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  • Report: Chiefs trading OT Wanya Morris to Falcons in late-round pick swap

    The Atlanta Falcons have made a trade to bolster their offensive line.

    The Falcons are acquiring offensive tackle Wanya Morris from the Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Thursday. Kansas City is sending Atlanta a seventh-round pick along with Morris in exchange for a sixth-round selection, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport later added.

    A third-round pick in 2023, Morris started 16 games over three seasons in K.C., including 11 in the 2024 Super Bowl run.

    The Falcons sought tackle depth this offseason following the retirement of veteran Kaleb McGary. They had previously signed veteran Jawaan Taylor and now bring in his former teammate in K.C., Morris, to improve the unit.

    Atlanta’s trade for Morris comes as it placed tackle Storm Norton on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Thursday. Norton missed the 2025 season with an ankle injury.

    The 25-year-old Morris had a mostly disappointing three years with the Chiefs, particularly struggling in pass protection, but brings starting experience to Atlanta.

    The Chiefs were exploring trade options for Morris, who was buried on the depth chart. K.C. will plow forward with Jaylon Moore, second-year OT Esa Pole, who has generated some buzz this offseason, and rookie OT Kahlil Benson as options opposite starting left tackle Josh Simmons.

  • Broncos, head coach Sean Payton agree to new five-year contract

    The Broncos hope to keep their brain trust together for the rest of the decade.

    Denver and head coach Sean Payton have agreed to a new five-year contract that runs through the 2030 season, the team announced Thursday, matching the five-year deal general manager George Paton inked in May.

    ESPN first reported the news.

    “Sean Payton has led an impressive turnaround over the past three seasons, instilling a winning culture with high expectations,” team owner Greg Penner said in a statement. “I appreciate the close partnership he shares with George Paton along with the alignment and stability across our football operations.

    “We’re thrilled for Sean to continue leading our team as head coach, building on our progress during such an exciting time for the Broncos.”

    The Broncos have experienced a night-and-day turnaround since handing the head-coaching reins to Payton in 2023, trading a ’23 first-round pick and ’24 second-round selection to the Saints in order to hire the Super Bowl XLIV winner.

    At the time, Denver had not experienced the playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50 during the 2015 season, and was bogged down by whiffing on the decision to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson. Payton helmed the Broncos to an 8-9 record in his first year, their best win total since 2016. Denver subsequently took on a then-record $85 million in dead cap to move on from Wilson, months later pairing Payton, known as a QB whisperer, with Bo Nix in the first round of the 2024 draft.

    The Broncos went 10-7 in Nix’s rookie season with an appearance in the Wild Card Round. Then, in 2025, Payton and Co. arrived earlier than even the most optimistic projections, capturing the AFC’s No. 1 seed by going 14-3, the second-best regular-season finish in franchise history. Nix suffered a broken ankle in a climactic Divisional Round victory over the Bills, leaving Denver with feelings of what could’ve been after the team was unable to overcome the Patriots the following week, but there’s reason to believe brighter days are ahead to help ease that regret.

    Denver recognizes that and rewarded its head coach for the rapid rebuild, locking in the Payton-Paton duo for years to come.

    “I think it makes all the sense in the world,” Payton said Thursday regarding the team tying him together with Paton. “I’m super appreciative of that opportunity. I said this to you guys earlier, that triangle of ownership, the Walton-Penner group, Carrie and Greg, and then George, working with him, I’ve been spoiled. Because I had a real good experience in New Orleans with ownership and (Saints GM) Mickey (Loomis), and to go two for two with that is hard in our league. I’m thankful they want me back and we’ll do everything we can to continue to keep winning.”

    Though Paton’s time as GM predates Payton, back to 2021, the pair has gone 32-19 together over the past three seasons. They’ve jumped from eight wins to 10 to 14, also going from the outside looking in to a wild-card game to standing on the doorstep of a Super Bowl berth.

    The Broncos have now extended both with the belief they’ll soon knock down that door to earn another ring.

  • NFL Foundation awards grants to more than 350 NFL players, legends, coaches to host free youth football camps nationwide

    The NFL Foundation announced today it is awarding grants to more than 350 NFL players, legends and coaches to help them host free youth football camps in communities across the country this summer.

    For nearly three decades, the NFL Foundation — the league’s philanthropic arm — has provided funding through the Youth Football Camp Grant program to help members of the NFL family organize and run free, non-contact youth football summer camps.

    Through this longstanding program, the NFL Foundation is helping expand access to safe, engaging summer programming for thousands of young people in communities nationwide. Camps supported through this program are free for participants, removing barriers to access and ensuring equitable participation for all.

    “The Youth Football Camp Grant program empowers NFL players, legends and coaches to use their platforms to make a meaningful impact in the communities that helped shape their football and life journeys,” said NFL vice president of philanthropy and executive director of the NFL Foundation Alexia Gallagher. “Providing youth with safe spaces to stay active and healthy is core to the NFL Foundation’s mission, and we are excited to support those efforts through more than 350 free youth football camps hosted by the NFL family this summer.”

    NFL players, legends and coaches play a central role in shaping their camps, often hosting them in their hometowns or in other communities where they have a personal connection. NFL players and legends hosting free youth football camps this summer include: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, Detroit Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell, Houston Texans defensive lineman Will Anderson Jr., Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, and NFL legends and Pro Football Hall of Famers Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and Ed Reed.

    “Hosting football camps in a small town in Mississippi means a lot to me. It’s more than just teaching football, it’s about giving back to the communities that helped shape me,” said Simmons, Titans three-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Club Winner. “It’s about showing young athletes that their dreams are bigger than their circumstances and that hard work, faith, and dedication can take them anywhere. If I can inspire just one kid to believe in themselves a little more and know that they learned at least one thing while being at a Jeffery Simmons camp, then the camp has done its job.”

    Grant recipients also have the opportunity to work directly with USA Football, the National Governing Body for American Football in the U.S., to establish USA Football’s First Down Clinic program — a fun, free introduction to football focused on age-appropriate instruction in basic skills such as running, jumping, passing and catching. In 2025, NFL players hosted over 300 First Down Clinics, and USA Football held these camps at more than 10 major NFL events serving over 60,000 participants.

    The NFL Foundation is dedicated to providing youth with the resources and tools needed to become the next generation of leaders. Throughout the year, NFL Foundation grants play a crucial role in funding the league’s PLAY 60 initiative, which encourages youth to engage in physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day, as well as Character Playbook, the league’s program designed to help kids foster healthier relationships and protect their mental health.

    Through these efforts and other initiatives supporting communities across the country, the NFL Foundation has provided more than $1 billion in total philanthropic donations over its more than 50-year history.

  • Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald hints Zach Charbonnet could play Week 1: ‘Everything’s possible’

    Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet suffered a January ACL tear and underwent surgery on Feb. 20, which would presumably knock him out into the 2026 NFL season.

    However, in giving an update on the RB on Wednesday, coach Mike Macdonald wouldn’t rule out Charbonnet being ready for the start of the campaign.

    “Everything’s possible,” Macdonald said Wednesday, via Seattle Sports.

    Charbonnet generated 730 yards and 12 touchdowns on 148 carries in 16 games in 2025, pairing nicely with former starter Kenneth Walker III. Charbonnet’s playoff injury, coupled with Walker leaving for Kansas City in free agency, left the Seahawks with significant backfield questions entering the offseason. Seattle drafted Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price in the first round and added ex-Packers RB Emanuel Wilson to go along with George Holani.

    Macdonald was asked whether Charbonnet was ahead of schedule or simply on a standard pace.

    “If you’re going to guess what type of schedule Zach Charbonnet would be on, that’s the type of schedule he’s on,” Macdonald said. “Doing a great job. I know he has high expectations for himself. Look forward to see where it ends up.”

    Even with Macdonald’s cautious optimism, given the timing of the injury, it would be a surprise if the running back was ready for the start of the regular season.

  • Saints WR Chris Olave still not fully cleared following blood clot issue

    The New Orleans Saints continue to play it safe with wide receiver Chris Olave, who missed the 2025 season finale against the rival Atlanta Falcons due to a blood clot in his lungs.

    Five months after the discovery, the Saints continue to hold him out of team drills, and he did not participate in organized team activities for the second straight week.

    “He hasn’t been able to do the team activities obviously throughout OTAs,” coach Kellen Moore said Wednesday, via Nola.com. “The blood clot was related to not participating in team and some of those things.”

    Late last month, Olave described the incident after participating in some individual drills.

    “It was crazy,” Olave said. “I didn’t really know before when they told me, I ain’t really know what a blood clot was, but once they told me, they explained the whole situation that was going on, I feel like it was tough at first.

    “But I just put my best foot forward, (and am) just trying to do everything right so I can be healthy at the beginning of the year.”

    Playing it safe with the star receiver, who caught a career-high 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games last season, makes sense. His status is particularly notable as the Saints and Olave’s camp continue to work on a big-money contract extension ahead of the final year of his rookie deal.

    The Saints will hold mandatory minicamp June 16-17.

  • Browns RB Quinshon Judkins has his ‘confidence’ and ‘explosion’ back after season-ending injury

    Most of the focus in Cleveland this offseason has been on the quarterbacks, offensive line changes, and, most recently, the trade of its superstar edge rusher for a promising youngster. In the middle of all that, running back Quinshon Judkins has plugged along in his rehab, a secondary storyline.

    “Just taking it day by day, man, and just really knowing the goal and where I want to be and getting back to making plays on the field and just feeling like myself,” Judkins said Tuesday, via the Akron Beacon Journal. “So that’s what my main goal was.”

    Judkins should play a massive role in any step forward the AFC North cellar dwellers might take in 2026. Last season, Judkins got off to a slow start after missing training camp because he hadn’t signed his contract — a deal that was complicated by an arrest in Florida for a domestic violence charge, which was ultimately dropped by the state attorney’s office. Judkins missed Week 1, but became a force when he entered the lineup.

    In 14 games, the RB dashed for 827 yards and seven touchdowns on 230 totes. He generated five games of 80-plus yards, including a season-high 110-yarder in Week 5. Given the rest of the Browns’ offensive struggles, Judkins’ play stood out as a shining, bright light. Then his season ended abruptly in Week 16, when he suffered an ankle injury and a fractured fibula that required surgery.

    By all accounts, his rehab has gone well. He’s participated in organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. According to reporters, he appears to be the same physical, explosive runner who flashed last season.

    “(He’s) got his confidence back, his explosion. We’ll just see when he gets the pads on, but looks good,” Browns coach Todd Monken said of Judkins.

    The RB agreed with his coach.

    “Yeah, I would say, like you said, confident,” Judkins said. “I know the work that I put in. So I’m prepared to just go out there and just put it on the field.”

    We won’t be able to fully assess Judkins’ recovery until the pads come on in training camp and the physicality starts. When he’s able to be fully hit in that leg repeatedly, we’ll see if that confidence stands.

    If Judkins is indeed 100 percent heading into the season — and can stay that way — he profiles as a clear lead back who should get the bulk of the early-down carries with Dylan Sampson playing a third-down role. After losing Jerome Ford in free agency, the Browns didn’t add to the group this offseason, outside of a couple of undrafted free agents, indicating that they’re confident in Judkins’ recovery and ability to carry the load.

  • Lamar Jackson on Ravens’ center battle: ‘I’m liking our choices, for sure’

    The Baltimore Ravens lost Tyler Linderbaum to the largest center contract in NFL history. The club was never able to replace the Pro Bowler with a clear starter in free agency and didn’t draft a pivot.

    Entering offseason workouts, who would hike Lamar Jackson the ball was one of the most intriguing plotlines. It remains a mystery as Baltimore concluded its pre-training camp work with a two-day mandatory minicamp.

    Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn split the first-team reps over the two days, with Pinter going first on Tuesday and Gwyn the Wednesday reps. Corey Bullock, who backed up Linderbaum last year, has been dealing with an injury but will be part of the competition in July’s training camp.

    What’s that old John Madden saying? When you have three centers, you have none?

    “Those guys are competing well. They’re doing a pretty good job to me,” Jackson said Wednesday, via the team’s official website. “I’m liking our choices, for sure.”

    On the one hand, what is Jackson supposed to say? Trash his teammates or complain about how his bosses failed? On the other, perhaps at this stage of the offseason, when there isn’t full-contact hitting as there will be in training camp, they do look good. Frankly, we won’t know until the real action heats up.

    The center battle will be a main focus as we head to Ravens training camp and the preseason.

    “I would say it’s a pretty balanced competition right now,” Minter said. “I think Danny and Jovaughn both have done a great job. … With that position especially — because we haven’t had pads on yet, and they’re new — that will definitely sort itself out a little more as we get pads on.”

    It will be imperative that Minter and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle sort out the pivot spot as quickly as possible so whoever wins the starting gig can mesh with the rest of the unit and get comfortable with Jackson. If the middle of the line fails, it could crumble the entire operation Doyle is trying to install — one that Jackson is excited to unveil this season.

    “I feel like there’s going to be a lot of explosiveness this year,” Jackson said. “The way Declan calls plays and his creativity with his mind — how detailed he is — it’s mind-blowing.”

    It won’t be mind-blowing if the center spot repeatedly whiffs and a defender is in Jackson’s face off the snap.

  • Jose Mourinho turns Bernardo Silva’s head! Ex-Man City hero leaves Barcelona in limbo as Real Madrid make him top transfer target

    Incoming Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has dramatically altered the race for Bernardo Silva, making the high-profile free agent his primary summer target. The Portuguese midfielder has reportedly halted advanced talks with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid following direct assurances from his compatriot, completely shifting the landscape of La Liga’s transfer window.

    Mourinho hijacks midfielder’s Spain move

    According to AS, the former Manchester United and Chelsea manager has firmly placed Silva at the top of his Bernabeu wishlist. The 31-year-old playmaker, available on a free transfer after ending a trophy-laden nine-year tenure at Manchester City, had been heavily negotiating a move to Barcelona. Silva has long been associated with a move to Barcelona, with reports of a possible transfer surfacing several times over the years.

    However, Florentino Perez and the Madrid hierarchy have aggressively sanctioned a financial push for the veteran midfielder following the presidential election and the arrival of Mourinho in the Spanish capital.

    Silva demands pivotal squad role

    Silva’s commitment to his team and his individual quality make him the type of player Mourinho is desperate to add to his squad. Meanwhile, the versatile midfielder is determined to join an ambitious project where his experience is fully utilised on and off the pitch. Speaking in the mixed zone following Portugal’s international clash with Chile, Silva dismissed reports that an agreement with Barcelona had been made.

    “I haven’t made a decision yet. I want to be at a club that wants me, that’s for sure,” he said. “A club where I feel I will be useful. Is it a dream? I’m not going to answer that because I don’t know where I’ll end up. [Barcelona] is an option I have, but I haven’t made that decision yet. We don’t know what will happen.”

    Mendes dictates multi-million waiting game

    The report adds that agent Jorge Mendes originally offered both Mourinho and Silva to Madrid as a package deal two months ago, a proposal that was initially shelved before the club’s board decisively committed to the manager in May.

    While Madrid view Silva’s legendary team-first mentality as the perfect anchor for their dressing room, a final resolution remains distant. Confirming that negotiations will stretch across the summer, Mendes told transfer expert Fabrizio Romano: “Bernardo will decide after the World Cup.”

  • O’Neill confirmed as Celtic’s permanent manager

    Martin O’Neill has been confirmed as Celtic’s permanent manager following two interim spells in charge last season that resulted in a Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

    The 74-year-old has agreed to stay at Parkhead on a one-year contract with the option for a further year after talks with Celtic’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond.

    O’Neill returned to Celtic – 20 years after a successful five-year stint as manager – in late October on a temporary basis following Brendan Rodgers’ departure.

    He won all of the domestic games during eight matches in charge, with the only defeat to Midtjylland in the Europa League, but made way for Wilfried Nancy.

    However the Frenchman left after six defeats in eight matches, leading to O’Neill’s return in early January until the end of the season.

    Celtic beat long-time leaders Hearts 3-1 on the final day of the season to retain the Premiership title and at Hampden Park seven days later O’Neill claimed his ninth trophy as Celtic manager by beating Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 in the Scottish Cup final.

    Across his two spells last season, O’Neill guided the side to 27 wins and four draws from 35 games in all competitions.

    His average of 2.56 points per game in the league matched his corresponding figure from 2000-05.

    Former Celtic player Robbie Keane had been linked with the job before and after his exit from Ferencvaros but several Celtic supporters’ clubs stated their opposition to his appointment as a result of his time as Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach.

    Jens Berthel Askou had also been linked with Celtic before leaving Motherwell for Toulouse but it is O’Neill who will lead Celtic into the 2026-27 season.

  • Williams’ Queen’s run over as injured Mboko withdraws

    Serena Williams’ doubles campaign at Queen’s has been curtailed as her playing partner Victoria Mboko has withdrawn with a left knee injury.

    The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, 44, made her return to tennis on Tuesday after almost four years away from the sport.

    The pair had been scheduled to play their quarter-final on Thursday but Mboko, 19, suffered a nasty fall in her singles match on Wednesday, which forced her to retire from the match.

    Trailing 6-2 3-4 against Karolina Pliskova, the Canadian teenager cried out in pain as she went down clutching her knee and she limped off the court in tears.

    It means her compatriot Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund, who they were scheduled to face in the doubles on Thursday evening, advance to the semi-finals.

    Williams returned with a winning performance on Tuesday as she and Mboko won 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 to upset third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.

    Playing 1,375 days after her last competitive match, Williams – one of the greatest players of all time – didn’t look a touch out of place as she rediscovered her powerful serve and groundstrokes.

    Despite her Queen’s campaign coming to an end, Williams’ comeback is set to continue as she has signed up to play doubles in Berlin next week.

    The Times has reported, external that she will team up with Czech Karolina Muchova, the world number 10, in the German capital.

    Williams has also said she is considering playing doubles at Wimbledon this summer, and she has yet to rule out a return to singles in the future.

    The extent of Mboko’s injury has not yet been confirmed but there are concerns that the world number nine could miss Wimbledon, which starts on 29 June.