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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

D.C.: Meet Defector At The Ballpark

Vintage Baseball Stadium Postcard

Defector at the Ballpark

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Ray Ratto

A ESPN Monday Night Football television camera prior to an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Los Angeles Chargers vs Indianapolis Colts

Journalismism

ESPN Now Partially Owned By Biggest League It Reports On

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


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Drew Magary

Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers calls a play in a huddle with teammates during the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

San Francisco 49ers v Miami Dolphins

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: San Francisco 49ers

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<p>Mike Tanier has covered the NFL for 20 years for Football Outsiders, the New York Times, The Messenger, Bleacher Report, Sports on Earth, and other ancient empires. He&#8217;s a co-author of Aaron Schatz&#8217;s FTN Football Almanac and the author of the Y/A novel for grownups <i>Long Snapper&#8217;s Blues. </i>He lives off Exit 3 of the New Jersey Turnpike with his long-suffering wife, two sons and a 70-pound American Bully named Frank the Tank. <span style="font-weight: 400">His new Substack, <a href="https://miketanier.substack.com/">Too Deep Zone</a>, has officially launched.</span></p>
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Mike Tanier

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears throws a pass while being tackled by Edgerrin Cooper #56 of the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on January 05, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Chicago Bears v Green Bay Packers

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Chicago Bears

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Samer Kalaf

jerry-jones-cowboys

The Cowboys’ Annual Contract Stalemate Has A Fun New Twist

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - JULY 24: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs during a training camp practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images)

New Orleans Saints Training Camp

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: New Orleans Saints

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Tom Ley

Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers makes a call from the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Dallas Cowboys v Carolina Panthers

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Carolina Panthers

Brick Johnson, Jack Johnson, Robert Kraft, Suzanne Johnson and Woody Johnson attend the New England Patriots vs. the New York Jets game at Met Life Stadium on September 19, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Celebrities Attend The New England Patriots At The New York Jets Game

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: New York Jets

Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders practices during the team's training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Health Performance Center on July 28, 2025 in Henderson, Nevada.

Las Vegas Raiders Training Camp

Why Your Team Sucks: Las Vegas Raiders

Christian Wilkins #94 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on from the sideline prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on October 6, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.

Las Vegas Raiders v Denver Broncos

Christian Wilkins Saga Gains Smooch-Based Dimension

Liam Coen, new Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, reacts as he is introduced to the media at the Miller Electric Center on January 27, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville Jaguars Introduce Liam Coen as New Head Coach

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Jacksonville Jaguars

<div>Nate Jackson is a former NFL tight end and author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/slow-getting-up-a-story-of-nfl-survival-from-the-bottom-of-the-pile-nate-jackson/6430451?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote9JzWMngZDpSjF2eoL1_JlyPm2QhDfkNgOzqvaB4n9ic0qqUNQ4iCwaAsasEALw_wcB"><em>Slow Getting Up</em></a>. He lives in Denver.</div>
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Nate Jackson

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 05: NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell discusses the state of the union and its direction for the upcoming year before fielding questions from the media on February 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Super Bowl LIX Previews

Who Does The NFLPA Represent?

New England Patriots QB Drake Maye is sacked by Los Angeles Rams DT Braden Fiske and fumbles the ball in the second quarter at Gillette Stadium.

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Why Your Team Sucks 2025: New England Patriots

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David Roth

NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell discusses the state of the union and its direction for the upcoming year before the Super Bowl in New Orleans. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

Who Can You Trust? With Pablo Torre

Russell Wilson #3 of the New York Giants gestures to his teammates during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on July 23, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

New York Giants Training Camp

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: New York Giants

Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns looks on after Cleveland Browns mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (

Cleveland Browns Mandatory Minicamp

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Cleveland Browns

Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is seen on the field prior to a game against the Washington Commanders. His sunglasses are sitting in kind of a weird way, like hovering above his nose.

Dallas Cowboys v Washington Commanders

Jerry Jones Is Negotiating With Himself, As Usual

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan reacts against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.

Tennessee Titans v Washington Commanders

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders logo displayed on a phone screen and photo of Donald Trump taken on June 25 in The Hague displayed on a laptop screen in the background. It's a photo illustration.

Washington Commanders And Donald Trump Photo Illustrations

Donald Trump Is Trying To Extort The Washington Commanders Into Making It 1989 Again

NFLPA President JC Tretter speaks at a press conference prior to Super Bowl LVI at the NFL Media Building on the SoFi Stadium campus in Inglewood, California.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s Super Bowl Press Conference

The NFL Players Association Is Falling Apart When It Needs Solidarity The Most

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Israel Daramola

NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell discusses the state of the union and its direction for the upcoming year before fielding questions from the media on February 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Bills Week

Bills Players Among Many In Need Of New Union Head

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<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
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Victoria Zeller

Miami Dolphins v Buffalo Bills

Let’s Remember Some Bills

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with James Cook #4 of the Buffalo Bills after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.

AFC Divisional Playoffs: Baltimore Ravens v Buffalo Bills

Who The Fuck Is Josh Allen Gonna Give The Ball To?

The NFLPA Is Having Communication Issues

The NFL Union-Busting Is Now Coming From Inside The Union

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 04: Managing and principal partner Jimmy Haslam of the Cleveland Browns looks on during Cleveland Browns OTA offseason workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 04, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Workouts

Ohio Caves To The Haslams, Tells Cleveland To Eat Dirt