The Rams have a good problem, even if the only good problem is no problem.Outside expectations are sky-high. Even though the Rams haven't been to the Super Bowl in five years, they're the favorite to emerge from the NFC and to win the whole thing.Coach Sean McVay addressed the high bar the Rams are facing in his Saturday session with reporters."The last time I checked, none of that stuff means anything," McVay said. "It's what's great about the league. People care, there's a lot of attention, but this is the greatest team sport there is. We've got to come together as a team. We've got to stay humble. There's a lot of stuff in the midst of the journey that we don't control, but I think our ability to be connected, to be courageous, to handle the storms when they do come up and be inside out more than ever before is going to be really important. "But we're not going to allow the outside expectations to change the way that we approach every day with the way that we work, the way that we enjoy it, have the appropriate mindset and energy. And that's something that I think is really important for us to represent and I think that's more felt than anything else. And so that's what we're going to do, but none of those things mean anything. They don't win games, and how can we be present, stack days, and enjoy the opportunity to come together as a team? We're not going to let external expectations inhibit our ability to go swing and be courageous.The challenge is to get the players to ignore the outside chatter, and to accept the fact that, every week, they'll get the absolute best that every opponent will have to offer.Even with a wide array of uniforms, the one constant is the target they'll have on their backs. Along with a schedule that has them in prime time for seven games and that has them playing on a Wednesday, a Thursday, a Friday, multiple Sundays, and multiple Mondays.

It was a day to remember for Munetaka Murakami.On Sunday, July 26, the Chicago White Sox honored the rookie sensation with a bobblehead giveaway and he put on a show in his team's 12-3 home win over the Houston Astros. Murakami was responsible for half those runs with a career-high 6 RBI and two home runs in the victory.The box for todays Munetaka Murakami bobblehead giveaway is elite pic.twitter.com/f5MewXf4Qx Mune On 35th (@SoxOn35th) July 26, 2026The festivities started off in a wholesome way when the first baseman's parents threw out the first pitch. His dad lobbed the ball to a catcher who was sitting just to the side of home plate and the ball sank and bounced. His mom, on the other hand, threw a perfect arc to a catcher squatting behind the base. The two posed for a photo with their son before Chicago's starting pitcher Erick Fedde took the mound.Munetaka Murakami's parents threw out the first pitch today to celebrate his bobblehead day pic.twitter.com/onxO9ea5vI MLB (@MLB) July 26, 2026The Astros jumped to an early lead off a solo home run from Jeremy Pea. But then, batting second in the bottom of the first inning, Murakami blasted his own home run. He took a slider over the plate and sent the ball flying into left field, allowing Sam Antonacci to score as well and putting the White Sox up 2-1.Munetaka Murakami homers on his bobblehead day pic.twitter.com/sKg47fBQFr MLB (@MLB) July 26, 2026To show his versatility, Murakami swatted the ball to right field for his second home run of the game in the eighth inning. He took a high pitch, boosted the ball away and put two fingers in the air as he rounded the bases.Mune Mania continues! pic.twitter.com/PnAScmfvRi Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 26, 2026The Japanese-born player got another RBI in the third inning with a ground out that sent Drew Romo home and had a two-run single in the seventh inning."It feels amazing and really, super excited right now," Murakami said through an interpreter after the game before his teammates splashed him with a bucket of orange Gatorade.The game was on the same day as the Baseball Hall of Fame's induction for the class of 2026 where Carlos Beltrn Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent were enshrined.Murakami was selected to the All-Star Game in his first season as a replacement for Minnesota Twins' outfielder Byron Buxton. He also participated in the Home Run Derby. Despite missing 35 games before the All-Star break due to a hamstring injury, the 26-year-old has impressed with 22 home runs, 48 RBI, .378 OBP and .921 OPS.The White Sox are leading the AL Central with a 55-49 record and are looking to compete strong next year, too. They used the No. 1 pick in the July 11 draft on UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky and then reportedly gave him a record signing bonus of $10.35 million.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Munetaka Murakami shines with 2 HR, career-high 6 RBI on bobblehead day

Ex-Patriots QB Gets $21 Million Contract originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Jacoby Brissett decided he knew his worth and stuck to it.After the former Patriots QB held himself out of drills at Arizona Cardinals training camp, the Cards eventually reached an agreement on a new contract with Brissett.He'll be paid at least $15.5 million in 2026 with a chance to earn up to $21 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The biggest news for Brissett is that he now is locked in as the starter for 2026.The #AZCardinals and veteran QB Jacoby Brissett have reached a deal to increase his compensation for 2026, as its new one year worth $15.5M with a chance to get $21M.AZs starter is now locked, already having begun practicing. pic.twitter.com/LwnQqqupIX Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 26, 2026MORE:Is Tom Brady having a mid-life crisis?The Cardinals also have veteran Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck. Brissett closed out last season as the starter, and the Cards got rid of Kyler Murray in the offseason.This deal secures Brissett his spot as QB1.Its your livelihood;its business; and its part of this game, Brissett told the Cardinals' official team website. You want to be out there with the guys and that causes another stressor. Im glad its over with.Brissett had skipped some portions of the offseason but hadn't been a full holdout.Arizona is surely glad its starting quarterback will be a full participant from now on. It can be tough to install everything otherwise.Brissett has done quite well for himself since being picked in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Patriots.He enters this season having started 65 games in the NFL, appearing as a starter for Arizona, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Miami in addition to New England.Now, he'll be hoping to prove all the doubters wrong about a Cardinals team that isn't expected to be very good at all this year.More PatriotsLatest PatriotsnewsTom Brady's Patriots legacy: How legendary QB set new standardComplete history of Patriots championships

Kerby Joseph spent Sunday night making one thing clear.He sees the conversation. He reads the speculation. And he is not interested in letting others define what he meant.After the Detroit Lions announced that Joseph would open training camp on the physically unable to perform list, the All-Pro safety posted a string of messages on X that pushed back against the reaction surrounding his status. Several of those remarks appeared directed at Lions OnSI and its affiliated @DetroitPodcast account, which had amplified the idea that Joseph previously suggested he would avoid PUP.Joseph was not buying that interpretation.I never said I wasnt gone be on it, Joseph wrote.A few minutes later, he added another message that sounded like a warning to anyone assuming he is not paying attention.Yessir I sit back n observe the whole room I see yall talking That was not a player panicking about his health. It was a player correcting the record.Joseph Pushes Back at the NarrativeThe confusion began after Joseph responded to a post questioning whether he would start camp on PUP.How much yall wanna bet im not on there Once Detroit officially placed him on the list, some outlets treated the announcement as though Joseph had been proven wrong. Lions OnSIs @DetroitPodcast account was among the places that highlighted his original message before the designation became official.Joseph clearly noticed.His Sunday-night thread included multiple shots at that coverage and the way his words had been framed. The core of his response was simple: He never made a definitive declaration that he would avoid the list.There is a difference between joking with fans and issuing a formal medical prediction.Josephs follow-up post after Detroits announcement also carried the same playful edge.Yall shouldve bet me The joke was never difficult to understand. Joseph was having fun with the conversation while keeping his actual status close to the vest.Somehow, it became a gotcha moment.That is exactly the kind of social-media nonsense Detroit fans should resist.PUP Does Not Mean Joseph Is in TroubleJosephs placement on the active/PUP list does not automatically indicate a setback or suggest that he will miss regular-season games.The Lions can activate him at any point during training camp. Players are regularly removed from active/PUP within days once a teams medical staff clears them to practice.The more serious scenario would come only if Joseph remains on PUP through roster cutdowns. At that point, he would move to reserve/PUP and be required to miss at least the first four games of the regular season.Detroit is not at that stage.Joseph missed the final 11 games of the 2025 season because of a lingering knee injury. The condition has required extensive management, and Dan Campbell has previously acknowledged that the Lions may not fully understand Josephs readiness until he begins working through training camp.Giving him a delayed start is not weakness. It is common sense.Lions Fans Should Support Joseph, Not Pick Apart Every PostJoseph has earned patience from Detroit.He has become one of the NFLs premier ballhawks and one of the emotional engines of the Lions defense. He plays with edge, confidence and personality. Those traits are part of what makes him so valuable.Now he is trying to return from a difficult injury that wiped out most of last season.That should be the story.Not whether a lighthearted X post can be twisted into a receipt. Not whether a media account can claim it won an argument. Not whether Joseph used the exact wording some people expected.Players see these conversations. Joseph said so himself.Yessir I sit back n observe the whole room I see yall talking Fans sometimes forget that the people being discussed are not video-game characters. Joseph has spent months rehabbing a knee condition that has no easy surgical fix. He has dealt with uncertainty, missed games and the frustration of not being able to help his teammates.A little empathy should not be a radical request.Josephs Frustration Makes SenseThere is nothing wrong with reporters asking questions about Josephs health.There is also nothing wrong with Joseph responding when he believes his words have been misrepresented.Those ideas can exist together.The problem begins when speculation becomes certainty or when a players joke is repackaged as a failed promise. Josephs posts suggest that is exactly what bothered him Sunday night, especially with @DetroitPodcast repeatedly involved in the conversation.He did not hide from the topic.He addressed it directly.That should be respected.Bottom LineKerby Josephs Sunday-night X thread was not a reason for Lions fans to worry.It was a reminder that he is watching the conversation and willing to defend himself when he believes the narrative has gone sideways.Joseph took multiple shots at the @DetroitPodcast account while clarifying that he never definitively said he would avoid the PUP list. More importantly, his current designation does not mean he will miss games. Detroit can activate him at any point during camp.Joseph has given the Lions toughness, takeaways and swagger.Now, while he works his way back from a difficult knee injury, Detroit fans should give him something in return.Support.

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Stephen Curry knows the Warriors are in trouble after LeBron James snubbed them originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.For 17 seasons, Stephen Curry has been the franchise player for the Golden State Warriors. He is in his late 30s, so the window is closing for this era of Warriors basketball. Curry and the organization want to maximize his time to compete for a championship, but it seems that won't happen any time soon.Coming into the 2026 offseason, the Warriors were one of the favorites to sign LeBron James in free agency. Unfortunately for Steph, Draymond Green, and the Warriors, James picked the Philadelphia 76ers as his team for the 2026-27 season.Stephen Curry is seeing the harsh reality set in for the WarriorsCurry and the Warriors have become familiar with success over the past decade or so. They have won four championships over the past 11 years with the same core group of Curry, Green, and Steve Kerr. They also had Klay Thompson in that group, but he left for the Dallas Mavericks.Thompson could return if he gets waived by the Mavericks, but it is not the same anymore. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Father Time is unbeaten when it comes to sports, and their era is nearing its end. They are still stubbornly fighting because Curry is still a top player, but it is getting more difficult with time.MORE:The reasoning behind LeBron James' decision to snub the Warriors to join the 76ersCurry thought he and the Warriors could have convinced James to join up with them. Unfortunately, the 76ers kept building a roster that became more appealing, especially after they pulled off the Jaylen Brown trade. Now, Curry does not know what he can do moving forward."Knowing that when Jimmy got hurt and Moses got hurt, the whole calculus of everything changes. How do you get through their absence and still stay at a certain level? And then how that goes into this year. Its the same deal. So, Im a realist on that...Im hopeful for all the creative ideas of getting the best team possible," Curry said to The Athletic's Marcus Thompson II.Loyalty has paid off for Curry over the past 17 years. He has four championships under his belt, but it seems the Warriors are in a rough spot at the moment. They still have him and Green, but time is running out on a chance of winning a fifth title.More NBA news:The problem that the Warriors had in their pursuit of LeBron JamesAn NBA insider speaks about Draymond Green's future after the Warriors missed out on LeBron JamesAll the free agency easter eggs, including the Miami Heat's YouTube stream mistakeHow Stephen Curry has madeNBA Hall of Fame history with a new exhibitDraymond Green has received recognition that could silence his critics

Jul 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) celebrates his three RBI double during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesAlec Bohm and Bryson Stott combined for nine RBI as the Philadelphia Phillies (57-49) staved off the sweep with an 11-4 rout of the New York Yankees (59-46) on Sunday Night Baseball.Cristopher Sanchez was his dominant self most of the night, striking out six across six innings, but gave up all three of his earned runs in the top of the fifth, which contained three hits, a walk, a pick-off error and a wild pitch.Cristopher Snchez's 2Ks in the 3rd pic.twitter.com/FYPTIxRixb Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 27, 2026Cristopher Sanchez airmails a pick off attempt and the Yankees get on the board pic.twitter.com/dhAGeFfhAD Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 27, 2026Sanchezs 13th win ties his career high set last season, which came on September 10th.The Phillies got on the board first against Yanks righty, Will Warren, thanks to a lead-off triple by Trea Turner in the first inning and a sacrifice fly by Kyle Schwarber.Turner and Schwarber get the night started! pic.twitter.com/Fs1H872FT3 Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 26, 2026Bryson Stott doubled the lead in the second with a one-out solo shot, his eighth of the year.A solo shot from Bryson Stott pic.twitter.com/PiVa7cly6R MLB (@MLB) July 26, 2026With two outs in the bottom of the third, the Phils loaded the bases with a walk to Schwarber, a double by Bryce Harper and an intention walk to Brandon Marsh to set up the righty-righty matchup between Warren and Alec Bohm. Bohm worked a full count and nine-pitch at-bat before lacing a double to right-center to clear the bases. Stott worked another full count and singled home Bohm to blow open the six-run advantage.Alec Bohm bases-clearing double makes it 5-0 pic.twitter.com/VYUhh6NkIk Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 27, 2026Phils would tack on five more runs in the bottom of the sixth against Yanks lefty, Ryan Yarbrough, with four straight singles to begin the frame and a two-out RBI hit-by-pitch to Bohm and two-RBI double by Stott to close out the home scoring.BRYSON STOTT BASES CLEARING DOUBLE pic.twitter.com/n5HtQ8BfQT cam ! (@aokstott) July 27, 2026Tim Mayza surrendered a leadoff homer to Ben Rice on the first pitch of the seventh inning but combined with Chase Shugart, who went two scoreless, to preserve the victory.Home run number 31 for Ben Rice pic.twitter.com/eHoY20jtB7 Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 27, 2026The Phillies begin a three-game stint in Miami tomorrow night as Zack Wheeler is slated to face Tyler Phillips.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 2: Warren McClendon Jr. #71 of the Los Angeles Rams stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium on October 02, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesLast season Warren McClendon took the Los Angeles Rams right tackle job away from entrenched veteran Rob Havenstein in Week 12 and never looked back. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Warren ranked 15th among all tackles with at least 647 blocking snaps. Considering every team needs two starting tackles, that squarely puts him in the top 10 of his position.McClendon finished with PFF grades in the following facets followed by tackle peer rankings:Offensive grade: 78.7 (15th)Run blocking grade: 81.9 (13th)Pass blocking grade: 69.1 (35th)With the Rams reporting to training camp over the weekend, McClendon enters the season as the starter for the first time in his career. Its realistic to think there is room for improvement, and McClendon may even ascend to Pro Bowl considerations in 2026.Still, there is a clear gap between the best tackles in football and McClendoneven if the young tackle has already established himself among the upper echelon. The Rams will need to make the difficult decision to either extend McClendons contract and retain his services for 2027 or beyond or take on the improbable task of replacing a player top 10 at his position.2026 isnt necessarily a make or break year for McClendon. It still is a prove it season where he must sustain his level of production if not take a noticeable step forward.The Rams have plenty of other difficult contract decisions on the horizon, including but not limited to the following:Puka NacuaKobie TurnerByron YoungKevin DotsonSteve AvilaAlaric JacksonColby ParkinsonAnd if McClendon finds that the Rams intend to allocate their salary cap resources elsewhere, he could realistically enter free agency at age 26 and be the top-billed tackle to hit the market. Young, capable tackles rarely every change hands. There will be plenty of suitors if Los Angeles is not McClendons long-term home.McClendon took the Rams by surprised and usurped long-term start Rob Havenstein. He enters his first season as a full-time starter with room to grow from a production standpoint. That only complicates a tough contract dilemma and escalates his price tag. McClendon has Pro Bowl pedigree. Will he outplay his chances to remain in Los Angeles?

The Chargers are set to enter a massive 2026 season.The Boltss are entering a do-or-die season as they look to prove they can win when it matters most: in the playoffs. While several of their top players will be under the spotlight, one player with perhaps the most on the line is edge rusher Khalil Mack at least according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic.In a recent column from The Athletic NFL staff, Popper named Mack as the Chargers player with the most at stake heading into the 2026 season."Mack returned to the Chargers on a one-year deal for 2026. He turned 35 in February. At this stage of his career, Mack has garnered virtually every personal accolade imaginable. He is a nine-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year. Team success is the only thing missing from his Hall of Fame rsum. Its the only reason he continues to play at this age. Mack has yet to win a playoff game in his career. He has mulled retirement numerous times over the past four years. This could be his last shot at finally earning that postseason win and a Super Bowl ring." The future Hall of Famer will enter his 13th season in the league and his fifth with the Chargers.While Mack is the most proven player on the roster, it's not a matter of proving he can play, but rather of whether he can continue to play at a high level.On top of that, the 2026 season could be the last in his illustrious career. Mack has yet to win a playoff game in his career, although he's played in six postseason games.He's been one-and-done in those six appearances, including three times with the Chargers.It's put up or shut up time for the Chargers and Mack. The 35-year-old will look for postseason success that could ultimately cement his legacy.The 2026 season is as good as any for Mack to chase his first-ever postseason victory as well as a Super Bowl victory.This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers' biggest prove-it player for 2026 might surprise you