One of the first major decisions for some rookies after the NFL Draft is what jersey number they wish to wear to kick off their careers.

Sometimes, those numbers work against the rookies, whether it’s players already owning their desired digits or a retired number getting in the way.

Las Vegas Raiders first overall pick Fernando Mendoza had a slight hiccup for his No. 15 heading into the draft. But the man known for the number by the franchise gave his blessing to the quarterback of the future.

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“He deserves my blessing,” ex-Raiders quarterback and coach Tom Flores said about Mendoza donning No. 15 next season, according to the team’s official website. “Because if he’s not the real deal, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

The Raiders never formally retired Flores’ number, but he wanted to make sure to let Mendoza know how much he wants him to wear the number Mendoza starred in for the Hoosiers.

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“He’s perfect,” Flores said of the Heisman Trophy winner. “He can make every throw. He can make the plays. What can’t he do? He does it all. He’s fun to watch.”

Flores rocked No. 15 for the Raiders from 1960-66, throwing for over 11,000 yards and 92 touchdowns during that span. He also starred for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days.

After retiring, Flores went into coaching with his old Raiders squad and ended up leading them to a Super Bowl victory in 1981. Then, in 2021, Flores was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Mendoza was asked about Flores’ blessing to wear No. 15.

“It speaks to the testament of once a Raider, always a Raider. Of how involved the alumni is. And I’m so blessed to be a part of this organization,” Mendoza said.

“I can’t thank [Flores] enough. I’m so blessed.”

Mendoza enters his NFL career with high expectations, not just being the No. 1 overall pick, but playing for a proud franchise that is hoping to get back to its Super Bowl-winning ways.

Mendoza will join the rest of the Raiders’ rookie class at minicamp Friday.

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A recently elected mayor of a small town in Virginia was arrested Tuesday after allegedly showing up to a train derailment site while intoxicated, according to local reports.

Paul Morrison, the 57-year-old mayor of Rich Creek, was taken into custody on a charge of public intoxication, WSLS reported, citing jail records. 

The train derailment occurred in the afternoon near Rich Creek, which sits along the border of West Virginia and Virginia, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) said.

The agency added that portions of the incident were reported inside West Virginia and that the train belonged to Norfolk Southern Railway.

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Contaminants of soybean oil had reportedly leaked. Officials confirmed it was considered non-hazardous and that crews are conducting recovery operations. 

After the incident, Morrison reportedly showed up intoxicated and was subsequently arrested by deputies with the Giles County Sheriff’s Office, WSLS said, citing sources.

Details of what led to the incident and Morrison’s arrest are not immediately clear.

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He was taken to the New River Valley Regional Jail and later released on his own recognizance, according to jail records, the outlet added. 

Morrison is the mayor of a small, historic town with a population of roughly 750 people.

He reportedly became mayor in November after a write-in campaign. Out of 106 votes cast, 77 residents manually wrote in Morrison’s name, according to local outlet Cardinal News.

His victory follows a recent leadership shakeup in the small community, where five of six Rich Creek Town Council members, as well as the previous mayor appointed in early 2025, abruptly resigned, the outlet reported.

Former Mayor Anne Chambers said her resignation came after internal conflicts and a hostile work environment reached a breaking point, according to Cardinal News.

Fox News Digital reached out to Rich Creek, Giles County Sheriff’s Office and the New River Valley Regional Jail for more information. 

If you thought language wasn’t punishable by law, take a look at the current state of international soccer to truly appreciate the shifting boundaries of free speech. In a landscape where the howl of the crowd has historically been a lawless racket, the legal hammer is beginning to fall with unprecedented weight.

While the conduct was undeniably unsavory, the racially charged language used by a 19-year-old fan against Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford prompted a legal firestorm.

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According to the Asturias Prosecutor’s Office, the teen targeted Rashford with bottom-of-the-barrel insults during a clash with Real Oviedo in September 2025.

The consequences are 15 months of a suspended prison sentence, a multi-year ban from all sporting venues and over $5,000 in combined fines and moral damages.

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For some, the idea of a prison cell for verbal insults, no matter how abhorrent, feels like a massive overcorrection. It’s a jarring shift from the traditional, often rowdy atmosphere of the bleachers to a state-monitored legal zone.

While a suspended sentence may keep the fan out of a physical cell provided they complete requisite rehabilitation programs, the message from the Spanish authorities is loud and clear: they are more than happy to act as the personal muscle for high-profile athletes.

In a statement obtained by ESPN, La Liga touted the ruling as a “fight against racism in sport,” reaffirming its role as a pioneering institution in combating hatred, despite technically lacking the authority to sanction fans directly.

By turning the terrace into a courtroom, the league is no longer just refereeing a game but attempting to legislate the very soul of the supporter.

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