The Las Vegas Raiders are parting ways with veteran defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
And a fight with the NFLPA is now on the horizon.
Wilkins signed a massive five-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders in March of 2024. In that deal $82.75 million was guaranteed, with $57.5 million guaranteed at the time he put pen to paper on the contract.
Wilkins suffered a Jones fracture in his foot last October, an injury that required surgery and ended his season. According to multiple sources, with Adam Schefter among the first to report the move, the Raiders released Wilkins with the designation of “terminated vested veteran,” and “[d]ue to how Wilkins treated the rehab from his foot injury,” the team “voided the remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money left on” his contract last month.
Wilkins filed a grievance today. Under the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NFLPA had 50 days to file a grievance, starting with the day he was released, which was June 4.
The Raiders addressed the move in a statement. “We have decided that it is in the best interests of the organization to move on from Christian Wilkins and he has been informed of his release from the team,” said the organization. “This franchise has a Commitment to Excellence on and off the field. With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for the new season.”
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, a dispute arose between Wilkins and the team over “whether or not he should undergo surgery on his injured foot.”
Wilkins has 372 career tackles, 56 QB hits, 22.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles over his career, which began as a first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins back in 2019.
This comes as the NFLPA is going through a sudden transition period. Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned in recent weeks, following a series of stories that plagued his tenure with the NFLPA. Then former player JC Tretter, considered a potential replacement for Howell, resigned from his position as NFLPA President.
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine peso rallied back to the 56 level on Wednesday. This happened as the announcement of fresh US tariff deals with countries like Japan and the Philippines inspired optimism and diluted demand for safe havens like the dollar.
The local currency finished yesterday’s trading session at 56.881 against the greenback. It gained 16.9 centavos from its previous closing, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.
This was the peso’s strongest ending since July 15, 2025, when it closed at 56.73. Trading was brisk, with turnover rising to $1.5 billion yesterday from $1.3 billion previously.
A trader said the peso tracked a broader rally of Asian currencies. This was triggered by new tariff deals between US President Donald Trump and economies in the region like Japan and the Philippines.
Tariff onset draws near
“This can be seen as the effect of Trump’s tariff talks, as the US president has recently talked to both Japanese and Filipino presidents in order to negotiate,” the trader said. “Furthermore, the tariff’s deployment schedule draws nearer, being set in August,” they added.
After a bilateral meeting with Trump in Washington, President Marcos confirmed that the US will proceed with a 19-percent tariff on Philippine exports. This was higher than the 17 percent rate announced in April. But it is slightly below the 20 percent floated earlier this month.
In exchange, the Philippines agreed to scrap tariffs on American automobiles. It will boost imports of US soybeans, wheat and pharmaceutical products. The local currency is trading within the expectations of the Marcos administration. The latter sees the peso-dollar exchange rate hovering between 56 and 58 this year.
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For Thursday trading, the trader said the peso may “weaken somewhat as the dollar recovers.”
“However, the dollar-peso should ultimately play in the 56.8 to 57.2 range as it has for most of the week,” they added.
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The best division in football might be the NFC North this season. After getting three teams into the NFC playoffs last year, each team comes back loaded with a chance to be great, and for one team, a chance to be great for the first time in a long time. The Lions are the reigning champs, but can’t seem to shake an injury bug that’s plagued them for over a season now. Can the Packers win the division once again? Will the Vikings take another step with a new QB? What in the hell are the Bears doing?
Let’s dig deep into the division and find some breakout players for each team.
The Bears’ offense last season was more of a collection of errors than a functioning NFL offense, but despite that I think WR Rome Odunze showed his ability to get open and focus when the ball is in the air. His 734 receiving yards were meager for a first round receiver of his stature, but he led all of the Bears’ high volume targets in first down rate when targeted and finished second among all Bears receivers in total EPA. Ben Johnson now comes over to call the plays and design the new offense, and I think the focal point could be around Odunze. Keenan Allen is a free agent, and DJ Moore’s skill set is sorta similar to rookie wideout Luther Burden III, but Odunze’s smooth skills on the outside could see a big increase in production.
The Lions’ offensive line is getting a lot younger this season, but new full time starter Christian Mahogany could be in a position to breakout. I thought he was a bit of a sleeper entering the 2024 NFL Draft and now he gets the chance to be a full time starter next to Penei Sewell, one of the best offensive linemen in the game. Even with Ben Johnson being gone, offensive line coach Hank Fraley stays around to keep the strongest unit on the Lions together, and Mahogany could be the next guy up.
If you ask many casual NFL fans if they know Rasheed Walker and they might not be able to tell you, but Walker has constantly grown and is entering a contract year for Green Bay. He’s a smooth pass protector with the athleticism to frustrate a lot of the premier pass rushers in the NFL. The Packers will often leave him on islands as a pass protector, but he holds up really well in that area too:
If his athleticism can start to show up in the run game, he could find himself in line for a big extension in Green Bay.
Last year, QB Sam Darnold took the starting job in Minnesota and simply had a career year en route to a big money deal with the Seahawks. With the offensive infrastructure in Minnesota, it’s hard to say anyone but JJ McCarthy is going to breakout for the Vikings. Before his season-ending knee injury, I thought he showed some really nice traits in the preseason action that he saw. His willingness to attack the middle of the field and smooth moves in the pocket give him some different flavors of QB’ing than Darnold, even if some of the efficiency might go down (he’s a rookie so expect that). However, throwing to WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, then TE TJ Hockenson is the best way to ease a transition into the NFL. I’m excited to see what McCarthy does.
A message calling on President Donald Trump to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein is projected onto the US Chamber of Commerce building across from the White House in Washington, DC, on July 18, 2025. | Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP
WASHINGTON, United States — Donald Trump’s past ties with Jeffrey Epstein are under scrutiny after the US president slammed a Wall Street Journal report that he sent a lewd letter to the infamous sex offender as “fake news.”
AFP looks at the pair’s relationship as the Trump administration also faces demands to release all government files on Epstein’s alleged crimes and his death.
Trump, then a property mogul and self-styled playboy, appears to have known Epstein, a wealthy money manager, since the 1990s.
They partied together in 1992 with NFL cheerleaders at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, according to footage from NBC News, which shows the pair talking and laughing.
The same year, Epstein was Trump’s only guest at a “calendar girl” competition he hosted involving more than two dozen young women, The New York Times reported.
In a display of their close ties, Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet at least seven times during the 1990s, according to flight logs presented in court and cited by US media.
He has denied this, and in 2024 said he was “never on Epstein’s plane.”
In 1993, according to The New York Times, Trump allegedly groped swimsuit model Stacey Williams after Epstein introduced them at Trump Tower — a claim the president has refuted.
Separate from his links to Epstein, Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct by around 20 women.
In 2023, he was found liable of sexually abusing and defaming American journalist E. Jean Carroll in a civil trial.
Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s main accusers who died by suicide this year, said she was recruited into his alleged sex-trafficking network aged 17 while working at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in 2000.
Giuffre claimed she was approached there by Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed in 2022 for helping Epstein sexually abuse girls.
Trump seemed to be on good terms with Epstein during this time, praising him as a “terrific guy” in a 2002 New York Magazine profile.
“He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side,” Trump said.
In 2003, according to a Wall Street Journal report, Trump penned a letter for Epstein’s 50th birthday featuring a drawing of a naked woman, with his signature “Donald” mimicking pubic hair.
His apparent message — Trump dismissed the letter as a “fake thing” — read: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
‘I wasn’t a fan’
The pair reportedly had a rupture in 2004 as they competed to buy a waterfront property in Florida, which Trump eventually snagged.
The two men were hardly seen together in public from that point. Trump would later say in 2019 that they had a “falling out” and hadn’t spoken in 15 years.
Shortly after the property auction, police launched a probe that saw Epstein jailed in 2008 for 13 months for soliciting an underage prostitute.
He was arrested again in 2019 after he was accused of trafficking girls as young as 14 and engaging in sexual acts with them.
Trump, then serving his first term as president, sought to distance himself from his old friend.
“I wasn’t a fan,” he told reporters when the charges were revealed.
In 2019, Epstein was found hanging dead in his prison cell awaiting trial. Authorities said he died by suicide.
Since then, Trump has latched onto and fueled conspiracy theories that global elites including former president Bill Clinton were involved in Epstein’s crimes or death.
Those same theories now threaten to destabilize Trump’s administration, despite his attempts to dismiss the saga as a “hoax” created by political adversaries.
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A host of details go into an outfielder’s ability to throw out a runner tagging up on a fly ball. Those details begin with getting a good read on the ball off the bat, so the outfielder can settle into position under the fly ball as it drops from the sky. You’ll want to get “behind the ball” as it comes down, so you can gain some forward momentum into the throw. You’ll also want to have your throwing leg back and your glove leg in front at the catch, so you can transition into the throw quickly using a “pro-step” and minimize any movement as a baserunner gains two steps for every wasted step by a fielder.
Or you could just have an absolute howitzer for an arm.
The latter is the approach taken by Ronald Acuña Jr. on Friday night, as the Atlanta Braves outfielder delivered what might just be the best throw you will ever see, regardless of sport.
With the Braves holding a 3-0 lead over the visiting New York Yankees in the third inning last night, the visitors were threatening. New York had runners on first and second with just one out, and Cody Bellinger was at the dish.
Bellinger worked the count to 2-2, fouling off a few tough pitches from Spencer Strider, before lifting a deep fly ball to right field off a slider down-and-in. Acuña settled under the fly ball on the warning track near the foul line, caught it over his shoulder, and then, without any movement at all, simply unleashed an absolute rocket into third base as New York’s Jorbit Vivas was tagging up from second:
Okay.
As someone paid to describe sporting moments, I am at a loss to describe this throw beyond saying THIS IS MIND-BLOWING. Acuña makes this throw without a crow-hop or a pro-step; he simply catches the ball over his shoulder, pivots, and throws a supersonic missile into third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr. And some credit goes to Alvarez who sold the play at the end, waiting until the last possible moment to get his glove out to snare this frozen rope from Acuña.
Leaving Vivas, and the rest of us, absolutely stunned.
And let’s not forget that this throw comes in from deep right field IN THE AIR. At one point, as this baseball version of a Concorde travels over second base, it seems as if the ball is still rising, before dropping right into Alvarez’s glove for the stunning double play to end the inning.
You can watch baseball … heck, you can watch every sport imaginable, for the next ten years and not see a better throw.
Oh and Acuña also went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple.
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This is a consensus ranking, meaning everyone polled gave a list of one-through-10, and they were given a points system to come up with the final rankings, no dissimilar to All-Star voting. There were some surprises to say the least.
Ja’Marr Chase over Justin Jefferson at No. 1
This is one of football’s great debates, but those inside the league give the edge to Chase and his playmaking ability. One exec called him the “ultimate pick up and play” receiver, who can essentially do everything asked of him before, during, and after the catch.
Putting Chase over Jefferson isn’t really a shocker. They’re No. 1 and No. 1A in the league — and then there’s a big drop off. I personally like Jefferson’s route running more, and think he’s shown the ability to get his yards even with sub par quarterbacks, while Chase has benefitted much more from having an elite talent under center.
That said, I wouldn’t fault anyone for having thee two in either order.
Tyreek Hill is No. 3
Now this one we can make fun of for being bad. Front office folks are supposed to be able to look at a player holistically, and it’s wild to see Hill make it this high on the list despite having a down year and quitting on his team in Week 18.
If Hill was truly the No. 3 receiver in the league he would have been traded right now. If a guy has such a pronounced level of talent that you’re putting him amongst the best in the league then you wouldn’t balk at his large contract.
Hill finished 30th in the NFL in receiving yards last year. Sure, you can blame a lot of that on the injury to Tua Tagovailoa, but the best receivers in the league are still able to eat in spite of a change at QB. Hill just can’t.
It should have been several other guys in this position.
Brian Thomas Jr?
This one is absolutely mind boggling to me. The only way it makes sense that the Jaguars rookie didn’t make this list is because not enough people around the league saw him.
It was an abysmal 2024 season in Jacksonville, but Thomas Jr. was a mammoth bright spot. He finished third in the NFL in receiving yards, catching passes at all three levels and becoming one of the best young targets in the NFL. His 14.7 yards per reception ranked 6th in the NFL among receivers with over 100 targets, and truth be told it’s weird to have BTJ only get an honorable mention, while Malik Nabers ranked all the way up at No. 7.
No love for Drake London
It’s tough to even say that Drake London is “polarizing,” because execs were in lockstep that he doesn’t belong anywhere near the Top 10. That’s pretty wild considering he was 4th in the league in receiving yards last year, and one of only 10 receivers to catch 100+ passes in 2024.
It’s not so much that London didn’t crack the Top 10, but more that he didn’t earn a single vote to be in the Top 10 at all. Receivers the likes of George Pickens, D.J. Moore, and Cortland Sutton garnered at least one vote, but it was crickets when it came to London.
That likely speaks to the incosnsistent offensive coaching in Atlanta and their fluid quarterback situation. If Michael Penix Jr. can shine this season there’s no doubt he’ll rise.
Did the NFL forget that Puka Nacua exists?
Here’s a man who finished with 990 receiving yards despite only playing in 11 games. If we extrapolate out his usage rate he would have finished with 1,530 receiving yards — bettering his already ludicrous rookie season.
Nacua doesn’t have that one unicorn trait that blows you away, which is why he was such a steal in the 2023 NFL Draft — but he plays quick. Every movement he makes is intentional, efficient, and done with a goal in mind. There’s no wasted motion to Nacua, which is why he might not have the top-end speed or quick-twitch athleticism of some top guys, but because everything he does is so intentional he’s able to close the gap and match top receivers.
Gabriel Tapales rushed to help his opponent Ian Donaire, lying motionless on the canvas. | Sanman Boxing video screen grab
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Gabriel Tapales may have delivered a highlight-reel knockout, but it was his compassion that stole the spotlight.
The 22-year-old younger brother of former world champion Marlon Tapales went viral on social media not just for his devastating finish, but for how he responded after the feat.
Tapales floored Ian Donaire with a vicious combination in the second round of their eight-round non-title bout during a Sanman Boxing card held on July 11 in General Santos City.
The bout ended suddenly when Tapales landed a clean left straight followed by a crushing left hook as Donaire was already falling. The impact sent Donaire crashing face-first to the canvas where he lay motionless for a few tense moments.
Instead of celebrating, Tapales immediately rushed beside Donaire, visibly shaken by the brutal ending. He tried to assist his unconscious opponent but was advised by his corner to let medical personnel handle the situation. Fortunately, Donaire regained consciousness after a few minutes and appeared to be out of danger.
In the post-fight interview, Tapales was visibly emotional.
“Luoy kaayo, murag gikumot akong kasing-kasing. Kahilakon kaayo ko ganiha, dili madala ug celebrate pero okay lang, safe ra man,” he said.
(“I really felt sorry, like my heart was crushed. I almost cried earlier. I couldn’t even celebrate, but it’s okay—he’s safe.”)
Tapales, fighting under the Sanman Boxing Gym banner, improved his professional record to 8-1, with six of those wins coming by knockout. The win marked his seventh straight victory, adding momentum to his rising career.
Donaire, on the other hand, dropped to 5-5-1 with four knockouts. It was his third consecutive loss, all via stoppage.
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The Minnesota Lynx have waived second-year forward Alissa Pili, per the WNBA’s transactions page. Pili, who was drafted with the 8th pick in 2024, wasn’t able to crack the rotation in her first two seasons in Minnesota. Now, her tenure comes to an end.
Pili appeared in 36 games across her first two seasons, averaging 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 6.1 minutes per game. Pili’s best game this season came on June 14th, in which she recorded 8 points in a 10-minute stint against the Sparks. But, she never managed to break through before being waived midseason.
Alissa Pili was waived by the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday morning. Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Last year, during the WNBA Finals, Pili told SB Nation that getting regular DNPs was a mental challenge.
“It’s definitely taken a toll on me mentally,” she said. “I’ve never been in this position before, and my coach knows that.”
Still, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of such high-profile moments.
“There aren’t a lot of rookies that get to be in this position I’m in, and the fact that our team is so successful has been really fun to be a part of,” Pili said. “It’s just been a very great learning experience. I’m trying to soak everything in.”
Pili was an elite college player; as a freshman at the University of Southern California, she averaged 16.3 points per game, and in her senior season at her University of Utah, she was one of the most efficient scorers in the country, averaging 21.4 points per game on 55% shooting, while shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc.
The announcement came shortly after the Lynx’s 87-71 loss to the Chicago Sky. The Lynx are now 18-4 on the season, owners of the best record in the WNBA. Presumably, Minnesota will sign another player to their 12th roster spot in place of Pili, but who that will be has yet to be announced.
MANILA, Philippines — Constrained household savings—as shown by surging credit card debts—could be a “worrying” sign for the Philippines, especially against the backdrop of “stagnating” investments, ANZ Research said.
In a commentary, ANZ said such a condition may suggest that the country is increasingly relying on foreign capital to fund everyday spending of consumers, instead of investing the money in projects that would help grow the economy.
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And the red flags are in the country’s current account balance—which has been in a deficit that, ANZ said, would likely remain elevated at 3.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025.
Latest data showed the country’s current account deficit reached $4.2 billion in the first quarter, equivalent to 3.7 percent of GDP.
From a national accounting perspective, the current account balance is the difference between gross domestic savings and total investments.
ANZ explained that in emerging markets like the Philippines, where there is a strong need to invest in development but limited savings, current account deficits are common.
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These deficits mean the country relies on foreign money to support growth—which can be normal in early development stages.
However, ANZ said that these deficits are sustainable only if the borrowed money is used to boost future income and the ability to repay.
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“In this context, it is notable that although the current account balance is lower for Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, their investments as a share of GDP have also fallen compared to their prepandemic averages,” ANZ said.
High inflation
“This implies that savings have fallen even more sharply. This is especially worrying for the Philippines as it runs a current account deficit, which has widened in recent years amid stagnating investments,” it added.
ANZ said savings have remained constrained in the region as high inflation in recent years has led to low real income growth.
While inflation has subsided, the bank said wages have not grown sufficiently to offset the impact of higher price levels.
This, ANZ said, is evident in the Philippines, where household savings are “structurally low, driven by a large informal sector, low incomes and limited access to formal saving instruments.”
“Household savings as a share of GDP returned to its prepandemic level in 2024 following three years of dissaving between 2020 and 2022,” the bank said.
“Moreover, a surge in credit card loans in recent years points towards higher stress among households,” it added.
Moving forward, ANZ said it expects this trend to continue.
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“Subdued savings will be offset by moderating investments. However, such a pattern reflects weakness than strength in growth,” it said.
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