The U19 soccer team made the trip down to Albany over the weekend and left with a near-spotless record: 3 wins, 0 losses, and only 1 goal conceded. To go undefeated and concede just 1 goal is indicative of a very successful weekend. The scorelines are testament to the team’s success. While at heart, soccer is a team sport, individuals sometimes deserve the spotlight.

Andres Castro ‘27 – Striker

Andres Castro ’27. Photo provided.

The top performer in Albany was Andy Castro. The Costa Rican came into Albany with 1 goal to his name; he left Albany with 4. Andy has been playing at a high level all season, with goals the only thing lacking. From minute one in Albany, you could tell he was on a mission to change that. On Friday night, he opened the scoring late in the first half to grab the lead and later put the game to bed by making it 3-0. He followed up his Friday night with an important equalizer on Saturday, in a game where the team struggled in the first half. To top off his 3-goal weekend, Andy added an assist to his attacking returns.

Thiago Cesar ‘26 – Midfielder/Attacker

Thiago Cesar (middle) has helped Northwood School to an undefeated start this season. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

The Brazilian began the weekend as the leading goal scorer on the team and built on that momentum again this weekend. He got himself a goal while also adding 2 assists – bringing his tally to 5 goals and 3 assists on the season. Thiago attributed his success to his teammates: “I mean, I wouldn’t have had those 2 assists this weekend if it weren’t for my teammates. So, I am thankful for them, because they are the ones who allow me to deliver goals and assists.”

Tziyon Morris ‘26 – Defender

Tziyon Morris ’26. Photo provided.

Having only conceded one goal across three games, the entire backline could be included in this list. However, Big Z deserves to be included in this list. Having played the most minutes of any player in the squad, one could reasonably assume that his level of play may have dipped ever so slightly toward the end of the weekend; that was not the case. He instilled a sense of safety at the back, and his control and composure were contagious.

The wait is finally over; the NFL is back. Here are some of the best games from week one.

Ravens 40, Bills 41 — Lamar and Baltimore blow a big 4^th quarter lead. Baltimore’s inability to close games comes to the forefront once again.

Without a doubt, the game of the week. It may even end up being a contender for game of the year. High-flying offense was the theme throughout all 4 quarters. Both offenses combined for 929 yards and 10 touchdowns. Through 3 quarters, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry tore up the Bills’ defense. Henry ran for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day, while Lamar had a passer rating of 144 on a scale of 158, virtually a perfect game. With 11 minutes to play in the 4^th quarter, Baltimore led by 15 points. With 10 minutes to play, the Bills turned it around and found a way to win. Their defense shut down the Ravens on all their remaining drives, while Josh Allen put on a show that only he can produce. Here’s a stat: at one point in the fourth quarter, Buffalo had a 1% chance of winning. Meaning, if this game were played 100 times, the Bills would win once, at best, yet they found a way.

The Bills celebrate their win. Photo: NFL.

All that is fun to talk about, however; here is what is most apparent: The Baltimore Ravens can’t get the job done in big games. We’ve seen it time and time again. Baltimore is arguably the best team in the league; they have been for the past few years. Unfortunately for them, they are also the best team in the league at beating themselves. If you look at all the big games they’ve played over the past 4 years, there is not one game where they lost because they have an inferior team; rather, they were the makers of their own downfall. While the Ravens did throw this game away in the final 10 minutes, the Bills deserve massive credit for mounting that comeback.

Dolphins 8, Colts 33 – Is it time for Miami to start from scratch?

The Colts came up big in week 1. Photo: NFL.

Miami came out cold against the Colts in week 1… and that may be an understatement. The Dolphins looked horrific against a team that many considered to be one of the worst in the AFC heading into week 1. First and foremost, Tua Tagovailoa needs to be examined closely over the next few weeks. His ability to play at a high level consistently is questionable. When you have the luxury of being in an offense surrounded by talent and good blocking, there are no excuses for bad play. That being said, the blame doesn’t fall entirely on Tua; the team wasn’t nearly good enough across the board and did not help out their quarterback at all. If it becomes clear they will miss the playoffs, they need to consider reshaping this team and give up on 2025. In contrast, Daniel Jones deserves a lot of praise. Jones, who has been maligned by so many analysts, balled out. He threw for 272 yards, with one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns – in addition, he had a 75% pass completion rate. We will have to wait and see how good the Colts will turn out, or if this was a one-off. Either way, they played well in week 1.

Chiefs 21, Chargers 27 – The Chiefs’ supporting cast and defense let Mahomes down… again. While Justin Herbert shines bright in Brazil.

For a first game back after a Super Bowl blowout, Chiefs fans would have expected much more from their team. The Chiefs addressed their left tackle problem over the offseason, while retooling other positions as well. However, other than Mahomes, none of those upgraded departments were firing. What was most concerning was the run game. You know you have a problem when your quarterback is your leading rusher. Defensively, the Chiefs’ secondary, which is very good, did a torrid job at stopping Herbert on the day. While there are many things to point at, none of them will matter come week 16 when the Chiefs prematurely secure a playoff berth; the Chiefs will figure it out.

Let’s focus on Herbert and the Chargers; they, unlike Kansas City, were firing. Herbert had a field day, throwing for 318 yards with three touchdowns and rushing for 32, earning a passer rating of 131.7 – on a scale of 158 (according to Pro Football Reference). The other huge positive for Chargers fans to take away was the performance of their former first-round pick, Quentin Johnston. Johnston, to date, has been a huge disappointment. However, if he can somewhat replicate this level of production going forward – 5 catches for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns – he can silence all the critics. The Chargers have good coaching and have some experienced veterans that can help guide the team to success, possibly even into the playoffs…

Bears 24, Vikings 27 – Caleb Williams shows positive signs despite blowing a lead.

The Vikings looked good in week 1. Photo: NFL.

This was a battle of two young quarterbacks in their first true seasons. Caleb Williams, who is now able to perform with a heavily upgraded offense, and JJ McCarthy, who is in his first true season. Both performed very well, and their respective fan bases should be very pleased with what they saw. Williams showed his dual-threat ability while also demonstrating composure in the pocket, despite some missed throws in key moments. McCarthy demonstrated a certain maturity that is beyond his time in the NFL. McCarthy’s play was reminiscent of Joe Burrow. Both teams looked good, and I believe both have recipes for success as currently constructed.

Packers 27, Lions 13 – How can you not love Jordan Love? The Pack impresses against the Goff-led Lions.

The Packers demonstrated they are a legit contender in the NFC with this win against the Lions. Jordan Love looked confident and decisive throughout the game. He was making quick reads and found the end zone a couple of times. The Packers’ defense played very well. They overwhelmed the Lions with their pass rush, consistently putting pressure on Jared Goff throughout the game and recording 4 sacks, 9 hits on the quarterback, and 9 tackles for loss. Lions fans shouldn’t be concerned about their team at all. They came up against a good team that executed a good game plan both defensively and offensively.

In the months leading up to the draft, Shedeur Sanders was in the conversation of being worthy of the first overall pick. In the weeks leading up to the draft, murmurs of a pompous, know-it-all attitude came to light; his projection was then a late first-round pick. In the days leading up to the draft, word on the street was that Shedeur purposely “tanked” interviews with teams he disliked, making him unpopular in some general manager circles. Despite all this, his talent and confidence remained, and he was still seen as a first-round pick by virtually every analyst and fan, but it appears the league had other plans.

Jackson Dart, QB from Mississippi, celebrates his selection in the NFL draft.

DAY 1: With the first overall pick, the Tennessee Titans selected quarterback Cam Ward, which was no surprise. Sanders, who had a custom draft room built for his big moment, would have felt as if his time had come next, as the New York Giants traded back into the first round, meaning they were after a quarterback. It was a quarterback they drafted, but it was not Sanders; it was Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart. Shedeur had to end night one by thanking his loved ones for coming out to support him, and that tomorrow would bring better luck; Shedeur slipped out of the first round.

Nobody expected Tyler Shough, QB from Louisville, to be selected before Sanders.

DAY 2: The Saints are on the clock at pick 40, a QB-needy team, after falling far enough, many felt that this could be it. The New Orleans Saints selected Tyler Shough, Quarterback from Louisville. Another quarterback off the board. The second round then came to a close. The third round didn’t see a QB taken until pick 92, when the Seahawks selected Quarterback Jalen Milroe. At this point, virtually the entire NFL community was all thinking the same thing: When is Shedeur going to get picked? Well, at pick 94, it now seemed like it would finally happen; the Browns traded up, and they needed a QB – Surely this was it? But for the 4^th time, a quarterback not named Shedeur Sanders comes off the board; with the Browns selecting 5’11” Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel. This selection at the end of the third round canned the likelihood of Sanders being drafted in the third round; Day 2 comes and goes, with Shedeur still waiting.

Day 3: At this point, tons of people – including myself – are beginning to wonder if Sanders will even get drafted. At this point, teams drafting quarterbacks aren’t looking for starters, and teams aren’t looking for a backup QB with a personality and baggage as big as Shedeur carries around. Sanders was listed as the second QB to come off the board, and he would now be the 5^th of the board, and that’s the best-case scenario. Anyhow, the 4^th round comes and goes. The 5^th round comes, and things start to look a little dicey for Deion Sanders’ son. However, after all the shock and disbelief, “with the 144^th pick in the NFL draft, in the 5^th round, the Cleveland Browns select Shedeur Sanders, Quarterback, Colorado.”

What must be said about Shedeur is that he handled the situation with the utmost professionalism. The embarrassment of expecting to be a first-round pick, and walking the stage in Green Bay, to not being selected until day 3 of the draft, he handled it all very well. On top of all the initial embarrassment, Sanders received a prank call from the Falcons’ defensive coordinator’s son, who is in college. The individual’s name is Jax Ulbrich, Ulbrich was able to get Sanders’ phone number from his dad’s iPad. The college kid pretended to be an NFL GM. Ulbrich pretended as if the Saints were going to pick Sanders and finished by saying, “You’re going to have to wait a little longer”, before hanging up. Ultimately, despite how the Quarterback may have approached interviews and despite his apparent “pompous” attitude, it doesn’t make the humiliation he received justifiable, and Shedeur deserves credit for handling the situation with class.

March Madness has been a little less “mad” than usual. There have been fewer upsets, and given the fact that the final four are all No. 1 seeds, one would think it has been less chaotic. While there weren’t any Cinderella stories, the tournament has seen many tight games go down to the wire. All 4 teams remaining have been dominant, which will make for some nail-biting last few games.

How have the final four fared? What has gone well for them? What hasn’t? Here is the complete review of the final four:

Duke

This Duke team, led by freshman Cooper Flagg, came into the tournament as the favorites, and it still looks as if they stand the best chance to seal the deal. While Flagg bears the responsibility of being the primary option, the Devils have demonstrated they are a tri-headed monster–and not a one-trick pony. Perhaps the play of Guard Kon Knueppel and big man Khaman Maluach has propelled them to such dominance in the tournament. Knueppel has been Batman’s Robin, coming in clutch when the lights shine bright, most notably leading Duke in points (21) en route to their Elite 8 win over Alabama. Similarly, South Sudanese big man Khaman Maluach has been a defensive wall in the paint. Maluach’s rim-protecting ability has shone through this tournament, getting opposition off balance and disrupting shots. The Blue Devils don’t have any particular weaknesses; they look to be on a different level from everyone else. I see them facing off against Florida in the final–Florida is the only team left that is equipped to give Duke a run for their money.

Florida

In Gator land, there are only 3 guarantees in life: Taxes, Death, and Walter Clayton in the clutch. While this Gator team possesses much more than just Clayton Jr, his play in the tournament needs to be addressed. He leads the tournament in points per game, averaging 23. To give an idea of how well he is playing, Cooper Flagg is averaging 19.5 points per game–on top of that, Clayton is shooting 45% from three, and 88% from the line. Besides Clayton, Florida has relied heavily on forward Thomas Haugh, big men Rueben Chinyelu, and Alex Condon. The latter two’s size and rebounding have been important factors for Florida and will be even more crucial for the Gators if they are to beat Auburn and move on to play the Blue Devils. As previously mentioned, Florida is the team best equipped to knock off the favorites, Duke. Before that, however, they had to get by the Johni Broome-led Auburn Tigers.

Auburn

The Tigers have a deep squad that can pose problems to any team in the tournament. In their Elite 8 matchup against Michigan State, Auburn had 7 players play at least 24 minutes – a testament to their squad depth and ability. However, they may face problems against Florida if they cannot get Johni Broome’s supporting cast going. While they have been shooting at a good clip this tournament, Denver Jones and Miles Kelly only combined for 16 points against Michigan State. If Auburn is to beat the Gators, they will need both Jones and Kelly to show up and each drop double-digit points. On top of that, Auburn needs to play very solid perimeter defense to limit the Gators’ 3-point shooting ability; they will also need to dominate the boards and control the game’s tempo.

Houston

The Cougars have been exceptional on defense this season; they are disciplined and don’t turn the ball over significantly. Coach Kelvin Sampson has his team playing great team ball and has controlled games. For Houston to beat the Blue Devils, they must execute what they have been doing so far at the highest level. The Cougars will also need guard Milos Uzan to show up and shoot the ball efficiently. In his last game against Tennessee, Uzan was a non-factor, notching only 6 points in 34 minutes. That said, Uzan has shown he can be lethal from three, shooting 45% from 3-point range this season.

PREDICTIONS

Houston vs Duke – Winner: Duke

Florida vs Auburn – Winner: Florida

Final: Florida vs Duke Winner: Duke

I like the Gators’ game; they play exciting basketball, and Walter Clayton is big time. Unfortunately for Florida, they will run into a team that plays great perimeter defense, which can make life complicated for Florida’s three-point shooters. Duke has also shown that they are on a different level from everyone else and have the perfect blend of players.

NFL Free agency officially opened on March 12^th, while many teams had deals done prior to this date through the legal tampering period, which opened on March 10^th. For anyone unfamiliar with the term, legal tampering is a period preceding free agency when teams are allowed to contact pending free agents to begin negotiating a deal. However, any signings made during the legal tampering period aren’t official until the 12^th.

As of March 13^th, most of the top talent in the market has signed with a team, so the big names are gone. Here are the biggest deals through the first two days:

Josh Sweat. Photo: NFL.

DE Josh Sweat signs with the Arizona Cardinals – 4 years, 76.1 million.

Josh Sweat was one of the big names on the free agent market. He recorded 27 solo tackles, 14 assisted tackles, and eight sacks for the Eagles en route to a Super Bowl championship. Those are very respectable numbers and warrant a top-of-the-market deal.

Jaycee Horn. Photo: NFL.

CB Jaycee Horn reaches extension with the Carolina Panthers – 4 years, 100 million.

While this deal technically does not count as a free agent acquisition, it does have a significant impact on future deals we are going to see at the cornerback position. The Panthers extended their CB1, making him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. The extension itself isn’t a surprise, but the money is a bit of a shock. This past season, Horn made 68 total tackles, recorded two sacks, and notched one interception. While there is something to be said for retaining your starters, unless we see an increase in production, this contract will go down as an overpay. The market has now been reset at the DB position, meaning teams with top cornerbacks, such as the Chiefs, Texans, Cowboys, and Jets, can expect to see one of these teams sign their star defensive back to avoid having another team reset the market again.

Sam Darnold. Photo: NFL

QB Sam Darnold signs with the Seattle Seahawks – 3 years, 100.5 million.

After looking like a bust with the Jets and bouncing around the league, Sam Darnold blossomed in 2024 and revitalized his career with a Pro Bowl-caliber season. Darnold finished 5^th among quarterbacks in passing yards and touchdowns, posting 4319 yards and throwing for 35 touchdowns. Darnold earned his money and got it.

Milton Williams. Photo: NFL.

DT Milton Williams signs with the New England Patriots – 4 years, $ 104 million.

Before signing with the Patriots, it was reported Milton was going to Carolina, with a deal being finalized. Instead, the Patriots hijacked the deal and offered Williams a deal that makes him the highest-paid Patriot in NFL history. The interior lineman had a solid season for the Eagles, recording five sacks, making 24 total tackles, and one forced fumble. The Patriots came into free agency with tons of cap space, and they were able to address one of their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Dan Moore. Photo: NFL.

T Dan Moore signs with the Tennessee Titans for 4 years, $ 82 million.

The going rate for Left Tackles is steep; this contract contributes to that narrative. This contract seems to be an overpay by the Titans. The 20.5 APY he is earning means Moore is now the sixth-highest-paid left tackle in the league, and while he is a good tackle, he is not elite.

NFL free agency officially opens March 12^th; recently, we’ve started to see teams shape up their direction for the offseason by making decisions on pending free agents. The headliners so far are the Chiefs placing the franchise tag on Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith, the Bengals tagging WR Tee Higgins for the second consecutive year, and the Raiders re-signing Maxx Crosby, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

What do these decisions mean for the rest of the NFL? Well, in Smith’s and Higgins’ case, it likely means they will remain with their respective teams, barring a trade. Both Smith and Higgins were set to be top free agents looking for a big payday; now, teams must look elsewhere to fill their needs at guard and receiver. The Raiders’ resigning Crosby was a must, with him being their best player. However, this extension doesn’t impact other teams as Crosby wasn’t set to become a free agent.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PLACE THE NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TAG ON OFFENSIVE GUARD TREY SMITH, SIGNING HIM TO A 1-YEAR, 23.4 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL.

Trey Smith. Photo: NFL.

Most people felt that Smith would walk into free agency instead of signing a long-term deal with the Chiefs. Instead of letting one of their best O-lineman walk into free agency, Kansas City decided to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on their guard; this means teams can still sign Smith to their team, but not before KC has the option to match that offer, and in the case they chose to decline, the Chiefs would receive two first round picks from whichever team choses to sign him. This decision likely means we will see the Chiefs sign Smith to a long-term deal later this year, or this will turn into a tag and trade scenario, where Kansas City will find a trade partner before the draft. What does this mean for KC? It means they have control over what they want to do as far as their offensive line goes. They can sign Smith long term, they can let him play on the tag and kick the can down the road and solve the issue next off-season, or they could trade him and receive draft compensation in return, like they did with Pro Bowl cornerback L’Jarius Sneed last year.

BENGALS PLACE FRANCHISE TAG ON WR TEE HIGGINS, GIVING HIM UP TO 26.2 MILLION IN 2025

Tee Higgins. Photo: NFL.

The Bengals have placed the exclusive tag on Higgins for the second year in a row. This comes in response to their star QB Joe Burrow expressing his strong desire for the team to be able to keep their core set of guys together; Higgins being one of them. The talk around the receiver has been murky, the player has expressed his strong desire for a long-term extension, which the Bengals have yet to give him. Burrow’s big, bodied target responded to the decision on social media with a cryptic one-word message: “Tag.” The Bengals face a tricky off-season, with multiple of their top players going into the last year of their deals – those players being all-pro receiver Ja’marr Chase, and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who led the league in sacks with 17.5 this past season. It will be interesting to see how the Bengals deal with the Higgins situation. he clearly wants an extension, and being tagged again hasn’t made him very happy; don’t be shocked if you see some big decisions made by Cincinnati this off-season.

LV RAIDERS RESIGN MAXX CROSBY TO A 3-YEAR, 106.5 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL

Maxx Crosby. Photo: NFL.

For the last 5 years, the Raiders have been nothing short of a dumpster fire. One of their only bright spots is their all-pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Over the past few seasons, Crosby has solidified himself as one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players. While the Raiders have a plethora of positions to fill on their roster, priority number 1 had to be to retain Crosby. The Raiders have now done that, signing Crosby to a 3-year, 106.5-million-dollar deal with 91.5 million guaranteed – this makes Crosby the highest non-QB in NFL history. Despite the whopping contract, the Raiders still have a ton of cap space to play with during free agency and in the days leading up to the draft, just over 95 million to be specific. While they are a couple of years from being able to truly compete, the Raiders can put together a much-improved roster due to a strong upcoming free agent class. Look for them to address needs at wide receiver and cornerback – great signings for these positions could be the likes of Hollywood brown or Chris Godwin at receiver, and a Charvarius Ward or Asante Samuel Jr at cornerback.

Gabriel Jesus has struggled for fitness over recent seasons (Image credit: Getty Images)

With the League leaders Liverpool holding a convincing 7-point lead at the top of the table, many wonder if anyone can catch them. The only team with a realistic shot at catching Arne Slot’s team was Arsenal – and those chances just took a hit. Recently, it was reported that starting attacker Kai Havertz had season-ending surgery on his hamstring. He joins Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka on the long-term injury list.

The gunners are left barren up front with their four primary attackers out for extended periods. In the future, they will be relying on Raheem Sterling, whose best years are behind him, Leandro Trossard, who has best served as a super sub, and Ethan Nwaneri, an emerging player still 17 years old. In many people’s eyes, these injuries could seal the fate of this season’s premier league. The title was already appearing to be slipping away from the gunners once again; now it seems all but a certainty that the North London team will finish runner-up in the league once again.

Photo: Daily Mail.

Does anyone else have a chance to catch Liverpool? The short answer is no, but let’s consider some other scenarios.

• Nottingham Forest. Forest has been the surprise of the season. Last year, they were 8 points off relegation; this year, they are 3^rd in the premier league, 10 points off the top of the tree. They are the ultimate example of continuity and synchronization within a team. If not Arsenal, they will be the next team who could make a comeback and claim the title. Over the final 14 games, they play eight games against teams in the bottom half of the table. They also benefit from Liverpool playing 6 games against teams in the top 10. For Forest to claim the title, they would have to be virtually perfect going forward and not drop any points, and hope Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle can eke out wins against Liverpool.
• 

  Manchester City Football Club. Photo: X

  The only other possibility worth considering is Man City. By their standards, City has been poor this season. They currently sit 5^th in the table and have struggled mightily in the league and in European competition. They are a whopping 16 points behind Liverpool, and the only reason I’m giving them a shot in the dark is that they are Manchester City. They have dominated the Premier League over the past 7 years. They have a winning DNA within their team, and they have quality players. Like Nottingham Forest, City would have to win out and would have to prey that Liverpool suffers defeats at the hands of Newcastle, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Arsenal. City came back to claim the title from behind last season, and while they were not this far behind, they did come back; if they can do it once, they can do it again – stranger things have happened.