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

Tyreek Hill reveals retirement plan

On Wednesday, Tyreek Hill gave some insight on his retirement plans, which are approaching faster than many expected.  

Watch: Hawks center pulls off defensive play of the year

Hawks center Clint Capela came away with what has to be the best defensive play in the NBA this year on a behind-the-back steal against the Wizards on Wednesday.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban opens up about Jason Kidd's job security

Dallas has a 29 percent chance of reaching the play-in tournament and only a seven percent chance of making it to the first round of the playoffs.

Watch: Seamus Power hits consecutive holes-in-one during Par 3 Contest

Watch: There were miracle shots a-plenty during the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday.

Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski shares opinion on Mac Jones trade rumors

Former Patriots great Rob Gronkowski called into question a report that surfaced on Tuesday suggesting New England head coach Bill Belichick is looking to trade starting QB Mac Jones.

Broncos legend 'amicably' splits from organization

The newest era of Denver Broncos football won't include a familiar face. 9News in Denver reports John Elway "amicably departed from the Broncos in a formal capacity" as the franchise attempts to turn the page with new ownership and a new head coach in Sean Payton.

Joel Embiid's big night could give him edge in MVP race

If Joel Embiid's MVP candidacy needed a boost, it got one Tuesday night. Embiid had 52 points on 20-of-25 shooting—including an emphatic slam dunk that gave him his 50th point—in Philadelphia's 103-101 win over Boston.

Former Cardinals VP accuses owner of misconduct in new claims

Arizona's bad offseason took an ugly turn on Tuesday when former executive Terry McDonagh filed a complaint against owner Michael Bidwell with allegations of cheating, discrimination and harassment. 

Joe Burrow dethrones hippo as best Cincinnatian

Joe Burrow has many big wins over his career but picked up one last week against his largest opponent yet.

Dominant UConn victory cements program's place among all-time greats

UConn completed a dominant NCAA Tournament run on Monday with a 76-59 win against San Diego State. Every Huskies win in this tournament came by double digits.

Women's NCAA Tournament championship game draws record ratings

Nearly 10 million viewers tuned in to watch LSU and Iowa compete in a historic finals matchup, the largest audience ever for a women's college basketball game.

Steph Curry reveals his pick for NBA MVP

The only unanimous MVP in NBA history, Stephen Curry made it clear which way he would lean when selecting this year's Most Valuable Player award if he had a vote.

New Orleans Saints bringing in QB for pre-draft visit

Despite making a splash by signing Derek Carr this offseason, it appears the Saints are still doing due diligence on the position ahead of the draft.

South Carolina great declares for 2023 WNBA Draft

The projected No. 1 overall pick finishes her college career with a 129-9 record and averages of 14.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

Basketball Hall of Fame class one for the ages

These names add to an illustrious list that puts the 2023 class in a conversation among the best Hall of Fame classes in basketball history.

Women's NCAA Tournament final already different than any from the past decade

As great as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have been during the NCAA Tournament, Iowa and LSU are playing for a national title makes this year's final different from others in the recent past.

In-season tournament coming to NBA with new CBA

The much-talked-about hypothetical in-season NBA tournament will soon become a reality. Coaches and players can earn prize money by winning the tournament.

Florida Atlantic scores huge win before Final Four

The Owls are still dancing, and May's announcement means they will be long after this season ends.

Final Four ticket prices laughably low due to group of semifinalists

Tickets to this year's Final Four are almost unbelievably cheap due to what is viewed as a modest group of semifinalists.

Classic NFL jerseys are making a comeback in 2023

Multiple NFL teams are bringing back classic uniforms this season for the first time in years — a welcome addition to the "No Fun League."

Report: LSU's Angel Reese has most NIL deals among all college players

Angel Reese helped lead LSU to its first Final Four since 2008 and she's also leading the way off the court. 

Lions add receiver who was key to their last playoff run

The Lions were already a well-oiled machine on offense prior to his signing, and he gives the team another option for QB Jared Goff.

Three biggest concerns for Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the draft

The early stage of free agency wasn't as bad as it could have been for Tampa Bay. Sure, Tom Brady's retirement is one of the most significant offseason subtractions by any team, but the Bucs were able to retain key defenders including corner Jamel Dean and linebacker Lavonte David.

Three biggest concerns for New Orleans Saints before the draft

New Orleans answered this offseason's most pressing need by signing free agent QB Derek Carr, but there are other areas of concern on the roster to address as it attempts to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.