English
Indian
العربية
Español
Deutsch
Türkçe
Русский
Français (Afrique)
"You have to fight every duel and every play."
The coach of Girona FC, Míchel Sánchez, appeared ahead of tomorrow's match against Valencia CF at Mestalla, a game he considers key in a very tight competition phase. sportnewz.click
The coach highlighted the equality of the league and the importance of earning points: “The league is very balanced, and tomorrow we have a new opportunity to do things well and achieve a victory that would be very good for us.”
Regarding the opponent, Míchel warned about their potential: “Valencia has a very good squad, and just two games ago, they were looking upwards. It will be a very tough match, and the small details will be very important.”
As for Girona's approach, the coach insisted on the need to be brave and dominant: “We have to look upwards and be aggressive, keep the ball in the opponent's half, and also recover it in their half.” Additionally, he emphasized the desire to make up for the last result: “We need to recover the points we didn’t get against Betis.”
Míchel also explained that the preparation for the match involves demanding the maximum from the opponent: “I expect the best Valencia and also look at how to make them uncomfortable.” The coach reminded that the team has not yet achieved its goals: “We are still far from our objective, and we have to do things to reach it as quickly as possible.” In this regard, he emphasized the level of competition: “You have to fight for every duel and every play. There will be suffering in every match.”
Finally, Míchel appealed to the pride and identity of the team: “You always play for your people and with the pride of doing things well” and “our identity is very clear, and when you want to do things well, you have to be very focused,” before concluding with a reflection on the dynamics of the league: “In this league, if you win two games in a row, the whole picture changes a lot.”
John Harbaugh must end this tiresome NFL Draft cycle for the Giants | Politi
John Harbaugh was the happiest man in the room at his first press conference during the NFL Draft with the Giants, and, of course, the biggest reasons for his wide smile were obvious.
His new team had just secured two of the top five players on its draft board — including, in a surprise, the defensive star widely regarded as the best player available. Harbaugh said the Giants had gone through “a zillion” scenarios leading up to Thursday night and not a single one had them landing Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese and Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa.
“These are great players. These are two top-five players in this draft. You couldn’t do any better,” Harbaugh said.
But as the head coach sat beaming on the dais alongside general manager Joe Schoen, I couldn’t help but think that there was another significant reason why Harbaugh seemed more enthusiastic than everyone else in that room:
The rest of us had been here before.
By here, I don’t mean East Rutherford. I mean running or covering an NFL team that is sitting at the top of the first round. The start of the night is filled with anticipation. The team always gets a really good player — or, at least, so you’d think.
Everyone is happy. But if you’re back in this spot, again and again? Then it gets old.
It has gotten old — very, very old — for the Giants. As Harbaugh waxed on about using two top-10 picks on a versatile pass rusher and an anchor for the right side of the team’s offensive line, it was hard not to think back to four years ago when the Giants basically did the same exact thing.
That year, Schoen took defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fifth pick and right tackle Evan Neal at No. 7. Since 2000, only six teams have had two top-10 picks in the same draft. Those teams’ 12 draft picks include a Hall of Fame linebacker (Ray Lewis), franchise quarterbacks (Baker Mayfield and CJ Stroud), and current stars (Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Will Anderson Jr.).
It is hard to screw up two top-10 picks — and, yet, that’s what Schoen did.
Neal is a bust. Thibodeaux is expendable. Sure, most observers — including this one — agreed with the picks at the time, but that doesn’t change the cold calculus. Had the Giants aced that 2022 opportunity, they wouldn’t have had to address these positions at the top of the draft. Of course, they wouldn’t be at the top of the draft, which is sort of the point.
This has to be the last time for the foreseeable future that the most important day of the year for the Giants comes in late April. If it isn’t, you can rest assured that Harbaugh’s smile won’t be as wide.
For now, though, it’s hard to blame him for being a little giddy. The Giants had Reese as the No. 1 player on their draft board, and much like a year ago when edge rusher Abdul Carter fell in their laps at the third pick, the value was too good to pass up.
This defense was ranked 28th overall in yards allowed per game (359.5) and 26th in points allowed (25.8) last season. If it isn’t in the top half of the league with what Harbaugh said “absolutely” should be an elite pass rush, something’s wrong.
“As soon as I settled down, that’s what I thought about,” Reese said when asked about the talent at his position. “Dang, you got Kayvon Thibodeaux. You got Brian Burns. You got Abdul Carter. That sounds like a great situation playing alongside those guys.”
The Giants also could have had one of Reese’s teammates at Ohio State. When they made their selection at No. 10, the pick acquired in the recent trade for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, safety Caleb Downs was available. He was a player many draft experts thought the Giants might take at No. 5, and given the shaky backend of this defense, one who would have slotted into a start role immediately.
Instead, the Giants grabbed Mauigoa, a 6-foot-6, 329-pound lineman from Miami. When the rival Cowboys traded up a spot to take Downs at 11, it ensured the decision to pass on the star safety would be revisited twice a season for the next decade or longer.
Schoen insisted the Giants were simply following their draft board, but it felt like they were making sure that quarterback Jaxson Dart and the offense received something from their first-round haul on Thursday. Mauigoa swore on national television that he was “ready to die” for Dart, who needs better pass protection to flourish.
Reese and Mauigoa will be penciled in as Day 1 starters, making the Giants much stouter up the middle than they were a year ago. That’s the benefit of picking at the top of the draft, a perch that Harbaugh rarely held during his 18 years with the Ravens.
The veteran head coach seemed downright tickled by the experience. If he’s sitting in that same spot a year from now, chances are, he’ll be just as jaded as everyone else in the room.
Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Best prospects for Detroit Lions to consider on Day 2 of NFL Draft
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Detroit Lions made an addition to their offensive line by selecting Clemson tackle Blake Miller with the 17th overall pick. It's the first time the Lions have chosen an OT in the draft's opening round since Penei Sewell in 2021. Before Sewell, it was Taylor Decker in 2016.
But the draft is far from over. The Lions have eight picks remaining over the next couple days, including the 50th overall selection (18th in the second round).
Here are 18 of our favorite prospects for the Lions on Day 2 of the draft, listed alphabetically.
Best available 2026 NFL Draft prospects for Detroit Lions
▶ CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State: Abney, an aggressive cornerback who didn't allow a touchdown in 2025, played almost exclusively on the outside while at Arizona State, though his size (5-foot-9⅞, 187 pounds) has some wondering if he's capable of playing in the slot at the next level.
▶ DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State: Consistently productive when given opportunties at Penn State, Dennis-Sutton recorded 96 pressures and 17 sacks over his final two seasons with the Nittany Lions. Dennis-Sutton uses his 33½-inch arms to his advantage while rushing the passer and setting a firm edge.
▶ LB CJ Allen, Georgia: Despite being a bit redundant to what the Lions already have in Jack Campbell, Allen's value might be too good to pass up at No. 50, should his slide continue that far. Allen did his best work defending the run while at Georgia, and he drew top reviews from his collegiate coaches.
▶ CB Colton Hood, Tennessee: The Vols ran a ton of man-to-man coverage under former defensive coordinator Tim Banks, making Hood a natural fit in Detroit's man-heavy scheme. Hood had a passer rating against in 2025 (70.8) that ranked 18th out of 66 qualified CBs (minimum 400 coverage snaps).
▶ Edge Gabe Jacas, Illinois: Jacas has been a popular choice for those trying to predict Detroit's selection in the second round, and it makes sense why. He had 85 pressures and 19 sacks over the last two seasons, often using his power to beat opposing offensive linemen.
▶ CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee: There's no questioning McCoy's talent. But the 2024 standout missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in January 2025, and there's reportedly concern he'll have to have undergo another surgery to fix a cartilage issue in his knee. This feels similar to Michigan's Will Johnson falling to the Arizona Cardinals last year.
▶ DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State: McDonald was a consensus All-American for the Buckeyes last season, totaling 65 tackles (nine for loss), three sacks, 15 pressures, two forced fumbles and a pass deflection. He led all FBS defensive linemen in run stops (30), and 13.8% of his snaps as a run defender resulted in a stop being made.
▶ DL Christen Miller, Georgia: Another defensive tackle who, although he doesn't stuff the stat sheet like McDonald did in 2025, is considered a plus defender, Miller spent all four of his collegiate seasons at Georgia. He took on his biggest defensive role (437 snaps) last season.
▶ DE T.J. Parker, Clemson: Parker is a schematic fit for the Lions. He's stingy against the run and rushes with power, often deploying a long-arm move to display those in his way. Similar to Allen, Parker might not remain on the board until No. 50. But if he does, selecting him feels like a slam dunk.
▶ DE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma: Thomas (6-2¼, 241) plays heavier than he's listed, but the Lions, who typically like large, stout players opposite Aidan Hutchinson, would need to make an exception for him. Thomas had 15½ sacks over his last two seasons with the Sooners.
▶ S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo: Commonly mocked in the first round, McNeil-Warren was ultimately not selected in the draft's first round on Thursday. He has all the size (6-foot-3½, 201) you could want in a safety, and he excels at roaming the middle of the field, near the line of scrimmage.
▶ DE Derrick Moore, Michigan: Moore was at his best in 2025, with career-best totals in tackles for loss (10½), sacks (10) and pressures (41). His win rate as a pass rusher last season (19.8%) was close to the 19.2% put up by UCF's Malachi Lawrence, who the Dallas Cowboys drafted 23rd overall.
▶ CB D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana: Ponds found himself around the ball plenty over his three years in college, which included tenures at James Madison (2023) and Indiana (2024-25), the latter of which he helped win the national championship. Ponds had 33 pass deflections and seven interceptions over 41 appearances.
▶ LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech: Lions GM Brad Holmes said Miller checked a lot of boxes, making him a fit in Detroit. Rodriguez certainly seems to do the same. He was highly productive at Texas Tech, so much so that he finished fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy, and he tested well at the combine in February.
▶ CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson: Terrell has real inside-out flexibility. He played mostly on the outside while at Clemson, but he performed well when asked to play in the slot, not afraid to mix it up as a run defender. Terrell is the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons All-Pro cornerback A.J. Terrell.
▶ CB Keionte Scott: One of the driving forces of Miami's run to a runner-up finish, Scott, playing in the slot, was all over the place last season, with 13 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. Like Terrell, Scott seems to enjoy defending the run.
▶ CB Treydan Stukes, Arizona: The run on nickel defenders continues. Stukes had an excellent passer rating against in 2025 (34.4), aided by the four interceptions he hauled in across 10 appearances. A former walk-on who was eventually put on scholarship, Stukes had been at Arizona since 2020.
▶ DE Zion Young, Missouri: Young, formerly of Michigan State (2022-23), had a breakout season in 2025, collecting 57 pressures and 6½ sacks. He's strong and plays with a chip on his shoulder, a couple qualities which should be appealing to the Lions. Young had 16½ tackles for loss in 2025.
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Best Day 2 prospects in NFL Draft for Detroit Lions to consider
Why Gennings Dunker didn't get drafted in NFL Draft 1st round despite viral fame
Why Gennings Dunker didn't get drafted in NFL Draft 1st round despite viral fame originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Gennings Dunker and his mullet have to wait.
The Iowa offensive lineman wasn't drafted in the NFL Draft's first round on Thursday night.
That doesn't mean he won't get picked. The second and third rounds are on Friday, and the fourth through seventh rounds are on Saturday.
But anyone hoping for the viral big fella to make it on the board in the first round ended up disappointed.
2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available
Why didn't Gennings Dunker get drafted in the 1st round?
The reality is that Dunker has always been viewed more as a second or third round pick.
He's not quite the huge, athletic marvel that some of the best offensive linemen in the draft are -- he'll be expected to compete for a starting job in the NFL but not be a shoo-in for it.
Dunker's fame comes in large part because he has a bright red mullet, a quality mustache and a bunch of tattoos.
BEST DRAFT NAMES: Ephesians Prysock | R Mason Thomas | DeVonta Smith | Zxavian Harris
He also has shared his immense meal plan preparing for games, which is a heck of a lot of food.
It ends with postgame Culver's -- a double bacon cheeseburger, family size order of cheese curds or onion rings, and three sides of ranch.
Yep, the 6-foot-5, 319-pound Dunker can certainly eat his fill.
More NFL Draft news:
Should fans be concerned by Madison Keys’ abrupt withdrawal from Mutua Madrid Open
Shortly before her opening match, 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys abruptly withdrew from the Mutua Madrid Open. She was replaced by lucky loser Anastasia Potapova who seized the opportunity and won the match in straight sets.
Keys has been seen on the grounds looking relaxed and happy for days so this came as a surprise to many.
MORE: Fans suggest great tennis merch idea for ATP
Why Keys withdrew
Keys is reportedly dealing with an illness, and that is the reason for her withdrawal. Viral illnesses have been prevalent on the WTA Tour. Elise Mertens withdrew from tne Miami Open women’s doubles semifinals becasue she was sick.
Mar 22, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Madison Keys (USA) reacts after winning a point against Qinwen Zheng (CHN) (not pictured) on day six of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Emma Raducanu has not played since Indian Wells where she reportedly contracted a respiratory illness.
Mertens is back playing on the WTA Tour, but Raducanu is not.
MORE: Tennis fans react to recent Rafael Nadal Jr. sighting in Madrid
Why fans should be concerned
With the European clay court leg of the tennis season in full force, a Keys illness is not optimal. Back-to-back WTA 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Italy lead into the French Open.
Another potential problem is that Keys was practicing with Jessica Pegula. Hopefully, she did not acquire the illness.
Hopefully Keys gets well and gets back to tennis when she is physically ready.
Pegula is still in the tournament. Partnered with Caty McNally, she lost her opening doubles match. She plays her first singles match on Friday against Britain’s Katie Boulter.
Watch the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open on Tennis Channel through May 3.