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Former Pittsburhg Steelers running back Anthony McFarland Jr. is signing with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, they announced on Tuesday. Pittsburgh released McFarland from their active roster during the season, and he remained on the practice squad but did not get signed to a future contract after the season’s conclusion.
McFarland, 24, had played in three games last season and caught two passes for 11 yards. He also started the season as the team’s primary kickoff returner, averaging 27.3 yards per return on six kicks.
But after a knee injury sidelined him for a significant portion of the season, McFarland was unable to win that job back from Godwin Igwebuike, a safety-turned-running back that has also been a positive contributor on coverage units. Igwebuike has averaged 25.1 yards per kickoff return.
Igwebuike finished as the only backup behind co-starters Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on the 53-man roster, and the Steelers rounded out their practice squad with McFarland, but running back Aaron Shampklin received a reserve/future contract while McFarland did not.
The Steelers’ fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, McFarland has been with the club his entire career, but he has been released before. He was waived coming out of training camp in 2022, was re-signed to the practice squad, and spent that entire season on that unit before returning for 2023.
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Former Pro Bowl RB announces retirement
After being unable to find an NFL opportunity in 2024, Latavius Murray is hanging up his cleats. The veteran running back announced on Thursday that he is retiring at the age of 35 (video link via NFL insider Jordan Schultz). A sixth-round pick of the Raiders in 2013, Murray played on a rotational basis the following year before taking on starting duties. He recorded his first and only 1,000-yard campaign in 2015 and secured a Pro Bowl nod in the process. A career-best 12 rushing touchdowns during his final Raiders season set Murray up for a strong free agent market. The UCF product landed a three-year, $15M Vikings pact on the open market. Murray ended up spending a pair of seasons in Minnesota, where he operated as part of a backfield tandem with Dalvin Cook. A similar setup was in place with New Orleans when Murray paired with Alvin Kamara for the 2019 and ’20 campaigns, during which he remained a consistent producer on the ground. Murray caught on with the Ravens in 2021 shortly after being cut. As part of a Baltimore backfield ravaged by preseason injuries, he managed to handle a notable workload before finding himself on the move once again the following season. In 2022, Murray briefly returned to the Saints before signing from the practice squad to the Broncos’ active roster midway through the campaign. That decision set up a starting role to close out the season and helped earn him a Bills pact for 2023. Logging a 32% snap share with Buffalo, Murray remained healthy but saw his yards per attempt average dip below 4.1 for the first time since 2017. That was a key factor in the Bills’ decision not to retain him, even though Murray was open to an extended stay with the team. After spending last season without a deal, today will mark the end of the line after 10 NFL seasons. In all, Murray played 158 combined regular and postseason games throughout his NFL tenure, totaling over 8,000 scrimmage yards and 61 touchdowns. He amassed more than $21M in career earnings.
Angels' head-shaking trade decision looks even worse now
The Los Angeles Angels decided to buy relievers as part of their MLB trade deadline strategy, hoping to get Mike Trout and the franchise back to the postseason for the first time since 2014. While a noble sentiment, it could well be a move that keeps the franchise from moving anywhere close to the postseason any time soon. On July 30, the Angels added to their bullpen, bringing over Andrew Chafin and Luis Garcia from the Washington Nationals. After winning three of their last four games before the trade, there was hope in Anaheim that the Angels could pull something together. That hope, however, seems much smaller on Thursday. With the Seattle Mariners adding two big bats in Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez, and the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers expected to improve their roster as well before the trade deadline comes to a close, the road to success in the AL West became bumpier than it even had been before for the Angels. How tough? As July 31 dawned, the Angels had a 3.2 percent chance to make the postseason per FanGraphs. Granted, plenty of fans showed up in Anaheim on Wednesday night dressed as angels, but it's going to take more than faith to get these Angels into meaningful October baseball. Of course, it's not just in the division where the Angels are going to have to battle to make the postseason. Entering Thursday, Los Angeles sat at 53-56 and four games back of the final wild-card position. With a tie for that third spot between the Mariners and Rangers and three other teams between them and the Angels in the standings, it's going to take a lot of winning (and some help) for Los Angeles to earn a postseason spot. One of those teams between the Angels and the third wild-card spot is the Cleveland Guardians, a franchise that decided to sell at the deadline rather than buy. While it may not be a popular decision in Cleveland, it's designed to help the franchise prepare to compete in the AL Central in the future. Is it impossible for the Angels to get into October? No. Is it improbable? Absolutely. With Los Angeles having potential trade pieces such as Taylor Ward, Tyler Anderson and Kenley Jansen (as well as others, depending on how deep they wanted to go), many thought the Angels would be sellers. If employed, that strategy might have helped Los Angeles build for the future, especially with several of those trade pieces being potential free agents at the end of the season. Time will tell if the Angels made the right move, but the odds of succeeding this season (and perhaps in the near future as well) do not look promising.
Phillies again connect with Twins in deal for center fielder
A day after lining up on a blockbuster trade of closer Jhoan Duran, the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins have done business again. The Twins agreed to send center fielder Harrison Bader to the Phillies for two prospects, according to multiple reports. ESPN's Jeff Passan had first word of the deal. Bader fills an immediate need for the Phillies, who were looking for an upgrade in center field over incumbent Johan Rojas. In Bader, they get just that: an improved hitter who also plays defense at a high level. He also has a mutual option for 2026 should both sides choose to exercise it. Bader's 12 home runs, 10 stolen bases and .778 OPS showcase a well-rounded skill set that features power and speed. That easily outpaces Rojas' .569 OPS in 152 at-bats this season and doesn't sacrifice much on the bases or in the field. The 31-year-old Bader is also an upgrade over new teammate Brandon Marsh, who has a .717 OPS on the season and is not quite the defender in center field that the former is. In return, the Minnesota Twins acquired Phillies 12th-ranked prospect in outfielder Hendry Mendez (currently in Double-A) and unranked right-hander Geremy Villoria (4.50 ERA in the Dominican Summer League). While not flashy, Bader checks a box for Philadelphia, though surely fans are disappointed that the Phillies didn't go all-in for a more impact bat, much as they did in the bullpen when they traded for Duran on Wednesday evening. But with a few hours to go until the 6 p.m. trade deadline, perhaps the Phillies still have another trick up their sleeve as they gear up for an intense NL East race with the New York Mets. As for Minnesota, a disappointing 2025 campaign has led to something of a sell-off, with more assets possibly in play to be dealt.
Oilers GM Stan Bowman offers massive Connor McDavid update
One of the major storylines heading into the 2024–25 season is the uncertainty surrounding Connor McDavid’s future in Edmonton. The 28-year-old superstar is entering the final year of his contract, and while a departure still feels unlikely, the mere possibility of him reaching free agency next offseason has sparked plenty of speculation. But don’t count Oilers general manager Stan Bowman among the concerned. According to a TSN report, Bowman said that extension talks with the team’s franchise player are progressing. Speaking with "Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer" on CHED 880 Edmonton, Bowman said he is “very encouraged” by the initial discussions he’s had with McDavid’s agent, Judd Moldaver. “I’ve had really good conversations with Judd since the season ended, and I’ve tried to give Connor his space, and I think that it’s important,” Bowman said. “You know, a lot of this is respecting the athlete and their timeline. So, we haven’t had any of those types of detailed discussions yet, but we certainly will, and I think we’re very encouraged by all the conversations I’ve had to date. And when the time comes, the time comes.” McDavid, who has one year left on his deal that comes with a $12.5M AAV, became eligible for an extension on July 1. While there is speculation on what McDavid’s next contract would demand annually, it’s fair to assume he’ll seek to at least match teammate Leon Draisaitl’s deal that comes with a $14M AAV over the next five seasons. In 67 games last season, McDavid recorded 26 goals and 100 points, marking the seventh 100-point campaign of his already illustrious career. He added a league-high 33 points in the postseason — the second consecutive year he led all players in playoff scoring — but he and the Oilers were once again defeated by the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. Despite the disappointment, along with McDavid’s postseason admission to the media that he was in no rush related to extension talks, Bowman believes an extension with his captain is imminent. “He’s a huge part of everything we do here, and so I don’t have a timeline update, but I do expect to have some conversations with them soon and. And hopefully get that wrapped up,” he said.
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