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Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Receiver Courtland Sutton agrees to 4-year, $92 million extension with Broncos, AP source says
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has reached agreement on a four-year, $92 million extension, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the deal that runs through the 2029 season and averages $23 million and includes $41 million in guarantees. Sutton has had his best two seasons of his eight-year NFL career under coach Sean Payton, who arrived in Denver in 2023. Sutton caught a career-best 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns last season, his first 1,000-yard campaign since 2019. He had a career-high 10 TD catches the year before. Sutton, who turns 30 this season, will earn an average of $23 million in his new deal, much more in line with upper-echelon wide receivers across the NFL. His last deal included a $14 million salary for its final year in 2025. Sutton has been a limited participant in training camp as his agency and the Broncos negotiated the new contract. After the team's first full-padded practice Monday, Payton said, 'Well, he's gotten reps. He's gotten limited reps. And I think we're… real close on the contract.' Payton expressed no concern that Sutton hasn't had his full complement of snaps so far with second-year quarterback Bo Nix. 'Not with a veteran like Courtland,' Payton said. 'He's real smart. Here's the deal: he's been participating in all the individual, all the 1-on-1; he's gotten 7-on-7 work; he's gotten team reps. He's just being smart. It would be different if you felt like he was missing improvement or not being out here or just being out here riding the bike or something. I kind of know that player well enough to feel real good about where he's at and his mindset both mentally and physically.' Other veterans who are angling for new deals this summer include defensive lineman Zach Allen and rising star linebacker Nik Bonitto. Notes: Payton said ILB Drew Sanders will be out an estimated six weeks after tearing a ligament in his right foot at practice Saturday. 'The news for us was good news in that it's a ligament in his foot and not a tendon,' Payton said. 'The ligament repair is a much easier one than that of a tendon.' Payton said Sanders hasn't decided yet whether to have surgery or let the ligament heal on its own. Sanders missed most of last season after tearing his left Achilles tendon in the offseason.
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Clemson's Dabo Swinney rooting for Hunter Renfrow as he attempts nfl comeback with panthers
Hunter Renfrow remembers being cut by the Las Vegas Raiders on March 13, 2024, and not even caring all that much. He had no desire to play football. Physically, he felt awful. He'd lost 35 pounds, went a week with a 103-degree fever, and was completely zapped of the energy and fire he was once known to bring to the football field. Running routes, catching passes, and being blasted by defensive backs was the last thing on his mind. But after being diagnosed with a severe case of ulcerative colitis–a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine and rectum–the 2021 Pro Bowler is now feeling like himself again. He's trying to make an NFL comeback with the Carolina Panthers, the team he rooted for as a kid growing up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dabo Swinney, his college coach at Clemson, believes if anyone can make it back, it's Renfrow. 'You're playing football at the highest level, and he just couldn't eat,' Swinney said. 'It affected him, and he was really done (with football). I didn't think he was gonna play again.' Neither did Renfrow. 'I was like, 'I'm never playing a football again,'' Renfroe said. 'Like when you feel like that, you feel like you're letting your teammates down.' Renfrow's problems surfaced late in the 2021 season, in which he caught a career-high 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. He noticed his energy level had dropped off significantly, and he could never seem to get it all the way back, even after taking a month off to prep for his first Pro Bowl appearance. The Raiders rewarded Renfrow with a two-year, $32 million contract extension that offseason, but he never came close to reaching that level of production again. He caught just 36 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns in 2022, and 25 passes for 255 yards and no touchdowns in 2023, leading to his release. But after several hospital visits and a referral to a Charlotte-area pediatrician, Renfrow finally received a diagnosis. He began receiving treatment, started a new diet, and saw his appetite return. By September, he'd put back on the 35 pounds he'd lost, and then some. His energy returned. He played pickleball, basketball, and golf, and the competitive juices began to return. As the 2024 NFL season went out without him, Renfrow privately began discussing a possible comeback with Swinney, who has remained a close friend and father figure. 'I was like, 'Hunter, listen, you know you're gonna be 40 one day,'' Swinney said. 'So if you got more left in you ...' In January, Renfrow took Swinney's advice and began to work his way back into football shape. He asked his agent if the Panthers might be interested in giving him a workout. They were, and that ultimately led to a one-year, $1.22 million contract that included a modest $50,000 signing bonus. It was a no-lose proposition for the Panthers. But if Monday is any indication, Renfrow might just be a solid under-the-radar free agent addition for the Panthers. With Swinney observing from the Panthers' sideline as a guest of coach Dave Canales, the 5-foot-10 Renfrow made two impressive catches reminiscent of the player who went from walk-on to catching the game-winning touchdown pass with 1 second remaining in Clemson's dramatic 35-31 win over Alabama in the national championship game in the 2016 season. Renfrow said he feels appreciative as he continues pushing toward something special. While the unimposing Renfrow may look like an ordinary guy off the field, Swinney said that when he puts on the pads, he turns into Superman. 'He catches it. He makes plays,' Swinney said. 'He understands the leverage and influence and route-running and break points and how to set things up and how to play with his hands at full speed. And he's just got elite change of direction. ... But he's a little guy that plays really big and is really crafty. Just his ability to separate and change direction–that's hard to find.' Renfrow is no lock to make the Panthers' roster. The Panthers have upgraded their wide receiver position in recent years, drafting Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan in the first round in 2024 and 2025, respectively. They also have veteran wide receivers Adam Thielen and David Moore, and the team remains high on last year's surprise undrafted rookie standout Jalen Coker. But Canales likes what he's seen so far from Renfrow. 'He looks like the Hunter that I remember,' Canales said. Canales said Renfrow began to show a burst during the teams' OTAs in the spring, and he's been pleased with his development ever since, citing the five-year NFL veteran's knowledge of coverages and leverages and ability to attack defenses. The next month will go a long way toward determining whether Renfrow is able to make it all the way back. Either way, at least he has his health. 'I'm just pulling for him,' Swinney said. 'He's having fun again. He's 29, and so I'm just happy that he's back out here. If he stays healthy, he'll do what Renfrow does. That's just who he is.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia's PIF Tops Global Sovereign Wealth Funds in Brand Value for 2nd Consecutive Year
Brand Finance, a leading global brand valuation consultancy, announced on Monday that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has once again topped the list of the world's most valuable and fastest-growing sovereign wealth funds for 2025, with a brand value of $1.2 billion, reflecting an 11% increase compared to 2024. According to Brand Finance's annual report, which evaluates the largest sovereign wealth funds and asset management brands, PIF earned an A+ rating for brand strength and ranked second globally with a score of 62.9. It also placed seventh in brand value relative to assets under management (AUM), standing out as the only sovereign wealth fund among the top 10 on this index. The report highlighted PIF's brand as the fastest-growing among global sovereign wealth funds in 2025, attributing this growth to several key achievements. These include the consistent expansion of its AUM, driven by the strong performance of Saudi companies and the maturation of projects aligned with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Furthermore, the fund's proactive efforts to raise awareness of its initiatives and its unwavering commitment to sustainable growth and impact have bolstered its brand performance. Brand valuation encompasses assessing the effectiveness of brand performance and its influence on stakeholder behavior and financial outcomes, both directly and indirectly. This includes attracting investors and securing funding, recruiting and retaining talent, and generating positive media coverage. Brand Finance Chairman and CEO David Haigh underlined the significant role of impact investments in boosting brand awareness and reputation, particularly on the international sports stage. He stated that the PIF stands out through several notable examples, most prominently through its investment in Newcastle United, transforming the club into a competitive, title-winning team. Additionally, the fund's sponsorships in globally renowned sports such as golf, tennis, and electric motor racing further elevate its brand presence. The PIF focuses on pursuing its strategic goals to drive positive economic impact within the Kingdom and ensure sustainable returns. It is recognized as one of the world's most influential investors and actively fosters new sectors and opportunities that shape the global economy while accelerating economic transformation in Saudi Arabia. According to a Global SWF report, the fund jointly ranked first worldwide for compliance and performance in governance, sustainability, and resilience (GSR) standards, achieving a 100% compliance rate by 2025 among 200 sovereign investors. It holds an Aa3 credit rating with a stable outlook from Moody's and an A+ rating with a stable outlook from Fitch Ratings, underscoring its strong financial standing.
