ATLANTA, GA - JULY 18: Atlanta Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos speaks to the media before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park on July 18, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesIm going to start this by addressing the headline. When it comes to Atlanta Braves President of Baseball Operations/General Manager Alex Anthopoulos claims that the Braves got better after the 2026 Trade Deadline, Ill let this clip from Futurama speak for me:I mean, the Braves did add Tyler Mahle to the rotation, they added some very solid outfield depth in Lane Thomas and they brought in Brent Suter to help fortify whats already a solid bullpen. Technically speaking, the Braves got better with these additions. With that being said, its very difficult to feel excited and that is solely down to the fact that Atlanta was unable to add a front-line starter to their rotation. It now appears that (outside of the ever-reliable Chris Sale) the Braves will be leaning on pitchers like Martn Prez, AJ Smith-Shawver, Bryce Elder, (maybe) Spencer Schwellenbach and the newly-acquired Tyler Mahle to help them get outs during a Postseason scenario. Again, its difficult to feel excited!Despite the overwhelming feeling of underwhelm permeating across Braves Country, AA remained defiant and adamant that everything is A-OK as far as the team is concerned. Since the All-Star break, [] weve been fifth in MLB in ERA. During the first two months of the season we were top-five in MLB in ERA, maintained AA when he was asked about the pitching staff during a post-deadline press conference. . Obviously in the middle, we werent. Does that mean youre not looking to get better? Absolutely, in all areas bullpen, offense, rotation, yes. But, youre managing short-term and long term and youre going to do what you feel is best for the club and youre not going to force a deal.We said no to a lot of things, continued AA. Thats not easy to do but you have to do what feels right for the organization. AA was pressed multiple times about whether or not he was close to acquiring a front-end starter or if there were certain things that got in the way. Anthopoulos was cagier than usual in his responses, stating that it wouldnt be appropriate to talk about deals that didnt get done. Im guessing thats a recent development since we did hear about the Kyle Schwarber deal from 2021 that didnt go through and that was straight from AA himself, so maybe theres a statute of limitations on that?I digress, though. The only thing that came of that line of questioning is that AA had his eye on one other guy who we thought was incredibly impactful but no names were named. Either way, Anthopoulos continued to maintain that hes willing to defend the state of the big league roster at the moment. He did mention that the Braves are playing well coming out of the break and that theyre in first place. That much is true the Braves are in a good spot right now and its hard to envision them falling off to the point where they miss the Postseason. Still, its also hard to envision this team having enough reliable starting pitching to make it deep into the Postseason. They certainly have the relief pitching to do it and when this offense is clicking, they can swing with anybody. Its just apparent at this point that the lineup will have to perform at an elite level and the bullpen is going to have to continue shouldering a heavy load if this team is going to make a deep run in October. With all due respect to the aforementioned starters, there just isnt a ton of confidence here. Alex Anthopoulos (at least publicly) still has plenty of faith in the club. How many times do we say This team won the deadline [] and then you look up and certain players were unbelievable and certain players didnt play well. Thats the toughest part from here on forward, were looking at two-month sample sizes, explained AA later on in the presser. We can look at the back of the baseball cards of some of these great players and say [] that this team on paper looks great and then all of a sudden performances change and health [changes].Were going to soon find out what were the best acquisitions [] Were going to find that out pretty soon, continued AA. I just think that youve got 29 other clubs and you know your own roster, your fit. Ultimately, youve got to give to get and ultimately, are you prepared [] to give what could be the [Michael] Harris [II]s or the [Drake] Baldwins. Are you willing to do that?AA continued by stating In some instances, we make trades and others, we hold them back. We look back over time and we cross check ourselves. But, to sit there and say This team did X, it doesnt always work out that way. It doesnt always work out that way with the projections. I dont know what the preseason projections were for all these teams but I dont know how accurate they were. I know there are changes every year. There are some teams that sold that people expected them to be good and there are some teams that are buying that didnt think that theyd be contending.I dont think anybodys good enough to know whats going to happen, concluded AA. But, you are expected to know your own team and your own organization when youre trading young players.Hearing that, it suddenly made sense why we saw that wave of promotions on the farm. That honestly shouldve been the initial sign that the Braves werent going to dip into the farm and trade away some potentially impactful prospects. While that wouldve made sense considering what the asking price was for some of the big names who did move and some of the players who were under team control past this season, its still certainly disappointing that the Braves didnt come away from this deadline having used that talent on the farm to potentially upgrade their rotation in any major way. Despite the lack of moves, AA is still convinced the team has gotten better and also stated that hes not fully focusing on the Postseason until we get there. Hopefully we get there [] We still have two months. Theres a long way to go theres going to be injuries the next two months for everybody. Youre still weighing all of those things [when it comes to getting outs in the Postseason]. Weve seen teams do all kinds of things with openers and short starts and bullpen games, guys going on short rest, weve seen that happen, explained AA. Everythings in play when youre trying to win but you cross that bridge when you get there. The focus for us is that were playing well coming out of the break and we have a nice lead but it doesnt mean a thing.Weve got another two months to go and the NL is very strong. Theres great teams and a lot of teams added (including us) and guys are going to continue to get better, so we have to make sure that we keep our foot on the gas and try to get to the playoffs, stated Anthopoulos. All of that sounds good and it does seem like AA has a nice line of communication with manager Walt Weiss when it comes to the roster and how its constructed but its still hard to weigh that with the inaction when it comes to the starting rotation. Its not like this is a new problem, either fans and media alike have been clamoring for some type of addition to the rotation since the early portion of last offseason and it still seemed like there was a chance to address that situation at the deadline even if they didnt do so before Opening Day. Instead, it sure seems like Alex Anthopoulos is convinced that the starting rotation will be good enough to get the Braves where they want to be by the end of the season. Now, theres a question of whether or not the end-goal is actually to add another World Series trophy to the cabinet or if its to simply get back to the Postseason. If its the latter then sure, the Braves are likely going to have enough to make it back to October and should also have enough to get back to the top of the division. If the goal is truly to win another World Series then its hard to envision this rotation helping to win one of those tough, gritty, low-scoring games where theres a ton of drama hanging on every pitch, much less every out. Weve got some bad memories around here of seeing this teams pitching staff essentially get bombed out of the Postseason and hopefully that wont be the case this season. With that being said, its clear that its not going to take a Herculean effort from the lineup and some surgical precision from the bullpen in order to make sure that this team has truly got what it takes to make a deep run in October. For now, lets hope that Alex Anthopoulos is right and that were all panicking. If hes right, a parade may be coming soon. If hes wrong then, well, enjoy the fireworks from the opposition once October rolls around. Well see what happens.

New England Patriots defensive end Gabe Jacas knocked down assistant coach Mike Smith during a tackling drill at Saturday's practice. On Monday, Smith was able to exact some revenge in a lighthearted moment at the Patriots' eighth training camp practice. It all started when Jacas ran Smith over during the tackling drill over the weekend. This time, Smith stopped the drill midway through and pretended like he was giving Jacas instructions before wrapping up the unsuspecting rookie and taking him to the ground on the landing pad. He even threw some fake punches for good measure. And now the two are even. #Patriots OLB coach Mike Smith exacted funny revenge today on Jacas.He stopped a pass rush drill midway through with Jacas next in line, pretended to give him instruction, then wrapped Jacas up, planted him onto a landing pad and rained fake punches on his head. https://t.co/xYQbZzpPdS Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 3, 2026This is certainly a hilarious moment as the grind of practice continues. The Patriots are hopeful that Jacas can be a major contributor for the team in his first NFL season. He practiced for the first time on Saturday in a limited fashion. However, on Monday, he repped with the second-team unit in team drills. His workload is ramping up, and there might soon be a time when the former Illinois standout is running over opposing offensive linemen. FollowPatriotsWire onTwitterandFacebook.This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots OLB coach gets revenge after being run over by rookie

Fred Warner has been to two Super Bowls and two additional NFC Championship Games with the San Francisco 49ers, and he's walked away empty-handed every time. Now entering his ninth season under head coach Kyle Shanahan, the All-Pro linebacker says the group around him understands the opportunity in front of it isn't guaranteed to last."There's only so long that we're going to have these opportunities together as this group," Warner said on KNBR. "It's funny though, 'cause I feel like every year our sense of urgency is through the roof. Ever since I've been here, we've had the standard of winning a Super Bowl. It's always been Super Bowl or bust for us."Since Shanahan took over in 2017, San Francisco lost two Super Bowls to the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC title in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022 to the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively. Warner has been part of that core the entire way, and the roster around him has only gotten older in the pursuit. With Deebo Samuel's return this offseason, the 49ers are positioned to potentially start five non-quarterback skill players age 30 or older: Samuel, Mike Evans, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk. That group size and age has been matched by only a handful of teams in Super Bowl-era history, none of which found much postseason success doing it.Warner said the volume of accolades this roster has compiled over the years All-Pro nods, Pro Bowls, conference title appearances carries no weight once the season starts."We've developed such an incredible culture and standard here for a really long time," Warner said. "You can't rest on what you've done in the past. All the All-Pros, the Pro Bowls, the NFC Championship game, Super [Bowl] none of that means anything. This is a brand new team, a brand new opportunity for us as the 49ers to create something we want to be proud of at the end of it all."That mindset carries extra weight this summer. Warner missed the final 12 games of last season with a dislocated and fractured ankle, watching from the sideline as the 49ers were eliminated by the Seahawks in the divisional round one win short of the NFC title game he might have returned for. Now healthy and back alongside longtime running mate Dre Greenlaw, Warner is framing 2026 the way he has every year in San Francisco: Super Bowl or bust.This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers star has brutally honest take about team's Super Bowl window

Former Washington Huskies star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has taken the next step in his rehab from a torn ACL as he aims to regain his starting job with the Atlanta Falcons.During the early days of training camp, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, after leading the Huskies to a 25-3 record in his two years as a starter and finishing as the runner-up for the 2023 Heisman Trophy, was seen participating in individual and 7-on-7 drills, but he is not yet cleared to return to full team periods of practice.After making such a significant investment through the draft in the rocket-armed lefty, the Falcons are playing it safe, and based on Penix's recent comments, that may be the best decision.Heres Michael Penix to Drake London pic.twitter.com/m6boMdRNc0 Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) July 29, 2026To be honest, Ive beenfeeling really good, Penix told the media on Wednesday. I feel like I can do everything, but I have to still be smart about it. I cant afford to have somebody trip and fall and land on me right now.With veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also sidelined with a sore back, Penix has an opportunity to show off his arm talent to new head coach Kevin Stefanski. He made one of the biggest plays at practice on Wednesday, completing a 45-yard touchdown to rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch in a 7-on-7 period, displaying his elite ability to push the ball down the field.However, it may be a few more weeks before he's able to return to full team periods ahead of Atlanta's first preseason game on August 14, and regular season opener on September 13.I know I was told that like another four weeks, possibly going into that next stage," he added. "But at the same time, it could be earlier. It just depends on how my body is doing throughout this whole camp process.This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Michael Penix Jr. takes next step in rehab from knee injury

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 30: Malik Willis #2 of the Miami Dolphins participates in a drill during training camp practice at Baptist Health Training Complex on July 30, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesAs we enter another Miami Dolphins season, it is difficult to predict which side of the ball will be our greatest strength during the 2026-2027 season. Given the significant roster turnover during this rebuild, it remains unclear whether the offense or the defense will lead the way. While key additions can shift a teams trajectory, we have yet to see how these new pieces will integrate once the season begins. Furthermore, special teamsoften overlooked by fans, the media, and sometimes even the coaching staffwill also be significantly impacted by the recent changes to the roster. So with all of that in mind, this evenings Phinsider Question Of The Day is:Which side of the ball, offense or defense, will be the unit more likely to carry or be the overall strength of the 2026-2027 version of the Miami Dolphins and why?Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-CastApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeThe 2026 MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and with teams all looking to load up their rosters for a postseason push, we saw quite a few surprises before the deadline hit 6 p.m. ET. Between the Los Angeles Dodgers, not shockingly, trading for Tarik Skubal and the Boston Red Sox, shockingly, trading for Adley Rutschman, its time to look at all the activity from deadline day.On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman break down all the deals that went down over the past few days, including the Philadelphia Phillies picking up Luis Arrez despite an already crowded infield, the New York Yankees trading for Luis Garcia Jr. to help their struggling offense and the Tampa Bay Rays adding Freddy Peralta to bolster their rotation.Later in the show, Jake and Jordan discuss all the moves that didnt happen, including which teams theyre surprised didnt make many moves before the clock struck six, which teams may have overpaid in their deals, and which GM had the best trade deadline.1:13 - Where we stand heading into the deadline18:23 - Foster Griffin gets traded24:52 - Final deals come in before the deadline31:26 - Casey Mize to the Padres40:12 - Notable names not traded53:53 - Yankees and their deadline1:00:25 - Arrez and Skubal on the move1:13:36 - Rutschman gets traded1:23:49 - Winners and losers of the deadlinePhoto by Paul Rutherford/Getty ImagesPhoto by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out all episodes of Baseball Bar-B-Cast and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

There was no question for Patty Gasso that one of her two U.S. teams would earn a medal Monday.This Elite Team is going to walk away with a bronze, head coach Gasso said Sunday night. We're trying to sweep these medals tomorrow.She was right on the first part. The evening game will determine the second.The U.S. Elite Team dominated Canada in a 7-0 run-rule victory that earned a third-place finish at the International Cup in Devon Park.USA Softball WNT vs Japan live updates: Where to watch International Cup title gameFacing Canada is no easy task for any softball team. Both the U.S. Womens National Team and Japan were trailing at points playing against them this tournament.A run-rule against Canada is a big deal, especially in the medal rounds, Gasso said. Im really, really pleased.The U.S. Elite Team faced tough back-to-back losses against Japan and their fellow teammates on the USWNT.But Monday night at Devon Park was all about big players performing in big moments.We knew that we were in control of how we responded, whether we punched back or we were like, Oh no it's Canada, Ana Gold said. We fully went in headfirst and left it all out there.Gold hit three home runs throughout the five-day tournament. With offensive star Morgan Zerkle, who had a .500 batting average in the tournament, the elite team finally earned its respected place.This team came a long way this week, Zerkle said, so I felt like we were prepared early on. It was good to finish strong.OU catcher Kendall Wells had the honor of hitting the walk-off double RBI in the bottom of the fifth inning.Definitely a surreal moment, Wells said. Ive learned so much this week really trying to take it all in.More: Why Patty Gasso felt 'very lucky' coaching both USA softball teams in International CupWith the International Cup coming to an end, this roster will be spreading out.Wells will return to OU with three years left of eligibility. Gold will train in the offseason for Team USA and AUSL next summer. And Zerkle will travel to Marshall University for her head coach duties.But all 18 athletes have one thing in common.I dont think any of us would be here if our goal wasnt to play in the Olympics, Zerkle said.Gasso will have a tough decision to make in the future, choosing 15 of the current 36 athletes in the U.S. pool to represent Team USA at the 2028 Olympics in Oklahoma City.For now, she has one quick task, then one tougher task.I owe 18 Swig drinks so I got to head over my credit card for that, Gasso said with players laughing. Then jump in with this other team and get to work.The No. 2 USWNT team faced No. 1 Japan at 7 p.m. for the gold medal.Amanda Avila is a sports intern for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea forAmanda? She can be reached at aavila@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @avilaonair. SupportAmanda's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: USA Softball Elite run-rules Canada to win bronze in International Cup game

NEW YORK (AP) An additional 13 teams, one featuring Venus Williams and some comprised of married couples, have entered the U.S. Open mixed doubles championship.The new duos announced Monday by the U.S. Tennis Association raised the total to 29 teams for the 16 spots in the main draw, which will be held on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26.Williams is partnering with Alexander Bublik for the tournament that was overhauled last year, with a $1 million prize to the winning team, in an effort to get top singles players to compete. Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic headlined the initial list of 16 teams who entered.Elina Svitolina and her husband Gael Monfils, who is expected to play his final Grand Slam event at the U.S. Open, and newlyweds Katie Boulter and Alex De Minaur also were among the new entries.The other new teams: Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, Anna Kalinskaya and Lorenzo Musetti, Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul, Maria Sakkari and Karen Khachanov, Tatjana Maria and Valentin Vacherot, Reese Brantmeier and Michael Zheng, Jelena Ostapenko and Marcelo Arevalo, Gabriela Dabrowski and Harri Heliovaara, Demi Schuurs and Julian Cash, and Caty McNally and Robert Cash.Teams can enter until Aug. 17, when the six duos with the best combined singles rankings at the time will be automatically entered into the main draw. That means Sabalenka, the two-time defending U.S. Open womens champion, and Djokovic, still ranked No. 5 on the mens tour at age 39, will be safely into the field.Eight teams will be given wild cards by the USTA, and two other teams will play their way into the field through a new qualifying tournament to be held Aug. 24.Besides Sabalenka and Djokovic, teams previously announced were: Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, the runners-up in 2025; Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz, the Japanese duo of Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori, Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper, Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, Diana Shnaider and Daniil Medvedev, Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien, Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime, Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev, Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Nuno Borges, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, and siblings Peyton Stearns and Preston Stearns.Errani and Vavassori are the two-time defending U.S. Open champions. The Italians needed a wild card to get into last years event because their singles ranking was too low, and that will be the case again this year. ___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Scott Harris knows the Detroit Tigers made their road to the postseason more difficult at the trade deadline.He also insists the organization has not abandoned the 2026 season.After trading Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Casey Mize to the San Diego Padres, Detroits president of baseball operations acknowledged that removing two All-Star starters weakened the immediate roster. Still, Harris believes young players can help the Tigers remain competitive.This team is talented enough to flip the script just like the 2024 team, Harris said, according to Brad Galli. Were definitely not raising the white flag.Tigers Remain Within Reach of Playoff SpotDetroit enters Mondays games only 2 games behind the final American League Wild Card position, leaving the Tigers close enough to remain relevant in the postseason race.Harris appears to be counting on internal reinforcements and opportunities for younger players to offset the loss of Skubal and Mize.It is a difficult message to sell.The Tigers traded the most dominant pitcher on their roster and followed that move by dealing another member of the rotation who was enjoying an All-Star season. Those transactions improved the farm system, but they also removed two pitchers capable of influencing a playoff race immediately.Detroit Looking for Another Late-Season SurgeHarris referenced the 2024 Tigers, who overcame a difficult position in the standings and made a surprising late charge into the postseason.The current roster now faces a similar challenge, only without Skubal and Mize leading the rotation.Young players will receive greater responsibility, and Detroit will need its remaining veterans to keep the clubhouse focused. The Tigers cannot afford a lengthy adjustment period with the Wild Card race still within reach.Bottom LineScott Harris is not pretending the deadline made Detroit better in the short term.He admitted the Tigers postseason path is now harder, but he remains convinced the season is not finished.Detroit is 2 games out of the final Wild Card spot. The front office says it has not surrendered.Now the players left behind must prove it.

Credit: @mads_fitzpatrick on InstagramMadison Fitzpatrick will serve as the ACC Networks primetime college football sideline reporter this season, rounding out the booth alongside play-by-play voice Wes Durham and analyst Max Browne, Awful Announcing has learned.Front Office Sports first reported the ACC Network lead broadcast pairing back in June, confirming Durham and Browne atop the primetime booth, Durhams fourth different primetime analyst in as many seasons after cycling through Roddy Jones and Eric Wood at the networks 2019 launch, then Tim Hasselbeck and Taylor Tannebaum, then Tom Luginbill and Dana Boyle in 2024, then former Boston College coach Steve Addazio last season. Browne, meanwhile, moves up from ESPNs secondary ACC Network booth, where he called games alongside Chris Cotter and Kendra Douglasin 2025.Fitzpatrick wasnt part of that announcement at the time because her contract hadnt been finalized yet.The sideline opening exists in part because of a broader shuffle elsewhere in ESPNs college football booths. Dana Boyle, who had worked ACC Network primetime games alongside Durham in 2024, moved into a new role calling ESPNs Friday night package alongside play-by-play voice Mike Monaco and analyst Jordan Rodgers, part of the same round of moves that also sent Rodgers off SEC Networks longtime top booth and into an expanded role with ESPN and ABC.Fitzpatrick joined ESPN in 2023 as a volleyball analyst and sideline reporter after a standout career at Florida State, where she served as a captain of the Seminoles beach volleyball team. She previously worked as a sports anchor at Fox16 in Little Rock, AR, before joining the network.ESPN is expected to make Fitzpatricks announcement official as part of its full 2026 college football lineup release on Tuesday.The post Madison Fitzpatrick to be ACC Networks primetime football sideline reporter appeared first on Awful Announcing.