Week 1 gave us explosive offenses and a huge movement in the league rankings. Colin Cowherd dropped a whole new “Herd Hierarchy” on Tuesday’s “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” featuring a seismic shift in his top 10 teams entering Week 2.

The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos weren’t the only ones left out of Cowherd’s top 10. The Los Angeles Rams also plummeted outside the rankings after a loss to the 49ers, followed by the news of Myles Garrett heading to injured reserve.

Cowherd still believes in the Rams, but without Garrett on the field, he simply can’t keep them in his top 10 as there are too many question marks. 

Given how unpredictable Week 1 turned out, plenty of teams still have time to work their way onto the list. But for now, here are Cowherd’s top 10 teams heading into Week 2.

Cowherd’s Thoughts:  “The Eagles are maddening. Five three and outs… seriously? But it is the best roster in the NFL and Jalen Hurts leads the NFL in completions, touchdowns and pass attempts over 25-plus yards. I think they’re better without A.J. Brown. They’ll spread the ball around. I can’t keep [out] the best roster in football that I picked to win a division with one ugly outing.”

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I have the Bengals as the second-most-improved team. I have them as a playoff team. I think Chase Brown is the best running back in the NFL. Nobody talks about his last six games. A touchdown and a half. They went and bought a defense and you could tell, much bigger, much faster and much more physical. Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Cashius Howell. The defense is different and every time Joe Burrow gets you know a little help, he’s a playoff quarterback.”

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I don’t care what any of you say. The Giants are talented. They have a culture issue, not a talent issue. Abdul Carter and Brian Burns on the edge. Tell me a better edge rushing tandem than those guys. [Malik] Nabers, Jaxson Dart, [Cam] Skattebo, Arvell Reese. How about Francis Mauigoa, the offensive lineman? 36 pass blocking snaps, didn’t allow a hit. Talent is not the issue. They could use another corner. It was a coaching, culture, and health issue. Jaxson Dart, Skattebo, Reese, Burns, Abdul Carter, Andrew Thomas. Dudes are not the problem. I had them as the most improved team.”

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “Kansas City. Listen, maybe they’re low, but what I watched last night was something called a run game. You got to go back to Priest Holmes and Jamaal Charles. Like, wow. I mean, I like Kenneth Walker when he’s healthy. I thought it was really smart. They didn’t have [Patrick] Mahomes throw the ball down the field much. I thought it was a really smart, intentional game plan. Now, how much of it is like Bo Nix may not be the guy, and how much is the defense? We don’t know that. But it was Andy Reid off a bye, or Andy Reid in September is just no fun to play, but you got to admit, and many of you don’t want to… that was impressive.”

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “Listen, [Kyle] Shanahan’s 12-7 against [Sean] McVay, but again, it’s not that they won. We know they’re talented. We just don’t know if they’re going to last. I compared them to “Game of Thrones”. Great early, good in the middle and a lot of your favorite characters won’t be around at the end. I don’t know how healthy they’ll be, but their starters: Deebo [Samuel] and Mike Evans had 12 catches. They knocked the Rams on their keister for three and a half hours. There was nothing not to like. In Week 6, they could be out five starters, but today, Herd Hierarchy week one, I’ve got them at six.”

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I mean, I’m sorry, folks. What do you want me to say? The last 10 regular season games, they’re beating the you know what on everybody. I mean, I know Cleveland’s bad, but it’s not just Liam Cohen and Trevor Lawrence. Go look at their defense. They have six games allowing 10 or fewer points since the start of last season. They’re doing it on both sides. We don’t talk about them. We don’t want to talk about them. But it was that last year when they went to Denver and blew out the Broncos. It was like, yeah, I think they’re good. If they were in New York, if they were in Dallas, would we struggle looking at this team and saying they’re five? No, of course. They’re good. We got to own it.”

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “The first team with six rushing touchdowns in a season opener since the 1922 Canton Bulldogs. Here’s the thing: first it was Bill Walsh, then it was Andy Reid for 20 years, then it was Shanahan and McVay. We have found our next great offensive coach. Ben Johnson is different. I said I went to one practice and it was like whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. What am I watching? Rome Odunze now is healthy, folks. To drop 59 points is one thing. No defensive touchdowns. Colston Loveland didn’t have a catch. Now I don’t know if they can generate the kind of pass rush that can put great quarterbacks in discomfort. I don’t know if they can do that, but I said it last year. Caleb [Williams] is different. Ben Johnson’s different. This is different. This could be a Reid-Mahomes thing we’re talking about. It’s not just good. I’ve seen good. DeMeco Ryans, C.J. Stroud. Oh, I like those two working together. Now, this is not good. It’s special.”

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “Outgained the Colts by 255 yards. Daniel Jones looked like they didn’t want to get hit. I think everybody – Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen – everybody’s under pressure. It was impressive. I’ve fallen in love with Baltimore a lot in week one, two and three when Lamar’s healthy. But Jesse Minter, go look at the Chargers’ defense. He left. Go look at the Ravens’ performance. He arrived. I put them at three.”

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I [would] put them at one, but Sam Darnold’s not healthy. Seattle’s the only team in the league that can have 10 penalties, multiple turnovers, not play well and beat good teams. They did it last year against the Rams and the Texans. They didn’t play particularly well: 10 penalties, new offensive coordinator, out of sorts and they beat the Patriots and really shut them down totally in the fourth quarter. So I think between coach and general manager and depth of roster and speed, they’re not a top team with Drew Lock.

“But Drew Lock’s now been around. Now he gets first team snaps for the last eight to nine games because they played on Wednesday. So I think they drop to a number two or three team. If Sam plays, I put them at one.”

Cowherd’s Thoughts: “I have Buffalo in the Super Bowl. So again, like the Bengals and the Giants, I have Buffalo in the Super Bowl. Offensive coach, a greater sensibility, feel, touch and nuance with their star quarterback, told you D.J. Moore would fit. They drafted a lot of defensive guys in the last couple of years. Let’s see if they can play. But two touchdown drives of 96-plus yards. I thought they were the best team I saw, considering the opposition. Nobody does that to the Texans’ defense. Nobody does that to DeMeco Ryans. I mean, be honest… nobody does that. Josh Allen and the Bills did.”

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is set to invite as many as 10 promising U23 players as Nigeria begins preparations for the 2028 Olympic football qualifying campaign.

Chelle, who also handles the U23 national team, plans to use Nigeria’s proposed friendly against Russia on October 6 to assess young players and build a strong team for the Olympic qualifiers.

Nigeria have won two Olympic medals in men’s football. The country won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games and silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Several young players based in Europe, Saudi Arabia and other foreign leagues are reportedly on Chelle’s list.

Among those being considered are FC Alverca left-back Isaac James, Saudi Arabia-based striker George Ilenikhena, Sabah winger Christian Nwachukwu and KV Mechelen forward Ayodele Adeshina.

The Russia friendly could give Chelle the chance to assess the players ahead of the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series, which serves as the route to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The senior Super Eagles are expected to have a separate focus during the same international window, with Nigeria preparing for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

The U23 players are expected to form the core of the squad for the Russia friendly.

Chelle and his technical team have also been monitoring young Nigerian players across Europe and other leagues as they work towards building a strong pool of players for the Olympic campaign.

The coach is also expected to keep an eye on the domestic league. He could attend selected Nigeria Premier Football League matches in the coming weeks to identify young players who may earn opportunities with the U23 team.

The plan will give both foreign-based and NPFL-based talents a chance to break into the national team setup as Nigeria begins preparations for another Olympic campaign.

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews believes the video assistant referee (VAR) is preventing referees from making decisions in matches.

As his Bees progressed to the Carabao Cup fourth round with a battling 2-1 win at League One side Reading, Andrews said he was not happy with the officiating.

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Reading defender Paudie O’Connor had a goal for a first-half overhead kick ruled out by referee Tom Nield for a high boot, prompting Royals boss Leam Richardson to say it was “possibly in the top three [wrong] decisions that I’ve seen in my career – and I’ve seen thousands of games and played in hundreds”.

With no VAR used at this stage of the EFL Cup, Andrews added: “It’s been a tough week for officials as everybody is probably aware.

“I think we just need to let them ref the game and be human beings and make decisions.

“We have gone through a period in the game where I feel like they weren’t actually making decisions in both boxes because of the technology we have in the game and I feel like that is a real shame.”

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His comments followed the admission of Pro Ref to an “error of judgement” in awarding Erling Haaland‘s winning goal for Manchester City in their Premier League encounter at Manchester United on Sunday.

There was intense debate over whether the goal should have been disallowed for City midfielder Enzo Fernandez – who was in an offside position – interfering with play as he dived, attempting to head the ball in a central position before Haaland’s finish.

Andrews, whose Brentford side are seventh in the Premier League, said referees were no longer allowed to “make mistakes”.

“I always felt as a player, when there was a relationship with an official that was built on respect and being able to speak to each other in a certain way,” he added.

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“We’ve gone away from allowing them to officiate and allowing them to make mistakes and I think it is a real shame.

“Now they are having to go back to that and it’s not the habits they have had in recent years.”

On Sunday’s refereeing error in the Manchester derby, Andrews said it was “pretty alarming” Haaland’s goal was allowed to stand.

“The first thing was whether [Erling] Haaland was offside and then obviously [Enzo] Fernandez was. It’s a shame,” he admitted.

Since the sad news broke on Saturday, September 12 that legendary heavyweight George Chuvalo had passed away, this at the age of 89, the tributes have been pouring in.

Chuvalo, who had been looked after in a care home for a little over five years, his battle with dementia proving tougher than anything the rock-jawed warrior encountered in the ring, died on his birthday.

Famous of course for his frighteningly solid chin, Chuvalo fought during a golden era; with him engaging in memorable fights with Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and others.

“George Chuvalo was a a heavyweight boxing legend, a family friend and a Canadian icon,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote on social media upon learning of the fighter’s death.

“He was a capital-T tough guy in every way,” Geoirge’s son, Mitch said in an interview with Toronto Today on Sunday.

“He was a great Canadian icon,” fellow heavyweight great Lennox Lewis said of Chuvalo.

During his long pro career, Chuvalo would get two shots at the world title, and on both occasions he would leave the ring with a 15 round decision loss attached to his record. Indeed, Chuvalo ranks as one of the best big men never to have won a version of the world heavyweight title. As far as the Canadian title, George won it no less than five times. In terms of big names, Chuvalo really did fight a who’s who of heavyweight stars: Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Zora Folley, Doug Jones, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Ellis and Cleveland Williams.

Chuvalo went pro on April 23rd of 1956, when he actually fought four times on the same night. Boxing in ‘The Jack Dempsey Tournament,’ in Toronto, Canada, a teenage Chuvalo KO’d all four opponents. Managed by Irv Ungerman, Chuvalo was to fight at what would today be called a breakneck pace – four more fights in 1956, six fights in 1957, five fights in 1958, and so on. But George was not always victorious. In fact, by March of 1961, he was 19-5-1. Going down on points grew to become an unfortunate habit for Chuvalo.

George sat out 1962. Returning with vigour in March of 1963, Chuvalo reeled off five straight wins, he then boxed a draw, he then dropped a decision to Zora Folley, before picking one up against Doug Jones, and then Chuvalo lost the Ring Magazine Fight of the year for 1965, with Floyd Patterson. Again, George lost via decision. Chuvalo could fight, no doubt, but would he ever become world champion?

In November of 1965, George finally got a shot. Facing Ernie Terrell for the WBA heavyweight title that had been stripped from Muhammad Ali, Chuvalo lost another decision. Another, bigger chance came in March of the following year. Ali, a permanent ban from boxing hanging over him, defended the world crown against Chuvalo at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. It was Bob Arum’s first fight as a boxing promoter.

Chuvalo fought with grit and integrity, going down by, yes, another decision. All these years later, and this is the fight Chuvalo is best known for. In-the-ring fight, that is – George’s incredible inner strength in somehow being able to cope with the unimaginably unfair and cruel hand dealt to him, with three of his sons losing their life through drugs and guns, being his most admirable winning battle. And how George campaigned against the evil of drugs in his later years.

In the Ali fight, Chuvalo earned the champ’s respect but he was still a contender; one who might never get another shot. As it is, Chuvalo never did get another world title chance, although he did battle two all-time great heavyweight champions in Frazier and Foreman. Both men stopped him but Chuvalo never went down. In fact, in 93 pro bouts, Chuvalo was never once knocked down. “I kissed a lot of pretty girls but I never kissed the canvas,” Chuvalo was fond of saying in retirement.

Chuvalo fought, on and off, until 1978. Finally retiring with an incredibly hard-earned 73-18-2(64) record, Chuvalo, for three decades, seemed to have escaped any real damage, this despite the often-sickening amount of punishment he had taken during the course of that 22-year pro career. Chuvalo tried his hand at acting, he wrote his autobiography and, most importantly to him, George fought a one-man war against drugs.

Sadly, in 2017, Chuvalo was diagnosed with dementia, the reports describing him as suffering from having a “significant cognitive impairment.” The tough fights, the monster shots from the likes of Foreman and Frazier, had caught up with George. Reports back then said Chuvalo could still enjoy the occasional day of lucidity; that he was “sharp” if caught at the right time. But this mental battle was one Chuvalo could not win. The once seemingly bullet-proof warrior saw this often cruel sport catch up with him. ” I don’t know what I’ll do if I ever run out of steam,” Chuvalo said when speaking with Boxing News a few years before his diagnosis with dementia.

Chuvalo, who gave his all in the ring, was arguably the last of his kind. He will be sorely missed by so many who knew him.

Justin Simmons was an outstanding NFL safety, collecting second-team All-Pro honors four times during his nine-year career. However, now retired, Simmons should probably be more careful with his social media commentary.

That’s because Simmons stepped on something of an online landmine Monday night while he was watching his former Denver Broncos team play the Kansas City Chiefs.

During the broadcast, ESPN’s Joe Buck noted that Broncos’ linebacker Jonathon Cooper was not in the lineup because he’s currently suspended on the NFL exempt list while he awaits a Nov. 10 trial on four charges, including felony second-degree assault by strangulation of his former girlfriend.

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The broadcast apparently triggered Simmons, who took to his X account to make a comparative point.

The former NFL great complained that ESPN was mentioning his former teammate during the broadcast but the situation between New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and former reporter Dianna Russini wasn’t discussed on TV.

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Former Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons holds the Justin Simmons Free Florida Youth Football Camp on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at South Fork High School in Stuart. More than 200 children ages 6 through 17 from around the Treasure Coast participated along with several NFL players and local coaches. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

So, social media simply moved on without pushback whatsoever.

Yeah, right.

Multiple people basically told off Simmons. They made the point that even if Vrabel’s relationship with Russini was perhaps morally wrong, if one assumes it reached heights that have not been proven, it wasn’t illegal.

Vrabel has been put before the court of public opinion for the relationship, but there are no allegations of abuse that will be heard in a court of law. The analogy between Cooper and Vrabel is flawed at best.

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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel holds a press conference before minicamp at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha-Imagn Images)

So, Simmons found himself in a hole he jumped into. Then, unfortunately for him, he proceeded to dig himself deeper.

“That’s absolute bs btw,” Simmons wrote in an ensuing post as a media critic. “Shame on all of the production on Monday night football and the crew. You’re supposed to call the game. Coop isn’t playing the game and isn’t on the sidelines.

“The MNF crew is paid to cover THE GAME not the players who are not playing or even at the game.”

That’s an interesting use of capital letters. Let’s go with that flow:

Simmons is apparently of the opinion that, since his former teammate isn’t playing nor on the sideline – BECAUSE HE WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF CHOKING HIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND AND THEN SUSPENDED BY THE NFL – the broadcast should not mention his name and situation.

Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief in Colo. (Courtesy of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)

So any person not in the stadium is apparently off limits from discussion, per Simmons. That apparently should include a person who would be playing if he hadn’t done something for which he was arrested, charged with and apologized before he got lawyered up and pleaded not guilty.

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Simmons is a bright individual of great character. He played well and was a leader throughout his career, which means he rarely faced public criticism.

He was clearly caught off guard, then, when fans challenged his views on Vrabel and Cooper and on ESPN’s right to address the matter during its broadcast.

“I have hella people in my comments (mainly Pats fans) saying an affair is not the same as an ALLEGED conviction,” Simmons wrote. “Which is true. However, last time I checked MNF or any network hosting a game is supposed to talk about just that THE GAME not players who aren’t there or even playing.”

Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz (11) in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

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That is obviously not correct.

And what’s worse, the premise all this is based on is also incorrect. That’s because when the New England Patriots opened their season against the Seattle Seahawks, Vrabel’s situation was addressed on national television.

NBC even included the Russini-Vrabel scandal in an illustrated timeline of the Patriots’ offseason.

So, yes, Vrabel’s situation was discussed on TV and that was the right thing to do – just like it was perfectly correct for Cooper’s situation to be mentioned on Monday Night Football.

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Sanju Samson (Image: ANI)

NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson has spent years learning to live with the scrutiny that comes with playing for India. On Tuesday, after his 57 off 22 balls against Afghanistan in the second T20I, he admitted that the noise from outside does get through — even if his preferred response is to switch it off.“I try to switch the Wi-Fi off. But sometimes the Wi-Fi gets switched on and comments become visible,” Samson said after India’s seven-wicket win. “Some senior player says something. So I think it’s very normal.”Samson’s innings, in which 52 of his 57 runs came in boundaries, came at a time when his place at the top of India’s T20I order is under scrutiny. The emergence of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has added another layer to the competition for the two opening slots alongside Abhishek Sharma. Sooryavanshi had impressed on India’s recent tour of Zimbabwe, while Samson had been left out of that series after failing to convert his opportunities in the preceding Ireland, England series.“Definitely, outside noise does affect cricketers in India,” Samson said. “But you need to be very clear about what your mindset is, how you need to prepare and what mindset you need to play with.”“I think I have been mature enough and experienced enough to know how to handle it. Earlier, it used to hurt a little. I’m not a machine. We are not robots that we can say, ‘No, it doesn’t affect me.’ Definitely, it affects you,” he said.“If I paid attention to those things, I couldn’t bat like this,” Samson said. “Before hitting a shot, I would think ten times, ‘Yaar, out ho gaya toh phir Wi-Fi problem ho jayega.’ So instead, I tell myself, ‘Koi baat nahi.’”That mindset has become particularly important as Samson finds himself competing for a place with a teenager who has rapidly forced his way into the conversation. Samson, however, said he does not view Sooryavanshi as a rival within the dressing room.“I think they (Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma) are competitors for the outside world, but we are a team and we are playing for a country,” he said. “We want to win the game first, and then it comes down to the other individuals.”Samson also said his experience as an IPL captain has helped him understand why difficult selection calls have to be made. He acknowledged that the management has a difficult task in choosing between players who are all performing, while stressing that individuals have to remain ready for their opportunities rather than dwell on selection decisions.“We can’t sulk or be in a negative frame of mind, thinking, ‘Yaar, mujhe nahi mila, usko kyun diya.’ Those kinds of mindsets don’t work here,” he said.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has been linked with a move to Manchester United once again

Manchester United are reportedly plotting another move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. United have been heavily linked with a deal to sign the Toffees centre-back in the past, and now it seems that fresh interest has emerged from the Reds.

Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Matthijs de Ligt are United’s senior central defensive options, but the Reds have been forced to deal with some injury concerns.

De Ligt has not played for United since November last year due to a back injury, but is closing in on a return to action.

As a result, United are being linked with signing a new centre-back, with Branthwaite emerging as a target once again.

According to talkSPORT, United still have an interest in Branthwaite, although it’s not stated if this could lead to a bid to sign the 24-year-old defender.

The report claims that United are looking to revamp their defensive options next summer, which could lead to moves for reinforcements, which may include a pursuit of Branthwaite.

Maguire, Martinez and Luke Shaw are three players who have been mentioned as potentially leaving United next summer when their contracts expire.

No price tag is mentioned for what Everton would demand for Branthwaite’s signature, with the defender contracted to Hill Dickinson Stadium until the summer of 2030, having signed a five-year extension just over 12 months ago.

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Branthwaite will have three years left to run on his contract from the end of the season, meaning Everton will be under no pressure to sell to United, unless the player himself pushes for a move.

Everton boss David Moyes has spoken very highly of Branthwaite in recent weeks, with the former United boss tipping the centre-back to have a bright future.

“Jarrad is a really good player. I think he’s got far more to come. I think he’s still finding his way after his injury.

“It would be great if he gets called up because I want my players to be called up for their countries because it means they’re doing well and the team’s doing well.