Home Blog Page 31

Pro Football Network Names Vikings’ Top Trade Bait

Football

Football Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison attempts to catch a pass against Giants cornerback Cordale Flott.Jordan Addison, says Pro Football Network.

That website sized one player per team last week who could be traded before too long, and Addison got the nod up north.

Football Vikings WR Room Would Make an Addison Trade … Complicated

who explained, “Rather than continue to improve in Year 3, Jordan Addison saw his production drop in 2025, finishing with a career-low 71.0 PFSN WR Impact Score and posting career-low numbers in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.”

“He missed three games due to suspension last year, and he was arrested for trespassing in January. His drop in production and off-field concerns could make him a trade candidate for the Minnesota Vikings.”

Addison briefly frequented the trade rumor mill earlier in the offseason, but when the Vikings exercised his fifth-year option and drafted no rookie wideouts, the theories died off. Infante is trying to resurrect them.

How Much Could Vikings Get?

If the Vikings decide to trade Addison, starting with a 2nd-Round pick seems reasonable. He’s young, productive, and assuredly has the potential to be a WR1 when he gets the ball. However, there’s a catch: his off-the-field issues have prevented him from reaching superstar status, and he has yet to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season after three years.

Minnesota has also structured its wide receiver lineup with this in mind. Jauan Jennings recently joined as the 2026 WR3, providing Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy with another solid target behind Justin Jefferson and Addison. Additionally, Jennings serves as a reliable backup if either Jefferson or Addison gets injured.

Trading Addison now would ravage that strategy. The Vikings brought in Jennings to enhance their offense, not to create another gap.

The timing also suggests that Addison is likely staying put. If Minnesota truly wanted to move him, the April draft would have been the optimal time, not late May or early summer. As it stands, Addison looks set to remain a Viking through 2026 and likely beyond.

Soon, he’ll also be able to discuss a contract extension with the team. That could even begin this summer.

Why … Trade Addison?

Addison’s trade value starts with his talent. He has already demonstrated his ability to produce at a high level, is still young, and has three NFL seasons under his belt as he approaches his prime.

However, his situation is messy. Really messy, in fact. In 2023, Addison was pulled over in Minneapolis for speeding at 140 mph in a 55 mph zone. He claimed it was due to a dog emergency, and the incident didn’t create much controversy with the league. Most considered it a one-off.

Theo Jackson, who will fight for a roster spot among Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, and rookie Jakobe Thomas. Harrison Smith may even return one more time; he has not expressly retired.

Pro Football Focus recently identified linebacker Blake Cashman as a trade candidate, too, but like Addison, it doesn’t make much sense to get rid of a productive player.

Addison will turn 25 next January.


Football avatar

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Read More Dustin Baker

Lane Kiffin Surges as New Favorite to Flip College Football’s No. 1 Wide Receiver

Football

What happens over this coming weekend could result in a change in the balance of power in the SEC as the nation’s No. 1 ranked wide receiver hits the road for what could prove to be a very consequential few days in the 2027 recruiting cycle.

Top-ranked five-star New Orleans (La.) Brother Martin wide receiver Easton Royal has been committed to one SEC powerhouse for the last seven months, but pressure appears to be mounting as another conference blue blood is making serious inroads.

Easton Royal meets LSU

The Advertiser-Imagn Images

America’s best high school wide receiver recruit will be taking a personal visit to LSU over this coming weekend, as the school appears to “lead the charge” in potentially flipping him from his current commitment to Texas, according to Rivals.

Royal’s meeting with Lane Kiffin and the Tigers will be his fourth visit to the program, which named Kiffin its new head coach just one day after the wide receiver committed to the Longhorns.

Rivals recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong revealed his belief that LSU is the “team best positioned to ultimately get this done.”

In keeping with college football’s ongoing talent acquisition trends, the NIL factor figures to be important in Royal’s decision, and LSU appears to be hard at work creating a package that could entice the Louisiana native to back out of his Texas pledge.

Five-star weekend at LSU

Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Royal won’t be the only blue-chip recruit stopping by Baton Rouge this weekend, as college football’s No. 10 ranked recruiting class looks to make a good impression.

Defensive lineman Jalen Brewster, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2027 cycle and a current Texas Tech commitment, will also take a visit to LSU around the same time as he broadens his horizons amid persistent rumors he could flip from the reigning Big 12 champions.

No. 5 ranked edge rusher Abraham Sesay will also meet with Kiffin and his people, as will No. 4 wide receiver Xavier Sabb in what will be a few crucial days for the program.

Who else is looking to flip Easton Royal?

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

A trio of other SEC programs are looking to get their foot in the door with the wide receiver, hosting him on previous visits and looking to meet up again soon.

Royal is set to meet the Florida program up close in mid-June, according to recent reporting, with new head coach Jon Sumrall getting aggressive in their pursuit of the top wideout and build on what was a successful meet up back in March.

Ole Miss is also in the picture after hosting Royal for a visit at the start of May as head coach Pete Golding still searches for an impact wide receiver in his first recruiting class.

Royal has also shown interest in Tennessee that culminated in an unofficial visit in March and with another meet scheduled for early June, with the player noting in comments that the Vols, who still boast the pledge of No. 10 wideout Kesean Bowman, were treating him like a need.

America’s top WR recruit

Easton Royal/IG

Listed as the No. 1 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals analysts and the No. 4 overall player by an average of national recruiting opinion, Royal profiles as a dynamic, high upside target with the tools to emerge as an immediate Power Four impact player.

Royal shows an elite blend of size, body control, and athleticism, allowing him to separate effectively from defenders and win at any level of the field.

The five-star wideout tracks the ball well and easily adjusts to off target throws, making him a reliable outlet in contested situations, and has proven to be dangerous after the catch, with the vision and burst to create additional yards.

Recruiting insider: LSU is “home”

Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

247Sports recruiting analyst Tom Loy has heard from several people that the question of Royal eventually flipping from Texas to LSU is a done deal in all but name.

“It’s not going to be easy, but whether everybody’s wrong or not, every single person I talked to around Easton Royal says he’s going to eventually flip to LSU,” Loy said.

He added: “It’s just that simple. It’s where he wants to be. It’s home. He’s going to be a Tiger. Lane Kiffin is going to get it done.”

That’s up to Kiffin and LSU to make a reality, and for Texas to go all out in preventing. Whichever way that goes could be decided in part this weekend.

(Rivals)

FootballAdd us as a preferred source on Google

Follow

Read More James Parks

Uber is spending heavily on AI, but returns remain elusive

Uber has increasingly positioned AI as a core part of its technology stack, and AI models now represent a significant portion of its corporate spending. Costs are rising, but the company has yet to see meaningful returns in terms of ROI. According to President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Macdonald,…Read Entire Article…
Read More
Joan Menjivar

Mars taps reality TV for experiential M&M’s push

Entertainment

Entertainment M&M’S collaboration with Love Island USA.

Mars’ M&M’s is teaming up with Love Island USA.

(Image: Mars, Inc.)

Entertainment Confectionery brands are ditching traditional ads for immersive experiences as culture‑led campaigns reshape how sweets engage shoppers

Entertainment Confectionery marketing shift: overview

  • M&M’s Love Island campaign uses gameplay packs to drive engagement
  • Brands increasingly partner with entertainment and culture to reach audiences
  • Shift from traditional advertising towards immersive, participatory consumer experiences
  • Recent campaigns include KitKat Formula 1 and Wonka Netflix collaborations
  • Implication – brands must embed within culture to win consumers

Mars M&M’s is well and truly ripping up the rule book with its latest marketing campaign.

The confectionery giant is teaming up with Love Island USA to launch limited-edition M&M’s, alongside the slogan, ‘It’s more fun together’.

What’s more, the iconic brand is turning television into a game, with M&M’s Play Along Packs, where audiences can guess what will happen next.

“We know that reality TV is the ultimate social experience, and M&M’s has always been the perfect snack for bringing people together,” says Martin Terwilliger, VP of Marketing at Mars Snacking North America. “By coupling up with Love Island USA, we’re giving fans a sweet new way to immerse themselves in the show’s most iconic moments and connect with each other during watch parties.”

Beyond the Packs, M&M’s is involving fans in the ‘Villa life’, through interviews with former contestants and TikTok challenges.

Entertainment Experiential confectionery

M&M’s latest move highlights how confectionery brands are rethinking the way they connect with consumers.

In the last few months alone, we’ve seen the launch of Ferrero’s FIFA World Cup campaign, Nestlé’s KitKat and Formula 1 collaboration, Ferrero’s Wonka-Netflix tie-up, and a Mars’ M&M’s NYX make-up launch.

And as competition heats up, campaigns like these are fast becoming the norm.

Taste and Texture Broadcast

Want to discover more about the future of taste and texture in confectionery?

Watch ConfectioneryNews’ Taste & Texture broadcast on 17 June 2026 at 3pm BST (10am EST).

With experts from Mondelēz International, Ferrero Group, Mintel and NotCo AI, it’ll cover everything from the trends driving new taste and texture innovations, to the challenges faced and overcome.

SPEAKERS

  • Norberto Chaclin, Chief R&D Officer, Mondelēz International
  • Thomas Chatenier, Global President, Nutella
  • Fabio Mora, Senior VP of Open Innovation, Ferrero
  • Alisia Heath, VP of Research & Development, NotCo AI
  • Honorata Jarocka, Associate Principal, Mintel Food & Drink, Mintel

REGISTER FREE

Read More
Donna Eastlake

Machine learning closes research gaps in drug safety during pregnancy, research shows

Business

🛡️

Business Just a quick check

We’re checking your connection to prevent automated abuse

Read More
Arden Michaud

Seattle Hospitalists Vote to Unionize

Business News

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.medpagetoday.com/hospitalbasedmedicine/workforce/121461” on this server.

Reference #18.b7382f17.1780017129.16d963f

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.b7382f17.1780017129.16d963f

Read More
Buffy Coby

Dubai dilemma

Music

What started out as a “faith move” to Dubai became a mad dash to leave the city after it became caught in the middle of the US-Iran war.

For Shapawa Hylton, her stint in the ‘City of Gold’ was cut short because the situation became unstable and required, as Jamaicans would say, that she ‘tek wey herself’. Hylton, the daughter of veteran singjay Ghost, is a beauty consultant and educator who specialises in several cosmetic services. For the 33-year-old, who is now safe in New York, getting out of Dubai was a far cry from her seamless entry last year.

“I left Dubai by transiting through Egypt. I am grateful they had us somewhere safe, but it was just not a good experience at all,” she said. Hylton had been working primarily in the hospitality industry since last October. The move to Dubai, she said, was because she decided she would follow her heart and God’s directions.

“I only had a short time to prepare but the Lord told me to pack up and go, so I obeyed Him. I don’t like cold areas, so Dubai was perfect. Plus, I have an aunt who lived there. There really wasn’t any language barrier either, because aside from the Arabic language, English is heavily spoken by most, if not everyone, since people from all over the world live and work there. Dubai is one of the most travelled areas in the world, with most of the workers being ex-pats who settle there,” she said. The move was also one that made sense for career advancement.

“In my line of services, I’m more luxury priced here in Jamaica. I know the value of my work, and I wanted to charge accordingly, but I know that I wouldn’t have been able to here. I also wanted to travel and explore more of the world and be exposed to new cultures. I wanted to go somewhere where my services are valued, and people have the disposable income to afford and appreciate it.”

Before the war, Dubai she said, was fun. But even after the conflict started, she said there wasn’t much difference in how people were handling it.

“You know like how during COVID, when people were itching to come out of their homes? The people in Dubai are like that. Where I worked, on weekends and holidays, people came out. Even when there were alerts about bomb threats received on their phones, people just continued to live their lives. When I saw that, I said, ‘Bwoy, I always say Jamaica is not a real place, but Dubai is not a real place either’. They don’t take anything too seriously. People literally moved on with their lives,” she said.

That relaxed attitude continued for the most part until people were forced to be more vigilant and adhere to the government advisories.

“For me, business had slowed down to the point that they put us on unpaid leave. People began to be more cautious based on the government’s instructions sent in alerts to our phones. The good thing is that the government put things in place, so wherever the missiles were landing, we would have known, so we were able to ensure we were safe. We moved away from windows and went deep inside homes, like in the bathrooms,” she explained.

Occasionally, launched missiles had to be intercepted, which unsettled even the most mentally strong individual.

“Me nah lie, at times, the debris from the missiles got pretty close. I was cooking one day and I just started feeling the building shaking, and it was scary to hear those things falling. It was a lot mentally,” she said.

Hylton said she is keen on travelling back home shortly and focusing on building her brand, So Sassy Makeup and PMU Studios.

Read More

iFani Drops “Shake [Remix]” Music Video On TV And YouTube

Music

iFani Pens Heartfelt Tribute to Late Friend Bravo Le Roux: “Gone But Never Forgotten”

iFani Drops “Shake [Remix]” Music Video On TV And YouTube. South African hip hop artist iFani celebrates a vibrant comeback as the music video for his “Shake [Remix]” lights up television screens and lands on YouTube.

iFani Drops “Shake [Remix]” Music Video On TV And YouTube

The track revives his 2012 hit “Shake” with fresh energy from featured artists Sosoboy Fosho, Gaffi, Khitha Pinca, and Musa. Produced under a new deal with Asanda Empire, the remix captures the same infectious groove that made the original a dance floor staple more than a decade ago. TikTok users recently breathed new life into the classic, sparking renewed interest across social platforms and paving the way for this updated version.

iFani expressed heartfelt gratitude to fans for welcoming him back into the spotlight. “Thank you for having me back,” he shared alongside the announcement. The video, which builds directly on the spirit of the original, earned an early television boost with airplay on Trace Ngoma and Channel O before its full YouTube rollout.

Viewers can stream the official music video here: https://youtu.be/Q_gcUy8Fp0g. This release marks a promising return for the rapper, blending nostalgia with contemporary flair and reminding audiences why “Shake” remains a timeless party anthem in South African music. Fans have already begun sharing their excitement, hailing the track as a perfect fusion of old-school charm and modern collaboration.



Back to top button

Read More

“Michael” Lands Major Box-Office In Previews

Music

Lionsgate, UPI

Bad reviews be damned, Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” is doing very big business at the box-office.

Domestic previews for the film pulled in around $13 million on Thursday night – easily the best preview numbers ever for a musical biopic, and the best for Lionsgate since the last “The Hunger Games” a decade ago.

That’s also about the same preview numbers as “Project Hail Mary,” which went on to an $81 million opening domestically.

Also helping is that the film is a smash hit with audiences, landing a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, which easily slams the film’s 40% critical score.

Meanwhile, the film’s international release has begun rolling out in 82 markets starting on Wednesday, with an $18.5 million first day in those markets.

Earlier this week, projections had the film opening to $150 million worldwide, with $65-70 million of that coming from domestic.

Source: Variety

Read More

“We Got A Few In The Vault”: Ginger Trill Boasts About Unreleased Music With Touchline

Music

“We Got A Few In The Vault”: Ginger Trill Boasts About Unreleased Music With Touchline. SA Hip hop’s conversation has been set alight after Ginger Trill shared a confident and highly charged message about his creative partnership with Touchline, hinting at unreleased music while placing his collaborator at the very top of the current rap hierarchy.

“We Got A Few In The Vault”: Ginger Trill Boasts About Unreleased Music With Touchline

“Me and Touchline got a few in the vault, and honestly, I don’t know if anybody is rapping at a higher level right now! Yessis that boy is good,” Ginger Trill posted, delivering a statement that quickly caught fire across timelines. The tone was unmistakable, blending admiration with the kind of streetwise slang that signals genuine respect among peers.

Me and Touchline got a few in the vault and honestly, i don’t know if anybody is rapping at a higher level right now! Yessis that boy good 🥵🔥🔥🔥

— Because I Said So (@ginger_trill) April 21, 2026

The timing of the claim adds even more weight. The duo’s 2023 joint project Boyzen Da Hood was widely embraced by fans, powered by standout cuts such as “We Up,” “Tell A Friend,” and “Amen” featuring Mandy ZA. Their musical chemistry has become one of the most talked-about dynamics in local rap, with Ginger Trill’s unpredictable, razor-sharp lyricism colliding seamlessly with Touchline’s reflective and expansive delivery.

Speculation is now building around what exactly sits in that “vault.” Listeners are questioning whether the stash includes a handful of loose tracks or something more substantial, like a full follow-up project. Given the pair’s track record, expectations are already running high.

Touchline has steadily earned a reputation for consistency and thoughtful storytelling, while Ginger Trill continues to stand out for his technical aggression and playful unpredictability. Together, they offer a blend of narrative depth, flair, and kasi authenticity that resonates locally while holding global appeal.

No official release dates have been announced, but the message is clear. The collaboration is far from over, and more music is on the way. At a time when many artists focus on solo runs, their continued partnership is emerging as one of the most compelling alliances in the game.

Read More