Connect with us

Sports

Which New York NFL team is the bigger mess? Giants or Jets?

Published

on

Which New York NFL team is the bigger mess? Giants or Jets?

Four more weeks. That’s all New York City football fans must endure. Four more weeks, and this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad season from … will finally be over.

In case you’re someone who doesn’t live in New York — we don’t mean you, Buffalo, your Bills are great — or follow their wretched football teams here’s a snapshot of what’s been going on in the Big Apple lately:

The most interesting part of the New York Giants’ most recent game happened not on the field but in the sky when a fan flew an airplane over MetLife Stadium towing a banner that pleaded with the team co-owner John Mara to “plz fix this dumpster fire.”

The most interesting part of the New York Jets’ most recent game happened in the postgame locker room when star wide receiver Garrett Wilson wondered if losing is in the team’s DNA after the franchise missed the postseason for the 14th straight year.

Welcome to NFL football in New York. It’s a disaster.

Advertisement

At least some New Yorkers have Juan Soto to look forward to. (Sorry, Yankees fans).

So, what exactly has gone wrong? Pretty much everything.

The Jets thought they were a quarterback away from not only playoff contention but Super Bowl contention when they traded for Aaron Rodgers two offseasons ago. So far, that experiment could not have gone much worse. They are 3-10; the head coach was fired after a Week 5 loss; the general manager was fired during their bye week; and the team has somehow managed to lose five games where they had a lead in the fourth quarter. Wilson said after Sunday’s overtime loss to the Dolphins that the Jets are like Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

And they’re not even the worst team in New York.

At 2-11, the Giants are one game worse and are riding an eight-game losing streak with zero wins in the division or at MetLife Stadium. After a brutal 6-11 season in 2023, the Giants were supposed to show some progress in their third year under general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll. Instead, things have been so bad that they released their starting quarterback — the one they’d very recently given a four-year, $160 million contract — in the middle of the season, while the rest of the roster has been decimated by injuries.

Advertisement

With postseason hopes dead before December, fan bases for both teams have already been turning their attention to the possibility of landing a top draft pick. For the record, the Giants currently sit at No. 2, according to Tankathon. The Jets would pick at No. 7.

But the future, of course, encompasses far more than just the draft, and we’re wondering which team has more work to do to turn things around. That requires an analysis of what needs to be fixed and who’s in charge of fixing it. For that, we turn to The Athletic’s Jets reporter Zack Rosenblatt and Giants reporter Charlotte Carroll. They discussed three of the biggest questions facing these franchises moving forward. After reading their answers, you can decide which New York Football team you think is the bigger mess.

Neither team has a franchise QB (and hasn’t for a while). Do the Giants or Jets have the better path to finding one?

Giants: Some of the only good news for Giants fans over the past few weeks has been that their draft positioning keeps getting better and better … because they keep losing. According to The Athletic’s NFL projection model, the Giants have a 46% chance of picking No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, their “hold” on a top pick in the draft is tenuous. Six teams, including the Jets, have three wins, and if the Giants joined them, they could fall down the board due to the strength of schedule tiebreaker.

But if the Giants do secure a top pick, they’ll have a chance to select one of the draft’s best quarterbacks. Right now, that looks like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward. Some evaluators believe neither is worthy of a top pick, but the Giants are going to be feeling the pressure to find their next franchise QB. Patience might not be an option. Maybe it works out, and they get their guy. Or maybe they’re right back where they started after over-drafting Daniel Jones in 2019.

Advertisement

No matter what the Giants do in the draft, however, they’ll need to add a veteran bridge quarterback in free agency. Drew Lock, a free agent at season’s end, hasn’t shown enough to be that player. The same goes for Tommy DeVito, an exclusive rights free agent who can be brought back on a minimum salary. The Giants will want the option of letting their top pick sit and learn rather than having to force him into the starter’s role from Day 1. And if the Giants don’t end up getting a quarterback, they’ll need a capable starter who can keep the offense afloat until the following offseason.

Jets: Certainly not the Jets. Rodgers is under contract for 2025, but as of now, it seems highly unlikely that he will return in 2025 — especially since his return would trigger a $35 million option bonus in 2026. The Jets will need to lose out (or close to it) to truly get into the mix for one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft, and none of these prospects are viewed as can’t-miss players. Unless the new GM has a sneaky trade up his sleeve, there are not exactly many appealing options in free agency — and no, Sam Darnold won’t be returning. Most likely, the Jets roll with Tyrod Taylor (or another bridge quarterback) before handing the keys off to someone else down the line — whether that’s a rookie in this draft class or a future one.

OK, excluding quarterback, which roster has the most heavy lifting to do to become playoff-caliber?

Giants: My beat partner, Dan Duggan, delivered a great, in-depth breakdown of the Giants’ building blocks. But the synopsis is this: While there are some high-quality players on the roster, they don’t have nearly enough to feel good about the foundation. As Duggan noted, in three years, Schoen hasn’t drafted or signed a single Pro Bowler.

Advertisement

Now, there are encouraging signs from rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, running back Tyrone Tracy, safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Dru Phillips. But the Giants will need to once again invest in the offensive line after going veteran-heavy this offseason. Right guard Greg Van Roten is 34 years old and on a one-year deal, while stopgap right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor is signed for just one more season. The lack of depth on the defensive line has been exposed with injuries to Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson. Plus, cornerback has been a weak spot due to uneven play and injuries.

Assuming the Giants emerge with a top pick and don’t fall in love with any of the quarterbacks, they could go the route of trading down, collecting more draft picks and filling out the roster that way. The team also isn’t in bad shape in terms of cap space, with about $58 million next year, according to Over The Cap, so they could plug some holes through free agency.

Jets: The Jets already have a playoff-caliber roster — maybe not as much as I would’ve argued they did a year ago, but they have a core of talent that makes the job opening more appealing than many people are giving them credit for. This is the best offensive line Joe Douglas has assembled in his six years — low bar, but true — and four of the five starters are young and under contract for 2025: Olu Fashanu, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann and Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson are two talented, young players to build an offense around — and on defense, they’ll bring back a solid core, including cornerback Sauce Gardner, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, linebackers Quincy Williams and Jermaine Johnson, edge Will McDonald and safety Michael Carter II. There are plenty of holes to fill on this roster, but the Jets are starting with a good baseline of talent.

Neither ownership group is faring very well with their respective fan bases right now. Which one is better positioned to turn things around the quickest?

Advertisement

Giants: Mara craves stability — something this franchise hasn’t had in a long time. In October, the team co-owner said the Giants were not making any in-season changes and that he did not anticipate making any changes in the offseason either. That was six losses ago. Have things changed?

We’re going to find out. The big question for Giants ownership is whether they will stick with Schoen and Daboll or if they’re going to have to start over again. A new head coach would be the Giants’ fifth in a decade, while a new GM would be the Giants’ third since 2017. The decision will obviously have huge ramifications, not the least of which will be whoever in charge will get to select the franchise’s next starting quarterback.

Jets: Historically, you’re better off banking on the Giants turning things around quicker than the Jets — though neither ownership has had a particularly sterling resume in recent years. The biggest difference is Woody Johnson’s involvement — he has more of a hand in the Jets decision-making than Mara does for the Giants, at least on the surface, and until that changes, the Jets are going to have a hard time getting to a place where they’re consistently making the playoffs. If Johnson is willing to turn the keys of the organization over to a general manager and let him run the show, then the Jets can get back on track sooner than later.


OK, we’ve laid it all out for you. Now it’s time for you to choose. Which team is the bigger mess?

Advertisement

 

(Photos of Woody Johnson and John Mara: Matthew Stockman and Rich Schultz / Getty Images)

Sports

Chiefs and Browns make first trade of 2026 draft and both eventually fill needs

Published

on

Chiefs and Browns make first trade of 2026 draft and both eventually fill needs

The Cleveland Browns, rumored to be willing to trade down from their No. 6 overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft, did just that Thursday evening when the traded the pick to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cleveland traded the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to the Chiefs, in exchange for the ninth overall pick, as well as pick No. 74 in the third round and No. 148 in the fifth round.

The Browns now hold the No. 9 and No. 24 picks in the first round of the draft. They have a total of 11 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns watch from the sidelines during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

So the Chiefs gave up three picks in making the first trade of the first round.

Advertisement

BROWNS EXECS RAISE EYEBROWS WITH REACTIONS AFTER DRAFTING SHEDEUR SANDERS FOLLOWING HISTORIC SLIDE

And we know what the fan bases of both clubs were thinking prior to the selection:

Chiefs fans were thinking we know something they don’t. And then the Chiefs selected cornerback Mansoor Delane from LSU — a move no doubt forced by the club’s trade of Pro Bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams earlier in the offseason.

So, the Chiefs fill a major need, assuming Delane is indeed the quality corner they believe.

LSU Tigers CB Mansoor Delane celebrates a defensive stop against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium in South Carolina. (Ken Ruinard/USA TODAY Network)

Advertisement

GREG OLSEN’S ADVICE FOR NFL DRAFT FIRST-ROUND PICKS ON HANDLING HIGH EXPECTATIONS

ESPN’s Mel Kiper didn’t like the pick, by the way. He had Delane as the 14th best player in the draft.

“It was a necessity,” ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, a former NFL defensive back, responded.

Browns fans weren’t thinking that way.

BROWNS MAKE STUNNING KENNY PICKETT TRADE TO RAIDERS AS BACKUP QUARTERBACK ROLE REMAINS WIDE OPEN

Advertisement

They were probably thinking something akin to “We screwed up.”

This is understandable because they’re Browns fans and this could have been the Browns Browning.

Well, the Browns, moving down three slots, gave up a shot to draft linebacker Sonny Styles of Ohio State to the Washington Commanders, receiver Jordyn Tyson to the New Orleans Saints and then the Browns got their chance with the newly acquired No. 9 pick:

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Offensive tackle Spencer Fano of Utah.

Advertisement

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 24, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

Fano is good. And he makes the Browns offensive line instantly better because he’s going to likely start at left tackle for them.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

So what will Browns fans think of this pick?

They’ll probably wonder why the Browns didn’t pick Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, who went with the No. 10 pick to the New York Giants and promised “to die for” Jaxson Dart if necessary. They’ll wonder this because Browns fans expect the worst.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Sports

Defending champion UCLA women’s basketball lands top transfer, continues roster overhaul

Published

on

Defending champion UCLA women’s basketball lands top transfer, continues roster overhaul

UCLA women’s basketball team has added some star power as its revamped roster begins to take shape.

Former Iowa State forward Addy Brown announced Thursday she is committing to UCLA, giving the Bruins one of the top players in the portal.

Brown averaged 11.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 43.1% from the floor and 33.8% from three-point distance with the Cyclones last season. She played just 21 games due to injury, but she is one of the better two-way players in the nation on the transfer market.

The 6-foot-2 forward co-starred with Audi Crooks for Iowa State the past few seasons and was a part of the mass exodus from the Cyclones’ program.

The Bruins reeled in former North Carolina junior guard Elina Aarnisalo and former Texas Christian senior guard Donovyn Hunter a few weeks ago, adding two more experienced players to the depleted starting lineup after a record six UCLA players were selected in the WNBA draft.

Advertisement

UCLA also signed Arkansas sophomore guard Bonnie Deas earlier this month. She is likely to start at point guard for the Bruins and is one of the best rebounding guards in the nation.

Along with returner Timea Gardiner, the Bruins are starting to form somewhat of a core to defend their national championship. Gardiner was a starter during UCLA’s 2024-25 Final Four run, but missed all of this past season with injury and has one season of eligibility left.

A lineup with Deas and Aarnisalo in the backcourt, Hunter at the three and Gardiner or Brown at the four and adding another big or Sienna Betts at the five would be a competitive lineup in the Big Ten.

Before going to TCU, Hunter played two seasons at Oregon State where she earned All-Pac-12 Defensive Team honorable mention and All-Pac-12 Freshman team honors. This past season with a Horned Frogs team that went to the Sweet 16, she was third in scoring with 10.2 points per game and averaged 3.2 rebounds per contest. She also shot 45.7% from the field and was 33.7% from beyond the arc.

Aarnisalo played her freshman year in Westwood after she originally committed to UCLA in 2025. Due to injuries from point guard Kiki Rice at the start of the 2024-25 season, she was forced into action early her freshman season and finished the year averaging 5.1 points per game.

Advertisement

The Helsinki, Finland, native averaged 10.2 points per game for the Tar Heels as a sophomore last season while shooting 47.3% from the field and 40.3% from the arc. The Bruins will desperately need to replace the three-point production lost with the departure of Rice, Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger-Walker.

UCLA coach Cori Close said she wanted to sign five players from the portal. She probably needs one more guard and a little more forward depth coming off the bench following the departures of Gabriela Jaquez and Angela Dugalic.

Lena Bilic and Amanda Muse are returners coming off the bench who got a little bit of playing time in the tournament and should have much larger roles, but they are still relatively unproven in late-game situations. They will get a chance to develop as backups with some more Power Four experienced starters now in the fold.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

WWE to hold premium live event in Saudi Arabia amid Iran ceasefire

Published

on

WWE to hold premium live event in Saudi Arabia amid Iran ceasefire

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Saudi Arabia was among the countries seeing missiles fly into their airspace as a conflict broke out in the Middle East between the U.S. and Iran.

Advertisement

The prospect of Iran targeting its Middle Eastern neighbors like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates put some sporting events on hold and questioned others. Formula 1 races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were canceled and rumors swirled around whether future WWE events could be held in the kingdom.

Roman Reigns celebrates his win during WWE’s Royal Rumble at Riyadh Season Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Jan. 31, 2026. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)

As the Trump administration brokered a ceasefire with Iran, WWE announced on Thursday that its Night of Champions premium live event will be held in Riyadh on June 27.

“We are proud to welcome Night of Champions back to Riyadh and look forward to delivering another unforgettable night of WWE action for fans in the Kingdom and around the world,” General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Al-Sheikh said in a news release.

Advertisement

PRO WRESTLING STARS CHRIS SABIN, ALEX SHELLEY TALK POSSIBILITY OF WWE USING TNA’S GIMMICK MATCHES

Sami Zayn makes his entrance during Night of Champions at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 28, 2025. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)

The release touted that WrestleMania 43 will still be held in Riyadh in 2027. It will be the first time that WrestleMania is held outside the U.S.

WWE president Nick Khan was adamant before WrestleMania 42 that the event will still take place in Saudi Arabia despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“We’re doing WrestleMania next year in Saudi,” he said at a Sports Business Journal event, via The Sporting Tribune. “First time ever, WrestleMania will be outside the United States or Canada. And we’ve had a big, fruitful partnership with them.”

Advertisement

John Cena wrestles CM Punk during Night of Champions at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 28, 2025. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He added that those complaining about WrestleMania being held in Saudi Arabia were a “vocal minority.”

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending