Sports
‘They were really close': How key free agents plan to take Chargers to next level

As they moved from station to station in the shadow of the Chargers’ practice facility, Tyler Conklin seemingly never strayed too far from Justin Herbert. No moment is too early for a new tight end to strike up a relationship with the star quarterback.
“He’s a really special guy,” Conklin said Tuesday as the Chargers began their offseason program. “He obviously has the arm, can make every throw on the field, which is crucial, but also just the athleticism he has to extend plays. I think he can do a lot of things that just elevates everybody around him and that’s really exciting to be around.”
With Herbert still at the center of the team’s plans, the Chargers spent the first phase of free agency hoping to surround the quarterback with steady playmakers. Conklin caught 51 passes for 449 yards receiving and a career-best four touchdowns for the New York Jets last season before signing with the Chargers on a one-year contract. Fellow free agents Mike Williams and Najee Harris were also seen on the field Tuesday on the first day of voluntary offseason workouts.
Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton, fresh off winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, thought his free agency would play out differently than it did. The 26-year-old was coming off what he felt was the best season of his career. It was surely the healthiest of his career as he was two years removed from a broken knee cap suffered during training camp in 2022.
“It wasn’t what I was expecting it to be,” Becton said of the free-agency process that ended with him signing a reported two-year, $20-million contract with the Chargers. “But I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
Becton noted how the Chargers embraced him with open arms. Coach Jim Harbaugh did so quite literally, greeting the 6-foot-7, 363-pound offensive lineman with a big hug at the Chargers’ practice facility late at night when he signed his contract in March.
Despite experience at both left and right tackle as well as right guard, Becton is expected to slot in at right guard for the Chargers, the same position he anchored during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. His pairing with all-rookie right tackle Joe Alt (6-8, 322 pounds) gives the Chargers an imposing presence on the right side of the line in front of Herbert.
Alt has been on Becton’s radar for years. The veteran has admired the Notre Dame alumnus since he entered the league.
“He’s like a dancing bear,” Becton said. “He’s really light on his feet.”
Alt and left tackle Rashawn Slater were star bookends for an offensive line that set a strong foundation for the future under Harbaugh. The Chargers’ turnaround from five wins in 2023 to 11 in 2024 was the franchise’s best single-season improvement since 2004.
Yet the team fell short of ending another key drought. The Chargers haven’t won a playoff game since 2018.
“Their season last year, they were really close,” Becton said. “They need a few pieces and I feel like I’m one of those pieces that can help out.”
The Chargers’ immediate success under Harbaugh was a top selling point for Conklin, who has had just one winning season in his seven-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings and Jets. With only one day of voluntary workouts done, Conklin was determined to keep expectations in check.
“I think the big thing is how do we come to this building every day and create better relationships as teammates, from player to coach,” Conklin said, “and how do we master the playbook and get as athletic and explosive as possible to perform at the level that we need to perform at. …
“We all know the aspirations of all NFL teams and I think a big thing for us is just the day-by-day approach, how can we get better every day and just let that keep carrying on.”

Sports
Jordan Mailata, other Eagles stars downplay tush push as NFL vote on team's signature play looms

Should the Eagles’ Tush Push be banned? | Breakfast Ball
The Green Bay Packers have proposed a rule to ban the “Tush Push”, and the Philadelphia Eagles felt “insulted” by this. Craig Carton, Danny Parkins, and Mark Schlereth debate over whether or not the tush push should be banned.
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The NFL owners are expected to reengage in talks about the polarizing tush push on Wednesday at league meetings.
Last month, owners tabled the vote on a proposal to ban the play that became the Philadelphia Eagles’ calling card over the past couple of seasons. As the vote nears, some prominent Philadelphia Eagles spoke out about the controversial short yardage play.
Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (68) celebrates during the Super Bowl LIX championship parade and rally. (Caean Couto-Imagn Images)
“I don’t have any thoughts on it,” Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown said. “It’s only one yard.”
Offensive lineman Jordan Mailata echoed similar sentiments, saying: “They’re ruling [on] the push? I guess we’ll just do it with no push.
“In terms of them banning the tush push, I hate that name, so I hope they do ban it — it’s a stupid name,” the All-Pro tackle joked.
COMMANDERS’ FRANKIE LUVU CHIMES IN ON ‘CHEAPO’ PUSH AS NFL TEAM OWNERS WEIGH BAN
“But I can’t control it. We can’t control it. So, we don’t even worry about it. Right now, we’re just installing our schemes, whatever [offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo] is installing that day, that’s what we’re focused on because worrying about if they’re going to ban the tush push or not ain’t going to win us a championship.”

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) lines up for the tush push play on the goal line against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
.The Green Bay Packers submitted a proposal to ban the tush push.
“We’ll see where that goes,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We’re not waiting very long to figure it out. It’s going to be public [Wednesday]. And you know how I feel about it.”

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores on the tush push during a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 3, 2023. (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
At last month’s league meetings, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie described the tush push as “precision play” and credited quarterback Jalen Hurts for helping make the play routinely successful.
ESPN reported that the tush push was utilized in just 0.28% of total plays last season.
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Sports
Prep baseball roundup: Seth Hernandez hits two three-run home runs for No. 1 Corona

Leave it up to Seth Hernandez of top-seeded Corona High to find a way to impress the many pro baseball scouts attending Tuesday’s Southern Section Division 1 playoff opener with not just his arm but his bat.
He hit two three-run home runs to help Corona defeat Los Osos 11-2. Corona trailed 2-0 into the third inning until the Panthers started going deep. First was a home run by Jesiah Andrade. Then Hernandez started sending balls over the fence. He also struck out 10 and walked one in six innings.
Seth Hernandez of Corona celebrates his second three-run home run.
(Nick Koza)
Corona advances to play Big VIII rival Norco in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Norco 4, Laguna Beach 2: Dylan Seward had three hits and four RBIs while Landon Hovermale threw a complete game.
Crespi 5, El Dorado 2: The Celts rallied for four runs in the sixth inning. Diego Velazquez had a two-run double. Jackson Eisenhauer threw a complete game, striking out seven. Crespi will play Mira Costa in the quarterfinals.
Mira Costa 5, Arcadia 4: An RBI double by Joaquin Scholer in the fifth inning broke a 4-4 tie. He finished with two doubles.
Los Alamitos 8, Orange Lutheran 0: Tyler Smith drove in four runs and three pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout to eliminate the Lancers. Los Alamitos will play Santa Margarita on Friday.
Santa Margarita 6, Huntington Beach 5: Chase Marlow singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to give the Eagles an upset over Sunset League champion Huntington Beach. Brennan Bauer struck out four in 4 1/3 innings of relief.
Villa Park 8, Aquinas 2: Jake Nobles struck out five with no walks over five innings and Val Lopez had three hits and two RBIs. Villa Park will play St. John Bosco on Friday.
St. John Bosco 5, Vista Murrieta 4: Noah Everly had three hits and two RBIs while Miles Clark homered for the Braves, who rallied with a three-run sixth inning.
West Ranch 12, Crean Lutheran 0: Mikey Murr and Matt Castellon combined on a no-hitter in Division 2.
Sultana 6, Loyola 5: The Cubs dropped the Division 2 game on an error in the ninth inning.
Servite 12, Anaheim Canyon 1: Tomas Cernius hit a three-run home run and Michael Cabral had four RBIs. Servite will play Etiwanda in the Division 2 quarterfinals.
Etiwanda 6, Gahr 1: Angel Mejia finished with four RBIs and Nico Hamilton threw six innings for the Eagles.
Torrance 3, Oaks Christian 2: Mateo Rickman hit a three-run home run to power Torrance, which will face Fountain Valley on Friday.
Fountain Valley 7, Trabuco Hills 0: Josh Grack threw the shutout and also contributed two RBIs.
Foothill 3, San Clemente 2: Ezekiel Vargas and Aidan Colburn each had two hits for Foothill, which plays Mater Dei on Friday.
Mater Dei 6, Simi Valley 4: The Monarchs eliminated second-seeded Simi Valley by scoring six runs in the top of the seventh inning. Brady Guth hit a three-run home run.
Sports
Maine fishermen support Jordon Hudson after he advocacy during pageant: 'Together, we persevere'

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The Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association praised Jordon Hudson for her advocacy during the Miss Maine USA pageant earlier this month.
Support for Maine fishermen appeared to be close to Hudson’s heart. She has championed their cause, not only in the pageant, but also thanked Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and the Trump administration for its renegotiation of the Maine Sea Grant funding.
Jordon Hudson, the girlfriend of Bill Belichick, was in attendance at the Loudermilk Center for Excellence on Dec. 12, 2024. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)
“Advocating for Maine’s commercial fisherman takes many forms, and sometimes it walks across a stage in heels wearing a bikini,” the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association wrote on its Instagram Stories on Monday. “Jordon Hudson is helping shine a spotlight on Maine fishing communities in ways we never imagined, from the stage to the working waterfront.
“We’re grateful for voices like Jordon’s that remind us advocacy doesn’t always look the same, but it always matters. Together, we persevere.”
Hudson was asked during the Miss Maine USA pageant a moment in life she would want to go back to. She said she wished she could be transported back to her family’s fishing boat.
JORDON HUDSON ABSENT FROM BILL BELICHICK’S ‘GOOD MORNING AMERICA’ INTERVIEW AFTER CBS FIASCO

Jordon Hudson, center, is among the contestants posing on stage after the Miss Maine USA pageant in Portland, Maine, on Sunday. (Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
“I think about this often because there’s a mass exodus for fishermen occurring in the rural areas of Maine, and I don’t want to see more fishermen leave this place,” she said, via Mass Live. “As your next Miss Maine USA, I would make a point to go to communities … to go into the government and advocate for these people so that they don’t have to think about these memories as a past moment.”
Hudson’s parents owned a fishing business, Frenchman’s Bay Fisheries, in Maine. However, after the area they used to fish, Taunton Bay, was closed off to fishing by the state in 2000, their business eventually went bankrupt years later.
Her family’s ship reportedly suffered damage and couldn’t afford repairs. The family attempted to lobby the state and local legislatures to ease up on regulations that impeded the fishing industry, and eventually the closure of their business.

Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson on the red carpet before the Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
The family eventually moved to Massachusetts.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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