Minnesota Vikings fans react from the stands during a home game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The NFC North matchup on Oct. 20, 2024, featured a lively crowd dressed in purple and gold as supporters responded to the action on the field during a pivotal divisional contest. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Don’t expect fireworks from Minnesota Vikings’ free agency next week; they’ve already gone that route in the last two offseasons, and 2026 will be much quieter, according to interim general manager Rob Brzezinski.
The Vikings appear headed for a lower-cost plan, shifting the spotlight from splashy deals to roster discipline and draft improvement.
The club doesn’t have the funds to splash this go-round and is not interested in spending future salary caps to make 2026 more eventful.
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A Quieter March Puts More Pressure on Minnesota’s Draft Table
Minnesota Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski speaks during a sit-down interview with Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson about the team’s organizational structure and leadership direction. The discussion on Feb. 17, 2022, covered Minnesota’s football operations philosophy, front-office decision making, and the hiring of head coach Kevin O’Connell. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Brzezinski: We Have the Core in Place
Compared to the expectation from some casual fans, next week’s free agency period will be quiet for Minnesota.
Brzezinski told ESPN: “We’ve spent a lot of money the last two years in free agency. And so our goal is going to be to keep our core in place, and that’s going to involve making some difficult decisions on some players, which you deal with on a daily basis.”
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“But I think for the most part, our goal is going to be to draft and develop and to retain our core, and supplement with free agency. It just makes logical sense that that bill’s coming due. We do have to navigate it, and navigate it responsibly.”
In theory, Minnesota could backload existing veterans’ contracts and mortgage the future. But that doesn’t seem to be a viable option this time.
Brzezinski continued, “A big part of that is balancing what we’re doing in 2026 versus the future. It’s just inherent in my role. I feel like that’s a critical part of when I talk about the guardrails and the vision and the philosophy.”
“To make sure maybe if we’re veering a little bit, to try to make a decision that maybe is not the best for the long term, maybe we can come back to what we talked about originally and say, ‘Hey, remember we talked about this is the way we’re going to do things? This is our philosophy.’ I think we can just lean on that and go from there.”
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The Bonanza in 2025
One year ago, ex-general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was fired five weeks ago, swung for the fences in free agency, signing guard Will Fries, cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, linebacker Eric Wilson, and defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, among others.
Rodgers and Wilson emphatically worked out, but those were the affordable signings. The big-ticket acquisitions flopped, or in Fries’s case, the first year didn’t pan out so hot.
In fact, one year later, Allen and Hargrave are scheduled to be released. Minnesota signed up for mid-tier DT performance at a high price and is ready to end the experiment after one season. Per Brzezinski, the Vikings were permitted to spend big in the last two offseasons. This go-round is about scaling back — evidently.
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Must Nail the Draft
The draft should be the cornerstone of roster building. It’s the only avenue in professional sports where teams can acquire high-caliber talent without paying market value. Free agency should play a supporting role, used to fill gaps, add veteran leadership, and bolster depth once a young core is established.
The previous regime in Minnesota strayed from this philosophy, sadly. Each offseason, there was a tacit understanding from fans that free agency would have to compensate for a draft that rarely produced any contributors, inverting the traditional team-building model. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.
This inversion manifested in decisions like the 2025 3rd-Round selection of wide receiver Tai Felton, a player whose primary value was on special teams. Special teams contributors can typically be found in undrafted free agency, while 3rd-Round picks should be reserved for players with the potential to develop into starters or impactful rotational players.
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With Adofo-Mensah’s departure, the organization has an opportunity to reset. Vikings fans can now perhaps shift away from expecting draft-related disappointment, as Minnesota can reestablish the draft as the primary driver of roster construction.
Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf speaks with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell along the sideline during a playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Wild Card matchup on Jan. 15, 2023, featured the two conversing during the second quarter while the stadium crowd watched postseason action unfold. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
Beginning with the 2025 class, Brzezinski and the front office must capitalize on productive drafts. Multiple successful draft classes are needed to replenish the roster and address the talent + age deficit.
There’s no better time to get back on track in the draft than a quiet free agency period.
Bargain-Bin Players?
Of course, free agency remains a key factor in Minnesota. It won’t be ignored or forgotten.
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During the Kirk Cousins era (2018-2023), the Vikings routinely faced familiar financial constraints each offseason, needing to create cap space to acquire new players or retain key veterans. Each year, the front office successfully generated the necessary flexibility to maintain a competitive team.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell introduces defensive coordinator Brian Flores during a media session at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan. The press event on Feb. 15, 2023, marked Flores’ arrival after previous coaching stops with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Brzezinski is usually central to this process. The long-tenured executive, with 27 years of experience with the franchise, possesses extensive knowledge of navigating cap situations and identifies viable financial solutions when the roster requires reinforcements.
This approach will likely guide Minnesota’s strategy again. Rather than pursuing the most expensive players, the Vikings can seek value-based options that address specific roster needs. For example, you may not have the money for running back Kenneth Walker III, but how about Kenneth Gainwell from free agency and a mid-round halfback in the draft?
British record holder Dina Asher-Smith and Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred are set to feature in the sprint programme at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
With 100 days to go until the Games begin on 23 July, England’s Asher-Smith will be hoping to add a first individual Commonwealth gold to her extensive medal collection at Scotstoun Stadium.
The 30-year-old, who holds the British records for the women’s 60m, 100m and 200m, could continue her rivalry with Saint Lucia’s Alfred, who claimed 100m gold and 200m silver at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Asher-Smith, a 200m world champion in 2019 and multiple European champion, said: “I’m really excited and I’m definitely aiming to compete at both the Europeans and the Commonwealth Games, mainly because it’s going to be so much fun.
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“You are going to see a lot of talented athletes come out and perform, from all across the world. From the Caribbean nations to the African nations and all across the Commonwealth, I think there are going to be some incredible performances.
“I think we’re also going to have a lot of Scottish newcomers as well, so you should definitely come and support.”
Alfred, who will be looking to go one better than the 100m silver she claimed in Birmingham in 2022, added: “The Commonwealth title is very much one I would like to add as I try to build a legacy so that when I do one day step away from the track, people will say I accomplished everything I possibly could.”
The Parisians head to Anfield for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool. After a 2–0 first-leg win, the Paris club arrive with a strong advantage and are targeting a place in the Champions League semi-finals.
In the other second-leg quarter-final taking place on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid host Barcelona, who lost the first leg (2–0). The Catalan side will be without Raphinha through injury and Cubarsí through suspension, while Diego Simeone has underlined that his team’s aim is “a clear objective: qualification”. Lamine Yamal, meanwhile, stressed the need to play without losing their identity.
On the international stage, France‘s women’s team face the Netherlands in a two-legged tie on Tuesday and Saturday for World Cup qualification, with Mbock and Bacha returning to Laurent Bonadei’s squad.
Finally, in the NBA, Detroit finished top of the Eastern Conference ahead of Boston and New York, while Oklahoma City lead the Western Conference ahead of San Antonio and Denver. The play-in tournament begins this Tuesday for teams ranked from seventh to tenth.
Unified WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk takes on kickboxing sensation Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza next month. On that card, a future opponent for the Ukrainian could be determined.
Usyk will defend the WBC belt when he takes on Verhoeven in Egypt. On the undercard, Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic compete for the vacant WBO super-middleweight world title, whilst Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov clash in a bout to crown a WBA Regular welterweight champion.
In terms of the heavyweight picture, Cuba’s Frank Sanchez and the United States’ Richard Torrez Jr have a chance to impess on a big stage, with both men looking to earn a shot at the heavyweight throne.
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Sanchez-Torrez is a long-awaited IBF final eliminator, meaning that the victor will be installed as Usyk’s mandatory challenger and thus be ordered for a fight with the Ukrainian, who could face being stripped of his IBF world title if he does not agree to defend his belt against the winner. The unified champion has not mentioned either man in his three-fight plan before retirement.
Unlike the WBC, neither the IBF or the WBA have confirmed that they will allow Usyk to defend their belts against 1-0 boxer Verhoeven, meaning he could be stripped of the titles regardless. Should that be the case, the winner of Sanchez-Torrez may well be elevated to full IBF world champion, just as Daniel Dubois was back in 2024 shortly after defeating Filip Hrgovic in a final eliminator.
Rory McIlroy is an investor in Whoop, wears one of the company’s wristbands while playing, and allows the brand to share his data periodically.
Here are some of his Masters highlights:
• 24,000+ steps on Sunday • 91,000+ steps during the tournament
Rory’s heart rate spiked to 135 BPM during his tee shot on 18, dropped to 121 BPM during his approach shot, fell further to 105 BPM during his winning putt, and then jumped back up to 150 BPM during his celebration.
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His resting heart rate for the week was 47-49 BPM.
Rory says he follows a strict routine during the PGA Tour season to ensure proper rest and recovery:
• No caffeine after 2 PM • Last meal at least 2 hours before bed • Magnesium and theanine for sleep quality • Blue-light-blocking glasses in the evening • Sauana or Epsom salt bath when available • Cool room temperature for sleep
He follows the same three-hour routine before every round: arrive at the course → warm up in the gym → eat breakfast → hit balls on the range → putting green.
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Rory says he believes his focus on longevity will help him play another 10+ years at a high level, and his physiological age on Whoop is now 1.5 years younger than his actual age.
Plus, it turned out to be a pretty good investment.
Rory initially invested in Whoop in 2020 when the company was valued at $1.2 billion. While we don’t know exactly how much he invested, Whoop recently raised another round at a $10.1 billion valuation.
Apr 13, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) competes for the puck against Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) and center Ryan O’Reilly (90) during the third period of their game at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images
Macklin Celebrini scored two goals and the visiting San Jose Sharks held on for a 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Monday night.
Igor Chernyshov had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (38-34-8, 84 points), who have two games remaining and kept their slim Stanley Cup playoff hopes alive. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves.
Luke Evangelista scored two goals for the Predators (38-33-10, 86 points), who have one game remaining, against Anaheim on Thursday. Ryan Ufko had two assists, and Justus Annunen made 20 saves.
Both teams were eliminated from playoff contention with the Los Angeles Kings’ 5-3 win over the Seattle Kraken on Monday night.
Evangelista pulled the Predators within 2-1 at 15:39 of the third period. A perfect pass from Nick Perbix sent Evangelista in behind the defender and he beat Nedeljkovic with a wrist shot into the short-side top corner.
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The Predators pulled Annunen and the Sharks nearly bungled a 3-on-1 rush before Celebrini scored into an empty net at 18:15 to make it 3-1.
With Annunen pulled again, Ufko’s shot deflected in off Evangelista at 18:50 to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Sharks converted their only power-play opportunity; the Predators were 0-for-1.
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San Jose outshot Nashville 11-6 in a scoreless first period.
Chernyshov gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 9:53 of the second period. William Eklund got a rebound in the slot and passed to Chernyshov for a one-timer from the left face-off dot.
Celebrini made it 2-0 at 3:04 of the third period. After a disputed icing call forced a face-off in the Nashville end, the Predators cleared the zone, but Will Smith took the puck away and passed to Cheryshov, who skated down into the left circle, pulled up to draw the defender over and passed to Celebrini, who scored on a one-timer from the slot.
Nashville’s Filip Forsberg hit the post with about 14 minutes remaining.
Norwood Oval will play host to Sunday’s
Round 5 AFL game between Geelong Cats and
West Coast Eagles. The game kicks off at 12:30 pm with Geelong Cats heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Geelong Cats vs.
West Coast Eagles
game and give you our free tips and bets.
Geelong returns to more familiar territory after a narrow loss to Hawthorn, with Bailey Smith continuing his strong form and Ollie Henry providing a reliable scoring option. The Cats now face a West Coast side that struggled badly against Sydney, particularly with ball movement out of defence. The Eagles’ inability to handle pressure was exposed, and that shapes as a major concern against Geelong’s well-drilled system. With a strong record at home and superior structure, the Cats are well positioned to bounce back emphatically.
Coolmore Stud and master trainer Aidan O’Brien have once again demonstrated why they remain the gold standard in global horse racing — not just in breeding and training, but in branding.
The latest batch of two-year-olds to be named showcases a blend of elite pedigree, clever storytelling, and marketable identity. In a sport where first impressions matter, these names are doing serious early work.
Powerful Pedigrees, Even Stronger Names
Among the standout names is Abraham Lincoln, a son of Wootton Bassett out of a Group-winning daughter of Invincible Spirit. Purchased for €2.3 million, the name carries immediate authority and presence — exactly what you’d expect from a top-tier prospect.
Book of Kells is another striking entry. By Dubawi and out of a Galileo mare, this colt is a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Auguste Rodin. The name cleverly ties Irish heritage with class and legacy — a perfect fit for a horse with serious expectations.
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Then there’s Capability Brown, linking art and prestige with racing excellence. As a half-brother to Saxon Warrior, the name reinforces a sense of refinement and stature.
Raging Bull brings a different energy — aggressive, memorable, and built for headlines. Meanwhile, Shakespeare and Opera continue the cultural theme, both reflecting depth, class, and timeless appeal.
Why Naming Matters in Horse Racing
In modern racing, a name is more than a label — it’s a brand. Before a horse ever sets foot on the track, its name shapes perception among punters, media, and owners.
Memorability: Names like “Raging Bull” stick instantly
Heritage: “Book of Kells” connects to Irish identity
Prestige: “Shakespeare” and “Opera” signal class
Marketability: Strong names drive media coverage and betting interest
Coolmore understand this better than anyone. They consistently produce names that feel like future Group 1 winners — and more often than not, they are.
The Coolmore Formula
The naming strategy aligns perfectly with their overall model:
With Aidan O’Brien preparing these horses for Ballydoyle, the expectation is clear — many of these names will soon be seen in Group races across Europe.
What Comes Next?
As the flat season unfolds, all eyes will be on these two-year-olds when they debut. History suggests that when Coolmore name a horse this well, it’s rarely by accident.
Don’t be surprised if Abraham Lincoln, Book of Kells, or Opera are making headlines before long.
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Final Word
In an era where branding matters more than ever, Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien continue to set the standard. These aren’t just racehorses — they’re future stars with names to match.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner celebrates with the trophy after winning the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament final tennis match against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images)
Jannik Sinner is back at world No. 1 after winning the Monte Carlo title, overtaking Carlos Alcaraz in the latest ATP rankings.
The Italian now has 13,350 ranking points, the first time he has crossed the 13,000 mark in his career. Alcaraz follows closely behind with 13,240 points.
Between them, Sinner and Alcaraz now have more ranking points than the rest of the ATP Top 8 combined.
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Sinner’s return to the top also marks his 67th career week as world No. 1, moving him ahead of Alcaraz in the all-time list.
Valentin Vacherot has also broken into the Top 20 for the first time after his run in Monte Carlo.
On the women’s side, Lilli Tagger also made a breakthrough, reaching the Top 100 after her run in Linz.
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Right now, it’s Sinner and Alcaraz, then everyone else.
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