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Earlier this week, Ja Morant pulled out a gun celebration, and it was reported that he was given a warning by the NBA after an investigation.Well, he didn’t quite get the message, as he did the celebration again on Thursday.After hitting a three-pointer, Morant motioned his arms to that of a large gun.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on April 3, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. (Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)The celebration occurred just over five minutes into the ball game.Morant’s first instance of the celebration this week occurred against the Golden State Warriors. The act saw Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, two Golden State stars, visibly upset on the hardwood, with the latter trying to plead to the referee that something should be done to discipline Morant. Morant’s history with gun-related suspensions made the gesture blow up across the basketball world. He was suspended for eight games in March 2023 after brandishing a handgun on social media at the strip club Shotgun Willie’s outside of Denver.  Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after a basket during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors. (Petre Thomas-Imagn Images)NIKOLA JOKIC SCORES 61 POINTS IN EPIC PERFORMANCE BUT NUGGETS FALL IN DOUBLE OT: ‘THE GUY’S SUPERMAN’Then, Morant was docked the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season after he flashed a handgun again on a social media live video. Ahead of the suspensions, Morant found himself in trouble on more than one occasion, including one incident in which he got into a fight with a then-17-year-old during a pickup basketball game at his own home (it was ruled Morant acted in self-defense). Four days earlier, Morant had allegedly “threatened” the head of security at a Memphis mall, and a member of Morant’s group shoved him in the head.  Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dances as overtime expires against the New Orleans Pelicans during overtime at Smoothie King Center.  (Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMorant was also placed under the microscope after a January 2023 game in which an unidentified individual in the NBA star’s vehicle was accused of shining a laser pointer at the Indiana Pacers’ team bus. It happened after some members of Morant’s entourage were involved in a confrontation with a group of people in the Pacers’ traveling party.Fox News’ Scott Thompson and Chantz Martin contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A man in Georgia was sentenced to 12 years in jail for scamming millions of dollars from a potential basketball Hall of Famer.Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard testified in court that he gave Calvin Darden Jr. $7 million, thinking it was an investment toward the purchase of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.Howard, an eight-time All-Star, then learned Darden was not an owner of the team when ESPN reported the team had been sold to an investor group.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic argues a call during a preseason game against the Miami Heat at Amway Center Dec. 21, 2011, in Orlando, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)Prosecutors said Darden and a sports agent also conned ex-NBA player Chandler Parsons into sending $1 million that was supposed to aid in the development of James Wiseman, who was drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.But the two didn’t know Wiseman, and the player never agreed to be represented by the agent as they claimed to Parsons. Wiseman last played for the Indiana Pacers before being traded to the Toronto Raptors, who waived him earlier this year.A Manhattan federal court judge on Thursday ordered Darden to forfeit $8 million and several luxury items he acquired with his ill-gotten gains, including a $3.7 million Atlanta mansion, $600,000 in artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat, a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce. Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up ahead of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena March 18, 2022, in Toronto.  (Cole Burston/Getty Images)NBA ISSUES WARNING TO JA MORANT AFTER GRIZZLIES STAR’S APPARENT FINGER GUN GESTURE TOWARD WARRIORS: REPORTDarden was convicted by a jury in October of wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering charges.He was previously sentenced to a year in federal prison in New York for impersonating his father, Cal Darden, a former executive at Atlanta-based United Parcel Service, in a failed bid to buy Maxim magazine. Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Orlando Magic Jan. 21, 2022, at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.  (Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Atlanta Dream were once co-owned by former Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, but she was pressured to sell after clashing with players over her opposition to the league’s racial justice initiatives.Howard was the first pick of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without star first baseman Freddie Freeman for at least another week due to an unusual injury.Freeman played in the postseason last fall on a bad right ankle that was surgically repaired shortly after the Dodgers won the World Series.Freeman injured the ankle again after he slipped and fell in the shower at home.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman reacts after making the final out during the top of the third inning against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)”Freak accident, you can’t really make it up, crazy,” Freeman said earlier this week.Freeman reinjured the ankle Sunday, which was an off day for LA.”Halfway through my morning coffee, I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll just shower to get ready for the day.’ And next thing I know I’m down in the bathtub,” he said. “It’s a great mental picture if you guys want to think about it. Big guy falling all over the place.”Freeman’s wife and son couldn’t help but make fun of him, the first baseman quipped. Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after hitting a grand slam in the tenth inning against the New York Yankees during Game 1 of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)PHILLIES’ MATT STRAHM CALLS FOR PITCHERS TO USE PINE TAR AGAIN IN RESPONSE TO TORPEDO BAT CRAZE”Chelsea actually made the joke, ‘I thought I was going to deal with this when you’re 70, not when you’re 35,'” Freeman said. The bum ankle did not deter Freeman in October. He was named MVP of the World Series, driving in a record-tying 12 runs (in just five games), four of which came on his walk-off grand slam in Game 1. He also had two RBIs in the clincher and hit home runs in each of the first four games of the series.Freeman was thankful the ankle injury is all he’s dealing with.”It could have been much worse. I could have hit my head,” he said. Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman tosses to first for an out during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles March 29, 2025. (Jonathan Hui/Imagn Images)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFreeman has missed five of the Dodgers’ eight games, but they are doing just fine without him. They’re off to an 8-0 start.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell says his Seattle-area home was broken into last week.No one was at the home at the time of the break-in. Snell was in Los Angeles for the Dodgers’ home opener the following day, which he started.”I can confirm that our home was recently broken into,” Snell said in a statement, via NBC KING 5. “Thankfully no one was harmed. We’re working closely with local authorities and are incredibly grateful for their swift response and ongoing support. “We have security footage that is actively assisting in the investigation, and we’re confident the individuals responsible will be caught and removed from our community. If you know something, say something — please contact local law enforcement.”CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell throws during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium.  (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)Police were notified of the break-in March 26, one day before the game. Officers found a broken window when they arrived at the home.Edmonds Police Commander Josh McClure said it was unclear whether anything had been stolen because “there had clearly been some high-value items that had been left there.”Snell’s home was broken into the same week as former Seattle Seahawks star Richard Sherman’s in nearby King County. The homes are separated by a 6-mile ferry ride. Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (7) talks with catcher Will Smith during the fourth inning against the Hanshin Tigers at Tokyo Dome.  (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)PHILLIES’ MATT STRAHM CALLS FOR PITCHERS TO USE PINE TAR AGAIN IN RESPONSE TO TORPEDO BAT CRAZE”Of course, there’s always the possibility that they’re connected. We don’t have enough information to say they’re connected,” McClure said.A number of break-ins were reported at the homes of several high-profile athletes during the fall, including Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Joe Burrow, prompting alerts from leagues to use caution.Tua Tagovailoa said he hired armed security and jokingly dared burglars to try breaking into his home. Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell stands on the mound during the first inning against the Hanshin Tigers at Tokyo Dome.  (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPSnell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, signed a five-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, joining an already stacked squad. The Dodgers’ home opener was their third regular-season game after they played a two-game set in Tokyo earlier in the month.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Women’s fencer Stephanie Turner became a household name overnight among activists for women’s rights in sports.A viral video of Turner kneeling to protest a transgender opponent ignited more debate about transgender inclusion in women’s sports, especially fencing. “It will probably, at least for the moment, destroy my life,” Turner told Fox News Digital. “It’s very hard for me to do this.”CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHer decision was driven by her opposition to competing against biological males. “This is a serious issue that is happening within all sports, and it needs to be addressed. There is a difference between men and women,” Turner said. “It is a civil rights movement for women and girls, and I prioritize the safety and rights and protection of women and girls over trans-identified males.” Her belief even overpowered her lifelong political allegiance. Turner, a long-time registered Democrat who broke from the party for the most recent election, says she is now a “new Republican conservative.”She switched parties over the issue of transgender athletes in women’s and girls sports. “A small group of people is holding a much larger athlete base hostage to extremist liberal views,” Turner said. How did it get to this point? She comes from a liberal background Fencer Stephanie Turner kneels in front of a USA Fencing official. (Courtesy of Icons)Turner was born and raised in Washington D.C., and now lives in deep blue Montgomery County, Maryland. Over the years, she’s been involved in a close friend group, which includes other fencers. It also includes multiple members of the LGBT community.WHO IS BLAIRE FLEMING? SJSU VOLLEYBALL PLAYER DOMINATING FEMALE RIVALS AND ENRAGING WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS”They did not know I had this opinion about transgender women in women’s sports. And one of them was one of my really good friends at the [fencing] club. He’s in the LGBT community, and a lot of my friends are also in the LGBT community. And I don’t want them to be mad at me for this. I love them on a personal level. “I don’t want them to think that I somehow hate them. And I don’t want to lose them as friends.” But Turner also feels she can’t have legitimate discussions with some people about the issue. “They lie and say that estrogen can make a man a woman also to the point where you can not tell the difference, and it just becomes an insane argument.”She started fencing in college and gradually avoided trans competitorsTurner, 31, ventured into competitive fencing 12 years ago at age 19. She joined the club at the University of Maryland and has stuck with it ever since. She later qualified to compete in USA Fencing. “I commit a lot of time and money for this,” Turner said, citing travel, equipment and registration expenses.Turner’s official Fencing Tracker page shows 21 podium finishes, including a gold medal in women’s foil at an event called the Trick or Retreat ROC Aug. 18 in Edison, New Jersey.  Stephanie Turner (Courtesy of Sophie Turner; Patrick Smith/Getty Images)But she got to a point in her career when she had to be aware of the USA Fencing official gender eligibility policy.The official policy allows for transgenders to compete in the women’s category in both the junior and senior level after completing one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment. Proof of compliant hormone therapy must be provided prior to competition.TRANSGENDER FEMALE FENCER SCORES WORLD TITLE OVER 14-TIME CHAMPIONUSA Fencing has a policy announced in November 2022 to give preference when selecting host cities for national tournaments to states without laws that “harm members of LGBTQ communities” and states that do not “have laws undermining the reproductive health of women.””In fencing, personally, I see it quite often,” Turner said. “I have witnessed transgender fencers in women’s tournaments and girls tournaments in different age categories, specifically Y-14 (the youngest age group).” Turner had a previous experience avoiding a trans opponent in the summer of 2013. She saw reports of a trans athlete who she had previously known as a biological male fencer, by another name. When Turner saw the athlete was listed as a competitor in that year’s Summer Nationals, she decided not to go. “I never registered because I knew that he was going to be in there,” Turner said. “In previous years, when I had known about transgender fencers being present, I just didn’t register.”She ended up facing a trans athlete last weekend and decided to do something differentTurner always made sure to avoid registering for events after vetting them for trans athletes.But what she couldn’t foresee was one of them registering after she did. That happened for the first time last weekend for a Division I-A event called the Cherry Blossom Open at her alma mater, the University of Maryland. Redmond Sullivan, who previously competed in the men’s division, according to Fencing Tracker, was registered and placed in the same bracket as Turner. She only learned this at 10:30 p.m. the night before her matchup with Sullivan. By that point, she was considering a different approach to handling the situation considering how frequent trans inclusion was becoming.”I had contemplated in the future that I wanted to avoid not registering for events, just because a transgender person was there, because it could just be every single one of my events has a transgender person,” Turner said. “So, I was like, ‘You know what, I’m just going to give it to God. If this person shows up into my event, and they’re on my strip, then I will take a knee, and that would be God’s will.” But Turner wanted to take things a step further, a step she knew could “destroy her life,” but she did it anyway.Just minutes before she took the strip to kneel against Sullivan, she went to one of her closest friends on the club for a favor. “I said, ‘I’m about to do something, and I want you to film it. I’m really nervous about it, and this is your last chance to leave if you want to,’ because I didn’t know what the reaction was going to be,” Turner said.Her friend agreed to film the kneel, recording a scene that would be witnessed across the fencing world. Turner was then dealt a black card, disqualified from the event and escorted out so quickly she didn’t get to say another word to her teammates, trainers or anyone else. Turner’s kneel has ignited global conversations and even a commercial Turner didn’t want this role. She admits to being a private person without any social media channels who “enjoys anonymity.””I was hoping someone else would come forward or the board of directors would have a change of heart,” Turner said.A nonprofit fencing organization penned an open letter to USA Fencing Board Members in December, urging the national governing body for the sport to reevaluate its stance on several issues, including transgender inclusion.”Politics aside, it is a reasonable request to form a task force to do a deeper dive on this issue in fencing and create a safe space where the voices of all women are heard without ridicule and abuse,” the letter said.But nothing was done.Turner is the latest combatant in the ongoing culture war over the issue of trans athletes in women’s sports. She has done a televised interview on Fox News Channel, her story has been covered by multiple media outlets and she is even featured in a commercial. The sports activist brand XX-XY Athletics released its new commercial featuring the clip of Turner’s kneel Thursday. For her, it’s all worth it if it means holding institutions like USA Fencing and politicians who have continued to enable trans inclusion accountable. “It’s a litmus test for common sense in whether a politician is able to lie to your face to abide to common culture,” Turner said. “Something needs to be done.” USA Fencing provided a statement to Fox News Digital addressing the incident. “USA Fencing enacted our current transgender and nonbinary athlete policy in 2023. The policy was designed to expand access to the sport of fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces. The policy is based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sports and was based upon the research available of the day,” the statement said.”We respect the viewpoints on all sides and encourage our members to continue sharing them with us as the matter evolves. It’s important for the fencing community to engage in this dialogue, but we expect this conversation to be conducted respectfully, whether at our tournaments or in online spaces. The way to progress is by respectful discussion based in evidence.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPA USA Fencing spokesperson also told Fox News Digital Turner was not penalized for her stance against trans inclusion, but simply for refusing to fence. “In the case of Stephanie Turner, her disqualification was not related to any personal statement but was merely the direct result of her decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent, which the FIE rules clearly prohibit,” the spokesperson said.”According to the FIE (International Fencing Federation) Technical Rules, specifically Article t.113, a fencer is not permitted to refuse to fence another properly entered fencer for any reason. Under these rules, such a refusal results in disqualification and the corresponding sanctions. This policy exists to maintain fair competition standards and preserve the sport’s integrity.” Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The 2025 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and there are some in the football world already focused on next year’s prospects, especially Texas quarterback Arch Manning. The son of Cooper Manning and the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch is finally expected to start for the Longhorns after Quinn Ewers entered the 2025 Draft class. Arch had been sitting behind the former Ohio State Buckeyes signal-caller the past two seasons. While many are hoping to see Arch tear up his college schedule next year, one NFL insider says it’s not a foregone conclusion Manning will be going pro in 2026. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns warms up before a game against the UTSA Roadrunners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Sept. 14, 2024, in Austin, Texas.  (Tim Warner/Getty Images)ESPN’s Adam Schefter made an appearance on “Get Up” Thursday and warned NFL teams and fans not hold out too much hope Arch will be available this time next year. “First of all, there’s no guarantees that Arch Manning’s coming out after next year,” Schefter said, via the New York Post. “It sounds like he certainly could be staying beyond next year.COOPER MANNING JOKES HOSPITAL NAMED AFTER HIS FAMILY SAW A LOT OF HIS SON, TEXAS STAR QB ARCH MANNING”I’m not a college football insider, but none of the Mannings ever went out early, and I don’t know, with NIL money being what it is, why Arch would do that? So, all of this conversation about tanking for Arch next year, he could be in the draft in 2027, not even next year.”Arch redshirted his first year in Austin, which means he meets the three years removed from high school requirement to enter the NFL Draft if he chooses in 2026.  Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning practices before the 2024 SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)But what if Arch doesn’t have a great season? And considering what his uncle did with the San Diego Chargers, basically forcing a trade to the New York Giants, maybe Arch won’t like teams trying to “tank for Arch,” Schefter suggested.There are a lot of what-ifs that will become more clear later this year when Arch takes over Steve Sarkisian’s offense. In 10 appearances last season, including two starts due to Ewers’ injuries, Manning threw for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 108 yards on 25 carries with four touchdowns on the ground.  Texas quarterback Arch Manning runs up the field during the second half against Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff Dec. 21, 2024, in Austin, Texas.  (AP Photo/Eric Gay)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPArch is valued at $6.6 million in NIL money, according to On3. So, as Schefter mentioned, he doesn’t have to jump to the pros to be paid.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ahead of a LIV Golf event at his Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, President Donald Trump is hosting members of the tour at the course.PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan recently dubbed Trump the “facilitator” of the ongoing discussions between the two golf tours — but nearly two years since the bombshell announcement was made of a potential deal, there has yet to be one.Trump gave his stance on what he hopes will happen on his way to South Florida.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Former President Donald Trump plays a round ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational series tournament at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Aug. 9, 2023. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)”Ultimately, hopefully, the two tours are going to merge. That’ll be good. I’m involved in that, too,” Trump said. “But hopefully we’re going to get the two tours to merge. You have the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour. And I think having them merge would be a great thing.”Trump called the LIV golfers — a roster that includes Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and others — “some of the best players in the world.”Back in February, the PGA Tour credited Trump for “[getting] involved for the good of the game,” and it appears there has been movement since he got involved.”Those talks are real. They’re substantial, and they’re being driven at the top levels of both organizations. Those talks have been significantly bolstered by President Trump’s willingness to serve as the facilitator,” Monahan said last month. “President Trump is a lifelong golf fan. He believes strongly in the game’s power and potential, and he has been exceedingly generous in his time and influence to help bring a deal together. He wants to see the game reunified. We want to see the game reunified, and his involvement has made the prospect of reunification very real.” Team Captain Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC interacts with former President Donald Trump on the fourth hole during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, New Jersey, on July 28, 2022. (Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images)PHILLIES’ MATT STRAHM CALLS FOR PITCHERS TO USE PINE TAR AGAIN IN RESPONSE TO TORPEDO BAT CRAZEMonahan added, “We believe there’s room to integrate important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform,” and said he could envision “a future” in which Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan can join the Tour’s board.”We’re doing everything that we can to bring the two sides together. That said, we will not do so in a way that diminishes the strength of our platform or the very real momentum with our fans and our partners,” he said, adding that “hurdles remain” between the two sides.Trump last month expressed optimism the two sides will get some type of deal done.”They’re gonna have to get together,” he said. “They’ve had a lot of discussion back and forth. They both are meaning well, and a deal will ultimately happen. I think it will happen pretty quickly. It would be nice to see the best golfers play against each other.” Former President Donald Trump is seen near the 16th tee during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, New Jersey, on July 29, 2022. (Mike Stobe/LIV Golf via Getty Images)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP”They are all great people, and they want to work it out,” Trump added. “So, if I can help work it out… I don’t get anything out of it. I can help them work it out. I just think golf — it’s very much an individual sport, and you want to see the best players playing against each other and not playing in two different locations.”Trump’s courses have hosted several LIV events since its inception, last hosting a PGA event in the mid-2010s.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

T.J. Finley was arrested this week for allegedly possessing stolen property.The Tulane quarterback told authorities he had just bought a vehicle, but authorities said his license plate was registered to a different one.As a result of the arrest, Finley was suspended from the team pending the outcome of the case.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback TJ Finley runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. (Will McLelland-USA TODAY Sports)The 23-year-old Finley was released without having to post bond after being booked Wednesday on a charge of possession of stolen goods valued at $25,000 or more.The Green Wave conducted spring practice without Finley on Thursday, when all QB duties were handled by two other transfers, Kadin Semonza from Ball State and Donovan Leary from Illinois.After practice, coach Jon Sumrall briefly addressed Finley’s suspension with reporters, largely deferring to the university’s official statement but adding, “When guys make mistakes, then they have to have accountability.” Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback TJ Finley throws a pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. (Will McLelland-USA TODAY Sports)COASTAL CAROLINA FOOTBALL FANS WILL BE ABLE TO EAT FOR FREE AT GAMES IN 2025During his time with Auburn nearly three years ago, Finley was arrested for allegedly evading police during a traffic stop.The arrest came shortly after he became the first college athlete to ink an NIL deal with Amazon. He reportedly discovered there was an active warrant for his arrest after he was cited for riding a moped without a helmet on July 26 on campus and turned himself in.Finley is now with his fifth college football program and entering his sixth college season. He transferred to Tulane after spending last season with Western Kentucky, where he played in just three games before an ankle injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Tulane will be his fourth school in as many years.That allowed him to take a redshirt and preserve his final season of eligibility. Texas State Bobcats quarterback TJ Finley on the sidelines during the second half against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. (Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Ponchatoula, Louisiana, native began his college career at LSU in 2020. He transferred to Auburn in 2021 and spent two seasons there before moving in 2023 to Texas State, where he passed for a career-best 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

It’s time to check in with NFL executives for thoughts on the biggest and most interesting moves NFC teams made — or have not yet made — in free agency.The once-sleepy Chicago Bears might have won the offseason, drawing positive reviews. The Minnesota Vikings remain the most intriguing team as ownership tries to downplay uncertainty over the general manager’s future. The San Francisco 49ers cleared the decks for a possible Brock Purdy contract, while the Washington Commanders loaded up in the absence of an expensive QB. The New York Giants tipped their hand in the draft, while the Seattle Seahawks did something winning teams almost never do.AdvertisementExecs discuss these subjects and much more as we run through the full NFC. For each team, we’ve listed the average per-year salary (APY) added and lost via free agency, along with the differential and league-wide rankings in each category, according to Spotrac.com.If you missed Wednesday’s story on the AFC, you can find it here.Arizona CardinalsAdded: $50.9M (10th) | Lost: $10.2M (30th) | Differential: $40.7M (4th)The Cardinals improved from 32nd in defensive EPA per play in 2023 to 23rd last season. They’ll be looking to make another jump after signing pass rusher Josh Sweat from Philadelphia ($19.1 million APY), run-stuffer Dalvin Tomlinson ($14.5 million APY) from Cleveland and old friend Calais Campbell ($5.5 million APY) from Miami.“Sweat has been a really good, solid, steady player, but they will have to manage his knee,” an exec said. “Is he going to practice every day? There is so much risk involved already. Why compound it?”The Cardinals needed help on their defensive front; free agency offers no perfect players, and Sweat was familiar to Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis from their days in Philadelphia. Adding the 38-year-old Campbell, who played for the Cardinals from 2008 to ’16 and is now on his fourth team in four seasons, gives Arizona another veteran mentor.Milton Williams, another Philly pass rusher, chose New England over Arizona and Carolina when the Patriots offered $26 million per year. The Cardinals pivoted to Sweat.“Having that familiarity will help,” another exec said of the Sweat signing, “but do I think Sweat is a great player? No. He helps them but doesn’t move the needle a great deal.”Atlanta FalconsAdded: $25.3M (24th) | Lost: $35.5M (16th) | Differential: -$10.2M (21st)The Falcons parted with mainstay defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who turns 32 in April. They added pass rusher Leonard Floyd, who turns 33 in September. They extended left tackle Jake Matthews, added linebacker Divine Deablo from the Raiders for $7 million per year and let center Drew Dalman leave in free agency after Ryan Neuzil developed into a cost-effective replacement.Advertisement“I don’t know that they got any better,” one exec said. “It boils down to Michael Penix and whether he is the guy.”Another exec called the Falcons’ moves “swapping average for average” with one benefit: Floyd’s familiarity with Falcons coach Raheem Morris from their time together on the Rams. Floyd, now on his fourth team in four seasons, has at least 8.5 sacks in each of the past five seasons. Myles Garrett is the only other player riding a streak that long.Next up: whether the Falcons trade Kirk Cousins after the draft.Would owner Arthur Blank be willing to pay most of Cousins’ $27.5 million salary for 2025, in exchange for a minimal return? Cousins, burned last offseason when the Falcons unexpectedly drafted Penix only weeks after his own signing in free agency, has a no-trade clause, meaning he can be selective. However that turns out, the Falcons won’t be getting better at the position.Carolina PanthersAdded: $53.4M (8th) | Lost: $14.9M (29th) | Differential: $38.5M (5th)With quarterback Bryce Young making strides in 2024 while the Panthers’ defense plummeted 10 spots to No. 32 in EPA per play, Carolina signed four defensive free agents from other teams to deals worth at least $7 million per year. That tied New England for the most by any team in free agency this offseason (Buffalo was third with three).“They got a little better, but they are still working from a deficit,” an exec said. “They were a three-year reset from last year, so this is just year two for them.”Carolina, like Arizona, lost out on Eagles defensive lineman Williams when New England outbid everyone, signing him to a deal worth $26 million per year. The Panthers presumably wanted to stay below the $24 million average for their own defensive lineman, Derrick Brown, and the $25 million figure for Jaycee Horn, the cornerback Carolina recently extended.AdvertisementThe Panthers instead bolstered their defensive front with Tershawn Wharton ($15 million APY) and Bobby Brown ($7 million APY), whose combined APY was $22 million.“It was easier for New England to do that with Milton Williams than it would have been for Carolina,” another exec said. “Wharton is smaller than Williams but had similar production.”Chicago BearsAdded: $50.9M (11th) | Lost: $24.2M (22nd) | Differential: $26.7M (8th)The Bears got high marks after addressing their offensive line by acquiring guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and adding center Drew Dalman from Atlanta in free agency.“I like what Chicago has done,” one exec said. “They have gotten better. I do not know how much we will see it in their record. If they win eight games, is that progress?”The Bears’ Vegas win total stands at 8.5 after the team finished 5-12 last season.“I applaud them for doing it the way they are doing it,” another exec said. “You get two proven commodities at guard, and the head coach (Ben Johnson) knows Jonah Jackson from Detroit. It’s an overpay for the center, but they have a chance to address left tackle in the draft and come away with a pretty formidable group.”Dalman differs in style from Frank Ragnow, the center Johnson had in Detroit. One exec thought it signaled a coming commitment to wide-zone running.“Detroit did a lot of that, but with the keeper element that Caleb Williams enables, your cutback is going to be there,” this exec said. “Time will tell if their guard play enables the gap-scheme element as a complement. I do think the integrity of the pocket, with that center, will be compromised in dropback situations. I’d imagine they are planning on staying out of those situations as much as they can.”Chicago’s two big additions to its defensive line, Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett, came from one team needing pass rush help (Indianapolis) and another desperate for it (Atlanta).Advertisement“The guy they signed from Indy (Odeyingbo) has the upside to get 8-10 sacks as an interior rusher,” an exec said. “He was hurt coming out of college and never fit in with what the Indy was doing. That is a good signing. Jarrett is just a run defender at this point.”Dallas CowboysAdded: $21.1M (29th) | Lost: $42.7M (11th) | Differential: -$21.6M (26th)The word “selectively” seems to be doing most of the work six weeks after Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones said Dallas would be “selectively aggressive” in free agency.“They are a well-run team, but what they want to do and what their fans want them to do are two different things right now,” an exec said. “They are more serious about staying relevant and keeping that brand up high than they are about winning.”There has been no big offseason push to catch Philadelphia in the NFC East, from the decision to replace coach Mike McCarthy from within to signing Dante Fowler Jr. to replace DeMarcus Lawrence on defense.“They are buying low on former highly drafted picks like Solomon Thomas and Kaiir Elam, but how often do those guys really pan out?” another exec said. “Jeff Okudah (signed by Minnesota) is Exhibit A. Third overall pick, now on his fourth team in four years.”Re-signing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa ($20 million APY) was critical for new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who struggled to find the right three-technique for his defenses in Chicago. But there’s still no deal for pass rusher Micah Parsons, whose price tag likely climbed after Cleveland signed Myles Garrett for $40 million per year.Parsons, who is scheduled to play on his fifth-year option in 2025, has 52.5 sacks over his first four seasons.An outspoken voice on social media and through his podcast, Parsons took harsh criticism recently from his former teammate Lawrence, who said this of Parsons upon signing with Seattle: “Maybe if you spent less time tweeting and more time winning, I wouldn’t have left.”AdvertisementMuch ado about nothing?“If you wait out Jerry (Jones), he will pay,” an exec said. “But there are people who think Parsons is ‘out there’ a little bit and might not be worth paying at the highest level, so it will be interesting to see where Dallas falls on that.”Jones’ claim that he didn’t even know the name of Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, and Parsons’ response added to the intrigue.Detroit LionsAdded: $26.4M (22nd) | Lost: $32.6M (19th) | Differential: -$6.2M (17th)Replacing cornerback Carlton Davis with D.J. Reed while re-signing linebacker Derrick Barnes, receiver Tim Patrick and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike made sense without addressing the two biggest issues facing Detroit: the pass rush and losing both coordinators to head-coaching jobs.“Reed isn’t necessarily better than Davis, but if you go with the culture narrative, Reed fits into that more than Carlton Davis did,” an exec said. “They got somebody who plays the way they want to play, attitude-wise.”Coaching free agency is where most of the conversations headed after the Lions replaced offensive coordinator Ben Johnson with John Morton and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn with Kelvin Sheppard.“There would be a lot about Detroit that scares me, but it’s not the players,” another exec said.Morton owns one season of NFL play-calling experience, with the 2017 New York Jets. Sheppard owns none. The uncertainty is palpable.“Ben Johnson took total advantage of the four-down game-management approach because he’s a really, really good play caller, an evil genius, really,” another exec said. “Losing him would almost be like the Rams losing Sean McVay.”How the staff utilizes players could become more important as Detroit funnels resources into new contracts for core players in the coming years.“I will be curious with role players if there is a dropoff because you have to have a vision for how to deploy these guys,” an exec said. “Glenn was really good at that, getting the best out of a Derrick Barnes and those guys.”AdvertisementGreen Bay PackersAdded: $32.8M (19th) | Lost: $19M (26th) | Differential: $13.8M (11th)Toughness was the theme execs saw in the Packers’ moves to sign guard Aaron Banks from the 49ers ($19.3 million APY) and cornerback Nate Hobbs from the Raiders ($12 million APY).“Jordan Love got hurt last year, so with Banks coming from the same offense, that allows them to add protection in a guy who is young and knows the system,” one exec said. “I do not know if Banks is the right guy, but I see the thinking behind what they are doing.”An exec more familiar with Banks liked the signing, which will bump Elgton Jenkins from left guard to center.“Banks is a good player and a physical, tough dude,” this exec said. “I think the 49ers wanted to keep him, but they weren’t paying anyone.”Toughness was part of the appeal with Hobbs amid expectations that Jaire Alexander might not be in the Packers’ future.“Hobbs will help them,” another exec said. “He is not going to be a prima donna like Jaire Alexander. He is going to come in and play hard, and that is going to be big for them. The mentality is good. He is also a versatile nickel guy — a tough, physical piece who the defensive coordinator can move around and use in different ways.”Los Angeles RamsAdded: $38.3M (14th) | Lost: $43M (10th) | Differential: -$4.7M (16th)How many playoff teams let their Super Bowl-winning quarterback explore trade opportunities before welcoming him back and proceeding as normal? The Rams did it with Matthew Stafford and lived to tell about it.“I would love to know how the conversation with Stafford went and whether he felt jilted or appreciated by it,” an exec said. “They were able to give him the opportunity to see if the grass was greener without ever losing him. They could stand on that, and that is a really powerful thing for a team, especially if they felt good about their offer.”AdvertisementAnother exec saw it as a wink-nod situation, where both sides probably knew Stafford would be returning.“I think secretly they have faith in Jimmy Garoppolo,” a third exec said. “You don’t mess around with your starting quarterback unless you are confident in the other guy.”The decision to add Davante Adams after releasing Cooper Kupp was interesting because Adams does not fit the typical mold of a Rams receiver. He’s a traditional X, not known for his blocking. Adams also likely sees himself as a true No. 1 receiver, but Puka Nacua is the workhorse for the Rams.“Davante is a little better separator (than Kupp), but there has been a dropoff in his ability to get consistently open,” another exec said.Some also wondered how Adams would fit in McVay’s scheme, which often puts receivers in condensed sets and features them as blockers. Could Adams evolve the way Larry Fitzgerald did later in his career? One exec found that unlikely.“Larry was willing to get rugged, block, do some dirty work over the middle,” this exec said.Minnesota VikingsAdded: $76.9M (2nd) | Lost: $96.5M (2nd) | Differential: -$19.6M (25th)The top three free agents Minnesota signed — guard Will Fries ($17.5 million APY, turns 27 on Friday), defensive tackle Jonathan Allen ($17 million APY, age 30) and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave ($15 million APY, age 32) — combined to miss 35 of 51 games last season. That caught execs’ attention at a time when general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has an unresolved contract. Some are questioning who is making the decisions for Minnesota.“It’s like the 2015 Colts all over again, signing older guys who have been hurt, who are on third or fourth contracts,” one exec said, referencing an Indianapolis team that added 30-something former stars Trent Cole, Frank Gore, Kendall Langford and Andre Johnson in free agency.AdvertisementIndy’s then-general manager, Ryan Grigson, is now the Vikings’ senior vice president of player personnel. Although Minnesota has struggled in the draft recently, the team has fared well at finding veteran pieces for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Will Allen and Hargrave be next?“There is no more fascinating team than Minnesota because they have 13- and 14-win seasons over the past three years but no playoff win to show for it and only one division title,” another exec said. “The head coach seems like a difference maker, a multiplier. If Kwesi does not get a new deal, would they just promote Grigson? It’s fascinating.”Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf sought to quash such speculation at the league meetings, noting that the organization has had “very, very positive conversations” with Adofo-Mensah regarding a new contract. He also indicated there would be no shift in the power dynamic between head coach and GM. But until a new deal is in place, people will wonder.The team’s handling of its quarterback situation also invited speculation, with execs suggesting Minnesota’s interest in Aaron Rodgers reflected uncertainty regarding J.J. McCarthy’s readiness to lead the team. Rodgers, who turns 42 in December, now stands as a potential fallback option later in the offseason, amid expectations he’ll sign with Pittsburgh instead.“You cannot build a team with old players, especially old players who have been cut because they were hurt,” the first exec said.Signing cut players instead of true unrestricted free agents does have one key advantage: Adding them does not threaten compensatory picks. The Vikings have a third-round comp pick this year for losing Kirk Cousins last spring. They are in line to add a 2026 third for Sam Darnold and a 2026 fifth for Cam Robinson, per Over the Cap.New Orleans SaintsAdded: $25.2M (25th) | Lost: $32.2M (20th) | Differential: -$7M (18th)AdvertisementAnother year, another round of execs suggesting the Saints should be starting over instead of coming back year after year with a modified version of the previous team.“It is easy to say from afar, but of all the teams, New Orleans, you can go get Arch Manning!” one exec said. “Tear the thing down! You are not really competitive, you have no answer at QB, you are bloated, you have cap issues and in a year, the prodigal son could return home. What am I missing?”In other news, the Saints re-signed Chase Young ($17 million APY) and Juwan Johnson ($10.3 million APY), while bolstering their secondary with former Chiefs safety Justin Reid ($10.5 million APY).“If the Saints said they were blowing it up, their fans would all get it,” the exec added. “This is a year you probably could have traded Derek Carr.”Did we mention Reid should upgrade the secondary?“That is one of the guys Kansas City is going to miss on defense,” another exec said. “He’s low key a really good player that nobody gives the credit he deserves, primarily because he doesn’t force turnovers. He is an enforcer, a good tackler, physical and consistent.”New York GiantsAdded: $75.4M (3rd) | Lost: $8.2M (32nd) | Differential: $67.2M (2nd)Russell Wilson plus Jameis Winston equals what for the Giants, after owner John Mara put his coach and GM on notice?“They went to Cam Ward’s pro day, came back from that and signed Russell Wilson,” one exec observed. “To me, that says that the owner said, ‘You cannot trade up for a quarterback. If one falls to you, great, draft him, but you are not trading up for one.’”When Mara said he was “running out of patience” but still trusts coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen, some took it to mean the owner was staying the course only reluctantly. Restricting the availability of future assets could be seen as a lack of faith.“There is a big push by the owners to stop firing people and eating all this dead money with coaches,” another exec said. “Some owners are paying credence to that.”AdvertisementThe Giants were 3-14 last season. Their Vegas win total for 2025 is 5.5.“If you have the most stable ownership, you come out and say, ‘I believe in these guys, it’s been a weird set of circumstances, but they are the right people,’” another exec said. “There is no way you can run a franchise going from three wins to playoffs as a mandate.”Signing cornerback Paulson Adebo from New Orleans ($18 million APY) and safety Jevon Holland from Miami ($15.1 million APY) could help the secondary, at least.“If you don’t let Xavier McKinney go to market last year, you don’t need Holland this year,” an exec said. “You are being reactive. Adebo is decent when healthy but coming off injury. Holland had a downtick last year with Miami, but he is still young, and if you are going to sign someone, sign someone young.”Philadelphia EaglesAdded: $13.9M (30th) | Lost: $77.7M (5th) | Differential: -$63.8M (31st)The Super Bowl champs lost much more than they gained with Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Mekhi Becton, Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson leaving the roster, but they kept All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun, which didn’t seem assured, and they gave running back Saquon Barkley a good-faith salary bump.The departures put Philadelphia in position to land 2026 compensatory picks in the third, fourth and fifth rounds — additional opportunities to supplement a roster that is highly talented and also highly leveraged.“They have so much money guaranteed in the future, their margin for error is small from an injury standpoint,” one exec said. “They won that bet last year. What are the odds of them winning that bet again next year?”The Eagles’ 11.5 Vegas win total for 2025 is tied for first in the league, a reflection of faith in their ability to maximize resources, even with a long list of former players counting against future caps.AdvertisementJason Kelce, Sweat, Fletcher Cox, Gardner-Johnson and Becton are counting $51 million against the 2025 cap, despite none remaining on the roster. Slay and James Bradberry, two other former Eagles, will count $20.9 million in 2026. As long as the Eagles’ roster remains strong, and as long as the team drafts well, these future burdens will not impede success.“They are just forging ahead, and they have the draft capital to do it, and obviously the skins on the wall,” another exec said.Philly made some interesting low-cost bets this offseason, adding Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari to their pass rush, Kenyon Green to their offensive line and A.J. Dillon to their offensive backfield. They struck gold last offseason when they signed Baun to a cheap one-year deal. Is one of these guys next?“It could be Uche because he will be the replacement for Sweat,” an exec said. “Those guys get $17-20 million even if they are just OK. For Uche, it’s all about fit. If they just let him rush the passer, that is what he does best.”San Francisco 49ersAdded: $24.1M (26th) | Lost: $128.5M (1st) | Differential: -$104.4M (32nd)The 49ers, 6-11 last season after three consecutive appearances in the NFC Championship Game (with one Super Bowl), are attempting what the Rams pulled off after the 2022 season. They are betting on a short list of core players and future draft choices (11 in 2025 alone) to fuel their next run — without a long list of departing players whose cost likely outweighed their expected future contributions.“It’s easy to spend the way they have spent when you are in NFC Championships,” one exec said. “It’s not easy when you are 6-11, and the roster is getting older and now you have to pay Brock Purdy. You aren’t just tacking on $50-60 million to that roster. But they haven’t gone after their core.”AdvertisementEight players left the 49ers for deals worth at least $10 million per year, twice the number of any other team. That doesn’t count receiver Deebo Samuel, who was traded to Washington. They still have Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw was the one 49ers departure they badly wanted to retain, but concerns over his durability stopped them from making an offer Greenlaw could not refuse, opening the door for Denver.“They are putting a lot of trust in their ability to draft, but also not surprisingly, they are like, ‘Well, we can get Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown, turn them into starters, so why keep paying for all these other guys coming off a six-win season?’” another exec said. “They are keeping the true difference makers and letting go of those they feel were overpaid now, or resting on their laurels.”As for that Purdy extension? Unlike the Cowboys, who forfeited their ability to use the franchise tag with Dak Prescott, the 49ers possess all available negotiating mechanisms.“People forget with Purdy, the guy has made nothing,” another exec said. “If you are Brock Purdy, you are staring two years of franchise tags in the face and $5 million (in 2025 salary). His best-case scenario (without an extension) is $100 million over three years. I am not saying they would pound him, but I have never understood how people think he gets to $60 million (per year on an extension).”Seattle SeahawksAdded: $73.8M (4th) | Lost: $23M (24th) | Differential: $50.8M (3rd)Most teams coming off a winning season do not trade their starting quarterback and starting receiver.The Seahawks did just that, sending Geno Smith to Las Vegas before replacing him with Sam Darnold at quarterback, and trading DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh.Advertisement“They kind of landed on their feet, in a way, by getting Darnold lined up, so that was savvy,” an exec said.Seattle added a second-round pick for Metcalf, a third-rounder for Smith and used some of the financial savings to sign Kupp. Some questioned how Kupp would fit as a slot receiver on a team already featuring Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who flourishes from that spot.“If you are Seattle, would you rather have Cooper Kupp, Sam Darnold, a second-round pick, a third-round pick and $10 million, or would you rather have Geno Smith and DK Metcalf?” another exec asked. “Does anybody think you are that different with Darnold, Kupp, the picks and $10 million? People probably think you are better now.”A significant shift in offensive scheme under new coordinator Klint Kubiak will cloud the evaluation of personnel changes.Meanwhile, the Seahawks have done relatively little to address their offensive line, a trouble spot for years. That could change in the draft. The scheme also figures to take pressure off the line after Seattle leaned heavily into five-man protections and dropback passing last season.“The scheme will definitely help an inferior group up front,” another exec said.Tampa Bay BuccaneersAdded: $21.3M (28th) | Lost: $18.4M (27th) | Differential: $2.9M (13th)The Buccaneers won a weak NFC South for a fourth consecutive season and maintained continuity by re-signing Chris Godwin, Lavonte David and Ben Bredeson, among others. They let center Robert Hainsey leave after Graham Barton replaced him in the starting lineup in 2024. And they picked up pass rusher Haason Reddick.“In a bad division, that is not a bad plan,” one exec said. “New Orleans isn’t getting better. Atlanta is starting a second-year QB. Carolina is frisky, but not there yet. Where is the impetus for change?”AdvertisementThe Bucs defeated Philadelphia and Detroit during the 2024 regular season, then lost at home in the wild-card round to Washington in an upset. They could make the case that they were close.“People question the Reddick move, but it looks like a great scheme fit for Todd Bowles,” another exec said. “They do a good job identifying rushers, with Calijah Kancey as an example. Keeping Godwin and everyone else, and adding the rusher, was huge for them.”Washington CommandersAdded: $33M (18th) | Lost: $51.5M (7th) | Differential: -$18.5M (24th)The Commanders signed or re-signed 23 free agents to one-year contracts, by far the highest number for any team this offseason. They traded picks for 30-year-old left tackle Laremy Tunsil and 29-year-old receiver Deebo Samuel. They surprisingly signed Javon Kinlaw to a three-year, $45 million deal after releasing Jonathan Allen.“They are going for it,” an exec said. “(Coach) Dan Quinn is like, ‘Let’s go.’ I do respect that. It’s a boldness that is not afraid to fail. Kind of like Howie Roseman in Philly pouncing on Saquon Barkley.”What is there to fear after Jayden Daniels’ breakout rookie season?“I’m afraid that is the team that is going to have the quarterback hit the sophomore slump, and now you have invested in all these older guys and you are not really building a team anymore, you are just adding pieces,” another exec said, noting that C.J. Stroud’s production fell off after a breakout rookie season. “At some point, you get diminishing returns with all those old guys.”It’s notable that one team with a quarterback on a rookie deal (Houston) traded its starting left tackle to another team with a quarterback on a rookie deal (Washington).“If you are Houston, ‘Hey, we had Tunsil, and our offensive line was no good. He wants a new deal, and we can get value,’” an exec said. “If you are Washington, ‘Hey, Tunsil makes us better.’ Both things can be right. Houston probably does not want to give him a new deal and knows he will not be happy without one.”(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: Joe Sargent, Brace Hemmelgarn, Cooper Neill / Getty Images)

One of the four head coaches left working in the men’s NCAA Tournament will win his first national championship Monday night. It could be Houston’s Kelvin Sampson in his 36th season of running a program at age 69. It could be Duke’s Jon Scheyer in his third at age 37.Auburn’s Bruce Pearl is on the Sampson side of things — 30th year as a head coach, 65 years old. Florida’s Todd Golden is just getting going, like Scheyer — sixth year as a head coach, 39 years old. It’s difficult to compare the quality of work of careers that are decades apart in length, but that is our charge in advance of Sampson-Scheyer and Pearl-Golden matchups in Saturday’s national semifinals at the Alamodome in San Antonio.AdvertisementAfter scoring the coaches in a variety of categories on a four-point scale and ranking them, we may have a hint at which one of them will end up winning it all. Or at least that coach will have this victory as consolation while watching one of the others cut the nets.LongevityIt’s a worthwhile category of its own, especially considering the way Sampson and Pearl have been able to hang in and thrive in the era of (out-in-the-open) player compensation and player movement.4: Sampson3: Pearl2: Golden1: ScheyerAchievementSampson is 798-353 — what a way this could be to reach 800. Like Pearl (706-267), Sampson started at a lower level (Montana Tech, Pearl at Southern Indiana) and has done nothing but win at every stop. Sampson is one of 16 coaches to lead two different schools to the Final Four. That and his run of recent dominance at Houston give him the edge. Golden has won at San Francisco and Florida, two programs that aren’t advantaged like Duke. Still, Scheyer is winning more than 80 percent of his games.4: Sampson3: Pearl2: Scheyer1: Golden

Will Kelvin Sampson pick up win No. 800 in San Antonio? (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)MentorsNo one is topping the top reference on Scheyer’s resume, Mike Krzyzewski. Sampson learned from a good coach at Washington State, Len Stevens, and then took that program to another level. But he also credited his graduate year under Jud Heathcote at Michigan State — 1979-80, the year after the Magic Johnson-led national championship — as being formative. Pearl was a Tom Davis guy all the way, assisting him at Stanford and Iowa before striking out on his own. Golden played for Randy Bennett at Saint Mary’s and then for Pearl at the Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2009. He later joined Pearl’s staff at Auburn. So yeah, having Pearl as a mentor gives Golden the edge over Pearl.4: Scheyer3: Golden2: Sampson1: PearlResources and other supporting factorsWho’s doing the most with what they’ve got? Pearl ($5.96 million in pay, by the way) is the one coach here doing unprecedented things at a place that never cared for basketball the way it does now. His is a football school all the way. Yes, that means Pearl and Golden ($3.6 million) both have that sweet SEC football money, but that also means fierce competition for NIL dollars.AdvertisementSampson ($4.6 million) has reversed a tradition-rich but moribund program, elevating to the Big 12 and continuing to thrive. Scheyer (reportedly more than $7 million, but Duke is a private school and not subject to open records laws) has a ton of pressure succeeding Krzyzewski, but also every advantage. For the record, none of these programs is believed to be at the very top of the NIL pay scale this season. Cooper Flagg, it should be noted, came in with the national marketability to make a ton of money this season off “actual NIL.”4: Pearl3: Sampson2: Golden1: ScheyerNCAA rule followingThe fact that no one cares about NCAA rules anymore does not mean no one ever cared — in particular, other coaches who actually followed said rules. Sampson got a five-year show-cause from the NCAA in 2008 for making impermissible phone calls to recruits while at Indiana, the NCAA saying he lied to investigators. That was also the crux of the Pearl case — which started with a recruit at a cookout at his house — that got him fired from Tennessee and given a three-year show cause. Auburn also got four years of probation, and Pearl a two-game suspension, in 2021 after an investigation that involved the FBI.4: Scheyer4: Golden1: Sampson0: PearlBasketball identitySampson’s is the clearest and easiest to identify. The Cougars are going to grab your offense, squeeze it, put it in a box and stomp on it, just like his Oklahoma Sooners Final Four team of 23 years ago did. He’s also developed many great point guards. Does he have enough shooters this year to finish the deal for the first time?Pearl has always been a pressing, high-tempo, self-described “gambling” coach, but to his credit, he listened to son and associate head coach Steven Pearl this season and slowed it way down to maximize his team’s strengths.AdvertisementFlorida and Duke play aesthetically pleasing basketball with size and length as bullying traits. Many of Duke’s best teams over the years have leaned on ferocious man defense, but the prevailing identity is having better players and fitting scheme to their strengths. Which is what smart coaches do.4: Sampson3: Pearl2: Scheyer1: GoldenRecruiting and developmentTake it all together, high school recruiting and portal adds. Golden and Scheyer have been effective in both areas. Scheyer has done a masterful job of building the right team around Flagg — which is actually more impressive than getting Flagg. Duke is going to land superstars until further notice and until whoever’s in charge screws it up.Golden’s star, Walter Clayton Jr., was the original find of Rick Pitino. Several of his returnees from last season improved significantly. But the two Baby Boomers have long track records of excellence. Big recruits, no-name recruits into stars and portal wins. Johni Broome, the Morehead State transfer who has developed into a national player of the year candidate, tilts it slightly toward Pearl. Recency bias for the win.4: Pearl3: Sampson2: Scheyer1: GoldenPlaying careerScheyer played four years under Krzyzewski, winning the national championship in 2010 as a senior and second team All-American. Golden was a solid guard at Saint Mary’s. Sampson played for his father, John W. “Ned” Sampson, at Division II Pembroke State (now UNC Pembroke). Pearl didn’t play for Davis at Boston College. He was a student manager and got into coaching from there. Managers work hard, too.Scheyer: 4Golden: 3Sampson: 2Pearl: 1Media darlingnessHey, don’t laugh, this matters! It’s not about whether we like you — it’s about whether you can use us to better your cause. We’re actually very easy to use. Smart coaches know how much this can help with recruits and fans (read: potential donors) as well. Everyone here is good — these are basketball coaches, not football coaches — but Pearl is must see/must listen. You never know what may come out of his mouth. Scheyer seems genuinely interested in giving insightful and revealing answers, which means he understands that media are simply conduits to the people.AdvertisementPearl: 4Scheyer: 3Golden: 2Sampson: 1Final resultsSampson: 24Pearl: 23Scheyer: 23Golden: 19If these scores apply to the games, we’ll be talking about Houston and Auburn on Monday night, a rematch of the Tigers’ 74-69 win in November at the Toyota Center in Houston. Advantage Sampson? Maybe. But Pearl remains the only known coach in NCAA history to beat a top-five team away from home after two of his players got in a fight on the plane and forced the pilot to turn the plane around.(Top photo of Todd Golden and Bruce Pearl: John Reed / Imagn Images)