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WASHINGTON, D.C. Wintertime carols purred from a glowing boombox in the center of the room as a veteran pitcher made the rounds handing out lyric sheets for an upcoming singalong. Nearby, an outcropping of colorfully wrapped presents of various shapes and sizes semicircled a neatly decorated Douglas fir. A red stocking with a curly white W hung from each players locker. Inside each oversized sock hid a miniature libation or two. The atmosphere was festive, jolly, merry.The Washington Nationals were quite literally having Christmas in July.Its an annual tradition around these parts, a mid-summer bonding event that provides a rare opportunity for public displays of gift-giving and whimsy. Last years soiree, however, unfolded under particularly cheerless circumstances. The 2025 Nationals were a wreck, a slog, an utter bummer of a ballclub that eventually finished 30 games under .500.A few weeks before last years warm-weather yuletide party, the club axed manager Davey Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo, both of whom led the franchise to the 2019 World Series title. In what must have been a surreal scene, Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner informed the players about the monumental firings while standing in the shadow of the clubhouses Christmas tree.Oh, what a difference a year makes.The 2026 Nats are a more chipper bunch and for good reason.The clubs 10-7 win over Arizona on Sunday moved them within one game of the third NL wild-card spot, currently held by those Diamondbacks. Washingtons high-powered lineup leads baseball in nearly every relevant offensive category, including runs per game, home runs and OPS.James Wood and CJ Abrams, both All-Stars, each went yard twice on Sunday. Woods second blast made him only the second player in Nationals history with back-to-back 30-homer seasons. Abrams first made him the all-time Nats single-season leader for home runs by a shortstop. Things are going well.Its exceeded expectations ... first-year Nats manager Blake Butera answered postgame when asked to speak about his time around Wood and Abrams. I have nothing but incredible things to say about both of those guys, about, honestly, everybody in our clubhouse.Entering the season under a completely overhauled regime led by new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, expectations for the 2026 Nats were awfully low. Before Opening Day, FanGraphs gave the club a 0.8% chance to make the postseason, the second-lowest figure in baseball. Now, with the Nats at 54-52, those odds are all the way up to 10%.Butera, 33, has been a massive part of this unexpectedly competitive Nationals season. His hiring surprised swaths of the industry, with skeptics referencing his age and total lack of experience in a big-league dugout. But now Butera, who previously served as Tampa Bays director of player development, is garnering rave reviews around the sport and from inside the Nats organization for his ability to connect with players.That human touch, that investment in people as people is a clear Tobonian organizational pillar. Development happens only from a baseline of interpersonal trust. That approach has already helped enable significant player development strides at the big-league level. For evidence, look no further than recently traded infielder Curtis Mead, whom the Nats sent to Boston late Saturday for highly regarded starting pitcher Connelly Early.Just a few years ago, Mead was a cant-miss consensus top-40 prospect in baseball, matriculating his way up the Rays farm system under Buteras watchful gaze. But for whatever reason, Tampa Bay never gave the bald Australian consistent big-league playing time. Mead never got comfortable, and his play suffered accordingly. He was dealt to the White Sox at last years deadline, where he soon became an afterthought on a roster overcrowded with young infielders. Chicago designated him for assignment just before Opening Day this season, and the Nats scooped him up via trade a few days later.The reclamation project was a near-immediate success. Reunited with Butera, Mead blossomed. Consistent at-bats helped, too. Eventually, Mead graduated from a platoon option against left-handed pitching to Washingtons every-day third baseman. The organization showed faith in him; he returned the favor with 17 homers in 87 games.Coming here with Blake was just great for me, because I felt like I didnt need to prove myself to him, Mead recently told The Athletics Spencer Nusbaum. Thats why we do what we do. Thats why I do what I do. Butera said when asked what it means to know he had such an outsized impact on a player. I know we care about, obviously, the wins and losses at the end of the day, but to be able to make that type of impact on a person and hopefully help their career ... it means a lot. It does.And Mead is far from the only beneficiary of Washingtons revamped culture. Abrams and Wood have taken steps forward. First baseman Luis Garcia Jr., catcher Keibert Ruiz and outfielder Jacob Young are all enjoying career years. As a result, the Nationals rebuild is well ahead of schedule, despite a relief corps that leads MLB in blown saves and is fourth from the bottom in ERA.Still, this was not a roster constructed with October baseball in mind. Its difficult to envision a team with so porous a bullpen sneaking into the playoffs. Abrams, still a poor defender, and second baseman Nasim Nuez, a true glovesmith, shouldve swapped positions weeks ago if postseason baseball were truly the top priority. Even the acquisition of Early, who is currently on the IL and not expected back on a big-league mound for at least a few weeks, can be seen as a future-oriented move. Despite all the legitimate optimism surrounding this club, its difficult to argue that Toboni and Co. should be going all-in to win now.And so, a few more trades off the big-league roster might be coming. All-Star hurler Foster Griffin is an impending free agent getting loads of interest. Garcia would be a strong addition for any contending club. Young is good enough to be the fourth outfielder on a World Series champion. All of which is to say the Nats could look drastically different a week from now.But besides a trade of Abrams unlikely though possible its hard to see anything derailing the enormous uptick in vibes around this club. Theres something real happening here. It probably wont manifest this year or even in 2027, but Toboni, Butera, Abrams and Wood are the core of something special.That, for a beleaguered fan base, is a Christmas present worth cherishing.

\nHelp support Team USA!\n\nBegin Press Release:\n\nFundraising Now Open on RaiseIt4USA Website for AMA Motocross of Nations Team\nWebsite includes exclusive Team USA motocross merchandise, raffle items and more\n\nPICKERINGTON, Ohio-As the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations is approaching in early October, the AMA has unveiled a RaiseIt4USA fundraising website to financially support the United States MXoN team.\n\nThis website includes official Team USA merchandise, RaiseIt4USA raffle items, race-worn and rider jerseys, autographed plastics, limited-edition collectibles and much more. All purchases help support Team USA's efforts on the world stage and give fans access to exclusive products.\n\n"We're excited to give fans a way to get involved and directly support Team USA," said AMA Motocross of Nations Team Manager Mike Pelletier. "All raffle entries and purchases help make a difference while bringing our supporters closer to the team than ever before."\n\nThe fundraising website is always evolving, with new items being added regularly, so don't miss out on this opportunity to help American riders and score exclusive gear in the process. Visithttps://www.raiseit4usa.com/ for more information.\n\n\nBecome aMotorcycle.cominsider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletterhere.

Featured in this weeks MLB Power Rankings, the trade deadline takes centerstage while the Dodgers reclaim the top spot and the Diamondbacks find their way into the top 10.As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.Lets get into it! RELATED: The Rotoworld staff breaks down who they think are most likely to be moved before the MLB Trade DeadlineNote: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, July 27.1) Los Angeles DodgersLast week: 2Back in the No. 1 spot, the Dodgers might end up making the biggest bullpen addition of any team before the deadline. Thats because Edwin Daz is set to rejoin the club on Wednesday. Signed to a three-year, $69 million contract over the winter, Daz struggled to the tune of a 10.50 ERA across his first seven appearances as a Dodger before undergoing surgery in late April to remove loose bodies in his elbow.2) Milwaukee BrewersLast week: 1Another week, more history made for Jacob Misiorowski. The NL Cy Young Award front-runner set the Brewers franchise record on Sunday by striking out seven consecutive Rockies hitters to begin the game. He gave up just one run in five innings and actually saw his ERA go up a smidgen from 1.57 to 1.58. Thats when you know you are having a special season. The same goes for the Brewers, who should be active leading up to next Mondays trade deadline. Lance McCullers has already been designated for assignment after being acquired from the Astros less than two weeks ago. It would be surprising if the Brewers didnt land a starting pitcher.3) Tampa Bay RaysLast week: 4The Rays have won six out of seven, including seven innings of one-hit ball from Drew Rasmussen to finish off a sweep of the Guardians on Sunday. Theyve opened up a three-game lead in the AL East, but could still use upgrades in multiple areas over the next week.4) Atlanta BravesLast week: 3One thing we know for a fact is that the Braves are getting a major addition on Monday in the form of Ronald Acua Jr. As for what else could be coming their way, the Braves will surely be in the market for a starting pitcher and another bat.5) New York YankeesLast week: 5Speaking of bats, how much more damage can the Yankees lineup take? Cody Bellinger has joined Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list, a development which could the Yankees to be more aggressive to add some offense going into the deadline. We already know that catcher and bullpen are on the wish list.6) Chicago CubsLast week: 6Is there a lane for Pete Crow-Armstrong to win the NL MVP Award? With Shohei Ohtanis knee still barking, hes unlikely to pitch in the near future and its possible the Dodgers are extra careful with him in general down the stretch. Meanwhile, PCA just continues to produce. Hes sporting a 1.178 OPS over his last 51 games during which hes gotten on base at a .458 clip.I couldnt close this Cubs portion of the power rankings without showing this ridiculous trick pitch from Kerry Wood during a Savannah Bananas game at Wrigley Field over the weekend. Its hard to do anything cooler than a 20-strikeout game, but this is pretty close.Kerry Wood, Behind-The-Back Eephus pic.twitter.com/yDRUlZBr65 Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 26, 20267) Philadelphia PhilliesLast week: 7A stunning stat which might explain the Phillies trade discussions leading into August 3.That is the Phillies 11th straight loss out of the fifth rotation spot. Cole Weintraub (@WeintraubCole) July 26, 2026The back-end of the rotation isnt the only area of need here, as they had Edmundo Sosa hitting fifth and Bryan De La Cruz in the sixth spot over the weekend.8) Chicago White SoxLast week: 8Munetaka Murakami picked a good day to bust out of his mini slump. After hitting .184 with one RBI in his first 11 games back from the IL, he busted out with two homers and six RBI on Sunday against the Astros. Not only was it his bobblehead day at Rate Field, but his parents threw out of the first pitch.it's a family affair for Munetaka Murakami pic.twitter.com/Y3PNLAdv24 White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) July 26, 20269) Boston Red SoxLast week: 10And, were off! We had our first meaningful deal of the MLB Trade Deadline with the Red Sox sending pitcher Connelly Early to the Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead. Craig Breslow acknowledged that it was uncomfortable to deal Early, but they clearly believe in Meads progression this season. His pull-side power makes him a fun fit at Fenway Park, even with some questions about his defense.10) Arizona DiamondbacksLast week: 13The Diamondbacks are showing some surprising persistence in the NL Wild Card race and Gabriel Moreno has played a crucial role in making it happen. The 26-year-old has driven in at least one run in five straight games and currently holds a 23-game on-base streak.11) Pittsburgh PiratesLast week: 12Storybook moment for Pirates catcher Shawn Ross, who blasted a 438-foot home run in his first MLB start on Sunday.NO-DOUBTER. DOUBLE-DECKER. 2-RUNNER. 438 FOOTER. pic.twitter.com/NA8gAoNr4R Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 26, 2026Ross originally signed with the Pirates out of independent ball in 2022 and had a .188/.319/.416 batting line over 270 minor league games. Still, the Pirates needed catching help with Rafael Flores going on the IL due to concussion symptoms. Ross is making his opportunity count.12) Texas RangersLast week: 15Jacob deGrom fired five innings of one-run ball on Sunday against the Mariners before the bullpen coughed up the lead. With as close as things are in the AL West and Wild Card picture, this is a loss which could come back to bite them down the line. It also underscores the Rangers need for bullpen help.13) Washington NationalsLast week: 18In previewing the trade deadline a couple of weeks ago, I noted that the Nationals would likely be tactical aimed at the long-term, and we saw that approach materialize in the aforementioned trade for left-hander Connelly Early. The 24-year-old is still working his way back from elbow inflammation, but cashing in on Curtis Meads breakout to address a clear area of organization need (starting pitching) is exactly what they should be doing. While this move was made with the bigger picture in mind, the Nationals are just one game back of the Diamondbacks for the third Wild Card spot.14) St. Louis CardinalsLast week: 11Losers of seven out of their last nine, the Cardinals might have played themselves into sellers. Dustin May is one of the more logical names to move, and he made his best start in a few weeks with six innings of one-run ball against the Reds on Friday.15) Cleveland GuardiansLast week: 9The Guardians have lost five straight, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Rays. Theyve scored a grand total of four runs over their last four games. If that wasnt bad enough, they also failed to sign second round pick left-hander Logan Schmidt.16) San Diego PadresLast week: 19Thanks to the resurgent Manny Machado, the Padres pulled off a sweep of the reeling Marlins over the weekend. The 34-year-old Machado is slashing .288/.376/.588 with seven homers this month.17) Seattle MarinersLast week: 16The Mariners fired assistant hitting coach Bobby Magallanes, a move which feels more like message to the clubhouse rather than a scapegoating. The lineup has underperformed all season, and theres little excuse for the club to still be below .500 this late in the year.18) Minnesota TwinsLast week: 20The Twins will be a fascinating team to watch in the coming days. They have a pulse, and therefore are still alive in the American League. But at the same time they have one of the deadlines most interesting players in Ryan Jeffers, who is due to become a free agent after the season. They might very well thread the needle in terms of trades, sort of like what we saw with the Nationals already.19) Houston AstrosLast week: 23The Astros saw their five-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday, but the positives mostly outweigh the negatives right now. While Spencer Arrighetti is back on the injured list with a right foot injury, staff ace Hunter Brown blanked the White Sox for seven innings on Saturday. He had a 7.98 ERA with 14 walks in 14 2/3 innings across his first three starts this month.20) Miami MarlinsLast week: 14Life comes at you fast. The Marlins were very much in the playoff picture this time last month, but theyve now lost 12 straight to set a new franchise record. Could the Marlins reconsider trading Sandy Alcantara?21) Baltimore OriolesLast week: 17The Orioles are 2-4 since their seven-game winning streak. The absences of Adley Rutschman and Samuel Bassalo are being felt in a big way.22) Detroit TigersLast week: 21Tarik Skubal did what he had to do against the Royals on Friday, but the Tigers were handed a pair of one-run losses on Saturday and Sunday. Perhaps they take their increasingly-low chances and hold on to Skubal (and Casey Mize), but it really feels like they should sell.23) Cincinnati RedsLast week: 24Spencer Steer has been bandied about as a target for teams in need of a right-handed hitter, but thats all on hold now that hes headed to the injured list with a right wrist sprain. Per Buster Olney of ESPN, Steer is set to miss significant time.24) Toronto Blue JaysLast week: 22This season hasnt gone anywhere close to what the Blue Jays had in mind. The question is how aggressive they are as a seller going into the deadline. The Blue Jays could and probably should trade impending free agents like Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and George Springer.25) Kansas City RoyalsLast week: 28Some good vibes for the Royals at the moment, as they are 7-3 since the All-Star Break. On a related note, kudos to Salvador Perez for passing George Brett to become the franchises all-time leader in home runs.FOR THE RECORD!Salvador Perez passes George Brett to become the @Royals all-time home run leader https://t.co/s6t4FFHPoqpic.twitter.com/H66Xgnr2bb MLB (@MLB) July 25, 202626) San Francisco GiantsLast week: 25Its July 27 and the Giants have yet to sweep a series this season. That sort of says it all about where they find themselves. The Giants should be one of the most aggressive sellers this week, with Luis Arrez as the most likely name to be moved.27) AthleticsLast week: 26The Athletics have had some awful injury luck this season and it continued this weekend as Shea Langeliers went down with a torn meniscus in his knee and could end up missing the remainder of the season. Langeliers has been mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks, and while the As would have had to been blown away to actually deal him, this takes a significant name off the table for now.28) New York MetsLast week: 27Just like the Mets roster looked vastly different on Opening Day, we could see a housecleaning over the coming week. Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, AJ Minter, Brooks Raley, Tyrone Taylor, and Luis Robert Jr. are all logical candidates to be dealt, and names like Luke Weaver, Huascar Brazoban, Luis Torrens, and Francisco Alvarez shouldnt be ruled out either. This is your classic turn lemons into lemonade situation as the Mets attempt to restock a farm system which has also taken a step back this year.29) Los Angeles AngelsLast week: 30Its important to appreciate the moments where Mike Trout reminds us of his greatness. The future Hall of Famer managed his first four-hit game in five years as the Angels salvaged the finale against the Giants on Sunday. Hes hitting .318 this month and has struck out just one time in his last five games.30) Colorado RockiesLast week: 29As noted above, Jacob Misiorowski carved up the Rockies on Sunday, but one notable highlight was Cole Carriggs solo homer to break up the early no-hit bid. The opposite-field blast from the rookie came against a 101.9 mph fastball. If youre wondering if thats some sort of record, it is. For the Rockies, anyway.#Rockies Cole Carrigg homered on a 101.9 mph pitch off #Brewers RHP Jacob Misiorowski. Thats the fastest pitch a Rockies player has homered off of under pitch tracking (2008), and tied for 12th-fastest by anyone in that span for a homer.@SlangsOnSports Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) July 26, 2026

With the Big Ten set to take the media day spotlight this week, the unofficial media preseason poll for the upcoming college football season has been revealed. So what are the expectations for the Penn State Nittany Lions according to members of the media within the Big Ten footprint?Unlike some conferences, the Big Ten does not organize its own preseason media poll for the annual media days. So, for the past 16 years, Cleveland.com has taken the lead in organizing its unofficial media poll by taking votes from media members from around the conference. As expected, the media is a bit less enthusiastic about Penn State's Big Ten title hopes entering the 2026 season compared to last year.Penn State comes in at No. 6 in this year's preseason media poll from Cleveland.com. Penn State received 380 points and had an average ranking of 6.74 according to the vote tally. Ohio State received the most votes in the poll, including 15 first-place votes, to take the top spot in the preseason media poll.Oregon and Indiana were the only other teams to receive first-place votes from the voters, with the Ducks receiving 11 first-place votes and the defending Big Ten and national champion Hoosiers receiving five first-place votes. The Ducks and Hoosiers followed the Buckeyes, respectively, in the poll. USC and Michigan also sit ahead of Penn State in the poll, with the Trojans at No. 4 and the Wolverines at No. 5.According to the Cleveland.com poll, Penn State was actually the most divisive team on the ballot. The Nittany Lions reportedly ranged anywhere from fourth to 11th in the voting. Talk about a wild card! Penn State was picked to win the Big Ten last season, but that obviously did not pan out.Check out the full poll from Cleveland.com to see how the rest of the Big Ten is shaping up according to the Big Ten media.Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State receives mixed results in Big Ten preseason media poll

The biggest addition to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason is making his presence felt at the first day of training camp.Dominant pass rusher Myles Garrett made his debut in Rams gear on Monday, and as defensive coordinator Chris Shula described it, it was worth the wait.Jun 2, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (95) poses with general manager Les Snead (left) and coach Sean McVay at press conference at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesWeve been looking forward to this day for a long time, and it definitely lived up to it, Shula said, as reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press.Myles Garrett key part of revamped Rams defenseGarrett wasnt just wowing his coaches; he impressed his new teammates, too.Newly acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie was also singing Garretts praises.When hes out there, you can just feel his aura, McDuffie said. (Its just) this aura that this guy has. I mean, hes gigantic. Hes a monster. But Im just excited to get him out here and get him loose and get him going, because I know he has a little chip on his shoulder, and I know hes excited about being here, so I think that just fires everybody else up.Aug 9, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesWith the additions to the defense, the return of reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford as QB and a pair of the NFLs best receivers at wideout, the Rams have title aspirations, though McDuffie downplayed that to Beacham.Honestly, I dont know if many guys feel the expectation that everybody claims that we have, McDuffie said. For us, were here to play football, to enjoy the locker room, just to get to know each other. I feel like all the expectation, all that, we leave to you guys hyping us up. Whoever is on this field, whoever is on the team, whoever is in the locker room, I feel like we do a good job just enjoying each others presence and living in the moment.That said, the Super Bowl potential is what has legendary lineman Aaron Donald mulling a comeback to the squad.Do you think Aaron Donald will suit up for the Rams again this season?The post Myles Garrett Lived Up to Hype at Training Camp appeared first on LA Sports Report.

At long last, Salahdine Parnasse is ready to take the UFCs lightweight division by storm. The 28-year-old Frenchman has long been considered one of the most talented fighters outside of the UFC. Parnasse left a destructive first impression on American audiences in May with his quick knockout of Kenneth Cross on Netflixs Ronda Rousey-led MVP MMA card, but prior to that he was already one of the kings of European MMA. During a nine-year run with Polish giant KSW, Parnasse captured belts at both featherweight and lightweight, and even fought five rounds for the welterweight title as well.Through it all, Parnasse spurned multiple opportunities to jump ship to the UFC, with Parnasses coach Stphane Chaufourier stating in 2024 that KSWs offer to secure the Frenchmens services was 20 to 30 times greater, and some online reports suggesting Parnasse was earning as much as 600k per fight. But now, the time has finally come.UFC announced Saturday that Parnasse has signed a deal and is set to face longtime contender Dan Hooker in a rare debut main event on Sept. 5 at UFC Paris. "After my fight with MVP, the UFC contacted me, and it was an opportunity, it was really simple it was to be part of this main event in my hometown in Paris. So it was a really good opportunity for me and I accepted, Parnasse told Uncrowned on Monday through a translator.This time, they offered me a really good opportunity. First of all, the deal was better [than last time], and they offered me the [chance] to be part of the rankings by taking a fight against Dan Hooker. So it is a really good opportunity for me to accept this challenge."Parnasse (23-2) said several organizations contacted him during his latest free agency period, including MVP MMA for a potential follow-up bout, but he ultimately decided to accept the UFCs offer because it was the most challenging and bigger for me.Parnasse is known as a vicious offensive fighter in the cage, with his past eight victories since 2022 coming by way of stoppage. All seven of those prior to his Netflix win over Cross came in KSW title bouts in either the featherweight or lightweight division.Its a really good contract, Parnasse said of the offer that finally pushed him to join UFC. Fortunately, I have to prove that I deserve this and I am at the top level for my fans.Of course its an incredible feeling [to debut in a Paris main event], he added. For me, it represents years of hard work finally paying off. I dominated the European scene and also I fought on the first MMA event on Netflix, and now Im ready for the next stage.Its rare to see UFC newcomers debut not only in a headlining spot, but also against an opponent the caliber of Hooker. The 36-year-old New Zealander has been a ranked contender for the better part of a decade, earning UFC wins over the likes of Mateusz Gamrot, Gilbert Burns, Jalin Turner and Paul Felder, while also testing himself against divisional stars like Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier and Arman Tsarukyan.Following Saturdays announcement, Hooker told Submission Radio that Parnasses French fans have already begun barraging him with outrageous death threats:The death threats have been outrageous. I didnt get it when I fought [Benoit Saint Denis]. Like just the French people and speaking French telling me Im going to die and telling me theyre going to kill me and s***. The death threats have been outrageous.Parnasse, though, isnt concerned."Everything with the fans, my fans or Dan Hooker's fans, doesn't concern me, he said in response. I have only one goal, and it's to fight Dan Hooker on September 5.I respect Dan Hooker, but the fans do what they want. It doesn't concern me. Dan Hooker's fans can say nasty things to me, but I'm only focused on the fight."

When analyzing the NFLs most dominant rushing attacks, eyes naturally turn to the ball carriers. But for the Los Angeles Rams, the real engine behind last seasons ground game was built directly into the trenches.According to data from FTN Fantasy via Nutshell Sports, guard-tackle combinations from the Colts, Rams, and Bears dominated the top of the league in rushing effectiveness. In fact, Los Angeles claimed a full quarter of the NFLs top eight pairings when measuring average rush Expected Points Added (EPA) per play toward a specific tandem's side of the line.Leading the charge for L.A. was the left-side duo of Steve Avila and Alaric Jackson, who tied for the fifth-highest mark in the league by generating an impressive +0.16 EPA per play across 61 shared rushing snaps. Not far behind, the right-side unit of Kevin Dotson and Warren McClendon Jr. tied for eighth overall, delivering a stout +0.10 EPA per play over 39 snaps.A look at rushing effectiveness behind guard/tackle combos. This was found by calculating average rush EPA when the run went toward the direction of each guard/tackle combo.The Colts, Rams, and Bears dominate the top of the list.Player participation data via @FTNFantasypic.twitter.com/QPx7stnJmj Nutshell Sports (@NutshellSportz) July 25, 2026Having two distinct pairings in the top eight highlights how head coach Sean McVay consistently created push and set edges regardless of where the handoff was directed.That front-line dominance paved the way for massive team-wide efficiency. Led by dynamic backfield duo Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, Los Angeles earned the highest-graded rushing offense in the NFL on Pro Football Network's Offense Impact metric. A composite scatterplot combining data from Pro Football Focus, ESPN, Sports Info Solutions, and nflfastR placed the Rams firmly in the upper-right quadrant of league-wide rushing efficiency, showcasing an elite blend of above-average run blocking and high rush success rate.Furthermore, PFF data shows L.A. generated positive EPA on over 50% of its total handoffs in 2025. It marks just the second time since PFF began tracking in 2006 that an NFL team crossed that 50% thresholdjoining McVay's historic 2018 Rams squad led by Todd Gurley.With Avila, Jackson, Dotson, and McClendon paving pathways, the Rams proved once again that elite ground games start at the point of attack.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams guard-tackle combos power elite ground game

STRASBOURG, FRANCE - MAY 3: Dayann Methalie of Toulouse FC reacts during the Ligue 1 McDonald's 2025/26 match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and Toulouse FC at Stade de la Meinau on May 3, 2026 in Strasbourg, France. (Photo by Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesAs the Black Cats look to bolster the squad and find that perfect balance of youthful exuberance and tactical flexibility, our scouting network has been working overtime.Today, we are casting our eyes across the English Channel to the south of France. Toulouse has become a breeding ground for elite young talent in recent years, and their latest breakout star, left-back Dayann Mthalie, is catching the eye of scouts all over Europe.Could this France Under-21 international be the dynamic defensive powerhouse Sunderland need to take the next step? Lets dive into the profile of Toulouses rising star.Who is Dayaan Mthalie?Born on 15 February 2006 in Toulouse, France, Dayann Mthalie is a highly rated 20-year-old left-back who can also comfortably operate as a left wing-back or a left-sided centre-back in a back three. Standing at an imposing 1.88m (6ft 2in), Mthalie possesses a unique blend of physical stature and athletic dynamism that is rare for the modern full-back.Mthalie joined his hometown club in 2014 as an eight-year-old. He progressed rapidly through the youth ranks, earning a reputation as one of the most physically dominant defenders in French youth football.After signing his first professional contract, Mthalie made his Ligue 1 debut in August 2025. What followed was an exceptional breakthrough campaign in which he made 30 appearances, scoring twice and registering two assists across all competitions.His impressive domestic performances earned him a place in the highly competitive France Under-21 squad, where he has already made an instant impact with two goals and one assist in four appearances.What Do His Stats Suggest?Mthalies statistical profile paints the picture of a highly robust, dual-threat full-back who excels in defensive duels but still has room to grow in possession.Defensively, Mthalie ranks highly across several key metrics. During the previous Ligue 1 campaign, he made 114 defensive contributions (81st percentile), 55 tackles (85th percentile), 25 interceptions (79th percentile) and 31 clearances (83rd percentile). Add to that 107 duels won (80th percentile) and a 77% aerial duel success rate (77th percentile), and it is clear why he is already regarded as such a dependable defender despite his young age.Going forward, Mthalie is more of a ball-carrying full-back, as shown by his 28 successful dribbles (95th percentile) and his touches in the opposition penalty area (92nd percentile), one of which resulted in Toulouse winning a penalty. Whilst he registered only a single assist in Ligue 1 last season, his xA of 2.22 suggests he could significantly improve that return with higher-quality finishing from his team-mates. That xA figure places him in the 80th percentile among Ligue 1 full-backs.Should Rgis Le Bris require him to play in a more possession-based system, his numbers in this area are less convincing. A passing accuracy of 79.5% and long-ball accuracy of 37.9% place him below average in both categories. However, Toulouse finished mid-table in Ligue 1 with a goal difference of +1, so he has not been playing in one of the leagues dominant sides. Coupled with his more expansive performances for France Under-21s, there is clearly a coachable player here one who could flourish surrounded by higher-quality team-mates.His current profile is comparable to that of Manchester City defender Nathan Ak and Sunderlands own Reinildo Mandava.The VerdictFinding a left-footed defender who stands at 6ft 2in, possesses elite recovery pace and has already proven himself in Ligue 1 is incredibly rare. While competition for his signature would likely be fierce, with Premier League clubs reportedly circling, Mthalie fits the exact high-upside, high-resale profile that Sunderlands recruitment model has consistently targeted. If there is an opportunity to bring him to Wearside, it is certainly one worth exploring.Should he make the switch, Sunderland supporters could expect an exciting, modern defender with all the attributes to develop into a top Premier League player. Personally, Id love to see him pull on the famous red and white, learning from Reinildo while continuing his development as Sunderland look to establish themselves in the Premier League and build on their return to European football.

Two of the main storylines from last weeks U.S. Junior Amateur are back in action this week.Miles Russell, who lost to Noah Maclauchan in the 36-hole final last Saturday at Saucon Valley Country Club, is among those competing in the Western Amateur, which begins Tuesday at Beverly Country Club in Chicago. Charlie Woods, who was eliminated in a 14-for-2 playoff on Wednesday morning, will be at PGA Frisco in Texas for the Junior PGA Championship, which also starts Tuesday.Russell, the worlds seventh-ranked amateur, is one of five top-10 amateurs in the field for the grueling championship, which includes 72 holes of stroke play and four match-play rounds over five days. World No. 2 Tyler Watts, No. 4 Luke Poulter, No. 6 Ethan Fang and No. 8 Josiah Gilbert are also in the field. Russell will be grouped with Watts and Fang for Rounds 1-2, as all three are already part of this years U.S. Walker Cup team.Russell and Watts are joined in the Western field by fellow junior players Giuseppe Puebla, Jackson Ormond, Hamilton Coleman, Preston Hage, Louis Klein and defending Junior PGA champ Lunden Esterline.Other Walker Cup hopefuls such as Kihei Akina, Eric Lee, Carson Bertagnole, Jacob Modleski and Mason Howell will tee it up at Beverly as well.Woods, who is grouped for the first two rounds of the Junior PGA with Ainslie Stanford and Rory Asselta, is coming off his best U.S. Junior finish (T-63), though his championship ended after he made bogey on the first playoff hole, during which a spectators phone camera clicked in Woods backswing on his third shot into the par-5 green.Other notables in the Junior PGA field include Xander Mulder, the son of former MLB pitcher Mark Mulder; Eli Wessel, who got through that U.S. Junior playoff before losing to Russell in the first round of match play; Jaden Soong, who is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 10 in the AJGA rankings, two spots ahead of fellow 2028 Rory Asselta; plus several other top 2028s, including Chase Bauer, Chase Hughes and JP Lynch.