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Justin Jefferson sends warning to former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase
If there’s anyone who can relate to what Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is going through right now, it’s Justin Jefferson.
The 25-year-old wideout went through his own contract negotiation with the Minnesota Vikings not that long ago, so he likely knows exactly how Chase is feeling in wanting to be the highest-paid WR in the NFL.
Which is why Jefferson offered some sage advice to his former LSU teammate during a recent appearance on FanDuel’s “Up & Adams.”
“I’m pretty confident that he’ll be about his business and show up when he needs to show up,” Jefferson said. “I hope that he gets the contract that he's looking for, but I also hope that he plays it smart and not let it get in the way of, you know, his greatness and being on that field.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported last week that Chase is looking for a deal that bests Jefferson’s by one penny. Jefferson signed a four-year, $140M contract with the Vikings earlier this offseason that made him the highest-paid receiver in football ($35M per year).
If Cincinnati was to give Chase the record-breaking contract he wants, Jefferson joked that he couldn’t share on-air what his text to his former teammate would say but that he’d be happy for the 24-year-old star.
“It's always love, especially on my end, about my brothers, that are making good in this league and making a name for themselves,” Jefferson added.
“We always talked about that in the receiving room at LSU, saying that we were able to be on that same platform as some of the top guys that were in the league while we were watching the film at LSU. So to see it all come up, come to life and for us to fulfill our dreams is definitely heartwarming.”
More must-reads:
- Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase returns to practice field
- Giants' Deonte Banks 'wants' challenge of Vikings' Justin Jefferson
- The 'Most receiving yards in a season by team' quiz
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Jon Gruden 'looking forward to having the truth come out' amid lawsuit against NFL
Jon Gruden sent another warning shot toward the NFL after scoring a major win in court. On Tuesday, Gruden welcomed a ruling that will force the NFL to litigate the circumstances of his firing in court rather than closed-door arbitration. The former Las Vegas Raiders coach made clear that he intends to continue his legal challenge to the NFL to ensure that they are held accountable. “I’m looking forward to having the truth come out, and I want to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Gruden said in a statement provided to ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. “The league’s actions disrupted the whole season. We were leading the division at the time and they completely blindsided me and the team.” The Raiders were 3-1 in 2021 when Gruden was forced to resign after some offensive emails that he sent between 2011 and 2018 were leaked. Gruden has alleged that the NFL leaked the emails to force him out of a job after obtaining them during an investigation into the Washington Commanders. The NFL is set to appeal Monday’s ruling, but if that appeal fails, the league may be forced into public discovery. One alternative would be to offer Gruden a settlement, but he has not said whether or not he would be interested in such a resolution. Gruden has not held an NFL coaching job since the Raiders forced him out. He has recently spoken about possibly making a return to coaching at the college level.
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Hits Into Historic Triple Play vs. Zach Neto, Angels
Shohei Ohtani went yard in his return to Anaheim on Monday, but he was on the opposite end of an even crazier highlight Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter, who drew walks in his first two plate appearances, was looking to do some serious damage versus the Los Angeles Angels when he came up with two men on in the sixth. Ohtani appeared to deliver against his former team, slapping a line drive up the middle. Shortstop Zach Neto was in position holding Miguel Rojas on second, though, so he snagged the liner out of mid-air for the out. From there, Neto beat Rojas in a race back to the bag, then made a running throw to first baseman Nolan Schanuel, who tagged out Dalton Rushing before he could slide back into first. The triple play kept the game tied 5-5, on top of carving out a spot in the history books. According to Baseball Almanac's tracker of every triple play in MLB history, it marked just the eighth the Angels have ever turned. As for the Dodgers, they have now fallen victim to 24 triple plays. There had never been a triple play in the 152 games between the Dodgers and Angels since the Freeway Series began in 1997. It was also the first triple play of Ohtani's career. Ohtani, a three-time MVP, was briefly teammates with Neto in 2023 before leaving to sign a $700 million contract with the Dodgers. The 24-year-old shortstop is no Ohtani, but he is on pace to post his second straight campaign with a WAR over 5.0. Later on in the contest, Ohtani hit a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the ninth inning. The Angels knotted the score in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly by Schanuel, immediately after the Dodgers intentionally walked Neto. Jo Adell eventually notched the decisive walk-off single in the 10th, clinching the three-game series in the process. Wednesday's finale, which will feature Ohtani both pitching and hitting, is scheduled to get underway at 9:38 p.m. ET.
LeBron James Stunned by Son’s Change in Appearance
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is in peak off-season mode, enjoying his time off while staying ready for his upcoming 23rd season in the NBA, eighth with Los Angeles. James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists for the Lakers last season. On a separate note, his youngest son, Bryce James, is preparing for his first collegiate season with the Arizona Wildcats, where he committed early in 2025. Before this new chapter, he spent most of his high school basketball career playing for Sierra Canyon, where he won a State Division 1 title in his senior year. Meanwhile, upon Bryce's first trip back home since leaving for college, James was taken aback by his appearance. In the Lakers star's latest Instagram story, he welcomes home his youngest son after his first stint away at Arizona. Within the video, James is overcome with excitement as he points out Bryce's latest physical change to his 159 million followers: his beard. "Y'all see his beard? Oh my goodness!" said James. Born in 2007, Bryce is just 18 years old and stands 6'6 tall ahead of his first season with the Wildcats. Primarily playing the shooting guard position, he's poised for a bright future under legendary coach Tommy Lloyd, who is entering his fifth season with the team. Lloyd's 61 wins in his first two seasons with Arizona are an NCAA Division 1 record. The Wildcats will open their season on November 3 against the defending champion Florida Gators at a neutral site in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Reason for Struggling Warriors-Bulls Trade Involving Jonathan Kuminga
The Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls are two teams stuck in major limbo. On one end, the Warriors have not made any signifcant moves during NBA free agency, largely due to not finding a solution to Jonathan Kuminga's contract dilemma. On the other end, the Chicago Bulls have been stuck trying to find a solution for both Nikola Vucevic and Josh Giddey. Coincidentally, the two teams could very easily help each other, but it's looking like they won't. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Warriors are not open to any sign-and-trades for Jonathan Kuminga that would force them to trade either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody. "Golden State values both players quite highly, sources say, while maintaining high expectations for both Hield and Moody to be consistent contributors who prove reliable in providing the necessary spacing to boost the Warriors' half-court offense in the postseason," Fischer said. Why Won't a Jonathan Kuminga Trade to the Chicago Bulls Happen? From Fischer's analysis and reporting, the Warriors refusing to trade either Hield or Moody will be the main reason why a trade does not happen between the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls. "The Warriors' refusal to entertain the prospect of surrendering Hield or Moody in those circumstances are among the prime reasons that it's difficult to envision Golden State and Chicago ever finding common ground on a sign-and-trade construction that features Kuminga and Giddey switching teams," Fischer said. Are the Golden State Warriors Interested in Josh Giddey? It may have seemed like the Warriors' interest in Josh Giddey seemed to have come out of nowhere, but according to Fischer, their interest is genuine. However, if the team has to trade Hield or Moody, it won't be happening. "I'm told that the Warriors continue to value Giddey's skillset and have communicated their interest to the Australian point guard's representation. There simply does not appear to be a feasible pathway to such a trade … not right now," Fischer said. Simply stated, the Golden State Warriors are interested in trading for Josh Giddey, which would likely be for Jonathan Kuminga, but the salaries make it tough. "The base-year compensation issue alone makes it challenging before we even get to the limited salary-matching and outgoing player flexibility that Golden State is currently facing," Fischer concluded. The Warriors and Bulls still have over a month before training camp, but once the clock reaches September, then it may be short.
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