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Madden NFL 21 ratings, rankings: Mahomes, Wilson lead quarterback list

Ahead of the August release of Madden NFL 21, we’re spending the week unveiling player ratings and rankings for the league’s best players.

We’ll start with the quarterbacks on Monday and end with the wide receivers later this week, finishing with a SportsCenter special on Friday, July 17, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN app, which will break down the ratings process and include player interviews. Check out First Take, SportsCenter and Get Up this week to see more Madden interviews and debates.

Let’s get into the ratings for the QBs in Madden NFL 21, which launches to fans on Aug. 25:

Quarterbacks

There’s a new 99 overall and the old guard of quarterbacks, for the most part, is starting to decline. Four new quarterbacks entered the top 10, and they should remain part of this list for the majority of the next decade.

That includes the cover athlete, Lamar Jackson, and a bunch of other 20-somethings who will be the faces of the league in the 2020s.

: Wilson played at an MVP level last year and could have maybe won the award had Lamar Jackson not had a transcendent season. Wilson threw for over 4,000 yards for the first time since 2016 and hit 30-plus touchdown passes for the third straight year, jumping him up from a 91 overall to start last year and from sixth to second among quarterbacks.

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Tre’Davious White and Lamar Jackson are among the NFL stars waiting to find out how they’ll be rated for Madden 21, which will be revealed July 13-17 on ESPN.

Soccer

Football world left shocked, bemused after City's European ban lifted

Confirmation that the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned Manchester City’s European ban Monday triggered a wide array of reactions across the football world.

While City fans were undoubtedly ecstatic about the outcome, there were plenty of skeptics on social media questioning how City escaped the severe punishment with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Others criticized UEFA and the efficacy of Financial Fair Play regulations:

Even former players chimed in on the ruling:

Monday’s decision also didn’t sit well with La Liga president Javier Tebas:

At least someone was happy (sort of):

It’s hard to imagine many were more pleased with the news than City manager Pep Guardiola:

Manchester United legend Gary Neville was also vindicated after predicting the outcome in February:

NFL

Bucs' offense looks better, but no offseason program is a hurdle

TAMPA, Fla. — Between the signing of Tom Brady and trade for Rob Gronkowski — plus the departure of 2015 No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston — the 2020 offseason was unlike any other for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team went from relative obscurity to being touted Super Bowl contenders overnight, despite having not reached the postseason since 2007. Did they make enough moves to make this a real possibility?

Here’s a position-by-position look at whether the Bucs are better, worse or the same as the 2019 team on offense, and key areas to watch for.

Tom Brady should be much better at avoiding turnovers than his predecessor in Tampa Bay, Jameis Winston. Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP

Quarterbacks

Additions: Tom Brady (Patriots),

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Jones can start again on first and second down. He isn’t a natural pass-catcher, but he does have home-run speed and ran with more confidence as the season progressed last year. Vaughn has better hands than Jones, but on tape he lacks Jones’ burst and looks like another Barber — he’s solid and he can do all the things you ask him to, but he’s not spectacular. How much of an impact he’ll be able to make depends on how quickly he can digest the playbook and where he is in terms of blitz pickup, with which Jones still struggles.

The competition for the third-down back probably will come between Ogunbowale and Logan, who served as the Bucs’ primary kick returner last year before going to injured reserve because of a fractured thumb. At 5-foot-8 and 188 pounds, Calais is smaller than the other backs, but his 4.42 40-yard dash was the third fastest at the combine this year. Ideally, the Bucs should have made another move here, by giving Brady a more proven back with pass-catching skills like Devonta Freeman, but Freeman’s asking price is reportedly more than the $5 million the Bucs have remaining in salary-cap space.

Mike Evans has surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in each of his six NFL seasons. AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio

Wide receivers

Additions:

Rob Gronkowski came out of retirement for a chance to win another Lombardi trophy with Tom Brady. Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP

Tight ends

Additions: Rob Gronkowski (trade, Patriots)

Losses: None

Returners:

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Soccer

Costa header secures Champions League place for Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid are assured of a Champions League berth for the 2020-21 season thanks to Diego Costa’s 74th-minute header against Real Betis on Saturday.

Atleti played with 10 men from the 57th minute after Mario Hermoso was sent off for a reckless challenge, and had two goals chalked off by VAR earlier in the tie.

Real Betis were the superior side in the second half, but Diego Simeone’s team held on for a 1-0 win.

Atletico Madrid are on 66 points after 36 matches, nine points above fifth-place Villarreal, who have a game in hand. Atleti’s spot in the top four is safe due to their head-to-head record against Villarreal; the capital club has registered a win and a draw in La Liga meetings with the Yellow Submarine.

Costa netted his crucial goal when Yannick Carrasco lifted a free-kick into the area. Atletico Madrid are now unbeaten in 14 league outings.

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