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Veteran defensive end Za'Darius Smith walked the red carpet at the BET Awards with actress and hip-hop artist Kash Doll.
The pair turned heads as they posed for photos prior to the annual awards show.
Speaking to the media, Smith shared that he still wants to be part of the last team he played for professionally.
“We both know where I want to be,” Smith said, via USA Today. “Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great. When I’m there I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit.”
Supporters have been clamoring for the Lions to remain in contact with the 32 year-old defensive lineman since the conclusion of the 2024 season.
After being traded to Motown, Smith quickly became a fan favorite, as he seemingly became an instant Detroiter, donning Pistons jerseys and being welcomed at Little Caesars Arena when he watched a rising NBA team.
Smith is also excited at the idea of working with Aidan Hutchinson, a player poised to be in the Defensive Player of the Year race annually.
“I’m still a veteran. He’s still a young guy. I can help him with a lot of things," Smith said. "He’s already great but as a player there are some tools that I know that I can help him with. And there are some things as a young guy that he can help me with.”
Smith is currently a free agent, but the Lions have remained in contact with his representatives this offseason.
I don’t think Za’Darius Smith is focused on football right now @Glock_Topickz pic.twitter.com/76rASxZTF8
— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) June 10, 2025
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Steelers work out two QBs amid Aaron Rodgers injury
With Aaron Rodgers dealing with a left wrist injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers worked out veteran quarterbacks Jason Bean and Tanner Mordecai on Tuesday, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The Steelers currently have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and zero on their practice squad. Backup Mason Rudolph, and third-stringer Will Howard will both move up a spot on the depth chart for at least a week, leaving the Steelers without a third option should either of them get injured. Bean, 26, signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Kansas in 2024. He did not make the 53-man roster, but stuck around on the practice squad for the entire season. He was waived during final roster cuts this year and did not draw practice squad interest from the Colts or any other team. Mordecai is also a 26-year-old who entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2024. Mordecai finished his college career at Wisconsin and signed with the 49ers last spring. He spent the season on San Francisco’s practice squad and was repeatedly cut and re-signed during training camp as the team balanced their other roster needs. He was waived due to injury a final time during roster cuts. The Steelers did not sign Bean or Mordecai, though that could be coming in the next few days as they continue to assess Rodgers’ wrist. They could also work out other available quarterbacks later this week.
Taylor Swift's Emotional Letter to Late Liam Payne Set to Fetch $13,000 at Auction
Taylor Swift's emotional handwritten letter to Liam Payne is expected to draw significant attention when it goes up for auction next month. The note, sent in December 2017, is projected to sell for as much as $13,000 due to its deeply personal and historic nature. Swift wrote the message shortly before Payne took the stage at the Jingle Bell Ball in London, at a time when he was gaining traction as a solo artist after One Direction began its hiatus. According to the auctioneers, interest has already grown ahead of bidding. Taylor wrote: "Liam, long time no see! I'm so excited for you. You're crushing it out there. I'm obsessed with Bedroom Floor. It's so cool to see you from afar, I'm always cheering you on. Good luck tonight!" The Mirror reports that the letter showed up in an envelope labeled only "Liam," covered in stars. The envelope was wax-sealed with a "T," and on the back appeared "Nashville, Tennessee." Payne reportedly gave the letter to a friend shortly after receiving it. The sale of the note comes just over a year after Payne's death in October 2024. The singer died at age 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. According to the People, an autopsy later revealed polytrauma along with traces of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system. His sister, Ruth Gibbins, described ongoing grief in the months since his death. She said: "My brain is locked on your last minutes on this earth, the unaccounted minutes, the minutes I will never have the answers to, the minutes that changed everything." She also posted on Instagram : "I underestimated grief, woah, did I underestimate it. I am paralysed by it daily. I thought I had felt it before but I know the losses before you were just intense sadness, you are the loss of my life, the one person who l will miss at every single occasion in my life." Omega Auctions is expected to see much interest from collectors once it begins accepting bids for the item, since the letter is a rare personal exchange between two major pop figures. According to the source, the timing has added an emotional weight to the sale, aligning as it does with the anniversary of Payne's death.
Heartbreak for Arsenal as extent of Gabriel’s injury is revealed
Arsenal appear braced for a significant setback as star centre-back Gabriel Magalhães faces a potentially lengthy spell out through injury. The 27-year-old has been one of Mikel Arteta’s most indispensable players in recent seasons, forming the backbone of a defensive unit that has transformed the Gunners into consistent Premier League title challengers. His combination of aerial dominance, physicality and leadership, alongside his growing threat from attacking set pieces, has made him a crucial figure at both ends of the pitch. But Arsenal’s defensive stability is now under threat following Gabriel’s premature withdrawal during Brazil’s 2–0 victory over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. Arsenal suffer Gabriel setback at crucial stage The centre-back was forced off just after the hour mark, clutching his right thigh, and was immediately released from the national team squad. His departure raised concerns within the Brazil camp and even more so among Arsenal supporters already anxious about their team’s growing injury list. According to The Athletic, further medical examinations are scheduled, but early indications suggest Gabriel may be facing up to two months on the sidelines. If confirmed, the defender would be ruled out until mid-January, missing a crucial run of fixtures during the congested winter period. A best-case scenario indicates a recovery time closer to four weeks, which could enable him to return just before Christmas, though Arsenal are said to be preparing for the longer prognosis. The timing could hardly be worse. Gabriel now joins a lengthy injury list at Arsenal, one that already included Martin Ødegaard, Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus prior to the international break. Mikel Arteta has worthy replacements in his squad Arteta, who has worked tirelessly to build depth and balance across the squad, is now facing the prospect of navigating multiple competitions without several of his most influential players. With the festive schedule approaching, Arsenal’s reliance on defensive pairing William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera will grow. The club also have the option of Piero Hincapie, who is a versatile defender and can play as a centre-back along with playing as a left-back. The club will hope that Gabriel’s injury is not as severe as feared, but with key matches in the Premier League and Champions League looming, Arteta may be forced to rethink his short-term tactical plans. Arsenal told what they need to do if they want to sign Antoine Semenyo in January
Behind the scenes at Real Madrid: Giant club uneased by recent Chelsea activity
Real Madrid have reportedly been left uneased by something that Chelsea have done recently and that they failed to do. It’s not often that you will hear that the giants of world football Real Madrid are eased by something that little old Chelsea are doing, but that is the case behind the scenes apparently. I’ve just been writing about Estevao Willian once again in a few articles this morning, because he scored once again for the Brazilian national side last night. He’s now only second to legend of the game Pele in reaching a goalscoring milestone for his country after that goal. Former Premier League player Troy Deeney says that Estevao is Chelsea’s only real top quality winger and to be honest, I think he has a point with this statement. These are only just a couple of Estevao articles I’ve written in the last couple of weeks. The kid is on fire and people are lapping him up. The hype is madness but you can see why it’s happening. Real Madrid regret not moving for him Like every other club in the world right now, Real Madrid are regretting not trying to sign Estevao Willian before he moved to Chelsea! According to ESPN in Brazil, behind the scenes at Real Madrid, there is growing unease that the club did not enter the race for Estêvão when he was still at Palmeiras. The Brazilian gem was analysed, and the decision to not move forward is now viewed with some regret given his immediate impact at Chelsea and on the national team. Their loss, our gain A real shame for them (sense my sarcasm) as their loss is very much our gain. Chelsea have a real one here and I have no doubt that he will keep developing and get even better over time as well.
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