Highly touted quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders delivered a strong message to NFL teams consid...

<p>Highly touted quarterback prospect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaaf/players/160938" href="https://thescore.com/ncaaf/players/160938">Shedeur Sanders</a> delivered a strong message to NFL teams considering passing on him during the 2025 draft.</p><p>"All I need is an opportunity," Sanders <a href="https://x.com/ESPNNFL/status/1908253526217588785">said</a> Friday after Colorado's pro day. "(It's) simple. Whatever franchise wanna change their franchise, then it's no doubt who to go with."</p><p>He added: "You'll be a fool not to pick me."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Sanders said he believes his track record at Colorado speaks for itself when asked to pitch himself to interested teams.</p><p>"What's the most important trait of a quarterback? Consistency," Sanders responded. "Look at the last four years."</p><p>Sanders spent his entire collegiate career playing under his father, Deion Sanders, suiting up for two years at Jackson State before joining Colorado for two seasons. He completed 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in his final campaign under center in 2024.</p><p>Sanders' Hall of Fame father <a href="https://thescore.com/news/3258444">said</a> Friday that he thinks the Cleveland Browns will choose his son or two-way star Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick. The Colorado quarterback also met with the Tennessee Titans, who have the No. 1 overall selection. The New York Giants, picking No. 3 overall, are <a href="https://thescore.com/news/3250669">reportedly</a> interested in drafting Sanders.</p><p>Sanders is the second-ranked quarterback prospect in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3249735" href="https://thescore.com/news/3249735">theScore</a>'s positional rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft.</p>

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 01: Shedeur Sanders #QB13 of Colorado looks on during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Shedeur: 'You'll be a fool' not to draft me

Seven-time Pro Bowler and former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones announced his retireme...

<p>Seven-time Pro Bowler and former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones <a href="https://x.com/The33rdTeamFB/status/1908274758556246491">announced</a> his retirement Friday.</p><p>Jones was one of the most dominant playmakers in the NFL at the peak of his career. The 36-year-old led the league in receiving yards on two occasions with 1,871 yards in 2015 and 1,677 yards in 2018. His 136 receptions in 2015 were also the most of any player that season.</p><p>Drafted sixth overall by the Falcons in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Alabama product set numerous franchise records during his 10-year stay with the team. Jones' 848 receptions and 12,896 receiving yards rank first in the franchise's history.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The wideout also played a huge part in Atlanta's run to Super Bowl LI. He caught 19 passes for 334 receiving yards and three touchdowns across three playoff games during the 2016 postseason. Atlanta's road ended with a defeat to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.</p><p>Jones' best contest as a pro came in 2016 when he hit 300 receiving yards against the Carolina Panthers, becoming one of only six players ever to tally 300-plus yards in a game. He's also the only player in NFL history to have three games of 250-plus receiving yards.</p><p>Jones also became the fastest player in NFL history to eclipse 10,000 career receiving yards, needing only 104 games. The previous record was held by former Detroit Lions wideout Calvin Johnson, who needed 115 games.</p><p>Jones last appeared in the NFL in 2023 with the Philadelphia Eagles. After leaving Atlanta following the 2020 campaign, he spent 2021 with the Tennessee Titans and 2022 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. </p><p>He finished his career with 914 catches, 66 touchdowns, and 13,703 yards, good enough for 16th most in NFL history.</p>

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after a play during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 34-33.

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7-time Pro Bowler Julio Jones retires

With two Formula 1 races in the books for 2025, we're jumping to conclusions with one overreactio...

<p>With two Formula 1 races in the books for 2025, we're jumping to conclusions with one overreaction for every team.</p><h3>McLaren</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778246/cropped_GettyImages-2205961651.jpg?ts=1743453481" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778246/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205961651.jpg?ts=1743453481 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778246/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205961651.jpg?ts=1743453481 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778246/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205961651.jpg?ts=1743453481 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778246/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205961651.jpg?ts=1743453481 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778246/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205961651.jpg?ts=1743453481 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">NurPhoto / NurPhoto / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>McLaren will utterly dominate both championships:</strong> Through two races, McLaren is 2-for-2 in race wins and poles and has led 109 of 113 total laps. Both team drivers have seemingly traded superb weekends, with Lando Norris controlling the season opener in Melbourne and Oscar Piastri putting on a show in China. Maybe F1 should move its goalposts from wanting an exciting season full of parity to hoping McLaren doesn't repeat Red Bull's 2023 dominance because the papaya team will smother any hope of an exciting year.</p><h3>Mercedes</h3><p><strong>Mercedes finally figured out these rules</strong>: For the first time in the ground-effect regulations, Mercedes has a stable car. The days of Mercedes claiming it's back one weekend and then saying it has no idea what went wrong the next week are finally over. McLaren may be the fastest, but the W16 has been the most consistent of the remaining competitors. George Russell will take home at least 20 podiums with a car Mercedes understands.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Red Bull</h3><p><strong>Red Bull will never win a championship again</strong>: Red Bull pulled the plug on Liam Lawson's disastrous time with the team after only two races. The hits keep piling with the second-seat disasters, poor car development, and the losses of key talent such as Adrian Newey and Rob Marshall in recent years. With the RB21 still a step behind McLaren, Red Bull is officially clinging to the Max Verstappen lifeline. But even now, that's not enough. There's little evidence this former powerhouse can give the reigning drivers' champion the machinery he needs to overcome his rivals. And, if that's the case, Red Bull might not have to expand the championship trophy case at Milton Keynes for a long while.</p><h3>Ferrari</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778247/cropped_GettyImages-2206488640.jpg?ts=1743453569" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778247/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206488640.jpg?ts=1743453569 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778247/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206488640.jpg?ts=1743453569 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778247/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206488640.jpg?ts=1743453569 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778247/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206488640.jpg?ts=1743453569 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778247/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206488640.jpg?ts=1743453569 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kym Illman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Fred Vasseur's shine has worn off. Ferrari is still Ferrari</strong>: It was full steam ahead for Ferrari in the winter break. That's now turned into a train wreck. Vasseur's operation, which had legitimate bright spots, is starting to appear more like predecessor Mattia Binotto's Ferrari: awful strategy calls in crunch time and points given away due to incompetence. Ferrari suffered a double disqualification in China after a strategy debacle in the rainy season opener. Sure, Lewis Hamilton won a sprint race already, but 2025 is shaping up to be remembered more as one of the team's biggest disappointments than for the arrival of an all-time great.</p><h3>Williams</h3><p><strong>Alex Albon is a top-eight driver on the grid</strong>: Remember when most of the buzz around Williams surrounded Carlos Sainz? Well, Albon has quickly extinguished that in convincing fashion. The Thai driver has outpointed his teammate 16-1 and is up 3-0 in qualifying, including sprint sessions. Don't forget that Sainz more than held his own against some quality teammates in the past, such as Norris and Charles Leclerc. So, what does that say about where this current version of Albon ranks among the best drivers? Perhaps that conversation needs to start.</p><h3>Haas</h3><p><strong>Esteban Ocon was the best driver pickup for 2025</strong>: Hamilton? No, there are still swings of extreme highs and lows there. Sainz? He hasn't delivered. Ocon? Sorry, do you mean the leading Ferrari engine driver in the championship? The French pilot failed to score in Australia but picked up a solid 10 points in last week's race. Haas only earned more than 10 points in one of 24 races last season. No driver addition will move the needle more than Ocon at Haas.</p><h3>Aston Martin</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778248/cropped_GettyImages-2205521207.jpg?ts=1743453707" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778248/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205521207.jpg?ts=1743453707 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778248/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205521207.jpg?ts=1743453707 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778248/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205521207.jpg?ts=1743453707 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778248/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205521207.jpg?ts=1743453707 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778248/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205521207.jpg?ts=1743453707 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">NurPhoto / NurPhoto / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Fernando Alonso</strong><strong> is washed</strong>: Alonso has brilliantly managed to evade Father Time, but at 43, he may have slowed down enough to let aging get a hold of him. The Spaniard is the only driver who hasn't finished a race yet this season following a mechanical failure in China and a crash in Australia. What's more concerning is the minuscule gaps between Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll in qualifying. This might be the year that F1 sees an immortal figure become human.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-MwBYY" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MwBYY/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="183" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Kick Sauber</h3><p><strong>Nico Hulkenberg will end his podium-less streak</strong>: In his first race with Kick Sauber, Hulkenberg outscored the team's entire 2024 points haul with his seventh-place finish. Next on the horizon is the end of his streak of 229 consecutive race starts - and counting - without a single podium finish. All it'll take is another seventh-place finish, perhaps some rain, and a handful of disqualifications. With the way 2025 is going, that might not be too unrealistic.</p><h3>Racing Bulls</h3><p><strong>Isack Hadjar is the fastest rookie on the grid</strong>: Move over Kimi Antonelli; Hadjar is the rookie with the best raw pace. Despite being in a Racing Bulls car, Hadjar has been the fastest rookie in qualifying in each of the two races this season. He qualified 11th in Australia and just narrowly missed Q3. In China, Hadjar was 0.262 of a second off Verstappen and beat out Mercedes' Antonelli to the fastest rookie honors by starting seventh. Get on the Hadjar train before it's too late. There may not be room to join the bandwagon once everyone else notices him.</p><h3>Alpine</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778249/cropped_GettyImages-2206488598.jpg?ts=1743453810" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778249/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206488598.jpg?ts=1743453810 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778249/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206488598.jpg?ts=1743453810 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778249/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206488598.jpg?ts=1743453810 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778249/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206488598.jpg?ts=1743453810 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778249/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206488598.jpg?ts=1743453810 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kym Illman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Jack Doohan ends up with more penalty points than race starts</strong>: Doohan is already at four penalty points after the Chinese Grand Prix. There have been persistent rumors that it's a matter of when - not if - Franco Colapinto will take his seat. Despite the team's zero points so far, Alpine will use the penalty points and lack of results to justify a cruel early demotion.</p>

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1 overreaction for every F1 team after opening races

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title against Sean O'Malley in the ma...

<p>UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title against Sean O'Malley in the main event of UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey, on June 7, CEO Dana White announced Tuesday.</p><p>The women's bantamweight title will also be defended in the co-main event, as champion Julianna Pena faces Kayla Harrison.</p><p>The headliner fight will be a rematch of UFC 306 when Dvalishvili won the bantamweight championship off O'Malley by unanimous decision. Dvalishvili has successfully defended the title once since, handing Umar Nurmagomedov his first MMA loss via unanimous decision at UFC 311 in January.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Dvalishvili is riding a 12-fight winning streak. He hasn't lost since being beaten by Ricky Simon via technical submission on a UFC Fight Night card in April 2018.</p><p>O'Malley hasn't appeared in the Octagon since dropping the title to Dvalishvili.</p><p>Pena's fight against Harrison will mark her first championship defense since capturing the bantamweight belt with a split-decision win over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 in October 2024.</p><p>Harrison, an Olympic gold medallist in judo, owns an 18-1 MMA record and is 2-0 since making her UFC debut in April 2024 at UFC 300.</p>

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia poses on the scale during the UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-in at Intuit Dome on January 17, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

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Dvalishvili-O'Malley title fight to headline UFC 316

A proposal to the NFL's competition committee to ban the tush push has been tabled, according to ...

<p>A proposal to the NFL's competition committee to ban the tush push has been tabled, according to <a href="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1907078072257425845">NFL Network's Ian Rapoport</a>.</p><p>The postponed conversation will pick up in May, <a href="https://x.com/AlbertBreer/status/1907078308958781934">Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer</a> reports. Sixteen teams opposed the tush push ban, a source told <a href="https://x.com/jjones9/status/1907079137161839079">CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones</a>.</p><p>NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that the league is aware of the potential injury risk despite there being a limited amount of data.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I think there are safety issues being considered with the tush push," Goodell <a href="https://x.com/jjones9/status/1907162396554309864">said</a>. "We have very little data, but we see the potential risk. It makes a lot of sense to go back to the old rule prohibiting pulling or pushing ball carriers."</p><p>Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie reasoned against the argument of the play being a potential risk, saying the franchise believes it's safer than the traditional quarterback sneak.</p><p>"I want to know what data there is," Lurie said Tuesday, according to <a href="https://x.com/ReinerOlivia/status/1907176648056644038">Olivia Reiner of The Philadelphia Inquirer</a>. "I don't think there is any. If you want to say that it could be (dangerous), it's hard to make rules on could-bes and should-bes."</p><p>He added, "We will always, always support what is safer for the players. It's a no-brainer. If this is proven to be less safe for the players, we will be against the tush push. But until that's the case, to me, there would be no reason to ban this play."</p><p>The Green Bay Packers <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3225831" href="https://thescore.com/news/3225831">initially</a> submitted the proposal in February, citing player safety issues and competitiveness. The <a href="https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-rules/2025-rules-change-proposals/">motion</a> would "prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap."</p><p>The committee is composed of the league's team owners, and any motion would require 24 of the 32 votes to pass. A source told <a href="https://x.com/schultz_report/status/1907042761884262872?s=46&amp;t=Te6Q7pJGuCjZ9p88DFq6gw">Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz</a> that the language of the proposal was "just not clear enough and can easily be manipulated."</p><p>The tush push involves the ball being snapped to the quarterback, who is then pushed by two players from behind. It's used in short-yardage situations and has recently been popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles. The reigning champions converted 28 of their 34 attempts in 2024.</p><p>"There is no skill involved and it is almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less," Packers president Mark Murphy <a href="https://www.packers.com/news/mt5-after-disappointing-ending-packers-face-important-offseason-2025">said</a> in February. "We should go back to prohibiting the push of the runner. This would bring back the traditional QB sneak."</p><p>Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told <a href="https://x.com/CameronWolfe/status/1907049201839509521">NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe</a> on Tuesday that he didn't want to take a competitive advantage out of the game, since "the statistics don't say it's definitely a dangerous play." </p><p>Lurie also said it's not a "relevant" critique whether the tush push looks like a football play.</p><p>"I think aestheticism is very subjective," Lurie told reporters, including <a href="https://x.com/BKubena/status/1907185852335174020">Brooks Kubena of The Athletic</a>. "I've never judged whether a play looks okay. Does a screen pass look better than an in route or an out route? I don't know."</p><p>A tush push ban was also floated last season, but was dropped by the NFL due to the lack of injury data.</p>

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 09: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores touchdown on a tush push during Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9, 2025 at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA.

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Report: Potential tush push ban tabled until May

Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek says an extension for new quarterback Geno Smith sh...

<p>Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek says an extension for new quarterback <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/13368" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/13368">Geno Smith</a> should be coming "fairly soon," according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44478634/gm-new-raiders-deal-geno-smith-get-done-fairly-soon">ESPN's Ryan McFadden</a>.</p><p>Spytek added that he expects to have the veteran for "years to come."</p><p>The Raiders acquired Smith for a 2025 third-round pick earlier this month. The 34-year-old has only one year remaining on his contract and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3236075" href="https://thescore.com/news/3236075">reportedly</a> is looking for an extension in the range of $40 million and $45 million per year.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Rumors swirled that the Seahawks offered Smith a two-year deal that came with $40 million in 2025 before trading him, a source told ESPN's Brady Henderson, per McFadden.</p><p>Raiders head coach Pete Carroll, who also coached Smith in Seattle, believes the veteran signal-caller will have a long career due to the limited number of starts he's made thus far. Smith has started 83 games across his 11-year career, as he's only made 10-plus starts in five of his 11 seasons. </p><p>"The guy sat for almost six years, and didn't get the wear and tear," Carroll also said Monday. "So that's why he moves so well."</p><p>Smith posted a 28-24 record during his time in Seattle, throwing for 76 touchdowns to 36 interceptions.</p>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 26: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 26, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Raiders GM: Extension for Smith coming 'fairly soon'

Red Bull has done it again. A team infamously known for its sometimes cruel and often questionabl...

<p>Red Bull has done it again. A team infamously known for its sometimes cruel and often questionable decisions when it comes to the second seat outdid itself Thursday, officially dropping Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda after just two races.</p><h3><strong>Why now? </strong></h3><p>That's a good question. </p><p>In Red Bull's defense, the team may have felt the situation warranted immediate action. The upcoming race in Japan marks the beginning of a triple-header, and making a swap during that time was likely not feasible. If Lawson continued to struggle, Red Bull may have found itself completely out of the constructors' fight by the time the three races were complete. Tsunoda will also be making his Red Bull debut in front of his home fans in Japan, which should be a great moment that alleviates some of the public backlash.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>On the flip side, deciding Lawson's future after two races, at circuits he'd never driven prior, reeks of an impulsive move. Suzuka, the next track, is one that Lawson knows quite well from his junior days. The grand prix after that is Bahrain, another circuit where the Kiwi driver has experience due to preseason testing.</p><h3>Is Red Bull justified in sacking Lawson?</h3><p>Time will tell. </p><p>One aspect is certain - Lawson's struggles were unsustainable. No points and qualifying results of 18th and 20th were not going to cut it, even in a difficult RB21 car, when his teammate was starting on the first or second row.</p><p>But if Red Bull had such little confidence in Lawson's ability to recover from the first two races, then perhaps those in charge shouldn't have promoted him over Tsunoda to begin with. Two weekends shouldn't be enough to change Red Bull's opinion, especially since it proclaimed that Lawson was picked for his potential. For a team that was criticized for letting Sergio Perez overstay his welcome, this feels like a major overreaction. Red Bull gave Pierre Gasly more races (12) before sacking him in 2019 than Lawson was given days (10) to prove himself.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777471/cropped_GettyImages-2205322247.jpg?ts=1743078536" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777471/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205322247.jpg?ts=1743078536 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777471/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205322247.jpg?ts=1743078536 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777471/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205322247.jpg?ts=1743078536 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777471/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205322247.jpg?ts=1743078536 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777471/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205322247.jpg?ts=1743078536 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jayce Illman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><h3>Will Lawson ever make it back to Red Bull?</h3><p>Probably not. </p><p>History shows once a Red Bull driver is axed, he never makes it back. Gasly wasn't recalled despite an impressive few years at AlphaTauri. Alex Albon was demoted to a reserve role in 2021 and went off to Williams after that. Daniil Kvyat lost his seat to Max Verstappen and spent the rest of his F1 career with the junior team.</p><p>If those drivers couldn't find their way back, it's hard to think Lawson will. It's more probable the 23-year-old will be a placeholder until Red Bull's next prospect - 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad - is ready for Formula 1. That could be as soon as 2026.</p><h3>How will Tsunoda perform in the RB21?</h3><p>He'll likely be better than Lawson. But how much better is what matters.</p><p>Tsunoda is fast. That's not up for debate. He outmatched Daniel Ricciardo last season, sent the Australian packing, and then beat his replacement, Lawson, 6-0 in head-to-head qualifying to end 2024.</p><p>Tsunoda should be an upgrade, but when your predecessor is qualifying at the back of the grid, it's hard not to be an improvement. Will it be enough? That's the important question. The RB21 is not an easy car to drive. Even Verstappen said so himself. Tsunoda was qualifying his Racing Bulls car in the top 10. What happens if he fails to put his new stubborn machinery into Q3? Red Bull will have a better driver but still be faced with the reality of fighting with one hand tied behind its back.</p><p>By promoting Tsunoda, Red Bull is treating a symptom rather than the disease while its machinery is unable to be mastered by anyone other than Verstappen.</p><h3>Is Red Bull's second seat cursed? </h3><p>Red Bull has a Red Bull problem, not a second-driver problem.</p><p>How many times can Red Bull have a young driver fall flat on his face before taking a look in the mirror? It wasn't always this way. This was once a place that was lauded for its junior driver development, with Sebastian Vettel, Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, and Verstappen coming through its ranks. Now it's a buzzsaw that mercilessly claims victim after victim.</p><p>It's no secret that Red Bull's cars have been notoriously tricky. And the trickier the machinery, the more Verstappen is able to flex his ability and put the car in places it may not belong. This begins a cat-and-mouse game of chasing performance as pressure and media attention grows, with Verstappen not missing a beat while the other car is struggling in Q1 or Q2.</p><p>The best solution is likely to acquire a highly rated veteran, such as Sainz, who was available last year. But Red Bull's philosophy of an undisputed No. 1 alongside a wingman who picks up the scraps has stopped this approach from happening since Ricciardo left after 2018.</p><p>Instead, Red Bull keeps putting the wrong - and often inexperienced - candidates inside a difficult car, alongside a generational talent, and in an environment that has a massive spotlight and championship expectations. It's a recipe for failure.</p><p>When it comes to Red Bull's second-seat dilemma, the call is coming from inside the house.</p>

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Making sense of Red Bull's decision to swap Lawson for Tsunoda

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard believes his quarterback room is going to bring ...

<p>Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard believes his quarterback room is going to bring out the best in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/188125" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/188125">Anthony Richardson</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/97984" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/97984">Daniel Jones</a>.</p><p>"Competition brings out the best in anybody," Ballard <a href="https://www.colts.com/video/video-series/behind-the-colts">said</a>. "It's a competitive league. We're not just bringing in anybody. It had to be someone really going to be able to challenge Anthony. I think it's going to go both ways. I think Anthony will challenge Daniel also."</p><p>He added: "We thought Daniel's skill set and Anthony's skill set, there's a lot of similarities there. So offensively, I think that's going to help our offensive staff, say 'OK, we don't have to make these wholesale changes with one guy or the other. We got to make the best decision for the team. Whatever the outcome is, the outcome is based off performance.'"</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Jones signed a one-year, $14-million deal with the Colts in free agency and will compete with Richardson for the starting job. The fourth overall pick of the 2023 draft, Richardson struggled with consistency and injuries across his first two seasons in the NFL. He was benched, missed time due to injury, and has more interceptions (13) than passing touchdowns (11).</p><p>However, both quarterbacks have shown the ability to be dual-threat weapons. Richardson has rushed for 10 touchdowns over two seasons, while Jones has 15 career rushing touchdowns. The latter rushed for a career-high seven touchdowns and 708 yards as a member of the New York Giants in 2022.</p><p>"I think he's a really good fit for what we wanna do and who he is as a person and who he can be as a player," Ballard said.</p><p>Richardson made 11 starts last season, going 6-5 with eight passing scores and 12 picks. Veteran pocket-passer <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/2945" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/2945">Joe Flacco</a> started the other six contests and held a 2-4 mark with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.</p><p>Jones was drafted sixth overall by the Giants in 2019. He was waived during the 2024 season after being benched and finishing the campaign with the Minnesota Vikings. He did not appear in any games in Minnesota.</p>

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants in action against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium on January 01, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Colts 38-10.

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Colts GM: Richardson, Jones have 'a lot of similarities'

Liam Lawson is out at Red Bull after two races.  The 23-year-old will be replaced by Racing Bulls...

<p>Liam Lawson is out at Red Bull after two races.</p><p>The 23-year-old will be replaced by Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull announced Thursday. Team principal Christian Horner called the move a "sporting decision."</p><p>"It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and, as a result, we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch," Horner said in a statement. "We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions, to retain the World Drivers' Championship and to reclaim the World Constructors' title, and this is a purely sporting decision."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Lawson will return to Racing Bulls, Red Bull's junior team, for which he made 11 career starts between 2023 and 2024.</p><p>"We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam and together, we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience, as he continues his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well," Horner added.</p><p>Lawson was promoted to Red Bull over the more experienced Tsunoda during the winter break, but he has struggled mightily to adjust to his new team.</p><p>The Kiwi driver has yet to score points, retiring in the Australian Grand Prix and finishing 12th in the Chinese GP race. He qualified 18th in Australia while placing 20th in both sprint and grand prix qualifying in China.</p><p>Lawson's quick promotion and demotion is the latest chapter in the tale of Red Bull's infamous second seat. Sergio Perez was the team's second driver from 2021-24 but was dropped at the end of last season after scoring 152 points compared to teammate Max Verstappen's 437. The Mexican pilot's struggles cost Red Bull a third straight constructors' championship.</p><p>Red Bull is third in the 2025 constructors' standings with 36 points, all of which Verstappen collected. The Milton Keynes squad trails Mercedes (57 points) and McLaren (78 points).</p><p>Tsunoda will make his Red Bull debut at his home grand prix in Japan. The 24-year-old began his Formula 1 career with what was then called AlphaTauri in 2021. His performance last season was his best yet as he finished 12th in the championship with 30 points.</p>

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 16: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 16, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia.

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Red Bull drops Lawson for Tsunoda after 2 races

Quarterback Drake Maye's sky-high potential played a large role in enticing Mike Vrabel to take t...

<p>Quarterback <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199741" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199741">Drake Maye</a>'s sky-high potential played a large role in enticing Mike Vrabel to take the New England Patriots' head coaching job.</p><p>"I see a young, athletic, talented, full-of-potential player that (I'm) excited to build this team around and a large part of the reason why I wanted to be here," Vrabel said on the "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/td/podcast/stephen-a-smith-claims-the-death-of-college/id1617650547?i=1000700790389">Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich</a>" podcast. "That talent level, to be able to build around him and to be able to grow and help him and lead and run an offense and run a football team is something that I’m excited about."</p><p>Vrabel, who became the Patriots' head coach earlier this offseason, spoke about how the possibilities are endless with a talent like Maye under center.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"He can throw from in the pocket, he can throw off-platform, he can run, he can scramble,” Vrabel explained. "You can design some things for him. So I think you have pretty much everything in the playbook that you could possibly want available. He's not just a pocket passer, he's not just a guy who's gonna run. There's a lot of different ways that we're hoping that he can be successful."</p><p>Maye impressed in his 2024 rookie season, completing 66.6% of his passes for 15 touchdowns to 10 interceptions while being surrounded by a Patriots roster that won only three of his 12 starts.</p><p>New England has added to Maye's weapons this offseason, recently <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3250608" href="https://thescore.com/news/3250608">signing</a> former Pro Bowl wide receiver <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/65482" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/65482">Stefon Diggs</a> and wideout <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/69900" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/69900">Mack Hollins</a>. The franchise also added tackle <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/44290" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/44290">Morgan Moses</a> to beef up the offensive line.</p>

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 28: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots throws a pass against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

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Vrabel: Maye 'large part of the reason' I wanted Patriots job

Many notable players remain on the open market after the first wave of free-agent signings. All o...

<p>Many notable players remain on the open market after the first wave of free-agent signings. All of them have the potential to be key contributors in 2025.</p><p>Here, we play matchmaker for the top 15 free agents still available.</p><h3>Stefon Diggs ➡️ Patriots</h3><p><em>Diggs reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with the Patriots worth up to $69 million.</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777010/cropped_GettyImages-2178020996.jpg?ts=1742844732" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777010/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178020996.jpg?ts=1742844732 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777010/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178020996.jpg?ts=1742844732 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777010/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178020996.jpg?ts=1742844732 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777010/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178020996.jpg?ts=1742844732 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777010/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178020996.jpg?ts=1742844732 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Patriots apparently swung and missed on landing Chris Godwin. The offense desperately needs an injection of talent at receiver for Drake Maye, and Diggs - who recently visited the team - is a bet worth making.</p><h3>Amari Cooper ➡️ Raiders</h3><p>After acquiring Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders appear set on competing for a playoff spot in 2025. A Cooper homecoming will help an offense that lacks playmakers outside Brock Bowers.</p><h3>Keenan Allen ➡️ Commanders</h3><p>Washington has a hole at wide receiver even after acquiring Deebo Samuel. Inserting a sure-handed veteran pass-catcher like Allen into the offense would provide flexibility in the draft and not force the club into adding a wideout.</p><h3>Justin Simmons ➡️ Eagles</h3><p>Simmons played some of his best football under Vic Fangio in Denver. The Eagles have a need at safety after trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Simmons has publicly said he would love to play for Philadelphia.</p><h3>Aaron Rodgers ➡️ Steelers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777011/cropped_GettyImages-2192688566.jpg?ts=1742844806" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777011/w220xh124_GettyImages-2192688566.jpg?ts=1742844806 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777011/w320xh180_GettyImages-2192688566.jpg?ts=1742844806 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777011/w640xh360_GettyImages-2192688566.jpg?ts=1742844806 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777011/w768xh432_GettyImages-2192688566.jpg?ts=1742844806 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777011/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2192688566.jpg?ts=1742844806 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Luke Hales / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Steelers are waiting at the altar for Rodgers, who has yet to decide if he wants to enter a marriage with the team. This is as much a suitable fit as it is a necessity for the quarterback-starved Steelers.</p><h3>J.K. Dobbins ➡️ Broncos</h3><p>The Broncos might be tempted to draft a running back early, but even then, that shouldn't stop them from adding a proven veteran like Dobbins. We know Sean Payton loves a dynamic backfield, and Dobbins would be a valuable pickup after a bounce-back 905-yard campaign.</p><h3>Russell Wilson ➡️ Browns</h3><p><em>Wilson reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Giants </em>worth up to $21 million.</p><p>Kenny Pickett would be the Browns' starting quarterback if the season started today. They could draft a signal-caller with the No. 2 pick, but adding Wilson would provide stability at the position. The 36-year-old visited Cleveland in mid-March.</p><h3>Matthew Judon ➡️ Bengals</h3><p>The Bengals may or may not have the reigning league leader in sacks, Trey Hendrickson, in the fold. Even if they make it work with their star pass-rusher, the defense could use another veteran on the edge, and Judon should come at a fair price.</p><h3>Stephon Gilmore ➡️ Bills</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777013/cropped_GettyImages-2184219109.jpg?ts=1742844886" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777013/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184219109.jpg?ts=1742844886 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777013/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184219109.jpg?ts=1742844886 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777013/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184219109.jpg?ts=1742844886 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777013/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184219109.jpg?ts=1742844886 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777013/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184219109.jpg?ts=1742844886 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Gilmore, 34, still looks to have some good football left after a solid season with the Vikings. He could be an upgrade over Dane Jackson, who's the projected starting outside cornerback across Christian Benford.</p><h3>Tyler Lockett ➡️ Cowboys</h3><p>The Cowboys don't typically make splashes in free agency, but adding a veteran who has quietly produced season after season seems up their alley. Lockett would be a great boost to the receiving corps.</p><h3>Von Miller ➡️ Chiefs</h3><p>Miller is looking for a new team after his release from the Bills. The Chiefs could use a pass-rusher to help George Karlaftis on the outside. Kansas City has struggled to get consistent pressure from edge rushers in recent years.</p><h3>Za'Darius Smith ➡️ Commanders</h3><p>The Commanders lost Dante Fowler to the Cowboys in free agency after he led the team in sacks last season. Smith can provide a veteran presence up front, and he's still got a lot left in the tank, even at 32 years old. He totaled 9.5 sacks split between the Browns and Lions last year.</p><h3>Brandon Scherff ➡️ Ravens</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777014/cropped_GettyImages-1689507772.jpg?ts=1742844975" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777014/w220xh124_GettyImages-1689507772.jpg?ts=1742844975 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777014/w320xh180_GettyImages-1689507772.jpg?ts=1742844975 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777014/w640xh360_GettyImages-1689507772.jpg?ts=1742844975 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777014/w768xh432_GettyImages-1689507772.jpg?ts=1742844975 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777014/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1689507772.jpg?ts=1742844975 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mike Carlson / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Baltimore lost Patrick Mekari in free agency. What better way to replace him than with five-time Pro Bowler Scherff. While he may not be the player he once was, he'd be an improvement for Baltimore's interior.</p><h3>Julian Blackmon ➡️ Panthers</h3><p>There's interest here already, as Blackmon visited the Panthers earlier this week. A completely revamped safety room with Blackmon, who has been a five-year starter, and Tre'von Moehrig is exciting to think about.</p><h3>Asante Samuel Jr. ➡️ Seahawks</h3><p>Samuel missed most of the last season with a shoulder injury, but he's started 47 games as an outside cornerback since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2021. The Seahawks have a hole at cornerback across Tariq Woolen, and Samuel would be a great addition to Mike Macdonald's secondary.</p>

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Best fits for the top 15 remaining NFL free agents

Welcome back to another season of Formula 1. We'll offer our takeaways following each race weeken...

<p><em>Welcome back to another season of Formula 1. We'll offer our takeaways following each race weekend this year. Here are our thoughts after the Chinese Grand Prix.</em></p><h3>Moments that decided the race 👀</h3><p><strong>Piastri's finest weekend</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776775/cropped_GettyImages-2206482971.jpg?ts=1742753139" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776775/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206482971.jpg?ts=1742753139 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776775/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206482971.jpg?ts=1742753139 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776775/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206482971.jpg?ts=1742753139 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776775/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206482971.jpg?ts=1742753139 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776775/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206482971.jpg?ts=1742753139 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mark Sutton - Formula 1 / Formula 1 / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Oscar Piastri left his home grand prix in Australia with his head hung low after throwing away a spot on the podium. But he's leaving China as a three-time winner after a nearly flawless weekend.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Australian driver picked up 32 of a possible 33 points and seemed to become quicker and more confident as the sessions went on. He moved up one spot in the sprint race to finish second behind Lewis Hamilton. Then, while the rest of the paddock was left pondering whether Hamilton could repeat his heroics in Sunday's race, Piastri drove the fastest qualifying lap ever in Shanghai to grab the first pole of his F1 career.</p><p>It was Piastri's crescendo. Multiple positions behind him changed, but the 23-year enjoyed a clean getaway and at no point did he appear to be in serious jeopardy. He led 53 of 56 laps, and a pit stop was the lone reason he didn't lead every lap.</p><p>In a weekend where his teammate, Lando Norris, noticeably struggled with taming and adjusting to McLaren's MCL39 car, particularly in the sprint, Piastri found his groove and never looked back.</p><p>Piastri described the Chinese GP as what he feels like he "deserved from last week," and had it not been for his off-track excursion in Australia, he would be leading the drivers' championship right now.</p><p><strong>Ferrari makes history for wrong reasons</strong></p><p>For better or worse, there's nothing quite like the Ferrari experience. Charles Leclerc is no stranger to the phenomenon, but Hamilton was given a 72-hour crash course this weekend.</p><p>And it was done in the most typical Ferrari fashion possible.</p><p>A sprint pole and brilliant victory for the seven-time champion Saturday imploded into a Sunday disqualification after his rear skid block was under the minimum thickness required. His teammate wasn't spared, either, as Leclerc's underweight car resulted in the duo becoming Ferrari's first-ever set of drivers to both be disqualified in the same race. It doesn't help that even before the drivers were thrown out, the SF-25 looked nothing like the car driven in the sprint. Both pilots struggled with tire management Sunday.</p><p>Ferrari admitted Hamilton's disqualification was due to a misjudgement, while Leclerc's issue stemmed from him opting for a one-stop strategy, causing high tire wear. But whatever the reasons, Ferrari has no excuse. The majority of teams were ready for the possibility of a one-stop race, and for Hamilton, the misjudgement on the ride height to protect the skid marks Ferrari's second straight execution failure following a botched strategy call in Australia.</p><p>This was supposed to be the top driver lineups in F1 and one of the sport's best-ever partnerships. It's time for Ferrari to get its act together.</p><p><strong>Red Bull's 2nd-driver dilemma</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776777/cropped_GettyImages-2206488604.jpg?ts=1742753351" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776777/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206488604.jpg?ts=1742753351 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776777/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206488604.jpg?ts=1742753351 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776777/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206488604.jpg?ts=1742753351 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776777/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206488604.jpg?ts=1742753351 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776777/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206488604.jpg?ts=1742753351 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kym Illman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Red Bull ended the 2024 season with a second-driver dilemma and a car that lacked consistent pace, balance, and a wide operating window. Two races into 2025 and seemingly nothing has changed, as the team is dealing with another crisis for its No. 2 race seat.</p><p>No one within Red Bull will shy away from praising Max Verstappen's extraordinary ability to extract the maximum out of a difficult car. But it's also time to call the situation what is actually is - an unsustainable and fundamental problem with the machinery.</p><p>Even the adaptable Verstappen has been vocal about how difficult it is to drive the RB21. He came to Liam Lawson's defense Saturday, stating that he believes his new teammate would be faster in a Racing Bulls car because it's easier to handle.</p><p>That was evident all weekend as Lawson qualified 20th in the sprint and main race. He still couldn't net points, even with the triple disqualification of Leclerc, Hamilton, and Pierre Gasly in front of him Sunday. Verstappen walked away with all of Red Bull's points for the second straight race in 2025.</p><p>It doesn't help matters that Lawson has never driven at the Melbourne or Shanghai circuit. He was never likely to generate any confidence from the get-go.</p><p>Lawson's struggles have already created serious chatter that he could be swapped in the not-too-distant future. But what good would a swap do? Some may argue Yuki Tsunoda deserved the seat over Lawson to begin with, and there's reason to believe that. But a switch would simply be treating a symptom rather than solving a deeply rooted issue that dates back to 2019. No one - not even the most experienced drivers - can drive the Red Bull like Verstappen.</p><p>The Red Bull second seat is less of a curse as it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Lawson, now in a pressure-cooker situation, has to hope he has more time to close the gap to Verstappen despite increased scrutiny. But, as many other drivers have learned, trying to catch the four-time reigning champion is an almost impossible task.</p><p><strong>Haas' opportunistic race</strong></p><p>One of Haas' pilots is the lead Ferrari engine in the drivers' championship for the first time in the team's mostly dubious history.</p><p>Esteban Ocon is leaving the Chinese GP in seventh place with 10 points and is ahead of both Hamilton (nine) and Leclerc (eight).</p><p>Ocon had Haas' best finish since Bahrain 2022 after Ferrari's double disqualification promoted him to fifth, while rookie Ollie Bearman also made an offset hard-to-medium tire strategy work and recovered from 17th to finish eighth.</p><p>After going pointless in the season opener and admitting it needed to make setup changes due to the FIA's rear wing clampdown, Haas got the boost it so desperately needed. </p><h3>Driver of the Day 🙌</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776779/cropped_GettyImages-2206486594.jpg?ts=1742753400" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776779/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206486594.jpg?ts=1742753400 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776779/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206486594.jpg?ts=1742753400 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776779/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206486594.jpg?ts=1742753400 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776779/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206486594.jpg?ts=1742753400 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776779/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206486594.jpg?ts=1742753400 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kym Illman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>George Russell</strong>: No one will argue against Piastri as the pick here, but since he received glowing praise earlier, let's give another driver his flowers. Russell was beyond clinical over the course of the entire weekend, quietly maximizing the Mercedes W16 package. He qualified onto the front row - splitting the McLarens - and then held off a feisty Leclerc before bringing home his second straight podium to open the year.</p><h3>They said what? 🗣️</h3><p><strong>Piastri on the race win</strong>: "It's been an incredible weekend. The car has been pretty mega. Today was a surprise, how differently the tires behaved. This feels like what I deserved from last week."</p><p><strong>Norris on his brake issues</strong>: "It's scary. It is like my worst nightmare, brakes failing. I was losing two, three, four seconds the last couple of laps so I was a bit scared. We survived and made it to the end. I would have liked to give it a bit of a try and put Oscar under a bit of pressure, but not today. We're satisfied, great result, and we'll go again next time."</p><p><strong>Lawson on his slump</strong>: "I just need to drive this car faster. It's nothing to do with external pressure. The team have been extremely supportive. It is a unique track here, but we will reflect and learn from it going forward.”</p><p><strong>Leclerc on first-lap incident with Hamilton</strong>: "It's a racing incident, it is not the first or last time it will happen. But it's a shame that it happened between the two red cars, but obviously there was no bad intentions from either of us. That was unfortunate and obviously it cost me quite a bit for the rest of the race."</p><p><strong>Russell on his performance</strong> "The car has been great. It was probably one of my best weekends in Formula 1 in terms of the overall performance, so I'm really pleased with that and just maximizing every single time out on track. I'm pleased to be on the podium."</p><h3>What's next?</h3><p>After back-to-back race weekends, F1 takes a brief break before resuming at the Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese GP on April 6 at 1 a.m. ET.</p><p>Verstappen won the last three races in Japan, while Mercedes won the six races (2014-19) at the circuit before that.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Drivers' Standings" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-4mkDA" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/4mkDA/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="946" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Constructors' Standings" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-qnhRE" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/qnhRE/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="551" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward knows his team's window to compete has an e...

<p>Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/15323" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/15323">Cameron Heyward</a> knows his team's window to compete has an expiry date.</p><p>"I think we're in a state of urgency," Heyward said on "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKQ8bsN-lzY">The Rich Eisen Show</a>." "We have a lot of guys that, like myself, are in the latter stages of their career, and we all want to win. It's not just enough to win a playoff game, which we haven't won in a couple years, and there's a bad taste in our mouth because of that."</p><p>Heyward cited the need to maximize the likes pass-rusher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/74678" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/74678">T.J. Watt</a> and safety <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/99594" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/99594">Minkah Fitzpatrick</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Steelers made a big swing this offseason, acquiring two-time Pro Bowl receiver <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/111570" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/111570">DK Metcalf</a> in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks and then signing him to a four-year, $132-million extension. However, Pittsburgh hasn't yet been able to secure a quarterback despite pursuing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/747" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/747">Aaron Rodgers</a>. The 41-year-old visited the team's facility Friday but left without signing a contract.</p><p>Heyward made his pitch to Rodgers last week, stating "either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't." But the veteran defensive lineman says he didn't intend to call anyone out.</p><p>"Everybody gave me crap," Heyward remarked. "They said I called him out. I don't think I really called him out. I just said I was not going to go on a darkness retreat to recruit him, that if he wants to be a Steeler, he can be a Steeler. That's the pitch. I don't know why everybody thought, 'Oh, Cam's really going at him.'"</p><p>He added: "I'm not scaring anybody off. I just want to win games and play good football."</p><p>The Steelers have not won a playoff game since Jan. 15, 2017 when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round. Their wild-card loss to the Baltimore Ravens last season marked their sixth straight postseason defeat.</p>

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 21: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the field during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on November 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Heyward: Steelers in 'state of urgency'

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner declined to confirm Liam Lawson's future Sunday after th...

<p>Red Bull team principal Christian Horner declined to confirm Liam Lawson's future Sunday after the driver struggled during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.</p><p>"Look, I think everything is purely speculative at the moment," Horner said when asked if Lawson would be in the seat for the next race in Japan, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/44368668/red-bull-refuses-rule-immediate-liam-lawson-yuki-tsunoda-swap">ESPN's Laurence Edmondson</a>. "We've just finished this race. We're going to take away the info and have a good look at it."</p><p>He added: "I think Liam still has potential. We're just not realizing that at the moment."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Lawson has yet to score a point for Red Bull while his teammate and reigning world champion Max Verstappen is second in the drivers' championship with 36 points. Lawson also qualified last in both the sprint and Grand Prix format in China.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Event</th>
<th>Result</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Australia GP qualifying</td>
<td> 18th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Australia GP race</td>
<td> Did not finish</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chinese GP sprint qualifying</td>
<td> 20th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chinese GP sprint race</td>
<td> 14th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chinese GP qualifying</td>
<td> 20th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chinese GP race</td>
<td> 12th</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Horner added that they "need both drivers up there" in order to fight for the constructors' and drivers' championships.</p><p>Red Bull promoted Lawson from RB last season, picking him over Yuki Tsunoda to replace the struggling Sergio Perez despite Lawson only having 11 Formula 1 races under his belt at the time. Perez's erratic performances in 2024 played a major factor in Red Bull losing the constructors' title to McLaren.</p><p>Horner opted to keep any thoughts on a potential Tsunoda promotion to himself, not wanting to add more media attention to the saga.</p><p>"I'm not even going to comment on a change, because that would be your first headline," Horner remarked. "You know, as I say, we're two races into this championship, so we have a sample of two."</p><p>Tsunoda said Sunday he's "100%" up to the challenge of replacing Lawson at Red Bull for the next race, per <a href="https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/44355380/yuki-tsunoda-100-ready-replace-liam-lawson-red-bull-make-move">Edmondson</a>.</p>

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 22: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Oracle Red Bull Racing walks in the paddock during the Sprint/qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China.

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Newly acquired wide receiver Deebo Samuel believes he has one intangible that could help the Wash...

<p>Newly acquired wide receiver <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/87611" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/87611">Deebo Samuel</a> believes he has one intangible that could help the Washington Commanders get to the next level: "dawg mentality."</p><p>"I was excited, for sure," Samuel <a href="https://www.commanders.com/video/wr-deebo-samuel-i-m-just-coming-to-add-my-dog-mentality">said</a> Thursday. "They've already proven they can win, they went to the NFC Championship (Game) last year. I'm just coming to add my little dawg mentality and just contribute to the offense in any aspect they need me to."</p><p>The Commanders acquired Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers earlier in March for a fifth-round pick after he requested a trade. Despite his request, the 29-year-old said parting ways with the franchise that drafted him was hard.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It was tougher than what people think," Samuel told reporters. "One of the hardest things was walking in the office and talking to (49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan) about this just because the relationship we've built over time."</p><p>Samuel added that the Commanders' recent success made the team an attractive destination.</p><p>"Being in San Francisco, I like winners," Samuel said. "They went to the NFC championship. I've been knowing (general manager) Adam Peters for a while and what's so crazy is (it's) kind of close to home. ... Some of my family lives in Baltimore. They got a good team, for sure, and they were just standing out."</p><p>Samuel participated in two Super Bowls and earned one Pro Bowl nod during his 49ers tenure. His best season came in 2021 when he put up 1,770 yards from scrimmage with 1,405 coming as a receiver. His 18.2 yards per reception also led the NFL that year.</p><p>The Commanders' new wideout will give quarterback <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199756" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199756">Jayden Daniels</a> heavy star power as he joins two-time Pro Bowler <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/87889" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/87889">Terry McLaurin</a> in the receiver room. </p><p>Samuel ended last season with 51 catches for 670 yards and three receiving scores. </p>

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 5: Wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. #1 of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on January 5, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona.

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Deebo: Commanders getting my 'dawg mentality'

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup has come out of retirement to sign with the Wa...

<p>Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/104676" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/104676">Michael Gallup</a> has come out of retirement to sign with the Washington Commanders, the franchise announced Thursday.</p><p>Gallup has been out of the NFL since last offseason when he elected to walk away after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. The 29-year-old also reportedly visited the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week before joining the Commanders.</p><p>The 2018 third-round pick spent the first six seasons of his career with the Cowboys. Gallup's best work came five years ago when he set career highs in receptions (66), receiving yards (1,107), and touchdowns (six). The 2019 campaign is the only year he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Gallup said Thursday that the transition from leaving the Cowboys was difficult to process and that he knew when he retired that he would want to return to playing, according to <a href="https://x.com/NickiJhabvala/status/1902780178025136440">Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post</a>.</p><p>He'll reunite in Washington with head coach Dan Quinn, who was on the Cowboys' staff as defensive coordinator from 2021-23.</p><p>The former Cowboys wideout had 34 receptions, 418 yards, and two touchdowns in 2023.</p><p>Gallup is the second notable receiver to join the Commanders this offseason following their acquisition of former San Francisco 49ers star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/87611" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/87611">Deebo Samuel</a>. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/87889" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/87889">Terry McLaurin</a> headlines Washington's receiver room, which also features <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199816" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199816">Luke McCaffrey</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/87880" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/87880">Noah Brown</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/98473" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/98473">K.J. Osborn</a>, among others.</p>

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys lines up out wide against the Washington Commanders during the first half at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.

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Five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys has committed to LSU, picking the Tigers over the likes of A...

<p>Five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys has committed to LSU, picking the Tigers over the likes of Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas A&amp;M among others, he confirmed to <a href="https://x.com/Hayesfawcett3/status/1902465074612015152">Hayes Fawcett of On3Sports</a>.</p><p>Keys released his 12 finalists in January with Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Miami, and Florida also making the cut, according to <a href="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/03/19/tristen-keys-commits-lsu-football-recruiting-2026-hattiesburg/82552089007/">Michael Chavez of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger</a>.</p><p>The wideout from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is the 16th highest-ranked recruit in the 2026 class, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/259405/tristen-keys">ESPN</a>. Keys is also rated second among all receivers, trailing only Chris Henry Jr., who has committed to Ohio State.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Keys is the first five-star player in LSU's 2026 recruiting class. The Tigers secured commitments from six four-star recruits before landing Keys.</p>

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 12: A special commemorative 100 years of Tiger Stadium decal is seen on an LSU helmet before the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images}

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McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes top rival Max Verstappen is poised to switch teams following the 2...

<p>McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes top rival Max Verstappen is poised to switch teams following the 2025 season, likely heading to Mercedes.</p><p>"I think he'll leave at the end of this year," Brown told <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2025/03/15/brown-says-verstappen-will-leave-redbull-for-mercedes/?ICID=continue_without_subscribing_reg_first">Tom Cary of The Telegraph</a>. "Most likely to Merc. There's been talk of Aston Martin, too, with Adrian Newey joining. But as great as Adrian is - and he's the greatest ever - you need a whole team around you. You need the culture. That takes time. If I was betting, I'd bet on Merc."</p><p>Newey, who is regarded as one of the most innovative engineers in Formula 1 history, joined Aston Martin after serving as Red Bull's chief technical officer from 2006-24.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Brown listed Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's high regard for Verstappen and the team's track record among the reasons why the move could occur.</p><p>"They have stability," Brown said. "We know Toto likes him. And I think we all feel (Mercedes) is best equipped on the power unit side heading into the new engine regulations next year."</p><p>Brown also noted that driver George Russell's contract is up at the end of the season and rookie Kimi Antonelli "will be on a series of one-years."</p><p>Verstappen is signed to Red Bull through 2028, but there have been questions about his future dating back to the start of last season.</p><p>The four-time reigning champion defeated McLaren driver Lando Norris in an intense battle for the drivers' championship in 2024, while the latter's team picked up the constructors' title.</p><p>McLaren opened the 2025 season with a victory in Melbourne as Norris passed the finish line less than a second ahead of Verstappen, who came in second.</p>

Zak Brown and Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing before third practice ahead of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Cicuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on December 6, 2024.

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is tired of discussing the quarterback posi...

<p>Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/15323" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/15323">Cameron Heyward</a> is tired of discussing the quarterback position as the franchise seemingly awaits an answer from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/747" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/747">Aaron Rodgers</a>.</p><p>"I don't need any of that crap," Heyward said on the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8plSNO0VHtY">Not Just Football</a>" podcast when asked jokingly if he would join Rodgers for a darkness retreat if it meant the QB signs. "Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't. That's simple, that's the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that's the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers, if you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don't, no skin off my back."</p><p>The Steelers and New York Giants have reportedly pursued Rodgers this offseason and are awaiting a decision from the 41-year-old. The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly also considered Rodgers, and the quarterback is open to the idea.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Pittsburgh is looking for an answer at quarterback after both its 2024 starters in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/161671" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/161671">Justin Fields</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/12258" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/12258">Russell Wilson</a> entered free agency. The former has already signed a deal with the New York Jets. The Steelers' lone move at the position in free agency was signing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/83531" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/83531">Mason Rudolph</a> to a two-year deal.</p><p>"I want to play football," Heyward said. "I'm tired about talking about the quarterback situation. I'd rather have it done. I don't know what ends up happening. I don't know, man. I'm ready to move on (from) free agency. It is too much going on."</p><p>The Steelers have started five passers (<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/71696" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/71696">Mitch Trubisky</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/173994" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/173994">Kenny Pickett</a>, Rudolph, Fields, and Wilson) since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season.</p>

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.

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The Philadelphia Eagles reworked offensive tackle Lane Johnson's contract, extending him through ...

<p>The Philadelphia Eagles reworked offensive tackle <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/14244" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/14244">Lane Johnson</a>'s contract, extending him through 2027 while also adding $8 million in salary and $30 million in guarantees over the next two seasons, his agent told <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1901755734875930790">ESPN's Adam Schefter</a>.</p><p>Johnson will now rack in $48 million over the next two years with $40 million guaranteed, Schefter adds. The Eagles <a href="https://x.com/Eagles/status/1901755622305214754">confirmed</a> Johnson's one-year extension through 2027 but didn't reveal financial terms.</p><p>The 34-year-old had one season remaining on his previous deal.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>A six-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, Johnson has been the anchor of the Eagles' offensive line since his rookie season in 2013. He's been a full-time starter since being selected fourth overall and has totalled 158 starts during his 12-year tenure.</p><p>Johnson has also collected two Super Bowl championships as a member of the Eagles, the most recent coming in February. His play was a major factor in Philadelphia's success on the ground last season as the unit ranked second in the NFL in rushing yards per game.</p>

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 15: Lane Johnson #65 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 15, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Sarah Wallace

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