Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson facing 23rd active civil lawsuit over alleged inappropriate sexual conduct - ESPN

6:23 PM ET

Another woman has filed a lawsuit against Deshaun Watson, joining 22 others who accused the Cleveland Browns quarterback in civil cases filed in 2021 of inappropriate sexual conduct during massage sessions.

In the 23rd civil case filed Tuesday in Texas against Watson, the lawsuit states that the plaintiff had her first massage session with Watson during the summer of 2020 and that his "behavior grew worse." During the third and final massage, she alleges in the lawsuit that Watson exposed himself to her, touched the woman between the legs and "repeatedly requested" her to have sex with him.

According to the lawsuit, the woman changed her mind about suing Watson after watching HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" last week. On that show, two other women, Ashley Solis and Kyla Hayes, who have also accused Watson of inappropriate sexual conduct, criticized the Browns for giving the quarterback an NFL-record $230 million guaranteed contract after trading for him in March.

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"It's just like a big 'screw you,'" Solis told HBO.

Leah Graham, one of Watson's attorneys, told HBO that Watson has "no regrets because he did nothing wrong."

"In that piece, plaintiff was struck by the courage of the victims willing to step forward and speak and was extremely displeased by Watson and his legal team's mistreatment and revictimization of the plaintiffs," the latest lawsuit states. "But it was Watson himself claiming that even now he has 'no regrets' and has done nothing wrong that solidified her resolve. She brings this case seeking minimum compensation, but to obtain a court finding that Watson's conduct was wrong."

In the latest lawsuit, the plaintiff also alleges that Watson's legal defense contacted her to determine at the time if she was among those who filed civil lawsuits against the quarterback. The lawsuit states in that meeting Watson's lawyer attempted to "intimidate" her.

Rusty Hardin, who also represents Watson, said in a statement later Tuesday that his client "vehemently denies the allegations" of sexual misconduct "just as he has since she first discussed them with members of our firm in March of last year." Harden also denied the woman's allegation of lawyer intimidation when the sides previously met.

Two grand juries in Texas have declined to pursue criminal charges against Watson, who has denied all wrongdoing. The NFL is investigating whether Watson violated its code of conduct policy and interviewed the quarterback in person two weeks ago as part of its investigation.

At the league's spring meeting in Atlanta, commissioner Roger Goodell said he thinks the NFL is nearing the end of its investigation but couldn't give a timeline for when a ruling might be made.

The Browns did not immediately issue comment on the latest lawsuit. Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the 23 plaintiffs, said "other cases may come against" Watson.

"The Watson defense team has vilified these women and this cause," he said in a statement. "Shame on them! We look forward to trying this case in court."

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Aaron Donald ‘at Peace’ With Potential Retirement Amid Contract Talks - Sports Illustrated

While appearing on the I AM ATHLETE podcast, Rams star Aaron Donald brought up his current contract negotiations. Donald hinted that if he and Los Angeles can‘t agree on a deal, he’s willing to retire. 

“I’m happy, I’m fine, I don’t need to play. The thing is, I don’t need to play football to be fine,” Donald said. “I was blessed to play this game, to make the money I made, the accomplishments I made in eight years … I’m complete. If I could win another one, that’s great but if not, I’m at peace.” 

Donald still has three more years on the six-year, $135 million deal he signed in 2018, but has since outperformed what he’s earning. Donald is widely considered to be one of the best players in the NFL and he’s coming off of his first Super Bowl win and another All-Pro season. 

After an interview ahead of Super Bowl LVI, Rodney Harrison reported that Donald, 31, told him he was seriously considering retirement after the big game. Donald later shared that he thought that was a private conversation and he wound up committing to return for Los Angeles. During his appearance on I AM ATHLETE, he added that he’s always said he would retire after eight seasons in the NFL.

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Donald stated several times the NFL is a “business” and that money wasn’t the only reason why he plays. But it still appears that he still wants a different deal if he were to continue to play. Donald was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in March, when he spoke to Greg Bishop about life as a Super Bowl champion and the thought process behind possibly walking away. 

“It ain’t about the money, it’s a business at the end of the day,” Donald said. “For me, it’s about winning. I don’t want to play football if I can’t win anyways. It’s still a business, we gotta handle the business side of things. If that wasn’t to get handled, it is what it is type of situation. I’ll be fine regardless.” 

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For more Los Angeles Rams coverage, go to Ram Digest. 

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Warriors Talk | Stephen Curry Previews NBA Finals - May 30, 2022 - Golden State Warriors

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Teenager Holger Rune stuns fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas at the French Open - CNN

(CNN)Danish teenager Holger Rune completed arguably the biggest upset of the French Open so far as he beat fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-4.

The victory sees Rune, ranked 40th in the world, become the first ever Danish man to reach the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, where he will face Norway's Casper Ruud.

A former junior French Open champion, the 19-year-old is also the first man from Denmark to reach the quarterfinals of any grand slam tournament since Jan Leschly in 1967, according to the ATP Tour.

"I have an unbelievable feeling right now," Rune said in his on-court interview after Monday's match. "I was so nervous at the end, but the crowd was amazing for me the whole match, the whole tournament."

He won a close first set against last year's finalist Tsitsipas in just over an hour before the Greek leveled the match thanks to a break of serve at 4-3 in the second.

Rune regained the advantage with a break midway through the third set and raced into a 5-2 lead in the fourth to help close out the win.

Rune and Tsitsipas meet at the net following their French Open quarterfinal.

READ: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic set to renew historic rivalry at the French Open

Alongside Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Rune is the second teenager to reach the final eight of the men's singles draw at this year's Roland Garros, marking the first time two male teenagers have reached the quarterfinals of a major since 1994.

It caps off a stunning year for Rune, who gained his first win over a player ranked in the top five when he defeated Alexander Zverev at the Munich Open in April.

He will play Ruud on Wednesday after the 23-year-old defeated Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-3 3-6 6-3.

Tsitsipas, meanwhile, becomes the highest-ranked player -- and the first ranked inside the top eight in the world -- to exit the men's draw at this year's French Open.

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Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum wins inaugural Larry Bird Eastern Conference finals MVP award - ESPN

11:58 PM ET

MIAMI -- Boston Celtics swingman Jayson Tatum was named the inaugural Larry Bird award winner as the MVP of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at the conclusion of the series Sunday.

Tatum, 24, wore Kobe Bryant's armband as the Celtics beat the Miami Heat 100-96 in Game 7, and he delivered one of the most important performances of his career -- scoring 26 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and adding 6 assists in 46 minutes. Tatum came into Game 7 averaging 24.8 points, 8 rebounds and 5.5 assists and repeatedly made big plays when the Celtics needed them.

Tatum's consistency throughout the series set him apart. Night after night, he delivered in key moments, especially late in Game 7 as he hit several big jumpers and made strong defensive plays against Heat star Jimmy Butler. Tatum and Butler shared a handshake and a hug at center court after the series finale, displaying the mutual admiration that was apparent all series.

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With the Bird trophy under his belt, Tatum has finally delivered the Celtics back to the NBA Finals, where he now has a chance to cement his Boston legacy. Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors is Thursday in San Francisco.

While Tatum earned the Bird award, it was Butler's performance that might last even longer in the annals of history. The 32-year-old scored 35 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Game 7 -- and came into the defining contest averaging 24 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in the series.

Butler's series was made even more impressive by the fact that he dealt with right knee soreness off and on throughout the last week, and missed the second half of Game 3 because of ongoing issues with the knee. Throughout the series, Butler imposed his will on the game and carried the Heat to victories. In Miami's Game 1 win, Butler racked up 41 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 41 minutes. In Game 6, with the Heat on the verge of elimination, Butler played arguably the best game of his career, scoring 47 points, grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing out 8 assists in front of a raucous Boston crowd to deliver the Heat into Game 7.

In the end, it was Tatum who got the best of Butler and the Heat -- and got some revenge for Miami's triumph in the 2020 Eastern Conference finals.

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It’s Djokovic vs. Nadal, the French Open Rematch We’ve Been Waiting For - The New York Times

Djokovic, the world No. 1, and Nadal, the 13-time French Open champion, will continue their epic rivalry on Tuesday in the quarterfinal at Roland Garros.

PARIS — As the kids like to say these days, it’s on.

Far sooner than many may have hoped, Novak Djokovic, the reigning French Open champion, will take on Rafael Nadal, a 13-time champion at Roland Garros, in a quarterfinal match on Tuesday, the first rematch of two of the leading men’s players since their epic semifinal last June.

It took some of Nadal’s greatest tennis to survive a five-set, four-hour, 21-minute thriller Sunday evening against Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, but the match that so many crave is on the horizon.

“A huge challenge and probably the biggest one that you can have here in Roland Garros,” Djokovic said, anticipating Nadal, after his fourth straight-sets win, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3, a pummeling of Diego Schwartzman of Argentina. “I’m ready for it.”

Perhaps more than Nadal, who survived one of the great scares of his storied French Open career against Auger-Aliassime, the athletic and tireless Canadian with a booming serve and big forehand.

“We have a lot of history together,” Nadal said of Djokovic.

They have played each other 58 times, with Djokovic holding a 30-28 edge. It is a classic clash of styles, Nadal blasting away and running wild on the clay, his favorite surface, and Djokovic bringing his exquisite timing, incomparable steel, and the most varied arsenal in the game.

Even more, it is a clash of two men whose personalities and trajectories, especially over the past year, have pushed them into different realms of the sport and public consciousness. One is a beloved citizen of the world, the other a polarizing, outspoken iconoclast so set in his beliefs that he was prepared to spend his last prime years on the sidelines rather than receive a vaccination against Covid-19.

There were scattered boos as Djokovic was introduced on the Suzanne Lenglen Court on Sunday. Fans at the main court, Philippe Chatrier, chanted “Rafa, Rafa,” through the evening, urging on the Spanish champion who is immortalized with a nine-foot statue outside the stadium.

Since Djokovic pulled off the nearly impossible by beating Nadal at last year’s French Open, Nadal has been jousting indirectly with his chief rival.

Novak Djokovic beat Diego Schwartzman in straight sets on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals against Nadal.Julien De Rosa/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Djokovic mounted an all-out quest last year to pull ahead of Nadal and Roger Federer in Grand Slam tournament titles and nearly did it, evening the Big Three at 20 wins each for six months and coming within one match of surging ahead. Nadal, who largely ended his 2021 season after the French Open because of a chronic foot injury, said finishing his career with the most major championships mattered little to him.

Djokovic has refused to get vaccinated and questioned established science. Nadal got vaccinated long ago, because, he said, he is a tennis player and in no position to question what experts say is best for public health.

Djokovic has tried to spearhead an independent players organization, the Professional Tennis Players Association, which he launched with a handful of other players in 2020. Nadal has refused to join the group and remains a member of the player council of the ATP, which has kept Djokovic’s organization on the outside of the sport’s decision-making process.

On the court, they have captured each other’s most treasured possessions. After beating Nadal in the semifinals last year, Djokovic erased a two-set deficit and beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to win his second French Open title.

In January, after being largely inactive for six months, unsure whether his foot would ever allow him to play again, Nadal won the Australian Open, which Djokovic had won nine times, more than any other Grand Slam tournament.

Djokovic had won three consecutive Australian Opens and traveled to the country expecting to be allowed to defend his titles. He had tested positive for Covid-19 and recovered in mid-December. He thought that was supposed to gain him entry into the country despite its strict rules prohibiting unvaccinated visitors. He was detained at the border and deported after government officials deemed his stance against vaccinations a threat to public health.

As the controversy unfolded, Nadal said in some ways he felt sorry for his rival, then kicked a bit of dirt at Djokovic, who was locked in a Melbourne hotel with asylum seekers.

“He knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, Nadal said, “so he makes his own decision.”

The shadow sparring has continued in Paris. Djokovic complained that the ATP had not involved his player organization in its discussions with Wimbledon after the tournament barred players from Russia and Belarus in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The tour responded by announcing it would not award rankings points for the event, a move Nadal defended as necessary for protecting all players.

They even have different approaches to their careers. Djokovic said Sunday that being ranked No. 1 was “was always the highest goal beginning every season, particularly being in the era with Federer, Nadal.”

A few hours later, Nadal, currently ranked fifth, said he never paid any attention to his ranking. Just a number. Not important to him.

With their showdown now less than 48 hours away, the conversation has turned to whether they will play during the day or night, with each making his preference known to tournament organizers.

Djokovic, left, and Nadal in their semifinal match at the 2021 French Open.Pete Kiehart for The New York Times

Nadal favors playing during the day, when the weather is warmer, and the ball bounces high off the clay, right into his wheelhouse, and flies off his racket.

Djokovic excels at night, especially in Australia and at the U.S. Open, when conditions are colder and slower. His match against Nadal last year turned when the sun went down, the temperature dropped and Nadal struggled to hit the ball through the court. Nadal said last week he did not believe clay-court tennis should happen at night. Too cold and too damp, which makes the clay stick to balls, giving them the feel of heavy rocks on his racket.

Nadal won the initial scheduling battle Sunday, playing his match on the Philippe Chatrier Court. Organizers put Djokovic on the second court, Suzanne Lenglen, a smaller and more open venue with just one level of seats, making it susceptible to high winds.

Djokovic managed the challenge, making Schwartzman seem like a sparring partner who forced Djokovic to run and stay on the court long enough — a little more than two hours — but not too long. After one spirited sprint to the net for a perfectly feathered drop-shot return, he put his finger to his ear, asking the crowd to give him his due.

Nadal had no such concerns, though he struggled from the start of the chilly and breezy evening. Forty minutes into the match, he was down 5-1 and two breaks of serve, the rarest of events for someone who came into the match with a 108-3 record in this tournament.

Nadal often kicks clean the nub of tape in the middle of the baseline before heading to his chair for a changeover. As Auger-Aliassime, pumped his fist after clinching the first set, 6-3, Nadal spent an extra few seconds working the line with his foot, taking an extra moment seemingly to prepare for the challenging places this match was going.

Nadal appeared to take control of the match in winning the second and third sets but, unlike Djokovic, Nadal has been anything but clinical at Roland Garros this year, losing opportunities to close out opponents like the assassin he has been in years past.

It happened again on Sunday. In the end, at the crucial moments of the last two games in the final set, it took a magical, on-the-run forehand flick for a down-the-line passing shot, an all-out sprint to catch up to a drop volley, a perfect second serve on the T, two more all-out chases and two deep, signature forehands for Nadal to set up his showdown with Djokovic.

Just as everyone was hoping.

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Larson tops Charlotte practice...then crashes out - RACER

By Kelly Crandall | May 28, 2022 8:13 PM ET

Defending Coca-Cola 600 winner Kyle Larson will not make a qualifying lap Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway after hitting the wall in practice.

The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet got away from Larson on the entry to Turn 1. Larson damaged the right rear and scrubbed the lettering off the tires. Early reports are that Larson’s team plans on repairing his primary car.

Larson, who was among the first group of drivers to hit the track for practice, wound up fastest overall. His best lap — before hitting the wall – was 182.500 mph (29.589 seconds).

And Larson wasn’t the only incident in practice. Corey LaJoie crashed in Turn 2 early in the session. LaJoie will need a backup car after suffering heavy damage to the left side of his car after it spun around because of a flat left-rear tire.

“The left rear went down and there’s a lot of juice there to be had in terms of speed (and) guys are working on it and you see a lot of left rears down,” LaJoie said. “I don’t know if we pushed it a little bit too hard but it hurt a lot more than what it looks like on camera, I can assure you of that.

“I’m sure my Spire guys will get this USO Chevy Camaro juiced back up for Sunday and 600 miles. We’ll get that backup car dialed in and be ready to rock.”

Ryan Preece, in the second group of drivers for practice, spun in Turns 3 and 4 but did not hit anything. Kaz Grala had the hood of his Chevrolet fly up but he made it back to pit road without further issue.

Meanwhile, Larson’s teammate Alex Bowman was second fastest in practice at 182.205 mph. Ross Chastain was third fastest at 181.800 mph.

Completing the top five in practice was Austin Cindric at 181.788 mph and Martin Truex Jr. at 181.635 mph.

Kyle Busch was sixth fastest at 181.494 mph and Denny Hamlin was seventh fastest at 181.464 mph. Daniel Suarez was eighth fastest at 181.196 mph and Ryan Blaney was ninth fastest at 180.923 mph. Rounding out the top 10 was Joey Logano at 180.886 mph.

Blaney and rookie Harrison Burton ran the most laps in practice at 25 each.

Truex was the fastest in the best 10 consecutive lap average over Blaney and Christopher Bell.

Cup Series, NASCAR

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Heat's Udonis Haslem Says Draymond Green 'Broke the Code' with Celtics Prediction - Bleacher Report

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Miami Heat veteran forward Udonis Haslem had some choice words for Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green after Miami's 111-103 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday.

Per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Haslem took issue with comments Green made after the Celtics defeated the Heat in Game 5. At the time, Green appeared on TNT's Inside the NBA and said: "I'm going to tell you who I think we're going to play. We're going to play Boston. That's who we're going to play."

Haslem responded after Miami's Game 6 win, saying: "Draymond broke the code. You ain't supposed to say some s--t like that. That's disrespectful. He know better than that."

Now, the Heat and Celtics are set for a winner-take-all Game 7 in Miami on Sunday to determine the Warriors' opponent in the NBA Finals.

Regarding Green picking the Celtics to win the ECF, Haslem expressed his belief that Inside The NBA host Shaquille O'Neal pressured him into making a pick, saying: "He let Shaq peer pressure him into saying some s--t he ain't got no business saying. I didn't sleep much after he said that. That was some bulls--t."

Heat forward P.J. Tucker also seemed to take issue with Green, calling it "crazy" to count a team out.

Miami looked listless at times in Game 4 and 5 losses to the Celtics to fall behind 3-2 in the series, but the Heat turned things around in a big way in Game 6 thanks largely to the play of Jimmy Butler.

Butler left Miami's Game 3 win with a knee injury, and while he played in Games 4 and 5, he clearly wasn't close to 100 percent and struggled.

Game 6 was a different story, as Butler led all scorers with 47 points to go along with nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

Miami also got a great effort out of veteran guard Kyle Lowry, who recorded 18 points and 10 assists after struggling for much of the series.

Now, the Heat look to be firing on all cylinders and are heading back home to Miami for Game 7, shifting some of the pressure toward Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics.

Bulletin-board material has long been a topic of discussion in sports, and while it is unclear if Green's comments played any role in the Heat's Game 6 performance, a little extra motivation never hurts.

If the Heat manage to prevail in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on their home court, they will perhaps bring that motivation with them to the NBA Finals against Green and the Warriors.

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2022 Champions League final picks: Real Madrid vs. Liverpool matchup to watch, likely to score, predictions - CBS Sports

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The UEFA Champions League final has arrived with Liverpool and Real Madrid meeting at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Saturday to decide this year's winners of Europe. It is not the first time that the pair have met in the Paris region with their 1981 encounter at Parc des Princes a 1-0 win for the Reds while their latest UCL final finished 3-1 to Los Blancos in Kyiv.

Saturday's clash sees two of Europe's heavyweights facing off while it is still an unexpected matchup given how Manchester City were overwhelming favorites to reach a second consecutive Champions League final.

We look ahead to this one team by team and break down some of the key battles and things to watch out for in the French capital on Saturday.

How to watch and odds

Date: Saturday, May 28 | Time: 3 p.m. ET 
TV: CBS | Live stream: Paramount+ (Try it free)
Location: Stade de France -- Saint-Denis, France
Studio: Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards
Commentators: Clive Tyldesley and Rob Green | Rules expert: Christina Unkel  
On-site: Peter Schmeichel, Jules Breach, Jenny Chiu and Guillem Balagué
Odds: Liverpool +104; Draw +270; Madrid +245 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Featured Game | Liverpool vs. Real Madrid

Matchup to watch

Liverpool: I've expanded on this further in my bold predictions column, but this certainly feels like a game where the winner of the battle between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Vinicius Junior could carry their team to victory. The latter is statistically the best chance creator in Europe and his lightning pace roasted the Liverpool right back last season. But Alexander-Arnold has improved defensively more than he gets credit for. If he can get into a position to fire crosses into the box, then Madrid are going to be seriously tested. -- James Benge

Craving even more coverage of the world's game? Listen below and follow ¡Qué Golazo! A Daily CBS Soccer Podcast where we take you beyond the pitch and around the globe for commentary, previews, recaps and more.  

Most likely to score

Liverpool: He may be struggling to find the net of late and his record in finals for Liverpool is not as spectacular as in most other games (just the penalty in the win over Tottenham three years ago), but it would be a bold man indeed who doubted Mohamed Salah's ability to deliver. The Egyptian has finally been afforded the rest that he has got so infrequently in his side's recent run of games. Even in half an hour against Wolves, he looked like a reinvigorated force. Add to that the clear desire for avenge himself on Madrid for what happened in Kyiv four years ago and this may be a game where we see the best of Salah. -- James Benge

Real Madrid: It's definitely Karim Benzema. Before meeting in the quarterfinals last season, Benzema had four goals in three meetings with Liverpool. Fast forward to today and he's probably the best player in the world right now with an ability to score every single way possible. He's the reference point in attack and the main penalty-kick taker. Needing just a half a second to strike, he's surely the most likely and probably will end up finding the net in this one. -- Roger Gonzalez

Most likely to keep a clean sheet

Thibaut Courtois and Alisson are two of the best in the business. What is probably going to separate these two is how reliable their defense is on the night. Liverpool's defense has been known to have its wobbles, but across the Champions League so far it has been Madrid's that has given up more goals, expected goals and almost twice as many shots on target. Not once in the knockout rounds has Courtois kept a clean sheet; against Europe's most formidable attack, you would expect that to continue. -- James Benge

Man of the Match pick

Liverpool: If Karim Benzema is quelled for the first time in this competition, one might make a case for Virgil van Dijk. But if recent form is anything to go on, then, providing he is fit, Thiago might just be the star who shines brightest in the Paris night. The Spaniard has been one of Europe's outstanding players this season and has delivered a string of Man of the Match displays when it has mattered most in the Champions League. Set against Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, this could be the game where Thiago proves he is the best of the best. -- James Benge

Real Madrid: Luka Modric. He has to be the creator in the middle, to quickly get the ball out wide to get the attack going, and he'll also be looking to zero in on the feet and head of Benzema. He may be 36, but he's still got it. Everything flows through him, and if Real are to win, he'll be a huge reason why. -- Roger Gonzalez

Predictions

Match prediction: It's hard to shake the sense that Madrid used up their nine lives getting this far and that Liverpool, who seem to be most at ease on the biggest occasions, will not crumble under the pressure as PSG and Manchester City did. I'm backing them to win rather comfortably, 3-1 to be precise.

Champions League final picks

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Giants' Gabe Kapler to skip national anthem in wake of mass shooting - New York Post

Before the Giants faced the Reds on Friday in Cincinnati, San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler told reporters he didn’t plan on coming onto the field for the national anthem after 19 children and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting at a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, just three days ago. 

Kapler added that will continue to be his plan until he feels “better about the direction of our country.” 

Earlier on Friday, Kapler went to his blog and wrote that he “felt like a coward” for standing during the national anthem prior to his team’s game against the Mets on Wednesday in San Francisco, which took place a day after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. 

Kapler wrote about his feelings toward America, gun violence and the Uvalde massacre. In the post, he explained his father told him to stand for the pledge of allegiance when he thought the country was representing its people well and not to stand during times when it was not. 

It’s not the first time Kapler has made a statement with his actions. In 2020, Kapler and several Giants players kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. 

“We weren’t given bravery, and we aren’t free,” Kapler wrote on his blog on Friday. “The police on the scene put a mother in handcuffs as she begged them to go in and save her children. They blocked parents trying to organize to charge in to stop the shooter, including a father who learned his daughter was murdered while he argued with the cops. We aren’t free when politicians decide that the lobbyist and gun industries are more important than our children’s freedom to go to school without needing bulletproof backpacks and active shooter drills.” 

Gabe Kapler wrote that he “felt like a coward” standing for the national anthem after the tragic school shooting in Texas on Wednesday.

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Giants’ manager Gabe Kapler kneels during the national anthem prior to a game against the A’s in 2020.

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In his post, Kapler reflected on the shooting as Metallica played the “Star-Spangled Banner” on Wednesday at Oracle Park. 

“Every time I place my hand over my heart and remove my hat, I’m participating in a self congratulatory glorification of the ONLY country where these mass shootings take place. On Wednesday, I walked out onto the field, I listened to the announcement as we honored the victims in Uvalde. I bowed my head. I stood for the national anthem. Metallica riffed on City Connect guitars,” Kapler wrote. 

He said his inner voice was telling him not to stand for the national anthem, but his body decided against it. 

“My brain said drop to a knee; my body didn’t listen,” Kapler continued. “I wanted to walk back inside; instead I froze. I felt like a coward. I didn’t want to call attention to myself. I didn’t want to take away from the victims or their families. There was a baseball game, a rock band, the lights, the pageantry. I knew that thousands of people were using this game to escape the horrors of the world for just a little bit. I knew that thousands more wouldn’t understand the gesture and would take it as an offense to the military, to veterans, to themselves. 

“But I am not OK with the state of this country. I wish I hadn’t let my discomfort compromise my integrity. I wish that I could have demonstrated what I learned from my dad, that when you’re dissatisfied with your country, you let it be known through protest. The home of the brave should encourage this.”

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#1 HEAT at #2 CELTICS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | May 27, 2022 - NBA

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Reds' Tommy Pham slaps Giants' Joc Pederson pregame altercation: Sources - The Athletic

Reds outfielder Tommy Pham slapped Giants outfielder Joc Pederson in an altercation before Friday's game at Great American Ball Park, according to multiple sources.

Pham was scratched just before the rain-delayed game started at 8:48 p.m., more than two hours after the scheduled start time. According to the Reds, MLB is investigating the incident and Pham agreed not to play pending the results of the investigation.

Sources say the Giants asked for Pham to be removed from the lineup prior to the game, but the Reds resisted until close to game time. Albert Almora Jr. was inserted into the game as the team's left fielder.

The confrontation happened during the Reds' batting practice and took place in left field, where Giants pitchers were warming up. Players ran in from both the dugout and the bullpens to break up the action.

During his pregame session with the media, Giants manager Gabe Kapler said he didn't have enough information to discuss the incident at that time.

"We're investigating and learning as much as we can about the incident," Kapler said. "I don't have much more for you than that right now. I sense that we'll have a clearer understanding after the game."

When asked if it was Pham and Pederson that had the issue, Kapler again deferred his comments until later.

"Again, still looking into it," Kapler said. "Taking it very seriously and learning as much as I and we can as quickly as we can. Not yet prepared to discuss it."

According to multiple sources, the beef stems from a disagreement the two had in a group text for a fantasy football league that includes players from several teams.

Both Pham and Pederson are in their first seasons with their current teams. Pham has played for the Cardinals, Rays and Padres. Pederson has played for the Dodgers, Cubs and Braves.

(Photo: Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

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Lakers Rumors: Darvin Ham Agrees to 4-Year Contract as New Head Coach - Bleacher Report

David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers hired Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham as their new head coach on Friday to replace Frank Vogel, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ham is being signed to a four-year contract, per The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania. 

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn

Ham made a strong impression on Lakers in several areas, including his championship pedigree, his commanding presence, history of coaching stars and toughness. Ham will start assembling a staff expected to include head coaching experience. <a href="https://t.co/8hCVatbraw">https://t.co/8hCVatbraw</a>

Vogel was fired April 11 on the heels of a highly disappointing season that saw L.A. go just 33-49 and miss the playoffs despite having championship aspirations.

Injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis played a significant role in Los Angeles' struggles, as did the inability to properly integrate Russell Westbrook into the lineup after the Lakers acquired him from the Washington Wizards, but it was Vogel who paid the price.

Vogel was hired prior to the 2019-20 season after the Lakers missed the playoffs in six straight seasons with Mike D'Antoni, Byron Scott and Luke Walton at the helm.

The decision paid immediate dividends, as Vogel guided James, Davis and Co. to a 52-19 record and an NBA championship, which was the franchise's first since 2010.

Winning a title created even bigger expectations, though, and the Lakers didn't come close to meeting them over the past two seasons.

L.A. needed to go through the postseason play-in tournament to make the playoffs in 2020-21 after going 42-30 during the regular season, and it fell to the eventual Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs.

A first-round exit put Vogel on notice, and there was no chance of him sticking around when the Lakers were unable to make the play-in tournament in 2021-22.

While the Lakers were a flawed team this past season even when James and Davis were healthy, they remained an attractive option for prospective coaching candidates.

The duo of LeBron and AD can still achieve great things with the right supporting cast and coaching, plus the unmistakable aura of the Lakers still exists.

In an effort to bounce back from last season's massive disappointment, the Lakers are somewhat surprisingly turning to someone with no prior NBA head coaching experience.

Ham first became an assistant coach at the NBA level with the Lakers from 2011 to 2013 before stints with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. Ham played a role in the Bucks winning a championship at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season as well.

Going with someone who isn't firmly established as an NBA head coach is a risk on the Lakers' part, but since Ham spent eight seasons as an NBA player and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, it shouldn't take him long to earn the respect of James, Davis and Co.

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Browns, David Njoku agree to four-year contract extension worth up to $56.75M - CBS Sports

Tight end David Njoku was looking for a big payday with the Cleveland Browns and on Friday the two sides worked out a deal to make that happen. The 2017 first-round pick is signing a four-year deal worth up to $56.75 million, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones has confirmed. The deal is worth $28 million guaranteed, according to Njoku's agent.

Njoku thanked the Browns organization in a post on Instagram..

Njoku will reportedly get $28 million guaranteed at signing. The deal nets the 25-year-old $14.1875 million per year, making him the fourth-highest-paid tight end in the league. The Browns placed the franchise tag on Njoku back in March and were working on locking him up long term.

Njoku had been absent from OTAs as he awaited a deal. When the team signed Jadeveon Clowney, Njoku posted on his Instagram story "guess it's my turn ..," suggesting he would like to be the next player to work out a contract, and he did not have to wait too long.

Last season, Njoku recorded 36 receptions for 475 yards and four touchdowns. 

This year, Njoku will not only have a new contract, but he will have a new quarterback. During the offseason, the Browns traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. 

Watson could be suspended for a significant amount of time this season, following sexual assault accusations. The team has been rumored to try to trade quarterback Baker Mayfield, but nothing has become of any trade talks. 

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Second Round, Gm 5: Oilers @ Flames 5/26 | NHL Playoffs 2022 - NHL

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Rangers vs Hurricanes Odds, Picks and Predictions Tonight - NHL Playoffs Game 5 - Covers

New York finally broke through on offense in Game 4, but that will be tougher to repeat in Carolina. As the series shifts again, find out why our Rangers vs. Hurricanes picks see defense defining tonight's matchup for NHL betting.

We’ve got a brand-new series as the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers head back to Raleigh tied at two games apiece. The home team has won every game in this series, but that trend may not survive tonight.

Igor Shesterkin remains strong in goal for the Rangers, but who will the Hurricanes slot in the blue paint?

See who has the betting edge with our Rangers vs. Hurricanes NHL picks and predictions for Thursday, May 26.

Rangers vs Hurricanes Game 5 odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Rangers opened up as +125 road underdogs, but are +140 as of Thursday morning. The total opened at 5.5 and hasn’t had any movement. 

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Rangers vs Hurricanes Game 5 predictions

Predictions made on 5/26/2022 at 8:15 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

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Rangers vs Hurricanes Game 5 info

• Location: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
• Date: Thursday, May 26, 2022
• Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

Rangers vs Hurricanes series odds

Rangers: +130
Hurricanes: -150

Rangers vs Hurricanes Game 5 betting preview

Key injuries

Rangers: Barclay Goodrow F (Out), Sammy Blais F (Out).
Hurricanes: Jordan Martinook F (Out), Frederik Andersen G (Questionable).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Rangers vs Hurricanes head-to-head record this series

Rangers: 2-1-1 SU, 8 goals for.
Hurricanes: 2-2-0 SU, 6 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these two teams in Carolina. Find more NHL betting trends for Rangers vs. Hurricanes.

Rangers vs Hurricanes Game 5 picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

It feels like the momentum in this series has completely shifted in favor of the New York Rangers, but you have to take into account that the Carolina Hurricanes are undefeated at home this postseason. 

The Canes appear to be a completely different team when they are at PNC Arena, considering that they haven’t found a way to win an away game yet. Carolina is definitely excited to be back in comfortable settings — but there are a ton of question marks leading into this game. 

One noticeable struggle for the Canes is that — dating back to the regular season — they have now gone seven straight games against the Rangers without scoring a power-play goal. During the regular season, the Canes power play was converting at 22%, but it has been horrendous in these playoffs, converting at just 11.1%. 

The Rangers have been excellent on the man advantage in this postseason, currently scoring on 26.7% of their power-play chances and finding the net in back-to-back games. 

It's unclear who the Canes will start in goal, as Antti Raanta has gotten them to this point, but Frederik Andersen has been back to practicing, and he was the No. 1 guy all year long. 

With the play of Igor Shesterkin and the Rangers’ advantage in special teams, I think they have incredible value to steal a game on the road tonight and take their first lead of this series. 

Prediction: Rangers moneyline (+140 at DraftKings)

Covers NHL betting analysis

Over/Under analysis

The Under trend continued in Game 4, but the Rangers were finally able to explode a bit offensively for the first time in this series, putting four goals past Raanta. 

Raanta has had a good showing in this series, but Shesterkin has completely stolen the show. In this series alone, he’s posting a 1.25 GAA and a .959 save percentage, giving up just five goals in the first four games.

Even though Shesterkin has been lights out, Raanta has been on fire on home ice at PNC Arena, where he’s 5-0 with .968 save percentage and a 1.70 GAA. He’s been a completely different goalie at home. 

The Under has hit in all four of this series’ games, and with Carolina struggling offensively, I don’t see that changing much. The Rangers have struggled offensively on the road in this series, so we might not see much goal-scoring from them either. 

The goaltending and team defenses have been the story of this entire series, and that will once again be the case tonight. 

I like this game to stay Under.

Prediction: Under 5.5 (-140 at DraftKings)

Best bet

This series has been completely different in Carolina, and now that it’s tied at 2-2, everything will tighten up a bit defensively with how crucial this game will be. In the first two Carolina home games, there was only one first-period goal scored between both contests. 

There are rumors that the Hurricanes might start Frederik Andersen in this game, but I have a feeling that they will stick with Antti Raanta, especially due to how well he has played on home ice. 

There will be more nerves in this game than any other we’ve seen in this series, and typically when that happens, the first period is all about limiting mistakes and weathering a storm. 

Igor Shesterkin has answered every storm he’s faced against Carolina, and I think he will do that once again tonight. The first period will be very energetic, but I expect both team defenses to bend and not break. I like the Under in the first 20 minutes. 

Pick: First period Under 1.5 (-145 at DraftKings)

NHL parlays

Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NHL Rangers vs. Hurricanes picks, you could win $59.52 on a $10 bet?

Use our NHL parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.

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2022 NBA Mock Draft: Auburn's Jabari Smith is new top pick by Magic, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren slips to No. 2 - CBS Sports

USATSI

At long last, the 2022 NBA Draft process is beginning to give us clarity. With the draft order for every pick officially finalized and the NBA Draft Combine in the rearview mirror, how next month's draft may look like is starting to take shape. Now's when we start making projections and start taking into account team need, fit and intel about which team may or may not favor specific prospects.

Now's when the real fun begins.

Our latest mock draft projections for every first-round pick takes all of that into account and features a new No. 1 for the first time this year. The new No. 1 in my mock draft is Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr., who has consistently been a top-four player on the mock draft all year and a top-three player on the Big Board. Smith bumps Gonzaga 7-foot center Chet Holmgren to the Thunder at No. 2.  Early guesses are the Magic favor Smith's sharpshooting safety over Holmgren, whose upside comes with some risk given his skinny frame.

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This Orlando front office is the same one that picked Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mo Bamba, I should add, so the idea of passing on First Team All-Wingspan in Holmgren is something I'll have to see to believe. But if they do indeed favor Smith over him, as is reflected below, Holmgren won't fall far. With the Oklahoma City Thunder securing the No. 2 overall pick and in dire need of frontcourt help, he goes to the Thunder at second overall. 

Both big men in some order are destined to go No. 1 or No. 2 in some order in this draft based upon betting odds and early intel. If Orlando goes with Smith, OKC picks Holmgren. If the Magic go with Holmgren, the Thunder pick Smith. For now, we're operating under the assumption the former transpires. 

Here's how the rest of the first round as such may follow. 

NBA Mock Draft

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New Orleans Saints' Michael Thomas expected to be ready for training camp, coach Dennis Allen says; Jameis Winston already on field - ESPN

3:24 PM ET

Receiver Michael Thomas is not yet participating in New Orleans Saints OTAs. But he is expected back from his ankle injury in time for training camp, according to coach Dennis Allen, and he is present and rehabbing with the team during the voluntary workout period.

Meanwhile, quarterback Jameis Winston is already back on the practice field just seven months after he tore his ACL, as both offensive pillars work their way back from major injuries.

Thomas, 29, missed the entire 2021 season with the ankle injury after he delayed his first surgery to repair multiple ligaments until June -- then suffered a setback in November that required a follow-up procedure. The NFL's 2019 Offensive Player of the Year has not been fully healthy since he initially suffered the ankle injury in Week 1 of the 2020 season and missed a total of nine games that season.

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"I think he's doing well in his rehab. He's not ready yet. But he's here, he's rehabbing, he's getting himself better. And we're certainly anxious to get him out here," Allen said. "I know that he's working his tail off to get himself back. And we feel good about where he's at right now."

When asked whether Thomas will be ready for training camp, Allen said, "That's certainly our plan."

"If I had a crystal ball and could tell you all these things, I'd probably be making a lot more money and doing something different," Allen said. "But, yeah, our hope is that he's gonna be ready to go for training camp. So that's what we're pushing for."

Thomas' presence at OTAs is notable because there was a lack of communication between player and team last spring -- and then friction between the two sides after he opted to wait until June to have surgery.

But that tension appeared to have been defused early last season. And Allen has spoken positively about Thomas' recovery and attitude throughout this offseason, saying that getting him back along with rookie receiver Chris Olave is like adding two first-round draft choices at the position.

When the Saints drafted Olave, Thomas immediately invited the fellow former Ohio State standout to come stay with him and train with him for a couple weeks in their shared home base of Southern California.

The Saints also signed free-agent receiver Jarvis Landry after the draft as they continue to revamp the NFL's bottom-ranked passing offense from last season.

⚜️ @Jaboowins ➡️ @chrisolave_ pic.twitter.com/aQ0Yg2My8D

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 26, 2022

As for Winston, Allen cautioned that, "We've still got a ways to go to get him ready." But he said, "I think he's looked good. ... We like the progress he's making, we like where he's at. And hopefully that will continue."

Since OTAs are non-padded, non-contact practices, it's hard to assess how limited Winston still is. But Allen stressed that the Saints will be smart with the 28-year-old's timetable.

"Look, with the way that he works and how hard he works, it doesn't surprise me," Allen said of what Winston has been doing on the field already. "I think we've got to continue to be smart with that, which I think we are. We'll continue to push to get him better, but yet try to be smart about it."

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Miami Heat's Tyler Herro again out against Boston Celtics - South Florida Sun Sentinel

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Jon Gruden's lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Goodell to proceed - Touchdown Wire

By Mark Schofield | May 25, 2022 3:27 pm ET

Jon Gruden’s lawsuit against the NFL faced its first big procedural hurdle in court on Thursday, and in a victory for the former head coach, the case will proceed.

In a hearing in Clark County District Court Thursday, Judge Nancy Allf heard a pair of motions from the NFL’s attorneys. The first was a Motion to Compel the case into binding arbitration, which would remove it from District Court. The second was a Motion to Dismiss from the NFL, arguing that the former coach failed to state a viable cause of action.

Judge Allf heard arguments from attorneys from both the league and Gruden on Wednesday, first on the Motion to Compel the case into binding arbitration. Attorneys for the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell argued first in their pleadings, and then during argument, that the terms of Gruden’s employment contract and the league’s Constitution and Bylaws are clear that arbitration is the proper forum for Gruden’s allegations. Gruden’s attorneys argued that because he reached a settlement agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders, Gruden was therefore not bound by the contract with the team, nor the NFL’s Constitution and Bylaws.

Judge Allf denied the motion, clearing the way for the case to proceed through litigation.

The court then heard the NFL’s second Motion, which sought to dismiss the case outright. The league and Commissioner Goodell, through counsel, argued that “the complaint — a baseless attempt by Jon Gruden to blame the NFL and its Commissioner for the fallout from the publication of racist, misogynistic and homophobic emails that Gruden wrote and broadly circulated — should be dismissed for failure to state a single viable cause of action.”

This Motion was also denied by Judge Allf, and with both of these Motions being denied, Gruden’s case is clear to proceed through litigation. That opens the door for discovery, both written and deposition testimony, unless the case is resolved prior to the start of discovery.

After the hearing, during which the former head coach did not speak, Gruden offered a brief comment to reporters:

But with this matter now seemingly headed for discovery, will the league move towards a settlement to avoid the discovery process, or continue to fight Gruden’s claims in court?

Jon Gruden, roger goodell, NFL News

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Mavericks rain down 3s to stave off elimination in West finals vs. Warriors - Yahoo Sports

DALLAS — Not even a leaky roof could stop the Dallas Mavericks from forcing a Game 5.

The Mavericks rained down 3-pointers and held off a fourth-quarter rally by Golden State Warriors for a 119-109 win in Game 4 on Tuesday night at American Airlines Center. The Warriors hold a 3-1 Western Conference finals series lead.

Dallas knocked down eight 3-pointers in the third quarter to take a 29-point lead heading into the fourth. Golden State went on a run to open the final period, forcing the Mavericks to put Luka Doncic back in.

The Warriors cut it to an eight-point deficit with mostly bench players on the floor before making a final push with three starters and Jordan Poole at the 3:03 mark. The Mavericks had to continue running through their star in order to avoid elimination for at least one more game.

Doncic finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. His fellow starters provided much-needed help after a dismal Game 3 showing. Dorian Finney-Smith had 23 points, and Reggie Bullock, coming off a scoreless outing, added 18.

The Mavericks were 20-for-43 from 3-point range (46.5%). They shot 50% from the field.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 20 points and eight assists. Poole added 14 points off the bench.

The game was delayed 16 minutes after halftime while arena crew addressed a leak in the roof that saw water pooling on the court.

Game 5 is 9 p.m. ET Thursday (TNT) at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic brings the ball up court against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at American Airlines Center in Dallas on May 24, 2022. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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United Airlines worker fired after brawl with ex-NFL player at Newark Airport - New York Post

The United Airlines employee caught in shocking video slugging it out with a former NFL player at Newark Airport last week has been fired, The Post has learned.

“United Ground Express informed us that the employee has been terminated,” an airline rep said in an email, referring to the company’s connection subsidiary.

The viral footage captured the unidentified worker shoving ex-Denver Broncos cornerback Brendan Langley, 27, who then unleashes a flurry of blows that send the employee reeling about 11 a.m. Thursday.

The United worker who fought with Brendan Langley at Newark Airport has been fired.

The dazed, uniformed staffer then puts up his dukes and proceeds to slap the much-larger athlete across the face.

“You saw that s—?” Langley shouts at a bystander before delivering a punch that sends the worker to the floor and left him bleeding from the head.

The bloodied United worker stumbles back on his feet and confronts the football player again.

“You wants some more? He wants some more!” Langley yells at him.

In one video, the United worker appears to land the first blow against Langley.

Langley, who is now a receiver for the Calgary Stampeders in Canada, has been arrested on a charge of simple assault, the Port Authority told CNN.

It was unclear from the clip who exactly threw the first punch but the now-former airline worker has not been charged in the fracas, according to TMZ.

Another video shared online of the incident appeared to show Langley land the first blow.

The fight is believed to have begun when Langley used a wheelchair to transport his luggage — instead of a luggage cart that cost $5, the Daily Mail reported.

Brendan Langley played for the Denver Broncos before moving to the CFL this year.

AP

Langley addressed the incident on Twitter, writing: “yall aint off the hook… worst customer experience in the entirety of my life on Heaven!!!!” He then claimed in a tweet that he was assaulted by the United worker and was defending himself.

A United rep told The Post in an email Monday the company “does not tolerate violence of any kind at our airports or on board our planes and we are working with local authorities to further investigate this matter.”

Meanwhile, the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders said they are investigating the incident involving their player.

Brendan Langley made 16 appearances as a Denver Bronco before moving to the Calgary Stampeders.

Denver Post via Getty Images

“The Calgary Stampeders football club is aware of the reports concerning Brendan Langley,” the Stampeders told CNN in a statement.

“The team is currently looking into the matter in order to learn the full details and will have no further comment until the investigation is complete,” the team added.

The University of Georgia star was drafted in the third round of the 2017 draft and made 16 appearances in the NFL before moving to Canada this year.

Langley quickly knocked the United employee down when the fight started.

The Post has reached out to the CFL for comment.

The Port Authority police have not responded to an inquiry about possible charges against the fired worker.

 

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