Ryan Clark and Aaron Rodgers share a history filled with criticism.

The latest twist in the Clark-Rodgers saga took place during the retired safety’s recent visit to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

During a guest appearance on the “Football America!” podcast, Clark detailed how the four-time NFL MVP gave him the cold shoulder at camp. “There was a lot of people who I felt like were excited to see me in camp. And then there was one [who wasn’t],” Clark said, in apparent reference to Rodgers.

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However, the current ESPN analyst and former Steelers defensive back suggested he reached a new level of respect for Rodgers after the interaction.

“It’s cool, though. It strangely enough made me respect him. I have nothing against dude, he’s fine. I was like, ‘Man, I would love to sit with him.’ I’m a part of the history there. He’s the quarterback with our team now. I actually don’t dislike him,” Clark continued.

FORMER STEELERS STAR RYAN CLARK WEIGHS IN ON MIKE TOMLIN’S COACHING FUTURE

Clark said he intended to extend some hospitality to Rodgers, but his greeting was ignored.

“I wanted to sit with him, welcome him to Steeler Nation, and just kind of have a conversation … He was talking to [Steelers offensive coordinator] Arthur Smith. I talked to some of the guys I see coming from the special teams meeting. I roll the window down and I say, ‘What’s up guys.’ Arthur Smith kind of speaks. Aaron Rodgers looks at me and he doesn’t say anything.”

Ryan Clark prior to a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 4, 2024 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

“I respected it because he was like, ‘I’m not gonna be fake,’” Clark noted. “For whatever he feels or whatever it is, he’s … not someone that I fool with in that way and I’m not going to fake it. And I think it set the tone that you and I don’t talk.”

Clark was one of the outspoken critics of Rodgers’ arrival in Pittsburgh. In June, Clark argued Rodgers landing a one-year deal with the Steelers should be considered the “worst-case scenario” for the storied NFL franchise.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) warms up before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

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“This is the worst-case scenario for Pittsburgh Steelers fans. It continues to keep you mired in mediocrity,” Clark said. “Will this team be better? Have they gotten better in the quarterback room? Absolutely. Will they contend for that championship that Pittsburgh Steelers people and fans and organization think is the standard? No, they won’t. … They’ll be fighting for a wild card spot. They’ll probably be home week one of the playoffs and again be looking for a franchise quarterback.”

Rodgers did not appear in any of the Steelers’ three preseason games. Pittsburgh opens the regular season on Sept. 7 against the New York Jets.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin has signed a three-year extension that will keep him under contract through 2030, a person familiar with the deal said Friday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the school nor Stricklin had announced the extension. Financial details were not immediately available. Stricklin had been making $1.8 million annually.

His new deal came together after the Gators won a national championship in men’s basketball, the third in program history and the first under coach Todd Golden. Stricklin hired Golden in March 2022.

The Florida football team ended 2024 with a flurry, rallying around embattled coach Billy Napier and winning the final four games behind promising quarterback DJ Lagway. The 15th-ranked Gators open the season Saturday against Long Island.

Hired to replace longtime Florida AD Jeremy Foley in November 2016, Stricklin has enjoyed 13 national titles and 45 conference crowns while leading one of the most recognizable brands in college sports. He has been instrumental in helping the Gators navigate the ever-changing landscape of college sports, including revenue sharing and name, image and likeness payouts, as well as catching up in the facilities chase.

Under Stricklin, Florida opened an $85 million football facility and a $65 million baseball stadium. The athletic program also has preliminary plans to embark on a $1 billion renovation to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, better known as “the Swamp.”

But Stricklin’s future appeared murky last year, especially with the football team starting 1-2 and getting thumped at home by Miami and Texas A&M. Stricklin hired Napier from Louisiana-Lafayette in the Sun Belt Conference, and Napier was 12-16 at that point.

Stricklin was under enough heat that he essentially stopped using social media. It didn’t help that he had to replace a women’s basketball coach (Cam Newbauer in 2021) and a soccer coach (Tony Amato in 2022) he hired because of alleged mistreatment toward players.

Stricklin’s job has been less stressful over the past 10 months. Napier’s team delivered down the stretch last year and raised expectations for 2025. And then the basketball team won a title in Golden’s third season.

• Salman Agha top-scores for Pakistan with unbeaten 53.
• Middle-order collapse derails Afghanistan run chase.
• Afridi, Muqeem and Nawaz chip in with two wickets each.

SHARJAH: Pakistan began their tri-series campaign on a winning note, overpowering Afghanistan with a composed all-round performance at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Chasing a daunting 183-run target, Afghanistan’s batting unit unfolded on a meagre 143 in 19.5 overs despite Rashid Khan’s gutsy knock.

The bowling all-rounder top-scored with a quickfire 39 from just 16 deliveries, laced with one four and five sixes, but his efforts were insufficient to steer Afghanistan to glory.

Afghanistan were in a comfortable position at the conclusion of the seventh over as they were 60/1, with opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz dominating Pakistan’s bowling attack.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz gave Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough in the following over by bowling Gurbaz round his leg. He made a 27-ball 38 with the help of three fours and a six.

Following his dismissal, Darwish Rasooli (21) and Sediqullah Atal (23) attempted to retain the momentum but could put together 25 runs during their third-wicket partnership, which culminated with the latter’s dismissal off Haris Rauf in the 12th over.

His dismissal sparked a match-defining middle-order collapse, which saw Afghanistan lose four more wickets for as many runs and consequently slipped to 97/7 in 14.1 overs before Rashid’s grit.

After the Afghanistan captain’s dismissal, Pakistan’s bowling unit swiftly swept away the opposition’s batting tail to round up a dominant victory in their campaign opener.

Haris Rauf led the bowling charge for Pakistan, taking four wickets for 31 runs in 3.5 overs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with two each.

Earlier, the Green Shirts set a 183-run target for Afghanistan after captain Salman Ali Agha’s resilient unbeaten 53 anchored the innings.

Pakistan got off to a brief flying start to their innings as Sahibzada Farhan perished in the third over with 26 runs on the board. The right-handed opener smashed one four and two sixes on his way to a 10-ball 21.

Experienced top-order batter Fakhar Zaman then joined Saim Ayub in the middle, and they put together an anchoring 29-run partnership for the second, which culminated with the latter’s dismissal off Rashid Khan in the seventh over.

Ayub scored a cautious 14 off 16 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.

Pakistan lost two more wickets – Fakhar Zaman (20) and Hasan Nawaz (nine) – in quick succession and consequently slipped to 83/4 in 11.1 overs.

Following the slump, Agha and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz launched a counterattack on momentum-filled Afghanistan bowlers and added 53 runs for the fifth wicket in just 28 deliveries.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman eventually broke the stand in the 16th over by getting rid of Nawaz, who contributed with an 11-ball 21, featuring one four and two sixes.

Agha was then joined by wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris (15) for a 31-run partnership before falling victim to Fareed Ahmad on the second delivery of the final over.

Salman Ali Agha remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with an unbeaten 53 off 36 deliveries, studded with three fours and as many sixes.

Fareed took two wickets for Afghanistan but was expensive as he conceded 47 runs in his four overs, while Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid and Mujeeb made one scalp apiece.

The tri-series is being played from August 29 to September 7 and is regarded as vital preparation for the upcoming ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, set to take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28.

Originally, Pakistan was scheduled to host Afghanistan in a bilateral series in August.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed converting it into a tri-nation event and shifting it to the UAE to provide players with an opportunity to adapt to local conditions ahead of the Asia Cup.

Historically, Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced off seven times in T20 Internationals. The men in green has won four matches, while Afghanistan has claimed victory in three.

‘Colour-coded tickets separate Pakistan, Afghan supporters’

Sharjah Cricket Stadium is alive with excitement ahead of the Pakistan-Afghanistan T20 match, as fans gather in large numbers and ticket sales continue.

Afghan supporters appear in greater numbers than Pakistani fans, while Indian cricket enthusiasts have also turned up to back Afghanistan.

Organisers have set up separate stands, pavilions, and entry routes for both sets of fans. Even the tickets are colour-coded — green for Pakistan supporters and blue for Afghan fans.

Afghan supporters are optimistic about their team’s chances against Pakistan. Despite the intense Sharjah heat, the passion for cricket remains high among the crowds.

Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem

Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (capt), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmed