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

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.

Remembering Jared Odrick's 'Tequila dance' following Paul Reubens' death

In an interview with the Palm Beach Post, Reubens praised Odrick for reviving the dance, saying, "Why hasn't this been happening all the time? It took somebody as smart as Jared to realize the timing was right and have the good taste and expertise and the talent to bring it back."

The Colts are failing Anthony Richardson

The Colts have been desperate to find a solution at quarterback for several years. They hope they've found one after using the No. 4 pick on Richardson, but they aren't giving the young QB much help with their actions early in training camp.

WR Tyreek Hill reacts to Dolphins signing longtime rival CB

 Tyreek Hill is excited for a big day at practice on Monday after the Dolphins signed cornerback Eli Apple.

Frank Clark gives brutally honest assessment of Broncos-Chiefs match-up

Former Kansas City Chiefs and current Denver Broncos player Frank Clark had a harsh-but-real assessment of the two teams.

Watch: Travis Kelce punches teammate at practice

Travis Kelce channeled his inner Draymond Green on Saturday. After catching a touchdown from Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs linebacker Jack Cochrane (No. 43) tried to stip the ball away from Kelce's grasp, which the All-Pro tight end didn't appreciate.

Watch: Bronny James is back home after suffering cardiac arrest

LeBron James recently posted a video of his son back at home playing the piano.

Three-time Pro Bowl RB meeting with Patriots

He might not find a better place to extend his career than with the Patriots.

Sizzling NFC South training-camp position battles

With training camps underway, here's a look at the top position battles to watch for each team in the NFC South.