| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITDan Campbell is singing the praises of his second year DC Kelvin Sheppard. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Lions head coach Dan Campbell made Kelvin Sheppard one of his first assistant coach hires when he got the job in 2021, and promoted him to defensive coordinator in 2025. As Sheppard heads into his second season as Detroit’s defensive coordinator, Campbell is seeing continued growth. Sheppard played linebacker in the NFL and was previously a linebackers coach, but Campbell said Sheppard looks more in sync with the entire defense now that he has a year of experience running it all. “Relative to last year at this time, he’s just much more comfortable,” Campbell said. “I think he’s got a much better grasp of how he wants it to look. Now he’s coaching all 11. He’s coaching the front, he’s coaching the backers, and he’s coaching the back end. He sees it all. That’s what happens when you’re able to do it, you go through a season, you go through the practices, you diagnose yourself as a play caller and say, This is where we can get a little bit better. You can’t help to get better, whether you’re a head coach, OC, DC, special teams, with time on task, under pressure, making corrections, adapting to personnel, injuries, and he’s done all that. So I love where Shep’s at right now.” A year ago, the loss of both defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to head-coaching jobs was felt by the Lions, and on offense, Campbell decided he needed to make a change. But on defense, Campbell still thinks he has the right coach for the job, and a coach who will be better in Year Two. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSBoth of the NFC East’s interior defenders named Carter are idled. For ABDUL CARTER of the Giants, they say it’s an ankle injury. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com: @JFowlerESPNGiants edge rusher Abdul Carter suffered what sources classify as a minor ankle sprain during Monday’s practice. Head coach John Harbaugh said he did not believe the injury was serious. Says a Ravens fan: @CJDeucesGiant fans will learn that when Harbaugh says an injury isn’t serious it could be anything from a day to day to out for the year. |
| PHILADELPHIAAs for DT JALEN CARTER – he just isn’t at drills and the Eagles (particularly Coach Nick Sirianni) are not saying why. He’s just in a different boat. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter didn’t do team drills at this week’s minicamp, but head coach Nick Sirianni had no interest in discussing the reason why Carter was not part of that work. Carter is eligible for a contract extension after finishing his third NFL season and he is also coming off shoulder injuries that cost him time during the 2025 season. Carter had surgery to address his shoulders this offseason, but Sirianni declined to answer a question about whether either of those situations factored into his workload. “I’m sorry, I’m not going to get into all those different things,” Sirianni said, via a transcript from the team. “Right now, I’ve been able to work some individual scenarios and individual practices, and everybody’s in a little bit different boat right now of where they are in the offseason, and that’s where Jalen is right now.” Sirianni was asked a followup about his shoulders as well. “He’s worked really hard to continue to get himself [into] the best position he can possibly be in to go into training camp and he’s continuing to work with that,” Sirianni said. Carter is signed through 2027 after the Eagles exercised their $27.127 million option on his contract earlier this offseason. If he remains off the field during training camp, there will be more pointed questions about whether a desire for a new deal is driving those decisions. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| TAMPA BAYGilberto Manzano of SI.com on the signs of contract unrest from QB BAKER MAYFIELD: There is a fascinating contract dispute brewing between Mayfield and the Buccaneers. On one hand, it’s time for the team to reward Mayfield for outplaying the two bargain deals he’s signed since arriving in Tampa Bay in 2023. On the other hand, Mayfield could be seeking a contract averaging around $50 million annually, a figure that might not be in the team’s best interest. Mayfield is currently making $33.3 million per year after signing a three-year, $100 million contract extension ahead of the 2024 season. He has certainly earned that money with how well he’s played, but $50 million per year is a steep price, especially when you factor in that he’s not a true superstar QB and hasn’t done enough winning for him to get a contract that compares to the highest-paid players at his position. However, the problem here is that the quarterback market merely rewards above-average play and those next in line for a contract, rather than prioritizing playoff wins and elite production. In Mayfield’s first two seasons in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won back-to-back NFC South titles and recorded one playoff win over the Eagles in 2023. Last season, Mayfield’s play declined down the stretch and Tampa Bay missed the postseason with an 8–9 record. But, again, wins don’t really matter for quarterbacks to get paid. Mayfield should ask for $50 million annually, with Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love, Jared Goff and Dak Prescott making that kind of money. However, it’s probably better for the Buccaneers to let Mayfield walk if that’s the price for him to stick around. And maybe it’s harder for the non-elite quarterbacks to get a substantial raise after Sam Darnold won the Super Bowl, making $33.5 million per year. This is a tough situation for GM Jason Licht to navigate, and maybe it’s best to let Mayfield prove that he can take the Buccaneers on a deep playoff run in 2026. Both GM Jason Licht and Coach Todd Bowles have downplayed the notion of Mayfield leaving after 2026. Jenna Laine of ESPN.com: Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Thursday there is “absolutely no question” he wants Baker Mayfield as his quarterback long term. Bowles’ comments come after Mayfield said last week that he and the Bucs are “not anywhere close to what we were thinking” regarding a new deal heading into the 2026 season, the final year of his three-year deal worth $100 million. Mayfield and his agent, Tom Mills, have said they would like a new deal done before training camp and that if they don’t have one before his reporting date, which is expected to be the final week in July, they would shut down any negotiations so he could focus on football. Though that doesn’t preclude negotiations after the season, Mayfield would become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 if no new deal is struck. Mayfield emphasized, “It’s not up to me when that gets done by.” Bowles said he doesn’t believe the lack of progress on a new deal has impacted Mayfield, who signed with the Bucs on a one-year “prove it” deal worth up to $8.5 million in 2023 and led the Bucs to back-to-back NFC South titles in 2023 and 2024 immediately following Tom Brady’s retirement. The Bucs are 27-24 (.529) with Mayfield as their starter. “Baker’s all business. He’s all about business,” Bowles said. “The contract stuff takes care of itself. That’s the business side of it that you don’t see, that everybody has to deal with, and I’m sure he’ll take care of it, but it doesn’t affect his play.” Mayfield showed as much during Thursday’s OTA practice, connecting with veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. on back-to-back touchdowns in 7-on-7s. Then, Mayfield participated in the Bucs’ 12th annual “Color & Cut Funds the Cure” benefitting the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, where cancer survivors colored his hair with red spray paint. Mayfield was in good spirits throughout the event. “Baker’s a true pro,” Bowles said. “I don’t think there’s any disappointment whatsoever. I mean, he loves it here. We love him here. The contract stuff takes care of itself, whether it’s the quarterback or any other position that comes up — those things get worked out over time. “You just concentrate on what we got to concentrate on, on the field, and he’s been great right there.” Apparently there is a Bucs offer – but no “demand” from Baker and company per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Pewter Report.com: Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud provided some further light on how involved negotiations are over the weekend. Responding to a comment that said Mayfield’s side was looking for $65 million a year, Stroud said, “Neither Baker Mayfield nor his agent has asked for $65 million per year. In fact, after the Buccaneers initial proposal, they haven’t made a counter offer. That might tell you something.” |
| NFC WEST |
SEATTLETo the victors go the spoils, and the rings. Grant Gordon of NFL.com: Only four months after winning Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, the Seattle Seahawks received their championship rings. The Seahawks were bestowed with their winner’s spoils on Thursday night, continuing the celebration of their Super Bowl LX triumph over the New England Patriots in a private ceremony. Touted as the largest Super Bowl ring ever created — and the “most technologically advanced” — the hardware was lowered down from the ceiling to the awaiting Seahawks, with Seattle’s Sam Darnold, veteran defensive lineman Leonard Williams and reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba among the many in attendance hours after a minicamp practice. The rings were designed by Jason of Beverly Hills. “The Super Bowl LX championship ring will forever represent our historic 50th season and the dedication and determination of our entire franchise,” Seahawks president Chuck Arnold said, via the team website. “We are deeply grateful to Jason of Beverly Hills for bringing our vision to life. The stories told in the ring’s design perfectly capture the significance of an unforgettable season and the unwavering support of our fans.” While it was a private ceremony, among the rings’ myriad features was an ode to Seattle’s devoted fanbase — the 12s. There is a 12 flag on the side, which is a button that releases Lumen Field arches and unveils the words “WORLD CHAMPIONS.” The bottom of the ring offers 12 feathers to symbolize the fanbase. Fifty white diamonds surround the center logo in commemoration of the franchise’s 50th season. The ring also opens to unveil a piece of a football used during the championship season and featuring No. 50. Smack dab in the middle of the ring are a pair of Seahawks blue sapphires along with two Lombardi Trophies — representing each of the franchise’s Super Bowl wins. An assortment of hidden details are also within the design.   Thursday night’s nod to the greatness of last season followed the Seahawks’ conclusion of mandatory minicamp earlier in the day and the beginning of the club’s summer break before returning in July to kick off training camp and the team’s defense of the Super Bowl it now has the jewelry to celebrate forever. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERLB JONATHAN COOPER has violated a protection order on his girlfriend, after strangling her last week. He would appear to have severe legal difficulties as Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com lays out the case: — Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper was arrested Thursday night on multiple charges that he violated a protection order that was filed against him earlier in the week. It is the second time this month that Cooper has been arrested. In addition to multiple charges from his first arrest, including a felony charge, he is facing new charges: one for harassment from repeated phone calls and one for the violation of a protection order, according to records. Cooper was booked into the Douglas County (Colorado) Jail at 10:07 p.m. MT on Thursday following his arrest by Parker Police. He remained in custody as of Friday morning, when a court hearing was scheduled. The protection order had been placed for Cooper’s girlfriend after two additional charges, including a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation, were added from his June 4 arrest in Parker, Colorado, according to court records. According to the arrest affidavit, Cooper allegedly sent 20 messages and made two unanswered phone calls to his girlfriend Thursday before going to her apartment and knocking on her door before leaving when she called 911. When police went to Cooper’s home, officers said he told them that he had not been served with a protection order. “We are disappointed to learn of Jonathon Cooper’s arrest on Thursday and continue to review this matter,” the Broncos said in a statement Friday morning. Following Cooper’s latest arrest, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement that the league will “continue to monitor all developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy.” Cooper, 28, originally faced misdemeanor domestic violence charges and pleaded not guilty Monday in a Douglas County courtroom. But Douglas County District records showed that Cooper is also facing the felony charge and an additional misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault (“knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury”). Those charges were announced in court Wednesday. He was initially arrested along with his girlfriend June 4 by Parker Police. He was released from Douglas County Jail on June 5 on a personal recognizance bond. Part of Wednesday’s affidavit on the new charges was information from a hospital exam for Cooper’s girlfriend. In that report, a nurse wrote that the woman experienced a physical injury from being choked that led to a “substantial risk of death” or substantial risk of injury, including the possibility of traumatic brain injury. The nurse’s assessment differed from that of a police officer, who said in an affidavit on the June 4 arrest that marks observed on Cooper’s girlfriend’s neck and body were not consistent with an assault. The officer also had recommended a nurse examination at the time. According to records, Cooper — identified as Jonathan Javier Cooper in legal documents — was arrested last week after an argument and physical confrontation between his girlfriend and him over cellphones and that the phones were damaged during the argument. In separate affidavits to police, the two gave vastly different accounts about the argument and confrontation. According to Cooper’s arrest affidavit, he had been confronted by his girlfriend over allegations of infidelity. After Cooper’s girlfriend had taken his cellphone from him and thrown it across the room, Cooper had grabbed her by the upper arm as he retrieved the phone. Cooper told police he had “braced his neck against her neck” during her attempt to get his phone. Cooper’s girlfriend told a second officer, according to the affidavit for her arrest, that he had “grabbed her by the neck and held her against the wall for about a minute,” picked her up and threw her on the ground three times, and punched the wall next to her head. Cooper has been in attendance in the team’s offseason program, including Thursday’s practice. After Thursday’s OTA practice, Broncos coach Sean Payton said he had a “long visit” with Cooper about the arrest. “And now the process plays out,” Payton said. “The league obviously will be very much involved in that. We’ll stay abreast, but much like you all. I think that’s where it’s at. We just go from there. “We’ll stay as informed as possible. We’ll follow the league’s guidelines, and I’m sure a lot of that will be led by the local authorities’ guidelines. We’ll pay attention to all of it.” On Saturday, Cooper posted a Bible verse on his Instagram account with “I apologize to my family to my friends and my community … And so many others.” Cooper added: “I realize posting a bible. Quote after something very serious happens does not just mean everything is okay.” Cooper was a seventh-round pick by the Broncos in 2021 and is set to enter his sixth season with the team. He signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension in 2024 and ranked second on the team with eight sacks in 2025 as the Broncos’ defense set a franchise record for sacks in a season (68). According to this from Wikipedia, he bit his girlfriend’s cellphone so hard it was “disabled.” And justice is fast in Colorado – first incident on June 5, jury trial to start on July 22. On June 5, 2026, Cooper and his girlfriend were arrested and held on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief.[19] The arrest occurred after an argument and physical confrontation that began over cheating allegations and included both of their cellphones being damaged.[20] Cooper allegedly bit into his girlfriend’s phone, causing disabling damage to it.[21] The same day, Cooper appeared in court and was released on personal recognizance.[20] On June 8, Cooper appeared in court, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.[22] A motions hearing was June 6, 2026. Cooper’s jury trial was also scheduled to start on July 22, 2026.[23] On June 11, Cooper was arrested again and charged with two additional accounts of domestic violence, one for harassment via repeated phone calls and one for violating a restraining order.[24]– – -While Cooper may not be long for the Broncos, Coach Sean Payton is sticking around. Chris Cwik of YahooSports.com: The Denver Broncos have thrived during the Sean Payton era. The coach has gone 32-19 across three seasons with the team, taking it as far as the AFC Championship Game. Because of that, the team reportedly rewarded Payton with a new five-year extension, per ESPN. The new deal will take Payton, 62, through the 2030 NFL season. The financial details of Payton’s latest extension — including its total cost and his yearly salary — were not immediately available. Payton has orchestrated quite the turnaround since joining the Broncos. When he was hired by the team in 2023, it was in the midst of a seven-year playoff drought. The 2023 Broncos made a push for the postseason with Russell Wilson under center, but ultimately fell short, finishing the year at 8-9. Determined to improve, Payton made one major change that offseason. Wilson was pushed out in favor of rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who has shown plenty of progress in his first two years in the league. While the Broncos’ most recent run of success — the team is 24-10 under Payton the past two seasons — has been built on defense, Nix has done enough offensively to push the team forward. If not for a devastating ankle injury in the divisional round, Nix might have led the Broncos to a Super Bowl appearance last season. Without him, the Broncos couldn’t put enough points on the board in the AFC Championship, losing 10-7 to the New England Patriots. With Nix on the mend, the Broncos have set their sights on the Super Bowl in 2026. The team boldly brought in another weapon for Nix, trading for Miami Dolphins wideout Jaylen Waddle. Early in his career, Waddle looked like a potential star player, but a declining Dolphins offense may have limited his upside in recent seasons. Payton and the Broncos apparently weren’t deterred by that, and believe Waddle can be a difference-maker with a change of scenery. Over his career, Payton has proven he can build a winner. Prior to joining the Broncos, Payton led the New Orleans Saints to a 152-89 record over 15 seasons. The team made 11 playoff appearances over that stretch, winning the Super Bowl in Payton’s fourth year at the helm. After three seasons with the Broncos, Payton has shown enough to stick around for the long-term. If his fourth year in Denver is anything like his fourth year with the Saints, the Broncos will look smart for working out a deal now. Payton’s price would presumably only go up if he can deliver a Super Bowl win in Denver next season. |
| KANSAS CITYChiefs DB coach Dave Merritt will not be disciplined by NFL Justice. ESPN.com: The NFL has concluded its investigation of Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt and found insufficient evidence of a violation of the personal conduct policy, sources told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. There will be no discipline from the league, per sources. A misdemeanor domestic battery charge against Merritt was dismissed last month by the District Court of Johnson County (Kansas). Merritt was charged in April after he was accused of causing bodily harm to his daughter. He had pleaded not guilty.– – -Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com admires the new wealth for QB PATRICK MAHOMES: Patrick Mahomes has another new deal, one that pays him incredibly well — but that can never reflect his full value to the NFL and to the game of professional football. The contract, which runs through 2033, replaces a prior deal that was set to expire after the 2031 season. It’s being generally regarded as a replacement deal, not as an extension that would trigger the usual “new money” analysis, because the traditional “new money” analysis would lead to a stunning new-money APY of nearly $120 million per year. So it’s a new deal, like every “extension” that any other player signs. The old contract goes away, and a new one takes its place. Here are the full details of the contract that the Chiefs and Mahomes have signed, per a source with knowledge of the terms. 1. Signing bonus: $54.5 million. 2. 2026 workout bonus: $1 million, fully guaranteed (but must be earned). 3. 2026 base salary: $1.3 million, fully guaranteed. 4. 2027 offseason roster bonus: $30 million, fully guaranteed. 5. 2027 workout bonus: $1 million, fully guaranteed (but must be earned). 6. 2027 base salary: $27 million, fully guaranteed. 7. 2028 offseason roster bonus: $30 million. 8. 2028 workout bonus: $1 million. 9. 2028 base salary: $29 million. (The entire 2028 compensation package is guaranteed for injury; $35.25 million is fully guaranteed at signing; the remaining $24.75 million becomes fully guaranteed in early 2027.) 10. 2029 offseason roster bonus: $30 million. 11. 2029 workout bonus: $1 million. 12. 2029 base salary: $31.5 million. (The entire 2029 compensation package is guaranteed for injury; $30 million becomes fully guaranteed in early 2028, and the remaining $32.5 million becomes fully guaranteed in early 2029.) 13. 2030 offseason roster bonus: $30 million. 14. 2030 workout bonus: $1 million. 15. 2030 base salary: $32.75 million. (None of the 2030 compensation package is guaranteed at signing. In 2029, $30 million becomes fully guaranteed. In 2030, the remaining $33.75 million becomes fully guaranteed.) 16. 2031 offseason roster bonus: $30 million. 17. 2031 workout bonus: $1 million. 18. 2031 base salary: $34.75 million. (None of the 2031 compensation package is guaranteed at signing. In 2030, $30 million becomes fully guaranteed. In 2031, the remaining $35.75 million becomes fully guaranteed.) 19. 2032 offseason roster bonus: $30 million. 20. 2032 workout bonus: $1 million. 21. 2032 base salary: $31 million. (None of the 2032 compensation package is guaranteed at signing. In 2031, $30 million becomes fully guaranteed. In 2032, the remaining $38 million becomes fully guaranteed.) 22. 2033 offseason roster bonus: $30 million. 23. 2033 workout bonus: $1 million. 24. 2033 base salary: $39 million. (None of the 2033 compensation package is guaranteed at signing. The full $70 million becomes fully guaranteed in 2033.) The contract has annual escalators of $2.5 million, from 2027 through 2033. The eight-year, $504.75 million deal has an annual average at signing of $63.093 million. The deal includes $150 million fully guaranteed at signing, and $237.25 million in injury guarantees. The deal pays out $56.75 million in 2026, $58 million in 2027, $60 million in 2028, $62.5 million in 2029, $63.75 million in 2030, $65.75 million in 2031, $68 million in 2032, and $70 million in 2033. The deal isn’t heavily backloaded; however, the payout climbs systematically from $56.75 million to $70 million. By 2033, $70 million may be a bargain, relative to the market and the salary cap. Chances are that, long before 2033, the deal will be redone. The Chiefs have already reconfigured the prior deal on multiple occasions, aimed at ensuring Mahomes’s cash flow will be competitive with the market. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDA team interested in signing WR STEFON DIGGS will not have to worry about NFL Justice hammering him for any of his actions that are now known. ESPN.com: The NFL has closed its review of wide receiver Stefon Diggs after determining there was insufficient evidence of a personal conduct policy violation, a league official told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday. The decision comes after the former New England Patriots wideout was found not guilty in May of assaulting his private chef in a pay dispute. Diggs had pleaded not guilty in February to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge stemming from the alleged dispute, leading to the two-day trial. The NFL’s ruling marks another step toward the free agent wide receiver landing with a team. Diggs was released by the Patriots in March. The case had centered on a Dec. 2 encounter at Diggs’ home in Dedham, Massachusetts, where Jamila Adams, a former live-in personal chef who is known as Mila, testified that he slapped and choked her during an argument. Diggs’ attorneys said the alleged assault never happened and questioned Adams’ credibility and whether the dispute was about money, relationship tensions — including a disagreement over a planned trip to Miami — or an alleged assault. “The evidence has shown what we’ve maintained from day one: Mr. Diggs was wrongly accused, and this case represents exactly the kind of opportunistic targeting that players can face the moment they step off the field,” Mitch Schuster of Meister, Seelig & Schuster said in a statement at the time of the verdict. Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with New England last year and was a key target for quarterback Drake Maye during the Patriots’ AFC East title run. Before joining the Patriots, Diggs was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 and played for the Buffalo Bills before a brief stint with the Houston Texans in 2024. Diggs’ 1,000-yard season marked the seventh of his career. It helped complete a successful career revival after a season-ending knee injury derailed what turned out to be a one-year stay with the Texans in 2024. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| TEXAS TECH RESPONDSTexas Tech defends supporting recovering compulsive gambler QB BRENDAN SORSBY while marveling at the legal acumen of their Fort Worth judge and, by implication, condemning its horde of critics. Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com In a 20-plus-minute video released Thursday night, Texas Tech officials defended their integrity and reiterated their support for Brendan Sorsby amid widespread criticism from the rest of the Big 12 Conference and other corners of college sports to the likelihood of the quarterback playing for the Red Raiders this fall. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt — appearing in the video alongside football coach Joey McGuire, university president Lawrence Schovanec and Grant Stovall, Texas Tech’s senior associate athletic director for student-athlete health and wellness — said he understood why his AD colleagues had spoken out against the school allowing Sorsby to play this fall. On Monday, Sorsby was granted a temporary injunction by a Texas judge that cleared the way for him to play in 2026 despite being ruled ineligible by the NCAA for widespread sports wagering, including 40 bets involving Indiana football while he was a freshman with the Hoosiers in 2022. The NCAA has appealed the injunction. Sorsby does have to sit out the Red Raiders’ first two games, against Abilene Christian and Oregon State. Several Big 12 ADs have voiced their opposition to playing Texas Tech this season, and the league’s presidents met Thursday and will again meet next week to discuss potentially sanctioning the school for allowing Sorsby to play even with the judge’s ruling. “There’s no reason whatsoever to question the integrity of our athletics department, or the competitive product that we put on the fields or on the courts each and every time that we go out,” Hocutt said. “Integrity of the game is sacred, and that’s why we’ve gone to such great lengths to ensure the monitoring and the compliance measures are in place for Brendan’s return.” In the video, the Texas Tech officials detailed Sorsby’s addiction, his long journey to recovery and why they believe the team environment is the best place for him. Hocutt said he has met with Sorsby several times since the quarterback returned to Lubbock from a 35-day in-patient rehab program after being diagnosed with gambling and anxiety disorders. “He’s made mistakes and he looked me in my eye this morning, again, and reassured me that he has done nothing to jeopardize the integrity of a game that he’s competed in,” Hocutt said. “He has not given information about a game that he’s competed in, he has not jeopardized the competition or affected the outcome of any game he’s competed in.” Stovall outlined the conditions for Sorsby’s return to campus and the team, including software being installed on his cellphone and other devices that monitors activity and prevents him from accessing online wagering platforms. Sorsby also is participating in outpatient clinical care and individual and group therapy at Texas Tech. Hocutt said Sorsby came to the athletic facility immediately after the injunction was granted to meet with Texas Tech’s information technology and compliance staff and have the monitoring software installed on his phone. “It’s day by day,” McGuire said. “We have a long time before we have to think about when he’s going to play football again. We have a long time to continue to work with him to help him with this addiction. … I’m glad he’s back.” Hocutt noted that Texas Tech was not involved in Sorsby’s legal process to seek the injunction but deemed it “legitimate” despite strong criticism of the decision. “It was a judge that is not from Lubbock, Texas. It was a judge that actually lives 300 miles from Texas Tech University,” Hocutt said. “The judge heard the arguments and ultimately made the ruling. A lot of people don’t agree with that ruling, and that’s their right, but it was a legitimate legal process that he received an injunction.” McGuire said the injunction being granted removed “a huge weight” from Sorsby’s shoulders, while adding that the quarterback’s parents contacted him amid social media backlash. “It was like, ‘We didn’t expect all of this. Are y’all OK? We don’t want this on your university,'” McGuire said. “… I told them, ‘Let’s take a deep breath. Let’s all work through this together. We have your son’s best interest at heart.'” Schovanec acknowledged that Sorsby “made a mistake” but Texas Tech is unwavering in its support of him. “Mistakes have consequences,” Schovanec said. “At the same time, here’s a young man with a dream and a vision to pursue a career. We felt not to have the opportunity to pursue that career, given the circumstances and the evolving changes in this world that these athletes face, was unfair and unjust.” So, the monitoring software was only installed after Texas Tech gained its favorable ruling… Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com tries to decipher the “clumsy” PR effort and notes that Sorsby’s “family” doesn’t like the heat he’s taken. The Brendan Sorsby situation, like most high-profile controversies, has two components: the legal side, and the P.R. side. They are connected, but they’re very different. Sorsby and Texas Tech have won in a court of law (so far). They have lost in the court of public opinion. Even though everyone involved is behaving consistently with their personal interests (indeed, the schools that are crowing about “integrity” would be circling the wagons, if they were the ones faced with losing their starting quarterback), Texas Tech has not handled the P.R. side in an ideal way. It started on Wednesday with head coach Joey McGuire declaring “it’s not murder.” It continued with billionaire booster Cody Campbell playing a combined game of “whatabout” and “they hate us ‘cause they ain’t us.” On Thursday night, Texas Tech posted a roundtable, talk-show-style video aimed at addressing the intense criticism the school has experienced for supporting Sorsby. A press conference, as some have pointed out, would be a better approach. The questions would have been pointed, and the answers would have been revealing. After listening to the 21-minute word salad, two significant points emerged. One, there’s no guarantee Sorsby will be deemed ready to play by Texas Tech in 2026. Two, Sorsby’s family has expressed concern to Texas Tech regarding the blowback the school has received. As to the first point, the school reserves the right to choose not to play him, if the school ultimately decides that doing so will be untenable. While those decisions should be driven solely by Sorsby’s best interests, leaving the door open to not playing Sorsby gives the school an avenue to stand down, if the school eventually decides that the long-term harm to the program will outweigh the short-term benefit of having Sorsby on the field. As to the second point, it’s at least possible at this point that Sorsby will decide to abandon his effort to restore his eligibility and declare for the NFL supplemental draft. For any of us, there’s a point at which a situation becomes sufficiently problematic that the best solution will be to tap out of it. Yes, Sorsby has a medically-diagnosed condition that resulted from the easy availability (and incessant advertisement and complete normalization) of legal sports betting. But he got to that point when he didn’t have an addiction, by making bets before he was legally old enough to do so in violation of NCAA rules. The addiction never would have happened if Sorsby hadn’t broken the rules (and, technically, the law). While his current condition should be taken seriously and he should not be punished because of its existence, the underlying actions that caused it cannot be ignored. No one becomes addicted to gambling based on the first bet made, in the same way no one becomes an alcoholic based on the first drink consumed. Sorsby crossed the line before his addiction drove him to keep doing so. That fact can’t be overlooked. The core problem continues to be the failure of Judge Ken Curry to explain in his four-page ruling why and how the interests of justice pointed to restoring Sorsby’s eligibility as the lawsuit Sorsby filed against the NCAA went forward. The result feels unjust to the outside observe in large part because Judge Curry made no effort to demonstrate that it was the fair and proper outcome. Texas Tech has made the situation worse with a P.R. effort that most view as a way to justify the desire to have their best quarterback available during the 2026 season. The external voices, which were conspicuously silent before Judge Curry issued his decision, haven’t helped matters by stoking public outrage by jumping on low-hanging fruit. And that will continue. It’s not a black and white issue. No one is focusing on the gray. Starting with the judge who restored Sorsby’s eligibility, and continuing with everyone who has an interest in whether Sorsby does, or doesn’t, play football in 2026. No one is raising the simple question of whether the right outcome, given Sorsby’s current condition and the admitted violation of the rules that caused it, is for Sorsby to not play college football in 2026, or ever again. Not because of the rules. Not because of the law. But because his short- and long-term recovery potentially would best be served by not playing college football. We don’t know the right answer. No one currently does. And there doesn’t seem to be anyone with a truly objective and unbiased viewpoint who is in position to make a decision that is in the best interests of Sorsby, without regard to the best interests of Texas Tech, its Big 12 rivals, and/or those who hope to leverage his win in court into Congressional action that gives the NCAA and its members the antitrust exemption they so badly want. Sorsby’s condition merits sympathy and/or empathy. But it shouldn’t operate as full absolution for the behavior that caused it. And the interests of others (whether based on wins and losses or “saving” college sports) should take a back seat to the question of Sorsby’s recovery. We find it interesting that Florio believes Texas Tech still retains the power not to play Sorsby. Based on his history (and the letter below), we doubt that Sorsby’s attorney Jeffrey Kessler believes they do. The Attorney General of Texas has weighed in on the side of the Red Raiders. Brandon Marcello of CBSSports.com: The Texas Attorney General’s office put the conference on notice Thursday, warning in a formal letter on behalf of Texas Tech that any attempt to sanction the school would constitute a per se antitrust violation and expose the conference to more than $200 million in liability. The letter came in direct response to discussions among the conference to punish Tech after a judge on Monday provided Sorsby a temporary injunction against the NCAA, prohibiting the organization from banning the quarterback from participating in the upcoming season after he admitted to sports betting, including on games at Indiana during his time as a backup in 2022. The letter specifically outlines a bylaw Big 12 leaders are considering as a punishment, which permits the conference to sanction a school if a supermajority (12 of 15 schools) determines Texas Tech engaged in conduct materially adverse to the conference’s best interests. The Big 12 received the letter shortly before its executive board meeting, which includes four university presidents. After the meeting, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said action is still under discussion and that “all options remain on the table.” Echoing the attorney general’s letter, noted attorney Jeffrey Kessler sent a similar letter to the Big 12 on behalf of Sorsby, warning of potential litigation if the school or Sorsby is sanctioned by the Big 12. “What does it say about the Big 12 if it decides to lawlessly violate a court order?” Kessler wrote. “What message does it send to its students if its response to a lawful court order is to be contemptuous of its terms? One would expect something more honorable from the conference and its member schools.” In preparation for a potential lawsuit, Kessler also asked that the Big 12 and its members preserve documents related to Sorsby and the court’s order. Kessler, the attorney who successfully negotiated a resolution to the multi-billion-dollar House v. NCAA settlement last year, represented Sorsby in his successful push for a temporary injunction against the NCAA earlier this month. “Sentiment among the Executive Board was no different from what we heard from the ADs earlier this week,” Yormark said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. “Our discussion with the full board will determine our course of action, and all options remain on the table.” And for those looking ahead, Texas Tech will have a home court advantage at the appeals court level per David Suggs of YahooSports.com: All four justices slated to hear the NCAA’s appeal are Texas Tech law school graduates. Chief Justice Judy C. Parker was appointed to the Seventh Court of Appeals in 2026 following a three-decade spell across Texas’ judiciary. She spent time as Judge of Lubbock’s County Court at Law Number 3 and Associate Judge of Lubbock County. She previously served as President of the Texas Tech University School of Law American Inn of Court during her time in law school. Justice Laura A.W. Pratt was appointed to the bench in March 2026, having previously worked in private practice. She attended Arkansas for undergraduate before completing her J.D. (magna cum laude) at Texas Tech. Justice Alex Yarbrough picked up his bachelor’s degree at Angelo State before completing his J.D. at Texas Tech. He spent time at a handful of law firms before being appointed to the bench. Lastly, Justice Larry Doss has served on the Seventh District Court of Appeals since 2019. He received his J.D. from Texas Tech in 1999 and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Circuits. |
