LANDOVER, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Von Miller #24 of the Washington Commanders celebrates a sack against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of the NFL 2025 game at Northwest Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Dallas Cowboys are signing Von Miller. That is a real sentence, people.Whatever you think of Von these days it feels fair to say that you can at least agree that this is an exciting thing. The Cowboys are very much awake and alert, and Vons presence is the latest proof of that.Miller is one of the most decorated players of his generation and has two Super Bowls to his name, not to mention Super Bowl 50 MVP honors, to prove it. He can significantly help the Cowboys in a number of ways which is why the move is so exciting.Here are 3 reasons that are specifically interesting in the exciting department.Von has been there and done thatThe Cowboys have spent all of this season (since training camp began) talking about how they are proud to have Super Bowl aspirations. Simply put, they are confident in themselves and good for them that they are.Through all of the franchises recent missteps and misgivings they have not really had someone around who has climbed to the top of the NFLs mountain. Dallas has failed, we all can admit this, and they have failed as a group of equal novices. No one was around to keep things in check when the going got tough.My point isnt that Von Miller can singlehandedly save the day if times get tough in a playoff game, but he knows how treacherous those roads can be. That wisdom is invaluable to a team who isnt being shy about going where he has been. Von doesnt have to be VON MILLER hereIt goes without saying that Von Miller is not the player that he once was. Okay. So?The Cowboys have Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku to manage their pass rushing needs from a priority standpoint. When they are subbed out Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark will help make life as easy as they can for the reserve players, and it is at this point in time that the mercenary known as Von Miller can strike.We saw Jadeveon Clowney sort of take advantage of this role last year, and that was on a team that was very much up a creek in terms of the total defensive effort. Von simply has to help raise the ceiling for the Cowboys. He can chase that with this team. The foundational elements are taking care of the floor.This will help the young players significantlyThe Cowboys signed Von Miller just one day after Malachi Lawrence did not set the world on fire in his NFL debut. If you were expecting Malachi to do anything special then maybe you need to reassess whats fair from an expectation standpoint.But now Malachi gets to learn from Von Miller. So does Donovan Ezeiruaku, and so does James Houston. Heck, so does Rashan Gary. Von is a rising tide that is going to lift all boats and provide an important mentor for the pass rushers in the way that Jason Peters did on the other side of the trenches back in Tyler Smiths rookie season.It isnt every day that a future Hall of Famer joins the group and offers his services both on the field and in the classroom. The Cowboys now have that in Von Miller.

The Philadelphia Eagles knew they had something to work with when they drafted Jeremiah Trotter Jr. If nepotism alone worked out in their favor, he'd be pretty special. They also knew his path to a prominent role wouldn't necessarily be immediate. That seems prophetic now, but patience is being rewarded. Trotter has spent training camp consistently finding his way around the football, making plays as a run defender and blitzer while showing the instincts that made him such an intriguing prospect coming out of the Clemson Tigers program. With first-round pick Jihaad Campbell alongside established starter Zack Baun, Trotter has another hurdle to clear before becoming a full-time contributor. Still, so far, he has made that decision a lot harder to stand on.Jeremiah Trotter Jr. keeps making Eagles fans take notice.Camp has provided plenty of evidence that Trotter is ready for more responsibility. He has shown up repeatedly in run-defense periods. He has found creases as a blitzer, and he has played with the kind of downhill aggression the Eagles want from their linebackers. That production carried into Philadelphia's preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. One can argue that Trotter was the best player that the Eagles put on the field.He was especially active early, recording five tackles before halftime and delivering a delayed blitz that resulted in a sack of Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley. He didn't play the entire game, but he didn't need to. The Eagles got another valuable glimpse of what he can offer when given meaningful opportunities. What's becoming increasingly interesting is the company around him. Campbell received two early series alongside Trotter and continues to show why Philadelphia invested heavily in him. Baun remains the veteran leader of this corps and one of the defense's most dependable players. Still, rather than allowing that depth to bury Trotter, the competition appears to be bringing out his best football. That's exactly what the Eagles should want. Trotter doesn't need to become a starter overnight to have value. A defense playing deep into the postseason needs linebackers who can step onto the field without creating a noticeable drop-off. His ability to contribute as a run defender, blitzer, and coverage player could make him particularly useful as Philadelphia continues to figure out its linebacker rotation.There have been mistakes, too, which is part of the process. Trotter is still developing, and the Eagles aren't going to hand him a larger role simply because he has produced some highlight plays in August. Still, there is a difference between asking a young player to earn trust and wondering whether he belongs. Trotter appears to have moved beyond the second question.The Eagles may still be determining exactly how large his role should become. Trotter, meanwhile, continues to argue that, whatever the role is, it should probably be bigger than it was a year ago.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is forcing the Eagles to take notice

Aug. 16 The Austin Blue Jays reached the final four of the District 2B Tournament, but they were defeated by the top-seeded Red Wing Aces 4-3 in an elimination game in Red Wing Saturday.No. 8 seeded Austin won two elimination games in the tournament in just its second year as a team.

High Frequency Transformer Factory production involves the preparation of magnetic components used in electronic circuits, power conversion equipment, communication devices, charging systems, and other applications requiring controlled electrical energy transfer. Manufacturing begins with a clear review of technical requirements and continues through material preparation, winding,...

Has the NFL ever had this much talent at wide receiver? That was a question we asked ourselves as we ranked the 10 best wide receivers ahead of the 2026 NFL season. A total of 20 pass-catchers logged at least 1,000 receiving yards in 2025, and 13 more reached the 800-yard mark. The stellar play at the position made picking just 10 wide receivers tough. However, the debate at the top was a bit more straightforward, as only two wide receivers received first-place votes, and five of us had the same four wide receivers in the top four of our lists. Without further ado, here are our top 10 wide receivers entering the 2026 season. Greg Auman: Could a new $35 million-a-year contract help give London the national acclaim hes missed in his first four NFL seasons? Despite playing his career with a collection of not-exactly-great quarterbacks, hes averaged just under 1,000 yards per season with 22 total touchdowns. Atlanta has now locked up its young core of skill-position talent with lucrative deals for Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts, though an elite quarterback might still be on the checklist. Kevin Stefanski is London's first really good offensive-minded coach, so its easy to envision him getting double-digit touchdowns for the first time in 2026. If Atlanta is to end its eight-year playoff drought, London must stay healthy and lead the way in their passing game. Brooks: The big-bodied pass catcher has quietly joined the conversation as a top-10 receiver. Collins dominance on the perimeter stems from his superior size and strength against overmatched defensive backs. As a 6-foot-4, 222-pounder, Collins expands the strike zone for C.J. Stroud, making it easier for the Texans to produce big plays in the passing game despite an inconsistent flow from the unit. With three straight 1,000-yard seasons and a pair of Pro Bowl berths, Collins has earned the respect of his peers with a workmanlike game that has been impossible to contain. Henry McKenna: Brown's numbers werent quite what youd expect from an elite receiver in 2025. But at the same time, he was fine. In fact, it says something about Brown that everyone thought the sky was falling in a season when he posted 78 catches, 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in a season when he played 15 games. Bottom line: Brown is a physically dominant receiver, as adept at using top speed and agility as he is at using his strength. Drake Maye just got paired up with the best receiver hes played with in his life. And its likely that in Josh McDaniels offense, Brown will once again see his production explode. Eric D. Williams: Pickens appears on track for another elite season after putting together a career year last season (93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns). Even though Pickens had to settle for signing his franchise tender, where hell make $27.3 million on a one-year deal for 2026, the vibes are still good around Cowboys camp for the Georgia product. Pickens likely remains in good spirits because salaries for his position continue to skyrocket, which means if he has another productive season, hell likely secure the long-term contract he wants at the end of the year. Auman: Is Lamb even the best receiver on his own team? He missed three games last year, but Lamb had three touchdown catches and Pickens had nine, with more yards and catches per game. That aside, Lamb has been one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL five straight 1,000-yard seasons, five straight Pro Bowls. Can he get back to his 2023 first-team All-Pro peak, with 12 touchdowns? If Dallas defense improves as expected, that means the Cowboys are behind less and should throw less, but Lamb is still a central part of their push to get back to the success of three straight 12-5 seasons from 2021-23. Having a presence in the playoffs again would be a great way to elevate Lambs profile. Brooks: As a hyper-competitive pass catcher featured in a dynamic offensive scheme, the three-time All-Pro is a headache for defensive coordinators around the league. St. Browns energy and relentless effort, combined with a polished overall game, make it nearly impossible to limit his touches or reduce his impact as a playmaker. As the Lions No.1 offensive weapon, he forces defensive playcallers to make tough decisions when crafting a game plan against a unit that also features Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams on the perimeter. Given the amount of one-on-one coverage he faces weekly, it is no surprise to see him punish opponents with a game-changing play. McKenna: If not for the quarterback shortcomings in 2025, wed still consider Jefferson among the best 10 players in the NFL. Its just that J.J. McCarthys struggles led to a series of systemic issues for Minnesota, dragging Jefferson down. And because hes a team player (on and off the field), he barely let out a peep of frustration. But its clear to see that one of Jeffersons prime years of production failed to materialize and not because of him. No matter how you feel about Kyler Murray, you can plainly see that hes an upgrade from McCarthy. In coach Kevin OConnells offense, Murray should be able to feed Jefferson in the ways the WR deserves. With all the talent that Jefferson has, he could jump back to No. 1 on this list for 2026. Williams: Its impressive how Nacua skyrocketed from an unheralded fifth-round selection three years ago to one of the best receivers in the league. The BYU product finished second in receiving yards (1,715) and tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (10) in 2025. Since he entered the league in 2023, only JMarr Chase has more than Nacuas 4,191 receiving yards. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Nacua needs to keep the off-the-field issues to a minimum, stay healthy and put up productive numbers. Brooks: The 2025 Offensive Player of the Year has quietly snatched the NFLs WR1 crown in some circles. The ultra-polished pass catcher punished opponents from out wide a season ago, after touching defensive backfields from the slot in 2024. Given his versatility as a playmaker, precision as a route runner, and the Seahawks creative play designs, Smith-Njigbas reign as the top pass catcher could extend into 2026 and beyond. Auman: Chase, still just 26, is only one year removed from an NFL receiving triple crown, leading the league in catches (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdown catches (17) in 2024. He had 10 more targets last year and still dropped off in every category, with nine fewer touchdowns. But a healthy Joe Burrow means a dangerous Chase, so that might be all it takes to return to his dominant best. Can Cincinnatis defense stop being awful and let them get back in the playoffs? If Chase can get 12 touchdown catches this year a fairly viable challenge hell have 66 for his career, and the only players in NFL history with more in their first six seasons are Jerry Rice and Randy Moss.

Max Meylor threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more to lead the Arizona Rattlers past the Green Bay Blizzard 62-51 to win the 2026 Indoor Football League championship.The teams traded touchdowns for much of the game until the Rattlers finally got the separation they needed midway through the fourth quarter when they recovered a botched snap by the Blizzard on an extra-point attempt for two points. Instead of the game being tied, Arizona led 48-45 and then went down and scored another touchdown on the ensuring possession to take control of the game.Arizona won its second championship in the past three years. The Rattlers upset the defending champion Vegas Knight Hawks in the conference semifinals and then beat the No. 1 seed San Diego Strike Force to win the Western Conference before knocking out the East champion Blizzard.Meylor threw for 103 yards and ran for 90 to go along with his five touchdowns. Kymani Clark also rushed for a pair of TDs.Blizzard quarterback Liam Thompson, who was named the 2026 IFL MVP earlier in the week, threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score. He fumbled into the end zone while trying for a sixth touchdown that Arizona recovered with 26 seconds left to ice the game.This was the second straight year Green Bay lost in the title game.

Brooklyn Nets rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. had some hype around his name after being selected by the Nets with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Brooklyn was able to see Brown in action during the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League and while he had some nice moments, he doesn't appear to be in the running for the Rookie of the Year award.In the most recent odds posted by BetMGM, Chicago Bulls forward Caleb Wilson and Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer are tied for the lead to win the Rookie of the Year award. As this relates to the Nets, Brown has the sixth-best odds of winning the award which could put him in a position to be a darkhorse for the award, but he has some tough competition to beat out.In addition to the aforementioned Wilson and Boozer, Brown also has to compete with Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa and Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson, all players that were drafted ahead of the former Louisville Cardinal. Brown, like most of the rookies in contention for the award, is in a position to get plenty of reps as the starting point guard if he's able to win the job coming out of training camp.Brown, 20, is coming off a solid summer circuit in which he averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 38.8% from the field and 34.6% from behind the three-point line. Brown has had some interesting moments over the course of the summer, but next season will show how ready he is to be an NBA-level point guard for head coach Jordi Fernandez.Brown will be playing alongside forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle so he will be at least third in the offensive pecking order, depending on where guard Egor Demin fits into that equation. If Brown is able to play better than expected, then he could find himself in the running for Rookie of the Year and that's something that Nets fans could be excited about moving forward.This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Mikel Brown Jr. has 7th-best odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year

FAYETTEVILLE Arkansas football's 2026 roster is making a late addition. Safety Caleb Wooden is re-joining the Razorbacks' roster for the upcoming season, Wooden confirmed to the Southwest Times, adding he will return to campus this week. Best of Arkansas Sports originally reported Wooden's inclusion in Ryan Silverfield's plans. The university has not announced his place on the roster.Wooden began his career at Auburn before transferring to Arkansas for his senior season in 2025. He was out of eligibility until a recent injunction from a federal court ruled all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27.Wooden made 11 starts for Arkansas last fall. He tallied 59 total tackles, including three tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.His best game with the Hogs came on the road against LSU. Wooden tied for a team-high seven tackles while also returning a blocked punt for a touchdown. While at Auburn, Wooden made nine starts across three seasons. He was a consensus three-star recruit coming out of the Georgia high school ranks. Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.comor follow him @jacksonfuller16on X, formerly known as Twitter.This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Caleb Wooden will rejoin Arkansas football thanks to 5-for-5 injunction

Skip Bayless blunt Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese take proved timely after Fever-Dream thriller originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Skip Bayless identified the defining strength and most frustrating weakness of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Sundays game between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream then provided evidence for nearly every part of his argument.Before Indianas 95-91 overtime victory, Bayless declared Clark the greatest passer in WNBA history. He also acknowledged the risk that accompanies her ambitious approach.Caitlin Clark is by far the Ws best passer best ever in the W, Bayless wrote on X. Every game 3-4 of her passes are so stunning teammates arent ready, cant convert.Bayless noted that Clarks high-risk passes also contribute to her league-leading turnover total. That criticism is fair, but it cannot be separated from the creativity that makes her so dangerous. Clark regularly attempts passes most players would not even consider. Some become spectacular assists. Others sail out of bounds, get intercepted or surprise teammates who are not prepared for the ball.Indiana accepts those mistakes because of everything else Clark creates.Clark and Reese display strengths in overtime battleClark finished Sundays victory with 26 points and nine assists. She repeatedly created open opportunities for teammates while helping the Fever improve to 23-12 and extend their winning streak to four games.Angel Reese, who has made 3 straight All-Star teams, is on the way to becoming the greatest WNBA rebounder ever. She's leading the league in rebounding - but also in badly blown layups. Never seen anything like her lack of control at the rim. Can make you laugh or wince. Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 16, 2026Bayless was similarly complimentary of Reese, calling the Atlanta star a future candidate to become the greatest rebounder in WNBA history. He then delivered a much harsher assessment of her finishing.Shes leading the league in rebounding but also in badly blown layups, Bayless wrote. Never seen anything like her lack of control at the rim.That criticism arrived after Reese missed a potential game-winning layup at the end of regulation. Rhyne Howard missed a 3-pointer with the score tied at 81, but Reese grabbed the offensive rebound and found herself directly underneath the basket. She had an opportunity to finish the game, only for her attempt to hit the backboard and roll off the front of the rim.Indiana controlled overtime and escaped with the victory.MORE: Dick Vitales three-word Caitlin Clark description says it allBayless captures complicated reality around WNBA starsReducing Reeses performance to one miss would be unfair. She recorded 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists while helping Atlanta recover from a nine-point deficit. Her rebounding created extra opportunities throughout the game, and her passing helped the Dream generate offense against Indianas defense.Still, Reese shot 5-for-16. Improving her efficiency near the rim remains essential if she wants to become a more complete offensive player. The same logic applies to Clark. Her turnovers can be damaging, but asking her to eliminate every risky pass would remove part of what makes her special.That is what made Bayless comments notable. He did not simply praise Clark and criticize Reese, or choose one side of their ongoing rivalry. He identified the extraordinary ability and obvious flaw within each players game. Clark is already an elite scorer and potentially an unmatched passer, but she must manage risk more effectively.Reese may become the most productive rebounder the league has seen, but she must convert more of the chances she creates. Both players were productive Sunday. Both also demonstrated exactly why their games remain such frequent topics of debate.More WNBA news:A'ja Wilson vs. Olivia Miles debate is on with Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers lurkingIndiana Fever celebrate Sophie Cunningham with special message on 30th birthdayWhy Indiana lieutenant governor is calling for Stephanie White's firing

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 15: Matthew Bailey #7 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts as he enters the field prior to the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Gies Memorial Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Harry Figiel/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty ImagesAfter two years of flirting, does the College Football Playoff court Illinois football in 2026?Some may call this a best-case scenario; some may call it a pipe dream. But call it highly possible! Given the history of the CFP, 10 wins is the line of demarcation. In the past couple of years of the 12-team CFP, only one team had fewer than 10 wins. That was Duke last year, the ACC champ with only 9 wins. So I feel fairly safe in saying they are an outlier. In last years CFP, there were only three teams with 10 wins. The Illini are projected as a middle of the pack lower top half of the league team. Do the Illini have 10 wins on the schedule? With the non-conference schedule, Illinois should be 3-0 when they travel to Columbus to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. I am not discounting UAB, Duke and Southern Illinois, but all three games are in Champaign; Duke will be the stiffest opponent, 9-5 in the ACC last season and losers to Illinois 45-19 in Durham.The Big Ten schedule is actually favorable to Illinois. They dont play Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Penn State, or USC. They do catch top-tier Ohio State on the road and host Oregon. They also host AP preseason top 25 pick Iowa. On the road, they face Michigan St, Maryland, UCLA and Northwestern, along with home games vs. Purdue and Nebraska. You might ask how that is favorable? Ohio State and Oregon are Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the AP preseason poll; Iowa is 20. The rest of the schedule is either highly winnable games or Illinois should be favored to win. Lets take a look!So Illinois starts conference play in Columbus where the Buckeyes will probably still be No. 1, if they dont lose to Texas in Week 2. While I would like to see an upset here, reality will tell a different story. You hope to see a good competitive game.The next two opponents, Purdue at home and Michigan State on the road, should be as close to a lock win as you can get. Neither team has made a significant enough improvement since last year to be a big threat. After a week off, the Illini take on the Oregon Ducks in Champaign. The Illini lost to the Ducks in 2024 (38-9) in Eugene. The Ducks still have one of the nations top QBs in Dante Moore. This will likely spoil a perfect home record for 2026.That is 2 highly likely losses, meaning Illinois at 5-2 will have to win 5 straight games.That all starts at Maryland. The Terps are classified in the same group as Purdue and Sparty. Not much of a challenge.Now the next four games are where the challenge is.The Illini have won three out of the last four contests against Nebraska, including an OT win in Lincoln in 2024. Counting on the home-cooking factor, you have to give the Illini the edge.Then it is off to Tinseltown for a date with UCLA. The Illini last faced the Bruins in 2011, when Nathan Scheelhaase and Whitney Mercilus led the Illini to a 20-14 win in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. This years squad should be an improvement over last seasons DeShaun Foster debacle. They have a number of new faces, including new Coach Bob Chesney (formerly of James Madison), who has brought some of his JM Dukes with him. This game is late in the season, which gives UCLA time to gel. I think the Illini have the better talent to get this win.The last two will be tough.Iowa at home is the next contest. As mentioned earlier, preseason rankings have the Hawkeyes at No. 20. They have beaten the Illini in 6 out of the last 7 games; the lone Illini win was a 9-6 win in Champaign in 2022! This is a legitimate 50/50 toss-up and could put Illinois in the playoff picture or knock them out.Northwestern in Evanston, the Wildcats are considered a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team and could give Illinois trouble. The Illini SHOULD be either 8-3, or 9-2 when they get to Evanston. A win here could cap a third straight 9-plus win season (the first in school history) and New Years bowl game and/or be the springboard into the CFP!To sum it all upIn realistic terms, there are still some question marks about the 2026 squad: a new QB, a new offensive line, a new defensive line and LB group, along with a brand-new defensive coordinator and new scheme. While the back half of the schedule is a slew of winnable games, it also has some potential landmines too. This could be an historic season that puts Illinois squarely back on the NCAA football landscape. We could also see a bump in the road. I think a solid over-under for Illinois is 8.5 wins. And at least a New Years Eve bowl game.So lets pack out that ball Illinois!Quick poll question: using my 8.5 over/under, which side are you taking over or under?Let me know in the comments or contact me on X @tsotbgcs or my Facebook page, Talking Sports with Uncle Don!