Month: May 2024

Tyrann Mathieu reacts to Kool-Aid McKinstry signing his rookie contract

Tyrann Mathieu reacts to Kool-Aid McKinstry signing his rookie contract with the New Orleans Saints

Kool-Aid McKinstry signed his four-year contract with the New Orleans Saints on Friday, and Tyrann Mathieu expects his rookie teammate to bring the snacks when they see him next time in the film room, now that he has a little walking-around money.

At least that’s what Mathieu joked about on social media when the Saints announced that McKinstry put pen to paper. McKinstry’s signing means all seven Saints draft picks have their contracts in hand, nearly two months before training camp is set to kick off in late July.

It’s the soonest a Saints second-round pick has signed since the NFL implemented a new collective bargaining agreement in 2021. And it’s good to have this distraction out of the way early. Now McKinstry can focus on picking up Mathieu’s helmet for him after practice, or maybe picking up the tab the next time the defensive backs go out on the town together.

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Saints share behind-the-scenes video of Drew Brees Hall of Fame announcement

The New Orleans Saints shared a behind-the-scenes video of Drew Brees’ team Hall of Fame announcement and his return to Airline Drive:

Now this is cool. The New Orleans Saints shared a must-see video going behind the scenes for Friday’s announcement that Drew Brees would be inducted to the Saints Hall of Fame.

Brees returned to the team practice facility with his family wearing a Team Gleason shirt, embracing owner Gayle Benson and catching up with old friends and coworkers — not just teammates like Cameron Jordan but the team equipment staff and those whose names are never heard on game days, but whose efforts keep the team moving forward. Brees also addressed the team’s current players after practice, at Dennis Allen’s invitation.

“Off the cuff here,” Brees chuckled. “He asked me what I miss the most about this game. I miss the locker room, I miss the fellas, I miss my teammates, but I miss the highest level of competition. … I wish nothing but the best for you and I’m always here as a resource for you. Once a Saint, always a Saint.”

It was an emotional day at Airline Drive. Brees spoke about the lack of closure he ended his career with during the COVID-19 pandemic and the health challenges that have trailed him into retirement, but he also took time to reflect on the decades of good memories and strong relationships he built during his time with the Saints. Getting this look at what he experienced walking the halls again, even if it’s only a glance, sure is special.

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Gavin Gallaher rallies fans after walk-off grand slam victory

UNC’s third baseman Gavin Gallaher sends message to fans following his walk-off grand slam.

While celebrating the University of North Carolina’s dramatic win in the Chapel Hill Regionals of the NCAA Tournament, [autotag]Gavin Gallaher[/autotag] took the time to record a message for UNC fans.

In the video, Gallaher can be seen celebrating in the dugout, smeared eye paint and all, telling fans, “Let’s play tomorrow, come out, be there,” in-between cheers of triumph.

Gallaher had a huge night tonight, going 3-for-4 at the plate and racking up two home runs, with his final home run of the night being a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning. That grand slam led to the Tar Heel’s defeat over the Long Island Sharks.

Gallaher’s performance not only secured the win but also energized the team and fans for the challenges ahead.

The Heels will continue their NCAA tournament run on Saturday, as they face the 2023 National Champions, the LSU Tigers. Tonight’s exciting win paired with the encouragement from Gallaher should bring Tar Heel fans out to the Bosh for what is sure to be another riveting game of baseball.

The winner of Saturday’s game will go on to play in the Chapel Hill Regional Title game on Sunday.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

New Orleans Saints game previews: Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints game previews: Week 13 brings a chance for payback against the Los Angeles Rams

December starts with the New Orleans Saints exiting their bye week for a home game against the Los Angeles Rams — an excellent shot at some payback after the Rams effectively ended the Saints’ season last year. But does Dennis Allen’s team have it in them to rise to the occasion?

It’s a question worth asking. The Saints have not beaten many teams over .500 in recent years, and the Rams figure to be in the middle of the NFC playoff picture by Week 13. They’ll present just as daunting a test as the one the Saints failed late last season, with or without Aaron Donald in the middle of their defense.

The Rams have had a busy offseason of their own. They signed free agents like cornerback Tre’Davious White, safety Kamren Curl, and offensive guard Jonah Jackson without suffering many losses. Besides, you know, Donald’s retirement. And who’s to say he may not choose to return in December for another Super Bowl run?

L.A. spent the 2024 draft beefing up their defense, drafting Florida State defensive linemen Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in the first two rounds before picking Michigan running back Blake Corum in Round 3. He’ll be joining a backfield that ran for 133 yards on New Orleans last year, so Allen’s defense must be better prepared to stop the run.

This is the kind of matchup the Saints should expect if they hope to reach the playoffs. Winning the NFC South is paramount, but it’s also important to prove they can hang with rivals around the conference, and who might be paying them a visit in the wild-card round. Expect this game to be another insightful matchup for the Saints, but let’s hope to learn something positive this time. The Rams own a commanding 44-35 lead over the Saints in their series history, but New Orleans sent them out with a loss the last time they visited the Caesers Superdome in 2022.

  • Game information: New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams
  • Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.
  • Date: Dec. 1
  • Time: 3:05 p.m. CT / 4:05 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: FOX

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UNC Freshman Gavin Gallaher shines with walk-off Grand Slam in Chapel Hill Regional opener

University of North Carolina Freshman Gavin Gallaher shines with walk-off Grand Slam against LIU in Chapel Hill Regional opener

It was a night to remember for University of North Carolina third baseman freshman [autotag]Gavin Gallaher[/autotag], who played lights out in the Tar Heels thrilling 11-8 victory over Long Island.

Many expected the UNC to roll over LIU, but that was anything else, with the Tar Heels barely escaping the Shark’s jaws. Instead, it was thanks to a big night from Gallaher, who delivered throughout critical moments of the game.

Gallaher hit a huge home run in the fourth inning to bring UNC within one and followed up in the sixth inning with an RBI double to tie the game. His biggest hit of the night wouldn’t come until the bottom of the ninth, where he hit his second home run of the game, this time in a walk-off grand slam fashion.

 

It was UNC’s first walk-off win in an NCAA tournament since 2019, electrifying fans in the stands and at home. As a freshman, it gets no better than what Gallaher was able to do in his NCAA tournament debut. Gallaher went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, including a grand slam for a storybook ending.

If the Tar Heels want to beat LSU, they will need Gallaher and that swing to show up.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Rematch awaits for No. 3 Texas A&M after Longhorns beat No. 23 Louisiana

After taking care of business against Grambling State on Friday, the Aggies will have a rematch in their second game of the NCAA Regional.

After taking care of business with an 8-0 win against Grambling State on Friday afternoon, the Texas A&M baseball team will have a rematch in its second game of the Bryan-College Station Regional at Blue Bell Park.

The No. 3 Aggies face off against Texas on Saturday night for a berth in the Regional Final. The Longhorns beat No. 23 Louisiana 12-5 in the latter of the opening day doubleheader. The Ragin’ Cajuns and Tigers play tomorrow afternoon in an elimination contest.

Before the games began this weekend, Texas sophomore Jared Thomas spoke about the rivalry between Texas A&M and the Longhorns.

“A&M has always been a rivalry,” Thomas said Monday. “I’ve never liked them personally.”

Thomas may dislike the Aggies because of what happened at the beginning of March. Texas A&M traveled to Austin and earned a 9-2 victory at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

Texas will attempt to get revenge on the third-ranked Aggies’ home turf at Olsen Field on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Tigers walk off High Point in Clemson Regional

Tristan Bissetta hit a walk-off RBI single to give the Tigers a 4-3 win over High Point in the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Tournament Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Tristan Bissetta hit a walk-off RBI single in the ninth inning off Adam Grintz, and top-seeded Clemson defeated fourth-seeded High Point, 4-3, in the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (42-14 overall) advanced to the winners’ bracket and will face No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday. The Chanticleers defeated No. 2 seed Vanderbilt, 13-3, earlier in the day Friday.

After Blake Wright led off the ninth with a double down the right field line, Panthers (34-26) coach Joey Hammond signaled for an intentional walk to Cam Cannarella.

Jimmy Obertop struck out before Bissetta came through with the winning hit. He lined a sharp single just past the glove of a diving Brayden Simpson at second to score Wright for the Tigers’ 25th come-from-behind victory this season. The ball left Bissetta’s bat at 109 mph, according to data provided by TrackMan.

Clemson out-hit High Point 10-7 in a game that featured plenty of good pitching — and missed opportunities. The Tigers and Panthers each stranded 11 runners on base.

Clemson broke a scoreless tie in the third inning thanks to a clutch two-out RBI single from Cannarella for a 1-0 lead.

After High Point grabbed a 2-1 lead a half-inning later, Bissetta doubled to lead off the Tigers’ fourth. Jack Crighton followed with a single to advance Bissetta to third.

With Jarren Purify batting with one away, coach Erik Bakich called for a squeeze. Purify laid down a bunt, and when High Point starter Gus Hughes tried to make a play by using the web of his glove to flip the ball home to catcher Eric Grintz, the ball sailed over Grintz’s head to allow Bissetta to score without a tag and tie the game at 2-2.

High Point went back ahead at 3-2 in the sixth when Peyton Carr singled to lead off the inning and came around to score.

Clemson starter Tristan Smith left in the sixth after allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He finished with nine strikeouts after retiring the first nine batters he faced and striking out five of the first six.

The Tigers answered in the bottom of the sixth. Jacob Jarrell doubled to put runners in scoring position with no one out. Purify dropped an RBI single into shallow center on an 0-2 count to tie the game at 3-3.

Purify’s single moved the potential go-ahead run to third, but Alden Mathes flied to shallow center and Jacob Hinderleider struck out swinging. Wright then grounded sharply to third to end the inning, giving Clemson nine runners left on base through six innings.

Reed Garris, Lucas Mahlstedt, and Austin Gordon combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief the rest of the way. The trio held High Point to just one hit.

Gordon (2-2) earned the win after stranding the potential go-ahead run at third when he retired Patrick Matthews on a routine fly to center to close out the top of the ninth.

Hughes pitched seven innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits in a gutsy 118-pitch performance. Grintz (2-1) suffered the loss after pitching the final inning and a third for the Panthers.

Clemson got two hits apiece from Bissetta (2-for-4), Crighton (2-4) and Purify (2-3) in the 6-8 spots in the lineup.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.

New Orleans Saints game previews: Week 11 vs. Cleveland Browns

New Orleans Saints game previews: Week 11 sends the Saints into their bye week after hosting the Cleveland Browns

It’s been a while since the Cleveland Browns visited the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome. Of the 46 Saints players who were active for that last meeting in 2018, only seven remain on the roster in 2024.

And this game is all that stands between the Saints and a much-needed breather during their Week 12 bye. But there’s the catch — the Browns will be well-rested for this game, having enjoyed their own bye week before making the trip down to New Orleans.

The Saints have won each of their last two games against the Browns, including the 2018 matchup we mentioned earlier and a snowbound 2022 game in Cleveland. Will they make it three in a row? The Browns own a 13-6 lead against the Saints since their first meeting in 1967, and they won five of their last six games with New Orleans before that 2018 defeat, so the Saints can’t let some recent success go to their head.

This might be the year Deshaun Watson finishes knocking off the rust. The Browns won a bidding war with the Saints for Watson’s services back in 2022, Dennis Allen’s first year as head coach, but he hasn’t found much success. He’s missed time with injuries and a suspension and wasn’t available for their loss to the Houston Texans in January’s playoffs, so he has a lot to prove. This midseason game could be a real now-or-never moment with the playoff fields taking shape.

But that’s also true for Allen and the Saints, who haven’t reached the postseason either. Going into the bye week with a win would mean a lot to a Saints team many outside observers are already writing off for 2024.

  • Game information: New Orleans Saints vs. Cleveland Browns
  • Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.
  • Date: Nov. 17
  • Time: Noon. CT / 1 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: FOX

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Logan Paul offers to replace Mike Tyson to fight brother Jake Paul

Could we see a brother vs. brother bout if Mike Tyson can’t make it to the boxing ring? Logan is up for fighting Jake in an all-Paul brawl.

[autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] may have found a replacement opponent for his now-postponed fight against [autotag]Mike Tyson[/autotag], and it would be a family affair.

MVP Promotions announced on Friday that the Paul vs. Tyson boxing bout originally scheduled for June 7 in Dallas has been postponed. The promotion cited health concerns for Tyson, who recently had a medical emergency due to an ulcer flareup.

The bout is expected to be rescheduled for later in 2024, but if for some reason, the promotion decides to go in a different direction other than the 57-year-old Tyson, Jake’s brother Logan has thrown his name into the mix.

“So Mike Tyson’s out? I’ll step in and we can settle this once and for all @jakepaul,” Logan wrote on X.

Soon after, Jake offered his reply.

“Mom doesn’t want me to KO you, but f*ck it,” Jake wrote. “Loser has to change their last name.”

Both Paul brothers have dabbled in boxing competitions to varying degrees over the years and have teased an endgame-type showdown between each other on more than one occasion.

Logan has shared the ring twice with fellow YouTuber KSI, former Bellator fighter Dillon Danis, and one of the best boxers in the sport’s history, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

While Logan has spent more time focusing on his career as a WWE Superstar, Jake has become dedicated to boxing.

After his professional debut in 2020, Jake has competed in 10 professional bouts, sharing the ring with YouTubers, professional boxers, and former MMA champions such as Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva.

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Sooners cruise to a 14-0 win over Oral Roberts to open NCAA Tournament play

Kyson Witherspoon and Carter Campbell combined for the shutout and the Sooners offense erupted for a 14-0 win over Oral Roberts in the NCAA tournament.

It was the first time the Oklahoma Sooners hosted postseason baseball at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman since 2010, and the boys in Crimson and Cream were ready to rock and roll from the opening pitch.

Oklahoma entered the NCAA Tournament fresh off a loss to their in-state rivals, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, in the Big 12 Tournament Championship game. However, with how the Sooners have played since conference play began, bouncing back was easy for them.

Their first opponent was an Oral Roberts team that the Sooners had already faced this season, splitting a pair of midweek games.

Kyson Witherspoon got the start. Oklahoma opted to save Braden Davis in case the Sooners were in the loser’s bracket or had to face Duke.

Witherspoon escaped early danger, stranding the bases loaded to end the first. Oklahoma immediately opened things up with a triple from centerfielder John Spikerman and a Bryce Madron sac fly. Madron returned to the starting lineup after sitting out the Big 12 tournament to rest an injury from the end of the regular season.

 

With the Sooners up 1-0, they never looked back. Witherspoon worked around two runners in the second and third innings to hold the Golden Eagles scoreless.

In the bottom of the third, Madron let the rest of the home crowd know he was healthy as he blasted a two-run home run to right field, giving OU a 3-0 lead.

After some clean innings from Witherspoon, Oklahoma opened the game up on an Easton Carmichael three-run home run to make it a 6-0 game.

Witherspoon finished his day tossing six innings of shutout ball. He struck out nine batters and sat down the last ten batters he faced. Simply, it was a dazzling performance in his NCAA Tournament debut.

Oklahoma continued to pile on runs the rest of the way. Scott Mudler hit a solo home run and had a two-run single. Spikerman had a two-run single. And Jackson Nicklaus added an RBI single himself.

Carter Campbell finished the pitching from the seventh inning onward and kept things spotless, giving up no runs to complete a dominant performance from the Sooners.

It’s hard to imagine Skip Johnson drawing up a more perfect opening game. Minimal pitchers were used, and the team showed tremendous discipline at the plate, which made Oral Roberts pay for mistakes in the form of 17 hits.

Oklahoma will advance to the winner’s bracket and will face UConn tomorrow at 8 p.m. local time under the lights. The winner of that game will be just one win away from clinching a spot in the Super Regionals.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on X @thatmanbryant.