Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine jogs across the turf during pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium, preparing for action as Minnesota hosted San Francisco on Aug. 20, 2022. Cine went through positional drills and light sprints as teammates filtered onto the field ahead of kickoff, part of the Vikings’ preseason routine in Minneapolis. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Not long ago, former Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine latched onto the UFL, signing with the DC Defenders in an effort to rekindle his football career. Now, the unthinkable has happened: Cine was even cut from that league.
The former Vikings first-rounder can’t stay attached to a roster, and the Defenders’ moving on tightens the runway for another comeback.
The man just can’t find staying power … anywhere in football.
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Lewis Cine’s Comeback Window Keeps Getting Smaller
Cine’s strange odyssey continues.
Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine pauses during training camp to speak with FOX9 reporter Jeff Wald in Eagan as practices unfolded on Aug. 21, 2024. The brief exchange came while Cine competed for roster security, reflecting a summer defined by evaluation, uncertainty, and persistence for the former 2022 first-round pick working to reestablish footing. Mandatory Credit: FOX9.
DC Defenders Drop Cine
Cine is out — from the league that was supposed to help revitalize his career.
UFL writer Michael Heilman wrote over the weekend, “The D.C. Defenders released wide receiver Jalen Virgil, offensive linemen Elijah Ellis and Silas Dzansi, and defensive back Lewis Cine on Saturday according to the UFL Transactions page. Lewis Cine is six foot two and weighs 199 pounds. The 26-year-old from Cedar Hills, Texas, was drafted by the D.C. Defenders in the 2026 UFL Draft.”
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“The Minnesota Vikings drafted Cine in the first round (32nd pick) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons in Minnesota with one tackle (1 solo) in 10 games. In 2024, he made 16 tackles (8 solos, 8 assists), one sack, one interception, and one pass breakup in three preseason games. The Vikings released him on August 27, 2024.”
Another strike against Cine — a guy who cannot afford any more strikes.
The End of the Road?
This is probably the end of the road for the former Vikings 1st-Rounder. Why? Well, there’s really nowhere else to go.
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Of course, his agent can keep pounding the pavement for an NFL trial, but how would Cine magically get back on track in the NFL if he can’t survive on a UFL offseason team? Sadly, his release by the Defenders is a sharp indictment of his career’s state. The man is probably done for good after the release.
There’s really no coming back from this particular roster cut, unless Cine prefers to try arena football or something similar.
Cine’ Career to Date
Cine’s career never really stalled. It skipped straight past everything in the pros. By the time he was healthy enough to compete, the Vikings had already built a safety room that didn’t need him.
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Minnesota once believed the path was clear. Harrison Smith was aging; Cine would be groomed to take his place, and the transition would happen naturally. Instead, Smith kept playing at a starter’s level well into his mid- and late-thirties, and the depth around him hardened. Camryn Bynum locked in a role. Josh Metellus turned into a weekly necessity. Jay Ward showed enough range to stay in the conversation.
Long before Cine could reassert himself, Theo Jackson — a sixth-round pick Tennessee discarded — slid into the exact job Cine was drafted to inherit.
That outcome wasn’t what anyone forecasted in 2022. Cine arrived with the glow of consensus approval, stamped by draft analysts as a late–first or early–second-round win. Minnesota bought into the profile, drawn to the speed and violence on tape, trusting athletic traits to smooth out the rough edges.
Then the floor dropped out. A devastating leg fracture in London four years ago erased his rookie season before it could find rhythm. When Cine returned, the team had already recalibrated, and the Vikings had basically moved on.
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Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine lines up defensively during second-quarter action against San Francisco at U.S. Bank Stadium on Aug. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis. The snap captured Cine early in his rookie preseason, positioned near the box as Minnesota tested personnel groupings while the game tempo and assignments unfolded against the 49ers that night. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
He never caught on elsewhere, either, though he did leave Philadelphia with a Super Bowl ring — a strange footnote to a career without a defining moment. Cine’s arc now lives in the cautionary file scouts don’t like to open. Raw physical traits don’t necessarily translate into stardom.
The Guy Who Drafted Cine Out, Too
Oddly, in the same weekend that Cine’s career probably ended, the executive who drafted him was fired by the Vikings.
That’s right: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah no longer has a job in Minnesota, canned on Friday and replaced in an interim role by Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski. Adofo-Mensah’s splotchy draft record followed him since the Cine pick in 2022, and while Adofo-Mensah improved in spots, the current Vikings’ roster is much older than most expected, mainly because of the draft follies.
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah appears on the radio with Paul Allen to discuss team topics as the schedule approached Oct. 22, 2024. The conversation included a Rams preview and season context, coming during a year Minnesota surged to a 14–2 record while decisions and messaging remained tightly coordinated across platforms and audiences statewide. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Cine and Adofo-Mensah will obviously hope for new jobs before too long, but their ceilings are now much more limited.
Other former Vikings on the Defenders’ roster, like Andre Mintze, Jordan Ta’amu, or Abram Smith, were not cut over the weekend. Ta’amu, a Vikings summer quarterback in 2023, even won the UFL Championship MVP award in 2025. He was also the XFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2023.
If recent form matters when making 2026 Masters picks, then three names should stand out from the others. Matt Fitzpatrick has a win and a runner-up in his last two starts, while Cameron Young has a victory and a third place over his last pair of tournaments. Then there’s Bryson DeChambeau, who won his last two events on LIV Golf as all three golfers bring momentum into the Masters 2026. This year’s tournament is the 90th edition and will tee off on Thursday at Augusta National.
None of the three has ever finished better than fifth at the Masters, but they still all find their names high up the PGA odds board. Only Scottie Scheffler (+550) is a bigger favorite than DeChambeau (+1000), with Fitzpatrick and Young both at +2200. How much should you prioritize recent results when placing 2026 Masters bets? Before locking in any 2026 Masters picks, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine’s proprietary golf betting model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulates every PGA Tour event 10,000 times. This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship.
2026 Masters predictions for Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm
One pick from the model for the Masters 2026: Rahm (+1000), the 2023 Masters champion and one of this year’s favorites, makes another strong run at the green jacket, but ultimately falls just short. Rahm historically plays some of his best golf at Augusta, finishing in the top 10 five times since 2018. He already has one professional win this season and hasn’t finished worse than fifth this year in any event, so the model is expecting him to contend at Augusta, giving him a 10.5% chance of winning it all and a 41.3% chance to finish top 5.
The model has also locked in its projection for Scheffler (+550), a two-time Masters winner who is this year’s favorite. Scheffler is making his seventh start at Augusta National after winning the green jacket in 2022 and 2024. He has never finished outside the top 20 in the first major of the year, and he had top-10 performances in 17 of his 20 starts on the PGA Tour last year.
Scheffler opened the season with a win in the American Express before carding top-five finishes in the WM Phoenix Open and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. However, he has been outside the top 20 in his last two events, and he has not competed since mid-March due to the birth of his second child. This is the first time in his career that he made zero PGA Tour starts between the Players and the Masters, so rust could be an issue this week.
The model has also examined McIlroy’s (+1300) chances of becoming the fourth golfer to win back-to-back green jackets. After achieving the career Grand Slam with last year’s win, a comedown from that high was almost unavoidable. That’s happened with the Irishman as McIlroy hasn’t won any of his 14 PGA Tour starts since.
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However, McIlroy’s metrics indicate he’s still elite and can win any time he steps on a course. He’s fourth in strokes gained: total and leads the tour in SG: tee-to-green and SG: off-the-tee. Since Tiger Woods became the last repeat Masters champion (2001-02), only three defending champions have finished better than 10th in their repeat bid, so McIlroy will be battling history as well as Augusta. See the full Masters projections from the model here.
How to make 2026 Masters picks
The model is also targeting two longshots of +4000 or greater, including one who is going off around +8000, who could make a stunning run at Augusta this year. You can only see the model’s picks here.
Scottie Scheffler +550 Bryson DeChambeau +1000 Jon Rahm +1000 Rory McIlroy +1300 Xander Schauffele +1500 Ludvig Åberg +1700 Matt Fitzpatrick +2200 Cameron Young +2200 Tommy Fleetwood +2200 Hideki Matsuyama +2700 Robert MacIntyre +2700 Justin Rose +3000 Min Woo Lee +3000 Patrick Reed +3500 Collin Morikawa +3500 Si Woo Kim +4500 Jordan Spieth +4500 Brooks Koepka +4500 Chris Gotterup +5500 Russell Henley +5500 Nicolai Højgaard +5500 Viktor Hovland +5500 Akshay Bhatia +6500 Maverick McNealy +6500 Jake Knapp +7000 Shane Lowry +7000 Patrick Cantlay +7000 Justin Thomas +7000 Adam Scott +7500 Jason Day +7500 Sepp Straka +8000 Tyrrell Hatton +8000 Corey Conners +8000 J.J. Spaun +8000 Jacob Bridgeman +8000 Sam Burns +10000 Harris English +10000 Rasmus Højgaard +10000 Cameron Smith +10000 Marco Penge +10000 Sungjae Im +12500 Gary Woodland +12500 Kurt Kitayama +15000 Daniel Berger +17500 Ben Griffin +17500 Alex Noren +17500 Ryan Gerard +17500 Sam Stevens +20000 Keegan Bradley +20000 Harry Hall +20000 Aldrich Potgieter +20000 Kristoffer Reitan +22500 Max Homa +22500 Ryan Fox +25000 Casey Jarvis +25000 Aaron Rai +25000 Wyndham Clark +25000 Brian Harman +25000 Sergio Garcia +30000 Dustin Johnson +30000 Nicolas Echavarria +30000 Carlos Ortiz +30000 Michael Kim +30000 Max Greyserman +40000 Nick Taylor +40000 Haotong Li +40000 Matt McCarty +40000 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +40000 Andrew Novak +40000 Tom McKibbin +40000 Sami Valimaki +50000 Michael Brennan +50000 John Keefer +50000 Bubba Watson +75000 Charl Schwartzel +75000 Zach Johnson +75000 Davis Riley +100000 Angel Cabrera +100000 Mason Howell +100000 Fifa Laopakdee +100000 Ethan Fang +100000 Brian Campbell +100000 Vijay Singh +100000 Jose Maria Olazabal +100000 Brandon Holtz +100000 Naoyuki Kataoka +100000 Danny Willett +100000 Jackson Herrington +100000 Fred Couples +100000 Mateo Pulcini +100000 Mike Weir +100000
Augusta National Golf Club has played home to the Masters since the 1930s. The iconic course has stood the test of time. However, the course has been lengthened significantly over the years as players hit it farther and farther.
So what is Augusta National’s length now? Here’s a complete review of the total length, and the distance of each hole at Augusta ahead of the 2026 Masters.
Augusta National distance: What you need to know
Modern pros like defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy have gained tremendous length on their historic predecessors. With equipment innovations, new swing techniques and intense fitness routines, today’s Masters participants simply bomb the ball.
Alister Mackenzie, who designed Augusta National alongside club co-founder Bobby Jones, could never have envisioned how short their prized 18 holes would become in the face of the modern game.
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Largely beginning with Tiger Woods’ dominant 1997 Masters victory, for which he often hit driver-wedge into Augusta’s famed par-5s, the course has been lengthened (and lengthened again) to defend against long hitters.
Augusta National: Total length
The total length of Augusta National for the 2026 Masters will be 7,565 yards, with the first nine playing 3,775 yards and the second nine stretching to 3,790 yards. That will change slightly each day as tees are moved forward and back.
However, the course members play on a normal day is far shorter than what the pros play. If you were playing Augusta National from the members tees this year, you’d face a course closer to 6,400 yards. That’s over a thousand yards shorter than the pros will play at the Masters.
Augusta National’s longest hole (and shortest hole)
Unlike at many other tournaments, all players begin each Masters round on Augusta National’s 1st tee. But they quickly run into the longest hole they will face all day.
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The par-5 2nd hole, known as Pink Dogwood, could reach 585 yards during the 2026 Masters. Even so, many pros will attempt to reach the difficult 2nd green, found at the end of a long fairway that swoops downhill and to the left, in two shots.
As for Augusta National’s shortest hole, it also happens to be the course’s most famous. That would be the par-3 12th, Golden Bell, which will play to 155 yards during this year’s Masters.
Despite its short length, the 12th is typically one of the toughest holes at the Masters thanks to the nervy tee shot over water amid swirling winds. Many Masters Sunday charges have met their ends on this hole.
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Augusta National hole-by-hole length for 2026 Masters
Here’s the standard length for each Augusta National hole at the Masters.
The Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao rematch promotional run is not going smoothly following the official announcement.
Mayweather and Pacquiao faced off back in 2015, where ‘TBE’ claimed a legendary decision win over the Filipino phenomenon before hanging up the gloves two years later.
‘Pac Man’ revealed that he had suffered a severe right rotator cuff tear before the fight and has later said opting not to postpone the clash was the biggest regret of his career. He had surgery on his shoulder shortly after the fight but was unable to secure a rematch, that was until earlier this year, with a shock second encounter announced for September – undoubtedly one of the biggest events of the 2026 boxing calendar despite disapproval from many fans.
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However, in recent days the fight has been thrown into doubt after Mayweather said that the venue was not finalised and that it would be an exhibition, not a pro contest as announced. Pacquiao’s team say he is in breach of contract for that, as well as other reasons.
Now, in an interview with FightHype, Shane Mosley, who lost to Mayweather in 2010 and Pacquiao the year after, declared that he has heard rumours that Pacquiao’s shoulder is hindering him once again.
“Floyd’s not the same Floyd that he was … but Manny also has some complications. I don’t know if it’s his shoulder, in his sparring or something like that. There’s stuff going on with him too.
“I’m seeing that he [Pacquiao] is having complications with his shoulder and stuff, so I don’t think that he will be able to train the same way that he did to get ready for the [Mario] Barrios fight. So, that could be something.
“Before [hearing of the shoulder injury] I was saying Pacquiao [will win], now I am saying that I don’t really know because I don’t know what Pacquiao can do. I don’t know if he can still run or spar, he can’t do what he used to do.”
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It remains to be seen whether those whispers are true or not, with Pacquiao claiming to be fighting fit ahead of what is, until official word says otherwise, a professional rematch with Mayweather, scheduled for Saturday, September 19, live on Netflix.
Coco Gauff released a shocking 8-minute response addressing the backlash to her Miu Miu campaign. The American star spoke out in defense of her natural hair and used the moment to stand up against the criticism faced by Black individuals.
The controversy around Gauff and Miu Miu started after their latest campaign began circulating online. While many fans loved seeing her step into the fashion space, the reaction quickly turned negative on social media.
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A lot of the criticism was focused on her hair. Gauff chose a simple, natural look, where she put her hair in a bun, but some comments were unnecessarily harsh and crossed the line. Some users made offensive comparisons between the tennis star’s look and historical civil rights imagery, which many found deeply inappropriate.
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Initially, Gauff did not respond publicly. However, after returning to X following a month-long break, she came across the negative comments and called them out. A few days later, she addressed the backlash more directly, sharing an 8-minute video response on TikTok.
The two-time Grand Slam champ explained that the photoshoot was a simple setup in her parents’ backyard. The outfit choice, she made clear, was entirely hers.
“First of all, it’s Miu Miu. That’s their aesthetic. I love the Miu Miu aesthetic. So if you don’t like it, the girls who get it, get it. The girls who don’t, don’t. I picked the outfit out,” she said.
She also addressed comments about her hair, explaining why she chose the natural bun.
“I personally don’t like to slick back my hair super sleek because it does damage my hair.”
She added that she prefers to let her “4C hair” be natural, especially as a tennis player. Gauff emphasized representation as well, saying:
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“I’m not going to apologize for the way that my hair looks… There are other girls who have the exact same hair as me.”
She added that if her hair was good enough for a high-fashion campaign, “then yours is good enough” too.
“Black people are beautiful” – Coco Gauff’s positive message to people after Miu Miu controversy
Coco Gauff at the Miami Open – Source: Getty
The latter half of Coco Gauff’s response video was filled with positive messages. She explained that people who criticize others are insecure about themselves, and no one should pay much heed to such criticism.
Sharing a beautiful and positive message for black people, Coco Gauff said:
“Black people are beautiful. Black hair texture, kinky afro hair texture is beautiful. You don’t need people on the internet who don’t like themselves, who are insecure about themselves to tell you that. Because, people who are secure will also find my shoot beautiful.”
On the tennis side of things, Gauff is gaining momentum in 2026. She started slowly but has reached the semifinal in Dubai and the final in Miami recently. She lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final in Miami, but will move into the clay season with confidence as she looks to defend her French Open title.
Anthony Joshua is getting ready to return to the ring and his 2026 fight plan is beginning to take shape.
Following a stoppage win over Jake Paul in December last year that, despite doing little for his standing in the heavyweight division, gained him significant interest in the US, Joshua was involved in a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Though he escaped with minor injuries, it was unclear how the physical and mental toll would affect ‘AJ’s future inside the ropes. Now back in training with former rival Oleksandr Usyk, he has confirmed he will continue fighting. That means that talk of a fight against Tyson Fury – who returns this weekend in London – has resumed, but promoter Eddie Hearn recently confirmed to assorted media that his charge will not be going straight in with ‘The Gypsy King,’ instead targeting another long-awaited fight in the interim.
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“This is what I want. We need a warm-up fight before we fight Tyson Fury, because AJ’s coming off an accident, he’s rehabilitating his body… We’ll take Deontay Wilder as that warm-up fight and then we’ll fight Tyson Fury in December.”
Joshua and Wilder were once in the position to fight for the undisputed title, but the fight failed to materialise on more than one occasion. With Wilder’s recent win over Derek Chisora, this may be the best chance to make it happen before a retirement ends the prospect for good.
“By the way, I respect Wilder and I think he looked much better [against Chisora] than he has done previously. But let me tell you – cause I was 6 feet away – Anthony Joshua will walk through Wilder within 3 rounds.”
The one obstacle that may stand in the way is a hand injury suffered by Wilder during those twelve rounds with Chisora. If he is fit by the end of the summer, this plan looks all the more likely.
Owners of On Display are determined to overturn the result from 12 months prior in pursuit of a Stakes win in Adelaide.
The mare, now four years old and under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, heads toward the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on April 25, having run fourth there last year en route to victory in the Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m) a week on.
Strategy for the Queen Of The South Stakes hinges on the Anniversary Vase, where barrier three was drawn and Thomas Stockdale is retained to partner.
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Price and Kent Jnr have likewise entered Golden Path and Taken into the Anniversary Vase, with Kent Jnr viewing On Display as the standout of their entries.
“She’s the high quality one of ours in the race,” Kent Jnr said.
“She is going well. She found the leader biased track at Flemington difficult to overcome and last time behind Treasurethe Moment, I haven’t seen a race where they have gone that slowly for a long time.
“The sectionals meant she had no chance, but she zipped home as good as anything in the race and she’ll run well.”
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Arriving third-up on Saturday, On Display placed third behind Scheelite in the Shaftesbury Avenue Stakes at Flemington March 7, then fifth to Treasurethe Moment in the Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield March 21.
Taken boasts the minimal impost for the stablemates but draws the widest post in the 14-horse contest.
Kent Jnr was impressed by Taken’s second last out on a yielding track at Flemington.
“I thought he was excellent and he should be a good chance down in the weights, despite the draw,” Kent Jnr said.
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A Queensland path awaits Golden Path, whom Kent Jnr expects to improve with another run after his sixth on debut back in the Flemington race Taken contested.
“He’s heading to Queensland and I think he needs another warm up run before he strikes form,” Kent Jnr said.
Apr 6, 2026; Henderson, Nevada, USA; quarterback Kirk Cousins discusses signing with the Raiders and reuniting with head coach Klint Kubiak during a media session, addressing his fit with new teammates including tight end Brock Bowers after joining Las Vegas three weeks into 2026 free agency. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
In 2021, Kirk Cousins played the best ball of his career, and the man who offensively coordinated him is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders: Klint Kubiak. So when Cousins praised his new head coach and his lieutenants this week, it made sense.
Cousins touted Kubiak this week, and the familiar partnership could matter for the Raiders’ next step at quarterback.
Las Vegas signed Cousins last week, presumably as a patchover quarterback for Fernando Mendoza, and Cousins thinks the relationship will work because of his prior experience with Kubiak.
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Vikings Reunion Energy Followed Cousins to Vegas
Cousins and Kubak ride again in the AFC West.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak speaks with attendees and observes activity Mar 31, 2026, at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona, during the NFL Annual League Meeting, where coaches and executives gather to discuss league matters and offseason developments ahead of the upcoming season. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Cousins on Kubiak
The former Viking spoke with Raiders reporters this week, unshy about recalling Minnesota memories.
“Thrilled to be here. It’s such an iconic logo, iconic jerseys, so to get to be a part of it is a real privilege to me. I think it starts with the coaching staff. I was really excited about being able to work with coaches I worked before. Klint Kubiak, Rick Dennison, Andrew Janocko,” Cousins said.
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“I had some of my best years playing with them, and coaching is a big deal in this league. A big reason why I’m sitting in this chair and I’m now a Raider is because of Klint Kubiak. I can talk about him all I want, but my actions really show what I think of him by being here. Great football mind and extremely hardworking. There’s a humility there that I deeply respect.”
It also helps that Kubiak won a Super Bowl two months ago as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, helping to propel another ex-Viking, Sam Darnold, to the championship.
A New Pile of Cash, Too
Cousins is set to earn a fully guaranteed $20 million in 2026. Although his contract is structured as a five-year, $172 million deal, it essentially operates as a one-year, $20 million agreement. Entering the offseason, when it seemed evident that Atlanta would drop him, some wondered if Cousins might sign a minimum deal to re-establish his market value, but this did not happen.
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Cousins continued his pattern of securing high-value contracts. After receiving $100 million in guaranteed dough from Atlanta in 2024 and 2025, he is now collecting the aforementioned $20 million from Las Vegas. The outcome aligns with Cousins’ reputation for maximizing his earnings.
The Raiders also hold a two-year, $80 million option for the following offseason, depending on Mendoza’s progress. If Mendoza develops successfully, Las Vegas can transition without major complications.
In all likelihood, Cousins will be a free agent next March, and he’ll do the same song and dance again.
Probably a Month to Post a Winning Record
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The Raiders do not live in an easy division, and Cousins will have Mendoza breathing down his neck for the QB1 job, assuming he topples Mendoza at training camp for the QB1 job. How can he keep Mendoza at bay? Well, the simplest way to think about it is a winning record. If the Raiders exit September with a 2-2 or 3-1 record, for example, the Cousins show will likely continue. Anything worse than that would pave the way for Mendoza’s insertion into the starting lineup.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) drops back and delivers a pass in the second quarter Dec 7, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, facing the Seattle Seahawks as he works through reads and releases the football during live game action. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
After all, first overall picks always see the QB1 job before too long, and frankly, it’s a little weird that Cousins is in town to serve as a patchover quarterback. Most franchises tear the band-aid off these days and let it rip. See: Caleb Williams in 2024 and Cam Ward in 2025.
Cousins has one big chance to help the Raiders stack wins before Mendoza inevitably takes over.
He also has the humility for the job. Cousins said this week, “Honestly, I don’t want to start unless I’m the best option. I told Klint that: The best player should play. Certainly, as long as that’s the case, I have no qualms about how it plays out. I do think Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team. I think he’s going to have a great future in the league.”
“I have no problem being a voice in the room to help him to the degree that I can. … Being able to watch a veteran quarterback go through his habits, routine and process, that can be a great asset for him. … It’ll be a noisy quarterback room, we’ll all be helping each other, and we’ll all be pulling in the same direction.”
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Cousins’ Numbers with Kubiak
The new Raiders signal-caller became a full-time starter in 2015 for the Washington Commanders. There are his NFL rankings per EPA+CPOE since then, with the rankings in bold during the Kubiak years:
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins walks along the sideline during the first half Aug 17, 2024, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, observing preseason action against the Ravens while teammates rotate through series during early exhibition play. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Cousins played his most consistent ball with Kubiak’s tutelage, so perhaps in 2026, he can turn the clock back to 2021 or 2022.
Oddsmakers, though, are not high on the Raiders. They expect Kubiak and Co. to win four or five games next season.
PSG took a big step towards the Champions League semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Liverpool at home in the first leg. Désiré Doué opened the scoring in the 11th minute, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead in the 65th minute. The reigning champions could even have regrets, given how much they dominated the match (74 percent possession, 18 shots).
In the other match of the evening, Atletico Madrid claimed a surprising 2-0 victory over Barcelona. Antoine Griezmann’s side capitalised on Pau Cubarsí’s red card in the 43rd minute to gain a significant advantage ahead of the second leg in Madrid next Tuesday.
In tennis, Daniil Medvedev had a nightmare day in Monte Carlo. The world No. 10 lost 6-0, 6-0 to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, a first in his career.
Seasoned race followers may recognise Fatty Finn for his breakthrough maiden success as favourite at Sale.
The moniker comes from a Sydney-originated 1920s comic character, featured in an 1980s film led by Ben Oxenbould.
On his third run, the horse triumphed in the Programmed Property Services Maiden Plate (1415m) at Sale last Wednesday.
Charlotte Littlefield prepares Fatty Finn, alongside Bruiser Murphy, the cleverly named debut winner at Moe, owned by the same group.
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Littlefield, who strapped at Sale on the day, soon recounted a delightful history for Fatty Finn.
“Ben, the actor who played the character in the movie, got in touch with us,” Littlefield told racing.com.
“He’s going world-wide this horse and now that he’s won, he’s going to be even more famous.
“It’s a great story.”
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Ridden by Zac Spain at $2.10 favourite odds, Fatty Finn led throughout and won by 1-½ lengths from Just For Kicks ($5), with She’s Got The Cash ($6) a head back third.
“He rode that to perfection,” Littlefield said.
“He took luck out of the equation, he went forward and the horse was too good.
“A big thank-you to Lyn Joyce who has entrusted this horse in my care, and she has two horses, very well named, Bruiser Murphy and Fatty Finn.”
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Littlefield is set for England’s Magnolia Cup in July at the Glorious Goodwood Carnival, a ‘Ladies Day’ charity race for 12 riders from business, sport, fashion, and media after intensive coaching.
“I grew up just down the road, so Goodwood was my local racecourse,” Little said.
“To now return here and compete at such a prestigious event is truly a pinch-me moment.”
Discover racing betting markets offering great value on events like the Sale maiden plate.
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