Connect with us

Sports

Sen. Ted Cruz against idea of college athletes as employees

Published

on

Sen. Ted Cruz against idea of college athletes as employees


Sen. Ted Cruz said it is “absolutely critical” that any federal law related to college sports includes a provision that prevents athletes from being deemed employees of their school.

The Republican from Texas, who holds a key position in advancing NCAA legislation as chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, told ESPN in an interview Wednesday that Congress might run out of time to act if it can’t find a bipartisan solution in the coming months. During a yearslong effort to restore order to the college sports industry, Republicans and Democrats have remained largely divided on whether college athletes should have a future avenue for collective bargaining, which would require them to be employees.

“Clarifying that student athletes are not employees is absolutely critical,” Cruz told ESPN. “Without it, we will see enormous and irreparable damage to college sports.”

Cruz and NCAA leaders say many smaller schools would not be able to afford their teams if athletes had to be paid and receive benefits as employees. However, as lawsuits over player contracts and eligibility rules continue to mount, a growing number of frustrated coaches and athletic directors from major programs say they are open to collective bargaining as a solution.

“I’ve always been against this idea of players as employees, but quite frankly, that might be the only way to protect the collegiate model,” Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, a longtime defender of amateurism, said at a news conference last week.

The NCAA and its members have spent millions of dollars in the past several years lobbying Congress for a bill that would grant the association an antitrust exemption, supersede state laws related to college sports and block attempts to gain employee status for athletes. Despite more than a dozen Capitol Hill hearings and a long list of proposals, no bill has reached a full vote in either chamber of Congress to date.

Senate Commerce Committee staff told ESPN that Cruz and a bipartisan group of senators have made significant progress on a new draft of a bill but are at an impasse on the employment issue. Cruz said Democrats and labor unions are concerned about setting a broader precedent for other industries by closing the door on college athlete employment, which has led to the stalemate.

“From a political perspective, you have labor union bosses that would love to see every college athlete deemed an employee made a member of a union and contributing union dues to elect Democrats,” Cruz said. “It’s terrible for college sports, but I get that there’s some partisan appeal to it.”

Sen. Maria Cantwell, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Commerce Committee, said in a statement to ESPN that she also sees “growing bipartisan interest” for Congress to act. She has proposed separate college sports legislation that doesn’t advocate for athletes to be employees but leaves the door open for employment or collective bargaining in the future. She told ESPN that the committee “should move the ball forward with a hearing on this [topic].”

The large and expanding gap between the top tier of college teams and the rest of the NCAA has made it difficult to find a fair solution for all parties.

Last September, the commissioners of four conferences that comprise many of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities told members of Congress in a letter that making college athletes employees would “pose an existential threat” to their teams.

Most schools in those conferences spend between $10 million and $20 million annually on their entire athletic department — roughly 10% the size of athletic budgets at power conference schools. Their commissioners told Congress that a legal need to pay additional benefits to athletes “could lead to the elimination of intercollegiate athletics” at some schools.

Meanwhile, the pressing problems the NCAA says can be solved only via federal legislation — schools suing players over contract disputes, players suing the NCAA to extend their eligibility or to return to college from professional careers — are exclusively happening at the wealthier power-conference schools.

Congress could help by distinguishing between college athletes who should be considered school employees and those who shouldn’t, said employment attorney Scott Schneider, who works with athletic departments at small and large universities.

Schneider said that he does not see a clear legal path to collective bargaining but that schools could solve many of their most pressing problems by signing athletes to employment contracts instead of the name, image and likeness licensing deals currently used to pay players.

Schneider said treating all Division I athletes as a “monolith is absurd.” He said it’s clear that the relationship between an athlete and a small institution is “vastly different” from that between a star player and an SEC school, for example.

“The smaller university doesn’t have the same degree of day-to-day control over how the player spends their time,” Schneider said. He pointed to Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ recent announcement that he would fine players for missing practice or breaking other team rules as an example of employment-like control.

“There is a way to draw that line in legislation so you don’t have to draw it through years and years of litigation,” Schneider said.

When asked if creating a distinction between groups of college athletes is a viable compromise for Congress, Cruz told ESPN that he does not think “employment status is the answer to this problem.”

Employment and collective bargaining could give athletes benefits beyond negotiating for more money, such as health care, scholarship guarantees and a more significant voice in making rules. Senate Commerce Committee staffers said the proposal currently being negotiated includes all of those benefits in a way that “would exceed what [players] could get in collective bargaining.” One staffer said the hope is to provide more benefits to athletes without creating fundamental changes to the college sports system.

“The employment system is dramatically different than what a student-athlete is,” Cruz told ESPN. “A student-athlete is meant to be a student, to get a degree. And the entire world of employment regulation is designed for a totally different system.”

The NCAA is the defendant in one active federal lawsuit that claims all Division I athletes should be deemed employees of their schools. The plaintiffs, led by former Villanova football player Trey Johnson, and attorney Paul McDonald argue that athletes should be given the same rights as students who sell tickets or concessions at college sports games — treated as employees while still working toward their degrees.

The Johnson case has been awaiting its next hearing for more than a year. Many college sports leaders are concerned that if Congress members don’t decide on employment status in the near future, a federal judge will do it for them.



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

2026 NFL draft: Latest buzz on Ty Simpson, Jeremiyah Love

Published

on

2026 NFL draft: Latest buzz on Ty Simpson, Jeremiyah Love


Pro days are underway across the country, as we’re less than a month away from the 2026 NFL draft on April 23. Amid a ton of buzz about early picks and the quarterback class, we asked NFL draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates to break down the latest intel from around the league.

How likely is Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson to go in Round 1? Does Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love make sense for the Titans at No. 4? Who could rise into the top 10 picks by April, and which underrated prospects could be available late? We get into all that and then let Miller, Reid and Yates predict the best first rounds for teams with multiple Day 1 picks. How can the Browns, Chiefs, Cowboys, Dolphins and Jets win the day?

Finally, our experts empty their scouting notebooks with what they’re hearing, seeing and thinking ahead of April. Let’s start with the latest on Simpson, who said he’s “absolutely” a first-round pick at Alabama’s pro day.

Jump to a section:
Ty Simpson | Jeremiyah Love
Who will move into top 10?
Day 3 sleepers | First-round mocks
Emptying our notebook: What we’re hearing

What percentage chance would you put on Ty Simpson going in Round 1?

Miller: 25%. As the draft order stands right now, no team in Round 1 makes sense to me as a Simpson landing spot. No team in the top 10 that needs a quarterback is likely to reach for him, nor should they. Even the Rams are drafting too early at No. 13 overall. Maybe a team trades back into the first round for him, but that’s a risky proposition to give up draft capital — especially if it includes 2027 picks.

Reid: 75%. Considering the lack of QB talent at the top of the draft, I’d be surprised if Simpson wasn’t selected in the first round. But I agree with Matt that there are no logical landing spots in the first 16 picks. One idea that I floated in my last mock draft was the Cardinals trading back into Round 1 at No. 28 for Simpson. With Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew at the top of the depth chart, they are obviously in need of a young QB.

Yates: 90%. I borrowed from Jordan’s idea of the Cardinals trading up in my last mock draft, but I’m going a step further than him on the percentage. Simpson is the clear-cut second-best QB prospect, his first half of last season was far too strong and there are too many teams that need a QB in the first round for him to not be selected on Thusrday.


Could the Titans really take Jeremiyah Love at No. 4?

Reid: Love is my No. 1 prospect in this class, but I just don’t see it happening. General manager Mike Borgonzi joined Tennessee after 16 seasons in Kansas City, where the Chiefs always valued premium positions early. Don’t be surprised to see another defensive player added here for new coach Robert Saleh.

Yates: They absolutely could. Tennessee’s busy offseason has opened the board up, as it added all over its defense and signed wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson to a four-year deal. Love is my No. 2 prospect, and many NFL executives and scouts believe he is Tennessee’s most likely pick. With that said, what other teams think the Titans are going to do doesn’t mean much. This will come down to whether Tennessee is confident in the rest of its roster.

Miller: Yes, they could and should take Love at No. 4. The Titans were aggressive enough in free agency to enter the draft without a must-pick position here. Love is the type of transcendent prospect who the Titans can build their offense around, giving quarterback Cam Ward a viable threat in the run and pass game. And from what I’ve heard, if Love falls past Tennessee, the Giants will likely take him at No. 5.


Who isn’t a consensus top-10 pick right now but could end up there by draft time?

Yates: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama. Consensus is not easy to find right now, but one name that I haven’t seen linked to the top 10 as often is Proctor. He has incredible traits, led by his mammoth size at 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds with nifty athleticism. He could be in play for the Browns at No. 6 and the Chiefs at No. 9.

Miller: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia. He might rise into the top 10 based on positional value and need. The 6-foot-7, 315-pounder was just a one-year starter, but his athletic tools are that of a high-end NFL starter on the left side. Like Proctor, the Browns or Chiefs could take a chance on Freeling.

Reid: Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn. He fits the exact archetype that teams covet near the top of the draft. At 6-foot-5, 276 pounds, Faulk’s pass-rush production took a step back in 2025, but he’s only 21 and one of the best run defenders in the class. When speaking to scouts, Greg Rousseau and Mykel Williams are two NFL comparisons for him. The Chiefs at No. 9 and the Bengals at No. 10 overall are two teams to watch here.


Who is your favorite Day 3 sleeper right now?

Miller: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M. Lee was a consistent performer throughout college and jumps off the tape in press coverage, where he played 240 of his snaps over three seasons. That talent was on display at the Senior Bowl, too. Lee’s 4.52-second time in the 40-yard dash at the combine didn’t help his draft stock, but he’s a potential NFL starter.

Reid: Adam Randall, RB, Clemson. He made a seamless transition from wide receiver to the backfield this past season. Because of that background, the 6-foot-3, 233-pounder could be a movable piece all over the field. Randall also has A+ value on special teams with experience as a return specialist. I have a strong Round 4 grade on him.

Yates: Dae’Quan Wright, TE, Ole Miss. Much like the running back position last year, there are going to be tight ends that drop because of the incredible depth of the position. Wright played an important role for Ole Miss this past season, hauling in five touchdowns on 39 catches. He’s a snappy route runner who’s comfortable hauling in catches outside of his frame.

The perfect first round for teams with multiple Day 1 picks

Reid’s ideal picks for the New York Jets

2. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
16. Makai Lemon, WR, USC

The Jets should take two players who can be impactful right away. A highly productive player off the edge, Bailey’s explosive get-off is something this pass rush lacks. And for help opposite Garrett Wilson, Lemon is a steady option who could move inside to the slot. His sure hands, formational versatility and competitiveness after the catch make him an easy fit in new coordinator Frank Reich’s offense.


6. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
24. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

In an unpredictable draft, Tate is one of the surer prospects. The field-stretching wideout is an excellent route runner who dropped just one pass in 2025. Simply put, the Browns need his offensive firepower. Cleveland will have a good debate about taking an OT or WR with the first pick, but they’d be excited to land Lomu in this perfect scenario. He surrendered six pressures and zero sacks at left tackle in 2025. Plus, he is nimble in space to get to the second level as a run blocker.


Miller’s ideal picks for the Miami Dolphins

11. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
30. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

The best route for the Dolphins would be a complete rebuild of the secondary after allowing the highest completion percentage in 2025 (72%) and trading safety Minkah Fitzpatrick again this offseason. McCoy, who sat out the 2025 season with an ACL injury, profiles as a true CB1 with shutdown ability. McNeil-Warren would give new coach Jeff Hafley a long, rangy safety who could play in the box or at free safety.


9. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
30. T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson

After losing Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Rams, cornerback is at the top of Kansas City’s needs. Delane blew scouts away with a 4.38 40-yard dash time at LSU’s pro day Monday and cemented his status as the top cornerback in the draft. And after an underwhelming season, Parker has had a strong predraft process. Dense and powerful rushers are prioritized in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme, making Parker an ideal fit.


Miller’s ideal picks for the Dallas Cowboys

12. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
20. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Dallas signed Sam Williams to a one-year deal and traded for Rashan Gary, but this is still a roster that needs another speed rusher. Bain would bring exactly that, as well as power to the position. At safety, Dallas signed Jalen Thompson and has Malik Hooker under contract for one more season. They could use another playmaker on the back end; Thieneman had eight interceptions and two forced fumbles in three seasons at Purdue and Oregon.

What else did you hear and see this week?

Yates’ notes:

  • LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had his pro day Monday, which was an important showcase for him after a disappointing season. Nussmeier threw the football with the accuracy you would expect — the hallmark of his great 2024 season was excellent anticipation and accuracy — and observers noted how he looked healthy, which Nussmeier himself noted at the conclusion of the event. Health was an issue for him this past season, but seeing him look like this helped strengthen his case to be taken as QB3 in the upcoming draft.

  • A prospect who I’ll bang the drum for is Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge, who is No. 48 on my board. Perhaps no player embodied the toughness and identity of the Georgia Tech program quite as well as Rutledge over the past two seasons. And he showed at the combine that he’s a quality athlete. Scouts I talk to believe he’s a strong bet to go in the second round.

Miller’s notes:

  • Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson opted to not work out at the combine and will not participate in Friday’s pro day, but a scout told me he will work out for teams on April 17. That’s just six days before the start of Round 1, and Field reported Wednesday that Tyson will do only positional work. A potential top-15 pick, Tyson has been plagued by hamstring injuries that limited his 2025 season to just nine games.

Reid’s notes:

  • Alabama’s pro day took place Wednesday and multiple scouts in attendance came away impressed with how the ball came off Simpson’s hand. “I thought his arm was a little above average on tape, but it’s much stronger than I anticipated after seeing him up close,” said an NFC executive.

  • After Faulk didn’t participate in the 40-yard dash at the combine, evaluators were eager to his true speed at Auburn’s pro day Tuesday. Scouts that I talked to had him timed in the range of 4.67 to 4.69 seconds. He also completed 17 reps on the bench press and participated in positional drills.

  • At Miami’s pro day Monday, edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor took part only in positional drills, but offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa did run a 40-yard dash. Scouts that I talked to had him in the 5.10 to 5.12-second range on both runs. Mauigoa is my top-ranked offensive tackle and could go as high as No. 3 to the Cardinals.



Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Iran’s soccer team honors victims of elementary school airstrike

Published

on

Iran’s soccer team honors victims of elementary school airstrike


ANTALYA, Turkey — Players held small backpacks as Iran‘s national soccer team used a match against Nigeria on Friday to honor the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school.

More than 165 people were killed, most of them children, when a Feb. 28 strike, likely launched by the U.S., hit the school in southern Iran.

Iran bans sports teams’ travel to ‘hostile’ nations

Neither the United States nor Israel has accepted responsibility for the attack, which has come under staunch criticism from the United Nations and human rights groups. The U.S. military is investigating and has said it would never target civilians.

During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.

Video of the ceremony also showed the players wearing black armbands in remembrance of those killed since the war began.

The match was played in Antalya, southern Turkey.

Nigeria won 2-1 in a game that was a World Cup tuneup for Iran, ahead of the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Islamic Republic’s team is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in June in the U.S. The Iranian ambassador in Mexico City has said the country asked FIFA to move those three games to Mexico after U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending, citing safety concerns.

Iranian government and soccer officials have said they do not want to boycott the World Cup but that it is not possible for the national team to go to the U.S. because of military attacks on Iran by Israel and U.S.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has dampened Iran’s attempts to move its matches, saying global soccer’s governing body wants the tournament “to go ahead as scheduled.”

Separately on Friday, Iran’s judiciary threatened to seize the property of soccer player Sardar Azmoun, two semiofficial news agencies said. The announcement follows threats from Iran’s hard-liner judicial chief that authorities planned to seize the assets of celebrities viewed as critical of the government.



Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Tiger Woods arrested at crash scene on suspicion of DUI, sheriff says

Published

on

Tiger Woods arrested at crash scene on suspicion of DUI, sheriff says


Tiger Woods showed signs of impairment and was arrested Friday at the scene of a car crash in which he struck another vehicle and rolled his Land Rover, authorities said.

Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said Woods and the person in the other vehicle were not injured. Woods was able to crawl out of the passenger side of his Land Rover.

The crash occurred just after 2 p.m. not far from where Woods lives on Jupiter Island. Budensiek said Woods attempted to pass a pressure cleaner truck while driving on a two-land road. He swerved to avoid a collision as he was passing the truck, but clipped the back end of the truck’s trailer. Woods’ vehicle then rolled onto its driver’s side.

Budensiek said investigators at the scene found Woods to be showing signs of impairment. He did a breathalyzer test, which came out negative, but he refused to take a urine test. Authorities charged him with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, Budensiek said. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Woods’ manager at Excel Sports did not immediately respond to a text message seeking information.

Woods, 50, had spent the past several months recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and another back surgery in October. The 15-time major champion competed for the first time in more than a year during Tuesday’s TGL finals, where his Jupiter Links GC team lost to the Los Angeles Golf Club.

He had been weighing whether to return to the PGA Tour at the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, the first major of the season, which begins April 9.

Woods last competed on the PGA Tour in July 2024 when he missed the cut at the Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. He last played four rounds in a PGA Tour event at the 2024 Masters.

In February 2021, Woods suffered significant leg injuries in a one-car crash outside of Los Angeles, in which his SUV rolled several times and left him trapped in the car. He later had surgery to deal with “open fractures” to his lower right leg, had a rod placed in a tibia and had screws and pins inserted in his foot and ankle during emergency surgery. Woods was hospitalized for three weeks following the surgery.

At the 2021 Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Woods said, “I’m lucky to be alive and also have a limb.” He said it was 50-50 as to whether part of his right leg could have been amputated.

He had at least one more surgery related to injuries from the crash in April 2023.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and The Associated Press contributed to this report.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending