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Greatest WrestleMania Matches Ever No. 22: Two of the greatest Superstars to ever grace the ring square off under the bright lights of WrestleMania 21. Where to watch WWE: https://wwe.com/wheretowatch Watch WWE on Netflix: http://netflix.com/WWE Watch WWE on Peacock: https://pck.tv/3ZTjVE7
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- Yankees quickly pull plug on key trade-deadline acquisition
- Kyren Williams contract extension with Rams a win for both sides
- The 'MLB playoff home run leaders' quiz
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Steelers are growing concerned over Aaron Rodgers' alarming performance
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot to work on after the first couple of weeks of training camp have concluded and they prepare for a preseason game. The offense has not played well throughout these early practices. Even though they have to go against the highest-paid defense every day, it's not a good sign when the third-team offense has consistently been the most exciting and inspiring unit on that side of the ball. There are lots of things that need to be fixed before Week 1 kicks off — or else it will be a long season. As usual, these problems start with the quarterback position. Insider Mike DeFabo reported on a big problem that Aaron Rodgers has had with his receiving core. "While Rodgers’ quick release has married well with DK Metcalf’s ability to win on slants, the QB hasn’t been able to unlock his big-play threat downfield," DeFabo said. "During Sunday’s practice, Rodgers did find Metcalf on a deep cross thanks to some blown coverage. But that touchdown is the outlier in an offense that’s relied overwhelmingly on short, quick passes or checkdowns. During a 7-on-7 period, Rodgers overthrew Metcalf on a pair of vertical routes. This comes days after Rodgers and Metcalf failed to connect on a go route during the two-minute drill to end 'Friday Night Lights.' The only other memorable deep ball between the two in team periods also fell incomplete about a week ago, when Rodgers’ pass fluttered out of bounds as Joey Porter Jr. stayed in Metcalf’s hip pocket." While DK Metcalf has never been a polished route-runner, he was still brought in to make life easier on the quarterback. Multiple reports from training camp continue to express similar analysis, indicating that the connection between Metcalf and Rodgers, especially downfield, has been far from perfect. If the chemistry between Metcalf and Rodgers continues to stall, someone else will have to step up. As DeFabo also reports, no one else has been able to take an alpha role in this receiver room thus far. "On Sunday, Rodgers looked for [Roman] Wilson on a corner route. The uncatchable ball skipped well in front of the receiver," DeFabo said. "Either the throw was errant or they weren’t on the same page. It was a similar story last week, when Rodgers looked for Wilson along the sideline and threw it well out of bounds. After that misfire, Rodgers walked Wilson through how to run his route the way the QB wants. Meanwhile, [Calvin] Austin missed his second consecutive practice with an injury." After essentially being redshirted due to injury in his rookie year, Roman Wilson has been given multiple opportunities to run with the first-team offense and prove that he belongs on the field. So far, he appears to have absolutely zero chemistry with his new quarterback, which could cause him to lose reps as time goes on. The injury to Calvin Austin III has not helped at all, either, as he was named WR2 earlier in the offseason. While Rodgers wants everyone to thrive, he is known for being very particular and demanding of his receivers. With Metcalf not being a great route-runner and Wilson still trying to learn the system, the veteran quarterback is having a hard time getting what he wants out of them. Wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni was also brought in to be a no-nonsense type of coach who forces his players to be the best that they can be. He'll need to earn his keep this offseason as he continues to prepare his unit for the regular season. If 2025 is as much of a struggle as training camp is so far, the whole position could see a massive overhaul.
Pedro Martinez Tells Yankees Players To ‘Strap It On’ Amid Skid
The Yankees’ freefall is the headline of baseball right now, so it is not afraid that it has caught the attention of Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez. After New York’s fifth straight loss, a 2-0 defeat to the Rangers Tuesday night, Martinez took to Twitter with a message that felt like a challenge. “It’s hard to believe that the Yankees would be at this stage at this time in the season,” Martinez wrote. “I imagine how NY fans are feeling right now. Strap it on boys! #mlbontbs” The loss continued a brutal stretch for New York, now losers of 19 of its last 27 games. Their once-safe playoff position has become a daily fight. As of Tuesday night, they’re barely hanging on to the final American League Wild Card spot. They are just a half-game ahead of the surging Rangers, and now trailing the Red Sox in the standings. Martinez, once a Yankee nemesis during his Red Sox days, didn’t sound like he was taunting the Bronx crowd this time. It was more disbelief than delight. It was almost a bit of tough love from someone who knows what October baseball is supposed to look like. And he knows it doesn't look like this. Aaron Judge returned from the injured list on Tuesday, but his presence wasn’t enough to turn the tide. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, and afterward told teammates in no uncertain terms that this is on them. He said it was time to look in the mirror. Martinez’s “Strap it on, boys” had a similar tone. There’s still time for the Yankees to turn things around. But if they don’t, you can be sure the rest of baseball—including Pedro—is going to have something to say about it.
Kevin Harvick reacts to horrifying Stewart Friesen crash, points to NASCAR regulations
One of the scariest wrecks in racing this year occurred a little more than a week ago, when Stewart Friesen was involved in a horrific crash. Friesen suffered a broken pelvis and a fractured right leg. It was the kind of crash that gets everyone in the sport’s attention. It could have been much, much worse. “This is just an absolutely horrifying wreck right here,” Kevin Harvick said on the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast. “You see him just hit the end of that wall and then hit by cars and fires. Just glad that he’s not in worse condition than he is. It was a tough couple weeks for dirt racing with everything that happened at Eldora with the sprint cars. And then you have Friesen’s wreck right here. So glad everybody’s still here.” Stewart Friesen is now recovering. His wife has posted multiple updates, and he’s since been transferred to a hospital in New York. He’ll have to undergo multiple surgeries. In the meantime, folks like Harvick are using the wreck as a reminder of the importance of the work NASCAR does in ensuring driver safety. Harvick spotlighted it on his podcast. “These series don’t have the investigations and things, and that’s one thing NASCAR does a really good job at, is making sure they understand each wreck,” Harvick said. “Making sure that they look at all the equipment. They hold the people accountable to wear their equipment right, to get their headrests right. That doesn’t happen in the short track world. Some of the stuff you see is pretty scary.” Stewart Friesen’s wreck may well be the warning call to some of the smaller series to take safety a little more seriously. No one wants to have blood on their hands. But it goes beyond just the racing organizations themselves policing things. Team owners and crew chiefs also need to keep their guys on point. “And that’s one thing I stress to all of our young guys and just people in general that just get a little lax about it from the safety side,” Harvick said. “You’re not preparing for every time you get in. You’re preparing for that moment like we just saw with Stewart Friesen. “So it’s super important that all that stuff is right and you evolve with the safety aspect of it. That’s the difference between weekly racing and Cup, Xfinity, Truck racing … that NASCAR holds you accountable. Not so much the case on stuff like this.”
Vikings offense has sizable hole following first-round WR's NFL ruling
The Minnesota Vikings will be without one of their top wide receivers for the start of the regular season. On Tuesday, wideout Jordan Addison was suspended without pay for the season's first three games after pleading no contest earlier this offseason to a "wet reckless" charge. He was initially charged with DUI on July 12, 2024 and pleaded not guilty to those counts on Dec. 3, 2024. In July 2023, he was also cited for speeding a reckless driving when going 140 mph in a 55 mph zone. During his first two seasons, Addison, a 2023 first-round pick (No. 23 overall), has 133 receptions, 1,786 receiving yards (13.4 yards per reception) and 19 touchdowns. During that span, only Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown have more receiving touchdowns. His absence is a blow to the Vikings offense, entering its first season with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy as the starting quarterback. While McCarthy will still have arguably the NFL's best wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, to throw to during the season's first three weeks, Addison's suspension severely compromises the team's depth. Jalen Nailor, a 2022 sixth-rounder, should be in line for an increase in playing time. Last season, he played a career-high 51 percent of his available offensive snaps, via Pro Football Reference. Offseason free-agent signings Rondale Moore and Tim Jones, 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton and undrafted free agents Lucky Jackson and Silas Bolden could also be forced into more prominent roles. Last season, Moore missed the entire year after suffering a training-camp knee injury with the Atlanta Falcons, while Jones had just three receptions on five targets for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Felton and Bolden are rookies and might not be ready for heavy workloads, while Jackson is possibly having the best training camp of the group, recently making impressive plays on back-to-back days. Regardless of who takes Addison's snaps, the Vikings offense won't be at full strength to begin the season. Opponents will be able to focus their attention on Jefferson with double-teams and force Minnesota's unproven secondary and tertiary options to beat them. It's not an ideal set of circumstances for McCarthy as he preps for his regular-season debut, but the Vikings have no other choice than to make it work.
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