Sports
Derek Carr Wrecking New Orleans Saints, Time For QB Upgrade in NOLA
Derek Carr is the starting QB for the New Orleans Saints. PHOTO USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES Life was nothing but good for the New Orleans Saints after they opened the season with a 47-10 drubbing of the Carolina Panthers ahead of a trip to Arlington, Texas, that saw them beat the Dallas Cowboys 44-19.
What a difference seven weeks can make.
Nothing has gone right for New Orleans since it left the Lone Star State, as the Saints have dropped all seven of their games since topping Dallas. They most recently fell 23-22 to Carolina on Sunday, a setback that may have single-handedly crushed any hope of turning things around.
A horrific pass from New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr put wide receiver Chris Olave in a dangerous spot on Sunday, and Olave paid the price, getting sandwiched between two Panthers defenders.
Olave was put onto a board and had to be carted off the field.
Carr deservedly got reamed on social media following the play, with former Saints wideout Michael Thomas among those criticizing the 33-year-old signal-caller the most.
“Dude scary and panic and just throw the ball. Get him the f out of here he so a–,” Thomas wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
It didn’t stop there.
Thomas reposted three tweets bashing Carr—and it could be even more by the time you read this—doing so after posting a video of him speaking with someone who appears to be a parking lot attendant of sorts.
“Tell me about Derek Carr, man,” Thomas said in the video.
After Thomas’ new friend makes it clear that he isn’t a fan of Carr by stating that “he doesn’t know how to play” before going on to do an imitation of him being scared in the pocket, Thomas gave some credit where credit was due in his eyes.
“Man, that’s crazy you know that,” Thomas told the man. “You smart, you get my respect.”
Not that we’re suggesting the stranger in Thomas’ video deserves a front-office position, but he couldn’t be more correct. New Orleans needs to make a permanent change under center.
Rookie Spencer Rattler, a fifth-round draft selection, has already gotten some experience under his belt this season. He made three starts for the Saints and completed only 59.6 percent of his passes for 571 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Although Rattler didn’t necessarily turn heads, you’d have to imagine anything is better than sending Carr out there for another week.
And if New Orleans is going to make a change, it has to do so right now. At 2-7, the Saints are tied with Carolina at the bottom of the NFC South with a Week 10 battle against the division-leading Atlanta Falcons (6-3) looming.
There’s virtually no margin for error for New Orleans from here on out, and it’s evident that Carr is not going to be the guy to help the Saints dust themselves off.
Sports
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).
Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.
In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.
Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.
“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram initially was listed as questionable to play due to right heel inflammation. He was downgraded to doubtful when the NBA released its official injury report early in the afternoon.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Less than 24 hours after taking a fastball to the helmet, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was penciled into the starting lineup for the Astros’ series finale on Sunday at Boston.
Facing an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, Walker was drilled over his left eye by a 93.3 mph fastball on Saturday that broke his helmet and sent the biggest piece flying 10 feet toward the backstop.
With the Astros leading 6-3 in the ninth, they took precautionary measures and removed Walker in favor of pinch runner Brandon Shewmake.
“I feel OK,” Walker told reporters afterward. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”
Clearly Walker felt good enough to fill the cleanup spot for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox. Walker has appeared in every game this year for the Astros — starting all but one — and the 35-year-old has been producing some career numbers.
His .309 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage all represent career bests. He has delivered eight homers and 26 RBIs through 34 games, which put him on pace for a career-high 38 homers and 124 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
