Sports

On Saturday, Bill Belichick guided North Carolina to its first win this season, overcoming an inauspicious start to the Belichick era last week. The Tar Heels defeated Charlotte with a 20-3 win.

But, as has been the case since Belichick joined UNC as its head coach, the win was dominated more by off-field drama than on-field results. This time, it was Belichick's reported decision to bar New England Patriots scouts from Tar Heels practice.

After Saturday's game, Belichick was asked about the choice to deny his former team access to his current one, with the coach seemingly confirming the policy with a blunt remark.

"It's clear that I'm not welcome around their facility, so [they're] not welcome at ours. Pretty simple," Belichick said, via multiple reporters.

Belichick, who spent 24 seasons as the head coach in New England before he was let go after the 2023 season, did not seem to end on good terms with the franchise or its owner, Robert Kraft. Though Kraft initially said the relationship between Belichick and the Patriots ended "amicably," Belichick has taken some apparent shots at his former team in the year and a half since.

Now, that bad blood seems to extend to his new program as well. Members of UNC's staff reportedly told the Patriots last month they would be banned from UNC, one day before a New England scout was set to watch an August football practice. The team has reportedly not tried to scout the Tar Heels since.

Other teams are reportedly able to scout UNC's practices, but are restricted to watching the first three periods of practice (which includes stretching) and have no access to coaches or other personnel.

The policies do not violate NCAA rules, but do break typical customs between NFL teams and NCAA programs. Additionally, it also blocks some of the potential exposure for Belichick's players who could potentially be NFL Draft prospects next spring.

So far, Belichick's turn with UNC has come with more visibility than the typical college season. And so far, the 1-1 record is not quite living up to expectations: Though the Tar Heels won Saturday, they began the season with a blowout loss to TCU in front of a star-studded crowd.

The Detroit Lions and wide receiver Jameson Williams have reached an agreement on a three-year extension that could be worth as much as $83 million, according to multiplereports. 

The deal comes with $67 million guaranteed, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. 

Williams, 24, was going on the fourth year of his rookie contract with a fifth-year option. He's fresh off a breakout 2024 campaign, during which he nearly tripled his previous single-season high in receiving yards. 

The Ohio State-turned-Alabama product eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career while totaling eight touchdowns in 15 regular-season games, three more than he played the year before and nine more than he played as a rookie in 2022.

Williams' deal is the latest in a long line of Lions extensions over the last two offseasons. The fourth-year receiver and 2022 No. 12 overall pick joins quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, right tackle Penei Sewell, left tackle Taylor Decker, safety Kerby Joseph and defensive tackle Alim McNeill in receiving a long-term commitment from the organization.

Williams finally erupted on the field this past season, but he's had trouble off it since he entered the league. After missing most of his rookie season while healing up from an ACL tear he suffered at Alabama, he was suspended four games in 2023 for violating the NFL's gambling rules. Williams was suspended two more games in 2024 for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.

Although Williams has yet to play a complete 17-game regular season, he's offered the Lions the kind of offensive fireworks they can't ignore.

Williams is best known as a deep threat and gadget player extraordinaire. Last season, he averaged 17.3 yards per reception. He also rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown in the regular season. 

The last game he played, he was zigging and zagging and then somersaulting on a 61-yard trick play touchdown run that, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, actually covered 122.6 yards.

Although that highlight-reel play came in an NFC divisional-round loss to the Washington Commanders, it was yet another example of his game-changing speed, which has been on full display since he hauled in his first career reception, a 41-yard touchdown.

Williams swapped out his No. 9 jersey for No. 1 this offseason. He's got a new number on his chest and on his contract, and he's ready to take the top off more defenses in 2025.