Sports
Shedeur Sanders to NFL Teams: “History Repeats Itself—Pick Me.”
Modern-day quarterbacks like Shedeur Sanders prefer to keep it a mystery.
The Colorado product helped resurrect two collegiate programs, first at Jackson State and the last two years doing a Lazarus project with the left-for-dead Buffaloes, but didn’t throw a pass, measure his throwing velocity or put his pocket footwork on display at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last week.
Instead, he came and flashed at the podium.
Sanders showed his opinions and silver tongue are fitting for a cable sports network morning show.
Or, if this football thing doesn’t work out, perhaps as a slick-talking heel on WWE Monday Night Raw.
He took a few measurements—he’s a little shorter and lighter than advertised, but nothing in his measurables will wave a red flag. Height: 6-foot-1 ¼, Weight: 212, Hand: 9 ⅜, Arm: 31 1/2, and Wingspan: 76 3/4.
That’s what the combine has become for the top players and quarterbacks—a closed-door interview and a snappy soundbite. It’s awful. I hate it, but it’s absolutely the right thing for the best of the best to do.
While it would be awesome to see Sanders zipping passes to receivers he doesn’t know, playing catch in shorts and a T-shirt with players he didn’t have an entire season to build rapport with and get to hone in on their timing coming in and out of routes is just too big of a risk.
What if a couple of those receivers drop a pass? Hit the top of the post route at 13 yards instead of 15?
Does that take some of the luster off the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner’s draft stock?
In Sanders’ mind—and in the minds of many top-flight players over the last several years—it sure would. The risk outweighs the reward. Like Sanders said, he’s already done it on the field. Look at the tape, look at my smile and listen to the words I say as the future savior of your franchise.
“We went from Jackson State to Colorado and changed two programs back to back, so you don’t think I can come to an NFL franchise and change a program again?” Sanders said. “It’s history. We done it again. It’s always going to repeat itself.
“That’s the plan. If that’s not what you’re trying to do, don’t get me. If you ain’t trying to change the franchise or the culture, don’t get me. So, you should know history repeats itself over and over and over, and I’ve done it over and over and over, so it should be no question why a franchise should pick me.”
Let’s take a look at what Sanders did in Colorado. This fall, he threw for 4,134 yards and completed 74% of his passes. He tossed 37 touchdowns with 10 picks, good for a 168.2 rating.
Gaudy, video game stats he built tossing passes to Heisman Trophy winner and future high draft pick Travis Hunter. With speedster Jimmy Horn Jr., LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard, Sanders lined up a track team to attack opponents’ defensive backs.
Sure would have been nice to see what he does with some “normal receivers” in Indianapolis. It also would have been worthwhile to see some footwork drills and maybe a 40-yard dash time.
Sanders was sacked 42 times last season. In a 38-31 overtime win against Baylor, he went down eight times. It was a thrill ride with Sanders as he evaded defenders, twisted, turned and ran around the pocket before launching a pass downfield.
If he didn’t get dragged down, he’d often take a lick just as he released a pass. Can that pocket presence last in the NFL? Does he have Lamar Jackson’s strength, speed and slickness?
We didn’t get any hints at the NFL Combine. Guess we’ll find out next season on the field.
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
Sports
Guardians hit three HRs, pile up 14 runs to beat Athletics
May 2, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) high fives shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) after hitting a solo home run against the Athletics during the third inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Light-hitting backup catcher Austin Hedges smacked two doubles and his first homer of the year to pace the visiting Cleveland Guardians to a 14-6 victory over the Athletics on Saturday afternoon in West Sacramento, Calif.
David Fry and Kyle Manzardo also went deep for the Guardians, who bashed 14 hits to set up a chance for the three-game sweep on Sunday. Starter Slade Cecconi (1-4) allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Shea Langeliers had a banner day for the A’s, hitting his team-high ninth and 10th home runs of the season. Starter Jacob Lopez (2-2) gave up six runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings.
The Athletics took a 2-0 lead on the first of Langeliers’ long balls, a two-run shot off Cecconi in the first.
Hedges responded with a solo shot in the third before the Athletics answered with a run in the fourth on a Jeff McNeil RBI single.
Hedges started the Guardians’ four-run rally in the fifth with a double. He scored on Steven Kwan’s bloop single, Angel Martinez followed with another single and then Jose Ramirez’s double scored Kwan and Martinez to give Cleveland its first lead. Rhys Hoskins’ sacrifice fly pushed the score to 5-3.
After Langeliers and Fry traded solo shots, McNeil got his second RBI of the game with a sac fly in the sixth and the A’s threatened to tie or take the lead with runners on the corners. Hedges came up with the defensive play of the game to end the inning, a perfectly executed back-pick of Lawrence Butler at first base.
Cleveland poured it on in the later innings. In the seventh, Fry drew a bases-loaded walk and Travis Bazzana knocked in two with a single up the middle. It was the perfect time for Bazzana’s first major league hit after he was 0-for-12 at the plate to begin his career.
Manzardo added on with a pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth. Colin Holderman gave up an RBI single to Nick Kurtz in the bottom of the inning, but he forced Langeliers to pop out to leave the bases loaded.
Cleveland plated two more in the ninth to complete the blowout win.
Kurtz went 2-for-5, but failed to walk to end his streak of 20 games with at least one free pass. That shares second on the all-time list with Barry Bonds (2002-03). The Detroit Tigers’ Roy Cullenbine set the record with 22 straight games in 1947.
–Field Level Media
Kyle Larson holds off Justin Allgaier for thrilling Texas win
Bruins D Charlie McAvoy offered hearing in wake of slashing incident
