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Former Texas WR says he’s signing with Browns after ruling

  • Former University of Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond announced he is signing with the Cleveland Browns.
  • Bond went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft after sexual assault allegations, for which he maintains his innocence and says charges will not be pursued.
  • The Browns receiving corps is currently led by Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman.

We’re nearly to Week 2 of the NFL preseason and teams now have one game of film in addition to what they’re seeing in practice to assess roster strengths and weaknesses.

The Cleveland Browns may have decided to add another player to the wide receiver room.

Former Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond announced on X that he is signing with the Browns. The Longhorns standout went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and is a mid-training camp addition for Cleveland.

‘I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Cleveland Browns for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to continue my career in the NFL,’ Bond wrote in his post. ‘Football has been my passion since I was six years old, and plying at this level is a blessing I will never take for granted.’

Bond was expected to be a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft even after a subpar performance at the NFL scouting combine. But Bond turned himself in to the Frisco Police Department for an outstanding warrant for sexual assault in April.

Bond stated in his post that the prosecutor has decided not to pursue charges.

‘I will learn from this experience as I grow in wisdom, character, and faith,’ Bond wrote. ‘On the advice of my attorney, I will not discuss the details of this case, but I want to be clear: from the very beginning I have refuted these allegations and maintained my innocence. I stand firm by that today.’

The deal has not been finalized yet, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Bond played in 13 games as a true freshman for Alabama in 2022. He led the team in receptions a year later with 48 for 668 yards and four touchdowns.

Bond transferred from Alabama to Texas for his final year of college football in 2024. As a Longhorn, he struggled to build rapport with starter Quinn Ewers and had just 34 receptions for 540 yards and five touchdowns. Fellow transfer Matthew Golden became the top receiver down the stretch for the Longhorns and ended up as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Green Bay Packers.

Despite the drop in production, Bond was viewed as a probable draft pick given his game speed. The off-field allegations kept him from being selected.

Browns WR depth chart

Here’s how things look ahead of Bond’s potential arrival:

  • Jerry Jeudy
  • Cedric Tillman
  • Jamari Thrash
  • Diontae Johnson
  • Kaden Davis
  • DeAndre Carter
  • Gage Larvadain
  • Luke Floriea
  • Cade McDonald
  • Kisean Johnson
  • Chase Cota
  • David Bell
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Sports

How to watch Liverpool vs. Bournemouth

The 2025-26 Premier League season kicks off Friday, with Liverpool starting their title defense by hosting Bournemouth at Anfield.

Despite winning the English top flight by 10 points last season, the Reds haven’t sat still. Liverpool spent over $300 million in transfer fees to bolster a formidable squad. That included pricey moves to add Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké to a powerful attack, and replacing right back Trent Alexander-Arnold (who joined Real Madrid) with Jeremie Frimpong.

Bournemouth will be very familiar with one of Liverpool’s big additions, with defender Milos Kerkez leaving the Cherries to join Arne Slot’s side in a $54 million transfer this summer. Still, manager Andoni Iraola — who is likely to include U.S. men’s national team midfielder Tyler Adams in his starting 11 Friday — has impressed since taking over in 2023, using a high-pressing approach that gives bigger-spending teams fits.

As such, it’s hardly the easiest assignment for a team like Liverpool, who are favored to repeat as Premier League champions. The Reds beat Bournemouth home and away last season without conceding a single goal, but the Cherries were able to record solid wins over Arsenal and Manchester City, and are more than comfortable trying to punch above their weight.

Here’s what to know for Friday’s Premier League season opener between Liverpool and Bournemouth:

Liverpool vs. Bournemouth: Time, TV channel and how to watch Premier League soccer

  • Time: 3 p.m. ET
  • Location: Anfield (Liverpool, England)
  • TV: USA Network (English), Universo (Spanish)
  • Stream: Fubo

Watch Liverpool vs. Bournemouth on Fubo (free trial)

USA TODAY Sports’ 48-page special edition commemorates 30 years of Major League Soccer, from its best players to key milestones and championship dynasties to what exciting steps are next with the World Cup ahead. Order your copy today!

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Sports

Report: NFLPA puts one of top lawyers on leave following complaints

The NFL Players Association continues to be in the news for all the wrong reasons.

On Tuesday, the NFLPA placed one of its top lawyers on paid administrative leave after multiple employees filed complaints with the union’s human resources department, five sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.

Heather McPhee, associate general counsel for the NFLPA since 2009, was the subject of complaints alleging her failure to follow her supervisors’ directions. That was in addition to other allegations of bullying colleagues and disrupting the union’s work environment, according to ESPN.

It comes just months after her allegations helped prompt a federal investigation into the financial dealings of the NFLPA and the Major League Baseball Players Association in relation to OneTeam Partners, their $2 billion licensing company.

Sources told ESPN that Matt Curtin, the head of NFL Players Inc., the licensing arm of the union, and a member of the OneTeam board, was among those who filed complaints.

The news comes on the heels of a turbulent few weeks for the NFLPA, which has just gone through the resignation of former executive director, Lloyd Howell Jr. on July 17 after potential collusion concerns surfaced in a settlement with the league.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Sports

Hayley McNeff, bodybuilding champion from 2009, dies at 37

Hayley McNeff, a prominent bodybuilder during the mid-2000s, has died unexpectedly. She was 37.

McNeff died last Friday, Aug. 8, and her funeral will be held Saturday, Aug. 16, according to her obituary.

A Massachusetts native, McNeff won several bodybuilding titles throughout her career, including the 2009 East Coast Classic and 2009 NPC Delaware State, according to bodybuilding website RXMuscle.

‘Such a bright light has left this world too soon,’ her obituary states. It goes on to say, ‘Hayley was known for her quick wit and constant sense of humor, she had a gift for making those around her laugh and feel welcomed. Her energy and determination was a constant in her life and she always accomplished what she set out to achieve. She treasured her friendships and nurtured strong, lasting relationships with those who knew her best. Hayley will be deeply missed by her parents, siblings, extended family and friends.’

McNeff was a respected figure in the bodybuilding community

In the early aughts, McNeff was featured in the ‘Raising the Bar’ documentary series, in which a film crew provided an inside look into her gym routine as she prepared for the 2009 NPC Delaware State.

After winning the 2009 NPC Delaware State and 2009 East Coast Classic, McNeff was cast on the reality television show ‘Iron Maidens,’ which was pitched to follow a group of prominent female bodybuilders. However, the series never aired.

McNeff attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts. In addition to bodybuilding, she was an accomplished equestrian, board diver, and skier as a child and young adult, her obituary states.

Following her bodybuilding career, which peaked in 2009, McNeff pursued graduate studies in psychology to better understand and help others, her obituary states.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Politics

American history won’t be displayed ‘in a woke manner’ at Smithsonian, Trump says

Smithsonian museums must represent the U.S. in a ‘fair’ manner and portray both the good and the bad of American history, according to President Donald Trump. 

Trump made his comments after the White House sent a letter to the Smithsonian Tuesday unveiling plans to conduct a review of its museums and exhibits in preparation for the 250th birthday of the United States in 2026.

‘We want the museums to treat our country fairly,’ Trump told reporters Thursday. ‘We want their museums to talk about the history of our country in a fair manner, not in a woke manner or in a racist manner, which is what many of them, not all of them, but many of them are doing.’ 

‘Our museums have an obligation to represent what happened in our country over the years. Good and bad,’ Trump said. ‘But what happened over the years in an accurate way.’ 

The Smithsonian told Fox News Digital it was reviewing the Trump administration’s letter and would work with the White House, Congress and its governing Board of Regents moving forward. 

‘The Smithsonian’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research and the accurate, factual presentation of history,’ the Smithsonian said in a statement. 

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, weighed in on the matter earlier Thursday, saying left-wing activists had ‘obscenely defaced’ the museum. 

‘The Smithsonian is supposed to be a global symbol of American strength, culture and prestige,’ Miller posted to X Thursday. ‘A place for families and children to celebrate American history and greatness. Instead, the exhibits have clearly been taken over by leftwing activists who have used the Smithsonian as yet one platform to endlessly bash America and rewrite / erase our magnificent story.

‘These activists have obscenely defaced this beloved institution,’ Miller added. ‘The Trump Administration will proudly and diligently restore the patriotic glory of America and ensure the Smithsonian is a place that once more inspires love and devotion to this nation, especially among our youngest citizens.’

The White House’s initial letter to the Smithsonian Tuesday said the review would evaluate social media, exhibition text and educational materials. This would be done to ‘assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals,’ the letter said. 

‘This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,’ the letter said.

The review will focus on the following museums: the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Trump has taken previous steps to alter what content is shown in the Smithsonian museums and signed an executive order in March that placed Vice President JD Vance in charge of overseeing the removal of programs or exhibits that ‘degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy.’ 

Vance has already moved to shake things up at the Smithsonian. 

Artist Amy Sherald canceled an exhibit scheduled to arrive at the Smithsonian in September that included a portrait of a transgender Statue of Liberty at the National Portrait Gallery after Vance claimed the show featured woke and divisive content, Fox News Digital first reported. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Business

Ulta and Target will end deal for in-store beauty shops next year

Ulta Beauty and Target said Thursday that they have decided to end a deal that opened makeup and beauty shops in hundreds of Target’s stores.

Shares of Target fell about 2% in early trading, while Ulta’s stock slid about 1%.

In a news release, the companies said the partnership — which also added some of Ulta’s merchandise to Target’s website — will end in August 2026. Target had added more than 600 Ulta Beauty shops to its stores since 2021, according to a company spokesperson. That’s nearly a third of Target’s 1,981 U.S. stores.

Ulta Beauty at Target shops carried a smaller and rotating assortment of the merchandise at the beauty retailer’s own stores. They were staffed by Target’s employees.

The loss of the popular beauty retailer’s products could be another blow to Target as it tries to woo back both shoppers and investors. Target’s annual sales have been roughly flat for four years and it expects sales to decline this fiscal year. Shares of the company are worth less than half of what the were back in 2021, when they hit an all-time closing high of $266.39. It also has faced backlash over both its Pride collection and its rollback of key diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Store traffic for Target has declined year over year nearly every week from the week of Jan. 27, days after the company’s DEI announcement, through the week of Aug. 4, according to Placer.ai, an analytics firm that uses anonymized data from mobile devices to estimate overall visits to locations. Target traffic had been up weekly year over year in the four weeks before Jan. 27.

The only exceptions to that trend were the two weeks on either side of Easter, when traffic rose less than 1% year over year, the firm’s data showed.

On earnings calls and in investor presentations, leaders of the Minneapolis-based company had touted Ulta’s shops and its trendy beauty brands as a way to drive store traffic.

At a investor presentation in New York City in March, CEO Brian Cornell highlighted beauty as a growth category for Target and cited it as reason for confidence in Target’s long-term business. He said the company had gained market share in beauty and its sales in the category rose by nearly 7% in the fiscal year that ended in early February.

Target’s CEO Brian Cornell, 66, is expected to depart the company soon. The longtime Target leader renewed his contract for approximately three years in September 2022 after the board scrapped its retirement age of 65.

David Bellinger, an analyst for Mizuho Securities who covers retailers, said in an equity research note on Thursday that Target’s “messy in-store operations” as well as issues with retail theft and insufficient staffing at stores likely contributed to the companies ending their partnership.

“Overall, we see losing the Ulta shop-in-shop relationship as a negative development and something else Target’s next CEO will have to grapple with,” he wrote.

In a statement on Thursday, Target Chief Commercial Officer Rick Gomez said the discounter is “proud of our shared success with Ulta Beauty and the experience we’ve delivered together.”

“We look forward to what’s ahead and remain committed to offering the beauty experience consumers have come to expect from Target — one centered on an exciting mix of beauty brands with continuous newness, all at an unbeatable value,” he said.

In a statement, Ulta’s Chief Retail Officer Amiee Bayer-Thomas described the Target deal as “one of many unique ways we have brought the power of beauty to guests nationwide.”

“As we continue to execute our Ulta Beauty Unleashed plans, we’re confident our wide-ranging assortment, expert services and inspiring in-store experiences will reinforce our leadership in beauty and define the next chapter of our brand,” she said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Business

The CEO in chief: How Trump is getting what he wants from big business

For years, conservative groups and corporate leaders argued that the U.S. government would be better if it were run like a business.

For President Donald Trump, who has controlled his own businesses for decades, that looks like taking an increasingly active role in individual corporations’ affairs, from manufacturing to media to tech firms.

And corporations are meeting the demands of a president who is more freely exerting his powers than he did the last time he was in office. At Trump’s urging, Coca-Cola said it would produce a version of its namesake soda with U.S.-grown cane sugar. Paramount paid millions to settle allegations Trump levied against CBS’ venerated “60 Minutes.” Two major semiconductor makers agreed to give the government a cut of their sales in China. The CEO of Intel met with Trump soon after the president called on him to resign.

“It’s so much different than the first term,” said a Republican lobbyist whose firm represents several Fortune 500 companies, who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak candidly. “He’s just acting like a businessman. In his first term, I think he was trying to cosplay as a politician. He’s more comfortable in his own skin, too. He can explain deals better.”

Trump’s role represents a break with past administrations that may have been unwilling or unable, politically, to bring similar pressure to bear on businesses. In the past, small-government conservatives once accused previous Democratic administrations of attempting to “pick winners and losers” by trying to regulate industries. Trump today stands downstream of a bolder right-wing movement that calls for enhanced state intervention in corporate affairs.

Trump has said the corporate concessions are intended to boost the U.S. economy.

And the White House, in a statement, reinforced the idea that Trump’s involved approach to private-sector dealings is a key part of his economic agenda.

“Cooled inflation, trillions in new investments, historic trade deals, and hundreds of billions in tariff revenue prove how President Trump’s hands-on leadership is paving the way towards a new Golden Age for America,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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