Sports
Bengals open practice window for DE Myles Murphy
Jan 7, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy (99) runs onto the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy and defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson were cleared to return to practice Wednesday.
The Bengals opened the 21-day practice window for both players, who began the season on injured reserve.
Murphy landed on IR on Aug. 27 with a knee sprain. Jackson joined him two days later, also with a knee injury.
Murphy, 22, was the Bengals’ first-round pick in 2023 and Jackson, also 22, was their third-round selection in 2024.
Murphy appeared in all 17 games (no starts) in 2023 and contributed three sacks and 20 tackles.
Cincinnati (1-3) hosts the Baltimore Ravens (2-2) in an AFC North contest on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: NBA to max out LeBron James, 76ers' national TV games
May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Fans itching to watch LeBron James play in his new Philadelphia uniform should get plenty of opportunities this season as the 76ers are expected to get the NBA’s maximum of 34 national game telecasts/streams, Front Office Sports reported Monday.
That would more than double the 14 national games the Sixers were featured in last season, when the team led by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey finished in a disappointing seventh place in the Eastern Conference at 45-37.
Now that the 41-year-old James has signed a two-year, $8 million contract to play in Philly, viewers can expect to see him featured prominently during tentpole league events like opening week and Christmas Day’s five-game slate.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on July 16 he was awaiting James’ decision before finalizing the schedule for the telecasts/streams across Disney’s ABC/ESPN, NBCUniversal’s NBC Sports/Peacock, and Amazon’s Prime Video. The league receives input from these partners before making the final schedule.
Four teams received the maximum 34 national games last season: the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks, who play in the league’s biggest market; the Los Angeles Lakers in the No. 2 market; the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder; and four-time champion Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tony Romo withdraws from golf event in wake of OWI arrest
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, now an NFL broadcast analyst for CBS, watches his tee shot off No. 11 during the OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois Championship pro-am Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at Metamora Fields Golf Club in Metamora. Tony Romo withdrew from an upcoming golf tournament in the wake of his arrest last week in Wisconsin for allegedly operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS Sports analyst had been scheduled to play in the Texas State Open starting Tuesday in Tyler, Texas.
The Cascades Country Club confirmed to NBC affiliate KETK-TV that Romo, who has played in the event nine times, has pulled out of the tournament.
An avid golfer, Romo has won the celebrity American Century Golf Tournament three times.
The 46-year-old was stopped last Thursday evening on Interstate 43 and “performed poorly” on standardized field sobriety tests, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office’s arrest report.
He was taken into custody and booked before being released. He has a court date scheduled for Sept. 21.
A first-offense OWI is generally a civil offense, not a criminal charge, in Wisconsin, with a citation typically carrying a fine between $150-$300.
Romo is a native of nearby Burlington, Wis., where he was the first Burlington High School student-athlete to be named all-state in three sports: football, basketball, and golf. His high school football team, the Burlington Demons, plays on a field that was named Tony Romo Field in 2020.
Romo has been the lead NFL game analyst at CBS since 2017, paired with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson to cover games.
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003 out of Eastern Illinois, Romo spent the next 14 seasons with the Cowboys. He became their starting quarterback in 2006 and led Dallas to six playoff games.
A four-time Pro Bowler, he holds a 78-49 record in 156 regular-season games (127 starts). He had a career 65.3% completion rate, amassing 34,183 yards with 248 touchdowns and 117 interceptions.
–Field Level Media
Sports
FIFA prez Gianni Infantino blasts critics for 'spreading hate'
President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino present the World Cup Trophy to Spain during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, NJ. FIFA president Gianni Infantino rejected scrutiny of his leadership and the organization, accusing critics of “spreading hate and false rumors” while they were “delivering the best show in the world,” minimizing or altogether ignoring issues that arose with the 2026 World Cup.
His message was delivered across 15 slides on his personal Instagram account, cross-posted to the FIFA Instagram account and distributed to media personnel by FIFA’s communications team.
Infantino’s message said, “We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness!”
There were multiple issues with some teams and fans gaining access to the tournament. Four countries — Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast — played their matches despite many supporters being unable to enter the United States because of travel bans imposed by the Trump administration.
Iran’s team captain Mehdi Taremi called the World Cup a “disaster” due to the restrictions on visas and movement for members of its federation.
Infantino’s message also ignored the four people who died of suffocation during celebrations in Mexico City after Mexico’s round-of-32 victory over Ecuador, per The Athletic.
The message from Infantino, who has not held a press conference since before the World Cup began, also made a dismissive apparent reference to the significant controversy when U.S. forward Folarin Balogun had an automatic one-game ban reversed. FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the sanction with no explanation, and President Donald Trump later said he called Infantino to have the case reviewed, which Infantino denied.
“Your dissatisfaction with a few decisions made by the competent authorities is understandable, but please refer to public records: such decisions are common in some of the most important leagues,” Infantino posted. “Indeed, ‘arguable’ referees’ decisions or ‘strange’ disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide.”
Among other issues faced before, during and since the 2026 World Cup, the Attorneys General of New York, New Jersey, Texas and California are investigating FIFA over its ticketing prices for the tournament.
–Field Level Media
