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Jets select Alabama defensive back as 2024 NFL Draft's 'Mr. Irrelevant'

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Jets select Alabama defensive back as 2024 NFL Draft's 'Mr. Irrelevant'

The New York Jets hope they found a diamond in the rough with this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant.”

That title goes to the final selection of each NFL Draft.

This year, there were 257 draft picks since Thursday night.

And after seeing 256 players taken ahead of him, Alabama safety Jaylen Key still got a life-changing call when the Jets selected him at 257.

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Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Jaylen Key warms up before a game against the Michigan Wolverines in the CFP semifinal Rose Bowl Jan., 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif. (Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Key transferred to Tuscaloosa after spending four years at UAB, where he played 43 games.

He appeared in 12 of the Crimson Tide’s 14 games last season, recording 60 tackles.

While the expectations are low for Key, there is a prize in being the last man chosen.

Every year, Mr. Irrelevant and his family are invited to Newport Beach, California, for a week of golfing, visiting Disneyland and living a rather relevant lifestyle.

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Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Desjuan Johnson of the Los Angeles Rams, recorded two sacks in his 11 games last season. He played in a season-high 48% defensive snaps in their final game of the regular season but played in just three snaps in their playoff game against the Detroit Lions.

Jaylen Key defending

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Jaylen Key warms up before the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif. (Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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In almost every case, there aren’t many expectations for Mr. Irrelevant, but the final pick from 2022 has flipped the script.

That year’s Mr. Irrelevant was Brock Purdy, who became the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback after multiple injuries to other players. He led the Niners to an NFC title game in 2023 and a Super Bowl appearance in 2024.

Since taking over, he has gone 21-6 as a starter, completing 68.7% of his passes for 5,654 yards, 44 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions. Purdy was named to the Pro Bowl last season and finished fourth in the MVP voting.

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Jaylen Key against Michigan

Defensive back Jaylen Key (6) of the Alabama Crimson Tide defends in coverage during a CFP semifinal game at the Rose Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.  (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

Maybe the title doesn’t show it, but at the very least, “Mr. Irrelevant” is more relevant to the sport than a lot of other players.

Teams will continue acquiring players after the draft as undrafted free agents.

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Hawks get No 1 pick in 2024 NBA Draft despite 3% chance to win lottery

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Hawks get No 1 pick in 2024 NBA Draft despite 3% chance to win lottery

The NBA Draft Lottery saw a shocker as the Atlanta Hawks were awarded the No. 1 overall pick despite having just a 3% chance of winning it. 

This is the Hawks’ first time getting the No. 1 pick since 1975, when they ended up drafting David Thompson, a five-time All-Star and NBA Hall of Famer. However, the Draft Lottery was not established yet, so it is the first time they won it. 

Hawks general manager Landry Fields was all smiles when he heard his team’s name called and was likely in disbelief because his team had a very small chance of getting the selection. 

The Atlanta Hawks win the first overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2024 at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. (Kena Krutsinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

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The Detroit Pistons, who owned a league-worst 14-68 record, and Washington Wizards could not believe it as they had the best odds at 14% to get the No. 1 pick.

Instead, Washington was given the No. 2 pick, and the Pistons got the No. 5 pick for the third straight season despite owning the worst record in the league in back-to-back seasons.    

Now, Atlanta has the opportunity to choose whoever they deem the best overall prospect.

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Hawks GM Landry Fields after getting No. 1 pick

Landry Fields of the Atlanta Hawks smiles after winning the number one overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2024 at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. (Kena Krutsinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

French small forward Zaccharie Risacher and center Alexandre Sarr are up there, as is UConn standout center Donovan Clingan. 

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However, there is not a Victor Wembanyama like last year’s Draft that makes having the No. 1 pick easy. 

Here is the entire top 10 draft order. 

Landry Fields smiles after getting No. 1 pick

Landry Fields of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a photo after winning the number one overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2024 at McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

  1. Atlanta Hawks
  2. Washington Wizards
  3. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
  4. San Antonio Spurs
  5. Detroit Pistons
  6. Charlotte Hornets
  7. Portland Trail Blazers
  8. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors)
  9. Memphis Grizzlies
  10. Utah Jazz

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UCLA completes perfect season with women's water polo championship

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UCLA completes perfect season with women's water polo championship

Adam Wright knows the drill.

At the final horn of UCLA’s 7-4 NCAA championship win over Cal on Sunday, the UCLA head coach carefully took off his sneakers and placed them on the bench. He gathered several players and assistant coaches in a group hug on the pool deck before sharing a consoling hug with Cal head coach Coralie Simmons.

Then he dove into the pool head first.

After coaching the UCLA men’s team to four NCAA championships, Wright led the women to their first national crown since 2009 and completed the program’s first undefeated season since 2008. The Bruins (26-0) are the first team since USC in 2016 to complete a perfect season and just the fifth team in NCAA women’s water polo history.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Wright told reporters at Cal’s Spieker Aquatics Complex. “It feels so good to see UCLA back on top because that’s what I was used to when I was at school at UCLA, and I’m just lucky to be a part of it.”

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Wright, who also won NCAA titles as a player in 1999 and 2000, took over the women’s program in 2017. The Bruins were coming off a streak of close calls, advancing to the NCAA title game three times in four seasons only to come up short each time. After UCLA won seven of the first nine NCAA women’s water polo championships, including five consecutive titles from 2005-09, Stanford and USC split the next 13.

But with a talented young roster, the Bruins could be starting a new dynasty.

Freshman Panni Szegedi led UCLA with three goals in the championship game, moving her into a tie for the team-lead with 39 goals on the season. Underclassmen scored six of UCLA’s seven goals, and freshman Lauren Steele starred in the cage with 17 saves.

The relationship between the young players and veterans including graduate students Brooke Doten and Hannah Palmer exemplified the culture that powered the Bruins to their eighth NCAA championship and 12th national title overall.

“Our connections outside the water go so far in the water,” Steele told reporters.

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The former Orange Lutheran star figures to be a mainstay of UCLA’s future success. She graduated from high school early to join the Bruins in December then started all 26 games, earned MPSF newcomer of the year honors and was named MPSF tournament MVP as UCLA won its first conference championship since 2017. She is still slated to attend her high school graduation ceremony next month.

“Just an absolute stud,” Wright said on the ESPNU broadcast while his hair was still soaked from celebrating in the pool. “Changed the complexion of UCLA women’s water polo.”

Szegedi scored all three of her goals in the second half after the teams were tied 2-2 at halftime. The freshman from Hungary broke the tight game open by giving the Bruins a two-goal lead with 5:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was the first time either team led by multiple goals in the defensive battle.

Seeing Steele’s eyes from the pool deck, Wright said he knew the freshman would finish the job from there.

Steele put the exclamation point on UCLA’s championship celebration after players and coaches climbed out of the pool. Standing in front of an oversized poster of the bracket, teammates waited for Steele to finish her on-camera interview before handing her a blue sticker with UCLA printed on it. She stuck the badge on the national championship line.

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Travis Kelce spotted dancing in star-studded group at Taylor Swift's Paris show

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Travis Kelce spotted dancing in star-studded group at Taylor Swift's Paris show

The “City of Love” was the latest sighting of Travis Kelce at a Taylor Swift concert, and he had some A-list celebrities dancing alongside him to his significant other’s chart-topping hits. 

The Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end was seen at Paris La Défense Arena in Paris where Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid were next to him to enjoy Swift’s 87th Eras Tour show. 

Coincidence on the number, anyone?

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are shown at Coachella. (Gilbert Flores)

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Videos have circulated on social media of Kelce dancing to Swift songs, including “… Ready for It?” “Lover” and the classic “You Belong with Me.”

It’s significant that Kelce has been spotted at this show as he hasn’t been seen since she went back on tour. Swift has been in Paris for three nights prior to this fourth and final show, where Kelce was spotted.

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Of course, this isn’t the first time Kelce has reciprocated the love and support Swift showed during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning season last year. During the Chiefs’ bye week, Kelce was seen in Buenos Aires for one of Swift’s Eras Tour dates. 

They will clearly go the extra mile to support each other; Swift famously flew from Japan to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl after a tour date across the Pacific.

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And fans, whether it was of Kelce first or Swift, have fallen in love with the couple throughout the process as they continue to be one of the world’s power couples.

Taylor Swift looks lovingly up at Travis Kelce in his red Chiefs uniform after the Super Bowl

Taylor Swift celebrated with Travis Kelce on the field after his Super Bowl win. (AP Photo/John Locher)

While love isn’t something to rush, many are clamoring to know if Kelce has any thoughts of proposing to Swift to take their relationship to the next level. 

Recently, Chiefs long snapper James Winchester said on the “Like a Farmer” podcast that he thinks his teammate will be engaged at some point because he sees “they’re very similar in a lot of ways.”

“Being around Trav for the last nine years, I mean, I think they’re more similar than you would think. I wish the best for them,” he added.

Other than supporting Swift, Kelce has had a great offseason thus far. The Chiefs made him the highest-paid tight end in the game with a new contract extension that’s worth $34.25 million over two years, with $17 million fully guaranteed for the upcoming 2024 campaign. 

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Travis Kelce smiles

Travis Kelce attends American Express Presents CARBONE BEACH on May 5, 2024, in Miami Beach, Florida. (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for American Express Presents CARBONE BEACH)

So, personally and professionally, Kelce had a lot of things to dance about in Paris with some of his friends while watching Swift kill it onstage.

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