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The Jacksonville Jaguars knew they were making a big change when they hired general manager James Gladstone in Febuary.
But did they know how big of one? That is tough to say, but it feels unlikely the Jaguars knew just what kind of transformation their franchise was set to undertake under Gladstone.
Simply put, Gladstone put his name -- and the Jaguars' -- on the map last weekend with his franchise-altering trade for Travis Hunter. It took an entire buy-in from the rest of the franchise's leaders like Tony and Shad Khan, head coach Liam Coen, and executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli.
But for years to come, the Hunter trade will be Gladstone's legacy. If the trade hits and the Jaguars get an All-Pro player like they expect, Gladstone will be seen as one of the true elite general managers in football -- a young and cutting edge executive who operates similar to the other top teams in the NFL, but who still abides by his own principles and philosophies.
This time a year ago, few outside of Los Angeles knew his name. Now, Gladstone is the face of bold moves since his latest move was the most recent and the boldest of them all.
Gladstone has carved out his path. He has done it his way, and he has made it clear what the Jaguars are now looking for on and off the field. He wants versatile players with production and experience, as well as players who are physically and mentally tough enough to handle the ups and downs of the NFL.
For the Jaguars, this is truly a new era. The Travis Hunter trade is perhaps the most aggressive move the franchise has ever made, and it will truly define Gladstone's tenure as the Jaguars' top front office decision-maker.
Only time will tell if Gladstone and the Jaguars were right to make the move up for Hunter. But it doesn't take any time to know that the Jaguars are now viewed much differently throughout the entire NFL, and Gladstone and his new path being forged forward are amongst the biggest reasons why this is the case.
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'Does everything the right way' One Vikings player is taking advantage of Justin Jefferson missing practice
The Minnesota Vikings are without superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson during training camp due to a minor hamstring strain. That in itself is a tough spot to be in for the Vikings, but it does create other opportunities for players on the roster. It's an unintended bright side for the offense and J.J. McCarthy, as they continue to build toward the start of the 2025 season. There are plenty of players who can benefit from Jefferson not being on the practice field, and one player has been stepping up in a big way. https://www.youtube.com/live/sMBr3o5qveY?si=IBWdjVrnycm5FXWA Lucky Jackson taking advantage of WR3 opportunities The Vikings ended up signing Jackson going into training camp of 2023. He was an XFL all-star on the runner up D.C. Defenders team and was their deep ball specialist. Jackson was getting a lot of opportunities with the first team as the wide receiver three with Jefferson out, and he was taking advantage of those. During his press conference on Tuesday, head coach Kevin O'Connell was asked about Jackson and raved about I think it shows a lot that he can step in for in many ways, and take the, you know, the positional reps that Justin will be taken. I think it says a lot about Key (Keenan McCardell) and Tony's (Sorrentino) trust in him, Wes and myself, but this is a guy that does everything the right way. Doing everything in his control to become the best player he can become. Just happens to be in a very deep receiver room, but he's getting some opportunity right now. I think Jalen Nailor's having a great camp. I showed the team three or four clips last night that can sometimes go unnoticed, guys just doing their job in that inside position that you know many, many cast of characters over the years have made real famous by just doing their job from the slot in this system. Speedy is having a great camp, picking up right where he left off in the spring. But, yeah, Lucky, (along with) Jeshaun Jones, is off to a really good start. We're seeing our young guys all taking strides, not making the same mistake twice. And Rondale is getting his legs underneath him and continues to do some things that really impressed. Really fired up about that group as a whole." This is a really good sign for the Vikings as we get closer to the first preseason game. The more opportunities that players have to make an impact, the better chances they have of getting what they want. Jackson hasn't done much over the last two seasons with the Vikings, but he's stuck around nearly every week on the practice squad, even making it to the active roster for a short time at the end of 2023. He's developing into a well rounded player, which is exactly what the Vikings like in their wide receivers. If he does throughout all of training camp as well as he's played to start, Jackson could end up not just making the roster, but earning real playing time.
Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
The Boston Bruins have been under pressure to retool after a disappointing season, and now a potential blockbuster move could shake the entire NHL. A major trade proposal has surfaced that could send a star goaltender to the Edmonton Oilers, a move that would give them the elite presence they've lacked in net while forcing Boston closer to a rebuild. The deal being floated by multiple outlets would send Edmonton's current starter, Stuart Skinner, along with Matthew Savoie, Beau Akey, and a 2028 first-round pick to Boston, while the Oilers land a goaltender capable of changing their Cup window overnight. Edmonton's push for a franchise goalie could reshape the Western Conference and challenge the Dallas Stars' path to the Cup If this trade goes through, the Oilers would instantly address one of their biggest weaknesses, setting up a showdown with teams like the Dallas Stars, who already see Edmonton as one of their toughest rivals. Boston, on the other hand, would fully commit to a rebuild, pairing Joonas Korpisalo with Skinner in what could be one of the NHL's weakest tandems, likely boosting their draft lottery odds in one of the most hyped draft classes in recent memory (NHL.com). An insider noted, "They weren't the only ones who had inquired about Swayman, but yes, I was told they poked around." That comment shows just how wide the interest is for this level of goalie talent (Heavy.com). I think this kind of trade would completely shift the balance of power in the West, making Edmonton even more dangerous for teams like Dallas, who could end up facing a vastly upgraded Oilers team in the playoffs. If Boston truly embraces a rebuild, moving their top goaltender could be the first domino in a massive roster overhaul, something that could shake the market for weeks.
Chicago Blackhawks at Risk of Losing First Round Pick as Other Teams Pitch Big-Money Offers
Mason West is a talented prospect of the future for the Chicago Blackhawks, but it appears he may look to leave hockey for big opportunities in football. The Chicago Blackhawks landed Anton Frondell with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but it was perhaps their second first-round pick that drew the most intrigue, as they drafted centre Mason West out of the USHL. That pick was intriguing for many reasons, with the 6-foot-6 centre having potential with his talent and his physicality, but now, the team may be in danger of losing the talented 17-year old. According to a report from The Athletic, the No. 29 overall pick has been drawing interest from several NCAA programs to join their team as a football player. Standing at 6-foot-6, the Minnesota native is a star in both hockey and football, tallying 49 points in 31 games at the high school level while also being a star Quarterback, and after putting up 9 points in 10 USHL games with the Fargo Force, the future is bright for him in both sports. Ultimately, at 17-years of age, the future is very bright whichever way West ends up going, but given that the Blackhawks used a first-round pick on him in this past seasons draft, they're clearly confident that they can not only keep him in hockey, but make a good NHLer out of him moving forward.
Richard Childress Racing responds to NASCAR suspension of Austin Hill, names replacement driver
Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has responded to NASCAR suspending Austin Hill for his incident with Aric Almirola during the Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis this past weekend. RCR said it will not appeal the suspension and revealed who will replace Hill this weekend. “Richard Childress Racing will not appeal the penalty NASCAR issued to the No. 21 team following the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” the team said. “We remain focused on winning a championship with Austin Hill in 2025. Austin Dillon will race the No. 21 Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway.” Austin Hill, the driver for the No. 21 Chevrolet for RCR, will miss this weekend’s event at Iowa Speedway. He hit Aric Almirola during the 91st lap of the Pennzoil 250. After Almirola bumped Hill into a slide in Turn 3, Hill hit Almirola’s right-rear fender, turning the No. 19 Toyota into the Turn 4 retaining wall. Austin Hill says his hit on Aric Almirola wasn’t intentional After the race, Almirola reacted to being hit by Hill. “It was definitely intentional,” Almirola told The CW, per NASCAR.com. “He (Hill) blocked me three times. I finally got him loose in (Turn) 3. He had damage on the nose, so he was really slow in the corners. It was time to go. I mean, we’re coming to nine to go, and the leaders are starting to put a gap on us, so it’s time to go. I got him loose, and he just turned left and hooked me in the right rear.” Hill wasn’t available for a comment after the race, but he told his team that the hit wasn’t intentional. “I couldn’t hang onto it. I did not try to right-rear him,” Hill told his team on the radio. “He had me out of control and I drove back to the left to keep it off the wall. I’m not sure what the hell he thought just running me over in 3 though!”
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