On Thursday night, for the first time in approximately six months, there will be NFL action as the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals open the preseason when they clash in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. And while there is never too much to take away from this game (or most preseason games), and neither team is expected to be a top Super Bowl contender this season, there are some things to keep an eye on Thursday night.Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the game will be the battle between the two "starting" quarterbacks. The term "starting" is in quotation marks because we know that neither announced starter for the game, which will be Kenny Pickett for the Panthers and Carson Beck for the Cardinals, is expected to start this season for their respective teams. But both men have something to prove.The quarterback matchup for Thursday's Hall of Fame Game between Carolina and Arizona is set pic.twitter.com/5LBRDSYuR0 FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 4, 2026What's on the line for QB starters during Cardinals/Panthers Hall of Fame Game clash?For Pickett, who was a first-round draft pick in 2022 for his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers, every preseason is the window for the now-fifth-year signal-caller to prove he belongs in the league. He went 7-5 as a starter during his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, but the statistics were worse than the admittedly average record, and he eventually was benched and traded.Since then, he has only started three games in the past two seasons and hopes to prove he can compete with Bryce Young for the starting job. If he wants that to happen, it starts on Thursday night in Canton.Meanwhile, Beck was a third-round draft pick this year after leading Miami (FL) to a national runner-up finish, but he has some obstacles in his way if he hopes to be an NFL starter. But even though one of those players, Jacoby Brissett, finally settled his contract dispute with the Cardinals, he is still relatively unproven and inconsistent as an NFL starter.Veteran Gardner Minshew is also ahead of him, but he very well might not be cut out to be an NFL starter again. So there is a feasible path for Beck to earn a starting job early in his career. The first step, however, comes by showing he has that ability with a strong performance against Carolina.This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Carson Beck & Kenny Pickett must seize the opportunity in HOF game

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta never attempted to hide the organizations intentions regarding Zay Flowers.When the Ravens exercised Flowers fifth-year option, DeCosta said the goal was to complete a long-term agreement and that he fully expected the two sides to reach one. Baltimore delivered Tuesday, signing Flowers to a four-year, $140 million extension containing $108 million guaranteed. The timing matters. Flowers missed Tuesdays practice, creating immediate questions about his availability. Hours later, ESPNs Adam Schefter reported the agreement through Flowers agency, WIN Sports Group. Baltimore had not announced whether the absence was directly related to the negotiations, but the contract eliminated any broader uncertainty surrounding his future.DeCosta has emphasized retaining premium players drafted and developed by the organization. The Ravens followed that model with safety Kyle Hamilton and have applied it again to Flowers, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 draft.Flowers has rewarded Baltimore with 237 receptions for 3,128 yards and 14 touchdowns through three seasons. He reached the Pro Bowl in each of the past two years and established a franchise-wide receiver record with 1,211 yards in 2025.His $35 million annual average ties Justin Jefferson for fourth among NFL receivers. The deal also makes Flowers the highest-paid receiver in Ravens history.DeCosta established the expectation publicly and completed the agreement before negotiations became a regular-season distraction. Baltimore identified Flowers as a foundational player and acted accordingly.This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Eric DeCosta delivered on the Ravens promise to extend Zay Flowers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 9: Teofimo Lopez smiles during the press conference to announce his fight versus Rolly Romero on July 9, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesTeofimo Lopez takes some time to catch up and discuss his ongoing training camp as he prepares for a welterweight title fight against Rolly Romero. Here, Teofimo explains how hes taken lessons from past fights and has worked to improve on his deficiencies, and looks forward to demonstrating a better form in this upcoming fight. Check out some excerpts below. Teofimo on how training camp has been for the Rolly fightWell, Im feeling like a champ. Thats for sure. Camps been going great. We got sparring later today but we just been persistent, weve been consistent as well. Were just focused on this one. My welterweight debut, Im looking forward to taking over this division and it starts with Rolando Romero.On only having one stoppage since 2022I think that its comforting [that Im moving up in weight]. I think mentally, Im there when it comes to the physicality part. And I just cant wait to express that on that night, fight night. So its been great, I feel much better, and Im excited for everyone to tune in.On how he thinks he fits in at 147 considering hell be facing bigger, longer fightersI think Im going to fill out just right. I think what I did in 35 at lightweight, thats whats going to occur, if not better at 47 now with experience. So I look forward to it. No matter the reachif [Pacquiao] can do it, why not Teofimo?On the keys to facing longer-armed fightersPunch output. The punch output is going to really distract you to really get in there closer and step in. So those are the things that you see with PacquiaoThe more you blur them, the more theyre not going to notice youre actually creeping up on them at the same time. So those are things that were really working on and looking to capitalize, for sure.On how he assesses Rollys styleRoly is really focused on getting his shots in and making sure that he gets in counts, and it matters. And it makes the fighters himself think about coming in or not. But I dont think thats going to be the case here. I really dont. I think those one, two potshots, those three potshots I learned from my experience in the past fights.I didnt start with the jab to close that gap [in the Stevenson fight]. So thats really what we been working on. My left arm is killing me right now from the amount of jabs were working on but its to strengthen that arm and remind it what is the most important punch in boxing? The jab. So by doing those things were going to capitalize on closing that gap. Without that jab I really cant find the range of throwing that right hand or the uppercuts, right hooks, anything like that.So weve been really technical with this camp.On Rollys trainer Ismael Salas believing hes an aging opponentHis assessment is just on my previous fights and at 140. But I think they have a big surprise coming, for sure. Im very hard on myself with regards to criticizing myself and what I need to do in my craft, so those things that he mentions, I make sure that those dont occur on August 22.On the chances we get a dull fight because theyre actually friends and respectful of one anothers powerNo, I think were at a point now where I think he believes hes better than me and I know Im better than him, and were going to have to really have to show that on that fight night. So I dont think its going to be one of those being careful type of fights.

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As the NFL offseason winds down, stars like Puka Nacua and Jahmyr Gibbs are poised to become the next players to reset their position markets

How soon should you take two quarterbacks if you can start them both?

College-basketball announcer Dick Vitale is making good progress in his recovery from cancer. Vitale said his bloodwork came back very good after he announced in April that he was diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time.Vitale, 87, gave a brief update on X on Wednesday, saying his immunotherapy treatments are very effective in wiping out the cancer.Just received good news from my oncologist that my bloodwork results were very good. I keep that the Immuno Therapy treatments are very effective in wiping out the cancer. Dick Vitale (@DickieV) August 5, 2026Vitale first announced his cancer diagnosis in 2021, when he revealed he had melanoma. Months later, he said he was also diagnosed with lymphoma. He was eventually deemed cancer-free, before announcing in 2023 he had vocal-cord cancer. A year later, he revealed he was diagnosed with lymph node cancer. He underwent surgery to have his lymph nodes removed shortly after that announcement. In 2025, Vitale again announced he was deemed cancer-free, and that he intended to return to broadcasting games. Vitale did appear on ESPN a few times, eventually calling a game with Charles Barkley. Vitale made no declaration about returning to broadcasting in Wednesdays announcement, though it sounds like his recovery is going well, potentially paving the way for another return to action in the future.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 19: A view of the Washington Nationals logo on the uniform before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park on July 19, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)Getty ImagesFor the majority of players in affiliated baseball organizations, the trade deadline represents a time of uncertainty. Major league franchises shuffle prospects at every level, create roster space and begin preparing for the stretch run. Meanwhile, players throughout all levels of the sport are forced to make some life-altering decisions. One such choice surfaced just one day after this year's deadline, when a young catcher in the Washington Nationals organization decided to bring his professional baseball career to an end at just 26 years old.FORBES | By Peter ChawagaFormer Braves All-Star Cut By New Team Right After Trade DeadlineWashington Nationals Catcher Retires After Standout College CareerAccording to the official transaction log, Nationals backstop Matt Suggs retired on Tuesday, just a day after the trade deadline sent ripples of changes throughout the sport.The move quietly ends Suggs' time in professional baseball after he signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 MLB Draft. Although he never reached the major leagues, he developed into organizational depth behind the plate after a productive collegiate career.Suggs earned honorable mention All-CAA honors as a catcher in 2022, finishing among the Colonial Athletic Association leaders in home runs (13) and runs batted in (48) while leading the Seahawks in both categories, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where Suggs starred, reported after he joined the Nationals. Suggs started 50-of-51 games this past season and finished with 150 career games played with the Seahawks. During his tenure, the Seahawks captured the CAA tournament championship in 2019 and advanced to the CAA championship game in 2021.FORBES | By Peter ChawagaMets Juan Soto At Odds With Francisco Lindor On Sitdown With Season In CrisisWashington Nationals Backstop Suddenly Retires At Age 26That standout career helped Suggs enter professional baseball with some optimism about one day breaking into the big leagues, particularly after he received his opportunity from long-time organizational scout Bobby Myrick.Myrick took a liking to Suggs despite the fact that he was not assigned to the North Carolina area.Right after the draft, he called me up and offered me and it was right what I was looking for, Suggs told Federal Baseballs David Dryer. One thing led to another and I had a deal with the Nats. I know UNCW has had some guys drafted by the Nats a real long time ago but nobody recently.While he ultimately never climbed to the major league level, his path from standout college catcher to professional player represented a significant achievement.Now, at just 26 years old, Suggs has decided to step away from the game. His retirement closes a chapter that began with championship success at UNCW and continued through several seasons in Washington's farm system, ending quietly but marking the conclusion of a lifelong pursuit of professional baseball.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Lazio & Polymarket Preparing to Part Ways as Court Upholds BanLazio are on the cusp of terminating their collaboration with their main shirt sponsor, Polymarket, who failed to lift their ban.Polymarket Blacklisted in ItalyLast April, the two parties announced an agreement until June 2028 that saw the American companys brand immediately displayed on the front of the Biancocelestis jersey. However, this partnership has been plagued by an unexpected development, with the Italian authorities recently blacklisting Polymarket and shutting down its website for providing unsanctioned betting services.The New York-based company lodged an appeal at Italys administrative court (TAR), arguing that its activity as a prediction market doesnt fall under the betting umbrella, and making a clear distinction between the two.TAR Rejects Polymarkets Urgent AppealAccording to Il Corriere dello Sport (via Calcio e Finanza), the TAR has rejected Polymarkets urgent appeal, explaining that the case requires a thorough examination. Therefore, the final ruling on the matter could arrive in the coming months.Lazio & Polymarket Agree TerminationIn the meantime, the collaboration between Lazio and Polymarket appears to be dead in the water. The Roman newspaper understands that the parties have already agreed to terminate the contract, which will be formalised and officially announced in the coming hours.Lazio Set for CompensationThe Italian capital club is expected to receive remuneration, as the sponsorship agreement was expected to bring 19 million to their coffers. However, the amount of the compensation remains uncertain.