Shrine Bowl director views Patriots rookie Eli Raridon as early TE1

New England Patriotsrookie tight end Eli Raridon earned some serious praise from Eric Galko, the director of football operations and player personnel for the Shrine Bowl.

Galko believes Raridon can make an immediate impact on the football field.

"You mentioned the pass-catching, which is what I think is really impressive about him," Balko said on CLNS'PatriotsDaily Podcast. "He can be a receiver. He's a good athlete in space. I think he's really good after the catch in staying balanced and working upfield for a tight end. But for me, it's the blocking ability and the upside that he possesses and can get better at that's going to make him a true TE1, Y-tight end early on in his NFL career...I think Raridon has a chance to be not only a starting tight end in the NFL, but as complete as a guy you'll find coming out of college."

Raridon was one of Notre Dame's best offensive weapons last season after hauling in 32 catches for 482 yards. The Patriots are hoping he can bring those same playmaking abilities to New England, which prompted them to select him with the 95th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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It's a great opportunity that will give him a chance to learn from Hunter Henry before eventually taking up the mantle at the position. Henry is 31 years old and playing in the final year of his contract.

The Patriots needed a clear direction for the future at tight end, and they might have found it with one of the Fighting Irish's finest.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire:Shrine Bowl director views Patriots rookie Eli Raridon as early TE1

byLiam Oneel

in

May 10, 2026

Shrine Bowl director views Patriots rookie Eli Raridon as early TE1

New England Patriotsrookie tight end Eli Raridon earned some serious praise from Eric Galko, the director of football operations and pl...

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Billy Bob Thornton Reflects on His Mental Health Journey

Billy Bob Thorntonis getting candid about his mental health. During an appearance on theHowie Mandel Does Stuffpodcast, theLandmanstar opened up on living with OCD andanxiety.

Thornton recalled to Mandel and Mandel's daughter, Jackelyn Shultz, a particularly vivid memory of how OCD first manifested for him during his childhood growing up with his late father.

He began, "It's well known that I have all these different things. I have a severe anxiety disorder as well as OCD, and I grew up dyslexic. When I was growing up, they didn't have programs, and it wasn't a thing, you know. They just thought you were an idiot at school. I grew up with it… my dad was not particularly nice to me. It was kind of tough around the house when I was a kid. He was in the service in the Korean War, and I think he had some problems."

"I had no idea what it was. I thought I invented it! I would do these things, and they say a lot of the time with OCD, it's someone who feels like their life is out of control, and it's a way that they can control something. I would do this thing. I knew what time he [Thornton's late father] got home from work. I would look at the clock...and when it would get, say, three minutes to four, when I would hear the car pull in the driveway around four o'clock usually, in my head I would say if I can count to a hundred five times before I hear the car come in the driveway, everything's gonna be okay," added Thornton.

TheBoxmasters frontmanalso described an incredible moment shared with legendary singer-songwriterWarren Zevon. Zevon and Thornton once lived in the same West Hollywood apartment complex during the latter's early years as a young actor.

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"This is in the late '80s, I guess," said Thornton. "I was standing at the mailbox to get my mail. Of course, in those days, I didn't get any mail. It's like a Ralph's flyer, or s—it like that. I opened the mailbox, [and] I pull[ed] out the Ralph's flyer. I put it back in, closed it, opened it again, [and] I pulled it out again. I did it three times. Well, Warren Zevon's standing next to me, and he's watching me. And he goes, 'You have it too, huh?'"

He added, "After that, Warren and I became friends, and we started discussing our OCD and our anxiety and all these different things. We used to compete with each other to see who had it worse."

Billy Bob Thornton has discussed his mental health diagnoses in previous interviews. In 2025, he told rock legend Ann Wilson of Heart on herAfter Dinner Thinkspodcast about numerous conversations with one of his daughters regarding their shared mental health challenges.

"[We talk] about how these things are looked at by the public as detriments. But they're actually strengths, especially in the arts. If you check through history, you can't tell me Van Gogh and all those guys weren't on the spectrum," proclaimed the "Lost Highway" musician.

This story was originally published byParadeon May 10, 2026, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.

byLiam Oneel

in

May 10, 2026

Billy Bob Thornton Reflects on His Mental Health Journey

Billy Bob Thorntonis getting candid about his mental health. During an appearance on theHowie Mandel Does Stuffpodcast, theLandmanstar ...

Read More

Marlins beat the Orioles 4-3 on a 9th-inning throwing error to avoid series sweep

MIAMI (AP) — Joe Mack scored the winning run in the ninth inning on a throwing error by third baseman Coby Mayo, and the Miami Marlins beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 on Thursday night to avoid a series sweep and snap a four-game losing streak.

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Mack, called up from the minors on Monday, hit a two-out double off Andrew Kittredge (0-1) before Javier Sanoja sent a grounder to third. Mayo bobbled the ball and then made a wild throw to first base, allowing Mack to score.

Pete Alonso tied it for Baltimore in the eighth with a run-scoring single that stretched his season-high hitting streak to eight games. He finished the series in Miami with four hits, six RBIs and a homer.

Calvin Faucher (3-2) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

Liam Hicks gave the Marlins their first lead of the three-game series with his ninth home run — a 386-foot drive against Cade Povich in the first that drove in Connor Norby and gave Hicks a major league-leading 34 RBIs.

Norby added a run-scoring single in the third.

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Povich exited with left forearm discomfort after three innings. He allowed three hits and three runs with one strikeout before being relieved by Yennier Cano.

Otto Lopez had two hits for the Marlins, including a leadoff single in the eighth, to stretch his hitting streak to 10 games. The shortstop has hit safely in 32 of Miami's first 38 games this season.

Gunnar Henderson and Tyler O’Neill each hit an RBI single against Marlins starter Max Meyer, who struck out five and gave up six hits in five innings.

Up next

Orioles: Host the Athletics on Friday night. RHP Kyle Bradish (1-4, 5.03 ERA) will face Athletics LHP Jacob Lopez (2-2, 6.60).

Marlins: Continue their 10-game homestand against the Nationals on Friday night. LHP Robby Snelling will make his MLB debut against Washington LHP Foster Griffin (3-1, 2.27).

AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byLiam Oneel

in

May 10, 2026

Marlins beat the Orioles 4-3 on a 9th-inning throwing error to avoid series sweep

MIAMI (AP) — Joe Mack scored the winning run in the ninth inning on a throwing error by third baseman Coby Mayo, and the Miami Marlins ...

Read More