ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. and Miami Hurricanes football coach Mario Cristobal were in a war of words on Wednesday over coverage of quarterback Cam Ward.

The Tennessee Titans selected the one-time Heisman Trophy contender with the No. 1 overall pick of the draft last month. It was the easiest selection the Titans could have made, and it arguably went under-covered as Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide began as the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up with the Cleveland Browns to select Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick.

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Kiper faced criticism during the three days of the draft as he harped on the surprise of Sanders’ fall and even had an on-air tiff with Rece Davis once the Browns eventually selected the quarterback in the fifth round.

Cristobal said neither he nor offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson spoke to Kiper about Ward, even though he spoke to a "million people," according to The Action Network.

"Never heard from him," the coach said. "I don’t think I’ve ever talked to him."

Cristobal added that he was not "disappointed" and would only be if Ward was upset. He expressed confidence that Ward just wanted to hear his name called and get to work.

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Kiper fired back at Cristobal.

"Mario Cristobal claims he spoke to a million people about Cam Ward, yet the one he didn’t speak to, being me, had Ward ranked higher (6th on my Big Board) than any of the other draft experts. Interesting isn’t it," he wrote on X. "And oh by the way, I didn’t speak to Deion about Shedeur either. I need another Orange Crush after this nonsense."

It was Kiper’s first post on the social media platform since April 23, and it appeared Sanders’ fall still stuck with him.

Ward will likely be the starting quarterback once the Titans’ season begins. Tennessee learned it will take on the Denver Broncos to begin the 2025 season on Sept. 7.

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Gia Duddy, an influencer and the ex-girlfriend of Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis, shared some advice for the girlfriends of this year’s NFL Draft class after she went viral in 2023 for her facial expressions. 

Duddy posted a video on TikTok Friday sharing her advice after she went viral in the green room of the 2023 NFL Draft when Levis, a projected first-round pick out of Kentucky, went undrafted until the second day. 

"I feel like I’ve never really talked about the draft, and I don’t really like talking about it just because it genuinely wasn’t about me," she began to explain in the video. 

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"So I just never felt the need to speak on it. What I do want to say is congratulations to all the hardworking men that are in this draft class. Genuinely so excited for all of you. I know I have some friends in it this year. 

As Levis patiently waited for a call, the broadcast captured Duddy’s unamused expression. But according to the social media star, there was nothing to her facial expressions that night, and she warned the significant others of this year’s prospects to be mindful. 

"For those who are attending, beware of your resting b---- face because the media loves media, and they will start a story that you’re just a b----. 

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"So from one RBF to another, good luck." 

Levis slid to the second round and was drafted by the Titans with the 33rd overall pick, which they traded up for. He began his rookie season as the third-string quarterback, but he made his debut in October 2023 after Ryan Tannehill was sidelined with an injury. 

He struggled that season with a record of 3-6. He threw for 1,808 yards and eight touchdowns. He threw four interceptions and was sacked 28 times. Levis was named the Titans’ starter in 2024, but his struggles continued. He finished the season with a 2-10 record and 2,091 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. 

With the first overall pick in this draft, the Titans drafted quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami. 

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The Tennessee Titans' selection of Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick of the NFL Draft Thursday was not a surprise. 

What was a surprise was Warren Moon showing up to Ward’s introductory news conference Friday to give the Titans rookie permission to wear his No. 1 retired jersey number. 

Titans' general manager Mike Borgonzi was with Ward at the podium when he told Ward of a special guest. 

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Moon then entered the room holding a Ward Titans jersey with the No. 1 and handed Ward the jersey. 

Moon played 10 seasons with the Houston Oilers, who later became the Titans. The Pro Football Hall of Famer played in the NFL 17 seasons and made the Pro Bowl nine times. 

The Titans hope Ward follows Moon to the Hall of Fame. 

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Miami went 10-3 last season with Ward under center. He completed 67.2% of his passes for 4,313 yards, and he led the ACC with 39 passing touchdowns while throwing seven interceptions. 

Will Levis was the Titans' starting quarterback last season, and he and the team struggled.

The Titans went 3-14 in Brian Callahan’s first season as head coach. 

Entering the season, the team hoped Levis would take a jump after he started nine games at quarterback in his rookie year and showed some promise.

However, Levis played poorly as the team went 2-10 in his 12 starts. He completed 63.1% of his passes for 2,091 yards and threw 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. As Levis continued to struggle, it became apparent the team would be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. 

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The obvious is now official – Cam Ward is a Tennessee Titan.

The Titans owned the first overall pick of the NFL Draft, and after apparently fielding calls for it throughout the offseason, they decided to stick with it and take the player who has separated himself from the pack over this process.

Earlier in the offseason, Ward was more so the 1A to Shedeur Sanders’ 1B, but the Sanders love fell quite drastically, while Ward put himself above just about everyone else.

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This sure seems like the end of Will Levis’ tenure in Tennessee – Levis, like Sanders, was actually once favored to be the second quarterback taken in 2023, but a rapid fall saw him go in the second round that year, prompting awkwardness as he attended the draft expecting to be a night-one selection.

With Levis’ struggles and the first pick falling into their lap after a 3-14 campaign, it is now Ward’s time to shine in Nashville.

Ward seemed excited about the opportunity while speaking to the media on Wednesday.

"I got a chance to learn more about (the Titans) personally over the last couple of months, and I am excited to hopefully hear my name called first, to go to a good organization like that," Ward said. "They have a great owner, a great GM, great assistant GM, great president. The team there, they have a pretty elite team, in my opinion – they don't get enough credit on paper for what they really are. So, if I am there, I know it will turn out good."

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"I think the quarterback there is going to be surrounded by some good weapons," he added, "and I just hope I'm that guy."

Earlier this month, Ward dropped a rather obvious hint that he knew he'd be going to the Titans by listing Titans running backs Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard, as well as wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Treylon Burks, some of the best in the league at their respective positions.

Ward set the record for the most touchdowns thrown in Division I history with 158, beating Case Keenum by three.

Last season with Miami, Ward, who got the Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff conversation until losing to Syracuse to end the season, threw for an FBS-leading 39 touchdowns last year and a career-high 4,313 yards. 

He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting and spent his first two seasons at Washington State.

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The Tennessee Titans added another weapon on offense ahead of the NFL Draft.

Veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett announced on social media he will join the Titans. ESPN reported that Lockett signed a one-year deal worth up to $4 million with incentives that could increase to $6 million.

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"I’m excited to be a Tennessee Titan!! I’m super thankful and grateful Let’s get it!! God you get all the glory!!" he wrote on X.

Lockett played 10 years with the Seattle Seahawks after the team selected him in the third round of the 2015 draft. He was a Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro selection as a kick returner.

He ended up being a solid receiver for the Russell Wilson and Geno Smith-led Seahawks for years. He had four consecutive seasons in which he recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards.

Lockett had 661 catches for 8,594 yards and 61 touchdowns with Seattle.

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He should be a valuable asset for the Titans should they select quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Ward is the favorite to be the top pick.

"I got a chance to learn more about (the Titans) personally over the last couple of months, and I am excited to hopefully hear my name called first, to go to a good organization like that," Ward said at an NFLPlay60 event on Wednesday, via the team’s website.

"They have a great owner, a great GM, great assistant GM, great president. The team there, they have a pretty elite team, in my opinion – they don't get enough credit on paper for what they really are. So, if I am there, I know it will turn out good."

Ward added he had a great meeting with ownership as well.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Tennessee Titans have made clear their intentions with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, at least when it comes to keeping it or not. 

There has been speculation the Titans could trade out of position to kick off the draft in Green Bay this Thursday. However, GM Mike Borgonzi said the team is staying put. 

"We’ve come to a consensus," he said. "We’ll pick at No. 1 on Thursday night."

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The NFL Network reported Tuesday that the Titans "never opened the door" to trade possibilities. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns, who choose second overall, and the New York Giants, who follow them at No. 3, are doing their due diligence by taking calls for potential trades.

With Borgonzi saying it is a "consensus" move to keep the top overall selection, it appears the front office is aligned with where they want to go. And all signs point to a quarterback. 

Miami’s Cam Ward has been the pick in virtually every mock draft by experts and fans alike, and it makes sense considering the team’s current quarterback situation. Will Levis, the team’s second-round pick in 2023, has not panned out over the past two seasons, and Tennessee brought in free agents Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle to compete this preseason. 

However, neither of the three are strong starting options for a squad that has good offensive weapons in Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard and more, with head coach Brian Callahan leading the way. With better quarterback play, the Titans could compete in the AFC South immediately. 

Ward had a tremendous year with the Hurricanes last season after transferring from Washington State. The team went 10-3 under his leadership, completing 67.2% of his passes and leading the ACC with 39 touchdown passes while throwing only seven interceptions. 

Ward’s confidence has been through the roof during the pre-draft process, constantly reiterating his belief that he’s the best quarterback in this class. That would be compared to other top options like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart. 

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He’s even hinted that he’s going to the Titans, saying during a Fortnite live stream that his favorite players at certain positions throughout the league are current Tennessee stars like Pollard and Treylon Burks. He also talked about his top head coaches, putting Callahan first overall and following it up with the draft order (Browns’ Kevin Stefanski, Giants’ Brian Daboll and so on). 

The Titans went 3-14 last season in Callahan’s first year, but they are looking to add a difference maker immediately with the first pick. Ward seems to be the target, but the only certainty is the Titans will submit their card to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who will read that name in Green Bay on Thursday night.

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The Tennessee Titans are reportedly not going to trade the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft ahead of the first round on Thursday. 

The Titans had teams interested, but according to NFL Network, they "never opened the door" to moving out of the top pick. 

It is widely expected that the Titans will select Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick to begin the draft. 

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Ward transferred from Washington State to Miami before the 2024 season, and he had a great season in his lone year with the Hurricanes. 

Miami went 10-3 last season, and Ward was sensational. He completed 67.2% of his passes for 4,313 yards, and he led the ACC with 39 passing touchdowns while throwing seven interceptions. 

Ward has hinted that he will be selected with the top pick in the NFL Draft. While playing Fortnite in a livestream, he mentioned a few Titans’ players as among the best in the league at their position. 

POTENTIAL NO. 1 PICK CAM WARD NAMES SEVERAL TITANS PLAYERS AS BEST IN LEAGUE

Last season, the Titans finished 3-14 in Brian Callahan’s first season as head coach.

Going into the season, the team hoped 2023 second-round pick Will Levis would take a jump after he started nine games at quarterback in his rookie year and showed some promise. 

However, Levis played poorly as the team went 2-10 in his 12 starts. He completed 63.1% of his passes for 2,091 yards and threw 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. As Levis continued to struggle, it became apparent that they would be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. 

If the Titans do indeed select Ward, they hope he can help engineer a turnaround and become the team’s franchise quarterback.

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It sure sounds like Cam Ward knows which team is drafting him next week.

Ward has become the consensus No. 1 pick in most NFL mock drafts — including both of ours — with the big day coming in a week.

The Tennessee Titans own the top selection, and as the weeks have gone by, speculation is they are going to hold on to it and take Ward.

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And it sounds like Ward is confirming that speculation.

While playing Fortnite on a livestream, he mentioned Titans running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears as the best in the league.

He also mentoned his top four receivers: Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Calvin Ridley and Treylon Burks. Burks calls Nashville home.

Earlier in the offseason, it seemed like Tennessee was more than willing to deal the first selection considering the talent atop the board. Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, the projected No. 2 and 3 picks in our latest mock draft, could easily be No. 1 selections other years.

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With Will Levis struggling in his two years with Tennessee and a new front office, it's starting to look like the Titans will go with a player who could become a franchise quarterback.

Ward broke the record for the most touchdown passes in a career in Division I history, surpassing Case Keenum's record in the Pop-Tart Bowl. 

Ward led all of Division I with 39 touchdowns, and he finished as an All-American while finishing in fourth place in the Heisman Trophy voting.

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The Tennessee Titans may have just revealed to everyone who they are taking with the first overall pick.

Cam Ward has long been considered the favorite to be the top selection, and it seems like that will be the case.

The Titans were scheduled to have a private workout with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who, at one point, was considered ahead of Ward.

But Ward has separated himself in recent weeks from the pack, and there is speculation Sanders is even falling on draft boards. Jaxson Dart is widely considered the third-best QB in the draft.

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The Titans and Sanders agreed to cancel that private workout after the team attended his pro day, according to Jim Wyatt of the team's official website.

Wyatt noted the Titans have had eyes on Sanders for a long time, watching four years of game film. The team, Wyatt said, also thought he was "very impressive" at his pro day.

So, maybe they were convinced to take Sanders after his pro day, but considering what's transpired, that doesn't appear to be the case.

Sanders and Travis Hunter, both likely top five picks, played major roles in turning the Buffaloes football program around after transferring there from Jackson State to follow Sanders' father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

With his superstardom on both sides of the ball, Hunter won the Heisman Trophy. Sanders owns the all-time FBS record for completion percentage at 71.8%. He led the Big 12 with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns with a 74% completion percentage.

The speculation is that the New York Giants, who own the third overall pick, are big fans of Sanders. Sanders was given a pair of Giants cleats ahead of the Alamo Bowl when the Giants had the No. 1 pick, but they beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17 to drop in the draft.

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Former Penn State star Abdul Carter could be the No. 1 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans at the 2025 NFL Draft next month.

The Titans will have a lot to weigh in the weeks leading up to the draft. 

Carter is one option, but quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders could also be selected.

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The standout edge rusher made his case to be the top pick at Penn State Pro Day.

"I think just my overall impact on the game," he said, via ESPN. "My versatility. I can play multiple positions, and I feel like, most importantly, I step up when I'm needed the most when crunch time comes around. When you need somebody to make that big play, I feel like I'm the guy who makes that big play.

"At the end of the day, I make people around me better, just take them on double teams, bringing extra attention to me, freeing up somebody else so they can make the play and just my overall impact on the game."

Carter did not participate in the pro day because he is recovering from an arm injury he sustained during the College Football Playoff. He said the arm is "pretty much" at 100%. He also dealt with a stress reaction in his right foot but maintained he didn’t feel any pain and didn’t need surgery.

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"Those great defensive players, you look in the history, they can impact the game just as much as a quarterback," he added. "There's been defensive players who've taken over a game right at the end of the Super Bowl in those playoff scenes where you really need that great defensive player. And he also makes people around him better. So, I feel like just saying that, seeing how defensive players can take over a game, we're just like a quarterback."

Carter was the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He had 24 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks in 16 games and was an All-American for the first time.

If the Titans do not choose Carter, the Cleveland Browns could also be in the market for another top defensive player.

Carter reportedly had dinner with Browns brass Thursday night.

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Cam Ward knew every set of eyes in the building was on him. For 45 minutes, the Miami quarterback went through his entire repertoire of throws: short, deep, slants, sideline routes, even some sidearm ones.

And the last play was a trick one — he caught a touchdown pass from receiver Xavier Restrepo.

Ward put on a show. In a month, he'll find out if it was enough.

With all 32 NFL teams watching — including the Tennessee Titans, the team holding the No. 1 pick in next month's draft and one that sent virtually all their decision-makers to Coral Gables — Ward was the closing act at Miami's pro day on Monday, with expectations growing that the Heisman Trophy finalist who rewrote the Hurricanes' record book last season could be the first overall pick when the draft starts April 24.

It was the first time Ward has thrown publicly since his college finale, a first-half appearance for Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl back in December. He didn't throw at the NFL Combine last month, saying he wanted to wait until Miami's pro day when he could throw to "the best receiving corps in the country."

"He's one of one," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said.

But will he be No. 1?

In Fox Sports' Joel Klatt's latest NFL mock draft, he had Ward going No. 1 to Tennessee. 

But, that's up to the Titans to decide.

Tennessee sent what seemed like the entire front office to watch Ward. The list included football operations president Chad Brinker, head coach Brian Callahan, general manager Mike Borgonzi, assistant general manager Dave Ziegler, vice president and football advisor Reggie McKenzie, offensive coordinator Nick Holz and quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree.

Ward was even chatting with some of the Titans' staff between throws, smiling as he walked away to get ready for the next play. He had more conversations with some members of the Titans' contingent when the workout was over as well.

Ward ended his college career with a Division I (FBS and FCS level) record 158 touchdown passes. His total of 18,189 passing yards — 6,908 at Incarnate Word, 6,968 at Washington State and 4,313 at Miami — is third-most in NCAA history behind only Case Keenum and Dillon Gabriel.

He rewrote Miami's record book in 2024, his lone season with the Hurricanes. He left the school as Miami's single-season leader in yards, completions (305), touchdown passes (39) and completion percentage both for a season and a career, at 67.2%.

Ward, barring something very surprising, would be the first Miami player taken in the first round of an NFL draft since Jaelan Phillips went 18th and Greg Rousseau went 30th in 2021. Ward would also be Miami's first offensive player taken in a first round since tight end David Njoku in 2017 and could be Miami's third No. 1 overall pick — joining quarterback Vinny Testaverde in 1987 and defensive lineman Russell Maryland in 1991.

Reporting by The Associated Press

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Adam "Pacman" Jones revealed in a recent interview how he was able to beat NFL drug tests when he was playing in the league for the Cincinnati Bengals and other teams.

Jones admitted on Deion Sanders’ Tubi show, "We Got Time Today," that he "cheated" the league’s drug program. He said his way was "really good."

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"People don’t know how smart I am, but like, I can say it now. I don’t play no more, but like, I’ve never used my p--- for a p--- test. Not one time. Not one time," he said.

Sanders said there was no way a player could get away with what Jones described. 

"The reason it can’t because they go in there with you right now," the Colorado Buffaloes head coach said. "No, no. They go in there and watch you pull out."

Jones tried to go into explicit detail about how a player could get around the drug test, but he was shut down.

The former defensive back was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2005 draft. He played for the Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos from 2005 to 2018. He missed two full seasons of his career.

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The NFL had a strict no-marijuana policy during those years, which has since been relaxed.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey told Fox News Digital in January that he used marijuana during his playing career and suggested that NFL players who were using cannabis knew when the tests occurred and stopped using the drug before they were tested.

"They were very strict back then, but I wouldn’t say in a way they wanted to catch you. Like, we knew when the tests were coming, so we always quit at a certain time, which… even at the time, you realize that was at a detriment to my recovery because the times we had to quit was in the offseason when they would have these yearly tests," he said.

"It’s one of those times where you’re working harder than you work during the season because you’re training to get back in shape, and those are the times you really want it. I could just remember guys always talking about what we had to quit when. Some guys would get tested earlier than others, so guys would get back on it and others were still waiting. It was a topic of conversation to figure out how to navigate that, but we all stuck together – the ones that were using – and we made sure that we all got through it.

"Some did pass, some did it. We’ve all had our experiences with the drug program in the league. But, for better or worse, it was a waste of time. When you look back on it, I think the league realized they wasted a lot of resources on something that could actually benefit us, and things have changed. Things have changed over time. And I’m proud to say that they give me the courage to really speak up more because they’re starting to turn the page on what it means to use cannabis."

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A.J. Brown's sixth season in the NFL was likely his most memorable. The All-Pro wide receiver delivered a third consecutive 1,000-yard season and was a key part of the Philadelphia Eagles' run to a Super Bowl title.

Before making the leap to the NFL, Brown finished with just under 3,000 receiving yards with the Ole Miss Rebels during his time as a college football star. 

While Brown has become one of the best players in his sport, there was a time when he contemplated a different path.

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The three-time Pro Bowler excelled at football and baseball at Starkville High in Mississippi. He also played in the 2015 Under Armour High School All-America Baseball Game. 

Brown admitted he was alarmed by the hard-throwing abilities of pitchers competing in that game, which led to his decision to pursue football. 

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"I’ll tell you when I made the decision to play football. I’m in right field. I’m in the All-America game in Chicago. The first was like 97 (mph) — 97 off the rip? I’m usually facing like 85," Brown explained during a recent appearance on the "Million Dollaz Worth of Game" podcast.

"We still in high school, though. So, these are all high school players, and these guys are probably gonna go first round. I see him throwing an off-speed pitch, and it’s like a 90-mph breaking ball. I’m gonna see if I can go over here and hit this."

Brown did draw interest from MLB teams, and the San Diego Padres drafted him in one of the later rounds in 2016. Brown, however, elected to attend college in his native Mississippi and take the football route. Brown earned first-team All-SEC honors twice during his standout career at Ole Miss.

Earlier this month, Padres area scout Stephen Moritz recalled scouting Brown a decade ago and seeing his elite athleticism.

"You're never certain," Moritz told MLB.com. "As scouts, you're wrong more often than you're right. But I was as certain as I could be [that] he was going to be a good outfielder. He was going to be great in the outfield. There was too much athleticism. There was natural ability. You add all his tools together, that was the one thing I was pretty confident in. This dude is going to be a good outfielder in the big leagues."

In 2020, Brown detailed how baseball helped mold him into the football player he is today.

"You catch the ball with your eyes," Brown told ESPN. "Baseball really helped me out with that for football. When you're tracking a ball, especially a deep ball, it helped me a lot. I played center field in baseball. On a deep pass in football, you judge it and track it just like a center fielder."

The Tennessee Titans selected Brown in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and traded him to the Eagles during the 2022 NFL Draft.

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The New England Patriots are in talks to hire Mike Vrabel as the team's next head coach, according to The Boston Globe. 

Vrabel is the favorite to get the job after former head coach Jerod Mayo was fired Sunday after just one season. 

Vrabel is a member of the Patriots' Hall of Fame for his eight seasons with the team. He won three Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick during his New England career from 2001-08. 

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Vrabel was 54-45 in six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018-2023, including three trips to the playoffs and one to the AFC title game.

Vrabel was fired by the Titans after the 2023 season, then spent 2024 in a part-time role as a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns. 

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Vrabel was projected to be a top head coaching candidate in 2025. He has also interviewed with the Jets and the Bears. 

The Patriots have also interviewed Ben Johnson, Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton for their head coach opening. 

Vrabel was born in Ohio and was an All-American during his standout playing career with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the mid-1990s.

Vrabel ended his pro career with 769 tackles, 57 sacks and 11 interceptions. He received All-Pro honors for his standout 2007 season with the New England Patriots.

The Patriots are 8-26 the past two seasons with Bill Belichick and then Mayo as their head coach.

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The Tennessee Titans have their choice at the cream of the crop with the No. 1 pick in April, and there's a fairly decent chance it will be Colorado star quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

That's who Shawne Merriman would personally go with – although Travis Hunter is a close second – but Merriman knows all too well that the No. 1 pick doesn't necessarily guarantee you get your guy.

Merriman, of course, was eventually part of the infamous Eli Manning-Phillip Rivers trade in 2004. Manning was adamant about never playing for the Chargers, but the team, then in San Diego, drafted him anyway with the first overall pick.

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Eventually, after the Giants drafted Rivers, the Big Blue sent Rivers, a 2004 third-rounder, and a 2005 first-rounder to San Diego for Manning. That first-round pick became Merriman (although, the Giants aren't complaining).

The Giants were in a great position to own the No. 1 pick, which led to Sanders himself actually being gifted a pair of Giants cleats for his bowl game. New York then won their third game of the season, losing control of the top selection, and they are now slated to pick third.

But, Merriman seems to believe there's a chance that Sanders' father and head coach, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, could play a role in repeating history with the same team from 21 years ago.

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"I think Deion is smart by putting it out there that teams need to tread lightly, as far as what they plan on doing… I think Prime is smart enough to at least put the word out there that we're not just going with anybody, right?" Merriman said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "But again, when you get drafted, I think things change, and anywhere in that top-five pick man is really a blessing for anybody."

Deion himself did say that "multiple IDIOTS… will say things that totally aren’t true regarding where I would like" his sons to play at the next level – but he didn't exactly rule out that he wouldn't influence it.

"If I say it I will say it directly to whom it may concern not a attention seeker," he said on X last week.

Merriman will get one more look at Sanders before the draft at the East-West Shrine Bowl, as his very own production company, Lights Out Sports TV, will live stream the game's practices later this month. Merriman got into television after his playing days were over a decade ago and felt the Shrine Bowl was a perfect opportunity to showcase his second dream.

"To get the opportunity now to have the live-streaming rights exclusively for us for the East-West Shrine Bowl practices, it's like, I wanted to play football as a kid. I dreamed about it. I wanted to play NFL, and to now be in this space that now, it's my ideas, it's my production, I'm putting together everything, and to have the ability to get in this space and get someone like the East-West shrine bowl, the 100th annual, it's a massive, massive deal for us. and we want go out and make this the most interactive practice week that anybody's ever seen," Merriman said.

The top pick figures to be either Sanders or Cam Ward, the latter of whom some sportsbooks have as the odds-on favorite at the moment. The Cleveland Browns, who own the second pick, are a true wild card with Deshaun Watson still rostered, so perhaps there is a chance Sanders will fall to the G-Men anyway. Deion also played professional baseball with the New York Yankees, so there is already a tie to the Big Apple.

The Giants announced on Monday that both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll will be back for a fourth season despite going 9-25 in their last two seasons combined. Since joining the team ahead of the 2022 season, they have yet to draft a quarterback.

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The Tennessee Titans earlier Tuesday fired their general manager roughly three months before the team is slated to make the top pick in the NFL Draft.

The organization announced that Ran Carthon was relieved of his duties following a 3-14 campaign despite the team going on a free-agent shopping spree in the previous offseason.

 In his two seasons at the helm, Carthon was 9-25.

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With Tennessee owning the No. 1 pick in the draft, the move certainly caught the eye of Deion Sanders, whose son, Shedeur, is very much in the conversation to be the first name off the board.

Sanders took to X when he saw the news, simply writing, "WOW" with eyeball emojis.

Shedeur or Cam Ward figure to be the top selection, as the Titans seem to be in the quarterback market. They drafted Will Levis early in the second round of the 2023 draft, but it's been a roller-coaster for the Kentucky alum. However, franchise legend Chris Johnson did say the team would be "absolute fools" if they did not take Shedeur's teammate, Travis Hunter.

Titans team owner Amy Adams Strunk informed Carthon that the team would be making a change on Tuesday morning.

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"I've loved the time I've spent with Ran. He's a talented football mind, a great man, and friend to everyone along his path. It's impossible to ignore that our football team hasn't improved over the past two years. I am deeply disappointed in our poor win-loss record during this period, of course, but my decision also speaks to my concern about our long-term future should we stay the course," Strunk said in a statement. 

"I love this team more than you can imagine. To our fans: we know this level of performance isn't acceptable. We're humbled by your support as we continue to work towards building the team you expect and deserve."

Despite the firing of Carthon, head coach Brian Callahan will return next season.

The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants pick second and third overall, respectively, and while the Browns seem to be a wild card with Deshaun Watson still around, the G-Men desperately need to find their franchise quarterback. The question for them, though, is, will one be around by the time they are on the clock.

Fox News' Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

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The Tennessee Titans secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after a loss in Week 18. However, general manager Ran Carthon will not be making that selection. 

The team announced on Tuesday that, after two seasons, they have parted ways with Carthon. 

The Titans were 3-14 this season, and 9-25 over the past two years with Carthon at the helm. 

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Titans team owner Amy Adams Strunk informed Carthon that the team would be making a change on Tuesday morning.

"I've loved the time I've spent with Ran. He's a talented football mind, a great man, and friend to everyone along his path. It's impossible to ignore that our football team hasn't improved over the past two years. I am deeply disappointed in our poor win-loss record during this period, of course, but my decision also speaks to my concern about our long-term future should we stay the course," Strunk said in a statement. 

"I love this team more than you can imagine. To our fans: we know this level of performance isn't acceptable. We're humbled by your support as we continue to work towards building the team you expect and deserve."

Despite the firing of Carthon, head coach Brian Callahan will return next season.

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President of Football Operations Chad Brinker will lead the search for their new general manager. 

In the Titans statement, Brinker listed what he will be looking for. 

"I think the general manager position is unique to their respective organizations. This particular job, what we'll be looking for is someone who has spent their career as a scout, is a top-flight, top-level evaluator who has spent the majority of their career projecting college players to the National Football League, they've had a major hand in setting the draft board in preferably a consistent, winning organization, and you can see their fingerprints all over the roster," Brinker said.

"It is someone who wakes up every single day and the only thing they think about is building a roster, evaluating players, watching tape, working with the coaching staff. And, not just someone who knows how to collect talent, but someone who really understands how to build a team and how all the pieces fit together that I can work with not only in the short term, winning today, but building for the future, the long term, and understanding how all those pieces fit together. If you make a decision here, how it impacts a decision down the road, and really understand the full puzzle.

"At the end of the day, this person is going to be all ball, all day. They are going to focus on the roster and the coaching staff, and I'll continue in my role with handling all the other areas that surround the center of our program, scouting and coaches. So, I will support that person. But we are looking for a general manager who wakes up every day and is focused on building the team."

Whoever the new general manager is, they are armed with the top pick in the draft, and a little over $61 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.

The big question for their new general manager is what they want to do at the quarterback position, after second-year quarterback Will Levis struggled this season. 

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As it stands now, the Tennessee Titans have the second pick in the NFL Draft, putting them in prime position for a potential franchise quarterback.

However, one of the greatest players to wear a Titans jersey believes they already have a franchise quarterback in Will Levis and wants the team to go another route.

Chris Johnson, one of nine players to run for 2,000 yards in a single season, wants the team to select two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter.

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"I want Hunter. I want Travis. Will Levis, we just got him. I think Will is going to end up being a good quarterback," Johnson told TMZ Sports. "Sometimes it takes time. You look at some of these quarterbacks, like Jordan Love and some of these other guys. They had time to sit down and learn. Like, years to sit down and learn. So, I feel like he's going to come into his own.

"I just don't feel like you do what we did previous years, where we have Levis and then two guys for cheap. I think we go in and see what Will Levis can do for us. Bring Travis on. … I think we would be absolute fools if we pass up on Travis at No. 2."

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Johnson said he would like Hunter to focus on playing corner while playing receiver in certain packages. Hunter won both the top receiver and defensive player awards for the 2024 season.

Hunter has said he would like to play both sides, but many experts predict he will fit more comfortably on defense.

It's been a struggle for Levis in his two NFL seasons. He's completed just 61.2% of his passes for 20 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 20 games. At No. 2, they could select Hunter's quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, or Cam Ward.

Hunter just won the Heisman Trophy in the closest vote since 2009, beating Ashton Jeanty. Hunter and Sanders both figure to be early selections in April.

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Do not call the Tennessee Titans soft.

It has been a struggle for the Titans, as they sit at 3-11 with a depleted roster and seemingly no quarterback after 2023 second-round pick Will Levis was benched.

They may not be good, but they for sure play with pride, according to head coach Brian Callahan.

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Callahan was asked on Wednesday about the notion that he coaches a "soft" team, and he went on a nearly two-minute rant in an effort to silence the critics.

"You really want to get me going today? To be honest with you, I think that's complete and total bulls---, if you want my honest opinion," Callahan began. "These guys are tough f---ers, man. They go after it every day, they play hard as hell. At no point have we ever put on tape, at any point this season, that this is a soft football team. I can't even wrap my mind around how that would even be a conversation. Just because we don't win games doesn't mean we're soft. These guys play their a-- off, they play hard, they play physical …"

"That means you just don't watch this s---. You don't do anything about it, you don't know what you're talking about, you don't know what you're looking at. I'm not gonna stand for anybody calling this football team soft. I think that's bulls---. If there's opinions out there that feel that way, they don't know anything about NFL football. I'd like you to walk in there and call one of these guys soft and see what happens. This is not a soft football team at all mentally or physically …"

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"There's no possible explanation to say this team is soft in any way, shape or form, mentally or physically. The way they go about their work, it's insulting to me, to them, to everyone who works here. No chance ever in hell would I ever admit that to be the case, and neither would anybody in this locker room. You can shove that one right up your a--, to be honest with you."

The Titans were able to pull off an upset in Houston against their AFC South rival Texans, but they have lost each of their three games since then.

Earlier this season, they traded DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs, as he was unable to revert to his old form.

Tennessee will finish their season with games against each of their division rivals, and surely, Callahan is hoping that his team can show that his words ring true.

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis had a tough outing against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, and fans added a little insult to injury as well.

Levis was benched in the third quarter after he threw the third interception of his day to Bengals safety Geno Stone. The defensive back ran it back for a touchdown to essentially put the game out of reach for Tennessee. Mason Rudolph finished the game at quarterback.

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The second-year quarterback was 8-of-12 for 89 yards. He had three interceptions. Tennessee lost the game 37-27 and dropped to 3-11 on the year.

To make matters worse, fans noted that Levis’ ex-girlfriend Gia Duddy was at Nissan Stadium to take in the game. Duddy was tagged in Instagram photos with some friends. She wore a Titans jacket.

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Duddy gained notoriety in April 2023 as she sat with Levis in the NFL Draft green room as he waited for his name to be called. It never happened in the first round, though the Titans pulled the trigger in the second round with the 33rd overall pick on the gunslinger out of Kentucky.

As Levis was set to begin his rookie year, Barstool Sports’ "Pardon My Take" reported the couple broke things off after three years together. 

Duddy, a social media influencer, moved to Nashville prior to the start of the 2023 season.

Levis has 1,916 passing yards, 12 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in 11 starts this season. But with the Titans only winning two games with him as the starter, the experiment may be over.

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