Ex-Chargers pass rusher Odafe Oweh reportedly agrees to 4-year, $100 million deal with Commanders

Pass rusher Odafe Oweh has agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on a 4-year, $100 million deal in free agency,NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

The contract comes with $68 million in guaranteed money, per the report.

With the deal, the Commanders add a much-needed upgrade to a defense that ranked last in the league in yards allowed and 28th in pass defense last season. Oweh, 27, is a high-end pass rusher in his prime, two seasons removed from posting a career-high 10 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.

The Commanders also reportedly agreed on Monday to a three-year, $24 million dealwith 28-year-old defensive tackle Tim Settle, who started 23 games for the Houston Texans over the course of the last two seasons.

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Commanders add much-needed pass rush help

Oweh joined the Chargers last season as a short-term rental to upgrade their pass rush via an in-season deal with the Ravens ahead of the trade deadline. He played 12 games with the Chargers after the trade, tallying 7.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, 28 combined tackles and 8 tackles for loss.

Prior to the trade, Oweh was struggling with the Ravens on the heels of his career season and failed to record a sack in his five 2025 games with Baltimore. Now, thanks to his strong finish with the Chargers, Oweh has a lucrative deal to play for a Commanders team in desperate need of help in the pass rush.

Oweh immediately slots in as Washington's top pass rusher. Von Miller led the Commanders with nine sacks last season at 36 years old. He was playing on a one-year contract and is now a free agent. No other Commanders player recorded more than 5.5 sacks last season.

Dorance Armstrong Jr. is Washington's returning leader in sacks after posting 5.5 in 2025. Jake Martin also recorded 5.5 sacks, but is a pending free agent.

Washington is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 5-12 campaign on the heels of advancing to the NFC championship game after the 2024 season. In addition to a return to health for quarterback Jayden Daniels, getting younger and better on defense is key to those hopes.

byGreen Magazine

in

12:22:00 PM

Ex-Chargers pass rusher Odafe Oweh reportedly agrees to 4-year, $100 million deal with Commanders

Pass rusher Odafe Oweh has agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on a 4-year, $100 million deal in free agenc...

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US 'rock star' Paralympic skier wins silver for his late twin brother

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Patrick Halgren, the self-proclaimed "rock star" of theMilan Cortina Paralympics, said he could feel the presence of his late twin brother in his silver medal-winning Para alpine ski run on Monday.

Milan Cortina Paralympics Alpine Skiing

"He made this happen for real. He is the ski god and he has blessed me with speed today," Halgren said of his brother Lucas Sven Halgren.

Lucas Sven died in a motorcycle accident in New Zealand in 2016, three years after Patrick nearly died and lost most of his left leg in another motorcycle accident.

Patrick has been plastering blue-and-yellow stickers that read "SvendIt" around Cortina d'Ampezzo, a play on "send-it," which is Patrick's mantra on life and a reference to his brother who went by Sven.

"He's the reason I'm here. I'm just a vessel to cram love and combat hate down your throats. He inspired me to live life, but life is fragile. You can die," Patrick said. "It's all for him. It's for my family. It's for the people that have struggled. He's dead. I'm here living, talking to you guys. I'm going to have who knows how many women and champagne after this. He liked that, too, but he doesn't get that, and I do. I recognize that."

Halgren celebrated in front of his parents, Peter and Kathy, which he said was "pretty cool."

"But also, it sucks not having Sven here, so ups and downs," the 33-year-old Halgren said after winning his first medal in his second Paralympics appearance.

"They went to Tijuana, Mexico, for their honeymoon 50 years ago. They picked up their dead kid in New Zealand, and they've watched me win the Paralympics at the most beautiful ski valley in the world," Halgren told the Olympics website. "This is a surreal moment for them. This is an experience that will create a memory lasting a lifetime and such a good moment."

Halgren said it was Sven who steered him to Para alpine skiing after the 2013 crash that nearly killed him and resulted in the above-the-knee amputation of his left leg.

"I died myself. I was in a coma for a month. I died four times," he said. "They used a defibrillator to start my heart. Blood transfusion. I get it, and I'm lucky that I have that because I know what it's like. Not many people do."

Now it's hard not to miss Halgren, and not only because of his long braids that are dyed red, white and blue. Always entertaining and joking with those around him, the outspoken American has taken on a showman personality at the Games.

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At the podium ceremony, he performed an air guitar solo using his crutch. He said it was just "another Monday" for him.

"I am a rock star," he added. "I always wanted to be this guy, Jim Brown, he was my idol. He was a professional football player, played lacrosse at Syracuse. I did both those sports, and he retired at the peak of his career and became basically the first Black action movie star. I always wanted to be him, and now I am him."

Halgren said he "learned to be un-irritable, un-embarrassable."

"It's about being vulnerable in this life. It's about trying things and failing. It's OK to be embarrassed. It's OK to look weird."

As he talked to the media, Halgren was congratulated by nearly every rival that passed by. He was second to Switzerland's Robin Cuche in the men's super-G standing.

"Medals don't mean anything to me. The love from all the people supporting me is what means anything to me," he said. "I can feel, I can literally feel all the people who have ever given me well wishes and 'Thanks' and 'Good lucks.' I can feel them loving me and they're the reason I won.

"You celebrate the victories the same as the defeats. I've been blessed to have to develop my character over the last 11 years, losing my leg and could either roll over and die, or I could become the greatest Patrick Halgren on Earth, and that's what you're seeing."

His future plans?

"I would like to dominate the Earth in every category with one leg."

Anything else? "My horse is thirsty, I'm out."

AP Winter Paralympics:https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games

byGreen Magazine

in

12:22:00 PM

US 'rock star' Paralympic skier wins silver for his late twin brother

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Patrick Halgren, the self-proclaimed "rock star" of theMilan Cortina Paraly...

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'Fixer' in massive point-shaving scheme that rigged college basketball games pleads guilty

A North Carolina man pleaded guilty on Monday to charges connected to his "leadership role" in a massive point-shaving operation that rigged dozens of college basketball games.

Jalen Smith, a 30-year-old Charlotte resident, was the first of 26 defendants to admit to criminal wrongdoing in the sprawling scheme thatbrought a federal prosecutionout of Philadelphia earlier this year.

During a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro, Smith pleaded guilty to bribery, wire fraud and illegal possession of a firearm.

The defendant was a "fixer" who recruited players "to underperform and help ensure their team failed to cover the spread in games during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 NCAA men's basketball seasons," according to a statement by federal prosecutors.

Smith was crucial in the operation, authorities said.

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"Smith had a leadership role in the scheme, particularly in recruiting, managing, and paying players for their roles," prosecutors said.

With players agreeing to take a dive, Smith and his cohorts "helped to arrange for large wagers to be placed on those games, betting against the team whose player or players they had bribed to engage in this point-shaving scheme," the prosecutors said.

The point-shaving operation involved "more than 39 players on more than 17 different NCAA Division I men's basketball teams who then fixed and attempted to fix more than 29 NCAA games," according to prosecutors.

The bribery charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years behind bars, wire fraud tops out at 20 years and the firearms violation could bring up to 20 years in prison.

Smith's attorney could not immediately be reached by NBC News reached for comment on Monday afternoon.

byGreen Magazine

in

12:22:00 PM

'Fixer' in massive point-shaving scheme that rigged college basketball games pleads guilty

A North Carolina man pleaded guilty on Monday to charges connected to his "leadership role" in a massive point-...

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Fourth of July fireworks to return to Mount Rushmore despite wildfire risk

After a five-year hiatus, Fourth of July fireworks will return to Mount Rushmore this summer despite wildfire concerns.

The National Park ServiceannouncedMonday that the Independence Day celebration is returning to the historic presidential landmark in South Dakota to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country's founding. Officials said the event will be held on July 3rd and tickets will be made available through a public lottery early next month.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT |Dozens of fires sweep across Great Plains amid dangerous conditions

"In partnership with the State of South Dakota, we are excited to reinstate a spectacular fireworks show as the highlight of Mount Rushmore's Independence Day commemoration," said Dr. Jenifer Chatfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. "We invite the public to enjoy the show and reflect on our nation's remarkable journey and the great patriotic leaders who established, preserved and expanded our country's destiny."

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Fourth of July firework displays had been held at Mt. Rushmore most years starting in the late 1990s. In 2010, however, the event was suspended due to various concerns, including wildfire risk and environmental concerns.

Then in 2020, during President Donald Trump's first term in office, then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem successfully lobbied to bring the Independence Day celebration event back to Mt. Rushmore following a decade-long hiatus. A year later, the event was again canceled when the Biden administration denied permits for fireworks, citing the same wildfire and environmental concerns.

RELATED STORY |Record snow drought in Western US raises concern for a spring of water shortages and wildfires

Meanwhile, Monday's announcement from the National Park Service made no mention of any planned fire prevention measures for this year's event even as drought grips much of the region.According to the National Drought Mitigation Center,Pennington County, South Dakota — which includes Mt. Rushmore — is currently facing "severe drought" conditions. Many western states are also experiencing some of their lowest snowpack in decades, which is depleting future water supplies and setting the stage for what could be a busy wildfire season.

byGreen Magazine

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11:42:00 AM

Fourth of July fireworks to return to Mount Rushmore despite wildfire risk

After a five-year hiatus, Fourth of July fireworks will return to Mount Rushmore this summer despite wildfire concerns. ...

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Prewar US intel assessment found intervention in Iran wasn't likely to change leadership

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. intelligence assessment completed shortly before the United States and Israel launcheda war in Iranhad determined that American military intervention wasnot likely to lead to regime changein the Islamic Republic, according to two people familiar with the finding.

APTOPIX Iran US Israel

The National Intelligence Council's assessment in February concluded that neither limited airstrikes nor a larger, prolonged military campaign would be likely to result in a new government taking over in Iran, even if the current leadership was killed, according to the two people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the classified report.

The determination undercuts the administration's assertion that it can complete its objectives in Iran relatively quickly, perhaps in a matter of weeks. The administration has asserted that it was not seeking regime change in Iran, even as the strikes have taken out many figures in the Iranian leadership and President Donald Trump considers whomhe would like to see lead the country.

The intelligence assessment concluded that no one powerful or unified opposition coalition was poised to take over in Iran if the leadership was killed, according to the people familiar with the report. It determined that Iran's establishment would attempt to preserve continuity of power if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, the people said.

In line with the assessment's findings, Iran's leading clerics on Sunday chose a new supreme leader,Mojtaba Khamenei,to succeed his father, who was killed in the war's opening salvo. The son is believed to hold views that are even more hardline than his father, and his selection is a strong sign of resistance from Iran's leadership and an indication the government won't step aside quickly.

The details of the assessment were reported earlier by The Washington Post and The New York Times.

Trump and other top administration leaders have givendifferent justifications for the strikesthat began on Feb. 28, saying they were necessary to set back Iran's nuclear weapons program or to preempt an Iranian ballistic missile attack. While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the waris not aimed at regime change, Trump has said it'ssomething he wants to see.

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A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the assessment on Monday and referred questions to the White House. Director Tulsi Gabbardfired the council's acting chairpersonlast year after therelease of a declassified NIC memothat contradicted statements the Trump administration has used to justifydeporting Venezuelan immigrants.

Trump, dating back to his first term, has been deeply skeptical of the U.S. intelligence community and has frequently dismissed its findings as politically motivated or part of a "deep state" effort to undermine his presidency.

Richard Goldberg, director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destruction at the National Security Council during Trump's first term, noted that there's also a measure of skepticism toward the intelligence community because of some of its big misses in recent years.

U.S. intelligence agencies widely failed to predict the rapid collapse of the Afghan government to the Taliban that transpired in 2021, with most assessments suggesting a much slower takeover. And in the lead-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the ODNI, the Defense Department and the CIA wrongly estimated that Kyiv would quickly fall to a bigger and better equipped Russian military.

Goldberg, who is now a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish Washington think tank, said an intelligence assessment is "almost like an op-ed from the intelligence community."

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, and David Klepper in Washington contributed to this report.

byGreen Magazine

in

11:42:00 AM

Prewar US intel assessment found intervention in Iran wasn't likely to change leadership

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. intelligence assessment completed shortly before the United States and Israel launcheda war in I...

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