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USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPYS 2025: Saquon Barkley's iconic hurdle wins best play
It was one of the most memorable plays of the 2024 NFL season. It left Pro Bowl wide receivers and a Super Bowl-winning coach in awe. It will grace the cover of the newest Madden NFL video game. Saquon Barkley's hurdle now has another accolade: ESPY Award winner. The annual sports awards show gave Barkley's incredible feat against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9 of last season the "Best Play" award. The Philadelphia Eagles running back flew like an eagle on the play, reverse hurdling over Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones to convert a third-and-six in the second quarter. Philadelphia ended up winning the game 28-23 thanks in no small part to Barkley's 199 total yards (159 rushing, 40 receiving) and two touchdowns. It was one of his six games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns but that play stood out to his teammates and coach. "It was the best play I've ever seen," Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said after the game. "What I think is so cool, there's going to be kids all over the country and all over Philadelphia trying to make that play and talking about that play and simulating that play as they play backyard football or peewee football. They ain't going to be able to make it – I believe he's the only one in the world that can do that. I'm speechless. It was unbelievable." "Crazy," Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith said. "I ain't never seen nothing like it." The ESPYS certainly agreed. It was an iconic play in an incredible season for the former No. 2 overall pick. Barkley signed with the Super Bowl champion Eagles last offseason following six years with the New York Giants. He led the league in carries (345) and rushing yards (2,005) and tallied 15 total touchdowns. That was good enough for first-team All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Fox Sports
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Belichick Fires Back At Kraft For Saying Patriots Took 'Big Risk' In Hiring Him
Bill Belichick is pushing back on some recent comments made by Robert Kraft. After the Patriots' owner said that he took a "big risk" in hiring Belichick to be the team's head coach in 2000, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach believes he also took a big risk in accepting an offer to become the team's head coach. "As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick told ESPN. "I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable." The Patriots went through an unconventional process to hire Belichick in 2000. When they requested that the Jets allow them to interview Belichick that offseason, Bill Parcells stepped down from his post as New York's head coach and named the then-assistant head coach and defensive coordinator as his successor. However, Belichick resigned as the Jets' head coach a day later and eventually agreed to a deal to become the Patriots' head coach, but New England had to surrender a first-round pick to New York. Due to the compensation, along with Belichick's 36-44 record in his five seasons as the Cleveland Browns' head coach, Kraft recently told the "Dudes on Dudes" podcast (hosted by former Patriots stars Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski) that hiring Belichick was his most "questioned" decision since he became the team's owner in 1994. But he also mentioned Belichick's hiring when asked what his best decision has been as the Patriots' owner. "I gave up a No. 1 draft pick for a coach that had only won a little over 40% of his games to get him out," Kraft said on the podcast, which was filmed at "Fanatics Fest" in New York last month. "I don't know if there are any Jets fans here. I think getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston area, but he was with us for 24 years. "And we did OK," Kraft joked. While the Patriots won their first of six Super Bowls in Belichick's second season with the team, New England's former head coach indicated that New York was in a stronger on-field position at the time of his hiring in 2000. "The Jets were a solid team after three years of rebuilding under Bill Parcells, which included an AFC Championship Game appearance in [January] 1999," Belichick told ESPN. "Meanwhile, the Patriots Organization had dismantled their 1996 AFC Championship team and became one of the worst in the AFC. It didn't help that they were $10 million over the cap heading into my first season as Head Coach in 2000." Even though Belichick and Kraft enjoyed unprecedented success in their 24 years together, there has been some tension between the two since the head coach was let go in January 2024. In the Apple TV+ docuseries "The Dynasty," which covered the Patriots' dynasty run, Kraft called Belichick a "pain in the tush." Many also believed that the docuseries painted Kraft in a positive light, with former players criticizing it for being too negative on Belichick. In that same offseason, ESPN reported that Kraft warned Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank "not to trust" Belichick when the team was interviewing the former Patriots head coach for the same role. Adding to the tension, Kraft told "The Breakfast Club" in October 2024 that he had fired Belichick. Before that admission, the team had said that Kraft and Belichick mutually agreed to part ways. Belichick, who has since been hired by North Carolina to become its head coach, has largely avoided directly addressing Kraft's remarks since he was let go as head coach of the Patriots. He hasn't publicly commented on the report that Kraft influenced the Falcons not to hire him. But he made a joke about how he was portrayed in "The Dynasty" during the Roast of Tom Brady in May 2024 and has questioned Kraft's claim that the Patriots fired him. "It was a mutual decision for us to part ways," Belichick told CBS News in April. Belichick also snubbed Kraft in his recent book, "The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football," failing to mention his former boss once in the book's 289 pages and acknowledgements. "It's about my life lessons in football and it's really more about the ones that I experienced directly," Belichick said on why Kraft wasn't mentioned in the book in his interview with CBS News. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bill Belichick comes back swinging in response to Robert Kraft comment
Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick clearly had no intention of letting Patriots owner Robert Kraft's "big risk" comment slide. When appearing on the Dudes on Dudes podcast, Kraft claimed that hiring Belichick was his greatest move as an owner. However, he also noted that it was a big risk giving up a first-round draft pick for a coach who "won a little over 40 percent of his games in 1999." Belichick provided a response to ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr., with the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach contesting that he was the one who took the big risk. "As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick said. "I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable." Belichick infamously wrote his resignation letter on a napkin after spending one day as the Jets' head coach. He viewed the Jets' football team as a solid situation, but it wasn't enough to cure his concerns for the ownership issues in New York at the time. The legendary coach claimed he was told beforehand that the job in New England had its own internal issues as well. "I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots' coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles," Belichick said. "I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success." Belichick would go on to lead the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles, nine AFC Championship victories and 17 divisional titles. Kraft ultimately made the decision to move on from Belichick as the Patriots' head coach in January 2024, after the team suffered back-to-back losing seasons and a 4-13 record in 2023. It brought an end to a 24-year working relationship responsible for turning the Patriots into a historically great franchise. "I appreciated Robert giving me the opportunity to make those changes and build a program that was consistent with my vision for a championship team," Belichick told ESPN, per Van Natta Jr. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
6 reasons for optimism as the Philadelphia Eagles enter training camp
Philadelphia rookies and veterans will report for training camp on July 22, and we're examining six reasons why the Eagles should be optimistic about the 2025 NFL season After months of waiting, the Eagles will get their Super Bowl rings on Friday night for one final celebration, before the team gathers one week from Tuesday for the start of training camp at the NovaCare Complex. Howie Roseman has retooled both sides of the football, and a defense that saw seven starters depart could be just as dominant, depending on several roster competitions. Philadelphia rookies and veterans will report for training camp on July 22, and we're examining six reasons why the Eagles should be optimistic about the 2025 NFL season. 1. DC Vic Fangio A retooled defense would normally face some reservations about taking a step back in production, but most defensive units don't employ a coordinator like Vic Fangio. In his first season with the Eagles, Philadelphia (278.4 ypg) led the league in total defense for the seventh time in team history, having previously accomplished the feat in 1991, 1981, 1953, 1949, 1945, and 1944 (excludes the 1943 Steagles). Philadelphia ranked 1st in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (174.2) for the second time in the last three years (also 2022, 179.8). Furthermore, the Eagles finished with the NFL lead in defensive points allowed per game (16.9 — their best figure since 15.8 in 2008), opponent three-and-out percentage (39.0%), and FFs (18, tied). 2. HC Nick Sirianni Jalen Hurts will have another offensive coordinator, and the Eagles will face every team's best shot, but a Super Bowl-winning head coach adds calm to a 2025 squad looking to repeat. Sirianni is battle-tested and has faced every scenario imaginable, having led Philadelphia to the postseason in four consecutive seasons. According to Elias Sports, Sirianni (.706, 48-20) owns the 3rd-highest regular-season winning percentage by a head coach in the Super BowlEra (min. 50 games), trailing only John Madden (.759, 1969-78) and George Allen (.712, 1966-77). Overall, it is the 6th-highest mark in NFL history, behind Guy Chamberlin (.784, 1922-27), Madden, Vince Lombardi (.738, 1959-67, '69), Ray Flaherty (.720, 1936-42), and Allen. 3. Eagles' offensive line The Eagles have studs at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end, but the overall team success starts and ends with a dominating offensive line. Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson are among the two highest-graded offensive tackles in the NFL, and both are All-Pros, while left guard Landon Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens are Pro Bowlers. The right guard position is the only weakness, but this dominant union provides comfort for the entire offense. 4. DT Jalen Carter We talked about Philadelphia having studs at all three levels, and Carter is among the top three players at his position. The third-year defensive tackle has improved leaps and bounds each year, and could very well reset the market for all non-quarterbacks with another huge season. After earning All-Rookie Team honors, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft had 42 tackles, 12 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 61 combined QB hits and pressures, five pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. Carter performed at a high level despite playing 80 percent of the defensive snaps, up from 48 percent as a rookie. 5. DeJean and Mitchell DeJean was among the highest-rated players in the slot, holding opponents to 50 receptions. He had five pass breakups, and quarterbacks had an 82.2 passer rating against him. Mitchell ranked 3rd among NFL CBs with 16 forced incompletions, trailing only Zyon McCollum (17) and Denzel Ward (17). He was 3rd among CBs in yards allowed per coverage snap (0.8) behind Pat Surtain (0.6) and Derek Stingley (0.7) (min. 600 coverage snaps). Even with the loss of Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Isaiah Rodgers, and others, Philadelphia can be optimistic about having two Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists in their secondary. 6. Zack Baun An outstanding inside linebacker can erase a ton of mistakes and make a defense elite, and that's precisely what Zack Baun did for the Eagles in 2024. Signed to a one-year deal with the idea that he'd add versatility as a pass rusher and linebacker, Baun earned All-Pro honors, and was a finalist for AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Zack Baun was thehighest-graded LB (90.1) by PFF in the regular season, producing 150 tackles and five forced fumbles (2nd in the NFL, behind T.J. Watt – 6). In the playoffs, Baun became the second NFL linebacker since 1991 to generate takeaways in each of their first four career postseason starts (Devin White in 2020), which included a diving interception of Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX. Baun returns after agreeing to a contract extension, and his presence gives a retooled defense a stud performer at all three levels.
Fox News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Texas star Arch Manning calls staying with Longhorns 'a no-brainer' despite transfer speculation
Arch Manning was a huge draw at SEC Media Days last season, but now that he's officially the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, the attention was even greater on Tuesday. However, this is what Manning wanted, at least in terms of where he's playing football. The nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, as well as the grandson of New Orleans Saints legend Archie Manning, explained how transferring out of the Longhorns program was never a thought process for him. "I think the main thing was I wanted to be at the University of Texas," Manning said, via On3 Sports. "There's nowhere else I wanted to be, whether it was the school itself, Austin, my friends, the football program. So, as long as I was continuing to get better at football and like where I was at, it was a no-brainer for me to stay." When Quinn Ewers returned for the 2024 college football season instead of entering the NFL Draft, it was speculated that Manning would head elsewhere so he could start. Instead, he stayed put to back up Ewers once more, and he was needed for 10 games this season due to his teammate getting injured. Manning threw for 939 yards with nine passing touchdowns and two interceptions over that span, completing 67.8% of his passes. He also showed off some wheels when he had to tuck and run, rushing for 108 yards on 25 carries with four touchdowns as well. Now, Manning knows he has the keys to head coach Steve Sarkisian's offense, and it's time to showcase what he can really do when he's starting on a consistent basis. The hype around Manning is nothing new, though. Coming up as a top prospect at Isidore Newman School, the same as his father Cooper and his uncles, Manning has dealt with the national spotlight, and in turn, the comparisons to his family members. Peyton recently spoke on "The Pat McAfee Show" about his nephew, where he said that himself and Eli are surely resources for him. However, he knows Arch wants to make a name for himself, and his father has done a fantastic job helping him get to this point as well. "You know Pat, Eli and I are his uncles," Peyton said to McAfee. "We try to be there as a resource for him, but Cooper has done a great job with Arch, and they've handled all the different things that have kind of come their way in the right way. I'm excited to watch Arch play. He's been very patient. I thought he threw the ball really well at the camp." Peyton also touched on how he liked seeing his nephew stay at Texas and learn over the last two seasons. "He's been patient," Peyton explained. "It's been well-documented, he's been there two years. I'm such a believer in mastering the system that you're in. When you have new coordinators every single year in the NFL and college, that's just frustrating to me. I was lucky. … The fact that Sarkisian calls the plays and Arch has been there for two years already and is going to know the system, that's going to be a huge advantage for him. "I'm looking forward to seeing him get out on the field. He's worked real hard. I love seeing him go to that camp for his teammates. That's being a good teammate. That's being a good wingman. I'm excited to get down there and watch a few games in Austin." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
