LSU Fans Concerned Over Kiffin And LSU's Decision To Recruit Former NFL Players

The showdown between No. 11 LSU and Clemson was always going to be a showcase Week 1 game given Lane Kiffin's debut in the bayou. But few could have imagined the discussion surrounding the game would be anything like this. The heated on-field rivalry between two national powerhouses that share a stadium nickname (Death Valley) and mascot (Tigers) has been largely overshadowed by court cases involving NFL players returning to college football to use their final year of eligibility. Matt Moscona, a sports radio talk show host with 104.5 ESPN in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said the issue has dominated the airwaves this week. He estimates that 10 of the 12 segments on his three-hour talk show on Thursday were devoted to the topic, while only one was about the actual game. He said LSU fans are genuinely worried. Not about Clemson, but about the long-term impact that Kiffin's desire to recruit and play former NFL players in defiance of SEC rules will have on the football program. "The phrase everyone here is using is, ‘Is the juice worth the squeeze?,’" Moscona said. "Why go through this big public ordeal to add a couple of backup players? Which is what we're talking about, quite honestly. The overriding sentiment is people are fearful of the punishments." He said that fear includes speculation that Kiffin might be suspended for ignoring SEC's stance, or even the Tigers being kicked out of the conference altogether after being a founding member in the early 1930s. "People here are wondering if we are really thinking about the long-term ramifications of playing a few backups," Moscona said. Kiffin recruited two of his former players at Ole Miss — defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and tight end Dae’Quan Wright — after both spent time with NFL clubs this offseason. That stirred up a hornets' nest, with the Southeastern Conference suing LSU in federal court this week and potentially tainting a partnership dating to the Depression. Several coaches have been outspoken against NFL players returning to college, including Clemson's Dabo Swinney who called the notion of ex-NFL players suiting up on Saturdays "embarrassing" for the sport. All four Power Four conferences last week reiterated their rules against pro players and some outlined stiff penalties including fines and suspensions. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey testified that "the line between professional sports and college sports needs to be maintained," even in an era where top college players command million-dollar compensation packages through revenue sharing and NIL deals. Kiffin, one of the most outspoken and polarizing figures in college football long before his recruitment of NFL players, sees things a little differently than most in college football. He said he talked with LSU team leaders and all backed the idea of bringing in players who can help the Tigers — whether they tried out for NFL teams or not. He shrugged off the idea that it would wreck any final notion that college is meant for amateur athletes. "This is how it works at the next level," Kiffin said this week. "This is how the real world works." Moscona noted that other teams have landed former NFL players including South Carolina, which recently signed kicker Ethan Sanchez after he attended camp with the San Francisco 49ers. He blames for the NCAA for not granting a blanket waiver to allow athletes from the 2022 high school class to return for a fifth year after changing its eligibility model in June. "The problem here is those players would have never left had they known they would have had another year of eligibility," Moscona said. "... The NCAA did not heed advice that lawsuits would follow. And, the lawsuits have followed. And now it's awful." Regardless of what happens, this is clearly not your average high-profile college season opener. LSU has a received a record number of requests — more than 900, according to the school — from media and VIPs. "I think that speaks volumes of the eyeballs on us and people wanting to be around the program and watch the program," Kiffin said. "All that is important nowadays. No. 1 is winning but after that you have a very marketable program." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Pro Football Hall Of Fame Makes Major Changes In Voting Process After Bill Belichick Snub

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced major changes to its selection process seven months after the controversial snub of Bill Belichick created a public uproar. The changes will begin with the voting cycle for the 2027 class. The most significant change is that the group of selectors will be cut from 50 to 25 on the selection committee, with three alternates that will rotate on a yearly basis for a total of 28. The Hall is still in the process of determining and notifying which selectors will stay or move on. Along with that, the seniors category for players has been eliminated, meaning players will no longer graduate to that group after 20 years in the modern-era pool. Instead, all players will be lumped into one player pool. The Hall said it eliminated the seniors category to avoid unintended bias in the voting process. The Hall stated the changes were made to improve the voting process, part of a comprehensive review that began 2.5 years ago. "The Hall continually reviews its bylaws to ensure the selection process reflects the highest standards of integrity and the magnitude of election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame," President & CEO Jim Porter said in a press release. "There is no more important task at the Hall of Fame than the election of each new class." The process that selectors will use to vote candidates into the Hall has also been changed. The Hall of Fame vote will return to an in-person meeting, which will be held in the first week of February to determine the candidates selected for induction. The in-person meeting had been on a six-year hiatus that began during the COVID pandemic. During the annual selection meeting, candidate presentations will be handled by one individual designated by the Hall to avoid an unintended bias toward a candidate because of a presenter with more persuasive oratory skills. The Hall also eliminated the finalist designation, along with the practice of carrying over candidates who made the final seven from the previous voting cycle being automatically placed as a finalist for the next voting cycle. Marshal Yanda and Terrell Suggs have been grandfathered in this voting cycle because they made the final seven before the rule change. However, Willie Anderson will not be an automatic finalist this year because he has already benefited from that rule in a previous voting cycle. The Hall has just two terms now: nominee and candidate, once an individual makes the cut for the annual meeting. The contributor category has been expanded to include the entire body of work of a player, front-office person, coach, or an individual who has made significant contributions to the game. So, three categories will be considered — player, coach and contributor. The coach and contributor subcommittees will have 14 individuals on each committee, which will come from the pool of the 28 selectors. The subcommittees will be responsible for bringing forward one candidate each from the coach and contributor categories to bring forward for consideration at the in-person meeting. Before these changes, the Hall of Fame selection committee consisted of 50 selectors, which included representatives for each of the 32 teams and 18 at-large selectors. The 32 team representatives have been removed to avoid unintended bias, according to the Hall. Stricter rules were created by the Hall in 2024 to ensure exclusivity of membership to the Hall of Fame, allowing at least four, but no more than eight, people to be inducted from the 20 finalists selected. The Hall also reduced the waiting period for coaches to become eligible from five years to one. That created the opportunity for Belichick to become eligible in the last voting cycle. Eligibility for the Hall of Fame remains the same. Players must be retired for at least five years, while the wait for coaches is one. The reduction will go from 50 to 25. But instead of 15 modern-day finalists, the players' nominee pool will be reduced to 13 nominees, one coach and one contributor for selectors to consider at the in-person meeting. The 15 will be cut from 10 to seven. Voters will then be asked to vote for six of those candidates, with 80% (20 of 25 votes) the standard needed to be enshrined. At least three inductees, but no more than seven, will be enshrined from the 15 candidates voted on for the in-person meeting in February. That process will likely create a five- or six-person class. With the new changes, the Hall has the right to reveal the number of votes a candidate received but not reveal how selectors voted. However, selectors can still publicly reveal how they voted if they choose. "The Hall of Fame’s selection process has always been guided by integrity, thoughtful deliberation and a commitment to honoring those most deserving of football’s highest individual honor," Porter said. "We believe these changes both augment what has worked well while addressing opportunities to further strengthen a tradition that means so much to the game and everyone who loves it."

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LSU, Lane Kiffin Cleared To Add Former NFL Players After Louisiana Court Ruling

LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s chances of fielding former NFL players improved Thursday night when a Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction against the NCAA in a high-profile eligibility case. East Baton Rouge Parish Judge William Jorden issued his ruling the night before LSU was due to submit its 105-man roster to the Southeastern Conference, which last week announced heavy potential punishment for football and basketball teams that bring in ex-pros. The ruling clears the way for LSU to list some former NFL players on its roster. How many games they might be eligible to play remains to be seen as the matter continues working its way through the courts. Jorden said he considered sanctions against the SEC and the NCAA but ruled he was not ready to issue any at this time. Jorden’s decision followed a nearly nine-hour hearing in a courtroom near the LSU campus in which athlete after athlete took the stand to explain why they should be allowed to return to play college sports after turning pro. The commissioner of the powerful SEC argued against them, and the league doubled down by filing a lawsuit against the school in federal court. That lawsuit could now become the SEC’s best chance at preventing former pros from playing this season. The courtroom confrontation came just two days before 11th-ranked LSU opens the season at home against Clemson. Jorden scheduled the hearing over his temporary injunction preventing the NCAA from barring former pros or fifth-year college athletes, a stance reiterated by the SEC and other Power Four conferences in potential punishments adopted last week. Former New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Zxavian Harris and former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright, two players who hope to suit up for LSU, sat next to each other in the gallery as the hearing began and both took the stand to say they would have not tried to turn pro had they known they might get another year in college. Harris and Wright said they each earned about $1 million in college. Harris said he was paid just $190 in travel expenses by the Saints and spent all of his time with the club rehabbing a foot injury. Wright said he was paid a $25,000 signing bonus by Philadelphia before his brief time with the Browns and would gladly pay that back for the chance to play for LSU. Two LSU soccer players, Jazmin Ferguson and Jocelyn Ollivierre, won earlier court orders and have already played this season. Ferguson testified that she was paid $4,500 by a USL team, but ended her contract and paid the money back in hopes of clearing the way to play for the Tigers again. Two LSU softball players also testified. The athletes testified after SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey was on the stand for more than two hours, defending the league’s authority to enforce its week-old rules barring former pros from returning to play at its 16 member schools. He said school presidents and chancellors felt that they needed to establish a line between professional and college sports and that there needed to be ways to hold schools accountable. "The line between professional sports and college sports needs to be maintained," Sankey testified, adding that the league was concerned about incoming athletes being displaced from limited roster spots. As he spoke, the SEC filed the federal lawsuit in Alabama against LSU and its leadership, alleging the school had "waged a deliberate and coordinated campaign to recruit professional athletes" in defiance of league rules. The court filing against one of the league’s founding members in 1933 seeks an injunction barring LSU from violating the SEC’s First Amendment rights by forcing it to "associate with conduct that is contrary to the conference’s purpose and mission." Legal experts said the filing was a backup in case the SEC lost in state court. Outside the courthouse in Baton Rouge, plaintiffs’ attorney Tony Clayton said: "I got a problem with that. I mean, you go around, you can file this suit in any state. You’re suing LSU. Sue them in Louisiana. You go to our nemesis: Alabama. Really? So, so that lets you know what the commissioner is all about." In questioning Sankey, attorneys for the athletes cited numerous examples of when SEC eligibility rules align with NCAA rules, suggesting the potential of collusion. They questioned why league members met last week to adopt stiff penalties for the very actions addressed in the Louisiana state court’s temporary injunction against the NCAA. The attorneys also asked why the SEC singled out players who signed contracts with specific U.S.-based leagues — the NFL, NBA and WNBA — but not overseas pro leagues or women’s pro soccer leagues. When Sankey tried to qualify an answer about whether the SEC had previously punished a school for adding a player with previous pro experience, Clayton said, "I didn’t ask how to build a clock. I’m just asking what time it is." Sankey acknowledged that there had previously been no such punishment, but that it had been considered against Alabama last basketball season when the Crimson Tide briefly added a former G League player. The players in question also include former Denver Broncos defensive back Blake Cotton, who like Harris and Wright is hoping to join LSU and Kiffin. Wright, who played for Kiffin last season at Mississippi, started practicing at LSU this week, too late to be eligible for Saturday’s home opener against Clemson under the NCAA’s required seven days of practice. Harris, who also played at Ole Miss last season, has committed to LSU, while Cotton, who played at Utah last fall, has been recruited by Kiffin. All three are among a host of athletes who’ve argued in lawsuits around the country that they are unfairly being denied an opportunity to spend a fifth year in college under newly adopted NCAA rules allowing for five full years of competition. In all, the NCAA says there are approximately 450 athlete plaintiffs seeking additional eligibility through litigation, with some 300 of them winning the ability to play at least for now. The athletes in the case who signed pro contracts have argued they did so only because current rules that would have allowed them another college season weren’t adopted until after their decisions to leave for the chance to make an NFL roster. The SEC contends the question before the judge should be a narrow one regarding whether the conference "can enforce and require its member institutions to comply with SEC rules." The SEC’s proposed punishments include significant fines, up to half-season suspensions for coaches and member universities’ loss of voting privileges on league business matters. Sankey provided an affidavit stating that SEC university presidents had voted 15-0 in favor of the new rules, with LSU’s Wade Rousse abstaining. The fight over eligibility between schools and their own conferences and the NCAA has simmered for months and spilled into politics. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill chatted with plaintiffs’ attorneys before the hearing and filed a brief on their behalf. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry posted on X to attorneys general in Georgia and South Carolina that "calling them ‘NFL players’ is at best disingenuous, and at worst intentionally deceptive ... They are not professional football players circling back after years in the NFL. They are college players who were told, by the NCAA, that they were done. So they took the only door that was open — only to watch the NCAA change the lock behind them." Reported by the Associated Press.

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NFL All-22 Roster: Building A Dream Team For 2026

In the star-studded NFL, which players will shine the brightest this season? With All-22 coaches’ tape and a stat sheet serving as my primary evaluation tools, here is my preseason All-Pro team based on track record and projections for the 2026 campaign. The reigning MVP could write a storybook ending to a Hall of Fame career by guiding a super team to another title in its home stadium. Although Stafford already accomplished this feat when the Rams won Super Bowl LVI, the future gold jacket recipient has a chance to run the table through the regular season and playoffs with a squad that is loaded with All-Pro playmakers around him. With Sean McVay carefully scripting "winners" that should produce easy scores for the veteran, Stafford could top off an unbeaten season with a collection of individual honors that reflect his work as a pinpoint passer and scoring machine. The playmaking dynamo is nearly impossible to defend out of the backfield. Robinson’s hybrid RB1/WR2 skill set will enable new coach Kevin Stefanski to get him 120-plus yards a game in multiple ways. Coming off a campaign in which he led the league with 2,298 scrimmage yards, the 5-foot-11, 215-pounder should cement his spot as the NFL’s undisputed RB1 with a spectacular season that could result in a 1,000 rushing and receiving yards apiece. As a former receiving triple crown winner, Chase is a problem for opponents who are unable to deal with his physicality, toughness and big-play potential as a "catch-and-run" specialist. The 6-foot, 205-pounder is a quasi-running back on the perimeter, breaking tackles in the open field after snagging passes on in-breaking routes. The veteran is just as dangerous downfield, wrestling "50-50 balls" away from defenders down the boundary. With Joe Burrow operating with a "Super Bowl or bust" mentality, the feisty pass-catcher should bounce back as an All-Pro in 2026. Despite a dip in production due to shoddy quarterback play, the seventh-year pro notched his sixth-straight 1,000-yard season and continued to remind defensive backs that he is nearly impossible to defend when he is on the same page as his QB1. With Kyler Murray now on board and with the arm talent to force opponents to defend the entire field, the perennial All-Pro wideout should reclaim his spot on the list of the league’s A-plus playmakers. The numbers do not lie when it comes to sheer dominance on the perimeter. Nacua has been an unstoppable force as the No. 1 option in the Rams’ passing game, showing strong hands and superb ball skills while consistently coming down with contested grabs. As Matthew Stafford’s go-to guy, the All-Pro is likely to post the third 100-catch season of his career before breaking the bank as the premier wide receiver on the open market. After watching Klint Kubiak transform Jaxon Smith-Njigba into a playmaking machine as the feature pass-catcher in his scheme, Bowers could revolutionize the tight end position with a creative play designer building an offensive plan around his mercurial talents. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound target terrorized opponents as an unstoppable force on the perimeter during his record-breaking rookie season, showing a skill set that makes him tough for safeties and linebackers to cover in space. Given Kubiak’s experience and success showcasing No. 1 options, Bowers could resume his assault on the NFL record book as the Raiders’ leading pass-catcher in an offense built to elevate playmakers. The versatile frontline blocker has earned All-Pro honors at right tackle and left tackle by unmercifully pummeling defenders into the ground with his heavy hands and violent punches. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder is a rare find as an athletic edge blocker with an alpha dog personality that allows him to dominate using finesse or force at the point of attack. The three-time All-Pro has regained his status as a five-star player after a couple of subpar seasons by his lofty standards. Nelson is back to mashing defenders onto the turf with his nasty disposition, setting the tone for the rest of the line. With the Colts’ running game popping behind No. 56’s efforts, the veteran guard should re-emerge as a first-team All-Pro member this season. The talented technician makes life easy for Patrick Mahomes by getting the frontline into the proper checks and adjustments against challenging looks. Humphrey’s outstanding football IQ and superb communication skills, combined with flawless footwork and fundamentals, enable him to stymie explosive defenders at the line. Given the importance of keeping the Chiefs’ QB1 upright in the pocket, Humphrey’s impressive work as a "traffic cop" makes him an easy choice on this All-22 team. The small school standout has developed into one of the best in the business as a mauler at the point of attack. Meinerz bullies defenders with his strength and power, but has also developed into a high-level technician who can shadowbox with agile defenders. The combination of physical dominance and technical savvy has helped him stand out as one of the elite blockers in the game. After watching the third-year pro put on a clinic against a collection of elite defenders on both edges, the football world should prepare to see a new name atop this season’s list of star offensive linemen. Alt plays with textbook technique and an All-Pro’s temperament, controlling defenders at the point of attack on perimeter runs and drop-back passes. The 6-foot-8, 322-pounder masterfully utilizes his length. The single-season sack record holder is the centerpiece of a superteam in Los Angeles that could put the league in a choke hold in 2026. Garrett’s destructive potential as a freakishly athletic pass-rusher will make it hard for opponents to send extra blockers toward Aaron Donald to keep the three-time Defensive Player of the Year from taking over games fresh out of retirement. With Garrett seemingly on a mission to shatter the NFL’s career sack record while winning an elusive Super Bowl ring, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year could add even more hardware to the trophy case by season’s end. The fourth-year pro has quickly joined the conversation as arguably the best defensive tackle in football after dismantling interior blockers with his violent hands and superhero strength. Carter’s disruptive presence sets the table for the rest of the defense, while creating countless headaches for offensive coordinators trying to come up with plans to limit his impact at the point of attack. The twitchy defensive tackle overwhelms opponents with his quickness and explosion at the line. Murphy’s activity and aggression force interior defenders to pay close attention to his whereabouts, particularly on pivotal downs where the Seahawks are known to crank up the pressure. As an emerging standout coming off a season with seven sacks and 13 quarterback hits, the 6-foot-0, 306-pounder is ready to take his game up a notch as an All-Pro-caliber defender at the line. The relentless edge rusher is a one-man wrecking crew with a diverse collection of maneuvers that keeps offensive tackles guessing for four quarters. Anderson’s speed, quickness and burst, combined with his physicality and violence, overwhelm blockers left in isolation without a running back to help in protection. With the Texans’ defense expected to extend its dominance into 2026, the All-Pro pass-rusher should add more accolades to his résumé by season's end. After missing most of the 2025 campaign with an injury, the ninth-year pro is ready to attack the league with a vengeance as a sideline-to-sideline playmaker again. Warner’s instincts and ball skills have generated eye-popping turnover production (10 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries) as the featured playmaker in the Niners' scheme. Although new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will put his own spin on the system that has helped Warner play at a gold jacket level, the four-time All-Pro’s knack for producing big plays will keep him in the conversation as the top linebacker in the game. As one of three players with at least two sacks, two interceptions and 10 tackles for loss last season, the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year is a disruptive force who specializes in producing splash plays all over the field. Schwesinger’s impeccable instincts, awareness and anticipation, combined with his violent approach, could make him the new gold standard at the position by the end of 2026. The 2024 Defensive Player of the Year should bounce back from an injury-plagued season to reclaim his spot as the NFL’s CB1. Surtain’s airtight coverage and flawless technique make him a coach’s dream, and the top choice to man the island as the league’s premier cover corner. The sticky-fingered ball magnet has terrorized quarterbacks on the perimeter with 15 interceptions and 51 passes defensed over 54 career games. Stingley’s turnover obsession and takeaway prowess force opponents to think twice before targeting receivers in his area. Playing behind a ferocious front that regularly causes errant throws, the All-Pro corner has emerged as the Texans’ designated playmaker in their "see ball, get ball" scheme. The NFL’s highest-paid corner is worth every penny of his new four-year, $132 million contract as a dynamic defender with Swiss Army knife versatility on the perimeter. Witherspoon’s ability to blitz, run and cover from out wide or in the slot makes life miserable for quarterbacks and offensive playcallers. With the 6-foot-0, 185-pound DB capable of making plays in the backfield off corner blitzes and slot pressures just as well as he shuts down WR1s, Witherspoon is the ultimate weapon for Mike Macdonald to deploy from the second level. Offensive coordinators are facing sleepless nights with Jesse Minter poised to unleash the three-time All-Pro as a multidimensional playmaker near the box. Hamilton is perfectly suited for the role: a safety with linebacker size, speed and diagnostic skills, plus cornerback-like playmaking ability between the hashes. Inserting the ultra-versatile DB into a scheme that showcases his talents as a "hit, run, and cover" specialist near the line of scrimmage should help the Ravens’ defense get back to its dominating ways. The former first-team All-Pro selection is the new prototype at the position: a super-sized defender who can play anywhere within the defensive triangle (strong safety, free safety, and nickel defender) based on matchups. James’ versatility and playmaking potential flourished under former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, but the big plays should continue with the Chargers under new DC Chris O'Leary.

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Harshest Punishments In Sports History: How Does The Clippers Ruling Compare?

The Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer just learned that circumventing the salary cap carries a steep price tag. After concluding its investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s side deals, the NBA delivered a decisive ruling that proves no franchise is above the league's rulebook. According to ESPN, the NBA is stripping the Clippers of five first-round picks and slapping owner Ballmer with a $30 million fine. Ballmer will also serve a one-year suspension, leaving the Clippers without control over a first-round pick until 2034. Leonard escaped the harshest discipline, but he was still ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution over improper benefits received by his uncle, Dennis Robertson. The NBA has also banned Robertson from conducting any future business within the league. This isn't just a slap on the wrist as it’s one of the steepest penalties ever handed down in pro sports. For a young Clippers team on the brink of rebuilding, losing half a decade’s worth of first-round draft capital is an absolute death blow. With the hammer officially dropped on the Clippers, let’s dive into the history books. These are the most memorable and impactful sports punishments handed out in history. Winning Super Bowl XLIV gave Saints head coach Sean Payton the breakout moment he needed to earn respect around the league. But that reputation took a hit when an investigation revealed a scandal brewing behind their magical season. The victory was soon tarnished when an investigation exposed a bounty program led by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to intentionally injure opponents. Payton covered it up, resulting in a $500,000 fine and the Saints being stripped of two second-round picks. However, the league's hammer didn't stop swinging at the top. The league hit Payton with a full, unpaid one-year suspension for 2012 and suspended Williams indefinitely. General manager Mickey Loomis was also held accountable, serving an eight-game suspension without pay. With the Clippers' latest punishment now out there, it’s worth going back to the Minnesota Timberwolves scandal involving Joe Smith. Starting in 1999, Smith signed three consecutive low-salary, one-year contracts with the Timberwolves. This raised concerns, which eventually led to the discovery of an under-the-table agreement to circumvent salary cap rules. Once the investigation concluded, the Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million, owner Glen Taylor and general manager Kevin McHale were suspended. The Timberwolves, similarly to the Clippers, were stripped of five first-round draft picks. After winning the 2017 World Series, the Houston Astros seemed like the talk of the league and baseball's next dynasty. However, after an MLB investigation revealed they illegally stole signs from opposing teams, public scrutiny and backlash only intensified. The Astros were fined the maximum of $5 million and stripped of their first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 MLB Drafts. On top of that, general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch were also suspended for one year, prior to their firings. Despite widespread backlash across the sport, the Astros went on to win the World Series again in 2022. They may have cheated in the past, but winning it all without stealing signs proved just how talented and well-built the Astros roster truly was. To no one's surprise, the New England Patriots were a lock for this list. Head coach Bill Belichick was no stranger to league discipline, but his involvement in Spygate remains the most notorious stain on the Patriots historic dynasty. Early in the season, a Patriots video assistant was caught illegally filming the New York Jets' defensive signals from an unauthorized location on the sideline. Because this violated NFL rules, Belichick and the organization faced league discipline. Belichick was fined $500,000 and the Patriots organization was fined $250,000. Not only were the fines massive, but the team was also stripped of their 2008 first-round pick. Following the Astros, the Boston Red Sox were also caught stealing signs during their 2018 World Series winning season. The punishment was far lighter compared to the Astros, but still impactful. Replay operator J.T. Watkins received a one-year suspension, and the team forfeited its 2020 second-round draft pick. Following the investigation, manager Alex Cora was also suspended for one year, but his penalty was from his role in the Astros scandal. Since the scandal, the Red Sox have made the playoffs only three times, struggling to regain their former league dominance that fans have come to get accustomed to watching. One of the most impactful punishments involved the SMU Mustangs. Investigators discovered that administrators and boosters were paying football players under the table and this came even while they were already on probation for previous recruiting violations. The "death penalty" label comes from the sheer severity of the punishment. The NCAA canceled the Mustangs 1987 season, and the heavy restrictions on scholarships and recruiting forced the school to cancel the 1988 season as well. The severity of the punishment effectively silenced the program for two consecutive seasons. With 55 scholarships stripped over four years, the roster was systematically gutted, triggering a collapse that took them more than two decades to recover from. As well-respected as the Atlanta Braves are in baseball today, they aren't without their fair share of controversy. From 2015 to 2017, MLB investigators caught the Braves circumventing international signing rules and bonus caps. For a Braves franchise built on international scouting, the penalty could not have been more damaging. The Braves lost 13 top international prospects, including prized shortstop Kevin Maitan, setting back their international pipeline for years. From top to bottom, the fallout for the Braves organization extended far beyond the field. General manager John Coppolella received a lifetime ban from MLB and the Braves were forced to forfeit a 2018 third-round draft pick. It only got worse as the strict bonus limits effectively shut the team out of the international market through the 2021 season. Pete Carroll departed USC for the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, executing a perfectly timed exit. This came just months before the NCAA hit the Trojans football program with severe 'lack of institutional control' sanctions. The investigation centered on star running back Reggie Bush receiving improper benefits from sports marketers. Following the probe, the football program was hit with a two-year bowl ban and the loss of 30 football scholarships over three years. The Trojans were also placed on four years of probation and forced to vacate 14 wins from the 2004 and 2005 seasons, including their national title win. Bush faced severe fallout as well, forfeiting his 2005 Heisman Trophy. College football has undergone major reforms regarding athlete protection and mandatory reporting policies. This was largely driven by the fallout from former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Penn State was hit with historic sanctions after university and athletic department leaders conspired to cover up Sandusky's crimes rather than report him to law enforcement. This resulted in one of the most severe punishments in college football history. The punishment included a $60 million fine, a four-year postseason bowl ban and the loss of 40 scholarships. The Nittany Lions football program was also forced to vacate 112 victories from 1998 through 2011. Sandusky is currently serving time in prison for his crimes at Penn State. He is serving a 30-to-60-year sentence in a Pennsylvania state prison following his 2012 conviction on 45 counts of child sexual abuse. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was at the center of a six-month, league-wide NFL investigation for tampering. The start of the investigation was actually sparked by a lawsuit from former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores. The lawsuit revealed that the Dolphins had illegal contact with quarterback Tom Brady and Sean Payton while both were under contract with other teams. Given how high-profile the story was, it came as no surprise when the league handed down harsh penalties. The Dolphins were stripped of a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick, while Ross was suspended and fined $1.5 million. While it remains unclear whether Brady or Payton was planning a team-up, the punishment is one of the most severe in history.

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AFC North Predictions: Who Takes The Steelers Spot As The Top AFC North Team?

The Steelers reign as the AFC North title winners, but two teams are emerging as stronger candidates to win one of the most competitive divisions in football this season, at least according to "First Things First." From the questions surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers' Aaron Rodgers and the Cleveland Browns' Deshaun Watson, and the healthy talent returning on both the Baltimore Ravens' and Cincinnati Bengals' rosters, the AFC North seems to be unpredictable this season. However, Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Danny Parkins were in unison on who the top two teams in the division will be. Here are their picks for the AFC North. Nick Wright's AFC North Prediction Nick Wright put the Cleveland Browns at the bottom and the Ravens at the top, leaving last year's AFC North winners at third. Wright did not hold back when it came to the Browns, emphasizing that its quarterback situation does not benefit them or its record. "I think they’re going to be 4-13. I think it’s the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. … I’d be very surprised if they win six games," Wright said on Wednesday's edition of First Things First. In terms of the Steelers, the return of Rodgers could go South for new head coach Mike McCarthy, especially with Rodgers turning 43 years old this year. "I think they finish 6-11, but what is Aaron Rodgers going to look like once the weather turns cold? … He turns 43 this year," Wright said. "I would be surprised if, during that stretch that Drew Allar doesn't start a game or two … I do not think Aaron Rodgers will be the starting quarterback all year." Wright believes that Cincinnati will fall into the same cycle as last year: win nine games and miss the playoffs. Even with quarterback Joe Burrow back in full force with wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, Wright is not buying any of the hype surrounding its offense. "Winning only nine games and missing the playoffs. It’s basically what they do every year… I think they will have the ninth-best offense in the NFL." For Wright's No. 1 team, the Ravens, he sets the bar high for quarterback Lamar Jackson and new head coach Jesse Minter. Wright predicts that Baltimore will also land the No. 1 seed in the AFC. "I would be shocked if they don’t start 6-0. If they don’t just sweep this conference. I am predicting that the Baltimore Ravens will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC," Wright continued. "I think Minter is a breath of fresh air this year. I think Lamar might win his third NFL MVP. They might be a regular season juggernaut." Chris Broussard's AFC North Prediction Chris Broussard and Wright shared the same predictions from top to bottom. However, there's a twist that came with the Bengals. For Broussard, the Browns were the clear choice for fourth place, especially with their offseason decision on starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. "I’m stunned that Deshaun Watson has won the job. He hasn’t played well… He better go out and win those first two road games," Broussard said. Broussard also turned heads when he made his prediction about the Steelers season, noting it could be their first losing season in over two decades. "This will be the first losing season for the Steelers since 2003. We’re going to find out that Mike Tomlin was really holding that thing together…I think Mike McCarthy is a good coach, but the last two years he was with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay…they went 8-10-1…with a team that had the potential to win 13 games," Broussard said. Rodgers left every NFL fan waiting for his offseason decision to return to Pittsburgh, retire or sign with someone new. However, joining forces with McCarthy adds a new element to the Steelers' success this season. Broussard's prediction for the Bengals is that they do make the playoffs, but won't win the division. "They get to the playoffs. I’m expecting a nice year from them, I’m expecting Burrow to be healthy," Broussard said. "The defense is just going to be solid… I think the offense is going to be one of the best in the league." And none other than Broussard's favorite NFL team, the Ravens, took place as the AFC North winners. "I am EXCITED about this season," Broussard said. Danny Parkins' AFC North Prediction Parkins followed suit with the Browns in last place, thanks to their lack of talent at quarterback. "Very obvious. They’re going to play three quarterbacks this season… They’re going to move to Shedeur Sanders early, and then they’re going to have no other move, and they’ll be in trouble," Parkins said. "I think that they’re one quarterback away from making things interesting." The Steelers placed third, noting that their regular season ended with eight wins and Rodgers will be ‘fine’ this season. "I think they’re going to be fine. I think Aaron Rodgers is going to go out with a whimper, they’ll be an eight-win team," Parkins said. However, Parkins split off from Broussard and Wright's predictions and placed the Ravens second, but still making the playoffs. Parkins detailed that Minter could be a good hire on paper, but won't know much until the season rolls around. "I think it’s going to take 12 wins to win this division. … My thing with Baltimore is, I think Jesse Minter is a good hire, but we don’t know," Parkins said. "We have a head coach who’s never been a head coach, you have an offensive coordinator who’s never been a playcaller." Parkins labeled the Bengals as his team to win the division. However, even with the talented offense Cincinnati has, the Bengals top the Ravens by a very small amount. "As for Cincinnati, when Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase play, they’re 12-6 over the last two seasons and averaging 29 points per game, and they added a ton to their defense. So, on the thinnest of margins, I have the Bengals over the Ravens," Parkins said.

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Will Aaron Donald Play At Hall Of Fame Level Again After Return? Scouts Differ

The odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl got even better on Sunday, with Aaron Donald rejoining the Los Angeles Rams as he ended his retirement after two years. But should we expect Donald to play at the level that won him three Defensive Player of the Year awards this season? We asked several scouts around the NFL if they think Donald will have a tremendous impact for the Rams this season and what we should expect from the 10-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. The answers we got varied, with some expressing confidence that he'll play at a high level again while others believe we should lower our expectations for Donald. Here's more about what we learned from our conversations with scouts and people around the league about what to expect from Donald this season. Eric D. Williams: Yes, he’s 35 years old and hasn’t struck a man in anger with pads on in two seasons. Still, according to scouts I spoke to, they expect Aaron Donald to have the same type of impact the three-time Defensive Player of the Year had when he left the game after the 2023 season. "If one man can do it – it’s AD," one longtime scout told me. "He still trains like a player. He’s got a strong appetite for Ball! He will be a rotational player, but the snaps will be significant!" Another scout noted the amount of time Donald spent working out before returning to the field last week. Donald said he spent 14 weeks of intense workouts with personal trainers before determining he was in good enough shape to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams. "I thought this would be the time he would return," the scout told me. "It looks like they kept tabs on his conditioning too, with several workouts. I’d say he’s a sub-package, plug-and-play guy the first two weeks and then can be an every-down guy after that. "There will probably be some rust, and the wear and tear may show some. But he’s still a difference maker and leader." However, not everyone I spoke with offered a glowing perspective on Donald’s return. "My guess is he is a good player, but not great anymore," a league source told me. "I think he plays around 35 to 40% of the defensive snaps for the Rams this year. "To me, it’s more about his age than missing time. How many great 35-year-old defensive players are there in the NFL right now?" Donald has played at least 67% of his team's defensive snaps in each season of his NFL career, including 81% of the Rams' defensive snaps in his last season, per Pro Football Reference. But some older defensive linemen turn into one-down players as they reach the later portions of their career. Von Miller, for instance, played just 37% of the Washington Commanders' defensive snaps last season at age 36. Ralph Vacchiano: The rich got a little richer when Aaron Donald returned to the Los Angeles Rams this week. But not everyone is convinced that the addition of the future Hall of Famer is the luxury that it seems. "Look, he’s an all-time great player," an NFL scout told me. "He’s probably still great. I wouldn’t bet against him. But he’s not immune to reality. He’s 35. He retired three years ago. It’s not easy to play at that age. It’s even harder being away for so long." "Wait and see," another NFL scout told me via text. "The guy was a monster. Is he still? I need to see it first." Donald last played in 2023 when he had a respectable eight sacks in 16 games, and his last double-digit sack season was 2021 when he had 12.5. But it certainly seems like he has a chance to reach those numbers again playing on a defensive line with Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year who set an NFL record with 23 sacks last season. "If he’s healthy, you can’t block them both. It’s a problem for everybody," the first scout told me. "But it’s the health I’m worried about. He’ll say he’s in phenomenal shape. I’m sure he looks it. But working out for a few years is different than playing football for a few years. It just is. "And he’s going to feel it."

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