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The Cincinnati Bengals accomplished a massive goal of theirs when they managed to sign both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term contract extensions, keeping arguably the NFL’s top wide receiver duo intact for the foreseeable future. And now that they are sticking around, Stephen A. Smith has set some high expectations for Chase in particular.
Chase is fresh off one of the most dominant individual seasons for a wide receiver, as he led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17). Now that he’s sticking around with Higgins and his quarterback Joe Burrow, Smith believes that he could be mentioned in the same conversation as legends like Jerry Rice and Randy Moss when all is said and done.
“I think Ja’Marr Chase is a stud,” Smith said on “First Take.” “I had no idea. I knew he was good, but I think this brother, look at his body, look at his speed, his ball catching ability, look at how he runs away from defenses. I mean this brother is spectacular. He to me has a chance to be one of the top three receivers in NFL history when all is said and done. We are talking about Jerry Rice, we are talking about Randy Moss, we are talking about TO, Terrell Owens.”
Stephen A. Smith sets the bar high for Ja’Marr Chase
This is a very bold statement from Smith. Rice is easily the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, and Moss is right up towards the top of that list alongside him. Chase has gotten off to a very impressive start in the NFL, but there’s no telling whether or not he will be able to produce at the same sort of level we have seen from him for another decade or so, which is what it would take in order for this prediction to come true.
Chase does have several things working for him, though. He has familiarity with Burrow dating back to their collegiate days with the LSU Tigers, he has another de facto star receiver playing alongside him in Higgins, and he plays in a pass-happy Bengals offense. Time will tell whether or not Smith ends up being correct, but for now, Chase and the Bengals will be focused on getting back to work now that they have hammered out their extension.
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Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb sends strong message after tempers flare at training camp
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb reminded teammates to keep their cool after the team had multiple skirmishes during the first two days of training camp. Rookie defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford got involved in a brief scuffle on Tuesday. At the following practice on Wednesday, a fight broke out between safety Markquese Bell and TE Tyler Neville. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer then stopped practice and pulled the whole team together. He said the next player who threw a punch would be kicked out of practice (via Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News). "We've got to be professional," Lamb said of the incident after practice, per ESPN's Todd Archer. "I get it that we have a lot of animosity and tension between us and understanding that we want to proclaim our dominance and show like aggressiveness on both sides of the ball, but then again, to what extent?" Fighting in training camp isn't uncommon. It's an intense environment. Many are trying to prove themselves before teams trim their rosters to 53 players. However, too much brawling can threaten to tear a locker room apart. A lack of discipline was also one reason the Cowboys replaced Mike McCarthy with Schottenheimer this offseason. According to NFLPenalties.com, Dallas drew the league's sixth-most flags (128) last season. Per Archer, there were no more fights after Schottenheimer pulled the team aside. Still, the incidents raise questions about his ability to maintain control. The coach spent Wednesday morning's meeting discussing two plays where DE Sam Williams was too physical and sent to the sideline. His players must not have received the message. It's good for Dallas that Lamb seems to be echoing Schottenheimer's sentiments, but the rookie HC still must get through to his team. Rebounding from a 7-10 season could already prove challenging for the Cowboys. As of Wednesday, ESPN's Football Power Index gives Dallas a 34.5% chance to make the playoffs. Infighting will make that even more difficult.
Red Sox-Blue Jays Wild Trade Buzz Picking Up Steam
The Boston Red Sox have plenty of firepower at their disposal that would interest opposing teams ahead of the trade deadline. Despite this, it recently was reported that the Red Sox are expected to keep their outfield intact for now, at least. While this is the case, FOX Sports made an unlikely suggestion that the American League East rival Toronto Blue Jays would be a solid landing spot for Jarren Duran. "The Blue Jays, who lead the Yankees by three games in the AL East, should operate like a legit contender. Acquiring Duran would fortify that status," FOX Sports said. "Last offseason, Toronto made a presumably cost-effective and high-impact move by signing former Baltimore Orioles outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander — who blasted 44 home runs in 2024 — to a five-year, $92.5 million deal. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, Santander hasn't played since May 29 due to a shoulder injury and boasted a .179/.273/.304 slash line before going down. "Furthermore, center fielder Daulton Varsho has missed the last two months due to a hamstring injury and struggled to get on base beforehand. Acquiring Duran could help Toronto replenish some of the production that both Santander and Varsho's absences have vacated. Duran would provide slug and somebody who files around the basepaths to a plausible offense but one that could use more slug; while Toronto entered Wednesday second in MLB with a .332 on-base percentage, it was also 12th with a .407 slugging percentage. At full force, Duran, Varsho, George Springer, Davis Schneider and Santander — who was the team's designated hitter before going down — would make for an outfield depth chart of multiple players who are adept at playing multiple spots." Maybe this is true, but Duran is under team control for a few years. Why trade a fan-favorite within the division? This can be ruled extremely unlikely.
Lakers’ Shake Milton Already Finds New Home Days After Release, Signs 2-Year Deal
Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Shake Milton has found a new home. More news: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Has Reportedly Already Agreed to Massive Contract Extension With LA Days after the Lakers waived him, Milton will take his talents overseas. The 28-year-old is signing a two-year deal with Partizan Belgrade in Serbia. Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews shared the news via X. More news: Lakers Insider Urges Team to Make Major Change to Starting Five Milton spent most of the 2024-25 season with the Lakers after being acquired in a trade in late December from the Brooklyn Nets. Milton was reportedly in advanced talks to sign with the team as early as Thursday morning. The two sides were discussing a possible deal, and both parties came away satisfied with the talks. The former 2018 second-round pick will take his talents overseas for the first time in his professional career. Milton started his career with the Philadelphia 76ers after he was drafted and traded by the Dallas Mavericks. He has played for five other NBA teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Nets, and the Lakers. In 30 games for the purple and gold this past season, Milton averaged 3.9 points per game, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.3 steals per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from beyond the arc in 11.5 minutes of action. He started in one game for the Lakers. Overall, in his NBA career, Milton has played in 359 games, averaging 8.1 points per game, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from 3-point range. The Lakers waived Milton in order to make room for former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart. More news: Lakers Confident in Luka Doncic Signing Massive Long-Term Extension: Report For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Commanders' newcomer is making the team forget one of the biggest problems from 2024 early in training camp
The Washington Commanders are now two practices into training camp and it's time to see how all the offseason moves will start coming into play. The Commanders had way some very close games last season (they won five straight games on the last possession, for instance) and a lot of them came down to one position that's often forgotten about until they mess up: the kicker. General manager Adam Peters wasted no time in making sure the team would finally have stability at the position by signing veteran Matt Gay this offseason, and so far it's paying off. Commanders lacked stability at kicker in 2024 but that could change in 2025 Washington cycled through seven kickers on the roster from start to finish last season which included Cade York, Brandon McManus, Ramiz Ahmed, Greg Joseph, Austin Seibert, and finally Zane Gonzalez. They lacked stability for an entire season and that had to change in 2025. The Commanders almost had a miracle win against Dallas, but ultimately lost after missing an extra point with :21 seconds left following a Terry McLaurin 86-yard touchdown from Jayden Daniels. Gonzalez ended up being decent and he made the iconic "doink" kick against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as time expired in the playoffs, but Washington still needed an upgrade. Enter former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ Matt Gay. The Commanders signed him to an historic deal this offseason: a fully-guaranteed, $4.25 million deal that's worth up to $5 million after incentives. It's the most fully-guaranteed money for a kicker on a one-year deal in NFL history. Matt Gay off to a hot start in training camp A kicker doesn't need intense practicing to make an impact, but we need to see the ball go through the uprights to ease our minds and so far that's what Gay is doing. ESPN's Commanders reporter John Keim said on his podcast "The John Keim Report" that the new kicker went 6 for 6 in his first training camp practice including a 52-yarder. It's obviously only one practice so far, but that's what we need to see from Gay. Stacking good days on top of good days, then making the big kicks when it matters the most during the season. The NFL is called a "field goal league" for a reason and Washington can't afford to lose any close games down the stretch, especially with a tough schedule this season, so Gay holding down the kicker position can be well worth the investment that the Commanders made this offseason.
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