Welcome to Screencaps, "America's Best Daily Column," as named by the readers. Screencaps, which publishes seven-days-a-week, is a mix of sports, pop culture, and emails from sane readers from around the world. This column isn't for the coastal elites. Give us a week to steal your heart. Our track record is pretty good. Let's have some fun.

I know this is an older video of John Daly explaining his gambling losses, but there's a nugget in here I hadn't heard before

As someone who has cigs and an empty pack of M&Ms signed by JD, there's something else I need signed for my Daly collection: an ace and face card. I've seen parts of this interview over the years, but I'd never heard that Daly was losing millions — he estimates his losses got as high as $55 million – playing 7-handed blackjack at casinos.

"The game of golf, if you’re in the hunt, you’ve got adrenaline going. But you got 140 to 300, 400,000 on the blackjack table, you’re going to have adrenaline. And I think that’s what I loved more than anything," Daly said in the "Hit It Hard" ESPN 30 for 30.

BRYCE HARPER VIDEO TO FANDUEL USER WITH GAMBLING ADDICTION UNDER REVIEW BY PENNSYLVANIA OFFICIALS

In that documentary, JD said gambling for four days straight was his life. He estimated the net losses once he'd hit rock-bottom were north of $50 million after gambling somewhere just south of $100 million.

Good luck at the casinos this weekend. Just don't be like Big John. Take a break. Go for a walk. Call it a day if the tables turn cold while playing SEVEN hands.

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Tipping culture in 2026 is out of control

Have you guys been asked by an airport kiosk to add a tip at a self-checkout? This guy caught a self-serve airport kiosk where you buy water and drinks asking for a tip. I guess this isn't any different than grab & go drink stations at sporting events asking for tips.

The lesson here is that you better have your head on a swivel or that $7.50 bottle of water is going to be nearly $10 when the computer gets its tip because you're not paying attention.

TIPPING SCREEN PUTS CUSTOMERS ON THE SPOT AS EXPERTS REVEAL WHEN IT'S OK TO HIT 'NO TIP'

Guys, I'm trying to look out for you.

Speaking of airports, why is there so much gum in urinals?

• Tom in Virginia asks: I'm sitting in the Charlotte airport, and able to read today's column because the Wi-Fi works for a change. Because I spend a lot of time in airports, I pose the following: Do guys purposely spit their gum in urinals, or are there a suspiciously high number of accidental drops? It's so common, and I move along to a clear option, but I think about the custodian dude who knows, and I mean death-and-taxes knows, that will be a part of his shift today.

POPULAR US AIRPORT CALLED OUT AS 'MOST STRESSFUL' IN AMERICA FOR TRAVELERS

Also, I get your Superbar idea, but it will never happen. I will give you a minute to visualize what derelict behavior will inevitably follow the ribbon cutting.

Good weekend to you. Take your hats off indoors, gents.

Dump Dinners and standing for the anthem

• Chris from California is fired up: Until it showed up in your column I didn’t even know "Dump Dinners" were a thing and having watched that video, now think they may be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.

While I think some parents do it for the social media attention, I also think a lot of it is because of the infantilization of the modern adult.  Remember, parents with kids this age are also the ones that are still living with their mom and dad, have to have coloring books and fidget toys at work to settle their nerves and focus and flat out refuse to grow up.  They say it’s because the economy, the political system, blah, blah, blah… but honestly it’s because they’ve been allowed and are still being allowed to act like children and they are passing that along to their children.

It’s difficult and frustrating to teach your children table manners and how to eat like something other than a wild animal, so why not do something trendy that removes that headache and responsibility?

I will continue to bang the drum until the day I die, but the habits and manners we instill at home are what makes the difference between a successful persona and a whiny layabout.  Could I have my children eat like animals and have no sense of order or decorum because it makes my life easier?  Sure, but then what happens when they go over to a friend’s house or actually out in public and act like that?

JILLIAN MICHAELS URGES PARENTS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST BIG TECH'S 'ADDICTIVE' GRIP ON KIDS

I have 3 boys, all of whom are very active and do a ton of activities outside of school and have very active, robust, healthy social lives.  Two of them are teenagers so I’ll let them go meet their friends at McDonald’s or go bum around the mall and I know that when they are doing those things they are reflecting the responsibility and values I helped instill in them.  If I wasn’t 1000% sure they were doing that I wouldn’t let them leave the house.

It may make a few dinners here and there more difficult to teach your kids to use silverware, wipe themselves with a napkin, clean up after themselves, say, please and thank you but that little bit of extra effort makes a HUGE difference in their lives, maybe not right then and there but later on in life.

Also, another Outkick writer asked if we are all over getting up in arms about all of the stupid antics held during the National Anthem.  The answer, at least for me is a resounding NO!!!  It’s two minutes of a 3 plus hour sporting event used to honor and remember all of the men and women that made that very sporting event possible!

Once again, I have teenage boys, they don’t take anything seriously but to go back to my earlier point I taught them from the moment they were old enough to stand that they stand and show some damn respect when the anthem is sung.  They don’t question it, they don’t fight it.  I explained exactly why it means something and they may not agree with whatever the politics are of the moment but they know the anthem is about far more than that and these are teenage boys that also punch each other through walls and try to shotgun Dr. Pepper’s.

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We do need to make a big deal out of it when athletes blow the anthem off.  They are making millions of dollars that they couldn’t make anywhere else in the world because of the very things that flag and that anthem represent.  If they really can’t be bothered to show some respect then we shouldn’t be bothered enough to give them our attention and money.  Grow up, stand up, stand still and when you eat… eat like a human!!!

How to watch the NFL while listening to the radio broadcast

• Travis says: There's free software that has been around for at least 12 years called Radiodelay that allows you to pause live radio so it can sync to your TV broadcast.  I started using it in 2013 and it's probably older than that.

You can either connect an external radio to your microphone in jack or use a URL if your favorite radio station streams their content online.

Food that too many places screw up: Nachos

• Steve in Texas spent time near where I live: Sad to hear about the lack of quality nachos in NW OH.   More years back than I care to count there was a Mexican restaurant in downtown Perrysburg, OH that had great Macho Nachos.  I gained about 15 lb having them  and a margarita a couple times a week while on an internship in Toledo one summer.  I think it was Casa de Barron and it was back in the late 80’s.  Also still need to get back to Tony Packo’s, the job was just down the street from the original location.

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Kinsey: There's good news and bad news, Steve. The bad news is that Casa Barron is gone, but it was replaced by a legit Mexican restaurant operated by one of the the real good guys in the food industry. I haven't been to the new place even though it's been there a few years.

As for Packo's, I have bad news: The food is all factory-made and overpriced. Yes, even the original Packo's. It's just not the same as 15-20 years ago. And if you were eating it pre-2000, it's going to be really disappointing. The original Packo's is still an institution, but the food has gone downhill.

Don't forget to vote in my poll

My phone hadn't been hammered until Thursday. I don't know what list I ended up on, but it's officially being lit up. Amy Acton is pleading with me to donate $5 to battle Vivek. This election can't get over with fast enough.

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Go have an incredible weekend. We'll be in Columbus for the Ohio Junior High Cross Country State Championships. Can Screencaps Jr. run in the 11:20s or maybe even the 11:19s at one of the fastest courses of the season? The weather should be just about perfect. Stay tuned.

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Chicks dig the ... small ball?

Bunting, situational hitting, and productive outs had seemed to become a lost art in today's baseball. But the two teams in this year's World Series brought it all back.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays were each the top seed in the National and American Leagues, respectively, and throughout this postseason, they've shown why.

Now, one of those franchises will be crowned World Series champions for the first time, and all the action will be on FOX.

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The Brewers had the second-lowest payroll in all of baseball, while the Rays had the eighth-smallest. Those payrolls have led to a heavy emphasis on analytics. But their analytics have zigged when the rest of the league's have zagged.

It is no secret, despite how much people want to deny it, that home runs win (more on that later). That has been the case in the regular season as well as the postseason since stickball. Yet the Brewers and Rays ranked 29th and 22nd in total home runs this season.

Their success, instead, has come at the hands of good old batting average - they both hit .258, good for the top two spots in the league. Both teams also had the highest batting averages with runners in scoring position (Rays were .284, Brewers were .276).

Tampa Bay also ranked first in sacrifice bunts with 45, and Milwaukee's 37 were the fifth-most. That's not to say that bunting means you will win - the Los Angeles Dodgers had 23 combined sac bunts in 2024 and 2025, both seasons that ended in titles.

But it works for the Rays and Brewers.

The Rays (49) and Brewers (32) also ranked first and second in bunt hits. They also were tied for second in infield hits, behind only the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In the days where exit velo has taken over (hitting the ball hard has always mattered, by the way), the Rays had the highest soft-hit percentage and second-worst hard-hit percentage. The Brewers ranked 12th and 18th in those categories and ranked sixth in medium-hit percentage.

Nobody pulls the ball less often than the Brewers, and nobody goes up the middle and oppo more than they do, as well. The Brewers even hit ground balls at a higher rate than anybody and fly balls at the lowest (the Rays are fifth in grounders and 25th in fly balls). All of that is a tremendous shy-away from modern-day data taking over.

Strikeouts have become more acceptable in baseball, but not in Florida. The Rays had the lowest strikeout percentage this season. Milwaukee, though, actually struck out at a higher percentage than most teams - they ranked 14th throughout the season, and they're actually striking out a ton this October.

YANKEES OWNER HAL STEINBRENNER CONFIRMS HE SUPPORTS OWNERS' SALARY CAP PROPOSALS AHEAD OF LIKELY MLB LOCKOUT

The Brewers have actually strayed away from their brand of baseball this October. In the National League Championship Series, they had the largest three-true-outcome percentage (home run, walk, strikeout) out of any LCS team since 1969. They were outhit in two games and struck out more than the Dodgers in each game. The walks shouldn't surprise anybody, as they had the highest walk rate in the regular season.

But they out-homered the Dodgers in each game (the Dodgers went homerless in three of the games), and all season long, Milwaukee hit home runs that hurt badly.

Despite hitting the second-fewest in the league, they actually had the ninth-most home runs with a runner on base and the highest percentage of multi-run homers in the league.

The Rays also used the long ball throughout their American League Division Series against the New York Yankees and to clinch the pennant against the Cleveland Guardians.

In all of this, the pitching cannot be dismissed. The Brewers have maybe the best pitcher in the sport in Jacob Misiorowski, and it feels like the Rays can pick up anyone reading this and turn them into a weapon on the bump.

Brewers pitchers own a 2.03 ERA this postseason, while the Rays' staff sits at 2.59. Opponents are hitting just .183 and .201 off them, respectively, and they are allowing fewer than one homer per game.

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Small ball and elite pitching undeniably got these small-market juggernauts to the big dance, but what they've proven this October is they can beat you in multiple ways - even by going the apparently dreaded "boom or bust." Now, all that is to be seen is which style while bring it home.

All the action begins Friday in Milwaukee at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Enes Kanter Freedom has come forward with new allegations regarding the culture of the NBA during his playing career and sent a warning to the WNBA amid his ongoing feud regarding the league's gender eligibility policy.

Freedom's new statements come one day after the WNBA tried to direct him to sit in a private luxury suite at Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in Atlanta instead of the courtside seat he purchased, amid security concerns. The change in arrangement resulted in a highly-publicized encounter with police at the entrance of State Farm Arena, which resulted in Freedom leaving the venue entirely amid disagreements over where he wanted to sit.

Now Freedom is revealing that his former Boston Celtics teammate Dennis Schröder privately questioned LeBron James’ motives as an activist, and that his Celtics teammates once shunned him for making an appearance on Fox News in his final year in the league in 2021.

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According to Freedom, he asked Schröder that season what James was like as a teammate and how he viewed James’ public advocacy.

"He said, 'Whatever is LeBron doing is for LeBron.' I was like, enough said. We don't have to say a word anymore. Because, uh, I used to respect him a lot, you know, uh, for what he'd done for Black community. Uh, but when one of his former teammates said, you know, all his advocacy is for, is for LeBron, um, that's where, that's where he lost me."

Freedom also criticized James’ conduct during the national anthem before Philadelphia’s season opener against the Knicks on Tuesday. Video showed James making apparent golf and shooting motions during the performance, prompting criticism from President Donald Trump on Thursday.

"But I mean, everybody knows LeBron James... I call him the dictator of the NBA. And I think President Trump said the best. You know, he disrespects our country and disrespects our flag," Freedom said. "LeBron James is the reason the NBA is woke still. I promise you, once he retires, NBA is not going to be as woke as now."

In terms of the league's "woke" culture, Freedom also recalled an incident in his final year when he was praised for doing a television appearance on CNN, but shunned for going on Fox News to discuss the same topic of human rights abuses in China.

"I actually attended a show on CNN. The next day I walk in the locker room, they were saying, 'Good job last night, we watched your interview, keep doing what you're doing," he said. "The next morning I walk in the locker room, nobody said a word to me. They were not even looking at me. I was getting these dirty looks. I asked one of my teammates, I'm like, what happened?"

Freedom said a teammate explained that the objection was to the outlet carrying his message.

NBA STAYS SILENT ON WNBA FINALS TEAMS SKIPPING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BEFORE GAMES 1 AND 2

"They said, well, we watched your interview again last night. I'm like, okay. It's not your interviews, it's who you did it with. I walk on the court, one of my assistant coaches came up to me and whisper— he was whispering in my ear, hey man, me and my family watched you last night, good job. I'm like, why are you whispering?"

According to Freedom, the coach feared a backlash of his own.

"He said, because I don't want your teammates to know that I watch Fox News. I was like, why? They said, well, because none of them will talk to me the rest of the year."

Freedom said he explained to teammates that appearing on the network did not mean endorsing a political party, and that he wanted his human rights advocacy to reach a wider audience. But they weren't receptive to that reasoning, he claims.

"In NBA circles, we don't talk about Fox News, we don't watch Fox News, and if you do, you will realize that you are going to get cancelled and you're going to get hated on," Freedom said.

But Freedom also claimed that those beliefs are different in private, for some, claiming that that some players privately support conservative causes and President Donald Trump but conceal those views because they fear how they would be treated.

But Freedom claimed some NBA players privately support conservative causes and Trump while concealing those views because they fear how others would treat them.

"But there are many people actually that supports the conservative movements, supports the Republican Party, uh, many of them actually supports President Trump, but just because of they know that they will get canceled and they will get hated on throughout the whole year, they're just hiding it. I mean, you're not even allowed to say you watch Fox News," Freedom said.

GOP CONGRESSMAN PRESSES WNBA TO DEFINE ‘WOMEN’ AFTER ENES KANTER FREEDOM, ROYCE WHITE RULED INELIGIBLE

Freedom said he has encountered similar reluctance to speak publicly among former NBA colleagues discussing his current campaign to push the WNBA to explicitly restrict eligibility to biological females.

He said some initially questioned his tactics, but expressed support after he explained his intentions.

"I don't want to give their name because I know, I just know that as soon as I expose their name, then there will be a lot of questions," Freedom said.

According to Freedom, those conversations included players telling him "we cannot help you," while also saying, "but now we understand what you're doing and we support you and we will pray for you."

Freedom also pointed to a podcast conversation with Michael Porter Jr., saying Porter initially had questions about the campaign and understood his position better after they discussed it. He did not identify the other players he said privately supported him.

Meanwhile, Freedom named Kevin Durant, Patrick Beverley, Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson among the current and former NBA players he said have criticized him, challenging them to discuss their disagreements directly.

"Invite me to your podcast and let's sit down and talk. And let me explain to you why am I doing the things that I'm doing. Don't just go on Twitter. Don't just go on social media and just tweet about it. You know how to, you know, you have my number."

His campaign to join the WNBA has now culminated in two hostile incidents at WNBA arenas after he was ejected from a Chicago Sky game in August, and then faced police resistance while trying to enter State Farm Arena on Wednesday night.

Freedom said one of the reasons that sitting courtside on Wednesday was so important to him was because he wanted to make sure that his shirt, which read "What is a woman?" would be as visible as possible during the game. Asked whether he wanted television cameras to capture his "What is a woman?" shirt from courtside, he acknowledged that visibility was part of his thinking.

"I mean, that was one of the reasons maybe. My main reason was I wanted to support the WNBA," he said.

But he said accepting the suite was never an option.

"They were trying to put me in a prison box. And I mean, everyone knows me that I'm not going to bow down or kneel to someone who is trying to silence me," Freedom said.

The Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena said the arrangement responded to safety concerns Freedom himself had raised with authorities and basketball officials. They said the suite would have additional security and was intended to protect him and other guests.

Although Freedom objected to being surrounded by police at the entrance, he acknowledged that the officers treated him courteously.

"They were very, actually very kind. They were trying to do their job, and I was being very very nice to them as well," he said. "This is not their fault."

He nevertheless rejected suggestions that he should have accepted the seating arrangement or handled the encounter more diplomatically.

"I think I handled everything perfectly," he said.

Freedom also pushed back against accusations that his campaign is a publicity stunt, pointing to threats he said included references to Charlie Kirk’s shooting.

"I think people need to understand I'm getting death threats every hour. I mean, I showed you that the text messages, you know, yesterday that people are sending me pictures and videos of the moment that Charlie Kirk got shot and said, you are next," he said.

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"So I'm not that crazy. I'm not going to put my life on risk just to get attention."

Freedom said the campaign would end if the WNBA explicitly restricted eligibility to biological females. The league has already declared Freedom and fellow former NBA player Royce White ineligible, while its collective bargaining agreement limits participation to women without specifying sex assigned at birth.

"I'm literally telling the league that define what a woman is, or add the word biological in your collective bargaining next to the word female. I will disappear the next day," Freedom said.

But he said he was finished initiating further discussions with league officials.

"If they would like to sit down and have a conversation with me, listen, I love diplomacy," he said. "But I'm done reaching out. So if they would like to reach out, uh, go ahead. You have my number."

Despite the league’s eligibility determination, Freedom said he still intends to attend the next draft and continue preparing for it. He also claimed the campaign could expand to include additional male professional players, whom he did not identify.

"If they don't draft me and if they don't change the rules, now they have to deal with 6 other male professional players," he said.

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"And if not, again, this is not a threat, next year will be very interesting."

CAMAS, Wash. — The sign seemed innocuous enough. So did the man holding it. But a passing jogger apparently saw things differently.

Outside a district cross country meet in which a biological male was competing against girls, Steve Lynch held a sign that read: "Coached X-C & Track for 24 years. If you have questions about the differences between Girls & Boys...answers given here FREE of charge!"

But as Lynch began explaining those differences, the jogger shouted: "Jesus loves a firing squad! Go kill Muslims! Go kill trans people! That's your rhetoric, right? F--- you!"

DAD BANNED FROM SCHOOL GROUNDS AFTER PROTESTING TRANS RUNNER COMPETING AGAINST HIS DAUGHTER

Lynch didn't even flinch. In fact, he smiled.

"Oftentimes I have to deal with that," he said.

Lynch represents courage on this issue, which is something many adults lack. Over the past few weeks, it's been mostly students, not grown-ups, who have led the opposition to a Camas High cross country runner competing against girls after starting the season on the boys team.

But a rally outside Wednesday's meet — where the boy finished second among a field of 25 to help lead Camas to the girls district championship — showed that the adults are catching up in the bravery department.

PARENTS SPEAK OUT ON THE INGRAHAM ANGLE AFTER GIRLS FORFEIT RACE OVER BIOLOGICAL MALE RUNNER

There looked to be more than 100 grown-ups, maybe 200, in attendance — mostly dressed in garb advocating for the separation of males and females in sports. At the heart of the rally was Initiative 638 — a Nov. 3 ballot measure in Washington state that would enforce such separation in K-12 athletics.

People such as Sarah Burns, the mother of a Camas runner who walked off the start line in protest last week, never imagined herself playing the role of activist when the cross country season began. But now she finds herself at the center of one of the most contentious debates in Washington state.

"I was just a mom going to watch her daughter, and then we found out what was happening, and I couldn't not say something," said Burns, wearing an XX-XY Athletics shirt. "These are teenage girls that should be able to be teenage girls and run and compete in their sport and not have their achievements taken from them."

Burns was not the only Camas parent willing to speak out on Wednesday. Also in attendance was Sarah Babb, whose daughter Madeline walked off the start line last week as well. Like Burns' daughter, Holly, Madeline had no idea her actions would prompt such widespread media attention. But as reporters from across the nation showed up to cover Wednesday's rally and meet, Sarah was no longer feeling quite so isolated.

"As a mom who comes to these races all season long, it feels very alone as I stand there and go, 'This is awful,'" Babb said. "So it was great to see such support last week, and this is wild this week. It's hard to be the quiet majority, to feel like we're being bullied into silence. I think a lot of people feel that way. I know it's scary. It's scary."

It certainly can be. Over the past couple weeks that I've been covering this story, most parents have been reluctant to speak — even anonymously. Many have expressed fear of losing their jobs, and one even said, "I don't want my house burned down."

It's easy to catastrophize, especially when you see how vicious opponents of the Protect Women's Sports crowd can be. There was the aforementioned jogger. There was the Golden State Valkyries fan who told an XX-XY shirt-wearer to "f---ing kill yourself" at a WNBA Finals game last week. There was the Seattle Storm co-owner telling a girl with the same shirt that she's "f---ing insane" in July, bringing that girl to tears.

WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL GIRL WALKS OFF STARTING LINE ALONE IN PROTEST OF TRANS RUNNER, ENDING HER SEASON

Surely one can see why parents would want to sit this issue out, right? Women's sports advocate Amy Sousa isn't so sure.

"I don't have a lot of patience for adults who are willing to let the girls take the hits," Sousa said. "If these girls are willing to stand up to their peers, I think adults can stand up to theirs. And if they can't do it in public, at least they can do it at the ballot."

There were some people at Wednesday's rally very much against I-638. One was a woman named Stephanie, who didn't want her last name used but was cordial with me and my photographer.

She said the measure would require invasive genital exams to prove one's sex, which is not true. When I mentioned that there were other options such as cheek swabs, she argued that that would be too expensive and that there weren't enough trans athletes for such testing to be worthwhile. When I mentioned all the female athletes speaking out against having to compete against biological males as a matter of fairness, she offered the following:

"Fairness is reasonable, and I do think there should be rules. Even in the Olympics, each sport can set up certain rules. I don't want to wrestle with somebody who's got 40 pounds on me, whether they're male or female," Stephanie said. "But that's about size, not just about what gender you're born."

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Come on, though. It's more than about size, isn't it? How many women under 6'4" have you seen dunk a basketball? Yet there are countless men under that height who can. Biology matters in every sport.

In fact, it was a difference in biology that ultimately led Camas High senior Kate Westfall — the fastest girl on the cross country roster — to quit the team earlier in the month. Westfall won districts last year. She had bigger aspirations in her final high school season. But she walked away from it all because she felt racing against a boy simply wasn't fair.

So Wednesday, her parents — Joe and Jennie — showed up to districts in protect-women's-sports attire to honor their daughter's courage.

"She made the brave decision to forgo the rest of her senior season and give up opportunities in order to bring awareness to the impact the current state policy is having on females who are being forced to compete in this unfair environment," Jennie said. "As her parents, we are proud of her courage and are honored to stand with her."

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Jennie and Joe admit to a fear of backlash. But that's the thing about courage — without fear, it doesn't exist.

Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams showed NFL fans once again that they're a match made in heaven.

Chicago didn't give the New England Patriots much of a shot in Week 7's Thursday night matchup. The Bears comfortably beat the Pats, 30-24, improving to 5-2.

In a game decided by just six points, Drake Maye leaving guaranteed points on the turf with a killer second-quarter end-zone pick loomed large. It forced New England into chase mode all night. It was Maye's third INT in the end zone this season.

BEARS VS. PATRIOTS THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PREVIEW AND WHY THE OVER 50.5 IS THE BEST PLAY

New England almost went into the halftime break facing a scary deficit, if not for a 48-yard TD run by Pats RB Rhamondre Stevenson. Chicago's defense fell asleep at the wheel; an effort on D unbecoming of this franchise.

In his second game back from a hamstring injury, Caleb continued to ride an offensive groove, throwing for 308 yards (22-of-32) and two touchdowns.

BEARS QB CALEB WILLIAMS SHUTS DOWN REPORTERS ASKING ABOUT HIS HAMSTRING INJURY: 'IT'S NOT DESERVING'

On the Al Michaels front — the play-by-play icon had another sleepy outing, stumbling through a few sequences, including calling a Pats "fumble" that never occurred. The 81-year-old broadcaster also mistook Williams and Maye for QBs from the "class of 2014." They were drafted in 2024.

Chicago extinguished New England's last-minute comeback bid courtesy of exceptional clock management by coach Johnson and a nail-in-the-coffin, career-best 58-yard field goal from Cairo Santos. The kick let the former Vrabel disciple stick it to his old boss, leaving the Patriots coach grimacing on the sideline knowing he'd been out-dueled.

Maye finished with 321 passing yards (24-of-31) with two touchdowns and that costly turnover.

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Courtesy of the NFL scheduling gods, Vrabel and the Patriots have a prime get-right spot against the Dolphins in Week 8 after dropping to 4-3.

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The final play of the first half between the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears on "Thursday Night Football" was the definition of: "What in the world did we just watch?"

After Luther Burden III scored for the Bears on third-and-17 near the red zone, Chicago went up 20-7 in the waning seconds of the second quarter. With the Bears getting the ball to start the third quarter, it would’ve been the perfect ending to the first half at home.

Keyword "would’ve."

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The Patriots took over with just 14 seconds left to play, but quarterback Drake Maye didn’t just kneel the clock out and head to the locker room. Instead, the Patriots were going to at least take a shot to get some points back before going to halftime.

After A.J. Brown hauled in his first catch of the night for 18 yards, the Patriots were near midfield for what should’ve been a Hail Mary attempt. But when Maye dumped the ball off to running back Rhamondre Stevenson, it seemed no points were coming the Patriots way in the end.

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But Stevenson found some space and waited for his teammates to make a couple of blocks. Then, the Bears defenders, who didn’t seem to have urgency to bring Stevenson down, over-pursued the veteran back, and he found a crease toward the end zone.

Stevenson sprinted into the end zone for a 48-yard score as the clock expired, shocking the entire Soldier Field crowd as the Bears were only up 20-14.

NextGenStats found that Stevenson only had a 4.3% chance of scoring once the ball hit his hands.

We’ll see if this miraculous touchdown will come back to haunt the Bears, who are playing their first home game since the passing of legendary coach Mike Ditka. The night began with a moment of silence for the Super Bowl-winning coach, while fans were given fake mustaches to replicate his iconic look.

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But the Patriots came into this road game in primetime hoping to keep their momentum going, as they have now won three straight games.

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Todd Benzinger, the first baseman who caught the final out of the Cincinnati Reds’ 1990 World Series sweep, died Wednesday at age 63. His cause of death has not been released.

A Cincinnati-area native, Benzinger was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox in 1981. After two seasons in Boston, he was traded to his hometown Reds ahead of the 1989 season. His defining career moment came on Oct. 20, 1990, when he caught the game-ending out in foul territory against the Oakland Athletics, securing Cincinnati's most recent title.

The Reds posted on X:

"The Cincinnati Reds are saddened by the passing of former first baseman and 1990 World Series champion Todd Benzinger. Todd will be remembered with great affection and gratitude for his place in one of the most memorable chapters in Reds history. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, former teammates and all who knew and loved him."

The Reds traded Benzinger to the Kansas City Royals in 1991. He retired after the 1995 season, finishing a nine-year major league career with a .257 batting average, 733 hits, and 376 RBIs over 924 games.

Benzinger stayed active in local baseball after his playing days, managing Cincinnati's Class-A affiliate, the Dayton Dragons, from 2009 to 2010.

"Todd will forever be remembered by Reds fans for catching the final out of the 1990 World Series, but those of us who had the privilege of knowing him will remember so much more," said Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

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"Todd remained close to the Cincinnati community and was a tremendous friend to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, generously participating in our events and sharing his time with fans. We will miss his friendship, his kindness and his presence in our community."

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For Reds fans, Benzinger's glove reaching into the foul territory at the Oakland Coliseum remains the definitive image of Cincinnati's crowning baseball moment.

Rest in Peace.

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Super Bowl champion and Southern University football coach Marshall Faulk is facing a personal battle off the field. The Pro Football Hall of Famer announced Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Faulk, 53, said during an appearance on "The Caring Neurologist" podcast that medication has helped limit his symptoms to hand rigidity. He added that he believes the rigidity has not worsened during the year and a half he has been dealing with the disease because of his treatment. Faulk also said he has experienced "little tremors."

Faulk told host Dr. Sandeep Thakkar that he hopes speaking publicly about his diagnosis will help others. "I want to help as many people as I can," he said.

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DEION SANDERS DECLARES HE'S CANCER-FREE, ADDRESSES INCONTINENCE AHEAD OF COLORADO FOOTBALL SEASON

Faulk initially dismissed the hand rigidity he experienced while golfing as normal nerves but grew concerned when it continued even when he was not competing.

"I just thought it was normal nerves when putting and stuff like that," he said. "But it started to be times where ... I was playing, but I wasn't in a match, and it would still do that. And I was like, 'Wow, is that something -- is that normal?' And the doctor was -- he literally was like, 'You need to go get checked.'"

FORMER NFL STAR CHRIS JOHNSON SAYS HE'S BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ALS

Faulk’s outlook was shaped in part by a dinner with Muhammad Ali, who also had Parkinson’s. He left that interaction thinking, "He’s all there," and said the diagnosis did not make him believe his life was over.

"So, knowing that, I didn't look at it like if I got a diagnosis, life was going to end," Faulk said. "I treat it like -- I've had a bunch of surgeries on my right knee. There's some parts in it that aren't mine, that aren't original. My back, you know, it hurts every once in a while."

Faulk was selected No. 2 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1994 NFL Draft. The standout running back spent his first five NFL seasons in Indianapolis before joining the St. Louis Rams, where he played a key role in the team’s Super Bowl run during the 1999 season. Faulk was named NFL MVP the following year.

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Faulk last played in an NFL game in 2005. He is a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Faulk was named Southern University’s head coach in November 2025 after serving as Colorado’s running backs coach under Deion Sanders earlier that year. Southern is 3-4 so far in Faulk's debut season.

Charles Barkley is ready to pull the plug on television soon, and he wants zero part of the Aaron Rodgers farewell playbook.

During an appearance on SiriusXM, the 11-time NBA All-Star and 2006 Hall of Fame inductee laughed off any comparison between his own planned exit and the veteran quarterback's messy final tour.

AARON RODGERS BLASTS DANICA PATRICK FOR BEING 'DEPRESSED' DURING THEIR RELATIONSHIP

"But I tell you what though, I'm not gonna bury everybody going out the door like Aaron," Barkley said, roasting the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer. "I'm not gonna burn every bridge and talk bad about all my exes on my way out the door like he's doing."

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Barkley took aim at Rodgers' appearance on the Not Just Football podcast, where the quarterback focused heavily on his bitter family rift. Between jabs at exes and former teammates, Rodgers rehashed a decade of bad blood with his parents and brothers, Luke and Jordan. That feud went public during Jordan's 2016 stint on The Bachelorette, kicking off years of familial cold-shouldering and skipped family weddings.

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Now in his 25th year on television, Chuck has built a beloved media career through brutal honesty.

Rodgers is currently grinding through his 22nd NFL season and is widely expected to finally hang 'em up once the season wraps.

Barkley's own retirement talk always comes with a massive grain of salt, as media peers routinely doubt whether he will actually follow through after teasing it for the better part of a decade.

AARON RODGERS DOUBLES DOWN ON RETIREMENT PLANS AT STEELERS TRAINING CAMP: 'THIS IS IT'

Still, after a quarter-century in the studio, Barkley insists his exit will be about gratitude, not grudges.

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For the first time since he passed away on Oct. 9, the Chicago Bears held a home game at Soldier Field, and it didn’t kick off until they honored their legendary coach on Thursday night.

Ditka, a Pro Football Hall of Famer as a tight end and a beloved Bears coach, died at age 86, and it hit the entire city of Chicago hard.

With their first home game back, it was expected that many Bears faithful would honor their former coach with his signature sweater, glasses and mustache combo.

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In fact, the Bears were handing out fake mustaches for fans to wear during the game – an ode to the most iconic facial hair in the city.

As fans showcased their love for Ditka with their attire and more, a moment of silence was held for him before kickoff.

"Tonight, we remember Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end and coach of the 1985 Super Bowl-champion Chicago Bears. Tough, strong and fearless, ‘Iron Mike’ will always belong to the Bears," the PA announcer said over the speakers.

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Before he led the Bears to a Super Bowl victory in 1985, he was a Super Bowl winner with the Dallas Cowboys as a player. But he was drafted by the Bears in 1961, becoming the first modern receiving tight end, while also being the first tight end selected to the Hall of Fame.

He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1961, while making five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1961-65. He was also a five-time All-Pro.

"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka," a statement from his family earlier this month read. "While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family.

"Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever."

After his illustrious playing career came to an end, Ditka worked his way into the head coaching role with the Bears, and he embodied everything the city and fan base was known for: no-nonsense, strong-willed people that showcased toughness and grit no matter the circumstances.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of legendary and treasured Chicago Bear and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka," the Bears said in a statement. "Mike’s impact on the Chicago Bears organization, over decades as a player, coach, and proud icon and ambassador for our organization, is immeasurable.

"His integral role in bringing world championships to our city and our franchise, both as a player and as our coach, established prominence and excellence at a world-class level, but also created a lifetime of cherished memories in the hearts and minds of Bears fans that will last for generations. We extend our love, prayers, and heartfelt condolences to the Ditka family, and join all Bears fans in deep sadness and reverence as we remember and honor Mike Ditka."

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Ditka may, sadly, be gone, but his impact on the game, especially in Chicago, will live on forever.

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Nearly 500 days had passed since Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton last played in a regular-season NBA game. On Wednesday, the two-time All-Star made his long-awaited return, scoring 23 points to help Indiana secure a 123-120 season-opening victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Haliburton was sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder went on to win the championship that year.

During Wednesday’s on-court postgame interview, the conversation took an emotional turn as Haliburton reflected on his long road back to the hardwood.

INDIANA PACERS' STAR TYRESE HALIBURTON HAS ONE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE NEW NBA SCHEDULE

Asked about his performance in the season opener and how much fun he had playing with his teammates, Haliburton became visibly emotional.

"It means a lot to be back out here," Haliburton said as he fought back tears.

"We've got a lot to pick up, the second quarter wasn't good. But, we're battle-tested so we finished this game the right way. Just really proud of this group."

Haliburton added: "... I’m just really thankful to be back out here."

PACERS' TYRESE HALIBURTON TALKS SHINGLES BATTLE AS HE RECOVERS FROM TORN ACHILLES

Haliburton came through in the closing minutes, making a key play that put the Pacers ahead for good after they had trailed by as many as 10 points.

Haliburton was particularly productive in the final quarter Wednesday, scoring 16 of his 23 points in that period.

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The Pacers experienced a significant drop-off without their star guard last season, finishing with just 19 wins. That was a far cry from the team that had come within one victory of winning an NBA championship the year before.

With Haliburton back, Indiana expects to contend in a competitive Eastern Conference. The Pacers host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday for their home opener.

World Series champion Mitch Garver has announced his retirement from baseball at age 35.

Garver played for the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners during his 10-season major league career. He confirmed his retirement to MLB.com in a text message.

The Albuquerque native spent the first five seasons of his career with the Twins. The catcher and designated hitter won a Silver Slugger Award in 2019 when he hit 31 home runs, drove in 67 runs and posted an impressive .995 OPS.

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In 2022, Garver was traded to the Rangers and became a key contributor to their 2023 World Series championship team. During the 2023 postseason , Garver played in 14 games, hitting .226 with three home runs and 14 RBI.

Following his postseason success, Garver signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Mariners. At the time, it was the richest contract Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto had ever handed out. First baseman Josh Naylor set a new high mark with his five-year, $92.5 million contract last offseason.

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Garver struggled offensively in Seattle compared with his time in Texas and was relegated to a backup role behind catcher Cal Raleigh. Despite no longer being a starter, Garver remained an important clubhouse presence and helped Raleigh during his record-setting 2025 season.

The Mariners released Garver in August, and he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees but never appeared in a major league game for the team.

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In 701 games, Garver had a career batting average of .229 with 110 home runs and 324 RBI.

The New York Knicks raised their first NBA title banner in 53 years on Tuesday night before tipping off their 2026-27 season, and we were all reminded of just how much this championship meant to the city of New York.

For one family, the championship was so impactful, it inspired the name of their firstborn son.

Yvonne Gonzalez-Bradford and her husband Vance were expecting their son when the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games during the NBA Finals this summer, capping a run of destiny in the best way possible – ending a 53-year title drought for a city that has been waiting forever to celebrate them again.

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The historic moment ultimately led the Bradfords down a path of names, and they settled on one: Knickson Fyve Bradford.

The Bradfords spoke with TODAY.com about the name choice, saying they already had Prestige Wisdom in place if the baby were a boy, and Lady Victoria if it were a girl.

But the Knicks changed everything.

"You know how when something happens so well in your favor, you don’t want to jinx it?" Vance said. "I was just like, ‘Yep! Absolutely. That’s it!"

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Knickson was the first time, but Fyve as the middle name brought together the "Knicks in Five" slogan this fan base rallied around after they defeated the Spurs in five games.

Knickson was born on Aug. 8, weighing a healthy eight pounds, eight ounces. And for Yvonne, he was born on her birthday.

"We wanted to have a very strong and firm name that would lead to a cool life," Vance told the outlet. "Knickson Fyve is definitely our motto, Knickson Fyve forever!"

It’s also worth noting the Bradford family has a strong Knicks connection, with Vance’s mother being a scorekeeper for the 1972-73 Knicks. They went on to win the NBA title that season as well – and it remained the last time New York hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy before this group, led by Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, got the job done.

Brunson spoke to a sold-out, emotional Madison Square Garden crowd on Tuesday night before facing LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, thanking the crowd and the Knicks fans at home for their support throughout the playoff run.

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Well, he and his teammates have one new supporter who has no choice but to be a Knicks fan for life now that his name is attached to franchise history.

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Getting angry with officials can cost coaches on the field — and off it, too.

The NFL fined New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn and Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni $250,000 each for their conduct toward officials, according to Sports Illustrated. The fines are being held in abeyance, meaning they could be waived if the coaches demonstrate good behavior, according to the report.

It is unclear whether the fines stemmed from specific incidents or a pattern of conduct by the coaches.

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In Week 4, Vrabel was flagged after expressing his displeasure with an official's call.

"I told him it was a terrible — I’m not going to say effing — call," Vrabel said after the game. "I’ve said that 87 times since I’ve been a head coach. It was nothing derogatory. You’d have to ask him. I think he was a little sensitive."

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Officials have also made headlines this season, as the NFL disciplined two officials for their conduct in Week 5. Line judge Jeff Seeman was fined for apparently cursing at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.

Referee Adrian Hill was suspended for one game for unprofessional conduct toward Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson.

Wilson was pushed into Hill by a Miami Dolphins player after the play was blown dead, knocking the referee to the ground. Wilson offered to help Hill up, but the referee jumped to his feet, pointed at Wilson and yelled at him to get away.

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"That was funny, honestly," Wilson told reporters in the Vikings' locker room, according to ESPN. "I ended up apologizing to him and explained the situation. He was cool about it. He understood what was going on. He just said he didn't want us fighting, me and (Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II). He said he was just trying to break us up."

The NFL hopes to prevent further incidents involving coaches and officials from becoming distractions for the remainder of the season.

The NBA season may be only two days old, but Charles Barkley already appears to be in midseason form. During the first hour of Wednesday night’s "NBA Tip-Off" pregame show, Barkley appeared to surprise host Ernie Johnson with an unexpected revelation about Shaquille O’Neal.

Barkley suggested that O’Neal knows FBI Director Kash Patel, delivering the comment so casually that the entire "Inside the NBA" crew broke into laughter.

"Hey, Kenny. Should we be standing this close to Shaq?" Barkley asked.

CHARLES BARKLEY WEIGHS IN ON THE FRICTION IN THE 'MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' BROADCAST BOOTH

Fellow NBA analyst Kenny Smith responded: "Why is that?"

"He’s been hanging out with Kash Patel," Barkley explained. "That’s dangerous."

"Oh!! Oh! Oh, I didn’t know you were gonna be going there," Johnson said. "But I should have known you would."

"Alright, Chuck," O’Neal replied as he continued to laugh. "Alright, Chuck."

For more than three decades, Ernie Johnson has hosted "Inside the NBA," which originates from a television studio in Atlanta. Two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith joined the show in 1998, Barkley came aboard in 2000 and O’Neal became a permanent fixture in 2011.

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"I got your back, big fella," Barkley said. "We can hang out with who the hell we want to."

Barkley was hinting to Patel’s decision in September to name O’Neal an honorary FBI special agent.

"This session is historic – FBI was honored to be joined by one of the best supporters of law enforcement in the country -Shaq- who graduated with this session and became an honorary FBI Special Agent," Patel wrote on Sept. 17, in a post to X.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL TROLLS CHARLES BARKLEY DURING HIS LSU MASTER'S DEGREE GRADUATION CEREMONY

During his graduation ceremony, O’Neal joked that Barkley could be his first arrest. "Some of you will go back to your regular jobs, some of you will go to specialized training," O’Neal said in a speech to the graduating class.

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"Some of you will go do what I do, be undercover. Well, I was undercover… But I just wanna say I appreciate you guys so much. Congratulations. I am not here for this; I am here for you… And if you see Charles Barkley, arrest him."

Parker McCollum has spent years chasing big whitetail bucks with his bow. And when the opportunity of a lifetime finally presented itself earlier this month, he almost blew it … because of a can of ZYN.

The country star joined OutKick OutDoors this week and enthusiastically recounted the story of a massive buck he harvested in northern Oklahoma on just the second day of archery season.

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"I've been bowhunting for so long, and to finally have that kind of encounter with that caliber of a deer was just my 'finally' moment," McCollum said. "So rare for that to go down the way it did."

The funny part is that he wasn't even particularly excited about this buck when he'd seen it on his trail cameras. There were a couple of other deer in the area that had really caught his attention.

But trail-camera photos apparently didn't do this particular buck justice.

McCollum was sitting in his stand on Oct. 2 when the deer suddenly appeared directly beneath him. Unfortunately, the singer happened to be reaching for a ZYN at that exact moment.

"This mature, heavy-horned deer walks right underneath my stand, and I was putting a ZYN in," he recalled. "I was closing the can right as I saw him."

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The buck heard the plastic can snap shut and stopped.

"I'm like, oh no," McCollum recalled. "Thinking, you know, he's about to bust ass out of here."

Fortunately, the buck didn't bolt. But the ZYN incident wasn't the only thing that threatened to derail McCollum's hunt. What followed were several nerve-racking minutes of trying to get into position for a shot without spooking the deer.

At one point, he even managed to hit his elbow against the tree while drawing his bow.

"I'm feeling it. My heart's racing. The whole deal is going," McCollum said. "And in my mind, I'm like, 'This is the encounter you have been waiting for.'"

COUNTRY STAR ELLA LANGLEY ONLY WANTS ONE THING — AND IT'S A BIG, 'BEEFY' WHITETAIL BUCK

Fortunately for McCollum, the story has a happy ending. He made a clean shot and recovered a buck that turned out to be even more impressive than he'd imagined.

"I've never shot a deer that I underestimated that much and was surprised by that much," he said. "It was phenomenal."

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And while McCollum is heading overseas with Cody Johnson this weekend for his first UK and Ireland tour, he's already counting down the days until he can get back in the stand.

Here's hoping he can keep that ZYN can quiet next time.

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As is so often the case with modern college football, it seems like the decision to move to a 24-team College Football Playoff was made without thinking through potential long-term side effects.

While the endless search for more money throughout the sport is justifiable, given the increasing costs of fielding a competitive coaching staff and roster, the conferences that pushed the 24-team format through may not have fully considered the obvious implications. One of which is the necessary end of conference championship games.

In decades past, winning the Big Ten, ACC or SEC meant something. Both for the teams and their fanbases, and for poll voters who helped determine bowl selections. But in this new era, with a massive tournament field, if conference championships are meaningless, it raises a number of other questions. Namely, why should conferences even exist?

THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF IS SACRIFICING ITS SOUL TO BE AN ATM FOR CONFERENCES WITH EXPANSION TO 24 TEAMS

Theoretically, conferences are designed to create regional groupings, making travel and scheduling easier. In reality, as the modern ACC and Big Ten have demonstrated, they now exist mostly to make negotiating group media rights easier. There's no reason for UCLA and Rutgers to be in the same conference, other than a collective desire to increase their media value. Or Stanford and the Miami Hurricanes.

But with the 24-team playoff in place, a whole new world of possibilities could now be available. Chief among them, independence and the advantages that it offers. Why share television revenue with other schools? Why essentially give away your flexibility with scheduling? Notre Dame has more flexibility than anyone, and their schedule in 2026 gives them a tremendous leg up in the race for a 12-team playoff over, say, SEC teams playing much tougher opponents week in and week out.

In a new interview with Yahoo Sports! and Ross Dellenger, University of Miami president Joe Echevarria was very forthcoming about his interest in leaving the ACC and the potential opportunity to go independent.

"We are proud members of the ACC," he told Dellenger. "If the economics were even, we wouldn't be having any of these conversations. Thing is, we sit in the second tier. It's a reason we don't get a vote on the 24-team playoff and the Big Ten and SEC do."

One provision in the endlessly shifting Protect College Sports Act would prevent teams from switching conferences without going independent for several years. Echevarria strongly prefers that provision removed, to put it mildly, "You cannot lock us into a conference," he explained.

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The Big Ten and SEC already shell out around $25 million more per team than the ACC does, which could increase significantly in just a few years when those conferences are able to negotiate new deals. If the ACC continues to fall behind, it could put Miami at a major competitive disadvantage relative to peer institutions. So would the Hurricanes go independent? Echevarria didn't shy away from the possibility, through brought up that it presents challenges for other, non-football sports.

"If we have to go independent, I like our chances because we are a national brand," he said. "I wouldn't like to do that because scheduling [other sports] is really tough. It's great for football but what about track, volleyball and the golf team?"

Still, as we've seen, conferences have been willing to figure out scheduling challenges in other sports. USC plays Penn State in other, non-football sports, even though it makes little sense and comes with immense travel difficulties. Miami now has a conference rivalry with the Cal Bears. If streaming services, television networks, or other sports broadcasters are willing to shell out more money for television rights for independent programs, and conference championships are now meaningless, what's to stop big brands from Miami from following Notre Dame's example?

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And if they start the trend, how many others will follow?

Would programs like Alabama, Georgia and Texas bolt as opposed to sentencing themselves to the rigors of an SEC schedule for little reward? Or Ohio State and Michigan? Or USC?

As always, once conference realignment started, it seemed inevitable that the future would some sort of breakaway college football league. 64 teams, or whatever the number is, of the top programs competing against each other, ensuring that most games would pair a relatively big name against another. Which would mean a smaller playoff again, a far more popular configuration with fans anyway, and the potential for even more media revenue thanks to higher-profile matchups. With Group of Six teams left behind.

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Once again, the desire to push relentlessly ahead toward more revenue might backfire for the major conferences, as teams like Miami question the need to remain in the ACC. Though it would be ironic if the 24-team playoff winds up being the straw that broke the camel's back when it comes to maintaining the conference structure.

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That's modern college football for you.

Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson's one-game suspension for spitting at an opponent was upheld, the NFL announced Thursday.

The Bills have a bye in Week 7, so Gardner-Johnson will miss the team’s Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Appeals hearing officer Jordy Nelson heard the appeal.

Bills head coach Joe Brady called Gardner-Johnson's actions inexcusable.

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"It’s hard enough to win enough in this league with 48 guys, much less 47. He knows that that can’t happen, it’s inexcusable, that’s not the standard that we’re going to have and play with. He’s addressed it, it’s been addressed," Brady told reporters on Monday.

"Those are the things that can’t happen on a football field. We want to toe the line in everything we do but we can’t cross the line."

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Brady said Gardner-Johnson would remain in the starting lineup when he returns in Week 9. The 28-year-old was ejected from the game after spitting toward Las Vegas Raiders center Tyler Linderbaum and tight end Brock Bowers just before halftime.

Gardner-Johnson told reporters he would accept the consequences and needed to better control his emotions.

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The Bills also had safety Sam Franklin Jr. suspended for spitting toward a player during the team’s win Sunday. Franklin denied the allegations in a social media post.

"Not a dirty play what so ever! Will always defend myself though. Still won't spit on anyone," Franklin posted on his Instagram Story Wednesday.

The NFL is gearing up for the next international game on its annual slate, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints battling it out at Stade de France.

Of course, there has been some criticism of this plan, as France is experiencing some pretty nasty civil unrest at the moment, but the game will go ahead, with the Saints having been in the country for a few days already.

The Steelers? Well, people are already questioning their travel plans a little bit.

STEELERS CANCEL PARIS FAN EVENT OVER FEARS OF UNREST WHILE NFL PUSHES AHEAD WITH ITS OWN EVENT AND GAME

According to reports, the Steelers plan to take a red-eye to France that will depart on Thursday night.

Now, there are plenty of reasons why they might want to do this. It allows for more game prep at home; plus, with all the uncertainty around the game, there's a case to be made that it's less disruptive to players' sleep habits, and it makes some sense to hang around to make sure it's all going to happen.

NFL VP SAYS LEAGUE IS 'VIGILANT' ABOUT SECURITY FOR FRANCE MATCHUP, REMAINS CONFIDENT IN PLANS

But...

We did get an example of why it might work better to go abroad earlier rather than later.

The Los Angeles Rams were goofed on for their decision to fly to Melbourne, Australia very close to game time, with some blaming it for their big loss to a San Francisco 49ers team that had been down under so long, they were starting to develop a taste for Vegemite.

Of course, in hindsight, the Rams aren't quite the worldbeaters we all thought before the season, but that travel schedule couldn't have helped matters.

TJ WATT'S WIFE BREAKS RANKS WITH NFL MARCH TOWARD PARIS GAME QUESTIONING HOW PLAYING THERE MAKES SENSE

While a red-eye to France isn't as brutal as a red-eye to Australia, travel is exhausting, and many people on social media were quick to point that out.

So who is going to end up being right on this one? The early-to-the-party Saints, or the fashionably late (compared to the Saints) Steelers?

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We'll find out when the game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.

Paul Finebaum says ESPN did, indeed, sideline him after an interview with OutKick last year.

Last September, Finebaum told Clay Travis during a podcast that he was considering leaving ESPN to run for U.S. Senate in Alabama as a Republican, revealing that he had also voted for President Donald Trump in 2024. A week later, Travis reported that ESPN had removed Finebaum from his scheduled television appearances because of the interview.

"Per sources: Disney/ESPN has removed @finebaum from appearing on @ESPN since his @outkick interview expressing interest in running as a Republican for senate in Alabama. ESPN has canceled all network appearances on all shows, including some that have occurred for a decade plus," Travis posted on X.

An ESPN public relations executive disputed the report, despite the obvious fact that Finebaum had disappeared from his usual ESPN television appearances, even following a weekend of major college football upsets.

"This is not true at all. The below is TOTALLY FALSE," ESPN's Bill Hofheimer wrote above Travis' report.

Finebaum sided with Travis' version of events this week.

"Of course, I was sidelined," Finebaum told Awful Announcing when asked about the story. "I’d done the same shows every day for 13 years, and the next thing you know, I’m not on there after a college football weekend."

OutKick asked ESPN for comment Thursday following Finebaum's remarks. The network sent the following statement:

"As we stated last year, Finebaum was never banned."

The dispute is largely a matter of semantics. Finebaum was not booked for his regular appearances on shows like SportsCenter and Get Up the week after his interview with OutKick. He did, however, continue hosting his eponymous show on SEC Network and ESPN Radio. He remained on some ESPN platforms.

The network can also claim it simply chose not to book him for certain television appearances and tried out other personalities in case Finebaum ultimately left the company to run for office. In fact, that is what we hear ESPN told people who inquired at the time.

As a matter of technicality, ESPN did not "ban" Finebaum. However, what is technically true is not always the same as what is obvious.

What appears obvious is that ESPN responded to Finebaum's interview by not booking him on the shows he has spent the past decade appearing on during the college football season.

Further, it would have been understandable for ESPN to take issue with Finebaum making national news about a potential political campaign while still employed by the company. We wouldn't have faulted ESPN for deciding not to use Finebaum on television while he was publicly flirting with a run for office, which he ultimately decided against.

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The issue is the double standard.

Stephen A. Smith has spent years publicly discussing the possibility of running for president as a Democrat. ESPN did not respond by removing him from his regular television appearances or publicly preparing replacements in case he left the company to seek office.

That contrast makes ESPN's handling of Finebaum harder to dismiss as ordinary programming rotation.

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Finally, there is the broader question of how much longer Finebaum will remain at ESPN.

Nearly every football season seems to bring another story about Finebaum potentially leaving the network, whether for political office or a media competitor. At some point, that recurring uncertainty begins to say something about the partnership.