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

How Denny Crum helped build two NCAA champions

Most coaches would be lucky to contribute to one dynasty. Denny Crum, on the other hand, played a key part in two of them. The Hall of Fame coach died on Tuesday at the age of 86.

NFC South rookies who will make the biggest impact in 2023

Here are four rookies -- one per team -- who will have the biggest impact in the NFC South.

There's only one option for how the Bob Huggins scandal should end

It shouldn't be difficult to refrain from using bigoted language, and it should be even easier to fire someone who does.

Why the Colorado Buffaloes are a huge liability to sportsbooks

Is Colorado a college football national title contender? As crazy as that sounds, it's a scarier thought to sportsbooks.  Per BetMGM's John Ewing, a remarkable 8.1 percent of bets on the 2024 College Football Playoff national champion at BetMGM have been placed on the Buffaloes.

Report: NFL schedule release may be delayed

The upcoming NFL schedule release may be facing a delay as the league works on figuring out matchups for the season's most high profile slots. 

Patrick Mahomes, Chris Pine among celebrities at the Kentucky Derby

Celebrities came out in full force for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Big hats take center stage at the Kentucky Derby

The leadup to the Kentucky Derby served as a stage to show off creative hats, many of them quite large.

Report: Grammy winner joins bidding war for NHL's Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators are seeing stars. Music superstar The Weeknd, whose given name is Abel Tesfaye, "agreed to be a partner in the bid by Toronto billionaires Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of the Harlo Capital Group" to purchase the Senators, according to Ottawa Sun.

49ers GM reveals surprising reason why team drafted kicker in third round

While he was fantastic at Michigan — he's the all-time scoring leader in program history — spending a top-100 pick on a kicker is questionable at best.

Kentucky Derby favorite scratched morning of race

Forte, the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, was scratched from the race on Saturday morning after suffering a bruised foot.

Bucks fire HC Mike Budenholzer less than two years after winning title

The Milwaukee Bucks are moving on from HC Mike Budenholzer just two years removed from winning the NBA title.

Report: Giants agree to contract extension with key contributor

The New York Giants have reportedly agreed to a contract extension with standout defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

Report: Chiefs-Bears, Patriots-Saints set to clash in Germany

The Super Bowl champs are going on a world tour. The Chiefs highlight the four participants of two NFL games scheduled in Germany during the 2023 season.

Top-ranked player in transfer portal makes decision on playing future

Former Michigan center Hunter Dickinson, the top player in college basketball's transfer portal, announced his decision to play at Kansas for the 2023-24 season.

Superstar NFL, NBA duos to square off at 'Capital One's The Match'

Two championship duos will play for bragging rights when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson square off against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce during "Capital One's The Match."

76ers receive positive update on Joel Embiid's status

By finally winning MVP, Embiid's worth is well-known. He might get another chance to prove just how valuable he is sooner than the Celtics would have liked.

76ers' Joel Embiid wins first NBA MVP award

After months of debate, Joel Embiid won his first MVP award on Tuesday, beating former two-time champions Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the honor.

Potential landing spots for 10 high-profile veteran NFL free agents

Many veterans remain on the market. Here are potential landing spots for some of the biggest names.

Best, worst draft picks in the NFC South

Now that the NFL Draft is completed, it's time for us to weigh in on the bests and worsts.

ESPN's Ryan Clark shares words of encouragement for '23 UDFA class

Former undrafted free agent and current ESPN voice Ryan Clark had a positive message for the '23 undrafted class.

Five biggest 2023 NFL Draft losers

Running through the biggest losers of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Five biggest 2023 NFL Draft winners

Seven rounds and 259 picks later, the 2023 NFL Draft is over. Here's a look at the five teams that did the best over the long weekend.  

New Orleans adds QB with strong ties to the Saints already

The New Orleans Saints bolstered their QB room by adding QB Jake Haener with the 25th pick (127th overall) of the fourth round. He should feel right at home.

Eagles add third Georgia defender in 2023 NFL Draft

Georgia fielded an elite defense the past two seasons, and it makes sense why NFL teams would want to poach its stars.