His departure wasn’t a true shocker, but the timing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s dismissal sure was. The Vikings waited roughly three weeks after the season’s conclusion to fire their general manager after four years and decided to postpone the search for a successor until the spring.

That search has indeed kicked off. An external search firm has been hired and the interviews will be conducted behind closed doors, unlike four years ago when the franchise announced each interview.

One guy who has removed himself entirely from any consideration is Broncos general manager George Paton. Minnesota’s former assistant executive under Rick Spielman’s watch has signed a contract extension in Denver.

On Friday, the Broncos wrote on their website, “The Denver Broncos have signed General Manager George Paton to a new five-year contract through the 2030 season, Owner and CEO Greg Penner announced Friday.”

Paton was employed in the Twin Cities for over a decade, but the Broncos offered him the promotion from assistant GM to GM in 2021 and he left TCO Performance Center. As his contract was set to expire, Paton’s name surfaced in early Vikings GM rumors in January and February, but ultimately stayed put. It’s unclear whether either party entertained a reunion.

The 56-year-old has overhauled Denver’s roster over the years and landing head coach Sean Payton was certainly a home run three years ago. His draft success has been up-and-down, but he undoubtedly found some impact players, headlined by Pat Surtain II.

The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider commented, “Broncos draft picks during Paton’s tenure have earned a combined nine Pro Bowl berths and five first-team All-Pro honors. Five of his draft picks since 2021 have signed second contracts with the team.”

He does, however, have some mistakes on his resume.

Kosmider added, “Paton’s two notable misfires came in 2022. A blockbuster trade for quarterback Russell Wilson — Denver sent Seattle five draft picks, including first-rounders in the 2022 and 2023 drafts — netted only 11 wins in 30 starts over two seasons before the veteran was released. Nathaniel Hackett, Paton’s first head-coach hire in 2022, was fired after 15 games in his debut season.”

Wilson’s and Hackett’s tenures were a disaster. Adding Wilson could have fit Minnesota’s quarterback track record. Yet, under Paton’s guidance, with new owners and a new head coach, the organization has rebounded and made the trip to the AFC title game in January. The Broncos lost a close game to the New England Patriots, while quarterback Bo Nix was sidelined with a fractured ankle.

Long story short, Paton won’t be the man in charge of Minnesota’s football operations. Following Adofo-Mensah’s exit, the Vikings relied on Rob Brzezinski’s experience, having pulled the strings behind the scenes for decades. He is expected to be a strong candidate for the full-time job.

In the meantime, the Vikings have six outside candidates on their list.

Vikings writer Alec Lewis (The Athletic) reported this week, “The Minnesota Vikings entered the next phase of their general manager search Wednesday. According to league sources, the team submitted interview requests for six external candidates, all of whom are assistant general managers for their respective teams: Terrance Gray of the Buffalo Bills, John McKay of the Los Angeles Rams, Nolan Teasley of the Seattle Seahawks, Chad Alexander of the Los Angeles Chargers, RJ Gillen of the San Francisco 49ers and Dave Ziegler of the Tennessee Titans.”

It’s easy to evaluate coordinators who are head-coaching candidates because their influence is directly visible on the screen on Sundays, but it’s always a mystery from the outside what assistant GMs actually do in their respective franchises. It’s anyone’s guess who the top candidates are.

There’s a good chance the operations will get a new leader in the next few weeks or months.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

Although Saturday’s Tour d’Horse Sprint over Caulfield doesn’t align with Bustling’s original buying intent, trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have moved past being finicky with the one-time West Australian star.

The four-year-old embarks on his first run in nearly 20 months in the 1000-metre $130,000 benchmark 84.

Acquired for a hefty price, his only prior appearance for Price and Kent was a ninth-place finish, eighth of nine, in the Group 2 Run To The Rose back in September 2024, plagued by various ailments since.

This race pales against the lofty goal of The Everest for which the son of Frosted was intended, yet Price is content just to witness his return.

“He had some bone problems and just assorted different niggles,” Price said.

“We keep getting him up, then we keep giving him time, we keep getting him up then we keep giving him time.

“But everyone’s done a good job with him and he’s now as right as we can have him.”

Bustling entered the Run To The Rose unbeaten in four of five previous races, triumphs including Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m), Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), Listed Perth Stakes (1100m), and a second.

Recent form shows a third in Cranbourne’s 800m jumpout on April 6 and a strong 850m trial success at Caulfield Heath April 23.

Mark Zahra, aboard for those hit-outs, sticks with the ride Saturday as Bustling leads betting at $4.40.

Not enamoured by Victoria’s rainfall this week, Price believes a better-than-Soft 6 track on Thursday would boost Bustling’s outlook.

“He’s a happy horse, he’s big, strong and he’s grown a lot since his two-year-old days,” Price said.

“He is one horse who hates the wet, but he is ready to run well.”

Head to betting sites for racing odds on Bustling in the Tour d’Horse Sprint.

DENVER (AP) — The president and governor of the Denver Nuggets said Friday his faith in coach David Adelman remains strong despite the team’s first-round flop in the playoffs but he indicated a roster overhaul could happen just as much as the team running it back largely intact.

“I have full faith in Coach Adelman,” Josh Kroenke said at a news conference at Ball Arena. “And I think he coached a hell of a season, all things considered.”

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The Nuggets finished third in the Western Conference at 54-38, behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio. They took a 12-game winning streak into the playoffs but were bounced in six games by the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who showed more toughness and tenacity.

The Nuggets were without Aaron Gordon (calf) for most of that series and Peyton Watson (hamstring) for all six games, continuing a season-long trend in which all their starters and most of their key reserves missed long stretches with injuries.

Counting the playoffs, Nuggets players missed 245 combined games last season.

While lamenting the injury epidemic, Kroenke said he liked the makeup of the team heading into the season and suggested he might just run it back with most of the same players in 2026-27.

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But he also indicated that he’d consider trading anyone on the roster other than superstar Nikola Jokic as he tries to capitalize on the three-time MVP’s remaining tenure in Denver.

Fellow All-Star Jamal Murray would draw the most interest and assets in return.

Jokic is eligible this summer to sign a four-year maximum contract extension projected to be worth up to $290 million, and he has indicated he aims to sign the deal.

The Nuggets went 10-6 during a stretch early in the season when Jokic was out, and Kroenke was asked if that helped solidify Adelman’s job security.

“I think that that’s a real testament to what D.A. and the group did when Nikola went down,” Kroenke said. “I think that’s when D.A. and his staff really shined, some of the creative looks that they were doing with our lineups.”

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A year ago, Adelman replaced Michael Malone late in the season and led the Nuggets to a first-round win over the Los Angeles Clippers before losing to Oklahoma City in seven games in Round 2. Afterward, the Nuggets hired Ben Tenzer as executive vice president of basketball operations and Jonathan Wallace as executive vice president of player personnel, basically splitting the job of former GM Calvin Booth, who was fired along with Malone.

Tenzer and Wallace dealt Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson and added much-needed depth, notably with the additions of Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Kroenke complimented his lieutenants “for pressing a lot of the right buttons last summer,” and suggested that if the team had stayed healthy, “this could be a 60- to 65-win team.”

“But we never got a chance to fully show it. And that’s why I say everything has to be on the table, including running it back. Because I really do believe in the group of people that were assembled in there this year,” Kroenke said.

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A big factor is finances. The Nuggets will face significant financial pressure heading into next season as their starting lineup as it stands tops $184 million in salary, including extensions for Christian Braun and Gordon that kick in next season.

Braun had an injury-filled season and didn’t live up to his big extension he signed last offseason, but that deal complicates Denver’s hopes of re-signing Peyton Watson, who could command $20 million or more annually.

“Peyton had a great year,” Tenzer said. “He obviously grew a lot. I said it at the beginning of the season, we hope Peyton’s a Nugget for a very long time, he’s been great for us.”

The Nuggets also hope Gordon can get healthy. He’s been hurt each of the last two years in the playoffs, and that in turn affects the game of All-Stars Jokic and Murray.

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“We have to all look in the mirror and say, ‘A.G., how can we help you?’” Kroenke said. “Because when he’s healthy, we all look better, you know, from myself on down to our training staff and so, you know, A.G., is a wonderful person like I said. We’re gonna have to have some challenging conversations about how we can all get better.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Manchester United have been linked with Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni

Manchester United-linked midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has been fined €500,000 (£431,952.50) and apologised following his bust-up with Federico Valverde. The Real Madrid duo were said to have come to blows in the build-up to El Clasico this weekend with Barcelona on the brink of winning La Liga.

Tchouameni has been linked to join United as part of their midfield rebuild this summer with change expected at Old Trafford this summer. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro will leave the club upon the expiry of his contract and an injection of energy has been billed for the engine room at the Theatre of Dreams.

According to Ben Jacobs, United were said to have made contact with the former AS Monaco midfielders’ representatives. Tchouameni, who famously scored against England at the 2022 World Cup, faces an uncertain future at Real Madrid with the record Champions League holders potentially looking to cash in with the 26-year-old entering the final 12 months of his contract.

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But if this season was to be the Frenchman’s last, it could be shrouded in controversy after the altercation with Valverde. Financial penalties have been confirmed a day after disciplinary proceedings were opened against the pair following their disagreement during a first-team training session.

Valverde was hospitalised in the wake of the incident after hitting his head on a table, but the Uruguayan reiterated that no punches were thrown by either party.

The incident has brought Los Blancos under immense scrutiny. It came with Barcelona having the chance to win the league and achieve the feat by beating their fierce rivals – with United’s own Marcus Rashford set to pick up a league winner’s medal if they can get a positive result against their bitter rivals.

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In the wake of the substantial fines, Tchouameni issued an apology on his Instagram. He said: “What happened this week in training is unacceptable. I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school. No matter who is right or wrong, we should always look for the calmest solution to resolve a conflict.

“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club. I know the fans, the staff, my teammates, the management, everyone is deeply disappointed by the way this season has unfolded. But frustration cannot excuse everything. These incidents, even if they can happen in any dressing room, are not worthy of Real Madrid. Especially since Real Madrid is the most talked-about club in the world.

“The internet loves to invent the wildest stories for the buzz so don’t believe everything that’s being said or the false narrative. Anyway, now is no longer the time to figure out who did what, who said what, or who was right or wrong. I acknowledge the club’s sanction and I accept it.

“We remain a family, with disagreements at times, but we must always put our objectives above everything else. I have apologised to the group, and I also want to extend my apologies to all Madridistas.

“Now it is time to move forward, and all our focus is on El I Clásico and on the season ahead, to bring the club back to the top, where it belongs.”

He followed his teammate, Valverde, who will be out for up to two weeks after suffering a head injury during the incidents. It has been suggested that the Uruguayan slipped and banged his head on a table, leaving a gash on the front

“Yesterday I had an incident with a teammate during a training session. The fatigue from competition and the frustration made everything seem blown out of proportion.

“In a normal locker room, these things can happen and are usually resolved internally without it becoming all public. Clearly, someone here is spreading rumours, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion.

“Today we had another disagreement. During the argument, I accidentally hit a table, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital. At no point did my teammate hit me; I didn’t hit him either. I feel that my anger about the situation, frustration at seeing some of us struggling to get through the end of the season, giving it our all, pushed me to the point of arguing with a teammate.

“I wasn’t going to speak out until the end of the season. We were eliminated from the Champions League, and I kept my anger and resentment to myself.

“We’ve wasted another year, and I wasn’t in a position to be posting on social media when the only face I had to show was on the field, and I feel that’s what I did.

“That’s why I’m the one who’s most saddened and pained to be going through this situation that prevents me from playing the next match due to medical decisions.

“I always gave it my all, to the very end, and it hurts me more than anyone not to be able to do so. I am available to the club and my teammates to collaborate on any decision they deem necessary. Thank you.”

Those beaten and local training outfits were fast to offer congratulations to Braidon Small for taking out the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool with Instigator under him.

Back in 2023 Small learned of his brain tumour, underwent surgery and endured radiation plus chemotherapy to pave the way for returning to racehorse riding, jumpers in particular.

“You get up and keep moving forward. That’s what you’ve got to keep doing,” Small told racing.com after Instigator scraped home by the slimmest margin in Australia’s harshest test on Thursday over 5500m featuring 33 jumps.

Son to Cyril Small, who rode Vo Rogue through the late ’80s and into the ’90s, Small had a win drought of nearly three years ended by Instigator at Terang last month but was downcast by the Aaron Purcell-trained gelding’s showing in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) on Tuesday at Warrnambool.

“I went home with my head between my knees and sulking,” Small said.

“I’ve always had full faith in Aaron and the team at home and Aaron wouldn’t have run him today if he didn’t think he was right.

He obviously ate up well, trotted up well this morning and he had a bit more pep in his step on the way to start, not his usual tactic, so he was obviously feeling good.

That was great fun.”

The finish saw Instigator ($11) prevail by half a head against Hit The Road Jack ($4), Gambu ($26) 15 lengths adrift in third place.

Numbers worked in Small’s favour on May 7.

“In our family, our lucky number is seven,” Small said.

“I didn’t want to fill myself with a lot of nonsense, but he had saddle blanket seven and was in race seven.

I told no-one, I wouldn’t even let myself believe it.

We had a big job at hand, and I was more worried with that than numbers and stats and that sort of stuff.”

Instigator, bred in Germany, had his initial start at Cologne on May 7 2017, winning a maiden at 1800m.

May 7 becomes Instigator’s final racing day, given Australian rules prohibit running past age 13.

“It’s a forced retirement this year, otherwise we would be bringing him back next year,” Purcell said.

“This is the horse’s last start ever and it’s amazing it’s come off.

Braidon has been with us a long time, 10, 15 years and been working hard and this is the race we’ve always wanted.”

This victory is Purcell’s second in the Grand Annual Steeplechase, following Ginolad’s success in 2008.

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After a career-best win against Junto Nakatani, Naoya Inoue is already being linked to a host of names, but he has been warned that he will be ‘slain’ on home turf if he accepts a clash with one rumoured dance partner.

Inoue landed the cleaner work in a unanimous decision triumph against ‘The Big Bang’ earlier this month, that being his seventh consecutive defence of the undisputed super-bantamweight title and a victory that will help define his career.

Whilst talk of a move to featherweight has been rife, Inoue announced beforehand that he plans to remain at 122lbs for one more fight.

It is beginning to become clear that unified super-flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is that man, and the Texan’s trainer, Robert Garcia, told the Ring that he believes his charge will keep up his ‘legend slayer’ tag if the fight happens.

“Bam is already known as the ‘Legend Slayer,’ and it doesn’t get any better than Inoue,

“I think the timing is perfect timing, if they end up fighting early next year. By then, we’ll have a lot of answers at 118, and we’ll have Bam back in the ring, hopefully by October, against another top bantamweight.”

“Jesse has the skills to compete against the best in the world, and he wants to fight Inoue … Inoue is still very fast and powerful, but I think Jesse has the skills, smarts and accuracy as the technical fighter to pull it off. We definitely have all of the skills to beat Inoue.”

Rodriguez has expressed his willingness to venture to Inoue’s backyard for the fight, and Saudi powerhouse Turki Alalshikh has confirmed his interest in organising a clash between the pound-for-pound stars in early 2027.

Gamble With Your Friends is a new arcade casino experience by TENSTACK and features one-to-six-player lobbies. In this title, gamers and their friends share a single bank account and have a massive debt on their hands. Players indulge in this “casino-crawler” and play various games to complete the daily quota given by their loan shark.

Since the game relies on luck, winning every match can be challenging, especially with the added stress of meeting the daily quota. To help you out, this article offers the best tips and tricks to increase your chances of winning in Gamble With Your Friends.

Best tips to win in Gamble With Your Friends explained

1) Play Duck Race

Duck Race is an ideal game for beginners, which offers the highest odds of making money in Gamble With Your Friends. Start the game with small bets and keep track of the ducks that win every time. Repeat this process for four to five rounds. Reload your save file and then place bets on the tracked options.

If you reload the save and play the races you tracked earlier before the day ends, the game guarantees the same outcomes. This method will let you to place correct bets and score a profit on each run. For the process to work, however, you need to make sure the day doesn’t end. Therefore, you need to be careful and keep an eye on the daily clock.

2) Play Dragon’s Tower

Dragon’s Tower is another game that can help you win in Gamble With Your Friends. Start it with your friends and record or memorize the locations of the bombs. Reload you save file and place your bets according to the placement of the bombs, and you’ll win every time.

This trick works because the Dragon Tower’s random sequence is not refreshed after a save has been reloaded. Reloading does not affect the outcomes of games and events. The outcomes will be constant as long as you are not playing on a table that requires manual interaction. It’s also worth noting that reloading doesn’t affect shop items.

3) Know your items

Items are an important aspect of Gamble With Your Friends and can increase your chances of winning if used with care. You can purchase your preferred items with Tickets by exchanging them in the item shop. If you don’t find the desired items, then you can reroll the list until your favorite item appears.

Items like Golden Chips are especially helpful when you are spending big in this TENSTACK title. They cost four Tickets per chip and can be used to get a one free all-in bet, removing the risk of losing. Use this item on a machine that hosts the largest payout to make the most of the free chance.

4) Use the Holy Statue

The Holy Statue is an item you can get for seven Tickets. While active, it prevents all losses nearby. To secure a win, you should use this item at the Street Craps table. During the first roll, it can be a win, a loss, or a draw. However, when the Holy Statue is active, the result will either be a win or a draw.

You can coordinate with your teammates and ask them to activate a statue at the time of a roll. If the roll comes out as a loss, it will be converted into a profit or a refund during the Points Phase.

That covers our guide for the best tips and tricks to win in Gamble With Your Friends.

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