Teams reportedly expect Steelers to listen to T.J. Watt offers after Ramsey deal
That's the question multiple teams in the NFL are asking Monday, according to ESPN, after Pittsburgh pulled off a trade for cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Watt, 30, has 108 career sacks as he enters the final year of a four-year, $112 million contract he signed in 2021. That contract averages $28 million per year, far less than the going rate for premium pass rushers.
Division rival Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns reset the market in March with a $123.5 million guarantee on a contract he signed following a trade demand. His annual average salary of $40 million is the highest in the NFL for non-quarterbacks.
When Watt skipped mandatory minicamp this month and voluntary offseason team activities in the spring, he did not indicate whether he wants to hit the top of the market or surpass Garrett's compensation package.
The Steelers are not expected to shop Watt.
But ESPN reported teams are more likely to check in with Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan following the acquisition of Ramsey because the Steelers picked up $19.6 million of his $26.6 million salary for 2025.
Watt is a four-time All-Pro and has spent his eight-year career with the Steelers since entering the NFL as a first-round pick in 2017.
He has six seasons with at least 11.5 sacks -- his total last season -- and has forced 33 fumbles in his career. That's the most in the NFL over the last eight years, eight more than the Los Angeles Chargers' Khalil Mack. Garrett shares third with 20.
--Field Level Media
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- The Guardian
Matteo Jorgenson is big – and getting bigger in cycling's biggest races
Matteo Jorgenson is big. Not in the way Dexter Lawrence or Chet Holmgren are big. Not in the sense that most American athletes are considered big. But in the world of professional cycling, Matteo Jorgenson is big. In fact, cycling might be one of the only sports in which a man who stands 6ft 4in (1.93m) and weighs around 70kg (154lbs) is considered big. With broad shoulders and a wide chest that can act like a sail in the wind, Jorgenson is the kind of size that usually rules riders out of contention for Grand Tours such as the Tour de France or the Giro d'Italia. Why? Because Grand Tours are won in the mountains, and big riders don't climb. But Matteo Jorgenson can climb – because even though he's tall, he's still remarkably light for his size. His body is a rare blend of long limbs, powerful legs and low weight. It's a build that allows him to soar up Alpine and Pyrenean slopes with the speed and elegance of his Visma–Lease a Bike teammate Jonas Vingegaard, the two-time Tour winner, who at 5ft 9in and about 57kg (125lbs) is one of the finest climbers on earth. And when you can climb, people always seem to ask the same question: when is Matteo Jorgenson going for GC? That's cycling shorthand for general classification – in other words, when is Jorgenson going to try to win the Tour de France? It could also mean the Giro or the Vuelta a España, the other two three-week Grand Tours. GC means targeting the overall standings: the yellow jersey in the Tour, pink in the Giro, red in the Vuelta. Most riders who stand 6ft 3in and weigh 70kg don't get asked this question, because most riders that size don't stand a chance at GC: they can't climb. Bigger riders tend to aim for sprint stages or specialize in the Classics, one-day races like the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, where weight and strength help on the brutal cobbled roads of northern Europe. But Jorgenson might just have the legs to win a Grand Tour. He proved as much last year, finishing eighth overall in the Tour de France. For now, riding alongside arguably one of the greatest GC riders of all time in Vingegaard, it's unlikely Jorgenson will get the chance to lead Visma at the Tour. Instead, he will ride in service of Vingegaard as a domestique – a rider who supports the team leader – while hunting for stage wins where possible. So why not go for GC at the Giro or the Vuelta, and potentially become just the second American to win the former and the third to win the latter? Because, according to Jorgenson, it's not quite time yet. Matteo Jorgenson may be known for his size. But patience might become his defining trait. Jorgenson grew up racing bikes in his native Boise, Idaho. When he was six, his parents enrolled him and his brother in a local cycling club called Byrds: the Boise Young Rider Development Squad. The idea wasn't to create elite racers, but simply to get the kids outside and active. But racing stuck. By eight, Jorgenson was competing in mountain bike and cyclocross events – off-road races somewhere between mountain biking and road cycling. By nine, he was travelling as far as Oregon to race in his first cyclocross national championships. Within a year, he was also racing on the road. By 14, Jorgenson knew that if he was going to become a professional, he'd need to specialize. When an opportunity came to join Hot Tubes, the most successful US junior development team, he committed fully to road racing. At 16, after domestic success, Jorgenson travelled with the US national team to race in Belgium, the heartland of road cycling. 'I was really dogshit in Europe,' Jorgenson tells me from Sierra Nevada, Spain, where he's at altitude training camp with Visma, preparing for the Tour de France. Despite being humbled in Belgium, he wasn't discouraged. He knew his European peers had been racing tight packs on narrow roads for years, while he was still new to it all. In hindsight, that trip was pivotal. 'If I'd stayed in the US, I would have thought I was a really good bike racer,' he says. 'I could win nationals in the US and then go to Belgium and get dropped in the first 20 minutes.' Over the next few years, he raced domestically with Hot Tubes and in Europe with the US under-23 team, hoping to sign for a WorldTour team, the top level of global professional cycling. At 19, Jorgenson joined the development team of Van Rysel–AG2R La Mondiale, relocating to Chambéry in the French Alps. He lived with 12 French riders and enrolled in full-time French language classes. 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The Guardian
2 hours ago
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Claire Hutton scores first international goal as USA women sweep aside Canada
Just playing for the US national team was a big opportunity for Claire Hutton. Then Canada left her a bit too much space at the edge of the six-yard box – and Rose Lavelle found her with a perfect corner kick. The 19-year-old midfielder was ready. Hutton headed home her first international goal, and the Americans easily dispatched Canada 3-0 in a friendly Wednesday for their fifth straight victory. Sam Coffey and Yazmeen Ryan also scored. 'Set pieces are something we focus on. It's what we talk about,' Hutton said. 'At the international level, it's what sets teams apart, especially in big tournaments. So being able to get my head on Rose's perfect ball there was just amazing. Hoping for more in the future.' The Americans have won five straight friendlies by a combined score of 18-0 since their 2-1 loss to Brazil in early April. The 19-year-old Hutton was making her sixth appearance for the national team, and her goal in the 36th minute gave the US a 2-0 lead. 'It's just amazing. To wear this jersey, wear this badge, it weighs a lot. I know the history behind it,' said Hutton, who plays for the Kansas City Current. 'We talked about the US legacy this past week. Just knowing that I get to be a part of it, it means the world to me.' US coach Emma Hayes gave many of her Europe-based options a break for this stretch of three games in seven days, which also included two 4-0 wins over Ireland. That left opportunities for less experienced players like Hutton. 'As I've said many times, I'm all about improving the whole ecosystem. I think more opportunities for more players with the national team will improve the NWSL,' Hayes said. 'Because it gives players hope and belief that if they perform, that they're going to get an opportunity.' The US opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Lavelle delivered a free kick into the penalty area from near the left sideline. Canada's Janine Sonis tried to head clear, but the ball fell to Avery Patterson and then bounced to Coffey about nine yards from the goal. Both Coffey and Patterson stabbed at the ball, and both appeared to make contact with it. It went straight into the net. Coffey was credited with the goal and Patterson with an assist. 'I will give her full credit for that. I did not touch it at all,' Patterson said, not entirely believably. 'I laid it up for her on a platter.' Claudia Dickey, who also shut out Ireland in her international debut last Thursday, stopped a shot from in close by Canada's Jordyn Huitema shortly after Coffey's goal. But the Americans created far more chances. Canada coach Casey Stoney called her team's performance 'inexcusable' and said her players' fitness wasn't good enough. 'A lack of commitment and desire, which is not this team,' she said. 'Losing draws, losing 50-50s, not getting up to the ball, not pressing – it's not good enough. I'm not going to hide away from it.' Lavelle received a standing ovation when she was subbed out around the midway point of the second half. The crowd also gave a big cheer when Tara McKeown – who plays locally for the Washington Spirit – came on as a late sub for the US. McKeown assisted on Ryan's goal in the 89th minute.
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2 hours ago
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Emma Hayes' USWNT revolution gathers pace in dominant summer window
The US women's national team have just wrapped up another successful window in an experimental year. After beating Ireland 4–0 in back-to-back friendlies, they defeated an experienced Canada side 3–0 in Washington, bringing their 2025 record to 8-0-2 while continuing to field youthful lineups full of emerging talent. Emma Hayes' return to Audi Field came nearly one year to the day since they drew 0–0 with Costa Rica in their final tune-up before going on to win Olympic gold in Paris. Since then, the four-time world champions have turned their focus to the 2027 World Cup. Hayes has worked diligently to build the depth and cohesion needed to challenge for the title. As of this window, Hayes has capped 24 new players during her tenure and started 36 different players in 2025 alone. With European-based players rested (with the exception of Naomi Girma), and key Olympic contributors absent due to pregnancy or injury, Hayes continued to hand out valuable experience. Here are the biggest winners and losers from this summer's international window. Sam Coffey Coffey made her 38th appearance against Canada and, while she's no newcomer, few players have cemented their importance to the team quite like her. After the win, Hayes noted Coffey was 'in the form of her life' and praised her drive to improve. Speaking to the media, Coffey said she would have preferred at least one more goal to 'really seal it'. Hayes on her mentality: 'She is always, always wanting to improve her game. It never ends. It's never enough. She'd sit and watch film permanently if she could.' After scoring in Wednesday's victory, the Portland Thorns defensive midfielder now has three goals in five matches – level with Cat Macario and just behind forwards Lynn Biyendolo and Ally Sentnor among the team's top scorers. Claire Hutton Speaking of defensive midfielders scoring goals: Hutton rose to head home Rose Lavelle's perfectly placed corner in the 36th minute, notching her first goal for the US in just her sixth appearance. The 19-year-old has shown clear progress, translating her strong form with the first-place Kansas City Current to the international stage. Slotting in near-seamlessly alongside Coffey, Hutton has offered glimpses of a dynamic midfield partnership for the future. Rose Lavelle Lavelle returned to the USWNT for the first time in 2025 during this window and wasted no time reminding everyone of her quality. Starting the first and third matches, she was as deft and creative as ever in midfield. Lavelle scored and assisted against Ireland in her first game back, nearly scored off the bench in the second and was arguably the best player on the pitch against Canada. Hayes said: 'She's unique in the world game. There aren't many players like Rose Lavelle, and I genuinely think there is another level for her to reach with our team.' Avery Patterson and Lilly Reale Beyond Arsenal's Emily Fox, the full-back spots remain among the most contested in Hayes' squad. Twenty-one-year-old Gotham left-back Lilly Reale and 23-year-old Houston Dash right-back Avery Patterson – both converted full-backs with versatility – each earned two starts this window and made a strong case for long-term inclusion. Reale, making just her second senior appearance against Canada, limited the influence of veterans such as Janine Beckie while combining well with Alyssa Thompson down the flank. Hayes on Reale: 'I think Lilly Reale is showing steady progression. It's great to have a left-footer as an option on that side. She's strong defensively, tough to get behind.' Patterson, in her sixth cap, helped contain players like Ashley Lawrence and also provided a threat going forward, scoring in her first start of the window and providing an assist against Canada. Hayes said of the pair: 'I think they're at a similar level. Avery's better going forward; Lilly's better going backwards naturally. But they're both fast learners, and they're both adaptable.' Alyssa Thompson A word here for Thompson, whose pace and skill on the left wing made an impact in every match she played. The 20-year-old Angel City winger showed moments of individual brilliance, scoring her second international goal against Ireland in Colorado and adding a third in the next match off the bench. Though she didn't score against Canada, she remained a constant threat – her positioning and energy keeping her firmly in the mix amid a crowded field of elite forwards. Jane Campbell and Casey Murphy Another unsettled position in Hayes' squad is goalkeeper, which has been vacant since Alyssa Naeher's retirement. Manchester United's Phallon Tullis-Joyce has emerged as a likely No 1, following a clean-sheet debut against Brazil in April. With Tullis-Joyce resting alongside other European-based players, Hayes rotated her depth options this window and found promise in Seattle Reign's Claudia Dickey and Utah Royals' Mandy McGlynn. Dickey started the first and third matches and made several solid stops against Canada, including a late save. McGlynn featured in the second game and held her own, though Ireland didn't offer many tests. Meanwhile, Campbell and Murphy may now need exceptional league performances to claw their way back into the conversation. The doubters Hayes has been measured in her assessments, methodical in her team-building, and realistic about the road ahead. After beating Canada 3–0, she stressed that the team 'hasn't done anything yet'. That's true, but over the past year, confidence and experience have spread across a broader pool of talent. There's still work to be done, but Wednesday's dominant performance was a compelling reminder that this is a team quietly assembling the tools required to contend for the World Cup.
