Rashod Bateman: Trade to Cowboys was a possibility, thankful it worked out with Ravens
A report in May said the Cowboys looked into trading for Bateman and Bateman confirmed that he was apprised of that interest. That report said the talks didn't go far, but Bateman said "it was a possibility" that he would be on the move to Dallas before he and the Ravens pivoted to hammering out a new deal.
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Bateman said he's "thankful" that General Manager Eric DeCosta was able to work things out.
'That's the first thing I told him: I don't want to go anywhere else. 'I know you've got a lot of stuff to work through and we'll figure it out when we figure it out,'' Bateman said, via Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com. 'It took time, but it takes time with a lot of people's contracts. He had a lot of contracts to get done, and maybe more to get done in the future. To be a priority for him in that way is important. He shows he values me.'
The Cowboys eventually looked elsewhere in the AFC North for receiver help and traded for George Pickens, so the Ravens won't have to deal with him as they try for another division title later this year.
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USA Today
a minute ago
- USA Today
T.J. Watt contract winners and losers: Teammate hurt, peer helped by $123M extension?
One of the more prominent and previously outstanding matters of league-wide NFL business ahead of training camps, which open en masse next week, was checked off the list Thursday afternoon when Pittsburgh Steelers superstar pass rusher T.J. Watt signed a long-awaited contract extension, per reports, with the only professional team he's ever known. And while this deal was largely expected to materialize at some point this summer and may not necessarily create a seismic impact throughout the football world, it could have some broader implications than you might think. So we thought about it and now present you with the winners and losers from Watt's big bag of loot: WINNERS T.J. Watt But of course. His three-year, $123 million extension makes him the all-time top-paid non-quarterback, in terms of average annual value, for the second time in his career. It also means Watt, 30, will almost certainly finish out his football days with the Steelers, who drafted the eventual four-time All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year 30th overall in 2017. Pittsburgh's all-time leader with 108 career sacks, Watt is currently sixth among active players but could vault all the way up to second with one of his typically dominant seasons in 2025. He's certainly got 123 million reasons worth of incentives to do so. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan The conclusion of negotiations with Watt would seem to mark the end of a wildly successful offseason, one when the Steelers' longtime head coach and recently extended general manager, respectively, practiced patience while fans and some league observers practiced panic. But now Watt has returned to the fold, which he always seemed destined to do, and will soon meet new teammates like QB Aaron Rodgers, who also took his sweet time signing on, WR DK Metcalf, DB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith along with the incoming rookie class. Expectations are justifiably growing for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Jalen Ramsey The perennial Pro Bowler was acquired (along with Smith) at the end of June in a summertime blockbuster that reshapes the back end of Pittsburgh's defense with S Minkah Fitzpatrick headed back to Miami. It's currently unclear as to how Ramsey might divide his time between covering receivers out wide, manning the slot or even putting in some work at safety with Fitzpatrick out of the picture. What is certain is that Ramsey's best years were spent with the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl ring four years ago and was consistently at the top of his game playing behind demonic Aaron Donald, who caused so much havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Watt might not quite be Donald, but his presence is almost certain to benefit Ramsey, whether it means less time required in coverage, more opportunities to go ball hawking or even the ability to freelance more once he's comfortable in his new system and surroundings. Micah Parsons With Watt's contract done, it's almost certainly just a matter of time before the Dallas Cowboys' top defensive player becomes the next top-paid non-quarterback of all time − whether it's for $41.1 million a year, $42 million or whatever. Parsons' money is coming, and his boss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, is probably only too happy to generate that headline in due course now that he knows what the target is. (Also, Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson stands to benefit − at some point − from Watt's newly realized riches, though he might be waiting longer given his rookie deal doesn't expire until after the 2026 season.) LOSERS T.J. Watt Bro, why are you signing this paper now? It's supposed to be in the high 80s, humid and wet when you report to training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, six days from now – where you'll be moving into dorm rooms at Saint Vincent College. And if that's not a darkness retreat ... (Also, if the answer is evading compulsory fines for missing camp, I'd like to introduce you to Michael Strahan.) But Watt must really be missing his buddies after skipping the Steelers' offseason training program given he could have let this drag out another couple weeks while holding in or even simply stayed at the crib or beach or wherever. Also, no chance brothers J.J. and Derek are ever picking up another dinner check. Cincinnati Bengals They have yet to placate their own holdout pass rusher, All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson waiting for his financial situation to be resolved. Hendrickson, 30, who has 35 sacks over the past two seasons – 4½ more than Watt over the same period – hasn't necessarily been looking to reset the market. But given he's due to make $16 million in the final year of his deal, it's apparent to him and anyone else outside of Cincinnati that he's (over)due for a raise and isn't merely 39% the player Watt is (when you crunch the salary figures anyway). And given how everything is seemingly falling into place in Pittsburgh – and already was basically set in Baltimore – the Bengals would be doing little more than undercutting their playoff hopes yet again by letting business matters impede their football operation. Pay the man. Myles Garrett Feels like it was just five minutes ago that he became the first non-quarterback to break the $40 million per year contractual barrier. Then he was overtaken by Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase and now Watt, who both play for (better) division rivals of Garrett's Cleveland Browns. And, after explicitly stating he was the league's best defensive player last season after the Browns beat the Steelers in Cleveland – a remark clearly directed at Watt – doesn't it have to irk Garrett just a little bit that he's now the second-best paid defender ... and for a team that's probably going to stink? New York Jets The Steelers' Week 1 opponents will now be catching the full T.J. Watt Experience as they unveil an offense led by new QB1 (and former Steeler) Justin Fields. And just when the NYJ might have started hoping they'd be catching a guy trying to knock off some rust and possibly playing on an opening day pitch count given how negotiations can sometimes drag late into the process with Pittsburgh players … Aaron Rodgers? The Steelers are Watt's team, and he's been the face of this franchise for a minute … though maybe you could argue it's Tomlin. Regardless, Rodgers will definitely be the story as long as he's amongst the yinzers, and the spotlight is about to be completely re-trained back onto the four-time league MVP. No more time spent fretting about Watt's bank account or whereabouts or questions posed to Rodgers about what No. 90 means to the team and how important it is to reward him. Nope, nope, nope. This is now all about No. 8 and what he can do to end Pittsburgh's playoff failures and stabilize a position – temporarily anyway – that has effectively undermined this team since even before Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022. Have fun with that, Mr. Rodgers! All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
CNET
a minute ago
- CNET
Get the Powerful Blender I Use Every Day for Almost Half the Retail Price
There are blenders, and then there's the blender. The one that crushes ice without sounding like a demolition site, turns frozen fruit into velvet and never seems to slow down -- no matter how much you throw at it. For me, that blender is the Chefman Obliterator, and right now, it's available for as little as $79 at Amazon, almost half the usual price of $150. I've tested and used plenty of blenders over the years, but the Obliterator has been a standout in my kitchen for one simple reason: It delivers big-league performance without a steep price tag. With a 1,380-watt motor, stainless steel blades and a sleek, minimalist design (I'm partial to mine in the Concrete color since it's modern without screaming look at me) -- this is a tool that gets the job done and looks good doing it. Whether I'm making smoothies, protein shakes, sauces, soups or my new favorite thing to make, pesto, the Obliterator handles it all. I've used it daily for weeks and have yet to hear it complain, slow down or leave an unblended chunk behind. It even tackled nut butters and frozen margaritas with zero drama. If, like me, you prefer the Obliterator in the Concrete color, it's also on sale on the Chefman website for 20% off, bringing the price down to $120 from its usual $150 price tag. That's not as much of a deal as the Midnight model on Amazon, but it's still a decent discount. Or you can get the bundle (the one I have) that also comes with a travel jar for $130, a $30 discount from its usual $160. That's a great price for a blender that genuinely competes with other higher-end models from brands like Vitamix and Ninja. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Let's talk about specs Macy Meyer/CNET Equipped with a 1,380-watt motor and an advanced airflow system, the Obliterator is capable of crushing ice and blending tough ingredients while operative relatively quietly. The unit includes a 48-ounce shatter-resistant Tritan jar, suitable for both cold and hot blending, though the latter requires the lid to be removed and covered with a towel to manage splatter. A range of manual controls, including five speed settings and a pulse function, give users precision, while built-in safety alerts such as "fix jar" and "add liquid" offer added guidance during use. An "auto blend" feature also automates consistency settings based on the ingredients, reducing the need for guesswork. To put it simply, the blender does all the work for you. You just have to stand and watch. Whether you get the bundle or opt to just get the blender, you'll still receive a tamper and scraper tool to assist with thicker mixtures. This especially helps when scraping down smoothies or other purees. While I love the other features of the Obliterator, my favorite part is the easy cleanup. In the past, I rarely used blenders because it meant handwashing five to 10 small blender pieces, and risk cutting my fingers on the blades. With Chefman's blender, cleanup is streamlined through two methods: a self-cleaning preset or dishwasher safe accessories. Notably, the blender uses a blunt-blade design aimed at increasing safety during cleaning without compromising blending ability. A great birthday gift (or a "gift for me" gift) If you have a loved one with a summer birthday or you're looking ahead to the holidays (they'll be here before you know it), consider gifting them the Obliterator. If you have someone in your life who enjoys cooking, blending drinks or just having powerful yet stylish tools on the countertop, this is a gift that's both practical and fun. It's easy to use, easy to clean (hello, dishwasher-safe parts) and durable enough to last through years of use. Or maybe you're just tired of your current blender's underwhelming performance. This is one of those upgrades that feels instantly worth it -- the kind you notice and appreciate every time you use it. I certainly won't judge you if you end up gifting the Obliterator to yourself. My final thoughts You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a high performance blender that feels premium. The Chefman Obliterator punches above its weight and with this discount, it's a smart buy whether you're gifting it to a loved one or keeping it for yourself. If you're looking for other useful, fun gifts for your favorite host or the chef in your life, here are our favorite kitchen gifts under $50.
CNN
2 minutes ago
- CNN
House GOP pressing ahead for late-night vote on Trump's DOGE cuts package amid talks over separate vote on Epstein files
House Republican leaders are preparing for a late night in the chamber as they try to jam through President Donald Trump's $9 billion package of cuts to federal funding — after a day of intense talks with GOP holdouts demanding a vote on a Jeffrey Epstein-related measure. Republican leadership sources say the plan is to push the bill, which would formally enshrine a slice of the funding cuts sought by Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, through the chamber sometime Thursday night — with the potential to spill into the overnight hours. GOP lawmakers are signaling there's been a resolution in a separate dispute on an Epstein-related vote, but they have yet to divulge details on any potential deal. The issue of more transparency over the Epstein case has percolated for days on Capitol Hill and placed a wedge between Trump and even some of his most steadfast supporters in the House GOP. Republican leadership spent hours with House Rules Committee members Thursday afternoon, negotiating the best path forward. The DOGE cuts bill – known as a 'recissions package' on Capitol Hill – would cancel $9 billion in funding to foreign aid and public broadcasting. Roughly $8 billion will be taken from congressionally approved foreign aid programs as part of the White House's efforts to dismantle the US Agency for International Development. Another $1.1 billion comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps fund NPR and PBS. The committee began its meeting Thursday evening to consider the package. It must approve the rule, which governs floor debate, before the full House can act. It's unclear how long the committee will meet, but Democrats are planning to force amendment votes to put Republicans on the record over whether the Trump administration should release additional files from the Epstein case. In the committee meeting, Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern has demanded to see the details of any deal the GOP had reached over an Epstein-related vote, but so far, Republicans have declined to provide that information. Once the panel adopts the rule, the full House would then need to approve it — and Republicans can only afford to lose three GOP votes on the expected party-line vote. Then, the chamber would vote on final passage of the underlying bill. How late the vote will go is unclear. The House is racing the clock as Republicans attempt to get the DOGE cuts bill passed and to the president for his signature before a Friday deadline. The deadline is mandated under the budget rules Republicans are using to move the package without Democratic votes. Senate Republicans agreed in the early hours of Thursday morning to cancel the billions in already approved funding after a marathon overnight vote session on amendments. While most Senate Republicans firmly embraced the spending cuts and are pressing for more, some within the party raised concerns over the White House push, arguing that it set a harmful precedent undermining congressional authority. Ultimately, just two Republicans opposed the measure on the final Senate vote: Susan Collins, the Maine senator who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
