Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
UNC GM addresses Bill Belichick-Jordon Hudson 'noise'
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi addressed the ongoing speculation about the relationship between Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson and whether it is impacting the football program.

In an appearance on ESPN Radio’s “Marty & McGee” Saturday, Lombardi dismissed much of the speculation about Hudson’s involvement with Belichick as “noise” and said the program did not want to add fuel to the fire.

“I mean, a lot of it is just noise,” Lombardi said, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “And for us to be distracted by something that has no bearing, that has no relevance whatsoever, that is a complete falsehood, in terms of what people are saying or what they’re writing. It’s comical. And for me, to really even attack anybody who’s saying it, gives them credibility. Which I don’t, because it’s a completely false narrative.

“The noise out there comes from a direction of people trying to be disruptive within our program. We’re not going to allow it. We’re not going to acknowledge it. We’re gonna move on. And look, let’s face it, the proof’s in the pudding. We’re having a tremendous recruiting class. We had a tremendous portal, and we’re going to continue to get better every day.”

This is a bit more in line with the traditional Belichick stance of not giving oxygen to outside noise. That approach has been undermined by Hudson’s controversial presence around the North Carolina program, where there have been conflicting reports about how extensive her role is. Belichick has claimed that Hudson has no real role within the program, though others seem to feel differently.

For the moment, Belichick and his cohorts have quieted some of the noise and avoided giving it any new fuel. However, the speculation will continue, especially since it would be very easy for Belichick to leave his role as North Carolina head coach at this point.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

OPINION: Which players need to take the biggest step for Alabama from year 1 to year 2?
College Football

OPINION: Which players need to take the biggest step for Alabama from year 1 to year 2?

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is poised to have a strong second year in Tuscaloosa. DeBoer and the rest of the Alabama coaching staff have assembled a talented roster for the 2025 season. In order for Alabama to reach its full potential, several players will need to take a big step from heading into year 2 at the Capstone. Touchdown Alabama lists three second-year players that Alabama needs to contribute in a big way in 2025. 1. Red Morgan As a true freshman, Morgan played in 12 games. The native of Phenix City, Alabama played the Husky position for the Crimson Tide last season. In 2025, he will likely play a mixture of safety and Husky. Morgan is best suited to play the safety position at the college level. Despite having a slender frame, Morgan plays well for his size. He will have the opportunity to see a lot of playing time as a sophomore. It will be intriguing to see if he can make step in the right direction as a sophomore for the Crimson Tide. 2. Jeremiah Beaman The former four-star played sparingly as a true freshman in Tuscaloosa. Beaman saw action in three games and finished the season with two tackles and a quarterback hurry. While Alabama has no shortage of depth, the expectation is that Beaman will see an uptick in snaps in 2025. He has put in a lot of work during the offseason and has the potential to be an X-factor in the trenches for the Crimson Tide in 2025. Beaman will need to have a big year to alleviate some of the pressure and stress on the rest of Alabama’s defensive line unit. 3. Zavier Mincey Well, the trend of listing defensive players continues. Mincey has the potential to be a first-round pick in the future if he can maximize his potential in Alabama’s defense. As a true freshman, the Florida native played in 13 games and made one start. The best game of his freshman season came in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan. Mincey finished the game with seven stops and a pass breakup. With Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack using a lot of different looks and personnel, Mincey has the chance to optimize his opportunity in Alabama’s defense.

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
NFL

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice

Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.

Steelers reporter shares big claim about how Aaron Rodgers has looked in training camp
NFL

Steelers reporter shares big claim about how Aaron Rodgers has looked in training camp

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the bulk of the spring as an unsigned free agent and, thus, only began officially practicing with Pittsburgh Steelers teammates during the team's three-day mandatory minicamp in June. During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed how Rodgers looked during his first few training camp practices with the club. "His release is just astonishing to watch," Dulac said about Rodgers, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "Everybody knows about it, and when you see it in person, you see it every day in practice, you just marvel at it. To me, he's the greatest thrower of the football I have ever seen, even at 41 (years old). That flick of that wrist and that ball comes out, it's moving and it is something to see." Rodgers was with the New York Jets when he suffered a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the 2023 regular-season opener. He was then slowed by a nagging hip issue, injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain and a serious hamstring problem as the 2024 Jets went 5-12. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers finished last season ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 43.9 percent passing success rate. That said, he was also eighth with 3,897 passing yards and tied for seventh with 28 passing touchdowns. Rodgers and Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson endured some struggles during training camp sessions last summer before the two allegedly "never saw eye-to-eye" during the season. It sounds like Pittsburgh fans should be encouraged by how Rodgers performed in recent practices. "That guy can get rid of the ball as quick as anybody," Dulac added. "He made three throws in seven-on-seven (drills) the other day that the cumulative total I bet couldn't have exceeded 2.1 seconds. And two of those were for touchdowns." Rodgers wants to finish his career "the right way" and help the Steelers notch at least their first playoff win since January 2017. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh at -150 betting odds to miss the playoffs for the upcoming season.

Liverpool Are the Transfer Market Winners With Luis Díaz Sale
Soccer

Liverpool Are the Transfer Market Winners With Luis Díaz Sale

Luis Díaz’s move to Bayern Munich for a reported €75 million (around £65.5 million, including add-ons) wasn’t just a blockbuster summer transfer; it was a prime example of Liverpool playing the market smartly. While fans might feel watching the Colombian winger leave after three impactful years at Anfield, the reality is that the Reds cashed in at the right time, on their own terms. Bayern’s earlier bid of €67.5 million was turned down, but when Díaz made it clear he was ready for a new challenge, and Liverpool saw contract extension talks stalling, they took control of the situation. The club chose to sell at full market value rather than risk losing a valuable asset for less down the line. In today’s climate, getting top dollar for a player pushing 30 with no new deal in sight is no small achievement. They signed him from Porto in January 2022 for £37.5 million, rising to £50 million with add-ons. The sale now not only brings in profit but also helps Liverpool enhance their galactic transfer window even further. The Reds Played This Window Like Pros Liverpool has had a busy, record-breaking summer of high spending, with over £300 million spent on fresh faces like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike. Those names don’t come cheap, but while many clubs overextend during rebuilds, Liverpool has kept things tidy on the financial front. Offloading Díaz, along with departures like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Jarell Quansah, has brought in nearly £125 million in total, helping to balance their books and avoid falling foul of FFP regulations. Liverpool found the sweet spot between emotion and economics in a transfer market where clubs either panic-buy or cling onto stars for too long. No Room For Stalemates Let’s not forget, this wasn’t just about money. Behind the scenes, Díaz’s future was uncertain for months. Liverpool made two attempts to extend his contract, but neither went anywhere. Sources close to the player had hinted at his decision to leave as early as summer 2024, especially after his stock rose following a strong 2023/24 campaign. Bayern came knocking with a better deal in July 2025, and the writing was on the wall. The club’s decision to leave Díaz out of the pre-season friendly against AC Milan, despite no injury concerns, was a clear sign that things were moving quickly. Rather than drag the saga out and risk it affecting the dressing room, Liverpool acted decisively. A Big Departure, But Vision Remains Since his Liverpool debut, Díaz has made 148 appearances, scoring 40+ goals and providing around 23 assists. He was electric, unpredictable, and crucial for the club during the 2024-25 season, notching 17 goals and eight assists in 50 games as the Reds lifted the Premier League title. He offered more than just stats; his flair on the left wing, defensive work rate, and ability to change games were undeniable. Liverpool has a long history of letting stars go when the timing is right, and this move feels consistent with that tradition. A Squad Ready To Evolve With Díaz gone and Darwin Núñez also rumored to be on his way out, Liverpool’s front line is undergoing a reshuffle. The likes of Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and new boy Ekitike give Slot plenty to work with, but the real excitement lies in the club’s pursuit of Alexander Isak. The Newcastle striker is being lined up as a potential record-breaking signing, with Liverpool preparing a huge bid to bring the Swedish international to Anfield, and they’re thinking of breaking the British transfer record for the second time in a single window. Isak has reportedly rejected offers from Saudi Arabia, making Liverpool his preferred destination. The Díaz funds could prove vital in landing him, proof that Liverpool aren’t just cashing in, they’re already preparing the next chapter.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!