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NFL veteran Michael Pennel Jr. had an ongoing relationship with a young woman whose body was found on a property he owned when she went missing, an ESPN investigation found, contradicting Pennel’s claim that he did not know her.
Pennel did not respond to a message seeking comment before this story was published. After it was published Thursday afternoon, however, Pennel called a reporter to insist
he had no relationship with Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche, whose body was discovered in January 2026. He directed ESPN to an attorney in the Dominican Republic, Ariel Durán.
“I don’t understand any of this. I don’t know who you’re talking to, who’s saying this — I don’t know this woman. I wasn’t in the country (when Guzmán disappeared),” Pennel said.
Durán said Pennel had nothing to do with Guzmán’s death and that documents will exonerate him. But he also said he expects Pennel to be charged in the case because the body was found on his property, and that if he is charged, Durán might not represent him because the two are currently in a dispute over money. He did not say what he expected Pennel to be charged with.
Final NFL offseason moves for 32 teams: Trades, signings, more | ESPN
Kansas City Chiefs
Sign wide receiver Deebo Samuel
The Rashee Rice situation is fairly confusing for the Chiefs. Coach Andy Reid says that Rice will be healthy enough for training camp, but is he going to face a suspension from the league for off-field conduct? It would be good for the Chiefs to find another strong slot target who can be insurance for Rice and can provide wide receiver depth on the outside.
Enter veteran Samuel. He had a bit of an off 2025 season with a career-low 10.1 yards per reception with the Commanders, but he still managed to gain 727 receiving yards with five touchdowns. At age 30, there’s probably still something left in the tank, and his ability to also take carries from the backfield makes him extra fun for Reid to play with in his game-planning.
Chiefs Predicted to Make Blockbuster Trade for $27 Million All-Pro WR Before Deadline | Heavy Sports
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report predicted on Thursday, June 18 that Kansas City will make a blockbuster offer to the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the mid-season trade deadline to acquire second-team All-Pro wideout George Pickens.
Informing that prediction are comments from the team that it will not negotiate a long-term deal with Pickens in the coming months, as he is under contract for the 2026 season on a $27.3 million deal via the franchise tag provision.
And while Pickens has stated he will not hold out for a multiyear contract, he is notoriously mercurial. Clashes with leadership led the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade Pickens, along with a sixth-round pick, ahead of last season for just a third-rounder and fifth-rounder in return.
The emergence of Cowboys second-year wideout Ryan Flournoy in 2025, who displayed an ability to play effectively both outside and in the slot last season, also renders Pickens more tradable.
Second-year cornerback Nohl Williams stood out on defense, breaking up two passes and intercepting Mahomes in the end zone during Day 1 of minicamp.
New running back Kenneth Walker showed eye-catching burst and direction-changing ability, suggesting the Chiefs’ ground threat is back, according to Day 2 observations.
Multiple receivers caught touchdown passes from Mahomes and backup Justin Fields during red-zone 7-on-7 drills, including scores to Jalen Royals, Kelce, Jason Brownlee and Nikko Remigio, on Day 2 of minicamp.
Former Chiefs C Mitch Morse knew Patrick Mahomes was special.
“What I also remember that year, specifically, was Patrick Mahomes becoming Patrick Mahomes,” former Chiefs center Mitch Morse said on Good Morning Football. “That was 2018, the first year he started. Came out against the Los Angeles Chargers, and then the next week scored six touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We were all holding our breath to see if it would end. It didn’t.
“He became the MVP in his first year out. We were just along for the ride. That, in particular, was a special season. I would go back to that Week 2 game in Pittsburgh. He threw for six TDs, and they came back to see his competitive poise in the infancy of his career was profound. You see those guys that have that killer charisma, he’s had that from the jump.”
Kansas City Chiefs’ Esa Pole Is Engaged After Romantic Proposal in British Columbia | People
Chiefs offensive tackle Esa Pole, 24, announced his engagement to his fiancée, Mereosi, in a joint Instagram post on Wednesday, June 17, just one week after Chiefs center Creed Humphrey announced his engagement and less than a month after Chiefs defensive end Ashton Gillotte got married.
“God wrote our love story long before we met,” Mereosi wrote. “1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Here’s to a lifetime with you my love.”
Around the NFL
Colts’ Sauce Gardner says he’s 24, not 25 as widely listed | ESPN
During a recent back-and-forth with reporters about his leadership role as a veteran defender, he pointed out that he is still pretty young.
“I’m 24, by the way,” he said.
That might have surprised quite a few people. Because, in many corners of the internet, Gardner is listed as being 25.
Somewhere along the way, it became accepted as fact that Gardner was born Aug. 31, 2000. It says as much on a number of online references, including his profiles on ESPN.com, Pro Football Focus and Yahoo Sports.
But, as it turns out, Gardner was actually born Aug. 31, 2001. Like he said, he’s 24. The Colts’ website and NFL.com reflect the 2001 birthday.
Bills coach Joe Brady opens up on Sean McDermott’s ‘devastating’ firing: ‘I was broken’ | NFL.com
“I was broken,” Brady said. “I was broken for a guy that I worked for. I was also broken for the rest of the coaching staff that is sitting there, like, we’re all out of jobs right now. There was a lot of emotion going on.”
Brady said he initially didn’t consider that he’d have a shot to take over the head coaching chair in Buffalo, noting that his immediate reaction was that the new coach would probably bring in a new staff.
“It also dawned on me that the only thing I won’t be is the offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills,” he said. “I’m only in Buffalo because of Sean and the opportunities that he gave me.”
Supplemental draft rules could get Brendan Sorsby drafted higher than expected | Pro Football Talk
Currently, there’s a general vibe that he’ll be a third-round pick. If one of the playoff teams that doesn’t believe it has a long-term answer at the position decides that Sorsby could be the guy, that team will be instantly tempted to make a move in round two.
Depending on the impression Sorsby makes between now and the start of the supplemental draft, a playoff team from 2025 could be inclined to sacrifice what would potentially be a low first-round pick in 2027 to get Sorsby before one of the non-playoff teams could take him in round two.
The guessing game will require all teams to keep their true views on Sorsby under wraps. There could be plenty of misinformation and misdirection in the coming days and weeks, if one or more teams decide they want Sorsby — and if they then try to bend the outcome of the supplemental draft in their direction.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs’ trade of Wanya Morris official, what it says about team’s depth
Last week, it was reported that Morris was seeking a larger role, and a few days later, the trade was agreed to.
Morris will leave to compete for a starting job with the Falcons, but this move more signifies that the Chiefs are comfortable with the offensive tackle depth and even with reserve players’ ability to fill in when needed.
Right tackle competition
The Chiefs do not have a full-time starter returning at either tackle position this upcoming season, even with Josh Simmons looking to become a stalwart at left tackle.
Right tackle is feeling more and more like the starting job is up in the air.
Sixth-year lineman Jaylon Moore will likely be given the first crack at winning the right tackle job, but he has company, according to head coach Andy Reid.
Second-year player Esa Pole will return to the team after starting the final four games of last season at left tackle after injuries to Simmons and Morris. With Simmons, the future of the left side of the offensive line, Pole is available to compete with Moore on the right side.
Moore will benefit from experience, and given his salary cap number for the season ($14.20 million), he should be expected to be start once we get to Week 1.
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