Joe Flacco earns spot on the 2026 NFL All-Backup Team

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) drops back to throw in the second quarter of the NFL Week 11 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. The Steelers led 10-6 at halftime. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals surprised us all when they traded for Joe Flacco in the middle of the season after Joe Burrow went down last year.

The Bengals were crumbling quickly early on last season, but Flacco brought a spark the team, the fanbase, and city desperately needed.

Despite a lack of wins, Flacco was incredibly productive in Zac Taylor’s offense thanks to the help of Ja’Marr Chase and is now officially backing up Joe Burrow going into 2026.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently shared his NFL All-Backup team going into the new season, and Flacco made the roster.

“Here’s the veteran in our quarterback room. Flacco, 41, has been effective while bouncing around the league over the past three years, posting a 45.5 QBR while winning games for the Browns, Colts and Bengals. He’s going to throw some truly painful interceptions, but Flacco still has a strong arm, does a solid job of avoiding sacks and can run the offense from under center. He’s a great short-term option for us,” Barnwell wrote.

Flacco is the most experienced QB that has been behind Burrow since he was drafted in 2020 and has now shown that he can win in the NFL and win with the offense in Cincinnati, if needed.

As hard as it is to say, it is now important to have someone like Flacco behind Burrow after he went down with his third significant injury as a Bengal last year.

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Patrick Mahomes will wear a brace on his knee, "I can still move and be myself with it"

As he returns to the practice field, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will wear a brace on his surgically repaired knee. But he says he isn't sure how long he'll wear it.

Mahomes, who tore his ACL on December 14, said he could keep wearing the brace going forward, or he could choose to take it off, depending on how he feels.

"There isn't really a plan for it," Mahomes said. "I'm going start off with it just because I've worn it before and I feel comfortable with it. So that that's kind of where we will start, but it's not like I've been told I have to wear it or how long I have to wear it. It's just going to be my comfortability how I feel. But I will start with it on just because I feel like I can still move and be myself with it. I played with it in college and then we'll just see where we go from there."

Mahomes wore a brace in 2015 at Texas Tech, after he suffered a knee injury in a game against TCU, and played well with it. If he plays well with it through training camp he'll keep it on, but if he decides to ditch the brace, he's medically cleared to play without it.

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Kentucky Wildcats News: LeBron James joins Tyrese Maxey and Justin Edwards with the 76ers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 07: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers hugs Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 07, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Los Angeles Lakers won 112-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning, BBN!

It finally happened: LeBron James has decided where he wants to play next, and he’s pairing up with former Wildcats Tyrese Maxey and Justin Edwards with the Philadelphia 76ers.

If you’re a LeBron fan, like me, you have to be on cloud 9. 

If you’re not, but you’re a Kentucky fan, you should still be very excited. The last time LeBron teamed up with a former Cat, it resulted in a championship. LeBron and AD were unstoppable when they first teamed up with the Los Angeles Lakers; I wish we could’ve seen them healthier together. 

Nonetheless, it looks like this will be LeBron’s last stop before retirement, and what better way to finish it than with Maxey, Edwards, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid. 

If this doesn’t make them the favorite in the East past the defending champion Knicks, it certainly makes them 2nd. 

It should be an absolutely wild 2026-27 NBA season, and I, for one, can’t wait. Bring all the madness, and please, everyone, stay healthy! 

Are you excited about LeBron heading to Philly?

Tweet of the Day

Wonderful day and wedding for the big guy! Congratulations to Aaliyah and @Oscartshiebwe34 , what a fantastic journey…just getting started!!! pic.twitter.com/gR8P81nbuO

— KentuckyCards (@KentuckyCards) July 25, 2026

Congrats to Oscar Tshiebwe, who also just signed with the Houston Rockets!!!

Headlines

As Summer Practice Nears End, Pope ‘Excited’ About Cats – UK Athletics

After all of the controversy we’ve seen, it has been a pretty good summer.

Craig Skinner to be Inducted into Delaware County (IN) Athletic Hall of Fame – UK Athletics

Very well-deserved.

Lance Heard, Willie Rodriguez Earn Preseason Media Days All-SEC Honors – UK Athletics

Excited for these two.

LeBron picks 76ers as ‘last decision,’ to sign 2-year, $8M deal – ESPN

Love that he took less money to pursue a championship.

Michael Kim shoots 59 at the 2026 3M Open, joins historic group on PGA Tour with 16th sub-60 round – CBS Sports

Insane round.

Andy Reid: Patrick Mahomes has been cleared to fully participate – NBC Sports

Wow.

Dribble Handoff: Which new college basketball coach will have the most successful long-term career? – CBS Sports

Love Mike Malone with North Carolina.

Bryson DeChambeau: I could have fought for Open win without penalty – ESPN

Sure, Bryson, sure.

Ranking NFL contenders by backup QB situations: Mac Jones, Davis Mills headline best insurance policies – CBS Sports

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Rams unveil their two new alternate uniforms

The Nikefication of the NFL continues.

For some teams, it's becoming impossible to keep up with the various helmet, jersey, and pants combinations. For the Rams, who unveiled new base uniforms in April (the drain plug was thankfully pulled on the dirty dishwater option), two alternate uniforms were added on Thursday.

They include a look dubbed "Classic Sol," consisting of a yellow jersey and white pants. The uniform honors the team's 1951 NFL Championship team.

The other alternate uniform is called "Fearsome White," a nod to the "Fearsome Foursome" of Rosey Grier, Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy, and Merlin Olsen. The jersey is white, the pants are white, and the helmet logo is white.

Then there's the "Midnight Mode" uniform added last year as part of the largely nonsensical "Rivalries" line, a semi-plausible strategy for giving fans another jersey to buy.

When Nike assumed the apparel contract in 2012 from Reebook, some (including me) feared that NFL teams eventually would look like Oregon, with a different uniform every week. I'm now starting to wonder when Nike will talk the league into one-upping the Ducks by letting a team change uniforms at halftime.

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Cleveland Browns news: The young guys? They might be alright

BEREA, OHIO - APRIL 21: Mason Graham #94 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during a voluntary veteran minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 21, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Dawgs By Nature

• Browns young roster ranked Top 5, moves up over 20 spots in a year (Jared Mueller) – “As the Cleveland Browns prepare to open training camp, one clear thing, as seen in survey responses from NFL executives, scouts, and coaches, is that the Browns young core has a lot of quality players on it.”
• Browns roster’s fast path to youth: How’d they get there? (Barry Shuck) – “Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry’s drafted players from 2025 yielded quite a few new guys who have not only stuck on the roster, but have become starters who have produced. The hope is that the 2026 draft class can do the same.”
• Browns offseason: 5 offseason moves to be positive about (Thomas Moore) – “The summer is a time for optimism as training camp brings exciting new players and a renewed hope that this year it may be different. In that spirit, here are five positives from the offseason that should fill the hearts of even the grinchiest of Cleveland Browns fans with a little bit of happiness.”
• Origins of Cleveland Browns training camps (Barry Shuck) – “Why is it called training camp? The reason is to get players back in shape: to “train” their bodies. So, they lived a full life away from the game and ate what they wanted. Back in the day, players and coaches had offseason jobs. When Vince Lombardi was the offensive coordinator with the New York Football Giants, he worked as an executive in a New York bank. He almost remained there.“

The Feed

Cleveland Browns

• Browns look for rising star linebacker Carson Schwesinger to take next step (Beacon Journal) – “One week from now, on July 29, the Browns will hold their first full-squad training camp practice. This continues our Browns training camp preview series looking at each of the team’s position groups. This preview takes a look at the linebackers, a position group being remade around one of the best young talents in the NFL.”
• Sean McVay shares message to Jared Verse following browns blockbuster (si.com) – “It’s been over a month and a half since the Los Angeles Rams packaged Jared Verse along with a first (2027), a second (2028), and a third round (2029) pick as compensation for Myles Garrett, fresh coming off a single sack season record for the Cleveland Browns. However, the fallout from the most buzz-worthy trade of the year isn’t over.”
• Can Deshaun Watson stave off Shedeur Sanders for the starting job? (cleveland.com) – “Can Deshaun Watson stave off a tremendous challenge by Shedeur Sanders to reclaim his starting job? At the end of voluntary minicamp in April, Watson had the edge in the two-way competition and the inside track to win the starting job by virtue of his vast experience, his three-time Pro Bowl pedigree, and his superior grasp of Todd Monken’s new offense heading into the offseason program.”
• Browns QB Shedeur Sanders gets bad news on starting job (heavy.com) – “Shedeur Sanders made up ground during the Cleveland Browns’ offseason program, but it might not be enough to prevent Deshaun Watson from opening the season as the starting quarterback.”

NFL

• A legacy reimagined: Kansas City Chiefs release renderings for new stadium set to open in 2031 (chiefs.com) – “On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs released initial concept renderings for the club’s brand new enclosed stadium set to open in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2031.”
• With LB Jordyn Brooks’ extension, the Dolphins’ foundation is complete (Miami Herald) – “Give Jon-Eric Sullivan credit: the Miami Dolphins general manager is a man of his word. With linebacker Jordyn Brooks officially locked up through 2029, Sullivan’s trifecta of signings is complete. That means the foundation – which includes Brooks, center Aaron Brewer and running back De’Von Achane – is set. And luckily, the Dolphins couldn’t have picked a better trio.”
• Monroe Freeling’s development starts now: Is the Panthers’ rookie ready? (The Athletic) – “Robert Hunt and Monroe Freeling trained together at Bank of America Stadium over the summer. They’ve known since June the Carolina Panthers would be without veteran right tackle Taylor Moton for the start of the regular season. More recently, Freeling texted Hunt to tell him he would be lining up next to Hunt at training camp: The rookie from Georgia will get the first crack at replacing Moton.”

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Caitlin Clark scores historic NBA 2K27 Deluxe Edition cover honor

Caitlin Clark is officially an NBA 2K27 cover athlete.

On Wednesday, NBA 2K announced the specially selected cover athletes for NBA 2K27. NBA star Victor Wembanyama will be on the cover of the Standard Edition, and Chicago Bulls legend Derrick Rose will be on the limited-time Ultra Edition. Clark, who is set to grace the cover of the Deluxe Edition, is the first WNBA player featured on her own global NBA 2K premium cover.

"Being on the cover of NBA 2K27 is special because this game reaches fans all over the world,” said Clark via release. “To be the first WNBA player on her own global cover means women's basketball gets to show up on that stage too, and I am proud to be part of that."

She’s obsessed with the work 💭🏀

Caitlin Clark is your NBA 2K27 Deluxe Edition Cover Athlete

Pre-order NBA 2K27 now! ➡️ https://t.co/3HbX2GhFQ5pic.twitter.com/JTeXXVpEkw

— WNBA (@WNBA) July 22, 2026

Clark, who is currently in her third season, is averaging a career-high 20.7 points per game and 42.8% shooting from the field. She's also averaging 7.8 assists per matchup, which is second in the WNBA. The Indiana Fever star will appear in her third All-Star Game this weekend and earned the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.

NBA 2K27 is expected to be available on September 4, 2026. Early access begins August 28 for anyone who purchases the Deluxe Edition or the Ultra Edition.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark scores historic NBA 2K27 Deluxe Edition cover honor

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YouTube Gold: John Havlicek Stymies Dr. J

BOSTON - 1975: Julius Erving #6 of the Philadelphia 76ers makes a move against John Havlicek #17 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1975 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1975 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

John Havlicek had an extraordinary career with the Boston Celtics. Drafted in 1962 with the seventh overall pick, he could have skipped basketball and played football instead, and in fact, almost became a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns before joining the Celtics.

In his first year or two, Havlicek was sort of the backup to Frank Ramsey, who, along with Red Auerbach, invented the sixth man concept. As a rookie, Havlicek was primarily a defensive player, but early in his career, he significantly improved his shot and his ball handling, and when Ramsey retired in 1964, Havlicek was ready to step up.

He ultimately won 8 championships, including in 1974 and 1976.

Havlicek was great for many reasons, but not least of all because he had tremendous endurance and could run non-stop. In fact, his former teammate and coach Tom Heinsohn said that Mass General Hospital once studied him to understand why he was so much stronger later in games than anyone else.

In his later years, he became a tremendous offensive player, yet he never let up as a defender, as Julius Erving learned in the 1977 Eastern Conference Finals. As you’ll see here, Erving really struggled with Havlicek’s stifling D.

Keep in mind that in 1977, Havlicek was 37, but Dr. J was just 27, and entering into his prime.

Havlicek retired after the 1978 season, but later said that if he had known Larry Bird was coming along, he would have waited.

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