BTS performed in London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night (July 6), where the ARMY spotted a playful Jinkook moment – Jungkook piggybacking Seokjin as the duo sang on the stage.
The video has since gone viral on X, with Jinkook fans going crazy over the cuteness of Jinkook’s bond. Here’s how netizens have been reacting to it:
“i took this photo, I hope you will cherish like I do. happy jinkook”
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Some fans were heart-eyed over the bond the two band members shared, while others expressed gratitude for the Arirang World Tour that helped them witness so many moments between the BTS members.
jeon jeongguk is never putting that grown man down. and seokjin is EXACTLY where he wants to be!! 😭😭
Wow don’t want let go of Jin aww my jinkook heart ❤️
I know some people died when they saw this and resurrected to start trolling them because they are affecting their ship… This Tour is so fun to watch A lot of necks are pressed by these two and I am sure they don’t even know it. Just living their best life after separation
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Honestly, every angle is worth posting. This moment was way too cute to get over.
Give us a 5 min compilation of all angles
For the unversed, Jinkook is a popular ship name for the youngest – Jungkook – and the oldest – Jin – members of BTS, which was coined by Jungkook himself in a 2015 interview. Despite their 5-year age gap, the duo is always the most playful around each other and shares an adorable sibling energy.
BTS will perform their second London concert tonight – on Tuesday, July 7 – before moving on to Germany, where they have two shows in Munich’s Allianz Arena on the coming weekend (July 11 and 12).
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BTS crowd interactions amid their first London show, explored
Besides the viral Jinkook moment, BTS made many memorable moments on London’s stage on Monday, one of which was them jokingly taking credit for England’s victory against Mexico on the same day.
After England defeated the Mexican soccer team on Sunday (July 5), RM congratulated the audience for the victory, while jokingly adding:
“Congrats on the win last night. We always bring the luck to every place we play. When we played in Belgium, Belgium won. Now that we’re in London, Britain won. You see?”
RM also apologized to their British fans for returning to perform in the country after seven years, saying:
“There was Covid, there was military, and now we’re here in 2026 together. I missed you so much, and thank you for all coming.”
Before Monday night, the last time BTS graced a stage in London was in 2019, when the pop band earned the title of the first-ever South Korean act to headline at Wembley Stadium. They had plans to return to Britain in 2020, but shows were cancelled in light of COVID.
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Suga also chimed in, thanking the fans for their patience as he remarked:
“I’m still feeling the emotion I felt seven or eight years ago. I don’t think you guys have changed. You’re still in a passionate country.”
Meanwhile, J-Hope expressed his “honor” to be playing at the stadium where South Korean captain Son “Sonny” Heung-min first gained global recognition.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray appeared in team-produced offseason content after joining the organization in free agency, giving fans an early look at the new quarterback. On June 8, 2026, the Vikings featured Murray in released media as he continued preparing for his first season in Minnesota following his March arrival that summer. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will do battle in Week 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium in 67 days, with storylines aplenty because — it’s Vikings-Packers. But one such scenario hasn’t been fully unearthed by the masses yet — the immediate, post-Arizona Cardinals showdown between Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
The two worked together for three seasons in Arizona. Their shared first order of business outside the desert? Dueling in the NFC North.
Gannon’s Defense Adds Personal Stakes to the Opener
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon patrols the sideline at State Farm Stadium as Arizona faces Jacksonville during a late-season matchup tied to quarterback questions. On Nov. 23, 2025, Gannon watched his team handle another test while the franchise weighed its long-term direction around Kyler Murray. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Schedule-Makers Plop Murray v. Gannon Out of the Gate
The Vikings could’ve played any team in Week 1, but for the 2026 squad, the NFL chose Green Bay. The folks who made the schedule probably didn’t care much about Murray versus Gannon, but it’s happening anyway.
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Arizona hired Gannon during the 2023 offseason, a year after the franchise extended Murray’s contract, the deal that included the infamous “study hall” clause before it was removed. Murray was viewed as the franchise quarterback, and with a fresh new set of eyes and ideas, Gannon took over.
The Cardinals went 15-36 in those three seasons, compiling a .294 win percentage and ranking 27th in the NFL. The experiment didn’t work, and the pair lost their jobs this offseason. Freshly removed from Arizona, they’ll dance on opposite sidelines at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Gannon’s Defense
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Gannon inherits the league’s 19th-best defense per DVOA from last year. The Packers reached the postseason — lost to the Chicago Bears in a wild game — and did so with a mediocre defense that has seen better days. The club also lost superstar Micah Parsons along the way to a torn ACL.
Led by Gannon, Green Bay will face Minnesota with these notable players on defense:
Javon Bullard (S)
Edgerrin Cooper (LB)
Zaire Franklin (LB)
Javon Hargrave (DI)
Isaiah McDuffie (LB)
Xavier McKinney (S)
Keisean Nixon (CB)
Benjamin St-Juste (CB)
Lukas Van Ness (EDGE)
Evan Williams (S)
It’s also worth noting that Hargrave, a defensive tackle, played for the Vikings last year but was cast aside this offseason before Minnesota drafted Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport on the Packers’ defense: “After trading Rashan Gary to Dallas, who will step up on the edge opposite Parsons? How will the move from Quay Walker to Zaire Franklin affect the linebackers? How will veteran Benjamin St. Juste and rookie Brandon Cisse fit into the Green Bay secondary?”
“The Packers have the personnel on the defensive side of the ball to field a solid unit in 2026. They are going to need to, because the NFC North has the makings of the most tightly packed division in the NFL.”
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Murray’s Offense
How about Murray’s offensive tools against Gannon’s defense? He’s got ’em. Murray hasn’t quite had game action with the following group, but that story will start in living color on September 13 against this former coach.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray drops back at State Farm Stadium as Pittsburgh visits Glendale in a matchup from his rookie season, when his playmaking still defined Arizona’s rebuild. On Dec. 8, 2019, Murray faced the Steelers while showing the mobility and arm talent that later kept him central to Cardinals plans. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Here’s who will notably surround Murray in Minnesota’s offense:
Jordan Addison (WR)
Christian Darrisaw (T)
T.J. Hockenson (TE)
Justin Jefferson (WR)
Jauan Jennings (WR)
Aaron Jones (RB)
Donovan Jackson (LG)
Jordan Mason (RB)
Brian O’Neill (RT)
Murray will also have Kevin O’Connell whispering in his ear, a man known for top-tier veteran quarterback tutelage.
Our Steve Hoikkala recently noted on Jackson, a rookie lineman from last year: “Jackson was stellar in his performance last season as a rookie allowing just 2 sacks in 14 games in 2025, and looks to be the long-term starter he was brought here to be.”
“His physicality and consistency to the interior offensive line are just as important as the stability in his youth for Minnesota to build around. Jackson should be the starting left guard for years to come.”
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Packers-Themed Media’s Take
LombardiAve.com‘s Luke Norris wrote about the situation in March, “Jonathan Gannon will now face Kyler Murray, who he benched in 2025, twice in 2026.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon speaks with Kyler Murray at State Farm Stadium during second-half action against the Los Angeles Rams, with Arizona trying to steady its offense. On Sep. 15, 2024, the sideline exchange showed the coach-quarterback dynamic that remains central to Murray’s future and the team’s larger direction. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images.
“Any new wrinkle to the Packers-Vikings rivalry is always fun, but this one comes with a second storyline outside of just Murray himself, as the man who served as his head coach for the last three years and basically benched him this past season will now stand on the sideline opposite him on two occasions in 2026, that man, of course, being new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.”
The Packers are already favored to chip off the Vikings by a point or two.
Norris added, “There still appears to be plenty of respect between Gannon and Murray, but that doesn’t mean these upcoming Packers-Vikings matchups won’t have a little more intrigue to them.”
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“Perhaps Gannon isn’t thrilled that his first regular QB1 as a head coach couldn’t stay healthy (or at least healthy enough), and perhaps Murray wants to stick it to the head coach who benched him.”
The NFL regular season is exactly nine weeks away.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. celebrated after scoring a first-quarter touchdown against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium, giving Minnesota an early Christmas Day spark. On December 25, 2025, in Minneapolis, Jones marked the score as the Vikings tried to build momentum in a holiday NFC North matchup at home. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Among the Minnesota Vikings’ fan base, hopes are high for 2026, mainly because the club acquired Kyler Murray in March and finished last season with a winning record despite mostly miserable quarterback play.
But ESPN does not share that optimism, nominating Minnesota’s roster as the 11th-worst in the NFL heading into training camp. If Minnesota makes something of the season, it will do so without the sign-off of ESPN.
ESPN’s Low View Adds Pressure ahead of 2026
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sideline at Soldier Field as Minnesota works through calls against Chicago in an NFC North matchup. On Oct. 15, 2023, Flores tracked defensive communication and pressure timing while the Vikings adjusted through a physical second half on the road in a tight divisional setting. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images.
ESPN: Vikings’ Roster Ranks No. 22 in Power Rankings
Mike Clay of ESPN dropped the No. 22 ranking for the Vikings, noting that the running backs — Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Demond Claiborne, and Zavier Scott — were the team’s foremost weakness.
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On the other hand, he noted the chief strength: “Biggest strength: Pass catchers. Receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and newcomer Jauan Jennings and tight end T.J. Hockenson form a terrific group of targets for whoever wins the QB job.”
“Even in a down season (no fault of his own), Jefferson delivered his sixth consecutive season with 1,000-plus receiving yards in 2025 and remains arguably the league’s best wide receiver. Addison produced 875-plus receiving yards and nine-plus TDs in his first two seasons before the QB woes of 2025.”
Pound for pound, Clay is probably correct about the pass-catchers as the team’s main calling card, though the defense is statistically fantastic too.
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“Jennings broke out in 2024 with the 49ers and has a 132-1,618-15 receiving line over the past two seasons. Hockenson’s stats have been down the past two seasons, but the 29-year-old remains one of the league’s best two-way tight ends,” Clay concluded.
The Teams Ahead of MIN
Three teams questionably checked in ahead of Minnesota:
Indianapolis Colts
Washington Commanders
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Colts are all-in to win a Super Bowl with Daniel Jones, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, an injury that goes either way in terms of recovery. The Commanders fired up a down year after an unexpected sprint to the NFC Championship in 2024. And the Steelers will roll with Aaron Rodgers again, this time led by his old pal, head coach Mike McCarthy.
Placing any of those squads ahead of Minnesota per roster talent is certainly debateable.
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Very Little Faith in the QB
How did the Vikings fetch the 22nd roster ranking in football? It’s pretty evident: outside of Minneapolis, the masses don’t trust the quarterback(s). Murray’s reputation is at a career crater. That’s the cost of doing business when the Arizona Cardinals, of all organizations, run you out of town. Put plainly, the world believes that Murray is mid.
His quarterback running mate this summer, J.J. McCarthy, is mostly known for memes, and somehow, that matters in the court of public opinion. McCarthy produced an up-and-down season in his first as a starter, and that’s when he wasn’t missing seven games due to a flurry of injuries.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray surveys Minnesota’s defense in a Week 13 highlight clip as the Cardinals offense prepares for another snap against Brian Flores’ unit. On Dec. 1, 2024, Murray operated before the play while the Vikings aligned across the formation during a sequence from the NFL’s official regular-season highlights package online. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Most NFL analysis starts with the quarterback, and for a team like the Vikings to rank 22nd, it means that ESPN doesn’t really trust Murray or McCarthy to be dependable.
The Super Bowl Odds
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How about Vegas? Do sportsbooks agree with the 22nd assessment? For the most part.
The Vikings’ Super Bowl odds in early July are 18th-best in the sport. Here’s the full list for curious minds:
Los Angeles Rams: +500
Buffalo Bills: +1000
Baltimore Ravens: +1100
Seattle Seahawks: +1200
Los Angeles Chargers: +1600
Kansas City Chiefs: +1600
Detroit Lions: +1700
New England Patriots: +1700
San Francisco 49ers: +1700
Philadelphia Eagles: +1800
Houston Texans: +1900
Cincinnati Bengals: +2000
Denver Broncos: +2000
Green Bay Packers: +2200
Dallas Cowboys: +2200
Chicago Bears: +2700
Jacksonville Jaguars: +2700
Indianapolis Colts: +4500
Minnesota Vikings: +4500
Washington Commanders: +5000
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +6000
Pittsburgh Steelers: +7000
New York Giants: +7000
Atlanta Falcons: +7500
Carolina Panthers: +8000
New Orleans Saints: +8000
Tennessee Titans: +12500
Las Vegas Raiders: +12500
Cleveland Browns: +35000
New York Jets: +40000
Miami Dolphins: +60000
Arizona Cardinals: +100000
Oddsmakers pretty much plop the Vikings in the same boat as the Colts at +4500. That’s akin to reaching into a shuffled deck and pulling one specific card — like the Ace of Spades — on the first try.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell warms up with his team at U.S. Bank Stadium before a home matchup against Baltimore, staying active during pregame work. On Nov. 9, 2025, O’Connell moved through the field as the Vikings prepared for another AFC test inside their home venue in downtown Minneapolis again. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
NFL Spin Zone‘s Sayre Bedinger ranked Minnesota at — you guessed it — No. 22 in his recent power rankings: “The Vikings are going to be relying on defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his scheme more than ever before.”
“Even with the possibility of a breakout from Dallas Turner, this team has young players replacing the likes of Jonathan Greenard, Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, and Harrison Smith. Those are huge losses. Factoring in the quarterback position coming down to Kyler Murray and JJ McCarthy, this is going to be maybe the biggest “test” year for O’Connell and his staff.”
The Vikings haven’t won a playoff game in 2,376 days.
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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
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — One year ago, Chris Gotterup arrived at the Scottish Open the same way he arrived this week: not-so-fresh off a redeye from the American Midwest. He was ranked 158th in the world. Obviously, a lot has changed since.
You could say something similar for most of the field. You could say something similar for yourself. You were probably somewhere similar a year ago; a lot has changed since then, too. This time of the golf calendar seems to underline that message more than any other month. And shouldn’t it? We’re playing the national open of the sport’s founding country and following it up with the game’s oldest championship. If any month feels like golf’s birthday, it’s July, where we can celebrate the game’s core characteristics — penal bunkers, firm turf, sandy soil, wispy fescue, the ball in the wind and the ball on the ground. Our annual pilgrimage into this state of golf fittingly serves as a reminder of all that can change in 12 months.
Gotterup is the most obvious example, who says last year taught him that his game truly travels. Beating Rory McIlroy amid a crowd largely rooting against him was a launching point for three wins since. But there was a notable third player in that final group last year: Wyndham Clark. Has anyone’s 12 months of golf ridden more of a rollercoaster than his?
Jon Rahm could make a claim, given the upheaval of his employer, LIV Golf. His last 12 months haven’t been drastically different, but his next 12 will be. He’ll almost certainly be back here at the Scottish Open in 2027 — where, he says, “the game comes alive” — but where he plays before it, not even he knows.
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There’s Brooks Koepka, who last year was in Europe but competing in a different country. This week, he’s a sponsor’s exemption from the DP World Tour half of this field, about as far away as one can get from “salaried LIV golfer.” Koepka spent part of Wednesday’s press conference reflecting on 2025 and how life away from golf intersects with life on the course.
“I feel like last year I wasn’t in the head space to actually play good golf,” Koepka said, “and now that everything is kind of cleared up and I’m in a better [place] — we all have that. It’s life, right?”
Right. Life is cyclical. So is pro golf. Koepka was once a Scottish Open mainstay, back in his twenties when he was competing on the DP World Tour and its feeder, the Challenge Tour. He called those days “some of the funnest times I’ve ever had playing golf,” flying economy with fellow pros, squeezing into taxis. He said the familiar nature of those times is one reason the European Ryder Cup team does so well. Perhaps unsurprisingly, European Tour’s production company has jumped into action with all its big hitters in the field, using this week to acquire the final interviews of its documentary on last year’s Ryder Cup.
McIlroy has been playing the Scottish Open for — gulp — 21 years now, the last three of which came at Renaissance Club. In 2023, he won in Scotland for the first time. In 2024, the Scottish marked his return from a gutting finish at the Pinehurst U.S. Open. In 2025, it seemed to be his first joyful press conference in months. Only he could tell you where his mind was during those weeks, but golf fans are observant enough to know how different he seemed. In 2026, maybe not so much has changed. He’s still holding the Masters champion’s green jacket, only this year he’s taking it fewer places, like to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. (That’s Wimbledon.)
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“If you can’t wear it there,” he quipped, “where can you wear it?”
At a time when McIlroy’s annual schedule seems to be shrinking, this tournament isn’t going anywhere. On Wednesday, he called it the blueprint for national opens and the “perfect lead-in” to next week’s Open Championship. McIlroy stays in the same house on-site every year, right next to the Fleetwoods. While Argentina battled Egypt Tuesday night, Rory kicked around with Frankie Fleetwood in the backyard.
As for the author of this article, this is the fifth straight summer I’ve taken a United Airlines redeye from Chicago into Edinburgh, followed by the ScotRail train into nearby North Berwick. Two years ago, I hopped off that train and raced to Renaissance Club’s lovable neighbor — North Berwick’s East Links — only to find a shirtless caddie walking across the fairway. The sun was out, the sky was dotted with clouds, he had just taken a dip in the Firth of Forth. Life was good.
But only the luckiest pros and their caddies get to walk those North Berwick fairways each year. Last July, I walked along with Joel Dahmen and Geno Bonnalie during a sunset round on the East Links. They played a hearty match against each other before we popped into town for fish and chips. Neither of them knew it for sure, but that was the final week of their player-caddie partnership, a breakup that shocked the golf world. They remain close as ever, but the proof of what can change in a year is right there on the caddie registry this week. Bonnalie is here, looping on a one-week gig for Harris English (whose regular caddie is once again caught in visa issues). Dahmen is in Louisville playing the ISCO Championship.
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“I miss that place,” he said of North Berwick, when reached via text. “Have a beer for me.”
Joel would rather be in Scotland than sweaty Kentucky, and thanks to a run of last-minute withdrawals from the field, he could have been. But he’s in hot pursuit of FedEx Cup points and figures he’d have a better chance domestically than across the pond.
“Week 2 of getting better at golf,” he texted. “Onward we [climbing emoji].”
Jun 16, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) looks on in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Angels activated All-Star center fielder Mike Trout from the 10-day injured list prior to Wednesday’s road game against the Texas Rangers.
Trout has been on the IL due to a right hamstring strain sustained on June 17 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Trout is batting second and serving as the designated hitter on Wednesday.
The activation puts Trout in line to play in the All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia. The contest holds extra importance to Trout since Philadelphia is located roughly 45 miles from his hometown of Millville, N.J.
Trout is a 12-time All-Star but he hasn’t taken the field in the Midsummer Classic since 2019 due to a series of injuries. He is 7-for-17 (.412) with two homers, two doubles and four RBIs in seven appearances and is the only player to be named All-Star MVP (2014-15) in back-to-back years.
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As for the contest against Arizona, Trout said the injury happened while he was running the bases.
Trout had played in 74 of 75 games this season prior to the setback against the Diamondbacks. He is batting .234 with 17 homers and 36 RBIs.
The three-time American League MVP has 421 homers, 1,054 RBIs and 221 steals in 1,722 games over 16 seasons with the Angels. He has a career slash line of .291/.406/.566.
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The Angels designated infielder Donovan Walton for assignment in a corresponding move. The 32-year-old was batting .319 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 32 games.
Overall, Walton has played in 104 games for four teams in parts of seven seasons since 2019. He has a .218 average with seven homers and 35 RBIs.
A Minnesota Vikings fan cheered from the Metrodome stands while wearing a decorated helmet with a bear speared on top as Minnesota opened a rivalry matchup with Chicago. On November 30, 2008, in Minneapolis, the fan celebrated before the Vikings defeated the Bears 34-14 in a divisional home game that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports.
Every NFL team has players who don’t quite match the value of their contracts, and based on current depth chart construction, the 2026 Minnesota Vikings are not excluded.
The club begins the regular season in about nine weeks, and unless the following players lower their cap hits, they reasonably fit in an “overpaid” bucket. The players are listed ascendingly (No. 1 = most overpaid Viking).
Vikings’ Cap Sheet Reveals a Few Expensive Questions
Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver celebrates in the end zone at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after scoring near the goal line during an NFL International Series matchup with Cleveland. On Oct. 5, 2025, Oliver gave Minnesota early momentum in London while reinforcing his value as a physical red-zone option in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
4. Josh Oliver | TE2
2026 Cap Hit: $9.9 Million
Oliver is a blocking tight end, which is fantastic. It’s also a bit ironic because coming out of college (San Jose State) in 2019, that was supposed to be his problem. The scouting report said the guy could batch, but his run blocking stank.
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Well, Oliver flipped the script, probably after the Baltimore Ravens‘ coaching staff got a hold of him.
The issue with a blocking tight end? They’re not worth $10 million. Teams can find sufficient versions for half the price or even less. The Vikings shouldn’t cut Oliver or devalue him on the depth chart, but the fact remains that $9.9 million is expensive.
Thankfully, Oliver has some redzone utility. He’s dependable when quarterbacks target him.
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3. Aaron Jones | RB
2026 Cap Hit: $10.2 Million
You can write this in ink: 2026 will be Jones’s final season in Minnesota. He’ll turn 32 in December, and his career, for better or worse, is winding down. When the offseason began, most Vikings fans and analysts theorized Jones as a roster-cut candidate, and they didn’t do that on a whim. He’s effective in spots, especially early in the regular season, yet injuries habitually take their toll on Jones. That’s his jam.
The Vikings proposed a paycut for Jones in March. He accepted. He’s back in the saddle as RB1 or RB2 because of his pass-blocking and locker room leadership. It’s just quite obvious that his prime is well in the past.
Minnesota also refused to sign a free-agent running back like Travis Etienne or draft a mid-round rookie like Mike Washington. It’s Jones again — and probably for the last time.
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He averaged 4.2 yards per carry, played 12 games, and banked 548 rushing yards last year. His career has been fantastic, and the guy is an awesome dude. Still, he’s not worth $10.2 million unless he forges a totally unforeseen and healthy late-career resurgence.
2. T.J. Hockenson | TE
2026 Cap Hit: $15.6 Million
Of all men on this overpaid list, Hockenson might have the clearest path to a resurrection. He blew out his knee in the 2023 season, thanks to a low hit by Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph, and, due to the shift in the Vikings’ offense — using Hockenson as the sixth offensive lineman — he’s never regained his form.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson sets before the snap while working from the formation at Lumen Field as Seattle’s defense readies for a second-half play in a late-season NFC matchup. On Nov. 30, 2025, Hockenson remained a central piece of Minnesota’s passing game and a trusted target in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images.
Hockenson signed a monster extension during the summer of 2023. Four months later, the injury occurred, rendering the contract not worth the squeeze. If a team pays a tight end over $15 million, it must target him heavily in the passing game. The Vikings don’t do that anymore. Hockenson’s success in the Twin Cities feels like a Kirk Cousins special in hindsight.
Here’s the silver lining, though: new Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray has cooked with tight ends. Ask Trey McBride, who most consider the best or second-best tight end in the sport. If Murray could unlock McBride, he should be able to get Hockenson back up to speed.
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If not, 2026 will likely be Hockenson’s final season in Minnesota. There’s a reason so many fans thought the franchise might draft Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq in April.
1. Will Fries | RG
2026 Cap Hit: $17.2 Million
Was Fries terrible in 2025? Absolutely not. Was Fries worth $17.2 million in 2025? Absolutely not.
The guy posted a Pro Football Focus grade just over 60.0, which would’ve been remarkable during the Mike Zimmer era of Vikings football when guards like Dakota Dozier and Dru Samia graced your television sets. But that was then, and this is now.
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Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Will Fries walks off the field at Highmark Stadium after a preseason road matchup against Buffalo, continuing his push for a larger role up front. On Aug. 13, 2022, Fries exited the field following the Colts’ exhibition game while building early NFL experience along the interior line. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports.
Former Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah paid Fries handsomely last season, and based on his 2025 output, he should be earning about $6 million annually — not $17 million.
Perhaps Fries will settle in the Vikings offense with another year of experience. If he does not, you are about seven months from Googling or putting Fries’ dead cap hit into ChatGPT. Always remember: Adofo-Mensah handed Fries the fact contract based on five good games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2024. He has no verifiable history of consistency.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
The referee for the Argentina vs Egypt match, Francois Letexier, and other match officials are in focus after what transpired in a dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 clash on Tuesday. Egypt appeared close to a historic upset after taking a 2-0 lead. Argentina produced a late comeback starting in the 79th minute, with Lionel Messi playing a decisive role by scoring one goal and setting up another before Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround in stoppage time. However, Mohamed Salah’s Egypt were furious with some crucial decisions by the officials going against the team, including a disallowed goal following a VAR review and a penalty appeal that was not reviewed in the buildup to Argentina’s winning goal.
The Egyptian Football Federation (EFF) has reportedly approached FIFA, lodging a formal protest against the decisions of referee Francois Letexier. According to a report in Spanish publication Diario AS, the president of the Egypt Football Association, Hany Abo Rida, has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA against French referee Francois Letexier and his officiating team.
The report further states that the complaint calls for an investigation into what Egypt describes as controversial decisions that went against the Pharaohs. The federation has also officially requested that the French officiating team be removed from the remainder of the tournament because of what it considers crucial errors.
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Now, according to a report by L’Equipe, the Frenchman’s performance “will be reviewed, and FIFA’s refereeing officials will decide, based on his technical performance, the officials’ reports, and the disputed video footage, whether he will continue in this World Cup.”
However, the report added that the complaint may not succeed, as a country/member association “cannot exercise a veto over the appointment of the refereeing body, which falls under the purview of the FIFA Referees Committee.”
Past instances
Though requests and complaints like Egypt’s have been made at past FIFA World Cups, they did not result in a referee being excluded. However, in 2002, Italy complained against Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno after the Round of 16 match against South Korea (1-2). He had awarded 15 minutes of added time, and the Azzurri lost. After that match, he did not officiate any other game in that competition, but FIFA never officially clarified whether it was due to the Italian protests.
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Francois Letexier officiated the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England. He has also been voted the world’s best referee by the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics)
Featured Video Of The Day
IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi
Bob Myers, the former Golden State Warriors executive renowned for constructing the league’s most recent dynasty, made an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of the “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul, the Klutch Sports CEO who famously represents LeBron James.
“If you’re talking about the Sixers, if he was here, I would say, ‘I honestly believe this is your best chance to win,’” Myers said. “You have to decide all the other things, that are equally important, because it’s his life. He has to play, he has to face the scrutiny of his decision. Half the people will say, ‘You should have done this, you should have done that.’ Criticize him or whatever, which is his life, so he’s been through all that.
“What I would just say is, if it’s about winning, let’s talk about this team. Because you can win here, in Philadelphia. If you want to talk about other stuff: What’s this guy like, what’s that guy like — by the way, he knows players, a lot of them, better than I do. Their games — this is a guy that probably watches more basketball than anybody understands. He’s probably watching a game in February that nobody’s watching. So not only does he know the guys, he knows how they play.”
Josh Harris and David Blitzer called upon Myers last year to help further the company’s portfolio of teams, including the Sixers. Since the Sixers moved on from Daryl Morey in May — following their Eastern Conference semifinals playoff exit — Myers has taken on larger role around the franchise despite him not carrying an official title within the organization.
While taking part in a lighthearted, free-flowing conversation with Kellerman and Paul, Myers didn’t try to overtly sell Paul on the Sixers. He even theorized that whatever he says won’t affect James’ decision-making process.
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“And I’m okay saying that,” Myers conceded.
Myers pointed out that James, who will turn 42 in December, is “well-equipped” to make this call. That’s not say Myers wouldn’t want the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on the Sixers, of course. James is a 22-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP.
Plus, Myers believes James would slide right into Philadelphia’s starting five.
“It’s, like, ‘Boom,’” he said. “It’s right there. And the skill sets complement. It’s very complementary. Because LeBron’s been a high-usage guy, but he doesn’t have to be. He can be, but he doesn’t have to be.”
“When I talk to teams around the league, when I do my research, the teams that continue to come up are Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia after they got Jaylen Brown,” Charania reported. “Like, Philadelphia was not in the picture, and I think that’s why this is somewhat a true free agency for LeBron James because he didn’t go into it with a calculation in mind, a plan in place.
“You leave the Lakers. You don’t necessarily know what your value is. There’s not like a guaranteed max that he’s walking into. There’s not a guaranteed $20-30 million salary that you’re walking into, so you have to be open-minded.
“So when the Sixers got Jaylen Brown, I did some research, and I found out within 24 hours [that] he’s taking their pitch really seriously.”
Charania added: “I look at it, when I talk to teams now, as kind of a hierarchy of Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia — and then I think there’s some teams on the periphery.”
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The Sixers haven’t made the NBA Finals since 2001. That’s also the last year they reached the Eastern Conference finals. If James signed with them, he’d have an opportunity to help bring the franchise its first NBA championship since 1983.
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“You hook me up to a polygraph, all these teams you’re thinking about, I think the Sixers would beat those teams,” Myers said. “Am I right? That’s just my opinion.
He added: “All you can say [as] somebody representing a team, or all I would say is, ‘Win.’ This is the best chance to win.”
Trainer Greg Eurell is targeting a second successive Flemington win with his gelding Obvious this Saturday, a goal that seemed unlikely just two months ago.
The son of Toronado is entered for the 1600-metre Silver Bowl Final, an event restricted to three-year-olds.
Obvious cemented his status as a leading contender for the Silver Bowl after securing a heat victory on June 20. This followed a second-place finish at Caulfield on May 30, performances that offered Eurell considerable relief given his horse’s previous form.
Obvious finished last at Sandown on April 6 and again at Mornington twelve days later. Eurell attributes his gelding’s late-season resurgence to a period of rest and rehabilitation at Monomeith Stud, utilising their water walker facilities.
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“It was hard to work it out, he led into those runs in his usual manner and then he just failed to fire a shot,” Eurell commented.
“So we thought we’d give him a freshen up and send him down to Monomeith on the water walker.”
“Then we just brought him back in and we’re doing a bit with him, gave him a jumpout, the jumpout was good, so we thought, ‘oh well, we’ll go again.”
Obvious was beaten three-quarters of a length at Caulfield by Clevor Trever, who stands as a significant rival this week. A number of other horses contesting the Silver Bowl were also unsuccessful in their most recent outings.
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While Obvious carried 52.5kg to victory at Flemington thanks to Luke Cartwright’s allowance, he now shoulders 57.5kg in this week’s non-claiming race, with Eurell opting to retain the winning jockey.
“He gets a bit of a penalty weight-wise after the win, but I think he’s in great shape and the beauty of him is he can handle any surface.”
Obvious has drawn barrier seven in the thirteen-horse Silver Bowl Final and is currently sharing the second line of betting with Lucky Lucky Boom, with Clevor Trever the favourite.
For those interested in the action, investigating the betting markets for the main race could be a worthwhile endeavour.
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Explore the latest betting markets for the race at betting sites.
Jockey Billy Egan is set to partner the Patrick Payne-trained gelding Jimmy The Bear again for the $200,000 Listed Winter Championship final at Flemington this Saturday.
Despite Egan not having ridden Jimmy The Bear extensively during his Winter Championship defence campaign, he will reclaim the ride at a crucial juncture.
This marks the first time Egan has been aboard Jimmy The Bear in 2026. His last association with the horse was in the Kensington Stakes on New Year’s Eve, and he has maintained a keen interest in the gelding’s performances.
“I galloped with him on Tuesday morning at Werribee – Patrick rode him and I rode his stablemate, but he worked good,” Egan commented.
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“He’s been going pretty good. I think he’s had a similar lead up with all the races he’s run in, it’s been the same sort of plan as last year, and he’s going well.”
Much like last year, Jimmy The Bear commenced his campaign at Caulfield in early May and completed his Winter Championship preparations in The David Bourke (1620m) at Flemington.
This year saw him have only one additional start before the final, a win over 1600m at Caulfield on May 30, whereas in 2025, he had two runs in between.
The son of Jimmy Creed is assigned 60kg for Saturday’s assignment, a kilogram more than last year. He aims to join Glaneuse as the only horse to win the 1600m race, first run in 1980, in consecutive years.
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“He’s pretty highly rated now, so he deserves to carry the weight,” Egan said of the 13-time winner.
“He’s a big horse and he’s proven he can carry the weight.”
Jimmy The Bear drew barrier one for the Winter Championship Final. This contrasts with his younger half-brother and stablemate, Clevor Trever, who will start from the second-widest gate in the 13-horse Silver Bowl Final, which closes the meeting.
The Omaha Beach three-year-old also carries 60kg for his first attempt at 1600m. Egan acknowledges the challenge but believes the colt is up to the task.
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“Maybe the weights might be a little bit different for him, because they got so close to him last time and he is getting out to the mile,” he observed.
“He’s probably got a few more obstacles to overcome, but he’s in really good form.”
Egan’s other mounts on Finals Day, both trained by Payne, are Bold Soul in the $150,000 Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m) and Falset Star in the $175,000 Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m).
Check out the latest betting markets for the Winter Championship Final with leading Australian betting sites.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander watches from the dugout during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park in Detroit June 21, 2026.(David Rodriguez-Munoz/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“This season has challenged me in ways I haven’t experienced before, both physically and mentally. I’ve always believed that as long as I could compete at the level I expect of myself, I’d keep playing. I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar. I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come,” Verlander said in a social media post.
“While I’m fully committed to giving my team everything I have for the rest of this season, I’ve decided this will be my last. It’s fitting that I get to finish where it all started – with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity.”
Verlander inked a one-year deal with the Tigers, with whom he spent his first 12½ seasons before being traded to the Houston Astros, in the offseason. In Houston, he returned to dominance, winning both of his World Series titles and two of his Cy Young Awards.
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“Baseball has given me more than I could have imagined. It taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of continuing to adapt and evolve. I’ve been fortunate to play with and against incredible players, for outstanding organizations, and compete in-front of fans who deeply appreciate the game,” Verlander added in his announcement.
Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros celebrates after the Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park Nov. 5, 2022, in Houston, Texas.(Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
“To every teammate, coach, player, clubhouse attendant, and fan who has been part of this journey – thank you. It’s been a privilege to share the field with you. To my family, especially my wife Kate, thank you for standing beside me through every season, every rehab, and every high and low. I couldn’t have done this without you. It’s time for the next chapter. But first, I’m excited to finish this season the only way I know how – with everything I’ve got.”
Verlander is the active leader with 3,554 strikeouts, which is good for eighth all-time. He needs 21 to surpass Don Sutton and 87 to pass Tom Seaver.
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The 43-year-old made his MLB debut in 2005 and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award the following season in what was just a small glimpse of what was to come.
Verlander was a Cy Young Award finalist on four other occasions, consistently near the top of the leaderboard in just about every pitching stat. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred gave Verlander a legend’s exemption to this year’s Midsummer Classic, making him a 10-time All-Star.
One could argue that Verlander should have at least one more Cy Young Award on his mantle, but he is on the fast track to Cooperstown and very much in the conversation to join Mariano Rivera as the only player unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame.
Verlander’s best season came in 2022, when he pitched to a career-best 1.75 ERA along with a 0.829 WHIP. However, that came after he missed the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery for an injury he suffered after pitching just one inning in the abbreviated 2020 season.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning Aug. 22, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
He won his first Cy Young Award in 2011, when he was also awarded the MVP Award, and his second in 2019. Verlander’s 11 seasons between his first and final Cy Young Awards are the second-most behind Roger Clemens, who had 18 seasons between his first and seventh.
Verlander led the majors in innings and WHIP four times while recording the most strikeouts in three seasons.
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