The State of Alabama is the latest to crack down on recruiting within high school football, with Mary G. Montgomery head coach Zach Golson being suspended for the upcming season.

You might be wondering what type of recruiting violations would end up getting a coach escorted out of the school after being placed on administrative leave when accusations started flying.

Well, in my neck of the woods of Semmes, Alabama, keeping a secret or not running to social media to blast the latest gossip is essentially a rite of passage.

Located just outside of Mobile, which is home to Hank Aaron, Ozzie Smith, Jake Peavy, JaMarcus Russell, Tee Martin, Satchel Paige and plenty of other legends, Mary G. Montgomery has made plenty of noise over the past four years under coach Zach Golson.

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During his time as the head coach, Golson had accumulated a 37-10 record at the Division 7A level of Alabama high school football, which also put a target on his back from opposing coaches in the area and state.

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Honestly, during my time at Davidson High School, MGM was one of those games that you knew would be an easy night on the field, though I’m not going to act as if I played.

You could catch me on the soccer field, and even then I wasn’t getting on the pitch until we had secured at least a three-score lead.

OK, back to the reason why Mary G. Montgomery will not have its head coach for the upcoming season.

While back home last month for a visit with family, along with making a trek down I-10 towards a college not to be named (future story), the MGM Vikings were brought up numerous times as the latest scuttlebutt of weird improprieties in high school recruiting.

Just think of the show ‘Friday Night Lights’ and ‘Buddy Garrity’

According to a few people who couldn’t resist the opportunity to spread some gossip about things I had missed, MGM head coach Zach Golson allegedly held an event for eighth-grade students who were intending to play for the high school next season.

FOX10 News in Mobile, Alabama, reported that a principal from an opposing school turned in the MGM football program.

The problem is that the location of MGM also coincides with schools like Blount High, Baker and even Vigor, which leads to some interesting recruiting tactics being used if you are not within a certain zoning area. If you are in the Blount housing zone, that’s the school in which you are to attend.

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So, if a coach were to maybe maneuver a few things to get a player into his district, and I’m not implying Zach Golson did this, you can see how opposing coaches would be upset.

Just think of that scene from the show “Friday Night Lights” when “Buddy” put in a fake mailbox so he could allow some talented players to use the ‘house’ as their home address so they could play for the Dillon Panthers. If you remember, this was the reason why Luke Cafferty had to play for East Dillon, which turned out to be a blessing for coach Eric Taylor.

Brad Leland portrays Buddy Garrity and Kyle Chandler plays Coach Eric Taylor in episode 12 of “Texas Whatever” from Friday Night Lights. (Bill Records/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)

So, MGM obviously had to turn themselves in for recruiting violations

In the case of head coach Zach Golson, the signing day ceremony that included youngsters who were not in his district, which were plastered across social media, has ended up costing him a year of coaching.

Turns out, this would be all the evidence opposing schools needed to turn in Golson, which led to him being placed on administrative leave, along with being told to exit school grounds. He was then suspended for the entire 2026-2027 season.

I know what you’re probably thinking, and yes this seems a bit excessive. But, high school football is obviously pretty competitive to say the least.

In the aftermath of the school finding out that evidence existed of this alleged poorly executed ceremony, with the Alabama High School Athletic Association having already been tipped-off about the event, Mary G. Montgomery officials confessed to the recruiting violations.

Not only was the school placed on probation for next season, but they will not be allowed to participate in the postseason, thanks to a ridiculous ceremony for eighth-grade students. And, if an opposing team were to lose to MGM, the game will not count towards their overall record in Division 6A, Region 1 standings.

For the students who participated in the ceremony and were not in MGM’s district, they will have to play for the school located within their housing zone.

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So, because of the actions of its now suspended head coach, who is known for being a great guy, MGM players are essentially playing a seasons worth of exhibitions games. This is the worst part of it all.

What an absolute sham for those players caught up in this nonsense.

But, that’s recruiting during an era where we also have what is essentially a transfer portal for high school athletes.

The Baltimore Ravens were without their two-time NFL MVP quarterback when Tuesday’s organized team activities (OTAs) began.

Why Lamar Jackson was absent from Tuesday’s media-open practice remains unclear. Monday’s voluntary OTAs were closed to reporters. New Ravens coach Jesse Minter offered little explanation but downplayed concerns about Jackson’s absence and suggested the star quarterback would return soon.

“Lamar’s been one of our leaders of the offseason program, and he had a couple things going on yesterday and today, and I do expect him to be back soon,” Minter said. “We’ve had some great conversations. I know when he’s going to be back and again, I’ll probably leave those between me and Lamar.”

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Minter replaced John Harbaugh, who was dismissed in January after 18 seasons as the Ravens’ head coach. The New York Giants hired Harbaugh shortly after his departure from Baltimore.

Jackson’s attendance at voluntary offseason activities has drawn attention because of its inconsistency throughout his NFL career. It’s hard to say how much that matters, but it’s certainly an issue critics have pointed to from time to time. His contract, with two years remaining, has also been a significant topic lately after he and the Ravens did not agree to an extension before the start of free agency. Baltimore instead restructured Jackson’s deal to create cap space.

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The Ravens held minicamp in April — the first under Minter — and Jackson was in attendance.

At the end of Tuesday’s OTAs, the team took part in a little game in which players from the offense and defense competed at throwing medicine balls. Minter said that’s part of preparing the team to play well in the most important moments.

New Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter is introduced during a news conference at Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Maryland, on Jan. 29, 2026. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

“We end practice every day (with an) ‘At our best when our best is needed’ period, and so that could be anything different. Today, we decided to do a little friendly competition,” Minter said.

“Right now, you can’t really do the football competition, and so I thought it would be something different, something fun. I try to get guys to not know what’s about to happen and answer the bell when their number’s called, and it’s as simple as that. That’s really all we’re trying to get done with that and make it fun, have the guys pull for each other.”

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens warms up before the game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., on Dec. 21, 2025. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Star running back Derrick Henry caused a brief scare after a knee-to-knee collision with another player. Though he stayed down momentarily, he later returned to practice.

“The ground felt like a bed for a little while,” he said. “And I saw you all (reporters) looking hot and bored, so I was like, ‘I need to give them something to tweet and write about.’”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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It could mean nothing, but then again, the A.J. Brown saga with the Philadelphia Eagles remains a hot topic heading into the 2026 NFL season.

With Brown’s wedding taking place this past weekend, among those not in attendance was Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, according to TMZ.

It’s unknown if Hurts received an invite to Saturday’s event at Montage Laguna Beach in California, or whether he sent his teammate a gift for his big day.

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The outlet also reported that there were no Eagles teammates at the wedding, while noting it was also unknown if they were invited as well. A former Eagles teammate, Darius Slay, was in attendance.

Either way, the no-show by Hurts, or any current Eagles players for that matter, simply adds to the mysterious status of Brown and the franchise as rumors have been swirling all offseason.

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The main tune of those speculating about Brown is that he will be traded to a new squad before the start of the year. And it could be coming very soon with rumors saying he might be on the move June 1, as NFL contracts become more flexible in terms of making trades.

The New England Patriots, who lost in Super Bowl LX to the Seattle Seahawks this past season, have been attached to those rumors the entire time. Many believe they would be a top candidate to land Brown, that is, if the Eagles decide it best to move on from their Pro Bowl receiver.

What isn’t a rumor is Brown’s frustration with his role in Philadelphia, especially this past season under offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who was fired from his post heading into 2026. Throughout the season, Brown made direct, as well as subtle, remarks about his usage despite the Eagles setting themselves up to reach the playoffs.

Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrate after defeating the Tennessee Titans at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Dec. 4, 2022. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

When they got there, the San Francisco 49ers took down the reigning Super Bowl champions in the Wild Card Round at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.  

During the year, Brown did everything from calling the Eagles a “s— show” during a Twitch live stream, to cracking jokes about his usage during streamed games of Madden.

In the case of Brown’s wedding, it’s also worth noting Hurts’ absence considering the signal caller is the godfather of the receiver’s daughter, Jersee. They have a long-standing friendship that began before their time together in Philadelphia.

Brown’s production immediately skyrocketed when he was traded to the Eagles before the 2022 season, tallying a career-high 1,496 yards on 88 catches with 11 touchdowns while catching passes from Hurts for the first time. He followed that up with 1,456 yards on 106 receptions and seven touchdowns in 2023, his second straight Pro Bowl season.

A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles walks off the field after the team’s 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Jan. 11, 2026. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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The Eagles ended up defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2024 campaign, but Brown saw his production dip to 67 catches for 1,079 yards despite scoring seven times once more. The addition of All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley, who won Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, impacted the need to throw the football.

Then, Brown had the lowest production in yards since his 2021 season in last year’s performance for the Eagles, tallying 1,003 on 78 grabs with seven touchdowns.

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