Lights. Cam. Action.

AP News’ Rob Maadi writes, “Cam Ward has gone from zero-star recruit to No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. Travis Hunter is taking his versatility to Jacksonville following a blockbuster deal.”

April 25, 2025

Cam Ward Goes to Titans at No. 1 in the NFL Draft. Travis Hunter Picked 2nd, Shedeur Sanders Waits
AP News’ Rob Maadi writes, “Cam Ward has gone from zero-star recruit to No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. Travis Hunter is taking his versatility to Jacksonville following a blockbuster deal.

“After the Tennessee Titans selected Ward first overall, the Jaguars moved up from No. 5 to select the Heisman Trophy winner with the second pick. Hunter, a playmaking wide receiver and cornerback at Colorado, wants to become the first full-time, two-way player in the NFL since Chuck Bednarik did it with the Philadelphia Eagles more than 60 years ago.

“The Jaguars gave the Cleveland Browns a ton to give Hunter that opportunity. The Browns got Jacksonville’s first-round pick (No. 5), picks Nos. 36 and 126, and a first-rounder in 2026. The Jaguars also received fourth- and sixth-round picks in this draft.”
^{AP News}

NBA Great Jason Kidd Joins Ownership Group of Premier League Soccer Club Everton
In a statement released Thursday by Everton, executive chairman Marc Watts said Kidd’s “knowledge and winning mentality will be an incredible resource” for a nine-time English champion which is without a major trophy since 1995 and has been battling relegation in recent years.
^{AP News}

Robert Griffin III Expected to Land at Fox Sports as Network’s No. 2 College Football Analyst: Sources
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports: “After being fired by ESPN eight months ago, Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is expected to be hired by Fox Sports to be its No. 2 college football game analyst, sources briefed on the move told The Athletic on Thursday.

“Griffin, 35, would replace Brock Huard as the network’s second-highest college football game analyst … Griffin is expected to team with play-by-player Jason Benetti.”
^{The Athletic}

Shannon Sharpe To Be Benched By ESPN’s ‘First Take’ Amid Rape Lawsuit, $10M Settlement Offer
Deadline’s Dominic Patten writes, “Currently, Disney-owned ESPN intends to ‘further investigate,’ according to one corporate source, the Jane Doe claims in the lawsuit and Sharpe’s insistence it is a ‘shakedown’ and the relationship was untraditional but consensual. Unsurprisingly, the April 22 revelation by Sharpe’s own lawyer Lanny Davis that the Nightcap podcast co-host offered to write his accuser a $10 million check to keep this on the down-low has also ‘raised concerns’ at ESPN.
^{PUCK via Sports Business Journal}

Swin Cash Departing From Pelicans Front Office Role Amid Team Restructuring
The Athletic’s William Guillory writes, “Cash’s departure is one more piece in the Pelicans’ effort to restructure the team’s front office after hiring Joe Dumars to be the executive vice president of basketball operations following the firing of former Pelicans lead executive David Griffin earlier this month.

“Cash had been with the Pelicans since 2019 and played a pivotal role as a mentor for Pelicans players and a driving force for some of the growth the organization has experienced on and off the court.”
^{The Athletic}

Playoff Hockey With a Sellout Crowd Returns to Montreal for the First Time Since 2017
AP News’ Stephen Whyno writes, “When the Canadiens made their improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, hockey-mad Montreal did not even get to enjoy it properly in person [because of COVID-19 restrictions].

“Bell Centre will be packed full Friday night when the Canadiens host the Capitals in Game 3 of their first-round series, marking the return of a sellout crowd in Montreal for the playoffs for the first time since 2017.”
^{AP News}

NBA Going Back to Abu Dhabi for Pair of Preseason Games in October
New York and Philadelphia will play preseason games on Oct. 2 and 4 in Abu Dhabi, the league announced Thursday. It will be the fourth consecutive year that the NBA — which signed a deal with tourism officials in Abu Dhabi in 2021 — has played preseason games there. Milwaukee and Atlanta went in 2022, Dallas and Minnesota went in 2023, and Boston and Denver opened the 2024 preseason there.

It’s the third overseas preseason destination announced by the NBA for next season, joining China — which the league is planning to visit for the first time in six years — and Australia.
^{AP News}

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College Football Playoff Meetings Wrap Up With Big Questions Still Unanswered
The Athletic’s Chris Vannini writes, “The fourth in-person College Football Playoff meeting of 2025 ended with a familiar result: No decisions on the three biggest issues, creating more pressure to meet an unofficial and perhaps wishful summer deadline on any format changes.

“Those three biggest topics included a potential seeding change for 2025 (which would require unanimity), possible expansion and format changes for 2026 (which the Big Ten and SEC have control over) and basic governance contracts.”
^{The Athletic}

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