The Cleveland Guardians helped the Texas Rangers climb into first place in the AL West over the weekend. They now have an opportunity to knock them out of the top spot in the division.

Cleveland (44-40) looks to end Texas’ winning streak and extend its own when it hosts the Rangers (42-42) at 7 p.m. ET on Monday in the opener of their three-game series at Progressive Field. The Guardians won the final two contests of their three-game set against Seattle this past weekend while the Rangers swept their four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays to move a half game ahead of the Mariners in the AL West.

The Guardians, who are tied with the Chicago White Sox for first in the AL Central, staged a five-run rally in the eighth inning on Sunday and held on for a 6-5 victory over Seattle. Meanwhile, the Rangers scored a run on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth to snap a tie and get past the Blue Jays 3-2.

The Rangers and Guardians met in Texas earlier this month, with the home team winning two of their three contests. Texas enters this series having won six of its last eight games while Cleveland has won three of four.

There are 12 other games on Monday’s MLB schedule, including the opener of a three-game series between the Washington Nationals (43-42) and Boston Red Sox (36-46) at 7:10 p.m. ET at Fenway Park. The Red Sox began their seven-game homestand by sweeping a four-game set against the New York Yankees. The Nationals are coming off back-to-back triumphs over the Baltimore Orioles after having lost five of their previous six contests.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks (41-42) return home to face the San Francisco Giants (35-48) at 9:40 p.m. ET in the opener of their three-game series at Chase Field in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks, who are 6-0 against the Giants this season, were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in their three-game weekend set to finish 2-4 on their six-game road trip. San Francisco concluded a 4-2 homestand by winning the final two contests of its three-game series against the Atlanta Braves.

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One 2026 World Cup Round of 32 match is on the slate Monday evening as Morocco facing Netherlands at 9 p.m. ET at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico. Both sides went 2-1-0 during the group stage, with Netherlands taking first place in Group F and Morocco finishing second in Group C. The Moroccans had their best showing at the World Cup in 2022, when they finished in fourth place. The Dutch placed fifth that year but were runners-up three times while coming in third and fourth once each over their previous eight appearances in the tournament.

The Guardians are -149 favorites on the money line against the Rangers in the latest consensus MLB odds and the Red Sox are -175 favorites over the Nationals. The Diamondbacks are -137 favorites against the Giants and Netherlands are -156 favorites against Morocco.

Below is a snapshot of what to watch and bet for Monday, June 29. All times Eastern

MLB best bets, where to watch

Rangers at Guardians

Time: 7 p.m. | Location: Cleveland | TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

SportsLine pick —  Model: Rangers +1.5 (-173)

After losing the final two contests of their three-game series against the Miami Marlins, the Rangers continued their 10-game road trip by sweeping a four-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Guardians have gone 3-4 over their last seven games, with all three victories coming by just one run. The Rangers won two of three at home against Cleveland earlier this month, and the SportsLine Projection Model strongly believes they’ll at least keep the score close in the opener of this series as they cover the run line in 74% of its simulations.

Nationals at Red Sox

Time: 7:10 p.m. | Location: Boston | TV: MLB.TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

SportsLine pick — Model: Nationals +1.5 (-140)

Like Texas, the Red Sox are coming off a four-game sweep as they embarrassed their hated rivals, the New York Yankees, over the weekend. However, Boston won the series finale by a single run, and the Nationals won the final two contests of their three-game road set against the Baltimore Orioles. Washington is 3-2 in its last five away from home, but one of the defeats was by just one run. The SportsLine Projection Model believes the Nationals will put up a good fight against the Red Sox on Monday as its simulations have them covering the run line 68% of the time.

Giants at Diamondbacks

Time: 9:40 p.m. | Location: Phoenix | TV: MLB.TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

SportsLine picks — Model: Giants +1.5 (-182) | Expert: Diamondbacks ML (-134, Matt Severance)

The Diamondbacks are in a major funk, as they’ve lost six of their last eight games. One of their two victories in that span came by a single run. Meanwhile, San Francisco has won four of its last six overall contests, and three of its last four road losses were one-run decisions. The SportsLine Projection Model doesn’t see the Giants getting blown out in the series opener as they cover the run line in 67% of its simulations. Arizona was swept by the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend but is 6-0 against San Francisco this season. That, along with the fact that Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is 4-1 with a 1.84 ERA at home this year, has SportsLine expert Matt Severance (86-42, +1444.5 on his last 128 MLB money line picks) backing a victory by the home team.

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World Cup 2026 best bets, where to watch

Netherlands vs. Morocco

Time: 9 p.m. | Location: Guadalupe, Mexico | TV: Fox | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

SportsLine pick —  Expert: Over 2.5 (+120, Brandt Sutton)

Morocco began the 2026 World Cup with a pair of low-scoring matches before combining with Haiti for six goals last time out. The Netherlands’ three group-stage games featured plenty of offense, as four or more tallies were scored in each. The Moroccans enter the Round of 32 with six goals and the Dutch are tied with France and Germany for the tournament lead with 10 tallies. SportsLine soccer expert Brandt Sutton (5-1, +420 on his last six World Cup picks) thinks Morocco will have a difficult time slowing down the Netherlands’ attack and is backing the Over.

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Norrie had played just one match on grass before this year’s Wimbledon after retiring injured in the French Open first round with a rib injury.

And the former world number eight looked rusty as he broke Zheng, ranked 144th, just once in the entire match.

Zheng hit 21 aces to Norrie’s four, while the 22-year-old committed just four double faults to Norrie’s 10.

Harriet Dart came close to completing a gritty comeback win but ultimately fell 6-3 3-6 6-4 to former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

The pair were scheduled to play on Court 17 on Monday, but Raducanu’s withdrawal saw their match moved to Court One.

Wildcard Dart made sure that fans with tickets for the show court were not disappointed as she forced a deciding set against the world number 31 in an entertaining two-and-a-half hour display.

Ostapenko will face either Antonia Ruzic of Croatia or compatriot Darja Semenistaja – the lucky loser who replaced Raducanu in the draw.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old British wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic lost 6-2 6-1 to 2021 Olympic champion and 11th seed Belinda Bencic.

Felix Gill and Max Basing were beaten on their Grand Slam main-draw debuts, losing to 23rd seed Rafael Jodar and qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki respectively.

Alicia Dudeney, who was also making her main-draw major bow, lost 6-3 6-3 to American Alycia Parks.

It means home hopes on the opening day’s play rest on teenager Hannah Klugman, Mimi Xu, Francesca Jones, Oliver Tarvet and Jack Pinnington Jones.

There are 19 home players across the two singles draws – although 17 are playing opponents ranked inside the world’s top 55.

The appointment of Enzo Maresca as the new manager of Manchester City marks the beginning of a new era at the club. Following the departure of Pep Guardiola after a historic decade in charge, Maresca faces one of the biggest challenges in modern football.

After spending three years away from the Etihad Stadium, the Italian coach has returned on a three-year contract, tasked with maintaining the success and identity that Guardiola established during his remarkable reign.

Continuing the Guardiola Philosophy

One of the main reasons Manchester City selected Maresca is his deep understanding of Guardiola’s football philosophy. During City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 season, Maresca worked closely with Guardiola as his assistant and played an important role in tactical planning.

The 46-year-old has already made it clear that he does not intend to completely change the club’s identity.

“Probably the reason why I am here is because the club wants to maintain the same style of football and the same idea,” Maresca said after his appointment.

Fans can therefore expect City to continue playing possession-based football, dominating games through ball control, intelligent movement and tactical flexibility.

Tactical Innovation and Flexibility

Although Maresca has been heavily influenced by Guardiola, he is not simply a copy of his former mentor.

Those who worked with him during his previous spell at Manchester City describe him as a coach who is willing to experiment and develop new tactical ideas. During the Treble-winning campaign, Maresca was reportedly instrumental in the tactical adjustment that saw defender John Stones move into midfield, a strategy that proved crucial to City’s success.

His experiences under legendary managers such as Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi have also shaped his coaching philosophy, blending Italian tactical discipline with Spanish technical football.

Supporters should therefore expect a Manchester City side that remains familiar in style but with subtle tactical changes and innovations.

Strong Relationship with the Club’s Leadership

Maresca’s appointment was not a surprise within Manchester City’s hierarchy. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has publicly praised the Italian’s football philosophy and leadership qualities.

It is understood that outgoing sporting director Txiki Begiristain recommended Maresca as Guardiola’s long-term successor, while the former manager himself remained closely involved in discussions regarding the appointment.

This strong backing from the club’s leadership could prove vital as Maresca attempts to follow one of the greatest managers in football history.

Managing the Pressure of Following Guardiola

Perhaps Maresca’s biggest challenge will be managing expectations.

Guardiola won 20 major trophies during his decade at Manchester City, transforming the club into one of the most dominant teams in world football. Replacing such a successful manager inevitably brings enormous pressure.

However, Maresca appears to welcome that challenge.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes that while many coaches would have been intimidated by the opportunity, Maresca sees it differently.

“He wants that challenge, he loves that challenge,” Khaldoon said.

Developing Young Players

Maresca’s previous spell as head coach of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad demonstrated his ability to work with young players.

Former colleague Gareth Taylor praised Maresca’s willingness to think differently and evolve tactically, qualities that could benefit City’s next generation of academy graduates.

This could mean increased opportunities for talented young players to break into the first team while maintaining the club’s competitive standards.

A New Era Begins

While comparisons with Guardiola will be unavoidable, Manchester City’s decision-makers clearly believe that Maresca is the right person to lead the club into its next chapter.

His understanding of the club’s culture, his tactical knowledge, and his close relationship with Guardiola’s football philosophy make him a natural successor.

The challenge ahead is enormous, but if Maresca successfully combines continuity with innovation, Manchester City supporters could witness another successful era at the Etihad Stadium under their new Italian manager.

Les Mills, whose name became synonymous with one of the world’s leading fitness brands, has passed away peacefully at the age of 91.

A Kiwi icon, Mills created a fitness dynasty alongside his wife, Colleen. First through the Les Mills New Zealand chain of gyms and then through Les Mills International, the group training powerhouse started by their son Phillip and his partner Jackie, now supported by their children Diana Archer Mills and Les Mills Jnr.

Born in Auckland in 1934, Les lost his father aged 11, but found solace in fitness and physical culture. A talented athlete, he represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games, competing in the discus and shot put. 

He won Commonwealth Games gold, three silver medals and one bronze, later becoming an elite international coach and sports administrator.

In 1953, he married Colleen Maree – herself a world-class track and field athlete – and the pair embarked on several business ventures together before uniting their passion for sport and commerce to launch the Les Mills World of Fitness gym in Auckland in 1968.

This became a successful chain, built on the ethos that the purpose of a gym is to help people ‘fall in love with fitness’.

Later, he entered politics, serving three terms as Mayor of Auckland City in the 1990s, where he led reforms to strengthen communities and improve infrastructure, as well as regenerate the heart of the city and its waterfront with bold development projects. He also promoted and enhanced sporting opportunities in the city during what he called “eight fabulous years”.

After leaving politics, Les continued to coach athletes, help grow the family businesses and support charity initiatives. 

In 2002, he was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, being appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local government and sport. This followed an earlier 1973 Queen’s Birthday Honours appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sport.

In 2022, together with Phillip and Jackie Mills, he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

Phillip Mills, founder and managing director of Les Mills International, says of his father: “He achieved a huge amount in his life and the common thread throughout – whether in fitness, politics or family life – was that he always wanted to help others.

“Dad was immensely strong, driven and always cared deeply for the less advantaged. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met, and his spirit lives on in gym workouts around the world, continuing to help people fall in love with fitness.”

Having lost Colleen in 2005, Les is survived by his children Phillip Mills and Donna Mills McArtney, daughter-in-law Jackie Mills, grandchildren Diana Archer Mills, Les Mills Jnr, Gabriel and Moana Mills McArtney and many great-grandchildren.

Listen to Les Mills in his own words here.

Liz Terry, editor of HCM, says: “Les Mills was one of the most influential figures in the history of fitness.

“An Olympian, Commonwealth champion, entrepreneur and civic leader, he transformed a single gym in Auckland into the foundation of what became one of the world’s most successful fitness brands.

“Today, Les Mills International delivers group exercise programmes to more than 20,000 clubs in over 100 countries, reaching millions of participants every week.

“Although the company that bears his name was founded and built by his son, Phillip and daugher-in-law Jackie, Les contributed the vision, values and competitive spirit that made it possible.

“His life traced the evolution of fitness from a niche pursuit to a global movement.

“He was one of New Zealand’s greatest field athletes. Standing 1.88 metres tall and weighing more than 120kg while in competition, he combined immense power with exceptional athleticism. 

“Les represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games – Rome in 1960, Tokyo in 1964, Mexico City in 1968 and Munich in 1972 – competing in the shot put and discus. He served twice as New Zealand’s flagbearer and also won five Commonwealth Games medals, including gold in the discus in Kingston in 1966.

“His wife, Colleen Mills, and their children Phillip and Donna, were also accomplished international athletes, creating one of New Zealand’s most remarkable sporting families. 

“In 1968, while still competing internationally, he opened a gym in central Auckland. At the time, the idea of ordinary people training with weights was far from mainstream. Gyms were associated with elite athletes and bodybuilders, rather than with the general public, but Les believed resistance training and structured exercise could improve the health and confidence of anyone.

“That conviction proved transformative. The club became a hub for innovation and grew into a chain of gyms bringing world-class fitness opportunities to New Zealand. 

“His entrepreneurial instincts were matched by a belief that physical activity could be a force for social change, and from 1990 to 1998 he served as Mayor of Auckland, bringing huge energy to public life.

“He oversaw a period of development that included major civic and infrastructure projects and the development of sports facilities and programmes.

“He was a man of formidable presence, deep integrity, relentless drive and great kindness and curiosity, who never stopped working to improve the world. He demanded excellence but inspired loyalty and affection in equal measure. 

“The global success of the Les Mills brands, from Bodypump to Bodycombat and from Les Mills Yoga to Les Mills Ceremony, rests on the foundations he laid: athletic credibility, innovation and a commitment to helping people live healthier lives.

“Few individuals have shaped the modern fitness industry as profoundly as Les Mills, who turned sporting discipline into a business philosophy, inspiring the company that bears his name.

“He leaves behind a legacy measured not only in medals and achievements, but also in the millions of people whose lives have been changed through exercise.”

RIP Leslie Roy Mills CNZM MBE 1 November 1934 – 29 June 2026

HCM will add more tributes as they are made. To make a contribution, please email [email protected].

Read more about Les Mills International in HCM here.

Carl Froch has revealed who he believes would have come out on top in a fantasy match-up between super-middleweight rivals Joe Calzaghe and Andre Ward.

Froch has history with both men for different reasons, having had plenty of bad blood with Calzaghe over the years despite never sharing the ring with the Welshman.

He did happen to face Ward though, suffering a points defeat to the American when they met in the final of the Super Six World Boxing Classic back in 2011.

Calzaghe and Ward are regarded as two of the best ever operators at 168lbs, and both have the distinct honour of having ended their professional careers unbeaten.

With that in mind, Froch was asked on his YouTube channel to break down a potential match-up between the two legends, with ‘The Cobra’ first explaining what he would want to see happen.

“That would have been one hell of an interesting fight. I’d have liked to have seen Joe Calzaghe set about Andre Ward and beat him on points. Slap him up and get him out of there because Ward’s style is annoying but effective.

“He’s very good at what he does. He knows how to win but he’s not a fan favourite. It’s not a good style to watch, he knows what to do to win but he ducks low below the waist, he holds on and gets his head on your chest. He ties you up.”

Despite what he wanted to see, Froch conceded that he thinks Ward would have actually been victorious.

“It would have been a great fight but I’ve probably got to say that Andre Ward doesn’t know how to lose. I think he would have beat Joe Calzaghe. It would have been one hell of a fight, it would have been close, but I pick Andre Ward to win that one.”

Ward had 32 professional fights in total, and he once named which fighter hit him the hardest in his career.

India’s campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 ended with another group-stage exit, but Harmanpreet Kaur’s team still had something to take away from the tournament. Despite losing to Australia by six wickets in their final Group A match and missing out on the semifinals, India secured a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games through the ICC’s qualification system.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced the qualification pathway for cricket’s return to the Olympics after 128 years. The men’s and women’s T20 competitions at Los Angeles 2028 will each feature six teams.

India qualified as the highest-placed eligible team from Asia at the Women’s T20 World Cup. Although Harmanpreet Kaur’s side did not reach the knockout stage, they finished ahead of every other Asian team in the tournament, which earned them the continent’s only automatic Olympic spot.

Six teams will compete in each of the men’s and women’s events.

“The ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has confirmed the first participants for LA28, with Australia, Great Britain (via England), India and South Africa qualifying by virtue of being the highest-placed eligible finishers from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Those places were capped at one per continent,” ICC said in a release on Monday.

The fifth place in the competition, in both women and men category, could go to hosts USA, provided they move into the top 15 of the ICC T20I rankings at any point between June 30 and December 31, 2026. If the USA do not achieve that ranking, the place will go to the highest-ranked non-qualified team in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings as of March 1, 2027.

In the men’s competition, if the USA do not meet the required ranking criteria, the fifth automatic qualification place will be given to the next highest-ranked team from any continent that has not already qualified by December 31, 2026.

The sixth and final Olympic place in both the men’s and women’s events will be decided through the first ICC Olympics Qualifier, which will be held in 2027.

The ICC also explained how qualification will work for the West Indies. Since the West Indies represent multiple Caribbean nations as one ICC member and are not recognised as a single IOC National Olympic Committee (NOC), they cannot compete at the Olympic Games or earn a direct Olympic quota.

However, if the West Indies men’s or women’s team finish among the eight highest-ranked non-qualified teams by December 31, 2026, a separate Caribbean qualifying tournament will be held to decide which National Olympic Committee from the region will represent the Caribbean at the ICC Olympics Qualifier.

What’s the qualifying criteria for men’s category?

The USA are eligible for an automatic place as hosts, but only if they break into the top 15 of the ICC Men’s T20I rankings at any time between June 30 and December 31, 2026.

The remaining automatic places will go to the highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings on December 31, 2026, with only one team qualifying directly from each continent.

The sixth and final spot will be decided through the ICC Olympics Qualifier 2027, an eight-team tournament that will determine the last team to reach the Los Angeles Games.

Ryan Garcia has offered his prediction for a potential clash between Vergil Ortiz Jr and Jaron Ennis, following the latter’s seventh-round stoppage of Xander Zayas.

‘Boots’ became a two-weight unified champion on Saturday, dethroning Zayas with a star-making performance in New York.

Ennis was considered a clear pre-fight favourite but, even so, there was no shortage of world-class quality as he claimed the WBO and WBA titles at 154lbs.

Zayas, to his credit, enjoyed spells of success – particularly in round three – but was ultimately pulled out by his corner after suffering a third knockdown.

As a result, ‘Boots’ has now cemented himself as one of the leading operators at super-welterweight, along with fellow champions Sebastian Fundora and Josh Kelly.

Rather than collecting another world title, though, many are eager to see the 29-year-old face top contender Ortiz in an all-American showdown.

The pair have been on a collision course since their early professional days, leading them into deep negotiations for a clash this past April.

Talks collapsed, however, after Ortiz initiated legal proceedings against Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy, with the 28-year-old now finally looking set to return later this year.

Offering his thoughts on a possible Ennis fight, WBC champion Garcia wrote in a since-deleted social media post that Ortiz would win inside the distance.

“Vergil by stoppage. Book that fight.”

Given that Ortiz has not fought since his second-round finish over Erickson Lubin in November, the Texan is likely to afford himself a tune-up fight before challenging ‘Boots’.

Kirk Cousins experienced six productive seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, starting in 2018 with a free-agent contract and ending in 2023 with an Achilles tendon tear. The Las Vegas Raiders now employ him, and Cousins recently revealed that Las Vegas’s OTAs were the most productive he’s ever encountered.

While the comment wasn’t thoroughly insulting, it painted current Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell in a negative light.

Kubiak Connection Puts Cousins’ Vikings Years Back under the Microscope

Cousins on Raiders OTAs

Cousins chatted with Rich Eisen last week, commenting on OTAs: “I told him after OTAs, ‘Coach, this is probably the most urgent and most productive OTAs I’ve ever been a part of.’ That starts with him as a head coach.”

“He created a sense of urgency from Day One, all the way through the 10-week program, and I thought we got a lot of work done. We’ve got a long ways to go, but we laid a good foundation.”

By implication, the statements made Cousins’s OTAs in Washington, Minnesota, and Atlanta look bad.

Well, What Type of Operations Are the Vikings Running?

It certainly isn’t bad or wrong for Cousins to compliment Kubiak for finely-tuned OTAs. In fact, for Las Vegas’s sake, it’s great.

But one must wonder: what is Kubiak, a first-time head coach and former Vikings offensive coordinator, doing that O’Connell and other coaches from Cousins’ past are not? Is he conducting a more serious schedule? Is it more relaxed and hence more enjoyable?

If anything, Cousins should be confused by Kubiak’s OTAs — they should be inferior to O’Connell’s because it’s Kubiak’s first crack at them. Yet, that isn’t the case. Kubiak already has the special sauce.

Cousins’s Outlook in Las Vegas

The Raiders signed Cousins for one central reason: to patch over rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza when he’s ready. Las Vegas used the first overall pick in the draft on Mendoza from Indiana. No matter what, he’ll be under center before too long.

However, the Raiders want to take the transition slowly. They believe in the benefit of watching and learning, meaning Cousins will probably take the first snaps on offense for Kubiak in September. He could even be the starter for most of 2026. Since Cousins left Minnesota in 2024 free agency, he’s encountered ups and downs, added by the Atlanta Falcons to be their QB1 solution but cast aside six weeks later after the shocking draft selection of Michael Penix Jr.

In Las Vegas, Cousins hopes to keep Mendoza on the bench for one season and maybe even author a playoff trip that has eluded him since 2022.

He’ll attempt the feat with a suspect group of playmakers, which include Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers at tight end — and that’s about it. The Raiders have one of the NFL’s worst wide receiving corps, featuring Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, and Tre Tucker. Oofta.

Vikings OTAs Considered a Success in 2026

In Minnesota, OTAs are complete, and all attention has shifted to training camp in four weeks. The Vikings continue to promote and highlight their oft-advertised quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, while also providing encouraging injury updates on rookies Caleb Banks and Christian Darrisaw. Both men are trending to be ready for training camp.

New Vikings playmakers also moved the needle, including veteran wideout Jauan Jennings — who is apparently a “dirtbag,” but in a good way, according to Murray — rookie running back Demond Claiborne and wide receiver Dillon Bell.

Las Vegas is expected to win six or seven games this season. Blogging Dirty‘s Jason Kandel spoke lowly of Cousins last weekend, noting, “Don’t let his 5-3 record as a starter in 2025 fool you. The four-time Pro Bowler couldn’t do anything. He was a statue in the pocket, and if the bar was ‘be a better fit for Zac Robinson’s offense than Penix’, that’s not a tough bar to clear.”

“Falcons Cousins was nothing like the guy we saw in Minnesota. And Raiders are primed to learn the same lesson the Falcons did. As a short-term bridge starter he’s okay, but Kubiak has made it clear they wouldn’t mind starting him for most of 2026. He’s a good mentor for Mendoza, but he leaves a lot to be desired as a placeholder given his signs of age.”

Cousins has always been a divisive creature.

Kandel concluded, “While the Raiders have some pieces in place, the fact of the matter is that Kirk Cousins isn’t all that great anymore. He’s slow, turnover-prone, and playing behind a bad offensive line. If an elite Falcons offense couldn’t save him, nothing will. He should embrace being a backup and slowly phase out.”

Cousins will turn 38 in August.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker