Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; A fan of the Minnesota Vikings before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
In the NHL, opting to pluck away restricted free agents can be seen as a controversial move that rankles rival GMs. Is the same true of the NFL? If so, the Vikings tossed a grenade at the Bills.
Consider the basic update that arrived courtesy of Alec Lewis of The Athletic: “The Vikings have signed Bills RFA T Ryan Van Demark to an offer sheet, per source.” Last year’s swing tackle, Justin Skule, hasn’t been brought back, so the move for Van Demark appears to be in an effort to beef up the OT3 spot.
Vikings Toss a Grenade at Bills with OT Contract
As things stand, the Vikings don’t have a pile of cap space, but there’s some money to burn. Combine that (modest) financial freedom alongside a roster need and the marriage makes sense, at least in a general sense.
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Buffalo could still swoop in to retain the tackle, as Kevin Seifert notes: “The Vikings have signed OT Ryan Van Demark, a restricted free agent who has started six games for the Bills over the past two seasons, to an offer sheet. The Bills have the right of first refusal, but the Vikings wouldn’t owe the Bills any draft pick compensation if they don’t.”
The blocker is listed as being 6’7″ and 307, a nice build to be an NFL lineman. In a few days, he’ll hit his 28th birthday, meaning he’s basically in the middle of his prime.
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Since joining the NFL in 2022 as a Colts UDFA add, Van Demark has played in forty-three games, starting a half dozen. All of his on-field work has taken place in Buffalo.
Check out his career snaps breakdown:
LT: 180 Career Snaps
LG: 1 Career Snap
RT: 375 Career Snaps
TE: 1 Career Snap
In all likelihood, that tight end snap was about blocking beef and not running a route. Blake Brandel has done that job before.
The 2025 season involved Ryan Van Demark surrendering 2 sacks, 1 quarterback hit, and 9 pressures. He got dinged with committing a trio of penalties. Overall, he performed well, earning a healthy 74.4 grade on PFF.
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) calls signals during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Right now, the Vikings’ top need among the front five exists at center. What could be occurring, though, is an effort to shore up the OT spot, thereby fortifying the C spot. A two-for-one deal, of sorts. Blake Brandel can play any of the five positions; does signing a strong OT3 in Ryan Van Demark free Brandel to focus on snapping? If so, then there would be an internal domino effect.
So far, the only external additions within free agency have been for QB Kyler Murray and CB James Pierre. Seeing the signing for the backup OT solidify would bring the tally up to three.
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Note that Minnesota dropped the same RFA contract onto LB Ivan Pace Jr., who is carrying a $3,520,000 cap charge. Maybe he gets stolen away in a similar fashion.
Former India batter Aakash Chopra has flagged potential concerns for Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of IPL 2026, pointing to their youthful and relatively inexperienced batting unit as a key challenge. The Royals made a major call before the auction by trading Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), bringing in Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja in return. The Royals also traded Nitish Rana to Delhi Capitals and acquired Donovan Ferreira via a trade.
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Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag watches West Ham vs Man City in London
Young batting core under the spotlight In a video on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra’, he noted that RR’s batting core heavily features young names such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel. “You can call it weaknesses or challenges. The batting lineup is extremely young. Yashasvi Jaiswal is experienced, but he is still young. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is hitting a lot, but he is a young kid. Dhruv Jurel has immense potential, but he is still unproven in the IPL because he hasn’t scored runs there,” he said. Experience gap a growing concern Chopra also pointed out that while Riyan Parag has shown promise, he is yet to establish himself at the international level. He added that Shimron Hetmyer’s role could be compromised, as RR may not be able to utilise him in his preferred batting position. Notably, Parag is set to captain the Royals in the IPL 2026 season. “Riyan Parag has shown a lot of promise and potential, but he is not an established international star. Shimron Hetmyer is there for sure, but the number at which he batted for the West Indies isn’t available. No matter what you do, you won’t be able to play him there. Donovan Ferreira has limited international experience,” he elaborated. Summing up the batting concerns, Chopra stressed that while there is plenty of promise, the lack of international exposure across the top order could prove tricky. “When I look at the top six, a lot of potential is seen, but international experience is very, very limited, except for Shimron Hetmyer, for whom they will not be able to give the number at which he has been successful. So that is a bit of a challenge,” Chopra observed. Hetmyer, notably, was one of the standout performers for West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 248 runs at a strike rate of 186.46 in seven innings while batting at No. 3 — a role he is unlikely to reprise for RR. Spin attack faces form concerns Chopra also identified spin bowling as another area of concern, citing the recent form of key players. “The spin bowling stocks have gone up for sure, but the current form is a slight issue, and that is a bit of a concern. It might not be a concern, but I am looking at it as a challenge. Ravi Bishnoi’s last year was extremely cold. That’s why he was released. A great addition, but recent form is not great,” he said. He further added that Jadeja, despite his pedigree, has not been at his best in terms of wicket-taking in the T20 format over the past couple of seasons. “Ravindra Jadeja, again a great addition, but his current form in T20 cricket, from a wicket-taking ability perspective, is not great if you look at his bowling for CSK for the last two years. So you have two good spinners for sure, but their current form is not their friend. You can see that as a challenge,” Chopra observed. Bishnoi managed nine wickets in 11 innings during IPL 2025, conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.83. Jadeja, meanwhile, picked up 10 wickets in 14 matches, with an economy rate of 8.56 last season.
I like to explain golf swing mechanics using a simple analogy inspired by one of my coaching influences, the legendary Craig Shankland. About 30 years ago, when I was a young instructor, I attended a teaching seminar taught by Craig, and he explained a concept that still sticks with me to this day.
Craig, who worked with the legendary Moe Norman, liked to explain the wrist and body conditions using the terms “nun” and “sum” as you would see on a Chinese food menu.
“Nun” is the basic motion of the swing, driven by your large muscles. This is the foundational movement of the golf swing, with minimal wrist involvement. It’s a simple body-driven action that gets the ball moving without unnecessary complexity. It’s the basic starting point that helps build clean contact and sets the stage for everything that follows.
“Sum” is the hinging of the wrists, which adds a bit of leverage to the swing. Think of this as your secret power source, which gives your swing a bit of “oomph.”
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Now that we have the two terms defined, we can mix and blend them together for a variety of shots.
For the simplest shots — like a bump-and-run — you should think “nun, nun, nun,” for the backswing, downswing and follow-through. From there, we move to “sum, nun, nun,” which I think of as the first course. This is where we begin to add something.
The “sum” introduces a subtle wrist set, adding a bit of leverage while maintaining structure in the arms. Then we return to the familiar “nun, nun” feel in the downswing and follow-through. This progression allows you to build power and consistency without overcomplicating the motion.
Finally, there’s “nun, sum, nun.” This variation flips the sequence: you start and finish with minimal wrist and arm action, but introduce the “sum” — aka the wrist hinge — in the downswing. In my experience, this is a bit of a hidden gem. It can help create effortless speed, improve compression and produce that “through impact” feel that so many players are searching for.
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What I’ve always appreciated about this way of thinking — with all credit to Craig — is how memorable it is. These simple phrases stick, and more importantly, they translate into feels that players can actually use on the course.
The bigger idea here is that a great golf swing isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about building things in the right sequence. Start simple, layer in complexity gradually and then learn to access that more advanced movement when you’re ready.
We’re all the sum of our experiences — and sometimes, a little “nun” is exactly what you need to play better golf.
Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked the Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) probable playing XI for IPL 2026. He included Ravindra Jadeja to bat at No. 8.
RR traded in Jadeja from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The spin-bowling all-rounder batted up the order quite often last season.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener reckoned that the Rajasthan Royals could have great batting depth in IPL 2026, with Jadeja potentially playing at No. 8.
“What could be the XI? Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, that makes it batting till No. 8,” he said.
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While picking Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande and Ravi Bishnoi as the three specialist bowlers in the XI, Chopra suggested a few impact player options.
“Jofra Archer at No. 9, again can bat, Tushar Deshpande can smash as well, and then Ravi Bishnoi. Then you can use Sandeep Sharma, Vignesh Puthur and Shubham Dubey as impact players. I feel that could be this team’s composition,” Chopra observed.
Aakash Chopra opined that the Rajasthan Royals could be one of the most exciting teams to watch in IPL 2026. He added that if their young players are successful with their aggressive approach, it could be a season to remember.
“They won’t take a backward step” – Aakash Chopra on Rajasthan Royals’ potential strategies in IPL 2026
In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that the Rajasthan Royals would bat aggressively throughout their innings in IPL 2026.
“What will be this team’s strategy? In batting, I feel they won’t take a backward step. Vaibhav Suryavanshi – smasher, Yashasvi Jaiswal – smasher, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel – smashers, Shimron Hetmyer and Donovan Ferreira – smashers. After that, Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja might have the lowest strike rate, but they will have to go and smash at the number given to them,” he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that RR would also look to score big in the middle overs, an area they faltered in the last season.
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“So the game plan will be to keep hitting in batting and not to get bogged down in the middle. They will try to make the middle overs also big, because it’s been a problem in the past. That’s why they didn’t win a few games they should have won last season. That is something they can address this time,” Chopra observed.
Aakash Chopra opined that the Rajasthan Royals’ new adopted strategy with the ball could be to look for wickets in the middle overs. He wondered whether Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja could pick up wickets in their combined eight overs, highlighting that it would be fantastic if that were to happen.
Chelsea will wait on tests to assess the extent of the damage to key defender Trevoh Chalobah, after he was carried off the field on a stretcher at the end of the Blues’ 3-0 Champions League defeat by PSG on Tuesday evening.
Chelsea lost 8-2 on aggregate, the heaviest-ever two-legged defeat for the club in Europe.
Mamadou Sarr, brought in for his debut in the competition with Reece James and Malo Gusto ruled out, made a horrible error to gift Khvicha Kvaratskhelia a goal after six minutes and things only got worse from there.
Bradley Barcola scored a magnificent second, only after Chalobah had failed to pick up the France international, before 19-year-old midfielder Senny Mayulu came off the bench to cap the home side’s humiliation.
And Chalobah’s evening got worse when he went down in clear discomfort in the final minutes of the match. The defender was carried off the pitch in apparent pain, and joins James and Gusto on the injury list, with what his manager Liam Rosenior suggested was sprained ankle ligaments.
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Rosenior told TNT Sports: “I just asked the medical team, he’s got a high ankle sprain, so I’m praying it’s nothing too serious because of the way Trevoh’s been performing and we can’t afford to lose another defender at this moment.”
And Rosenior later added in his press conference: “I think he was really worried. I’ve just checked with the medical team. We’ll obviously scan and assess him tomorrow. We are hoping and praying that it’s not as bad as we first feared.”
Chelsea, after an initial good run of form when Rosenior arrived, have picked up only five points from their last five Premier League games, including a limp 1–0 home defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday.
They sit sixth in the table and risk being overtaken by west London neighbours Brentford, who are just three points behind, if they cannot turn their form around — starting with a visit to Everton on Saturday.
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“When you go through a difficult run, you have to make sure your habits are right. We have a really difficult game at Everton and we have to be at our best to get a result there,” Rosenior said after the PSG defeat.
When golf-equipment manufacturers release drivers at the beginning of the year, most staff pros transition into their respective brand’s new clubs — but not without some work.
Much of the nitty-gritty fitting is done behind the scenes and, even after that process is complete, many pros will still hang on to their old gamers as infants do to their security blankets. That’s because while players might see performance gains in new offerings, they still have an emotional attachment to and deep trust in their old clubs gained from thousands of competitive reps.
The transition process can be even trickier for equipment “free agents,” i.e., those pros without gear deals who need to actively seek out testing opportunities. For this breed of pros, the testing process — often across several brands — requires more hustle and patience.
Seven of the top-25 players in the world are free to play whatever clubs they choose, and the drivers they play paint an interesting picture.
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Four of those players — Chris Gotterup (Ping G440 LST), Matt Fitzpatrick (Titleist GT3), Ben Griffin (Ping G440K) and Patrick Reed (GT3) — game drivers available at retail, but only Griffin’s is a 2026 model.
The other three players — Justin Rose (Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TD Max), Sepp Straka (Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TD Max) and Maverick McNealy (TaylorMade Qi10) — use drivers that were released in 2024 and are no longer available.
Does that mean newer drivers aren’t any better? Absolutely not.
As we noted above, if these seven players want to make a change, they need to seek it out, and for now, none of them have decided to test the market.
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Further down the world rankings, however, you’ll see far more movement. Wyndham Clark, in his first year of free agency, already has played at least four different drivers. Same goes for Lucas Glover, who despite being a Srixon staffer, has gamed drivers from different brands. Harry Hall also has been active on the gear-change wheel, switching among three different drivers.
Interestingly, all three of those players are currently using TaylorMade’s Qi4D driver, with Clark set to make his third start in a row with it this week after experimenting with four other drivers in four events earlier in the season.
The Qi4D isn’t the only 2026 driver seeing lots of free-agent usage. Callaway Quantum saw its first worldwide victory this year by way of Nacho Elvira in Dubai, and Anthony Kim also won with it at LIV Adelaide.
Dozens of pros have toyed with new drivers only to switch back and then switch again, a theme many Tour reps have noticed.
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“Heads are a close battle this year,” Fujikura Tour rep Marshall Thompson told GOLF. “It’s very competitive in terms of club speed, dispersion, center-face contact, start direction. There’s not one clear-cut winner from what I’ve seen.
“Even on the Tour side of it, these non-contract guys that I continue to work with on a weekly basis, they still have four or five headcovers in the bag and they’re still trying different options, and we’re already to the Florida Swing.”
In other words, don’t be surprised if the drivers in top players’ bags today might look different come Masters week.
3 Things I’m Thinking
Daydreaming of Titleist’s GT1 hybrid: I’ve been thinking about this club since Cameron Young added it to the bag at Torrey Pines, and now that he’s won the Players with it, I can’t wait for my next visit to TPI to try what is their largest hybrid with a fairway-wood shaft. This part of my bag is in flux with a lot of options from Fully Fit, but I did not try this combo specifically.
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Putters are rolling: There are many prototype putters on Tour, and I have a feeling many of them are going to end up at retail. Perhaps the most notable models are the L.A.B. Link 2.1 and Link 2.2 HS, which hit the consumer market this week. If you’re searching for a flatstick, now might be a good time to buy.
Spring (and golf) is in the air: My first winter in Boston has been a rough one, but golf season finally seems within reach. The snow is melting, driving ranges are opening and balls are in the air. Opening day is coming!
Manchester United will be looking on enviously this midweek as the Champions League knockout stages progress. United have been missing from Europe’s elite competition for two seasons – but that appears poised to change in the next campaign thanks to Michael Carrick.
That impressive run has propelled the 13-time Premier League winners into the top four, where they now hold a five-point advantage over Liverpool in fifth. Success against Bournemouth on Friday evening would strengthen that standing further before their closest challengers – Chelsea, Villa and Arne Slot’s side – play catch-up over the weekend.
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Ahead of all that, the MEN delivers the latest developments from Old Trafford, including reports surrounding summer transfer strategies and a pair of United players facing uncertain futures.
Summer plans
There’s seldom a quiet summer at Old Trafford. That pattern looks set to persist once the window opens with whomever United opt for in the dugout next season.
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According to The Sun, Manchester United have plans to overhaul their midfield once the current season concludes, with the addition of two new central midfielders. United already appear thin in the middle of the pitch, even without considering the impending departure of Casemiro, whose contract is due to expire.
His exit will leave Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte as the squad’s only dedicated central midfielders, which won’t suffice for a campaign that will involve European football in some capacity, barring a disastrous end to the season. Over the past year, United have been linked with numerous players, including Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba.
Only time will tell who the decision-makers at Old Trafford choose to focus on. However, it seems almost certain that United’s midfield will sport a fresh look by the start of the next season.
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Double plea
Football fans always have an opinion on who should stay or go, and it appears United’s players are no different. Two members of Carrick’s team have made appeals to the board in recent days, although at least one seems likely to be ignored.
Matheus Cunha, has confessed that he’s persistently urging Casemiro to reconsider his decision to leave the club. Speaking to TNT Sports Brazil, he said: “I’m always asking him, ‘Come on, stay at Manchester United! Just one year with me, let’s go for a second year.’”
Leny Yoro echoed this sentiment, stating: “I think everyone wanted him [Casemiro] to stay. He’s a really important player for us. He showed it again [vs Aston Villa at the weekend].”
Yoro also hopes that one other player, in particular, will remain at Old Trafford. He is particularly fond of Harry Maguire and has encouraged the England international to renew his contract.
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Maguire’s current deal expires in the summer, and whilst discussions about a new contract have taken place, it would likely necessitate a reduction in his salary.
Yoro added: “If he can stay next season, it’s really good for us. So I hope he’s going to extend his contract and he can stay with us. We’ll see. We’ll see anyway.”
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Nov 17, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) looks up at Tennessee Titans offensive tackle JC Latham (55) just before the ball is snapped during the second half during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Make it five. In addition to Daniel Jones, Camryn Bynum, Mekhi Blackmon, and Laquon Treadwell, the Indianapolis Colts have added another ex-Minnesota Vikings player, this time signing defensive tackle Jerry Tillery from free agency’s second wave.
Indianapolis keeps pulling familiar names from Minnesota’s orbit. From Jones to Tillery, it’s a thing.
Tiller will vie for playing time in 2026 and has forged quite the journeyman’s path as of late.
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Another Ex-Viking Joins a Colts Team Building Quiet Depth
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Las Vegas Raiders during fourth-quarter action at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. Tillery reacts to the turnover as teammates rally around him following the momentum-shifting defensive play late in the contest. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images.
Tillery to IND
It’s another stop — probably a one-year stay — for Tillery. Yahoo Sports‘ Paul Bretl wrote Tuesday, “The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly making another free agent addition at defensive tackle. According to the Indy Star’s Joel Erickson, the Colts are signing defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. A former first-round pick by the Chargers in 2019, Tillery has appeared in 113 NFL games and made 53 starts.”
“After three-plus seasons with the Chargers, Tillery spent time with the Raiders, one year with Minnesota, and this most recent season in Kansas City. The addition of Tillery provides added competition to the defensive tackle rotation behind DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart.”
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The stop will mark Tillery’s fifth team since the start of 2022.
Tillery’s Background
While Tillery is a better pass rusher than run stopper, he hasn’t become a quarterback-pressure specialist. His performance in the NFL has been average — to put it optimistically — and he hasn’t met expectations for a former first-round draft pick. Whether Tillery will see significant playing time with the Colts remains to be seen, but the upcoming draft should clarify his future role.
So, you know, mediocre-to-bad, especially for a former 1st-Rounder. And Tillery’s NFL destination resume:
Los Angeles Chargers (2019–2022)
Las Vegas Raiders (2022–2023)
Minnesota Vikings (2024)
Kansas City Chiefs (2025)
Indianapolis Colts (2026)
Bretl added on the Tillery addition, “What will Jerry Tillery’s role be with the Colts? The addition of Tillery provides added competition to the defensive tackle rotation behind DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. My guess is that Tillery will not be a lock to make the Colts final 53-man roster. Over the last three seasons, Tillery has appeared in all 51 regular-season games.”
“Throughout his career, which began in 2019, Tillery has never played in fewer than 15 games in a season. What will Jerry Tillery’s role be with the Colts? The addition of Tillery provides added competition to the defensive tackle rotation behind Buckner and Stewart.”
Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jerry Tillery (99) lines up during an NFC wild card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on Jan 13, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. Tillery prepares for the snap in postseason action as the Vikings defense sets up against the Rams offense in a playoff environment. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Bretl added, “My guess is that Tillery will not be a lock to make the Colts final 53-man roster. Perhaps the hope is that Tillery can provide an added pass rush presence, competing with Adetomiwa Adebawore and Colby Wooden, who won’t be playing nose tackle with the Colts, for playing time.”
“Tillery can add some more versatility to the tackle position as well, able to play up and down the defensive front.”
The New iDL Group for Colts
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How does Tillery project on the Colts’ depth chart? These are the current interior defensive linemen in the house for Indianapolis:
DeForest Buckner
Grover Stewart
Colby Wooden
Adetomiwa Adebawore
Derrick Nnadi
Jerry Tillery
Tim Smith
That situation should put Tillery firmly on the August roster bubble, especially if Colts general manager Chris Ballard drafts a rookie defensive tackle.
Indianapolis’s Free Agency Transactions
So far in free agency, the Colts have fired up these signings:
Alec Pierce (WR) IND — IND
Andrew Ogletree (TE) IND — IND
Arden Key (ED) TEN — IND
Derrick Nnadi (DT) KC — IND
Jonathan Owens (S) CHI — IND
Juanyeh Thomas (S) DAL — IND
Laquon Treadwell (WR) IND — IND
Mo Alie-Cox (TE) IND — IND
Michael Clemons (ED) NYJ — IND
Tennessee Titans linebacker Arden Key (49) is congratulated by teammates after recording a sack on New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during a game at Nissan Stadium on Nov 3, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. Key celebrates the defensive play as teammates gather following the impactful stop against New England. Mandatory Credit: Denny Simmons-The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK.
And they’ve lost these men to new teams:
Braden Smith (T/G) IND — HOU
Kwity Paye (EDGE) IND — LV
Neville Gallimore (DT) IND — CHI
Nick Cross (S) IND — WAS
Rodney Thomas (S) IND — SEA
Samson Ebukam (EDGE) IND — ATL
Tillery will turn 30 in October. The Colts don’t have a 1st-Round pick in 2026 or 2027 due to the Sauce Gardner trade, and in Round 2, the consensus suggests they’ll invest in a cornerback or off-ball linebacker. Frequent mock-draft selections include linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas), linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), and cornerback Chris Johnson (San Diego State).
In a historic development on Wednesday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 champions Senegal have been stripped of their title. The governing body awarded runners-up Morocco a 3-0 victory in the final, officially crowning them champions.
The decision followed an official complaint from the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), which accused Senegal of violating match regulations by walking off the pitch during stoppage time. After reviewing the case, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that the protest constituted a forfeiture.
What happened on the final night?
During the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a stoppage-time penalty after a VAR review determined that Malick Diouf had fouled Brahim Díaz inside the box. The decision sparked outrage from Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, especially after his team had a late goal disallowed.
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In protest, Senegal’s players briefly left the field, causing a 16-minute stoppage. Sadio Mané eventually convinced his teammates to return. However, Morocco failed to capitalise on the penalty, as Díaz’s Panenka was saved by Édouard Mendy.
The match went into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal, securing a 1-0 win for Senegal—an outcome that has now been overturned.
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What did CAF say in its latest ruling?
In its official statement, CAF confirmed that its Appeal Board had overturned the earlier disciplinary decision and ruled in favour of FRMF. It declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football had forfeited the final.
CAF stated that Senegal’s actions breached Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations, which govern team conduct and forfeiture. As a result, the match has been officially recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco, replacing the original result.
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The governing body also noted that Morocco’s appeal was admissible and upheld, while all other requests from both sides were dismissed.
Previously, CAF had imposed fines exceeding $1 million and issued bans to players and officials from both Senegal and FRMF, but had not altered the match result at that stage.
What is the forfeit rule in football?
A match is considered forfeited if a team refuses to play, abandons the field, fails to appear, fields an ineligible player, or is reduced to fewer than seven players. In such cases, the opposing team is typically awarded a 3-0 win, unless the scoreline was already higher.
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While referees may halt a match, the final decision rests with the competition’s governing authority.
Penalties for forfeiture can include fines, suspensions, points deductions, disqualification, and, in severe cases, additional disciplinary measures from bodies such as FIFA or CAF.
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How did Senegal players react?
Senegal defender Moussa Niakhaté reacted on his private Instagram account by posting a photo of himself holding the trophy, along with a caption in French that translated to: “Come and take it, they are crazy.”
Left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf also shared his thoughts on Instagram, saying the outcome was unexpected and suggesting that the trophy would remain with Senegal.
Morocco justifies its appeal
Following the ruling, FRMF clarified that its appeal was not intended to question the sporting merit of either team, but to ensure that tournament regulations were properly applied.
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The federation reiterated its commitment to upholding the rules, maintaining clarity in competition structures, and preserving stability in African football. It also praised all participating nations, describing the tournament as a significant moment for the sport on the continent.
Can Senegal appeal?
Senegal still has the option to challenge the decision. Under disciplinary procedures, the Senegalese Football Federation has 10 days from the verdict to file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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As the highest authority in international sports disputes, CAS delivers binding decisions that cannot be further contested. Until any appeal is lodged and resolved, CAF’s ruling stands, with Morocco officially recognised as AFCON 2025 champions.
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