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

Twitter/X: @ericsmithling

Muck Rack: eric-smithling

March 10, 2023 | San Francisco 49ers

Brock Purdy medical update is a good sign for 2023 season

The impending QB battle in San Francisco will be one of the biggest during training camp. It's a good thing there aren't many questions elsewhere on the 49ers roster. There are enough at QB to last an entire offseason.

March 10, 2023 | Minnesota Vikings

Vikings receiver the latest salary-cap casualty

Changes are afoot in Minnesota. Adam Thielen was released by the Vikings on Friday and is the most recent member of the 2022 playoff team to have his time with the organization come to an end this offseason.

March 10, 2023 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Three hottest seats on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Per Spotrac, the Buccaneers are nearly $49 million over the salary cap, and as the release of starting offensive tackle Donovan Smith shows, several seats are already hot in Tampa.

March 9, 2023 | North Carolina Tar Heels

Preseason No. 1 North Carolina likely out of NCAA Tournament after Thursday's loss

In a nearly unprecedented turn of events, preseason No. 1 North Carolina will almost certainly miss the NCAA Tournament.

March 9, 2023 | NFL

Three hottest seats on the Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have more hot coaching candidates than coaches on the hot seat. However, here are three hot seats within the organization.

March 8, 2023 | Jacksonville Jaguars

Calvin Ridley opens up about gambling suspension in open letter

Calvin Ridley opened up about "the worst mistake" of his life when he gambled on football while away from the Falcons in 2021 in a powerful essay for The Players' Tribune.

March 8, 2023 | Atlanta Falcons

Three hottest seats on the Atlanta Falcons

Flush with cap space ($66.4 million), the Atlanta Falcons are in position to turn things around in a wide-open division. If the fail to do so, several people will start feeling the heat.

March 8, 2023 | New Orleans Saints

Three hottest seats on the New Orleans Saints

The stakes were raised for the 2023 Saints when they signed 31-year-old QB Derek Carr to a four-year, $150 million deal.

March 8, 2023 | Texas Longhorns

QB battle begins at Texas in Arch Manning's first week of spring practice

The Arch Manning era is upon us. This is, of course, unless Quinn Ewers puts it on ice.

March 7, 2023 | Baltimore Ravens

Report: NFLPA eyeing possible collusion in Lamar Jackson situation

Fans aren't the only ones keeping a close eye on Lamar Jackson's contract situation. According to broadcaster Trey Wingo, members of the NFL Players Association are "keeping a close eye" for signs of collusion between NFL teams as the situation develops.

March 7, 2023 | NFL

Pair of division rivals listed as favorites to land Derrick Henry

Oddsmakers have listed a pair of AFC East rivals as the favorites to land Derrick Henry following news that the Titans were shopping the star running back.

March 6, 2023 | Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks write Geno Smith a big check after turnaround 2022 season

The NFL tried to write Geno Smith off. Now, the Seahawks are writing Smith a big check. Per Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, Smith is resigning with Seattle on a three-year, $105M contract.

March 6, 2023 | New Orleans Saints

Michael Thomas might not be done in New Orleans after all

If the writing was on the wall in terms of Michael Thomas' run in New Orleans coming to an end, it's slowly being erased.

March 6, 2023 | NFL

Why Saints' Derek Carr deal means team should consider trading up in the draft

With New Orleans once again going all-in on contending in 2023 thanks to signing Derek Carr, the team should consider moving up in the upcoming draft.

March 6, 2023 | NFL

Derek Carr's signing alone won't make Saints a playoff contender

Derek Carr is headed to New Orleans in a move both sides hope leads to a rebirth, but the Saints need much more than just the former Raiders QB.

March 4, 2023 | College Basketball

North Carolina makes wrong kind of history in loss to Duke

North Carolina made the wrong kind of history in its loss to Duke on Saturday.

March 4, 2023 | Tennessee Volunteers

Hendon Hooker gets positive medical update at NFL combine

Hooker's latest round of medical evaluations indicate the former Tennessee QB is rehabbing well from his November ACL tear and should be ready for the beginning of the 2023 NFL season.

March 4, 2023 | Memphis Grizzlies

It's time for Adam Silver to act on Ja Morant

Ja Morant's troubling recent behavior took an even uglier turn after the Grizzlies guard posted a video on social media early Saturday morning of himself at a strip club carelessly brandishing a firearm.

March 4, 2023 | Alabama Crimson Tide

Bryce Young's combine numbers squash size debate

Bryce Young has one less problem after his weigh-in on Saturday. Young's size -- instead of his play -- is the biggest story of this NFL Scouting Combine, with many expressing concerns prior to Saturday's weigh-in that Young could potentially weigh less than 200 pounds.

March 3, 2023 | Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama players come to ex-coordinator's defense

Defensive coordinator Pete Golding left Alabama for the same position at Ole Miss in the offseason, a move celebrated by notoriously hard-to-please Crimson Tide fans. No one knows that more than Alabama players, who downplayed fans' frustrations with Golding and the team's 2022 defensive performance.