Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis celebrated the Serie A title, but piled more pressure on Antonio Conte. ‘Never say never. If he wants to put himself at the disposal of the club, then he is welcome. I would be pleased if he made his mark in the Champions League.’
The Partenopei secured their second Scudetto in the last three years , having waited over three decades to end the drought before Luciano Spalletti in 2023.
They needed the victory this evening against Cagliari and got it thanks to goals from Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku.
“I feel relieved now,” De Laurentiis told DAZN during the title celebrations.
“Saying four is good number, it’s not easy. We hope it is the start of a consistency that we are trying to take from the North of Italy to the South. It was not easy, but when I met Conte in the Maldives and many years ago we went swimming together, I was struck by his mentality.
“I approached him in November 2023 and asked him to come straight away, but very professionally, he said he didn’t build that team, so it was best to wait until June so then we could do something really special together.
“He did it, so I take my hat off to him.”
There was a warm hug on the field after the final whistle between De Laurentiis and Conte, but there is by no means any certainty that the coach will remain next season.
With that in mind, the President’s comments left the door open, putting all the pressure on his coach to make a decision.
“Never say never. Coaches have their own character that must be respected and in my view you should never oblige them under iron-clad contracts. Napoli is Napoli, it deserves respect. If he wants to put himself at the disposal of the club the way he has done this season, then we say welcome, we are ready to follow him like a great leader,” noted De Laurentiis.
“Next year, I would be very pleased if he made his mark in the Champions League, which since they modified the format has become even more important.”
De Laurentiis had irritated Spalletti and others in the past by trying to make more decisions and take control of the project away from his coaches.
“I found Napoli in the bankruptcy tribunal and for 15 years we’ve been consistently in Europe, people forget that. But I see kids now who proudly wear the Napoli colours, whereas in the past that wasn’t always the case.
“Look at what the city gave me for my birthday! Naples is a city that always gives you the best in life, but you must be able to grab it, otherwise you remain on the margins with a desolate mentality. There is a winning mentality here, and even when there is desperation, they still emerge with success.
“I can say that because my family left Naples in the 1930s and 40s, able to spread success all over the world. I am happy to have brought that success back to this city with the most popular of entertainment formats, kicking a football.”
De Laurentiis was asked if his next present for the club could be the arrival of Kevin de Bruyne as a free agent.
“Let us not ask indiscreet questions. We are working to create an even stronger and more competitive squad. We have wonderful players right now and will add more of the highest level.”
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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.
Jon Gruden, a coach synonymous with intense playbooks and fiery passion, made an unexpected appearance at the Detroit Lions’ training camp this week. His visit wasn’t just a casual stop; it was personal. Gruden came to observe and encourage John Morton, the Lions’ newly instated offensive coordinator, a man who once learned under Gruden’s wing. This moment underscores Morton’s rise to prominence as he steps into a critical role left vacant by the highly regarded Ben Johnson. Gruden’s comments during his visit illuminated not only Morton’s capabilities but also the potential of the Lions’ offense as they prepare for a new season. Here’s a closer look at what the veteran coach had to say and why Morton’s story resonates so deeply in Detroit. The Gruden-Morton Connection John Morton and Jon Gruden’s relationship stretches back decades to their days with the Green Bay Packers. Back then, Gruden was a receivers coach, and Morton, a wide-eyed young receiver, was working to make his own mark. Their connection deepened in Oakland in 1998 when Gruden gave Morton his first coaching job in the NFL. Gruden took Morton under his wing, throwing him challenging assignments and immersing him in the philosophies of the West Coast offense—a foundation of today’s pro playbooks. John Morton has often credited Gruden for his coaching pedigree. “I thought I knew football, but I didn’t until I was in a room with Jon,” Morton remarked during camp. Those early lessons became the building blocks of Morton’s coaching style, shaping how he views schemes, player utilization, and game strategy. Gruden, watching from the sidelines in Allen Park, didn’t shy away from showering Morton with praise. “This guy is nuts,” Gruden exclaimed, grinning. “He loves the grind. People used to call me crazy, but John? He’s on another level. He’s relentless, creative, and a true competitor. Detroit’s offense is in good hands.” Stepping Into Ben Johnson’s Shoes Morton faces a significant challenge ahead. Replacing Ben Johnson, who left the Lions in the offseason after transforming them into an offensive powerhouse, is no small feat. Under Johnson’s play-calling, Detroit’s offense was both explosive and efficient, with quarterback Jared Goff finding stability and the team achieving playoff contention for the first time in years. Now Morton is tasked with not only maintaining that momentum but putting his personal stamp on the offensive system. While much of last year’s blueprint will remain intact, Morton will introduce his influences—many of which come directly from his time under Gruden. Detroit Lions fans can expect “a lot of compressed formations and pre-snap movement,” according to Gruden himself. Morton’s approach appears to be rooted in the fundamentals of Recognize, Communicate, and Execute, or “RCE,” a philosophy Gruden instilled in him during their time together. “It’s all about getting the quarterback and the offense on the same page before the snap,” Morton explained. “If you do that right, the odds swing in your favor. It’s about the little details adding up to something big.” Gruden’s Thoughts on Jared Goff Beyond his clear admiration for Morton, Gruden took time to share his thoughts on the Lions’ trigger man, Jared Goff—a quarterback who has enjoyed a career renaissance in Detroit after his time with the Rams ended on a sour note. Jon Gruden was effusive in his praise, even daring to compare Goff to Hall of Famer Joe Montana. “I know it’s a big name to throw out there, but his composure, efficiency, and footwork under pressure remind me of Montana when I was with the 49ers,” said Gruden. He also lauded Goff’s ability to stay calm in the pocket, referring to him as “one tough cat.” Morton’s task of sustaining Goff’s upward trajectory will be a key storyline in the upcoming season. With Goff as his quarterback and an arsenal of playmakers such as Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie sensation Jahmyr Gibbs at his disposal, Morton has the tools to keep the offense humming. Building a Foundation for Success Detroit is hungry for more than just incremental improvement; they’re chasing sustained success. Gruden’s visit served as both a personal reunion and a reminder of the kind of accountability and innovation Morton is expected to bring to an already promising situation. Morton’s offensive philosophy, infused with Gruden’s fingerprints, appears tailor-made for a Lions roster that has embraced creativity and adaptability under head coach Dan Campbell. Early reports from camp indicate that Morton is blending the old with the new, keeping key elements of Johnson’s schemes while adding wrinkles of his own. His ability to evolve the offense without overhauling it will likely determine how far the team can go in 2025. Gruden summed it up best when he said, “This is the coach’s time now. More than anything, I just wanted to see John work. He’s got the tools, the passion, and the roster to make it work. The grind, the details, the relationships—it’s all on him now, and I’m here to support him.” The Road Ahead John Morton isn’t just stepping into a new job; he’s inheriting expectations, pressure, and the hopes of a fanbase long starved for greatness. His first few months on the job will be pivotal as he fine-tunes his offense, earns the trust of his players, and navigates the shadow left by Ben Johnson. But Detroit isn’t starting from scratch. With a playoff-ready roster and a leadership team committed to fostering growth, Morton has a strong foundation to build upon. And with mentors like Gruden in his corner, he has a wealth of wisdom to draw from. For Detroit Lions fans, Gruden’s visit was more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane—it was an endorsement of the new era brewing in Detroit. With Morton at the helm and the support of a team that believes in him, the Lions are poised to take another step closer to fulfilling their long-awaited potential.
Las Vegas Raiders WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. is opening eyes at training camp, including QB Geno Smith, who appears to be trusting the rookie. Maybe that is the reason why general manager John Spytek has not looked for outside help at the position. And just maybe he got a steal from the 2025 NFL Draft. That looked evident on the first day of pads in Henderson, Nevada, where Thornton badly beat fellow rookie cornerback Darien Porter for a long touchdown, as described by The Athletic's Tashan Reed. In a piece, Reed said Thornton has been the first-string "X" receiver since OTAs and "could make an immediate impact." Thornton shared what Smith told him during training camp: "He tells me every single day, 'if you've got a one-on-one matchup, I'm coming to you,'" Smith said, as shared by Reed. "It means a lot to me. Being a rookie and just getting here ... just knowing that he believes in me a lot. It gives me a lot of motivation to keep getting better." While the headlines are more on rookie RB Ashton Jeanty for his potential big season, Thornton is making sure he is not forgotten after getting selected in the fourth round (108th overall) after leading the University of Tennessee with 661 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Thornton is getting all the opportunities he can get, given the Raiders didn't bother to add a veteran WR. One could see why Thornton is raising eyebrows in training camp. That is a good thing because Smith is trusting Thornton's potential playmaking abilities. Thornton is one of the tallest Raiders WRs besides Collin Johnson, and that could be a big deal given the Raiders need a big target minus TEs Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer and Ian Thomas. Yet, ESPN's Mike Clay is projecting Thornton to have a quiet year with 317 receiving yards and a TD. With such low numbers, maybe that is how the Raiders would prefer it to be, anyway. Only the Raiders know what they have in Thornton. It is up to Thornton to keep the momentum going into preseason games and beyond.
The Dodgers, Mets and Yankees have all shown interested in Twins outfielder Harrison Bader, reports Jorge Castillo of ESPN. The interest from the Dodgers was reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sunday. Bader, 31, has long been a useful big leaguer on account of his speed and defense. His offense has been more mercurial but he’s currently in the midst of what could be his best season at the plate. In 298 plate appearances, he already has 12 home runs. Only once in his career has he hit more than that, which was the 16 he hit in 2021. His 26.2% strikeout rate is a bit high but his 8.7% walk rate is his best mark in years. On the whole, he has a .255/.336/.441 line this year. His 118 wRC+, a career high, indicates he has been 18% better than league average at the plate this year. Thanks to nine stolen bases and some quality glovework, he’s already been worth 2.0 wins above replacement on the year, in the eyes of FanGraphs. The Twins seem to be pivoting to sell mode, at least in terms of guys who aren’t core pieces. They are 50-55, a record which puts them 5.5 games back of a playoff spot in the American League. It was reported last week that they were leaning towards making their rental players available. They flipped Chris Paddack to the Tigers earlier today. It’s likely that Bader, Christian Vázquez, Danny Coulombe, Ty France and Willi Castro will follow in the coming days. Bader signed a one-year, $6.25M deal with the Twins in the offseason. That guarantee came in the form of a $750K signing bonus, a $4M salary, and a $1.5M buyout on a mutual option. Mutual options are essentially never picked up by both sides, which is why Bader will be viewed as a rental. His buyout can also increase via plate appearance incentives. He would add $200K at 400, 425 and 450 plate appearances, then $450K at 475 and 500. He came into tonight’s game with 298 trips to the plate. His deal also has a $500K assignment bonus if he’s traded. Though he has mostly been playing left field this year, that has been out of deference to Byron Buxton. Suitors calling the Twins will likely view Bader as a center fielder, since he’s perfectly capable of sliding back to that spot. Even with the little extra bits in his contract, Bader’s price is still attractive. Some of the other notable center field options on the market are Cedric Mullins and Luis Robert Jr. Mullins is making $8.725M and has been in a rough slump since April. Robert is making $15M this year and is also owed at least a $2M buyout on his $20M club option for next year. He’s been hitting better lately but is having a bad season overall. The Mets and Yankees would both be logical landing spots for Bader. He has already played for both New York clubs, so there’s already familiarity there. The Mets have already been connected to Robert and Mullins. They came into the year with Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor as their center field options. Siri suffered a fractured shin a couple of weeks into the season and has been on the IL since. He still hasn’t started a rehab assignment. Taylor has a dismal .204/.260/.298 line at the plate this year. Lately, Jeff McNeil has taken over the center field job. If the Mets were to acquire a center fielder, McNeil could move back to the infield. The Mets have a cluttered infield mix with Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña. They are reportedly open to trading from that group of younger players, however, so it’s possible the roster gets shaken up in a few different ways this week. For the Yankees, they just lost Aaron Judge to the injured list with a flexor strain. They now have a regular outfield alignment of Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Jasson Domínguez. Bellinger and Grisham are both lefties while Domínguez is a switch-hitter who is far better against right-handed pitchers. Bringing in a righty bat like Bader to complement that group makes a lot of sense. Bader has fairly neutral splits in 2025 but has been better against lefties in his career. He has hit .248/.315/.461 against lefties for a 110 wRC+ overall, with a career .241/.307/.374 slash and 87 wRC+ against righties. Both the Mets and the Yankees are third-time payors of the competitive balance tax. Both clubs are also above the top CBT threshold this year. That means each club faces a 110% tax bill for any spending they add to the ledger for the rest of the season. Bader’s relatively modest salary should therefore be appealing to both clubs for the same reason.
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