The season hasn't even started, and Aaron Glenn and the Jets are already getting props originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.As a New York Jets fan the past few years, there haven't been too many reasons to smile. There haven't been hardly any, really. But, hey, that changes now, because the Jets are getting big props ahead of the new season.Aaron Glenn wasn't able to turn this team around in his first year with the Jets. But, that was a big ask, anyway. Heading into year two, the pressure is on in a big way. But it's nothing he can't handle. At least, that's the hope.Either way, the public is watching. In a USA Today piece released on Monday, reporter Nick Brinkerhoff names the Jets the No. 5 team on his "vibe check" radar. That means they have a really good vibe right now and people care about this team.Jets have a great 'vibe' this season"The New Jersey Turnpike often has a noticeable stench to it and it's nothing you'll find in candle form," he says in the piece. "Of course, that is thanks to the factories and marshes, even if the Jets and Giants are major contributors most seasons. This year might be different though."Different? We like that. From there, Brinkerhoff highlights some of the best moves this team has made during the offseason, like adding Jets like Geno Smith and Demario Davis."And with three first-round picks next offseason, hopes are high for Jets fans maybe for good reason, too," he adds.More NFL news:Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets honor that speaks volumes about his riseHave the Bears already peaked?Bengals' Dexter Lawrence could hold the key for Joe Burrow in 2026

LAWRENCE After the speculation about whether former Kansas basketball standout Melvin Council Jr. would seek another year of eligibility at the Division I level in college, Council is going through the legal system to get it.According to Douglas County court records from July, Council is the plaintiff in a case against the NCAA and Josh Whitman in the state of Kansas. Whitman, a defendant alongside the NCAA, is described in the petition as being in his official capacity as chair of the NCAA Division I cabinet. The petition is for damages and injunctive relief against those parties.The bid for another year of eligibility addresses how the NCAA handles the eligibility of athletes whove spent time at the junior college level, as Council did before moving up to Division I at Wagner, then St. Bonaventure, and then Kansas. It also addresses how not allowing Council to participate in another season of Division I basketball would keep him from potentially making millions of dollars through NIL, and hinder his ability to get selected in a future NBA draft. He is seeking the chance to play one more year of Division I basketball, and KU coach Bill Self has reacted to this news.RELATED: Can Kansas basketballs alumni team continue to advance in TBT?Were aware of Melvins legal efforts to pursue an additional year of Division I eligibility, similar to what a number of student-athletes across the country are doing, Self said in a statement. At this point, were simply monitoring the process and allowing it to play out.According to the petition, Council had submitted a waiver request to the NCAA through KUs compliance office in May this year. Later that month, the request was effectively denied. The petition takes issue with that as well.If this is permitted, Council who spent time in the NBA summer league this year with the New Orleans Pelicans would be eligible to play for a school in the 2026-27 season. During the 2025-26 season, he helped the Jayhawks to the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament and the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament. He averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game across 35 starts and was named the Big 12s newcomer of the year as a senior guard.Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Associations sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Bill Self reacts to Melvin Council Jr.s pursuit of more eligibility

The German Football Association (DFB) has confirmed an unusual arrangement with Red Bull to secure Jrgen Klopp's release as national team head coach, involving a 1 million donation to charity and a commitment to stage three future Germany matches in Leipzig. Charitable Donation Was The Price Of Klopp's Release It has now emerged just how far the DFB had to go to get their man. Confirming the terms at Klopp's official unveiling on Friday, president Bernd Neuendorf revealed that the federation agreed to make a 1 million donation to the Red Bull-backed "Wings for Life" foundation as part of the deal to free Klopp from his prior commitments. Neuendorf explained that the gesture was designed to acknowledge how smoothly Red Bull had handled his release. "The German Football Association has made these special arrangements in recognition of the fact that the release was handled in such an uncomplicated and unbureaucratic manner," he said. Leipzig Secured As Venue For Future Internationals The donation, it turns out, was only part of the agreement. As part of the wider arrangement with Red Bull, the DFB also committed to staging three senior Germany internationals at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig across the course of Klopp's contract a tangible concession that ensured the Red Bull-owned stadium and its local supporters benefited directly from a deal that saw one of the company's most high-profile executives depart prematurely. Landing Klopp is widely regarded as a major coup for a federation desperate to return German football to the top of the international game. Hans-Joachim Watzke, the DFB's first vice-president and a long-time ally of Klopp from their years together at Borussia Dortmund, also made clear his relief that the situation had finally been resolved. Behind The Scenes Of The Red Bull Negotiations Getting Klopp out of his role as head of global soccer required sustained, high-level dialogue between the DFB and Red Bull's leadership. Neuendorf disclosed that he held "very intensive talks with RB, specifically with Oliver Mintzlaff", the company's chief executive, in order to reach an agreement both parties could accept. Reflecting on how those discussions concluded, Neuendorf praised the professionalism shown throughout by the Red Bull hierarchy. "I am very grateful to Oliver Mintzlaff for the discussions and how we were able to conduct them. We were both quickly in agreement that the simultaneous execution of Jurgen's function at RB and the exercise of the office of national team coach would be difficult to reconcile with one another," he said. Years Of Struggle Across Three Coaching Eras Klopp inherits a national team still searching for the identity it lost following the golden generation of 2014. Germany suffered a shock group-stage exit as defending champions at the 2018 World Cup under Joachim Low before Hansi Flick took over in 2021 and oversaw an equally painful group-stage elimination in Qatar a run of results that made Flick the first head coach ever sacked by the DFB. Julian Nagelsmann was subsequently appointed in September 2023, given less than a year to prepare the hosts for Euro 2024, where he guided the team to a respectable quarter-final finish before extending his stay through to this summer's World Cup. That tournament, however, brought fresh heartbreak rather than the redemption Germany craved, with Nagelsmann's side eliminated in the round of 32 on penalties against Paraguay extending the nation's wait for a run deep into a major tournament to more than a decade. It is against that backdrop of near-constant disappointment across three different coaching regimes that Klopp now arrives, tasked with restoring a team that once defined footballing excellence back to the level its history demands.

CHICAGO (AP) New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday, a day after he got hurt running the bases during a 3-1 win at Philadelphia. He had more tests on Monday in New York that revealed the extent of the injury.So the good thing is hes obviously able to move around right now, manager Aaron Boone said before the opener of a four-game series at the Chicago White Sox. So well continue to do that and just allow this thing to heal and get him right.The loss of Bellinger is another major injury for a New York team already playing without reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, who has been out since May 31 because of a fractured rib. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton has been sidelined since April 24 because of a strained right calf.The Yankees trailed AL East-leading Tampa Bay by three games going into Monday's action.Weve had some tough injuries to some really important people, Boone said. But again, that is part of it. As I say, the season waits for no one.Max Schuemann got the start in left field for the series opener against the White Sox. Spencer Jones, who was brought up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when Bellinger was placed on the IL, was in center, and Jasson Domnguez was in right.The MLB trade deadline is next week, but Boone downplayed the effect of Bellinger's injury on the strategy for general manager Brian Cashman and the team's front office.I get the sense that they have been working on this in different ways, shape and form for the last several weeks, getting ready for trade deadline stuff, Boone said. I expect them to try and do all they can to improve our team, but again, you never know how thats going to shake out.Bellinger, 31, felt tightness in his hamstring while rounding first on a double in the eighth inning on Saturday night. He is batting .259 with 11 homers and 53 RBIs in 102 games this season.Bellinger re-signed with the Yankees last winter for $162.5 million over five years. He was the MVP of the All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia.Judge and Stanton are with the team in Chicago, and Boone said Stanton is continuing with his running progression.The strength stuff, explosive stuff hes doing in the weight room has been very good, Boone said. So we just got to get him up to a level obviously on the running side of things to be able to go out there.Left-hander Carlos Rodn and right-hander Clarke Schmidt are both expected to throw again this week, Boone said. Rodn is coming back from elbow inflammation, and Schmidt had Tommy John surgery a year ago.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

MANSFIELD The Richland County Junior Golf Championship is shaping up for an epic finish.No one golfer across the RCJGC tournament divisions owns a lead of larger than five strokes after the first day of play at Twin Lakes Golf Course on Monday, July 27. The final round is slated for Tuesday, July 28 at Oak Tree Golf Club.The tightest race for the championship comes in the boys 17-18 year old division where Madison's Josh Maglott and Lexington's Jackson Durchik sit tied at the top of the standings after matching 70s on Day 1. Maglott shot a 34-36-70 while Durchik was consistent with a 35-35-70 as both golfers shot one under for the day. Chase Dininger, Kolbe Ramion and Bryar Ousley are all in the hunt for the division championship. Dininger shot a 37-36-73 while Ramion added a 38-37-75 and Ousley shot a 36-39-75 to remain five shots back of the lead.In the lone girls division, Kristin Combs ended the day with a solid round of 38-38-76 while Aniyah Monica fired a 37-42-78 to make it a close competition. Sarah Combs added a 41-42-83 while Isabella Deal added a 40-46-86, Erika Hollard had a 41-47-88 and Leah McDowell shot a 49-40-89 to remain in the hunt.In the boys 15-16 year old division, Cullen Hart owns a two-shot lead after the first round when he fired a 35-40-75. He sits just ahead of Carson Pigg who had a 37-40-77, Beckett Slaughter (38-40-78) and Ben Sheets (38-40-78). Brandon Maglott had a 41-39-80 and Jackson Curry added a 38-42-80 to remain in the hunt for the division title.The boys 13-14 year old division is a two-golfer race after the first round. Vincent Studer owns a five-shot lead after Day 1 when he shot a 36-38-74. Gabe Owens sits in second with a 40-39-79 and Benjamin Drueschler is in third with a 43-42-85.There were 83 golfers signed up for the RCJGC with 81 tallying Day 1 scores.Below is the complete leaderboards for each division.2026 Richland County Junior Golf Championship LeaderboardBoys 17-18 DivisionJosh Maglott, 34-36-70Jackson Durchik, 35-35-70Chase Dininger, 37-36-73Kolbe Ramion, 38-37-75Bryar Ousley, 36-39-75Caleb Murfield, 37-39-76Lincoln Shepherd, 39-39-78Jacob Brokaw, 42-36-78Grady Schroeder, 41-39-80Branson Porter, 40-42-82Kaile Beachy, 42-41-83AJ Studer, 44-41-85Jackson Henry, 43-44-87Tobin Amos, 43-46-89Gavin Lamb, 46-44-90Kayne Cooke, 42-48-90Finn McAuley, 45-49-94Nate Riggle, 44-51-95Jaydon Fultz, 51-52-103Jace Germann, 50-58-108Girls DivisionKristin Combs, 38-38-76Aniyah Monica, 37-42-79Sarah Combs, 41-42-83Isabella Deal, 40-46-86Erika Hollar, 41-47-88Leah McDowell, 49-40-89Ella Schmidt, 46-48-94Leah Zigler, 46-48-94Lyla Belcher, 42-52-94Olivia Heuss, 50-51-101Saleen Miller-Beck, 52-50-102Sydni Setser, 50-52-102Delaney Carver, 55-49-104Anna Amrose, 52-53-105Hailey Stuff, 53-53-106Aimee Greene, 50-57-107Fairy Tomecko, 54-55-109Laynee Carter, 53-56-109Gabby Brinkman, 54-56-110Raegan Welsh, 50-60-110Sophia Jacobs, 56-60-116Addilynn Padgett, 54-63-117Randi Beck, 60-70-130Boys 15-16 DivisionCullen Hart, 35-40-75Carson Pigg, 37-40-77Beckett Slaughter, 38-40-78Ben Sheets, 38-40-78Brandon Maglott, 41-39-80Jackson Curry, 38-42-80Myles Smith, 40-41-81Christian Hart, 41-42-83Dawson Dreibelbis, 44-42-86Thomas Lenahan, 44-42-86Brycen Carrocci, 42-44-86Evan Miller, 45-41-86David Crundwell, 46-42-88Jakob Schmidt, 47-41-88Aaron Swendal, 44-45-89Max Anderson, 46-43-89Brady Watts, 45-45-90Carson Isaac, 44-46-90Michael Brown, 45-45-90Camden Conrad, 43-49-92Daniel Moritz, 47-45-92Miles Doehla, 45-48-93Justin Williams, 49-49-98Nathan Mumford, 42-56-98Julian Joyce, 53-48-101Elijah Jones, 51-50-101Reece Bauer, 51-53-104Hunter Cline, 54-53-107Boys 13-14 DivisionVincent Studer, 36-38-74Gabe Owens, 40-39-79Benjamin Drueschler, 43-42-85Ethan Nester, 47-47-94Jacob Bonte, 46-49-95Colt Marriotta, 43-52-95Bradyn Tuttle, 43-53-96Ryder Wallace, 54-50-104Grayson Bradley, 53-54-107Dylan Milligan, 60-62-122This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Races tight after Day 1 of Richland County Junior Golf Championships

The Kansas basketball and Wichita State alumni teams are going to face off Monday in The Basketball tournament, in a game thatll be played in Wichita.JHX Hoops, KUs team, has reached the semifinals of the alumni portion of the TBT bracket. JHX Hoops had to beat Purple Reign, Kansas States alumni team, in a three-game series to reach this point. Should JHX Hoops win against the AfterShocks, Wichita States team, it would advance to the finals of the alumni side of the bracket and have a chance to advance to the championship game which would be played against the winner of the non-alumni side of the bracket.RELATED: JHX Hoops, Purple Reign recap: JHX Hoops wins game 3, takes TBT seriesFollow along for updates from the matchup, which is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. (CT):JHX Hoops vs AfterShocks live score updatesThis will be updated.JHX Hoops vs AfterShocks time todayDate: Monday, July 27Start time: 8 p.m. (CT)Where: Charles Koch Arena in WichitaJHX Hoops and the AfterShocks will play against each other in a TBT matchup at 8 p.m. (CT) on Monday at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita.What channel is JHX Hoops vs AfterShocks on todayTV channel: FS1Streaming: FuboThe Kansas basketball and Wichita State alumni teams in the TBT will play each other in a game thatll be televised on FS1. Streaming options include Fubo.Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Associations sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesnt influence our coverage.This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: JHX Hoops vs AfterShocks live score updates: Kansas TBT run continues

The best solution to the current chaos in college football could be a nationwide union. It's a big job, like eating an elephant.And the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.Via Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports, Stanford's football team has formed a "fraternity chapter." The move comes in partnership with the College Football Players Association. The CFBPA has been trying to get college players to organize for several years. Stanford's chapter could be the first of many throughout the country.Stanford senior Fisher Anderson told Christovich thatthe ultimate goal is to do what the NFLPA does for college football.There are legal impediments to creating a college version of the NFLPA. Public universities wouldn't fall within the purview of federal labor law. One potential workaround would be to make the players joint employees of their schools and their conferences, which are private entities.A political hurdle exists as well. The current administration is staunchly pro-business; the push to unionize would be better timed to occur under an administration that is more favorable to employee rights.Here's the overriding question that the players should consider before unionizing. Why do it? The current chaos is good for them, both as to money and as to flexibility to transfer.Of course, a union is better for players than a Congressional antitrust exemption that would allow the schools to restrict both money and mobility.For the programs, having a multi-employer bargaining unit would create an antitrust exemption, allowing the universities to create rules regarding pay, transfers, etc. The downside (and the main reason why the powers-that-be resist unionization) is that it would give the players real power at the bargaining table.Coaches who in some college towns answer to no one would be subject to union rules regarding practices and offseason workouts. And the coaches don't want to give up their control over the players.Still, the problems in big-money college sports trace to decades of rampant antitrust violations. Those who made the mess should have to clean it up. And the cleanest solution comes from embracing, not shunning, a players union that would encompass all players in all conferences.

Red Sox may have to walk away from Zach Neto if Angels demand Franklin Arias at trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox made some noise when they started the trade deadline a week before the actual date, sending Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for Curtis Mead. Now, it looks like they arent stopping anytime soon either.However, who they get is still a question mark. One of their top targets is Los Angeles Angels slugger Zach Neto, but he might be out of their price range now.Neto would play well in Boston Imagn Images Without cost in mind, Neto would be a solid-to-great fit in the Red Sox offense. This season, hes slashing .234/.323/.441/.764 with 21 doubles, 19 home runs, and 46 RBI in 103 games played.While his average is a little low, his heavy pull tendency on a right-handed swing would play very well in Fenway Park, as he could raise his average by slamming singles and doubles into the Green Monster in left field. Overall, Neto profiles as a great hitter for Boston, and thats exactly why his fee might be too high.Netos price might be too great Ashley Green/WooSox Photo / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesNow, the Angels know Neto would be perfect in Boston, which contributes to raising his price. Combine that with the three and a half years of control left on his contract, and Los Angeles could ask the moon for Neto.According to the Boston Globes Alex Speier, that means if Boston wants Neto, they have to give up their No. 1 prospect and No. 7 in the Top 100, Franklin Arias. Arias has an MVP-level ceiling, as he is a great hitter, and plays great defense at shortstop, which is also Netos position. And with the fact that hes so close to the MLB, the Red Sox should be adverse to trading him.How Boston could swing it Dale Zanine-Imagn ImagesNow, the Red Sox could still pursue Neto, and just try to use a different avenue. The Sox could sell Marcelo Mayer, Jarren Duran, or many of their other prospects, save Arias and Anthony Eyanson.As for where hed play, Netos defense is pretty bad, so they could decide to make him the full-time DH if they were to acquire him, and make Masataka Yoshida the everyday left fielder until Roman Anthonys return.In the end, Neto would be a great addition to Bostons squad, but if his price includes Arias or no deal, then no deal it is.MOREMLBNEWSRed Sox may sacrifice Marcelo Mayer or Jarren Duran to land another impact batRed Sox reportedly not done after Curtis Mead trade as Jeff Passan hints at bigger deadline movesCurtis Mead's breakout season makes Red Sox trade look smarter than expected

So much for a quiet start to camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Extension talks between Vita Vea and the franchise have officially hit a wall and the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle is now requesting a trade out of Tampa Bay,ESPN first reported and confirmed by our Greg Auman. Vea plans to be in attendance when Buccaneers' veterans report for camp on Tuesday, though, meaning he won't hold out, Auman added. Vea is entering the final year of the four-year, $73 million extension he signed in 2022. According to his agent,Collin Roberts, the trade request follows unsuccessful negotiations between Vea and the Buccaneers front office on a new deal. Vea has done nothing but impress since being selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Not only is he one of the leagues most dominant interior defensive linemen and a two-time Pro Bowler, but he also played a major role in the Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV run. Since taking over as a full-time starter in 2019, his presence in the interior has consistently produced one of the leagues premier run defenses. The Buccaneers posted three straight top-three finishes in total defense from 2019-21. They returned to being a top-five defense in 2023, thanks to players like Vea. During that stretch, the 347-pound Vea led a defensive front that allowed 92.58 rushing yards per game. Through eight seasons with the Buccaneers, Vea has logged 256 total tackles (154 solo), 35 sacks, and three forced fumbles across 112 regular-season games. It remains unclear if a reconciliation is possible or if an extension can be reached. If not, Vea could be one of the best defensive tackles to switch teams since the New York Jets traded Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. In the event that Tampa Bay decides to move Vea, his preferred trade destination appears to be on the West Coast. Vea prefers to return closer to home and be traded to a California team or the Las Vegas Raiders, according to The Athletic.

Marcus Rashford has been warned that he must issue an "almighty statement" to Manchester United supporters and staff if he is to have any hope of resurrecting his career at Old Trafford. After spending the last 18 months away from the club on loan, the England international is due to return to a squad that has moved on without him under the leadership of Michael Carrick. Proving Loyalty To Carrick Following loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona, the 28-year-old finds himself at a crossroads. Rashford's commitment was openly questioned in the first half of the 2024-25 season when he expressed a desire for a fresh challenge away from Manchester. talkSPORT host Hugh Woozencroft echoed these concerns, stating: "Rashford said he wanted a new challenge and unless you can be 100 per cent sure he is completely committed to Man United he's shown he wasn't fully committed the last time he was at the club how can you be sure he's going to be this time around?" Former England international Micky Gray believes the forward must address the circumstances of his departure and confirm his dedication to the club's new era, if he truly wants another chance. "There's a few things here, The most important one is, if Rashford has a future at Man United, he has to do an almighty statement of why he wants to be at Man United and what the reasons were to leave the club in the first place. I think that's a priority that he has to do," Gray told talkSPORT. Falling Down The Old Trafford Pecking Order While Rashford enjoyed a productive season in Spain, scoring 14 goals for a Barcelona side that secured the La Liga title, he will soon return to a United squad that has significantly evolved. Gray warned that the academy graduate must prepare for a reduced role if he stays, stating: "If he does stay then he's got to get used to being a bit-part player. He's not first on the list; he's not going to be playing every week.. [Bryan] Mbuemo, [Matheus] Cunha, [Benjamin] Sesko, Amad to name a few. They've caught up to and if not surpassed Rashford." Gray explained that the physical demands of the English game will also pose a significant challenge for the winger after his time in Catalunya, adding: "Spain is not England .He did very well, but he can play at Barcelona at a different level to what he can at Man United. He can't deny that the Premier League is 100mph he's going to have to get himself super fit in pre-season." International Form vs Domestic Expectations Despite the uncertainty surrounding his club future, Rashford remains a regular fixture in the England setup, having helped the Three Lions to a third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup. He featured in six of England's eight matches during the tournament and scored in the 4-2 victory against Croatia, reminding onlookers of his quality on the global stage. However, Gray pointed out: "We saw the good and the bad of Rashford for England at the World Cup. Can Man United utilise him in a way they can expect to see the good side and not the bad side? If they do that and he stays, Rashford has got to expect that he isn't going to play every game." Potential Swap Deal Involving Kone While a reintegration plan is being discussed, United officials are also exploring more transactional solutions for Rashford's future. The club are reportedly keen on Roma midfielder Manu Kone but are hesitant to meet the Italian side's full 60m valuation. United have considered a swap deal involving Rashford to bridge the gap. Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini is thought to be an admirer of the Englishman's technical qualities, though any potential move is hindered by the player's substantial wage demands. Rashford currently earns roughly 11m net per season, a figure that far exceeds Roma's budgetary constraints.