows eventually got up and was taken off the field on a cart. MLB.com reported that he would be held for observation overnight. 

“We’re going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me,” Hinch said, confirming that Meadows did suffer a concussion.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows batting at Chase Field in Phoenix

Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 1, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

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Meadows has started 11 of 13 games in center field for the Tigers this season. He went 0 for 3 in the 3-1 loss on Thursday and is batting .250 with two extra-base hits.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Celtics vie to secure East’s No. 2 seed in clash vs. Pelicans

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NBA: Boston Celtics at New York KnicksApr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) defends Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics will have another chance to secure the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

Boston (54-26) could have clinched second place by beating New York on Thursday night, but the Knicks scored nine of the final 11 points to earn a 112-106 victory.

The Celtics and Knicks each have two games to play, and any Boston victory or New York loss will give Boston the No. 2 seed. The Knicks will host Toronto on Friday night.

“Obviously we have to take care of the first round first, and I don’t think we can play them (the Knicks) in the first round, so that’s where our focus is,” Boston guard Payton Pritchard said. “If we see them again, we’ll be ready.”

Baylor Scheierman’s performance was a bright spot for Boston in the loss to New York. On a night when the Celtics didn’t have leading scorer Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendinitis), Scheierman made 6 of 7 3-point attempts and tied his career high by scoring 20 points.

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“Obviously, shot-making is the easiest thing to see and helps us on the scoreboard, but he just does a lot for us,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Whether it’s his crashing or his defense, but his instincts on both ends. … He just continues to get better and better, and that’s what we need, hitting that stretch there.”

Thursday’s game was the first time Jayson Tatum played at New York since he ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a road game against New York during the playoffs last season. Tatum collected 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in Thursday’s loss.

“It was a big moment, a big hurdle for me,” he said. “I was nervous and anxious to come back here.”

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New Orleans (26-54), meanwhile, is coming off Tuesday’s 156-137 feel-good win against Utah. The Pelicans set a franchise record for points scored in a game with the win, which ended an eight-game losing streak.

Jeremiah Fears scored 40 points against Utah to set a Pelicans record for most points in a game by a rookie. Fears, the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, made 17 of 29 shots from the field.

“Really just proud of his growth,” New Orleans coach James Borrego said. “From training camp to where he’s at today — he’s taken a massive step. This franchise is in a really good place because of players like him. … I see a clear pathway for this team to be successful moving into the future.”

New Orleans won even though it played without starters Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones and Saddiq Bey.

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Murphy (right ankle sprain) and Murray (left hand contusion) were injured. Williamson, Jones and Bey were active but didn’t leave the bench in the team’s final home game.

The Pelicans have ruled out Williamson, Jones and Bey for Friday’s game.

New Orleans, which will miss the playoffs for the second straight season, will wrap up the regular season Sunday at Minnesota.

“We have two more games to play,” Borrego said. “I want to honor those two games. Go play the best basketball possible for those two games.”

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RR vs RCB LIVE Score, IPL 2026 Cricket Match Live Updates: Covers Coming Off As Rain Stops In Guwahati; RCB Make Big Change

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Rain has returned to Guwahati right after the toss! The covers are being rushed back on, and the match will not start at 8:15 PM as scheduled. In the meantime, let’s take a look at the Playing XIs and Impact subs! 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting-first XI: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Abhinandan Singh

RCB bench: Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Rasikh Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Venkatesh Iyer

Rajasthan Royals bowling-first XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi

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RR bench: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande

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David de Gea makes Michael Carrick feelings crystal clear with ‘unbelievable’ Man United claim

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Manchester United face a managerial decision at the end of the Premier League season, with Michael Carrick considered a strong contender to take the job permanently

David De Gea has praised his former Manchester United teammate and interim head coach Michael Carrick for the ‘unbelievable’ job he is doing at Old Trafford. United have lost only one game since Carrick took over in January and are on course to qualify for European football, sitting third in the table.

The Spanish goalkeeper returned to England on Thursday night as Fiorentina faced Crystal Palace in the Conference League quarter‑final at Selhurst Park. The Italian side have a mountain to climb in the return leg in Florence after a 3-0 defeat.

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Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, De Gea, who played alongside Carrick between 2011 and 2017, was asked about the 44‑year‑old’s return to United.

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“He’s doing unbelievable,” the shot-stopper began. He’s a great guy, he knows how the players feel, so it’s easy to talk with him.

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“He’s doing an amazing job, United is winning a lot of games now, playing well.

“Hopefully we can get the Champions League spot and keep growing, growing, and let’s see United again in the high positions and fighting for trophies.”

Carrick is a strong contender for the permanent manager’s job at M16, with winger Amad backing the former midfielder as the ‘right man’ for the role and hinting at similar feelings within the squad.

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“Obviously it’s not for us as a player to decide his future, but he’s been very good, he’s been doing so much for the team,” Amad said.

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“He has a lot of experience, he knows the club and has the DNA. We think he’s the right man.

“He knows the club, he played for the club, so he has great experience to manage this club. Sometimes this kind of manager can bring a club where they belong.”

United return to Premier League action on Monday after the March international break. Carrick’s side host Leeds United at Old Trafford, with kick-off at 8pm.

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Tyson Fury has come out of retirement to face Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash in London on April 11. The fight will stream live on Netflix, which fans can get for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle or £24 Ultimate TV bundle, the latter of which also includes HBO Max and Disney+.

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Grand National 2026: Aintree horse Gold Dancer suffers fatal injury while winning race

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The racehorse Gold Dancer has been put down after suffering a fatal injury while winning the Mildmay Novices’ Chase on Ladies Day at Aintree.

Gold Dancer had managed to stay on its feet following an awkward landing on the final fence, with the 100-30 joint-favourite under Paul Townend crossing the line ahead of Regent’s Stroll by four and three-quarter lengths.

It was immediately clear, however, that Gold Dancer had suffered a serious injury when the horse made a mistake going over the final fence.

Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins walk from the course
Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins walk from the course (Getty Images)

The seven-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, received on-course treatment by the Aintree veterinary team after crossing the line. But it was then confirmed that Gold Dancer had been put down.

“Unfortunately he broke his back and they put him down,” said Eddie O’Leary of Gigginstowns, the horse’s stud.

“Paul said he made one mistake and he felt nothing and he kept going to the line no problem. It was just when he pulled up, unfortunately.

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“It was an unbelievable performance, he jumped brilliantly bar one little mistake. It’s a hollow victory now, the poor horse didn’t deserve that.”

A statement from Aintree Racecourse said: “The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after the line and dismounted.

Gold Dancer after crossing the final hurdle
Gold Dancer after crossing the final hurdle (Action Images via Reuters)

“He was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly he could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.”

Last year, Celebre d’Allen died a few days after racing in the Grand National at Aintree, with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) ruling that the 13-year-old was ridden “when the horse appeared to have no more to give and was clearly losing ground” after the penultimate fence.

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Tyson Fury will pay unique tribute to Ricky Hatton in Makhmudov comeback fight

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Tyson Fury returns to the ring on Saturday and he is planning to honour boxing legend Ricky Hatton.

Former world heavyweight champion Fury retired from the sport after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, but now stages a comeback after 16 months away when he goes up against Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

It will be the first time that ‘The Gypsy King’ has been back in action since the tragic passing of sporting icon Hatton in September, with the close friends having worked together in the past, including Fury’s clash against Deontay Wilder in December 2018.

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Hatton is arguably the most popular British boxer of all time, taking legions of supporters across the world as he became a two-weight world champion and competed against the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Fury was in attendance at Hatton’s funeral in October, as thousands of those fans packed the streets to pay tribute to ‘The Hitman’ for everything he has done, and Fury has a tribute of his own planned for tomorrow night.

The heavyweight star is set to wear boots that feature Hatton’s logo, along with the sky blue colouring of Manchester City, the beloved football team of Hatton.

Fury’s clash against Makhmudov headlines a card that also features Conor Benn taking on Regis Prograis in the co-main event, along with Jeamie TKV facing Richard Riakporhe, and Frazer Clarke going up against Justis Huni, with the event broadcast live on Netflix.

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Which German players will make the final cut?

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Germany beat Switzerland and Ghana in their March friendlies and it’s now less than two months until their World Cup squad will be announced. Who will be in the final 26-man selection? The core group of players is clear, but who made the most of the last international break before World Cup preparation begins and who did not?

Winners

  • Kai Havertz — With nearly 60 caps, Havertz is a key part of this team. Having been out with injury for a long time, his starting place was no longer secure but a return to fitness and form is timely. His combination play in Switzerland was impressive, and his roar after confidently dispatching a penalty against Ghana was the sign of a player beginning to hit his stride again. If there were any doubts about his role in the starting eleven, Havertz dispelled them swiftly in these two games.
  • Florian Wirtz — Another player who is guaranteed a ticket to the United States this summer but who still excelled. His two goals and two assists in Basel speak for themselves. It was an exceptional display and in Stuttgart he helped set the tone, often brave with his choices on the ball. It felt significant that the 22-year-old delivered this display in the absence of Jamal Musiala, the player who he combined so well with at Euro 2024. It’s clear that even on his own, Wirtz can be the man for Germany when they need a spark.
  • Lennart Karl — The 18-year-old looked steady off the bench in Basel, but in Stuttgart he exploded into life. Bayern Munich’s newest jewel gave German coach Julian Nagelsmann a lot of good reasons to have him in the squad this summer. The agile playmaker worked hard to win the ball back and ran at the Ghana defense at every opportunity. His desire to take on players is exciting to watch and an all-too rare a sight for Germany these days. He should have capped his performance off with a goal, but he sent the ball wide. Nevertheless, Karl looks destined to be on the plane now.
  • Nathaniel Brown — Perhaps it is too generous to say a player who only played 60 minutes against a largely defensive Ghana side was a winner during this international break, but such is the concern around the left-back spot for Germany that it might just be enough. The Frankfurt defender looked more than competent when called upon. A spot in the squad looks almost certain for the 22-year-old now, and given David Raum has not exactly made the spot his own, there is a possibility that even more gametime awaits Brown.

Losers

  • Angelo Stiller — He might be Stuttgart’s midfield conductor and darts prodigy Luke Littler’s favorite German player, but Stiller did not make the most of an unexpected chance. Called up after injuries to others, Stiller started both games but looked a little uncertain with the ball at times. He was also slow to close down Switzerland for their opener in Basel, a point that did not go unnoticed by Julian Nagelsmann. Pascal Gross’s decent showing in Stuttgart means it looks like this World Cup might come too soon for Stiller.
  • Julian Nagelsmann claps during a Germany match
    Julian Nagelsmann knows the core of his squad but has some big decisions to makeImage: Tom Weller/dpa/picture alliance
  • Nico Schlotterbeck — Despite starting both games and clearly being one half of the favored central defensive pairing with Jonathan Tah, the Dortmund defender struggled. He was sloppy in Switzerland, twice making mistakes in the build-up play that proved costly. In Stuttgart he was a bit more stable, but still looked a little out of sorts at times. He will travel and will likely start, but this might have given Nagelsmann food for thought over the recent decision to make Antonio Rüdiger a back-up.
  • Nick Woltemade  The plan was for the Newcastle striker to gain some confidence this break after enduring a tricky spell in England. Nagelsmann even spoke about how it made more sense to play a striker needing a boost rather than one in form (Deniz Undav). Sadly, the 24-year-old wasn’t able to make the most of it. In Switzerland, he did little with his 20 minutes off the bench other than head his one chance wide. In Stuttgart, he played almost 80 minutes but still couldn’t get on the scoresheet, missing a glorious chance in the first half and then hitting the bar in the second. He will almost certainly be in squad come May, but until then he needs to rediscover his form.

Edited by: Matt Pearson

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Cris Carter Unloads Another Juicy Take

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Cris Carter runs a route during a Vikings game against the Buccaneers
Oct 29, 2000; Tampa, FL, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter (80) runs a route during game action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, showcasing his precise route-running and reliable hands in a matchup that highlighted his Hall of Fame-caliber consistency. Mandatory Credit: Paul Chapman-USA TODAY Sports

About three months ago, the Houston Texans walloped the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wildcard Round of the postseason, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t made a decision about returning to Pittsburgh or retiring. According to former Minnesota Vikings wideout and Hall of Famer Cris Carter, that’s selfish and weird.

Rodgers’ drawn-out timeline keeps pulling fresh reactions from former NFL voices.

Carter teed off on Rodgers this week, speaking to the Fully Loaded podcast.

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Carter Zeroes In on the Odd Rhythm of Rodgers’ Offseason

Will Rodgers eventually return to the Steelers? If so, when?

Aaron Rodgers sprints out during pregame introductions at Acrisure Stadium. Cris Carter Aaron Rodgers.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers runs onto the field during pregame introductions at Acrisure Stadium, with Nov 16, 2025 capturing the atmosphere as fans filled the stands ahead of a divisional matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, highlighting the anticipation and energy surrounding the veteran quarterback before kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Carter on Rodgers

Carter discussed an array of topics on the show, even opining on CTE, a condition deemed “fake” by New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo.

On Rodgers, Carter opined, “You know he wants to play, but he just didn’t want to make up his mind. You need some time away from the game. It’s been a couple months from the Super Bowl. Now’s that time, before the draft, the minicamps. They’re an average team in the league. Aaron Rodgers is like a lot of these quarterbacks when they get to this stage.”

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“They’re so … so selfish. They never want to be called that, but they’re so selfish, and they’re so self-centered. Aaron Rodgers wants to play. He’s got one place that he can play. That’s in Pittsburgh, the place he played in last year, that happens to have his ex-coach.”

One might argue that sums up the general public’s sentiment regarding Rodgers’s bizarre waiting game.

This Is How It Always Goes for Rodgers

Since the 2021 offseason, Rodgers has done this annually, teasing his employer about his intentions, whether to stick around, retire, or ask for a ticket out of town. This go-round, Rodgers is holding the Steelers hostage, waiting at least three months before making his decision.

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He’s the only quarterback who currently does this. Before Rodgers, Hall of Famer Brett Favre did the same thing, creating a suspense thriller about his offseason outcome, dating back to the early 2000s in Green Bay and proceeding for about a decade — every offseason.

All other quarterbacks throughout NFL history either return or retire, but Rodgers and Favre prefer drama to the max. In fact, last summer, Rodgers declared that 2025 would probably be his last. The season came and went, and after this team stunk up the playoffs, he claimed it was way too early to make an emotional decision.

He must be feeling emotional three months later because nothing has happened on the Rodgers cliffhanger front.

The Current Rumor Mill

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Most believe that because Rodgers has not retired, he’ll return for one more run in Pittsburgh, mainly because he would’ve retired by now.

The Athletic’s Mike Silver said about the situation this week: “I think time has kind of made them feel like ‘hey, that was a pretty good thing. We’ve been through a lot.’ And so Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers have been talking about this.”

“I think the Steelers organizationally are reasonably upbeat about the possibility of Aaron coming back and playing another season. They still don’t really have a great option for 2026 if Aaron says no or if he says, ‘You know what, I need a few more months.’ Cautious optimism in the building that Aaron Rodgers will come back.”

Betting markets suggest there’s about an 85% chance that Rodgers will return for Year No. 22.

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Cris Carter speaks at a banquet as keynote speaker for a scholarship foundation event. Cris Carter Aaron Rodgers.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter speaks during the Winged Foot Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual banquet, with May 15, 2023 in Naples, Florida marking the event at Naples Grande Beach Resort as attendees gathered to hear from the former Vikings star and keynote speaker. Mandatory Credit: Ed Reed-Naples Daily News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Steeler writer Tyler Maher added this week, “It’s April, and the NFL Draft is only two weeks away, but the Pittsburgh Steelers still don’t have a starting quarterback for next season. It sounds like they’re expecting it to be Aaron Rodgers, who is still debating whether he wants to return, retire or play elsewhere after spending 2025 with the Steelers.”

“That said, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a good backup plan in place if Rodgers doesn’t return, as Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are the only quarterbacks on the Steelers’ roster at the moment. The Steelers have done a good job improving their roster this offseason, so time will tell.”

Rodgers’ Performance in 2025

In 2025, Rodgers passed for 3,322 yards with the Steelers, despite their conservative, run-heavy offensive scheme. He completed 65.7% of his passes, throwing 24 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions.

However, while his traditional statistics appeared strong, his efficiency metrics suggested a different story. Rodgers ranked around 19th in the league in EPA+CPOE, putting him in a similar tier to players like Jacoby Brissett and rookie Tyler Shough.

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Aaron Rodgers gestures after a first down during a game in Dublin against the Vikings. Cris Carter Aaron Rodgers.
Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, Ireland, IRL; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) gestures after converting a first down during second-half action against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park, reacting to the moment as part of an NFL International Series game played overseas. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The 2025 version of Rodgers was reliable, but he lacked the game-changing talent that defined his MVP seasons of 2020 and 2021.

Normally, one would surmise something to the effect of “Rodgers will likely notify the team of his plan before the draft on April 23rd,” but this is Rodgers, so all bets are off.

He’ll turn 43 in December.


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MLB roundup: Xander Bogaerts’ 12th-inning slam powers Padres past Rockies

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MLB: Colorado Rockies at San Diego PadresApr 9, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam home run against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Valente Bellozo (not pictured) in the twelfth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Xander Bogaerts belted a grand slam in the bottom of the 12th inning Thursday night as the San Diego Padres rallied past the visiting Colorado Rockies 7-3.

Fernando Tatis Jr. started the inning with a sacrifice bunt that moved automatic runner Jake Cronenworth to third. After Valente Bellozo (0-1) intentionally walked Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado to fill the bases, Bogaerts lined a 1-0 pitch into the seats in left for his second homer of the year.

David Morgan (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief to earn the win. Colorado got the go-ahead run to third in the top of the 12th, but Willi Castro was cut down at the plate on Brenton Doyle’s bouncer to Cronenworth at second.

Each team scored a run in both the 10th and 11th innings.

Twins 3, Tigers 1

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Brooks Lee pulled an eighth-inning, two-run single through the right side of the infield, and Minnesota held on for a win over Detroit.

Josh Bell went 3-for-4 and hit a solo home run for the Twins to complete a four-game sweep over the Tigers. Garrett Acton (1-0) earned his first career win after allowing one run in two innings of relief. He followed starter Mick Abel, who pitched six scoreless innings. Eric Orze pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.

Gleyber Torres drove in the lone run for Detroit, which has dropped five straight games. Will Vest (0-2) gave up two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Athletics 1, Yankees 0

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Jeffrey Springs allowed one hit in seven outstanding innings to lead the visiting Athletics past New York.

Springs (2-0) took a no-hit bid into the seventh, surrendering just two walks while striking out six. Max Muncy tripled and scored off a Tyler Soderstrom single to help the Athletics record their first series win over the Yankees since April 2016.

Ben Rice broke up Springs’ no-hit bid with a single for New York’s only hit of the day. Ryan Weathers (0-1) was the tough-luck loser despite surrendering just one run on seven hits in a season-high seven innings. The Yankees haven’t scored since taking a two-run lead on Luis Severino in the first inning of Wednesday’s 3-2 loss.

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White Sox 2, Royals 0

Anthony Kay struck out six to match a career high over 5 2/3 innings, and Colson Montgomery roped an RBI double as Chicago snapped its 14-game road losing streak to Kansas City.

Luisangel Acuna added a sacrifice fly for Chicago, which won for just the third time in the last 25 games at Kauffman Stadium, where its previous victory came on Sept. 6, 2003. Kay (1-0) was making just his ninth career start but third this season for the White Sox. He yielded three hits on a career-high 100 pitches.

Kansas City’s Seth Lugo (1-1) was charged with both runs while also giving up four hits and four walks over 6 1/3 innings. Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. each had two hits, but they struck out for the final two outs, respectively, for the Royals, who stranded 11 runners and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

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Diamondbacks 7, Mets 1

Jorge Barrosa’s RBI triple capped a four-run seventh inning for Arizona, which went on to rout host New York in the decisive game of a three-game series.

The Diamondbacks are 7-3 since being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a season-opening three-game series. Arizona pinch hitter Gabriel Moreno tied the game with a run-scoring double in the seventh before Alek Thomas collected the go-ahead RBI on a fielder’s choice. Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0) allowed one run on five hits over six innings.

Luis Robert Jr. homered in the first inning for the Mets, whose consecutive losses to the Diamondbacks followed a four-game winning streak in which they outscored the opposition 28-8. Mets starter Nolan McLean (1-1) permitted two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings.

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Marlins 8, Reds 1

Owen Caissie and Javier Sanoja combined for six hits and five RBIs to lead host Miami to a defeat of Cincinnati, earning a split of the four-game set.

In a battle of former first-round picks, Miami’s Max Meyer (1-0) allowed four hits, three walks and one run in five innings, striking out four.

Reds starter Rhett Lowder (1-1) entered the game with the best eight-game ERA (1.30) in Reds history with a minimum of 30 innings. He had never allowed more than three runs in a game. On Thursday, he allowed eight hits and five runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings. Caissie (3-for-4, three RBIs) and Sanoja (3-for-4, two RBIs) led Miami’s offense. Agustin Ramirez went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

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–Field Level Media

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