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Would’ve, could’ve, should’ve. That’s all Travis Kelce has left since his attempts to slip Taylor Swift his digits went awry.
On the latest episode of his New Heights podcast, The Kansas City Chiefs tight end recounted his foiled plan to begin wooing the “Karma” singer.
The football star attended Swift’s Eras Tour stop at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium earlier this month, one of many shows on the record-breaking worldwide trek. Known for showstopping moments like an ever-rotating vault of surprise songs, special guests, and music video debuts, the Eras Tour has also found a defining element in fans’ friendship bracelets. Inspired by the lyric “So make the friendship bracelets / Take the moment and taste it” from Midnight’s “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” fans have been trading homemade jewelry at each Eras Tour stop.
“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” Kelce said, “so I was a little butt-hurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her.”
Further explaining the phenomenon to his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, the 2023 Super Bowl champ said, “If you’re up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets. I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it.” Of course, to give Taylor Swift a bracelet, one would have to see Taylor Swift in person first, which is a bit hard to do when a tour has no scheduled meet-and-greets.
Evidently, Kelce’s plan was not successful. “She doesn’t meet anybody, or at least she didn’t want to meet me, so I took it personal,” he quipped. In response, his brother teased, “She probably just hasn’t gotten over the Super Bowl yet. She’s a big Eagles fan, so maybe she just made something up and didn’t want to talk to you.” Seeing that T-Swift is a Pennsylvania native, he might not be far off.
Check out a clip of the Kelce brothers’ Taylor Swift convo here:
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Source: Cooper Neill / Getty / Patrick Mahomes
If you had Patrick Mahomes joining Madden NFL 24’s 99 overall rating club, pat yourself on the back because you were absolutely correct.
Friday, EA announced that Patrick Mahomes is the final NFL superstar joining the 99 overall rating club in Madden NFL 24. This selection will be Mahomes third, tying him with New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Shockingly Mahomes is the only quarterback joining the club, with Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow with a 95 rating.
Mahomes joins Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin, and his teammate’s favorite target Travis Kelce.
EA also released the full list of the top-rated Quarterbacks and Linebackers in the game.
Quarterbacks Linebackers
Patrick Mahomes 99 1. Fred Warner 96
Joe Burrow 95 2. Roquan Smith 92
Josh Allen 94 3. Lavonte David 91
Lamar Jackson 91 4. Haason Reddick 90
Jalen Hurts 88 5. Demario Davis 90
Justin Herbert 87 6. Bobby Wagner 89
Dak Prescott 87 7. Matt Milano 88
Aaron Rodgers 86 8. Nick Bolton 87
Kirk Cousins 84 9. Tremaine Edmunds 87
Tua Tagovailoa 83 10. Shaquille Leonard 86
Jalen Hurts Should Be Very Upset
We’re shocked to see Jalen Hurts come in with an 88 rating, at Aaron Rodgers sitting at an 86 overall rating, falling out of the 90s club.
We won’t be surprised if actual NFL players look at these ratings in disgust and are mad that they did not get a 99 overall rating in Madden NFL 24.
Welp.
Madden NFL 24 arrives on August 15. ESPN and Madden NFL are releasing the full ratings in an hour-long special this Sunday, July 23, at 1 p.m. ET, hosted by Field Yates, Dan Orlovksy, Mina Kimes, and Louis Riddick.
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Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty
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Washington Commanders fans can finally celebrate. The Dan Snyder nightmare is over.
Spotted on The New York Times, the NFL has approved the $6 billion sale of the Washington Commanders to a group led by Josh Harrison, a private equity billionaire. That group also includes real estate mogul Mitchell Rales and Magic Johnson, who is already part of other ownership groups for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, and Los Angeles Football Club.
Harrison will pay the Commanders’ now former scandal-plagued owner Dan Snyder, $6.05 billion, which is now the richest sale of any American sports team, surpassing the $4.65 billion sale of the Denver Broncos, to a group led by the Walmart heir Rob Walton. The sale should be finalized by Friday.
The $6.05 billion sale is a significant come-up for Snyder, who bought the team for $800 million in 1999.
“Josh will be a great addition to the NFL., “Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement announcing the vote, adding, “I know he has a commitment to winning on the field, but also to running an organization that everyone will be proud of — and to making positive contributions in the community.”
“This franchise is part of who I am and who I am a person,” Harrison said, revealing he grew up rooting for the franchise. “A new era of Washington football is here.”
In an interview with The Today Show’s Craig Melvin, Johnson got emotional while speaking about being an African American in an NFL owner’s box, which is still sadly rare in a league featuring predominately Black players.
“I’m going to excel not only for myself and my family but for all African Americans, making sure we can see ourselves in these seats,” Johnson said while getting emotional.
Washington Commanders Fans Are Lighting Up The Dan Snyder Pack
As expected, the fans of the Washington Commanders were happy to see Snyder go. The once-prestigious organization has not sniffed a Super Bowl title since the 80s and 90s, and under Snyder’s tumultuous 24-year run as owner, saw the postseason six times and only won two playoff games.
With new ownership, fans hope to get a brand-new stadium and a return to glory.
You can see more reactions to the Washington Commanders finally being sold in the gallery below.
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Photo: The Washington Post / Getty
1. They hyped
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Source: Christian Petersen / Getty / Travis Kelce
We called it, Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce is back in the Madden 99 Overall Rating club.
EA continues to roll out Madden NFL 24 ratings highlighting the highest-rated superstars by their dominant positions.
Travis Kelce is the latest player to have the honor of being in the Madden 99 Overall rating club, joining Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Rams All-Pro defensive lineman plus current record hold Aaron Donald and Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin, the first guard in the 99 club since Cowboys’ Larry Allen made in Madden 2003.
For Kelce, this is his fourth selection to the Madden 99 Club, and he currently holds the record for tight ends. Along with the Kelce news, EA also dropped the top 10 lists for highest-rated tight ends, including Kelce and cornerbacks in the game.
Cornerbacks Tight Ends
Jalen Ramsey 97 1. Travis Kelce 99
Jaire Alexander 95 2. George Kittle 96
Patrick Surtain II 94 3. Mark Andrews 95
Sauce Gardner 93 4. T.J. Hockenson 90
Marlon Humphrey 93 5. Dallas Goedert 89
Darius Slay 92 6. Kyle Pitts 87
Stephon Gilmore 91 7. Darren Waller 86
Marshon Lattimore 90 8. Pat Freiermuth 85
Tre’Davious White 90 9. David Njoku 84
Denzel Ward 88 10. Evan Engram 84
The Top 10 Running Backs & Offensive Linemen
Yesterday, the company did the same with guards and running backs who surprisingly won’t have a representative in the Madden 99 Club, which adds to the current disrespect of the NFL running back. Browns running back Nick Chubb comes the closest with a 97 overall rating.
Running Backs Offensive Linemen
Nick Chubb 97 1. Zack Martin 99
Christian McCaffrey 96 2. Trent Williams 98
Josh Jacobs 95 3. Lane Johnson 98
Derrick Henry 94 4. Laremy Tunsil 95
Saquon Barkley 93 5. Chris Lindstrom 93
Dalvin Cook 91 6. Joel Bitonio 92
Austin Ekeler 89 7. Tristan Wirfs 92
Jonathan Taylor 89 8. Quenton Nelson 92
Tony Pollard 88 9. Jason Kelce 92
Aaron Jones 88 10. Andrew Thomas 92
Which Quarterbacks Will Land In Madden NFL 24’s 99 Club?
We believe EA is saving the best for last, which is quarterbacks, and again we think there is a good chance we might see two or maybe three QBs in the Madden 99 Overall club in Madden NFL 24.
Will Kelce’s teammate Patrick Mahomes make it again, will Madden NFL 24’s cover athlete Josh Allen or Eagles phenom Jalen Hurts earn their first 99 overall rating?
We shall see in the coming days.
Madden NFL 24 arrives on August 15.
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Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty
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Former star NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown claims he will be signing with the Baltimore Ravens. However, Twitter is calling cap on the future Hall of Famer.
“Excited to return to the NFL this year,” tweeted Brown on Friday afternoon (April 28) along with a caption of himself in a Ravens uniform. Soon after Brown made his claim, the jokes started flying. Mostly about the Raven’s organization probably likely not being aware that he was joining the squad.
To say Brown’s life has been a rollercoaster since he left the NFL would be an understatement. In the last couple of years he’s showed his junk online, been involved in a standoff with police and was employed by Kanye West’s Donda Sports Agency.
He was also spotted an AFL game, too.
Peep some of the Twitter reactions to Brown’s for now far-fetched claim in the gallery.
What a time.
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Star NFL player Odell Beckham Jr. has been named as a suspect in an assault that took place in Los Angeles – an incident his representatives deny ever happened.
According to reports, law enforcement claims that a woman filed a report stating that the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver assaulted her at a popular restaurant “several weeks ago”. She claimed that OBJ “went up to her and grabbed her throat with light pressure” at the Delilah restaurant, an eatery that’s notable for having a high celebrity clientele. Representatives for the wide receiver stated that they hadn’t been contacted by police and strongly denied that he did anything wrong.
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When contacted by the press, Delilah’s owner John Terzian vehemently denied the incident happened. “We were contacted about an investigation and reviewed the videos, the claim is false,” he said. “There is no evidence of this person even being in the area where she claims the incident occurred.” Sources in the initial report claim that both the woman and Beckham remained at the venue after the alleged incident took place.
The West Hollywood eatery was also caught up in controversy with another notable figure linked to the National Football League. Former three-time Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest was involved in an assault there last December, which was caught on video. McGinest would be let go from his analyst position with the NFL Network after being charged with two felonies and is set to go to trial later this month.
The 30-year-old Beckham has had a few tumultuous months – he recently signed a one-year deal with Baltimore for $18 million in a surprise to many expecting him to join the New York Jets to play with their expected new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. At the press conference, he claimed that during the 2022 Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals, he played “without an ACL” as a member of the winning Los Angeles Rams squad. He also had a run-in with law enforcement last November, being escorted off of a plane at Miami-Dade Airport for “unruly behavior”.
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Are you ready for some… emo?! The NFL announced on Wednesday (April 19) that Fall Out Boy will join metal legends Mötley Crüe and bass thumper Thundercat at next week’s NFL Draft Concert Series. The series of shows will take place next week at the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City from April 27-29.
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FOB will be first on the field, hitting the stage after the conclusion of the opening round of the draft on April 27, followed by the Crüe, who will headline after round 3 on April 28. Day three will feature bassist/singer Thundercat, during which the NFL said he will curate a special performance that will “pay tribute to the rich music history and the legacy of jazz in Kansas City.”
All the performances will take place at the Draft Theater in front of the city’s iconic Union Station. General admission fan viewing will be on a standing-room-only, first-come, first-served basis on the North Lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial; the lawn will stay open during the draft and for general fan viewing of the Draft Concert Series, which is free with registration.
The performances will be streamed in full here and live on the NFL Facebook and YouTube pages each night. Parts of the performances will also be televised on the NFL Network and ESPN.
Grammy-nominated singer and KC native Oleta Adams will perform the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and country singer Brittney Spencer will sing the National Anthem live from downtown during the opening festivities. KC-based party band Lost Wax will be the house and at the Draft Theater and perform between draft selections each day.
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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft revealed that Meek Mill reached out to encourage him to trade for star Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
As the National Football League held its annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona on Monday (March 27th), Kraft spoke to reporters and revealed that he had a conversation via text with the “Dreams & Nightmares” rapper three days earlier. “Meek Mill texted and said, ‘Lamar Jackson wants to come to the Patriots,’ Kraft said before adding, “I said, ‘That’s Bill Belichick’s decision.’” When asked about the conversation, Belichick responded in his famously terse manner, “I’m not going to talk about players on any other team.”
Jackson, who’s been the quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens since being drafted by them in 2018, announced that he requested a trade from the team on March 2nd. He related the news of his decision via his Twitter account on Monday, asking fans to personally ask him questions.
This comes 20 days after the Ravens applied a non-exclusive franchise tag after failing to come to terms with him on a long-term contract. That tag means that teams can negotiate with Jackson, but if he signs an offer sheet Baltimore has the right to match it or demand two first-round picks in return.
The 26-year-old quarterback is finding no takers for his services, as he is reportedly seeking a fully guaranteed contract similar to the $320 million contract Deshaun Watson signed with the Cleveland Browns. Many have speculated that the Patriots could make a deal with the Ravens despite their often-bitter rivalry with the franchise, but Kraft and Belichick have expressed support for their current QB, Mac Jones.
Meek Mill’s reported involvement sparked a buzz among industry observers, as it is well-known that he and Kraft have a close relationship. Another reason is that Jackson is not represented by an agent, and the NFL has already sent out an internal memo to all 32 teams to remind them not to engage an “unauthorized representative” by the name of Ken Francis in talks concerning a trade for Jackson.
It was soon revealed that Francis is a business partner of Jackson’s in a fitness equipment business. When contacted by ESPN, Francis denied any negotiating efforts, saying: “I don’t speak for Lamar.”
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Damar Hamlin is still on the mend and looking good after suffering a severe injury during an NFL game early this year. Hamlin looked healthy when he attended the Super Bowl last Sunday, but not everyone appreciated everything about his appearance.
In fact, NFL running back Adrian Peterson took issue with a jacket Damar Hamlin was wearing, which he, apparently, considered to be “disrespectful” to his deity.
From TMZ Sports:
Adrian Peterson’s furious with the jacket Damar Hamlin wore at the Super Bowl, emblazoned with a crucifix with an altered Jesus head, unloading on the 24-year-old in a social media post, calling it “Blasphemy!!” 24-year-old Hamlin was at the game, sitting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Donna Kelce. Before kickoff, first responders who saved Damar’s life were honored … and the 24-year-old defensive back was on the field to watch.
Damar was wearing a $3,150 Takashi Murakami “Travis Jesus” jacket with the crucifix … and it really ticked Peterson off. “You should be thanking God son! This is Blasphemy!! We all fall short but cmon man! I find this disrespectful!! #grateful #goddid”
Former running back Fred Taylor tried to reign Peterson in a bit by noting that this was a matter that would be better handled privately. “You should DM him bro…I’m sure (he’d) listen to your opinion,” Taylor replied to Peterson’s Instagram post. “Posting it doesn’t help anyone. He’s young, young ppl don’t always think before they wear things just like people who wear skulls and other things that doesn’t align with Christian beliefs. Try to reach him.”
“But this was different!” Peterson responded. “I know young people don’t think at times, older as well! But with everything surrounding his situation!! This isn’t one of those moments where it’s a young guy not thinking!”
Now, one could argue that, in 2023, it’s long past time folks get over to the fact that not everyone feels the same way about the Christian messiah (or any religious figure for that matter) or how he’s depicted. One could also argue that under no circumstances does Peterson get to tell Hamlin how to feel about his own morality after his own life-threatening experience.
Or, whatever, maybe Hamlin’s jacket was disrespectful.
Either way, it appears that Hamlin and Peterson took the issue to the table and are back to being cordial
“So I spoke with [Damar], and we were able to discuss our thoughts as men. I want to be clear, I’m the last person to judge anyone, and that was never my intention,” Peterson wrote in a follow-up post.
“However, I do feel as if the jacket was disrespectful and it was something that I needed to share. I do realize everyone makes mistakes and falls short at times, so again, my intention was never to judge, just to share my opinion.” (I mean, it’s still hella presumptuous for Peterson to call it a “mistake” based solely on how he felt about it, but, again, whatever.)
“Damar, I have respect and love for you and I wish you nothing but the best, but I just can’t rock with that jacket,” he continued. “I feel like there are a lot of people, young and old, looking up to you and with power and influence comes great responsibility. I apologize for offending you.”
This man is really out here paraphrasing Spider-Man while simultaneously lecturing and apologizing to Hamlin.
We’re glad Damar Hamlin Adrian Peterson worked things out though.
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Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty
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Rihanna took to the stages at State Farm Stadium at Super Bowl LVII at halftime and delivered a set that enraptured audiences in attendance and at home. As most who saw the show noticed, the Barbadian superstar appeared to be with child and the news was confirmed by her rep shortly after.
Rihanna, who turns 35 next week, showed off her signature bold style in a red outfit with a matching bustier and was back in an element her fans rarely get to see her in these days. Rihanna opened with “B&tch Better Have My Money” and hit other crowd-pleasing moments with “Umbrella” and “Work” among them.
According to Variety, a representative for the Savage X Fenty boss confirmed that she is expecting a second child after delivering a baby boy in May of 2022. As the outlet notes, it had been five years since Rihanna touched a stage in this fashion although she has enjoyed plenty of time in the limelight via her beauty and fashion brands.
Congratulations to Rihanna!
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