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Although former USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold was drafted as the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, he has a unique perspective both as a prospect and now as a professional player who has been through the highs and lows of the league.
One of the biggest names of the 2025 NFL Draft, former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, endured a drastic fall from a projected top pick to a fifth-round pick in April, and Darnold offered the young star some advice in a recent interview.
"I think, whether it's Shedeur or anyone else, I think just having respect for those guys in the quarterback room and helping everybody get better is the biggest thing, especially at this point in the season," Sam Darnold said to Fox News in an interview earlier this offseason. "When you do that, you get better yourself more than you even know."
After a bumpy start to his career, Darnold was traded from the New York Jets to the Carolina Panthers. Then Darnold was signed by the San Francisco 49ers before ultimately landing with the Minnesota Vikings and revitalizing his career. Once a top prospect, then considered a bust, then a journeyman, Darnold fought his way back to the top having been named a Pro Bowler in 2024 and set various Vikings and NFL records in his comeback campaign.
In the offseason, Darnold signed a lucrative contract with the Seattle Seahawks as he looks to continue his comeback.
"The biggest thing is having respect, having respect for the teammates you're competing with," Darnold said. "I was in a quarterback competition in Carolina with Baker (Mayfield), and me and Baker are still really close to this day. We both had a genuine, like, respect for one another. It wasn't always clear who was getting the 1s or the 2-reps that day, but when our number was called, we went out there.”
Much has been made of Shedeur Sanders being humbled by his draft position, but that discourse is often rooted in non-football narratives and some beyond Sanders’ control. Darnold’s advice reads as an actual player who was humbled on the field from the league that chews and spits out players routinely. The former Trojan seems to be to giving a young player who may be facing some internal pressure a blueprint to simply be all in for his new team.
"When Bake got the nod for Week 1, I was like, ‘I’m here for you. Anything you need, if you want me to watch tape of certain third-down looks or any blitz packages the defense might have, I’m here for you,'" Darnold said. "It’s that kind of way in the quarterbacks room, and there’s nothing that simulates that in the real world."
Darnold and Sanders may never cross paths in a significant fashion, but it’s stories like these that make the brotherhood of the NFL special. Darnold, now with the Seattle Seahawks after signing a massive contract, is primed for a major season. Still just 27 years old, Darnold had a second wind and so much to play for. If Sanders follows Darnold’s advice, he could be in the same place a few years from now.
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Jim Nagy and the Oklahoma Sooners are showing they don’t care about any Group of Five school’s feelings for recruits they target
Since general manager Jim Nagy came to Oklahoma this offseason, he has completely altered the Sooner recruiting and talent acquisition strategies. He is relying less on recruiting rankings and offer lists, and more trusting the staff’s evaluations. It’ll be fascinating to see how successful that strategy is in a couple of years. In the 2026 recruiting class, we have seen that ideology play out time and time again. It appears we may be seeing another instance with Lafayette (La.) Christian Academy wide receiver Brayden Allen, who is currently committed to Tulane. According to Rivals vice president of recruiting Steve Wiltfong, Oklahoma is working hard to get Allen on campus. Here is what he had to say about the Sooner push, and Allen’s relationship with them. “OU has produced a lot of great receivers that I’ve watched over the years and they like to throw the ball, which is what I like,” Allen told Wiltfong. “What stands out to me about OU is how they really want me, they were the first SEC school to get me on a visit and one of the first to recruit me,” he continued. While Allen doesn’t hold an official offer from Oklahoma, the thought is that could change very soon. That is especially true if he solidifies a game visit soon. Colorado is also another school to watch, according to Wiltfong. From a recruiting rankings perspective, Allen isn’t going to excite many. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, the Louisiana native is currently rated as the No. 935 overall player, No. 132 wide receiver, and No. 27 player in the state of Louisiana for the 2026 recruiting class. All of the major recruiting platforms have him rated as a three-star player. While those rankings aren’t overly impressive, the offer list for Allen continues to grow this offseason. Some of his top offers as of today include Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Colorado, Boston College, and Vanderbilt among others. There is a good chance the Sooners get added officially to that list soon. The 6-1, 175-pound pass catcher is a bit raw, but the talent is certainly there. As a junior for Lafayette Christian, Allen managed to haul in 55 receptions for 1,155 yards and 10 touchdowns. That is an average of 21 yards per reception, while also contributing on defense and special teams as well.
Ohio State football sets all-time record with latest AP Poll drop, leaving Michigan in the dust for second-place
Top Notre Dame football target ranked as No. 3 overall player in recent recruiting rankings update from a very important pipeline
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Maria Guardiola’s Summer Bikini Photos Have Fans Losing Their Minds (And We Get It)
Well, well, well. It seems like being Pep Guardiola’s daughter comes with its own set of perks – including the ability to break the internet with a simple Instagram post. Maria Guardiola, the 24-year-old content creator and daughter of Manchester City’s tactical mastermind, recently blessed her 907,000 followers with a summer recap that had fans practically worshipping at their phone screens. Guardiola’s Daughter Serves Summer Looks That Put Influencers to Shame Let’s be honest here – while Pep Guardiola is busy orchestrating beautiful football on the pitch, his daughter Maria is orchestrating something entirely different on social media. Her recent Instagram post, captioned with the surprisingly modest “Summer wrapping up,” was anything but modest in terms of impact. The photo dump (because that’s what we’re calling these strategic social media moves now) featured Maria living her best life in ways that would make any 24-year-old jealous. Bikini shots by the pool? Check. Dreamy restaurant visits that probably cost more than most people’s monthly salary? Double check. The kind of effortless glamour that makes you question your own life choices? Triple check. What’s particularly amusing is how Maria has managed to carve out her own empire while her father is out there making grown men cry over football tactics. She’s not just riding on daddy’s coattails – she’s built a legitimate following that hangs onto her every post like it’s the latest transfer news from the Etihad. The Internet Goes Full Meltdown Mode Over Bikini Shots The comment section on Maria’s post read like a love letter convention gone wild. Fans were throwing around words like “angel,” “gorgeous,” and “stunning” with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for last-minute Champions League goals. One particularly creative fan simply commented “Angel,” which, let’s face it, probably took them a solid five minutes to come up with. But here’s what’s genuinely fascinating – Maria has somehow managed to accumulate nearly a million followers without relying on the typical influencer playbook of manufactured drama and controversial takes. Instead, she’s built her brand on lifestyle content, fashion moments, and the occasional glimpse into the Guardiola family dynamics that most football fans would kill to witness. Guardiola’s Family Life Gets the Social Media Treatment What makes Maria’s content particularly interesting is how she occasionally offers glimpses into life with one of football’s most intense managers. Earlier this summer, she and Pep were caught on camera absolutely belting out Oasis classics at a concert in Manchester’s Heaton Park. Watching Guardiola, the man who probably analyzes his breakfast cereal arrangement, letting loose to “Wonderwall” was the kind of humanizing moment that reminds us these football icons are actual people. The fact that Maria conveniently left out any reference to the Oasis concert in her summer recap is almost too perfect. Because nothing says “curated content” like strategically omitting the moment your tactical genius father transforms into a middle-aged man singing along to Britpop anthems. The Content Creator Empire Built on Authentic Glamour Born on December 28, 2000, in Spain, Maria now calls London home – which explains the effortlessly chic European aesthetic that permeates her content. She’s the eldest of Guardiola’s three children with businesswoman Cristina Serra, and watching her navigate the intersection of football royalty and social media stardom has been genuinely entertaining. Unlike many celebrity offspring who seem to stumble through their public personas, Maria appears to have found her groove in the content creation world. Her posts strike that perfect balance between aspirational lifestyle content and relatable moments that keep her audience engaged without feeling completely disconnected from reality. Why Maria’s Success Makes Perfect Sense Here’s the thing about Maria Guardiola’s social media success – it’s not accidental. While her father revolutionized football tactics, she’s quietly revolutionizing how celebrity children can build their own brands without constantly referencing their famous parents. Sure, being Pep’s daughter opened doors, but keeping 907,000 people interested enough to call you an “angel” over bikini photos requires its own set of skills. The irony isn’t lost on anyone that while Pep Guardiola spends his days obsessing over every tactical detail, his daughter has mastered the art of making everything look effortlessly perfect. Those summer photos didn’t just happen – they were curated with the same attention to detail that Guardiola brings to his team formations. In a world where social media success often feels manufactured and desperate, Maria’s approach feels refreshingly authentic. She’s not trying to be controversial or edgy; she’s simply sharing moments from a life that happens to be significantly more glamorous than most people’s reality. So while football fans continue to debate Guardiola’s latest tactical innovations, his daughter continues building her own empire, one perfectly curated Instagram post at a time. And honestly? Good for her.
Jets QB Justin Fields had 'alarming' practice against Giants
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields found out he has a long way to go following his performance at Tuesday's joint practice with the New York Giants. Per Connor Hughes of SNY TV, Fields started hot at the practice before struggling during the move-the-ball period. "Very interesting practice for #Jets QB Justin Fields," Hughes posted on X. "He finished 7 of 12 with a TD. 5 of 5 to start practice. Then 0 for 4. Finished 2 of 3 with the really impressive TD to Jeremy Ruckert in red zone (starter 18 yard line). "The offensive performance was a bit alarming in move-the-ball period of practice. Fields Co. had three attempts to get down field. They didn’t gain a first down. Only gained yards twice (two short Breece Hall runs). Three sacks. That needs to be fixed. #Giants defense toyed with NYJ during that period." Some Jets fans online thought Hughes was using hyperbole to characterize the practice, but he doubled down on his judgment of the offense. Fields looked strong on his first and only drive in the Jets' 30-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. He went 3-of-4 passing for 42 yards and rushed two times for 14 yards and a touchdown. However, the Giants defense at the joint practice is a much better unit than the short-handed one the Packers trotted out for the first preseason game. Fields' issues seen with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, with holding the ball too long and not being able to pass consistently downfield, were a factor against the Giants. Following Saturday's game, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Fields was getting better but had a lot to improve on. Tuesday's practice was a humbling reminder that Fields needs to become a consistent passer if the Jets are going to move the ball on good defenses in the regular season.
King of New York: Pete Alonso breaks major Mets all-time record
Pete Alonso is now the New York Mets' all-time home run king. With his opposite-field, two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, Alonso clubbed the 253rd and 254th home runs of his Mets career, moving him into sole possession of first place on the team's all-time list. He moved two home runs ahead of the previous record-holder, Darryl Strawberry, who hit 252 home runs with the team between the 1983 and 1990 seasons. Here is a look at his record-setting home run. Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alonso hit his 254th home run: Along with the all-time Mets home run lead, Alonso is also the Mets' single-season home run leader with 53 home runs during the 2019 season. Strawberry congratulated Alonso on breaking his record: His home runs on Tuesday were his 27th and 28th of the season. It is a big deal for Alonso because there was some doubt this past offseason about whether he would have a chance to set this record. Even though he was close, the uncertainty around his future, given his free-agent status, created a lot of questions about where he would play. Ultimately, the Mets re-signed him to a two-year, $54 million contract that includes an opt-out clause following the 2025 season. That opt-out will again create some uncertainty about his future, but it is pretty clear Alonso still has a lot of power left in his bat. Whether he returns to the Mets or goes somewhere else, he will remain the franchise's greatest home run hitter for the foreseeable future. He is now on top of the record books for the single season and career.
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