The post Usman, back from layoff, faces Buckley June 14 appeared first on Sports News Boom.

The post Trent ties franchise mark with 9 3s to lift Bucks appeared first on Sports News Boom.

The post Pitt freshman CB Alexander dies in car accident appeared first on Sports News Boom.

• 

  Jeff LegwoldMar 1, 2025, 11:50 AM ET

  Close

  Jeff Legwold covers the Denver Broncos at ESPN. He has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years and also assists with NFL draft coverage, joining ESPN in 2013. He has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999, too. Jeff previously covered the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans at previous stops prior to ESPN.

INDIANAPOLIS — LSU Tigers tackle Will Campbell was a consensus All-America selection this past season, a two-time first-team All SEC pick in his career with the Tigers, won the SEC’s coveted Jacobs Blocking Trophy and is one of the most highly-rated players in the NFL draft.

But at the scouting combine this week, he has been formally welcomed into the critique-filled world of the draft run-up with the fact the length of his arms is suddenly a hot topic.

“I think I’ve shown everything that I need to, you know, show that I can play tackle at an elite level,” Campbell said Saturday. “You can go look at my tape, there’s not one play on there that when I get beat you say that’s because he has shorter arms. … Obviously I don’t have stereotypical offensive tackle arms. I’m aware of that. People have to nitpick something. I’ve heard it all my career. When I was coming out of high school, the college coaches all said the same thing. I proved them wrong; it’s something I anticipate doing again.”

Campbell, who is the top-rated tackle and No. 10 player overall on ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest Big Board, started all three of his seasons at LSU, 38 games overall. Saturday, he estimated he has blocked against “close to 15 guys who will go in the first or second round [of this draft]” in the powerhouse SEC.

But in the arduous process of draft analysis, as teams put together their draft boards, many NFL personnel executives want tackles to have enough reach to battle the league’s best pass rushers, often with a 34-inch arm length as the minimum benchmark. Campbell and the other offensive linemen at the combine will not be formally weighed and measured at the combine until Sunday, just before the group’s on-field workout at Lucas Oil Stadium.

But multiple scouting sources said Saturday that Campbell’s arm had been measured at 33⅞ inches in spring 2024 at LSU. And Campbell, who was listed at 6-foot-6, 323 pounds at LSU, said Saturday that teams have discussed in his formal interviews this week how he adjusted his technique in any way to accommodate his body type and if he would be willing to switch positions to guard if asked.

“If you told me I was going to start at right guard versus be a backup at left tackle, I’m going to tell you to put me at right guard,” Campbell said. “… I’ll play anything I need to, to get on the field, but I feel like I can play tackle … [but] I’ve been working on everything. I’m a versatile player, I can play wherever I need to play and do whatever I’ve got to do to get on the field.”

Campbell said his level of play in the nation’s most competitive football conference, as well as the conference that routinely has the most players selected in the NFL draft each year, should counter any questions about his arms. Campbell was part of an LSU offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the SEC this season: 14.

Kiper rated Campbell’s fellow LSU tackle, Emery Jones, as the No. 8 guard available in the draft.

“Being in the SEC is the best thing and the closest thing to the NFL,” Campbell said. “So I feel like the guys coming out of the SEC will have the closest grasp to [the NFL]. It’s going to be an adjustment … but being in the SEC I was fortunate to see some these guys that are now Pro Bowl rushers so I kind of know what to expect.”

The post A reach? LSU OT Campbell’s arm length criticized appeared first on Sports News Boom.

The city of Philadelphia had a celebration-filled February after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9. However, that success hasn’t carried over to one particular team in Philly.

The Philadelphia 76ers are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, the longest active streak in the NBA. Their 1-10 record in February was the worst in the league, according to ESPN Research. Even more grim, the 76ers have failed to win a game since the Eagles won the Super Bowl.

Their tough stretch aligns with Jimmy Butler III‘s return to Philadelphia in a home matchup against the Golden State Warriors (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC), who have won seven of their last eight. Butler spent one season with the 76ers, aiding the franchise to an Eastern Conference semifinals run in 2019 before signing with the Miami Heat that offseason.

A portion of the 76ers’ struggles this season is due to Joel Embiid‘s availability. The 2022-23 MVP has played in just 19 games because of a knee injury. The trio of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George has only played 15 games together, going 7-8.

On Friday, the 76ers announced that Embiid will miss the remainder of the regular season as the team continues to find a solution for his left knee.

In terms of other Philadelphia area professional sports, heading into Saturday the Flyers are at .500 since the Super Bowl, while the Phillies are in the midst of spring training. The Philadelphia Union won their opening match of the MLS season last week.

The post Two tales of one city: 76ers winless since Eagles won Super Bowl appeared first on Sports News Boom.

The post Klaasen scores fifth successive fifty, wants to be ‘the best in the world’ appeared first on Sports News Boom.

• Alex Kirkland

• Rodrigo Faez

Mar 1, 2025, 05:14 AM ET

Real Madrid have been hit with a €30,000 ($31,130) fine and a partial stadium closure — suspended for two years — by UEFA over “discriminatory behaviour” by fans in their Champions League game with Manchester City at the Bernabéu last month.

Madrid beat City 3-1 in the Champions League knockout phase playoff second leg on Feb. 19, with forward Kylian Mbappé scoring a hat trick, as Madrid progressed to the round of 16 with an aggregate score of 6-3.

UEFA’s Appeals Body published the decision on Friday, citing a breach of article 14 of its Disciplinary Regulations, which sanctions “any person … who insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons on whatever grounds, including skin colour, race, religion, ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation.”

UEFA did not specify the nature of the fan behaviour which had led to the punishment.

As well as the €30,000 fine, Madrid were penalised with a partial closure of the Bernabéu of “at least 500 adjacent seats” suspended for a probationary period of two years.

The closure would be enforced “if a further offence of a similar nature is committed during the probationary period,” UEFA said.

Real Madrid will play Atlético Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie at the Bernabéu on Tuesday.

The post Madrid penalised for fan behaviour in City CL clash appeared first on Sports News Boom.

• Sam Marsden

• Moises Llorens

Mar 1, 2025, 08:11 AM ET

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has revealed defender Andreas Christensen has picked up another injury just three days after being cleared to return to action against Real Sociedad this weekend.

Christensen, 28, came off the bench against Valencia in Barça’s first game of the season in August but was then sidelined until January with Achilles problem.

Upon his return to training at the start of the year, the Denmark international injured his calf, ruling him out until the end of February.

Earlier this week, Barça confirmed Christensen had been given the green light to play competitively again, but he received another setback on Saturday.

“What I can say now is that Andreas got injured in this morning’s training session,” Flick told a news conference.

“He was an option for Real Sociedad on Sunday, but again he is injured. We are looking now how heavy is the injury. Hopefully it’s not so much.”

Christensen joined Barça on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2022 and made 32 appearances to help the club win LaLiga in his first season.

He followed his debut campaign up with another 42 appearances last term, being used as a defensive midfielder at times by previous coach Xavi Hernández, but he has been limited to just one outing this season.

In his absence, Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez have emerged as Barça’s first choice centre-back pairing, with Ronald Araújo and Eric García providing backup.

“We want at least four players for this position,” Flick added. “Normally we have five really good centre-backs, but without Andreas, it’s four.

“Ronald also had a huge injury but he’s doing really good now. He’s a leader. He has everything to reach a very high level. I am really happy with all of them.”

Squad depth may be needed in the coming weeks as the games come thick and fast for the LaLiga leaders.

After Tuesday’s 4-4 draw against Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, Barça welcome Real Sociedad in LaLiga this weekend before travelling to Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Flick aid the fact his side are still in the running to win all three competitions, after already winning the Spanish Supercopa in January, is proof they are exceeding expectations this season.

“We have to accept [the busy schedule] and manage it with the players, maybe by using some fresh legs,” he said.

“It’s good to have [the games]. We have three competitions and can fight for three titles. When we start this season, at this time now, March 1, no one expected that. The team is going great.”

The post Barça’s Christensen suffers new injury setback appeared first on Sports News Boom.

Forwards Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford are quickly adapting to Aston Villa‘s style and growing in confidence, manager Unai Emery said after they linked-up again to lead the club into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City.

Rashford set up fellow January singing Asensio for the opener against English second-tier side Cardiff at Villa Park on Friday, having also assisted the Spaniard for both his goals in their 2-1 last-gasp Premier League home win over Chelsea earlier this month.

England international Rashford is on loan from Manchester United while Asensio has joined from Paris Saint-Germain until the end of the season.

“They are adapting of the structure …,” Emery told reporters.

“They have a lot of skills to add in our structure, helping us like they are doing. They are scoring goals and getting assists for their teammates, playing in our structure and feeling comfortable.

“They’re getting more confidence. It’s important how every player is trying to support and to help in our structure, getting us as strong as possible.”

Emery said it was important to enjoy the moment as Villa entered the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 10 years, but he did not consider his side the outright favourites to win the title with Manchester City, Man United and Newcastle United still in the competition.

“We know this competition is a way for a trophy, a way for Wembley, a way for Europa League and prestige for the club and the supporters are excited and motivated to try and share this opportunity with us,” Emery said.

Villa next take a trip to Belgian side Club Brugge for the Champions League round of 16 first leg tie on Tuesday.

The post Emery: Asensio, Rashford adapting to Villa style appeared first on Sports News Boom.

Burnley players refused to shake hands with Preston North-End striker Milutin Osmajic during their FA Cup fifth-round clash on Saturday as a sign of solidarity with teammate Hannibal Mejbri.

The Burnley midfielder accused Osmajic of racially abusing him when the two sides met in the Championship earlier this month.

“I will not be silent about what happened today,” Mejbri wrote on social media post-match.

“I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it. That is the only way we change as a sport and a society. I am a strong person but nobody should have to experience this disgusting abuse on the pitch.”

Osmajic “strongly refuted” the claims per a statement released by Preston and the incident is being investigated by the English Football Association.

The rancor stemming from the incident carried into their FA Cup meeting on Saturday, where none of the Burnley players put their hands forward to Osmajic during the pre-match handshakes. Mejbri was fit to play at Deepdale but Burnley boss Scott Parker said he left him out of the squad to “protect” his wellbeing.

After realising he was going to be shunned by the Burnley squad, Osmajic walked past the line without any interaction.

The forward went on to score Preston’s second goal in their 3-0 win and celebrated by cupping his hands around his ears to mock the away fans.

The post Burnley shun Preston striker amid racism row appeared first on Sports News Boom.