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Raiders GM keeping Maxx Crosby, eager to meet with Fernando Mendoza

NFL: Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Klint Kubiak Introductory Press ConferenceFeb 10, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek at press conference at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek is spinning a lot of plates at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, where the franchise gets a first-hand look at 319 candidates to be the No. 1 pick in the draft.

The Raiders haven’t had the No. 1 pick since 2007 when they selected LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

What is Spytek looking for as the Raiders rebuild a roster that finished a league-worst 3-14 in 2026?

“All of it. We won three games last year,” Spytek said. “We’ve got to be super honest with where we’re at. We’ve got a lot of needs to address and a lot of capital to do it.”

Spytek shot down reports the Raiders are leaning toward trading 29-year-old defensive end Maxx Crosby. Crosby was disgruntled at the end of the regular season when the Raiders held him out because he was banged up. Crosby considered himself healthy.

After a coaching change with Klint Kubiak replacing Pete Carroll, Spytek said Tuesday he is confident Crosby will not be traded.

“I am. Maxx is an elite player and I’ve been very up front from the start when I got here. It’s hard to build a great team without elite players. Maxx and I have a great relationship. We talk all the time. We text, talk on the phone. He’s in the building everyday.”

The Raiders also are not “shopping” the No. 1 pick in the draft. But Spytek said he learned from his time with Howie Roseman in Philadelphia and Jason Licht in Tampa Bay that “you always listen.”

Without specifically naming Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Spytek said the Raiders are interested in quarterbacks who have “passion, humility and prepare for the game the right way.” He was in-person for multiple Indiana games in 2025 and attended the national championship game. NFL personnel is not allowed to talk to college players, so Spytek is interested in learning more about Mendoza and the other quarterbacks in the 2026 draft class.

“How they are going to handle the pressure of being 1 of 32 in the world,” Spytek said of the most critical evaluation of the position. “To us it’s about how much can they process, how hard do they work, how much do they remember.”

Spytek said he’s “not necessarily in favor of running out” a rookie quarterback right away. Having a veteran — Geno Smith is under contract, Kenny Pickett is a free agent — sounding board who might play ahead of the prized passer is a priority. He said the 18-minute formal interviews this week at the combine will be important to determine “leadership traits, humility” but later sessions with prospects are more vital in making his final decision.

He’s also willing to lean on minority owner Tom Brady, who is playing a significant role in shaping the rebuild of the Raiders.

“He’s the best ever to do it,” Spytek said. “Whoever is playing quarterback for the Raiders has a great opportunity to learn from Tom. Tom is a great resource for them.”

–Field Level Media

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Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees shut out rival Red Sox to open trip

MLB: New York Yankees at Boston Red SoxApr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo home run and collected three RBIs as the New York Yankees opened a three-game series with a 4-0 road victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.

Stanton’s home run came against Boston starter Connelly Early. It was his third home run of the season. He added a two-run double in the sixth.

Stanton, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Randal Grichuk each had two hits for the Yankees, who had 10 hits in the win. New York has won five of its last six games.

Luis Gil (1-1) pitched into the seventh to earn the win. He exited the mound with one out in the seventh after issuing back-to-back walks to Trevor Story and Ceddanne Rafaela. Brent Headrick came on in relief and stranded both runners.

Gil gave up two hits, struck out two and threw 83 pitches.

The Red Sox have scored three runs or fewer in 12 of their 23 games. Boston has allowed at least four runs in 13 of those 23 contests.

Boston was limited to four hits, a double by Marcelo Mayer and singles by Willson Contreras, Carlos Narvaez and Rafaela.

Early (1-1) was pulled with one out in the sixth. He gave up three runs on five hits and struck out four. He was lifted after he walked three in the sixth.

Stanton’s leadoff home run in the top of the second opened the scoring, and the Yankees added two runs in the sixth. Following walks to Amed Rosario and Aaron Judge, Stanton drove in both runners with a two-run double to center.

It was 4-0 after Cody Bellinger singled in the eighth and scored on Grichuk’s one-out double.

Tuesday’s game was the start of a nine-game, three-city road trip for the Yankees.

–Field Level Media

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Thunder to read their 'menu' in anticipating Suns' Game 2 adjustments

NBA: Playoffs-Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City ThunderApr 19, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the second quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Limited to just 33 games in the regular season by a series of injuries, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams never really developed much of a rhythm.

However, after his 22-point, seven-rebound, six-assist performance in the Thunder’s 119-84 Game 1 win over the Phoenix Suns in their first-round playoff series, Williams looks as if he is finally returning to form after being a key piece in last season’s championship run.

“He’s been out for so long, we knew it was going to take some time for him to get back to himself,” Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort said. “But he is now. He’s confident, real aggressive.”

The series continues Wednesday when the Thunder and Suns meet in Oklahoma City for Game 2.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said his approach to making adjustments for the second game, after Oklahoma City built a big lead early and then maintained it in on Sunday in the series opener, was an open-minded one.

“We try to look at it more like a menu and less like a prediction,” Daigneault said. “We’re not going to try to guess. You don’t know what they’re going to do.

“There’s a lot of different directions they could go in. We try to understand what all those directions are — could be different lineups, it could be different tactics, could just be the same ones and try to execute them better. We try to account for all that, just make sure our team has contingencies.”

Among the improvements Phoenix coach Jordan Ott said his team must make in Game 2 is to avoid being in isolation against the Thunder’s defense.

While the Suns’ Dillon Brooks said the approach was a good one overall, he also said he wouldn’t avoid such matchups against fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“He’s a good defender overall, but I just like the matchup,” Brooks said. “Team Canada, we’ve been going at it for a while. I won’t forget our one-on-ones that we had in Paris. … You see a guy like that going hard on the offensive end all game and trying to get a rest on defense, I’ll find a way to make him use his legs, use his hands, use his mind on that defensive end.”

Brooks had 18 points on 6-of-22 shooting in Game 1, while Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points but hit just 5 of 18 from the field.

Ott said Brooks has been one of the tone-setters for the Suns, not only through the season but in the play-in tournament and now the playoffs as well.

“That edge we talk about is super impactful for our culture and environment since Day 1,” Ott said. “He’s been in these playoff battles. Knows that it’s a series. You gotta play with that edge. It helped us get going.”

Phoenix’s Grayson Allen (hamstring) has missed the last four games, though he was listed as available for the last two. Allen went through some drills after practice on Tuesday and appears close to a return. He was listed as questionable on the injury report.

Suns center Mark Williams, who missed the past two games with a foot injury, was wearing a soft boot at practice while Jordan Goodwin, who left Game 1 with a calf injury, was wearing a black sleeve on his left leg. Both are also considered questionable.

–Field Level Media

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Brice Turang collects 4 RBIs as Brewers crush Tigers

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Detroit TigersApr 21, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Grant Anderson (56) throws during the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

Brice Turang drove in four runs and the visiting Milwaukee Brewers opened their three-game series at Detroit by pounding the Tigers, 12-4, on Tuesday.

William Contreras had two hits, drove in two runs and scored another for the Brewers. David Hamilton supplied four hits and scored twice, while Sal Frelick, Luis Rengifo and Blake Perkins each scored two runs and drove in another.

Starter Kyle Harrison gave up one run and four hits in three-plus innings. Grant Anderson (1-1) tossed two innings of scoreless relief to get the win.

Detroit starter Keider Montero (1-2) allowed three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Small ball allowed the Brewers to gain a 3-0 lead in the second. Garrett Mitchell reached on an infield single and Rengifo walked. Frelick brought in Mitchell with a single and Hamilton’s bunt hit loaded the bases. Turang followed with a broken bat single to right, knocking home Rengifo and Frelick.

Detroit broke through with a run in the fourth but came away disappointed it didn’t get more. Greene and Spencer Torkelson walked and Hao-Yu Lee singled to load the bases. Anderson replaced Harrison and promptly got Javier Baez to hit into a double play as Greene scored. Anderson then struck out pinch-hitter Kerry Carpenter.

A botched pickoff allowed the Brewers to extend their lead in the seventh. Enmanuel De Jesus got the first two outs of the inning. Hamilton then singled and Perkins walked. With Turang up, De Jesus caught Hamilton straying off second base but his throw was errant, allowing Hamilton to scamper to third. Turang then singled to left to score him and Contreras knocked in Perkins with another single.

Milwaukee erupted for seven runs in the eighth against De Jesus and Connor Seabold to make it 12-1. Gary Sanchez led off with a triple and Mitchell followed with another. Rengifo dropped in a bloop single to score Mitchell. Perkins, Turang, Conteras, Jake Bauers and Sanchez had the other RBIs during the outburst.

Detroit backup catcher Jake Rogers pitched the ninth. The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning.

–Field Level Media

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