In the latest episode of “Fansville,” Deputy Quinn Ewers is urged to call for backup but resists. After a brief exchange with his fellow officer, Texas’ third-year starting quarterback delivers the punchline.

“We don’t need any backup, even if he has great hair and famous relatives,” Ewers said.

The allusion to Arch Manning is both an amusing moment and clever writing in Ewers’ national Dr Pepper commercial. But it also hints at the unique dynamic at Texas. Ewers, the former No. 1 recruit in America, is one of the most well-known names in the sport, a Heisman Trophy candidate who took the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff last year.

Yet Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, grandson of Archie Manning and son of Cooper, still looms large, at least figuratively, because of those famous relatives and Arch’s lofty recruiting status (he also was the No. 1 recruit in his class). That Arch has appeared in two games and attempted just five passes in his Longhorns career yet is still given a wink and a nod in the starting quarterback’s ad underscores the intrigue surrounding him.

But 19 months into his college career, we’ve seen only 27 game snaps of Arch, which only heightens the fascination (fans love the backup quarterback, right?). How much will we see of the redshirt freshman in 2024?

Manning remains patient

One of the first questions casual observers ask about Manning is whether he has considered transferring since he hasn’t started. To this point, Manning has given no indication that’s in the cards.

It’s fair to wonder because transfer quarterbacks have become the norm. Of the 68 power conference teams, 43 are expected to start transfers this season, according to Yahoo Sports, a 63 percent rate.

But when asked in December before the Sugar Bowl whether he considered making a move while practicing as third on the depth chart most of the season, Manning said no.

“I haven’t looked into transferring at all,” he said then. “I’m just focused on developing and helping this team in any way I can. And hopefully one day playing for the University of Texas like I’ve always wanted to.”

This summer at the Manning Passing Academy, he reiterated his desire to stay in Austin while acknowledging how tough it is to stay patient.

“It’s tough because you want to be out there playing with your boys,” Manning said in July. “But (it came down to) just realizing there’s nowhere else I want to be, and it was my dream to play at Texas. I’m going to stick it out and play there eventually.”

GO DEEPER

Arch Manning and other QBs explain decision to transfer or stay put

Manning and his family put a lot of time and care into the recruiting process. Arch knew what he was stepping into with Ewers already at Texas. The chance to develop under Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who has a long track record of coaching successful quarterbacks, was important to Manning.

Sarkisian’s pupils include former USC quarterbacks Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez, former Washington quarterback Jake Locker and former Alabama quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones.

“Part of your recruiting is your track record,” Sarkisian said at SEC media days. “We’ve been fortunate to coach some pretty good quarterbacks. We’ve been fortunate to do it for some decades now. We’ve been fortunate to have some really good quarterback rooms, and I think the Manning family is pretty well aware of that.

“I think they trained Arch to try to put himself in the best position to try to play in the best conference in America and then ultimately put himself in the best position to further his career playing in the National Football League.”

Because of that plan, Sarkisian doesn’t think Manning’s decision to wait it out has been too difficult.

“I think Arch’s development has been important to the family, and he’s reaping the benefit of those things,” Sarkisian said. “It hasn’t been very difficult at all. I think it’s been pretty simple for him.”

In Texas’ spring game, Arch Manning completed 19 of 25 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns. (Sara Diggins / USA Today)

Ewers is entrenched as the starter

Going into 2024, there’s no doubt who QB1 is at Texas and there shouldn’t be. Ewers, who bypassed the NFL Draft to return for one more season, took big steps forward in 2023. He substantially improved in most major statistical categories including completion percentage (58.1 to 69 percent), passing yards (2,177 to 3,479), touchdowns (15 to 22), yards per attempt (7.4 to 8.8) and passer rating (132.6 to 158.6). He also became more consistent.

This year, he’s starting to have the look of a leader. Sarkisian said in July that even though his physical development and progression have been great, he has been more excited about Ewers’ personal and emotional development.

“That has instilled a ton of confidence in everybody in our building,” Sarkisian said. “He walks in that building like he is the starting quarterback at the University of Texas for a top-five football team, and I think that has permeated throughout our locker room. …

“Now do I want more touchdowns, less interceptions, higher completion percentage? Of course. But I think those things are a byproduct of his preparation, are a byproduct of the confidence that he exudes and the way he goes to work.”

History says the Longhorns will need Arch at some point

In each of Sarkisian’s three seasons, he has had to turn to his backup quarterback. In 2021, he benched Hudson Card for Casey Thompson two weeks into the season but wound up needing both down the stretch because of injuries.

In 2022, Ewers missed three games with an injury and missed two more last year. With this season potentially longer because of the 12-team Playoff, it stands to reason that, at some point, the Longhorns need to turn to Manning.

“Very comfortable if Arch goes in the game that he’ll go in and operate and operate at a high level,” Sarkisian said Thursday.

There’s excitement around Manning’s development

Last season was a learning experience for Manning. After starting his entire high school career, sitting on the bench as QB3 was a challenge, especially in his first months on campus.

“There were a lot of tough days. I’m not going to lie,” Manning said in December. “I was never a backup in high school. There are some days when you graduate early, you’re alone in your dorm room and you’re like, ‘It’s another day of fighting for the third-string job.’”

In his first spring game, things were clearly moving fast for Manning. By the time he made his college debut against Texas Tech, flashes of his athletic ability and arm talent were present. But there were still some freshman jitters as he dropped a shotgun snap.

This spring, he showed significant growth. Manning dazzled in the Orange and White game, looking comfortable, confident and in command while throwing for 355 yards and three touchdowns. He was accurate with four of his seven incompletions hitting a receiver’s hands.

With Texas’ 2023 backup, Maalik Murphy, having transferred to Duke, Manning is the clear No. 2 quarterback. Sarkisian said as the Longhorns embark on the 2024 season, Manning has taken a big step forward in his development.

“I’d probably say (he’s) light-years ahead of where he was last year at this time,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “His understanding of what we’re trying to do offensively, the nuances of the scheme, the timing of certain throws, the protections, all of those things. And I just think his overall comfort level and confidence is much higher than it was a year ago at this time.”

On Monday, Sarkisian said he wants to play a lot of players in the early part of the season as Texas develops depth for a season it hopes extends into mid-January. “If you’re in the two-deep, you’re playing in the first half,” Sarkisian said.

Does that mean Manning will play in the first half Saturday against Colorado State?

“We’ll find out,” Sarkisian said.

(Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images)

EXCLUSIVE: Donovan Dijak made his Major League Wrestling (MLW) debut Thursday night at the promotion’s Summer of the Beasts show in New York City.

The countdown to doomsday clock MLW had been promoting expired and out came the former WWE star. 

The 6-foot-7 giant, flanked by manager Saint Laurent, entered the ring and began to take out anyone who dared to challenge him. He then proceeded to mock the bodies left in the ring.

Still buzzing from making his debut hours before, Dijak told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview he thought everything went great.

“I was first sort of introduced to the concept a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “But, yeah, the execution was flawless. I was very happy with the presentation and everything that was kind of laid out for me beforehand.”

Dijak said he was impressed with the presentation he saw of himself on the video screen behind him as he walked to the stage, down the ramp and into the ring. He said parts of the video that were included in his presentation were filmed shortly beforehand.

“I was totally blown away with that turnaround,” he said. “The video looked amazing too for such a short turnaround. I thought that was incredibly impressive for it to be sort of TV ready within minutes. I was just super blown away. And then, of course, the execution of this match, with all the talent and then afterward, was just tremendous.”

It’s only been a few months since Dijak and WWE went their separate ways. Dijak had a tremendous run at NXT and was selected to “Raw” during the WWE Draft.

Since then, Dijak has been back on the independent wrestling circuit. Where Dijak landed Thursday isn’t just some rinky-dink operation. MLW has been in the pro wrestling landscape since 2017, headed by Court Bauer a former WWE writer.

Talented pro wrestlers have moved through the company, including Alex Shelley, Austin Aries, Lexis King (then known as Brian Pillman Jr.), Francine, Gangrel, Jacob Fatu, Karrion Kross (then known as Killer Kross), Konnan, Matt Cardona, MJF, Tajiri and several others. 

WWE LEGEND ‘STONE COLD’ STEVE AUSTIN TEASES INTEREST IN WRESTLEMANIA 41 APPEARANCE: ‘I’D BE HAPPY TO’

The roster now includes established talents like KENTA, Matt Riddle, Satoshi Kojima, Mistico, Minoru Suzuki, Bobby Fish and The Andersons, among others.

It’s that type of prestige, along with the trust that was instilled in him, that appealed to Dijak. He told Fox News Digital he’s never been presented with a laid-out plan before – until now.

Donovan Dijak embraces the crowd at Summer of the Beasts. (MLW)

“This is the first time where I got really sort of a set in stone answer even before we began,” he said. “I’m 37 years old. I don’t have a ton of time left in my career to be kind of hoping and praying that my hard work goes rewarded. 

“So, to know right from the get-go that this is going to be the presentation, this is how it’s going to look, and ‘We need you to fill your end of the bargain.’ Well, that’s something that I could really dive headfirst into because I know what I can bring to the table. The question mark in my mind has always been, ‘OK, is that going to be reciprocated in a fashion that helps me, elevates me.’ And sometimes the answer is yes, and sometimes the answer is no.

“But to this level that is committing to me is further than I’ve ever seen that aspect of it. So, I’m very excited in that regard.”

Dijak wouldn’t divulge how many shows he’s committed to for MLW. Fightland takes place in Atlanta Sept. 14, followed by Slaughterhouse on Oct. 4 in St. Petersburg, Florida; Lucha Apocalypto in Chicago Nov. 9; and One Show in New York City Dec. 5. In between, MLW: Fusion can be seen on YouTube, beIN Sports and Fite TV+.

Dijak said he is looking to make a run at the MLW world heavyweight championship, which is held by Kojima.

“I’m going to continue what I always do and that’s have the best matches in the world and have the best match on any given night on any given platform,” Dijak told Fox News Digital. “That’s what I’ve done on every show that I’ve ever been on for the past decade of my career. That’s not going to change anytime soon.

“MLW is going to get that from me, and I think they know that they’re going to get that from me. And I respect that they recognize that right off the bat, and we’re going to go to work right away.”

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Bill Belichick will cast a large shadow over the NFL throughout the 2024 season.

The coaching legend is out of the league for the first time in 50 years, but he’ll have a ghost-like presence in many buildings, specifically among those franchises with coaches under intense pressure to win now.

Whether Belichick actually gets another coaching job remains to be seen. Still, there’s no question his free-agent status will be among the most heavily discussed topics around the league during the season. In fact, it’s already been a prominent topic at various facilities.

You can understand why. This is a completely unprecedented situation. There’s never been a six-time Super Bowl champion head coach waiting on standby — though with a meaty media schedule — to sift through the inevitable wave of job openings in January.

Call it The Belichick Cloud.

“That will definitely be a much bigger cloud than we’ve seen in a long time,” said a high-ranking team executive, who, like the other sources in this story, was granted anonymity so he could speak candidly.

The Dallas Cowboys are the obvious connection. Mike McCarthy, who is on an expiring contract, has 36 regular-season victories and just a single playoff triumph over the past three years, so the Cowboys may need to advance deep into January for McCarthy to keep his job.

And even then, would it be enough? The Cowboys still have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, and owner Jerry Jones isn’t afraid to go star-chasing. If Jones believes Belichick would give his ready-made contender the best chance to end a three-decade Super Bowl drought, it could be the perfect fit for both sides.

“Nothing (the Cowboys) could do would surprise me,” an assistant coach from another team opined.

Belichick, who will turn 73 in April, has his own short-term goals. He’s got 333 career victories, including the playoffs, and needs another 15 to surpass Don Shula for the all-time record. Belichick’s legacy is secure without hitting that benchmark, but he still wants to hit it.

Therefore, a team in need of a roster reconstruction wouldn’t be a logical fit, not personally or organizationally. So while Belichick will forever be linked to the New York Giants, whom he helped guide to two Super Bowls as a defensive coordinator, they’re still in the middle of a large-scale rebuild in the third year of the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll ticket.

Other teams that could potentially match a more suitable criteria could include the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. While the Bills have won double-digit regular-season games in five consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history, they haven’t gotten over the hump in the playoffs. If Sean McDermott can’t buck that trend, would ownership consider a run at Belichick?

Nick Sirianni has also caught plenty of heat in Philly. In fact, when the Eagles practiced in Foxboro this month, a fan yelled at Sirianni that Belichick would be taking his job next year, so he’s already privy to the noise.

Patriots fan just yelled at Nick Sirianni

“Hey Sirianni, Bill is taking your job next year”

Going to be an intense practice today

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 13, 2024

“(It’s) definitely a distraction,” another assistant coach said, “especially if the coaching staff is on an expiring contract. (It’s) important to get off to a good start, I would think.”

There’s an important element at play that must also not be overlooked, though. There were seven coaching vacancies last offseason, not including the New England Patriots, and Belichick still wound up without a job.

The Athletic reported in February that three primary factors played into that: Belichick’s mishandling of the Patriots’ quarterback situation, including the events that led to Tom Brady’s departure in 2020 and the failure to develop Mac Jones, Belichick’s desire to maintain total control of football operations and a concern over his inability to relate to a younger generation of players.

The same apprehension still exists.

“If the model is the New England model, you’re blowing up the operation as you know it,” a personnel executive said. “If you’re doing that with a 73-year-old head coach, you’re blowing up your personnel operation and starting over with a head coach who may only be there for three years. There’d be a lot of questions.

“It’s got to be an owner who is in a situation where they need to win now because it’s not a hire for the future. It’s not future-oriented. It’s present-oriented. And then what do you do for two years? How do you sustain success?”

Another executive simply asked, “Do you really think Jerry and Stephen (Jones) are giving personnel control to (Belichick)?”

It’s surely conceivable the year away will soften Belichick’s stance on maintaining roster control, especially if the alternative means he’s coached his last game. Jerry Jones has long since established he’ll remain the Cowboys’ general manager, and his aligned vision with Stephen Jones and Will McClay has yielded a premium roster.

Similarly with the Eagles, Howie Roseman is widely viewed as one of the best general managers in the NFL. Even if owner Jeffrey Lurie ultimately approved a coaching change, it’d be somewhat stunning if he took away responsibilities from Roseman.

The Bills are in a unique spot of their own on that front. General manager Brandon Beane and McDermott have worked together since 2011 when they were with the Carolina Panthers. If owner Terry Pegula determines Belichick is the better option after the season, would Pegula view Beane and McDermott as a package deal, or force Beane and Belichick to make serious adjustments and figure it out?

It’s also fair to remain concerned over Belichick’s delivery. His old-school, hardline approach with players has become the exception in the modern landscape, as players have gained a greater appreciation for coaches who empower the locker room. While older generations of coaches, players or fans may roll their eyes at that notion, it doesn’t change the truth. Those who have refused to adapt have had shorter shelf lives in their roles.

At any rate, these questions will continue to help drive the conversation, which will only fuel the speculation in several buildings. Strong starts will be imperative to curb the discussion in places like Dallas, Philly and even Buffalo where the debate has already started, either as a whisper or otherwise. But as history has shown, a few purported Super Bowl contenders will limp or fall out of the starting blocks, leading to a new group of potential Belichick suitors.

“The teams that struggle the first two months who have high expectations, you’re going to have that pressure anyway, whether it’s Belichick hanging overhead or anyone else,” an executive said.

But if sports-talk speculation seeps into the building, either in news conferences or conversations among coaches or front office executives who are wondering about their future, tensions could rise in certain organizations.

“I believe it could become annoying and could be a distraction if it’s constantly asked about and mentioned,” an executive said.

Belichick won’t be hard to find this season. He’s got various media roles lined up, so he’ll surely hear questions about the matter. He may duck them to avoid putting a former colleague in a bad spot, but it won’t take much to generate headlines.

And that hoodie-shaped cloud will remain overhead.

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(Photo illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of Bill Belichick, Nick Sirianni and Mike McCarthy: Cooper Neill, Mitchell Leff and Adam Bettcher)