Jerry Jones' $96 million investment at guard is already paying off according to executives around the league originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Tyler Smith just gave Jerry Jones all the validation he needs.ESPN's annual position rankings, compiled by polling league executives, coaches, and scouts, have the Cowboys guard as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in football heading into 2026. He moved up one spot from last year to take the crown.Dallas heavily backed the 25-year-old in September 2025 with a four-year, $96 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. The 2022 first-round pick out of Tulsa started his career at tackle before moving inside, and he has completely lived up to the price tag.With three straight Pro Bowls and a 2023 All-Pro nod, he has firmly established himself as the best in the game. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Smith gets paid like the best because he plays like it.His numbers, blocking successfully on 72.1% of run plays and 95.2% of passes, aren't the absolute highest in the league, but the game film shows his real dominance.As one AFC executive noted, Smith has a "rare combination of size, athleticism, strength and finish." The exec even compared him to a legendary offensive lineman, saying, "He's like prime Jason Peters playing guard." Another executive added, "He has more flash plays than anybody.That comparison carries some real history. Peters was a nine-time Pro Bowler who actually played his final NFL season with Dallas back in 2022, mentoring Smith during his rookie year.However, evaluators noted that Smith still needs to clean up his technique and play with more control, which makes sense since he is still perfecting the transition from tackle to guard.His undeniable talent allowed him to jump all the way to the top spot, passing Kansas City center Creed Humphrey, who fell to third, while Colts star Quenton Nelson took the No. 2 spot.Without any doubt, he gives Dallas a foundational piece to protect Dak Prescott and anchor the running game. The front office took a massive financial decision by making him the highest-paid guard in football. And the league's top talent evaluators agree the decision was worth every penny.More NFL news:Josh Allen earns honor Patrick Mahomes held for yearsJerry Jones could soon face an unexpected Christian Parker problemDak Prescott gets positive George Pickens update before Cowboys campNFL coaches admit they were wrong about one part of Lamar Jackson's gameCowboys lack a proven one-on-one winner off the edge and training camp may expose that fast

CITIZENS BANK BALLPARK (Philadelphia) Mike Trout circled this date months ago. Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game sits 45 minutes from Millville, New Jersey, where Trout grew up rooting for the Phillies and bleeding Eagles green. Getting back here was personal. Staying healthy was the hard part. Trout hadn't started an All-Star Game since 2019. He hadn't even been selected to one since 2023. "I'm never taking anything for granted in this game," Trout told me on Monday. This year, fans voted Trout in as a starting outfielder, a slash line of .237/.390/.473, 18 homers, 39 RBIs, and his most stolen bases (seven) since his 2019 MVP season carrying him there. Then a hamstring strain in mid-June threatened to keep him home again. But, just 17 missed games later, Trout was back in the Angels' lineup as a designated hitter just days before the All-Star break. He was healthy and headed to Philly. For the 12-time All-Star who has spent a career as the face of this game, it wasn't just a return. It was a relief. "You don't know when your last game is," Trout said. "When an injury can pop up. Especially the last few years, it's been a little bit tough for me. I'm just excited to start." Its easy to see that starting the All-Star Game means a lot to Trout. Trout found it tough to explain just how meaningful it is for him to be leading off for the American League on Tuesday. He slowed down when reflecting on how difficult the past few years have been for him as he dealt with a laundry list of injuries that limited him to playing just 396 games for five seasons from 2021-2025, or roughly 79 games per season. Plus, he didnt want to let down his family and friends with a big contingent scheduled to make the short trip to Philly this week. "Well, I only have 20 tickets," Trout said. "I mean, that's a lot. So I had to cut it down a little bit. I know a lot of people that are coming. It's been on the calendar for a while." Trouts celebrity status runs deep. Besides pitcher Justin Verlander, who announced hes retiring at the end of this season and is at the All-Star Game as the Commissioner's Legend Pick, Trout had the largest media scrum among all AL players on Monday. And Trout also has a huge fan in the ALs All-Star clubhouse, though hes completely unaware that this player grew up idolizing him years before he became, well, Mike Trout. "I learned a lot from him and he doesnt know it," fellow AL All-Star and Twins outfielder Byron Buxton told me on Monday. "But I learned a lot from him growing up. I even watched him in the minor leagues." Buxton and Trout share more similarities than their star power. Both players are homegrown, one-team-for-life talents. And both, oddly enough, once wore a Cedar Rapids Kernels uniform. The minor-league franchise spent 20 years as the Angels' Single-A affiliate before flipping to the Twins in 2013. Trout came first. He played 81 games there in 2010, an 18-year-old outfielder on his way up. Two years later, after a show-stopping big-league debut when Trout recorded the highest WAR (10.5) in MLB, he won the AL Rookie of the Year award, and Cedar Rapids hung his picture at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Buxton followed in 2013, a 19-year-old outfielder playing 68 games in a Cedar Rapids uniform in the same ballpark. "Every day I walked in, I got to see his picture," Buxton said. "Man, he was on the top of my list as someone I watched all the time." Even that small similarity with Trout playing for the same minor-league affiliate as him thanks to a team change used to remind Buxton that he was on the right path in his baseball journey. Buxton even tried to copy Trouts physical build. Even though the Twins outfielder debuted in the big leagues in 2015 as a skinny speedster, he added 21 pounds of muscle before the 2019 season to try and add more slug to his game. "Coming up, he played the game 110%," Buxton said of emulating Trouts game. "100% down the line. Putting his body on the line, and things like that. It was something that, when I came up, I was like, alright. That's how I wanna be. Obviously I wasn't his size, or like the body build that he has. You had to kind of find that the more you played throughout your career. And it's something that, over the years, I figured out my frame to where I look back and I'm like, alright, I'm like him now." This is the second time that Buxton has shared a clubhouse with Trout, both having been named All-Stars in 2022 despite Trout not appearing in the game. He wouldve shared a lineup with him if the Minnesota outfielder wasn't on the injured list with a hip strain. While theyre both in Philly, does Buxton plan on telling Trout how much he influenced his career? "Nah, I'll let him do his own thing," Buxton said. "Maybe after he retires. Which is a long time from now for him." In reality, Trout should be used to being a hero to his peers. Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, who was selected by NL manager Dave Roberts to be a part of his All-Star coaching staff, told me that Trout garners a ton of respect from players of all ages, all around the league, because they admire his tenacity. After dealing with numerous injuries, particularly later in his career, Trout is still playing at an MVP-caliber level when hes healthy enough to take the field. "Hes had his struggles, but hes come out on the other side of it," Marmol said. "He can speak to both sides of handling failure and success, and the longevity that he brings to the table speaks for itself." Like Buxton, so many of this years All-Stars grew up watching the three-time MVP become a staple at every All-Star Game. Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was asked multiple times in his media scrum on Monday who he most enjoyed watching growing up, and every time, his answer was Trout. From 2012-2019, Trout had an incredible run of being selected for eight consecutive All-Star Games. Not only was he statistically the best player in the major leagues for the majority of that run, but he also embodied what it meant to play the game the right way. "It's so cool to share a locker room with him," Tigers All-Star infielder Kevin McGonigle told me. "Lately, I've appreciated the way he plays the game and understanding what it takes to get his body ready to be on the field. It's a grind, and he's been doing this a long time." "He was always the guy I looked up to, just by how he plays the game," Orioles All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman told me. "His attitude and his ability. It seemed like he played the game right, and in a way that I really admired. Just seemed like he goes about stuff in the right way. And I love that. It's been awesome to get to know him a little better. Talk with him a little bit. He's just an awesome guy and a great player." Trout is too modest to spend any time thinking about how much of an impact hes made on his peers and baseball fans alike. Still, he understands that part of being a veteran is imparting some wisdom to the younger generation. So, on Monday, he shared some advice with All-Star first-timers. "Just enjoy it," Trout said. "It goes by quick. So slow everything down. It's pretty simple. These next two days go by quick, so enjoy every moment. Capture it. Take pictures. Enjoy it with your family. It's a special honor to be here."

SportsLine's Jon Eimer reveals his France vs. Spain best bets for their FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal match on Tuesday

Home Run Derby live updates, results, highlights from 2026 MLB HR contest on Netflix originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.JUMP TO:MLB Home Run Derby resultsMLB Home Run Derby updatesHow to watchMLB Home Run DerbyPHILADELPHIA, P.A. Prepare for blasts, bombs and big flies at the Bank.On Monday night, Citizens Bank Park will play host to the 2026 Home Run Derby, MLB's crown jewel event of All-Star weekend. This year's event, featuring eight top sluggers, stands out for multiple reasons including some changes.Not only will Netflix be the exclusive home of the Home Run Derby for the first time, but new rules are also being implemented. While a similar bracket style remains, instead of a running timer for each hitter, they'll have a finite number of swings available to maximize their homer total.This year's Derby field is also loaded with star power. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber will both be attempting to win the trophy in front of their home fans, while White Sox rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami, mighty Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and breakout Yankees slugger Ben Rice pose some of the top threats.Jordan Walker, Willson Contreras andJac Caglianone round out the field, which will aim to put some dents in Citizens Bank Park's bleachers.The Sporting News is tracking live updates, highlights and more from the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby. Follow along below for the latest from Philadelphia.Home Run Derby resultsTotal home runsPlayerHome RunsWillson Contreras, Red Sox13Jordan Walker, Cardinals13Junior Caminero, Rays12Munetaka Murakami, White Sox9Jac Caglianone, Royals8Ben Rice, Yankees7Kyle Schwarber, PhilliesBryce Harper, PhilliesRound 1 resultsPlayerHome RunsWillson Contreras, Red Sox13Jordan Walker, Cardinals13Jac Caglianone, Royals8Munetaka Murakami, White Sox9Ben Rice, Yankees7Junior Caminero, Rays12Kyle Schwarber, PhilliesBryce Harper, PhilliesRound 2 resultsTBD vs. TBDSeedPlayerHome RunsTBD vs. TBDSeedPlayerHome RunsFinal resultsTBD vs. TBDSeedPlayerHome RunsHome Run Derby live updates, results, highlightsfrom 2026 MLB HR contestAll times ET.9:18 p.m. Caminero finishes with 12 home runs in Round 1, which puts him at third on the leaderboard. The top-four will advance, but the two hometown Phillies are coming up.9:15 p.m. Junior Caminero, as anticipated, is making himself a clear contender to win it all. He's already at 10 home runs with a few swings remaining, the longest being 487 feet. The Rays have themselves a superstar slugger.9:08 p.m. Rice finishes with seven homers. He's at the bottom of the leaderboard, with Junior Caminero due up next.Ben Rices dad pitching to him at the Home Run Derby is what its all about The TMobile Home Run Derby is LIVE NOW on Netflix! #HRDerbypic.twitter.com/6xiMaRDQka Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) July 14, 20269:04 p.m. The Yankees' Ben Rice steps up next, taking in some boos from the Philly crowd.8:57 p.m. Murakami finishes with nine Round 1 homers. Halfway through the round, he could finish in the middle of the pack.8:54 p.m. Munetaka Murakami, fresh off the injured list and in his first MLB season, is having a similar round to Caglianone. Very long blasts when he's gotten ahold of them, but he doesn't look like he'll challenge for the new lead.Majestic swing from Mune pic.twitter.com/xOoWCTrcfI MLB (@MLB) July 14, 20268:48 p.m. Jac Caglianone showed off some ridiculous power, hitting the second and third deck in right field, but he was a bit inconsistent. He settled for eight home runs and will have to hope for lower totals from the remainder of the Round 1 batters.JAC CAGLIANONE TRIPLE DECKER The TMobile Home Run Derby is LIVE now on Netflix! #HRDerbypic.twitter.com/bKyoxqvOhM Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) July 14, 20268:41 p.m. The consequences of a Philadelphia Derby:Not Philly fans booing after this kid didnt make the catch The TMobile Home Run Derby is LIVE NOW on Netflix! #HRDerbypic.twitter.com/9wKJOdCGIe Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) July 14, 20268:38 p.m. Jordan Walker is second in Round 1. He starts out hot, but trails off with his final swings. Some of them were complete lasers into left field, though.Walker finishes with 13 homers to tie Contreras.8:29 p.m. Contreras totals 13, and almost all of them were into deep parts of left field. He opened with a show.490!!!! #HRDerbypic.twitter.com/1wMj2hnngZ MLB (@MLB) July 14, 20268:26 p.m. The Red Sox slugger is destroying baseballs, putting them in the left field seats. He's off to a great start in Round 1, reaching 490 feet.Willson Contreras on 3 consecutive swings:482 feet487 feet470 feet pic.twitter.com/NV6YvrMzgD MLB (@MLB) July 14, 20268:23 p.m. Willson Contreras is settling in. He will begin the derby with 20 swings available.8:10 p.m. Bryce Harper nearly broke the stage riling up the Philly crowd.THE SHOWMAN pic.twitter.com/FE4E7GC4XJ MLB (@MLB) July 14, 20267:59 p.m. The Derby participants are being introduced. It got very, very loud in CBP for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, while every non-Phillies player was booed just as loudly.Bryce Harper has arrived for tonight's Home Run Derby in Philly! pic.twitter.com/J2MlTIVAwy FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 14, 2026Bryce Harper wants you to know that the @TMobile#HRDerby is ABOUT TO START pic.twitter.com/x4K6W5Ezor MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2026Fans in Philly were booing all of the non-Phillies players pic.twitter.com/blH2IywcVs The Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 14, 20267:20 p.m. Jordan Walker has quite the bat for the derby tonight:Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker showing off his custom Iron Man bat ahead of Home Run Derby #HRDerbyThe TMobile Home Run Derby is LIVE on Netflix TONIGHT special coverage begins at 7 PM ET | 4 PM PT. pic.twitter.com/DWDYNBdaLV Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) July 13, 20267:16 p.m. Kyle Schwarber and Junior Caminero were popular picks among the All-Stars:We asked MLB All-Stars who will win the Home Run Derby tonight pic.twitter.com/kqxvXdv9TZ The Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 13, 20267:13 p.m. The White Sox rookie is on a big stage for the first time tonight.Munetaka Murakami takes BP during the @TMobile Home Run Derby Batting Practice Show pic.twitter.com/qOJdduOWL3 MLB (@MLB) July 13, 20267:12 p.m. Almost Derby time in Philly.Kevin McGonigle and Cody Bellinger taking in the CBP scene for the evening pic.twitter.com/fE0qOwygd7 Daniel Mader (@DanielMader_) July 13, 20265:52 p.m. A reminder: there are new Derby rules tonight. They will revert back to a swing-based format, rather than a timer.5:48 p.m. Kyle Schwarber also has a big opportunity tonight, looking to finally secure a Derby title after two unsuccessful tries.Kyle Schwarber will be the first player to participate in the MLB Home Run Derby in his home park while leading the league in home runs since Albert Pujols did so in St. Louis in 2009. pic.twitter.com/RMoPt0lAmK OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 13, 20265:46 p.m. Here is the official order for the first round of the Derby. Willson Contreras kicks things off on Netflix, while Bryce Harper will go last.Updated batting order for tonight's @TMobile Home Run Derby:1. Willson Contreras2. Jordan Walker3. Jac Caglianone4. Munetaka Murakami5. Ben Rice6. Junior Caminero7. Kyle Schwarber8. Bryce Harper https://t.co/gy5dh9aYnk MLB (@MLB) July 13, 20265:43 p.m. Plenty of star power on display in The City of Brotherly Love, including a reunion between Bryce Harper and Mike Trout, two long-affiliated former hyped prospects.Bryce Harper and Mike Trout link up at All-Star Game media day! pic.twitter.com/WIzjLKA1tO MLB (@MLB) July 13, 2026It would seem these guys are popular pic.twitter.com/Aosi6QXX3g Daniel Mader (@DanielMader_) July 13, 20265:42 p.m. Each manager unveiled his All-Star starting lineup this afternoon:NL starting lineup:P Cristopher Sanchez1. Schwarber, DH2. Soto, LF3. Freeman, 1B4. Abrams, SS5. Muncy, 3B6. Albies, 2B7. Marsh, RF8. Pages, CF9. Baldwin, C pic.twitter.com/8WnUBTpe2z Daniel Mader (@DanielMader_) July 13, 2026AL Starting Lineup:P Dylan Cease1. Trout, CF2. Alvarez, DH3. Langliers, C4. Caminero, 3B5. Witt, SS6. Bellinger, RF7. Rice, 1B8. Greene, LF9. Clement, 2B pic.twitter.com/0OrvEGrDDl Daniel Mader (@DanielMader_) July 13, 20265:41 p.m. Welcome to Derby day.Here are the scenes in Philadelphia, with eight contenders for tonight's trophy.Hello from PhillyWill have coverage of the Home Run Derby this evening for @sportingnews pic.twitter.com/xP53bpHqVw Daniel Mader (@DanielMader_) July 13, 2026If theres one perfect event for an outdoor press box area, its the Home Run Derby pic.twitter.com/O8bKN5APPR Daniel Mader (@DanielMader_) July 13, 2026MORE 2026 MLB HOME RUN DERBY:Full list of participants for 2026 Home Run DerbyMLB Home Run Derby odds, predictionsNew rule changes to 2026 Home Run DerbyPitcher pairings for everycompetitorHow much money will Home Run Derby winner make?Where to watch 2026 MLB Home Run DerbyHome Run Derby start timeDate:Monday, July 13Kickoff:8p.m. ETMLB's 2026 Home Run Derby will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Monday night.The event is being held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.What channel is the Home Run Derby on today?TV channel:N/ALive stream:NetflixFor the first time ever, the Home Run Derby will be available exclusively as a streaming event. Netflix will be streaming MLB's event on Monday night, with no TV broadcasts available.MattVasgersian,Barry Bonds, CC Sabathia, Anthony Rizzo, Hunter Pence,Elle Duncan andLauren Shehadi are among the names who will appear on Netflix's coverage.MLB All-Star scheduleMonday, July 13EventTime (ET)TV/StreamHome Run Derby8 p.m.NetflixTuesday,July 14EventTime (ET)TV/StreamAll-Star Red Carpet Show2 p.m.MLB Network2026 MLB All-Star Game8 p.m.Fox

"Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. We have four matches left in the 2026 World Cup, beginning with the first semifinal on Tuesday, featuring powerhouses Spain and France. Let's be sure to enjoy the final week of this outstanding tournament, and hopefully, make some money in the process. Here's how I'm wagering on Match Day 31, the first day of the semifinals. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. World Cup Best Bets Tuesday, July 14 Spain vs. France Those expecting a repeat of the 5-4 Nations League match last year are probably going to be disappointed. Id expect Spain to have much of the ball again, especially in the first half, as an early France goal would be the one thing that could open this game up. But with the stakes as high as they are, expect caution, at least early on. Then, when those rare opportunities present themselves, that's when a likely winner can be had. But this looks like a dead Under and likely first-half draw.

McGonigle, 21 and the AL Rookie of the Year favorite, was born and raised in the Philly area and has come home as an All-Star

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Kyle Schwarber kept his bid for a Home Run Derby title in his home park alive when the Phillies' slugger and major league home run leader hit 10 in the first round and advanced with Boston's Willson Contreras, St. Louis' Jordan Walker and Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero to the next round Monday night.Bryce Harper hit only eight home runs and was the final slugger of the round to try and advance. He provided a late jolt with Phillies fans at Citizens Bank Park going wild trying to will Harper into one more round.Harper won in 2018 in Washington when he played for the Nationals.Kansas City's Jac Caglianone and New York Yankees slugger Ben Rice also failed to advance. Contreras and Walker each hit 13, and Caminero had 12.Schwarber failed to launch one of his famed Schwarbombs until his sixth swing, then connected on his seventh, eighth and ninth in a four-homer stretch that harkened back to his four-homer game last season again Atlanta.He could only watch as Harper failed to join him. Schwarber, then with the Chicago Cubs, made the finals in 2018 at Nationals Park before losing to Harper.Bittersweet, Schwarber said after the first round Monday. I wanted both of us to move on.MLB ditched the timed clock this season and returned to a swing format, with each hitter continuing to swing if he went deep on his final one.Each player had 20 swings in the first round and the top four advanced. Hitters were seeded for the second round, where No. 1 faces 4 and 2 meets 3. Each player takes 15 swings in the second round, with batters homering on their final swings continuing until not homering.Schwarber and Harper the first pair of teammates to participate in the Derby since 2018 received roaring ovations when famed ring announcer Michael Buffer introduced them ahead of the competition.As for the other six sluggers in the field, all wearing their home jerseys with red, white and blue uniform numbers?Yeah, they were about booed out of the ballpark, with the loudest jeers saved for Rice. He gamely laughed as he walked out of his Liberty Bell entrance.Harper who said earlier Monday this would be his last Derby waved his arms and exhorted the crowd to get louder as he walked to the home plate platform placed at second base. Harper about broke the ring ropes as he shook them like a pro wrestler, and the Philly crowd went bonkers for the star known as The Showman.The ball-shagging kids in the outfield were even booed.The Derby's public address announcer implored the fans to cheer during some quiet stretches when homers non-Phillies edition were hit. The fans did get a rise when Caglianone smoked one into Ryan Howard territory into the third deck in right field. Contreras socked 'em into the rarified air of the left field upper deck. One homered cleared the last row of stands in that section and bounced off the concourse in front of a bar. His 490-footer was the longest of the first round.Caminero last year's runner-up to Seattle's Cal Raleigh watched stunned as his final swing just hooked foul in left field and stuck his homer total at 12.The longest Derby homer since Statcast started tracking in 2016 was 520 feet by Juan Soto in the mile-high air of Denvers Coors Field in 2021.This was the first Home Run Derby and All-Star Game held at Citizens Bank Park since it opened in 2004 and the first derby in Philadelphia since Barry Bonds outslugged Mark McGwire in 1996 to win an afternoon event in front of thousands of empty seats at Veterans Stadium.This derby was sold out and aired on Netflix for the first time, with the streamer getting into the game this season with a three-event package. Netflix already aired the opening night game, and the third attraction is the Field of Dreams game between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 13.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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