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

Ravens making a habit of ugly fourth-quarter meltdowns

Per NFL Savant, the Ravens have been outscored in the fourth quarter 64-22 through the first six games, worst in the NFL.

Does Tom Brady have one more run in him?

Brady's team is an uninspiring 3-3, his numbers are down and he's had multiple sideline outbursts through six weeks. Can he right the ship or is this the beginning of the end for the legend?

Low Tide: Is it time to put a fork in Alabama?

The Crimson Tide have overcome regular season slip-ups several times in the last decade, but will they be able to do so again in 2022?

Philadelphia sports teams on a roll after epic weekend

Philadelphia is feeling the love after one of the best sports weekends in the city in years.

Blame directed at Kyler Murray, Kliff Kingsbury after Cardinals latest loss

Add the Cardinals to the list of dysfunctional NFL offenses. 

Heat is on Saints HC Dennis Allen after 2-4 start

Allen's second stint as an NFL head coach is starting to feel a lot like his first.

Saquon Barkley is good for Giants, but bad for fantasy football players

 Saquon Barkley made a play that won Sunday's game for the Giants and may have lost it for people rostering him in fantasy football. With less than two minutes, Barkley took a handoff and had a clear path to the endzone.

Marcus Mariota off to incredible start versus 49ers

If fans were waiting for the Chiefs-Bills game to see some perfect QB play, they'll be surprised to know there's a performance in the 1:00 p.m. window will be tough for either Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen to beat.

What's going on in Green Bay with the Packers offense?

The Green Bay Packers are having a rough go of things against the New York Jets. It's left fans and pundits to question what is going on in Green Bay as the Packers' offense struggles.

Watch: Saints wide receiver scores a day after being called up from practice squad

The New Orleans Saints need production from unlikely sources if they're going to keep up with the Cincinnati Bengals. And they got an early boost from wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.

Watch: Utah scores late TD, completes two-point play for 43-42 win

"Pac-12 After Dark" is a real thing, and fans were given a taste of it Saturday night when No. 20 Utah took down No. 7 USC.

Watch: Tennessee offensive lineman pukes on the field, keeps playing anyways

In a viral tweet, he can be seen in the huddle vomiting and then staring down the defense while nodding his head as if taunting his opponents.

No. 13 TCU takes down No. 8 Oklahoma State in double-OT thriller

Oklahoma State-TCU turned into a thrilling game after it appeared No. 8 Oklahoma State would run away with it when jumping out to a 17-point lead.

No. 6 Tennessee stuns No. 3 Alabama on last-second field goal

The college football world was treated to an incredible show Saturday as No 6. Tennessee defeated No. 3 Alabama for the first time since 2006.

There's no need for Auburn to draw out the Bryan Harsin era anymore

With Saturday's loss at No. 9 Ole Miss, there doesn't seem to be any reason for Auburn to delay the inevitable.

Watch: Alabama HC Nick Saban furious on sideline after special teams turnover

Tennessee scored a quick 28 points not even 20 minutes into the game, the most points a Saban-led team has given up to Tennessee in the 16 games he’s been the Crimson Tide's coach.

Michigan running backs Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards combine for 339 rushing yards in win over Penn State

After spending years stuck in neutral, coach Jim Harbaugh's found a formula that has Michigan back among college football's elite.

Florida, LSU return to Gainesville for first time since shoe toss

 Anything can happen when LSU and Florida meet, including someone throwing a shoe. The last time the two teams met in The Swamp, Florida's Marco Wilson took a page out of the playbook of an Austin Power's villain or a political dissident and threw Kole Taylor's shoe.

Andy Dalton to start against Bengals for third year in a row

He played against the Bengals in 2020 as a member of the Dallas Cowboys and in 2021 as a member of the Chicago Bears. He is 2-0, going 25-of-34 for 241 yards and three touchdowns vs. his former team.

With Mike Norvell floundering at Florida State, it may be prime time for Deion Sanders to take over

Florida State is still operating in darkness after winning a national championship in 2014. Bright lights follow Sanders wherever he goes. The Seminoles could use some of that.

Move over, Tom Brady? Why Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen could be NFL's next passing king

Football historians may one day look at the rivalry between Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen and Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes with the same fondness they hold for those epic Tom Brady-Peyton Manning battles.

'You're not Patrick Mahomes': Justin Fields could be a huge bust

Amazon "Thursday Night Football" analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick, a longtime NFL QB, had tough words for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields after another inept performance from the Bears' offense in a 12-7 loss to Washington.

For USC, more money (for Lincoln Riley) equals fewer problems

Ahead of schedule and on an accelerated timeline, the Trojans are poised to be in the national discussion for the long haul.

'Dirt on Jerry Jones': Five of the most stunning revelations from ESPN's Daniel Snyder report

It certainly sounds as though Snyder is far from the most popular person among his NFL peers.