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How Jordan Spieth once found himself in an NFL Draft war room

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With the 2026 NFL Draft kicking off this week in Pittsburgh — and watched on millions of TVs around the globe — long-time NFL coach Sean Payton joined this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar podcast to discuss exactly what it’s like in the lead-up to the draft and what happens in the team room during it.

Payton, the current head coach of the Denver Broncos, was the New Orleans Saints coach from 2006 to 2021, and he led the Saints to a Super Bowl victory in 2009.

But the NFL Draft often aligns with Zurich Classic of New Orleans week on the PGA Tour, and one year, in 2017, Payton had some company in the Saints’ draft night war room: Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer.

On this week’s Subpar, Payton explained how that moment came to life — especially with two Texans and lifelong Dallas Cowboys fans. Payton played in the Zurich pro-am with Spieth and Palmer that year, and he extended them an invite for Thursday’s first round of the draft.

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But before the draft even started, they had a little fun, too.

“I think Spieth made [caddie Michael] Greller run a 100-yard dash wearing a helmet,” Payton said. “And not a 40 — a 100.”

Payton set up the visitors with a table in the draft room, handed them draft books and let them take in the action. The Saints had the 11th pick and a big decision to make: cornerback Marshon Lattimore or quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“Lattimore was a candidate; Patrick certainly was a candidate,” Payton said. “We had been to their pro days, been to their private workouts. And if you are picking 11, the old adage is you better have 11 players you like, or you trade back … there’s been a lot of back and forth on who would have been selected.”

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But the Saints never had to choose between the two. The Kansas City Chiefs swooped in at No. 10 and traded with Buffalo to take Mahomes. That meant the Saints took Lattimore.

“Right when they made that trade I knew it had to be for Patrick,” Payton said. “…Those guys had a chance to see it live.”

Lattimore was voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and made four Pro Bowls in his 7 1/2 years with the Saints. Mahomes? He has three Super Bowl MVPs.

For more from Payton, including what it’s like in the lead-up to the draft, you can listen to the episode here or watch on YouTube below.

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Report: George Pickens signing franchise tag with Cowboys

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George Pickens is ready to put pen to paper.

The talented wide receiver will sign his franchise tag with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

By signing the tag, Pickens will play next year on a one-year deal worth $27.3 million.

“We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George play under the franchise tag, which won’t be a first for us,” executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said on Wendesday. “So there won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal. But that’s certainly not a first for this organization and certainly won’t be a first in the league in terms of this decision as we move forward.”

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The timing of the news is curious, as it comes just hours before the first round of the NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh.

As soon as he officially signs the deal, Pickens is eligible to be traded. He will also now face financial penalties if he doesn’t report to mandatory minicamp in June.

Pickens, acquired last off-season in a trade with Pittsburgh, had career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offences in the NFL last season. Dallas had one of the worst defences in the league and finished 7-9-1, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.

The Cowboys own the No. 12 and No. 20 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday.

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— With files from Associated Press

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Kiara Romero’s star potential showed in unexpected moments at Chevron

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McLaughlin: Do the Ducks Have the Nation’s Best QB Room?

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Big Ten logoOregon’s quarterback room blends a mix of talent, experience, and depth, unlike most in college football.

The Ducks have the best room in the country.

On today’s episode of Locked On Ducks, I break down the tight end room that Oregon’s QBs will throw the ball to this Fall.

Jamari Johnson is going to have a lot of weight on his shoulders.

espn%2Bohio%2Bstate.pngJosh Pate recently discussed the Oregon-Ohio State matchup this Fall and said that it feels like a rivalry.

Is that really the case, or is that title only reserved for Washington?

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00:00 Oregon’s quarterback lineup details
03:03 Dylan Raiola as Oregon’s backup
07:29 Quarterback depth chart discussion
13:15 Analyzing Oregon’s tight end options
17:28 Evaluating tight end performance
23:24 Oregon vs Ohio State analysis

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

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David Benavidez says one man ‘must face him’ after Zurdo Ramirez: “I’m taking all his belts”

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David Benavidez challenges for Gilberto Ramirez’s unified cruiserweight crown next weekend and should he pass that test, there is only one man on the mind of ‘The Mexican Monster’.

Benavidez has established himself as one of the most fan-friendly fighters in the sport, not only through his enthralling fight style but also because of his mentality to take on all comers and accept the most arduous challenges.

Having ruled at both super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, the reigning WBC 175lb champion is now stepping up to cruiserweight, hoping to hand ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez a second career defeat, in what will be the titleholder’s 50th career outing.

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The only other man to have defeated Ramirez is unified light-heavyweight ruler, Dmitry Bivol, and in an interview with Ariel Helwani, Benavidez made it clear that he intends to move back down to light-heavyweight and take on the Russian next.

“I don’t want to make it seem like he is scared or nothing, but he knows what it is when it comes to David Benavidez. He has seen me up close and personal and I have seen him up close and personal, as well.

“He is a great fighter, we have had some great sparring sessions but he knows I am not coming to play. He knows that, when David Benavidez steps in that ring, all of those belts are leaving with David Benavidez.

“I think that he knows the dangers and the severity of this fight and that is why he took a tune-up fight first. I respect Dmitry Bivol, he is a great fighter, but he is definitely going to have to come see me after this fight.”

Whilst Benavidez fights next weekend, Bivol makes a mandatory defence of his titles against Germany’s Michael Eifert on Saturday, May 23, in what will be his first fight on home soil since 2021.

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Date, teams, prize pool, and FFWS slots

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The Grand Finals of the Free Fire Bangladesh Pro League (FFBPL) Season 2 are scheduled for April 24, 2026, where the top 12 teams from the Knockout Stage will compete in a Champion Rush format. The top six teams from the overall rankings will progress to the World Series (FFWS) 2026 Bangladesh Spring. The FFBPL event boasts a total prize pool of 8,100 US dollars.

The Knockout Stage of the Free Fire Bangladesh Pro League was held from April 20 to 22, 2026. A total of 18 teams battled across three days in 12 matches each. The top 12 teams moved to the Grand Finals, while the remaining six were eliminated from the FFBPL S2.


Qualified teams for Free Fire Pro League Bangladesh S2 Finals

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Here are the 12 finalists:

  1. Team 2XD
  2. Red Hawks
  3. Enternal Dominators
  4. Extreme Ex
  5. The Goat
  6. Reflex United
  7. Straw Hats Esports
  8. Team Unionized
  9. Max Gang
  10. Team Electro
  11. Flame Esports
  12. Team Infinity

Prize pool distribution

All 18 teams that participated in the Knockout Stage are entitled to a share of the total prize pool in the FFBPL S2, with the bottom six receiving 122 US dollars each. Here is the prize pool distribution:

  • 1st Place – 2,444 US dollars
  • 2nd Place – 1,222 US dollars
  • 3rd Place – 814 US dollars
  • 4th Place – 488 US dollars
  • 5th Place – 448 US dollars
  • 6th Place – 448 US dollars
  • 7th Place – 366 US dollars
  • 8th Place – 366 US dollars
  • 9th Place – 244 US dollars
  • 10th Place – 244 US dollars
  • 11th Place – 162 US dollars
  • 12th Place – 162 US dollars
  • 13th Place – 122 US dollars – Neo Flash
  • 14th Place – 122 US dollars – VEXIS
  • 15th Place – 122 US dollars – Bangladesh Top 1
  • 16th Place – 122 US dollars – From The Future
  • 17th Place – 122 US dollars – Shadow X Phantoms
  • 18th Place – 122 US dollars – GE Esports

How to watch

The official YouTube channel of Free Fire Esports Bangladesh will broadcast all matches of the finale live from 15:00 BST onwards.

Team 2XD had a brilliant run in the Knockout Stage of the Free Fire Bangladesh Pro League. The squad ranked first after playing consistently well across 12 games.

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Defending champion Red Hawks placed second in the previous stage. The club has been performing well in regional competitions in the past few years, and recently earned third place in the Ramadan Cup 2026.

Enternal Dominators and Extreme Ex were third and fourth, respectively, in the Knockout Stage. Team Goat and Reflex United also did well in their last six matches of the stage.

Meanwhile, Straw Hats and Unionized had an average run in the Knockout Stage. Flame and Team Infinity ranked 11th and 12th, respectively, and entered the Grand Finals of this Free Fire contest.