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- Breaking down the FedExCup bubble ahead of regular-season finale
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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.
Patriots Star Christian Gonzalez Injured at Training Camp
FOXBORO, MA. — Just over an hour into the Patriots' first padded practice of training camp, and the team has suffered its first injury of the summer — and it's a big one. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez hobbled off the field during one of the team's full team drills and went to the ground on the sideline closest to the fans. He was going against Stefon Diggs in a 1-on-1 and came up gingerly after the drill. Gonzalez threw his helmet off and then limped off the field into the medical shed. He pointed at his left calf before walking off the field with head athletic trainer Jim Whalen. The Patriots can hope that it's a minor injury — one that's part of the added heat and pads. But missing Gonzalez for an extended period of time could do damage to the defense. In his rookie season in 2023, Gonzalez dislocated his shoulder against the Dallas Cowboys and missed the remainder of the season. When he returned in 2024, he stayed healthy enough to earn an All-Pro second team nomination. WIth Gonzalez out, the rest of New England's cornerbacks included Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Brandon Crossley, Jordan Polk, Marcus Battle, Marcellas Dial, DJ James and Kobee Minor. Carlton Davis was absent for another practice, part of a rehabbing process.
Bruins' David Pastrnak Calls Out Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky: He Just Lacks Humility'
Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the most promising players in the NHL, but now he has been called out by David Pastrnak, who stated he lacks humility. After being picked No. 1 overall in 2022 NHL Draft, expectations were high in Montreal for young star Juraj Slafkovsky, and thus far, he's shown glimpses of being the elite level player many expected when he entered the National Hockey League. However, there are still some major steps to go, and in a recent interview, Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak pointed out perhaps one area where the 21-year old may need to improve moving forward. When asked about Slafkovsky and his potential, Pastrnak gave nothing but a glowing review of the young Canadiens star, but he did note that he believes Slafkovsky needs more humility. 'He's still a young player who is gaining experience in the NHL every year. This season it was already clear that he gave the team more than before...He just needs a little more humility, he should set an example for the young ones.' On the ice, there's no doubting that Slafkovsky has the presence, the size and the talent to be a true star, posting 101 total points over the past two seasons, but for whatever reason, it appears as though Pastrnak believes he needs to improve off the ice before he can take a major leap in Montreal. Ultimately, the talent is still there for Slafkovsky, and at 21-years old, he'll continue to learn off the ice, and if he can go anywhere close to living up to the potential that he's shown in his first three years at the NHL level, there's no doubt that he can be a big time star and help lead the Canadiens to significant post-season success.
Yankees named ‘dark horse’ for MacKenzie Gore trade on 1 condition
The New York Yankees have already made a couple of intriguing acquisitions of late, but they could still do more as the 2025 MLB trade deadline approaches. One name that has floated on the rumor mill about New York is Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore. If the Nats are to become players ahead of the deadline, it’s not because they’re buyers, considering their place in the standings. Down at the bottom of the National League East Division standings, Washington has some intriguing assets for teams like the Yankees to aim for, including Gore, who just earned his first MLB All-Star nod. The Yankees, on the other hand, are said to be on the prowl for pitching help in their rotation, with MacKenzie potentially a target for the Bronx Bombers, according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN. However, the Nationals might only budge if New York includes a top prospect in a trade package. Wrote McDaniel: “The New York Yankees are also shopping for a starting pitcher and have some young position players of interest to rivals, but they aren’t keen on including either of their top prospects, George Lombard Jr. or Spencer Jones. If they change that stance, they could be a dark horse fit with the Nats on Gore.” The 26-year-old MacKenzie is an enticing trade prospect for the Yankees (and other teams) for at least a couple of intriguing reasons. For one, he is still just 26 years old. Moreover, the left-handed pitcher is a controllable asset for years to come, as he is arbitration-eligible over the course of the next two seasons. He avoided arbitration for the 2025 MLB season when he signed just a $2.89 million contract for a year with the Nationals last January. So far this season, MacKenzie has a 4-10 record with a 3.52 ERA through 21 starts and 117 2/3 innings. He could be someone the Yankees need in order to shore up the depth of their rotation beyond the top two guys in Max Fried and Carlos Rodon and especially with Luis Gil on the 60-day injured list. This year, the Yankees are just 17th in the big leagues with a starting pitching ERA of 4.00, while the same group’s 4.01 FIP is only the middle of the road in the MLB at 15th overall.
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