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Approximate Value: Ranking the 2025 Dallas Cowboys roster from top to bottom

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If you’re a regular reader of Blogging The Boys , you’re probably familiar with a metric called Approximate Value. If not, consider this post your introduction. We’ve used Approximate Value (AV) and the closely related Weighted Approximate Value (wAV) on and off for more than a decade, and particularly often during our draft coverage. As we ramp up our draft coverage again this year, we’ll likely feature the metric repeatedly. So, in order to get everybody on the same page, we’ll use this post as a detailed introduction to AV. ” Approximate Value ” was developed by Doug Drinen at Pro-Football-Reference.com and is designed to assign a specific value to any player at any position for any given year. The algorithm behind AV weights position-specific metrics (i.e. yards or points scored/allowed) with an indicator for durability (total games played and seasons as their team’s primary starter) and quality (Pro Bowl and All Pro nominations) and then normalizes all this at a team level. Dri...
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Newcastle Set ‘Extraordinary’ Price Tag on Liverpool’s Target

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United celebrate after the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images Newcastle United are preparing for another busy summer window as they look to build on domestic progress and, hopefully, a deep Champions League run. Several key players have drawn attention from rival Premier League clubs during the past few months, and according to TEAMtalk , Newcastle have made it clear that Anthony Gordon will not leave unless an “extraordinary offer” is submitted. The club’s stance comes amid reported interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, with the Reds having already tried to snatch the former Liverpool academy player and Everton winger from Tyneside. Gordon has become one of Newcastle’s most productive attacking players this season, particularly in European competition. The En...
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Browns' NFL Scouting Combine rumor is bad news for Shedeur Sanders

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Browns' NFL Scouting Combine rumor is bad news for Shedeur Sanders originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The NFL Scouting Combine is a great opportunity to gauge interest in top players in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Teams can use it to evaluate talent and also interview players they have an interest in. For the Cleveland Browns , the wide receivers and offensive linemen will be clear players of interest. But, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic , there is another position the Browns will be taking a look at in Indianapolis. Jackson notes that the Browns are expected to scout quarterbacks at the NFL Combine, not just in the form of prospects, but also to evaluate trade options. This isn't the best news for Shedeur Sanders, who, without any additions, would likely be the starter in 2026. Browns expected to scout QBs at NFL Scouting Combine "The Browns will talk with quarterback prospects in Ind...
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Colorado Rockies spring training game no. 3 thread: Jimmy Herget vs. MacKenzie Gore

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SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Jimmy Herget #44 of the Colorado Rockies poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images In the first offensive explosion of spring training, when the Rockies totalled 13 hits and scored 11 runs, including a three-hit, three-RBI performance by Brenton Doyle and a homer from Adael Amador, the Rockies beat Arizona 11-6 for their first spring training win on Saturday. The Rockies (1-1) will now face their first opponent other than the Diamondbacks when they take on the Texas Rangers (1-1) today at Surprise Stadium. RHP Jimmy Herget, one of the Rockies best relievers last season, will get the start in his first action of spring training. “The Human Glitch” recorded career highs in appearances (59), innings (83.1 IP) and strikeouts (81) while posting a 2.48 ERA in his first season with Colorado in 2025. Due to his succes...
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Manchester United and Inter interested in €40m deal for Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde

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MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 12: Alejandro Balde of FC Barcelona looks on during the Copa Del Rey match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Estadio Metropolitano on February 12, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images Alejandro Balde’s season has hit a few bumps but there is a lot of interest from big-name teams in his transfer. After reports in England linked him with a move to Manchester United, fresh claims out of Italy say Inter are also watching the FC Barcelona full back ahead of the summer window. According to 365 Scores , Inter are considering whether to position themselves for a potential move. They already have Federico Dimarco, a highly-rated left-back, but with his contract running until 2027 and some uncertainty about what comes next, the Italian side are exploring alternatives. Balde is an appealing option: quick, direct, and still only 22. Hansi Flick has used Balde 32 times in all competitions this s...
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UCF football rebuilds running backs group through transfer portal

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No position group on the offensive side of the UCF roster — outside of quarterback and offensive line — generated more interest this past offseason than the running backs. The Knights finished 11th among the 16 teams in the Big 12 in rushing offense last season, after averaging 158 yards per game. Myles Montgomery led the team in carries (143) and rushing yards (705) while fellow redshirt senior Jaden Nixon had a team-high seven rushing touchdowns on 71 carries with 554 yards. Nobody else on the roster had more than 170 yards. The departures of Montgomery and Nixon, along with the transfer of Stacy Gage (63 yards), left the running backs group a bit short on depth and experience. Taevion Swint , who suffered a season-ending injury in fall camp, walk-on Agyeman Addae and true freshman Chance Nixon were the only returners back in 2026. Addae was the only one who saw action, rushing for 50 yards on 12 carries in eight games. UCF dipped into the transfer market when the portal wind...
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Why the Cowboys are targeting big-school prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 06: Fans above the SEC logo and banner during the SEC Championship college football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Cowboys have a long and rich history with players from small schools. Defensive tackle Jethro Pugh out of Elizabeth (N.C.) City State was the first small-school standout for the Cowboys when he was drafted in 1964. Since then the Cowboys have compiled an impressive list of small-school talent that includes Hall of Fame OT Rayfield Wright out of Fort Valley State, HoF OG Larry Allen out of Sonoma State, and numerous Pro Bowlers. More recently, small-school prospects continued to make the roster in Dallas. DeMarcus Ware (Troy), Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois), Miles Austin (Monmouth), Barry Church (Toledo), and Jeff Heath (Saginaw Valley St.) went on to fame and fortune in Dallas. Granted, outside of DeMarcus Ware, a...
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