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DeutschCarrick urges perspective as Man United unbeaten run ends - Yahoo Sports Canada
Bengals' 'perfect free agent' might be future Hall of Famer
The Cincinnati Bengals are set to lose one veteran edge rusher to free agency, as Trey Hendrickson effectively said goodbye to Cincinnati Tuesday after the team chose not to use the franchise tag on him, allowing him to hit the open market next week.
Could they bring in another veteran edge rusher in his place? Bleacher Report seems to think so. In their recent list of "Perfect Free Agent Signings for Each Team", the Bengals land veteran pass-rusher Khalil Mack:
"The Bengals could lose both Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai in free agency. Hendrickson could be the top free agent on a lot of boards and Ossai is in his prime so he'll be looking for a lengthy extension.
Cincinnati is somewhat prepared for the losses. With Shemar Stewart and Myles Murphy on the roster, they have young players ready to take on larger roles. Khalil Mack would be the ideal mentor to target for them. He's 35, but he was still an excellent edge-setter with a 14.8 pressure rate last season."
Mack just turned 35 in February. He is four years older than Hendrickson. The thought makes sense, as the Bengals will need to fill their depth on the edge, especially if Joseph Ossai also leaves. But Mack is in a spot now where he'll likely sign with a contender. He signed a one-year, $18 million deal last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, a team many thought would contend in the AFC West and potentially make a run in the playoffs before losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Wild Card.
The Bengals are hoping to get back into contention this season, but it's fair to think there is still plenty of work to do for a team that only won six games in 2025. Would a player like Mack, who has never played in a Super Bowl, want to take that risk over signing with a team that has a better chance of making a run?
Mack would be a very interesting signing, to say the least, even with the Bengals expected to be very active in free agency.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals free agency: 'Perfect' target might be Chargers' Khalil Mack
“I’ve said to the physios” – Cole Palmer shares major fitness update
Cole Palmer has revealed he’s feeling the best he’s felt in “four of five months” following Chelsea’s win against Aston Villa.
The Blues ran out emphatic 4-1 winners at Villa Park, to move above Liverpool and back into fifth place as the race for Champions League football continues.
Chelsea responded brilliantly to going a goal down in the opening minutes with Joao Pedro scoring a hat-trick, and Palmer also getting on the scoresheet.
Cole Palmer shares fitness update
Palmer has struggled with a groin injury this season, which caused him to miss virtually the entire first half of the campaign.
Since returning in December he’s had some good moments, but things haven’t appeared quite right, and he didn’t have a good performance against Arsenal.
Palmer was back on the scoresheet against Villa. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
However, speaking before the big win, Palmer provided a fitness update, and revealed this is the best he’s felt in months.
“I still feel a bit away from being [the best Cole Palmer],” he said as quoted on X.com.
“I’ve said to the physios this week that this is the best I have felt in four or five months.
“I can do everything on the pitch now so it is just about finding my rhythm.”
Palmer has previously stated he’s yet to play a game fully fit this season, but put in an encouraging performance at Villa Park.
The England international now has five goals and an assist in his last league five games, and Chelsea will be hoping that form continues.
Joao Pedro delivers once again
Whilst Palmer is continuing to work on getting back to his best, Pedro has continued to go from strength to strength under Liam Rosenior.
The 24-year-old has now scored 14 league goals this season, and has eight in his last eight Premier League matches.
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“I’ve said to the physios” – Cole Palmer shares major fitness update
Pedro will likely be on the bench against Wrexham in the FA Cup on Saturday, but the Blues will need him at his brilliant best against PSG next week.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Top 10 best African players in Serie A
Who are the best African players in Serie A?
Yann Bisseck/l'Equipe
Yann Bisseck, Inter Milan's central defender of Cameroonian descent, is shining in the 2025-2026 edition of the Italian championship.
With an average rating of 7.09, he stands as the highest-rated African player in Italy, according to stats from the specialist site “sofascore”.
This season, he has played 27 matches for the Lombard club across all competitions, notching up 2 goals and 3 assists.
At 25 years old, the Cologne native has earned a single cap with Germany, which came in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Italy.
Below is the ranking of the best African players in Serie A:
Yann Bisseck (Inter – Germany/Cameroon): 7.09
Saúl Coco (Torino – Equatorial Guinea): 6.88
Evan Ndicka (Roma – Ivory Coast): 6.86
Oumar Solet (Udinese – Ivory Coast): 6.86
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa – Nigeria): 6.67
Mandela Keita (Parma Calcio 1913 – Guinea): 6.64
Hassane Kamara (Udinese – Ivory Coast): 6.63
Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce – Mali): 6.58
Maduka Okoye (Udinese – Nigeria): 6.58
Rafik Belghali (Verona – Algeria): 6.58
Athletics GM: We’re always open to Kyler Murray exploring a return to baseball
Kyler Murray was the ninth overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft in 2018, signed a contract with the Athletics that year, and planned to pursue a professional baseball career after one final season of college football. Then Murray won the Heisman Trophy in his final season, was the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, and decided to pursue football instead.
Now Murray has been told the Cardinals plan to cut him, and the Athletics have let him know he'd be welcome to play baseball again.
"Kyler is an elite NFL quarterback and I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities for him to continue his football career,” Athletics General Manager David Forst told MLB.com. “That said, he and his baseball representatives know that we’re always open to him exploring a return to baseball with the A’s if that time ever comes.”
It's unlikely that Murray will change sports at age 28, but he's talented enough that if he wanted to do it, there's a real chance he could make the major leagues. And he's already got a team that would love to see him give it a try.