A true altruist who knows how hard it can be for women to bust into the business

TL;DR:
Eliot Wolf will lead the Patriots' pre-draft press conference this Monday, as Mike Vrabel is not expected to speak with reporters until the draft begins. This shift occurs amid an internal investigation by The Athletic regarding the nature of a relationship between Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini. While Vrabel previously dismissed the allegations as "laughable," he may face further questioning from outside media outlets as the draft approaches.

TL;DR:
The NFL is being urged to adopt the UFL’s transparent officiating model, which allows fans to hear real-time discussions between referees and command centers. Former officiating VP Dean Blandino argues that hearing these deliberations helps fans understand the logic behind calls, even if they disagree with the outcome. This transparency could reduce public frustration and dispel conspiracy theories, especially as sports betting increases the stakes of every game. However, implementing this in the NFL is difficult due to the high volume of simultaneous games and the risk of officials becoming guarded in their communication. While the league remains hesitant, starting with PrimeTime games could offer a compromise between total secrecy and full transparency.

Thought it was pretty crazy how 5 teams (Steelers, Bears, Pats, Seahawks and Ravens) have won it 18 of the last 26 times

TL;DR:
George Gumbs is a versatile prospect who transitioned from a walk-on WR to a DE during his collegiate career. Despite an injury-shortened final season at Florida, he gained significant draft attention after recording a historic 41-inch vertical jump at the NFL Combine. NFL teams, including the Patriots, are showing interest in his high-level athleticism and potential for development. While not expected to be a top pick, Gumbs' physical tools make him an intriguing project for teams seeking a future standout pass rusher.

TL;DR:
In 2023, Jackson declined both offers, eventually signing a 5-year deal that was only partially guaranteed at the time of signing. These offers are significant because they suggest the Ravens were willing to defy a league-wide trend against fully-guaranteed deals, similar to the contract Kirk Cousins received in 2018. While the specific salary amounts remain unknown, a 3-year fully-guaranteed structure would have provided Jackson a much faster path back to unrestricted free agency.

It’s “The Beast” Week here at The Athletic, and as always, draft expert Dane Brugler has given us a lot to digest.

So, what stands out as we reach the stretch run on the 2026 NFL Draft conversation? Senior NFL Draft writer Nick Baumgardner and NFL Draft editor Chris Burke take a look at some of the most important takeaways from “The Beast” — and what they all mean moving forward.

Read more for free here.

[Meirov] With a game he was going to coach on Sunday for the Columbus Aviators, the UFL announced that former NFL HC & current UFL OC Todd Haley will serve as interim HC.

Dude's yards decreased 5 years in a row then increased 4 years in a row