Preston Byers Articles - Page 22

When the New York Jets acquired Haason Reddick from the Philadelphia Eagles in April, they seemingly thought they were getting a disgruntled player who would be determined to prove his worth on the field. In reality, however, Reddick has proven a change of scenery or a hard-line stance by Jets general manager Joe Douglas cannot […]

As Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season approaches, the San Francisco 49ers are at the center of two of the most difficult contract negotiations in the league. On one end, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is doing a ‘sit-in’ as he seeks a lucrative extension. And on the other, there is left tackle Trent Williams, […]

While NFL teams are preparing for the start of another new season, some of the league’s most prominent players still have the Olympics on their minds. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons belongs to that group, with the three-time All-Pro declaring his interest in playing for the United States’ flag football team in 2028. In past […]

Colorado’s football program is probably the most polarizing in the entire country, and two-way star Travis Hunter’s goals for the 2024 season likely aren’t going to stop that. Led by Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, a.k.a. ‘Coach Prime,’ Colorado garnered great attention early in the 2023 season amid a 3-0 start. After wins against then-No. […]

The 2023 season seemed so promising for Robert Saleh and the New York Jets. After winning four games in 2021 and seven in 2022, the Jets signed future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and appeared to be ready to finally contend. And in just a few plays, the season’s trajectory was wildly different. Instead […]

An 11-time All-Star, Chris Bosh was once one of the NBA’s effective players and a key part of two Miami Heat championship teams. However, Bosh, unlike most, did not get to end his career on his own terms. At one time, Bosh appeared he may be a pivotal piece of the Heat’s rebuild when LeBron […]

Florida State football head coach Mike Norvell had a very good case last season when the College Football Playoff committee excluded his Seminoles from the four-team playoff despite having an undefeated record and the ACC championship. However, at least one of those attributes won’t be an issue this season after FSU’s season-opening loss to Georgia […]

The relationship between Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert will be an interesting one to follow in Harbaugh’s first season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Previously, Harbaugh has had tremendous success with quarterbacks, and if Chargers’ fan prayers are answered, Herbert may finally be able to secure a playoff victory. Although the results will be determined […]

A first-round draft pick last year, Jahmyr Gibbs played a large role in the Detroit Lions’ offense as a rookie. During a year in which the Lions won 12 games, captured the NFC North title for the first time, and narrowly missed out on a Super Bowl berth, Gibbs surpassed 1,000 total yards and scored […]

The Columbus Blue Jackets may be rebuilding, but the team’s new president and general manager is not OK with losing — even after trading away Patrik Laine. Don Waddell, who succeeded John Davidson and Jarmo Kekäläinen as the Jackets’ president and general manager, respectively, is desperately trying to change the culture of the Columbus franchise, […]

Strahinja Jokic, the oldest brother of Denver Nuggets superstar and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, has been charged with third-degree assault stemming from an incident in April during a Nuggets home playoff game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. After the Nuggets defeated the Lakers to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series, a […]

Since arriving to the New Orleans Saints in 2017, Taysom Hill has been used in a variety of positions and situations, including at quarterback, tight end, and on special teams. And ahead of the 2024 NFL season, Saints head coach Dennis Allen is trying Taysom Hill at another position: fullback. Fullback, in many ways, is […]

New York Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is “real close to a return,” according to the club’s manager Aaron Boone. Chisholm, who was acquired by the Yankees from the Miami Marlins at the MLB trade deadline, played 14 games with his new team until sustaining an injury on Aug. 12 in a blowout loss […]

A contract extension was thought to be a foregone conclusion for Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. While Sid is no longer a kid, he has remained one of the NHL’s best and most popular players despite entering his late 30s. But there’s now a greater possibility than ever that Crosby will not finish his […]

Drew Bledsoe’s career will forever be tied, in some ways, to Tom Brady’s. Bledsoe was the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback when Brady was drafted with the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, and less than 18 months later, Brady replaced an injured Bledsoe and never relinquished the starter position ever again. The […]

The Boston Celtics are the defending NBA champions, but Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, is ready to turn the page and start focusing on staving off challengers for the title. Brown told NBC Sports Boston that it’s time to lock in for the 2024-25 season. “Last year is over, to be honest. We […]

Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook’s on-court rivalry is well-documented, with the two former Western Conference foes duking it out in the regular season and playoffs several times. But the feud, according to Lillard, started to gnaw at Westbrook’s then-Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant. While much of the focus when the Thunder and Portland Trail […]

After winning the 2023 NBA Championship, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets fell well short of preseason expectations in 2024, falling in the second round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The offseason has been a mixed bag so far for the Nuggets, with the team losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope but adding Russell Westbrook. But […]

Fans viewed Zion Williamson as a “can’t-miss” prospect when he came of Duke in 2019. However, the New Orleans Pelicans star has struggled to stay on the court consistently. In three separate seasons, he’s played fewer than 30 games, including one season he didn’t play at all. While not confirmed, much has been speculated about […]

Despite assembling a roster often compared to the “Dream  Team” of 1992, the 2024 Olympics version of Team USA sometimes struggled to live up to the great expectations placed upon them. Although the American All-Star roster ultimately won another gold medal, Carmelo Anthony, one of the most successful basketball Olympians of all time believes two […]

Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton went to battle on the hardwood during the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers second-round playoff series this past season, but it’s possible we could eventually see them on a different battleground: a WWE ring. Brunson and Haliburton, both All-NBA players, likely have some years left in their NBA careers, […]

Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack is one of the NFL’s best defensive players in the last decade, but Mack appears to be at least considering the idea of retirement. Mack, 33, is entering his third season with the Chargers, and while the team is not a Super Bowl favorite, it’s clear that Mack […]

As part of Ohio State football’s makeover after a third-consecutive loss to Michigan, Ryan Day hired UCLA head coach Chip Kelly as the Buckeyes’ new offensive coordinator. But Urban Meyer, Day’s predecessor, said OSU fans shouldn’t expect the “Blur” offense for which Kelly became famous at Oregon. As the head coach of the Ducks, Kelly, […]

The Atlanta Falcons’ decision to trade for the New England Patriots’ Matthew Judon was met with confusion and skepticism, but if Mike Florio’s latest speculation proves correct, then the trade could turn out to be the worst in quite some time. Judon, who is entering the final season of a four-year contract, had been locked […]

Austin Dillon’s NASCAR Cup Series win at Richmond over the weekend drew a ton of criticism, from fans and drivers alike, after Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to eke out the victory and (temporarily) secure a spot in the playoffs. And Dale Earnhardt Jr. has now weighed in on the incident. Dillon, who […]

After being selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes famously rode the bench as Alex Smith started at quarterback. And while the pair of QBs would only be teammates for that one season, Mahomes said Smith taught him a lot that has helped propel him […]

Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown has had a reputation of being cheap, and according to a former NFL executive, he is also a tough, stubborn negotiator, which may cause issues for wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Chase, who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, is itching for […]

Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze drew some criticism for claiming that he should have four wins, not two, against former Alabama football coach Nick Saban. Freeze had said recently that he, between his stints at Auburn and Ole Miss, should have a 4-2 record against Saban, who retired in January. Offered to expand on […]

For nearly a year in 2022, Brittney Griner was detained in a Russian prison, never knowing if she would return home or play basketball ever again. And today, less than two years after being released as part of a prisoner exchange, Griner won her third Olympic gold medal. Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury […]

As Team USA struggled with a stiff challenge from France in the Olympic final, the internet, as usual, added its two cents. During a game in which the American women had to come back against the French, fans on social media kept bringing up the name of a WNBA player who was controversially left off […]

Following Team USA’s gold-medal victory over France in the finals of the Olympic Games, LeBron James was named the men’s basketball MVP. While James played well throughout the Olympics, Stephen Curry stood out in the semifinals and final, which led former NBA player Stephon Marbury to call out the MVP decision. James and Curry, two […]

The WNBA may be the top women’s basketball league, but the upcoming Unrivaled league is expected to give the best players a shot to earn some major money during the offseason by competing with and against each other. And according to Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled’s one-vs-one tournament will offer a big prize. While Unrivaled will be […]

Nikola Jokic and Serbia nearly upended Team USA in the semifinals of the Olympics, but after a close, heartwrenching loss, the Serbians bounced back to defeat Germany 93-83 and claim the bronze medal. While Jokic struggled with his three-point shot against the Americans — he missed each of his six attempts in the semifinals — […]

As the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, much was expected of Kyler Murray coming out of Oklahoma. While leading the Arizona Cardinals, however, there have been rampant questions about his commitment and maturity, issues that have reportedly begun to subside. Late in the 2022 season, Murray, […]

Former Michigan football and current Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has effectively been banned from college athletics for the next four years, and the coach finally commented on the NCAA ruling that came down this week. During a Chargers training camp press conference, Harbaugh was asked about the NCAA’s punishment for recruiting violations. […]

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke on the impact and his feelings on the death of Billy Bean, the former MLB ambassador for inclusion and senior vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Bean, one of the first openly gay former MLB players, died after a battle with cancer on Tuesday. Bean was drafted […]

Following the dismissal of manager Pedro Grifol, as well as multiple coaches, the Chicago White Sox have chosen former Cleveland Guardians player Grady Sizemore as the club’s interim manager. Sizemore, who played for the then-Indians from 2004 to 2011 and then with the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Tampa Bay Rays during the 2014 […]

While it seems like San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will eventually be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the deal is not done — as you have probably read from many reporters — and now reports are surfacing that the Steelers’ offer to Aiyuk and the Niners may not be as high as it […]

For the first time since 2019, the Buffalo Bills will be without Stefon Diggs. The perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver played four seasons in Buffalo with quarterback Josh Allen, but following another postseason disappointment, the Bills traded Diggs to the Houston Texans. The divorce between Diggs and the Bills seemed destined to happen at some […]