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Slattery played 61 times for Ireland and captained the side

Former Ireland and British and Irish Lions back row Fergus Slattery has died at the age of 77, his club Blackrock College has announced.

Considered one of Ireland’s greatest players, Slattery won 61 caps between 1970 and 1984 and captained the side.

Slattery helped Ireland win the Triple Crown in 1982 and 1985 and represented the Lions in the 1971 and 1974 tours to New Zealand and South Africa.

“Blackrock College RFC bows its head in gratitude, pride and sorrow as we remember one of our greatest sons,” read Blackrock’s statement.

“There are players who wear a jersey and there are players who define it. Fergus defined ours.

“To those who watched him play, he represented rugby at its purest.

“An open-side flanker of extraordinary intelligence, courage and relentless competitiveness, he always seemed to arrive first where the contest was fiercest.”

Blackrock added that Slattery played “with ferocity and grace, but without ego or theatre”.

“Modest in demeanour, yet monumental in achievement, Fergus never sought admiration, but earned it universally from team-mates, opponents, supporters and generations of young rugby players, who dreamed of following in his footsteps.”

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) president John O’Driscoll described Slattery as a “giant of Irish rugby who defined excellence in his era”.

“His leadership, skill and unwavering commitment to the jersey set standards that continue to inspire generations of players,” added O’Driscoll.

“Off the field, he carried himself with humility and integrity, embodying the very best values of our game.”

Slattery was part of the Lions winning tours in 1971 and 1974

Slattery, who was born in Dun Laoghaire just south of Dublin city centre, made his Ireland debut against South Africa in 1970.

In an international career spanning 14 years, he captained Ireland 18 times and led them on the successful tour to Australia in 1979 when they won seven out of eight matches including both Tests against the Wallabies.

In the iconic red Lions jersey, he lost just one match in 25 appearances, and while injury denied him the chance to face the All Blacks in 1971, he was an integral member of the famous ‘Invincibles’ squad that went unbeaten in 22 games in South Africa three years later.

Slattery, who was inducted into the World Rugby hall of fame in 2007, also played 18 times for the Barbarians, including the iconic 1973 win over the All Blacks.

“A family man, a valued friend, and one of the 1974 Invincibles, Fergus was an inspiration both on and off the pitch,” said the Lions in a statement.

Slattery continued to represent Blackrock after his international career ended and also worked for BBC radio.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Glenn’s approach to his second offseason with the New York Jets has generated an unmistakable vibe among his players.

The long, hot days of training camp are still several weeks away. The regular season doesn’t kick off for another three months. But the Jets, coming off a 3-14 season, understand the magnitude of these moments.

“Yeah, man, there’s a real sense of urgency, I think, from everybody in here, just to be at our best every day,” center Josh Myers said Tuesday after practice during voluntary organized team activities. “I just feel like I can feel it, starting from the top down.”

That’s not surprising considering the Jets have the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 15 years and Glenn is coming off a rough first season as a head coach.

While general manager Darren Mougey, also in his second season with the team, was tasked with retooling the roster, Glenn has made it a priority to learn from his own mistakes and, in the process, remove any doubts that he’s the right person to turn around the franchise’s fortunes — this year and beyond.

“I would definitely attest to that sense of urgency,” said safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, one of the Jets’ several veteran newcomers. “I think AG learned a lot from his first year — good, bad and ugly. And I think he wants to not just show the world, but show us that he’s a guy that wants to win. He knows how to win.

“The first year is always tougher for any head coach. There’s a lot of adjustments. And I think he’s excited to apply what he’s learned to Year 2.”

After last season, Glenn acknowledged “there’s always a sense of urgency” to win — and that remains the mission. The coach replaced half of his assistants, hired Frank Reich to run the offense and is assuming the duties of overseeing the defense while also adding Brian Duker as his coordinator.

Meanwhile, the Jets added several veterans to their locker room, including Fitzpatrick, linebacker Demario Davis and quarterback Geno Smith — a clear push to improve the overall player leadership.

“That was really my plan from the very beginning, well going into this offseason, to make sure I surround some of these young guys with guys like that,” Glenn said. “I think it’s important when you’re trying to build a team that you have a good mix of that so the young guys can learn, and as they learn, they continue to pick those things up. And as they grow older, they’re able to pass those things down to other young guys.

“And to me, that’s exactly how you want your team to be built.”

Defensive lineman Harrison Phillips was acquired from Minnesota last year before the start of the regular season, so this is his first full offseason in New York.

“People approach the offseason differently, philosophically from different coaching trees and how you want to do it,” he said. “And this is a group that wants to work and wants to earn it.”

Phillips quickly assumed a leadership role among the players last season on a team that lacked them, especially after the likes of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were traded.

During a radio row appearance at the Super Bowl in February, Phillips said he thought Glenn “inherited a very cancerous, truculent group — whole, top to bottom.”

He can see a shift from that and appreciates that he can now also lean on Davis and Fitzpatrick as leaders on the defense.

“When you don’t have as many leaders, sometimes it can feel like a dictatorship because, hey, this is the loud voice in the room and we hear all the time, it’s not his team, it’s not his defense, it’s ours,” Phillips said. “And so when you have enough leaders, it is our team. And we have AG’s thumbprint on the whole thing, but it is a player-run team.

“And we have enough guys now from enough different opinions that we can really shape this thing to come together and hopefully that closeness parallels with wins.”

Fitzpatrick, a three-time All-Pro entering his ninth NFL season, echoed Phillips’ sentiments and agreed that the Jets are building a successful foundation.

“We have a lot of guys that came from across the league,” Fitzpatrick said. “Some guys have been on winning programs and some guys haven’t. And I think just with that blend, everybody’s bringing what they learned from those programs and ready to take the next step.”

It’s not uncommon for players to generate excitement about their potential during the NFL offseason — specifically in these warmer months, when teams get together for OTAs and mandatory minicamps. Think, for example, of the praise that Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson heaped on second-year receiver Luther Burden III for the work he’s put in this offseason:

“I’m buying Luther Burden stock right now, just how he’s approached his offseason,” Johnson said. “It’s been electric. He showed up yesterday, had numerous explosive plays. I loved how in Phase 2 he was finishing every single rep that he took, and that really translated over to yesterday as well. So, he’s in a really good spot. He’s still developing and growing his route tree. … He’s been extremely coachable, so I’m really happy with him.”

This won’t be the last time a player is lauded before NFL teams take the field in September. So, inspired by Johnson’s turn of phrase, we ask the question:

Which NFL player’s stock are you loading up on in 2026?

PICK: Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

Mike McDaniel is the perfect offensive coordinator to unlock Herbert’s full potential. The same way McDaniel helped Tua Tagovailoa overcome his early-career struggles to become a Pro Bowler in Miami, he could easily propel Herbert, already all-star caliber, into elite territory. It also doesn’t hurt that the Chargers signed a proven center (Tyler Biadasz), spent a second-round pick on offensive lineman (Jake Slaughter) and are getting bookends Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back from injury.

PICK: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With future Pro Football Hall of Famer wide receiver Mike Evans leaving Tampa Bay for San Francisco, the Buccaneers’ second-year wideout is in line for a much bigger role in 2026. In the early part of the 2025 season, while Evans and Chris Godwin were sidelined by injuries, Egbuka emerged as Baker Mayfield’s top target. Even though Egbuka dealt with multiple injuries of his own throughout his rookie season, he still managed to lead the Bucs in targets (127), receptions (63), receiving yards (938) and receiving touchdowns (six). Don’t be surprised if Egbuka surpasses those numbers in Year 2.

PICK: Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys

It’s been a long time since the Cowboys have had a truly impactful safety, and it appears they’ve finally landed one in Downs. It’s early, but the first-round pick is already drawing rave reviews from players and coaches alike, with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker lauding the rookie’s “premium instincts” last month. In this league, contenders and champions seem to always feature a play-making safety, and Dallas is long overdue for a player with Downs’ skill set; you’d have to go back to the early days of Roy Williams to find the last time a bona fide game-changer lurked in the back end there. Downs will have an opportunity to be that guy and, perhaps, become the missing X-factor for a club that hasn’t had a hard time scoring points on the other side of the ball.

PICK: DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

The trade of A.J. Brown alone clears a path for Smith to reach new heights in 2026. As perhaps the league’s best WR2, Smith has posted three 1,000-yard campaigns in his career. He now transitions into life as the team’s No. 1 receiver and Jalen Hurts’ top target, while the Eagles’ entire offense also shifts to a new scheme under first-year OC Sean Mannion, who is expected to rejuvenate Philly’s stale pass game of yesteryear. The stars are aligning for Smith to put up career numbers and earn his first Pro Bowl nod.

PICK: Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints

I admit to being a bit ambivalent about Shough’s potential coming out of college, but he showed me a lot last season. Shough took too many sacks and had some tough fourth-quarter picks, but more often than not, he got better as games wore on. The Saints made some interesting additions this offseason, including running back Travis Etienne, rookie WR Jordyn Tyson and help on the offensive line, and Shough should have more comfort in his second season in Kellen Moore’s system.

PICK: Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears

A diamond found in the rough of the 2025 NFL Draft’s seventh round, Monangai had a surprisingly stellar opening act, rushing for 783 yards (fifth among rookie RBs) and five touchdowns. Monangai and D’Andre Swift could well be one of the most underrated running back tandems in the league. Or, perhaps, the younger Monangai could take more of a leading role. Ben Johnson, as the Lions offensive coordinator, coached Swift for a season in Detroit before the back was traded to the Eagles. In Johnson’s second year as the Lions OC, rookie Jahmyr Gibbs (945 yards) and veteran David Montgomery (1,015) emerged as a dynamic duo. There’s a blueprint for running success in Chicago. Though Johnson is already on the record urging the purchase of stock in receiver Luther Burden III, another 2025 draft pick could be poised for a breakout.

Preseason football often offers fans a first look at the 2026 version of their team, including the rookies that joined during the draft in April. It is likely we could see NFL debuts from No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, Rams QB Ty Simpson, Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love and many others. Preseason performances can also serve as the deciding factor in positional battles, so there’s value in watching teams like the Vikings, as Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy duel it out for the QB1 spot.

Catch all this and more on NFL+. Blackout restrictions may apply.

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2026 NFL Preseason schedule:

Check out the full 2026 NFL Preseason schedule below, including every live game available on NFL+. Game Replays of all preseason games are also available on demand with NFL+ Premium (subscription required).

Pro Football Hall of Fame Game:

Thursday, Aug. 6:

• 8 p.m. ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals (NBC)

Preseason Week 1:

Thursday, Aug. 13:

• 7 p.m. ET – Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals
• 7 p.m. ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
• 7:30 p.m. ET – Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
• 8 p.m. ET – Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders
• 8 p.m. ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans

Friday, Aug. 14:

• 7 p.m. ET – Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons
• 7 p.m. ET – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Jets
• 7 p.m. ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Commanders

Saturday, Aug. 15:

• 1 p.m. ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills
• 1 p.m. ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
• 4 p.m. ET – Los Angeles Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs
• 4 p.m. ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints
• 7 p.m. ET – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens
• 8 p.m. ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks

Blackout restrictions may apply.

Preseason Week 2

Thursday, Aug. 20:

• 8 p.m. ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans (ESPN)
• 10 p.m. ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Friday, Aug. 21

• 7 p.m. ET – New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
• 7:30 p.m. ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
• 9 p.m. ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos

Saturday, Aug. 22

• 12 p.m. ET – Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions
• 1 p.m. ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns
• 1 p.m. ET – Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts
• 1 p.m. ET – Baltimore Ravens vs. Minnesota Vikings
• 4 p.m. ET – New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams
• 4 p.m. ET – New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins
• 7 p.m. ET – Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals
• 7 p.m. ET – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots
• 7:30 p.m. ET – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 10 p.m. ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals

Sunday, Aug. 23:

• 8 p.m. ET – Seattle Seahawks vs. Tennessee Titans (FOX)

Blackout restrictions may apply.

Preseason Week 3

Thursday, Aug. 27:

• 7 p.m. ET – Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills
• 8 p.m. ET – New England Patriots vs. Cleveland Browns (Prime Video)
• 8 p.m. ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
• 10 p.m. ET – Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Friday, Aug 28:

• 7 p.m. ET – Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins
• 7 p.m. ET – Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers
• 7 p.m. ET – Washington Commanders vs. Baltimore Ravens
• 7:30 p.m. ET – New York Giants vs. New York Jets
• 7:30 p.m. ET – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
• 8 p.m. ET – New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys
• 8 p.m. ET – Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers
• 8 p.m. ET – Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs
• 8 p.m. ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Philadelphia Eagles (CBS)
• 9 p.m. ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos

Saturday, Aug. 29

• 1 p.m. ET – Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts

Blackout restrictions may apply.

ATHENS, Ga. — Prosecutors in Georgia have dropped two misdemeanor charges against Atlanta Falcons third-round rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch.

The former Georgia player was arrested in Athens the weekend before the NFL draft and was charged with obstructing public sidewalks/streets and the obstruction of a law enforcement officer. He was released on a combined $39 bail.

At the time, the Athens-Clarke County Police said they were summoned to an early morning incident in which a large crowd had gathered outside a bar in Athens and was blocking the entrance to the building. Some people, a statement from the police said, were attempting to enter the bar that was closed.

Branch’s attorney, Kim Stephens, issued a statement confirming that the charges had been dropped.

“After reviewing all evidence, including videos, and discussing the case with us, the State agreed to dismiss all charges against Mr. Branch yesterday,” Stephens’ statement read. “Zachariah cooperated fully with law enforcement and did not commit a crime on the night of his arrest, and never should have been arrested. We are glad this matter is over and that Mr. Branch’s excellent reputation and good name have been restored.”

The Falcons took Branch with the No. 79 overall pick in April.

He led the playoff-bound Bulldogs with 81 catches, 811 yards and six touchdown receptions in 2025. Branch and his brother, Zion, both transferred to Georgia from Southern California last year. Zion Branch was a safety for the Bulldogs.

Micah Parsons confirmed on Wednesday he won’t be on the field to open the Green Bay Packers’ 2026 season.

The star pass rusher spoke to reporters at the team facility, revealing that, in addition to ACL surgery last year, he also underwent a meniscus procedure. Parsons made it clear that there is a strict nine-month rule, starting from the date of surgery, for his rehab, and he’s targeting a mid-October return.

“I think the goal has always just been not right now, but longevity with my career here,” he said. “I think they want that approach. We have a pretty strong nine-month rule. It’s just all about, just through the research and the data, there’s no good outcomes with players coming back early from [an] ACL. Especially if you had other things that had to get fixed up, so it’s just all about completing the rehab to the best of our ability and then seeing where we’re at from there.”

Parsons suffered the injuries in Week 15 on Dec. 14 in a game against the Denver Broncos, but surgery took place on Dec. 29. A nine-month recovery timeline means we should not expect to see him on the field before Sept. 29. The Chicago Bears game in Week 5 (Oct. 11) or the Dallas Cowboys affair in Week 6 (Oct. 18) could be in play, given Parsons’ mid-October comment.

“Not only is it hard to accept that I’ma miss more time than what I want, but obviously hard to accept the injury,” Parsons said. “It constantly replays in my brain. … I haven’t accepted it yet, but I work hard as hell every day trying to make sure that I will be better when I come out of this.”

Previously, Parsons had said he expected to miss the start of the season, Wednesday’s comments cement that stance, and he appears likely to start the season on the physically unable to perform list, keeping him out for the first four games of the regular season. Still, his timeline appears on track.

“Just passed my fifth month on May 29, so extremely happy where we’re at and the direction I’m going. Obviously, I’ve got four more months to go,” Parsons said. “Just started running on an AlterG [treadmill] the past two weeks, so gaining my progression there.”

While many players push to return from injuries early, Parsons is playing the long game, knowing that at 27, he still has a lengthy career ahead and doesn’t want anything that could cause his injury to linger further into the season.

“The goal for me is to complete the season — not no relapse — and playoffs and pushing towards a championship,” he said, underscoring that he’s not focused on how quickly he can return. “The goal isn’t for me to go out there and re-hurt myself trying to force myself to be back in the first few games. The goal has always been playoffs, and I think we’re all on the same page.”

The Packers open up the season against the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk has a warrant out for his arrest stemming from an alleged traffic violation last year, the Santa Clara County (Calif.) District Attorney’s Office confirmed to NFL.com.

County prosecutors allege Aiyuk committed misdemeanor exhibition of speed on or about Dec. 20, 2025. The complaint was executed on Feb. 11 and filed on Feb. 24, per court documents.

The arrest warrant stems from a video posted by Aiyuk to YouTube in December. In the clip, Aiyuk is seen reaching speeds of over 100 mph on Santa Clara roads, including near the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium.

Aiyuk soon after apologized for allegedly speeding and posting the video, writing, “My car content won’t come with speeding anymore!”

Santa Clara Police Department spokesperson Lt. Eric Lagergren told the California Post in March that police forwarded the case to the District Attorney’s office on Jan. 15. The D.A.’s office has since issued a warrant for Aiyuk’s arrest.

Aiyuk was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In 69 games played over his first five seasons, Aiyuk tallied 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns, proving to be Brock Purdy’s top target of the future. San Francisco inked the wideout to a four-year, $120 million extension in the summer of 2024 after a holdout and reported trade to Pittsburgh. He’s played in seven games since.

Aiyuk did not play for San Francisco in 2025 as he recovered from a torn ACL suffered in 2024 and had a falling out with the organization. San Francisco voided 2026 guaranteed money in the receiver’s contract during the 2025 season and later placed him on the reserve/left squad list on Dec. 13, officially ending his campaign. A week later, Aiyuk is alleged to have committed the speeding violation.

Niners brass has made it clear this offseason that Aiyuk will not return to the team. General manager John Lynch has attempted to trade the receiver throughout the spring. Aiyuk has been tied to the Washington Commanders in trade reports, as the WR is friendly with former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels and familiar with current general manager Adam Peters.

San Francisco continues its voluntary organized team activities Wednesday and will kick off its mandatory minicamp on June 9.

After a year and change away from football, wide receiver Odell Beckham now begins his NFL comeback by returning to the team he last played for seven seasons ago.

He puts the Giants jersey back on in a much different place than when he wore it in 2018 as a perennial Pro Bowler at the height of his powers, now a 33-year-old veteran who sat out the 2025 campaign. Beckham believes his time away from the game did him some good, even if he acknowledges making New York’s roster and contributing won’t be a given — a reality evident by the club signing wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios the same day it reunited with OBJ.

“It feels great,” Beckham told reporters Wednesday of his return to the Giants. “To have a lot of time off to take a step away from the game was best for me. At a time in my life when you love something so much that it kind of became detrimental. Became bad. To take that time off and be with my son and be with family and reprioritize what was important to me, and knowing that I still love this game so much.

“I felt great being back out there. Being back in the building, on this field. Looking at this stadium. It’s a pretty surreal feeling. I know I have a lot of work to do. [Head coach John Harbaugh] and I have already talked about it. I came here to earn anything. Everything in my life, nothing was given to me. I came here to earn it and work hard every day and do what’s best of the team.”

Beckham, originally the 12th-overall pick by the Giants in 2014, stormed onto the NFL stage by winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and making the first of three straight Pro Bowls to begin his career. He eclipsed 1,300 receiving yards in each of those seasons, but outside of a 2016 playoff run, team success didn’t follow.

New York endured losing seasons in four of the five years Beckham spent there, and the relationship soured by the time the Giants traded him to the Browns in 2019. From there, Beckham took a circuitous route back to New York. Cleveland waived him midway through their third season together. Beckham then caught on with the Rams — winning Super Bowl LVI with them but tearing his ACL in the game — sat out 2022, spent 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens and played nine games for the Dolphins in 2024 before he and Miami agreed to part ways that December.

Beckham suiting up was far from a certainty, especially after he received a six-game suspension in October 2025 for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. Nevertheless, Beckham persisted.

“I think for me, my whole life, for better or worse, is pushing it to the limit,” Beckham said. “Just the way that I had to walk away. Was just unsettling in my soul, in my spirit. It’s not who I am. I have never surrendered or quit or felt like I had given up on myself or anything. It just wasn’t sitting with me well. So, I have to do this. This is for myself. This is for my son. I want to lead by example. I want him to be able to see who I am. Not who I was, and just know that we never give up in our house. You go after what you believe in.”

If Beckham does capitalize on his comeback, carving out a spot in a WR room that includes Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin III, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt and Xavier Gipson — plus the aforementioned Smith-Schuster and Berrios — he has his sights set on helping the Giants in a way he couldn’t during his first stint.

“Play well, win a Super Bowl. That’s the best case,” Beckham said. “That’s what you want to do. I used to be in here looking at these banners, and all I ever wanted to do for this place was win. Everybody knows, you can write it up however you want, but I never wanted to leave here. … All I ever wanted to do was win, and that’s all I want to do now.”

His most important role in that endeavor could very well come as a mentor rather than a player. Nabers, a budding superstar for Big Blue as Beckham once was, had a stellar rookie season but is still working his way back from an ACL tear that cut his follow-up campaign short. Beckham went through a similar rehab, and having experienced the pitfalls of young stardom in New York can also provide plenty of off-the-field advice, which might be relevant after Nabers recently caused a stir with some public criticisms of his team’s draft.

“When you go through an injury like that, for a minute it hardens you, but then it also gives you a lot of experience,” Beckham said regarding Nabers. “It gives you a lot of knowledge and you get to learn a lot about yourself. Through this process, which has been a tough process, but I think he’s going to come out on the other end better and I can’t wait to see him back on the field. Obviously, we know what kind of player he is. However I can help him and anybody else, trust me, I know all the things to do and I know the things not to do.”

So, whether it’s in a mentorship role or through his contributions on the field, Beckham returns to New York with a mentality of Super Bowl or bust.

First, however, he knows he must make the squad.

Amid a whirlwind week that saw him traded from Los Angeles to Cleveland, Jared Verse was on the practice field Wednesday as a member of the Browns.

Speaking to the media for the first time since he was dealt in Monday’s blockbuster trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Rams, Verse admitted he was initially upset by the news but looks forward to being a part of a team “that believed in me.”

“It caught me by surprise,” Verse said Wednesday. “I loved L.A. I loved the coaches, the organization, my teammates, you know, everybody a part of it. The staff, the fans, you know, I loved the whole vibe of L.A., Los Angeles Rams, you know, and it was upsetting. I was upset for, you know, a good little bit of time.

“But when you’re an athlete, you understand the nature of the business. Everybody does what they think is best for their business and, you know, that’s the situation I’m in. I’m happy to be part of the Browns. You know, I’m happy that they believed in me and they were able to make that trade and bring me here. You know, be with my teammates, be with everybody here, and I truly do believe in everybody in the locker room. But I was upset in that place, but, you know, you got two choices that you can either work or you can give up, and I ain’t ever been a quitter.”

Verse burst onto the scene as a first-round pick of the Rams, notching 4.5 sacks, 76 QB pressures, 11 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles to earn the 2024 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Since joining the league, Verse’s 143 QB pressures are tied for fifth in the NFL (per Next Gen Stats), and he is one of five players with 40-plus QB hits and five-plus forced fumbles, joining Garrett, T.J. Watt, Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Burns.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Tuesday that Verse was “a huge part” of the return for Garrett and indicated the deal wouldn’t have taken place without him. Gaining a young pass rusher in the deal allows Cleveland to not just receive an ample replacement for Garrett in the immediate, but a younger one who is still playing on a team-friendly contract.

Following up Garrett is an unenviable position for Verse. However, the 25-year-old isn’t worried about the expectations that come with replacing the Browns’ all-time sack leader.

“I’m not here to fill his shoes,” Verse said. “I’m here to bring my own. I’m here to work and be the best version of me. The best version of me is going to be the best defensive player in the league. The best defensive player in the league is going to play for the best defense in the league. That’s what I make myself a testament to.”

Browns head coach Todd Monken expressed his excitement in acquiring Verse and the future Cleveland holds in the three draft picks (2027 first-rounder, 2028 second-rounder, 2029 third-rounder) it also acquired in the Garrett trade.

“He’s going to fit us like a glove,” Monken said. “You wish you had unlimited time to meet with him and try to catch him up to speed, but just his willingness to get here, be here this morning, to get into meetings and be on the practice field, says a lot about him.”

Verse joins a defense that’s finished top five in yards allowed per game in two of the last three seasons with Garrett as the table-setter. With Verse helping to fill that void, the Browns still boast a talented defense headlined by five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward and supported by a bevy of young talent, including defensive tackle Mason Graham and linebacker Carson Schwesinger — last season’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.

“We didn’t get no scrub back,” veteran Browns defensive end Alexander Wright said of Verse. “We got an absolute dog.”

Verse said he aims to bring his “violent” style of play to a Browns defense that has proven physical. Time will tell over the coming months and seasons how well he acclimates himself to a new team and city, but Verse is motivated to prove himself after being involved in one the NFL’s biggest blockbuster trades in recent time.

“It definitely puts a chip on my shoulder,” Verse said. “You know, when I was with the Rams, I still was learning how to play D-end. Still learning how to be a football player, NFL player, and how to play at this next level. And the Browns, you know, got me now. I feel like they’re going to get the best of me. They’re not going to get a half finished project or something got to work on. This is work here. This is going to be the best version of me. Everything I’ve done this offseason it’s going to be great.”

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — U.S. hockey Olympic gold medalist Hayley Scamurra grew up in Buffalo rooting for the Bills, never envisioning a time when anyone from the team — let alone Josh Allen — would one day seek out her attention.

And yet, there she was excitedly watching practice along the sideline on Tuesday, when Allen broke the final huddle and immediately headed toward Scamurra to say hello.

“It helps having this,” she said, pointing to the shiny gold medal draped around her neck.

“It helped ground me a little bit to be like, `OK, I have something to share with you,’” Scamurra added, in how she kept her nerves in check. “To be able to share that with him was just really surreal and super cool.”

The feeling was mutual for the quarterback in appreciating Scamurra’s achievement as a member of the U.S. women’s team that capped an undefeated run at the Milan Cortina Games with a championship-clinching 2-1 overtime win over Canada in February.

“Trying on a gold medal felt like stolen valor. But you can feel the weight of that, not just literally. There’s a figurative weight that goes long with that,” Allen said of the 5-pound (2.27 kilogram) medal. “I’ve got so much respect for her and what they did in representing our country.”

Scamurra gets star treatment

Gold has it’s privileges. The 31-year-old Scamurra became the center of attention among Bills players and staff during a visit that included an exclusive tour of the team’s new stadium set to open this summer, and an exchange of jerseys with Allen.

The origin of the meeting was prompted in Milan. After scoring two goals in an Olympic tournament-opening 5-1 win over Czechia, Scamurra shrieked in delight at the mere thought Allen might be watching.

Word got back to Allen and the Bills, who reached out with an invitation to attend one of their spring practices.

Coach Joe Brady leaped at the opportunity of meeting Scamurra by saying it’s not often he and his players get a chance to rub shoulders with a gold medalist.

“It was pretty bad-ass, I’m not going to lie,” said Brady, who spent a five-minute portion of practice meeting with Scamurra.

PWHL Walter Cup champion

The visit to the Bills continued what’s been a magnificent run for Scamurra, who grew up in Buffalo’s suburb of Getzville. Two weeks ago, she celebrated winning the PWHL Walter Cup championship following the Montreal Victoire’s Game 4-clinching win over Ottawa.

Having already won three world championships, the two-time Olympian is now a member of hockey’s exclusive Triple-Gold club.

“I feel like it sinks in at different moments,” said Scamurra, who also won silver at the 2022 Beijing Games.

“It’s like you almost forget about it a little bit. And then you come here and celebrate it again with everyone, and it kind of invigorates you,” she added. “You get to re-experience the Olympics again, and winning gold.”

Sharing the achievement with Allen and the Bills made it even more special.

“No, I never could have envisioned this,” Scamurra said, recalling how she braved the wintry elements attending Bills games with her father and three brothers. “And now, here we are on a warm sunny day in Buffalo, and I get to experience this firsthand.”