Football Wiretap

Texas quarterback Arch Manning spent his offseason focused not just on recovering physically but on embracing a stronger leadership role for the Longhorns. Teammate Colin Simmons described the shift in Manning's approach.

"We need a different side of Arch if we want to get somewhere," said Simmons. "So, Arch definitely brought that side of him out, and I feel like as long as we trust and believe in Arch as a team and never look past him or look down at him, we're going to be OK."

Manning struggled early in his first season as Texas' starter, a stretch that included a difficult opener against Ohio State in which he threw for just 170 yards. Coach Steve Sarkisian said Manning's natural humility, shaped in part by his family's football legacy, initially made it difficult for him to fully embrace the leadership role.

"He had never been the starter," said Sarkisian. "A lot of us were pushing Arch to become the leader because it was his team. Arch always took the idea, 'I haven't earned it yet.' It was almost ingrained in him from his grandpa. You've got to earn everything you get. It was the whole NIL, it was the leadership, it was all these things. So ironically, it took failure. It took all this adversity that he had to go through for him to get on the other side of it."

Sarkisian said that adversity ultimately earned Manning greater respect from his teammates as the season progressed.

"That's really when the team, as much as they loved him before, that's when the respect kicked in because they're like, 'That guy's mentally tough and he's physically tough to get on the other side of that and now play the way that he's playing the second half of the season,'" said Sarkisian. "What Colin is saying is 'Give us more of that.' That's really what Arch has been doing, and they've been feeding off of him. You can feel it that this is his team."

Manning missed much of spring practice with a foot injury but began working with Texas' revamped running back and receiver groups once medically cleared, even bringing several teammates to his native New Orleans for extra training sessions.

"It was great," said Manning. "We got a lot of good work in. I needed to have them down and see them a few extra times because I didn't do spring ball. I'm glad they came. They're a bunch of good guys. They all get along too, which is nice. Having a bunch of guys play the same position and be best friends is unique."

Improving Texas' short-yardage passing game has been a major offseason priority. Manning completed just 56.3 percent of his passes on throws between zero and 10 yards last season, ranking 66th out of 67 FBS quarterbacks in that category.

"That's not very good," said Manning, reacting to the statistic.

Sarkisian expects improvement in that area this season, citing a stronger receiving corps led by transfer Cam Coleman, along with running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown.

"He is fundamentally much better," said Sarkisian. "We have a better understanding of what he really likes to throw in that range because not every pass is the pass he wants to throw. We've got better weapons around him. We can't just drop back and pat the ball. That's a recipe for disaster."

Manning acknowledged being hard on himself during his early-season struggles before eventually settling in and closing the year strong, throwing 14 touchdowns against just two interceptions over his final six games.

"I was mad at myself," said Manning. "I'm like, why am I not playing well? It's not supposed to be like this. I'm letting myself down. I'm letting the team down, the fans. And it was definitely challenging, but I think there's nothing you can do besides keep trying to get better and work hard and get through it."

Manning also addressed the constant scrutiny that comes with his name and position.

"I can't control what people say," said Manning. "I'm trying to do a good job of just controlling what I can control. Oftentimes I'm like, I wish I could be a little bit more under the radar. It's like that'll never happen. Obviously when you can stack some good games together, it helps build confidence of you and the team. I think I still left some out on the table, and we're all trying to prove that this year."

The Baltimore Ravens have waived undrafted rookie quarterback Diego Pavia, releasing the Heisman Trophy finalist less than a week before training camp begins. The move made roster space for free-agent center Ethan Pocic, who passed his physical and signed a one-year deal Thursday.

Baltimore's roster now includes four quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson and undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano. The Ravens have traditionally carried only two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, with Huntley firmly established as Jackson's primary backup.

Baltimore signed Pavia as a college free agent on April 28, ahead of the team's rookie minicamp. The Ravens held some familiarity with Pavia through his college coach, Clark Lea, who is close friends with Ravens head coach Jesse Minter. Still, with four other quarterbacks already on the roster, Pavia received limited practice opportunities, and it always appeared unlikely Baltimore would carry five quarterbacks through camp and the preseason.

Pavia became Vanderbilt's first-ever Heisman finalist last season, finishing second in the voting behind Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, who was later selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Carolina Panthers second-year outside linebacker Nic Scourton suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the team's opening training camp practice Thursday. Scourton will seek a second opinion on the injury.

The injury represents a significant setback for Carolina, which had planned for Scourton to serve as a top pass rusher alongside free agent addition Jaelan Phillips. Scourton went down on a wet field late in practice during team drills, appearing to be engaged with an offensive lineman on the play, and players immediately gathered around him.

He was carted off the field holding his hand over his face. As the cart departed, coach Dave Canales and every player on the roster individually approached to hug Scourton before he was taken to the training room.

Canales reflected on the team's bond following the injury.

"They care about each other," said Canales. "Whenever you're in a group of people doing something hard together, it has a way of creating a special bond. Between all the workouts and going through a full season and an offseason and all that, it means something to the guys. I'm proud of that."

Scourton put together a strong rookie season last year, appearing in 17 games with eight starts and recording 47 tackles, five sacks and nine quarterback hits while helping anchor the NFL's 15th-ranked defense. Quarterback Bryce Young, who was near the play but did not see the injury occur, praised Scourton's development as a leader on defense.

"It's been really cool to see him come into his own," said Young. "He has a super-high motor, has great energy. He's fun to be around. He turns into that different competitor when he's on the field. We feel that during practice. He has raised the level of [intensity at] practice many times. We don't know anything yet (on the injury), but we're just praying for him."

Canales indicated the Panthers have sufficient depth to manage without Scourton if the injury proves serious.

"We've got depth," said Canales. "That's why we keep bringing in guys. If it comes to that [a serious injury] we have guys that we trust."

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is not expected to begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list, marking positive progress following last year's serious knee injury. The Giants placed defensive linemen Roy Robertson-Harris and Sam Roberts, along with tight end Thomas Fidone II, on the PUP list Thursday, though Nabers was not among them.

New York's rookies and quarterbacks reported Thursday, with veterans set to report Tuesday before the team departs for training camp in West Virginia. John Harbaugh recently expressed optimism about both Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo, who each suffered season-ending injuries last year.

Skattebo, who fractured his ankle, returned to practice this spring, while Nabers did not. Nabers underwent a second surgery on his right knee earlier this year to clear scar tissue, an injury Harbaugh described as complicated.

Nabers, 22, spent much of the summer rehabbing at the Giants' facility, sources told ESPN, an important step in his recovery process after being injured in Week 4 last season. It remains unclear how much he will practice once camp begins, even without a PUP designation, as the Giants plan to bring him along gradually. New York has more than seven weeks before its season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football" at MetLife Stadium.

Harbaugh addressed Nabers' progress in recent comments.

"Working his way into practice as camp gets started one way or the another," said Harbaugh. "To what degree, we will find out. But there is a lot of optimism around [Nabers and Skattebo]."

Nabers' recovery timeline has shifted multiple times. The Giants initially expected him to be ready for the start of training camp before adjusting the target to sometime this summer, and now hope for a Week 1 return. Harbaugh said this spring that Nabers was in the "slog of it," and Nabers appeared at a celebrity softball game in late May but was not running at full speed.

Nabers set franchise rookie records in 2024 after being selected sixth overall out of LSU, catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. He continued that production into his sophomore season, posting 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns before his Week 4 injury against the Los Angeles Chargers. His 127 career receptions through his first 19 games rank second in NFL history through 20 games, trailing only Odell Beckham Jr.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett participated in the team's first training camp practice Thursday while negotiations continue on a reworked contract for this season. Brissett had sat out the voluntary portion of Arizona's offseason program and served as a hold-in during June's mandatory minicamp.

Brissett took reps alongside Gardner Minshew, Carson Beck and Kedon Slovis, working his way back into practice by going last in each quarterback rotation during drills. First-year coach Mike LaFleur had indicated before practice that Brissett would participate Thursday.

Asked how Brissett ended up practicing after missing every other offseason session, LaFleur offered a straightforward explanation.

"I mean, he's here," said LaFleur. "He's under contract and it's the first day of practice."

LaFleur described contract discussions with Brissett as ongoing but productive. Brissett is currently scheduled to earn a base salary of $4.88 million, including $1.5 million guaranteed, with the ability to earn up to $5.39 million through incentives.

"It's been productive between us and his team, so still ongoing but I'd say we're productive," said LaFleur.

 LaFleur downplayed the framing when asked whether Brissett's return to practice signals an open quarterback competition.

"I'd describe it as Practice 1 on July 23," said LaFleur.

With Brissett back on the field, LaFleur said the immediate focus is getting him acclimated to Arizona's system, including its cadence, formations, no-huddle package, and both the passing and running games.

"So, not really worried about that stuff right now," said LaFleur. "Really not worried about what any of these guys have ever done in the past. It's just about building that one day at a time and seeing how good we can be every single day. Like I told him yesterday, we don't need a peak on July 23. We need to get better on July 23. We need to compete against each other on July 23. We need to have the best first block we can without pads. And then we put the pads on, now we get to play a little bit more real football, and we don't have to peak on July 30 or whenever. We just have to get better. And then when we get to Sept. 13, that's when we have to say, 'Hey, did we do everything we could to be the best Cardinal team we could be?'"

Fernando Mendoza signed his rookie contract with the Las Vegas Raiders Thursday, the team announced. The first overall pick agreed to a four-year, $57.27 million fully guaranteed deal with a fifth-year option, completing the Raiders' entire 10-player 2026 draft class ahead of training camp.

Veterans are set to report July 28, with the team's first training camp practice scheduled for the following day. Mendoza's signing leaves Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson as the only unsigned first-round pick remaining in this year's draft class.

Mendoza becomes the first player Las Vegas has selected first overall since JaMarcus Russell in 2007. He will compete for the starting job against veterans Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell, with Cousins currently holding the edge after receiving the majority of first-team reps during the offseason program. Mendoza spent most of that time working with the third-team offense, with occasional second-team snaps.

Las Vegas signed Cousins in free agency this offseason with the expectation that he could open the season as the starter, allowing the team flexibility to develop Mendoza at his own pace.

The NFL has sold more than $600 million in U.S. high-grade private bonds, according to people familiar with the matter, tapping a funding source frequently used by major sports franchises. The league borrowed roughly $338 million in June through its NFL Ventures LP subsidiary before returning to the market recently with an additional $300 million deal through a separate subsidiary.

Bank of America arranged both transactions, according to sources who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the deals publicly. Fitch Ratings assigned an A+ rating to senior notes issued by NFL Ventures at the end of last year, citing the league's standing as the most popular professional sports league in the United States.

Fitch's July 10 report pointed to the NFL's multi-year national media contracts, revenue sharing among member clubs, and a collective bargaining agreement featuring a hard salary cap through 2030 as key factors supporting the league's financial strength. NFL Ventures debt typically carries high ratings partly because it is backed by the commissioner's assessment rights, which allow the league office to request funds from member clubs to service the debt, according to Fitch.

The NFL generated more than $23 billion in total annual revenue for the fiscal year ended March 2025, according to Sports Business Journal. The league's notes have drawn interest from buy-and-hold institutional investors, including life insurers seeking long-dated assets to match against their liabilities.

Other sports organizations have similarly turned to the private placement market for financing, including the NBA through its Hardwood Funding LLC vehicle and English soccer club Manchester United. Leagues and privately owned franchises often favor private markets over public offerings to avoid additional disclosure requirements. FC Barcelona sought to raise $1.7 billion through similar channels in 2023, while Everton approached institutional investors last year for a $401 million stadium refinancing deal.

The NFL and Bank of America both declined to comment on the transactions.

Free agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill said he still lacks power in his surgically repaired left leg, suggesting his return to the NFL may still be some time away. Hill posted a video Wednesday night detailing his recovery from a dislocated knee and multiple ligament tears suffered in Week 4 last season against the New York Jets.

"So it's about 10 months after doing two surgeries," said Hill. "My left leg is the one that I injured. I have no power in my left leg, so I'm trying to regain all the power back in my left leg. But it's one day at a time."

Hill, 32, said doctors initially told him he might not walk again following the injury, though he now feels significantly better a year removed from surgery. The video showed him performing various exercises, including light running, which he acknowledged went beyond his current recommendations.

"I like to challenge myself a little bit," said Hill.

The Miami Dolphins released the eight-time Pro Bowler in February, making him a free agent for the first time in his 10-year career. Hill declared at the time that "The Cheetah will be back," and while he did not offer a specific timeline for his return in Wednesday's video, he expressed optimism about his progress.

"I ain't going to tell you what my timeline is, but timeline looking real good right now, man," said Hill.

Before his injury, Hill caught 21 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown over four games. In 2024, Hill caught 81 balls for 959 yards and six touchdowns, which was a significant step down from his pair of 1,700-plus yard seasons when initially joining the Dolphins from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.

Sean McVay said he does not yet know whether Aaron Donald will come out of retirement and return to the Los Angeles Rams for the 2026 season, addressing the ongoing speculation in an interview with Jason LaCanfora of The Daily Flock podcast.

"I have crossed paths with Aaron Donald," said McVay. "What's special is, we have a really special relationship. It's way bigger than football. I've heard him say it before and it means the world to me, and I feel the same, it's family with us. He's done so much for me. I love the man he is. I love the husband, the father, the son, he represents a lot of the things that are right. And what he's going to do is, he is thinking about this. He's going to go through his process. And the one thing about Aaron Donald is, what he does, he does it full speed ahead."

Donald was recently seen working out at the Rams' practice facility in Los Angeles and has regularly posted images and videos of his offseason training. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this week that Donald is preparing himself for a potential return to the field, though a definitive decision does not appear imminent.

Donald's potential return gained momentum after the Rams acquired Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns in June.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has been fully cleared for training camp, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler Tuesday. LaPorta, 25, underwent a microdiscectomy last season to repair a fully herniated disk.

LaPorta finished last season with 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns across nine games. Detroit selected him in the second round of the 2023 draft, and he has accumulated 186 catches for 2,104 yards and 20 touchdowns over three seasons.

LaPorta earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors as a rookie, setting career highs with 86 receptions, 889 yards and 10 touchdown catches that season. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Detroit's veteran players are set to report to training camp next week.