Southamptons Ben Garner On Jurgen Klopp, Signing Bundesliga Players And Tonda Eckerts QualitiesAn interview with Southampton assistant coach Ben Garner, by Ben McFadyean for WFi.Let me start by asking you about the former Bundesliga players at the club, Damion Downes, Leo Scienza, Daniel Peretz, Joshua Quarshie and Casper Jander. You have been working with a number of them for some time now; is there a specific ethic or character that they bring to the club that makes them stand out?From what I see the German players and those who have played there bring a really professional mentality, they come in every day ready to put maximum effort in, they are looking to improve their skills, they want to get better and want to have as much information as possible, they want the details around the game, they are tactically intelligent and they bring an outstanding level of physical preparation so it creates a great package to work with. Im impressed from what I can see; their main thing is they want to develop and improve at all times.Whilst Damion Downes missed out in the US national team for the World Cup, Cyle Larin represented co-hosts Canada and Ross Stewart was in the Scotland team; both have recently returned to the club. I know you have followed the tournament closely, in particular the performances of those players. Has taking part improved the players?It is too early to assess that, but it has been a longer-than-usual tournament, and for now the players have to be given time to recover; hence they are not in the squad today.You have spoken highly in the media of your Germany U21 internationals Casper Jander and Joshua Quarshie and have said that you admire their work ethic and dedication. What do you see as the main reasons for the shortcomings of the Germany team?Yes, I do see that in Casper and Josh. Naturally that is for the Germany coaches to look at but I have seen the Germany games and in my view, there are simply a lot stronger squads in the tournament overall, in particular the depth of squad right now seems more limited in the case of the Germany right now, I think they have limited options right now, and that is why they have only reached a certain point.You have mentioned the limited player options for Germany. You have held managerial positions at clubs including Charlton Athletic, QPR and Swindon Town and have faced Liverpool and Jrgen Klopp and seen his contribution over the years at Anfield. What difference do you think he can make for Germany?Jrgen is first and foremost a world-class coach. He has shown that at whatever club he is working with, every side he has been with, he improves greatly; he infuses them with his personality and lifts the club. I am sure that he can develop many players further; he can achieve a lot with Germany also.Tonda Eckert has been in the media a lot recently for sporting reasons but also due to the investigation about unauthorised filming at opponents training sessions. Saints were not fancied ahead of the season, but you narrowly missed out on promotion. What has Tonda brought to the club?Well I wouldnt specify one thing, he has so many good attributes as a coach and as a person, Tonda first and foremost brings his dedication and his work ethic to the club, he has a high degree of tactical intelligence and appreciation of the players, he is good at seeing what the players need at certain moments and he is an excellent man manager, I would put it the other way round what does he not bring? I would be struggling to find a weakness; putting everything aside, Tonda is simply a very good manager; he brings so much to the club.So can he take you up?

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 17: Marvin Mims Jr. #19 of the Denver Broncos celebrates during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesOne of the more interesting aspects of training camp each year is the positional battles ongoing throughout camp and into the preseason. We have seen multiple quarterback competitions happen during Broncos camp, but thankfully, Bo Nix has that job locked down for the foreseeable future. However, the Broncos will have multiple camp battles happening this summer that could greatly impact how this team looks come Week 1.While the Broncos starters are mostly locked and loaded for Week 1, there still will be plenty of competition for roles and even roster spots happening during camp. So, with all that said, here are the Denver Broncos positional battles I will be paying attention to during Broncos Camp.Backup Quarterback Veteran Jarrett Stidham has been Sean Paytons backup since he was acquired and hired by the Broncos, but could his role be up for grabs this summer? Sam Ehlinger joined the team as the QB3 last season and quickly impressed the Broncos coaches on and off the field. Ehlinger re-signed with the team this offseason and, according to reports from OTA and minicamp, looked pretty good and may have even outplayed Stidham. Denver Broncos roster review: QB Sam Ehlinger https://t.co/OPvYowMoQv MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) July 18, 2026Do I think Ehlinger can really take the QB2 role from Stidham? I have my doubts. Payton has spoken fondly of Stiddy in the past; he was Paytons first free agent signing with the Broncos, and he knows the system well. With that said, his performance in the AFC Championship Game was, well, not great. In fairness to Stidham, the circumstances were not great for him, but you still hoped he would have played a little better than that. However, if Ehlinger outplays Stidham throughout camp, we could have a real conversation here. I will need to see it happen consistently for me to really believe this could happen, but well have to wait and see. It certainly is possible. Running Back The battle for carriesThe Broncos are expected to enter Week 1 with veteran JK Dobbins, second-year back RJ Harvey, and rookie Jonah Coleman as their three running backs on the roster. All three backs are expected to have a role on this offense this season, but the exact details remain up in the air. Veteran JK Dobbins re-signed with the team after a successful 2025 season that was unfortunately cut short by injuries. Unfortunately, that has been the story of Dobbins career, and the Broncos have to be wary of his injury history. To his credit, he has bounced back and performed well despite multiple serious lower-body injuries, but the concern remains. He will be the Broncos starting running back this season, but could we see him share carries with a pair of young Broncos ball carriers? RJ Harvey had a mixed bag when it came to his rookie year. On a positive note, he had 12 total touchdowns last season, which is pretty damn good for a rookie running back. However, once Dobbins went down with an injury, Harvey struggled as the Broncos main ball carrier. Harvey averaged just 3.7 yards per carry but did look better as a receiver and in space, which was the role the team envisioned for him when he was drafted. I would anticipate he would have a similar role this season, but could he lose snaps to rookie Jonah Coleman?Broncos RB Jonah Coleman pic.twitter.com/hM87I7VuGb MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) April 25, 2026The real X-Factor here is rookie Jonah Coleman. The talented rookie back has three-down traits and could push for significant playing time his rookie year. He is a powerful and patient runner who can run between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield, and probably most importantly, come in on third downs and be a pass blocker. If he were to have a strong camp and preseason, he could push for significant snaps early on this season. Sean Payton in the past has said it is difficult to manage a three-headed backfield, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out. All three backs will be on the team, but it will be interesting to see the pecking order come Week 1. WR3 battleProbably the most interesting positional battle to happen this summer during Broncos Camp will be the WR3 battle between Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant. As we know, the team made a blockbuster trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle during the offseason, and that addition shook up the Broncos wide receiver room. With Waddle and veteran Courtland Sutton being your WR1 and WR2 in the offense, that battle for the WR3 job is expected to be a competitive one. Marvin Mims Jr. has shown up in the biggest moments throughout his career and has routinely made big plays down the field. On top of that, he is also an All-Pro returner who can take one all the way back for a touchdown whenever he touches the ball. However, he has never fully lived up to his potential as a wide receiver. Now in a contract year, could that all change? This time last year, all the hype was about Troy Franklin. He added weight and was making plays throughout OTAs and minicamp and carried that into training camp, preseason, and into the regular season. He finished the 2025 season with 65 receptions for 709 yards and 6 touchdowns, which is pretty decent considering how his rookie year went. However, with Waddle now on the team, Franklin seems like the player most negatively impacted by this addition. He will once again need to have a strong summer if he wants to solidify himself in this Denver Broncos wide receiver room. Pat Bryant had himself a solid rookie season. His role in the offense was growing as the season progressed, and it appeared he surpassed Troy Franklin late in the season. However, the injury bug bit him late in the year and derailed what could have been a strong end to his rookie year. Now, in year two, Bryant is hoping to put the concussions behind him and take that big second-year jump and become a mainstay in the Broncos offense. Bryant is a big and physical target who can work the middle of the field, contribute as a blocker, and was arguably the Broncos most reliable wide receiver when it came to catching the ball. He is my personal favorite in this competition, but all three can and should make strong cases for the Broncos WR3 job. The bigger picture here is: how will the team utilize all three of these receivers? Will there be a potential trade? Will they rely on the depth and use all three in a rotation? It could go a number of ways right now and I am excited to see how it plays out throughout camp. Is there a LG competition?Ill say this from the start. This is pure speculation on my part, but I believe there will be a three-way battle for the Broncos starting left guard position. Veteran Ben Powers is in the final year of his contract, and despite briefly being rumored to be a pay cut or trade/cut candidate, he is back with the team and expected to be their starting left guard. However, the team does have competition on the roster that could change things down the road. First, the team signed versatile reserve lineman Alex Palczewski to a two-year extension this offseason. He started at left guard last season while Powers was sidelined with an injury and performed well. He provides the team with a talented, younger, and cheaper option and someone they know they can plug and play at the position. Some Kage Casey highlights pic.twitter.com/Ec7daUOJ4c MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) April 25, 2026The team also drafted Boise State offensive lineman Kage Casey in the 4th round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He played left tackle throughout his college career but is expected to focus on the left guard position his rookie year. Left guard is coincidentally the position Ben Powers is currently slated to be the starter at. It is certainly a possibility that Casey impresses this summer and pushes for that left guard job.Again, I am mostly spitballing here, but the tea leaves are there. Palcho and Casey are likely viewed as the long-term candidates for the position, but a strong summer from one or both could speed things up a bit. What happens at tight end?The Broncos tight end room is a bit of a question mark. The only one I feel safe about is Adam Trautman, who just re-signed with the team this offseason. He will likely be the starter at the position and be their main in-line blocker. However, everything beyond that is a bit up in the air. Veteran pass catcher Evan Engram is probably safe. His good friend and former teammate Davis Webb is now the Broncos offensive coordinator and playcaller, so that may bode well for the veteran after a disappointing first season with the team. However, Engram kinda fits as that surprise camp cut that nobody really saw coming. I dont think it will happen, but I am not comfortable saying it wont happen. My money is on Engram occupying the same role he had last season, with maybe some more emphasis on him with Webb now calling the shots. After that, though, things get tough to predict. Rookie Justin Joly made my camp breakouts list, and I believe he will, but for now, he is a question mark. Nate Adkins has been a reliable blocker for the Broncos, but now hes on a vet minimum deal, so he is firmly on the roster bubble. Same goes for Lucas Krull, but the writing is truly on the wall there. Rookie tight end Dallen Bentley is a bit of a forgotten man in this conversation. The former Utah tight end slipped a bit further than anticipated in the draft and has some in-line and sneaky pass-catching potential. Finally, you have the X-Factor in Caleb Lohner. The developmental project made some noise during rookie minicamp, but an injury sidelined him for OTAs and minicamp, and now he will attempt to continue his breakout performance during training camp. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to guessing how this all plays out. I just hope we feel better about our tight end room at the end of training camp and preseason. Replacing JFMThe Broncos biggest offseason departure was veteran interior defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers signing with the Tennessee Titans during free agency. This left a large void in the middle of the Broncos pass rush and one that will need to be filled if they want to have a dominant pass-rushing unit once again this season.They planned for JFMs departure last year when they drafted LSU defensive lineman Saivion Jones. He basically had a reshirt season for the Broncos last season and will look to use that year of development and have a breakout performance during training camp and the preseason. Like JFM, he is a big, long, and athletic interior pass rusher who could thrive in Vance Josephs defense. Despite having Jones in the mix this offseason, the Broncos doubled down and selected Tyler Onyedim with their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, which came early in the 3rd round. Onyedim is a high-motor interior pass rusher whom the team envisions filling JFMs role as early as this season. Now, a rookie defensive lineman contributing like that right away is probably far-fetched, but he figures to be part of the Broncos rotation along the defensive line. Veterans Eyioma Uwazurike and Malcolm Roach will likely factor into the mix, but all eyes will be on Jones and Onyedim this summer. Hopefully, we see both players stand out throughout camp and the preseason and give the Broncos two talented interior pass rushers they can rotate in and out throughout the game. We saw the Eagles win a Super Bowl due to this, and hopefully, the Broncos can do the same with this unit. Will Jahdae Barron push for CB2?One of the more intriguing positional battles that may happen this summer is between former first-round pick Jahdae Barron and Riley Moss and/or JaQuan McMillian.As we know, Moss and McMillian are in the final year of their contracts with the team, and the Broncos will likely have to choose which of the two they will re-sign. On top of that, the Broncos used a first-round pick on Jahdae Barron last year, and he is a logical in-house replacement for one of the two. Head Coach Sean Payton mentions how he has inside/outside versatility, so he is in play for both positions. The biggest X-Factor here is Barron. Will he push for a starting job this summer and make the decision difficult for the Broncos decision-makers? If he does, the Broncos will have to decide how to utilize all four of these corners and potentially even consider a trade. Like wide receiver, they could just utilize the talented depth they have and head into the season deep at one of the more important positional groups on the team. This scenario could play out multiple different ways, and the implications of this outcome will be felt moving forward. So, this will be a very important roster battle and situation to watch moving forward.

Mets' Luke Weaver is 'likely' to be traded by deadline for one reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.There are a lot of players on the New York Mets roster that, as the team prepares to sell this summer, are likely to be on the move.Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter are free agents after the season comes to a close, as are Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes. All four are likely to be dealt by the August 3 trade deadline. However, what about players under control beyond 2026, like Luke Weaver?Unexpectedly, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand also looped Weaver in with those other pitchers, naming the right-handed reliever under club control through 2027 as someone the Mets are likely to trade. The reason he gave was simple: the offers might be too good.Mets likely to trade Luke Weaver amid too-good offers"The third in a trio of Mets relievers who could be on the move, Weaver is the only one of the three under control for 2027," Feinsand writes. "The 32-year-old is signed for $12.5 million next season, but given the eternal need for relief pitching around the league, the potential return for Weaver may be high enough for the Mets to move him."The Mets don't have to trade away Weaver this season, as they could keep him through his two-year, $22 million contract, or trade him during the offseason or even at next year's trade deadline.But, considering how many teams need relief pitching help this summer, and the lack of true top-tier options, the Mets could land a massive return for Weaver this summer.MORE:Phillies would love to trade for Mets reliever Luke WeaverHe has a 1.98 ERA this season, posting 1.7 bWAR across 39 appearances with 43 strikeouts in 41.0 innings of work. His 213 ERA+ is a very strong mark, as is his 0.805 WHIP and 2.84 FIP.There are bound to be plenty of teams interested in Weaver, including the NL East division rival Philadelphia Phillies.But, for the Mets, the destination for Weaver shouldn't matter if they can get a huge return, which Feinsand believes is very much in play for the Mets this summer.He named Weaver as a player who is likely to be traded thanks to the potential for an offer that's too good to refuse. The Mets righty reliever should get such offers this summer, which could lead to a deal by the August 3 deadline.More MLB news:Braves injury update on Spencer Strider has execs pessimistic about a 2026 returnDodgers' Shohei Ohtani injury update essentially ends Cy Young chancesWhite Sox have strong interest in Mets Clay Holmes with scout attending rehab assignmentYankees send scouts to Cubs vs. Twins series amid trade interest in three playersMLB execs believe Padres will trade Mason Miller at trade deadline

How LeBron James' latest decision recharged the NBA's 2026 offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.When the offseason kicked off, most people did not see one of the most blockbuster summer in recent years. In the past few weeks, the NBA has seen Giannis Antetokounmpo get traded to the Miami Heat, Jaylen Brown get moved to the Philadelphia 76ers, and now LeBron James is joining Brown in Philly.After he left the Los Angeles Lakers, the rest of the league were all sending in their recruitment pitches. However, only a select few were truly options for the four-time Finals MVP, and thankfully for their fans, the 76ers were among the top candidates.The offseason has been rejuvenated by LeBron James' decisionWith massive moves already happening around the league during the summer, it seems that LeBron's latest decision has led to more teams weighing their options. This is a massive move that does not only affect the 76ers and the Eastern Conference, but it also makes other teams concerned about their choices.Teams like the 76ers are doing well with their ambition, but the rest of the league have to keep up. Thankfully for some teams, they can compete on a similar level against the 76ers, which include the past two champions, the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the San Antonio Spurs also has to be included there.MORE:Looking into the effect of LeBron James signing with the 76ers for the Warriors, Heat, and CavaliersNow, the rest of the league are looking for ways to improve their team if they want any chance of being competitive for the 2026-27 season. Some deals were held up because LeBron was yet to make his decision, but now that he has signed on the dotted line, the offseason is back on."Two texts, one from a front office exec and one from an agent, basically saying the same thing: 'Finally. Now we can finish the offseason.' Expect some other deals to start moving now that LeBron James has picked his next team," Spotrac's Keith Smith said about the offseason moving forward.It will be interesting to see how the rest of the offseason turns out because there will be more major moves after this. Teams will know they have to adjust, and this is the catalyst for those decisions.More NBA news:The teams that LeBron James has earned money from during his NBA careerLooking into the number that LeBron James could wear with the 76ersJaylen Brown's comments about Bronny James resurfaces after signing with the 76ersPhilly's starting lineup could be the best in the league with LeBron JamesAnother championship is LeBron James' goal with the 76ers

快连 for Everyday Internet Use: Speed, Simplicity, and Reliable Connectivity Introduction The internet has become an essential part of daily life, supporting everything from communication and entertainment to education and business. As users spend more time online, they expect their internet experience to be fast, secure, and consistent. Applications that help improve connectivity have become...

The media's picks are in, and the Georgia Bulldogs are favored to win the league

While his father is headed East, Bronny remains a member of the Lakers -- for now

Mike Golic and Mike Golic Jr., make their return to ESPN Radio on Aug. 3. Ahead of the debut of The Golics, The father-son duo spoke to Front Office Sports about what they hope to accomplish in their return to ESPN, whether Notre Dame will join a college football conference in the next decade, their favorite meal at their breakfast haunt in Connecticut, and if Golic Jr. has given any thought to becoming a full-fledged food influencer.This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.Front Office Sports: Im going to start off with the most important question of the interview. What is your go-to order at The Harvest Cafe in Simsbury?Mike Golic: It is, without question, some sort of pastry that is not just a pastryits a pastry thats made into a breakfast. They are so good at turning it into a full fledged breakfast. And theyre so great there. Anytime we walk in, Scott, who runs the place, always gives us monster appetizers that are always so hard to finish but are absolute gold.Mike Golic Jr.: Im inspired, because I literally just yesterday had my Harvest Cafe shirt on and the first line said dirt bomb. So Ill always go to the dirt bomb. Thats the one they used to slice and then griddle for us, which is the best. The cinnamon sugar whipped cream is, without question, the best whipped cream there is known to mankind.FOS: Mike Sr: Youve accomplished just a ton in your broadcasting career. What makes you want to keep going as opposed to just kicking back and relaxing, enjoying your grandkids and doing whatever you want every day?MG: Well, I mean, I definitely have been doing that. Being a grandparent is just an awesome experience. But listen, I have to say, even though hes sitting here on this call as well, its working with my son. I mean, who couldnt ask for anything better than that? Really, in any line of work, to be able to work with one of your kids, and I have three kids, and my wife and I are very closeI talk to them all every day. But to be able to do a show with one for a number of years, I dont know how long I would be in the business anymore if I wasnt doing a show with Mike.Ill always call games like I do. But as far as an everyday show, its definitely getting to work with my son. Now, I wish you would bend the knee a little bit more toward meMGJ: Here we goMG: Show a little bit more, Father, how can I learn from you? But I dont really get that [laughing]. But its really what has me continuing to go. That and my wife is not ready for me to retire.FOS: Do you feel like you have unfinished business at ESPN?MG: No. Not unfinished business. I look at it more as I get to come home. I didnt think I would get a chance to come back to ESPN, so Im looking at it as a chance to come home to where it all started and hopefully do this for a number of years. My career at ESPN started back in 1995, so yeah, I look at it completely as I get to kind of come home again.FOS: You guys have done the radio, which youre returning to, and its very regimented by the clock, and you have to get out for the breaks and have the segments be crisp. And then in between, you had these digital shows, which sometimes they can have a set time, but other times they can be meandering, and you really arent beholden to any clock. Whats it like going back to more regimented programming?MGJ: I would say its exciting. I think the one thing Ive always known about myself, but that Ive learned through so much of this now, is Im always going to be an offensive linemanwhich means I like rules. I like to know, alright, where are the lines and then let me go and color in them. And I always appreciated that radio had very clearly defined walls and then a space that you got to play with. And, again, from football, were used to short bursts where you go and make things happen.Even as I enjoyed everything that we got to dowe got to work with so many great people at the last couple of spots that we were atI got to try out and sharpen new skills. But as we got towards this point where this became a reality, the chance to go back and do radio, which, yeah, it does have rules, but its also gritty. Its extremely personal. Its like the original longform audio medium. And you get to reach out and touch people. Youre with people in all these intimate spots in their lives.Theres just a connective point to it, a community point to it, and something that feels very much like home. Its just with radio as a medium that I always really enjoyed and excited to get back to. I got to live it so much through dad for so many years, and then it was where I got my start in this industry. And so I think Ive always carried a real fondness just for radio as a medium.MG: Mike talked about old linemen and football. I look at it as an athlete, and Mike and I, for so much of our lives, athletes live a life of an itinerary. Youre told where to go. Youre told how long youre supposed to do something. Everythings laid out for you, and thats the format of live radio, right?Everythings kind of laid out for you. Of course, Ive been doing it for over 25 years, the radio format, so thats not difficult to jump back into it. Quite honestly, if were late for a break or something, Ill just blame the producer, Devin Kane. That seems easy enough. Ill just point the finger at him.FOS: If you were the commissioner of college football, and you could create how many teams are in the playoffs, what are the rules with NIL and the portal and everything along that matter?MG: I like 12. You know, you go to 16, you go to 24 Coaches like that because they can say, hey, were in the playoffs. Im fine with 12. You see the NCAA Tournament in basketball going to 70-something. Im good with 12. I can live with anything.As far as rules, NIL, theres going to be not a whole lot you can do about it. You got revenue sharing from the lawsuit, you have NIL. Thats not going to stop. To use a ridiculous term, youre not going to be able to put the toothpaste back in the tube on that one. The portal is where I think they need to get more strict. You cant have somebody being a free agent every single year. They have better free agency than the NFL. I know theyre already fixing the calendar a bit as far as when you can move, but that to me wreaks more havoc than the money, is the portal.Because all you hear about from the portal are the success stories. You dont hear about the guys who try and transfer and dont end up anywhere or transfer somewhere and dont end up playing. And they have a choice, and sometimes they use their choices too many times. I think that could be fixed.MGJ: I agree with Dad. I like 12. Youre going to have an argument for someone getting left out no matter what you expand it to. But I would just like to see 12 for longer, quite honestly. We had a decade of a four-team playoff and got to understand what made it tick. The changes in the sport created more teams that are more competitive now, so I think 12 works.But Id like to stick with that. And then if youre going to change anything else, its the two words we all keep talking about: collective bargaining. You want to actually have rules enforceable with the portal by collectively bargaining that get these guys a voice. I think my problem with the way were going about trying to kind of put some of that toothpaste back in is it robs the players of a chance to have an impact or a say-so on what goes on in the future of the sport. Do you want to add more games to the schedule by expanding the playoff? Do you want to change their mobility without limiting the mobility of coaches or anybody else here in a way that feels more reminiscent of what we had before? And Ill agree, to an extent, that was unfair.Collectively bargain, make the contracts real and enforceablethen you can have something that maybe resembles more of the salary cap they tried to make work and enforce here and you go from there.FOS: If we were to take a time machine into 2036, 10 years in the future, has Notre Dame joined a conference or are they still independentand why?MG: Wow, thats a great question. So Mike and I kind of differ on where we think the NCAA will end up. This talk of the SEC breaking off is fools gold. Thats ridiculous. On Gods green earth, this will never happen.Now, will football break away from the other sports? That could be a possibility, whether its the Power Four or more schools than the Power Four breaking away. Listen: if Notre Dame has to abide by rules that were less constructive to be independent, theyll go into a conference. But until then, why would they? I see change moving very, very slowly in college as far as thats concerned because people just cant get on the same page. So I will say Notre Dame will still be independent.MGJ: Ill say that, too, I think mostly out of hoping that Dads right. Change has been so fast and furious, really, since we got the announcement that Texas and Oklahoma were heading to the SEC and that USC and UCLA and the rest of these teams were heading to the Big Ten. It seems like weve been drinking it through a firehose. So I would like to believe Notre Dames still independent because that would mean, alright, we still have the conference system at least somewhat resembling what we have now. We still have a sport that is leaning into the regionality, even though those lines have been blurred by conferences that have added more and more people.So I say this maybe out of hope as much as anything, because there is part of me that believes in college football Pangea. The super league stuff thats been whispered about in corners forever is a possibility, but Ill say the Irish are still independent and people are still mad about it.FOS: Another food question for Junior: Have you considered becoming an official food influencer as a side gig with the amount of engagement you get on your snack posts?MGJ: Its a great question. I absolutely have. The problem Ive run into is this, and my dad has often pointed this outI dont know how to take a TV bite. Im sure there are plenty of food influencers that just take a little nibble. Its like when you go wine tasting and you take a sip and then you spit the rest and youre not falling all over yourself. If I have it, Im going to eat it all.Also: until Oreos starts selling specialty flavors in a two-pack or a single sleeve, that means Ive consumed a lot of that. And as someone that is getting ready to try and fit into a tux for my wedding sometime in the next year, I also have to sit next to my very skinny, very in-shape 63-year-old fatherwho already has a better head of hair than me, that couldnt let me have the beard and now has that tooI have to try and lose weight so I dont look like a tick sitting next to him while hes svelte and in shape and being lusted after by everyone that watches him on the outside.Im trying to find a way to do the food influencer deal without eating a number of calories thats going to subvert all the goals I have in other areas of my life.MG: I would say dont change. Listen, it would be so weird if you took a little mini bite and then maybe spit it out so then you could start to talk. You need to take your big bite. Its just hilarious. Theres always eight-to-ten seconds of silence after he takes a bite of anything because its too big a bite. Thats his charm. So I say keep doing it.FOS: What do you hope to accomplish in this reborn ESPN run?MG: This isnt a new show. Weve been together since the end of my time at ESPN with Mike and Trey Wingo, and then Mike and I in the last few iterations. Theres no show thats reinventing the wheel, right? Sports talk is sports talk. Its just the personalities. And as Mike stated earlier, and why we love itthe people who listen to live radio, and obviously the podcasts involved as well, you get to know them.Its about content, certainly, number one, but then its getting to know the personalities and knowing their families and how much were willing to lay out there. And over the years, weve laid out a bunch of our family over time. So thats not really going to change.So what do we hope to accomplish, then? I just hope to keep working with Mike for a number of years and keep doing the show the way that Ive done it for 25, 30 years. That means to give people information and take them where they cant go on the field or in the locker room or in the weight room, preparing for a major college or a pro team. Tell them something, have them learn something they didnt know and make them laugh.Thats what Ive been trying to do since I started local radio in 1995 till now, and thats not going to change. I dont know if thats too old-school or thats not growing with the times, but thats kind of how I like to do a show.MGJ: Yeah, I think Dads right, and I think really its always kind of been about making people feel like theyre a part of the family and a part of the home.I think the show being called The Golics kind of reeks of that. Like, hey, for two hours a day, we get to bring people onto the couch that was in our living room for years where we were having these conversations when I was growing up or when I got into the job. The best notes that we got when we were finishing up Golic and Wingo and Dad was finishing up his time at that point with ESPN Radio, were the ones that came from people that got to work with their mom or dad or with their son or daughter who said, When I watch and listen to you guys, I see a bit of myself and I see a bit of that relationship that I have.And if its someone who, unfortunately, has lost a parent and pines for that feeling, or someone you know that gets the chance to do it and just chuckles about the disagreements that pop up, because you know theres a lot of love, but theres also the things that naturally happen, the friction between parents and their children that people can empathize with.They see themselves with, and so I think if we get two hours a day where it feels like people are coming and [proverbially] sitting down at the end of the bar with us, or sitting down with us on the couch in our house, and turn off the rest of whats going on in their world for a little bit and feel some of that familial vibe and feel like theyre one of us for a little bit, then weve done something right.The post What Mike Golic, Mike Golic Jr. Hope to Accomplish in ESPN Return appeared first on Front Office Sports.

With training camp for theJacksonville Jaguarsgetting closer, which players should be on our radars as these practices and preseason games unfold?As part of our training camp preview, we'll be highlighting one player from each position group to keep your eyes on. In some instances, it may be one of theJaguars' top players that we'll be watching closely, or it could be a player fighting for playing time or a roster spot.Upnext are the defensive tackles.Jaguars' defensive tackle to watch in training camp: Ruke OrhorhoroThe Jaguars need more pass rush production this season, particularly from the defensive tackle position. Arik Armstead will, of course, play a key role in accomplishing that, but so will Ruke Orhorhoro, who the Jaguars acquired via trade this offseason.A former second-round pick, Orhorhoro's raw production totals won't jump off the stat sheet. But as his role increased last season, the underlying metrics show a player who can add more pass rush juice to the Jaguars' defensive front.In total, Orhorhoro logged four sacks and 30 quarterback pressures, but ranked 51st out of 121 eligible defensive tackles in PFF's pass rush productivity metric.A quick push and steady pressure from the interior defensive line unit is the best way to quickly wreck an offensive play. As we look for ways that this defense can improve in 2026, getting more regular pressure on the quarterback from the tackle position will go a long way in accomplishing that, and Orhorhoro is going to play a key role.This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Offseason addition Jaguars player to watch at DT in training camp