Don’t ever let it be said that crime doesn’t pay. That’s the lesson in the long-awaited reappearance of this fan-fave series. More than a year after NBC transferred the show to Peacock, Law & Order: Organized Crime has returned with some true grit.
“The changeover is significant,” says Dean Norris (Breaking Bad), now a series regular as Randall Stabler, the older, long-estranged brother of the Organized Crime Control Bureau’s Det. Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). “It allows the show to explore darker elements,” he adds. “We’ll quickly notice the difference in tone and language.” (The first two of 10 episodes stream April 17; the remaining eight drop weekly after that.) Happily, OCCB’s roster remains intact as Sgt. Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt), tech expert Jet Slootmaekers (Ainsley Seiger), and Det. Bobby Reyes (Rick Gonzalez) are back.
David Holloway / Peacock
As the season begins, Stabler remains a hard-nosed cop willing to do anything necessary in pursuit of justice. However, as conditions change, “Elliot must face the fact that his dedication to his family and his health should be as much of a priority as the police,” says Norris.
Trouble comes when Stabler goes undercover as a big-rig driver for a violent group that smuggles weapons and women across borders. His search for a missing sex worker is derailed when a truck hits his car, leaving him gravely injured. Jet agrees to undertake a risky mission to help locate a suspect in the woman’s disappearance. And OCBB focuses on an apparent serial killer who could be involved with the truckers.
The Stabler clan must also deal with matters beyond Elliot’s near-death: Randall and Elliot’s younger brother Joey Jr. (Michael Trotter), struggling from PTSD and addiction, is MIA. Though their mother, Bernadette (Ellen Burstyn), who suffers from dementia, claims she’s getting messages from him, the family doesn’t believe her — at first.
There is some good news for the family: Elliot’s son Eli (Nicky Torchia) is following in his dad’s footsteps and graduating from the police academy, just as he and his girlfriend Becky (Kiaya Scott) are about to have a baby. Will the kid’s grandfather be around to see it all? If not, it would be a crime indeed.
Law & Order: Organized Crime, Season 5 Premiere (two episodes), Thursday, April 17, Peacock
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Shedeur Sanders has been working with the Cleveland Browns' equipment staff as the No. 4 quarterback this summer. He'll have a new opportunity following the troubling injury news for Kenny Pickett. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Pickett suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday's practice and will not receive reps until his issue is re-evaluated. "Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources," Schefter posted on X. "Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Pickett's injury will shake up the quarterback race in Cleveland. Through OTAs and early in training camp, Sanders has been the odd man out as the only signal caller on the roster not to receive reps with the first-team offense. It's unclear if the Browns coaching staff intends to give Sanders reps with the first-team offense now that Pickett is sidelined, but the fifth-round pick will have more chances this week to prove that he deserves an opportunity to stay in Cleveland. The Browns are in a unique situation with their rookie quarterbacks. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel was selected before Sanders, but the son of Deion Sanders fell to Day 3 of the draft for reasons other than talent. The majority of draft analysts had Sanders as a better-graded quarterback than Gabriel, and many thought the Colorado product would be taken in the first round. The Browns can use the injury as an excuse to give Sanders reps with the first team, and it's a task they need to take advantage of before the team names a starter. Sanders has the potential to be a starter in the league, and this week is pivotal for his rookie season in Cleveland.
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit into the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .217/.288/.408 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability, and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts, and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
There were jubilant scenes at Washington Commanders training camp when wide receiver Terry McLaurin finally reported for duty. Most fans thought this could be a sign that progress was being made on a lucrative new contract extension, but one team insider poured cold water on this notion in no uncertain terms. McLaurin is back, but he's not practicing. The Commanders placed him on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle issue he was reportedly dealing with late last season. What ending his holdout does is ensure he won't be getting fined $50,000 per day for his absence. The wideout and Washington remain at loggerheads regarding a new deal. McLaurin is disheartened and feels disrespected after everything he's given to the franchise. Adam Peters is dug in with a price in mind that he's reluctant to go above. Commanders insider doesn't believe Terry McLaurin is any closer to new deal Everyone is still hoping for some middle ground to be reached, which remains the most likely outcome until further notice. But based on what John Keim of ESPN is hearing, that might be some way off just yet. This is not a sign of progress for a contract extension. It is not that at all. I've been told by multiple people that there doesn't seem to be a lot of movement. Both sides are pretty firm in how they view the situation. It's a good thing that he's here, but it is not a sign like, 'Oh my God, something is imminent.' That is not the feeling I get from, really, anyone involved. Make no mistake, this is a hold-in. But he is here, so that's a good sign.John Keim via YouTube The former third-round pick out of Ohio State wants to be paid among the league's most prolific wide receivers, of which he is one. Peters knows that McLaurin will be 30 years old in September, and this will be his third NFL contract. That's why the two sides remain so far apart, and it's already become a distraction the Commanders could have done without. McLaurin is back for the fans, his teammates, and his money. The business side of things has firmly taken over for now, and the wideout is unlikely to be on the field until he signs on the dotted line. When that time comes, the second-team All-Pro will be ready to hit the ground running. This relationship is a long way from souring to the point of McLaurin requesting a trade. The common goal to extend the player remains, but Peters isn't going to accept anything less than something that works for the Commanders' long-term planning. It's still a precarious situation and a waiting game for all involved. And it'll be fascinating to see what comes next now McLaurin has returned to the facility. More Commanders news and analysis
After already dealing Ryan McMahon to the Yankees, the Rockies are open for business heading into Thursday’s deadline as one of the few true sellers on the market. Another trade with the Yankees could be a possibility, as The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty reports that New York has interest in Colorado reliever Jake Bird among many other names on the bullpen market. Bird’s first three Major League seasons (2022-24) saw the right-hander post a 4.53 ERA, 19.3% strikeout rate, and 9.7% walk rate across 177 innings for the Rockies, all in a relief capacity apart from three pseudo-starts as an opener. His 4.05 ERA and 9.1% walk rate in 53 1/3 innings in 2025 are pretty comparable, but the big difference is a strikeout rate that has leapt up to 26.7%. Above-average whiff and chase rates support the increase in missed bats, and Bird’s solid barrel and grounder rates have also helped him limit damage at Coors Field. Interestingly, Bird’s home/road splits this year are actually much better in Denver (2.48 ERA in 29 innings) than away from home (5.92 ERA in 24 1/3 innings). A 3.19 SIERA paints an even more flattering picture of Bird’s improved performance, as a .352 BABIP has inflated the reliever’s ERA. Adopting the sweeper as his primary pitch seemed to have unlocked both Bird’s strikeout ability, and it has helped his curveball regain its 2023 status as a plus offering. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake is a known proponent of the sweeper, which likely adds to New York’s interest in the Rox reliever. Bird will reach arbitration eligibility for the first time this winter, so he is controlled through the 2028 season. The Rockies are also reportedly open to offers on two other controllable relievers in Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen, as Colorado’s willingness to take a broader approach to the deadline represents a change in direction for the organization. The Rockies had been traditionally wary about even moving pending free agents at the deadline, yet the new low of the team’s dreadful 27-78 record seems to have convinced the organization that larger changes are necessary. Even controllable relief pitching only has so much present value to a team that may be years away from contending, so it makes sense for the Rox to consider moving some of their bullpen arms. Given the natural volatility of relief pitching and Bird’s lack of a track record, selling high on his current success might well be a wise move for GM Bill Schmidt. Beyond the bullpen arms, Colorado is getting hits on other players on the roster. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand writes that Hunter Goodman, Brenton Doyle, Kyle Freeland and Austin Gomber are all getting varying degrees of trade attention, though it is very unlikely that Goodman or Doyle are moved. Goodman is enjoying a breakout season that resulted in an All-Star citation. Doyle is struggling through a rough year that has seen his bat and center field glovework both take big steps backwards from 2024, but the Rockies don’t seem likely to sell low. Goodman and Doyle are both controlled through the 2028 season, whereas Gomber is an impending free agent and Freeland is under contract through the 2026 campaign. Freeland is owed around $5.33M for the remainder of this season and then $16M in 2026, with a $17M vesting player option available for 2027 if Freeland tosses at least 170 innings next year. This price tag makes it pretty unlikely that Freeland will be dealt, unless Colorado was to eat most or all of that remaining salary. The southpaw has a 5.24 ERA over 101 1/3 innings in 2025, and a 5.03 ERA in 840 2/3 frames since Opening Day 2019. Because Freeland has spent his entire career in Denver’s thin air, there’s a bit of an X factor in gauging how well he could perform outside of such a hitter-friendly environment, even if his lifetime splits aren’t too drastic (4.85 ERA at home, 4.24 ERA on the road). Rival teams might not be intrigued enough by this potential upside to the take the plunge on a trade unless the Rockies indeed covered a lot of Freeland’s salary, which might not make it worth it for a Rox team that still needs someone to eat innings. Gomber is much less expensive and a rental player, so a rival team might have more willingness to take a flier on the southpaw as a depth arm. Feinsand notes Gomber’s superior road splits to his work at Coors Field, but the overall results haven’t been great, as Gomber has a 5.14 ERA in 578 1/3 innings since joining the Rockies prior to the 2021 season. That includes a 6.03 ERA in seven starts and 34 1/3 frames this year, as shoulder problems kept Gomber off the mound until mid-June.
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