Tony Romo's loss has been J.J. Watt's gain at CBS – and now it's permanent.

Watt on Thursday was named lead analyst for the NFL on CBS in a new multi-year contract agreement. The announcement was made by David Berson, Chairman of Skydance's Global Sports Group.

Watt will continue to call the network’s top NFL games alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as CBS Sports’ lead NFL announce team, including during the 2027 season when they call Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta.

TONY ROMO AND CBS PART WAYS BUT HISTORY SUGGESTS ANALYST WILL BE BACK ELSEWHERE

"I’ve had a front-row seat to J.J.’s growth as a top-tier broadcaster, watching him tackle this role just like he did his Hall-of-Fame playing career," Berson said in a release by the network. "He’s insightful, entertaining, passionate, meticulous in his preparation, and the ultimate teammate. He has a unique ability to see things and communicate to fans of all levels. We are thrilled to have him leading our NFL coverage."

Watt didn't start the 2026 NFL season in his current role. That belonged to Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

NFL ANALYST TONY ROMO PLACED ON LEAVE BY CBS SPORTS FOLLOWING DRUNK DRIVING ARREST IN WISCONSIN

But Romo ran afoul of his assignment when he was arrested on July 23, after a traffic stop on southbound Interstate 43 near downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He later pleaded no contest to a first-offense OWI, with the sentence including a six-month revocation of his driving privileges and an alcohol-assessment requirement.

CBS said on July 31 that Romo was on leave "until further notice," but then the network announced on Oct. 2 that it had "mutually agreed to part ways" with its long-time lead analyst.

WITH TONY ROMO OUT AT CBS, TROY AIKMAN AND GREG OLSEN SUDDENLY BECOME LOGICAL REPLACEMENTS

Watt, meanwhile, was the next man up. He has served as the network's lead analyst since the start of the season and that now becomes a permanent role after what was obviously a successful trial period.

The network chose the man in the seat over other possible permanent replacements for Romo, Greg Olsen and others among them.

"I am incredibly honored and grateful to have the opportunity to represent CBS Sports and all of the fantastic people who make this place so special," Watt said in a statement. "From the brotherhood of The NFL Today to my crews calling games, I couldn’t ask for better teammates alongside me on this television journey.

"I am thankful to David Berson for his leadership, vision and trust. I love this job and can’t wait to see ya Sunday with Jim and Tracy and many more Sundays to come!"

Watt joined CBS Sports in 2023 as a studio analyst on The NFL Today. Last season, Watt moved to the booth to call games with Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn.

Watt was a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was honored as the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

ATLANTA – Angel Reese helped the Atlanta Dream win a WNBA Finals game for the first time Monday. Two nights later, she helped them take their first lead in a Finals series.

ATLANTA DREAM, GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES SKIP NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WNBA FINALS GAME

Reese finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds as Atlanta beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena, taking a 2–1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Reese has totaled 51 points and 28 rebounds in Atlanta’s two victories.

Reese became the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to record at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive games, joining A’ja Wilson as the only players to accomplish the feat.

And to give the Dream and their fans credit, I previously questioned whether Atlanta could fill State Farm Arena for the Finals. They answered that with a resounding yes on Wednesday night. Game 3 was a sellout, and the building was loud.

Before tip-off, both teams again left the court for the national anthem, marking their third straight absence in the series. They returned moments after the performance ended. The WNBA’s rulebook calls for players, coaches and trainers to stand and line up during the anthem, and the league has not answered OutKick’s questions about the absences.

Once the game started, Reese picked up where she left off in San Francisco. She scored Atlanta’s first basket and finished the opening quarter with eight points, including a three-pointer that pushed the Dream’s lead to 22–12.

Golden State missed its first eight shots and didn’t make a field goal until 4:38 remained in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23–15 after one.

WNBA ANTHEM CONTROVERSY SPARKS CALLS TO BAR PLAYERS WHO DON'T STAND FROM TEAM USA OLYMPIC ROSTER

Reese added another three in the second quarter and went into halftime with 15 points, matching her first-half total from Game 2. Naz Hillmon made three first-half threes of her own, helping Atlanta take a 46–40 lead into the break.

The Valkyries made a push to start the third. Cecilia Zandalasini hit two threes in the opening 68 seconds, and Golden State tied the game at 48, then again at 49.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Reese helped Atlanta answer. After Rhyne Howard put the Dream back in front, Reese made two free throws, assisted on an Isobel Borlase layup and scored on a running layup herself. That completed an 8–0 run and gave Atlanta a 57–49 lead.

Golden State cut the deficit to four, but the Dream kept scoring after Reese went to the bench with 3:31 left in the quarter. DeWanna Bonner hit a three to start a 12–2 finish to the period, scoring five points during that stretch.

ANGEL REESE DOMINATES GAME 2 AS ATLANTA DREAM EVEN WNBA FINALS WITH GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES

Atlanta led 71–57 entering the fourth and Golden State never really threatened in the final period.

Hillmon finished with 15 points, while Jordin Canada added 8 assists. Rhyne Howard had her best offensive performance of the series, scoring 16 points.

Atlanta again held down Golden State’s Gabby Williams, who finished with 15 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

Atlanta entered these Finals without a win in its three previous appearances, then lost Saturday’s opener. Now Reese and the Dream are two victories from a championship.

Game 4 is Saturday at State Farm Arena.

The LeBron James era in Los Angeles is officially in the rearview mirror, and Luka Doncic wasted no time introducing himself as the new face of the city.

Ahead of Wednesday night's season opener against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers' superstar made an instant impression on everyday fans before even stepping onto the court.

Doncic bought out an entire parking lot outside Crypto.com Arena to give fans free parking and teamed up with Metro Bike Share to hand out free rides across Los Angeles all day long.

LEBRON JAMES THANKS LAKERS AHEAD OF FREE AGENCY DEPARTURE FOR 24TH NBA SEASON: 'HOPE I MADE A FEW PROUD'

If you have ever tried driving into downtown Los Angeles on a game night, you know parking alone can feel like a shakedown.

Dropping 50 bucks just to leave your car on cracked asphalt for three hours is enough to ruin an evening before it even starts.

Anyone hoping Luka's generosity would carry over to the concession stands inside would be sorely disappointed. Free beer is definitely not on the menu, and you are still going to pay 20 dollars for a draft and 10 bucks for a soda once you clear security.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Taking a family of four to a ballgame is still a heavy hit on the bank account. Still, the gesture sends a clear message that this is Luka's team now.

For years, Lakers basketball was the LeBron show, complete with all the celebrity drama, roster turnover, and constant circus that came with it. With James gone, the keys to the most famous franchise in basketball belong entirely to Doncic.

Coming off a frustrating hamstring injury that cut his 2025-26 season short, he enters this fresh campaign with an enormous chip on his shoulder and the weight of 17 championship banners on his back.

Free parking and pedal bikes build quick goodwill, but hanging banner 18 is the only thing that truly matters. Wednesday night against Golden State is just the opening chapter of the Luka era.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs apologized to his teammates, while also speaking with reporters for the first time since returning to the team after being removed from the commissioner’s exempt list last week.

Jacobs missed the first six weeks of the 2026 season following an offseason domestic abuse arrest in May, which landed him on the commissioner’s exempt list on Aug. 30.

The league continues to investigate Jacobs’ situation despite pleading no contest to both misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property. Jacobs being removed from the list doesn’t hinder the investigation, the NFL has noted, but he is allowed back with the Packers.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Ahead of his potential season debut — the Packers haven’t said whether Jacobs will be playing against the Detroit Lions on Sunday — Jacobs spoke with reporters, expressing remorse for his actions.

"Excited to be back with the team, with the guys," he said during his media availability. "I want to say thank you to the organization really for supporting me throughout this whole process and how everything played out.

"With that being said, I can’t really get into a lot of things, like specifics of things, but obviously I’m remorseful, and sorry for putting this time in this situation.

JOSH JACOBS' EX-GIRLFRIEND FILES MOTION TO PERMANENTLY SEAL EVIDENCE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE

"Sometimes, when you go through life, situations occur, and a four-second, three-second decision can alter your life honestly. With that being said, still a human being, man, still trying to learn, still trying to grow from the whole process. Actually learned a lot throughout this whole process, legally and just personally."

As part of Jacobs’ plea deal, he was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, attend counseling, pay restitution for property he destroyed and have no further contact with the victim. As long as he meets those conditions for one year, the property damage charge will be dismissed.

Jacobs was arrested in Wisconsin following an incident that occurred three days prior, where he allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend trying to leave his garage and threw her to the ground.

Jacobs also filed a civil suit last week calling for an injunction and protective order surrounding evidence, specifically surveillance footage of the incident, which would restrict access to records of the case. Basically, Jacobs doesn’t want the footage released to the public, as it was reported the video footage of the alleged battery would corroborate the victim’s claims.

Jacobs is trying to put the situation behind him, saying that he is "just trying to be better" moving forward.

"I know for some people this might be a stain on me and my character," he added. "I feel like I don’t have to really speak on my character. A lotta people that know me in this locker room, or that’s been around me, I’ll let them do that.

"For me, man, I’m just trying to come back in here, play ball, learn from this mistake and move forward."

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Head coach Matt LaFleur also addressed Jacobs returning to his squad during his news conference on Wednesday.

"I think a lot of times you get in a situation where you might not make the right decision," he said of Jacobs’ situation. "I think people learn from their mistakes. I think he’s extremely remorseful, and I do believe he is a good person. I’ve been around him quite a bit. I believe in second chances."

With Jacobs sidelined, LaFleur has seen an abysmal run game from his depth chart, which includes MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr. and Kaleb Johnson, who Green Bay traded for with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers are averaging just 59.8 yards on the ground per game, though they are top five in passing yards (269.3) with quarterback Jordan Love finding his rhythm amid a recent three-game win streak for his 4-2 squad.

LaFleur said he felt Jacobs was in a "pretty good spot" earlier this week in terms of playing against the Lions.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

"He’s been training, but he’s missed the exposure to football. [His availability] is going to be determined throughout the course of the week, see where he’s at, see how he’s feeling, and then we’ll make a decision."

Last season, Jacobs rushed for 929 yards in 15 games, finishing fourth in the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 13.

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER

The NBA slapped new Boston Celtics forward Paul George with a meager $2,000 fine for flopping during Tuesday’s 121-113 season-opening loss to the Detroit Pistons, the league announced Wednesday.

The penalty stemmed from a fourth-quarter sequence with roughly three minutes remaining in regulation. Pushing the ball in transition, George made contact with Detroit guard Duncan Robinson before dramatically collapsing to the floor in an Oscar-worthy attempt to bait a whistle.

On-court officials swallowed their whistles in real time, but the league office retroactively assessed the violation upon postgame video review.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Under NBA regulations, postgame flopping penalties begin at $2,000 on an escalating scale. For a superstar commanding nearly $50 million this season, the fine amounts to little more than loose couch cushion change.

Tuesday's physical opener frequently devolved into a four-quarter flop-fest with players repeatedly hitting the deck on contested shots, yet George was somehow the only player singled out to receive an invoice from league officials.

The slap on the wrist capped an otherwise strong Celtics debut for the nine-time All-Star, who was putting on an absolute clinic.

George poured in 38 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the floor, including 7-of-12 from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds, five steals, and three assists in 31 minutes, breaking the franchise record for points in a Boston debut previously held by Kristaps Porzingis.

George's individual performance was ultimately spoiled by Boston's collapse. The Celtics squandered a 22-point advantage, largely undone by a sickening 23-0 Detroit run in the fourth quarter led by Robinson and Cade Cunningham.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

With Jayson Tatum struggling through a dismal 6-of-23 shooting performance, George carried the offense until Boston’s execution fell apart in the closing minutes.

Because the flopping infraction carries no suspension, George remains fully cleared to suit up Friday when Boston hosts his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

During his playing days, Ryan Fitzpatrick was known as a gunslinger, unafraid to push the ball downfield and take shots. As an analyst, he appears to have that same mentality.

Sometimes Fitzpatrick made throws he wished he could take back, throwing 169 interceptions during his NFL career. As an analyst, there are some takes he wishes he could take back, too.

Fitzpatrick eviscerated Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix after the team's 17-14 win last Thursday over the Seattle Seahawks on Prime Video's "Thursday Night Football" but said he regretted one remark from his rant.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

"The line about being disrespectful to the quarterback position, it boiled over, and that’s the one phrase I wish I could have taken back, because I think my criticism was fair," Fitzpatrick said during a recent episode of "Fitz and Whit."

"I don’t think the effort and the competitiveness that he’s shown in the past, I don’t think he was showing that at the end of the game. That is somewhere I usually don’t go, but that’s what I felt."

The 17-year NFL veteran stood by his scathing criticism, saying Nix was not playing competitive football and that something appears to be wrong with the Broncos quarterback.

RYAN FITZPATRICK UNLOADS ON BO NIX AFTER HORRIFIC PERFORMANCE IN ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL RANTS YOU'LL EVER HEAR

"Something’s going on with him. I don’t know what it is," Fitzpatrick said. "You watched C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence in that game at Wembley, going toe to toe, one after another. Even Aaron Rodgers and Jalon Daniels in the fourth quarter. You had Josh Allen and Kirk Cousins, and you had Jacoby Brissett, and you had Matthew Stafford just going at it. That’s the type of competitiveness that the quarterback position deserves."

Despite the Broncos defeating the Seahawks and Sam Darnold throwing two interceptions, Fitzpatrick chose to focus on Nix in his postgame analysis.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

"I don’t want to talk about Sam Darnold’s two interceptions because, look, playing quarterback is hard, and there are a lot of things that you can’t control," Fitzpatrick said. "But there are things you can control, and when you decide to turn it down, maybe that’s what really bothered me."

Former Broncos star Aqib Talib defended Nix and questioned Fitzpatrick's playing credentials to discredit his criticism. Fitzpatrick playfully responded to Talib in a video Sunday but did not fully address his criticism of Nix until appearing on his podcast.

The Los Angeles Angels’ new ownership era will bring another familiar change: a new manager in the dugout.

Only the Colorado Rockies finished the 2026 regular season with more losses than the Angels. Los Angeles’ 100 defeats ultimately ended Kurt Suzuki’s one-season tenure, with the team declining its 2027 option on his contract.

Baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak announced the decision in a statement Wednesday. "Kurt has earned tremendous respect in our clubhouse, and I’ve seen firsthand how much he cares about our players," Mozeliak said. "I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his true abilities as a manager."

STAN KROENKE'S RECORD-SETTING LA ANGELS PURCHASE SHOULD MAKE LONGTERM MLB LOCKOUT LESS LIKELY

Suzuki’s time with the Angels may not be over, as the team has offered him an opportunity to remain with the organization as a special assistant.

Mozeliak said he made the decision in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which agreed Sept. 1 to purchase a controlling interest in the Angels from Arte Moreno.

The sale is not expected to close until next year, but the group led by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is already making significant changes to the beleaguered franchise.

The Angels ended the season at 62-100 under Suzuki, which marked the first 100-loss season in franchise history. Suzuki ended his 16-year major league playing career as a catcher for the Halos in 2021-22. Suzuki had never been a manager at any level before he was hired exactly one year ago by general manager Perry Minasian.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Suzuki had previously worked as Minasian's special assistant for the previous three seasons.

Minasian was fired by Moreno last June, and longtime St. Louis Cardinals general manager Mozeliak stepped in on a temporary basis to run the front office while leading the search for a permanent GM to replace him. However, that transition plan has been thrown into flux by Moreno’s decision to sell

Mozeliak’s current contract ends in December, with the possibility of an MLB work stoppage looming.

Angels pitching coach Mike Maddux and two staffers were let go in August after Mozeliak determined the team was not fully leveraging the technology and analytics available to its pitchers.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Suzuki’s replacement will be the seventh manager to lead the Angels in nine seasons since it parted with Mike Scioscia after the 2018 season. The Angels have had 11 consecutive losing seasons and 12 straight non-playoff seasons, both the longest active skids in the major leagues.

Two other MLB teams, the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros, are also searching for new managers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The San Francisco 49ers are red-hot to start the 2026 season, owning a perfect 6-0 record after a "Monday Night Football" victory over the Washington Commanders.

But tensions can run high even when things are going well. Just ask head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy after the latter screamed toward his leader on the sideline in a now-viral exchange in Week 6.

Purdy was heard shouting, "Hey, Kyle!" with clear frustration, and the clip quickly found its way around social media. It appeared that Purdy wasn’t happy that Shanahan didn’t have the play-call in his ear in time.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Ahead of the 49ers’ matchup with the Atlanta Falcons this week, Shanahan told a different story on the exchange.

"Yeah, it’s actually not to call a play faster," Shanahan replied when asked about it by a reporter. "It’s, ‘I need it again,’ and it gets cutoff at 15 [seconds]."

'WHAT THE F--K, CALL IT!': AARON RODGERS AND MIKE MCCARTHY CURSE AT EACH OTHER DURING HOT MIC MOMENT

Communications within a quarterback’s helmet can sometimes cause issues with getting play calls in on the sideline in time. That seemed to be the case here.

"Sometimes no one can hear it," Shanahan added. "… I always call a play and I just walk, and think. I don’t always watch the huddle. A lot of times. Mac [Jones] or someone will say, ‘We didn’t get it, it was chopped’ or somebody yells, ‘Brock’s yelling at you,’ which I can’t always hear. But I did hear him a couple times in this game, and I look up and try to do it again as long as it’s not past 15 seconds."

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Shanahan is known as one of the best offensive play-callers in the sport, but it’s not always smooth sailing on game day. The clock is always playing a major factor, but the chemistry between play-caller and quarterback is what matters most.

So, there’s no disconnect on that front, as Shanahan has seen Purdy be one of the top signal callers in the game thus far through this undefeated start.

For quarterbacks who have played through all six weeks, Purdy owns the league’s best quarterback rating (118.1) while throwing for 1,460 yards with a 69.6% completion rate, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Shanahan, Purdy and the rest of the 49ers will aim to remain unbeaten in Week 7 down in Atlanta.

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER

Vice President JD Vance is a longtime Cincinnati Bengals fan to the extreme that he watched his team lose an AFC wild card game to the Pittsburgh Steelers – while he was serving in Iraq in January of 2006.

Well, on Wednesday, the Veep got a closer look of his favorite team when he visited at their training facility and watched parts of practice.

Vance toured the team's locker room, shook hands with several players, coach Zac Taylor and others, and came away with a football. It is unclear if Vance brought the ball to be autographed or the club gave it to him as a memento.

ZAC TAYLOR FACES MAKE-OR-BREAK SEASON AS BENGALS REBUILD DEFENSE AROUND JOE BURROW'S SUPER BOWL WINDOW

The Trump administration is making a lot of campaign stops before the November 3 midterm elections and it seems athletes from all sports have been engaged and more than happy to tag along with the President and others.

• Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced the President at a New York event in May.
• Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas participated in Wisconsin event in June.
• Roger Clemens introduced Trump at a San Antonio rally earlier this month.
• Todd Gurley flew on Air Force One and appeared on stage at a Georgia rally this month.
• Danica Patrick took her turn on Air Force One this week as did Richard Petty.
• Baltimore Ravens players joined the President at one rally in Pennsylvania and even rode in his motorcade with him.

And Super Bowl winning coach Jon Gruden attended a Trump rally in Ohio.

JON GRUDEN FIRES UP TRUMP RALLY CROWD IN OHIO AS IF DELIVERING A LOCKER ROOM SPEECH THEN DELIVERS ENDORSEMENT

Wednesday, meanwhile, wasn't the Bengals following Vance around. It was a Bengals fan following the team he's loved since he was a boy.

The strange thing about this visit, though, was that Vance didn't interact with quarterback Joe Burrow, who is undoubtedly the biggest star on the team.

The two didn't talk at all.

"We did not," Burrow told reporters. "We did not. He came with everybody and left with swiftness and efficiency before the end of practice, so I didn't get to."

Burrow turned a question about what happened while Vance was at practice into a statement about himself.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

"Yeah, a lot of people, a lot of people around, you know, that's what I love about what I do is, it brings a lot of people together, and people want to take time out of their day to come and watch what we do, watch what I do, and watch all the work that I've put in to come and watch greatness, and that's everybody in the locker room," Burrow said.

"That's why we do what we do, and whether it's on the TV, whether it's in person, whether it's on the practice field, and that's what we do."

Yes, we now understand who Burrow believes the stars are when the vice president of the country visits.

Vance arrived in a motorcade befitting a world leader – six black SUVs, some police vehicles, and some motorcycle cops.

His SUV (mini-tank?) rolled past a back gate at the Kettering Health practice fields adjacent to Paycor Stadium.

Vance is a Middletown, Ohio native. He has a home in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood so he was obviously feeling quite at home when he arrived in town to deliver a speech at the FBI's Cincinnati Field Office and then hold a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

Retired NFL linebacker Brandon Spikes has had an interesting football journey.

The former five-star prospect from Shelby, North Carolina committed to Florida out of high school and was a part of the loaded 2006 recruiting class that featured himself as well as college football legends Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin.

After a decorated college career which included two All-American selections and two national championships, Spikes was drafted late in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, where he spent five of his seven seasons in the league.

CHASE DANIEL NEARLY MADE TIM TEBOW WALK OFF THE SET OF 'SEC NATION' WITH 'DEROGATORY' COMMENT ABOUT FLORIDA

The dream for every young man growing up playing football is to ultimately hear their name called by the commissioner of the NFL on draft day, but Spikes claims he had to make some personal (and financial) sacrifices before going pro.

As a guest on the popular "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast, the former Patriots linebacker revealed he wasn't exactly hurting for money while in college.

WHICH TEAMS HAVE THE MOST VALUABLE COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROSTERS HEADING INTO 2026 SEASON?

"To be honest, I took a f—ing pay cut when I left 'Gainesvegas,'" Spikes said when asked about how much money he made while playing for the Gators.

Mind you, this was pre-NIL, so anything Spikes earned was all under the table at the time.

NCAA SUSPENDS TENNESSEE LINEBACKER FOR $427 PLANE TICKET, AS COLLEGE SPORTS HANDS OUT MILLIONS IN NIL

While his response elicited a laugh from both Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, who were high-level college players in their own right, Spikes was mostly being tongue-in-cheek with his answer.

He did, however, reveal the numbers were a lot closer when factoring in Uncle Sam, referring to Massachusetts as "Taxachusetts" due to the high income taxes he incurred while playing for New England.

"You played in Foxborough," Spikes asked. "That check looks a little bit different when you walk up out of there."

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

When asked by Compton whether he cleared seven-figures while wearing orange and blue, Spikes denied it, playing it coy before adding that the university found a way to move his mom down to Florida while he was playing for the Gators.

"Those same home-cooked meals I got my whole life, I got those right there in Gainesville," he joked.

If you are one of the few fans still believing kids weren't getting paid before the advent of NIL, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but players like Spikes were living large long before it was "legal" to do so.

Let's all give Spikes a hand for being so charitable to take a cut in pay to play for the Patriots.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

What a class act!

The sky appears to be falling in Austin, Texas, with the Longhorns having suffered back-to-back losses. With Arch Manning being the starting quarterback for a Texas offense that ranks in the bottom half of the league, many are pointing at him as the lead culprit of the messy situation, but one former head coach is pointing the blame elsewhere.

Just two weeks ago, Texas was the No. 1 team in the country and appeared to be a real threat to win a national title. Now, the Longhorns are just one loss away from virtually being eliminated from College Football Playoff contention, but the big picture of it all is that head coach Steve Sarkisian has simply not pushed Manning to take a step in the right direction.

To put it simply, Manning has been average so far this season. He's 10th among SEC quarterbacks in completion percentage (63.9), 12th in passing yards (1,295), and ninth in touchdown passes (11). He has not been able to elevate his team's offense as much as many expected him to in what is now his fourth year in Austin.

STEVE SARKISIAN VOWS TO 'EVALUATE EVERYTHING,' WON’T RULE OUT BENCHING ARCH MANNING AMID TEXAS' TWO-GAME SKID

In Brian Kelly's opinion, the offensive struggles seen at Texas this season fall on the shoulders of the man who calls the plays, Sarkisian.

"I think it’s on the play caller," Kelly told Danny Kanell on SiriusXM on Tuesday. "I think the play caller takes a lot of the responsibility. Look, he’s your quarterback. They’re not going back. I mean, they’re not going to bench him unless there’s just a total meltdown."

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Kelly, like the majority of others in and around college football, complimented Sarkisian's offensive mind, but claimed it may be time to make the game plan a bit simpler for Manning moving forward.

"Coach Sarkisian is an outstanding play caller. He understands the game. He’s proven, seasoned, but sometimes there has to be that sit-down conversation," Kelly continued.

"Say, ‘Look, we’re going to do what you can do and execute.’ And to your point, Danny, this is about accuracy and higher completion percentage. If we can run the ball with more effectiveness, if you add those two things to the Texas offense, they’re going to win the rest of their football games."

Manning was only asked to throw the football 20 times during Texas' loss at home to Florida a week ago. He completed 14 of his passes, threw for one score, and didn't throw an interception in his team's 27-24 loss.

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER

LANE KIFFIN IS ALREADY GETTING HIS EXCUSES READY FOR LSU'S DISAPPOINTING REGULAR SEASON

As Kelly alluded to, the Longhorns playing a more complementary style of offense could greatly benefit Manning. Texas rushed for just 99 yards against the Gators.

On the flip side of Kelly's opinion, if the recipe for success six games into the season is to dumb down the offense for Manning, the Longhorns could be in for a long second half of the year.

Texas takes on No. 7 Ole Miss this upcoming Saturday at home, with road contests against Missouri and LSU still looming as well.

After roughly two weeks of radio silence, New York Yankees brass delivered their official postmortem on Wednesday, and owner Hal Steinbrenner made it very clear who he blames for the team tying its longest championship drought since winning its first World Series in 1923.

Steinbrenner spoke alongside general manager Brian Cashman during a joint Zoom news conference from the team's spring training ballpark in Tampa, Florida, and manager Aaron Boone followed with a video news conference from Yankee Stadium.

With Boone and Cashman seemingly public enemies No. 1A and 1B among the Yankees fan base , making them available for the conferences all but confirmed Steinbrenner's loyalty to both of them, and he confirmed that fact.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

"The bottom line is the players didn’t live up to their end of the bargain in the playoffs," Steinbrenner said.

Steinbrenner said that he felt the 2026 Yankees were a "world championship caliber team," yet for the second year in a row, they were eliminated by a division rival in the American League Division Series on their own home field.

Steinbrenner said Boone, who will return for his 10th season, "managed a good season" which included numerous injuries to several star players. However, the postseason proved practically impossible for the offense.

"I believe we absolutely had a team that was winning a championship. I was disappointed, quite frankly, with the offense throughout the course of the year as a whole," Steinbrenner said. "That is certainly one part of the organization that I will be looking at from top to bottom ... but this is twice now when the offense just hasn't lived up to their end of the bargain and got the deal done."

AARON BOONE WILL RETURN FOR 10TH SEASON AS YANKEES MANAGER DESPITE FAN OUTRAGE: REPORTS

Cashman himself later broke the news that he had agreed to an extension - his current contract expires later this year, and he became the team's GM in 1998. When Cashman took over from Bob Watson in 1998, it was the 15th change at GM since George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in January 1973. Cashman has been the only GM under Hal Steinbrenner, who succeeded his father as controlling owner in November 2008.

"Well, look, Cash is great every season," Steinbrenner said. "I think the roster he put together, the team that we rolled out of spring training with, was as good as any in baseball, in my opinion. We had a lot of bumps and bruises along the way, but the team was fantastic, and it was a world championship-caliber team."

Boone finished his ninth season as manager and has one season left on a two-year contract extension agreed to in February 2025. The 53-year-old former third baseman has led New York to a 790-565 regular-season record and three first-place finishes in the AL East but a 27-30 postseason mark.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

"At the end of the day, we haven’t won a championship with me at the helm," he said. "Ultimately that’s what has to happen to satisfy certainly myself — that's why I'm doing this — but to answer those questions ultimately."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Big Blue is making a big change at quarterback.

The New York Giants are benching Jameis Winston and starting J.J. McCarthy on Sunday against the Houston Texans, according to ESPN.

Less than a month after acquiring McCarthy in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, the Giants are turning to the 23-year-old quarterback to try to lead them to the playoffs in a weakened NFC East.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

After being used in packages in the Giants’ 27-27 tie with the Washington Commanders in Week 5, McCarthy saw significant action during the fourth quarter of the Giants’ 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints and thrived.

McCarthy took over for Winston when the Giants were down 34-10 in the fourth quarter. He threw an interception on his first possession but then led a furious comeback attempt. McCarthy completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown.

McCarthy led three scoring drives, the first ending with a Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion to make it 34-18. He then threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely, but the two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 34-24. He then led a field goal drive to cut the deficit to 34-27.

The No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft led the Giants down the field and gave them a chance to tie or win the game if coach John Harbaugh decided to go for two, but his fourth-down pass attempt from the Saints' 14-yard line sailed high.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

While the comeback fell short, McCarthy impressed and made history in the process. His 243 yards are the most passing yards in the fourth quarter by any player this season and the second most by a quarterback who did not start the game over the past 25 seasons, according to NFL Network.

The Giants went 2-1-1 with Winston at quarterback, but the 32-year-old struggled against the Saints. He threw two costly interceptions as the Giants attempted to rally against his former team.

The Giants hope the more mobile McCarthy can spark a struggling running game that has faltered with Winston at quarterback. McCarthy was the team’s leading rusher with 26 yards in Sunday's loss.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Some believed an easier debut as the starter for McCarthy would come after the Giants’ bye week, which follows the Texans game, but the Giants decided otherwise.

The Giants are 3-2-1 and sit atop the NFC East, with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders all struggling and battling injuries, leaving New York with an opportunity to win the division.

Three-time national championship-winning head coach Urban Meyer knows what good quarterback play looks like, and he isn’t seeing it from Arch Manning right now.

Texas has lost two straight games, Manning has struggled in each of them, and the noise in Austin has only grown surrounding the 22-year-old. Meyer said during a recent appearance on OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich" that during Texas’ thrilling comeback win against Ohio State last month, Manning looked like the guy everyone thought he was going to be, but he has since regressed.

"It's hard to believe we're here," he said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

"His second half against Ohio State, particularly the last two drives, that looked like the guy that everybody talked about. He was phenomenal. But he’s gone backwards."

Meyer said that last season, Texas didn’t have great wide receivers, which he believed was a viable excuse for Manning's struggles against tougher teams. This season, Manning has struggled despite having Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, two standout wide receivers, and Meyer thinks Manning should be benched.

He cited Michigan as an example of how benching a quarterback can work.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

"You saw coach Kyle Whittingham make the change at quarterback. Instant spark. They beat Penn State. We all know if they don't make that change, they lose to Penn State. So, I think they're at that inflection point right now," Meyer said.

Longhorns backup quarterback KJ Lacey Jr. has taken more first-team reps, and Meyer said head coach Steve Sarkisian has to take reps away from Manning.

"You got to start giving that guy reps and then at (that) point, it's going to be a really really difficult decision if he's going to make that decision to make a change, because I'm really worried about Texas. They look awful."

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

After the Longhorns' loss to Florida on Saturday, they dropped from No. 12 to No. 19 in the latest AP Top 25 poll. Texas’ schedule does not get any easier, as the Longhorns face No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday night.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark clearly needs better teammates, so she is officially teaming up with THE Cookie Monster.

In her latest off-court venture, the WNBA superstar debuted a new Xfinity commercial, joining forces with Sesame Street's most chaotic blue icon on a mission to bake the "Greatest Cookie of All Time."

Honestly, a frantic puppet addicted to baked goods would still provide more spacing on the floor than what Clark dealt with all season. Hard to blame the girl for looking outside the locker room.

WATCH:

It is easily the best sports crossover with a fuzzy mascot since Grimace saved the Mets' season. The commercial leans straight into the "two GOATs" dynamic: Clark, who shattered every TV rating in WNBA history, and Cookie Monster, hunting down pastry perfection.

While Angel Reese is grinding for a title in the WNBA Finals, Clark is clocking offseason commercial shifts. Between her $28 million Nike bag, a Wilson basketball line and spots for Gatorade and State Farm, corporate suits cannot get enough of her. Now she added Xfinity to the pile, playing baker next to a literal felt puppet. Electric.

CAITLIN CLARK PASSES LEBRON JAMES IN JERSEY SALES, FURTHER EXPOSING WNBA'S MARKETING PROBLEM

Clark just wrapped up a frustrating postseason run that ended with the Fever getting eliminated by A'ja Wilson and the powerhouse Las Vegas Aces.

Advertisers know something the WNBA has yet to crack: anything Clark touches brings eyeballs. Now she's getting paid a fortune to hang out with a childhood icon. Not bad work if you can get it.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Caitlin's fans were hyped for the new ad:

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Dan Lanning said he was still gathering information about Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart’s arrest but the fifth-year Ducks' head coach vowed to take what he described as "appropriate action" once he had all the necessary details.

"There will be an appropriate action taken. Still gathering some details with what that situation looks like," Lanning said.

He added that the situation would be dealt with internally. "But that would be handled internally. I’m not gonna respond to any other questions about that. We’re gonna handle that with our guys."

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 7 SCHEDULE: TOP GAMES, TV CHANNELS, STREAMING, PREVIEWS

Stewart was taken into custody early Sunday on charges of driving under the influence, hours after the Ducks rallied to defeat Nebraska on Saturday night. He was booked into the Springfield Municipal Jail, according to police records.

Lanning said the incident was unfortunate because it cast a shadow on the Ducks’ win.

Stewart did not play in the game against the Cornhuskers because of an undisclosed injury. He has 27 catches for 352 yards and four touchdowns this season after missing all of last season because of a right patellar tendon tear.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

"There was an incident this weekend that didn’t match our standard here in our program," Lanning said.

Oregon visits Illinois for a Big Ten matchup with star quarterback Dante Moore’s status still unclear.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Moore has missed the Ducks’ past two games while recovering from a concussion.

Lanning said Moore participated in practice leading up to Oregon’s Week 6 matchup with UCLA, but Brock Thoman and Dylan Raiola ultimately saw action in the Ducks’ 17-15 loss to the Bruins. Both quarterbacks also played against Nebraska.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The first few weeks of the NFL season brought more lows than highs for the Tennessee Titans.

But Week 6 provided one of the team’s rare bright spots, as the Titans rallied for a 26-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, their first win of the season.

The celebratory mood at the Titans’ Nashville headquarters was likely short-lived, however, after the team made a surprising move involving one of its defensive linemen.

On Tuesday, the Titans announced they had released defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, citing an unspecified "incident" at the team’s facility.

TITANS CEO APOLOGIZES TO BELEAGUERED FANBASE AFTER DREADFUL START TO THE SEASON: 'WE'RE SORRY'

Elliott played under then-San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh the past two seasons before following Saleh to Tennessee, where he is now the Titans’ head coach. Elliott appeared in five games this season with the Titans, recording 11 total tackles.

In a statement, the Titans said the incident happened last Thursday.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

"On Thursday, Oct. 15, there was an incident at our team facility involving Jordan Elliott. Following our review of the incident, we have made the decision to release Elliott from our roster. We will have no further comment on the matter."

Details surrounding the incident were not immediately available.

Elsewhere on the Titans’ roster, defensive back Alontae Taylor did not suit up due to what was described as a coach’s decision. Saleh also did not provide details about Taylor’s status.

Taylor played nearly every defensive snap during the Titans’ first five games of the season. He signed a three-year, $58 million contract with Tennessee in March and had recorded 19 tackles and one sack through those five matchups.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

The Titans return to Nissan Stadium this week to host the AFC North-leading Cleveland Browns.

Find yourself something or someone you love as much as Lane Kiffin loves making excuses for things that haven't even happened yet.

Kiffin's first season as head coach of the LSU Tigers has been a bit of a roller coaster. They've at times looked dominant, like the opening weekend demolition of Clemson, then struggled in a loss to what should have been an overmatched Kentucky team. The loss at Ole Miss, in a highly charged, emotional return to Oxford was understandable on the face of it, and yet was exactly the type of game Kiffin was hired to win.

Now, with two losses in the first seven games, LSU still has a tough schedule remaining. The Tigers have upcoming games against Auburn on the road this weekend, a home game against Alabama, followed by Texas in Baton Rouge, a road game against Tennessee, and a season-ending trip to Arkansas. For a program that entered the season with aspirations of reaching the College Football Playoff, Kiffin needs to win out to feel good about finishing in playoff position.

LANE KIFFIN IS ALREADY SOMEHOW BLAMING THE SEC'S NEW CONFERENCE SCHEDULE FOR LSU'S INJURIES

And he's already got his excuses ready for if they don't.

In a news conference this week, Kiffin explained to reporters that he opposed the SEC's new nine-game conference schedule, and detailed how the math guarantees the SEC an additional eight in-conference losses.

"And they kinda said when it was proposed, they said, 'Well, okay, you're going to take on eight more losses. I mean, that's going to be real, there's no way of changing the math, that's going to happen. So you see that, I think somebody said there's two SEC teams in the top-10 right now, and I said before it started, I said, 'Take away the first SEC game that you play because that's going to be brand new, the ninth one came early and got added and replaced an early win, you know where's that going to put you?'

"Look at this team [Auburn Tigers], if you took away their first SEC loss, and it was just a win versus a Group of Six team, they'd be a top-10 team right now. They'd have one loss, on the road at Tennessee to a really good team. And somehow now, because of adding an extra game, they're not even ranked and they just beat the number one team in the country."

He concluded the answer, "It's just where football is, and they can't see like they do in basketball or baseball, metrics, so it is what it is."

The reason Auburn isn't ranked is because they don't deserve to be, win over Georgia or not. And the reason the SEC has just two teams in the top 10 is because they keep losing. When asked a follow-up, whether there were any positives to the nine-game schedule, Kiffin was short: "No."

"You're ... just seeing teams with more losses, more beat up. And there's so much into it more than just the losses. You know, it's at a time when because of it, I'm not complaining, I'm saying what it is, because of the [transfer] portal that you can leave every year and NIL, you see players going from teams for more money, and they go to another team in conference.

"And that's fine, it is what it is, but at the same time that you see that, that it's so hard for teams to build depth after their top players ... don't add more conference games. Because now you've got what you got."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

The problem with all of this is that it is exactly the argument other conferences were making when the SEC had the advantage of an eight-game schedule. You had programs that scheduled themselves four free non-conference wins, found themselves ranked because of their record, then provided "ranked" wins and losses in SEC play. That was a tremendous boon for the entire perceived strength of the conference and helped create the "depth" argument.

Now that the advantage has been removed, Kiffin is rushing to complain about it. Yes, the SEC is going to have eight extra losses this year, and it's going to show up in the standings and the polls. Just like it does for everyone else.

One other important point from his argument is that we don't have "metrics" in college football like we do in basketball or baseball. And he's right, there are no official NET ratings like there are in basketball. But we do have "metrics" in college football, they just don't always tell the story Kiffin and others like to tell.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

According to ESPN's SP+ rankings, which evaluate team efficiency on offense, defense and special teams while adjusting for competition, the Big Ten has nine teams in the top 30, compared with seven for the SEC. Turns out, this season at least, the Big Ten's "depth" is better than the SEC. Seems unlikely that Kiffin would be adamant that the Big Ten's nine-game conference schedule is dragging down their results.

That Auburn team he referenced? They're No. 42. Because they're not actually at the level of a ranked team, it's just that the gaps between the best and the mediocre is smaller than it's ever been. Texas A&M is No. 33, Oklahoma No. 34, Florida No. 38, and Mississippi State No. 48. Yes, the SEC is getting a lot of benefit of the doubt when it comes to human poll voters relative to objective metrics.

Speaking of that preferential treatment, it's obvious when looking at just wins and losses too.

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER

There are currently five teams from the SEC ranked despite having two losses. There isn't a single two-loss team in the top 25 poll that isn't from the SEC. That's correct; not one other conference has a ranked team with two losses. Just the SEC. They're already getting rewarded for their schedules, even if the "depth" in this year's SEC is not as strong as it's perceived to be.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Don't worry though, Kiffin will still find something to complain about.

The NFL made multiple officials available to reporters Tuesday during its fall league meeting to say that it was satisfied with how the Philadelphia Eagles handled quarterback Jalen Hurts' care related to his blood clots and to criticize reports that drew incorrect conclusions about what happened.

And, ready for this?

Then the NFL Players Association released a statement on the matter on Tuesday evening saying something quite different.

That NFLPA statement criticized the league for drawing conclusions about how the situation was handled and added that the union was told by the league it would not review the care Hurts received.

NFL CLEARS PHILADELPHIA EAGLES OF WRONGDOING IN HANDLING OF JALEN HURTS BLOOD CLOT SITUATION

That last part calls into question how the NFL can defend how the Eagles handled the matter, because how could that assessment be made lacking a thorough review?

So, rather than allaying concerns and moving on from the Jalen Hurts blood clot matter, we actually have a new mystery and more questions.

"I'll just sum it up by saying that I have complete confidence in the Eagles medical staff and their handling of this situation and what characterize their work as very conservative, very patient-focused and appropriately guarded at every step," said Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer.

Sills said that in a typical season, the league has been "in the low single digits" of players that suffered deep vein thrombosis like Hurts did over the course of the past decade and this:

EAGLES QUARTERBACK JALEN HURTS RULED OUT OF SUNDAY'S GAME 'OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION' DUE TO BLOOD CLOT

"Every case gets reviewed and looked at," he said.

Sills later added that in the Hurts case, "everyone was incredibly conservative and incredibly vigilant and was very quick to make diagnoses of these conditions that might not have been diagnosed in a non-athlete.

"Quite frankly, you or I might have walked around with this condition without a diagnosis."

Sills said that all the timing and decision-making on when tests were performed and conclusions reached came with "state-of-the-art imaging that was done in London and as far as the timing and the decision-making ...

"I have great confidence in that and believe everyone acted with an abundance of caution and with a tremendous high degree of suspicion to try to identify and take care of these things as quickly as possible."

Sills then repeated that the NFL has a committee that looks at all these cases and does so with the Players Association to see what can be learned.

There's more: Jeff Miller, the NFL executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy, was asked if there was an investigation into what the Eagles did or whether the league simply trusted what the Eagles said happened.

"Both talking to the Eagles staff and making sure from people on the ground, tracking the case, talking to the independent hospital and doctors involved that we have, I think, a complete understanding of the course of events," Miller said.

Taken in total, this represents a full-throated defense of the Philadelphia Eagles, their medical staff, and the doctors in London that treated Hurts.

And that sounded convincing until the NFLPA released its statement.

"The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts," the statement provided to OutKick and Fox News Digital reads. "In fact, the league previously informed the union that it did not plan to review the care he received."

Wait, what?

That contradicts what an NFL vice president and the league's top doctor said. Because, how could the NFL be so confident about the care Hurts received and the decisions that were made without a review or investigation into the facts?

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

But the NFLPA was not finished blowing up the league. The NFL has apparently come to a conclusion that Hurts received great, professional care and called reporting suggesting something else "considerable and uninformed speculation."

But the second part of the NFLPA's statement suggests the NFL is engaging in speculation.

"Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred," the union's statement read. "Determining the facts is essential to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward."

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

The Pittsburgh Penguins turned their plane around after forward Ben Kindel had a "medical episode" during the team's flight.

Kindel, 19, received medical attention on the plane and is in stable condition.

"The Pittsburgh Penguins team plane returned to the Salt Lake City International Airport today shortly after takeoff due to a medical episode involving forward Ben Kindel. Team physician, Dr. Dharmesh Vyas of UPMC, as well as the team’s medical staff were on board and immediately attended to Ben. An ambulance was waiting upon arrival, and he was taken to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation. Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition," the Penguins said in a statement.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

"The health and safety of our players, as well as the privacy for their families, are our top priority. The team will provide further updates when appropriate."

The Penguins lost 5-4 to the Utah Mammoth on Monday but did not travel until Tuesday because their next game is not until Thursday.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

The Penguins selected Kindel with the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The British Columbia native made his NHL debut last season, playing 86 games and scoring 19 goals and adding 20 assists for 39 points.

Through nine games this season, Kindel has two goals and two assists. In the team's Monday loss, he played 18 minutes and 53 seconds. Kindel is the youngest player on the team.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Members of the Penguins front office, coaching staff and medical staff will remain with Kindel in Utah, according to The Athletic.