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How Mets could pair Tarik Skubal with another All-Star pitcher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Mets are expected to be one of the top bidders for this year's top free agent, Tarik Skubal. 

Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award-winning starter who finished the season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, should be heavily pursued. 

New York is likely to be a frontrunner for Skubal for one simple reason. 

Steve Cohen's money and spending habits. The Mets owner has never been afraid to hand out large contracts. 

If the Mets can land Skubal, they shouldn't stop upgrading the rotation from there, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller wrote. 

"If Bo Bichette opts out and New York uses those "savings" to get across the finish line in its impending negotiations with Tarik Skubal, trading for a corner infielder might be the way they go.

"But even if they do sign Skubal, the Mets could still use another starting pitcher, lest they pin their hopes and dreams on Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga again," Miller wrote. 

Miller tabbed Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan as the Mets' primary trade target. 

MORE: White Sox reportedly have 'no urgency' to sign Munetaka Murakami to an extension

An All-Star in each of the last two seasons, Ryan is a bona fide ace who hasn't posted an ERA above 3.79 since 2023. 

He's consistently been included in trade rumors in each of the last two years, but the Twins haven't pulled the trigger. 

Pairing Ryan with Skubal would dramatically strengthen New York's rotation, especially since Nolan McLean appears to be a frontline starter for years to come. 

More MLB news:

• Reds' $70 million trade mistake is why third base is their biggest roster hole
• Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski made MLB playoff history three times with 104+ mph pitches
• How Mets could have advantage over Dodgers in free-agent pursuit of Tarik Skubal
• Most strikeouts in an MLB Postseason Game: White Sox made dubious history in loss to Guardians
• Red Sox's top offseason need highlights a big power-hitting problem

NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin is two days away from the official beginning of his second NBA season that could be the chance for him to break out. Brooklyn's biggest move of the offseason was adding former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle to the roster via trade, but Demin took some time to explain the personal goals he has for himself this year.

"I said it to the coaches the other day in the player development meeting; I want to win and I want to learn how to affect the game, whatever it takes for me to be able to win," Demin said to the media after Monday's practice. The Nets will begin their 2026-27 season on Wednesday when they host Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets and Demin is looking to do whatever he can to help the team.

"As I always say, I want to be everywhere I can help. Whether it's me on the ball, off the ball, whatever it is. I want to learn everything," Demin continued. "For me, I don't put any expectations on myself because I know where I'm at and I know what I'm going to be trying to do. Obviously, I have my own goals and that's what I'm trying to focus on if it's not about the team. If we're talking about me personally, I'm just trying to be better every single day."

Demin, 20, is coming off a rookie season where he averaged 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 39.9% from the field and 38.5% from behind the three-point line. If Demin's performance in the summer league this past offseason is any indication, he averaged 21.3 points and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 47.3% from the floor, he should be ready to go.

Head coach Jordi Fernandez will likely be entrusting the operation of the team to Randle and forward Michael Porter Jr., but Demin will have to be ready to produce when the moment calls for it. Based off how Fernandez has structured the lineups during the preseason, Demin is going to be one of the starting guards so he should have every opportunity to achieve his personal goals for his sophomore NBA campaign.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Egor Demin details personal goals heading into 2026-27 NBA season

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The firing of Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard hit coach Shane Steichen hard.

For 2 1/2 seasons, they worked virtually arm in arm to get the franchise righted and back to the playoffs. They seemed to be in sync when quarterback Anthony Richardson was drafted No. 4 overall in 2023 and again when they signed and re-signed quarterback Daniel Jones. In January, they also were given a second chance by team co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon.

But now, with a 2-4 record, Steichen, must navigate this long road back into the postseason picture without the man who has been in his corner since the day he was hired in 2023.

“Disappointed,” Steichen said when asked to describe his initial reaction to the move. “Obviously, I've got a relationship with Chris. He's a phenomenal human being. Just one of the best people I've ever been around. I'm grateful every day I'm in this building, and I don't take that for granted. And I've got to get these guys ready for the Vikings.”

Steichen's fate seems OK — for now.

But if this season continues to unravel, he could be the next one out. Irsay-Gordon made her expectations clear in January when she kept Steichen and Ballard around for one more year — she wanted this team in the postseason, competing for a Super Bowl.

So far, though, it looks as if it's more of the same. Turnovers, missed tackles and now special teams miscues have led to another slow start. They've struggled to run the ball, too, and Sunday's 26-20 loss to previously winless Tennessee drew the ire of Colts fans inside Lucas Oil Stadium as they lost for the 11th time in 13 games.

“That one hurts, it stings. You don’t want to lose division games at home,” running back Jonathan Taylor said Sunday. “No one’s coming to save us, but you’ve got to look yourself in the mirror and figure what type of kind of team you want to be. If you want to be a really good team, you just can’t lose division games at home.”

If the miscues aren't fixed fast, things could get worse. Indy visits Minnesota (5-0) this week and defending AFC South champ and current division leader Jacksonville (4-2) next week before returning home against Dallas on Nov. 8 as they try to deal with a major distraction.

So even though Steichen hated to see his friend go, his message to the team remains simple — play to Ballard's standard by staying focused, digging deep and turning things around.

“I said ‘Look, here’s the reality of the situation. We're 2-4. We dug ourselves a hole," Steichen said. "We dug ourselves a hole together, and we've got to dig ourselves out together. That was the message — a ton of football ahead of us, but we've got to put our heads down and work.”

What’s working

Keenan Allen. Despite his slow start, injury and the uncertainty over his pending legal case, the six-time Pro Bowler appears to be rounding into form. He had eight catches for 82 yards.

What needs help

Turnovers. Entering Monday night, only five teams have more giveaways than Indy (11), and no team has fewer takeaways than the Colts (three). So in the one stat that correlates best to winning and losing in the NFL, Indy ranks last in the league with a minus-8 turnover margin.

Stock up

WR Deion Burks. The rookie who played at Purdue and Oklahoma is gaining playing time and making an impact. Against the Titans, he had two receptions for 41 yards, one carry for 7 yards and averaged 20.6 yards on four kickoff returns. With return specialist Anthony Gould (concussion) injured, Burks could get even more playing time.

Stock down

Jones. It's been a rough start for the quarterback. He's completing 59.6% of his throws, has four TDs and six interceptions, no 300-yard games and has been sacked 15 times. He's also had three straight games with passer ratings under 80 in addition to all those turnovers.

Key injuries

Besides Gould, All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner left with a calf injury. Steichen called Gardner week to week Monday. TE Tyler Warren was inactive Sunday because of a groin injury he suffered in Friday's practice. No. 1 receiver Alec Pierce (heel) is now eligible to return from injured reserve. But Steichen said he's still rehabbing and won't practice this week.

Key number

Five — The Colts allowed Tennessee to score on all five of its second-half possessions after a first-half shutout.

Up next

The Colts are facing major obstacles as they begin this two-game road trip against two potential playoff teams.

___

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

1. Hegseth meets Netanyahu in unannounced Israel visit  Al Jazeera
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The Cleveland Browns were able to come out with a huge win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, taking first place in the AFC North in the process.

Despite the team being down 10-0 at one point, this team didn't quit at all, inching back throughout the game. The Browns were able to hit a game-winning field goal to seal the victory, giving the team its fourth win of the season.

While the game wasn't pretty, the Browns found a way to win, which is all the team can ask for. Cleveland now sits with a record of 4-2 on the season, leading the division this late in the year for the first time in a long time.

The Browns remain one of the bigger surprises of the year in the NFL, giving this team the belief that they can go on a playoff run. Cleveland wasn't expected to do much this season, but the entire group kept the confidence in the locker room.

After the win, the Browns were moved up in a new edition of NFL power rankings from Bleacher Report, going from No. 17 to No. 13. The team likely didn't go up further due to the sloppy performance that it took to win the game.

Baltimore was also playing with a backup quarterback, likely adding to how the team was ranked following the victory. But for a franchise like the Browns, which hasn't seen much success of late, getting a win over its division rival was massive.

Cleveland can now take this to build even more momentum going forward, and the Browns are 2-0 in division play so far. The Browns have won all three games that they have played at Huntington Bank Field this season, showing a strong determination to defend their home turf.

The Browns know that there is still a lot of work to do for them to make the playoffs, but this has been an excellent start to the season. Cleveland has backed this team fully, and the players on the field have given this city something to cheer about again.

Next up for the Browns is a matchup against the Tennessee Titans on the road, before they head out to play the Pittsburgh Steelers again. Cleveland has a favorable schedule remaining this season, and if this group keeps playing in this manner, the playoffs could become a reality.

Former head coach Urban Meyer watches from the sideline during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.

When the NIL and transfer portal era first arrived in college football, former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach and current Fox Sports analyst Urban Meyer thought that the gap between the sport’s blue bloods and the other programs would widen, leading to more dominance and titles for schools like Alabama and Georgia.

However, while talking to Colin Cowherd on The Herd, the Buckeyes legend admits that things haven’t gone the way he predicted they would and has changed his mind on how he views NIL.

“I misfired on the whole conversation about NIL and transfer portal,” Meyer said. “I thought the rich would get richer. What it’s done is make parity in college football.

“I misfired on the whole conversation about NIL and transfer portal. I thought the rich would get richer. What it’s done is make parity in college football.” – Urban Meyer https://t.co/URKSjxckXE

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 19, 2026

“I’ve talked to many of my colleagues in the last couple weeks. You flip on UCLA, and then you flip on Alabama, what’s the difference? I don’t know. One team runs the ball a little better, and that’s UCLA. It’s amazing what has really happened to the game of college football with the NIL and with the transfer portal.”

Meyer’s comments came after one of the most exciting Saturdays in college football history, which saw the AP Poll No. 1 lose for the second week in a row, multiple other top 10 teams go down, and the UCLA Bruins left standing as the last undefeated team in either the Big Ten or SEC.

Not everyone on board

It’s hard to imagine this sort of parity before NIL and the transfer portal. Still, not everyone has been impressed with the modern era of college sports. Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban has been a staunch supporter of reigning things in regarding both NIL and the transfer portal via the controversial Protect College Sports Act.

“Well, I think things got out of control based on name, image, and likeness. And look, I want players to make money,” Saban said on ESPN last month.

“I want players to have their own name, image, and likeness,” Saban responded. “There’s not any business in the world that can function without a budget and some guidelines. If you ask an NFL owner, what would you do if all your players were free agents every year? Oh, we couldn’t operate.

“What would you do if you didn’t have a salary cap? Oh, we couldn’t operate. We’d go broke. Well, what’s going to happen in college sports is you’re going to either take money from the academic side to support athletics because we’re in a runaway, you know, financial situation, or you’re going to drop other Olympic sports and non-revenue sports that are very important to creating opportunities for young people.

“So this is going to put some parameters on that so that we don’t have to take money from academics. We can still provide opportunities for Olympic and women’s sports, which I think is one of the most important things this does. And we still pay players, and they still have authentic name, image, and likeness. So I just think this gives us some guidelines so that we can have some rules and regulations that will actually enhance players’ opportunities to be more successful.”

The PCSA faces an uncertain future in Washington, D.C., so Meyer may be able to enjoy his parity for a bit longer.

The post ‘It’s amazing’: Urban Meyer has changed the way he views NIL and transfer portal appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

1 player Cowboys must trade before 2026 NFL trade deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys need to make a difficult decision before the 2026 NFL trade deadline, and George Pickens should be at the center of the conversation. The Cowboys are sitting at 2-4; their season is already heading in the wrong direction, and the franchise has only a few weeks to decide whether it can convince its star wide receiver that his future belongs in Dallas.

Unless something changes quickly, the Cowboys should trade Pickens before the deadline rather than risk losing him for nothing next offseason.

The Cowboys have little time to change Pickens’ mind

There is no denying Pickens’ value to the Cowboys. After arriving from the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason, he delivered the best season of his career in 2025, recording 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors, establishing himself as one of the NFL’s most dangerous receivers.

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Dallas made an excellent move by acquiring him, but the situation has become more complicated.

Pickens is playing on the franchise tag in 2026, earning $27.3 million on a fully guaranteed one-year deal. The Cowboys opted not to pursue a long-term extension before the July deadline, meaning contract negotiations cannot resume until after the regular season.

Pickens wants the long-term security that comes with a major contract, and Dallas has not shown that it is ready to make that commitment. The Cowboys could still change course, but their disappointing start makes it harder to envision Pickens viewing Dallas as the ideal place to spend the prime years of his career.

Winning could change the conversation. At 2-4, however, the Cowboys have plenty of work to do before they can convince anyone that they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

Dallas could get a significant return for PickensJerome Miron-Imagn Images

The good news for Jerry Jones is that Pickens should generate interest if the Cowboys make him available. Teams looking for a difference-maker at wide receiver would have a chance to acquire a player coming off an All-Pro season, and his talent makes him an appealing addition for a contender trying to strengthen its offense.

Jones would be justified in demanding a substantial return. Pickens is not an ordinary rental receiver, and his ability to make explosive plays gives him serious value. However, the franchise-tag situation complicates any potential deal because an acquiring team would have to consider the possibility of negotiating a long-term contract after the season.

Some teams might be willing to surrender prime draft capital for the opportunity to extend Pickens. Others could hesitate to pay a significant price for a player they might only have for the remainder of 2026. That uncertainty would make negotiations challenging, but it should not stop Jones from exploring his options.

The Cowboys must weigh what Pickens can provide over the next several months against what they could receive in a trade. If the team believes a playoff push is realistic, keeping him makes sense. If Dallas continues to struggle, moving him becomes a much more logical decision.

Jerry Jones cannot afford to lose a superstar for nothing

The biggest concern is what happens if the Cowboys hold onto Pickens and fail to reach an agreement after the season. He could enter free agency in 2027, leaving Dallas without the receiver or the draft capital it could have acquired by trading him.

That would be a difficult outcome to accept after Jones made the decision to trade for Pickens in the first place. The move paid off immediately, with Pickens producing at an elite level and giving Dak Prescott another dangerous weapon alongside CeeDee Lamb. But acquiring a star is only part of the challenge. Dallas must also decide how to keep that player or maximize his value before the relationship reaches its end.

If the losses continue piling up, Jones should pick up the phone and listen to offers. Trading Pickens would not erase the success of last year’s deal. Instead, it could be the next step in making sure Dallas receives lasting value from an investment that has already paid dividends.

Related: ‘Frustrated’ Stephen Jones still confident in Cowboys coaching staff despite tough loss to Packers

Related: Cowboys’ perfect Josh Sweat trade offer to Cardinals before NFL trade deadline

1. From France to Albania, social unrest is setting Europe’s streets ablaze  AP News
2. What’s making Europe so angry? The frustration behind the protests  CNBC
3. As France erupts, Europe's far right gains from fuel-price anger ahead of elections  Reuters
4. Why are people protesting across Europe?  The Guardian
5. Italy, Spain, Belgium, Portugal: Social unrest spreads across Europe amid soaring energy prices and a housing crisis  Le Monde.fr

1. Judge leans toward extending halt on tree clearing at golf course where Trump says redesign should start ‘immediately’  NBC News
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3. Tensions flare at court hearing on Trump’s golf course renovation after president says construction will begin ‘immediately’  CNN
4. Trump Golf Course Dispute Sparks Clash Between Judge and DOJ  The New York Times
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3. 'A heart of gold': Friends remember beloved teacher killed in Bend school shooting  KTVB
4. Bend police wrap up evidence collection at Silver Rail Elementary, will turn school back over to district  Yahoo

The San Francisco 49ers aim to stay perfect on the season as they host the Washington Commanders on Monday. Follow the action with Sportsnet's live tracker beginning at 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT.

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The Golden State Valkyries look to protect home court in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream on Monday. Follow the action with Sportsnet's live tracker beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

The Tampa Bay Rays look to punch their ticket to the World Series as they battle the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of the ALCS on Monday. Live coverage on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, or follow along with our live tracker.

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2. Political hate speech can have real-word fallout. After the alleged attack on Helen Haines, our leaders must act  The Guardian
3. Australian prime minister says lawmaker critically injured by car is 'no accident'  NPR
4. Australian lawmaker Helen Haines in critical condition after vehicle attack  Yahoo News Canada
5. Brendan Nugent named as driver apprehended over alleged attack on Helen Haines  The Guardian

1. Jensen Huang’s ‘Digital Brains’ Rant Is… Concerning  Gizmodo
2. ‘Open your doors for AI’: German chancellor urges businesses to embrace AI as Nvidia announces new investments  CNBC
3. Germany Wants to Lead the World in Industrial AI: How NVIDIA Will Help  NVIDIA Blog
4. Siemens targets up to 80% factory automation with AI, board member says  Reuters
5. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warns Germany is falling behind in AI race  Euronews.com

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1. ‘Help me!’ Videos of ICE violently detaining man who says he’s U.S. citizen spark outrage  Los Angeles Times
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3. ICE agents accused of breaking man's arm in Long Beach. Congressman Robert Garcia calls for investigation  ABC7 Los Angeles
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The Toronto Maple Leafs' hot-handed winger will be available for Monday night's showdown against the San Jose Sharks (Sportsnet+, 7:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 p.m. PT) after previously being deemed a game-time decision due to an illness.

No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna meets No. 2 Ivar Stenberg as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the San Jose Sharks on Monday. Live coverage on Sportsnet+ begins at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, or follow along with our live tracker.