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TJ Friedl's go-ahead sacrifice fly

TJ Friedl's go-ahead sacrifice fly

Yahoo2 days ago
TJ Friedl gives the Reds a 2-1 lead in the top of the 7th on a sacrifice fly to right field
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UFC landed a $7.7bn deal with Paramount. But is Dana White's Trump bond a liability?
UFC landed a $7.7bn deal with Paramount. But is Dana White's Trump bond a liability?

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

UFC landed a $7.7bn deal with Paramount. But is Dana White's Trump bond a liability?

Forget for a moment the stereotype that MMA athletes and their fans are All-American bar fighters. The MMA community is far more diverse and far more cerebral than the casual onlooker realizes. Has Dana White forgotten that? The UFC president has long sought to expand the sport's appeal to as many demographics as possible. But in the past few years, he has bet big on a tight affiliation with Donald Trump, who has been perfectly content to revel in the adulation of one segment of the population while heaping scorn upon all others. White has campaigned for Trump, welcomed him to several UFC events and hasn't immediately smacked down the notion of holding a UFC card at the White House. On the surface, that might seem logical. MMA culture is intertwined with bro culture, and bros are considered the antithesis of 'woke' liberalism. But it's not that simple. Consider a startling fact: while Maga champions an 'America First' ideology, the UFC is a paragon of globalism. Of the 11 reigning UFC champions, only one is American – Kayla Harrison, thriving in an organization White once insisted would exclude women. Both Australia and Georgia (the country) boast twice as many champions as the UFC's home country. The only belt firmly held by US fighters is the unofficial 'BMF' (Baddest Motherfucker) belt. White invented this to reward charismatic fighters who put on great shows. While it's a clever way to encourage personality and panache, it also seems like a DEI program to ensure US fighters remain prominent in the UFC pantheon. So the UFC roster is more global than ever. But UFC fighters have never fit neatly into categories. This diversity was a hallmark of the reality show that broke the UFC into the mainstream, The Ultimate Fighter. The casts included cerebral chess players, devout Christians and someone who brought a compass to ensure that his bed would face north, and another who fled the show to reassure his girlfriend that rumors she saw online weren't true. And the UFC evolved in ways that might be considered 'progressive.' Cain Velasquez didn't lose any noticeable fan support in 2010 when he sported a 'Brown Pride' tattoo across his chest and admitted that his father had immigrated illegally. (Velasquez has since been sentenced to prison for issues unrelated to immigration.) After opposing the idea of female fighters for many years, White threw open the Octagon door to Ronda Rousey in a 2013 bout against Liz Carmouche, who was openly gay. White strongly supported Carmouche and even gave an impassioned plea to legalize gay marriage wherever it wasn't already recognized – a position he stated well before a series of landmark US supreme court decisions upheld that right. Four years later, UFC fighter Jessica Andrade proposed to her girlfriend in her postfight interview in the Octagon. While the UFC sold Pride Month gear and gave proceeds to an LGBTQIA+ organization in Nevada, outspoken Trump supporter Colby Covington emerged as one of the sport's biggest villains. Related: Donald Trump's UFC stunt is more than a circus. It's authoritarian theatre | Karim Zidan Still, the UFC's primary demographic of young adult men proved to be a decisive force for Trump's return to the presidency. This group overlaps significantly with the audience for UFC commentator Joe Rogan's popular podcast, and Rogan – who felt ostracized by the left after touting scientifically unsound Covid treatments – endorsed Trump last year. But that was November. Fast forward to this summer, and this demographic has veered sharply against Trump. Rogan himself has broken with the president over tariffs, deportations and the Epstein files. Last month, Rogan told podcast guest James Talarico, a Texas Democrat, that he should run for the White House. There's a case to be made that if the Kamala Harris campaign had managed to get her on Rogan's podcast last fall, we would have a different president today. Such changes shouldn't be a surprise. Rogan himself is always on the lookout for new ideas – if anything, he's a little too receptive to some schools of thought and doesn't push back or check facts. While older Americans are prone to adopting a party and sticking with it come hell or high water, Gen Z is fiercely independent politically. They're also more diverse than previous generations, more likely to be non-white, LGBTQ+ or any other group that may feel aggrieved by Trump's actions since reclaiming the presidency. Younger generations are also much more receptive to socialism than prior ones – after all, young men made enough of a fuss over Bernie Sanders to warrant the term 'Bernie Bros.' So Maga's place in 'bro culture' – and those who are MMA fans – is by no means secure. And one day, Donald Trump will be out of office. We've already seen that US conservatives are eager to abandon one trend for another. Today's Maga supporters had a decidedly different message when the Tea Party reigned supreme. Two decades after calling Democrats 'traitors' for opposing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, they excommunicated the entire Bush family. Trump's popularity may well be on the slide too. His approval rating has tanked, and his mutable responses to the Jeffrey Epstein saga have fractured his base. The UFC may well be losing as many fans as its attracts by aligning itself with Trump. The UFC, meanwhile, is still a strong brand but perhaps not the hot property it was a few years ago. Last week's Disney earnings report made a brief reference to 'lower Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view fees due to lower average buys per event.' The fight game tends to be cyclical, driven by big personalities like Rousey, Jon Jones and Conor McGregor, all of whom have either left the sport or gone through a prolonged period of inactivity. It's tough to imagine current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev reaching the level of fame of Forrest Griffin, Rampage Jackson or Chuck Liddell. While we can't really quantify the impact of the Trump lovefest on the UFC's popularity, the organization clearly can't afford to alienate the 60% or so of the population that disapproves of Trump's presidency thus far. Perhaps this is one reason why the UFC has just opted for a new media deal that breaks from their pay-per-view model in order to get wider exposure. 'This shift in distribution strategy will unlock greater accessibility and discoverability for sports fans,' said the press release announcing the seven-year, $7.7bn deal. Some fight cards will be on network TV, and others will be free to subscribers of their streaming partner. That streaming partner, though, is Paramount, which has also drawn the ire of many US viewers through a series of moves that appear to be a capitulation to the president's desire to control the media. First, Paramount settled a lawsuit over the editing of a Kamala Harris interview, a lawsuit deemed by many legal scholars as rather simple for Paramount to win, at the same time that the media conglomerate sought government approval for a merger. Second, after TV host Stephen Colbert criticized his parent company for settling the suit, Paramount announced that his show will end in 2026, ostensibly for financial reasons even though it is the highest-rated late-night show. (Fox News Channel claims its show Gutfeld! has higher ratings, but it airs earlier than the traditional late-night window that starts at 11.30pm Eastern time.) Still, the decision to move away from the pay-per-view model can only be seen as a sign that the UFC feels the need to make its big tent a bit bigger as it faces the difficult challenge of keeping US fans interested in a sport in which American athletes are far from dominant. Typically, US sports broadcasters gravitate to events in which US athletes are faring well, which is why Olympic coverage focuses far more attention on swimming and snowboarding than, say, table tennis or biathlon. White and Trump were always an odd match. Trump was involved with Affliction, a rival MMA organization of the late 2000s that White fought with the venom of the Trump administration's attacks on Harvard and the media. Trump has ridiculed veterans, dating back to when he said he didn't consider John McCain a war hero because he likes 'people who weren't captured' and continuing with Ice arrests of veterans in his second term and a recent awkward moment in which he turned attention to himself at a ceremony honoring Purple Heart recipients; White and the UFC are staunch supporters of the Wounded Warrior Project and other veterans' groups. White is an affable philanthropist; Trump used funds from his own foundation on a portrait of himself and his presidential campaign. We probably won't see White publicly repudiate Trump, a move that wouldn't sit well with a sizable portion of UFC's audience. But over the years, White has shrewdly expanded the UFC fanbase, and he would dearly love for his sport to be the biggest in the world. White has already pronounced that his involvement with politics ends with Trump, telling The New Yorker last year that: 'I'm never fucking doing this again. I want nothing to do with this shit. It's gross. It's disgusting. I want nothing to do with politics.' White has changed his mind about many things over the years. He brought in Kimbo Slice not long after denigrating his fighting skills. He brought women into the cage. But those moves were driven by popular uprisings, and White is almost always willing to give fans what they want. While much of the country watches in horror as Medicaid is slashed, Gaza's suffering gets worse by the week, the economy teeters on the brink, and the White House is in crisis mode trying to deflect from the Epstein case, the clamor to make White reassert his position at Trump's side will surely be muted.

Why character is key for Bucs GM Jason Licht in roster building and in life
Why character is key for Bucs GM Jason Licht in roster building and in life

New York Times

time28 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Why character is key for Bucs GM Jason Licht in roster building and in life

TAMPA, Fla. — Last December, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers personnel staff talked at length about a wide receiver. But from the tenor of their conversation, they could have been discussing an applicant for a C-suite position. Emeka Egbuka's historic production at Ohio State, his rare ball-tracking ability and his knack for creating space weren't given much attention. But they raved about his comfort at the front of the drill line, his diligence and adaptability. Advertisement One of the scouts said Egbuka considered entering the draft the previous year but stayed at Ohio State partly to help Jeremiah Smith get acclimated because the Buckeyes' wide receiver tradition meant so much to Egbuka. Another testified there was a 'very high trust factor' with Egbuka. Trust — that word meant something to general manager Jason Licht. After Licht signed Tom Brady in 2020, the quarterback told him he wanted teammates he could trust, especially in a two-minute drive at the end of a Super Bowl. So with the 19th pick of this year's draft, Licht surprised almost everyone by taking a player he thought he could trust — Egbuka. Every December, the Bucs personnel staff meets for nine days to evaluate attributes of prospects that can't always be seen on game tape. The meeting in which Egbuka was discussed was one of those. Character meetings, they call them. For some general managers, there are better ways to use the time. But to Licht, those meetings are the foundation for the draft, and ultimately the foundation for his team. Since Licht became general manager of the Bucs in 2014, the players he has drafted in the first five rounds have started more games than players chosen by any other team. Among his selections have been nine Pro Bowlers and 11 all-rookie picks. As critical as it has been to find players like Egbuka, it's been just as important to root out others. Licht explained the process in an April interview with ESPN's Pat McAfee. 'It's really not that hard,' he said. 'We put the players that are worthy of being drafted on the draft board like every team does, but then we just kind of take the a–holes and the douchebags off, and the guys that don't love football and guys that have proven they don't like it, that are difficult to deal with, and we just kind of mitigate our risk. We're taking great players that are great humans.' Advertisement By late April, the Bucs have a list of such players, and the day before the draft, Licht gives Bucs owner Joel Glazer a document with the names of those they will not be selecting because they don't fit the Bucs' character profile. This year, four players who were drafted in the first round were on that document. Another on the document was taken in the second round. Over the last four years, 13 players have been drafted who were not on the Bucs' boards because they didn't fit the profile. Players with a criminal history are easily identified and disqualified. Finding players who lack passion for the game is more of an art, but no less important. 'The high draft picks who don't make it are the ones who don't work hard,' Licht says. 'They don't listen to coaching. And they don't do the little things they are supposed to do.' Licht, 54, has tried all the psychological tests. He has relied on a private eye as well as his third eye. But what has been most helpful is intel from his staff. Licht trusts his 26 evaluators and relies on many others as well. When the Bucs host draft prospects for top-30 visits, he wants to know what the janitor, cafeteria server and groundskeeper think. Some of this can be traced to Yuma, Colo., a farming town of 3,500 that's closer to Nebraska than Denver, both geographically and culturally. In Yuma, character evaluation is a front porch swing hobby. During Licht's childhood in Yuma, he saw what teamwork looks like. 'In those small towns, everybody has your back,' his sister, Patti, says. 'They recently had huge hailstorms in Yuma that wiped out crops and caused a lot of damage. And everybody helped one another clean up and get things in order.' Jason and Patti's father, Ron, struggled with alcoholism, which sometimes led to financial issues. Their mom, Karen, was a teacher and the family adhesive. Ron was a dreamer, always thinking beyond the horizon. He started a landscaping business, then a business for irrigation systems, then one that built garages. In good ways, Jason is like his father, who found sobriety when Jason was in sixth grade. Jason is a people person, which led to his ambition of being a small-town doctor. He liked the idea of being rooted in a community and having close relationships with many. Advertisement His family had Nebraska season tickets since before Jason was born, so he went there as a football walk-on. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne remembers taking a chance on Licht because he was willing to work and capable of picking up assignments quickly. By Licht's second season, he was playing guard in mop-up time. Ron drove 12 hours round-trip to Lincoln on every game day, even when he was sure his son never would get a snap. Jason wondered why he didn't stay overnight at a hotel. He found out later that his dad didn't have the money and was paying for gas to make the trip with silver dollars from a collection he had kept for decades. It was obvious Jason didn't have anywhere near the size and ability of starters Will Shields, who later won the Outland Trophy, and Brendan Stai, a future NFL starter, so he transferred to nearby Division III Nebraska Wesleyan. As it often does, the walk-on experience left an imprint. 'Having gone through that, if I lost everything today and had to start at the bottom, just roll up my sleeves and go to work, I probably wouldn't fear that as much as most people,' he says. At Wesleyan, he moved to defensive tackle and was named all-conference twice before graduating with a degree in pre-med/biology. But by then, he no longer wanted to be a doctor. Football had a hold of him. For a while, he worked for his father and tended bar. Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride liked Licht and recommended him for an internship with the Dolphins. After Licht interviewed, a couple of months passed. A job offer came from an insurance company for $35,000 a year. Then the Dolphins offered the internship that paid $6,000 a year. Licht was resigned to taking the insurance job. Until he talked to his father. 'Don't settle on money,' father told son. 'Follow your dream.' Advertisement Ron cashed in more silver dollars so Jason had money to get to Miami. That internship led to jobs with the Dolphins, Panthers, Patriots, Eagles, Cardinals, the Patriots again and the Cardinals again. In those years, he worked with coaching giants and learned more about character. From his time with Jimmy Johnson, Licht came to understand that if he could reason with a person, he had a chance. Bill Belichick taught him how to distinguish between a bad guy and an immature one. The lesson from Andy Reid: just because someone veered once doesn't necessarily mean he will do it again. Of course, Licht already understood that people can get out of a skid because he saw his father do it. The first pick he made with the Bucs in 2014, wide receiver Mike Evans, verified the importance of emphasizing character. Evans has had 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, tied for an NFL record. Moreover, his selflessness, coachability, intensity and community servantship have set the standard for every Buc who followed. 'The perfect pick,' Licht calls him. The next year, the Bucs had the first pick in the draft and needed a quarterback to get the ball to Evans. Jameis Winston, who had a Heisman Trophy and national championship on his resume, was in many ways the logical choice. But Winston had been investigated for sexual assault, and details were murky. Licht did his research. Then he asked his wife, Blair, to meet with Winston. Blair came with one of their three children, Theo, who was about 16 months old. Theo was fussing. Winston took Theo from Blair, played with him and comforted him. Theo stopped crying. Winston connected with Blair, too. 'I really loved Jameis,' says Blair, who remains a sounding board for her husband on football matters 19 years into their marriage. 'So after that and a lot of discussions with his scouts and owners, Jason felt more comfortable making the decision.' Advertisement Her husband didn't always get it right with character, however. In his first year, he signed offensive tackle Anthony Collins and defensive end Michael Johnson as free agents. Neither justified their contracts, and both were cut after one season. 'I would say they had a passion problem,' Licht says. In the draft that year, he regrettably chose tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the second round. The Bucs cut him at the start of his third season after he was arrested for driving under the influence for the second time. Vernon Hargreaves was the team's first-round pick in 2016. The cornerback coasted through his first three seasons before Bruce Arians benched him for what the coach said was a lack of hustle. The Bucs released him two days later. 'He just didn't want to be part of a team,' Licht says. In March 2017, Licht took a chance on dazzling but challenging wideout DeSean Jackson in free agency. He didn't blend with the quarterback or his coaches, and the waves he created didn't justify the production. 'The me now would never sign DeSean Jackson,' says Licht, who traded him after two years. In hindsight, Licht believes he was fooled in 2019 when he chose linebacker Devin White in the first round. White was a starter for the better part of five years for the Bucs but eventually was let go. He's with his third team since. 'Knowing what I know now, he would have been off my board,' Licht says. 'It was too much about him.' By the time he chose White, Licht had been with the Bucs five years and had a record of 27-53. He hadn't yet gone under but could feel the pull of the undertow. Licht thought he might be replaced with a new GM. Instead, he became one. That year, Licht studied his misses and identified the whys. He pondered the careers of Bucs greats such as Mike Alstott, John Lynch, Warren Sapp and Ronde Barber, who has become his close friend. Then he studied successful players he had been associated with on other teams, such as Brian Dawkins, Rob Gronkowski, Brian Westbrook and Mike Vrabel. Advertisement Each was the kind of teammate who brought out the best in others. They were all accountable, competitive, confident, passionate and resilient — those were the qualities Licht and his staff would be unbending about moving forward. Licht, who signed a contract extension earlier this summer, believes his 2025 roster is devoid of players who don't fit the mold he and his staff created in 2019. Since then, his record is 58-42 with five playoff appearances in six years. Walter's Press Box Sports Emporium, aka The Press Box, opened in 1978 down the street from where the Bucs played, and these days is either showing its age or its character, depending on perspective. It's the kind of sports bar found in many cities, with beer bucket specials and 40 Stephen A. Smiths screaming in high def. The Press Box is Licht's second office. Licht orders a Blue Moon and a basket of wings — during happy hour, wings cost $1 a piece — while presiding over staff meetings there on weeknights, though Blair suspects he goes mostly to play Golden Tee. In his defense, Licht was in The Press Box with his lieutenants eight years ago when the Bucs agreed to a contract with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. At some of his Press box gatherings, Licht has invited Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper and his staff. They do more than watch games. 'I've talked to him in depth about what he values in players, and it's very similar to what I value,' Cooper says. 'It comes down to a lot of team dynamics, and it's not so much about the guy that runs the fastest or jumps the highest. There's a bigger component of piecing all of that together, and I think Jason is a master at that.' Licht is tight with other team builders, including Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who introduced Licht to Blair, Seahawks general manager John Schneider and former right-hand man John Spytek, now in charge of the Raiders. Advertisement But you don't have to be a big shot to be his buddy. At every game during the Bucs' Super Bowl season, he wore a Metallica T-shirt under his suit jacket and dress shirt. So when Metallica came to Raymond James Stadium in June, Licht had every seat accounted for in his suite as well as the suite belonging to coach Todd Bowles, which Bowles graciously donated and catered. Among Licht's many guests were Cooper, his closest friend from Yuma, his closest friend from college, a Bucs chiropractor, a Bucs video director and his son, a team flight attendant and her husband, and Licht's three barbers, distinguishable by their tattoos and ear gauges. Before the stadium began shaking, Licht was atingle about meeting Metallica frontman James Hetfield in the tunnel leading to the field. 'I was so afraid of what I was going to say to him,' Licht says. 'I mean, there's Michael Jordan, James Hetfield, God …' which deftly delivers Bucs news and opinions, sometimes with a wink, often has referred to Licht as the 'AC/DC-loving general manager.' It's a title he chuckles about. 'The thing that stands out about him is he isn't afraid to laugh at himself,' says Bucs vice president of player personnel Mike Biehl, who came to the Bucs with Licht and was with him for the concert. 'He's just a good guy at his core, and I think that kind of bleeds into everything that we try to do here as a staff.' Licht posted photos of the Metallica experience on Instagram. He also posts pictures of Blair and their kids, Charlie, 16, Zoe, 14, and Theo, 11. The Licht family eats dinner together most nights, even if it isn't until 7:30. Sometimes, the kids use the opportunity to give their father football advice. Licht gives each of his children exclusive daddy time. He plays golf with Charlie. He takes Zoe to Starbucks before every game. And he caddies for Theo. Advertisement They enjoy going through his vintage card collection, which includes thousands of cards — there's Wilt Chamberlain, Hank Aaron and rookie Joe Montana. The collection belonged to Jason's father, who gifted it to his son before he died in 2019 as a way to repay the financial help Jason had given him. It wasn't necessary. His father had already given him so much. If not for Ron's encouragement, Jason might be in the insurance business. His passion is player evaluation, and he tries to find time for it every day, watching tape in breaks between practices, meetings, negotiations and fire calls. Licht is always looking for that player who would rather be doing nothing other than what he's doing. Whether or not he sees it that way, he's always looking for that player who might be a little like Jason Licht. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle

Patriots training camp: What we know (and don't know) ahead of preseason trip to Minnesota
Patriots training camp: What we know (and don't know) ahead of preseason trip to Minnesota

New York Times

time28 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Patriots training camp: What we know (and don't know) ahead of preseason trip to Minnesota

FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots spent much of Monday prepping for a couple of joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings. The scout-team defense wore jersey numbers to reflect the Vikings' top players (like safety Harrison Smith) so Drake Maye and others can anticipate what's awaiting them. Advertisement That's because, in Minnesota, this Patriots offense will face its toughest and likely most revealing few days before the season begins. Brian Flores' defense is hard to read and effective. It makes life awfully difficult for offensive lines and quarterbacks, so it'll be revealing to see how the Patriots handle it. The last couple of practices weren't great for the offense. They struggled to move the ball both Sunday and Monday. Now, as they prepare for the joint practices that loom during the most important week of training camp, let's take stock of what we know about the Patriots so far — and what we still don't know. Over the last two weeks, it has become clear how the Patriots plan to roll out their new-look offensive line. From left to right, they'll go Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses. The competition at left guard was quickly won by Wilson. Bradbury has fended off any challenges to his job as Maye's starting center. So this group seems pretty set. That gives the Patriots four new starters from last year's offensive line with Onwenu as the lone holdover, though he's back to his more comfortable right guard spot after mostly playing right tackle a year ago. Behind the scenes, coaches have expressed a lot of confidence and optimism in what they have on the O-line. They've been impressed by what Moses has brought both on the field and in helping younger players off the field. They've been blown away by how quickly Wilson has grasped the system. And they're happy with the positive moments Campbell has provided, including a pancake block in the preseason opener. Still, I'm a bit skeptical about two rookies next to each other protecting Maye's blind side. And how Bradbury is going to hold up at center. The offensive line can't be any worse than last year. I just think they're going to have ups and downs and probably end up as, say, the 20th-best unit in the league. DeMario Douglas has been awesome this training camp. He's everywhere and a frequent target of Maye. Add to that Stefon Diggs — who doesn't look like a guy in his 30s, only nine months removed from an ACL tear — and the Patriots have a pair of receivers they can trust. Douglas seems like the perfect shifty slot receiver to thrive in Josh McDaniels' offense. Diggs, even if he's no longer in his prime, is still a good route runner. Advertisement The optimistic view is that several different receivers have had nice days that make you think they could be the Patriots' No. 3 receiver. But the pessimistic view is that none have stepped up to claim that role in no-doubt fashion. Mack Hollins is a possession receiver with size they otherwise lack. Kayshon Boutte has been solid and can play a lot of different roles. Kyle Williams has deep-threat upside. But so far, it's not clear which of those three deserves to be the No. 3 option. The scramble for a touchdown in the preseason game was impressive. A couple of his deep balls in practice look effortless (even if they're not always caught). .@DrakeMaye2 takes it himself! 📺: WBZ — New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 8, 2025 With Maye, the physical traits are obvious. You watch him practice, and he seems like a sure thing to be a good NFL quarterback. And yet … After he had the worst supporting cast of any rookie quarterback last season, plenty anticipate a major leap for Maye. And it could happen. But I wouldn't say that training camp has been so good for Maye that he's ready to make a jump into the top-10 (or even 15) quarterbacks this season. I'm still very bullish on Maye long term. But this offensive line is going to hit some bumps in the road, and the wide receiver situation could get bleak if Diggs or Douglas gets hurt or Williams doesn't develop. Drake Maye Patriots Based on the last two practices, Kyle Dugger is a backup safety on this team. Marte Mapu probably won't make the final roster. Jahlani Tavai is a bubble player. Same for Anfernee Jennings. We know Vrabel overhauled the roster in the offseason and didn't keep many players from last year's unit. But a few weeks into camp, a few more holdovers are losing playing time — and might not make the team at all. Advertisement There have been some impressive showings from K'Lavon Chaisson and Keion White as outside pass rushers. But I'm excited to see how they look against Vikings tackle Brian O'Neill during joint practices. That should let us know if they're really headed for breakout seasons — or if they've just benefited from going against the Patriots O-line. It looked that way before Friday's preseason opener, but now there's no getting around it. A team that has had such little explosiveness on offense finally has a player who can break through for a big gain even when everything else feels stuck in the mud. That should make a big difference this season and might make Henderson the most exciting player to watch on offense. THE FIRST TIME HE TOUCHED THE BALL IN THE NFL!!!!@TreVeyonH4 | @NFL 📺: WBZ — New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 8, 2025 I'm confident at this point that Henderson will get half of the running back snaps this season. But Vrabel has publicly backed Rhamondre Stevenson several times and seems inclined to at least try out a running back committee. But if Henderson keeps playing like this (and if Stevenson's ball security continues to be an issue), that could change in a hurry. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle

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