Next week’s PGA Tour event, the Cadillac Championship, is just the latest in the Signature Event series — the limited-field, $20 million free-for-alls that 99% of pros desperately want to play in. And there’s good news for that super majority — technically, two sponsor exemptions have not yet been finalized.
Normally, by the Saturday prior, most Signature Event fields are set. You have the top 50 from the previous year, a handful of winners from this season, the 10 players not already in who have played best this year and five others who have played best recently. On top of that, as has become controversial, there are always four sponsor exemptions which, quietly, are not always decided until the last minute.
The reason is obvious: if a player can qualify on his own, it’s decidedly better optics for them and their game than using a sponsor exemption. For the sponsor, it’s a great scenario, too, because their list of choices is always longer than four. Any player from the sponsor’s unpublished priority ranking who plays their way in just allows Sponsor Choice No. 5 to join the field.
This actually happened for RBC and its post-Masters Heritage tournament. During Masters week, Max Homa was included as a sponsor exemption on the Tour’s internal field list until he played well enough at Augusta National that he qualified for the Heritage without needing a sponsor invite. It’s a win-win — Homa gets in, and RBC gets to invite another of its favorites. They went with Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Billy Horschel and Marco Penge — the order of which is not made public.
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This retelling matters for next week’s tournament, a newly created Signature Event at an old-time Tour course, Trump National Doral. Only Joel Dahmen and Max Greyserman are listed as sponsor exemptions at the moment — both worthy choices, neither of which will earn their way in at the last minute like Homa did, after missing this week’s cut at the Zurich Classic. They’ll be joined by two others, to be decided Sunday evening, a selection that isn’t finalized because … there are some big names on the verge of being an alternate, and there are fewer big-name players interested in playing, period.
Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Bob MacIntyre, Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick — all ranked in the world top 15 — will be skipping next week in Miami. (For McIlroy, it’ll be the second Signature Event skipped this season.) All together, it’s the most significant voluntary departure of talent any Signature Event has seen to date, and there’s an extremely obvious reason: most pros are okay playing three events in a row. But some definitely don’t want to play a major championship in that third week.
As ever with the PGA Tour’s Rubik’s Cube-scheduling dilemma, there isn’t one specific element to blame for this issue. And once you solve for one side of the cube — like finding a new, massive sponsor commitment. That’s a positive! — you can easily disrupt the other sides. In the simplest sense, the Cadillac Championship didn’t exist last year. When pros build their annual commitment list, this spot feels more like a surprise than anything else. It is also situated directly prior to another Signature Event, the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, which sits directly prior to the PGA Championship in Philadelphia. It feels skippable if the other weeks don’t.
By and large, most top pros have settled on a schedule of 22 to 26 events. That way, they’re playing no more than half the calendar year. Brian Rolapp is painfully aware of this number, as are the billionaire investors of his product. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, one of the pro game’s biggest investors, is also very aware. Rory McIlroy bluntly told him that “26 weeks” maximum for top pros during a meeting a few years ago. A Tour that gets top pros to play 22 to 26 times can be a commercially great product, so long as those 22 to 26 events are … the same events. But that remains the quandary of the moment: which events fit in that 22- to 26-event schedule, and how do you place them throughout the January to August calendar so you can get McIlroy to show up as many times as possible. Sticking a Signature Event the week before a Signature Event that sits the week before a major is not in the Tour’s future. You can count on that.
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The distribution of these top events — “Track 1” events, as they’re likely to be called in the future — will not appease everyone, but until they are cemented into sensible places on the calendar, there will be trickle-down results like top pros voluntarily skipping. That is to say nothing of Texas-based players who want to play the two weeks following the PGA Championship, at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and Charles Schwab Challenge. Scottie Scheffler will be defending his title at the former — and at the PGA Championship, too — but he is not in the field for the Truist Championship, another $20 million free-for-all the week before the PGA. Different pros have different priorities — we know that. But it has bred an intriguing reality: between the Masters and the PGA Championship, three Signature Events will have been played. McIlroy and Scheffler will have never competed against each other once.
One problem the PGA Tour needs to solve:
Three Signature Events between Masters and PGA Champ. ZERO featuring BOTH Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
Hilton Head: Rory OUT, Scottie IN Doral: Rory OUT, Scottie IN Quail Hollow: Rory IN, Scottie OUT
It can be dizzying to track who’s in and who’s out during this particularly signature time of the season, but the results of these fields — who wants in and when — coupled with the randomness of fan favorites hitting a rough patch, are what make schedule creation a fickle business. It’s what makes Brian Rolapp’s job particularly tricky at the moment, where sponsor involvement, course commitment and competitive structure are all a bit fluid. The status quo works in so many ways, but is largely dependent on star golfers showing up and playing like star golfers. Any week when that’s undercut by those golfers simply not showing up underscores it even more.
Arsenal FC returned to the top of the Premier League after a hard-fought 1–0 win over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side had briefly dropped to second place during the week after Manchester City went top on goal difference following their win over Burnley.
Arsenal made a strong start and took the lead in the ninth minute through Eberechi Eze. From a short corner, Kai Havertz set up the England midfielder, who curled a fine shot into the top corner.
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Newcastle created chances of their own through William Osula, Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali, but they could not find a way past Arsenal in the first half.
After the break, Newcastle pushed for an equaliser, with manager Eddie Howe bringing on Yoane Wissa and Harvey Barnes. However, Wissa missed a clear chance late on as the visitors suffered their fourth straight league defeat.
The win puts Arsenal three points clear at the top of the table, although they have played one game more than Manchester City.
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There was concern for Arsenal, however, as both Kai Havertz and Eze were forced off with injuries during the match.
Rivas lined the bases-loaded hit off Riley O’Brien (3-1), who had not allowed an earned run in 13 previous appearances this season.
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Matt Brash (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Andrés Muñoz pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save.
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Nathan Church homered twice and had four RBIs, JJ Wetherholt and Iván Herrera hit back-to-back home runs to leadoff the bottom of the first inning, and Pedro Pagés also homered for St. Louis.
Mitch Garver and Young hit back-to-back singles off JoJo Romero to leadoff the eighth inning, and Connor Joe stroked a pinch-hit, two-run single off O’Brien to tie the game at 9-all.
Church hit a two-run homer, his fourth of the season, to right-center field in the seventh inning to pull the Cardinals ahead 9-7 after hitting a solo shot to right field in the second.
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Bryan Woo allowed a career high-tying seven runs on nine hits including four home runs in three innings for Seattle.
Matthew Liberatore allowed five runs, all coming via home runs, in 3 1/3 innings for St. Louis.
Pagés, who had three hits including a third inning home run, was removed from the game with left hamstring tightness after legging out an infield single in the seventh inning.
Masyn Winn hit a game-tying RBI single down the right-field line in the fourth inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
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Wilson hit his first career home run in the second inning to give Seattle a 4-2 lead.
Up next
Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock (2-1, 2.83 ERA) will face Cardinals RHP Michael McGreevy (1-2, 3.29) to wrap up their three-game series on Sunday.
Manchester City were struggling badly around this time last year, facing the possibility of ending the season without a trophy for the first time since 2017.
But just one year later, manager Pep Guardiola has rebuilt and inspired the team, putting them in a strong position to chase a domestic treble. If they achieve it, they would become only the second English side to do so, with the first being City themselves in 2019.
City have already won the Carabao Cup this season and are still in the race for the Premier League title. They have also booked a place in another FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, 16 May, making it a record fourth consecutive appearance.
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Their journey to the final was not easy. City had to come from behind, scoring two late goals to beat Southampton FC and avoid a surprise defeat.
Their recent FA Cup record has been mixed. They beat Manchester United in 2023 on their way to winning the Treble, but lost to the same rivals the following year and were also beaten by Crystal Palace last May.
When asked about the chances of winning another treble, Guardiola played it down.
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“Too far away,” he said. “Before the final [league] game against Aston Villa, after we will tell you if there is a chance, but at the moment is it far, far, far away.
“Now it is important that the players have three days off. I told them not to think about football and just rest. The season starts with five games and an FA Cup final. I would say the Premier League is almost gone, we are back to second, we will see how we arrive [at the end].”
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden was withdrawn in the second half as the Blues beat Southampton 2-1 at Wembley Stadium.
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola insists it is only a matter of time until Phil Foden is back to his best following his substitution during the 2-1 victory over Southampton. Foden made his first start since March at Wembley but struggled to have an impact in the FA Cup semi-final.
With City struggling to make a breakthrough, Foden was substituted on 58 minutes with his replacement Savinho enjoying more joy down the right-hand side. The England international has not scored since December but Guardiola is adamant that Foden will return to his best.
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“Question of a little bit of time,” Guardiola said in his post-match press conference. “It was not easy in the first half for him because we were playing in the pockets and his position was being man-marked. For a full-back it is not easy to find him.
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“It is a question of time when he will be back.” When asked if he had faith in Foden, Guardiola simply replied: “Absolutely.” City’s win at Wembley ensured the Blues created history as they reached their fourth consecutive FA Cup final.
Reflecting on the win, Guardiola added: “Southampton were 19 [20] games unbeaten so I never thought that it would be easy. The energy that we had with Jeremy [Doku] and Savio, if they started they would not have this energy because Jeremy especially, when you play in three days, the risk to get injured is so massive and a lot of players deserved to play.
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“The first half was not bad, we did not concede much in the second half. We played at the level against Burnley but we arrived in the 18-yard box and we were not clinical enough and we had to wait for a holding midfielder to score an outstanding goal.
“How many times did Southampton cross the halfway in the second half? One. And what a goal. Football is unpredictable but big credit for how they defend and the way they play.”
Following his defeat in the Monte Carlo final against Jannik Sinner and his withdrawal from the Rome Masters 1000, the uncertainty surrounding two-time defending Paris Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz’s participation in this year’s tournament has continued for several weeks. Ultimately, he has decided not to defend his title, citing an injury to his right wrist.
In France, Lens secured a dramatic draw against Brest. After narrowly avoiding a heavy defeat, RC Lens fought back in the last 30 minutes to secure a valuable point in the title race. However, they have given PSG the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table. The title race is also fierce in England, where Arsenal lost their way last week against Manchester City. The Londoners cannot afford any more slip-ups and are hosting Newcastle Saturday. In Spain, barring any surprises, Barça remain top, helped by another setback for Real Madrid.
But while the World No. 2 was racing out to a big lead at the year’s first major, several other big names packed up and left town on Friday after a disappointing showing.
That list starts with World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, who is still searching for her first major championship. That search will continue next month at the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club.
“The questions, you have it for every time I lose in a major for sure. Thank you for reminding every week,” Thitikul said while laughing on Tuesday about her major championship search. “Obviously, I think it’s just another challenge of my career. I know what I have [under] my belt. Right now, at this age, I think I’ve accomplished a lot, but obviously, a major is the one that I feel the first time is always the hardest. And then if I need to prove to myself that I can do that.”
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Thitikul shot 74-74 over two days at Memorial Park to finish at 3 over and miss the cut by one.
Here are the big names to miss the cut in Houston:
Jeeno Thitikul
What she shot: 74-73 (+3)
Why it’s surprising: Thitikul is ranked No. 1 in the world and has already won this year in Thailand. She had never missed the cut in this event in five previous tries, although this year is the first time the championship is being held at Memorial Park.
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Lydia Ko
What she shot: 72-75 (+3)
Why it’s surprising: The three-time major champion made four bogeys in a seven-hole stretch on Friday to go out in 40. She fought hard on her final nine but couldn’t find another birdie to get on the right side of the cut line.
Rose Zhang
What she shot: 73-74 (+3)
Why it’s surprising: Zhang just finished up her degree at Stanford and is transitioning back to full-time professional golf, so the missed cut in itself isn’t surprising. But given how fast Zhang’s star rose when she arrived on the tour, it’s disappointing to see her miss the cut at the year’s first major. Next up, she’ll head to U.S. Women’s Open qualifying to try and earn a spot at Riviera.
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Lilia Vu
What she shot: 76-77 (+9)
Why it’s surprising: The past three Chevron Championship winners were grouped together for the first two rounds, and Korda beat Vu by 23 shots. It has been a rough stretch for Vu ever since her 2023 season, when she won two major titles. She continues to struggle off the tee.
Kiara Romero (a)
What she shot: 71-78 (+5)
Why it’s surprising: The World No. 1 amateur was near the top of the leaderboard as she got to the end of her first round. A couple of late bogeys saw her get in the house at 1 under, still very much in the championship mix. The Oregon product went out in the afternoon on Friday and hit just seven greens while also struggling with the flatstick. Romero seems primed for big things, but that won’t happen this weekend in Houston.
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Chizzy Iwai
What shot: 77-74 (+7)
Why it’s surprising: Chizzy Iwai has been playing good golf. She was in contention at last week’s JM Eagle LA Championship before finishing in a tie for seventh. But she struggled on approach this week, hitting just 15 of 36 greens over two days. She’ll stick around to watch her sister, Akie, who is tied for 31st entering the weekend.
Megha Ganne (a)
What she shot: 77-78 (+11)
Why it’s surprising: Ganne won the U.S. Women’s Amateur last summer and will be on the LPGA soon. Like Romero, she’s got the game to compete and win at the top level, but struggled on approach and with the putter in Houston. The Stanford product hit just 16 of 36 greens and needed 59 putts to get through two rounds.
PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 8: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns talks to the media after the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 8, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)
Devin Booker has been fined $35,000 by the NBA for publicly criticising officiating following the Phoenix Suns Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After the game, Booker spoke openly about the refereeing and did not hold back.
“In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name, but James was terrible tonight,” he said. “It’s bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as a WWE if they’re not held responsible.”
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Following an investigation that included interviews and video review, the league said there was no evidence of bias or misconduct by officials.
At the same time, the NBA confirmed that a technical foul called on Booker in the third quarter of that game was issued incorrectly and has now been rescinded.
Prior to their encounter, many suspected that Spence was the top dog at 147lbs, even after his life-threatening car crash in 2019.
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He had, after all, bounced back from the traumatic incident with back-to-back victories over Danny Garcia and Yordenis Ugas, only to fall glaringly short in his undisputed showdown with Crawford.
As a result, Spence is set to make a long-overdue move up to 154lbs for his next outing, with Boxing Scene reporting that it will come against former super-welterweight champion Tim Tszyu on July 25 in Australia.
It has also been recently reported that Tszyu has appointed head coach Jeff Fenech after sacking his training team for the second time in three fights.
This follows the Australian’s unanimous decision victory over Denis Nurja in Wollongong, Australia earlier this month, which follows an equally dominant triumph over Anthony Velazquez at the TikTok Entertainment Centre in Sydney in December.
Tszyu had previously lost a split decision in their first encounter, before finding himself on the receiving end of a three-round demolition job against Bakhram Murtazaliev in 2024.
Jan 6, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines tight end Max Bredeson (44) looks on during a practice session before the College Football Playoff national championship game against the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Often, fullbacks can be found in undrafted free agency, but the Minnesota Vikings brushed that philosophy to the side on Saturday, drafting Michigan’s Max Bredeson, a tight end-fullback hybrid.
Minnesota chose the Round 5 route for a gritty offensive chess piece.
Many expected Minnesota to pick a halfback like Emmett Johnson of Nebraska, but it’s a C.J. Ham replacement instead.
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Bredeson Brings Michigan Toughness to Minnesota’s Summer Roster
J.J. McCarthy calls Bredeson a “fox hole guy.”
Max Bredeson (44) joins Michigan teammates Joey Klunder (93) and Trente Jones (53) celebrating a dominant 30-3 season-opening win at Michigan Stadium, with fans roaring as the Wolverines set the tone early in Ann Arbor on September 2, 2023. The group reflects Michigan’s physical identity and depth across multiple position groups. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK
Bredeson to MIN
The sixth pick of the Vikings’ draft is in the books. Vikings.com’s Rob Kleifield announced Saturday, “A Michigan Man is headed to Minnesota. The Vikings selected former Wolverines fullback Max Bredeson in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday, providing the team a replacement for two-time Pro Bowl FB C.J. Ham, who retired in March.”
“Bredeson began his college career in 2021 as a walk-on tight end. He appeared in 14 games with one start in 2022, catching five passes for 78 yards, before taking on an expanded role for the Michigan squad that won the 2023 National Championship and was led by Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Bredeson was named the Team’s Most Improved Player on Offense for that season and split duties as a TE/H-back.”
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Bredeson will turn 24 in October, so Minnesota picked a game-ready commodity.
The Scouting Report
At 6’2″ and 250 pounds, the easiest way to think of Bredeson is a “dirty work” guy. He’s not much of a receiver but was a two-time captain at Michigan.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein on his scouting report: “Like his brother Ben before him, Max is a two-time team captain at Michigan. While Max is smaller than Ben — an offensive lineman for the Buccaneers — Max is equally committed as a run blocker. He fits blocks with good centering and strikes with initial pop.”
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“He has a hard time sustaining and clearing lanes on a consistent basis, though. He can handle basic zone-beater and play-action catches. He’s also above average in pass protection from the backfield. In a league with limited fullback opportunities, Bredeson will have his work cut out for him as he pursues a roster spot.”
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) stands alongside tight end Max Bredeson (44) during the first half of the Rose Bowl playoff semifinal, Jan 1, 2024 in Pasadena, as the Wolverines battle Alabama with a national championship berth at stake in a high-intensity College Football Playoff showdown. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
FootballGuys.com‘sDave Kluge added, “Bredeson doesn’t care about stats or flashy plays. He’s a foundational contributor, doing the dirty work in a ground-and-pound offense. He lines up as a split back, fullback, and tight end, and is frequently used in presnap motion to create angles and leverage.”
“He has a strong base, good pad level, and reliable hand placement to seal the edge, and he plays with enough grit to crack linebackers on inside runs. There’s not much polish in Bredeson’s receiving game. He lacks the length and mismatch ability to be a factor in the passing game. Still, he’s a tough, assignment-sound blocker who profiles as a late-round or priority free agent fullback/H-back.”
His pro comp is James Develin from the New England Patriots days of the 2010s.
McCarthy Pumped
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Of course, Bredeson played alongside Vikings QB2 J.J. McCarthy at Michigan; the two won a National Championship together, the springboard event that propelled McCarthy to Minnesota in 2024.
In true McCarthy form, he tweeted this immediately after the Bredeson selection in all caps:
Minnesota basically drafted Bredeson for his pass protection, hoping to fill the void for Ham, Minnesota’s longtime fullback, who called it quits after the 2025 regular season.
If you wanted Minnesota to replace Ham with another fullback, your dream came true and then some on Saturday. The Bredeson pick is an emphatic tip of the cap to the Vikings’ refusal to stop using fullbacks in their offense. Many teams have inxayed FBs altogether. Not the Vikings.
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Still No Young RB
Minnesota did extensive homework on tailbacks — not fullbacks — leading up to the draft, and through the end of Round 5, they drafted none.
Michigan tight end Max Bredeson (44) goes through pregame warmups ahead of a Big Ten matchup against Purdue at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, November 1, 2025, preparing for another physical outing as the Wolverines continue their push through a demanding conference schedule. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK
Instead of picking a possible young halfback of the future, the Vikings swerved with Bredeson, leaving these men on the draftboard:
Emmett Johnson (Nebraska)
Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest)
Nicholas Singleton (Penn State)
Kaytron Allen (Penn State)
Seth McGowan (Kentucky)
Le’Veon Moss (Texas A&M)
Johnson, who is from the Twin Cities, was picked by the Kansas City Chiefs right after the pick. Singleton went to the Tennessee Titans.
All things considered, you can write Bredeson’s name in ink for a 53-man roster spot in September.
Before the Round 5 pick, Minnesota onboarded these players:
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R1: Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
R2: Jake Golday (ILB, Cincinnati)
R3: Domonique Orange (DT, Iowa State)
R3: Caleb Tiernan (OT, Northwestern)
R3: Jakobe Thomas (S, Miami)
The Vikings will add about 20 undrafted free agents on Saturday night and into Sunday.
A longtime NFL veteran has reportedly been deemed a person of interest in the potential homicide of a woman in the Dominican Republic.
The body of Carli Franchesca Guzman Roche was found at a property that was owned by Mike Pennel, who has won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, after she disappeared in 2021.
Guzman was declared missing on Sept. 13, 2021, after not being heard from since eight days prior. Her body was found on the property, which Pennel sold last year, in January while a worker was digging a trench, ESPN reported. The report by ESPN cited anonymous sources close to the investigation.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Mike Pennel Jr. runs on the field before Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on Feb. 11, 2024.(Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
The home is in a gated community in Sosúa, on the northern coast of the country.
Pennel denied any involvement in a text to ESPN.
“This isn’t a story. I’m not legally involved. This is fake news being reported. I’d advise you to speak with my agent/lawyer … before writing a false story. Damaging my reputation,” he wrote to the outlet.
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Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Mike Pennel Jr. plays against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Feb. 9, 2025.(Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Pennel played for both the Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals this past season. It marked his third stint with Kansas City.
The defensive lineman has been suspended by the NFL three times for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, two of which occurred in 2016. He was also sued in 2024 by Dwayne Haskins’ widow, who accused him of defrauding her of $275,000 in a dog-breeding business out of the Dominican Republic.
The 34-year-old played college ball at Scottsdale Community College, Arizona State and CSU Pueblo, going undrafted in 2014.
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Defensive tackle Mike Pennel Jr. of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after stopping a two-point conversion during the first half of the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Jan. 26, 2025.(Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
However, the Green Bay Packers took a chance, and he has turned it into a 12-year career with five teams, including the New York Jets and the Atlanta Falcons. He also was on the practice squad for the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears.
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