Sports
New York Jets Jets Might Be Too Flawed for Davante Adams to Save Them
Like me, you may have spent your Sunday morning watching Aaron Rodgers throw three interceptions and 22 more incomplete passes for the Jets in London. You may have seen Rodgers’ throws glide off the fingertips of almost every pass-catcher in a New York uniform as they still managed to mount a half-hearted comeback in a 23-17 loss to the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.
I wonder if Davante Adams found himself on his couch, nursing that balky hamstring, watching this same game. Maybe he was keeping tabs on his former quarterback and the team in green and white and thinking to himself, “Yeah… these are my guys. I can work with this.”
The sinking Las Vegas Raiders are apparently ready to move on from Adams, with coach Antonio Pierce adding to the drama every step of the way. Adams, who long maintained publicly that he wanted to stay in Vegas, is now open to a trade, too.
The usual insiders have reported that trade talks “should ramp up over the next 48 hours” and that Adams would prefer a landing spot with a quarterback he’s played with before — the 2-3 Jets and Rodgers, or the New Orleans Saints and Derek Carr.
The Raiders may be able to start a bidding war pitting not only the Jets and Saints, but also other interested teams against each other. After all, a star like Adams makes any team better.
But New York is hardly guaranteed to get that much better if it pulls off the move. Of the Jets’ myriad of problems, the amount of wide receiver talent ranks pretty low, for a change.
Full disclosure here: I’m a Jets fan, reasonably young but still of the “long-suffering” variety. (If you think there’s some sort of ethical problem with me writing about this team in a professional capacity, well, if Jets fan Rich Eisen was allowed to do play-by-play for the London game, I think I’m within my rights to criticize them.)
There are several points we can make in favor of a Jets trade for Adams. Rodgers and Adams have connected on 76 touchdowns between the regular season and playoffs in an eight-year marriage in Green Bay, tied for fifth most by a quarterback-receiver duo in league history. The Jets still have faint playoff hopes because the AFC East is weaker than expected, with the Buffalo Bills at 3-2 but suddenly looking vulnerable and the Miami Dolphins feeling around in the dark without a solid quarterback.
And as hard as the past few years (or decades) have been on fans of this team, just saying “we can’t have nice things” doesn’t mean you don’t try. I saw this attitude in 2020 from antagonists of the Jets as well as some supposed fans — it went like, “Why get excited about the chance to land Trevor Lawrence? We’ll just find a way to ruin him too.” I get that this organization inspires nihilism in people, but that worldview frankly sucks.
That said, the Jets aren’t one star receiver away from a Super Bowl, just as, lo and behold, they weren’t one aging future Hall of Famer at quarterback away from becoming unstoppable. Rodgers threw two of his three interceptions on Sunday in the first quarter alone, both on pretty bad decisions, not flukes or tipped balls.
The Jets already banked so much on Rodgers transforming them. They installed his preferred offensive coordinator and signed another former Packer teammate, Allen Lazard, at receiver. (Don’t forget a very washed Randall Cobb in 2023!) Then why is the guy’s cadence and timing with his teammates so clearly off, and why would one more familiar face make that disappear?
The other big issue is that coach Robert Saleh hasn’t had the Jets prepared, seen at its worst in an ugly 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. So it doesn’t help when Rodgers is also utterly predictable with who he wants to throw to. He forced an unwise pass to his buddy Lazard in the red zone on Sunday before Lazard eventually scored, and he tried another extremely low-percentage shot to Tyler Conklin in double coverage at the goal line.
There’s a universe where the Jets right the ship. Maybe it’s with Adams and maybe it’s not, but most of the middle part of their schedule is eminently beatable except for the Houston Texans. Tons would have to go right — the running game has to rank better than 32nd in a 32-team league, and someone would need to wave a magic wand over an offensive line that’s barely holding things together.
Mortgaging more of your future to pair Adams with your 40-year-old quarterback doesn’t paper over those problems. And it would make ultimately missing the playoffs hurt the fans twice as much.
Sports
Golden Tempo surges late to edge Renegade for 152nd Kentucky Derby
Golden Tempo, ridden by Jose L Ortiz, wins the 2026 Kentucky Derby.May 2, 2026
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — History was made Saturday at Churchill Downs as Golden Tempo made Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to saddle a Kentucky Derby winner as the 23-1 longshot edged Renegade by a neck at the wire.
DeVaux, who has saddled 298 winners in 1,802 career starts, joined Jena Antonucci, who trained Arcangelo in the 2023 Belmont Stakes, as the only female trainers to win Triple Crown races.
Sired by Curlin, Golden Tempo made his way to Louisville by winning the Lecomte Stakes and finishing third in both the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby — all races held at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.
Renegade, the morning-line favorite at 4-1, also sought to make history by becoming the first horse to win out of the inside gate in 40 years. Midway through the race, he was 15 lengths back. However, under Irad Ortiz Jr., he made a mad dash down the stretch, only to be outdueled by the colt ridden by Jose Ortiz, Irad’s brother.
Renegade charged outside and took the lead late, only for Golden Tempo to go one lane farther outside and overtake Renegade just before the wire.
In going the 1-1/4 miles in 2:02.27, Golden Tempo paid $48.24 to win, $19.14 to place and $11.90 to show. Renegade, who went off as the second choice behind Further Ado, paid $7.14 and $5.46, while Ocelli paid $36.34.
The start to the chilliest Derby since 1989 was delayed several minutes when Great White dropped his jockey and rolled over while waiting to enter the gate. That led to him being a last-minute scratch and prompted track officials to unload and reload the starting gate.
Great White appeared fine as he trotted off the track.
Saturday’s Kentucky Derby was the first race in thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. The next leg is the Preakness Stakes, which takes place on Saturday, May 16, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. Laurel will host the race this year while Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course undergoes a $400 million renovation.
–Steve Bittenbender, Field Level Media
Sports
Kyle Larson holds off Justin Allgaier for thrilling Texas win
May 2, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; JR Motorsports driver Kyle Larson (88) celebrates in victory lane with the trophy after he wins the 2026 Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images FORT WORTH, Texas — During the final caution of Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway crew chief Andrew Overstreet radioed an encouraging message to pole winner Justin Allgaier.
“Nothing stops a hungry gator,” said Overstreet, referencing Allgaier’s Little Gator nickname. “Not even the so-called ‘Greatest of All-Time.'”
But Kyle Larson, the G.O.A.T Overstreet referenced, proved too much for Allgaier during a 17-lap green-flag run to the finish. Though Allgaier caught Larson in the closing circuits, he couldn’t find a way past his JR Motorsports teammate, who won his second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts event in four starts this season.
“I really didn’t think I had a chance there with Justin behind me,” said Larson, who beat Allgaier to the finish line by 0.293 seconds. “He was really good, catching me there on that long run after the (earlier) green-flag stop (on Lap 145 of 200).
“Thanks to him for racing me clean… that was a great little run to the end there.”
The victory was Larson’s second straight at Texas and third overall and the 18th in the series of his career.
Though Allgaier matched his best finish at Texas and increased his series lead to 121 points over second-place Sheldon Creed, the disappointment was etched in the face of the runner-up.
“Without contact, I don’t know if there was any way to get around him, and I tried everything I could possibly try and just unfortunately came up short,” said Allgaier, a three-time winner this season.
Larson was first off pit road under caution for Rajah Caruth’s crash off Turn 2 on Lap 179. Allgaier was third behind Brandon Jones and lined up behind Larson in the bottom lane for the Lap184 restart.
Allgaier quickly cleared Jones and took off in pursuit of Larson, using the top lane to gain time on his teammate. Though Allgaier got to Larson’s bumper in the closing laps, he was stymied in his efforts to pass for the win.
Sam Mayer finished third, one spot ahead of rookie Brent Crews, who collected a $100,000 bonus as the highest-finishing eligible Dash 4 Cash driver. It was the first such payout for Crews in the final Dash 4 Cash event of the season.
The race was punctuated by seven cautions (for 36 laps), the first of which was a bifurcated five-car wreck on the opening lap.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Corey Day entered the race fourth in the series standings and exited the event after a hard crash into the Turn 2 wall on Lap 1.
Larson led a race-high 93 laps, followed by Allgaier (54), who won the first 45-lap stage wire-to-wire. Connor Zilisch won Stage 2 before fading to 21st in the final segment.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race — Andy’s Frozen Custard 340
Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, Texas
Saturday, May 2, 2026
1. (3) Kyle Larson(i), Chevrolet, 200.
2. (1) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 200.
3. (17) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 200.
4. (5) Brent Crews #, Toyota, 200.
5. (10) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 200.
6. (11) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 200.
7. (7) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 200.
8. (2) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 200.
9. (21) Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 200.
10. (8) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 200.
11. (14) Carson Kvapil, Chevrolet, 200.
12. (18) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 200.
13. (15) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 200.
14. (9) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 200.
15. (16) William Sawalich, Toyota, 200.
16. (22) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 200.
17. (28) Patrick Staropoli #, Chevrolet, 200.
18. (26) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 200.
19. (37) Lavar Scott #, Chevrolet, 200.
20. (27) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 200.
21. (4) Connor Zilisch(i), Chevrolet, 199.
22. (24) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 199.
23. (20) Austin Dillon(i), Chevrolet, 199.
24. (38) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 199.
25. (29) Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 199.
26. (25) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 199.
27. (33) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 198.
28. (36) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 198.
29. (35) David Starr, Chevrolet, 197.
30. (23) Kyle Sieg, Chevrolet, 196.
31. (32) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 194.
32. (30) Mason Maggio, Chevrolet, 189.
33. (12) Taylor Gray, Toyota, 188.
34. (13) Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, Accident, 180.
35. (19) Austin Green, Chevrolet, Accident, 17.
36. (34) Brad Perez, Chevrolet, Accident, 17.
37. (6) Corey Day, Chevrolet, DVP, 1.
38. (31) Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, Engine, 1.
–Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
Sports
Bruins D Charlie McAvoy offered hearing in wake of slashing incident
May 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; As Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) skates away, Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) smiles at teammates after scoring during the first period of game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy could be facing a lengthy suspension to start the 2026-27 season after the NHL announced Saturday it has offered an in-person hearing with its Department of Player Safety to the 28-year-old.
The date of the hearing is still to be determined. Any discipline would be served next season due to Boston’s season being over.
McAvoy received a major penalty for slashing and a game misconduct in Boston’s 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round. That setback on Friday eliminated the Bruins from the postseason.
The incident with 1:31 left in the third period occurred after Buffalo’s Zach Benson tripped McAvoy as the two chased after a loose puck. McAvoy got up and charged toward Benson and swung his stick like a baseball bat at Benson.
After the game, McAvoy wasn’t concerned about a possible suspension.
“I don’t play another game until September,” McAvoy said. “Can’t imagine it really matters much.”
If a suspension might be six games or longer, the NHL offers the player an in-person meeting. The player can decline the in-person methods and conduct it by phone. Suspension of five games or less are typically handled via phone.
McAvoy scored a career-high 61 points and had 11 goals in 69 games this season. He had two assists in the series against Buffalo.
Overall, McAvoy has 71 goals and 361 points in 573 games over nine seasons with the Bruins. He has six goals and 50 points in 97 career playoff games.
McAvoy was a member of Team USA as it won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics earlier this year. It was the USA’s first men’s Olympic gold since the historic performance at Lake Placid in 1980.
–Field Level Media
Golden Tempo surges late to edge Renegade for 152nd Kentucky Derby
Kyle Larson holds off Justin Allgaier for thrilling Texas win
