The Minnesota Vikings have described their quarterback competition as open, but NFL coaches and executives see a substantial difference between the two leading candidates. Kyler Murray landed at No. 21 and remained in Tier 3 in The Athletics 2026 NFL Quarterback Tiers. J.J. McCarthy ranked No. 34 out of 35 veteran quarterbacks and was placed in Tier 4.The survey, conducted by Mike Sando, included 29 coaches and 21 executives. The 50 voters placed each quarterback into one of five tiers based on his ability to carry an offense and succeed in difficult passing situations.The 13-position gap does not decide Minnesotas competition, but it underscores why Murray entered training camp with a credible opportunity to win the job.Kyler Murray remains a Tier 3 quarterbackMurray was placed in Tier 3 for the fourth consecutive year despite an injury-shortened final season with Arizona. One defensive coordinator told The Athletic that Murray could experience one of the surveys biggest changes because he will work with Kevin OConnell, have better weapons and arrive with something to prove.Minnesota signed Murray to a one-year contract after Arizona released him. The former No. 1 overall pick brings 87 career starts, two Pro Bowl selections and 121 touchdown passes to the competition. He has also rushed for 3,193 yards and 32 touchdowns, giving OConnell a dynamic movement option at quarterback.Murray appeared in only five games during 2025 before a foot injury ended his season. His recent availability and inconsistency prevented him from climbing higher, but evaluators clearly remain intrigued by his talent and fit in Minnesota.J.J. McCarthy faces a pivotal seasonMcCarthy received 39 Tier 4 votes, 10 Tier 5 votes and only one Tier 3 selection. His No. 34 ranking represented a six-position decline from the previous year.The former first-round pick completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions during his first 10 NFL starts. McCarthy finished with a 72.6 passer rating after missing his entire rookie season because of a knee injury.One executive praised McCarthys toughness but questioned how long Minnesotas coaches would remain patient with his inconsistent mechanics and tendency to overthrow receivers. Those concerns make training camp especially important for a quarterback the Vikings selected 10th overall in 2024.OConnell has continued dividing opportunities between Murray and McCarthy, allowing both quarterbacks to work with the first-team offense. The competition will ultimately be determined on the practice field, but the survey shows how the league views it from the outside.Murray is considered a capable NFL starter with the potential to improve in Minnesotas system. McCarthy is being asked to prove he can become one.This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: NFL QB tiers reveal enormous gap in Vikings quarterback competition

Did Lachlan Murdoch just tackle the NFL?The Fox CEO on Thursday surprised investors by announcing that Foxs current deal with the National Football League would remain as is through its end after the 2029 season, despite the leagues recent interest in using an opt-out clause baked into the 11-year pacts it struck with all of its media partners that would allow it to update terms to match market levels.More from VarietyDisney Says Commercials for Super Bowl LXI Have Sold OutTony Romo on Leave at CBS Sports After DUI ArrestAs Netflix Tries to Reset Narrative for Investors, Live Programming Could Play 'Starring Role'We dont see any changes to Foxs current pact with the NFL until the 2030 season, Murdoch said during a call with investors. The company will not be making any amendments to the rights deal it has at present. Murdoch said the decision came after recent talks between Fox and the league, but declined to elaborate.The NFL has been in discussions with many of its rights partners, which also include Amazon, Disney, NBCUniversal and CBS, about updating its current contracts. The league has good reason to do so. It deliberately struck its most recent pacts with the opt-out clause, knowing full well that sports are one of the few things in the current media sector that continue to win the large, live audiences that advertisers and distributors crave. The value of sports deals continues to increase at an exponential rate so much so that NBC is believed to be paying the NBA more for its current rights contract with that league than it is paying the NFL for Sunday Night Football.A spokesperson for the NFL could not be reached for immediate comment.The appeal of sports continues to play out in real time. Disney on Wednesday announced it had sold out all its commercial time tied to its 2027 broadcast of Super Bowl LXI months ahead of the actual play date. TV networks with rights to the Big Game typically dont unveil that status until the end of August or sometime in the fall.More to comeBest of VarietyEvery 'Spider-Man' Movie Ranked From Worst to BestWhats Coming to Netflix in August 2026What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2026Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mohamed Salah has signed a two-year deal with Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor after hundreds of fans turned out to greet the former Liverpool forward at Ataturk Airport.The club announced on Tuesday evening that he would travel to Trabzon via Istanbul in order to formalise the move to his new side.The 34-year-old was a free agent after leaving Anfield this summer following nine years at the club, where he scored 257 times in 442 appearances and won two Premier League titles and the Champions League.Salah was linked with several clubs this summer, and had received an offer from Trabzonspors Super Lig rivals Besiktas.Mohamed Salah wearing his new Trabzonspor team jersey as he arrives in Turkey (AP)The deal for the former Premier League player of the season and Golden Boot winner is a significant coup for Trabzonspor, who won the last of their seven Turkish league titles in 2022. The other six came during a golden period between 1976 and 1984.They finished third last season, eight points behind champions Galatasaray, and face a play-off against opponents to be determined to qualify for the league phase of the Europa League. If they fall short, they will play in the Conference League.

The Detroit Lions may finally be closing in on the contract extension everyone has been waiting for.Jonathan Jones of The Athletic reported Thursday morning that sources have expressed optimism that Detroit and Jahmyr Gibbs will complete a deal this week.Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is the last RB standing, Jones reported. Sources have expressed optimism a deal would get done this week for Gibbs.Nothing has been signed or officially announced yet. Still, this is the strongest indication so far that the prolonged negotiations could be nearing the finish line.Jahmyr Gibbs Is Now the Last Major Running Back WaitingGibbs entered training camp in a contract-related hold-in alongside Atlantas Bijan Robinson.Robinsons wait ended with a three-year, $66.75 million extension averaging $22.25 million in new money. Indianapolis then agreed to a two-year, $44 million extension with Jonathan Taylor, creating another $22 million-per-year benchmark.Those agreements have clarified the market for Detroit.Gibbs is younger than Taylor and has produced 5,029 yards from scrimmage and 49 touchdowns through his first three NFL seasons. He has also earned three Pro Bowl selections and is expected to become the centerpiece of the Lions backfield in 2026.A deal worth roughly $22.5 million to $23 million per extension year would move Gibbs ahead of Robinson and make him the NFLs highest-paid running back by annual value.Gibbs Takes Encouraging Step at Lions PracticeThursday also brought progress on the field.Gibbs was in uniform and took repetitions during the walkthrough portion of Detroits practice, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. It was his first visible participation with the offense after spending the opening week of camp watching practices and working inside the facility.Walkthrough repetitions do not necessarily mean his hold-in has ended. They do suggest the two sides remain connected and that Gibbs is preparing himself to return when the situation is resolved.General manager Brad Holmes confirmed earlier this week that negotiations were active.Were having dialogue, Holmes said. Well see where it goes.Jones latest report provides considerably more optimism than Holmes was willing to offer publicly.Lions Finally Have a Clear Contract FrameworkDetroit no longer needs to wait for another team to establish the market.Robinson signed. Taylor signed. Gibbs is the remaining star back seeking his new deal.The Lions still have contractual control through 2027, but extending Gibbs now would give their most explosive offensive player immediate security before he takes on the largest workload of his career.It would also remove the biggest distraction hanging over training camp.Detroit is installing Drew Petzings new offense, rebuilding portions of the offensive line and preparing Gibbs for an expanded bell-cow role. Each missed padded practice takes away valuable preparation time.A deal this week would allow everyone to shift the conversation back to football.Bottom LineThe Detroit Lions and Jahmyr Gibbs have not announced a contract extension, but optimism is reportedly growing that an agreement will be completed this week.Gibbs is now the final major running back waiting after Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Taylor landed deals worth at least $22 million annually.The market has been set. Gibbs has begun taking walkthrough repetitions. The Lions and his representatives remain in communication.All signs are beginning to point toward the same conclusion.Jahmyr Gibbs could be the next running back to get paid.

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