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Although Jarno Trulli was an incredibly fast driver, he never attained the kind of success that some of his rivals achieved. The Italian, who was teammates with Fernando Alonso at Renault in 2003 and 2004, was often able to match the Spaniard during their time together.
In fact, in 2004, he was even ahead of Alonso in the championship standings. Yet, Renault decided to sack him, with three races remaining that year.
So, what went wrong for Trulli at Renault? Per the 50-year-old, he was never able to achieve success at the Enstone-based outfit because of then team-principal Flavio Briatore’s close relationship with Alonso.
It was in 2000 when the Italian businessman spotted Alonso, and soon after, he became his manager. With Briatore having such a close relationship with Alonso, Trulli knew his days at Enstone were numbered.
“I understood that the team would never let me win, because they were banking on Alonso, since Flavio had become his manager and my contract was expiring,” explained Trulli as quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport. This meant Trulli had to take a driving role with the up-and-coming Toyota team.
2004 FRANCE
Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari) overtook Jarno Trulli (Renault) on the final lap.
Trulli would never score another point for Renault after this and eventually was fired by Flavio Briatore post-Monza #f1 pic.twitter.com/DsuIHsVR1d
— F1 Icons That Go Hard (@CrystalRacing) July 4, 2020
Trulli raced with the Japanese outfit for five full seasons in Formula 1, bagging one pole position and seven podiums. However, he still regrets not having the opportunity to stay at Renault when they became title contenders in 2005 and 2006.
“Everyone says I didn’t win, but at Renault I beat Jenson Button and Alonso, two who later became world champions. Unfortunately, I wasn’t driving their cars when it was the right time,” he adds.
In fact, Renault’s glory years benefited Alonso the most. He beat seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher to win back-to-back titles with the Enstone-based team.
To this day, the two titles Alonso won with Renault remain the only championships he’s won so far. Despite coming close with Ferrari on a couple of occasions in 2010 and 2012, the 43-year-old is still chasing that elusive third title with Aston Martin today.
Trulli, on the other hand, bowed out of F1 at the end of the 2012 season, with just one Grand Prix win to his name. Now, Trulli is an avid winemaker as the co-owner of a vineyard in the Abruzzo region in Italy and produces his own wine.
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Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
Green Bay Packers 2nd Year Cornerback Has 'Impressive' Start To Training Camp
The Green Bay Packers are in the midst of training camp, and one name that’s turning heads is second-year cornerback Kalen King. After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, King is making a strong case for a spot on the active roster. With the Packers’ cornerback room in flux, this could be the perfect opportunity for the young defensive back to shine. Kalen King’s College Resume Before joining the Packers, Kalen King was a standout at Penn State. In his sophomore season, King was a force in the secondary, allowing a completion rate of under 50% and surrendering just one touchdown across 328 coverage snaps. He also recorded three interceptions and multiple pass breakups, showcasing his ability to make plays on the ball. However, his junior year was less consistent. Without Joey Porter Jr. on the opposite side, King faced more attention from opposing quarterbacks. His completion rate jumped to 61%, and he struggled in key matchups, including a tough outing against Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. Despite these challenges, King’s potential was evident, and the Packers took a chance on him with a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Making Waves in Green Bay Packers Training Camp Fast forward to 2025, and King is making the most of his opportunities in training camp. Head coach Matt LaFleur has praised his toughness and willingness to compete, even noting that King has been “impressive” in the early days of camp. While the team has yet to practice in full pads, King’s performance has been enough to generate buzz among coaches and fans alike. At 5’11” and 190 pounds, King isn’t the biggest cornerback, but his physicality and football IQ make him a compelling option for the Packers’ secondary. After undergoing wrist surgery in the offseason, King appears to be fully healthy and ready to compete for a roster spot. The Packers’ Cornerback Room The Green Bay Packers’ cornerback situation is one of the more intriguing storylines heading into the season. The team parted ways with longtime star Jaire Alexander in June, leaving a significant void in the secondary. Currently, the top options at cornerback include Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and free-agent addition Nate Hobbs. Javon Bullard, a second-year safety, has also been seeing time as the team’s preferred nickelback. Beyond the top four, the depth chart is wide open. Players like King, Kamal Hadden, and seventh-round rookie Micah Robinson are all vying for spots. The Packers are also experimenting with Bo Melton, a converted wide receiver, as a two-way player in the secondary. With so much uncertainty, King’s strong start to camp could position him as a key contributor in 2025. Why King’s Development Matters For a team in transition, the Packers need young players like King to step up. His ability to adapt and grow could be crucial for a secondary that’s looking to establish its identity post-Alexander. King’s college pedigree and early flashes in camp suggest he has the tools to succeed, but the real test will come when the pads go on and preseason games begin. If King can continue to build on his strong start, he could carve out a role as a rotational cornerback or even push for significant playing time. For now, all eyes are on the young defensive back as he looks to prove he belongs in the NFL.
Cardinals Trade Deadline Direction Finally Reportedly Revealed
With just four days to go until the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline, it sounds like the St. Louis Cardinals have decided which direction they are going to go in. As the deadline has gotten closer, questions have popped up whether the Cardinals are going to buy, sell, or stand pat. Obviously, there aren't many options outside of these three, but everything has seemingly been on the table because the Cardinals are right around .500 and within range of a playoff spot, but also not guaranteed anything. The Cardinals' recent struggles have seemingly confirmed that the club is going to look to sell, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. "The Cardinals are preparing to sell," Rosenthal said. "The (San Francisco Giants), however, plan to buy, seeking a second baseman and starting pitcher. And the Reds are targeting a middle-of-the order bat and bullpen help." The Athletic's Katie Woo reported that the Cardinals have made Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz available. "As the St. Louis Cardinals teeter above .500, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has started to field calls regarding many of his players, not just pending free agents," Woo said. "Though the Cardinals have not publicly declared their intent to sell, Mozeliak has reached out to teams to inform them relievers Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton and Steven Matz are available, according to multiple league sources. All three pitchers will be free agents at the end of the season. Reliever JoJo Romero is also drawing interest from rival clubs, though he will not be a free agent until 2027." It doesn't sound like a complete firesale is imminent, but it does seem like St. Louis will look different come August 1st with a few subtractions potentially coming.
Important trade stalls as Maple Leafs dangle bottom-six forward
The Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking for a solution to their bottom-six surplus, and veteran forward Calle Jarnkrok remains at the center of trade discussions. However, according to The Fourth Period, trade talks surrounding the 33-year-old winger have failed to gain momentum. They write: “He has a $2.1M cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list. The market hasn’t been vibrant, to this point, but the Leafs will continue to dangle him.” Why can’t the Maple Leafs find a taker for Jarnkrok? Jarnkrok has quietly been on the trade block for much of the offseason, but general manager Brad Treliving has yet to find a taker. After adding several depth forwards this summer, the Leafs now face a crowded bottom six — and Jarnkrok’s age, injury history and $2.1M cap hit through 2025–26 aren’t helping his value. Since joining Toronto, Jarnkrok has appeared in only 71 games over two seasons, scoring a modest 28 points. While his defensive versatility and penalty-killing ability are assets, his declining offensive production and durability concerns have made teams wary. With training camp approaching, the Maple Leafs may be forced to keep Jarnkrok on the roster — or retain salary in a deal — if they want to create space and flexibility. Dropping his cap hit down to just over $1M would open up the market a little. Until then, the Swedish forward remains a trade candidate in limbo. This isn’t great news as moving Jarnkrok from the roster is an important item on the team’s to-do list. Treliving would like more cap space, and with Jarnkrok and David Kampf both still on the roster, it hampers the GM’s ability to do other things.
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