3 things that stood out in NFL Draft first round: Rams' surprise tops list | Opinion

It’s just like theLos Angeles Ramsto go against the grain. While pretty much every other team addressed immediate needs while working the first round of the NFL draft – including the New York Jets with their three picks – Les Snead and Sean McVay looked to the future.

They nabbed an understudy for reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

It’s not that Ty Simpson, theAlabama quarterback chosen 13th overall, saw this coming.

There was no private workout with the Rams. He never talked to Snead, the crafty GM, until Thursday night. Ditto for McVay, his new QB whisperer. There was no “Top 30” visit to Rams headquarters. Throughout the draft process, there was not much contact beyond visiting with scouts back on campus.

“I really had no clue,” Simpson said during a video conference not long after he bear-hugged Roger Goodell on the stage in Pittsburgh.

The NFL Draft regularly produces its most memorable moments off the stage, when selections end with a handshake or embrace from the commissioner.

See the moments when draft night emotions peak as Roger Goodell greets players hearing their names called.

Above, Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the New York Jets as the number two pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.

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Roger Goodell shares hugs with players on the NFL draft stage

The NFL Draftregularly produces its most memorable moments off the stage, when selections end with a handshake or embrace from the commissioner.See the moments when draft night emotions peak as Roger Goodell greets players hearing their names called.Above, Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the New York Jets as the number two pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.

Now Simpson has quite the hint of what the Rams –who typically don’t even hang on to first-round picks– really think of him.

Simpson is pegged to be the Quarterback of the Future. Check back in, say, 2029 to get a fair reading on the worthiness of the pick. Yet knowing the track records of Snead and McVay, the prediction market will lean heavily on the positive side.

And that possibility will be bolstered by the fact that Simpson, the only quarterback drafted on Day 1 besides No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, can go to school behind Stafford, 38, while trying to close the gap of starting just 15 games in college.

"I haven’t talked to Matthew yet but I’m super pumped to be in a room with him and learn from him,” Simpson said. “He’s one of the greatest of all time. We watched his film all the time when I was at ‘Bama, the stuff the Rams did and Coach McVay. So, the fact I get to be in a room and soak up all the knowledge, I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”

Which sounds just perfect for those sneaky Rams.

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More:Rams Draft picks 2026: Full list of team's round-by-round selections

Cowboys got a steal in Caleb Downs

It was no surprise that four Ohio State players were chosen at the top of the draft. But it was undoubtedly something of a shock that Downs, the superb safety, was the fourth one off the board. He lasted until the 11th pick, which came afterDallas swung a trade with Miamito move up one spot.

This fills a major need, adding impact to Jerry Jones’ pledge to overhaul the NFL’s worst defense. And they didn’t stop there in providing new coordinator Christian Parker with a talent upgrade. Malachi Lawrence, the defensive end from Central Florida (23rd overall), may not be another Micah Parsons, but he is sorely needed to juice the pass-rush.

More:Cowboys draft picks 2026: Full list of round-by-round selections

Chiefs, Steve Spagnuolo have major reinforcements on the way

After dealing all-pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams and losing fellow corner Jaylen Watson to L.A. as a free agent, what did the Kansas City Chiefs need to get out of this draft? Cornerbacks.

The tone was set whenK.C. swung a trade with Clevelandand jumped up three spots to sixth overall, snagging the top-rated cornerback on the board, LSU’s Mansoor Delane. Then, later in the round, Chiefs GM Brett Veach landed Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods with the 29th pick. Woods’ learning curve just accelerated because he’ll line up alongside ultra-intense all-pro Chris Jones.

It was a great opener for the Chiefs. D-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has proven to be adept at quickly grooming young talent to impact his schemes.

And with more ammo for Day 2 and 3, they could be just getting started with that theme. Remember 2022? That’s when the Chiefs used seven of their 10 picks to restock the defense with a banner crop that included McDuffie, Watson, George Karlaftis, Bryan Cook, Leo Chenal and Joshua Williams – all of whom made significant contributions to back-to-back Super Bowl championship teams.

Now, four years later, Karlaftis is the only one remaining from that class. Wanted: Reinforcements.

Contact Bell atjbell@usatoday.comor follow on X: @JarrettBell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL draft Day 1 recap: Sneaky Rams, Ty Simpson biggest surprise of night

byAlpha World

in

April 26, 2026

3 things that stood out in NFL Draft first round: Rams' surprise tops list | Opinion

It’s just like theLos Angeles Ramsto go against the grain. While pretty much every other team addressed immediate needs while working t...

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Study identifies the major downside of wearing a fitness tracker

Fitnessand calorie tracking devices can induce feelings of "shame" in users who fail to meet their set targets, according to research.

Experts from University College London (UCL) and Loughborough Universityemployed artificial intelligence (AI)to analyse tens of thousands of social media posts on X.

Their study identified 58,881 posts discussing the five most profitable fitness applications, revealing the potential negative psychological impact of these popular tools.

These were then filtered to see whether users posted a “negative sentiment”, resulting in 13,799 posts.

Researchers found that users felt “shame” when they logged unhealthy foods, “irritation” by notifications sent by the apps and disappointment when people were not able to meet their goals.

The study also highlighted concerns with algorithm-generated targets, based on a person’s weight loss goals.

“These apps rely on algorithms that do not reflect the flexibility and messiness of real life, or account for individual circumstances and differences,” they wrote in the British Journal of Health Psychology.

They highlight how one user wrote: “If I want to reach my goal weight I need to consume −700 (negative 700) calories a day.”

In some cases, these experiences led to “demotivation”, with users seemingly giving up on their goals, they found.

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The researchers called for fitness apps to move away from “rigid” calorie counting and exercise regimes to a more holistic approach.

“Few studies have looked at the potential detrimental effects of these apps,” said Dr Paulina Bondaronek, from UCL Institute of Health Informatics and senior author of the paper.

“Social media provides a huge amount of data that could help us understand these effects. By usingAI, we were able to analyse this data more quickly.

“In these posts, we found a lot of blame and shame, with people feeling they were not doing as well as they should be. These emotional effects may end up harming people’s motivation and their health.

“Instead of very narrow, rigid measures of success relating to amount of weight lost, health apps should prioritise overall wellbeing and focus on intrinsic motivation – ie, the inherent enjoyment or satisfaction in activities.”

She added: “We need to learn to be kinder to ourselves. We are good at blaming and shaming because we think it will help us to do better but actually it has the opposite effect.

“It is important to note, too, that we only looked at negative posts, so we cannot assess the overall effect of these apps in terms of our wellbeing. The apps may have a negative side, but they likely also provide benefits to many people.”

Co-author Dr Lucy Porter, from the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, added: “Listening to users’ reports on social media has shown that fitness apps can sometimes leave users feeling demoralised and ready to give up – which is the exact opposite of what these tools are supposed to do.

“We know from previous research that feeling ashamed and miserable about yourself is not going to support healthy, long-term behaviour change – what we need to know now is how pervasive these effects on morale and emotional wellbeing are, and whether there is anything that can be done to adapt fitness apps so that they better meet people’s needs.”

byAlpha World

in

April 26, 2026

Study identifies the major downside of wearing a fitness tracker

Fitnessand calorie tracking devices can induce feelings of "shame" in users who fail to meet their set targets, according to ...

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Tributes pour in as legendary Indian photographer Raghu Rai dies at 83

Tributes have poured in for one ofIndia’s most acclaimedphotographers, Raghu Rai, who passed away in Delhi, with many remembering him for his powerful work documenting the country’s defining historical moments, social realities and everyday life with rare depth and sensitivity.

He died at the age of 83 after a two-year battle with cancer, his family said on Sunday.

The news of his death was confirmed via a post on his Instagram profile, featuring a black-and-white portrait in the style of his photography.

“With deep sorrow, we regret to inform you of the passing of our beloved,” the post read.

One ofIndia’s foremostphotographers, Rai worked as aphotojournalistfor over five decades, documenting key historical moments such as the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Emergency, Operation Blue Star, and theBhopaldisaster, as well as capturing intimate portraits of figures including Mother Teresa, Satyajit Ray,Indira Gandhiand the Dalai Lama.

Born on 18 December 1942, in undividedIndia’s Punjab, Rai was a civil engineer who was introduced to the medium by his brother, photographer S Paul, during a professional break. His foray into photography six decades ago was a fortunate coincidence, as his first image – a picture of a donkey looking directly into the lens – was published inThe Timesof London after his brother was impressed by it.

“I tried to get closer, but when I was about 10 feet away, the donkey started running and the children started laughing,” Rai toldGuardianin an interview four decades later.

He said he chased the donkey for three hours, and later, when they both got tired, the donkey “stood there so I got closer and took the shot”.

“The [prize] money I got was enough to live on for a month,” said Rai. “I thought, ‘This is not a bad idea, man!’”

On Sunday, many described his passing as the “end of an era” as his colleagues, friends and others remembered him for his work, dedication and enthusiasm.

Politician and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor said he was “deeply saddened” by Rai’s death, calling him “one of the world’s finest visual storytellers”.

Recalling a personal connection from his childhood, when Rai worked with his father atThe Statesmannewspaper,he said the photographer was not just a global figure but “the man with the gentle smile and the observant eye”.

To the world, he said, Rai was “an incomparable master” who “captured the pulsating heart and soul ofIndia” - from the aftermath of theBhopaldisaster to intimate portraits of Mother Teresa andIndira Gandhi.

“Raghu Rai did not just photograph India; he lived it, and through his lens, he made us feel its pulse,” he added.

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Orator Joy Bhattacharjya shared one of Rai’s photographs of former prime ministerIndira Gandhi, saying India had lost “its finest visual chronicler”.

“Rest in peace, Raghu Rai sir – nobody captured the India in which we grew up better than you. This is just one of the many stunning images you bequeathed us,” he wrote.

Historian William Dalrymple, who described Rai as a friend and mentor, said he was “not just India’s greatest photographer but also one of its most beloved, generous and wonderful men”.

“His book on Delhi was the first I ever bought about the city, and it was he who first taught me how to look at it and pin it to paper,” he said. “Later, he became the kindest of friends. I adored him – his warmth, energy and wild enthusiasm. Om Shanti... he will be much, much missed.”

Rai was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh war and its aftermath.

His work caught the attention of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who nominated him to join the prestigious Magnum Photos in 1977 – placing him among a select group shaping global photojournalism.

He later received the Photographer of the Year award in the United States for his photo essayHuman Management of Wildlife in India, published inNational Geographic. The French government conferred on him the Officier des Arts et des Lettres in 2009.

Among Rai’s most haunting images is his photograph from the aftermath of theBhopal disaster– a toxic gas leak that killed an estimated 22,000 people. The image shows the face of a child, partially buried in the earth, eyes closed in death. It became one of the defining visual records of the tragedy, capturing both its vast scale and intimate human cost of the deadliest industrial disaster in India.

The Press Club of India, of which Rai was a member, said he leaves behind a vast body of work spanning decades that will continue to be celebrated.

“His commitment and contribution to his craft will be remembered with deep respect. At this juncture, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” it wrote.

“He didn’t just take pictures, he preserved the memory of our nation,” said Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in India.

Over the decades, his work has been exhibited in major galleries and institutions across Europe and North America, and published in leading international magazines.

While less commercially prominent than some Western contemporaries, Rai will remain widely regarded within global photography circles as a central figure in documentary practice and as a visual chronicler of India.

Rai said in 2010 he was not “proud” of everything he has achieved, but it’s fulfilling to know one is going deeper into the layers of complexity of my country …”.

“I like being among my own people. I merge with them. I don’t carry camera bags, I don’t wear stylish clothes. I have one camera with a zoom lens so I am not alarming people; no one is saying, 'Here comes a photographer!’”

byAlpha World

in

April 26, 2026

Tributes pour in as legendary Indian photographer Raghu Rai dies at 83

Tributes have poured in for one ofIndia’s most acclaimedphotographers, Raghu Rai, who passed away in Delhi, with many remembering him f...

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US Navy Secretary Phelan fired, sources say

By Phil Stewart

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - Navy Secretary John Phelan has been fired, a U.S. official and a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, in another wartime shakeup ‌at the Pentagon coming just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted the Army's top ‌general.

The Pentagon announced his departure in a brief statement, saying he was leaving the administration "effective immediately." But it did not provide a ​reason or say whether it was his decision to go.

His firing was first reported by Reuters.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Phelan was dismissed in part because he was moving too slow to implement reforms to speed shipbuilding and because he had fallen out with key Pentagon leadership.

One source cited bad relationships ‌with Hegseth, Hegseth's deputy, Steve Feinberg, ⁠as well as the Navy's No. 2 civilian, Hung Cao, who the Pentagon said will now take over as acting Navy secretary.

The source also cited an ethics investigation ⁠into Phelan's office.

A billionaire seen as having close ties to President Donald Trump, Phelan is the first administration-picked service secretary to be fired since Trump came back into office last year.

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His departure fits within a broader context of ​upheaval at ​all levels of leadership at the Pentagon under Hegseth's ​watch, including the firing last year of ‌the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, as well as the chief of naval operations and Air Force vice chief of staff.

On April 2, Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff Randy George without citing a reason. Two U.S. officials said the decision was tied to tensions between Hegseth and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll.

The latest departure comes during a tense ceasefire with Iran, as the U.S. ‌flows more naval assets into the Middle East.

The U.S. military ​is relying on naval assets to carry out a blockade of ​Iran, which President Donald Trump is hoping ​will pressure Tehran to negotiate an end to the conflict on his terms.

The Navy ‌is under intense pressure to expand its ​fleet. China's shipbuilding industry now ​dwarfs the U.S., which was once a global powerhouse.

Trump's $1.5 trillion defense budget request for fiscal year 2027 includes over $65 billion to procure 18 warships and 16 support ships made by General Dynamics ​and Huntington Ingalls Industries.

It is part ‌of what the Pentagon is calling the "Golden Fleet" initiative, which officials say is the largest ​shipbuilding request since 1962.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; additional reporting by Steve Holland and Jasper Ward; ​Editing by Michelle Nichols, Bill Berkrot and Chris Reese)

byAlpha World

in

April 25, 2026

US Navy Secretary Phelan fired, sources say

By Phil Stewart FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - Navy Secretary Jo...

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Shohei Ohtani is making history: What current on-base streak means

Shohei Ohtani is closing in on history.

TheLos Angeles Dodgers' two-way phenom singled into right field off of Colorado Rockies starter José Quintana in the third inning on Monday night at Coors Field to extend his on-base streak to 52 games. Now, Ohtani enters Tuesday's away series opener against the archrival San Francisco Giants with the opportunity to tie Shawn Green — who reached base safely in 53 consecutive games in 2000 — for second place on the Dodgers' all-time on-base streak list (since 1900).

If Ohtani ties Green with a hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch in any of his plate appearances on Tuesday, he'd be five games away from the franchise record, which belongs to Hall of Famer Duke Snider. He got on base in 58 straight games in the 1954 season.

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Ohtani's streak began back on Aug. 24, 2025. In that time, he's slashed .280/.402/.590 with 56 hits, 16 home runs, 39 walks and three HBPs. He passed “Wee” Willie Keeler (1900-1901) on Sunday to move into third place in the Dodgers' record book after breaking into the top five by surpassing Ron Cey's mark of 47 consecutive games from 1975-76 earlier in the season. On April 10, Ohtani's streak reached 44 games, moving him past Ichiro Suzuki for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player.

“It's a tremendous streak," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. "It's hard to get on base, certainly when everyone's trying to target you. This streak is one of the great ones, and hopefully he can keep it going.”

Oct. 17, 2025: Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run during Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani hit three home runs and pitched six scoreless innings in one of the greatest performances in MLB playoff history. The Dodgers won the game, 5-1, to advance to the World Series.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> March 20, 2024: Shohei Ohtani gets his first hit as a Dodger in the third inning during the 2024 Seoul Series game against the Padres.

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Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers' $700 million man in photos

If Ohtani can pass Snider's benchmark, he'd still be a ways away from Ted Williams' MLB record of 84 straight games reaching base in 1949.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Shohei Ohtani on-base streak: What to know

byAlpha World

in

April 25, 2026

Shohei Ohtani is making history: What current on-base streak means

Shohei Ohtani is closing in on history. TheLos Angeles Dodgers' two-way phenom singled into right field off of Colorado Rocki...

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