Sports
New Rams QB Ty Simpson reveals pre-draft meeting with Sean McVay
Apr 24, 2026; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams first-round draft pick Ty Simpson speaks to media during a press conference at Code Next at Hollywood Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images After being selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday, quarterback Ty Simpson downplayed his pre-draft interaction with the team, calling it “really brief.”
The ex-Alabama signal-caller admitted Monday that the communication was far more extensive, as he had a private meeting with Rams coach Sean McVay.
The Rams already have Matthew Stafford, 38, as their starting QB, but they chose Simpson for a long-term view.
Simpson said Monday on ESPN Radio’s “Amber & Ian” of his pre-draft communication with McVay, “We tried to keep this under wraps as long as we could. It was something to where I knew they were interested, but they wanted to make it private and didn’t want people to know that they were interested.
“So, I had some secret meetings with Coach McVay, and I just was trying to be on script and do what everybody told me and not to tell anybody.”
The discussion lasted “hours and hours,” according to Simpson, “and it was just football. It was just straight football. And it was like a kid in a candy store. Me and him are sitting there, and we’re just going back and forth. You can tell the obsession he has for the game, and you can tell the love he has for quarterback play.
“It’s something that I appreciate, and it’s something that I enjoy because I really enjoy playing the position and value the position. So, being with him and then getting to know him and then just seeing a little bit of how I would get coached if I was fortunate enough to go there was something that I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”
McVay was viewed by some analysts as portraying a negative vibe in interviews after the Rams chose Simpson with the No. 13 overall selection. He said, “Let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team.”
The next day, though he said he “couldn’t be more excited about being able to add (Simpson).”
On Saturday, McVay added about the team’s quarterback situation, “Whenever that time comes for (Simpson) to get an opportunity to be Matthew’s successor will be on Matthew’s terms.”
Simpson said Thursday of the pairing with Stafford, “It’s something that I cherish, being in the same room as a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a guy who is so smart like (McVay). We watched his film all the time when I was at ‘Bama, all the stuff they did. … So the fact that I get to be in a room and soak up all that knowledge, I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
NFL impersonator pleads guilty on wire fraud, identity theft charges
Dec 5, 2009; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Luther Davis (96) celebrates after defeating the Florida Gators 32-13 in the 2009 SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images A former University of Alabama football player on Monday pleaded guilty to committing fraud in taking millions of dollars from investors by pretending to be NFL players.
Luther Davis, 37, worked in concert with another individual, CJ Evins, 29, in donning disguises, including makeup and wigs, to impersonate NFL players to secure investments and loans from multiple individuals, according to guilty pleas entered into federal court in Atlanta.
The charges included conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Both men face up to seven years in prison, but their plea deals should lower the sentence, which is scheduled to occur in August for Evins and in October for Davis.
A defensive lineman for the Crimson Tide from 2007-2010, including Alabama’s 2009 national championship team, Davis admitted to using fake bank accounts, fraudulent driver’s licenses and misleading emails to convince investors he was acting on behalf of famous athletes, or in some cases, he was the athlete himself.
The Guardian revealed details of the case in mid-April, reporting that the pair had obtained 13 loans in the names of current and former NFL players, including Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku and Xavier McKinney. The fraudulent loans obtained totaled more than $19,845,000, according to court documents.
“Davis and Evins convinced lenders they were NFL players, obtained millions of dollars in fraudulent loans, and used the proceeds of their crimes to purchase real estate and luxury items,” a statement from U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg read. “This scheme highlights that anyone can be a target of identity theft, and my office will vigorously investigate and prosecute swindlers who steal identities to defraud others.”
Davis, who owns a sports management company in Georgia, was part of Nick Saban’s first signing class at Alabama in 2007. The West Monroe, La., native who played in 45 games on the defensive line over four seasons with the Crimson Tide.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals rally in ninth to make Pirates' 6 2/3 perfect frames moot
Apr 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second basemen JJ Wetherholt (26) fields a ball hit by Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (2) during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images Jose Fermin’s two-run double with one out in the ninth inning capped a four-run rally as the St. Louis Cardinals overcame a near-shutout and beat the host Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 on Monday.
St. Louis, which had lost four straight and five of six, was hitless through 6 2/3 innings and scoreless through 8 1/3 before breaking through against Dennis Santana, who came into the contest with two saves and a 0.69 ERA with only one earned run allowed in 13 appearances.
Those numbers took a hit right away as Pedro Pages, St. Louis’s backup catcher, and rookie JJ Wetherholt hit back-to-back home runs off Santana (2-2) to even the game.
It was Pages’ third home run of the season, and second in his last two games, while Wetherholt went deep for the third straight game and sixth time this season.
Ivan Herrera walked, Alec Burleson reached base on his second infield single of the game and Jordan Walker also walked to load the bases for Fermin, who went 2-for-2 after coming in as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
Fermin’s double to left plated pinch runner Victor Scott II and Burleson.
Ryan Fernandez (1-0) struck out four in two perfect innings of relief, and George Soriano worked around a two-out single for his first save.
Dustin May had another solid outing on the hill for St. Louis. He came in with wins in each of his last three starts. Although that streak was broken, he kept the Cardinals in the game, allowing two runs while scattering seven hits and striking out two over six innings.
The Pirates, in a bullpen game, kept St. Louis off the basepaths entirely for the first 6 2/3 innings. Mason Montgomery started, and Justin Lawrence followed, each tossing a scoreless inning with one strikeout.
Wilber Dotel, making just his third major league appearance, threw four perfect innings and struck out three.
Evan Sisk allowed the first hit in the seventh — Burleson’s first infield single — but he, Isaac Mattson and Gregory Soto kept the Cardinals off the board until Santana entered in the ninth.
Ryan O’Hearn and Jake Mangum drove in runs for Pittsburgh, which dropped its second straight game. Mangum had two hits, while Nick Gonzales extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 3-for-4 day at the plate.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Arch Manning favorite to be top pick in '27 NFL draft
Dec 31, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Damon Payne (44) tips a pass from Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Arch Manning has opened as the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the next NFL draft for the second consecutive year.
The Texas quarterback was installed as the +250 favorite by DraftKings. That’s ahead of fellow quarterbacks Dante Moore (+380) of Oregon, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr (+650) and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellars (+1200).
After only two quarterbacks were selected in the first round on Friday — including the Rams surprising many by taking Ty Simpson at No. 13 — the 2027 quarterback class is projected to be much deeper.
It’s led by Manning, who was installed as the +200 favorite by DraftKings following the conclusion of the 2025 class to be the No. 1 pick this year. Manning endured some struggles the first half of last season before finishing strong, and opted to return for another year with the Longhorns.
Moore also decided to return to school despite being projected as a potential top-5 selection, boosting a ’27 quarterback class that already boasted intriguing talent. Carr is coming off a strong first season as Notre Dame’s starter, while Sellars is looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2025 for the Gamecocks.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has the shortest odds among non-quarterback. He is being offered at +1400 along with new Miami Hurricanes signal-caller Darian Mensah.
2027 NFL DRAFT NO. 1 PICK ODDS*
Arch Manning, QB, Texas (+250)
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (+380)
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (+650)
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina (+1200)
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1400)
Darian Mensah, QB, Miami, Fla. (+1400)
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+1800)
Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State (+2000)
Dylan Steward, LB, South Carolina (+2200)
Colin Simmons, LB, Texas (+3000)
Dayden Maiava, QB, Southern Cal (+3500)
Nico Iamaleava, QB, UCLA (+4000)
Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana (+4000)
Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas (+5000)
Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU (+5000)
Jordan Seaton, OT, Colorado (+5000)
John Matter, QB, Oklahoma (+5000)
John Henry Daley, DE, Michigan (+5000)
DJ Lagway, QB, Baylor (+5000)
Demond Williams, QB, Washington (+5000)
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (+7500)
*DraftKings
–Field Level Media
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NFL impersonator pleads guilty on wire fraud, identity theft charges
