In the latest installment, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was ejected from the New York Liberty’s 93-91 loss to the Toronto Tempo on Sunday afternoon for hitting Marina Mabrey with Jonquel Jones‘ shoe. Yes, you read that correctly. After the defeat, Liberty coach Chris DeMarco let loose on the officials for an “atrocious” and “pathetic” performance down the stretch.
The Liberty, who were on the second day of a back-to-back and entered Sunday’s contest having lost six of their last eight games, fell behind by as many as 20 late in the third quarter, but stormed back in the fourth. With less than two minutes to play, they had cut the deficit down to one, and were about to get the ball back after Laura Juskaite was called for a charge.
Before play could resume, however, a shoe came flying across the court and hit Mabrey in the back. An incensed Mabrey picked it up and was about to raise hell before she was held back by Liberty players and the officials, who then went to the monitor to review the situation. No camera angle caught the entire incident, but Laney-Hamilton, who was on the bench at the time, had gone on to the court to pick up Jones’ shoe, which had come off on the prior possession, and tossed it back toward Jones. Instead of getting to her teammate, it hit Mabrey.
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Upon review, the officials gave Laney-Hamilton a technical for “throwing a projectile onto the floor.” That was her second technical of the game, so she was ejected. It’s worth noting that Laney-Hamilton was also called for a Flagrant 1 after hitting Mabrey in the face in the second quarter and her first technical was the result of another dust-up between her and Mabrey.
“I would never intentionally try to hit someone with a shoe, especially while they’re not looking. Teammate was without a shoe, so I did my best to try and get it to her. Unfortunately, it did hit someone,” Laney-Hamilton said after the game. “I know just by the way that things were going throughout the game that it can look a certain way but that’s just not something that I would personally do… especially in a moment like that where game is on the line.”
Mabrey stepped to the line and made the techincal free throw to put the Tempo back up by two, and while the Liberty did briefly tie the game with 1:30 to play, they went scoreless the rest of the way. Breanna Stewart missed a driving runner with less than 10 seconds to play that could have forced overtime.
DeMarco calls officials’ performance ‘atrocious’ and ‘pathetic’
After a lackluster 2025, which ended with a first-round exit, the Liberty made a number of changes, including firing championship-winning coach Sandy Brondello and replacing her with Chris DeMarco — a long-time Golden State Warriors assistant who had no previous WNBA experience.
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DeMarco’s first season in charge has been a roller coaster, and his frustration was evident Sunday after the team’s third consecutive defeat, and seventh in their last nine games. The Liberty entered the season as title favorites, but just after the midway point, they sit in seventh at 13-11.
“I’ve never seen anything like [Laney-Hamilton’s ejection],” DeMarco said. “I’ve never seen anything like that. We had all the momentum in the world. Shoe hit somebody, ejected, free throws. I’ve also never seen a ref make such an atrocious call when he’s on the other side of the floor. The ball is clearly off the defender and comes over and overturns and gives the ball back to the Tempo at the end of the game.
“I’ve never seen one of the best players to ever play in this league attack the rim and get fouled and absolutely no call, and we’re just gonna play,” DeMarco continued. “Atrocious, pathetic. It was pathetic.”
Asked a follow-up about the ejection, DeMarco again criticized the officials.
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“She’s trying to get the shoe back to JJ. It hit somebody. I think we’re just making stuff up. I have no idea,” DeMarco said. “You’re asking the wrong person. I just know it was just an atrocious, atrocious end of that game from the officials.”
Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The American League and National League clash in the 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on FOX.
The AL holds a slight 48-45-2 series advantage, although the NL has won two of the past three installments, including last season’s 7-6 victory at Truist Park in Atlanta. Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber, the runner-up in Monday’s Home Run Derby, was the MVP after leading the NL to a win in the first-ever “swing-off”, deciding a winner with a HR Derby, the equivalent of penalties in a World Cup matchup.
Schwarber will be in the starting lineup for the NL, batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter. Teammate Brandon Marsh will start in right field, and he bats seventh for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who leads the NL. And, on the bump, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod.
Sanchez is 7-1 with a 0.86 ERA across 73 IP in 11 home starts this season, posting a 0.93 WHIP, while surrendering just two home runs at his home park. That’s pretty impressive. However, Sanchez just started Saturday, so don’t expect him to get a ton of work.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider leads the American League, and he gives the ball to Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease for his first-ever All-Star appearance. He is the first Jays starter since 2009, when the late Roy Halladay was the starting pitcher. Oddly enough, Sanchez is the first Phillies starting pitcher since…Halladay, in 2011.
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As far as weather, temperatures are forecasted to still be at 90 degrees at first pitch, which is very hot for Philadelphia. A hot wind from 11-14 MPH will be blowing from the southwest, which means we’ll have a bit of a jet stream to the right-center field power alley.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, batting second, and Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero, jump on Sanchez in the first. He isn’t likely to go far after working just three days ago. In fact, betting OVER 0.5 RUNS (-105) – FIRST INNING is a strong play. We have Cease, who gives up plenty of walks, which is not great, and Sanchez, who might not be at 100 percent rest.
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As far as the entire game, I like the NL (-140) to get the job done. The National League has won two of the past three meetings, and historically, the NL has won three straight meetings when Philadelphia has hosted, dating back to July 8, 1952 at Shibe Park.
For years, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed that the pitching was overpowering in these games. However, since 2018 in Washington D.C., we’ve seen a total of 59 combined runs in the past seven mid-summer classics. That’s 8.4 runs per game (RPG) in the span, so the lean is to the OVER 8 (-105) for the total.
Lastly, if you’re trying to bet the MVP, that’s a crapshoot. It literally can be any late-innings hero. Last season, Schwarber was 0-for-2 in the game, but he won MVP thanks to the silly swing-off thing. Anyway, while he didn’t have a great Home Run Derby showing, BRYCE HARPER (+1300) – MVP could come on in the middle to late innings, making for a storybook finish.
Arsenal have agreed a transfer fee to sell Belgium forward Leandro Trossard to Beskitas.
The 31-year-old has been given permission to travel to Istanbul to undergo a medical.
Trossard, who is contracted until 2027 with the Gunners, joined the club from Brighton for £21m plus add-ons in January 2023.
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“Negotiations have commenced with professional football player Leandro Trossard and his club Arsenal regarding his permanent transfer,” the Turkish Super Lig side said in a statement.
He has scored 36 goals and registered 34 assists in 174 appearances at Arsenal, helping Mikel Arteta’s side win last season’s Premier League title.
Trossard was a key player last season for Arteta, starting in the Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain and 21 times in the league.
Belgium reached the quarter-finals of this summer’s World Cup, with Trossard starting all six games and scoring twice.
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Rivers United have completed the signing of experienced left-back Imoh Obot from fellow top-flight club Abia Warriors ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Obot joins the Port Harcourt club as they strengthen their squad for the new campaign, which includes a return to the CAF Champions League.
The defender reunites with Rivers United head coach Finidi George, under whom he won the NPFL title during the 2022/23 season at Enyimba FC. His arrival is expected to provide experience, quality and depth to Rivers United’s defence as the club prepares to compete on both domestic and continental fronts.
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Imoh Obot in training with Rivers United
Before his move to Rivers United, Obot featured for Abia Warriors after leaving Enyimba, where he established himself as one of the league’s dependable defenders and helped the People’s Elephant secure a record ninth NPFL title in 2023.
The former Nigeria home-based Super Eagles defender has already resumed training with his new teammates and is awaiting his official unveiling by the club.
Obot’s signing is regarded as a major boost for the Pride of Rivers as they continue their preparations for the 2026/27 season, with expectations high that his experience will strengthen the team’s push for success in the NPFL and CAF Champions League.
England are looking for a new Test coach. Brendon McCullum will stand down as England Men’s Test head coach but will continue to guide the white-ball teams, the ECB said in a statement on Sunday. The development comes close on the heels of Ben Stokes‘ retirement from international cricket following a nightclub brawl and a subsequent one-Test ban. Among the names doing the rounds is Andy Flower. Flower is a well-respected figure and is the coach of IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Flower’s colleague at RCB, Dinesh Karthik, believes Flower may not have the time to take up the England role.
“In all seriousness, I think he’ll be a great candidate,” Karthik said on Sky Sports.
“He definitely should be one of the names considered, but I would be very surprised if he took it, considering where England are and his packed schedule as well. He used to do a lot of leagues, and I’m sure that he didn’t have the time. I read an article which said that England would be happy to accommodate the IPL and then the rest of Test cricket, but with the schedule being the way it is, it’ll be very difficult. Like, when Jacob Bethell didn’t come in for the first Test, and Jofra Archer was not available, it kicked up a fuss, and there were plenty of people saying, ‘Why? How come one of the players is not there?’
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“With Andy Flower, who already has a pre-signed contract with RCB, which would mean that he would miss parts of those Tests, will it be okay for England in the preparation for the Ashes if they don’t have a coach for a Test match or two? I heard there’s a Test match against Bangladesh in May next year, and if Andy Flower is with RCB, that could be a challenge as well. Is he good? Definitely. He is probably one of the best in the world, if not the best. Will he have time? That’s the question. I would be very surprised if the answer is yes,” he said.
England will have a new Test team head coach when they face Pakistan in a three-match series, which is a part of the World Test Championship.
England lost the recent Test series against New Zealand 1-2 but thrashed India 4-0 in the just-concluded T20I series.
McCullum’s tenure as head coach will come to an end after four years in charge, having led the England team through one of its most exciting and progressive periods in Test history.
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ECB CEO Richard Gould said: “Brendon breathed new life into the England Men’s Test team during an exciting period which saw some amazing victories, and we’re grateful for all he has given to the role.
“We now believe that the time is right to make a change for the Test team as we target victory in the Ashes next summer.
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India seamer Gurnoor Brar held on to a crucial catch despite colliding with skipper Shubman Gill as the Men in Blue removed England’s Jos Buttler in the first ODI of the three-match series. The match is being played on Tuesday, July 14, at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
The wicket came off the very first ball of the 17th over. Prasidh Krishna bowled a good-length delivery on off stump, and Buttler looked to whip it across the leg side but could only manage a leading edge.
Charging in from mid-on, Brar converged with Gill, who came in from mid-off, as the two collided shoulder-to-shoulder. Despite the impact, Brar held on to the catch to send Buttler back for five off 14 balls.
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Watch the clip of the wicket below:
Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna struck again on the fourth ball of the same over, this time dismissing Sam Curran. The seamer bowled a length delivery slanting across the left-hander, who threw his hands at it and could only edge it through to Indian wicketkeeper KL Rahul. Curran departed for a duck off three balls, leaving England reeling at 80/5 after 16.4 overs.
India’s pace trio rocks England after a steady start
Opting to bat first, England made a steady start as openers Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell added 51 runs in the first 10 overs. The duo eventually stitched together a 61-run partnership off 74 balls before Gurnoor Brar broke the stand by dismissing Bethell for 14 off 31 balls in the 13th over. Brar struck again two deliveries later to remove Duckett, who scored 43 off 45 balls.
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India continued to build the pressure in the following over as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed England skipper Harry Brook for one off three balls. Prasidh Krishna then joined the party in the 17th over, removing Jos Buttler for five off 14 balls and Sam Curran for a three-ball duck.
At the time of writing, England were 104/5 after 21 overs, with Joe Root unbeaten on nine off 13 balls and Will Jacks on 19 off 17 balls.
Derry City take on CSKA Sofia at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round on Thursday. The winners will progress to the second round of the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, while the losers will drop down into the UEFA Conference League main path second qualifying round.
The first leg in Sofia ended 3-2 in favor of the home side at Vasil Levski National Sports Academy last week. A brace from CSKA Sofia’s Ioannis Pittas and a goal from Bruno Jordao canceled out strikes from Derry City’s James Olayinka and Liam Boyce.
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The narrow one-goal lead gives Sofia some confidence as they travel for the second leg.
Derry City finished second in the League of Ireland Premier Division last season with 63 points from 36 matches, three points behind winners Shamrock Rovers, earning them a spot in the Europa League qualifiers.
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The team known as the Candystripes are already more than halfway through the 2026 top-flight season. They are placed sixth in the standings with 29 points from 25 games, 21 points behind Shamrock Rovers at the top of the standings.
Derry City lost 4-2 to Waterford in their most recent league match on 3 July.
It does not look like Derry City will maintain a similar league finish to the last campaign, but they can still salvage progress to the next round of the Europa League qualifiers if they turn the aggregate score in their favor at home this Thursday.
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Meanwhile, Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia have earned their place in this season’s Europa League by winning the 2025-26 Bulgarian Cup. They defeated Lokomotiv Plovdiv 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation time at the Vasil Levski National Stadium.
The Army Men are in preseason mode at the moment, playing friendly matches to prepare for the new domestic season in Bulgaria. CSKA Sofia beat Marek 3-0 in their most recent friendly fixture on 3 July.
Derry City vs CSKA Sofia head-to-head stats and key numbers
The first-leg meeting between these two sides was the first time that they have played against each other.
Derry City are in poor recent form, with three losses, one win, and one draw in their five most recent matches across all competitions.
CSKA Sofia are in good form at the moment, with their last five matches across all competitions producing four wins and a single loss against Polissya.
Derry City vs CSKA Sofia prediction
Derry City will need to score to have any hope of advancing to the next round, so they are expected to push forward aggressively at home in search of goals, which could provide opportunities for CSKA Sofia to exploit the Irish side on the break with the space left behind Derry City’s advancing defensive line.
We expect this match to end in a low-scoring draw.
The pro wrestling landscape is filled with many talents looking to break through and make a name for themselves. BK Westbrook is one of those wrestlers chasing that crazy dream.
The road hasn’t been easy. Westbrook started to train at a wrestling school in North Carolina in 2018 before it eventually closed down. He started having his first matches at Carolina Wrestling Federation (CWF) Mid-Atlantic before the promotion came to an abrupt end in 2019.
BK Westbrook is one of the rising pro wrestling talents on the independents.(Provided to Fox News Digital)
He then suffered another setback – the COVID-19 pandemic. But overcoming one obstacle after another was all a part of the journey.
“I’ve had that like multiple times within wrestling and it’s crazy when I saw my school closed down, I was getting my car’s oil changed, was waiting for it, and then next thing you know I get this message saying we’re no longer going to have shows and then I had to think, I didn’t just get into wrestling to just wrestle at this one place even though like this is awful this sucks,” he told Fox News Digital. “And then COVID happens, again, it’s like OK, well I can’t do my thing. right now and this is really, really annoying and I’m just I’m annoyed that I can’t do that and eventually led to me just continuing to put my name even more places and I felt like this can’t be the end for me. I can’t let this little this crazy time, this unprecedented happening with the pandemic,
“I couldn’t just let that get me down man. It was a little difficult because living in North Carolina, it was a little less, I mean it was still strict, but if I was going to go wrestle somewhere, I’d go somewhere where the states didn’t care as much, like Tennessee or South Carolina or something like that, even Georgia. But once things started kind of opening back up and things started to get normal, it was like, OK, we’re going to hit the ground running.”
For Westbrook, the dream was always pro wrestling.
BK Westbrook got his pro wrestling start in North Carolina.(Provided to Fox News Digital)
He said he grew up watching it on TV but really grew to love the sport watching it on YouTube. The mix of athleticism and entertainment was the true draw.
“It was just falling in love with it online growing up,” Westbrook said. “Growing up being a YouTube kid, being on a computer. I discovered it on TV first, but just finding a love for independent wrestling and what I’m doing now kind of grew on me just loving what wrestling is at its core, what you see on WWE or AEW or whatever, I just kind of found even more of a deeper liking for it.
“But it’s just I don’t know. I just think it’s something that if you’re a wrestling fan, you get it, and you understand kind of why you’re drawn to it. To me, it’s easy for me. I like sports, I like entertainment, I like them both kind of together. It’s just it’s different for everybody, but for me it was super simple to like to get into just because I love the athletic blend of competition, and also, just the storytelling aspect of being able to normally tell the story of good versus evil or just even beyond that. I just think wrestling is such an amazing art or medium for art and I get a chance to do it on the weekends. Hopefully more than just the weekends. Hopefully, you know, all the time.”
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Westbrook has been putting in the work. He’s wrestled at some of the top independent promotions right now, including Pandemonium Pro, Game Changer Wrestling, Limitless Wrestling, Deadlock Pro-Wrestling, TBD Wrestling and several others. He even made an appearance for All Elite Wrestling.
Recently, he battled Amira for the Pandemonium Pro Championship. Though it was a losing effort, Westbrook came away with a few bruises from the women’s wrestler.
“My first time wrestling Amira, like you said last month in Portland, and she’s been kind of running it over there for a while in the Pacific Northwest, specifically that Portland area,” he told Fox News Digital. “My first shot I think I ever even heard of Amira was in the Portland area. I was wrestling for Prestige Wrestling and that was really cool and to see her growth, she’s been doing lots of stuff.
“My fianceé, Ella Envy, she was able to hang out and get a chance to know Amira from like the Lodestone stuff that that Bayley was doing where she was putting on for women’s wrestling. And I think she’s doing really good work. I got a chance to wrestle her. She hits really hard, but other than that, she’s got lots of talent. And if I wasn’t going to be the champion, I’ll say she’s about as good as it gets for being a champion representing over there.”
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Westbrook will be a part of Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling’s “JoJo” event on Aug. 2. The wrestling showcase will honor the late Jordan Saint, who died in a car crash on Long Island, New York. The proceeds of the event will go to Saint’s family.
Jordan Saint performed at Shooting Star Fest in Las Vegas, Nevada, in April 2026.(Provided to Fox News Digital)
He will be going up against Epidemius Jr. While he vowed to win the match, he said it was an honor to be a part of the show.
“I’m excited for the match,” he said. “I’m excited for the show. It’s going to be an incredible event. It’s super sad about the passing of Jordan and I just I hate that. And I know that everybody is looking to have an awesome show in his memory.
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“Outside of that, for Pandemonium to run this event with all the proceeds going to his family, it does it helps knowing that his people will be taken care of after that. It’s cool that wrestling is a way and a medium for that to be able to happen. Unfortunately, that his passing did occur, but it is nice to know that we can make a difference in that regard and I’m excited to have a kicka– match in his memory and also in the name of Pandemonium Pro.”
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
Canada’s professional women’s soccer league is adding a seventh team in Winnipeg, the league announced on Tuesday.
Winnipeg will join the league in 2027, founded by women’s national team great Desiree Scott and coach Rob Gale, who will be chief sport officer.
“It is an honour to bring professional women’s soccer of this calibre to Winnipeg and to join a trailblazing organization like the Northern Super League,” Scott said in a statement.
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“As a former player, I know exactly what an elite sporting environment looks like and what athletes need to succeed. We are building a club rooted in the community, backed by a premier development pathway, and ready to compete from our very first whistle in 2027.”
NSL president Christina Litz told CBC Sports that the league wants to have eight teams by 2028.
“We know what impact having a pro women’s team has on inspiring the next-gen players and we have said from the beginning that we want our league to be a catalyst for Canadian talent across the country.”
The NSL currently includes Calgary Wild FC, Halifax Tides FC, Montreal Roses FC, Ottawa Rapid FC, AFC Toronto and Vancouver Rise FC.
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Earlier this month, an international firm invested $30 million CAD into the league, which was founded by Canadian soccer great Diana Matheson.
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw accepts a hand from Green Bay defender Micah Parsons after a physical snap at Lambeau Field. On Nov. 23, 2025, the two pause briefly before returning to their respective huddles as Minnesota and Green Bay continue a hard-fought NFC North matchup in cold Wisconsin conditions. Mandatory Credit: Wm. Glasheen-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.
If you think the Minnesota Vikings are in good hands with two stud offensive tackles, that’s fine — but ESPN, and perhaps the league, do not view Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill as Top 10 at their position.
Jeremy Fowler recently polled NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, with Darrisaw and O’Neill mentioned out of respect but not in the Top 10.
Darrisaw’s Recovery and O’Neill’s Apparently Quiet Excellence Factored into the Vote
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O’Neill warms up at U.S. Bank Stadium, working through his full pregame routine before facing Detroit. On Oct. 10, 2021, O’Neill prepares for another NFC North matchup as Minnesota completes its final field work and gets ready to battle the Lions in Minneapolis that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports.
Vikings Shut Out of Top 10 OT Rankings
O’Neill received a vote for the Top 10 from somebody, but it was not enough to make a dent in the rankings. As an honorable mention, an AFC scout said about Darrisaw, “Still one of the best combinations of good feet and hands in pass protection and can be a force in the run game, too.”
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A Detroit Lions tackle took home the top prize, with Fowler noting, “Sewell took the top spot with consistency in the voting. Though he didn’t dominate the first-place voting, he was living in the second- and third-place range, which improved his average in the composite total. And one NFC executive was blunt when describing Sewell’s strengths as a player.”
“But even so, his 89.6% pass block win rate landed outside the top 40 offensive tackles last season. It was his lowest since his rookie year in 2021. Sewell is making the anticipated switch from right tackle to left tackle this season, and it will be something to watch.”
Darrisaw’s Injury Woes
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Darrisaw was firmly considered a Top 10 offensive tackle around the sport — until late October 2024. That’s when he tore his ACL, and truth be told, he hasn’t been the same. The lineman battled back to start for the 2025 Vikings, but it quickly became apparent that something was off about his recovery. Minnesota put him on a pitch count in games, and by December, the club shut him down altogether.
Thankfully, Darrisaw is reportedly healthy — he said he felt “great” last month — and the injury woes are probably behind him.
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw participates in practice at The Grove in Watford, working through drills as the team prepares overseas. On Oct. 4, 2024, Darrisaw sharpens his technique alongside teammates while Minnesota adjusts to the international setting and readies for its upcoming matchup in the United Kingdom that weekend. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
But the injury stunted his reputation in the court of public opinion. If he’s not making ESPN’s Top 10 OT lists, it proves the world has largely forgotten about him. Now, it’s up to Darrisaw to roar back.
Just a Lack of Respect for O’Neill
O’Neill has been a cornerstone of the Vikings since they drafted him with the 62nd overall pick in 2018. He has played in 124 games, starting 120, providing much-needed stability to an offensive line that struggled with consistency.
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Beyond his impressive durability, O’Neill performs at a high level. He has logged 7,900 career snaps, with 4,840 dedicated to pass protection and 3,060 to run blocking.
His 2024 season was arguably his best yet, earning an 81.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. This included a solid 76.4 for pass protection and an impressive 84.5 for run blocking. O’Neill has never received an overall PFF grade below 63.0 in any season and earned Pro Bowl selections in 2021 and 2024.
For a team that once lacked a stable offensive line, O’Neill has been an invaluable asset. Yet, per ESPN. he doesn’t do enough to crack the Top 10.
VikingsWire‘s Glenn Erby noted on O’Neill last month, “O’Neill has never played fewer than 14 games in a season, giving Minnesota a level of availability that has become increasingly valuable at a premium position.”
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“Coach Kevin O’Connell has repeatedly referenced his reliance on O’Neill as a leader, and that may be the most important part of the equation. The Vikings are still shaping their offensive identity and building around a roster that features young talent at several key spots.”
Vikings May Only Get Love at WR for ESPN Rankings
While ESPN’s series of Top 10 players at every position is not complete, the club is on track to boast just one player — Justin Jefferson. That list hasn’t been published yet, but when it hits, Jefferson will assuredly be in the Top 10.
And then that’s it.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell greets his wife, Leah, on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium before facing Detroit. On Sep. 25, 2022, the couple shares a brief pregame moment as O’Connell prepares for another NFC North matchup and Minnesota completes its final warm-ups before kickoff in Minneapolis that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Offensive tackle was the Vikings’ best chance at leaguewide recognition from ESPN; Darrisaw and O’Neill are great. No other position on the Vikings’ roster comes close to WR or OT in terms of firepower. It’s Jefferson, Darrisaw, and O’Neill as the club’s most dependable players.
Andrew Van Ginkel didn’t get any Top 10 love at EDGE from ESPN. Jalen Redmond, a defensive tackle, was snubbed.
Jefferson will remain the face of the franchise, and ESPN’s Top 10 list will re-prove it in 2026.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Manchester United have signed goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a two-year contract, with the option to extend by a further season.
The move is likely to lead to the Old Trafford exit of Turkey international Altay Bayindir, who came close to joining Besiktas in January.
Darlow’s contract at Leeds expired this summer and although he was offered a new deal, he has opted to make the switch across the Pennines. Leeds did not reference rivals Manchester United in their own statement.
“Leeds United can confirm Karl Darlow has left the club upon the expiration of his contract to pursue an opportunity elsewhere,” Leeds said in a statement.
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“Despite the offer of a new deal to remain in West Yorkshire, the goalkeeper wished to explore a different challenge and leaves the Whites with the best wishes of everyone at Elland Road.”
Darlow finished the season as Daniel Farke’s first-choice keeper.
The 35-year-old Wales international has played a total of 279 games at club level and has 15 caps.
“I am extremely proud to sign for Manchester United,” he said.
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“I’m joining an excellent group of goalkeepers and I’m really looking forward to all pushing each other to ensure that we maintain the highest standards, which this club demands.”
Darlow is likely to start the season as deputy to first choice Senne Lammens.
With Lammens taking a three-week break after Belgium’s World Cup campaign, Darlow is set to play a role during Manchester United’s pre-season, which starts against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July.
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