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When the 2025 NFL Draft wrapped up, one name lingered longer than most: Shedeur Sanders. The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, once projected as a top-10 pick, slipped all the way to the fifth round before being scooped up by the Cleveland Browns. To some, it was a shock. To others, it may have been by design.
For three days, Sanders was the storyline. Not just on ESPN or NFL Network—he was trending across platforms. It wasn’t just his draft slide that caught attention, it was how it happened. He skipped the NFL Combine. He passed on the Big 12 Pro Day. He held his own workout in Boulder. It looked reckless. But maybe it was chess, not checkers.
By making himself elusive, he drove up curiosity and conversation. Suddenly, every analyst, GM, and fan had an opinion. He became unforgettable—something marketing teams can’t buy and legends capitalize on.
Tom Brady’s fall to pick No. 199 has become NFL folklore. Sanders has long admired Brady, even referencing him during his time at Colorado. Is it so far-fetched to believe he saw an opportunity to mirror that underdog story—only this time, with full control?
Sanders’ quote during the draft process—“I know my value”—is telling. Maybe he wasn’t trying to avoid teams. Maybe he was daring them to doubt him.
Sanders lands in Cleveland, a city starving for quarterback success. He’ll compete with four others, but the door is wide open. If he succeeds, it won’t just be a comeback—it’ll be a saga. He’ll be the quarterback who chose adversity, and won.
If this was a master plan, it’s either madness or brilliance. But if Sanders rises from a fifth-round fall to NFL stardom, we won’t be talking about a draft slide—we’ll be talking about a dynasty.
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Special situation could lure Arch Manning from Texas to NFL in 2026
Despite the general consensus being that Arch Manning will return to Texas next year, there's good reason to think the young quarterback would jump for a ripe opportunity in the NFL in 2026. The biggest problem with Manning's resume is that the redshirt sophomore enters this season with only two starts at the college level. The more time he has as a starter, the more comfortable scouts and front offices feel about how they can gauge the quarterback's talent. Per ESPN, league scouts want a quarterback to have approximately 25 starts before entering the draft. For Manning to do so, he'd have to play for the Longhorns in 2026. However, ESPN quoted two sources who think Manning would declare for the 2026 draft if he knew he'd be taken into a good situation. Because Manning is getting paid from NIL and he comes from a well-known football family, Manning has no incentive to jump into the league if he's not ready. He can afford to see what the draft board looks like after Week 18 in January. "They'll want to see which team has the No. 1 pick and if they've fired their coach -- which is pretty common -- [and] who the replacement is before jumping into the draft," said an NFC scouting director. If an organization is drafting at No. 1 or near the top and it's a situation that Manning is happy to be in, he might be more apt to enter the 2026 draft. Manning could also look at what coaches haven't been fired and what teams are more likely to draft first in the 2027 draft. If he would be going to a team he's not thrilled about, he might opt for a better situation in 2026. Simply put, speculation surrounding Manning's draft plans isn't going away, even after Archie Manning's comments stating that his grandson would return to Texas next year.
CBS Sports predicts Michigan to face the same team twice in 2025 in bowl game projections
Patrik Laine Hints at Leaving the Montreal Canadiens in Free Agency in Home-Country Interview
Patrik Laine has recently done a major interview in his home country, and in that interview, he hinted at testing the waters in free agency next summer. The NHL career of Patrik Laine has been a very intriguing one to follow, as he has had mixed success in his time with the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens, with the talented forward dealing with struggles on and off the ice in that time. However, things have turned around in recent times after he enjoyed a solid campaign with Montreal last season, and now, in an interview in his home country of Finland, he's opened up on many topics. Laine hints at testing free agency in 2026 While he's been very happy in Montreal, the 27-year old still has a very long future ahead of him in the National Hockey League, and with the former No. 2 overall pick set to be a free agent next summer, he's hinted that he may test the waters after not having the opportunity for quite some time. 'It's a little different from what I'm used to. Before, I've always just gone to whoever owns my rights. Next summer I get to decide for myself. It's a nice and great situation.' In the interview, Laine notes that he's usually just sticking with the team that owns his rights, but he'll now finally hit unrestricted free agency, and with so many teams around the NHL cashed up and looking for great wingers, it may be his time to cash in and get paid on a long-term deal. After 20 goals in 52 games a year ago, Laine flashed the talent that once made him the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and if he can stay healthy next season and post 30 or more, he'll be one of the top names available. If that does happen though, the team at the top of the list offering him a big deal will be the Canadiens, so don't be shocked if he remains, but for right now, he's looking to get himself into a position to cash in next off-season.
Milwaukee Brewers: Craig Counsell Blasts Former Team’s 14-Game Winning Streak, Gets Caught Lying
The Milwaukee Brewers saw their 14-game win streak, the longest in franchise history, come to an end on Sunday afternoon in an extra innings loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Milwaukee’s bats, which had been red hot for weeks, suddenly cooled and the taxed bullpen could not close out the game, which the Brewers led in the ninth inning. Now, Milwaukee will look to start a new win streak as they head to Chicago for a five-game series, which will be played in a four-day span, against the Cubs. Of course, the Brewers and Cubs have one of the most intriguing rivalries in the game as Chicago’s manager, Craig Counsell, is the winningest skipper in Milwaukee’s franchise history. But, after the 2022 season, Counsell ditched the Brewers, the team his father worked for and he himself played for Milwaukee for a good portion of his career in order to take the Cubs’ job away from David Ross, who was still the team’s manager when they decided to hire their former rival. Earlier this season, Chicago led Milwaukee in the standings by as many as 6.5 games, but now, thanks to the Brewers’ long run of stellar play, are eight games behind the Brewers in the standings. Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell Doesn’t Think the Milwaukee Brewers Are Doing Anything Great Counsell, who still resides in Whitefish Bay on Milwaukee’s north side, is not much loved anymore by Brewers fans, and he has done little to save face in their eyes with comments he has made about the team since joining their I-94 rivals. He added more fuel to the fire in a recent interview with the Chicago Sun Times, Counsell was asked about his thoughts on the Brewers’ winning streak. “What’s so great about it?” he responded. “They’re playing good. I mean, they’re playing great. They haven’t lost since we played them.” And then, to the bewilderment of many, Counsell claimed that, despite being a Milwaukee native, he had “never seen” a George Webb’s” restaurant. Former Milwaukee Brewers Manager Craig Counsell Flat Out Lied Aside from saying that Milwaukee’s 14-game winning streak was not that great, Counsell flat-out lied about his knowledge of George Webb’s. As fans may recall, he himself was the manager of the Brewers the last time they won 12 games in a row, the needed amount of consecutive wins for fans to be able to claim a free hamburger at the local chain. Local fans and reporters quickly unearthed a story from 2018, the year the Brewers won 12 consecutive games (eight at the end of the regular season and their first four postseason games) in which Counsell talks about the giveaway: “I remember the concept of free hamburgers going back so long, it’s hard to believe that it’s never happened since then.” At this point, it is not hard to determine why Counsell said what he said on Sunday. He is just stoking the fires of what is sure to be a hard-fought five-game series in Chicago.
TSN Analyst Shoots Down Bold Canadiens-Ducks Trade Idea
Speculation swirled this week about a possible blockbuster trade between the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks, but TSN/Forbes legal analyst Eric Macramalla was quick to pour cold water on the idea. The proposed deal centered around swapping top prospects: Montreal defenseman David Reinbacher and Anaheim forward Mason McTavish. On the surface, the trade has appeal. Reinbacher, a right-shot blueliner with legitimate top-pairing potential, would give the Ducks the kind of defensive cornerstone they’ve been searching for. Meanwhile, McTavish could provide the Canadiens with a much-needed second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, filling a hole that’s lingered for several seasons. But as Macramalla pointed out, the trade simply doesn’t add up for Montreal. Moving Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens dangerously thin on the right side of their defense, an area that already lacks long-term depth. While McTavish would be a strong addition, sacrificing a potential top-pairing defenseman is a price too steep for GM Kent Hughes to consider at this stage of the rebuild. Ultimately, while the concept may generate fan debate, Macramalla stressed that the Canadiens aren’t in a position to weaken their blue line just to address their center depth. For now, the deal “won’t work.” Fan Feedback: A Split Reaction Canadiens fans were quick to weigh in on the trade chatter, with opinions ranging from firm rejection to cautious interest. Some backed Macramalla’s stance, with one fan suggesting Montreal could use “other assets the Ducks would like” and another noting the Habs’ young defense core “will be a strength of the team for the next decade.” The Curfew Boys Podcast called it “1 step forward, 2 steps back.” Others saw more merit. One account argued he’d, “Do it one for one,” calling McTavish “more established at this point.” Another echoed that sentiment: “McT is a proven player, make the trade!!” Skeptics highlighted Reinbacher’s lack of NHL experience, and others questioned his durability. Meanwhile, Gord of Thunder took a playful shot at the concept, invoking The Princess Bride: “You never trade a defenseman with top pairing ability for a second line player — it’s inconceivable.” Even creative alternatives emerged, with one fan proposing a three-way deal involving Calgary. The verdict? While many fans respect McTavish’s value, most agree that giving up Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens with a hole too big to fill.
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