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NFL training camp season is officially here, and with come a cavalcade of news both good and bad.

Veterans reported to camp Tuesday, which kicks off the beginning of the last phase before the 2022 NFL season begins on Sept. 8 with the Buffalo Bills taking on the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

Here is a brief breakdown of the biggest news and updates from around the league.

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The biggest news coming out of 49ers camp Tuesday revolves around the future of two of their young stars. Dynamic wideout Deebo Samuel reported for the first day of practice and won't hold out after his tumultuous offseason. As for quarterback Trey Lance, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team "have moved on to Trey" following a conversation with himself, general manager John Lynch and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. San Francisco gave Garoppolo permission to find a trade partner.

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NFL training camp 2022 tracker: 49ers 'have moved on to Trey [Lance]'; Julio Jones lands with Bucs - Yahoo Sports

Bill Belichick turned 70 this spring, and this week he begins his 48th season in the NFL and 23rd as the head coach of the New England Patriots.

So maybe hes just bored. Or just trolling the media again. Or just enjoying some harmless fun while exploiting a loophole or two even if there is minimal gain.

What is known is that Belichick has refused to name either an offensive or defensive coordinator for the Patriots this year and apparently wont do so. On Tuesday, at the start of training camp, he would confirm only his job.

Im the head coach, Belichick said. Ultimately Im responsible for everything. So just leave it at that.

Ah, this is the NFL. No one leaves anything at that. Everything must be analyzed and reanalyzed ad nauseam. Thats why Belichicks particular brand of humor always plays well, a welcome, midsummer sign that the season is fast approaching.

No OC or DC? Of course.

Belichick isnt just the head coach in New England, either. Hes also the teams general manager, although not officially because the franchise doesnt list such a job. During the 2020 NFL Quarantine Draft, Belichicks dog, Nike, sat in front of a computer inside his Nantucket home during a televised look-in, so maybe thats a clue.

Whatever it is, Belichick is already in full Belichick mode, leaving fans and media wondering what was the purpose of all of this?

Someone is going to be calling plays come Week 1, correct?

We won't be calling any for a while, Belichick said last week. Don't have any games for a while.

Right, of course.

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Josh McDaniels was the offensive coordinator last year, but he left to become the head coach in Las Vegas.

One prime candidate to replace him was Joe Judge, who is listed as an offensive assistant/quarterbacks after returning from a two-year stint as the head coach of the New York Giants. Prior to that, he was a special teams coordinator in New England.

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The other was Matt Patricia, who is listed as a senior football advisor/offensive line. Patricia came back to Foxborough last season after spending three years as the head coach in Detroit. Before that, he was the Patriots defensive coordinator when they had such a thing.

So is Patricia or Judge the offensive coordinator/play-caller? Its probably going to be Patricia, but then again, Belichick wont say.

I've said many times, I think Matt and Joe are two outstanding coaches in every sense of the word whatever those duties entail, Belichick said Tuesday. They're very good, exceptional at the entire gamut. I'm glad we have both of them. They do a good job.

But what job will that be?

We're not really big on titles and all that, so I think it's important that we all work together and create a good final product, so that's what we're going to try to do, Belichick said. That's what we've always done.

If you have to ask why Belichick would not name an offensive and defensive coordinator when nearly every other team at every other level of football including the Patriots in the past have an offensive and defensive coordinator, then you dont know much about Belichick.

Bill Belichick hasn't named an offensive or defensive coordinator. Maybe there's a good reason, beyond the fact he's just being Bill Belichick. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Why? Because he can, and because it doesnt really matter anyway.

There are actually a couple tangible explanations, and maybe they are the motivation. One is that by not having any coordinators, neither Patricia nor Judge (nor anyone else) has to participate in the weekly media sessions the NFL mandates of coordinators.

And its possible that Patricia, who was under contract in Detroit through the 2022 season before being fired in 2020, continues to be paid mostly by the Lions because he isnt officially a coordinator. So the Pats save a few bucks?

This is all semantics, of course. Eventually New England will play a game and everyone will try to figure out who is actually talking in the ear of quarterback Mac Jones. Or not.

In the past, there have been questions about whether Belichick has spread himself too thin, essentially serving as both the head coach and the defensive coordinator plus general manager. Hes always bristled at that suggestion or downplayed his role in calling plays and formations.

As always, no one really knows how, let alone why, things go on as they do in New England. Thats how Belichick wants it.

All that matters is the results. The Patriots, by Patriots standards at least, are in a bit of a drought, going 17-16 since Tom Brady left following the 2020 season. As franchise owner Robert Kraft noted in the spring, the team last won a playoff game three years ago of course, that was the franchises sixth Super Bowl title.

If anything is going to turn that around, its the continued development of Jones, now in his second year out of Alabama.

On that, Belichick was effusive.

Mac's done a great job, Belichick said. He's worked extremely hard. He's got a tremendous work ethic in all areas. I think there's a dramatic improvement He did a great job last year but he's starting from a much, much higher point this year than where he started last year. His offseason work has been significant.

Maybe it was all the time he spent with the non-existent offensive coordinator.

Continue reading here:

If you have to ask why the Patriots haven't named coordinators, you don't know Bill Belichick - Yahoo Sports

The busiest week of the year for investors is here.

A jam-packed week of market-moving developments awaits traders in the coming days, headlined by the Fed, tech earnings, and key economic data.

The Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting is set to take place this coming Tuesday and Wednesday, July 26-27, with the central bank expected to raise interest rates another 75 basis points.

On the earnings side, some of the S&P 500s most heavily-weighted components including Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms (FB), Apple (AAPL), and Amazon (AMZN) are among more than 170 companies scheduled to report second-quarter results through Friday.

Also in the spotlight will be Thursday's advance estimate of second quarter GDP as market participants continue to debate whether a recession is already underway. Economists expect this report to show the U.S. economy grew at an annualized pace of 0.5% last quarter, according to estimates from Bloomberg.

Logo of an Apple store is seen as Apple Inc. reports fourth quarter earnings in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

All three major U.S. indexes logged gains last week after broad-based advances across sectors. On Tuesday, 98% of stocks in the benchmark S&P 500 advanced, the most since December 26, 2018, the first trading day after the market bottom that occurred on December 24, 2018, according to data from LPL Financial.

Recent gains have pushed up the index by roughly 6% since June 16, stoking optimism among some investors that the worst of the recent market downturn is over.

While breadth has been rather unimpressive during the markets rally since the June lows, days like Tuesday are exactly what we are looking for, and can go a long way towards changing the character of this market, LPL strategist Scott Brown said in a note. To be clear, the S&P 500 is not out of the woods yet.

Tuesday pushed the index to a close above the 50-day moving average for the first time since April 20, but it remained just short of the late-June intraday highs, Brown pointed out.

If the Federal Reserve proceeds with hiking rates three quarters of a percentage point later this week, the Federal funds rate will have moved from near 0% less than five months ago to a range of 2.25%-2.5% a level in line with most officials estimates of the long-run neutral.

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The Fed has told us theyre unlikely to let up on the brakes until they see a convincing shift in the trajectory of monthly inflation readings that would signal progress towards the Feds 2% target, PGIM Fixed Income lead economist Ellen Gaske said in emailed comments. We expect Powell will likely reiterate that message at his post-meeting press conference.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to deliver remarks at 2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, shortly after the U.S. central banks policy decision comes out at 2:00 p.m. ET.

We suspect its likely too soon for the Fed to convey a much more forward-looking point of view, as the most recent inflation readings still showed high and widespread price pressures, Gaske said. But with each additional hike from here, the lagged effects of the Feds tightening measures will be increasingly important to consider.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System testifies before the House Committee on Financial Services June 23, 2022 in Washington, DC. Powell testified on monetary policy and the state of the U.S. economy. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Last month, U.S. consumer prices again accelerated at the fastest annual pace since November 1981. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI) reflected a year-over-year increase of 9.1% in Junes reading, marking the highest print of the inflation cycle.

Economists at Goldman Sachs said in a note last week that inflation expectations have notably softened since the FOMC last met in June, referencing downward revisions to the University of Michigans final read on 5-10 year inflation expectations, a decline in the surveys preliminary July figure, and a material downtrend in market-based measures of inflation.

This softening of inflation expectations is one reason why we expect the FOMC will not accelerate the near-term hiking pace and will deliver a 75bp hike at the July FOMC meeting, Goldman economists led by Jan Hatzius said.

In addition to the Fed and earnings, investors will closely watch the governments first estimate of gross domestic product the broadest measure of economic activity for the second quarter, set for release Thursday morning.

The Atlanta Federal Reserves latest GDPNow estimate for Q2 GDP on July 19, showed the economy likely shrank 1.6% last quarter. If realized, this decline would mark the second-consecutive quarter of negative economic growth and affirm to some strategists that the economy has entered a recession.

According to data from Bloomberg, Wall Street economists expect GDP grew at an annualized pace of 0.5% last quarter.

On the earnings front, results from the mega-caps will be closely watched, though hundreds of other names will draw investor attention during one of the busiest weeks for corporate results of the year. In addition to performance for the most recent three-month periods, remarks from tech heavyweights on hiring plans or other adjustments to their outlooks related to macroeconomic headwinds will be closely tracked.

In recent weeks, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Meta have all said they would scale back on hiring across certain areas.

According to FactSet Research, 21% of companies in the S&P 500 have reported second-quarter earnings through Friday, with only 68% presenting actual earnings per share above estimates below the five-year average of 77%. Any earnings beats have also, in aggregate, been only 3.6% above estimates, less than half of the five-year average of 8.8%.

Monday: Chicago Fed national activity index (June), Dallas Fed manufacturing business index (June)

Tuesday: House price index (May), S&P Case-Shiller national home price index (May), Conference Board consumer confidence index (July), New home sales (June), Richmond manufacturing index (June)

Wednesday: MBA mortgage applications (week ended July 22), Durable goods orders (June), Retail inventories (June), Wholesale inventories (June), Pending home sales (June), FOMC statement, Fed interest rate decision, Fed Chair Jerome Powell press conference

Thursday: GDP (Q2 advance estimate), Initial jobless claims (week ended July 22), Continuing claims (week ended July 15), Kansas City Fed composite index (July)

Friday: Core PCE price index (June), PCE price index (June), Personal income (June), Personal spending (June), Real personal consumption (June), Chicago PMI (July), UMich consumer sentiment index (July preliminary), UMich 5-year inflation expectations (July preliminary)

Monday: Whirlpool (WHR), Squarespace (SQSP), TrueBlue (TBI), F5 (FFIV), Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE), Ryanair (RYAAY), NXP Semiconductor (NXPI), Newmont Corporation (NEM)

Tuesday: Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Coca-Cola (KO), McDonalds (MCD), General Motors (GM), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), Mondelez International (MDLZ), UPS (UPS), 3M (MMM), PulteGroup (PHM), Texas Instruments (TXN), General Electric (GE), Ameriprise Financial (AMP), Raytheon Technologies (RTX), Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM), Chubb (CB), Canadian National Railway, Pentair (CNI), Paccar (PCAR), Kimberly-Clark (KMB), Albertsons (ACI), Teradyne (TER), Ashland (ASH), Boston Properties (BXP), FirstEnergy (FE), Visa (V)

Wednesday: Meta Platforms (META), Boeing (BA), Ford (F), Etsy (ETSY), Qualcomm (QCOM), T-Mobile (TMUS), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Kraft Heinz (KH), Hilton Worldwide (HLT), Boston Scientific (BSX), Sherwin-Williams (SHW), Fortune Brands (FBH), Flex (FLEX), Hess Corporation (HES), Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC), Netgear (NTGR), Cheesecake Factory (CAKE), American Water Works (AWK), Ryder System (R), Genuine Parts (GPC), Waste Management (WM), Community Health Systems (CYH), Molina Healthcare (MOH), Owens Corning (OC)

Thursday: Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Pfizer (PFE), Honeywell (HON), Mastercard (MA), Comcast (CMCSA), Intel (INTC), Roku (ROKU), Merck (MRK), Keurig Dr. Pepper (KDP), Hertz Global (HTZ), T.Rowe Price (TROW), Valero Energy (VLO), Northrop Grumman (NOC), V.F. Corporation (VFC), Frontier Group (ULCC), Southwest Air (LUV), Harley-Davidson (HOG), Shell (SHEL), Stanley Black and Decker (SWK), Carlyle Group (CG), Lazard (LAZ), International Paper (IP), Sirius XM (SIRI), Hershey (HSY), PG&E (PCG), Hartford Financial (HIG), Celanese (CE)

Friday: AstraZeneca (AZN), Sony (SON), Aon (AON), BNP Paribas (BNPQY)

Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc

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Fed, tech earnings, GDP data: What to know ahead of the busiest week of the year - Yahoo Finance

The Philadelphia Phillies are trying to shift the blame elsewhere after inviting Pete Rose back to the ballpark. Rose, who the team previously distanced itself from after he was accused of having a relationship with a minor, is expected to appear at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 7 as part of a celebration of the team's 1980 World Series win.

The team said it consulted with Rose's former teammates and said the commissioner's office approved the invite.

The invitation is notable, as it marks the first time in years Rose was invited to the park. The team was supposed to honor Rose's induction into the Phillies' wall of fame in 2017, but rescinded that offer after court documents alleged Rose had a relationship with a minor in the '70s.

Rose was accused of having an extra-marital relationship with a girl under the age of 16. The age of consent in Ohio, where some of the relationship was alleged to have taken place, is 16. Rose reportedly admitted he had a relationship with the girl, but believed she was older than 16.

Those documents emerged after Rose sued John Dowd, who oversaw MLB's investigation into Rose in the '80s, for defamation. The accusations were presented as part of Dowd's defense. They did not result in a criminal charge for Rose because the statute of limitations in Ohio passed when the allegations emerged.

In addition to those accusations, Rose is also banned from baseball due to a gambling scandal. If Rose appears at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 7, it will mark the first time since his ban that he's been back on the Phillies' field since accepting a lifetime ban.

The Phillies' statements suggest the team considers the matter closed, and that Rose will make an appearance at the park Aug. 7. In its statement, the team did not address the accusations against Rose, or mention his lifetime ban from baseball. Instead, it tried to shift the blame to Rose's teammates and Rob Manfred for allowing Rose's invitation.

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The team also failed to explain why it was appropriate to invite Rose to the park now, or what changed between now and 2017, when the accusations first emerged. It's also unclear which members of the Phillies' organization signed off on the invite. Did one person lead the charge or did multiple people sign off on bringing Rose back?

The Phillies already tried to shift the focus off Rose, calling it a team celebration. While that's technically true, Rose's involvement has already taken the focus away off the team. His return will be the biggest story from the Aug. 7 celebration.

Assuming he is greeted with cheers, his is presence at the park will be normalized, opening the door for the Phillies to honor Rose at individual events. The Aug. 7 event provides a gateway for Rose to re-enter the baseball world.

Pete Rose was invited back to Citizens Bank Park. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images)

Continued here:

Phillies offer weak response after inviting Pete Rose back to the ballpark - Yahoo Sports

A fall COVID-19 booster campaign has yet to take shape in the U.S., even as the country is experiencing a sharp surge in cases amid the dominance of the BA.5 variant.

It's one reason why the White House Covid-19 Response Team is pushing for eligible adults to get first or second boosters, depending on their age, and is contemplating expanding second boosters for all adults.

It's also why the White House is looking beyond the fall, in anticipation of having to fight the virus for some time to come. That was the theme of a half-day summit hosted by the White House today, looking at the future of vaccines, including pan-coronavirus and nasal or patch delivery methods.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, said the virus has proven to be a challenge and the current generation of vaccines is not going to be enough.

"Since September of 2020, this virus has continued to prove more than a formidable foe," Fauci, who is also the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said.

"We have multiple variants of concern that we need to deal with. And it's getting more complicated ... We have sublineages of sublineages," he added.

The current suite of vaccines authorized or approved in the U.S. focus on attacking the spike protein of the coronavirus, a rather small target that is susceptible to mutations that have kept the virus circulating globally.

David Kessler, chief science officer of the White House COVID-19 Response Team and a former FDA Commissioner, said that despite the historic feat of delivering 784 million doses (of which 601 million have been administered), there is consensus in the scientific community about the next steps.

"We need vaccines with longer duration and greater breadth of protection," he said.

"We don't know how this virus may continue to mutate and come back in a stronger form," Kessler added.

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His comments echo the concerns of experts in the past few months, who worry that a fall booster campaign is not an effective strategy.

Dr. Paul Offit, who says he isn't sure that every adult is in need of a boost, is among those experts, citing memory cell responses in the human immune system.

It's been a debate for some time in the medical community about whether or not those who are healthy and vaccinated are already primed to fight severe infection and if additional boosters should be relegated to the most vulnerable populations.

Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, recently told Yahoo Finance as much, saying, "I think what hasn't happened yet is neither of these companies, neither Moderna (MRNA) nor Pfizer (PFE) has shown that giving that dual vaccine, that bivalent vaccine, is clinically better than just giving the ancestral strain."

He and other experts on the FDA panel have voiced concern about a lack of attention on memory cell protection and the need for vaccines with more durable protection as opposed to the highly effective, but quickly waning mRNA vaccines.

Sandeep Reddy, chief medical officer of ImmunityBio (IBRX), echoed the sentiment Tuesday, saying that his company is focusing on a different target than the spike protein in hopes of more durable protection.

"We clearly need antibodies, but we also need T cells in order to break the cycle of transmission," Reddy said.

The U.S. government pulled all the stops to ensure widespread access to vaccines amid the pandemic, but Congress has made it clear the purse strings are tightening.

That has been clear in the White House's struggle to get approval for booster funding for all. It has prompted discussions about commercial access to the vaccines of which only two vaccines are eligible to sell and market based on receiving full approval. Those are the current Pfizer/BioNTech (BNTX) and Moderna doses.

Kessler noted at the panel Tuesday that discussions about commercial availability which puts the burden on insurers and individuals are underway. But, he added, ensuring access to those with inadequate or no insurance is a priority.

Fauci noted that the overwhelming government investment in the research, development and in some cases manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccines, and their availability to all Americans helped to save more than 2 million deaths.

Fauci cited a Commonwealth Fund analysis that also noted that more than 17 million hospitalizations, 66 million infections and just under $9 billion in health care costs were averted by the existence of vaccines.

But, he noted, a public-private partnership approach is key in continuing the effort, as was achieved through Operation Warp Speed.

"Industry partnership from the begging and de-risking ... is critically important," Fauci said.

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Fauci on needing a second generation of COVID vaccines: 'We have multiple variants of concern ... And it's getting more complicated' - Yahoo Finance

The MLB trade deadline is approaching quickly and one name towers above the rest. Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto is the crown jewel of the deadline, and teams should be lining up with offers of multiple top-level prospects to secure his services.

Soto is easily the best player available, but he's not the only difference maker on the market. If your favorite team misses out on Soto, here are five other players on the market who could make an impact in the second half.

Other than Soto, Andrew Benintendi appears to be the best outfielder on the market. Hes hitting .317/.387/.398 over 377 plate appearances and is in the final year of his contract. With the Royals out of the playoff race, Benintendi, 28, is a prime candidate to be dealt to a contender.

Benintendi should not be viewed as a consolation prize for the team that misses out on Soto. Benintendi is a solid player, but hes not in the same stratosphere as Soto. Benintendis strength is his high-contact, all-fields approach at the plate. He can get the bat on the ball and spray it around the field, which results in a high batting average.

Andrew Benintendi is one of the most desirable players on the trade market. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

That approach comes with a significant drawback, though. Benintendi has struggled to hit for power in 2022. He has just three home runs and a career-low home run per fly ball rate. While you would normally expect positive regression there, this appears to be a deliberate tradeoff from Benintendi. After pulling the ball 40 percent of the time last season, hes pulling the ball 27.3 percent of the time in 2022. Hes prioritized average over power, at least this season.

Kauffman Stadium is notoriously hard on power, so its possible Benintendi tailored his swing for the park, and can make adjustments if he finds a more homer-friendly home field after his trade. Benintendi was unable to play in Toronto due to being unvaccinated for COVID-19, which could scare some teams especially those in the AL East from trading for him.

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Luis Castillo bounced all the way back after posting an ERA near 4.00 last season. In 78 innings, Castillo has a career-low 2.77 ERA despite playing on a Cincinnati Reds team with a below-average defense.

Castillo, 29, is a known quantity at this point in his career. He will strike out at least a batter per inning, occasionally struggle with his control and dominate hitters with his devastating changeup. When hes on, Castillo is one of the best pitchers in baseball and is capable of posting top-10 numbers over a full season.

Castillo is under contract through the 2023 MLB season, upping his value on the market. That extra year of control could make Castillo the most expensive piece on the market (non-Soto division). Hes, at worst, a No. 2 starter on most playoff teams. Castillo was eligible to play when the Reds traveled to Toronto in May.

A catcher who can hit is a rare commodity these days, which should give Willson Contreras plenty of value on the trade market. Contreras is hitting .258/.372/.471 with 14 home runs over 349 plate appearances. His 139 wRC+ suggests hes been 39 percent better than league average at the plate this season.

Thats a significant upgrade over most catchers. As a position, catchers are hitting .226/.296/.368 on the year, good for a below-average 88 wRC+. Contreras, 30, would make virtually every lineup better.

Willson Contreras is one of the best offensive catchers in baseball. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

At the plate, Contreras offers a solid understanding of the strike zone. Hes a patient hitter who has averaged a 10 percent walk rate over his career. Theres some swing and miss in his game, though Contreras has made strides in that area this season. Hell never hit .300, but thats not necessary when the rest of his skills are so strong.

Contreras will be a free agent at the end of the 2022 season, which should lower his going rate. Any team getting Contreras knows they are getting a rental. Despite his age, Contreras numbers at a weak position should result in him receiving a major deal on the market. The Chicago Cubs have yet to play in Toronto this season, but Contreras has said hes vaccinated for COVID-19, which should boost his trade value.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas has a lot in common with Castillo. The two produce despite playing on bad teams, are under contract through the 2023 season and are both 29.

Montas is the less-accomplished pitcher with a shorter track record of success in the majors. After some rough performances early in his career, Montas broke out in 2019. His year was cut short due to a suspension for PEDs. Montas came back and struggled in 2020, posting a 5.60 ERA, but has bounced back the past two seasons, posting a 3.30 ERA over that period.

Thats a better ERA than Castillo (3.62) posted over the past two seasons. Montas brings many of the same skills on the mound. Hes capable of striking out over a batter per inning, but has better control compared to Castillo. Because of that, he and Castillo probably command a similar amount of value on the market. Montas was not placed on the restricted list when the As visited Toronto in April, a sign he is vaccinated against COVID-19.

It was speculated Nelson Cruz would be the Washington Nationals biggest trade chip at the deadline, but that honor belongs to Josh Bell after his torrid first half. Bell is hitting .305/.388/.496, with 13 home runs, over 407 plate appearances.

Bell, 29, has battled inconsistency throughout his career, but heads into the trade deadline on pace for his finest season in MLB. Bells value will be limited by his position and contract situation. Teams generally dont have as much of a need at first base and Bell will be a free agent following the season. With that said, Bell is hitting better than most first basemen this season and his ability to hit from both sides of the plate should increase his value. Bell is a rare power hitter who doesnt strike out a lot, so his high average isnt necessarily something that will regress.

The Nationals are one of the few teams that have not played in Toronto this season. Its unclear whether Bell is vaccinated against COVID-19 and whether that will impact his trade market. Nationals manager Dave Martinez said last April most players on the team were vaccinated against COVID-19.

Josh Bell is probably heading to a new team at the MLB trade deadline. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

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MLB trade deadline 2022: The five biggest difference-makers on the market other than Juan Soto - Yahoo Sports

As the second round of the women's bantamweight title fight at UFC 269 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas unfolded, it looked by all appearances that it was about to get ugly for Julianna Pea. She found herself standing across from champion Amanda Nunes widely proclaimed as the greatest women's MMA fighter in history in a toe-to-toe slugfest.

Both women were landing cleanly.

One did not need to be an MMA expert and only needed to have seen Nunes' highlights to know that this wasn't good for Pea.

Or, at least, it shouldnt have been good.

Nunes is arguably the hardest puncher in women's MMA. And for the majority of the second round, Pea stood in front of her and went blow-for-blow. As each punch landed, the expectation was that the heavy-handed Nunes would land the crushing shot that would end the fight as she had so often previously.

There was one person, though, who sounded the alarm. About 90 seconds into the second round, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, working the broadcast, saw Nunes going for the kill shot. And he didnt like what he saw.

This is going to fatigue the champion, Cormier, a former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, said. She is loading up on her shots and shes as reckless as weve seen in a long time trying to get to Julianna.

Julianna Pea called her shot against Amanda Nunes, then went out and proved it in one of the greatest upsets in women's MMA. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

About 45 seconds later, as the crowd was in a frenzy as the fighters stood on the logo in the canvas and traded, Cormier raised the alarm again.

This is what Julianna wants, guys, he said.

And sure enough, seconds later, Pea grabbed Nunes around the waist and slung her to the ground. She quickly took Nunes back and submitted her with a rear naked choke. It might have been the second-greatest upset in womens MMA behind Holly Holms 2015 stoppage of Ronda Rousey.

Nunes was invincible, until she was not.

Before the fight, Pea boasted about what she would do even if few believed her. And while Nunes had COVID-19 that had forced the postponement of the fight and some other vague issues that shes subsequently said negatively impacted her performance, it wasn't like Pea just showed up and was awarded the belt.

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She stood in the pocket with the women's MMA equivalent of Francis Ngannou, took shots on the chin and then not only lived to tell about it, but was able to celebrate a championship victory. She had to weather a storm to get that title.

They will rematch on Saturday in the main event of UFC 277 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas and Pea expects more of the same.

I took some shots, Pea told Yahoo Sports. It wasnt like it was just a walk in the park and I just got her down and choked her. You could see the mouse underneath my eye and the swelling that I had. I took some very heavy shots. And I think that the main difference in this rematch is not even a difference. Its a similarity. Im still going to take some shots. Im still going to get in there me and Amanda are literally the two best fighters in the world and Im expecting to get hit. If youre not expecting to get hit, youre definitely in the wrong sport. I fist fight in a steel cage for a living.

And I think that the most important thing is, I dont want to desensitize anybody, but the fact is that Im going to get hit. And Im going to go in there and its the one who backs up and who cant take the shots thats going to be the loser. And I think that the most important thing is that I know what kind of will I have. I know what kind of chin I have. I know the adversity that I can face and the type of fighter that I am. I am the wall Amanda bashes up against when she realizes that she cant put me out with just one shot. I think that thats the main difference.

Julianna Pea and Amanda Nunes rematch Saturday in the main event of UFC 277 inside American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Any time there is a huge upset like that, the pressure is on the winner to prove it wasnt a fluke. Nunes, somewhat incredibly, remains a massive favorite. She is -275 to win at BetMGM and regain the title.

Pea, though, has an advantage this time. She called her shot last time, even though many simply snickered behind her back and disregarded what she said as just pre-fight trash talk.

But it wasnt trash talk that allowed her to take those clean shots from Nunes.

She took the punches she knew she was going to get and didnt back down or back off. She proved herself and if it means doing the same thing again on Saturday, shes content with that.

Your mentality, your brain, your positive self-talk, your mental state is so important in fighting, Pea said. They say that its more mental than it is physical and I absolutely agree with that. You have to know that youre the best. You have to know that youre going to win. And you cant be deterred by these negative demons that are trying to eat your brain every single night when the lights go out.

You have to have the mental fortitude to beat that, and to just be strong-minded and have that mental fortitude to go through anything. Fight through that adversity, and know that Im going to literally die in there, if thats what I have to do and Im willing to do that. And if youre willing to do that, then you will be successful.

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UFC 277: In rematch of her massive upset, Julianna Pea still holds this clear advantage over Amanda Nunes - Yahoo Sports

Plenty of NFL MVPs have come out of nowhere, relatively speaking. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson were really young when they took the league by storm and won MVP.

It's time to bet Trey Lance to win MVP this season before the odds shift.

The San Francisco 49ers said on Tuesday that they're moving on with Lance as their starter, which shouldn't surprise anyone who has been paying attention this offseason. Jimmy Garoppolo is on the 49ers' roster, but only because they haven't been able to trade him. There has never been any indication this offseason that Garoppolo would have the opportunity to start over Lance.

But still, it gives those who believe in Lance some extra security. And Lance is set up pretty well to have a very good season.

Let's reset the NFL MVP betting market. It's worth a reminder if you're thinking of straying from a very predictable voting pattern.

NFL MVP has been a quarterback award for a while. Dating back to Emmitt Smith winning in 1993, there have been 30 MVP winners (with two co-MVPs). Quarterbacks account for 24 of those awards, and the others are all running backs who either rushed for 2,000 yards or set an NFL single-season touchdown record. Perhaps this is the year a non-quarterback wins, but don't waste your money chasing that dream.

The MVP will come from a playoff team. Only twice has NFL MVP come from a non-playoff team, and the last time was 1973.

So we're looking for a QB from a playoff team. That cuts the list way down. It's not easy to pick every playoff team, but the 49ers are -225, a pretty heavy favorite, to make the playoffs at BetMGM. They were in the NFC championship game a year ago. There's no guarantee, but the NFC isn't too tough. The 49ers should be a playoff team and the odds reflect that.

That doesn't mean Lance is winning an MVP. But his odds are really good.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance is 50-to-1 to win NFL MVP. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Lance started the offseason at 66-to-1 to win MVP. He's 40-to-1 at BetMGM now. That number might move again as the season gets closer.

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Lance wasn't bad last season. He threw just 71 passes but had a 97.3 passer rating. He has the ability to put up some good rushing numbers too. He has a very good offense around him and a fantastic offensive coach in Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan called the offense when Matt Ryan won MVP for the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. And the same talent that made Lance the third pick of the draft is still there.

And it's not like we haven't seen a story like this unfold before. Heading into the 2018 season, Mahomes had 35 career passes. He had a monster season and won MVP. Before the 2019 season, Jackson had eight career starts. He won MVP unanimously. Neither was on the MVP radar before the season. But they both had big second seasons and voters couldn't ignore them.

Is a Mahomes/Jackson-level second season likely for Lance? No. If that was a likely outcome, he wouldn't be 40-to-1 to win MVP. But there are plenty of reasons to believe he can find himself in contention.

There's nothing wrong with betting Josh Allen or Tom Brady to win MVP. They're favorites for a reason. But you can tell yourself a reasonable story in which Lance has an enormous breakout and wins it. That's all you can ask for a long shot.

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NFL odds: Now that it's Trey Lance season, bet on him to win MVP before it's too late - Yahoo Sports

If you're a neutral football fan, there was one bummer with the Las Vegas Raiders' incredible Week 18 win that ended the Los Angeles Chargers' season: We didn't get to see Justin Herbert in the playoffs.

Herbert is already one of the NFL's must-watch players. His performance against the Raiders, completing multiple fourth-down passes to keep his team alive, was memorable even in a loss. Herbert has arrived. The arrow is pointing straight up. At this moment you'd have to say the Chargers selecting him, sixth overall in 2020, is a franchise-changing pick (sorry, Miami Dolphins fans).

But quarterbacks aren't judged by great plays in close-call regular-season losses. Fair or not, Herbert won't become a true superstar until he shines in the playoffs. The good news is, the Chargers have the team to get to the postseason.

The most valuable asset in sports is a blue-chip quarterback on his rookie deal. It offers the type of flexibility that opens up a championship window. History shows it gets a lot tougher to reach a Super Bowl once a quarterback has a nosebleed contract, and Herbert will get that deal soon. For now, his cap hit of about $7.25 million is just 3.36 percent of the Chargers' cap. That's less than offensive guard Matt Feiler.

The Chargers overpaid for some talent this offseason, most notably cornerback J.C. Jackson and defensive end Khalil Mack. But that's how a team should operate when it has excess cap space and a chance to chase a championship. Nobody has ever hung a banner for most unused cap space.

Los Angeles already had a good foundation before the Herbert revelation the past two seasons. Defensive end Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James are elite defensive players. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams form one of the top receiving duos in the NFL. Austin Ekeler is a fantastic running back who fits perfectly in the wide-open modern era of the NFL. The offensive line has been a work in progress for a while, but now it's an asset. Add players like Jackson, Mack and defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph-Day (three years, $24 million) and Austin Johnson (two years, $14 million) and it's a roster that should be among the best in the NFL.

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However, this is the Chargers. Things rarely are as good as they look on paper.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off an excellent second season. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Chargers underachieving relative to their talent dates back a couple decades, at least. The teams of the 2000s were as talented as any in that era. The 2010s had some very good teams led by Philip Rivers, a borderline Hall of Fame candidate. The Chargers haven't won a division title since 2009, and have been past the divisional round just once since 1994, when they made their only Super Bowl. They have been to the playoffs just twice since 2009. Even last season, the Chargers would have been a playoff team if not for a confounding 41-29 loss at a bad Houston Texans team in Week 16. It feels like they've left a lot on the table this century.

Maybe Herbert can take the Chargers where Drew Brees and Rivers couldn't. The offense was fantastic last season and likely will be again. The defense should take huge strides in Brandon Staley's second season as head coach. Staley himself should be better after probably crossing the line of aggression vs. prudence too often last season.

The Chargers should be really good. We've heard that before, though.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

Like the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chargers did exactly what a team should do when they have a quarterback on his rookie deal. The difference is the Chargers already know Herbert is a star, while the Eagles still wonder about Jalen Hurts.

Los Angeles made two huge moves to improve the defense. J.C. Jackson comes over from the New England Patriots on a five-year, $82.5 million deal, and then the Chargers made a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire former NFL defensive player of the year Khalil Mack. It's a little concerning the Patriots didn't even franchise tag Jackson Bill Belichick has a sixth sense for when to move on from a player but Jackson has developed into a marvelous cornerback and there's no reason to think he won't play at a top-10 level again. Mack is 31 years old and cost the Chargers a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick, but he should still have some juice left.

The Chargers also paid receiver Mike Williams $60 million over three years, a big move for offensive continuity (and maybe one that wouldn't have been possible if Herbert was making $40 million a year already).

Defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson were added from the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants, respectively. They'll help a run defense that desperately needed an upgrade.

Gerald Everett is an interesting addition at tight end. Uchenna Nwosu, a young and talented pass rusher, left for the Seattle Seahawks and that's a blow, but Mack should replace his production. Boston College OL Zion Johnson was the team's first-round pick, and he helps an offensive line that is suddenly a strength. Baylor S J.T. Woods, a third-round pick, was the team's other top-100 pick. Fourth-round pick Isaiah Spiller, a running back out of Texas A&M, should take some pressure off Austin Ekeler. Chargers GM Tom Telesco did everything he could.

GRADE: A

(Yahoo Sports graphic by Amber Matsumoto)

The Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins passed on Justin Herbert in the draft. We'll give the Bengals a break because the guy they took is pretty good. The other four teams will be starting Carson Wentz, Jared Goff, Daniel Jones and Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback this season. Think there's some regret among those teams? Herbert is a prototype. He has breathtaking arm talent, remarkable accuracy, good athleticism, does well reading defenses and has had some clutch moments already. He's also just 24 years old. It's really, really premature to predict where his career is headed, but it seems clear we're seeing something special.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

This isn't the first time, and probably not the last, I load up on Chargers futures at BetMGM. My favorite Chargers play is +230 to win the AFC West. It's one of my favorite bets for any team this season. I also like +1600 to win the Super Bowl and over 10.5 wins. Justin Herbert at +900 to win MVP isn't bad either. The upside of the Chargers is intoxicating. Again.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "Keenan Allen has been a consistent fantasy performer for several years, but it doesn't make sense that his Yahoo ADP is 32 slots ahead of teammate Mike Williams. The Chargers expanded Williams's route tree last year, and he outscored Allen in both standard and PPR formats. Williams is also two years younger than Allen. There are plenty of fantasy-viable pieces in this offense, but when it comes to receiver, I'll try to play the waiting game for Williams, or maybe look at Josh Palmer in the later rounds."

[Set, hut, hike! Create or join a fantasy football league now!]

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

The Chargers were fifth in points scored and fourth in yards on offense last season, but 29th in points allowed and 23rd in yards allowed on defense. Their efficiency stats were similarly imbalanced. It's a little disappointing because Brandon Staley was hired after a great season as the Rams' defensive coordinator, and he should have had an impact on the Chargers' defense too. Staley didn't have all the pieces to run his defense.

I think that this year, we did the best that we could, Staley said after the season, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. We tried to fit how we played to who we had."

It would be hard to buy that excuse this season. Staley identified the interior of the defensive line as the top offseason priority, and the team signed two high-priced defensive tackles. The Chargers were bad against the run last season and while there are still questions at linebacker, they should be much better in that area. J.C. Jackson is an elite cornerback. Khalil Mack is aging but a great talent. The offense gets the attention, but the Chargers' season will be determined by how much the defense improves.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

Too much was made of Staley's timeout in overtime against the Las Vegas Raiders. A tie would have sent both teams to the playoffs. The Raiders ran for 10 yards on third down after the timeout and kicked a field goal as time expired. But it was the 10 yards, not the timeout, that led to the field goal.

Im not sure why that [got] magnified," Staley said of the timeout, according to the Los Angeles Times.

However, Staley's aggressiveness got a lot of attention and sometimes was questionable. In that same game, he went for it on fourth-and-1 at his own 18. The Chargers didn't make it. It handed the Raiders a field goal. Coaches are smartly going for it on fourth down more often, but Staley took it to an extreme at times. He has had time to evaluate his approach, but has said he's not changing. In June he was asked again about the fourth-down from his own 18, and it offered some insight into how he'll approach a similar situation going forward.

I wanted to create a mindset in our team, and it really started with ... what I felt like it needed a fearlessness, Staley said, according to the LA Times. I think the cumulative effect of that is going to help in time."

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

The Chargers are a marquee NFL team. They'll appear on prime time five times this season. They were picked for the first Thursday night game ever streamed by Amazon, Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Justin Herbert is the biggest reason but not the only one. The Chargers are loaded, perhaps on both sides of the ball after some big moves to fix the defense. It's hard to imagine the offense won't be good again, and it's possible Herbert goes up another level and wins an MVP. The Chargers are going to thrive if the defense goes from a liability to strength. It could, with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack each posting double-digit sack seasons, the investments at defensive tackle transforming the run defense, J.C. Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis and Bryce Callahan forming a strong cornerback unit, and Derwin James having another All-Pro season. They also won't be adjusting to Brandon Staley's complex scheme anymore. The Chargers should be a playoff team if the defense is simply average. If they're better than average, they could win the Super Bowl.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

Maybe the offense isn't as rock solid as it looks. Keenan Allen is 30 and showing some signs of decline, Mike Williams has battled injuries and inconsistency, Gerald Everett flopped with the Seahawks last season and Austin Ekeler is due for some regression after a 20-touchdown season. The floor is still high, but if the offense slumps a bit and the defense isn't much better than last season, it could be another disappointing season for the Chargers. They didn't make the playoffs last season and the AFC is deeper and tougher than a year ago. It's hard to believe this roster wouldn't make the playoffs, but it is the Chargers we're talking about.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

It's hard to pick a team that didn't make the playoffs a season ago to win the Super Bowl. But I can talk myself into that happening if everything breaks right. I'll stop short of picking the Chargers to win a championship, but I'll be picking them to win the AFC West. Another team in the division is above Los Angeles in the rankings because the Chargers need to earn some stripes before they move higher. Putting them at No. 8 is already pretty aggressive for a team that has gone more than 10 years since its last division title and playoff win past the wild-card round. It's difficult to restrain the enthusiasm for a team that has as many blue-chip players as the Chargers, with an MVP candidate at quarterback to lead them. Now, they actually have to do it on the field.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

32. Houston Texans 31. Atlanta Falcons 30. New York Giants 29. Jacksonville Jaguars 28. Chicago Bears 27. New York Jets 26. Seattle Seahawks 25. Detroit Lions 24. Carolina Panthers 23. Washington Commanders 22. Pittsburgh Steelers 21. Minnesota Vikings 20. Miami Dolphins 19. New Orleans Saints 18. Las Vegas Raiders 17. Arizona Cardinals 16. Tennessee Titans 15. Cleveland Browns 14. Indianapolis Colts 13. Philadelphia Eagles 12. San Francisco 49ers 11. Denver Broncos 10. Cincinnati Bengals9. New England Patriots

Excerpt from:

2022 NFL Preview: Chargers have Justin Herbert, and loaded up the roster around him - Yahoo Sports

Yahoo Sports' Krysten Peek sits down with one of the top guards in the 2025 high school class, Trey McKenney.

- I'm Kristine Peak here with 2025 Trey McKenney. We're at Nike Peach Jam. Trey, you guys just came off a win, I know you're done for the week, but how was this whole experience for you?

- Well I feel like it was a great experience because it's my first time like qualifying for Peach Jam. So I feel like I showed people what I'm about.

- Yeah. And, I mean, this is, like, the toughest competition out there. How have you seen your game progress through the UYBL season?

- Well, I feel like it's progressed pretty well and I feel like I'm up there with the top players. So I feel like I could hold my own.

- I mean, I know you're still young, 2025, but we got college coaches out here, we've got NBA scouts out here. What were you hoping to show the guys that were in the gym here to watch you play?

- Just that I'm versatile and I can play any spot on the floor and I can impact the game on both sides.

- What would you say are your biggest strengths for your game?

- Probably scoring the basketball.

- Just straight simple, just scoring. OK, on the recruitment front, you have a ton of offers. What are some of the most recent offers you've had?

- Michigan State, Ohio State, and Indiana probably. Yeah.

- Let's start with Michigan State. What do you like most about their program?

- Oh, I like the history and the program because it's a lot of history for my city and Michigan State. So it feels like home, kind of.

- Yeah. And Michigan, kind of their rival there.

- Yeah, I like Michigan too because, Jowana, he's pretty connected with my dad and he'll make sure I'm OK.

- And with Juwan Howard there, I mean, he's a pro, he's played at the highest level. Is that kind of what you like about them and what you can learn from him?

- I feel like I can learn from him because I'm trying to get where he was at. So I feel like I can learn a lot from him.

Story continues

- Ohio State, another Big Ten school. What do you like about them? I mean, they do really well with guards. You were talking about Malaki Branham coming off a one and done year.

- Oh, I just like their facilities a lot when I was there for a team camp. And the coaches were all at my game, so I feel like I'm pretty important there.

- Did you have a dream school growing up or a team that you always watched?

- Well, I pretty much watched the in-state schools when I was growing up.

- And then you're narrowing things down. I mean, you still have a ton of time, but what's going to be most important for you?

- Probably seeing the academics and how much of a focal point I am in the program.

- Any schools that you definitely want to get to at some point?

- Like, schools that haven't like contacted me?

- Yeah. Like, visits.

- Probably like bigger bluebloods like Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, those type of schools.

- OK. Well, Trey, I'm sure we'll be talking more since you're a 2025 player, but thank you so much for the time. And for more information on Trey McKenney, keep it right here on rivals.com.

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One-on-one with 2025 guard Trey McKenney - Yahoo Sports