Svensk målfest när Detroit bortaslog Nashville — and more

Sex mål mellan Detroit och Nashville. Tre av de gjordes av svenskar – inklusive avgörandet. Doldisen Albert Johanssons 3–2-mål blev tungan på vågen när Detroit tog hem matchen med 4–2.

HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP — A $6 million, multi-year partnership, was recently announced by SPIRE Academy and Vensure Employer Solutions, said SPIRE Academy Chief Executive Officer Steve Sanders.

“The partnership connects youth athlete development with workforce innovations, a growing trend as brands look to engage families in trusted high-attention environments,” a press release from SPIRE states.

The sponsorship represents one of the largest youth sport financial partnerships ever created, according to the release. During a phone interview, Sanders said the sponsorship will include direct naming rights to different aspects of the SPIRE portfolio.

“SPIRE is developing the next generation of leaders, and their impact in youth sports and education is growing fast,” said Phil Urso, chief sales officer at Venture HR. He went on to say the SPIRE commitment to the full person connects with Venture HR’s work to create stronger teams and develop talent, he said.

“Youth sports sponsorship is no longer a niche market,” said Amy Liles, head of partnerships and tournaments at SPIRE. “It’s one of of the most effective ways to meet families in an authentic, trusted environment.”

“What makes this partnership special is the alignment between our missions. Vensure HR and other partners like Third Federal Savings and Loan, Waffle House and Chick Fil-A are not just putting their names on our facilities, they are investing in what matters: future talent, performance development, and community impact,” Liles said.

The agreement includes brand visibility across high-profile SPIRE moments, the release states, with examples being national basketball events at the academy and naming rights to the Venture HR SPIRE Performance Research Center.

Vensure HR is the largest privately held organization in the HR technology and service sector, dealing with a wide variety of solutions for companies and organizations.

SPIRE Academy is a growing sports organization that continues to expand in influence. Kevin Boyle, a national championship coach, runs the academy’s basketball program after he was hired last summer from Monteverde Academy.

The academy sponsors a wide range of sports, with more on the horizon, Sanders said.

The Detroit Lions are not going to place a restricted free-agent tender on defensive lineman Tyrus Wheat, per a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

As a result, Wheat will hit the open market and become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins.

“The Lions are not placing a restricted tender on DL Tyrus Wheat, per source. He will be a free agent,” Fowler reported.

The move was widely expected, as the minimum restricted tender would have cost Detroit nearly $3.5 million, a steep price given Wheat’s role and production.

Why the Decision Makes Sense

Wheat appeared in 15 games during the 2025 season, recording:

• 1.5 sacks
• 7 solo tackles
• 1 forced fumble

While he provided rotational depth along the defensive line, Detroit appears comfortable moving on as it reshapes the front seven under its evolving defensive vision. With limited cap flexibility and a need to prioritize impact players, the Lions opted against committing guaranteed money at that level.

What’s Next for Detroit

The Lions are expected to continue exploring cheaper depth options, potential re-signings at a lower cost, and additions through the 2026 NFL Draft to bolster their defensive line rotation.

For Wheat, the decision opens the door to a fresh opportunity elsewhere as free agency approaches.

The post Detroit Lions Make Decision on DL Tyrus Wheat appeared first on Detroit Sports Nation.

Coming off a Super Bowl berth, the New England Patriots have a clear plan in mind for the 2026 offseason: it’s about remodeling, not rebuilding, as head coach Mike Vrabel said after the season.

The NFL Draft naturally is a major part of this process. Until the event in late April, the Patriots — led by Vrabel and EVP of player personnel Eliot Wolf — will be conducting interviews, working out prospects, inviting them for a finite number of pre-draft visits, and in general try to get as complete a picture as possible. It remains to be seen what this process eventually leads to, but there will be plenty of news to report.

In order to find out who the Patriots have already spoken to or worked out thus far, please make sure to bookmark this regularly-updated pre-draft tracker. We will have all contact listed to the best of our knowledge.

(Note: Please scroll down for a meeting-by-meeting breakdown)

Quarterback

N/A

Running back

Kejon Owens (Florida International): Senior Bowl

Jordon Vaughn (Abilene Christian): College Gridiron Showcase

Wide receiver

Lewis Bond (Boston College): Senior Bowl

Camden Brown (Georgia Southern): Hula Bowl

Emmanuel Henderson (Kansas): East-West Shrine Bowl

Tight end

Nate Boerkircher (Texas A&M): Combine

John Michael Gyllenborg (Wyoming): Senior Bowl

D.J. Rogers (TCU): Senior Bowl

Dan Villari (Syracuse): Hula Bowl + Senior Bowl

Offensive tackle

Travis Burke (Memphis): Pro Day

Kamar Missouri (UTSA): College Gridiron Showcase

Interior offensive line

Kage Casey (Boise State): Senior Bowl

Desmond Daniels (Alabama State): FCS Showcase

Nick Dawkins (Penn State): American Bowl

Jalen Farmer (Kentucky): Combine

Ashton Grable (Florida A&M): HBCU Legacy Bowl

Delby Lemieux (Dartmouth): Senior Bowl

Peter Nygra (Louisville): East-West Shrine Bowl

Brian Parker II (Duke): East-West Shrine Bowl

Connor Tollison (Missouri): American Bowl

Interior defensive line

Nick Barrett (South Carolina): Combine

Rayshaun Benny (Michigan): Senior Bowl

Kody Huisman (Virginia Tech): American Bowl

Noah Miles (Howard): HBCU Legacy Bowl

Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M): Combine

Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana): Combine

Landon Robinson (Navy): East-West Shrine Bowl

Defensive edge

Keyron Crawford (Auburn): Combine

Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State): Senior Bowl

Dayon Hayes (Texas A&M): American Bowl

Michael Heldman (Central Michigan): Hula Bowl

Cashius Howell (Texas A&M): Combine

Michael Lunz II (South Carolina State): HBCU Legacy Bowl

Akheem Mesidor (Miami): Combine

T.J. Parker (Clemson): Senior Bowl

Zion Young (Missouri): Combine

Linebacker

Shad Banks Jr. (UTSA): Hula Bowl

Javin Wright (Nebraska): American Bowl

Cornerback

Caleb Anderson (Michigan): College Gridiron Showcase

Rashad Battle (Pittsburgh): American Bowl

Elijah Culp (James Madison): American Bowl

Michael Dansby (Arizona): American Bowl

Andre Fuller (Toledo): East-West Shrine Bowl

Al’Zillion Hamilton (Fresno State): American Bowl

Jaden Rios (Texas State): Hula Bowl

Avery Smith (Toledo): Combine

Safety

Dathan Hickey (Youngstown State): College Gridiron Showcase

Cam Smith (Marshall): Hula Bowl

Gavin Gibson (North Carolina): Hula Bowl

Kamari Ramsey (USC): Combine

Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame): Senior Bowl

Specialists

Garrison Grimes (LS | BYU): East-West Shrine Bowl

Laith Merjan (K | Kansas): Hula Bowl

Whereas the list above gives an overview over the prospects the Patriots have been in contact with before the draft, the following overview is a breakdown by meeting opportunity plus the source of each report.

FCS Showcase

OL Desmond Daniels (Alabama State) | Source

Hula Bowl

WR Camden Brown (Georgia Southern) | Source

TE Dan Villari (Syracuse) | Source

ED Michael Heldman (Central Michigan) | Source

LB Shad Banks Jr. (UTSA) | Source

CB Jaden Rios (Texas State) | Source

S Cam Smith (Marshall) | Source

S Gavin Gibson (North Carolina) | Source

K Laith Merjan (Kansas) | Source

College Gridiron Showcase

RB Jordon Vaughn (Abilene Christian) | Source

OT Kamar Missouri (UTSA) | Source

CB Caleb Anderson (Michigan) | Source

S Dathan Hickey (Youngstown State) | Source

American Bowl

OL Nick Dawkins (Penn State) | Source

OL Connor Tollison (Missouri) | Source

DT Kody Huisman (Virginia Tech) | Source

ED Dayon Hayes (Texas A&M) | Source

LB Javin Wright (Nebraska) | Source

CB Rashad Battle (Pittsburgh) | Source

CB Elijah Culp (James Madison) | Source

CB Michael Dansby (Arizona) | Source

CB Al’Zillion Hamilton (Fresno State) | Source

East-West Shrine Bowl

WR Emmanuel Henderson (Kansas) | Source

OL Brian Parker II (Duke) | Source

OL Peter Nygra (Louisville) | Source

DT Landon Robinson (Navy) | Source

CB Andre Fuller (Toledo) | Source

LS Garrison Grimes (BYU) | Source

Senior Bowl

RB Kejon Owens (Florida International) | Source

WR Lewis Bond (Boston College) | Source

TE John Michael Gyllenborg (Wyoming) | Source

TE D.J. Rogers (TCU) | Source

TE Dan Villari (Syracuse) | Source

OL Kage Casey (Boise State) | Source

OL Delby Lemieux (Dartmouth) | Source

DT Rayshaun Benny (Michigan) | Source

ED Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State) | Source

ED T.J. Parker (Clemson) | Source

S Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame) | Source

HBCU Legacy Bowl

OL Ashton Grable (Florida A&M) | Source

DT Noah Miles (Howard) | Source

ED Michael Lunz II (South Carolina State) | Source

NFL Scouting Combine

TE Nate Boerkircher (Texas A&M) | Source

OL Jalen Farmer (Kentucky) | Source

DT Nick Barrett (South Carolina) | Source

DT Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana) | Source

DT Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M) | Source

ED Keyron Crawford (Auburn) | Source

ED Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) | Source

ED Akheem Mesidor (Miami) | Source

ED Zion Young (Missouri) | Source

CB Avery Smith (Toledo) | Source

S Kamari Ramsey (USC) | Source

Pro Days

OT Travis Burke (Memphis) | Source

Local Pro Day

TBD

30 visits

TBD