The Pittsburgh Steelers star has been one of the best defensive players in the sport since he arrived on the scene. On July 17, the team ensured that will remain the case by signing the four-time All-Pro to a three-year, $123 million extension with $108 million guaranteed to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

It wasn’t an easy road to this point, however.

Watt had been the subject of trade rumors as both sides failed to reach an agreement. For a player who seemed destined to play for one team during his career, it started to look like a possibility that Watt would have to make another NFL city his home going forward.

Naturally this new deal will end that speculation as the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year remains in the Steel City.

The 30-year-old has made $110.9 million throughout his career to this point, according to Spotrac. It’s a figure that will rise dramatically by the end of this extension.

More important, it continues a trend of defensive players earning big paydays this offseason. Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby took turns breaking the record for highest paid non-quarterbacks in league history earlier this year. Danielle Hunter also etched his name onto the highest-paid defenders list, checking in between those two. 

Watt was next in line and now he’s leading it. Here’s a look at the new highest-paid defensive players list.

NFL highest paid defensive players

Here’s a look at the top-10 highest paid defensive players in terms of average annual value, according to Spotrac.

T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers: $41 million
Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: $40 million
Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans: $35.6 million
Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders: $35.5. million
Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: $34 million
Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs: $31.75 million
Sauce Gardner, New York Jets: $30.1 million
Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans: $30 million
Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars: $28.25 million
Brian Burns, New York Giants: $28.2 million

Sibling rivalries are typically reserved for the little things like winning a game or trying to outdo the other in any way possible.

T.J. Watt and J.J. Watt are an example of brothers that took the rivalry to the next level. While the brothers are supportive of each other’s success, there is a clear difference in what the NFL has done for their bank account balance.

J.J., the older one of the two, didn’t have the luxury of playing in the current NFL landscape where salaries have exploded. Despite being one of the game’s best defensive players at the time, it’s T.J., who is six years younger, that has been able to cash in – now by inking a three-year, $123 million extension with $108 million guaranteed.

It marks the second major contract extension for the Pittsburgh Steelers star and makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Here’s a look the career earnings comparison between two of the best pass-rushers in recent memory, who also happen to be brothers.

T.J. Watt career earnings

The younger Watt brother has made $110.9 million throughout his career to this point, according to Spotrac. That figure is for Watt’s first eight seasons in the league, all of them with the Steelers. The four-time All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year previously inked a four-year, $112 million deal in Pittsburgh, which was set to expire after the 2025 season.

That would bring his career earnings to more than $131.9 million, with the new three-year, $123 million deal set to kick in after that.

In what will likely be Watt’s last big contract in his NFL career, the Steelers’ star would finish this latest extension following his age-34 season. If he plays through the deal, as constructed, he would bring his total earnings up to $254.9 million.

J.J. Watt career earnings

The elder Watt certainly made a fine living for himself on the gridiron as well. Unfortunately for this Watt, he played primarily during a time when the NFL salary cap hadn’t yet exploded for defensive players like him. The former Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals standout still finished his 12-year career with over $129.7 million in career earnings, per Spotrac – a number his brother will easily surpass in the coming season in three less seasons.

Injuries played a big role in Watt’s career, however, limiting him to just two full seasons in his last seven.

Regardless, Watt was a five-time All-Pro, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and, more importantly, a one-man wrecking crew on the field with 114.5 sacks in his 12 seasons.

Despite retiring from the game in 2022, Watt settled into a role with ‘The NFL Today’ on CBS as a game analyst. He’s also been known for helping raise money to support Hurricane Harvey victims in Houston and other forms of philanthropy.

Needless to say, the Watt family has certainly cashed in with the NFL.

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The 153rd Open Championship is underway at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland and Thursday’s first round has created a logjam atop the leaderboard. American Harris English and 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick are part of a five-way tie in first place after the opening 18 holes of golf’s final major in 2025.

World No. 1 and British Open favorite Scottie Scheffler, as well as crowd favorite Rory McIlroy, remain within striking distance as more than 30 golfers sit within three shots of the lead heading into Friday’s second round tee times. Irish golfer Shane Lowry is also among those in contention again with Royal Portrush playing host to the Open Championship for the the first time since his win in 2019.

Scheffler earned his first PGA Championship in May, five strokes ahead of fellow Americans Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English and Davis Riley. McIlroy, a Northern Irishman, is coming off a successful start to the year, winning the Masters, the Players Championship and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. A 16-year-old McIlroy shot a 61, setting a course record, at Royal Portrush in 2005 during the North of Ireland Championship. He also had his struggles at the venue, missing the cut in 2019 when the Open Championship was last held there.

Open Championship 2025 leaderboard

T1. Jacob Skov Olesen: -4 (F)
T1. Haotong Li: -4 (F)
T1. Matt Fitzpatrick: -4 (F)
T1. Christiaan Bezuidenhout: -4 (F)
T1. Harris English: -4 (F)
T6. Scottie Scheffler: -3 (F)
T6. Tyrrell Hatton: -3 (F)
T6. Matthew Jordan: -3 (F)
T6. Sadom Kaewkanjana: -3 (F)
T10. Nicolai Højgaard: -2 (F)
T10. Lee Westwood: -2 (F)
T10. Rickie Fowler: -2 (F)
T10. Rasmus Højgaard: -2 (F)
T10. Aaron Rai: -2 (F)
T10. Brian Harman: -2 (F)
T10. Maverick McNealy: -2 (F)
T10. Justin Rose: -2 (F)
T10. Lucas Glover: -2 (F)
T10. Tom Kim: -2 (F)

You can get the latest leaderboard updates and tee times here.

Where to watch The Open: TV Channel, streaming Thursday

Live coverage of this year’s Open Championship will be provided by NBC, USA Network, Golf Channel and Peacock. Live streaming is also available via Fubo, which is offering a free trial for new subscribers.

All times Eastern

Thursday, July 17 – Friday, July 18

Rounds 1 and 2
1:30-4 a.m.: Stream on Peacock
4 a.m-3:30 p.m.: Watch on USA Network, NBC Sports app, Peacock, Fubo
3:30-6 p.m.: Golf Channel live from The Open

Watch the 2025 Open Championship with Fubo

Harris English and new caddie in five-way tie atop leaderboard

Harris English sank a par putt on No. 18 to close out his 4-under 67 first round at the 2025 Open Championship, ensuring there will be a five-way tie atop the leaderboard heading into Friday’s second round at Royal Portrush. English briefly got to 5-under on the back nine before giving back a shot, but it was a strong showing for an American golfer going through some unexpected turmoil.

English’s normal caddie, Eric Larson, was denied a new Electronic Travel Authority visa for travel to the United Kingdom. It’s a regulation that only recently began to apply to Americans. Larson previously served 10 years in prison for dealing cocaine and was released in 2006. English’s putting coach Ramon Bescansa is serving as his caddie this week during the Open Championship, according to the NBC broadcast.

Bryson DeChambeau closes out poor first round

Bryson DeChambeau will have some work to do on Friday just to make the cut at the 2025 Open Championship after finishing +7 over the opening 18 holes at Royal Portrush. His first round included two double bogeys, consecutive bogeys on the final two holes, no birdies and a whiff from the long rough.

Rory McIlroy having trouble off the tee

Rory McIlroy is fading on the back nine while being followed around Royal Portrush by a huge gallery. He has bogeys on three of the past four holes to fall back to even par for the first round, and four shots off the co-leaders. The common theme behind McIlroy’s struggles were errant tee shots, including two into fairway bunkers.

Harris English just had his own bogey at No. 14 to drop back to 4-under and create another five-way tie atop the leaderboard

Harris English grabs solo lead

Consecutive birdies by Harris English have moved him alone atop the 2025 Open Championship leaderboard at 5-under through 12 holes of his first round. English just rolled in short birdie putts on No. 11 and No. 12 after finishing with five birdies on the front nine on Thursday. The American finished tied for second at the PGA Championship earlier this year for his best career performance at a major.

McIlroy, McNealy bogeys keep leaderboard tight

Nobody on the course at Royal Portrush can seem to get back to 5-under, a score current co-leader Jacob Skov Olesen reached before a bogey at No. 18. Rory McIlroy got to within one shot of the lead only to bogey his next hole. Maverick McNealy, who had also risen into the top 10 at 3-under, just bogeyed No. 13 as well. There are currently 18 golfers within two shots of the first-round leaders in the clubhouse.

McIlroy birdies 10, one shot off lead

After an abysmal showing at Royal Portrush in 2019, McIlroy has put on a solid showing in Round 1 this time around, shooting 3-under through the first ten holes. While it will be difficult to get ahead of the five-way tie for first, he’s on pace to finish the round at 6-under, which would put him in the lead.

No. 1 Scottie Scheffler shoots solid 68, trails by 1

Scottie Scheffler birdied two of the last three holes to move within one shot of the clubhouse lead.

Scheffler hit only three fairways all day, but finished with five birdies and two bogeys on his card for a 3-under 68 and a tie for fourth at the time with England’s Matthew Jordan.

Scheffler, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, has already won three tournaments this season, including the PGA Championship. He’s finished in the top 10 in all three 2025 majors.

Rory McIlroy opens with bogey, but regains footing

Northern Ireland native and crowd favorite Rory McIlroy has begun his quest for a second major in 2025. McIlroy had one of the later tee times for Thursday’s opening round at Royal Portrush.

He disappointingly hit his tee shot on the opening par 4 into the left rough and ended up making bogey. However, he bounced back with three birdies on his next six holes.

McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam earlier this year by winning the Masters at Augusta National.

Matt Fitzpatrick joins clubhouse leaders

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick joined the party with a 4-under-par 67 to move into a three-way tie for the clubhouse lead midway through the opening round.

Fitzpatrick got off to a strong start with an eagle 3 on the par-5 second hole, and he added a pair of birdies over the final seven holes to pull even with Jacob Skov Olesen of Denmark and Haotong Li of China for the clubhouse lead.

Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open winner, finished tied for fourth last week at the Genesis Scottish Open. His best major finish this year is a tie for eighth at the PGA.

Also of note, 2013 British Open champion Phil Mickelson, 55, shot a 1-under 70 that included a hole-out birdie from the bunker on the par-5 seventh hole.

Rain intensifies in the afternoon at Royal Portrush

The weather – as it usually does – is playing a role in the scoring at the British Open during Thursday’s opening round.

Golfers with early tee times had the benefit of lighter rain showers as the umbrellas began to pop up more frequently as the day progressed. Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen was in the fourth group off the tee and he made his way around Royal Portrush in 4-under 67 to grab the clubhouse lead. He was later matched by China’s Haotong Li.

Meanwhile Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark, playing in the first group of the day, shot a 2-under 69 to finish his opening round two strokes back.

The Open tee times today: British Open pairings

For a full list of tee times, you can find Thursday’s starts here.

All times Eastern; (a) amateur

1:35 a.m. — Padraig Harrington, Nicolai Hojgaard, Tom McKibbin
1:46 a.m. — Louis Oosthuizen, Guido Migliozzi, K.J. Choi
1:57 a.m. — Cameron Smith, Marco Penge, Justin Hastings (a)
2:08 a.m. — Jason Day, Taylor Pendrith, Jacob Skov Olesen
2:19 a.m. — Phil Mickelson, Daniel van Tonder, Ryan Peake
2:30 a.m. — Max Greyserman, Byeong Hun An, Niklas Norgaard
2:41 a.m. — Jordan Smith, Haotong Li, Dustin Johnson
2:52 a.m. — Darren Clarke, Davis Riley, Lucas Herbert
3:03 a.m. — Kevin Yu, Julien Guerrier, Mikiya Akutsu
3:14 a.m. — Thomas Detry, Chris Gotterup, Lee Westwood
3:25 a.m. — Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Young, Mackenzie Hughes
3:36 a.m. — Thorbjorn Olesen, Matthew Jordan, Filip Jakubcik (a)
3:47 a.m. — Henrik Stenson, Stephan Jaeger, Sebastian Soderberg
4:03 a.m. — Kristoffer Reitan, Martin Couvra, Adrien Saddier
4:14 a.m. — Takumi Kanaya, Justin Walters, Bryan Newman (a)
4:25 a.m. — Hideki Matsuyama, Ryan Fox, Matt Fitzpatrick
4:36 a.m. — Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin, Akshay Bhatia
4:47 a.m. — Sam Burns, Aldrich Potgieter, Brooks Koepka
4:58 a.m. — Xander Schauffele, J.J. Spaun, Jon Rahm
5:09 a.m. — Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa
5:20 a.m. — Corey Conners, Wyndham Clark, Tom Hoge
5:31 a.m. — Denny McCarthy, Nico Echavarria, Patrick Reed
5:42 a.m. — Matt Schmid, Ryggs Johnston, Richard Teder (a)
5:53 a.m. — Dylan Naidoo, Darren Fichardt, John Axelsen
6:04 a.m. — Justin Suh, Oliver Lindell, Jesper Sandborg
6:15 a.m. — Sadom Kaewkanjana, Riki Kawamoto, Sampson Zheng
6:26 a.m. — Stewart Cink, Matteo Manassero, Marc Leishman
6:47 a.m. — Francesco Molinari, Jesper Svensson, Connor Graham (a)
6:58 a.m. — Zach Johnson, Daniel Hillier, Daniel Brown
7:09 a.m. — Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, Ethan Fang (a)
7:20 a.m. — Laurie Canter, Elvis Smylie, Sergio Garcia
7:31 a.m. — Andrew Novak, Matthieu Pavin, Matt Wallace
7:42 a.m. — Davis Thompson, Dean Burmester, Rikuya Hoshino
7:53 a.m. — Si Woo Kim, Shugo Imahira, Sebastian Cave (a)
8:04 a.m. — Michael Kim, Bud Cauley, John Parry
8:15 a.m. — Matt McCarty, Shaun Norris, Angel Hidalgo
8:26 a.m. — Keegan Bradley, Sungjae Im, Daniel Berger
8:37 a.m. — Rasmus Hojgaard, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Romain Langasque
8:48 a.m. — Aaron Rai, Sahith Theegala, Harry Hall
9:04 a.m. — Justin Leonard, Thriston Lawrence, Antoine Rozner
9:15 a.m. — J.T. Poston, Chris Kirk, Carlos Ortiz
9:26 a.m. — Brian Harman, Maverick McNealy, Joaquin Niemann
9:37 a.m. — Russell Henley, Tyrrell Hatton, Min Woo Lee
9:48 a.m. — Robert MacIntyre, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose
9:59 a.m. — Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland
10:10 a.m. — Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood
10:21 a.m. — Harris English, Nick Taylor, Tony Finau
10:32 a.m. — Lucas Glover, Jhonattan Vegas, Tom Kim
10:43 a.m. — Brian Campbell, John Catlin, Frazer Jones (a)
10:54 a.m. — Nathan Kimsey, Jason Kokrak, Cameron Adam (a)
11:04 a.m. — Daniel Young, Curtis Luck, Curtis Knipes
11:16 a.m. — Younghan Song, George Bloor, OJ Farrell

2025 Open Championship odds

British Open odds according to BetMGM, as of afternoon of Wednesday, July 16:

Scottie Scheffler: +550
Rory McIlroy: +750
Jon Rahm: +1200
Bryson DeChambeau: +2200
Xander Schauffele: +2200
Ludvig Aberg: +2500
Tommy Fleetwood: +2500
Tyrrell Hatton: +2500
Shane Lowry: +2800

The British Open purse, payout

The Open Championship prize purse for 2025 will be the same as the 2024’s, a total of $17 million. The winner will claim a significant portion of the total, $3.1 million, while the runner-up will claim $ 1.7 million and the third place finisher will take home $1.1 million. — Elizabeth Flores

Open Championship weather forecast: Latest updates for Thursday

The first day of the 2025 Open Championship is expected to be cloudy with periods of heavy rain that could accumulate up to a quarter of an inch. The high temperature is expected to be around 68 degrees, with a low of 58 degrees, and winds will range from 10 to 20 mph, according to The Weather Channel.

— Elizabeth Flores

2025 Open Championship predictions

Golf.com: Rahm to have a top-7 finish

Brady Kannon writes: ‘Rahm played tremendous golf from tee-to-green at Oakmont — one of the very best in the entire field — but his putting was awful. He finally found a hot putter on the final day, shot a 67 and finished seventh. Not only am I looking for the top players and good current form, but I also want golfers who are well-versed in links-style golf. Rahm fits the bill as he has finished top-7 at the Open Championship in three of the past four years and has won the Irish Open three times.’

Golf Digest: Rory McIlroy

Alex Myers writes: ‘If you had said before the season that McIlroy would be coming back to his home country with three wins and a major under his belt in 2025, you’d have made him a clear favorite.’

BetMGM: Sepp Straka

Nick Hennion writes: ‘For Straka, his distance won’t be punished at the Open like it would at the Masters and PGA. That should allow his two best attributes – iron play and putting – to shine.  Amongst all PGA Tour players this season, Straka ranks second in SG: APP, first in greens in regulation percentage and 16th in SG: Putting.  Based on those factors, the price alone is worth it for Straka to claim his first major title.’

British Open predictions: Sleeper picks at Royal Portrush

Picks made ahead of The Open’s first round:

2025 British Open sleeper picks

Rickie Fowler (+12500)

Ryan Fox (+8000)

Playing on a course he’s somewhat familiar with, Fox has all the momentum going into this tournament, having already posted two wins on the year and having not finished outside the top-30 at any tournament since May. He might not have performed exceptionally well at his other major tournament appearances in 2025 − tied for 19th at U.S. Open; tied for 28th-place at PGA Championship. That said, he hasn’t missed the cut in 18 straight majors.

Thriston Lawrence (+15000)

After a fourth-place finish at the British Open a year ago, a 12th-place finish at the U.S. Open a month ago, and a top-10 finish at the Rocket Classic just two weeks later, Lawrence is playing his best golf of the year. Yes, he missed the cut at his most recent tournament, but his upside is fantastic for someone at +15000 odds.

The Open Championship location

The 153rd edition of the Open Championship is scheduled to take place from Thursday, July 17, to Sunday, July 20, at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.  — Elizabeth Flores

Open Championship AI predictions

It might be easy to make the emotional pick at the 153rd Open Championship this week at Royal Portrush. Rory McIlroy is back home in Northern Ireland playing at a venue in which he set the course record as a 16-year-old. Winning the final major of the 2025 golf season, after completing the career Grand Slam at The Masters in the year’s first major, would be storybook stuff.

But nobody should ever mistake artificial intelligence for being sappy. USA TODAY Sports canvassed five major AI programs seeking their predictions for the 2025 Open Championship winner and top sleeper picks. The majority went with the pre-tournament favorite, Scottie Scheffler, who is seeking his first Claret Jug.

USA TODAY Sports’ Mark Giannotto delivers AI picks and predictions ahead of The Open Championship.

Open Championship winners by year: List of champions

Here are the most recent winners at the British Open. Read here for a complete list of winners.

2024: Xander Schauffele
2023: Brian Harman
2022: Cameron Smith
2021: Collin Morikawa
2019: Shane Lowry
2018: Francesco Molinari
2017: Jordan Spieth
2016: Henrik Stenson
2015: Zach Johnson
2014: Rory McIlroy
2013: Phil Mickelson
2012: Ernie Els
2011: Darren Clarke
2010: Louis Oosthuizen
2009: Stewart Cink
2008: Padraig Harrington
2007: Padraig Harrington
2006: Tiger Woods
2005: Tiger Woods
2004: Todd Hamilton
2003: Ben Ourtis
2002: Ernie Els
2001: David Duval
2000: Tiger Woods

Pat McAfee has been away from WWE for more than a month as he seemingly stepped away from his role as a commentator for Raw.

The absence wasn’t explained in WWE, but McAfee went into detail as to why he’s not currently on the program anymore. On the July 16 edition of ‘The Pat McAfee Show,’ the sports media giant told Kirk Herbstreit that he was exhausted.

‘I got real tired, man,’ McAfee said, as he added that he hit a wall.

The former NFL punter explained he had been doing WWE shows − in addition to his podcast and ESPN duties − since August. He said he finally hit a wall when he arrived for Money in the Bank in June.

‘I could just feel it. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, my brain is not operating right now,” McAfee said. ‘I knew this moment was coming, like I knew it was gonna happen at some point.’

McAfee said he had talked to people about experiencing mental exhaustion as he was traveling several times a week. So, he stopped doing Raw on Monday nights to limit the travel, catching up on sleep in addition to being at home with his wife and daughter. He said he felt bad for taking a step back, but WWE has ‘been great’ about his decision and understood his reasons.

‘I will always love the WWE, and I miss it and but I’ll tell you what, I didn’t think I would have made it,’ he said.

McAfee also gave credit to those who have stepped in for him: Corey Graves on Raw and Wade Barrett for premium live events. The two are veteran commentators, but there was reshuffling within the announcing teams with McAfee, most notably Graves moving from the main roster to NXT, which infamously seemed to frustrate Graves.

‘Corey Graves, so good. Wade Barrett, so good,’ McAfee said.

When will Pat McAfee return to WWE?

It’s unclear when McAfee will step back into his role at WWE. He last appeared on the June 9 edition of Raw.

While it’s unknown when McAfee returns, he likely won’t appear for some time as the college football season starts in August and he will be focused on his ‘College GameDay’ duties. Last year, he announced weeks before the college football season he would step away from WWE ‘for a while.’ He was away from WWE for more than four months until the Netflix premier of Raw on Jan. 6.

Given the history, McAfee is likely to come back into WWE in January in the leadup to or at Royal Rumble.

Keith Thurman, the former welterweight world champion boxer, earned unique insight into the welterweight matchup between Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios set for Saturday, July 19.

He did it by getting in the ring with both men.

Thurman went 12 rounds with Pacquiao in 2019 and suffered a split-decision loss. He went 12 rounds with Barrios in 2022 and won by unanimous decision.

But the only man who knocked him down was Pacquiao, who dropped Thurman in the first round. So, of course, that’s his pick to win the fight, right?

Well, not quite.

During an interview with USA TODAY Sports, Thurman addressed several scenarios as Pacquiao returns to the ring at 46 and the 30-year-old Barrios defends his WBC welterweight world title.

Pacquiao has won world titles at eight divisions. With a victory against Barrios Saturday in Las Vegas, he would become the first boxer to win a world title after being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

“A big question mark is (whether) Pacquiao is still capable of such feats,’’ Thurman said.

Pacquiao vs. Barrios: Sizing up the fight

While Thurman said he doesn’t know how being 46 will affect Pacquiao in the ring, he seized on something else he said could make a big difference – size.

Barrios is 6-0, 6 ½ inches taller than the 5-5 ½ Pacquiao. In addition to being taller, Barrios is also the bigger fighter, according to Thurman.

“He’s got a really big size for a lightweight that moved up to welterweight because of his height and his reach,’’ Thurman said of Barrios. “And Manny Pacquiao is not one whose body size is an advantage at welterweight either.

“His major advantage throughout his career was his speed and his agility and a lot of the awkward angles that he is used throughout his career and really just his expertise.’’

In his last fight, Pacquiao lost to 5-9 Yordenis Ugas by unanimous decision after Ugas made good use of his reach advantage. Barrios is three inches taller than Ugas, and Thurman recommends a similar strategy for Barrios.

“Keeping your distance boxing on the outside the way that the Cubans normally do, not taking chances and Pac just having to try to make up that gap and work his legs after a layoff,’’ Thurman said. “His legs were not really there. That’s my concern (for Pacquiao).

“I think Manny Pacquiao would win via some kind of TKO. He would have to create a knockdown and then take the momentum of the knockdown and finish the fight. And the reason why I see this potentially happening is because Mario Barrios does not have the most sophisticated defense. That’s the only downplay. I think that’s the road to victory for Manny Pacquiao is the lack of the defense from Mario Barrios.’’

‘The major coin toss’

Against Barrios, Thurman said he had success when he threw a pump fake to work his way in.

“Then boom, boom, throw a few creative combos and it was easy to land on Mario Barrios,’’ he said. “And the one thing Manny Pac’s notorious for is creative combos. So that’s the major coin toss to me is Mario Barrios, his defense.’’

While Pacquiao might be slower, Thurman said he expects the aging boxer to be powerful.

“If he gets lucky, the power shot might be there, and with his craftiness and his knowledge of being in the ring, he might be able to do something,’’ Thurman said. “And if he does, it’s not a big surprise for me because that’s what world-class, elite, legendary fighters are potentially capable of.’’ 

For Barrios, Thurman said he does not recommend rolling with the punches.

“His team needs to have a game plan,’’ Thurman said. “I think it’s very essential at this level sometimes when you’re going up against just competition in general.

“Because Mario Barrios is the younger guy and because Ugas was able to keep (Pacquiao) on the outside…make him use those legs. Make him prove to us that those legs are still as explosive.’’

Pacquiao’s bulging calves once functioned like pistons. But the strength and stamina of Pacquiao’s legs remain an unknown, given he’s been out of the ring for almost four years.

“So make him use those legs,’’ Thurman said. “Don’t just stand there. Work behind your jab. Mario Barrios is a long fighter and one of the things that I complimented him post-fight was, out of all the champions I’ve ever faced, I was really surprised that Mario Barrios had one of the best jabs that I’ve ever been in the ring with.’’

Rice, 25, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors that will see him avoid significant jail time for his role in the March 2024 crash, which involved six vehicles and sent two people to the hospital, according to authorities. He agreed to plead guilty to two third-degree felony charges: Collision involving serious bodily injury, and racing on a highway causing bodily injury.

‘When someone with Mr. Rice’s public platform chooses to drive so recklessly, there is a responsibility to acknowledge the danger posed to others and take accountability,’ Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot said in a statement. ‘A vehicle in the wrong hands can be as dangerous as any weapon. We are extremely fortunate that no lives were lost that day, and Mr. Rice is fortunate to have walked away unharmed.’

In a statement released through his attorney, Rice said he was ‘profoundly sorry’ for the harm and damages he had caused in the crash.

‘There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart,’ Rice said.

ESPN reported that Rice, who missed the majority of last season with a knee injury, will likely receive a multi-game suspension from the NFL following the resolution of the criminal case. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said the league has been ‘closely monitoring all developments in the matter, which remains under review.’

Rice was driving a 2020 Lamborghini Urus SUV and traveling an estimated 119 mph in the seconds before the crash on March 30, 2024, according to authorities. Police said at the time that Rice and another man, Theodore Knox, were speeding in the left lane of the North Central Expressway and ultimately caused a chain-reaction collision that impacted four other cars.

According to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Rice’s plea agreement also stipulates that he pay restitution to all of the victims for their out-of-pocket medical expenses − an amount exceeding $115,000.

Some of the victims have also filed civil lawsuits against Rice. The Chiefs wide receiver settled one of the lawsuits July 16, agreeing to pay the victim about $1.086 million. Another lawsuit, filed in May, is outstanding.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @tomschad.bsky.social.

A former minor league baseball player and father drowned after getting caught in a rip current while trying to save a family in the water in South Carolina, according to police and a fundraiser for his family.

Chase Childers, 38, went into the water off Pawleys Island, a barrier island in South Carolina, with another person the afternoon of July 13 to help four or five people who were in distress in the water, according to the Pawleys Island Police Department. Police responded to a report at about 4:45 p.m. and learned one person was missing in the water. Childers was recovered at about 6:15 p.m., police said.

‘He died trying to save others,’ the police department said.

Childers was signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2009 and played at the rookie level for teams affiliated with the Orioles in 2009 and 2010, according to the MLB. He also served as a police officer in Cobb County, Georgia, according to a fundraiser for his family verified by GoFundMe.

‘In a heroic act, he saved a family of five in a moment of crisis in Pawleys Island on Sunday afternoon, putting their lives above his own,’ the fundraiser said. ‘Tragically, after giving everything he had to save them, he was unable to stay above water as the rip tide swept him away, ultimately paying the highest sacrifice with his life in front of his three children and wife.’

Childers was survived by his wife Nataley and three children, according to the fundraiser.

Rip currents, fast-moving channels of water that flow away from the shore, can drag a swimmer way out into the ocean and exhaust them trying to fight their way out. At least three dozen other people have died so far in 2025 in surf zone-related incidents, with the majority caught by rip currents, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Since 2010, more than 800 people have died in rip current drownings. Thousands of people are estimated to be rescued from rip currents annually.

Pawleys Island Mayor Brian Henry said in a social media post that the town urges caution to swimmers entering the water and that the town council will investigate ways to prevent future tragedies.

‘The Town is saddened by the report of the drowning over the weekend. We pray for the family members and offer our condolences,’ Henry said.

Ruth Chepngetich, the world record holder in the women’s marathon, was provisionally suspended after a positive doping test.

The Athletics Integrity Unit said Chepngetich tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), which is a diuretic used clinically to treat fluid retention and hypertension, from a sample collected from her on March 14.

The AIU said Chepngetich, who is from Kenya, ‘opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while the AIU’s investigation was ongoing.’

‘When there is a positive test for diuretics and masking agents, a provisional suspension is not mandatory under the World Anti-Doping Code. Chepng’etich was not provisionally suspended by the AIU at the time of notification, however, on 19 April, she opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while the AIU’s investigation was ongoing,” Athletics Integrity Unit head Brett Clothier said.

Chepngetich, 30, set the world record during her third win in the Chicago Marathon in October, finishing in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 56 seconds.

Chepngetich, who won the marathon at the 2019 world championships in Qatar, does have the right to appeal and to have her case heard before a disciplinary tribunal.

Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera, 19, died following a crash during the opening stage of the Giro della Valle d’Aosta, his team Hagens Berman Jayco confirmed late on Wednesday.

Privitera crashed during a descent, losing his helmet and colliding with a gate, Italian media reported. He was transported to hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

‘Samuele was and always will be the life and personality of this team. This team has always been a small family, and moments like this are unimaginable,’ Axel Merckx, owner of Hagens Berman Jayco, said in a statement.

The second stage of the race, which takes place in northern Italy’s Aosta Valley near the French border, has been cancelled.

The Giro della Valle d’Aosta is the largest under-23 race in Italy, following the Giro Next Gen, held annually in August in the Aosta Valley.

‘The stage goes to him and his family. It’s the first thing I read in the morning,’ Tour de France overall leader Tadej Pogacar said after winning the race’s 12th stage on Thursday.

‘I was thinking of him in the last kilometre.’

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