Yardbarker

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans. You can find him on Twitter/X and Threads at @ericsmithling and at Bluesky at @ericsmithling.bsky.social.

EXPERTISE:

NFL, College Football, NBA, Men's and Women's College Basketball, NHL

SEC commissioner acknowledges need for adjustments to playoff format amid realignment

With the Pac-12 on the brink of dissolving, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey thinks the College Football Playoff should reconsider the format of the pending 12-team playoff set to debut in 2024.

'Hard Knocks' season premieres with heavy focus on Aaron Rodgers

"Hard Knocks '23: Training Camp with the New York Jets" premiered on HBO and Max on Tuesday with the four-time MVP the main attraction, much as he's been since he arrived in New York.

ESPN enters sports betting market in major partnership

ESPN is getting in on the sports betting scene.

Colin Cowherd ripped for disparaging Dwayne Haskins comment

Cowherd's comment is sports talk radio at its worst. It can be a dehumanizing space for athletes, which Cowherd made clear by including the late Haskins on this list.

NFC South under-the-radar rookies

Here are four under-the-radar rookies to watch in the NFC South.

Some Commanders players took issue with OC Eric Bieniemy's approach

On Tuesday, Washington head coach Ron Rivera made a surprising admission when he revealed multiple players had an issue with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy upon his arrival in D.C.

Bucs decline to name starting quarterback in first depth chart

 Who will start at quarterback for Tampa Bay this season? At this point in early August, even head coach Todd Bowles isn't sure.

Panthers shore up pass rush by signing four-time Pro Bowler

Carolina bolstered its pass rush by signing arguably the best remaining edge rusher on the market, four-time Pro Bowler Justin Houston.

Derek Carr praise a good sign for Saints 2022 first-round pick

New Orleans may have hit the jackpot in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Watch: Darrelle Revis praises Deion Sanders with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant comparison

Revis overwhelmed many of the wide receivers he faced in the NFL. In the Hall of Fame, he has a worthy competitor in Sanders for the title of best cornerback. Thankfully, Canton has room for both.

Two players have strong case to be first-year inductions into Pro Football HOF

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 was inducted on Saturday. Today belongs to members including Ronde Barber, Darrelle Revis, Zach Thomas and DeMarcus Ware.

How media rights packages accelerated the Pac-12's collapse

 Some 44 years after it killed the radio star, video claimed another victim: the Pac-12. While the speed at which the conference fell apart is surprising, two key moments from 2022 hurled us onto this path.

Pac-12's student-athletes lost in the realignment shuffle

On Friday, the Pac-12 became a ghost town when Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Utah and Washington left the conference, whittling the "Conference of Champions" down to four members—Cal, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State.

Kyler Murray still has support as a 'Tier 1' quarterback

 Not everyone is down on Kyler Murray.

Pac-12's last College Football Playoff team schedules 'special meeting' for Thursday evening

Washington's board of regents is meeting Thursday evening as the Pac-12 continues to implode.

Hugh Freeze is already overwhelmed at Auburn

Auburn football could be in for a long season.

Falcons 2021 top-10 pick joins chorus praising QB Desmond Ridder

Desmond Ridder has everything a young quarterback needs. Atlanta's offensive line is one of the best in football; he has three top-10 picks for his top three offensive weapons and a chorus praising his every move.

NFL might turn to XFL for rule change

The NFL is considering adopting the spring football league's kickoff rule, which most greatly differs from the NFL's rule in that players are prohibited from moving until the ball is caught by the returner.

The Big Ten is at the epicenter of college football's shifting landscape

The Big Ten left the Pac-12 for dead but doesn’t want to be the one to pull the plug on the conference. 

NFL HC believes one NFC East team will start multiple QBs in 2023

The Washington Commanders' question at quarterback is likely to extend into the regular season.

Cooper Kupp's injury is a potentially devastating blow to the Rams

The Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl hangover is turning into a curse. Star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, coming back from a season-ending ankle injury last season, will miss time once again in the regular season.

Watch: Steelers WR George Pickens makes impressive training-camp catch

The second-year wide receiver is part of a young Steelers offensive core with great things required from it to compete in a tough AFC North.

Oregon’s Dan Lanning has sharp words for Colorado’s Pac-12 exodus

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning isn't going to miss Colorado when it leaves the Pac-12 for the Big 12 at the end of this season. To him, the Buffaloes aren't a significant subtraction.

NFC South backup quarterback panic meter

On a scale of one to five, with one being the highest level of panic, here's where NFC South teams stand at backup QB.