Saquon Barkley is a son, a fantastic father, the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year winner, and now a member of President Donald Trump’s administration. In a move that will revive a standard from the Reagan, Clinton, and Bush era, Barkley will join Harrison Butker, Nick Bosa, Tony Romo, and Lawrence Taylor on President Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.”

According to the Washington Post, President Trump on Thursday announced that the presidential fitness test, a hallmark of American physical education programs, will be making a comeback in public schools.

The assessment was retired and replaced by a fitness program under the Obama administration.

The presidential fitness test was initiated in the 1950s by a council established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower that was directed to improve the physical fitness of American youths, in response to fears they were falling behind their European counterparts when it came to athleticism.

The project is an alternative way to get anti-obesity drugs to Medicare and Medicaid patients, after the administration said in April that neither program would cover GLP-1s for weight loss. In doing so, it scrapped a 2024 Biden administration proposal for the programs to start covering GLP-1s for patients with obesity.

Several high-profile athletes — all of whom have existing ties to Trump — attended the ceremony and will serve on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. The attendees included professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who will chair the council; controversial National Football League kicker Harrison Butker; World Wrestling Entertainment mainstay Paul “Triple H” Levesque; golfer Annika Sorenstam; and football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.

The Eagles running back wasn’t in attendance, but will be joined by golfers Jack Nicklaus, Nelly Korda, and Gary Player (who was also awarded the Medal of Freedom alongside Sorenstam); Tony Romo, Nick Bosa, and Barkley; legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky; and baseball player Mariano Rivera.

The list also includes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, whom Trump repeatedly scrutinized during his first presidential term.

Barkley was criticized during the off-season for spending time with President Trump on a golf outing prior to the Eagles’ ring celebration.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Saquon Barkley to help Trump revive the presidential fitness test

One of the more intriguing position groups to watch during Jacksonville Jaguars’ training camp has been the offensive line, both in terms of who starts and where, but also how this unit will perform.

Since early on in his tenure as head coach, Liam Coen has been direct in saying that the play of the Jaguars‘ offensive line unit must improve in 2025. To help accomplish this, GM James Gladstone made six additions up front between free agency and the NFL draft.

With so many new faces and a new offensive scheme being implemented, the Jaguars have embraced competition as they search for their best starting five configuration.

So now over a week into training camp practices, what has Coen seen from this unit?

“I think it’s obviously a work in progress, but I thought through the first five practices, there’s been strides made,” Coen said via Jaguars on SI. “It’s a group that’s still getting to know each other.

“With the O-line, it’s so imperative that they play as one and communicate as one and I think that they’ve done a nice job of that so far from a targeting standpoint, making sure that we’re on the right IDs and with the protection.”

When it comes to offensive line play, the sum of the parts are greater than one individual player. So having a cohesive unit that operates as one is vital.

With a number of new additions, what I’m guessing is some rotating as Coen creates competition, and an offense that is just about new to everyone, there is going to be a learning curve that the collective group will have to navigate.

Helping to foster the continuity among the offensive line has been center Robert Hainsey, who played under Coen last season in Tampa Bay and is familiar with the offense.

When it comes to overall consistency for the Jaguars’ offense, achieving that will begin with the play up front. Having a running game to lean on and time in the pocket for the quarterback are musts for any offense.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars training camp: Liam Coen evaluates offensive line play

Sophie Cunningham Forced to Exit Fever-Mercury Game Amid Injury Scare originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

There was a lot of talk surrounding Sophie Cunningham heading into Wednesday night as the Indiana Fever hosted the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The 6-foot-1 guard drew attention as she faced off against her former team for the first time since her offseason trade to Indiana.

Sophie Cunningham Suffers Injury Scare

Unfortunately for Cunningham, she was forced to exit the game in the third quarter due to an injury scare. According to Fever beat reporter Brian Haenchen of Indy Star, Cunningham was “hunched over in pain” during a play. She then left the game immediately and was attended to by the team’s medical staff on the bench. The 28-year-old was not able to check back into the game immediately after the incident.

😭😭 ?? pic.twitter.com/bWgpt68bSU

— Claire: Caitlin Clark Style (@caitlinclarksty) July 31, 2025

As of writing, there is no further information on Cunningham’s injury scare. It’s possible that she just got the wind knocked out of her and required some time on the bench to recover. The last thing the Fever need right now is another injury to one of their key players as Caitlin Clark continues to be out with a lingering groin problem.

UPDATE: Cunningham has returned to the game, and it does not seem like she has been bothered by the issue.

Cunningham’s Big Move Off the Court

Apart from being a crucial piece for Indiana’s title hopes this season, Cunningham has also been able to establish herself as a bona fide superstar off the basketball court.

A testament to this fact is how the veteran guard launched her own podcast on Wednesday entitled “Show Me Something.” The first episode of the show dropped on Wednesday and will be streaming on a weekly basis under The Volume’s platform.

Cunningham will be hosting the show with longtime friend and “Summer House” star West Wilson.  

Related: Sophie Cunningham’s Outfit for Fever-Mercury Game Is a Must-See

Related: Sophie Cunningham Responds After Unexpected Offer From Lakers President Jeanie Buss

Related: “I Said What I Said”: Sophie Cunningham Isn’t Backing Down After Fever Take Down Sky

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase’s locker was empty the day after the MLB trade deadline, but not for the reason many expected this time last week.

With both Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz on paid leave amid an investigation into gambling allegations, the Guardians cleared out their lockers before Friday’s game, according to The Athletic’s Zack Meisel.

While no reason for the change was provided, it’s notable given that the Guardians have already played multiple home games since Clase was sidelined on Monday. Ortiz has also been on leave since July 3. Both players have reportedly had their leave extended through at least Aug. 31.

It’s possible something has changed behind the scenes, or maybe Cleveland just wanted to keep them out of mind in the clubhouse. Regardless, it’s not the best omen for fans hoping to see either player again this season.

Emmanuel Clase was placed on leave at a bad time for the Guardians

Clase loomed as one of the biggest prizes at the trade deadline, which saw a fervent market for relievers. Athletics closer Mason Miller, Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran and Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar were all traded for significant hauls, and Clase might have commanded a larger return than any of them.

With his future uncertain, Cleveland was instead forced to hold onto Clase. With a 54-54 record and long playoff odds, the team did trade away former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber and veteran reliever Paul Sewald.

Clase is a three-time MLB All-Star and has accrued 181 saves in five seasons with the Guardians, with a career 1.88 ERA. He is under contract for the 2026 season with a salary of $6.4 million, plus two $10 million team options for 2027 and 2028. He was previously banned for the shortened 2020 season after testing positive for Boldenone, a banned performance-enhancing drug.

What’s happening with Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz?

The allegations against Clase remain unclear, with the Guardians only saying his leave was in connection to MLB’s sports betting investigation.

More details are available for Ortiz, who had two of his pitches from June flagged for suspicious bets. The first came on June 15, when someone bet an unusual amount of money on Ortiz to throw a ball or hit a batter with his first pitch of the second inning (yes, you can do that). The pitch in question ended up in the dirt.

On June 27, there was also allegedly suspicious activity on Ortiz’s first pitch of the third inning, which ended up multiple feet outside the zone.

MLB is currently investigating both players and it could be a while before any decision is made. The situation has become notable enough that Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has called for the Ohio Casino Control Commission to remove these kinds of prop bets from the state’s sportsbooks.

We have seen similar incidents in other sports, most notably the NBA’s Jontay Porter scandal that saw the former Toronto Raptors forward banned from the league for life and plead guilty to a felony charge of wire fraud.

If it’s true that either Guardians player did something similar, they would also face a lifetime ban under Rule 21 of the MLB rulebook.

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase’s locker was empty the day after the MLB trade deadline, but not for the reason many expected this time last week.

With both Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz on paid leave amid an investigation into gambling allegations, the Guardians cleared out their lockers before Friday’s game, according to The Athletic’s Zack Meisel.

While no reason for the change was provided, it’s notable given that the Guardians have already played multiple home games since Clase was sidelined on Monday. Ortiz has also been on leave since July 3. Both players have reportedly had their leave extended through at least Aug. 31.

It’s possible something has changed behind the scenes, or maybe Cleveland just wanted to keep them out of mind in the clubhouse. Regardless, it’s not the best omen for fans hoping to see either player again this season.

Emmanuel Clase was placed on leave at a bad time for the Guardians

Clase loomed as one of the biggest prizes at the trade deadline, which saw a fervent market for relievers. Athletics closer Mason Miller, Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran and Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar were all traded for significant hauls, and Clase might have commanded a larger return than any of them.

With his future uncertain, Cleveland was instead forced to hold onto Clase. With a 54-54 record and long playoff odds, the team did trade away former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber and veteran reliever Paul Sewald.

Clase is a three-time MLB All-Star and has accrued 181 saves in five seasons with the Guardians, with a career 1.88 ERA. He is under contract for the 2026 season with a salary of $6.4 million, plus two $10 million team options for 2027 and 2028. He was previously banned for the shortened 2020 season after testing positive for Boldenone, a banned performance-enhancing drug.

What’s happening with Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz?

The allegations against Clase remain unclear, with the Guardians only saying his leave was in connection to MLB’s sports betting investigation.

More details are available for Ortiz, who had two of his pitches from June flagged for suspicious bets. The first came on June 15, when someone bet an unusual amount of money on Ortiz to throw a ball or hit a batter with his first pitch of the second inning (yes, you can do that). The pitch in question ended up in the dirt.

On June 27, there was also allegedly suspicious activity on Ortiz’s first pitch of the third inning, which ended up multiple feet outside the zone.

MLB is currently investigating both players and it could be a while before any decision is made. The situation has become notable enough that Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has called for the Ohio Casino Control Commission to remove these kinds of prop bets from the state’s sportsbooks.

We have seen similar incidents in other sports, most notably the NBA’s Jontay Porter scandal that saw the former Toronto Raptors forward banned from the league for life and plead guilty to a felony charge of wire fraud.

If it’s true that either Guardians player did something similar, they would also face a lifetime ban under Rule 21 of the MLB rulebook.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred would like everyone to stop making a big deal about his reported confrontation with Bryce Harper.

Speaking with reporters on Friday after announcing Wrigley Field will host the 2027 MLB All-Star Game, Manfred downplayed a meeting in which the Philadelphia Phillies star reportedly told him he could “get the f*** out of our clubhouse” in response to a mention of the game’s economics. 

When asked about the exchange, Manfred said the reaction was overblown:

“I don’t talk about those player meetings — let me say this. I think more has been made out of this than needs to be made out of it. Bryce expressed his views, at the end of the meeting, we shook hands and went our separate ways. Just not all that significant.

“It was an individual picking a particular way to express himself and I don’t think you need to make more out of it than that.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Harper was similarly hesitant to discuss the incident after it was reported, but did confirm it took place and added, “I’ve always been very vocal [in labor discussions], just not in a way that people can see.”

The incident occurred amid mounting tension over upcoming collective bargaining agreement, which expires after the 2026 season. It is expected the league will insist on the introduction of a salary cap, which the MLB Players Association has always treated as a non-starter.

If both sides hold their ground, the result would likely be a work stoppage that could affect the 2027 season. Manfred reportedly mentioned the word “lockout” in the meeting with the Phillies, and it’s never a good sign when the commissioner is planting that seed more than a year in advance.

Asked about a contingency plan for a work stoppage on Friday, Manfred again downplayed the possibility:

“My contingency plan is to make an agreement with the players and play the ’27 season.”

Few other stakeholders are as optimistic. In March, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said the union believes a lockout is coming. This week, Phillies star Nick Castellanos used an interesting analogy for Manfred’s mention of a lockout, via ESPN:

“That’s nothing to throw around. That’s the same thing as me saying in a marriage, ‘I think divorce is a possibility. It’s probably going to happen.’ You don’t just say those things.”

It’s been a contentious decade already for the league and union, which got in protracted disputes in both 2020 and the 2021-22 offseason. The latter resulted in both a delayed start to the 2022 season (but no lost games) and the current deal set to expire after 2026.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred would like everyone to stop making a big deal about his reported confrontation with Bryce Harper.

Speaking with reporters on Friday after announcing Wrigley Field will host the 2027 MLB All-Star Game, Manfred downplayed a meeting in which the Philadelphia Phillies star reportedly told him he could “get the f*** out of our clubhouse” in response to a mention of the game’s economics. 

When asked about the exchange, Manfred said the reaction was overblown:

“I don’t talk about those player meetings — let me say this. I think more has been made out of this than needs to be made out of it. Bryce expressed his views, at the end of the meeting, we shook hands and went our separate ways. Just not all that significant.

“It was an individual picking a particular way to express himself and I don’t think you need to make more out of it than that.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Harper was similarly hesitant to discuss the incident after it was reported, but did confirm it took place and added, “I’ve always been very vocal [in labor discussions], just not in a way that people can see.”

The incident occurred amid mounting tension over upcoming collective bargaining agreement, which expires after the 2026 season. It is expected the league will insist on the introduction of a salary cap, which the MLB Players Association has always treated as a non-starter.

If both sides hold their ground, the result would likely be a work stoppage that could affect the 2027 season. Manfred reportedly mentioned the word “lockout” in the meeting with the Phillies, and it’s never a good sign when the commissioner is planting that seed more than a year in advance.

Asked about a contingency plan for a work stoppage on Friday, Manfred again downplayed the possibility:

“My contingency plan is to make an agreement with the players and play the ’27 season.”

Few other stakeholders are as optimistic. In March, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said the union believes a lockout is coming. This week, Phillies star Nick Castellanos used an interesting analogy for Manfred’s mention of a lockout, via ESPN:

“That’s nothing to throw around. That’s the same thing as me saying in a marriage, ‘I think divorce is a possibility. It’s probably going to happen.’ You don’t just say those things.”

It’s been a contentious decade already for the league and union, which got in protracted disputes in both 2020 and the 2021-22 offseason. The latter resulted in both a delayed start to the 2022 season (but no lost games) and the current deal set to expire after 2026.

It didn’t take long for the Mets to show their appreciation for reliever Jose Butto.

Days after trading Butto in the Tyler Rogers deal with the Giants, the organization played a video tribute at Citi Field before the series opener between the Mets and San Francisco.

Take a look at the tribute video, highlighting Butto’s best moments as a Met, and the 27-year-old — now in a Giants uniform — giving the fans a salute.

Two days after being traded to the Giants, José Buttó gets a tribute video at Citi Field 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/beJ5446HeK

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 1, 2025

Butto, who posted a 2.55 ERA for the Mets last season, had struggled for New York this season. He entered Friday’s game with a 3.64 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 47.0 innings over 34 games.

Over his four years in the big leagues, all with the Mets, Butto recorded an 11-9 record with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.126 WHIP to go along with 163 strikeouts in 167.0 innings pitched. Of his 74 appearances, he made 15 starts for the Mets.