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When the 2026 NFL draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Pittsburgh (ESPN, ABC and ESPN App), we're confident that the first pick will have the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. As for the other 31 picks in Round 1? The possibilities are endless. In an attempt to cut through the rumors and silliness that envelop draft week, Matt Miller has used info from NFL scouts and evaluators to power this final mock draft.

DENVER -- As the series between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves shifts cities, the animosity between the two teams continues to build. Following Minnesota's 119-114 Game 2 win in Denver late Monday night, Timberwolves wing Jaden McDaniels called several Nuggets players "bad defenders," identifying Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Cam Johnson by name. "They've just been saying a lot," Johnson said in response. "All season, all series. Let them talk.

Ed Smith, the former national selector, has been appointed to the ECB board as a non-executive director. Smith, who played for Middlesex and Kent, appeared in three Tests for England in 2003. He will join the ECB on October 1 when his one-year term as MCC President ends. Smith, 48, served as England men's selector from 2018 to 2021.

The 2026 NLL playoffs begin Friday when the top-seeded Vancouver Warriors host the Halifax Thunderbirds. The Warriors will have home-floor advantage throughout the postseason after finishing the regular season with a league-best 13-5 record and clinching the No. 1 seed in the eight-team playoff. The fifth-seeded Buffalo Bandits seek their fourth straight NLL Cup. Here are key facts about the 2026 NLL playoffs: How can fans watch?

INDIANAPOLIS -- Caitlin Clark had a demand as she wrapped up her Media Day session on Wednesday inside Gainbridge Arena. The Indiana Fever star ordered the gaggle of media to crowd together so she could take a photo of them. "You guys always take photos of me, so go over there and act like you like each other," Clark said, waving her hands to move the crowd similar to her directing an offense on the court.

Chelsea have sacked head coach Liam Rosenior after less than four months in charge, the club announced on Wednesday. Tuesday's dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton meant the Blues have lost five consecutive league games without scoring a goal for the first time since 1912 and are on the brink of failing to qualify for next season's Champions League. - Sources: Estêvão (hamstring) in doubt for WC They are seventh in the Premier League, seven points adrift of fifth-place Liverpool with five games to play.

The Kansas City Royals and Hallmark Cards on Wednesday announced they are teaming up to build a new ballpark in downtown Kansas City. Officials said the ballpark at Crown Center would surround mixed-use development and reimagined headquarters for both the Royals and Hallmark Cards Inc. They estimate it would create more than 20,000 jobs in the construction phase alone.

NFL teams have been resistant to taking running backs high in the draft, but the betting market believes Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love could change that this year. Love was an odds-on favorite to be taken fourth overall in Thursday's draft, listed at -105 at DraftKings as of Wednesday morning. The Tennessee Titans own the fourth overall pick. But Love's odds to go even earlier have seen more dramatic movement. Editor's Picks NFL draft props: Will Jeremiyah Love go in the top five?

As the 2027 recruiting cycle heats up this spring, nearly half of the 21 five-star prospects in the latest SC Next ESPN 300 are already off the board. Within that group, there are six recruits ranked No. 1 at their respective positions, including top defensive tackle and No. 1 overall recruit Jalen Brewster (Texas Tech), offensive tackle Maxwell Hiller (Florida), running back Kemon Spell (Georgia) and wide receiver Easton Royal (Texas).

Three Puducherry cricketers - J Karthiyeyan, A Aravindaraj and S Santhosh Kumaran - have been suspended from "all cricketing activities" conducted by the Cricket Association of Puducherry (CAP), following charges of assault on an Under-19 coach. In a statement, CAP said the three players were involved "in a grave criminal case, including charges of attempt to murder and assault on Mr. Venkataraman, CAP's U19 coach".